Experience Swami’s Teaching at the Summer lectures on June, 2004 Light and Love Experiences how better to acknowledge and put into practice Swami’s Teaching carried out with the group of teachers and specialists during their Summer lectures week on a remote area of wild nature in June 2004.“The world is a great teacher, a constant guide and source of inspiration. That is the reason why man is placed in the world. Every bird, every animal, every tree, mountain and star and each tiny worm has a lesson for man, if he has but the thirst to learn. These make a world a veritable University for man; it is but a Gurukul (a school for spiritual learning) where he is a pupil from birth to death.” (Bhagawan Sathya Sai Baba. Thought for the day. 26 June 2004). (To carry out teachers and specialists environmental scholarship is my official job during many years. I entwine the scholarship with Swami’s Teaching from His books, discourses).I like to use Swami’s quotations, like to explain them according to the level of groups through direct examples from nature, from science, from social relations in society. The members of scholarship as a rule are not Sai devotees, but many of them have become Sai followers when they understand how deeply Swami’s Teaching is entwined with modern science and with the all life. Swami’s quotations and books, articles about Him written by His true devotees were the sources of the Divine energy expressed not only by meaning of the texts, but also by an untouchable divine energy, what they are carrying. Swami has stressed many times that all around what a human being percepts has in core expression of unite Oneness, Atma in diverse forms. Thoughts, mental activity carries the same divine spring as the source of everything what exists in the Universe and in the Self of human being. Why I decided to share this story telling with you?Swami advices:“In the Study Circle, whatever we listen and assimilate in the mind should be distributed to others. In that way we show gratitude for what we have receded…. Whatever we hear and practice should also be distributed to society at large.…You can learn a lot of things, but the most important thing to be learnt is your own Atma-tatwa. Learning all about external things without knowing your real self is like studying the branches of tree, ignoring his roots. There are many fruits on the tree. We can see the fruits. What happens if you water those fruits? They will fall down. But if you water the roots down below, the tree flourishes and will give fruits which can be enjoyed.” (Excerpts from: Bhagawan Sathya Sai Baba. SSS. Vol. 18, Part 5). This year’s Summer lectures were open with the discussion of article about Swami by Samuel Sandweiss, what inspired all our participants to see the Divine everywhere and to develop the proper spiritual attitude.Enjoy the this discourse, what was the first topic of disscussion at Summer lectures 2004. “Individual Transformation.” Sri Samuel Sandweiss. Proceedings of the Sri Sathya Sai International Seva Conference. July 21 – 23, 2002, Prasanthi Nilayam. http://www.sathyasai.ca/Content/Data/Teachings/Seva%20Conference.doc . (I do not reproduce this discourse, as it is available at site noted above in full). Everyone from us enjoyed this article by its own way, but all teachers pictorially felt the light breeze of Divine energy what analyses of this article has carried. Swami Himself explains: “There is Divine Love in you which has neither birth nor death. If you cultivate such love, you will always remain as embodiments of love. Have firm faith in this Divine Love. Do not believe the worldly love, lest you should be deceived. The worldly love is like passing clouds. Love the eternal love. That is the Atma Tattwa. Cultivate such type of love that will not cause disappointment. Pursue any type of education; but, understand the inner meaning of education. Then put it into practice, experience and enjoy that essence of that education. Do not be disappointed by directing your love towards all and sundry. Several students are being disappointed in that manner. In the end, they are unable to love anybody. That is not the right way. Love the principle of Love itself, which is Divine and Eternal. The more you love that Divine Love, the more it grows.” (Excerpts from the Divine Discourse Bhagawan Sathya Sai Baba “Love is God – Live in Love.” 28 Oct, 2003 Prasanthi Nilayam). Below is a tiny the compilation of Swami’s quotations concern to environment, society and education is shared what became a topics of discussion at Summer lectures. Every teacher shared his/her own experiences with students or from personal life inspired by Swami’s quotations.As not all of the teachers were Swami’s followers I explained that participation from discussions connected with Swami’s Teaching and observation of Sailogram is strongly voluntary. They looked at me with strange eyes and asked Reet to do her duty seriously and not to create meaningless questions, as all is interested in this discussion. The complex of these Swami’s quotations is represented. Everyone can experience by his/her own way what every quotation teaches, how to put in practice the advice given by Swami. “Fill your minds and hearts with these sacred spiritual truths and go out into the world to spread the spiritual message in every street and every alley. The world today is in utter confusion. Unrest and fear stalk the world. To eliminate this disorder and fear, you have to instill devotion among the people. “(Excerpts from the Divine Discourse Sathya Sai Baba “Promotion of Unity: Student’s Duty.” 14 January, 1998, Prasanthi Nilayam). “Worldly education makes man great, whereas the spiritual education makes him good. Spiritual education relates to the heart, the origin of sacred qualities like compassion, truth, forbearance, and love. Today, parents expect their children to go in for higher studies, amass wealth, and become great, but very few want their children to be good. Goodness is long-lasting, whereas greatness is

Expect Miracles The following talk was given by Yaani Drucker to an audience of Sai Baba devotees who had gathered at the Vancouver Sai Baba Centre on December 3rd 2000 for the usual  Sunday morning satsang.  It has been edited, but only for the purpose of reproducing it in this Newsletter. I would like to speak to you of my process of awakening to the truth of who I am.  It is the only thing that matters to me.  I know that awakening to the truth is also your only true focus and so I want to share with you some possibilities, some totally new ways of seeing, that may significantly save you large chunks of time.  In recent years, during my many trips to Sai Baba’s ashram, I found myself totally absorbed in studying, reading and re-reading A Course in Miracles.  I could not put it down.  Waiting to go in for darshan, at darshan, later in my room, I found myself eagerly drinking in the pages.  Sai Baba has told Connie Shaw that A Course in Miracles is the advaita (the highest spiritual non-dualistic teachings) for the West.  Its study brought Sai Baba’s teachings to life for me in a totally new and profoundly deeper way. One of my favourite Sai Baba teachings is “There is no freewill.”  What does this mean?  Am I powerless, merely a puppet on a string?  That concept never appealed to me, nor did it feel like the whole picture, and it doesn’t gel with Sai Baba’s instruction to repeat: I am God, I am God, I am no different from God.  I am the infinite supreme, the one reality.  In His 1996 Christmas Message Sai Baba said “There is no one greater than you.  The whole universe is within you.  Everything is within your power.”  Am I powerless or all-powerful?  I wanted to know the truth, and I knew that I had the right to know. In my determination to understand, I found myself going back to the beginning.  Sai Baba says, “I separated myself from myself that I might love myself.”  At times Sai Baba can be heard sweetly repeating a mantra from the Isha Upanishad: “Poornamidam, Poornamada, Poornat, Poornamudachate, Poornasya, Poornamadaya, Poornamava Vashishyate” which means “From the fullness comes the full and the fullness remains ever full, and that which is created is ever full.”  Sai Baba, who encompasses ALL being, extends as is His God nature, and in that ever full expansion, He created you.  He created you with the full power of divinity, with no need to learn anything.  He created you exactly like Himself.  You were created eternally peaceful, eternally joyful and eternally creating, just like Sai Baba.  God cannot create less than Himself, therefore it is impossible for you to be less than Sai Baba. While it is true that Sai Baba created you, at the same time, you are seamlessly one with Him.  That oneness simply means Sai Baba has an all-consuming love for you, His creation, and you have an equally exquisite love for Him.  In that never-ending love you and He are eternally one.  That is pure Advaita, pure non-dualism.  In a moment I think it will become clear where I’m headed with the distinction that Sai Baba created you and yet you could not create Sai Baba.  For now, let us look at this small example.  You give birth to your children.  They have children, just like you did, but the process is not reciprocal.  They cannot give birth to you.  You cannot be father to your father. Sai Baba’s name means divine Mother – Father.  He cannot be a parent without children.  Sai Baba’s creations are creations of love and light.  They are eternal, and when my will is in alignment with His, then so are my creations eternal love and light.  So, do I see only creations of love and light in the world, since the world is merely a projection of my mind?  No, to be perfectly honest with you, I see and experience sickness, suffering and death all around me, and I find it heart-wrenchingly intolerable.  You may wish to protest and say that there is so much good in the world, and Sai Baba teaches us to see only good.  Yes, I agree with you, there is plenty of good, and that good is the love and light of creating with Sai Baba.  It is real.  All the lives of exemplary character and deep love for God and fellowman throughout the ages are real, and contribute to the well-being of all.  Every loving thought is real.  Every act of kindness, however small, is real.  All noble deeds replete with sacredness and purity are portals to awakening.  But what about the rest?  What about the wars, the violence, the rape, the murder, the starvation, the anger, the greed, the other endless horrors, any and all words and acts of separation, even a minor irritation or a slight frown?   Can I look on all those demonstrations of separation and see only good?  Maybe I could simply turn my back on them and thereby manage to see only good.  But isn’t that a form of denial?  Suppose that since every form of separation is not from God, it is nothing.  Then I would not see it as good or bad, I would simply recognise it as unreal.  I will expand on this idea in a moment.  For now, let me just say that my study of A Course in Miracles has revealed to me that any act of separation, be it in thought, word or deed, is a product of freewill, a product of my will not being in alignment with God’s will.  It is me acting in defiance of the truth of who I know myself to be.  It is me trying to prove to myself that I am separate from God.  What purpose could separation possibly serve? Remember that I pointed out earlier that God created me and that I could not create my Creator.  The frank and naked

Excerpts from Swami’s interview given to Dr. Venkat Kanubaddi Excerpts from Swami’s interview given to Dr. Venkat Kanubaddi, Regional Vice-President, North Central Region: Although service projects are undertaken in the fields of Education, Health and Social services, Swami is emphasizing the “caring” part.  So he has coined the following three terms: Swami is encouraging us to channel our services into these three areas, and implement with proper understanding, so that the Divine Mission will manifest globally to bring the transformation of hearts of all our brothers and sisters to foster LOVE. EDUCARE: The meaning of Educare is “to bring out human values” that are inherent in each person and translate those values into action.  We have to incorporate values into education.  Education fosters desires and leads to re-birth, whereas Educare provides a better vision of life and confers Immortality.  When we convert Education into Educare, life becomes purposeful. HEALTHCARE: Healthcare should be comprehensive and holistic.  Acute health care (treated by modern medical treatments) combined with Preventive health care, paying attention to the body, mind and spirit should be the future of Healthcare. It is true Healthcare provides perfect health – to stay healthy and follow spiritual life.  It means not just giving relief to acute illnesses, but also making sure that people do not fall sick again.  It means not just treating for disease such as heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes or cancer but also educating about healthy diet, healthy life-style and giving them tools to maintain optimum health. SOCIALCARE: We do many social projects, but we should be giving more attention to “care”.  The projects should be done as “Service to God”, instead of being a sympathetic response.  E.g. How Swami trained the students to give food to the residents of neighboring villages/towns.  Each student went door-to-door, greeted them respectfully, enquired how many persons live there and then gave the corresponding amount of food. We have to turn up a notch in our current projects by realizing that we are performing “Service to God” and honoring the Divine within. Jai Sai Ram

Elevating our Intentions and Actions… The Sai Way his is the transcription of the talk delivered by Dr. Sainath in the divine presence of Bhagavan Baba during the Dasara Celebrations on October 12, 2005. I offer my most prayerful pranams at the Divine Lotus Feet. Revered elders, sisters, and brothers. What Is Peace? A soldier once went to a Zen Master and said, “Master, I have fought many a pitched battle. I have undergone the rigors and the training and the discipline of being a soldier. Yet, I do not know what peace is. Pray! Tell me what is hell, what is heaven?” The Master looked at the soldier and asked, “Who are you?” And the soldier said, “I am a samurai!” The Master then exploded, and asked, “You! A samurai? Who on this earth would take you as a soldier?” This infuriated the samurai. He drew out his sharp sword and rushed at the Zen Master. The Zen Master calmly said, “Here opens the gate of hell.” The samurai then realized in whose presence he was, sheathed his sword, bowed down in humility and surrendered. And the Master then said, “Here opens the gate of heaven.” If there were to be a moral to this story, it is that we are the architects of our own hell, and our own heaven. When we contract the world into ourselves, and take in all the dualities that the world is associated with, in the process we open the gates of our hell. But when we expand to encompass the entire world, we see unity in diversity and open the gates of our heaven. The Right Direction of Action At one point of time, Bhagavan identified six important qualities that a devotee needs to have to attain peace and happiness. As stated in the Bhagavad Gita, He said: “These are: Anapeksha, not desiring any fruits;Suchihi, purity of purpose and action;Dakshaha, determination;Udhasino, detachment;Ghatavytaha, not pondering over the past;and most importantly, giving up all pomp and show.” A devotee went up to Bhagavan and said, “Bhagavan, in these days how are we to develop these six qualities?” And Bhagavan said: “Very simple! You dedicate all your actions to God with purity of heart and action.” Action is verily the road to success but the main question to ponder here is in which direction? Many of us are so busy climbing the ladder of success that we do not have the time to see if the ladder is propped against the right wall or not, before it is too late! On this holy day, in this august assembly, I would like to share with you all a few of my thoughts and experiences on this point of action and progress. The Intention Behind Action The first point I would like to touch on relates to what my elder brother spoke on just before me: the purity of action. Bhagavan was once saying, while illustrating this very point: “You can clap your hands to keep in tune with the bhajans; you can also clap your hands to squat mosquitoes.” A patient is forced to fast because of the illness that is afflicting him, but a devotee fasts with the purpose of penitence. Which action gives merit, which action does not? Bhagavan lays enormous stress on the intention behind the action. For one convocation ceremony of the Institute, the late President of India, Dr. S. D Sharma, was the chief guest. During the interval between the convocation and the cultural drama program which the students were to put on, it started to rain. Bhagavan sent word to the President of India: “Since it is raining, you may choose not to come, it is all right.”  But Bhagavan was going and the President, who was a very ardent devotee of Bhagavan, said, “How can I stay back when Bhagavan is going?” And so he too went, even though it was raining. And in the car he asked: “Bhagavan, why are You choosing to go when it is raining?” The answer was very illustrative. Bhagavan said: “For the last twenty days my boys have been struggling, giving up their food, giving up their sleep with the sole intention of making me happy, with the sole intention of getting one word out of my mouth ‘Chaala bagundi’. When they have worked so hard for my sake, how can I let them down? Rain or no rain I am going!” This illustration is very important in the sense, that it drives home the very important point: The intent is as important – if not more – than the content. ‘You Look to Me, I Look to You’ We now go over to this next point. There was a time during darshan when Bhagavan picked me out of the students and He named the place where my father was posted at that time and said, “Such a small place, but so many dangers!  But, you don’t worry, Swami’s protection is always there.” I was perplexed! What danger? What protection? And so I went back to the hostel, I rang up home and they told me that recently there was a spate of robberies in the locality and every house was falling victim to these thieves. And for the next few days, I was very upset. Worrying what was happening there, I was unable to concentrate on my work. Sometime later Bhagavan picked me out once again and asked, “Vachaara?” (Did they come?). I asked Swami, “Who?” and He said, “Dongalu! Inka Evaru?” (Thieves, who else?)

Educare and Education In an earlier issue, we discussed the question of spiritual balance. Presently, we shall look at that issue in terms of education and educare, especially in the light of the great importance that Swami attaches to educare, the conferences that have been held and continue to be held on educare, and the stress on educare that is constantly being laid in the Organisation. We begin with what Swami Vivekananda said over a hundred years ago. He made two important points and both of these have been elaborately stressed by Bhagavan in recent years. Vivekananda said that education must bring out the Divinity latent in man. He also pointed out that humanity’s thinking has been shaped by two great streams of thought and philosophy. One originating in Greece drew people into the outside world. This in turn led to exploration, advances in science and technology and all that. The other stream of thought originated in ancient India, and sought to take man deep inwards. As scientist David Bohm remarks, the Western Approach is analytic and tries to understand the whole by breaking it into parts. The Eastern Approach, by which is meant really the Indian Approach, is holistic. Vivekananda says that what modern society needs is a good and practical blend of the two schools of thought. Let us now see how Swami describes this blend in terms of what may be called education and educare. Education is the name given to the knowledge that one acquires about the external world. This knowledge is acquired, among other things, through our senses. Educare, on the other hand, relates to the knowledge about our Inner world. This knowledge has already been deposited in our Heart by a loving and merciful God. This treasure is His gift to us. It has been given to each and every individual, WITHOUT ANY EXCEPTION. Swami describes education and educare as follows. He says: EDUCATION: MIND SHAPED BY EXTERNAL FORCES.EDUCARE: MIND SHAPED BY THE DIVINE SOURCE WITHIN. IN THE CASE OF EDUCATION, ACTION IS INFLUENCED AND DETERMINED SOLELY BY THE EXTERNAL WORLD. IF EDUCARE IS THE FOUNDATION, THE INTERNAL FORCE GENERATED BY SATHYA, DHARMA AND PREMA ALONE DETERMINES THE ACTIONS PERFORMED IN THE EXTERNAL WORLD. EDUCATION: SURVIVAL PHILOSOPHY [DESTROY OPPOSITION, BEAT THE COMPETITION, ETC.] EDUCARE: DIVINE PHILOSOPHY [LOVE ALL, SERVE ALL]. FINALLY, EDUCATION IS FOR THE HEAD, AND EDUCARE IS FOR THE HEART! Incidentally, the word educare has its origin from the Latin word ‘educare’ [pronounced edukare], meaning, to bring out or develop from latent or potential existence. On our context, it means bringing out the Divinity latent in the person. The question arises: “Why suddenly EDUCARE? Why was it not there before?” The answer is the following: Earlier, the forces related to educare were working silently, implicitly and unobtrusively. There was morality in the home, morality in the school, morality in the work-pace, and finally, morality in the community also. Today, the situation has changed completely. God has been put on the back burner so to speak. Therefore, an entirely different strategy and set of priorities are called for. We have to first invoke God strongly and then only move on to other matters and business. Just look at the recent happenings in the Corporate sector for example. All of a sudden, one is hearing of scam after scam, and how greedy executives at the top have been taking the public for one huge ride and swindling money, millions of dollars if not billions. Commenting on this spate of corporate fraud, one pained teacher of a business school asked, “Whatever happened to old-fashioned ideas of honesty and integrity?” They got thrown out because people thought they were old-fashioned – that is what happened! Who wants honesty when one has to compete severely in order to survive?

Easwaramma Day In 1972, Bhagavan Baba conducted a month long Summer Course on Indian Culture and Spirituality at Brindavan, Whitefield. 800 boys and girls selected from colleges situated in all the various states of India were chosen for the camp. When Easwaramma, Bhagavan Baba’s mother came to know about it, she desired to be there. She took up residence on the ground floor of Swami’s bungalow with other families. On the eleventh or twelfth day of the camp, the Mother had an experience that reaffirmed her faith that Swami was God. She had high fever for four days and Swami visited her enquiring about her health. When she looked up she was amazed to see “Sri Rama with Kireetam and Kodandam” (Crown and Bow). She raised her folded hands and struggled to sit up. But in a few moments He became Swami again. He gave her Vibhuti Prasad and assured her of recovery from her fever. She shared the thrill of this encounter with an intimate friend. This divine revelation proved to be the prelude for her merger with the Paranjyoti (Supreme Flame). It was the 6th May 1972 about 7 in the morning. Students had already completed Nagar Sankeertan; Swami had given them a Darshan at its close. Then He went for His bath. Meanwhile, Easwaramma had finished her bath. She drank her coffee and was seated on the inner verandah. All of a sudden proceeding to the bathroom, she cried out, “Swami, Swami, Swami!” Bhagavan responded, “Coming, coming.” Within that period she breathed her last. That was an authentic consummation, a yearning at the final moment for God. It was the sign of her holy purity. She was a model mother, chosen by God to be His mother. Easwaramma was a poor, middle-aged, tender-hearted, pious, illiterate rural housewife. When she was invested with the onerous responsibility to mother God Himself, she rose to the occasion and with steadfast courage enacted the role and encountered the challenges. She experienced all the grief and joy, hope and despair, anxiety and assurance of the mothers (Kausalya and Yasoda) of previous incarnations Rama and Krishna. Easwaramma, like every other Hindu housewife of her region was conversant with the Telegu ballads, legends, folk songs and tales that have gathered around Rama and Krishna. But, it took years of intimate observation and hundreds of inexplicable incidents and intimations to convince her that the child she had fondled had come to prove the Bhagavatha and the Ramayana as true. As mother of the Avatar she was venerated by all the devotees. But, she herself was an earnest sadhak guided by her Divine son through the tangles of life. She expanded in her awareness beyond the barricades of tradition and taboo, custom and caste of her people. She rose to be the universal mother of the fast multiplying multi-lingual, multi-racial, multi-credal, global family of Sai. May 6 for Sai devotees in Easwaramma Commemoration Day. On this auspicious occasion Bhagavan Baba visits His mother’s Samadhi and makes obeisance to her memory, to set a model for others. In the evening He gives a discourse highlighting the glory of motherhood. He reminds people of the roles of Madalasa, Iswar Chandra’s Mother, Putlibai and others in shaping the destiny of their children. Mothers, Bhagavan says, have the unique privilege of instilling the first seeds of spirituality and human values in their children. Bhagavan lays equal emphasis on children revering their mothers. He reminds them of Rama’s words, “Mother and motherland are greater than Heaven itself”, and “Parents are the visible embodiments of God.”

Dreams of Lord Sai Baba Dreams of Lord Sai Baba This is part of the discourse given on the valectory address of first overseas convention of Chairpersons of Sai centres on 24th Nov 1998. Lord Sai Baba read question: “Swami appears in the dreams of many persons. How is it that Swami does not appear in my dreams?” Lord Sai Baba said: “It is naive to think in such a manner. You cannot have such dreams as and when you would like to. You think of many people, but do they all appear in your dreams? No. It is a mistake to think that Swami does not have compassion on you just because He does not appear in your dreams. Dreams are nothing but reflections of the subconscious mind. Swami appearing in dreams is very auspicious. Now I will explain the different types of dreams. Sometimes you experience nightmares and at times you experience dreams which fill you with happiness. All these dreams occur since they are accumulated in your subconscious mind. it is good that they find expression in dreams. Dreams are the reflection, reaction and resound of that which is within you. The same does not apply to the dreams in which Swami appears. Swami appears in dreams only when hHe wills it and not when you want. (Cheers). The Mohammedan musician who performed yesterday had not seen Me on any prior occasion. I asked him, “Son, do you remember that when you met with a car accident in America I appeared before you at that very instant?” Hearing this revelation, he exclaimed, “O my God!” and shed tears of joy. The same night I appeared in his dream and told him that he would be coming to Puttaparthi for the ensuing Birthday celebrations. It happened accordingly; he came here yesterday. There are certain confusing dreams in which your feelings play an active role. You may be seeing Swami but at the same time your feelings get mixed up and cause confusion. You may see yourself in Puttaparthi at one point of time and in America in the very next, so on and so forth. These dreams are not willed by Swami. These result from indigestion and improper food. Dreams which are willed by Me are very clear and give no room for confusion or doubt. I come to you and convey what I want to in the most direct manner (cheers). Swami’s grace is very much there on one and all whether He appears in their dreams or not.”

Death of the ego When God’s subtle presence writes answers to your prayers, there oozes out words of wisdom packed with Truth unsullied. Here is an episode from San Salvador when God decided to write The Answer… (From the Sanathana Sarathi Archives) When Swami authorised the trip of Dr. Goldstein and Leonardo Gutter to the Sathya Sai Centres in eleven countries in Latin America, the devotees in El Salvador were very happy even though we were number eleven. We decided to hold a public meeting and immediately wrote to Swami for His blessings. A few days later, two new devotees who knew nothing of the public meeting, asked if they could dance for Swami. This started a chain of events which led to the presentation of the dance titled “The Death of the Ego”. Four dancers danced the roles of Ego, Atma, Mind and the friend of the Mind. Everything was going smoothly up to two weeks before the event. Then started some difficult circumstances. First, the dancers all got into a big quarrel. The director wanted to quit. But with some careful explanation it was brought to the attention of the dancers that they wanted to present the death of the Ego to Swami and in order to do this their egos must truly be under control. They saw the light and danced beautifully together from that day forward. Then it was discovered that the National Theatre where the meeting was to he held did not have its air conditioning in working order. The cost of repair was equal to two trips to India. So we decided to organise a fan brigade. Everyone that could, loaned us their electric fans. A few days before the public meeting, the posters with Swami’s picture were delivered and all the devotees helped to post these in strategic places around town. In a school where the EHV programme had been introduced, a devotee teacher placed a poster. To her chagrin a couple of days later the picture of Swami had been defaced by some miscreant. The teacher was upset. At first she asked Swami to punish the culprit, but then she thought, “No, that isn’t right.” One afternoon after school she was thinking on the problem and praying to Swami for guidance when all of a sudden she started writing. It was not her words that filled the paper. It was an answer to her prayers. This is what she wrote… “I return to you not as the image on a poster that you pretend to destroy. I return to you as the light which you cannot extinguish, as the truth that you cannot destroy. I return to you as the voice of your conscience that you cannot silence, because I am the essence of the universal truth. Wash the dirt away from your heart so that you can hear my voice. Remove the blindfold that is covering your eyes and you will be able to see Me. I am in you, I’m your Atma, your spirit, your truth, the voice of your conscience. I am your beginning and your end. You cannot destroy Me. You can only achieve your own destruction.” The poster was replaced with this message and all the students read it in silence and walked away. On the day of the public meeting, Dr. Goldstein and Leonardo Gutter were received in the airport’s hall of honour and there we sang bhajans. Then after a brief visit to six Sai Centres, the public meeting was held. But what a multitude! The crowds were turned a way, the doors were closed, only those who arrived punctually found seats. The nectar of the talks by Dr. Goldstein and Leonardo Gutter found a place in the heart of each. Then the dancers flew through the auditorium as the drama on the death of the ego unfolded. Swami was watching from His chair in the Presidential box and from His jhoola in the heart of each one present. If there is ego and you think Swami is yours, then Swami gets imprisoned by your ego and cannot come to your help. But, if you think, “I belong to Swami”, then Swami becomes free to look after you and bring you spiritual progress. It is all a matter of humility and your attitude. Accept everything as God. God is everywhere, in everything. True realisation of the omnipresence of God will knock out your ego, since it stands in the way of surrender. – Sri Sathya Sai.

Conversation with Shirdi Sai Baba Sai Baba of Shirdi did not write any books. All that is available to us is records of a number of conversations between him and his devotees preserved in various biographical accounts. The following is a conversation which a devotee, Nana Govind Chandorkar, a Deputy Collector who was a traditionally well read orthodox person, had with Shirdi Sai Baba.  Nana: Baba, I am fed up with this samsAra. It is only nissAra (thast without content). Please help me cut the bonds which bind me to it. What appears as pleasant in the beginning ends in misery. Fate tosses us hither and thither. I don’t see an iota of happiness in this samsAra. Baba: Nana, you are prattling like a mad man. What you say is only partially true. You have misunderstood the truth. The samsAra will exist as long as the body exists. No one can escape from it. How can you? Even I am under its clutches. The samsAra is varied and different. It is the work of Desire and Anger. All the vagaries of the mind and the body constitute samsAra. By running away and hiding yourself in a forest you cannot escape it. What you are now has been brought on you by yourself. You are only experiencing the fruits of your actions done by you in your previous lives. It is by that cause the effect of the appearance of this body has taken place. This is called deha–prArabdha. The soul gets a body just to experience the consequences of actions of its own previous lives. Without experiencing the consequences of prArabdha karma one cannot leave this world. Why do people look different? Why, in fact, do various living beings look different? It is all because of the karma of previous lives. A rich man’s dog rolls in joy on a cushioned sofa. A poor man’s dog rots at the street corner. The difference is because of prArabdha. Nana: Since pleasure and pain do any way alternate in this samsAra, one feels like hating it and renouncing it. Is it not good to renounce? Baba: Pleasure and pain are both mAyA. What appears as pleasant is not really a pleasure. People in the clutches of samsAra take the appearance of plesure as real pleasure and are drawn towards it. As a result of prArabdha karma one fellow gets tasty, dainty and rich food while another felllow has onoly stale bread to eat. The former thinks that he has no wants and the latter thinks he is a failure. Think well. Whatever you may eat, the result is the same. Appeasement of one’s hunger. One fellow covers his body with costly cloth with zari and all. Another does the same with a torn old rag. Both serve the same purpose. Pleasure and pain depend on the attitude of your mind. This is the effect of mAyA. Do not give place in your mind to thoughts of pleasure and pain. mAyA manifests itself as the six enemies of Man: Lust, Anger, Greed, Delusion, Pride and Envy. They make non-real things appear as real. A poor man, seeing the rich man wearing a gold ornament, wishes to have one like that for himself. This is greed. The others are similar to this. Conquer all six of these foes of Man. No desire will then rise in the mind. Otherwise you will become a slave of these six rogues. Use your discretion and kill them. You will not be affected by pleasure and pain caused by mAyA. Let me tell you how you should go about in this samsAra. A wise person will be content with whatever he has, knowing full well that it is his prArabdha. If you have riches, be humble. A tree with more fruits in it will bend. But do not bend before all. One should certainly be firm and stern with wicked people. But with sAdhus and the devout, you should show humility and modesty. Spend your wealth in charity and dharma. But do not be extravagant. This body is certainly impermanent but so long as it is there, wealth is necessary to a certain extent. Even bile is necessary for the health of the body. But do not become greedy as money is the be-all and end-all of life. Be charitable. But do not do wasteful expenditure. Observe happily all the goings-on in the world. Do not forget God. Remember always: ‘This samsAra is not mine, it is God’s.’ Show your sympathy with the poor and the down-trodden. Do not hurt them by showing hate or disgust. Keep a constant mental analysis of the question: ‘Who am I?’ Nana: Baba, Who is God? How will He look? Where is He? How can we see Him? Baba: Those who toil in samsAra neither understand what is right and wrong nor do they comprehen the nature of God. Pure thoughts are absent in them. Constantly being immersed in the ocean of samsAra they do not have faith in devotion or in the scriptures. They don’t reach God. They go towards hell. On the other hand those who are eager to rise higher towards salvation, discard this state of bondage and begin to enquire wiuth discretion and intelligence. They are always itching to see God. They develop bhakti towards Him and observe the laws of the scriptures. They adopt nAma-japa and dhyAna and become a sAdhaka (an aspirant to reach God). They continuously move with the devout. When they reach a mature stage in their japa and dhyAna they become saintly. In that stage God and Man are alike. Praise and blame are one and the same for them. Desires have left them. The thought of ‘I’ and ‘Mine’ are not any more there. They begin to see that their own AtmA and God are the same. They realize ‘I am Brahman“. Observe how each one of them has reached God. You will yourself then understand that God permeates all animate and inanimate objects in the world. God is everywhere. There is no place where He is not. What prevents us from seeing Him is the power of mAyA. I, you, this world, all are part

Christmas at Prasanthi Nilayam – December 2003 The birth of Christ brings with it great joy and happiness to the whole world. And all celebrate it with all earnestness. But when it comes to Christmas at Prasanthi Nilayam, Christmas gains an all new flavour. Christmas with Sai is among the best celebrated festivals at Prasanthi Nilayam. Coming a month after the Birthday Celebrations, Christmas is eagerly looked forward to. Heart to Heart brings to you a description of this great festival as it is generally celebrated in Prasanthi Nilayam.The evening of 24th of December is the starting point of the Christmas celebrations. That evening, the overseas devotees conduct a carol programme in the presence of Bhagawan in the Sai Kulwant Hall. The songs in praise of the Lord and His Divine Son bring the warmth of Christmas to each and every heart. hen comes the much anticipated morning of the 25th of December. Much before the cock crows, the devotees  assemble in the Sai Kulwant Hall. Following the regular Suprabhatham the overseas devotees join the special Nagar-Sankeertan singing Carols while holding candles in their hands. As they walk into the Hall humming ‘Joy to the World’ or ‘Silent Night’, it charges the entire atmosphere with a solemnity, which is one of the reasons that make Christmas at Prasanthi Nilayam so special. As all the students slowly light up their candles, the Hall is filled with the soft glow and warmth of the candle lights. It is quite an experience to be present there in the soft glow of the hundreds of candles flickering merrily to the soft humming of carols in the background. Soon the ornate silver doors open on the first floor of the Prasanthi Mandir and the audience revel in silent joy. There is hushed excitement as people try to catch the first glimpse of the Lord dressed in a Divine white robe. Bhagawan walks slowly and stands right at the edge of the balcony blessing every body present with a beautiful smile and often raising His hands in blessing. He then walks around the balcony and stands at different places facing all the devotees in turn and sways gently to the tunes of the carols being hummed. Then the Aarthi is lit and all join in singing the Aarthi in unison. Bhagawan retires after this to His residence. Later in the morning Bhagawan comes for the regular darshan at around 7:00 AM. After He finishes His darshan round, He sits on His chair kept on the stage. After taking His blessings the students of the Sri Sathya Sai Primary School present a violin concert with several small children playing beautiful tunes on their stringed instruments. This is followed by the Institute Brass Band presenting an instrumental orchestra. The lilting tunes played by the band lifts the spirits of those present there. The foot-tapping presentation by the Brass band is followed by the carol programme by the students of the Institute and the Higher Secondary School. The students sing several traditional carols as well as newly composed songs in the praise of their Lord. The carols end with the famous song “Dashing Through The Snow” during which a student dressed as the Santa Claus takes Bhagawan’s blessings, goes around throwing chocolates to all. The morning festivities come to an end with prasadam distribution and Aarthi.The 25th of December also happens to the anniversary of the Kingdom of Mother Sai, an alumni association of the students of the Anantapur Campus of the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning. The afternoon programme starts with the presentation of the service activities carried out by the organisation and talks by members of the organisation. This is followed by talks by some elderly devotees. The icing on the cake is Bhagawan’s discourse, which follows the talks. Over the years Bhagawan has given a lot of insight into the teachings of Christ. He has also spoken about the life of Christ and what Christ stood for. One memorable Christmas evening, during the course of His discourse, Bhagawan materialised a small Bible, which He said was compiled in Britain around 1530 A.D., containing all the information about Jesus gathered during the preceding centuries. The Russians condensed all this material in a small book which they preserved in a place on the Black Sea coast. Swami produced the little book by a circular wave of His hand and held it before the audience, He said: “This is the book.