Vyasa first revealed to man the secret of making the mind as clear and as full of cool rays as the moon on a full moon night; that is why this Pournami is associated with him and with all Gurus. Today every Aasthika (who believer in God) must refuse to be content with a feast and a lecture. He should try to plant today the Naamabija (seed of Lord’s Name) in his well-prepared heart, devoid of the thorns of egoism; and water it with prema(love), fence the sprout with shraddha (faith), feed it with the fertiliser,smarana(remembering the Name); and from the grown-up tree of the Mantra (holy letters), pluck the fruit of ananda (bliss) and relish the sweetness.

A person may boast of the vast treasures in the vaults of his bank, but he will get credit only for that which he has actually earned and deposited therein. Do not fritter away the time allotted to you; offer it to Keshava, who is Kaalaswarupa (Time personified).

Know that waking from sleep is but birth and going into sleep is death. On waking, pray every morning of your life, ‘Oh Lord, I am born now from the womb of sleep. I am determined to carry out all tasks this day as offerings to Thee, with Thee ever present before my mind’s eye. Make my words, thoughts and deeds sacred and pure; let me not inflict pain on any one; let no one inflict pain on me; direct me, guide me, this day.’

And when you enter the portals of sleep at night, pray, ‘Oh Lord! the tasks of this day, whose burden I placed on you this morning, are over. It was You who made me walk and talk and think and act; I therefore place at Thy Feet all my words, thoughts and deeds. My task is done. Receive me, I am coming back to you.’ Adopt these as your daily prayers. The best thing is to have your own Self as the source of Light, as the Guru. The Inner Intelligence, the Inner Guru will reveal the Truth. This prayerful attitude will so educate your impulses that the Inner intelligence will be fully revealed. (SSS Vol.2, p. 71)

In all religions, there are universal human values emphasizing the importance of prayer, the need for worship, the principle of Brotherhood of Man and Fatherhood of God, and the cultivation of love for all beings. Hindus, Christians, Buddhists and Jews have their modes of prayer, but all are seeking the grace of God. (SS June ’06, p. 168)

Strive for the happiness of the community and of the human race. Pray that all men everywhere may have peace and plenty. Be eager to do good and be good… Moderation in food, moderation in talk, and in desires and pursuits; contentment with what little can be got by honest labour, eagerness to serve others and to impart joy to all - these are most powerful of all the tonics and health – preserves known to the science of health, the Sanathana Ayurveda, the Veda of full life. (SSS Vol. 41, p. 13)

When people pray to God they should not seek any favours. You should not even pray for curing any illness, because the world is full of disease. You must feel that what is ailing numerous others is also ailing you. You must seek from God what is not really available in the world. You do not have peace. You must pray for peace. Only Divine has peace. The Divine has been described as the very embodiment of peace in the prayer addressed to the Lord beginning with the word ‘Shantakaram.’ Nobody else except God can give you real peace.

The second thing for which you must pray is Sukham (happiness). Real happiness cannot be had from others. They may give momentary worldly pleasure. But only God has enduring happiness and permanent bliss. You must pray for that bliss. God alone can give it. He is the Lord of Bliss. You must pray to god for enduring peace and bliss and not for any earthly gifts. (SSS Vol.30, pp. 172-173)

Have faith in His grace, and lead a virtuous life, a life devoted to service of the weak, a life spent in thoughts about the might and glory of God. Pray that you may carry out your duty well. God will certainly answer your prayer. (SSS Vol.9, pp. 55-56)

Every day before you begin work, pray to God a few minutes at least; and at the end of the day, when the work is over, gather in some consecrated spot, a temple or Mandir, and offer grateful thanks to the Lord, singing His name and meditating on His majesty. That will make you real Karma yogins, even heroes of the Karma Path. (SSS Vol.9, p. 56)

‘Mother Sai! We are all children within Thy womb. As a mother lovingly bears the hammerings of the embryo, Thou too dost put up with the painful knocks with compassion. Thou art the mother cheerfully doing everything only for our sake, Thy children. As Mother Durga, Thou dost drive away our difficulties and protect us; as Mother Saraswati, endowest us with wisdom, as Mother Lakshmi, givest us the treasure of wealth in correct measure, as Mother Annapurna fondly dost feed us. Even without our entreaties, children that we are, of Thine own accord, Thou wilt bless us with the right things at the right time. However, for our own satisfaction, we pray.

Pray, feed us with dishes of devotion for the mind, and victuals of wisdom for the intelligence. Grant us the vision to realise that Thou art the One Power immanent everywhere, in everything. (BSS Part I, p. 28)

In order to fulfil the yearning of the Bhakta, Hari, the immanent basic being of the universe, will come, in any Form, in any thing, at any place. You have to pray to the Lord, with one-pointed concentration, which comes out of Sattva guna only; and that again is the product of Dhyanam. (DhyV, p. 46)

Regular prayers twice a day will give strength and courage, to withstand illness. The Grace of God will confer mental peace and so, good sleep and rest for the mind. Feel that you are a hundred percent dependent on God; He will look after you and save you from harm and injury. When you go to bed, offer thankful homage to Him for guiding and guarding you throughout the day. When a friend offers you a cigarette or some one gives you a glass of water, you say immediately, ‘Thank you;’ how much more gratitude should you evince to God who watches

you and wards off all harm threatening to overwhelm you. Activity must be dedicated to God,

the Highest Good. Then, it will provide health of body and mind. (SSS Vol.7, p. 102)

Pray intensely and with faith. Then Grace will be showered on you. When the heart is soaked in Love, it cannot be contaminated by egoism and its evil consequences. (SSS Vol.7, p. 282)

Pray to the Lord for strength, wisdom, humility, detachment, light and love. With each step in the pilgrimage of life, approach Divinity steadily and surely. (SSS Vol.7, p. 423)

Prayer must emerge from the effect to the cause. The individual self has to yearn for the supreme Self. It must emerge from a pure heart. The prayer (drinking cup) must be clean both on the outside and the inside. Prayer should not arise from the tongue as music rises out of a gramophone record. When the song does not come from your depth, when you are not involved in it, how can it draw God to you? Your self must achieve confidence, then that self-confidence will lead to self-sacrifice and realisation. (SSS Vol. 15)

The pomp and paraphernalia of Puja are merely superficial; they do not confer lasting benefits; at best, they prevent you from using that much time and money in harmful ways! Pray God for God; Love, because it is your nature to Love, because you know nothing else, because you cannot act otherwise than Love. Expand yourself; take in all! Grow in Love. That is the new dress you have to wear and shine in this day. (SSS Vol.7, p. 456)

By means of prayer, recitation of the name, adoration of the glory, worship etc. the sins of the past can be destroyed, the inner consciousness purified of impulses and urges; then the light of wisdom will dawn, leading ‘from darkness’ to liberation. (GV, p. 197)

All sons and daughters of India pray, since Vedic times, Lokah samastah sukhino bhavantu ‘May all the denizens of all the worlds be happy’. That is why India has been the Teacher, the Guide, for all humanity. That is why she has survived the onslaughts of alien cultures and is ready even today to take up that role. As a matter of fact, India is destined to be, India has all the qualifications to be a huge Prasanthi Nilayam, from which the message of Prashanti will radiate over the whole world. (SSS Vol.5, p. 41)

1.

Will you, my Lord, let go the hold?

You will not, you will not,

You will not go

However bad I be.

Will you, my Lord, let me waste my years?

You will not, you will not,

You will not let me waste,

However dull I be.

Will you my Lord, let me run or ruin?

You will not, You will not,

You will not let me run,

However wayward I be.

Will You, my Lord, let me escape Your eye?

You will not, You will not,

You will not let me escape,

However wanton I be.

You cannot but rush to rescue Your own,

You cannot delay for weighing pro and con;

You cannot stay unconcerned when we weep;

You cannot but respond to the prayers of the poor.

2.

I firmly believe there is none kinder than You,

to Shower Grace on me.

Tell me, is this not the reason why

I am at Your Lotus Feet?

I firmly believe You will respond quick

When I do pray and plead.

Tell me, is this not the reason why

I am crying aloud for You?

I firmly believe You are ever beside me

to guide my steps aright.

Tell me, is this not the reason why

I am Yours thro’ day and night.

I firmly believe You can never say ‘No’

Whatever I ask from You.

Tell me, is this not the reason why

I long for a glance from You?

What have You designed for me this time?

Why this dire delay to offer boons?

However I long You make me wait and wail

I will not leave, I’ll be standing still

Until Your loving eyes do turn on me.

3.

Hoping You’ll guide me-

this day or the day after-

I await Your call from day to day.

Hoping You’ll give darshan,

but afraid You may not,

I’m all alert from hour to hour.

Hoping you’ll come to me straight

This very instant,

I’m watching and praying ever anon.

Hoping you’ll smile at me

at last, though not at first,

I’m longingly gazing with thirsty eyes.

I shall stand and stay, in deep distress

Until my day of bliss does dawn;

I am Yours, Your own, though exiled far.

Dear Father mine! Do heal Your child.

(These three prayers were given to Shri N. Kasturi by Bhagavan Baba on His Birthday in 1959, as part of New Year day Blessings, 1960 and as His Birthday Message in 1962 with instructions to ‘Begin the prayers and Blessings and Boons follow in plenty...)

(Lov God, pp. 81-83)

You should not pray to God seeking this favour or that. The reason is: no one can know what immensely precious, Divine and magnificent treasures lie in the treasure-house of Divine Grace. No one can know what God intends or desires to give to a devotee. In such a situation, by asking for trival and petty things, man is demeaning his Divine estate. No one can understand what valuable, sacred and Divine favour God chooses to confer on a deserving devotee. Hence man should not seek from Gad, nor desire, nor pray for some petty trifles. More precious and desirable than anything else is God’s love.

If you wish to ask anything from God pray to Him thus! ‘Oh Lord! Let me have you alone’. Once you have secured Lord, you can get anything you want. That was why Mira sang: ‘Oh heart, drink the nectar of Divine Love’. When you can have Divine Love, to crave for anything else is like asking for coffee powder from the Wish-fulfilling Tree! (Kalpataru). (D3 , p. 89)

However high a bird might soar, it has sooner or later to perch on a tree top, to enjoy quiet, so too, a day will come when the most haughty, the most wilful, the most unbelieving, even those who assert there is no, joy or peace in the contemplation of the Highest Self, will have to pray. ‘God! Grant me consolation, strength and joy’. (Ddd, p. 33)

Begin now, this very moment, to voice forth your call to God and pray.

I do not need any riches; for why should I?

A Care-free mind is enough, O Father.

That is a Million for me

I shall not Yearn for Fortune, for Why should I?

A smile-lit face is enough, O Father,

That is a Million for me

I shall not pine and want; for Why should I?

A glance from Thy Eye is enough, O Father

That is a Million for me

Enough for me these things 1 have,

Whatever thou has gifted me

Why think of getting more?

I’ll have them when thou wishest;

Enough for me Thy undiminishing Grace

Which falls on all thou hast blessed.

With the words: this one is Mine’.

(SS60, p. 18)

Prayer is the very breath of religion, for it brings man and God together and with every sigh, nearer and nearer. (DM, p. 139)

Prayers for worldly ends do not reach God. They will reach only those deities who deal with such restricted spheres. But all prayers arising from pure love, unselfish eagerness to render service and from hearts that are all inclusive will reach God. For God is the very Embodiment of Love. We know that we have to see the Moon only through Moonlight. So too, God who is Love can be realised only through Love. Love is God. Live in Love. (SSS Vol.11, p. 68)

Prayers help you to pay your tax to God. (DG, p. 24)

We speak often about prayer. Prayer does not mean petitioning to God. Prayer is an index of the experience of Atmic bliss. It is a means of sharing this bliss, spreading it all around, being immersed in that bliss. Prayer must come from the heart. Prayer that is not heartfelt is utterly useless. The Lord will accept a heart without words. But He will not accept words and prayers that do not come from the heart. ‘This is why God is described as Lord of the Heart (Hridayesa). It is only when you have faith in this, that you will be able to manifest your divinity. (SSS Vol.21)

Oh! Lord! Take my love and let it flow in fullness of devotion to thee

Oh! Lord! Take my hands and let them work incessantly for thee

Oh! Lord! Take my soul and let it be merged in one with thee

Oh! Lord! Take my mind and thoughts and let them be in tune with thee

Oh! Lord! Take my everything and let me be an instrument to work.

(MBI, p. 261)

Prayer is not the pronouncing of words. Prayer is the yearning one experiences to awaken the divinity latent in the heart. Embodiments of prema. A heart without words is far more precious than words without a heart. (SSS Vol.11, p. 121)

People offer prayers to God. Prayers should not mean petitioning to God for favours. The object of prayer should be to establish God firmly in one s heart. Aim at linking yourself to God and not at seeking favours. Aspire for earning the love of God. That is real penance. That is why it is said: Looking ahead is Tapas (penance); looking backward is Tamas (ignorance). Tapas does not mean giving up hearth and home and retiring to a forest. It means giving up all bad qualities and striving to live ceaselessly for God s grace. (SSS Vol.22)

Prayer must emanate from the heart, where God resides and not from the head where doctrines and doubts clash. (SSS Vol.22)

Pray in order to obtain God; when you have Him you will have all the rest... Seek the Kingdom of god, and all else will be added unto you. (ACPMSB, p. 232)

Happiness lies in union with God. When you think of God you are bound to be happy. You must tell people to think of God and chant prayers even while they take medicine for the disease. This must be taught mainly to school children so that they may grow up as good enlightened children. There was a professor in Kashi who used to do prayer and worship at the altar in his house. An atheist friend of his who visited him remarked that he was wasting so much time in prayer. The professor replied that the prayer to God will never go waste. He added: ‘I waste only one hour per day, even if according to you God does not exist. But if God exists, you are wasting your whole life-time.’ (SSS Vol.27, p. 53)

When God is invoked by prayer that emanates from the heart, let it be but once, He responds immediately. But now the call emanates only from the lips, it has not the ring of sincerity and faith. From the lips, it must roll back on the tongue; from the tongue, it must go deep into the throat; from the throat, it must reach down into the heart. Continuous sadhana alone can grant success in this endeavour. You must become like an infant with no inhibitions or stratagems. The mother may be attending to her daily chores on the first floor of the house, leaving the infant in the cradle on the ground floor. But when the child sends up a loud wail either through fear or hunger, she rushes down to lift the child, fondle it, feed it and comfort it on her lap. She will not stay away because of the wail not being musical or melodious. (SSE, p.16)

Even in the field of business, we know that when all workers offer prayers before they start work, they have a very peaceful and a productive day. But today there are no such prayers. As workers are not offering prayers before undertaking work, they are subject to innumerable problems and agitations from dawn to dusk. Offering prayer should be an important duty before starting any kind of work. (M, p. 137)

Devotees offer their prayers to God. Some people doubt the efficacy of prayer. But, in fact any mighty task can be accomplished through prayer. It makes impossible things possible. Here is a small example. There has been a swelling on my cheek for the past ten days. I never take any medicine. Yesterday I observed that the attention of all those assembled here was focused on My cheek, not on Me! They were worried that the swelling had not still not reduced and that Swami was undergoing a lot of pain. After I delivered the Valedictory Discourse, I retired to My room. As I was resting, a number of devotees were praying to Me that I should cure myself at least by the auspicious day of Guru Purnima. All their prayers reached Me. When I got up in the morning, the swelling reduced and there was absolutely no pain whatsoever. In fact, I had not willed that it should be so. It is the result of the prayers of devotees. Yesterday, many did not even take food. With tears in their eyes, they were praying continuously. My thoughts went to them for a moment. But I never willed that I should be cured. I never do it. Why? As Sanjay Sahani rightly pointed out. ‘I And You Are One’. This is not My body, it is yours. So, it is your responsibility to take care of this body. I never think of My body. And its well being. I never make a Sankalpa (Will) that such and such a thing should happen, so far as My body is concerned. There is no selfishness in Me from head to toe. That is why I have every right to declare that I and you are One.

God certainly listens to the prayers of His devotees. Some people hesitate to pray lest their prayers cause inconvenience to God. They are mistaken, for God can never put to inconvenience whatsoever. God has no suffering at all. He considers devotees’ happiness as His happiness. However, your happiness results from material things; whereas My happiness is related to the principle of Atma. I am pleased by the smallest of small offering if it is made with love. Your tiny offering will assume gigantic proportions to Me. On the other hand, you are not satisfied n spite of receiving mighty favours. (SSS Vol.35)

Sarve bhavantu sukhinah,

Sarve santu niramayah

Sarve bhadrani pashyantu

Ma kaschid duhkha bhag-bhavet

(May all be healthy, happy and prosperous! May all lead a life without sorrow!)

The Bharatiyas pray for the welfare and well being of all the people of the world. This is the foremost principle of Bharatiya culture. The culture of Bharat is eternal, everlasting and steadfast. Its glory has remained undiminished through the ravages of time. The students today have forgotten this sacred culture and are consequently facing great problems. They are distancing themselves from peace and bliss and shared it with others. Even the people of others countries recognised the greatness of Bharatiya culture and tried to follow the same for the benefit of their respective countries. (SSB 2002, pp. 1-2)

You are all brothers and sisters. In a short time, you are all going to witness ‘ Brotherhood Man and Fatherhood of God.’ With a pure heart, all of you should pray for this to happen at the earliest.

There are many people in the world in great distress. The people who have been hijacked were under a severe strain. Prayer is the only remedy for the alleviation of such misery. There is nothing in the world that cannot be achieved by prayer. Prayer melts the hardest of hearts. Pray wholeheartedly, Lokah samastah sukhino bhavantu (May the whole world be happy!). Do not pray for your family, friends and relatives alone. Such narrow-minded prayers are futile. Your prayer should be for the welfare of all people in all the countries of the world. (SSS Vol.33)

With prayer to God, you achieve anything in life. I want you to pray, I want you to stand united like brothers and sisters and earn a good name. Only then will our purpose of establishing educational institutions be fulfilled. I am always with you, in you above you, below you, around you, Develop unwavering devotion to God and make efforts to instil such faith and devotion in your fellow beings. That will make me happy. (SSS Vol.39, p. 14)

By means of prayer you can win the grace of God: prayer saves you from slavery to the senses; when you extol; God and feel that you are activated by HIS WILL, you will become free from anger, anxiety, prejudice and envy; these passions ruin physical and mental health. Whenever you feel greed or resentment, try to control the emotion. Treat it as you would treat any illness; find the cure and master it. (Bhagavan His Discourse in April 1973 in Hyderabad). (Sanatahna Sarathi June 2021 p 26)