SPIRITUAL SHOWERS

[V2K]

The Power of Love

From all over the world, pilgrims flock to Prasanthi Nilayam to be in Bhagawan's presence. They are drawn by the Will of the Avatar of Love calling Himself in the form of others to Himself. Millions have come and the sacred procession has already begun. The majesty of His mission moves inexorably on and His missionaries multiply mightily.

We can only marvel at the little we know of Bhagawan's plan for a Golden Age, a new era of Dharma. It is not hard to recognize the increase in the number of devotees aware of His presence. What is less apparent is His placement of Lights in all walks of life where His Name and Form are not known at all. We, whose great fortune it is to know of Him, must continually remind ourselves that the first of Sai's virtues is humility. We devotees must be careful not to judge, not to look down upon or feel superior to those whose lives are not focused on Bhagawan Baba. By many paths we come to Him and along those paths, examples of His Light can be seen if only we look with care. The measuring stick of spirituality is not the name of the Avatar nor of the Teacher but the ease with which the Divine teachings are put into daily practice. Let me tell you of a very recent New York story.

A young man, who grew up in a disadvantaged inner city neighbourhood, was charged with the cold-blooded killing of one of his peers. He had a previous police record and the jury found him guilty of murder. Throughout the trial, his face was a hard, frozen, steel mask of hatred. There was no sign of remorse, no show of feeling. There was only an unwavering evil stare.

After the verdict and before the sentencing, the judge gave the victim's family the opportunity to speak in court. Words spoken under those circumstances are usually highly charged, emotional expressions of the horror of the crime and their sense of deep pain and loss. This is not what happened here. The victim's mother walked slowly up to her son's killer, looked him straight in the eye, and quietly said, "I have no bad feelings for you. I could never hate you."

For the first time since the trial began, the defendant's look softened.

Then the victim's grandmother got up and spoke, also looking in the killer's eyes. She said. "So you did the crime and I am sorry you've got to do the time. You broke the golden rule: loving God with all your heart, soul and mind. You broke the law: loving your neighbour as yourself. I am your neighbour." Then she paused and continued. "So anyway, you have my address. You want to write, I will write you back, because I sat here two weeks, and for 16 months I tried to hate you. But you know what? I could not hate you. I feel sorry for you because you made a wrong choice."

The grandmother sat down and the judge reported that the defendant's head was hanging low. The evil stare was gone and his destructive, violent demeanour wilted before the unconditional love of these two grieving mothers.

The Judge then passed a sentence of 37 years to life in prison. He later commented that the sentence was insignificant in comparison with what had taken place in his court. The laser force of Love had penetrated the killer's heart. These two ladies are most surely evolved spiritual beings. Their surroundings are modest, their book learning and their words are simple. They are Bhagawan's Lights teaching in the only transforming way: by EXAMPLE. It is a reminder to devotees that all beings are His, that He is in every one of us. We cannot, we must not judge. With a deep sense of humility, we must learn from all. Learn and practise. The question to ask is, "Would I be capable of feeling and acting as these two women did under such a severe test? Would I be able to put Bhagawan's teaching, Christ's teaching, into practice in my life? It is for each one of us to ask ourselves and answer for ourselves. I remind myself that others like those two saintly examples may be standing next to me as I travel on the subways and buses, or as I walk the streets of this city. They are, for me, the Lord's Teachers, the Lord's Lights.

The mother and the grandmother may never know of Bhagawan Baba. They may never come as pilgrims into His presence in India. They don't need to. He is guiding and protecting them. He is always with them, filling their hearts with the sweetness and beauty and power of HIS LOVE.

[V2K]

In giving talks to various groups around the city of Milwaukee about the experience of Baba—how He came into my life (my life was saved from destruction thanks to Swami) what happened on my trip to India to see this Holy Man to receive His Darshan and to thank Him for saving my life, and how all this has considerably changed my life since then, invariably the expression "it blew my mind" is used. For it seems to say exactly what happened to me. The moment I realized who Baba was, the moment He looked into my eyes with His large luminous eyes, tears began streaming down my face. I was unaware of the torrent of water until it began to drip off my chin unto my chest. The moment He touched me and told me, "Don't cry ...everything is going to be all right now." It is true—everything has been all right—and nothing, nothing, has been the same for me. My life has completely changed. It blew my mind is the only w ay of describing these momentous events.

I have been taken to task by an acquaintance for using this remark. "Ange, why do you use that expression; it is so negative. It is awful! You are saying that your mind is blown up!" I was surprised at her discomfort and agitation she was angry with me for using that phrase—and she could not accept nor understand my explanation. But it seems the most fitting way to tell it as it is.

That favourite expression is still my favourite phrase when recalling my `Baba Experiences.' Baba blew my mind! And this is validated by a reasonable source—my inner being! What may pass as a negative in someone else's consciousness is a positive one in mine. For Baba did empty my mind of all thought, all time, all space! I was free, not enmeshed in a net of thoughts, worries, doubts, agitation—all were released into the ether ... into the void...Baba removed it all. I was filled with joy—with pure love—completely thoughtless, completely desireless, blissful filled with the grace that only the Lord can give! For the five days I was with Sri Sathya Sai Baba, I felt completely outside of time—the eternal had entered and completely transformed my being. There was a feeling of close kinship with all creation. It is difficult for me to find the proper phrases, the proper words to convey the proper feeling, to describ e it all.

The only way I can is to continue saying: "Oh, Lord! You blew my mind!"

- an article by Angelina Marcotrigiano, published in the Sept 1983 issue of Sanathana Sarathi

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This is a story about the Gods. It deals with the greed of men. It was a fine day in Heaven; Sriman Narayana and His Consort Lakshmi were talking away the hours, when Narada, the Wandering Minstrel, entered and attracted their attention. Narayana asked Narada whether the denizens of the Earth were happy. Narada replied that since they worshipped Him and won His Grace, men everywhere were quite happy and prosperous.

At this, Lakshmi (who was the Goddess of Wealth) was afflicted with jealousy and anger, for, Her share in conferring happiness on man was not acknowledged. She challenged Narada to prove that Narayana was more adored than Herself down on Earth.

Narayana accepted the challenge. Donning ochre robes, He transformed Himself into a Monk and went down amongst the villages and towns, preaching the Path. Thousands flocked at these meetings and listened to the enchanting oratory. They followed Him from place to place and adored Him with effusive enthusiasm. He was being carried along on a huge wave of devotion and adulation.

Lakshmi saw this and could not contain herself; She was overwhelmed by envy. So, she too donned the Sanyasi robe and came down to the very region which Narayana had conquered for Himself. The people were drawn towards her by the effulgence of Her Presence; many came away from the meetings addressed by Narayana to bask in Her Presence.

A few invited Her to their homes for dinner. She agreed but, declared that it was a vow she had undertaken, not to eat out of plates other than her own. She said, she would bring Her own plate, cup, drinking vessel etc. The host was only too glad to comply with Her request, for, that helped him to overcome one bother among many!

Lakshmi took with Her when She went to the houses of Her hosts, a plate of gold, a cup and a water vessel, all three of gold! The host admired and adored Her the more for this display of pomp and wealth. But, he was astounded and delighted, when, after dinner, Lakshmi said that she was leaving the plate etc., at the hosts's home, since that too was part of her vow!

When the news spread that it was highly profitable to invite Lakshmi to Dinner and to adore Her, there was a huge clamour for Her Grace and millions deserted Narayana's Discourses and hovered around the Giver of Gold. People prayed to Narayana to go back to whence He came, for, they had no time to receive Him or listen to Him. Lakshmi was monopolising their attention!

So, Lakshmi came back to Heaven, to meet Narayana who was already there. She asked Narada, "Who is being worshipped more, Narayana or Lakshmi?"

Narada replied with another question "Whom are You worshipping, please?" Lakshmi answered, "Why? Worship Narayana" Then, said, “Narada, know that it is Narayana's Grace that is helping you to bestow those gifts of gold, which make men worship you.”

Lakshmi's pride was humbled; but, man's foolishness continues. He worships Lakshmi, not Narayana!

(From Bhagawan's Divine Discourse as it appeared in the September 1975 issue of Sanathana Sarathi)

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Embodiments of Love!
The whole world is full of Love. The world does not mean merely the form that you see, but that which is full of Love. This Love is in two forms. One is worldly Love and the other, spiritual Love. They are not different. You are all the embodiments of Love. Your love will help you to have the manifestation of the Divine. Divine Love is selfless. Where there is no selfishness, there is no fear. Love is for love's sake and nothing more. But worldly love is full of selfishness. Where there is selfishness, there is fear. Worldly love is after material objects. A man may not have any quality but he will have Love, there can be no doubts about that. This Love is the magnet, with the power of attraction. There is attraction between us because of Love. This magnet of Love is in everyone. In this world, there is no person without Love. That very Love is the nature of God. But we have to make use of that Love selflessly.

God has no trace of selfishness. Self is lovelessness and Love is selflessness. God does not expect anything except to live in Love. God is not a specific form. Love is God, live in Love. But, in the worldly sense, man makes use of his love towards his family, wife and children. Love is the very form of God. Love is the form of God and God is full of Love. It is absolutely necessary to connect Love with love. If you strengthen this love, you will have divine experience and divine wisdom. Since there is love in you, you could all be here and see Bhagawan. Bhagawan is giving you Darshan because of His Love for you. You are not merely human, you are the Cosmic Form. The power in you is not noticed anywhere. There is limitless potentiality in every one of you. Yet, you are unable to know this innate power. When you love people, people will love you in turn. Therefore, to begin with - Love All. Then, once you experience Divine Love, the ‘human’ becomes divine. The love of modern man is fleeting, temporary and worldly, whereas Divine Love is attributeless, formless, pure, unsullied and nectarine. That Divine Love is present everywhere, all over. So, everything in the world that is divine. Every material is the personification of the Divine. Due of the lack of non-dual experience, man commits mistakes. What is this? [Bhagawan shows a handkerchief.] This is a piece of cloth. It is not cloth in the true sense. It is a combination of threads, closely interwoven. It is not thread either, it is cotton. As the cotton, the thread and the cloth are the same; so are nature, the individual soul and the Divine. You are not merely human. The one you think you are is the physical body. The one others think you are, is the mental body. The one you really are is the Spirit or the Conscience. You are the sparks of the Divine. The body and mind are instruments.

Embodiments of Love!
You need not go to great lengths to understand spirituality. In our daily lives, the nature of life is the same. The Principle of Love is common in everybody - be it a pauper or a millionaire. Being the embodiments of Love, we should know that we are divine. Once you know that you are a spark of the Divine, you will redeem yourself. Because of the diversity of names and forms in this nature, we have forgotten the innate unity and divinity in them. When the whole universe is full of God, is it possible to build a temple for Him? Your heart is the temple of God. There you can visualize the manifestation of God. It is an easy path. Even a millionaire can be satisfied only with food, raiment and shelter. He cannot eat gold. So, what we want is food. Food is God. Food is necessary for the sustenance of the body.

Embodiments of Love!
In fact, you find only Love and Love and Love in yourself. All origins have their seed in Love. When once you know the nature of Love, you will have full faith in the universe. First, have faith in yourself. Strengthen this faith in yourself. Where there is Faith, there is Love. Where there is Love, there is Truth. Where there is Truth, there is God. Where there is Truth, there will be Peace. Peace does not exist separately in this world. Peace is in you; truth is in you; Love is in you; and the whole world is in you. Thousands have assembled here. Names and forms vary but the five elements are uniformly present in everyone. In this world, there is no man without the five elements. The five elements constitute the Divine Cosmic Form. Once you miss this truth, you will lose the life principle itself.

Flowers are many but worship is one.
Jewels are many, but gold is one.
The colours of the cows are different, but milk is one.
Beings are many, but Spirit is one.

All of you are like different bulbs. Bulbs differ in their voltage. The colours of the bulbs are different. The voltage could also be different, but the [electric] current [that illumines them all] is one. Likewise, God is the same in everybody. We have to live our life with the full feeling that we are divine. If you investigate carefully, there is no scope for misery or any sadness. In fact, there is only Bliss in you. Your attachment to the material world and sensual pleasures make you miserable. You should maintain equanimity in profit and loss, and in happiness and sorrow. Our mind is responsible for pleasure and pain. When our desires are not fulfilled, we are sad. When they are fulfilled, we are pleased. Never submit yourself to pleasure and pain. In every thing and in every object there is the principle of Truth. The entire creation merges back into Truth. You cannot find any place where there is no Truth. This is the pure unsullied Truth. The Truth in everyone is divine. Today, we have lost faith in Truth.

What kind of love do we have now? A small example: The modern man gets married. For two or three months, the young man considers his wife as his very life. When they go for a walk, if the husband finds a thorn on the way he affectionately cautions his wife, because it may prick her feet. After six months, when he sees a similar thorn on the way, he casually says, "Watch your step, there may be thorns on the way." After one year, when he sees a thorn, he shouts, "Can’t you see that there is a thorn?" Human love declines day by day. Divine Love is not like that. It neither diminishes, nor increases. That is the very Truth. We should have that Love which is the eternal Truth. Because of too many desires, we are not able to know Truth. We are just passengers in this long journey of life. Less luggage more comfort, makes journey a pleasure. When you have fewer luggages of desires, you will have no discomfort. For pain and pleasure, mind is the cause. The mind is responsible for liberation or bondage. Here is a lock. There is also a key. If you put the key in the lock and turn to the right side, it opens. The same key turned to the left side: it is locked. Your heart is the lock; your mind is the key. If you turn the key towards the world, it is ‘locked’. If you turn the key Godward, you get Divinity. Man is bound by himself alone. Human life is so noble and divine. Such a divine, and auspicious life is ruined today.

Human life is the gift of God aiding us to know our own reality. We do not consider it as such, these days. We have to understand the body as an instrument. The body has so many parts - the nose, ears, the eyes, hands and legs. Without these limbs, you cannot have this body. This human body is the limb of society. Without society, you cannot visualise Divinity. Society is the limb of the Divine. The whole world shows the combination of limb-to-limb connection. If the limbs are kept apart, the body cannot exist. Man today divides, cuts it into different parts. In ancient days if anyone questioned, "From where do you come?" people said, "We have come from Bharat." They considered their Motherland their residence. But, at the present time, people declare that they are from Maharashtra, Karnataka etc. - at the provincial level. When we divide ourselves into provinces we have to face difficulties. The very unity is lost, ruined completely. The same Unity, Oneness is present in all. When parts (of the body) are cut off then you see blood being wasted. Similarly, when states are divided further and further, it amounts to wastage of ‘blood’.

Embodiments of Love!
Recognise that all of us together constitute one country. All are one, be alike to everyone. We belong to the human race. There is only one human race in this world. We have to develop more and more of human values. The world is divided because of the loss of human values. Everyone has to foster human values. One who has harmony between thought, word and deed is a true human being. When thoughts, words and deeds are at variance, we have a ‘divided’ man. All of us are basically human beings. ‘I belong to the human race. I represent Bharat.’ We belong to the same country and our human life is the same. Flowers are different, but worship is the same. Everyone must recognise the divinity in every one else. Having God within us, we are wasting our time by moving about here and there. All that you face is God. Every place you move about is divine. All the words that you utter come from God. When the true principle of Godhood is within you, why should you act so thoughtlessly? You are the embodiment of Love; you are the embodiments of Truth. You should not hate anybody. We should not harm anybody. If you hurt anybody, it amounts to hurting yourself. Consider all as one, and of the same family. We belong to the family of the universe. Being the members of the same family, why should there be fighting, why should there be conflicts and differences? Therefore, you should not have any hatred in your heart towards anyone. You must love everybody. Love must flow so fast that it continues to flow eternally. Love is immortal and nectarine. The immortal love is poisoned today. That is the reason why we have so many wicked feelings like jealousy, hatred, anger and temper. We should see that bad qualities do not get into the heart. The individual soul is present in the body and God is present within the body. Human love and Divine Love are not different. In fact, purity, the underlying principle of both forms of love, is one. Like jewellery, varieties are many - necklace, bangle or ring - but the same gold makes them all.

Embodiments of Love!
You are the very embodiment of Love. It is not proper to hate anyone. Love one another. Love leads to immortality. Human life should be transformed into immortal life and thereby you should attain Divinity. The divine potential is not being properly utilized. Neighbours do not have cordial relationships. We should consider all as one family. You should consider human values as the same in all. There is Truth in everybody. There is Love in everybody. But do you act and work oriented on Love? Alas! You utilize Love in a perverted, selfish way.

Embodiments of Love!
With Love, you can attain everything. All the five elements can be controlled with Love. Once you control the five elements, you can control the whole world. Never consider yourself as small. You are mighty. Your ignorance makes you feel lowly. Love will help you remove the veil of ignorance. Love is God, God is Love. If once we develop this simple truth, the whole world can be united. What sort of relationship exists between Bhagawan and you? The body of Bhagawan has taken birth in Andhra Pradesh. You are from Maharashtra. What is the connection between Bhagawan and you? Only Love, only Love, only Love. Your love for Bhagawan has made you assemble here. Love makes Bhagawan very happy. Bhagawan’s Bliss comprises your love. How powerful is your love! How infinite it is! It is of fathomless depth. You are not able to know the principle of Love. You should not hate anybody.

All are brothers and sisters. It is enough if you develop this sort of relationship. It is enough if you render this kind of service. No penance or pilgrimage is required; no knowledge, no repetition of God’s name either. To cross the ocean of life, this selfless service is essential and enough. What is beyond the bliss of service? Any amount of money will not give you this bliss. Money will not give happiness and bliss. Money comes and goes, but morality comes and grows. Many people have taken birth. Many have earned money. But what happened to them? Did anyone carry a single naya paisa (a coin of the lowest denomination) with them? It is not possible to take any (material) thing with you when you leave the world. If man could take as much as a little sand from this world to the next, there would not be any left here! What we carry with us are only our good and bad deeds. We should get a good name.

Ravana was a mighty man. He was great, but not good. Rama was good. Why? Because Rama could make proper use of His quality. Ravana too had qualities and talents. He misused them. Ravana became great, Rama good. Therefore, one should strive to be good and not great.

Nowadays there is pollution everywhere. There is pollution in our feelings. Air, water, the whole of the environment - everything is polluted. The mind is also polluted. How can we remain good in this polluted world? Be a good human being first and not a great human being. The state of a great man is like a passing cloud. We want to remain great by earning more money, but ultimately nothing remains with us, no greatness remains; only goodness remains in the end. What we should, therefore, earn is a good name. Everyone should say, "He is a good man." All Bharatiyas are basically good people. In fact, the entire Universe is filled with good people. So, you should earn a good name and become a good human being. When you do good things, you cannot earn a bad name.

Embodiments of Love!
In this world, nowadays people say, "Hello! Hello! How are you? How are you?" and that is the end of it. Nobody wants to take responsibilities, but they all want authority. But authority and responsibility go hand in hand. You should deserve authority. It should not be mere pomp and show. When you deserve authority, you will get it. Remain away from bad thoughts, bad quality, bad actions and do your duty. Man should know all these things. One need not read big books and texts. Books contain a lot of useful information. That is not sufficient. What is there in the Pustaka (Book) should be there in the Mastaka (head) also. Your Mastaka should become Pustaka. It is not sufficient that you read good books, but you should practise the qualities mentioned in the book in your day-to-day living.

Embodiments of Love!
Let us have good thoughts. Let us consider everyone as brothers and sisters. If anyone is suffering, let us go, help and serve them. Also, we should uphold our self-respect and our self-confidence. Everyone should develop self-confidence. Then human life will be divine. In fact, everyone in this world wants to develop self-confidence.

Why are we born in this world? What is it that we have achieved after being born in this world? What is the purpose of life? It is not merely eating, drinking and moving around. Animals, beasts and birds also do that. Animals have some reason and season to do what they do. But man has often no reason and season for what he does: He misuses his senses. When you make good use of the senses, you will be a good man.

Maharana [Mira’s husband and a King] turned Mira out of the house. Mira was an ardent devotee of Krishna. She began staying in a temple. Maharana wanted Mira to even leave the temple. It was a shock for her. "Where shall I go?" she wondered. Immediately she meditated on Krishna. She got her answer, "Ida and Pingala are equal to Ganga and Yamuna. The central one is Sushumna. Oh mind! Go along the shores of Ganga and Yamuna and be pure. Because of her supreme Prema, she considered her breath as divine. She did not purchase a ticket to go on a pilgrimage. Ganga and Yamuna were in her mind. Therefore, we have to sing Bhajans and sing the glory of the Lord to attain the supreme heights of spiritual ecstasy. There have been many great saints in this state of Maharashtra. Their fame is spread all over the world. But how do we live and lead our lives now? And the man who cannot serve with his hand and tongue: that man’s life is of no use. Therefore, we have to chant the name of God. There is nothing beyond the Love of God. Love is God. We can consider this Love as God Himself. With this Love, you can merge in God.

Embodiments of the Divine and Embodiments of Love!
You are all sacred parts of the Divine. Krishna said that all the beings are parts of the Divine and are eternal. Never hurt anyone or fear anyone. Since you have a human body, you can consider yourself human. But in reality the Self is Divine. Prema Easwar Hai, Easwar Prema Hai. Let him be a Hindu, Christian or a Muslim, the Divinity is the same. All belong to the caste of humanity. Divinity is in humanity and Divinity is verily Love itself. Declare with conviction that you are a Bharatiya. Therefore, you should sing the glory of God, stand united, safeguard and protect the country. In fact, if we chant the name of God together we will be living in unity. We do not need to run after any country. The greatness and grandeur of Bharat is not seen anywhere. Therefore, Bharat takes the position of a leader. And being born in Bharat, man sings the glory of God, serves his fellowmen and attains Divinity. So, let people of every religion consider God as one. Never consider God as dual. Never consider yourself a Christian, Muslim or Hindu. In fact, God is one. All Muslims are one, all Hindus are one, and all Christians are one. And all the people of all religions are one. When a person harvests God in the field of his heart, he is a true Hindu and a true Christian. Therefore, when you fill your heart with Love, whatever may be your religion, you become one and you experience Unity.

Embodiments of Love!
Bhagawan is extremely happy. All children of Maharashtra have assembled here for the Love of Bhagawan. Bhagawan blesses you with prosperity, long life and happiness. If you all stand united, you can be really happy and prosperous. Therefore, work in harmony and unity; then you will be happy and prosperous. It is not possible for a few ministers to run the whole country. All of you should stand united and extend your strength and co-operation to the ministers. Then that will be strength of the state. If you separate the threads (the warp and the weft) of a cloth, then it can easily be torn. But a cloth with all the threads intact, cannot be torn easily. One needs to know that the people are the positive current and the government, the negative current. Only when the two meet there will be useful and powerful unity. Therefore achieve unity.

Embodiments of Love!
Bhagawan is very very happy. Bhagawan wants you to lead your life in peace and wants you to work for the progress and advancement of the society. He wants you to lead your life in a meaningful and purposeful way. Let there be good rain, and let there be good harvest, and let there be plenty and prosperity. Wishing you all a happy long life, Bhagawan brings His discourse to a close.

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Many people go to Baba and see only his beautiful form and incredible miracles. They are interested only in his physical presence, in a personal interview and a miracle. They take very little of Baba's message. Baba has told us that these miracles are not important in themselves; they are only baits to catch our attention, so that we will listen to the message he has come to Earth to give.

He has also explained that he is in each and every heart which thinks of him. There is no need for a personal interview or for Him to speak to you or look at you or even for you to go to India. You merely have to open your heart wherever you are to realize he is there. So many have experienced this truth through dreams or meditation or in times of crises when they could see or feel Baba's presence.

We mention this, because we occasionally found at "Prasanthi Nilayam" emotions such as desire, anxiety and even fear, envy and hatred over whether or not Baba showed attention to one or one's neighbour. Of course, these emotions are perfectly normal considering our upbringing and ignorance of what we "really" are, which causes us to constantly look for approval and acceptance from those on whom we have high esteem.

But we need not have any fear, as universal love knows no attachment and no aversion. Ignore the physical drama and know that Baba loves all equally. In his own words: "I do not discard anyone. I cannot, it is not my nature to do so; have no fear, I am yours—you are mine.”

The main physical means of communication with Baba is through letters. These letters can be of a wide variety: asking for interviews, requesting healing for a long standing or difficult illness, asking for advice on a material or spiritual decision—and who knows what other requests are hidden within those thousands upon thousands of letters. The letters may be sent to Baba from abroad, passed on to him by a friend who is going, (or, in the event that you Yourself are blessed to be there,) you can hand it to Baba directly during "Darshan".

It is not my opinion that these letters are "read" in the physical sense of the word. In fact, I don't believe the letter even has to reach Baba. He is omnipresent—He knows all and everything past, present and future. So, He is aware of our question or request, the moment we pose it in our minds. The giving of the letter is all for our own feeling of security and satisfaction.

Letters may be written in any language for his mind is beyond the veil of languages. He will speak to you in Greek or English or any other language if necessary.

Therefore, we do not expect a "physical letter" back. We may receive our answer in different ways. Baba may speak to us physically (if we are there), in a dream or in meditation. We may pick up a book and the answer will be there or a conversation with someone may illumine us. If there is an illness involved, it may simply begin disappearing or we might become aware of what we must do to become well.

We would urge anyone who needs guidance or help of any variety (no problem is too material, too spiritual, too easy or too difficult), to write to Baba, physically or mentally and have faith in your overcoming this obstacle.

—Helianthos Yoga Union, Athens

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During one of His visit to Ooty, Bhagawan conducted a series of edifying fireside chats with a small group of devotees who had accompanied Him on the visit. The talks combined profound insights into spiritual truths with entertaining parables narrated in Bhagawan's own delectable manner.

On one evening, Bhagawan related a story about the Sage Narada's encounter with Lord Narayana to bring out the eminence of the true devotee in the eyes of the Lord.

Bhagawan said: On one occasion Narada went to the Lord. In the course of their conversation, Narayana asked Narada: "You are moving around three worlds, what news have you brought for Me from your wanderings? Have you seen anything great in my creation?" "What is greater than Yourself in the world,” said Narada. "I am asking you about my creation and not about myself,” said Narayana. Narada said: "I do not understand the question.” "There are five basic elements, the Pancha-bhutas. Which is the greatest among them?” Narayana asked. Narada said: "The earth is the biggest.” Narayana said: "In the earth three fourths are occupied by water.” Narada agreed that water was greater than the earth. But Narayana observed: "All the oceans were drunk by the sage Agastya in one gulp. Therefore, who is greater, water or Agastya?" Narada agreed that Agastya was greater. B ut Narayana observed that "Agastya is remaining as a star in the sky. In the vast firmament, Agastya is merely twinkling as a small star; is not the firmament greater than the star?" Narada agreed that the the firmament was greater than Agastya. Then Narayana said, "In my Avatar as Vamana I covered the entire earth and sky with one foot of mine. So is the firmament greater or my foot?" Then Narada said: `Your Foot'.

"If my foot itself is so great, am I not greater than my foot,” Narayana asked. Narada agreed. Then Narayana said, "Although I am great, I am confined in the hearts of my devotees. So the devotees are greater than myself. And therefore, wherever my devotees sing my name I am there.”

Hence, everyone must cultivate a broad mind, a large hearted outlook. Broad mindedness is expansion, narrow mindedness is contraction. Devotees should also cultivate broadmindedness. It is to broaden the heart that name of the Lord should be chanted. Instead of singing by oneself, when devotees sing in groups, a sense of unity develops. By all people singing in unison and all hands clapping together, all hearts become one. This unity is proclaimed by the Vedas by describing the different organs of the Lord as the source of the power in the different sense organs of a human being.

[V2K]

It is easy to conquer anger through love, attachment through reasoning, falsehood through truth, bad through good and greed through charity. No reply should be given to the words of the wicked. Be at a great distance from them. That is for your good. Seek the company of the good people, even at the sacrifice of your honour and life. But do pray to God to bless you with the discrimination needed to distinguish good people and the bad. You must also endeavour with the intellect given to you. Whatever acts a good or bad person may do, the fruits thereof will follow him and will never stop pursuing hm.

- Sandeha Nivarini by Baba.
   

Patience is all the strength that you need. - Baba

[V2K]

In March this year I was privileged to be in the residence of Bhagavan along with devotees. As we waited eagerly for the sudden flash of the Red Robe, He appeared beaming with a smile; his eyes flashed "Vidyullekha”. I waited in grateful expectancy for events to unfold themselves. In Baba's Presence we learn the art of waiting for things to happen; anything unexpected can and will happen!

He suddenly turned towards me and said: "So, you have been transferred to Bangalore!" He was asking me this question after several months of my transfer even after I had first reported to Him before taking charge of my assignment! Like others I have also wondered why Baba the 'Omnipresent', the 'Omniscient', asks such questions and sometimes even feigns ignorance! I have found an answer which I believe is true.

Supposing Baba starts telling in front of everybody about us, what is in our mind and all our deeds and misdeeds, how many of us will have the courage to go to Him again? If He reveals all the time His Divinity and the attributes of "Omnipresence" few of us will dare go to him; the skin-deep facade of a devotee which we all maintain even in His Presence, is so fragile that it will be shattered and there will be no scope for improvement and the 'transformation' for which He has incarnated. So, in His mercy He gives us the impression that He is merely human and envelopes us with this Maya that is essential for our transformation which, unfortunately, is slow. 'Kramakramena', 'gradually' you will have to give up your undesirable habits, He says in His infinite patience!

Returning to the occasion when He asked me the question, I said, "Yes! Swami" and I thought that was the best occasion to volunteer additional information. "Swami I have only 71 days more before I retire.” I hoped that He would say.” "Yes! Bangaroo! Time will pass and you will join Swami's service.” He suddenly turned round and looked at me with those penetrating eyes. Out came the Sadguru's mantra: "Whether it is 71 days, 71 hours, or 71 minutes or 71 seconds, quality is most important" and in His characteristic style. He turned round and conveyed the same message to all. "Quality is important, isn't it?" He asked them, His way of confirmation.

This Is Baba's method; He uses all occasions to convey important lessons of spirituality in daily living by such mantra. He aims the mantra not only at the direct recipient but also at others who might care to learn the lesson. One will miss the import of His statements if one thinks that it was meant only for the individual who happened to be the target.

Baba shook me from my stupor. He has repeatedly said that all work is His; there is nothing like Sai service and government Service. All that you do is for Sai only; in fact it is for yourself, for awakening the Sai within you. Not that I did not know these teachings of His. But again I had forgotten the lesson and the ever vigilant Sadguru had given me the lesson again at the right moment.

What a great formula for Ananda! What is important is not what happens after 71 days. What is important is that till that last second we do not forget that it is His work and that we should carry out the work assigned with the highest quality since it is His Worship through whatever He has assigned. "The past is beyond recovery. Those days are gone. The future you are not sure of. The given moment is NOW! Sanctify it with holy thoughts, words and deeds,” He has declared. "Quality" means sanctifying every moment with holy thoughts, words and deeds. "The most important thing in life is not doing what you like, but liking what you have to do, He has told us. These are the keys to spirituality in daily living.

Can we do this in the office, in the factory, in the kitchen or in any other vocation and avocation? Yes! We can; we should try to bear in mind some of the other mantras He has given us. We can sanctify our thoughts, words and deeds if they are not motivated by the six enemies which the ancients had correctly identified, Kama (passion), krodha (anger), lobha (greed) moha (attachment), mada (pride), matsarya (envy). Difficult? Yes but not impossible if we try. Read any book on modern psychology; you will learn that all our diseases are due to these six enemies; our diseases are psychosomatic caused by these passions.

There is another aspect to filling every moment with "quality.” We must be fully involved in enjoying the quality of the work we do! That itself becomes "fulfillment" rather than the fruit of the act. In fact the real fruit of the act is the sweetness of the process. The game is more important than whether we win or lose! That is the real meaning of the Lord's statement, "Work alone is thy concern; not the fruits thereof.”

Knowing that we are all forgetful I pray: "Baba give me the wisdom to remember your mantra when it is most needed and fill every moment with the highest quality, for which you have endowed me with abilities."

(Extracted from an article by M.V.N.Murthy, published in Sanathana Sarathi, June, 1981)

[V2K]

I have been to India many times since 1977, and invariably, people ask, "How was the Taj Mahal?" My answer is always the same, "I have never been there." "So, where have you been?" they ask. "To see Sathya Sai Baba." The question is always, "And who is He?"

I have experienced many aspects of Baba. I've seen Him heal people, watched Him smile and talk to many while seeming to ignore others. I've looked on as He walked among the multitude; He is there, but you know not really there; yet, He is everywhere. Yes, I have been blessed with personal interviews, as well as personal miracles, both at Prasanthi Nilayam and in New York. Throughout the years I have come to see Baba as mother, father, friend, and holy man.

In the many books I've read, He has been represented as the image of God, something I've never truly understood. Consequently, there had been a kind of separation between us. It wasn't until this past November that I got a glimpse of who He really is. I began to truly understand His message, not just intellectually, but from a new space that He opened up. All through the fall of '92, I had been trying to visit Baba. I wanted to go when the ashram was less crowded, for now that I had retired, I did not have to wait for a school break or for summer vacation. I thought I was free to go anytime.

Yet, each way I turned, the path was blocked. I made plans, but they kept falling apart. To my surprise, I was pushed to go in November, at birthday and conference time. My intellect said this was not the right time, it would be far too crowded. But my heart knew it was destiny, and I had little choice. Baba was indeed leading the way, and it was interesting that, at that time, all plans fell into place. There was no longer any trouble getting on with the trip. What ensued was the greatest miracle, the real transformation!
The Game of Life

I arrived in India, alone for the first time, tired, worried. However, the minute I stepped into the Ashram, all I could hear was, "Life's a game, play it!" This remained the theme of my visit.

This served me in good stead when I was told, "There is no room at the inn," despite the letters of recommendation I had brought. The theme, "Life's a game, play it!" also echoed as I was repeatedly seated far back during darshan, and, yet, I kept my cool. For the first time, I was not preoccupied with thoughts of myself. I did not ask Him for anything. I sat and observed; my eyes were only on Him. This was a far cry from the many times my mind churned with, "Baba, I'm here, look at me, help me." Instead, I was thankful to be there, to breathe in His glory and blessings, and to ask for nothing.

And so, I received! No matter where I was placed, there was Swami, as visible as could be. When the temple compound was so very crowded, and I was placed last, all of a sudden a new row would form, and I was there with Baba in full view.

Not only did I wind up with a room, but in the midst of hundreds of thousands, I had a dream fulfilled; I was in a room by myself able to meditate in silence, to eat and sleep when needed, not to talk, to be alone with my own thoughts. I had never been privy to these luxuries before.

So, what was happening? Baba was showing me how to play life's game. In a real sense, I was finally giving of myself. There, in the midst of throngs attending the birthday, convocation, and conference activities, I was given the opportunity to recognise Baba in His true form—more than mother, father and friend. I comprehended the meaning of omnipresent, omnipotent, omniscient.

The rest of my visit was supercharged, constantly reinforcing who He really is. Here it is, months later, and I'm still filled with gratitude. The miracle of who Swami is, still remains. It is He who has enabled me to face my trials and tribulations—to hear of my grandson's problems, to go through my husband's major surgery, to better understand that I must see no evil and see only good. I remember His words, "It is like baking a cake. I stir, I knead, I pound, I twist, I bake you. I drown you in tears. I scorch you in sobs. I make you sweet and crisp, an offering worthy of God." And His statement to my husband and myself, "This Avatar has come to console, correct, guide, and love you. There is nothing to fear."

And so, Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba has created a new being, not only freed in mind and emotions but changed on a physical plane. He has erased many of my face wrinkles and turned my lips upward, allowing sadness to give way to a smile, showing me that Love conquers all. Yes, the Lord is truly here!

(From the october 1993 issue of Santhana Sarathi)

[V2K]

"Baba is actually an ocean of Love and Compassion towards suffering humanity. Here is the key, if there is one at all, to unlock the Truth about this Incommensurable Personality—not even all His miracles! With His astounding control over forces of nature, He could have kept Himself aloof as a dread and awe inspiring Personality, irascible and unbending like some of the great Rishis of our ancient Aryavartha. But what do we actually find? Baba is so gentle, so like a child, so full of laughter, jollity and bonhomie, so full of compassion and love for everybody! My very first sight of Him moving among His followers gave me a thrill of this recognition of His boundless love for humanity and the very first glance at me showed that He knew me and recognised me, and I felt as if we had known each other for ever so long!"

I was thrilled to see Baba moving among the people, from place to place selecting the persons to be interviewed by Him that evening. Soon He came to the spot where I was standing. He shot a glance at me and I felt as if a streak of lightening had passed through me, for in that glance there was a clear indication that He had recognised me. It was a glance one gives to a person whom one knows well but who has not been seen for a long time... Even to this day the wonderful glance of recognition He had shot at me remains with me in all its intensity.

By this I do not mean to suggest that I was a specially privileged sort of person. Nothing of that sort. During all these years Baba must have come across lakhs and lakhs of persons like me, but I believe when He specially comes down to select persons for interviews from among the masses of people gathered there, a glance by Him at any single person gives Him in a flash the past, present, the future and the complete psyche of that person. And knowing the intensity of that person for interview, or the urgency of his problems, He selects him for interview. Otherwise to ordinary eyes His selection seems to be extremely haphazard. He moves like a Christ among His followers is how a Professor of Philosophy of an American University has described Him, as told by Kasturi to me. He looks into the eyes of everyone assembled, going from place to place among them to have a closer view of them and from each particular group selects one or two."

That forenoon, He called us in, that is to say, the kith and kin of the bride and bridegroom, for He had promised to "wed" them together and bless them. "It can be imagined in what a trepidation we all were. We were about to meet Baba face to face and at close quarters—and to speak also to Him. At that particular moment I was completely ignorant of the manner He would adopt to meet us. Would He be distinctly aloof doing only the task He had allotted Himself? Would He be serene and grave? Would He condescend to talk to us? All such questions were there in our minds—at least in my mind! I was really in tenterhooks!

In five minutes He entered the room turning aside the screen over the door leading upstairs to His quarters. He scanned all of us with eager laughing eyes and made humorous comments as He did so. He joked with the bridegroom, and said laughingly, "See how she giggles, and that in front of elders! Other people would be shocked to see her giggle like this, especially when she is a bride sitting by the side of the bridegroom,” and so on and so on, in an extremely light hearted and cheerful mood. In five minutes we felt He was just one of us—One whom we had known intimately since a long long time. He joked and laughed with us just as any intimate member of our family might do, In fact, I felt how at home He would be in our family group—with Shankar, Chidam, etc. In fact, I felt as if He was one of our own—an intimate sunny natured relation whom we had not seen for some time! He talked to us as if He had known us inti mately all along. Nobody out of hundreds who had had contacts with Baba and spoken to us about Him had ever given this particular picture of Baba. Their stress was all on the miracles performed by Him. This intense humanness, this wonderful camaraderie He has for all persons whom He meets; this remarkable quality of feeling Himself one with the people around Him, this superabundance of good humour, jollity and love and affection for all people made a powerful impact on me; for the picture I had had of Baba was something entirely different from this! Then and there I was convinced that if at all any living person is to be called `Bhagawan' it can be only He... His is a whole and undivided love for all humanity.

[V2K]

When the attributeless Divine Consciousness assumes physical form, He comes with attributes and quite often these attributes come to the fore showcasing the mysterious omnipotence of Divinity. Read on GSV Prasada Rao’s share of experience of omnipotence of The Lord Walking on Two Feet, as published in Sanathana Sarathi, March 1979.

It was October 1976. I happened to take out from the library a strange type of Telugu novel named `Prasanthi Nilayamu', in which most of the incidents and unravelling of plots happen in and around Prasanthi Nilayam, amidst the thousands of devoted pilgrims, so that the author gives vivid descriptions of the place. I was thrilled by these narratives and I realised that the holy place was only within 50 miles of Anantapur. I had a friend who used to visit that place and who was a devotee since fourteen years. I resorted to him, off and on, whenever I had a little time to spare, with a plea to tell me more and more of the place and Person who had rendered it internationally famous as the Centre of a world wide spiritual revolution. Later he came to my place every evening and spoke on his experiences, sometimes for three hours at a stretch. We listened with awe and reverence. He also gave us some Telugu books about Swami and I devoured them with avidity.

On the 1st day of January 1977, I had the first Darshan of Bhagawan. It was New Year Day for Christians, Vaikuntha Ekadasi for Hindus and Moharrum for the Muslims! So, the entire area was packed thick with men and women of all faiths from all parts of the world. I had in mind a great desire to ask Swami, one question that was haunting me, "Why is it, Swami, that Nature destroys in one sweep the crop that we ryots raise with so much love and care?" But, when the Darshan of Swami itself was so difficult, how could that question be presented to Him and an answer obtained?

That evening at 5 pm, Bhagawan addressed the gathering and moved along the line where I was seated, so that I could imprint Him on my heart. It was a great gift. Swami also referred to the sudden upsurges of natural forces, which, to man, appear as calamities. A speeding car cannot be suddenly stopped—for that would bring on disaster. Nature has to obey the laws laid down. Man performs his duties and carries out his professions with care but he forgets to pray to God in thankfulness for all the facilities and forces he is awarded. Thus my question was answered by Bhagavan and I was free from disappointment.

From that day to this, my crops have never suffered loss through the anger or indifference of Nature. In 1978, I was even awarded by the Government Agricultural Department the title of `the best farmer of the district'. The prize was a beautiful idol of Muralidhara—I firmly believe that Swami willed He should come to me in this form.

In January 1978, Swami appeared in a dream, and said, "Are you willing to go out of the country for four months for training in farming methods?" "I have no political leader to recommend me,” I replied. Swami replied, "You must know I am the one who confers boons on all created beings.”

In February 1978, my sister, absolutely on her own, sent me application forms and other necessary literature directing me to apply for being selected for foreign training. Her letter came to me on Shivaratri Day and I welcomed her proposal as a result of this co incidence. The officer who had to receive and forward it discouraged me and said, "This scheme has been there since 30 years. Almost all the influential farms of this District have tried. But no one has succeeded hitherto. Your application will certainly be rejected.” I sent a telegram to Swami that I had sent in my application with no sponsor, except He. I was called for an interview in May but until the 3rd May there was no news from Delhi. The month of June rolled by. So, I decided I could not be included. I inferred that the dreams where Baba appears and communicates are merely the fabrications of our own minds and that I should henceforth attach no importance for them . If Swami wanted to direct us to do something, He would order us, direct, not through dreams.

Who can describe my joy when on October 7th I got my order selecting me as one of the trainees and asking me to be ready to start for Houston, Texas, on the 21st October. Now, through Sai's Grace, I am writing this letter from 14,000 miles away from Prasanthi Nilayam, but with Sai right beside me. Faith and Patience are the two paisa, which, at Shirdi, Swami asked for from everyone. They can bring us direct rewards.

[V2K]

"If you are interested in paranormal powers, you must absolutely get to know Sai Baba," a woman botanist told me, whom I had looked up in New Delhi, on account of the medical plants I had gathered in the course of my trip through Asia. She described to me miraculous events which she had witnessed herself, especially miraculous healings of lame persons, of persons born blind, affected with cancer and others who were gravely ill. I had been advised to request a meeting with the famous enigmatic miracle man, even before my departure for my year long study tour through Asia which I undertook together with my husband in our Volkswagen bus. Hardly had I set foot on Indian soil when again and again I met people who had experienced Sai Baba. He is said to be no 'normal saint', but a divine incarnation, possibly of Siva"

"During our stay at Bombay, we visited the lotus temple (Dharmakshetra) of Sai Baba. We arrived just at the time of the evening Puja. The white lotus flower, symbol of purity and spirituality, shone in the evening sun like a golden jewel. Before the clear evening sky and the distant gleaming sea, this temple seemed to lose its earthly heaviness and to transform itself into light and the radiance of the sun. I entered the interior of the temple in a 'lost-to the world' mood. In the flickering light of the candles and oil lamps, one could recognise an altar with the flower bedecked picture of the re incarnated Sai Baba on the right side, that of the Sai Baba of Shirdi on the left, and in front, a devout crowd of followers. The room was filled with spiritual songs and the sound of cymbals. It was an impressive ceremony.

Did the people who gathered there revere a Saint or a Divinity? The present Sai Baba is addressed as Bhagawan (God) and that is also what He calls Himself. As it is, He adds that every one is God, since the Godhead is active in each of us. He travels through the country preaching. He preaches of the love of God in man, of peace, tolerance, and the spiritualization of life. He sees His task in reconnecting men with God, in helping them in their needs and suffering. He is living completely in the service of humanity. I have met persons in India who revere Him as Christ returned to earth."

"I resolved not to leave India without meeting Sai Baba. But, this was easier said than done... Sai Baba is constantly on the move. Not even His closest circle of collaborators and devotees could give definite information on where the Master could be found at any given time, for how long He would be there, or what were His future travel plans...After having been three times in vain at Brindavan, Kadugodi, near Bangalore, I managed at last to speak to a professor of the Arts and Science College founded there by Sai Baba. ....He said, "The only chance you have to meet Swami is come back again—perhaps one day you will be lucky enough to be called by Him.” It took five months of efforts, coupled with many hardships, till we finally had that good fortune.

"There, at last! A slim figure, clad in yellow, slides out of the villa. The gates swing back. For one moment, Sai Baba remains at the gate. We have known Him for a long time from countless pictures... now, the small person starts moving—all concentrated energy and vitality, an impression no photograph can convey. People prostrate before Him; whoever is near enough kisses His feet and the hem of His robe. A biblical scene... Bhagawan jokes and laughs with some persons in the crowd as though they are old friends. Now there lies an atmosphere of relaxed cheerfulness over the scene. Once, Sai Baba cuts through the formation of visitors and makes His way to a lady who tends to Him a child which pulls faces and is obviously mentally disturbed. He caresses the child and seems to speak comforting words. Several times we observe how He produces Vibhuti by making a quick circling movement with His flat outstretched hand. Then He distribute s it to some petitioners. Now He is again standing in the midst of the crowd, calmly looking around. The visitors follow each of His movements like spell bound. Again, He shoots like an arrow toward a specific person, or, He moves hesitatingly in a circle.... After His tour among His devotees, Sai Baba proceeded up to the College building. The students listened spell bound to the words of their great Master. Just by the expressive gestures with which He underlined what He said, they had an absolutely convincing effect. Then, Sai Baba disappeared in the interior of the building, where He talked further with His students.”

"Next morning!... opening of the gates: the saffron robed slim figure between the reverently inclined visitors, who were grouped most densely around the tree with the idol of Krishna. Sai Baba jokes; accepts petitions, distributes Vibhuti, and even gives autographs today. The light is favourable; we are taking photographs and are filming somewhat with palpitations. After Sai Baba has once circled the tree with the Darshan craving crowd, He walks toward our VV Bus which is parked near by ....He asks in pure English if we have driven the 'many miles' from Germany to Whitefield in this car. And, He adds, "You come with me!"

"We follow Sai Baba into a small room. He takes His seat on a throne-like armchair covered with red velvet. Aside from us, a young Parsee and two young Indian couples from Bombay with a child each, are among the chosen. We squat in a half circle at the Master, separated according to sex... He nods at me and asks whether the unaccustomed way of squatting does not give me too much trouble; I should not hesitate to stretch my legs.”

"Then, Sai Baba asks us what we want. We pray that He should first consider the other visitors, since we were no `devotees' and had come only out of scientific interest in His much praised paranormal faculties. He cheerfully makes a play of words on 'saintist' and ‘scientist', emphasising that a scientist who only declares as true and valid what is calculable and ponderable, what can be fitted into the accepted so called 'natural laws' can never penetrate into the essence. The most important thing in the world is love. Without love, there is no meaningful existence. At these words, He again makes a movement in the air with His right hand, palm downwards; He now turns it upwards and hands me a small photograph with His picture, which He then dates and signs 'with Love'...

I have with me Murphet's book, “Sai Baba, Man of Miracles" and "PSI" by Ostrander / Schroeder. He holds the first in front of Him and says with a smile, 'Well. Well. Sai Baba—Sai Baba. The author is a good man." Then He turns over the leaves in the PSI book. I described PSI as a collective concept for everything paranormal and as an example, the apparition of Rosenheim and other psychokinetic cases, relating that the Soviets especially are engaged in the investigation of PSI.” …Sai Baba said, "Yes. Every one has these abilities and he can also increase them through training." …I said, “It is to be feared that these forces will be used for strategic purposes, political prestige, therefore for selfish and destructive aims. That is why I was interested in knowing whether all men possess these powers and whether they may be used for good or evil.”

He said in reply, "Whoever intends to bring about evil with His powers will reap evil. Whoever wishes to use them for himself will lose them. Those abilities are often limited to a certain time and a specific mode of operation. Especially, if they are practiced without piety.”...

"The atmosphere was refreshingly cheerful and pleasant. This meeting had nothing solemn or pathetic. His naturalness and high spirits were especially comforting. Once more He began to laugh—His clear and hearty laughter. Anyone may be cheerful who has within him the serenity of Divine Peace."...

After, about one hour's conversation (with the people who were in the room), Sai Baba withdrew to adjacent room with the American lady and the Professor. A volunteer brought us grapes. When the conversation in the adjacent room was over, Sai Baba took leave of us, with the request to visit Him again, "I am very happy that you came. Thank you very much.”

(The above article was culled from an English Translation by Leone Muller of New York of an article in German on "Sai Baba, Godman" by Dr. Sigrid Lechner Knecht of Federal Republic of Germany, published in the October and November issues of the ‘Esotera' magazine, republished in July 1976 issue of Sanathana Sarathi.)

[V2K]

We resolved to spend the rest of our life in the hallowed sanctuary, Prasanthi Nilayam. The atmosphere was inviting, vibrant with fraternity; felicity, charity and love, unfolding and enfolding. We were glad we had sailed into its calmness and coolness and we decided to drop anchor there. We were only about fifty residents and at the Bhajan sessions in the mornings and evenings, about twenty visitors joined us. On some days, the headmen of the villages around came, with a few farmers to lay before Baba local conflicts for solution, or seek His blessings for ventures in cultivating commercial crops; they led newly bought bullocks so that His Blessings could endow them long life and sound health.

During those years, Baba came down from His room on the first floor usually about four in the evening. It had become quite an unchanging schedule. There were eight tenements on the right of the building, five on the left and a row of six single rooms at the back. These latter were so close to the Mandir that the kitchen smells were wafted into the Bhajan Hall when the wind turned mischievous.

Baba would stand still for a while on coming down, keeping us wondering whither His steps would turn. But, He made up his mind pretty quick whom to bless first. O! How happy He made us! He would enter every home and spend a few enlivening minutes with the occupants. Every noon, we prepared the house for receiving Him. We swept and scrubbed, washed and dusted. Designs were drawn on the floor, greens were hung across the door. There was a chair for Him in every house, artistic and comfortable, placed on a carpet with a low footstool in position. The metal lamp in the tiny altar occupying a niche on the wall or a corner of the only room, was lit and kept merrily burning. Everyone watched without winking for the orange robe and the crown of hair, though He seldom missed a house while on His mercy march, and though one could be certain of His visit to one's place immediately after His leaving the adjacent house.

Ah! That was a knock at our own kitchen door. It is He! He enters our home through that door, with a song designed to sweep our gloom away-a song composed five centuries ago in the Kannada language, so dear to our ears, by Saint Purandaradasa. It began, "Do not doubt the Lord.” The assurance was an admonition.

Another day, Baba ventured into the backyard of the very first tenement of 'Brindavan' and while we were peering into the northern distance to spot him the moment He emerged from the front door of that house and get busy ourselves, he managed to get through their backdoor and walk unnoticed along a narrow gap between numbers six and seven, and slide behind poor innocent me from the south end. He closed my eyes with a quick placement of His palms, in order to grant me the sweetest of surprises. When He asked me, "Tell who?" my reply was a cascade of tears. Childish? Blind man’s Buff, between a thirty and a sixty? Yes, His form was of the evening of youth; but the content was a child, the Child that has come to chide and change, the Child that has come to reveal the hypocrisy of homosapiens and make mankind aware of the humbug he is hugging firm.

This Divine Child applies the balm of cool benediction, with its soothing palm, on our eyes, reddened by envy and blinded by anger. When He closes these eyes, the Inner Eye loses its blinkers; there is no division thereafter—only the vision of Him, who asks each one, all the time, "Tell who?" This child draws us to itself by spontaneous and spotless Love and by its untarnished authentic wisdom.

The human child sees itself as the centre of the universe and the world as an extension of its Being. This Divine Child knows that is so. The human child arrives without the label of a name; we stick one on its brow. Baba, the Divine Child, has announced, "I have no name; I respond to all names.” Baba has declared, "I have no place which I claim as my very own; I belong to all places. I am wherever I am wanted." Children are most concerned with the ‘now'. Baba reminds us ''The past is past. Do not turn back and look wistfully or wailingly on the road you have traversed already." Children do not see the world as fragmented by walls, Chinese, Berlinese, or erected just to tease. They are involved in everything and with everyone. They represent true innocence, love, forgiveness and fraternity. The child has no conceit or contempt of gender. This Divine Child affirms, "Among men, I am man; among women, I am woman. Among children, 1 am a child.” This statement is echoed in the Upanishads which describe God, “You are woman, you are man, you are girl, you are senile leaning on stick.” The human child delights to pour sand through its fingers. This child, I saw, grasped a handful of Chitravati sand; it became a book, the Bhagavad-Gita. Sand coagulated into beads when Baba jogged gleefully on the white beach at Cape Comorin where three seas lap the shore. This Divine Child sat on the seashore near Dwaraka and played with both hands on the sand. An eighteen inch golden idol of Krishna emerged! This Child inspires us to become children again, so that we may be ever with him.

to be continued...

[V2K]

Much have you given to me,
Yet I ask for more...
I come to You not merely for the draught of water, but for the spring;
Not for guidance to the door alone,
But entry into the Master’s hall;
Not only for the gift of love, but
For the Lover Himself!

As I sit back and ponder over the bygone days, I realise that someone has secretly entered into my life and enriched it with priceless love. I was blessed with boundless gifts. I did not know who the giver was, but felt His presence and His gentle touch.

'Once in the early nineties, Swami visited Madras, and was staying at Sundaram. After the suprabhatam was sung, the Lord glided onto the balcony and gave darshan to the thousands who were waiting there. My parents and I were also amongst the crowd of devotees who had come to enjoy the spectacle of love spreading far and wide to rekindle the spirit of mankind.

The mass of devotees, who were seated till then, rose in reverence with folded palms, and tried hard to get a glimpse of the Almighty. Tears of joy rolled down my mother's cheeks as she saw the beautiful form of Love in front of her. I was surrounded by people, and couldn't catch sight of the wish fulfiller, as I knew Him to be. I tugged at my mother's sari. She seemed to understand what was going on in my mind. Just then, the devotees started murmuring amongst themselves that the Balvikas children were to present a programme in the portico so that Swami could see the tiny tots from where He stood. As the crowd made way for them, I rushed through the narrow passage, and positioned myself in the front row. It was then that I had a glimpse of my Guardian, my Eternal Friend. I knew for certain that He is my comrade, and that the unseen hand is His.

As I grew up, God to me was only an entity I used to look up to in order to satisfy my petty fancies. When I was promoted to the sixth grade, attending bhajans in the neighbourhood was a part of my everyday routine apart from academics, fun and frolic. After the bhajans, it was a regular practice among the devotees to narrate some experiences of how Swami had touched their lives and made a difference. Hearing them, I used to yearn for the day when He would enrich my life with an experience.

My life that was filled with the warmth and affection of my kith and kin until then was suddenly thrown into turmoil and tension when I was afflicted by what the doctors diagnosed as tuberculoma of the brain. Initially, I had an agonizing pain in the head which eventually began to run down my spine. Sitting in the classroom for prolonged hours was becoming impossible. I could not sprint in the streets and sport with my friends. I had to discontinue my studies before a week elapsed, and my sprightly spirit, that always soared high, plummeted. I withdrew myself from academics and all the activities and aerial ambitions that an 11-year old would dream of.

A score of bitter pills, steroids and splenetic syrups replaced the bars of chocolate puddings and pastries. The doctors were not happy with my progress. The oral medication did not suffice, and they decided that the needle had to be used to relieve me from the anguish. I had sleepless nights due to the sudden spasms, and my colourful childish world was flooded with darkness. My worried parents surrendered to Swami. I was sure that Swami was making my biography a momentous and memorable one.

I asked Him to hold my hand and deliver me from despair. I prayed fervently and asked Him to renew my lost strength. Behind the silent dark walls, God answered my prayer, and my parents decided to take me to Puttaparthi. I was fortunate to sit in the front row. My mother too secured a convenient position to have Baba's darshan. The music began. Swami came gently walking towards where I sat. He took some rice grains from the lady who was sitting besides me, and showered them thrice on me. In my anxiety, I blurted out 'Swami, I do not want to take those injections any more.' His benign smile gave me an assurance that everything would be taken care of.

I travelled back counting my blessings. The follow-up CT scan reports disclosed that I was on the way to speedy recovery. My parents were grateful to Bhagawan who had granted their daughter a new lease of life. It is said that: 'the strongest metal cometh from the toughest furnace.' This phase of despair strengthened my faith in Bhagawan.

The love story does not end there. Years passed. Now, as His student, I am a humble part of His Avataric Mission. He shows us the path way to immortality by being our guardian. This is the assurance given to me in one of my dreams. I dreamt that all His students were made to stand in a line forming a human chain and were asked to walk behind Him. He turned to see if all His children were following Him. When He found that some of us had slightly deviated, He gently pushed us into the path set by Him. To my right was a beautiful garden, and to my left was marshy land. He said to me, 'if you follow Me, I will guide you to the garden.' The dream ended there but the message was clear. The goal is set and the path is clear. All we need to do is to tread it with commitment.'

[V2K]

The Sadhaka must have as his objective the state of mental preparation, for the realisation of Godhead at any moment. That is to say, his heart must be cleansed of despair, free from hesitation and doubt, and open to the waves of bliss that surge in from all sides, in God's Universe. Love brings the waves in, ever expansive as they are! Follow the directives, with faith and sincerity. That will help you to realise the purpose of life. Since every act has its appropriate reaction, beware of evil intentions, wicked words, acts that harm others and therefore harm you, and so live that you revere all as moving temples of the Divine.

Narasamma, who passed away recently is a good example for you. She was a pure devotee. She came to Parthi 30 years ago; and, once having come, she never turned back to Madras, with any longing for her home, her belongings or her kith and kin! She was friendly with all and put up gladly with all sorts of people. I used to reprimand her often, "Narasamma, why do you welcome all these people into your room and allow them to disturb the Sadhana and silence you need?" But, her heart was large and it was difficult to restrain her. She spent all these years, happily here; and, now she has settled here, as her eternal home.

I wrote a letter to her from Goa. I did not write to any one else from there. I wrote only to her. I wrote, "Narasamma, I am with you, beside; before, behind; and I am guarding you as the lids guard the eye. Do not be worried in the least that I am not there. Since your body is getting weaker and weaker, be ready for any eventuality. Avoid thoughts of the body, be ever full of thoughts of God. Carry on in that manner. When the body gets overripe, it rots; when it rots, it is thrown away. Her body became ripe, overripe and it even suffered due to over ripeness. So, it had to be disposed away. But, her Seva and Sadhana—these do survive.

"Perhaps you wondered why I did not come to give her Darshan, even though she was praying, for it so long! Her fortune was not this kind of Darshan, standing before you, as I do now. But, I certainly stuck to my promise to her, that I shall give Darshan to her, during her last moments. I came, I stood before her, I gave her the Blessing Prasadam, I asked her to put into her mouth the Vibhuti I created and gave her; and, some persons round her bed at the time came to know about it. For they asked Narasamma, 'What is it you are putting into your mouth?' and Narasamma told them, 'Swami came just now and gave me Vibhuti Prasadam.' Until the last breath she was fully conscious."

Narasamma died at seven minutes past eleven in the morning here at Prasanthi Nilayam, and there at Whitefield, I mentioned to Peddabottu (who has come there and is staying there), at seven minutes past eleven; "Your Narasamma has gone!"

Her nature, her heart that corresponded with her nature, her achievement which was characteristic of her heart and its purity—all bore fruit. It is difficult to understand the beauty of such a life and to find analogies by which one can explain it.