WHO IS SAI? - SWAMI'S DECLARATIONS 54 YEARS BACK

[A letter written by Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba to
His brother on 25 May 1947
revealing His Mission]

To all who are devoted to me:

My dear one! I received the communication that you
wrote and sent; I found in it the surging floods of
your devotion and affection, with the undercurrents of
doubts and anxiety. Let Me tell you that it is
impossible to plumb the hearts and discover the
natures of Jnanis, Yogis, ascetics, saints, sages and
the like. People are endowed with a variety of
characteristics and mental attitudes; so, each one
judges according to his own angle, talks and argues in
the light of his own nature. But we have to stick to
our own path, our own wisdom, and our own resolution
without getting affected by popular appraisal. As the
proverb says, It is only the fruit laden tree that
receives the shower of stones from passers by. The
good always provoke the bad into calumny; the bad
always provokes the good into derision. This is the
nature of this world.

One must be surprised if such things do not happen.
The people too have to be pitied, rather than
condemned. They do not now. They have no patience to
judge aright. They are too full of lust, anger and
conceit to see clearly and know fully. So they write
all manner of things. If they only knew, they would
not talk or write like that. We, too, should not
attach any value to such comments and take them to
heart, as you seem to do. Truth will certainly triumph
some day. Untruth can never win. Untruth might appear
to overpower Truth, but its victory will fade away and
truth will establish itself.

It is not the way of the great to swell when people
offer worship, and shrink when people scoff. As a
matter of fact, no sacred text lays down rules to
regulate the lives of the great, prescribing the
habits and attitudes they must adopt. They themselves
know the path they must tread; their wisdom regulates
and makes their acts holy. Self-reliance, beneficial
activity - these two are their special marks. They may
also be engaged in the promotion of the welfare of
devotees and in allotting them the fruits of their
actions. Why should you be affected  by doubt and
worry, so long as I am ering to these two? After all,
the  praise and blame of the opulace do not touch the
Atma, the reality; they can touch only the outer
physical frame.

I have a 'Task': to foster all mankind and ensure for
all of them lives full of Ananda. I have a 'Vow': to
lead all who stray away from the straight path back
again into goodness and save them. I am attached to a
'Work' that I love: to remove the sufferings of the
poor and grant them what they lack. I have a 'reason
to be proud,' for I rescue all who worship and adore
Me aright. I have My definition of 'devotion' [I
expect that those] devoted to Me have to treat joy and
grief, gain and loss, with equal fortitude. This means
I will never give up those who attach themselves to
Me. When I am thus engaged in My beneficial task, how
can My Name be tarnished, as you apprehend? I would
advise you not to heed such absurd talk. Mahatmas do
not acquire greatness through someone calling them so;
they do not become small when someone calls them
small. Only those low ones who revel in opium and
ganja but claim to be unexcelled yogis, only those who
quote scriptural texts to justify their gourmandry and
pride, only those who are dry-as-dust scholars
exulting in their casuistry and argumentative skills,
are moved by praise or blame.

You must have read life stories of saints and divine
personages; in these books you must have read of even
worse falsehoods and more heinous imputations cast
against them. This is the lot of Mahatmas everywhere,
at all times. Why then do you take these things so
much to heart? Have you not heard of dogs that howl at
the stars? How long can they go on? Authenticity will
soon win.

I will not give up My Mission, nor My determination. I
know I will carry them out; I treat the honor and
dishonor, the fame and lame that may be the
consequence with equal equanimity. Internally, I am
unconcerned. I act but in the outer world; I talk and
move about for the sake of the outer world and for
announcing My coming to the people, else I have no
concern even with these.

I do not belong to any place, I am not attached to any
name. I have no "mine" or "thine." I answer whatever
the name you use. I go, wherever I am taken. This is
My very First Vow. I have not disclosed this to anyone
so far. For me the world is something afar, apart. I
act and move only for the sake of mankind. No one can
comprehend My Glory, whoever he is, whatever his
method of inquiry, however long his attempt.

You can yourself see the full Glory in the coming
years. Devotees must have patience and forbearance. I
am not concerned nor am I anxious that these facts
should be made known; I have no need to write these
words; I wrote them because I felt you will be pained
if I do not reply.

Thus, your Baba.
25 May 1947

[Source: Sathyam, Shivam, Sundaram Vol II, 8-11]

***

I have come to light the lamp of love in your hearts,
to see that it shines day by day with added luster.

I have come not to disturb or destroy any faith, but
to confirm each in his own faith - so that the
Christian becomes a better Christian, the Muslim, a
better Muslim, and the Hindu, a better Hindu.

There is only one religion, the religion of Love;
There is only one language, the language of the Heart;
There is only one caste, the caste of Humanity; There
is only one law, the law of Karma; There is only one
God, He is Omnipresent.

You cannot see Me, but I am the Light you see by. You
cannot hear Me, but I am the Sound you hear by. You
cannot know Me, but I am the Truth by which you live.

Start the Day with Love; Spend the Day with Love; Fill
the Day with Love; End the Day with Love; This is the
way to God. The Lord will be watching with a thousand
eyes the least activity of man to discover any slight
trace of selfless love sweetening it.







__________________________________________________
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SWAMI TALKS TO YOU

THE GLORY OF VINAYAKA

What is the meaning of the word Ganapathi. 'Ga' stands for Buddhi (intellect) 'Na' stands for Jnana (Wisdom), which means 'Ganapathi' is the master of intellect and wisdom. Acquisition of knowledge and wisdom amounts to worship of Ganapathi. The name 'Ganapathi' is apt in the sense that He is a combination of various forms of Anushakthi (Atomic power). Not only this, He is also the Master of all Ganas and powers. He has another name 'Vinayaka', because He has no master above Him. He is also called 'Vighneshwara', as He is the remover of all the obstacles and the master of all forms of Wealth. As the same current is responsible for the bulbs to glow, fans to rotate, and the machines to function; similarly the same atomic power is responsible for various forms of energy, be it heat, light, laser or magnetic. Water extinguishes fire, yet you find fire in water, which is referred to as 'Badabaagni'. Forms may vary, but the power is one and the same. Basing on this, Vedanta says "Sarvam Khalvidam Brahma" ( Brahman is all-pervasive), " Sarvam Vishnu mayam jagath" (the entire world is pervaded by Vishnu). We should give up observing differences between 'Ganapathi', 'Vishnu', 'Shiva', 'Shakthi' and human beings. The Divinity is uniform in all. Observing differences is only pravritti lakshana (external trait) and not nivritti lakshana (inward trait). The inward trait refers to the atomic energy, which moves about formlessly in everybody. To sustain this external world, the atomic energy assumes many forms.

As long you are egoistic, you will not be liked by anybody including your wife and children, though they may exhibit love externally for the sake of the world. So long there is ego in you, you will never attain bliss. Therefore you must kill the ego in the first instance. You will be miserable as long as there is anger in you. The day you give up anger, you will experience happiness. So long there are desires in you, you will never attain wealth and prosperity. The day you give up desires, all forms of wealth will follow you. So long there is greed in you, you will not find any happiness. Vinayaka is highly intelligent. Many derive happiness seeing the form of Vinayaka. The form itself is wonderful and mysterious with a fat belly, big trunk, attractive eyes and beautiful ears. Why is Vinayaka is elephant-faced? Elephant is very intelligent. It has a huge body, compared to other animals. Even the footprints of the mighty lion get erased, when the elephant treads on them. No other animal can match the intelligence of an elephant. Elephant also acts as a guide to mankind, in the sense that it clears the way as it treads along in a dense forest. Similarly in the forest of life, to clear the thorny bushes of pain, sorrow and suffering, one should tread along the path shown by the intellect. 'Ganapathi' has the elephant face as a symbol of high intelligence.

The principle of Ganapathi is not an ordinary one. It is the very manifestation of various forms of energy and intelligence. The wisdom of Saraswathi is contained within His belly. We will not have any obstacles, if we undertake any task paying our first respects to Vinayaka. On Ganesh Chathurthi day students keep their books in front of Ganesha and worship, so that they may be bestowed with good intelligence.

The festival of Vighneshwara is not an ordinary one. All the faculties and powers are latent in Vighneshwara. It is not enough if you pray to Ganapathi only on Ganesh Chathurthi day, you have to pray everyday. We should think of God every moment of our life. We should offer all our actions to God. For example, you eat an apple. Are you eating for the satisfaction of the apple? No. You are eating it for your own satisfaction. You go to Mandir wearing white dress. You do not wear the dress for the satisfaction of the dress, you wear it for your satisfaction. Likewise, whatever you do is for your own satisfaction and not for its satisfaction. Whatever you do, do it for the love of God. You will achieve success in everything, you will attain the state of bliss and peace. Consider everything as Divine.

Develop your faith and see the same divinity existing in every living being. Spread your love, which is the very essence of your divine nature and the divine nature of all living beings. Look upon every person with compassion and love. Unless you adopt this approach in your dealings with others, all your spiritual exercises will just be a waste. Worshipping God while harming your fellow human beings can never take you to your goal. The Gita teaches that man himself is God, and that God is man. This unity of God and man has repeatedly been emphasized in the Gita. "Only the one who treats all alike is a true human being," Krishna proclaimed.

I have come to give you the key of the treasure of Bliss, to tell you how to tap that spring, for you have forgotten the way to blessedness. If you waste this chance of saving yourselves, it is just your fate. You have come to get from Me tinsel and trash, the petty little cures and promotions, worldly joys and comforts. Very few of you desire to get from Me the thing I have come to give you viz Liberation itself, and even among these few, those who stick to the path of spiritual discipline and ultimately succeed are a handful.

I am always aware of the future, the past as well as the present of every one of you. So I am not so moved by mercy. Since I know the past, the background, the reaction is different. It is your consequence of evil deliberately done in the previous birth, and so I allow your suffering to continue, often modified by some little compensation. I do not cause either joy or grief. You are the designer of both these chains that bind you. I am Full of Bliss come and take Bliss from Me, dwell on that Bliss and be full of Peace.

God cannot be gained through attachment to a falsehood. The body is a house given to you for rent; the owner is God. Live there so long as He wills, thanking Him and paying Him the rent of faith and devotion.

Symbolism of the Siva Form

The secret of Creation is evident from the description of the form of Siva. The crescent moon on Sivas head symbolizes the consciousness in human beings, the Ganga symbolizes the Life Force and the snakes on Sivas body represent the myriad of living beings. He resides on a silver mountain. His dearest friend is Kubera, the Lord of Wealth. Despite being endowed with all these, why was He obliged to carry the begging bowl? To demonstrate to the world that every kind of wealth is a hindrance to spiritual advancement, Siva renounced everything. It is through renunciation Siva became the eternal embodiment of supreme bliss.

The Lord has another name. It is only when the love principle underlying this name is rightly understood, the real form of the Cosmos can be recognized. That name is Saambasiva. Saa means divinity. Amba refers to the cosmos. Siva means the Supreme person (Purusha).

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For some time SatGuru has been in receipt of two discourses given by Dr. Michael Goldstein in Spanish in South America.  Sevaks of SatGuru now offer this translation of the second discourse into English as an offering to you.

IN VIEW OF ITS LENGTH, THE DISCOURSE IS POSTED IN THREE PARTS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE MEMBERS OF ‘SAI DEVOTEES WORLDNET’ GROUP

A discourse for members of the public, by Michael Goldstein. M.D., USA

Dear ladies and gentlemen, brothers and sisters of the family of humanity, Embodiments of Divinity,

Good afternoon and welcome to our meeting. We are here today to share our spiritual adventure with you, our experience of love and unselfishness. Our dream becomes reality, the bliss which arises when fear and egoism cease to exist.

Today, we have nothing to sell, but everything to offer. We are offering that which, to us, is most precious. As far as we can, we will share the inspiration, which we have experienced in our interactions with Sathya Sai Baba and his teachings. These meetings have given us a broad and extensive view of life, a universal vision of reality and the knowledge and experience of Divinity. We hope to share with you today this perspective, this reality, and this spiritual introspection.

One unique aspect of this spiritual adventure is based on the fact that it is happening right now. Sathya Sai Baba is teaching and demonstrating his universal and spiritual message of love and service. His teachings and his work are inspiring and elevating the lives of benevolent people, all over the world. What we will speak of today, you can see for yourselves, you will know first hand. This is very special and important; the great spiritual adventure is now manifesting itself.

While our lungs are breathing, our hearts are beating and our minds are awake, the great God-given opportunity of reaching our spiritual destination of these human lives can be realized.

The presence, the teachings and the undertakings of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba directly and indirectly influence each one of us. They teach us and show us that the highest objectives, those furthest from our reach, the very highest goals and noblest aspirations of man and woman can be achieved. In fact, these are reality-- anything else, is pure delusion. Delusion is what has invaded us since the beginning of time. It is delusion to believe that we are merely a conglomeration of flesh and bones, instincts and sensations, thoughts and emotions. It is delusion to think that we are limited to these individual identities, to these weak human bodies, and to these variable and imperfect minds. It is not like that, it is not like that, we are more than that, much more!

Sathya Sai Baba has taught us and demonstrated to us that humanity is unique in the whole of God’s creation. We are capable of profoundly and intensively turning within, and finding the divine source and selfsame essence of our lives. Our spiritual heart, our interior voice, our conscience, is all names for our true spiritual identity. The truth is that we are manifestations of God.

I have had the good fortune to travel to India some 80 times over the last 26 years to be in the presence of Bhagawan Sathya Sai Baba. My mother, my father, my wife, my sons and their wives, and all my grandchildren have traveled to India to be in His presence. All of them adore Him and their lives have been spiritually elevated by Him. Four generations of my family have been His devotees and have been inspired by His love and wisdom.

Sathya Sai Baba has given me a spark of His unconditional love and has allowed me to understand in my heart that there is a divine purpose in human life.

Our goal, inspired by Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, is to recognize the true divine nature of human life. To the point that any one of us, who succeeds in achieving this culmination of noble ideas and universal spiritual principles, becomes a living example of love, goodwill and joyfulness, which inspires everyone with whom he interacts to look within themselves and find their own unconditional love, goodwill and joyfulness.

Many of you, will perhaps never more hear about Sathya Sai Baba, or never think about him after this meeting. However, all of us will be influenced by the unconditional love, which He generates, and the movement towards God that He has initiated among the men and women of all nations. Goodwill and love know no frontiers nor limitations. They cannot be contained nor restrained.

Prashanthi Nilayam means `the abode of supreme peace.’ It is the name of the ashram of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, situated in southern India. It is a true wonder of the world. That ashram is an oasis of apprenticeship and spiritual elevation. It is to be found in the middle of India, there it is, this place, which seems to defy the imagination. However, this oasis is real. It is not a mirage. There are schools, from primary to university levels. There are general hospitals and hospitals of advanced specialized surgery. There are spaces and places for devotion, sleeping quarters for spiritual peregrines, and other necessary infrastructures to receive the multitude of spiritual seekers who meet to be in His Divine Presence. Still more important is that there exists a serene atmosphere of reverence and love, amiability and compassion, which is profoundly moving. This ashram, far from the city and civilization, is truly a wonder of the world.

And in this unusual place, in this spiritual oasis, is Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, defying reason, the pinnacle of the unexplainable.

The greatest storyteller of all times could never conceive a heaven such as this, nor a being like Him. Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba is the prominent master of the world, extraordinarily humanitarian, who elevates and transforms individuals and institutions of society in a unique and monumental way. He is a lamplight of wisdom and love, which shines through the tempestuous seas of the egoism and the ignorance, which prevail today. He brings the greatly needed illumination to this world of disharmony and chaos, which we have created by our lack of common sense and goodwill.

The light of his wisdom and love re-unite people from everywhere, independent of nationality, race or religion. Every benevolent person who yearns for truth is attracted by the light of his wisdom and love. He has mentioned that his mission is to light the lamp of love in the heart of humanity. My experience has shown me, through many years, that the qualities of his love are purity and unconditional, and the powers of  his love are redemption and transformation.

His teachings are direct and compatible with the teaching of all the religions of the world. He teaches us that every man and woman can recognize and realize his true and highest self. He teaches us that Divinity is omnipresent, and that the nature of Divinity is unconditional love. In fact, this is our true nature. This unconditional love is accessible to all of us. We will achieve the “awakening” awareness of it, within ourselves, when we cross the threshold of our consciousness and our attention is focused on it and we follow it; when we are permanently conscious, then we will be conscious of our innate divinity. Finally, we experience unconditional love, a profound wisdom, and a lasting happiness.

The humanitarian undertakings of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba are astronomical in magnitude and scope. Bhagawan Baba has established an educational system, which covers Primary School to an accredited University, the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Superior Studies. The University offers pre-grade and advanced studies including doctorate grades. The academic achievements of the students are of the best in India. The outstanding facts, which distinguish this educational system, are very important precedents:

The Sai educational system promotes goodwill and virtue equally in the student and in the teaching.

The education is totally free of charge for all students. The payment is not in money, but in commitment to achieving nobility of character.

The education on all levels puts emphasis on that the result of education, the development of nobility of character, goes side by side with the achievement of skills and knowledge.

In this way, the educational institution is truly ennobled.

In July of this year, there was a conference in Prashanthi Nilayam called “Educare”.

The Prime Minister of India sent a telegram to Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, directed to all the delegates of the conference. The Honourable Vajpaye, Prime Minister of India, telegrammed  the following message:

 “I am extremely pleased to know that there will be an international convention of Sri Sathya Sai teachers in Prashanthi Nilayam in July 2001, on the subject of “Educare”, meaning education based on human values. It is another demonstration of the profound commitment of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, for the good development of everybody, especially for our children, who constitute the future of our nation and of humanity.

      Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba’s understanding of the art and science of education has given Him the discernment to convert the educational programs and texts into “holistic Educare”, which involves not only the teachers, but also the parents. It also grants them great happiness, as well as the responsibility for the development of the children’s potential. The 5 D’s, corresponding to Devotion, Discipline, Duty, Discrimination and Determination will help not only the youth, but also all of us to live a life full of meaning and happiness.

 Truly, the philosophy and practice of “Educare” needs to be integrated into the general education system of India for our national regeneration.

I send my best wishes to all the participants for the success of the convention.

I hope that we can be capable of transmitting the knowledge and the love which Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba generates to all the children who are entrusted to Him.”

[TO BE CONTINUED IN PART II]

[Photo added by 'saidevotees_worldnet]

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For some time SatGuru has been in receipt of two discourses given by Dr. Michael Goldstein in Spanish in South America.  Sevaks of SatGuru now offer this translation of the second discourse into English as an offering to you.

IN VIEW OF ITS LENGTH, THE DISCOURSE IS POSTED IN THREE PARTS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE MEMBERS OF ‘SAI DEVOTEES WORLDNET’ GROUP

A discourse for members of the public, by Michael Goldstein. M.D., USA

In the context of our life, who is Sathya Sai Baba? Sathya Sai Baba, as other Divine forms manifested before him, is not like us, living a small and solitary drama, which is part of the great divine drama. Sathya Sai Baba is one with the consciousness of humanity.

He is the mirror, which reflects our spiritual progress, and the rule, which evaluates our stature. He is the mirror and the rule of humanity!

He is one with the author, the producer and director of this great divine film of life.

Sathya Sai Baba is an extraordinary man with abilities without precedents to spiritually elevate the people, reform institutions, and even more, transform society. He teaches us that the institutions of our society will be raised until we recognize and realize our innate divinity. Social institutions were not created to torment or persecute man, but to serve him and elevate him.

They cannot be manipulated by power nor by politics, but by unconditional love and service to all humanity. Sathya Sai Baba teaches that we are not merely minds and bodies acting and reacting to events, and to people around us through the ego, desires and instinct. Instead, he teaches and shows us that we are essentially divine. We learn that our conscience is our master and a reflection of the divine spark, which shines in the heart of every man and woman.

Nature is our school and unconditional love our lesson.

Our personal identities, egos, desires, minds and bodies are evanescent, although, our true essence, our true identity is eternal.

When we come to the end of our days, the divine spark within us will regress to its origin, the conflagration of God.

Ladies and gentlemen, there is nothing to fear, or season for sadness. The bliss and wisdom of Divinity is within us. It is always available. The Lord has always been in us and we in Him. The Lord is no stranger to us. We do not search the communion with Him. We only look for the reunion with Him, from whom we have originated and to whom we return. That is spirituality.

Based on our faith in God, based on our comprehension of the divine teachings, based on the understanding of ourselves, we must determine our own needs and make the choices, which carry us to the realization of our divine inheritance. Why put it to one side? It is inevitable and time is everything. That is spirituality.

Ladies and gentlemen, sharing this vision of eternal truth with you, we will understand ourselves better. Sharing our spiritual experience with you, we reaffirm our own convictions. Sharing makes us happy and it enables us to grow to the point that what we share is genuine and heartfelt, you too will be happy. This sharing is Spirituality.

The doom and gloom of tragedy in the world shadows over us all like a gray cloud, a storm omen. But the real human tragedy was revealed at the beginning of civilization. The real human tragedy is that many of us live our lives superficially, externally like machines. We react to people and events in a reflexive way. We do not contemplate the spiritual significance of our lives, or the supreme importance of time. As time passes, our body becomes weaker, less agile and our minds become forgetful and less alert. Then, the opportunity to see the eternal truth, to experience happiness and to contemplate the divine purpose in our lives, which is: to covert ourselves into a superior being, evaporates.

Time is everything!

When this day ends, when the years have passed, when finally the lights of our lives flicker, may we know of plenitude, may we not repent. We should not have to say:

I wanted to know the Lord, but I didn’t get to do so,

I wanted to follow the Lord, but I didn’t do so,

I wanted to love the Lord, but I didn’t do so,

I should have, I could have, I must have, but I didn’t.

May we not go to bed tonight, or any night having to say, I wanted to, but I didn’t.

No, better that we know That which resides in our hearts

That we follow That which sings a divine song in our soul

That we love That which is love itself.

Let us know Him now, let us follow Him now, let us love Him now and consequently, let us live a good life, faithfully following a noble path and enjoying the bliss of divine love.

My dear ladies and gentlemen.

The waves of mundane excitement and controversy crash and explode against the rocks of the immutable truth. They assume their inharmonious and tumultuous dare for an instant. Their lives are short, fugitive, and without form or substance. They are frenetic, fleeting, and evaporate rapidly forever. The timeless veracity and solidity of the rocks, with their magnificent structures, sculptured by the artistic hand of divinity, remain impassive, and although they are surrounded by the salty foam of the convulsed world, the rocks will remain forever.

Hoisting the sails, let us embark on our crossing, driven by the winds of our unconditional love and good deeds, to cross the dark sea of ignorance and mundane delusion.

Knowing that when we arrive, the atomized spray of the salty foam of this mundane convulsion will crash against the immutable rock of truth.

Let us allow our boat to be guided by the stars of courage and self-confidence, in the galaxy of faith, in the universe of God’s creation.

Knowing that when we arrive, the atomized spray of salty foam of this mundane convulsion will crash against the immutable rock of unconditional love.

In virtue of His grace, let us command these human lives, divinely conferred, which are the ships which take us on this human crossing, may we be noble correct and amorous.

Knowing that when we arrive, the atomized salty spray foam of this mundane convulsion will crash against the rock of auto-realization and God consciousness.

We pray to Thee, O’ Lord guide our ships towards You, O’ Lord!

I would like to conclude, by reading a brief excerpt from a letter, which Sathya Sai Baba sent some time ago to his western devotees:

“My beloveds! Accept my love and blessings.

“The world today is imprisoned in a supreme moral and spiritual crisis. People everywhere feel frustrated and helpless, and anxiously ask themselves what will become of humanity. Meanwhile…science has broken the barriers of time and space, has done little to promote better understanding between man and man, and between nation and nation. There has never been such distrust, hatred and violence, as that of which we are witnesses today, in almost every country.

“Men have forgotten their essential divine nature and have failed to observe those basic human qualities which raise them above the level of animals.

“In the incessant search of material acquisitions and of sensual pleasures, they have forgotten that the real source of happiness and bliss is the discovery of the soul, which lies in each one of them. “There exists, however, encouraging signs that, in many countries, there are people who are consciously following a spiritual path, as an answer to the crisis faced by humanity. There is a spiritual hunger growing everywhere.

“Without the conquest of one’s own passions and desires, and without the understanding of that Divinity which is immanent in every living thing, Man cannot achieve inner peace and bliss or harmony with the outside world. The message of “The Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of Man” proclaimed by Jesus Christ more than 2000 years ago, should be taken as a living faith for the achievement of real peace and the unity of humanity. The unity of the whole of creation, affirmed by the prophets and sages must be expressed in a transcendental love, which embraces everyone, independent of creed, community and language.

“This is the message from Sathya Sai Baba to all of you. May you develop this divine love and stand out as forerunners of a new era, free of egoism, greed, hatred and violence. May each one of you be a light for yourselves and hence, a light for others.

“With love, Baba”

Ladies and gentlemen, you have been an attentive and agreeable audience. We are very happy and grateful to have shared these moments with you. May God bless you!

Jai Sai Ram

*+*

NB: Members of SatGuru may find the original Spanish and English translation in HTML format in the FILES area of SaiDISC entitled <Public Discourse by Michael Goldstein, M.D.>

 **

 [Photo added by 'saidevotees_worldnet]

I’m taken by the daffodils, this wonderful spectacle of daffodils.  It’s a bit dreary on the Welsh borders in early February and everyone is waiting for the daffodils.  In our town the daffodils are a spectacle also lining the river as they do every year.  A bit more in the ordinary rather than out of the ordinary as this story shares, but I’ll never be able to see the one without the other coming to mind now.

I hope you don’t mind my repeating a section of a poem I usually put out for the Birthday but this segment is more suited to now and a bit later at Easter if daffodils are our focus.  Accompanying this, additional to the Name of the Week, is a poem modeled on the meaning of the Suprabhatam to be found in the beginning of the Kasturi book, ‘Garland of 108 Precious Gems’, which I'm including here as Swami is just back in Puttaparthy and our thoughts will be wandering there.

From ‘A PENNY FOR YOUR THOUGHTS’

It was Good Friday, just before Easter in England.

It was unusually sunny all through

The yellow daffodils, yellow broom and yellow forsythia in full bloom

With magnolia and pear blossom.

SUPRABHATAM - Song of Spiritual Dawn

Awake Lord Awake

Awake O Son of Easwaramma

Dawn is breaking in the East

The day’s tasks await Your touch to make them pure

Awake

Awake Lord Awake

Awake in me so I may be

Aware of every moment dedicated to You

I’m nothing without You

Awake

My mind turns now to where You are come so I may see

My mind turns to Your form in Puttaparthi

Where You are building a model of how the Divine would have us be

Lord of Compassion awake in me

Awake Lord – Your splendour radiates over the entire world

If I’m thinking about this I can feel it

If I make myself chant this most beautiful of songs

I remember I must always jog into being this wakefulness

Awake Lord in me Awake

I can place myself with You in my mind

I can picture the valley full of peace

On the banks of the Chithravathi river

Awake Lord in my mind Awake

I can sense there are many anxious for Your Darshan, Your Presence

The radiance of the sunshine of this thought is spreading in me

Wake me into knowing I’m worthy too

Awake Lord in my longings Awake

I can hear singing in my mind so loud

The chanting and the happiness entrance my soul

For I hear the singing of Your Name in my heart

Awake Lord in my heart Awake

I can smell the fragrance of the flowers around Your feet

The colours, the beauty surround me inside

Can You feel the depth of my yearning – Awake

Awake Lord of my aspirations Awake

I can see now the learned are come to find solace

For their hungry minds

They recite the mantras with such diligence

Won’t You respond with Your omniscience – Awake

Awake Lord of my thoughts Awake

I hear stories and more stories all the time

And I can see everyone waiting for still more stories from You

Awake – we can’t have enough of Your Presence

Awake Lord of my being Awake

Will my heart ever look like a lotus to You

If I sing the holy hymns and hold flower garlands in my hands

Have I a chance of appealing to You

I’m told whoever recites this awakening hymn

Will attain the highest abode

This place it is said is always resplendent

As it is the home of supreme wisdom and intelligence

Divine teacher won’t You grant us all this is auspicious

As You recognise it

Bestower of wisdom, Lord of Puttaparthi too

My Lord, Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Fill us with everything that is You

Translation in the book ....

O, son of Eawaramba! O, resplendent majestic One!  Dawn is breaking in the East.  The daily tasks of Divinity, which you have undertaken, have to be accomplished; therefore, Awake O Sathya Sai, Lord!

Awake, Awake, O Lord of Parthi (Puttaparthy) where He was manifested Himself and from where His splendor radiates over the entire world, and of all mankind (jagathee), Awake, O Lord of Compassion! So that the World may attain Fortune (mangala)

In the vast mansion so full of peace (Prashanthi Nilayam) on the bank of the Chitravathi river, those anxious to serve Thee are waiting for Thy Darshan.  The radiance of the Sun is spreading, illumining the worlds. 

'Sri Sathya Sai Bhagawan Thava Suprabhatam' - O Sathya Sai Bhagawan, we pray for a glorious Daybreak, blessed by Thy Wakefulness

Persons who are engaged in singing aloud Thy Name and who are happy when they do so, because then they taste the nectar of devotion, have come.  May Thy benign Darshan shower Thy Grace on them.  We pray for a glorious Daybreak, blessed by Thy Wakefulness.

Bringing holy flowers with captivating colours and fragrance, for worshipping Thy Feet in the form prescribed by the scriptures. Thy Devotees are coming in, with great yearning and enthusiasm.  We pray for a glorious Daybreak blessed by Thy Wakefulness

Learned persons from other countries, moved by the yearning to have Thy Darshan, have come; they are having great delight in reciting constantly the mantras of the Vedas to glorify You.  We pray for a glorious Daybreak, blessed by Thy Wakefulness

Hearing Thy marvelous Story and Thy Fame that has reached the farthest horizons, earnest seekers of Reality have come to this place and are waiting.  We pray for Glorious Daybreak, blessed by Thy Wakefulness

Women devotees in purity equal to Sita and Sathi (Parvati) and with hearts opening out like lotuses, are singing Thy Glory though holy hymns, holding excellent flower garlands in their hands.  We pray for a glorious Daybreak, blessed by Thy Wakefulness.

Suprabhaathamidam punyam

Ye' pathanthi dine dine

The' visanthi param dhaama

Jnana vijnaana sobhithaah

Mangalam Gurudevaaya

Mangalam Jnaanadaayine

Mangalam Parthivaasaaya

Mangalam Sathya Saayine

Whoever daily recites this Wakening Hymn will attain the Highest Abode, resplendent with the supreme Intelligence as well as the supreme Wisdom. May the Divine Guru be auspicious to us; may the Bestower of Wisdom be auspicious to us; may the Lord who manifested in Parthi be auspicious to us; may Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba be auspicious to us.

Sai Ram, Sarah

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From: Dhivakar Chandrashekar DChandra@...
Date: Thu, 11 Apr 2002
Subject: Which one do you prefer
**
This is a thought provoking article sent by one of our members which
we thought to share with our members with a hope that it would be
liked by them.
'saidevotees_worldnet'


Listen to the whisper-or wait for the  brick.

A  young and successful executive was traveling down a  neighborhood
street, going a bit too fast in his new Jaguar. He was watching for kids
darting out  from between parked cars and slowed down when he thought he
saw something. As his car passed, no children appeared. Instead, a brick
smashed into the Jag's side door! He  slammed on the brakes and spun the
Jag back to the  spot from where the brick had been thrown. He jumped out
of the car, grabbed some kid  and pushed him up against a parked car
shouting, "What  was that all about and who are you? Just  what the heck
are you doing?!" Building up a head of steam he went  on. "That's  a new
car and that brick you threw is going to cost a lot of money. Why did  you
do it?" "Please, mister, please.  I'm sorry, I didn't know what else  to
do, " pleaded  the youngster. "I threw the brick because no one else would
stop..." Tears  were dripping down the boy's chin as he pointed around the
parked car. "It's  my brother," he said. "He rolled off the curb and fell
out of his wheelchair and  I can't lift him up. " Sobbing, the boy asked
the executive, "Would  you please help me get him back into his
wheelchair? He's hurt and he's too heavy for me." Moved beyond words, the
driver tried to swallow the rapidly swelling lump in his  throat. He
lifted the young man back into the wheelchair and took out  his
handkerchief and wiped the scrapes and cuts, checking to see that
everything was going to be okay. "Thank  you and may God bless you," the
grateful child said to  him. The man  then watched the little boy push his
brother down the  sidewalk toward their home. It was  a long walk back to
his jaguar....a long, slow  walk. He  never did repair the side door.  He
kept the dent to remind him not to  go through life so fast that someone
has  to throw a brick at you to get your attention. God whispers in your
soul  and speaks to your heart. Sometimes when you don't have time to
listen, He has  to throw a brick at you. It's your choice: Listen  to the
whisper-or wait for the  brick.

Decide Today, now , this second

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Divine incarnations from BC 18000 to AD 2118

A chronological account of the Divine Incarnations and events in the life of the Divine Lord Sai at Shirdi and Parthi; the prophecies made thousands of years ago laying the foundation and reasons for the Advent of the Sai Avatars and the arrival of the Golden Age are given hereunder. These may be useful for Balvikas classes and for circulation/distribution to members in Samithis.

BC 18,000: The time of the Ramayana and Lord Rama's Advent on Earth.

BC 4000: Vishnu Purana, ancient Hindu scripture forewarned of the coming of a Kalki Avatar riding on a white horse in the Kali Yuga age.

Lord Krishna

BC 5000:  5000 years ago, Mahabharatha forewarned of God's descend on Earth in the Kali Yuga. In the Bhagavad Gita Lord Krishna explained the reason why and when God incarnate and assume human form.

Shuka Naadi

BC 3000: 5,000 years ago, Sage Shuka forewarned of the coming of Sai Baba.

Lord Zoroaster

BC 1000: Lord Zoroaster, forewarned the descend of God 3000 years later.

Lord Buddha

BC 500: Lord Buddha, 567BC-487BC, forewarned the coming of the first Buddha, Maitreya.

Lord Jesus Christ

AD 1:     Lord Jesus made references to the coming of The Father "He who sent me among you will come again." And Jesus said, "The kingdom of Heaven is within you." Saint John's revelation about, ref I9-II-I6, I9:I9-20, the coming of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Prophet Mohammed

AD 570: Mahasamadi of Prophet Mohammed at age of 63 in AD 633. Prophet Mohammed preached the message of "There is only one God." Detailed the many symbols to recognise the coming of God, the Formless One.

AD 630: Master Xuan Chang, 596-664 AD, the famous monk from China, went to India to collect Buddha's Teachings for his countrymen. Buddhism took root in China.

Adi Sankara

AD 788: Birth of Adi Sankara. Mahasamadi in a cave at age 32 in AD 820.

Nostradamus

1556:    Dec 14th 1503-July 1st 1556. In his Biography, Nostradamus prophesied the descend of God in South India, with unlimited power and wisdom, who observe Thursday as a holy day etc.

Shirdi Sai Baba

1838:    Birth of Shirdi Sai Baba at Pathri, Marathwada.

1846:    Left home at the age of 8, in the company of a Sufi fakir.

1868:    Sai Baba arrived at Shirdi with Chand Patil for a wedding ceremony. By now he was about 30 years old, and Nanasaheb heard he was a Chintamani.

1878:    Sai Baba getting recognition among government officials. Some followers accepted him as Sadguru.

1885:    Shirdi Sai Baba went into a trance for 3 days.

1892:    Shirdi Sai Baba's first miracle, used water to light lamps. Distribution of Udi (ash) as a cure began. Dasganu met Shirdi.

1904:    Shirdi Sai Baba's second miracle, known as the Jamner incident.

1908:    Sathewada was completed.

1909:    Congregational worship of Shirdi Sai Baba started. Sitaram Dikshit met Sai Baba.

1910:    Feb 10th onward started night Aarti every alternate day.   Shirdi grind wheat to halt cholera epidemic; another miracle. Began to speak in parables and symbology.

Haley Comet first sighted.

1911:    Dikshitwada was completed. Shirdi started celebrating the now famous Rama Navami festival.

1918:    Oct 15th, Tue 2.35 p.m. Shirdi Sai Baba entered into Mahasamadi. Oct 16th, Wed, His body was cremated at Butewada. Before he died, Shirdi told his devotees he would come back eight years later.

Sathya Sai Baba

1926:    Birth of a boy named Sathyanarayana Raju, in a cowherd village in Puttaparthy, (His Horoscope) on the 23^rd November at 9.06 am.

Aurobindo

1926:    24th Nov, Sri Aurobindo, 1872-1950, announced the descend of the Godhead in physical form.

1933:    Approx. playful Leelas at the famous Tamarind Tree.

1936:    Formed the first bhajan group.

1940:    Age 15, Mar 8th, young Sai was bitten by a poisonous scorpion, and was unconscious for 12 hours. When he came to, he behaved in an irrational manner.

May 23^rd 1940, young Sathya made his historic announcement: "I am Sai Baba. I belong to Bhardwaja Gotra. I have come to save you from dangers. Keep your houses clean and pure." To prove this He produces sweets, fruit, and flowers out of thin air. Then he took a handful of flowers and threw them into the air. They fell to form, in perfect Telugu, the words 'SAI BABA'. Next began to materialized vibhuti (ash) to reconfirm his identity.

Oct 20^th 1940, Sai Baba renounced family and home, saying "I am no longer your Sathya. I am Sai. I am going. I don’t belong to you. My devotees are calling me. I have my work." Then he sat in the garden and sang his first famous Bhajans: "Manasa Bhajare Guru Charanam. Dustara Bhavasagara Taranam."

1941:    Beginning of World War II. Sai was 15 years old then.

1942:    End of first 16 years: Bal Leelas.

1944:    Shifted to Paatha Mandir (Old Temple).

1945:    End of World War II. Sai was 19 years old then.

1947:    May 25th wrote famous letter to His elder brother Sheshama Raju detailing His Mission. Age only 22. Sai Baba toured North India: Delhi, Rishikesh, Mathura, Srinagar; and cured and blessed Swami Shivananda. Sanaathana Sarathi started publication.

1950:    25th Birthday and inauguration of Prashanthi Nilayam, the Abode of Supreme Peace. Sri Aurobindo, birth Aug 15th 1872, attained Mahasamadi.

1953:    Brought back to life of V.Radhakrishna, whose body had started decomposing in PN.

1957:    Built first hospital behind PN.

1958:    In Madras He said "Examine the Guru and his credentials and ideals and practice before accepting him. End of second 16 years: Mahima kal Divine Glory), and from here onwards it is Dharmasthapan (Establishment of righteousness and removal of evil from human minds)

1959:    29th June, planted Banyan tree or Meditation Tree.

1961:    26th Feb, installed marble image of Shirdi Sai Baba in Nag Sai Temple. 7th June, visited Badrinath and consecrated the Netralinga there.

1962:    prophesied the withdrawal of Chinese forces from border.

1963:    June 20th, fell very sick for 8 days, had 4 heart attacks and a stroke; He said he took upon himself the disease of a devotee. July 6th, Historic revelation that Sathya Sai is a combined incarnation of Shiva and Shakti, Shirdi Sai was Shiva, and Prema Sai will be Shakti alone.

1964:    23rd Nov declared, "I am Sri Nath, Lokanath, and Anathnath."

1968:    Sai Baba declared His Mission on Earth. 30th June to 14th July visited East Africa. First World Conference held in Bombay.

1971:    Brought back to life American Arthur Cowan who was certified dead by doctors in Bangalore.

1972:    First Summer Shower discourse.

1973:    Materialized the Cross and figure of Jesus Christ. 

1975:    23rd Nov 50th Birthday of Sathya Sai Baba. Declared that triple incarnations of Shirdi, Sathya and Prema carry the message of Work, Worship and Wisdom. He gave Blitz editor, RK Karanjia, an unprecedented two hours of recorded interview.

1975:    25th Dec discourse, Sai Baba explained that He is the One whom Jesus referred to in the statement "He who sent me among you will come again."

1977:    Estimated to have 25 million followers worldwide.

1978:    Dr Shastry showed Sai the prophecy contained in Shuka Naadi, 5,000 years old palm leaf manuscript written by Sage Shuka.

1982:    Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, PN, set up.

1983:    Sai Baba sent 12 specially handpicked devotees to meditate at Gufa Ashram, 18,000 feet high cave in the Himalayas.

1986:    60th Birthday Celebration. Declared, "I am God. You are God. The only difference is that I know my divinity, but you do not."

1988:    Professor Kasturi passed away. Sai Baba said he will be mother of Prema Sai in his next life.

1990:    Sathya Sai Airport was inaugurated.

1991:    Materialized the famous and rare golden Lingam. Inauguration of Super Specialty Hospital. Prophecy came true for fall of Communism and Berlin Wall.

1992:    Completion of Super Specialty Hospital.

1996:    70th Birthday Celebration. Discourse on 'Your mission'. Sai-aeroplane waiting on Sai-runway, waiting for control tower's instruction.

1997:     Materialized the smallest Bible in the world. First time Sai Baba sat on Golden Chariot.     First Chinese New Year Celebration in Prashanthi Nilayam, His Ashram!

1998:    2nd year of Golden Chariot. Second Chinese New Year celebration in Prashanthi.

Feb:     Manifested Hiranyagarbha Linga during Sivaratri festival.

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DEVELOP BROAD-MINDEDNESS TO EXPERIENCE DIVINITY

(Text of the Divine Discourse delivered by Bhagawan
Sri Sathya Sai Baba in Sai Kulwanth Hall, Prasanthi
Nilayam on 24th July 2002 on the occasion of
GuruPoornima Day)

“The moon illumines the world at night and the sun
during the day. Righteousness illumines the three
worlds, and a noble son illumines his entire clan.”
				 (Telugu Poem)

During the day the sun shines resplendently and
enables people to see the world. During the night the
moon gives us light. It is Dharma that shows the ideal
path to all beings in all the three worlds. Similarly,
a noble son illumines his entire clan by his exemplary
behaviour. All these are related to the ephemeral and
transient world.

Kaanaada was the one who experienced and propagated
the truth that God is all-pervasive. Anoraneeyan
Mahato Maheeyan (Brahman is subtler than the subtlest
and vaster than the vastest). Kaanaada recognised the
existence of God in every atom. He even described God
as Anuswarupa (the very form of atom). The world
cannot exist without the atom. Earlier, nothing
existed in the universe. In the beginning, the sun,
the moon, the stars, the Earth, the sky, etc., did not
exist. There was only pitch darkness all around. The
combination of atoms resulted in the formation of hard
matter of a very high density. As a result, a lot of
heat was generated. Then all of a sudden, the hard
matter exploded with a big bang into pieces and spread
all over. This was the cause of creation. This was
also the experience of Kaanaada. The sound that
emanated when the big bang took place is "Pranava".
That is Omkara, the primordial sound. This sound of
Pranava is all-pervasive. It originated from Paramaanu
(minutest atom). There is nothing other than atom in
this creation. "How can one understand and realise
this?" This was the enquiry of Kaanaada. Ultimately,
he realised the principle of Pranava. This primordial
sound has to be contemplated upon by man for attaining
liberation.

“The primordial sound 'Pranava' is verily the Divinity
which is subtler than the subtlest and vaster than the
vastest. It is all-pervasive and stands as the eternal
witness.” (Telugu Poem)

This truth was propagated by Kaanaada. It is from this
Pranava that the sun, the moon, the Earth, the sky,
etc., originated. The atom is the fundamental basis of
the entire creation. Every human being is a
combination of atoms. There is no matter without
atoms. But modern man is unable to understand the
mystery of atoms. He considers the teachings of our
ancient Rishis as mere stories and ridicules them. He
does not have the ability and capacity to understand
the sacredness of ancient Bharatiya culture. He is not
able to understand the reality that is within him. He
installs the statues of ancient Rishis and noble souls
as a mark of respect for them but fails to understand
their teachings and put them into practice. He has to
install their sacred forms not outside but in the
altar of his heart and follow their teachings. To
which time does Kaanaada belong? Twenty thousand years
ago, people were all praise for Kaanaada and his
teachings. Kaanaada recognised the principles of
Hydrogen and Oxygen. The scientists observed that
hydrogen represents the water principle, while oxygen
represents the fire principle. Today people attach
great value to the observations made by scientists,
but fail to understand and appreciate the great truths
taught by our Rishis out of their experience.

How can one understand the atomic power? Atom is not
visible to the physical eye but it is present
everywhere. The water we drink, the food we eat, the
words we utter, the sound we hear, everything is
permeated by atoms. Though man treads on atoms, eats
atoms, drinks atoms, he is unable to understand their
mystery. He thinks that only scientists can
investigate into the nature of atoms. Atomic process
is highly sacred. By conducting a proper enquiry into
this, one can understand Divinity. This was the
teaching of Kaanaada. But today nobody is conducting a
proper enquiry to experience the atomic process.
People are leading their lives with materialistic
outlook.

Once Emperor Shivaji and his minister were going on an
evening stroll. On the way, they came across a
Buddhist monk. Immediately, Shivaji removed his crown
and prostrated at the feet of the monk. The minister
did not like this. He thought Emperor Shivaji demeaned
his own stature by placing his head at the feet of an
ordinary monk. The Emperor atonce sensed the feeling
of his minister and wanted to teach him a lesson.
Shivaji was one who followed the path of righteousness
and sacrifice and set an ideal to mankind.
One day he asked the minister to bring the head of a
goat, a sheep and of a human being. He collected the
heads of a goat and a sheep. He went to a burial
ground and cut the head of a dead person. He took them
to the emperor. Shivaji commanded him to sell them in
the market. The heads of the sheep and goat were sold
in no time, but nobody came forward to buy the head of
a human being. When this was informed to the emperor,
he said, it may be given free of cost to anybody. The
minister took the human head to the market and waited
there for a couple of days. In spite of his best
efforts, nobody was willing to accept it. When this
was conveyed to the Emperor, Shivaji said, "Oh
minister, you felt very sad when I placed my head at
the feet of a monk. Do you realise that the same would
be the fate of our heads too, when we leave our mortal
coils. They would have absolutely no value. Hence, we
should sanctify our lives by prostrating before noble
souls." Material wealth and position are momentary.
Only Truth and right conduct will remain with man and
redeem his life.

The body will be respected so long as there is So-ham
(life-breath) in it. That is the sound of Pranava.
That is the energy contained in an atom. This energy
has its origin in Divinity. None can create it. This
truth was propagated by Kaanaada. It is very difficult
to understand the power of an atom. God is in the form
of an atom. The entire world is the manifestation of
the atom. The space and sound are the expressions of
the atom. Therefore, do not neglect the principle of
atom. It has mighty power in it. Scientists have been
experimenting on this principle since long. It takes
twenty-two thousand crores of years for an atom to go
back to its source. It is rather strange that man is
unable to unravel the mystery behind an atom.
The Earth rotates on its axis and revolves around the
sun. Who is responsible for these phenomena? Nobody
can explain this. As earth rotates on its axis, we
have day and night. As it revolves around the sun, we
are able to get the food required to sustain our body.
It is the Divine Will that is responsible for all
this. It is the Divine masterplan for the benefit of
the world. Nobody has understood the Anushakti (power
of the atom) in its totality till this day. People
think that the atom has no life in it. It is a wrong
notion. The life-force that holds the entire world
together is present in the atom also. Hence it is
said, God is present in microcosm as well as in
macrocosm. Man should make an attempt to understand
the mystery of creation. He should recognise his
responsibilities and conduct himself accordingly. Man
has to necessarily understand the principle of the
atom. If he understands this, he would have understood
everything else, for atom is God. The life-principle
present in the atom is present all over the universe.
Kaanaada said that proper understanding of the
principle of atom will lead to the understanding of
Divinity. When you close your fist, you would have
caught hold of many atoms. When you release it, the
atoms will travel in different directions. The sound
of Pranava that emerges from the atoms will be as
minute as the particles themselves.

Devotees offer their prayers to God. Some people doubt
the efficacy of prayer. But, in fact any mighty task
can be accomplished through prayer. It makes
impossible things possible. Here is a small example.
There has been a swelling on My cheek for the past ten
days. I never take any medicine. Yesterday I observed
that the attention of all those assembled here was
focused on My cheek, not on Me! They were worried that
the swelling had still not reduced and that Swami was
undergoing a lot of pain. After I delivered the
Valedictory Discourse, I retired to My room. As I was
resting, a number of devotees were praying to Me that
I should cure Myself at least by the auspicious day of
Guru Purnima. All their prayers reached Me. When I got
up in the morning, the swelling reduced and there was
absolutely no pain whatsoever. In fact, I had not
willed that it should be so. It is the result of the
prayers of devotees. Yesterday, many did not even take
food. With tears in their eyes, they were praying
continuously. My thoughts went to them for a moment.
But I never willed that I should be cured. I never do
it. Why? As Sanjay Sahni rightly pointed out, "I and
you are one." You are not different from Me. This is
not My body, it is yours. So, it is your
responsibility to take care of this body. I never
think of My body and its well-being. I never make a
Sankalpa (Will) that such and such a thing should
happen, so far as My body is concerned. There is no
selfishness in Me from head to toe. That is why I have
got every right to declare that I and you are one.

Every man is endowed with the same atomic power. He
has to make every effort to understand this. Since
ancient times, man got accustomed to worshipping God
in the form of idols. You worship Rama and Krishna in
the form of idols. But can you see their physical
forms now? No. You worship Easwara. But are you able
to see Him? The forms of Rama, Krishna, Easwara are
ever existing. But man is not able to visualise them
because of his narrow-mindedness. Expansion of the
heart is divine; narrow-mindedness is death. One with
narrow-mindedness is verily a living corpse. One
should always be broad-minded. You find divinity
installed in the heart of one with expansive feelings.

Saints and sages of yore undertook various types of
spiritual practices. Kaanaada also performed penance.
Ultimately, he realised that he had originated from
the atom and would merge into it. He gave up body
attachment. Today man is leading a materialistic life
and striving for his own selfish ends. So long as
there is selfishness in man, he will not be able to
understand the divine principle of atom. One may do
Japa, Dhyana and penance, but one's mind should always
be steadily fixed on the principle of the atom.
Everything is contained in this. Our body, mind,
intellect, etc., are nothing but the manifestations of
the atom which is verily divine.

God certainly listens to the prayers of His devotees.
Some people hesitate to pray lest their prayers should
cause inconvenience to God. They are mistaken, for God
can never be put to any inconvenience whatsoever. God
has no suffering at all. He considers devotees'
happiness as His happiness. However, your happiness
results from material things; whereas My happiness is
related to the principle of Atma. I am pleased by the
smallest of small offering if it is made with Love.
Your tiny offering will assume gigantic proportions to
Me. On the other hand, you are not satisfied in spite
of receiving mighty favours.

What is the significance of Guru Purnima? Guru is one
who illumines the path to divinity. Purnima stands for
the cool full moon light. Full moon stands for a mind
with total illumination. It is spotless and
blemishless. Even if there is a trace of blemish in
the mind, it will lead to darkness. It cannot give you
total bliss.

Embodiment of Love!

Let your mind be filled with the radiance of divine
love. Acquiring mere textual knowledge is of no avail.
What you have studied is only a fraction of the total
knowledge. Yet you feel proud about it. Your worldly
education is insignificant compared to divine wisdom.
You cannot attain God with your education, power and
wealth. He is accessible by Love and Love alone. You
can experience Him only when you develop Love.
Devotion means to Love God wholeheartedly.

Embodiment of Love!

What is it that you are supposed to know on this day
of Guru Purnima? You must understand that God is in
you, with you, around you, above you, below you. In
fact, you are God. Recognise this truth in the first
instance. Do not entertain excessive desires and
become beggars. Do your duty sincerely. That is the
true Sadhana. When you are in office, do office work
only; do not think of your family matters. Likewise,
when you are at home, take care of the needs of your
wife and children. Do not make your home an office.
But today because of too much work in office, people
take office-papers to their homes to complete their
work. They are thus facing difficulties because they
mix up their office work, household work, business and
spiritual matters.

Hiranyaksha and Hiranyakasipu were great scientists.
The modern scientists have travelled only up to moon,
but Hiranyakasipu travelled up to the sun. He even
touched the pole star and consequently suffered. One
may be a great scientist, but one will be put to
suffering if one crosses one's limits. The saints made
concerted efforts to experience Divinity. One should
develop broad-mindedness in order to experience
Divinity.

Man has death but the mind has no death. Whatever he
does during his lifetime are imprinted on his mind and
get carried over to the next birth. None can
understand the nature of the mind. Some people think
that suicide is the only way of putting an end to all
their troubles. They think, "It is the mind that is
responsible for our suffering. Let us put an end to
it." It is the worst of sins. The mind cannot be
killed so easily. One should never entertain such low
ideas. One should be prepared to face any difficulties
with fortitude and strive hard to sanctify one's life.
Atma is God and God is Atma. Prahlada said, "Never
doubt that God is here and not there. He is present
wherever you search for Him."

“The Atma is eternal without birth or death. It has no
beginning, middle or end. It is omnipresent as the
witness of every being.” (Telugu Poem)
Hence, man should lead his life with the conviction,
"I am God. Only body has death. I have neither birth
nor death." So long as he is alive, his love is
dedicated to God and God alone. One day a rich man
came to meet Baba at Shirdi. He had stuffed his pocket
with a number of currency notes. Baba decided to test
his devotion. He called Shyam, who used to be by His
side always, and said, "I need five rupees very
urgently. Go and ask Patel." After sometime, Shyam
returned saying that Patel was not at home. Baba asked
him to approach another businessman. Shyam again
returned with empty hands. Baba sent him to another
person. Patel was a witness to all this, but he did
not volunteer to give five rupees from his pocket. He
had no spirit of sacrifice. For many people, money is
God; politics is God. Will the money or politics
follow them after their death? What are they going to
achieve? What is the purpose of life? Having attained
human birth, do not waste it in trivial pursuits. Take
part in activities that are beneficial to society. Do
not misunderstand Me when I say this. Politics is the
root cause of pollution of the world. The minds of
even small children are polluted by politics.
Conflicts and agitations have become the order of the
day. There is no unity even between husband and wife.
Prior to Independence, people did not suffer this
much. In those days, the conflict was between the
whites and the coloured, whereas today the non-whites
are quarrelling amongst themselves in factions. This
is not what is expected of people today. Shun evil
qualities and develop noble feelings.

Embodiment of Love!

Fill your lives with Love and end your lives with
Love. That is true human life. The Upanishads have
accorded great value to human life. Maanava is one who
has to be loved and respected. He has to welcome
happiness as well as sorrow with equanimity. In China
there is a proverb which says, "Difficulties are our
friends, let us welcome them." The happiness that we
get out of difficulties cannot be obtained anywhere
else. Na Sukhat Labhyate Sukham (one cannot derive
happiness out of happiness). Many people come to Me
saying they are facing lot of difficulties. I feel
like laughing at them. I want to know what
difficulties and sorrow mean. But they do not come
anywhere near Me. I keep telling the devotees that
they should not be bogged down by difficulties. I
never give any scope for sorrow. This body has entered
its 77th year. Till this day, I never experienced
sorrow even for a moment. Man aspires for bliss. He is
the embodiment of bliss. Bliss is his true property.
Such being the case, why should he give scope for
sorrow? It is because he has not understood his true
nature. Worldly relationship comes and goes. But that
which comes and grows is the principle of Love.
Embodiment of Love!

Right from this day, try to reduce your attachment to
the world to the extent possible. Be happy and make
others happy. Do not hurt anybody. Consider
difficulties as passing clouds. You have developed
family relationships and there are bound to be some
worries. But do not be perturbed by them. When you
look at the vast sky, you find many clouds. Likewise,
in the sky of your heart there are clouds of
attachment. They just come and go. Do not worry about
them. What is the shape of worry? It is a mentally
created fear. It is the result of your imagination.
Every man is bound to encounter difficulties and
losses. We should face them with courage.

Remember what Shivaji taught his minister. This body
will be respected so long as there is life in it. Once
the life ebbs away, it will not have any value. The
same was stated by Duryodhana during his last moments.
He said, "I was respected so long as I was alive.
Tomorrow crows and dogs are going to feast on me."
Whatever has to happen will happen. Lead a respectable
life while you are alive. Develop divine feelings in
you. Only then you would have led a true human life.
Today man is leading a purely materialistic life. This
is also necessary to a certain extent. Remember that
there is the transcendental principle even in this
secular life.

Embodiment of Love!

From this day of Guru Purnima, make your hearts
sacred. Just as you wave away the mosquitoes that bite
you, brush aside any difficulties that assail you. Do
not be depressed by sorrow nor be elated by happiness.
Develop equanimity and strive to attain Divinity.

Here Bhagawan sang the Bhajan, "Vahe Guru Vahe Guru
Vahe Guru Ji Bolo …" and then continued the discourse.

There is only one Guru. There cannot be two Gurus -
inner Guru and external Guru. Guru is one who treads
along the path of Truth. He is truth himself.

“Gurur-Brahma Gurur-Vishnu Gurur Devo Maheswara;
Guru Sakshat Param Brahma Thasmai Sri Gurave Namaha.”

(Guru is Brahma, Guru is Vishnu, Guru is Maheswara.
Guru is verily the supreme Brahman. So, salutations to
the Guru.)

You are the embodiment of Divine Trinity - Brahma,
Vishnu, Maheswara. Hence, Guru is not separate from
you. You are everything. Let your concentration not
waver. Let it be steadily fixed on your goal. Be he a
student, a celibate, a householder or a renunciant,
the goal is one and same for all. Contemplate on the
principle of So-ham that your inner voice teaches. Say
Aham Brahmasmi (I am Brahma). There is nothing wrong
in this statement. Some people have a mistaken notion
that to say so, is a sign of egoism. In fact, that is
not ego at all. It is your right. To think that you
are a mere human being amounts to demeaning yourself.
You are the embodiments of God. Develop such faith and
become God. There cannot be any bad qualities in God.
So, you should lead a pure, steady and selfless life.
See good, speak good and do good. You should be an
ideal to everybody. No benefit accrues from worship if
you do not purify your heart. You are worshipping
Swami and have been visiting Swami for a number of
years.

But is there any transformation in you? You are coming
and going without any aim. Such people need not come
here at all. Wherever you are, do your Sadhana. When
you come here, you should imbibe divine feelings and
become divine. Gradually reduce your attachment to the
world. The world will not go with you when you die.
You cannot even take away a fistful of dust. You can
take only the virtues you have cultivated. Respect
your teachers, elders and parents. Matru Devo Bhava,
Pitru Devo Bhava, Acharya Devo Bhava, Atithi Devo
Bhava (revere your mother, father, preceptor and guest
as God). Consider everyone as God. There is God even
in a dog. Have faith that God is all-pervasive. There
is no greater Sadhana than this. When people develop
such faith, the whole nation will be blessed with
plenty, prosperity and all auspiciousness. Fill your
heart with divine feelings. This is what you have to
learn today.

Bhagawan concluded His Discourse with the Bhajans,
"Hari Bhajan Bina …", "Subramanyam Subramanyam …"
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The Revelation

17 May 1968
(Sathya Sai Speaks VI, 210-213)

[Editor's note. This is the last part of Sathya Sai Baba's discourse at the World Conference of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organizations in Bombay, 17 May 1968. It states plainly and directly that Sathya Sai Baba is an incarnation of God, come to restore righteousness (dharma).]

Since at this place those who have devotion are gathered and people of all nations have come, I cannot but tell you one fact. World conferences dedicated to religion or spiritual problems have no doubt been held before; also, conferences of followers of particular faiths. But these have been held only after the demise of the founders and divine inspirers. This is the very first time that a World Conference is held, of persons devoted, while the incarnation is present before every one, with the body assumed for the purpose, bearing the name that is chosen for it by Itself. I must tell you this fact, because ninety-nine persons out of hundred among you do not know my Reality. You have come here drawn by diverse needs, a taste for spiritual matters, eagerness to develop the institutions to which you are attached, admiration or affection, love or reverence or a spurt of enthusiasm to join others and share with others your own exultation.

In truth, you cannot understand the nature of my Reality either today or even after a thousand years of steady austerity or ardent inquiry even if all mankind joins in that effort. But, in a short time, you will become cognizant of the bliss showered by the divine Principle, which has taken upon itself this sacred body and this sacred name. Your good fortune, which will provide you this chance, is greater than what was available for anchorites, monks, sages, saints and even personalities embodying facets of divine Glory!

Since I move about with you, eat like you, and talk with you, you are deluded into the belief that this is but an instance of common humanity. Be warned against this mistake. I am also deluding you by my singing with you, talking with you, and engaging myself in activities with you. But, [at] any moment, my Divinity may be revealed to you; you have to be ready, prepared for that moment. Since Divinity is enveloped by humanness you must endeavor to overcome the Maya (delusion) that hides it from your eyes.

This is a human form in which every divine entity, every divine principle, that is to say, all the names and forms ascribed by man to God, are manifest. ... Do not allow doubt to distract you; if you only install, in the altar of your heart, steady faith in my Divinity, you can win a vision of my Reality. Instead, if you swing like the pendulum of a clock, one moment devotion, another moment disbelief, you can never succeed in comprehending the truth and win that bliss. You are very fortunate that you have a chance to experience the bliss of the vision of the Sarvadaivathwa swaroopam (the form that is all forms of the Gods) now, in this life itself.

Let me draw your attention to another fact. On previous occasions when God incarnated on earth, the bliss of recognizing Him in the incarnation was vouchsafed only after the physical embodiment had left the world, in spite of plenty of evidence of his grace. And the loyalty and devotion they commanded from men arose through fear and awe at their superhuman powers and skills or at their imperial and penal authority. But ponder a moment on this Sathya Sai Manifestation; in this age of rampant materialism, aggressive disbelief and irreverence, what is it that brings to it the adoration of millions from all over the world? You will be convinced that the basic reason for this is the supra-worldly Divinity in human form.

Again how fortunate you are that you can witness all the countries of the world paying homage to India (Bharatha) you can hear adoration of Sathya Sai's name reverberating throughout the world, even while this body is existing --not at some future date but when it is with you, before you. And again, you can witness very soon the restoration of the Ancient and Eternal Religion [Sanathana Dharma] to its genuine and natural status, the righteousness [dharma] laid down in the Vedas for the good of all the peoples of the world. The revival of Vedic dharma is the Sai Sankalpa (the resolve that Sai has) not only drawing people toward me, attracting them by the manifestation of my shakti (power) and samarthya (capacity). This is not a bhramathathwam (phenomenon of delusion). This phenomenon will sustain truth, it will uproot untruth, and in that victory make all of you exult in ecstasy. This is the Sai sankalpa (will).

Some persons, even those who have reached a certain stage of leadership and authority, have started exchanging the Vedic formulae and the principles of Indian (Bharathiya) culture for lucre, selling them, in fact; and westerners too are inclined to purchase them! These truths and discoveries are not merchandise to be sold and bought. Therefore, I am going to western countries soon, in order to apprise them of their real worth and put a stop to this bargaining. Already, the authorities of universities in the United States of America and the leaders of the students of those universities have written that they are eager to welcome me and they have drawn up programs for me. It was only yesterday that passports for my visit to Africa have been brought, praying that I may visit those countries soon; I am proceeding to Africa before the month of June.

So utilize the chance of association with me as much as possible, and endeavor as quickly and as best as you can to follow the directions that I have been giving. Obeying my instructions is enough; it will benefit you more than the most rigorous asceticism. Practice Sathya, dharma, santhi and prema, which are dear to me; resolve to keep those ideals before you ever, in all your thoughts, words and deeds. That can confer on you the summum bonum of mergence in the supreme substance of Divinity.

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Health, Diet and Divinity

Bhagawan’s Divine Discourse given on 3rd of June 1995 in the Sri Sathya Sai Hospital, at Whitefield, India. (Courtesy of  "SAISPANDAN" - Journal of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences)

Not by penance, nor by baths In sacred waters, nor by studying of scriptures, or by Japa can the ocean of   worldly existence (the cycle of birth and death) be crossed. It can be done only by Service to good people (Sanskrit Sloka)

Man seeks to cross the ocean of Samsara by penance, pilgrimages to sacred shrines, scriptural studies and exercises in meditation. But all these are of no avail without service to good people. All these spiritual exercises are comprehended by Seva  (service). For the achievement of the four main goals of life, (the Purusharthas of DHARMA-Right conduct, ARTHA- acquisition of wealth, KAAMA - fulfillment of desires, and MOKSHA- Liberation), health is essential. Without good health a man cannot accomplish even the most trivial thing. Hence, health is wealth.

CAUSE OF DISEASE: However, because of the influence of the Kali age, man is a prey to all kinds of ailments and has no peace of mind despite the possession of every conceivable kind of wealth and comforts. There is no dearth of doctors. Inspite of the availability of so many amenities, why is man afflicted with disease? Indeed, more than physical ailments, mental diseases are growing limitlessly. Mental sickness caused by tension and worry gives us so many bodily ailments. Man today is afflicted with discontent. As one set of desires is satisfied, other desires go on cropping up If desires are reduced.  Contentment will grow. Moreover, because of the perversions of the Kali age, the five basic elements (ether, air, fire, water and earth) are polluted.  The water we drink is impure. The air we breathe is polluted. As a consequence the mind gets polluted.

MATTER AND MIND: Today man has to understand the true relationship between matter and mind. When one is asked about the mind, he says, "Don't mind". When he is asked about matter, he answers: "It doesn’t matter". By this sort of casualness man is failing to understand mind and matter. Only when man understands the nature of the mind can he recognize the true nature of humanness. What is the mind? It is not something negative.  It is positive. It represents the power of the Atma, the power of thought  (Sankalpa).  It can travel any amount of distance in space. It is capable of exploring the powers of atom. The mind is capable of recognising the truth that is valid for the three categories of Time-the past, the present and the future.  The mind is therefore very essence of life. It is the source of all strength.  Man today is indifferent to the importance and the powers of the mind.

SEARCH FOR HAPPINESS: Man is seeking happiness from birth to death. The search starts with education. But education does not confer happiness. He desires a job but that does not make him happy.  He then seeks marriage as the means to happiness. Happiness eludes him because the wife claims equal rights. Then he declares, "My life is a total darkness".  It is the ego that is the cause. As a man grows, his egoism also grows. One after another, desires go on increasing. Their fulfillment doesn't bring him the happiness he seeks.  Where is this happiness or bliss (ananda) to be found? It does not exist in material objects. It is not to be found in the pleasures. The truth is that man is the embodiment of bliss. He is searching for it outside himself. This is the mark of ignorance. When he is the embodiment of bliss, how can he secure bliss outside himself? Today, inspite of all his wealth, man is unhappy. He is perpetually racked by lack of peace. Devotees come here from all parts of the world. Each of them asks: "I want peace". Here are three words  "I", "want",  "peace". "I" is ego. "Want" is desire. Remove the ego and desire, you will have peace. Ego and desire have enveloped peace when the covering is removed, peace will manifest itself.

HEALTH AND HAPPINESS: Man can lead a blissful life only when he enjoys health. Wealth can offer comforts but not peace.  Wealth can provide a multi-storeyed mansion but not sound sleep. Wealth can provide bodily comforts, but physical comforts do not produce bliss.  Air conditioners and mattresses may give comfort to the body. But when there is no peace of mind, of what use are these comforts? The body is like a water bubble, the mind is like a monkey, don't follow the body or the mind, and follow the conscience. Man today is not following the conscience. He is sticking to the body and mind, which are useless. He must enquire into the problem, "Who am I?" He will discover that the body, the senses and the mind are all the instruments and he is their master.  The master has today become a slave of his body and mind, which should be his servants. You are the soul. Maker it the basis for all your actions.

HUMAN VALUES: Today man is forgetting his essential humanness. The first requisite is for man to realise Human Values Truth, Righteousness, Peace and Love. For a bulb to light, you need a connecting wire, a switch and electric current. For man, that current is Truth or God. It is energy. This divine energy has to flow through the wire of Dharma (Righteousness), reach the bulb of Peace (Shanthi) and produce the light of Love. Love is God. Live in Love. Love is everything. Without Love, Life is a living death for man. Love expresses itself in many forms in relation to different persons, but is essentially one. Today Love is tainted by selfishness, whether in relation to mother, the spouse or the children or others. Man's selfishness is polluting the entire society. Attachment to others is natural. But there should be a limit to it. When this limit is exceeded, it becomes a disease. This is true in every case. Because of man's excessive desires, he is prone to diseases of every kind.

HEAD AND FOOD: The most common source of illness amongst people today is  "Tension". What is the cause of tension? It is indulgence in excess of various kinds. Men must learn to moderate the hectic pace of living. Hurry causes worry and worry causes disease. "Hurry, worry and curry (fatty food)" are the causes of heart diseases. Therefore the first requirement is control of food and head  (the mind). When you control these two, there will be no room for illness.

IMPORTANCE OF THE EYE: Today the new operation theatre has been inaugurated in our hospital. Doctors know that in the eye there are millions of cells that react to light rays. If any of these cells are affected, the vision is affected. For man the eye is the most important organ for comprehending the Universe. Hence the eye has to be regarded as a sacred instrument. You cannot change creation, but by changing your vision you can get the proper view of creation. Here is an illustration.  Once there was a king, who developed an acute stomach trouble. All the medicines administered by doctors were of no avail. He then approached a great yogi, who told him that for his stomach ailment he had to treat the sight. He should see nothing but green everywhere. The Yogi left and the king ordered that all places in his kingdom should be painted green. Some time later, the yogi returned and found that people were engaged in splashing green everywhere. When asked for the reason, they told him that they were carrying out the king’s orders. The yogi went to the king and told him that to see everything green, all that was needed for him was to wear green glasses. It was absurd to attempt to paint everything green.

THE VISION OF LOVE: Similarly if we change our vision, we will experience peace. When people view the world with the vision of love, they will have peace. All diseases will be cured. Most diseases have their origin in the mind. Everything has a psychological basis. When a person feels that something is wrong with him, he develops an illness.   Healthy mind is needed for a healthy body. But it is not enough to be physically healthy. Man needs God's grace also (Daivaanugraham). To acquire God’s grace you have to cultivate the love of God. Love has become today a kind of show. Genuine love should emanate from the heart. Start the day with love, spend the day with love, and end the day with love, that is the way to God. If you develop love disease will not come near you.

AVOID EXCESSES: I am 70 years now. I can see even an ant that is far away. It is not due to divine power. It is physical power.  What is the reason? Diet control. My weight has remained the same for nearly sixty years - 108 lbs only. Proper balance must be maintained throughout life.  There must balance in respect of knowledge and several other things.  Students pollute their knowledge by seeing bad things, listening bad things, and by bad thoughts. Their minds are perverted by addiction to films. They should learn to lead pure lives. Only then they will experience bliss and health. Embodiments of the Divine! Realise the values of health. Self-restraint is essential to maintain health. Regulate your habits. Develop good manners, which are the mark of a true man. Similarly, the good devotee is one who does his duty. Duty is God. Everyone has to develop the manners required in daily life. The manners should be such that they confer self-satisfaction. You should conduct yourself properly not for the sake of others but for your own sake.  When there is self-satisfaction there will be self-realization. For all these you must have self-confidence. Most people today have no confidence in themselves and are perpetually racked doubts. In Jesus’ time there was one doubting Thomas. But today all are doubting Thomases. Everyone doubts every other.

HEALTH AND BLISS: For every man two things are essential: Good health (Arogya) and happiness (Ananda). Health for the body and bliss for the spirit. With these two wings you can soar to any height. You need both the things, for which you must secure God' s grace. To get Gods grace, you have to engage yourself in sacred action. Bear in mind the three P’s: PURITY, PATIENCE, and PERSEVERANCE. With these three you are bound to acquire good health and bliss.

BHAGAVAN’S EXAMPLE: You may believe it or not, but the truth is that these three are responsible for my Arogya (health) and Ananda (bliss). I am always happy. I should like to run but there is no place where I can do so. I can lift anybody at this age. This strength is present potentially in everyone. But it is being wasted. If the energy in everyone is properly conserved he can do anything.

THE WHITEFIELD HOSPITAL: The Hospital here began in a small way with a single room. Over the years it was expanded.  Dr. Rajeshwari, mother of Srinivas, (former Warden of Brindavan Hostel) work hard to develop the hospital.  She devoted all her earnings to the expansion of the hospital. She worked ceaselessly day and night. Ultimately she passed away in the hospital itself.  The hospital was her home. Thereafter, Dr. Savithri has been carrying on the work. Savithri has been working tirelessly.  She attends to everything herself. By her work for patients she is becoming a patient herself. She must take care of her health. Only the doctor is healthy, the patients can be well taken care of.  As is the doctor so is the patient.  Hence Savithri must take care of her own health. This is all the more necessary because the hospital is growing day by day. Srinivas is rendering every help for the hospital. There are others who are also serving the hospital in various ways.

FREE MEDICAL AID: The doctors have to meet the growing demands on their services. The number of patients coming to the hospital is growing all the time. All services are totally free. Not a paisa is collected from the patients. This applies to Super Specialty Hospital in Prashanthi gram. Such free medical treatment is not given anywhere in the world. Elsewhere hospitals have become big business. In fact, in every sphere commercialisation is rampant. Education a business. Music is a business, health is a business. The whole world has become a market place. Welfare services should be free for all.  There are numerous people who cannot afford the cost of medical treatment.  Doctor should render free treatment to such persons. My words should not be misunderstood. Even in the earning of incomes, there should be a limit. Many doctors lack determination. They join a hospital on a good salary. But after a month or so, when another hospital offers a higher salary they go over to the new hospital. How long are you likely to stay in the other hospital? When you go like this, you forfeit the confidence of hospital management. Even workers behave in this way. They shift from place to place.  The right thing is to stick to a job for three to four years. Then your work will secure automatic recognition.

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FILL THE WORLD WITH LOVE

Bhagawan’s inaugural address to the sixth World Conference of Sai Organisation on 18-11-‘95

There is no worse disease Than Greed;

No enemy worse than Anger; nor is there any Misery worse than Poverty;

There is no Greater Happiness than Wisdom.

Among the numerous diseases prevalent in the world, the disease of greed  (lobha) has grown beyond bounds. There is no disease‚ worse than this. This greed undermines humanness and turns man into a monster.

The second disease is anger (krodha). There is no enemy worse than anger. It is possible to over come external foes, but it is very difficult to subdue this internal enemy. Anger can destroy all human qualities and make a man forget his real nature. It is man’s worst enemy.

There is no misery equal to poverty. Poverty does not merely mean lack of wealth. You have poverty of the mind, poverty in wisdom. This poverty also causes misery to man.

Man is ravaged by these three: Greed (or miserliness), anger and lack of wisdom. There is no grater source of happiness than wisdom (Jnaana or the Higher Knowledge). Jnaana is not confined to worldly knowledge. There are other kinds of knowledge-bookish, superficial etc.-of, which the most valuable is practical knowledge.

PURPOSE OF LIFE

Everyone should strive to acquire that knowledge by which he can get rid of greed, anger and material and spiritual poverty. It is to achieve this purpose that you are participating in this conference.

At the outset you have to consider what is the purpose of life.  Is it for involvement in endless work or for eating and sleeping or indulging in gossip that the Divine has conferred this human birth?  (Swami sang Telugu poem).  The gift of intelligence is being used for many trivial purposes but not to understand the goal of life.

Society today is riddle with discord and disorder. The progress of civilization has undermined morality and decency in all walks of life. Obsessed with worldly values, men have lost all concern for moral values. Selfishness reigns supreme everywhere.  Even in the spiritual field, people seen to be more interested in themselves than in the welfare of society and the promotion of public good.

The delegates assembled in this conference appear to be concerned about the functioning of their centers.  Why were these centres started?  The primary objective of the Sai Organisation is to raise the human consciousness Divine by eliminating all animal tendencies. People do not seem to be aware of their true nature. Only those who understand their selves can help to evaluate others. The Upanishads have given the clarion call the mankind to wake from their ignorance and go forward towards their supreme divine destiny of self- realisation. 

THE THREE PATHS OF SAI

You have to engage yourselves in seva (service.  Service does not mean mere rendering help to others one of kind or another.  True service means participation in social activities after riding yourself of egoism and possessiveness and manifesting your qualities of compassion and kindness. The aim is the refinement of your good nature rather than giving succor to others.  There is a Sanskrit saying which declares that greater than penance or pilgrimage, meditation or worship, is to service to good people.

In rendering service, there should be unity of heart, head and hands (the three Hs).  Only then service becomes sanctified.  The significance of the three letters in Sai should be understood.   S stands for Service. A stands for Adoration.  I stand for Illumination (cheers). These three represent karma, bhakti and jnaana respectively. Sai teaches these three.  All the three concepts are equally important. Sai is a combination of the three spiritual paths of Action, Devotion and Wisdom. Just as the Pranava sound is made up of the three letters, A, U, M (OM), SAI stands for the triple forms of   spiritual sadhana. In the Sai Organisation, this threefold exercise has to be   properly understood.

FILL THE WORLD WITH LOVE

Sai sevaks have to develop the love in them, share it with others and fill the whole world with love. True love should be distinguished from attachments of various kinds. That love is a synonym for God. Love is God.

Live in love. The love of God comes from the depths of the heart. Sai sevaks should understand this love and render service in the right spirit to all mankind.

People ask how they can experience God. The answer was given by Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, when he told a questioner that if he loved God with the same intensity with which he loved his wife and children he would be able to experience God.

Perform all actions as an offering to God. Do not make any distinction between your official work and your work in the Sai Organisation. Spirituality cannot be divided into compartments. The Sathya Sai Organisation was set up solely to enable members to manifest their love in all their activities. You should manifest the divinity within you. That is Self-realisation, realisation of your oneness with the Divine.

QUALITY AND QUANTITY

The setting up of Sai Centers is not an exercise in numbers. The emphasis should be on quality and not quantity. The International President and the National President of our Organisation have mentioned how the centers  (Samasthalu) have grown. But has fellow feeling  (Samathvam) grown to the same extent? Fellow feeling should grow. On the contrary, divisiveness is growing. I want quality, not quantity (cheers).

Promote harmony among members. You cannot avoid making such distinctions as President, Coordinator, Member and the like. But these distinctions are functional and have no place at the spiritual level. God is present equally in all, from the president to the ordinary member. You should recognize this oneness. Positions, names and forms may vary, but the Supreme Truth is one. This spirit of oneness (Samathvam) should be fostered.  Then there will be no jealousy or discord. Where there is oneness there will be no trouble.

SAMATHVAM

Society today is racked by jealousy and hatred.  Jealousy is a‚ disease, which gives rise to hatred. Develop forbearance and goodwill. That is the cure for jealousy. I have often declared: My life is My message Often many have extolled me or derided me. I do not get elated by praise or depressed by criticism. I treat everything alike (Samathvam).  Samathvam yogam uchyathe.  That equal mindedness is yoga (cheers). What do I lose when someone criticize me? That is his opinion. It does not affect me.  Those who criticize Baba are suffering from a disease, like those who reject a sweet because they suffer from diabetes. The fault lies not in the sweet but in the person who unable to relish it. They know that Baba is engaged in beneficial activities and they want him.  But because some of their selfish interests are not served, they turn against Swami. That is a malady. When you see the facts in this light, you will realise the truth.

Today you have to cultivate a serene equanimity that rises above these trifles. The development of equanimity is more important than the growth of centres. You should recognize the Divinity in one and all.  The one‚ Supreme Spirit dwells in all beings. Bulbs are many but the current that illumine them is one. Develop this spirit of oneness. Unity will lead Divinity. Many who are working in the Organisation do not recognize the need for unity. Lack of unity breeds enmity and groupism.

The Organisation exists not for my sake but yours. When Swami administers what may appear as bitter medicine, it is for your own good. God is the physician for the ills of human existence. You may not relish the taste of His medicine. But whatever Swami does, says or gives, is all for your good.

Above all, unity is the foremost need of the hour. Nations are many, but the earth is one (cheers). All are denizens of the earth. All are children of Mother Earth. Recognize this truth.

GOD AND NATURE

In the realm of the Spirit, it is foolish to ask for proofs of direct external perception. The spiritual is subtle. It has to be experienced within.  The Divine is present within us incognito like the Pandavas during the last year of their exile. Does the external form of a person reveal anything about his internal qualities? He himself may not be aware of all of them. He may be full of love or hatred. Can anyone perceive it? Without knowing his qualities, is it proper to judge him by his physical features?

You see this magnificent hall, but you do not see its foundations. Likewise, God is the basis, Nature is the superstructure. The body is like a rose in which the spirit is present as invisible fragrance.

ALWAYS BLISSFUL

This conference should consider how the Sai Organisations could improve their service activities. I have nothing to gain from the Organisation. I am always blissful. There is no need to wish me Happy Birthday. I am always happy.  Embodiments of Love! Develop love, so that you may deserve this appellation.

The Tamilnadu President, T.G.Krishnamurthy said, that when Swami reincarnates as Prema Sai‚ he should be given the privilege of‚ serving Swami. Ayyaa! Take good care of what you already have. Why hanker after something in the womb of the future? The present is very important. Past is past. Don’t worry about the future. Take care of the present, which will determine the future. Do your duty now. Duty is God. Work is worship. This is the way to run the Organisation on ideal lines.

What is being inaugurated today is the search for the supreme truth about the Divinity within.

BIRTHDAYS

People have referred to the Seventieth Birthday.  The body is constituted of the five elements, the five sheaths, the five life-breaths and the five senses.  Up to ones fiftieth year, one may be described as experiencing youth (Yavvanam).  Youth hood should be dedicated to purposeful activities. Youth is not related to age. Bhishma, who was 112 years old, was the commander-in-chief of the Kaurava forces. It is will power that determines ones age.

When one reaches sixty, it is a Bharatiya custom to perform Shanthi Pooja for the purpose of subduing the six internal enemies  (lust, pride etc.). On reaching seventy, a person attains the state of the Seven Sages, the Seven Oceans, the seven musical notes, the Seven Colors. The seven colors come from the suns rays. The suns rays are eternal. The Seventieth year symbolizes the attainment of the saintliness of the Seven Sages  (Sapta Rishis who constitute the constellation of Ursa Major, the Great Bear).  On attaining the eightieth year, you must become one of the eight planets  (Ashtagraha). On reaching the ninetieth year, you have to acquire the strength of one of the nine planets (Navagrahas).  On reaching the hundredth year one should merge in the ten indriyas (organs of sense and action) and get rid of the body consciousness.

The acquisition of the love of God should be the primary aim of members of the Sai Organisations. The spiritual path is the easiest to follow. The giving up of worldly desires is easier than clinging to them. Hold fast to God.

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Who is Sai?

9 June 1974

(Sathya Sai Speaks IX, 88-92)

[Swami talks about God, the religion of Love, and his Avatar-hood. He explains why he materializes rings, etc., and gives them to people, and he explains what "Sai Baba" means. This is the CROWN GEM among all gems of Swami’s talk and messages]

God is inscrutable. He cannot be realized in the outer objective world; He is in the very heart of every being. Gemstones have to be sought deep underground; they do not float in mid air. Seek God in the depths of your self, not in tantalizing, kaleidoscopic nature. The body is granted to you for this high purpose; but you are now misusing it, like the person who cooked his daily food in the gem-studded gold vase that came into his hands as an heirloom.

Man extols God as omnipresent, omniscient, and omnipotent, but he ignores his Presence in himself! Of course, many venture to describe the attributes of God and proclaim Him to be such and such; but these are but their own guesses and the reflections of their own predilections and preferences.

Who can affirm that God is this or thus? Who can affirm that God is not of this form or with this attribute? Each one can acquire from the vast expanse of the ocean only as much as can be contained in the vessel he carries to its shore. From that quantity, they can grasp but little of that immensity.

Each religion defines God within the limits it demarcates and then claims to have grasped Him. Like the seven blind men who spoke of the elephant as a pillar, a fan, a rope or a wall, because they contacted but a part and could not comprehend the entire animal, so too, religions speak of a part and assert that its vision is full and total.

Each religion forgets that God is all forms and all names, all attributes and all assertions. The religion of humanity is the sum and substance of all these partial faiths; for there is only one religion and that is the religion of Love. The various limbs of the elephant that seemed separate and distinct to the eye-less seekers of its truth were all fostered and activated by one single stream of blood; the various religions and faiths that feel separate and distinct are all fostered by a single stream of love.

The optical sense cannot visualize the truth. It gives only false and fogged information. For example, there are many who observe my actions and start declaring that my nature is such and such. They are unable to gauge the sanctity, the majesty, and the eternal reality that is Me. The power of Sai is limitless; It manifests forever. All forms of 'power' are resident in this Sai palm.

But those who profess to have understood me, the scholars, the Yogis, the pundits, the Jnanis, all of them are aware only of the least important, the casual external manifestation of an infinitesimal part of that power, namely, the "miracles"! They have not desired to contact the source of all power and all wisdom that is available here at Brindavan. They are satisfied when they secure a chance to exhibit their book learning and parade their scholarship in Vedic lore, not realizing that the person from whom the Vedas emanated is in the midst, for their sake. They even ask, in their pride, for a few more chances!

This has been the case in all ages. People may be very near (physically) to the Avatar, but they live out their lives unaware of their fortune; they exaggerate the role of miracles, which are as trivial, when compared to my glory and majesty, as a mosquito is in size and strength to the elephant upon which it squats. Therefore, when you speak about these 'miracles,' I laugh within myself out of pity that you allow yourself so easily to lose the precious awareness of my reality.

My power is immeasurable; My truth is inexplicable, unfathomable. I am announcing this about me, for the need has arisen. But what I am doing now is only the gift of a 'visiting card!' Let me tell you that emphatic declarations of the truth by Avatars were made so clearly and so unmistakably only by Krishna. In spite of the declaration, you will notice in the career of the same Krishna that he underwent defeat in his efforts and endeavors, on a few occasions; you must also note that those defeats too were part of the drama that he had planned and that he himself directed. For example, when many kings pleaded with him to avert the war with the Kauravas, he confessed that his mission to the Kaurava Court for ensuring peace had 'failed'! But, he had not willed that it should succeed! He had decided that war would be waged! His mission was intended to publish the greed and iniquity of the Kauravas and to condemn them before the whole world.

Now, I must tell you that, during this Sai Avatar, there is no place for even such 'drama' with scenes of failures and defeats!  What I will, must take place; what I plan must succeed. I am Truth; and Truth has no need to hesitate, or fear, or bend.

'Willing' is superfluous for me. For my grace is ever available to devotees who have steady love and faith. Since I move freely among them, talking and singing, even intellectuals are unable to grasp my truth, my power, my glory, or my real task as Avatar. I can solve any problem however knotty. I am beyond the reach of the most intensive enquiry and the most meticulous measurement. Only those who have recognized my love and experienced that love can assert that they have glimpsed my reality. For the path of Love is the royal road that leads mankind to me.

Do not attempt to know me through the external eyes. When you go to a temple and stand before the image of God, you pray with closed eyes, don't you? Why? Because you feel that the inner eye of wisdom alone can reveal Him to you. Therefore, do not crave from me trivial material objects; but crave for me, and you will be rewarded. Not that you should not receive whatever objects I give as sign of grace out of the fullness of Love.

I shall tell you why I give these rings, talismans, rosaries etc. It is to signalize the bond between me and those to whom they are given. When calamity befalls them, the article comes to me in a flash and returns in a flash taking from me the remedial grace of protection. That Grace is available to all who call on me in any name or form, not merely to those who wear these gifts. Love is the bond that wins grace.

Consider the meaning of the name Sai Baba. Sa means 'Divine'; ai or ayi means 'mother', and Baba means 'father'. The name indicates the divine mother and father, just as Sambasiva, which also means the divine mother and father. Your physical parents exhibit Love with a dose of selfishness; but, this Sai "mother and father" showers affection or reprimands only to lead you toward victory in the struggle for self-realization.

For this Sai has come in order to achieve the supreme task of uniting the entire mankind, as one family through the bond of brotherhood, of affirming and illumining the Atmic reality of each being in order to reveal the Divine that is the basis on which the entire cosmos rests, and of instructing all to recognize the common divine heritage that binds man to man, so that man can rid himself of the animal, and rise into the Divine, which is his goal.

I am the embodiment of divine love; love is my instrument. There is no creature without love; the lowest loves itself, at least. And its self is God. So there are no atheists, though some might dislike Him or refuse Him, as malarial patients dislike sweets or diabetic patients refuse to have anything to do with sweets! Those who preen themselves, as atheists will one day, when their illness is gone, relish God and revere Him.

I had to tell you so much about my truth, for I desire that you should contemplate on this and derive joy therefrom, so that you may be inspired to observe the disciplines laid down by me and progress toward the goal of self-realization, the realization of the Sai that shines in your hearts.

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