Sai Spiritual Showers - Issue 2/80

The other day, here in Prasanthi Nilayam, I was listening to a story about Baba, being told by Mr. Kasturi, to a group of us Westerners. The story related to a cat who called on Baba in distress and how He came to its help. It moved me very much, as I am an animal lover, and especially fond of cats; our family has seven of them. So, I decided to share this animal story of my own, or rather insect story.

About seven years ago, while living in the beautiful mountains of Idylwild, California, this miracle happened. Idylwild is a place that has many bees, especially wasps called yellow backs, a dangerous stinging variety. Most people living in these mountains are dreadfully afraid of them, but I was not; in fact I used to put out every day a plate of left over fruit for them to enjoy a habit my husband did not appreciate! Often he would complain that the plate was too near the house, then I would go out and move it, fruit and bees further away, telling him a little egoistically: "I am not afraid of them, I have contacted their spirit, and they will never sting me. Any way Sai Baba is protecting me!"

Weee! When one makes a bold statement like that, better watch out, for the ears of Baba are everywhere, and He might decide to test the statement.

Which is just what He did!

I had known about Baba for two years, but had not yet had the blessed chance to see His physical form. I did, however firmly believe in His Divinity and Omnipresence! Some day later I was invited to a children’s party, to which I went alone. When the festivities were over and I was about to leave, loud terrified screaming was heard from outside the back of the house. Everyone rushed to the wide windows to see what was wrong, and there we saw two small children running to the house pursued and surrounded by a thick cloud of furious bees—yellow backs! There must have been at least two hundred of them.

The children had found and broken open one of their hives and bees were taking their revenge! All the party guests, including myself, seemed to be rooted to the floor.

Only the mother rushed out into the holocaust to save her little ones No one else dared! Then a big man ventured out, coming back almost immediately with several stings. The back door was closed tightly to keep the bees from swarming inside. From the safety of the windows all watched the mother strike out at the bees helplessly, only making them more angry ... Then I heard it, that still small voice inside, which I had come to identify, as Baba. It said, "Go out and help that poor mother and children, I will be with you,” I stared at the scene before me in horror, my faith in having made friends with the spirit of bees having fled. The small Voice insisted, so I found myself opening the door and stepping out into the middle of the flying, buzzing storm. A moment of terror rushed through me from my toes right up and out of the top of my head. I closed my eyes and prayed: "Baba if ever I needed you, it's now, please come here!"< /p>

In that very same instant He was there! I felt His cool, peaceful presence surround me, and the whole area! Finding the hysterical mother almost hidden by the swarming wasps I grabbed her wildly flaying arms and shouted, so as to be heard above the ominous droning.

"Be calm now, God is with us, He has come to help us.” I had never met this woman before, nor she me, for all I know.

She stared into my eyes and became calm. Together we caught hold of the children, and began to strip off their clothes, to which dead, half dead and live bees were clinging.

We both spoke gently to the children, and I also talked to the wasps, begging them to be calm and not to sting any more. Their stings had caused numerous ugly swellings on the faces, arms and legs of the children, some of them bleeding badly, and were giving a lot of pain also.

We plucked bees out of their hair, eyes, nose; mouth, somehow getting them cleared enough to enter the house and into the bathroom. As we bathed them, they cried with pain, and indeed their small bodies were a mess!

I prayed again silently to Baba to help the poor little things, and then a great miracle occurred, for, before our astonished eyes all the swellings, the ugly lumps, began to fade away and with them all the pain went too!

The mother and I looked at each other in amazement, neither of us having suffered even one sting ourselves.

When it was all over; and the children, smiling now, were wrapped in towels, I said to the mother, "I believe that your children have had a divine healing, but if you have any doubt at all you'd better take them to a hospital for treatment."

As most of you readers will know, bee stings can be deadly! She answered me, with tears of Joy pouring down her face! "I know I have just seen a miracle, I need no hospital!"

We smiled at each other, simply 'knowing'! Then she said quietly: "I have never met you, but I have heard about you, and that you follow a holy man who lives in India; was it he you prayed to for help?" "Yes, It was," I told her.

"Will you write his name for me and somewhere I can buy books about him; and where I can write to him. I would like to thank him for saving my children." I gave her this information and left through the front door, as the back one was still being guarded by the unsatisfied yellow backs.

Baba, The God of Bees, too had, I am sure, called another devotee; and in his own inimitable way!

沙迪亚赛(轻快版)

Sai Spiritual Showers - Issue 2/79

It was indeed a night of admonition for those who could read the Sign and understand it. It was the night when the first Scud missile was shot at Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia. Neither reading it in a newspaper nor watching the incidents on T. V. could express the intensity of a war as a personal experience.

What we faced at that bloodcurdling hour and how God's mercy reached out and protected us could best be described by reliving the period of tension and fear.

The panic and the nervous activity of the previous evening had given way to an uneasy silence that now lay like a heavy pall on the beautiful and majestic Riyadh. Expecting an air attack we could not sleep. At about two o'clock the silence was ripped by a hooting siren that indicated danger. The sound was singularly fearsome, like the wailing of a wolf in the desert.

Throughout the previous week the T. V. and the radio had prepared the population for the event, but when the actual event occurred none knew what to do. We grabbed our children and half-dragged and half-carried them to the basement, into the sealed room. Gas masks were taken out and the door was tightly closed. In the dim light of the lamp still burning in a corner I saw my daughter-in-law holding her five week old son and weeping quietly. We were unable to procure a gas mask for the baby.

"I don't want to wear mine, leaving my baby exposed to the attack", she cried bitterly.

"Take out your locket of Swami and put it round his neck." It was the only advice I could offer her. The locket was tied round the child's neck and a tearful mother prayed fervently:

"O Baba, Baba, please, protect my child."

We huddled ourselves in the middle of the room and waited for the inevitable, each absorbed in his or her own thoughts. I had prepared myself mentally to die and now my only wish was to think of Swami when I might be breathing my last. "It's only a matter of a few minutes", I reassured myself, "and then everything will be over."

There was a deafening noise as the anti missile, Patriot, zoomed over the house. "Sai Ram, Sai Ram", we kept mumbling incoherently. Seconds later an explosion was heard. The house shook with its vibrations, and the air was filled with other thundering sounds, of doors rattling violently, the breaking of window panes, and thuds of unidentified objects hissing and falling at a distance.

We took a long time to realize that the danger was over. The missile was intercepted and its debris fell a hundred yards away from our house. Even when the all clear signal was flashed on the T. V, I could hear the wild beating of my heart. My legs still shook as I stood up to support my children.

"We are saved!"
"Thank You Swami, we are saved!", was the first sentence that I could utter. One by one we filed out of the shelter. Much later, bewildered and totally shaken, unable to sleep any more, I opened my small book of Quranic prayer.

Vibhuti smell issued from every page. It was as if the whole book was saturated with Vibhuti. During my stay in Riyadh many a time I had thought whether Baba would care for small fries like me. This was the answer. My eyes repeatedly scanned the lines in the chapter on God's Mercy: "And how many blessings of the Lord You can deny!"

In the morning the news was confirmed that the debris of the Scud missile had fallen on an insurance office building, not very far from our house.

Back in India, after twenty seven days, a smiling Lord at Prasanthi Nilayam confirmed how His blessing had saved us.

"You've saved us, Swami", I blurted out.

"I've saved all", He said with a twinkle in His eyes.

"But we were very much afraid."

Fear is weakness
"Fear is weakness", He said, and moved on to accept a letter from a lady sitting next to me in the Darshan line.

“Fear is weakness” Those merciful words reverberated in my heart, pounding into me the need to strengthen my belief, and to realise how each experience is a gift of Grace purifying life that has to be lived with faith, firm and unflinching. Once more my Divine Lord has filled my heart with the Quranic wisdom.

Verily those who say “Our Lord is God”, And remain firm (On that path), On them shall be no fear, Nor shall they grieve. - (XLVI : 13)

Sai Spiritual Showers - Issue 2/78

The vacation had just begun and students of the Brindavan campus were homeward bound. A few remained whose train reservations were unconfirmed. The campus was beginning to wear the deserted "vacation" look. Then came Bhagawan! And the complexion of the campus changed instantly. It began humming with life. Reservations were cancelled by the delighted students. Many others came flocking back when they heard the news.

The very first morning after His arrival, Bhagawan directed us to stage a short play on the day of the Institute's Convocation, 22nd November, giving barely twenty days' time for all the preparations that go with the production of a play. To begin with, the casting alone would take some days, we thought, as we may have to test a number of students for the lead role and other roles.

The play that Bhagawan had directed us to stage was a musical adaptation of ten verses from Adi Sankara's "Bhaja Govindam". The structure of the play was such that the lead role player had about 90 percent of the play's dialogue as his lines and practically all the songs in it. It required an actor with extraordinary memory, diction and musical skill, not to mention the necessary stage presence to play the role of Sri Sankara. We were at a loss to find the right actor for such a difficult role. Bhagawan solved our problem in a trice. With His insight into individual talent, ability and personality, Bhagawan picked the student not only for the lead role, but also those for all other roles within five minutes. He spoke to them about the nature of each role helping them to understand their different roles in depth and enabling them to portray those characters convincingly. He gave them hints on the personal mannerisms, individ ual eccentricities and subtle aspects of gait, stance and posture which make the characters come alive on the stage.

Music plays a great part in the appeal of this play. The verses from "Bhaja Govindam" are sung in pure Carnatic style. This was where Bhagawan acted as a music teacher par excellence. It was a most wonderful experience to hear and witness the pure melody that flowed from Him as He taught the leading actor how to sing, enunciate, pause, and enrich the flavour of the classical strains with special vocal effects. He who is Nadabrahmam incarnate gave lessons in singing to the students, which revealed His great compassion.

When it came to the listing of costumes and accessories for the entire cast of actors, we were faced with the problem of ordering a long list of odds and ends from local dealers, who were fully booked because of the large scale cultural festival that was to take place in Bangalore for the SAARC conference. We were in a quandary over this and Bhagawan solved this problem tool He had everything we needed. The costumes, rudraksha-malas, antique jewellery, furniture, deer skins, silks, shawls and what not! Even lighting crew and stage backdrop men were all available in no time. As regards the instruments for the orchestra, Bhagawan provided all the instruments, an excellent music director and very competent players on string, wind and percussion instruments.

It was a liberal education for all of us who were involved in the production. Bhagawan enriched the script of the play by adding sublime truths and gems of Vedantic teaching couched in beautiful, simple language. What would have been a crude Morality Play was transformed by Him into a stirring, inspiring and deeply enjoyable mixture of music and spirituality.

Through "Bhaja Govindam" Sri Sankara wanted to drive home into the hearts of men the truth that devotion to God, detachment from the illusory charms of worldly objects and sincere effort to follow the Guru's teachings will save man from perpetual misery.

The first scene shows the Acharya and his disciples meditating in the morning near Benares. The next scene depicts how Sri Sankara pricks the bubble of intellectual pride in a learned pundit. The scholar is engrossed in his subject and hankers after the rewards that scholarship bestows. Sankara makes him realise that without devotion to God, achievements of man in the arts and sciences lead him nowhere.

The next scene portrays the emptiness of human vanity. A wealthy young man, proud and arrogant, imagines that he is the master of the world. Sankara gives a jolt to his vanity by opening his eyes to the instability of worldly grandeur and advises him to turn his thoughts towards God.

The next scene portrays the vanity of the self righteous orthodox man who returns from a pilgrimage full of smug satisfaction and a holier than thou attitude. Sankara makes him realise the futility of such pilgrimages when they don't result in the cultivation of humility, detachment and true piety.

The fifth scene depicts a quiet moment in the life of the disciples of the Master. Some are performing their daily duties and others are engaged in study and meditation. The senior most disciple Thotaka reflects on their experience as sanyasis following the Great Master. The Master comes presently and discourses to them on the bliss of renunciation.

The next scene presents the picture of the terrible fate that awaits man in his old age. Sri Sankara advises such men to start meditating on God before it is too late.

The next scene shows how Sankara teaches a group of proud pundits the futility of learning without developing faith in Oneness with all.

The eighth scene portrays how man is caught up in the endless cycle of birth and death. Sankara exhorts man to surrender to God and seek His grace to snap the ties of human bondage.

The last scene shows the Master teaching his disciples and answering their questions on spiritual problems. Even householders are drawn to the great compassionate Master. He guides them in their attempts to understand the goal of life.

Sai Spiritual Showers - Issue 2/77

I waited around at the Airport; the flight was scheduled to depart around 4 A.M. I was growing more and more sleepy, till finally, I felt everything important had been accomplished, and that I would be foolish to tire myself uselessly, as it would interfere with my Sadhana the next day. So, I took my leave of Baba Rama Das, the famous American Sadhu, and taxied back to Kailash Colony.

I was feeling spiritually elevated, as a result of my reconciliation with Rama Das. The hour was a familiar one to veterans of Nagarasankirtan. The western sky was still pitch dark and the eastern horizon was just turning deep purple, though stars could still be seen all across the heavens. The cool air was crisp and charged with spiritual energy. A few birds sent their first experimental chirps of the day into the traffic less quiet of the pre-dawn.

Feeling too good and too in tune with the call to witness the cosmic advent of the glorious morning, I about- faced from my room, and went for a walk. I turned down a deserted lane I had never explored before, which wandered between vacant lots away from houses and most reminders of civilised man. I felt wonderful.

A temple bell was ringing. All was well with the world. There was naught to disturb the all-pervading peace. All my psychic barriers were down. Then, suddenly, "Boiuinngggg….Plp.” My ear announced this surprising interruption to the silence, while the corner of my eye saw a strange event, by the glow of the distant street lamp.

A sparrow, probably on its first flight of the morning, struck an electric wire overhead, at the side of the road. I don’t think the sparrow received an electric shock from the well-insulated wire, but, the physical shock was sufficient to knock the sparrow out. While the wire continued to vibrate visibly and audibly from the repercussion, the sparrow plummeted obliquely across my amazed field of vision, to strike the ground at my feet with a sickening splat which bespoke irreparable organic damage.

In the moment of that birdie's plummet from the heavens, I plunged into veritable hell. In my state of psychic openness, this mini-drama of nature gripped me, and turned my mood inside out, over my head like a half removed sweater. The smashed creature lay about a step directly in front of me. Its neck was twisted and bent back and stayed at an impossible angle, which spells only `broken'.

The nearly unconscious and dying creature lay gapingly open-mouthed, while its surviving reflexes unsuccessfully struggled in fitful little gasps to draw life giving breath into the body. Not only was I filled with sympathy for the creature which a moment ago had been flying cheerily through the air on its way to breakfast, I was caught in a soul tearing conflict. Though it was probable that the bird would be dead within minutes, still, it seemed possible to me, that Nature being what she was, the bird would suffer on, for hours, before its life resources were drained.

Unable to tolerate the thought of such continued suffering, I felt it my duty to become the bird's rapid executioner. I visualised myself smashing the bird with a small boulder, and knew, even as I pictured it, that once I found such a stone, I could never bring myself to use it. As I stood there in a confused and conflict-ridden daze, a three wheeled auto rickshaw made its lonely way down the deserted street towards me. All I had to do was to step aside and the auto's front wheel would have finished the bird. But, my mind was too busy, searching for a way to kill the bird without committing violence, to comprehend the simple solution. So, I stood there fretting, and the rickshaw was forced to detour around me, thereby also missing the sparrow. At the time, I was only dimly aware of the rickshaw's existence, but many times later, as I relived the experience, I recognised Swami's touch of Cosmic Humour in that moment.

Finally, as I stood there, weeping, the thought of asking God's help surfaced in my conscious mind. I began to pray, and I remembered my package of specially blessed Vibhuti, waiting in my room, three minutes walk away. Baba hadn’t merely tapped this package in passing, as I'd seen Him do when blessing so many other packages of Vibhuti. Instead, He had walked over, and before I'd even shown it to Him, He proved He knew and was ready to grant my innermost wishes, by leaning over to me, hand extended, ready to bless the object sitting in my lap, hidden from His physical vision by the tightly packed row of people sitting between me and Him. As I lifted the package within His reach, He drew His Hand slowly and lovingly across its entire length almost as one strokes a cat.

So, I felt this doubly blessed gift of Grace might have the power to quickly and easily separate the sparrow's agonised spirit from its wrecked body. I tenderly lifted the bird and started carrying it to my room. About half way there, the entire body of the sparrow writhed in a sudden convulsion while lying on its side, which bounced it along the ground, in a semi circle of pathetic side hops, increasing the impression in my mind of a hopelessly destroyed life-system.

Scooping up the bird again, I held it firmly, as I proceeded to my room. As I went, I was nearly hysterical. I was supplicating Swami and, at the same time, berating Him for making me His executioner. I was still having a tantrum like argument with Swami in my mind, when I reached my room, where I quickly gathered together the Blessed Vibhuti package, and my favourite Puja Photo of Baba. Holding the sparrow in my open palm, I proceeded to wave it in a circular motion an inch above the Vibhuti, wondering if this would really help the bird to die quietly. Within two seconds of this waving, the bird flew out of my hand!

I looked across the room to where it had perched on my open door frame. Its neck was perfectly straight, and there was no sign of damage to its body.

At this point, I went completely berserk. I think I wailed and screamed. Eventually, I woke up some neighbouring disciples of my music teacher and tried to explain what had happened; but, I could hardly speak coherently. For, somewhere, the words of Jesus came into my mind, about `not a sparrow falling, without the Heavenly Father taking note!'

The bird stayed in my room, and ate some crumbs. I fed it till the late afternoon, when it finally left.

Annual Fellowship Gathering and Prayers

 On the evening of 31 December 2010, we held our Annual Fellowship Gathering and Prayers.  At 8.00pm, a vegetarian buffet dinner was served.  This was followed by a video presentation on 'Message of the Lord' at 9.00pm.  Our bhajan session began at 10.30pm and proceeded with Gayathri Chanting x 108 till past midnight to usher in the new year.  Every devotee then took turns to offer arathi to Swami.

Wishing everyone a Blessed and Happy New Year 2011!

Samastha Loka Sukhino Bhavantu

(Click below to view more pictures :

Fellowship Prayers)