Sathya Sai Baba The World-Avatar Teaching and Revelations

ealization of that power, for earning that power. It is indeed tragic that,
even after achieving human birth, people do not realize that eternal reality,
nor even make an attempt to understand it. If this chance is
missed, when can they attempt it?
Why, don’t they concern themselves with the very purpose for which
they have come! Did they come only for living like all other animals or
birds or insects - eating, wandering about, sleeping and seeking pleasure?
If the answer is: “No”, then, for what else? Can we say that man
is just another animal, like the rest? He has three things that they have
not, the power to reason, the power to renounce, and the power to decide
on right and wrong. These are special powers in man; but, of what
use are they, unless applied in actual practice? If they are used, then
the name “man” is apt, otherwise the name “animal” has to be used.
(...)
The three powers mentioned above should be applied not only in worldly
matters by man, but, also in the investigation of the ultimate truth. If
discrimination and renunciation and inquiry are carried out while passing
through the joys and sorrows of life, the conviction is bound to dawn
sooner or later that all this is unreal, that all this has no basis in truth.
When such knowledge dawns, man is certain to tread the path of religion
and spiritual wisdom and take up the inquiry that will lead him to
the truth. This is the task which man must be engaged in.
Well! If only every one asks the questions: "Who are we? Whence did
we come? Where have we come to? How long will we be here?", the
truth can be easily grasped. That questioning is the sign of discrimination.
When by means of this discrimination, the idea that the world is
impermanent gets deeply rooted in the mind, all attachments cease
automatically. That is the stage of renunciation. Is it worthwhile to be
caught up in this unreal world? One asks: “Is this false, misleading?”
He then turns his efforts to the realm of the Lord, that is the right decision.
It is through discrimination and renunciation that man understands
who he really is. Without them, it is impossible to know. The Lord has
blessed only man with these two gifts. He has endowed him so that he
might use them for that purpose. Hence man is truly fortunate. But,
alas, man has forgotten the task for which he has come, ignored the
question from whence he came, closed his eyes to where he is, diverted
his intelligence towards amusement and creature comfort, and
wasted all his powers. What a tragedy! If in this most propitious human
birth the Godhead is not sought after, when else can it be found? (...)
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