Thursday, July 31, 2014

May God Bless You




May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half truths, superficial relationships, so that you will live deep within your heart.

May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression and exploitation of people so that you will work for justice, equality and peace.

May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation and war, so that you will reach out your hand to comfort them and change their pain into joy.

And may God bless you with the foolishness to think that you can make a difference in the world, so that you will do the things which others tell you cannot be done.


(Author Unknown)

Fond Memories



When I was 9 months old, Baba blessed me by putting His hand on my head.  

When I was 2 years old, Baba cut my hair.  

When I was 5 years old, we went to Kodaikanal. My mum had bought a slate for me so Baba would write an Aum on it.  My mum would not let me hold the slate because she thought I would write on it.  I promised her that I would not draw on it.

That day we had line one, we were sitting in the first row, when Baba came out; He came straight to us and wrote on the slate with the chalk.  As Baba was writing on the slate, I bent down and touched His divine feet.

My mum was proud of me as she was surprised I did this without her prompting me to do this.  My mum thought she was dreaming.

In 1995 Baba blessed our family with an interview, when I was three years old.  I slept through the whole interview and He told my parents that He would take me and my sister into His school after two years' time.

Without Baba's teachings, I would not be the same person as I am now.  I pray with Baba's blessings I will grow up to be a good person.

~ Sai Darshan ~

(Source: Sai Reflections - Sept. 2000)

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Your Real Nature

 
 
"Your real nature is Atma.  Seek to discover your true Self, your genuine Reality.  Attain the knowledge that you are the Atma itself.  Exult in the Atma alone.  Taste the undiluted Self.  Let time merge in Him whose form is Time.  That is the legitimate task of man."


~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~
(Prashanti Vahini)

Tak Tak Tak


"Aaspathreelu, doctorlu, mandulu... emi akkara ledu” hospitals, doctors, medicines... no need for any of them. "Oka naadu, Nenu, tak tak tak! anni sari chesthanu." One day, tak, tak, tak. Like that, I shall set right everything.”  Baba told me thus, snapping His fingers to produce the sound, tak... tak... tak, when He spoke. 

I was overwhelmed with joy and thankfulness; for, just imagine what He was promising to set right.

My wife was suffering since three years from acute osteomalacia, with pathological fractures of the pelvic bones. The doctors were sure about that; many experts had examined the patient with great care. They had told me that prolonged stay in bed and persistent treatment might be able to give some relief. They told me it was due to the absorption of the osseous substance of the bones, which causes, as in my wife's case, softening and rarefaction, followed by spontaneous fracture. 

She was emaciated and exhausted, the pelvic bones were affected much, becoming irradiated and weak. The spine was paining badly and the doctors said, she will be bed-ridden for years and her limbs will become shortened and useless. Opiates and drugs to dull the pain were the only medicines that could be given, besides various costly experimental palliatives. 


What a terrible life for a poor middle class family with five children and the breadwinner holding a Government job, requiring frequent long journeys! I was hit very hard by this calamity. No one held out the slightest hope. 

Baba was my only refuge, some good friend said. I came to Puttaparthi. I was called in by Baba and this was what He said! Now, you know why she was so full of joy and thankfulness. 


Well, I returned home to Besagarahalli, in Mandya District. Three months passed and there was no improvement in her physical condition; in fact, she became worse; my faith in Baba began wavering. My home was a cell of pain and grief. Without regular food and sleep, racked by pain and worry, my wife became a shadow of her former self. Baba's words were her only solace. She and I held on to them, in spite of all the whisperings of despair. 


I awoke one morning rather early, because I had to leave for a distant village on Government work. I was surprised to find a lamp burning in the kitchen. When I asked, “Who is there?" it was my wife who replied. Yes; she had lit the fire and... would you believe it? She was preparing coffee for me!! 


She said, she had a dream; or, was it a dream? Baba had come to her bedside and ordered her to get up, come down from the cot and do Namaskaram to Him! And, she had obeyed! While she was at His Feet, Baba, with many a consoling word, patted gently on the diseased joints... she could hear the sound the bones made inside her... Tak, Tak, Tak! She had become quite alright. "Anni sari chesthanu", He had said. He had kept His Word! When she looked up, after a while, with tears of gratitude in her eyes, the Lord had disappeared. To the great amazement of all of us, and the doctors who had shaken their heads whenever her recovery was mentioned, she has started from that very day her daily routine of work, as if nothing at all had happened to her. 


The bone specialist who had studied the X-ray photographs of my wife was informed of this miraculous overnight cure. He declared, “During my five years of stay abroad, I could not see a single case of osteomalacia cured, among the several which I treated. It is beyond the ken of a human physician. God has blessed you!” Nothing is impossible for Baba. What He says happens.


(Source: Sai Spiritual Showers)


A Sweet Reminder


Living in a world full of jealousy, turmoil and hate
I smile because I know that Swami's standing by my side.
When people die, deceive or try to hurt me
I sometimes stand agape but,
I smile, because I know that Swami's standing by my side.

When obstacles come like torrents of rain,
When there seem to be no solutions,
No cures for my pain,
I smile, because I know that Swami's standing by my side.

But when I am surrounded by negativity twenty four hours each day
Arguments, cursing, people who have gone astray
And entangled in worldly issues which I'm forced to abide,
Then it becomes difficult to concentrate or even to smile,
and I forget that Swami's standing by my side.

So there I was at my lowest and ready to give in
When suddenly!  My mind had gone blank!
I was unable to think,
Forgetting where I was and who I am.
A melodious tune began playing in my heart,
"Don't quit!  Remember, Swami's standing by your side,
I am with you all of the way."

With those words I wept in shame
For I forgot the power of the Bhagawan
Due to things that were mundane.

But sure enough with those sweet words
I was energised!
My faith in Swami was restored and retained,
So gritting my teeth
I raised my head and started again.

Now I am ready to climb any mountain
To jump any hurdle that should stand in my way
Of obtaining Moksha,
For that alone I pray
and I smile, because I know that Swami's standing by my side.


~ Anuradha Boodram ~

Tuesday, July 29, 2014

Wasteful Worry

Mother Teresa once said, "If we worry too much about ourselves we won’t have time for others". I couldn’t agree more. I know from personal experience what a waste of time it is to worry about ourselves. 

We worry about our looks. We worry about our money. We worry about our jobs. We worry about our weight. We worry about our health. We worry about what other people will think about us. We even worry about what we are going to wear the next day. In the end it accomplishes nothing except to make us more miserable, stressed, and worried. 

 
I used to worry a great deal about myself. It is something I have to guard against even today. When I do start to worry, however, I have found an easy way to stop again. All I have to do is to remind myself how much God loves us and wants us to be happy. When I do that I also remember how easy it is to choose love, joy, peace, happiness, and oneness with God in our lives. It is so simple to choose these things. All you do is relax, smile, and invite them into your heart. After that you have no need to worry because you already have everything you need. Once you have everything you need it is easy to think about and give your time and energy to others. In fact, it is all you want to do. Having happiness means sharing happiness. 

Don’t waste your time on worry then. The only gifts worry ever gives are headaches, ulcers, fear, and unhappiness. Wouldn’t you prefer the gifts of love, joy, peace, and happiness that God offers you instead?
Enjoy these gifts of God. Welcome them into your heart. Make them the focus of your life. Share them with the world. Then you will have plenty of time to do the important things in life like loving and helping others. Life is too precious to throw a single second away on worry. 


~ Joe Mazzella ~



Divine Wisdom




"The body is like a water bubble, which emerges from water, stays on water for a while, and merges back in water.  So also the bubble called "Nara" (man) has emerged from the water called "Narayana" (God) and merges back in Him.  Only when we recognise this Divine origin of the human being, will we take care to maintain and use the human body in an appropriate manner.  Although the body is a mere instrument, its use has to be regulated according to prescribed standards and limits."


~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~
(Summer Shows in Brindavan - 1990)

Monday, July 28, 2014

Celestial Poems of Sathya Sai Baba



"What Sai seeks from you are virtues,
Brotherhood of man, oneness of humanity,
Renunciation of selfishness and pure selfless service to society.
That is the true wealth you can give to Sai."


~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~


Heartprints

Whatever our hands touch -
We leave fingerprints!
On walls, on furniture
On doorknobs, dishes, books.
There's no escape.
As we touch we leave our identity.

Wherever I go today
Help me leave heartprints!
Heartprints of compassion
Of understanding and love.

Heartprints of kindness
And genuine concern.
May my heart touch a lonely neighbor
Or a runaway daughter
Or an anxious mother
Or perhaps an aged grandfather.

Send me out today
To leave heartprints.
And if someone should say,
"I felt your touch,"
May they also sense the love
that is deep within my heart.
 ~ Author Unknown ~

Quotable Quotes

 
 

Wider Meaning of Ahimsa



"What does "Ahimsa" signify?  It is not merely refraining from causing harm or injury to others.  It implies also refraining from causing harm to himself.  One who harms himself cannot avoid harming others.  Whoever desires to observe "Ahimsa" must see that he does not do violence to himself.  How is this to be ensured?

By constantly examining whether his conduct is right or wrong.  For instance, in the matter of speech, he must examine whether his words are causing pain to others or not.  He must see that his looks are not tainted by evil intentions or thoughts.  He should not listen to evil talk.  All these cause harm to the individual.  Hence, everyone should see that he gives no room for bad looks, bad hearing, bad speech, bad thoughts and bad actions."


~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~
(Divine Discourse - 18.1.1996)

Sunday, July 27, 2014

Duty is God




"Those were the days when the supply of electric power for lighting streets was available only to a few big cities in India. In one of the big towns every street had three or four oil lamps each with a glass chimney set on a pole. The municipal authorities employed some labourers to light the lamps at about 6:00 p.m. in the evening. The expenses incurred towards oil, wick and chimney were met by the municipalities.

There was one lamplighter who did his job cheerfully and scrupulously. He had great faith in God and always recited the name of his dear God, Rama. He was very punctual and systematic in his work. He used to come to his ward exactly at 5:00 p.m., clean the chimneys, pour oil into the container, set the wick right and light the lamp. While doing all these he would be singing, “Janaki Jeevana Ram, Karoonga Tumhara Kam,” meaning thereby, “Oh Lord of Janaki, I am doing only your work. I am only serving you.”


Reports reached the municipal authorities that the lamps lit by this devotee shone brighter all through the night while the lamps lit by others in the town were dim and many of them burnt only for a part of the night. The matter was taken for investigation. The reporting officer submitted to the authorities the fact that all the lamplighters in the town were given the same oil and other material and were also paid the same remuneration. As for the street where the lamps shone brightly all through the night unlike those in other streets, it was a unique case where the lamplighter was known to be a very pious man doing his duty as service to God.


Any work done sincerely as service to God is bound to reflect His love and glory."
 


 ~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~
(Source: Radio Sai)

The Coconut


 
"The coconut is a symbol of the heart. Before it is offered to God, all the outer fibre has to be removed. This means, spiritually, removing the Thamasic (evil) tendencies from our heart. The shell of the coconut symbolises the Rajo guna in us. The white kernel inside the coconut represents the Satwa guna. 

What we have to offer to God is a pure heart, without the Tamasic and Rajasic qualities such as anger, hatred and attachment. It is this purity of heart that must be manifested in making any offering to God and not the mechanical breaking of a coconut as a meaningless ritual."


~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

Saturday, July 26, 2014

Why Fear?



When your day is grey,
And you see no other way,
Fold your hands and pray,
You will hear Him say:
"Why fear when I am here?"

When your eyes are full of tears,
And you are enveloped with fears,
He will say: "My dear,
Why fear when I am here?"

When you have no other go,
And your mind sways to and fro,
Pray to Him, His grace will flow,
Assuring you: "Why fear when I am here?"

When the six enemies pull you down,
A hand will pick you up soon,
A protective hand and a kindly face
Telling you softly: "Have my grace;
Don't fear when I am near."


~ P. Mahalakshmi ~
(Sanathana Sarathi - Oct. 1995)

Quotable Quotes



A Special Prayer - from A Dog to His Master


Treat me kindly, my beloved master, for no heart in all the world is more grateful for kindness than the loving heart of me.

Do not break my spirit with a stick, for though I should lick your hand between the blows, your patience and understanding will more quickly teach me the things you would have me do.

Speak to me often, for your voice is the world's sweetest music, as you must know by the fierce wagging of my tail when your footstep falls upon my waiting ear.

When it is cold and wet, please take me inside... for I am now a domesticated animal, no longer used to bitter elements... and I ask no greater glory than the privilege of sitting at your feet beside the hearth... though had you no home, I would rather follow you through ice and snow than rest upon the softest pillow in the warmest home in all the land... for you are my god... and I am your devoted worshipper.

Keep my pan filled with fresh water, for although I should not reproach you were it dry, I cannot tell you when I suffer thirst. Feed me clean food, that I may stay well, to romp and play and do your bidding, to walk by your side, and stand ready, willing and able to protect you with my life, should your life be in danger.

And, beloved master, should my pain or suffering ever become too great during my final hours, do not turn me away from you. Rather hold me gently in your arms as skilled hands grant me the merciful boon of eternal rest... and I will leave you knowing with the last breath I drew, my fate was ever safest in your hands.


~ Beth Norman Harris ~

God and Ice Cream

 

One day many years ago, Swami distributed ice cream to the boys. The brand name was JOY ice cream, and it was gifted by a devotee who owned the company. 

While boys were enjoying the ice cream, Baba went round as usual, asking the boys how they liked the ice cream. And then suddenly He asked a boy, "Boy what do you think God is like?" The boy was taken aback. He was fully immersed in enjoying ice cream, and God was, at least at that moment, far from his mind! Swami asked another boy the same question, and he too blinked. 

After drawing a blank response a few more times, Swami smiled and slowly said,"God is SWEET like ice cream!" The boys became attentive. Swami continued, "God is SOFT like ice cream!" By now, the boys had stopped eating, while Swami went on, "God is COOL like ice cream!" And then the punch line: "He gives JOY like ice cream!"

What a delightful play on words! Sage Ramakrishna Paramahamsa once declared, "God alone can make complicated things simple, so simple in fact that even a child can understand." How very true!


(Souce: Radio Sai)

Sadhana


 
"Many believe that Sadhana and spiritual discipline are to be taken up only during old age.  This is a wrong attitude.  Earn the reward that awaits you, while you are strong, healthy and young.  It is never too soon to begin.

The first step in Sadhana is the control of the tongue.  Talk only as much or as little as is essential.  Make that talk as sweet and pleasant as you can.  Do not talk ill of others, do not see evil in others.  The tongue, the eye, the ear, the hand and the mind should all be trained to avoid evil.  If these are kept clean, the Grace of God will descend on the person.  He will be happy here and hereafter.  God will materialise Himself before Him and manifest Himself within Him."


~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

(From Bhagavan's speech at a public meeting in Kampala, East Africa
on 8.7.1968, extracted from the book "The Light of Love" by
N. Kasturi)

Friday, July 25, 2014

Baba's Storytime - Serve Thyself



"What you call 'service' to others is fundamentally 'service' to your own self.  You serve yourselves best, when you serve others best.  When you relieve the distress of others, you are winning relief from your own distress.

A cow was once caught in a deep morass and she was struggling desperately to extricate herself.  The slush was mercilessly dragging her into its depths.  The ragamuffins of the village were enjoying the mortal struggle which they witnessed gleefully, cheering the helpless animal when it floundered deeper and deeper.

Just then a monk who was passing along that road saw the plight of the poor cow; he jumped into the bog, without a second thought; he dived into the mire and rose with the cow upon his hefty shoulders.  He carried her safe out of the morass and placed her on her legs, on dry land.  Then he quietly resumed his journey.  The village lads jeered at him, for he had spoiled their fun.  They asked him why he had risked his life so stupidly; they spoke cynically of his great act of 'service'.  

The monk replied, "I did not help the cow; I only helped myself.  I felt the terrible agony of the cow in my own heart.  I had to seek relief.  I could not but jump in and save her.  I am now happy.  My pain has gone."

When you find that others are suffering or in pain, you should feel the pain and the suffering as your own and you should remove it, by serving them.  Cultivate that sympathy; that is the highest Sadhana."


~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

 (From Bhagavan's talk with delegates from East Africa on 9.7.1968,
extracted from the book "The Light of Love" by N. Kasturi)


Beloved Sai



Your face reflects in the moon,
we feel your breath at night,
your eyes they twinkle in the stars,
your brightness is the light.

We feel your warmth in the sun,
your perfume fills the air,
your love, simply melts our hearts,
you show us that you care.

We doubt you time and time again,
yet still you grant us grace,
we yearn to be at your feet,
and gaze into your face.

You tell us we are all divine,
and on which path to start,
that God does not live in Heaven
but deep within our hearts.

We travel far, just to be near,
to our beloved Sai we come,
we simply fail to understand
that we, and he, are one.

~ Gary Murphy ~

The Perfect Heart

One day a young man was standing in the middle of the town proclaiming that he had the most beautiful heart in the whole valley. A large crowd gathered and they all admired his heart for it was perfect. There was not a mark or a flaw in it. Yes, they all agreed it truly was the most beautiful heart they had ever seen. The young man was very proud and boasted more loudly about his beautiful heart.

Suddenly, an old man appeared at the front of the crowd and said: “Why your heart is not nearly as beautiful as mine.” The crowd and the young man looked at the old man’s heart. It was beating strongly, but full of scars, it had places where pieces had been removed and other pieces put in, but they didn’t fit quite right and there were several jagged edges. In fact, in some places there were deep gouges where whole pieces were missing.

 The people stared – how can he say his heart is more beautiful, they thought? The young man looked at the old man’s heart and saw its state and laughed. “You must be joking,” he said. “Compare your heart with mine, mine is perfect and yours is a mess of scars and tears.”

“Yes,” said the old man, “Yours is perfect looking but I would never trade with you. You see, every scar represents a person to whom I have given my love – I tear out a piece of my heart and give it to them, and often they give me a piece of their heart which fits into the empty place in my heart, but because the pieces aren’t exact, I have some rough edges, which I cherish, because they remind me of the love we shared. 

Sometimes I have given pieces of my heart away, and the other person hasn’t returned a piece of his heart to me. These are the empty gouges – - giving love is taking a chance. Although these gouges are painful, they stay open, reminding me of the love I have for these people too, and I hope someday they may return and fill the space I have waiting. So now do you see what true beauty is?”

The young man stood silently with tears running down his cheeks. He walked up to the old man, reached into his perfect young and beautiful heart, and ripped a piece out. He offered it to the old man with trembling hands. The old man took his offering, placed it in his heart and then took a piece from his old scarred heart and placed it in the wound in the young man’s heart. It fit, but not perfectly, as there were some jagged edges.

The young man looked at his heart, not perfect anymore but more beautiful than ever, since love from the old man’s heart flowed into his. They embraced and walked away side by side. How sad it must be to go through life with a whole untouched heart.
 
(Author Unknown)

Thursday, July 24, 2014

Divine Wisdom



Spend Your Life Usefully


 
"Spend every second of your life usefully and well.  If possible, render service to others, engage yourself in nourishing the sick; but when thus engaged in service, do not think either about the result, or the act of service, or the person to whom it is rendered.  The service is made holy if you ignore both the good and the bad, and keep on repeating the mantra silently in your heart."


~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~
(Prashanti Vahini)

Quotable Quotes



You Cannot Paint the World Green


There was a millionaire once who was bothered by two aches, one in his stomach and the other in his head! He was diagnosed and treated. 

He was examined and treated by a galaxy of medical experts. He consumed heavy loads of drugs, and underwent centuries of injections. But the aches persisted with greater vigour than ever before! 

At last, a monk arrived at the scene of his agony. He spoke very kindly to him, and pronounced the fault to be in his eye! Set right the eye, and the head on top and the stomach below would both behave very sweetly! To improve the eye, concentrate on only one colour. Concentrate on green, he suggested. Do not let your eyes fall on red or yellow, or any other colour.

The rich man got together a group of painters and purchased barrels of green colour and directed that every object on which his eye was likely to fall be painted thick green. 

Just as the ashtagraha calamity (the ominous astrological phenomenon of eight heavenly bodies reaching a straight line in space, which was sought to be avoided by superstitious persons through ceremonials of exorcism) resulted in a rich harvest for priests, the millionaire’s malady resulted in a rich harvest for paint craftsmen. 

When the monk came back to him after about ten days, the craftsmen ran toward him with a bucket of green paint for he wore a red gown! He wondered why, and got the answer that their master dare not cast his eye on any colour other than green, lest the aches may return!

The holy man then reprimanded the patient, and said that he had wasted lakhs of rupees as a result of his monumental stupidity.

“If only you had purchased a pair of green spectacles, worth perhaps four rupees, you could have saved these walls and trees and pots and pans, and chairs and sofas and also a pretty large share of your fortune! You cannot paint the world green.”


(Chinna Katha from the Divine Discourses of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba)

Baba's Storytime - Jnaana and Bhakti



 "Avatars do not come in unique form.  The reason is all the creatures in the world carry out their specific functions.  Animals, birds, insects, ants and mosquitoes do not deviate from their respective roles in leading their lives.  But man alone has forgotten his duties.  Birds obey "reason and season".  Man alone behaves without regard to "reason and season".

Hence the Avatar has to come in human form to reform man who has gone astray.  Thus it is declared that "God comes in human form" (Daivam maannusharupena").  If God comes in any other form, say, a bird, it will be driven away.  Man will take no notice of it.  If the Avatar comes in the form of a buffalo, it will be driven away with a stick.

In this context, two points have to be noted.

There were two brothers, Jnaanadeva and Bhaktideva.  Both were going on a journey.  On the way, they felt thirsty.  Bhaktideva asked Jnanadeva: "I am thirsty but I cannot see water anywhere".  Jnannadeva said: "Let us see whether there is any well nearby."  After going some distance, they noticed an old well with water deep at the bottom.

Jnanadeva declared: "Jnaanaath eva thu Kaivalyam" ("Through Jnaana anything can be accomplished").

He immediately assumed the form of a bird, flew down to the water in the well, quenched his thirst and came up.  Jnaana deva had the ability to assume any form because of the supreme knowledge he possessed, the knowledge of the oneness of the Self.

Bhaktideva could not get down into the well.  He sat near the well and prayed to God with intensive love.  After sometime, the water in the well rose to the level of his feet.  Noting the wetness of his feet, he opened his eyes and saw that the water in the well had overflowed.

"Jnaana" requires a change in one's form.  But "Bhakti" needs no such change.  Intense loving devotion will suffice.  What the devotee needs will come running to him.  There is nothing greater than devotion.

Bhaktideva wrote a letter to Jnaana deva.  It was a blank piece of paper which he sent in a cover.  When Jnaanadeva opened the letter, he found there was no writing on it.  Jnaanadeva then started writing his reply on page after page.  He could not come to the end of his writing.  His entire life was spent on enquiry and investigation.  There was no time for doing any thing practical.

The life of most scientists is spent this way: continuous experimentation, with no experience. This sort of endless pre-occupation with enquiry is of no use.  Devotion is easier than the Jnaana marga (the path of knowledge).  Through devotion, constant chanting of the name and loving remembrance of God, anything can be accomplished.

Students!  See that the love that is inherent in you is not diverted in wrong directions, in anti-social activities, or in ways opposed to the wishes of your parents.  So far as love for God is concerned, you need not submit yourself to anyone.

When you love God with all your heart, the bliss you experience is unexcelled.  This was the experience of the Gopikas.  This has been described as the fifth "Purushaartha", the experience of union with God.  (Paramabhakti-Supreme devotion).

Students!  Whatever you may do in life, never forget God.  Whatever positions one may achieve, whether  President or Prime Minister, if he forgets God, he is nothing.  Hero becomes zero if he forgets God.  These officers come and go.  You must never give up your faith in the supreme.  That is the way to redeem human life."


~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~
(Divine Discourse - 21.8.1996)

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Feeling Rich

 
 
If you want to feel rich,
just count all of the things you have
that money can't buy.

~ Anonymous ~

Celestial Poems of Sathya Sai Baba

  

"If you were a tree,
I would wind around you like a creeper.
If you were a flower,
I would be a bumblebee swaying around you.
If you were the infinite sky,
I would shine like a tiny star.
If you were the surging sea,
I would be a river flowing into you.
If you were the Meru Mountain,
I would flow like a brook on you."


~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~ 


What Swami Wrote as a Boy



Swami wrote the following poem when he was seven years old.

"To see your face in a mirror, do you need anybody's help?

Why do you need anyone's friendship for this purpose?

To view the moon in the sky, do you need a lamp?

To look at the moon shining in the sky, do you require any other source of light?

To know your own Atma, why do you need a guru?

The Atma is your God, your Vishnu, Siva and Brahma.  One who has realised this, why does he need any preceptor?"


Everyone should realise that the same Universal Divine Spirit is the Indweller in every being.  All are embodiments of the Divine.  When this sacred feeling fills everyone, there will be no room for conflict or chaos."


~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~
(Divine Discourse - 15.8.1996)

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Selfless Joy

I saw the most beautiful thing this morning at the local grocery store. As I was waiting in the checkout line, I saw a small boy in the next lane slowly counting out all of his collected change so that he could buy a candy bar. His mother and even littler brother waited patiently for him at the end of the lane. When he finished, he politely thanked the cashier and rushed over to his family. 

Then he broke his candy bar in two and gave his little brother half. The wonderful thing was that as big as the little brother’s smile was, his older brother’s smile was even bigger. 

You know that I have never in my entire life seen a selfish person who was truly happy. I have also never seen a loving and giving person who wasn’t happy and full of joy. It must be that giving, sharing, and happiness all go together. I know that I am never more happy than when I am helping another, spreading joy to others, sharing a kind word or a bit of encouragement with someone else, and giving my love to those around me. The truth is that when you are happy, loving, and full of joy that you want everyone else to be this way as well. You naturally want to share your happiness then, to spread your joy to others, and to give your loving kindness to everyone you meet. The most glorious thing of all, though, is that the more love, joy, and happiness you give the more love, joy, and happiness you have. 

Get into giving then. Get into sharing. Get into living selflessly, joyously, lovingly, and happily. Being able to give is one of the greatest, most beautiful, and most glorious things we can do for others, for ourselves, and for the world. God gives us the capacity for endless love, joy, happiness, and delight. The least we can do is share it with everyone else. 


~ Joe Mazella ~



Divine Wisdom