DIBYA BANI

DIVINE SAYINGS OF THE HOLY MOTHER

DIBYADHAM YOGASHRAM

CONTENTS

Introduction

Opening Message

Guru

God

Aim of Life

Sadhana

Self-Control

Introspection

Meditation

Silence

Real Happiness

Cultivation of Good Qualities

Simplicity, Humility and Purity of Heart

Forgiveness

Character

Right Conduct

Eradication of Negative Qualities

Endurance

Effort

Dedication and Determination

True Renunciation

Action and Duty

Faith and Devotion

Divine Name

Liberation

Divine Love

INTRODUCTION

Holy Mother very rarely taught by words. She taught more by example and through Her own actions and way of life. We have never seen Her Holiness lecture from a dais or hold philosophical or metaphysical discussions. But from time to time, whenever required, She did give some verbal instructions to the disciples around Her, and this She did very casually.

Although Her instructions were carried out, no one, or very few, really understood how invaluable these precious pearls that dropped from Her lips were. No one took the care to note or record them. Now that She is not physically present amongst us, we realise the great importance of Her simple words. These sacred words were like shafts of light that penetrated into our very depths, removed our ignorance, corrected and guided us on the path of our highest good.

How we miss those simple but sacred words, potent with the authority of Realisation and the power of Her unity with the Ultimate! That opportunity will probably never recur again, though Her voice will always speak to us in the silence of our hearts and our antakarana (internal organs of thinking). Her teachings will sound and resound within us, and manifest in our every action, because Her silent and verbal teachings are the very base, nay, the very substance of our spiritual being.

Even though Her teachings are imprinted in the hearts of Her dedicated disciples, we still feel a great necessity to see some of those verbal teachings in print. So we have managed to retrieve from the diaries of the disciples and also from Her letters some precious banis or pithy messages that ‘She’ had so generously bestowed. We have made an effort to put these banis in an order that will be beneficial to sadhaks and anyone who would care to read them.

For the disciples, of course, we expect that this will act like a mala or rosary of a hundred and eight sayings, which they could turn round regularly. From this regular practice, they will not only accrue great merit (as they are Guru’s banis) but also resolve their problems and doubts which are bound to be projected if they are walking on the path. These banis, we expect, will resolve doubts and give clear instructions regarding the way in which not only a sadhak but any proper human being desiring his/her welfare should direct his/her efforts. We are sure that immense blessings will accrue from the study of these sayings of the compassionate Mother.

May Her divine grace and compassion be showered on all those who care to turn the pages of this small handbook.

                                              - Swami Ananda -

OPENING MESSAGE

1

The words of Guru is like tirtha (something that sanctifies). His/Her every word is auspicious; keeping this in mind, keep on doing your duty.

MAA

2

Now is the time for (this) Creation to go upside down. So man has to sincerely go towards God and to live within Truth.

MAA

3

The Lord will protect the whole world. You don't worry. ‘He’ is everyone’s support. Do not be afraid of anything. Live fearlessly.

Now is not the time for complete dissolution. Three fourths will be destroyed and one fourth will be saved.

MAA

GURU

4

Turn your mind towards Sri Guru and contemplate thus: ‘My vital breath is the breath of Sri Guru, and my body is the temple of Sri Guru’.

MAA

5

When you see that a disciple is delighted in the ideals of the Guru, and his/her face blooms with joy in fulfilling these ideals, then know that in the heart of that disciple Guru Sakti is active.

MAA

6

What is the benefit of having the best Guru if one is not eligible? Success depends more on the recipient than the Guru. If the recipient is eligible, then only will he/she be able to hold onto Guru’s grace. May you all become fit recipients so that you will be able to contain the grace showered on you.

MAA

7

Mother is ready to give everything to the child, but all depends on the capability and receptivity of the child.

MAA

8

May your inside become beautiful through Guru nistha (dedication to Guru). Your exterior beauty is not that necessary.

MAA

9

No sadhana can be done without Guru. If a sadhak does sadhana without obeying Guru, he/she becomes impure and fallen.

MAA

10

Never, in any way, disobey the commands of Sri Gurudev. Do not in any way counter His/Her instructions. In doing so, grave offence is committed.

MAA

11

Never be negligent in showing respect to those who are the receptacles of Guru’s love and respect. Disrespect to them is disrespect to Sri Guru. So always be alert about this. Also, to treat elders disrespectfully is an offence.

MAA

12

When God is displeased, Sri Guru can save one, but when the venerable Guru is displeased, even God does not come to one’s rescue.

MAA

13

On the contrary, if Sri Guru is pleased, God also is pleased. So never do any such action which would displease the venerable Guru.

MAA

14

The disciple should always remember: 'My Guru is capable of doing everything and anything'. If a disciple does not have such conviction, then his/her dedication will not be one-pointed and his/her sadhana will not be successful.

MAA

15

Try to be dedicated to Guru, then progress will not abandon you.

MAA

16

Progress towards the goal or God by being always engaged in dedicated and devoted activities for Sri Guru. See Guru and God as one, then every work will be beneficial, and you will be adorned with divine qualities such as compassion and forgiveness.

MAA

GOD

17

God’s love is always with you and that is the only thing that does not betray man in life.

MAA

18

God always protects the honest and the truthful.

MAA

19

Man can cheat all, but cannot cheat God.

MAA

20

The will of Someone else predominates over all our wishes.

MAA

21

What does not the Indweller (God) know? What more shall I say? Whatever He wills, may He do.

MAA

AIM OF LIFE

22

Eternal bliss and supreme peace can be found only in God; so the aim of human life is God-Realisation.

MAA

23

Do not bleat 'mem, mem' ('mu, mu' – 'I, I') like a goat; attain Knowledge of the Self and roar like a lion.

MAA

24

Let sadhana be the goal of your life so that you may have God-Realisation in this life.

MAA

SADHANA

25

I may give you thousand advices; but if you do not do sadhana you can never become a sadhak.

MAA

26

Do sadhana properly; if sadhana is properly done, all bondages will break and you will be eternally free.

MAA

27

Sadhana does not mean only holding a string of beads or sitting in meditation. Every form of self-restraint is also designated as sadhana. Sadhana comprises of removing the impurities of the mind, eradicating deceit and hypocrisy, speaking the truth, being simple at all times, giving up lust, passion, anger and greed, writing the diary daily and properly and being guileless towards the Spiritual Master.

MAA

28

There is no higher penance than speaking the truth. There is no sadhana greater than controlling the mind. Keep controlling the senses. Always see your own flaws. You will reach the destination.

MAA

29

The highest sadhana in human life is the control of senses. For doing sadhana is required a healthy clean mind, pure character and physical restraint.

MAA

30

Just as the stomach is not filled by serving food to others, likewise, no peace is attained by ‘prachara’ – propaganda or preaching; therefore do sadhana.

MAA

SELF-CONTROL

31

At all times observe self-restraint, and be firm in it.

MAA

32

Always one’s own indiscipline is the cause of quarrel and discord. Keeping this in view, establish self-restraint and decorum in your own life, and make your speech and behaviour sweet.

MAA

33

It is better to live in the forest, better to eat food by begging, better to earn one’s livelihood by carrying loads on one’s head being a porter than to live with one who has no self-restraint.

MAA

34

It is better to die like a swan living on milk than to live for a hundred years like a crow eating rotten flesh.

MAA

35

Poison destroys one life, but the poison of sensuality destroys many lives.

MAA

INTROSPECTION

36

Always introspect – who you are and why you have come. If you do proper introspection, violence, anger and egoism will go away.

MAA

37

Never do anything without knowing 'why I am doing it'. Do not say anything without thinking 'why I am saying it'.

MAA

38

Man’s ego destroys everything, (so) do introspection and be aware of how this ego functions, then you can get everything spiritually. A little impurity lying within destroys all one’s good efforts.

MAA

39

What you are, you yourself know best.

MAA

MEDITATION

40

Open the gate of Knowledge; cutting asunder the veil of ignorance, enter the palace of tranquility and live there in eternal peace.

MAA

41

The mind gains supreme peace if it gets fixed on the Lord.

MAA

42

If one contemplates God with stillness, deep faith for God dawns and the impurity of the mind is destroyed.

MAA

43

May your steps move ahead towards God; may your mind be focused on ‘His’ lotus feet. May your thoughts flow towards nothing else but ‘Him’.

MAA

44

Only within undisturbed peace is the flow of eternal life possible.

MAA

SILENCE

45

Like a flower that blooms in silence so also the Self-consciousness of a sadhak awakens in silence.

MAA

46

The Sun is silent, the Moon is silent; they do their duty in silence. Therefore sadhaks and sebakas should do their work and duty in silence.

MAA

47

Silence is the sign of a sadhak’s learning, etiquette and high ideals.

MAA

REAL HAPPINESS

48

One who has the jewel of contentment, even though he may be a pauper, still he will have inner joy.

MAA

49

In a life bereft of faith and trust, there can never be peace and happiness.

MAA

50

A man may be wealthy even without having love, compassion and peace of mind, but (without these qualities) he cannot be happy.

MAA

CULTIVATION OF GOOD QUALITIES

51

The diamond of good quality can cut the hard stone of all kinds of flaws and defects.

MAA

52

Man becomes good through sorrow and pain.

MAA

SIMPLICITY, HUMILITY AND PURITY OF HEART

53

In my opinion, the training of the heart is (true) spiritual education. One who considers himself/herself humbler than all is truly qualified to be great.

MAA

54

The simpler you are, the better will be your progress in sadhana.

MAA

55

I am not influenced by (someone's) property, wealth, birth or pedigree. I want a simple heart, a heart in which there is no falsehood, no pretence, and no deceit.

MAA

56

In fact, guileless and simple humility is our protecting armour.

MAA

57

My belief is that humility is the primary test of any great man.

MAA

58

Truth can only be upheld in a pure heart. Only a pure-hearted man attains God.

MAA

FORGIVENESS

59

Before finding fault with others, contemplate your own faults. Before judging, put yourself in another’s situation and see whether you would not have committed the same mistake as him/her. So be forgiving towards others.

MAA

60

One who is using harsh words against you, bless him; one who hates you, forgive him. The Lord will keep you in peace.

MAA

61

Be completely good. Forgiveness begets forgiveness. Love others, but do not be attached. Be attached to God only.

MAA

CHARACTER

62

Pure character makes a man immortal; character alone is the sweet fragrance of the flower of life; character alone is the bright light of the lamp of life.

MAA

63

By desireless action, spotless character and steadfast devotion to Guru, God is attained.

MAA

RIGHT CONDUCT

64

Do not think twice (or hesitate) before doing that which is good for others; but think many times before doing something that may not be good.

MAA

65

Do not show such behaviour towards others which you do not wish others to show towards you.

MAA

66

What is poison?

Disregarding the advice of elders.

MAA

67

The tongue is no less sharp than the sword. So use it carefully; always speak sweet words.

MAA

68

See good things, hear good words, think good thoughts, then from your mind will be eradicated the roots of all evil tendencies.

MAA

69

If you are not able to do good, at least do not do anything unjust. Actually, if you are not able to spread that which is auspicious, then see that you do not spread that which is harmful and inauspicious.

MAA

ERADICATION OF NEGATIVE QUALITIES

70

One who praises you in vain is not your true friend; rather, your true friend is the one who points out your faults.

MAA

71

Man’s only real duty in life is God-Realisation. So renunciation of passion, anger and jealousy should be done; otherwise God-realisation cannot be attained.

MAA

72

In order to become good, one has to leave jealousy and egoism (pride).

MAA

73

Just as leprosy destroys the entire body, greed destroys all one’s goodness.

MAA

74

Does the coconut ever break by a single stroke when it is covered with fibres? It breaks only after removing the fibres that cover it. Likewise, one should remove the fibres of lust, anger, jealousy and their companions covering his/her heart.

MAA

75

Through indulgence increases passion (lust), (but) through renunciation increases 'Prema' or Divine Love.

MAA

ENDURANCE

76

No great work can be completed without endurance.

MAA

77

Just as the body becomes strong by hard work, the mind becomes strong by tolerating sorrow and pain.

MAA

78

How long are we going to stay? For what shall we show conceit and pride? Sadhaks should endure everything as this life is very short.

MAA

79

To attain God one has to tolerate everything in life; amidst sorrow and pain, He is attained.

Do not worry; have patience. The fruit (or result) of patience is sweet.

MAA

EFFORT

80

Truth is a big tree. The amount of fruits it bears depends on how this tree is tended. (If properly tended) the fruits will be countless.

MAA

81

Most people do not lack capacity but they lack effort and true desire (will).

MAA

82

One day or the other, success will come to one who perseveres in his/her work. But see that there be no flaw in your work.

MAA

DEDICATION AND DETERMINATION

83

All is possible through service and dedication.

MAA

84

If surrender is proper, then there is no hindrance in attaining success.

MAA

85

Be firm in your dedication, Divine Love will come to you of its own accord.

MAA

86

If any duty is done properly, the Lord will give darshan; but you should also remain firm in dedication, truth and observance of continence.

MAA

87

Consider bisaya (sense-attractions) as bisa (poison). Use your purusakar (will power) to push aside the obstacles in the path of sadhana.

MAA

88

Victory is certain for those who keep doing their duty with determination and dedication.

MAA

TRUE RENUNCIATION

89

Leaving or renouncing this world you may go anywhere you like but your unrestrained mind will accompany you. So, learn to control your mind first.

MAA

90

There is no necessity to dress as a Sadhu; make efforts to really become one.

MAA

ACTION AND DUTY

91

Do not say, but do.

Say less, do more.

MAA

92

Leaving aside all thoughts, if one does every action thinking 'I am doing God's work' or 'I am doing for Guru', then his/her spiritual progress will occur spontaneously.

MAA

93

If the mind has doubts and one lacks one-pointed dedication in one’s work, then no work will be well-accomplished.

MAA

94

When you are doing something for the Divine, the only aim should be service of the Divine. At that time, never bring to mind the thought of accomplishment or unaccomplishment; regard both accomplishment and unaccomplishment alike.

MAA

95

There is blessing in every good act. When you do good, blessing comes of its own accord.

MAA

96

You keep serving others selflessly. When the time comes, there will be someone to serve you.

MAA

97

Give, give, give, give away everything. If you give here, then you will receive there.

MAA

98

Do not run after God. If you go on doing your duty, God will follow you with His vessel of grace in His hands.

MAA

FAITH AND DEVOTION

99

If there is trust and longing, the impossible can become possible.

MAA

100

Action follows faith. As is your faith so is your action. Everything is possible by the power of deep faith, (but) be alert that pride, impatience and irritation do not enter your mind.

MAA

101

Only those whose faith in the Lord is firm and unshakable are secure.

MAA

102

Everything is possible by faith, purity and devotion.

MAA

103

It is not good if a beautiful flower is not used in God's worship and fades away in the forest. May the flower of your heart be offered at the feet of the Lord.

MAA

DIVINE NAME

104

In order to get protection from this falsehood and pretence that has spread everywhere in the world, remembrance and repetition of God’s name is the only protection.

MAA

105

The tongue should be utilised in chanting the names of the Lord rather than exhibiting anger and terror, by hissing like a snake.

MAA

LIBERATION

106

There is sweetness in duty, bliss in sadhana, and liberation in worship of the Divine.

MAA

107

Viveka (discrimination) is the seed, Vichara (reflection) is the root, Guru’s grace is the water, Knowledge of the Self is the flower and Liberation is the fruit.

MAA

DIVINE LOVE

108

Begin your day with Love, spend the whole day with Love. Fill the day with Love, and live in Love.

MAA