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.

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.

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.”

Tell Me! Do You Have Faith In Me? He does the biggest miracle of transformation and this is the most miraculous ‘visiting card’ He ‘displays’ ever, for the attention of the world of devotees, for, each and every one stands with a chance with Him around, as The Supreme Master, OmniPresence as The Ultimate Presence. A beautiful incident from the life of Sri Bharat Dutt, a former student at Bhagawan’s Institute, extracted from Sanathana Sarathi, January 1987. It was a bright sunny morning. We had all just settled on the portico for Swami’s Darshan. The rustle of His robe and the sweet fragrance announced His Divine Presence. To my delight I was called for an interview with my parents. I was a most badly behaved boy indulging in ‘modern’ behavioural attitudes. I would like to admit that the entire family believed in Swami, except me. When we came to Prasanthi Nilayam in 1980, my brother got admission in the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning and we got Swami’s grace for the first time. Swami poured His love on us. Even then, my natural instincts turned lovingly towards the enchanting Person but my weaknesses and worldly habits turned me away from Him. I lacked the moral fibre to transform myself. I was scared that He would reveal my nefarious doings. In fact, I loved and dreaded Swami’s interview. In fact, I wanted to get away from Puttaparthi and I wanted to avoid joining Swami’s School. But Swami’s infinite mercy and grace did not throw me into the jaws of the world. I went inside with bated breath and beating heart. As usual groups of devotees were taken in by Bhagawan, into the inner interview room. I was relieved when our turn was over and Swami moved to distribute Vibhuti packets. Suddenly He halted. The expression on His countenance changed from motherly Love to fatherly sternness. He beckoned me back into the inner interview room, alone! My hands would not stop shaking and my heartbeat raced beyond the range of my E.C.G. scale. He was already seated and commanded me to sit at His Feet. I sweated profusely. Then He asked me a question, “Tell Me! Do you believe in Swami or not?” (By now it had become a choice between wanting to believe in Swami or not). He then gave me an undeniable and incredible proof of His omnipresence, of which even my own mother did not know. He told me how, utilizing my pocket money, I had gone to a Hindi movie, instead of attending school. He even told me the name of the film I had gone to, the name of the friend with whom I had gone, a Sarabjit Singh and even the amount of money I spent on ‘Samosas’ during the interval which was incidentally Rs 10/-. This revelation jolted me into the realization of my aimless derogatory living and opened new vistas of a happy, joyful life, in which I have made and am making sincere efforts to transform myself.

Artificial or Heartificial How often Bhagawan stresses on the importance of harmony in Thought, Word and Deed, Trikaranasuddhi?!? What you think you must speak and what you speak, you must do. Read on a couple of such beautiful learning lessons at His Lotus Feet, penned by a former student at Bhagawan’s educational institutions, Sri K. Ajay, extracted from the 95th Birthday Souvenir of Sri Prasanthi Society, Hyderabad, ‘SRI SATHYA SAI – THE DIVINE COMPANION’. Let me start with a story that happened when I was a 11th grade student in Swami’s higher secondary school. It was summer vacation time and Swami was in Brindavan. Many may already know that the lotus shaped building that Swami stayed in is called ‘Trayee’. Most afternoons, after bhajans, Swami would spend time with the boys in what were aptly named, Trayee sessions. In one such session, Swami posed a question that still gives me goose bumps when I think of it: ‘Who Am I?” He asked, lovingly challenging us on an unknowable question! The boys started providing various answers. “You are Love walking on two legs”, said one. Another added, “You are the love of a 100 mothers.” Not to be outdone – and focusing the power of zeroes, another brother piped in, ‘You are the love of a 1000 mothers!” Swami kept shaking His head saying ‘no’. “You do not understand the love of one mother, how can you ever comprehend the love of a 1000! Dunapota” said Swami – The Eternal Mother. I had stayed quite through all this. Presumably the youngest in the room, I was quite intimidated by the occasion and the difficult question. But wait a minute! Something suddenly struck me and I blurted out, “Swami, you are our conscience!” In response, I got the most dazzling smile – one that could melt Mt. Everest. I will translate what He said next. “See, it has taken a young, innocent boy to finally figure it out.” I looked around me to see who He was referring to as I hardly considered myself innocent. But He carried on to pump my inner balloon of ego a bit more with more praises and I would not dare repeat. In any case, I was by then in cloud nine and extremely full of myself. But the Divine Teacher wanted to teach us something and I was merely the sacrificial lamb at the altar of profound truth. The balloon was completely burst when He used words that I try and remind myself of everyday. “If you really believe that I Am your conscience, why then do you behave so naughty?” My dear sisters, brothers, elders and children – these are immortal words of high wisdom from Bhagawan. We may or may not remember this message, but it is a fundamental truth. To only speak of myself, I fail so much in this tenet on a daily basis. Let me illustrate this with another story. When I was a student at Parthi, I had the habit of writing poems almost on a daily basis. On one beautiful autumn afternoon in Sai Kulwant Hall, I was in full flow and words were flowing out of me in beautiful alliterations, if I can say so myself. As I was putting finishing touches on this perceived masterpiece, Swami walked out of the interview room. He walked towards what we called the old students’ block, lovingly speaking with several people. I was seated right by one of the entrances to the bhajan hall. Suddenly I felt the urge to give the poem to Swami. After all, it was for Him. He came up to me and saw the sheet of folded paper in my hand and asked (in Telugu) “What is this?” . “Swami, it is a poem,” I replied handing it over to Him. “Aa? Love letter?” He asked questioningly while taking, and unfolding the paper. “No Swami, it is a poem,” I repeated lamely while He read on. After a few seconds, He looked up and said, “See, I told you; it is a love letter; you used the word love at least six times.” Amused, I kept my mouth shut. How can He ever be wrong? Swami then folded up the paper and putting it into my shirt pocket. He gently tapped on my chest and said, “Pretty words, but it has to come from inside; else, they are just empty words!”

“Mother Always Comes First” He Is often called Sai Maa, Mother Sai, Who Is verily The Supreme Creator. From That Hiranya Garbha of Sri Sathya Sai emerged this vast physical creation and the many mysterious realms of existence, that Mother Sai is verily The Surpeme Source n’ Force. On Earth, He preached the supreme importance of Motherhood, which always stands first and foremost.  A beautiful illustration on the beauty called ‘Mother!’ by Ms Loraine Burrows from the UK, livng in Thailand. My mind goes back to the first Christmas that I spent in our Lord’s Divine presence. It was in 1977 in Whitefield. It was one of the most special days of my life as we spent almost the entire day with our beloved Lord. But to relate the story properly I have to go back a few months. At the time I was living in the United States and I had come to Prasanthi for a visit. Swami called me and a small group of Americans for interviews,  twice  in Whitefield. After the second day, Swami called Dr Hislop to come and talk with us about the changes in the Sai international Organisation. Dr Hislop explained how things were changing globally and more and more people were learning about (Sri) Sathya Sai Baba. He said that Swami had asked all countries outside India to make their centres and practise more in accordance to the country in question. In other words bhajans should be sung in local languages as well as Sanskrit and Hindi. A group of us around New York got together and tried to make English bhajans, mostly translating the original bhajans into English. One day I was driving my car and a song came into my head in its entirety. It was “You are Lord of the Universe”.  When I got home I sang it to my husband and he said it was OK but the last verse was wrong- “Mother of the Universe, Father of the Universe, the Light of mankind (Sri Sathya) Sai Baba.” He explained that (Sri Sathya) Sai Baba was a man, therefore it should be “Father of the Universe, Mother of the Universe…” So I changed it! Later that year I was in India.  Swami was to perform the marriage of one of my dearest friends on Christmas Day 1977. The marriage took place in Swami’s house in Brindavan. At the end of the beautiful ceremony Swami said: “It is an Indian tradition – wedding song.” There was silence because no one knew any wedding song. Then Swami said: “Happy song? English song?” Swami looked at Faith and she glanced over to me. Swami then looked at me, waiting for me to sing at the same time someone nudged me and said: “Loraine, you sing.” I thought that this was my chance to sing this new song “Lord of the Universe”, so I started to sing. It was a total disaster because no one had ever heard this song before and the rhythm was off and it sounded awful. Swami told everyone to be quiet and then He looked at me and said “sing”, so I sung and Swami sang with me! We got to the last verse and I sang “Father of the Universe, Mother of the Universe” and Swami sang “Mother of the Universe, Father of the Universe.” He looked at me as if to say – “you got it wrong!!” He also said: “Mother Always Comes First!”

Supreme Mother Kundalini Kundalini Sakthi is the evolutionary power in the human system that starts Its journey from the Muladhara Chakra at the base traversing towards the Sahasrara Chakra, completing the journey of human spiritual evolution, the merger of Shakti with Shiva, Self-Realisation. Dr PV Shankar from the US had the great good fortune of learning the real essence of ‘the yoga’ from Bhagawan directly. Read on the ‘essence’ from the author, extracted from his book, SAI ANTARVANI.  In 1975 I was serving as a Sevadal volunteer in Dharmakshetra at Mumbai. During Swami’s visit, Swami brought with Him an octogenarian devotee called Thirumalachar, who was the author of Sri Sathya Sai Suprabhatam. I was informed that Swami had chosen me to serve Sri Thirumalachar and came to know that Thirumalachar was the Raja Guru of Venkatagiri Maharaja, and he is the one who introduced Venkatagiri Maharaja to Swami. Thirumalachar was a great Yogi and an adept in Kundalini Yoga. Pleased with my service, one day, he promised to teach me Kundalini Yoga, the intricate yoga mudras, the whole nine yards. Most unexpectedly, Bhagawan walked in while Thirumalachar was saying this. Teasing him Swami said: “Thirumalachar, have you become a Guru? Who are you to teach him Yoga?” Swami looked at me and said, “No, Kundalini Yoga for you.” Thirumalachar got afraid and chased me away, saying never to ask him spiritual questions again. Years later, Swami asked me, “Do you remember Thirumalachar? He used to remember you all the time. Yesterday he merged in Me.” Many years later, Swami gave me the following message saying He was teaching me the real essence of the Kundalini Yoga, not the Hatha Yoga interpretation. The power of Divinity lies hidden within everyone at the base of the spine, coiled like a serpent in everlasting wait for the awakening moment. She is the Mother of all bliss and the Power of all powers. Whether one believes or not, with a little effort in observation, anyone can feel the movement of Prana in the body, the precursor to the arousal of Kundalini. One may call it tingling or goosebumps or simply strange vibes; it is all the same, the movement of Prana from head to toe. The human body houses seventy-two thousand nerves interconnected in a giant network and energy management system, which can put to shame any modern energy plant, self-monitoring, self-cleaning, self-controlled, and self-renewable God energy. The journey starts at the base of the spine and is rooted for the crown of the head; in between, there are five service stations, knots of nerves and muscles called plexus, chakras like the transformer of an energy plant. Each chakra routes the energy to a higher, subtler, and high-frequency plane. Each centre is a chakra or a wheel in motion, with energy swirls at the macrocosmic and the microcosmic levels. What is outside in the cosmos is reflected within the body at these spiritual energy centres. The Muladhara Chakra at the base of the spine is the foundation where the Kundalini is coiled up. The Swadishtana Chakra the natural resting place, which facilitates the fulfilment of desires, primarily sensual, the confluence of the creative forces. The Manipuraka Chakra at the navel region is the city of jewels, the treasure chest of human accomplishment. The turbocharged energy for the next ascendency, the Anahata Chakra, is the home of Pranava, AUM, the origin of the origin-less sound. Next is the Visuddha Chakra at the throat, the centre of purity of thought, word, and deed. The Jneya Chakra (Ajna Chakra) in between the eyebrows is the command centre of the other lower centres. It is the doorway to the dawn of wisdom operated by the key, the command of the Guru. And finally, the summit of all accomplishments is the Sahasrara Chakra, the thousand-petalled lotus radiating the magnificence of the cosmic energy symbolising the merger of the individual soul with the Universal Soul. In the spiritual journey of man, these seven centres are also recognised as the centres of Self-Confidence (Muladhara Chakra), Self-Satisfaction (Swadishtana Chakra), Self-Reliance (Manipuraka Chakra), Self-Sacrifice (Anahata Chakra), Self-Enquiry (Visuddha Chakra), Self-Surrender (Jneya Chakra) and then finally Self-Realisation (Sahasrara Chakra).

There Is No Greater Sadhana Than Oneness Lack of recognition of the principle of Oneness is mainly responsible for the conflicts and calamities in the world around, discoursed Bhagawan long ago, exhorting on the greater need for developing Oneness of all. How often we are privileged with such a Mighty Compassionate Divine Presence in the physical, Who speaks out in the open,  ‘I Am yours, you are Mine,’ `You and I Are one’?!? Read on Bhagawan’s Divine discourse delivered on 25th August 1999, on the auspicious occasion of Onam.  The present population of the world is approximately 600 crores. But, the principle of `I’ is one and the same in everyone. Each one refers to himself or herself as `I’. How can one know these 600 crore people? Once you recognise the principle of ‘I’, you would have recognised all. Here you find many bulbs glowing; the same current flows through all of them. Similarly, the principle of `I’ is the same in all. Instead of questioning, “Who are you?” question yourself, “Who Am I?” Know yourself first, then you will know all. What is the cause of conflicts and restlessness in this world? Lack of recognition of the principle of Oneness is mainly responsible for this. If someone were to criticise you, do not get agitated. Remember that the same Atmic principle is present in both of you. The one who accuses and the one who is accused are not two different entities. There will be no scope for agitation if you understand this truth. Peace and serenity will reign supreme in the world once this principle of oneness is recognised. Likewise, God and devotee are not separate from each other. The one who worships and the one who is worshipped are one and the same. The devotee worshipping God actually means worshipping himself. Ekatma Sarvabhuthantaratma (the same Atma is present in everyone). This principle of Oneness is Brahma. Viewing this Oneness as many is bhrama or bhranthi (illusion). It is this bhrama that is responsible for the restlessness in the world. True spiritual practice lies in cultivating the spirit of Oneness. There is no greater sadhana than this. Whatever sadhana one undertakes, one should do it with Love. Then there will be no scope for anger and jealousy. In order to understand the Vedic dicta, Easwara Sarvabhuthanam (God dwells in all beings), Sarvam Khalvidam Brahma (all this is verily Brahman), one should inculcate noble qualities. Na Karmana Na Prajaya Dhanena Thyagenaikena Amrutathwamanasu (neither wealth nor progeny nor good deeds can confer immortality; it can be attained only through sacrifice). People respect you as long as you occupy exalted positions in society. But nobody follows you when you lose your position and power. The Vedas address human beings as Amrutasya Puthra. You should live up to that title. You are Amrutasya Puthra (sons of immortality), not Anrutasya Puthra (sons of falsehood). There is Chinmaya (awareness) in Mrinmaya (physical body). That Awareness is true wisdom. The Vedas refer to this as Prajnanam Brahma (constant integrated awareness). It is this Constant Integrated Awareness that makes the body, the mind and the intellect function. All the four Mahavakyas, namely, Prajnanam Brahma, Ayamatma Brahma, Aham Brahmasmi and Tattwamasi speak of this Constant Integrated Awareness. Understand the Truth that you are God. You may think that you are separate from Swami. But in fact, I and you are not separate. ‘I Am yours, you are Mine,’ `You and I Are one’. Understand this Truth and act accordingly. “Abheda Darshanam Jnanam” (experience of Oneness is True Wisdom). There is only one without a second. If you go on adding the number 1 to itself, the value increases. On the other hand, even if crores of `I’s are added to `I’, it still remains ‘I’. That ‘I’ is Divinity. Once you understand this Truth, you will realise that all are Embodiments Of Divinity. The essence of Vedanta is contained in these four Mahavakyas.

“Time since Krishna…? I Am Krishna. Where is Time?” Bhagawan Sri Krishna is called Shyamala Komala, meaning The Beauty With Deep Blue Complexion, and the colour deep blue or shyamala stands for Infinity…Eternity. After granting a most mysterious soul-stirring Shyamala Krishna Darshan in a moving car ‘with Bhagawan’, Bhagawan, upon answering to an inquisitive Dr John Hislop, much later, explained it thus: Oh! That? Whenever there is something of unfathomable depth, it appears to be deep blue.” This is a story about (Beloved Bhagawan Sri) Krishna…. In a way, the story was not completed until November, 1975. A number of years ago, I was in Bhagawan’s car. He was in the rear seat with two persons, one on each side of Him. I was in the front seat, with the driver. We were on our way to Puttaparthi. Driving in the car with Swami is a fascinating experience. Not only is there the thrill of being close to the Divine Lord HimSelf, but, sometimes He will give you the opportunity to ask questions. Sometimes, He engages in animated conversation in Telugu with the companions. Sometimes, He indulges in jokes with one or other of them. Sometimes, He remains silent, making the characteristic gesture with His Hand that seems to indicate that He is giving attention to something quite unknown to us. And, very often, He sings bhajans, with everyone in the car joining in the chorus (except me, who has a musical voice, akin to the crow). The net result of all this enthralling activity is that my neck is constantly being twisted in order to see what is going on in the back seat. Swami understands my plight, but, does not advise me to desist; He allows me the liberty to turn round. Of course, I do not stare all the time. I look only so long as I dare and then I resume my posture, turning to the front again. So, my looking at Swami is intermittently back and forth. At some point in the journey, maybe about half way, Swami was talking and I turned to look. My breathing stopped and I was transfixed! I could not credit my eyes. His devotees see Swami’s Face as beautiful indeed, although the chief impression I receive from His feature is that of Power and Majesty. What transfixed my movement and stopped my breathing was Swami’s Face… The Swami I know was not there! Instead, there was a Face of the most extraordinary beauty, quite different of shape and cast from the features of our Beloved Sai. The charm was so great, so poignant that my heart seemed to twist, almost as though it were in pain. Never in life, nor in photos, nor in painting by great artists have I seen a Face of such exquisite beauty. It was beyond imagination and concept, totally out of experience. And His colour was blue. Not just blue, not the blue with which artists paint Krishna but, a deep blue, like the velvet blue that sometimes can be seen in a dark sky, like a blue that I have at times seen from the deck of a ship thousands of miles from shore on the Pacific Ocean. I do not know how else to describe it. I could not remove my eyes from Swami. At length, I caught myself and turned away. But, at once, I looked again, and the same beauty surely not of the world, was still there. This continued for at least fifteen minutes. The two men sitting with Swami were beginning to look at me with somewhat puzzled expressions for, my staring was different from what they had become used to. After a few miles, Vittala Rao (on Swami’s left) asked me, “Hislop! What were you staring at Swami like that?” Instead of answering, I directed a question to Swami, “Swami! What was that blue colour?” Swami replied, “Oh! That? Whenever there is something of unfathomable depth, it appears to be deep blue.” That was the end of the conversation. Naturally the thought had come to mind that may be this was Lord Krishna, but, neither then, nor at any time in connection with this experience did I ever say the Name of Krishna to Swami. There the matter rested until November 1975. It was before people started to arrive in multitudes for the Birthday. Swami’s schedule was still somewhat free and He was taking me with Him in the jeep and so on… and probably, that was why I got invited into the Interview. An army man and his wife had come from Assam. They were devotees, but this was their first time to actually see Swami. Often people wait for months for interview, but this family was called as soon as they arrived. I was seated on the verandah of the Mandir and saw them go into Swami’s room. No sooner had they entered than Swami motioned to me. There was the mother and father, the son and daughter. Swami spoke to them most lovingly. He knew everything about their lives and it was very evident that He was an intimate member of that household. After a while, Swami asked me, “Hislop! Tell them some experiences.” I complied and after mentioning some incidents, I told the same story just now related in these pages, but, not even then, did I mention the Krishna Name. The man was deeply impressed and words broke from His lips, “Oh! That had to be Lord Krishna.” Swami smiled and said, “Yes, that was Krishna; not the Krishna pictured by artists and imagined by writers. I showed Hislop the real Krishna.” The man said, “Oh! How I want to see Krishna.” Swami smiled again and said, “Wait; wait.” There is a sequel to this story. About a month later, in December, at Brindavan, I was talking with Swami and I brought forward the names of some famous saints and gurus of the past and Swami said some things about them. Then the idea struck me

Be Careful Of Careless Associations When the Supreme One comes down in a human frame, walking amongst men, choosing the right, deserved ones for Him to nurture, He acts most mysteriously, at times, taking care of the so-called subtle details, only to help take home some of the most potent messages. Read on an incident from the life of Sri Prabhakar Bayisetty of Prasanthi Nilayam from his recently published book, LIFE CONTRACT WITH GOD.  There was another time when I gave a ride in my car to someone who was going in the same direction as I. Back then, I had an Ambassador car that I would drive to the local towns to shop for electrical or plumbing supplies because nothing was available in Puttaparthi. At that time, there weren’t many people with cars in Puttaparthi, and transportation choices were limited. So if someone asked for a ride, I wanted to be a good samaritan by helping them out. On one such trip to Anantapur, the local bank manager asked if he could go along, and I agreed right away. As we were nearing Brahmanapalli, we could see there were a lot of people milling around, and usually that was a sign of Swami’s car in the vicinity, so we pulled over to the side of the road. Swami had gone to Whitefield, so we thought He was returning that day. When Swami’s car drove by, He saw me, and His face bloomed into a huge smile, and He raised His hand in Abhayahasta. I was thrilled by the unexpected blessings, and went onto Anantapur in a sky-high state of mind. The next morning, I was called into the Trust office by Kutumba Rao garu and Chiranjivi Rao garu. Once I stepped inside, they closed the door and locked it. And then they turned to me and asked if I went anywhere the previous day, and how I travelled, and who I travelled with. I told them I went to Anantapur by car, and had the bank manager with me. They asked if the bank manager was a friend or family member, and I replied, “No”. Then Kutumba Rao garu said, “Listen, Swami doesn’t like these sorts of casual acquaintances when you don’t know who you’re associating with. Since this is your first time, He didn’t want to upset you by telling you directly, so He sent me to relay this message. Please be very careful in the future how you make your acquaintances.” I had no idea something so simple as giving a car ride could be such a huge mistake. I realised later that even the actions we perform so casually have consequences. The mistake was not about giving a ride, but about making decisions unconsciously. I recognised that we must be conscious and mindful of our every decision and action we take. Because according to Swami, after all that is said and done, everything else is impermanent, except truth and reputation. Asthiram Jeevanam Loke, Asthiram Youvnam Dhanam, Asthiram Daaraa Puthraadi, Sathyam Keerthi Dwayam Sthiram. – Sri Sathya Sai Life in the world is impermanent, Youth and wealth are impermanent, Wife and children are impermanent, Only the two – Truth and Reputation are permanent. – Sri Sathya Sai