Baba's Storytime - No Short Cut to Liberation

Once there lived a shopkeeper in a village.  In the talk of a noble man, he once heard, "If one utters the Name of God at the last moment of one's life, one attains liberation."  The shopkeeper thought, "I have four sons.  I will name all of them after the Names of God and form the habit of calling them by these names.  One does call one's sons at the last moment of one's life, isn't it?  In this way, I will easily attain liberation."

With the passage of time, his sons grew up.  The shopkeeper's end came near.  Realising that his life principle was going to ebb out at any moment, he called his sons, "Oh Rama!  Oh Krishna!  Oh Govinda!  Oh Madhava!"  The sons came near him and enquired with great anxiety, "Dear father!  What for have you called us?  How are you?"  He saw all of them together.

At that moment, he remembered his shop and asked, "Oh!  Have all of you come?  Who will look after the shop?"  He breathed his last while uttering these words.  At the last moment of his life, his mind was fixed on his shop only.

We can utter God's Name at the last moment of our life only by remembering His Name all through our life, by doing intense practice and by God's grace.  It is utter ignorance to use force and resort to tricks for remembering God's Name in our last moments.  We should form the habit of contemplating on the Name of God when our body, mind, senses and intellect are healthy and strong.

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

Sai Madhuryam

"Life in the world is impermanent.

So are youth and wealth.

Wife and children are also not permanent.

Only truth and good name are permanent."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

Divine Wisdom

Your Speech and Action

"You must carefully consider the consequences of your speech and action.  In whichever way you want others to honour you, or to love you or to behave with you, in the same way you should first behave with others and love and honour them.  Then only will others honour you.  If instead, without honouring and loving others you complain that they are not treating you properly, it is merely a wrong conclusion."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

(Sanathana Sarathi - Oct. 1995)

Swami's Teachings

"Swami's teachings, like pure truth and beauty, are the maximum of simplicity and can easily be overlooked and passed over when heard, but when reflected upon deeply they will have a terrific impact; when practised, they change our lives forever."

~ Diana Baskin ~

(Sanathana Sarathi - July 2001)

May All the Living Beings of All the Worlds be Happy

A Kid Walked Up to Me

I was carrying two jugs of cat litter; I had a carton of eggs between my arm and side.

Behind me, I heard a kid say, "Excuse me?" I turned and saw he was carrying a basket. "Would you like this? I saw you had all that stuff and thought maybe you could use it."

I took the basket and told him, "Keep being nice, man. World needs more nice people like you."

He couldn't have been more than 8 years old.

Made my day.

~ Ian ~

Dear Lord ...

Dear Lord,

You always hear my prayers,

How many times have You shown me

You truly care?

This morning I woke up feeling sad,

I talked to You,

I poured out my heart.

Then the rays of the sun slipped through

my window and I knew You were there,

always had been and always will be.

~ Divine Blossoms ~

The Ringing of God's Name

"Many years ago, Swami wrote to me in a letter: 'Sit in silence until God's name rings in your ears.'

At that time, I thought if I just sat quietly as long as possible, I would hear Swami's name or the Om.  Now I understand that silence is God's abode, His name is His Presence and the ringing is His boundless love."

~ Diana Baskin ~ 

(Sanathana Sarathi - July 2001)

Quotable Quotes

Health of Body and Mind

"People can live longer and be more healthy if only they eat the minimum.  Regular prayers twice a day will give strength and courage which can withstand illness.  When someone offers you a glass of water, you say immediately "Thank you".  How much more gratitude should you evince to God who watches you and wards off all the harm threatening to overwhelm you.  Activity must be dedicated to God, the highest God.  Then it will provide health of body and mind."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

(Sadhana - The Inward Path)

Sai Madhuryam

 

"Oh man!  You struggle hard in life merely

for the sake of filling your belly.

You acquire myriad types of knowledge from various fields.

Examine and inquire for yourself what great happiness

have you achieved by spending all the time from dawn to dusk

in acquiring worldly knowledge and earning wealth

while forgetting God."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

Baba's Storytime - Maya

Once God called Maya and said to her, "Maya!  I am getting a bad name due to you; all call Me Mayopadhi (one with no vesture of Maya).  This has affected My reputation.  Therefore, go away immediately.  Hereafter, I do not want any association with you.  Leave Me and get lost."

Folding her hands in supplication, Maya replied with great humility, "Oh God!  I will surely obey Your command.  But if You tell me the place where You are not present, I will go to that place."  Smilingly, God said, "There is no place where I am not present.  You and I are inseparable.  I put this question to you only to get this reply from you."

What is meant by Maya?  Body attachment is Maya.  This is the root cause of ignorance.  But how to overcome Maya?  It can be achieved only by the grace of God.  Divinity is within you only.  To make it the subject of your experience is the main objective of your life.  Only this can bestow eternal bliss on you.  This body is impermanent.  Do not develop undue attachment to it.  Perform spiritual practices with total faith in the veracity of this truth.

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

Dear Lord ...

Dear Lord,

It is a grey morning.

Light rain is falling.

Thunder is rolling.

Yet it is another beautiful day

You have given me 

to do Your work, to share Your love.

Thank you, Lord.

~ Divine Blossoms ~

Vairagya

 

 

"What is meant by Vairagya?  It means reducing your desires.  Do not go on increasing your desires day by day.  As our body grows old, our life span goes on decreasing with every passing day. Hence it will be beneficial for us if we reduce our desires.  You can be always happy when you reduce your desires.  You may read any number of books and listen to all kinds of sacred texts.  But first and foremost, you have to reduce your desires.  Only then can you derive benefit from them."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

(Divine Discourse - 24.8.2007)

Quotable Quotes

"Everything in creation has individuality.

The Lord never repeats Himself."

~ Paramahansa Yogananda ~

Baba's Storytime - Lesson From Siva

Siva is the supreme exemplar of serenity!  Siva, according to the Puranas, has a curious assortment of family members.  Yet, each one is so calm and without agitation, that the Divine Family exists in peace and concord.  

Siva has snakes on His arms, round His neck, on His head, around His waist!  One of His sons, Kumara, rides on a peacock, which attacks snakes; another rides on a mouse, which the snakes feed on!  One son has the head of the elephant, which whets the appetite of the Lion, which is the vehicle used by Durga, the Consort of Siva, who is so inseparable that she is the left half of the body of Siva Himself.  Nor is the Lion friendly by nature to the Bull, which the Lord Siva Himself has as His vehicle!

Siva has fire on the central point of His brow and Water (the river Ganges) on His head - incompatible both!  Imagine how loving, how cooperative the various components have to be to render life on Kailas, smooth and happy!

It all depends on the mind and its proper discipline.  The weapon of Love will disarm every opponent.  Love begets Love.  It will be reflected back, it will have only Love as reaction.  Shout "Love"; the echo from the other person's heart will also be "Love".

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

Dear Lord ...

Dear Lord,

I dreamt that I kissed the Hand that

silently works miracles,

I shed tears of joy,

I whispered words of thanks,

I dreamt I kissed again the Hand

that silently works miracles.

~ Divine Blossoms ~

Meaning of Surrender

"God is all-powerful; God is everywhere; God is all-knowing.  To adore such a formidable limitless principle, man spends a few minutes out of 24 hours and uses a minute idol or image or picture!  It is indeed ridiculous; it is practically futile.  Adore Him so long as you have breath and so long as you are conscious.  Have no other thought than that of God.  Have no other aim than knowing His command, no other activity than translating that command into action.  That is what is meant by surrender.  Surrender yourself unto Him."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

(Sanathana Sarathi - Sept. 2007)

Seasons

There was something in the air this morning. I paused as I walked outside, raised my head, and breathed it in. It was Spring! I looked down at my lawn and saw wild onions and fresh green grass growing. My flower box had new purple Phlox stretching towards the sunshine. Tulips and Daffodils were in bloom too. Their reds and yellows were brightening up countless yards. In the meadow dozens upon dozens of dandelions were also soaking up the sun. The formerly barren trees were budding away too. When I walked under one of them I could hear a protective Mother Robin scolding me from her nest.

I smiled at all of this and took a long walk in the warming sunshine. The air was cool and fresh without being cold and I could smell a thousand different scents dancing upon it. My coat was sitting unused in my house and I hoped that it would rest there for many months to come. I felt as young and alive as a child. When a hornet buzzed by me I danced away without a hint of ill will. I knew that it was time as well to the one thing I had wanted to do all Winter long. With a laugh I kicked off my shoes and walked barefoot in the grass. I listened to the dozens of birds singing their songs. They all blended together in a chorus of joy.

Finally, I stopped walking and watched the morning sun rising in the sky. Then I said a prayer of thanks to God. I thanked Him for the warmth and golden sunlight. I thanked Him for the flowers and the trees. I thanked Him for the green grass and the insects. I thanked him for the birds and their music. I thanked Him
most of all for my life and for making a season as glorious and special as Spring.

A friend of mine asked me last Winter why I had never moved south to escape the cold here in
the mountains of my home. I think that the answer is that these mountains ARE my home. They
are where I feel the happiest. They are where God meant for me to be. I also think that I wouldn't
appreciate the Spring so much if there were no Winter.

When we go through the seasons of our lives we should always do our best to appreciate them
all. We should cherish every moment of our Spring and enjoy every second of our Summer.
Yet, we should also delight in the special beauty of our Autumn and share our warmth and light
when the cold days of Winter arrive. We should embrace every season and every day with
thankfulness and love. Because that is how God meant for us to live! May you always have
love in your heart and Springtime in your soul.

~ Joseph J. Mazzella

May All the Living Beings in All the Worlds be Happy

Keep God as Your Highest Goal

"Whatever you may do will be a mere waste if you forget God.  Keep God as your highest goal.  God is not present in a far off land.  He is present everywhere.  People may say anything, you may face any number of difficulties but you should never forget God.  Only when you have such pure, steady and unwavering devotion can you be called a true devotee.  You cannot call yourself a devotee if you have wavering and unsteady devotion."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

(Divine Discourse - 24.8.2007)

Divine Wisdom

Sai Madhuryam

"Truth is the mother;

Wisdom is the father;

Right Conduct is the brother;

Compassion is the friend;

Peace is the spouse;

Forgiveness is the son;

These six alone are the real relations for everyone."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

God is Not Separate From You

"Oh God, I offer the heart which You have given me.

What else can I offer at Your Lotus Feet?

I pray to You to accept it."

God is not separate from you.  You are not separate from God.  You and God are one.  You should always think, "God is present in my heart.  I am verily God."  Names and forms are different but God is one and only one."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

(Divine Discourse - 11.2.2007)

Dear Lord ...

"Dear Lord,

I ask so much of you but

You ask so little of me.

You are always there,

waiting patiently,

O Lord, take my hand and

walk with me on this long

and lonely journey;

O Lord please lead me home."

~ Divine Blossoms ~

You Were Always There

You were always there in this awesome star-studded universe;

You were always there when time and space were just a void;

At your command, mountains rose and barren earth erupted;

Great surging oceans swelled across unknown rocky shores;

No man nor beast were there to tremble at your mighty power

which manifested itself unseen according to your divine will.

Only you were there to witness your divine play and set the stage

Until you wrought the greatest miracle of all when time was not;

In minutest glory came the first primeval life forms

To grow and change through eons of time into humanity itself,

At one with the divine creator who divided himself into the many.

My beloved Lord, resplendent in your timeless magnificence;

Destined never to be lonely again, you and I are one;

All mankind steeped in your infinite love for all eternity;

The answer to our deepest need lies hidden from our sight;

The burning truth cannot be found without, but deep within us.

There is nothing else we really need - love is all there is!

~ Jacqui Lloyd Davies ~

Quotable Quotes

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 all are 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 hand in hand.

~ S. Premlatha ~

Regard Money as Gift of God

"Spend your wealth only for the promotion of Dharma; hold it in trust for divine activities only.  Be careful in spending money.  Curtail your wants, minimise your expenses.  Discard every habit that weakens you while impoverishing you.  When you seek to acquire anything or join any company, try to discover how they will affect your life.  Regard money as precious as blood, as holy as the gift of God.  Earn it by truth and righteousness.  Use it for promoting peace and love."

~ Baba ~

(Sanathana Sarathi - June 2007)

Divine Wisdom

The Presence

Looking back over my life,

Having attained my three score years and ten,

(And a few more, to be quite honest),

I recognize the Thread which has run through it;

The Presence which, from time to time

Has manifested itself,

In times of stress or distress,

And sometimes for no apparent reason whatsoever.

That Presence which I now realize

Was and is always there,

Waiting, with patient Love,

For me to have the elementary common sense

To shed off my ego - carapace

And open up to it.

Help me Lord to forgive myself 

(For I know that You forgive me)

For all those wasted hours

When I have allowed myself to lose awareness of You

And Your love and Your guidance and Your protection.

Your Presence.

I solemnly undertake, dearest Baba - Guru - Avatar,

(Having now passed my three score years and ten),

To be more constant, before it is too late

For this time round.

~ John Spencer ~

May All Living Beings of All the Worlds be Happy

Remedy for Our Problems

"Absolute purity or perfection is not beyond man's capacity.  It is possible for him to be perfect.  But to obtain the absoluteness of truth, beauty and goodness, man has to struggle hard.  He should develop deep understanding, follow hard discipline and put forth ceaseless effort.  Man should regard himself as a representative of divinity and not just a "man".  It is his duty to cultivate such qualities as reflect the divine within him.  He should develop these divine qualities and spread them around him in society.  This is the best and the only suitable remedy for many of our contemporary problems."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

(Sanathana Sarathi - March 2006)

Sai Madhuryam

"Money has become our God;

Pride has become our creed;

Selfishness sits supreme in the minds of men; 

Egotism has become our fashion;

Greed has become our beauty;

Dharma has come to nought;

Compassion has sunk low;

Moral fervour is lost;

Hypocrisy has become the light of our life;

Love and kindness lie sick and diseased;

Modern education has blinded men with lust;

Life has become a burden;

Minds have gone astray; 

Delay no more, for delay is disastrous;

Fuse morality with education in sweet harmony;

Live up to the reputation as children of Bharat."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

Quotable Quotes

"You can live with few clothes or with one meal a day, but that is not simplicity.  

So be simple, don't live in a complicated way, contradictory and so on, just be simple inwardly."

~ Krishnamurti ~

The Rose Plant of our Body

"In the rose plant of our body, there is the rose of pure and sacred love emitting the fragrance of good qualities.  Below the rose, however, there are thorns in the form of sensual desires.  The purpose of meditation is to separate the rose of selfless love from the senses and offer it to the Lord."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

(Sanathana Sarathi - Jan. 2006)

Nagar Sankirtan

"When you participate in Nagar Sankirtan in the early hours of the day, your heart will be brimming with bliss.  It is not merely Kirtan (singing), it is Sankirtan (singing together wholeheartedly) to experience and share your joy with one and all.  Sing His glory full-throated and make everyone drink the nectar of the Divine Name.  In fact, the motive of all your endeavours should be expansion of heart and joy for all.  Only then will you be worthy of the title of human being.  Then only is your life as a human being worthwhile."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

(Divine Discourse - 19.11.2005)

Baba's Storytime - Faith

There was a thief who listened quite accidentally to the recital of the charms of Krishna during childhood; he stopped for a moment, but could not pull himself away.   He heard the description of the ornaments he wore and got a great desire to rob those precious treasures.  He asked the pundit where exactly Krishna would be tending the cows alone or with just his elder brother or with a handful of comrades.  The pundit told him curtly "In Brindavan, on the Yamuna bank".

Planning to catch Krishna alone and deprive him of the ornaments, he hurried off to Brindavan.  Sure enough, he met the boy alone next morning at the head of his herd of cows ... but could be take off the ornaments from that loveliness?  He was afraid that the removal of even one would reduce the lustre and his heart did not allow him to do that.  

He looked on for hours, lost in ecstasy, till Krishna himself asked him, but he was too ashamed to mention it.  Krishna knew it however.  He gave him all the jewels he wore. The thief was overcome with shame and joy; he fell at the boy's feet but when he rose, Krishna was not to be seen.

The thief went back to his village and consulted the pundit.  "Are these the jewels of Krishna that you extolled the other day?  I went to Brindavan and He gave them to me."  Needless to add, the pundit fell at the robber's feet.  

Faith can work wonders; it can compel the Lord to manifest Himself and give you what you believe He will give.

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

Quotable Quotes

We meditate not to attain, but to let go.

If you let go a little,

you’ll have a little peace. 

If you let go a lot, 

you;ll have a lot of peace. 

If you let go completely,

you’ll know complete peace and freedom. 

Your struggles with the world 

will have come to an end. 

~ Ajahn Brahm ~

I Am In You

"Be pure in words and deeds and keep impure thoughts away.  I am in every one of you and so I become aware of the slightest wave of thoughts.  When the clothes become dirty, you have to give them for wash.  When your mind is soiled, you have to be born again  for the cleansing operations.  The dhobi beats the clothes on the hard stone and draws over it the hot iron to straighten the folds.  So, you too, will have to pass through a terrain of travail in order to become fit to approach God.  See me as resident in everyone.  Give them all the help you can, all the serve they need.  Do not withhold the sweet word, the supporting hand, the assuring smile, the comforting company, the consoling conversation."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

(Sanathana Sarathi – Dec.1998)

Sai Madhuryam

"If you leave ego, you become dear to all;

If you conquer anger, you become free from worries;

You become prosperous when you control your desires;

You attain happiness only when you conquer greed."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

Everything is Subject to Change

"In this world, everything is subject to change - be it happiness or sorrow, peace or unrest, pleasantness or unpleasantness.  Man is unable to understand his true nature because he considers the body permanent and identifies himself with it.  But the body is temporary and impermanent.  Man is not merely a Vyashti Jeevi (individual).  He is a Samashti Jeevi (part of society) and does not like to lead a life of loneliness.  The Vedas declare: Sahasra Seersha Purusha Sahasraksha Sahasra Pad (God has thousands of heads, eyes and feet).  He is immanent in each and every being.  In his delusion, man fails to realise his real cosmic form, considers himself merely an individual and thereby subjects himself to suffering."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

(Divine Discourse - 4.11.2002)

Divine Wisdom

May All the Living Beings of All the Worlds be Happy

Quotable Quotes

"In oneself lies the whole world, 

and if you know

how to look and learn,

then the door is there and

the key is in your hand."

~ Krishnamurti ~

What to Offer to God

"What is is that you have to offer to God?  Not a leaf, a flower, a fruit or holy water.  You have to offer yourself to God.  Then you become one with the Divine.  That is what God desires from you."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~ 

(Divine Discourse - 11.7.1995)

A Message for Eswaramma Day

"Live a good life. Be ready to help others. Love children, respect elders, respect all according to their status in society. Living up to these ideals is the best way to lead one’s life. Imprint these principles firmly on your heart. Act in a manner so as to please your parents. Only then will your life find fulfilment. You are conducting Bhajans at various places and at different times. But mere singing of Bhajans is not enough, behaviour and conduct are also important”.

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

(Divine Discourse - 6.5.2002)

Quotable Quotes

"Judge nothing, you will be happy.

Forgive everything, you will be happier.

Love everything, you will be happiest."

~ Sri Chinmoy ~

Sai Madhuryam

"In this sacred land of Bharat, forbearance is the real beauty,

Of all forms of rituals, adherence to Truth is the greatest penance;

Is there any ritual more sacred than the feeling

of love towards the mother?

What else is to be communicated to you more than this,

O members of this noble and august assembly!"

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~