Sri Sathya Sai Address at the Malleswaram Stadium, Bangalore – 1963 Swami addressed a gathering at Shivaji Nagar Stadium, Bangalore on 15th December. The Mayor of Bangalore presided over this function. On 16th, Swami addressed a huge gathering at the Malleswaram Stadium.  “Those who live in Malleswaram have made good arrangements for celebrating the Annual Festival of the community singing (Bhajan) that they have been conducting here. Bhajan always gives bliss and peace. See that it is not used for increasing your egoism, or mutual recrimination, or envy or pride, as very often happens. Be humble, be calm, be tolerant. Cooperate with all and treat everyone with courtesy and kindness.  Devotion is not a uniform to be worn on Thursday evenings, when you gather for Bhajana, and to be laid aside when the Bhajan is over. It must mean the promotion of an attitude of humility, of revering parents, teachers, elders, and others; it is a mental outlook, an attitude that is ever-present. It is the sustenance of the heart, just as food is sustenance for the body. Like the needle of the compass always pointing to the north, never deviating from that direction, returning to it, readily, gladly, quickly, whenever it is shaken off that line, so too the devotee must face the Lord ever, must be happy only when he is set toward Him.  Many people think of God only when grief overtakes them. Of course, it is good to do so; it is better than seeking the help of those who are also equally liable to grief. But it is infinitely better to think of God in grief and in joy, in peace and strife, in all weathers. The proof of the rain is in the wetness of the ground; the proof of devotion is in the peace that the devotee has, peace that protects them against the onslaughts of success as well as failure, fame, dishonour, gain, and loss. Devotion is the river Ganga, detachment is the river Yamuna, and spiritual wisdom (jnana) is the river Saraswati of this spiritual confluence of three rivers (Triveni).  Spiritual wisdom is the through-train; you just board it, that is enough, and it takes you direct to the destination. Devotion is the through-carriage. Though it may be detached from one train and connected with another, if you get into it, you need not worry; as long as you stick to your place, it is bound to take you to the destination. Karma (action) is the ordinary train. If you board it, you have to disembark, climb in and climb out at every junction, load your luggage and unload it, and do a good lot of work to reach your destination. Devotion alone is enough even to acquire spiritual wisdom. It ends in seeing only Brahman in all, and it destroys egoism. Wisdom also gives you these. Narada once offered to teach the cowherd women (Gopis) the principles of philosophy —Vijnana Bodha as he called it. Krishna agreed. But the cowherd maidens said, “We do not care for your learning and your discourse. We see Krishna everywhere and in everything, so we have no hate or envy or malice. We have equanimity (Sama), and we have no egoism. We believe this is enough for us.” Narada found that what they claimed was correct, so he left discomfited.  Now, most of you are leading a double or treble life. Practising union with God (Yogam) in the morning, enjoyment (Bhogam) the rest of the day, and suffering (Rogam) at night. You seek bliss outside you and suffer from the ulcer of desire inside you. You utter one thing with the tongue and carry out the opposite with the hand. You claim to be seekers of spiritual wisdom, but you are attached to the delusion you have cultivated. You have a ticket for Calcutta, but you are traveling in the train headed for Bombay! With the body, which is your ticket, and world knowledge and attachment as your luggage, you are traveling not in the train that goes Godward but in the train leading to the objective world (Prakriti). This is the pity!  The roots must go deep, deep down to the level of underground water. The trees that grow on the dikes of canals are green with thick foliage. Your roots must also go deep into the Divinity that will keep you green whatever the dryness of the weather or heat of the sun.  This is the age of profit. The question that anyone asks when asked to do a thing is, “What is the profit?” “How much is the profit?” “How sure is the profit?” Well, let Me also ask, “Of what profit is all this feeding and growing, this striving and struggling, this earning and saving and spending, this losing and gaining, this speeding in cars and planes, if by these means you do not get peace in the mind and joy in your heart?”  All these activities serve only to hide the real nature of the individual, to overwhelm it under a mass of trivialities, to suppress the natural influence of the real Truth of humanity. Develop a love for God. Then you can recognise Him very near you, in your own Self. That is the assurance I am giving to all of you.”  Swami reached Madras on 18th December. On Thursday, the 19th December, He installed the pictures of Shirdi Sai Baba and Himself at the prayer hall of the Sathya Sai Nivas, Perambur, and Madras. On the 21st, Swami was welcomed at the Raj Bhavan by Sri Bishnuram Methi, Governor of Madras, where He gave a Discourse on spiritual Sadhana to a select gathering.   Swami blessed the huge gathering at Perambur Railway Stadium with His Darshan and Discourse on the 23rd. He returned to Prashanti Nilayam on 27th December.

Cricket Conversations with Sri Sathya Sai Swami came near the table tennis players and sports captains…  Swami  : Table Tennis? Games are there on January 11th.  Students  : Swami, today there is a table tennis match.  Swami  : Table tennis…, I used to play.  Students  : Swami, here is Your photograph. (They showed the card having a photo of Swami playing table tennis)  Swami  : “Kahan Mila”? (Where did you get it from?) I played with a Colombo official in Loyala College and also with Krishnan. I won 3-0. When is your Table Tennis match?  Students  : Swami, today at 7: 30 pm Swami, please come and Bless us.  Swami  : (To a student, showing how to hold a table tennis bat) Grip should be like this and angle should be proper. (Swami showed the movement with His hand).  Students    : Please give Padanamaskar.  Swami  : Teesko (Take) This afternoon Swami came to the ground with a devotee and showed him the pavilion. He then went to the Institute Conference Hall and spoke to the staff members about the forth-coming cricket match and sports meet programme…  Swami  : What time is the cricket match starting?  V. C.   : Swami, 8:30 am.  Swami  : The match should begin by 9 am. Everything should be kept ready, nothing should be delayed. The Prime Minister is also coming and he will be hoisting the national flag.  Teacher  : Swami, You should only hoist the flag.  Prime Minister Gujral hoistingthe flag on the final day Swami  : No! Let him hoist the flag and I will light the torch. And as in sports meet, two students will hold the torch and send it up the hill. It should be checked up well. It will be a grand sight on that day. Immediately after the lighting of the torch, the match will start. Before this, all the players will go to the ground and will be introduced. The platform on which the Prime Minister will stand and hoist the flag should be firm. Prime Minister will be leaving the same evening at 4: 30 pm.  V.C.   : Swami what about procession?  Swami  : I will be coming in the sports car.  V.C. :  : Swami, please come in chariot.  Swami  : No, pulling the chariot will be difficult. I will come in the sports car, the roof can be opened, and all the devotees can see Me. Who are all the players?  Warden   : Swami the same team that played in Sharjah, is coming.  Swami  : When???  Warden  : Swami yesterday in Sharjah, they won over India. Swami, the other team consists of Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Swami, Ranatunga (from Sri Lanka) will lead the team.  Swami  : Ranatunga came that day and he told Me that he didn’t want any other cup but this cup and he wanted to play at least one match on this ground.  Warden  : Swami some veterans like Kapil Dev and David Boon are also coming…  Swami  : Kapil Dev and Ravi Shastri came for Swami’s Darshan long ago. Sunil Gavaskar’s (Rohan Gavaskar) son is also coming on that day.  Warden  : Swami, Jayasuriya (from Sri Lanka) is a very powerful player, he can hit the ball to Hanuman.  Swami  : The match will get over before 4:30 pm. Gavaskar and Vishwanath (Gundappa Vishwanath, Indian cricket legend) told Me that they wanted to have the closing ceremony in the middle of the ground so that all can see well. We will set a trend to show how a match should be conducted, not like other matches where the players just shake hands and go away.  Brindavan Warden : Yes Swami, there are many statues of Gods, which will give Divine vibration.  Swami  : A platform should be arranged in the middle of the ground where the Prime Minister will give away the cups to every player. During the lunch break, primary school children will perform some programme for half an hour. I have already told them to stick on to the time given to them. People can eat and watch the programme. It is of a unique type – no one has tried it anywhere outside. I have told them not to throw colours on the ground, because if the ball falls on the colours, the players’ clothes will get spoilt when they rub it on their pants. Bowlers should bowl straight to the wickets so that the batsmen are able to play it; instead they bowl all wides!  Warden  : Swami, recently we lost to Pakistan in the Sharjah Cup. Swami, Pakistani players are very good. In this match, we have to face both Sri Lanka and Pakistan, which will be very difficult for us. Unless Your blessings are there with us, we cannot win the match.  Swami  : They lost the game because they did not get the chance to win. If they get the chance, they can win. 

An Offering from a Transformed Student of Sri Sathya Sai – By Anand Bhaskar Raju Our life is a precious gift from God, an eternal laboratory of experimentation and learning……a ceaseless tribute to the curiosity and passion that underlines our existence. Success and failure, important as they may seem, are notions designed by men such as you and me.  We have the world to gain and nothing to loose; if a million rupees or a hundred acres could shape half a person, our world would have been complete long ago. So, invite yourself, to this play called life and enjoy your role in the ethereal process of living. Live and capture the essence of every moment, the spectrum of emotional experience is painted on a Divine Canvas, in the colours of joy and glory, pain and misery – our life story is merely a synthesis of our relationship with the canvas of emotion. Each of us is special, and the journey of life is half accomplished, the moment we truly understand the elements that make us special.  Be kind and honest, not because they are virtues taught in moral classes across the world, but because they are expressions of a blossoming human being; the human being, the way we knew, before leaving from the shriveled existence of the classrooms, a place where we were all supposed to learn. Learning though, is sadly skewed by the misguided impressions of a genre of humans posthumously influencing our education and our lives. Our education has relegated itself to serving the purpose of satiating the endless needs of our body and mind, leaving our beleaguered souls to suffer the indignity of our spiritual apathy. In doing so, we are navigating the winding streets of vacuum in the mortal pursuit of material existence.  But then, the blessed among us have walked the enlightened corridors of our pristine Institution; a garden of learning, nurtured by the Love and Vision of our beloved Mother Sai. You and I are cleansed under the soothing shade of His beloved trees. Our teachers are pillars of learning presented to us by our caring Mother, teachers who have dedicated their lives to sow the seeds of love, shape the leaves upon which we learn, nourish us into buds of knowledge and fill us with the colours and fragrance of resplendent flowers. It is this wonderful nursery of the Lord, that we call our School.  Yes indeed, we learn Mathematics and Science, Management and Arts. Alas, they are subjects that enable us to understand the wound up dynamics of organised human life. However, the learning of skills is merely a pursuit of available knowledge. Our life in the nursery shapes our understanding of its application and the importance of common sense. But most importantly, our minds and hearts are showered with the blessing of human values that enable us to make the joyous journey of life and work with the balance and grace of an accomplished tight-rope walker.  Often in business, the rule of Economics reigns over, as millions weigh heavier than the milieu of the affected people, on the embroiled minds of Management professionals. In an era of persistent change, where business cycles are measured in months, rather than years, one cannot undermine the importance of economic considerations. However, to ignore the possibility of achieving a balance between human and financial interests, symbolises the myopic pursuit of short-lived executive glory. We have the infamous examples of Enron and Arthur Anderson, WorldCom and Citibank that will stare at our collective conscience, for decades to come. The degeneration of accomplished managers into money chasing morons should awaken us to the benefits of Management by concern towards each and every stakeholder.  A couple of years ago I was working with a large chain of retail stores, employing several people. The effects of declining business growth, in the post 9/11 phase created ripples that have lasted long after the event itself. We faced constant pressure not only to increase the top-line, but also to reduce operational costs. This implied retrenchment and rationalisation of the stores. There were two approaches open to us as at the Management. Indiscriminate dismissal of all the employees accompanied by the closure of stores, or selective rehiring of potentially good employees even though it meant increased overheads to the remaining stores. Obviously, it would appear that firing lock, stock and barrel would be the economically sensible option. There were lengthy discussions, as the Management team debated the feasibility of adding costs in an uncertain environment. After many sessions of brainstorming, we could develop consensus that the latter approach deserved a chance. There are several merits to this approach as we learnt subsequently, through our experience:  First, the action reaffirmed to the employees that the Management has faith in quality and good behaviour will be rewarded. The attitude of the employees in the remaining stores turned positive, leading to improvement in customer service. Second, employees with good potential eventually replaced the recruitment errors stemming the decline in business. The stores were strengthened as a result. Third, the employees retained despite the closure of stores, transformed themselves from semi-interested participants in the business process into loyal stakeholders of the business. They transformed themselves into self-motivated drivers for future business growth. Fourth, the action was perceived as a strong positive reinforcement and reward mechanism for positive attitude and commitment to business.  The experience was only made possible due to the Top Management’s receptiveness to the Sai School of integrated business thought and the perseverance of the entire team to the core values that define our holistic approach to Management and work. The process of managing a business is always beyond meeting goals and growing sales; the essence of Management lies in unifying the efforts while effectively addressing the concerns of the stakeholders of the business in achieving these goals. The truly successful organisation deals with them as vital resources that define its soul, giving it a lifecycle that can span many generations.  We, the alumni of

Sri Sathya Sai on Jesus Christ – Part 1 ADVENT  The lives of such personalities (referring to Jesus) are lived out, in order to establish the welfare of humanity, the prosperity and peace of the world, and individual liberation from bondage to sensual desires and passions. This is illustrated by the strange phenomena that occur at the time of their Advent. It is believed that when Christ was born there were such manifestations. The ruler of the realm had ordered a census, and each had to be counted in his own village. So Mary and her husband moved along the road that led to his native village. Mary was with child; the pains started midway; they knew no one in the hamlet through which they were passing; so they took refuge in a cowshed. Joseph made ready the space between the cows, and went out into the road at midnight, to seek some woman who could help. But, soon, he heard the Baby’s cry. And, the story says, there was a star in the sky, which fell with a new light, and this led a few Tibetans and others to the place where the Savior was born. This story is read and taken on trust by many, though stars do not fall or even slide down so suddenly. What the story signifies is this; there was a huge halo of splendor illuminating the sky over the village when Christ was born. This meant that He, who was to overcome the darkness of evil and ignorance, had taken birth and He will spread the Light of Love in the heart of man and councils of humanity. “He whom Christ Announced”, Sathya Sai Speaks, Volume 11, December 24, 1972, Bangalore  In Christian thought, the Bible has been taken as an authority. When we read the Bible, we look at Christ as an ideal figure who proclaimed truth to the world. When we learn about His life story, we come to the conclusion that He was born of Virgin Mary. The moment this story of Christ’s birth to Virgin Mary is revealed, all those who follow Christianity rightly feel very proud and feel that this mysterious birth is the result of some Divine power and that Mary was a very sacred woman. They further proclaim this fact to the world with great pride. We should understand this aspect and learn how they accept such an event. “Brahman”, Summer Showers in Brindavan, 1974, Brindavan  Try to be like Jesus. Jesus was a person whose only joy was in spreading Divine Love, offering Divine Love, receiving Divine Love and living on Divine Love. There are various theories about the birth date of Jesus based on the ‘bright star that appeared at His birth.’ It is visible once in 800 years, it is said. Some say He was born on the fifteenth day of September. But, He was born at 3:15 am (early morning) on December 28, 1980 years ago. It was Sunday. The Star that appeared that day appears only once in 800 years. Its appearance had nothing to do with the birth of Jesus. There is no rule that, when Divine Energy or Divine Incarnation descends on Earth, a star has to appear. That is the opinion of devotees only. But, Jesus was himself a ‘Star’ of infinite value, spreading brilliance of infinite dimension. Why posit another less brilliant glow?  “The Way of Jesus”, Sathya Sai Speaks, Volume 14, December 25, 1979, Prasanthi Nilayam  On December 25, when Jesus was born, three kings came to His birthplace. These three gave expression to three different views about the new-born babe. One of them, looking at the infant, said, “This child looks like One who will be a lover of God.” A second king said, “God will love this child”. The third king declared, “Verily, this child is God Himself”. The first one viewed the child from the physical point of view. The second saw the child from the mental viewpoint. The third saw from the Atmic (spiritual) point of view. The three declarations indicate how one can progress from the human to the Divine level. What is needed is the destruction of the animal and demonic qualities in man. “The Journey in the Jungle”, Sathya Sai Speaks, Volume 07, April 22, 1967, Madras  Two thousand years ago, in Palestine, a province of the Roman empire, there were Jews professing Judaism. The Jews believed in one God called Yehovah. They believed that God would send a messiah for the people of Israel. Jerusalem was the sacred city of the Jews and continued to be so even under the Romans. This was the time when Jesus was born. From His childhood Jesus displayed such sacred qualities as compassion, love and sacrifice. “Develop Spiritual Oneness” Sathya Sai Speaks, Volume 24, December 25, 1991, Prasanthi Nilayam  EARLY AGE The child was brought up by mother Mary and his father was working as a carpenter. It was the time of a festival in Jerusalem and the child Jesus was taken there along with His parents. They lost the child in the crowd and could not find Him anywhere. Mother Mary naturally was very much worried. Finally, they went to the temple to pray. To their astonishment, they found young Jesus coming out of the temple. All the while the child had been in the temple, listening to the holy discourse of the Rabbi of the temple. The anxious mother took hold of her child and started asking Him several questions as to what He was doing all the while. The child replied, “Mother, why were you afraid? All the while I was in the hands of God. I have been listening to the words of God expounded by the Rabbi in the temple.” Thus, the child was God-minded from a very young age. After some time, father Joseph passed away. Mary told her son, “Now that Your father passed away, You should continue Your father’s profession, so that we may earn our livelihood.” But the boy was not inclined to continue in

Satsang Episode 3: The Unfathomable Sai with Dr. N. Sivakumar Sathya Sai Baba cannot be confined to the finite conceptions of our consciousness. Mysterious and unfathomable, indeed, are His ways.  In this episode of Satsang: Experiences of Students and Teachers with Sathya Sai Baba, Dr. N Sivakumar, Associate Professor, Department of Commerce, Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, Brindavan Campus, and an alumnus of the Institute, shares one such incident that humbles us, and reminds us that our dearest Swami is not only the Omniscient Master, but also the very source of compassion, care and concern.

Sri Sathya Sai nurtured His School at Bukkapatnam to become the best in the District Swami graced the annual day function of the District Board High School at Bukkapatnam. Swami commanded Prof. Kasturi to unveil His portrait at the function. The Bukkapatnam High School was Swami’s first step in promoting and patronising Educational Institutions for the young.  He visited the school often and imparted constructive counsel to the Headmaster and the other teachers. As part of every Birthday celebration, Swami arranged a feast for the students of the Bukkapatnam High School at Prashanti Nilayam. He, in fact, nourished this school from the beginning and continued to be its Patron and President until it became one of the best High Schools in the District. A grateful administration renamed the School in memory of their Divine alumnus as: Sathya Sai Baba District Board High School.

God is Perfect: A Story Swami came to the Institute in the morning and gave his Divine Message to the Post Graduate students. In the evening…  Swami : How was the speech in the morning? Did I bore you?  Student    : No Swami. It would be wonderful if Swami comes again.  Swami : (Seriously) Whatever it is, international financial problems cannot be solved, it is impossible. Money brings problems, excess money means excess problems. See what is happening in other developed countries… Suicides ra.  Student    : Suicides Swami!  Swami    : Yes Suicides. Why? Mada (Pride). Wealth leads to pride, which leads to bad qualities and to bad thoughts and finally destruction.  Student    : Yes, Swami.  Swami was talking about the events to be put up by the school students for the Sports Meet.  Student    : Swami, what is the difference between Show and Pradarshana?  Swami   : No. Show means something artificial. But exhibition is Pradarshana, presenting one’s talents.  Student    : Swami says that money should be like a shoe – neither too big nor too small.  Swami    : If it is too big you cannot wear comfortably. If it is too tight, you cannot walk. It must be exact. If it is too much, I will remove it. If it is tight, you will throw it away yourself.  Student    : Yes Swami. God gives us all the resources, it is for us to use it in the proper manner.  Swami    : Yes I will tell you a story. In one kingdom, there lived a king and a queen with all the subjects. The king loved his subjects very dearly. So one day, he left for the forest to perform penance. God was pleased with his effort and appeared before him and asked him what he desired. The king prayed that all his subjects be blessed with wealth, prosperity and money. God gently said that it was not right thing to ask for. But the king humbly submitted that this indeed was his wish. God granted the wish.  He returned to his kingdom to find palaces everywhere and his people became rich. He went to his palace and wanted to take bath. But there were no servants, for all servants had become rich. Feeling hungry, he went to the market. But the market was filthy. Sweepers too had become rich. Day by day, the situation grew worse, until one day all the people and the king prayed to God and performed penance. God appeared and they said that they preferred the previous order. They also prayed that the king be granted a thousand years of life. God commanded and everything was back to normal. But the queen left for the forest. The people felt that the queen was feeling jealous of the king. They misunderstood her.  The queen performed penance and when God appeared, she prayed that a good king but not good people and vice versa is no good. A good king and a good populace were both necessary. So she prayed that God grant the people also a thousand years of life. God was so pleased that He granted even the queen thousand years of life.  Student    : Yes Swami, God knows what is good for us.  Swami   : Yes, God is perfect. He will give as required. If there is too much He will take away.   Student    : Very nice story, Swami.  Swami   : (To other students) Did you understand the story?  Students    : Yes Swami, nice story Swami.  Swami    : Don’t say nice story, look at the speciality and essence. (To that student) I will ask them the story later and then I will see how many were listening! 

Sri Sathya Sai on Jesus Christ – Part 2 Every human being is potentially a messenger of God. But, today, men have become messengers of the Lord of Death. They are traitors to their true human state. Humanness demands that everyone should manifest the Divinity within him. Everyone should be a real messenger of God and strive to promote-peace and security in the world. There is no other path to be followed. God’s message is sacred and totally free from self-interest. (Here Swami narrated the story of the three kings visiting new born Jesus in the manger) A lover of God is a messenger of God. The one whom God loves is a ‘Son of God’. When one experiences both of these, he becomes one with God- ‘Father and Son is one’. Therefore, at the outset you must prepare yourselves to be messengers of God. This means that you should live up to the message of God. The message calls for service to all. Compassion, morality and integrity are essential elements in the message. In propagating this message faith in God should be promoted. Love should be the watchword. The absence of love gives rise to hatred. “Realise God through Pure Love”, Sathya Sai Speaks, Volume 28, December 25, 1995, Prasanthi Nilayam  Jesus was Karana-Janma, a Master born with a purpose, the mission of restoring love, charity and compassion in the heart of man. He had no attachment to the self, nor paid any heed to joy or sorrow, loss or gain. He had a heart that responded to the call of anguish, and He went about the land preaching the lesson of love. His life was a libation for the upliftment of humanity. Like most seekers, He first searched for the Divine in the objective world. But He soon realised that the world is a kaleidoscopic picture created by one’s own imagination, and sought to find God within Himself. His stay in the Himalayan monasteries in Kashmir and in other centres of eastern asceticism and philosophical inquiry, gave Him greater awareness. From the attitude of being a Messenger of God, He could now call himself the Son of God. The bond of relationship increased, the ‘I’ was no more some distant light or entity; the light became a part of the “I.” With the body-consciousness predominant, He was a messenger. With the heart-consciousness in the ascendant, He felt a greater nearness and dearness, and so the son-father bond seems natural at this stage. Later as the Atman-consciousness was established, Jesus could declare, “I and My Father are One”. The three stages may be described as, ‘I was in the Light’, ‘the Light was in Me’, and ‘I am the light’, and may be compared to the Dvaita (dualism), Vishishtadvaita (qualified non-dualism) and Advaita (non-dualism) stages as described in Vedic philosophy. The final stage is the one when all duality has been shed. This is the essence of all religious disciplines and teachings. Jesus was honoured by the populace as Christ, for they found in His thoughts, words and deeds, no trace of ego. He had no envy or hatred, and was full of love and charity, humility and sympathy. Jesus’ original name was Isa which, when repeated, is Sai. Isa and Sai, both mean Ishwara (God), the Eternal Absolute, the Sat-Chit-Ananda (Being-Awareness-Bliss). In the Tibetan manuscript; at the monastery where Isa spent some years, His name is written as Isha, which means the Lord of all living beings. When Jesus proclaimed that He was the Messenger of God, He wanted to emphasise that everyone is a Messenger of God and has to speak, act and think like one. This is the true Karma-Kanda (branch dealing with action and its reaction) of the Vedas; Sadhana (discipline) of Karma (work), Japa (prayer), Seva (service) and Dhyana (meditation). When progress is furthered, Jesus asserted, each one can recognise all as Sons of God, Children of God, brothers and sisters of oneself, and so, deserving of worship. The Upasana Kanda (branch of Vedas dealing with contemplation) is the scripture in Sanatana Dharma (Eternal Universal Religion) for this stage. Finally, knowledge ripens into wisdom and the goal of Jnana Kanda (branch of Vedas dealing with spiritual wisdom) is reached, when each one realises, “I and my Father are One.”   “Isa”, Sathya Sai Speaks, Volume 14,  December 25, 1978, Prasanthi Nilayam  The moving water of a river has the Moon in its depths; the still water of a lake has also the Moon underneath; the sky has the Moon up above. The Moon in the flowing river is broken and fragmentary; it flows fast, apparently, with the floods. The Moon in the lake is calm, unmoved, undistracted. These two are but reflections of the real Moon in the sky. The Moon reflected in the flood is the Individual Soul, engaged in activity, embroiled in Maya, cause and effect. The Moon reflected in the placid face of the lake is the Yogi, the Saint, who has attained balance, equipoise, peace, dwelling in the One. The real Moon in the sky is the Eternal Witness, the Absolute, and the Primal Principle.  Christ spoke of these three, when He made, one after the other, three statements. Referring to the active individual soul, the flickering Moon, He said, “I am the Messenger of God”, referring to Himself as the Yogi, who has risen beyond dualities, and attained balance; He said, “I am the Son of God.” Realizing that these two are but reflections, and that the real Moon is the Witness in the sky, that He too is the Formless, Nameless Absolute; He declared, towards the end of His life, “I and My Father are one.”  “Why Organize?” Sathya Sai Speaks, Volume 13,  March 29, 1976, Hyderabad  The scriptures also say that the Atman, the Real Core of the individual, is Ananda Swarupa (the very embodiment of bliss). But man being blind to this truth, invites sorrow and anxiety to hold mastery over him and discards the joy that awaits him. Every man is a messenger to fellowmen, entrusted with the task of spreading knowledge of the joy that is being missed. If he misuses this mission and fritters away his years in gratifying his senses, he only loses the chance and reduces himself to the level of beasts. He who announced Himself as the Messenger of God, developed, through the blossoming of Divinity and the

Satsang Episode 4: Hanuman or Sai? With Dr. Deepak Anand Truth is one, Reality is one, God is one! But in our limited perception we create differences, and ‘think’ that Divinity is divided. In this episode of Satsang: Experiences of Students and Teachers with Sathya Sai Baba, Dr. Deepak Anand, Assistant Professor, Department of Management and Commerce, Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, Prasanthi Nilayam, shares how Swami showed him the unity in Divinity!

“The Inner Significance of the Birth of Jesus Christ…” Christmas 1976 was celebrated at Brindavan. For the Christian devotees who were far away from their motherland, Christmas 1976 was a day of unique delight, bridging the gap between Bethlehem and Brindavan. Swami spoke about Jesus and Mary. He stated, “Jesus came to propagate the Omnipresence of God, His Might and Glory. Mary was the symbolic representative of the heart of human beings. Christ is the Ananda that arises in the heart. That is the reason why the idea of Immaculate Conception is laid down and Mary is pictured with the baby Jesus in her arms.” The devotees were overwhelmed when Swami materialised a medal with Mary and Jesus on the obverse, and Joseph on the reverse. He passed it around for all the devotees to have a glimpse. Excerpts from the Divine Discourse given on that day: “This day is a holy day, the day on which Jesus was born He announced himself as the Messenger of God. In fact, all humans are born as Messengers of God. The sole purpose of this human career is to propagate the Omnipresence of God, His Might and Glory. No one has incarnated for merely consuming quantities of food and catering to one’s senses. Human life is much more precious than that. That is why the capacity to appreciate beauty, truth and goodness has been endowed only on man. To acquire awareness of the Divine, one need not journey to any special region or place. It is enough if the eye is turned inwards. In the Bhagavad Geeta, the inner reality, the Atman, is described as ‘resplendent like a billion suns.’ But man has not become aware of the Light and Power within; he still flounders in the darkness of ignorance. The scriptures proclaim that man is Amritasya Putrah (the child of Immortality). But man is unaware of this glorious heritage. He feels he is mortal, his end is imminent and his existence is temporary. The scriptures also say that the Atman, the Real Core of the individual, is Ananda Swarupa (the very embodiment of bliss). But man being blind to this truth, invites sorrow and anxiety to hold mastery over him and discards the joy that awaits him. Every man is a messenger to fellowmen, entrusted with the task of spreading knowledge of the joy that is being missed. If he misuses this mission and fritters away his years in gratifying his senses, he only loses the chance and reduces himself to the level of beasts. He who announced Himself as the Messenger of God, developed, through the blossoming of Divinity and the expansion of compassion and service in Him, to a stage when he declared Himself as the Son of God. And then, finally, He rose to the status of ‘I and my Father are One.’ When Jesus declares that He is the Son of God, He becomes entitled to the paternal Majesty and Power. These He can claim only when He grows in the qualities that His Father has. As a result he attains Sayujya (mergence), which leads Him to assert, ‘I and my Father are one.’ The scriptures say, Brahmavid Brahmaiva Bhavati He who knows Brahman, becomes Brahman. These three stages are referred to as Dwaita, Visishtadwaita and Adwaita in Vedic thought. Messenger and master, the two are basically separate, and so this stage is one of Dwaita (dualism). The son and father, though two separate entities, are bound by affection and kindred feelings and attitudes. They are like the whole and the part, the body and the limb. This stage is called Visishtadwaitha (qualified non-dualism). And when the Son and the Father are One, the stage is of Adwaita (non-dualism). Even a child would be eager to pass from one class to the next higher one; he would hate being in the same class, vegetating for years. Then what can we say of persons with intelligence and discrimination, satisfied with the attainment of the lower steps? Jesus passed through the entire process and inspired all mankind by His example and teachings, to be generous and kind, detached and discriminating, and to bring Light and Love to all. He attracted people by His miracles and transformed them into apostles and exemplary servants of man.”