Sai Spiritual Showers - Issue 3/03

Many among you might wonder, "We have been coming to and staying at Prasanthi Nilayam for years. But, Swami is not talking to us. He does not even look at us." Now, what really is the reason? The sparks that leap out of the flames of fire go into the distance and soon become ash or dark dust. Of course, everyone is fundamentally Atma, but, moving away from the awareness of that Reality, one reduces oneself into ash or dark dust.

You are in Prasanthi Nilayam, certainly. But, your thoughts wander everywhere else. When your thoughts revolve around your desire to attain Prasanthi or Supreme Peace, when your deeds are directed by the regimen laid down for attaining it, when your words are soft, sweet and soaked in Love, you can, without fail, enjoy the warmth of this Fire. Often, when you watch the range of hills around Prasanthi Nilayam, you can see, specially in Summer, streaks of light creeping fast over the tops. This is due to the vegetation catching fire. You can see the light from afar, but you cannot bask in the warmth. So too, you only see Sai Baba; you do not derive the Grace He is ready to grant.

The reason is: You do not dedicate all your thoughts, words and deeds to Swami. Whatever you do (wherever you are) feel that it is prompted by Swami and let it be acceptable to Swami. I am the recipient of all your efforts and attempts. For example: The army recruits dhobis to wash and iron uniforms and clothing. It has barbers and sweepers on the pay roll; they work in camps and move with the military personnel. They may be engaged in different types of work but every one has to undergo physical training and drill, every day.

So, too, one of you may be working in an office, another in a shop, a third in the press but every one must engage in Sadhana with devotion, discipline and a sense of duty. Do not feel that your role is low and the other person's high. Do not be depressed when you find your role is minor; do not be proud when you discover that your role is a major one. Give your best to whatever role is allotted to you. That is the way to earn Grace.

When can you secure Swami's Grace? In what form? One may get it as a chance to have Darshan, another as a chance to touch The Feet, a third as a chance to exchange a few words. Others may not be the recipients of any of these. Why? Their ideals and desires may not be proper. Even if they are proper, they may not be gladly pursued in daily lives. There are five fingers in every hand. If each finger points towards its own peculiar direction, how can the hand hold or manipulate any article? If they come together and stay together, the hands can accomplish whatever they plan. Similarly, when one of you turns your head away at the sight of another, and ten people insist on ten diverse directions, how can any deed be done? You must all be equally alert and active and co operative.

Why must you compete and quarrel? Nothing in this world can last as such for long. The Buddha diagnosed this correctly. He declared, "All is sorrow; all is transient; all are but temporary contraptions of ephemeral characteristics." Why should you be as fatally fascinated by these finite things? Strive to gain the eternal, the infinite, the universal. One day, you have to give up the body you have fed and fostered. How long can you keep all that you have earned and possessed with pride? Trivial thoughts and desires award only sorrow; holy thoughts and desires award divine peace. Therefore, cultivate good and beneficial feelings and desires. Keep away from bad company and bad thoughts. Realise the holy purpose of life through pure thoughts and words and selfless service to your fellow beings.

Duanwu Festival

Duanwu Festival or more popularly known as Chinese Dumpling Festival was celebrated at our centre on June 5th, 2011 with prayers and bhajans.  

Sai Spiritual Showers - Issue 3/02

This is a story about the mystery and miracle of Bhagawan. I am an American attending the University of Madras. Some days ago, a classmate and myself went to the Kapaleeshwarar Temple here in Madras. After one passes through the huge gate of the outer temple walls, one's attention is attracted to the various signs which say `Non Hindus not allowed'. I had heard about such signs, but in all the years that I have been in India, I had never encountered one. I told my friend to go on inside and that I would wait outside. Soon thereafter, an old man approached me. He said, "Please do not feel offended nor think badly of these people. This is merely the custom here." As I silently held my peace, he went away. I began to talk to Baba in my mind thus: "Will this custom prevail forever? You, Yourself are Siva and though I've come to have Your Darshan, I'm forbidden to enter inside. Is not the Lord everyone's"?

As I was mentally conversing with Swami thus another old man came up to me and said, "Come". My righteous pride rose up and I remained where I was. Twice again he repeated—"Come". So I followed him inside. As we began to circumambulate the Holy of Holies, he moved his hand and it was full of Vibhuti. He smeared it all over my forehead and then reached over to a Goddess carved into the rock and removed some kumkum which he also applied. We continued around and as we approached Lord Kapaleeshwarar he said, "Look". I beheld the Linga to my satisfaction and then he led me to the consort of Lord Kapaleeshwarar for Her Darshan. Then he said, "Now, go."

The next day I was on my way to Puttaparthi. Here is the mystery. Baba enquired if I had enjoyed the Darshan! Some people call `this' the miracle—this transcendence of space and time. But to me the real miracle lies in His infinite care. As quickly as one turns towards Him, He is there with His compassion ready to respond. Such a small, simple act and yet to me it represented His greatest miracle of all—His Love.

Sai Spiritual Showers - Issue 2/99

The Puranas speak of Fourteen Lokas. People have adopted the superficial meaning of the names given to these and they classify them into sacred lokas and condemned lokas,—Deva Lokas and Patala Lokas. But, all these lokas do exist in reality, in our own bodies, the bodies which we carry about and care for, seven in the upper part and seven in the lower part.

Which is the upper part of the human body? It is the head, the Trikuta Peak, the Crown, the Higher Region. Seven lokas are situated therein. They are the Garuda Loka, the Gandharva Loka, the Yaksha Loka, the Kinnara Loka and the Kimpurusha Loka. They are all situated in the Head. The Garuda Loka is in the Nose, the seat of inhalation and exhalation. The Gandharva Loka is in the Eye. The Yaksha Loka is in the tongue. Kinnara Loka is in the Ear and the Kimpurusha, the skin, seat of the Sense of Touch. Though the names of the Lokas are five, there are seven regions to which the name applies. The Nose is the first, the eyes are the second and the third, the tongue is the fourth, the ears are the fifth and the sixth, and the skin, the seventh. These seven are the Upper Lokas.

Those who sanctify these lokas by recognising the respective organs as instruments for higher ideals can be deemed worthy of human existence. That is to say, inhaling unpolluted air, seeing auspicious sights, hearing heartening sounds, etc. These Lokas when properly cultivated, can make man divine.

Dost thou know why you are given eyes?
To see whatever can be seen!
No! No!
To fill the eye with Vision of God
Who resides on Kailash Mount.

We have to cast our looks at sacred sights. We must visualise in every one only the good and the godly. That is the purpose for which God has equipped us with eyes. He has not gifted them to us to observe and judge others, to follow people into the bazaar, to see unsightly things like films.

Dost thou know why you have a tongue?
To dispatch tasty foods in?
No! No!

The prime purpose is not to enable us to swallow our meals. The object is to utter holy words. When some one is narrating some good incidents, the ears show no inclination to listen. But when one whispers something confidential to another, the ears jointly seek to overhear. Is it for this that God has blessed us with ears?

Therefore, the seven higher lokas have to be utilised for Divine ends. When that is done, one becomes divinised, one is liberated.

The rest of the Lokas are intended for the maintenance of the physical frame in which we are enclosed. The stomach is the petrol tank, so to say. When that is filled, every limb and cell of the body is supplied with energy and activised, to execute the beneficial duties assigned to each. With the two hands and the two legs, these make five lokas. The two others are the anal and the urinal parts.

These Seven nether Lokas maintain the physical body.

Both the higher seven and the lower seven are necessary; they complement each other. The lower lokas are the Patala lokas according to Puranas. They form the foundation, the base. Those who long for flowers and fruits have to feed the unseen roots. Patala too should not be neglected merely because they are described as "low". Joy has to be churned from grief. Pleasure is a product of pain.

Sai Spiritual Showers - Issue 2/98

I come from a staunch orthodox Christian family. I have studied Judaism which is the basic foundation of Christianity. I have gone through the Hindu sacred texts, the Sruti (the four Vedas, the Brahmanas, the Aranyakas and the Upanishads) and the Smrithi (the Codes of Law) and the Epics and Puranas. I have also read the Agamas and the Darsanas of Hindu Philosophy. I found the Upanishads great mystic treatises, revealing higher truths which are supremely authoritative, but highly abstruse. Only a great Master like Baba can enlighten us on them.

I want my Christian friends as well as Hindu friends to read this article for, I find that Christians have crucified Jesus, and the Hindus too have no appreciation of the excellence of Sanathana Dharma.

The aim of all religious teachers has been to establish peace and good will among men. They have come, taught and withdrawn. But, everywhere there is mental unrest. Man is running after he knows not what. Everyone wants peace; but, who can establish peace? The earth is now ruled by a few barbaric personalities.

Contemplating all this, my faith in God, Prophets, Saints and Seers was shattered, and I became a fatalist. I visited Prasanthi, Nilayam and contacted Baba a year ago. His greatness was not clear for me, then. But, my thoughts roamed round Him, now and then.

A few days back, I was in Calcutta. I felt suddenly as if some one was dragging me; without the aim being clear to me, I somehow, reached Madras! From Madras, I proceeded to Anantapur! Baba had predicted that I would be arriving at His Place, giving even the date. I came to Puttaparthi, on that very date! Baba's will led me to Him from a distance of 2000 kilometers!

I had His Darshan; I had an opportunity of speaking to Him. How well He knows me I wonder! He saw into my very soul!

The realisation that I was totally blind came to me. My inward eyes were opened. Light began shining; tongues of fire began swallowing me. I have been transformed. Is it metamorphosis, or is it Divine alchemy?

What sorrow, what delusion, can affect a man who sees the Oneness of all things here? The seers of the Upanishads say, "Lead me from the unreal to the real; Lead me from darkness to Light; Lead me from death to Immortality".

Baba preaches Unity in Diversity. The world needs a Great Master like Baba to establish Peace and to preach the doctrine of Love. Jesus preached the doctrine of Love and was crucified. The very tenants of Christianity are warmongers, now! We want not peacemakers, but Peace. Only people like Baba who knows the psychology of withering humanity can establish peace on earth.

How loving Baba is! Love is all we need; with Love comes everything. How kind His looks are! How loving are His tender hands! How like the Lotus are His Feet! There have come great Masters, Saints, Prophets, Seers etc in history. But, who has been as kind as Baba? His very look changes iron hearts into golden hearts. He never angers. To Him, all are one—the sinner, the saviour; even as the Sun, He shines equal over all.

Trust in Him purges one's foul with the Fire of Love, and, Peace dawns. Baba made me realise that if a man has no self-control, he can have no comprehension. Nor can he have the power of contemplation without which he can have no peace. When he can have no peace he can never be happy.

Many, many gather around Baba from over the world, and believe in Him. It is my belief that, if the present rulers of the world come to know Him, there will be peace and tranquility in the world. For, as Lord Krishna has said in the Gita, "Whenever there is decline to Law and an outbreak of lawlessness, I incarnate Myself." In fact, God never comes to man in all His Glory and splendour. He comes only in a human form! He assumes human form; when He assumes form, fouls disregard Him, not knowing His higher nature that He is the supreme Lord of all beings.

Loving the Lord and loving one's fellow men is the surest way to reach the kingdom of God which is within us, says Jesus. Now, I see the same doctrine preached by Baba after so many centuries. I wish His mission of Love spreads like the roots of the banyan tree all over the confusing contradicting feverish fretting fighting humanity.