Do You Watch TV??? During one of the Trayee sessions in Brindavan, one evening, Swami appeared to be displeased with people watching too many TV shows. He said that television is actually “TELEVISHAM” (visham means poison). Suddenly, He turned towards (I was seated very close to His jhoola (swing) and asked me (the whole conversation took place in Hindi)… Swami: “Do you watch TV?” I: “No Swami.” Swami: “Aye…tell Me the truth.” I: “No Swami, I don’t watch TV.” Swami: “Look into My eyes and then tell Me the truth.” I kept looking into His eyes and kept wondering in my mind that the Lord is omniscient and He knows that I do not watch TV, then why is Swami continuing to ask me this question. At the same time, I knew Swami’s utterances are full of significance, so there must be something He wants to teach me. In a flash, my memory took me to an incident when I was 7 or 8 years old, when my uncle had taken me to a cinema hall for late night movie show. We returned home well past midnight and my grandfather had to wake up to open the door for us. He was very upset with my uncle and scolded him for being a bad influence on me. The next evening I accompanied my grandfather for his usual visit to the temple. On our way, he lovingly explained to me that I should not waste any time by going to cinema shows. He said: “See… the whole world is like a ‘NAATAK’, meaning a drama, and is a source of continuous and frivolous entertainment. You, however, need to be careful for you know what is the meaning of NAATAK? It means ‘NAA + ATAK’, ‘Naa’ means ‘NO’ and ‘Atak’ means ‘Get Caught’, that is, you should not get entangled in the world’s drama.” The cobwebs of doubts that were lurking in my mind were now removed or at least that’s what I thought. I refocused my attention to Bhagawan Who was sitting right infront of me… and I resumed the interaction with Him thinking that I was smarter with this new understanding of what He meant by asking me ‘If I watch TV shows”. I gathered some courage and said: “Yes Swami, I do watch TV? Swami: (addressing the other members in the hall), “See… now he agrees…” Swami: (back to me) “What do you watch in TV?” I: “Swami, whole world is a continous TV show.” Swami: (raising His voice) “Why do you switch it on?” I: “It goes on itself Swami… (in my mind I told Him “Dear Lord, the switch is under Your control”) Swami: “No. When you show an interest in anything, it means you have switched on a particular channel for yourself and you have thereby got yourself entangled into it. Isn’t it?” I: “Yes Swami… Now I understand what You really mean by this question… “Do you watch TV?”

What Is Spiritual(ity)? Bhagawan once materialised a very expensive diamond studded Mont Blanc pen for one of the senior devotees of Prasanthi Nilayam. This devotee safeguarded it as a treasure and used the pen once a day for writing his daily introspection journal and he would do this writing before going to bed. One day while on a usual Ashram ‘stroll’ Bhagawan visited the devotee and asked to return the pen . The devotee said, he treasures the pen and makes effort to safeguard it as he uses the same for the spiritual activity of dedicating his introspections in writing to Beloved Bhagawan. Swami’s reply was… “Bangaru, just the half-an-hour you write to Me alone is not ‘spiritual’… Everything in this world is ‘spiritual’.” Everything in the world is material, could be one way to see the world. Everything in the world is spiritual is another way of seeing the world. How the world responds to you is not dependent on the world but on how you see the world. “You will find, upon self examination, that the faults you see in others are in you. When you correct yourself, the world becomes correct.” – Sri Sathya Sai And so the saying “Jaise drishti waise srishti”…”As is the vision, so is the creation”, “Drishti Gyanmayi Kritwa Pashyed Harirey Jagat”…” Fill your sight with wisdom and you would see the whole world pious.” How you see the world makes no difference to the world but makes all the difference to you. Is it not?

Will We Pay Heed To Him??? Man must crave for the vision of God; then only is he entitled to the status of humanness. Manava (human) must reach Madhava (God Supreme). He must conquer the mind. Manava (human) is the ruler of manas (mind), not its slave. Who takes the role of educator from the beginning of your life…? The mother, is it not? Nature or Prakriti is the Mother, the feminine principle, the Maya (Goddess Of Illusion). She is the great teacher. If you do not learn the lessons well, nature punishes you, boxes you in the ear, hits you on the hand. She is a stern merciless instructress; but, if you learn well, she will lead you proudly to the presence of Purushotthama (ideal person – God Supreme). Obey Prakriti (nature) and be well trained by Her, then you can inherit the glory of Purushotthama (ideal person – God Supreme) . If you disregard Her teaching, the Mother gets disgusted with you and the Father too will disregard your entreaties. The command of Prakriti (nature) given for your good are called Dharma (righteousness). Have the Dharma (righteousness) as the witness of all your thoughts, words and deeds. Be guided every instant by the dictates of that Dharma (righteousness), and success will be yours. Little children must be taught with the help of big letters scrawled on boards and slates. Temple images and Saligrams (fossilized shell with Divine ‘Vishnu’ Potency) are the slates and boards for the children in spiritual progress. But, even if you play with a toy elephant you cannot get the experience of contacting live elephant, can you? The Formless Godhead can be understood by you only when you have rendered yourself Formless! When you are in the world of gunas (virtues), you have to attach yourself only to a Saguna (manifested God) Lord.

Divine Supreme’s Sole, ‘Soulful’ Desire – Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu Why ‘Samastha Lokah…?’ and what is Its added significance?? …and why this transition from ‘Lokah Samastha…‘ into ‘Samastha Lokah…’??? What, Why and many a question can be raised by many minds that dwell in doubts and resort to arguments, but the very fact that the Maha Mantra was borne of The Lord Supreme, in His natural flow sans any pretence, negates all arguments, simply surrendering to His Will Supreme. Does not The Mother know the need of Her child? If the Maha Mantra was introduced by Bhagawan with His Divine Sankalpa of Cosmic, all- embracing expansion, Samastha Lokah… does cover anything and everything, most unconditionally, rightfully endorsing the legacy of Sri Sathya Sai, that being Love… All-Embracing Love…Unconditional Love… Love That Conquers… simply L-O-V-E!!! “Samastha Lokah…” is undoubtedly the One Off Universal Maha Mantra that claims credit to Its being from Bhagawan in His physical form. Most of the other Mantras claim their origin from the Vedic time, perceived internally by great and elevated souls. …And such a Maha Mantra that claims its origin from the Divine Resolve Of the Supreme-Most Avatar,  One Who Is hailed as The Sarvadevathaatheetha Swarupa, (The Divine Form beyond all other forms) must definitely be power-packed with Intention Of That WholeSome Divinity – The Supreme Resolve. What could be this power-packed intention from a human perception? The Supreme Lord, from Whose Resolve sprang out this vast creation that include human beings, made humans, the highest of beings with reference to conscious expansion, in His own image… and thus, does want humans to raise to His level of vastness… expansion… becoming That… by Becoming and thus Be, His True Self, Embodiment of Love.  This is clear from His ‘own’ words, wherein He spelt out God’s single-most desire in no uncertain terms…. Concluding His Dasara Divine discourse in 2009, Bhagawan spoke thus: “God illumines the entire universe as the Atma Tatwa (Innate Divine Principle) immanent in all the living beings and objects. Even though God may appear to be involved in so many activities in the world, it is verily for the pleasure of His devotees. He has no desire of His own. He has only one desire – Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu!” This Mantra stands as the Mantra beyond all other Mantras.. as it is completely selfless and cosmically vast… Pointing to His physical body, He said once that, He Is ‘top-to-toe’ selfless. Indeed, it can be rightly perceived that, this Supreme Lord, Who created man in His own image, does ‘desire’ man to be unmade and remade as… His own… reflecting The Truth beyond all truths, The Essential Sai Para Brahmam. At a time when Kali is raging to its peak, The Supreme Godhood introduced this Maha Mantra as the panacea for all universal and cosmic maladies. Bhagawan, Who Is verily The Pulse of time, delivered it to the humans at the right time, for him to use it most effectively. Anyone who tries this Mantra with an innate feeling of Love is sure to experience EXPANSION soon… and thus entitled to ‘Become and Be’, becoming One With Him… The Master Supreme! Sri Sathya Sai – The ‘True’ SadhGuru!!! Can We Hear Him Whispering…  “Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu”!!!

Bhagawan’s Five Letter Pronouncement – GOD ‘IS’ More than a decade ago during one of the ‘famed’ Trayee’ sessions in Brindavan, Whitefield, Bengaluru, as the Conversations with The Divine went on, Bhagawan hinted at a ‘would be’ time, during His physical reign, a time of absolute profundity marked with great happenings. Excited beyond reason, one of the seniors asked Bhagawan: ‘Swami, what sadhana we should do to be eligible to witness these happenings?’ Bhagawan’s response was straight and simple. No sadhana is required; all you have to do is to know that ‘Sai Baba Is God’. Did not He indicate this ‘True Truth’ to you and me time and again, over and over again, as His ‘SaiLent’ reminder??? Reminiscing and relishing ‘The Ultimate Presence On Planet Earth’ Sri Jullie Chaudhuri from Pune writes about Him, The Beauty Beyond Compare Lord Supreme, His Darshan, the epochal Sri Sathya Sai Darshana Mahotsavam and His famous Five-Letter Pronouncement, God Is… Read on… After having seen that Most Dearest Form…do I want to set my eyes on anything else? After having heard that Divine mellow voice… do these ears need hear any other sound? After having known that Divine fragrance what else is there to breathe? What can be more sublime, what more is there to gain, what greater boon than the sight of this Loving, Living God? The Formless Absolute chose an Enchanting Form, taking on hues of orange-gold, encapsulating Sathya, Dharma, Shanti, Prema, Ahimsa; ennobling, engaging, enriching, endearing, enhancing, elevating and enlightening humanity to hitherto unscaled dimensions. Every particle that forms Sai Kulwant Hall echoes an immense gratitude at the honour endowed upon it by The Lord of the Universe, as He encircled its premises at every Darshan, energising the gathering along with each particle of dust. And, as He so did encircle Sai Kulwant Hall, He ensured that His boundless aura – that magnificent cascade of pink hues, did enfold, ensconce, enwrap each and every atom, not only within this hallowed hall, but over the surrounding hills, embracing the distant horizon through. None can gauge, fathom or evaluate what we receive from Beloved Bhagawan, just like Him this too remains an eternal enigma, a mystery, a puzzle. Though the onus remains with us to reflect His life and message of innate compassion and selflessly serve all life forms through every moment that time and destiny decidedly sends our way. Let us imbibe what He does pronounce – “On this Guru Purnima day I do not intend to give you any Ashtakshari (eight letter) or Panchaakshari (five-letter) mantra based on any particular deity’s name. Nor Am I enjoining you to study any Upanishad, or the Gita or the  Brahma Sutras.  There is a simple five-letter pronouncement – “God Is.” (‘Devudunnaadu’). Make this your sheet-anchor. If you go on reciting it, thinking over it, acting up to it and conveying it to others, immersing yourself in the bliss of this experience, you will be making the greatest contribution to the welfare of the world. (Swami recited a poem on the glories of God’s creation to prove “Devudunnaadu”).

My Life Is My Message What i think, i must speak and what i speak, i must act… this is Trikarana Suddhi, purity and unity of the three essential faculties of man, viz., thought, word and deed. Bhagawan has always been in the forefront, practising what He preaches, not by being ‘liable’ or ‘duty bound’, but purely by being Love HimSelf. On 5th June 2005 Prasanthi Nilayam witnessed something unique, when Our Beloved Bhagawan plunged ‘HimSelf’ into a unique action,  acting HimSelf out His dictum ‘My Life Is My Message’. Reproducing a beautiful ‘Darshan’ story from 2005. World is a big stage and we have greater lessons to learn watching it. With Bhagawan, one has to be on a constant watch, as every moment is counted and if one is focused, he will have lessons galore to learn and imbibe. After a momentous Thursday, the day when Bhagawan decided to bless the University Campus in Prasanthi Nilayam with His Divine visit, came a pleasant Friday. Though summer’s clutch was loosened, it has not left the spiritual township completely and the day’s weather was a mix and by the time for evening Darshan, it turned cool again with ominous signs of imminent rains. Bhagawan came out just after 1630 hrs. before coming onstage for a brief spell, watching and blessing the students chanting Vedam. Bhajans started at the scheduled 1700 hrs. and Bhagawan came on stage once again. …And following Him came the rainy showers lashing from the heavens as if the mythical ‘Rain God’ was waiting for the Over Lord to come and decorate His dais. Lashing rains with strong winds splashed the rainy drops all around bringing in renewed natural freshness all over. With Bhagawan on stage granting static Darshan, with mellifluous bhajans on, hundreds of devotees outside the main gate next to the Sita-Rama statue got stranded in the lashing rains, leaving them completely drenched. Bhagawan, The Silent Witness He Is ever, was waiting as He had something to demonstrate, a unique visiting card of His Love and Compassion. Even as the bhajans continued, He was glued to the main gate watching the hundreds getting ‘drenched’. For the onlookers, it was something uniquely strange, that He was physically focused on His devotees, watching the rainy celebration. Who would know what was happening inside of Him, as from inside ‘out’ Bhagawan was bathing them in His indefinable Gaze Of Love! Sevadal volunteers were  disciplined enough to maintain ‘peace’, especially with Bhagawan onstage, watching the melee. Lord AlMighty He Is, and His Heart Is nothing but Love n’ Compassion, it was time for action! Bhagawan soon sent word to the security to break the cordon, allowing the stranded devotees inside to occupy the vacant area near the Sita-Rama statue. The Prasanthi Nilayam Security, being conventional following the ‘laid’ discipline in letter and spirit, allowed the gents in,  leaving the ladies out. In Prasanthi Nilayam, as a matter of customary discipline, gents and ladies are not allowed to mix-up in the Darshan hall. Watching this security ‘drama’, Bhagawan sent special instructions ‘to break the deep cordon’, allowing the devout ladies in, allowing them to occupy one side of the vacant spot! Action done and lessons imparted, leaving the onlookers to take the best out of the ‘drama’. Bhajans went on till 1750 hrs. when Bhagawan indicated for Mangala Arathi. Post the Arathi Bhagawan’s compassionate loving gaze continued to shower on the special group,  who are the recipients of a special  ‘rain-packed-blessing’ from the Lord Supreme in His earthly Abode, right outside His Sanctum Sanctorum!!!  Our Lord Of Compassion was not in a mood to stop. He moved unto them next, granting them the DARSHAN of their lives… and one could hear ecstatic hearts, drenched in Pure Love, chanting Jaikars of infinite gratitude, that reverberated Prasanthi in the rain-hit twilight. The Lord Who penned the thematic value-oriented drama ‘Cheppinattu Chestara’ during His teen years, meaning ‘do i follow what i speak’, Who HimSelf followed His ‘own’ dictum, ‘Love All Serve All, Help Ever Hurt Never’, demonstrated it in action yet again, out in public, leaving the best of the lessons for the world around.

The Legend Of “Sathyam Sivam Sundaram” One Word… many meanings, One Glance… countless answers, One Smile… an instant glimpse of Infinity, One Touch… The Liberating Elixir, and now, with a full life-time with The All-Mighty… Who Is Sampoornam, The Sampoorna Avatar Who holds the Key for Liberation… Infinity… Oneness, can humans attempt to read Him between lines? Acting out a ‘preceding’ drama, Bhagawan had long ago told His biographer Prof Kasturi that, ‘…this Swami cannot be understood through books,’ that led to the birth of ‘Sathyam Sivam Sundaram’, the ‘Beauty Beyond Compare’ mystical biography series of The Sampoorna Avatar.    It was an afternoon in Prasanthi Nilayam, almost seven decades ago. Prof Kasturi, Bhagawan’s biographer-cum-translator, who had ‘many pens in his pocket’, was standing on the portico of the then Sanathana Sarathi Press, absorbed in an active conversation with himself, until a ‘curious’ gentleman came by and asked him: Are there any books on Swami available here? Kasturi: No, we print only a monthly magazine. The curious ‘soul’ moved on, apparently disappointed, not ‘knowing’ that he was being made an instrument in His Hand. The said portico of the then press building could be seen from the first floor of the Mandir, that housed The Divinity in person then. Interestingly Bhagawan had ‘noticed’ the conversation, and soon sent word for Kasturi. Ever implicitly obedient to The Master, Kasturi ‘instantly’ presented himself in The Master’s Presence. Bhagawan: What did that person ask you? Kasturi: He asked whether there are any books on Swami. Bhagawan: And what did you tell him? Kasturi: I told him there were no books. Bhagawan: That is not the right answer; you should have told him that this Swami cannot be understood through books. Saying so Bhagawan permitted Prof Kasturi to leave, only to ignite a burning volcano of ‘deep introspection’ inside of him. Narrating the events after, writes Prof Kasturi. “I came down the steps, wiser as a result of the glimpse He gave me of His inscrutability and sadder, at the prospect of no book being published on Swami, not even the one by me. Baba was looking down on me when I slowly wended my way back to the press. When I was half-way through, I looked up through the wet film. I then knew that He had read my mind, for, He waved the reassuring Palm to calm the surging sadness.” “Consolation was conferred pretty soon. Baba was among devotees at Madras (Chennai) and Venkatagiri for a few days. At Puttaparthi we were hoping He would return by the weekend. But, His car negotiated a newly-laid macadam road and pulled up, quite surprisingly on Thursday itself. He sent for me. My heart went pit-a-pat. What was I in for? Had I done anything reprehensible? Talking ill of others or even thinking ill? My mother who realised that I was summoned into the Presence started praying that I may be pardoned for any blunder into which I had stumbled. I presented myself before Him. He smiled at my situation, eyed me from head to foot and said, “At Madras and Venkatagiri, people are asking, “Any literature on Swami?”, and you are sitting quiet here.”

Disciple & Devotee… Who Is Who??? In 1917, 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 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, Shama 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 Shama inside. “In this entire world, for Me you are the only disciple. All others are only devotees.” At that moment, Shama 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 Shama 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 tear drops I shed, the remaining sins (of Shama) 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 (Sathya Sai) made Its Advent, Andhra Pradesh was part of Madras Presidency.

My Task Is This… To Bhaktas! My dear boy. I received your letter and I noted the flow of the current of Prema and the echo of Bhakti in every word. It is impossible to see into the hearts of Jnanis and Yogis; nor is it possible to understand their ways. So, naturally, people talk about them, just as their fancy prompts them. No amount of fault-finding indulged in by these people can affect us, so long as we act truly and well, keep our purpose steadily in view and so long as we do not lose hold of the values dictated by Jnana. Don’t you know that only those trees get stoned, which have fruit on their branches? The tree with no fruits is not noticed by passers-by. Good and bad co-exist; they are companions for ever. That is in the very nature of the world. And, why, let Me ask, should these people be blamed? Poor fellows! What do they know? What can they know? They are caught by every gust of greed, anger, envy and hate. So, they become intolerant and have no control of mind or tongue; they indulge in loose talk and slander. Those that know will never talk like that. It is not wise to take such ignorance seriously. Truth alone can win, believe Me. Un-truth must fail. It might appear to win for some little while, but, as soon as Truth appears on the scene, un-truth does flee. It is not the nature of Mahatmas to exult when worshipped or droop when they are neglected or cal­umnied. No Gita has laid down rules and regulations for the behaviour of Mahatmas; but, SathPravarthana and SadhBuddhi are the fundamental traits … Beneficial Activity and Beneficial Thoughts. Provided these are there,  whatever is done over and above this for the benefit of the bhaktas and for their welfare according to their deserts, we can afford to be free. You should pay no heed to the talk you men­tion. The Mahatmas do not owe their greatness to others who recognise them as such; nor do they lose their great­ness if someone fails to recognise them. Their stature is not heightened by praise or lowered by blame. Of course there are some ‘yogis’ who suffer from blame and they have every reason to fear. I shall tell you who they are. They quaff their full, they swallow pills Of opium, and chew the bhang—these ‘noble’ folk! They drink, they eat their fill Of low unwholesome food—these `famous’ men! “Tis wrong to state ’tis false to say That anything dies, they never die,” They swear while (!) cutting throats and eat The living things they like—these `teachers’ grand! They preach the lessons of love and peace But hate and fight, all on the sly—these `gurus’ great! They fret and fume and speak for long On dry as dust philosophy! This wondrous gang of yogis false They surely dread a fall. It is only such that have to be afraid. You must have read, in the lives of Mahatmas, how they were as­sailed by small men in even worse ways. It is all part of the scheme,: don’t worry. How long can the poor dogs bark at the star? How can they produce any effect on the star? All this will continue just for a little time; our integrity is the means to victory. I shall not slacken My Task, My Activity, My Determination. For Me, reputation, fame, blame, calumny—all are equally insignificant. I Am quite unconcerned with the whole lot. I speak and act, only to help the world and for the sake of the people. But, let Me tell you, I have no name, no place, no possession. By whatever name I Am called, I respond! To whichever place I Am called, I go and make My Appearance. I have this as My very first, My Vow, My Self-imposed task. I have not spoken of this to anyone so far; I Am not a part of this world; I Am far far away from it. But yet, I engage Myself in the uplift of its inhabitants. My Shakti, My Power, My Mystery can never be understood, whoever studies it, howsoever intensely and well. You can yourself witness the glory that will be manifested hereafter. Bhaktas must learn patience and await events. Then, you will yourself realize the absurdity of your fears. I wrote this reply to you, because I felt you will be sad, unless I wrote. Otherwise, I would not have replied at all, for it is not in Me to pay heed to such things. Thus…..Your Baba.

He Is Closer Than The Closest!!!