Sai Spiritual Showers - Issue 2/67

Movement Newspaper: I have the feeling, Dr. Gokak, that being with you is like being with Baba, in a vicarious way, of course.

Dr. Gokak: Well, He asked me to go to America, and He said, "I'll take care of you in every way." My prayer to Him is that I should be worthy of Him; whatever I say or do should not be unworthy of a man representing Baba. He said, "I'll help you in every little way." So far I have nothing to regret.

M. N.: I've heard you say that living so close to Baba you sometimes can get "burned." To what does this refer?

D. G.: It means that He is all perfection. In that Light around Him, no iota of untruth can survive. No insincerity can have any place around Him. No double standards. But we are imperfect; this is why we are human. In our dealings with Him we will sometimes try to impose this imperfection on Him without our knowledge. He is very sorry for us because He knows that we are going to get "burned.” He can't help it; He, Himself, can't help us when we are getting burned because this is a very natural thing. But if one understands what is happening that it is the impurity within one that is being burned, then one can stand it all right. Plus, there is Baba's grace. While this is happening, His love still flows to the person. This is what saves and heals him. This is what I referred to. You are on top of a volcano; this is perfection.

The moment you go slightly wrong, in what you do you are blown up. This is a critical moment in one's life; he may or may not survive it.

In a fit of ego one may go away. He is hurt; he is deeply hurt. If he goes, he goes, it's his loss. There is no compromise. As Baba has given saying, "The nearer and dearer you are, the greater are your chances of getting burnt." In becoming worthy of Him, you have to burn a great deal. This is what happens to everyone around Him.

M. N.: The "burning" then is purification?

D. G.: Yes, it is all the same.

M. N.: It must be strange at times relating to Baba, being so close to Him and knowing Him. How do you relate to Him, as a close friend or as a vehicle for God to come through this shell called Sai Baba? How do you relate to that situation?

D. G.: He's the friend I love, the God I fear, and Krishna at whose enigmatic hands I love to be slain, making myself immortal. This is how I relate to Him. I am prepared for everything. For my doing, for my undoing, for all that. And I am also prepared for the human relationship. In the morning, when I am in the next room and the Avatar walks in and says, "Do you have a shaving brush?" I give Him mine because he has forgotten His own. I relate to Him in this way also. He is so intensely human. He can be so Divine.

M. N.: Does this seem like a paradox to you?

D. G.: No. Even when I am aware of all that he stands for when I am near Him and He cuts jokes with me, I forget all that He is and I begin to talk as a friend. It is only when I get away from Him, and come to America, for example, and see what is happening to Him in all these homes, all these photographs everywhere that I say, "Is this Baba with whom I'm staying?" I begin to experience a sense of awe.
Once I said to Him, "When will You show me your cosmic form?" He said, "Wait, wait, I will show you." He said, "Why do you think I have taken you so close to Me? For that reason I have taken you close." But actually, I don't know what else He is going to show, but what I have seen already (laughter). When I am near Him, I still forget that He is Baba. I think of Him as very great and all that and near to me. I can take liberties and joke now and then, when He smiles, not otherwise (laughter). But then I forget the rest of it. When I go to other places and see Vibhuti (sacred ash) showering in photographs and images appearing from nowhere and people going into ecstasy repeating His name, then I say, "Yes, this is the cosmic form."

M. N.: What is the importance of being with one's Teacher, physically.

D. G.: It has very great importance. One cannot consummate a relationship if his work takes him away. One cannot draw all the love and all the delight that he can receive by being near. Suppose I have Rama Krishna for my Master. He is no longer in the flesh. It is quite possible that I could get in touch with my Master in my own meditative musings. But there is a particular delight in the physical presence of one's Master right with us as a human being. One relates to Him as a human being and still He is the Divine in the human. This brings in a certain sense of fulfillment and a certain experience that has been spoken of in all the ancient Indian texts. They say that even the gods hunger for this relationship.

In this evolution, when God comes down and is represented in human flesh, He brings something of the divine Himself in human flesh and is part of the evolutionary term "existence.” There is a peculiar joy in this relationship of the human divine, which you don't get even in the Divine by Himself.

M. N.: If God wanted man to hear His voice, why does man have difficulty in hearing Him?

D. G.: As long as man loves to here his own voice, how can he hear the voice of God? It's only when one shuts his own ears to his own voice that he is able to hear the voice of God. It's very difficult. The voice of God has to penetrate through the many layers with which we have surrounded ourselves. The purer we are, the nearer we are to His voice.

M. N.: What does Baba say of the different religions?

D. G.: The first thing He says is that there is only one religion, the religion of Love. There is only one language and this is language of the Heart. There is only one caste and this is the caste of Humanity. There is only one God and He is omnipresent. I am quoting Baba's own words. He stands for this universality of outlook; His ashram flag contains the symbols of all great religions of the world. Those people that want to believe in their own religion should never be disturbed. They should practise their religion spontaneously, but with proper understanding; they should not practise it in a blind manner. One should be guided through his studies.

There are people who don't want many rituals to bind them on their way. They want to feel free. They want to live a life of psychological awareness. They don't want to be bound down by any particular rituals. Their hearts prompt them to turn their whole life into a pilgrimage. If one wants to turn his life into a ritual and be a free person not professing any religion but speaking only of the Divine, then this also is welcome. Just as Baba doesn't want rituals to be discarded, he doesn't want rituals to be adopted either. It depends on a person's needs in his life. If one needs a religion then he takes it with understanding. If one needs the other life style then he takes that with understanding.

M. N.: Is there a reason why Baba is always seen in crowds?

D. G.: This is His role. The 24 hours of every day are directed toward liberating the common man, setting him free his bondage, wherever he may be from. All the methods, techniques, and exposition of his philosophy are directed toward this particular purpose.

His methods are those for redeeming the common man. His bhajans, which are sung with concentration on their rhythm, music, meaning, and imagery, can liberate the heart and release these springs of life. He has transformed the lives of millions of Indian people and thousands from all parts of the world.

M. N.: Does Baba ever manifest large objects like a house or an airplane? I've seen some of the small objects that He has manifested—rings, necklaces, and statues.

D. G.: I have not seen anything like this done, but from what I know of him, a thing like this is possible. If a man can bring back the life of the dead, which has happened in two or three cases, or be in two places at the same time, this also can happen. It has not happened because it has not been necessary. These materializations do not take place for fun. They take place when the need is there, when the circumstances require them, then they are done.

M. N.: Has Baba explained His ability to do the miracles that we hear about, and His manifestations?

D. G.: Yes. He has said, "I don't perform miracles, these miracles flow from Me; how can I help it? It's my love that expresses itself in this form. I see a person who is dear to Me, such a beautiful Soul and a ring comes out and I give it to him! Here is somebody else; he needs to be healed. He is such a fine person; and some medicine comes out or some healing Vibhuti and I give it to him!" This is love, nothing else but love. Somebody asked Him, "How is it that you cure so many incurable diseases?" Baba answered, "It's not always done. It's my experience that I am in the heart of every living being; I am seated there whether he acknowledges me or not. I am in the heart of every living creature. I therefore love everyone, for in a sense, I love myself. If I do this and if the other person also responds to Me and loves Me, then the negative and the positive meet and My love and his love flow into each othe r; there is a conjunction. And then there is a cure. Where there is no response in love, there is no cure."
"If I am to satisfy the legitimate worldly desires of my devotees, later I want them to want spiritual gifts. I want them to ask for God Himself. In order to train them toward this desire for God, I satisfy their worldly desires now. I do this so that they might come to Me for something greater."
These are techniques required of a redeemer who deals with the common man.

Kuan Yin Birthday Bhajan

Kuan Yin's Birthday was celebrated with Vedam chanting, Tibetan mantra chanting and bhajans on 26 October 2010, at 8.00pm (19th day of 9th moon according to the Chinese calendar).

After bhajans, a video was presented on the performance by Chinese deaf and mute dancers 'Thousand Hand Kuan Yin'.  The in-depth meanings contained in every step of the dance was explained to the members.  The dance performance speaks of the various divine qualities represented by Goddess Kuan Yin.

Om Mani Padme Hum

Sai Spiritual Showers - Issue 2/66

Something very sad happened while I was in India recently and I'm sure it happens more frequently than it should. There was a lady from another country who had heard about Sai Baba and having many problems, decided to go and receive Baba's Blessings` and help. This particular lady had been an atheist (her words), but because of all the glowing and glorious reports from others, she decided to go to India to see Baba himself. She had become very disillusioned because Baba was not paying any attention to her.
A friend of mine talked to her first, trying to explain to her that Bhagawan teaches mainly on the spiritual or intuitive level. My friend spent quite a long time with her but to no avail. The visitor had fully expected Sai Baba to talk to her, smile at her, call her in for an interview and miraculously solve all her problems. Those glowing reports of people being given so much personal attention had caught her imagination, she wanted that personal attention also and when it was not given she became extremely upset.

One day I sat next to her during lunch. She expressed her unhappiness and her disappointment. I also tried to help her but no matter what was said she did not seem to change her attitude. She must have left soon after that because we did not see her again.

What surprised me was that I too, had been caught in that trap. Five years ago I had the great good Grace of being able to spend four months in Our Lord's Presence. He really babied me, so much attention! I was totally and thoroughly spoiled. But I had learned that He was teaching on the intuitive level and I was responding to many of His directions not really being aware of it. There was good reason for all that attention.

But this time things were different. My mind was in total chaos and confusion. Bhagawan bestowed some smiles but more often than not there was nothing. At least, at the time I felt there was not enough personal attention. Then came the day when I felt that the end of the world would come if He did not talk to me. Of course He did not and I went back to the room heart-broken, thinking, "But Baba I really wanted you to talk to me," and burst into tears.

Sounds familiar? So many people that I talked to had had almost that same experience. The fortunate ones are those who stay and try to make that mental breakthrough that puts them in touch with their intuitive Inner Self. When we can finally realize that Inner Self of ours and Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba or any favorite form or name of God are One, then we receive that personal recognition. Even if we don't, we have given ourselves the greatest of gifts, finding our "God" within.

During that first trip, I did not keep a diary and often have regretted it, so this time I kept a diary. Each day was recorded as it happened and later, on re-reading it, I was astonished at how much attention I had had! How could I possibly have felt neglected? It seems that no matter how much I received, I always wanted more. That must be the way it is until we finally surrender and merge in that Inner Bliss.

From the 15th of January through the 22nd we had Darshan from once to three times a day! And in those seven days Baba had either bestowed His Heavenly Smile, held my hand or talked to me four times! His thought for the day on Jan 21st was: "Devotion is complete surrender—not a part time affair or something taken on credit. Every bit has to be earned and deposited. There are no over drafts. Grace is won by discipline and virtue."

Is this just another glowing account of someone receiving so much personal attention? Perhaps, but even with all that attention, I fell into that same trap of feeling neglected. It only lasted for a short while but was most difficult to get out of. Earnest prayer, spiritual practice and Love was the only way out.

So I concentrated on helping others when and where help was needed. The more we do for others the less we think of ourselves and the more we will please our Lord. So trying to please Baba and not myself, paid off in ways totally unexpected. The rest of my visit is a long beautiful story. I pray that if you are contemplating a visit to Sai Baba that you will consider keeping a diary, recording thoughts and personal experiences (even with other people) and each day evaluating your own experiences. Even when we are not in His Presence, we are being taught and the most important thing to remember is that we ourselves have that `Inner Teacher', the very same teacher who is manifesting in human form on the outer, Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba Himself!

HAIR-CUTTING AT SENIOR CITIZEN'S HOME, PBA

Monthly hair-cutting service activity by our NED members is held on every third Sunday at the Senior Citizen's Home, Penang Chinese Buddhist Associaton, Perak Road, Penang.

Sai Spiritual Showers - Issue 2/65

It is not easy for a simple God fearing village housewife to assume the mantle of "Mother” of the Avatar and recognise in her "son” the incarnation of the Divine. How Easwaramma faced this difficult situation and gradually came to realise the extraordinary role of Bhagawan is described by Prof. Kasturi in his book, "Easwaraamma — The Chosen Mother". As devotees from far and wide came to Puttaparthi to adore Baba, Easwaramma got new insights into the Divine attributes of Baba. Describing this phase in the life of Easwaramma, Prof. Kasturi writes:

The pioneers of independence were straining their every nerve to break down the hide bound taboos of society, but this simple woman of the village who had hardly heard of the crusade against orthodoxy, found that she too was hustled willy nilly against the barricades of tradition. She sat beside not only princesses but women of the Anglo Indian community and those of castes considered 'un touchable'. Who dares pick and choose among devotes? It is the inalienable right of all mankind to reach towards the Divine! And Easwaramma was 'Mother' to whole neighbourhoods in the cities. Her 'daughters' gathered around, speaking a medley of tongues, Hindi, Marathi, Tamil and Telugu. To them all, her answer was one simple sentence in Telugu. The only language she knew. "Anthaa Swami daya, Amma." "It is all Swami's Grace, my child.” But it was uttered with so much benediction and assurance, that no one wished to miss the sweetness of hearing them spoken.

Among the devotees were Hanumantha Rao, the Inspector General of Prisons of the Madras Presidency, Navaneetam Naidu, the Commissioner of Excise, Mysore, Ranajodh Singh, Mysore's Inspector General of Police, the Raja of Sandur and others, seeking Swami's advice on matters both official and personal. Easwaramma sat confounded as she watched this line up of the powerful and the prestigious. "How is he going to set right the affairs of palaces?" she wondered when the aristocrats of Mysore sat at his feet. "What does he know of Patel (Vallabh bhai Patel) at Delhi?" She questioned herself anxiously as she overheard Swami's words to the Raja, but she did not have to worry that Swami was over reaching himself. Soon enough these people were back with beaming smiles on happy faces.

Sathya's absence from Puttaparthi became more frequent. Who heeded the 'boon' she had extracted from her son that he would remain at Puttaparthi? Certainly not the devotees like Sakamma from Bangalore, the Princesses from Mysore, the Chincholi family from Hyderabad, the Mudaliars of Madras and the Chettiars from Kuppam, Karur, Udumalpet and Trichinopoly. They were convinced that Swami belonged to them, for had He not indeed come for his devotees? And not Sathya either. He, like Krishna, wished to bless the poor, the sick and the old who could not afford or survive the journey to Puttaparthi. And all those who delighted so greatly in Swami's company, in His pranks, songs and conversation, wished to share this incomparable discovery of theirs, this unfailing source of joy, with every one they knew, their relatives and their rivals, their friends and their foes, their neighbours and non believers too. They begged Swami to stay a 'few' days with them but not even a whole month ever amounted to a 'few' days as they counted!

Easwaramma longed to accompany Him whenever He left his 'Sthan' (that is, His permanent place of residence as she loved to refer to Puttaparthi, feeling the comfort and reassurance of this possessive phrase). But how could she do so every time when so many family problems pressed upon her? When Sathya went off on His journey Easwaramma could only pray to the guardian gods and goddesses to protect im from the many strange types of food and perhaps the unfamiliar varieties of air and water too that he would have to imbibe!

Swami was just out of His teens and at Bangalore when He did fall ill just as Easwaramma had feared. His hosts, Raja Setty and Sakamma, called in the doctors. But no one could diagnose the trouble. How could they, for Swami announced, "I have willed the illness!" He quoted precedents, from the lives of Rama and Shirdi Baba to show that they too had had an apathetic distaste for food and fun for some years during their teenage. This 'illness' was therefore indispensable for him, Swami said, spending hours trying to reassure His devotees.

At last, besieged by insistent questioning, Swami confessed that He was in the process of remoulding His physical frame so that it might withstand the Divine Energy stirring within, for He had to embark on His Avataric Tasks. Such incomprehensible words, such tremendous mysterious happenings ...whoever had the experience of anything like this? Men and women stood around Him dumb and distraught.

When I saw Swami for the first time I was told that His body had only just got back to normal. His voice was still feeble and faint then, his walk, slow and hesitant and his mop of hair almost too heavy for His neck. I could imagine the mother's anguish as she helplessly watched the tender body of her son being 'overhauled' by the very Source of its sustenance. And this wasn't all. There were many such moments of tension in store for her still. They were obviously lessons designed to promote her from the consciousness of being 'Amma' to an awareness of being 'Easwaramma'. From the delusions that she was the 'mother of Sathya' to the truth that she was the 'woman blessed to be the mother of Easwara' (Easwara is the concept of the Absolute as conditioned by name and form). She was therefore soon to be a mother showering affection on all living beings. "I do not belong to you." Sathya told her. "To whom then do I belong?&quo t; was her response. "To you belong the world and its peoples," was the answer, the lesson he was giving her.

It was on Vijayadashami, the tenth day of Dasara, that Shirdi Sai Baba had given up his mortal body. Now at Puttaparthi even as puja, bhajans, processions and the mass feeding of the poor were being organised by devotees, Swami who had announced that he was that Shirdi spirit come again to expand and continue the same task, would 'fall' at Puttaparthi to 'rise' at Shirdi and bless the devotees, during the festivities there. When Swami came back, He told the gathering at the Mandir that He had been to Shirdi and had decided to grant Darshan there on every Vijayadashami day. Year after year, Easwaramma witnessed this scene that strengthened her faith in the Divine origin of her son.

But, these incidents were not limited to Vijayadashami day. Easwaramma was soon to make the discovery that Swami belonged to the world, that even as His body was there before her very eyes, He himself flees to answer someone who calls on God. There were out of the body journeys at all hours of the day and night. He would often tell them the details of His errands of mercy when He returned from these distant sojourns—dacoity in a Telangana valley, floods in Rajahmundry, a car accident on the roads of Karnataka, a fire in Madras - He was here, there, everywhere, in homes, hospitals or jungles with His miraculous help.

Easwaramma listened with rapt wonder. It was only natural that her mind ran to the stories from the epics in which the villages are steeped. Didn't Krishna rush to the city of Hastinapur to save the honour of the Queen of the Pandavas when their enemies, the Kauravas, tried to disrobe her in open court? Wasn't He there again with them in the jungles where they lived in exile when the Kauravas arranged a provocative situation to expose the Pandavas to the curses of the bad tempered Sage Durvasa? As soon as Swami came back to consciousness there would be excited questions from Easwaramma. "Did Draupadi call you to Hastinapur or to the jungle? Did you hear the elephant trumpet in despair when the crocodile gripped its leg?" (This last refers to a story from the Puranas when the Lord Narayana hurries to save the king of the elephants.) And Swami would say, "Yes, There are Draupadis now too and wicked Kauravas also, determined to insult them. There are still Durvasas with fiery tempers ever ready to bully the helpless and parade their power to curse. There are human crocodiles hiding in calm waters waiting to pounce on their victims. I have come to show them all that I am here to protect whoever calls on God."

Swami's words to Easwaramma were the same that once were spoken by the Lord to Joshua: "Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed for the Lord thy God is with thee whither so ever thou goest."

"Neither be thou dismayed?" But who would not be alarmed at Swami's ever increasing display of His powers? He had begun surgical operations now! He did a tonsils operation on a child who was the nephew of no less a dignitary than the Inspector General of Prisons of the Madras Presidency. He coolly invited Dr. Padmanabhan of Bangalore to send his 17 years old brother to Puttaparthi saying, "Why take the trouble to put him in the Victoria Hospital? I shall do the hernia operation and he will be up and about, perfectly fine ten minutes later." There was an operation on Thirumala Rao, another VIP from Bangalore. The surgery was done with knives, scissors, needles and swabs, all created in seconds with just a few circular movements of His right or left hand. The Vibhuti He produced was anaesthetic, antiseptic and tonic, all in one. The patients recovered in record time. And the wonder grew in Easwaramma's voice and eyes. There was greater and greater fervour each time she spoke the word 'Swami' now.

It was not wonder alone but a measure of resignation too that had come. The old puzzlement and fear were dying fast in her. She grew to accept the fact that the circumstances of her life, the who and the what, the where and the why, were unalterable and most often incomprehensible Acts of God. The stories from the epics, the great 'oral culture' of India that pervades the subconscious of its people, had long ago taught them that the truths of life are mysteries that lie beyond the mind's mere understanding. But, there still did linger a thin haze of dust that hid the total Swami from her view. She could not quite rid herself of the belief that the 'evil eye' could affect this wondrous boy of hers. He would protest, but she insisted on carrying out the ritual of averting it - the coconut waved around the body to draw the subtle waves or particles of evil towards it which was then broken in a symbolic act of destruction.

Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba's Eternal Mantra

Extensive Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha Mantra

MEDICINE BUDDHA MANTRA

GREAT COMPASSION MANTRA

Sai Spiritual Showers - Issue 2/64

          I am here before you all at our Lord's behest to share a few thoughts with you all. Out of His infinite compassion Swami has drawn me into His fold. My entrance into this Divine phenomenon was uneventful—rather a quiet homecoming. When I first joined His college for women at Anantapur I did not know anything about Him. But day by day the awareness of His divinity seemed to swell within me as I heard about His Leelas and listened to the Divine discourses. Swami often had an affectionate word for me. Thus, I prospered in Sai love and completed my Post Graduation. Then out of His immense love for us regardless of our shortcomings, I was granted a position as a teacher in His institution. So, have I come to His lotus feet—my haven of peace.

As a member of the Kingdom of Mother Sai, I keenly desired to put in my little share of service, and so I translated the volume of "Chinna Katha" into Braille script, to enable people like me all over to share the nectarine bliss of the numerous anecdotes Swami so often relates to us.

Recently I had the much-coveted audience with Swami wherein He encouraged me to speak. With His immeasurable love, He said, "You ‘Rama’ are far better than those people who have My gift of sight. They profit little and misuse it much. You are protected from such harmful exposure and blessed with the Eye of wisdom to see God with a clear mind." He bade me impress upon the listeners the proper use of our senses.

The faculties of sight and hearing are God's precious gifts to us. They are given to enrich our life, to see and experience the Glory of God. Alas, we are frittering them away in pursuit of loud and vulgar cinemas and even more worthless revels. We relish gossip and scandal. The most important human organ, the Eye, lies thus wasted. Crime and horror seem to be the order of the day. They excite the senses and mislead our mind. It is a criminal waste of time: I once heard some one say: "Now, how shall we kill time?" My God! Time is not meant to be killed!

Yes, we do need occasional entertainment. But need we resort to such vicious pastimes? Nature presents an unending drama of changing hues, coupled with melodies that delight our being. Personally, I find my entertainment in the sheer abundance of Nature around me. Oh, the pitter patter of rain upon the roof, the rustling of the wind amongst leaves, the chirruping of birds, the cool breeze and the roar of breakers upon the sea shore. If I can respond in thrilled joy to her, how much more joy can you find in her!

When we walk upon a thorny path, we cannot eliminate all the thorns. The easier and more sensible thing to do is to wear shoes and protect our feet. Likewise, good and evil co exist in this world. We can always learn to be blind and deaf to it. Unless we close our eyes to the external frivolities, we cannot delve deep into ourselves to draw from the perennial source within. It is not enough if we cultivate a negative attitude. True, evil must be avoided, but an alertness to absorb the beneficent influences around us must be developed. Insignificant objects in our daily lives have much to teach us. In fact, Swami uses such familiar examples to drive home profound truths. Only yesterday Swami said, 'Nature is a mirror which reflects God'. But unfortunately the eye is often too lazy to register much.

Helen Keller once asked a friend who had just returned from a long walk in the woods as to what she had seen. She replied, 'Nothing in particular'. Helen Keller wondered as to how it could be possible for the mere touch of the tender symmetry of a leaf, the soft velvet feel of a petal, the luscious carpet of grass, to reveal the miracle of Nature to her, whereas her friend failed to see anything worthy of note in the woods. So she concluded that the seeing see little.

In every creature resides God. Every object in Nature is, as Wordsworth puts it, 'appareled in a celestial light', but we do not see it. It is unfortunate that we have lost the sense of wonder the child possesses. The film of familiarity obstructs our vision. We are too engrossed in our humdrum existence to notice the divinity prevalent. Here I am reminded of the lines:

'On life's busy thoroughfares
We meet with angels unawares
But we are too busy to hear,
Too busy to sense God is near.'

I wonder how some people entertain doubts about Swami's divinity inspite of seeing Him—seeing those compassionate love—showering eyes! But, let me tell you all, I have no such doubts at all. I feel that the Divine Hand leads me on gently ever.

Let me tell you of one of my experiences. It happened during the summer course of 1977, the one and only I have ever attended. The entire month was one rich experience for me. In the examination held at the end of the month I secured the first rank. Now, how is such an event possible? Let me tell you. Though I enjoyed my varied experiences there, yet there was one fact that disturbed my happiness. It was my fast approaching M. A. examinations. They were scheduled to be held ten days after the summer course. I was greatly worried as I felt such a short span would not suffice for my preparatory study. Worrying greatly I carried on. But miraculously, just a week before my exams, my mind seemed to clear. I watched the workings of my mind with a detached interest. There seemed to be a feeling in my mind suddenly that my M.A. exams were remote and of no great importance It was as if some one took over my worries and cleared my mind for some purpose&mdas h;little did I know what it meant. Informed that I too was expected to write the summer course examination, I wrote it and the rest was His grace. Thus in His subtle ways, He has given evidence of His grace and love. Let us not take for granted His gift of the senses to us or use them as mere conveniences. According to Prahlada:

The hands that worship the
Lotus eyed Lord alone are hands;
Only the tongue that extols the
Lord of Sri is a tongue;
Only the eyes that behold the
Saviour of the Gods are eyes;
The head that bows to the Lord on
the Serpent Couch is alone head;
Only the ears that listen to the praise
of the Supreme are ears;
The heart that contemplates the
Foe of the demons is heart.

It means that all our senses should be employed in the glorification of our Lord, only then do they serve their purpose.

As for myself, I rest content with what I have. I ask not the Lord, 'Give me sight', for He has taught me to 'see' what is worthwhile in life and be happy. My only prayer to Him is to open my inner eye and I am confident that he will respond to my prayers. Every day I shall take one step towards the door of wisdom. The day will come when I shall knock at the door, it shall open softly, and I shall behold the beauteous vision of God.

(The article is from Kum. Rama Devi's speech delivered in the Divine presence during Bhagawan's Birthday in 1981, as published in March 1982 issue of Sanathana Sarathi.)

PENANG STATE LEADERSHIP CAMP 2010

The Penang State Leadership Camp was held on 3 October 2010, from 9.00am - 5.00pm, at Brown Garden centre, Penang.  Many national leaders from the Sathya Sai Central Council, including our new President, Bro Dr Suresh Govind, was present to deliver his talk on the new vision for the coming years, entitled 'The Way Forward'.  

There was a huge turnout of members from all the centers of Penang and many issues were highlighted and deliberated upon in the various wing workshops.

HAIR-CUTTING SERVICE AT HOME OF THE INFIRM

Hair-cutting service is carried out by our NED members every first Sunday at the Home of the Infirm, Green Lane, Penang.  On 3rd October, 2010, our activity was graced by the presence of YB Jeff Ooi Chuan Aun, the Chief of Staff to the Chief Minister of Penang.  YB also participated in trimming the hair of one of the residents.