“That’s My Job; I Will Do That.” How gritty are you in the face of problems upsetting the rhythm of your day-to-day life? … and what is your Faith Quotient, that could help in times of adversities? …a beautiful narration of a personal experience by Smt Karunamba Ramamurthy in the book Sri Sathya Sai Anandadai is a lesson for you and me, lesson on Faith and Surrender. “On September 29, 1961, Shankara and myself went to Puttaparthi. My mind was in turmoil. We had lost a case pertaining to some property in a prime location in Mysore city, in a lower court, which meant a huge financial loss to us. I rushed to my mother who had put up in the old mandir and apprised her of our predicament. Her reaction was predictably calm. With faith in Swami, which did not falter even for a moment, she said, “We may be at an apparent loss, but Swami does everything for our good.” We waited near the Interview Room to have darshan. Bhajan was in progress. Many were in the verandah for the interview. After quite some time, Swami came out. Seeing us, Swami told all the old devotees, ‘Go and attend the bhajan. I will have to see the new comers now. You can do only Padanamaskar now.” We did Padanamaskar and went to the bhajans. On the next day, we waited near the Interview Room before the commencement of bhajans. Swami called us. We went in. Both of us did Padanamaskar. He asked, “What happened?” I said, “Swami, we lost,” and gave Him the details. Swami asked us to appeal to the higher court. I said that it would cost more and we could not afford that much money. Swami placed His hand on my head and said, “Swami is there. He will look after everything.” Later, He recited a sloka and said, “Do you know what Lakshmana prayed Rama? He prayed, ‘Rama, just as You use Adisesha as Your bed in Your manifestation as Vishnu, please keep me in Your proximity forever. Did he lack anything – wealth, kingdom, parents and wife? Still he left all those things and asked for Rama’s proximity. Similarly, you must yearn for Him alone. You will somehow, be carried through all other tribulations.” I said, “Swami, always keep us in Your mind. Shall we try again, Swami? It either makes or mars our future security.” Swami advised us to appeal in the higher court. All of us did Padanamaskar and left. We appealed in the higher court and lost again. Out grief knew no bounds. Terribly shaken, we came to Puttaparthi again. The next day was Monday and we sat outside the Interview Room.  After calling a few persons, Swami called us. We had gone there only to do Padanamaskar, but had the good chance of talking to Him. Swami came towards me and said, “Money, money, worries about money. Do you know what you should worry about? You should worry that you have not yet realised God.” I said, “Swami, I too worry about it.” Swami said, “Then why worry about this so much? As long as the purse was with you, you had to worry about it. Now that you have given it to Me, it is My duty to look after you. Should you worry still?” I said, “We should not, Swami. We worry about repaying all the accumulated debts. We just do not see any way out.” Swami explained, “You are afraid because your faith in Me has reduced. If you had complete faith in Me, you would not have developed fear. Do you know what is Atmarpana? Whatever may happen, you should relentlessly follow Him. He will do something or the other for you. He will somehow make everything all right. He (pointing Himself) can do anything. What did Ramadasa and others do? Only this much, isn’t it? Whatever punishment they underwent, they were relentlessly thinking of Rama.” I said, “Even Ramadasa and others found fault with You when they had to go through unbearable adversities. What of lesser mortals like us, Swami? You are aware of the huge loss we sustained in the court case which was decided against us.” Swami, hearing this laughed loudly. I asked, Swami, if You are really present in our hearts, how do we get such problems and worries?” He said, “Why? Didn’t Ramadasa and others face similar problems?” I said, “Swami, they could have committed some mistakes when You were not present in their hearts. We are sure we have not done anything wrong to deserve this fate.” Swami said, “When you take this human form, committing some mistakes is inevitable. But you should not think of those. Think of Him always.” Swami said, “It is a pity that you have lost heart for such a trivial issue.” I said, “We are afraid of repaying the loans,” picking up the thread of the earlier conversations of the court case. Swami consoled, “Keep yourself calm. You will get the money to repay the loans. Is there a sky without clouds?… a rose without thorns?… a man without worries? I said, “Swami, the thorn is not in contact with the rose. It is present, but exists separately. Please grace us so that thorns in us do not hurt others.” Swami said, “That is My job; I will do that.” II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II

Timeless Message For True Truth Aspirants… The day man leaves everything unto Him, in absolute surrender, he is sure to witness a major miracle, wherein He will take over, carrying the devotee in His Arms, helping him to complete the drama of life, back unto the Source . A beautiful piece of ‘awakening-writing’ by Sri SD Khera with His priceless promises. Many times have I passed through the gate of death; many wombs have I danced through. Many times have I laid myself down in sleep; and many times have I risen up. At last, O Gracious Lord, you have touched my eyelids and my heart has blossomed into the region whence You have come. Let me arise and go forth with Thee. I am enamoured and overcome with Thy Love. Beholding Thy beauty, listening to Thy words, inhaling the Fragrance of Thy Presence, I yearn to begin my real life. When I prayed to Baba thus, He said, with a smile, “You are choked with the dust you have yourself raised! Yours is a self-imposed bondage. Steeped in the consciousness of your body, you are heavy with mortal adhesions. You have built your house on a bridge! Remember, you are a pilgrim on the march. Your first duty to yourself is to abandon! Abandon all your plans, even the best ones. Abandon all the theories you cherish; the doctrines you hold dear; the systems of knowledge which have cluttered your brain; the preferences you have accumulated; the pursuit of fame, fortune, scholarship, superiority; these are all material objective. Enter the objective world, after becoming aware of the Atma; then, you will realise that all is the play of Atma. You ran to and fro, over the world, away from your Self, seeking substance in shadows, and earned only war and conflict, tears and groans. Who cast those shadows? This question did not arise in your muddled mind. One phantasm followed another, one transitory gain or loss followed another, and the days rolled relentlessly by. Now, bewildered and disgusted, finding no rest and peace, you cry for help in utter anguish. Give up even thought, He told me. For, thought is alien to your reality. It is vain to tarry at the intellectual level, for, systems and philosophies however cleverly erected, plans and purposes, proofs and arguments can please and satisfy only for a time; they contradict and destroy each other, in the end. Seek, but do not get entangled. Be like the fly, which cleans its legs of the honey or slime in which it is caught; remove every particle, attractive or disgusting, which sullies the brightness of the soul and impairs its freedom.” He said, “Leave all to Me, absolutely. Carry on the duties of the place assigned to you. Do not forsake the past; give your best, out of Love, to Me and to all in whom I Am. He said, “Though you appear to all who look on, as engaged in worldly pursuits, in worldly plans and occupations, know that you are busy only with Me and My task. You are instruments, in My Hands. I Am operating all mortals as the machinist operates the machine. I dwell in every heart. All you have been and seen and done and thought, not you, but I, have seen and been and wrought! Pilgrim, pilgrimage and road, was but Myself! You arrived at Myself!” Baba called, “Come, all lost Atma‘s, to your centre, draw! O! Rays that have wandered into the wide darkness! Return! Subside back into the Sun.” I am a ray, a spark, a wave, He taught me. Baba said, “The entire universe is as unreal as a dream; sleep causes dreams; Maya is the sleep that has caused this appearance of Creation on the Reality of the One, the ParamAtma.” Baba assured me, “Be established in the ONE. You are Poorna, Full; you can have no wants. Act ever in the consciousness of innate Divinity. The Atmic Vision destroys all desires for objective joys.” O’ Gracious Mother!…In Thy vast Eternal Compassion…Heal us, Thy foolish children, Who heed Thee not; but, turn their backs on Thee… and scratch and scramble… in ash heaps and dust bins…for tricks and trivial tools…that can break the bonds…and confer salvation and freedom. II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II

Endeavouring To Take His Message To The Masses… The hagiography of Lord Sri Ramachandra is a timeless ‘intonation’ of one of the most sacred stories on the face of the planet earth, and for the entire creation. With its magical proposition of enchanting, enrapturing wisdom, the sacred Story-Divine from the Treta Yuga simply redeems even the worst of the afflicted, serving as the story-elixir. How about listening to the sacred intonation through the medium of Sai Bhajans in the immediate Divine OmniPresence Of Sai Rama HimSelf, reliving the same at the sacrosanct Sanctum Sanctorum in Prasanthi Nilayam?   Prasanthi Nilayam witnessed the same this Sunday evening, Ramayana Through Sai Bhajans, an offering by the Prasanthi Bhajan Group commemorating the 20th anniversary of Sri Sathya Sai Media Centre, formerly Radio Sai Global Harmony. The ‘Voice Of Pure Love’ had its inception two decades ago, went on air precisely on 23rd November 2001 at the direct instance and blessings of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. Beginning on the right note heralding the glory of the Sri Sathya Sai Bhajan saga, the programme next meandered through the nectarous hagiography of Lord Rama, enlivening the epic at the Sanctum Sanctorum through the blessed medium of music. Lucid, enrapturing commentary flowed in tandem with the enlivening bhajan chords, transforming the session to enact the sacred story. Commencing with the epochal Advent, the sacred stream flowed on leading unto the grand finale of Rama’s return to Ayodhya and coronation. “Rama Rama Rama Seetha…” the Prasanthi Mandir Bhajan in His timeless voice echoed the precincts next, bringing an apt culmination to the hour-long presentation. The story-line had its base on the Rama Katha Rasa Vahini penned by Bhagawan in person. Enhancing the beauty, the backdrop LED display served as add-on, illustrating the epochal epic through colourful sketches. The occasion also marked the 2nd anniversary of Sri Sathya Sai Bhajans Channel. The YouTube Silver Creator Award presented to the channel was subsequently placed at Bhagawan’s Lotus Feet. A couple of launches followed next, first Sri Sathya Sai Kids World, a YouTube Channel for the tiny tots followed by a dedicated new website (beta version), www.srisathyasaimediacentre.org. Into the 96th Year of Bhagawan’s epochal Advent, a dedicated 96th Birthday Logo was also released during the occasion. Managing Trustee of Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust, Sri RJ Ratnakar, Director, SSSMC, Sri Sundar Swaminathan, and Team SSSMC were present during the occasion. Sri Sathya Sai Media Centre serves as the ‘Voice Of Pure Love’ from Prasanthi Nilayam taking Bhagawan’s message of Love to every nook and corner of the world. The ‘Media Centre’ houses a state of the art audio studio, a comprehensively equipped video studio and a compact and elegant broadcast studio, helping the processing, fine-tuning, and airing of The Message Divine to every single aspiring hearts. Bhajans continued and the session concluded with Bhagawan singing ‘Prema Muditha Manase Kaho…’ followed by Mangala Arathi to Bhagawan. II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II

Reading without Practising is Useless Blessing the Book Trust of Prasanthi Nilayam on August 24, 2007, Bhagawan delivered an exhilarating Divine discourse, outlining the roles and responsibilities for the publishing house, publishing good books taking Eternal Truths to the masses, to the devoted ones. Excerpts from the discourse wherein Bhagawan speaking on the importance of practice. What the world needs today is service. You should love everybody. Love All, Serve All. This is what you are supposed to do. Whatever work you may do, do it with the feeling that you are doing the work of God. There is no place in this world where God is not present. He is all-pervasive. Never doubt that God is here and not there. He is everywhere. God is in you, with you, above you, below you and around you. Whatever happens is only due to the Will of God, and not merely by your own efforts. (Bhagawan showing His handkerchief) Here you see a cloth. It may appear to be a cloth, but in reality it is not so; it is a bundle of threads. Further, the threads are made out of cotton. So, first cotton, next thread and then cloth. Similarly, you are not one person but three: the one you think you are, the one others think you are and the one you really are. With regard to a book also, there are three persons involved in it: the one who writes it, the one who prints it and the one who reads it. Merely bringing out of books is not important. It is more important that you should bring out good books which broaden the vision of the people in the wide world. We should not be narrow-minded; we should develop broad feelings. We should publish books which are essential for everybody. Money is not important; morality is important. Money comes and goes, morality comes and grows. We should develop morality. Many books are written, many people read them, but it is all useless if nothing is put into practice. We should put into practice at least one principle given in the books we read. There may be many items of food in the plate, but our hunger is not satiated by merely repeating the names of those items. Take at least one item and eat it. A large number of books have been written on Swami. But, are you putting into practice even one principle contained in them? No. What is the use of reading books if you do not put anything into practice? If you read ten teachings in a book, put at least one of them into practice. Only then will you derive the necessary strength and capability from your reading. II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II

SANKARA And NARAYANA Are One And The Same Some years ago, a devotee from Qatar, upon his return journey from Prasanthi Nilayam, had a transit halt for some hours in Dharmakshetra, Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai’s Abode in Mumbai. Sharing his Christmas experience at ‘Prasanthi’, the devotee said then, “We had a fabulous Christmas in Bhagawan’s Presence, and the Day started with 21 Omkars.” Yes, Prasanthi Nilayam denotes The Abode Of Supreme Peace, and in this Abode Of Supreme Peace, all that one can expect is an everlasting echo of the message of Unity In Diversity, Oneness. How the Supreme Master walked the earth propagated His message of Oneness in His most inimitable style? Read on an experience of (Late) Sri S Ramakrishnan, Founder Editor of Bhavan’s Journal, the official bimonthly of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan (Mumbai). The article originally appeared in the Nov 1975 issue of Bhavan’s Journal, devoted to life, literature, and culture. Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan was established by Kulapati KM Munshi in the year 1938. In 1971, a dear and respected elder, a distinguished educationist and philosopher, a former Director of the Bhavan’s Delhi Kendra, and myself went on a pilgrimage to Puttaparthi. We left Bangalore by car about 3 a.m. so as to reach Puttaparthi by 6 a.m. During the three hour, 100-mile drive, we discussed, among other things, about the advisability or otherwise of accepting a donation offered by a philanthropist for conducting research in Bhavan on Vishishtaadvaita. The Bhavan has always firmly stood against fanning differences – denominational, religious, regional or linguistic. It is pledged to foster harmony, unity. In view of the unbridled fanatic zeal of some of the overzealous followers of the great messiahs, there was a natural anxiety on our part as to whether the acceptance of the donation was likely to unconsciously carry with it the seed of some futile controversy on some abstract aspects of something or other. However, long before we reached Prasanthi Nilayam at Puttaparthi, we unanimously came to the conclusion to recommend acceptance of the offer to the Bhavan’s Executive Committee. Thereafter, we discussed many other matters and by the time we reached Puttaparthi, we had forgotten all about the donation offer. We reached Puttaparthi at about 6 a.m. As usual, there were large crowds of devotees, from far and near. When our request to have an audience was submitted to Baba, he told the messenger that “they left Bangalore at 3 a.m. They have not even taken water this morning. First give them breakfast and then let them see me.” When we were duly ushered into Baba’s holy presence, we prostrated before him. He affectionately patted us and bade us to sit. After solicitous enquiries about the Bhavan, with a broad grin, he said, “Some people think that Advaitins and Visishtaadvaitins – followers of Adi Shankara and followers of Ramanuja – cannot work together, isn’t it? This is absolutely wrong.” We were dazed. How could he have known what we had discussed a few hours ago in the privacy of a speeding car? Baba added: “The Saivites hail their Ishta Devata, Siva, as Pasupati, while the Visishtaadvaitins hail their Ishta Devata as Gopala. Is there any difference in substance?” Then with his characteristic smile, Baba asked, “What is the name of your friend?” “Professor Sankaranarayanan,” I replied. “Does not his very name proclaim that Sankara and Narayana are one? How can there be any difference between Advaita and Vishishtaadvaita, Saivites and Vaishnavites?” (Advaita – Non-dualism / Vishishtaadvaita– Qualified Non-dualism / Ishta Devata – chosen form of Deity/God/Goddess for worship) II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II

Welcoming The New…Blissful 2021 Welcoming The New, Year 2021, spreading cheers of happiness and joy in the everlasting Divine Presence of Beloved Bhagawan, Prasanthi Nilayam this evening witnessed a unique musical offering on the glorious occasion. Singing paeans of devotional beauty, the offering this evening by the Prasanthi Mandir Bhajan Group was composed of some special numbers, “Entha Hai Entha Hai Eenaadu…”, “Why Fear When I Am Here…”, “O’ Sai Maa… O’ Sai Maa…”, and “Sai Matha Biddalam Andaram…”. Adding to the beauty, all the featured bhajans in the evening had a preceding ‘aalaap‘, bringing back the nostalgic beauty of the everlasting Personal Presence of Beloved Bhagawan.   The Sanctum Sanctorum and the Mandir precincts bore beautiful, colourful decorations, thematic of the occasion. Every year during the New Year occasion, various alumni groups of Sri Sathya Sai educational institutions would perform in the Divine Presence as an expression of Love and Gratitude to Bhagawan. This year, with the pandemic restrictions still prevailing, virtual offerings are being offered by the groups through the Sri Sathya Sai Media Centre, Prasanthi Nilayam.  A small audio clip of Bhagawan’s New Year message full of unceasing blessings reverberated at the end that was followed by Bhagawan’s mellifluous voice singing the evergreen bhajan of devotional ecstasy “Prema Muditha Manase Kaho Rama Rama Ram…” Mangala Arathi at 1800 hrs marked the end of the evening session.  II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II

Sarvam Brahma Mayam Long ago, when Adi Sankaracharya walked the Earth, he first declared, “Brahma Sathyam Jagat Mithya”, meaning, Brahman is the ever-unchanging, everlasting, eternal principle, and the world is an illusion that keeps changing. Here, ‘mithya’ doesn’t mean untruth; it means that which is unreal. Wherefrom this unreality comes into existence? The Upanishadic metaphor of ‘a rope and a snake’ clearly reveals that the ‘illusion of the snake’ comes into being because of the ‘reality of the rope’, that is symbolic of Brahman. In the timeless symphony of The Supreme Divine, Bhagavad Gita, The Lord expounds the dictum revealing The Eternal Truth as “Ekatma Sarva Bhutantaratma”, meaning One Atma dwells in every being.  Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai time and again during His sojourn on Earth reminded the world around of this Eternal Principle of Oneness. One such occasion was on 30th July 1996, when He burst forth into singing a poetic prelude for a Divine discourse, exhorting and emphasising on the Oneness of Brahman. Man today is caught in the trap of illusory existence, and he keeps counting on the ‘unreal’. Ringing in a new and promising 2021, let’s now focus on this Song Celestial of modern times, diving and drowning into ParaBrahma Sri Sathya Sai. Stars are Brahman, The Sun is Brahman, The Moon is Brahman, Water is Brahman, Heaven is Brahman, Vaikunta is Brahman, Mother is Brahman, Father is Brahman, All Wealth is Brahman, Love is Brahman, Living Beings are Brahman, Individual Souls are Brahman, Creator is Brahman, Protector is Brahman, Destroyer is Brahman, Housewife is Brahman, Karma is Brahman, Kayam (physical body) is Brahman, Prakriti (Nature) is Brahman, Prana (life principle) is Brahman, Everything is Brahman, This Assembly is Brahman, Sai, Who Is declaring this Truth, Is also Brahman. (Telugu Poem) A tree born out of soil is same as soil in its nature. Similarly, the creation born out of Brahman is not different from Brahman, but it appears to be different to the myopic eye. This is the mystery of this world. (Telugu Poem) II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II

Holy Christmas In Prasanthi Nilayam Celebrating the unstinting spirit of Holy Christmas that marks the Advent of the proclaimed Son Of God, Jesus, Prasanthi Nilayam this morning embraced the solemn beauty of serenading the Holy ‘Father-Son Duo’, singing paeans for the Holy Night and The Day that dawned with auspiciousness.  At 0830 hrs, post-half-an-hour Vedic chanting, the Prasanthi Mandir Bhajan group commenced the proceeding, singing the first number… ‘We Wish You A Merry Christmas…’ wishing the fraternity of God-lovers all over on the special occasion. The following numbers were ‘As we gather in this space today…’, ‘O Holy Night!…’, ‘Shine on Jesus…’, ‘Gloria…Gloria to God on High…’, ‘Lord, I offer my life to You…’, ‘O my soul, do you not know, have you not heard…’, ‘More Love, More Service…’, to conclude with a ‘Thank You Lord…’ hymn offering eternal gratitude for the Ultimate Divine! The Mandir precinct was tastefully decorated with the holy festive theme, reflecting the glory of the spirit of the grand occasion. Bhajans followed next, and the session ended with Bhagawan’s famous English Bhajan “Love Is My Form…Truth Is My Breath…” followed by Mangala Arathi to Bhagawan. II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II