Thursday, March 31, 2011

SPECIAL PRAYERS FOR SWAMI


In light of the recent sickness taken upon by our Beloved Lord, special prayers were conducted on 30 March 2011, 9.30 - 11.00am. We chanted Medicine Buddha mantra x 108 times and Gayatri Mantra x 108 times.  Many devotees were present to pray for the speedy recovery of Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba.

Bhagavan Uvacha Series Vol 1 : Surrender (Bilingual) HD

Sai Spiritual Showers - Issue 2/89


(continued from the previous issue...)
Among the Pandava Brothers, Arjuna was the greatest bowman of his time. He had the mighty bow, the Gandiva and the most destructive arrow, the Divine Pashupata. Next, there was Bhima. The might of his shoulders, the irresistible mace which he wielded—who not heard of them? Nevertheless, these two brothers bent their heads before the eldest brother, Dharmaja, whose only strength lay in his fortitude, equanimity and mental peace; they never transgressed his wish even by a hair's breadth! At the present time, America is the Arjuna; Russia is Bhima; Bharat (India) is Dharmaja. Still, Bharat is giving up its unique status, and imitating America and Russia, following their ways of life. This is pitiable ignorance.

The Vedic Dharma is the best; it is complete and full. It is beyond Time. The other Faiths are as its sons, grandsons and great grandsons. The Vedic Dharma or the Hindu Dharma is the grandfather, Buddhism is the son, Christianity the grandson and Islam the great grandson—the later has drawn inspiration from the earlier. They all belong to a family of faiths; if only, this fact is well understood, there is no room for misunderstanding or hatred; nor can any arise.

It is a piece of good fortune to be born in Bharat; but, it is really, a lamentable misfortune that the children of Bharat do not pay attention to the inexhaustible Atma-shakti that is latent in them; they do not strive to know about it. So too, they do not try to know about their country and the supremacy of the Vedic dharma.

At this, I asked, "You say, we are unable to know about this inexhaustible Shakti, though it is latent in us. Kindly explain how this has happened. To this Baba replied, "I shall illustrate it by means of a short story. A rich merchant once went to a holy place, to attend the temple festival. A thief too followed him, in order to knock off his purse; but, he posed as a companion proceeding to the same place, for the same festival. They stayed in a Dharmasala for the night. When everyone had gone into deep sleep, the thief who kept awake until then, rose and searched everywhere for the merchant's bag. He could not lay hands on it, in spite of the restless search. When day broke he told the merchant in a friendly manner. "There are thieves in this place; I hope you are taking good care of your bag, which holds all your money." The merchant replied, "O yes. Last night, I kept it right under your pil low. See, how safe it is!" So saying he took it from underneath the thief's pillow! God is like that merchant; he has placed the bag holding Atmashakti, Atmajnana, and unalloyed happiness in the head of man. But, man is ignorant of this; he seeks to acquire that Shakti, that Jnana and that happiness from all other places, except his own self! He gets only despair as reward.

I intervened and asked, "They say that miracles should not be done, that they are dangerous for the Sadhaka, obstacles in his path. Is that true?" Baba answered, "You cannot apply the same rule to every instance; there are exceptions. Of course, if miracles are done to exhibit power, they heighten egotism and are dangerous. As signs of Divine Shakti, evidences of Divinity I am doing them. I am granting things out of Prema, in order to develop in men attachment to God and the Godly Path. I intend that the recipients should be filled with Prema. I have no desire of any kind. My talk is of Love, My path is the path of Love.

I am not aware of grief or want. I am the embodiment of Ananda: I have not had even moment's grief, nor can I ever have it. When a person with grief is before Me, I feel I shall experience his misery; but, misery and grief cannot enter the field of My Experience. I have no such emotion as anger. Why, I have no emotions at all, nothing can affect Me. The reason is, I have no desire. Mine is complete detachment. As a result, however much I exert Myself, I am as fresh as ever.

Vivekananda did not have full faith in his Guru, Ramakrishna in the early years of contact. But, Ramakrishna knew that through him, mighty spiritual tasks have to be achieved. So, in order to establish him firmly in the spiritual path, Ramakrishna touched him, with his hand. The miracle of that touch wiped off completely, the doubts that pestered Vivekananda. There is no egotism in this miracle; no craving for exhibition; it caused no injury to anyone; it is born out of love and is filled with love; it is a sign of Divine power; it opened the path for liberation."

I asked, "It is said that by miracles, things that are already somewhere are transported. The things that you grant—are they thus transported or created?" Baba replied, "They are all newly created. Transporting means, they should come from somewhere else, isn't it? That would be deceit. Things are created the very moment I will them. I give also things that are found nowhere. This Shakti is impossible to comprehend."

I continued, "From when have you begun to give these signs of Divine Power?" Baba said, "From childhood. At school, I used to create chocolates, marbles and other articles for the children around Me." I asked, "There are some who produce things in miraculous ways and offer them. Do they transfer them from somewhere or create them anew? How can we know it?" Baba said, "Ask them. Why should I speak of those people?"

I placed a statement I had heard, before Him: "They also say that this Shakti will disappear after some time" Baba asked me, "Why are you bothered with others now? I vouchsafed things with Prema; My Prema will not decline or diminish."

I placed another question before Him: "At what age did you acquire this Divine Power or Shakti? Baba said, "From My very birth—from before that." I intercepted with an exclamation, "That is to say..." Baba continued, "That is to say, I resolved upon My own Birth. I decided who is to be the mother. Mere humans can choose only who is to be the wife or husband; in the Rama incarnation, in the Krishna incarnation, the mothers were chosen by the 'Son'. Then too, the task for which the birth was resolved upon, was the same—conferring Prema.

I did not ask any further questions. To the questions presented before Him by others, Baba answered in some detail about the best system of education for the young, so that they can become useful for themselves and others, and similar subjects. When Sri Sathya Sai Baba left the place, with Hon'ble Sri. P. K Savant, all of us recollected with great joy the illuminating conversation we were privileged to have. Sri Balasaheb Bharde turned to me and said, "Baba is the source, the repository of Yoga Dharma Jnana and Prema." That summary thrilled me greatly.
(concluded)

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Sai Spiritual Showers - Issue 2/88


I had the great good fortune of an interview with Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba at the meeting of the Prasanthi Vidwanmahasabha (Maharashtra Branch) held in the residence Hon'ble Sri. P. K. Savant, Minister for Agriculture, Maharashtra Government, on 14th June, 1969. The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Sri Balasaheb Bharde and the Chairman of the legislative Council, Sri V. S Page were also present, with many others.

Baba came in and sat with us, on the same carpet! Sri Savant said, "These people have all come to speak with You and present their doubts before you. He pointed to me and asked me, "Well, ask what you wanted to ask". I felt that it may not be appropriate to begin the sessions, with a question on His Miracles, and so, I turned to Sri Page and said, "You may start with your questions". Then, Sri Bharde intervened; he told Baba, "This person has interviewed many persons so far on the topic of miracles and published their answers in his paper, the Nava Kaal, he desires to ask you about them. Thus I was encouraged to present my questions first. I was emboldened because, there is intense thirst among the people to know more of these miracles. So, I dared ask, "What is the power which works these miracles, these chamatkars?"

Baba answered, sweetly and with a smile, "It is wrong to call them chamatkars or miracles. Those words are not proper. When the power is ever-present, and never declines how can it be a miracle? I know the background of your question. What you refer as miracle or, chamatkars, is in fact, Divine Power. It is as vast as the Ocean; it is an inexhaustible mine. From this sea, all those who feel the need can fill their pots and carry away the water.

For example, I create things. This is what you call, miracles, isn't it? I do not create them, for exhibiting the Power; that is to say to attract people towards Me. I have no such motive; things are so being created by Me, quite naturally. It is My sport, My Leela. It is a sign of Divine Power, which helps to turn man towards Divinity. It is not Pradarshan; it is Nidarshan. Yad bhaavam, tad bhavathi: as intended, so it happens. As the intention arises in My Mind, so; the thing is made. The moment it is willed, the thing comes to hand".

When this answer fell on my ears, I was reminded of a passage in the article that Sri Bharde contributed to Nava Kaal, where he says, "I have not seen so far, any person who does miracles as spontaneously, as naturally, as Sri Sathya Sai Baba. He stood before the idol of Rukmabai at Pandharpur and raised both His Hands, saying "The decoration is incomplete", and as He said so, a necklace of gold concretized in His Hands. That jewel which He then placed round the neck of the Idol is still there".

"Is your (Shakti) Power to create things, inexhaustible?" I ventured to ask. He said, "it is Divine, Daivashakti, boundless as the Ocean, inexhaustible. Every one, whoever he is, can take from it what he needs, to his heart's content".

Sri P. K. Savant noted how Baba was gladly answering the questions, and welcoming them. So, he felt bold to ask, "Though this is the inexhaustible and boundless, why is it not used to cure the poverty and misery of mankind?" At this, Baba laughed outright. He said, "Poverty means, not having or possessing certain things, isn't it? You seem to think that misery is caused by the non-possession of certain things. Where there is no mental peace, there is misery, however many things a man may have or may not have; a man may have a magnificent banquet before him; he may have an air-conditioned room; he may have a transistor radio on his table. But, will these prevent his misery? Can he be happy with these? Sovereigns can command all things that give comfort and joy, but, are they happy? Even if a person has no such things, if he has mental peace, equanimity, he will be quite happy; leave him in a jungle, his hap piness will not diminish, cannot diminish. My Task is to confer mental equanimity and that lasting happiness.

I do not give things to people in order to make them richer; I give in order to foster devotion and faith in them. A sick person comes to Me. I give him something I create, vibhuti or some article. Noticing that sign, he becomes conscious of Divine Power. He acquires mental peace; that peace sets him right. It was not that I cured him; he earned mental peace through contemplation of Divine Shakti (Power) and that set him on the road to health. If he is not given anything created by Divine Power, his mental peace and strength will diminish; so I am conferring on him, such things. It is not as if I give these things to those devoted to Me; I give, whenever it is desirable to turn the afflicted towards the Godward Path.

Where does this mental peace, mental strength come from? It is already in him, but, he is not aware of it. That is the reason why he is struggling to get it from external objects. A rock lies by the side of the road; it is apparently lifeless. Pour water on it and scatter some seeds; they won't sprout. But, break it, powder it into fine dust, pour water and scatter seeds; they will sprout. A tree will grow on it and it will yield fruit, which will sustain human life, which will reproduce life. So it has life latent in it; only, it does not manifest, when it lies on the side of the road. The sages and anchorites of India had discovered the life-principle in the rock; they declared that the rock too is God. On the other hand, the Westerners failed to discover even the Divine that is inherent in man!

Another example: Take two sticks and rub them together, fast. Fire will emanate. There was fire in them so long; but, the fire did not burn them. So too, great power reside latent in the mind. If that is developed, the rich treasure of Ananda can be secured. Sadhana is but another name for the means to develop it. Man does not engage himself in this Sadhana; he wants Ananda; so, he seeks to earn and accumulate external objects, expecting to get Ananda therefrom. So, he loses all. The body is the cart; the mind is the horse. The cart should not be placed in front of the horse; the care of the body should not be held more urgent and important. If efforts are directed more for bodily comforts than mental peace, the journey called life will be beset by obstacles.

Dhritarashtra—what was he deficient in? He had a mighty army, a vast kingdom, a hundred sons, untold treasure, fame and fortune. He had everything that man needed for happy life. But, he had one defect; he had no Atmajnana, he was blind to his real Atmic reality. Therefore, he did not have a moment of inner peace.

It is said that Bharath is a poor country while America and Russia are mightily rich. As a result, countless numbers of Indians have their eyes fixed on America; they believe that if America is followed, wealth and happiness can be attained. A young Indian felt like going to a picture house one evening. As he started, he remembered a close friend of his, an American. He did not know it was 4 A.M. there. So, he called him over the phone and asked, "I am now going to see a Film; what do you propose to do?" The, friend laughed and replied, "Film? At this time of the day? Are you mad? This is the hour when one should plunge into sleep. I am determined to sleep for at least four hours more". Hearing this, the Indian too gave up his plan to witness a film: he spread his bed and struggled to plunge into sleep!" Following the American ways of life will lead to such absurd situations, wont it?
(to be continued...)

Recipe : Vegetarian Thai Curry


THAI CURRY
(Chinese style)


Ingredients A

3 stalks Lemon Grass
150g Shallots
2 Tablespoon Chili Paste
3 gloves garlic

Ingredients B

5 Tablespoon oil
1 cup coconut milk
8 Kaffir Lime Leaf
300g vegetarian meat/mutton
salt, sugar to taste

Method

1. Grind Ingredients A finely.
2. Stir fry Ingredients A till fragrant.
3. Add in vegetarian meat, coconut milk and simmer for 5 minutes.
4. Add in the Kaffir Lime Leaf.
5. Serve while hot.



(Contributed by : Sis Annie Tan, NED Penang)

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Sai Spiritual Showers - Issue 2/87


'I have been waiting long' says Sri P. S. Menon, "to write this letter; an opportunity has now presented itself! Bhagawan Sathya Sai Baba took me under His care, in very mysterious circumstances. On Thursday, 27th Feb., I went to a friend of mine and I found he was engaged in Bhajan. I sat through the bhajan, and when later, he explained to me that the photograph on the wall was of Sri Sathya Sai Baba and related to me some examples illustrating His Glory, I expressed a desire to have a darsan of Baba. On Friday, 7th March, scarce nine days later, just as I entered " my office, at 9 A.M. the telephone bell rang. It appeared as if someone had been awaiting to get an inkling of my stepping into the room to speak to me. My entry and the call synchronised to that extent!

An unfamiliar Voice asked me whether I was P. S. Menon. I said. "Yes" and asked for the name of the caller. The Voice said, "Puttaparthi" and directed me to come to Osborne House, Thousand Lights before 5 P. M., or if it is later than 7 P. M., to an address, which It dictated, at Pithapurnagar! I was so puzzled and nervous, at the word, Puttaparthi, and at the commanding but gracious style of the message that I forgot to ask the date on which I was to go to those places! I had, however, sufficient courage to ask the Voice again, "Please tell me your name. You say "Puttaparthi, only." But, for this, the reply I got was this : "Are you not P. S. Menon? Did you not express a desire to see me?"........ Then the fact dawned on me that the Voice was of Bhagawan Sathya Sai Baba Himself! ! Imagine my joy and exhilaration! Imagine, also, my sorrow, when the telephone was put down at the other end and I was left alone, in my room, with that Voice resounding in my heart.

He Called me! He commanded me to come. But on what day?.... ..... I ran up to Thousand Lights, to Osborne House; but, I found that Bhagawan was actually at Bangalore. He was not in Madras! I had no doubt He had spoken to me. We had talked to each other in Tamil and His speech sounded slightly non-Tamilian.

Inquiries at the Telephone Exchange revealed which were still more puzzling! The operator at the Exchange was adamant that she had not connected my phone to anyone, since dawn that day, not at all for a Trunk Call from Bangalore or anywhere! At 5 P. M., the same day, a telephone call was made from Osborne House, at my instance to the Kumara Raja who was attending some function which Baba was inaugurating at Bangalore. The reply was that Bhagawan Sathya Sai Baba had not used a telephone at all that day, much less a trunk call! Besides, no one at Bangalore, with the exception of the All-knowing Bhagawan had any idea of my existence, not to speak of my telephone and its number! To every one in the Sai Bhakta Circle, I was unknown.

Baba had, evidently, used my telephone as a vehicle for His Asareeri Message! Mysterious indeed are His ways."

Indeed, we whose categories of thought are limited by Maya and the consequent confusion and conceit cannot grasp the miracle of His Grace, and the many-sidedness of His Glory.

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Sai Spiritual Showers - Issue 2/86


H: Swami, you say that when the senses turn away from the inner witness and mix with external worldly objects, the reactions of pain and pleasure result. What then is the proper place for the senses? Why do they behave thus?

Sai: It is all the play of desire. Desire for objective things causes pain and pleasure. Desire, for God confers Bliss, which is far more sustaining than pleasure.

H: But, Swami, our actions are very seldom limited to that which is Duty. Most action arises from desires, worldly desires. One sees, hears, smells, touches or thinks... all these breed desire?

Sai: Remind yourselves that God works through you as 'desire'.

H: That looks strange! Does God prompt even bad desires?

Sai: Desire arises through some energy, motivation, urge; That energy is God's gift. The desire that it provokes results in pain or pleasure, is either good or bad, depending on time, place and person. In early years, desire for worldly advancement might be good; in later years, it might be bad. God grants you discrimination along with desire. You must use it to put aside wrong action. The wrong desire is God overshadowed by Maya, where as the power of discrimination is the instrument given by God to destroy Maya and visualise God.

H: Swami, You say that it is man's duty to be happy.

Sai: Happiness is one of the major gateways to Divinity. To be unhappy is a serious act of sacrilege. It is a barrier to God Realisation.

H: Swami, when the mind is not engaged in work...

Sai: The mind is ever agitated and active!

H: During meditation, I mean...

Sai: Yes?

H: When the mind is not engaged in any particular work, where should the attention be kept?

Sai: Between the eyebrows, that is the Eye of Wisdom of Siva.

H: Swami says that body, mind and intelligence, do not work for anybody. They do their own work, what does that mean?

Sai: What is meant is... "Unfortunately that is the case." They are doing their work, to the detriment of the person. Their work should be coordinated for the benefit of higher purposes. For example: The eyes see; that is their work. But, the mind should see through the eyes; the intelligence should direct the mind; the Atma must be reflected in the intelligence.

H: For whom should the entire mechanism be functioning?

Sai: For the Atma. 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 source of all the energy and power.

H: Does God forgive even present Karma?

Sai: There are three types of Karma: past, present and future. The present Karma must continue its course. It is like the trail of dust behind the moving carriage. When the carriage stops, the dust will settle on it... But, the carriage cannot forever continue fast, on the road in order to escape the dust. The best course, then, is to get on to the highway, away from the dust track. That is to say, man must acquire the Grace of God and move along the path smoothened by it.

H: Swami. Pardon me for saying it! Spiritual progress seems very difficult, indeed.

Sai: Vital to spiritual life is the unshakable faith that one has in the Atma. Once this is achieved, spiritual progress is quite easy. A bowl turned down remains dry, no matter how heavy the rain is. But, a bowl turned up collects at least a few drops, though the shower is light. Turn the heart towards God; then, Grace can be won. If faith, enthusiasm and devotion are great, the bowl will be filled. My dear Sadhaka, life in this outer world is endless trouble. But, life in the inner world is smooth and simple!

H: It is not necessary to mortify the body?

Sai: That is wrong advice. A healthy body is very light; it is not a burden; it helps sadhana by giving you healthy thoughts.

H: One last doubt, Swami, for today. Swami advises us to cut at the root of desire. What does this mean?

Sai: When a desire arises, analyse it; find out whether it is good or bad. If bad, reject it; if it is good for you and not harmful for others, go ahead. If you are uncertain, do nothing, until the uncertainty is clarified.

Thursday, March 3, 2011

MAHASHIVARATRI


Mahashivaratri was celebrated on 2 March 2011, from 8 - 11pm.  Our prayers began with Veda chanting, Shiva mantras, Lingashtakam, and Shiva bhajans.  Refreshments was served during and at the end of arathi.

Sai Spiritual Showers - Issue 2/85


It was the hour when man, bird and beast were still, wrapped in sleep. Everything had melted in the thick darkness. The train was speeding along like a spangled snake, along the Sub-Himalayan jungle track.

Dr. R. turned in bed and opened his eyes, for there was a strange smell in the compartment, something burning, he thought! The fan was emitting sparks, like a Catherine Wheel! There was no one else in the coach, except his wife who was fast asleep. There was no time even to think out a plan. He put out his hand and fumbled with the switch, but, good God, it was out of order! The fan could not be stopped. It had to burn like that! …….. and perhaps, set the compartment on fire!

Pull the alarm chain? But, that will be a big sensation; it would involve delay, for the guard has to investigate, come, diagnose, prescribe, administer the treatment etc. etc. the sparks increased; the smell smote the nose.

"Baba! O Baba, save us, O Baba!" The prayer automatically rose from his heart, for Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba was his never failing succour. The train slowed down just a wee bit. Was it a station they were coming to? Well then, when it halted, he could wake the wife and both could get down and tell the guard.

He arose and peeped into the darkness, far out into the oncoming space. Suddenly he saw a man, clinging to his door, holding fast to the handle. How could have possibly hopped up the running train in that forest blackness? A nascent fire, a sneaking thief what was he to do?

The man said, "I am a punkhawala; come to repair the fan!" He looked a seasoned mechanic; he had a screwdriver in his hand; he wore a khaki shirt and shorts; he smiled in an appealing way. So, the doctor opened the door and let him in. The train gained speed. The wife too woke. It was all so easy for his skillful hands; a few turns of the screw and tap or two at the proper place; the sparks ceased, the fan whirred, swift and safe. He was a silent skillful hand. He then sat crouching in a corner and asked the doctor to lie down and sleep. His voice was so sweet, his kindness was so overpowering that the doctor lost all fear and suspicion. He laid himself down and turned away from him and dozed.

But, the wife had her own fears. She had read and heard of robberies in running trains and of even worst calamities and so, she had half an eye open to watch the stranger's slightest movement. And, even while her eye was watching him, he disappeared!!

A week later, they get a letter from Baba at Puttaparthi, "How did you like my Punkha repair?"

Dr. R. himself narrated this wonderful incident when he came for Mahasivaratri to Puttaparthi.

"This is My Duty; when a call comes out of distress and devotion, I hasten to the rescue," Baba said.