The Five “D’s”

The Five “D’s”

The universe is itself a university in which every human being is a student. Every student pursues one subject and acquires a degree. Each one chooses the subject he likes. But whatever different subjects any may study, there is one thing common to all of them, one common pursuit and goal: to obtain the degree of Divine Love. In an army there are a variety of jobs to be done and a hierarchy of ranks. But whatever the job, whether it is that of a washerman, an orderly, a sentry, or a commander- disciplined drill at the parade and the ability to use the rifle are essential requirements for everyone. Likewise in the Cosmic University, though there are scientific, political, economic, and other studies, what is fundamental to all of them is spiritual knowledge.

Even in the spiritual field, there are special subjects. There is one group which may be described as the Five D’s: Dedication, Devotion, Discipline, Discrimination, and Determination. Those who have mastered the Five D’s are qualified to receive God’s Love.

DEDICATION

Dedication: It means offering. As soon as Swami arrived (in the Auditorium) teachers and students made offerings of flowers and offered their salutations. The flower symbolises the heart. When you offer the flower of your heart to the Lord, it should be free from the pests of desire, hatred, envy, greed and the like. Only pure flowers are offered to the Lord or to those whom you revere. The flower of the heart is subject to infestation by two evil creatures- one is self-conceit (Ahamkaara); the other is envy (Asooya). Self-conceit is based on eight different factors: wealth, physical prowess, birth, scholarship, beauty, power and penance. Of these, the arrogance born of wealth or scholarship is to be despised most. As long as this conceit (Ahamkaara) is predominant, it is impossible to recognise the Divine or one’s spiritual reality. Self-conceit is a great barrier between the individual and God. It has to be utterly demolished.

ESCHEW PRIDE

Pride of wealth is another grievous human failing, which causes the downfall of man. All forms of pride, based on birth, wealth, power or scholarship, have to be given up totally. Only when egoistic pride is offered as a sacrifice at the altar of the Divine can man discover his true nature. This is the Dedication that is called for as the first step in the spiritual journey.

DEVOTION

Next comes Devotion. This is the highest form of your love. “Service to Hrishikesh is known as Bhakti,” says the Sutra. Devotion means constant contemplation of God. The term Bhakti is derived from the root Bhaj (to worship). Devotion means loving contemplation of God, repetition of His Name, worshipping Him and doing penance for Him. Service to the Lord is the highest expression of devotion. There is nothing which is not attainable through loving service to the Divine. Once Tulasidas was engaged in meditation at the confluence of the three rivers (Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati). Rama and Lakshmana appeared before him as two young boys. They asked him: ” Kakaji! What is it you are doing?” Tulasidas replied: “Children! I am doing service to Rama.” The boys asked: “What is the use of doing service to Rama?” Tulasidas replied: “Through service I get a sweet.” They said: ” What is the use of getting a sweet? Once you have eaten and digested it, nothing remains.” Then Tulasidas explained that the sweet gotten from others is digested in a brief time. But the sweet given by God is His love, which is not digested and cast away. When it is eaten, all hunger is appeased. The sweet of Divine love illumines the spirit. When the oil of Devotion is put into the lamp of the Antahkarana (the indwelling motivator) and the wick of integral consciousness (Prajna) is lit by the fire of spiritual enquiry, the flame of Self-knowledge shines effulgently.

Devotion does not mean merely doing bhajans or performing puja. These forms of devotion at present are based on some kind of self- interest and self-seeking. True devotion should be free from selfish- ness of any kind. For the external observer all appear to be devotees, filled with humility and piety. But internally, their hearts are otherwise. Judging a student by his marks, he may have a high rank. But as regards his conduct he is a blank. Likewise, judging from external practices a person may appear to be a devotee. But his heart and mind may be filled with evil. This sort of duplicity should be given up. There should be the same loving devotion both inside and outside. Devotion is not something o be proclaimed or demonstrated. Exhibitionistic devotion may result in disaster. True devotion should be an expression of love both internally and externally.

DISCIPLINE

Next comes discipline. This is most essential for students. From the moment you wake up, you have to carry out your morning ablutions, meditate on God and then do your prescribed duties in an orderly manner without deviating from the regular routine. Variations in the routine from day to day are undesirable. You should not wake up at one hour on one day and at a different time on another day. The day’s activities should be regulated by the same schedule. Immediately after finishing the morning chores, one should devote, in the calm and serene atmosphere of the morning, at least a few minutes to loving meditation on God. The human estate is based upon regulations and self-control. These have to be strictly adhered to in daily life.

DISCRIMINATION

Then comes discrimination. The world is a mixture of good and bad, of joy and sorrow, right and wrong, victory and defeat. In a world replete with such opposites, man has to make constantly the choice between what is right and proper and what is wrong or undesirable. A man who has no such discriminating faculty is an animal. Man should not let himself be guided by the mind. He should follow the directions of his intelligence (Buddhi). As long as you follow the mind, you cannot obtain Madhava (Divinity). Young people in their tender years tend to follow the inclinations of the mind. They do not rise to the level of their intelligence. Consequently, they are subject to various agitations and frustrations. They have, therefore, to learn to use their powers of discrimination. `I am a human being. I am also a student seeking knowledge. In this condition, how should I conduct myself so that I may win the respect and regard of others?’ These are the questions which each student should ask himself. He should enquire on every occasion as to what is the right course and what should be avoided. He should decide on what he should do and where he should go after due enquiry. Having acquired knowledge, he should not behave like an illiterate, uneducated person. His conduct should be in keeping with his learning. Humility is the index of true education. Without humility, scholarship will lack lustre. Discrimination is essential for every student and educated man.

DETERMINATION

Determination is the fifth D. It is like the reins for a horse. When you want to achieve something, you must have the determination and persistence to secure it by all your efforts. No room should be given for doubts and hesitations. There is nothing on earth which cannot be achieved by firm determination.

Starting with Dedication, you end with Determination. There is no use of relying solely on book knowledge or mere intellectual cleverness. There must be firm faith in God as the basis of everything.

There is one kind of pest which affects the leaves and branches of a There is another which destroys the roots of the tree. Likewise a hypocrite is a human pest that can spoil a good man. The hypocrite is not merely an actor. He poses as a devotee externally, but is really evil-minded. He leads a double life. It is dangerous to associate with such persons. Many good men in the world have come to grief because of association with such pretenders.

WORLDLY AND DIVINE LOVE

Love is of two kinds: One is related to the physical and the other relates to the Divine. All the fears and delusions afflicting the world, all the chaos and violence prevalent today, are due primarily to physical attachments. These are also responsible for the falsehood, corruption and other evils rampant in society. Preoccupation with the physical accounts for the evils in the administration and even for international conflicts. Divine love knows no differences among individuals or nations. Egoistic attachments and selfishness are at the root all human troubles and conflicts. The Mahabharata war was also the result of selfish and narrow attachments. Dhritarashtra made a distinction between his own sons (Maamakaah) and the Pandavas (the sons of his brother Pandu). This narrow attachment was responsible for the complete ruin of the Kauravas.

Physical love should be confined to strict limits. If the divine consciousness were not present within, of what use would the body be? It would be as useless as a school without teachers, a farm without water, a temple without a deity.

You must develop Divine Love. You must be resolute in striving to achieve what you aim at. Only then will your devotion and discipline bear fruit. There is no meaning in parading one’s devotion. The external human form has no significance. You must be human in your actions and feelings. By reforming your conduct and purifying your thoughts and actions, sanctify your lives. That alone is true education, which will lead you to Self-realisation.

Sri Sathya Sai Baba
Divine Discourse, 16 Janyary 1988, Prashanti Nilayam

The Five “D’s”: A Spiritual Guide for Discipline, Duty, Devotion, Discrimination, and Determination

The Five “D’s” are a powerful reminder that spiritual life is not built only on words, emotions, or occasional prayer. It needs steady practice, clear thinking, and sincere effort. Human life becomes meaningful when it is guided by values that purify the mind and strengthen the heart. These five qualities help a person live with balance in the world while moving closer to God.

The first quality is Discipline. Without discipline, even good intentions remain weak. A person may want to pray, study, serve, or improve character, but without regular practice, the mind easily becomes lazy or distracted. Discipline means training the body, speech, senses, and thoughts. It teaches us to wake up with purpose, use time properly, eat with moderation, speak carefully, and avoid harmful habits. The Five “D’s” begin with discipline because it creates the foundation for all other virtues.

Discipline does not mean harshness. It means self-respect. A disciplined person does not become a slave of moods, desires, or outside pressure. Such a person learns to do the right thing even when it is difficult. Small daily practices slowly build inner strength. A few minutes of prayer, honest work, kind speech, and control over anger may look simple, but they gradually shape a noble life.

The second quality is Duty. Every person has duties in life: duties toward family, society, work, nature, and God. Duty teaches responsibility. It reminds us that life is not only about personal comfort or personal success. Parents have duties toward children, children have duties toward parents, students have duties toward learning, and citizens have duties toward society. When duty is performed with sincerity, ordinary work becomes sacred.

The Five “D’s” show that duty should not be done only for praise or reward. True duty is done because it is right. A person who performs duty with love develops purity of heart. Even a small task, when done honestly, becomes an offering to God. Sweeping a floor, teaching a child, caring for the sick, earning honestly, or helping someone in need can all become spiritual actions when done with selflessness.

The third quality is Devotion. Devotion is the loving connection between the human heart and the Divine. It is not limited to rituals, temples, songs, or special occasions. Devotion means remembering God in daily life and feeling that every action can be offered to Him. A devoted person does not see God as distant. God becomes a companion, guide, protector, and inner strength.

True devotion softens the heart. It reduces pride and increases love. It helps a person remain peaceful during difficulty and grateful during success. The Five “D’s” teach that devotion must be expressed through good conduct. If a person prays beautifully but speaks harshly, hurts others, or acts selfishly, devotion is incomplete. Real devotion is seen in patience, kindness, forgiveness, and service.

The fourth quality is Discrimination. In spiritual life, discrimination means the ability to choose between right and wrong, permanent and temporary, need and greed, truth and falsehood. Many people suffer because they act without proper understanding. They follow desire, anger, comparison, or pressure from others. Discrimination helps the mind pause and ask, “Is this action good? Will it bring peace? Is it based on truth?”

The Five “D’s” become practical only when discrimination guides daily choices. A person must learn what to accept and what to avoid. Good company should be accepted; bad influence should be avoided. Honest earning should be accepted; selfish shortcuts should be avoided. Simple living should be accepted; waste and show should be avoided. Discrimination protects the mind from confusion and leads it toward wisdom.

The fifth quality is Determination. No noble goal can be reached without determination. The spiritual path is beautiful, but it is not always easy. Old habits, desires, anger, laziness, and doubts may come again and again. Determination helps a person continue even after mistakes. It says, “I may fall, but I will rise again. I may struggle, but I will not give up.”

Determination is especially important in self-transformation. Changing the world may seem easier than changing one’s own nature. To reduce anger, control desires, speak truth, serve others, and remember God regularly requires strong will. The Five “D’s” remind us that steady effort, supported by faith, can overcome inner weakness. Every sincere step brings the seeker closer to peace.

These five qualities are connected to one another. Discipline gives structure to life. Duty gives purpose. Devotion gives love. Discrimination gives clarity. Determination gives strength. If one quality is missing, the journey becomes incomplete. For example, devotion without discipline may remain emotional. Duty without devotion may become mechanical. Determination without discrimination may move in the wrong direction. Together, they create a balanced and spiritual way of living.

In modern life, The Five “D’s” are more important than ever. People have more comfort, information, and opportunities, but many still feel restless and empty. The reason is that outer progress alone cannot give inner peace. A person may own many things and still lack direction. These five values bring that direction. They teach us to live simply, think clearly, act responsibly, love deeply, and remain connected to God.

Children and students can also learn from these teachings. Discipline helps them study well. Duty teaches respect and responsibility. Devotion keeps their hearts pure. Discrimination helps them choose good habits and good friends. Determination helps them face failure with courage. When young people grow with these qualities, they become strong in character and useful to society.

In the end, The Five “D’s” are not just spiritual words; they are a complete guide for better living. They help purify thoughts, improve actions, and bring harmony to relationships. A person who practices them becomes calmer, wiser, kinder, and more focused. Life then becomes not a burden, but a sacred opportunity. Through discipline, duty, devotion, discrimination, and determination, man can rise above weakness and walk steadily toward God.