Truth, righteousness, peace and love — these are the four pillars
on which the mansion of happiness is built.
Truth, Justice, compassion and peace flee from it.
The cultivation of Human Values alone is
Education.
Cultivate the heart to raise a harvest of Truth,
Righteousness, Peace and Love. This crop has to be raised in your
heart and should be shared with others.
Everyone has Love towards some thing or other, and
that Love is a spark of the Divine; everyone has ultimately to
base his life on some one Truth; that Truth is God.
Our life is like a block of ice which is melting
away every moment. Before it spends itself, devote it to the
service of others. Education in Human Values is designed to
prepare everyone for this life of dedicated service.
So long as man is capable of Prema, Dharma will
exist, do not doubt it. When that Prema is fixed on the Lord, your
mental make-up will slowly and steadily undergo a revolutionary
change; then, man will share in the sorrows and joys of his
fellow-beings; thereafter he contacts the very source of the Bliss
that is beyond the temporary gains and losses of this world.
The cultivation of Human Values alone is
Education.
Wherever Sathya [Truth], Dharma [Righteousness],
Santhi [Peace] and Prema [Love] are emphasised, in whatever
religion or language, there we have Sanathana Dharma [the Eternal
Gospel].
Whoever tries to understand the Human Values of
Truth, Righteous conduct, Peace, Love and Non-violence properly,
who practises these values and propagates them with zeal and
sincerity can alone be described as a truly educated person.
— Sri Sathya Sai Baba, 24 March 1958
You may have the best vegetables, you may be the
most capable cook, but, if the copper vessel in which you prepare
the vegetable soup is not tinned, the concretion you cook will be
highly poisonous! So ‘tin’ your heart with truth, right conduct,
peace and divine love; it will then become a vesssel fit for
repeating holy name or symbols, meditation, religious vows,
pilgrimage, ritualistic worship and the other dishes that you
prepare in it.
— Sri Sathya Sai Baba,
13 January 1965
Whatever happens, the path of virtue should not be
given up.
— Sri Sathya Sai Baba,
31 March 1965
Some consider themselves great because they have
vast territory, some because they have finance, some because they
have arms, some because they have vast populations, but, the real
wealth, real greatnesss is virtue which earns the Grace of God.
— Sri Sathya Sai Baba,
4 April 1965
An empty iron box gets valued when it contains
jewels; the body is honoured when it contains the jewel of
consciousness and the valuables called virtues. Life has to be
lived through, for the sake of the chance to unfold the virtues.
Otherwise, man is a burden upon the earth, a consumer of food.
When fire rages, you try to put it out by throwing sand or water,
and you keep a stock of these in readiness. But, you have six
fires raging inside you - lust, anger, greed, attachment, pride
and hatred. What have you in store to put them out? Keep ready
Sathya, shaanthi, dharma and prema. They will help you scotch the
flames; they are effective extinguishers.
— Sri Sathya Sai Baba,
6 April 1965
Man’s sense of values is so degraded that he does
not revere the Geetha, as much as he values and scans the pages of
the daily newspaper. This is to be attributed to sheer ignorance
and perversity, or pitiable fate.
The fear and anxiety that infect humanity today
are the results of this degradation of values, this ignorance of
what is of significance and what is not, this want of faith in
what the elders and sages have handed down as the wisdom of ages.
People prefer what is pleasing to what is beneficial.
— Sri Sathya Sai Baba,
30 September 1965
Virtue is the fragrance of the flowers which the
tree of life puts forth. Educated people must be identified in
society by their strict adherence to virtue, not by more skilled
methods of escaping the consequences of vice.
— Sri Sathya Sai Baba,
14 November 1965
Sacrifice, so that you may be saved. You have to
sacrifice, not a bleating sheep or a horse or a cow, but your
animality, the bestial lust and greed, hate and malice. Sacrifice
these and you earn the heaven of unflinching peace.
— Sri Sathya Sai Baba,
23 November 1965
Sathya, Dharma, Shanghai and prema are the
hall-marks of a purified heart, a heart where God is enshrined and
is manifest.
— Sri Sathya Sai Baba,
23 November 1966
If there is righteousness in the heart
There will be beauty in character;
If there is beauty in character
There will be harmony in the home.
When there is harmony in the home
There will be order in the nation.
When there is order in the nation,
There will be peace in the world.
So, be righteous; avoid all prejudices against
others on the basis of caste, creed, colour, mode of worship,
ststus or degree of affluence. Do not look down on any one; look
upon all as Divine as you really are.
— Sri Sathya Sai Baba,
13 January 1970
Truth is man’s nature; to be untrue is to be false
to one’s nature. dharma (Right Action) is the practical
application in real life of the ideal of truth. Shanthi (Peace) is
the result of Dharma and Preme (Love) is the sffulgence of
Shanthi.
— Sri Sathya Sai Baba,
16 March 1973
Every child is born not only with a stomach that
has to be catered to, it is also endowed with two hands which can
work and produce the food for the stomach. The hands have to be
given the strength and skill; they have to learn the lesson of
self-reliance. They should never be lazy or slothful. Then, there
can be no deficiency in food and no problem of underfeeding.
— Sri Sathya Sai Baba,
April 1979
Human nature is an amalgam of animal, human and
divine characteristices. Love, compassion, humility, charity -
these are all divine. One has to cultivate these, in order to be
at peace, with onsself and others.
One has to visualise God in every living being and
worship Him through love. Therein lies the supremacy of man.
Ownership of enormous wealth is a dangerous burden; authority over
many men is a dubious aasset. Love is the most precious treasure
to be sought after. Virtue is the wealth to be won.
— Sri Sathya Sai Baba,
21 June 1979
Man must saturate his daily life in truthful
speech, virtuous acts and holy thoughts.
— Sri Sathya Sai Baba,
22 November 1979
You should not cause hurt even by a word, a look
or a gesture. Tolerance, fortitude, equanimity - these help you to
be steady in ahimsa (absence of violence).
Assess the work of whatever others do to you or
say about you, and cultivate fortitude and the understanding to
appreciate their behaviour and pardon their faults. This capacity
is as invaluable as truth, righteousness, wisdom, non-violence,
renunciation, delight and compassion. It is all that one need
possess for spiritual advancement.
Living becomes a glorious experience only when it
is sweetened by tolerance and love. Willingness to compromise with
others’ ways of living and cooperation in common tasks, these make
living happy and fruitful. Certain modes of behaviour have been
laid down and proved beneficial by centuries of practice.
These have to be observed with midifications to
suit the conditions of today.
— Sri Sathya Sai Baba,
17 February 1980
Virtue is the panacea for both body and mind. The
virtuous person can be both healthy and happy. How is virtue to be
cultivated? How can it express itself in daily practice? Through
service to living beings, through seva. Virtue must flow through
the triple channel of love, mercy and detachment, in order to feed
the roots of seva.
— Sri Sathya Sai Baba,
September 1980
Purity of the heart has to be the goal of
Saadhana.
— Sri Sathya Sai Baba,
23 November 1980
Human values can be listed as 50, 60, 70, 80 in
all. But they can be better grouped under the following three
heads; pure thoughts, pure words, pure deed; thoughts, words and
deed cordinated with one another.
— Sri Sathya Sai Baba,
31 August 1981
A lamp kept on mound illumines the area; if kept
in a pit, it is as if it were not. A virtue that is practised is a
lamp that shines for all; good thoughts and good deeds have a way
of influencing others. The gems of wisdom, the light of intuitive
experience should not be kept away from fellow - men. They have to
be shared, even at the cost od one’s life. That was the lesson
Jesus taught and symbolised.
— Sri Sathya Sai Baba,
25 December 1982
Of all the human values, three are most important.
The foremost is love of God. Where there is love there is
sacrifice. There arises purity of heart. There should be a fusion
of love, sacrifice and purity. They are not mere human qualities.
They constitute vital organs of a human being. They are as
essential for a human being as the head, hands and legs for the
body. Without these attributes, no one is a complete human being.
— Sri Sathya Sai Baba,
18 January 1984
The man filled with good qualities like Truth,
Love, absence of jealousy, ego and hatred, can see God without
searching for Him. He becomes a Jnani (a man of spiritual wisdom).
— Sri Sathya Sai Baba,
6 September 1984
The fundamental human values all emanate from
Dharma, based on Truth. If human behaviour has no such basis, it
leads to disaster.
The enumeration of human values as five - Truth,
Righteousness, Peace, Love and Non-violence is not correct. They
are all facets of the foundational humanness. They grow together;
they are absence of Inner conflicts. How can one have peace when
he revels in violence of speach and action?
— Sri Sathya Sai Baba,
31 December 1984
The values a man must cherish as his life-breath
are: Truth, Righteousness, Peace, Love and Non violence.
Of these five vital principles, Love is the
foremost. It is Love that flows as the under-current for the other
four values. How does it flow this way? When Love is associated
with our thoughts, it manifests itself as Truth. When Love is
associated with feelings, it produces Peace. When Love animates
actions, it results in Right Action. When Love is combined with
understanding it becomes Non-violence. Therefore whenever you feel
angry, think of love, develop thoughts of love in your heart. You
will have peace.
— Sri Sathya Sai Baba,
22 March 1985
You must cultivate unity, cooperation ans mutual
trust. Love is the basis of all other human qualities like Truth,
Righteousness and Peace. If the four qualities of Sathya, Dharma,
Santhi and Prema are present in a person, he will manifest the
divinity that is in him.
— Sri Sathya Sai Baba,
26 May 1985
Conflicts and factions, violence and upheavals are
caused by the neglect of human values in daily life.
Man becomes fit and functionally valid only when,
along with scholarship and expert skills, he has imbibed these
values. The person who is wedded to Truth and Love would need
nothing more for peace and happiness. When Creation is witnessed
through these values, it becomes holy scripture, an inspiring
lesson and guide,. Therefore I exhort you: Let Truth and Love be
the goals for all your efforts and studies.
— Sri Sathya Sai Baba,
5 December 1985
More vital than the five pranas (Prana, Apaana and
others), Sathya, Dharma, Santhi, Prema and Ahimsa are the vital
life-breath for everyone. Of these the greatest is Prema (Love).
Fill yourself with love. Love should express itself in service to
society. You should look upon society this way. We exist for
society and society exists for the good of all. Try to sanctify
your life by doing service and spreading joy and comfort all
around.
— Sri Sathya Sai Baba,
11 December 1985
Those who produce, those who guard and those who
guide - the workers, the soldiers and the teachers - are like the
three lengs of a tripod. But as a mere structure with three legs
the tripod cannot be useful and efficient. The people who are the
concern and under the care of the three categories form the plank
on top of the three. The seat has to be screwed tight to the legs
- the screwd being peace, love and truth and the process of
screwing and tightening being the eager enthusiasm for progress,
prosperity, security and unity.
The sincere effort to accept and promote the human
values - Truth, Right Conduct, Peace, Non-Violence and Love. These
five values are a essential for a full and worthwhile life as the
five vital airs or pranas mentioned in the scriptures.
— Sri Sathya Sai Baba,
7 March 1986
We are today concerned with education in Human
Values. In my view the cultivation of Human Values alone is
education. Whoever tries to understand the human values of Truth,
Rightous Conduct, Peace, Love and Non-violence properly, who
practises these values and propagates them with zeal and sincerity
can alone be described as a truly educated person.
It is when you experience another’s suffering as
your own that your human values is manifested.
You may think that the programme of education in
human values was launched only five years ago. But in fact I
initiated it nearly fifty years ago. When I was staying in Karnam
Subbamma’s house I used to sing a song.
With Sathya, Dharma, Santhi and Prema
Carry on your life’s journey, oh man;
Karma yoga is your bourden duty;
Remembering the Lord is the great secret
And Sadhana is the devotee’s hallmark,
Proceed, oh man, on your life’s pilgrimage
With Sathya, Dharma, Santhi and Prema.
Regard the heart as a vast field. Use the mind as
a plough. Treat the gunas (qualities) as bullocks. Use the
intelligence (Viveka) as a whip. With these aids, cultivate the
field of your heart. What is the crop that is to be grown in it?
Sathya, Dharma, Santhi and Prema are the crops. Bhakthi is the
rain, meditation is the manure, Brahmananda is the crop.
Cultivate the heart to raise a harvest of Truth,
Righteousness, Peace and Love. This crop has to be raised in your
heart and should be shared with others.
Our life is like a block of ice which is melting
away every moment. Before it spend itself, devote it to the
service of others. Education in human values is designed to
prepare everyone for this life of dedicated service.
The Human Values should be regarded as basic
requirements for every human being. In spreading the message of
these values to the world, you should all cooperate with each
other and act in harmony.
Whatever may be the experience in everyday life,
the basci inner Truth should not be forgotten.
If we want to eliminate bad qualities like hatred,
envy, pride and ostentation, we have to employ Sathya, Dharma,
Santhi and Prema and Ahimsa as the cleaning instruments.
Together with worldly education, you have to
cultivate the human values and undertake spiritual discipline.
In cultivating human values, emphasis should also
be placed on avoiding wastage of money, food and time.
Even teachers have to be trained in this respect.
— Sri Sathya Sai Baba,
9 March 1986
The development of the society, the state and the
nation is proportionate to the development of the Human
state. If human qualities are lost, the honour of
the society and the nation will be lost.
— Sri Sathya Sai Baba,
May 1990
Human life is beset with ups and downs, joys and
sorrows. These experiences are intended to serve as
guideposts for man. Life would be stale if there
were no trials and difficulties. It is these difficulties
which bring out the human values in man.
Only that which is got by hard effort will yield
lasting benefit.
— Sri Sathya Sai Baba,
2 September 1991
There should be a harmonious blend of religion,
philosophy and art for man to live healthily in the world.
In this context religion means the religion of
love. This is the only religion in the world. There is only one
caste, the caste of humanity. One should cultivate human values
for healthy living. this calls for harmony in thought, word and
deed. When you cultivate this harmony you will be free from
desires and fears.
— Sri Sathya Sai Baba,
6 February 1993
The five values of Truth, Righteousness, Peace,
Love and Non-violence are related to different inner instruments
of the body . The value of Truth is expressed through speach or
words. The value of righteousness is expressed through the body.
This is related to the physical sheath. Peace can be experienced
only in the mental plane. For Sathya, Dharma and Shanthi one has
to purify the instruments of speach, body and mind. Love comes out
of the mental and bliss sheath. Non-violence comes from Bliss
sheath. Love (prema) flows as an undercurrent in all the inner
instruments and purifies them. So all the five values are having
relationship with the five sheaths.
Shanthi comes from Manomaya Kosa
Sathya comes from Vijnanamaya Kosa
Dharma comes from Annamaya Kosa
Prema comes from Praanamaya and Manomaya Kosa
Ahimsa comes from Anandamaya Kosa
In these five sheaths are encased 3 types of
bodies: physical (sthoola), Subtle (sookshama) and causel
(kaarana) sarirars. Annamaya Kosa represents physical body. It is
like the tyre of a lorry. If you increase intake of food it grows
and the weight of the body increases. Divinity is there in all the
sheaths of the body. It is contant Integrated Awareness in
different forms in speach, action and feelings.
— Sri Sathya Sai Baba,
12 April 1993
It is only when the individual is good that
society will progress. When the society and the nation is based on
the observance of human values.
— Sri Sathya Sai Baba,
21 July 1994
Human life is precious, sublime and meaningful.
But by involvement in purely worldly pursuits, the greatness of
human birth is forgotten. Without human values, life is
meaningless. When there is purity in thought, word and deed, human
values are practised. The unity of the three H’s is essential.
‘Heart, Head and Hand. ’ But today this unity is absent among
people, with the result that men are becoming inhuman.
— Sri Sathya Sai Baba,
18 December 1994
A tranquil mind, a truth-filled speech, and a body
dedicated to service-one who has these three qualities is
described as the embodiment of ‘Triputi’ (the Triple purity). Such
a one is the noblest of human beings.
— Sri Sathya Sai Baba,
9 April 1995
Whoever aspires to win the grace of God should
cultivate at the outset the quality of Kshama (Forgiveness).
It is a divine quality.
Human values are born with man. They are not got
from outside. Man in his ignorance is not aware of these values.
when man sheds his ignorance, he will experience his divine
nature.
Forgiveness is a quality that every man should
possess. That forgiveness is Truth itself, it is Righteousness, it
is the Veda. It is the Supreme virtue in this world. Hence, all
people should develop the quality of forgiveness.
People should remain unaffected by what others may
say. A true man is one who overcomes the ups and downs of life
with fortitude. One should not recoil before reverses of fortunes.
One should bravely face them and overcome them.
— Sri Sathya Sai Baba,
15 April 1995
Students should acquire human values, in addition
to their scholastic, intellectual and other attainments. It is the
decline in human values that accounts for the degradation of human
beings in the country today.
Practise any one of the human values. Prema (love)
is the basis for all the values. Action with love is right
conduct. Speak with love and it becomes truth. Thinking with love
results in peace. Understanding with love leads to non-violence.
For everything love is primary. Where there is love there is no
place for hatred.
— Sri Sathya Sai Baba,
20 May 1995
Humanness consists in harmony of thought, word and
deed.
— Sri Sathya Sai Baba,
11 July 1995
How can anyone be called human, if being born a
human being and growing in a human society, he does not recognise
human values? You must see that you don’t harm any living being.
He alone is a redeemed being who causes no pain to others and
avoids pain to himself.
— Sri Sathya Sai Baba,
1 October 1995
Human values should predominate in men’s thoughts.
Human life has no meaning without these values.
To be a true human being, one has to practise
these values in daily life.
— Sri Sathya Sai Baba,
17 November 1995
Doctors should recognise the importance of the
five human values; Truth, righteousness, Peace, Love and
Non-violence. Love is the basis for all the other values. Doctors
can infuse courage in patients by the love they show towards the
patients. If doctors carry out their duties with love they will be
crowned with success.
— Sri Sathya Sai Baba,
18 December 1995
What is the freedom a man can enjoy? Man is
governed by certain restraints. He has to adhere to truth.
He has to follow righteousness. He has to
cultivate love. he has to live in peace. He has to observe
nonviolence.
Sticking to these five values, man can exercise
his freedom. These five values, are associated with the five
elements which make up the cosmos. These five elements which may
be used in different ways, but they are the basic substances
constituting the universe. Beyond these five, there is only one
sixth element, that is, the Antahkarana, the Inner Motivator,
which is identical with the Atmic Principle.
To exercise freedom in its true sense, man has to
respect the five basic values. It is in that freedom he will find
true bliss.
— Sri Sathya Sai Baba,
15 January 1996
Wherefrom are human values to be derived and how
are they to be developed? Human values are born along with human
birth. They exist in union. Unfortunately, man today separates
himself from human values and yet wants to live as a human being.
To recover human values, man has to take the spiritual path.
However great an intellectual may be, however
great one may be as a scholar or a man of learning, one has also
to acquire humanness. Without humanness, scholarship and
intellectual eminence are of no value.
It is only when man cultivate humanness that
society will shine with radiance and the nation and the world will
progress. Humanness can be promoted only through spirituality and
not by any other means. Just as a seed can sprout only when it is
planted in the soil and watered, human values can grow only in a
spiritual soil. If a man wants to cultivate human values, he has
to apply the manure of spirituality to his heart, water it with
love so that human values will grow.
Human society needs essntially fellow-feeling and
unity. When these two are present, humanness will flourish.
Control of senses is an important human value.
— Sri Sathya Sai Baba,
18 January 1996
At the present moment, in the prevailing
situation, what is most essential is the cultivation of love.
Losing love mankind has lost its humanness. Love is the Supreme
human value. Truth, righteousness, peace and non-violence are
other human values. Knowing these values, men are foolishly
leading valueless lives.
— Sri Sathya Sai Baba,
17 Febrary 1996