Moksha

People speak about moksha [liberation]. What is it from which they have to be liberated? Is it from family, wealth or position? No. Liberation from these is an easy affair. Liberation is from the sense of identification with the body. The body is only an instrument and not your true self. The body is a gift from God. It does not belong to you, but you have to protect it as an instrument given to you everything belongs to God. You have to treat it as a trust and not as your private property. It is, therefore, your duty to make right use of the body and senses given to you.

~Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol 28, P. 287

In the spiritual field, man is enjoined at the very outset to know himself. He should not be a slave of the senses. Nor should he follow others like sheep. “Be a ship and not sheep” a ship serves to carry others and cross the Ocean…the one who pursues the spiritual path not only benefits himself but promotes the well-being of others. He is like the incense-stick which consumes itself in the process of spreading its fragrance while burning… Consider the body as a vessel, wisdom as a rope and use the vessel to draw the nectar of divinity from the well of spirituality. Not otherwise can immortality be attained.

~Sathya Sai Speaks, P. 66-67

There is a conflict between sensual desires and spiritual yearning in human beings. These senses are so powerful that they are able to delude by their attractions even profound scholars…. The one who seeks preyas (sensual pleasures) is concerned with the body, while the one concerned with the atma [soul] seeks shreyas (spiritual well-being).

Today 99 percent of the population are involved in sensual desires and not in spiritual bliss. Education today is mainly concerned with sensory pursuits. All occupations are related to the achievement of sensual desires. All enjoyments are related to the senses. Even the acquisition of wealth is for enjoying trivial sensual pleasures. The involvement with preyas, thus is connected with pleasures of the body, the mind and the senses. There is doubtless need for some concern about physical comforts. “Even the body is essential for the realization of dharma [righteousness],” says the scripture. The demands of the body have to be satisfied. Society has to be served. Family responsibilities have to be discharged. The body is the basis for all these. But this should not be the ultimate goal of life. The former relates to the external phenomenal world and is concerned with worldly desires. Together with this, there should be the yearning for a higher shreyas (spiritual life). It is only when one yearns for shreyas that even preyas leads to fulfillment.

~Sathya Sai Speaks, 59-60