A Lake of Joy Why wander far and near to seek?He dwells within thy heart;Yes, turn within and find Him there,He longs to see you start. But clean your heart before you seek,And offer it to Him,A holy shrine in which to stay,A Lake of joy to swim. Just keep in mind the noble words,Why fear when I am near,Keep serving Him in all you do,For He is everywhere. The Baba’s grace is ever there,You’ve just to feel it, friends,He’s everywhere, at every timeHe, time and space, transcends. ~T. Muttoo (Pilani)Source: Sanathana Sarathi, Oct 1968

The Question and the Answer Do you remember when you chose?The time when you chose this lifeThe day you chose these lessonsThe moment you chose your parentsThe second you chose to be YouWhy do you think you chose what you did?What did you know then, that you don’t know now?Why is it so difficult to remember what is real and what isn’t?Why do you have so many questions?How do you hush this “monkey-mind”?How do you make sense of the web He weaves?There is but one answer to these questions.It is to remember that you will never have a question that He doesn’t prompt.And that all answers are Him.He is questions and answers, choices and lessons, your lives, your families, and you. ~Jodi AlexanderHendersonville, North Carolina, USA, 2006

He’s been with me all along When you are frantic to belong, I am your friend. When your face is hot with shame, I see you as perfect. When your heart is torn from betrayal, I am holding your hand. When you feel utterly alone, I am looking into your eyes. When you are desperately frightened, I am there to show you the way. When you are scrambling for relief, look for me in the darkness. Proclaim aloud, “I see you, Lord!” and I will build you anew. Speak your liberation into being! ~Jodi LandersCincinnati, OH, U.S.A.2013

Sai Baba Step by Step I Reach You! From Canada again I am at Puttaparthi,But see you not ambling gracefullyOn the red carpet, a golden haloOn the head and letters in palm’s hollow.Or scooting in the automobile gently,For diverse devotees to see you fully! The crunch of people all day long,Pushing, shoving, seeking a good spot,Is shrunk now almost to a knot,Nor is the seva dal so rude or taut.I don’t grumble your stark absence,As I seek you inside me in silence. Lately I felt the bliss you talk about,A beatitude that you bestowed on me.Was it a sneak sample of the HigherOr the illuminated mind? I know not.Surely it was a rare ineffable glee,A hint of what God’s grace can be. Now I often recite namasmaranam,A talisman that guards me from harm.I seek purity and make trio of thought,Word, and deed an effective balm,A panacea prescribed by my Bhagavan.I daresay it gives me peace and calm. A leafy villa, college degrees, progenyAnd more, all that I sought over time,Seems mere tinsel and sheer frippery.A pyrrhic win that fetched me the tribe:Lust, greed, pride, and jealousy,To produce a perverted personality. Now I turn the mind’s key arightTo let in faith, compassion, and love,And see God in all and everywhere.All that’s showy, wrong, or transient,I discard gladly after a critical review.Yes, I am zero and you are my hero! ~Prem Kumar

Swami, My Lord… Swami, my Lord… How patiently You have waited for me…For many years I was ignorant of YouYet many more I have searched for YouAnd when I have found my God in YouI was still plagued with doubts of You Swami, my guru… How graciously You have guided me…Your books became my constant companionYour messages were my solace when in confusionYour words never failed to inspire and uplift meYour teachings paved the path to help me see Swami, my father… How tenderly You have loved me…Each time we met, You brought me closerEvery question I asked, You gave me an answerWhen darkness blinded me and I was led astrayYou came in my dream to show the way Swami, my atma… How lovingly You are always with me…Work through my body so I may serve You in othersThink through my mind so I may help You in othersSpeak through my lips so I may comfort You in othersLove through my heart so I may love You in others Swami, my Lord, my guru, my father, my atma…I have surrendered myself to You at Your lotus feet… ~Adeline Teh, USA

Oh Sai!  I long to know Thee better, day by day, I want to draw much closer when I pray, To listen more intently for Thy voice, To let the things Thou choosest be my choice.

 Our Sai Ma I am grateful knowing… I can count on your strength Ask for your support, and know you’ll go to any length When I lose my way You help me get back on track When in pain Your comfort soothes and brings me back I am lucky because… When I was sad you gave me faith and hope When I was confused you taught me how to cope When I felt I couldn’t go on You carried me long miles When I didn’t believe You restored my smiles Sai Ma thank you For your guidance and the faith you’ve shown For giving me a safe place where I have grown For showing me how to strive Because of your love I will survive ~Prachi Soni,

Thoughts Are Things HariI am watching mythoughts, feelings,and actions Are they clear, translucent, pureupward-moving, virtuous, lovinginspiring, faithful, joyful, warmSatwicpeaceful panoramaquiet, unruffled lake,a crystal window panethrough which all I experience is You Are my thoughts, emotions, and motionsa red hot volcanoexploding across the screen ofconsciousnessrestless, anxious, burning, throbbingarrogant, jealous, hyper, competitive,Rajaspushing the envelopeall I see and want fueled byrelentless desires or are my thoughts, feelings, and wordscarbon blackconfused, clouded, foul, sickburied alive in a dank, dismal pit,of downward-movingTamasstale, dull, sad, immobileall I see is darknessand death of my hopesand aspirations Lord of the Three Gunasthe wavelengths we chooseto flavor, color, incense,adorn, and resonate withare determined by the conscious qualityof our thoughts, words, feelings, and deeds. “Yad bhavam tada bhavathi (One becomes what one thinks). Hence, people should see that their thoughts are pure and good. Human life is the expression of one’s thoughts. Thoughts arising in the mind fill the atmosphere with waves of energy. Thought waves are very powerful. Hence, our thoughts should be sublime and sacred. No evil ideas should affect our thoughts. Evil thoughts inevitably lead to evil actions. When cruel thoughts enter the mind, men behave like cruel animals. When, instead, there are good and loving thoughts in a man, they divinize him and enable him to perform good and sacred acts. Hence, every man’s heart should be filled with love, compassion, and kindness. ~Baba

Laali To Our Lovely Laali to our Lovely!Laali, O how Jolly! They are singing lullaby;And do you sleep, my baby? Is not work Thy hobbyLike a humming honeybee? How can you sleep, my baby,When all are crying for Thee? How can you run awayWhen our souls are at play? Your eyes meet us everywhere:You play with souls far and near; To our bosoms, we hold you dearO Universal Sire! Nectar flows from Thy fingertips;Vedas flow from Thy rosy lips, Gifts flow from Thy gracious hands!Lovers seek Thee from all lands! You have no time for dinner!Behold, you run to save a sinner! O sweet serene Winner,You draw us inner and inner! We follow Thy charming fluteWe obey Thy conch and fight To remove gloom and be Thy light.How can you be out of sight? Swing O swing, as we sing!Swing us, too, to raasa ring! Let Thy playful acts fulfillThis existence in Thy will! ~Yogi Shuddhananda Bharati (Composed before the Jhula, at 8 PM on 12-10-59)Source: Sanathana Sarathi, Oct. 1959

Sai Fairytale Teach me the language of Love, Sai Krishnafragrant verses flow from the rose of Your heartkissing awake each dreaming petalSpeak the unifying, angelic tongue that every fragment, consonant, and syllableof this wondrous jagat [world] can comprehendbrother bird, sister butterfly, all creatures dancing, dying, mosaic wavesmerging, melting into one anothereach a dazzling piece of the cosmic puzzleGlorious book of nature, turn the sky blue, star jeweled, sun-gemmed pagesthose golden leaves indelibly describe our supernal, absolute truthSat-chit-anandaa mystical tale without “The End”where we all live in peace and love, happily forever after Lots of prema [love] ~Sonya Ki, USA