Sai Spiritual Showers - Issue 5/04

Knowing that Bhagawan has advised against offering of garlands to Him, children of the Vidya Vihar at Ooty hit upon an acceptable method of presenting Swami with a "garland" in the entertainment programme they got up during Bhagawan's stay there in April.

The "flowers" in the garland consisted of pearls from the Divine lips. Before making the offering, one child came forward and said to Bhagawan: "We, the little children of our Beloved Lord Sai, have picked up a few pearls that fell from our Lord's lips. We have made a Garland out of them. Now we pray for our Lord's gracious permission to place them around His Lotus Feet."

After that, one child after another came forward to recite the allotted piece and take his or her place in the semi circle in front of Bhagawan, which became a garland for Swami. The following "pearls" glittered in the garland:

"Lord, you have told us that by cultivating devotion, that is Love for God, from childhood, we can reach Him, who is the treasure of all Ananda. You have also told us that how much we think we are, and not more, are we and so help us to learn more and more and then become better and better."

"We also know that Sathya, Dharma, Santhi, Prema and Ahimsa are the chief noble qualities that we have to cultivate from our childhood and continue it throughout our lives. Because, Swami has said, Life is a search, explore it; Life is a challenge, meet it; Life is a game, play it; Life is a dream, realise it; and Life is Love, enjoy it."

"So, for this we have to start early, drive slowly and reach safely. But we have to remember, `less luggage more comfort', and we should always remember Love is God and God is Love and so we have to live in Love. If we do so, we will enjoy our lives."

"In order to enjoy life, we must put a ceiling or limit on our desires. We must put a limit on our expenditure of our money. We must not talk too much thus wasting our time and energy. We must not waste food, because food is God, and when time is wasted, it is equal to life being wasted."

"So, we have to remember that one of the best ways to spend time is, by doing good service to others, because doing seva to humanity is doing seva to divinity, that means serving God and helping God's creation is the same thing. When we please man, we please God."

"We have also to do our duty in life with discipline and devotion. For that, we must start the day with love, spend the day with love, fill the day with love, live the day with love and end the day with love and remember love lives by giving and forgiving and self lives by getting and forgetting."

"And when we talk, we must remember to talk soft, talk sweet and talk the truth. We must watch our words, watch our actions, watch our thoughts, watch our character and watch our heart and we must also avoid backbiting, falsehood and harsh words."

"Also we must remember that one must not only do the work one likes, but like the work one has to do. We cannot always oblige but can always speak obligingly. Swami has said, we are all caskets of divine love and so we must share it, spread it and express that love in thoughts of compassion, words of sympathy and acts of service."

"Not only that, we must practice Ahimsa and Brahmacharya. We must cultivate humility, fearlessness and develop a sense of sacrifice and renunciation. Also we should eradicate ego, lust, anger, breed, envy and jealousy and practice selflessness, generosity and tolerance and thus make ourselves better persons."

"For this, what we have to do is to "See Good, Be Good and Do Good, because that is the way to God." The past is beyond recovery. The future is uncertain. The given moment is now and here. So sanctify it with holy thoughts, words and deeds and thus make life a rose that speaks silently in the language of fragrance. Remove desire, attachment, and cultivate patience, fearlessness, control tossing of mind and temper; Love God, Trust God and Surrender to God."

"So, for making us better persons, we must take a dose of Japam and Dhyanam for breakfast; have Satchintanam, Sat sang and Satparana for lunch; do pooja and archana for Tea; consider an hour of bhajan as Dinner; and do Manana, as a cup of milk at bedtime. This diet is enough to make our being happy and healthy."

"And so we pray to our Lord to accept this little garland of pearls. We also pray to our Lord to help us to "Follow the master, Face the devil, Fight to the end, and Finish the game" and when we become big, to be considered by YOU as Your fit instruments to carry out YOUR Message to Your complete satisfaction. Lord! Bless us all for that."

DIVINE DISCOURSE 29/4/2009

Realise the Principle of Unity
by
Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Creation emerges from truth and merges into truth.

Is there a place in the cosmos where truth does not exist?

Visualise this pure and unsullied truth.

(Telugu Poem)

When you lose faith, you lose God

Everyone desires peace and happiness. Nobody wants sorrows and difficulties. In his speech, Popat has said that all are the embodiments of God. God is one. There is no second entity. When you think there is a second entity, then it is untruth. Therefore, there is nothing like a second entity.

All are One

Right from small ants, mosquitoes, and birds to mighty elephants, every being is the manifestation of God. Even the trees, hills, and mountains are manifestations of God. Such being the case, how can there be a second entity? A second entity is just your imagination and illusion. It is of your own making. Just think where your body has come from. You say that it has come from your parents. No, no. You have not come from your parents. You have come from yourself. There is only one entity. Where is the existence of the second?

But people today put their faith in diversity and not in unity. What does unity mean? It is not the combination of many; it is the realisation of oneness. When you have mirrors all around you, you see your many forms. These are all your different forms. But this is not the truth. The one who asks the question and the one who gives the reply, both are one and the same. All are one. Daivam manusha rupena (God is in the form of a human being). The same person appears in many forms. To consider these forms as different from each other is a mistake.

When I am speaking in the microphone, you are listening to My voice. The speaker is only one but the same voice is heard by many ears. Ekoham sarva bhutanam (I am the only Reality in all beings), Ekam sath viprah bahudha vadanti (truth is one, but the wise refer to it by various names). There is only one sun in the sky. But we see its reflection in many rivers, tanks, and vessels. Sun is only one. But wherever there is water, you see its reflection. Pour water in a plate, and you can see the reflection of the sun even in that water. Does it mean that the sun is there in this water? No, no. It is only the reflection of the sun. In the same way, Atma is only one. The mind, the intellect, the subconscious mind, and the ego sense are like different vessels. Therefore, divinity is one.

God can be seen in pure heart

Everything is God. If you think otherwise, it is only your delusion, i.e. maya. When the sun is shining above, you can see its reflections in all tanks. Even where the water is dirty, you can see its reflection. But when the water is totally dirty, then, of course, you cannot see its reflection. In the same way, when your heart is pure and clear, you can see the direct manifestation of God in it. But your heart is impure. When you thoroughly clean your heart, you can very well see God.

God is immanent in everyone. Right from a newborn baby to a grownup and old person, He is present in everyone. A small baby grows up and ultimately becomes old. The baby, the woman, and the old lady are the same person. Because of their thinking, people see many different forms.

But God does not have different forms. In fact, He has no form. However, he has many names. Even though He has many names, they all correspond to the many reflections of the same divinity. You can see the reflection of the sun in flowing water and also in stagnant water. In the flowing water, the reflection appears to be wavering, but in steady water, the reflection is also steady. Your mind develops attachment to the world because of your delusion. Everything in this world is just a projection of maya.

Hiranyakasipu asked his son Prahlada, "Where is God? You are always chanting Narayana, Narayana". Who is Narayana?

Prahlada replied, "Man himself is Narayana. Wherever you see, you see only Narayana. He is in me, He is in you, He is in all others."

Hiranyakasipu asked, "Is He there in this pillar?"

"Surely, He is there in it," replied Prahlada.

Hiranyakasipu took a mace and hit the pillar with it. At once he saw the manifestation of Lord Vishnu. Therefore, wherever you see, God is there. But people like Hiranyakasipu have no faith in God.

Develop the vision to see unity

Though there is total unity in creation, we look at it from the angle of diversity. We say, "He is my father, she is my mother, she is my elder sister, she is my younger sister." We develop relationships on the basis of forms. Where have these relationships come from? Nothing can exist without the principle of unity.

Here is an example. A dog entered a room fitted with mirrors and saw many dogs in the mirrors. It was afraid to see so many dogs in the room, considering them as danger to its life. In order to escape from the situation, it jumped upon one of the mirrors, considering its own reflection in it to be another dog. As it did that, it saw that the dog in the mirror also jumped upon it. In the process, the mirror broke. Then, it felt that there was no other dog at the place and escaped from the room. It felt greatly relieved that it could save itself from so many other dogs. But where were so many dogs? It saw its own reflection in so many mirrors.

The same is the case with people today. If one sees all other forms as his own reflection in the mirror of the world, one will realise the principle of unity. So, there are no such separate entities like father, mother, brothers, and sisters. But one develops worldly relationships due to oneÕs delusion and says, "She is my sister, he is my brother, he is my father, she is my mother." These are all only physical relationships and not the relationships based on your divine reality. Try to understand that the same Atma is present in all. But you develop worldly relationships, forgetting the principle of the Atma.

You say, "She is my wife," but prior to the marriage, she is separate and you are separate. Only after the marriage do you say, "My wife, my wife." How you have developed this relationship of husband and wife? It is due only to your delusion. It is because of delusion that one makes many mistakes and indulges in many undesirable activities.

Wherever you see, there is God and God is one. People say, "He is Rama, He is Krishna, He is Shiva, He is Vishnu." What does it mean? Does it mean that Vishnu, Shiva, Rama, and Krishna are separate entities? These are different names of the same God. God appears before you in a particular form based on your own imagination. When you contemplate on the form of Krishna as portrayed by artists like Ravi Varma, God will manifest before you in the form of Krishna. In the same way, God will appear before you in the form of Rama. But God is neither Rama nor Krishna. Both Rama and Krishna are you only. The forms of Rama and Krishna are nothing but your own reflections. When you say, "I want Rama," God manifests before you in the form of Rama. Similarly, when you say, "I want Krishna," He appears before you in the form of Krishna. All these forms are nothing but your own reflections.

Reduce the burden of your desires

Both sorrow and happiness are in the world. When you are in difficulty, you say, "Alas! Why has God given me this difficulty? What sin have I committed?" On the other hand, when you earn wealth and are happy, you say, "It is my good fortune." Neither this is your good fortune nor that is bad. When you have good thoughts, you will have good results. On the other hand, if you have bad thoughts, you will have bad results. Good and bad do not come from outside.

Everything is God. When people see a scorpion, they are afraid that it might bite them. But, in fact, there is God even in that scorpion. There is no being in whom God is not immanent. However, you have to get rid of your delusion.

People have too many desires. These too many desires are the cause of delusion. Therefore, people should reduce their desires. How should one do so?

All desires are the creation of the mind, which behaves in an arbitrary way. Manah eva manushyanam karanam bandhamokshayo (mind is the cause of bondage and liberation of man). You should make efforts to follow the path of liberation. Then, there will be no scope for delusion.

But people are full of desires, and the cause of all desires is the mind. Therefore, first and foremost, control the mind. If you do so, you will not have even a single desire. Therefore, it is said, Less luggage more comfort makes travel a pleasure. God will be pleased with you only when you reduce the luggage of your desires. More desires become great burden for life. With less luggage, you will be more happy.

When one is unmarried, one thinks, "Whatever I have, I can manage with it. I am not bothered even if I have to starve sometimes." But when one is married and has children, one is burdened with so many worries. Where have the wife and children come from? They have come from the same source as you have come. You think someone is your wife because you develop attachment to her. Can you call every woman your wife? No, no. When you say so, you will be beaten. You cannot talk like this. The relationship of wife and husband is only a "body to body" relationship. This physical relationship is the cause of many troubles.

A person with money is called a rich man. But the same person will be called a beggar when they lose his money. When you are wealthy, you are considered bigger; when you are poor, you are treated like a beggar. Therefore, the same person is bigger as well as beggar.

Develop equal-mindedness, and everything will become good for you. Even if somebody beats you, you should think, "The person who is beating me is none other than God. God has beaten me because there is some defect in me. This body has committed a mistake. Therefore, it has to receive punishment."

Whatever we do will come back to us as reaction, reflection, and resound. All that we experience is the result of our own actions. It is not given by God. God does not give anything to people except ananda (bliss). Having experienced ananda, do not criticise the One who has provided it to you. Both happiness and sorrow are the reflection of your own actions. When God loves you, it means that God loves Himself.

God has no attributes. God has no such evil qualities like anger, hatred, jealousy, and hypocrisy, nor are these evil qualities given to you by God. These are all of your own making. Therefore, get rid of your delusion. If you develop unnecessary worries, thinking, "I don't have this, I don't have that," you will deceive yourself. Reduce your desires. Then you will have not to carry too much luggage. Only then can you be happy.

Know the Atmic Principle

If you have real love for God, always contemplate on Him. If you have liking for Rama, contemplate on Rama. Similarly, if Krishna is your chosen deity, contemplate on Him. But always remember that Rama and Krishna are not outside; Rama is in your heart, Krishna is in your heart. Whatever form you consider as Rama, contemplate on that form with your eyes closed. You will certainly visualise that form. Ultimately, you will realise, "It is out of my delusion that I considered Rama and Krishna separate from Me. In fact, I am Rama, I am Krishna."

When you contemplate on Rama, you see that form as a reflection of your thoughts. Similarly, when you think of Krishna, you see Krishna's form. You think Rama and Krishna are different from you because of your delusion. Who has seen Rama? Who has seen Krishna? Artists like Ravi Varma painted the pictures of Rama and Krishna on the basis of the descriptions given in the sacred texts. These are mere pictures; they do not reveal the truth.

Everyone can call God by any name of their choice, like Rama, Krishna, Govinda, etc., and contemplate on a particular name and form. There is no mistake in that. I donÕt ask you to give up this practice. But you should have firm conviction, "I am God. My Atma is God." The Atma has no form. It has only a name. The Atma shines in everyone like the sun. It can be seen only in a heart that is pure. In the heart that is impure, you cannot see it.

Many Avatars came to propagate this truth. Divine incarnations come not for their own sake but to impart the knowledge of truth to everyone. Follow their teachings and understand the principle of the Atma.

The Vedanta proclaims that the Atma is the only reality. Waves are formed out of water. There can be no waves when there is no water. In the same way, there can be no form without the Atma. You should contemplate on the Atma and chant the mantra "Om Namo Narayanaya, Om Namo Narayanaya, Om Namo Narayanaya." If you are unable to chant the entire mantra, it is enough to recite "Om", because everything is immanent in Om. The word Om denotes pranava (primordial sound). The Upanishads describe it as the Atma.

The Taittiriyopanishad deals extensively with the principle of the Atma. The Ramayana, the Bhagavata, and the Mahabharata reveal the same truth through the stories of the Avatars. Everything is within you. Nothing is outside. The entire creation is one. Get rid of your delusion and try to understand the truth behind names and forms.

Name and form are inseparable. You chant, "Sai Ram, Sai Ram, Sai Ram ..." The name "Sai Ram" has been given to Me. I am not born with this name. Similarly, the names Rama and Krishna were given to them by their parents. They were not born with these names. Did Rama come and say, "I am Rama"? No, no. He was the son of Dasaratha and was given the name Rama.

What does the word Dasaratha mean? It means the chariot of human body with its ten senses. Have control over your senses. When you have total control over your senses, there is no need for anything else. You even forget yourself. You forget even your physical body.

It is the mind that controls the body and the senses. The body and the senses are temporary. Even the mind is also subject to annihilation. We say, "mind, mind, mind." Where is the mind? What is the form of the mind? It has no form. Mind itself is an illusion. Enquire on these lines and realise that God is one. This is the only truth. Everything else is delusion. In a cinema, you see many scenes on the screen. You see Sita getting married to Rama, Ravana abducting Sita, Rama waging a war against Ravana, and many friends of Rama taking part in the war. But all these are mere pictures. They are not happening in reality.

There are not many people. All are one. Ekam sath ... When you follow sathya (truth), dharma (right action) will emerge from it. When sathya and dharma come together, santhi (peace) will manifest. Where there is peace, there is bliss. Light is produced when negative and positive charges come together.

Love emerges from peace. One who lacks peace cannot have love. When love manifests in us, we consider everyone as our own. All are our own forms. All are one. Be alike to everyone. Make efforts to realise this truth.

When the wind blows, the dry leaves are blown away, but not the green leaves. They remain with the branches. Your humanness should not be like a dry leaf, which is blown away by the wind. Everything is a divine mystery.

The stories of Lord Rama are amazing,

It purifies the lives of the people in all the three worlds,

It is like the sickle that cuts the creepers of worldly bondage,

It is like a good friend who helps you in times of need,

It is like a shelter for the sages and seers doing penance in the forest.

(Telugu Poem)

Develop steady devotion

Do not allow your mind to become like a dog, which is deluded by its own reflection. The dog is deluded thinking its reflections in many mirrors as many dogs. There are not many dogs. You may consider a dog a dog, but God is in it also. Without vibration, even a dog cannot live. What is that vibration? It is the vibration of life. Due to this life principle, the dog eats and moves around.

Do not observe any differences such as "He is an outsider, he is a rich person, he is a beggar." All are one. See unity in all. Only then will you have steady and true devotion. Otherwise, you will have bumps and jumps. Your devotion will waver from moment to moment.

Many people consider themselves as devotees. As long as they have faith in God, their devotion remains steady. When their devotion wavers, their mind also wavers. Real faith does not waver under any circumstances. Come what may, your devotion should not waver, even if you are cut to pieces. That is steady, unwavering, and unsullied devotion. Develop such steady and selfless devotion.

The same is the teaching of Jesus also. God is one. You have to cut your individual ego to attain Him. This is what the cross symbolises.

Never give up your faith. Hold on to it firmly. Then you will certainly realise your true identity. Man is born to establish humanness and not to destroy it. Develop human qualities of sathya, dharma, santhi, prema (love), and ahimsa (nonviolence). When sathya combines with dharma, santhi and prema are born there. It is love that unites all. Will you kill your son in a fit of anger? No, no. You will scold him, but you will not harm him. Likewise, when you have love, you will treat everyone as your own. Treat all woman as your mothers and sisters.

Forbearance is the real beauty in this sacred land of Bharat.

Of all the rituals, adherence to truth is the greatest penance.

The nectarine feeling in this country is the feeling of love toward one's mother.

(Telugu Poem)

Develop such sacred feelings toward all women. When you marry a woman, only then do you call her your wife. Otherwise, all women are like your mothers and sisters. Similarly, all men are like your brothers. God is one. He is the only purusha (male). There is no other male except Him.

Once the gopikas (cowherd maidens) came to Krishna's house to meet Him. When they tried to enter the house, the watchman prevented them, saying women cannot enter the house. The gopikas questioned him, "How come you are there?" He replied, "I am a male." The gopikas said, "You cannot call yourself a male merely because you are wearing a male dress. The five elements and the five life principles are the same in you and us. Merely because you are wearing a male dress and we are wearing a female dress, we can be different from each other. The same divinity is present in you and us. In fact, Krishna alone is the Purusha, all others are females."

To Love God is the Main Goal of Life

Today this equality and unity have become extinct in this world. Due to lack of unity, we are unable to see divinity. Consequently, hatred is on the rise. Today the world is in the grip of differences and fighting due to lack of love. Man today has forgotten even his humanness.

First of all, understand that you are essentially divine. When you say, "I am person and He is God," you observe duality. When there are two entities, the third will also find place there, and that is the mind. That will bring about your total ruination.

Husband should be treated as husband and wife should be treated as wife. Each one should discharge their duty. In English, duty refers to a particular work. The duty of a human being is not merely doing some work. Duty connotes nishkama karma (selfless work).

A selfish person is worse than a fish. Fish is better than selfish. Therefore, never give room to selfishness. You can realise the Self only when you give up selfishness. When you become a slave to your senses, you will always remain selfish. Therefore, give up selfishness. Help everyone.

As I said on the day of Rama Navami, God is one. There is apparent diversity in the world. In fact, man is God Himself. Develop faith in this truth. Let your faith not waver even a bit. When you lose faith, you lose God. Whatever may happen to you, never become selfish. When you conduct yourself in this manner, you will realise your divinity. Then you will have no delusion that Rama, Krishna, Easwara, and Vishnu are different from each other.

The names like Rama and Krishna are given by us. In fact, all names are given by us. Everybody is born from God. God is one, not two. Right from today, make efforts to do away with all differences. When you love God, worship and follow Him. This is the main goal and true purpose of your life.

--From Bhagawan's Divine Discourse in Sai Sruthi, Kodaikanal on 29 April 2009.

SEVA ACTIVITY AT THAN HSIANG TEMPLE

A group of our members helped out at the charity food fair organized by Than Hsiang Temple in Bayan Lepas on 26 April 2009.

Click below for more pictures :
http://picasaweb.google.com/ssbcned3/FoodfairAtThanHsiangTemple26409#

Sai Spiritual Showers - Issue 4/04

It was about 4.30 a.m. on 17th May 1972, when I got up to go to the cloak room, that I suddenly felt the whole building rudely shaking as in an earthquake. I had a little vomiting too and there was profuse sweating. Apprehending some trouble, the family Doctor was summoned and under his advice a Heart Specialist too was brought. On a detailed examination, including cardiogram reading, the Specialist declared that it was a case of "Complete Heart Block" and that the pulse rate being as low as 38, I should be immediately rushed by Ambulance to the Intensive Cardiac Care Unit of the K.E.M. Hospital, before I became unconscious or got an apoplectic stroke. Thanks to my resourceful relatives and helpful neighbours, in less than an hour I was admitted to the air conditioned I.C.C. Ward. Within minutes, the most competent, conscientious and ever ready medical staff there, passed a cardiac catheter through my right hand vein and connecting it to an Electric Pacemaker, raised my pulse to over 60 p.m. All other routine tests were also conducted from time to time systematically, and before long they assured my people that, as there were no complications and as I was responding gamely to the treatment, I should be O.K. within a few days. While I was lying flat on my bed, with my right hand tied to the Oscilloscope, I was neither allowed to talk nor be talked to. Luckily I was permitted to read.

It is most truly said that "Man remembers God when he is completely helpless.” I was no exception. I decided to spend my enforced bed rest by reading a couple of Books on Sri Sathya Sai Baba—"At His Lotus Feet" and "Sai Baba—Man of Miracles" by Howard Murphet presented to me by a doctor relation of mine more than two years ago, but which had been lying untouched all the while.

In the meantime, though over a fortnight had passed since my hospitalization, and despite the excellent and latest treatment meted out to me, the authorities, to their surprise and disappointment, observed that, the moment the Pacemaker was disconnected, to check up my real pulse rate, it would invariably fall below 40 and would never rise. After several consultations and meetings between themselves, they ultimately came to the inevitable conclusion that the only way open, to raise my pulse to a reasonably higher level permanently, was to perform an operation below my chest and implant a thin tiny instrument known as "Artificial Pacemaker”, available in the U.K. at a cost of Rs. 7,000. This, they said, was absolutely necessary if I had to move about and lead a fairly normal life. This instrument works with the help of two batteries and helps to raise the pulse to about 70 p.m. The guarantee for the batteries, however, is only two years and hence the patient has to undergo a further operation after every two years for replacement of the batteries at a cost of another Rs. 4,000 each time. Thus, the initial cost was Rs. 7,000 and a recurring cost of Rs. 4,000 every two years, apart from the pain and risk that go with each operation. This position was made known to all my family members including doctors, and they were all reconciled to the same. At last on 6th June they slowly told me all about it, as after all I was the person ultimately to pay the costs and also undergo the operations. This naturally gave me a shock of my life.

I was at my wits end. All that I could do was to surrender myself completely to Sri Sathya Sai Baba and to pray to Him to save me from the catastrophe. I had by then read innumerable incidents from those two Books as to how Baba had rushed to the rescue of His Bhaktas—not only in India but also abroad—in different ways and in different forms. With utmost faith in Him, I prayed continuously that night without a wink of sleep. It was by then about 2 30 a.m. and I was feeling more and more restless. I, therefore, requested the doctor on duty for some light sleeping dose that could put me to sleep and give me some rest. This was done, and in a few minutes I began feeling dozed. What happened from then is undoubtedly a Miracle so hard to describe vividly. I cannot say whether it was a dream, an illusion or a vision. It happened as follows:

I was lying flat on my bed, with my right hand tied to the Oscilloscope through the Catheter and the time was apparently 4 p.m. Visitors were slowly wending their way to the patients. And suddenly I saw a most distinguished visitor and who could it be? Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba! With a saffron silken robe flowing from shoulders to feet, with His soft dark luminous eyes shining with love, and with hands folded behind in His characteristic style, Sri Sai Baba slowly entered the door of the Ward. In a trice two sisters rushed to Him to know whom He wanted to visit. He spoke nothing, but with majestic steps, Baba came straight towards me. With His awe inspiring smile and standing so close to me, keeping His left hand a little above my head, Baba addressed me in a soft but assuring tone "My son, I know how much you are worried about the Artificial Pacemaker and the operations. Do not worry in the least. I have decided to give you back your own pulse. No Pacemaker will be needed for you. Forget all about it. From now on, your pulse will gradually improve. Count the days from today and on the 11th day, which will be Saturday 17th June, you will be discharged from here straight to your home and from then on you will be perfectly O.K. Have faith in me and continue to do always the little good things you have been doing.”

In a moment I was fully awake, only to find that it was 4 a.m. and not 4 P.M. It was still dark all around and only the sisters were seen reading silently in the middle around a dim table lamp.

That very morning at about 6.30 a.m., a sister came to record my B. P., Pulse and Temperature as usual. When counting my pulse, however, I saw on her face some sudden surprise. I also noticed her repeating the counting over again. When asked what the matter was, she replied that my basic pulse rate, which had been all the while below 40 since about three weeks had suddenly risen to about 46 p.m. In a flash my thoughts silently went to Baba's blessIngs only a couple of horse ago. I even confirmed that the 11th day from then was Saturday and 17th June. What further proofs should there be to instill that unshaken confidence in Baba's blessings? The next day the pulse rose further to 50 and the third day it was 54.

By this time the authorities had another Conference and decided that gradually and by stages, over a period of a week, I should be made to sit down, then stand up and then slowly made to walk-first within the Ward and later outside in the Corridor, of course under the guidance and supervision of a Physio Therapist and also recording each time the B.P. and Pulse rate, both before and after each exercise, to ensure that there was no adverse reaction. After being satisfied with my steady progress, on the morning of 15th June, one of the senior doctors examined me very carefully, and after going through all the relevant papers, asked me how I was feeling. I replied that I felt very much better and humbly asked him when I could be discharged. The doctor assured me that I was progressing nicely, but that I should not be worried about my discharge. The moment they found me fit enough, he said, they would automatically send me away in order to make room for more urgent cases waiting in the queue. He also added, in a soft tone, that mostly I would be kept in that very ward for about a week more and then shifted to an adjoining ward for another week for observation and check up. This naturally upset me considerably, because I was pinning my faith on Baba's blessings that I would be discharged on 17th June; all the more so, because every other thing had proved too true.

The next day, 16th June at about 12 00 noon, the top-most doctor came to me on his usual rounds, after the conference and discussions. After examining me in all minute details, and also consulting the cardiograms taken from time to time, to my utmost pleasant shock, the Doctor declared that they had decided to discharge me the very next day Saturday, 17th June. He also added that the improvement was so rapid and so marked, that there was no need for my being kept in the other ward for check up and that I could go home straight. Permission was also granted for going to cloak room, self shaving and for even taking bath daily, if I so wished. He also advised that I could completely forget about the Artificial Pacemaker and even the fact that I was ill. He only insisted that I should observe certain diet, take medicines regularly and come to the O.P.D. for periodical check up. What amount of Ananda, Excitement and Ecstasy was experienced by me could better be imagined than expressed.

SEVA ACTIVITY AT PENANG BUDDHIST ASSOCIATION

Monthly hair-cutting activity at the Senior Citizen's Home, Penang Buddhist Association, Perak Road, on 19 April 2009.  The Penang State Wanita members had also participated by giving lunch to the senior citizens.  Our visit ended with a short prayer session of Medicine Buddha mantra, White Tara mantra and Da Bei Jou.

Click below for more pictures :
http://picasaweb.google.com/ssbcned2/HairCuttingAtPBASeniorCitizensHome19409#

SAI CARE - TREE PLANTING PROJECT

In conjunction with the National Sai Care Program, NED members began on the Tree Planting project on 19 April 2009.  A total of 130 palm seeds were planted into poly bags and will be cared for in the homes of several members during the next few months.

Sai Spiritual Showers - Issue 3/04

During one of such Kodai trips, the Rajmata of Nawanagar, a veteran devotee of Swami for many decades, was one of the few select devotees who were privileged to attend Swami's discourses. She was present at all the evening discourses in "Sai Shruti”—Bhagawan's residence—during her ten day stay in Kodaikanal. Before leaving Kodaikanal, the Rajmata sent the following message to the students (which was read out to them in the evening):

"It is always so very hard to leave the (physical) presence of the Lord. Somehow, Sai Himself makes it possible; otherwise, no one would ever leave. With a deeply rooted confidence that He will continue to guide, guard and guarantee all our pilgrimages to His very own resplendent presence within our hearts, I leave these few words of love and thanks to the golden angels that are all Sai’s Vidyarthis, the most blessed ones of the present generation.

In a way, it is not right to thank the Lord, but my heart is overflowing with humble gratitude, and I do not know what else to do. May Sai forgive such clumsiness and frailty.

All the angels will soon have to descend into the world to lead lives full of purpose, high purpose. I pray that all your lives will be as clean, straight and accurate as the flight path of each one of Lord Rama's arrows. Meanwhile, I must alert you to the fact that the world is full of winding, twisting and turning mazes.

The Power of Maya

When I was a child, growing up in my father's house, I used to wonder at the infinite variety of Maya. How was it ever going to be possible to know everything, or to choose what to know and to do from the thousands upon millions of things there are in the world to do, see, hear, know? The beauty of the world is undeniable for, when all is said and done, what is Maya? It is the shadow of God, so there is not the slightest possibility that it can be anything but beautiful. It is we, mankind, in our misguided efforts to find happiness, who make it anything less than perfect. Ugliness, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. So, it is most certainly not to be despised, but it is also undeniable that the power of Maya, though it emanates from our own subjectivity, does delude, does veil the truth and cause needless confusion. What can we do about Maya? Our so beloved Bhagawan once told us a "chinna udharana" on this very dilemma.

One day, Rama, Sita and Lakshmana were walking in the forest. They walked in single file: Rama first, then Sita, then Lakshmana. Lakshmana could not get a good view (Darshan) of Rama with Sita in between them. In this small example, Sita represents the Maya veiling the truth that is Rama, and Lakshmana is the seeker, or the worshipper. There were two choices for Lakshmana: he could take a swipe at Sita and knock her out of the way, so that his view of Rama would be unhindered, or, he could humbly and lovingly beg Sita to move aside, just a little, so that he might now and then glimpse the Lord. In the former way, not only would Maya have turned upon the seeker and taught him a jolly good lesson, but the Almighty would also have been mightily displeased. No, we do not have the right to ill treat God's creation or His creatures.

Now, I simply do not know what the qualification M.B.A., means as a degree, but from mentions made in talks during these past days, I surmise that the subject matter includes business, possibly, management or marketing and could the 'A' stand for administration? These are among the most confusing activities in today's world, Maya within Maya, producing deeper Maya. You will have other people's needs, dreams, ideas to deal with. You may have to make decisions affecting many hundreds of people.

"Use only the Sai currency"

So, with MAYA'S infinite variety in mind, there is only one thing to do. In your dealings in the world, use only the Sai currency, and you will never go wrong. Do you know what the Sai coin looks like? On one side, there is the majestic profile of Sai, the King of Kings, with His aureole of divine authority; on the other, there is the Sarva Dharma symbol, with the words 'Sathyam vada Dharmam chara' inscribed all around it. As Bhagawan said on Sunday evening, if you hold fast to these two, all the rest will follow. Shanthi, Prema and Ahimsa can only exist where there already exist Sathya and Dharma. Indeed, the rules that bring success in God's shadow are the same that you have learned in His shade.

There may be trials and tribulations ahead, or only smooth sailing through the ocean of Samsara. Either way, it cannot matter to those whose spiritual muscles have been well stretched.

We look to you, angels of Sai, to usher in a kinder, gentler, more just world. And this you will do if you live as you have been taught by your Divine master, the universal father and cosmic mother, Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba.

SEVA ACTIVITY AT BODHI HEART ORPHANAGE

Monthly serving of Vegetarian Lunch to 15 children at Bodhi Heart Orphanage, Shan Home, in Mount Erskine.  This seva activity is held every second Sunday at 12.30 noon.

Sai Spiritual Showers - Issue 2/04

The Communicator

During my 25 years of career in the communication profession, I have learnt that the entire communication process can be summed up as "who says what to whom under what conditions and with what effect?" While all the elements are important, the two key elements are `who says' and `to whom'. In other words, the communicator and the communicatee or the sender and the receiver of messages are the most vital elements in the communication process.

In recent years, the importance of communication towards furthering the cause of growth and development is being increasingly realised by all. According to experts, the citadel of development hinges primarily on the socio economic and political facets of the people and the countries and communication plays a significant role in accelerating the pace of growth and development. However, its importance in the field of moral and spiritual developments is still a far cry. This is evident from the lopsided development of the individuals and the societies. Be that as it may, even in fields of socio economic development, the means of communication is not very effective for various reasons.

One of the most important reasons has been the inability of the communicator to communicate well with the audience. This in turn, adversely affects credibility. The communicator also sends messages to the audiences without having proper knowledge and understanding of their needs, values and aspirations. Again, the mechanism of feedback is deplorably inadequate with the result that the communicator is invariably oblivious of the reactions of his audiences to the messages passed on to them. Such is the state of hundreds and thousands of communicators engaged in the profession throughout the world.

Let me try to describe with the help of my little knowledge, the effects and effectiveness of The Greatest Communicator Sri Sathya Sai, the world knows of.

After having come in direct contact with The Communicator in physical form only last December at Brindavan, Bangalore, I was hoping to be at the Holy place Puttaparthi on 7 March on the occasion of the Shivaratri festival. It so happened that on the 23rd February, one of my colleagues advised me to postpone my programme and stay in Singapore because I had recently taken over the new post. I was in a fix, I could not decide what to do. The same evening, I prayed to Sai Baba to advise and lead me to kindly light. And lo and behold! The same night my whole family and myself were with the Bhagawan in my dream. The following morning, I had the message—do not come at this time, come with your family. And this time, I am here with my wife. After a few days of this event, I learnt from a friend of mine who lives in Hyderabad that our Bhagawan would not be at Puttaparthi this year on the Shivaratri Day.

Now, can any science of communication explain this phenomenon of inter personal communication? Is it possible for any communicator to get the message so fast thousands of miles away without any mechanical and electronic devices and respond immediately to the prayers of a devotee? But there is only one Communicator who does this, not only with one person at a time, but with millions of persons at the same time.

The acid test for the success of communication is in its impact on the receivers or audiences. The effectiveness of communication is crucial to its continued efforts towards changing the behaviour complex of the people. Here again, I would, with due apology, describe my personal experience. When I was blessed by my Guru and God on the 21st December, 1977 at Brindavan, He told me not to worry too much, everything will be all right and His Blessings are always with me. Believe me, this single message has completely transformed my entire ethos and philosophy of life. I have read that thousands of devotees have undergone similar transformations in their lives after receiving the blessings from Bhagawan. Can there be a better example of perfect effectiveness of communication? Is it humanly possible to achieve so many results (by way of changing the behaviour of the people) in one act or many acts of communication? Certainly not.

We all know that there must be a message for the communicator to communicate with audiences. Quite a few persons have proclaimed rather vociferously that their lives are their messages. But have they stood the test of time? How often they have failed miserably in proving that their lives are their messages? Our Bhagawan also says "My Life is My Message.” Has there been any gap between what He says and what He does? The way He meets and treats people, the way He cares for them, the way He consoles and clears the doubts, the way He speaks and behaves, all make an indelible imprint on our head and heart and motivate us to act according to messages received.

His messages know no physical barriers and transcend all cultures, all religions, all faiths and all beliefs throughout the universe. Be it Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Muslim, Parsi, Sikh, all without exception, take to the messages of the Bhagawan as if they emanate from their own Gurus or from The Communicator who is the God of all Gods and Goddesses. His message of the Seven principles of Sathya, Dharma, Santhi, Prema, Devotion, Duty and Discipline, is so effective that it touches the very heart of mankind. Then there are messages tailored specifically to the needs of the individual human beings. They touch the innermost feelings and emotions of the individuals which have snowballing effects on their behaviour. We know of only One Communicator Whose selection and treatment of messages are so incredibly perfect and effective.

Like message, language is another key element in the communication process. Communication scholars have come up with a number of factors leading to the compatibility of the languages, in the absence of which it is hard to achieve desired results in the thinking and doing of the recipients of messages. There is only One Living Communicator who communicates through the "Language of the Heart.” The myriads of people who have directly or indirectly come in contact with The Communicator would vouchsafe that the best language for total effectiveness in communication is and will be for all times to come, the Language of the Heart. People from all parts of the world have had the fortune of being blessed by the Communicator in private interviews. It is a sight to see their faces completely transformed, lit fully with satisfaction after the experience with the Divinity. How effective is the message when the Lord says to the people all over the world, "My place is in your heart; I want your love.” One has only to physically experience the total impact of this message which is communicated through the language of the heart.

Examples abound in to indicate the manner and speed with which He gets a feel of the needs and aspirations of the people and also feedback of His messages. This again knows no geographical boundaries. He can and does communicate and receive feedback from His devotees from all parts of the world at the same point in time. The Greatest Sender of messages is also the Greatest Receiver of messages. It bates all calculus of communication to find various elements of communication intimately immersed in The Communicator Himself. His Life is the Message, He is the Channel, Medium, Language and is also inseparable from His Audiences. This communication phenomenon cannot be explained either by the present or future science of communication.

DIVINE DISCOURSE 3/4/2009

Develop Love And Consider All As Your Brohers And Sisters
by
Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Sweeter than sugar, tastier than curd, sweeter indeed than honey is the Name of Rama.

Constant repetition of this sweet name gives one the taste of divine nectar itself.

Therefore, contemplate on the name of Rama incessantly!

(Telugu poem)

Bharat is the motherland of many noble souls who earned great name and fame in all the continents of the world.

This is the land of valorous people who vanquished foreign rulers and attained independence.

This is the land that excelled in music, literature, and other fine arts.

Having been born in this great land of Bharat, oh boys and girls,

it is your sacred duty to protect its rich cultural heritage.

(Telugu poem)

The Bharatiyas (Indians) today do not know their greatness, just as the elephant does not know its own strength. It obeys the command of the mahout and sits when he asks it to sit and stands when it is asked to do so. In the same manner, the Bharatiyas are imitating the western culture under the influence of western education.

The Bharatiyas are endowed with great potentialities, and their hearts are full of devotion. There is none among them who does not chant the divine name from their very birth. They name their children after the various names of God, thereby remembering God all the time. There is no village in Bharat where there is no temple of Rama. Villagers of all small hamlets, even, set up a shrine for Rama, Lakshmana, and Sita in a little hutment or some rustic abode for regular worship.

Right from the beginning, the Bharatiyas gave more importance to spirituality than to worldly and material pursuits. The main factor that is responsible for the peace and progress of Bharat is the devotion of the Bharatiyas for God. At present, many countries of the world are in the grip of great problems and difficulties. But Bharat is by far free from such difficulties. The people of Bharat may have some financial problems, but they are happily leading their lives totally surrendering to the will of God.

The Bharatiyas place their trust in the Self as the basis of their life rather than material possessions, property, and wealth. In fact, their entire life is based on this trust, and they have achieved progress in spite of many difficulties and deprivations. Having based their life on the trust in the Self, how can the Bharatiyas give any importance to worldly and materialistic pursuits? Even in their day-to-day conversation, they refer to their Self, saying, "Only my Atmarama knows this."

Do not limit Rama or Krishna to a particular name or form. These names were given to them after their birth. They were not born with these names.

The Bharatiyas have realised the truth that God is the resident of man's heart. That is why they are able to withstand all difficulties and sufferings and lead their lives happily. Sukhadukhe samekruthwa labhalabhau jayajayau (one should remain equal-minded in happiness and sorrow, gain and loss, victory and defeat), says the Gita. Pleasure and pain are part of human life. Whenever Bharatiyas have to encounter sorrows and difficulties, they consider them as the harbingers of happiness. They have attained exalted positions due to such noble feelings.

Their faith in God is unshakeable even in the face of mishaps such as bomb blasts, floods, and plane crashes. Those who base their life with faith in God will never encounter sorrows, suffering, and difficulties. Their difficulties will come and go like passing clouds.

One who is born in this world is sure to die one day or the other. Nothing is permanent in this world. Only one thing is permanent and that is the Atma or the Self. People aspire for liberation, heaven, and Vaikuntha, but even they are not permanent. The only thing that is permanent is the Atma, and that is the only truth. You may see so many forms in this world, but none of them is permanent except the Atma.

Let us now dwell upon the Ramayana. Dasaratha had three wives: Kausalya, Sumitra, and Kaikeyi. Kausalya first gave birth to a female child, who was named Santha. Dasaratha gave her to one of his friends, who adopted her as his daughter. She was married to Sage Rishyasringa, who conducted the Putrakameshti Yajna of Dasaratha. When oblations were offered in the sacrificial fire with the chanting of related mantras for the Yajna, an effulgent being came out of the fire and handed over a vessel containing payasam (sweet pudding) to Dasaratha with the instruction to distribute it equally among his queens.

Accordingly, Dasaratha distributed the payasam to Kausalya, Sumitra, and Kaikeyi. Kausalya and Kaikeyi took their share of the pudding to their respective puja rooms. Each of them was happy, thinking that her son would be the future king of Ayodhya.

But Sumitra had no such claims. She was a paragon of virtues. Her name, "Sumitra", itself signifies that she was a good friend to one and all. She carried her bowl of pudding to the terrace and placed it on the parapet wall while drying her hair in the sun. Suddenly, an eagle swooped down and carried away the bowl. Sumitra rushed down and informed Kausalya and Kaikeyi about what had happened. Kausalya and Kaikeyi came to her rescue and shared their pudding with her. Kausalya gave half of her share to Sumitra. Kaikeyi also did the same.

In due course, Kausalya gave birth to Rama, Kaikeyi to Bharata, and Sumitra to Lakshmana and Satrughna. Kausalya and Kaikeyi had one son each, whereas Sumitra had two sons. The sons of Kausalya and Kaikeyi were happily playing in their cradles while Sumitra's sons were crying all the time and were not taking milk. Sumitra was at a loss to know the reason for their crying. Ultimately, she went to Sage Vasishtha and told him about her predicament.

Sage Vasishtha closed his eyes in meditation. His yogic vision enabled him to know the truth. He said to Sumitra, "As you partook of the sacred pudding given by Kausalya, you gave birth to Lakshmana who is an amsa (part) of Rama. Similarly, Satrughna is born out of the share of pudding given to you by Kaikeyi. So, he is a part of Bharata. Put Lakshmana by the side of Rama and Satrughna by the side of Bharata. Then they will rest peacefully."

Sumitra did as instructed by Vasishtha. Both Lakshmana and Satrughna stopped crying and started playing blissfully in their cradles. This was the basis of the intimate relationship between Rama and Lakshmana, Bharata and Satrughna. Both sons of Sumitra, namely, Lakshmana and Satrughna, were always in the company of Rama and Bharata. In this manner, Dasaratha's four sons grew up in an environment of love and happiness. Sumitra was very happy because she thought her son Lakshmana would serve Rama and Satrughna would serve Bharata when they grew up.

Where was Rama born? Many people have many doubts about the place of His birth. He was born in Ayodhya. Was the city of Ayodhya built by some ordinary mortal? No, no. It was built by Viswakarma (divine architect) himself. He built it in such a way that no enemy could enter it.

When Rama won the hand of Sita by stringing the bow of Siva in the court of Janaka, His marriage with Sita was performed in Mithila amidst great rejoicings. The people of Mithila were beside themselves with joy and sang merry songs.

Welcome to all for Rama's wedding; together we shall witness the joyous scene.

Many have gathered already, decked up in all their finery.

With necklaces the ladies are adorned of jewels pure and gleaming.

Rama shall tie the knot today to beauteous Sita, oh what a fine match they make.

Father Dasaratha has made ready bounteous feasts.

All learned sages are assembled with Vasishtha presiding.

Oh, what a multitude has assembled to rejoice, hearts with joy overflowing.

Wedding of the holy pair Rama and Sita, such a sight is indeed rare.

The sight shall confer great merit.

Rama looks the cool full moon, and Sita is a matching double.

The compassionate Rama, who loves all, will confer his grace on us all.

Come quickly to see the holy wedding of Rama and Sita.

(Telugu song)

It seemed as if the entire population of Ayodhya had come to Mithila to witness the marriage of Sita and Rama. Dasaratha, all his ministers, and all family members prominently participated in the marriage. After the marriage function, all left for Ayodhya.

On the way, they heard a deafening sound. When they looked around to find where the sound had come from, they were confronted with Parasurama, who looked very fierce. All of them were perturbed and began to think, "What is this great impediment after the glorious celebration of the marriages?" Good and bad always follow each other. After experiencing great joy in Mithila, they were confronted with a difficult situation on their way to Ayodhya. Dasaratha and others became fear-stricken.

Parasurama came forward and asked, "Who broke the Siva bow?"

"It is I who has done it," said Rama.

"If that is so, let us see if you can bend my bow." Saying so, Parasurama gave his bow in the hands of Rama. Rama strung and armed that bow with an arrow with His left hand. Seeing that, Parasurama offered his salutations to Rama and went his way.

Experiencing the joy of victory, all of them reached Ayodhya and participated with great joy and enthusiasm in the festivities held there. The people of Ayodhya held joyous celebrations.

Like his mother, Sumitra, Lakshmana's wife Urmila was also a woman of great virtues. When Lakshmana went to inform her that he was accompanying Rama to the forest for fourteen years, she said, "It is your greatest good fortune. Consider Sita and Rama as your mother and father and serve them. In Ayodhya you have Kausalya, Sumitra, and Kaikeyi, but in the forest you have only one mother, and that is Sita. Forget me and serve Sita and Rama with total dedication."

Lakshmana was happy to hear these words of Urmila and said to himself, "What a virtuous wife I have!"

After the departure of Rama, Lakshmana, and Sita to the forest and the death of Dasaratha, Bharata came back to Ayodhya. When he was offered the crown of Ayodhya, he refused to accept it, saying that it was the right of only the eldest son and hence he would go to the forest and pray to Rama to come back and rule Ayodhya.

When he went to the forest to appeal to Rama, Rama told him, "We have to follow the command of our father. Without that, our life itself is a zero." Rama promised Bharata that he would surely return to Ayodhya after the period of 14 years of his exile. Bharat requested Rama to give His sandals, which he would place on the throne and worship them. On his return to Ayodhya, Bharata did not enter the palace. He lived in a small hut and led the life of a renunciant, just as Rama was living in the forest.

During the sojourn of Rama, Lakshmana, and Sita at Panchavati, Ravana came in the guise of a mendicant and abducted Sita. Rama was put to great difficulties, but He faced all difficulties smilingly.

Hanuman went in search of Sita to Lanka. He could cross the ocean with the power of the divine name of Rama. In fact, any stupendous task can be achieved by contemplating on the name of Rama. It was with the power of Rama's name that the monkeys made the bridge over the ocean so that Rama and His army could reach Lanka.

Rama had to fight with Ravana, the king of demons. In the course of battle, Lakshmana was hit by a missile and became unconscious. Rama was very much distressed, and he lamented, "I may get a wife like Sita, but I cannot get a brother like Lakshmana." Then Hanuman brought Sushena, the medical expert of Lanka, who said, "There is a herb called Sanjivini on a mountain in the Himalayan region. If you bring that herb, Lakshmana can be revived."

Hanuman was sent to bring the Sanjivini herb to revive Lakshmana. Hanuman did not know how to recognise that particular herb. Therefore, he lifted the whole mountain on which the herb existed and placed it before Rama. With the help of the herb, Lakshmana was revived.

Rama hugged him and said, "Lakshmana, My life is meaningless without you. You have always been with Me and protected Me in many ways. There is nothing more dear to Me than you in this world. In fact, you are verily My life."

Rama ultimately killed Ravana and rescued Sita from his prison.

Meanwhile the period of fourteen years of exile of Rama was over. As the end of fourteen years drew near and Bharata could not see any signs of Rama's return to Ayodhya, he got ready to give up his life by immolating himself on a pyre. As Rama had anticipated the situation, he sent Hanuman in advance to inform Bharata that He was on His way back to Ayodhya. Bharata was overjoyed on hearing this good news. All the people of Ayodhya as also Bharata and the entire family were eagerly awaiting the arrival of Rama in Ayodhya.

When Rama, Lakshmana, and Sita alighted from the Pushpaka Vimana, Bharata and all the people of Ayodhya offered them a hearty welcome. Soon after the arrival of Rama in Ayodhya, arrangements for His coronation were made. The people of Ayodhya were full of enthusiasm at the prospect of Rama becoming their king.

The students just now sang this song,

Kausalyatmaja Rama Charan, Vaidehi Priya Rama Charan,

Hanumatsevita Rama Charan, Bharatarchita Sri Rama Charan,

Ahalyoddharaka Rama Charan, Lakshmana Sevita Rama Charan,

Prasanthi Niketana Rama Charan

Always worship the Lotus Feet of Rama, son of Kausalya,

which are dear to Sita, worshipped by Bharata, and,

in the abode of Prasanthi,

served by Lakshmana and Hanuman and that redeemed Ahalya.

(loud applause)

Lakshmana was overjoyed on hearing Rama's kind words. Rama had great love for Lakshmana, more than anybody else. Similarly, Lakshmana loved Rama most dearly. He never disobeyed Rama's command. In fact, all the brothers -- Rama, Lakshmana, Bharata, and Satrughna -- had great love for each other. They ruled over Ayodhya with great unity. It was not Rama alone who administered the entire kingdom; all his brothers helped Him in conducting the affairs of the kingdom.

The Ramayana teaches us many lessons in morality and ethics. In fact, all the characters of this great epic set great ideals for humanity to follow. Sweeter than sugar, tastier than curd, sweeter indeed than honey is the Name of Rama. Is there anything greater than Ramanama? We should understand this truth and contemplate on His name day in and day out.

Great epics like the Ramayana and the Mahabharata teach us many moral and ethical values. Truth is the highest among these values. Sathyannasti paro dharma (There is no dharma greater than adherence to truth). Dharma is born out of sathya, from dharma emerges peace, and from peace emerges love. Where there is love, there can be no hatred. One who has love will adhere to nonviolence.

Sathya, dharma, santhi, prema, and ahimsa are the five cardinal human values. One who practises these human values is a human being in the true sense of the term. One who lacks even one of these cannot be called a perfect human being. Therefore, develop all these five values.

Unfortunately, when we look at the present scenario, we do not see truth anywhere, and we don't even hear the word dharma. Therefore, man today is beset with unrest. People want peace but get only pieces! Due to the lack of peace, love has become non-existent in man.

Therefore, we should develop peace. Then only will love develop in us. When love takes root in us, we will have no enemies. Then all will become our friends. Hence, man should develop love and consider all as his brothers and sisters. This is the main essence of the Ramayana.

It is only to demonstrate this principle of love that I have done this housing project in Orissa. We should love and help each other. The calamity that has befallen them can happen to anyone. When you make them happy, you will also be happy. Therefore, we should all be united.

Let us all move together, let us all grow together,

Let us all stay united and grow in intelligence together,

Let us live together with friendship and harmony.

(Telugu song)

Only when we grow in intelligence together can there be unity. We should move and work with unity. No one should hate anybody. If any thought of hatred comes to you for a moment, brush it aside and develop the feeling of unity from the very next moment. It is only love that unites all.

(Bhagavan concluded His Discourse with the bhajan, "Prema mudita manase kaho Rama Rama Ram".)

Sai Spiritual Showers - Issue 1/04

The Great Australian Miracle

Early in 1976 my wife and I became acquainted with Pearl Harrison, a retired secretary of the medical faculty of a Sydney University. At first we thought this just a chance meeting, but later we wondered…

At that time the manuscript of my book, "Sai Baba Avatar" was ready for the final draft to be typed for the publishers. As Pearl still liked to do casual secretarial work, it was agreed that she type the manuscript. In this way she became exposed to the wonders of Sri Sathya Sai Baba for the first time.

One of her granddaughters, nine year old Mayan Waynberg, sometimes used to help her by reading aloud the material to be typed. While the grandmother was somewhat sceptical about the miracles, the granddaughter accepted the truth of them without question.

The first few chapters of the book had been completed, when Mayan, who was looking very pale and bruising too easily, was taken to a doctor for a blood test. The doctor was so appalled at the results, that he phoned Mayan's mother, Helen, and advised that the child be collected from school and taken home immediately. He also arranged for her to be given a bone marrow test at the Prince of Wales hospital in Sydney.

Blood tests showed that Mayan's haemoglobin count was less than half what it should be, and the white components of her blood were about a third of the normal level. Bad as this was, the worst were the platelets which were down to only one fifteenth of the normal count.

Her disease was diagnosed as aplastic anaemia, in which the bone marrow fails to produce the vital blood components in sufficient quantity to maintain health and life.

Mayan was put under the care of a specialist who told her mother that the only treatment for the disease was the use of certain drugs; one was a male hormone, Prednisolone, and another Fluoxymesterone. Both of these have very distressing side effects, such as stunting growth, causing puffy obesity, and bringing a growth of hair on the face while causing baldness of the head. The specialist said that the child would need to have blood and bone marrow tests constantly to monitor her condition. This in itself was a terrible ordeal for everyone concerned as Mayan had a deep phobia about needles piercing her skin and drawing blood.

But the very worst aspect was that, after going through all this, and suffering the terrible side effects of the treatment, she would still not be cured. One of the medical men told Pearl the depressing truth that the drug treatment could do no more than prolong the child's life for perhaps a few years, but could have no effect in the long run. Moreover, the child could not live a normal life even for the short time she was kept alive.

Then Pearl Harrison thought about the Sai miracles she had been typing. She writes: "I must admit to complete lack of faith in religion, considering myself a Jewess by tradition but not by observance. I had typed about many miracles that Sai Baba had performed, and had thought how interesting it all sounded intellectually, but, had not this dreadful illness occurred to my own granddaughter, I might have let it go at that. It was as if my mind suddenly opened with a jerk, and I began to think perhaps there was something real in all that I had typed. Howard and Iris were most concerned when I told them about Mayan, and said they would come over immediately, and Mayan could start taking Vibhuti.”

Lord Sai is specially interested in all those in whom His devotees are interested. But He had earlier told me the Divine cure requires faith, belief and surrender. Could we find these ingredients in this Sydney suburban home? When I said earnestly to Mayan: "But you must really believe in the power of Sai Baba,” she replied, without hesitation: "Oh, but I do." In the way she said it I sensed the simple child-like faith that is so important—and yet so hard for most people to achieve. Her grandfather, Jack Harrison, gave me a hope that perhaps he too might have the helping faith, when he said: "I'm going to India as soon as I can to thank Sai Baba for curing Mayan." The cure had not yet begun, but he seemed to have no doubt that it would take place.

Pearl, on the other hand, had her intellectual barriers to overcome. The mother Helen, though apparently sceptical, was willing to try the Vibhuti treatment. But constant prayer was important, we assured the family. They all agreed to pray to Swami; Iris and I prayed, too, fervently. We badly wanted Swami to cure Mayan of this terrible disease, not only because we felt love and compassion for the child but also because this could be the great Australian miracle that might bring more and more of our fellow countrymen to the Light.

However, the immediate question was should Mayan take the prescribed drugs? We knew from research into many cases that Swami sometimes cures through drugs, while preventing any side effects. Yet sometimes He will not have drugs used at all. The only way was to ask Him, and in the meantime let the child start the drug treatment. The doctors had said the side effects would not become evident for about three months.

By good fortune our friend Lynette Penrose was about to set off on a visit to Swami. Incidentally, it had been in her home in Balmain that we first began Sai meetings in Sydney. I believe they were the first in Australia.

Lynette agreed to take a photograph of Mayan and letters to Swami. We hoped, moreover, that she would be able to ask him verbally if the child should or should not take the drugs prescribed by the doctors.

No long after she reached India, an airmail letter came from Lynette. She had been granted an interview with Swami, had given him the photograph and letters, and asked the important question about treatment. She wrote that when He looked at the photograph, His face had become "very soft and compassionate" and He had said: "No, no drugs, just Vibhuti in water twice a day."

Pearl Harrison writes of the situation: "When this message came back, we had to decide whether to take her off the drugs and give her Vibhuti only. Mayan made up our minds for us. She said, `If Sai Baba says I should not take drugs, then I won't take them'. So after just three weeks on the drugs, she went off them and has taken only Vibhuti since." This was putting complete faith in the Divine Power of someone no member of the family had ever seen, except in photographs.

We thought it might help at the receiving end of the healing current if Sai Baba meetings were held at the home of the Harrisons in Greenacre. They readily agreed to this, and their house became the second centre for bhajan and study groups in Sydney. Soon Jack decided to convert his big garage into a Sai temple, and erect a new car port to shelter his car. The necessary changes to the building's interior were made and a beautiful shrine erected there by some of the devotees who had been to Swami. The temple acquired a sacred atmosphere and the size of the group began to expand, people coming from all parts of the metropolitan area, and from distant places in the Blue Mountains and the South Coast.

The meetings were a great success. It was surprising to see how quickly and wholeheartedly the Australians took to singing bhajans. Many learned to lead, the child Mayan being one of them.

Mayan's health was showing a steady improvement. The family had decided not to tell the doctors immediately that she was taking none of the drugs. She was taken to the hospital for tests every two weeks, and the medical people were delighted and perhaps surprised at the results. There was a dramatic rise in her red blood cells, a good improvement in the white cells, and the platelet count was slowly creeping upwards.

After a few months the red and white cell counts were quite normal, and the tests were then given every two months instead of every two weeks. Her platelets were showing a rise of about 10,000 at each test, but they still had a long way to go to reach normality.

The doctors had tested Mayan's sister Alona, who is about a year the senior, for bone marrow compatibility with that of Mayan. They advised, after the test, a bone marrow graft from the sister, saying it would help Mayan fight the disease.

Again a devotee going to India from Australia asked Swami if this operation should be performed or not. He replied that the child was getting better, and would soon be completely well. "There is no need for an operation," He said. So no operation was performed.

In November 78, soon after Iris and I arrived in India on a visit to Swami, we received a letter from Pearl Harrison telling us that Mayan's last blood test had shown her platelets as even better than normal—in fact, 174,000.

Early in the next year Jack and Pearl Harrison with their two granddaughters came to India to thank Swami for the miraculous cure.

This Divine healing across the thousands of miles had worked steadily, taking nearly two years to effect the complete cure. The time factor has, perhaps, something to do with the receiving ground—the depth of faith, belief, surrender to God and the intensity of prayer. But there are, no doubt, other inscrutable factors too. There may have been karma to work out, for instance, or something to be learned from the period of waiting.

All we can say is, that in moving through hope and prayer and worship toward this great Sai Cure, the whole family—with some relatives and friends as well—moved into the Sai Family. Their outlook and values changed when the Joy and Love of the Lord came into their lives. From being a family without religion they became one with a true spiritual religion—the Sai religion. While blessing Mayan with a cure of the body, the Divine Hand had touched many other lives for a cure of souls.

How pleased and grateful to the Lord we, ourselves, were that the great Australian miracle had come to pass!

From the Sanathana Sarathi Archives (May 1980)