Sacrifice (tyaga) is the essence of spiritual life. (SSB 1979, p. 70)
Sacrifice too is an aspect of character. (SV, p. 171)
Sacrifice is sweeter than enjoyment. Sacrifice should become the aim of life. Only through sacrifice can one attain peace. Sorrows do not flee from us as long as the mind is not at peace with itself. Agonies dwell forever within us. Without the tranquillity of the soul any amount of wealth cannot be of any use.
Surrendering the fruits of action with a dispassionate mind is eligible to be termed sacrifice. Purity of mind alone can confer upon it tranquillity. The Upanishads have proclaimed in a full-throated voice that sacrifice alone leads to immortality. Sacrifice is the chief trait of the pure. Therefore, every student must imbibe and display the spirit of sacrifice in his life. He should not become a victim of the disease of enjoyment. (SV, p. 172)
Sacrifice is the highest step. One who has the true spirit of sacrifice gives to others without any hesitation or reservation, smilingly and gladly, even his dearest and highest possession. Surrendering the fruit of action to the Lord is real sacrifice. A tyagi does not shrink even at giving up his body, regarding it as worthless straw. Sacrifice means something more than giving up of wealth, gold and material objects. Evil qualities like hatred, jealousy, wrath and malice, which have become ingrained in man over many lifetimes, should be discarded. There is no happiness greater than that obtained from sacrifice. Only those who sacrifice are the children of immortality because they live forever. (SV, p. 172)
One’s selfish needs have to be sacrificed. There must be constant effort to do good to others. One’s desire should be to establish the welfare of the world. (Prema Vahini, p. 75)
‘Na karmana na prajaya dhanena, tyagenaike amrutattva manasuhu’ - Immortality can be attained, not by ritual deeds, nor by birth, nor by wealth but, only by sacrifice and renunciation. This is the declaration of the Vedas. The seva into which you are initiated is the first step in the training for this sacrifice. Seva is the highest sadhana. God Himself comes down to serve mankind and lead it to the ideals it has ignored. Therefore, consider how delighted God will be when man serves man. (SSS Vol. 6, p. 5)
‘Sacrifice ignorance (Ajnana) and ego (ahamkara) at the altar of wisdom (Jnana), and install righteousness (Dharma) therein’ - this is the message of the scriptures. Every single unselfish act, which prepares the ground for the merging of the Soul with the Over-Soul, which broadens the vision towards the Divinity immanent everywhere, is a righteous act. Each such act is a tiny stream that swells the river of holiness rushing towards the sea of knowledge of Divinity. Your acts and activities are all rituals in the worship of the Paramatma that pervades the Universe. Whatever is done in an attitude of dedication and surrender is a component of the Dharma, which leads to Realisation. The strategy of the ancient Bharatiya (Indian) way of life is directed towards the sanctification of every moment and every word, thought and deed as a step towards realising the Divine. – (DV)
Sacrifice! Sacrifice! Sacrifice! That is the supreme quality you have to cultivate. The Vedas have stridently proclaimed that immortality can be got only through sacrifice and not by and other means. Only through sacrifice can there be real enjoyment of what you acquire. What you earn with one hand, give away with the other. Without sacrifice life is a waste.
I give you three formulae: One: work, work and work; Two: Enjoy the fruits of your labour. Today there is no gospel of work in the country. Everyone wants to enjoy without doing hard work. Whatever the troubles, work hard. Three: Use your earnings for the public good. When this kind of renunciatory outlook develops among the people, the nation will prosper immensely. (SS Mar 97, p. 62)
(Aurobindo)
Dear students! Whatever anyone may say, regard this country as the land of your birth. It is your Motherland. It is your own native land. Love of the country must get firmly rooted in our young persons. You have to take a firm resolve to protect your Motherland. Once, Aurobindo asked a group of students in Calcutta: ‘For what purpose are you studying? If you are going to make use of your education for the benefit of the nation pursue your studies. Otherwise, you better burn your books. If you are studying only out of selfish motives, the education is of no value at all. If you are intent only on earning a living, you may as well beg from door to door. You must be prepared to sacrifice yourselves for your Motherland.’
‘Breathes there the man with soul so dead who never to himself has said: This is my Motherland; this is my mother-tongue. To love my country is my religion.’
A youth who is not prepared to sacrifice his life for his country is as good as dead. Service to the nation is the greatest thing one can think of. All religious practices are worthless without service to one’s fellowmen. Without the spirit of service, holding any udyoga (office or position) is meaningless. Udyoga (official position) must stem from Yoga (realisation of the Divine). (SSS Vol.26, pp. 305-306)
Paropakaram Vahanti Nadya,
Paropakaram Duhanti Gaya
Paropakaram Phalanti Vriksha,
Paropakaram idam sariram
Today in the present day world, sacrifice is most essential for people who have a variety of ambitions, too many desires and struggling for things that they don’t deserve. The tree never partakes its own fruit. The tree sacrifices by passing on the fruits to others. The river does not drink its own water. It sacrifices its very purpose by providing drinking water to others. The cow does not take its own milk but gives it for the benefit of others. Likewise, man should share with his fellow beings his natural qualities like morality, truth and integrity. (DTB Vol.2, p. 1)
Man is never satisfied. He is greedy for more and more wealth. There should be a limit to greed for wealth. What man has to earn is divine grace. No matter what he earns, he cannot take a single pie with him when he leaves the body. Alexander conquered many nations and become a mighty emperor. But, when the hour of death approached no doctor could save him. Before passing away, he summoned his ministers and told them to keep his empty hands raised above when his body was taken for the final journey through the streets so that the people would understand that even a great and mighty emperor like Alexander who achieved so much in life had to go empty-handed.
Alexander wanted to conquer the entire world. Today also we find one country trying to overpower the other. People are becoming power crazy. People who have greed for power can never be good leaders. In fact, they are the persons who destroy the nation. Many ministers, prime ministers, kings and emperors have come and gone. But, everybody was concerned only about his or her position and power. Fie upon such leaders who had no concern for the welfare of the nation! Such leaders are not human beings; they are demons. Leaders should have a sense of sacrifice. Only sacrifice will lead to immortality. (SS May 99, p. 135)
The rich must sacrifice their wants so that the poor may secure their needs. (EL, p. 211)