Sai Spiritual Showers - Issue 3/23

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

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

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

Sai Spiritual Showers - Issue 3/22

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.”