My ‘trip’ to Puttaparthi… Bhagawan at Shirdi would often repeat that, let His man be at any distance, a thousand koss (an Indian unit, measuring distance) away from Him, he will be drawn to Him like a sparrow, with a thread tied to its feet. When He wills, His Will turns into accomplishment… He chooses the right time for the right action. This is all the more true for a fledgling pilgrim who is about to reach Him. How William Hwehu Ansah, Accra, Ghana was drawn to Prasanthi Nilayam and how Bhagawan cleared him out of one last bit of skepticism…?!? …An interesting experience from December 1979 issue of Sanathana Sarathi. Towards November 1977, our centre invited names of devotees who would like to make a trip to Puttaparthi. It never occurred to me to immediately give my name since I considered it would be presumptuous for a penniless public servant to think of making such an expensive trip. Soon after this, I started seeing Swami in my dreams. The first night I woke up with a rather vague feeling that I should think of going to Puttaparthi. I discarded the thought immediately. The next dream was more detailed and lengthier. I was in a little village living in rooms with a lot of people some of whom were from my centre and with whom I ate together. Next I saw myself in front of a tall building which had protruding platforms on the first floor. Bhagawan was on the ground floor and I was doing Namaskara. At this time I didn’t know that to dream of Bhagawan was a privilege and not an ordinary occurrence and I again dismissed the dream as my silly imaginings. My third dream was a most peculiar experience. I saw only the face of Bhagawan for an instance or two; whereupon I was forced awake in the middle of the night in a sweat with a clear command that I should go to Puttaparthi! After giving so much trouble to Swami in my inexperience and innocence, I finally gave my name to the planning committee without an inkling of where the money for the trip was coming from. I need not have worried! Within the next few days I made three times my annual salary simply because a friend of mine, for no compelling reason, decided to sell a huge consignment of imported goods through me and give me a percentage of the profits. So the stage was set and need I say that all other arrangements and requirements went through without a hitch? Need I also say that those from the centre I travelled with were some of the faces I saw in my dream? So, we got to the village late on the 21st of November. The last thing on my mind was my dreams but a friend decided to take me round and as we made the turn to the back of the bhajan hall, I stopped dead in my tracks. My friend asked what the matter was and I muttered something incomprehensible to him but what had stopped me was the fact that my dream was staring me right in the face in all its details—the two protruding platforms and rather surprisingly, the architecture and colours of the structure which I remembered very well. My surprise was not too great then when my private interviews were granted in a room on the ground floor and I did my Namaskara exactly where I had dreamt it! (I went to one of the interviews with my fingers shorn of all rings having made the wish that Bhagawan would give me a ring. As the interview progressed, my wish crossed my mind and at that instant Bhagawan interrupted His discourse, turned to me and said “Tomorrow I will give you a talisman!”) But all these surprises were nothing compared to what I experienced when I was bidding farewell to Bhagawan. “When are you coming again?” He asked. I was not expecting the question as the thought of being lucky to come again was far from my mind. I was therefore flustered and in my delighted confusion I blustered out that I didn’t know and that this time I came because I had had a dream and… Bhagawan interrupted in a tone which seemed as if He was irritated. I was recounting something He already knew about. “I know, I know,” He said shortly and patted my back. I cracked up emotionally and stumbled out. I had to sit on the short wall to recollect myself. Poor human beings that we are, after all that I had seen and heard, I guess my mind had still entertained a little doubt about the omniscience of Bhagawan or whether indeed He sent those dreams to me. The last evidence shattered me out of that skepticism once and for all! II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II

Yes, I Am The Cosmic Christ Peggy Mason is a well known name in Sai circles…she was an actress in her young days, and a well-known writer later. During the second half of her life, she had been writing on spiritual and metaphysical themes, for renowned journals like Two Worlds. She and her husband Ron are spirit-minded and past seventy, they both came to India, to see Bhagawan in 1978. At the first private interview the Masons had, Baba materialized a rosary of 108 crystal beads and put it around Peggy’s neck. He also produced a Baba ring and put it to Ron’s finger. He let the aged couple to embrace Him, and spent almost a full hour with them, speaking kindly and enlightening them on many spiritual points. Man and wife were overwhelmed with His vast love. The realization that Baba was God they had been seeking for years gave them the ecstasy of spiritual joy. They were satisfied that their journey to India, so difficult at their age, had been more than fully rewarded. After that, they had many more private interviews with Baba, each one as thrilling as any other. How did the Masons come to merit such Grace? Some years ago, Peggy got ill. She felt great pain in her left leg, and was unable to walk more than a few yards at a time. Her doctor advised a major operation. He did not guarantee a cure by the operation; on the contrary, he told her frankly that, if it failed, her legs would have to be amputated. Peggy had a photograph of Baba, which she had cut out from an issue of Psychic News. It was always on the table by her bed. One night after the doctor’s advice, she sat contemplating on the photo. The photo suddenly jumped up an inch or so, to one side and back again. When it did so, a glimmer of light fell over the table with a strange iridescence. Peggy had the above experience on many following nights. Meantime, the pain in Peggy’s leg was getting worse. One night, when it became unbearable, she cried out: “Oh, Baba, I wish you could do something about my leg!” The next day, Peggy got a copy of the book, Sai Baba and the Psychiatrist. She was looking at the picture of Baba in it, when her telephone rang. A man’s voice came through: “I’m ringing on behalf of Swami Ganesha Ananda. She is very much interested in your writings, and would like to meet you.” Peggy told the caller that the Swami was welcome to her place any time. Three weeks later, Swami Ganesha Ananda came. She said she lived some fifteen miles away. She appeared to be a well-travelled person, and said that she had been to India and seen Sathya Sai Baba. And, quite simply, she gave Peggy a packet of Vibhuthi which she said would cure Peggy’s ailment. Peggy rubbed the Vibhuthi to the paining leg regularly every day, and prayed before Baba’s picture. In a few days, she was cured of the pain in her, leg, so well that she could dance all night at a ball. This established the Masons in their faith for Baba. They made a continuous study of Baba, reading all the available books on Him and questioning people who had seen Him. Before long, the desire which had been growing in their hearts to see Baba with their own eyes became uncontrollable and they had to come to Prasanthi Nilayam. The Masons knew that Jesus Christ had said: “I and my father are One. He will come.” At the last interview they had with Baba before leaving for their home, Ron asked Baba: “Are you the Cosmic Christ of Whom Jesus spoke?” Baba’s answer was instantaneous, and simple, “Yes.” The way He said it, the way He looked straight into Ron’s eyes while saying it, was enough to convince Ron, and Peggy too. They now say: “We are all very fortunate to have Him, the Cosmic Christ, with us, moving about like an ordinary man, giving us the chance to hear Him speak, sing and laugh. We are indeed blessed!” II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II

The Soul Is Aware Only Of This… HE Is verily The Breath Of Prasnthi… The Breath of entire humanity… The Breath of all beings… The Breath of entire creation… as HE Is verily The Source Of Eternity… Sri Sathya Sai Who chose to withdraw His physical frame hitherto on this day, 24th April, four years ago, is living with us… in us as our Soul Entity, guiding and guarding us… in seeking this Sri Sathya Sai one is sure seeking his or her own redemption, for Sathya Sai is verily THAT!!! Sri Jullie Chaudhuri reflects on the Beauty Beyond Compare, seeking many encores of the everlasting enchanting Divine beauty… 24th April 2011…What does this day mean to you…what does it mean to me…?What import does it have cosmically…?Different sentiments felt by different folks…yet, underlying it all is the fact that a colossal void is left behind…quite obvious, totally inescapable and utterly unavoidable is the oft gnashing pain to see the Beloved One again… That agony of separation that was experienced by Dasharath for Lord Rama…and that painful parting which was the cause of Ma Kaushalya’s supreme grief…so too, during the age of Dwapar…similar was the angst borne by Mother Yashoda and Nand Maharaj… What about the sorrow and distress that plagued the being of Brindavan…the forests, the trees, tulsi/basil shrubs, the birds, the cows, calves and other animals…along with the woe of the mountain Govardhan and the humble anguish of the river Yamuna…?…and what about the stinging soreness in the hearts of the gopikas…and their copious tears?Can any mortal measure the excruciating extent of their ordeal…? Can anyone count the stars in the sky…or the leaves upon the branches of the evergreen trees…or the drops of water that makeup the mighty oceans or the grains of sand upon the bosom of Mother Earth…? Can one weigh the amount of snow that make up the majestic Himalayas…? Thus, what each devoted heart feels at the physical separation from the Supreme Being can never be gauged, determined or estimated…? We all are a part of the Source…of Beloved Bhagawan, however, does life have any lustre, any flavour…when we are away and…apart from Him…? Inexplicable was the torment in each brijvasi’s soul…ever so colossal…then, where does this partition place us all…? Treta, Dwapar and Kaliyug…Rama, Krishna and Sathya Sai…Who can gauge the woe of a devoted heart…of an aspirant, of a devotee…of any person who was aware of Beloved Bhagawan as the solitary Mother and Father …the sole Parent – a gleeful child…up until 24th April 2011. His Omnipresence notwithstanding, even in midst of a crowd, surrounded by friends and family…the ‘gleeful child’ now faces life often alone as an orphan alone.The lines from the qawwali often sung in the Divine Presence – Sai bin raha na jaaye…jabsey hai dekha Tujhko Sai merey…darsh ke pyase nayana saanjh saverey… chaen na aaye mohe chaen na aaye…Sai bin raha na jae…keep resounding… Oh! Beloved Sai…we can’t live without You… ever since these eyes first rested upon You…they have solely sought glimpses of You through each moment of dusk and day… immensely restless are we…for Thee…do not  turn away from us…Sai, we can’t live without You… Having experienced the Lord’s wondrous Presence,…that mystique,…that graceful gait,…that charm,…that compassion and sweet motherly interaction,…that stern fatherly concern,…that exclusive attention,…that twinkling creative gaze and flow of inspiration,…that personal loving touch,…that pat on the back,…that distinctly made up for any and every kind of lack……that Vision of Glory……that glorious vision…of the petal soft Lotus Feet……of the coveted abhaya hasta…the hand raised in bountiful  blessing……that unforgettable voice…the songs He did sing……the unparalleled joy it brings……that melody that pierces the depths…the core……who doesn’t want more…much, much, much, more…?Unabashedly i do say – i do…i do…i do…want more…! Omnipotence, Omniscience, Omnipresence is eternal…it always is and always will be…the intangible does give delight…we all experience it in perhaps every bit that does vibrate around us and that does swirl and surround us…yet, the joy of His Presence is matchless…Beauty Beyond Compare…such is the bliss of the Beloved One’s Darshans.So have we recovered…? Has Prashanti recovered…can one ever ‘recover’…from an ‘episode’ of such a massive magnitude as this…? So, what does Prashanti’s stoic calm belie…do we ever get to hear her wishful sigh…for the soft footfall of Beloved Sathya Sai…?…and what of Puttaparthi…? Mother Devaki and Mother Yashoda…both adored their Krishna. Puttaparthi and Prassanthi…what do these ‘mothers’ feel for their precious ‘Sai…their little Sathya…their Sai Rama…their very own Sathya Sai Krishna…? So many thoughts…feelings flow on……gushing forth like a never-ending stream…Memories swirl and beam…choosing to remain evergreen……and the heart does constantly, continuously reminisce…Right now, the soul is aware of only this……His unfathomable mystery, mystique and mission is known to none…His charismatic Persona endears Him to all…His transcendental ways do baffle, amaze and stun…He is the Creator and…His script for the benefit of creation is supremely precise……intricately…ever so finely spun…Right now, the soul is aware of only this…His Will is that indomitable, absolute Power……that brought about creation……and…His Word is the word of Sathya…of Truth……the Sathya of Sathya Sai always holds true… …for His Word, you see, is the Word of God Almighty…His Will, His Power, His Word……propels us on…shepherds us into……stimulating, fructifying, inducing a Glorious Genesis…Right now, the soul is aware of only this……though the cosmic realms of the intangible renders bliss……without His Darshans……there is an invariable ‘something is amiss’…Right now, the soul is aware of only this……the era of Sathya Sai has much more in store……a refrain reverberates in the depths of the core…He is…and we are His…He is eternal and infinite…and eternally, infinitely we are His… II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II

“That is 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 ever 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 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

For Bhagawan And The Brahmand… On 20th July 2009, Bhagawan, conferring harmony to every atom in the Cosmos as a whole, made us chant Samastha Jeeva Sukhino Bhavantu (may all the beings in all the worlds be at peace) for a few days, consequently reverting the intonation back to Samastha Lokaah Sukhino Bhavantu. Earlier on 31st August 2008, with absorbing intent Bhagawan had rephrased ‘Lokaah Samastha…’ thereby establishing Samastha Lokaah Sukhino Bhavantu…a chant most selfless and true, for Cosmic benefit. On this day Bhagawan, while bequeathing this chant upon humanity, mentioned that Lokaah Samastha refers to only one world…whereas Samastha Lokaah refers to all the worlds…‘It is a great, wonderful feeling’ – is how Bhagawan expressed the sentiments of joyous expansion and vastness brought about by this sacrosanct phrase. Students who were fortunate to witness this awe inspiring moment have since often recalled how Swami had enchantingly gestured with His arms, indicating an action of expansion…thus embracing all the ‘lokaas’! Through many an encore of this particular chant signifying peace for ‘Anni Lokaalu’, since all the lokaas are His very own, Bhagawan revealed His great concern and feeling for Universal Welfare.  Many are the ways to adore our sweet Lord and the fragrance of each minuscule element of devotion is sure to make Him smile. Along with the devotional hymns, the vedic chants, the verses and dramas, the garlands and flowers…the fasts and pledges…mustn’t we spare some time for that ‘one desire’ of God – Samastha Lokaah Sukhino Bhavantu…? What can please our Beloved Creator more than incantations for the well being of His dear creation…? Perhaps the intent to unite and form a global link…that intensely and selflessly resounds ‘Samastha Lokah…’ through the ether with magnified intent…effecting individual, global as well as universal harmony. It could be an Akhanda Samastha Lokah…for 24 hours on a rotation basis…or a specifically held group chanting for a specified amount of time or it could be 9/21/108 chants…micro or macro efforts…individual or collective…it is the intent that enhances the purpose and establishes a link, a bond, lending and blending a harmony. Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu, like all of Beloved Bhagawan’s messages has a universal objective and does not belong to any caste, creed, religion or sect…it can be chanted by anyone…anywhere…at any time sans any man-made restrictions. And it certainly is the need of the hour. The sheer noble intent of this gloriously powerful chant would have a tremendous impact upon the environment and usher in peace, contentment as well as a brotherhood in a world torn apart by selfishness, strife, chaos and terrorism. We all are sparks of That Divine Flame…Waves dancing upon the bosom of That Supreme Ocean…Together we form the fragrant petals of That celestial Lotus…Radiant rays of That Effulgent Light…Finite expressions of the One Who is Infinite…Significant segments of the One Who is Invincible…Each a unique star upon the vast expanse of the Celestial Firmament…Buds yet to bloom in the Eternal Garden…Limitless indeed like the sky…for we…are the children of Beloved Mother Sai… Come, Brothers and Sisters, together let us spread the message of Sai…the choice is ours…to remain a mere statistic or to touch upon the music of the mystic…a life sublime…going on to leave our footprints upon the sands of time… We are channels of abundance,We are channels of peace,We are channels of light,This is what we must realize,Love, Radiance and Harmony,Henceforth we must channelize…With the Universe our vows we must posthaste renew,Let the Cosmos ring out with Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu… Bhagawan is the heart of the Cosmos…the Brahmand…and we live in His heart…together we form His heartbeats…it is only natural for the beats to be in sync with each other…Let us do it this for Bhagawan…for the Brahmand…for our Bhagawan and our Bhagawan’s Brahmand…for we are forever an intrinsic part of the Brahmand…and the Brahmand from Bhagawan is never apart.Let us spread the message of our Lord,Let us live the message of our Lord,Let us live only to please our Lord…Every moment let us surrender selflessly at the Lotus Feet of our Beloved God…Let us glow and gush forth as instruments of compassion of the Creator for His creation…Most certainly this is what Bhagawan intended for me and you –II Samastha Lokaah Sukhino Bhavantu II Let us embrace life, the elements five, every atom of creation the Cosmos through…may God bless every being…sentient or insentient…embodied or disembodied… with all that is magnificent, wonderful and true…oh! what bliss…for this harmoniously includes me and you… II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu IIII Samastha Jeevah Sukhino Bhavantu IIII Samastha Anu Bhavantu II Samastha Brahmand Sukhino Bhavantu II

Poisoned Arrows Or Scented Blossoms…Sorrow or Celebration? All that, to which, our conscience whispers a firm “No” are most undesirable and to all which our conscience hums  a firm ‘Yes’ are the most desirable actions for man to follow. When man listens to his conscience, that is the Inner God, he moves in the right direction and thus pleases Him Who is The Indweller…and when he moves opposite, he is inflicting pain in Him, Whose directives he chooses to ignore. Every negaive thing, be it our lackadaisical attitude, actions that reeked of kama, krodha, lobha, moha, mada and matsarya are arrows, darts, shafts, missiles that hit the Divinity Within us writes Sri Jullie Chaudhuri  quoting references from Prasnottara Vahini reminding the children of Sathya Sai to awake, exult and herald in the Golden Age following Him studiously…Read on… She lit the evening lamp,Watching the rays of the Sun bid adieu and disappear,Dusk pirouetted to the fore from the rear,Deep was her contemplation on the events of the past year,A colossal ‘why’ and many, many , many ‘why nots’,In the mind did churn and appear…With open eyes she saw that Effulgent Form,The mist lifted even as the heart did mourn,With delight she looked upon Him,Moist eyes in which teardrops did brim,Upon a closer look she couldn’t stifle a loud gasp,She ran over and the Beloved One’s hand she did clasp,Agony stabbed her aching heart,Her voice was a hoarse and painful rasp –‘My Lord, Beloved Mother, Oh! Baba, Baba…’Was all she could muster,Mind reeling, senses not at par,As grief did her nerves scar,And the flow of words completely debar…Up close,She saw that His frame was entirely covered with arrows…Slowly the meaning did unfold. Every thought, word and deed which was not in sync, that was negative, harmful in intent, thoughtless, uncaring, acutely insensitive, horrifyingly arrogant, cruel and abusive to any living being or the minutest part of creation, was indeed an arrow; each thought and word wrongly intended brought on a torrent of chain reaction in rapid succession. Every lackadaisical attitude, each action that reeked of kama, krodha, lobha, moha, mada and matsarya was an arrow, a dart, a shaft, a missile, embedded in the lotus like frame of Beloved Bhagawan. Each arrow had a name on it. Countless arrows  pierced His gentle frame through the flaming orange robe. Arrows that came from all over the globe. Each and everyone was responsible for having pierced with toxic arrows and shafts, the Benevolent, Magnificent and Supreme Frame of God. Let us read excerpts from ‘Prasnottara Vahini’ by Beloved Bhagawan to get a clearer picture about these venomous and destructive weapons which lie either subtly, overtly or downright blatantly in every human persona. Q – Swami! What are the traits of character that we have to avoid, that is to say, which are the obstacles in the path of one who seeks liberation from the cycle of Birth and Death? Ans – The six, the Ari-shadvarga: Kama, Krodha, Lobha, Moha, Mada and Matsarya; these are to be avoided. Q – What exactly is Kama? Ans – Desire for riches, property, honour, status, fame, children; why list the lot? Attachment to all things of this sensory world – this false, temporary, impure world. Q – Krodha? Ans – Yearning to harm others and cause ruin to them. Q – And Lobha? Ans – Determination that no one else should partake of even a small fraction of what one has earned or what one has; also, that even in times of distress, one’s possessions should not be diminished by use. Q – What is the meaning of Moha? Ans – The delusion that some people are nearer to one than others and the desire to please them more than others, leading to exertions for earning and accumulating for their sake. Q – Mada? Ans – Mada means the swagger that develops when one feels that he has either scholarship or strength or riches or fame, more than others. Even when one has not got these, Mada makes men move about without reverence for elders and consideration for others’ feelings and craving only for one’s own comfort and security. Mada is extreme egoism. Q – The last that You mentioned is Matsarya. What does that mean, Swami? Ans – When others are as happy as yourself, Matsarya makes one miserable; one cannot tolerate it. Such lucid explanations about the excess baggage that we carry, weapons of self as well as social destruction in the psyche of each individual. Yet, we point fingers at disgruntled neighbours, street fights, terrorists and warring nations. Each arrow that falls off due to virtuous, ethical behavior continuously gets replaced when the worst in us gets the better of us.But these attempts at self transformation needs a Cosmic Boost, intense endeavour and an absolute one-pointed focus. The arrows on that Cherished Form have to be removed. They have to fall off, disintegrate, vanish, crumble. Since those arrows belong to us all, the remedy too lies with us. We need to replace those arrows cautiously, skillfully, carefully, being ever dexterous and vigilant so that they do not surface ever. These poisonous arrows need to be wiped out, their repeated recurrence barred.  And for this we need ‘zoomed in’ determination, a soul centered obsession with the Ultimate Goal, a burning passion for purification, a supreme will and complete absorption in the gigantic task at hand – unfurling and manifesting our inherent, latent divinity. If these words have touched your hearts, dear brothers and sisters, if they have created ripples of impression upon a mind ever ready to please the Beloved One, if they have evoked feelings of harmony and linked our thoughts…then we must not remain sanguine, nor must we procrastinate. Nothing else matters, no other call is more urgent, no trivial distraction need attract our attention. ‘That’ ever overflowing Ocean of Love, Compassion, Mercy and Truth deserves only petals of fragrant blossoms, perfumed and coloured with the myriad hues of goodness, purity, unity, divinity and the oneness of adoration. Beginning this very moment, the thought uppermost in our mind posthaste must be – ‘I

Tamaso Maa Jyotir Gamayaa… Browsing through His ‘most mystifying’ Story from April 2011, we see a united Puttaparthi that stood united for a Cosmic Cause, her very own SOUL… HeartBeat, Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai, Whom she ‘fondled’ with great care, right from the day-1 of His Story. With Bhagawan’s most mysterious Divine Leela on in the summer month of April, Puttaparthi  turned abuzz, with collective hearts beating for Him…for Him…for Him Alone… Recapping Parthi’s mood during the trial days, here is a report from the 13th and 14th days of April 2011, extracted from the book ‘Eternal Sanctity’ by the Pune Youth Wing. 13th April Millions flock to Him…they love Him for what He is, all that He is, for all that He has done and keeps doing for the individual, the society, the nation, the world and the universe too. For them that is proof enough of His divinity. They have experienced His magnanimity, His presence, His little and great acts of supreme grace, the miracle of His unconditional love and so are now expressing it in a befitting manner. For them, He deserves the best and they are bent upon offering their best. Unshakeable is their faith, heartfelt their gratitude, unmatched is their fervor, dedication, devotion and tenacity of purpose – to have their Lord amidst them at the earliest. This is how it is in Puttaparthi right now. This little township is alive with plentiful pageants that carry lifesize photographs of the Lord of Parthi, while singing devotional songs through the lanes and by lanes, the crisscrossing of various such groups charging the environment with piety. More than 200 women had a ‘coloured light’ procession of their own. A parade that glowed with the hues of adoration. Carrying plates of worship, that contained candles, flowers, coconut, turmeric, vermillion, betel nuts and betel leaves – phalam, pushpam, patram toyam – upon their heads and singing aloud hymns in worship of their Lord, these ladies carried out a special act of devotion past every temple of this holy village. Large groups of children too have taken to the streets, themselves pulling the huge chariot carrying garlanded pictures of Bhagawan – a Rath Yatra, even as they sing aloud in their tender voices, bhajans pure in their intent. Candle lights – that rekindled hope and faith. TamasoMaa Jyotir Gamayaa – leading away from the darkness arising out of the absence of their dear Lord to the radiance of His coveted darshan. It seemed the onus is on humanity to woo Beloved Bhagawan. Clearly devotion has swept into the sands of Parthi and the hearts of its inhabitants … “Parthipurishwar Jaya Mana Mohana”. 14th April Thursday was reserved for the men folk of Parthi to express their devotion. Hundreds gathered outside Ganesh gate with candles in their hands, a prayer in their hearts and hymns in praise of their Lord on their lips. Chants of ‘Om Sri Sai Ram’ rang out aloud and echoed in the ether. Accompanying this devoted gathering was a floral float drawn by a tractor. Colorful bouquets and flowers bedecked the gigantic photo frame of Beloved Bhagawan. They passed on their ‘candles of love, hope, faith and worship’, as an offering, which was collected by seva dal and devotees from inside the Ganesh gate and made to adorn the parapet surrounding the deities under the canopy of the peepal tree opposite Ganesha. A myriad candles glowed bright with unified prayers and collective harmony. Further down the main street of Puttaparthi, children sang and danced in circular formations, even as the elders of the village played the drums and cymbals with synchronized rhythm. The residents of the village, each one of them were leaving no stone unturned to coax and cajole their Beloved Lord to be amidst them again. Indeed a sustained spectacular effort with amazing dedication. II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II

Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu We need to come together and help heal the world… Thus, ‘Samastha Lokaah Sukhino Bhavantu’, which is a Universal Prayer beyond boundaries of personal beliefs, will benefit all – from unseen beings to those seen…from mortals to animals to plants and trees…to marine life to birds to rivers, mountains and rocks…all the planets, all the lokaas…to every speck in the cosmos. It has such a magnified effect, that not only will it encompass Mother Earth, but will also take in the whole Universe into its fold – an embrace of Cosmic proportions – A Cosmic Embrace… ‘Samastha Lokaah Sukhino Bhavantu’ engulfs the elements five – Space, Air, Fire, Water, Earth and brings about a balance ever so harmonious. Beloved Mother Sai, You always exhort us to adhere to Sathya, Dharma, Shanti, Prema and Ahimsa. And through this chant, You, Beloved One, are teaching us to link Sathya, Dharma, Shanti, Prema and thereby…evolve into Ahimsa. Oh! Mother Sai, You are the Creator and the welfare of Your Creation is what pleases You the most.Accept our prayer, Dearest One, that we may make this chant –‘Samastha Lokaah Sukhino Bhavantu’ – our very breath and feel deeply for all living beings. Let our lives be Your message…and Your compassion our mission…through this chant, which is luminous in nature, prolific in its reach and propitious, wholesome and divine in character. You, Sweet Mother Sai, have always stressed that we chant ‘Samastha Lokaah Sukhino Bhavantu’, accordingly, we now desire to make it our way of life, as it will make us go away from the ‘I’ to ‘We’ and finally into ‘You’…Oh Cherished Mother Sai. To those of you listening to these lines just now, you are at the right place at the right time…for it is vitally essential that we chant this mantra for Universal Peace – both individually and collectively. And we have to start now. Sit where you are, chant ‘Samastha Lokaah Sukhino Bhavantu’ and embrace the Cosmos, all sentient and insentient beings…without moving an inch. The vibrations released by chanting it together will reach the Lord’s Heart and His bliss will reach us all, for what pleases Him is that we unite and live together in peace and harmony. Let us help heal the world that our children will inherit… ‘Samastha Lokaah Sukhino Bhavantu’…will help you reach the real you… Your life can then be a fragrant offering at the Lotus Feet of Beloved Mother Sai…Dear Listener…we present variations of this mantra for all the beings in samastha lokaahs…may your being resonate with each variation…may peace resound in the cosmos within you, may there be harmony around you…and may tranquillity surround you…for you are the Universe…and the Universe is You! II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II