‘Hri’ + ‘Daya’ = ‘Hridaya’, Heart Full Of Compassion Discoursing on ‘compassion’ a famous Indian spiritual teacher commented that, Compassion Is A Godly Quality. In another instance, a well-guided spiritual aspirant recently heard admitting that, all these years he has been talking about compassion as a verbal ritual sans any substantial experience, but lately, he started experiencing the same, with his heart bleeding love and compassion. Yes, compassion is a surging inner feeling of selfless love sans any judgement and reservations, something which is Absolutely Godly! Read on Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai speaking on Compassion. Many lights are glowing in this hall. Some people are listening, some are dozing. The light is unaffected by all these. It is a witness. Similarly, in the broad day light, some do good, and some do bad. The Sun remains unaffected by your deeds. Your bad actions can never harm God. Your good actions will never make Him happy either. Be it good or bad, you will have to reap the fruits of your actions. God is ‘Jyothirmayudu’ (Embodiment of Light). So He has nothing to do with your good or bad. He is just a witness. He is present in everybody as conscience. That is why I keep telling, “Follow the Master, Face the devil, Fight to the end and Finish the game. Who is your Master? Here, Conscience is your Master. So, follow your Conscience till the end of your life. Never give up in the middle. Once you have Love in your heart you can accomplish anything. You should not have hatred towards anybody. We should love even those who hate us. As a result, there will be transformation in their ‘Hridaya ‘. ‘Hri’ +’Daya’ = ‘Hridaya which means the heart should be full of compassion. Humanity is also called ‘Mankind’. So man should have compassion in his heart. But, today there is no compassion, only fashion exists. So long as fashion is there, compassion does not find a place, because ‘Hridaya’ is a single chair; not a double sofa, nor a musical chair.

The Advent of Vamana was to Glorify Bali How often we call it ‘a blessing in disguise’, an incident that happens apparently with a sad tinge, but on the hindsight, the incident turns out to be something incredibly beneficial. Such was the real case of the dual between Lord Vamana and Emperor Mahabali, explains Bhagawan. Vamana sought from Emperor Bali Three Footsteps of land. What is the reason for the Lord appearing as a dwarf before Bali? When the Lord could measure the Earth and the Heavens with two steps (after Bali had made the offering that Vamana wanted), why did He appear at first as a dwarf? This shows that however mighty a person may be, when he appears as a supplicant he gets diminished in stature. When one stretches his palm for an offering he becomes small. The giver of gifts acquires a high stature. Bali realised the greatness of his status as a giver. He rejoiced over his good fortune. When Bali agreed to make the gift which Vamana sought, Sukracharya intervened to tell the Emperor: “Don’t give Him what He asks. He is not a mere Brahmin lad. He is Lord Vishnu Himself.” Bali replied: “Oh Guru, I esteem no one higher than God. I will rather give up the preceptor than renouncing God.” There are any number of people in the world who are willing to make gifts of wealth, education and many other things, but there are few who offer themselves as a gift. Considering the gift which he was making to Vamana as a total offering of himself, Bali made the gift. Bali declared: “I am offering my wealth, my family and everything else and surrendering myself totally to you. O Lord’ save me.” Bali offered his all to the Lord. After the Lord had used two Footsteps to measure the Earth and the firmament, Bali prayed to the Lord to place His Foot upon his head for the third Footstep. What is the inner meaning of this action? As the Lord had measured the entire Earth with one Footstep it meant that the place occupied by Bali was also covered by the first step. What separate claim could he make regarding his head? The inner significance of this should be understood. By measuring the Earth the Lord has covered the earthly realm. By His second step He had covered the heavenly realm. By placing His Foot on the head of Bali, the Lord covered the manorajyam (the realm of the mind). This indicates that the Lord accepted and received from Bali the kingdom of his mind. The mind is at the root of this phenomenal world. The mind is the cause of both bondage and liberation for men. It is only when one is free from the trammels of the mind that he obtains true Moksha (liberation). Vamana conferred liberation on Bali by freeing him from his bondage to the mind. It should be realised that Vamana did not come to Bali just to seek a gift. He came to Bali to liberate him. He came to Bali as a protector. He sought to make Bali an ideal example to the world. For what reason? Bali was the very embodiment of righteousness. He was a just ruler. In looking after the welfare of his subjects, he was exemplary. He excelled also in his generosity and his adoration of the Divine. He was steadfast in his faith. The advent of Vamana was intended to glorify Bali and make him an ideal example to the world.

True Devotion Is Recognition Of The God Within How deeply and truly ‘i am’ committed to my Master Supreme?!? It is time for each one of us to introspect in this line, asking within, reminding oneself of The Absolute Surrender To The Supreme Absolute as executed by Mother Radharani during the Krishna time and Emperor Mahabali of yore. Most people today have no real idea of what is devotion and what is spiritual discipline. Different forms of worship, pilgrimages, meditation and the like are equated with devotion. These are not the indices of Bhakti (devotion). They are all actions which can confer some mental satisfaction. To realise your inner nature, your efforts must be directed internally. As long as you think God is somewhere outside you, you cannot qualify for Divine grace. The true mark of devotion is to recognise that God is within you and around you, everywhere. You must develop the faith that you are a manifestation of God. The scriptures call upon everyone to find out, “Who are you?” There is no other path than the path of dedication to God and complete surrender to the Will of the Divine. Emperor Bali was an exemplar of this doctrine of Saranagati (complete surrender) to God. Despite the protestations of his preceptor Sukracharya, Bali felt that it was his duty to offer everything to the Lord and, acting against the advice of his guru, he made a gift of all he had to the Lord who had come in the form of Vamana. In making an offering to God there is no need to abide by the instructions of the preceptor. The Lord is the Supreme Preceptor manifest in every Divine form. Emperor Bali adhered to two resolutions. First: to give to anyone whatever he sought. Second: never to go back on the plighted word. Bali held that there was no greater sin than going back on one’s word. He firmly declared that whatever might happen to him, even if it cost him his life, he would not go back on his promise. Thereby, Bali became a glorious upholder of truth. Who is a real Emperor? Not the one who has conquered many countries and ruled over a vast empire. Once, Adi Sankara summoned his disciples and put them the question: “Who is a real conqueror?” The disciples gave various answers. Sankara told them that the real conqueror is the one who has subdued his mind. Of what use is it to accomplish many things without mastering the mind? This was precisely the question which Prahlada put to his father, Hiranyakasipu, who had acquired control over even the elements but had not acquired mastery over his senses. 

A Faith-Lifting Encounter With Swami Closer than the closest He is that man’s prime duty on Earth is to realise the True Truth of Oneness with the Supreme Godhood. Many are the layers of myriad karmic rolls for him that, man while being churned in the treadmill of karma must endeavour to raise his benchmark of faith, finally to achieve his prime goal of Oneness. …An interesting experience of ‘Faith-Lift’ by Ms Nira Sailakshmi Kanagasabai, Malaysia. I was in Prasanthi Nilayam for the Zone 4 Young Adults Conference. The months preceding this were difficult as I felt disconnected from Swami. I questioned why He would never appear in my dreams or converse with me and I incessantly challenged Him to prove that He was listening. One evening, following an informal satsang in our room, we discussed what object we could not live without. “My phone, I cannot survive without my phone”, I naively remarked. The next night, I went to the bazaar by rickshaw to purchase some decorations. Twenty minutes into our shopping, my heart sank as I realised I no longer had my phone. Panicking, I began looking for the sister who accompanied me, hoping she had it, and frantically searched the shop. It was gone! It then dawned on us that I must have dropped it in the rickshaw. We waited outside the shop, internally chanting the Gayatri Mantra, but it was unrealistic to expect that the driver would return and that we would recognise each other. Giving up, we began walking back to the Ashram. I grew anxious about how I would survive the rest of the trip without a phone. Ten minutes later, a rickshaw stopped abruptly beside me. The driver exclaimed “I have been looking for you all this time, where have you been?” as he returned the phone to me. Gleaming with happiness and disbelief, I thanked him profusely and expressed gratitude to Swami! The lesson was clear – all I will ever need is my Lord Himself. If I could not understand His silence, how would I ever understand His words? I was reminded that the ultimate stage of prayer is when neither the Lord nor the devotee speaks, yet both listen. He has been and continues to witness my conversations and thoughts and waits patiently to receive me. Did I mention that the conference was themed “Faith Lift”? How lovingly and subtly our Lord strengthens our faith and shows us that no struggle is too trivial to Him.

The Beauty Of Sri Sathya Sai Padha Seva A student of Bhagawan’s educational institution at sacrosanct Prasanthi Nilayam nurtured a holistic desire once, to engage in His Padha Seva, pressing The Lotus Feet Of The Lord in love and devotion as a mark of service. No sincere prayers go unanswered, and with Sri Sathya Sai, He always does everything in His own inimitable style. Read on a student’s experience of ‘fulfilling his dream of Padha Seva’, extracted from the students’ blog, srisathysaistudents.blogspot.com… (edited version). Every student of Swami wishes to grab the most coveted opportunity of doing Padha Seva (pressing the Lotus Feet of the Lord as a mark of service). I also nourished a similar desire. I used to fervently pray to my Beloved Mother Sai to grant me with that invaluable golden opportunity of performing His Padha Seva. As time passed by, I cleared my 11th class, but my dream still remained elusive. Stepping up my prayers, I went into a higher-gear, beseeching Him with added zeal to see that I would be blessed with the coveted boon. The 12th standard CBSE ‘board’ examination was fast approaching, and Bhagawan kept on postponing our ‘Gratitude Offering’, the parting thanksgiving offering by the passing out batch of students at His Lotus Feet, in His immediate Divine Presence. At last, we were through, as Swami ‘finally’ nodded ‘Yes’ for our ‘heartfelt’ offering. Thanks for the right ‘intervention’ of one of our teachers. We were given permission to offer the programme just two days before the commencement of the Board examinations. On the D-day morning, we were ready and waiting for Bhagawan in the Mandir. Bhagawan arrived at 11:00 am. We were fully set with the complete programme paraphernalia of musical instruments along with greeting cards, pens and Vibhuti Prasadam for Divine Blessings. Swami beckoned our group onto the portico, and we were quick in responding, making the best of His loving munificence. At first, Bhagawan moved towards the Primary School wing, blessing the girl students of 10th and 12th standards. Swami then came straight towards me; stopping by, He glanced all of us most lovingly, and quickly we got huddled around Him. Believe me, I was right in the front, facing Swami, with His Feet almost caressing my body! Swami indicated to commence the programme, and soon our Principal came and sat next to Him, seeking His blessing, engaging himself in Padha Seva! I took it as a ‘Divine Nod’, a beckoning call of boon for me to join! And lo! The moment next, I was into it, doing Padha Seva! I started pressing the other Foot of Bhagawan! Swami sat in ‘Sailence’ allowing me to continue at ease. Tears started rolling down my cheeks, for, a tiny speck of His myriad creations ‘i am’ that, He has granted me with this rarest of the rare boon to perform His Padha Seva, a cherished heartfelt desire nurtured for a long time! The programme went on very well, and I was blessed to continue with my most cherished Padha Seva for my Swami for the whole of the session that lasted for an hour and fifteen minutes. I was literally humbled. I knew, our Swami, The Divine Director, had enacted a Divine Drama in His own inimitable style, granting me my heart’s most cherished desire, the invaluable golden boon of Sri Sathya Sai Padha Seva!

Love That Radharani Is Develop pure, selfless and egoless Love, then God will manifest before you instantaneously, assures Bhagawan recounting a beautiful episode from the life of Bhagawan Sri Krishna involving the ever-incomparable Divine Lover, Radharani, and Mother Yashoda. Extracted from Bhagawan’s Divine Discourse in Prasanthi Nilayam on July 31, 1996. Once Yashoda went on searching for Krishna, “Where is Krishna, where has He gone?” She was searching for Krishna because she identified Him with His physical form. Once you realise that Krishna is everywhere, then you don’t need to search for Him. As Yashoda was searching for Krishna, Radha came there. Yashoda asked Radha, “Oh Radha! Have you seen my child? Has my Gopala come to your house? I have searched in all streets and have gone to all houses, but I could not find Him. Did you see Him anywhere?” Radha closed her eyes and chanted the Name of Krishna with a heart full of Love. At that very moment, Krishna appeared there. This incident was an eye-opener for Yashoda. She said to Radha, “All along I thought Krishna is my son and I am His mother. I have been thinking that no one else has more love for Krishna than me. I had this pride that there is none other in this world who gives such unlimited love to Krishna as I do. But so far I never realised that your Love for Krishna is much superior and is endowed with great power. There is so much power in your Love that the moment you remembered Him with Love, He manifested before you.” What was the type of Radha’s Love for Krishna? It was pure, unsullied and totally devoid of ego. That is why Krishna manifested before her then and there. If there is even a small trace of impurity and ego in your heart, God will never manifest before you, no matter for how many hours, days and even yugas (aeons) you may pray to Him. Yashoda caught hold of the hand of Radha and said, “So far I was under the influence of ego and ignorance. You have removed them and opened my eyes. There may be many in this world who love Krishna more than me. But due to my ignorance, I thought my love for Krishna was the greatest. This was my mistake. Kindly teach me the path of Love that you follow.” Radha replied, “Mother, this is not something that someone can teach you or give you. Once you realise your True Self and have Total Faith in Krishna, this Love will automatically develop in you.” Once when Krishna returned home, Yashoda complained to Him: Oh Krishna! You do not eat what I serve You at home. But You go to the houses of the gopikas and steal their butter. Oh dear Krishna! It spoils our good name. Yashoda said, “Krishna, there is so much butter in our house, but You don’t eat it. On the other hand, You go to the houses of others and steal their butter even when they try to chase You away. What is the inner meaning of this?” The inner meaning is that Krishna does not steal butter; He steals the hearts of gopikas which are full of Love. If you develop pure, selfless and egoless Love, God will manifest before you immediately. You don’t need to wait even for a moment. It is only due to their delusion arising out of their body attachment that people undergo suffering.

“I Am He” – Shirdi Sai Is Parthi Sai The ‘Shirdi – Parthi connect’ has always been the most curious focal point of many devotees of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai. To the yearning sincere hearts, Bhagawan has always been magnanimous, revealing the connect of Oneness of the two Sai Avatars. Read on how Bhagawan fulfilled a long-pending desire of an ardent devotee, Sri Ghandikota V. Subba Rao, connecting the dots for him in His inimitable style. For many years, I developed a deep yearning to visit Shirdi. I made several attempts to pay my respects at Shirdi Sai shrine at Shirdi itself but to no avail. The closest I could come to the point of realising this dream was in 1983, when I planned on my home-leave trip from New York to India to visit Shirdi after our landing in Bombay. Unfortunately, the whole family developed a stomach virus after our first meal in India at a Santacruz airport five-star hotel – precluding any extensive surface travel all the way to Shirdi. It was once again a great disappointment. I was thinking of this escapade while intensely gazing at Shirdi Sai’s shining silver idol and his giant size picture in the background of the Prashanti Mandir bhajan hall, and also wondering about the connection of Shirdi Baba with Parthi Baba, about which I found numerous references in the Sri Sathya Sai literature. I closed my eyes, with Shirdi Baba in my mind, when to my utter amazement Parthi Baba stood right in front of me while I continued in my reverie. Swami waited till I fully opened my eyes, when with a burst of bliss I clasped His soft Lotus Feet and hung on to them like a child. Swami beckoned me inside the interview room and materialized a rather large silver ring with an inlaid multi-coloured enamel picture of Shirdi Sai – saying that ‘I Am He’. I was stunned and electrified and I blurted out that at long last my long-cherished desire was fulfilled now! The shining large Shirdi ring on my finger used to attract the attention of my diplomatic acquaintances during my frequent elevator rides in the forty-story UN headquarters building in NY, leading to many inquisitive queries on the strange-looking personality on the ring-face. One thing led to another and before long I found myself presenting Sri Sathya Sai literature to the UN Secretary General in his office!

Disciple & Devotee…who is who? Is there any distinction between a disciple and a devotee, and who is eligible to be called a disciple and who, a devotee? Bhagawan Shirdi Sai had spelt out the clear-cut distinction between the two, later confiding in His lone disciple. Read on how Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai once recounted the same in one of His Divine discourses, delivered in 1990, at Prasanthi Nilayam. (Shirdi Sai) Baba once called Abdul Baba, Nana Chandorkar, Mhalsapathi, Das Ganu and others and started asking each of them: “Do you know who you are?” Each of them replied: “I am Your sishya (disciple).” Baba said: “Nonsense! Don’t use that term any longer. I have no disciples in this world. I have countless devotees. You do not recognise the distinction between a disciple and a devotee. Anyone can be a devotee. But that is not the case with the disciple.” “A disciple is one who carries out implicitly the commands of the Guru (the preceptor). The mark of the sishya (disciple) is total devotion to the preceptor. Only the man who says, ‘I have none in the world other than the preceptor,’ is a disciple. How far have you respected My injunctions? How are you entitled to claim that you are My disciples? Only the one who follows Me like My shadow can claim to be My disciple. The devotee is one who prays to the Lord wherever he may be. Hence, there is a big difference between a disciple and a devotee. The disciple and the preceptor are like two bodies with one spirit. The disciple should have no sense of separateness from the preceptor. He should feel, ‘I and You Are One.’ There are no such disciples to be found in the world. There are millions of devotees, but no disciples.” On hearing this, Shyam (Meghasham) was in deep pain. He felt within himself: “Apart from serving at Your Feet, I have no other concern.” Baba then went into another room and called Shyam (Megha) inside. “In this entire world, for Me, you are the only disciple. All others are only devotees.” At that moment, Shyam (Meghasham) fell at The Feet of Baba, and cried out, “You Alone, You Alone” (are my refuge) and breathed his last. In all his life of over 82 years, Baba had never shed a tear in the presence of devotees. When Shyam (Meghasham) passed away He shed three drops of tears. The devotees present there said: “Swami! Why do You feel so grieved? All are in Your Hands.” Baba replied: “Dear boys! I Am not grieving at all. Almost all his sins had been wiped out already. By the three teardrops I shed, the remaining sins (of Shyam) have been washed away.” All that Baba said or did was for the good of the devotees alone. Towards the end, Abdul Baba came to Baba. Baba told him: “I shall appear again and give you Darshan.” “When will that be?” asked Abdul. Baba told him: “It will be after eight years.” “The first Advent of Sai was in Maharashtra. The second advent will be in Madras,” Baba said. It should be noted that when this form (Sri Sathya Sai) made Its Advent, Andhra Pradesh was part of Madras Presidency.

Bhagawan’s trans-corporeal appearance as ‘Jodi Adipalli Somappa’ In the holy Sri Sathya Sai Ashtotthara Shata Navavali (the 108 names of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba), one of the Names showing up is “Sri Sai Jodi Adipalli Somappa”. How this intriguing name came to be associated with Bhagawan is narrated by Prof N. Kasturi in the book “Garland Of 108 Precious Gems”. The incident here is one of those most intriguing stories of trans-corporeal appearance of Bhagawan, Who came in disguise, as ‘Jodi Adipalli Somappa’, to save a little one who turned almost lifeless, on their return from Parthi to Bengaluru. The little one went on to become a renowned Carnatic singer, by name Sudha Raghunathan, who later had the great good fortune to offer her God-gifted talent back unto Him, in His Divine Presence. Read on the narration from Prof Kasturi (with additions). On 26th November 1958, three days after Baba’s birthday celebrations, a devotee, Sri Venkataraman left Prasanthi Nilayam for Bangalore by car after seeking permission from Baba. On the way, his 2-year-old daughter was attacked by ‘fits’, which became so serious that the child was asphyxiated and it collapsed. Baba ‘knew’ this and presented Himself before them as a ‘villager’ with two other ‘villagers’ whom He created. He wanted the child to be given to Him and the two comrades supported the demand. ‘Give Him; He will cure it. He has cured thousands’; they (the other two villagers) implored. The Villager (Bhagawan in disguise) told them, ‘I was busy for the last 3 days; I just now laid Myself for rest; but I came to know that a child was seriously ill on the road. So, I ran up!’ He placed the child on His lap and she was cured. He gave her back to the relieved parents. They offered Him a rupee and when it was refused, they gave Him a fruit from the many that they had received from Bhagawan’s Hands before leaving Prasanthi Nilayam. They asked Him His Name. He said “Jodi Aadipalli Somappa”. When asked later at the Nilayam, why He chose that Name of all others, Baba said, “I Am Somappa, Appa (Lord Shiva) and Sa Uma (Sa – along with; Uma – Goddess Parvathi, the consort of Lord Shiva) with Uma. The place of My Residence is Aadipalli, the primaeval village, Kailasha. It is Jodi (joined together) because it belongs to Sa & Uma ‘Shiva-Shakti’, – the Twin – Prakrithi and Purusha (Nature and God). This is, therefore, Baba’s most appropriate epithet, selected by HimSelf, for that profound miracle of grace. It reveals His Truth as ‘Shiva-Shakti’.” On another occasion when a devotee asked Bhagawan about His Oneness with Shirdi Sai, Bhagawan said, “It is difficult for you; when I ‘went’ the other day, as an old man to save Venkataraman’s child on the road near Bagepalli, he did not recognise Me, he thanked Me profusely and held out a rupee coin towards Me. He believed that I was a villager named ‘Jodi Adipalli Somappa,’ when I gave that Name!

Students Should Never Enter Politics He walked the Earth in the physical for over eight decades, floating amid the sea of devotees across the globe, blessing everyone in His inimitable way, spreading light and love and the message of oneness. During this epochal sojourn, the most fortunate ones were His students from His educational institutions, whom He chose to advise, guide and lead in the path of truth and righteousness towards the ultimate goal of human life. Read on His priceless advice to His chosen folk.   Students! You have heard the speech given by a student from Srisailam Vidyapeeth. All the students of Srisailam Vidyapeeth are very pure and sacred. In fact, all students everywhere have a pure heart. It is the elders who spoil the innate goodness of the students. No matter what field you enter into, always have an attitude of service. Students should serve society. Serve everybody. Keep yourself pure. Do any work, but never enter into politics. Politics pollutes the mind. Politics has become synonymous with evil. If you want to ruin yourself, get into politics. If you want to be an ideal person and want to receive God’s grace, cultivate all good qualities. In olden times, there were many exemplary political leaders. They practised what they preached. That is why quite a few students were drawn into politics. Even little urchins would collect in crowds to see leaders like Jayaprakash Narayan or Subhash Chandra Bose. They used to decorate their houses with pictures of such leaders. What do you see today? You get into any student’s room; you see nothing but images of film stars. You do not see pictures of ideal men today and do not listen to sacred words. Because people in those days were emulating ideal persons, their actions were also pure. Embodiments of Love!You should also have a pure heart. It is the purity of your heart that attracts everybody like a magnet. The whole world is a magnet. Every object, howsoever small, has this magnetic power. But in man, this magnet is further magnified; this is the magnet of Love. Love is God; live in Love. This magnet of Love must be pure. Everybody will then be attracted to you. A small example: All of you are here. Did I send you any invitation card? Did I send word to you? The magnet of My Love has drawn all of you here. Bhagawan’s greatest property is Love – boundless Love! Bhagawan is not interested in any other property. There is no wealth greater than Love anywhere. Therefore, you, too, should enhance this property of Love in you. Speak with sweetness and concern with everyone. Such pleasing speech has become scarce. We hear harsh words all around. Speak softly and sweetly. Then, all will become your friends. Students! Making friendship is nothing extraordinary in itself. You lose friends as quickly as you make them. There is no point in having such a friendship. Have Friendship with God for which you should be prepared to sacrifice everything, even your body, and life. Cultivate Love. (Divine discourse on 10-9-2000)