A list of 6 must-nots from ‘Prasnothara Vahini’

A list of 6 must-nots from ‘Prasnothara Vahini’

Every thought, word and deed which was not in sync, that was negative, harmful in intent, thoughtless, uncaring, acutely insensitive, horrifyingly arrogant, cruel and abusive to any living being or the minutest part of creation, was indeed an arrow, an arrow towards man’s self-existence.

Every lackadaisical attitude, each action that reeked of kama, krodha, lobha, moha, madha and matsarya was an arrow, a dart, a shaft, a missile, embedded in the lotus-like frame of Beloved Bhagawan, which again is affecting the human existence.

Each arrow had a name on it. Countless arrows’ pierced’ His gentle frame through the flaming orange robe, arrows that came from the creation in its entirety, beyond time and space, yet, He Is unaffected, but not the man with his selfish feelings of ‘me’ and ‘mine’.

Yes, every one of us was responsible for having pierced with toxic arrows and shafts, the benevolent, magnificent and supreme frame of Supreme Godhood as Sri Sathya Sai.

Beloved Bhagawan in His self-scripted human sojourn on earth did the most benevolent blessing on humanity, by scribbling His Own Vahini series, attending to every single human problem, allowing him to rise and soar with conscious evolution.

Bhagawan’s famed ‘Prasnottara Vahini’ thus deals with the most potent of the questions a spiritual aspirant can face, with answers flowing from Sri Sathya Sai HiranyaGarbha. Let’s pay attention to what our Beloved Bhagawan speaks about those venomous and destructive weapons human minds possess.

Q: Swami! What are the traits of character that we have to avoid, that is to say, which are the obstacles in the path of one who seeks liberation from the cycle of Birth and Death?

Ans: The six, the Ari-shadvarga: Kama, Krodha, Lobha, Moha, Madha and Matsarya; these are to be avoided.

Q: What exactly is Kama?

Ans: Desire for riches, property, honour, status, fame, children; why list the lot? Attachment to all things of this sensory world – this false, temporary, impure world.

Q: Krodha?

Ans: Yearning to harm others and cause ruin to them.

Q: And Lobha?

Ans: Determination that no one else should partake of even a small fraction of what one has earned or what one has; also, that even in times of distress, one’s possessions should not be diminished by use.

Q: What is the meaning of Moha?

Ans: The delusion that some people are nearer to one than others and the desire to please them more than others, leading to exertions for earning and accumulating for their sake.

Q: Madha?

Ans: Madha means the swagger that develops when one feels that he has either scholarship or strength or riches or fame, more than others. Even when one has not got these, Madha makes men move about without reverence for elders and consideration for others’ feelings and craving only for one’s own comfort and security. Madha is extreme egoism.

Q: The last that You mentioned is Matsarya. What does that mean, Swami?

Ans: When others are as happy as yourself, Matsarya makes one miserable; one cannot tolerate it.

A list of 6 must-nots from – A Sacred Lesson On Discipline And Spiritual Awareness

A list of 6 must-nots from is a meaningful spiritual theme that reminds us that life is not guided only by what we should do, but also by what we should carefully avoid. Spiritual progress requires love, devotion, prayer, and service, but it also requires watchfulness. If certain wrong habits are not removed, they slowly weaken character and disturb inner peace.

The first must-not is: do not hurt others through thought, word, or deed. A careless word can wound a heart deeply. A selfish action can create pain. Even negative thoughts, when repeated, pollute the mind. A sincere seeker should therefore become careful, gentle, and compassionate in daily life.

A list of 6 must-nots from teaches that the second must-not is: do not allow ego to rule the heart. Ego makes a person feel superior, separate, and self-important. It turns service into display and knowledge into pride. True spirituality begins when we understand that everything we have is God’s gift and every opportunity is given for humble service.

The third must-not is: do not waste time in gossip, criticism, and useless talk. Time is one of the most precious gifts in human life. Once lost, it cannot be brought back. Words should be used to speak truth, give comfort, share wisdom, and spread peace. Speech becomes sacred when it is guided by love and restraint.

A list of 6 must-nots from also reminds us that the fourth must-not is: do not keep bad company. The mind is easily influenced by the people, habits, and surroundings we choose. If we remain close to anger, dishonesty, laziness, negativity, and careless living, those qualities can enter our own life. Good company protects devotion and strengthens discipline.

The fifth must-not is: do not forget God during comfort. Many people remember God only during danger, illness, sorrow, or difficulty. But true devotion remembers the Divine in both joy and pain. Gratitude during happy times is as important as prayer during hard times. A heart that remembers God always remains steady.

A list of 6 must-nots from becomes meaningful when we understand the sixth must-not: do not read spiritual teachings without practicing them. Sacred knowledge is not meant only for memory, discussion, or display. If we read about love, we must become loving. If we read about peace, we must become peaceful. If we read about service, we must help others.

Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba often taught that purity of thought, word, and deed is essential for spiritual life. This purity does not come by accident. It comes through constant self-examination, discipline, prayer, and sincere effort. The devotee must watch the mind like a guard watches a gate.

A list of 6 must-nots from also teaches that avoiding wrong actions is not negativity. It is protection. Just as a doctor advises a patient to avoid harmful food, spiritual wisdom advises the seeker to avoid harmful habits. These restrictions are not meant to make life heavy. They are meant to keep the heart clean and peaceful.

When we avoid hurting others, compassion grows. When we avoid ego, humility grows. When we avoid gossip, silence becomes powerful. When we avoid bad company, character becomes strong. When we avoid forgetfulness of God, faith becomes steady. When we avoid empty reading, practice becomes real.

A list of 6 must-nots from finally reminds us that spiritual discipline must be joined with love. A person should not become harsh, proud, or judgmental while following rules. The purpose of discipline is to soften the heart, not harden it. The purpose of restraint is to bring purity, not superiority.

Every day gives us chances to practice these must-nots. We can pause before speaking harshly. We can offer success to God instead of becoming proud. We can avoid useless talk and spend time in prayer or service. We can choose uplifting company. We can remember God in gratitude. We can live one teaching sincerely instead of only reading many.

In the end, A list of 6 must-nots from is a sacred reminder that inner purity is built through both right action and careful avoidance. When the seeker stays away from harmful habits and lives with love, truth, humility, and devotion, life becomes peaceful and meaningful. Such disciplined living becomes a path of grace, service, and divine nearness.

Love In All Of Creation