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"The importance of realising the Atma
A Teaching from Sri Sathya Sai Baba"
[http://www.saibaba.ws/articles1/atma.htm]

Most of you are undertaking some sort of sadhana or spiritual practice. What exactly is the real meaning of sadhana? Sadhana is not merely the acquiring of knowledge of the nature of the physical body. In fact you should forget about the physical body and concentrate on the acquiring of knowledge of atmic bliss. How do you attain this bliss? It can be attained only through Prema or Love. If you have pure love, all your suffering will be removed. Therefore cultivate pure and selfless love. Suppose you meet someone who you do not like. If you continue to dislike him and walk away from him, considering him as your enemy, the distance between you and him will increase further. On the other hand, if you greet him lovingly, saying "Hello! How are you?" naturally he will respond with love. Thus, when you both greet each other lovingly, there is no scope for dislike persisting anymore. As is your feeling towards others, so is their feeling towards you. The same idea is contained in the Vedic declaration "As is your feeling, so shall you become." Today people are directing all their negative feelings against others, but you should not bear ill will against anybody. Remember that whatever negative feelings are there, they are just passing clouds. They come and they go. The sun is not visible when you are under thick clouds, but the moment the clouds move away, the sun becomes visible. Similarly, when you move away from your negative feelings, you will experience the sunlight of pure love. You can achieve anything in this world with love. In fact you can get the entire world under your control through love. So remember, all worldly matters are like passing clouds. Therefore do not be overly concerned with them. Love is your sole refuge, wherever you may be, in the forest, in the sky, in a city or a village, on the top of a mountain or in the middle of the deep sea. Wherever you may be, divine love will always protect you. So cultivate such a type of love. That is the real meaning of sadhana or spiritual practice....