Happiness depends on internal factors
Why do people worship Baba and other saints? Their human form has gone, but they are still remembered and worshipped. They are worshipped because they were sensitive to the problems of others and felt compassion for them. Most people are extremely conscious of their own sentiments, their own sensitivities but are insensitive to others. Let us try to be sensitive to the needs of others and behave accordingly. Let us stop unnecessary ritualism and use our God given advantages to reach out to the poor, needy and weaker sections of society and try to relieve their suffering.
We go to the temple, worship Baba, offer dakshina to priests, employ remedies against the evil-eye like keeping lime and green chilly, yet, we do not find happiness. Happiness does not come from these. Until the time we can control our mind, none of the above would be of any use.
Visiting temples, music, mantra, worship etc may help only if we can keep our minds in check. Happiness depends not on external conditions but on intrinsic, internal factors.
We might have read the Sai Satcharitra many times, read other spiritual books, heard sermons from priests so many times, but what is the use of just reading them? Read books, but not superficially. Do not pretend to imbibe bhakti. Going to the temple, all decked up, does not express devotion. Be natural – the more natural you are, the better.
Exhibition of religious fervour is just physical acrobatics. We don’t need acrobatics. We need finer sense to prevail on us to understand the problems of others. We should start from our own home because our home is our ‘peeth’.
Let us pray the Master to give us the correct emotional and mental capabilities to enable us to understand Him and walk on the path shown by Him.
Source: New Year Message (2013) by Dr. C B Satpathy