“Ten Dollars” in Sai’s Name… Name, banner, language, caste, creed and nationality and so on… these restrictions are only for the finite earthly minds… for the Supreme Godhood Who ‘revisited’ the planet Earth to Love All and Serve All, all belongs to Him in equal measure sans any discrimination… a beautiful story of “Ten Dollars” from Sri Rajendra Ghayal, UK. This story dates back to 1978…Last April May, I went to visit my sisters in New Jersey, U S A. While at the home of my younger sister there, one Tuesday, (May, 9th, 78, to be exact), I had a dream – or was it a semi-dream, or a vision? For, I am sure, I was at least half awake – in which Swami appeared, and conversed with me for some time. He enlightened me on a few spiritual problems which were worrying me, and turning towards me suddenly, He said, “Thursday, when you meet a person, give him the amount of money you can afford.” I asked him, quite innocently, “Will a dollar be enough?” He replied, “Fine.” On Thursday, about a few minutes after twelve, my brother-in-law and I went to a couple of Banks, in East Orange, New Jersey, to make a few enquiries. At one of the Banks, my eyes fell on a blind, old, black gentleman, waiting for a clerk to attend on him. I started watching him. It seems he had come to withdraw a portion of the money he was expecting some one to deposit in his account, and the clerk was busy going through the books. At last, the clerk came to him and told him that there was nothing in his account. The money had not come yet. Slowly and sadly, he made his way out of the Bank. I approached him and told him about my dream and Baba. But, he was too perturbed to listen or understand. I knew that he was the man that Baba had told me about. So. I gave him ten dollars. He asked me, with a smile on his face, “How much is it?” I said, “Ten dollars. Thank Sai Baba for this.” I could not control the tears in my eyes. It was a blissful moment for both of us. II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II

Soar Like A Lark Those who are devoted to Sri Sathya Sai may please pause for a while, to remind themselves of the glory and ecstasy that His Name can bring into their world, writes Dr Keki Mistry from Mumbai urging man to arise, awake and soar like a lark…

Baba Was Quicker… Take refuge at His Feet with all out surrender and the rest will be done. With surrender God ‘steps out’ from within stepping into the situation bailing you out of the tricky situation. A story from Kerala, as published in the April 1971 issue of Sanathana Sarathi. …a story from KeralaThe family of Sethu Madhavan Nair, about eight miles away from the house where a few months back Naxalites committed the most gruesome killings received a threatening letter from them, on 1- 3-71. The faimly felt that the Namasankirtan was their only shield. They decided on Akhanda Namabhajan for a week, six days, during day-light hours and on the seventh day, all the twenty-four hours! The valedictory function was celebrated with immense joy and the atmosphere was most inspiring. It must be mentioned that Baba has been revealing His presence by miraculous manifestations in the shrine room of the house. This must have been the immediate reason for the ire that was aroused in the hearts of atheists and votaries of violence. On the 8th, at 5 A.M., when Sethu Madhavan was near the washbasin at the back of the house, by the side of an open window, a fellow appeared at the window, and threw with fatal force a heavy choffer on the man! But, Baba was quicker! He drew the devotee suddenly to the corner of the room, away from the fatal blow, holding him quick round the body. He actually had the feel of Baba, drawing him away! The choffer fell with a clang on the floor; Vibhuti had dropped all over the place.

The Trinity in man… It is rightly said, man is the maker of his destiny. God Who is the Spirit of Time does not cause good or evil, but man does it with his own actions, says Bhagawan…discoursing about the presence of The Trinity in man and the importance of Trikarana Shuddhi. The true nature of the Trinity Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwara should be properly understood. They symbolise the qualities of Satwa, Rajas and Tamas which are present in every human being. Who is Easwara? The Veda has described Easwara as Atma. It has proclaimed the identity of the heart with Easwara “Easwavassarvabhoothaanam” declares The Gita. (The Gita declares: Easwara dwells in the region of the heart of every living being.) Hence, Easwara is described as “Hridayeswara” (the Lord of the heart). The seat of thoughts is the mind. The mind has been described as symbolising the form of Vishnu. Vishnu means one who pervades everything. The mind has the power to reach out for anything in the universe. Hence the cosmos is rooted in the mind. The thoughts emanating from the mind find expression in words or speech (“Vaak”). Brahma symbolises the power of speech. Thus, the heart, the mind and speech together constitute humanness. Sanctifying these three has been described as ‘Trikarana Shuddhi’, purity in thought, word and deed. The worship of the Trinity really calls for purification of the mind (Vishnu), the heart (Easwara) and speech (Brahma). Men today are immersed in transient worldly activities. They should sanctify all actions by purifying their feelings. The New Year is called Easwara. Easwara means one who is endowed with all forms of wealth. People greet the New Year as if it is going to confer on them some new benefits. The good or evil, the gains or losses, the renown or infamy experienced by people are not the outcome of the passage of years. They are the consequences of their own actions. “Samvatsara” (the year) is one of the names of God. Because God is associated with time He is also known as Time-Spirit (Kalatmaka). Hence, we should not consider the Lord, who is the Spirit of Time, as likely to cause good or evil to us. Our actions, good or bad, bear fruits according to their nature.

Exemplary Maniben Patel… The word exemplary means “serving as a commendable pattern to be imitated.” A question in this context, what about your life as a devotee of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai would others say is exemplary? As you are left to ponder on, we have a beautiful story from Bhagawan Himself, illustrating the exemplary, principled life of Maniben Patel, daughter of “Iron Man Of India” Sardar Vallabhai Patel. Today much effort is wasted on ostentatious living. Students should learn the value of leading a simple and unostentatious life. You may be aware of Sardar Patel, who was Deputy Prime Minister in the Government formed after Independence. One day, a colleague of his, Mahavir Thyagi, went to Patel’s residence. While talking to Patel, Thyagi noticed Patel’s daughter, Maniben, doing the household chores. She was wearing an old sari, patched up in some places. Thyagi asked her: “Maniben! You are getting a bad name for your father. What high position is he holding in the government; he is the Deputy Prime Minister of the country. Being his daughter, if you are like this, you will be taken for a beggar. The dress you are wearing is not befitting at all.” Maniben was indignant and told Sri Thyagi: “Thyagiji! It is only those who have earned money by foul and unjust means that should feel sorry for the clothes they wear. I am not ashamed to wear the clothes made out of my own labours while I am carrying on my legitimate duties. Those who spend lavishly on their comforts the money earned by their parents have to feel ashamed about themselves. I have nothing to be ashamed about. In looking after my aged father, I do my work, wearing the clothes I choose. I do not hanker after anyone’s wealth. I know how to maintain my dignity and self-respect. No one need teach me how to conduct myself.” Maniben left after saying these words. Dr Sushila Nayyar, who was seated on the same sofa as Sri Thyagi, told him in unmistakable language: “Thyagiji! You do not know Maniben well enough. From the time she wakes up in the morning right up to going to bed in the night she is ceaselessly working without any rest. Although her father is the Deputy Prime Minister, she attends to all the household work herself. She cleans the vessels and washes her father’s clothes herself. She spins on the charkha whenever she has some spare time. She stitches the clothes for her father. She makes saris for herself out of the discarded dhotis of her father. It is difficult to find anyone to equal her in the ideal life she is leading.” Such was the dedicated life led by Maniben in those days. It is hard to find today any young woman or man who can live like that. Most young people lead ostentatious lives, wasting the hard earned money of their parents. Students! Realise what you owe to your parents and act in a manner which will not grieve them. Avoid waste of money, of food, of time and energy. II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II

Real Sacrifice… You must give up your selfishness and strive to please The Lord in Whom you have faith by dedicating your lives to the service of The Divine. The whole universe is permeated by The Divine. He is omnipotent, omnipresent and all knowing. Be conscious that He is not confined to any place. He is everywhere and in everything including your body…exhorts Bhagawan to students illustrating what is real sacrifice through a story from the time of Lord Buddha. Buddha was once asked: “Who is the richest man in the world?” Buddha replied: “He who has much satisfaction (with what he has) is the richest man.” To the question, “Who is the poorest man?” Buddha replied: “He who has many desires.” A Maharaja, who was listening to Buddha’s sermons on contentment and renunciation, wished to earn the approbation of Buddha. Buddha used to keep with him always a rattle-drum. His disciples once asked him: “Master! Why are you always keeping this rattle-drum by your side?” Buddha replied: “I shall play on this drum the day a person who has made the greatest sacrifice approaches me.” Everyone was eager to know who this person would be. Such persons are often the forgotten men of history. Wishing to attain this distinction, the Maharaja loaded his elephants with considerable treasure and went to Buddha. He hoped to offer the treasure to Buddha and earn his praise. On the way, an old woman greeted the Maharaja and pleaded: “I am hungry. Will you give me some food?” The Maharaja took out a pomegranate fruit from his palanquin and gave it to her. The old woman came to Buddha with the fruit. By then, the Maharaja had also come to Buddha and was eagerly waiting to see when Buddha would sound the rattle-drum. For a long time Buddha did not use it. The Maharaja stayed on. The old woman approached Buddha, staggering on her legs, and offered to him the pomegranate fruit. Buddha took it and immediately sounded the little-drum. The Maharaja asked Buddha: “I offered so much wealth to you. You did not sound the drum. But you rattled it after receiving a small fruit. Is this a great sacrifice?” Buddha replied: “Maharaja! In sacrifice, it is not quantity that counts. It is the quality of sacrifice that matters. It is natural for a Maharaja to offer gold. But what great sacrifice is made when a hungry old woman offers the pomegranate fruit to the Guru despite her hunger. She did not care even for her life and gave the fruit. What greater sacrifice can there be? It is not sacrifice to offer what is superfluous for you. True sacrifice means giving up that which is most dear to you, that which you value most.” Students! You must give up your selfishness and strive to please the Lord in Whom you have faith by dedicating your lives to the service of The Divine. The whole universe is permeated by The Divine. He is omnipotent, omnipresent and all knowing. Be conscious that He is not confined to any place. He is everywhere and in everything including your body. He cannot be seen by dissecting the body. But when the mind is directed towards God He can be experienced. The men who landed on the moon declared they did not find God there. God cannot be found through machines (Yantras). He can be experienced through Mantras.

Sai’s ‘Visiting Card’ in Pune… Jolted at the sudden mishap she screamed, calling out, ‘Babaaaa…” and the rest was ‘His-story’. Recounting a fatal road accident involving an 8-year old ‘kite-boy’, Mrs Anasuya Rao from Pune narrates a ‘sour turned soulful’ May story dates back to 1975, illustrating yet another Rescue-Act of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai… We were posted in Pune several years ago and were driving to the ‘Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Bhajans’ at the house of Col Soman, in Somwarpet. My husband, Gen BDP Rao, who never used his official car for private purposes, was driving. We were only about a mile away from the venue, driving through a shopping centre, when a little boy of about 8 years old, ran across the road with a kite in hand and was hit by our car. He fell down unconscious. We were shocked and I cried out ‘Baba!’ There were two clinics nearby – I ran into the first clinic, but the doctor refused to come. In the second, a lady doctor, walked into the car with me. By the time, I returned to the car, the car had been turned around and was pointing in the opposite direction. The boy had been shifted into the rear seat of the car by a small built man and there was another man in the driver’s seat. My husband told me that when they first appeared he had told them that it was not his fault since he was going slowly and the boy had dashed across the street and hit the car. And the driver replied: “I know it’s not your fault.” My husband, who never lets anyone drive his car, was quietly sitting in the front seat. The man driving the car said, ‘These doctors do not know anything, but there is a Nursing Home further down the road. Come along – we are taking him there.’ So, the five of us went to the Nursing Home. Coincidentally, the boy’s uncle was coming out of the Nursing Home, with some medicines. He recognized his nephew and went to call the child’s parents. I ran to find a doctor, but he said he was off duty. By the time I got back, with a doctor, the boy was standing on the table on which he had been placed. He had his arms around the driver and was asking him not to leave him. My husband has told me that the driver had sprinkled a few drops of water on the child’s face and the boy sat up immediately, by the time his parents came. While I was talking to the mother of the boy, the two men who brought us to the clinic were leaving. My husband asked them if he could drop them, but they said they had their motorbike near the accident site and did not need a lift. By the time he followed them out, they had disappeared. In spite of the events, though terribly shaken, we proceeded to the bhajan and attended the last 15 minutes and Aarathi. The photo of Baba in the bhajan hall and the driver’s face seemed uncannily similar. Who else but Baba could decide whose fault it was and Who else but Baba could rouse an unconscious boy with a few drops of water and then disappear from an isolated Nursing Home with no trace. Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba had come to our rescue that day.

Art With Heart… Living in Prasanthi Nilayam for many years, listening to countless discourses and reading a number of books do not ensure necessary transformation, says Bhagawan praising high of devotees from overseas nations for their little ‘knowledge’ but greater transformation… From Bhagawan’s Divine discourse on 11 July 1995. The overseas devotees who have come here are affluent people. ‘Why have they come here? They are like patients who go to a hospital for their ailments. All of them suffer from some kind of illness or other, mental or physical. All are victims of some kind of mental illness. They have all come for the medicine of peace, joy, and happiness. Wherefrom is this peace to be got? It cannot be got from outside. It is within oneself. The disease has arisen within because of bad qualities. Every person’s physical, mental and spiritual health is ruined by bad qualities; bad thoughts and bad feelings. Hence, cultivate good thoughts, good feelings and good attitudes. Expel every bad thought as it arises in the mind. You cannot relish food that is not tasty. Should you not try to impart sweet taste to your life which spans several decades? How to impart that taste? By constant contemplation on God. Life is made tasty by good thoughts and good actions. All those who wish to pursue the spiritual path must begin with getting rid of bad thoughts and bad practices and start transforming their lives. People ask: how are we to cultivate a broad attitude? The answer is: get rid of the artificial barriers you have raised between yourself and others. These barriers create narrow and limited loyalties and prevent you from enjoying an all-embracing bliss. Enlarge your horizon. Expand your vision. This is the true spiritual exercise for you. During the past three days, devotees from many countries have presented a blissful programme of the kind which cannot be seen anywhere else in the world. They would not have come on the invitation of any government. Even if they had come you would not have experienced the kind of bliss you have enjoyed here. This is an example of the relationship between an object and its image. It is because of the bliss within the artists, they could generate that bliss in the audience. They have come from their respective countries filled with devotion and in their singing and dance they completely forgot themselves. This kind of performance would not be possible by artists who expect rewards. The devotees did not come merely with art, but they came with their hearts. (Cheers) Their “art” is filled with “heart”. Some of them were oblivious to their bodies in their performances. They were forgetful of their native countries—whether Russia, or America, or Germany, or Africa. This is real “Samadhi” (the state of spiritual ecstasy). Samadhi is not falling into a trance or some state of unconsciousness. These may be caused by hysteria or antic of the imagination. “Samadhi” means equal mindedness; forgetting the body consciousness and being immersed in bliss (Ananda). These devotees demonstrated this “Samadhi” and shared their bliss with thousands of others. Not only did they experience this bliss themselves, but they shared it with all. Can there be a greater penance (Tapas) than this? What greater Sadhana do you need? “Uddharet Atmana Atmanam”, says the Upanishads. Raise yourself and share that experience with others. Those artists have been strictly adhering to the artistic traditions of their respective countries. In the Japanese dance yesterday, the priest (an old man) appeared to be shivering. He has all the strength, but when approaching the shrine and nearing the Emperor he displays extreme humility and reverence. They practise such supreme humility. Economically and technologically Japan is a highly advanced country. But see what humility and discipline they display! Look at the Russians. Among Russians, there is a tendency to “rush”. But what complete self forgetfulness was displayed by the lady while she sang and danced? (Cheers). What ecstasy in her heart made her experience such joy? She was completely lost in her song and dance. No one can tell what kind of experience one can have in a certain place at a certain time and in a certain situation. Altogether, what transformation has taken place in all those who came for the Global Festival! They came for the first time. But the transformation that has taken place in’ them cannot be seen in many who have been coming here for years and years. Many of you have listened to countless discourses and have read a lot of books. But, what is the change in you? None at all. You have remained where you are. If we examine further, many seem to have gone back rather than going forward. Hence, devotees should strive to put into practice at least a fraction of what they have seen and heard. The lives of these overseas devotees appear exemplary. Though they have learnt little, the joy they derive from it is great. This is what is great about them. There are many here who know a great deal, but who practise very little of it.

The Agony Of The Avatar… Students are the very foundation of the nation. To make the foundation strong, the people, the government, the parents, the teachers, and the students all have to co-ordinate their plans and efforts. These five elements, these five vital forces have to work together towards the end…says Bhagawan. It is no secret that Bhagawan often cherishes and takes great personal pride in declaring His students as His ‘Real Property’. The Divine in His persona has set a higher benchmark for this most privileged lot. What does He expect from ‘His Properties’ whom He often refers to as future leaders? Read on an extract from Sanathana Sarathi published in July 1983, originally taken from the book “The Greatest Adventure” by Late Dr. M.V.N.Murthy, to find His greater expectations on His ‘White Army’. The other day, Bhagawan spoke to a student of His College who had just finished his examinations and was leaving for Madras (now Chennai) to spend the holidays with his parents. “Beautiful lotus flowers bloom in the pond. The frogs in the pond do not enjoy the fragrance and the nectar; they hop, leap and croak. Bees know the fragrance and the sweetness of the nectar; they come in swarms from afar. The frog uses the lotus as a perch! You do not realise what a blessing it is to be near to Swami. Look at all these persons who come to Swami from far off places!…” said Bhagawan. The boy was standing next to me; so, I could see the expression on Bhagawan’s face and also sensed the ‘anguish’ underneath those words. Surely they were not meant for him alone. There were other boys within hearing and many elders. It was meant for all. He came near the boy and said, “Come back early. Have you applied for admission to the post graduate class? Come in time for the admission test. Bring your brother’s son too for joining the primary school.” Here was the Lord, the Avatar of the Age, the Chancellor of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, speaking so intimately, so affectionately to His students, asking them not to miss the chance of continuing to be under His loving care. What amazed me was the `agony’ of the Avatar, the ‘anguish’ born out of extraordinary love. I had heard Him declare repeatedly, “If you ask Me, I would say, students are My property. I have no other property.” His efforts to establish educational institutions, to equip them with the best; the Love and care He bestows on teachers and the students are evidences of His concern for the future of this great country; and of a world on the brink of a disaster. Baba’s unspoken message was, “O! Dear children! I Am doing so much for your sake. I need no gain or dread any loss. You are all potentially Divine, Amritasya Putrah, Children of Immortality. You have the capability to become Madhava, Master of Maya. Why do you love to be just puny little men?” He told the boy from Madras, “Be near Swami. Everything will be added to you.” The feeling of ‘agony’ is adopted by the Personality of the Avatar to awaken our faith. If Bhagawan sometimes pretends anger, that too is born out of His Love; He expresses ‘sorrow’ and ‘disappointment’ that all His boys do not realise what they are missing. He has nothing but their highest good in His Mind.