Saturday, July 31, 2010

Enlightenment Day Of Goddess Kuan Yin


The Enlightenment Day of Goddess Kuan Yin was celebrated on 30 July 2010 at 8.00pm (19th day of 6th lunar month).  Buddhist Mantras were chanted in addition to our regular prayers and bhajans.

There was an invited speaker, Dr Lye Hun Yeow, a professor of religious studies specializing in eastern religions, who gave a talk on Love and Compassion.  He also expounded on the inner meanings of some of the Buddhist mantras which we have been chanting at our centre.

Vegetarian refreshments were served after arathi.

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

The Story of Sathya Sai Baba HD

The Story of Sathya Sai Baba (Bilingual)

Sai Spiritual Showers - Issue 2/54


On the 12th October, 1985, the Sathya Sai Foundation of Thailand moved to its own premises. A grand function was held where devotees from all over Thailand and even some neighbouring countries joined together for a programme of lectures, cultural performances and Bhajans. Many people observed that during the opening ceremony, which was held downstairs in the courtyard, several small children, dirty, barefooted and shabbily dressed, mingled with the crowds of devotees. These children who came from the slums situated behind the Foundation Building, mixed practically unnoticed amongst all the people who were listening attentively to the speeches delivered by the guests.

After the opening festivities, everyone went upstairs and according to Thai custom, removed their shoes before entering the prayer hall where the remainder of the day's activities were held. All went well, everyone was in a joyous mood until some of the departing guests and devotees had great difficulty in locating their shoes! It became apparent that several pairs of shoes had mysteriously disappeared and on questioning the late owners, it was clear that each pair was expensive and had been recently purchased. It showed a lot for the discriminating powers of the scruffy, little children who had obviously removed them!

On the days that followed, the children kept coming back and it certainly was not just for shoes as there were no longer any fancy ones to take. At first they came out of curiosity and because they had found a new place to play rather than the street, but it soon became evident that they came for another reason they felt something that they had not felt too much of before— a feeling of belonging and security and of someone caring for them.

Within a couple of weeks a special EHV class was started and the children would eagerly come every Sunday morning to hear stories, sing songs and take part in the group activities. At first it was very hard for them to get used to any kind of discipline especially during such activ-ities as silent sitting or prayers, but gradually they began to settle in and before long it was possible to see many changes taking place, not only in their behaviour and attitudes but also in the character of the children. Within a week or so of the commencement of the classes, several pairs of the missing shoes mysteriously reappeared in the cubbyholes outside the prayer hall! Nothing was asked or said about it, but this was just the beginning.

Among these children was one young boy called Ae. Ae lives with his younger brother, elder step sister and father in one tiny room directly, behind the Foundation Building. His father is a gambler and both boys suffer intolerably when he gets violent moods on account of losing. Roughly a year after the Sathya Sai Centre moved to these premises, Ae's mother ran away, presumably after realizing that her sons now had some extra security. Needless to say, with this kind of background, Ae had a lot of problems. He had the habit, which may well have been encouraged at home, of taking whatever he could lay his small hands on. He was only seven years old. From the very beginning he came regularly and hardly ever missed an EHV class. He enjoyed the stories, games and other activities, but most of all he enjoyed the singing. He could be seen running up and down the stairs at the centre, singing to himself the various songs he had learnt in class. His very f avourite was a Thai song to the tune of Ganesha Sharanam which said: "We are honest children and we like to be honest."

After some time Ae stopped taking things, but he still had the habit of begging for money from anyone who came to the Centre. He could stretch out one band whilst rubbing his tummy with the other, and make his eyes round and big! He was a very good actor! Gradually this habit also fell away, once he realized that by being good and following the discipline of the Centre he was happier and also had everything be needed.

In 1987 the Sathya Sai Foundation of Thailand organized an EHV Seminar which was attended by fourteen countries in the Asian Pacific Region. We decided that as we already had the children as living examples, we would use them to demonstrate different techniques in the seminar, for example, singing, group activities etc. Because these children are Thai and have very limited English, we had to fix the role-play and rehearse it beforehand. The role-play which we chose depicted a wise old teacher who decided to test his pupils to see who had really understood his teachings. He asked them to help him in his old age by stealing. He instructed them to find a place where none was watching, and to wait until some rich person came by in order to rob them. All the boys agreed to help their teacher in this way except for one boy who just hung his head and did not move. When asked why he would not do as he was told, he replied that it was impossible to find a place where no one was watching because, even if no other person were around, his own conscience was watching and he would rather beg than have his own self see himself stealing. This was the story, so the children were asked to choose their parts. When it came to the role of the boy who would not steal, much to the amazement of the teacher, Ae put up his hand before anyone else! After the class was over, the teacher asked him as to why he wanted to act this part, to which he replied that he, like the boy in the story, could not steal!

Sunday, July 25, 2010

Guru Purnima 25/7/10


Guru Purnima was celebrated at our NED Sai centre on 25/7/2010 beginning with Omkar at 5.15am. This was followed with Suprabhatam prayers, Sri Sathya Sai Asthotharasatha Nama Ratnamala mantra, regular mantra chants and bhajans. Vegetarian breakfast was served after arathi.



In the evening, we held another session of vedam & mantra chants and bhajans.  After arathi, there was a round of 'Chairman's Talk' facilitated by our Chairman, Bro Thum.  The topic discussed was 'Ten Guidelines from Sathya Sai Baba'.  Vegetarian snacks and refreshment were served at the end of the discussions.

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Sai Spiritual Showers - Issue 2/53



In my early childhood I participated in a quiz show and won the first prize by answering questions on Greek mythology. That event opened many doors for me, and I began to work in television. By the time I was 20 I had travelled all over the world and interviewed personalities such as the Pope, President Carter, Jane Fonda, and Woody Allen. Still, I found that my life was rather empty. I was sad. I had everything, but something was missing. That something was spirituality. Swami says, "If you don't believe in God, believe in yourself." Your life has a reason, so, don't waste it.

Twenty-five years old, I decided to seek spiritual phenomenon. The good thing about Swami is that when you look to Him, He comes and shows you the path. When analysed, all religious books speak of the same path and the same truth-be a good person and do good. I read many books and found this.
At 17, when I first visited India, somebody gave me a book on Sai Baba as the spiritual teacher. After a while I forgot about Him until I met Leonardo, the coordinator of Sai Centres in Spanish speaking countries. Three days later, he called and asked me if I would like to go to Prasanthi and said that I was allowed to film in Prasanthi. So we went to India. Everyday was a miracle. I needed to test Him and He provided me with many more opportunities than I had even requested of Him in my mind. I can only be grateful to Him. The moment you step into His city it is different - the air, the atmosphere, the smell, the singing of the birds. The people in the city look into your eyes. I thought, this is definitely a City of Love.

The simplicity of the temple contrasts with the overpowering wealth of the Vatican. I love the simplicity. At my first darshan, just seeing Him float majestically through the people, and the love the people had in their eyes, was magical. I thought that if a human being could bring about such feelings in thousands, millions, of people present here and around the world, then He must be a holy person. The moment I set my eyes on Him, I started to cry. I could not understand my feelings because I did not love Him so much. I thought that it must be the aura and the energy. I closed my eyes and thought, if it is true that you read people's minds, please come to me and say something nice to me so that I can believe in you. I opened my eyes and said to myself I was being stupid out of so many people who love Him, who believe in Him, why should He come to me. When He came very near, I closed my eyes and said, now or never, say something to me. I opened my eyes and saw Him come directly towards me but without looking at me. He talked to the Argentinean sitting next to me and totally ignored me. Then he spoke with the person on my other side and I thought, Good. Now He will talk to me for it is my turn. But He just turned and started to walk away. I thought to myself, this is a lesson for me in humility, and I said, God bless you for you are certainly something for these people. Just as I finished thinking this, He turned abruptly and looking at me said, "Those are nice thoughts." I looked at Him and He came towards me and laughed and said, "Of course you are going to learn things here. Open your heart, open your heart." I was dazed and wondered if I had imagined it all. To make a long story short, every day I had a test for Him and He gave me how I could do this. Could I not believe in the energy of a holy being just by being there? But I had to do it; it is my nature.

My sister-in-law had given me a letter for Baba, but my ego did not permit me to be in the darshan line with a letter. I was thinking, if He knows everything, why does He need a letter? Nevertheless, I decided to bring the letter so as not to deprive her of the opportunity of being blessed. And just in case it was good to write to Him, I quickly added to the letter. Well, when Baba came close to where I was, I quickly hid the letter behind my back, ashamed to have it with me. But Baba stood quietly and then said, "Give it to me," and I had no choice but to hand it to Him.

Of the three weeks that I spent there, the first week was heavenly for He granted me whatever I wished for. The second week was hell because I fell very sick and thought I was dying. But the last day, when we were to take our leave of Him, was paradise. When I fell sick, I started discovering things about myself, who I was and why I was here. I was alone in the room and delirious with fever when I saw Swami coming into the room. He looked at me very deeply and calmly, and went away. That night I dreamt of Him. He was outside the temple and He was beckoning me to come to Him. I ran to Him and asked Him if I could hold and hug and kiss Him. He said, "Yes." Then I asked Him a very personal question, and He gave a precise answer. When I woke up it took me a while to realise that it was a dream, for it was so real.

The only thing missing for the moment was an interview with Baba. When I was sitting in the darshan line, I closed my eyes and said, please, please, can't you understand I really need an interview. When I opened my eyes, He was there and very seriously He said, "You will have to be patient." He gives a lesson at every step. I thought to myself, what difference will it make, having an interview? Will I become a better person or will I just become more egoistic? After a while, Dr. Goldstein came and said, "Come on, the interview with Baba is now!" I was deeply moved.

We went inside (the interview room) with a group of Greeks. This, to me, was a sign of Swami's humour, because it was Greek mythology that had first given me the opportunity of being given an interview with the Greeks! He first spoke to them and then asked us Argentineans to come forward. Throughout the interview He held my hand and asked me questions and gave me precise answers. He materialised a ring and gave it to me. He took us into the inner room and sang to us and mentioned some personal things which have come true in the past year or so.

He told me to be prudent about what I show (on TV) for there are two kinds of people in the world: some will love what I show and will open their hearts to it but others will not find it easy to understand the idea of universal love. He said that I should go ahead and that He would be with me throughout. I asked if it would be too difficult for me, as I was a little scared. But He said "No, no. It will be easy, and I will be by your side." I asked Him for permission to write the book. I also asked Him if I could return soon. And He said I would be returning very soon for His birthday. I had wanted to ask Him if the dream was true but felt a little shy, so He asked me to ask Him about the dream. He assured me that the dream was true and described it. Then He pointed to the space around-the world-and said, "This is a dream."

In my country, 80 percent of the people now know who Sai Baba is. Many of them really like and even love Him. We have a show called ‘A Better World’ in which we share Swami's message. I have also showed footage comparing the exact words of Jesus and Swami, to show how they are alike and how their message is the same. The reactions have been wonderful-exactly the way He had predicted them. For every negative reaction, I have had a thousand positive ones.

Monday, July 19, 2010

State Medical Camp, 18/7/10


The Sathya Sai Baba Centres of Penang held a medical camp at Rifle Range Flats, Penang, on 18 July 2010.  The session was between 9.00am - 1.00pm at Sekolah Kebangsaan Padang Tembak.  The medical procedures conducted were urine sampling, blood/glucose sampling, blood pressure check, pap smear, eye-check, weight & height, and doctor's consultation.  Total number of patients was 209.

Vegetarian bee-hoon and drinks was also provided for patients and volunteers.

For more pictures, please click below :

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Sai Spiritual Showers - Issue 2/52


Q: Baba! Please tell us, how you are attained. I find my Sadhana infructuous.
A: I know you are inflicting many austerities on yourself. I must tell you that I am attained only by devotion and by a way of life that is illumined by that devotion. Do not deprive the body of its elementary needs; it is a sacred instrument you have earned, for taking you to the goal. Lead simple Satwic life, eat simple Satwic food, be sincere in speech, do loving service, be humble and tolerant, maintain undisturbed equanimity. Direct all your thoughts towards me resident in your heart.
Q: How, Baba, how can we progress in devotion?
A: There are different modes of devotion—that which foolishly weeps for me when I am not physically present; that which surrenders to me with wild abandon; and that which is steady and strong, ever attached to my will. I accept all these forms of devotion. The choice between one or the other is not yours, for, it is I who rules your feelings, modifies them. If you try to go where I do not will, I stop you; you can do nothing apart from my will. Be assured of that; this is the highest devotion.
Q: So, what remains for me to do?
A: What makes you think that `doing' is so important? Be equal minded. Then you will not be bothered about 'doing' or `not doing', success or failure; the balance will remain unaffected by either. Let the wave of memory, the storm of desire, the fire of emotion pass through; without affecting your equanimity. Be a witness of these: Commitment engenders, holding, narrowing, limiting. Be willing to be nothing. Let all dualities subside in your neutrality.
Q: Yes, Baba. But, when it is pain that one has to endure...
A: Do you think that I would confront you with pain, were there not a reason for it? Open your heart to pain, as you do now for pleasure, for it is My will, wrought by Me, for your good. Welcome it, as a challenge. Do not turn away from it. Turn within, and derive the strength to bear it and benefit by it. Do not listen to your mind; for, mind is but another word for `need'. The mind engenders need; it manifested as this world, because it needed thus. It is all My plan: to drive you by the pangs of unfulfilled need to listen to my voice, which, when heard, dissolves the ego and the mind with it.
Q: Baba! I crave for your Darshan, ever. Tell me where you go to and when.
A: I want you to pass beyond these criteria, and wait in readiness, and yet, with uncertainty. Location is limitation; let events manifold themselves. Be willing to be led by me, as I choose.
Q: But, how can we rise up to those high expectations, being so full of defects?
A: Your deficiencies make you need me, and curb the arrogance of your mind. They are there on purpose, as instruments to prod you on. Through them, I am making you want me. The feeling of separation is just a trick of your mind. You form conclusions, they become beliefs, and they shape your activities and attitudes.
Q: It is hard, to undergo your tests.
A: It is like baking a cake. I stir, I knead, I pound, I twist, and I bake you. I drown you in tears; I scorch you in sobs. I make you sweet and crisp, an offering worthy of God. I have come to re-form you. My plan is to transmute you into a successful Sadhak. I wont leave you until I do that. Even if you stray away before you become that, I will hold on to you. You cannot escape from me.
Q: You are so compassionate.
A: There is nothing I do not see, nowhere where I do not know the way. My sufficiency is unconditional, independent of everything. I am the totality—all of it.
Q: How then can we aspire for your Grace?
A: I do not ask for perfect concentration or full renunciation. I ask only for your Love, Love that sees me and serves me, in all beings. I ask only that you turn to me, when your mind drags you into grief or pride or envy. Bring me the depths of your minds, no matter how grotesque, how cruelly ravaged by doubts or disappointments. I know how to treat them. I will not reject you. I am your mother. No matter where you go, I am there. I can work with you everywhere.
Q: I clamour for Darshan; but, you ask me to leave for my home across the seas.
A: Do you not see very great merit ignored, that I might respond to need? Merit is only one amongst the many ways that lead men to me. Want of merit is also one of the ways by which men are drawn by me to my presence. Those who think that I am this outer form need me far more than you do. Their faith is more insecure, and, often, not at all. Their confusion arises from the habit of their minds depending on external conditions, and drawing its sense of security from those external conditions.
Q: Baba! However inadequate, I ask just this boon: Make me your instrument.
A: All are my instruments. Perhaps you believe, that I choose; this one is good, that one is worse etc. No. Either will do, so far as I am concerned. Both will do. My will is the source of all that is and happens; it interpenetrates every thing and act; it includes everything. Finally let me tell you this: My will is that you should manifest my will in you and through you.

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Sai Spiritual Showers - Issue 2/51



"Go slowly on Sai Baba, because people here are very Catholic”, I was advised, upon arriving after an absence of eight years at Mexico City where i had to conduct a Sai Baba Seminar. i didn’t follow this advice, however ...and, luckily so. For, the two Public Lectures i gave on Bhagawan were received with unexpected enthusiasm by the audience in the hall that was filled to its seams.

Before showing the film, i introduced Kamala Devi, whose husband is with the Indian Embassy. A devotee of Bhagawan she was the only person who could testify to the truth of what i was saying. Her story which i was translating into Spanish greatly moved the audience.

When Bhagawan gave her the interview, He told her not to worry about her son which quite naturally, she was doing then. "I just saved his life,” He added. Not quite aware of what He meant, she returned to Delhi, to learn that her son was almost killed by a shot put, when he was standing on the sports field; the metal ball was about to strike his head. At that very moment, some one pulled him away; the ball landed on his foot; the injury was not serious, though he was hospitalised nevertheless.

According to all the witnesses, the boy was standing all alone; there was no one around him. He did not step aside himself, for he had no knowledge of the ball coming in his direction. He had been pulled away, forcibly, by some one quite suddenly.

When they heard from Kamala about her interview and what Baba had told her about saving his life, the boy's heart was filled with gratitude and devotion. His faith was further strengthened after he saw a paralysed boy cured by Bhagawan during His visit to Jaipur.

Since most of my students (nearly 300 of them) had seen the film and heard from us a great deal about Bhagawan, most of them wanted to touch the japamala He had given me and/or get a mantra. We set up an improvised altar in the corner, near the platform, with candles, agarbatti and flowers surrounding Bhagawan's Picture. i placed at His Feet the pearl japamala which He had given me for healing the sick, so that people used it, one by one. Kneeling down, they reverently kissed It; a few crossed themselves at the end of their prayers to "Mataji's God.”

Belief in Baba swept the entire Seminar when several students reported in the Class later about the miraculous healings by the mala and the Vibhuti, one from a chronic headache, another from an excruciating back pain, a third from a nervous tick and eye trouble, and so on.

Everyone became eager to hear more and more about Bhagawan, for which I didn’t need much encouragement. Thus, they learnt not only of the miracles of the japamala, the ring, and the Vibhuti filled Kamandalu which never becomes empty (as Baba assured me, when He was placing it in my hands), but, also about many other miraculous happenings at our Yoga Center in Tecate, starting from the flood inside the House and ending with the fire inside it, both of which were stopped by Bhagawan.
On the last day of our October Seminar, a miracle took place. A young man dropped in at the time of the last minute goodbyes, photographing, book autographing, etc. Seeing that we were all busy, he walked into `Baba's Room,' and sat down to meditate in front of Bhagawan's Photo, which three years ago started producing Vibhuti.

After a while someone came in silently from behind him, put both his hands upon his head, and left through the door on the side, permitting the ‘meditator’ to see the stranger clearly in the candlelight, A few minutes later, a group of students from the Seminar walked in and switched on the electricity.
"Does he stay here?" asked the young man, pointing at Bhagawan's pictures, hanging on all the walls. Learning that Sai Baba is in India, and had never been here, at least in His physical form, the youth could not believe his ears. “But, he was here, only a few minutes ago; he put his hands on my head, which made me feel so very good and then he went out through the door on my right, passing so close to me that I could see his handsome features, the crown of black hair and a long orange gown. Is there someone here who resembles him?" "No. There is no one like him here," they answered in utter bewilderment.

Then, they told him who Sai Baba was. Quite shaken by the experience, the young man asked me for a mantra; he was still unable to explain all that had happened.
"Why didn’t Baba come to me?" enviously asked some of the student devotees! "I would give anything to see Him that way”, "Wait a little longer, for your turn”, an old timer assured, "and, your wish may be fulfilled. He has been seen here, in this room, by many. His presence is often acutely felt during meditation".

Hearing this story, my Mexican Class was glad to learn that one doesn’t necessarily have to be a `long time devotee' in order to obtain Bhagawan's Grace.

I also told them about how we were once driving from Anantapur to Prasanthi Nilayam. Bhagawan had gone ahead of us, a few minutes earlier. We were rolling on a long lonely road far away from any village; our taxi stopped suddenly; the fan belt got torn to shreds, and we could not continue the journey, "Bhagawan! We are in trouble”, i informed Him; it was a `long distance call'. No sooner had i spoken those words, than a car appeared; it was coming towards us. It stopped to enquire what the trouble was.
When our driver explained the situation, the man suddenly pulled out ...a brand new fan belt (!) and gave it to him; we were speechless. "Do people here always travel with a spare fan belt?” asked a surprised American woman. "Did you ever carry one? Or heard of anyone who did it?" was my reply to such a question.

When we finally arrived at the Nilayam, the bhajans were already well on the way and we sat down outside the temple. As soon as Bhagawan came out, He walked straight to me and asked what the delay was about. "We had car trouble,” i answered. “Yes… Yes. I know… the fan belt.”
The last day of the Seminar, the leave takings, in the beautiful capital of Mexico is hard to describe—kisses, flowers, tears, requests for a soon return—all mixed in one emotionally high `goodbye scene', i was almost choked by the japamala which was being pulled from the neck from behind by people who wanted to touch it or press it against their lips, while i was sitting on the floor and autographing books.
"Didn’t you tell me, i should go slowly on Sai Baba?” i asked the couple who had made this suggestion upon my arrival. They only shook their heads, witnessing all that was going on.
“You won, Mataji., they said... "Not me, Baba did,” was all i could say.
Jai Bhagawan!