The Message of WATCH – By Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba

The Message of WATCH – By Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba

The Real Watch Is When You Watch Your Words, Actions, Thoughts, Character, and Heart, Not the One You Wear on Your Wrist

You Cannot Escape the Consequences of Your Sinful Acts.

Watch How You Speak to Others – Abusing Others Is a Sin

Observe Total Silence – Silence Is Golden

Watch Your Thoughts – Each Time a Thought Arises, Analyse It.

Welcome Only Good Thoughts

The word WATCH has an important message to convey.

WATCH means:

W – Watch your Words

A – Watch your Actions

T – Watch your Thoughts

C – Watch your Character

H – Watch your Heart

The watch you have may break some day or the other. But this “watch” is unbreakable. So, possess this “watch.” Watch whether you are speaking good or bad. Watch whether you abuse others or appreciate them. You should not use your tongue to abuse others. Abusing others is a sin. Do not let your tongue indulge in such sins. You cannot escape the consequences of your sinful acts. Everything has reaction, reflection, and resound, and it comes back to you in some form or the other. Hence, exercise control over the tongue.

Silence Is Golden

Buddha observed silence and became quiet. Every sacred act has manifold rewards. By being quiet, Buddha began to experience Soham (“I am That”) within Him. You may chant the names of Rama, Krishna, Govinda, Buddha, and Sai to steady your mind. Once the mind becomes steady, you do not need to chant. Observe total silence. That is why it is said, silence is golden. Once words become less, the activities and vagaries of the mind also become less. As words increase, the vagaries of the mind also increase. Annihilate the mind by quietude. However, it is easier said than done. Man may die, but the mind will not die. The mind vanishes when words vanish from it.

Observing silence is one of the ways of silencing the mind. That is why our ancients practised silence. We should not allow the mind to go wherever it likes and do whatever it likes. We should not allow the mind to ridicule, hurt, and hate others. If you hurt anybody, you will be hurt ten times  more. You may be proud that you have abused somebody. But there will be somebody who will abuse you also someday. The sin you commit today will bring retribution to you later amplified manifold.

Do Not Encourage the Mind to Follow Its Whims

You are easily led astray by the vagaries of the mind. That is why, I say, WATCH! W is for watch your Words; A is for watch your Actions; T is for watch your Thoughts; C is for watch your Character; H is for watch your Heart. If the watch reminds you every second of the need to watch these five, you can be quite happy. The mind swings like a pendulum between one pleasant object and another. To stop the pendulum, the easiest means is to stop winding. That will put an end to the swing. So too, stop encouraging the mind by following its whims and fancies. When we beat another or cause harm to him, we justify it as only right and proper; when he beats us or harms us, we revolt and call it wrong and punishable.

The Mind Is a Double-Edged Sword

Everything is judged by us on the touchstone of the ego. The mind is a double-edged sword – it can save, but it can also bind. Yoga is the restraint of the waves natural to the mind. By learning and practising the disciplines of yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, prathyahara, dharana, dhyana, and Samadhi (abstention from evil-doing, various observances, postures, control of breath, restraining the sense organs, concentration, meditation, absorption in the Atma), the seeker can overcome and eliminate the mind.

When the mind is eliminated, the reality will become patent! It is like the discovery of the lost “tenth man.” Ten friends waded across a river in floods, and when they reached the bank opposite, each one took a count and found only nine, for he did not count himself! So, they inferred that “the tenth man” was drowned and began lamenting his loss. Then, a passerby came along and counted them; he found that all were there; the tenth man too was there; only ignorance had kept him unrecognised. This is the consequence of illusion. Since you do not know the real nature of the Self or Atma, you do not recognise the Self at all; when this knowledge is communicated by the guru or scripture, the ignorance of the Self disappears.

Keep a Watch on Your Words

Dear students! You are pursuing your education in a sacred atmosphere. You must continue to develop this atmosphere later in your life. Modern science is, of course, great. But, your senses are at a low level. Along with science, the senses must also be raised to a higher level. Today, we are leading a high-level life, keeping our senses at a low level. This should not be what is meant by “educare.” Educare is bringing out the latent Divinity in a human being. Whatever words you speak, you must watch whether they are the result of your education or educare. Today, nobody is keeping this watch. I often refer to the spelling of the word, WATCH. The spelling consists of five letters, namely, W A T C H. These letters stand for:

W – Watch your Words

A – Watch your Actions

T – Watch your Thoughts

C – Watch your Character

H – Watch your Heart

The real watch is when you keep a watch on your words, actions, thoughts, character, and heart, not the one you wear on your wrist. The wristwatch may go for repair, but the word “watch” will never be damaged. It will always bring purity of thought, word, and deed. How great these words are! Education in the olden days contributed to making man a noble and ideal human being.

Watch Your Thoughts and See That They Do Not Go Astray

Do not waste your thoughts, for it makes your mind unsteady and wavering. (Showing His handkerchief ) What is this? This is a cloth. No, this is not a cloth but a bundle of threads. Not even threads, it is just cotton. Without cotton, there can be no threads, and without threads there can be no cloth. Likewise, the mind is nothing but a bundle of thoughts. Therefore put a check on your thoughts. Even the wealth you acquire and the food you eat must be within a certain limit. Food is God; do not waste it.

You should help others, never hurt them. Help ever, hurt never. These are some of the guidelines for purposeful living that you must follow. He is a blessed one who conducts himself in such a way that he does not hurt others nor is he hurt in the process. You have to learn these skills, which are not available in textbooks. Watch your thoughts, and see that they do not go astray. Each time a thought arises in your mind, analyse it. Is it good or bad? If you feel it is bad, do not allow it to persist. Just let it pass. If it is a good thought, put it into practice so that you and others also will be benefited.

Achieve Awareness of the Atmic Reality

Desire breeds wishes. Wishes cause birth and death. When one is devoid of desire, one need not go through birth and death. The next birth is the result of unfulfilled desires in this life and is determined by them. Those who have no trace of desire for material objects can achieve the awareness of the Atmic Reality.

In fact, the desire to know God, to love God, and to be loved by God is not a desire that binds. When awareness of God dawns in all its splendour, every worldly, sensual desire is reduced to ashes in the flames of that awareness. The individual Self will turn toward the Universal Self as soon as desire comes to an end and the Self delights in supreme peace. The Self must break off all contact with non-self, so that it can earn immortality. You are a heap of thoughts. Your thoughts play a vital role in shaping your life. That is why you are advised to watch your thoughts and to welcome only good ones.

Vidya Vahini,

The Message of WATCH – By Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba – A Divine Guide For Pure Living

The Message of WATCH – By Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba is a beautiful teaching that guides every person to live with awareness, discipline, and purity. The word WATCH is often understood as a reminder to watch our Words, Actions, Thoughts, Character, and Heart. These five areas shape the quality of human life. If they are pure, life becomes peaceful and meaningful. If they are careless, life becomes disturbed and selfish.

Human beings often watch the world outside, but forget to watch themselves. We notice others’ mistakes, judge their behavior, and criticize their weaknesses, yet we may ignore our own anger, pride, jealousy, or harsh speech. Spiritual life begins when we turn attention inward. Self-observation is the first step toward self-transformation. A person who watches himself honestly can slowly become better each day.

The Message of WATCH – By Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba first teaches us to watch our words. Words have great power. They can heal or hurt, unite or divide, encourage or discourage. A kind word can give hope to a tired heart, while a harsh word can create deep pain. Before speaking, we should ask whether our words are truthful, necessary, and loving. If speech is guided by ego or anger, silence is often better.

The second lesson is to watch our actions. Every action leaves an impression on our character and affects others around us. Good actions bring peace, while selfish actions create restlessness. Helping the needy, respecting elders, doing duties sincerely, and serving society are noble actions. Spirituality is not only about prayer or worship; it must be seen in daily conduct. What we do shows what we truly value.

The Message of WATCH – By Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba also reminds us to watch our thoughts. Thoughts are the seeds of words and actions. If thoughts are filled with love, patience, and truth, life becomes peaceful. If thoughts are filled with anger, jealousy, fear, and greed, they slowly disturb the heart. A pure mind is the foundation of a pure life. Prayer, good company, silence, and remembrance of God help make thoughts cleaner.

The fourth part is character. Character is the real wealth of a person. Money, beauty, position, and fame may come and go, but good character remains as a lasting strength. A person of character is honest, disciplined, humble, compassionate, and responsible. Such a person can be trusted. Education without character is incomplete. Devotion without character is weak. Success without character is dangerous.

The Message of WATCH – By Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba finally asks us to watch the heart. The heart should be filled with love, gratitude, faith, and compassion. If the heart becomes hard through ego, hatred, or selfishness, even spiritual practices lose their sweetness. A soft heart feels the pain of others and tries to help. A loving heart forgives, serves, and remembers God with sincerity.

Watching the heart also means watching intention. Sometimes an action may look good from outside, but the intention behind it may be selfish. A person may serve others for praise, speak politely for personal benefit, or appear humble while carrying pride within. God sees not only the outer action but also the inner feeling. Therefore, purity of intention is very important in spiritual life.

The Message of WATCH – By Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba is deeply practical because it can be applied every day. In the morning, we can decide to speak kindly. During work, we can act honestly. During difficulty, we can watch our thoughts. In relationships, we can protect our character. Before sleeping, we can examine the heart and ask whether we lived with love. This daily practice slowly transforms life.

Self-control is necessary for following this teaching. The tongue may want to speak angrily, but wisdom says, “Stop.” The mind may want to judge others, but love says, “Understand.” The ego may want praise, but humility says, “Serve silently.” Every moment gives us a choice. When we choose the higher path again and again, spiritual strength grows within us.

The Message of WATCH – By Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba also helps create peace in families and society. If every person watches their words, there will be fewer arguments. If every person watches their actions, there will be less injustice. If every person watches their thoughts, there will be less hatred. If every person protects character, society becomes stronger. If every heart is filled with love, the world becomes more peaceful.

This teaching is especially important in modern life. People are surrounded by speed, pressure, competition, and distraction. Many react quickly without thinking. They speak through anger, act through desire, and live under stress. WATCH teaches awareness. It asks us to pause, reflect, and choose wisely. A mindful life is a peaceful life.

In the end, The Message of WATCH – By Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba is a divine reminder that transformation begins with self-awareness. We do not need to change the whole world first. We must begin with our own words, actions, thoughts, character, and heart. When these become pure, our life becomes a blessing. A person who watches himself with sincerity becomes humble, loving, truthful, and peaceful. This is the true path to inner growth and divine grace.

Educare is True Education – By Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba