Being Near and Dear to God…

Being Near and Dear to God…

Whatever a man sees in the world arouses fear in him. Detachment alone can free him from fear. Failing to grasp this profound truth, man is allowing his desires to multiply, without realising that desires promote attachment instead of detachment.

As long as man is attached to the body, he cannot get over the desire to possess the objects that attract him. A man afflicted with the acquisitive impulse can never get rid of worries. To overcome this attachment and possessiveness, ancient sages tailored their educational system so that it promoted self-control. Self-control also developed humility and thus, humility became the true index of right education. Control of the senses is absolutely essential for achieving humility, and education must promote such control.

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Today’s educational system is concerned mostly with imparting bookish knowledge, and students seek education only as a means for earning a living. This link between education and employment has to be severed, and education must instead be transformed into the process of acquiring True Wisdom.

In life, there are two aspects that have to be considered, rights and duties. Most people are concerned only with their rights and engage in struggles to secure them. Seldom do they recognise their responsibilities. This is true of all fields of human activity – social, political, economic and even spiritual. Lack of self-control is responsible for all this.

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Men should regard their senses as potential enemies and not allow senses to have their own way. They should be subject to one’s control and direction. What is the easiest way to achieve this mastery? Only the spiritual path. If there is real faith and devotion in man, the senses would be powerless against him. It is the decline in faith and devotion that has led man to become a slave of the senses.

The prompting of intellectual reasoning should not be identified with the dictates of the Conscience. Rather, the directives should come from the Heart. When you dive deep into a problem and enquire whether what you do is in the interests of your friends and Society in general, your Conscience will give you the right answer.

Man is made up of three constituents, the body, the Mind and the Atma. Man needs the body for performing actions. But, if the actions are done without using the discriminating power of the Mind, man would be behaving like an animal, which acts on impulse. Moreover, if the Mind, without relying on the eternal and ever pure Atma, follows the demands of the body and the senses, the actions would be demonic. Bereft of the influence of the Atma, the combination of the Mind and the body can lead to demonic qualities. However, when one is installed in the Atmic principle, transcending the body and the Mind, one attains the Divine.

Hence, sanctify all your words, thoughts and deeds. Make your Heart pure so that it becomes a worthy abode for the Divine.

Excerpts from a Discourse of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Being Near and Dear to God – A Sacred Path of Love, Purity, and Surrender

Being Near and Dear to God is one of the deepest desires of a sincere devotee. It is not about standing physically close to a temple, a holy place, or a sacred image. True nearness to God comes from purity of heart, loving thoughts, selfless actions, and complete faith. A person becomes dear to the Divine not through outer show, but through inner sincerity.

Many people think that God is far away, hidden in heaven or distant from ordinary life. But Being Near and Dear to God teaches that the Divine is always close to a pure and loving heart. When we speak truthfully, help others, forgive mistakes, and remember God with devotion, we begin to feel His presence in daily life.

Nearness to God is not measured by rituals alone. Prayers, bhajans, and worship are beautiful, but they must change our conduct. If a person prays every day but remains full of anger, ego, jealousy, and selfishness, the heart remains distant. Being Near and Dear to God means allowing devotion to make us kinder, humbler, and more peaceful.

Love is the first step toward divine nearness. God is love, and a loving heart naturally moves closer to Him. True love does not hurt, divide, or demand endlessly. It understands, serves, forgives, and uplifts. Being Near and Dear to God begins when love becomes visible in our words and actions.

Service is another sacred way to come closer to God. Feeding the hungry, comforting the sad, helping the poor, respecting elders, and supporting those in pain are all forms of worship. When we serve without pride or expectation, the heart becomes pure. God becomes near when we see Him in all beings and serve them with compassion.

Being Near and Dear to God also requires humility. Pride creates distance from the Divine because it makes us feel separate and superior. A humble person understands that every blessing is grace. Breath, food, family, strength, opportunity, and devotion itself are gifts. Gratitude makes the heart soft and ready for divine love.

Faith is important during difficult times. Anyone can remember God when life is comfortable, but true devotion is tested when pain, delay, or confusion comes. A dear devotee does not leave God because prayers are not answered immediately. Such a heart says, “Lord, I may not understand, but I trust You.” This trust brings the devotee closer to God.

Being Near and Dear to God also means living with inner cleanliness. The mind should be watched carefully. Negative thoughts, harsh speech, and selfish actions disturb spiritual peace. Prayer, meditation, good company, and self-control help purify the mind. A clean heart becomes a temple where God can be felt.

In the end, Being Near and Dear to God is a sacred journey of transformation. It asks us to love more, serve more, forgive more, and surrender more deeply. God does not need wealth, pride, or outer display. He accepts a sincere heart.

A person who lives with Being Near and Dear to God slowly becomes peaceful, compassionate, and fearless. Life becomes meaningful because every action becomes an offering. This is the true blessing of divine nearness – the heart feels guided, protected, and filled with God’s love.