Sathya Sai Speaks 1996 · Do Not Waste Natural Resources
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Do Not Waste Natural Resources
18 July 1996, Prasanthi Nilayam
Published English.
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As is the action, so is the result
Right from an ant to , everything is God’s creation. When we look at God’s most beautiful, wonderful and sublime creation, we are filled with bliss.
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When one emerges from the womb of the mother, there is no garland around the neck.There are no jewels made of pearls, nor are there glittering gold ornaments.There are no necklaces studded with precious stones like emeralds and diamonds.But there is one garland around the neck. strings together the consequences of past deeds into a heavy garlandand puts it around his neck at the time of birth.(Telugu Poem)
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Picking up courage, the boy said, “You don’t need to search for it; I myself have hidden it somewhere.” The father of the boy asked him angrily, “Why have you done this?” The boy replied, “I did it so that I can serve food to you in the same plate when you grow old!” See for yourself the result of a bad action. You will be treated by your children in the same manner as you treat your parents now. If you deceive your friend, you will also be deceived. If you respect your brothers, they will also respect you. (as are the feelings, so is the result). You cannot escape the consequences of your actions.
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However, it is only a temporary setback for good people. God will certainly reward them ultimately. Therefore, never give up truth and righteousness. This is the teaching of the , which propound the principle, (speak truth, practise righteousness). Those who give up truth and righteousness and take to the path of injustice and unrighteousness will certainly face its consequences.
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Rather, you use the boat of Divine Name, which is sure to take you across the ocean of (worldly life). Lead your life holding on to the principles of truth, righteousness, and human values and respecting parents, teachers, and elders.
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I often tell our students, “Your food, your blood, your head, and your (money) are the gifts of your parents. Therefore, first of all, show gratitude to your parents.” Revere your parents even before God because it is they who gave you birth and brought you up.
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God creates soil and water, but it is the potter who makes pots and plates by mixing both. Similarly, God has created and (matter and life principle). But it is your parents who combine both and give you a form. Therefore, it is the parents who have given you this body. That is why, our scriptures propound the principle,
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(revere your mother and father as God).
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I challenge you to bring two individuals who look alike in all respects. I will give you whatever you want. You need not go that far. Look at that tree, which is full of leaves. Each leaf is different from the other.
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A small incident happened some time ago. While conversing with Me in the interview room, , the warden of our senior boys hostel, said, “, Your eyes have become red.” I replied, “That is due to My own mistake. I do not waste water like you people. When you wash your face, you leave the tap open continuously. While you apply soap to your face, you waste a lot of water by leaving the tap open. But I do not do like that. I open the tap only when it is necessary and close it immediately. After applying soap to My face, I opened My eyes to open the tap. In the process, a small amount of soap entered My eyes and hence My eyes became red.” I do not waste even a drop of water because water is God. Air is also a form of God. That is why I switch off the fan immediately when it is not required. Some people keep the light on throughout the night even if it is not required. But I switch on the light when it is necessary and at once switch it off when it is not needed.
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There may be some parents who are well-todo; I am not talking about them. But parents who are not so well-to-do struggle hard to keep you happy and comfortable. So, consider each that you receive from your parents like a drop of their blood.
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Not only that. When the students go on a picnic, they waste a lot of money. They arrange dinners in high class hotels. ! ! ! What a shame! Such misuse of money is very bad.
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I do a lot of work. Every day I receive bundles of letters by hand and by post. After the is over, I go back and read all those letters. I know the contents of each letter, yet for the satisfaction of devotees, I read them. Till the time I come out again at 3.45 p.m., I read these letters. How is My eyesight? I can see things clearly even from a long distance. This is not Ddvine power; this is My natural power. It is My purity that is responsible for this.
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You will be surprised to know what I eat. I eat in the morning. But you eat various items like , etc. I wonder how you people eat and digest those things. No doubt, youngsters should eat well and maintain their body. But you should not eat in excess.
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Never read such bad books. As is the (book), so is the (head). Today, there are many bad books in the market. People indulge in such evil practice of writing bad books only for the sake of money. They write them because there are people to buy them. They will not write if you don’t buy them. Therefore, never read bad books, never join bad company, never wear inappropriate dress.
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I have seen some people wearing black and red shirts in (). In fact, it looks like a carpet. Even animals will run away out of fear seeing such a dress. How elegant is pure white dress! How blissful it is to wear it!
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Even our boys wear black pants and shirt while traveling in a bus or a train. They say, “, we wear such dress only when we travel.” People may think, these boys are going to , seeing their dress.