SRI SATHYA SAI BABA FOR BEGINNERS

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SRI SATHYA SAI BABA FOR BEGINNERS

Sai Baba once gave the ESSENCE of his mission as follows:

'I have come to light the lamp of love in your hearts to see that it shines day

by day with added lustre. I have not come to speak on behalf of any particular

spiritual practice or Hindu philosophy. I have not come on any mission of

publicity for any sect or creed or cause; nor have I come to collect followers

for any doctrine. I have no plans to attract disciples or devotees to my fold

or any fold. I have come to tell you of this universal faith, this divine

consciousness, this path of love, this philosophy of love, this duty of love,

this obligation of love.'

So, Sai Baba we may call a great spiritual teacher for ALL mankind. As Sai Baba

has said above, there no ONE path, only that which empowers the human race with

love. This small place on the web will look at what Sai Baba helps us to

discover ... what it means to be humans following an obligation of love

Sathya Sai Baba, also known as ‘Sai Baba’ or simply ‘Swami’ to millions of

people in the world is revered by many of his followers as a Divine Teacher. He

is revered as Divine because he is seen to exhibit divine characteristics. He is

also revered as a Teacher, as he has come to teach humanity the path to

blessedness, which has been forgotten.

Sathya Sai Baba is the Divine Teacher among Divine Teachers such as Rama,

Krishna, Zoroastra, Jesus, Guru Nanak and the Buddha.

Early Life of Sai Baba

Sathya Sai Baba was born on 23rd of November 1926, in an isolated village called

Puttaparthi, in the State of Andhra Pradesh in India. He was the fourth child of

a humble, hardworking couple and was named Sathya Narayana Raju. In May 1940, at

the age of 14 he disclosed that he was the reincarnation of Sai Baba of Shirdi.

This Sai Baba of Shirdi, although a Brahmin by birth, lived the life of a

Muslim

fakir in the village of Shirdi until 1918.

Sai Baba of Shirdi laid the foundation of Hindu-Muslim unity in northern India

by the example of his life and activities. Before his death he prophesied that

he would be reborn 8 years later. After disclosing that he was the same Shirdi

Sai Baba, he threw down his school books and told that He was leaving as His

devotees were calling for him. Cutting the familial cords of attachment, the

young Sai Baba commenced fostering his devotees.

Sai Baba’s Ashram

In 1945, devotees began the construction of a temple and residential buildings

for an ashram, about a mile away from His village. Sathya Sai Baba named this

ashram, Prashanthi Nilayam. Today thousands of Sai devotees converge at

Prashanthi Nilayam. Sathya Sai Baba has come for mankind and not for any other

particular peoples, faith or interests. His teachings are universal, and not

exclusive toward any one religious or cultural group. Devotees, seekers and

adherents of all faiths, from all nationalities and countries find their way to

Prashanthi Nilayam driven by a quiet conviction that they have to encounter Sai

Baba, attend Darshan, and learn more of Him and His teachings.

The small village of Puttaparthi now has Sathya Sai

'TimesNew Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"> Schools and University, a spiritual museum,

and a Super Specialty Hospital equal to any facility in the world. Sathya Sai

Baba’s hospitals

provide free medical treatment and all the Sathya Sai schools from kindergarten

to Post Graduate provide free education. Sathya Sai Baba has also auspiced and

provided several clean drinking water projects, providing water to in excess of

1000 villages in the state of Andhra Pradesh. A new Super Specialty Hospital was

recently opened in Bangalore.

Sathya Sai Baba says I have come to reconstruct the ancient highway to God”. His

task and mission is to revive the spiritual fervor of humanity through Truth and

Love, whereby mankind will seek to live with love and cooperation instead of

hate and competition. Sathya Sai Baba has come to unite the entire mankind as

one family in the bond of brotherhood.

Human Life - Human Values

Humanity is blessed with the means of creating a lifestyle in accordance with

personal choice. Those choices are governed by values, what is important.

Sathya Sai Baba teaches that humankind, in order to be truly human, ought to be

guided by the transcendent values of Love, Peace, Non-Violence, Right Conduct

and Truth. These values are found in all the major religions of humanity, and

exist in all times and in all places. It is the practice of these values that

make man truly human. Thus, one is able to recognise the Divinity within

oneself and one’s fellow man.

Respect all Religions

Sathya Sai Baba has not come to establish a new religion; neither has He come to

convert people to any one faith. Sathya Sai Baba says “Let the different faiths

exist. Let them flourish. Let the glory of God be sung in all languages and in

a variety of tunes”.

Character and Integrity

Devotion, Discipline, Devotion, Discrimination and Determination are the

character of the truly noble human person. Sathya Sai Baba’s teaches that the

true human following human values always acts with thought, word and deed in

alignment. This makes for a life of peace, truth, love, right conduct and non

violence. This creates good character and integrity, thus ennobling the doer.

Sathya Sai Baba says “Education without character, science without humanity,

politics without principles and commerce without morality are not only useless,

but positively dangerous”. What humanity needs now is examples of good character

and integrity, particularly among the youth of the nation.

Guidelines for Goodness

While Sathya Sai Baba is concerned with the soul of man, He recognizes that man

is a social person as well and has obligations to society. He requires all His

devotees to undertake the code of conduct for their spiritual development and

observe the 10 principles to ensure a fruitful and harmonious life in society.

Sathya Sai Baba is the Omnipresent, Omnipotent and Omniscient One. As such, His

nature is unfathomable. He has this to say of the world: '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

God - and He is Omnipresent.

Spirituality

Spirituality brings up many connotations for different peoples. For some it is

prayer and contemplation; for others it is something you "do", a practical

activity, like going to church or temple. Other people see spirituality as

burning candles and incense, sitting cross-legged and either chanting or

listening to chants. The more silent types may be attracted to spirituality as

a way of life, something you "be". The fruits of prayer, or yoga or meditation

inform and shape their presence in the world. Such people seem more self

assured, happier, and lead simpler lives. There is an indefinable quality in

their lives that touches others. We all like to be with such people.

For others, religion is the keyword that describes their experience. Many may

recall going to church, temple or synagogue as a young person; family is an

important environment for spiritual nurturing. People will recall these

experiences (or lack of) with positive or negative feelings. Many people are

influence or make decisions about religion and spirituality on the impact of

the leaders - prophets, teachers, gurus or priestly leaders. Most religions

have clearly identifiable leaders and there can be positive or negative

perceptions about spirituality and religion based on the words, teachings and

behaviours of the leaders in religion.

For some leaders, spirituality is action, action that helps the doer to see the

basic dignity of the human person, action that connects or reconnects one to

another at the very basic roots of what it means to be human, to be loved, to

be healed of pain and hurt. Such is the spirituality of selfless service.

Just to be clear, Sai Baba tells us that spirituality is essential for

· health of the body

· peace of mind

· bliss of spirit

So these fruits or end - like - verifiable - and - knowable states would be

necessary for any teaching or religious system to be of value to humanity at

large. Sai Baba says that all religions and spiritual teachings are like

pathways up the rocky mountain to God. The different paths urge men to seek

greater control over their lives and lives filled with more spirit. Peace comes

from a sense of connectedness to all. Sai Baba is very broad minded, and

encourages all to express that broadmindedness and listen softly to the story

of all religions.

Moreover, it is not the religion of Sai Baba or the guidelines laid down in any

religion that will save a man or woman from one fate or another. We create the

result we see around us and near-death experience is showing some common

elements for the afterlife. What is needed is a *FIT* between the you and the

teachings of a religion or a spiritual discipline you may choose to follow ...

what works for you, without you having to surrender common sense or your innate

sense of right and wrong.

Sayings of Sai Baba

To enable you to realise the Lord within you as the Prime Motivator is the task

for which I have come in human form. I have come to correct the intelligence by

various means. I have come to reveal to people the worth of the Vedas, the

Scriptures, and other spiritual texts.

A society without values will cease to be human. The more human values are

cherished; the better will be the growth of society, the nation and the world.

We cannot rest content with an education system which is confined to academic

achievement. It has to simultaneously promote human virtues. The main problem

of our education is to adapt the spiritual and cultural traditions we have

inherited from the past, to the needs of daily life today.

I do not appreciate in the least the distinctions between the various

appearances of God. I do not proclaim that this is more important or that is

less important. Continue your worship of your chosen God along the lines

already familiar to you.

I have come to give you the treasure of Bliss; to tell you how to tap that

spring; for you have forgotten the way to blessedness.

My activities or movements will never be altered whoever may pass whatever

opinion on them. Not even the biggest scientist can understand Me by any

laboratory knowledge. I am always full of bliss whatever may happen. Nothing

can ever come in the way of My smile. That is why I am able to impart joy to

you and make your burden lighter.

I never exalt when I am extolled nor shrink when I am reviled. Few people have

realised My purpose and significance. I am the dweller in the temple of every

heart.

"There are four types of persons: the ‘dead’, who deny the Lord and declare that

they alone exist, independent and self-directed: the ‘sick’, who call upon the

Lord when some calamity befalls them or when they feel temporarily deserted by

the unusual source of succor: the ‘dull’, who know that God is the eternal

companion and watchman, but who remember it only off and on when the idea is

potent and powerful: and lastly the ‘healthy’, who have steady belief in the

Lord and who live in His Comforting Creative Presence always".

"That is My path, the path of Prema, along which I shall take you. This I offer

as my visiting card to every one of you when you come to Me. I know your name,

your degrees, your profession, your status and your history. But you do not

know Mine. I have no need to know all about you from perusal of your cards: but

I want you to know something of My glory: and so I give you a glimpse of it, as

a Mahima. But I also give you enough of My Prema so that you can mix a little

of it with whatever you do or feel or think and make it sweet and palatable".

Man in his ignorance finds contentment in separating himself from the rest for

the search of his own happiness, forgetting that he cannot be happy unless all

are happy. He pollutes himself through the cultivation of pride. He uses time

for degrading himself to the bestial level. The thirst of sensual greed can be

prevented by keeping good company and putting into practice the axioms of good

conduct that one can imbibe from it.

The company of good persons shall promote good thoughts. It is good thoughts

that help us to strengthen our will power, which is the basis of acquiring

other qualities, that is, discrimination, determination, intelligence, and

enquiry, but this will power becomes weak due to limitless desires. It is a

great pity that the mind of man is making him sacrifice the good things in life

like the love of God, fear of sin and social morality.

Man by his very nature has a tendency to make an effort to satisfy the desires

that arise within him or which are prompted through senses from without. Very

often these are deleterious. Is there any end to the list of your worldly

desires? When you satisfy one, another starts tantalizing you. If something is

lost or stolen from you, you lose faith in Me. I have not come to guard your

jewels and your valuables. I have come to guard your virtues and character, and

guide you to the Goal.

I am engaged in the task for which I have come. I shall not stop. I am full of

bliss. Many hesitate to believe that things will improve, that life will be

happy for all and the Golden Age will return. Let me assure you that This

Divine Body has not come in vain. It will succeed in averting the crisis that

has come upon humanity.'

The relationship between the individual and society has to be rightly

understood. Why should the individual serve others? What claims has society on

the individual? When we examine these issues, we realize that the individual

can find fulfillment only in society. Born in society, growing up in society,

living in society, man's life too ends in society. Man cannot exist for a

moment away from society. In the word samaajam (society), "sam" represents

unity, "aa" means going towards. Samaajam means marching forward in a united

manner

"You must have noticed that I do not speak about Sai in My Discourses, nor do I

sing of Sai during the Bhajan with which I usually conclude My discourses. And

you must have wondered why. Let me tell you the reason. I do not want the

impression to gain ground that I desire this name and this Form to be

publicized. I have not come to set a new cult. I do not want the people to be

misled on this point. I affirm that this Sai form is the Form of all the

Various Names that man uses for the adoration of the Divine. So, I am teaching

that no distinction should be made between the names Rama, Krishna, Iswara, and

Sai, for they are all My Names".

There is no benefit accrues without adherence to proper discipline. Everything

should be within certain limits. Our body is the best example for this. If the

body temperature crosses the limit of 98.4 degrees Fahrenheit, fever sets in.

120/80 is the perfect blood pressure, crossing which the body will be subjected

to ill-health. Even the eyes can see light only up to a particular level of

intensity. The retina of the eye will get burnt if you try to see excessive

light. Thus, God has set certain limits to everything in His creation. So, man

should keep a check over his desires. Otherwise, he will be put to danger. Only

when man leads a regulated life, can he enjoy health and happiness.

The earth is a caravanserai where men come and stay for the night and when dawn

breaks they tramp their different ways. Kith and kin are the words we use for

the attachment to the travelers cultivated in the caravanserai during the short

term of acquaintance. Husband and wife are like two pieces of wood drifting down

a flooded river; they float near each other for some time and when current comes

between, they are parted; each must move on to the sea at its own rate and in

its own time. There is no need to grieve over the parting of the two.

A discourse of Sai Baba

Sai Baba gives discourses on festival days, such as New Year Day, several Indian

New Year days (different from January 1st) and on other religious festivals,

such as Christmas, and important Indian religious festivals. Sai Baba speaks

about aspects of human life that will lead the human to the knowledge and

experience of the Divine within. This is the main purpose of all his

discourses. Below is an annotated discourse, given in 1999.

Song

Sai Baba frequently begins his discourses with songs. These songs, sung in

either Baba's mother tongue, Telugu, or in Sanskrit (the language of the

ancient Indian sages) pronounce eternal truths and wisdom. Note the song

hereunder:

Life without love is like an electric wire without power supply, a field without

water, a temple without a God and a school without teacher.

Speech is the cause of prosperity

Speech is the cause of friendship

Speech is the cause of bondage

And speech may even cause death.

(Sanskrit Verse)

The Power of Speech

In this world, speech carries more value than money. In ancient times, people

used to give immense value to speech. With the help of speech they were able to

become rich and prosperous; they could even win kingdoms. Man becomes virtuous

only when his speech is good; he becomes evil when his speech is bad. Speech

promotes friendship. It also brings about differences between friends. Speech

promotes affinity among relatives. It also creates discord. The effects of

speech are not confined to passing worldly matters only; speech also affects

our spiritual progress. Speech may even cause death. Too, speech can save one's

life. Sweet speech brings you name and fame.

As man today has lost his pleasant speech and sweet temper, he is subjected to

innumerable ordeals and sufferings. That is why I tell the students now and

then, you cannot always oblige but you can speak always obligingly. When the

speech is good, man becomes a hero. But, man will become a zero if the speech

is not good. Who is a hero? God is the only hero and the world is a zero. So,

you should make friendship with that hero. The eternal nature of the Divine

Love, which is blemishless, selfless and pure, this divine love alone stands

the test of true friendship. When you enjoy the proximity of such a friend, you

will be free from fear even in the face of insurmountable difficulties. Lack of

faith is the cause of fear in man. So, cultivating faith in the Divine is the

foremost task of man. Endowed with such faith, one can achieve

success in every kind of task.

Sai Baba then sings a song about the failure of humanity to understand the power

of speech, and the resulting loss of peace.

What is the root cause of disturbance and restlessness in the world? Due to

their ignorance, people have lost fear of sin and love for God, resulting in

the depravity of human nature. What a blow to the cause of peace in the world!

(Telugu Poem)

Seek Love Within

Man today has made giant strides in all fields. But, the progress he has

registered can be compared to an electric wire without current since he does

not possess human values. Love of God has infinite power. Here is an example.

People are coming here from far off places in India and from different

countries spending a lot of money and time. Why do they gather here? What is

the reason? They find something here which they do not find in their family

members, in friends, in relatives, in the society they live in and also in

their countries. If they were able to find it in themselves or in their

societies or in

their countries, they would have never come here. What do they find here? You

find love here. For the sake of experiencing Divine Love, you all embark on

long and arduous journeys. But, if you make a thorough observation and

investigation into the matter, you will be able to know that love is present

within you only. In the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna declared: "The eternal Atma

in every human being is a part of My Being".

Hence, the Divine Love is present in every individual. But, human beings, unable

to realize the truth that love is present within himself, thinks that it is

something separate or different from him, and undertakes long journeys

searching for love. Know that the Divine is not different from you - That

omnipresent essence which is God has His hands, feet, eyes and mouth

everywhere.

To have a vision of God, who is omnipresent, you have to make certain enquiries.

The Vedas proclaim That omnipresent essence which is God (Brahman) is

all-pervasive. The Divine is immanent in every being. Man should cultivate good

qualities if he wants to realize the truth of these statements. Without such

qualities, man cannot realize even a fraction of the truth of the statement

verily all this is Brahman. By means of good qualities only one can recognize

the Divine who is omnipresent. Cultivating good qualities is the basic tenet of

devotion.

Cultivation of virtues, right attitude, and adherence to truth, discipline and

sense of duty are the signs of devotion. Only those who develop these qualities

can be called devotees.

Our foremost task is to cultivate good qualities. The Sanskrit word "Sath"

stands for eternity, which is called "Being". We should acquire the qualities

of "Being". What are these qualities? They are attributelessness, purity,

steadfastness and enlightenment. It is not an easy task to acquire all these

qualities. However, there is one way out. As all the virtues are embedded in

pure, selfless and divine love, if you develop love, all the virtues will

manifest in you. The true nature of love should be cultivated to experience the

Divinity latent in you.

Who am I?

Several ways were taught in the Hindu Scriptures to clarify one question - "Who

am I?" What is its inner significance? The "I" is all-pervasive. Question

yourself, "Who am I?" A doubt may also arise as to why I should try to know

"Who am I" when there are so many other things of interest in this age of

information. If you find out an answer to this question, you will be able to

realize not only your true nature, your true identity, but also the true

identity of the millions of people in the world. You will be able to recognize

the true nature of every individual.

Whenever you come across a stranger you ask him, "Who are you?" and waste your

time. Instead, question yourself, "Who am I?" By finding out the answer to this

question you will be able to very easily find out who he is, as the true nature

of every human being is one and the same. Every human being refers to himself

as "I". The word "I" is applicable to every individual. If you understand this

one word "I", you can understand the real nature of every being in the world.

Here is an example. Look at these bulbs and tube lights. Their colours, wattage

and shapes are different. You know that the electric current that flows through

these different bulbs is one and the same. The ancient scriptures teach, "Truth

is one, but scholars refer to it by many names". Likewise, forms are different,

names are different, but the divine vibration is one and the same. So, there is

only One without a second. That is Divinity. If you recognize Divinity, you

will be able to understand the nature of the Self immanent in all individual

beings. Everything has emanated from the Divine.

Here is an example. First you were alone. Later you got married. Before marriage

you had only two legs and you enjoyed greater freedom. You could go wherever you

wanted to go. After marriage, you acquired two more legs and your movements were

restricted, as you did not feel like leaving your wife alone at home. This is

bondage. Your wish to have a son might be fulfilled after two years. With the

arrival of the son, you added two more legs. Your movements were further

impeded. With the passage of time, you might feel bad for not having a baby

girl though you had a son who could uplift your family and bring name and fame.

Two more legs were added with the birth of a daughter. The greater the number of

legs, the lesser the freedom would be. You would give away your daughter in

marriage. Members of the bridegroom's family would become

your relatives. With the arrival of the daughter-in-law, the members of her

family too would become your relatives. In this manner one becomes many. Here

oneness is the cause of multitudinous. If you realize this truth, the

scriptural axiom one Brahman multiplies itself into many can be understood

easily. To realize this oneness as the unifying force of the multitudinous is

the summum bonum of the Indian Culture. But, man today is not thinking on these

lines. He is dividing oneness into many. He is carried away by attachments at

physical level and is fully immersed in worldly relations like son-in-law,

daughter-in-law, grandson and the like. This attachment leads to bondage, if he

realizes the truth that the nature of the Self is one and the same in every

being, there will be no suffering.

Cultivate Purity and Divinity

The world is like a cinema and the Atma is the screen. The different projections

that appear on the screen are transient, whereas the screen remains as it is.

That is why Hindu Scripture proclaims "Brahman is Truth, the world is an

illusion". The pictures in the form of projections on the screen come and go,

but the screen does not change. Let us analyze this from the standpoint of the

scriptural statement "the entire universe is Brahman". When the pictures appear

on the screen, it become invisible. Where does it go? It is there within the

picture, but it is invisible. But, without the screen you cannot see the

pictures.

Observation reveals the fact that the screen is not at all affected either by

the innumerable visuals or by the sound effects. The fire that appears on the

screen does not burn it. A tempest appears, it may even uproot the trees. The

screen depicts the scenes, but it is not affected by them. Sometimes, we see

floods on the screen. Rivers like the Ganga, the Yamuna and the Godavari may

overflow. But, the screen is not drenched. What is the reason? Floods,

earthquakes and tempest that appear on the screen are not real and so the screen

is not affected by them. It remains as a witness. Your heart is a big screen,

which is changeless. On the screen of the heart, you see sufferings, happiness

and ordeals. All these are transient scenes like passing clouds. None of the

scenes is permanent. Only the screen of your heart is permanent. That is

Divine. It is also called conscience which is the eternal truth.

The conscious perception of what is going around and the people we come across

through bodily senses and mental powers is transient. Conscience is within. It

vibrates throughout the body, whereas conscious perception is associated with

the senses. Where do these two, conscience and conscious perception, come from?

Both have their origin in all pervading universal consciousness. Where do you

find consciousness? It is not confined to one place. It is infinite, immutable,

invisible and all-pervasive. First, you should understand this consciousness.

You can then attempt to merge it with Divine Consciousness. This merger leads

to bliss and liberation.

What should we do to attain this? Air is everywhere. It is invisible and we

cannot catch it. But nobody has got any right to deny its existence. It is our

life force. So, it does exist and it is all pervasive. In your body this air is

in a limited quantity. If you inflate a balloon, the air, which is all

pervasive, enters the balloon. But, the quantity is limited. If you tie the

balloon securely with a string, the air in it cannot merge with the air

outside. What is the reason? It has a limitation as it is encased in a balloon.

What should be done to overcome the limitation? The encasement should be

destroyed. How? Pump more and more air into the balloon till it bursts. Then

the limited air in the balloon will get merged with the infinite air outside.

Likewise, the body, which is only a vesture of the divine, is the cause of

bondage.

In the body also, there is the air of divinity. But, it is limited and bound. If

you cultivate purity and divinity more and more, attachment to the body gets

destroyed, which will lead to liberation.

The body is composed of the five elements. It is subject to change and death. It

is stated that life span of man is a hundred years but do not trust these words.

It may drop away in childhood or in youth or in the middle age or in old age. It

may fall away, Oh man, in a village or in a forest or in the midst of waters.

The body is full of filth and is subject to all sorts of afflictions and

diseases. It is bound by the cycle of birth and death. It cannot cross the

ocean of life. Oh mind! Believe not that it will exist forever. Take refuge at

the feet of the Lord. (Telugu Poem)

Rise above Earthly Joys

For the sake of physical gratification, you undergo many ordeals from dawn to

dusk. What do you gain out of it? You are able to experience ephemeral

pleasures only. But, you should realize the truth that eternal bliss is within

you. You should strive to experience that bliss.

God is not different from you. He is not confined to places like temples,

mosques and churches. He is omnipresent. He is the resident of your heart. The

body is the temple of God. So, you should strengthen the feelings of love

within you. You do develop love, but it is based on bodily relationship. You

love your son, your father and your mother. You identify yourself with the

body, so you direct your love towards those with

whom you have a relationship with at the physical level. You are not able to

manifest the kind of love which is beyond name and form. Love has no form. It

does not differentiate between young and old or man and woman. Love is love. It

cannot be compared to anything else. Love is the very form of the Divine. Love

is God. Live in love. How do you do this?

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.

You can cultivate love in several ways. But, you should not limit it to the

bodily needs and your relations. However, as long as you live in the world, you

do need the warmth of relationship. You can wish for the welfare and progress of

someone else. You can also share his or her happiness. But, all these feelings

are limited to the physical relationship, which is transient.

The human being has both the head and the heart. Whatever comes from the head is

related to the worldly affairs only. Reading, writing, walking, feelings of pain

and pleasure belong to the head. These are all ephemeral. Eternal values like

truth, love, patience and compassion emanate from the heart. What comes from

the head is worldly and ephemeral. What comes from the heart is transcendental

and eternal. That which comes from the heart leads to the inward path. But, all

that comes from the head leads to the outward path. The head carries

responsibility, whereas the heart is bestowed with right. Whatever is done by

the head is temporary. You feel hungry. You go to the canteen and eat a meal to

satiate your hunger. But, after two hours you feel hungry again. It is cyclic in

nature. You feel hungry, you eat something, the food gets

digested and again you feel hungry. This can be compared to the cycle of birth

and death. An ancient sage by name of Sankaracharya sang:

The cycle of birth and death is repetitive. World is an ocean of woes; win the

grace of God and transcend it. Oh fool! Chant the Lord's name instead of

memorizing the rudiments of grammar. Grammar would not come to your help at the

time of death (Sanskrit Verse)

The three States of Consciousness

As long as you are awake, you aspire for many things and indulge in many

activities. You are also subject to manifold experiences. But, you forget

everything while sleeping. The state of sleep can be compared to a short death

and death can be compared to a long sleep. It is not easy to understand the

true meaning of birth and death. You forget in the sleep state what you

experienced during the day. So, the sleep state can be considered as a short

death. Similarly, the waking state can be considered as long life. However, the

waking state and the sleep state are temporary. But, in both the states

witness-consciousness exists, which experiences everything.

Here is an example. During the waking state you move around with the help of the

body, listen to many things and experience happiness. When questioned, you claim

that it is you who is experiencing all this. But, in the dream state, who is

experiencing the dream? It is you only. In the deep sleep state, you forget

everything and enjoy bliss. Here, who is experiencing bliss? Again, it is you

only. So, in all these three states - waking, dream and deep sleep you do exist

and it is you who experience everything. Truth is changeless in all the three

periods of time. You remain the same in all the three states. So, you are the

very form of Truth.

Live in the Present

Embodiments of Love!

Time undergoes change. Waking, dream and deep sleep states are subject to

change. Matter, worldly things and bodies are composed of the five elements

which undergo change. Mind, intellect, feelings and senses also undergo change.

The senses are afflicted with various diseases. So, they are all transient. But

you are permanent and you experience everything. Do not brood over the past.

Past is past, forget it. The future is not certain. It is beyond your

perception. So, live in the present as it is permanent. It is not ordinary

present; it is omnipresent. How? Past is in the present as the present is the

result of past actions. Future is also in the present as it depends on the

present actions. So, you should pay attention only to the present.

Instead of giving importance to the ephemeral pleasures, you should follow the

right path. That is all you are supposed to do now. But, you are not doing what

you are supposed to do. You simply brood over the past and worry about the

future. In this way, you ignore the present. As a result, you are subjected to

suffering. Why should you not derive happiness from the present state of

affairs? Brooding over the past and worrying about the future are the main

causes of man's suffering. Why do you think about the past? You walked that

path consciously. Then why do you look back? Be happy in the present. That is

all you should aspire for. You may face many ordeals. But, do not pay too much

attention to them. Lead your life happily till the end.

Man yearns for happiness in every act, in every kind of experience. He pines for

happiness. All his actions are aimed at deriving happiness. Whether he does

business or work in an office, his aim is to derive happiness. But does he find

it? No. It is a temporary phase only as it is worldly happiness. He may be happy

for a while, but permanent happiness is attained only by contemplation on God.

So, contemplate on the Divine. You must understand that the final product

depends upon the original material. From clay you can make a doll of clay. Is

it possible to make a doll of gold from clay? Your bodies are composed of the

five elements. They survive on food. You may prepare a several course meal.

But, you should eat it before it gets stale. If you waste time, the food may

decay and become unfit for consumption. Likewise, you should

experience the eternal divine bliss at the right time before the body decays and

becomes decrepit. This is the task of the human beings today. You try to

experience many things. Instead, experience the divine bliss which is within

you. That is the supreme bliss.

It is the very form of supreme wisdom. It is one without a second. It is

expansive and pervasive like the sky. It is eternal, pure and changeless. It

stands as a witness of everything. (Sanskrit Verse)

Cultivate Divine Love

Look at those glowing lights. In this assembly, some persons are listening to My

discourse, some are moving away and some are sleeping. Different people are

doing different types of work. The light stands as a witness. It is not

affected by your sleep. It is not affected by your movements. It is not

affected even though you do not listen to My discourse. It simply remains as a

witness. Divinity like light is the witness of everything. Its effulgence

illuminates everything else. Where does it exist? We find peace within unrest.

In the depth of the peace there exists supreme splendor. In this supreme

splendor one can experience Divine Effulgence. This Divine Effulgence in the

form of the light of the Atma is within you. That is the light of non duality

and eternity. That is the light of immortality. That is the light of the Self.

As

you possess that light within yourselves, why should you be afraid of anything

else? Why should you worry? Be happy. Where is happiness? How do you experience

it? Union with God is happiness.

You should realize that love is the form of God. As long as Divinity, in the

form of love, exists within you, unrest cannot reach you. But, these days’

people are subjecting themselves to unrest and unhappiness by misinterpreting

the nature of love and by attributing to it certain impure feelings. It is a

blunder. Know that the Divine Love is unsullied, selfless and pure. Without any

hesitation you should try to acquire that love. You should strive to possess

this.

The world today is full of misery. There is no place without fear and grief.

People are afraid of traveling by air, by trains or by cars, as they are wary

of evil elements. Even walking has become unsafe. People are not happy at home

also as they are haunted by numerous fears. They are terribly fear-stricken.

What is the reason? They are unable to bear difficulties and ordeals. But,

think who is facing ordeals? Who is undergoing suffering? It is the body only,

which is the composition of the five elements. Reduce attachment to the body.

Then you will experience eternal bliss. Reducing body attachment and increasing

attachment to the Self is the true meaning of devotion. Attachment to body leads

to the outward path, while attachment to the Self leads to the inward path. The

combination of these is human life.

Strengthen love, saturate your lives with love and live in that Divine Love.

Sai Baba's Principles

Sai Baba has started an Organisation called the Sathya Sai Organisation. It has

Centers in 134 countries all over the planet. That Organisation is purely for

the upliftment of humanity through several common activities - spiritual

education of children and youth in Human Values, common devotional singing, and

selfless service in common to our fellow man.

The principle objectives of The Sai Organisation are:

1. To help the individual -:

· To be aware of the Divinity which is inherent in him and

to conduct himself accordingly?

· To translate into practice in daily life divine love and

perfection and, therefore,

· To fill one’s life with joy, harmony, beauty, grace, human

excellence and lasting happiness.

2. To ensure that all human relations are governed by the principles of Truth,

Right Conduct, Love, Peace and Non-violence.

3. To make devotees of any religion more sincere and dedicated in the practice

of their respective religion by understanding properly the true spirit of that

religion.

These objectives are to be obtained in the following manner-:

1. By observing the four principles laid down by Sai Baba, namely -

a) There is only ONE religion, the religion of love. b) There is only ONE caste,

the caste of humanity. c) There is only ONE language, the language of love. d)

There is only ONE God and that God is omnipresent.

2. By constant remembrance of God and looking upon all beings as only a

manifestation of Divinity in different forms and shapes.

3. By underlining the essential unity of all religions and securing proper

understanding of all religions as being based on Love.

4. By looking upon all work as service dedicated to the Divine.

5. By bringing to bear upon all of life’s problems attitudes flowing from Divine

Love, such as understanding, compassion, tolerance, helpfulness etc.

6. By basing all actions on love of Divinity, fear of sin and steadfast

observance of morality in society.

7. By engaging in spiritual, educational and service activities, both at the

individual and the community level, in an organized and systematic manner,

without expecting any material reward or appreciation, but solely as a means of

winning God’s Love and Grace.

THE NINE POINTS OF THE CODE OF CONDUCT

1. Daily meditation and prayer.

2. Devotional singing/prayer with family members once a week.

3. Participation in Sathya Sai Spiritual Education programs organised by the

Centre for children of Sai devotees.

4. Participation in community work and other programs of the Organisation.

5. Attendance at least once a month at group devotional singing organised by the Centre.

6. Regular study of Sai literature.

7. Speak softly and lovingly to everyone.

8. Not to talk ill of others, especially in their absence.

9. To put into practice "ceiling on desires" and to utilise savings thus

generated for service to mankind.

"The Sai Organisations have been enjoined to carry out a programme of ceiling on

desires. Everyone should try to control desires as much as possible. The

promotion of human values is another item in the programme. These human values

are inherent in every person. All that is needed is, for everyone to manifest

them in his daily life. Truth, Righteousness and Peace are all in you. You are

embodiments of Truth, Peace, Love and God. Recognise this fact."

THE TEN PRINCIPLES

"Rules are necessary until the members realise the spiritual unity of all. When

they become incapable of inflicting harm or transgressing the moral code, rules

become superfluous." Sai Baba

1. Treat as sacred, the land in which you were born. Have patriotism to your

nation - but do not criticise other nations or put others down. Not even in

your thoughts or dreams should you think of bringing grief to your country.

2. Respect all religions equally.

3. Recognise the brotherhood of man and treat all as brother. Love all.

4. Keep your house and surroundings clean for this will promote hygiene and

health and help you.5. Practice charity, but do not encourage beggars by giving

money. Provide them with food, clothing and shelter. Help them in other ways but

do not encourage laziness.

6. Never give a bribe or take a bribe. Do not yield to corruption.

7. Curb envy and jealousy; expand your vision and outlook; treat all equally

regardless of caste and creed.

8. Do as much as possible by yourself though wealthy and having servants. Do

service to society in person.

9. Have and cultivate love for God and fear sin. Abhor sin.

10. Never go against the law of the land. Follow these diligently both in word and in spirit.

Ashrams

Sai Baba has three main ashrams, and himself visits some other places in India.

The ashrams are located at

· Puttaparthi,

· Whitefield, (sometimes called Brindavan), and

· Kodaikanal

Generally, Sai Baba can be found at the Puttaparthi Ashram. This is in South

India, approximately three hours drive from Bangalore.

During the hot summer in Puttaparthi area, Sai Baba generally departs

Puttaparthi for Bangalore, where there is an ashram located in Whitefield, some

27 kilometers out of the city of Bangalore.

Occasionally, Sai Baba visits a small ashram located in the hill resort town of

Kodaikanal, which is somewhat further south of Bangalore in the adjoining state

of Tamil Nadu.

Travel to India

Air

Generally, visitors to Sai Baba fly to India, arriving in either Mumbai (Bombay)

or Bangalore. If visitors fly to Mumbai, then a connecting flight to Bangalore

is needed.

There is a weekly flight to Puttaparthi which travels Mumbai - Puttaparthi -

Chennai and returns in the opposite direction the next day. Have your travel

agent contact Indian Airlines for details. There is a courtesy bus at the

Puttaparthi Airport which will take you directly to the Ashram accommodation

office.

Visas

You must have a valid visa to enter India. Tourist visas are available from your

Indian Consulate for a moderate cost and a validity of 6 months. The Indian

Consulate checks visas and it takes time, so it is best to allow between 7 to

10 working days in ANY country for visas.

Healthy Suggestions

See your doctor about your health needs. You will most likely need to attend to

mosquitoes (so consider anti malarial tablets). Most roll ones work well with

the mosquitoes. You would be well advised to discuss Hepatitis and Tetanus with

your doctor.

Eat only in clean, recommended places. This means, eat in the Ashram Canteens

(Whitefield and Puttaparthi both have canteens dedicated to both Indian and

Western food, vegetarian food. Do not drink anything that is not in a sealed

bottle, or sealed can. Tap water is for washing the body and clothes only,

rinse your mouth after brushing teeth with your bottled water. Do not travel

without a bottle of water at your side. These are cheap and an absolute

necessity. Refill bottles only at the water stations in the ashrams, and throw

the bottle away after about three or four refills, bacteria will form naturally

in any bottle after a period of time.

If you have cracked heels or toes, take precaution and begin a treatment before

leaving to seal those cracks up. You will spend quite some time in bare feet in

the ashrams, and its always better to have healthy feet.

Clothing

India's climate is warm. Fly in loose comfortable clothing and take a walk

around the aircraft two or three times to keep the thrombosis at away.

On arrival at India, have light, cotton clothing to wear. Light shoes or

sandals. You can obtain clothes for a very good price in the ashram and outside

the ashram. Thick winter pyjamas are not needed, only light sleepwear. It is

better to buy clothing when you arrive in India (as it costs so much less), or

ask another devotee to loan you clothes to get you to your first Darshan; after

that, you can purchase your own and return the loaned clothes. Clothing is

available in both ashrams (Puttaparthi has a four storey supermarket!) and from

the clothing stores outside the ashrams.

Money

If you change money in India, you will receive what is called an Encashment

Certificate. To get one of these, you change money at the airport, and produce

your passport. When you leave the country, and you want to change the Indian

Rupees back to your own currency, you need an encashment certificate to change

that money back. You will most likely receive encashment certificates from any

forex (foreign exchange) dealer you attend.

A simpler solution is to obtain some rupees before you arrive in India. You can

also use ATM's in India and use your credit card in most banks.

Flying to visit Sai Baba - What you need to take with you

Surprisingly, some people overlook the obvious.

You will need, among other things:

1. A bottle of water to drink after you get off the aircraft and before you

reach your accommodation

2. Some Indian money and small notes at that. Get this at the Foreign Exchange

desk at your home airport before you leave. What if you have to pay for a bus

or taxi journey? Or worse, buy a bottle of water for 14 rupees?

3. A valid visa. Don't try entering without one.

Keeping Fit on the Aircraft

Again, some overlook the obvious. You do not have to practice herd mentality on

an aircraft. Your body belongs to you; you should take care of it.

· If Cabin Calistentics or Airborne Aerobics are shown on the video, especially

after a meal, do them. Rotate your ankles, wiggle your shoulders, and make

circles with your wrists. Keeps that blood moving around.

· Go for hourly walks up and down the aisle.

· Feet swell on flights. Take your footwear off and ensure you wiggle those

feet around. Do not take tight fitting footwear as you may not be able to put

them on when the flight ends.

· Some airlines now leave soft drink, fruit juice and ice and water jugs in the

galley for passengers to help themselves to. Get up and look for it.

· Do not over-eat and take it easy on the alcohol and bread. These make you

feel sluggish and induce drowsiness.

· If you are asleep and a meal is offered to you at night, don't take it. Go

back to sleep, your stomach and body are in cleansing cycle, purifying the body

of the day's toxins.

· Deep Vein Thrombisis is not a joke. We know some people who have traveled to

Sai Baba and have contracted this condition. Take every step to keep yourself

agile and reasonably limber.

Airline Vegetarian Meals

You can order meals of your preference when you book your ticket. Most airlines

cater for specific religious and vegetarian diets, particularly those that fly

in and out of the Near East, and Asia. Most flights that originate from India

or terminate in India will have Indian meals, either Veg, or Non-Veg, as it is

called in India.

The information below is offered for your interest. Generally, you should ring

and book your meals 48 hours before departure. Alternatively, you can specify

this at ticketing, and follow up by checking the meal allocation at the Airline

Check-in counter; they can tell you if a special meal has been ordered for you.

If it is missing, at least you can have a try to get them to make an

arrangement for you.

General Notes

· Vegetarian meals in Business Class are reputed to be of better quality than

the meals offered in Economy or Thrift Class

· Most of the larger airlines also offer fruit platters. If you are doing

several hops on one airline and order vegetarian on all of them, it is possible

to get the same meal several times in one day.

· If you are in this situation, a suggestion would be to order

· one vegetarian meal, (VGML)

· one fruit platter meal (FPML) and

· either RAW or ASIAN Vegetarian Meals available (RVML)(AVML)

In-Flight Meals:

Meals are divided into

1. Main Meal

2. Cold Meal

3. Hot Breakfast

4. Snack Meal

5. Afternoon Tea

AIRLINE VEGETARIAN MEAL CODES

An additional note on the characteristics of vegetarians (from Canadian

Airlines): "Some vegetarians also incorporate restrictions on other foods and

beverages such as alcohol/caffinated beverages, highly processed foods and

foods that are grown or processed nonorganically or with certain additives or

preservatives."

Sleeping on board

· Many people find it difficult to sleep during a flight. That’s why many also

take sleeping tablets or tranquilizers. But that is not recommended because

they interfere with the body’s biological rhythm in an unnatural way and also

make it difficult to adjust to a different time zone at the destination.

· Instead, passengers should try to create conditions that help them fall

asleep. Here are a few tips for a relaxed and healthy sleep:

· Take a cushion with you to prevent cramp in your shoulders and neck. These

can be purchased at most airports before departure.

· A sleeping mask protects your eyes from bright light. Some airlines give this

out in First and Business class.

· Put a cushion behind your back – that relieves the intervertebral discs and

prevents back pain.

· Ask a flight attendant to give you a blanket before you go to sleep so that

the air-conditioning won’t make you feel cold and disturb your pleasant dreams.

 

· Because feet swell on flights, we recommend that you remove your shoes and

put on a pair of thick, warm socks. Again, some airlines supply you with socks

to wear.

· To help you sleep, listen to the in-flight radio program on low volume. Soft

music has a relaxing effect and helps you drop off gently.

Sai Baba's Ashram at Puttaparthi is called Prashanthi Nilayam.

Prashanthi Nilayam means "the abode of Highest Peace".

This is a very big ashram with the capacity to house thousands.

Here we will give you an overview of visiting Sai Baba, and some important

information to get you well prepared!

Puttaparthi is located in South India, in the state of Andhra Pradesh. The

ashram is approximately three hours drive from Bangalore.

Travel to Puttaparthi

Air

International flights land in either Mumbai (Bombay), Chennai (Madras) or Bangalore.

There is a weekly flight Mumbai to Puttaparthi which travels Mumbai -

Puttaparthi - Chennai and returns in the opposite direction the next day. Have

your travel agent contact Indian Airlines for details. There is a courtesy bus

at the Puttaparthi Airport which will take you directly to the Ashram

accommodation office.

Terminal Building, Sathya Sai Airport

Indian Airlines and Jet Airways both have regular flights from Mumbai to

Bangalore, and Chennai to Bangalore. These can be booked at the same time as

your International ticket.

Puttaparthi Railway Station

Trains ply regularly between Bangalore City and Puttaparthi. The railway

station, with four platforms, is called Sri Sathya Sai Prashanthi Nilayam, and

is host to as many as 18 trains per day in each direction. Buses and rickshaws

meet every train to convey devotees to the Ashram, some 5 kilometers away.

During festival times, additional services to Prashanthi Nilayam station are

added. You can check out the Southern Railway

website for further information

Bus

Buses ply daily from Bangalore to Puttaparthi. Luxury buses, Andhra Pradesh

Buses, and Karnataka State Buses also ply daily to Puttaparthi. There is also a

daily bus at 1PM outside the entrance to Whitefield Ashram, which goes to and

from Puttaparthi.

Taxi

FaresBangalore-Whitefield 250 rupees - Airport PickupBangalore-Puttaparthi 1200

rupees (more for a/c taxi)

ACCOMMODATION

Ashram

Sai Baba provides low cost accommodation to those who visit his ashram. Rooms

are available for Married couples, and those traveling alone or in a group are

allocated rooms in one of the many accommodation blocks. All rooms have shower,

toilet and vanity. Dhobi's (washer-men and women) visit each accommodation block

morning and afternoon to collect and return washing. Seva Dal provide security

and there are watchmen allocated to every accommodation block in the Ashram.

Accommodation outside the Ashram

There are many hotels outside the ashram, in the village. Comparable to

three-four-five star hotel accommodations are available, along with guest

houses and other accommodation rooms. As far the guest houses are concerned, if

you are arriving at festival days and accommodations is full in the ashram, or

simply want to live on your own without sharing rooms, you can go hotel

hunting. Rates vary according to season, and you should bargain intensely as

rates are very exaggerated and overpriced for the quality of the room. You

should start your offering at Rs. 75-100 per night unless the place is more

simple and small without running water.

Shopping

The ashram supermarket caters for all needs, from clothing to photographs, audio

cd's to Darshan clothing. It is open in the mornings for ladies (9 to 11 AM) and

gents can go from 5PM - 7PM each evening.

The ashram has a superb bookstore with books available in many languages. Also

sold are multimedia cd's, audio cd's, photographs, and tapes. Temporary

bookstalls are put into operation during festival times.

Fresh fruit and vegetables, bakery goods, water, cold drinks, ice creams can be

obtained at the new complexes near the shopping centre.

Food

Puttaparthi Ashram has three canteens, South Indian, North Indian, and Western

Canteen. All canteens are set up to serve large numbers of devotees quickly,

and on festivals, additional temporary canteens are also provided. Meals range

in cost from Rs 7 (South Indian) to Rs 30 (Western Canteen). All meals are

vegetarian. Ladies and Gents eat separately.

Money

Money can be encashed at the State Bank of India, (branch inside the Ashram) and

most other banks in Puttaparthi. Many banks will also allow you to use credit

cards to make withdrawals, and some ATM's are available in Gopuram Road.

Visiting Sai Baba at Whitefield

Whitefield is on the outskirts of Bangalore, and is home to the ITPL, the International Technology

10pt">Park, where most of the innovative computer companies are located.

Here we will give you an overview of visiting Sai Baba, and some important

information to get you well prepared!

Where and When

Generally, Sai Baba can be found at the Puttaparthi Ashram. This is in South

India, approximately three hours drive from Bangalore.

During the hot summer in Puttaparthi area, Sai Baba generally departs

Puttaparthi for Bangalore, where there is an ashram which was formerly the

British Governor's residence. This has since been replaced by a new building

called Trayee Brindavan.

Travel to Whitefield

Planes fly to Bangalore, which is an International airport, and has Customs and

Immigration facilities. This airport is quite close to Sai Baba's ashram, and

in fact, the ashram is on the same main road the airport is on! HOWEVER, in two

years, approximately 2006, a new airport will be opened at Muddenahalli, which

is located approximately one hour from Whitefield Ashram, and about two hours

from the Puttaparthi Ashram.

Travel

Trains stop outside the ashram. The station is called Whitefield. There, you

have a 5 minute walk to the ashram.

Buses ply between the Bangalore city and the ashram. Bus travel takes

approximately one hour. Fare is Rs .100

Taxis are available from the airport to Whitefield.

Bangalore Taxi Pickup

You can arrange a pre-paid a taxi to meet you at Bangalore airport.

Late Arrival

All the taxi drivers will wave a printed government card at you which says the

fare after 10 pm is Rs750/

It is best to either pre-book or use the Government Taxi Service, as the exit to

the airport is usually congested with taxi drivers who want to take your luggage

and drive you. They will almost always ask you to pay the Rs 5/ parking fee to

leave the airport car park. You can stick up for yourself and tell the driver

YOU did not park the car in the airport, if you feel so inclined. We generally

carry a bit if Indian money and hand over 5 rupees.

If your flight arrives at night, particularly after midnight, you would be well

advised to take one of two options:

Go to the Government Tourist Bureau on the left, on the way out, after you

collect baggage at Bangalore Airport. Tell them you are going to Sathya Sai

Baba and they will give you a taxi with a set fare, to a specified hotel, and

you will be bedded for the night. The Government Travel Bureau can make all

these arrangements for you.

Or, you may ask the Government Tourist Bureau to allocate you a taxi to take you

to Whitefield to an accommodation you have already arranged, and travel directly

to that Hotel at Whitefield. You will pay the taxi driver what is on the slip

and there will be no difficulties over fare.

Accommodation

You can obtain accommodation at the ashram. You may do this by going directly to

the ashram accommodation office, called Gokulam, some 500 meters down the road

past the Brindavan Ashram. Go in the entrance and turn left to the

accommodation office. They will advise you of available accommodations. It is

not costly, and there is also a canteen at that Gokulam residential

accommodation

Whitefield Environment

Whitefield is all flat; there is no need for stairs, steps except at your accommodation.

At Whitefield, the weather is dry and hot, approx 26-35 each day. Light summer

clothes only, and light ashram whites are appropriate. Perhaps a shawl for the

occasional chilly morning. You can obtain a good shawl opposite the ashram for

about 250 rupees. You can obtain white Punjabi suits and other ashram whites

from the shops across the road from the ashram, go one block back from the main

road and you will find all the clothing shops. Ladies wear is also available.

Occasionally, it will rain at Whitefield. Rain in India is sudden, fast and

heavy. Water runs everywhere, and puddles form quick where you usually walk. A

foldable plastic Macintosh and a collapsible trolley are suggested.

Ashram Routine

At Whitefield, Darshan is anytime between 7 AM and 8 AM

Queue on the footpath outside the ashram wall. Ladies to the other side of the

ashram gate, and straight inside to sit inside, in lines. Go to the queue at

6.15 AM.

There are two cloak rooms, one for cases, umbrellas, etc, and the other for your

shoes, thongs, chappals. Leave footwear outside at the cloak room, you will be

given a chit.

Afternoon Darshan is generally Bhajans, and commences between 4 PM and 5 PM. Go

to the ashram at approximately 3 PM

When Sai Baba gives permission, there are morning talks in the marriage hall

(Kalyan Mantap) opposite the Darshan hall, nearby the gate to Sai Baba's

residential rooms. These talks are normally at 10am and you will see a notice

on the gatekeepers hut inside the entrance to the ashram with the time, speaker

and topic of the day's talks.

Visiting Sai Baba at Kodaikanal

Kodaikanal is a famous hilltop resort that usually has rain ten months of the

year. This is called off-season. Season is generally April-June, and that's

when most tourists visit. Kodaikanal is a lovely place, free of dust and

mosquitos, and has plenty of tourists attractions, like the restaurant called

Buddha's Belly!

Here we will give you an overview of visiting Sai Baba, and some important

information to get you well prepared!

Generally, Sai Baba can be found at the Puttaparthi Ashram. This is in South

India, approximately three hours drive from Bangalore.

During the hot summer in Puttaparthi area, Sai Baba generally departs

Puttaparthi for Bangalore, where there is an ashram located in Whitefield, some

27 kilometers out of the city of Bangalore.

Occasionally, Sai Baba visits a small ashram called Sai Sruthi, located in the

hill resort town of Kodaikanal, which is somewhat further south of Bangalore in

the adjoining state of Tamil Nadu.

Traveling to Kodai

The only direct way into Kodaikanal is by road. It is a hilltop town, and the

roads narrow and winding. Those traveling for the first time, best not look

down when looking out the window!!!

Planes fly to Madurai and Coimbatore. Then a two hour taxi journey.

Luxury Buses ply between Bangalore Majestic and Kodaikanal. Bus travel takes

approximately 12 hours.

Taxis from Whitefield to Kodai will cost between Rs 6000-8000 and you would be

advised to share a taxi if you do this. Travel time to Kodaikanal would be

approximately 10 hours.

Currently, there it is not known whether or not Sathya Sai Baba will visit

Kodaikanal in any year. Kodai is cool at night, oft times raining overnight,

and generally mild, up to 23 degrees in the daytime. Plenty of fog and rain

most days.

IF Sathya Sai Baba visits Kodaikanal, then the following are suggested:

Umbrella, thin light jumper, thin winter clothes as you would wear in a

sub-tropical winter, thin plastic Macintosh like that you can get in Woolworths

or Kmart for $5 to have in case of rain.

Kodaikanal is flat where Swami's house is, there is one driveway to walk up

(steep), then flat sitting area for Darshan. If you were to stay in town at the

Hilltop Hotel, Carlton Hotel or around the corner from Swami's place at the

Sterling Hotel, then it is largely flat walking to Swami's Darshan. The

remainder of Kodaikanal is hills, hills, hills and incredibly narrow roads. A

taxi to Darshan is the usual practice if staying in one of these other Hotels.

There are Western Hotels at Kodaikanal with charges somewhat similar to Hotels

here in Australia. The top two are the Carleton and Sterling, standard Hilton

Hotel type accommodation. Hilltop is very good and somewhat less, approx

750-1000 rupees per night.

There are many other hotels and guesthouses available in Kodaikanal.

Weeping Madonna's

Sai Baba says "I hear all your prayers to Mother Mary" to some people. Mary is

the feminine divine in Christianity where devotion is concerned and devotion to

Mary is devotion to the Divine. The Pope was seriously considering elevating her

to co-redemptrix, that is, she is a sharer in the divine mission of her son to

redeem humanity. Forgive the dogmatic language, but this is an accurate

estimation of the strength of devotion in the orthodox and catholic Churches to

Mary, Mother of God. In the last two centuries, devotion to Mary somewhat

eclipsed devotion to Christ; that was because the faithful had devotedness, and

Mary was human, mother, and many could identify with her. Around the1960's there

was a change or movement from devotion to spirituality and many devotions were

either actively discouraged, discarded, or simply neglected

in light of pursuing a personal spirituality and focusing on the person of Christ the Redeemer.

Pope Paul the Sixth, (famed for encyclical which basically told families no

pill, no contraception, etc, etc, ) wrote an encyclical called Cultus Marialis,

where he deftly outlined the excesses of devotion to Mary, situated her in

relation to Jesus, and encouraged a Christ-centered devotion to Mary as Mother

of the Redeemer, and like titles. It was an attempt to strongly persuade the

faithful to move from devotion to a bible-based spirituality of Mary. Cultus

Marialis is worth a read as it will quite accurately paint a picture of where

the Church was focused at a particular point in the last century. It's a long

read, full of dogmatic statements and I admit, it may be quite foreign

territory to you.

"Spirituality" presented much opportunity for Christians to take up their

personal relationship with God, Jesus, Mary and the Saints in a way that was

personally satisfying and put responsibility for that relationship firmly in

the hands of the individual Christian. However, as a substitute for devotion,

it was a catastrophe. Devotional practices particularly in Catholicism simply

became passé and those who practiced it were seen as out of step with the

church in the modern world. There were some strong pockets of devotion here and

there, but those pockets were either eclipsed by changes in ritual, or simply

lost in protest against changes in rituals. That's another chapter.

To wrap up on Mary, John Paul II has this simple, large M on the shield in his

coat of arms, upsetting all the heraldry boffins and whatnot, for Mary. He is

devoted, devoted, devoted to Mary. The other issue is that he recently gave 5

new mysteries of the Rosary to the Church, the Mysteries of Light. I find that

interesting, he called these 'luminous' mysteries.

Unfortunately, to me, Christians seem to be perpetually defensive about one

thing or another and practice rituals with fervor and devotion. Very few get

past the need for the rituals. It seems to me that the Church points to the

great mystics and saints of the past as role models, but then tells people in

the modern era that these great heights attained by the saints can be reached

only by a very few. Some time ago, the Church issued one instruction which cast

aspersions on Meditation; a more recent instruction dismisses the New Age.

Weeping Madonna's is a good thing. I recall that TS Eliot poem about the

Crucifixion, mentions that the "very halt and lame" even got up the hill to

jeer at the crucified. Well, they will also jeer at the Weeping Madonna's. We

will always have these demons around, pointing fingers and casting stones. In

1995, Photographs, Brass and wooden idols in Hinduism drank milk a few years

ago, on one fantastic day, and the scoffers were there as well.

There is something divine at work here, and often, if the miraculous is allowed

to be what it is, just that, miraculous. Rudolph Otto wrote that philosophical

tome "The Idea of the Holy" and he took religious or divine experience and did

what philosophers do and came up with 'numinous', which he derived from

'ominous'. Ominous comes from omen has elements of awe, overpowering ness, a

mystery uncontrollable with unknown elements of terror and horror that the mind

cannot fathom. Otto took this and applied it to numen. Numen has two components,

mysterium and tremendum.

He presents the tremendum component of the numinous that is being experienced as

comprising three elements: awfulness (inspiring awe, a sort of profound unease),

overpoweringness (that which, among other things, inspires a feeling of

humility), energy (creating an impression of immense vigor).

The mysterium component in its turn has two elements. Firstly, the numinous is

experienced as 'wholly other.' It is something truly amazing, as being totally

outside our normal experience. Secondly, here is the element of fascination,

which causes the subject of the experience of the numinous to be caught up in

it, to be enraptured. To read a current item, (November 2003) The Hindu Milk

miracle is still happening.

This mysterium tremendum can be found at work in the media, in bad news, in all

the old gothic horror novels, and more so recently in horror movies. Horror and

mystery work well, along with signature music. Think of that movie JAWS.

Fascination is something the mind cannot let go of; it pulls the mind in,

inexorably, like a tractor beam, right into the tremendum component. Think of

that UFO movie Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Note that they all kneel in

front of inexpressible, non-understandable mystery of a spacecraft appearing in

the sky.

There are two sides to this mysterium coin; there is the mystery of the divine,

and the mystery of the unknown, generally portrayed as horrible, horror,

unknowable blackness emerging from a black hole.

Weeping Madonna's attract people using exactly the same principle; its

humanity's constant response to any matter greater than the human mind. It

evokes devotion; it reaches down to the heart and taps forgotten memories of

childhood and rosaries, Holy Cards and candles. Lourdes, Medjugorje, Guadalupe,

Fatima, Knock, all these places attract pilgrims where Mary has been appearing.

Glimpses of the numinious, faith healings, crutches and wheelchairs left

behind, all these things add up to a recovery of devotion in the modern age.

Sai Baba himself says that he has come to foster devotion. Sai Baba does not ask

that you change religions to following Sai Baba; indeed he asks that a Hindu

become a better Hindu, a Christian become a better Christian, and so forth. Sai

Baba gives gifts to his devotees with images of the divines in different

religions. He materializes Vibhutti, which signifies the cessation suffering

and desire; he materializes rosary beads, chains, medallions and rings with

images of different divines on them. All this is to foster devotion in the

heart of the adherent, something which is an integral part of his mission.

Human Values"Let us grow together; Let us live together,

Roman'">Let us study together,

Roman'">Let us develop knowledge together, without conflict, with friendship, with broadmindedness."

Adult Learning and the 5 Human Values

Adults discover Sathya Sai Baba via various ways and means - more often than

not, a book had been given to them, they have read it, and become curious to

know more about Sai Baba and so begin a spiritual journey of discovery. Among

the discoveries are the 5 Human Values. One of the questions most frequently

asked by this group of newcomers is how to put these 5 Human Values into

practice in daily life.

Many people read books, visit Puttaparthi, listen to divine discourses by Sri

Sathya Sai and still ask the same question.

What could help is an understanding of the principles of adult learning and an

appreciation of learners preferred ways of learning. Adults need to take

sustained effort over time, use the principles Duty, Devotion and Discipline

coupled with perseverance will help all to have self-confidence in practising

the 5 Human Values.

Learning is not limited

Learning is not limited by any earlier learning in your life, or lack of

scholarly learning. One does not have to have a University degree to learn.

Learning and intelligence are two different things. Science and psychological

research would tell us that Intelligence is often called a static thing - some

professionals state that a person is born with a certain amount of intelligence

or only has a limited capacity of intelligence, all through life. Sai Baba has

said, use your intelligence well, and the giver will be pleased to give you

more...

Left the Classroom Forever

Many adults have left the classroom forever. Even a teacher cannot return to the

classroom as a student. Different strategies are required for learning to be

retained effectively and practiced in a manner that indicates competency in

that which has been learned. These different strategies suggest that adult

learning be best achieved when the learning is

· Meaningful

· Active

· Concerned with first and last impressions (the remembering or forgetting curve!)

· Holistic - it engages all the senses

· Practiced and reinforced

· Feedback is given

· Reward is built into the learning process

Meaningful

The essential thing in learning is to incorporate the learning - embodying it

and being transformed by what is learned. That only occurs if the material is

meaningful, and that all of the learner's life experience is brought to the

learning and acknowledged. 'Meaningful' here refers to moving from the known to

the yet unknown - the learner is enabled to integrate learning into all the

experiences they have had to date.

Active

Learning has to be active, and interactive. Swami has said that the journey to

liberation cannot be carried on in solitude or alone. Learning carries power

and energy (or shakti) when information is shared in a process that ensures

interaction. In other words, we learn best when we interact with other people

and bounce our ideas off them, and give responses to their shared experiences.

First and Last

That which is remembered most from a lesson or a meeting of people is usually

the first and last impressions - both of the people we encounter (a mentor or

tutor, or a Guru) and the material that is presented. The

remembering/forgetting curve says that interest, attention and retention are at

their highest at the beginning and at the end of a learning encounter. Various

strategies have to be engaged in order for the entire session to be retained

and the learner becomes aware of their learning.

Holistic

Holistic learning engages the emotions, the body and the mind. Drama,

role-plays, hypothetical, debates, and energy exchanges that engage these

aspects of the person engage the energy of learning. There are different ways

of taking in information: sitting and reading is the least effective way of

learning and integrating for many adults. Educational research indicates we

remember 20% of what we READ, 30% of what we HEAR, 40% of what we SEE, 50% of

what we SAY, 60% of what we DO and 90% of what we HEAR, SEE, SAY AND DO. It is

not without relevance to remember what Swami says about Namasmarana (repeating

the name of the Lord). Swami says we must have both name and the form in our

mind's eye as we do this.

Visual learners learn in information through use of posters, charts, graphics,

slogans, advertisements, visual display, flipcharts, overheads, booklets,

handouts, texts. Cartoons, memory maps, variety in colour, shape, size and

brightness, in fact, anything I can see or watch. They need to "see" to

understand.

Auditory learners learn best through question and answer, lecture, story, audio

tapes, discussion (pair or group) variety in tone, rate of speaking, pitch,

volume, speeches, debates, jokes. The auditory types learn by listening. They

love to talk; they think in sound and can be distracted by noise.

Kinaesthetic learners generally learn by doing or 'hands on'. They like to feel,

grasp, catch, and have the concrete example. They learn best through doing to

learn, team activities, acting out, role-play, role reversal, coaching,

demonstrating to others, anything they can do. They are constantly moving,

tapping pens, shifting in seats. Perhaps the long Darshan waits in Prashanthi

Mandir are important learning experiences for the "shifting types"!!

Practicing and reinforcing

Values are guides to action. Values tend to be practiced in one of three ways.

Lets look at these and use the example driving a car.

Compliance

is obeying the letter of the law. Speed limits are there to provide for safe

driving and to protect life. A motor vehicle takes a farther distance to stop

the faster it is traveling. Compliance practice of values means a person will

drive at the speed they choose and only slow down in the presence of the

police. The letter of the law is only observed in the presence of the law.

Role Modeling

Role Modeling is copying someone else. One would like to be like an admired

other and possess their qualities and capture their admiration. Role modeling

with the speed limit in the motor vehicle is driving at the same speed everyone

else is driving. In the absence of others, or the admired one who passed

appreciative comments on our driving, the driver reverts to the former behavior

of any speed that satisfies them.

Internalisation

Internalisation is behaving and observing the value for its own sake. It is

understood to be a value that preserves order, life and the public safety. The

driver of the motor vehicle drives at the town and city limit, because they

know that this speed gives them the optimum stopping distance. They observe the

limit for the open highway for the road is constructed to support that driving

speed, with the curves, the camber, the presence of signs, the foundation of

the road. Therefore, the driver who has internalised obeying the speed limit

recognizes the inherent value it contains.

Compliance, role modeling and internalization are all stages we progress through

in the practice and reinforcement of the 5 Human Values.

Feedback

Feedback is the capacity to put the ego aside and listen to another or observe

another's reactions to our behavior. Swami frequently tells in His Divine

Discourses that every action produces a reaction, and that everything in this

world is reaction, reflection, resound. It takes a sharp, alert, aware person

to perceive the small messages that convey the response to our behaviors. Swami

says Life is Awareness. This awareness can be developed and garnered through

asking others for feedback on interactions and values.

Another method is the daily review that Swami suggests we practice before sleep.

This is simply a review of the day and a checking out of things that have

happened and being open to impressions, images, and words about our actions in

the day. This is not an opportunity for breast-beating, self-condemnation or

abasement. Swami says, simply, be sorry and make a resolve to do better. We are

not allowed to call ourselves sinners, and the worst sin, Swami has sometimes

said, is to call the Divinity within you sin.

Building on experience

Learning is generally thought of as the acquisition and practice of a new skill,

or the integration of new information into our lives. Simply reading something

and trying it out, and giving it away if it does not work out too well, is

submitting to the tyranny of the ego. Visual learners, auditory learners and

kinaesthetic learners would all benefit from some structured and progressive

reflection on personal experience and keeping a record of one's progress in a

permanent form.

Many people say "One step forward and two steps backwards" or "Learning and

applying the values is a long, trying process fraught with difficulty and

failure" Well, the answer to that is beware of such thoughts and statements.

Swami has told many, many times in discourses that you become what you feel,

and that any thought you send out will return to you fulfilled. Make the

building on experience an exciting process, dust yourself off, get up and don't

let go. Swami, when He revealed Himself as the Sai Avatar, taught a song on that

very first day. It had the message that life was difficulty, and the best way

through it was to select a guru (one who knows the goal and can lead you to it)

and HOLD

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Reward built into the learning process

The reward of a life spent in lifelong learning and practice of the 5 Human

Values is that Peace, that Happiness that Bliss which Swami frequently tells

us, we inherently are. This is our true nature. Learning and practicing the 5

human values is like blowing on an ember and bringing the coal to life, burning

brightly and pure. Each time we practice, reinforce and build on previous

experience instead of assassinating ourselves as a failure or a sinner, we are

burning away the dross of the ego that surrounds the pure divinity within us.

It is true that Swami is the one who proclaims who is devotees is. He has said,

Truth, Love, Right Conduct, Peace, Non Violence: Practice any one of these, you

are Mine, I am yours.

When you express and explain these properly, anybody from anywhere will agree,

human values are those, which are common to all people at all places, races and

creeds. The very name is human values. If a human being will not accept human

values, who else will? What sort of person is he who will say 'no' to this

truth? There are valuable ideals within us. You have to develop them more.

Wherever you go, you should not give up truth. Sometimes it may not be safe to

speak the truth. Even then you should not speak lie. You must find clever ways

to get out of such critical situations, without actually speaking a lie. These

human values, you must adhere to with intelligence, self-confidence and the

grace of God and you will not go wrong.

Values and Human Values

Sathya Sai Baba has told us he is following human values. He want us to follow

also. This is his right. With this right, we should fight. When someone asks

you if you are following human values, you should not reply, "I will try". This

is failure. The secret of success is to be prepared for all situations. One

should be prepared with strength of mind, self confidence and this will bestow

strength of human values.

Sub Values

Sub Values illuminate the full dimension of each overarching human value. Sub

values complement each human value and lead to an overplus of meaning, to a

whole synthesis. Balance and harmony are the fruit of the synthesis and

application of each sub value. Truth is illuminated by its corresponding sub

values; Love is complemented by all the dimensions of these sub values. Peace

is integrated wholly by sub values; Right conduct is a whole synthesis of the

practice of all its elements. Educare means to bring out human values. "To

bring out" means to translate them into action.

In ancient times, Truth and Right Action were fostered. In more recent times,

Peace and Love were fostered. In the present modern era, the necessary strength

has been given to every human to foster all the five values. Instead of relying

on worldly power, man can rely on the fundamental powers of human life, Truth,

Love, Peace, Right Conduct and Non-violence. This is an endowment that was not

given to human beings in ancient times. All these human values and sub values

are the inherent properties of the human person.

HUMAN VALUES:

108 Sub-values

As Human Values are the five pillars supporting the Sathya Sai Human Values

Program, they can also form the hanger on which the cloth of daily life is

based, be it at home, work, recreation or service activity.

Human values are the qualities that already lie within each of us like a golden

effulgence and can be drawn forth into consciousness in all our cultures

through Educare. Educare is the spiritual process of eliciting the 5 human

values latent in every person. The five human values are the essential

ingredients for good Character, which is the end product of education and the

catalysts for sweetening and strengthening the daily life curriculum into

something that can benefit society, rather than harming it; the pivotal foci

for self-learning which fits one for life. Human values provide the Unity in

our apparent diversity. We are the sculptors of our own character, chipping

away and dissolving those thoughts, words and actions, which are not related to

the universal Human Values

LOVE

· Bliss,

· caring,

· compassion,

· dedication,

· devotion,

· empathy,

· friendship,

· forgiveness,

· generosity,

· helping,

· human dignity,

· inner happiness,

· joy,

· kindness,

· patience,

· purity,

· sharing,

· sincerity,

· sympathy,

· tolerance,

· wisdom (21)

Truth (Love in speech)

· Consciousness,

· creativity,

· curiosity,

· discrimination,

· equality,

· honesty,

· integrity,

· intuition,

· natural environment,

· optimism,

· quest for knowledge,

· reason,

· self-analysis,

· self-knowledge,

· self-worth,

· sense control,

· spirit of inquiry,

· synthesis,

· truthfulness,

· unity in thought word and deed,

· unity in diversity (21)

Right conduct (Love in action)

· Cleanliness,

· contentment,

· courage,

· dependability,

· duty,

· ethics,

· gratitude,

· goals,

· good behaviour,

· healthy living,

· helpfulness,

· initiative,

· leadership,

· perseverance,

· time management,

· resourcefulness,

· respect,

· responsibility,

· sacrifice,

· self-sufficiency,

· self-confidence,

· simplicity (22)

Peace (Love in thought)

· Attention,

· calm,

· concentration,

· contentment,

· dignity,

· discipline,

· endurance,

· focus,

· happiness,

· honesty,

· humility,

· inner silence,

· reflection,

· satisfaction,

· self-acceptance,

· self-confidence,

· self-control,

· self-discipline,

· self-respect,

· understanding, c

· are for environment,

· national responsibility (22)

Non-violence (Love in understanding)

· Appreciation of other cultures and religions,

· brotherhood,

· ceiling on desires,

· citizenship,

· compassion,

· concern for all life,

· consideration,

· co-operation,

· forgiveness,

· global awareness,

· good manners,

· inclusiveness,

· loyalty,

· national awareness,

· recycling,

· respect for property,

· service to other,

· social justice,

· sustainable growth,

· universal love,

· unwilling to hurt (22)

PREMA - LOVE

Excerpts of Swami's teachings on Prema (Love)

Love is the basic nature that sustains human being and strengthens his resolve

to march ahead. Without love man is blind; the world for him will be a dark and

fearsome jungle. Love is the light that guides the feet of man in the

wilderness. All the four goals of man (Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha) can be

attained through the practice of love. The Atma principle expresses itself in

man as Prema (Love).

Every human being needs love inhales and exhales love. Love is the basic breath;

every one is the embodiment of Love. Love knows no fear; it seeks no rewards;

love is its own reward. When it is directed towards God, it is called Bhakti.

Love removes all egoism; the self is forgotten, it is superseded, it is

transcended. Divinity is the magnet. Humanity is the iron. Love is the force

that brings them together. Nara is the iron, Narayana is the magnet. Bhakti or

love is the force that draws the two together.

God is love and can be won only through the cultivation and exercise of Love. He

cannot be trapped by any trick; He yields Grace only when His commands are

followed - command to love all, serve all. Love is God, God is love. Live with

Love, move with Love, speak with Love, think with Love, act with Love - this is

the most fruitful Sadhana. Love is the core of Atma. Love is selflessness. Love

brings people together. Love is the solvent for hardest hearts. Love is the

strongest antidote for greed. Love will destroy the roots of ego.

Love is the natural state for man and all the other contrary emotions are

unnatural. When you recite the Name of God, remembering His majesty, His

compassion, His glory, His splendor, His presence, Love will grow within you.

Its roots will grow deeper and deeper, its branches will spread wider and

wider, giving cool shelter to friend and foe. Love God without reserve. To love

God destroys all the barriers to Love. If you develop love, you do not need to

develop anything else.

Prema must grow with every moment of Sadhana. It must sweeten every word, deed

and thought of yours. Emerge from Dhyana as a person more charged with Love!

Return from Bhajan with a greater measure of Love! Return from Nagarsankeerthan

with a firmer conviction that everything is surcharged with the same Divinity

that is behind all your activity.

Love in speech is truth. Love in action is righteousness. Love in thought is

peace. Love in understanding is non-violence.

There is no power greater than love in this world because it is selfless and

pure. Love is Ananda; love is power; love is light; love is God. Love helps you

to see God in everyone, everyone as divine.

Source: http://www.saibabaforbeginners.com

With Sai love from Sai brothers

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