A Prayer To Embrace

Buddha Purnima 2011

Buddha Purnima was celebrated on the morning of 17th May, 2011, at 10.00 am.  Our prayers began with Veda Chanting, Buddhist mantras, Tibetan Buddhist Mantras, and our regular mantras and bhajans. After arathi, all members took part in the 'Bathing Buddha' ceremony.  Refreshments was served at the end of the event.

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Buddha Purnima

Sai Spiritual Showers - Issue 2/97

One evening, Swami related instances from the lives of Socrates, the Greek philosopher, and Prophet Mohammed to pinpoint the lesson that one should not leave any undischarged debts before one passes away.

In relating the story of Socrates in His own gripping manner, Swami described how the young men in Athens were attracted to Socrates because of the way in which he inspired in them a deep interest towards the basic problems of life. Because too many young men chose to remain with Socrates, the authorities in Athens condemned him to death. Rather than allowing himself to be put to death by others, Socrates chose to end his life by drinking a cup of hemlock.

Swami described the last scene in which Socrates was surrounded by his numerous young disciples. With no fear of death, Socrates spoke to them cheerfully. Before receiving the cup of hemlock from the hands of his disciples, Socrates told one of them that he owed a hen to a neighbour. He asked the disciple to give a hen to his neighbour so that he may be free from any debt to anyone before his passing. He then received the cup of hemlock from the disciples' bands and drank it calmly.

Incidentally Swami described how Alexander, a student of Aristotle—who was himself a pupil of Plato, the guru of Socrates—met an Indian ascetic during his invasion of India and learnt from the sage the supreme value of detachment (Vairagya) and the impermanence of worldly acquisitions.

Referring to Prophet Mohammed's life, Swami described how on one occasion when the Prophet was fleeing from Mecca, he had to use the services of a camel-driver for carrying him across the desert. The Prophet had no money to pay to him at the time. Later, when the Prophet was about to leave the world, he called one of his disciples and asked him to discharge the debt the Prophet owed to the camel driver.

Swami related these incidents to the students to impress on them how important it is in life to discharge one's obligations to others. The ancient Indian sages, Swami said, believed that if a person dies without discharging his debts he cannot escape the obligation to be born again to discharge the unpaid debts. Our ancients attached the highest value to honouring one's pledged word. Harishchandra was the supreme example of one who was prepared to undergo every kind of trial and humiliation to fulfill the promise he had given.

Swami recited a Telugu poem which says:

The signature is vital to a promissory note;

The army is vital to a fortress;

Character is vital to a community;

Truth is vital to speech.



True friendship

One evening, Swami asked the students to define the characteristics of true friendship. Various answers were given and the examples of Krishna and Arjuna were cited. Bhagavan said that He wanted examples from human beings alone. The relation between Krishna and Arjuna was that of the Divine to man.

Swami then gave the answer Himself and illustrated it with an example from ancient Italy. Swami said true friendship is present when the friends regard themselves as two bodies with one heart and soul. Swami then related the story of Damon and Pythias. Pythias had been sentenced to death by a ruler (of Syracuse) for an offence against the State. Pythias's friend, Damon, came to the ruler and said that as the sentence was to be executed a month later Pythias might be released from prison to see his wife and children. The ruler agreed to release Pythias on condition that Damon agreed to be in prison for a month and was willing to suffer the death sentence in case Pythias did not turn up on the due date. Damon readily offered to take Pythias's place. Pythias was freed and permitted to go home to meet his family. On the day prior to the date of execution a large crowd had gathered at the prison to see whether Pythias kept his word. Tension mounted as Pythia s had not arrived by the evening. Damon was cheerfully ready to mount the scaffold in case Pythias did not turn up. Late in the night Pythias came running to the prison to save Damon from execution for his sake. The next morning the ruler was astonished at seeing both Damon and Pythias and was struck by the extreme devotion between the two friends. He pardoned Pythias and took both the friends into his service.

Swami went on to say that such friendship was not to be found today. Most "friends" were fair weather friends who flocked around a person when he was prosperous or held a high position, but ignored him when he was down and out. Such "friends" were like frogs which gathered in a pond full of water but abandoned it when it was dry. Swami said God alone was the unfailing friend who could be relied upon to stand by the man of faith in weal and woe and protect him through all vicissitudes. Young people should not think that they could postpone thinking about God till their old age. No one can say when death will come. Only if one remembers God constantly all the time will he be able to remember God in his last moments.

Who are sinners?

Swami related at great length an important episode in the Mahabharata to convey a lesson regarding the role of persons who are silent witnesses to the commission of what they know to be a grievous wrong.

Describing the incident in which Draupadi was dragged into the court of Duryodhana by Dussasana, Swami said that Draupadi made a passionate appeal to the elders present to declare whether the humiliation she was being subjected to by the Kauravas was in accordance with Dharma, the recognised principles of right conduct. All the elders, including Bhishma, Drona, Kripacharya and Ashwathama, remained silent. Vikarna, the youngest of the Kaurava brothers, was the only person who condemned the outrage that was being committed against a noble and virtuous Kshatriya princess. His words were dismissed as those of a callow youth.

Swami pointed out that when a grave crime is committed, the sin is shared by four categories of persons. Apart from those who are the actual perpetrators of the crime, the others who share in the sin are those who are abettors or accomplices, those who instigate or encourage the commission of the crime and those who are silent witnesses to the crime though they know that a grievous crime is being committed.

The lesson which Bhagawan drew from this episode for the students was that when any of them found a student misbehaving or disobeying the rules of the Institute, they should correct him on the spot and should not hesitate to chide him. To be silent or indifferent in such situations amounts to encouraging and abetting such misbehaviour.

MEDICAL SCREENING AT RUMAH KEBAJIKAN CAHAYA, BATU MAUNG

A general health check for adults and children was held at the Rumah Kebajikan Cahaya, Batu Maung on 24th April 2011, beginning at 9.30am.  There were doctors and nurses from Penang General Hospital to assist with the programme.  Medication and vitamins were prescribed where necessary.  After the medical screening, lunch was served to all who were present.

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Medical Camp

MOTHER'S DAY 2011 AT SILVER JUBILEE HOME

Mother's day was celebrated at the Silver Jubilee Home in Sungai Dua, Penang on 8 May, 2011.  We conducted prayers and bhajans in their community hall from 10.30am - 11.15 am.  Many of the uncles and aunties joined in our prayer session.

At 11.30am, we served vegetarian lunch to almost 200 people present in the hall.  Fruits and ice-cream was also distributed to everyone.  

At 12.30noon, some of our members went over to the wards and distributed ice-cream to almost 80 people.


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Sai Spiritual Showers - Issue 2/94

There is an old devotee known as Shirdi Ma, for she was at Shirdi when Sai Baba was alive. She is called Pedda Bottu, too, because of the impressive kumkum dot she wears on her brow. Shirdi Ma, in her reminiscence, says that she was always urging Easwaramma to tell her a few miracles of Swami when he was a child. Easwaramma would parry the questions most of the time saying that she never saw any or could not remember. But one day she revealed a profoundly moving experience which she had kept secret for over thirty years, having been told not to speak of it.

"Swami was nine months old at the time," Easwaramma said, "I can't remember the whole incident fresh and clear. I had just bathed and dressed him, and applied on his eyes cooling collyrium. I applied vibhuthi from the Shiva temple and a dot of kumkum from the Sathyamma temple on his brow. I put him in the cradle, gave it a swing and turned to the hearth where the milk had come to the boil. Suddenly I heard him cry. I was surprised for, believe me, he had never cried since birth for any reason, hunger, or pain, or discomfort. I picked him up and placed him on my lap, He stopped the wail. I saw a halo of brilliant light all around him, a circle of radiance surrounding him. But the light did not hurt me, it was so cool though so bright and near. I sat still, lost in delight. It was there a long time, before it faded slowly away. I closed my eyes and probably lost awareness of everything around, until my mother-in-law came to me and I awoke. The child was apparently asleep. She asked me what had happened and I told her about the halo that I could see even then in clear outline. She put her finger on her lips and said, 'Don't tell anyone of this. They wouldn't understand. They would spread all kinds of tales.' I think she told grandfather, for he asked me about it later."



Our Swami is God


On the eleventh or twelfth day of the Camp, she accosted Shirdi Ma (the octogenarian lady who had known and worshipped the Sai Baba of Shirdi) to tell her of a momentous experience. Pedda Bottu (as Shirdi Ma is also known) relates the secret confided in her that day: "Pedda Bottu," Easwaramma said to me, "I want to tell you something that happened to me. But tell no one else." I sat closer and said, "What is it, tell me." "Our Swami is God!" she whispered. I laughed. "Why do you laugh?" she asked. "No, no, I was not laughing at you. I am only happy you have realised it now. Well, tell me, how did you come to know?" I asked. "You know I have been having high fever for four days. Swami came to me then." "In a dream?" I asked, "No," she said, "He really did come to me when I was rolling restlessly in bed. "Ammayi, how do you feel?" He asked. "My whole body is aching, " I replied, looking up at Him. Then—what can I tell you? It was not He that you and I know. It was Ramachandra with Kireetam and Kodandam (Crown and Bow)! I raised my folded hands and struggled to sit up and get out of bed. But in a few moments He became Swami again, gave me Vibhuthi Prasadam and said, 'The fever will go,' and went." "You are indeed blessed. What a rare piece of luck!" I exclaimed. "No one of us has had a vision of Sai Rama as Ramachandramurthy while fully awake and alert." (Thus ends Pedda Bottu's narrative).

Eleven Sacred Vows

Nine Lamps To Light From Now On