Thursday, September 29, 2011

Jai Mahalakshmi

Salutations to the great enchantress,
Who is the Goddess of wealth,
is being worshipped by Devas,
And who holds conch, wheel and mace in herh ands,
Again salutations to the Mahalakshmi.


(Courtesy of Hindupedia)

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Jai Ma Durga

O Universal Mother!
We are thy little children, bless us and
Dismantle the mountain of ego from our attitude.
Terminate the spiral of greed from our thoughts.
Crush the matrix of envy from our unlimited desires.
Quench the fire of anger in our complex behaviors.
Transform lust into true love for attaining happiness.
Annihilate the structure of delusion from our life.

O Universal Mother!
Create fresh ideas for innovation in our minds.
Glorify true feeling of love in our hearts.
Develop a purposeful vision in our Spirit.
Amplify every signal of happiness in our life.

O Universal Mother!
Evolve compassion and kindness in our attitude.
Extend true love and lovely wishes in our hearts.
Expand our thinking pattern toward all directions.
Globalize the spirit of humanity in our world.

O Universal Mother!
We are thy little children.
Spread thou eternal bless everywhere for everyone and
Fuse all our thoughts for construction of creative ideas.
Harmonize our every thought, words and actions.
Integrate our minds, hearts and spirits.
and unify our souls with infinite soul.
For attaining final journey of all human being - NIRVANA.

Jai Mata Di ……. Jai Ma Durga


(By courtesy of Holistic-online)


Tuesday, September 27, 2011

The Message of Navarathri


"Engage yourself in healthy activity or high blood pressure is guaranteed! There is worry over the children. What is happening to them? They are very happy there, you are unhappy here. People are unhappy thinking that their children are unhappy. No, no, no. Children are very happy in our absence. Why should you buy unhappiness when they are very happy that you are here? But we think of them and are unhappy.

Here are some ways to engage your mind:

!) Think of Swami - thinking of God is meditation (dhyanam)

2) Read the Vahinis or Sathya Sai Speaks (Swami's teachings and discourses)

3) Share your spiritual experiences with others and listen to their experiences

4) Join good company

5) Practise namasmarana (chanting the name of the Lord) or sing bhajans


So let us employ our mind in a healthy activity.
That is the message of Navarathri."


(From : "Divine Reflections" by Prof. K. Anil Kumar)

Monday, September 26, 2011

My Response


"If you have genuine love and devotion to me,
my response is immediate wherever you are.
Whatever the time is, I respond equally quick,
no matter what form and name of God
you adore and worship and call on.
All names and forms are mine."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~
(Facets of the Divine Diamond)


Sunday, September 25, 2011

I Shall Not Live in Vain


"If I can stop one heart from breaking
I shall not live in vain
If I can ease one life the aching
Or cool one pain
Or help one fainting robin
Unto his nest again
I shall not live in vain."


~ Emily Dickinson ~
(S.S. Sept. 1992)


The Spiritual Life


"Particularly on the spiritual path, we struggle. It is no bed of roses. It is not a comfortable life; it is a challenging life. In material life, you are sure of profit and loss - you may sustain a loss today but you may receive a profit tomorrow. Success is based on your intelligence, and your ability in management, maneuvering, manipulation, politics and conspiracy. But in spiritual life, these abilities get us nowhere. Indeed, spiritual life is the genuine challenge."


(From "Divine Reflections" by Prof. K. Anil Kumar)


Thursday, September 22, 2011

Gratitude


When I wake in the morning
and I don’t know what to do
I open my mind and I open my heart
Then I thank God for you

When the words won’t come
and there is much to be done
I know that I will be ok
I sit very still and open my soul
as I live, breathe and pray

I wonder where my life is headed
I hope I do not fail
I trust my God and I trust my faith
Sometimes I want to bail

When I doubt myself
or my purpose on earth
When I haven’t got a clue
I look in my heart
where love got its start
I smile and thank God for you

The value of my life on earth
is not measured in silver or gold
It is in the love I share with others around
as I watch my life unfold

I am living my life in faith
One step at a time
I am embracing my presence
Here on this earth
I am strengthened as I climb

I am traveling through the mountains
The valleys and the seas
I am letting go of all the hurts
And releasing the need to please

When my life seems empty
and I wonder what do I have to give?
I know that I am supported and loved
I am learning lessons as I live

I am opening up my Heart
I am opening up my Soul
I am opening my life
to a new way of being
I know that I am already whole

You see me as I am
There is nothing I need to do
I want you to know
You have touched my Heart
I thank God for you.

(Author unknown)


True Happiness


"True happiness lies in union with God.,
not with the world."


(From "Divine Reflections" by Prof. K. Anil Kumar)


Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Dharma

"Let each one carry on his or her duties.
Dharma protects its protector and destroys its destroyer.
Strive to proceed from the human to the Divine."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~
(Divine Discourse - 4.4.98)


Sunday, September 18, 2011

The Lord Looks at the Heart


"The Lord doesn't see things the way you see them.
People judge by outward appearance
but the Lord looks at the heart."

1 Samuel 16.7 (NLT)


Saturday, September 17, 2011

Ambashali and the Buddha

After Buddha gave up worldly ways, he travelled far and wide. People were wonder-struck at his brilliant, handsome form.

Enamoured by his effulgence, a woman named Ambashali approached him and said, "O great one, you look like a prince in ochre robes. May I know why you don ochre robes at this young age?" Buddha replied that he took to the path of renunciation in order to seek solutions to three problems. "This body which is young and handsome is bound to become old with time - will be made sick and perish ultimately. I want to know the cause for old age, sickness and death."

Impressed by his quest of truth she invited him for lunch. In no time the entire village came to know of this. The villagers started coming to Buddha one by one, and requested him not to accept her invitation as she was a woman of bad character.

Buddha listened to all their complaints patiently. Buddha smiled and asked the village head, "Do you also affirm that she is a woman of bad character?" The village head replied, "Not once, but thousand times I will vouch for the evil character of Ambashali. Please do not visit her house."

Holding the village head's right hand, Buddha asked him to clap. The village head said that he could not do so as one of his hands was in Buddha's hold and it was not possible for anyone to clap with a single hand. Buddha replied, "Likewise, Ambashali cannot be bad by herself unless there are men of bad character in this village. If all the men in this village were good, this woman would not have turned bad. Therefore, men and their money are responsible for the bad character of Ambashali."

Saying so he wanted to know if there was any individual in that gathering without any trace of bad in him so that he could visit his house for lunch. No one came forward. Then Buddha said, "When there are so many bad men in the village, it is not proper to point a finger at one woman. She turned bad due to bad company." That is why it is said, 'Tell me your company, I shall tell you what you are.'

Realising their folly, the people fell at Buddha's feet and sought forgiveness. Since then they started treating Ambashali as one amongst them. Inspired by the teachings of Buddha, Ambashali also took to the path of renunciation and led a pious life. No one else is responsible for the good and bad in an individual. Each one is responsible for his own good and bad. Who is good, who is bad? First eliminate the bad in you.


(Chinna Katha from Bhagawan Sathya Sai Baba)


The Two Eyes of Man


"The ancient sages proclaimed two eternal verities:
"Sathyam Vada; Dharmam Chara"
(Speak the Truth, Adhere to Righteousness).
These were regarded as the two eyes of man.
Today man has lost these eyes and is helpless."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~
(S.S. April 1998)


Friday, September 16, 2011

Comfort Zones

I was on the subway train when I passed by a certain station. From the "windscreen window" opposite my seat, I saw a man at a window in an apartment of a block of flats. The window was grilled and he had one hand on it, clasping. He was leaning forward half-hesitantly while looking out. He looked fearful while hopeful at the same time. I felt sorry for him, a total stranger. There was a wave of compassion arising in me. He was unkempt and bearded. Early thirties maybe. It was too far and I could not see his eyes. But his posture was that of desperation and depression.

Maybe he is jobless. Maybe his family left him. Maybe he had lost his confidence in himself and society. Maybe all this happened while he was feeling middle-age blues.

We all have our comfort zones. Maybe he was forced to leave his comfort zone, his former refuge of happiness, as a victim of karmic circumstances.

Maybe he just broods around all day in despair and pessimism. That is suffering, yet that might be his next best comfort zone (in a deluded sense), being afraid to face the world again.

Are we better off than him? We have our comfort zones too. Sometimes they aren't obvious at all. It could be a friend that you keep confiding in in times of trouble, being afraid that you can't stand alone. It can be the unchallenging job that offers no chance for personal growth you had been holding for years. Sometimes we shouldn't get too comfortable, or we end up imprisoning ourselves within self-made walls

When the Buddha was asked what He taught, He once answered, "I teach suffering and the end of suffering." That was a way of putting the Four Noble Truths. The Buddha taught about the recognition of suffering, which is the only problem with our lives, and how to end it.

There are two types of suffering. One type is suffering that leads to more suffering and the other is that which leads to the end of it. I hope the man will be brave. I hope we will be brave. Brave to step out of our own comfort zones to face the challenges and necessary hardships of life that lead to Enlightenment. That is the only way to grow truly. The Buddha stepped out of His ultimate comfort zone-the luxurious life of the palace to wander in search of the Truth. He was brave, and He succeeded.


(The Daily Enlightenment)


Desire


Desires dance dreams of delight
Banish contentment out of sight
Set us on an elusive chase
Exhaust us by running the race.

Sorrow stalks unsatisfied desires
Jealousy and anger feed the fires
The longest pain comes, and cannot hide,
From desires that are satisfied.


~ Hal Honig ~
New York


Thursday, September 15, 2011

Change Your Vision


"Change your vision and the world will appear accordingly.
Let the eye be charged with the Divine, it will see all as God.
It is foolish to try to shape the world; shape yourself
as the embodiment of Peace, Love and Reverence.
Then you will see all as Love and Compassion and Humility."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~
(S.S. Oct. 1992)


Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Loka Samastha Sukhino Bhavantu


"Loka Samastha Sukhino Bhavantu
Let the whole world be happy

Om Shanthi, Shanthi, Shanthi
Let there be peace everywhere

That should be our prayer!
Let not our prayer be for the successful landing and launching of a spaceship!
No, let our prayers be for peace, universal peace."


From "Divine Reflections" by Prof. K. Anil Kumar)


Monday, September 12, 2011

Celestial Poems of Sathya Sai Baba


"Birth is a worry, existence on this earth is a worry;
Family life is a worry, death is a worry;
Childhood is a worry, old age is a worry;
Living is a worry, friendship is a worry;
Joy is a strange worry;
O people! At least now, develop love for Sai,
Which will destroy all worries."


~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~


Saturday, September 10, 2011

Beyond the Horrids of Life

"The secret of happiness is to face the fact that the world is horrible, horrible, horrible."

That was a quote by Lord Betrand Russell, dubbed by many as the greatest philosopher of the 20th century. He seems to be referring to the First Noble Truth of life in his own way.

The secret of happiness, according to the Buddha is realising the Four Noble Truths:

1. Life is full of dissatisfactions,

2. They have their causes in our wanting (greed) and not-wanting (hatred), that comes from our ignorance,

3. The end of dissatisfactions is possible, and

4. The way to end dissatisfactions is the Noble Eightfold Path.

I guess that makes Lord Buddha the greatest "philosopher" of all time.
And that was 2,540 years ago!


(The Daily Enlightenment)

Friday, September 9, 2011

Sathsang


"The easiest and most fruitful method of keeping yourself free from dust and rust is Sathsang (good company). The company of the good and the godly will slowly and surely chasten and cleanse the persons prone to straying away from the straight path towards Self-Realisation."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~
(S.S. June 1996)


Thursday, September 8, 2011

Gifts of the Divine

"God has no self-interest or selfish purpose to achieve.
He expects no return from anyone.
God is conferring on mankind countless benefits
which no human being can offer.
Can all the man-made lamps in the world
equal the light coming from the sun?
Can all the pumps you may install
produce the amount of water that came down
in last night's downpour?
Who has given you the life-giving air that pervades everywhere?


~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~
(Divine Discourse - 20.5.96)


Tuesday, September 6, 2011

God's Grace

"God's grace is universal, not individual.
The only thing is that one person feels it,
while another does not feel it.
One does not feel it when he is highly restless or highly frustrated.
Then he won't feel God's grace.
Be peaceful, be hopeful, be promising, be happy;
then you will know God's grace.
His grace is there already."

(From "Divine Reflections" by Prof. K. Anil Kumar)

Is-ness

The sky is blue. The grass is green.

The sky never said it is blue. Neither did the grass say it is green.

So is the sky blue and the grass green?

Neither did the sky say it is sky nor the grass that it is grass.

So what is the "sky" or "grass" really?

The "sky" and "grass" just IS.

IS-NESS.

The moment you define it, you are wrong - that is conceptualisation.

Reality is to be experienced - not conceptualised.


(The Daily Enlightenment)


Monday, September 5, 2011

Celestial Poems of Sathya Sai Baba



"Most sweet and enchanting are the words of Sai.
They are sweeter than grape and sugarcane juice.
They are more enchanting than a flower
And the smile of a baby.
Such are the words of Sai
Who bestows on us peace and love."
~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

Contentment


"There is no wealth more satisfying than contentment."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~
(Sadhana - The Inward Path)


Friday, September 2, 2011

True Devotion

Once Swami Vivekananda was in a certain town to give spiritual discourses. People recognised in him a great monk and profound scholar. They listened to his discourses with rapt attention for about three days. Every day, when the discourse came to an end, some people used to gather around him to ask about certain subtle points on Sadhana, Ethics and Sastras. Students were eager to know about national regeneration and the solutions he could suggest.

There was an old man sitting in a corner observing Vivekananda with avidity but could not speak one word. He was there all the three days waiting for a chance to be near the monk.

On the third day, he made bold, went to him and said: "Son! Shall I bring you something to eat! These people never gave you anything nor did they give you time to relax and think about your food. I shall run and be back with food and drink for you."

Vivekananda was greatly touched by the loving words spoken by the old man. He said with a beaming smile, "Come, let us go together to your place to eat and drink."

Blessed indeed was the old man for he had sympathy and consideration for a fellow human being. He was ready to render loving service to the monk. This indeed is true devotion and he is indeed a true devotee.


(Chinna Katha by Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba)




Prema


"Prema (love) should not only be shown towards God
but towards all beings in creation."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~
(Divine Discourse - 1.4.95)


Thursday, September 1, 2011

Desires


"Desires are a source of pleasure for man
but they are also the cause of his grief."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~
(Divine Discourse - 1.4.95)


Ganesha Chaturthi (Sept. 1, 2011)

"What is the inner significance of worshipping the elephant-faced deity? The elephant is a symbol of might and magnitude. The elephant's foot is larger than that of any other animal. The elephant can make its way through the densest jungle. In this way, it signifies the quality of a leader who shows the way for others. The elephant is also known for its faithfulness and gratitude. These are the lessons man should learn from the elephant. Intelligence without gratitude is valueless. Every man should be grateful to those who have helped him".

-

Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

( Divine Discourse: 7 September 1997)