Guest guest Posted March 10, 2010 Report Share Posted March 10, 2010 Ramchand Chugani rgcjp KANSAI . LIGHT FOr MARCH 2010 ISSUE NO.51------------------------------- KANSAI LIGHT FOR MARCH ISSUE NO.51 News letter of Sri Sathya Sai Organization Japan address: I.S.S, 2nd Fl, 1-3, Kumochi 5-Chome, Chuo Ku Kobe Tel: 078-222-1885, Email: rgcjp --- PLEASE PRINT COPY FOR YOUR EASY REFERENCE THIS PAGE HAS LOTS OF GRAPHICS. ALLOW SOME TIME AFTER IMMAGES TO APPEAR. ---------------- Dear Devotees Please let us know to register your email address to send you Kansai,Light Newletter every month which is free of any charges,Only after getting your confirmation, we will post you. I am the cause of all causes.. I am eternal. I am sat- chit-ananda I am existence, knowledge, bliss. I am Hari (Krishna) and Hara (Shiva) too for I transform Myself into these manifestations as occasion arise. create Universe, is but the Porijection of My will; it has no basic reality. My son, I declare this truth to you as a result of My deep love towards you. Others will not be able to graps the mystery of this creation. What I have just revealed to you in known as concise Bhagavantha Sri Sai Baba.-- MUSINGS ON AVATARS - PART 8 By Prof. G. Venkataraman (Continued from the previous issue) Dear Readers, for 40 previous issues – from October 2004 to February 2008 - we brought you a spiritual feast in the form of the "Gita for Children" in a serialized form. Prior to that, we had started our first series entitled "Shirdi Sai – Parthi Sai" which is continuing till date. The "Gita for Children" series was taken from the book "The Krishna - Arjuna Dialogue" authored by Prof. Venkataraman. As we concluded the final segment of this book in February 2008 issue, from March 2008, we started a new series on "Avatars" or Divine Incarnations. The articles in this series are actually adaptations of talks delivered recently on Radio Sai by Prof. G. Venkataraman, and are based on the book "Message of the Lord" authored by him a few years earlier. We hope H2H readers will relish the spiritual insights this series offers. The last episode described the opening scene of the great Kurukshetra War, and also how Karna, at the very last minute, learnt that he was really the elder brother of the Pandavas. It was painful for him to have to fight against his very own brothers, but that was the choice he made. This month we begin with a few remarks on Karna and then lead to the war itself and what followed. Loving Sai Ram and greeting from Prashanti Nilayam. If you recall, in the last issue, I ended with a reference to a conversation between Kunti and her eldest son Karna, and the very different ways in which Karna and Kunti looked at life and death. The Tragic Hero Karna Karna is perhaps the most tragic of all the characters that appear in the Mahabharata. On occasions, Swami has praised Karna but has also pointed out that for all his noble qualities, Karna committed one fatal blunder. He surrendered himself totally to Duryodhana because he felt that Duryodhana saved his honour in an hour of crisis. It was this loyalty that compelled Karna to refuse even his mother's request to desist from fighting. Swami says that total surrender must only be to God and not to man, whoever that may be; any pledge given to another human must be restricted and conditional when the issue of God becoming a priority arises. Sanjaya is Blessed to ‘See’ the Battle from Afar With war about to break out, Dhritarashtra began to panic, for he knew well what the outcome would be. He cursed his sons for not being reasonable, and he cursed himself too for not exercising parental authority with sufficient force. Sage Vyasa blesses Sanjaya with visions of the battle At that juncture, Sage Vyasa came to Dhritarashtra and consoled him by saying, "The past is past and there is no use in crying over spilt milk. Prepare yourself to accept the outcome bravely, whatever it may be. If you wish, I can bless you with a vision so that you can see what is going on in the battlefield." Dhritarashtra declined the offer but still wanted some means of obtaining news from the battlefront. Vyasa then blessed Dhritarashtra's companion, Sanjaya, with the capacity to see the happenings on the battlefield and offer reports to his king. Thus, it was that Sanjaya became not only the world's first war correspondent but TV commentator as well! The Bhagavad Gita, which we all think of as the lessons taught by the Lord to Arjuna and humanity as well, actually begins and ends as a conversation between Dhritarashtra and Sanjaya, with the dialogue on the battlefield between Krishna and Arjuna tucked in between. Sanjaya is not only blessed with remote vision but remote hearing as well; and when Krishna reveals to Arjuna His Cosmic Form, Sanjaya is able to see that too. The conversation between the blind king and his constant companion begins with Dhritarashtra asking Sanjaya to describe the scene at the battlefront just before the fighting was due to commence. And that is when Sanjaya describes Arjuna asking Krishna to drive the chariot to a central location between the two armies when, seeing the line up of revered elders on the other side, Arjuna's heart sinks yielding to doubt and misery. Krishna waits patiently for the disturbed Arjuna to pour out his heart, and then instructs him in Divine Knowledge. This clears the cobwebs in Arjuna's mind and gone is the confusion. He gets up as instructed and fights with vigour, dedicating his actions to Krishna and seeking no reward. Swami adds: Lord Krishna - the eternal One “Krishna's exposition benefited Arjuna, Sanjaya, Vyasa [who wrote the Mahabharata] and Hanuman [who as the symbol in the flag of Arjuna's chariot, also heard it]. The same Gita fell on the deaf ears of Dhritarashtra too.†This last remark is most significant. These days, there are many who make it a point to read all the seven hundred verses of the Gita every day. Some even take the trouble of memorising all the verses. All this is fine and desirable no doubt, but only up to a point. As Swami has often remarked, what is the use of all this memorising, if one does not put into practice the teachings of even one verse, or at least half a verse? If one merely chants but does not follow the teachings in real life, then one is no better than a tape recorder! That’s the warning from Swami and I suggest that we should periodically remind ourselves of that warning when we try to cleanse ourselves merely by routine reading or chanting. Moving on, Swami has also made a few other remarkable revelations concerning the Kurukshetra War. First is the fact that the war was fought in 3141 BC, when Krishna was 86 years old (Krishna, Swami says, was born on July 20, 3227 BC). The war started on a New Moon day (Amavasya) but Sanjaya started his narration ten days later. He adds: “Some consider this day as the 'Gitajayanti' or the day on which Krishna vouchsafed the message of the Gita to Arjuna. But, this was the day on which Sanjaya narrated the story of the battle to Dhritarashtra. The Gita was actually given by Krishna to Arjuna on the ‘Karthika Bahula Amavasya’ day.†By the way, some of you might recall that not only has Radio Sai broadcast the entire text of the Gita in Sanskrit with concurrent translation in English, but has also brought out the essence in the form of a simple dialogue between Krishna and Arjuna. In addition, I have sometime ago broadcast an extended series of talks on the essence of the Gita as highlighted by Swami. In view of all this, I shall not, on this present occasion, spend any more time on the Gita. The Kurukshetra War lasted eighteen days in which initially, fortune seemed to favour the Kauravas, causing much despondency in the Pandava camp. But eventually the tide turned and the Pandavas won, the last act in the Great War being a keenly fought one-to-one mace combat between Bhima and Duryodhana. Bhima finally killed Duryodhana, and it was all over. Were Lord Krishna’s Actions Fair? Krishna's role in the war has been the subject of much comment, the feeling in some quarters being that though Krishna did not wield any weapon, He, using questionable tactics, skilfully manipulated many a situation so as to give the Pandavas a tactical advantage. (In the Rama Avatar, too, scholars have debated endlessly on the correctness of Rama slaying Vali from behind; however, Swami has put to rest all such controversies by giving a deep insight into the Divine purpose and intentions). In fact, in his dying moments, Duryodhana himself levelled such charges of foul play and severely castigated Krishna. Balarama too was chagrined by Krishna's role in the final destruction of Duryodhana. And so the question has often been raised whether some of Krishna's actions were above board or fair? This is an important point and merits some attention. Krishna reveals His Divine powers by turning the tide of the battle in favour of the Pandavas There are basically two ways of looking at Krishna's so-called "questionable" tactics. The first is by regarding Krishna as a mere human and the second is by taking into account the fact that Krishna was an Avatar (Divine Incarnation), a Poorna Avatar at that. If Krishna was a mere mortal, then the charges levelled against Him might perhaps have a basis, but if we remember that He was, in fact, God incarnate, then His actions fall totally outside the purview of limited human analysis. Man is bound by space and time and views things, people and events circumscribed by this limitation, whereas the Blessed Lord is completely beyond the finite boundaries that apply to us ordinary mortals. Thus, His actions can be understood only by Him and not by us, and we simply have no business whatsoever, judging Him by our yardsticks; it is totally meaningless and absolutely stupid. Indeed this is always the mistake one makes with Avatars. Did not Shirdi Sai frequently baffle his contemporaries as does our own beloved Swami? As the late Mr. Kasturi once remarked, not only every discourse, but even a "casual" remark or for that matter, even a "mere" gesture of Swami has unfathomable meaning. It is pointless either to try and analyse, interpret or understand the actions of the Avatar. Humble and meek acceptance, as Gandhi recommends, is the only way open to us. In this context, it is sobering to remember that even Balarama, an aspect of Narayana, could not understand Krishna's earthly actions. Post War Carnage Returning to the story of the war, the casualties were truly staggering. All the Kauravas were killed; and so also all the leading lights on the Kaurava side, including Karna, Drona, etc. Bhishma was felled but he held on to his life as he had been blessed with the boon to shed his mortal coil at a time of his choice. Abhimanyu, the son of Arjuna, fought bravely at the battle Bhisma lies on a bed of arrows and waits for the right moment to shed his mortal coil Bhishma lay on a bed of arrows arranged by Arjuna, and waited for the Sun to come from the southern to the northern sky, as that was a more auspicious time to give up the body. On the Pandava side too the toll was heavy. Though the Pandavas themselves escaped death, all their offspring were totally annihilated, and the slender hope of the continuance of their lineage rested entirely on the boy growing in the womb of Uttara, the wife of Abhimanyu, who was the son of Arjuna. Later, this boy became King Parikshit, and, facing a death sentence due to a curse, he spent the last seven days listening to a narration of Srimad Bhagavatham which describes the glory, and the incarnations of Narayana (up to that time of course), and the lessons taught by Him on various occasions. Yudhistra refuses to accept kingship at the end of the war, but relents once Bhisma advises him Back to the main story. Seeing the carnage, Yudhishtra was completely shaken. The despondency that overtook Arjuna at the start, now made Yudhishtra its target, and overcome with grief, he refused to pick up the reins of kingship that was now his. Sense had to be knocked into his head, just as was required in the case of Arjuna earlier! This time, Krishna gave the job to Bhishma who, for a number of reasons, was reluctant, not the least of which was the fact that there was Krishna right there, who was certainly more qualified than anyone else to advise him. But Krishna insisted and Bhishma yielded. Bhishma Gives His Profound Teachings Thus came into existence the Santi Parva, the body of knowledge communicated to Yudhishtra by the venerable Bhishma on diverse matters, both secular and spiritual. It is an unparalleled manual of practical wisdom, especially for those involved with governance. In the course of the dialogue, Yudhishtra asks, "Which is the best dharma of all?" To which Bhishma replies that the best one is the ceaseless contemplation and worship of Lord Narayana. Having said this, Bhishma composed on the spot a flowery hymn in praise of Narayana, containing over a thousand different descriptions of the Lord - this is the famous Vishnu Sahasranamam (which Shirdi Baba asked many to recite daily). The incredible aspect of it is that the first time it was recited was in the physical presence of Narayana Himself! The Joy of Being the Lord’s Instrument In passing I might throw in a nice little story concerning our beloved Swami. This happened many years ago in Trayee Brindavan, and I was a witness to it. It was evening, and the post Bhajan period when boys gather around Swami’s jhoola (swing) inside Trayee, waiting for yet another of those memorable sessions to start. As usual, after Swami entered and was seated, there was small talk for sometime, after which Swami said, “Narasimhan, say something to the boys.†The remark was addressed to late Mr. V. K. Narasimhan, a distinguished journalist and for long the editor of Sanathana Sarathi, after Kasturi could no longer handle that job. “Narsimhan, you know, sometimes man listens better to man than to God!†- Swami Narasimhan, who was widely read and could speak on practically anything, replied, “Swami, when You are there, what business do I have to speak? It is You who know everything and it is You who should speak. In any case, the boys are waiting for You to speak, not me!†Swami smiled and said, “No Narasimhan, you go ahead and speak.†When Narasimhan persisted with his prayer adding that it is God who should speak to man and give advice, not man to man, Swami said, “Narsimhan, you know, sometimes man listens better to man than to God!†Narasimhan was shocked and said, “Swami, how can that ever be?†Swami then said, “Narasimhan, don’t you remember? When Bhishma told Krishna that He should advise Yudhishtra, Krishna insisted that it was Bhishma who should speak and not He! And it worked, did it not?†Narasimhan smiled and accepted that he had been vanquished in argument and went on to give yet another scintillating talk! Unfortunately, I don’t remember a word of it, though I remember every word that preceded that talk! In any case, that incident is what is important to Sai Bhagavatham! Sometimes, God uses man as His instrument, even though He could do it all Himself! Getting back to the bits and pieces of the remaining part of the story, accepting Bhishma's advice, Yudhishtra assumed the rulership of Hastinapura and ruled for many years as a wise king who never deviated from the path of Dharma. Mindful of his responsibilities, he gave shelter to Dhritarashtra and Gandhari though this was not quite liked by some of his younger brothers. And in due course, the Pandavas one by one shed their mortal coils, their mission on earth having been completed. The story of the Pandavas is an inspiring saga of courage and determination. It also illustrates that having the Lord on one's side does not automatically provide exemption from troubles or difficulties. However, the Lord does help in bearing the difficulties with courage and fortitude. And finally, referring to the allegorical significance of the great epic, the Mahabharatha, Swami says: “The Mahabharatha is basically the story of the five Vital Airs (the Pancha Praanas) overcoming a hundred obstacles in the path of progress.†Sai, the World’s Third Poorna Avatar When God descends on earth, He comes as an incarnation or an Avatar. Thus far in human history, He has come only three times in human form with His full compliment of Divine Powers i.e., as a Poorna Avatar. The Rama and the Krishna Avatars were Poorna Avatars. The current Sai Avatar is also a Poorna Avatar. Blessed are we therefore to be born and living at the same time as the Avatar, and even more blessed are we to have His Darshan as also to experience directly His limitless Divine Love. Rama bore arms and physically destroyed enemies. Krishna too used destructive force when needed, but quite sparingly. The current Avatar, however, has come without any weapons whatsoever. Why? Has not Krishna declared that the wicked would be destroyed when the Avatar descends? In Rama's time, the enemy, i.e., Ravana, was outside. In Krishna's time, the forces of evil and good were to be found within the same family. But in the present day world, the forces of evil and good are both within the same person. No longer are there pure "good guys" and patently "bad guys". Thus it is that our Lord Sai has chosen to use Love or Prema as His "weapon". This weapon destroys the wickedness in man, transforms him and raises him to the level of Divinity. As Swami Himself has declared: “In this Kali Age, the wicked have to be reformed and reconstructed through Love and compassion. That is why the Avatar has come unarmed. It has come with the Message of Love.†In one of His Divine Discourses, Swami declared in ringing tones that His mission was unique in that He was involved in making each and every person realise that he or she is God. Times change, habits change, fashions change but one thing remains constant and that is “God is Love and Love is Godâ€. In addition, man too is God; which means, he too must breathe Love and not hate. This is our Dear Lord Sai's constant reminder. I would like to add one point about the Krishna Avatar. Krishna is worshipped as (a form of) God which is correct, but in the process one tends to lose sight of the human that He was. The Discourses given by Bhagavan Baba during the summer of 1976 (Summer Roses On The Blue Mountain, 1976) are worth reading in this context, for Swami then repeatedly emphasised the human aspect of Krishna. Those discourses are most illuminating to read for they open our eyes to the human aspect of both Shirdi Sai and the current Sai Avatar as well. Well, this brings to an end my original project to tell you something about the Rama and the Krishna Avatars. As I mentioned right in the beginning, my aim was not to present a scholarly discourse but to make you get acquainted with the essential aspects of these two Avatars, hoping that this would stimulate a deeper study of the earlier Avatars on your part. Having come this far, I perhaps ought to include a few more talks dealing with the current Sri Sathya Sai Avatar. Unfortunately, right now, I have too many deadlines to meet; so I shall reserve for later, the pleasant task of speaking about the incarnation of our own Beloved Swami! Meanwhile, thanks for being with me during the present series, and I do hope it was of some use to you. As for me, it certainly uplifted me a lot in countless ways. God be with you all. Hopefully, I shall be back soon, with narrations about the wonderful Sri Sathya Sai Avatar, who is here not only to save humanity but also to fill us with Bliss in so many different ways! Samasthaa Loka Sukhino Bhavantu. Jai Sai Ram. (To be Continued...) Shirdi Baba and devotees Experiences Baba Takes Care-Experience By Sai Devotee. Author: Manisha.Rautela.Bisht on 11:13 PM Dear readers,Here are the few incidences shared by a sai devotee .These experiences prove the fact that in our day to day life even for small small things when we surrender to Baba with full faith ,we experience His presence and blessing .Please read the attached mail below. Jai Sai Ram .Dear Manisha Sai sister,I want you to post few of my experiences in your website. Could you please post it.1) I went to India last year.Just one day before leaving,I had severe stomach pain on and off. I'm very familiar with that pain as it happens at least 2 or 3 times per year and lasts at least few hours. I'm supposed to go to office and it was very important for me to go to office as I'll be leaving to India the next day. I usually do not take any UDI for my problems as I think I should experience my bad karma. But that day I was forced to take UDI and even though I've little faith, the stomach pain disappeared in an hour. This is indeed a miracle as I always have it atleast for few hours and this time it had gone so fast .I also learnt about the healing power of Udi.2) While in India,I went to my in-laws place who live in a small village. The restroom is outside of the house and I was very scared to use it in the night as I need to step out of the house. I somehow gathered courage, used the restroom around 1:55 AM in the morning and soon after entering the house, there was power cut. Later I came to know that there is power cut every night at 2:00 AM. I know this sounds funny but see how Baba helped me at the midnight without getting scared or into any trouble .3) This is the most important experience. We went to Kalahasti and Tirupati along with my 7 and a half months old son and in the evening my son started crying uncontrollably. That was the first time ever my son cried with pain since his birth. I thought of giving UDI, but could not find it. I'm dead against giving any medicine to my son and after 3 hours of constant crying, we took him to the doctor.I was praying to Sai that his pain should go away without any medicine and while we are on our way to the hospital, I saw Sai temple which was a perfect assurance and also my son kind of stopped crying and was crying intermittently on our way to the hospital. Soon after I stepped into the hospital, I saw big Sai photo and I was relieved and than I saw Tirumal Balaji photo next to it ,what else can I seek for?. As soon as we stepped into the hospital, my son stopped crying and I was very happy.I thanked Baba from bottom of my heart4) After we came back from our vacation, I felt my son was hyper active, so I gave him some UDI and he settled down. He wasn't sleeping properly during nights and used be awake for most part of the night and we dealt with this for about a week. Everyone was tired, so I prayed to Babaji that if he sleeps through out the night, I'll bring my son to your temple the next Thursday. My son started sleeping well after that, but we could not take him to Baba temple the next Thursday as he was sleeping. Please Baba, forgive us for this.And we shall definitely bring him to temple for your darshan .I wish all the devotees reading my experience to benefit from it .I wish to convey that whenever we remember Baba with full faith and surrender to His will everything goes well and we are relieved of our worries and issue even if they seem petty and day to day worries. Thank you .Sairam .Sai devotee. SHIRDI SAI PARTHI SAI - PART 46(Continued from the previous issue) [This page has lots of Graphics. Allow time for the images to download] Click here to go to Previous issue story > > ACT XX SCENE 1 A hut is built on the land gifted by Subbamma, and that now becomes the residence of Young Swami. While many adore and worship Baba, some are jealous and have evil intentions towards Him. A MAN: It seems that Karnam Subbamma gave a piece of her land to Young [bala] Swami. SECOND PERSON: Subbamma has tremendous devotion for Bala Swami. THIRD PERSON: Apart from devotion, Subbamma is also a very generous lady. That is why she so readily offered help. YET ANOTHER MAN: It is Easwaramma’s blessing to have given birth to Bala Swami, while it is our good fortune and blessing to be able to listen to His Divine Discourses. FIRST PERSON: Swami taking birth in this village of Puttaparthi is the result of the good merit earned by its inhabitants in previous births. SCENE 2 A plot is hatched to set fire to the hut of Baba. RAMA: Hey, come on!…. Come quick! RAJA: Look out and see if someone is coming. RAMA: Sit down……sit down….. GANGA: They call Him God, God. …. They hire bullock carts and come here…Deluded, they have become mad…..How can man be God? What is all this illusion and miracles!……… RAJA: Even if He is not God but has some power, let Him show it now! ….Is it miracle or magic, is He real or fraud?………We will soon know! RAMA: Stop talking ……. Go and get the torches first; we will then light the torches and set fire to the hut. The hut is torched, and is rapidly getting burnt. People see this and are shocked. A MAN: Look! Bala Swami’s hut is burning.….. And Swami is inside!! ANOTHER MAN: Hey! Get up!! ….. Bala Swami’s hut is burning!……Fire….Fire!….. A THIRD PERSON: Come on! ………The hut is burning! ……..Bring some water!… FOURTH PERSON: Hey, all of you come! Bala Swami’s hut is on fire!……Come! Someone has set fire to it…….. Meanwhile, it mysteriously starts raining. But wonder of wonders, the rain is pouring down only over the burning hut and nowhere else! People are astonished. A MAN: Look! It is raining right over there! ….. Rain is pouring down on the burning hut!!…… ANOTHER MAN: Indeed!………. Really, it is raining!……… THIRD PERSON: But it is not raining over us! ……… Not even a drop on us!….How amazing! FOURTH PERSON: This is most astonishing! …….. Rainwater is not falling on us but coming down only on the burning hut!!…….How strange!….. YET ANOTHER PERSON: There is nothing strange about it…..Bala Swami is inside…..And Swami is no ordinary person. A LADY: Swami is God! ANOTHER SPECTATOR: That is why it is not a mere hut but a Divine Abode. Meanwhile, the plotters are aghast; evidently, their plans have totally misfired. Slowly, the truth dawns on them. GANGA: All along we mistakenly believed that everything was an illusion and a fraud…….But now, we know the truth…. RAJA: The rain is coming down only on the burning hut!…..How strange!!…. A MAN IN THE CROWD: Bala Swami is no ordinary person. He is God!….He is a God with extra-ordinary powers….Otherwise, how can it rain just on the burning hut and not on us?….. Astounding!…… SECOND PERSON: Look! The burning hut is now back to normal! THIRD PERSON: That is not a hut but a temple. That is why such a miracle has happened!….. FOURTH PERSON: That makes sense. After seeing this miracle, can anyone doubt the Divinity of Bala Swami?…..There! Looks like Bala Swami is coming!… A LADY: It is all a Leela, a sport of God! Bala Swami is coming! Swami appears on the scene and He is duly hailed. A cheer-leader shouts, “Bala Swami Ki†and the crowd responds by shouting “Jai†which means victory. The gang that set fire to the hut realise who Swami is, feel remorse, and decide to seek Swami’s pardon. RAMANA: Bala Swami is truly God!…… RAMA: Let us go at once to Bala Swami, fall at His Feet, and beg for His forgiveness…. THE EVIL GANG: [chorus] Swami, please forgive us! BABA: What for? GANGA : Mistaking You to be a fraud and a magician, we set fire to Your abode… RAJA: We wanted to test Your powers. Swami! Please forgive us! BABA: You did not do any wrong. It was your ignorance that made you act the way you did….. Ignorance is like darkness…. In the matchstick that you used, there is fire as well as light. The same match can be used to light either a fire or a lamp. With the fire you can reduce a hut to ashes whereas with the lamp you can dispel darkness. …Use first your intellect to remove your ignorance… Stop testing. The fault is not yours but that of your ignorance… You may go now… THIEVES: Swami! You are truly God! You are truly God! SCENE 3 Easwaramma is deeply upset by the incident of arson. She is very much worried about the safety of her dear Sathyam. The boy refuses to listen to her; she has no recourse but to pray to her favourite God, Lord Sathyanarayana, who gave her the boy as His gift. EASWARAMMA: O Lord! You are constantly testing young Sathyam who is totally innocent about the ways of the world…..How long am I to bear all this? …Oh God! How long have I to suffer this anguish? ….Treating Sathyam to be Your very Gift, we have named Him after You!… Sobs. EASWARAMMA: When people worshipped Him as Bala Swami, I saw You in Him….. But……But…This jealousy and hatred have exceeded all limits! …Lord! Why are You subjecting Sathyam to all these difficult tests?…No!….No!…No more such tests!….. Please don’t agitate this mother’s heart….Don’t disturb it please! …I can’t bear it….I just can’t bear it! Swami enters Easwaramma’s house at this juncture and calls out to her. BABA: Lady of the house…..lady of the house…. EASWARAMMA: My boy……my dear Sathyam……my child!… BABA: Is it not true that when a net is thrown into a pond, only fish will be caught and not water? In the same way, acts performed out of ignorance will not harm those who enjoy God’s Grace. Lady, don’t worry!.. EASWARAMMA: My child, ……my Sathyam! SCENE 4 The hut being set on fire and its miraculous survival now becomes the talk of the village. A LADY: Sister, did you see that extra-ordinary happening? There was no rain anywhere in the village but it just poured over the hut of Bala Swami! ANOTHER LADY: Yes, the rain came down only on the burning hut! THIRD LADY: The rains came to put out the fire because Sathyam is God! FOURTH LADY: How remarkable! In this Kali Age, God is living right here in this very village of ours and right before our eyes! THE FIRST LADY: Venkama’s son Raju is no ordinary person! He is a Great One with extra-ordinary powers. Otherwise, how can it rain non-stop just over the burning hut and nowhere else? SECOND LADY: It seemed as if the Rain God had come down to have the Darshan of Bala Swami! A LADY IN THE GROUP: We should all be proud that such a Noble Soul is residing in our village. Not everyone can have this Divine Spark; it is the cumulative merit of earlier births…..This miracle is like what Lord Krishna performed earlier in the Dwapara Age. FIRST LADY: Fortunate indeed are we to be able to witness and be thrilled by the Leelas of Swami! SCENE 5 The scene is Venkama Raju’s house. The subject of discussion is the recent hut-burning incident. KONDAMA RAJU: Such stories are known from the days of the Mahabharatha. Did not the evil Kauravas try to burn the noble Pandavas, when the latter were occupying the palace built of lacquer? What happened then? ….. God’s power prevailed, and evil power took flight!…. A similar thing has happened in this Kali Age also. Once more, and in the very same manner, God’s might has triumphed over evil forces. No evil power can ever touch our dear Sathyam, anywhere and at any time……… Please believe me. Don’t worry! VENKAMA RAJU: Father, how can you say that?! What if something terrible were to happen?….. KONDAMA RAJU: Venkama, you have not understood Sathyam. That is why you are having such doubts. …… VENKAMA RAJU: We have to punish those wicked people…..We have to make sure that such things do not happen again. .. BABA: I have not incarnated in order to punish the wicked but to remove the evil in them, and to show them the sacred path. Even Dharmaraja, who never wavered from Dharma, had enemies. He was named Ajata Shatru [one who has no enemies] but all the Kauravas were his enemies! ……….In this Kali Age, evil overshadows good….. Devotion to God alone can invoke the Supreme Power that annihilates evil forces….. Constantly remembering God, promotes devotion. SCENE 6 MAN: Seshama Raju, Seshama Raju! It seems some evil people set fire to Bala Swami’s abode in Puttaparthi! SESHAMA RAJU: Is that so? MAN: But don’t worry. Swami is safe. Thanks to the Divine Power in Him, He did not face any danger. I will take your leave now. - END OF EPISODE 27 - ---- CONVERSATIONS WITH SAISatyopanishad - Part 24Direct Directions from the Divine Dear Reader,In response to your positive feedback to this section where we have a conversation with the Divine, we continue with Prof. Anil Kumar’s ‘Satyopanishad’ following Dr. John Hislop’s series ‘Conversations with Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba’ that ended in January 2008.This series is also in the question-answer format that many devotees prefer, and has answers from Bhagavan on topics as wide ranging as the origin of evil, the goals of human life, and aspects of God – embodied and formless, to price hikes, women’s liberation, vegetarianism, and the generation gap among people of the present times.Published in two parts by the author, these volumes have 270 questions in all, which are neatly grouped under separate chapters. In this issue, we continue chapter seven, “Sadhana, The Inner Doorâ€. CHAPTER VII:Sadhana, The Inner Door Prof. Anil Kumar: Swami! Renunciation, we feel, is the most difficult thing. We have so many attachments and it is not easy to give them up. Kindly suggest an alternative!Bhagavan: No, it is very easy. You are wrong if you say that detachment is difficult. In fact, it is simpler and easier to be detached than to be attached. Now, look here! I hold this handkerchief in my hand. I hold it tight in my grip. It is a strain holding it like that for a long time, i.e. holding the handkerchief in the grip. On the contrary, it is very easy to simply drop it. Is it not? So attachment is difficult while detachment is easy.Prof. Anil Kumar: Swami! Many different types of sadhana (spiritual practices) are suggested and prescribed for seekers and aspirants. They are very confusing and the situation of the present day seekers is that they have almost forgotten what a spiritual practice is. Most often having taken one path, many drop out or discontinue. Why? Kindly tell us the truth of the matter?Bhagavan: In My opinion, spirituality is very simple and easy. You may find crushing the petals of a rose flower difficult; compared with it spirituality is easier. But unfortunately, today there is none who knows and teaches sadhana. What is sadhana? It is a process of removing anatma (non-self from atma, Self). Then, you will have atmanubhavam, the experience of the Self. In other words, the Self, Spirit, Conscience, or atma is the reality. All the rest is non-self or anatma. This is the purpose of spiritual pursuit or sadhana.You also wanted to know why a chosen spiritual path is discontinued. Understand well that nothing is wrong with sadhana. The mistake is yours. It is your weakness. For example, you boarded the Bangalore bound tram. If you get down in the middle without reaching the destination, whose fault is it? It is definitely not the mistake of the train. It is your fault.Prof. Anil Kumar: Swami! We are not able to meditate. We do not even know the procedure. What are we to do?Bhagavan: When the procedure is not correctly known and you are not able to concentrate as you meditate, do not waste time. Do some good work. It is ridiculous sitting down for meditation, while thinking of all sense objects and sensual pleasures. It is purely a waste of time. In fact, if it is true meditation, the feeling, "I am meditating", should totally vanish. The three - 'the one that meditates’, ‘the one on whom you meditate upon' and the 'process of meditation' should be unified. This is called triputi. "Laziness is rust and dust; Realisation is rest and best" Always keep in mind one important thing. You are as much far from Me as I am from you. You should always experience proximity with God and finally identify yourself with Him. The fruit of your meditation depends on this. With conviction that God is everywhere and by loving and serving all, giving up selfishness and self-interest, you will experience the benefit of true meditation and know that your reality is atma, the Self. One example you might remember about meditation. Here are two tumblers, of which one is full of milk that has to be poured out into the other tumbler. What do you do? You hold the tumbler filled with milk in one hand and the empty tumbler in the other, and slowly pour milk. The two tumblers should be held tight.If the tumbler with milk is shaking for any reason, the milk spills out. If the other tumbler is not held tight, and starts shaking, you can never collect milk. In other words, both the tumblers must be kept steady. The upper tumbler with milk is God, who should be pleased with your unflinching devotion while the lower tumbler, which represents the devotee should have unwavering faith.Prof. Anil Kumar: Swami! My mind is not steady. How am I to do bhajans? Without steadiness of the mind, what for are our bhajans? Bhagavan: The mind is never steady. This is natural. The body may find it easy to be steady and difficult to move and run, the condition of the mind however is just the opposite. The mind finds it difficult to be steady, but easy to run or waver. Body is jada, inert, but the mind is chaitanya, awareness. You may lie down on your bed, but your mind will go round all places. Here there is one important point that is to be noted. The mind has no independent existence. It functions only through the body. The mind which goes round different places is not received and responded to by anyone. No one extends hospitality or responds to its behaviour.It has to come back to the body sometime or the other. Therefore, never stop your sadhana, be it bhajan or meditation. The mind will slowly settle and be steady. Leaves flutter due to wind currents, once it stops, leaves become steady and motionless. The same is the case with the mind. Prof. Anil Kumar: Swami! Some people are not putting in enough effort in matters of spirituality. They are lazy. Is it proper to be so?Bhagavan: This is not spirituality at all. "Laziness is rust and dust; Realisation is rest and best". Man is gifted by God with body, mind and intellect for performing karma, action. It is said, Karmanubandhini manusyaloke - Human society is bound by action. Karmame karanam narunaku sukhadukhamilalo (Telugu verse) - It is only action that makes you happy or unhappy. Karma is the cause of janma (birth). For the redemption of life and following righteousness, one has to take to the path of action that gives you the divine experience, brahman. You may say that you are not doing any karma. Remember that you can't live for a moment without karma. Respiration, blood circulation, etc., are actions, whether you know it or not. You eat food while it is God who digests it. One significant thing is human effort and God's grace are both equally important. These are like the positive and negative wires through which the current flows. Another example is the matchbox. In order to light a matchstick, you have to strike it against the sides of the box. I give you another illustration in support of this. Suppose the cart in which you are traveling turns upside down. You have to get up slowly and lift a wheel to set it right. God's grace will add to your effort raising the other wheel so that the cart comes back to the normal position.Prof. Anil Kumar: Swami! Some say that satkarma, good action is enough; others argue that puja is essential, but some hold the view that atmavidya (knowledge of the Self) is the only way to liberation. How are we to coordinate and integrate these three? Are these not contradictory to each other? Why should these three be prescribed?Bhagavan: First, be very clear that they are not contradictory. Performance of good action is karma marga (Path of Action). The three activities you have mentioned are like three different kinds of travel by train. The first is the direct train that takes you to your destination. This is jnana marga, the Path of Wisdom. The other one is, the train in which you have to change to another at a railway junction, as it is not a direct train. This is karma marga, the Path of Action.But, there are still other trains to which the carriage you board will be connected, and you don't have to get down and change it on the way. This is bhakti marga, the Path of Devotion. You can view these paths in this way. Another example, a mother has three sons. She feeds the youngest one, a little one, all by herself. But the second son is a grown up boy who will go straight to the kitchen and have his food served by the cook. The eldest son being an adult can serve food for himself and eat it. Similar is the situation here. The youngest child stands for the Path of Action, the second son represents the Path of Devotion, while the eldest symbolises the Path of Wisdom.Another example, a king had three wives. He had to be away from his kingdom longer than planned. So he sent a message to his three wives telling them that his return was delayed and also asking them to inform him as to what he should bring home for them as gifts. The first wife said she needed nothing except his safe return. The second wife who was ailing for quite sometime wanted medicines, while the third one who was very fond of jewels wanted the latest designs to be brought. On his return, the king went straight to the first wife and stayed there. The other two wives came and pleaded with him to visit them also saying, "Oh King! Your return was already delayed. You have been spending much time with your first wife. What about us?" The king replied, "Look! This one wanted my safe return. So I am with her. But you wanted medicines and jewels, and accordingly I sent to both of you what you had asked for." There are three 'W's. The first 'W' indicates 'Work' or karma marga, the second 'W' means 'Worship' (Devotion) or Bhakti marga, and the third 'W' signifies 'Wisdom', or jnana marga. These three are contained in the name of SAI. 'S' stands for 'Service (karma yoga)’, 'A' for 'Adoration' (bhakti yoga) and ‘I’ for 'Illumination (jnana yoga)’. Thus, the first wife who asked for the king himself and none else stands for vairagya, renunciation. The second wife who wanted medicines represents prakritika jnana, material knowledge, while the third one who wanted jewels symbolises prakritika bhakti worldly devotion for worldly gains.Therefore, different spiritual paths are prescribed and suggested considering the eligibility, temperament, suitability, capability and the samskaras and vasanas (tendencies brought forward from past lives).The same thing I tell My students. There are three 'W's. The first 'W' indicates 'Work' or karma marga, the second 'W' means 'Worship' (Devotion) or Bhakti marga, and the third 'W' signifies 'Wisdom', or jnana marga. These three are contained in the name of SAI. 'S' stands for 'Service (karma yoga)’, 'A' for 'Adoration' (bhakti yoga) and ‘I’ for 'Illumination (jnana yoga)’. Prof. Anil Kumar: Swami! We want to know how a true experience can be communicated.Bhagavan: Here, there are three steps. First, you should know, jnanatum, then, see drastum, and finally, experience, pravestum.You know a mango. You go to the market where you see it. That is not enough. You should buy and eat it to experience the taste of it. You can describe what you know and see. But you can't convey your experience.For instance, if you stand knee-deep in water you can freely talk. If you stand neck deep in water, you can afford to talk. If you drown yourself totally, you can't talk. Can you? This is the state of total experience beyond expression.Prof. Anil Kumar: Swami! What is the cause of agitation? How are we to get rid of it? What changes are needed to be free from agitation?Bhagavan: Absence of sathya, truth and dharma, righteousness is responsible for all agitation today. Therefore, people have lost peace and bliss. One has to live attached to God, anurakti, detached from the world, virakti, with devotion, bhakti, and achieve liberation, mukti, with all your energies, shakti. This is the only solution to problems like agitation, restlessness and conflicts internal or external. Modern man has faith neither in himself nor in God. He is blind having lost the two eyes of faith. Human life without faith is a barren land. It is not man, manisi (Telugu) who should change. It is the mind, manasu (Telugu) that has to change. Niti (morality), riti (conduct), and khyati (good name) are essential. Truth or sathya is morality or niti, righteous conduct or dharma is the way of life or rithi, while sacrifice or tyaga is the good name or khyati that you should get.A man with desires, kama, is never happy.A man with anger, krodha, will have no friends.A man with greed, lobha, is cut off from bliss, ananda. Therefore, kama, krodha and lobha are enemies. The happiness of the vyakti, individual, depends on samisti, the community. The individual has a form. The community has no form. If you respect the individual, it means you are respecting the community. The community is in srusti, the creation.The Creator is paramesti, God. So it all begins with vyakti, the individual and ends in paramesti, divinity. In other words, God has created this world in which samisti, community consists of vyakti, individuals. Thus, they are interrelated and interdependent. Therefore, in the individual, morality is truth. His conduct should be righteous and his reputation lies in realising God. Bhagavan Buddha speaks of certain aspects of individual sadhana. Buddha said, samyakdrsti, good vision, is necessary. "Your vision must be pure and sacred". This will lead to samyak sravanam, good listening. These two great qualities imprinted in the heart induce samyak bhava, good feeling. This prompts and promotes samyak kriya, good action. Therefore, at the individual level, when good vision, good listening, good feeling and good action are followed, the community will be ideal. There will be no disquiet and agitation. One has to correct one's lapses and mistakes. You should never speak ill of anybody. There is another episode connected with Buddha. Buddha mercifully accepted the invitation of a prostitute to dine at her residence.While He was proceeding, the village head came and objected to His visit to her residence, as she was a bad character. Buddha caught hold of his right hand and said, "Now, clap your hands if you can". The village head said "Oh, Lord! How can I clap with one hand while you hold my right hand?" Buddha smiled and said, "You can't clap with one hand. You have to join both the hands. Similarly, you have said that the woman is of loose character. Who has made her like that? It is you people who have spoiled her". Then the village head and other elders fell at His feet and followed Buddha. The woman too changed her behaviour and became His devotee.During that time another significant event happened. One day Buddha was tired and taking rest. So He asked one of His disciples to address the gathering that evening on a spiritual topic. The disciple got up, and while speaking in praise of his master, Buddha, he said, "No master like Buddha was ever born before him nor would be born later". Everyone clapped.On hearing this, Buddha came into their midst, and gently said, "How old are you?" How do you know that no one like your master was born before and would be born in future? How can you speak about the future? Many noble people lived in the past and are now living in the present, and also will be born in the future". Thus, He indicated indirectly the advent of Avatars or divine incarnations.One has to live attached to God, anurakti, detached from the world, virakti, with devotion, bhakti, and achieve liberation, mukti, with all your energies, shakti. This is the only solution to problems like agitation, restlessness and conflicts internal or external.Prof. Anil Kumar: Swami! We have been thinking that all things can be achieved through Self-confidence. In your discourse that day you mentioned Self-protection and Self-punishment too. Kindly explain these.Bhagavan: Quite often I mention to our boys these things: Self-confidence, Self-satisfaction, Self-sacrifice, and Self-realisation. In addition to these, Self-protection and Self-punishment too are necessary. Self-protection is the capacity to face anything with Self-steadfastness.Then Self-punishment involves the faculties of examining one's mistakes of one's own accord, and of refraining from those mistakes through firm resolve. Self-punishment is holding in check through repentance possibilities of those mistakes. "Quite often I mention to our boys these things: Self-confidence, Self-satisfaction, Self-sacrifice, and Self-realisation. In addition to these, Self-protection and Self-punishment too are necessary. Self-protection is the capacity to face anything with Self-steadfastness". Prof. Anil Kumar: Swami! In the classes, we have learnt about self-awareness. How can our tendency be changed? Kindly teach us the appropriate technique.Bhagavan: I asked you, "What does 'self-awareness' mean?" Someone said, "understanding". This is not the correct answer. This word can be interpreted in two ways. In the worldly sense, it refers to looking at oneself, i.e., selfishness. Knowledge concerning this can be called "self-awareness". Spiritually, its meaning is quite different. In spiritual terms, all that is, is merely the Self. The key to all actions and all experiences lies within the Self. The body, mind, senses, and intellect are just instruments of the Self. Without the Self, these are useless. These are to the self what the head, leg, hand, and so on are to the body. Now I asked you what is meant by 'tendency'. Someone replied, "attitude", and another "nature". These are not correct. It is an innate orientation. Tendency exists in man in three modes. Their names are animal tendency, human tendency, and divine tendency. Of these, the first runs after sense objects. The second is marked by discrimination, though coloured by desires. The third is totally devoid of desires, attachment, and 'I' and 'Mine'. There may be an attachment and sense of 'I' and 'mine' in life, but life is not for the pursuit of these.You asked for an appropriate technique. When I asked for the meaning of that word, one called it 'method,' and another, 'procedure.' These two are not correct. The technique is vidhi vidhanam. What ought to be done is vidhi; how to do it is vidhanam. There is only one technique for Self-awareness. You have to have awareness that you are the atma, the Self. I refer to it as Constant Integrated Awareness. This Self or Atma is truly God. You are the embodiment of God. Here you should remember three things:i) What is it that once it is had, is never lost? Jnana. In other words, when jnana occurs, that is, when there is awareness, it never is lost.ii) What is it which once lost can never be had again? Ajnana, ignorance. When once ajnana is lost, you cannot have it again.iii) What is it that is neither lost nor had? Brahmam, Self, Atma, this may be called 'Self-Awareness.' Prof. Anil Kumar: Swami! How are we to realise the existence of divinity, and by what intimation are we to cognise it? Swami is pleased to refer to it in the charming phrase, "Constant Integrated Awareness". How are we to achieve this Awareness?Bhagavan: The idea that all forms and all names belong to God is verily Constant Integrated Awareness. The experience of sarvam vishnumayam jagat - the world is pervaded by Vishnu, is but Constant Integrated Awareness. God can be experienced in any form, at any time or place.The life of Tulasidas illustrates this beautifully. He could not recognise God even when He approached him and talked to him. One day Tulasidas sat under a tree, grinding a piece of sandalwood on a mortar to prepare the paste. Right then, two cowherd boys came there and asked him, "Grandfather! Will you give us some sandal paste?" The idea that all forms and all names belong to God is verily Constant Integrated Awareness. The experience of sarvam vishnumayam jagat - the world is pervaded by Vishnu, is but Constant Integrated Awareness. God can be experienced in any form, at any time or place. Then, Tulasidas replied, "My children! I am preparing this for Lord Sri Ramachandramurthi". Two parrots, perched on a bough of that tree, observed this, and commented, "For whose sake is all this paste? Why doesn't he realise it?" Tulasidas heard these words. He knew the language of the birds. The next day, while he was preparing the paste, the two cowherd boys turned up. This time, even without asking him, they took some sandal paste into their palms, applied it to the forehead, and left. Tulasidas who had noticed this was dumbfounded. This time too he heard the birds’ comments from the branch of the tree, "Aha! What a wonder! Those for whom the sandal paste was prepared, had themselves come, and received it! What fortune!" As he knew the language of the birds, Tulasidas realised that the boys who had adorned themselves with the paste were, indeed, Rama and Lakshmana. Out of ignorance, he had at first denied them.You may have heard of Vemana too. He was a thinker who belittled worship offered to stones and idols. He used to doubt, "God, who pervades the whole world, how can He be inside stone statues?" He used to make fun of idol worshippers. One day, his elder brother's daughter, whom he loved dearly, passed away.Grief stricken, he kept on gazing at the little girl's picture hanging on the wall. His elder brother's wife was observing all this. One day, she threw down the picture. It broke into pieces. This was too much for Vemana to bear. Then, she said, "My son! My girl is no more, isn't she? Why do you cry over a broken picture?" Vemana replied, "Mother! Though she is gone, her picture was here, wasn't it? Looking at it has been some consolation for me. That is why when it broke into pieces, I am grieving ever more." Then his elder brother's wife counseled him admirably, "My son!It is very true that God is present everywhere. But, the devotee delights in seeing Him and worshipping Him in an idol as well. Just as you consoled yourself looking at the picture even though she whom you love is no more, the devotee invokes God in an idol, and offers it worship." Straightaway Vemana grasped her message, and the secret behind idol worship. In this way, the experience of visualising the Supreme Lord in all places, times, and creatures is truly Constant Integrated Awareness. This can also be called the existence and intimation of Divinity. ---- The Real Nature of the Life of Man To a superficial observer, the life of man appears as an endless round of eating and drinking, toiling and sleeping. But, verily life has a much greater meaning; a much deeper significance. Life is a sacrifice, a yagna. Each little act is an offering to the Lord. If the day is spent in deeds performed in this spirit of surrender, what else can sleep be except Samadhi? Man commits the great fault of identifying himself with the body. He has accumulated a variety of things for the upkeep and comfort of the body. Even when the body becomes weak and decrepit with age, he attempts to bolster it up, by some means or other. But, how long can death be postponed? When Yama's warrant comes each has to depart. Before Death, position, pride and power, all vanish. Realizing this, strive day and night, with purity of body and mind and spirit, to realize the Higher Self, by the service of all living beings. The body must be preserved as a vehicle for this service. But remember, you are not this body; this body cannot be you. Tat Tvam Asi. Thou art That. That is the highest and holiest Mahavakya; you are the indestructible Atma Tatwa. It is for the sake of that Atma Tatwa that you have this body and so in the attempt to realize Parameshwara here and now, you must be prepared to offer this body, at any moment, as a sacrifice. Utilise your authority over this body to foster the welfare of the world. This body is but an instrument, an implement given by God. Let it serve its purpose. But, until the realization of the purpose for which the implement is given, it is your duty to watch over it vigilantly and protect it from injury and disablement. During winter woollen clothes are worn to withstand the rigour of the cold gales. But when the cold subsides they are discarded. So, too, when the cold gales of material life do not affect us in the least, the material body is no longer essential. One is conscious of only the incorporeal body. Ten kinds of purity (Sattva). When the rains come, earth and sky are one in the sheety downpour. It is indeed a beautiful inspiring scene, a scene by which creation itself is teaching you to become One, in unison with it. There are three lessons that can be learnt - the impermanence of created things, the role of Man as the servant, and God as the Master. This creation is the wherewithal of the Puja; Man is the worshipper, and God, the worshipped. The game called Life is played with these. Man must be happy that Purushothama has placed around him newer and newer materials for serving Him and gets done through him Puja in various forms. He must pray for newer and newer opportunities and exult in the chance that his hands receive. The attitude gives immeasurable joy. To lead a life suffused with this joy is indeed bliss. Whatever is done from sunrise to sunset must be consecrated, as if it is the worship of the Lord. As care is taken to pluck only fresh flowers and keep them clean and unfaded, so too ceaseless effort should be made to do deeds which are pure and unsullied. If everyday, this vision is kept before the mind's eye and life is lived accordingly, then it becomes one long unbroken service of the Lord. The feeling of I and Thou will soon disappear; all trace of self will be destroyed. Life then transmutes itself into a veritable Haripaaraayanam. "I am the sevaka. This world is the offering. God is the master who is worshipped" - when one attains this stage of thought, feeling and action, all difference between mine and thine will disappear. ------- Dr Hislop say How to find a personal God --------------------- Swami Says: "What is the path of devotion?" He says, first of all, how should regard Swami....You hear me refer to Him as God. God is some body far way... Swami says the reason that ancients did no realize God, is that they put Him on a pinnacle of greatness and majesty, far, far away: and that prevented them from realizing God.... realizing them self. He likes to be regarded as a near friend and dear friend able and willing to help you...So He should be regarded as one of your friends... I walk hand in hand with Swami all the time as my dear friend. I Argue with Him, I scowled Hin and talk with Him all the time... I reecite His name all the time, "Om Sai Ram, Om Sai Ram." That is way He likes to be regarded, as a close and dear friend who is with you always. He Says that the first major step on the path of devotion is to find, to adopt a personal God. We just finished saying that He does not like to be regarded as God. But, nevertheless, He says one should choose a personal God I said. "Swami, God is really impersonal because He is every place all all times, Omniiscent and Omnipresent. " Swami said that was true, but how are you going to realize Him if He is just an abstract idea? What you must do is choose a Personal God, and then love that personal God with all your heart and all your soull. Begin to love that personal God so much that you begin to love that personal God so much that you begin to see HIM WHEREEVER YOU LOOK...See Him in every person. IN THAT WAY, YOU realize your God. -------- HOW A LOVELY FAMILY WAS REUNITED…THROUGH LOVE This is the story of Sunitha, and her husband, Chandrakanth, a young couple from the Indian metro, Mumbai. Destiny dealt them a severe blow a few weeks after their marriage when a doctor diagnosed Sunitha with a terrible ailment, and as days rolled by her condition turned from bad to worse to pathetic. Fortunately, in spite of all this, she became a mother but was deprived of the joys of motherhood; she was too sick and handicapped to care of her child. She cried every single day…. But now she smiles all day, thanks to Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences, Prasanthigram. What exactly happened? How did her life change so dramatically? Read this moving account. Sunita is Forced to Give Her Baby Away For Sunita, the dingy room in her single-room accommodation in a Mumbai suburb had become her world. The room was hardly 7x10 ft, with flaking blue paint on the walls and a dilapidated wooden door, through the cracks of which she would figure out what time of the day it was. Lying incapacitated on the bed she would constantly think about her new born boy. How lovely he was, when she had seen him last - white chubby cheeks with a hint of red in them, cute little hands and even tinier fingers with puny nails. The smile has returned on Sunita's face.... When these thoughts crossed her mind, tears welled up in her eyes. Sunita then invariably remembered the day, just a few days after her son was born, when she had to hand him over to her mother. She would then weep bitterly till exhaustion set in and she fell asleep. She would be woken up by her husband, Chandrakant at noon for lunch. The routine more or less remained the same after that. Even before her marriage, Sunita had this reoccurring pain in the back. Just days after marriage the pain aggravated and she found it difficult to stand erect. Her condition worsened after the delivery of her child. Finally Sunita was reduced to a pitiful state of crawling - she could not even lift her hands completely. The enormity of simple tasks like washing her face and combing her hair scared her. But today she is on her feet again. People may call it a miracle, but the surgeons of the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences, Prasanthigram, where the treatment was performed totally free of cost, and Sunita herself treat it as Bhagavan Baba’s gift of love to her. Sunita presently is standing tall and walking again and for the first time after parting with her son, she will be able to take him in her arms. Chandrakant said, “Once we were inside the Hospital we had to spend for nothing. Everything is free for patients; they do not charge anything for food, or accommodation, or even for the operation. But in all other hospitals that I went to in Mumbai, the first thing they asked was money. It is so different here; it is all Love. When Sunita got married in 2005, she never suspected that the nagging pain in her back would be much of a concern later. Though she tried to figure out a reason for the pain, she never thought it was serious enough to make a visit to a doctor. And with the preparations on for her marriage at her home in Sholapur (about 400 kms from Mumbai), the pain was quickly forgotten. About ten days after marriage, the pain made itself felt again and Sunita had a difficult time standing straight. Finally, husband and wife visited a doctor. The consultant performed some tests and declared that Sunita had tuberculosis of the bones. Tuberculosis of the Bones Ruins Sunita’s Life “They told me I had bone TB. I did not even know what it was. I was told to take medicines, and to come back for a surgery, and the price to be paid for the operation was an exorbitant sum. But they could not assure me whether the benefit of the surgery would last beyond a year,†Sunita said recounting those fateful days. While she took the medicines, the family could do nothing when it came to paying the cost for the treatment. Sunita’s husband, Chandrakant, a vegetable vendor had hardly ever thought that his wife’s condition would be so grim, but there was little they could do. By this time, Sunita had started stooping and her capacity to perform the basic household chores diminished considerably. Months flew by and soon Sunita was in her family way. After the delivery of her baby boy, her condition worsened. She could hardly stand and was reduced to getting around on her hands and knees. Realising her deteriorating condition and the increasing family responsibilities on her husband, with a heavy heart she passed on her son to her mother’s care. “I cried bitterly, when I handed over my child to my mother, but I was helpless as the doctors advised that the child be raised by my mother,†she recalled. Sunita’s happiness now know no bounds. Exuding joy, she said, “I am able to cook and serve my family now. For so long, I could not rear my own child. The first thing I am going to do once we get home is to take my baby into my arms. I can definitely take care of my little one now. We are a small family, I can surely cook and look after my husband and son; my child no more needs to be away from me. Sai Baba has given me a new life and to the child his mother. What more can I ask?†Chandrakant stood like a rock beside her in her moment of grief. “My husband not only took care of me, but also of the household impeccably. He would prepare food for me, wash my clothes, take care of the baby and during the day sell vegetables and with the money run the household. He never made me feel as if I was a burden on him,†she added. Chandrakant, Sunita's husband, who worked hard and supported his wife wholly during their difficult times “I was doing all the household chores and taking care of my wife and our child,†Chandrakant said in a solemn voice. He was earlier working in a small time company as a mechanic, but Sunita’s condition, and care for the newborn forced him to give up his job and remain closer to the family, that is when he started vegetable vending. “As it was difficult to take care of both the child and my wife, we decided that the child be best left in the care of my mother-in-law who is in Sholapur (which is a four hour drive from Mumbai),†he added. Sunita looks back at her past and sighs. “Ab lagta hai jaise sab ek bura sapna tha (it feels now as if it was all a bad dream),†she said, losing the train of thought. Returning to her story, she continued, “We did not have the money so the misery continued. The only thing I did was to cry the whole day. “Our neighbour who had undergone surgery for a urological ailment at Swami’s Super Hospital came back and told us that he had seen many people who were visiting the hospital for bone ailments. He told us it was a free hospital. But we definitely had our doubts. We could hardly believe what he said. But when he spoke to us at length about how the facilities and services were being provided really free of any charge, we became convinced and at once decided to come here.†The Doctors are Faced with a Challenge Surgery was performed on Sunita on November 5, 2008. And in November 2009 she was back for a review. According to the Head of Department, Orthopaedics, at Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences, Prasanthigram, Dr. Kailash Rao, Sunita was brought to the hospital on a stretcher. In his opinion, the disease had progressed to such an extent that Sunita was almost on her death bed. Dr. Kailash Rao shares how the seemingly difficult surgery turned out to be a smooth operation, thanks to the invisible hand of Sai For these doctors serving in the Orthopaedic department, SSSIHMS, Prasanthigram, life is a continuous saga of tireless, selfless and joyful service to the patients “She was bent almost 90 degrees and was walking with both hands and legs. When we investigated we found out she was at a quite advanced stage of spinal TB. Adding to the complication, there was a large abscess in front of the abdomen on the right side. She was indeed in a pretty bad shape. Immediate operation was the remedy and we also started the anti-tuberculosis treatment,†he said. The most crucial spinal column which controls our entire nervous system “A big abscess on the right side of the abdomen was of concern to us. The abdomen was bloated and it was difficult to reach the operative side. The surgery was to be done the next day. By Swami’s grace the abscess burst open and all unwanted material came out and the abdomen became flat. It made the operative procedure very easy. "Since then she has been on anti-tuberculosis treatment. And now almost after a year, she is absolutely normal and walking on both legs now like any normal person. The recovery is hundred percent,†Dr. Rao chocked with joy as he said these words. According to Dr. V. R. Vasuki, Senior Consultant in the same department, tuberculosis of the spine is a very common disease in India. “The problem is it is not treated properly. Often it affects the low socio-economic group. There are two reasons to be worried about TB - neither the patient can afford the treatment nor is the afflicted one given a proper education about the course of the disease."As the low socio-economic population is generally affected, it causes the worst complication called the tuberculosis paraplegia. In such a case, both legs get paralysed and the patient remains bed-ridden,†he explained. Dr. Vasuki added that Sunita was lucky that she had not gone to that stage and the surgeons intervened at an appropriate time. The Medical Team Undertook a Risky Operation Elaborating on the surgery performed, Dr. Vasuki added, “After cleaning the diseased area, we took a portion of the rib to support the spine because the back bone there had been completely destroyed. "The bone bridging the two vertebras has now nicely united. Sunita, who was bending parallel to the ground, is now erect. These are unusual surgeries and precarious also. In other places no doctor would like to touch such cases. Dr. Vasuki (left) and Dr. Kailash Rao exult while describing the case of Sunitha and Chandrakanth. For these doctors their only objective is "complete patient welfare". “Just performing the operation is not the end. The patient needs great care for post operative recovery because of the blood loss during operation. Recovering from the operation is a great boon. This hospital is special because here for everyone the ultimate goal is Swami, says Dr. Kailash Rao (first) and Dr. Vasuki, Dept. of Orthopaedics, SSSIHMS, PG. All put together the cost may come to five to six lakhs to the patient - that too without guarantee of recovery. But at our hospital we give the assurance but do not take the money.†The doctor now smiled and his face reflected a deep sense of satisfaction. Sunita and Chandrakant Exult and are Excited about their New Life "Sai Baba has gifted a mother to my child and a wife to my husband," shares Sunitha in the language Hindi Talking excitedly about the Hospital, Chandrakant said, “Once we were inside the Hospital we had to spend for nothing. Everything is free for patients; they do not charge anything for food, or accommodation, or even for the operation. But in all other hospitals that I went to in Mumbai, the first thing they asked was money. It is so different here; it is all Love. Sunitha is all joy as she is about to leave for her hometown as the doctors have assured her that she can now take her child into her arms “Also, we had nice darshan of Baba on the second day of our arrival to this place. It is Baba’s grace that I have been completely cured. The staff here are incredibly helpful; they serve us amazingly. I too would like to serve here.†Sunita’s happiness now know no bounds. Exuding joy, she said “I am able to cook and serve my family now. For so long, I could not rear my own child. The first thing I am going to do once we get home is to take my baby into my arms. I can definitely take care of my little one now. We are a small family, I can surely cook and look after my husband and son; my child no more needs to be away from me. Sai Baba has given me a new life and to the child his mother. What more can I ask?†Such miracles of Love happen in scores in Baba’s Super Speciality Hospitals both in Puttaparthi and Bangalore every single day. These institutes of healthcare silently restore hope and joy in the lives of thousands for whom life had become a continuous nightmare, perhaps it is for this reason that often these hospitals are referred to as ‘Temples of Healing’. For more information about these Hospitals, please visit www.sssmt.org.in - Heart2Heart Team-------- : Name of SAI. 'S' stands for 'Service (karma yoga)’, 'A' for 'Adoration' (bhakti yoga) and ‘I’ for 'Illumination (jnana yoga)’. "Kobe, Japan was honored by the presence of our chairman Dr Micheal Goldstein and Dr Narendra Reddy. Both flew in from Los Angeles to start the first of the 10 pre-world conferences that they plan to conclude before Swami's 85th birthday. Main office bearers and delegates from all the countries in zone 5 were present to attend this conference along with over 300 Japanese delegates. The talks by our distingueshed guests were received with tremendous love and devotion. The study circles that followed on the Sai Ideal theme of "I am I", "God is" and "Love all serve all" were very enlightening and constructive. Both Dr Goldstein and Dr Reddy were very pleased with pre-conference, they have encoureaged all the devotees to continue the study circles thruout the year based on the above subjects." Sai Ram- Conference Photos 23 Files (2037KB) | Download All DSC_0283.jpg DSC_0015.jpg DSC_0020.jpg DSC_0028.jpg DSC_0039.jpg DSC_0049.jpg DSC_0087.jpg DSC_0099.jpg DSC_0159.jpg DSC_0167.jpg ----- THE CORN FARMER The beauty of this planet today lies in the goodness that is found in every little corner even if you aren’t really looking for it. Beautiful tales remind us gently of beautiful people doing beautiful deeds in their little places on this beautiful earth. There was a town that boasted of the state’s best corn farmer. Alex was known in the entire state for producing the best quality corn year after year. “Undoubtedly, he must have the best seeds if Alex has maintained the bar every year,†people whispered amongst themselves at the state fair when they hoped there would be a different winner. Fellow competitors and buyers and the rest of the people at the fair would be amazed at Alex’s streak of accomplishment. No one dared to ask him the secret of his success; just who would be foolish to lose his No. 1 position as the best corn farmer in the state. But what was stranger was that Alex was a kind person who was always willing to help his neighbour farmers; he was indeed the most popular farmer for being the most generous person. He didn’t function as an offish, arrogant, selfish farmer even if he could boast of such continued success. A reporter had come to attend the annual state fair one year when he hoped to find a new winner in the best corn grower in the state category. To no one’s surprise, it was Alex yet again. “Sir, it is about time you told us what keeps you right up there when it comes to your top quality corn?†asked this reporter. Alex beamed before he said rather humbly, “It lies in the fact that I share my seed corn with my neighbours!†“What? You aren’t kidding, are you, Sir?†Bhagavan Baba says, “All the problems of the world today are due to selfishness. People are solely interested in the welfare of themselves and their families; the rest of the world is not of their concern. It should be realised that the welfare of the individual is related to the welfare of society, the nation and the world. Sadly, selfishness and narrow outlook are more prevalent among the educated than among the villagers.†“Not at all and why would I? I’m sure you knew cross pollination takes place because of which the wind helps my good quality ripening corn spread across the fields to my neighbours. Can you imagine what it would be like if the same wind brought poor quality corn from the field of my neighbours to my field? Wouldn’t my hard work be an utter waste of time and money? What would be the result? An entire town of substandard corn! “The seed corns that I share with all my neighbours helps all of us benefit from one another whilst I retain my best quality corn. Sharing can have magical effects, friend! I’m sure you have learnt something new today?†The reporter didn’t expect this revelation for an answer. Alex continued, “You don’t become successful by living like an island. You reach out, share, help, support, and it all comes back manifold.†If any one of us has been carrying the thought that one’s success comes as a result of an isolated effort, we have got it slightly wrong. When we reach the top, we often forget how so many people – our family and neighbours to society in general – have knowingly or unknowingly contributed to our achievement whether we are aware of it or not. It is society which helps us in so many ways – small and big – to realise our dreams.However, more often than not, many accomplished individuals love to live in a cocoon; they think they are absolutely self-made and therefore have no obligation or responsibility towards anyone, especially to the larger community. This in fact is at the root of all problems tormenting modern society. If we lead a life with constant awareness that we are what we are because somebody somewhere has sacrificed something for us, we would learn to be humble and take every opportunity that comes our way to fill another life with a little more happiness. And this in turn would fill our lives with joy. We are never the loser, definitely. It is a win-win scenario, always.. Bhagavan Baba says, “All the problems of the world today are due to selfishness. People are solely interested in the welfare of themselves and their families; the rest of the world is not of their concern. It should be realised that the welfare of the individual is related to the welfare of society, the nation and the world. Sadly, selfishness and narrow outlook are more prevalent among the educated than among the villagers.†Therefore, if we lead a life with this constant awareness that we are what we are because somebody somewhere has sacrificed something for us, we would learn to be humble and take every opportunity that comes our way to fill another life with a little more happiness. And this in turn would fill our lives with joy. We are never the loser, definitely. It is a win-win scenario, always. Illustrations: Ms. Lyn Kriegler Elliott, New Zealand - Heart2Heart Team Dear Reader, did this article inspire you in any way? Do you have a similar story to share? Please tell us your reflections about this article by writing to h2h mentioning your name and country. Thank you for your time. - Heart2Heart Team ------------------------------ 1. Swami's Message 2. Mushing on Avatars Part-8 Prof G.V 3. Shirdi Baba devotees experiences 4.Shirdi Sai parthi Sai Part-46 5.Prof Anil Kumars Conv with Sai Part-24 6.Real Nature of Man's Life 7.Dr.Hislop How to find personal God 8.How a lovely Family was united 9Pre-World Conference in Kobe .Dr Goldstein and Dr Reddy 10. The Corn Former 11 Kobe Centers programs ------------------------------ Please write us at rgcjp mentioning your name and country. Thank you for your time. Ram ChuganiKobe, JapanRam ChuganiKobe, Japan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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