Divine Wisdom

 

"There is no need to pray for gifts from God.  God will give of His own accord what is good for any devotee.  Did not Sabari and Jataayu get the grace of Rama even without their asking for it?  God will decide what to give, when to give, and where.  Hence, all actions should be dedicated to God and He should decide what the devotee is fit to receive.  When everything is left to God out of pure love and total faith, God will take care of the devotee."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

(Divine Discourse - 20.6.1996)

Respect All

 

 

"Learn to respect all. Only then you will earn the grace of the Divine who is the Indweller in all beings."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

(Divine Discourse - 3.7.1996)

Dear Lord ...

Dear Lord,

Help me build a temple in my heart for You to reside.

Let the pillars be made of Love.

Let the halls echo with Devotion and Dedication.

Let the angels of Peace and Harmony sing from the ceilings and domes.

Yes, let my heart be your home.

~ Divine Blossoms ~

Signals of Grace

In the days of sailing boats, ocean voyages were at great risk from the high seas. There were many shipwrecks due to the strong ocean currents and storms. One such shipwreck in the Pacific Ocean left a lone survivor, who by God’s Grace, found himself washed up on a small, uninhabited island.

At first the man thanked his good fortune for being alive. The island was warm and there were no wild animals to bother him. He began to search the island for food and managed to get by on fruits and coconuts. Over time he built himself a small hut out of bamboo and coconut branches, gradually adding to its size and fashioning chairs, a table and various features to make it comfortable.

The man had strong faith and every day he prayed to God for his rescue. He spent hours scanning the horizon in hope for a passing vessel to rescue him - but none came by and he grew rather depressed and lonely. He wondered, “When is God going to answer my desperate prayers?”

Then one day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, the smoke rolling up to the sky. The worst had happened; everything was lost and he was overcome with grief and anger.

"God, how could you do this to me!" he cried. What little he possessed had been cruelly taken away from him – literally everything he owned and cherished. Where was the justice in this – where was God’s compassion for his plight!

Early the next day, as he miserably got up from his place at the bottom of a coconut tree near the beach, he was stunned to see a sailing ship approaching the island. He jumped up and frantically started to wave his arms, shouting “Help, help, I am here!” at the top of his voice.

He saw the boat weigh anchor and soon a rowing dinghy came ashore. It had come to rescue him. The joy he felt was indescribable. He embraced his rescuers in sobs of relief and happiness – his ordeal was over. 

The crew took him on board to meet the captain and he offered his gratitude for rescuing him.

"How did you know I was here?" he asked. The captain replied, "We saw your smoke signal."

The man suddenly realized how God had caused his hut to burn down just at the moment when a passing ship would see it and be alerted to his presence. He was stunned into silence at the wonderful ways of the all knowing Lord. All his doubts at God’s mercy vanished.

Similarly there are instances in our lives when we get too depressed with an unexpected calamity or misfortune. Only later, we realize that they were, in fact, blessings in disguise. Bhagavan Baba tells us:

“Your troubles are often self-created. If you develop firm faith in God and surrender to His Will, He will not fail you. This is the concept of Sharanagathi or surrender. The bliss that can be derived from this surrender to God cannot be derived from any other means. Regard whatever happens to you as something intended for your own good.”

So remember, next time your “little hut” is burning to the ground, it just may be a “smoke signal” that is summoning the Grace of God.

(Source: Radio Sai)

Baba's Storytime - Nourish Pure and Divine Feelings

In His discourse in Brindavan on 21st May 2000, Bhagavan said one should nourish pure and divine feelings of love.  One should not indulge in criticism and calumny.  He narrated the following story about Buddha.

Once, Buddha came to a village during the course of his travels.  As he was tired, he wanted to take rest.  He called a young disciple and told him to give the spiritual message to the people.  The disciple was very much delighted with the opportunity given by Buddha.  He told the people, "Buddha is the embodiment of compassion, love and wisdom.  He is also a Karma Yogi and a Jnana Yogi.  Such was never born before, nor would he be born in the future."  The listeners clapped in joy at this statement of Buddha's disciple.

Buddha was resting, but he overheard the words of his disciple.  Immediately, he went to the assembly where his disciple was giving a discourse.  He asked the disciple, "My son, what is your age?"  "Master, age is 35 years."  "How widely have you travelled?" asked Buddha.  The young disciple said that he had visited the land of Kurus, the land of Panchalas, etc.  

On hearing this, Buddha admonished him, "You have visited only a few kingdoms and your age is only 35 years.  With your short experience of people and the world, how can you declare that a person like me was never born the past nor will be born in the future!  You don't know much about the past nor can you predict the future.  Even your knowledge of the present is very limited.  Hence, it is not proper for you to speak about the past and the future.  Many great persons were born in the past.  There would be many more in future also."

Buddha was the embodiment of humility and simplicity; he was adverse to pomp and show, concluded Bhagavan.

(Sanathana Sarathi - June 2000)

Celestial Poems of Sathya Sai Baba

 

"Truth is the mother;

Wisdom is the father;

Righteousness is the brother;

Compassion is the friend;

Peace is the wife;

Forbearance is the son.

These six are man's true relations."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

Prayer

"When you utter the prayer, "Samasta Lokha Sukhino Bhavanthu" ("May all people in all the worlds be happy"), you should pray wholeheartedly with the conviction that the same Divine dwells in everyone."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

(Divine Discourse - 18.6.1996)

Serve and Grow Young - Conclusion

                                        Ever Youthful Self

What intrigues me most about this whole process is how the continued strengthening of my sense of Self increases my awareness that this Soul/Viewpoint/Atma is as young today as it was when I first experienced it.  I am beginning to see with ageless eyes, hear with ageless ears the similarly ageless truths of shared divinity.  

I am convinced by the joy I feel now in my daily routine that the more I concentrate on serving the Lord, the more ageless aspect of me becomes physically and psychically apparent.  No wonder Baba looks so young for His years!  His is the ultimate example of existing only to serve others.

Dedication to never-changing tasks results in never-changing visage and avoidance of the negative aspects of growing old.  With Baba as my role model and my new prime time schedule firmed up, I consider my age "39 and holding" despite the fact that I was born just a few weeks after Him.

~ Jay Jarrett ~

(Sanathana Sarathi - April 1990)

Serve and Grow Young - Pt.2

Give Up and Serve

My older friends who appear most youthful and contented with their "golden years" are also the busiest seniors.  Further, they are busy much of the time as community volunteers, performing service to others.  For myself, heeding Baba's advice to "Give up everything that it outside the Service of the Lord", has resulted in what I can only describe as a heady, joyous feeling that is growing in intensity as I find new outlets for seva.

Forgive me if I cite my own experience, but it is the example I know best.  I gave up my TV several years ago.  I found myself tending to vegetate in frontBaba.  The time I formerly spent reading newspapers and novels, I now spend reading Baba's words and those of His devotees.  This, in turn, inspires further writings on my part.

of the screen despite my continued growling about the shallow subject matter it offered.  The time thus freed is now spent at my computer writing letters and essays detailing my discoveries about

Toys for Children

My retirement left a large block of time available that is now spent in my woodworking shop making toys for donation to various child care agencies.  Casual mention of this activity while shopping for tools and materials has resulted in offers of discounts, wholesale prices and outright gifts from merchants anxious to be a part of my project.  The key to all these donations is that the toys are given free to needy children.

During the growing season, I make a pest of myself offering friends organically grown vegetables from my garden.  As I discard non-productive activities and absorb myself more and more in service to others, I experience a growing awareness of an entity within my body that is separate from it.  I can best describe it as a "viewpoint".  It is a separate intelligence which monitors my perceptions and responses.  It daily grows stronger and more assertive.  I begin to recognize it and remember its occasional appearance in younger days. 

Most interesting of all is the feeling of agelessness exhibited by this viewpoint, and of a sense of well-being and satisfaction that has begun to pervade my consciousness.  My body has reached senior citizen status and has its fair share of minor ties and major infirmities.  I have been my own companion for most of the past 10 years but I am rich in friends.  And, true to His promise, Baba is ever with me patiently guiding, alternately chastising and rewarding my efforts to achieve human status.  He assures us this is preliminary to reassuming our divine status.

~ Jay Jarrett ~

(Sanathana Sarathi - April 1990)

(To be continued)

Before You Criticize ...

A Pile of Dry Shit

One day a famous government officer met a highly respected edlerly master. Being conceited, he wanted to prove that he was the superior person. 

As their conversation drew on, he asked the master, "Old monk, do you know what I think of you and the things you said?" 

The master replied, "I don't care what you think of me. You are entitled to have your own opinion."

The officer snorted, "Well, I will tell you what I think anyway. In my eyes, you are just like a pile of dry shit!"

The master simply smiled and stayed quiet. 

Seeing that his insult had fallen into deaf ears, he asked curiously, "And what do you think of me?"

The master said, "In my eyes, you are just like the Buddha." 

Hearing this remark, the officer left happily and bragged to his wife about the incident.

His wife said to him, "You conceited fool! When a person has a heart like a pile of dry shit, he sees everyone in that light. The elderly master has a heart like that of the Buddha, and that is why in his eyes, everyone, including you, is like the Buddha!"

(From: "Once Upon a Time - A Collection of Buddhist Stories)

Serve and Grow Young - Pt.1

It is no fun growing old in a society obsessed with youth.  So I have decided to follow Baba's example and not pay any attention to my age.  After all, only my temporary body is growing old; the real Me is as young as ever.

A friend, seeing a picture of Baba for the first time, remarked that He certainly didn't look His age.  I agreed, stating that He was beyond time as we reckon it and that any of us who follow His example could probably weather the years equally well.  It all depends on discriminating between useful activity and mere restlessness, and emphasizing the proper aspect of our being.

In one of His many discourses on Santhi, Baba says, quite logically, that unchanging peace cannot be found in an ever changing world.  His advice is to "engage in never changing tasks and enjoy the Bliss of the Atma.  This must be the chief effort of the Jivi, its perpetual aim, the greatest adventure in this world.  All other tasks are humdrum and silly; they glitter for a moment and vanish."

Waste of Time and Energy

There is no doubt that, especially in the highly respected West, we waste a great deal of time, energy and resources on fashion, fads and foolishness that contribute very little, if anything, to what should be our goal in life.  From hula hoops to encounter groups, we get caught up in an endless succession of activities and expenditures as we seek to fill our leisure hours.  "Man is a bundle of impulses and intentions," says Baba.  "The impulses are the fuel, the intentions are the fire.  The fire can be put out only by laying aside the fuel of impulses.  The dying down of the fire is the attainment of peace."

Laying aside our impulses does not imply stagnation resulting from inactivity.  Instead, we are admonished to "arise and work (for) Work is the mission of man,"  The key is to establish a worthwhile goal and the proper environment for achieving it.

In Baba's words, "Until you fix upon a certain direction for all your thoughts and activities, you will only be building shadowy castles in the air and roaming about in them."

~ Jay Jarrett ~

(Sanathana Sarathi - April 1990)

(To be continued)

Divine Wisdom

 

"True Bhakti is a spiritual practice based on love.  Bhakti is not mere singing of Bhajans, reciting of sacred texts or performing sacred rituals.  True Bhakti is the direct flow of selfless and unconditional love from your heart to God.  In all spiritual practices that man undertakes, there is a trace of selfishness somewhere.  Offer your love to God devoid of the least trace of selfishness or desire.  This is true devotion."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

(Divine Discourse - 21.5.2000)

The Reality

 

"How is one to broaden his heart?  It is by getting rid of narrow differences and by curbing desires.  By developing insatiable desires, the heart gets shrunk.  A broad heart means recognizing the truth that the Divine dwells in everybody.  Only then you can obtain the Reality that is unchanging and eternal."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

(Divine Discourse - 23.2.1990)

The Holy Shadow

There once lived a man so godly that even the angels rejoiced at the sight of him. But, in spite of his great holiness, he had no notion that he was holy. He just went about his humdrum tasks diffusing goodness the way flowers unselfconsciously diffuse their fragrance and street lamps their glow. 

His holiness lay in this that he forgot each person's past and looked at them as they were now, and he looked beyond each person's appearance to the very centre of their being where they were innocent and blameless and too ignorant to know what they were doing. Thus he loved and forgave everyone he met and he saw nothing extraordinary in this for it was the result of his way of looking at people.

One day an angel said to him, "I have been sent to you by God. Ask for anything you wish and it will be given to you. Would you wish to have the gift of healing?" "No," said the man, "I'd rather God did the healing himself." 

"Would you want to bring sinners back to the path of righteousness?" "No," he said, "it is not for me to touch human hearts. That is the work of angels." 

"Would you like to be such a model of virtue that peo­ple will be drawn to imitate you?" "No," said the saint, "for that would make me the centre of attention." 

"What then do you wish for?" asked the angel. "The grace of God," was the man's reply. "Having that, I have all I desire." "No, you must ask for some miracle," said the angel, "or one will be forced on you." "Well, then I shall ask for this: let good be done through me without my being aware of it."

So it was decreed that the holy man's shadow would be endowed with healing properties whenever it fell behind him. So everywhere his shadow fell—provided he had his back to it—the sick were healed, the land became fertile, fountains sprang to life and colour returned to the faces of those who were weighed down by life's sorrow. 

But the saint knew nothing of this because the attention of people was so centred on the shadow that they forgot about the man and so his wish that good be done through him and be forgotten was abundantly fulfilled. 

There is no limit to what a person can achieve if he does not want the credits. Humility and egolessness, Swami says, are the hallmark of true education.

(Source: Radio Sai)

(Illustration by S.B.Sai Krishna, SSSIHL)

 

Dear Lord ...

 

Dear Lord,

I love this special world that we share.

Here the flowers never fade,

the birds never stop singing

and the sun never stops shining.

Sometimes a thorn or two may prick my feet

but I feel no pain.

We are bound together by a special bond,

a bond that will never break but will only

bring us closer together in our special world.

~ Divine Blossoms ~

Give from the Heart

I read recently that donations to charities are really down this year. It is so sad to hear this. I can understand that a lot of people feel that they have given enough already, but it is hard to hear how so many charities who do so much good in this world are suffering because of it. The worst part is that the people who aren’t giving to charity are losing out too, because when you give to others you give even more to yourself. I myself know that when I give just a little bit of my money to help another that my heart is filled with a wonderful joy that is priceless. It doesn’t just happen with money either. That joy flows into my heart and soul when I give of my time, when I give of my energy, when I give of my talents, and when I give of my love. Every time I give to someone else I receive back so much more.

It is not just people either that you can give to. You can give to animals as well. I know that every year a good neighbor of mine takes the time to set out apples and corn to feed the sweet, beautiful deer that live in the woods behind our home. You can even give back to the Earth itself. 

Another good neighbor of mine just recently planted a tree in his backyard. That tree will be a gift of beauty, a giver of fresh air, and a home for birds for many years to come. 

Take joy in giving then. Take great happiness in helping others with your money, time, talents, energy, and love. Don’t give grudgingly out of some sense of duty either. Give instead from the heart. It is only when you give from the heart that you get back that glorious joy that is God’s gift to you. It is only when you give from the heart that you help to make this world the paradise God wants it to be.

~ Joe Mazzella ~

Devotion: Whence and Whither?

 

Where does devotion dwell?

Not just in winning words,

Nor in the sweetest song,

But in the little deeds

Done with love all day long.

What does devotion shun?

Egos that usurp His role,

Tongues that do not speak true,

Acts irreverent of Him,

Thoughts not of cheerful hue.

When is devotion false?

When the outer show is grand

And wears the hypocrite"s pose,

When artificial routine

Robs fragrance from the rose.

How does devotion grow?

With ears that listen with love;

With small acts that kindness breeds;

With hands that hold and help;

With efforts that fill the needs.

Where does devotion end?

As Lord Sai works through you

His love you cannot miss;

Replete with thoughts of Him

The journey's end is Bliss.

~ Hal Honig ~

(Sanathana Sarathi - 1993)

Baba's Storytime - To Earn the Grace of the Lord

Among the many lessons driven home to the students in Brindavan by Bhagavan Baba in His evening discourses in April 1997 in "Trayee Brindavan", one was concerned with the need for firm determination on the part of a devotee to earn the grace of the Lord.  Bhagavan related an episode from the life of Adi Sankara as a young lad.

The great Acharya was barely four years old at the time.  His father, a devout scholar, used to offer daily worship to Goddess Rajarajeswari every morning.  Meditating before the Goddess with closed eyes, he would offer a bowl of cow's milk to her.  When he opened his eyes after the meditation, he would find that the bowl was only half full, the other half having been accepted as an offering by the Goddess.

One day, he had to go to a neighbouring village for three days.  He told his wife to arrange for the worship of he Goddess in the customary manner with the offering of milk, with the young Sankara deputising for him in the worship.  In accordance with his father's instructions, the young lad sat in front of the Goddess in the sanctum and performed the prescribed ritual.  After meditation, when he opened his eyes, he was astonished to see that the bowl of milk offered to the Goddess remained full.  He was sad and cried out: "Divine Mother!  What wrong have I done?  I cannot bear this punishment.  Please shower your grace on me as you did for my father."  He prayed intensely for some time with closed eyes.

When he opened his eyes, he saw that the bowl was now empty.  All the milk had gone!  He was in distress again and cried out: "Devi!  You have consumed all the milk.  Where is our share of the prasadam?  If we are denied this, what will mother say and what will others think?  I will not leave this place till the bowl is refilled."

In response to his fervent prayers, the Goddess spoke: "Dear child!  When the river has joined the ocean, how can it be redirected?"  Sankara said: "Nobody will believe me when I say that no milk was left in the bowl after my worship.  They may think that I drank all of it.  I cannot face them.  Devi, without your prasad, I will not leave this place.  I will lay down my life at your Feet."

Swami concluded this moving account of the episode with the following finale: "Devi Rajarajeswari's heart melted on hearing the young boy's appeal.  She took the bowl and poured Divine breast milk into it and gave it to the young devotee."

The compassion of the Divine, Swami said, has no limits.


(Sanathana Sarathi - June 1997)

The Grace of God

 

"The Grace of God is like Insurance.  

It will help you in your time of need without any limit."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

(Sanathana Sarathi - Jan. 1998)

Missing Film Roll

 
Dasara, 1944: One night, there was a grand procession of Baba seated in a floral palanquin. I was eager to take a photograph, but couldn’t. So, I begged Baba to keep the palanquin intact and allow me to take the picture with Him seated in it, when day broke. He agreed, and I was happy. But, my husband wanted to leave for Bangalore and I had to start before dawn. 

Seeing my plight, a photographer who had come to Puttaparthi (Baba was then residing at the `old' Mandir, adjacent to the village) assured me that he would take the snap and send my camera with the film, to me through my servant, whom I left behind.

When the servant came to Bangalore, he brought the camera empty! He said the man had clicked the photo, but refused to hand over the film. He will send it after developing it, from Madras!

I wrote two letters to him but he replied that he had sent the camera, to me, with the film!

In my despair, I asked Baba about it. He said, `It is with Him at Madras; the picture has come out well; I shall get it for you!'

Dasara, 1945: At Puttaparthi, I took out my camera, as usual to take a picture of Baba, during one of the festival days. I was taking out a roll of film from my box, when my friend told me that it was already loaded! I was surprised at this; we took it out and found it was a used one!

When it was developed at Bangalore, it was found to be the one which was with the photographer at Madras! How it came from his shelf into my camera is known only to Baba or those who know Baba.

~ Smt. Nagamani Purnaiya ~
(Sanathana Sarathi - Nov. 1970)

Quotable Quotes

"Where there is love,

there is life."

~ Mahatma Ghandi ~

Nobody Told Me Anything

A disciple asked his Dharma Master: "How can I calm my mind?" 

The master said, "I am too busy to talk to you right now. Why not consult your First Dharma Brother?" 

He did as he was told and asked the same question. 

The First Dharma Brother said, "I have a headache. I can't talk now. Why not talk to Second Dharma Brother?" 

But the Second Dharma Brother said, "I have a stomach ache, why don't you just go and talk to our Dharma Master?" 

So he went back to his master and complained, "Nobody told me anything. Nobody gave me any answers." 

But the master said to him reprovingly, "You really are a stupid fool. Everybody has been giving you the answer." 

Because of this, the disciple reached enlightenment.

 

(From: Once Upon a Time - A Collection of Buddhist Stories)

Divine Wisdom

Celestial Poems of Sathya Sai Baba

"Charity is the ornament for the hand.

Truth is the ornament for the throat.

Listening to sacred texts is the ornament for the ears.

Of what use are all other jewels?

 ~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~ 

The Present

Sri Sathya Sai Unity Cup

Man's life is like a cricket game,

Where you strive to uphold your honour and name.

It's better, a good loser, to be,

Than a bad winner, the world to see.

Take care and comply with the rules

As cricket stadiums are like schools,

With a smiling face, give and take

And your sportsmanship, never forsake.

Life is a game, so play it well,

You're the maker of your heaven and hell,

Love all, serve all, as you play your role,

Help ever, hurt never and save your soul.

More joyful than bread, butter and cream,

Is the joy of working as a team;

Sports can unite and lift man up;

Long Live Sri Sathya Sai Unity Cup.

Now, nowhere on earth is to be found,

A cricket stadium on holy ground;

Is not this stadium God's unique gift,

Man, to transform and uplift.

If a glass cup were to fall and break,

Its value, it would fully forsake;

But a broken cup, new or old,

Remains valuable, if made of gold.

~ Chundraban Singh ~

(Sanathana Sarathi - Jan. 1998)

 

His Message

"Time is fleeting like a fast moving wind. The body is melting away from moment to moment like a block of ice. And, man is discarding his mortal body without performing his duty. 

If human life does no more than being born, brought up and die, then what is its achievement? What is the fruit of all the effort? Is this the use to which the education and training that man acquires are put?

Why should one make a special effort to acquire such qualities if it is only to know what is already known. One should use one's intelligence to know what we do not know.

The beasts and the birds too eat and sleep: they express fear and love in the same manner as men do. The differences are only in appearance and in name; the desire and the passion, are the same for man and beast.

How can we then establish the uniqueness of man? In spite of the fact that wisdom and judgement are special gifts to man by God, if man does not draw upon such gifts, of what use is it to proclaim the sanctity of the human species? What is the use of claiming supremacy? There is no sense in such pride. To relate one's actions with one's utterances and to relate one's utterances with one's thoughts is to be human. If on the other hand, there is no correspondence between one's utterances, one's actions and one’s thoughts, the individual can be only a man in outer shade; truly, he is devoid of all title to life.

Your hearts should be filled with compassion towards all living beings. You should fill suffering hearts with Prema. You should radiate thoughts that can generate Ananda.

The heart is like the overhead tank. Actions are like taps. Whatever quality of water is used to fill the tanks, only such will flow out of the taps. Fill the heart with Prema; then, Ananda flows from the taps. It will reach the world around us.

The utterance of Tukaram, "Dil ka Ram; Hath ka Kam" should be regarded as the motto of life. Prema is the main pillar of the Sai teaching. Life should be filled with Prema. The world should be looked at with Prema. Society should be contacted with Prema. Fulfilment of one's life should be through Prema. 

Prema alone is God. Prema alone is Life. There is no living without Prema. Life devoid of Prema is equivalent to death. Life filled with Prema is Ananda. Life without Prema is sorrow, Prema is festivity. Absence of Prema is mourning. Prema is fearlessness. Absence of Prema is fear. Prema is the messenger of good. Absence of Prema is the harbinger of death."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

Sanathana Sarathi - Nov. 1971

(Source: Sai Spiritual Showers)

Quotable Quotes

“The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, worry about the future, or anticipate troubles, but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly.”

 ~ Paramahansa Yogananda ~

To be Truly Human

 

"What is it that people need today?  There are three things:

A heart pure and white like the moon,

speech soft and sweet like butter,

a face that is loving and kind.

These are lacking in the world today.  The entire atmosphere is frightening.  There is harshness in speech.  There is no softness in the heart.  The heart should be pure and soft like butter.  Today, on the contrary, people are hard-hearted.  Fill your hearts with compassion.  Let your speech be sweet and truthful, you will then be truly human."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

(Divine Discourse - 15.5.1997)

Baba's Storytime - The Power of Faith

In yet another discourse in Brindavan in April 1997, Swami emphasised the power of faith that is total.  It is not erudition that counts.  What matters is the sincerity of the devotee and his firm faith that God will respond to his entreaty.  Swami related by way of illustration the story of an unlettered cowherd.

 

One day, while grazing his cattle on the bank of a river, the cowherd saw a pandit doing what appeared to him as a breathing exercise while uttering some words.  Driven by curiosity, he approached the pandit and asked him what he was doing and for what purpose.  The latter said: "I am doing pranayama to control my breath.  I am chanting the Gayatri mantra.  I am doing this in the hope that God will be pleased and appear before me some day."  The cowherd asked: "Can I also do this?"  The pandit smiled and said: "Why not?"

The cowherd started doing the same exercise everyday.  Though he had not been taught the nuances of practising pranayama, he attempted it in his own crude way.  He struggled with control of the breath.  He chanted the mantra without knowing the words correctly.  His intense faith in the pandit's words kept him going.

A long time elapsed but he did not lose heart.  One day, Lord Narayana appeared before him.  The cowherd did not know who He was and asked Him.  Lord Narayana said: "I am God.  I am before you in answer to your prayerful exercises."  The cowherd said: "I do not know you.  I will go and get my guru to come here and identify you."  Les Narayana should go away in his absence, the cowherd bound Him to a tree with a rope and set out to bring the pandit.  

The pandit hesitated to accompany the cowherd, but yielded to his pleading.  When he came with the cowherd, he could not see anyone there in the form of God or man.  The cowherd who could see Narayana, cried out: "Unless you show your form to him and he confirms that you are God, how shall I believe you?"

For a fleeting moment, Lord Narayana revealed His form to the pandit.  Dazzled by the effulgent vision of the Lord, the pandit fell at the feet of the cowherd and said: "You have taught me the truth.  You are really my guru."

(Sanathana Sarathi - June 1997)

I am Awake

When the Buddha started to wander around India shortly after his enlightenment, he encountered several men who recognized him to be a very extraordinary being. 

They asked him, "Are you a god?" 

"No," he replied. 

"Are you a reincarnation of god?" 

"No," he replied. 

"Are you a wizard, then?" 

"No." 

"Well, are you a man?" 

"No." 

"So what are you?" they asked, being very perplexed. 

"I am awake." 


Buddha means "The Awakened One". How to awaken is all he taught.


(From: Once Upon a Time - A Collection of Buddhist stories)

The Day That is Ours

There are two days in every week about which we should not worry.  Two days which should be kept from fear and apprehensions.

One of these days is yesterday, with its mistakes and cares, its faults and blunders, its aches and pains.  Yesterday has passed forever, beyond our control; all the money in the world cannot undo a single act we performed.  We cannot erase a single word we said.  Yesterday is gone.

The other day we should not worry about is tomorrow.  With its possible adversaries, its burdens, its large promise and poor performance.  Tomorrow is also beyond our immediate control.  Tomorrow's sun will rise either in splendour or behind a mask of clouds, but it will rise.  Until it does, we have no stake in tomorrow for it is as yet unborn.

This leaves only one day - today.  Any man can fight the battle of just one day, it is only when you and I add the burden of those two eternities yesterday and tomorrow that we break down.  It is not the experience of today that drives men made, it is the remorse of bitterness over something which happened yesterday and the dread of what tomorrow may bring.

Let us therefore live but one day at a time and leave the rest to God.

~ Dr. Chandler, Ll.D. ~

(Sanathana Sarathi - June 1997)

Divine Wisdom

 

"What pervades the entire universe is a manifestation of the Divine Energy.  To experience this omnipresent energy, certain spiritual processes have been indicated.  One of them is to see the Divine in whatever you do, whatever you perceive and whatever you experience."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~ 

(Divine Discourse - Sixth World Conference

of Sathya Sai Seva Organisations - 21.11.95)

 

Bad Thoughts

 

 

"Let not the seeds of bad thoughts sprout anywhere near you.  At least from this day onwards, live up to the word you have given to Swami and walk along the flowery path shown by Sai.  Receive in full Sai's Grace and Love."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

(Sanathana Sarathi - June 1997)

Getting Rid of Maya

Maya has the capacity to ruin our life. If we understand the nature of Maya well, it will go away from us in one moment. If we give a high place to it without understanding, then it will get the upper hand and will begin to dance on our heads.

In one village, a marriage was to take place. The party of the bridegroom came to the village and was staying in a house. The party of the bride was staying in another house. In between these two parties, there was one individual who wanted all kinds of comforts and was demanding them from both the parties. 

This individual used to go to the bridegroom’s place and tell them that they were always coming late and causing a lot of problems to the bride’s party. People belonging to the bridegroom’s party thought that he was some respected elder from the side of the bride. Similarly he went to the bride’s house and told them that they were not respecting the bridegroom and members of his party and were not giving them all the respect that was due to them. 

This individual was enacting a drama. He was going to the bridegroom’s party and was behaving as if he was a respected elder from the bride’s side; and he was going to the bride’s people and behaving as if he was a respected elder from the bridegroom’s side. When this drama went too far, the two parties started investigating and found that he belonged to neither side.

Once you make an inquiry and find out the origin of Maya, it will disappear; even as the individual in our story disappeared. 

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

 

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 ~

Quotable Quotes

“Be afraid of nothing. Hating none, giving love to all, feeling the love of God, seeing His presence in everyone, and having but one desire - for His constant presence in the temple of your consciousness - that is the way to live in this world.” 

 ~ Paramahansa Yogananda ~

(In the Sanctuary of the Soul: A Guide to Effective Prayer)

Celestial Poems of Sathya Sai Baba

 

 

"Do not tire yourself imagining that

You will do this and that.

You will reap only those fruits,

The seeds of which you have sown.

How can there be fruits different

From the seeds sown earlier?

Despite your intellectual and physical prowess,

Neither you nor any mighty one

Can transcend the consequences of action."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

Baba's Storytime - Greatness of Thyaga (Sacrifice)

In another of His discourses in Brindavan in April 1997, Swami dwelt on the supreme greatness of thyaga (sacrifice).  He observed: "Sacrifice ought to become a fundamental trait of every human being.  Sacrifice is synonymous with unity with the Divine."  By way of illustration, Swami related the following story.

There was an old man living with his wife under conditions of extreme poverty.  One day, with hardly any edibles to eat, he prepared the gruel to feed his ailing wife.  As he was taking the gruel to her, there was a knock on the door of the hut.

When he opened the door, a man was standing there and he said: "I am very hungry.  Will you give me something to eat?"  The woman looked at the husband and indicated that the gruel may be offered to the hungry stranger.  The old man handed over the cup to the hungry stranger.  The stranger withdrew and a moment later, Lord Narayana appeared before the old couple and said: "I am very pleased with your spirit of sacrifice.  From now on, you will never go hungry."

(Sanathana Sarathi - June 1997)

Conquer!

 

"It's easy to conquer anger through love, attachment through reasoning, falsehood through truth, bad thoughts through good, and greed through charity."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

(Sanathan Sarathi - June 1997)

Baba's Storytime - Experience of an English Visitor

The story of a significant encounter between an Englishman and a leading Gujarati businessman, Sri Thakurdas of Rajkot, was the theme of one of Bhagavan's discourses in "Trayee Brindavan" in April 1997.  Bhagavan recalled the great devotion and purity of heart of Sri Thakurdas, as experienced by Mr. E. J. Forester, from the U.K. who came to spend a few days with him as his guest.

On the very first morning after his arrival, the English visitor observed that Sri Thakurdas was in his puja room deeply immersed in prayer before a picture of Sri Sathya Sai.  Mr. Forester asked him: "You have everything that one may wish to possess in life - a good and loving family, a spacious house, good health and prosperous business.  What are you seeking from God through your intense prayer?"

The thoughtful host smiled and replied: "I have discovered that material welfare is like a water bubble and does not give genuine happiness.  We all need God's love.  We have earned very little of it to fill our hearts.  We need more.  We need peace of mind.  We need Ananda, which is pure bliss.  Sri Sathya Sai is Prema Swarupa.  He is Ananda Swarupa.  The Divine Lord will shower Love and Bliss on us, if we are serious enough and pray intensely.  This is what I do day after day.  I know that our salvation will come through the Lord's compassion, which is co-extensive with the universe."

The Englishman was greatly moved by these words, which came from the heart of his host.  He was not well off materially and had till then been preoccupied with worldly pursuit.  He went into the puja room and sat there for many hours.  He became fully engrossed in his prayer for "love" and "bliss" from the Lord.  He sensed the presence of Sri Sathya Sai in the puja room.

Forester came out of the shrine with a radiant face.  He expressed his sense of gratitude to Thakurdas and from that day onwards he looked upon Thakurdas as his guru.

Swami happened to visit Bombay at that time.  Both Thakurdas and Forester came to Bombay to have Swami's darshan. Indulal Shah informed Swami about their arrival.  Swami met them.  Swami looked at Forester and asked him when he had come from Rajkot.  Sweami told him that he saw Forester in Rajkot and now he was in Bombay.  Both Forester and Thakurdas were amazed at Swami's announcement of His presence in Rajkot.

(Sanathana Sarathi - June 1997)