Cultivate Love to Achieve Fullness
Dear readers, on July 18 of this year falls the sacred festival of Guru Poornima. It is the day on which the Guru, or the preceptor, is adored and worshipped. Marking the first festival in the academic calendar of Sri Sathya Sai University, this festival is much awaited for by both Swami’s students and His devotees. For one, this day, Bhagavan Baba, the Supreme Teacher, has always blessed His students and devotees with an enlightening discourse. Below are extracts from His message delivered on this occasion way back in the year 1983.
Even when the Divine appears in human form, moves freely amongst men and women, and is near in various ways to people, only a few are able to recognize Divinity in its physical form. Remember it is not easy to recognize the nature of the Divine through the corporeal form alone. You need a true guru (spiritual preceptor) to reveal the real nature of Divinity. And such a guru has been equated with the Trinity Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva.
The devotee who regards God Himself as his guru will not have any difficulties. Today, many who are looked upon as gurus utter the manthras (sacred formula) in the ear, but they also stretch their palms for money. In everything they do, they expect money. Such gurus are “baadha” (harmful) gurus and not “bodha” (enlightening) gurus.
The true guru is like an ophthalmic surgeon. The surgeon removes the film in the patient’s eye and restores his natural vision. In the same way the guru should also remove the veil of ignorance and attachment that blurs the vision of his disciples and restore their natural spiritual vision.
What is the reward one should give to such a guru? On Guru Poornima day, it is the practice for disciples to offer Padha Puja (offering worship to Guru’s holy feet) and give Dakshina (thanksgiving offering) to the Guru. But for this you should understand the significance of the Full Moon. It is a day on which the Moon shines in all his fullness, without any blemish. It is a day of purity when the Moon sheds its cool rays on the earth.
What is the reward one should give to such a guru? On Guru Poornima day, it is the practice for disciples to offer Padha Puja (offering worship to Guru’s holy feet) and give Dakshina (thanksgiving offering) to the Guru. But for this you should understand the significance of the Full Moon. It is a day on which the Moon shines in all his fullness, without any blemish. It is a day of purity when the Moon sheds its cool rays on the earth.
Cultivate Love to Achieve Fullness – divine blessing for inner peace
Cultivate Love to Achieve Fullness is a beautiful spiritual message that reminds us of the true purpose of human life. Every person searches for happiness, success, respect, and peace, but real fullness does not come only from outer achievements. It comes when the heart expands with pure love, kindness, compassion, and selfless service. A life without love may appear successful from outside, but within, it remains incomplete and restless.
Love is the foundation of all spiritual growth. It softens the heart, purifies thoughts, and brings harmony into relationships. When love is present, even simple actions become meaningful. A kind word, a helpful hand, a forgiving attitude, and a gentle smile can bring light into someone’s life. This is why saints and spiritual teachers have always placed love above pride, anger, and selfishness.
Cultivate Love to Achieve Fullness means learning to see life with a wider vision. Love should not be limited only to family, friends, or people who agree with us. True love grows beyond personal attachment. It teaches us to respect every being as a part of the same divine creation. When the heart becomes broad, the mind becomes peaceful, and life becomes more balanced.
Many people confuse love with expectation. They love others only when they receive attention, praise, or benefit in return. But such love is fragile. It changes with situations. Pure love does not depend on reward. It gives because giving itself becomes joy. A mother’s care, a devotee’s prayer, and a saint’s compassion show that real love is selfless, patient, and strong.
The journey of love begins with small daily choices. We can choose patience instead of anger, forgiveness instead of revenge, and understanding instead of judgment. These choices may look simple, but they slowly transform the heart. A person who practices love becomes calm even during difficulty. Such a person does not allow bitterness to control life.
Cultivate Love to Achieve Fullness also teaches that love must be expressed through action. It is not enough to speak sweet words while living selfishly. Real love appears in service, sacrifice, honesty, and care. Helping the needy, comforting the sad, respecting elders, protecting nature, and speaking truth with kindness are all ways of making love practical.
When love grows, ego becomes weaker. Ego separates people and creates pride, jealousy, and conflict. Love unites people and creates peace. Ego says, “I am important.” Love says, “All are important.” Ego wants to possess. Love wants to bless. This inner shift is the beginning of spiritual fullness.
Cultivate Love to Achieve Fullness is not only a moral teaching; it is a path to inner freedom. A heart filled with hatred carries a heavy burden. Anger burns the person who holds it. Jealousy steals joy. Pride creates loneliness. But love releases these burdens and fills the mind with freshness. When we love sincerely, we become lighter, happier, and more connected to God.
Spiritual fullness does not mean having everything in the world. It means feeling complete within. A person may have wealth, position, and comfort, yet still feel empty. Another person may live simply, but if the heart is filled with love and devotion, life becomes rich. Fullness is an inner state where peace, gratitude, and divine remembrance live together.
Cultivate Love to Achieve Fullness reminds us that love is also the highest form of worship. Prayer becomes deeper when the heart is loving. Meditation becomes sweeter when the mind is free from hatred. Service becomes sacred when it is done without ego. God is not pleased by grand words alone. The divine is pleased by a pure heart that loves all beings.
In difficult situations, love is tested. It is easy to love when everything is pleasant, but true strength appears when we remain kind during pain, patient during insult, and forgiving during misunderstanding. This does not mean accepting wrong actions silently. It means responding with wisdom instead of hatred. Love gives courage, not weakness.
The world today needs this message more than ever. People are connected through technology, but many hearts feel distant. Competition, stress, and selfishness have disturbed human peace. The remedy is not more pride or more anger. The remedy is more compassion, more understanding, and more sincere love in daily life.
Cultivate Love to Achieve Fullness is a call to return to our divine nature. Love is already present within us, but it becomes hidden under fear, ego, and desire. Through prayer, self-discipline, good company, and selfless service, this hidden love can shine again. When love becomes the guiding force of life, every thought becomes purer and every action becomes nobler.
A loving heart does not measure life by what it receives, but by what it gives. Such a heart finds joy in serving, peace in forgiving, and strength in surrendering to God. This is the fullness that every soul is secretly seeking.
In the end, life becomes complete only when love becomes our nature. Knowledge gives direction, faith gives strength, but love gives fullness. When we cultivate pure love in thought, word, and deed, we move closer to peace, closer to truth, and closer to the divine presence within.