Sathya Sai with Students: WATCH Method of Transformational Leadership

[Note: This Article is based on the Discourses given by Sri Sathya Sai Baba on various occasions. This is not a direct excerpt from any Discourse, but an essay based on His Message on Management and Leadership.]

… Continued from Part 5

5. Watch Your Heart:

What does ‘Watching the Heart’ mean? It can be understood in two ways: it could mean watching the ‘Physical Heart’ or watching the ‘Spiritual Heart’. The ‘Physical Heart’, which is located on the left side of the chest, represents symbolically the emotions of an individual. One should try to have only positive emotions and eschew negative ones. This is even acknowledged by modern cardiologists as helpful for the effective functioning of the heart. Baba says that the three main causes for cardiac ailments are ‘Hurry, Worry and Curry’. The hurry and worry create mental tension and raise the blood pressure, while improper food (curry) upsets the blood circulation and cholesterol levels. The physicians not only prescribe medicines for cardiac ailments, but also insist on dietary control. The ‘Spiritual Heart’ is located on the right side of the chest. In the parlance of Yoga, it is referred to as ‘Anahata Chakra’, one of the seven psychic-centers. This psychic-center is said to contain the ‘Mukhya Prana’ (life force) the contemplation of which helps one in one’s mind control.

Softness of Heart: A Story

Goodness, compassion and tolerance are the three paths through which one can see the Divinity in oneself and in others. Softness of the heart is condemned by people today as weakness, cowardice, and want of intelligence. The heart has to be hardened, they say, against pity and charity. However, that way lies war, destruction and downfall. Love confers lasting happiness and peace. Sharing can reduce grief and multiply joy. Man is born to share, to serve, to give, and not to grab. When one has faith in God as a precious truth in the altar of one’s heart, one will welcome, with equal alacrity, the blows and blossoms of fortune. Vibheeshana, Ravana’s own brother, chastised him for his stubbornness and lust and urged him to save himself, his kingdom and his kith and kin by restoring Sita unharmed to Rama.

Vibheeshana advising Ravana

When Vibheeshana went over to Rama, Rama knew that he had a pure heart and that he could not survive the poisonous atmosphere of Lanka. Therefore, Rama accepted Vibheeshana and saved him. The Lord likes to be called Aarta-Traana-Paraayana – meaning ‘One who rescues the distressed from grief’, more than any other name, for He is most happy when He rescues those in agony.