Sai Spiritual Showers - Issue 3/38

Because of a disturbing event: I tried time and time again to counter the action of a 'superior'. I tried often just to hand it all over to Baba. It was His Sankalpa, I reasoned. That was on Friday November 1, 1968. Last night, Sunday November 3, my endeavors to go deeper into Dhyana were unsuccessful. A high condition of Consciousness was granted; towards dawn a "sleep" state was entered into with the "happening" at the place of employment still bothering me.

"Baba! Should I counter with an opposing attitude to show another his fault?" I asked in prayer. Within a very short while I found myself arising and I began to reach among some nearby papers and writing sheets. There that little gem book of Light, "Teachings of Our Lord" was found immediately. The very first page I turned to was 35. There were Baba's words "Do not harbor anger or vengeance against persons who point out your faults; do not retort pointing out the faults of those persons themselves, but show your gratitude to them." Baba had quickly "cured" me and it was just before dawn that I slipped into a samadhi-like sleep.

May I share with you now the lesson Baba then gave to me. The final significance of the amazing events that you will hear about are beyond this devotee's understanding.

Baba showed me a scene. A slave who had all but been torn to pieces by the brutal lashes of a slave master's leather whip lay bleeding and probably dead upon the barren rocky ground. Sprawled on some rocks some twenty paces to the right was the gratified slave master; his face wore that sadistic look that grew even more contented as he eyed the bloody mass. But standing just to the right of the slaver was a tall man with clear eyes that blazed at him. He was a man of tremendous self-control and he spoke thus:

"You have already become, in the eyes of the Lord, a vicious reptile. Already you are crawling through the muck and slush of swamps in the upper reaches of the river beyond the hills. Already your dragging living mass is being torn at by reptiles of your own-kind. You see not the open jaws lying in wait for you to increase your pain. The pain you inflicted here, you will feel a thousand times greater and longer" vowed the brave one.

"And who are you to have the courage to risk your life admonishing me who is armed with death in this right hand?" angrily shouted the slaver.

"The Master calls me John," replied the staunch one.

"Who is this Master, and where does He live," demanded the slaver.

"He is Jesus. He lives in that small village yonder. The village is called Nazareth" clearly cried John.

"And what can this Master of yours down there do here where I am master" sneered the out holding the great whip tightly.

It was at this point that I saw John approach the torn one on the ground. He touched him it seemed and to my amazement the slave rose. As he stood on his feet his wounds were healing. He was very tall and as he walked towards the startled slave master all wounds were gone. He began to become enfolded in a great light. Within a few feet of the slaver the "risen" one became resplendent in Light and completely vanished. At this point Baba began again to speak.

Baba began to explain the strange reference to the slaver becoming a reptile—a pain racked crocodile! I had pictured to myself the terrible pain being felt by the reptile from the jaws of the others-the gouging and the tearing.

"Man can by the Grace of God be granted a role befitting his acts. He can reap for himself the pain he causes others with planned malice and an unforgiving heart. Man metes out his own treatment. Transgression from beast to man is not the only direction that can be taken", Baba explained.

"Likewise among those reptiles there are some that never harm or cause pain, even maliciously like the unrepentant slave master did. By God's Grace the reptile too can progress. Therefore just as man fluctuates on his Path to Me so does beast": Baba thus revealed.

"That man has evolved from the lower strata of life is accepted by many; few know that it is possible to return to the lower state. Without donning even the bodies of reptiles some people have already sunken even beyond that level of life," Baba sadly said.

"It is the very same life within all creatures whether they have no legs, two legs or four. When man has his chance to use his capacity to elevate himself even higher, what a pity so many choose to endure the struggle all over again" Baba concluded.

With the dawn already ushered into the room I "awoke" with that wonderful feeling of beauty that comes with the union of Baba. Words are so poor a means of expressing the depth of this event. Baba had turned back time almost 2000 years showing, an incident to uncover a great Truth.

Baba's naming the witness to the crime as JOHN is in itself a lesson; for was it not this one that was known as "the beloved disciple"? John represents the highest power and the strongest quality, LOVE. John the disciple says, (I John 4:8) "God is Love". And how often have we heard Baba say, "God is Love-Love is God". Jesus loved the disciple John, as a brother and John too was the first to recognize Jesus after the Resurrection.

Sai Spiritual Showers - Issue 3/37

INSTANT ALCHEMY


A group of 60 Americans, educators, anthropologists and other professionals, most of them ladies, studying the ancient mysteries of the East, with Jean Houston, an eminent American scholar of ancient cultures, came on an all India tour to experience the rich culture of Bharat and its ancient wisdom. A visit to Prasanthi Nilayam to have the Darshan of Sai Baba was on the itinerary and they arrived on January 13th.

At 3.30 in the afternoon I was walking out of Sai Sadan on my way to the canteen and I was greeted by two members of the group whom I had met in America, last summer. They asked for directions and I soon became involved with a few other hastily recruited residents of the Ashram, in arranging for the comforts of these 60 souls. We arranged to bring the whole group together for Darshan but Swami was leaving the Mandir grounds in His car. It turned out that Swami was going to the Hill View Stadium.

The 60 confused and disappointed individuals were unable to decide whether to return immediately to Bangalore, without seeing Swami, or to go to the Stadium on the off chance that they might get Darshan there as they would have been more than satisfied with getting just one short glimpse of this world acclaimed Person. It seems they had started from Bangalore, packed into two small tourist buses. At the Andhra Karnataka border, one of the buses was found to be without the proper permit. So all the 60 had to crowd themselves into the other bus, to continue the journey.

Now, they learned that the Darshan had been cancelled. It started to rain, first in an intermittent drizzle and then in a steady fall.

"Can't we follow where Sai Baba went? We will go any place for just one distant look at Him."

So they all drove to the Stadium, where a volleyball game was in progress with the Brindavan team pitted against the Prasanthi Nilayam team. Swami's grace allowed us and the 60 to be in His presence for about 20 minutes.

Moving this large body of people quickly took a long time. When the bus unloaded again in Prasanthi Nilayam, we discovered that Swami had arrived 20 minutes earlier. Luckily almost the whole group got seats in choice positions, directly across the temple. No better seats could have been obtained. The Divine Director provided for all.

Swami walked out of the Mandir heading for the flower encircled lotus and suddenly walked straight to where the ladies of the group were seated. He made some Vibhuti for Dr. Houston, the group leader, and another. He also materialized rock candy for a member and took a few letters from some people in the group. Moving several steps along the Darshan line He materialized Vibhuti and rock candy for three other members of the group.

At this point, I offered Swami a handkerchief to wipe His Vibhuti filled hands. He called me out of the Darshan line to come close to Him to bring the kerchief, which He then used to wipe His fingers. Swami uses us as His instruments to serve Him by serving others, and in the process He fills us with His sweet Love and Bliss. Swami tossed the handkerchief back to me. I returned to my seat. A member of the group, sitting directly behind me, asked to touch the kerchief, which she did with deep reverence. I told her she could keep it. Instantly, tears started streaming down her face. It seems that in Vancouver, Canada, this woman had a very dear friend, who had fallen ill with polio. The patient had made one request of her friend, that if she had a chance to visit Sai Baba on her trip to India, would she please try to bring back something that Baba had touched, something that she could wear on her person. Every tiny detail of Swami's ac tivity is part of His Divine Play.

After bhajans, the professors (as Swami referred to them) were taken by bus to the Lecture Hall. People who had received Vibhuti shared it with others. Supreme happiness was felt by all, even the gents in the group whom Swami had not approached. When the group settled down, Sri Drucker answered questions and gave a brief talk about the Path to God involving Service, Devotion and Wisdom. The joyous group of 60 professors boarded the bus for their return journey to Bangalore, and on to Delhi, the next morning.

In five hours, Swami performed what turned out to be a major transformation, in His incomparably loving way.

MAHASHIVARATRI 2012

The auspicious night of Mahashivaratri was celebrated with chants of Shiva mantras and bhajans at NED centre on February 20th, 2012, from 8.00 - 11.30pm.  Special prayers for the evening included Om Namah Shivaya x 108, Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra x 108 and Lingashtakam.

Om Namah Shivayah!

Sai Spiritual Showers - Issue 3/36

This letter is prompted by Bhagawan's Will; it relates His Glory. I am a House Surgeon, working in the Pediatrics section of a hospital. A child was brought to the section, 8 days ago, with Diphtheria associated with Myocarditis. It had severe respiratory distress, and so, an emergency opening of a hole in the trachea had to be done.

This evening, the child relapsed into severe distress. The mucus had to be immediately sucked off, since it was obstructing the system, Unfortunately, the sucker in the section was out of order. So, I and my friend in the ENT section, took the child to the Operation Theatre, where a sucker was available.

Everything went on well, for some time. But, quite suddenly, the child stopped respiring! There was arrest of the heart also.

We rushed for the life saving adrenaline. Most unfortunate of all, the syringe could not be spotted at once! Not that it was not there, but, search as we might, we could not lay hands on it! And, unluckily, the sucker went out of action!

The child was completely flaccid, showing no sign of life.

In dismay, thinking of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai, I took a little Vibhuti, which I always carry with me, and started to apply it on the chest of the baby. The moment I applied the Vibhuti, something happened, that brought life into ME! Yes. The child took a big gasp! My friend was most pleasantly and gratefully surprised. Soon, the heart was active. The child opened its eyes. I could not but gasp in wonder. Tears flowed from our eyes, for, Bhagawan, the Mother of all, had saved the child and given consolation and joy to the parents.

I must mention here certain events that happened, earlier, when I was preparing to go to the hospital. I had put on the shirt that I wore in the morning sessions. I was already late for my work and so, I was in a hurry. But, just when I crossed the threshold, I felt I should take that shirt off (!) and put on another that was on the hanger! The desire was over powering. I didn't know why. "Funny" I thought within myself, and put it on, and rushed to the hospital.

Trivial things can shift he balance in favour of life, when death calls aloud. The shirt on the hanger which I was compelled to put on had the Vibhuti from Bhagawan in it! I realise now that every incident in one's life, however insignificant or `accidental' has deep meaning.

Lord Hari has said in the "Sandeha Nivarini " "Can even a leaf move without My Will?"

Next time, I sing Paramam Pavithram Baba Vibhutim, (the Song which describes the soul liberating, wonder working, miraculously produced Vibhuti), Paramartha Ishtartha Moksha Pradatham, it will not be mere song, mere repeating of the lines. I will dwell delightedly, on the Pavithram, Vichithram, until I taste again the Glory of this Miracle I witnessed in the Operation Theatre today.

Sai Spiritual Showers - Issue 3/35

IT'S ALL HIS GRACE

I was returning from a Bank Meeting at Madras on 7-2-65, by the Bombay Mail, having reserved a berth in the I class, up to Tadpatri, where I proposed to alight. I boarded the compartment at 10 p.m. at the Central Station, and when the train started, I prepared my bed and moved towards the lavatory preparatory to lying down for sleep. The compartment had a corridor into which the rooms opened and it had just one entrance door which took one into the corridor itself. That door was open. When I emerged from the lavatory, the train had passed Basin Bridge, where it did not halt. Somehow it happened that, instead of going through the corridor into my room, I went towards the open door and, so, I fell from the running train!

I felt as if some one suddenly pulled me towards him. That was all. I was not aware of anything that happened later. I only felt that I was seated, the very next moment, on a soft place. I wondered why I was there, whether it was all a dream.

Really speaking, I had fallen over from the Bombay Mail. The train had sped along. It was pitch dark all around. The station was about two furlongs away. It was a double track line, and trains were steaming up and down. If I had landed a few inches this side or that, I would have been crushed to death. Or I might easily have fallen under the bridge if the accident had happened a minute earlier.

I had suffered no injury. I felt it as a miracle worked by God that even my eyeglasses were unbroken, my wrist watch was ticking as usual and the purse in my pocket was there itself. I must have sat in that position for about twenty minutes, when I was overcome by confusion as to where I was, why I was there, whither I have to go from there etc. So, I just called out loudly into the dark night. But, who was there to answer me? A light engine neared me and passed over the rails without heeding me.

Perhaps, Sathya Sai, the Saviour of the distressed heard me; for, within a few minutes, the Station Master of Basin Bridge and a Police Constable came to where I was. From the ticket I had, they recognized me as a passenger from the Bombay Mail and they removed me to the General Hospital, Madras. Meanwhile, the Manager of my Bank hurried to my bedside, on receipt of a telephone call. The doctors examined me and declared that no damage had been done. They were surprised that a man who had fallen from a running train had suffered no injury at all and they attributed it to nothing less than a Divine Miracle. The Manager sent telegrams to my sons and to my house at Anantapur.

Meanwhile, at the same time, when every one at my house at Anantapur was asleep, a brilliant effulgence engulfed the entire house. My wife awoke and wondered whether it was a real experience or just a dream. She concluded it must be the glory and the grace of Sai; she laid herself down again, remembering the name of Sathya Sai Baba and went to sleep.

Since 1944, when Sathya Sai Baba first visited my house, such miraculous incidents happen off and on in my place and so, my wife had no doubt in her mind that it was a sign given by Baba Himself. It was a natural and automatic inference for her.

When morning came, the telegram from Madras arrived. Immediately, one of my sons started for Madras and my wife left towards Puttaparthi with my grandson, to see Baba! As soon as Baba saw her, He said, "Instead of going to Madras, you have come here, is it? There is nothing the matter with your husband, do not worry. I have seen to that. Do you know what would have happened to him if I were not there?" He then told her in great detail all that had happened to me. He also declared that the light which engulfed the Anantapur house the previous night was His way of intimating to them the fact of His protecting Presence.

My son took me from Madras to Kurnool, where another of my sons is a doctor; I was with him far a week. I had informed the Railway authorities that my bed, box etc were in that First class compartment and, information was received at Kurnool that they were all intact at Madras and that I could take them back from them.

I and my family firmly believe that it was Sri Sathya Sai Baba who miraculously saved me from this calamity. Whatever others may believe or not believe, we are His devotees for ever.

Chinese New Year 2012

Chinese New Year 2012 was celebrated on the first and seventh day of the new lunar month at NED centre.  On the seventh day, 29 January 2012, the evening started with vedam chanting at 7.00pm and was followed by bhajans.  After arathi, the God of Prosperity 'Chai Sin Yeh' graced the occasion and distributed angpows and oranges to all devotees.  Refreshments was served at the end of the event.

Click here for more pictures :

Chinese New Year 2012

Sai Spiritual Showers - Issue 3/34

I'm making my way slowly through the town and the pavement is very hot in the early morning. Inside I am singing within my heart to my Lord Sai Baba whom I love........ His song, "Manasa Bhajare Guru Charanam" I am thinking how happy I am, independent as a person who walks, instead of riding in a machine also driven by man. Because, when they are driving they must concentrate on the road ahead. They cannot look at other things such as the sun rising, or the sunset, or the banks of cloud shapes... just a strip of pavement. But, I am free and not a prisoner of the car and if I want to I can turn and go back at any time. So, I coast along at my own rate and feel bliss. I can see something of the world and even though it exists in my head, it is all my own within, and also I can worship as I do on the way the form of the One I love who made me whole and gave me PEACE and LOVE. I feel the breeze on my face and I sing and I keep all the things of His in my heart. And, I am flying without fear. I was not always thus, No... Once I stood outside the door I was forlorn and lost and lonely. Baba was that door and I waited for someone to come and open the door.

My Vision

I seem to be standing in front of a beautiful temple and the most astounding thing about it is a Door of Silver with all the symbols of all the religions on the Door. Now I can say what the vision was that I saw some years ago. Here I am waiting breathlessly in front of that Door, with hundreds of thousands of people around also waiting. The silence is immense and even the birds fly noiselessly and perch on the trees in hushed silence waiting for something in great expectancy. Their silhouettes stand transfixed ...not a sound is heard, as if the world has stopped for the moment. My whole self is beginning to vibrate with the tension of those few minutes. I am afraid to close my eyes for fear of missing something, as I keep my gaze upon the SILVER DOOR. And I say to myself, "O be still my heart," as its beats are too loud, and so as not to miss the sight of my beautiful and wondrous Lord.

The sun has not even shown a slight silver of gold, and time seems suspended for just a moment. If I shut my eyes I see the dear Lord's form, but I am trying to keep them open so as not to lose that first sight. I count the seconds on my Japmala which I hold there. The 108 beads will be but a moment or two. Has he gone away? Has something happened? Or is this all illusion and the Lord who is all light will not be there? Is it really true???

Then the SILVER DOOR swings wide and in front of it shining in a bright gleam of light with a golden halo around His hair and the shining red fluorescence of His robe like the sun as it rises in the morning—there He is!!!

There He stands, and a glance comes from His beautiful soft eyes and He raises His hand slowly and gives the sign of blessing to all. His voice is like a flute undulating and soaring, and sweet starts the song as He stands in a glow of heavenly light. The birds circle all around singing their best to the Lord, and with the early streaks of the sunlight even the trees shake their leaves in ecstasy toward Him. The birds are still circling, all the while singing their hearts out to Him. The sun has come out of the blank night, as if it too was doing some homage to Him. All nature seems to be singing in praise to the dear One. He lifts up his hands slowly and seems to lift the hearts of all to the Consciousness of God. Am I crying for joy? Or sorrow—because of the agony I know, He has suffered in silence for us all? For the ones who have kept Him in agony by disbelieving Him? And going against His precepts? Although He says He loves all whether they l ove Him or not.

Then I noticed a difference in His hair as it seemed to me a crown of thorns appeared to be sitting upon His head. But He was still smiling. He started to look very stern and in a moment He took off the crown and it were all flowers which He picked off one by one and threw down to all the people below. I tried to pick one up, but it was gone to someone else. Then I looked up and saw to the aide of BABA a dragon like thing standing over Him in a menacing attitude, seeming to be whispering into His ear. But then a dazzling flame came out from between BABA's eyes and the terrible thing was nothing but smoke and ashes, and disappeared. Perhaps I was the only one who saw it. My Lord's voice came out in clear strong accents as He sang to us. Then after the Darshan was ended, He turned and with a last farewell of His hands high in the air, He went back behind the SILVER DOOR.

Peace and contentment came over me and I was immersed in a state of happiness that I never had known before. As the tears came from my eyes and rolled down my cheeks, I thought of how filled with Love for us He was and how if I were to die right then, I would be so overcome with joy that I would be deliriously happy anyway.

For that brief time when He looked down at us who had waited in the dawn, so lovingly and compassionately, and yet so intimately to each and every one, the place seemed to be electrified with His LOVE. And, the children singing in joyous tones the Bhajans that He taught them also were filled with LOVE.

Sai Spiritual Showers - Issue 3/33

It was a Holy time, the Sacred Week between Palm Sunday and Easter. It was also the beginning of Holi, the Hindu festival. The Jewish Passover was within a day or two. For me it meant an opportunity to reach deeply into my heart with renewed prayers that my own life itself would cease from all its human will and fall utterly and completely into alignment with God's Perfect Design. I had lit special candles and spent special time in prayer. The time was late for lunch, but, I also knew I was going to have a special lunch. I was going to take a simple and hearty meal at one of the canteen facilities provided by the Sai Organsation; and, I had overheard that the volunteers helping in the kitchen were regularly chanting the Gayatri Mantra, which Baba extols as a source of enormous spiritual light and strength. This meant a great deal to me.

When my son was only four years of age, our Sai Baba Centre avidly took up the study and learning of the Gayatri. All members of the Centre had begun chanting enthusiastically and humbly. We read carefully in "Vision of the Divine" all of Baba's words about this sacred Mantra. So from the age of four, Sathya had known and felt its healing upliftment. When he was eleven we decided he should recite it thrice daily and he himself became so deeply aware of its special goodness that he would not take food no matter what the occasion or earliness of the hour until his morning Gayatri was completed. I often sat with him as he recited the deep prayer and felt an especially calm beauty in those moments. Even at the age of four he had, through constant exposure to Baba's teachings, begun to grasp the subtleties of God's play. One day as I had succumbed to a feeling of dejection and sat down on the floor moping, Sathya toddled around the corner and upo n seeing me, stopped, leaned his pudgy little face down into my gaze and patting me on the cheek softly said: "Don't forget, Mommy, you're the Immortal Atma."

I was thinking of my son on this special day of prayer giving deep gratitude that he was being educated in a school blessed by Baba, and being taught in that school the rich tradition of Sanathana Dharma, Vedic morals and trust in God. Knowing that my son had eaten heartily and often from Mother Gayatri's sacred meal of upliftment, I, too, felt a kinship of protection for him as I walked to my own meal prepared in its Holy Light.

I was almost the last one to enter the canteen. I quickly requested 2 chapattis, and was most graciously served. However, suddenly I saw, almost as though drawn by a thick crayon, the lovely outline of an OM. It was made of the toasty darker brown and was vividly clear. (Later when the chapatti was cut in half the OM was seen to be perfectly centered in its raised puff of dough.) How beautiful, I thought. I tip-toed into the kitchen to show it to the workers. How lovely it had been for us all to see that sacred Symbol so perfectly drawn, in the very food we were to eat. One lady said she had felt particular guidance from Baba that morning to recite the Gayatri as the chapattis were rolled, whereas previously they had done so over vegetable chopping.

The Gayatri's very meaning, Baba tells us, is the affirmation of God in everything. He says it draws down upon us enormous spiritual benefits. All I could think, when all of us stood looking at the lovely Chapatti OM is: can we ever estimate the unseen value of the love and care we receive when we eat food prepared in a holy way and in a reverent environment? What prasad it is to receive food prepared by those who follow Baba's Intent and Instructions?

One man volunteered to preserve the OM by taking a photograph of it. I had even prayed to God that ...though I did not have a camera, such beautiful message from God as an OM in chapatti should be saved. Imagine my surprise when someone stepped forward and mentioned a desire to photograph the Precious Symbol. The man having the camera also mentioned it was his son's birthday. I could not help but think again of the Rebirth which the Gayatri affords and, my own child basking in that light. So many of the persons who saw the Chapatti OM felt special meaning in its manifestation. All of us felt most deeply, I think, a pure gratitude to Baba for letting us feel once again the precious efficacy and worth of Sadhana done with love, a most Precious Food.