Sai Spiritual Showers - Issue 2/84

Devotee: In the West, Sadhana is generally taken to be a process of self-improvement. But, that implies identification with the changing personality?

Sri Sathya Sai: First, there may be the urge to self-improvement. But, the next stage is inquiry, the inquiry into the reality of `this' and `that'. Seven-tenths of Sadhana is ENQUIRY.

Devotee: Sadhana as it is described, seems wrong, because it is a conscious effort aimed at getting a reward. It seems to me that Sadhana is real, only when it is spontaneous. That is to say, as when one naturally loves God. He cannot but help love God. And, he cannot help but make inquiry.

Sri Sathya Sai: It is as you say; but, you have not experienced the spontaneous love for God. It is still just an idea. You have a conviction that love for God, exists naturally in you. That conviction itself is the result of many lives spent in spiritual practice.

Devotee: I have the conviction so strong, that it is the very marrow of my bone that Life is One; that others, Swami, and myself are One. The Atma is that One and it is fully here at this moment; and I am, constantly engaged in Sadhana; so, the question remains: Why do I not actually experience, that Unity, as no other than myself?

Sri Sathya Sai Baba: Your conviction of Unity is an Idea, a Thought. It is not experience. For instance, when your wife has pain in the head, do you have it too? If not, where is the experience of the Unity? The Unity must be experienced, not just felt as an idea, or entertained as a thought.

Devotee: Swami! If Sadhana and conviction do not bring the experience, how is one to get it?

Sri Sathya Sai: Through steady Sadhana. Just as with ourselves now, in this car. We need concern ourselves only with the careful driving of the car; in due course, we will arrive at Anantapur, wouldn't we? With correct and steady Sadhana, the actual experience of the ONE will naturally come about.

Devotee: How does one really experience that he is the same as another? Because now, one feels for another through compassion. Compassion is idea, understanding; it is not direct experience of unity. When some one hit a dog, Sai Baba of Shirdi had the bruises. That is the actual experience of Unity.

Sri Sathya Sai: All is Divine. When you are firmly established in the fact of your Divinity, then, you will directly know that others are Divine. Compassion for others is felt so long as you consider yourself as a separate entity, as a consequence of the body consciousness. The story of Shirdi Sai Baba that you have heard about is not fully correct. The facts are: a lady cooked and got ready a plate of sweets for Baba, and a dog ate them. The lady drove the dog away, with blows. The lady then carried another plate of sweets to Baba, who refused them, saying that He had eaten the sweets she previously provided, and His hunger was satisfied. The lady pointed out that this was the first time that she was offering the sweets; so, how could he say to the contrary? Baba said, "No." You offered them and while I was eating them, you have also beaten Me." Thus, He gave a lesson that He was omnipresent and that there was only ONE U niversal Life.

Devotee: What does Swami mean by `omnipresent'

Sri Sathya Sai: Omnipresent means everywhere, at the same time, all the time.

Devotee: Swami says, that at a certain stage in Sadhana, the exterior nature ceases. How is that?

Sri Sathya Sai: There are ten stages in Sadhana, each cognised by sounds of various types, ranging through different vibrations—bell, flute, conch, OM, thunder etc. The tenth stage is reached when the senses are transcended. Beyond the senses, it is the state of Bliss.

Devotee: Is that State of Bliss experienced only for a time? What happens in the daily round of life?

Sri Sathya Sai: That state remains always. Then, it is always Bliss. He thinks God, eats God, drinks God, breathes God, lives God.

Devotee: Does every one pass through these ten stages?

Sri Sathya Sai: No. One may go direct to the tenth, the transcendental state. Or, to stage six, or seven. Or not progress at all. It is not uniform for all.

Devotee: What should be one's attitude to these stages in Sadhana, as one encounters each stage one by one?

Sri Sathya Sai: The states change, but, the `attitude' should be unchanging.

Devotee: But, what value should one give to the various states?

Sri Sathya Sai: The Sadhaka will not be satisfied, with any of the states. For, complete union is the goal. Desire remains strong, until the transcendental bliss is realised, and then, desire ceases. At that state, all is God. Thoughts, desires, all are God.

Devotee: These thoughts that stream through the mind, are they material?

Sri Sathya Sai: Yes. They are matter. All matter is impermanent.

Devotee: Where do thoughts come from?

Sri Sathya Sai: They come from food and environment. If you have satwic food and desire only for good things and atmosphere around you, good thoughts only will come.

Devotees: Where do thoughts go?

Sri Sathya Sai: They go no place. Because, thoughts do not flow through the mind. The mind goes out and grasps, and gets engaged with thoughts. If the desire is for God, the mind does not go out. The best way is not to get involved in the problem, 'How to get rid of thoughts?' See all thoughts as God. Then, only God thoughts will come. The entire mechanism of body, mind, intelligence, will work in a coordinated manner, for the benefit of the higher goal.

Devotee: Then, for whom should the entire mechanism be functioning?

Sri Sathya Sai: For the Atma. A small example: The earth turns on its own axis, but, at the same time, it is revolving around the Sun. The various faculties of man should do their own work, but, the Atma is the center of their Universe.

Devotee: Swami! How can one bring these faculties under the control of the Atma?

Sri Sathya Sai: When one realises that the Atma is the Reality, the ONE, then, everything will function smoothly. It is a question of surrendering all to the Atma.

Devotee: But, Swami has said, we should ask ourselves, "Who am I that I dare talk of surrendering my mind and intelligence to God? They do not belong to me. How can I surrender that which I do not own, and cannot even control?"

Sri Sathya Sai: It is not a question of surrendering or giving to some other one. One surrenders to oneself. Recognition that the Atma is one self is surrender.

Devotee: Then, Swami means, that surrender is really a putting aside of that which one perceives as incorrect or false.

Sri Sathya Sai: Yes.

Devotee: I now understand. "Surrender" implies a person offering himself or his possessions to another person. But, really, it is more like the abandoning of ideas and concepts for which one has no further use, or which one sees as inadequate or wrong.

Sri Sathya Sai: Yes.

Narayana Seva at Dharmasala, Puttaparthi 11/2/11

Sai brothers and sisters from Malaysia and Australia got together for a service activity during our trip to Puttaparthi in February 2011. We visited a place called 'Sree Parthi Sai Dharmasala' located at Airport Road, Puttaparthi to conduct feeding for more than 300 people. Most of these people are family members and relatives of patients who are receiving free medical treatment at the Super Specialist Hospital. Some of them have come from distant villages and are without food or lodging facilities.

Click below to see more pictures :
Narayana Seva at Dharmasala, Puttaparthi

Gayatri Chanting

In answering the nationwide call made by the President of SSBCCM, Bro Dr Suresh Govind, forty of our members gathered at NED to chant Gayatri Mantra x 108 at 7.30am on Sunday, 20 February 2011.  The reason for the sudden mass chanting of this magnitude was in light of Swami's frail condition when our Malaysian contingent was in Puttaparthi to celebrate the Chinese New Year celebrations from 4 - 11 February 2011.

Sai Spiritual Showers - Issue 2/83

After describing how a friend of his had been admitted in a hospital in Lucknow with a compound fracture after a scooter accident two days before he and his sister were to leave for Brindavan, and how despite the efforts of the doctors and his own prayers to Baba, the young man died, Ajay Pant writes:

All the time somewhere in the subconscious I was blaming Swami for all that was happening. Then the journey to Bangalore started with an already built-in prejudice against Swami. The picture of the boy haunted me throughout the much delayed journey, due to railway disturbances (May 1970).

I reached Whitefield on the day the Summer Course was to be inaugurated. My sister was also with me. She too had been selected for the Summer Course. The first reaction to the whole set up was strange. I liked it, in spite of having a grudge against Swami.

I met all the boys selected from Uttar Pradesh. What I could not understand then was their eagerness to see Swami, which I more or less pretended not to have.

At last, we stood outside the gate of Swami's residence—waiting for Him to come out. My reaction at confronting Swami was least expected. When I saw the saffron-clad, magnificent figure gliding closer, I was quite taken aback. "No one can be rude to this personality" I thought. But the "Intellect" prevailed and I stubbornly put my hands behind my back, while everyone else had them folded respectfully. Swami smiled at all others and acknowledged their greetings. He just whizzed past me. I felt, only felt, as if He looked at me in a queer way, as if to say, "Wait! I'll show you!!”

I had taken the challenge. I was stubborn, headstrong. My campaign against Baba was to make fun of Him somehow or the other. I remember a boy telling me that I weakened his faith, talking all that rubbish. I did even go to the extent of distorting the words of the bhajans.

But, how long can one resist charm? I slowly found myself doing what he told all the students to do. The explanation for this I gave to myself was that since Swami was feeding me and would be doing so for a month, it was my duty.

The day came when Swami was giving interviews to students of our State. I was eager to see him in order to have my queries answered. We went into the interview room. Half the boys rushed forward to be seated where Swami would come and sit, but I chose a back seat almost next to the wall. When at last Swami came in, the boys rushed to touch His feet. Good sense prevailed and I too touched His feet. I was surprised at what I had done.

Swami very sweetly started the conversation asking us how the food was, how the classes were going on, etc. Swami answered some philosophical queries. The boys were all eager to gulp down everything that He spoke. I found that my turn would not come nor would Swami say anything to me. Then He started asking all the students what their names were and what classes were they in. My turn also came and I mumbled the Information.

To my utter surprise I found myself desperate—desperate to ask: "Swami, why did you kill the boy so young? Why did you not listen to me?" Suddenly Swami's conversation turned to Life and Death. He glanced knowingly at me and said, "The Body experiences age, the Atma has no age". The others took the statement as a casual remark but I knew what he meant. He continued illustrating, "You buy a suit-length cloth and keep it in the cupboard for 10 years. After that you have it stitched and are under the Illusion that the suit is new. When you wear the suit and bend, it gets torn. Then, why do you cry that the new suit is torn. You forget it is the stitching which was new and not the cloth. Similarly, the body is the new stitching and the Atma is the ageless cloth."

I listened and stared in disbelief. Was life and death as simple as He made it out to be? Whatever it was, my head was throbbing with excitement and above all it was clear of all doubts. Had it been anyone else, I would have refuted, doubted but the explicit, loving, knowing and earnest manner in which He explained was much above doubt.

After that I watched Him sorrowfully as the interview came to an end. Swami walked to each one of us and distributed Vibhuti packets. Giving a heap to me, He asked in a slow melodious whisper, "Kya Mangta?" (What do you want?). The only words He inspired me to speak out were "BLESS ALL". He seemed happy, said, "Yes, yes" and went to the other boys.

When I came out of the hall, I was almost in a new world. Everything explained so easily—the mind was so free. This was the greatest sort of miracle for me.

After that I felt closer to Swami. I got a chance to go on the dais one evening, garland Him, touch His feet and even manage to speak to Him.

On the day when the Course was being concluded, I was sitting on the floor of the over-full auditorium listening to Swami's discourse. He was telling us about the challenge which we would have to face, when we go back. In other words, He said, the actual Summer Course was only beginning. He concluded with bhajans in his captivating voice and the ever-enthusiastic devotees (me too) joined in.

After arati, Swami left the auditorium. I saw an empty step on the passage through which Swami walked. I rushed, and stood there, watching tensely as Swami approached closer. I folded my hands.

Swami stopped before me, yes, stopped, amidst all the fanfare, the excitement. I was floating in the air, to say the least. The opportunity was too rare to be missed. I said; "Swami, help me to be good." He smiled "Yes! Yes! I am always with you". I touched His feet and felt His hands on my back blessing me. Then He asked me In Hindi: "Are you not coming to Puttaparthi?" I replied "No". He raised His hand, His sleeve went up and he circled it thrice. My palm stretched out automatically and Vibhuti came pouring onto my hand. He said, "Eat it" and sailed away before I could think or say anything.

I stood still, dazed; as I came to I gulped down the Vibhuti and walked back to the hostel, still excited. I felt miserable after that—miserable because Swami was leaving the next day with most of the students for Puttaparthi.

The next morning, Swami was leaving. The few students who stayed back sorrowfully waved Swami good-bye. After that the hostel seemed empty without Swami and my sister and I decided to leave for Bangalore that very day.

Now when I sit here and write my confession, I feel not ashamed but proud to have lost my ego battle with Swami. He made me face reality, the bitter reality, in a sweet soothing manner. The name of the boy who died was "Anand Mohan". Now, when I weigh the scales, I find that I have lost "Anand", but I have gained the "Anand Swaroopa".

Sai Spiritual Showers - Issue 2/82

The most incredible thing that happened here one year ago relates to a highly placed military official from the Italian Army. The gentleman wants to be anonymous, because of his position. His wife told me the story of what happened to them and l shall relate it here exactly, quoting her own words: "At the end of 1979, my husband started having lots of difficulties in breathing. So, I took him to specialists, who told me after screening (X rays) that his illness was in a very advanced stage that he was suffering from 'Sarcoidosi'. A few days later my husband visited his Military Hospital and there they gave the following diagnosis: Your lungs are in such a bad state that it won't be possible for you to continue in service. Anyway, try to cure yourself and come back after 90 days. We will see what to do.

It was a rude revelation which gave a tremendous shock to my husband, who was only 47 and very much attached to his military career. A very intensive treatment was given but without any results. He had to be admitted to a hospital. The doctor who was attending on him was a famous specialist. He was checking the progress of my husband and as his first treatment did not give any favourable response he told my husband that he has to perform biopsy on him, for, only then he would be able to find the right treatment. My husband was in a terrible condition and by that time his lungs were working only 20 percent. There was not enough oxygen in his blood to allow any operation and oxygen therapy had to be administered. So, for two weeks my husband had to wear the oxygen mask for 12 hours a day. Even this proved futile.

`Anyway, there is no choice'; said the doctor, 'so, we will try the operation'. With incredible skill, he could perform the operation and take away a piece of lung for his examination. The result proved catastrophic. My husband learnt that he was suffering from `proteinosi alveolare'—an illness which is completely incurable. The doctor was frank in telling me that it was a very rare disease. He said: `In my lifetime I have come across only three patients suffering from this illness and all the three have succumbed. The one person who could live longer survived only for one year. I have contacted some foreign specialists, friends of mine, whether in recent years any treatment has been discovered to combat this dreadful disease: But the answer was in the negative!’

I went back home in a state of desperation. I had to inform my three children about their father's condition. My eldest daughter was going to an English School, the teacher in which was an Indian lady from Bombay (now, Mumbai). When the teacher saw my daughter crying, she asked her the reasons thereof and on knowing our family tragedy, she told her, `Ask your mother to ring me up'. I contacted her on the telephone and she invited me to her house. There she started talking about Sai Baba, who was completely unknown to me. She told me that if I had enough faith in Him and if I was praying, "that person" would be able to help me. She gave me some Vibhuti and a book on Sai Baba. We are practising Catholics, but my pain was so great that I could not pray. But "that person" of whom the teacher talked to me gave me a lot of confidence and serenity. He appeared to me like a friend, who could help me to turn myself towards God.

I came back and told my children what I heard and I started reading the book she gave me. The day after, I talked to my husband in the hospital about Sai Baba and he felt at once an instinctive attraction towards Him. Every night I used to read one chapter from the book and also give my husband some Vibhuti to eat. At a certain point, the hospital people told my husband to return home to pass his last days peacefully, because they were sure that his end was very near. He came back home. There, we went on reading about Sai Baba and continued the intake of Vibhuti. After 10 days we went back to the doctor for a check-up and there we discovered that a miracle had happened. My husband's lungs were completely normal! The doctor could not believe it. Doubting his first X-ray prints, he said, 'we will do new X-ray, but I have the feeling that something incredible has happened'..

The next day; my husband went to another specialist—the one who had taken X-ray photos in the beginning and who knew perfectly, his condition. The results revealed in the new X-ray photos were bewildering. There were no signs of damaged lungs or of any disease! The doctor said: 'There must be some error' and he did another examination. While he was announcing the results, the doctor started crying in front of such a miracle.

So, I took my husband again to the first doctor who said: 'I know everything already'. The Radiologist rang me up. He examined for a long time the radiographs he had before him and said that 'there was a complete reversal of the illness'. 'Two weeks ago, you were using your lungs upto 20 percent and they are working now at 80 percent,' he said, adding that 'that means you are breathing like a perfectly normal person.' `Did you undergo any treatment without telling me?' queried the doctor. We told him: 'We just prayed to Virgin Mary for help...' Of course, I did not mention Sai Baba because I did not know how to explain who He was. The doctor seemed to be thinking deeply and said: 'If this Virgin Mary does such miracles, please pray for me also'. Then I asked the doctor, 'Do you think that my husband can resume his duty again in the army?' and he said, 'Of course, he can. He is in a perfect condition of health'.

One week later, my husband went to the Military Hospital carrying with him his X-ray photos. There the Army Doctor told, him: `I do not know who gave you the impression that you are cured. But, you cannot fool me. I know how your lungs are. We will do again X-rays.' Then, when the result of the new X-rays was seen, he excused himself because he did not believe what he saw straightaway. 'How could I imagine that such a miracle can take place?' he added. "This was on a Saturday and next Monday my husband was working as if nothing had happened.”