Thursday, September 29, 2016

Picnics at Kodaikanal



"Swami takes boys to the nearby mountain area for a picnic with food packets.  They all sit in the form of a circle. Swami talks to them in a very informal way. There small slips are picked up.  And on the slips are written various items.  "You tell a story, you sing a song, you tell a joke" like that.  The number of slips will be equal to the number of boys and the elders who are present there.  And these slips are picked up by each and every one.  And everyone has to necessarily do what is written there.

Once it so happened, Prof. Sampath was in the group.  He was a scientist par excellence.  He was very well known in national and international circles.  He was a man of wit and humour.  When he picked up the slip, it was written - you sing a song.  He said, "Swami, should I sing a song? Can I be exempted?"

Swami said, smilingly, "I cannot help it.  That is what your slip says."  He was not used to singing at all. He started singing in his hoarse voice and everybody including Swami had a hearty laugh."

(As related by Sri Anil Kumar - S.S. May 2006)

Divinity in You



"Believe that God resides in all beings!  Speak such words as would spread goodness, truth and beauty.  Do such acts as would promote the happiness and prosperity of all.  Pray that all the worlds have peace!  Expand yourselves; do not contract into your own tiny individuality. Expand the Universal Love, unshaken equanimity and ever-active virtue.  That is the path which will bring out the Divinity in you to the fullest."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~
(From the book "Sai Smaran" by Dr. D.J.Gadhia)

Wednesday, September 28, 2016

What Am I To Do?



You never asked for anything,
You never wished for anything.
Whatever you gave,
you gave it from the heart.
You never spoke a word,
You never judged me.
Whatever you gave,
You gave it with a smile.
You are the light,
You are the shade.
You are known to me
and yet a stranger.
And  I do not know much beyond this,
but I know this much,
In you I see God,
what am I to do?
I bow my head before you,
what am I to do?
In you I see God,
what am I to do?

(Devotional song)

Shirdi Sai Janmasthami




Sunday, September 25, 2016

Quotable Quotes




“If a child smiles, if an adult smiles, that is very important. If in our daily lives we can smile, if we can be peaceful and happy, not only we, but everyone will profit from it. If we really know how to live, what better way to start the day than with a smile? Our smile affirms our awareness and determination to live in peace and joy. The source of a true smile is an awakened mind.” 


What is Nirvana?



"Today man aspires to attain mukti (liberation). What is mukti? It is not the attainment of a heavenly abode. Mukti means freedom from suffering. You need to have mukti at three levels - body, mind and soul. For example, you are hungry. When you eat food, your hunger is satiated. This is also a kind of mukti. You are suffering from a disease. You take a medicine and get cured. This is also mukti. All this is related to the body. At the mental level, mukti means controlling the vagaries of the mind. But true liberation lies in understanding the principle of the Atma, which neither comes nor goes. This is termed as Nirvana"

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~
(Divine Discourse - 7.5.2001)

Friday, September 23, 2016

Baba's Storytime - Guru the Last Resort



An aspirant after spiritual realization went off into a jungle and was plodding across the infested region, through the thick undergrowth, when he heard the angry roar of a lion; he climbed a tree to escape from the beast, but the lion saw him among the branches and roamed round and round the trunk in terrific rage. 

On the tree he was attacked by a bear and so, he slid down the roots that descended from one of the branches of the Banyan tree. Luckily, there were two roots hanging from the branch, so that he could hang on in mid-air clinging to them, one in each hand. 

Just then, he saw two rats, one white and the other black, which were gnawing at the base of the roots, endangering his life with every bite. While in this perilous state, a honeycomb, which was full of sweet nectar situated on one of the top branches leaked a few drops, which fell his way; so, the unfortunate man put out his tongue to catch a drop so that he may taste the delicious honey. But no drop reached his tongue.

In despair and terror, he called on his guru: "O Guruji. Come and save me". The guru who was passing by heard his appeal; he sped to the rescue; he brought a bow and arrow and slew the lion and bear, frightened off the rats and saved the disciple from the fear of death. Then he led the man to his own ashram and taught him the path of liberation.

This is a story of every one of you. This world is the jungle on which you roam; fear is the lion, which drives you up the tree of samsara, world activities; anxiety is the bear that terrifies you and dogs your steps in samsara; so, you slide down into attachments and binding deeds, through the twin roots of hope and despair. The two rats are the day and night, which eat away the span of life. Meanwhile, you try to snatch a little joy from sweet drops of egoism and mind feeling. Finding at last that the drops are trivial and out of reach, you shout in the agony of renunciation, calling on the Guru; the guru appears, whether from within or without, and saves you from fear and anxiety.

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

Sai Madhuryam



The body is impermanent;
All one's wealth is transient; 
Children and Wife are shadows;
Only one's good deeds are lasting companions; 
Who realises this truth is a true man.

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

Tuesday, September 20, 2016

Quotable Quotes



A Mother's Love



A Mother's love is something
that no one can explain,
It is made of deep devotion
and of sacrifice and pain,
It is endless and unselfish
and enduring come what may
For nothing can destroy it
or take that love away . . .
It is patient and forgiving
when all others are forsaking,
And it never fails or falters
even though the heart is breaking . . .

It believes beyond believing
when the world around condemns,
And it glows with all the beauty
of the rarest, brightest gems . . .
It is far beyond defining,
it defies all explanation,
And it still remains a secret
like the mysteries of creation . . .
A many splendoured miracle
man cannot understand
And another wondrous evidence
of God's tender guiding hand. 

Monday, September 19, 2016

Sai Blossoms



I Am With You



"Whatever you do, wherever you are, remember that I am with you and in you!  That will save you from conceit and error.  This will make your service worthy of the people you serve."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~
(From the book "Sai Smaran" by Dr. D. J. Gadhia)

Lucky Students



"When they (Swami's students) go out with Bhagavan, they see thousands of devotees waiting.  It is an opportunity for the boys to know how lucky they are.  "People wait right from the early hours in the cold just for a glimpse of Bhagavan ... and Bhagavan is moving with us, how lucky we are!  Swami is spending time with us.  We are truly fortunate."  This is the first experience of the boys.

If Swami watches a boy relishing a particular item, He sees to it that the boy is served that item extra.  When you see all this, you will understand how much He cares for students.  The concern and love of Swami really touches the heart.  The students might not have experienced that type of love till then.  This brings about transformation in them.  They start thinking, "What shall I do in return for all that He has done for me, for all the time He has spent on me, for all the love that I have received from Him?"

But Swami says, "I do not want anything from you.  I want you to get a good name for yourself, for your parents and for the institution in which you have studied.  That is the only way of expressing gratitude to Me."

'Do Good, Be Good, See Good' is the quintessence of Sai Message."

(As related by Sri Anil Kumar - S.S. May 2006)

Sunday, September 18, 2016

Be Optimistic



"Your attitude to God should not be based on the fulfilment or non-fulfilment of petty desires. You must feel that whatever happens to you is for your own good. You must have the firm belief that whether your wishes are fulfilled or not, nothing harmful will happen to you. Be firm in your faith in weal and woe. Develop an optimistic attitude towards life. When there is a glass half full of water the optimist is glad to see the water in it while the pessimist is sorry it is half empty. One must recognise both the truths"

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~
(Divine Discourse - 4.4.1992)

Thursday, September 15, 2016

May All Living Beings in All the Worlds be Happy



Anyway Smile



You have stormy day and sunny day, anyway you smile at both.
You have days of impoverishment and abundance, anyway you smile at both.
You have days of disappointment and encouragement, anyway you smile at both.
You have days of failures and success, anyway you smile at both.
You have days of criticism and appreciation, anyway you smile at both.
You have days of becoming yourself weak and strong, anyway you smile at both.

The entire God's creation is having this bipolar phenomenon, let us understand the dual nature of each aspect of human life. We have to endure the difficulties and discomfort for a while to taste the enjoyment of splendours and comforts that follow immediately. Everything is interchangeable. So let us makeup our mind to accept both equally, and let our emotions be balanced knowing this truth.

Strike out everything with your smile, failure never touches you.

"Smile" is one of the wonderful traits that humans are exclusively endowed with, it makes our hearts delightful even in deep sorrow. It has the remarkable impact on our physical and emotional health if it becomes our natural habit. It enhances the beauty of both our face and mind.

"Keep smiling to enrich life."

~ C.M. Reddy ~

Tuesday, September 13, 2016

Quotable Quotes



“It is not your passing thoughts or brilliant ideas so much as your plain everyday habits that control your life. Live simply. Don’t get caught in the machine of the world - it is too exacting. By the time you get what you are seeking, your nerves are gone, the heart is damaged, and the bones are aching. Resolve to develop your spiritual powers more earnestly from now on. Learn the art of right living. If you have joy you have everything, so learn to be glad and contented. Have happiness now.” 


The Divine is the Nearest



"Although living beings may vary from each other, God is One and indivisible. The sun shines over the water in the lake, in a well, in a vessel, in a river or over the ocean. Although the sun is one, he is reflected in different ways. The containers are varied, but God is one and the same in all beings. Anthike Sath (The Divine is the nearest). 

There is nothing in the world nearer to one than the Divine. 
God is very much nearer to you than your mother 
And dearer to you than your father. 
You cannot afford to forget such a God. 
Bear this good counsel in mind."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~
(Divine Discourse - 14.1.1991)

Saturday, September 10, 2016

Sai Madhuryam



Do not brag about your learning, 
Nor proclaim your affluence; 
Don't lose your head over your wealth, 
Nor boast about your progeny; 
Do not proclaim you are a donor, 
Nor feel elated because you are Swami's sevak; 
Do not exult over your valour, 
Or over your accomplishments
When you win the approbation of a few. 

The Lotus-eyed Lord will bless you. 
His feet are everywhere; 
His eyes and Heads are everywhere; 
With His ears in all directions, 
Encompassing everything, 
stands the Lord.

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

Baba's Storytime - The Sacred Fruit of Action



One Saturday, a father was involved in worshipping the Lord and he called his son and told him to get some plantains for one rupee. This son was a good boy; he purchased the plantains, but on his way he saw a mother and son, who were very hungry, standing on the road. 

When the hungry boy saw the plantains, he ran towards him. The hungry mother, who saw the boy running, ran after him and caught him but both of them collapsed of hunger. When this young man found these people suffering so much from hunger, he thought that it was much better to feed hungry people than take the bananas home. He gave the bananas to this mother and son and later brought water and gave it to them. These people were so relieved of their hunger and thirst that they expressed their gratitude in many different ways and shed tears of joy. 

This young student went home empty handed and when the father asked him if he had brought the bananas, he replied in the affirmative. When asked where the bananas were, the son replied that the bananas were sacred, would not rot and could not be seen. The son explained that he fed two hungry souls with the bananas and the fruits, which he brought home, are only the sacred fruits of the action. 

The father then felt that his son was worthy of him and he felt that all his prayers had been answered that day. The father developed great affection for the son that day and they came much closer to each other.

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

Candy Puffs for All



"You will be thrilled if I tell you another incident.  Bhagavan bought candy puffs (Peechu Mittayi).  He bought about 25 of them and His car was full of these.  He started distributing to all V.I.P.s.  They were rather surprised.  Then Bhagavan told them, "You know why I bought them?  Here at Kodaikanal, there are some aged people.  They cannot move about.  Their children carry on their livelihood by selling these candy puffs.  So, when I buy them, they go back home with the money, give it to their parents and in this way they are taken care of."

From that day everybody started buying candy puffs because Swami said you should buy! For 25 candy puffs, after all we may have to pay 10 or 20 rupees.  I said, "Swami, You have given much more than the actual price."  Then He said, "It is not the price of the candy.  It is the love of Bhagavan towards them."  I was deeply touched by this incident."

(As related by Sri Anil Kumar - S.S. May 2006)

The Lord Sees Everything



"The Lord pervades everything in the cosmos with His myriad feet, hands, eyes, faces and ears. But man, not recognising the fact, imagines he is the doer and indulges in all kinds of speculation, thinking that no one knows about them. The Lord sees everything. No one can conceal anything from Him. He dwells inside and outside every living thing. Hence nothing can be hidden from Him."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~
(Divine Discourse - 14.1.1991)

Friday, September 9, 2016

Quotable Quotes



"Time passes unhindered.  When we make mistakes, 
we cannot turn the clock back and try again.
All we can do is to use the present well."

~ Dalai Lama ~

Thursday, September 8, 2016

You Are Who You Are



You are who you are for a reason.
You're part of an intricate plan.
You're a precious and perfect unique design,
Called God's special woman or man.

You look like you look for a reason.
Our God made no mistake.
He knitted you together within the womb,
You're just what he wanted to make.

The parents you had were the ones he chose,
And no matter how you may feel,
They were custom-designed with God's plan in mind,
And they bear the Master's seal.

No, that trauma you faced was not easy,
And God wept that it hurt you so,
But it was allowed to shape your heart
So that into his likeness you'd grow.

You are who you are for a reason,
You've been formed by the Master's tool.
You are who you are, beloved,
Because there is a God!

~Russel Kelfer ~

Sai Blossoms



Monday, September 5, 2016

Pain and Pleasure



"We witness in the world all kinds of pains and sorrows. But none of these is permanent. Every term of pain is followed by pleasure. The experience of pleasure is refined and enhanced by the earlier experience of pain. Like the refinement of gold by melting in a crucible, pain divinises the pleasure that follows it."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~
(Divine Discourse - 1.1.1998)

Miracle of the Black Beads



On the holy occasions of Fridays in the month of Sravan, married Hindu women customarily perform Gowri pooja (worship of Goddess Parvathi). 

A Hindu couple wished to avail of one such occasion to worship also the Lotus Feet (Pada Pooja) of Swami. They requested Swami for permission, which was readily granted. They then gathered all the materials needed. But they could not get hold of black beads, which are essential for the pooja. At the appointed hour, Swami arrived and took his seat. In their excitement, the couple totally overlooked the absence of the all-important beads and commenced the ceremony.

Suddenly, a big black ant crawled out of a flower offered at Swami's feet. Swami smiled indulgently and commented, "What, are you worshipping me with black ants?" And he picked up the crawling insect and placed it in the lady's hand. To their wonderment, the ant suddenly changed into two black beads! So the only thing wanting for due performance of the worship reached their hand after all! 

The grateful devotees were astonished at Swami's ability to create by His mere Will. The lady was immensely pleased that Baba enabled her to complete the ceremony satisfactorily in accordance with the prescribed procedure. In this instance, Baba altered a living object into a non-living object, without taking away life.

(Source: Tapovanam)

Saturday, September 3, 2016

Ganesh Chaturthi 2016


JAYA JAYA GAJANANA GANANATHA!


"What is the inner significance of worshipping the elephant-faced deity? The elephant is a symbol of might and magnitude. The elephant's foot is larger than that of any other animal. The elephant can make its way through the densest jungle. In this way, it signifies the quality of a leader who shows the way for others. The elephant is also known for its faithfulness and gratitude. These are the lessons man should learn from the elephant. Intelligence without gratitude is valueless. Every man should be grateful to those who have helped him."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~
(Divine Discourse - 7.9.1997)

Friday, September 2, 2016

The Remover of Obstacles



"If you want to lead a life of happiness, free from troubles and difficulties, you have to pray to Ganapathi, the remover of all obstacles. There is no need to go to any temple. Vighneswara dwells in each one of you as your intelligence (buddhi) and wisdom (vijnaana). When you make proper use of your inherent intelligence and wisdom, you will be successful in life"

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~
(Ganesh Chaturthi Divine Discourse - 7.9.1997)

Thursday, September 1, 2016

Sai Madhuryam



Thought, word and deed, when man keeps as one,
He is acclaimed on earth as truly great.
Wedded to truth, the presence of God is gained.
Liars, like pebbles, abound;
True men, like diamonds, are rare.

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~

The Vision of God



"One cannot attain the vision of God merely by doing worship, performing Vratas or conducting rituals like Yajna. It is only by developing purity of heart and noble qualities that one can have the vision of God."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~
(S.S. Sept. 2006)

Human Body



"Human body is like a car.  Mind is the steering wheel.  Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha are its four tyres.  They should be filled with the air of faith.   Even if one of the tyres is punctured, your life will be put to danger. Have firm control over the steering wheel of mind.  Only then can you reach the goal of life safely."

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba ~
(From Bhagavan's Sivarathri Discourse 2006)

Quotable Quotes



"Truth doesn't hurt.  It's the lack of truth that hurts in life.  
Tooth for a tooth just makes more work for dentists.  
Make Metta* not War."

~ Ajahn Brahm ~

(* Loving kindness)

May All Living Beings in All the Worlds be Happy