Sai Geeta - A Devotee Par Excellence

Bhagavan's beloved elephant, Sai Geeta which served Him for over half a century and was part of all celebrations at Prasanthi Nilayam for decades breathed its last on 22nd May 2007.  It was a painless and peaceful end of a life dedicated totally to Bhagavan whose motherly love and divine grace it received in abundance all through its life.  With its death, a sage of unmatched, unique and sublime love between Bhagavan and Sai Geeta came to an end, filling the hearts of thousands of devotees with a sense of irreparable loss.

Bhagavan came to its shed at 7.30 a.m. on 23rd May 2007, materialised Vibhuti and sprinkled it on its body.   Later, Bhagavan came again at 10.30 a.m. when a crane was requisitioned to put its body in a specially made pit.  The body was lowered into the pit amidst Veda chanting and Bhajan singing by the students of Sri Sathya Sai University while Bhagavan stayed there for nearly two hours, supervising the arrangements of its burial with full honours.

Sai Geeta was a small calf when it was brought to Prasanthi Nilayam.  Though it had lost its mother just after its birth, what it received from Mother Sai was the love of a thousand mothers.  In the beginning, it was housed in a specially constructed shed attached to the Prashanthi Mandir on the western side of the wall from wherBhagavan could see it any time from His bedroom.  But as the number of devotees increased, another shed was made for it on the northern side of the Prasanthi Mandir where the idols of Rama, Sita, Lakshmana and Hanuman are now installed.  However, its residence was shifted again on the north-western corner of the Mandir and later to Sri Sathya Sai Gokulam.

As the number of cows increased in Gokulum and the need was felt to provide it more space and better attention, a spacious high-rise shed was specially constructed in front of the Senior Boys Hostel to accommodate it.  It was shifted to its present location in November 2006 when Sri Sathya Sai Indoor Stadium was constructed.

Though it was sent to a forest for nearly three months, it never mixed with other elephants.  On its return to Prasanthi Nilayam, some experts predicted that it could give birth to a calf.  But nothing of this sort happened.  It, as Bhagavan said, was a perfect celibate.

Though born as an animal, it had no animal instincts and its entire focus throughout its stay at Prasanthi Nilayam for more than 50 years was Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba.  It led its life as though it lived only for Bhagavan and dedicated its life to Him with one-pointed devotion, an example worth emulating by all human beings.

Sai Geeta was, no doubt, a devotee par excellence who reached the pinnacle of devotion, surrender and self-sacrifice in spite of its birth as an animal.

(From Sanathana Sarathi - June 2007)

Ringing of God's Name

"Many years ago, Swami wrote to me in a letter: "Sit in silence until God's name rings in your ears."  At that time, I thought if I just sat quietly as long as possible, I would hear Swami's name or the Om.  Now I understand that silence is God's abode, His name is His Presence and the ringing is His boundless love."

~ Diana Baskin ~

(Sanathana Sarathi - July 2001)

Namasmaran

Namasmaran means remembering or chanting God’s name repeatedly. It is one of the spiritual practices enjoined on an aspirant endeavouring to reach God. The importance Swami attaches to it is illustrated by an incident.

A devotee asked, “Swami, we often hear about total surrender (saranagathi). How is one to accomplish it?” Swami answered softly, “Bangaru, saranagathi is beyond you; why do you bother about it? Resort to namasmaran, God Himself will be at your beck and call.”

Swami once explained the special significance of namasmaran. “It is the most sublime of all the spiritual practices, it consists of japam (chanting of God’s name repeatedly), it is the most infallible penance (thapas). Kuchela could attain Lord Sri Krishna’s grace only through namasmaran. When you do namasmaran, intone the name with fervour, deep devotion and love. It bestows on you immense benefit.

In this Kali Yuga, namasmaran is enough to earn salvation and release from the otherwise unbroken cycle of birth and death. Namasmaran is the one and only divine medicine capable of curing you of lack of mental equanimity, avarice and other ills which torment you. It gives you abiding peace and contentment.

The name you choose can be any one of the thousands of names of God. Or, it can be any one of the names now in common use in any religion, country or region of the world, or in any section of devotees. Select any name and devote at least five minutes everyday for namasmaran; make it a part of your daily routine. It will give you immense benefit.”

Here is one illustration. Moorthy, Sri Kasturi’s son, was doing research in Geology. In that connection he had to tour forest areas in Assam. On one occasion when he was alone, a wild bear noticed him and began closing in on him. Moorthy fled for his life but the animal continued to chase him.

As he ran over some rocks in his desperate flight to safety, he tripped and fell down but continued to cry loudly, “Baba, Baba!” Within moments, a motor truck appeared there from nowhere and Moorthy found safety by getting into it.

After a few months, he happened to be in Prasanthi Nilayam. Swami told him, “I received your phone call and despatched a truck. Did it reach you in time?”


From the book “Tapovanam” by J.V.Sastry

Vairagya

"What is  meant by Vairagya?  It means reducing your desires.  Do not go on increasing your desires day by day.  As our body grows old, our life span goes on decreasing with every passing day.  Hence it will be very beneficial for us if we reduce our desires.  You can be always happy when you reduce your desires.  You may read any number of books and listen to all kinds of sacred texts.  But first and foremost, you have to reduce your desires.  Only then can you derive benefit from them."

~ Baba ~

Gelugor Centre's 35th Anniversary

NED members joined in the 35th Anniversary Celebrations of Gelugor Centre on Tuesday, 19th May 2015. The programme began at 6 p.m. with a yagna, followed by bhajans, a slideshow on Gelugor's Centre's recent activities, a tabla performance by a group of children and a short drama by youths.  The evening's programme concluded with the cake cutting ceremony and refreshments for all.

The Heart

The Rose Plant of our Body

"In the rose plant of our body, there is the rose of pure and sacred love emitting the fragrance of good qualities.  Below the rose, however, there are thorns in the form of sensual desires.  The purpose of meditation is to separate the rose of selfless love from the senses and offer it to the Lord."

~ Baba ~

Mother's Day 2015

We celebrated Mother's Day on 10th May by giving lunch to the residents of the Silver Jubilee Home for the old in Sg.Dua.  Our programme began at 10.15 a.m. with bhajans and prayers, after which members of the Rifle Range Health Club entertained the residents with a line dance performance.  We then helped to serve lunch which was catered from a vegetarian restaurant.  The Home has a total of 162 residents.

Swami's altar

Bhajans underway

Conclusion of  prayers

Food ready to be served

Herbal soup being dished out

Our members helping to prepare ice kacang

Line dancing by members of the Rifle Range Health Club

Our members serving lunch to the residents

These elderly ladies are enjoying their lunch

Fruit and Nonya kueh for dessert (also ice cream!)

Distributing ice cream to the Medical Ward

Two ladies enjoying their ice cream

I Am In You

"Be pure in words and deeds and keep impure thoughts away.  I am in every one of you and so I become aware of the slightest wave of thoughts.  When the clothes become dirty, you have to give them for wash.  When your mind is soiled, you have to be born again  for the cleansing operations.  The dhobi beats the clothes on the hard stone and draws over it the hot iron to straighten the folds.  So, you too, will have to pass through a terrain of travail in order to become fit to approach God.  See me as resident in everyone.  Give them all the help you can, all the serve they need.  Do not withhold the sweet word, the supporting hand, the assuring smile, the comforting company, the consoling conversation."

~ Baba ~

Wesak Day 2015

Wesak Day celebrations was held at Ned centre in the morning of May 3rd, 2015.  After bhajans and prayers, as well as chanting of Buddhist mantras, our members participated in the 'Bathing Buddha' ceremony.

Namo Amituofo!

House Bhajan

NED members were invited to attend a house bhajan at the new home of Bro Teh Sian Gee and Sis Lim Siew Kim in Mount Erskine on 1 May, 2015.  Bhajans and prayers, as well as Buddhist Mantras were chanted.