So Says Sai
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Try to break the coconut as it comes from the tree; the shell is covered
compactly by a coat of fiber. You cannot break the nut by hitting even with a
crow-bar; take off the fibrous armour, breaking it is very easy. When you take
the coconut to be offered in the temple, you take it after removing the fiber;
then, you offer it to God, breaking it into two halves. This is the symbol for
destroying the ego and surrendering to the Lord. So you have to remove the
fiber of desire for sense objects and then, stand before the Lord devoid of
kama and krodha (desire and anger); then you declare that you are ego-less, by
breaking the coconut into two. You will be accepted then, not before.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: Sathya Sai Speaks Vol. V. P. 112.
