Sai Inspires Apr 9, 2026

How does divine love differ from worldly relationships, and what are its essential characteristics? Our Loving Lord clearly explains to us today.

Prema (Love) is the prana (Life force) of man, and the prana itself is Prema. One without love is like a lifeless corpse. Love is shown only to persons who are alive. No one will love a corpse. Love and life are therefore interrelated and intimately connected. In this worldly life, love manifests in several forms, such as the love between mother and son, husband and wife, and between relatives. This love based on physical relationships arises out of selfish motives and self-interest. But the love of the Divine is devoid of any trace of self-interest. It is love for the sake of love alone. This is called Bhakti (devotion). One characteristic of this love is to give and not to receive. Secondly, love knows no fear. Thirdly, it is only for love’s sake and not for a selfish motive. All these three angles of love jointly connote prapatti (Surrender). When one revels in this attitude of prapatti, one experiences the bliss of the Divine. For this, the prime requisite is Kshama (forgiveness).

- Divine Discourse, Jan 01, 1994