Sathya Sai Baba Centre of NED, Penang

Sai Spiritual Showers - Issue 3/35

2012-02-08T23:37:00.000-08:00

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

2012-02-06T00:41:00.000-08:00

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

2012-02-02T01:44:00.001-08:00

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

2012-02-01T06:11:00.000-08:00

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.

Sai Spiritual Showers - Issue 3/31

2012-01-12T01:36:00.000-08:00

On Wednesday, July 14th I awakened remembering the tail end of a very vivid dream in which I found myself in a group of people waiting to be tested by judges, but I did not know the nature of the test.

Finally, my turn came, and they said with surprise, that this one, meaning me, was able to breathe the full breath.

Apparently, this was the test, and I remember being very surprised, as I do not practise Pranayama, and had not been aware of breathing differently from usual.

Shortly after waking, my husband Sidney and I started our usual morning routine of Tai Chi Chih physical exercises followed by the meditation according to Baba's suggestions and guidelines.

A few minutes after starting the Tai Chi I was very strongly aware of Baba standing in front of me, only a short distance away, and I was most impressed with the fact that although I did not actually see Him, I knew the space He occupied in the room, and His size and height compared to my own.

Then I noticed that He was literally pouring into my solar plexus what felt like energy, and I was amazed at how very easy it was to relax and breathe it in; and wondered why it had never seemed so easy before, and hoped that I could continue to be so open to receive from Him.

I didn't connect this with the dream until later.

I had awakened with a headache, so I thought that Baba must be helping me with that, and thanked Him.

This awareness of Baba continued throughout the exercises and on into the meditation, until I began to feel that Baba was inside of me and that His energy was circulating all through my body with a tingling sensation.

I did not mention this to Sidney at the time, as it was such a subjective experience.

After breakfast I took a shower in the bathroom which Sidney always uses instead of the one I usually use, which is being repainted.

As I stepped out of the shower Sidney stepped in, and the next second I heard him crash as he slipped on the tile and fell on his back on the tile steps.

He could neither breathe nor speak, only groan, as he lay inert.

As Baba's presence was still so strongly with me, it was easy and natural for me to call on Him for help.

Somehow I was able to move Sidney out of the shower and onto a mat on his stomach, and was horrified to see that his rib cage on the right side was caved in, and there were two red marks across the back, and black and blue bruises beginning to appear on the upper back.

I quickly got Vibhuti and the mangalasutra which Baba had materialized at the spiritual marriage last year; putting them on his back I started rubbing gently with the Vibhuti, massaging his back, as I talked out loud to Baba, asking for help.

I was profoundly moved as I watched the ribs move up under my hand and the upper back resume the normal shape, at which point he gasped in and was able to breathe again and speak.

As I continued to rub the Vibhuti into the injured area, the black and blue bruises began to fade as if they were being washed away.

I could feel the broken ribs move under my hand, and could hear the broken ends rub against one another, and later, the X-ray pictures showed that he broke three ribs.

The amazing part is that there was no puncture of the lung; the broken ends were close together so that it was not necessary to operate to pull them into place; and there were no bruises visible.

I feel certain that Baba must have known that this was about to happen, but as He has said He will not interfere with our karma, He prepared me ahead of time (without my knowing the reason) so that I would be alerted to call on Him for help immediately, and already be filled with His energy so that it could pour into Sidney, and so prevent the accident from being more serious than it is.

The chief reason for me to share this is that so many devotees think that as soon as they come to Baba they will live happily ever after, free from problems, as we were taught in the fairy stories we heard as children; and are deeply disappointed and disillusioned, and often begin to doubt Baba, when the exact opposite often takes place, and they appear to be under an attack, with barely enough time to recover from dealing with one problem before new ones loom up.

However, Baba has told us that He often accelerates our karma when we come to Him, and as He will not erase it, He helps us handle it if we call on Him, knowing we cannot deal with it alone.

In the experience, I have just shared, not only did He fill me with His presence, but He led me, (without my knowledge) to be right there, only inches away when Sidney fell.

If I had been anywhere else in the house he might not have survived, as his condition made it impossible to call me, and I could not have heard the fall with the bathroom door closed.

For me, it is much more realistic to know that Baba is always available to help us with our problems, than to expect Him to wave a magic wand and avert them, and in so doing take away the chance to learn the necessary lesson through handling them with His help.

I am filled with awe as I look back and realize the loving care with which He came ahead of the accident to prepare the way to lessen the severity of it.

Sai Spiritual Showers - Issue 3/30

2012-01-04T22:05:00.000-08:00

I was hastening home from hospital, tired and hungry, after a long spell of duty. Suddenly, at a turn of the road, two Muslim girls ran towards me and gasped, "Nursamma! Bade bahan ki thabiyath achchee nahi hai; jaldee aayiye!" ("Nurse! Our elder sister is ill; her condition is bad; come with us, quick.") They dragged me by the hand, towards their house. Evidently, something serious!

The scene in that gloomy house increased my fears. Around a wooden cot, about a dozen women were weeping and wailing; the kids were running helpless, hither and thither. The master of the family had gone to town to fetch a taxi. The patient, "the bade bahan," was in great agony and struggling for breath. She was shouting in great pain, "O I am dying."

That was, it seems, her sixth pregnancy; ten months had been completed, but there were no signs of the infant in the womb. Doctors, big and small, general practitioners and specialists, some whom I knew, and some whose names were strange to me, had examined her and pronounced judgement. Their verdict was that it was a case of malignant tumour which will yield only to surgery. But, Sarambibi trembled at the thought of the operation; she preferred drugs and injections; they showed me the list of medicines, administered in despair, allopathic, unani, ayurvedic, homeopathic. They had tried sorcerers, astrologers, magicians and quacks. But, the situation only got worse and worse; her husband proposed to take her before dawn to the huge big hospital at Coimbatore.

It was at this juncture that I walked in. As soon as she saw me, Sarambibi sat up and fell on my neck, shouting in distress, "O! my Baabaa." I cleared the room of all the relatives and friends and examined the patient. Yes! The 'tumour' was hard as stone, there was no heartbeat recognisable; no movement of the foetal limbs could be traced. I was non-plussed; what could I do? I knew only one remedy—the Vibhuti of Bhagawan Sathya Sai Baba, a packet of which I always have with me. I move out every morning to the hospital only after worshipping Him. I had His Darshan at Ooty when He carne there and I had read the Tamil `Sathyam Sivam Sundaram" more than half a dozen times. Baba must help this woman now, I thought.

I opened the packet and, praying, "Sai Mata! Save your daughter," I drew with it a big Om on her abdomen and put a small quantity on her tongue. "Do not fear, you are with child; it will be born soon," I announced, to my own surprise! Sarambibi was filled with joy; she quietened and breathed normally; she went into deep sleep. They did not allow me to go home, but, insisted on my remaining there.

It must be midnight. Sarambibi woke with a start. She called me, "Nursarrmma! Come and see! The child is moving." I ran to the cot and with trembling hands felt her abdomen. I examined her. No tumour, no hardness at all.... It was the child, heart beat and movement clear and convincing! The pains too started soon and at 2 am, a girl was born! (7½-8 lbs!!)

The taxi which Amir Jan brought to take her to Coimbtore dropped me at my place, at 4 am.

ANNUAL FELLOWSHIP DINNER & NEW YEAR PRAYERS

2012-01-02T06:24:00.002-08:00

As the year comes to a close on 31 December 2011, our members got together in an annual fellowship potluck dinner at 7.30pm. There was a wide variety of vegetarian dishes, snacks, nyonya cakes and desserts. After dinner, there was a video presentation on two interviews with Dr Sunder Iyer, a former personal attendant to Swami.

Prayers began at 11.00pm with Vedam chanting, Naamvalli, Bhajans and Gayatri chanting x 108. All members had the opportunity to offer arathi to Swami at the end of the session.

Happy New Year!

ANNUAL FELLOWSHIP DINNER & NEW YEAR PRAYERS

2012-01-02T06:24:00.000-08:00

Prayers began at 11.00pm with Vedam chanting, Naamvalli, Bhajans and Gayatri chanting x 108. All members had the opportunity to offer arathi to Swami at the end of the session.

Happy New Year!

Sai Spiritual Showers - Issue 3/29

2011-12-29T02:30:00.000-08:00

To us students who have been in Swami's school, the single, foremost experience He confers on us is that of His unbounded, all-embracing Love.

We have completed our XI and XII standard at the Sri Sathya Sai Higher Secondary School. Swami, knowing that this was to be our first venture away from home, called us for an interview before we joined the school. He said, "I know you have a lot of attachment for your mother, but she is only your physical mother; I am your real Mother; I will look after you". And there was not a moment when He didn't.

There have been so many instances wherein Swami has blessed His students and taken away their illnesses. At sports time, (in our XI standard) one of us fell sick with a terrible attack of asthma. This was the time when she most desired the care and affection of our bodily mother to get better. The school doctor had given her some homeopathic medicine, besides the other allopathic medicines that she was taking. But they were of no avail. The asthma persisted and it was getting worse. Our Principal spared no efforts to make her comfortable. She even shifted her from our dormitory to the Principal's room. Our father informed Swami about her illness. At the next darshan, as Swami approached the Principal, He asked, "Where is that girl? How is she? "She stood up and with a half-choked voice told Swami, I can't breathe, Swami." (Now we must mention that owing to some smoke in the atmosphere she felt that her asthma had been aggravated. But Sw ami smiled and very lovingly and turned it into a joke. He said, "A lot of breeze comes into the dormitory, not smoke. Smoking only your husband does." (much laughter) They all knew she was unmarried. Thus the Divine Mother consoled and cajoled her and allowed her to take padanamaskar! That did it! The asthma disappeared!

One day as she was tidying her shelf in our dormitory, she found yet another sign of His infinite Love. She had taken the homeopathic medicine and had left the empty paper folded in a corner of the shelf. Some days later she unfolded the paper and lo and behold, it was full of Vibhuti.

During our XII standard, at the time of Akhanda Bhajan both of us fell sick with the same problem of asthma. Once again, where medicine did not work, Swami sent us twelve packets of Vibhuti. A few days later, when we were better and sitting for darshan, He came straight to us and enquired, "How are you?" We replied, "Better, Swami." He materialised Vibhuti and gave it to us. Once again the Divine Doctor had cured us.

It is our experience that Sai, our Mother pays attention and fulfills our smallest need. For instance, when we were in the XII standard, a friend's Physics record had been misplaced by Ushaina. She was very much upset and searched everywhere. She checked her friend's desk too, it was nowhere to be found. She prayed sincerely to Swami and after a few minute, the book just appeared on her friend's desk. Another similar incident occurred in our XII std. We were watching a film in the Poornachandra Auditorium. We had to shift places for some reason and Ushaina found to her dismay that in the dark she misplaced her Chemistry text book. After a thorough search she gave up and prayed to Swami. Within a few days the book appeared on the top of a pile of books in our school prayer hall! Now, who do you think put it there? In a recent discourse Bhagawan said, "Do not beg from others, instead of that, beg from God. He will give what is essential for you.&qu ot;

When the Final Board Examinations were nearing, Our Headmistress remarked as to how healthy we were. It is true we were off all medicines and without the slightest trace of asthma. Our Divine Mother knows what is best for Her children and accordingly takes care of us.

Owing to the pressure of our studies we used to get up early in the morning and we had an alarm clock ring. Invariably the alarm would go off awakening a number of friends, but tired, sound sleepers as we were, we would miss the alarm only to wake up later 'in alarm'! Realising this we thought better and decided to rely on the Divine Alarm within us. On the eve of our Biology Board Examination, as we still had to revise seven chapters, we prayed to Swami to wake us up at the appropriate time. Indeed the Divine voice woke us up at 2:30 a.m. sharp.

In December 1987, Swami instructed our parents to have us initiated into the Zoroastrian Navjote Ceremony and to come for blessings thereafter. We were invested with the sacred Kusti, which is like the Yajnopavitam. Thereafter we came to Prasanthi Nilayam. Beyond our wildest expectations the Mother of the Vedas initiated us into the Gayatri Mantra. It was the1st of January, 1988, and Swami told us, "This is My New Year's Gift." Then the Divine Mother proceeded to materialise a gigantic laddoo (6" in diameter), which was broken and distributed to all the devotees present there as New Year prasad. How kind and loving the Lord was that day! This Gayatri Mantra has been our guide and support ever since our initiation. Whenever there have been any doubts or problems we have been able to solve them with the help of the Mantra. For instance, in our Biology Board Examination, after chanting the Mantra, we were able to pinpoint two specific pigm ents, which had eluded us.

We experienced the real meaning of selfless service from the Warden, Headmistress and our teachers. We admire them greatly and take this opportunity to express our heartfelt gratitude to all the staff. The teachers took great pains to prepare the students in their subjects and were ever willing to solve doubts. Students studying for their Board Examinations would be given 'Night Food' to reinforce their energies.

There was nothing they would not do to help the students. When we were ill and missed our home environment, it was the Warden and Headmistress who took full maternal care of us. We have never experienced such a variety of excellent food as in the school. The best 'sambar' we have ever tasted has been at the Sri Sathya Sai Higher Secondary School!

Every Thursday and Sunday, Swami as the Divine Mother (knowing the pangs of hunger creeping up on us children who had breakfasted very early in the morning) would distribute sweets to His children. Lovingly enquiring if every student had received a sweet, He would sometimes tell the little boys to eat their sweets quickly for they would be safe in their stomachs.

Experiencing Swami's Darshans, His loving glances, consoling words and listening to His nectarine discourses have anchored us firmly in the ideal way of life to be good, see good and do good. That is the way we have to earn a good name for our parents and Swami's Institute.

Swami is truly love personified forever giving and forgiving. How fortunate are we a handful of students chosen by the Lord from among thousands and thousands of children yearning to study at His Lotus Feet! To have basked in His Love and Grace is indeed our greatest good fortune.

CHRISTMAS 2011

2011-12-28T07:36:00.000-08:00

The Christmas spirit of Joy, Peace and Love was celebrated in our NED centre on 25 December 2011, at 10.00am. More than 100 adults and children were present to sing songs of praise, hymns and bhajans.

After arathi, Santa Claus brought his bag of goodies and distributed presents to every happy child and adult, as the melodious caroling was being sung by our group of carolers.

Vegetarian lunch was served to end the joyous occasion.

HAPPY SAI CHRISTMAS!!

(Click below for more pictures :

Christmas 2011)

Sai Spiritual Showers - Issue 3/28

2011-12-21T18:57:00.000-08:00

Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba came into our lives during the latter half of 1978 when we were transferred to Raub, Pahang, Malaysia. Prior to that, although hailing from a Hindu religious family, much controversy and corruption of religious ethics, coupled with fanaticism of a certain ideology, shattered whatever belief and devotion I had for Hinduism.

Light came after a short period of darkness when in Raub we were 'introduced' to Bhagawan in His own way. Love sprouted spontaneously for Bhagawan and my family was put in the right direction and devotion. Things began to fall in the right perspective and our lives have become smooth and peaceful under the guidance of the Divine Guru.

Bhagawan's miracles were many and amongst others the latest is when Bhagawan became a surgeon to correct a bone deformity of my youngest child, Roshan.

Roshan, a boy of 8 years, is the youngest of my three children. This boy was born with a bowing deformity on both legs, but more pronounced in the left. It never struck us that the boy, who was walking by throwing his left foot across the right in the form of a 'T", needed treatment until one day on 7.10.81 he was referred to the Orthopaedic Consultant in the Kuala Lumpur General Hospital. The consultant, who was from India, on examining the boy opined that he was having a rare bone deformity which can only be corrected by surgery. The consultant fixed an operation date, but on our plea, he arranged for a second X-ray. He had a good look at a set of X-ray pictures taken prior to seeing him.

With heavy hearts we returned home thinking to ourselves the pain and agony the child would be undergoing if surgery was to be performed. We were more worried about the outcome of it. What would happen if something were to go wrong? Thoughts of the consultant's words that the leg bones have to be "reset" sent cold waves down our spines. We prayed to Bhagawan for help.

My wife, who easily breaks down due to motherly affection, was expressing her sorrow and simultaneously endeavouring to conceal it. As the father, I was trying to put up a bold front. However, both of us had one common stand. Leave it to Bhagawan and apply His BLESSED VIBHUTI on both his legs before he goes to bed. My wife did it continuously for three days.

On the fourth day, as usual, the boy was having tuition from his mother at home. Suddenly he complained of severe twisting pains in both his legs, but more pronounced in the left. The pain, according to him, was felt right up to his hips. The mother doubted the words of the boy, as he was known for his tricks to avoid his lessons. He would seize the slightest pretext to run away. But continuous pain inhibited the boy from learning further and he went to bed in tears. The whole matter was left at that stage and I was not made known of it either.

The next day, when I was having my lunch, my son happened to pass by and something caught my eyes. It appeared that there was some change in the style of his walking. Without making him aware, I asked him to walk to a certain point in the house and what did I see? The boy walked perfectly normally. There was not the 'T' formation when he walked. I called my wife and, even without informing her about my experience, requested her to observe the walk. We could not believe our eyes. We asked the boy to run a short distance on the road opposite our house. It was done. The Divine Surgeon, Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, had done it. What shall we say? How shall we express ourselves over this MIRACLE?

On 9.12.81, we had an appointment with Dato Dr. Sivanantham, Head of the Institute of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, General Hospital, Kuala Lumpur, as the previous consultant had returned to India. We went into the doctor's room loaded with a fresh set of X-rays taken on that very day. We informed the doctor, that we are Sai Baba devotees and told him of Baba's miracle that had taken place. We requested his professional opinion even though we needed no further proof. The X-rays were seen, the boy's legs were thoroughly examined and a brief silence preceded before the doctor commented that the legs were perfect. In his own words 'I wish the doctor (from India) was here to witness this'. We requested Dr. Sivanantham for a statement of his professional findings, which he kindly consented to give. I reproduce below, with his permission, the report he gave to us.

'Roshan, an eight years old Indian male, was seen in the Orthopaedic Clinic on 2.9.81 with a complaint of bowing deformity of his left leg since the time of his birth. He is handicapped by this deformity in his games in school and was shunned by his classmates as he could not run fast. He was seen on the 7th October 1981 by a Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon in my Institute who confirmed that the boy had a medial torsion deformity of both tibiae (leg bones) more pronounced on the left than on the right. Patient was advised to undergo surgical treatment but the parents wanted time to think over it before giving the consent for surgery.

'Patient was seen again by me on the 9th of December 1981, and to my surprise I was not able to detect any deformity in both the legs. X-rays of the legs done on 9.12.81 did not show any deformity in the bones.

'It is a well-known fact that deformity in children can get corrected spontaneously but this process takes many years. In this particular case the deformity has corrected itself within two months. According to the parents the boy complained of twisting pain in the legs for a few days and suddenly one fine morning they noticed him to be walking and running normally without any deformity in the legs. I cannot explain it in any other way except by saying that this is a miracle that is to be seen to be believed'.

Sai Spiritual Showers - Issue 3/27

2011-12-14T18:02:00.000-08:00

As I sit alone in a rather pensive mood, attempting a mental resume of my student life at His Lotus Feet, the thought overawes me that, in fact, seven precious summers have passed since I entered the portals of this paradise. It is unbelievable... for was it not only yesterday that I joined Bhagawan's college? Verily one forgets to keep track of time when one is living with Eternity Itself.

The thought gives me joy with a tinge of sorrow, for when I try to peep into the inner recesses of my heart to find the glow of His Love, I at once discover that He has been unfailing in His bountiful love for me. Inspite of knowing that He is the way and the goal for all of us without Whom our lives would not bear any meaning or taste, we fail to understand His Love.

On a number of occasions, He has reminded us to realise the DIVINITY in Him and not to be deluded by external appearances. Through parables and examples, jokes and stories He has been constantly trying to drive home that TRUTH in all of us.

One such golden moment came in my life on a bright morning. The Day was the 7th of November 1984. All of us were eagerly awaiting Swami's Darshan. As He came out, He picked up four boys and I was one of the fortunate four. Swami directed us to go to the anteroom in the Mandir apparently to clean and tidy up the room.

After going round the devotees and granting them the much-coveted darshan, Swami came straight into the room, where we were engaged in cleaning the place. We all stood in front of Him with folded hands. Swami in His characteristic and Divine way proceeded to grant us one of the rarest moments of our lives.

Swami pointed to a deerskin which was rolled and kept on a rack, and addressed one of the boys, "Take this deer skin to the Himalayas and do Tapasya there?" For a moment the boy was nonplussed. "Did He really mean it? Is Swami telling seriously or is it meant to be a pleasant joke?" There was silence for a few seconds, while Swami waited for an answer from us. Swami looked at me and asked, "Is it good to do Tapasya in the Himalayas?" I promptly said, "Yes Swami." But this answer did not satisfy Him. He Himself said, "Do you not realise that the RESULT of all Tapasya is Here?" and pointed at Himself.

He thus gave us a glimpse of His Divinity and showed that there is no need to do Tapasya in the Himalayas when the object of all such endeavours was right in front of us in flesh and blood. He continued, "Whenever I give darshan to those who are engaged in penance in the Himalayas, even for a few seconds, they feel extremely blissful for having attained that Vision Of God. And they regard it as a great experience. But you all are having My darshan every morning and evening, yet, you never realise the value of it."

He gave further a beautiful illustration. "Whenever people desire to see an elephant they go to the forest. And by chance, if they see even the tail of an elephant whose body might have been hidden among the bushes and shrubs, they feel immense joy at having seen an elephant. In your case, there is an elephant (Sai Geeta) in front of your hostel. But you do not pine to see her, because she is a familiar sight."

We must realise the value of His Divine Darshan from these examples. Since we are blessed with the opportunity to be near Him, we should make the best use of each and every moment of our life here. Sometimes, we may be confused by delusion and despair. In those weak moments, we must pray to Swami for His benign grace so that we may always feel His presence within us.

Sai Spiritual Showers - Issue 3/26

2011-12-07T18:11:00.000-08:00

Commenting on Avatars, Swami Prabhavananda of the Ramakrishna Order tells us that Their validity is very often revealed by that unique power of transmitting spirituality and transforming men's lives by touch, look or wish.

It was the third day of the Dasara Festival 1979. I was among the thousands who thronged into the Poornachandra Auditorium to have that much sought Darshan. My Lord was walking along the aisle when I lifted up some letters to HIM. Those life filled eyes fell on me and the hand that was stretched out to receive the letters came into contact with my right forefinger. The experience began and my Master moved on. A deep stillness permeated and penetrated my whole being and for a moment I felt that I was alone in that huge auditorium. A few seconds of unawareness followed, and on my return to reality, I became aware of my inability to speak. The stillness within persisted, and I began to experience what I think has been referred to as the peace that passeth all understanding. In this state of bliss I lived within the depths of silence for five days. Bhagawan brought me to the realisation that "Only in Absolute Stillness can you know Me as I Really Am, and then, but as a feeling and as a faith."

Everyone who sits in the Darshan line, longs for a look, a word or touch from the Master and a few days after Dasara I was blessed with a very tender and meaningful experience. Sitting in the line for morning Darshan I summed up the courage to speak to Bhagawan as HE approached. Those love filled eyes met mine, and as I spoke, HIS giving hand reached out for my half stretched one. The contact was made, and from the hand of the Divine was materialized a large crystal type sweet. The Lord moved on and, as I clutched the sweet, the effect of that mother like touch began to manifest itself. I sunk again for about half-an-hour into a great silence and I was made aware of the truth that "this 'Mother Sai' has the love of a thousand mother."

Years before the first meeting with my Master, I had prayed. "O Heavenly Father! If Thou art incarnated on earth, draw me to Thee and lift me to a consciousness of oneness with Thee." Those were Bhagawan's mode of revealing to me that HE was indeed the Heavenly Father to whom I prayed to be drawn, and Who was fulfilling my prayer for a spiritually uplifted consciousness.

It is for us to understand the immense sacrifice the Godhead has made by incarnating as our Beloved Bhagawan. This form HE has assumed for lifting the consciousness of man from sensuality to spirituality, and if hearts are open and receptive, all can be touched and lifted.

Sai Spiritual Showers - Issue 3/25

2011-12-01T04:22:00.000-08:00

During the months of May - June, Bhagawan usually arranges 'summer courses' for students at Whitefield, when more than 1,000 students from all parts of India and many countries all over the globe are given a golden opportunity to hear learned lectures and His Divine Discourses. During one of those summer courses, I was graciously permitted by Bhagawan to render my humble services as a doctor, looking after the health of the male students there.

From Orissa, two students who are twins, were attending the summer course. One of the twins, the younger one, started running high temperature. In the mornings his temperature used to reach 106 F and in the evenings, peculiarly his temperature used to dome down by just one degree to 105 F, and the whole night that temperature was being maintained. All the necessary medication was given to him to bring down the temperature, but all our drugs did not touch him at all, and the fever continued unabated. All the antibiotics and antipyretics we saturated him with were absolutely futile. On the fourth day of his fever, his twin brother also started running exactly similar and peculiarly high temperature, He also did not respond to the treatment given. Along with me, there were other doctors, and we put our brains together but were all equally perplexed, puzzled and disturbed. We discussed the various possible causes for the peculiar high temperature and concluded that it must be some viral infection or E. Coli infection. For eight days the morning temperature was 106 and evening temperature was 105.

We then appealed to Bhagawan requesting Him to send those two to a hospital for investigations to clinch the diagnosis. That evening Baba came to see those students and He smilingly joked saying: "What kind of doctors are you? All your brains put together could not reduce the temperature even by one degree all these 8 days? What is your diagnosis and what treatment are you giving them?" I enumerated in detail to Baba the treatment we were giving and the diagnosis. Baba said: "Treat them for typhoid; they will be all right." So saying, Baba materialised some Vibhuti, put it in their mouth and went away.

All of us were extremely puzzled at Baba's words, since those patients did not show even a single symptom of typhoid. We had ruled out the possibility of typhoid from the very beginning of the treatment; and we did not ask for a widal test even. We thought, "How can Baba call their fever as typhoid, even without a single symptom? After all, He is not a doctor." But, most unwillingly and half-heartedly, we started treating them for typhoid, just to obey Baba.

Believe me when I say that by the second day after following the advice given by Baba, the fever started coming down; it touched normal by the evening of the second day, and remained normal thereafter. We were dumbfounded; we could not believe our eyes nor our medical knowledge. We knew that those two students were suffering from anything but typhoid. But Bhagawan is capable of changing any fever into any other fever and also cure that disease. Baba is the Doctor of doctors—the Divine Doctor.

Another student, during the same summer course, had an attack of Herpes Zoster, an exceedingly painful viral infection, with vesicles forming in the path of a peripheral nerve. He could not get a wink of sleep for five days and nights. We saturated him with sedatives, tranquillisers etc., but to no avail. So I appealed to the Divine Doctor for help. Next evening Baba came to see that student and, with a sweet smile, jokingly said: "What kind of doctors are you who could not get him sleep for 5 days? What happened to ail your medicines?" So saying, Baba materialised Vibhuti and put it in the patient's mouth and went away. Exactly two minutes after Baba left that student went to sleep and he slept like a log the whole night. Next morning he got up and said that his pain was considerably less. Can medical science or any science give adequate explanation for the above phenomena? Will scientists ever realise that Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba is b eyond the comprehension of medical or any other science?

GOTONG ROYONG - 26/11/11

2011-11-29T05:40:00.000-08:00

In conjunction with World Environmental Day, the Sai Youths and Adults of Penang State came together for a gotong-royong on Sunday morning, 27th November 2011. The location was at Desa Intan, Farlim, which comprised of seven blocks of low-cost apartments. Several residents of the area were also present to help in the project.

We cleared the garbage in the surrounding area of the apartments, unclogged the drains, pulled out overgrown weeds, and also filled up some potholes in the car park. At the end of program, the youths presented a slideshow of Swami's pictures and a video clip titled 'Earth Song' by Micheal Jackson.

Refreshments were served before and after the event. A total of 50 people participated in this project.

(Click below for more pictures :
Gotong Royong)

Swami's Birthday Celebration - 23 Nov 2011

2011-11-22T22:43:00.000-08:00

The divine sounds of "Om" vibrated in the morning air at 5.30am on Nov 23, 2011. Today is the birthday of our beloved Lord, Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. After twenty "Oms", we proceeded with 108 Sai Ashtotharam Naamavali and bhajans. Breakfast was served to all members after arathi.

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The evening session for Swami's Birthday began at 6.30pm with screening of videos on 'His Life Is His Message' and clips of Swami singing bhajans and walking amidst His devotees. At 8.00pm, the celebration proper proceeded with veda chanting, mantras and bhajans.

At the end of the prayers, Bro Thum, our chairman, gave a short talk on Swami's message and read extracts from the most recent copy of Sanathana Sarathi.

Refreshments was served after arathi. An estimated number of 200 people attended the entire event for this year.

(Click below for more pictures :
Swami's Birthday Celebration 2011)

Ladies Day 2011

2011-11-19T01:29:00.000-08:00

Our Sai ladies and brothers visited the homes of three senior members on Ladies Day, 19 November 2011.

The first place we visited was to the home of Sis Esther, to see her 95 year-old mother whom we all call 'Popo' meaning grandmother in Chinese. The second place was to Bro Ooi Hwa Bin's home where we also conducted a bhajan.

At noon, we adjourned to the Annalakhsmi Restaurant in Temple of Fine Arts for a vegetarian lunch. And finally, we visited Sis Khoo Gim Choo's home for afternoon satsang.

Happy Ladies Day!

Sai Spiritual Showers - Issue 3/23

2011-11-16T21:36:00.003-08:00

Once Mataji Krishna Priya went to Simla. She was offering worship with unstinted devotion to Krishna considering Him as Baba. She came to know that Baba had left his mortal coil at 2.30 p.m. on Vijayadashami day in 1918. Immediately after this Ekadasi followed. Baba had told his close devotee, Kakaji, in the year 1916, that Dada would be shedding his mortal coil in 1918. Kakaji thought that Baba was mentioning only about Dada Sahib, another devotee, and never thought the reference was to Baba himself.

On September 28, 1918, Baba developed high temperature. Two days earlier he had collected food by seeking alms in some houses. He took that food and at noon, He expressed His wish to his devotees that he should be taken from the choultry to Bootywada. He hoped to have a quiet time there. In that ward, a Muralidhar temple had been built by a devotee by name Booty. He wanted Baba to install the idol of Krishna in the temple. But Baba was putting off the installation on one pretext or other. Booty did not want to install the idol without the blessings of Baba. Till His end Baba did not say anything about installation of the idol. He directed Booty and Kakaji to go and take their lunch. Feeling that Baba was better, they went out. Baba had nine rupee coins under His pillow. He took them out and gave them to Lakshmibai. Then Baba summoned Shyam to come near Him. Shyam sat close to Baba. Baba reclined on Shyam's shoulders and passed away.

Krishna Priya came to know of this and felt very sad the whole day. The next day she closed all the doors and windows in her house because of the severe cold in Simla. While she was resting in the house, a tall and well-built monk arrived at the next door, and enquired about Mataji's house. He made enquiry not because He did not know where Mataji lived, but only to make others know that He was physically present in Simla. The neighbour sent a servant with an umbrella as it was snowing, to show the stranger Mataji's house. He knocked at the door. Mataji opened the door and could not believe the evidence of her eyes. She wondered how Baba, who had passed away the previous day, could come to Simla. She asked: "How did you manage to come so soon. It takes at least three days to come from Shirdi to Simla." Baba said: "Beti (dear daughter), I am everywhere. You have worshipped me in the form of Krishna. Is this all that you know about me? I a m feeling the cold, first get me hot tea." She prepared tea and offered it to Baba. After taking the tea, Baba said that He was hungry after his long journey. Krishna Priya brought Him chapatis and brinjal curry which Baba used to like very much. After taking the food Baba washed His hands and wiped them in a towel. He then told her: "The purpose for which I came is over and I am going away."

In those days nobody dared to exchange words with Baba. If anybody opposed or said anything to the contrary, Baba would wield the stick against them. He never brooked any contradiction. Hence Krishna Priya could not tell Him anything. He gave her a jasmine garland.

Krishna Priya watched Him as a He went out walking through the bazaar. In Simla, on the road side, there are usually deep valleys. As Baba was walking along, some workmen were engaged in some road work. Noticing that Baba had fallen down from the road, they ran to rescue Him. But they could find nobody there. Baba had just disappeared.

Before taking leave of Krishna Priya, Baba whispered in her ears: "See me in 1926." She did not know where to see Him, how to see Him. When I went to Simla about 15 years ago Krishna Priya came to see Me. She was shivering on account of age and the cold weather. She asked: "Baba, have you forgotten the promise that you made to me long ago?" I told her: "It is you who have forgotten, not I. I never forget what I promised."

These are some of the aspects of the Shirdi manifestation. When Shirdi Sai sought to impart wisdom, it was not through discourses. Everything was taught by stern methods. It was because of the conditions prevailing in those days.

Sai Global Akhanda Bhajan

2011-11-13T20:34:00.000-08:00

The Sai Global Akhanda Bhajan was held from 6.00pm on 12 Nov, 2011 - 6.00pm on 13 Nov, 2011 at the Krishna Temple in Penang Road, Penang. The programme was preceded with a full hour of Rudram and Veda chanting, plus Gayatri Mantra x 108. A total of four Sai centres and two Bhajan units participated in the 24-hour event. Refreshments was provided throughout the entire event.

Samastha Lokaa Sukhino Bhavantu.

World Meditation Day 11.11.11

2011-11-11T21:31:00.000-08:00

World Meditation Day 11.11.11 was celebrated at NED centre with prayers and meditation. We began at 7.00pm with Sai Gayatri x 3, Gayatri Mantra x 108, and followed by meditation until 8.15pm. Refreshments was served after arathi.

There were a total of 40 members who had participated in this event.

108 NAMES OF BHAGAVAN SRI SATHYA SAI BABA

2011-11-10T08:46:00.000-08:00

Sai Spiritual Showers - Issue 3/22

2011-11-09T20:34:00.000-08:00

What I am about to relate has a bearing on Shirdi Sai Samadhi Day.

Around 5 pm on 15th October, 2006, we took off from Mumbai for Jeddah via Hyderabad in an Airbus 310. There was a ground halt at Hyderabad for an hour. While the aircraft was being serviced, I stepped out into the jetty and made a call to someone very dear to remind her to dedicate that evening's bhajans to Shirdi Sai and to reminisce about His glories.

My mind too seemed to fly to Shirdi, as I stepped back into the plane to check on the cleaning before welcoming passengers on board.

The flight was not too full and the take-off was smooth and on time. It being Ramzan time, we decided to serve dinner immediately on leveling off, as most of our passengers had been fasting.

After clearing the cabin, and seeing to passenger comfort, I sat down in the crew rest area - the last row of seats on the right hand side – to eat my meal. My colleague was sitting near the window and I was on the aisle seat. As she chatted, my mind sped off to Dwarkamai, the dhuni, the boulder that Baba sat on, His Samadhi, and so on…

My dinner and mental pilgrimage over, I excused myself and stood up with the dinner tray in my hand. And that was it.

The aircraft shook sideways vigorously and then kept losing height rapidly. The tray went flying out of my hands and I lost all sense of gravity and was flung about like a rag doll or perhaps like a tiny leaf in a mighty storm - completely weightless.

As I was being tossed about, my head hitting the bins on top and my body against the seat handles, I recollect my first thoughts being: "This is no ordinary turbulence, it can't be happening."

Then, instinctively, I started chanting 'SaiRam' slowly and loudly. Just a simple 'SaiRam'. Each 'SaiRam' was elongated.

I tried clutching the handles of the seats on either side but I could not, though the aisle was narrow. I kept being flung about.

By the 9th or the 10th 'SaiRam' or so it seemed, the aircraft somewhat stabilised and I got into the seat on my left but I was gasping and could not breathe or speak for a few seconds and my right ribs hurt. I would later learn that two right ribs were fractured in that incident, but at that time, my thoughts were on the passengers and as soon as I could breathe properly, I shouted out to all in the cabin to remain seated and keep their seat belts on. One of my colleagues had gone to the front of the cabin just prior to this incident and so she had slipped into an empty seat and was saved. But much later, after we had given first aid to all the passengers, she almost collapsed and had to be revived. A kind of a delayed shock perhaps!

The colleague, who had sat by my side, hit her head on the side lights on the ceiling several times and fractured her right knee too. Besides being jolted around, nothing much happened to the crew in the forward section as the rear of the aircraft always takes the brunt.

As I was loudly instructing the passengers, since many do not leave their seat belts on, a passenger, who was flung about in the toilet through this time and was bleeding profusely as he had a cut in his mouth, came into the cabin. Looking absolutely shocked and aghast, he was wondering what to do. I made him sit next to me and reached out to the beverage cart, which was fortunately within reach, got some ice, wrapped it in a headrest cover and put it on his mouth to stem the bleeding. This tall, young boy later told me that he was tossed about like a football in the toilet!

It was time for action now as many passengers were hurt and wounded. There was this young passenger who had annoyed the crew by continuously using his cell phone even as we taxied out, knowing it interferes with the aircraft navigation and communication systems. It was this same youngster who came to our rescue as he turned out to be a dental surgeon! Unceasing grace…

Some of the crew assisted this doctor in suturing and giving anesthesia to those wounded while the rest got busy administering first aid to other passengers. While doing so, some concerned passengers reminded me to clean up my face and uniform sari, as I had food all over me. Since there were so many calls for help, and immediate action was necessary, this had taken a backseat till things were somewhat under control...

There was food and broken crockery all over the galley floor and it looked tornado hit. We could only clear this up just before landing into Jeddah, as till then we were attending to passengers who were mentally shocked or physically wounded or a bit of both.

One elderly lady had to be immobilised. As a consequence of not having fastened her seat belt, she had been flung about, up and down and had fractured her right leg. Her seat handle, which must have borne her weight, was completely mangled. She seemed shaken and cold and as I hugged and reassured her, I asked if she would like to take some oxygen. She seemed much better once she had been administered oxygen. Once we landed into Jeddah, the paramedics had to be called to carefully take her out of her seat and to the hospital.

This life threatening incident took place while we flew over Muscat; it was 1840 hrs in Oman and 2010 hrs in India. On the surgeon's assurance that passengers were alright, the decision was taken to fly on to Jeddah, three hours away.

Since majority of the passengers had been fasting, we had finished the dinner service earlier than normal, otherwise the casualties and injuries would have been tremendous if the beverage or dinner carts had been in the cabin or if the tea and coffee service was on. Yet another blessing…

It was the holy month of Ramzan and prayers were continuous.

What happened that evening has not been revealed. There was an inquiry where we, the crew, were all questioned. What seemed like eternity, we were told, lasted only a minute. We lost 5000 feet in a minute! There were whispers of a near air miss, of our aircraft having swerved to the right, cloud pocket, etc. It could have been anything.

Having been in the flying industry for more than half my life, I knew deep down, that it was a near disaster that had been averted.

What was to be a full stop was changed to a comma. Mysterious and unfathomable are the Lord's ways. All I remember in retrospect is that, as I automatically started chanting 'SaiRam', there was no other thought in the mind - no fear, no panic and especially no 'Save me, Oh Lord'. Only a calm surrender, a 'whatever You wish'; life or death didn't matter, whichever side the soul travelled, there was only Sai…

I have learnt that it is not when He saves your life that He saves You; it is when He fills your heart with love, compassion, forgiveness and tolerance that He really saves you…

The above is only one of several instances where I have continuously felt His presence. Whatever the situation may be up in the air, He has always been there.

Swami's Birthday Visit To Silver Jubilee Home - 6/11/11

2011-11-07T00:27:00.000-08:00

In conjunction with Swami's Birthday, our Sai brothers and sisters visited the Silver Jubilee Home, Sungai Dua, Penang, on 6th November, 2011. We began with prayers and bhajans at 10.00am in the main hall. This was followed by serving of vegetarian lunch and ice-cream dessert to the senior residents in the wards. At 12noon, lunch was served in the main hall, accompanied by karaoke singing and dancing by our members and several uncles and aunties.

It was a happy day for everyone who had participated on this day. There were 30 of our members who had attended and 250 residents in the home.

Click below to see more pictures :

Swami's Birthday Visit To Silver Jubilee Home

Sai Spiritual Showers - Issue 3/21

2011-11-02T19:35:00.000-07:00

God can accomplish any task. Sometimes He may give darshan to some people, while others may not have this benefit. Much depends upon their mental attitude. Cultivate unflinching faith and singleminded devotion to God. Several yogis and renunciants yearned for the darshan of God, but few could win that grace with unflinching faith and single-minded devotion to God.

Sometime ago when I visited Rishikesh, I gave darshan to Swami Purushothamananda living in the Vasishta cave located on the way to Badrinath in the Himalayas. He was doing thapas, living alone in that cave. He used to keep a small oil lamp in that cave. The cave was located a little interior from the road point. He used to purchase milk and make some tea with it. That was his only food. The rest of the time, he was always immersed in thapas. Days rolled by. After sometime, he did not have enough strength to come to the road point to purchase milk and again get back to his cave. Hence, he made his trips less frequent, that is, once in a week, to obtain milk.

One day, he came to know that Bhagawan Baba was staying in the Sivananda ashram for a few days. He was longing to have Swami's darshan. He, therefore, sent a letter through a messenger praying "Bhagawan! Please come to our cave and grant darshan to me."

I was aware of his intense devotion towards Swami. I saw his letter and immediately rushed to Vasishta cave to give him darshan . The entrance to the cave was closed with a door. Purushothamananda had no energy left in him to get up and open the door. Kasturi accompanied Me during My trip. He was quite strong then. Both Kasturi and Myself tried to open the door. At last we could succeed in opening the door. Purushothamananda was extremely happy on seeing both of us. He wanted to spend a few minutes alone in the Divine Presence of Swami. He, therefore, advised Kasturi to go inside the cave and have a look at it. Kasturi, with his journalistic inquisitiveness went in.

Purushothamananda fixed his gaze on Me and was lost in bliss. After a few moments, he regained his normal self. I told Purushothamananda that I would visit his cave once again. The very next day I visited Purushothamananda and spent some time with him again. After My return to Sivananda ashram, Swami Sivananda was a bit disappointed that I visited Purushothamananda's cave twice and did not find much time to spend in the Sivananda Ashram.

On my second visit to Vasishta cave, I took a piece of paper from Kasturi and wrote a particular date for My next visit to Purushothamananda's ashram. On the scheduled date, Purushothamananda took a holy bath in the Ganges and was eagerly waiting for My darshan. Deeply lost in contemplation on my divine Form, he had divine vision after sometime. A few minutes later, he left his mortal coil in that deep samadhi state itself.

The news was conveyed to Me while I was in Delhi. I was informed by a telegram that Purushothamananda merged in Swami. I confirmed the news saying, "yes, yes." Strangely, his birthday and the day on which he attained samadhi were one and the same. Later on, when the door of the Vasisthta cave was opened, the entire cave was smeared with vibhuti! The body of Purushothamananda was later let into the river Ganges by the disciples of Sivananda.

From then on, the name and fame of Purushothamananda spread far and wide. The disciples of Purushothamananda thereafter visited Prasanthi Nilayam to have My darshan. They stayed in the ashram for a full ten days. I provided them good accommodation and all conveniences. They enjoyed Swami's darshan, sparshan, and sambhashan in full measure and finally left for their place, carrying with them the love and blessings of Swami. Purushothamananda was a noble soul. He was really a Purushothama (the best among men). This is the story of Purushothamananda.

Every one was happy to read in newspapers that Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba had visited on two days the ashram of Swami Purushothamananda. Your happiness is My happiness. The Vasishta cave is still as it was when Purushothamananda lived there. It is perfectly clean and holy, permeating divine atmosphere in the entire ashram. The disciples of Purushothamananda told Me, "Swami! The entire atmosphere in the ashram is permeated by divine vibrations. We feel as though Swami Purushothamananda is still with us."

I told them: "Fine! You continue to feel his presence there and enjoy bliss."

During My last visit to Delhi, I arranged for conducting bhajan on Purushothamananda's birthday, keeping a photo of Purushothamananda there. Thus, several sages and seers display intense love and devotion toward Me and pine for My divine darshan.

SCA NATIONAL FELLOWSHIP RETREAT AT LANGKAWI, MALAYSIA

2011-10-31T20:34:00.000-07:00

More than 40 members of NED centre attended the SCA National Fellowship Retreat at Langkawi, Malaysia on October 28 - 30, 2011.

Prof Anil Kumar and Dato Jegadhesan were the special guests who delivered their talks on two occasions, one at the Langkawi Sai Center and later at the De Baron Hotel where the SCA retreat was held. There were bhajans and several cultural performances on both evenings.

Various interesting topics on spirituality, healing, service activities, etc., were presented and discussed in both English and Chinese language throughout the duration of the retreat.

There were also two excursions included in the programme, one was mangrove boat ride at the Klim Geopark and the second was cable car ride at the Oriental Village.

Sai Spiritual Showers - Issue 3/20

2011-10-26T18:19:00.000-07:00

Once some friends of mine suddenly decided to go into a Siva Temple which we were passing by. I was given to understand that it was an auspicious day. But, according to Swami, the day we spend in the contemplation of God is the only holy day. This point was stressed in the Bhagavatam through Prahlada. Anyway I went with my friends through the milling crowds and stood at the side railings near the sanctum sanctorum. As the idol was somewhat in a lower position, the heads of the devotees on either side of the railings were blocking the view of Lord Siva. Even my height of 5'—8” did not help me to have a glimpse. I resorted to meditation, closing my physical eyes.
When I was trying to mentally picturise the Siva Lingam with the symbol of three sacred horizontal vibhuti marks, I was getting the picture of 'Seshasayi' of Srirangam (the Lord Ranganatha reclining on the serpent Adisesha). Twice, thrice I repeated the exercise, but the picture did not alter. Then I prayed: "Swami, I wanted to visualise Lord Siva right at this moment, but why are you giving the vision of Sriranganatha? I want the horizontal Vibhuti lines not the vertical Vaishnavite lines at present." That very instant, I heard the familiar voice of Bhagawan, with His intriguing smile, saying "Yes, Yes. I know you are going to pose this question and hence this pose. Otherwise, I would have given darshan as Lord Venkateswara in a vertical manner. See what will happen to the namam of Vishnu if he lies down as Sriranganatha. Will they not become horizontal namam, which you are seeking for?" and suddenly His voice became stern and serious. "Am I not telling you repeatedly to give up these names and forms and meditate on the formless!" That very moment the namam of Lord Sriranganatha began revolving and became pure white light with increasing brilliance. I lost all sense of time and place and stood there perhaps for sometime till the Archaka brought me back to consciousness by saying: 'Sir, please take Arati', holding the flame in front of me. So with the Light inside me and that outside I opened my eyes!

Q: Baba, can You tell us how do You produce sacred ash or rings or other objects? I have seen persons who produce things like these but they were unable to explain how they could produce such things. I hope, I am not insulting the yogic power when I mention it to You that some of the persons who possess such powers do not necessarily possess good moral character. I have seen persons who have this power but who, i am told, have taken to drinking and such other vices. I am told also that there are certain lower creatures or deities or genii who do this work of bringing the objects from other source in a very obscure manner. But these are powers of a very low character. Some Yogis, it is said the Shastras, produce things out of their mind or mental stuff. Will You kindly explain to us the process of this objectification or projection?
A: Yes, as you say, these miraculous powers are of different types. Some bring the things from somewhere else, but there are higher powers through which you can project the things out of your mind. You can create the things by mere Sankalpa or auspicious will. Powers acquired through certain processes of Yoga are like a storehouse. They can be used and exhausted. But for one who uses the power of God, there is no exhaustion of resources. It is the Divine Power that is in operation through him.
Q: I remember to have read somewhere that God, Who is Chaitanya, exhibited the whole universe outside, which was already within Him and He is compared to a Yogi who projects things out of his mind without any outside material cause.
A: Yes, it is the same power that created the whole world by mere Will which operates through a Yogi and when it is so, the power is inexhaustible because it is a sort of Nidarshan (Instance) of God's power to create by force or Will. But the Yogi does this with a desire to instil faith in God in all those who observe this Nidarshan or an example motivated by the spiritual aim. The Yogi is a fit vehicle of God to give out this example to man.
Q: When we talk about pleasure, what is the real character? Is the pleasure of worldly life the same as that of Yogi or a Brahmajnani?
A: No, certainly not. The worldly pleasure are nothing but counteractions against pain. You feel thirsty, then you drink water. You are hungry, you eat food. It is not positive pleasure that you have, but you negate the pangs of thirst and hunger.
Q: I am reminded of a verse from Raja Bartuhari's 'Vairagya Sataka', which means that when the mouth is parched with thirst, one drinks water, sweet and scented; tormented by hunger, one takes a morsel of food, that is rice with contiments; when the fire of passion catches the heart the youth embraces the wife; thus counteraction of pains is really misunderstood by people as some positive pleasure.
A: Raja Bartruhari was wallowing in pleasure, being the king of a prosperous kingdom; he gave up all, because he understood that all worldly pleasures were nothing but a sort of counteraction. He wanted some joy. It is vairagya or detachement alone that can lead one on the path of spirituality. When you detach yourself from sense perception or sense enjoyment, you have inner joy or anand which is different from pleasure. This ananda is permanently there in the heart of everyone and everyone is perfectly free to seek it and get it.

Kuan Yin's Renunciation Day - 15/10/11

2011-10-19T20:23:00.000-07:00

Kuan Yin's Renunciation Day was celebrated with prayers and bhajans on 15 October 2011, at 8.00pm.

Her Boddhisatva vow was read at the end of the session. It reads as follows :

"Suffering beings are numberless, I vow to liberate them all.
Attachment is inexhaustible, I vow to release it all.
The gates to truth are numberless, I vow to master them all.
The ways of awakening are supreme, I vow to realize them all."

Om Mani Padme Hum.

Sai Spiritual Showers - Issue 3/19

2011-10-19T20:14:00.000-07:00

Towards the end of last February, one afternoon, I was rolling pappads in my house, when a letter came from Sri Vineethji who was at Bangalore. I did not open it then and there, but, kept it aside. The Postman brought the ‘Pradeepa’ dak and in it there were two letters for me, both from great Yogis of Northern India, who treated me like their disciple and who were interested in my Sadhana. I felt like a child sitting at their Feet. I could not, but open their letters; so, I got my eyeglasses and read them. They had exhorted me to carry on my Sadhana and recommended some further steps.

I felt suddenly sad and lost. I sighed and wept because I was struck by the inadequacy of my efforts and the consequent insubstantiality of the progress made. I prayed to God that He might make me worthy of the tenderness and care that these Yogis were bestowing on me. I got some relief from my agony and resumed my work.

Then, I remembered the letter from Vineethji that lay unopened on my lap. I tore the cover and spread it before my eyes. At the very end of the page he had written, “I had the Darshan of Sri Sathya Sai Baba and He spoke to me, also. He is the Inscrutable Mystery; He is Omniscient; how can I describe Him to you? I shall try my best, when I come, to communicate to you my joy and His Glory.” Believe me, when I read that sentence, I felt a flash of Illumination pass through me; I became unaware of everything outside me. The eyes closed of themselves. There was no body consciousness. It continued like this, off and on, for two or even three days. Meanwhile, Vineethji came back from Bangalore; we decided to reach Puttaparthi a few days prior to Yugadi.

Some days passed, I was immersed in Dhyana, steeped in concentration. Then, when I came down, suddenly, I knew not why, I took paper and pen and wrote a letter to Sathya Sai Baba, the Baba I had not seen! Why I wrote it and what I had to write, I did not know. I only know I wrote. It was a call from Jiva to Siva, a call that did not crave a response.

I was like a tree, putting forth fresh leaves in spring. That letter gave me so much happiness, mere writing and sending it to Baba. Two or perhaps three days later, I wrote again. “Lord, You vouchsafed Darshan to Vineethji; grant me, too, the Darshan and shower on me too Thy Grace. Make my life worthwhile, giving me the Vision of the Form I worship. You are the Ocean of Mercy; You are the Giver of all Boons.” I sent the letter, but, somehow never worried about the reply. The mother is content, if the child’s cry “Amma!” reaches her; she might not care to respond every time. The Lord made everything smooth for our journey; we reached Puttaparthi without any trouble, we had His Darshan immediately on arrival. The next day, He called me in, along with two other elderly ladies, for “Interview”. The door was closed; while He was talking to those others, I was asked to move away into a place from where the stairs climbed to the first floor. I could see Ba ba, talking and blessing. Suddenly, I had a feeling that it was no longer earth, but, Heaven. I thrilled in the Presence of God. I saw God before me in human Form. Baba had His Hand on the wall, when He turned to me, in the midst of His talk with those others and said, “I know, I know, Your Sadhana has all along been for Merging with Iswara. But, why are you worried about that, even when you are in the actual Presence? Do your duties as an embodied Atma and leave the rest to Me.” Thus, I understood that my Lord had known the agitations of my heart. I was overcome with joy at the motherly Love and Grace of Baba.

My eyes opened a little. I recollected who I was and where from I had come. I saw before me in a flash, Narayana Himself, my Ishtadevata, my Upasanadevata, He who came as the Friend, Guardian and Companion from Birth to Birth, through countless ages. As a hungry man gets calm when he has secured a plate of rice, I too got Shanti, at the sight of the Lord. I had not spoken a single word so far. Now, I was seized by the urge to speak. I placed my hands across my heart and said, “Lord! The ‘I’ must go, now, here; ‘You’, ‘You’ alone should exist.” He said, “It will, it will.” I held His Hand in mine (!) and said, “Prabhu! Narayana! You must dwell in this heart.” He replied, “I shall, without fail.”

Two days later, Baba called both of us into that room; I feared that I will have to return to Dharwar and it will be some long time before I could sit at the Feet of the Lord. Then, I felt I had not so sat at all, I entered the room wishing that He would give me that joy. He closed the door and asking us both to sit on the carpeted floor, He sat down Himself, very near in front of us. Saying with a smile, “You desired to sit like this, is it not? Well. Do sit down now.” “Come, come take the Saguna aspect also little by little.” He ordered. I replied, “How can I stop with the Saguna? I do not succeed when I try to halt at that stage. In that vast splendour, this little light gets merged. How can I keep the mind on exterior things? Something pulls it in, every time I try. If you grant me the capacity, I may succeed.”

Baba smiled meaningfully and nodded that He would grant me the skill. He said, “While on the path of Sadhana, this experience is quite natural. You see, this is unreal; that too is unreal. The Atma alone is Real and it is neither this nor that. Still, one has to pretend that both are real and carry on. This is one cage; that is another; this is iron, that is gold; but both limit and imprison.” Suddenly stopping His speech, He said, “You know this; why should I repeat it now?” “Just a little anger remains; a passing phase, but still, a little blot is seen more clearly in a clean cloth, remember. Drive it out and become and more perfect,” He advised. I cannot express in words the fullness of my heart at that moment. I felt that Sri Krishna Himself was before me; I was overwhelmed. With a quivering voice, I said, “Lord, I am in highest Bliss. Yes, My life shall be as the life of a flower.”

I am generally very patient and quite; but, I cannot tolerate anyone walking away from God, or trying to force the world on me. Then, I really do get angry. How can I keep this trait away from the all-knowing Lord before me?

Both of us were with Baba again, for a few minutes. The next, we left. “The external life is a dream, it is hollow. How then can it be worthwhile?” I despaired.

The train moved on; men came in; men got down and disappeared; every one was on the move, endlessly, tirelessly. I came to know in a flash, “The core of life is steady, and the hub is fixed; only the rim goes round and round. If the hub is steady, the rim can move faster and faster, round and round.” “The external life is the rim, the internal is the hub.”

We reached Dharwar. The film moves on and the pictures are focused on the screen; on the back wall of Ananda the pictures of sadness and joy, of meanness and nobility, move on and on. Let them move, I decided. I shall be the wall, the Ananda; My Lord has given me the way to reconcile this with that. “Lord, with one glance from Thy Eye, you have transformed my life into LIFE.”

Sai Spiritual Showers - Issue 3/18

2011-10-12T19:33:00.000-07:00

Time is fleeting like a fast moving wind. The Body is melting away from moment to moment like a block of ice. And, man is discarding his mortal body without performing his duty.

If human life does no more than, being born, brought up and die, then what is its achievement? What is the fruit of all the effort? Is this the use to which the education and training that man acquires are put?

Why should one make a special effort to acquire such qualities if it is only to know what is already known. One should use one's intelligence to know what we do not know.

The beasts and the birds too eat and sleep: they express fear and love in the same manner as men do. The differences are only in appearance and in name; the desire and the passion, are the same for man and beast.

How can we then establish the uniqueness of man? In spite of the fact that wisdom and judgement are special gifts to man by God, if man does not draw upon such gifts, of what use is it to proclaim the sanctity of the human species? What is the use of claiming supremacy? There is no sense in such pride. To relate one's actions with one's utterances and to relate one's utterances with one's thoughts is to be human. If on the other hand, there is no correspondence between one's utterances, one's actions and one’s thoughts, the individual can be only a man in outer shade; truly, he is devoid of all title to life.

Your hearts should be filled with compassion towards all living beings. You should fill suffering hearts with Prema. You should radiate thoughts that can generate Ananda.

The heart is like the overhead tank. Actions are like taps. Whatever quality of water is used to fill the tanks, only such will flow out of the taps. Fill the heart with Prema; then, Ananda flows from the taps. It will reach the world around us.

The utterance of Tukaram, "Dil ka Ram; Hath ka Kam" should be regarded as the motto of life. Prema is the main pillar of the Sai teaching. Life should be filled with Prema. The world should be looked at with Prema. Society should be contacted with Prema. Fulfilment of one's life should be through Prema.

Prema alone is God. Prema alone is Life. There is no living without Prema. Life devoid of Prema is equivalent to death. Life filled with Prema is Ananda. Life without Prema is sorrow, Prema is festivity. Absence of Prema is mourning. Prema is fearlessness. Absence of Prema is fear. Prema is the messenger of good. Absence of Prema is the harbinger of death.

心灵对话：丰足喜悦 (Abundance Of Joy)

2011-10-05T19:52:00.000-07:00

Sai Spiritual Showers - Issue 3/17

2011-10-05T19:46:00.000-07:00

Prasanthi Nilayam.... the Abode of Peace. That heart leaps at the very mention of the Name. How we long to be there! We greet with joy those who are just returning from there, hoping that some of the lustre and grace of the Sai drenched devotees may rub off on us.

To me, Prasanthi Nilayam means, simply, Home. It is my Mother's Place. When Mother calls, i go to Her. She knows what is needed. She gives it, namely Her Ananda in plenty. One returns from Mother rested and restored, and refreshed in body and spirit always. Many of the trees in the Nilayam can be recognised in mediaeval paintings, depicting scenes from Lord Krishna's career on earth. Near the Mandir, on the west side is a beautiful tall tree, which blooms around early Dasara and waft the lovely fragrance into Mother's Room. This tree can be noticed in many of the Rajasthan miniatures painted by mediaeval artiste devotees as well as the Deccani and Early Mughal painters. The neem, the coco nut, the tamarind, the banana, the rose, the jasmine and mogra bushes all offer their beauty and their scent for us to admire and offer gratitude to the Mother.

Mother's Darshan in the morning! A flash of red, the graceful Form arrives, closer and finally, a deep look and a compassionate smile, —can any mother on earth, cause such an ecstatic flutter in all hearts? Mother is loving, yet, detached—every movement, gesture, flash, smile has a meaning and a lesson. Only Mother knows the agony of each of us each step, especially to those of us who have already taken the wrong ones. If Mother smiles, all is well; the heart is light and filled with joy.

But, let her turn away or look over us into the beyond, then, gloom descends. "What have I done, now?"...a great deal of interpretation and interrogation, in the quiet of the room. And, soon, the answer comes. A prayer for forgiveness, a promise not to repeat the mistake, and a renewed dedication, to please the Mother and the Mother only—regardless of what others may say or think. Please her, with each little thought, word and deed—and, Peace reigns again.

Mother smiles, at the afternoon Darshan. Ah! I was right! Even the slightest deviation from the path towards the ideal is noted by Sai Mata, for, She is Omnipresent. She is everywhere, in us, with us, beside us and behind us. A poem written in the room to Her, reaches Her as soon as line is formed in the mind. A wish, a thought, all is known and if only you trust in Her, she keeps the lines straight and true. She is the world's greatest teacher of the art of Positive Thinking. As soon as you grasp the Universal Laws of Love, Service and Compassion, as taught by Her, Mother takes you closer. She is helpful; you make less mistakes. Sai is pure Bliss. Mother, i love Thee.

Since at Mother's house, I am care free of kitchen chores. Mother has a lovely Dining Hall, with many varieties of delicious and nutritious dishes, very lovingly prepared by devoted hands. Out of sheer happiness, I had all four meals on the first day—breakfast, lunch, tea and dinner. But, it was really too much. I restrained myself to one meal a day, with some banana and curds, now and then. Mother spoils us thoroughly with Her Love. She knows that we must relish the stay with Her, away from kitchen chores. She is such a practical Avatar.

The Gokulam Milk is the world's most blessed milk. It is rich, sweet and sustaining. Behind the Hill Is a Tree, behind the Meditation Tree, and this is the place I go to, in the early dawn. Just before sunrise, the hills are purple and the dark green forests and fields oblige us to give a glimpse—a silvery glimpse—of the river, Chitravati. The golden sky is streaked with pink and orange. Oh! How Mother would enjoy a morning walk in the cool crisp air listening to the tinkling of the cow bells, as She used to do for years in the past and as Krishna in Brindavan! I am wrong in believing that this is not being done now. She must be with me now, as I watch these skies and fields, for, how can I visualise the beauty if She did not reveal it to me? She has taken upon Herself the heavy burden of saving Mankind. Multitudes are following Her whenever She goes or stays. Mother is busy with prayers from all around the globe; She has to watch every ch ild of Hers while it sleeps. The child may forget the world, but, the Mother cannot forget the child.

The day of departure arrives. The tears well up, the hand quivers, as Sai Mata comes for a last look and smile. Ma! Ma! I am going, today.... "Accha!".... She is off. In a trice, teaching us the higher Truth, the Reality, that She is in every atom of the Universe, and that we cannot go to any place where She is NOT.

Prasanthi Nilayam...leaving Mother is so hard. The last glimpse of Mother, among Her, children.... and the last cry..."Mother! Call me again soon!"

Shirdi Sai Jayanti 2011

2011-09-29T04:19:00.000-07:00

Shirdi Sai Baba's Jayanti was celebrated on 27 September 2011, at 8.00pm. We chanted Vedas and sang bhajans. As the date coincided with the 1st day of the Chinese lunar month, we also chanted Tibetan Buddhist mantras. Refreshments was served after arathi.

Sai Spiritual Showers - Issue 3/16

2011-09-29T04:14:00.000-07:00

There are dogs who swim and dogs who hunt

And dogs which crouch thro’ snowy peaks;

There are some who yelp a pigmy grunt

And some whose barks are tiny squeaks.

Some guide the blind, some, sledges drag

And some like Leika are shot through space;

There are dogs of whom their masters brag

And long legged-ones that race.

But, of all the dogs that wag the tail

The purest, the best, is Kuttan, the Lame.

Of all the dogs that follow the trail

The saintliest one is Kuttan! The same!

No pedigreed dog; he was limping, cold,

Wet from the rain, with a cough on his chest

When he came to Bikkati, a pup of gold.

His manners were good, his habits, best.

He served the village as if duty bound

From dusk to dawn, from dawn to dark;

He growled and prowled like a hefty hound;

The village slept to the music of his bark.

‘Twas April sixty-one, twenty second day,

Bikkatti rose, full happy and gay,

For Baba was coming, He was on the way;

‘Twas no longer a question of `may’.

The valleys deep in ecstasy did thrill;

The road was sad, it hair-pinned so;

‘Sai Ram! Sai Ram’ repeated each hill

as the wayside trees did bend so low.

Believe me, it was Kuttan’s gladdest day!

He ran, he leaped, without reason pranced;

He whined, he wailed, he barked jai

When Baba came, he knew his God; he danced.

His lotus Feet he saw; he took his stance

And fell as humans do, mumbling a hymn;

He smelt those fragrant Feet, O, Lucky Chance!

Baba smiling waved His Hand; and ... called Him?

Soon as Baba left us lonely, we gave to all

The feast that He had touched;

Kuttan’s ear had caught the Call;

He gulped the sacred meal and lurched.

Half blind with tears, he sniffed the air

He reached the Holy Dias and kept

His head on His Footstool there!

He breathed his last!…….the village wept!

We rolled him in the silky sheet

Which Baba’s soles had pressed;

We dug his grave near the sanctified seat

And showered the flowers by Baba blessed.

We are proud of our brother, proud of the way

This Bikkatti Kuttan spent his day.

Dear Kuttan the Lame, he taught us the way

To live and—how to get away.

Sai Spiritual Showers - Issue 3/15

2011-09-21T19:27:00.000-07:00

This is a story about Krishna.... In a way, the story was not completed until November, 1975.

A number of years ago, 1 was in Bhagawan's car. He was in the rear seat with two persons, one on each side of Him. I was in the front seat, with the driver. We were on our way to Puttaparthi.

Driving in the car with Swami is a fascinating experience. Not only is there the thrill of being close to the Divine Lord Himself, but, sometimes He will give you the opportunity to ask questions. Sometimes, He engages in animated conversation in Telugu with the companions. Sometimes, He indulges in jokes with one or other of them. Sometimes, He remains silent, making the characteristic gesture with His Hand that seems to indicate that He is giving attention to something quite unknown to us. And, very often, He sings bhajans, with every one in the car joining in the chorus (except me, who has a musical voice, akin to the crow). The net result of all this enthralling activity is that my neck is constantly being twisted in order to see what is going on in the back seat. Swami understands my plight, but, does not advise me to desist; He allows me the liberty to turn round. Of course, I do not stare all the time. I look only so l ong as I dare and then I resume my posture, turning to the front again. So, my looking at Swami is intermittently back and forth.

At some point in the journey, maybe about half way, Swami was talking and I turned to look. My breathing stopped and I was transfixed! I could not credit my eyes. His devotees see Swami's Face as beautiful indeed, although the chief impression I receive from His feature is that of Power and Majesty.

What transfixed my movement and stopped my breathing was Swami's Face... The Swami I know was not there! Instead, there was a Face of the most extraordinary beauty, quite different of shape and cast from the features of our Beloved Sai. The charm was so great, so poignant that my heart seemed to twist, almost as though it were in pain. Never in life, nor in photos, nor in painting by great artists have I seen a Face of such exquisite beauty. It was beyond imagination and concept, totally out of experience.

And His colour was blue. Not just blue, not the blue with which artists paint Krishna but, a deep blue, like the velvet blue that sometimes can be seen in a dark sky, like a blue that I have at times seen from the deck of a ship thousands of miles from shore on the Pacific Ocean. I do not know how else to describe it.

I could not remove my eyes from Swami. At length, I caught myself and turned away. But, at once, I looked again, and the same beauty surely not of the world, was still there. This continued for at least fifteen minutes. The two men sitting with Swami were beginning to look at me with somewhat puzzled expressions for, my staring was different from what they had become used to.

After a few miles, Vittala Rao (on Swami's left) asked me, "Hislop! What were you staring at Swami like that?"

Instead of answering, I directed a question to Swami, "Swami! What was that blue colour?" Swami replied, "Oh! That? Whenever there is something of unfathomable depth, it appears to be deep blue.”

That was the end of the conversation. Naturally the thought had come to mind that may be this was Lord Krishna, but, neither then, nor at any time in connection with this experience did I ever say the name of Krishna to Swami.

There the matter rested until November 1975. It was before people started to arrive in multitudes for the Birthday. Swami's schedule was still somewhat free and He was taking me with Him in the jeep and so on... and probably, that was why I got invited into the Interview. An army man and his wife had come from Assam. They were devotees, but this was their first time to actually see Swami. Often people wait for months for interview, but this family was called as soon as they arrived. I was seated on the verandah of the Mandir and saw them go into Swami's room. No sooner had they entered than Swami motioned to me.

There was the mother and father, the son and daughter. Swami spoke to them most lovingly. He knew everything about their lives and it was very evident that He was an intimate member of that household.

After a while, Swami asked me, "Hislop! Tell them some experiences.” I complied and after mentioning some incidents, I told the same story just now related in these pages, but, not even then, did I mention the Krishna name. The man was deeply impressed and words broke from His lips, "Oh! That had to be Lord Krishna"

Swami smiled and said, "Yes, that was Krishna; not the Krishna pictured by artists and imagined by writers. I showed Hislop the real Krishna.” The man said, "Oh! How I want to see Krishna.” Swami smiled again and said, "Wait; wait.”

There is a sequel to this story. About a month later, in December, at Brindavan, I was talking with Swami and I brought forward the names of some famous saints and gurus of the past and Swami said some things about them. Then the idea struck me that, wonderful though it must have been to know those great personages and learn from them, the present day was the first time since Krishna lived that one could have God Himself as Guru. So I started to say, "Swami! In the thousands of years of time, since Krishna...."

Swami interrupted me before I could say another word and exclaimed "Time since Krishna...? I am Krishna. Where is Time?" I folded my hands and bent low to Him and said, "Well, Swami. This is the best of all times, to be born!"

Swami replied, "Yes; the most fortunate of all times. Even more fortunate to be born now, than during the Krishna Avatar.”

Once before, within my hearing, Swami declared Himself as Lord Krishna. This story has been told in detail elsewhere. It happened in Dharmakshetra, at Bombay (Mumbai), and came about as part of the extra ordinary drama of `the weeping saris' to which a few of us in the room with Swami were the fascinated witnesses. I had exclaimed that this had to be the reenactment this very day of the drama of the mountain that had occurred in the Avatars of Sri Rama and Sri Krishna. Bhagawan replied, "Yes; it is the selfsame Rama and the selfsame Krishna Who is here this very day.”

In the light of what has been recited in the preceding pages by me, a direct witness and participant, we need never look back with even the slightest tinge of envy to those fortunate people who lived during those wonderful days of the Krishna Avatar. This very day, and every day that we look at our Beloved Sai, we are, gazing directly at Sri Krishna.

Let us treasure His Divine presence. In ages to come, the rich experience of our days will be told and retold as the wondrous story of the Sai Avatar.

Sai Spiritual Showers - Issue 3/14

2011-09-15T02:06:00.000-07:00

Sri Ramanatharao of the Sirpur Kagaz-nagar heard of Baba only last month, at Shimoga, where he had gone on a visit to his sister soon after retiring from the Paper Factory. From the accounts given by her, he felt a keen desire to go to Puttaparthi, but his health was against it; so, as he wrote in his letter he was very much pained. On August 8th, he finished his Sandhya-vandanam and his Gayatri-japam and was reciting his mantram, the Upadesh he had got from Swami Ramadas, "Om Sriram Jayaram Jayajaya Ram." While he was lost in the joy of that recitation, Baba appeared clearly before; he rose and shouting, "Baba," "Baba," he fell at His feet.
He asked Him (every one could see him addressing Baba but, no one else could see Baba)" Baba I have written 54 lakhs 21 thousand Likhita Japam of this Mantra; bless me so that I could complete a crore." (What a pious holy prayer, that!) Baba replied that he had already completed a crore of Ramnam and there was no more need to worry. "You can do Puja to the Books as soon as you return home" Baba said.
Then, in a flash, Baba disappeared and Ramanatharao saw the effulgent Vision of Ramapattabhisheka. He sang in his ecstasy the slokas describing the Scene and he prostrated on the floor. Then, that vision gave place to that of his Guru Swami Ramadas Himself! Lastly came Baba Himself, the Benefactor who had vouchsafed to the saintly Sadhaka all these visions, He fell at His Feet again and asked Him for Prasadam, and lo, all present saw a packet of Vibhuti fall into his palms (from the Divine Hand of Baba, which was so plainly visible to him.) Baba assures all, that Sadhana sincerely done will never go to waste; it is bound to yield fruit. He gave Ramanatharao the fruit of his Sadhana… the Vision of his Guru, his Ishthadevata and of Himself, Who is Sarvadevata Swarupa.

Yes. Baba is the Repository of all the Devata Swarupas. How else can we explain the experience of Vamadevan on the frontiers of India? He was moving along the border, all alone, with just a pistol by his side when he was pounced upon by 8 men from the other side, who tried to blindfold him and drag him across the line. He had with him a photograph of Baba, given by Him when he was last at Puttaparthi. He knew that Baba would save him, for Baba had told him, when the photograph was given, that he should keep it always with him. Well. He remembered it now. (It is very difficult to remember such things in a crisis). He showed it to his attackers. "They all prostrated before It and turned back, leaving me alone," Vamadevan writes! "Prostrated!" Who knows what vision Baba vouchsafed to those vile men, so that their hearts were touched by reverence so sudden and so great? He is Sarvadevata Swarupa…He knows!

心灵对话：慈爱感恩 (Love & Gratitude)

2011-09-13T07:29:00.001-07:00

Mid-Autumn Festival 2011

2011-09-12T04:15:00.000-07:00

Mid-autumn festival was celebrated on 11 September 2011, at 7.00pm. We chanted Vedas, Tibetan Buddhist mantras, and bhajans. Refreshments was served after arathi.

Sai Spiritual Showers - Issue 3/13

2011-09-07T21:17:00.001-07:00

One day Radha intended to enter Brindavan to pick up some dried pieces of cow dung. She was making some attempts to enter the city and Krishna recognised that Radha was making such attempts. Since Nanda was the head of the place, a watchman was guarding the entrances at the behest of Nanda. Krishna instructed the watchman to state that only men are permitted to enter Brindavan and women are strictly prohibited from coming in.

Thus, when Radha was trying to enter Brindavan on one day with her basket for collecting dried pieces of cow dung, the watchman said that no woman can enter Brindavan. Radha was utterly confused on hearing this. Smilingly, Radha asked, "Can you stay in Brindavan? If you can enter Brindavan, I can also enter." The watchman replied, "I am a man, you are a woman." Radha replied, "You are making a big mistake. In this world, Krishna is the only Purusha. All others are women. If you can enter, I can also enter." In this manner, she argued with great strength and questioned the watchman by asking, "How can you call yourself a man, simply because you are wearing robes and dress appropriate to a man?"

She forced her entry into Brindavan. Krishna, Who was coming behind, noticed this and said that since Radha forced her entry contrary to the orders of Krishna, and since she was a woman, she will have to pay a tax by way of penalty for disobeying his orders. Radha replied, "Oh Lord! The heart you have given me is my only property. I can return it to you by way of tax. I have neither wealth nor possessions to pay tax in any other manner. I shall gladly surrender my only belonging, namely my heart, to you."

Krishna replied "Golden Radha, Brindavan has come into existence to immortalise the kind of divine relationship that exists between me as Paramatma and you as Prakruthi. Posterity will know that Krishna was always enshrined in the heart of Radha. This commitment made by me will always convey the meaning of the relationship that existed between Radha and Krishna.

Where there is Prakruthi, there will be Paramatma. Where there is Paramatma, there will be creation. Paramatma and Prakruthi are like the object and the image. Wherever we may go, the combination and the confluence of the two aspects of Radha and Krishna will be what people can see in this world."
Bhagawan discoursed further elborating the Divine relationship:

To regard Radha of the Bhagavatha as an ordinary woman, to regard Krishna as an ordinary human being, a man, and to regard the relationship between them as no more than between a man and a woman, as people generally understand, is very wrong and quite contrary to what the author of the sacred text of the Bhagavatha intended to convey. This relationship is the sacred relationship that exists between God and His creation. It is as inseparable as the white colour of milk is inseparable from the milk itself. The colour of the milk is white.

It is not possible for us to remove the white colour from milk. If we turn milk into curds, the curd is also white. If we churn the curd and get buttermilk out of it, the buttermilk is also white. If from that buttermilk, we separate the butter, it is also white. Thus, do what you may, it is not possible to separate the white colour of milk from the milk itself. Radha is part and parcel of Krishna even as much as white colour is part and parcel of milk. The kind of association between Radha and Krishna has no parallel in the world and cannot occur in any other instance.

Today, only when we understand this and put into practice, at least to some extent, the lessons we can draw from the relationship between Radha and Krishna, will we be in a position to promote the aspects of Krishna, in their divine form, throughout the world. On the contrary, we should not regard Radha as one individual and Krishna as another individual and promote this thought based on a difference between them. This oneness of Radha and Krishna has been referred to in the bible as "Kingdom of God." This aspect of oneness of Prakruthi and Paramatma has been referred to, in several religions, by using different words. However, to enable common people to understand the significance of Radha, our ancients have created a form and a name. But whoever, continually and at all times thinks of Krishna, is a Radha. This is an aspect and not a name.

For this sacred and divine aspect of Radha, we have been ascribing several distorted meanings. Radha is no other than a faithful image of Krishna, the object. We should undertake such action as will lead us to Krishna. The Creator is Krishna. The creation is the Prakruthi. Action is needed to be able to cultivate divine love. As a result of the love of Krishna, we should be able to reach Him. Today, we have understood the meaning and significance of the love of Radha for Krishna. We should now be prepared to interpret all her actions against the background of such divine love.

GANESH CHATURTHI 2011

2011-09-01T08:04:00.000-07:00

Ganesh Chaturthi was celebrated on 1 September 2011, at 8.00pm, with veda chanting, Sai mantras and bhajans.

Sai Spiritual Showers - Issue 3/12

2011-08-31T21:53:00.000-07:00

It may seem odd that a person from materialistic America should speak on a spiritual topic, especially on a day of lofty spiritual significance. It may seem even more odd that the words are addressed to the people of India.But, I ask you—which person can speak of life-giving water with greater appreciation —the one, who lives in a green, lush valley of cool rivers and broad lakes, or the man suffering from thirst in a dry burning desert? I would liken the people of India to the residents of the green valley and this traveller from America to the man, perishing from thirst.India is the greatest land. It is truly great because of its intrinsic nature. For example, the intrinsic nature of the human body is impermanence and suffering. The moment to moment birth, change, death of everybody - cell is accompanied by burning and decomposition, which fact is quite possible for everyone to experience directly. That is the intrinsic nature of the body, regardless of how it might be covered with jewels and the tinsels of pleasure.The intrinsic nature of the diamond is hardness, purity and the capacity to reflect light in a most brilliant fashion. Regardless of how the diamond may be covered and disguised, its intrinsic nature of purity and beauty remain untouched.India is like that. Regardless of passing phases of social unrest, carelessness and worldly ambition, India remains the land of the spiritual heart, whose depth is unfathomable. Regardless of how individuals may reject and ignore the great heritage that is theirs as Indians, the intrinsic quality of India remains untouched, waiting to shine forth, to guide the entire world with the light of love and God-Realization.Only India, through ages past, has been able to provide suitable land for the birth of glorious Avatars, such as Lord Rama, Lord Krishna, and Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. It is only in India that Buddha can be born to attain Nirvana.It is then proper for a foreigner to speak in India to Indians about the spiritual heart of India, for that heart is the heart of the world. It is my spiritual heart, as an American, for were it not there, surely life would be a living death of ashes and despair.To an ever growing number of Americans and to foreign people in other lands as well, the spiritual heart, not only of India, but of life itself is now visible to human eyes, here, in this great land of India.To me, and to an uncounted multitude of others, the very Godhead has limited itself to human form in the supremely compassionate Avatar of Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. What an amazing and wonderful event has come to happen! This slender Body walking so gracefully amongst us, the charming personality exhibiting all the qualities of a perfect man, the qualities manifest God omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, with boundless power to create, maintain and destroy! How beyond the power words to describe!How incredibly fortunate, to be born during the life-span of this Avatar! Regardless of how faulty each one of us surely is, some place in the past, we have earned this supremely fortunate birth.Now that this good fortune is realised and we are here, how terrible the failure if we do not put aside all trivial matters and turn to God with total heart and mind!We are married, with families and duties in the world, but our joys triumphs and failures come and go like dreams, and death is surely at the end. Now that the Lord is here pointing out the real, the deathless state to each of us with His love, His grace and His compassion, what folly to waste even a moment in actions that turn us away from Light, the Light of The Lord! Every moment is alive and vibrant with spiritual significance, now that the Lord is amongst us!!!Let us open wide the doors of our hearts and minds and surrender our petty egos to Him.

Video : The Universal Body

2011-08-29T18:33:00.001-07:00

Video : The Best Is Yet... To Come

2011-08-29T18:31:00.001-07:00

Sai Spiritual Showers - Issue 3/11

2011-08-24T19:31:00.000-07:00

Some years ago, after a few Westerners had encountered Sri Sathya Sai Baba, news of Sai started to spread here and there in America. One by one, a few centers were organized. These centers came into being with a very limited background of the Sai teachings and with no guidance whatsoever. It was only natural and to be expected, that procedures and practices developed in these centers which were typical of the American society, customary in America and fully acceptable to the public. Only very recently were we told, much to our surprise, that practices normal to us were contrary to Sai principles.

In 1975, during the Birthday Festival at Prasanthi Nilayam, a decision was taken to organize a unified family of Sathya Sai Baba Centers of America. Standards for conduct of American Centers were given to the newly formed Sri Sathya Sai Central Committee of America, by Bhagavan, and a description of these new standards was mailed out to organizations and individuals in the early part of 1976. In September of the same year, I started to tour the Centers, very uncertain and with considerable anxiety as to what I might find.

On tour, to my very great amazement and to my delight, I found that the Americans had quickly grasped the significance of the new standards for Centers and Members and that, already, almost without exception, the new standards had been put into force. As I talked with devotees in the various cities, they would say, again and again, that they were happy to learn about the practices that were pleasing to Bhagawan, because their first desire was to behave in a way that would please him.

The customary practices so promptly abandoned by Centers and Members represented major changes. For example: One couple had a school for meditation and spiritual living that produced substantial income. But, the income was put aside without hesitation and the instruction was thereafter free! A lady President of a Center in another City had a facility that was leased and furnished at personal expense. However, the livelihood of herself and two children depended on her Yoga Classes. When she learned of the new standards, she very sweetly gave up the cherished and honoured office of the Center President and merged the Center with a neighbouring one, to make a unified Sai Organization for the metropolitan area. For many centers there was a sharp drop in new membership applications and loss of income from book and picture sales, because of the cessation of newspaper and other advertising. For many Centers also, there was a heavy loss in attendance from peo ple who had been coming to meetings to enjoy the interesting discussions of visiting Yogis and Gurus.

To my mind the radical and costly changes in practice, so willingly made as soon as Bhagawan's standards were known, represents genuine devotion in practice not a devotional idea, but, real devotion to Bhagavan in every day practical life. Moreover, most of these people have never been to India and have not had Sai Darshan.

This was my first experience of Sai devotion throughout America, and to say that I was `surprised' would be to put it mildly. From where is this deep and vital devotion to Bhagawan arising? He has not been to America and most of His devotees have not been to India! Why do so many of these people, at once and of their own volition, give up personal advantage, once they see the light of Sai Standards and why do others not do so? These and other questions puzzle my mind; there are factors at work here that are too mysterious and too deep for my limited comprehension. One man, recently returned from his first visit to Baba, put it very well. It was his wife who wanted to go. He was willing to take her, but was always making joking remarks to her about her Swami. Now he has stopped joking and he said, "I really don't understand it all, but, I can tell you one thing, Sathya Sai Baba is not like you and me!"

I can put forward a couple of possibilities, but, they may be wide of the mark and no doubt fall short of identifying the basic factors involved, but, at least they have a base of observed facts.

I said that Bhagavan had not been to America. Everyone is sure this is true, but, I wonder if this is the actual fact. Here are some examples of what I mean, things that have happened recently, not alone, by themselves, but always in the circumstance of Sai groups, or a Sai devotee. At a Center in Chula Vista, Bhajans were being sung by assembled devotees. As in most American Centers. there was a chair for Baba by the altar with His picture against the back. The cushion of the chair was, as always, immaculately smooth, with not even the shadow of a wrinkle in the cloth. Yet, when Bhajans were over, every one present (including myself) could clearly observe the cushion of the chair with a very plain depression where some one had been seated. Was Baba with us seated in His chair?

At a Center in Santa Ana, the last song was the Vibhuti bhajan. Then, as usual, there was about `ten minutes of meditative silence'. During this silence, a chorus of extremely sweet musical voices could be heard singing the Vibhuti bhajan! I opened my eyes and carefully examined my mind, but, the sweet voices continued without stop, until it was time for the meditation to end and for me to give a brief talk. I could see from the faces of the devotees that, very likely, I was not the only one to hear the sweet voices singing. Wherever Bhagawan may be, Bhajans are sung by His devotees. Did the sweet voices singing the Vibhuti bhajan denote Swami's presence there with us?

There is a lady devotee who cares for her aged mother in a Californian town. She brought a present of mother's favorite perfume. Coming into the bedroom a little later, she asked mother, "Where is the perfume?" The mother replied, "I hid it, because that woman (pointing to a picture of Bhagawan) came and took it and was sprinkling it."

Can we be so sure that Bhagawan is in India and has not visited America? His Divine presence evokes a deep faith in Indians. Can it be that Bhagawan's presence is also here in America and it is that, which is evoking a deep faith in Americans?

Another example of faith arising: A dozen families live on our Hill, in Mexico, which slopes away to the Pacific Ocean about 300 feet below. Most of the people are retired Americans. There are one or two Mexican families. The hill itself is not of solid rock but is a sedimentary ocean floor uplift, and thus, a mass of sand, boulders, clay, seashells etc. A recent vertical cut for a new highway weakened the hill and, in September 1976, it started to move towards the ocean. Before long, two full houses had fallen and other houses broke in half. Authorities ordered all remaining houses evacuated, because government geologists said that all the houses would be destroyed by the earth movement. At the time of this critical juncture, I was scheduled to depart on the tour of Sathya Sai Baba Centers and would have to leave my wife to face the trouble by herself. Something had to be done and what else could it be, but prayer to Bhagawan?

In our prayer, we asked that Bhagawan save, not only our house, but, the houses of our neighbours as well. When I returned home from tour, I was somewhat nervous since there are no telephones and I had been unable to get any news. I knew we had prayed to Baba but, nevertheless, it is a measure of my weakness that I was anxious for news.

To my relief, all the remaining houses were as before! The geologists were measuring the hill each day and were quite unable to understand why part of the hill was continuing to move, but, where the houses were, the hill was stationary and had not moved even a fraction of an inch. Of course, they did not know about the prayer, nor did they know that we had affixed a beautiful picture of Bhagawan to a window, directly facing the dangerous ocean!

While I was away, the neighbours had found out and they too refused to move from their houses. They knew nothing of Baba except for a few words from us from time to time, but, they knew that we had prayed to Baba for their homes. That was enough. Now, they are asking, "Is Baba coming this month"? The neighbours had Darshan of Baba because of their homes on the hill. They were totally unknowing of Baba, yet faith has arisen in their hearts and minds, now that they see with their own eyes that their houses have not moved.

Americans are, in fact, having the Darshan of Sai in a most subtle mode. Any one may say that Sai devotion is surely there in America.

KRISHNA JANMASHTAMI 2011

2011-08-23T08:02:00.000-07:00

Krishna Janmashtami was celebrated on August 22nd 2011, at 8.00pm. Our prayers included veda chanting, Lord Krishna mantra, regular Sai mantras and bhajans.

Sai Spiritual Showers - Issue 3/10

2011-08-18T04:33:00.000-07:00

I notice that while your feet are taking you round by force of habit, your tongues blabber about the faults of others, or the price of vegetables, or the dishes you propose to cook for lunch. Before you start on your rounds, which you call pradakshina, give your mind as dakshina (thanksgiving offering) to the Resident of the temple, the Lord. That is the first thing to do, and perhaps, the only thing to do. Pradakshina is not to be taken as prescribed, for loosening the limbs or giving them some exercise.

This Nilayam should not be treated with scant reverence. Make the best use of your stay here. Do not treat this chance lightly. You come spending much money, and put yourselves to much trouble to reach here; but, you do not bloom as fragrant offerings at the Lord's feet by learning the sadhana path. The senses have to be curbed into obedient servants of the spirit, For example, I insist on silence. Talk less, talk low when you must talk.

Do not thrust your sorrows, your needs, your problems into the ears of those who have come here with their own bundle of such things. They are not interested in adding to their troubles. I am here to listen to you, to console you. Do not by loudness of voice disturb those who are meditating or reading or writing the name of God.
All ills are traceable to faulty living:

Meditate if possible, yourselves, alone; read spiritual books if you can; write the name of the Lord in the quiet of your corner; if you cannot do these, at least do not disturb others who are doing these. Encourage one another to march along the path to God.

Become entitled to the honoured title of Bhaktha. My glory is spread daily through those who call themselves My bhakthas. Your virtue, your self-control, your detachment, your faith, your steadfastness - these are the signs by which people read of My glory. Not that I want any such propaganda.

But, it just happens so, in this world, where men estimate others indirectly, rather than directly. Let Me tell you, such bhakthas are very rare. That is the reason why I do not address your gathering as, "Bhakthulaara" You can lay claim to that name only when you have placed yourself in My hands, fully, completely, with no trace of ego kept back to cater to your vanity. All ills are traceable to faulty living. And what is that traceable to? To ignorance of one's real Nature, ignorance so deep rooted that it affects thoughts, words and deeds. The drug that can cure it is patented under different names: jnaana, karma, upaasana (contemplation), bhakthi. They are all the same in potency, and curative power. The difference lies only in the method of administration either as mixture or as tablet or injection.

Be confident that you will be liberated; Know that you are saved. Go and tell all that you had gone to Puttaparthi and that you got there the secret of liberation.

ZHONG YUAN (GHOST) FESTIVAL

2011-08-14T07:20:00.000-07:00

The Chinese Ghost Festival or Zhong Yuan Festival was celebrated on 14 August 2011, coinciding with the 15th day of the 7th lunar month. Our prayers began at 7.00pm with veda chanting, Lord Shiva mantras, Lingashtakam, and followed with bhajans. After bhajans, we chanted the Boddhisatva Ksitigarbha mantra and the Long Dharani Sutra.

At the end of the session, there was a sharing of the origins of Ghost Festival and the Buddhist story about Mu Lian, the eldest monk under the discipline of Buddha.

Refreshments was served after arathi.

Sai Spiritual Showers - Issue 3/09

2011-08-11T06:38:00.000-07:00

Our boat was sinking, or so we felt,

We closed our eyes,

And before You, we knelt,

With a wave of Your hand,

You calmed the storm,

In a flash of events,

You took away the tears, the mourn.

We were drowning, or so we thought,

But the touch of Your hand,

Was enough to bring our fears to a naught,

You didn't let a drop splash upon our person,

You came to save us,

Just when we were beginning to think our lot would worsen.

The darkness kept creeping on us, or so we assumed,

'Where is God when we need Him?' we fumed,

And then You whispered, 'Why fear when I am here?'

Our eyes opened,

And there You were standing ever so near,

And we saw a light, of a most wondrous hue,

It surrounded us,

And then became You.

We were falling, crashing, hurtling down, or so we imagined,

We could see the sinister rocks below,

We could hear our screams, the din,

We clenched our fists,

And shut our eyes,

We tried to subdue our fear, our cries,

We tried to show courage, but in vain,

And in our panic,

We even forgot to call out Your name.

Still, the crash never came.

Our eyes opened,

And instead of deathly rocks,

We lay on a bed of love,

We looked straight up at Your smiling face above,

And You said in a voice of unmatched love and kindness,

'My dear child, you may forget me, but how can I?

I live for you,

For your happiness.

Even when you are not looking,

I'm standing right there,

Even when you don't feel it,

You're enveloped in My armour of love and care.

Pain and sorrow are a part of life,

But look once towards Me,

And I'll give you joy,

That's unchallenged by trouble or strife,

For you may not know it,

But I've descended to love you,

A love that's the deepest of deep, and the truest of true…'

Sai Spiritual Showers - Issue 3/08

2011-08-03T18:57:00.000-07:00

On hearing Krishna's words, Arjuna looked at Him with a feeling of amused surprise. He said: "Krishna! To ensure the victory of the Pandavas you chose the role of charioteer. Because of that, Pandavas won their victory. Instead of rejoicing over this victory, why are you feeling sad over the fall of our enemy?"

Karna's greatness as warrior and donor
Krishna replied: "Karna is the very embodiment of sacrifice. Sacrifice is a synonym for Karna. In the entire world you can not find one other man equal in the spirit of sacrifice to Karna. In weal or woe, triumph or defeat he could not forget the quality of sacrifice. Have you got that spirit of sacrifice? No." Krishna then asked Arjuna to follow him.

Darkness had enveloped the battlefield. Krishna was proceeding with Arjuna. In His sweet voice, Krishna was exclaiming: "Karna! Karna!" Karna was gasping for breath in his last moments. He cried: "Who is calling me? I am here." Following the direction from which the words came, Krishna went near Karna.

Krishna's test to Karna
Before approaching Karna, Krishna assumed the form of an indigent Brahmin. Karna asked him: "Who are you, Sir?" Karna was nearing his last breath. Even at that moment, without any hesitation or faltering in his voice, he put that question to the stranger. Krishna (as the poor Brahmin) replied: "For a long time I have been hearing about your reputation as a charitable person. You have acquired fame as 'Dana Karna' (Karna the great giver) "Today, not knowing about your plight, I came to ask you for a gift. You must give me a donation." "Certainly, I shall give you whatever you want", replied Karna. "I have to perform the marriage of my son. I want a small quantity of gold", said Krishna. "Oh what a pity! Please go to my wife, she will give you as much as gold as you need", said Karna. The "Brahmin" broke into laughter. He said: "For the sake of a little gold have I to go all the way to Hastinapura? If you say, you are not in a position to give me what I ask I shall leave you." Karna declared: "As long as breath remains in me, I will not say 'no' to anyone." Karna opened his mouth, showed the gold fillings for his teeth and said: "I shall give this to you. You can take them". Assuming a tone of revulsion, Krishna said: "What is it you suggest? Do you expect me to break your teeth and take the gold from them? How can I do such a wicked deed? I am a Brahmin."

Karna's prayer to Krishna
Immediately, Karna picked up a stone nearby, knocked out his teeth and offered them to the "Brahmin". Krishna in his guise as Brahmin wanted to test Karna further. "What? Are you giving me as gift teeth dripping with blood? I cannot accept this. I am leaving", he said. Karna pleaded: "Swami, please wait for a moment." Even while he was unable to move, Karna took out his arrow and aimed it at the sky. Immediately rain dropped from the clouds. Cleaning the teeth with the rainwater, Karna offered the teeth with both his hands. Krishna then revealed His original form. Karna asked: "Who are you, Sir"? Krishna said: "I am Krishna. I admire your spirit of sacrifice. In any circumstance you have never given up your spirit of sacrifice. Ask me what you want." Beholding Krishna's beauteous form, Karna said with folded hands: "Krishna! Aapadbandhava! (Oh! Reliever of troubles!) Lokarakshaka (Protector of the world!) Oh Lord, who hold the Universe in your palm, what can I seek from you? At this moment of my passing, to close my eyes gazing on your Divine form. This is my greatest blessing. This is boon enough for me. To have the vision of the Lord before one's passing is the goal of human existence. You came to me and blessed me with your form. This is enough for me. I offer my salutations to you."

Lesson for Arjuna
Arjuna was observing the whole scene. Krishna turned to him and said: "Are you prepared for this kind of sacrifice?" Arjuna bowed his head in silence. The Lord praised the greatness of the quality of sacrifice in man. Of all kinds of sacrifice, the greatest is the sacrifice made for God.

"Oh Lord! That heart which you gave unto me, I am offering to you. What else can I bring to offer at your lotus feet? I prostrate before you. Please accept my offering." This was the prayer addressed by Karna to Krishna.

Man forgets his true nature because of attachment and egoism. Man should develop firm faith in God. Faith should be like your life-breath, which goes on inhaling and exhaling at all times without respite. Respiration goes on whatever work you may be doing and whatever the state of your mind.

Likewise, in all situations and at all times, your faith in God should never leave you. It should not change according to whether your desires are fulfilled or not. Like your life-breath, your faith should remain steady, though joy and sorrow, loss and gain, pain and pleasure.

Treat whatever happens as good for you. Have that sense of fortitude. When you have faith in the self, even wild animals will be gentle towards you.

Every man should recognise that the body has been given to him to render service to others. You must use the body for promoting the welfare of society. Of what use is the endless study of books if you do not use your knowledge for the good of others? A mind that is not utilised for imparting joy to others or a body that is not used for the service of others are totally useless. The best way to love God is to love all and serve all. Students should imbibe this ideal.

Man should strive to become good and virtuous. Only when a man is filled with good thoughts and good feelings and performs good deeds will his life become meaningful. These good qualities will serve to make a better man of you. That is the purport of the saying: "A good son illumines his lineage." ( Suputro Kuladeepakah"). As good sons all of you should pledge yourselves to serve and protect the nation.

Students! your secular studies will help you in worldly life, but will not promote your spiritual progress. Without spirituality, all worldly accomplishments are worthless.

A Miracle... To Come (Bilingual)

2011-07-28T20:59:00.001-07:00

Messages Of Sathya Sai Baba 2 (Bilingual)

2011-07-28T20:58:00.001-07:00

Messages Of Sathya Sai Baba 1 (Bilingual)

2011-07-28T20:57:00.001-07:00

Bhagavan Uvacha Series Vol 1 : Sevadal (Bilingual) HD

2011-07-28T20:56:00.001-07:00

Walking With The Master

2011-07-28T20:54:00.001-07:00

Sai Spiritual Showers - Issue 3/07

2011-07-27T19:11:00.000-07:00

Q: Swami, can I get moksha (liberation) in this very birth?

A: You can get it this moment, if you have the required purity of mind (Chitta Shuddhi). The only criterion is purity; birth is not important. God is beyond time—(Kalateeta). The time factor is applicable only to the universe (Jagat) and not to the Lord.

Q: Swami, the mental tendencies (vasanas) of many lives hinder the progress.

A: Vasanas can be changed by discrimination and effort (Viveka and Sadhana). You have to examine every tendency of your inner being, whether it is good or bad, before translating it into action.

Q: Swami's grace must come .........

A: The grace is always there; it neither comes nor goes. You have to tap it with effort.

Q: What is the difference between Dana (charity) and Thyaga (sacrifice)?

A: Charity is giving of money, time or energy for a good cause; sacrifice is giving up of one's bad traits and weaknesses. If sacrifice means just the giving up of hearth and home, many people will do it very easily!

The hallmark of true devotion is this sacrifice—the giving up of one's bad traits and weaknesses. A true devotee should not be deterred by adversities in life. The difference between true and false devotion can be discovered only in times of adversity. A ball of iron and a dry leaf look alike when there is no wind. But when the wind blows, the leaf flies away and the iron ball is not even swayed a little. In times of adversity, false devotion disappears; but a true devotee will think, "My difficulties and problems are in no way connected with my devotion to God. These difficulties are like passing clouds, but God is eternal and so is love for God."

Q: On the battlefield of Kurukshetra, Arjuna threw away his bow and arrows with a decision not to fight the war against Bhishma, the grandfather, Drona, the preceptor, and other kith and kin. But Arjuna had fought against Bhishma, Drona and others to protect the cows of Virata Maharaja, towards the end of the Pandava's incognito term in exile. What accounts for the difference in Arjuna's attitude?

A: The purpose of the earlier fight was only to protect the cows. It was not a decisive battle. There was no intention on the part of Arjuna to kill Bhishma and Drona. But in the battle of Kurukshetra, the stakes were very high; he had to kill them to win the war. In this situation, attachment to kith and kin plunged him into sorrow.

Q: Was Arjuna overpowered by the fear of fighting against the mighty heroes arrayed against him in Kurukshetra?

A: No, Arjuna was never afraid of fighting against anybody. It was only the delusion of 'I' and 'mine' (moham) that overpowered him.

Q: On the battlefield, Krishna taught Arjuna many aspects of the science of the Spirit. What was the path practised by Arjuna later?

A: The purpose of Krishna was to make Arjuna fight the war and save him from misery and infamy. The knowledge of 'Atma and Anatma' and the truth about the body principle are essential for the performance of one's duties (Kartavyakarma). The most important thing that Arjuna learnt was to perform all actions with a sense of surrender to the Lord. This is the secret of Karma Yoga. This was practised by Arjuna.

Q: The Bhagavad Gita says, "There is no killer nor killed!" On this basis Arjuna is asked to kill men on the battlefield. On the same logic, can anyone kill anybody he likes to kill?

A: Bhagavad Gita exhorts all men to follow their Dharma. Arjuna, being a Kshatriya, had to protect Dharma by killing the evil men. It was his duty. Arjuna was made to know the immortal nature of the Spirit and this enabled him to do his duty with efficiency and perfection. One who has the awareness of the spiritual truth will not enter the wrong path and do wrong things according to one's whims and fancies. He will always follow the moral code of conduct.

There is the story of a murderer, who argued with the magistrate, "There is neither any killer nor killed (according to the Gita). Therefore, why do you propose to hang me?" The magistrate paid him back in the same coin, telling him, "You also cannot be killed. Only your body will be hanged!"

Sai Spiritual Showers - Issue 3/06

2011-07-21T00:41:00.000-07:00

I saw teardrops glistening,

In Your enchanting lotus eyes,

Ashamed am I, sweet Lord,

It made me realise,

I have to break all my ties...

With selfish pursuits,

Vested interests, mean motives,

And tinsel yearning...

With I, me and mine,

With erratic ego,

I have to break all links...

For these things take me,

Away from Thee,

And I do not see any reason to live,

Beloved Bhagawan,

If I am not connected to Thee...

I do not see any reason to live,

If I don’t reach out to all as Thee,

For the core of every being,

Represents You for me...

...I do not see any reason to live,

If I don’t practice what You teach,

For then Your code of conduct,

I do breach...

You are the reason for me to live,

You are the reason I breathe,

So I must choose You,

Over anger, lust, attachment and greed...

Or else life has no worth,

And oh! so vain is this birth...

...To You, a hundred per cent,

Of myself I have to give,

For I cannot see,

Any other teardrop does glisten,

In Your beautiful eyes,

Oh! precious Lord, permit me,

To hasten,

To break the ties...

Guru Purnima 15/7/11

2011-07-17T23:35:00.000-07:00

Guru Purnima was celebrated on 15 July 2011 beginning with 21 Omkar at 5.30am. This was followed with Suprabatham, Namavalli and Bhajans.

On the same evening, at 8.00pm, there was another round of prayers with Vedam chanting and Guru bhajans.

Delicious refreshments were served at the end of both sessions.

Sai Spiritual Showers - Issue 3/04

2011-07-06T19:28:00.000-07:00

I came to know Sri Sathya Sai Baba on April 1, 1978. On this day, I was rushed to the hospital by ambulance to the emergency ward. A team of specialists examined me and gave me a battery of tests, all of which I failed. Simple questions about my name, phone number, date of birth, occupation, place of employment and field of specialisation I could not answer. I was delirious and in a state of mental confusion and anxiety. The team diagnosed that I had a neurological dysfunction and I would be hospitalised for 6 months to a year.
A New Vocabulary in Values and Ethics

During the night in my state disconnected from reality, time and space, I dreamt a man with bushy hair and an orange robe who took me into a garden, sang a few Bhajans and touched my head. Next morning, the team of specialists arrived and started questioning me about my occupation, phone number, etc. I answered all their questions and was curious about this

simplistic level of questioning. They were amazed at my lucidity and queried what happened in the evening. I told them about the dream; the dream that was crystal clear in my mind. They concluded, it was an amazing recovery. However, they decided to keep me in hospital for two weeks for observation. After I was discharged, I found out that the man in my dream was Sri Sathya Sai Baba.

I started reading everything about Him, His miracles, community projects, discourses, etc., and was overwhelmed by His divine wisdom. The second miracle more critical than my amazing recovery is the miracle of transformation of my vision, work ethics and behaviour.

I studied at top universities in the West, McGill University, University of Toronto and John Hopkins University and never learned a lesson in human values or ethics. So, when I became a professor I never lectured on this topic in management. I thought it was nonsensical, problematic, subjective, relativistic, etc. Since I started studying Sai Baba's teachings I now lecture on values and ethics; there is an infusion of values and ethics in all my books, research papers, and conference proceedings. A new vocabulary on values and ethics has entered my mind and consciousness. The value-based perspective in education, motivation, leadership, technological change, etc., is really the centre of my pedagogy and I have taken it to the Universities of Cambridge, Oxford, etc., where it was well received. This is a miracle of transformation not only in terms of my profession but also in my vision, goals, attitude, per ception of reality, values, behaviour, lifestyle, work ethics—all elements of my personality.

I now lecture in my B. Com. and MBA classes on Sri Sathya Sai Baba's theories of stress management, human personality, education, values, ethics, leadership, etc., with a few questions in the mid-term examination on His teachings which are popular with students. I also assign research papers on His revolutionary definitions on education, manager, and have completed three books on His teachings and on students' reflections on these teachings.
Building Bridges of Human Understanding

It is because of Sri Sathya Sai Baba that my life is happier, more meaningful and insightful and my job is enriched with new challenges and new perspectives and meanings: "Work is love made visible." His love and service translated into action for over 60 years are mind boggling, and His initiatives at cross cultural understanding among devotees from over 160 countries are just as amazing.

For me the miracle of transformation is more powerful than His other miracles of healing, materialisations, etc. His revival of the great spiritual classics of Hinduism and Indian culture worldwide in 160 countries has made India the spiritual and philosophical beacon for the world. For the information age what we need is not more information but transformation according to Sri Sathya Sai Baba. Information-oriented knowledge makes man a machine, whereas transformation-oriented knowledge makes man a composer. One ton of information may contain zero insight. The mansion of happiness is built on insight into the Atma and one's character, one's moral compass, He states. Sri Sathya Sai Baba has given me a moral compass to guide me on the ocean of life. I have met many of His students in Canada who are true gems of virtuous character, work ethics and human excellence.

I am not from India and have never talked to Sri Sathya Sai Baba nor had an interview with Him. My ancestors left India 150 years ago. I visited His Ashram to know more about Him, particularly His teachings, wisdom, love, the ideal of service and His charismatic personality. His power to transform peoples' vision, goals, values, personality and character, His celebration of the unity of religions at His ashram, and His work at building bridges of human understanding across all cultures on the planet are most astounding and marvellous.

Sai Spiritual Showers - Issue 3/03

2011-06-29T18:30:00.000-07:00

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

2011-06-22T19:13:00.000-07:00

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

2011-06-22T19:02:00.000-07:00

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

2011-06-08T20:13:00.000-07:00

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

2011-06-01T21:45:00.000-07:00

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.

A Prayer To Embrace

2011-05-26T23:48:00.001-07:00

Buddha Purnima 2011

2011-05-26T07:48:00.000-07:00

Buddha Purnima was celebrated on the morning of 17th May, 2011, at 10.00 am. Our prayers began with Veda Chanting, Buddhist mantras, Tibetan Buddhist Mantras, and our regular mantras and bhajans. After arathi, all members took part in the 'Bathing Buddha' ceremony. Refreshments was served at the end of the event.

Click below to see more pictures :

Buddha Purnima

Sai Spiritual Showers - Issue 2/97

2011-05-25T21:14:00.000-07:00

One evening, Swami related instances from the lives of Socrates, the Greek philosopher, and Prophet Mohammed to pinpoint the lesson that one should not leave any undischarged debts before one passes away.

In relating the story of Socrates in His own gripping manner, Swami described how the young men in Athens were attracted to Socrates because of the way in which he inspired in them a deep interest towards the basic problems of life. Because too many young men chose to remain with Socrates, the authorities in Athens condemned him to death. Rather than allowing himself to be put to death by others, Socrates chose to end his life by drinking a cup of hemlock.

Swami described the last scene in which Socrates was surrounded by his numerous young disciples. With no fear of death, Socrates spoke to them cheerfully. Before receiving the cup of hemlock from the hands of his disciples, Socrates told one of them that he owed a hen to a neighbour. He asked the disciple to give a hen to his neighbour so that he may be free from any debt to anyone before his passing. He then received the cup of hemlock from the disciples' bands and drank it calmly.

Incidentally Swami described how Alexander, a student of Aristotle—who was himself a pupil of Plato, the guru of Socrates—met an Indian ascetic during his invasion of India and learnt from the sage the supreme value of detachment (Vairagya) and the impermanence of worldly acquisitions.

Referring to Prophet Mohammed's life, Swami described how on one occasion when the Prophet was fleeing from Mecca, he had to use the services of a camel-driver for carrying him across the desert. The Prophet had no money to pay to him at the time. Later, when the Prophet was about to leave the world, he called one of his disciples and asked him to discharge the debt the Prophet owed to the camel driver.

Swami related these incidents to the students to impress on them how important it is in life to discharge one's obligations to others. The ancient Indian sages, Swami said, believed that if a person dies without discharging his debts he cannot escape the obligation to be born again to discharge the unpaid debts. Our ancients attached the highest value to honouring one's pledged word. Harishchandra was the supreme example of one who was prepared to undergo every kind of trial and humiliation to fulfill the promise he had given.

Swami recited a Telugu poem which says:

The signature is vital to a promissory note;

The army is vital to a fortress;

Character is vital to a community;

Truth is vital to speech.

True friendship

One evening, Swami asked the students to define the characteristics of true friendship. Various answers were given and the examples of Krishna and Arjuna were cited. Bhagavan said that He wanted examples from human beings alone. The relation between Krishna and Arjuna was that of the Divine to man.

Swami then gave the answer Himself and illustrated it with an example from ancient Italy. Swami said true friendship is present when the friends regard themselves as two bodies with one heart and soul. Swami then related the story of Damon and Pythias. Pythias had been sentenced to death by a ruler (of Syracuse) for an offence against the State. Pythias's friend, Damon, came to the ruler and said that as the sentence was to be executed a month later Pythias might be released from prison to see his wife and children. The ruler agreed to release Pythias on condition that Damon agreed to be in prison for a month and was willing to suffer the death sentence in case Pythias did not turn up on the due date. Damon readily offered to take Pythias's place. Pythias was freed and permitted to go home to meet his family. On the day prior to the date of execution a large crowd had gathered at the prison to see whether Pythias kept his word. Tension mounted as Pythia s had not arrived by the evening. Damon was cheerfully ready to mount the scaffold in case Pythias did not turn up. Late in the night Pythias came running to the prison to save Damon from execution for his sake. The next morning the ruler was astonished at seeing both Damon and Pythias and was struck by the extreme devotion between the two friends. He pardoned Pythias and took both the friends into his service.

Swami went on to say that such friendship was not to be found today. Most "friends" were fair weather friends who flocked around a person when he was prosperous or held a high position, but ignored him when he was down and out. Such "friends" were like frogs which gathered in a pond full of water but abandoned it when it was dry. Swami said God alone was the unfailing friend who could be relied upon to stand by the man of faith in weal and woe and protect him through all vicissitudes. Young people should not think that they could postpone thinking about God till their old age. No one can say when death will come. Only if one remembers God constantly all the time will he be able to remember God in his last moments.

Who are sinners?

Swami related at great length an important episode in the Mahabharata to convey a lesson regarding the role of persons who are silent witnesses to the commission of what they know to be a grievous wrong.

Describing the incident in which Draupadi was dragged into the court of Duryodhana by Dussasana, Swami said that Draupadi made a passionate appeal to the elders present to declare whether the humiliation she was being subjected to by the Kauravas was in accordance with Dharma, the recognised principles of right conduct. All the elders, including Bhishma, Drona, Kripacharya and Ashwathama, remained silent. Vikarna, the youngest of the Kaurava brothers, was the only person who condemned the outrage that was being committed against a noble and virtuous Kshatriya princess. His words were dismissed as those of a callow youth.

Swami pointed out that when a grave crime is committed, the sin is shared by four categories of persons. Apart from those who are the actual perpetrators of the crime, the others who share in the sin are those who are abettors or accomplices, those who instigate or encourage the commission of the crime and those who are silent witnesses to the crime though they know that a grievous crime is being committed.

The lesson which Bhagawan drew from this episode for the students was that when any of them found a student misbehaving or disobeying the rules of the Institute, they should correct him on the spot and should not hesitate to chide him. To be silent or indifferent in such situations amounts to encouraging and abetting such misbehaviour.

MEDICAL SCREENING AT RUMAH KEBAJIKAN CAHAYA, BATU MAUNG

2011-05-23T23:31:00.000-07:00

A general health check for adults and children was held at the Rumah Kebajikan Cahaya, Batu Maung on 24th April 2011, beginning at 9.30am. There were doctors and nurses from Penang General Hospital to assist with the programme. Medication and vitamins were prescribed where necessary. After the medical screening, lunch was served to all who were present.

Click below for more pictures :

Medical Camp

MOTHER'S DAY 2011 AT SILVER JUBILEE HOME

2011-05-10T06:42:00.000-07:00

Mother's day was celebrated at the Silver Jubilee Home in Sungai Dua, Penang on 8 May, 2011. We conducted prayers and bhajans in their community hall from 10.30am - 11.15 am. Many of the uncles and aunties joined in our prayer session.

At 11.30am, we served vegetarian lunch to almost 200 people present in the hall. Fruits and ice-cream was also distributed to everyone.

At 12.30noon, some of our members went over to the wards and distributed ice-cream to almost 80 people.

(Click here for more pictures : Mother's Day 2011)

Sai Spiritual Showers - Issue 2/94

2011-05-04T20:58:00.000-07:00

There is an old devotee known as Shirdi Ma, for she was at Shirdi when Sai Baba was alive. She is called Pedda Bottu, too, because of the impressive kumkum dot she wears on her brow. Shirdi Ma, in her reminiscence, says that she was always urging Easwaramma to tell her a few miracles of Swami when he was a child. Easwaramma would parry the questions most of the time saying that she never saw any or could not remember. But one day she revealed a profoundly moving experience which she had kept secret for over thirty years, having been told not to speak of it.

"Swami was nine months old at the time," Easwaramma said, "I can't remember the whole incident fresh and clear. I had just bathed and dressed him, and applied on his eyes cooling collyrium. I applied vibhuthi from the Shiva temple and a dot of kumkum from the Sathyamma temple on his brow. I put him in the cradle, gave it a swing and turned to the hearth where the milk had come to the boil. Suddenly I heard him cry. I was surprised for, believe me, he had never cried since birth for any reason, hunger, or pain, or discomfort. I picked him up and placed him on my lap, He stopped the wail. I saw a halo of brilliant light all around him, a circle of radiance surrounding him. But the light did not hurt me, it was so cool though so bright and near. I sat still, lost in delight. It was there a long time, before it faded slowly away. I closed my eyes and probably lost awareness of everything around, until my mother-in-law came to me and I awoke. The child was apparently asleep. She asked me what had happened and I told her about the halo that I could see even then in clear outline. She put her finger on her lips and said, 'Don't tell anyone of this. They wouldn't understand. They would spread all kinds of tales.' I think she told grandfather, for he asked me about it later."

Our Swami is God

On the eleventh or twelfth day of the Camp, she accosted Shirdi Ma (the octogenarian lady who had known and worshipped the Sai Baba of Shirdi) to tell her of a momentous experience. Pedda Bottu (as Shirdi Ma is also known) relates the secret confided in her that day: "Pedda Bottu," Easwaramma said to me, "I want to tell you something that happened to me. But tell no one else." I sat closer and said, "What is it, tell me." "Our Swami is God!" she whispered. I laughed. "Why do you laugh?" she asked. "No, no, I was not laughing at you. I am only happy you have realised it now. Well, tell me, how did you come to know?" I asked. "You know I have been having high fever for four days. Swami came to me then." "In a dream?" I asked, "No," she said, "He really did come to me when I was rolling restlessly in bed. "Ammayi, how do you feel?" He asked. "My whole body is aching, " I replied, looking up at Him. Then—what can I tell you? It was not He that you and I know. It was Ramachandra with Kireetam and Kodandam (Crown and Bow)! I raised my folded hands and struggled to sit up and get out of bed. But in a few moments He became Swami again, gave me Vibhuthi Prasadam and said, 'The fever will go,' and went." "You are indeed blessed. What a rare piece of luck!" I exclaimed. "No one of us has had a vision of Sai Rama as Ramachandramurthy while fully awake and alert." (Thus ends Pedda Bottu's narrative).

Eleven Sacred Vows

2011-05-04T00:05:00.001-07:00

Nine Lamps To Light From Now On

2011-05-03T06:03:00.001-07:00

I Have Gone Nowhere

2011-04-30T10:49:00.001-07:00

A Miracle... To Come

2011-04-29T07:47:00.001-07:00

Everything Is Possible

2011-04-29T07:38:00.000-07:00

Sai Spiritual Showers - Issue 2/92

2011-04-20T20:36:00.000-07:00

Upon conclusion of the Divine Discourse on July 27, 2002, on the auspicious Guru Purnima occasion, one of the devotees had posed a question to Bhagawan as to when the swelling on His face would go down. For several weeks preceding Guru Purnima, Bhagawan had developed a large area of swelling on His right cheek. It had subsided substantially by Guru Purnima but was still evident. Read on Bhagawan’s answer that throws light onto His extreme ways of granting happiness to devotees at the cost of physical discomfort.

Bhagawan: It will go down tomorrow. Diseases like smallpox, chickenpox, and typhoid run their usual course of time. Similarly, even this glandular swelling lasts for 21 days. No medicine would help it. Diet has to be controlled and observed carefully.

After 21 days, it subsides spontaneously. Today is 19th day, and by day after tomorrow it should be gone. Today being the 19th day, it has already decreased and there is not much swelling.

By taking the illness on myself from that other person, I gave comfort to him. Even so, bearing the ailment patiently, I do not waste any time. How many discourses am I giving and how much work am I doing? The swelling started near the joint of the right cheek. It was difficult even to talk and drink water.

When the International Seva Conference started, the All-India President, Mr. Srinivasan, requested Swami to give a discourse. When I tried, I could not even speak. Then I felt, what is the use if I can't give happiness to all these people? Then I willed that the swelling move from the joint to a forward point. I do not cure myself, because then it becomes selfish. There is no selfishness in Me. On the 13th day, I shifted the swelling. That day the pain was unbearable and excruciating.

I preach to everybody to get rid of body attachment and develop attachment to the Atma (true Self). So I had to show by example not to have body attachment and to ignore the terrible pain. That's how I could do so much work and give this many discourses. I do not take any holidays like you—no Sundays or any other holidays, only holy days for Swami. I do not pay much attention to the ailment as it comes and goes. Still two more days are remaining. Day after tomorrow, it will be normal.

You may not be aware that the swelling was the size of a ripe orange. No one should feel sad that Swami has taken on this illness. These things come and go. Who invited them and who bids them farewell? They come and go. But you have to control your thoughts. If you pay too much attention to the illness, it will cause you more pain.

A child was suffering, and the principal of the school sent a telegram to the child's parents. The parents took the child to the doctor, but the doctor said there was no cure; the child had to undergo the suffering. The child was crying all the time, without eating or drinking. I went by car to the school and called the child along with the parents into a room. I asked the boy, "What do you want?" He wanted the pain to be removed. I said, "I will remove the pain; you tell me what food you would like." He wanted biscuits, as he had not eaten for three days. I materialized the biscuits, fed him, blessed him, and told him to go to his classroom at the school.

The parents were concerned and wanted to take the child home. But I told the child to stay at school. Then he returned to the classroom and had no pain. That's how I took his illness upon myself.
All Avatars Take On Illnesses

I do many things like this. Once I took upon myself the paralysis of a devotee. There was a devotee called Krishnappa, a flower vendor in Bangalore. He suffered from paralysis and had to support a large family, so I took his paralysis upon Myself. Even though I take these things on Myself, I don't cure Myself. If I cure Myself, it becomes selfish.

Then, in Nainital, there was a mother of three children who lost her husband. She was working as a clerk, and there was no one to support her. She was grieving the demise of her husband, and she used to work day and night to support the family.

While going to the office, she suffered a heart attack. I was in Bangalore when this happened in Nainital. I said, "Laxmi, do not fear." At that time, I left my body, and the students who were with me were worried. Then I came back and told them not to worry, but to take me upstairs. Thus I took upon myself the heart attack, and she became well and the children were happy.

The second day, I sent her a telegram, asking her to come to Brindavan. She came, along with her children. I called them privately and told them not to worry and to go back to work. I took upon Myself the illness for nine days and could not move. I suffered and then got better.

Sometimes I have to take on these illnesses. This happens to all Avatars. It happened to the Shirdi Avatar and the Krishna Avatar. Though all these are not recorded, all incarnations have taken over the sufferings of devotees. God does His duty, whether it is recorded or not. I am ready to take on the sufferings of anyone, when they cannot bear it. I am ready, ready, and ever-ready for this.

These incidents are not obstacles in the way of God. Everything will go on as usual. As you have seen, during the last fifteen days I attended all the functions; I had to do lots of work and gave many discourses. Doctors came and advised me to take rest. I don't want or need any rest. It is a mistake to think that I will become healthy by taking rest. Doing work while undergoing suffering is my rest."

GLOBAL PRAYERS FOR BHAGAWAN SRI SATHYA SAI BABA

2011-04-18T06:29:00.000-07:00

A special prayer session was held on Sunday, 17 April 2011, from 7.00pm - 11.00pm. This was in conjunction with the Global Prayers for Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. Most Sai centers in Malaysia were also doing the same simultaneously as suggested by Bro Dr Suresh Govind, our President.

The prayers conducted at NED began with Veda chanting, Medicine Buddha mantra x 108, Gayatri mantra x 108, Om Sri Bhagawan Sathya Sai Babaaya Namah x 108, Ganesha Gayatri x 9, Amman mantra x 9. This was followed with two hours of beautiful bhajans sung by our brothers and sisters. Before Arathi, we also chanted Sarva Dharma prayer, Universal Vedic prayer x 3 and Bhagawan's Eternal mantra x 5.

A surprise visit by Bro Billy Fong, the VP of Sai Chinese Affairs, Malaysia, brought joy to our members. He was accompanied by Bro Langkawi Tan, the chairman of SSBC Glugor, Penang. Bro Billy was also invited to give a short talk to our members.

Sai Spiritual Showers - Issue 2/91

2011-04-13T21:38:00.000-07:00

I do not need any riches; for, why should I?

A carefree mind is enough, O Father,

That is a Million for me!

I shall not yearn for Fortune; for, why should I?

A smile-lit face is enough, O Father,

That is a Million for me!

I shall not pine and want: for, why should I?

A glance from Thy Eye is enough, O Father,

That is a Million for me!

I shall not crave for Wealth; for, why should I?

The joy of being Thine is enough, O Father,

That is a Million for me!

Enough for me these things I have,

Whatever Thou hast gifted now;

Why think of getting more?

I’ll have them when Thou wishest;

Enough for me Thy un-diminishing Grace

Which falls on all whom Thou hast blessed,

With the words: “This one is Mine.”

Video : For Your Sake Only

2011-04-13T10:34:00.001-07:00

Ramnavami 2011

2011-04-12T07:48:00.000-07:00

It was a blissful Ramnavami celebration on 12 April 2011, at 8.00pm, with prayers and bhajans. Swami's message extracted from His Divine Discourse given on 14 April 1979 was read to commemorate the occasion. Refreshments was served after arathi.

Messages of Sathya Sai Baba 2

2011-04-08T03:44:00.001-07:00

Messages Of Sathya Sai Baba

2011-04-08T02:55:00.001-07:00

Sai Spiritual Showers - Issue 2/90

2011-04-06T21:18:00.000-07:00

At noon the next day, I accompanied Baba on a circuitous journey to Goa. The three cars moved towards Jog Falls. As usual, while leaving Brindavan, devotees lined up on both sides of the road, anxious to get a glimpse of Baba and to see the Hand waving to them.

It was a Fiat 1500 in which Baba, Mr. N.D.M. Appah, Chairman, Mysore State Electricity Board, and myself were travelling. The road was stony and rough, so the drive was full of jerks and bumps – this caused Baba to reprimand the driver for not being circumspect enough. "You do not know how much pain I get in the abdomen when it bumps," He said. We wondered why Baba who withstood worse roads better, was insisting on slow driving that day…
When the cars reached Goa, it was night. The stars came forth; they came with us, every yard of the road, keeping pace. When the border of Goa was reached, the Lt. Governor of Goa, Sri Nakul Sen, received Baba and let us into a rest house, where china gleamed in the shelves by the wall and geraniums glistened on the window sills. We had coffee; from then on Baba sat in the State car, with the head of the state.

Hurrying around the rambling roads, towards Panaji (the capital of Goa), the cars finally arrived at Raj Nivas, the Palace of the Governors-General of the "Portuguese Possessions in India and the Far East" for many centuries, but now, the official residence of the Lt. Governor. The time was 9.15 p.m. We had motored 385 miles, since morning, over good and bad roads, but Baba as fresh as a lily when He hastened up the red-carpeted flight of steps to the flower-decked apartments, set aside for His stay. Very soon, Baba presided over the dining table to which we were led by the Lt. Governor. He watched with amusement the contingent of waiters, and the beautiful chinaware, which the Portuguese had brought from Macao.

Though Mrs. Sen made bold to remind Him of His duty to Himself, He did not eat anything. He appeared to be anxious to send everyone to bed. "Go, go! You are all very much exhausted," He insisted. I protested that travelling with Him can never exhaust anyone, but He repeated that I was really in immediate need of rest. When we rose Mrs. Sen was informed by Baba that coffee be made ready for Him only at 8 a.m. the next day! She knew that at Prasanthi Nilayam, He had His coffee at around 6 a.m., but despite appeals for revising the order, Baba gave instructions that it was to be brought only at 8 o' clock.

Baba was alone in the suite reserved for Him. Nakul Sen pleaded for permission to be within call, but Baba sent Him away to his own room. We from Bangalore were in rooms on the ground floor.

About what occurred that night, Baba wrote later to Dr. S. Bhagavantam, in a letter I carried to him on the 12th December, "On the night of the 7th, strange events happened. I could not lie in bed, I could not sit upon it, nor turn, from one side to another. Nor could I speak or call. I did not like to cause anxiety or trouble to anyone. So I kept silent, pretending that all was well with Me"!

Next morning when the Sens grew aware of the truth it became clear, why He had abstained from dinner, and postponed the coffee hour, wanting only to hurry away to bed! I too began to understand why He had come away from Dharwar, and why He had taken the driver to task. Obviously, He had been 'ill' when He started out from Dharwar!

Mrs. Sen felt that Raj Nivas was an 'unlucky' place since He had fallen 'ill' there, but Baba immediately corrected her. "No, it is a house of good luck! I brought the 'illness' with Me to Cabo, so that I could get rid of it here".

By daybreak on the 8th, Baba appeared to be in great pain and Nakul Sen called in doctors from the Medical College at Goa, and some leading physicians of the City. Soon an imposing medical team surrounded the sick bed; their report read as follows, "history of pain in right lower quadrant of the abdomen since 3 p.m. on the 7th December.

SPECIAL PRAYERS FOR SWAMI

2011-03-31T02:33:00.000-07:00

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

2011-03-31T02:14:00.001-07:00

Sai Spiritual Showers - Issue 2/89

2011-03-31T02:12:00.000-07:00

(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)

Sai Spiritual Showers - Issue 2/88

2011-03-24T08:44:00.000-07:00

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

2011-03-24T08:35:00.000-07:00

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)

Sai Spiritual Showers - Issue 2/87

2011-03-16T23:27:00.000-07:00

'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.

Sri Sathya Sai Baba Baba teaches Shiva panchakshari mantra

2011-03-14T01:41:00.000-07:00

Sai Spiritual Showers - Issue 2/86

2011-03-09T22:30:00.000-08:00

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.

MAHASHIVARATRI

2011-03-03T02:54:00.000-08:00

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

2011-03-03T02:49:00.000-08:00

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.

Sai Spiritual Showers - Issue 2/84

2011-02-23T19:41:00.000-08:00

Devotee: In the West, Sadhana is generally taken to be a process of self-improvement. But, that implies identification with the changing personality?

Sri Sathya Sai: First, there may be the urge to self-improvement. But, the next stage is inquiry, the inquiry into the reality of `this' and `that'. Seven-tenths of Sadhana is ENQUIRY.

Devotee: Sadhana as it is described, seems wrong, because it is a conscious effort aimed at getting a reward. It seems to me that Sadhana is real, only when it is spontaneous. That is to say, as when one naturally loves God. He cannot but help love God. And, he cannot help but make inquiry.

Sri Sathya Sai: It is as you say; but, you have not experienced the spontaneous love for God. It is still just an idea. You have a conviction that love for God, exists naturally in you. That conviction itself is the result of many lives spent in spiritual practice.

Devotee: I have the conviction so strong, that it is the very marrow of my bone that Life is One; that others, Swami, and myself are One. The Atma is that One and it is fully here at this moment; and I am, constantly engaged in Sadhana; so, the question remains: Why do I not actually experience, that Unity, as no other than myself?

Sri Sathya Sai Baba: Your conviction of Unity is an Idea, a Thought. It is not experience. For instance, when your wife has pain in the head, do you have it too? If not, where is the experience of the Unity? The Unity must be experienced, not just felt as an idea, or entertained as a thought.

Devotee: Swami! If Sadhana and conviction do not bring the experience, how is one to get it?

Sri Sathya Sai: Through steady Sadhana. Just as with ourselves now, in this car. We need concern ourselves only with the careful driving of the car; in due course, we will arrive at Anantapur, wouldn't we? With correct and steady Sadhana, the actual experience of the ONE will naturally come about.

Devotee: How does one really experience that he is the same as another? Because now, one feels for another through compassion. Compassion is idea, understanding; it is not direct experience of unity. When some one hit a dog, Sai Baba of Shirdi had the bruises. That is the actual experience of Unity.

Sri Sathya Sai: All is Divine. When you are firmly established in the fact of your Divinity, then, you will directly know that others are Divine. Compassion for others is felt so long as you consider yourself as a separate entity, as a consequence of the body consciousness. The story of Shirdi Sai Baba that you have heard about is not fully correct. The facts are: a lady cooked and got ready a plate of sweets for Baba, and a dog ate them. The lady drove the dog away, with blows. The lady then carried another plate of sweets to Baba, who refused them, saying that He had eaten the sweets she previously provided, and His hunger was satisfied. The lady pointed out that this was the first time that she was offering the sweets; so, how could he say to the contrary? Baba said, "No." You offered them and while I was eating them, you have also beaten Me." Thus, He gave a lesson that He was omnipresent and that there was only ONE U niversal Life.

Devotee: What does Swami mean by `omnipresent'

Sri Sathya Sai: Omnipresent means everywhere, at the same time, all the time.

Devotee: Swami says, that at a certain stage in Sadhana, the exterior nature ceases. How is that?

Sri Sathya Sai: There are ten stages in Sadhana, each cognised by sounds of various types, ranging through different vibrations—bell, flute, conch, OM, thunder etc. The tenth stage is reached when the senses are transcended. Beyond the senses, it is the state of Bliss.

Devotee: Is that State of Bliss experienced only for a time? What happens in the daily round of life?

Sri Sathya Sai: That state remains always. Then, it is always Bliss. He thinks God, eats God, drinks God, breathes God, lives God.

Devotee: Does every one pass through these ten stages?

Sri Sathya Sai: No. One may go direct to the tenth, the transcendental state. Or, to stage six, or seven. Or not progress at all. It is not uniform for all.

Devotee: What should be one's attitude to these stages in Sadhana, as one encounters each stage one by one?

Sri Sathya Sai: The states change, but, the `attitude' should be unchanging.

Devotee: But, what value should one give to the various states?

Sri Sathya Sai: The Sadhaka will not be satisfied, with any of the states. For, complete union is the goal. Desire remains strong, until the transcendental bliss is realised, and then, desire ceases. At that state, all is God. Thoughts, desires, all are God.

Devotee: These thoughts that stream through the mind, are they material?

Sri Sathya Sai: Yes. They are matter. All matter is impermanent.

Devotee: Where do thoughts come from?

Sri Sathya Sai: They come from food and environment. If you have satwic food and desire only for good things and atmosphere around you, good thoughts only will come.

Devotees: Where do thoughts go?

Sri Sathya Sai: They go no place. Because, thoughts do not flow through the mind. The mind goes out and grasps, and gets engaged with thoughts. If the desire is for God, the mind does not go out. The best way is not to get involved in the problem, 'How to get rid of thoughts?' See all thoughts as God. Then, only God thoughts will come. The entire mechanism of body, mind, intelligence, will work in a coordinated manner, for the benefit of the higher goal.

Devotee: Then, for whom should the entire mechanism be functioning?

Sri Sathya Sai: For the Atma. A small example: 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 center of their Universe.

Devotee: Swami! How can one bring these faculties under the control of the Atma?

Sri Sathya Sai: When one realises that the Atma is the Reality, the ONE, then, everything will function smoothly. It is a question of surrendering all to the Atma.

Devotee: But, Swami has said, we should ask ourselves, "Who am I that I dare talk of surrendering my mind and intelligence to God? They do not belong to me. How can I surrender that which I do not own, and cannot even control?"

Sri Sathya Sai: It is not a question of surrendering or giving to some other one. One surrenders to oneself. Recognition that the Atma is one self is surrender.

Devotee: Then, Swami means, that surrender is really a putting aside of that which one perceives as incorrect or false.

Sri Sathya Sai: Yes.

Devotee: I now understand. "Surrender" implies a person offering himself or his possessions to another person. But, really, it is more like the abandoning of ideas and concepts for which one has no further use, or which one sees as inadequate or wrong.

Sri Sathya Sai: Yes.

Narayana Seva at Dharmasala, Puttaparthi 11/2/11

2011-02-20T20:23:00.000-08:00

Sai brothers and sisters from Malaysia and Australia got together for a service activity during our trip to Puttaparthi in February 2011. We visited a place called 'Sree Parthi Sai Dharmasala' located at Airport Road, Puttaparthi to conduct feeding for more than 300 people. Most of these people are family members and relatives of patients who are receiving free medical treatment at the Super Specialist Hospital. Some of them have come from distant villages and are without food or lodging facilities.

Click below to see more pictures :
Narayana Seva at Dharmasala, Puttaparthi

Gayatri Chanting

2011-02-20T01:25:00.000-08:00

In answering the nationwide call made by the President of SSBCCM, Bro Dr Suresh Govind, forty of our members gathered at NED to chant Gayatri Mantra x 108 at 7.30am on Sunday, 20 February 2011. The reason for the sudden mass chanting of this magnitude was in light of Swami's frail condition when our Malaysian contingent was in Puttaparthi to celebrate the Chinese New Year celebrations from 4 - 11 February 2011.

Sai Spiritual Showers - Issue 2/83

2011-02-17T03:52:00.000-08:00

After describing how a friend of his had been admitted in a hospital in Lucknow with a compound fracture after a scooter accident two days before he and his sister were to leave for Brindavan, and how despite the efforts of the doctors and his own prayers to Baba, the young man died, Ajay Pant writes:

All the time somewhere in the subconscious I was blaming Swami for all that was happening. Then the journey to Bangalore started with an already built-in prejudice against Swami. The picture of the boy haunted me throughout the much delayed journey, due to railway disturbances (May 1970).

I reached Whitefield on the day the Summer Course was to be inaugurated. My sister was also with me. She too had been selected for the Summer Course. The first reaction to the whole set up was strange. I liked it, in spite of having a grudge against Swami.

I met all the boys selected from Uttar Pradesh. What I could not understand then was their eagerness to see Swami, which I more or less pretended not to have.

At last, we stood outside the gate of Swami's residence—waiting for Him to come out. My reaction at confronting Swami was least expected. When I saw the saffron-clad, magnificent figure gliding closer, I was quite taken aback. "No one can be rude to this personality" I thought. But the "Intellect" prevailed and I stubbornly put my hands behind my back, while everyone else had them folded respectfully. Swami smiled at all others and acknowledged their greetings. He just whizzed past me. I felt, only felt, as if He looked at me in a queer way, as if to say, "Wait! I'll show you!!”

I had taken the challenge. I was stubborn, headstrong. My campaign against Baba was to make fun of Him somehow or the other. I remember a boy telling me that I weakened his faith, talking all that rubbish. I did even go to the extent of distorting the words of the bhajans.

But, how long can one resist charm? I slowly found myself doing what he told all the students to do. The explanation for this I gave to myself was that since Swami was feeding me and would be doing so for a month, it was my duty.

The day came when Swami was giving interviews to students of our State. I was eager to see him in order to have my queries answered. We went into the interview room. Half the boys rushed forward to be seated where Swami would come and sit, but I chose a back seat almost next to the wall. When at last Swami came in, the boys rushed to touch His feet. Good sense prevailed and I too touched His feet. I was surprised at what I had done.

Swami very sweetly started the conversation asking us how the food was, how the classes were going on, etc. Swami answered some philosophical queries. The boys were all eager to gulp down everything that He spoke. I found that my turn would not come nor would Swami say anything to me. Then He started asking all the students what their names were and what classes were they in. My turn also came and I mumbled the Information.

To my utter surprise I found myself desperate—desperate to ask: "Swami, why did you kill the boy so young? Why did you not listen to me?" Suddenly Swami's conversation turned to Life and Death. He glanced knowingly at me and said, "The Body experiences age, the Atma has no age". The others took the statement as a casual remark but I knew what he meant. He continued illustrating, "You buy a suit-length cloth and keep it in the cupboard for 10 years. After that you have it stitched and are under the Illusion that the suit is new. When you wear the suit and bend, it gets torn. Then, why do you cry that the new suit is torn. You forget it is the stitching which was new and not the cloth. Similarly, the body is the new stitching and the Atma is the ageless cloth."

I listened and stared in disbelief. Was life and death as simple as He made it out to be? Whatever it was, my head was throbbing with excitement and above all it was clear of all doubts. Had it been anyone else, I would have refuted, doubted but the explicit, loving, knowing and earnest manner in which He explained was much above doubt.

After that I watched Him sorrowfully as the interview came to an end. Swami walked to each one of us and distributed Vibhuti packets. Giving a heap to me, He asked in a slow melodious whisper, "Kya Mangta?" (What do you want?). The only words He inspired me to speak out were "BLESS ALL". He seemed happy, said, "Yes, yes" and went to the other boys.

When I came out of the hall, I was almost in a new world. Everything explained so easily—the mind was so free. This was the greatest sort of miracle for me.

After that I felt closer to Swami. I got a chance to go on the dais one evening, garland Him, touch His feet and even manage to speak to Him.

On the day when the Course was being concluded, I was sitting on the floor of the over-full auditorium listening to Swami's discourse. He was telling us about the challenge which we would have to face, when we go back. In other words, He said, the actual Summer Course was only beginning. He concluded with bhajans in his captivating voice and the ever-enthusiastic devotees (me too) joined in.

After arati, Swami left the auditorium. I saw an empty step on the passage through which Swami walked. I rushed, and stood there, watching tensely as Swami approached closer. I folded my hands.

Swami stopped before me, yes, stopped, amidst all the fanfare, the excitement. I was floating in the air, to say the least. The opportunity was too rare to be missed. I said; "Swami, help me to be good." He smiled "Yes! Yes! I am always with you". I touched His feet and felt His hands on my back blessing me. Then He asked me In Hindi: "Are you not coming to Puttaparthi?" I replied "No". He raised His hand, His sleeve went up and he circled it thrice. My palm stretched out automatically and Vibhuti came pouring onto my hand. He said, "Eat it" and sailed away before I could think or say anything.

I stood still, dazed; as I came to I gulped down the Vibhuti and walked back to the hostel, still excited. I felt miserable after that—miserable because Swami was leaving the next day with most of the students for Puttaparthi.

The next morning, Swami was leaving. The few students who stayed back sorrowfully waved Swami good-bye. After that the hostel seemed empty without Swami and my sister and I decided to leave for Bangalore that very day.

Now when I sit here and write my confession, I feel not ashamed but proud to have lost my ego battle with Swami. He made me face reality, the bitter reality, in a sweet soothing manner. The name of the boy who died was "Anand Mohan". Now, when I weigh the scales, I find that I have lost "Anand", but I have gained the "Anand Swaroopa".

Sai Spiritual Showers - Issue 2/82

2011-02-13T20:49:00.000-08:00

The most incredible thing that happened here one year ago relates to a highly placed military official from the Italian Army. The gentleman wants to be anonymous, because of his position. His wife told me the story of what happened to them and l shall relate it here exactly, quoting her own words: "At the end of 1979, my husband started having lots of difficulties in breathing. So, I took him to specialists, who told me after screening (X rays) that his illness was in a very advanced stage that he was suffering from 'Sarcoidosi'. A few days later my husband visited his Military Hospital and there they gave the following diagnosis: Your lungs are in such a bad state that it won't be possible for you to continue in service. Anyway, try to cure yourself and come back after 90 days. We will see what to do.

It was a rude revelation which gave a tremendous shock to my husband, who was only 47 and very much attached to his military career. A very intensive treatment was given but without any results. He had to be admitted to a hospital. The doctor who was attending on him was a famous specialist. He was checking the progress of my husband and as his first treatment did not give any favourable response he told my husband that he has to perform biopsy on him, for, only then he would be able to find the right treatment. My husband was in a terrible condition and by that time his lungs were working only 20 percent. There was not enough oxygen in his blood to allow any operation and oxygen therapy had to be administered. So, for two weeks my husband had to wear the oxygen mask for 12 hours a day. Even this proved futile.

`Anyway, there is no choice'; said the doctor, 'so, we will try the operation'. With incredible skill, he could perform the operation and take away a piece of lung for his examination. The result proved catastrophic. My husband learnt that he was suffering from `proteinosi alveolare'—an illness which is completely incurable. The doctor was frank in telling me that it was a very rare disease. He said: `In my lifetime I have come across only three patients suffering from this illness and all the three have succumbed. The one person who could live longer survived only for one year. I have contacted some foreign specialists, friends of mine, whether in recent years any treatment has been discovered to combat this dreadful disease: But the answer was in the negative!’

I went back home in a state of desperation. I had to inform my three children about their father's condition. My eldest daughter was going to an English School, the teacher in which was an Indian lady from Bombay (now, Mumbai). When the teacher saw my daughter crying, she asked her the reasons thereof and on knowing our family tragedy, she told her, `Ask your mother to ring me up'. I contacted her on the telephone and she invited me to her house. There she started talking about Sai Baba, who was completely unknown to me. She told me that if I had enough faith in Him and if I was praying, "that person" would be able to help me. She gave me some Vibhuti and a book on Sai Baba. We are practising Catholics, but my pain was so great that I could not pray. But "that person" of whom the teacher talked to me gave me a lot of confidence and serenity. He appeared to me like a friend, who could help me to turn myself towards God.

I came back and told my children what I heard and I started reading the book she gave me. The day after, I talked to my husband in the hospital about Sai Baba and he felt at once an instinctive attraction towards Him. Every night I used to read one chapter from the book and also give my husband some Vibhuti to eat. At a certain point, the hospital people told my husband to return home to pass his last days peacefully, because they were sure that his end was very near. He came back home. There, we went on reading about Sai Baba and continued the intake of Vibhuti. After 10 days we went back to the doctor for a check-up and there we discovered that a miracle had happened. My husband's lungs were completely normal! The doctor could not believe it. Doubting his first X-ray prints, he said, 'we will do new X-ray, but I have the feeling that something incredible has happened'..

The next day; my husband went to another specialist—the one who had taken X-ray photos in the beginning and who knew perfectly, his condition. The results revealed in the new X-ray photos were bewildering. There were no signs of damaged lungs or of any disease! The doctor said: 'There must be some error' and he did another examination. While he was announcing the results, the doctor started crying in front of such a miracle.

So, I took my husband again to the first doctor who said: 'I know everything already'. The Radiologist rang me up. He examined for a long time the radiographs he had before him and said that 'there was a complete reversal of the illness'. 'Two weeks ago, you were using your lungs upto 20 percent and they are working now at 80 percent,' he said, adding that 'that means you are breathing like a perfectly normal person.' `Did you undergo any treatment without telling me?' queried the doctor. We told him: 'We just prayed to Virgin Mary for help...' Of course, I did not mention Sai Baba because I did not know how to explain who He was. The doctor seemed to be thinking deeply and said: 'If this Virgin Mary does such miracles, please pray for me also'. Then I asked the doctor, 'Do you think that my husband can resume his duty again in the army?' and he said, 'Of course, he can. He is in a perfect condition of health'.

One week later, my husband went to the Military Hospital carrying with him his X-ray photos. There the Army Doctor told, him: `I do not know who gave you the impression that you are cured. But, you cannot fool me. I know how your lungs are. We will do again X-rays.' Then, when the result of the new X-rays was seen, he excused himself because he did not believe what he saw straightaway. 'How could I imagine that such a miracle can take place?' he added. "This was on a Saturday and next Monday my husband was working as if nothing had happened.”

Sai Spiritual Showers - Issue 2/80

2011-01-26T19:07:00.000-08:00

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)

2011-01-22T04:12:00.001-08:00

Sai Spiritual Showers - Issue 2/79

2011-01-21T02:50:00.000-08:00

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

2011-01-13T02:55:00.000-08:00

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.