You have just dined...

You have just dined, and however scrupulously the slaughterhouse is concealed in the graceful distance of miles, there is complicity.

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Beautiful men and women must be very careful

Frequently it is beautiful men and women, those who are full of magnetism, who become trapped in the messes of life. This happens because dark forces try the hardest to destroy those who give promise of being universal in their thinking and creativity, who seem destined to bring some great beauty to the world.

Dark forces try to block love; they do not want beauty, goodness, truth, joy, and freedom to increase. Especially when a man or woman is beautiful, intelligent, and creative, he or she must be very careful not to be misused in sex or pseudo-love. They must try not to end in the traps of dark forces that would prevent them from expressing their beauty and worth in the world.

-Torkom Saraydarian

Sex, Family, and the Woman in Society, Chapter 4

Regressing to animality

Peace cannot be found in the external world but within oneself. One should realize that the whole universe is pervaded by the Divine. Today the world is filled with strife. It is not possible to make a distinction between a human being and a demon. Man, who evolved from the animal, instead of proceeding towards Divinity, is regressing to animality. Man's primary duty is to uphold the human values of Truth, Righteousness, Peace and Love. However, man today is enveloped in attachment and hatred. The moment he casts them off, he will realize his divinity.

-Sai Baba

The concept of want makes you a beggar

The mind is a beggar because the concept of want makes you a beggar! Be only "I AM" and try to lift the begging bowl. Throw away the begging bowl of ego for the throne.

-Papaji

Mind is the worst pollution

Where there is mind there is two-ness and past. Where there is no mind there is Freedom. Mind is strong in other-ness because mind is mind only when it touches an object. Mind is the worst pollution because it is the concept of time which steals you from Love. Mind is samsara, the cycle of hitchhiking through wombs. Mind is description so see what cannot be described by thought.

-Papaji

Man has to wake up from the sleep of ignorance and realize his divine essence

By constant contemplation on God the mind should be turned away from mundane desires. That is the way to transcend the dualities of pain and pleasure. Man has to wake up from the sleep of ignorance and realize his divine essence. When worldly desires are reduced, bliss will be experienced.

Along with the control of desires, men should also get rid of Ahamkara (ego). Men today are filled with fear because they have no confidence in themselves. A bird can brave a storm because it has faith in its wings. But man succumbs to the slightest reverses of fortune because he does not rely on the power of the Spirit. People must rely primarily on the power of the Divine. With confidence in the Self, they should devote themselves to good deeds. This is the purpose of life. Every step you take must bring you nearer to God.

- Sai Baba

When ignorance dissolves

When ignorance, the mother of sin, dissolves, destiny, the compulsion to sin again, ceases. With ignorance coming to an end, all comes to an end. Things are then seen as they are, and they are good.

-Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj

Habits are the decay of life

A yogi has no habits, because habits are nothing more than the decay of life. However, it is natural for a yogi to have his own way of action. It is not difficult for a yogi to cut the bonds of habit, because his state of tense alertness constantly reveals to him new approaches to problems. Inertia is the skeleton on which ignorance grows. How many kingdoms have collapsed because of inertia!

- Agni Yoga, 198