SPIRITUAL SHOWERS

[V2K]

(continued from the previous issue...)
Among the Pandava Brothers, Arjuna was the greatest bowman of his time. He had the mighty bow, the Gandiva and the most destructive arrow, the Divine Pashupata. Next, there was Bhima. The might of his shoulders, the irresistible mace which he wielded—who not heard of them? Nevertheless, these two brothers bent their heads before the eldest brother, Dharmaja, whose only strength lay in his fortitude, equanimity and mental peace; they never transgressed his wish even by a hair's breadth! At the present time, America is the Arjuna; Russia is Bhima; Bharat (India) is Dharmaja. Still, Bharat is giving up its unique status, and imitating America and Russia, following their ways of life. This is pitiable ignorance.

The Vedic Dharma is the best; it is complete and full. It is beyond Time. The other Faiths are as its sons, grandsons and great grandsons. The Vedic Dharma or the Hindu Dharma is the grandfather, Buddhism is the son, Christianity the grandson and Islam the great grandson—the later has drawn inspiration from the earlier. They all belong to a family of faiths; if only, this fact is well understood, there is no room for misunderstanding or hatred; nor can any arise.

It is a piece of good fortune to be born in Bharat; but, it is really, a lamentable misfortune that the children of Bharat do not pay attention to the inexhaustible Atma-shakti that is latent in them; they do not strive to know about it. So too, they do not try to know about their country and the supremacy of the Vedic dharma.

At this, I asked, "You say, we are unable to know about this inexhaustible Shakti, though it is latent in us. Kindly explain how this has happened. To this Baba replied, "I shall illustrate it by means of a short story. A rich merchant once went to a holy place, to attend the temple festival. A thief too followed him, in order to knock off his purse; but, he posed as a companion proceeding to the same place, for the same festival. They stayed in a Dharmasala for the night. When everyone had gone into deep sleep, the thief who kept awake until then, rose and searched everywhere for the merchant's bag. He could not lay hands on it, in spite of the restless search. When day broke he told the merchant in a friendly manner. "There are thieves in this place; I hope you are taking good care of your bag, which holds all your money." The merchant replied, "O yes. Last night, I kept it right under your pil low. See, how safe it is!" So saying he took it from underneath the thief's pillow! God is like that merchant; he has placed the bag holding Atmashakti, Atmajnana, and unalloyed happiness in the head of man. But, man is ignorant of this; he seeks to acquire that Shakti, that Jnana and that happiness from all other places, except his own self! He gets only despair as reward.

I intervened and asked, "They say that miracles should not be done, that they are dangerous for the Sadhaka, obstacles in his path. Is that true?" Baba answered, "You cannot apply the same rule to every instance; there are exceptions. Of course, if miracles are done to exhibit power, they heighten egotism and are dangerous. As signs of Divine Shakti, evidences of Divinity I am doing them. I am granting things out of Prema, in order to develop in men attachment to God and the Godly Path. I intend that the recipients should be filled with Prema. I have no desire of any kind. My talk is of Love, My path is the path of Love.

I am not aware of grief or want. I am the embodiment of Ananda: I have not had even moment's grief, nor can I ever have it. When a person with grief is before Me, I feel I shall experience his misery; but, misery and grief cannot enter the field of My Experience. I have no such emotion as anger. Why, I have no emotions at all, nothing can affect Me. The reason is, I have no desire. Mine is complete detachment. As a result, however much I exert Myself, I am as fresh as ever.

Vivekananda did not have full faith in his Guru, Ramakrishna in the early years of contact. But, Ramakrishna knew that through him, mighty spiritual tasks have to be achieved. So, in order to establish him firmly in the spiritual path, Ramakrishna touched him, with his hand. The miracle of that touch wiped off completely, the doubts that pestered Vivekananda. There is no egotism in this miracle; no craving for exhibition; it caused no injury to anyone; it is born out of love and is filled with love; it is a sign of Divine power; it opened the path for liberation."

I asked, "It is said that by miracles, things that are already somewhere are transported. The things that you grant—are they thus transported or created?" Baba replied, "They are all newly created. Transporting means, they should come from somewhere else, isn't it? That would be deceit. Things are created the very moment I will them. I give also things that are found nowhere. This Shakti is impossible to comprehend."

I continued, "From when have you begun to give these signs of Divine Power?" Baba said, "From childhood. At school, I used to create chocolates, marbles and other articles for the children around Me." I asked, "There are some who produce things in miraculous ways and offer them. Do they transfer them from somewhere or create them anew? How can we know it?" Baba said, "Ask them. Why should I speak of those people?"

I placed a statement I had heard, before Him: "They also say that this Shakti will disappear after some time" Baba asked me, "Why are you bothered with others now? I vouchsafed things with Prema; My Prema will not decline or diminish."

I placed another question before Him: "At what age did you acquire this Divine Power or Shakti? Baba said, "From My very birth—from before that." I intercepted with an exclamation, "That is to say..." Baba continued, "That is to say, I resolved upon My own Birth. I decided who is to be the mother. Mere humans can choose only who is to be the wife or husband; in the Rama incarnation, in the Krishna incarnation, the mothers were chosen by the 'Son'. Then too, the task for which the birth was resolved upon, was the same—conferring Prema.

I did not ask any further questions. To the questions presented before Him by others, Baba answered in some detail about the best system of education for the young, so that they can become useful for themselves and others, and similar subjects. When Sri Sathya Sai Baba left the place, with Hon'ble Sri. P. K Savant, all of us recollected with great joy the illuminating conversation we were privileged to have. Sri Balasaheb Bharde turned to me and said, "Baba is the source, the repository of Yoga Dharma Jnana and Prema." That summary thrilled me greatly.
(concluded)

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At noon the next day, I accompanied Baba on a circuitous journey to Goa. The three cars moved towards Jog Falls. As usual, while leaving Brindavan, devotees lined up on both sides of the road, anxious to get a glimpse of Baba and to see the Hand waving to them.

It was a Fiat 1500 in which Baba, Mr. N.D.M. Appah, Chairman, Mysore State Electricity Board, and myself were travelling. The road was stony and rough, so the drive was full of jerks and bumps – this caused Baba to reprimand the driver for not being circumspect enough. "You do not know how much pain I get in the abdomen when it bumps," He said. We wondered why Baba who withstood worse roads better, was insisting on slow driving that day…
When the cars reached Goa, it was night. The stars came forth; they came with us, every yard of the road, keeping pace. When the border of Goa was reached, the Lt. Governor of Goa, Sri Nakul Sen, received Baba and let us into a rest house, where china gleamed in the shelves by the wall and geraniums glistened on the window sills. We had coffee; from then on Baba sat in the State car, with the head of the state.

Hurrying around the rambling roads, towards Panaji (the capital of Goa), the cars finally arrived at Raj Nivas, the Palace of the Governors-General of the "Portuguese Possessions in India and the Far East" for many centuries, but now, the official residence of the Lt. Governor. The time was 9.15 p.m. We had motored 385 miles, since morning, over good and bad roads, but Baba as fresh as a lily when He hastened up the red-carpeted flight of steps to the flower-decked apartments, set aside for His stay. Very soon, Baba presided over the dining table to which we were led by the Lt. Governor. He watched with amusement the contingent of waiters, and the beautiful chinaware, which the Portuguese had brought from Macao.

Though Mrs. Sen made bold to remind Him of His duty to Himself, He did not eat anything. He appeared to be anxious to send everyone to bed. "Go, go! You are all very much exhausted," He insisted. I protested that travelling with Him can never exhaust anyone, but He repeated that I was really in immediate need of rest. When we rose Mrs. Sen was informed by Baba that coffee be made ready for Him only at 8 a.m. the next day! She knew that at Prasanthi Nilayam, He had His coffee at around 6 a.m., but despite appeals for revising the order, Baba gave instructions that it was to be brought only at 8 o' clock.

Baba was alone in the suite reserved for Him. Nakul Sen pleaded for permission to be within call, but Baba sent Him away to his own room. We from Bangalore were in rooms on the ground floor.

About what occurred that night, Baba wrote later to Dr. S. Bhagavantam, in a letter I carried to him on the 12th December, "On the night of the 7th, strange events happened. I could not lie in bed, I could not sit upon it, nor turn, from one side to another. Nor could I speak or call. I did not like to cause anxiety or trouble to anyone. So I kept silent, pretending that all was well with Me"!

Next morning when the Sens grew aware of the truth it became clear, why He had abstained from dinner, and postponed the coffee hour, wanting only to hurry away to bed! I too began to understand why He had come away from Dharwar, and why He had taken the driver to task. Obviously, He had been 'ill' when He started out from Dharwar!

Mrs. Sen felt that Raj Nivas was an 'unlucky' place since He had fallen 'ill' there, but Baba immediately corrected her. "No, it is a house of good luck! I brought the 'illness' with Me to Cabo, so that I could get rid of it here".

By daybreak on the 8th, Baba appeared to be in great pain and Nakul Sen called in doctors from the Medical College at Goa, and some leading physicians of the City. Soon an imposing medical team surrounded the sick bed; their report read as follows, "history of pain in right lower quadrant of the abdomen since 3 p.m. on the 7th December.

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                                                                I do not need any riches; for, why should I?
A carefree mind is enough, O Father,
That is a Million for me!

I shall not yearn for Fortune; for, why should I?
A smile-lit face is enough, O Father,
That is a Million for me!

I shall not pine and want: for, why should I?
A glance from Thy Eye is enough, O Father,
That is a Million for me!

I shall not crave for Wealth; for, why should I?
The joy of being Thine is enough, O Father,
That is a Million for me!

Enough for me these things I have,
Whatever Thou hast gifted now;
Why think of getting more?

I’ll have them when Thou wishest;
Enough for me Thy un-diminishing Grace
Which falls on all whom Thou hast blessed,

With the words: “This one is Mine.”

[V2K]

The whole assumption that the planet is there for us to exploit is false. We are not mere observers of nature. We are nature. The human being is that point where nature becomes self-conscious and can lift out in thought into the universe and think God's thoughts again, can reflect God's thoughts, and receive the ever present God into heart and into mind. We are making this discovery, this greatest of all experiences, that God is wherever there is life, light and love, wherever we allow love and light to come into our hearts and into our thinking.

It is wonderful to realise that God is there within our own thinking. "I am with you always, closer than breathing, nearer than hands and feet." What is closer than breathing? The answer surely is thinking. "I AM there in your thinking." Look at the implications of this. This is the message. This is the thought for our generation and our time. This is the point which we have got to apprehend and make conscious and utilise. God and all His creatures, your guardian angel, your higher self, speak within your own thinking.
Man in God's image

Will you try this little experiment? Look into another person's eyes. You need not smile, need not respond for this idea goes beyond individual personalities. Just realise the wonder of this organ which enables the angelic world or God to look out from within nature and see creation from the inside, not merely looking down upon the planet in its beauty, but entering it through that organ of perception in nature which we call Humanity. It is God looking out of your eyes at Himself in mine.

We are looking through into that vast being of which God said "Let us make man in our own image." This immense spiritual being of humanity is everywhere and Earth, this gem of a planet, is the chosen point at which this divine experiment can take place. It involved the releasing of a hierarchy of spiritual beings into this chosen planet, and giving them freedom, which involves
freedom to err. It is the great gamble of the gods, the great experiment to create a hierarchy of spiritual beings, who, having freedom, are ultimately able to come back again to God out of free choice.

The forces of light are forbidden to interfere with human freedom, and therefore the great guiding beings must watch and wait until a human being out of its heart rededicates itself to service of the Lord. When it has really made that choice in action, it is possible for that force of light to be flooded through the human being. Without interfering with freedom by free choice, you have elected to become a warrior for God in the great period of coming change.
Higher forces at work

Think what is happening now in this room. Here are gathered dedicated followers of God, recognising in Sai Baba a true manifestation of God upon earth. When a company comes together in such a setting as this, the whole force field of vibration is raised. A higher frequency is created in this setting. This is indeed the task of every cathedral, or temple, whatever the religion. A point of ethereal space is created within the temple, into which a divine being can descend into the heavy slow vibration of the earth plane without being contaminated. The noble architecture of any temple, of whatever religion, is enclosing sacred space and when we come into it in a mood of prayer and dedication, we are entering a force field of high frequency linked with the spiritual sun. As we meet here today dedicated in the service of Sai Baba as a true manifestation of God in the human layer, we may be certain that these energies are in fa ct flooding golden light into this space on a level which our ordinary vision of course cannot as yet see.
"Droplet of God"

Remember the great truth—as in the macrocosm so in the microcosm. The human body is the temple. That which can say "I" in you and me, is a droplet of God, housed temporarily in a very beautiful and compact mobile temple that is the body. You are not your body. You, the thing that can say I, is a spiritual being, part of God and therefore axiomatically immortal and imperishable because God is Life. For that being there literally cannot be any death. The temple can of course be destroyed burnt, drowned, frozen, smashed, but that does no more than release the immortal droplet of God back to source.

Humanity is really still in a pre-birth condition. Consciousness in all of us is awakening to the divinity of the totality of humanity of which we are each cells. At this time the divine world is so close. The manifestation of God that we call Sai Baba has entered the Earth and not only is there in Puttaparthi but is everywhere and is here and knows all that each one of us is thinking. This is a most wonderful thought, but as the Greeks said; "knowledge begins with wonder." So wonder at this.

Take the idea that we are each a droplet of God and we are therefore one great being of Humanity. Thus if I hurt, criticise, rob or kill you, I shall be hurting myself.

I will put this lovely idea in my heart and in my thinking. I know that I am a divine droplet and so are you and we are therefore One on this level. Glory be! I know that God is not far behind the stars. He is everywhere. He, in this case, Sai Baba, is in this room and in the thinking of every one of us. Wonder upon wonder and privilege beyond all privileges! We have been given freedom and the forces of light will not take us over without our consent, which the forces of darkness are prepared to do. They have no compunction about direct attack to get hold of the human being. Therefore, what we can do is to surround ourselves with a protective shield, or Cloak of higher light vibration. Now, knowing that there is no true protection but in God, you would then have absolute protection in rededicating self to this adventure of the in-flooding of the God power. This is truly the greatest adventure that the human being can und ertake.

All of us here now are droplets of God and identifying with the one great being which is humanity. With us in this ethereal space is not only Sai Baba Himself, that Universal Being, but the angelic world in force. Take that thought and fire as if it were true. You need not believe, because these ideas are themselves living beings and therefore such an idea as I have tried to describe will draw certainty to itself. As you live with it you come absolutely to know what is true beyond any argument. Never argue about these things. Remember when the great Karl Jung, in one of the last press interviews before he died, was asked "Do you believe in God?" he replied, "No, I don't believe in God, I know." That is a great thought. We know and we can act on this inner knowledge. So in that sense we know validly that Sai Baba is a universal manifestation of God and that He is present with every human being and ther efore knows everyone of our problems.

I will close with one little quatrain by James Elroy Flecker,

"Awake! Awake! the world is young
For all its weary years of thought.
The starkest fights must still be fought.
The most surprising songs be sung."
Let us sing together!

[V2K]

There is an old devotee known as Shirdi Ma, for she was at Shirdi when Sai Baba was alive. She is called Pedda Bottu, too, because of the impressive kumkum dot she wears on her brow. Shirdi Ma, in her reminiscence, says that she was always urging Easwaramma to tell her a few miracles of Swami when he was a child. Easwaramma would parry the questions most of the time saying that she never saw any or could not remember. But one day she revealed a profoundly moving experience which she had kept secret for over thirty years, having been told not to speak of it.

"Swami was nine months old at the time," Easwaramma said, "I can't remember the whole incident fresh and clear. I had just bathed and dressed him, and applied on his eyes cooling collyrium. I applied vibhuthi from the Shiva temple and a dot of kumkum from the Sathyamma temple on his brow. I put him in the cradle, gave it a swing and turned to the hearth where the milk had come to the boil. Suddenly I heard him cry. I was surprised for, believe me, he had never cried since birth for any reason, hunger, or pain, or discomfort. I picked him up and placed him on my lap, He stopped the wail. I saw a halo of brilliant light all around him, a circle of radiance surrounding him. But the light did not hurt me, it was so cool though so bright and near. I sat still, lost in delight. It was there a long time, before it faded slowly away. I closed my eyes and probably lost awareness of everything around, until my mother-in-law came to me and I awoke. The child was apparently asleep. She asked me what had happened and I told her about the halo that I could see even then in clear outline. She put her finger on her lips and said, 'Don't tell anyone of this. They wouldn't understand. They would spread all kinds of tales.' I think she told grandfather, for he asked me about it later."



Our Swami is God


On the eleventh or twelfth day of the Camp, she accosted Shirdi Ma (the octogenarian lady who had known and worshipped the Sai Baba of Shirdi) to tell her of a momentous experience. Pedda Bottu (as Shirdi Ma is also known) relates the secret confided in her that day: "Pedda Bottu," Easwaramma said to me, "I want to tell you something that happened to me. But tell no one else." I sat closer and said, "What is it, tell me." "Our Swami is God!" she whispered. I laughed. "Why do you laugh?" she asked. "No, no, I was not laughing at you. I am only happy you have realised it now. Well, tell me, how did you come to know?" I asked. "You know I have been having high fever for four days. Swami came to me then." "In a dream?" I asked, "No," she said, "He really did come to me when I was rolling restlessly in bed. "Ammayi, how do you feel?" He asked. "My whole body is aching, " I replied, looking up at Him. Then—what can I tell you? It was not He that you and I know. It was Ramachandra with Kireetam and Kodandam (Crown and Bow)! I raised my folded hands and struggled to sit up and get out of bed. But in a few moments He became Swami again, gave me Vibhuthi Prasadam and said, 'The fever will go,' and went." "You are indeed blessed. What a rare piece of luck!" I exclaimed. "No one of us has had a vision of Sai Rama as Ramachandramurthy while fully awake and alert." (Thus ends Pedda Bottu's narrative)

[V2K]

The gentle early springtime sun brought everything to life in the Anza Borrego desert scene in Southern California. Bright little flowers formed a carpet of color, as though awaiting the Blue Lotus Feet of our Lord to be a soft cushion. How sprightly were the small birds, as they sprang from one branch to another, with full awareness of their freedom! All of this wonderland was covered with a delicate blue sky that played hide and seek with the surrounding mountains.

While enthralled with all of this nature scented with desert perfumes, I seemed to nave a question filtering through my mind, as to whether or not I would bathe in the placidly clear waters of my friend's swimming pool. Then, I found myself almost unthinkingly turning away from the pool area and entering the precincts of the quiet cool house. I could see the pool reflecting the sky, through the large plate glass windows.

It was then I felt the meditative heartstrings enticing me from within. I had no sooner started the inward journey when Baba began to talk to me. It is His message which I would like to share with you now.

"Bathe in the water pool, for, is it not Ganga water? That water out there, too, is from God. Why should one differentiate as to one water's spiritual benefit from that of another body of water?

Bathe with a divine feeling of receiving an inner purification for the water thus used is being blessed by Me. Remember that all water used to cleanse the temple of the soul is holy water. It can draw you closer to Me wherever you are, just as mother Ganges has done from age to age. Does not all water come down from the `Himalayas of the Heavens', from whence all purity originates? How much more comforting it is to know that one can always bathe in the bliss of the Lord! I bathe the silver image of Sai Baba of Shirdi with a downfall of Divine Ash which pours right from My Heart. I do that ceremony with great joy and love. Should not all have that same loving attitude toward their living temples whether they are bathing it, giving it food or simply being good to it?

Take every opportunity to be closer to Me. When you partake of daily food, do so as in prayer, for, I am also with you providing the food of Divinity. When breath is taken into the body, know that I am also there, pouring in life sustaining Prana. When you are serving another, always know that I am there also being served. Never separate yourself from Me, whatever you are doing."

There was something extraordinary about the pool as I entered it. The water seemed to come alive as it carried out its divine purpose. The Lord appeared present in the form of colorful mountains. The feeling within was so beautiful. It felt like the angels in heaven had been asked by the Lord to witness the spiritual merging and emerging. Baba's words came true, for the blessings from my experience in "Mother Ganges" have stayed with me.

Since that sweet encounter with the Lord. I have discovered how much His presence exists when breaking bread with Him at the table. There now seems to be less hurry. Why try to end quickly dining with my Beloved?

Now, I look back and ask myself why I waited so long in this body temple to open my heart to His Heart.

May we live ever closer to Him as the sands of time run out.

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Many among you might wonder, "We have been coming to and staying at Prasanthi Nilayam for years. But, Swami is not talking to us. He does not even look at us." Now, what really is the reason? The sparks that leap out of the flames of fire go into the distance and soon become ash or dark dust. Of course, everyone is fundamentally Atma, but, moving away from the awareness of that Reality, one reduces oneself into ash or dark dust.

You are in Prasanthi Nilayam, certainly. But, your thoughts wander everywhere else. When your thoughts revolve around your desire to attain Prasanthi or Supreme Peace, when your deeds are directed by the regimen laid down for attaining it, when your words are soft, sweet and soaked in Love, you can, without fail, enjoy the warmth of this Fire. Often, when you watch the range of hills around Prasanthi Nilayam, you can see, specially in Summer, streaks of light creeping fast over the tops. This is due to the vegetation catching fire. You can see the light from afar, but you cannot bask in the warmth. So too, you only see Sai Baba; you do not derive the Grace He is ready to grant.

The reason is: You do not dedicate all your thoughts, words and deeds to Swami. Whatever you do (wherever you are) feel that it is prompted by Swami and let it be acceptable to Swami. I am the recipient of all your efforts and attempts. For example: The army recruits dhobis to wash and iron uniforms and clothing. It has barbers and sweepers on the pay roll; they work in camps and move with the military personnel. They may be engaged in different types of work but every one has to undergo physical training and drill, every day.

So, too, one of you may be working in an office, another in a shop, a third in the press but every one must engage in Sadhana with devotion, discipline and a sense of duty. Do not feel that your role is low and the other person's high. Do not be depressed when you find your role is minor; do not be proud when you discover that your role is a major one. Give your best to whatever role is allotted to you. That is the way to earn Grace.

When can you secure Swami's Grace? In what form? One may get it as a chance to have Darshan, another as a chance to touch The Feet, a third as a chance to exchange a few words. Others may not be the recipients of any of these. Why? Their ideals and desires may not be proper. Even if they are proper, they may not be gladly pursued in daily lives. There are five fingers in every hand. If each finger points towards its own peculiar direction, how can the hand hold or manipulate any article? If they come together and stay together, the hands can accomplish whatever they plan. Similarly, when one of you turns your head away at the sight of another, and ten people insist on ten diverse directions, how can any deed be done? You must all be equally alert and active and co operative.

Why must you compete and quarrel? Nothing in this world can last as such for long. The Buddha diagnosed this correctly. He declared, "All is sorrow; all is transient; all are but temporary contraptions of ephemeral characteristics." Why should you be as fatally fascinated by these finite things? Strive to gain the eternal, the infinite, the universal. One day, you have to give up the body you have fed and fostered. How long can you keep all that you have earned and possessed with pride? Trivial thoughts and desires award only sorrow; holy thoughts and desires award divine peace. Therefore, cultivate good and beneficial feelings and desires. Keep away from bad company and bad thoughts. Realise the holy purpose of life through pure thoughts and words and selfless service to your fellow beings.

[V2K]

I came to know Sri Sathya Sai Baba on April 1, 1978. On this day, I was rushed to the hospital by ambulance to the emer­gency ward. A team of specialists examined me and gave me a battery of tests, all of which I failed. Simple questions about my name, phone number, date of birth, occupation, place of employment and field of specialisation I could not answer. I was delirious and in a state of mental confusion and anxiety. The team diagnosed that I had a neuro­logical dysfunction and I would be hospitalised for 6 months to a year.
A New Vocabulary in Values and Ethics

During the night in my state disconnected from reality, time and space, I dreamt a man with bushy hair and an orange robe who took me into a garden, sang a few Bhajans and touched my head. Next morning, the team of specialists arrived and started questioning me about my occupation, phone number, etc. I answered all their questions and was curious about this

simplistic level of questioning. They were amazed at my lucidity and queried what happened in the evening. I told them about the dream; the dream that was crystal clear in my mind. They concluded, it was an amazing recovery. However, they decided to keep me in hospital for two weeks for observation. After I was discharged, I found out that the man in my dream was Sri Sathya Sai Baba.

I started reading everything about Him, His miracles, community projects, discourses, etc., and was overwhelmed by His divine wisdom. The second miracle more critical than my amazing recovery is the miracle of transformation of my vision, work ethics and behaviour.

I studied at top universities in the West, McGill University, University of Toronto and John Hopkins University and never learned a lesson in human values or ethics. So, when I became a professor I never lectured on this topic in management. I thought it was nonsensical, problematic, subjective, relativistic, etc. Since I started studying Sai Baba's teachings I now lecture on values and ethics; there is an infusion of values and ethics in all my books, research papers, and conference procee­dings. A new vocabulary on values and ethics has entered my mind and consciousness. The value-based perspective in education, motivation, leadership, technological change, etc., is really the centre of my pedagogy and I have taken it to the Universities of Cambridge, Oxford, etc., where it was well received. This is a miracle of transformation not only in terms of my profession but also in my vision, goals, attitude, per ception of reality, values, behaviour, lifestyle, work ethics—all elements of my personality.

I now lecture in my B. Com. and MBA classes on Sri Sathya Sai Baba's theories of stress management, human personality, education, values, ethics, leadership, etc., with a few questions in the mid-term examination on His teachings which are popular with students. I also assign research papers on His revolutionary definitions on education, manager, and have completed three books on His teachings and on students' reflections on these teachings.
Building Bridges of Human Understanding

It is because of Sri Sathya Sai Baba that my life is happier, more meaningful and insightful and my job is enriched with new challenges and new perspectives and meanings: "Work is love made visible." His love and service translated into action for over 60 years are mind­ boggling, and His initiatives at cross ­cultural understanding among devotees from over 160 countries are just as amazing.

For me the miracle of transformation is more powerful than His other miracles of healing, materialisations, etc. His revival of the great spiritual classics of Hinduism and Indian culture worldwide in 160 countries has made India the spiritual and philosophical beacon for the world. For the information age what we need is not more information but transformation according to Sri Sathya Sai Baba. In­formation-oriented knowledge makes man a machine, whereas trans­formation-oriented knowledge makes man a composer. One ton of information may contain zero insight. The mansion of happiness is built on insight into the Atma and one's character, one's moral compass, He states. Sri Sathya Sai Baba has given me a moral compass to guide me on the ocean of life. I have met many of His students in Canada who are true gems of virtuous character, work ethics and human excellence.

I am not from India and have never talked to Sri Sathya Sai Baba nor had an interview with Him. My ancestors left India 150 years ago. I visited His Ashram to know more about Him, particularly His teachings, wisdom, love, the ideal of service and His charismatic personality. His power to transform peoples' vision, goals, values, personality and character, His celebration of the unity of religions at His ashram, and His work at building bridges of human understanding across all cultures on the planet are most astounding and marvellous.

[V2K]

 
   

 

Q: Swami, can I get moksha (liberation) in this very birth?

A: You can get it this moment, if you have the required purity of mind (Chitta Shuddhi). The only criterion is purity; birth is not important. God is beyond time—(Kalateeta). The time factor is applicable only to the universe (Jagat) and not to the Lord.

Q: Swami, the mental tendencies (vasanas) of many lives hinder the progress.

A: Vasanas can be changed by discrimination and effort (Viveka and Sadhana). You have to examine every tendency of your inner being, whether it is good or bad, before translating it into action.

Q: Swami's grace must come .........

A: The grace is always there; it neither comes nor goes. You have to tap it with effort.

Q: What is the difference between Dana (charity) and Thyaga (sacrifice)?

A: Charity is giving of money, time or energy for a good cause; sacrifice is giving up of one's bad traits and weaknesses. If sacrifice means just the giving up of hearth and home, many people will do it very easily!

The hallmark of true devotion is this sacrifice—the giving up of one's bad traits and weaknesses. A true devotee should not be deterred by adversities in life. The difference between true and false devotion can be discovered only in times of adversity. A ball of iron and a dry leaf look alike when there is no wind. But when the wind blows, the leaf flies away and the iron ball is not even swayed a little. In times of adversity, false devotion disappears; but a true devotee will think, "My difficulties and problems are in no way connected with my devotion to God. These difficulties are like passing clouds, but God is eternal and so is love for God."

Q: On the battlefield of Kurukshetra, Arjuna threw away his bow and arrows with a decision not to fight the war against Bhishma, the grandfather, Drona, the preceptor, and other kith and kin. But Arjuna had fought against Bhishma, Drona and others to protect the cows of Virata Maharaja, towards the end of the Pandava's incognito term in exile. What accounts for the difference in Arjuna's attitude?

A: The purpose of the earlier fight was only to protect the cows. It was not a decisive battle. There was no intention on the part of Arjuna to kill Bhishma and Drona. But in the battle of Kurukshetra, the stakes were very high; he had to kill them to win the war. In this situation, attachment to kith and kin plunged him into sorrow.

Q: Was Arjuna overpowered by the fear of fighting against the mighty heroes arrayed against him in Kurukshetra?

A: No, Arjuna was never afraid of fighting against anybody. It was only the delusion of 'I' and 'mine' (moham) that overpowered him.

Q: On the battlefield, Krishna taught Arjuna many aspects of the science of the Spirit. What was the path practised by Arjuna later?

A: The purpose of Krishna was to make Arjuna fight the war and save him from misery and infamy. The knowledge of 'Atma and Anatma' and the truth about the body principle are essential for the performance of one's duties (Kartavyakarma). The most important thing that Arjuna learnt was to perform all actions with a sense of surrender to the Lord. This is the secret of Karma Yoga. This was practised by Arjuna.

Q: The Bhagavad Gita says, "There is no killer nor killed!" On this basis Arjuna is asked to kill men on the battlefield. On the same logic, can anyone kill anybody he likes to kill?

A: Bhagavad Gita exhorts all men to follow their Dharma. Arjuna, being a Kshatriya, had to protect Dharma by killing the evil men. It was his duty. Arjuna was made to know the immortal nature of the Spirit and this enabled him to do his duty with efficiency and perfection. One who has the awareness of the spiritual truth will not enter the wrong path and do wrong things according to one's whims and fancies. He will always follow the moral code of conduct.

There is the story of a murderer, who argued with the magistrate, "There is neither any killer nor killed (according to the Gita). Therefore, why do you propose to hang me?" The magistrate paid him back in the same coin, telling him, "You also cannot be killed. Only your body will be hanged!"