Sai Blossoms

Baba's Storytime - Kalpavriksha

Because God comes out of our heart in the form of speech, we must try to make our speech as pure and as clean as possible.  God is also in the form of truth.  So, whatever we will be saying will have an echo "Let it be so!"  There is a small story for this.

A traveller was going on his way.  After going some distance, he was tired on account of the summer heat.  By the side of the path there was a big tree and he went there to take rest under the shade of the tree.  When he went into that cool shade, he was overjoyed.  Then he said to himself, "I am able to find a very cool place; how fortunate will I be if I will be able to get a glass of cool water also here?"  Instantly, a tumbler of water came down.  After he drank that water, he thought, "Now I have quenched my thirst, how happy will I be if there is a good bed here because this floor is hard and rough."  At once a big soft bed came down.  He then thought, "Even in my house, I do not possess such a pillow.  If my wife comes here and sees, how happy will she feel?"  Immediately the wife also came down!  He saw her and thought, "Is she my wife or is she a demon?  Will she eat me?"  No sooner he said this, she ate him.

The tree under the shade of which he sat is "Kalpavriksha, the tree that fulfils desires.  When the traveller sat under it, whatever good things he thought of, he got them instantly.  But when he thought about bad things, bad things also came to him.  This world is a part of Kalpavriksha.  We are sitting under the shade of this Kalpavriksha.  If we think badly, bad happens to us and if we think in a good manner, good happens to us.  So when our thoughts, when our contemplation and when our deeds are pure, the Kalpavriksha of the world will be giving the good things desired by us.  Both good and bad will come only from our heart.  They never come from outside.  That is why in the beginning, we have to make our heart as pure as possible.

(From the Divine Discourses of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba)

Quotable Quotes

Can Anybody See God?

A small boy once approached his slightly older sister with a question about God.

"Susie, can anybody ever really see God?" he asked. Busy with other things, Susie curtly replied: "No, of course not, silly. God is so far up in heaven that nobody can see him."

Time passed, but his question still lingered, so he approached his mother: "Mom, can anybody ever really see God?" "No, not really," she gently said. "God is a spirit and he dwells in our hearts, but we can never really see him."

Somewhat satisfied but still wondering, the youngster went on his way. Not long afterwards, his saintly old grandfather took the little boy on a fishing trip. They were having a great time together -- it had been an ideal day. The sun was beginning to set with unusual splendor as the day ended.

The old man stopped fishing and turned his full attention to the exquisite beauty unfolding before him.  On seeing the face of his grandfather reflecting such deep peace and contentment as he gazed into the magnificent ever-changing sunset, the little boy thought for a moment and finally spoke hesitatingly: "Granddad, I - I wasn't going to ask anybody else, but I wonder if you can tell me the answer to something I've been wondering about a long time. Can anybody, can anybody ever really see God?"

The old man did not even turn his head. A long moment slipped by before he finally answered. "Son," he quietly said. "It's getting so I can't see anything else."

~ Author Unknown ~

The Miracle of Love

What is this Miracle of love?

It comes from above and descends like a gentle dove.

It reaches out to us, drawing us ever near.

It embodies us with light and drives out all fear.

The divine reaches out to us like a brother.

We in turn reach out to one another.

Love heals all pain.

Once we love and are loved, life is never the same.

Reach out to a friend and they in turn will reach out to a friend.

Thoughts of love and peace you must always send.

Feel the divine coursing through your veins.

Allow the King of love and light in your hear to always reign.

Become one with the divine, transform your world.

See the banners of light become unfurled.

Become a new person, reach out to the stars.

Accept your destiny.

Crown yourself with divine love and then and

only then will you truly see.

~ Author Unknown ~

The Path to God

"The path to God is difficult, but you can win. Let God do whatever He wants. Surrender to Him and say, “I brought nothing with me! Whatever You have given me, I offer it back to You.” You may think your parents gave you the body. Who put life into your body? Who makes your heart tick incessantly? You may feed the body with tasty food but who digests all the food you eat? Who is the driving force behind the circulation of blood? God Himself regulates every single act within every living being. The eye that is not even an inch long can clearly perceive the stars, far away in the sky. Who gave this little eye, this big strength and power? God alone has conferred and is conferring everything upon you. With your little ego, you are confused that you are the doer. This is the greatest ignorance. Whatever He gives, accept it, it is for your highest good."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

 (Divine Discourse, 'My Dear Students', 

Vol 2, Ch 4, Apr 22, 2000)

Divine Wisdom

Sai Blossoms

Grief and Joy

"For every being, life is a series of acceptances and rejections, of joy and grief, benefits and losses. Take everything that happens to you as gifts of grace. Of course, you must act with all the skill and devotion you are capable of. And you must do your duties with as much sincerity as you worship God. Then, leave the result to the all-powerful, all-knowing, all-merciful Lord. Why do you hold yourself responsible for the results? He prompted it, He got it done through you; He will give whatever result He feels He must! Can you store gold in a gold box? No! You store it in a steel or iron safe almirah, isn’t it? So too, understand that the gift of joy comes packed in the rind of grief. Do not pray to God to give you only joy; that will be foolish. Pray for the fortitude to realise that grief and joy are but two sides of the same coin."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

(Divine Discourse - 27.3.1971)

Yajnas

"In the course of one’s day to day activities a number of small creatures and insects may be destroyed. In these and other ways, sins may be committed, knowingly or unknowingly. For removing such sins, the scriptures have prescribed five types of Yajnas or worships - Brahma Yajna, Deva Yajna, Pitru Yajna, Manushya Yajna and Bhuta Yajna. Brahma Yajna is the study of sacred books and scriptures. Deva Yajnainvolves offering worship, bhajans, etc. Pitru Yajna refers to ceremonies to departed ancestors. The fourth one, Manushya Yajna, refers to extending hospitality to guests, invited and uninvited. Bhuta Yajna refers to offering food to animals, birds and insects, and looking after wild animals. By engaging in such service and thereby fulfilling the requirements of these Yajnas, we can atone for sins of various kinds that might have been committed."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

 (Divine Discourse, 7-7-1985)

May All Living Beings in All the Worlds be Happy

Sai Madhuryam

It is the mind that matters, wherever one may be.

Neither home nor forest can give you liberation.

It makes no difference - whether you are in the 

temple or forest,

As long as the mind is not up to the mark.

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

You Can See God

I sat at my desk staring at the letter for a long time. It was written by a friend of mine who was going through some difficult times. It listed problem after problem and seemed full of despair. It ended with these words: “I would like to have faith, but I have always had a problem in believing in what I can’t see. You can’t see God, you know!”

After a while I still hadn’t thought of how to answer my friend’s letter and help him. Hoping a walk would help, I put a leash on one of my dogs and headed out the back door.

The warm, golden sunshine of Spring warmed my face as soon as I stepped off the porch. A fresh breeze carried the scent of a thousand budding trees on it. A butterfly danced above a patch of dandelions floating from flower to flower. Robins were flying back and forth to the Maple tree in my backyard carrying fresh grass and twigs to reline their nests. Across the road my new neighbor’s children were playing in her backyard with a big ball. It was such a delight seeing her toddler chasing after it with such joy.

I felt a nuzzle against my leg and looked down to see my dog cuddling in for a hug. I smiled and scratched his head while the laughter of the children and the sound of crickets in the woods blended together to create a unique and beautiful music. I started to walk back inside and saw my own son grinning at me from the window. Most of the world could only see his mental handicaps, but when I looked at him then his eyes sparkled with a divine light. I waved to him and laughed when his older sister snucked up behind him and wrapped him in a loving hug.

When I got back inside, I knew what to write. I went to my friend’s letter and wrote of everything I had just seen, smelled, heard, and felt in those brief moments outside. Then I finished by writing this: “I think we all can see God! We just need to know where to look!”

~  Joseph J. Mazzella ~

Sai Blossoms

Quotable Quotes

"Instead of wondering WHY this is happening to you,

consider why this is happening to YOU."

~ Dalai Lama ~

Guide Me

Guide me, lead me, one step at a time,

Prepare me in advance

For what I should do.

Give me strength to go every mile

Walking and talking with you.

Just be with me, Lord, and let me see,

The light of your love and its reality,

One step at a time

Until Your kingdom is mine.

Where ere the path

may lead me, Lord,

Go with me and hold my hand.

Don't ever let me stray

From Your loving command.

I know this life is not perfect,

I know the humps are very high,

What do I care, I keep moving on

Knowing You are always there.

You're greater, Lord than any trial,

Your power can move the mountains,

Just be with me and I will know

I can reach the goal,

I know I can.

~ Author Unknown ~

Blessed!

A devotee went to Swami and prayed to Him in the interview room to sit with the group from Gujarat and give them jyana (knowledge of the Divine) for one hour.  To the amazement of all the devotees, Baba materialised a copy of Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. V with his own signature and date, and said, "Swami is very busy at present, but this book contains Swami's messages given in Gujarat.  You read it in front of the others and acquire the required jyana!"

Beloved Swami blesses His devotees in so many different ways!

(From the book "Sai Smaran" by Dr. D. J. Ghadia)

Divine Wisdom

Chanting the Lord's Name

"Chanting the Lord's name is essential for crossing the turbulent ocean of life.  It is a boat that can carry you across the deepest ocean.  In chanting the Lord's name, one should be tranquil, utterly selfless and pure at heart.  Ostentation and egoism should be eschewed."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

(Divine Discourse - 18.2.1996)

God and only One

"God has a million names and a million forms.  Select any name of His that appeals to you.  Choose any form of His.  Every day when you awaken to the call of the brightening East, recite the name and meditate on the Form.  Keep the Name and Form before the mind's eye as your constant companion, guide and guardian throughout the working hours.  When you retire for the night, offer grateful homage to God in that Form, with that Name - for having been with you, by you, beside you, before you and behind you all day long.  Know that within the many Forms and many Names, God is present in all of them.  The inner being is, in reality, God and only ONE."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

(From the book: "Sai Smaran" by Dr.D.J. Ghadia)

Sai Madhuryam

Men seek a good time, position and good life 

But will not cultivate good thoughts, wisdom or right conduct. 

Do you know why legs have been given? 

Is it to roam aimlessly in alleys and by lanes? 

No. It is to take to the shrine of Lord Siva. 

Do you know why you have been endowed with eyes? 

Is it to gaze on all kinds of things? 

No. It is to behold the Lord of Kailasa.

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

Sai Blossoms

Baba's Storytime - Pray Before You Eat

Have your food only after praying and offering it to God. Only then the food will become sanctified and illumine your intellect. 

Once there lived a sannyasi in a hermitage near Sivananda’s ashram. He was a pious soul. One day an aged businessman donated money to prepare food for the ashramites on the eleventh day after the demise of his young wife. The businessman, being rich, somehow had enticed the girl’s father with money and married his young daughter. She spent her time languishing over her fate in the businessman’s house. Disgusted by leading such a life, one day she jumped into the Ganges and ended her life. The businessman was doing the obituary rites on the eleventh day.  

There was a convention in the ashram that cooked food was not accepted. So, the businessman gave the required amount for preparing the food. The pure-hearted sannyasi partook of the food along with other inmates of the ashram. He could not get proper sleep that night. He saw a young girl in his dream. He thought to himself, “I never had any such thought nor do I have a craving for sensual pleasures. Then, why do I get such bad dreams?” He got the same vision even in his meditation. 

So, he went to his Guru by name Satchidanandam and explained his predicament: “Swami, why am I getting such unsacred visions?” The Guru told him not to worry. He sent word for the businessman, spoke to him and found out the reason behind the untimely death of his wife. He understood that she was appearing in the dream of the sannyasi as he had partaken of the food prepared as part of her obituary rites. From that day, the sannyasi stopped eating food and lived merely on fruits and milk. 

Bhikshannam deharakshanartham (food is essential to sustain the body). A car needs petrol to run. In the same way, the body requires food to sustain it. So, one has to eat something or the other to sustain the body. Sometimes, you get bad dreams and bad visions during meditation. This is the result of unsacred food. You have to enquire before cooking whether the provisions were got through sacred means. Only then the food becomes fit for consumption. Before partaking of food, you should pray, 

Brahmarpanam Brahma havir 

Brahmagnou Brahmanahutam 

Brahmaiva thena ganthavyam 

Brahma karma samadhina. 

If you pray with sacred feelings, the food gets sanctified.

(From the Divine Discourses of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba)

Divine Wisdom

O Lord Supreme

O Lord Supreme, do open up

The eye of my heart

To see Your universal Body.

inside the ocean of light

I shall discover 

Your transcendental Self-Form.

In the heart of all

I shall see You

And love You soulfully and unconditionally.

It is You who will transform

My ignorance-heart

Into the flood of wisdom-light.

~ Sri Chinmoy ~

When You Know You Are Loved

What do we all want in this life? The answer is simple. We want happiness. We may take many different paths to reach it, but happiness is the final destination we all are trying to reach. Many of us pursue it in things, work, and people. Others try to create it in what they think and do. Yet, happiness remains elusive. Like a butterfly it flies away each time you try to catch it, but can come and land on your shoulder when you least expect it.

The times that I have found to be the happiest in my own life have been the times when I knew I was loved. I can remember as a boy sitting in a chair with my Mom by the warm stove while she read books to me. I can remember coming in the door after playing outside to a warm hug from my Nana and a piece of freshly baked Italian bread. I can remember squeezing into a recliner with my Dad when he got home from work so we could watch my favorite TV show. I can remember playing touch football with my brothers. 

I can remember the first kiss I ever got from a girl. I can remember holding each of my newborn children in my arms for the first time. I can remember seeing them get off the school bus and running into my arms. I can remember all the hugs, laughs, smiles, and "I Love You's" that they filled my life with.

I can also remember the countless times that God showed me how much He loved me. These miracle moments came in glorious sunrises and beautiful sunsets. They came in cool morning breezes full of birdsong. They came in the changing leaves, the first snow of Winter, and the hot Summer afternoons. They came in flowers, fireflies, and butterflies. They came in words I read and songs I heard. They came in quiet moments of silence, peace, and prayer. They came every day whether I noticed them or not. I just hope to spend the rest of my life taking them in, passing them on, and thanking God for them with all my heart.

Know that you are loved then. Know that you are loved eternally and unconditionally. Know that God loves you with a power beyond understanding. And know that you can love as well. If there is one thing greater than the joy of being loved, it is the joy of loving. Share your own love today. Love God. Love yourself. Love everyone else. Love life, this world, and all of your days in it. Love and be happy today, tomorrow, and always.

~ Joseph J. Mazzella ~

A Happy and Healthy Life

"It is only by sense control and steadfastness that one can lead a happy and healthy life. Along with control of the mind, one should control the temper and avoid tension. Prevention of disease should be the goal. We should aim at a human society free from diseases. It will be a happy day when a hospital gets no patients at all."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

(From Bhagawan's Discourse to an international gathering of Cardiac specialists present at a symposium held in the Auditorium of the Shri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, Prashaanthi Nilayam, on 6-2- 1993.)

May All Living Beings in All the Worlds be Happy

Sai Blossoms

Divine Wisdom

Know Your True Identity

"He who knows his true identity is a true aspirant.  

Without realising this truth, all spiritual Sadhana will be a waste of time."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

(Divine Discourse - 26.9.1998)

Sai Madhuryam

Man's foremost duty is to make 

the stream of Divine Love flow to one and all.

Man is born not merely to live for himself.

Only by dedicating his life to the service of the society 

will he ennoble himself and achieve self-satisfaction.

God has sent man to this world 

to practise and propagate this message.

Of what avail is human birth if man remains 

like a lump of clay without serving the society?

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

Gratitude

"The things that most deserve our gratitude we just take for granted.  Without air we cannot live for more than a minute or two.  Every day we are breathing in and breathing out, but do we ever feel grateful to the air?"

~ Sri Chinmoy ~

Sai Blossoms

Thou Art ...

From out Thy lips doth blow the mighty winds

That sway the trees in dancing rhythms;

And yet again Thou art the very trees

Whose swaying boughs whisper the ancient Om.

Thou art the beginning and the end of all

And, even before the beginning, Thou wert.

Thou art the ever-ending ever-beginning life;

Thou art the Light, the Love;

And, I am Thine Own, Thyself!

~ Hilda Charlton ~

(From: S.S.S. Pt.III)

Live in the Presence

"Each day is like a day's march in the pilgrimage.  Make complete use of your talent and march forward to pitch your tent nearer the goal, when the darkness falls.  Do not waste a single moment in idling or loose living.  Live in the Presence, in fear and humility, in love and service."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

(S.S.S. Vol. VIII)

Quotable Quotes

"We are here for ninety or one hundred years at the very most.
During that period, we must try to do something good,
something useful with our lives.
If you contribute to other people's happiness,
you will find the true goal, the true meaning of life."

~ Dalai Lama ~

Chinese New Year Blessings

May you all be blessed with joy, 

good health and prosperity!

Sai Blossoms

Baba's Storytime - The Cow Dung

There was a woman devotee, who was a worshipper of Krishna. Every morning she used to clean the Krishna shrine in her house with cow dung and throw the remnants of the cow dung outside saying "Krishnarpanam Asthu" ("Let this be an offering to Krishna"). 

The priest of the local Krishna temple noticed that every morning, after he had washed and decorated the idol of Krishna with garlands, when he was offering arathi (waving of lights) to the deity, a small lump of cow dung used to fall on the face of the idol. He was deeply distressed over this strange phenomenon and told the village elders about it. They also witnessed the phenomenon in the temple and sent a vigilance squad to find out who was throwing cow dung at that time. 

In one street a scout found a woman throwing cow dung outside her house, uttering the words,"Krishnarpanam." It was found that at the same time she was throwing cow dung, the apparent desecration of the idol by cow dung was taking place in the temple. 

The Lord is not concerned as to what is offered to Him. He accepts whatever is offered to Him with a pure heart. In His eyes there is nothing good or bad in itself. When the woman devotee offered the cow dung as Krishnaarpanam (offering to Krishna), it reached the Krishna idol. The village elders went to the lady and reproached her for her unbecoming conduct in offering cow dung to Krishna. They did not consider how the cow dung thrown outside her house reached the temple. They thought only of the cow dung as such and did not reckon with the power and intensity of the devotion behind the devotees's action. 

The elders summoned the husband and other relations of the old woman to hold an enquiry. The woman pleaded before them: “I am incapable of hurling cow dung on the face of my Krishna. I am ready to lay down my life for Krishna." The elders told her to throw the cow dung and not to utter the words "Krishnaarpanam Asthu." At the instance of her husband and other relations, she agreed to this course. 

But from that day onwards, the doors in the Krishna temple would not open however much the priest and others tried to open them. The village elders realised that they had done a grievous wrong to a great devotee and pleaded for pardon from her. That moment the temple doors opened. 

The ways of devotees can be understood only by devotees. Others cannot understand them. Phenomena such as these are happening all over Bharat. It is because of such devotion that Bharat has remained a holy land through the ages.

(From the Discourses of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba)

Sai Madhuryam

Love shines radiantly throughout the Cosmos, 

The Cosmos is permeated by the Lord,

The Lord and the Cosmos are inextricably united like friends. 

This is the Truth declared by Sai. 

Not visible in the phenomenal world, 

The Atma that is immanent in it is the Cosmic Consciousness 

That sustains the Cosmos like the string 

Running through a necklace of gems. 

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

I Am Happy

I believe everybody,

Therefore I am happy.

I love everybody,

Therefore I am happy.

I think of God everyday, everywhere,

Therefore I am happy.

I am happy, I am always happy

Because

Heaven lives for the cries of my heart

And earth lives for the smiles of my soul.

~ Sri Chinmoy ~

Look a Little Deeper

It was the middle of August and I was looking out on the first red leaves as Summer gave way to Fall here in the mountains of my home. I knew that soon the forests would be awash in glorious colors painted by God's own hand. The yellow leaves would be shining like the sun above them. The golds would be gleaming like priceless jewels. The reds would be radiating joy to everyone who gazed upon them. The oranges would be blessing us with their beauty. The browns would be bringing us their earthy peace and wonderful smell. The burgundies would be hinting at the happiness all around us. And the wonderful combination leaves would be reminding us again of just how spectacular life can be.

As I gazed at my own reflection in the window I only wished that people could grow more colorful and beautiful as we aged too. At first my thinning, silver hair, sagging skin, and wrinkles all seemed to say no to this, but as I looked longer I began to think that maybe we could. As I saw the sparkle in my own eyes and light in my own smile I realized that perhaps God was just asking us all to look a little deeper beyond the surface and into our souls.

As I remembered all the people I knew in the last years of their lives almost all of them had a beautiful Autumn spirit about them. My Mom's loving, joyous nature shone brighter than a forest of red and yellow Maples. My neighbor Kai had a golden goodness in her heart that touched the lives of everyone she met. My Nana and Dad were both as sturdy and earthy as Oak trees and they freely shared their peace and happiness with the world.

The next time that you look at your own self then, look a little deeper. Look beyond your face, clothes and body. Look into your heart and soul. See the love that is there, thank God for it, and share it with the world. Make your life here as bright and beautiful as an Autumn day.

~ Joseph J. Mazzella ~

May All Living Beings in All the Worlds be Happy

Divine Wisdom

Cultivate Selfless Love

"The one principle that you have to uphold and develop is that of love. When love dominates, there is no room for hatred. If there is no feeling of love earlier, at least sow the seeds of love now. The Gopikas prayed to Krishna:

Oh Krishna, play your sweet flute 

And sow the seeds of Love 

In the desert of loveless hearts. 

Let the rain of love fall on earth 

And make the rivers of love flow. (Telugu Poem) 

You must sow the seed of love in loveless hearts. Water it with love. Let love flow in a flood and reach all. You should cultivate this pure, steady, unselfish love in this New Year. Modern man directs his love towards worldly objects and gets entangled in several complications. “Love lives by giving and forgiving, self lives by getting and forgetting.” Selfish love is like the foul smell of fish. Cultivate selfless love. Love all. Let others feel and think as they like. Do not bother about that. There is no need to fear anyone. Make your love pure. Then the whole world will become pure."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

(Divine Discourse - 1.1.2000)