Excerpt from Divine Discourse on Deepavali by Bhagwan Sri Sathya Sai Baba

The three basic beliefs of Sanathana Dharma are (I) the inevitability of Karma in life (II) the fact of re-birth and (III) Divine Incarnations. If one has no faith in all these three, he cannot claim to be a Hindu; whoever believes in them can be reckoned as a Bharathiya, child of Bharath. Mention was made of Krishna avathar and of the Kalinga episode. The inner meaning of that episode is this. The serpent Kalinga and its minions are the desires that lurk in the depths of the human heart; into that depth, the Lord jumps, or rather showers His Grace and so, the poison is expelled and the place made safe and pure. When Krishna dances on the hoods, the serpents are tamed and rendered harmless. Without the extinction of desire, man cannot become Divine. Of what avail is it to repeat Sivoham, Sivoham, when you have not endeavored to equip yourself with the qualities of Siva? Why assert that you are Siva and draw blasphemy on your head?

Do not get elated at the riches, status, authority, intelligence etc. which you may have. Consider that they have been given to you on trust, so that you may benefit others. They are all signs of His Grace, opportunities of services, symbols of responsibility. Never seek to exult over others' faults; deal sympathetically with the errors and mistakes of others. Seek the good in others; hear only good tidings about them; do not give ear to scandal. On this Deepavail Day, resolve to light the lamp of Namasmarana and place it at your doorstep, the lips. Feed it with the oil of devotion; have steadiness as the wick. Let the lamp illumine every minute of your life. The splendor of the Name will drive away darkness from outside you as well as from inside you. You will spread joy and peace among all who come near you.