Sri Krishna Janmashtami (Sept.2)

Krishna is omnipresent. The word has three meanings:

(1) "Krishithi-ithi Krishna -- The man who ploughs is Krishna." The heart is the symbol of a field. The heart should be cleared of weeds (evil qualities). It should be filled with love. The seeds of the Lord's name should be sown in it. Krishna encourages the devotee to do all this.

(2) "Karshathi-ithi Krishna -- Because he attracts, he is Krishna." Krishna has the supreme power of attraction. By his words, his sport, his music, and all his actions he attracts all people. This power of attraction is present in everyone. Hence, everyone is potentially Krishna.

(3) "Krushyathi-ithi Krishna -- Because he imparts bliss, he is called Krishna." Everyone seeks happiness. The Divine, who is the embodiment of happiness, is in you. God wants you to be happy, but you do not realize it. Try to recognize the source of bliss within you. It is not the true nature of man to be unhappy. When anyone is otherwise, people around him are concerned about him. You should always be happy, because you are the embodiment of the Aathma. Never give way to worry.

As a spark of the Divine, you have to behave like the Divine. Do not give room for grief. What use is there in turning over the beads of the rosary while your mind is thinking of mundane matters? First of all, purify your mind. Dedicate all actions to God. Free yourself from all attachments. Treat all things as gifts from God for which you are the guardian and not the owner.

Bhagawan’s Divine Discourse: Sri Krishna Janmashtami, 25^th August 1997

Namasmarana

"When you are depressed by what appears to be loss or calamity,

engage yourselves in Namasmarana,

the recitation and recollection of the names of the Lord;

that will give you consolation, courage and the true perspective."

~ Baba ~

(Sadhana - The Inward Path)

I Respond

"When your mind echoes my voice,

I respond.

When your eyes cry tears of love,

I respond.

When your tongue chants only My name,

I respond.

When your hand serves with all selflessness,

I respond.

When your heart beats Sai, Sai,

I respond.

I arrive.

I melt with your love.

I will only bless for your love.

It is love that I seek.

It is only love that will take you back with Me."

~ Baba ~

(Sai Darshan)

Repeat His Name

Repeat His name, Sai Ram, Sai Ram,

Say it with love, Sai Ram, Sai Ram,

Picture His form, Sai Ram, Sai Ram.

He's everywhere, feel Him shining within You,

Rama Rama Ram Ram,

Sai Rama Rama Ram Ram.

(English bhajan)

Whatever You Do ...

"Whatever you do, wherever you are placed, believe that God has put you there for the work. Then it becomes an education, a Sadhana."

~ Baba ~

(Sadhana - The Inward Path)

The Lord is Sweetness Itself

Know that the Lord is sweetness itself,

Everything is a sign of His grace.

He is the nearest, He is the dearest,

Born in the world as Sri Sathya Sai.

Hold on to Him as close as you can,

Knowing Him as a cherished friend.

(English bhajan)

Koka and the Monk

Early one morning, Koka was on his way out to hunt with his dogs when he saw a monk on his alms round. Not particularly fond of monks, he thought that meeting one on the way would only bring him bad luck, meaning that he would probably not catch anything at all. And, indeed, as he feared, his game bag remained empty all day.

On his way home, Koka happened to come across the same monk he had seen earlier in the day. Still sore at the monk for having spoiled his hunt, he sought revenge by setting his dogs on him.

The poor innocent monk just barely made it into the branches of a nearby tree when the dogs arrived snarling and snapping wildly at him.He sat there safely in the tree out of their reach until Koka came along and started poking the soles of his feet with the sharp end of one of his arrows. This made the poor monk jump about to avoid injury, and while he was doing so, his robe became undone and started slipping off him.

Unable to hang on to it and keep his balance in the tree at the same time, the robe finally fell on Koka below, covering him up completely. When the dogs saw the yellow robe, they mistook their master for the monk and attacked him mercilessly, mauling him to death.

Subsequently, the monk became fraught with guilt, feeling that it was his fault that Koka got killed. He went to seek the Buddha’s advice. The Buddha assured him that it was the hunter, not he, who was at fault, for Koka had tried to bring harm to someone who had done him no wrong. For that reason, Koka came to face an unfortunate death.

Like fine dust thrown against the wind, evil falls back upon the fool who offends a harmless man, one pure and innocent.

(From Dhammapada Stories)

Faith

During the Second World War, a steamer carrying Indian Sepoys was bombed by the Japanese and was sunk. Many lost their lives. Five among them managed to row their lifeboat and hoped to have a chance of surviving in spite of the surging ocean. They were tossed about for many hours.

One of them became desperate and cried: "The sea will swallow me. I will be a meal for the sharks". In that panic, he got drowned.

Another sepoy wept for his family: "Oh, I am dying without arranging for the future of my family." He too lost faith in his survival and breathed his last.

The third sepoy thought: "I have with me the Policy and documents of Insurance. What a pity!" I should have kept them at home. What will my wife do? I am sure to die." He also died.

The other two men reinforced each other's faith in God. They said: "We shall not yield to fear. We shall prove that however desperate the situation may be, God will certainly protect man if he has faith in Him." Even as they were talking like this, a helicopter sent from a coastal ship which had received signals for help, caught sight of these two men and hauled them up. When they were safe on land, they said, "It is only five minutes between victory and defeat. Faith earned the victory; lack of it brought about defeat and death."

(Chinna Katha related by Baba)

Value This Birth

Value this birth.

Value this life.

Value the God within.

And know that death ends only the body.

The Atma stays untouched.

It only continues its journey,

From one birth to another.

Atma is life.

Life is God.

Let God fill you with life,

And you fill your life with God."

~ Baba ~

(Sai Darshan)

Dear Mother Sai

Dear Mother Sai! You are our very life! Without You, oh Lord, our hearts are barren, We are lifeless! We are crest fallen! These thirsty hearts of ours Long for Your love, Your grace. Without Your love, dear Lord, This rainy season has become Dry and dreary like another autumn.

Oh how We love Thee Lord, Living God, With deepest purest feelingsPray fill our hearts with righteousnesswe worship Thee with rising hopes, Lead us; Guide us; Love us…

Oh! Mother, do we not deserve Your Love! Are we not Your very own children! Why are You staying away from us? Why are You delaying to grant Your Compassion? The light in our eyes is missing, Our minds are devoid of any peace, We have lost all our talents. Without You, we can never be at ease. In spite of all our praying and pleading, dear Mother,
Your warmth and love has eluded us.

Please bless us, dear Mother, with the right feeling And the true spirit to set Your heart melting. And if You deny us, dear Lord, We just cannot survive.

(Poem written by Swami's students)

Awakening ...

I believed religion was simple, once upon a time ...

Bhajans and Mantras with all other rhymes,

I mistook this for religion, not caring for more.

I wasn't aware of a heart with love to pour.

God was watching, listening, teaching and smiling,

Moulding my journey with His special kind of guiding;

A beggar, a leper or a decrepit old man

God is all this and more, so holy and divine.

The veils have lifted and now I see the light,

Everything seems so real, the world now seems so bright.

Consider me an instrument, this is all I pray,

In helping those in need, in the right kind of a way.

Help me dissolve my ego

For I really want to let it go.

I pray I live for someone

For I want to be one with the ONE!

~ Regina Ramdas ~

Daily Practices for Good Health

· Instead of beginning the day with tea or coffee, have some Vibhuti in warm water.

· A glass of lukewarm water with lemon or lime first thing in the morning or straight after your dose of Vibhuti water, is a good way to detoxify the system and manage the PH balance of the stomach.

· Bhagawan advises that a few tulsi leaves on an empty stomach can keep most viruses, bacteria and parasites from doing any damage to the body.

· One tablespoon of sprouts in the morning will give one the needed edge to lead an active life.

· A handful of wheat grass chewed in the morning has the effect of rejuvenating the body.

· The sun is very important for our health. Without the light and health of the sun, we could not exist. Of all hues, the golden colour of the sun is the healthiest, most nourishing and most productive of strength and vigour. The simplest of all meditations involve the sun. Yogis often gather this golden colour by staring at the sun as it comes up on the horizon each day for a few moments, meditating on the solar magnificence and abundance. Stare at the sun for a few minutes with closed eyelids, then draw its radiance throughout your body. A few minutes a day will invigorate your being and improve your vision. This yogic exercise is a form of trataka (concentration exercise).

· Foot Soaking – This is best done the last thing at night before going to bed. Sit comfortably in a chair with your hands on your lap, palms upward, fingers directed towards a Goddess photograph. Place your feet in a bowl of warm water containing a handful of sea/rock salt. Meditate while soaking your feet for 10-15 minutes. Rinse and dry your feet. Then flush the water down the toilet and wash your hands.

MODERATE DIET, EXERCISE, PRAYER AND MOST OF ALL, ABUNDANT LOVE IS THE RECIPE FOR GOOD HEALTH.

(From: Handbook on Union with God Through Finger Postures by Aparna Choudhuri)

Will You, O Lord, Let Go The Hold?

"Will You, my Lord, let go the hold?

You will not, You will not,

You will not let go

However bad I be.

Will You, my Lord, let me waste my years?

You will not, You will not,

You will not let me waste,

However dull I be.

Will You, my Lord, let me run to ruin?

You will not, You will not,

You will not let me run,

However wayward I be.

Will You, my Lord, let me escape Your eye?

You will not, You will not,

You will not let me escape,

However wanton I be

You cannot but rush to rescue Your own,

You cannot delay for weighing pro and con,

You cannot stay unconcerned when we weep,

You cannot but respond to the prayers of the poor.

(Poem written by Baba and given to Kasturi on New Year's Day 1959)

Perennial Flame of Life

"See unity in diversity.

Behold one divine form appearing in multi-forms;

Immense is His vastness, unparalleled is His glory.

All the countless earths, suns and planets which are seen,

and which are beyond our perceptions exist under His command.

Kindled in various forms, the perennial flame is one;

Painting the evening clouds with changing colours, the sun is one."

~ Rig Veda 8.58.2 ~

The Two Evil Sirens

There are two evil sirens that entice youth into futility and frivolity, diverting them along the paths of ruin.

One of them is called Dame Cinema and the other is named Dame Novel.

The film contaminates and corrupts; it pollutes young and innocent minds; it teaches crime, violence and greed; it destroys the basic humanness and degrades it into bestiality. Even ochre-robed monks are steadily dragged down to sin by its insidious influence.

Dame Novel too corrupts equally, with salacious pictures of bestiality. They both lead the young away into the wilderness of vice. They do not know, nor do they care to know, how to shape the young into self-reliant, self-confident, self-knowing citizens.

~ Baba ~

Never Return Hatred for Hatred

"Never return hatred for hatred, nor injury for injury. Desiring thy highest good, thou must strive to free thyself from evil ignorance."

~ Sri Krishna ~

As a Flower ...

"As a flower that is lovely and beautiful, but is scentless,

even so fruitless is the well spoken word of one who does not practise it."

~ Dhammapada 51 ~

Dear Lord ...

Dear Lord
Wherefore art thou?
You used to visit me in my dreams,
So sweet, so serene.
Sometimes You allowed me to touch Your Lotus Feet;

Sometimes You held my hand so lovingly;
Sometimes You looked at me with that reassuring smile of Yours.
But of late, I do not see You anywhere in my dreams.
O Lord, wherefore art thou?

Win the Battle of Life

"There is no need to retire into a forest or cave to know your Inner Truth and to conquer your lower nature.

As a matter of fact, you have no chance to exhibit your anger there and so the victory achieved there may not be lasting or genuine.

Win the battle of life, being in the world but yet, away from its tentacles. That is the victory for which you deserve congratulations."

~ Baba ~

(Sadhana - The Inward Path)

The Prayer "Thank You God"

For all You have given,

Thank You God.

For all You have withheld,

Thank You God.

For all You have withdrawn,

Thank You God.

For all You have permitted,

Thank You God.

For all You have prevented,

Thank You God.

For all You have forgiven me,

Thank You God.

For all You have prepared for me,

Thank You God.

For the death You have chosen for me,

Thank you God.

For the place you are keeping for me in heaven,

Thank You God.

For having created me to love You for eternity,

Thank You God.

(From: Catholic Online)

Dear Lord ...

Dear Lord,

Never have I felt so afraid.
Never have I felt so alone.
But You are with me, dear Lord,
So why fear when You are here?

My little heart is troubled and confused,

Like a bottle tossing on the waves of the ocean.
Why can’t I just let go and let you steer
The ship of my life?

I cry, I fret, I beg You to speak to me,
You shake Your head in disbelief that your
Child should feel such hopelessness

When You are there.

O Lord, please bear with me and
Help me through this difficult time.
Please walk with me hand in hand

For I Need You so much

Now and forever.

24 Hours of the Day

"Of the 24 hours of the day, have six hours for your individual needs, 6 hours for the service of others, 6 hours for sleep and 6 hours for dwelling in the presence of the Lord. Those six hours will endow you with the strength of steel."

~ Baba ~

(Sadhana - The Inward Path)

I Want to Light the Lamp of Prema in Every Heart

"Where there is a desire for mental tranquility, I hurry to grant tranquility; where there is dispiritedness, I hasten to raise the drooping heart; where there is no mutual trust, I rush to restore trust. I am ever on the move to fulfil the mission for which I have come. I want to light the lamp of Prema in every heart."

~ Baba ~

Sathya Sai - The Great Physician

Sai, thou born great physician par excellence,

You heal the wounds of hatred and anger,

With the sweet medicines of love and compassion;

You unite fractures caused by jealousy and greed,

With strong plaster casts of deep faith and devotion;
You transplant failing and weak hearts,

With the hearts of love and understanding.

Sai, thou born great surgeon par excellence,

You operate on cataracts of lust and anger,

To replace with intra ocular lens of love and compassion,

So as to restore clear vision of divinity in us;

Sai, thou great physchiatrist,

You bless peace and tranquility,

For the victims of depression and psychosis;

Sai, thou great neuro-surgeon,

You awaken the humanity from

Deep state of coma of illusions and pride,

To wonderful states of reality and truth,

With the mere wave of Your hand;

Sai, thou great obstetrician,

You give birth to a new world of religion,

That is the single religon of Love.

~ Dr. (Mrs.) V.Seetha Lakshmi Sreedhar ~

Wisdom of the Buddha

"Hard it is to understand:By giving away our food, we get more strength; by bestowing clothing on others, we gain more beauty; by founding abodes of purity and truth, we acquire great treasures."

~ Buddha ~

The Fingers of the Hand

"One day, the fingers of the hand had an argument, each claiming to be the most important," said Swami. He illustrated with His hand.

The little finger said:"I am the most important because when people talk and advise each other, they gesture, and I am the first finger on their hands."

The ring finger disagreed. "I wear the crown, I am the king finger."

The middle finger said: "No, I'm the best. I'm the tallest."

The index finger said: "I point everything out, that makes me the best."

The thumb laughed at them. "Why fight among yourselves? Without me, the hand is of no use - I am the essential one."

Baba smiled and said, "All of them are important, and like the religions, all must work together."

(From An Indian Notebook - Dr. Bill Jackson)

You are the Indweller

Krishna told Arjuna, "I want to make an example of you, that is why I'm teaching you here on the battlefield the qualities of Sthithaprajna.


First I will turn you into a wise man, then, through your example, I will teach others. To begin with, you must understand this most important principle, which is you are not the body, you are the indweller. When you understand that, you will no longer be bothered by body consciousness.


The body is temporary, God is eternal and permanent. You are not the cloth but the one who wears the cloth. Therefore it is said that the body is the temple of God and that the indweller is God Himself.


This world is impermanent and full of sorrow; there is no use taking refuge in it. All the people you know will change. God is the only fixed entity. He is the one fixed lamp that does not get extinguished. Take shelter in Him.


He is the supreme light; the Paramjyoti; He is the light of every soul, Jivanjyoti;
He is the unlimited and inadmissible light, without a second, the Advaitajyoti."

(Discourses on Bhagavad Gita - 1988 Edition)

Peace Starts with a Smile

"Peace starts with a smile. Therefore, five times a day, give a smile to someone you really do not feel like smiling at. Make this gesture for peace. Let's radiate Peace."

~ Mother Teresa ~