Anandamayi Ma

Suppose some people go to bathe in the sea and make up their minds to swim ahead of everyone else; consequently they will have to look back. But for him, whose one and only goal is the Ocean Itself, no one has remained for whose sake he looks back or is concerned; and then, what is to be, will be.

Give yourself up to the wave, and you will be absorbed by the current; having dived into the sea, you do not return anymore.

The Eternal Himself is the wave that floods the shore, so that you may be carried away.

Those who can surrender themselves to this aim will be accepted by Him.

But if your attention remains directed towards the shore, you cannot proceed - after bathing you will return home. If your aim is the Supreme, the Ultimate, you will be led on by the movement of your true nature. There are waves that carry away, and waves that pull back. Those who can give themselves up, will be taken by Him.

In the guise of the wave He holds out His Hand

and calls you: Come, Come, COME!

- Anandamayi Ma

Swami Sivananda

God is a question of supply and demand. If you really yearn for His Darshan, He will reveal Himself to you in an instant. 

You need neither art nor science, neither study nor erudition for God-realisation, but faith, purity, and devotion. 

Combine all the love you cherish towards all worldly objects-wife, son, wealth, property, relatives, friends-and then apply this combined love towards God. You will realise in this very second. 

To serve God and Mammon at the same time is impossible. You cannot enjoy the bliss of the Self and the sensual pleasure in one and the same cup. You cannot have light and darkness at the same time. 

The Lord demands your whole heart. 

Reduce yourself into zero before God. Only then will God completely take care of and guide you. Only then surrender becomes complete. 

Forget your own interests, your own longings, your own desires. You will attain the bliss of the Supreme Self. 

Crucify, sacrifice the lower self, if you wish to have union with God. 

Empty your egoism. You will be filled with God. Lose your personality. You will find the Divine Life. You will realise God.

- Swami Sivananda

Sri Sathya Sai Baba

The essence of bhakti (devotion) is love and not formal exercises in japa (recitation) or worship of various kinds. Worship should be offered to the Divine who resides in all beings. Love is God. Live in love. Love is the means of realizing the bliss of the Self, which is centered in ourselves. It need not be sought elsewhere. It can be found within oneself when all thoughts are controlled and the mind is turned inwards. 

Dedicate all actions to the Lord. This is the highest knowledge. It is the summum bonum of existence. Love should become a way of life. That alone is true devotion.

Bhagawan Baba.