The true flag of victory-ma

The True Flag of Victory

Love for one’s motherland is good. But it should not lead to hatred towards the motherland of others. Your prayer has to be, “May everyone everywhere be happy and peaceful.” For, only when the world has peace and prosperity, can India be peaceful and happy…Your peace and happiness are linked with the world’s peace and happiness. Any act of hatred or violence committed by you will pollute the atmosphere of the world. When you adore any living being, the adoration reaches God, for He is in every being. Similarly insult to any living being too reaches God. So, expand love towards all, everywhere.

The flag is the symbol of victory, of the joy of Independence. Each nation has a flag for itself. Pay attention to another flag to symbolise another laudable victory. And this is over one’s lower instincts, impulses, passions, emotions and desires. This is the flag which has to be unfurled in every human heart. When you achieve this victory, you will become the true inheritors of Bharatiya (Indian) culture.

Divine Discourse on Independence Day, August 15, 1985 at the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, Prasanthi Nilayam.

[Adapted from www.radiosai.org]