Imagine this: You wake up one morning and realize that you have won the Mega Millions lottery! Your heart skips a beat as you process the mind-boggling amount of money you’ve just acquired. The excitement, the joy, and the possibilities flood your mind. Now, let’s pause for a moment and dive into the world of spirituality, where being born as a human and having the ability and intelligence to realize God is akin to winning the lottery of a lifetime.

As explained by our beloved Bhagawan, the universe operates in a cyclical pattern of creation and dissolution. Within this grand cosmic scheme, souls journey through various life forms, experiencing countless incarnations. Swami has said several times that attaining a human birth is an incredibly rare and precious occurrence, akin to hitting the jackpot in the grand lottery of life.

“A human birth is the most sacred one among the 8,400,000 of different living beings in this creation. To attain such a sacred birth is a great fortune, indeed.” (Baba the Breath of Sai, pag. 311). Being born as a human is the ultimate prize because it offers unique opportunities for spiritual growth and self-realization. Unlike other life forms, humans possess the ability to reason, to question, and to seek the truth. It is through this capacity that we can explore the depths of our existence and embark on a transformative journey towards realizing the Divine.

The Divine is considered the ultimate reality, often referred to as Brahman. This all-pervading cosmic consciousness is both immanent and transcendent, existing within and beyond the manifested world. When we are born as humans, we carry within us a spark of this Divine intelligence, a dormant potential waiting to be awakened.

Just as a lottery win provides financial abundance, being born as a human gifts us with the riches of self-awareness and the opportunity to realize our true nature which is that we are all manifestations of the Divine Atma. Our beloved Lord Sathya Sai Baba has emphasized that the purpose of life is to awaken this inner Divinity and merge our individual consciousness with the universal consciousness. This journey, known as self-realization or God-realization, unfolds through various paths such as devotion (Bhakti), knowledge (Jnana), and disciplined action (Karma).

Realizing God is not an easy feat. It requires sincere effort, discipline, and a deep longing to reunite with the Divine. Swami has offered a plethora of practices and teachings to guide seekers on this transformative journey. From meditation and namasmarana (reciting Lords name constantly) to rendering selfless service, each individual can find their unique path to connect with the Divine.

Just as winning the lottery opens up a world of possibilities and freedom, realizing God brings forth a sense of transcendence and liberation from the cycle of birth and death. It unveils the eternal truth that we are not separate from the Divine but an integral part of its grand tapestry. This profound realization brings immense joy, peace, and fulfillment that surpass any materialistic wealth or achievements.

In the cosmic lottery of life, being born as a human with the potential to realize God is undoubtedly the ultimate jackpot. It is a rare opportunity, a stroke of divine grace, and a call to embark on a journey of self-discovery and spiritual awakening. Let us cherish this precious human birth, explore the depths of our being, and strive towards realizing our divine potential. As we do so, we unlock the infinite possibilities that lie within and find ourselves inextricably linked with the cosmic dance of existence.

Om Sai Ram!