Harmony in Thought, Word, & Deed

Embodiments of love! Everything in the world has a value, but the value of the spoken word cannot be easily measured. By his words man can acquire every kind of wealth. By their words rulers lose their kingdoms. By one’s speech one can acquire friends and relations. By words one may make enemies, engender hatred, and make himself miserable. Good words are a man’s best kinsfolk. Nor is that all. It is one’s speech which contributes to his progress in many ways. One’s words are the root cause of one’s prosperity, courage, bliss, or even death. One’s speech determines almost everything in one’s life. Hence one’s speech should be sweet, wholesome, and pleasing to others. “Anudhvegakaram vaakyam sathyam hitham preethikaram” (One’s speech should not cause excitement. It should be truthful, pleasing, and well meaning). Even truth should not be uttered in harsh language. It should be soft, sweet, pleasing conducive to peacefulness. Hanumaan was the supreme exemplar of such speech.

Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol.28, Pp. 270-271

There are three vital aspects of character that every individual should strive to cultivate and foster: purity, patience, and perseverance. These are in fact the stepping stones to real success in all spheres of human endeavor. Men who have these virtues are sure to reach the goal…

Man must cultivate patience, for through patience, he can accomplish even the most difficult task or solve the most intricate problem. Man can tide over the worst crisis through patience. Perseverance, the third vital aspect of character involves man to proceed undaunted on the path of progress and achieve the ultimate goal.

Modern education and contemporary society are not giving due recognition to individual character. People today are carried away by high sounding speeches, imposing personality, and glaring publicity. Nobody bothers about individual character and no one reproves a person wanting in character. Society is beset with many problems today because people condone the lack of individual character in men occupying high positions. Character and conduct are deplorable, and people change their ideals from day to day.

Prema Dhaara, Pp. 69-71

The most important element in man’s existence is sankalpa (firm thought). As are the thoughts, so is the speech. As is the speech so are the actions. The harmony of these three will lead to the experience of Divinity.

Words come out of the heart. They should be filled with compassion. The heart is the abode of compassion. It is the source of love. Hence whatever emanates from the heart should be filled with love. That love should express itself in speech. The flow of love in speech should find concrete expression in action.

The heart is the seat of the Paramaatma (Supreme Self) The ganga [River Ganges] that flows from it is the river of truth. Actions are the harvest that is reaped from the field watered by truth. Hence, it is said that the high-souled beings are marked by harmony in thought, word, and deed.

Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. 28, Pp. 196-197