6. Outside there is a coalition government; everywhere outside you see compromise. Inside there is a one-party rule. Hence no compromise!

7. Jagat mein asali cheej tau Bhagwan hain. The only real thing in this world is God.

8. What is sat? Sat is that which was, that which is and that which will be. everything else is asat.

9. Jiva Shiva-Shiva Jiva iti Brahmaiva.

10. Sai Baba said: Sabka Malik Ek

11. See God in everyone.Not a form of God but God!

'ishvara sarva bhutanam | hrd-deshe 'rjuna tishtati | brahmayan sarva-bhutany yantrarudhani' (Gita) The Supreme Lord is situated in everyone's heart, O Arjuna, and is directing the wanderings of all living entities, who are seated as on a machine, made of the material energy.

ON KARMA YOGA-

12. If you look after your children as though they were God's, saying 'Bhagawan, your child is going for exam', it becomes karma yoga. If you look upon them as your own, it becomes karma.

13. Treat your samsara as a gift from God, which you are maintaining. It doesn't matter who you look up to Durga, Shiva, and Sri Ram, Brajnath, Sai Baba, Mahabir, Guru just surrender to that deity.

14. It is possible to work without expecting the fruit of work. Swami Vivekananda has made a wonderful observation in this matter. He says, not only is it possible to work without expecting fruit in return, such effort improves your efficiency and competence.

15. This is what Swami Vivekananda says: The moment you surrender to God, your mind is free from anxiety. Fifty per cent of all your worries will drop the moment you adopt the attitude that everything is the responsibility of God.

16. There is a beautiful description of how a person must conduct oneself in worldly life.

The Shastras use the term maulistha kumbha i.e. like a pot on the head of the tribal dancer. You must have seen the skilled dancers of a particular tribe balancing a pot on their head. They dance swiftly; left and right and all over, rather vigorously but the pot on the head stays, unsupported, yet still in the same place. That is the way one must live in samsara. You can dance as much as you want, but don't let the pot of God fall down.

ON SUFFERING OF GOOD PERSON-

17. Everything must have equal and opposite reaction. This is the law of karma. When we see a good person suffer, we must understand that some old sins are being washed away. This is called paap kshay, the washing away of sins.

18. Everybody has to go through the effects of one's karmas. They could be of this life or the past lives. Suffering is a positive sign. It means in time to come the person is going to be free.

19. But with God's and Guru's grace these sufferings can be reduced. If in consequence of your bad karmas you are supposed to lose your leg, in its place you may have to merely experience the pain of a thorn. The degree of pain you have to undergo will be reduced by god's grace. But you have to go through some effect of the karma because that is the law.

ON RELIGIOUS DUTIES-

20. If you don't drop this body despite the fact it has a million faults, why are you so particular about dropping the sacred thread just because you can't follow certain things pertaining to Brahminical duties? After all, it's something you wear outside the body, isn't it?

ON PENANCE THROUGH BODILY SUFFERING-

21. The suffering that body undergoes for religious purposes washes away past sins.

22. I know it's very hot. But endure this suffering for a while. There's no telling of which sins you are being liberated from right now. Endure the sun for a while.I will be back here to give you the mantra soon.

ON NIYAMAS-

23. 'This sadhaka experiences a trauma due to the intensity of experiences. Two very important niyamas are a must for this sadhaka to achieve moksha. Observance of celibacy is the first. This can be acquired gradually. Avoidance of onion and garlic, which are rajasic foods, is the second.'

24. 'If you have been blessed with a rare state of spirituality, you should not look here and there. As you climb up the stairway of spirituality, you should avoid distractions. Climb up in quietitude of mind and spirit.'

BHOGA OR SENSUOUS ENJOYMENTS-

25. Don't go for bhoga. Bhoga leads to more bhoga and nothing else. Just as ghee when poured over fire intensifies it, so also sensual enjoyment aggravates the desire and makes the mind restless through cravings. There's nothing in sensual pleasures. All joys are within and yet as Ramakrishna Bhagawan says, like a camel that keeps chewing on a thorny bough despite the fact that blood oozes out as it chews, human being goes on and on much to own peril.

THE TWO TYPES OF BHAKTI-

26. If you are a householder, there is no harm in expecting material things. That's not a problem as long as you don't overindulge and you stay in limits. When you pray and ask for worldly objects, God grants them. This is called sa-kama bhakti.

27. When there is no material fruit attached to the prayer, it is called nish-kama bhakti. That is meant for the sadhus.

REGARDING THE POWER OF SURRENDER-

28. For years when I resolved to accomplish things: saying "I will do this, I will do that and so on, I achieved nothing. But when I left it to Almighty God, see how much has been achieved."

29. Look at Ramkrishna Paramhamsa or Sitaramdas Omkarnath; just one person's total surrender to God has resulted in so much.

30. Look at Omkarnath Thakur. He started not just one but twelve religious journals.Jai Guru, Mother, Param Katha and so on. To start a single journal itself is a tough thing, he started twelve. This is the power of surrender.

31. You may not be able to surrender yourself completely. Never mind, give five per cent or just one per cent to God and see how miracles are achieved. This is the power of surrender.

32. This has been stated in the Gita: The Lord says that He undertakes the 'Yoga-kshema' of His devotee. Lord says: 'To those men who worship Me alone, thinking of no other, who are ever devout, I provide for his yoga kshema (yog: the acquisition of what they lack and kshema: the preservation of what they have) for the maintenance of the body, even though they do not hanker for it'.

33. One of the best examples of surrender is Bharata. When Bharat went in search of Sri Ram after the latter had left the kingdom, he reached the hermitage of Bharadwaja. The sage immediately invited Bharata to come and stay in his hermitage and offered him a high seat. Bharata, however, did not take the seat. He reverentially went round that high seat thrice saying, "This seat belongs to Sri Ram, not me!"

And he took a seat on the ground where Sri Ram's feet would have rested had he taken it.

34. Muktananda was a disciple of Nityananda Swami. His Guru Bhakti was so high that he had put up a photograph of his Guru even in the bathroom. He would look at the photograph and say, "Guruji, this body is yours. It is being cleaned at the moment."

35. There's a law called 'surrender before detection.' According to this law if you have done something wrong and if you surrender even before you are caught, the law is kinder to you in view of your owning up. It is the same with God.

36. Even before you have to serve the term for your karmas, surrender to God. He will reduce your punishment.

37. You never know what sins you may have committed in your previous life, if you surrender to God right away, you can gain reprieve.

38. If you surrender to the highest authority i.e. Sri Bhagawan, you have nothing to fear.

39. This is how it is in matters of destiny also. When a bad planet such as Rahu or Shani seizes you, you don't have to worry. Just appeal to the top boss Sri Bhagawan and He will telephone the evil planet to leave you. Why should you pander to the lower ones if you could talk to the highest authority?

ON JAPA-

40. You see, I have been touring around for a long time now, Indore, Ujjain, Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Udaipur, Jaipur, Kota, Pushkar and so on. Now I must get back to spiritual practice. I need to recharge.

41. When I meet so many people and they expect that I give something to them, I must give it to them. But for that I must have it. My 'wallet' is empty now. I need to 'earn' something so that I can distribute it to people. It is hence I must now plunge into meditation for few months.

42. Japa is all-important. You should persevere with total devotion as per the instructions given by the Guru. The instructions are explained very clearly in the leaflet given to you, which you may read as ready reference.

43. If you feel that you are at a standstill.making no progress at all, do not be disheartened. Your work is to carry on japa. In due course, japa must fructify. This is definite.

44. Japa and meditation are one and the same. There are different ways to meditate, depending on the path that is adopted. In our school, japa on the name of God is identical to meditation.

45. A householder leading the normal family life should not tax himself or herself excessively in the zeal to practice. For example, if he or she insists on getting up hours earlier, or sleeping very late in order to practice, it may tell on the physical and mental health.

46. Practice is most appropriate at the time of twilight in the morning and evening. Hence twilight is called 'sandhyakaal'.

47. Some sadhakas practice also at noon and midnight. Practice at midnight is very powerful, too powerful perhaps.(smiles when one disciple agrees). It may not be suitable if you are a householder leading a normal family life.

48. Try and sit in padmasana (lotus posture) for an hour or half an hour. My Gurudeva says you'll have to give 3 hours out of the 24 hours. He told me "Recite Gayatri mantra 1008 times daily. God has given you 24 hours, give 3 hours from these to God." This happened days before my final M.A. examination. And, I secured by following Guru's instructions, a first class first!

REGARDING THE FRUIT OF DIKSHA OR INITIATION-

49. Here.Take these four mangoes as prasad. What do they stand for? With these I give you Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha.

50. I am not a Guru who would work miracles! I only introduce disciples to the all-important world of spirituality. Once you enter this world you find things happening of themselves!

51. You say you simply cannot do any japa? You have all possible reasons for not doing japa? Never mind. You see, if a child is too small to walk, Sitaram Baba will lift it up and carry it Himself! His compassion will bear fruit some day if you have been given diksha!

52. You are unable to practise, do sadhana? You have taken diksha? Yes? Then you are already in the moving train! Whether you stand, sit or walk inside, you will reach the destination: do not worry.

ON PRANAYAMA AND MUDRAS-

53. Pranayama and mudras must not be practiced of one's own accord. They can become a hindrance, even cause harm, if practiced without the Guru's explicit sanction.

ON AJAPA-

54. Ajapa is given by the Guru by judging the suitability of the student. A certain amount of spiritual evolution is necessary. It is very helpful when such a student is involved daylong in performing manifold duties.

55. Pranayama gets done in Ajapa practice. Ajapa is the joining of ishta mantra to breath. The inhalation is joined to one part of the ishta mantra and the exhalation to another. A great deal of japa gets done over and above the japa done at sandhyakaal.

ABOUT MEDITATION ON 'AUM'-

56. No.'AUM' is not to be joined to any mantra. 'AUM' is so powerful a word that it will magnify greatly the inherent tendencies in your nature. As long as you are not free of the 'kleshas', you should not chant this powerful word. As you get rid of the impure tendencies through japa, the sound 'AUM' will dawn of its own.

57. As you carry on doing sadhana on 'Aum' a time comes when it becomes 'ra'; in the mind an ocean is formed on seeing which the practitioner may become traumatized. Perhaps you should take refuge with Lord Hanuman who will build the bridge across the ocean and enable you to cross it. This is how you may rescue the 'Sita' of your mind, which has become the captive of the 'Ravana' of the illusory universe. This is how the 'Ramayana' story is played out in our lives!

ON DEATH -

58. Nobody wishes to go.However dying is a must- it is just like a change of clothes for the soul. One should not mourn after the dead.

59. How long are you going to die? Ten times, hundred times, thousands of times? Take to God, you won't die a thousand deaths, you shall have to die just once!

REGARDING HIS GURU, SITARAM OMKARNATH-

60. Sitaram Baba lived a little beyond the age of ninety. He renounced everything as He became older. Before He gave up the mortal coil, He had already renounced all personal effects, to the extent that He cut off the matted locks of hair and discarded His clothes, he had renounced His mind too, which had collapsed within.

61. No one has been able to talk about the soul so simply and so lucidly as Thakur. The reason for this is nothing but state of realisation. He described the soul as Naad-Bindumaya. And floods of light appeared.

62. Sitaram Baba was very upset at the poor man being called Daridri Narayana. Why Daridri Narayana? He protested.No! Just Narayana Narayana!

63. Sitaramdas Omkarnath didn't ask for anything from God. This is an example of nish-kama bhakti.

64. Omkarnath Thakur went into profound meditation in the year 1957. This was his famous mauna, which lasted for twenty-two months at a stretch. He was busy writing books in leisure hours with uninterrupted speed. He took to kshetra sannyasa i.e. renounced all contact with people and confined himself to the cave.

65. Sitaram's spiritual state was very high during the twenty-two months of kshetra-sannyasa. For days and nights, the Mother (Kundalini Shakti) was singing; there was Naad of ' Om', 'Guru', 'Jaiguru' ringing out from within all the time. That is the reason he called the sampradaya 'Jai Guru' Sampradaya. Sometimes the sound of clouds, it is called Megh Naad, buzz, storm, fountain, engine and so many of known and unknown forms of Naad went on by turn. Sometimes 'Yada', 'Yada' sound welled up from within.

66. On hearing the song of a songstress, Thakur (Sitaram Omkarnath) went into the state of Samadhi. At the end, the songstress asked Thakur how did He like her singing. Thakur replied that He had to be present to appreciate that!

67. Gurudeva (Sitaram Omkarnath) commanded me to be fully in the spiritual life. After my post graduation, when I earned a good job in Bank of India, He said: "Ye mera potaa hain, yeh naukari nahin karega, dhyan karega" He said, "This is my grandson, he will not take up a job but do meditation!"

ON RAM NAAM -

68. Not a single Ramnaam that you have written goes to waste! Everything is 'credited' into your account! Every single Ram Naam will pay.

69. Take to Ram Naam. Tulasidas says, dehree dwaar tulsi bheetar baaherahu jo chaahsi ujiyaar. ram naam manideep dharu jeeh. It will bring floods of light both within and without.

70. "Naam is of course available to all. Even so, it is the Guru who confers Naam."

REGARDING SIDDHIS -

71. Swami Vivekananda's memory was so extraordinary that he could not only read a whole book of few hundred pages in matter of minutes but also memorize it. That was possible through 12 years of Brahmacharya vrata.

72. I have experienced the merit of spiritual practices in my life. My final year exams for the Masters In Arts were round the corner. I went to Sri Sri Thakur, my grandfather, to take blessings. Thakur asked me to increase my Gayatri japa, and the results spoke for it. I stood first class first in MA. Immediately, I also got a job offer as a probationary officer with the Bank of India.

REGARDING ANANDA -

73. Which is one thing that the whole world starting from a child to the most evolved person wants? It's Ananda!

74. Man's true craving is for only one thing and that is Ananda. He is like a musk deer that searches everywhere for the source of the smell here, not knowing that it actually is present in its navel. Likewise, we humans carry the secret of that real Ananda verily inside us.

75. We need to search inside for Ananda, not outside. Mori Mori Mori Mori Aha Ki Ananda Re .(singing this self-composed song in Raag Pahar, in one such introspective mood, inundated with the ananda).

76. Where is Ananda? Well, between ida-pingala, there's a small nadi, which runs through the spinal column, all joy rests in it!

77. Well if you don't believe me. if you don't believe the mahatmas. you will surely believe a man of this world who has no equals? Rabindranath Thakur who was bestowed with the Nobel Prize also discusses God, Sadhana, Ananda and so on. At least take his word for it if nothing else.

QUOTING ROUGHLY FROM A POEM OF THE NOBEL-LAUREATE POET, RABINDRANATH THAKUR -

78. 'In the bazaar haat of life I shopped day and night
But the Ananda for which I strife
I never got that's my plight
I never got you in my lifev
Never let me forget my plight
Remind me remind me of my misery'
Never let me forget my plight
So for this Ananda you have to strive from today don't forget your days are passing by you can be dead any day there will be no time for regret. So start today!

REGARDING SATSANG -

79. Every aspect of your spiritual life is anchored upon just one vital input: sadguru. Satguru laabh ho gayaa, tau sab ho gayaa!

Once you get sadguru, everything else follows naturally.

80. Look at all the mahatmas, all the great souls! They are all a product of satsang.

81. Once there is satsang, there is light.

82. Once you have satsang, you may rest assured there will be grace of God! Tulasidas calls satsanga ' muda-mangal-mulaa.' Contact with noble souls is the root of joy and blessings.

83. Goswami Tulasidas says in Bala Kanda, Binu Satsanga Bibeka Na Hoi, Rama Kripaa Binu Sulabha Na Soi. Whoever, whenever and by whatever means has ever attained wisdom, glory, salvation, material prosperity and welfare anywhere and by any means whatsoever - know it to be the result of association with holy men; there is no other means either in the world or in the Vedas.

84. Tulasidas says, Sab sadhana, japa, tapa, phool hain. satsanga "phal" hain! It constitutes the very fruit and fulfillment of all endeavours, whereas all other practices are blossoms as it were.

ON INDIA'S GLORY-

85. Every land and civilization has her strength. It's that spirit which perpetuates a particular civilization. India's strength is in dharma.

86. India ka pran-panchi "dharma" hain ! Be proud of India's heritage!

87. The whole world salutes India for her spirituality.Adhyatmavada is the glory of India.her very life! There's no point in getting distracted towards other virtues. for India spirituality is more than enough.

88. The greatest discovery of India is "inner joy."

REGARDING SATTVIK BHAVA -

89. Watch out for sattvik bhavas..ashru (tears), romanch (horripilation), pulak (goose-pimpling of the hair). Before Sri Bhagwan comes, his ambassadors will come. Just as before a VIP arrives, the roads are cleaned, everything is tidied. these sattvic sentiments come to the devotee.

ON DHARMA -

90. Dharma is that which leads to abhyudaya, spiritual exaltation. 'Nidra-bhaya-maithunam ca samanyam etat pasubhir naranam'. Ahara, Nidra, Bhaya and Maithuna, i. e. food, sleep, fear and copulation-are common to both animals and men. But man has got intelligence, power of discrimination (viveka) and power of enquiry (vichara sakti); with the help of these special powers, he can realize his self and can know his true nature.

91. Even devas (gods) are envious of human beings, because deva-yoni (divine species) is mere bhoga-yoni (enjoyment). They can enjoy only with a daivic (divine) body. Man has got both karma-yoni and bhoga-yoni. IN PRAISE OF UTTAR KASHI-

92. A friend from Oxford University wrote to Vitthal Maharaj:

"Great is the glory of Oxford in UK.foremost of the seats of learning! Not just students but every brick, every stone, every desk here is studying. Entire atmosphere is imbued with knowledge and learning."

Kinkar Vitthal Ramanuja was then in Uttar Kashi, Himalayas; he replied forthwith:

"I am glad to learn about Oxford. Here's news from another UK (Uttar Kashi). Not just sannyasis but every leaf, every drop of water, every clod of earth seems to be engaged in the japa of "Shiva", "Shiva", "Shiva". everything is instinct with spirituality and divine consciousness."

REGARDING MAN'S DIVINE ORIGIN -
QUOTING FROM WORDSWORTH'S 'INTIMATIONS OF IMMORTALITY':

93. Our birth is but a sleep and a forgetting The soul that rises with us, our life's star Hath had elsewhere its setting And cometh from afar: Not in entire forgetfulness, And not in utter nakedness But trailing clouds of glory do we come From God who is our home.

TO AN AUTHOR, ON WRITING-

94. Look here, literature is a sublime art and it will lead you to spirituality. Remember well the difference between the two streams of literary method: kalpana shakti and swapna vilas. Kalpana shakti is good, it consists in pure imagination. It will not hinder your mental state. Go for it! The latter, swapna vilas is fantasy based on one's own life, or life of others. It will create desires; sustain them artificially. It is a road to perdition.it's against spirituality. Never indulge in it.

WHEN IN DOUBT-

95. When in doubt, go by the thought that appeared first and foremost in your heart. That is the shuddha sankalpa. Or else place the question before Gurudeva or God when you pray. And follow your mind after the prayer.

ON PRATYADESH-

96. What is the difference between a regular sanakalpa and pratyadesh? Well, regular sankalpa os a good resolve, it won't achieve much. The good work done through regular sankalpa will last for five years or ten.may be for two decades and then it will be wiped out. But pratyadesh is a command from God received during meditation. The work done in response to a pratyadesh will last long.for centuries because it is fostered by God.it's God's desire.

ON POWER OF DIKSHA-

97. Why do you think so much about what will happen if I am unable to abide by the precepts after receiving diksha? Diksha is diksha.initiation is not just a formality. It is real. If you are initiated, you are initiated.it will have an effect whether you do anything or not.

ON STAYING CLEAN-

98. Ya tau satsang karo, ya nissang raho.beech bhanvar mein mat phaso . Either mix with the virtuous and seek the fellowship of the righteous people and holy men or just be by yourself. Do not be caught in a situation whereby you are neither here nor there.

ON BHAKTI-

99. Bhagat ko dar nahin! There's no need for a devotee to worry!

100. Yathaa bhakti tathaa laabh : In spirituality too, as you sow, so shall you reap. More the devotion, more the gain!

101. There are two types of bhaktas in this world. Those who will close the door and relish the sweet mango lest someone drops in and deprives you of a part.and those who will go on distributing the sweet mangoes to one and all. Be of the second type. Spirituality must be shared.

102. Say, "not mine, God's will be done!"

ON PAYING RESPECTS TO ELDERS-

103. If he or she is an elder, do not think. Just bow down and offer your pranam.

ON SPEECH-

104. Priyam vadam, satyam vadam. Never use harsh words.

ON HUMAN ORDAIN-

105. The purpose of our life can never be reckoned by the human intellect. We are here for a purpose beyond our immediate estimation. You can never say, I've done my life's job. The Supreme Power has ordained for us deeds we must accomplish and we will perform them irrespective of ourselves.

106. ON SIMULTANEITY OF WORLDLINESS AND DEVOTION- You shall not have to renounce this world. The path of devotion passes right through the worldly life. These two viz. worldly life and spiritual life are not mutually exclusive. Blessed are you for you are born in Kaliyuga. In this Yuga you don't need to go through rigid penance and austerities, only Naam will suffice.

107. Time and place to practice spirituality is here and now. Do not wait to grow old or to say you are done with worldly engagements and now it's time to turn toward God. Both are simultaneous.

108. It's funny the way a human being continues in worldly engagements. Like a frog half devoured by the snake, seized up to the abdomen by the serpent, and yet desperately necking out for worms close by, man though being devoured by Kaal (Time) still engages in futile pursuits.