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150 SPIRIT AND THE MIND
no need to struggle. I could stay here forever. Baba had granted me a brief glimpse into a profound inner truth: exquisite peace really does exist within.
Ignorant people seek joy and contentment from external objects, though there are treasures inside them. They arise from the Lord who is inherent in them, everywhere. Underground we have a stream of potable water; between us and the stream there is a thick bed of soil. By spiritual work that soil has to be removed. So too, peace and contentment exist deep within the consciousness of everyone, but they are overlaid by thick beds of evil tendencies and habits (greed, hatred, lust, desire, pride, jealousy, attachment to the outer world) and so, man has to remove these in order to benefit from the treasure.
(Sathya Sai Baba)
I knew I would go back to my home, no question about that. I loved my family and they needed me; I had duties to perform, obligations to fulfill. But in this moment of reflection, I saw more deeply into Baba’s mystery. For if from my limited consciousness I had begun to see the inner life as more attractive than the outer, what must Baba’s reality be? He must dwell in pure glory—in sheer ecstasy! What need, then, would he have of this world? Yet he had come to heal and teach, to give to the poor and ailing, to hear their cries of sorrow. He gave all his love—his very life—and all with a simple and innocent smile. Here was a life of sacrifice to love, for love, likened to Christ’s life and Christ’s sacrifice.
Life is a song—sing it.
Life is a game—play it. Life is a challenge—meet it. Life is a dream—realize it. Life is a sacrifice—offer it. Life is love—enjoy it. (Sathya Sai Baba)
Now, in this peaceful moment I could feel so clearly that the purpose of life, when one is made empty and without desire, is to love the Lord and to express that love in kindness to others.