June 03, 2026
What is the nature of true love, and what is the prerequisite to developing such love? Bhagawan lovingly reminds us today.
In this worldly life, love manifests in several forms, such as the love between mother and son, husband and wife, and between relatives. This love based on physical relationships arises out of selfish motives and self-interest. But the love for the Divine is devoid of any trace of self-interest. This is called bhakti. One characteristic of this love is to give and not to receive. Secondly, love knows no fear. Thirdly, it is only for love’s sake and not for a selfish motive. All these three angles of love jointly connote prapatti (Surrender). When one revels in this attitude of prapatti, one experiences the bliss of the Divine. For this, the prime requisite is kshama (forbearance). Only a person who has this attitude of kshama can be considered to be endowed with sacred love. This cannot be learned from textbooks. Nor can it be acquired from preceptors nor from anyone else. It is to be cultivated by oneself in times of difficulties, trials and tribulations that one is forced to meet. When you are confronted with problems and difficulties, you should not get upset and become victims of depression, which is a sign of weakness. In such a situation, you should bring tolerance and an attitude of forgiveness into play and should not get agitated, giving rise to anger, hatred and a revengeful attitude. You are embodiments of strength and not weakness.
– Divine Discourse, Jan 01, 1994.
The quality of kshama (forbearance) is the greatest power in a human being. If one loses this quality, he becomes demonic.– BABA
With Love,
Baba
#Sri Sathya Sai
Sai Inspires (‘Thought for the Day’, originally in English) is written daily, every day of the year, on a small blackboard, at Sri Sathya Sai Baba’s ashram, Prashanti Nilayam.
