14
ing, right speech, right thoughts, and right acts as
the five primordial principles for the guidance of
man.
Sathya
Sai Speaks, Volume 32, Part 1,
Chapter 13: Nature of Self.
2
Speak with Love
The food you eat is impure. The air you breathe
is impure. Everything is impure. Then how can
you escape disease? If you do not want disease,
eat pure food, breathe pure air, drink pure water,
and be pure. But wherever one looks, there is only
impurity. When you are surrounded by impurity,
how can you get purity? When purity manifests
from within, you can experience its reflection, re-
action, and resound in the external world. First
and foremost, you have to infuse purity into so-
ciety. To whomever you speak, speak sweetly, not
with hatred, anger, and jealousy. First you have to
learn this. You cannot always oblige, but you can
always speak obligingly. Speak with love.
Show Humanness in Action
From head to foot, man is filled with anger
today. He has become like an animal. Even an
animal is better than man. An animal has a reason
and a season. Today man has no reason and no
season. If you behave in this manner, how can you
call yourself a human? To call yourself a human,
first and foremost show humanness in action.
Just because you have a human body, you can-
not call yourself a human. The human body will
have value only when you cultivate human val-
ues, namely, truth, righteousness, peace, love, and
non-violence. Of what use is human birth if hu-
man values are absent? First demonstrate human-
ness. Develop love. By doing so, all will become
your friends. What kind of friends? Those who are
full of love. Your real friend is only God. God is
love personified. He is full of love.
Sathya Sai Speaks, Volume 34,
Chapter 10: Cultivate Love and Become Divine.
Speak Good Words
You should help people even if you have to un-
dergo some difficulties. Never indulge in reviling
others, for the same Atma is permeating every liv-
ing being. If you abuse others, it amounts to abus-
ing your own self. If you do not like them, keep
yourself away from them, but never abuse them.
Any amount of good work done by you will be of
no use if you do not give up bad qualities.
If you cannot do good to others, at least speak
good words. You cannot always oblige, but you
can always speak obligingly. If you find someone
suffering, try to help him. Today it is his turn, but
tomorrow it could be yours. Always keep this in
mind. Nobody can escape pain and suffering. Al-
ways pray for the welfare of all. It is only in this
context that the universal prayer “May all the peo-
ple of the world be happy!” is addressed.
Sathya Sai Speaks, Volume 35,
Chapter 23: Love and Morality – The Need of the Hour.
2
Make All People Happy
Learn to speak good words. Never hurt any-
body with harsh words. Speak softly and sweetly
to make all people happy.
Embodiments of Love! Good words bring good
actions. You cannot always oblige, but you can
always speak obligingly. When you thus speak
obligingly, how much your status grows! The soci-
ety will respect you.
Sathya Sai Speaks, Volume 35,
Chapter 21: The Best Way to Love God Is to Love All and
Serve All.
15
Keep Silent When You Are Angry
When you converse with others, you should
do so with respect. You should not use harsh
words. “If you cannot oblige, speak obligingly,” is
the golden rule you should follow. When you sa-
lute others, it goes to God. When you criticise or
abuse another person, that also goes to God. You
must discourage and control the emergence of bad
qualities.
When you are in a bad or an angry mood, keep
silent. Do not exchange words, which cause the
anger to multiply. That is why we say, “Om Shanti,
Shanti, Shanti” at the end of the devotional sing-
ing session. Why three times and not four times?
It is to cover the three entities: body, mind, and
Atma. You should have shanti (peace) in all three
levels.
Sathya Sai Speaks, Volume 31,
Chapter 20: Install Divinity in the Heart.
2
Talk Less, Work More
Students! See that the words that you speak
are sacred. “You cannot always oblige, but you
can always speak obligingly.” That is enough. Try
to speak sweetly and softly. I have told you many
times, “Talk less, work more.” The one who talks
excessively cannot work. The one who works will
not talk. What is the reason for your not remem-
bering all that you read? It is excessive talk. By
talking less, your memory power will increase. Not
merely this, your Atmic power will also improve.
Put into Practice What You Hear
Whatever you hear, try to recapitulate, then
put into practice. Listening, contemplating, and
practicing – these three are very essential. Lis-
tening can be compared to cooking in the kitch-
en. Contemplating can be compared to bringing
the food to the dining hall and serving it. Prac-
tising can be compared to the eating process.
When all these three are unified, you will have
health and happiness.
So, if you want to lead a life of contentment,
contemplate and practise whatever you have stud-
ied. Today we find bookish knowledge everywhere,
which is nothing but superficial knowledge. This
superficial knowledge is of no use. You should be
thorough in practical knowledge.
Sathya Sai Speaks, Volume 31,
Chapter 30: Knowledge without Practice Is Meaningless.
2
Speak Softly and Sweetly
Love always gives and never receives. Such
selfless love is only with God. You have gathered
here to experience that love. No one has sent you
any invitation. It is only love that has brought
you here. What is it that I am giving you? When I
just ask you, “When did you come?” you become
ecstatic. There is so much sweetness even in the
words that I utter.
You too should learn to speak softly and sweet-
ly. “You cannot always oblige, but you can always
speak obligingly.” Harsh words are like atom
bombs. When someone visits your house, even if
you do not give him anything to eat, at least talk
to him sweetly and softly. It can even appease his
hunger. Instead, if you speak harshly, that will not
only increase his hunger but also dishearten him.
Sathya Sai Speaks, Volume 31,
Chapter 33: Obey God’s Commands.