Use a little common sense and you will know that the body is not your own Self; it is liable to decline and death; that is the first step for man to become God. The ‘I’ to which reference is made is not the body, it is the Supreme Self.  (Sathya Sai Baba: November 1961)

To acquire discrimination knowledge, one requires general knowledge, which consists of ordinary cleverness and intelligence. Discrimination knowledge also has in it common sense. Both are essential for life in this world. (Sathya Sai Baba: 20 Nov 2001)

It is not easy to subdue the mind immediately. But you must begin to bring it under control. When the mind desires something, you must immediately set the intellect (buddhi) at work. Why? So that the intellect may give you the proper advice. The mind has to be taught the lesson: “Oh mind! Don’t play your petty pranks. Examine your desire, using the power of discrimination to find out whether it is good or bad, right or wrong. Do not wish to acquire whatever you desire.” When you try to teach the mind in this manner, it loses its potency (the keenness to acquire what it wants). This higher wisdom (vijnaana) is full of intelligence and common sense. It is called Divine Intellectual Will. The Divine Will Power has to be acquired by everyone. Only then, they can realize their true human nature. It is through this Will Power that the Cosmic Divine nature of the universe can be recognized. This Cosmic Power has to be seen with the eyes, experienced mentally, practised through the body and made an integral part of one’s being. Do not speculate whether this is possible or not. If one has the determination anything is possible. (Sathya Sai Baba: 22 May 1993)

For living out your years in peace and harmony, you have to develop common sense and master general knowledge. Education must teach a person what life is, and its goal. It must purify the heart and clarify the vision. It must prevent pollution of the hand, heart and head by habits injurious to the individual, society and the nation. It must promote virtues and raise the moral and spiritual standards of the educated. (Sathya Sai Baba: 19 July 1979)

In the pursuit of your studies, do not confine yourselves to the prescribed subjects. In addition to these special subjects, you have to acquire general knowledge and common sense. Develop firm faith in God. All the ills afflicting the world today are due to the loss of faith in God. Why has man lost peace of mind? The reason is two-fold: One, indifference to what he has; two, craving for what he does not have. Man does not make proper use of what he has. Why should he hanker after what he lacks? One should be content with what he has got and should not worry about things he does not have. Then alone he can be happy. This is true education. (Sathya Sai Baba: 15 Jun 1989)

Education without wisdom, mere wisdom bereft of discrimination, action without discretion, erudition lacking sagacity, power not justified by credentials, statements not based on Truth, music wanting in melody, adoration not sustained by devotion, a person devoid of common sense and character, a student not endowed with humility and a discourse that failed to inspire: these serve no useful purpose. In addition to knowledge derived from the sacred texts, one should earn wisdom through experience. Knowledge without personal experience is futile. (Sathya Sai Baba: 23 May 1991)