Man always seeks happiness by trying to satisfy his desires. If a desire is fulfilled, he feels joyous and when it is not, he feels disheartened.

But the trouble is, desire is a bonfire that burns with greater fury asking for more fuel every time. One desire leads to ten more; and man exhausts Himself in trying to fulfill his desires.

He has to turn back from this path of never-ending desire, to the path of inner contentment and joy.

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba

From this moment start remembering that God is watching. Just become full of the remembrance that God is watching and you Will see changes start happening of their own accord. Things that you have never done, you will start doing. Thoughts that have never occurred to you will start occurring. Silences, pauses, intervals, will come automatically. You will start entering into new spaces, unknown to you, never even dreamed about. Use this device — this is one of the most important Sufi devices.

– Osho

Identifying yourself with the body, you become the body. Then you are a mortal. Then there is fear of death. Non-identifying with the body, you are just a watcher, you are just a pure consciousness, a no-mind. And there is no death and there is no disease and there is no old age. As far as your witnessing is concerned, it is eternal and it is always fresh and young and the same.

– Osho (Acharya Rajneesh)

Talk as much philosophy as you like, worship as many gods as you please, observe ceremonies and sing devotional hymns, but liberation will never come, even after a hundred aeons, without realizing the Oneness.

– Sankara

Prayer

More than in any other relationship, we may
rightfully and naturally demand a reply from Spirit
in Its aspect as the Divine Mother. God is constrained
to answer such an appeal; for the essence of a mother
is love and forgiveness, no matter how great a sinner
her child may be. It is the closest and most beautiful
of all the relationships that the Lord has given us.

–Paramahansa Yogananda, “How You Can Talk With God”

Prayer

When God does not respond to your prayers, it is
because you are not in earnest. If you offer Him dry
imitation prayers, you cannot expect to claim the
Heavenly Father’s attention. The only way to reach
God through prayer is by persistence, regularity,
and depth of earnestness. Cleanse your mind of all
negation, such as fear, worry, anger; then fill it with
thoughts of love, service, and joyous expectation. In
the sanctum of your heart there must be enshrined
one power, one joy, one peace–God.

–Paramahansa Yogananda, “Where There Is Light”