Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Live in Harmony



"All things are transient like passing clouds. Why worry about them? We should not be elated or depressed by births or deaths. We came naked into the world. When we leave, we cannot leave our address with "our" kith and kin. How can they be "our kinsfolk?" All these are worldly phenomena. As long as we live, we should spend our lives in harmony and fellow-feeling. All our difficulties can be overcome by contemplation on God. Forgetting God and immersing yourself in worldly concerns, what do you achieve? Have firm faith in God. Don't give room for differences of caste, creed and nationality. All names and forms belong to the Divine. All that you see is a manifestation of the Cosmic Form of the Lord. With firm faith in the Divine, chanting the Lord's name, redeem your lives."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~
(Divine Discourse - 23.11.1990)

Sai Madhuryam



Like a feast to a starving man, 
Like rain for the parched earth, 
Like a child to one yearning for a son.
 The Lord comes to protect Dharma.

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

Friday, November 20, 2015

90 Years of Sathya Sai


TO OUR BELOVED SADGURU,
Thank you for being our Mata Pita Dina Bandhu Sakha!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!



The Birthday Gift I seek from you ...

"Sow the seeds of noble thoughts, let them grow into giant trees and let people take shelter under them.  This is the only birthday gift I seek from you.  Your welfare is your gift to Me.  Become exemplary persons.

Consider yourselves the children of one mother, belonging to the human family.   Do not give room for differences of race, creed and nationality.  All belong to the caste of humanity, the religion of love and the language of the heart.  The same object, water, is called by different names in different languages.  Likewise God is one, whatever the name that is used - whether Jesus, Buddha or Raama - have that faith.  Don't criticize any religion.  By developing this universalism, bring joy to Bhagavan."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~
(Divine Discourse - 23.11.1995)

Sathyam, Sivam, Sundaram



"I am not merit nor sin,
Neither happiness nor sorrow.
Neither mantra nor holy water.
Neither Veda nor Yagna.
Neither food nor the enjoyer of food.
I am Sathyam, Sivam, Sundaram -
Truth, Goodness, Beauty
The embodiment of Sat-Chit-Ananda -
Being - Awareness - Bliss"

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

Thursday, November 19, 2015

Ladies Day


To all the ladies,
may the good Lord bless you!


"This day of 19th November is celebrated as Ladies Day in order to delve into the sacred qualities of women and disseminate them. Women are the repositories of Truth and Culture. Though earth is one, the plants vary depending on the seeds sown. The womb of mother symbolizes Mother Earth. As is the seed of thought sown in it, so is the fruit it yields. You cannot expect mangoes by sowing a neem seed. So, the mother should be filled with good thoughts, good words and good deeds. Only then can her children be virtuous."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba- 
(Divine Discourse: 19.11.2000)

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

The Source of All Beauty



It is God's greatness, grandeur and majesty
that you see in the sky-scraping peaks
of the high mountains.

It is His sublime silence and His supreme
peace that you find in the remote forests and
the vast deserts;

It is the glorious effulgence and beautiful
splendour that you witness in the sun, the moon,
and the countless galaxies in the sky;

It is His love and creativity that you find
reflected in the inhabitants of villages, towns
and cities that adorn the earth.

Whatever thing of beauty you come across in this
universe is a reminder of, and a tribute to the
"Source of All Beauty" - the Divine Lord!


~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~
(Summer Showers in Brindavan 1990)

Tuesday, November 17, 2015

Divine Love



"There is Divine Love in you which has neither birth nor death. You direct your love towards that Divine Love. That love is always with you. If you cultivate such love, you will always remain as embodiments of love. Have firm faith in this Divine Love. Do not believe the worldly love, lest you should be deceived. The worldly love is like passing clouds. Such clouds come and go. They are not permanent. Love the eternal love. That is the Atma Tattwa."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~
(Divine Discourse - 28.10.2003)

Quotable Quotes



"The wise one should guard his mind,
For a guarded mind brings happiness."

~ The Dhammapada ~

Om Namah Shivaya: Om Sri Sai Jodi Adipalli Somappaya Namaha:



Om Namah Shivaya:

Om Sri Sai Jodi Adipalli Somappaya Namaha:

On 26th. November 1958, three days after Swami's birthday festival, a devotee from Bangalore, after taking leave of Baba, left Prashanti Nilayam by car. On the way, his two year old daughter was attacked by 'fits' (seizures) which became so severe that the child was asphyxiated and collapsed. 

Swami omniscient, presented (manifested) Himself before them as a "villager" with two other "villagers" whom He had created. He wanted the child to be given to Him and His two comrades supported the order saying, "Give Him, He will cure the child. He has cured thousands." 

The "villager Baba" told the parents, "I was busy for the last three days. I just now laid Myself to rest, but I came to know that a child was seriously ill on the road. So I ran up." He placed the child on His lap and it was revived. 

"Villager Baba" gave it back to the joyful parents. Out of thankfulness, they offered Him a rupee, but it was refused. Then they tried offering Him a fruit from the many He Himself had given them at the Nilayam while they were leaving. The grateful parents asked the "villager" His name, to which He replied, "Jodi Adipalli Somappa".

When asked later at the Nilayam, why He chose that name of all others, Swami replied, "I am Somappa, Soma Appa (Shiva) Sa-Uma=Soma. The place of My residence is Adipalli ( the primeval village, Kailash). It is 'Jodi' (belonging to two) because it belongs to "Sa" & "Uma" (Shiva Shakti--the twin--Prakriti & Purusha). This is therefore Swami's most appropriate epithet, selected by Himself for that profound miracle of 'grace'. It reveals Swami's truth as being "Shiva Shakti".

by N. Kasturi

Monday, November 16, 2015

Sanctify your Lives



"Your senses, like the eyes, the ears, the tongue, are God-given gifts. They should be used only for sacred purposes and should not be misused. There is only one royal road to realising God. It is the path of Divine love. You have come from the Divine and your destiny is the merger with the Divine. Entertain only sacred thoughts and engage yourselves only in sacred deeds. Thereby you will be sanctifying your lives"

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~
(Divine Discourse - 2.10.1988)

Sunday, November 15, 2015

Sai Madhuryam



Proclaim with raised hands that caste 
and credal divisions should go; 
Speak out repeatedly that 
service to the weak is Divine; 
Meditation on the Lord's name 
will lead man to the Lord's abode 
And confer immortality on him. 
Declare that all men of devotion and faith 
are your kith and kin. 
Those who teach this wisdom to the people 
are dearest to the Lord. 
Getting rid of feelings of differences, 
if you live in love and harmony, 
That alone will delight Sai. 
What more can I tell you, 
Oh good people, assembled here?

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

Thursday, November 12, 2015

Akhanda Bhajan



"The bhajans that are sung permeate the ether in the form of sound waves and fill the entire atmosphere. Thereby, the whole environment is purified. Breathing in this purified atmosphere, our hearts get purified. Reciting the Lord's name is a process of give and take. Singing the Lord's name should become an exercise in mutual sharing of joy and holiness. It should be remembered that the sounds we produce reverberate in the atmosphere. They remain permanently in the ether as waves and outlast the individual uttering the sounds."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~
(Divine Discourse - 8.11.1986)

Divine Wisdom




Wednesday, November 11, 2015

You are Born to Serve



"Seva brings out all that is great in man. It broadens the heart and widens one's vision. It fills one with joy. It promotes unity. It proclaims the truth of the Spirit. It drives out all the evil qualities in a man. It must be regarded as a great spiritual discipline. You are born to serve, not to dominate. Everyone in the world is a servant and not a master. All relationships--husband and wife, mother and child, the employer and employee are based on mutual service. The world is progressing because of such mutual service. If the principle of service did not operate, the world would come to a halt."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~
(Divine Discourse - 20.11.1990)

Transformation



"Transformation must begin with the individual. When the individual changes, the world will change. This transformation has to take place in the minds of men. Right thoughts will lead to right actions. That is why the scriptures have declared that the mind is the cause of man's bondage or liberation."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~ 
(Divine Discourse to the Fifth World Conference of 
Sathya Sai Seva Organizations on 20-11-1990)

Tuesday, November 10, 2015

Sharing Smiles

I walked outside just as the sun was coming up over the mountains this morning. It was such a glorious sight. The whole world seemed to awaken with it. The golden light made the green grass glow. The birds stirred in their nests and began to sing. A lone Monarch butterfly fluttered by my face. I could feel the love of God filling His creation and my soul as well. 

As I stood there taking in the beauty of the sunrise I found the corners of my mouth rising too. I smiled with joy and thanked God for another wonderful day here on Earth.

I decided to not let that smile fade as the day went on either. Instead I tried to pass it on to everyone I could. I found it very hard to give it away, though, because I almost always got it returned. My sons' smiles shone brighter than the morning sun had. My daughter's smile made my heart feel lighter and my soul feel stronger. The smiles of all the people I met during the day left me feeling more connected to them, more connected to life, and more connected to God. Even my dogs had smiles and "happy pants" waiting for me when I petted them after returning home.


A smile is so much more than just a show of teeth. A smile is a prelude to laughter. A smile is a spreader of joy. A smile is a messenger of peace. A smile is a sharer of happiness. A smile is a giver of love. Smiles help to heal the heart. Smiles help to nourish the soul. Smiles help to build a better world one grin at a time.
The truth is you don't smile because you feel good; you feel good because you smile. 

Don't be stingy with your smiles then. Share them with joy. Let everyone see your smiling face. Let Heaven see your smiling soul. Let God's love flow through your smile until like the morning sun you light up the world.

~ Joseph J. Mazzella ~

Monday, November 9, 2015

Happy Diwali



May the Festival of Lights fill your life with joy and peace.

Quotable Quotes



"When life is good, do not take it for granted as it will pass.  Be mindful, be compassionate and nurture the circumstances that find you in this good time so it will last longer.  When life falls apart, always remember that this too will pass.  Life will have its unexpected turns."

~ Ajahn Brahm ~

Saturday, November 7, 2015

Sai Madhuryam



Oh good and noble people assembled here! 
May you be filled with mutual affection and unalloyed Joy! 
May you be compassionate towards all those who are afflicted! 
May you lead righteous family lives and be an example to all; 
May you be ever earnest in the pursuit of Dharma and Jnana! 
This is my benediction for all of you. 
What more can I tell you?

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

Baba's Storytime - The Ruler and the Ruled



There is a story to illustrate the ideal relations between the ruler and the ruled. 

There was a king who was being anointed by the queen before he took an oil bath. While the queen was applying oil to the king's head, the king noticed in the mirror that the queen was in tears. He asked her the reason for her shedding tears. The queen said that while applying oil she had noticed some grey hairs on the king's head and the thought that the king was getting old had made her sad. 

That very moment the king also felt that he had enjoyed royal pleasures long enough and it was high time he repaired to a forest to devote himself to the matters of the Spirit. The king and queen summoned the ministers, entrusted the reins of the government to them and betook themselves to a forest to lead the life of ascetics. 

When the people heard about the decision of the royal couple, they felt that they could not live away from such noble rulers and decided to go to the forest en masse. They approached the king and prayed to him: “Why have you given up the kingdom? Is it because of any lapses on our part?" The king told them: "I have ruled the kingdom long enough. Now that I am old, I wish to devote the rest of my life to the thoughts of God." 

On hearing these words, the entire people wailed in anguish. They decided to perform penance in the forest. Queen's selfless concern for the people Brahma appeared before them and asked them what they wanted. As they were utterly unselfish, they prayed to Brahma to give their king a long life. Brahma granted their prayer. The people went in joy to the king and said that Brahma had granted him a long life and therefore he should return to the kingdom to rule over it for many years. 

The king started to go back to the capital. But the queen declined to accompany him. She said she would continue to stay in the forest. The people mistook the reason for the queen's decision. They thought perhaps the queen was angry because they had prayed only for the long life of the king and not for the queen. 

The queen was cast in a different mould. She was not concerned about herself. She performed a severe penance. Brahma appeared before her and asked what she wanted. She asked: "Is it true that you have granted the king a long life? Of what use is it, if the king alone has a long life, while the subjects are short-lived? I pray you should grant a long life to the people also." Brahma was so pleased with her selfless concern for the people that he granted long life to the people and the queen also.

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

Delusion



"Men today are keen to know all about everything except themselves. They are able to see everything except their own true selves. They are caught in the delusion that the world is different from the One that sustains it. Although what they are seeing is the manifestation of God, they declare that they cannot see God. This is the result of ignorance. All that is seen, the act of seeing and the seer are all Divine. When the unity of this triune aspects of Divinity is understood, real bliss will be experienced."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~
(Divine Discourse - 27.9.1987)

Thursday, November 5, 2015

"That is Correct"



One day Buddha was walking through a village. An angry and rude man came toward him and began insulting him. "You have no right teaching others!" he shouted. "You are as stupid as everyone else. You are nothing but a fake."

Buddha was not upset by these insults. He just smiled. The man insulted him over and over but the only reaction he could get back from the Buddha was a smile and silence. Finally, the rude man left.
The disciples were feeling angry and one of them asked the Buddha, "Why didn't you reply to the rude man?"

The Budhha replied, "If someone offers you a gift, and you refuse to accept it, to whom does the gift belong?" The disciple was surprised to be asked such a strange question and answered, "It would belong to the person who brought the gift."

The Buddha smiled and said, "That is correct."


Tuesday, November 3, 2015

Quotable Quotes



"So if we have the habit of being peace,
then there is a natural tendency for us to go in the direction of service."

~ Thich Nhat Hanh ~

Divine Wisdom



Tears

It had been a rough week. A steady stream of bad news had battered my spirits and stressed my soul. Everything seemed to be going wrong at once. My fearful, worried mind wouldn't rest and my tired feet kept pacing through my house carrying my body along with them. "If only I could clear my head", I thought to myself. "If only I could calm my heart."

I had turned the radio on earlier but its music had failed to relax me. I continued to ignore it until my ears heard a bittersweet melody that always reminded me of my late Mother. As the song slowly penetrated the wall of worry I had put up, I remembered my Mom's love, her smile, her sparkling eyes, and the way she lit up every room she walked into. Then I felt something wet on my cheeks. Tears were flowing down them. 

When I was younger I would have blinked them back or tried to hide them but not this time. This time I just let them fall. After a few moments a peace descended on me. I felt loved. I felt loved by my Mom. I felt loved by God. All my worries seemed unimportant in the face of that love. I saw once again that I had been looking at life with cloudy eyes and had been missing what was essential. I thanked God and my Mom for that reminder, for that song, and for the gift of tears.

The inspirational author and speaker Leo Buscaglia said: "Tears are good for you. They clean out your eyeballs." They also clean out your soul. They wash away worry, fear, and stress and allow peace, love, and joy to take their place. They help remind you of what is important in life. They take away your pain and lead you gently back to God.

The next time that you feel tears forming in your eyes, don't blink them away. Don't hold them back. Let them fall. Let them help clear your eyes, heart, mind, and soul. Let them wash away your pain. Let them carry you back again to your Heavenly Father's loving arms.

~ Joseph J. Mazzella 

Monday, November 2, 2015

Chant the Divine Name



"When you chant the divine Name with love at least once, you will experience inexplicable and overwhelming bliss in your heart. The divine Name melts even a stone-hearted person. Even ice takes some time to melt, but God's heart melts instantaneously when you chant His Name with love. So, chant the Name of God. Even while you are traveling, you can chant His Name silently without attracting others' attention. Sarvada sarva kaleshu sarvatra Rama chintanam (everywhere, at all times and under all circumstances, contemplate on the divine name of Rama). There is no greater sadhana (spiritual exercise) than this. The essence of all sadhanas is contained in this. In the Kali yuga, chanting of God's Name is the royal path to liberation."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~
(Divine Discourse - 14.4.2003)

Divine Grace



""Peace and happiness cannot be obtained from the external world. 
Only through Divine grace can one be peaceful and happy."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~
(Divine Discourse - 1.1.2001)