REMINISCENCES

Night of auspiciousness & divine remembrance

2011-03-04T05:27:00.000-08:00

Ananda (sheer bliss), is man's real nature. But, alas, man in his ignorance and perversity, devotes all his skills, resources and time to acquisition of Ananda through his outward bound senses, rather than discover it by using the inward probing intellect and intuition. What he attains by his struggle and search is, at best, a pseudo-Ananda, a fleeting modicum of pleasure, an indistinct image visible in a murky mirror. It is not the everlasting bliss of Atma (eternal self), indiminishable by the blows of fortune, ecstasy beyond imagination. The delight one gathers from the objective world has to be continuously renewed and replenished, for it fades away soon. Therefore, man becomes a bondsman of desire, which presents before him an unending series of targets.

Man is, in truth, the Atma, which is beyond the bounds of his mind. The Atma has neither beginning nor end. The mind, the senses and the body undergo decline, or development every moment and finally disintegrate and die. Man places faith in the instruments of exploration and experience that are superficial and so, he deprives himself of the supreme Ananda, inherent in the Atma. Like the sun hidden by the clouds, embers covered by ash, the retina overlaid by cataract, the sheet of water veiled by moss, the consciousness of man is coated thick with likes and dislikes; how then can the splendour of Atma shine through?

The Well-Guarded Treasure

The body of man is a receptacle designed to keep safe a precious treasure. Legends announce that cobras guard hidden treasures. The name of the cobra that prevents access to the priceless treasure hidden in man is Aham, 'the fascination for oneself and for one's belongings’. In order to reach and recover the Ananda Treasure, man has first to destroy the snake of Aham (egotism). The river is a part, a portion of the sea; it earns fulfillment when it returns to the sea and merges in its source. Fishes are of water. They live in water and die when deprived of water. The baby is a part of the mother. It cannot survive apart from the mother. The branch is a part of the tree. Cut it off the tree it gets dry and dies. Man is an amsa (a part) of God. He too cannot survive without God. He lives because of the urge to know God, his source. In the Bhagavad Gita the Lord declares (15-7), "all living beings are My Amsa (part). I am in them as the Eternal Atma," He indicates.

Man lives for a high purpose, not for submitting as the beast does to every demand of instinct and impulse. He has to install himself as the master, not crawl as a slave. He has the right to proclaim Shivoham ("I am Shiva"), "I am Achyutha" (I am the indiminishable Fullness), "I am Ananda" (I am the everlasting bliss). As soon as one becomes aware of his reality, the chains that bind him, iron as well as gold, fall off and he attains Moksha (liberation).

Ananda Is Within Us

Ananda (Divine Bliss) is all around us and within us. It is Ananda that sustains and supports us, but this Truth is hidden by petty selfishness which prods us across the sea of storms in order to gather on the outer shore, the things which apparently give Anandainherent in them. Man envelops them with a layer of the Ananda within him but, while imbibing it, imagines that the thing itself can confer Ananda on him! Really speaking, it is his own Ananda that he is receiving back. After a term of deep sleep, man declares that he had unbroken Ananda. The mind and the senses, even the faculty of reason, had no contact then with any object, nor did they have any impact from objects. So, the Ananda was derived, during sleep, from within his own reality.

There are only two entities' - The Seen, and The See-er. The See-er is Atma, the Seen is the Creation. The See-er is Conscious; The Seen is inert. So long as man is immersed in the inert and The See-er, the Witness or the Atma is neglected or negated, he cannot escape from distress and despair. The meat on the hook hanging at the end of the rod, draws the attention of the fish and tantalises it, but the fish is hooked and has to give up its life. The man who yields to the desire for sensual pleasures has to suffer the same fate. The sages knew that the 'seen' cannot last or provide lasting joy. They renounced the lower cravings and the transitory comforts. Thyaga (renunciation) was, for them, the genuine Yoga (path to merge with the Divine)…

The Night of Goodness And Godliness

Today is Shivarathri, the Rathri (night) of Shivam (Goodness, Godliness, Good Fortune). It is an auspicious Night because the mind can be made to lose its hold on man by devoting the night to prayer. The Moon is the presiding deity of the mind, according to the scriptures.

The mind is kindred to the Moon as the Eyes are to the Sun. Shivarathri is prescribed for the fourteenth night of the dark half of the month, the night previous to the New Moon when the Moon suffers from total blackout. The Moon and the mind which it rules over are drastically reduced every month on the fourteenth night. When that night is devoted to vigilant adoration of God, the remnant of the wayward mind is overcome and victory ensured. This month's Shivarathri is holier than the rest and so, it is called Mahashivarathri.

With firm faith and a cleansed heart, the night should be spent in glorifying God. No moment should be wasted in other thoughts. Time flees fast. Like a block of ice, it melts soon and flows away; like water held in a leaky pot, it disappears drop by drop. The time allotted for one's life ticks off quite soon, and the span ends sometime somehow. So, be vigilant. Be warned. Be alert and aware. Seek the shelter of the Lord and transform every moment into a sacred celebration.

- Divine Discourse on Shivarathri, 26-2-1987.

Wake up with My Love

2009-08-11T04:05:00.000-07:00

My dear boys!

Accept my love and blessings. I received all your letters. Give all that is yours to Sai Krishna lovingly. Like the fool who squanders his life’s boon, you too receive bliss from above, yet, look for the sun at high noon. Give all yours to Sai and merge with Him, just like a moth that flies into the flame. Then you will surmount all problems. He is Reality. Life is a false game. My Boys! Be happy and study well. Your Sai is always with you and around you.

Love,

Baba.

19.9.1977

Come to me

2009-06-27T03:46:00.000-07:00

You have fallen in a routine today.
A way of life that has killed you within.
A way of life that is simply lazy,
And without any virtue.
When you have come to me,
To celebrate your Birthday,
Make a pledge to me,
To change your way of living your life.
You live for yourselves constantly,
But when you are in my presence,
I will not allow you to do that.
Life is to love and to live for others.
How empty is the world
When you see only you in it.
Make others your world,
Others your priority,
Others your family,
And give yourselves
A new life each day.

Sai.

Swami Speaks to the Alumni of the University in Poorna Chandra Auditorium 31-12-2008

2009-01-08T03:11:00.000-08:00

Every year, the students have decided to make a beginning at His lotus feet and hence they congregate in increasing numbers each passing year. Around 500 had already arrived to bid goodbye to 2008 and welcome 2009 in the Divine presence.

Swami too looks forward to His children's homecoming as He ensures that all arrangements are in place for their comfortable stay. Today, He had decided to bestow a great boon upon them as He had sent word that He would interact with all of them in the Poornachandra Auditorium after the morning bhajans. By 8:30am, all the students sat ready in PC and it was at about 9:00 am that Swami arrived for darshan. The time scheduled for the alumni was 10:00am. But though Swami took a complete round of the Kulwant hall, He seemed to be in a great hurry and no prizes here for guessing why. His beloved children awaited Him in the auditorium and He seemed to be wanting to be there as soon as possible, ASAP as its called! It was just 9:20am when Swami received Aarthi and then moved into the Poornachandra auditorium.

A small stage had been arranged for Swami so that He could be seen by one and all assembled. Swami was welcomed by a small contingent of Veda chanting boys and soon He took His place - on the stage and in the thirsting eyes of every alumnus sitting there. There were also the elders whom Swami brought with Him- Sri Chakravarthy, secretary of Central trust; Prof. Vishwanath Pandit, the vice chancellor; Sri V Srinivasan, the All India Sai organisation President; Prof. G Venkatraman, the great scientist and director of the RadioSai studios and Sri S V Giri, the former vice chancellor. Sri Chakravarthy introduced the speakers for the day. First Sri S V Giri spoke on the responsibilities that rest on the strong shoulders of the alumni. As he spoke, an interesting incident took place. One of the members of the alumni, a senior above 50 years of age maybe, was moving to and fro right at the back, to get a good view of the proceedings maybe. Swami noticed that and seemed a bit uncomfortable. And sure enough, in two minutes, the student next to Swami came walking all the way to the back asking, "Who was it that was walking over here?" At first everyone felt that Swami was disturbed. It got confirmed soon but why had He been disturbed? The student located the disturber and asked, "Sir would you like a chair to sit on? Swami sees that you are not able to sit on the floor." The answering was done with a nod saying,"No" and profuse tears down the cheeks. The alumnus then got up and moving towards the front, sat in the corner but in the first row! Swami saw that and seemed satisfied!

The second speaker was Sri V Srinivasan. He spoke very inspiring on the growth and spread of the Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisations in India. Many facts little known to most of the devotees and students were revealed and very deserving, there were 4-5 rounds of applause for him. After he finished his speech, Swami told him with great pride to announce that he was the All India President. An overwhelmed Srinivasan said that more than anything else, he wished to be a humble devotee and concluded his speech. The alumni coordinator then went forward to request Swami for the divine discourse. Swami materialized vibhuti and gave him and then also agreed to address the students. Another poignant scene took place now. Swami noticed a student, Raghuram, who currently works for RadioSai global harmony. He has been physically challenged due to a tragic accident and has been on the wheelchair since. Swami asked him to come over to the dais. As the boy reached there, Swami waved His hand and materialized a gold ring. Amidst the cheer that ran about the hall, Swami enquired into the well being of the boy's mother and sister. HE promised him that he would very soon speak to them as a family and then put the ring to the right hand. He asked Swami for paadanamaskar. Swami agreed and knowing that it was very difficult for the boy to bend down, Swami did something that none imagined. He slowly lifted His right leg and placed it near the knee of the boy. After he touched it, Swami now raised His left leg too and placed it there! The boy was thrilled at this special paadanamaskar. As he returned to His place, Swami began His divine discourse.

Swami emphasised the message of Advaita, stressing the point that there is nothing in this world which is not divine, and that we should conduct ourselves bearing this in mind. He stressed on the need for one and all to realise the inherent divinity. He also gave some personalised instructions to the students. The most interesting part was when towards the end, Swami asked, "Does anyone have doubts? Ask and I shall answer them now in a perfect manner."

Qn 1---Swami… we know that we are truth and the truth is everywhere. So we must be everywhere right…..
Swami could not follow the question hence the boy tried to explain! "Swami I'm everywhere but I don't realize it…!"
Swami----You are not everywhere, you are right now here!(everyone laughs )…If you are in path of Truth then you will know you are the Truth…..(Swami conveyed to boy that if he believes he is the Eternal Atma then he is everywhere and if he restricts himself to body then he is now here!)

Qn 2—Swami…We don't have time available for spiritual activities and service as we are bogged by daily activities….what shall we do (there were tears in his eyes out of helplessness)…
Swami---Don't feel bad about it…do as much as you can in little time available …do little service but offer it to lord….if you can't do even that then do your job or activity as the service to lord…..That'll make Him happy

Qn 3---(In kannada) ,Swami as we (boys) plan to do activities and projects in larger scale how do we go about doing the same….do we need to form organized groups and start off…
Swami—(In kannada) Yes….form proper groups and go about in a systematic way…..I've already told this(swami has mentioned the same in Man management)

Qn 4--- (one student who was Teacher)…Swami…we all have only one prayer in our hearts …you should walk …like you used to do earlier….
Swami…(with out a pause) …Yes …I will!...I used to walk earlier properly….only recently I had a fall and doctors told me not to walk and take rest…I'm just abiding by their words….I have organize a Yagnam in Parthi (ARMY) and one in Chenni(ARMY ---II)…I'm managing quite a lot like this too…but I'll surely walk…(Swami lifted both His legs and played them in the air as He spoke)

Qn 5) Swami…what should we do to become closer to swami….
Swami---(without delay)…Swami should (will to) take you closer…! (Swami conveyed its His grace that matters not any amount of penance you do…., he added ),If you want to become closer keep Swami in your heart…Then you need not come to Swami and He will come closer to you….

Qn 6)Swami…How do we get Atmanandam (perennial bliss)…
Swami---You should carry less luggage…less luggage is more comfort… Reduce your desires and put a ceiling on it

Qn7) Swami..how do we take care of our kids in countries where there are not even Indian families forget the Sai centers….
Swami---where are you right now….
Boy---…I've returned back to India….
Swami---I'm very happy…Congratulations…!(he became emotional…)America is not good at the moment…all our people should return to native land…One lakhs in USA is equal to 10,000 in India….

Qn8)Swami---How do we achieve total surrender…..
Swami---Bangaaru!---Surrender is not so easy…so many after they surrender would still carry the burden of doubt in their minds….so just follow how much you can….and stop doubting.

It was already nearing 11:30am and Swami said that He would speak to all the next day too. Then Swami received Aarthi and blessed those who took a flower and the holy grains upto Him. As He moved back towards the residence, Swami collected letters from all the students who lined up the entire pathway. Swami retired leaving behind cherished memories and wonderful feelings.

Source: http://www.saibabaofindia.com/swami_speak

s_to_the_alumni.htm

Am I not your father?

2008-10-25T09:20:00.000-07:00

Experience from the garden of Love

There was one classmate of mine whose father died during his childhood itself. Swami had told his mother that He would look after the boy and his elder brother, who was and is still working at Parthi. He then called this classmate of mine and told him: "From now, I am your father. If you need anything, you should ask me and not trouble your brother or mother."

A few days passed after the first semester of our first year was over. Most of the students were going home and my classmate too wanted to go and see his mother. But he did not have money for the ticket. He asked his elder brother who too expressed his inability to spare any money at that point of time. The boy was distressed, but did not tell anyone. Even we could see that he was slowly getting withdrawn in the room (he was my roommate too.).

In those days, Swami would call all the students to sit right from the bhajan door once bhajans started. Swami would keep moving in and out of the bhajan hall on several rounds of darshan.

One such day, He had just come and sat down on the throne and was looking at us as we rushed to sit from the front. He then suddenly got up and went into the interview room door. He then signaled to my classmate to follow Him. When my classmate came out 5 minutes later, he was weeping. Later on in the room, he told us what happened.

Swami had called him inside and asked him: "I told you that if you need anything you should ask me. Why did you go and trouble your brother? I know you want to go home and see your mother. You should have asked me. Am I not your father? Why do you then hesitate to ask me what you want?" He then gave him money for the ticket and spending and then told him to go and enjoy his holidays.

And the surprising thing was, my classmate never told anyone about what was eating him from within. Swami just knew!

-Related by a Sai student

WE LIVE FOR YOU MA

2008-10-25T09:07:00.000-07:00

REMINISCENCES: HAPPY DASSEHRA

2008-10-09T02:19:00.000-07:00

REMINISCENCES: HAPPY DASSEHRA

HAPPY DASSEHRA

2008-10-09T02:05:00.000-07:00

THE MOTHER DIVINE

2008-10-05T21:28:00.000-07:00

Ascetic practices, years of constant recitation of the Name,
pilgrimages to holy places and shrines, study of the sacred booksthese
will not help the aspirant to spiritual victory as much as
communion with the Godly and the good. Bharath is a rare
treasure-house of spiritual jewels; it can confer all boons on the sincere.

Everyone should consider it his foremost duty today to revere the mother as divine and serve her, regardless of country or circumstance. If a man cannot respect and serve the mother, who has borne him for nine months, brought him forth into the world and reared him over the years, whom else is he likely to respect? Maternal love is akin to that of the Creator who projects and protects this infinite cosmos in countless ways. One individual may elect to worship the Divine in the form of his favourite goddess. Another may worship God in a different form and derive bliss from such worship. Each one should note that the forms in which the Divine is worshipped by others are as important to them as his own chosen deity is to him. If, on the contrary, he criticises or casts a slur on the deities worshipped by others, he is committing a grievous sin, however well he may be performing his own worship. Likewise, a man should show equal regard and reverence for mothers of others as he shows for his own mother.

There are several notable examples in daily life of the divine quality which motherhood represents. The cow converts its own blood into nourishing milk for man to sustain his body. The cow is the first example of the Divine as Mother. The Earth comes next. Like the Divine, the Earth bears man in its bosom and takes care of him in many ways. Hence the Earth also is the embodiment of the Mother.

Principles that constitute the role of motherhood

In the human body the Divine flows through all the limbs as Rasa (The Divine essence) and sustains them. This Divine principle is called Rasaswaroopini (Embodiment of Divine sweetness). Another name for the same is Angirasa. These Divine principles that permeate and sustain the physical body should also be worshipped as mother goddesses. Then there are the great sages, the Maharishis, who investigated matters relating to good and evil, fight and wrong, what elevates man or degrades him, and, as a result of their labours and penances, gave to mankind the great scriptures, indicating the spiritual and mundane paths and how humanity can redeem its existence. These sages have also to be revered as Divine Mothers.

The cow, the earth, the presiding deities for the body, the sages and the guru are all worthy of worship as the embodiments of the Divine Motherhood. Although these five appear in different forms and names, they have one thing in common with the mother. They play a protective and sustaining maternal role for mankind and hence should be revered and worshipped as Divine Mothers.

Conversely, the mother of every child displays in relation to the child the attributes of these five entities. The mother nourishes the child, provides the necessaries for its growth, teaches the child what it should know and what it should avoid and leads it on the path of righteousness.

The powers of Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswathi
The life of a man who cannot respect and love such a venerable mother, is utterly useless. Recognising one's mother as the very embodiment of all divine forces, one must show reverence to her and treat her with love. This is the true message that the Navaratri, the nine-night festival gives us. The supreme Shakthi manifests herself in the form of Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswathi. Durga grants to us energy--physical, mental and spiritual. Lakshmi bestows on us wealth of many kinds--not just money but intellectual wealth, the wealth of character and others. Even health is a kind of wealth. She grants untold riches to us. And Saraswathi bestows on us intelligence, the capacity for intellectual enquiry and the power of discrimination. The Navaratri festival is celebrated in order to proclaim to the world the power of the goddesses. One's own mother is the combination of all these Divine beings. She provides us energy, wealth and intelligence. She constantly desires our advancement in life. So she represents all the three goddesses that we worship during the Navaratri festival.

If the Pandavas were able to become so dear to Krishna and make their lives worthy by serving Him, it was not on account of their own merit or austerities. It was mother Kunti Devi's love for them that brought to them such a great fortune. Even when they had to live in a forest or in the House of Wax, she always stayed with them and prayed for their welfare. The Pandavas also reciprocated her love, and that accounts for their final victory.

Lakshmana, likewise, was able to dwell in the forest with his brother Rama, serving him ceaselessly, only because of his mother Sumitra's blessings. She told her son that Ayodhya without Rama was like a forest, and that the forest in which Rama lived would be a veritable Ayodhya to him. It was on account of the hearty blessings of his mother that Lakshmana was able to while away fourteen years in the forest even without food or sleep.

Children require mother's loving grace
All our epics and sacred books emphasise the power of the mother's love, her blessings and grace. Consider the story of Gandhari and the Kauravas. When Krishna visited Gandhari to console her after the Kurukshetra war, she accused him of partiality towards the Pandavas. "Though You are God, how could You be so partial? Why did You support the Pandavas in full measure, and allow the destruction of all my sons?" she asked Him. Krishna replied to her that he herself was to blame for the death of her children. He reminded her that though she gave birth to a hundred sons, she didn't cast her loving glance on even one of them at any time. As she chose to remain blindfolded, she never looked at any of her sons with great care, attention and
affection. "How could such sinners who couldn't even enjoy their own mother's loving glance thrive and flourish?" He asked her.

There is no need to propitiate Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswathi for energy, material prosperity and worldly knowledge. If we love and adore the mother, we shall be showing our love and devotion to all goddesses.

Mother comes first
One's mother is greater than heaven itself. Sri Rama Himself declared that one's mother and Motherland are greater than even heaven. The Navaratri festival teaches this profound truth. One must remember that reverence to one's own mother is one's paramount duty. If one's mother is unhappy, all the expenditure one incurs and all the worship one offers in the name of Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswathi in the Navaratri festival will yield no fruit.

Even in the ancient teachings about the persons who are to be revered as Gods--mother, father, teacher and guest--the first place is given to the mother, when it says, "Mathru Devo Bhava." Even in our casual talk we say mother, father, teacher and God. God is relegated to the last position but the mother is given the first place. This reveals the attitude of Bharathiya culture towards women in general and the mother in particular.

It is the mother that holds the child with her hand and teaches it how to walk. It is the mother that feeds the child and teaches it how to eat. It is again the mother that teaches the child how to utter meaningful sounds and speak. Thus the mother is one's foremost teacher. Vemana observed that a son who does not care for his parents is no better than the worms that are born and die in an anthill.

We should deem our parents as Iswara and Parvati and serve them wholeheartedly. If we cannot please them, how can we hope to please God? Consider the story of Lava and Kusa. Sita gave birth to them in the hermitage of Sage Valmiki. They were taught various branches of knowledge by him. Sita also was teaching them many lessons and imparting to them many skills. What happened when Sri Rama Himself came to fight with them? Lava and Kusa remembered their mother with great reverence and aimed an arrow at Him. Rama fell into a swoon when the arrow struck Him. Such is the power of one's mother's blessing.

Discourse in the Poornachandra Auditorium, 14 Oct 1988

REST IS BEST!

2008-10-05T06:41:00.000-07:00

27th November '91

(Today, Swami was telling some of the boys to go home for vacation.)

Swami: I have that knack with me.No one has that much of it as I do. What can I do? To cut butter, you use your finger; to break iron, you use a hammer. Similarly, to cure you of your crack, I use my knack!

So many boys are going home for vacations. You all go as "street lamps" and come back as "street dogs". If you are not good even after being with Swami, that bad vibrations will pass on to your family, as I am also only a fraction of that vibrations. If you go before a mirror and do Namaskar, your reflection will also do the same. If you wag your finger threateningly, the reflection in the mirror will also do the same. You must be like the incense stick which when lit, spreads good fragrance all around it.

The diamond is a very precious jewel. You hence hide it inside an iron safe and keep it under strict watch. The diamond is not easily available in the market and hence attracts everyone's attention. Its presence is kept as secret as possible. It is not like the ('santhapakodalu') cheap savouries sold in the market that are made with dirty oil, maida and utensils, in a dirty atmosphere. You are not realising the value of diamond and are hankering after the worldly benefits that are as dirty and attractive as the santhapakodalu. Many of you also think that you can get away with part time devotion. You are all under that illusion. If you have part time devotion, God also gives only part time payment. Your devotion to God must be purely, heart to heart. But our boys are turning into very good actors. Part time devotion is like this. If you say 'Hello God!' God also will say 'Hello!' If you say 'Good bye God' God will also say 'Good Bye'. God will only reciprocate what your feelings are.

You are all getting small containers and asking for such a large quantity from me. How can I then give it? Swami never wants to waste his Love and grace. I want taste, not waste. But first, I test. You cannot straight away perform the operation without first performing some tests. Similarly, I first test your progress. I then give you the taste of my Love and grace. Once you have tasted it, you can rest. TEST-to TASTE-to REST- that is the method I always follow. REST IS BEST.

Message of the Vedas

2008-09-30T04:31:00.000-07:00

EMBODIMENTS of Divine Love! The Vedas are the recordings of sages to whom the mantras were revealed. They proclaim the transcendental Truth which is not changed by time or place. They indicate the means to prosperity and security for the denizens of the three worlds.

Veda is derived from the root "Vid", which means "to know". The Veda teaches how to achieve purity of heart, getting rid of impurities. The Vedas have been declared to be infinite and hence beyond the comprehension of common people. In the beginning there was only one Veda. To study it considerable time and effort were needed. Vyasa divided it into different parts to enable people to study as well as practise the teachings of the Veda. Out of the countless number of hymns, Vyasa gathered some Rks and compiled them in the Rg Veda, collected some yajus to form the Yajur Veda and some Samans to make up the Sama Veda.

The Rg Veda is mainly devoted to hymns in praise of various deities. The Yajur Veda consists of mantras for worshipping the deities. The mantras of the Yajur Veda are used in the performance of yagas and yajnas and in doing acts of charity. Each Veda has three sections' Brahmanas, Aranyakas and Upanishads.

The purpose of Vedic mantras
The Vedic mantras were utilised in yagas and yajnas (ritual sacrifices) for promoting the wellbeing of society and the world. They were intended to secure timely rains so that the crops may be good and there may be prosperity all round. The mantras which form part of the Karma Kanda (the path of rituals), were regarded as conducive to the promotion of general well-being and happiness.

The Yajur Veda is devoted entirely to the worship of the deities. It consists of two divisions-- Krishna Yajur Veda and Sukla Yajur Veda--which are based on two traditional distinctions. Sukla Yajur Veda belongs to the Brahma sampradaya (Brahmic tradition) and. the Krishna Yajur Veda to the Aditya sampradaya. Adherents of the Sukla Yajur Veda are largely confined to North India, while Krishna Yajur Veda has its adherents mainly in South India.

The Vedas developed under nine heads: (1) Sruti; (2) Anuswara; (3) Trayee; (4) Aamnaayam; (5)Samaamnayam; (6)Chandas; (7)Swaadhyayam; (8)Gama; and (9)Aagama.
Sruti refers to the process of learning, the Vedas from a preceptor by practising the precise manner of chanting the mantras and thereby acquiring proficiency in the recitation of the Vedas. The sounds have to be reproduced exactly as taught by the preceptor by listening to him with intense earnestness. The Vedic mantras are thus learnt entirely by listening.
Anuswara refers to the practice of repeating the mantras learnt from the preceptor, contemplating on them and preserving them in their purity by constant recitation.
Trayee: Originally only three Vedas-Rg, Yajur and Sama Vedas--were considered Apourusheya, without a human origin (that is, emanating from the Divine). The Atharvana Veda comprises hymns taken from the Yajur Veda. Because of their Divine origin, the first three Vedas were called "Trayee" (the Triad).
Aamnaaya refers to constant contemplation of the root syllable "Na." Acquiring knowledge of the Vedas by this practice has been described as Aamnaaya and Samaamnaaya.
One meaning of Chandas is that it is knowledge which should be guarded in secret and propagated with care. The Vedas are also described as Chandas. The entire Sama Veda consists of Chandas.
Swaadhyaayam refers to the process by which the Vedas have come down from generation to generation, through father to son, in genealogical succession. Acquisition of Vedic knowledge was not through books. It was transmitted from preceptor to disciple over the years. It is because this knowledge was handed down directly from preceptor to pupil, it has been described as Swaadhyaaya.
Gama and Aagama are the names given to the inhaling and exhaling of the Lord's breath which were the origin of the Vedas. All in all, the Vedas represent the emanations from the breath of the Lord.

The great sages who listened to these mantras as revelations from the Divine found the key to them in eight basic letters. All the Vedic mantras with their musical rendering were remembered by reflecting on the eight letters: "A, Ka, Cha, Ta, Tha, Pa, Ya, Sa." The great seers fostered the Vedas by the use of these letters.

Neglect of Vedas is cause for spiritual decline
Each of the Vedas had several saakhas (branches) and upasaakhas (sub-branches). Out of the 20 branches and 21 sub-branches of the Rg Veda, only three have survived today. Likewise out of 96 branches of Yajur Veda only two have survived the ravages of time. Sama Veda, which had 1000 branches, retains today only three branches. If so much of spiritual treasure is contained in the few branches of the Vedas that have survived, how much greater would have been the spiritual heritage of the Bharatiyas if the Vedas had survived in their entirety! It is because of the neglect of the Vedas that the spiritual and scientific knowledge of Bharatiyas experienced a steady decline. As a consequence they developed a narrow outlook. Broadness of vision suffered an eclipse. Today the numbers of those who have no love or respect for the Vedas are on the increase. Even among the Brahmins interest and concern for the Vedas have declined.

Who are Brahmins? Brahman means the embodiment of mantra. Only those who constantly recited the mantras embodying the Brahman were called Brahmins. Today Brahmins have forgotten these mantras. Owing to the impact of modern education, the greed for money and the growth of narrow-minded interests, they have forgotten their inherent divinity. As a consequence, peace and security have become casualties.

What is meant by Veda? One meaning is eruka (awareness). Another is thelivi (intelligence). A third meaning is viveka (discrimination). All those who wish to develop discrimination should be deeply interested in the Vedas.

Today intelligence is being developed and used only for acquiring positions and possessions, for securing comforts and conveniences and not for developing good qualities and becoming good men engaged in Godly pursuits. All their intellectual abilities are being misused for trivial
purposes.

The universal outlook of the Vedas
The Vedas have emphasised that man will be truly human only when he lives upto human values and practises the good life. Many who chant the Vedas these days have difficulty in understanding their purport. When they fully understand the meaning and chant the mantras, they will derive greater joy. Only then they will experience the full sacredness and potency of the Vedas.

The Vedas have a universal outlook, embracing all that is noble and sacred. They have taught the principle of samatwa (equality) in respect of everything. They have proclaimed the concept of oneness. They taught men to face joy and sorrow with equal serenity.

Those who utter the mantras today do not grasp their inner meaning. Even if the full meaning of a single mantra is understood, it will be sufficient. Every day, the santhi mantra is recited: “Om Sahanavavathu; sahanau bhunaktu; sahaviryam karavaavahai." What does this signify? "Let us move together in unison. Let us live in harmony in communion with each other." What a wide vision is present in this mantra!

Even such broad-minded mantras have been interpreted in a narrow sense in later years. Hence you do not find today even a thousandth of the sense of equality and amity which prevailed in those times. It is because men's attitudes and feelings have declined below the human level that so many divisive forces have cropped up.

Significance of Yajnas
Thirty-three deities are mentioned in the Rg Veda. Of them, the Sun-God is the most: important deity. His power is felt all over the world. In this Yajna, the Sun is called Ritwik. His other names are: Hota and Brahma. It is the Sun God who carries to the deities concerned the offerings made in the yajna. Agni, the God of fire, is an image of the Sun. Agni has a form of his own. Agni has parents. This morning, before the yajna began, two priests churned two aranis (sticks) to produce fire for the yajna. The Fire-God is said to have consumed his parents immediately after his birth. The lower Arani is the mother and the stick on the top is father. The fire produced by churning them burns away the sticks. The flames arising from the fire are the tongues of the Fire- God. The rays coming from the fire are so many heads of the deity. The Agni-Principle is immanent in every person. The inner significance of this is that every person is inherently divine.

When the mantras are chanted and offerings are made in the fire to the Lord, the grace of the Lord is showered on the people in the form of peace and plenty. There is a saying: "As is the fire, so is the smoke." As is the smoke, so are the clouds. As are the clouds, so is the rain. As is the rain, so are the crops. As are the crops, so is the food. As is the food, so is the intellect. As the clouds these days are not formed by the smoke coming from yajnas, the food consumed by the people is not conducive to the growth of intelligence. When the smoke going up from the yajnakunda enters the clouds, you have sacred rain, which helps to purify the crops and sanctify the food that is consumed. As a result, the people are sanctified.

The Bliss derived from sacrifice
But today if people are filled with bad thoughts and evil intentions it is because these sacred yajnas and yagas are not performed. Many persons ask in a carping spirit "Of what use is the expending of so much ghee and other materials as offerings in the fire of the yajnas and yagas?" The purpose will be clear only to those in the know of the inner truth. A farmer tills his field and scatters over it a bag of paddy seeds. To the ignorant observer this may appear a waste of precious grain. But the farmer knows that in due course he will reap a harvest of hundred bags of paddy. Likewise the offering of ghee and other precious things in the yajna with mantras will result in countless benefits in good time. People may notice only what is being offered. But they have no idea of the benefits that will follow.

It should be realised that only today's Thyaga (sacrifice) can lead to tomorrow's bhoga (enjoyment). When the sacrifice is made with a full heart, the returns will also be equally abundant.

Unfortunately, man today does not even dream of making any sacrifice. When a presence of sacrifice is made, it is only a concession to fashion. Very few have any idea of what real sacrifice is. As a consequence, the wealthy, in spite of their riches, have neither peace nor security. The affluent do not care even to give a little food to the destitute at their gate. But these misers drop bagful of money in the hundi in a temple. These foolish persons fail to see the divinity in fellow human beings and make offerings to an inanimate object.

Do not bargain with the Lord
Does God, who is the source of all wealth, need your petty offerings? You must use your wealth for righteous purposes. Help the indigent and the needy. There is selfish motive even in making offerings to the deity. Something small is offered expectation of a big return from the deity. A man prays to the Lord: "Oh Lord! If I win ten lakhs of rupees in a lottery I shall offer ten thousand rupees to you." What kind of bargain is this? It is a pity that such silly ideas are rampant today.

The reason is the people have forgotten the secret of the Vedas. They offer a molehill and crave for a mountain. This is a complete caricature of devotion. It is such pseudo-devotees who are on the increase today. They are all the time seeking to enter into petty deals with the Divine. Every prayer, every sadhana is replete with selfishness and self-interest.

Everyone seeks benefits, but is not prepared to make any sacrifice. What is the sacrifice that is to be made to God? First of all, your bad qualities. Acquire good qualities. Shed your narrow outlook. Cultivate a broad vision. Today the foremost need is to develop the spirit of sacrifice. You are not expected to give away all your wealth and possessions. What is required is a sense of compassion at the sight of a suffering being. When the heart melts, that itself becomes sacrifice. What we witness today is not the melting of hearts but their hardening.

You will not carry your wealth with you when you leave the world. Even while life remains, render help to .those who need as much as you can. The quintessence of the Vedas is the glorification of sacrifice as the supreme virtue.

Of what avail is all your study or listening if there is no change in the way you live and you have not understood your true nature? The highest knowledge is understanding the value of sacrifice.It is a source of limitless joy. It leads to immortality.

The greatest means to realise the Divine
The lesson to be learnt from the performance of yajnas is that sacrifice is the greatest means to realise the Divine. The essential meaning of the Veda is that to secure enduring bliss, the spirit of sacrifice has to be cultivated, the significance of yaga has to be understood and we must lead a Godly life.

The Vedas have been mainly concerned with the Pravritti Marga (the Path of Action). All the different branches of knowledge--physics, chemistry, botany, economics, music, etc.—are covered by the Vedas. These are concerned with the external world. Hence the Vedas have been considered dualistic. Only the Upanishads have taught the Nirvritti Marga (the Path of Knowledge) by going within oneself. This means that, of the four Purusharthas, the four main goals of man. Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha--the Vedas have been concerned with only the first three.

The Upanishads declared that the nature of the Supreme can be grasped only by the Path of Knowledge. Knowledge is of two kinds: Para Vidya and Apara Vidya (the Higher Knowledge and the Lower Knowledge). All that is learnt by the educational process today falls in the category of Apara Vidya (Lower Knowledge). Knowledge relating to Dharma, Artha and Kama also comes in this category. Only knowledge relating to Moksha (Liberation) constitutes Para Vidya (the Supreme Knowledge). We have to acquire that Para Vidya. That knowledge is found in Vedanta. The Upanishads come at the end of the Vedas. The essence of all the Vedas is to be found in them.

While Veda is dualistic, Vedanta is Advaita (non-dualistic). Non-dualism is the means to experience Ananda (Bliss). The ego ("I") principle is predominant in the Vedas. Vedanta has declared that the elimination of the ego ("I" and "Mine") alone can lead to Realisation. The "I" has to be rooted out. As long as you adhere to the "I", you are bound to the phenomenal world. You cannot attain the Higher Knowledge. You have, therefore, to understand the distinction between the Vedas and the Upanishads.

It is only when you understand the essence of the Vedas as expounded in the Upanishads and put into practice the message of the Vedanta, you will realise the true meaning of Advaita (Nondualism).

Discourse in the Poornachandra Auditorium on 3-10-1989.

Sathya Sai Speaks

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Sathya Sai Speaks.

But, who among us do listen

and plant them in well-ploughed hearts?

And when they cleave the cold, and greenly grow

who among us shed tears of joy?

His words are for the inner ear;

they have drummed us, along the valleys of night

and led us, through smiles and sobs,

into the shore of the vastness, basking in His love,

Sathya Sai Speaks.

And, Lo! the deaf awaken to the call;

for, His words resound relentless, within.

Refuse, they stay; report, they sound sweeter;

forget, they sprout; deny, they persist;

for, they are the words we heard

from the Mother's breast and the Father's lips,

words, echoing in the ego cave,

since we were worm and weevil,

fish and fowl, caterpillar and cat,

until we shaped ourselves, through wanton history

Into man, machine and monster !

Sathya Sai Speaks.

He speaks pleasing profundity,

Sweet, sustaining Reality.

He is we and We are He and all are only ONE

Sathya Sai Speaks,

Until the last of us, the least of us,

Rest and run like rivers into their Source.

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It is dedication to the Lord that sanctifies all activities.

He is the raison d'etre for all activity; He is the prompter, the executor,

the giver of the required strength and skill, the enjoyer of the fruit there of.

So, dedication must come naturally to you, for, all is His and nothing yours!

Your duty is to believe He is the impeller of your activities, and draw strength

from that belief. Until the wound heals and the new skin hardens,

the bandage must protect the place. So too, until reality is realised,

the balm of faith,of holy company, and holy thoughts must be applied

to the ego affected mind.

-Sri Sathya Sai

Kingdom of Mother Sai

2008-09-25T21:19:00.000-07:00

When man makes mind his master, it burdens him, worse than any beast;

When man makes buddhi his master, it raises him, high as Lord of the Living.

Will the good, and you are happy.Will the bad, and you are sad and lost.

Don't will at all, and be at peace. This is the Truth, the Word of Sai.

Embodiments of the Divine Aathma,

Teachers and Students, Man has achieved immeasurable progress in science and technology. But, in the field of morals, he is still unable to rid himself of narrow cynicism, limited outlook, and the demonic hold of selfishness, pride, envy and other evil traits. When we examine the basic cause for this state of affairs, we discover that it is the consequence of egoism that has struck deep roots in the heart of man. It has reduced man to the status of a puppet. It pollutes his thoughts, words and deeds. It directs him to gather and hoard material riches. It does not allow the Aathma to shine forth. When the veil of egoism is set aside,the Aathmic Essence, and with it aanandha and jnaana, will be revealed.

Time is invaluable; do not waste even half a minute. The hours that have passed cannot return;the wheel of time will not halt for any person. So, examine your thoughts, words and deeds and find out whether spending precious time on them is worth while or not. Death is always waving its sharp sword over the head but, unmindful of this imminent and inescapable fate, many are lost in plans to build rich, prosperous and luxurious lives for themselves. They live in hope and dreams of better days. The Fire of Wisdom alone is capable of reducing these plans and hope into ash.

Education must broaden the vision

You are striving to gain education in this College in order to earn your livelihood. But, it is very hard to earn riches, to use them rightly and to keep them safe. When riches accumulate, pomp and pride become more insidious. As a result, one's character is lowered. Vemana says that when one loses wealth, his bad qualities also become too weak to hurt him and others. When the calf grows in age, the horns become longer and sturdier; so too when pride grows, the horns of greed and envy become stronger and sturdier. Education today does not feed the roots of law, justice and morality, three fields which ought to receive special attention. Can a system concerned with food for the stomach, train pupils to meet the challenges of life which require a strong self-reliant character? No. It can only smother even the inborn virtues of love and truth.

Education must instill the fundamental human values; it must broaden the vision to include the entire world and all mankind. When earning money is held as the goal, the system fosters falsehood and injustice, it restricts the vision to family and community, and brings in its train,anxiety, sorrow and hatred. Education must equip man to live happily, without making others unhappy, to evaluate things, pleasure and possessions correctly and without prejudice, and to fix one's attention ever on the highest and the most precious achievement of all, the Aathmic victory.

The spiritual stream must flow in the heart as the source and spring of all endeavour. Women are the makers of the home, the nation and the world. You are the mothers who shape the generations. So you must enshrine in your hearts the spiritual urge towards Light and Love,Wisdom and Bliss.

Mind works havoc when left alone

The human body is spoken of as a temple where the individual jeeva is installed. I would prefer to describe it as a house taken on rent by you. God is the master, the owner. The jeevi (tenant)has taken it on rent and is occupying it. The rent has to be paid in the form of good deeds, good thoughts, good speech and good conduct. But, the tenant ignores the owner and does not pay the rent. So, the Master has to compel the man to vacate. He sends 'notices' reminding him of the need to vacate, unless he pays the rent. "Grey hairs are the first intimation; the tenant dyes his hair and pays no heed to the warning," The teeth fall out; that is the second warning. The tenant gets a denture fixed and ignores this reminder too. Cataract in the eye is the next warning of the need to leave the house; an operation helps him to pass it by. Glasses restore his sight. The skin becomes loose, wrinkled. This warning too is unheeded; the man hides the signal with the help of cosmetics. So, the owner has to send his emissaries---a few fatal illnesses---and force him to clear out of the house.

Why stick on, for years, like crows? Far better to live happily like a royal swan, albeit for a short span. Live ideal lives through controlled minds. The mind is like a sheet of paper; once rolled in one way, it will always roll along that direction only. You will have to roll it in the opposite direction in order to flatten it. It is now rolled outwards. So, roll it inwards to normalise its ways.Left alone, the mind works havoc. Witness the communal and caste conflicts, the fight between regions and religions; the discontent and disruption in campuses. The primitive fears and desires of man have not yet been overcome; they persist in various forms and explode, when opportunities arise.

There are four Houses---the House of God, the House of Education, the House of Food and the House of Medicine. In each of these, you must seek only that for which it is dedicated. Of course, in the hotel you ask for food and in the hospital, you ask for medicine. But, in the House of Education, you do not seek education. You carry into the process of education other needs,wants and cravings. There is no concentrated craving for what good education can do for you. In the temple too, the same is the case. You enter it for one purpose and you pursue other purposes.In the temple, you do not seek to become aware of God. In the college or school, the process of self-education is disturbed and delayed, by extraneous activities.

Use spare time in holy activities

The old students of the Bangalore Sathya Sai College have formed the "Kingdom of Sathya Sai"and they have decided upon projects of social service. Here, too, you have formed the "Kingdom of Mother Sai" and you are praying to be allowed to take up service to the community. Of course, girls cannot venture as freely as boys into this field; still, they too can successfully translate their precepts into practice. Use your spare time in holy activities. If you cultivate faith in compassionate service, it will be of immense value for the uplift of society. Old students of the College can by the example of their lives inspire and instruct others to lead pious, purposeful lives.

Prices of articles have risen sky-high today, mostly because the desires of man have increased wildly. Limit desires, decrease the demand and the prices will have to come down. Develop vairaagya as Vedhaantha instructs. Vairaagya means 'renunciation'---not renouncing property and family ties, but renouncing the hold that the mind, and the desire it breeds, have on you.Burn all traces of envy, pride and greed. Fill your hearts with selfless Love. Be examples to others, I am sure by this means the people of this land can live in peace and prosperity.

Discourse in Shri Sathya Sai Women's College, Anantapur, 5-2-1981

Ganesha Atharvashirsha

2008-09-07T03:09:00.001-07:00

Quiz master Ganesha

2008-09-04T23:31:00.000-07:00

Check on the links below

http://media.radiosai.org/Journals/Vol_06/01SEP08/quiz.htm

http://media.radiosai.org/Journals/Vol_06/01SEP08/quiz2.htm

Significance of Ganesha worship

2008-09-03T06:38:00.000-07:00

No one knows all that has to be known.

There is none who knows nothing of anything.

Many there are, knowing something of some things.

Sai alone knows everything of all things.

THE five-element body of man equipped with five senses has as its life-breath the five-lettered formula, enshrined in the Namaka section of the Yajur Veda "Namah Si-vaa-ya". It is a basic mantra which means "that which can save, when meditated upon." Every mantra has a seed sound (bijaakshara) which precedes it and provides it with additional potency. Sound emanated first through the will of God. So the bijaakshara is fundamental for the mantra and its efficacy. The Akshara is sanctified by the Vedas or by the Tantra texts. The bijaakshara for the five lettered Namah Sivaya is the Vedic sound, OM.

The sound OM arouses energizing vibrations

OM is how A, U and M are jointly pronounced. Each of these letters is devoid of spiritual force but, together, they arouse energising vibrations. 'Sivaaya' in the mantra means 'to Siva'. 'Siva' is That which confers good fortune, wealth, prosperity and happiness. Pandits have commented on this formula and explained it in various ways. They have interpreted Na as indicating Nandivahana, the God who has Nandi (the Bull) as Vahana (vehicle). They take ma as the pointer to another Name of Siva, Mandaaramaalin (wearing a garland of Mandaara flowers) and Si as Surya (the Sun which when it dawns on earth unfolds the Lotus of the Hearts of Beings etc). Each one al1ows his imagination to lead him along.

But, the formula contains a more universal and abstract concept. It has to be pronounced always with OM. The namah (prostration) is for OM which is denoted as having the Siva attribute (being the source of peace, prosperity and success, of Mangalam in short). The process of worship is best described by Pothana in the Bhagavatha he has rendered in Telugu.

Pothana speaks of "Chethulara Sivuni Puja" (worshipping Siva with the hands). By 'hand', he means, the 'five-fingered', representing the five-lettered mantra. Siva is the five-element-lord and so He has all the power and wealth the five can yield to man who is himself a composite of the five!

The Vedas assert, "Atma Vai Putranaamaa asi" (Oneself is the person known as son). One repeats himself in the son. Ganesha is therefore Siva Himself expressing certain aspects of Siva on certain occasions for certain purposes. Ganesha means the leader of groups. Ganapathi too means the same.

The elephant head is the symbol' of wisdom

The elephant-head of Ganesha is a symbol of intelligence, discrimination and wisdom. The elephant is ever alert and eminently conscious of its surroundings. Its memory is strong and deep. It reads through the thick forest imprinting huge foot marks on the track. One such print can subsume the marks left by scores of other animus, both wild and tame. It moves majestically through thick jungles; its very passage blazes trail for other animus to go through. It is a pathmaker, helping others without being aware of it, because it is its nature. Ganesha guides the stars, the communities of men and their homes. He is Lord of Obstacles, causing them when needed and helping men to overcome them, when that boon will promote the well-being of the supplicant.

There is astronomical support also for the Ganesha festival, celebrated on the fourth day of the bright half of Bhadrapada month. A constellation with the appearance of the elephant-head becomes brightly visible on this very night.

Ganesha is the embodiment of buddhi (intelligence) and siddhi (achievement). He was approached by Sage Vyasa with a prayer to write down the Mahabharatha, even as he composed the hundreds of thousands of its verses! Ganesha agreed immediately; He brooked no delay, even to secure a writing tool: He broke his sharp-pointed tusk and was ready to start!

Lessons that Ganesha teaches men

Ganesha can teach many a lesson to man. That is the reason for His being adored by people of all ages and professions. Take the problem of food. Thygaraja invites Ganapathi most endearingly, and delights in offering Him sweet satwic items of food---coconut kernal, sweet fruits of various types, steam-cooked rolls and balls of modak etc. The elephant feeds on grass, sugar cane, bamboo-shoots, and twigs and leaves of the banyan tree. Devotees offer Ganesha, while worshipping, leaves, grass blades and flowers gathered from meadows and valleys. Ganesha, the Elephant-headed, is adored as the source of Love, Faith, Intelligence, Guidance and Grace.

Take into consideration another role assigned to Ganesha. When Siva is moved to supreme ecstasy and it is expressed as the Cosmic Dance of Nataraja, Ganesha, Master of Tune and Time, leads other Gods, marks time on the mrdangam (drum). No wonder, the Gods are pleased when puja is offered to Ganesha even before any of them is propitiated.

Man is bound by three tendencies. The first is Kama (the longing to possess). When that longing fails, Krodha (anger) raises its hood. When the desire is fulfilled and the thing is gained the third tendency, Lobha (greed) overtakes him. If one's desire is beneficial, the Divine will shower Grace. Ganesha has no desire, no anger, no greed. His Grace is available for all who seek good and godly goals. Look at the vehicle which He has chosen, the mouse! The mouse is a creature that is led, even to destruction, by Vasana (the smell of things). Men are all victims of Vasana (Preferences and predilections stamped on our minds during the past lives). Ganesha smothers and suppresses the Vasanas which mis-direct man and create misfortune.

Since the mouse has been honored so, it shares the worship offered to Ganesha. Association with Gods, as vehicles, ornaments, accessories or servants of Gods, endows objects, animals and men with specially sacred status. Elephants, Lions, Eagles, Snakes, Primates--all these and many more have been divinized thus.

This day is Ganesha festival Day. Since Ganesha leads when gods are invoked, installed and adored, this Festival leads the long line of festivals 'for other forms of God---Navarathri, Dipavali, Sankranthi, Sivarathri. The duty this Day is to contemplate on the Universal and Eternal Truth embodied in Ganesha and worship Him with purity and faith, praying for the Grace which can prevent lapses and promote progress in all efforts to achieve the highest goal.

( Discourse on Ganesha Chathurthi day at Prashaanthi Nilayam, 18-9-1985.)

THE VICTORY

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The Motherland which bore children who earned
immortal renown all around the globe;
The Battleground, which witnessed the fight of
heroes from the West who ruled;
The Bharatha-land which shone so brilliant with
seers and scholars, each a gem;
The Happy land which fostered and brought to
fame songsters and poets, thinkers and teachers;
The Birth-land of the beauty and charm divine
through master artists of brush and chisel;
This mother Bharath to guard her Dharma
treasure, O! student! yours is the bounden task.

THE world is the manifestation and expansion of the five fundamental elements. Its innate nature is duality--the entity and the result, the cause and its effect. This duality is evident in the alternating experiences of joy and grief, praise and blame, victory and defeat, profit and loss. These are the consequences of the right and wrong we indulge in. It is not wrong, if you slip into wrong; repeating the wrong is the thing to be condemned. One must learn lessons from the mistake, repent and resole not to commit it again.

The history of India holds forth before us the folly of repeating the wrong already done. The French, the Portuguese, the Moghuls and the Afghans have all warned Indians against this characteristic. Duplex has recorded that he was able to establish French rule in the then Karnataka region with the help of the Nizam. Mir Jaffer helped Clue to conquer Bengal. Raghunatha Rao Peshwa helped the foreigner to conquer Maharashtra. Foreign rule was established in India, with the help of Indians themselves. Inhabitants of an island, eleven thousand miles away, were able to conquer India, sixteen times its size having eight times its population, and rule over it for one hundred and ninety years, because of one basic defect, disunity caused by mutual suspicion, selfishness, jealousy.

Union is strength; disunion brings disaster. When Gandhi was twenty-four years old, he proceeded to South Africa at the invitation of an Indian Business House to conduct a Court case. There he witnessed the humiliation being heaped upon Indian settlers by the Whites. Differences can exist between man and man in health, education, wealth and temperament. But, fundamentally, all men are equal and should be treated as such. But racial animosity was the accepted policy of the White rulers in South Africa.

The advent of Sathyagraha by Gandhi

Gandhi stayed on among the oppressed Indians and native blacks and devised the strategy of Sathyagraha (passive resistance or civil disobedience) to end the exploitation. When the movement showed signs of quick success, General Smuts invited Gandhi for discussion. Gandhi explained to him that he had to resort to non-violent Sathyagraha since the inhuman policy of insulting and injuring humans having black skins had to be resisted and exterminated. General Smuts retorted by pointing out to Gandhi how millions of Indians--human beings like the rest-- were kept out of villages and condemned as untouchables.

The General's word acted as a bullet shot right at the heart of Gandhi. Gandhi felt that he had no right to correct another while he was himself infected with the same evil. He decided to return to India and practise the strategy of Sathyagraha for the removal of untouchability and other social evils and to free his Motherland from exploitation by foreigners. Sathyagraha was the path of Truth and Love, of the means being as pure as the ends. Verily, he who accepts criticism gladly and thanks the critic for his remarks is the one really human. Since Gandhi was willing to learn and had the humility to acknowledge criticism, he could mould the people of his land and be hailed as the Father of the Nation.

He looked upon the country as one. He planted the seed of unity of all faiths and all communities, which under his guidance grew quickly into a big tree. He built a great movement on the basis of Atmabhalam (soul-force) that strengthened unity and self-confidence. Selfishness that had possessed the nation as an evil genius and mined its progress in material, moral, political and spiritual fields, was suppressed while the movement was on. The people suffered much but sufferings is the prelude to success. There is no rose without thorns. Without giving, no one can gain. How can anything great be achieved without overcoming internal and external obstacles?

The birth and meaning of Swatantra
The independence we celebrate today was finally achieved and proclaimed at midnight on August 14/15, 1947. What exactly does the word 'independence' mean? It means we are not dependent on anyone, any longer. We are dependent on ourselves alone. The Indian word is Swatantra for 'Independence.' It means "our Tantra." The word Tantra means "the Heart" (Hrudaya, Hrdaya, in the Heart, Hrd. The yantra (the machine, the apparatus) is the body. The Mantra (saving formula is the Breath and the Tantra (the heart, the source of life is the Atma. So, Swatantra means independence from everything except the Atma. The resident of the heart is the only Guru. There is no dependence on the others. He is the only Master, the only God. This is the stage of Swarajya, sole monarch of oneself. The word Swaraj, commonly used for an independent state, connotes only absence of worldly dependence. Independence can be enjoyed by man only if he gets rid of bondage to the senses which drag him into tantalising ventures. The attainment of Yoga, involving sense-control, expansion of love, and cleansing the consciousness, so the God's glory may be reflected therein, is the goal.

Purity, Unity and Divinity
You have to be leaders of this country in a few years time. So I insist on the development of the sense of Unity, a bond of Brotherhood, and an awareness of Dignity. One should strive for unity of minds, unity of hearts, not the temporary association of the moneyed people or persons in positions of power. Unity must result in unity of thought, word and deed.

Love for one's motherland is good. But it should not lead to hatred towards the mother land of others. Your prayer has to be, "May all the world be happy and peaceful." For, only when the world has peace and prosperity, can India be peaceful and happy. It is only when India is peaceful and happy, that Andhra Pradesh will be peaceful and happy. It is only when Andhra Pradesh has peace and happiness that Anantpur District can have peace and happiness. It is only when Anantpur District has peace and happiness can Puttaparthi be peaceful and happy. It is only when Puttaparthi has peace and happiness can you have peace and happiness! Your peace and happiness are linked with the world's peace and happiness. Any act of hatred or violence committed by you will pollute the atmosphere of the world. Adore any living being; the adoration reaches God, for He is in every being. Insult any living being; the insult too reaches God. So, expand love towards all, everywhere.

The flag is the symbol of victor, of the joy of Independence. Each nation has a flag for itself. Pay attention to another flag to symbolise another laudable victory over one's lower instincts, impulses, passions, emotions and desires, the flag that has to be unfurled on every human heart When you achieve that victor, you will become the true inheritors of Bharatiya Culture.

Discourse at the Sri Sathya Sai Institute for Higher Learning, Prashaanthi Nilayam, on 15-8-1985

Do not waste all your years with stone images, pictures or idol.
Learn to see in every living vital active person, the embodiment of
all energy, all beauty, all beneficence, namely, God. God is subtler
than ether, filling the smallest crevice with His majesty. Know this
and serve His manifestations wherever you meet them.
-BABA

DUUR....

2008-08-03T10:10:00.000-07:00

To SAI, our BEST FRIEND

2008-08-03T07:00:00.000-07:00

Friends You Need

2008-08-03T01:04:00.000-07:00

24-5-1973

WHILE in this transient world, wading through joy and grief, man has sore need of some one of his kind to whom he can communicate his feelings, with whom he can share his discoveries and depressions, his moments of bliss and sorrow, to be by his side while trekking the hard road to truth and peace, encouraging and enthusing him towards the goal.

Who is one's true friend? Who is one's false, fake friend? It is clear that, as understood today, friendship and friends are far off the mark, of the ideal. Friends who can confer real counsel, comfort and consolation are precious gifts, rarely found today.

A friendship knit by monetary bonds is disrupted as soon as you ask the loan to be repaid. So, when you oblige your friend with a loan, the friendship too is broken at that very moment. How can friendship be cemented by words or by coins? Heart must understand heart; heart must be drawn to heart, if friendship must last. Friendship must bind two hearts and affect both of them beneficially, whatever may happen to either---loss or gain, pain or pleasure, good fortune or bad. The bond must survive all the blows of fate, and be unaffected by time, place and circumstance.

Each must correct the other; for each knows that they come from sympathy and love. Each must be vigilant that the other does not slide from the ideal, cultivate habits that are deleterious, or hide thoughts and plans that are productive of evil. The honour of each is in the safe keeping of the other. Each trusts the other and places reliance on the other's watchful love. Only those deserve the name "friends"---who help in uplifting life, cleansing ideals, elevating emotions and strengthening resolves. Those who drag you into pomp, pedantry, paltry entertainment and petty pranks are enemies, not friends. Friends cannot be got by social status, financial squandermania, outer scintillation and verbal assertions. See into the very soul, the inner motives and motivator, the deeper aspirations and achievements, and then, yield your loyalty to such.

The friendship between Kuchela and Krishna

You might have heard of the friendship between Kuchela and his 'class-mate' Krishna. How could the friendship between these two survive the immense gap between their worldly positions and their spiritual status? Krishna was God Incarnate. Kuchela was a mere man. Krishna was a ruler, a king-maker, an unsurpassed hero, monarch, and preceptor. Kuchela was so poor that he was ever at his wit's end to procure his next meal. They had studied together for a few years at the hermitage of the sage Sandeepani. That had sown the seed of friendship.

So, his wife sent him to Krishna, assuring him that he would not be turned from the door.
Kuchela agreed to proceed but he hesitated long to send word that he had come, even when the guardsmen enquired why he had come and who he was. How could he, a broken, bent, befogged beggar dare stand before the Lord in His palatial Hall with its jewelled throne, and announce himself as a 'friend'? He was aghast at his own audacity.

God only can be the true friend of man

But, all his fears melted away, when Krishna recognized hint and came forward to receive him warmly and with evident joy. Krishna filled him with supreme bliss by His words, His acts of hospitality and His attitude of hearty welcome. Krishna also blessed his wife with enormous wealth and comfort, peace, prosperity, in quantity much more than ever she hoped for or prayed for. No one asked Hint for it; but, His love took that shape, His Grace awarded them the happiness. But, Kuchela was ever content with the friendship of Krishna; he never desired anything other than that. He was overwhelmed with delight when he experienced the compassion and love of the Lord.

The feeling of friendship must activate every nerve, permeate every blood-cell, and purify every emotional wave; it has no place for the slightest trace of egotism. You cannot elevate the companionship which seeks to exploit or fleece for personal benefit into the noble quality of friendship. Perhaps, the only friend who can pass this rigorous test is God.

To understand and practise this noble emotion, the Bhagavath Geetha is an invaluable guide. When Arjuna was dispirited and dejected, Krishna injected courage and a high sense of duty into him and helped him avoid disgraceful defeat. And, Arjuna, too like a good friend, took the advice in good spirit, with the full confidence that Krishna meant well by him. Why, we know how confident he was of the wisdom and power inherent in Krishna. When Krishna gave him the choice, "To help you in battle, you can have either my entire army or myself alone, unarmed and determined not to fight in spite of any provocation.”, Arjuna did not hesitate to decide which of these two he wanted. He chose the unarmed Krishna, and prayed that He might be his charioteer, during the days when he rode into the field.

Friends who stand witness for ages

Long ago, there was a person who had three friends. Quite by accident,, he was charged for some crime and a warrant was issued against him by the Court. He. approached one friend and asked him to bear witness to his innocence. He said, "I will not move out of this house; I can help you only from within this." The second friend said, "I can come only upto the porch of the Court. I will not enter the witness box." The third friend said, "Come, I shall speak for you, wherever you want me to." The first friend is the 'property and possessions' which can bear witness only from within the house. The second is 'the kinsmen, the members of the family, who come as far as the cemetery but would not accompany the person to the Judgement Seat. The third, friend is the fair name earned by one's-"virtues and service," which persist even after the death and burial; they stand witness for ages, and announce the innocence and greatness of the individual. They decide the nature of the next birth too.

Young as you are, you must make efforts to acquire good friends and keep them. Do not postpone this task, listening to some elders who advise that the path of spirituality can well be trodden later when you have retired from active life. They say that you can take on hand the Bhagavath Geetha, when you have grown old. But, that advice is like telling a nation that it can afford to wait till war is declared, to train an army to counter the enemy. Long years of preparation are needed to have an army that can meet any 'contingency; otherwise, if arms are distributed to the untrained, it spells disaster even to the persons wielding the arms.

Have God as your unfailing guide and friend

The good deeds and thoughts that one welcomes and entertains during the years of life will stand in good stead, firm, like a good friend, when one is nearing the end. So, you, young men and women, must resolve to engage yourselves in acts that promote your peace and progress and the peace and progress of all mankind. Do not damage your future by pursuing temporary benefits and selfish aggrandizement. Yearn for and earn good friends, who will keep you on an even keel.

Have above all, God, as your unfailing guide and friend. The heart of the Gopees had struck deep roots in the love of Krishna and when Akrura came to Gokul to take Krishna with him to Mathura, the Gopees struggled heroically, to keep Him with themselves. They held on to the steeds of the chariot; they gripped the wheels and sought to prevent them from moving.

Friendship is the expression of unshakeable love, love that is noble, pure, free from desire or egoism. I bless you that you may have such friendship from others and that you too make others happy by granting this holy type of friendship.

(Swami’s discourse in Brindavan, courtesy Sathya Sai Speaks Vol XII)

Heaven within

2008-07-19T09:36:00.000-07:00

Beloved child,

We shall be judged not by the creed we profess or the label we wear or the slogans we shout, but by the work, the industry, the sacrifice, the honesty and purity of our character. Realize the heaven within you and all at once all the desires are fulfilled, all the miseries and sufferings are put to an end. Feel yourself above the body and its environments, above the mind and its motive, above the thought of success or fear. The great cause of suffering in the world is that people do not look within. They rely on outside forces.

With Love,
Sri Sathya Sai.
30-09-1980

Our hearts will go on.......

2008-07-13T04:37:00.001-07:00

2008-07-13T04:23:00.000-07:00

To realize the Divine, Love is the
easiest path.
Just as you can see the moon only with
the light of the moon,
God who is the embodiment of Love can be reached
only through Love.
Regard Love only as your life breath.
Love was the first quality to emerge in the
creative process.
All other qualities came after it.
Therefore, fill your heart with Love and base
your life on it.

SSS Vol XIX. p 217.

QUIZ TIME

2008-07-13T04:17:00.000-07:00

CHECK ON THE LINKS BELOW

QUIZ I : MULTI FAITH

QUIZ II: GURU POORNIMA

The Light Of God

2008-07-13T03:25:00.000-07:00

5th October '91

Today morning, Swami suddenly asked for the Ist MBA boys, much to their pleasant joy. He blessed them with an interview. Swami asked if the boys had any problems.

Student: Swami, examinations are going on. Lots of tension and the pressure is too much.

Swami: You must not have tensions. In fact, you should be happy to write exams. Write and finish the exams one by one and thereby progressing higher and higher. Remember that the sooner you finish the exams, the faster you progress onward. Hence, you must not have any tension over exam.

A cyclist was going on the road without a light, so a policeman chased him and tried to stop him. But the cyclist shouted, "Don't try to stop me. I cannot stop because I have no brakes!" the policeman chased him, caught him and extracted a double fine. The light is the light of wisdom, brakes are the self control, The road represent the path of our life, police is the nature. If we do not have self control and wisdom, Nature ensures that we undergo punishment.

Yet another example. A group of students once went to Bandipur forest for a picnic. They wanted to cook food so they brought three stones to make a stove. The three stones are the three gunas. The first thing to do is indeed to balance the stones, i.e one must balance the three gunas. On this balanced plane, the pot is placed, the pot is the body. The water put in may be compared to the mind. The rice boiled is the desires. The fire used is the fire of wisdom. The fire cannot burn the desires directly. At first, it heats the pot, which boils the water and cooks the rice. When wisdom thus burns the desires, there will be no rebirth. When even a speck of dirt is in the ocean, it gets washed ashore at once, by a number of waves.

You are always thinking of the past and the future. You must think only of the present. You have all come here now. You have Swami's grace with you. Thinking of this, you must live only in the present and hence derive joy. Here is an example. Suppose that cauliflower curry has been served to you. If you start thinking about what dirty land it was grown in, what dirty drainage water was used to water it and what fertiliser was used, you will never enjoy the curry. Eat it without thinking of anything else. In the same way, do not get worried thinking of the past and the future. Think of the present. Derive joy from the present.

Take a piece of wood. If it comes into contact with fire, it becomes coal. One cannot wash this coal and make it white by using soap and water. the fire may be compared to your past samskaras. Incomplete burning of wood gives coal. Completely burning the wood gives ashes. Ash is light and white. To clean the black coloured coal and make it white, you must again put it back in the fire of good samskaras. It will then burn into ashes, which is white. The white signifies purity. The light signifies freedom.

When you are born as a baby, you cry "koham, koham". When you grow up, you say "I am..." but you must actually say "Soham , soham" I am not the body. The body is a gift from parents. You must attain the light of good- The Light Of God

When will you grow up?

2008-06-26T09:28:00.000-07:00

19th September '91

This morning, Swami had been to the Primary school. In the evening, Swami entered the bhajan hall and asked the boys " How is your Ganapati?" The boys took the hint and at once started asking Swami to come to hostel. But Swami avoided the matter and started speaking to the boys about how devotedly the students of Primary school had arranged a small program that morning. Swami also called the Vice Chancellor and kept asking him to narrate the events in between.

Swami: When I went there, six speakers were ready to speak- five boys and one girl spontaneously and without hesitation. Small children have pure hearts, that is why they can speak like that. In fact, none of them prepared in advance. It was all spontaneous. Actually, I had gone up the hill and on the way I went to school. It was an unexpected visit for them, but they did it so well. Even the food is so excellent. Colonel Joga Rao was actually hesitating to eat because he was not well. But once the boys there started to persuade him to take a small spoonful, he had it. It tasted so well. There were five to six items. But in your hostel, in all 365 days, it is the same sambhar, same smell and the same color. That is your hostel's greatness. Ghee is a special item given once a year and that too a sprinkling, but in Primary school, it is not. This is the sorry state of affairs. After getting so much from Swami, the boys still behave like this. As the boys grow bigger, their minds must broadening its outlook and thinking. But unfortunately, it is getting smaller and smaller with narrow thinking and dirty thoughts. It is like a dirty drainage.

(Narrating about the topics on which the boys and girls spoke in Primary school)
One of the speakers expressed her thoughts about the love of Yashoda and Krishna and how she knew where Krishna was by following the footprints of butter. She then told that however and wherever they may be, they would never leave Swami. Then one of the boys spoke how all the students are like different rivers that all seek to merge in the ocean. See! with what confidence they spoke. When the programme was going on, one of the fans became loose and fell down. The children shouted " Sai ram" and the fan landed gently like an airplane away from the children. Swami took care of everything. See their devotion! That is why I saved them. Otherwise, a rotating fan can cut off heads.

(Talking about how people try to deceive God....)
You cannot cover my eyes. I am sahasraksha purusha- the one with a thousand eyes. I know everything. You can hide nothing from me. You cannot deceive me or fool me.

Then Swami paused and the boys repeated their requests to come to the hostel. He then said,
"What is there in the hostel? There is only Matti Ganapati (Ganapati made of mud) but this is Chinmaya Ganapati ( pointing to Himself). I am within you, around you, in front of you, behind you, above you and below you.

Inspiring Video

2008-06-23T19:08:00.001-07:00

2008-06-21T23:14:00.000-07:00

Prema must be many stranded in
order to be strong and tough.
A single strand is too weak. Have it
many stranded. One towards the
mother, another towards the father,
other strands towards spouse,
friend, son, daughter etc,
Of course, prema is all embracing.
It cannot be confined to one item and
denied to another.
It is a current that flows over all.

Meditation on the Lord
and His prema will help you
tap it from the depths of
your heart.

SSS. Vol. III p.28

FUNDAS

2008-06-15T06:39:00.000-07:00

9th September,'91

(On this day, Swami graciously blessed the Ist MBA boys with an interview. Bhagawan profoundly delivered this sweet message for almost two hours.)

Student: Where are we going Swami?
Swami: (jokingly) You are going from hostel to institute, institute to mandir and back to the hostel, like a triangle.
Swami: what is education?
Student: Concentration of mind
Swami: Yes, concentration of mind, not merely collection of facts. But all of you are collecting information.
Swami: What is man made up of? Hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen and carbon dioxide. Trees are made up of three elements- oxygen, nitrogen and carbon dioxide. Man exhales carbon dioxide and trees receive it, giving back oxygen to man. This is how balance is maintained. The sun is made up of hydrogen and helium. Hydrogen burns but helium does not. Both the gases are present together, then how can one burn while the other does not? There is a balance existing between them. Who has created the gases there?

Scientists combine hydrogen and oxygen to prepare water. But who has created hydrofgen and oxygen? When you churn the ocean of milk, you first get poison and then comes amrita (nectar). Similarly, when humanity is churned, you get Vairagya. When you question yourself, 'Am i the body?' you realize that the body is made up of flesh, blood, bones, urine, and faeces, then you will get detachment. Though the body looks good on the outside, it is dirty inside. Life is momentary.

Youth is like lightning- it does not last long.
Desires are like passing clouds.
Beauty is like a flower that blossoms in the morning,
And dries up in the evening.

The other day when I asked you, 'Who am I?" and 'Who are you?', nobody could answer. From dawn to dusk, you say, 'my pant, my pencil,etc' but who is this I, I , I ? If you think you are body- it is a water bubble. If you think you are the mind- it is a mad monkey. If you think you are the senses- sensual pleasures are momentary. Everything in the world is an interplay of reaction, reflection and resound. Whatever the boys do, it will come back to them. Boys frequently say that Swami is like this that. But Swami is like the pure mirror, reflecting whatever is in the front. You do namaskar in front of the mirror, the image will do the same. If you show threatening gestures, it will show the same. What is the meaning of pratiphal?

Students: Reaction, Swami.
Swami: Correct. But people do not think of karmaphal. Whatever you do will come back to you. Everyone comes alone into this world. You do not even come with a piece of cloth around you. While leaving, you do not leave an address and go. Husband does not tell his wife his future address, mother does not tell the son, etc. No one knows where he or she will go. It is the good and bad alone that you do in this world that will follow you even after death. The jeeva is like the reflection. Nature is the mirror that reflects the reality of God. Once you remove the reflection and the mirror, God alone will exist. What is bad?

Students: Swami, something that is not good.
Swami: What is not good? See, I always tell 'Help ever Hurt never'. Shakuni used to hurt and that too he used to hurt good people. Hurting good people is really bad. That is why he was finished in the end

I am ready, are you?

2008-06-08T06:39:00.000-07:00

September, '91

The boys were again asking Swami to come to the hostel toady. But somehow, Swami kept off the issue and took a small group inside for interview. After the interview got over, Swami cam out and went inside the bhajan hall.

Swami: what was the menu today?
Student: Swami, beans-carrot curry and sambhar.
Swami: Carrot or parrot!
Then mentioning the items were not made very well, He came out into the portico, where the boys renewed their pleas.

Swami: Please what? Words like 'Please, sorry, excuse..' have no meaning at all.
Student; Swami, we are requesting you to come to hostel.
Swami: What is requesting. That is also a kind of please only. (Swami called warden and said) What is all this that the boys are asking?
Warden: Swami must come to hostel.
Swami: (avoiding the topic) See, the food was not good today. (Swami then called the mess in charge and asking about the menu, He again mentioned there was too much salt in the sambhar) Chapathis are also not being made properly. Boys throwaway the corners and eat the central part only. So much waste.
Meanwhile, The boys again prayed that Swami bless the hostel with a visit.

Swami: When shall I come?
Students: (eagerly) Swami, whenever you say" We are ready even now!
Swami: No, no! I know how dirty the hostel is. Rooms are dirty, bathrooms are dirty, and everything is dirty! And so many flies in the dining hall! (to the warden) Don't you get it cleaned everyday?
Warden: We do it Swami, with dettol.
Swami: Dettol is very expensive. Phenyl is the right one to use. Al the flies will go away. Now there are too many flies! Too many cobwebs in the rooms- it is all very dirty now. I know! I am seeing?
Students: Swami, you tell when.
Swami: (calling the mess in charge) When will it be alright?
M Incharge: Sunday, Swami?
Swami: Sunday? I am leaving for Brindavan on Sunday morning.
Students: No Swami! Please stay back here!
Swami: When shall I come?
Swami: Any time! Then come, I am ready now. Go! I will come now itself!

Immediately some boys started getting up and going back.
Swami: Stop, stop!
After everyone had sat down again,
Swami: I am always ready. It is only you who are not ready to receive me! What shall I do here? There is no Dasara celebration also this year.

Then the warden requested that many boys had not had the good fortune of witnessing the Yagna and that Swami must permit it to take place this year.
Swami: What can i do? The canteen building is not ready. The kitchen- most important- is still not fitted with gas pipes and other essential gadgets. These are very essential for preparing food in large quantities. Even for 'Onam', devotees were requesting full meals while only packets could be distributed. It will be very difficult for the devotees. That is why we cannot have Dasara this year.

Swami: Oh tell me when I can come to hostel?
Students: Anytime, Swami!
Swami: Thursday, good day. I will come.
All the boys beamed happily.
Swami: See, nobody even said "Thank You"
Students: (immediately) Thank you, Swami.
Swami laughed and went inside.

What do I want?

2008-06-08T06:16:00.000-07:00

4th september 91.

The boys grabbed the opportunity to pray that Swami come to the hostel for a much awaited visit. But Swami kept playing and putting off the issue.

Swami: Why hostel? you are all here, I am also here now. What will I do there? I do not eat puri, I do not eat alasandulu ( a type of gram), I do not take sambhar...

Students: Swami, then you ask for what you want, we shall give it.

Swami: (instantly) Anything? will you give me anything I ask for?
Students: (without hesitation) Yes Swami, we will.
Swami: (after a suspense filled pause) Alright. then get me fish, kurma, mutton...
Everyone instantly burst into laughter.
Students: Swami, if you really need it, we shall definitely get it!
Swami: (very lovingly) i do not need anything from anyone. But I do need your pure love, will you give it to me?
Students: (instantly) Yes, Swami. Take it.
Swami: (extending his hand) Come, then give it!
At this, all boys got up and started walking towards Swami. Swami laughed and made all boys sit down.

Student: Swami, come to the hostel everyday.
Swami: Come there? Why, I am present there all the time, even now!
There was an awed silence
Student: Swami will you physically come there everyday?
Swami: (smilingly correcting him) Not everyday Bangaru, every minute!
Student: every second , Swami.
All laughed along with Swami.

Swami: Love and devotion must come spontaneously.

Mother Theresa quotes

2008-05-29T18:57:00.001-07:00

2008-05-29T18:22:00.000-07:00

Once a child sat on the lap of his grandfather
and asked him a plain query.
"Grandpa, do you love me?"
and the old man immediately replied,
"yes i do"
The child asked next, "Do you love God?"
for this too the old man said. 'yes'.
Then the child retorted, "if you love God,
then you cannot be loving me;
If you love me, you cannot be loving God
at the same time, or to the same extent."
That is true. You have to choose

(SSS Vol V p13)

Kya Aap Balvikas student se Tez hain?

2008-05-14T00:12:00.000-07:00

Check on the quiz below and know if you stand a chance!

Quiz 1

Quiz 2

Source: H2H

Love- The very foundation of life

2008-05-13T06:43:00.000-07:00

My dear boys,

Accept my blessings and love. Watch your words, watch your actions, watch your thoughts, watch your character and watch your heart. Character is power, patience is all the strength a man or boy needs. Sai is not far away from you or away in some distant place. He is within you, in your own heart. Man suffers because he is unable to discover him there and have peace and joy from that discovery. Boys, a loveless heart is a dry dessert. Love is the very foundation of life. The air that is inhaled and exhaled has to be love, in order that it may replenish and receive.

With blessings and love,
Baba

To the Most Wonderful MOTHER in Universe

2008-05-12T08:34:00.001-07:00

Happy Mother's day

2008-05-12T07:39:00.001-07:00

Students and gentlemen who profess devotion to God
must be prepared to declare openly that
they adore and love Bhagawan for no reason
except that He is God.
'My experience is the basis of my faith'
should be their answer.
For devotion to God, only two things are needed:
Faith and Experience.
Both these are rooted in love.

Spoonful of cow's milk

2008-05-12T06:47:00.001-07:00

11th october, '91

Swami asked some of the MBA boys about how they had done in their viva.

Swami: Student's primary duty is to study. You are all students, not stupids. Hence, you should not waste your time in useless pursuits. You may be good in other activities, but you should study well. That is what Swami wants. by studying well, you make your parents, teachers and yourself happy. Swami is also pleased then. Otherwise, you are simply wasting your energy and your parents' hard earned money and efforts.

In our country, people want only money. They are motivated purely by selfish motives. To appease their selfish need for more salaries, the Government has to borrow from others. People take more and more money but there is no work correspondingly. He who does not work has no right to a salary. Students also have no right to waste the efforts and money of their parents. They must study well, behave as students and get a good name. Students must hence study and progress. If you are not interested, you can stop studying. But once having undertaken to study as students in this Institute you must not shirk that responsibility and lead a carefree life. Riding two horses is dangerous and harmful.

Marks are not important compared to one's behaviour. It is alright if one has no good marks. He must guard against earning remarks. Students' behaviour must not be such as to earn a bad name. But today, all students are like that.

Devotee: Swami, this is all the effect of Maya.
Swami: No! this is not Maya. There are two aspects of it- Innocence and ahamkar. That which is done out of innocence is not the effect of Maya. It is done without knowing. But that which is done deliberately with full knowledge of consequences and the situation is the effect of Maya. It is the effect of Ahamkara (ego). What is the use of studying so much if there is no good character? It is better to beg in a bus stand, where you can earn better. Education is not for earning money. It is not how much you have studied but what Character you have that is important.

In Telugu, there are words alpa and Swalpa. Alpa means large quantity but very little quality. Swalpa means small quantity but of very high quality. Like barrels full of donkey's milk compared to spoonful of cow's milk. Money is not important. Even a little money is good enough. but character must be good.

Even in Sathya Sai Organisation, I never tolerate collections of money for any purpose. If need arises, you can ask me. I will give it. But you must not extend a begging bowl.

We are Happiness itself

2008-04-24T12:23:00.000-07:00

My Dear boys,

Accept my blessings and love. Even if our every attempt is a failure, we bleed and are torn asunder; yet through all this we have to preserve our heart. We must assert our Godhead in the midst of all this difficulties. Nature wants us to react, to return blow for blow, cheating for cheating, lies for lie, to hit with all our might. Then it requires a super divine power not to hit back, to keep control, to be unattached.

Dear boys, we require none else to make us happy, for we are happiness itself. the first sign that you are becoming religious is that you are becoming cheerful. when a man is gloomy, that may be dyspepsia, but it is not religion. Today I am with you, in you. Be happy

With blessings and love,
Baba.

2008-04-24T07:55:00.001-07:00

I am like the tank. Everything else is like taps and pipes.
If you pour love into the tank, you get only love through the taps. But you are all more concerned about the taps than the tank. You must remember that God is your only Friend,
who is always with you, in you and around you.

-Baba.

When we fail Him...

2008-04-24T06:51:00.000-07:00

4th August '91

All students went to beg for Swami's pardon. But Bhagawan said, "Why forgive you? you did not commit any mistake. you are all such good boys. very ,very, very good boys."
But the students pleaded that Swami should talk to them inside interview room separately. Swami agreed and sent all of them inside, before stepping in.

Swami: Come on! shut the door!
Students (from inside): No Swami, please come in!
Swami: Why? you wanted to go inside, didn't you?
The boys again pleaded and Swami smilingly went in.

You boys are like small pots. How can you pour ocean into the pot? Swami is 100 percent divinity from head to toe. You cant think of Swami as physical entity. My relationship with all is only Atma to Atma. That is why I am taking care of your bodies, because only in a strong body (temple) can the deity reside in full glory.

There is no selfishness at all in me. I gave you all so much. What is the use? Even after staying for so many days with Swami, you have still not understood Swami even a bit. How can Swami get angry? If you cannot understand that, what can I do?

My only worry is about you future; that you should lead an ideal life. But, I am only disappointed. It is not your mistake, it is My mistake! I had an 'appointment' so I faced a disappointment.

When a pot that had buttermilk in it for many days, is washed and fresh milk is poured into it, the milk will curdle. It happens because of the traces of buttermilk still left in the pot. i pour so much love into you, but there is no sign of any love in you all. only bad vasanas. Your love is diminishing proportionate to the number of days of your stay here that remained. only Contraction love, no Expansion love. Like a balloon that expands when filled with air, your love must also expand and finally merge with the infinite all-enveloping love.

There is too much of unnecessary talk. Talk about Swami.At least, it will be beneficial. there are some good boys as well. But, in a room, if one mosquito bites you, you spray a repellent all over the room. Because of one mosquito, all others have to bear the consequences. Similar is your case, your company decides everything.
Dhaneshana- attachment to wealth; Dhareshana- attachment to wife and Pureshana- attachment to son; these are all dangerous.

What is that which is most important in life? I know what all you see with your eyes. The Pandavas gave first priority to God, next to the world and last to themselves. The Kauravas ranking of priority was exactly opposite- first to themselves, then world and last to God. You are all like Kauravas. When you take your degrees and leave, we must feel, "Oh such good boys of our Institute are going". It must not be that we all feel, "Good riddance! faster they leave, the better for all concerned."

How many times have you promised to follow Swami's words? You are only asking for mud pots, when i am ready to give you golden and diamond pots. But you do not understand it. Now you must all study well and get good grades. Always follow Swami's words. Learn to discriminate if what you are doing is right or wrong and only then act. Follow your conscience always. What is past is past. Forget that now and be good in future.

The whole world is in my hands, but yet all the 24 hours, I am thinking about the boys. I want you all to have a bright future.You must all have confidence in yourselves. otherwise, how can you have confidence in Swami?

The boys pleaded for pardon again. He replied, "okay, study well and get good grades. Follow Swami's words. Always discriminate. Is it right? Should I do it? Follow your conscience."
students: Please forgive us Swami. we will not do such mistakes again.
Swami: alright, forgiven. Past is past. Forget the past. Be good
Then all boys came out of interview room feeling blessed.

2008-04-22T10:22:00.000-07:00

It is to transform man's nature from animal to human
that love has been as the powerful force.
The hearts of men in the olden days were soft and loving.
Although love inherently is soft and compassionate,
in certain situations, it assumes a stern form.
This is because even out of love, one has to sometimes
use harsh punishment. The harsh words and punishments
are associated with love. When it rains,
it is a downpour of drops of water. But sometimes,
the rain is accompanied by hailstones.
The hailstones are hard. But they are only
water in condensed form. Likewise
softness or punishment is different expression of love.

BSSB. Vol IV. p.293

Talk less, think little

2008-04-21T23:59:00.000-07:00

9th July, '91

Some students prayed to Bhagawan for his Divine advice. Bhagawan asked, "Will you follow My advice, if I give it to you?" he then continued in His own inimitable way...

"Don't talk too much. Study well, get good grades. You talk too much, which i do not like. If you talk less, then.. Kushi- Swami will be happy. When you talk more, you waste a lot of energy. Thinking is also inner talk.
Look at me, i am 65 years old. Yet how young do i look. look at yourself. You look so old. This is so because you waste a lot of energy in unnecessary talk. i manage the organisation and the whole world. But i do not think at all. I am only witness, like lights on the stage of a theatre. People cry and laugh. There are births and deaths, but i am unaffected. i am not Brahma. If i were so, it then would be Dwaita (Brahma and I). I am I. There is only one -Adwaita- Unity.

What is the difference between good and bad? It is only the difference of time. Fruit (phalam), which is nice today, will become faeces (malam) tomorrow that will have to be excreted. Phalam is good, malam is bad. For one day, if you do not clean your bowels, you will have a stomach upset. So take in good, reject the bad."

2008-04-21T11:16:00.002-07:00

The cause of man's suffering is that he has constricted his love for himself and his family. He should develop a broad feeling that all are his brothers and sisters. Expansion of love is life;Contraction of love is death.All are children of God. All are sparks of the Divine.

SSS. Vol XXXII part.I.p.103

Sai Ehtics -Living in Oneness

2008-04-21T03:53:00.000-07:00

Sarvadharman Parityaja Maamekam Saranam Vraja,

Aham Twa Sarvapapebhyo Mokshaishyami Ma Suchah

(Surrender unto Me and perform all your actions as an offering to Me. I will destroy all your sins and confer liberation on you.)

“So long as man is immersed in body attachment, all types of hardships and misery
haunt him. Body attachment is the root cause of Sankalpas (thoughts). The inner
meaning of this statement is that man should experience unity in diversity. Without
Vyashti (individual), there cannot be Samashti (society). Without Samashti, there
cannot be Srushti (creation). So, first of all we have to recognize the role of Vyashti.
Only then can we understand the principle of Samashti, which will in turn lead to the
understanding of Srushti. One who understands Srushti becomes one with
Parameshti (God). In fact, the principles of Samashti, Srushti and Parameshti are
very much present in Vyashti. Hence, one has to make efforts to understand
Vyashti in the first instance”

-Baba.
(Divine Discourse, 10 Sep 2002)

In today’s business scenario, a great number of companies are promoting business activities that bring simultaneous, economic, social and environmental benefits. Apart from wealth maximization and legal compliance, Corporate Social Responsibility(CSR) is being accepted by all, since managers have realized that this is the way forward for sustainable growth. Sai Ethics takes the threshold to the next level- living the principle of Vyashti, Samashti, Srushti, Parameshti, which means Spiritualization of Business.The Sanskrit saying, ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’, means – ‘the one who comes to you for being served, should be taken as God, is considered as the highest order of responsibility, be it to individuals or to the society.

A Pond of Ripples

Swami says ‘Sarvam Khalvidam Brahma’. Imagine a pond into which each of us- 6 billion humans, is throwing his or her own personal pebble every second. The result will be a wave pattern formed by the interaction of all the waves created by our billions of personal pebbles. Assuming that our pebbles are our beliefs, emotions, words, actions and choices, we can imagine that we are all co-creators of that unique matrix pattern that we call reality. We are affecting the whole with every thought. Not one centimeter of that matrix is free from our input. Therefore, self transformation brings about universal transformation i.e., from Vyashti to Parameshti.

Stepping out from the safe heaven of MY MOTHER

When I stepped out into the corporate world, I was confident and exuberant, bursting with fresh ideas and also quite confused, scared and lonely. It took me time to adjust to the world outside. Coming from a rural background, and with my parents staying away from me, the change from paradise to the world was challenging. Is it possible to live up to the standards Swami has set for me? Why is there so much mistrust and manipulation? I began to introspect and develop a closer relationship with Swami and reflect on His teachings and living it moment to moment. Beginning from 1998, every year has been a roller coaster ride. I believe that whatever happened was the best for me. All through, Swami taught me the important lesson – to accept and manage change as part of life.

The Highs

This case relates to an export oriented unit which consisted of 15 employees and enjoyed a tax exemption benefit expiring in 2007. The promoter shut down the company without giving sufficient notice to the employees and terminated their contracts. The promoter started a new venture and recruited fresh candidates. One of the terminated employees approached me for a job since he was in desperate need of it. His experience did not match the job profile I had in hand. HR had budget constraints and was unwilling to take on inexperienced candidates on bank roles. At the time of the interview, the person was pessimistic and unimpressed about the job. Through a two hour interview, I tried to counsel, explain the pros and cons of the role. At the end, he was optimistic and self confident and willingly expressed his desire to try to learn and perform the job. His renewed confidence made me feel so happy. After convincing the HR and business head, this person was engaged on a temporary basis and is now one of the best performing members of my team.

In another incident, my boss called me at 10.45 p.m and asked me to solve a query of a client. This was part of the sales team and not under my purview. The client required to transfer funds internationally which required an access code. I went that extra mile, called the New York office, obtained the access number and the transaction was completed. The client still happens to be one of the top High Networth Individual clients.

The lesson was: is it possible to stay true to service without allowing ego to dominate, yet successfully function in an ego- dominated world?

The Lows

Turning to unpleasant incidents, while working in a business process team which handles anti money laundering, compliance and MIS, I have been tested many times. Strict regulations govern the banking industry and the consequences of non compliance are severe. Sometimes a transaction may make perfect business sense and legal too, yet they don’t meet Sai ethical standards. The constant feeling that I am Swami’s student has given me the confidence to do what is right. In these past 10 years of service, I was once threatened with dire consequences for failing to authorize an unethical transaction. That seemed like the end of my banking career. With inner conviction, I resigned and took up a job with a low compensation. Even then my mind was disturbed, because I feared they would put derogatory remarks on my relieving letter. Swami helped me in those dark hours and things took a positive turn after that.

And this brings me to the concept of mirrors. When I look at a mirror it reflects my body structure and the clothes. Similarly, when I view the world as my own mirror, every event, the people, society, and creation is my own reflection. Every experience especially the so called sad, testing moments had learning for me. I thank these persons for pushing me further on the path of self exploration, self acceptance and self empowerment, because self acceptance is self empowerment. When the change happens within, the outside changes to reflect that Change. It’s taking responsibility for all my thoughts, emotions and actions. From self to the world, in my own little ways, I add to the rich experience of this universal consciousness.

In problematic situations, sometimes patience is a great virtue. Even by powerful subconscious thoughts we can influence the situation and solve the problem. Positive thoughts / energy waves gather critical mass and can turn a negative into positive. Earlier I worked from a feeling of powerlessness, not believing in the Supreme Creation which has nourished us through aeons and aeons without even asking. Through the years, this poverty programming/consciousness has been substituted with abundance consciousness which is the natural state. It’s having, yet not possessing. As Swami says many threads make a strong cloth, but if the same is unwoven into threads there is no strength. The design of Srushti is interdependence and harmony. If our body carries a cancer cell, it will slowly destroy the host upon which it depends for survival. Switching to business; businesses have adapted this principle and they are slowly becoming environment friendly. The mindset of entrepreneurs is changing i.e., to go beyond profits to CSR. Many companies report the benefits of Corporate Stakeholder Responsibility and Corporate Stakeholder Management from better employee satisfaction and retention, to creating value for shareholders and the community. Students from our university have the advantage of being given a strong foundation of human values to contribute to the spiritualization of business. It takes effort to stretch that extra bit, but the effort is worth taking.

-Mr Mannu Shivaram, alumnus, Sri Sathya Sai University

(Article as appeared in Insaight newsletter, issue 5, April 2008)

2008-04-20T01:47:00.000-07:00

Every being needs Prema, inhales
and exhales Prema.
For Prema is the basic breath;
everyone is the embodiment of Prema.
Love knows no fear and so love need not
have falsehood to support it.
It is only fear that makes people warp the
face of truth to make it unpleasant to those
whom they fear.
Love also seeks no reward; love is its own
reward.
That is the sole gain, the joy of loving and
being loved.
When it is directed to God it is called bhakthi.

Ceaseless Contemplation

2008-04-19T06:21:00.000-07:00

My dear boys,

Accept my love. SAI is infinite love. It is this love that pervades and appears as the as the entire universe around us. This love is seated ever in your hearts. So you are not different from the universe. The universe is SAI, your Sathya Sai, Prema Sai.

My boys, think how much time you waste in talking unnecessarily. If you keep a strict watch upon yourself you will find that your actual working hours are only a few. You daily spend 8 to 10 hours in sleep, when you need only six hours. Besides, whenever you are free from work, you can keep your mind engaged in the remembrance of Sai and have His pure and glorious name on your lips. You can also chant the name as you walk along. If you only make up your mind, you can find ample time during the day to remember Him.

With love and blessings,
Sri Sathya Sai.

2008-04-19T01:28:00.000-07:00

God is the source of all Love;
Love God,
Love the world as the vesture of God,
no more, no less.
Through love, you can merge in the
ocean of love.
Love cures pettiness, hatred and grief.
Love loosens bonds;
It saves man from the torment of
birth and death.
Love binds all heartsin a soft silken
symphony.
Seen through the eyes of love,
all beings are beautiful,
All deeds are dedicated, all thoughts
are innocent.
The world is one vast kin.
SSS Vol VIII. p.20

2008-04-18T07:09:00.000-07:00

I am devoting 75 percent of my time to the students and giving ony25 percent to the devotees from all parts of the world.Realise how much love I am lavishing on you.If you waste this sacred opportunity, you will not get it again

The Wings of Love and Truth

2008-04-18T04:50:00.000-07:00

My Dear one,
I am very happy that everyone is sincerely striving to achieve spiritual progress. i know how earnest you all are. The earnestness will certainly be rewarded.

Know that I am always with you, prompting you and guiding you. i know also that you are aware of this. Live always in that constant presence. Love and truth are the two wings that take an individual forward. they will inspire you to serve all beings righteously an lovingly, just as you would serve the Lord. This is the highest for of practical spirituality.

Keep writing to me about yourself and friends. i have been getting letters from most of them. my blessings are ever with them.

With Blessings,
Sri Sathya Sai
June 1967

Enter the world of sub prime et al

2008-04-18T03:38:00.001-07:00

“Give me your blood and I shall give you freedom” said Mr Tilak. “Give me your money and I shall give you peace’ said Mr President Bush. Well, peace came in a package, of wars, lives, poverty and hate. So it wasn’t peace, just the pieces.

The sub prime scare that haunts many today is a déjà vu, of man’s surrender to greed. I found it very difficult to comprehend the complex instruments created in the game of sub prime defaults. But my little understanding led me to decipher a few causes. I believe there were two prime risks in the crisis:

Greed risk: it is a diversifiable risk. Perhaps, that can explain why every Tom, Dick and Harry (I mean borrower, lender and Govt. ) fell into its trap. We don’t know who diversified it to begin with, but all were responsible for sure. As Swami rightly puts it, “first, man drinks wine, then wine drinks wine and finally, wine drinks man.”
Stupidity risk: this is surely a non-diversifiable risk. Each living being has it in its gene. Even Governments are not spared. Why would a leader go to town pushing people to the shopping malls, when the country has had mounting trade deficits? Sorry Mr President, 9/11 was forgettable, but shopping is not the best way to salvation.

I know little of America, but enough to see a parallel in India today. Are we walking on Uncle Sam’s footsteps? Our finance minister boasts a batting average of 8.8 %. Surely everyone is in cricketing frenzy these days after the tour Down Under. But Mr PC perhaps ignored the Achilles heel; the walking corpses of Vidarbha. It’s shocking to know that there were almost 1300 farmer suicides in one district in a single year. Nice batting average Mr Chidambaram, but unfortunately not a match winning one.

This leads me to the subject that I’m more familiar with, simple living. The first time I stepped into a hostel here, I saw a quote “hostel is a place where each lives for other and all live for God”. As I pack my luggage to leave this home in a few weeks, I’m told, “Dunnapota, all are one, be alike to everyone.” A few weeks ago, I was asked in my viva voce, “What have you learnt after living in this place. I talked of teamwork, leadership, unity and so on but wasn’t convinced.

How do I bring these values in practice when I step out to face poverty, consumerism, the hustle and tussle of Mumbai life that runs faster than the fastest Churchgate-Virar local train? Amidst the anxieties, there’s an assurance “Why fear when I’m here” Is it I who brings values into practice? “Cut the I” for, our lives are dictated by Sai. He’s drafted the resume of my career on earth; I was marked before my birth. The mark of Sai student is one I would cherish till eternity, for it’s the only title that connects me to my Mother. And what does my Mother seek?

Love. If there’s one wish our dear lord would make from us, it’s love. Yet we fail Him. It’s so difficult to love an auto driver who cheats, a co-worker who conspires. But for Him, love crosses any bounds of judgement. The Grama Seva programme by the University is an expression of that spontaneous love. The genesis of it was another heartrending experience. Swami had called all teachers inside bhajan hall and showed them the newspaper article, where a mother had poisoned herself and her children, seeking suicide as a solution to end hunger. He was in tears then. That taught us a lesson: love transcends judgement. For, there is not a life that doesn’t seek love. Our hatred doesn’t sell good to others, but love buys happiness for others. Love knows no relations.

All things honey and butter, easier said, but not as tasty in practice. A daunting task that Swami has commanded us into, loving and living His teachings in His creation. Till our last breath, one prayer would ever vibrate in the heart, “ May God help His property make proper ties with Sai, by loving all serving all.” May His children make Sai the wealthiest mother in this Universe.

M B A

2008-04-17T11:50:00.000-07:00

“what are you studying?”

“Swami, I am doing MBA.”

“What is MBA?”

Master of Business Administration, Swami”

“Wrong. MBA means MY BABA BOYS”.

Abraham Maslow has put need for belonging on tier 2 of his hierarchy of human needs. But for us, this need is the be all and end all of life’s sojourn, to belong to Sai.

How many lessons have been learnt, beautiful episodes have been staged in this School! And then, there are the countless incidents that our teachers have related about Swami and boys.

The best part of this education here is that it happens without our knowledge. Swami works through our shortcomings and grooms us for the better. A manager must be self regulated, must have control over his emotions. And silence is the best medicine. As we spend time in Mandir everyday, silent sitting becomes part of the schedule. But boys will be boys and it sometimes requires bitter pills to cure faulty habits. Five years ago, we had to take the pill. Swami was upset with the boys talking in the mandir. So, He decided to keep silent; for 6 long months! It was indeed a harrowing time, and the boys tried every recipe in the book to please Him. Our warden once mentioned to Him, “Swami, boys haven’t eaten for 3 days.” He shot back, “I know, tell them to eat. I too haven’t eaten for 3 days!” How can a mother eat when her chidren are hungry, but nevertheless she has to teach them the lesson. We did realise how much this episode meant for us.

And then, there is humour, the most used weapon in Swami’s armour of drawing lessons. Decades ago, in Brindavan, when Swami called a group of foreigners for interview, there were some boys waiting to rush inside with Swami. He saw through their intentions and called them inside. He spoke to the devotees on many aspects and during the conversation remarked, “the entire world is in my Will…”, looked down and said “ but the boys are not in my hands !!!” A mother can’t stop her child from seeking her attention.

But the child better listen, for momma knows best. Once in a group interview, a student was clicking Swami’s photographs. After sometime, swami asked him to stop, but he continued to click. When the photographs were developed, the boy didn’t get the remaining photographs as Swami had correctly told him to stop when the film reel got over!

The protective sheath never has a limit to scope or strength to bear. He goes to any extent to make sure we’re safe and happy. A group of industry experts had come to college and lectured the MBA students. Later in mandir, Swami asked them, “how are the boys?” they replied, “Swami, the boys do not speak out”. He smiled and said, “They are very smart boys. They don’t speak much, but they write very well”.

If a child has to recount such incidents of love, it might take more than a lifetime to finish, yet incomplete in grasping mother’s love. But a mother is an ideal MBA, she manages the house to perfection. She nurtures future managers, honing their skills and preparing them to face the business of life. May God bless us with the memory to cherish these golden moments forever.

Sometimes lazy people like me too get blessed

2007-08-01T06:16:00.000-07:00

What to say, i am such a shameless fool. i never write letters to Swami on time. It was better when i was in Brindavan. Atleast, i made it a point to write to Him every week.
Notwithstanding a slumbering attitude, i dare to expect Swami to look at me, smile at me and take my letter which i write a few seconds before He passes by! Everytime I come prepared with a letter, i do not get the opportunity to give it to Swami. So, i decide to post the letter to Him. but this year, i became so lazy that i never posted those letters. Swami used to look at me as though He was apparently upset. He even gave me chance to sit in first line but never looked at me or took my letter for the past 3 weeks. Recently, my mumbai friends came for aashadi. one of them asked me to give her sister's wedding card.
Thus i saw an opportunity. if not mine, Swami must at least accept someone else's letter. To my great joy, Swami did take the card but looked at me quizzically. it's not been many months since i gave my own sister's wedding card and the experience then was enough to make me nervous this time.
Today, as usual i forgot to get the letter which i placed inside a book (i have about 4 letters ready kept in different books now). i realised it only when Swami came out of His residence in His chair. Immediately, i tore a page from my book and began to write, hoping i can atleast complete a paragraph. My friend too did the same. But unlike him, i'm slow in writing. to add to the frenzy, Swami started coming very briskly, not making His customary stops in the ladies side. I did not notice this and kept writing. i managed to complete only 2 lines before i looked up to find HIM already in front of me! Surprisingly and thankfully, He slowed down and gave me enough time to stretch my hand. With a playful smile, He graciously accepted my shabby letter.
It is a very strange feeling i experience every time Swami passes by me. Well, the fragrance of His perfume always lingers for sometime. In addition, i feel very warm and start sweating. Before, i attributed it to the hot weather here, but even in the cold mornings, i do experience the same thing.

Swami made my day

2007-06-27T19:03:00.000-07:00

the day began with a very pleasant weather. i got up early, went for suprabhatam (after a fortnight), checked my mails in college and continued the routine stuff. i was very optimistic Swami will bless me and was getting good signs around as well.
i bunked the afternoon class session so that i could prepare my birthday tray. i reached Mandir well in advance to get a better seat.Fortunately,i happened to be the only birthday boy that day.
All the while, i was nervous and apprehensive as this would be my last birthday celebrated before Swami. And hardly on any previous occasion did Swami bless me on my birthday. Thus,i sat praying earnestly to Swami.
He came, not in chair but in car and there i lost the first opportunity of getting blessed. He got down and proceeded to the interview room. Thirty minutes later he came out and moved in the verandah. i was relieved as now i'd get the chance. No sooner did he proceed towards the boys' section than he asked to be turned back. i was broken. is this the same fate this year? He went towards the interview room and lo! he comes back again! this time He came straight to the portico and called me. i went towards Him with the tray and showed it. He took the letter and gave a good look. generally, i don't make designs, but this time i made some borders on the envelope and wrote "To the best mom in the world". he gave me an amused smile. i said " Swami, mera final year MBA hai" His reply was "Chaalu (fine)" He took the akshatas from my tray and put them on my head. i took His padanamaskar and came back.
As i sat, he took the envelope, tore its edges and opened the letter. it was very unusual since i did not close the envelop. he read it and looked at me.
All my desires, aspirations wishes, were fulfilled in those 20 minutes.i was the happiest man on Earth. i never prayed so desperately before. later did i realise that few weeks back in a drama, i had told before Swami that our prayers must be so intense as that of a drowning man gasping for breath. He was nodding and smiling all the while. He knew i would be that drowning man on june 27th. i can't thank Swami enough for, i never deserved such blessings. but then, if he counted on deservedness, i wouldn't be a Sai student in the first place.