From Disability to Ability

The Omnipresent One cares for you in your absence as much as He enthralls you in your presence. One such account by a student of Bhagawan's University sheds light on the affection par excellence of the Divine Mother. Read on for an account by Sri P.S. Priya Chakravarthi, an alumnus of Sathya Sai University as published in Fragrance - A Tale of Love, souvenir brought out by the School of Business Management - Accounts and Finance, Sri Sathya Sai University.

From Disability to Ability

It was during Dasera in 1995, just after my B.Sc. (Honours) Course, in the Brindavan campus of SSSIHL. All the Brindavan boys who stayed back for the vacation were accommodated in the old Hostel located near the Mandir. As usual, the students used to rush inside the Mandir and were often selective about their sitting locations. I used to have a particular seat where I sat for Swami’s Darshan. May be it was my perception, but Swami appeared to avoid looking in the direction where I used to sit.

One day during Darshan, observing my vacant seat, Swami enquired about my absence from my brother (Vamsi, MBA 1995-97) and asked him where I was. My brother was perplexed and he feared that I was absconding from Darshan with no valid reason. Once the Darshan got over and Swami went inside the interview room with a few devotees, my brother immediately rushed to the old Hostel where I was sleeping. He approached me with anger but seeing me, his anger melted down. He saw me in lot of pain and my face wet with sweat. I was finding it difficult to even sit down on my bed. I was struggling with excruciating pain at the right lower side, but I had not mentioned about this to anyone.

He immediately went back to the Mandir and Swami again approached him and asked him as to where Chakravarthy was. My brother promptly replied that I was in agony and was experiencing unbearable pain. This shows the Omnipresence of Swami. Bhagawan exhibits His Love for all His beings where ever they are, immaterial of whether they are present physically in front of Him or not.

Swami smiled at him and immediately calling a doctor, told him to take me to the Super Speciality Hospital. He also directed my brother to accompany me. I was transported to the Hospital and was given medical attention. In the evening Swami again called my brother and the doctor, materialised Vibuthi and gave money to buy tender coconuts to be given to me with instructions that the Vibuthi should be applied externally at the place where the pain occurred. It reached me by evening. This act of Grace repeated for 3 days (Swami materialising Vibuthi, giving money to buy tender coconuts to be given to me)!  The 3rd day, Swami instructed that the Vibuthi should be taken with water.

Then came the D-day, when the senior surgeon recommended that I should be operated upon immediately. I was in a dilemma and could not accept the fact that I was suffering from appendicitis. But the situation demanded surgery and I had no choice. Prior to my operation, I wanted to have Swami’s Darshan and possibly, a chance to talk to Him about my operation (shows my ignorance!). I was permitted for Darshan and was sitting in the front line, mainly to catch the attention of Swami. As usual Swami was busy and He was distributing Prasadam. I was not making any attempt to talk to Him as He was very busy, but the doctor on the verandah began insisting that I should take a chance to talk to Swami. Then, by Swami’s Sankalpa I got a chance to talk to Him. I told Swami, “The doctor says I need to be operated; I need your Grace and Blessings”. Swami gave a stern look and He moved away from me without saying a single wor d. This gave me a shiver that chilled my bones! I was baffled and scared.

My operation was scheduled for the next morning and the doctor administered some medicines. He advised his team to do an initial scan on me to get more clarity about my ailment. But lo and behold! When the reports of the scan arrived, the protrusion of the appendix was literally not visible! The team wrestled with the machine but it always showed a negative report for the protrusion. I was brought back to my ward. The senior doctor was astonished, but was ready to accept this as an instance of the Omnipotence of Swami. I was discharged in a day and I went for Darshan. This time Swami gave me a smile and moved on silently!

This is just one of the many incidents showing His Omnipresence, Omnipotence and Omniscience.

Train service to Sri Satya Sai Prasanti Nilayam

CHENNAI: Southern Railway will introduce a direct train service to Sri Satya Sai Prasanti Nilayam from Chennai Central by extending trains (2691/2692) Chennai Central-Bangalore weekend expresses.

The inaugural service will be flagged off by Minister of State for Railways R.Velu on December 7 at the Sri Satya Sai Prasanti Nilayam railway station. Regular  service will commence on December 12 from Chennai Central and December 14 from Sri Satya Sai Prasanti Nilayam.

The train will leave Chennai Central at 11.30 p.m. on Fridays and reach Sri Satya Sai Prasanti Nilayam at 10.20 a.m. the next day.

It will leave Sri Satya Sai Prasanti Nilayam at 7.10 p.m. on Sundays and arrive at Chennai Central at 5.15 a.m., according to a Southern Railway release. — Special Correspondent

Source: The Hindu

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BHAGAWAN !!!

"The day when you resolve to practise My advice; to follow my directives, to translate My message into acts of service, and to engage in spiritual discipline-that day is My birthday for you. The 23rd of November which you now honor as the day on which I was born, is only like any other day, even if you celebrate it in a routine, ritual fashion. Adore man: the adoration reaches Me. Neglect man; you neglect Me. Of what avail is it to worship the Lord and to suppress man, His counterpart on earth? Love for God must be manifested as Love for man, and Love must express itself as service."

SAHASRA POORNA CHANDRA DARSHANA SHANTI MAHOTSAVAM - GOLDEN CHARIOT

VIDEO : http://sssbpt.org/Pages/83-birthday/videos.htm

When the almighty Lord decided to script His own story for a descend down to planet earth, He had everything fell in place and in that was written in gold – 17th November 2008, and the day was indeed golden.

Inducing nostalgic memoirs of the epochal scene way back in 1997, Prasanthi witnessed yet another grand spectacle, Golden Chariot Procession coinciding with the grand finale of the three day long Sahasra Poornachandra Darshana Mahotsavam.

The atmosphere around was electrifying as thousands of hearts and minds woke up to a morning that promised much, with greater expectation of beholding yet another Divine Sport!

As time ticked to the scheduled hour, it was expectation in the air with greater enthusiasm, as all eyes ready to gaze on the Lord of thousand moons coming in a regal procession on the golden chariot.  Adding to this expectancy came through the mike mellifluous poetic rendering by Madugula Nagaphani Sharma who rendered the air that was intermittently translated by Prof. Anil Kumar, boosting the air of expectancy.  The tempo was further enhanced with the song Sarvam Sai Mayam Jagamantha Sai that was followed by yet another audio on Sai Mahatmyam.

Surya Koti Samaprabha the brilliance of one crore (10 million) suns. As said in the Sloka (verse) Vakrutanda Mahakaya Surya Koti Samaprabha …Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba shone with the brilliance of millions of suns when He entered the stadium at 9.40 a.m. in a glowing yellow robe sitting majestically on the brilliant Suvarna Ratham (golden chariot). It was a sight to behold for everyone, not only for the mortals, but also for the gods of the highest heavens. An attempt to describe such a sight as the brilliance of millions of suns only shows our shallowness, it defies all descriptions.

As Bhagawan ascended the golden chariot and came in the procession towards the Shanti Vedhi, filling the hearts of one and all with Divine ecstasy, a welcome song, sung Shankar Mahadevan, playback singer of fame, describing the Lord’s glory and grandeur rendered the air giving a fillip to the already charged atmosphere.Bhagawan was heralded into the Hill View Stadium in a long procession consisting of two huge elephants, Institute Brass Band playing sonorous tunes, Bhagawan’s beloved elephant Sathya Geeta and a big contingent of about 150 Veda chanting students in ochre dhotis and angavastrams. As Bhagawan neared the Yajna Vedika, like the previous two days of the Yajna, there was a booming display of pyrotechnics.

Upon entering the Yajna Vedhi after a 20 mts. chariot ride, Bhagawan was traditionally and religiously welcomed with Poornakumbham by family members and senior devotees. 

Earlier the proceedings for the final day began at 6:30 a.m. with ganapathi pooja and special sankalpa for the homam. Rithwicks in groups gathered around the 10 homa kundas offering ghee and boiled rice with the accompaniment of vedic chanting, that went on for almost 2 hours.

After Bhagawan entered the Yajna Vedika, this being the concluding day, 17th November 2008, Lakshminarayana Poornahuti was performed for the Yajna. The priests chanted sacred Vedic Mantras in unison, Veda chanting students chanted Sri Rudra Prasna, Purusha Suktam, Sri Suktam and Durga Suktam as Bhagawan was giving Darshan to devotees from the Vedika. He went to each side of the Vedika to bless the vast multitudes of devotees with His Darshan. One could see a huge concourse of devotees literally filling every inch of space in the stadium. Precious materials were offered in each of the 10 Yajna Kundas. Bhagawan blessed them before they were offered in the Yajna Kunda. Final offerings were done in each of the Yajna Kundas with ghee (clarified butter) and fruits.

There was a wide array of Mathadipathis (heads of Maths) from different Maths of India. These luminaries are the heads of prominent Maths in India. They had come to grace this auspicious function by their presence and also shared the dais with Bhagawan. They were: Sri Sri Sri Dr. Shivakumara Swamigalu, Head of Sri Siddaganga Math, Tumkur is a nonagenarian and also spoke a few words on this occasion, Sri Jagadguru Madhwacharya Mahasamsthana Pejawara Mathadeesha H.H. Sri Vishwesha Tirtha, Sri Sri Sri 1008 Sri Sushameendra Thirtha  Sri Padulavaru, Sri Jagadguru Kanchi Kamakoti Peetadhipathi Sri Jayendra Saraswathi Swamigal, Jagadguru Sri Shivarathri Deshikendra Mahaswamiji, Suttur Math, Sri Sri Rangapriya Mahadesika Sri Sri and Sri Sakthiamma, Sripuruam, Golden Temple, Sri Narayani Pitham. Pujya Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji graced this occasion on 16th November. Sri Vilasrao Deshmukh, Chief Minister of Maharashtra also shared the dais with Bhagawan and sought His blessings. This most auspicious and holy function concluded with Jaikars – Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba Ki Jai and offer of Arati to Bhagawan at 11.00 a.m.

After the Poornahuthi, Bhagawan appeared at the front of the Vedika followed by distinguished guests who arrayed on either side of Bhagawan granting a rare spectacle for the multitudes gathered all over the stadium. For the devotees who have been waiting from early hours it was indeed a sight to behold with the yellow clad Lord of thousand moons granting darshan on the most auspicious day. Adding fervour to the grand spectacle came the helicopter drizzling holy water blessing the multitudes from heaven followed by a shower of hues (confetti) rejoicing the grandeur and beauty of this earthly carnival. It was indeed a golden day to rejoice!!!

God and the Ice Cream

One day many years ago, Swami distributed ice cream to the boys. The brand name was JOY ice cream, and it was gifted by a devotee who owned the company. While boys were enjoying the ice cream, Baba went round as usual, asking the boys how they liked the ice cream. And then suddenly He asked a boy, "Boy what do you think God is like?" The boy was taken aback. He was fully immersed in enjoying ice cream, and God was, at least at that moment, far from his mind! Swami asked another boy the same question, and he too blinked. After drawing a blank response a few more times, Swami smiled and slowly said,"God is SWEET like ice cream!" The boys became attentive. Swami continued, "God is SOFT like ice cream!" By now, the boys had stopped eating, while Swami went on, "God is COOL like ice cream!" And then the punch line: "He gives JOY like ice cream!"
What a delightful play on words! Sage Ramakrishna Paramahamsa once declared, "God alone can make complicated things simple, so simple in fact that even a child can understand." How very true!

Wielding the Ultimate Weapon of Conquest: Love

It was the worst nightmare anyone midair could ever go through. With the most menacing looking hijackers staring down at them, the horrified and helpless hostages watched the macabre dance of their imminent end being played out right before their very eyes. Armed to the teeth, the hijackers had strewn broken liquor and perfume bottles along the aisles to ensure that when they did light the fire, the plane would burn brilliantly. Meanwhile, they were running out of fuel and had been denied landing at any of the European cities the flight was hovering over.

The hijackers had originally hoped to land in Athens, Greece. They were seeking the release of two of their compatriots imprisoned there for a former similar misadventure. Their ultimatum to the passengers hardly required any translation from Arabic to English. Their intent was clear enough. With their original plan thwarted, they planned to blow up the planeload of passengers over the North Sea.

The year was 1975 and caught in the thick of this horrifying episode were the American couple, Mr. Sidney Krystal, a prominent Los Angeles attorney, and his wife, Mrs. Phyllis Krystal, a psychotherapist. The Krystals were returning home from India, after a visit to Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba.

Reliving that dreadful moment, Mrs. Phyllis Krystal, now 95, recalls, “One of the hijackers was smoking a cigarette which was hanging out of his mouth. Sydney, being a lawyer, said, ‘We know he is going to blow up the plane here if that cigarette drops on any of this ammunition…. Now, you know, we have had a very good and a long life together…. You are going to have to understand that you will not survive, and you will not see your daughters again.’ And then out of my mouth came the most astonishing sentence. I said, ‘Don’t be so foolish! We are going to survive.’ And I don’t know where that came from.

“I then remembered Baba’s room when we were at Dharmakshetra, [Baba’s residence in Mumbai] So, instantly I visualized it again, and really concentrated on that room and started to say in my very excited English accent, ‘Baba! Baba! Baba! Please help!’

“And the next moment the most astonishing thing came into my mind. It was as if His voice was clearly heard. He said, ‘Send love to them.’
“And I remember saying, ‘Are You crazy? Have you looked at their faces? Have you seen that they want to kill us and you expect me to send love to them?’ And the next thing that came to my mind, which was again very clear, was that I should be able to send His Love because only Sai Baba could see the God even in the hijackers.

“I started to visualize Baba in His room in Dharmakshetra. I was breathing in His Love so consciously as I had never done before, and then I just directed it to the hijackers. As I did it, they got more, and more, and more nervous. They were trembling, they dropped the ammunition. One man dropped the cigarette and immediately put it out.”

Through the force of this invisible energy that Phyllis Krystal was transmitting to the hijackers, the situation on the troubled flight began to change dramatically. The evil doers appeared visibly weakened in their resolve. Confessing her own shock at the effectiveness of the simple guidance she had received, she said, “I was so astonished! I was doing what I was told to do, but I suppose I didn’t realize that it would really work! And so, I was really quite surprised. But it was immediate! The one that was smoking started to tremble.

“Oh, and I forgot to tell you! He cut his wrist on one of the bottles! And then took a handkerchief and wound it around. And they really began to get extremely jittery and they were looking around wondering whatever was making them nervous and where it was coming from… the entire atmosphere was changing rapidly. Thank God, they didn’t suspect me!”
After hours of undergoing the horrific ordeal, the plane was allowed to land at Amsterdam and all the passengers had to slide down the emergency chute for their dear lives, leaving behind all their belongings, including passports, shoes and jackets. Within minutes, the hijackers set the plane ablaze. They were arrested shortly thereafter.

Later the same year, when Phyllis and Sidney Krystal were back in India to see Bhagavan Baba, He confirmed His direct intervention in the situation. Phyllis explained, “As soon as we got there, Swami came to us and I started to thank Him. And He interrupted me saying, ‘Yes, I heard you.’

"And He mimicked my voice in a very English accent which, as my children always tell me, comes out very strongly when I was angry or excited or frightened. It was hysterical and we laughed so much because Baba mimicking an English accent was really very sweet! He invited us for lunch and then gave us a very quick interview.

"And when we were with him, He explained what had happened: From what I understood, the most important thing He said was that the entire plane loaded with people was saved because the plane was filled with His Love.”

-- Mrs. Phyllis Krystal, one of the hostages of the 1975 hijacking

SCINTILLATING MOMENTS WITH SAI

Here are a few excerpts of Prof. Anil Kumar’s talk delivered in the Divine Presence on the 13th july 2004.

“You Should Know That I Know”

These were the days when I was there in Brindavan quite fresh to the Sai system of education and the campus as well. (Prof. Anil Kumar had newly joined the Brindavan campus as the Principal of the college).

One Sunday Bhagavan drove straight to the campus about 8 am. Luckily I was there, even though usually we would take rest on Sundays but I congratulated my stars that they had driven me to be present on that day most unexpectedly.

At that time there was a gentleman named Col. Sood from Punjab who, along with 18 associates, was working in the garden. Well I did not know who they were but someone told me that they do the work regularly.

Bhagavan got down from the car and asked me who are those men. I replied that I did not know. Bhagavan immediately said 'Can anybody step into the college like that and do work without your permission?' (Prof. Anil Kumar being the Principal).
What am I to do? But then I wanted to be smart and said 'Bhagavan shall I ask them to get out?' Bhagavan replied, 'Since you did not ask them to come in, how can you ask them to go?' I was stuck in between 'to be or not to be that is the question'. Swami smiled and left.

Then I thought it is my duty to keep myself abreast of the situation. I slowly approached Col. Sood and did some homework: who he was and his associates. I became familiar with all the data: so and so from Kerala, another from Tamil Nadu, etc.

Bhagavan again came to the college campus at 4 pm . Without being called to come close I ran up to Bhagavan and started to exhibit my knowledge. So and so is Col Sood, so and so from Kerala, so and so from Tamil Nadu.
Swami heard this and I thought that He appreciated my knowledge. Swami walked to Col. Sood and materialised a big ring for him. He then enquired about his son and daughter saying that she must be in her final year of medicine and that his son is in Patilia… He went on talking like this.
I was really non-plussed at that moment. I went up to Bhagavan and said 'Swami, when You know him and everybody very well, why did You ask me about them? Why did You listen to all this information from me?

Swami's reply is the message that we should take note of. He said,

"I know everything but you should know that I know - therefore I ask you."

Anything Can Happen At Anytime

Another experience that I wish to share with you happened in Kodai Kanal. We were all seated at the breakfast table and by my side was one gentleman by name Mohan Das. A very good gentleman of my age group and both of us usually sit together. Swami walked slowly up to us and said 'What is the breakfast?' Then I replied, 'Swami, poori and idli.'

'Oh I see' said Swami, 'good, good' and looked at the plate.

Then Swami came close to Mohan Das and picked up one poori saying, 'It is well done' and tore it at the centre. A diamond ring appeared there! Swami put it on Mohan Das' finger!

Watching all this I started to eat slowly. Bhagavan asked me why I was eating slowly? I replied,

'Swami who knows there may be a diamond ring in my poori also. I want to be extra careful so that it does not get stuck in my gullet by accident!'

Baba reposted, 'I am not going to give - ask your mother-in-law. '

So I saw the materialisation out of a poori ! Anything can happen at anytime

He Can Never Forget You

I remember Bhagavan attending a music concert in Choudaiah Memorial Hall in Bangalore . A very good music programme attended by the Chief Minister of Karnataka, the Chief Commissioner, the Railways Minister and Bhagavan presided over the whole programme.

At the end of the programme while Bhagavan was leaving the auditorium I saw an old couple who must have been in their 90's at the back of the hall. Swami went all the way there, took the old man's hand and asked him how he was. Swami blessed the couple and then left.

I was very much surprised at this but later I came to know that he had been the Electricity Board chairman and also an ardent devote of Bhagavan for a long time.

This only goes to prove that Bhagavan will never forget us. We may find it difficult to walk because of age, we may find it difficult to hear but Bhagavan always remembers everybody.

Long back in the 1980's a yagna was taking place in the Poornachandra auditorium. Next to me sat a man called Rajagopal, a revenue inspector from Venkatagiri. He told me that he had visited Prashanti Nilayam many years ago but he is returning now after 20 years. He related that Swami would visit Venkatagiri every year and sang some of the songs that Swami used to sing.

Around 9 am Swami started walking in the midst of the devotees, came straight to Rajagopal and said, 'Rajagopal, how are you?' This man was shocked! Swami remembered him after 20 years! And then Swami looked deep into his eyes and said,

'You might have forgotten Swami but Swami has not forgotten you.'

Swami remembers every one of you.

Now this is My car

Once a man brought a brand new car and asked Swami to accept it. Swami said that He did not want it. The man started crying but Swami replied,

"If I accept all the cars offered and they are all piled one on top of the other there will be no space to walk. So I do not want it.'
Then Swami gave him an interview but still the man was crying in the interview for Swami to accept the car. Bhagavan said, 'Alright, where are the keys?"

Swami took the keys saying,

Now this is my car. You run the car in My name; the car belongs to Me. You use it, you understand.'
He gave him back the keys.

Bhagawan on Namasmarana

The name of God is the most effective tonic; it will keep off all illness. Do not indulge in Namasmarana as a pastime, or a fashion or passing phase or as an unpleasant part of an imposed timetable or as a bitter quota to be fulfilled each day. Think it as a Sadhana to be seriously taken up for the purpose of reducing your attachments of fleeting objects, purifying and strengthening you and liberating you from the cycle of birth and death. Hold fast to it as the means of rescuing yourself in every way from the bonds of time and change. It has to become as much as a must, as breathing, as welcome to the tongue as sugar; as essential for happy living as sleep or food or water. Rise every day with the thought of God; go back to bed with the thought of His Glory as enshrined in His Name. Have faith in His Name and repeat it whenever you get the chance.

Quotable Quotes.......

Talk less, Sensibly.

Face challenges. You know that god will not let you down.

Have higher goals, but not too self-interested.

Seriousness is not the sign of spirituality. It is the sign of a sick man.

Have a WATCH on your mind...............

W - Watch your Words

A - Watch your Actions

T - Watch your Thoughts

C - Watch your Character

H - Watch your Heart

Remember the good that others did to you and forget the good you did to them;

Remember the harm you did to others and forget the harm they did to you.

Do not act immediately on your thoughts. use your intellect - think for sometime before you act.

Faith is the first sep to the grace of god.

When you do something less than your capacity, remember it is theft.

To evoke the divine in you, there is no better method than NAMASMARANA.

Love is like a lamp. Share it with a million, it will still be as bright as it was alone.

Life is simple - stupidities makes it complex.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

When you do your duty, God will reward you in more ways than you expect

By Mrs. Geeta Mohan Ram

There is another incident, which conveys how Swami teaches us simple things in beautiful ways. When I was a young girl in Brindavan we were given some jobs, as there was no Sevadal gardener and cook.

Everything was done by us. So my job was to set up the altar in Swami's bungalow and I used to come only once a week since I had school on other days. That particular weekend I did not want to go because MS Subbulakshmi (a very famous classical vocalist) was giving a concert in Bangalore - Swami is always there, but MS comes only once a while!

But my parents were very strict and committed to Swami. They said, "Once you are committed to Swami you should do the work."

Then I said "Why can't you do it for today?"

Then my parents replied that I should have informed Swami last week. Then I requested for half the concert. Mother said that we can come back after Swami's Bhajan. Then I grumbled, "Swami sits and goes on answering questions after Bhajan and He will take an hour."

Everyone was doing their job but I had a long face. Swami was moving around the house and He looked at me, saying "Hey 'castor oil face', what is wrong with you, why are you banging my pictures? What happened, an argument with mother?"

"Swami, today there is a concert by MS Subbulakshmi in Bangalore."

Then Swami said, "She is a great singer isn't she? Then why did you not go?"

"Swami, my mother told me I have to do my duty first."
Swami replied, "She could have cleaned the altar. At least she should have done that much. OK, you can go a little late, but if I start speaking afterBhajans then you will be late." So Swami was speaking of all that I had told my mother!!!

Then Swami said, "Today I will not speak afterBhajans - you all go for the programme." I was thrilled.

Bhajans started and Swami was also singing. After sometime Swami asked everybody to wait and that He would come back. Five minutes later Swami walks in with MS Subbulakshmi! !! (See photo)

We were all shocked and Swami said, "Subbulakshmi, didn't you have a concert today in Bangalore?"

"No Swami," she replied, "There was a misprint in the newspaper, it's tomorrow."

Swami told her "See that young girl sitting there; she loves your music so much."

He then gave her a list of songs which I like and asked her to sing those songs. She was a very good devotee of Swami and with all devotion she gave a private concert to the Lord. Then Swami called me and said "See when you do your duty, God will reward you in more ways than you expect. You heard the concert today; you can go to the concert tomorrow as well."

Wonderful Day Today - Namasmarana!!!

Namasmarana - The Easy Path

Devotee: "If we want to be with You always, what should we do?"
Swami: "Namasmarana, Namasmarana! It can be achieved only by chanting God's Name. Wherever Bhakthi dwells, God resides there".
Devotee: "Please show householders, an easy Divine Path".
Swami: "Whatever you are doing now is enough. Namasmarana alone is enough. If you come again and stand before Me, I will say the same thing over and over again. If I scold you, accept it. It is also good for you".
"Let the mind wander as it likes. o Namasmarana. It is like placing the pot of water on fire for boiling. The fire of Namasmarana eliminates all the impurities in mind and it becomes pure. That is the SECRET".
"The fire called Namasmarana will burn away your Karma. Butter does not melt until heated. Swami is as soft as butter. Ammayi, this butter (showing Himself) is melting under the heat of your Namasmarana. That is why you are getting opportunity to have Samipya, Sparshan and Sambashan".

-----------------

                           "The NAME or GOD is most effective tonic; it will keep of all illness. Do not indulge (take pleasure freely) Namasmarana (chanting god's name) as a pastime or fashion or a passing phase or as the unpleasant part of an imposed timetable or as a bitter quota to be fulfilled each day. Think of it as a Sadhana (practice ) to be seriously taken up for the purpose of reducing your attachments to fleeting (brief) objects, purifying and strengthening you and liberating (set free) you from the cycle of birth and death, hold fast to it as the means of rescuing yourself in every way, from the bonds of time and change."

------------------

                          "One who chants Rama's name and has the vision of HIS divine form will not be born again. There is no amruta (drinking it, you have no birth) greater than Rama's name. Spread the glory of Rama's name in every nook and corner of the world. You can chant any name of your choice Rama, Krishna, Govinda, Shiva etc. Only the divine name can grant you peace and happiness. Never forget the divine name, wherever you are and under any circumstances."

Marriage Truly Made In Heaven

By Mrs. Geeta Mohan Ram

Time passed and I finished my early education and wanted to do a Masters program. And when I asked Swami, He just joked and said: “No MSC…MRS!”

Then He told me to do a Montessori program and as is in many families in India, I had just finished my Bachelors in Science and many family friends and relatives would suggest many alliances to my parents to get me married off, so to speak!

Even Swami was all the time asking my parents: “When are you going to get Geeta married?” And I would always say: “I didn’t want to marry anyone unless they are a family of Sai devotees.” One day, when Swami had come to our house, He asked me the same question: “Why are you saying ‘No’ to whoever they suggest to you?” I said: “I only want to marry a Sai devotee, Swami!

Otherwise I am fine you know, I will be the way I am!” To that Swami said: “Well, then okay, what if I tell you to marry a lame man or a blind man? What would you do then?” I replied: “That would be fine as long as he is a Sai devotee - if you told me to marry him and I presume that you would have my best interest at heart, and you know that I would do it!” Then He said: “Okay, since you said that, then I promise you that I will get you married only to a Sai devotee.”

Then I said: “Well, I have one more condition and that is I want to live in Bangalore.” (When He is in a good mood, you know, why not put in a few things!) He said: “Alright!” And that conversation ended!

After some time, a letter came from my aunt who lived in Delhi who wrote: “We know a family here in Delhi who are Sai devotees, and their son is in Bangalore. If you want, I will find out more about the family and the boy.”

My father said: “Well, I am going to ask Swami about this.” So, we went to Whitefield that day - it was a Thursday - and my father in the car said: “I am going to ask Swami about this, and so is it okay with you?” So I told my father: “Since I am the person who’s getting married, I think He should be telling me and not you!”

My father got angry with me, and said: “You are turning out to be a real brat! Swami has no time to come and sit and discuss all of this with you! There are hundreds of people waiting in the darshan line to see Him! Secondly, marriage isn’t an issue that He will come and discuss with the youngster - with the person He is supposed to! He would discuss the issue with the parents as per the tradition; not with the girl who is going to get married! So He doesn’t have time to come and listen to all this!”

So I replied, rather upset, “Well, you know, how Swami manages His time is not my problem really! He is God; He should know how to manage it better! I am very limited! He is not!”

My father got angrier and arrived in Brindavan in a bad mood and my mother said: “You guys are starting this whole thing off on such a negative note! It’s never going to happen!”
It was raining heavily and that day Swami decided to give darshan in the car, because there were so many people waiting, and He didn’t want to disappoint them! He came out and stopped under the Sai Ram shed. Next, He got out and called us across.

As soon as we went close by - I can never forget this scene - He caught hold of my ear, you know - like I was a little child! And He said: “Ah! How I manage My own time is My business! I am God! I should learn better!” He repeated the whole conversation that had happened in the car! And then, even before my father could open his mouth, He said: “I know the letter came from Sunanda, your sister. You go back now to Bangalore - back to home. You call the boy’s parents and ask them to come.” (They were in Delhi ) “Ask them to come on Monday, and I’ll settle the marriage on Monday!”

My father said: “But Swami, I don’t know these people! I don’t know who they are! She still has to find out!” So Swami said: “You don’t know who they are! But I know who they are! You just go and call them!”

My poor father! The things that he’s had to do! So we come back to Bangalore, and he calls his sister and says: “You know, this is what Swami said.” And all the way back home, I get a lot of scolding from my father, “All because of your stubbornness! Look at this stuff! I don’t even know who this person is! I am going to call him up and say Swami asked me! Swami said: ‘Your son is supposed to marry my daughter!’ Who’s going to believe it?”

“We know they are Sai devotees, but we don’t know how long they have been Sai devotees – or whether this was an acceptable thing for them.” And I was actually laughing because I thought - well, you know, this isn’t going to happen - they are going to say “No”. I am happy that I am going to stay this way!

So father calls my aunt and she is shocked! She says: “I just know these people as acquaintances in the bhajan! I just can’t call them and say: ‘Swami said to marry my niece’, you know! How am I going to?” My father said: “Well, you call them and tell them whatever little you can, and then I’ll call them after that!”

So he calls them finally. And they are totally flabbergasted! They had never once spoken to Swami; they had never had any interview in their life. They were devotees who come to the bhajans, who had come to know about Swami by reading books and attending bhajans.

My husband’s father, Dr. Murthy, said: “Well, that’s all very nice. But you know, our son lives in Bangalore. We have to ask him! We’ll call him and then call you back, maybe in an hour’s time.”

So, they called us back. And they were even more shocked! Because when they called him and asked him, he said: “Well, if that’s what Swami said, I will marry her!” I think they were more shocked by what Swami had said! They said: “Okay.” Then my father said: “Swami has asked you to come here on Monday to see you all.” They said they will try and take a flight on Sunday.

On Friday, we go in the morning for darshan. Swami immediately comes to my mother and says: “So did you contact them? What did they say?” My mother said: “They said they will come on Sunday, Swami. We’ve talked to them. But, we have a problem! There’s a balvikas refreshers camp in Mangalore (which is about 200 miles from Bangalore!) she is one of the speakers.” We had to go in an overnight bus for the refresher camp and we were all supposed to come back that Monday morning.

So Swami was very sweet! He said: “You go!” to my mother, “But you give Geeta’s topic to someone else - one of the other teachers. Let Geeta stay back.” And the nice explanation He had for canceling my talk was: “If she comes in the overnight bus she will look very tired when the boy sees her on Monday morning!” So He was protecting my looks and everything! What can I say?

On Monday, the family arrived from Delhi. We don’t know how they look and they don’t know how we look - we’ve never met them! My father left a message with the seva-dal volunteer saying that: “If a gentleman announces himself as Dr. Murthy, send him over to the interview room.” As soon as they arrived, we gathered in front of the interview room and Swami called us in.

My in-laws had never, ever spoken to Swami at all! They had become devotees in the early 70’s; they had attended bhajans - my mother-in-law is a very good singer; she liked music, and that’s how they got into it. My husband had never spoken to Swami! And as soon as they walked in, Swami introduced them to my father.

And He narrated everything that my father-in-law had ever done in his profession till that day! Where he had worked, how many years he had worked as a professor in IIT, how many years he had started his company; everything! My father-in-law, an intellectual man with a Ph.D, just stood there with his jaws open! And Swami was just narrating everything - which village he was born - everything!

  And then, He introduced my father and stated: “You know, Padmanabhan came to Me when he was a young man. I gave Geeta her name and she is like My daughter and I brought her up.”

And He gave all this beautiful introduction, playing the mediator between the two families. And then He asked them: “Are you all willing for this marriage? If so, we will talk about it!”

Then He called me and said: “You come with Me” and took me for a little walk down a path next to Trayee Brindavan. And I cannot forget the loving conversation we had that day.

He said: “Look! I know, you’ve said that you always wanted to marry a Sai devotee. I know, you’ve said that you will marry whoever I tell you to marry. But, now is the time for you to tell me if you don’t want to do it. If you don’t want to marry him, tell me now. You don’t have to go back and tell the elders that you won’t do it because I know; they will get very upset, because I have suggested this. You tell Me, and I will go back and tell them I changed My mind - if you don’t want to do it. But this is the time because once we go back there and you say yes, then there’s no going back once you give your word. So decide now!”

I replied with my mantra: “I will do whatever You say Swami. I will do whatever You say Swami!” And then He told me a very beautiful thing. He said: “You know, when we look at other people, we only see the outside of that person. We see their mannerisms, their clothes, and the way they speak. But, we cannot see what is inside them. But I can see what is inside that person! And I can tell you that he is a very God-fearing and God-loving person.”

So, we came back and He fixed our wedding, and we got married. So, that is how when we decide to follow the path and we really have that faith in Him, He will take care of us in every little way that He possibly can!

SHIVERING EXPERIENCE BEFORE SWAMI !!!

1970: Swami was speaking to all of us during an interview & there was this lady who kept speaking up every time Swami paused, and she would say "Swami you must come to our town. We are doing a lot of seva, (service) in our town."
1st time she said that Swami ignored her; 2nd time, ignored her; 3rd time, I was beginning to get a little nervous … when Swami was still speaking about something, she said it again: "Swami, you must come to our town."
So Swami looked at her and said: "But I have! I have come to your city!"
"No Swami, You have not come to our city."
Swami changed the topic, and suddenly looked at her and said: "How is the service going on in your town?"
So the lady said: "Swami, when we started off there were 10 families who were putting aside the rice. Now we have a 100 people and we have about 25 kilos of rice that we collect. And we are feeding a lot of people. Swami, the seva is going wonderfully well!"
Swami said: "Oh! Very happy! (In Telugu)
And then suddenly out of the blue, Swami said: "What kind of rice do you use for cooking?"
She said: "Swami, very good rice! 'We' use very good rice!"
Swami said: "No, I am not asking about the other people, I am asking about you! What kind of rice do you keep aside for the seva activity?"
She said: "Good rice." Swami said: "Oh really! Good rice?" She said: "Yes Swami, very good rice!" and in the middle, she kept saying: "But Swami, you must come to our city to see the seva!"
Swami said: "Very good! Very good! Ah! I know 5 rupees rice for the family & 2 rupees rice for the service, for poor feeding!!!"
The lady said, "No, no Swami!"
Swami said: "Yes, Yes! You don't believe me? Obviously the 5 rupees rice quality is better, the 2 rupees rice is not properly cleaned; not a good quality…
She said: "No Swami, good rice Swami."
And then Swami's whole smiling face changed!!!
He said: "You don't believe me? Wait! I will show you. Did you not give the beggar who came to your house & said: 'Mother give me rice?' a whole sack full of rice that you had bundled in a red cloth that you had kept aside for Narayana seva? Did you not give it to that beggar two years ago? You don't believe me? Wait!"
And He walks into the inner room and comes out holding the red sack which was given to the beggar two years back filled with the two rupees rice! "Did you not give this to me? I have been to your city!!!"
The silence was so stunning, so shocking in that room and imagine the embarrassment of that lady!!! She had tears in her eyes. It was such a moving experience for all of us.
"The safest way to wipe out all past Karma and to avoid accumulating fresh Karma is to see Swami in all. I'm everywhere. That way you would be good to everyone!" - SWAMI
Talk given by Mrs. Geeta Mohanram during a Sai Retreat at Stourbridge, UK. She is the daughter of Dr. Padmanabhan, who runs SATHYA SAI SEVAKSHETRA, BANGALORE. (SAI GITANJALI)

Are we the chosen ones?

Once Swami was sitting with the students around Him. Suddenly He asked a strange question. "I am going to give Sai Gita(Swami's pet elephant) to you. Tell me who wants her? Who will take her?"
The boys were taken aback. Everyone wanted to say 'Yes' when Swami asked them something, but this... They thought,"How will I take her home?", "How do I feed an elephant?", and so on. Suddenly one of them said, "Swami, I am ready to take Sai Gita".
Swami, in His immense Love, waved His hand and materialised a small silver elephant and gave it to the boy. I am sure you can imagine the plight of the other students. Would not each of them have regretted not accepting Swami's offer? Regretted that they let their heads think and find obstacles instead of letting their hearts decide? 

This beautiful leela was enacted by Swami, for each one of us. It echoes to the entire Sai fold, "Grab every chance Swami gives you! Else, you might regret it later." But what exactly is this chance? It is every opportunity to get closer to our Lord, every opportunity to make Him happy. Everyday, every moment, we are surrounded by opportunities to help others, to put a smile on a sad face, to do some noble deed. But we hardly realize that they are unique chances for Sai Seva, to make our dear Lord happy, to get one step ahead in our journey towards Him(which is in fact the journey to our true self).

Be ready to realize and accept every opportunity for Seva, to participate in a service activity of the nearby Sai centre, take time out of your busy schedule to stop and help out a collegue at the workplace, spare a few moments so that someone in misery can speak their heart out and confide in you. It is said that man was born with two ears and one mouth so that he talks less and listens more!

If at all we do realize this fact, and decide to do a noble deed, what follows immediately is a train of thoughts, each one finding a new reason as to why it should not be done. The brain is at work then, and not the heart. We are all full of limitations, full of incapacities. Put the heart to work and we realize "After all, who am I doing it for? Doesn't the Loving mother know my limitations?" Yes. Swami knows what we are capable of doing. He knew very well that none of the students are able to take Sai Gita home and feed her. But when we are ready, He will create a Sai Gita that fits into our hands.

So, dear brothers and sisters, the next time you come across an opportunity for Sai Seva, dont think twice. Grab it and leave the rest to the all compassionate Lord of the Universe! Remember, we are THE CHOSEN ONES, The direct messengers of the Avatar! If we dont make a difference in the world, who will???

Let Us thank God for NOT granting all our prayers!

It is said that about fifty years ago, some men from a village adjacent to Puttaparthi visited Baba. With them was a young boy. They told Baba that the boy had suddenly become an orphan due to the unexpected demise of his parents. They had heard of the extraordinarily philanthropic nature of Baba and sought his help for the boy’s education and livelihood.

Baba immediately agreed to bear all his expenses right upto the end of his school education. After a few years, the boy visited Baba and happily announced that he had passed his final school examinations. Bhagawan reciprocated his happiness and was about to move on to the next person in the gathering. But the boy plaintively sought his audience for some more time and prayed that he might be helped to pursue higher education in a college. Baba hesitated for a moment and agreed to his prayer with a smile. After four years the boy returned and announcing his successful graduation, prayed earnestly for help in securing a job of his choice. This prayer was also granted.

Soon he was back and prayed for divine help in marrying a girl who worked as his colleague and who was not evidently interested in linking her fortunes with his. Bhagawan advised him to seek the hand of some other girl. But the boy was adamant and begged for help in marrying the girl of his own choice. That prayer was also granted.

In the succeeding years, his visits became more frequent and his prayers more insistent for a promotion, for the birth of a boy and then of a girl, for the prevention of a transfer, for the cure of the illnesses of the children, for a better residence and so on. The Lord granted all his prayers. But the man now seemed to be less and less happy and peaceful.

At last, obviously in great tension due to problems in office and at home he came to the ashram and when Baba came near him, he fell at His feet like a log and cried out “Oh! Swami! The python of samsara (worldly life) has caught me in its suffocating coils! Please liberate me from its grip.” Baba laughed and looking at him keenly, slowly asked, “My dear boy! Did the python catch you first or you caught its tail first?” How the man must have wished that he had not piled up prayers after prayers in spite of Bhagawan’s hesitations and resistances most of the time!

We allow the ophthalmologist, the dentist, the barber, the physician, the college counselor and a host of others to decide what is best for us but not God! The physician or the psychologist is supposed to know about our bodies and minds better than us, but not God! Restrictions, sacrifices and expenses are okay when advised by doctors. But when God advises similar things, we agree to abide by them to ‘the extent possible’ and seek alibis to make them appear impossible. When the consequences trouble or terrify us, we grumble and blame the cruel hand of fate or of the creator! We will be pleased to teach Him a thing or two about framing the laws governing Life.

However, there are a number of occasions when we do wish that some of our prayers had not been granted! We might have prayed for success in getting a  particular job and got it. But later we wish that our prayer could have been ignored because we realise a better job would have been tried for and obtained, had the first one been denied. Similarly we may feel about the wife or husband or the house we have now. Slowly in the course of our life, we realise that God’s own choices for us are more beneficial and satisfying in the end than our own.

Having said that I am reminded of a clever little girl who used to go with her father to the general stores for getting the provisions for the month. The shopkeeper was a kind man and used to give a handful of cashew nuts or chocolates to the children accompanying his customers. One day he was busy talking to some one on the phone and when the girl’s father was about to leave with the things purchased and paid for, he just placed a tray containing the chocolates in front of the girl and asked her to help herself and resumed his talk on the phone. The girl refused and insisted that “Uncle” himself should give her the chocolates; otherwise, she was not interested in taking them. This surprised and pleased the shopkeeper who took a handful of the chocolates as usual and gave them to her. While returning home the father rebuked her for her insistence and for troubling the shopkeeper and forcing him to interrupt his talk. The girl said, “Daddy, if I had myself taken a handful I would have obtained much less because my hand is small! But uncle’s hand is much bigger and I get more than double the number when he gives his handful!” So, it is with God. What He chooses to give us is more beneficial and useful than what we may choose for ourselves.

So let us thank God for not granting all our prayers! For, what appears like a curse may prove to be a blessing and sorrows may turn out to be sources of great joy. What is required are Sraddha and Saburi to use the words of Shirdi Sai Avatar i.e., faith and patience. Any number of examples to prove this may be given from Sai literature in particular and from spiritual and religious literature in general – but one’s own experience alone can be the best evidence. Let us therefore follow the teachings, do our duties and wait and watch God’s plans for us unfold as we live on. He is eager to satisfy all our good desires but waits for the best time and place and manner in which they can be satisfied, taking into account our deeds in the past and our needs in the future (as the ninety-first and ninety-second names in the one hundred and eight names of Sri Sathya Sai proclaim).

Food for Healthy Body and Mind

These are excerpts taken from a discourse given by Baba at the  Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning in July 1996 ( the excerpts are taken from the book Sai Prescriptions, published by the Sri Sathya Sai Health and Education Trust, Sri Sathya Sai General Hospital Hospital in Whitefield, Bangalore).

Food for Healthy Body and Mind

"Right food must essentially contain Sathwic food. It means that the food must not contain mutton, fish, onions and the like. In your hostel, there is of course no mutton and fish! But, onions are used extensively. This is because it does not get spoilt. It also has its advantages. It improves your digestion power.
There is a popular saying in Telugu, "the good done by the onion (ulli) is not done by your own mother (thalli)!'' You must also take care to avoid excess of spice, chilli and salt. May people think that Sathwic food means fruits and milk. These can also be thamasic! For example, eating two bananas is correct. If you eat four bananas, it becomes thamasic. Do not take a cup of thick milk. Comparatively, it is hence said " One cup of wine is better than a cup of milk."Thick milk contains plenty of fat and calcium. It is also liberally laced with glucose. When the blood is saturated with too much of glucose, it turns the residual glucose into acid. The result is that you develop boils. This acid and the blood combines to form stones in the gall bladder. 
Ensure that you take at least seven to eight cups of water daily. Water cleanses your internals. This also ensures that stones do not form inside your kidneys because water goes to the kidneys and constantly keeps it flushed.Eat rice and vegetables well. Green leafy vegetables are the best of the lot. This is because under the skin lies a very light secondary layer, It is this layer that protects the skin. Green leaves strengthen this layer, apart from having other benefits. It is very good for heart patients too because green vegetables are totally free of oils. Vegetables contribute to some extent to the cholesterol. What must you do when you have excess cholesterol? Cholesterol is essential to some extent. The limit prescribed is about 10%. But if it crosses 20% or 30% your nerves and veins will harden like rusted pipes. This consequently thickens the blood making the heart pump less and less blood. The heart pumps the blood and sends it to the lungs which purifies the blood and distributes it to the entire body. When the heart pumps less, more and more cholesterol accumulates there, which is dangerous for the heart. Hence it is advisable to take a white onion daily.
Garlic pills can also be taken daily, a daily intake of one pill after lunch will get rid of the cholesterol problem. Green leafy vegetables and drumsticks are very healthy for the body. Drumsticks are good for the brain. Do not take too much of potatoes.  Potatoes contain 80 % starch that will only make you slightly fat, but also give you very little in terms of health.Tomatoes are also good. The seeds of the tomatoes may be removed and a curry made of the tomato. This is because the seeds of the tomato do not get digested easily. They remain in the digestive canal and gradually become stones, when they combine with glucose. These stones go down to the stomach and remain a mass, giving frequent trouble.
We must also ensure that eating must always be in a limited quantity. You  must be able to get up from your plate with the same ease and lightness  with which you sat down to eat. This is the correct limit. You come quite easily to eat. But when you get up you need a support ! Many people develop a paunch like that.
Proportion is very important as it confers health to the body. Never take meat, cigarettes, or other intoxicants and drugs. Habitual cigarette smokers develop cancer. You can perform this test on smokers. Take a white cloth and put it across the mouth after the person has smoked. You will see bright red dots on the cloth. When the external cloth has itself been so noticeably spoilt, you can well imagine how much destruction it is causing to the veins and lungs. The two fingers that hold the cigarette will develop a yellow colouration. White spots develop on the lips. The skin around the lips turn dark. You must avoid taking curds. It is better to take the two cups of buttermilk. Curds have too much of protein."

Testimony of the Modern Day Masters

One of the greatest Saints of this century was a woman named Anandamoyi Ma. (The name translates as ‘Bliss-permeated Mother.’ According to one of her closest Western devotees, over the years she had often been asked, “Who is this Sathya Sai Baba we keep hearing about?”  But for many years she never gave an answer.  In the last year of her life, however, the question came up again, and this time she gave the following response: “This body will speak on this question only once; don’t ask again.  Sathya Sai Baba is the most powerful incarnation of God ever to come to the Earth.  And there won’t be another at His level for another sixty centuries.”¹

That amazing testimony was recently strengthened for me when I went to one of Anandamoyi Ma’s ashrams in the Himalayas.  When I shared the preceding quote with a Swami there⁷, he said that Anandamoyi Ma had then added, “It’s no wonder you keep hearing about Sai Baba.  He is the Avatar of this Yuga!”  (Avatar means Incarnation of God; a Yuga is an era lasting many thousands of years.)

-------------------------------------------------------------

Shortly before he left his physical body behind, Paramahansa Yogananda was approached by one of his close American disciples, a woman.  “Master,” she said, “I know you are planning on leaving your body.  You must take me with you!  You are my God!” 

“Nonsense,” replied Yogananda. “God is God; I am your Guru.” 

“But Master, if you leave without me, I will commit suicide!” 

“Enough of that foolishness!  God Himself is now incarnate on Earth, in South India. His name is Sai Baba.  When I leave you are going to live with Him.”  (His prediction proved correct; after Yogananda’s death, that devotee spent the rest of her life at Sai Baba’s ashram.)⁸

-------------------------------------------------------------

Mata Amritanandamayi (also known as Ammachi), Herself considered to be an incarnation of the Divine Mother, was once asked, “Who is Sai Baba?”  She replied, “Avatar.  Perfect from birth.”⁹

-------------------------------------------------------------

On the day after Sai Baba’s birth (November 23, 1926), Sri Aurobindo, another great Saint of this century, broke a long period of silence to announce, “Twenty-fourth November, 1926, was the descent of Krishna into the physical.  A power infallible shall lead the thought, in earthly hearts kindle the Immortal’s Fire, even the multitude shall hear the voice!”¹⁰ It seems obvious at this point that his announcement of Krishna’s physical re-embodiment was referring to the birth of Sathya Sai Baba. 

-------------------------------------------------------------

Mother Krishnabai, the Self-Realized disciple of Swami Ramdas (the great Saint from Kerala), told her devotees, “Sai Baba is an Avatar, a full incarnation of  Krishna.  He is Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva together in one form!” She recommended they spend as much time in His presence as possible.¹¹

-------------------------------------------------------------

Yogi Ramsuratkumar made it clear on numerous occasions that Sai Baba is an incarnation of God.  He often asked visitors from Baba’s ashram, “You’ve left God to see this beggar?”¹³  (Of course, that “beggar” was himself merged in the all-pervading Consciousness; the beauty of his attainment was matched only by his humility.)

Simple ways to reach God!!!

Prophecies about Swami contained in Suka Naadi by Sage Suka

Naadi means palm leaf manuscripts written by ancient sages. This Naadi was written 5,000 years ago by Sage Shuka. The 100 or so manuscipts, containing prophecies about the background and Advent of Lord Sai Baba, are in the possession of a famous astrologer Dr Shastry.

• He is a great sankalpa siddha (a master of will) and one of great powers, but without any attraction to worldly wealth opr glory.
• All rishis declare he will have the power of ichhamarana prapti (the ability to die at will) and that he is one in the Nirvikalpa Samadhi state, living only for the nurturing of righteousness.
• His mission will be of relieving the distressed and, for this, he will distribute and spread all appropriately.
• He will be born to propagate righteousness and the place where he will live will become a holy land.
• He will be able to assume different forms and be seen in several places simultaneously and to remove difficulties and abstacles to avert danger.
• He will establish an ashram near a place where there are 'vehicles with many wheels and will also re-establish educational institutions of spiritual strenght.
• He will show omniscience in many ways to devotees who, if they surrender to him in full faith, will be given the opportunity of shedding their sins and of finding peace and goodness.
• His glory will spread far and wide and many people will come to him. But all shall not receive his grace due to past actions.
• He is a great brahmachari (celibate) and will help others in establishing righteousness.
• His attitude towards mena dn women will show equality.
• He will be a mother among women.
• He will be an Incarnation of Love (Premaswarupa), Joy (Anandaswarupa) and Wisdom (Jnanaswarupa), but only those who are enlightened will be able to experience him as joy (ananda).
• He can be experienced, but not expressed; as a dumb mute can eat but not speak.
• Total equanimity will be his. He sees the world as a blade of grass. he will not be concerned with public opinion and will do only what is right.
• He will be a representative of SHirdi Sai Baba and will be born as a result of the prayers addressed to Shirdi Sai Baba.
• He will give Samadhi Darshan to Shirdi Sai Devotees; and similarly, after he has flown from this body, Sathya Sai devotees will have Samadhi Darshan at Whitefield which will be venerated as sacred soil.
• His life will be for the good of mankind in the way described by Krishan in the Bhagavad Gita.
• At present unrighteousness has grown to three-fourths proportion. When it increases by one more fourth, that is, when all is unrighteousness, Sri Sathya Sai Baba's full power will come into play and be known in the world.
• At present He displays only one tenth of his real self. After a while, his efforts to save the world will increase tenfold.
• He will show that he alone can control the fury of nature.
• He will also plant a tree in Brindavan, Bangalore, and that place will become a siddhikshetra (a field of energy) and the tree a kalpavrusha (a wish-fulfilling tree).
• Good will accrue to anyone who only sees Sri Sathya Sai Baba.
• His grace will make people overcome their problems, surmount difficulties and guide them towards progress. In a short time, his greatness will spread further and there will be universal worship of Sathya Sai.
• He will show himself in many places simultaneously, though he will actually be in one place, and there will be many divine acts and manifestations.
• He will erect a flag staff of righteousness at a significant time and thereafter righteousness will visibly increase.
• He is tolerant and compassionate of nature and treats everyone equally. He does not hurt feelings or express anger when errors of ignorance are committed.
• Often he speaks in jest, but he speaks Truth.
• When he publicises any aspect of himself or his activities, whjich is not always, he does so at particular times and it is only and always for the growth of righteousness: instilling good ideas of life and creating an atmosphere of goodwill.
• Sri Sathya Sai Baba will prove in the course of time the truth of the saying "Dharma wis protected by the portector."
• This Avatar will have healing powers and the power to cure himself by the sprinkling of water. He will use his healing powers not only for the people of this world, but also for the beings of other worlds, and on a higher plane of existence (devas).
• He also has the power to lengthen life.
• When the Kali Yuga influence grows even more intense, then people will see his true might and will acknowledge that he is the Supreme Power. Then mankind will bow to him as to a great emperor.
• Sainath does everything according to a plan he has.
• He has great purification powers. Merely the sight fo him, or the slightest of word exchanged with him, can purify one.
• Sainatha (Lord Sai) is Mahavishnu Swarupa, a form of Great Vishnu himself.
• It was Kabir Das who returned to earth as Shirdi Sai Baba, who in turn is now Sathya Sai Baba who will also return to earth in another form.
• He will keep an aeroplane airborne for a long time after it runs out of fuel, through his will alone.
• Sathya Sai Baba will always retain a youthful look, age nothwithstanding.

Prayer of Surrender

Why get agitated? Let Me take care of all your business. I shall be the one who will think about them. I am waiting for nothing else than your surrender to Me, and then you do not have to worry any more about anything. Say farewell to all fears and discouragement. You demonstrate that you do not trust Me. On the contrary, you must rely blindly on Me.

To surrender means: To turn your thoughts away from troubles, to turn them away from difficulties you encounter and from all your problems. Leave everything  into My hands saying "Lord, Thy will be done. Thou think of it." That is to say: "Lord I thank you for you have taken everything in your hands, and you will resolve this for my highest good."

Remember that thinking of the consequences of a thing is contrary to surrender. That is to say, when you worry that a situation has not had the desired outcome, you thus demonstrate that you do not believe in My love for you. You will prove that you do not consider your life to be under My control and that nothing escapes Me.

Never think: How is this to end?... What is going to happen? If you give into this temptation, you demonstrate that you do not trust Me. Do you want Me to deal with it...yes or no? Then you must stop being anxious about it! I shall guide you only if you completely surrender to Me and when I must lead you into a different path than the one that you expect, I carry you in My arms.

What seriously upsets you is your reasoning, your worrying, your obsession, your will to provide for yourselves at any price. I can do so many things when the being, as much in his material necessities as in his spritual ones, turns to Me saying: "You think of it." then he closes his eyes and rests quietly. You will receive a lot but only when your prayer will rely fully upon Me. You pray to Me when in pain so that I intervene, but in the way you desire it. You do not rely on Me, but you want Me to adjust your requests.

Don't behave like sick ones who ask a treatment to the doctor, all the time suggesting it to him. Do not do that; but rather, even in sad circumstances, say: "Lord I praise and thank You for this problem, for this necessity. I pray You to arrange things as You please for this terrestrial and temporal life. You know very well what is best for me."

Sometimes you feel that disasters increase instead of diminish. Do not get agitated. Close your eyes and tell me with faith: "Thy will be done. You think of it." And when you speak thus, I accomplish a miracle when necessary. I only think of it when you trust me totally. I always think of you, but I can only help you completely when you rely fully on Me.

—Sathya Sai Baba

Realizing Supreme Beatitude

by Sunil Gavaskar

Every devotee of Bhagavan Baba has his own connection with Him and the beauty is that in spite of so many millions trying to connect with Bhagavan, He has time for all. Most of them have had some experience of Bhagavan's Divinity. Not only is the experience a very personal one and very, very dear, but there is also the feeling that since it does not concern anyone else, the others may not be interested in hearing or knowing about it. But 75th Birthday Celebrations of Bhagavan is a joyous occasion and it is the joy of sharing that prompts me to write this piece. I will try and write to the best of my ability knowing fully well that no one can really do full justice to writing about Bhagavan.

Swami's Vision to my Mother

Since the day my mother got the vision of Bhagavan, my family has been a Sai devotee. Like any middle class family, we too believe in God and participate in all the festivals which are celebrated in the year. We have a small Mandir where idols of various Hindu gods are kept and prayers offered there daily by the family members.

However in 1970, things changed suddenly. My mother was in the kitchen and there she saw a vision of Swami on the wall. She was restless and wanted a picture of the vision, and so she immediately rushed out of the house and went to the newspaper vendor at the corner of the street who also kept pictures of various Hindu gods. She looked at the pictures one by one but could not find the picture of the vision that had appeared in front of her. She went further down to see if any other shop had the picture she was looking for. There was none, so she came back to the first one and requested him to have a look again, and lo and behold, there was a picture of Bhagavan with His hand raised in blessing exactly as she had the vision of. The newspaper vendor refused to take any payment saying that since he had not ordered the picture and had no idea how it got there, he would not accept any payment.

That photograph was put up in my bedroom, so that every morning when I woke up, my first glimpse was of Bhagavan. That photo could also be seen by any visitor to the house particularly if the bedroom door was open and I do believe that it was after seeing that picture of Bhagavan that my late father-in-law decided that his daughter's hand could be entrusted in mine. And when he passed away in May this year, his last action was to fold his hands in prayer to Bhagavan and his last words were "Sai Ram".

Miracle of Vibhuti

I remember one incident very clearly. We were in Australia and in one of the tour matches, I slipped and tore a thigh muscle. In those days, the Indian team did not carry their own physiotherapist. So, we had to ask the local state team's physiotherapist to have a look at the injury. He examined me and announced that since I had a torn muscle, it would take about three weeks of therapy and one more week of training before I would be able to play again. With the First Test Match due to start in just over a week's time, this simply was a blow that was too much.

As soon as this news reached my family, they sent me packets of Swami's Vibhuti through some media persons who were coming for the coverage of the Test series. These arrived just about three days before the start of the First Test. I was taking physiotherapy regularly but the improvement had been marginal. I could barely put weight on my leg to walk.

However after I started applying Vibhuti, there was marked improvement and on the eve of the Test Match, I requested the team management not to rule me out but to have a fitness test on the morning of the Test Match. From barely being able to put weight on my leg, I was able to walk comfortably in just two days. But there was a stiff soreness that was worrying.

On the morning of the match, I applied Vibhuti to the leg and went to the ground. This was going to be my first attempt to try and run in about eight days' time. Even as I stepped on to the ground to give my fitness trial, I realised that the stiffness was almost gone. At the Queensland Cricket Ground in those days, you had to descend a few steps to the ground and it was these few steps which were painful previously and I had to step down gingerly. But on this day, I felt confident enough getting down these steps normally and not the one step at a time as on the previous couple of days. I took a light jog around the ground and with every stride I could feel the soreness going away. Though I did not do anything silly a quick dash or sprint, I felt confident enough to play in the Test and so informed the management who accepted it and included me in the playing eleven. It was unbelievable. Nobody including me had given myself a chance of playing the Second Test, leave alone the First Test and here I was, thanks to the Vibhuti, playing in the First Test Match.

In the Presence of the Supreme Being

About a year later, I was in Chennai (Madras then) and heard that Swami was going to be in the city. It was here that I had my first Darshan of Bhagavan. My counterpart in the West Indies team, Alwin Kallicharan was also keen to have Swami's Darshan. Fortunately in those days, there used to be a rest day in the Test Matches and we were taken for Swami's Darshan.

Nothing had prepared me for that experience. I had seen plenty of Swami's photographs but seeing Swami in person for the first time is an unforgettable experience. When Swami glided in, there was a glow around His face and His smile was so beautiful that it immediately brought smiles on everybody's faces. Both Kalli and I were standing together and automatically our hands folded in Namaskar as we saw Bhagavan. That first sight of Bhagavan was the most humbling experience of my life. It made me realise that there was a superior being, the Supreme Authority. He was standing in human form and sending these happy vibrations to all who had come there! It was the kind of happiness that even a century or a victory for the side could not bring about. It just made one's heart feel lighter. I have been lucky to experience it time and again since then and I consider myself blessed to do so.

That day both Kalli and I were hoping that Swami would bless us just a little bit more than the other, for the Test Match was evenly poised. Of course, Swami when He gave us an audience did not take sides, but the Indian team also had another Sai devotee in G.R. Viswanath and it was Vishy who took us to victory the next day.

Grace Unbounded

Later on, both Kalli and I had the rare privilege, honour and good fortune to be the masters of ceremonies for Swami's 70th Birthday Celebrations. How that came about is a story in itself. I received the invitation card for the celebrations of Swami's 70th Birthday more than a month earlier. When I went through the celebrations planned and the VIPs that were due to come to Puttaparthi starting from the President of India and the Prime Minister to other cabinet ministers, I thought to myself that with all the security for them there would be no way to get even a glimpse of Swami. But I said to myself that if Swami wants me to be there for His Birthday, then somehow I would be there in Puttaparthi.

Just two days before the Birthday, I got a call with the words "Indian, how are you? What are you doing in Mumbai? Why aren't you in Puttaparthi?" It was Alwin Kallicharan who was already in Puttaparthi. we always called each other 'Indian' which is how people of Indian origin call each other in the West Indies. I explained to him that I was beginning to shoot for a new TV serial for the forthcoming 1996 World Cup and so would not be able to come to Prashanthi Nilayam. I had fixed those dates for shooting, so that my mind would concentrate on the shooting of the serial and I would not feel the pangs of missing Swami's Birthday Celebrations. Kalli informed me that they were trying to organize air transport for me and would let me know about it the next day. When he called to tell me that a charter had been arranged, I could not believe it and my joy knew no bounds. After all, I was going to be present at my beloved Swami's Birthday Celebrations. When I landed there, I was told that I was to be the master of ceremonies, something which  I had never done before in my life. But with Swami present, I was sure that He would help me not to forget my lines.

A few years later, I was privileged to arrange the players for the Unity Cup Cricket Match. Swami has always said, "Life is a game. Play it.". Bhagavan wanted to show that there could be unity among different countries, cultures and communities through sports. So, the Unity Cup was played with players from all over the world including Pakistan.

Several senior retired players were honoured and had the good fortune to be blessed by Bhagavan. Who can forget Bhagavan patting Sachin Tendulkar on the back and telling him, "I am with you!" What a season Sachin had after that as he virtually single-handedly demolished World Champion Australia with his batting that seemed to be of a totally different dimension after that pat from Bhagavan!

Devotees who have had Swami's Darshan even from afar know how it becomes a craving and if Swami even glances at you fleetingly, you feel an incredible joy that cannot be described in words.

Swami is eternal. We are blessed to have Bhagavan with us and we must strive to join Him in serving humanity and helping the poor and the downtrodden. we can do it in our way, quietly and without fanfare. We can start by promising that every day we will do at least one good deed.

Sunil Gavaskar
Former Captain Indian Cricket Team; has made/broken several records in Cricket; an ardent devotee of Bhagawan

Love My Uncertainty

 

Sri Sanjay Sahani, a former Sai student, was earlier the warden of Sri Sathya Sai Boys' Hostel in Prasanthi Nilayam, and is currently the Principal of the Brindavan Campus of Sri Sathya Sai University in Bangalore.

"You must have not only freedom from fear, but freedom from hope and expectation. Trust in My Wisdom. I do not make mistakes. Love My uncertainty, for it is not a mistake. It is My intent and Will. Remember nothing happens without My Will. Be still. Do not ask to understand. Do not want to understand. Relinquish the imperative that demands understanding." - Bhagavan Baba, Sanathana Sarathi, August, 1984

One Last Darshan - The Predicament…
"When are your examinations ending?" enquired Bhagavan, not once, twice, but thrice over a span of a couple of weeks. Each time I replied, "Thirtieth May, Swami."
It was the summer of 1983. We were at that time completing our first year of the five-year integrated programme, launched by the newly born Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning (which was renamed recently to Sri Sathya Sai University ). 
The mind refused to explore the purport of the repeated questioning as the heart was immersed in the bliss of sambhasanam (divine conversation).
Swami left Puttaparthi for Brindavan on May 8, and we got busy with the University examinations, which commenced the next day. As the days passed, I felt that it would be highly inappropriate to leave for my native town without seeking Bhagavan's permission and blessings, especially after He had so lovingly enquired about the date of the last examination. Thus, it happened that on May 30 with a few of my classmates and the grandmother of one of the students, we boarded the bus for Bangalore and checked into a hotel late in the evening.

The next day we reached Brindavan and waited for our beloved Lord in the Kalyan Mandapam. Bhagavan's residential bungalow had been demolished and ‘Trayee Brindavan’ was under construction. Bhagavan had made Devi Nivas, the house of the Rajmata of Nawanagar (which lies between the ashram and the college), His temporary residence. He would come every day in a car from there; give Darshan to devotees in the Sai Ram shed and then sit with the students and the teachers in the Kalyan Mandapam. As it was vacation time, we appeared to be the only students around and were dreaming of the golden opportunity that awaited us. However, after Darshan Bhagavan moved over to inspect the construction site and thereafter got into the car and returned to Devi Nivas. The disappointment in our group of eight students was palpable for we had railway bookings for that day's departure and our purpose of visiting Brindavan seemed to have been defeated with this turn of events.
A drowning man is willing to clutch even a straw. One of our teachers suggested that we go to Devi Nivas and try our luck. We rushed there but the gates were closed. Bhagavan was inside and we were outside.
Suddenly, a familiar face appeared on the scene. He was one of Bhagavan's car drivers. We recognized each other and he offered to take inside our letters, if there were any. We handed him all the letters for Bhagavan except one, which was with me. Just before leaving Puttaparthi, a senior brother had come to me and cautioning me that it was an important letter, requested that it be handed over to Bhagavan personally. I enquired with him whether I could deliver it through somebody else, in case I did not get the chance to do so myself. The boy was reluctant and said that in such a case I could return his letter after the vacations.
Some time later the warden of Brindavan boys’ hostel came out in his car and we met him at the gate. We explained to him our predicament and he suggested that we write to Bhagavan a letter, which he would then take inside after a few minutes on his return. Thus, we sat and wrote this joint letter to our Lord:
 Dearest Lord,
We are your children from Puttaparthi, enroute to our native towns. We pray for your Darshan and blessings before our departure.
Yours,
All eight of us signed the above letter. Within a few minutes the warden returned and took the letter inside. A few anxious moments passed. Then we saw someone waving to us from the portico of the building. The gates of heaven opened. We threw our chappals nearby and rushed in. As we were climbing the steps of the portico, the door opened and out walked Bhagavan with His charming smile.

“If you need Me, you deserve Me!”
Oh, the bliss of that moment! From the depths of despair we were transported to the heights of ecstasy. Bhagavan had already retired and for the sake of just a handful of students had come out once again. Even at that moment we did not fail to recognize the fortune that was ours. My hands were trembling when I held out my senior brother's letter. "Haath me dene ko bola naa. Haath me dene ko bola" (He asked you to give this to Me in My hands only, isn't it?), observed Bhagavan knowingly. My hair stood on end and a delightful current of thrill passed through my entire frame hearing His words. We were face to face with our God, the Omniscient Lord, the Eternal witness of the entire Cosmic play, but the very next moment we got deluded again. Bhagavan lovingly enquired about our native towns and we foolishly began to inform the All Knowing One. His awesome Omniscience was subsumed in the sweetness of His intimacy.
He distributed vibhuti prasadam to all of us. A student prayed for prasadam for parents and we had a second round of prasadam distribution. Another boy informed Swami that his grandmother was also accompanying us. "Take her in a helicopter." Bhagavan's response again revealed His Omniscience for she had been grumbling the previous evening about all the difficulties we had in securing hotel accommodation for the night.
As Bhagavan turned to go inside, one of the boys, (who had to leave by 1.00 p.m. that afternoon) shouted, unable to contain his joy, "Sairam, Swami." "Sairam", responded Bhagavan and blessed us with His 'abhaya hasta'. We were in raptures over His unexpected greeting and with it He sealed for all of us a cherished memory of a lifetime.
The poet William Blake once said,

To see the world in a grain of sand and heaven in a wild flower,
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand and eternity in an hour.

 
The Vedas describe the Lord as 'Kalateetaya namah' (The one who transcends time - the timeless being). Truly, in the presence of Bhagavan time stood still and what in reality must have been just a few minutes seemed like eternity.
We had no qualification whatsoever to recommend our case - neither wealth nor social status. We were literally nobody. All that we knew was that we were hungry for Him, hungry for His love. "If you need Me, you deserve Me", declares Bhagavan. "Love My uncertainty." We were being initiated into the ABC of His spiritual vocabulary.

Unpredictable, But Sure, is His Grace!
Years rolled by and I was nearing completion of my final year M. Com. The door of our classroom at the Institute in Puttaparthi opened into the corridor of the first floor and was always locked. Thus, entry to our classroom was possible only through the adjacent classroom. One morning as our class was going on, suddenly the door opened and there stood Bhagavan. It was very unusual and it had never happened before. Even when He had come earlier to the college, He would visit only the science labs, but not the commerce classrooms. That day He had brought some sadhus (saints), who were organizing the Sadhu Sammelan at Puttaparthi. They happened to have a commerce background and so the Lord decided to show them the commerce department.
We all stood up in awe and delight as Swami greeted our professor. The Vice-Chancellor, Mr. S. N. Saraf, who followed Bhagavan into the class noticed one of my classmates and told Bhagavan - "Swami, this boy spoke in the prayer hall today on Swami Vivekananda." “How did he speak?" queried Bhagavan. "Very well", replied the Vice-chancellor. Bhagavan beckoned the student and asked him to take padanamaskar. Then, blessing all of us, He left. Later my classmate told me, "You have spoken many times in the presence of Bhagavan, and I never got that opportunity. The only time I gave a speech, was in the college. But Swami came all the way to our classroom to give me padanamaskar." When, where, how and on whom the Lord showers His grace nobody can predict. We have to love His uncertainty and be ever ready to receive His Grace.

 
A Divine Lesson
It was 30 December, 1997, the day of the Sri Sathya Sai Unity Cup match, the first-ever international cricket match at Puttaparthi between India XI and International XI. The students and the staff of the university had their task cut out as our Institute was hosting the match with the Prime Minister of India, Mr. I. K. Gujral, as the chief guest. There was excitement in the air, but we were busy with the background preparations. I was allotted the duty of transporting food preparations to different destinations from the three canteens in the ashram. 
Nothing seemed to go right for me that day. From the disappearance of vehicle drivers, to the advancing of the lunch break by one hour, to the traffic jam on the road and the resulting confusion - many things went awry that day, upsetting all my plans. After a bizarre sequence of events, when all the guests had left, I was seated in the mandir portico that evening, dejected and utterly disappointed with myself that I had failed the trust Bhagavan had reposed on us with regard to the day's arrangements. I had done my best against all odds, at times even beyond my known capacities and against my own temperament. Yet it was not enough.

Bhagavan came amidst us and told the warden, "I am very happy with the work of the boys and the teachers." Then He walked upto the place where the teachers were seated and pointing to a couple of teachers enquired, "Who all worked today?" "We all worked together Swami," chorused all the teachers and Swami was pleased with our answer. Instantly, my spirits were lifted and the dejection and disappointment that clouded my mind vanished as if in a dream. On deeper reflection I realized that Sai had willed the day's events to be so. What He appreciated and applauded was the sincere, determined and devoted effort put in by each one of us. While the world enjoyed a cricket match, we were learning our own spiritual lessons of devotion and surrender.

Happiness Lies in Trusting His Wisdom!
Bhagavan's birthday festival in 1989 was fast approaching. Bhagavan had permitted me to leave for Delhi after the birthday celebrations to attend to some personal work and return in fifteen days. On November 24, I sought His guidance regarding my departure. He instructed me to leave the next day. After the bhajans, I went to a devotee who had reserved my ticket for that day as requested by me earlier. I apologized to Him and explained the new development. The devotee said that there was nothing to worry and that He would cancel the ticket. It did seem odd to abandon a confirmed railway ticket from Puttaparthi after the birthday and to travel unreserved. But if it was the Lord's plan, then that was it.
I reached Dharmavaram railway station on November 25 night to board the Karnataka Express to Delhi. As the train steamed into the station, I found the train strangely half empty. It was the time Mr. V. P. Singh got elected as the Prime Minister of India. Being election day, most people were in their respective native places and very few were traveling. I boarded one of the compartments and sat on an empty seat. No ticket collector came that night. Perhaps, they were also relaxing with the train being almost empty. I had a blissful sleep that night and the next day I got my ticket reserved. Literally, I could choose my seat as it were. I was mentally thanking Bhagavan for the comfortable journey in spite of traveling on an unreserved ticket.
As I reached Delhi another revelation occurred. My sister, who was an artist, was putting up a painting exhibition. For some reason the date of the exhibition was postponed to the very day of my return journey. Had Bhagavan not delayed my departure from Puttaparthi, I would have left one day earlier as per Bhagavan's direction to return in fifteen days and missed my sister's exhibition. This would have disappointed her immensely. As it happened, due to lack of time I left our residence for the exhibition and from there proceeded straight to the railway station to embark on the return journey. When we live with Bhagavan, the frightening levels of uncertainty that surrounds Him may at times unnerve us, but if we learn to trust His Wisdom and love His uncertainty, He takes meticulous care of everything.

As we look at our chaotic world today, we may believe that God has a plan but it has gone hopelessly awry. The Divine mystery is revealed little by little, step by step. It is like an action packed thriller movie where the suspense is dispelled only after you sit through the entire movie.
We are indeed fortunate to be contemporaries of the living and loving Avatar of our age. It is our duty to rally around Him and join hands with Him in His glorious mission.
The play is His; the role is His gift; the lines are written by Him; He directs; He decides the dress and the decor, the gesture and the tone, the entrance and the exit.
We have to act the role well and receive His applause when the curtain falls. We have to earn by our efficiency and enthusiasm to play higher and higher roles - that is the meaning and purpose of life.                                                 - Courtesy: “Hridaya Brindavan 2005”