Sunday, February 27, 2011

The Lesson of Shivarathri

“The lesson of Shivarathri is that devotees should foster good and sacred thoughts. They should be filled with godly thoughts. They should seek to become one with the Divine by reflecting on their inherent divinity. If you constantly chant the name of God, God realization will come in due course.


Whatever other things they may possess, men suffer from lack of peace and bliss. These two can be obtained only from God. It is for these two that men should pray to God and not for anything else, because God alone can give them. When these are secured, all other things will come of their own accord by the grace of God. People should yearn for God. All other desires are worthless."


~ Baba ~

(Divine Discourse - 26.2.98)



Saturday, February 26, 2011

Maha Shivarathri - 2nd March 2011


“Today we are celebrating Shivarathri. ‘Shivarathri’ means "Auspicious night". At least on this day, one should chant Shiva's name all through the night. At least on one day in a year, chant the Lord's name. This night, devotees are expected to stay awake by chanting the sacred name of Shiva. Keeping awake in any other way is purposeless. Spending the night reciting the Lord's name sanctifies one's life”`


~ Baba ~

(Divine Discourse - 25.2.98)


Celestial Poems of Sathya Sai Baba


"The Atma is the eternal one;
Free from birth and death.
It has no beginning, no middle, no end.
It is neither born nor does it die;
It is imperishable.
It shines brilliantly everywhere."

~ Baba ~

Adventure

There are certain things in our lives that we unknowingly censor ourselves from, leading us to lead drab monotonous lives. No, no... I'm not referring to hanging out at nightspots. I'm referring to trying out the same old stuff in a totally new and radical approach.


For example, don't keep walking the same old path from your home to the bus-stop day after day. Take a new turn and enter new worlds and see new sceneries. You might meet an interesting "new" neighbour or...


Whatever it is, if you keep your mind open and watchful, Enlightenment is abound in every nook and cranny high or low. Realisations can hit you. We don't necessarily have to seek adventure in the wild - real life adventure can happen in real everyday life.


(The Daily Enlightenment)


Friday, February 25, 2011

Hand in Hand


The golden gates of dawn open
To welcome the Great Lord Divine
Who walks along with His arms open
Beckoning to us, saying,
"You are all mine".

He has come at last, the Leader of all,
To beckon us all with His clarion call,
To find ourselves within His proximity
And to live our lives in stability.

Not to throw anyone into brimstone,
Has he come, but to melt the hearts of stone,
He has come as an answer to many cries,
And to save the wicked from many lives.

He has come with no shining swords,
His weapons are His loving words,
Let's hold on to His marching band,
and tread with Him His path in hand.


~ S. Premlatha ~


Thursday, February 24, 2011

Celestial Poems of Sathya Sai Baba


"Being born in water and floating in water,
The water bubble ultimately bursts in water.
Man is the water bubble and the Lord is the water.
This is the Truth I declare."

~ Baba ~

Spiritual Improvement

Don't think of spiritual improvement as something obscure.

If you think of it as something obscure,

ignorance is obscuring you.


So what is spiritual improvement?

It is becoming a kinder person.

It is becoming a wiser person.


To improve spiritually is

to be kind enough to want to help all,

and to be wise enough to be able to help all.


(From: The Daily Enlightenment)


Monday, February 21, 2011

The Hand of God

As I sit back and ponder over the bygone days, I realise that someone has secretly entered into my life and enriched it with priceless love. I was blessed with boundless gifts. I did not know who the giver was, but felt His presence and His gentle touch.


Once in the early nineties, Swami visited Madras, and was staying at Sundaram. After the Suprabhatam was sung, the Lord glided onto the balcony and gave darshan to the thousands who were waiting there. My parents and I were also amongst the crowd of devotees who had come to enjoy the spectacle of love spreading far and wide to rekindle the spirit of mankind.


The mass of devotees, who were seated till then, rose in reverence with folded palms, and tried hard to get a glimpse of the Almighty. Tears of joy rolled down my mother's cheeks as she saw the beautiful form of Love in front of her. I was surrounded by people, and couldn't catch sight of the wish fulfiller, as I knew Him to be. I tugged at my mother's sari. She seemed to understand what was going on in my mind.


Just then, the devotees started murmuring amongst themselves that the Balvikas children were to present a programme in the portico so that Swami could see the tiny tots from where He stood. As the crowd made way for them, I rushed through the narrow passage, and positioned myself in the in the front row. It was then that I had a glimpse of my Guardian, my Eternal Friend. I knew for certain that He is my comrade, and that the unseen hand is His.


As I grew up, God to me was only an entity I used to look up to in order to satisfy my petty fancies. When I was promoted to the sixth grade, attending bhajans in the neighbourhood was a part of my everyday routine apart from academics, fun and frolic. After the bhajans, it was a regular practice among the devotees to narrate some experiences of how Swami had touched their lives and made a difference. Hearing them, I used to yearn for the day when He would enrich my life with an experience.


My life that was filled with the warmth and affection of my kith and kin until then was suddenly thrown into turmoil and tension when I was afflicted by what the doctors diagnosed as tuberculoma of the brain. Initially, I had an agonizing pain in the head which eventually began to run down my spine. Sitting in the classroom for prolonged hours was becoming impossible. I could not sprint in the streets and sport with my friends. I had to discontinue my studies before a week elapsed, and my sprightly spirit, that always soared high, plummeted. I withdrew myself from academics and all the activities and aerial ambitions that an 11-year old would dream of.


A score of bitter pills, steroids and splenetic syrups replaced the bars of chocolate puddings and pastries. The doctors were not happy with my progress. The oral medication did not suffice, and they decided that the needle had to be used to relieve me from the anguish. I had sleepless nights due to the sudden spasms, and my colourful childish world was flooded with darkness. My worried parents surrendered to Swami. I was sure that Swami was making my biography a momentous and memorable one.


I asked Him to hold my hand and deliver me from despair. I prayed fervently and asked Him to renew my lost strength. Behind the silent dark walls, God answered my prayer, and my parents decided to take me to Puttaparthi. I was fortunate to sit in the front row. My mother too secured a convenient position to have Baba's darshan. The music began. Swami came gently walking towards where I sat. He took some rice grains from the lady who was sitting beside me, and showered them thrice on me. In my anxiety, I blurted out 'Swami, I do not want to take those injections any more.' His benign smile gave me an assurance that everything would be taken care of.


I travelled back counting my blessings. The follow-up CT scan reports disclosed that I was on the way to speedy recovery. My parents were grateful to Bhagawan who had granted their daughter a new lease of life. It is said that: 'the strongest metal cometh from the toughest furnace.' This phase of despair strengthened my faith in Bhagawan.




~ Kum. Sai Deepika Amirapu ~

Sai Spiritual Showers,Vol.1 Issue 99


Saturday, February 19, 2011

Celestial Poems of Sathya Sai Baba


"You do not have a necklace around your neck at birth.
You do not have a necklace of pearls,
Nor a necklace of gold around your neck.
You do not have a necklace studded with precious stones;
Neither do you have one of emeralds, diamonds and topaz.
But you have one necklace around your neck -
Choosing carefully, neither adding nor substracting
All the good and bad you have performed,
The Lord sends you to this world with a heavy garland -
A garland made of all your past actions strung together."

~ Baba ~

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Friday, February 18, 2011

The Divine is the Core

"The Divine is the core, the essence of your being.
God is everywhere;
when He is recognised and adored as the Indweller of your body,
it becomes a Temple, and no more a burden.
God is shining, announcing Himself through every thought,
word and deed that emanates from you."

~ Baba ~
(Voice of the Avatar)


Thursday, February 17, 2011

Non-attachment

Have: great.

Don't have: it's okay.

It's staying: great.

It's not staying: it's okay.

This is non-attachment:

the unyearning all accepting heart.

This is ease and simplicity.

This is the key to living without suffering happiness.


(From: The Daily Enlightenment)


Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Non-Violence - The First Dharma


"The observance of non-violence has been described as the highest form of Dharma. All the violence in the world today is due to the fact that people do not lead righteous lives. People do penance and perform various kinds of rituals, but they have secured no peace. Why? Because they have not sought to find out who they really are.

This inquiry should lead to the realisation that one is the Divine in human form and deeming the body as the basic reality, men are misusing the body and the talents and qualities given to them. They are failing to recognise how to use their endowments for redeeming their human birth."


~ Baba ~
(Divine Discourse 15.5.96)

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Celestial Poems of Sathya Sai Baba


"Of what avail is much learning devoid of virtues?
Of what value is such learning?
Of what use is ten acres of barren land?
It is enough if you have a little fertile land."

~ Baba ~

Do you Dare ...


Do you dare to list all your attachments on a piece of paper?

If not, why not? Are you TOO attached?

Do you dare to find the causes of each of your attachment?

If not, why not? Are you TOO attached?

Do you dare to imagine the peace without your attachments?

If not, why not? Are you TOO attached?

Do you dare to walk to path of letting go of your attachments one by one?

If not, why not? Are you TOO attached?


(From: The Daily Enlightenment)


Gifts of Gold

This is a story about the Gods. It deals with the greed of men.


It was a fine day in Heaven; Sriman Narayana and His Consort Lakshmi were talking away the hours, when Narada, the Wandering Minstrel, entered and attracted their attention. Narayana asked Narada whether the denizens of the Earth were happy. Narada replied that since they worshipped Him and won His Grace, men everywhere were quite happy and prosperous.


At this, Lakshmi (who was the Goddess of Wealth) was afflicted with jealousy and anger, for Her share in conferring happiness on man was not acknowledged. She challenged Narada to prove that Narayana was more adored than Herself down on Earth.


Narayana accepted the challenge. Donning ochre robes, He transformed Himself into a Monk and went down amongst the villages and towns, preaching the Path. Thousands flocked at these meetings and listened to the enchanting oratory. They followed Him from place to place and adored Him with effusive enthusiasm. He was being carried along on a huge wave of devotion and adulation.


Lakshmi saw this and could not contain herself; She was overwhelmed by envy. So she too donned the Sanyasi robe and came down to the very region which Narayana had conquered for Himself. The people were drawn towards her by the effulgence of Her Presence; many came away from the meetings addressed by Narayana to bask in Her Presence.


A few invited Her to their homes for dinner. She agreed but declared that it was a vow she had undertaken, not to eat out of plates other than her own. She said she would bring Her own plate, cup, drinking vessel etc. The host was only too glad to comply with Her request, for that helped him to overcome one bother among many!


Lakshmi took with Her when She went to the houses of Her hosts, a plate of gold, a cup and a water vessel, all three of gold! The host admired and adored Her the more for this display of pomp and wealth. But, he was astounded and delighted, when, after dinner, Lakshmi said that she was leaving the plate etc., at the hosts's home, since that too was part of her vow!


When the news spread that it was highly profitable to invite Lakshmi to dinner and to adore Her, there was a huge clamour for Her Grace and millions deserted Narayana's Discourses and hovered around the Giver of Gold. People prayed to Narayana to go back to whence He came, for, they had no time to receive Him or listen to Him. Lakshmi was monopolising their attention!

So Lakshmi came back to Heaven to meet Narayana who was already there. She asked Narada, "Who is being worshipped more, Narayana or Lakshmi?"


Narada replied with another question "Whom are You worshipping, please?" Lakshmi answered, "Why? Worship Narayana" Then, said, “Narada, know that it is Narayana's Grace that is helping you to bestow those gifts of gold, which make men worship you.”


Lakshmi's pride was humbled; but, man's foolishness continues. He worships Lakshmi, not Narayana!


(From Bhagawan's Divine Discourse as it appeared

in the September 1975 issue of Sanathana Sarathi)



Monday, February 14, 2011

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 saw 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 Ramdass ~


Sunday, February 13, 2011

New Year Blessings


Over five decades ago, on the first day of year 1959, Bhagawan had written to a devotee, upon reaching Madras (now Chennai)...


"We arrived at Madras just now, at 12 noon. In all places, every thing was so wonderfully joyous. The happiness of all is my happiness. What else do I need than that? May all have greater and greater devotion, knowledge and renunciation, long life, health and happiness and may all deserve more and more the Grace of the Lord!

With mutual friendship and affection, be engaged in Bhajan, Puja, Meditation and the Study of the Glories of the Lord! Utilise the little time available in thoughts of the Lord, without wasting it in idle talk. Time, once lost, can never be reclaimed! The time that is yet to come cannot be claimed, as certainly yours! So, to transform each moment into joy, make this moment, while it is still with you, holy and pure. Give up all yesterdays and tomorrows and the days after; do now, this very day, the task that is worth while. This is My New Year Blessings to you all."


As we are ringing out the ‘old’ embracing the ‘new’ we cannot help but recapitulate what a fantastic year the ‘last’ has been! The passing year has been the year of celebrations, year of Festival of Joy, marking the 85th Year of His Divine Advent!


For eighty five long years, our Beloved Lord has been with us...walking, talking and steering us through our own ‘kurukshetra’ (field of action), finally to take us to the most desired land of ‘Dharmakshetra’. What have we achieved? How successful have we been in living His messages? After 85 years of His glorious earthly saga, now, when we are entering into a new year, man can pause for a while posing and asking himself: Whether he has been living His message?


The above letter that was written over five decades ago spells out His love and compassion for His highest creation. He spoke about precious time and its proper utilisation and the importance of living in the Now, as worthy beings. If we have not been, if our answer is not affirmative, then Now is the time, for as He had said, The time that is yet to come cannot be claimed, as certainly ours. We need to strive now, walking His talk, moment after moment, step following step towards God, to enter into the dateless realm of ‘eternity!’



There is a pleasure in the dateless days,
In walls with no calendars, table tops, diary free.
No clocks on shelves, no watches on the wrist,
Nothing to chop Eternity into bits
And tell us we are getting old.

All living things.
And even rocks do disintegrate
And stars and planets fade to dust
And dust, to swirls of Force
And Force to Love and Love to God!

We all trek back to God, from whom we strayed.
Let others call this, New Year Day. Let them!

I treat each moment as a little step
To God, with God, in God.


(Sai Spiritual Showers, Vol.2, Issue 76)

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Celestial Poems of Sathya Sai Baba

"What goodness is there if you return abuse for abuse?
If you refrain from committing a mistake,
When you know that it is a mistake,
There in lies all excellence."

~ Baba ~


Silence


Do not speak... unless it improves on silence!

Do not engage in mindless chatter.

Only when you are truly silent can you truly hear what is going on in your head -

this is a basic value of meditation and quiet reflection.

Have you had your silence period yet today?

Keep quiet and you might just manage to keep some peace.


(From: The Daily Enlightenment)


Friday, February 11, 2011

Ever Seen Your Angry Self?

Keep a pocket mirror with you everywhere you go.

When you become angry under any circumstances,

the very moment you are aware of it,

take out the mirror and look at your facial expression in it.

See how horrible you look and your anger will dissipate quickly.

This method works like magic.

This is the outer reflection of our inner being.

The tricky part is being mindful enough to catch the anger,

and to take out the mirror in time.

There will be times when you do indeed feel anger but refuse to look in the mirror.

Know what that means?

It means you are really angry!

Watch it! The more you don't feel like reflecting, the more you should!


(From: The Daily Enlightenment)


Thursday, February 10, 2011

Celestial Poems of Sathya Sai Baba


"O mind! Do not ask for the things you want.
The more frantically you ask, the less it is fulfilled.
When you are silent, your desire is swiftly fulfilled.
Did not Lord Rama bless Shabari
Though she never asked for anything?
Did he not bless her last moments?"

~ Baba ~


Treasure of Divine Grace


"You should not pray to God for seeking this favour or that.

The reason is that no one can know what immensely precious,

divine and magnificent treasures lie in the treasure house of Divine Grace.

No one can know what God intends or desires to give to a devotee.

In such a situation, by asking for trivial and petty things,

man is demeaning his divine estate.

No one can understand what valuable, sacred and

divine favour God chooses to confer on a deserving devotee.

Hence man should not seek from God nor desire nor pray for some petty trifles.

More precious and desirable than anything else is God's love."

Add Image

~ Baba ~
(S.S. January 1999)


Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Celestial Poems of Sathya Sai Baba


"What doesn't seem to exist, really exists;
What seems to exist does not exist at all;
It is the Lord who is real;
It is the world that is unreal;
Realise this truth! O men of this world!'

~ Baba ~


Tuesday, February 8, 2011

An Aspirant's Story

An aspirant after spiritual realization went off into a jungle and was plodding across the infested region, through the thick undergrowth, when he heard the angry roar of a lion; he climbed a tree to escape from the beast, but the lion saw him among the branches and roamed round and round the trunk in terrific rage.


On the tree he was attacked by a bear and so he slid down the roots that descended from one of the branches of the Banyan tree. Luckily, there were two roots hanging from the branch, so that he could hang on in mid-air clinging to them, one in each hand.


Just then, he saw two rats, one white and the other black, which were gnawing at the base of the roots, endangering his life with every bite. While in this perilous state, a honeycomb, which was full of sweet nectar situated on one of the top branches leaked a few drops, which fell his way; so the unfortunate man put out his tongue to catch a drop so that he may taste the delicious honey. But, no drop reached his tongue.


In despair and terror, he called on his guru: "O Guruji. Come and save me". The guru who was passing by heard his appeal; he sped to the rescue; he brought a bow and arrow and slew the lion and bear, frightened off the rats and saved the disciple from the fear of death. Then he led the man to his own âs'ram and taught him the path of liberation.


This is the story of every one of you. This world is the jungle on which you roam; fear is the lion, which drives you up the tree of sâmsara, world activities; anxiety is the bear that terrifies you and dogs your steps insâmsara; so, you slide down into attachments and binding deeds, through the twin roots of hope and despair. The two rats are the day and night, which eat away the span of life.


Meanwhile, you try to snatch a little joy from sweet drops of egoism and mind feeling. Finding at last that the drops are trivial and out of reach, you shout in the agony of renunciation, calling on the Guru; the guru appears, whether from within or without, and saves you from fear and anxiety.


(Chinna Katha from Baba)


Sunday, February 6, 2011

Celestial Poems of Sathya Sai Baba

Our New Year Resolutions


During Bhagawan Baba's 72nd birthday on 23rd November 1997, he gave us 4 mottoes and 5 vital things to follow:-

MOTTOES

1) Avoid bad company
2) Welcome association with good persons
3) Remember always the distinction between transient and the permanent
4) Ceaselessly engage yourselves in meritorious deeds

VITAL THINGS

1) Misuse of money is evil. Don't waste money. For example: If you wish to keep a photograph of Bhagawan Baba, have only one. Why do you waste money by buying too many photographs?

2) Do not waste food. Waste of food is waste of God. Realise that food is God. Your body is the product of the food taken by your parents.

3) Do not waste time. Time is God. Time wasted is life wasted.

4) Do not waste energy. When you speak, hear, act or think, energy is expended. In every one of these, you should see that you do not waste your energy unnecessarily.

5) Every moment, do not forget God whatever you may be doing. God is with you, beside you and around you always.


JAI SAI RAM


Friday, February 4, 2011

Chinese New Year Blossoms (15) - Forget and Forgive


"Forget and forgive all that has happened amongst you until this very moment;
start a new chapter of Love and Brotherhood from now on."


~ Baba ~
(Voice of the Avatar)


Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Chinese New Year Blossoms (14) - The More You Serve God


"The more you serve God, the more bliss you will experience.
Hence, fill your life with love, grow in love and end your life in love."


~ Baba ~
(Divine Discourse 25.12.95)