http://www.sssct.org/Discourses/2003/christmas.htm

Chapter 1
The Bhagavatha

The name Bhagavatha can be applied to every account of the experiences of those who have contacted God and the Godly (Bhagavan and Bhaktha). God assumes many forms and enacts many activities. The name Bhagavatha is given to the descriptions of the experiences of those who have realised Him in those forms and of those who have been blessed by His Grace and chosen as His Instruments.

The great work known by that name is honoured by all masters of the Vedas. It is a panacea which cures physical, mental and spiritual illnesses. The Bhagavatha is saturated with sweetness of nectar, it shines with the splendour of God.

The principle of Avathara or the Descent of God on earth, the Incarnation of the Formless with Form, for the uplift of beings- this is the basic fact that makes the Bhagavatha authentic. By Bhagavatha we also mean those with attachment to God, those who seek the companionship of God. For such, the book, Bhagavatha, is most precious; it is the breath of their life. To be in the midst of such Bhagavathas is to foster one's own devotion. Unless you have a taste for God-ward thoughts, you will not derive joy therefrom. To create that taste the Bhagavatha relates stories relating to incarnations to the earnest inquirer. Then, one developes the yearning to experience the thrill of God, through all the levels of consciousness. He who has this intense yearning can be a true Bhagavatha.

People believe that incarnations of God happen only for two reasons: the punishment of the wicked and the protection of the righteous. But, these represent only one aspect of the task. The granting of peace and joy, of a sense of fulfilment to seekers who have striven long - this too is the task.

The Avathar, or Form Incarnate, is only the concretisation of the yearning of the seekers. It is the solidified sweetness of the devotion of godly aspirants. The formless assumes the Form for the sake of these aspirants and seekers.

They are the prime cause. The cow secretes milk for the sustenance of the calf. That is the chief beneficiary. But, as we see, others too benefit from that milk. So too, though the Bhakthas are the prime cause and their joy and sustenance the prime purpose, other incidental benefits also accrue, such as the fostering of Dharma, the suppression of evil, the overwhelming of the wicked.

There is no compulsive rule that incarnations should occur only on the earth and in human form. Any place, any form, can be chosen by the Fully-Free. Whichever place, whatever Form, promotes the purpose of fulfilling the yearning of the devotee, that place and that form are chosen by the will of God. God is above and beyond the limits of time and space. He is beyond all characteristics and qualities; no list of such can describe Him fully. For Him, all beings are equal. The difference between man, beast, bird, worm, insect and even a god is but a difference of the 'vessel' (the Upadhi).

It is like the electric current that flows through various contrivances and expresses itself in many different activities. There is no distinction in the current; it is the same. To speak of it as different is to reveal one's ignorance (Ajnana). So too, the one single God activates every vessel or Upadhi and gives rise to manifold consequences. The wise see only the one uniform current; the ignorant feel that they are all distinct. God appreciates the consciousness of unity, as the basic motive of acts. He does not appreciate the activity itself being one, without variety; it is suited to the various needs. The fruits of karma or activity appeal only to those who identify themselves with the body and not for the others, who know that they are the indestructible Atma.

Again, you must know that there is no end to the incarnations that God indulges in. He has come down on countless occasions. Sometimes He comes with a part of His glory, sometimes with a fuller equipment of splendor, sometimes for a particular task, sometimes to transform an entire era of time, an entire continent of space.

It is the story of the last of these, that the Bhagavatha elaborates. The drama enacted by the Avathara, and the Bhakthas drawn towards Him, is the subject matter of the Bhagavatha. Listening to it promotes the realisation of God. Many sages have testified to its efficacy and extolled the Bhagavatha, which they helped preserve for posterity.

Generally speaking, man gets drawn to sense objects for, he is the victim of instincts. Instincts easily seek sense-objects. They come along with the body and are not derived by any training. The infant seeks milk from the mother's breast; the new-born calf nestles at the udder. No training is needed for this. But, for the infant to walk and talk, some training is necessary. The reason is that they are not automatic; they are socially prompted, by example and by imitation of others.

Training is essential even for the proper pursuit of sense pleasure, for it is the wild untrained search for such pleasure that promotes anger, hatred, envy, malice, conceit. To train them along salutary lines and to hold them under control, certain good disciplines like Japa, Dhyana, Upavasa (Fasts) Sandhya-vandana (worship at dawn and dusk) etc. are essential. But, however much their value may be praised and their practice recommended people do not develop a taste for them. This is because the desire for sensory pleasure has struck deep roots in the human heart. When one is asked to do spiritually salutary acts, one has no inner prompting at all. Still one should not give up in despair. Until the taste sprouts, the disciplines have to be strictly followed. This taste is the result of training; no one has it from the very beginning. Constant practice will create the zest.

The infant does not know the taste of milk. By taking it daily, it develops an attachment for it which is so deep that when milk is to be given up and rice substituted, it starts to protest. But, the mother does not despair; she persuades the child to take small quantities of cooked rice daily and by this process it starts liking rice and it gives up milk. Milk was once its natural food, so natural that if no rice is available for a single day, it becomes miserable.

So, too, though sense-pleasures are "natural" at first, by means of practice and training and listening to the commendation of the wise, slowly the greater and more lasting pleasure derivable from the glories of the Lord and their recapitulation is grasped; thereafter, one cannot exist without that atmosphere even for a minute; one feels that there is nothing as sweet as the experience of listening to the splendor of the Lord. The company of the worldly who chatter about the senses and the sense-objects will no longer attract; the company which exults in praising the Lord will draw and hold.

This is the real hall-mark of the good. Sadhakas and votaries of the Lord are to be judged by these, not by external apparel or appearances. If one mixes with men who revel in sensory talks and activities, then, he puts himself out of court. Spend your time in the company of the godly, engaged in godly affairs. Avoid getting mixed with the company of the ungodly. Do not see their activities or listen to their accounts. Only those who avoid them can be called Bhagavathas, God's own.

Reading and enjoying the stories of the glory of Krishna in some sacred spot or some temple or prayer-hall shrine or hermitage of a saint or sage, or in the company of the virtuous and the good - that is a source of great inspiration and joy. It makes people forget everything else. Else, one can approach pious men and serving them, listen to their exposition of the glories of God. Taste for such wholesome literature is the result of accumulated merit and endeavour. It is that merit that rewards one with such company. Listening will be enough in the beginning; later, the stories will arouse interest in the nature and characteristics of God and the aspirant will seek and find for himself the path to realisation.

Listening to expositions by the wise is much better than reading oneself; or, one can be looking into the text while listening. It is preferable to listen in company, rather than alone; of course, it is excellent to listen with a number of earnest aspirants. If the person who expounds has had the thrill of genuine experience, then it is the supremest luck, for it yields best results. For, his face will blossom into joy, his eyes will shed tears of joy at the very contemplation of the glory of the Lord. Those who listen to him will catch that inspiration; they will experience the joy themselves. In the midst of a group that weeps, tears will spring out of the eyes of those who have come in; when an infant smiles, those around will also smile in unison. So too, the words of those who are saturated with devotion to God will saturate the hearts of those who listen. It is impossible to measure the profit that one can derive while in the company of the great.

Through that process of listening, a dirt-laden heart will be transformed into a clean illumined heart, shining with genuine light. To the foul odours of sense-pursuits, keenness to listen to the glories of God is a valuable disinfectant, besides being in itself so full of sweet fragrance. The listening will cleanse the heart through the prompting it gives for good work.

Such a cleansed heart is the most appropriate altar, or tabernacle. In that fragrant bower, the Lord will establish Himself; at that very moment, another incident too will happen; the group of six vices that had infested the place will quit without so much as a farewell.

When these vices quit, the wicked retinue of evil tendencies and vulgar attitudes which live on them will break camp and disappear, without leaving even their addresses! Then, man will shine in his native splendour of Truth and Love (Sathya and Prema); he will endeavour without hindrance, to realise himself; and, finally, he will succeed, in merging with the Universal and Eternal. He will liberate himself from the tangle of ignorance, or Maya. His mind will fade away; the long-hidden secret will be revealed to him; he will discover his Madhavathwa (Divinity).

Man's nature is Prema, Love. He cannot survive a moment, when deprived of Love. It is the very breath of his life. When the six vices, to which he was attached so long, disappear, Love is the only occupant of the heart; but, Love has to find an object, a Loved one. It cannot be alone. So, it is directed to the dark-blue Divine Child, the charming cowherd Boy, who is Purity Personified, who is the embodiment of service, sacrifice and self-lessness, who has taken residence in that cleansed Altar. There is no scope now for any other attachment to grow. So, step by step, this Love for Madhava becomes deeper, purer, more self denying, until at last, there is no other need for thought and the individual is merged in the Universal.

When Vâsudeva enters the heart of man, vasudeva has no longer a place therein. In other words, when the deva of vasu or wealth is seated in the heart, the divine Vâsudeva or Krishna cannot dwell therein.

Any attempt to accommodate both in the heart is bound to fail. Darkness and light cannot exist at the same time and in the same place; they cannot continue together. Dhanam and Daivam cannot be joint ideals; when Dhanam or riches are sought, Daivam or God cannot also be achieved. If both are sought by man what he will achieve will be neither Dhanam nor Daivam but Dayyam (the Devil).

It is creditable if man behaves as man; it is laudable if he behaves as the Madhava, he really is. But, to behave as a demon or as a beast is despicable indeed. For, man was long born a mineral and died a mineral; then, he promoted himself as a tree. He was long born a tree and died as a tree; but, in the process, he got promoted as an animal; but, he has now risen into the status of man. This rise from one scale to another has been acknowledged by science and spiritual experience. Now, alas! he is born as man and dies as man. It is a greater shame if he slides into the beast or a beastly ogre. Praise is his due, only if he rises to the Divine status. That is real fulfilment of his destiny. Therefore, avoid contact with vices; develop attachment to virtues; transmute the heart into an altar for the Lord; destroy all the shoots and sprouts of desire; then, your Manasa-sarovaram (the Lake of your Inner Consciousness) will be sublimated into a Ksheera-sagara, (the Pure Ocean of Milk, whereon the Lord reclines on the Serpent-couch). Your real Self will, like the Celestial Hamsa, revel in the placid waters of that Lake, thus transformed. It will discover endless delight.

Who can mark the beginning of the continuous waves of the ocean? It is an impossible task. If any one decided to do so, the wave with which he starts the calculation will be considered as the beginning, the wave with which he stops his calculation will be for him the last, the end. There is a beginning and an end for his count: there is no beginning or end for the process. No one can visualise either, in that boundless illimitable expanse. God's Glory is the shoreless ocean. When one starts describing it, it begins for him; when he finishes his description it is the end, so far as he is concerned. But, His Glory is beyond space and time. Only little minds, limited minds, will argue that God's Glory has a beginning and an end. The stage on which He plays (His Leela) has no boundaries.

The story of His Leela is all Nectar; it has no other component, no other taste, no other content. Every one can drink his fill, from any part of that Ocean of Nectar. The same sweetness exists everywhere, in every particle. There is nothing inferior to mar the sweetness.

The love of God and the love for God are both eternally sweet and pure, whatever the method of your accepting or attaining them. Such love is holy and inspiring. Sugar is sweet when eaten during day or during the night. For it is night or day for the person who eats, not for the sugar. Sugar behaves uniformly always.

Bhajan: Murali Krishna Mukunda Krishna

CONTENTS

Forword by N.Kasturi
Familytree

 

	Chapter 1:   The Bhagavatha
	Chapter 2:   The Birth of a Bhagavatha
	Chapter 3:   Ceremony of Name giving
	Chapter 4 The Penitential Yajna
	Chapter 5:   Yajnas and the Penance of Elders
	Chapter 6 Vidura's Renunciation
	Chapter 7 Vidura the Counselor
	Chapter 8 Dhritharashtra Transformed
	Chapter 9:   The Ascent of Krishna
	Chapter 10 The Krishna Mystery
	Chapter 11:   When the Lord left - the Pandavas' Grief
	Chapter 12 The Kali Age dawns
	Chapter 13 The Coronation of Parikshith
	Chapter 14 The Exit of the Pandavas
	Chapter 15:   The Reign of Emperor Parikshith
	Chapter 16 Reverence for Krishna
	Chapter 17:   Vyasa's Voice that Heals - Recalling the Bygone Days
	Chapter 18:   The Escape of Thakshaka
	Chapter 19:   Pandavas - An Example for Kali Age
	Chapter 20 Krishna's Grace on Draupadi
	Chapter 21:   The Durvasa Episode
	Chapter 22 The Feeding of Durvasa
	Chapter 23:   Arjuna's Fight with Gods
	Chapter 24:   Guardian on the Battlefield
	Chapter 25 Guardian on the Battlefield
	Chapter 26:   The Curse that was accepted Gladly
	Chapter 27 Curse or Godsend
	Chapter 28:   Death, seven days ahead
	Chapter 29 The Dialogue Begins
	Chapter 30:   The Science of Salvation - The Bhagavatha Path
	Chapter 31:   The Grace of God
	Chapter 32:   Puranas and Incarnations
	Chapter 33 The Bhagavatha Purana
	Chapter 34:   The Rama Incarnation
	Chapter 35: The Ananda Krishna gives
	Chapter 36:   Comrade and King
	Chapter 37 Gopala, Gopas and Gopis
	Chapter 38 The Boyish Pranks of Krishna
	Chapter 39 The Killing of the Demons Bakasura and Aghasura
	Chapter 40 Serpent Kaliya
	Chapter 41:   The Divine Students - the Omniscient as Student
	Chapter 42:   He cures Curses
	Chapter 43:   The Message of Krishna's Advent
	Chapter 44 The Consummation in Gopala

http://www.island.lk/2003/11/23/featur02.html

The Aura of Sri Sathya Sai Baba

by Dr. Gamini Karunanayake
M.B.B.S. (Cey.) D.I.H. R.C.P. (Lond). R.C.S. (Eng).

Many people believe that all great saints and religious leaders have a large aura or halo around their bodies.

Pictures and drawings of Lord Buddha, Jesus Christ, Prophet Mohamed and Sai Baba clearly highlight this halo or aura.

Most people believed that this so called aura as depicted in the drawings was a myth and that the haloes were highlighted in order to enlighten the people about the greatness of these saints.

Is this halo or aura a reality or Myth ?

It is known that certain people especially those who are developed spiritually are able to see these auras.

In recent times it has been scientifically established that the halo around people is a reality.

An ultra sensitive camera called the ‘Kirilian camera’ originally produced in 1939 in Russia and subsequently re - invented in 1969 by an American called " Kendell Johnson" is able to photograph the haloes around people.

The white in the aura indicates energy and the pink and blue indicate that the person is extending love and compassion towards others.

Professor Baranowski explains there are five different shades of auras denoting aesthetic, spiritual, intellectual, physical and moral aspects. These can all be scientifically explained. Professor Baranowski who had studied the auras of the great saints and yogis of India had heard about Sri Sathya Sai Baba. He went to White field in India and studied the aura around Sai Baba with the help of the Kirilian camera.

These people were absorbing the rays of energy and love given out by Baba. His aura extended to envelope the area in one mass or cloud of pink. It was all energy in the form of love that flowed from him.

It is said that people who go to see "Sai Baba" come back with renewed energy. It is like charging ones battery.

What about the size of the aura?

It was earlier stated that saints and spiritually developed people have an aura extending up to two feet from their bodies. It is also said that Lord Buddha had an aura which enveloped an entire city.

The aura extending from Baghavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba was so huge that its margin could not be defined. The aura extended beyond the horizon.

Professor Baranowski has concluded that Baba is not a human being and that he is a divine personality.

"Sai Baba" in his own words say that we are all God. He knows that he is God, whereas we do not know that we are God, although we have the potential to be God.

Source: http://sairam19.tripod.com/Christmas/Christmas.htm

There are two things essential for a happy life:
Dhanya - grains for the sustenance of the body;
Dhyana - contemplation for entering the temple of the Lord and merging in His glory.

[Ref:Voice of the Avatar - Part I, page 145]

Two ideas that should be cherished in our hearts:
Forget the harm that anyone has done to you;
Forget the good that you have done to others.

[Ref:A Recaptiulation of Baba's Divine Teachings - page 270]

Man has to pay attention to three basic duties in his quest for happiness:
He should forget what he has to forget, namely the world around him and its tantalising pleasures;
He has to reach where he has to reach, namley the goal of the Divine, the Presence of the Almighty and,
He has to give up what he has to give up, namely material desires and pursuits.
The Vedic prayer Asatho maa sadgamaya, Thamaso maa jyorthi gamaya, Mrthyor maa amrtham gamaya summarises these aspirations very nicely.

[Ref:Voice of the Avatar - Part I, page 159]

There are three things which are immensely pleasing to to the Lord:
A tongue that never indulges in falsehood.
A body that is not tainted by causing harm to others.
A mind that is free from attachment and hatred.
These three constitute the Triple Purity(Thrikarna Suddhi). Refrain fron uttering falsehood, inflicting pain on others and entertaining ill will towards others. Practice silence as a means of preventing the tongue from straying away from truth.

[Ref:Sanathana Sarathi - April 1988]

There are only three ways of saving oneself:
Pravritti (action) - external activity is a method of sublimating the instincts and impulses;
Nivritti (detachment, internal quiet) is a method of subduing the thirst of the senses and of the ego;
Prapatti (surrender) is a method of utilising the senses, the instincts and impulses, the intelligence, the emotions, for the glorification of the all-knowing, all-directing Divine.
Do and dedicate; work and worship; plan and protect; but do not worry about the fruit. That is the secret of spiritual success.

[Ref:Voice of the Avatar - Part II, page 32]

There are three kinds of sadhanas(spiritual discipline) in order to develop an unwavering mind:
Meena sadhana(like the fish) - Meena sadhana can be explained by remembering that fish can survive only in water. The moment it is taken out of water, it perishes. Similarly meena sadhana is one which can be only in solitude. If you sit in public, the sadhana will not be successful. Being unable to concentrate when he is mixed up with other people, to be able to get concentration in solitude is called meena sadhana.
Mriga sadhana(like the animal) - Mriga sadhana is that in which one can get concentration on the earth only. You cannot go elsewhere, say into water, and do it. As in this case, there are some people who can get concentration only when they are sitting in company with others. They cannot get concentration in solitude. If they are alone they begin to think of their family problems.
Kurma sadhana( like the tortoise) - On the other hand, the tortoise can live equally well either in water or on earth. So, if we say that one's sadhana is like kurma sadhana or one is able to concentrate like a tortoise, we mean that the person is able to concentrate irrespective of whether he is alone or sitting in company with others. This is called kurma sadhana.

[Ref:Sadhana - The Inward Path - page 50]

Four directives for sanctifying our lives and purifying our minds, so that we can contact the God within us:
Give up the company of the wicked;
Welcome the chance to be among the Good;
Do good deeds both day and night;
Remember which is lasting and which is not.

[Ref:Sanathana Sarathi - July 1985, page 175]

There are four things in which every man must interest himself:
Who am I?
Where from I have come?
Where am I going?
How long shall I be here?
The four Vedas give answers to these four questions. All spiritual inquiry begins with these questions and attempts to find out the answers. Suppose there is a letter put into the post box without the address to which it should go or the address from which it has come. It will not reach anywhere. It is a waste to have written it. So too, it is waste to have come into this world, if it is not known where from you came and where to you go. The letter will go to the dead letter office! The jivi will be caught in the cycle of birth and death and can never find itself. For this, atmavichara and for the successful arrival at the correct anaswers, sadhana is essential. The answers must become part of you experience.

[Ref:Voice of the Avatar - Part II, page7- 8]

Four resolutions to make about your life hereafter:
Purity - Desist from wicked thoughts, bad habits, low activities, that weaken your self-respect.
Service - Serve others, for they are the reflections of the same Entitiy of which you are yourself another reflection. No one of you has any authenticity, except with reference to the One Original.
Mutuality - Feel always kinship with all the objects in the Universe.
Truth - Do not deceive yourself or others, by distoting your experience.

[Ref:Voice of the Avatar - Part II, pages 222, 223]

I am insisting on five points of discipline for the permanent residents of Prashanthi Nilayam. I shall tell you about them, for, your homes and your villages have to be transformed into Prashanthi Nilayams. They are :
Silence : This is the first step in sadhana; it makes the other steps easy. It promotes self-control; it lessens chances of anger, hate, malice, greed and pride. Besides, you can hear His Footsteps, only when Silence reigns in the mind.
Cleanliness : It is the doorway to Godliness. Inner and outer cleanliness are essential, if you desire to install God in your heart.
Service : Service saves you from the agony you get when another suffers; it broadens your vision, widens your awareness, deepens your compassion. All waves are on the same sea from the same sea. Seva teaches you to be firm in this knowledege.
Love : Do not calculate or weigh the reaction, result or reward. Love calls; love responds. Love is God, Live in Love.
Hate-less-ness : Adweshtaa sarva bhoothaanaam(without hatred to any being). Nothing is to be looked down upon. as secondary, inferior, unimportant, or expendable. Each has its allotted role in the drama, designed by the Almighty. Do not slight, insult or injure any being, for He is in every being and your slight becomes a sacrilege.

[Ref:The Voice of the Avatar - Part II, pages 175,176]

Five types of Dharma (duties) have been laid down for man.
Kula Dharma - duties relating to to his occupational group.
Desa Dharma - duties to the nation.
Matha Dharma - duties pertaining to his religion.
Gana Dharma - duties relating to society.
Aapad Dharma - duty when he faces danger.
All these five types of duties are related to one's life in the phenomenal world and are not concerned with the Supreme Reality.

[Ref:Sanathana Sarathi - March 1984, page 67]

Man has to contend with afflictions from five causes. These five causes are :
Avidya - lack of true knowledge renders a man feel weak and imbecile, incapable of recognising his inherent divine nature.
Abhinava - makes a man attached to samsara (worldly concerns) and to forget his real destiny. He allows his mind to dominate him. As a result he is subject to sorrow and depression.
Asthitha - is the trouble that arises out of excessive greed. When the desires are not fulfilled, there is distress. When they are fulfilled self-conceit(ahamkara) grows. In this process, genuine human qualities wither away.
Raga Klesa - is the distress caused by insatiable desire for houses, vehicles, wealth, etc.
Dwesha Klesa- is the feeling of bitterness that arises when one does not get what he seeks from others. In due course he becomes a low and pitiable creature.

[Ref:Sanathana Sarathi - July 1987, pages 179, 180]

Five prayers to endow us with the "awareness of Brahman".
If you are yearning to experience Brahmananda, the Sath-Chitah Ananda is pure, from this day, keep ever in your memory what I am about to tell you:

"I am God; I am not different from God". Be conscious of this always. Keep it ever in mind. "I am God. I am God. I am not different from God". Be reminding yourself of this. Pray that you may not fall in this spiritual excercise(sadhana).
"I am the Indivisible Supreme Absolute(Akandha Para Brahman)". This is the second Truth to be established in the consciousness by unremitting repetition and prayer.
"I am Sath-Chith-Ananda(Being Awareness, Bliss)".
"Grief and anxiety can never affect me". Develop this faith and convince yourself of this Truth by repeated assurance and prayer.
"I am ever content; fear can never enter me". Feel thus for ever. Pray that this convinction grows stronger and stronger.
Exhort yourself. "O self! Utter 'Om Thath Sath', 'Om Thath Sath', the threefold symbol of Brahman. As the physical body is maintained healthy and strong by the five vital airs(prana), these five prayers will endow you with the "awareness of Brahman", which is the same as "the status of Brahman itself".

[Ref:Sanathana Sarathi - January 1984, pages 7,8]

Five D's: The group of five subjects to master to obtain the degree of Divine love:
Dedication - It means offering. When you offer the flower of your heart to the Lord, it should be free from the pests of desire, hatred, envy, greed and the like.
Devotion - This is the highest form of love. It means the constant loving contemplation of God, repetition of His name, worshipping Him, and doing penance foe Him. Service to the Lord is the highest expression of devotion.
Discipline - This is most essential for students. The human estate is based upon regulations and self-control. These have to be strictly adhered to in the daily life.
Discrimination - Man should not let himself be guided by the mind. He should follow the dirrections of his intelligence(buddhi). As long as you follow the mind, you cannot obtain Madhava(Divinity). Discrimination is essential for every student and educated man.
Determination - It is like the reins for a horse. When you want to achieve something, you must have the determination and persistence to secure it by all of your efforts. No room should be given for doubts and hesitations. There is nothing on earth which cannot be achieved by firm determination.

[Ref:Sanathan Sarathi - March 1988, pages 68,69,70]

Six qualities necessary for a devotee to be dear to the Lord:
Be free from any kind of desire or expectation
Have internal purity(the purity of the speech, mind and the body) as well as external cleanliness.
Have determination in performing actions which are pure, helpful to others, and sublimate man.
Have freedom from attachement to anything
Have freedom form worry. Concern yourself with the present, which is the child of the past and parent of the future.
Renounce egoism in any form.

[Ref:Sanathana Sarathi, October 93, pages 253-255]

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

[Ref:Sathya Sai Baba]

The first thing we should do in this context is to promote and strengthen the aspect of self-confidence. This confidence is one's own self is like the foundation at the bottom. On the foundation of that confidence, we should build the wall of self-satisfaction, we should put the roof of self-sacrifice. In that mansion, we should attain self-realisation. Today, in the context of human nature, men are conducting themselves in a manner by which we think that they have no understanding at all of the need for self-confidence. The individual human beings have become so weak that they are not able to understand their own nature, their own self and, therefore, they try to find the nature of others and find fault in others. Because such unsacred qualities have become many in number, man is suffering and he does not understand his own human nature and the quality of human life is degrading.
[Ref:Sathya Sai Baba]

Purify the heart by being good and kind to all. Do not attempt to find fault with others. Look upon all with love, with respect, with faith in their sincerity. I would ask you to treat your servants kindly. Do not entertain hatred or contempt in your heart; Show your resentment if you must, through words, not action. Repent for the errors that you commit and decide never to repeat them. Pray for the strength to carry out your resolutions.

Do not unto another what you do not like to be done to yourself. For another is really "you". Even if another uses foul language against you be calm and sweet; say, "Oh, I am so surprised that my behaviour has given you that impression." Smile in return, do not take it heart; remind yourself that even Swami is not free from these peculiar beings who revel in falsehoods. Smile when you hear these revilings and be calm. That is a sign of your meditation is progressing fast.

[Ref:Sathya Sai Baba]

Life is a pilgrimage to God; the holy spot is there afar! The road lies before you; but unless you take the first step forward and follow that step with others, how can you reach it? Start with courage, faith, joy and steadiness. You are bound to succeed. The mind and the intellect are two bullocks ties to a cart, the "inner man". The bullocks are not used to the road of truth, righteouness, peace and love, so they drag the cart along the road familar to them, namely falsehood, injustice, worry and hatred. You have to train them to take the better road so that they may not bring disaster to themselves, the cart they are yoked to and the men inside it.

[Ref:Voice of the Avatar - Part I, page 14]

Life is a march from "I" to "We". But, it usually strays from "I" to "They" and does not reach the God, 'We". Life is journey from the position "I" to the position "We", from the singular to the plural, from the imprisoned one to the liberated One, who is seen in the many. The vision of the One, immanent in the obvious many is the fulfillment of all the years of one's life. This is the teaching contained in the ancient texts and Scriptures.

[Ref:Voice of the Avatar - Part II, page 24]

The wise man is he who keeps his reason sharp and clear, and sees things as they really are. He listens to the advice;
Life is a Challenge; Meet it;
Life is Love; Share it;
Life is a Dream; Realise it;
Life is a Game; Play it.

This is the real Pilgrim's Progress. This is the lion's march across the forest, fearless, masterful and victorious. The roar of the lion makes all the denizens scamper in panic; so too the Halo of Wisdom scatters the dark brood of fear and doubt.

[Ref:Voice of the Avatar - Part I, pages 30, 31]

The game of life is worth playing and becomes interesting only when there are bounds and rules which limit and control. Imagine a game of football without any rules or bounds for the field. It will be chaos; it will be free fight; it will be a riot. No one can say who wins and how. The Dharmamarga and Brahmamarga are the boundaries of the field. The virtues fight against the vicious tendencies. Play the game, paying heed to the warning of "Foul" and "Out".

[Ref:Sadhana - The Inward Path, page 167]

Just as every day you engage in exercises, and consume tonics, calculating the intake of calories and vitamins, paying meticulous attention to the nutritional value of the food, pay attention also to the intake of impressions into the mind - whether they debilitate or strengthen, whether they add to the power of resistance of the mind against the viruses - greed, envy, hatred, pride, malice, etc. Have a meal of good acts of service, Divine thoughts, and drink the Premarasa, so that they may be washed down, and digested well. Then, you can be shining in mental health, happiness and wholesomeness.

[Ref:Sathya Sai Speaks - Vol VII - B, page 42]

Slow and steady - let that be your maxim! Adhere to a regular routine, a timetable. Jast as the doctor prescribes a certain fixed meaure or weight of the drug and warns you that anything less is ineffective and anything more is harmful, so too have some limit for your spiritual excercises. Do not overdo them or do them casually and without care. The doctors tell you about the hour of the day and the number of times the drug has to be repeated, for the action of the quantity taken must be reinforced ere it becomes weak. So also, you have to repeat the name of the Lord(japam) and do meditation(dhyanam) at regular intervals.

[Ref:Sathya Sai Speaks Vol II , page 33]

If you talk of anything you do not know, it is a matter of ridicule. If you talk about anything you have not experienced, it is reprehensible, for you are cheating your listeners. If you learn the art of public speaking and talk enchantingly using all the skills and frills recommended in the textbooks or borrowed from others, it is cheating, nevertheless. Be sincere, be simple, be honest. That is the best recipe for successful speaking.

[Ref:Sri Sathya Sai Baba]

The Lord will manifest where and when you yearn for Him; if you yearn that He should come before you in flesh and blood, He will respond. He is ever ready to respond; only, you are not ready to invite or welcome or receive Him into your heart. You have not purified the heart and removed there from the thorns of lust and greed, of envy and hatred. The baby that has been fed on milk may start crying, do not be worried. It is very helpful for digestion. Cry, so that you can digest the joy of knowing God; cry and shed tears of joy. The tear glands have been allotted to you not for weeping helplessly before others with hands extended for alms, but to shed tears of joy of thankfulness, at the Feet of the Lord.

[Ref:Sri Sathya Sai Baba]

This conquest of the ego is a very hard task; years of persistent effort are needed to get success in this endeavour.
For getting a degree you struggle in the University for a number of years poring over books night and day; how much more difficult is this examination, success in which guarantees lasting happiness, and escape from the weary round of birth and death?

[Ref:Sri Sathya Sai Baba]

Learn to speak little and to speak soft. That will reduce the chances of getting angry. Seek the good in others and evil in yourself.

[Ref:Sri Sathya Sai Baba]

Believe firmly that the body is the residence of God, that the food you eat is the offering you make to your Deity; that bathing is the ceremonial bathing of the divine spirit in you; the ground you walk upon is His domain; the joy you derive is His gift; the grief you experience is His lesson that you tread the path more carefully. Remember Him even in sun and shade, day and night, awake or sleep.

[Ref:Sri Sathya Sai Baba]

[Quotations collected from SaiNet - posted by Ashley and Nilu Perera]

Source: http://www.eaisai.com/baba/docs/lives.html

The Ten Guiding Principles - the Pathway to Divinity

Sai Baba's teachings on serving society are summarised in this, "the
ten guiding principles":

1. Love and Serve your country. Do not be critical of others'
countries.

"Have a sense of pride in your motherland. Just as your mother has
given birth to you, so too the land has given birth to you. Whatever
country you belong to, you should have a sense of patriotism. You
should not indulge in criticising other countries or people
belonging to other nations. Having trust and faith in your own
country, you won't try to put down any other country. Never bring
grief or sorrow to your country. To have pride in one's own
motherland is important."

2.  Honour and respect all religions as pathways to God.

"Never have hatred toward any religion. Honour and respect all
religions equally. Even as you are a citizen of your motherland but
respect all countries, also respect all religions equally."

3.  Love all humanity as part of your family.

"Develop a sense of the brotherhood of man. Look upon each person as
your own brother. There is only one caste, the caste of humanity.
All of us belong to the human race, so everyone is equal. Therefore,
love each one equally."

4.  Keep home and surroundings clean.

"Keep your own house and its surroundings pure and clean. This
hygiene will keep you healthy and benefit your worldly life."

5.  Help the needy with food, clothing, and shelter. Help them
become self-reliant when possible.

"Be discriminating when dispensing charity. In the name of charity
or philanthropy, we tend to do injustice to this country. Charity
does not mean that the land should be full of beggars. We can
provide some support and means for the beggars, but provide food,
clothing, and other conveniences in such a way that you are not
encouraging laziness and begging."

6.  Be examples of honesty. Do not participate in any corruption
such as bribery.

"Never give or take a bribe. Giving bribes, or accepting bribes, is
contrary to the very name of the Sri Sathya Sai organisations. Bear
this in mind continuously."

7.  Curb jealousy, hatred and envy.

"We must seek ways to solve difficulties such as hatred, envy, and
jealousy. To curb this sense of envy and jealousy, we must develop a
broader outlook. Do not differentiate on the basis of race, caste,
creed, or country. Follow your cultural and religious customs in
your own home, but do not attempt to impose them on society. Rather
than this, love each person as your own brother, not seeing him as
belonging to another creed, religion, or country."

8.  Develop self-reliance.

"Members of the Sri Sathya Sai Organisations should do things by
themselves; they should not depend on others. You may be very
wealthy and have servants and assistants to help in a few tasks, but
your own work you must do yourself. If you wish to be of service to
society, serve yourself first. One who will not serve society has no
right to belong to a Sri Sathya Sai organisation."

9.  Observe your country's laws and be exemplary citizens.

"Never ever go against the law of the land. Follow the letter of the
law. The members of the Sri Sathya Sai organisations should follow
the law in spirit also, and be models for the government."

10.  Adore God, abhor sin.

"You must love God and avoid sin. Love God incessantly. As long as
you keep committing sins, God will never be yours."

Source:
http://www.srisathyasai.org.uk/2003/HTML/3_Teachings/Principles.htm

Source: http://www.saidarshan.org/baba/docs/christmas.html

Swami's answers:

Q: How we should lead our life, Swami?

A: Form small Satsanghas and meet regularly for Bhajans and mutual
consultation about spiritual matters. Read some fine spiritual
classics like Bhagavata. Fill your eyes with the beauty of His form,
your ears with the story of His Leelas, and your hearts with the
sweetness of His Glory; inspire yourselves by seeing Him everywhere.
Think of His immanence in every hill and dale, every man and beast,
every tree and insect. You will be really thrilled by the joy of
that vision.

Q: What is principle of living, Swami?

A: One of the first principles of straight living is - Practice
silence, for the voice of God can be heard in the region of your
heart only when the tongue is stilled and the storm is stilled and
the waves are calm. There will be no temptation for the others to
shout, when you talk to them in whispers. Set the level of the tone
yourself; as low as possible, as high as necessary to reach the
boundary of the circle you are addressing. Conserve sound, since it
is the treasure of the element Akaasa, an emanation from God
Himself. You must all study the Gita daily. Read a few slokas and
meditate on the meaning yourself; it will dawn on you in the silence
of your heart. You need not read elaborate commentaries. Each word
in the Gita is a gem. No more do you need gemstones for the ear, the
nose and the neck; have the gem of the Gita slokas in your heart;
let them activate your intellect and your hands. We shall act ever
as if we are in the presence of God, as if God is watching and
weighing every thought, word and deed. See yourselves in all; see
all in yourselves; that is the road to lasting peace and joy. Let us
not seek the outer empire; let us become the rulers of the inner
empire. Let us not try to defy the outer enemy, leaving the inner
foe to
grow in striking power. We have Krishna with us, and so, who can
defeat
us? We shall win through his Grace.


Q: What is significance of your Avatar, Swami?

A: My task is not merely to cure and console and remove individual
misery. It is something far more important. The important task of
the mango tree is to produce mango fruit. The leaves, the branches,
and the trunk of the tree are useful in their own way, no doubt, but
the main aim is the fruit. So also from the plantain tree, the fruit
is the main gain. The leaves and the edible core of the stem are all
incidental. So too, the removal of misery and distress is incidental
to My Mission. My main task is the re-establishment of Veda and
Shastra in the heart of Bharatavarsha and the revival of knowledge
about them in the people. This task will succeed.

A strong will is the best tonic:

The will becomes strong when you know that you are a child of
immortality or a person who has earned the Grace of the Lord.
Medicine and hospitalization are for these who hesitate and argue
about this doctor being more efficient than the other and this drug
being more powerful than the rest. For these who rely on the Supreme
Doctor, His Name is the drug that cures.

The Vital Difference Between Human Beings and Animals:

"Human beings have the power and also the authority to conquer maya
and totally free themselves from delusion. If man takes the trouble
and makes the effort, he will be able to directly experience the
atma and, thereby, know himself as the divinity that he truly is.
With the help of spiritual exercises he can reach nirvana and be
immersed in supreme bliss.

God is your only true friend Taking God as your friend, your heart
as the teacher and the world as the great book, acquire all the
knowledge you wish to. You should master this Pusthaka (book) using
your Masthaka (head)! Books printed on paper are not so important as
this book composed and written by God himself. It is available
everywhere, to everyone at all times and is absolutely free. So even
as you pore over your regular textbooks, remember your Guru, the
heart; and make sure you always have your true friend God near you!
The Divine lives in the Hearts of All.

Character is Power.

Even the acquisition of knowledge demands a good character. Without
character, wealth, education, social status, all these are of no
avail. Among the qualities that make up a flawless character, love,
patience, forbearance, steadfastness, and charity – these are the
highest; these have to be revered. So everyone must yearn to attain
flawless character without any trace of evil.

Collections from Sai literatures

Ten Fold Path to Divinity prescribed by Bhagavan Sri Sathya Baba

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

1. Love and serve the homeland; do not hate or hurt the homeland of
others.

2. Honour every religion; each is a pathway to the one God.

3. Love all without distinction; know that humanity is a single
community.

4. Keep your home and its environs clean; it will ensure health and
happiness for you and for society.

5. Do not throw coins when beggars stretch their hands for alms;
help them to become self-reliant. Provide food and shelter, love and
care, for the sick and aged.

6. Do not tempt others by offering bribes or demean yourself by
accepting bribes.

7. Do not develop jealousy, hatred or envy on any account.

8. Do not depend on others to serve your personal needs; become your
own servant, before proceeding to serve others.

9. Observe the laws of the state and be an exemplary citizen.

10. Adore God. Abhor sin.

Who is Sathya Sai Baba?

You may have heard of Sai Baba first in his role as educator,
healer, spiritual leader, social worker. Thousands of people in
every country in the world are witnesses to these aspects of Baba's
life and work.

These followers are not members of a sect or cult, but people of all
walks of life, races, cultural background and religions. For Baba
encourages us to seek the underlying unity and divinity in
ourselves, in others and in our lives. He says:-

"There is only one religion, the religion of Love,
There is only one language, the language of the Heart,
There is only one caste, the caste of Humanity,
There is only one God and he is Omnipresent".

Baba inspires not only through his teachings but above all through
his example; he lives austerely and in ceaseless service to those
around him, making himself approachable and available to thousands
daily, while maintaining a tireless programme of lecturing,
administrating, writing, encouraging the students. He has no
secretary, cleans his own room, accepts no money from anyone (indeed
fund raising is forbidden throughout the organisation).

His manner is always patient, gentle, gracious, often humorous and
playful. Although invited countless times to visit other countries,
Baba has so far stayed in India, (apart from one visit to Africa)
maintaining that one has to put one's own house in order before
advising others.

His birthplace, once a tiny rural village, is now a beautiful
university town with schools and colleges lining its main street; in
addition, hundreds of villages in surrounding areas have been
adopted by Baba's voluntary workers who have built roads, bridges,
schools and dug wells for them. Regular medical camps care for the
health of thousands of local people and Baba's Education programme
has been implemented in schools throughout India and other countries.

Again it is not only his example which inspires but his
extraordinary level of being, which shines through his teachings and
has an impact on all who come into his presence.

His frequently witnessed and documented healings, materialisations
of objects, telepathic powers and appearances in more than one place
at once are due to powers he was born with, not developed by special
disciplines. It is said he is not just a fully realised man but the
Main Spiritual Leader of this Age; his life certainly fulfils
prophecies in several religions. He says:-

"I know who I am; I have come to help you realise who you are".

What are we to make of all this? Could a man who left his village
school at 13 have such a profound knowledge of the world religions
and the ability to teach and explain them with sayings and stories
of Christ-like simplicity? Baba says:-

"Come, test, inquire,taste, experience".

He also says:

"...do not be attracted simply by stories of what I create by a wave
of the hand. Do not jump to conclusions with closed eyes; watch,
study and weigh..."

Since 1950, Sathya Sai Baba's residence and headquarters have been
in Prasanthi Nilayam (the Abode of Perfect Peace), a parcel of land
adjacent to the village. His name spread quickly in India, and then
he became known to people on every continent. For many years
Prasanthi Nilayam has been a gathering site for millions of
spiritual pilgrims, from all religions through out the world.

To his followers, Sathya Sai Baba is accepted as the Main Spiritual
Leader of this age; a Divine Being who has come to earth as a
manifestation of Divine Will to fulfil a cosmic mission. He has
stated:-

"For the protection of the virtuous, for the destruction of
evildoers, and for establishing righteousness on a firm footing I
incarnate from age to age. Whenever disharmony overwhelms the world
the Lord will incarnate in human form to establish the modes of
earning peace, and to re-educate the human community in the paths of
peace."

The fame of Sathya Sai Baba was spread, in the beginning, by the
stories of his "miracles", acts which cannot be explained by science
and which transcend physical laws. His manifestation of material
objects; the creation of sacred ash (vibhuti) on the palm and
fingers of his hand, to be used for spiritual and physical aid;
changing an object from one metal to another metal simply by blowing
on it; all of these and many more, before hundreds of thousands of
people, done "by an act of will."

He is known to heal the sick and maimed and blind; He has protected
from harm those who called for help, even though thousands of miles
away; He has appeared in his physical form in two different places
at the same time; and He has raised from the dead several persons.
And yet, He states,

"You have come to get from me tinsel and trash, the petty cures and
promotions, worldly joys and comforts. Very few of you desire to get
from me the thing I have come to give you, namely, liberation
itself."

It has been said that His greatest miracles are the transformation
of people who come to Him, often with doubts and apprehensions, and
who leave with love in their hearts, peace in their minds, and a
resolve to live a more useful, spiritual life.

Source: http://home.pacific.net.sg/~saibaba/whoissai.htm

Sathya Sai Baba's letter to his brother, 25 May 1947

On 25 May 1947, at the age of 20, in response to a letter from his
brother who was concerned with what he was doing, Sri Sathya Sai
Baba wrote the following letter. This letter disclosed his mission.
Dr. Gokak's essay, An Historic Letter of Baba (in Golden Age,
Kingdom of Sathya Sai, Brindavan, India, 1979, pp. 1-9), gives
particulars surrounding this letter, and this letter was typed from
that essay.

_______


My dear One! I received the communication that you wrote and sent; I
found in it the surging floods of your devotion and affection, with
the undercurrents of doubts and anxiety. Let me tell you that it is
impossible to plumb the hearts and discover the natures of jnaanis,
yogis, ascetics, saints, sages, and the like. People are endowed
with a variety of characteristics and mental attitudes, so each one
judges according to his own angle, talks and argues in the light of
his own nature. But we have to stick to our own right path, our own
wisdom, our own resolution without getting affected by popular
appraisal. As the proverb says, it is only the fruit-laden tree that
receives the shower of stones from passers-by. The good always
provoke the bad into calumny; the bad always provoke the good into
derision. That is the nature of this world. One must be surprised if
such things do not happen.

The people have to be pitied, rather than condemned. They do not
know. They have no patience to judge aright. They are too full of
lust, anger, and conceit to see clearly and know fully. So, they
write all manner of things. If they only knew, they would not talk
or write like that. We, too, should not attach any value to such
comments and take them to heart, as you seem to do. Truth will
certainly triumph some day. Untruth can never win. Untruth might
appear to overpower Truth, but its victory will fade away and Truth
will establish itself.

It is not the way of the great to swell when people offer worship
and to shrink when people scoff. As a matter of fact, no sacred text
lays down rules to regulate the lives of the great, prescribing
habits and attitudes that they must adopt. They themselves know the
path they must tread; their wisdom regulates and makes their acts
holy. Self-reliance, beneficial activity --these two are their
special marks. They may also be engaged in the promotion of the
welfare of devotees and in allotting them the fruits of their
actions. Why should you be affected by tangle and worry, as long as
I am adhering to these two? After all, praise and blame of the
populace do not touch the Atma, the reality; they can touch only the
outer physical frame.

I have a "Task": To foster all mankind and ensure for all of them
lives full of bliss (ananda). I have a "Vow": To lead all who stray
away from the straight path again into goodness and save them. I am
attached to a "work" that I love: To remove the sufferings of the
poor and grant them what they lack. I have a "reason to be proud",
for I rescue all who worship and adore me, aright. I have my
definition of the "devotion" I expect: Those devoted to me have to
treat joy and grief, gain and loss, with equal fortitude. This means
that I will never give up those who attach themselves to me. When I
am thus engaged in my beneficial task, how can my name be tarnished,
as you apprehend? I would advise you not to heed such absurd talk.
Mahatmas do not acquire greatness through someone calling them so;
they do not become small when someone calls them small. Only those
low ones who revel in opium and marijuana but claim to be unexcelled
yogis, only those who quote scriptural texts to justify their
gourmandry and pride, only those who are dry-as-dust scholars
exulting in their casuistry and argumentative skill --only those
will be moved by praise or blame.

You must have read life stories of saints and divine personages; in
those books, you must have read of even worse falsehoods and more
heinous imputations cast against them. This is the lot of mahatmas
everywhere, at all times. Why then do you take these things so much
to heart? Have you not heard of dogs that howl at the stars? How
long can they go on? Authenticity will win.

I will not give up my mission, nor my determination. I know I will
carry them out. I treat the honor and dishonor, the fame and blame
that may be the consequence, with equal equanimity. Internally, I am
unconcerned. I act but in the outer world; I talk and move about for
the sake of the outer world and for announcing my coming to the
people; else, I have no concern even with these.

I do not belong to any place; I am not attached to any name. I have
no "mine" or "thine". I answer whatever the name you use. I go
wherever I am taken. This is my very first vow. I have not disclosed
this to anyone so far. For me, the world is something afar, apart. I
act and move only for the sake of mankind. No one can comprehend my
glory, whoever he is, whatever his method of enquiry, however long
his attempt.

You can yourself see the full glory in the coming years. Devotees
must have patience and forbearance.

I am not concerned, nor am I anxious, that these facts should be
known. I have no need to write these words; I wrote them because I
felt you would be pained if I do not reply.

Thus, your Baba

http://www.sathyasai.org/intro/babaslet.htm

Article published in: The Sunday Times, Sri Lanka
Date: November 23, 2003
URL: http://www.sundaytimes.lk/031123/plus/10.htm

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

Preaching the message of love
By Chandima de Silva

Followers of Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba around the world celebrate
his birthday today, November 23. Sri Sathya Sai Baba was born on
this day in 1926 in a tiny, hilly, isolated village called
Puttaparthi in the Anantapur District of the present Andhra Pradesh
state of India. Not only his father Sri Pedda Venkappa Raju but his
grandfather Sri Ratnakaram Kondama Raju had been very pious people
belonging to the Raju lineage of the Kshatriyas.

The family had rich musical, literary and dramatic traditions. Sri
Sai Baba's mother Srimati Eswaramma was also very religious like her
mother-in-law Srimati Lakshamma. Sathya Narayan Raju, now known as
Sri Sathya Sai Baba, or Swami to millions of his devotees, was the
fourth child of Sri Pedda Venkappa Raju and Srimati Eswaramma.

At the age of 14, Bhagavan declared His mission as "I have come to
light the lamp of love in your hearts, to see that it shines day by
day with added lustre. I have not come to speak on behalf of any
teaching, like the Hindu teaching. I have not come on any mission of
publicity for any sect or creed or cause; nor have I come to collect
followers for any doctrine. I have no plan to attract disciples or
devotees into my fold or any fold. I have come to tell you of this
unitary faith, this Atmic principle, this path of love, this duty to
love, this obligation to love."

With the aid of many thousands of active service workers Sri Sathya
Sai Baba runs projects to help poor and suffering people in India
and inspires many others. All this work is done anonymously by
members of the organization with no public fund-raising, which Swami
strictly forbids. The Sathya Sai Organization in many communities in
India provides free services like village hygiene, basic education
in human values and home industry etc. A most significant event for
the population of a large part of the poor state of Andhra Pradesh
was the inauguration on Sai Baba's 70th birthday of the enormous
Rayalaseema water project. In the presence of a crowd of about
200,000, the President of India officially started the turbines that
opened this project, which brings a year-round water supply to each
of over 750 villages and several towns in this dry state.

The establishment of the modern and spacious Sri Sathya Sai Super
Speciality Hospital in Puttaparthi could be undoubtedly described as
a milestone in Swami's selfless service to humanity. All services at
this hospital including complicated surgeries are done free of
charge. Leading surgeons from Italy, USA, UK and India work free for
the hospital. The infection rate at this hospital is reported to be
0.8%, which would be extraordinary even in Britain or the US The
mortality rate is less than 2%, which is regarded as virtually
unprecedented.

Already, more than a dozen Sathya Sai Colleges have been built in
India, admitting several thousands of students annually. These are
all run through private donations, as are numerous Sathya Sai
schools, male and female colleges and one central university, the
Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning.

These institutions are regarded as the foremost educational centres
in a number of Indian states. Sri Sai Baba predicted many years ago
that there will eventually be at least one major Sai college in each
State of India. Sai schools and colleges also exist in other
countries, especially Thailand. Another Sathya Sai College in Zambia
has been in existence for many years. This college teaches the unity
of religions, charges no fees, is run on donations and serves
children from low-income families with scholarships.

A Sai school has also been started near Gothenburg, Sweden and a Sai
College is to start up in Odense, Denmark shortly. The first Sai
School in Sri Lanka is in Jaffna. As a unique service activity, the
Sri Sathya Sai Service Organization of Sri Lanka has established the
Sathya Sai Suva Sevana in Hanwella, a 50-bed Centre for Symptom
Control and Palliative Care of cancer patients. Due to financial
constraints, this centre is presently catering to 15 patients but
the Organization hopes to increase its services in the future.

The Sathya Sai Education in Human Values (SSEHV) for young people
from 6 to 16 years of age and a Trust for that purpose were
inaugurated by Sri Sai Baba in 1981. SSEHV is a universal system of
spiritual education, not bound specifically to any particular
religion, sect, church or other single system of moral belief. The
five human values - truth, right action (righteousness), peace (of
mind), love and non-violence - which are the universal ideals in all
world cultures and form the essence of all religions form the basis
of SSEHV.

Sri Sai Baba has told his followers that, even though God is in
everyone and everything, he is aware of this divinity in a way which
others are not. The breadth and depth of spirituality in India's
ancient culture, with its great tolerance and universality, is well
reflected in the works and teachings of Sri Sai Baba. Whether Sri
Sai Baba is the avataric incarnation of Vishnu come again to save
the world from the crisis caused by its periodic decline is a
question of personal conviction, for no one can fully perceive and
know the true nature of such divine incarnations.

In conclusion, let us quote Swami: "Service to man may deal with his
physical or spiritual needs, but serving him by example is best of
all. Do not be a bad example to your neighbours or family members.
Be good and radiate goodness. The truth must be spoken without
hypocrisy or deceit; there must be no motive to injure. Acts must be
regulated by the overall supremacy of righteousness. He is asked not
to neglect the knowledge he has acquired but to ruminate on it and
cultivate it by putting it into practice. Treat the mother as God;
treat the father as God; treat the preceptor as God; treat the guest
as God. These important declarations should be honoured.

The teacher has some very fine advice to give about the gift of
service. Give in reverence; give in plenty; give with modesty; give
as to a friend; give without any thought of reward. Do not give
ostentatiously. All has to be done with humility and reverence. Only
then will these acts bring about cleansing of the mind, which is the
main benefit to be derived from service."

Source: Indiatimes Spirituality
Section: Guru
Date: Saturday, December 6, 2003
URL: http://spirituality.indiatimes.com/articleshow/342939.cms

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The Guru Shows the Path
SHAMMI PARANJAPE

A guru shows the path of enlightenment to seekers. Gu denotes
darkness (ignorance) and ru denotes the removal of that darkness.
The word guru has two other meanings.

In the first one, gu signifies guna titha (one who has transcended
the three gunas) and ru signifies the formless aspect (one who has
grasped That). Gur means heavy or weighty, signifying the weight of
the guru's wisdom, which can benefit others.

The guru is both a formal teacher and a spiritual preceptor. He is a
storehouse of spiritual energy, which he can transmit to others. He
helps the aspirant to polish his inner self till it reflects the
light of truth. In the Shirdi Sai Satcharita a seeker asks Shirdi
Baba: "Where to go?" Baba replies: "High up". The seeker then
asks: "How to go there?" Baba answers: "Take a guide, he will take
you straight and make you avoid the ditches and wild beasts in the
jungle". Even avatars like Rama and Krishna subjected themselves to
the tutelage of worthy gurus like Vashishta and Sandipani.

The guru-shishya parampara honours the teacher as God and promotes
reverence for vidya (knowledge). It inculcates humility in the
student and respect and gratitude in him for the dispenser of
knowledge. Other noble virtues like discipline, dedication, sense of
duty, sacrifice and compassion also evolve with the guru's help.

A true guru guides you on the spiritual path to salvation. He
promotes your furtherance on the Godward path. He is also the one
who grants great inspiration to good works. 'Gurur Brahma, Gurur
Vishnu, Gurur Devo Maheshwara, Gurur Sakshat Parabrahma, Tasmaye
Shri Guruvai Namaha'. In this sloka the guru is compared with the
trinity of Gods — Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara — because a sincere
guru has to take on all the three functions of the trinity —
creation (of good qualities), sustenance (of higher nature) and
destruction (of negative qualities).

The best guru dakshina is to adhere to the guru's words. Once, a
guru sent his pupil to collect dry 'useless' leaves from a forest as
guru dakshina. The disciple searched long and hard but was
unsuccessful. Whenever he tried to gather the dry leaves he would be
stopped by forest folk collecting them for fuel to heat water, humus
for plants, for making patravalis (plates) or for preparing herbal
medicines. He went back disappointed, without the guru dakshina. His
guru said that the knowledge he had gained of how 'nothing was
useless', was his guru dakshina, and his purpose in sending the
student to the forest was to teach him that.

By the gurus' grace — guru krupa — everything auspicious is
obtained. However, the path is not easy. The disciple has to offer
his ego at the guru's feet and accept his inscrutable methods of
instruction. The guru's words may not be an explicit command (Sri
Ramana Maharashi hardly uttered a word to his shishyas) — it may
simply involve a subtle fine-tuning to the natural requirements of a
purified conscience. As Sri Sathya Sai Baba says, the ultimate goal
of the guru-shishya relationship is to make the latter attain the
heights of self-awareness, whereby dependence on all external forms -
  even that of the guru - is shed, and the Param Guru or the Self is
gloriously revealed within.

Guru Purnima is celebrated on a full moon night in honour of Ved
Vyasa, the Loka Guru. The full moon symbolises the cool clear light
of the guru's intellect which alone can dispel ignorance. Guru Ved
Vyasa arranged and classified the Vedas in their present order and
made them available for the benefit of mankind. Hence he is called
Ved Vyasa.