Perform All Actions as Offerings to the Lord

Every human being is a fragment of the Divine. Only when a man discharges his duties will his life find fulfillment. Duty is man’s primary obligation. If a man is endowed with wealth and possessions, he has a duty to enjoy them. But to covet or seize other people’s wealth is a crime. Wealth is not confined to money, gold, or other possessions. All the knowledge and skills acquired by a person also constitute his wealth. Even health is wealth. The power to think is also wealth. Physical strength and mental abilities are also wealth. The time at one’s command is also his wealth.

Hence, it is man’s primary duty to utilize his time and every other form of wealth in the right manner. Unfortunately, today man wastes the time, wealth, and talents of others. This is adharma—opposed to righteousness.

Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. 26, pg. 53-54

In the Bhagavad Gita [Celestial Song], the Lord has declared that He is present in all righteous actions. Therefore, those who perform righteous actions can develop anapeksha (desirelessness). This means that when a man performs all actions as offerings to the Lord, they become anapeksha (desireless actions). The Lord is one who, from within, makes a person act, speak, listen, see, and do many other actions. He is the doer and the enjoyer. If a person performs all actions with the conviction that the indwelling Lord is the real doer, then his actions become desireless. Hence every sadhaka [aspirant] should regard his actions as offerings to the Divine.

How are the internal impulses to be purified? These relate to the mind, speech, and the body. Of the three, speech is the most important. Every word you utter should be free from anudhvegakaram (causing excitement or agitation). It should be satyam (true) and priyam (pleasing). There are four factors which account for the pollution of the tongue: uttering falsehood, excessive talking, carrying tales against others, and abuse or criticism of others.

Next comes the mind. The mind is polluted by wrong thoughts and bad feelings. Man should strive to keep away all bad thoughts from invading his mind. When a man is ceaselessly filled with bad thoughts, he can only reap bad consequences. To purify the mind, all bad thoughts have to be expelled…. Only then the mind will get totally purified.

Then comes purity of the body. One must have a body that is free from the taint of himsa (violence or harm). Men commit many acts of violence and sinful acts with their hands. The body has been given to man primarily for practicing dharma (righteousness). Such a sacred gift should be used only for rendering service to others and doing godly actions.

One should have firm determination in performing actions. The determination should be confined to actions that are pure, helpful to others, and sublimate man. No man can refrain from action of some kind or other even for a moment. In no circumstance should one engage himself in an impure act. This is the way to achieve purity through firm determination. Only such a person can be called a dakshah (a resolute person).

Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. 26, pg. 271-273