Some feel that the disciplines of the Prasanthi Nilayam are limited to the geographical bounds of this area and so they can be ignored when one is beyond the gates. They smoke and swear, shout and swagger, fight and frighten, talk loose and light, indulge in slander and scandals, in the coffee houses beyond the gate, where they lounge and loll. It is shameful behaviour for any self-respecting human; it is reprehensible for pilgrims to holy places, who must yearn to soak themselves in spiritual joy; it is ruinous for a volunteer, for, here, a volunteer is also a candidate for Grace and an aspirant for Bliss. For you, the whole world must appear as a Prasanthi Nilayam (abode of Supreme peace), not simply this stone and cement structure. As a matter of fact, the world is, fundamentally, a Prasanthi Nilayam; only, man, by his ignorance and perversity, has fouled it into a snake-pit of crime and hate. (SSS Vol.5)

Nowadays, faith in God and goodness has declined. The means have become subordinate to the end. Success is sought by fair means or foul, foul means being the first resort. Misuse of official position, terrorising ignorant and innocent people to get one s way, creating situations of fear and despair, to undermine the moral strength of people – these have become accepted tactics. Victory won through questionable means is as shameful as defeat; defeat, while pursuing honest and compassionate means, is to be welcomed as victory. When you do not stray from the straight path, when you hold fast to truth and when you do not lose courage, your failure is as creditable as success. (SSS Vol.14)

Good and bad lie in your mind; they are not outside. Hence, correct your feelings in the first instance. Get rid of all animal qualities so that humanness can blossom in you. If you notice even a trace of hatred in yourself, drive it away at once. Having attained human birth, it is shameful on your part to have evil qualities like hatred. Do not fall a prey to infatuation. You should be attracted only towards God and none else. (SSS Vol.39)

You tell me, "Swami! I have been practising intense meditation for 50 years, but, I have yet to gain concentration. This is a shameful confession. Dhyana is the seventh in the series of steps, leading to the eighth Samadhi (conquest of the Mind). Unless you have secured a strong foothold on the six previous steps, you will slide back from Dhyana, however many years you may try to stick to it. The first step is the control of the senses, the second is the control of the emotions and impulses. The third is the mastery of balance and equipoise, the fourth is the regulation of breathing and movements of the vital airs, the fifth is the prevention of outer influences from deviating the mind, the sixth is one-pointed attention on one s own progress, and then, we come to real Dhyana - meditation on one s Reality - which easily leads to its realisation in Samadhi. Without the preliminary rungs, you cannot hop straight on to seventh! And then, skip on to the eighth! (SSS Vol.9)

I know that some people allow others to use the scarf and badge given to them; they do so to escape work or to please their friends. This is very wrong; these symbols of Seva are as vital to reach one of you as your own breath. When you give them over, you do great injury to your own breath. Or, there are some, I know, who keep them hidden, out of sight of others, when they drink, gamble, or smoke and indulge in such harmful and shameful acts. This too is despicable. (SSS Vol.12)

Let us firmly resolve to propagate the principles of truth, righteousness and love. Sathya Sai Baba has no trace of selfishness in Him. I am spending crores of rupees to alleviate the sufferings of the poor and the downtrodden. My resolve is to feed the hungry and impart education to poor children. There are many millionaires in this world who are so mean and narrowminded that they set their dogs on the beggars who come to beg alms at their doorstep. It is shameful to consider them as human beings. These persons are unable to do even one thousandth part of what Sathya Sai Baba is doing for society, but shamelessly indulge in false allegations. (SSS Vol.33)

Good and bad lie in your mind; they are not outside. Hence, correct your feelings in the first instance. Get rid of all animal qualities so that humanness can blossom in you. If you notice even a trace of hatred in yourself, drive it away at once. Having attained human birth, it is shameful on your part to have evil qualities like hatred. Do not fall a prey to infatuation. You should be attracted only towards God and none else. You love your son because you consider him to be your reflection. In fact, the one who loves you, the one who hates you, the one who criticises you, all are your own reflections. At one time, one may be angry and later the anger may give way to love. People are carried away by the vagaries of the mind. Being deluded by the names and forms, they are unable to know the transient nature of the world. Truly speaking, you have neither friends nor enemies. It is only your love or hatred that is reflected from outside. God does not give you happiness or sorrow; they are of your own making. They originate from you (SSS Vol.39)

For you students, it is a very important matter that you should introspect and ask yourselves from what high and noble pedestal and status our ancient education in this country has descended and at what low level and in what shameful situation it is today. Our education used to cover the most sacred paths, namely, knowing Atma and what was related to everything that is Divine. That was intended to fill your hearts with something that is sweet and take you to immortality. Today, as a result of the new education which we are getting, we seem to think that there is no God; we do not seem to develop any respect for our parents; we do not seem to develop any respect for our teachers. Not only do we have no fear of God, we seem to be simply reducing our lives to the lives of animals, moving far away from the lives of human beings. (SSB 1972, p.41)