WYC-1 July 17, 19971

Love God, Fear Sin, Guard Human Values

World Youth Conference 1

Discourse

July 17, 1997

WYC-1 July 17, 19972

Ceiling on Desires

So long as one goes on multiplying his desires, he will continue to be in want. When he controls his desires, man attains prosperity. Greed makes a man unhappy and miserable. Only when greed and miserliness are given up one can have an enjoyable and peaceful life.

People cannot understand the greatness of Divine Love. They misconstrue this love and even blame God when they do not get their low desires fulfilled. Some want liberation. What is liberation? It is liberation from desires. They want to see God. Should you not have the requisite faith and feeling in your heart for this?

WYC-1 July 17, 19973

Ceiling on Desires

You young men and women should know what is truth, what is love and what is God and what relationship is there between Mind and World. Youth go abroad in quest of money. You are not satisfied with what you can earn here and out of greed you go for earning more. You should have hands in society and head in the forest. This is real rest. Men spend their entire life with attachment to money to such an extent that even while on death bed they cannot think of God. In this conference, you have been told about fear of sin and morality in society. You have to carry these ideals with you and practice them.

WYC-1 July 17, 19974

Ceiling on Desires: Techniques

Food– Eat in moderation by avoiding taking more than you can eat on your plate.– Offer food to Swami before you eat. Do not waste food offered to Swami.

Time– Constantly inquire whether the activity you are engaged in is the best use

of your time. Money

– Consider ways to conserve money, e.g. preparing a home-made lunch instead of eating out.

– Open a piggy bank with saved funds to regularly give to the needy (in some form).

Energy– Avoid unnecessary talk. Swami says, “Unnecessary talk should be

avoided as this results in waste of energy and reduction of memory power.”– Practice silence after bhajans.

WYC-1 July 17, 19975

Ceiling on Desires: Sai Challenges

Challenge yourself. Take up one or more of these Sai Challenges and keep track of it.

Food– Swami says we should eat such that 50% of our stomach is filled with food, 25% with

water, and 25% with air for digestion. Try eating according to this suggestion.– Reduce your portions for lunch and dinner. Eat a healthy breakfast.

Time– Wake up immediately as your alarm goes off; don’t snooze.– Limit your time in the shower to ten minutes or less.

Money– Identify your needs versus wants. Ask yourself if a purchase is a need or a want; if it

is a want, try not to buy it. Energy

– Identify and eliminate one energy wasting activity in your routine each week.– Reduce, reuse or recycle instead of throwing things away.– Set aside 15 minutes every day and be silent. This could be done at work during the

lunch break, between classes at school, after work or school before returning home, or with family members.

WYC-1 July 17, 19976

Unity of Thought, Word and Deed

You should not be carried away by bookish and superficial knowledge. You should have practical knowledge to make your life useful: Achieve coordination between your education and behavior. Perfect harmony in thought, word and deed is the hallmark of a human being. You should have full faith in God with no doubt at all. Divinity is beyond your human comprehension with the physical equipment you have. Your thoughts are only reflections, resound and reaction of the outer world. God has no such reactions. He has only one Sound, that is Truth Absolute.

You should follow the twin ideals "Speak the Truth and do righteous deeds". God is the changeless Truth but no one understands this. You can do so only when you follow the righteous path of morality and integrity.

You must radiate human values and ensure unity in thought, word, and deed. At present there is chaos and mutual animosity amongst various peoples. You have to spread the message of unity, purity, and divinity.

WYC-1 July 17, 19977

Unity of Thought, Word and Deed: Techniques

Carry a small photograph of Swami’s with you all the time. Whenever you feel that you are about to break the thought, word and deed harmony remember that Swami is watching you! Do you want to do some thing that Swami does not like?

Have an activity to counter disharmony.

If your words/ actions don’t reflect your thoughts, take a short break, focus on Swami and restart activity.

Strive to give up evil thoughts, evil looks, vicious speech and the greed to give ear to evil counsel and slanderous gossip. Constantly practice on discriminating your thoughts to have only good thoughts and intentions

Learn the meanings of some of the words in devotional songs. Make your thoughts dwell on these images during devotional service.

Keep good company, it will help you to think, do, and say good things.

WYC-1 July 17, 19978

Unity of Thought, Word and Deed: Sai Challenge

Challenge yourself. Take up one or more of these Sai Challenges and keep track of it:

When thinking a negative thought, change focus by singing a devotionalsong or chanting a prayer. 

Practice constant communion with Swami and use him as your Spiritual Police in practicing unity of thought, word and deed.

Read good books or Sai Literature for the next two weeks. Use these positive text in your constant pursuit of uniting good thoughts, with words and deeds.

Control your senses by practicing one hour of silence each day (without television, radio, or phones), what we see and hear directly affects our thoughts.

Think of one or more selfless service deeds that you can offer, discuss it with fellow YAs’, and conduct the selfless service once a month until WYC III.

Prepare and eat Sathwic “pure” food only for a meal…a day… a week -- Swami says, “As is the food, so is the mind, as the mind, so the thought, as the thought, so the act”.

WYC-1 July 17, 19979

Unity In Diversity

The whole world and the objects therein are inter-related by the bond of love. It is love that binds the human race together. The world cannot exist without love. God is love and resides in the heart of every one as embodiment of love. Based on this Truth we pray, that all the people in the world should be happy. (Lokaas-Samasthaas Sukhino Bhavanthu).

You are all embodiments of the Divine. So you should love all and never hurt anyone. If you harm anyone, you are harming the Divine.

WYC-1 July 17, 199710

Unity In Diversity

St. John used to consider all as his brothers. But, on one occasion he punished one brother. Jesus appeared in his dream and questioned him " Do you think you are hurting that man? No, you are hurting Me" You should understand this truth that any harm done to a fellow being is harming the Divine. You should cultivate the spirit of oneness.

WYC-1 July 17, 199711

Unity In Diversity: Techniques

1. Gain knowledge of others behaviors and actions without focusing on differences. Focus on similarities instead.

2. Try and relate to another’s actions by attempting to understand why they act how they do. How does another’s actions resemble your own?

3. Respect others differences. Remind yourself that each of us is Sai, and in truth, no different from anyone else. If it helps, carry a picture of Sai with you.

WYC-1 July 17, 199712

Unity In Diversity: Sai Challenges

Make a special effort to speak softly and sweetly with each individual you encounter, remembering that they too are God. Do you notice them reacting differently?

When you greet an individual, internally say “I love you Sai” to the God within the other individual. Do this with each individual you meet for a day/week.

Visit a religious congregation of a faith other than your own and seek similarities between what you believe and they preach. Ignore any differences you might encounter.

WYC-1 July 17, 199713

Selfless Service

In ancient times, the sages and saints sacrificed everything for the sake of the welfare of humanity. Even the youth of those times followed suit. They are remembered even today because of their spirit of selfless sacrifice. On the contrary, the youth of today are becoming exceedingly greedy and totally selfish and harboring feelings of hatred and jealousy, while those in the ancient times were leading a life of Thyaaga and Yoga (sacrifice and sense control). The present day youth want to lead a life of Bhoga (enjoying worldly and carnal pleasures) which results in Roga (disease).

…every one of your actions must be done as an offering to God. But, nowadays people start their journey from 'I' and come back to the same 'I'. This is selfishness. The day you give up selfishness you are on the right path.

WYC-1 July 17, 199714

Selfless Service

I should be happy. I should enjoy all pleasures and be comfortable. I do not care for others". This is the attitude of Svaartha Prema (selfish love). Anyonya Prema represents the feeling that not only himself but also his relatives and friends should be comfortable and enjoy a good life. But, Paraartha Prema represents the feeling that all should be happy in the entire world. This is the highest type of Prema.

WYC-1 July 17, 199715

Selfless Service: Techniques

Offer our time, energy and talents from a spirit of free, unattached giving, rather than from a feeling that we should serve.

If you do an act of kindness and do not receive a thank you or a smile in return, do not be discouraged. Be assured that, when love is freely given without strings attached, love is doing its job.

In whatever act we do at home or in the community, imagine and recognize that the recipient is God standing before you.

If we are living with our parents, and even if we are married, look around and see how we can contribute to the smooth running of the household, i.e., do the dishes unasked, sweep the floor, take out the trash.

Call our parents and family members regularly and be a good listener. Swami says that is why we were given two ears and only one mouth.

WYC-1 July 17, 199716

Selfless Service: Sai Challenge

After assessing the needs of your community, undertake one selfless service activity or project in your region and maintain that commitment monthly at least until July 2007.

If there is someone at home, work or school with whom you have exchanged unkind words or thoughts recently, the next time you see them silently say, "Baba, how can I serve you in the embodiment of this person today?” Then make the effort to say a kind word or apologize for your previous comment.

Try to spend two hours per week or perform one act per day of selfless service.

Try to serve before being asked to - at home, at school, at work, or at the Sai Center.

WYC-1 July 17, 199717

For Next Time

There are a number of sub-values covered in this discourse which have not been discussed, including:

– Sense Control– Surrender – Detachment– Devotion– Faith– Discrimination– Love for God

Take some time individually or as a group to identify techniques and challenges for the other sub-values. Next time you meet conduct a study circle with your findings.

WYC-1 July 17, 199718

Unity In Diversity: Sai Challenge

Jai Sai Ram

“Have full faith in God and surrender to God. Do service with a spirit of dedication as an offering to God. Spread

the message of the glory of God in every village by chanting the name of God. Then the atmosphere and

climate of the world will change for the better and become sacred. “