I AM INVOLVED............

I AM INVOLVED............Fatal fate stared at her for a moment in a car accident before she was miraculously saved by men who responded to an ‘anonymous’ call...a thrilling account by Muriel J Engle of Santa Barbara (from Sanathana Sarathi 1979)
Once again, my humble thanks to Baba for Life, for preservation, and for the miracle of close protection. A midnight return from visiting a friend brought me down mountain Drive, just up beyond the Mission in Santa Barbara, a very narrow road, a dark night and a light drizzle: An unyielding wall made of huge rocks rose sheer on my left, black limbo down the canyon on my right. The car was moving too fast; I geared down. Still too fast, approaching a spot known as "suicide curve". Not enough rain to wash off the slick, I noted. I touched the brakes, and the car skidded. Heavier braking, wheels seemed to lock, as if no brakes at all! I could not believe what was happening. Over the curb, and then time slowed as motion accelerated. Everything in me screamed, "No, No! No... Baba!"

The car lurched, skidded, banged, leaped, but did not roll over. A huge limb loomed, and I thought "decapitation." But the car slipped under and I heard the heavy branch and leaves brush roughly over the top. Another lurch into black abyss and light showed a great tree coming head on, but a slip to the left which smashed both doors on the driver's side veered the car slightly to the right to miss the tree and wedge me between the trunk and a large rock. I could hear glass crashing, but it blew out, not in. Just a few very small flying splinters struck my face, to make me aware of my good fortune, I guess, at no disfigurement. A sudden stop, motor still running, full tank of gas under the right side of hood—no explosion.

I turned off the motor; no lights. It was not quiet—all the noises of the night tuned loud and, below, the rush of Mission Creek, the boisterous frogs and the crickets. Gingerly, I moved arms, legs, body. I was shaking, but whole. The door on the driver's side swung out but I could not tell where I would drop if I stepped out, or whether I would dislodge the car, which now and then shuddered a little. In a quavering voice, I heard myself say aloud, "Oh, Baba, Baba, I can't handle this myself. What will you do with me?"

The dash clock said one or two minutes after midnight. I could not see any escape, in any direction; no mark where I come down the embankment, or how I could get out; no clue to where the road was which I had left so abruptly. The car was tipped uncomfortably to the left but slowly I reached for my personal things that had been thrown violently around the car, including my slippers which had apparently detached. I could not see or hear any signs of civilisation near me. There had been no other car on Mountain Drive when I went over the edge. I expected, then, to stay there until daylight.

The clock showed almost 12:20, when suddenly a powerful light beamed down from about 45° above me. I moved carefully to the right door, rolled down the window and called for help. I could hear male voices behind that big searchlight and when they had determined that I was alive and uninjured, they identified as police officers—told me the Fire Rescue Team was on the way. I watched the first man come down on a security chain, then three others followed. It took half an hour with a winch and four firemen to bring me up on a safety litter and when they stood me on my feet on the road, no one, including myself, could believe I was intact.

"How did you find me, or even know where or how to look for me?" I asked the officer bringing me home. "I got the radio call from the station at 12:11. Somebody must have called in." Because I was anxious to personally thank whoever reported the accident, the officer called his headquarters when we arrived at my home. Looking at me, he shook his head, with the telephone in hand, "An anonymous call," he said. "Man or woman? I asked. "Couldn't tell," and he hung up. "Why, would anyone make an anonymous call in a situation like this?" I queried. The Officer shrugged "Many don't want to get involved, I guess" I walked behind the officer to the door, then distinctly heard the words in my head, "I am involved.

"Baba, with all my heart I am grateful, and I thank you. I solemnly pray that for whatever reason you chose to save me, I will cooperate 100%.

Several times since, I have awakened re-living that terror—but the calm comes when, again, I hear the words, "I am involved.”

Power of Prayer!!!

THE POWER OF PRAYER – A devotee in the US was not financially well off..But he was an ardent devotee of Bhagavan. He earned a meager amount and saved a part of it every month and bought a flight ticket to Parthi. He kept it safely in his wallet. After a few days he went to a shopping mall and by the time he came out he realized he had lost his wallet. Someone had flicked from his pocket!
He was crest fallen..All his dreams of seeing Swami crashed miserably.....He only thought about the intense yearning with which he saved and bought the ticket...But his faith was like a mountain..It was unshakeable..He put his worry on Swami and then went to the police station..
The officer incharge at the lost and found cell heard his narration..The devotee said that he lost his wallet and it was very important to get back the wallet and had come there to lodge a complaint....
The officer laughed at him and said' In America if u lose a wallet u will never get it and it is a futile task to file a complaint for it ..!' This devotee was determined..He persuaded him to take the complaint telling that he had the full faith he will get back his wallet..The officer was amazed and shocked at his will power and eagerness to get back after all a wallet... He budged and ultimately took the complaint..
The devotee told him to inform him immediately as soon as he gets any wallet so that he can come over and check it if it was his..
And left..after a week he called up the officer and enquired... The officer laughed at hope...and told him he had not recieved any wallet..After two weeks the devotee called up and again he faced the same reply from the officer...
But he did not give up he kept on praying and after three weeks called up and this time also he heard the same thing from the officer...
After four weeks...the officer called up the devotee!!!
The devotee went to the police station..and met the officer..He was having a wallet in his hand and waiting for the devotee..to come..As the devotee reached the table..The officer verified whether it was his...The devotee was ecstatic..he had no words to express his thanks to Swami...as he had prayed daily ardently to Swami..Now the officer..asked him what was so important in the wallet that he was diligently, patiently and sincerely waiting for it to be found..
The devotee told him that in that was a ticket to puttaparthi..For which he was so worried...as he was yearning to see Swami. Pat came the next question. Who is the person whom u want to go all the way to India and see? The devotee said 'he is my spiritual guru'..Not satisfied yet contended...he gave the wallet back to the devotee..
Before that he opened the wallet and asked 'who is this?' The devotee smiled and said 'he is only Sathya Sai Baba whom i am going to see in Puttaparthi!' The officer quiped and remarked..'why do you need to go to Puttaparthi for that!!!!!!"
The devotee was perplexed...he asked 'what do you mean to say sir?'
The officer told 'This person Himself walked in a few minutes back and handed over the wallet to me and told to inform you and left just now.................!!!!'
The devotee had only tears of gratitude flowing down his cheeks like a child he felt loved... That is Swami's Grace and Blessings.

Golden Words

 

When you said "Yes" to Me you gave up the right to be like everyone else. That is why you draw experiences to yourself that will cleanse yourself of that which  does not fit who you are. Over, and over, again, and again until I make you see that the past no longer works. I challenge you and tempt you every day with your past, so that you may see that the past is ultimate delusion. When you said "Yes" to Me you gave Me your body, your thoughts, your actions. When they don't suit the new you, the uncomfortableness is unbearable. It is so EVERY time until you realise this fully; then and only then will you completely give up desire. For this is the only way man will learn. Very seldom does he learn by quiet reminders. Man's desires and pitfalls are placed there so that I may do my work. When you give up totally, then the temptations will fade. I will never give up on you. Every slip will become harder to bear and less easy to remedy.

You will tire of your foolishness because I love you and whether or not completely aware of it, you did say "Yes".

- Sathya Sai Baba

Bhagawan's COMMANDMENTS OF THE TONGUE

1. THOU SHALT NOT GOSSIP
Before any story whispered in the ear is passed on, if it must, it should be treated as the apples for a pie ... first peeled, then quartered, and cored, then what remains ... liberally sugared.

The first step in the Sadhana is the cleansing of the speech. Most misunderstandings and factions arise out of carelessly spoken words. When the foot slips, the wound can be healed; but when the tongue slips, the wound it causes in the heart of another will fester for life.
(Swami, SSS. Vol.1 p. 62)

2. THOU SHALT NOT USE A MULTITUDE OF EMPTY WORDS
Your tongue reveals the nature of your thinking and your character. The Lord Himself admonishes the children of men to "let your admonishes be yes, yes, no, no, for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil."
As far as possible, avoid causing harm or pain to others. As you sow, so you reap. Whenever you feel disturbed by a sense of anger, envy, pride, jealousy and the like, become alert and resort to the contemplation of the Lord. Practice silence. That will save you from squabbles, frittering thoughts and faction.
(Swami, SSS, Vol II P. 34 - 36)

3. THOU SHALT NOT BOAST
A small man makes long, loud boasting in order to centre the spotlight of attention on himself; the great man works quietly, Silently polishing the beacon that it may guide the ship safely into the desired haven.
Do not boast of your scholarship or attainments. Those who conquer states and earn fame in the world are hailed as heroes, no doubt; but those who have conquered the senses are heroes who must be acclaimed as the conquerors of the Universe. Be humble, eager to serve; conserve your speech.
(Swami, Sathya Sai Speaks Vol II p.34-36)

4. THOU SHALT NOT FLATTER
The less you talk, the more will become your mental power. With the increase in your mental capacity, there will be increase in your power of discrimination too. Consequently, you will give up "individual discrimination". Because of this, you will begin to consider the good of the world at large rather than your own individual welfare. You must cultivate such broad feelings from this young age itself.
(Swami , Divine Discourse. Brindavan, 24 May, 1992)

5. THOU SHALT NOT GRUMBLE
Do not thrust your sorrows, your needs, your problems into the ears of those who have come here with their own bundle of such things. They are not interested in adding to their troubles. I am here to listen to you, to console you.
Do not by loudness of voice disturb those who are meditating or reading or writing the Name of God.
(Swami, SSS. Vol. 3 p. 9)

6. THOU SHALT NOT BACKBITE OR SLANDER
Instead of searching for others' faults, search for your own faults yourself; uproot them, throw them off. It is enough if you search and discover one fault of yours; that is better than discovering tens of hundreds of faults in others. Practice the vocabulary of love; unlearn the language of hate and contempt.
(From Swami's Discourse on 4.10.1991)

7. THOU SHALT NOT MOCK OR MAKE FUN
Practice moderation in speech. That will help you in many ways. It will develop Prema, for most misunderstandings and factions arise out of carelessly spoken words.
Do not pretend or patronise. The mischief-mongering tendency should be plucked out by the roots and thrown off. If allowed to exist, it will undermine life itself.
( From Swami's Discourse to Students on January'15th' 1989.

8. THOU SHALT NOT LIE
There are three rules to be observed in promoting collective action. ‘Sathyam bruyaath ˜Speak the truth ˜Priyam bruyaath. ˜Speak what is pleasant. ˜Na bruyaath Sathyam apriyan.˜Never speak what is true but not pleasing
From the ethical point of view you have to speak the truth. In the context of worldly life, you have to speak what is pleasing. From the spiritual point of view you have to avoid what is not pleasing even if it is true. The Gita also teaches that one should not utter words that cause excitement, but speak the truth which is both pleasing and wholesome.
From Swami's Divine Discourse on 20.11.95 ( 6th World Conference )