Quote 1: This day (New Year Day) is welcomed as marking some big change, as if yesterday was something quite different… All this is due to the custom that views this day as something unique. In fact, the ‘year’ is just a convention. There are as many New Year days as there are days in the year; many communities and countries have their own distinct calendars. The year is just a name to indicate a number of months, the month a number of days, a day to indicate a number of hours, the hour is a period of time counted in minutes, and the minute is a name for sixty seconds. Each second is new. It is a gift, a chance, an opportunity, a thing to be celebrated, to be used for your uplift. That is to say, each second is a fresh chance given to you for training the mind, refining the intellect, purifying the emotions, strengthening the will, for getting confirmed in the conviction that you are the deathless Self, the Infinite Consciousness. (Sathya Sai Baba: 1 January 1964)

Sadhana Activity 1: Practice to see each second as a fresh chance given to you for training the mind, refining the intellect, purifying the emotions, strengthening the will, for getting confirmed in the conviction that you are the deathless Self, the Infinite Consciousness.

Quote 2: Foster love. Adhere to Truth. Follow righteousness. Achieve peace. This is the special benediction of Swami on this day on all. Wherever you may go, speak softly and sweetly. Thereby you will earn the esteem of society. This is the most valuable reward you have to secure this New Year. (Sathya Sai Baba: 5 Feb 1998 – Chinese New Year)

Sadhana Activity 2: Get into the habit of fostering Love, adhering to Truth, following righteousness, achieving Peace and speaking softly and sweetly.

Question from a Devotee: What should be our daily medication for a divine life?

Quote 3: Swami: Medication or meditation? You need both.  Be good, do good, see good…don’t fight, stick to the discipline of Sadhana (spiritual practice), sing the Name of God always; love all, serve all…accept everything that happens to you as the will of God done for your own good…then no worry, no pain.  But first, always act with dignity… that you are God, not animal, not animal.

Sai Interview with New Zealanders http://www.saibaba.ws/articles/saiinterviewnewzealanders.htm

Sadhana Activity 3: Be good, see good, do good. Sing the Name of God always; love all, serve all.

Quote 4: The New Year does not bring with it any new joy or sorrow. A year is in fact a succession of seconds turning into minutes, days and months. It is only when every moment is cherished as new, will the New Year become new. The sacred way in which every moment is spent will determine the fruitfulness of the year. If you wish to lead a sacred life and have sacred experiences, you must engage yourself in sacred actions. The good and evil in the world can be changed only by the change in men’s actions. Transformation of society must start with transformation of individuals. On this New Year Day I wish you all every happiness and prosperity. Lead a long life, happy life, peaceful life, loving life and Divine life. Redeem your lives by practicing Divine Love.  (Sathya Sai Baba: 1 January 1998)

Sadhana Activity 4: Engage yourself in sacred actions.

Quote 5: January is the first month of the New Year. If you experience happiness in the beginning you will be happy throughout. Start early, drive slowly and reach safely. (Sathya Sai Baba: 14 Jan 1999)

Sadhana Activity 5: Be Happy always.

Affirmation:  I am always practicing Swami’s Teachings – my Life is His Message.