Sri Sathya Sai on: Devotional Singing and its effects on Human Mind There are four ways of chanting the Lord’s name. One is through Keertana (song). Then there is Sankeertana (community singing). Another is Dhyana (meditating on the Divine). The fourth is contemplation of the form of the Divine.  In all these, meditating on the name is basic. By meditating on the Lord, Chaitanya and Meera experienced the ecstatic vision of the Lord within themselves. Both of them were immersed in the feeling of devotion to the Lord. Those who experienced the Lord by chanting the Divine name are Narada, Tukaraam, Tulsidas, Ramadas and others. In reply to a question from Narada, Krishna declared that He is present wherever His devotees sing His glories. The singing must not be merely a musical exercise but express genuine devotion.  Some devotees sing songs about the Leelas (sportive miracles) of God. Jayadeva, for instance, sang only about the sports of Krishna and was oblivious of all other things. He totally identified himself with Krishna. Radha represents Roopa Sankeertana (singing the glory of the Lord’s form) of Krishna. She saw Krishna in every object. The heart is moved only when the words of the poem or song are rendered melodiously. (Here Bhagavaan demonstrated how the manner of singing makes all the difference in the appeal of the song: “Rama Nannu Kaapaadu” – O Rama, Save Me). By devotional singing one can get merged in the Divine. That is the reason why the Lord is described as Gaanalola or Gaanapriya (Lover of song or one who is charmed by music). It will be befitting if a devotee combines the reciting of the Lord’s name with singing and praying for merger with the Divine. Now these three are considered as distinct from each other. This is not correct. God is one: names are many Devotees are inclined to worship the Lord under different names. They consider the names different from each other. They forget that they are all equally, embodiments of the Divine: Sat-Chit-Ananda. (Being-Awareness-Bliss). There should be no feeling of high and low. Only the one who has the feeling of oneness can be called a renunciant. It is wrong to make a distinction between Rama and Shiva as some small-minded devotees do. Vaishnavites and Shaivites who go to the Tirumala temple hail the Lord as Venkataramana or Venkateshvara respectively, as if the two names are different, though they represent the same deity.  Thyagaraja pointed out that the word Rama is made up of the vital syllables “Ra” and “Ma” in the Narayana and Shiva Mantras respectively. In this manner devotees should seek unity in apparent diversity rather than seek to divide what is one. The nature of the Divine can only be properly understood, by those who are filled with devotion. All should be filled with love. Love cannot flow from the Mantras of those who are steeped in selfishness and self-pride. Love flows from those who are humble. It cannot arise in those who are conceited and pompous. The love of God can arise only from loving thoughts. There must be yearning for God, just as one has to experience hunger to think of food. There is hunger for God in every one, but the disease of self-pride prevents one from feeling that hunger. The denial of God is a kind of disease. The unbeliever is afflicted by a variety of diseases like pride, envy, anger and greed. One should be pure to be attracted by the Lord There are some who have one foot on faith and the other on disbelief. For sometime they live with devotion and then they get lost in worldly concerns. The result is they have the worst of both worlds. One should not attempt to ride two horses at the same time. Stick to one thing and pursue it with determination. There is no such perseverance today because men are attracted by various worldly pleasures. It is not good to be lured by such attractions. Man should be attracted only by the Divine. Krishna has been described as one who is alluring in every way – by his looks, words and action. One should be pure to be attracted by the Lord. A sensuous person is like a rusty piece of iron, which cannot be attracted by a magnet. In the world today man is caught between the forces of evil and the forces of good, similar to the war in the Mahabharata between the wicked Kauravas on the one side and the virtuous Pandavas on the other. Krishna was on the side of the Pandavas, though He did not take part in the fighting. God is always on the side of the good and the virtuous. “See good, be good, do good, that is the way to God.” Make every effort to experience the Divine. Bhajans are supremely valuable People may say that when you go to Sai Baba, there is nothing but Bhajan. Realise that there is nothing greater than Bhajan. What bliss is there in Bhajans! What a demonstration of oneness is it when a myriad throats join in uttering the name of God! The vibrations emanating from them make the heart vibrant. If you sing alone in your shrine, the vibrations return to you as reaction. But in community singing, what you have is not a reaction but a wave of vibrations. They enter into the atmosphere and purify the polluted air. The atmosphere today is polluted by bad thoughts and feelings. When you sing the glory of God, the bad germs in the air are destroyed and the air gets purified by a treatment with anti-biotics as it were. Bhajans are therefore supremely valuable. It has been said that in the Kali Age them is no greater spiritual practice than chanting the name of the Lord. Let one remember the name of Rama at the time of passing, whether he is a millionaire or a pauper, whether he is a scholar or an illiterate. Sing the name of the Lord and redeem your lives!

Conversation on Sari Distribution during Grama Seva Wednesday, November 8, 2000 Today the Grama Seva work was in the villages of Bukkapatnam Mandal. In the evening, after Darshan, Swami distributed white clothes to the boys and saris to the girls of the Easwaramma High School. Later in Ganesh portico… B. Warden : Swami, boys worked very well. Swami: Both boys and girls did very good work. If girls don’t pack, boys can’t distribute. Drivers also did a very good job.  B. Warden : Swami, if Padanamaskar is given to the drivers, it will be nice. Swami: Tappakunda (without fail). Clothes were distributed to Easwaramma School students. Prof. A. K.: Swami, the saris that were distributed in the villages were of very good quality. Swami: Saris that were given to the Easwaramma School are also of very good quality. They had big borders.  (Swami sent word to get a sample sari and showed it to Prof. Anil Kumar. He examined the sari and was thrilled to note that a sari of such high quality was given to small School children.)  Swami: (Jokingly) Whatever it is, I won’t give you!!  (Everyone laughed. Mentioning the names of some villages) The schools in these villages are to be whitewashed and the windows are to be painted.  (Swami added that He had already sent the necessary materials.) Prof. A. K.: Swami, in American election, Bush has won. Swami, both Bush and Al Gore have good relations with India. Swami: Yes. Though they are different parties, they have friendly relations with India. (Looking at a teacher) You look tired. Teacher: No, Swami. Today the heat (Dhup) was little more. Swami: Not only Dhup, but also Bhookh (hunger). B. Warden : Swami, we are not tired. Even boys were working very enthusiastically. Swami: (Describing how energetic He was during His youth) When I was young, I used to go to those hills (far from Parthi) and come back.  B. Warden : Swami, You went to the hills for some time. Swami: Yes. I went for some days. Subbamma used to get food for Me. I would come down the hills and take it because it was difficult for her to climb up. When people asked her where I was, she would simply reply that she did not know.  Prof. A. K.: What was your age then, Swami? Swami: 16 years. So many devotees used to come. I didn’t want to trouble them (Swami’s family). They were poor. How would they give food to everyone? So I came out of the village. (Pointing to teachers) They are very tired. (Swami materialised Vibhuti for some of the teachers.) B. Warden : Swami, we are getting good sleep in night because of this work. Swami: If you get good sleep, then no problem. But old people will not get sleep (after such a tiring work). After Bhajans, Swami retired to His Poornachandra residence.

My Experiences of the Omnipresence of Sri Sathya Sai – By Dr. Victor Kanu Issa Vassyam Idam Sarvam  “All this is enveloped by God. All this is soaked in God, saturated by God. Everything is the substance of God”.  Some of the wonders and mysteries of the universe, this marvellous creation of God, were made known to me partly by parents and elders of my country of first domicile, Sierra Leone, and partly by my early teachers and missionaries. The instruction, as might be expected; was contained in legends and stories; music, dance and folklore in oral transmission of a direct nature, and in quasi-secular, and spiritual text books.  That Sierra Leone is rich both in traditional life and in matters of the spirit cannot be seriously disputed. Yet, in spite of this richness neither my experiences gained in traditionalism nor those in modernism, as exemplified by Christian education, ever taught me that all that our senses can or cannot perceive is “enveloped by God…. soaked in God…. saturated by God….is the substance of God.”  It was Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba’s coming into my life that I came to learn not only this indisputable and absolute TRUTH but have also, by His Divine Grace, become a living witness of the Omnipresence of God. Not even Oxford University where I studied Philosophy, could enlighten me on this all-important subject. Perhaps, it could be argued, though, that my statement is an over-exaggeration. For, surely, Philosophy as taught at Oxford must contain elements of God’s existence and Omnipresence. Even if one were to make a concession to this point, it would still be restrictive and circumscribed within the confines of a particular philosophical school of thought. So, by receiving spiritual enlightenment from Bhagavan Baba, the veil of ignorance and intellectual prejudice have, at the same time, been destroyed — never to return again.  Bhagavan Baba is in Africa, a continent that was once described the “dark Continent”. How can Africa be dark when He who is Eternal Light, has always been present there? Speaking to a section of our London group at an interview in July 1989 Bhagavan Baba, pointing to Himself said: Sai Baba is not this body. Sai Baba is a spirit, I am everywhere. The evidence of His Omnipresence will not be based on what other people say or have said or what I have read from books on Bhagavan Baba but, rather, on my own first-hand personal experiences at different levels of consciousness viz. the working, sleep, and dream states. Personal experiences cannot be underestimated, ridiculed, ignored or thrown away in preference to Teachings only.  Baba was present in the pub one evening in December 1974 where He watched me drinking without any limit. No sooner had I gone to bed late that night than He sent two angels to bring me to Prasanthi Nilayam for soul-cleaning. That night I dreamt I was floating in a deep blue and incredibly calm sky with the two young and amazingly handsome boys (angels), one on either side of me. We were floating in silence, eastwards, to a distant land. We began to descend as we approached our destination, until we finally passed through an arch, along a narrow village road where I was left at the Gopuram (above the main wooden entrance that leads to Bhagavan Baba’s Mandir at Prasanthi Nilayam).  Here all the nations of the world were assembled and, among them, were my ancestors who spoke to me in Temne (our tribal language). The assembly was solemnly engaged in healing and spiritual teaching. This dream resulted in a profound change in my social habits and mode of thinking.  I also became aware of His Omnipresence four years later in my room at another address, on 21st February 1978. I prayed to God that morning for assistance in my newly acquired gift of spiritual healing which involved the laying of hands on the sick. I wanted this gift to develop for two reasons: Firstly, for the glory of God, that He may be praised; secondly, for the benefit of mankind. Moments later Bhagavan Baba responded in an enthralling vision, the first vision ever in my life. I had neither prior knowledge of, nor contact with Bhagavan Baba at that point in time.  He was again present at my new address at 50 Longley Road, London SW17 on 3rd February. 1980, when after offering ourselves (my wife and I) to Him in prayer as His devotees, and asking Him to give me a sign if He accepted us, He appeared in my dream that night and confirmed His acceptance. He woke me up in a loud clear voice on 15th march 1980 and said: “United Worship”. That command thereafter removed my slothfulness and led me to the habit of rising early for morning prayers.  Events leading to our first visit to Bhagavan Baba were other occasions when He demonstrated His Omnipresence. My wife and I could not raise the necessary funds to visit Bhagavan Baba (both fares cost 700 pounds sterling). Reluctantly, we had to withdraw our names when the time for payment was due in mid-May 1980. However, on the first Monday of June, the Postman delivered two letters addressed to me at our home: One of these contained a cheque of 500 pounds sterling made out to me by someone I had met only once without disclosing to him our financial predicament. In his covering letter he entreated me to use the funds for my passage to Sai Baba. Two days later, the post man delivered another letter addressed to my wife. It contained 200 pounds sterling made out in her name with pleadings to use this amount to buy saree when she arrived in India. Thus, the full cost of the fares was provided by Bhagavan Baba who was (is) present in our hearts and at our home while we discussed our finances.  Baba’s Omnipresence is beyond human comprehension, yet simple in its execution. Whenever either my thoughts are

Sri Sathya Sai On: The Unifying Message of Indian Culture and Scriptures The revered old man who spoke of the Upasana of Hanuman referred to the Ashtottara Shata Nama (the 108 names) of Anjaneya. I wonder how many of you know the significance of that number 108. Why is it that the strings of the names of the gods are always 108? They could as well be 110 or 112 or 50 or 120, isn’t it? All such mystic numbers have a deep meaning. Man breathes at the rate of 900 per hour, 21,600 times per day, 10,800 during daytime. With every breath, man is supposed to repeat Soham, “I am He,” and so, the figure 216 and its hall 108 has a deep significance. It is also 9 times 12, 9 being the number indicative Of Brahman, since it is always 9, however many times you may multiply it (9 x 12 -108, 1 + 8 – 9, 9 x 9 = 81, 8 + 1 = 9) and 12 is the number of the Sun; also, the Sun moves through 12 Raashis or points, each Raashi representing one month. Just as 9 is the symbol of Brahman, 8 is the number of Maya. For, multiples of 8 go on diminishing in total value, instead of remaining the same or increasing, (2 times 8 is 16 which adds up to 7; 3 times 8 is 24 and so, the total has come down to 6; 4 times 8 is 32 which adds up to 5 and 5 times 8 is 40 adding up to only 4! 6 times 8 is 48, that is, 12 adding to 3. And 7 times 8 adds up to 2. 8 times 8 is 64 and so, only 1). This decrease in value is the best symbol of Maya. Every number has many such valuable inner meanings. It is an interesting subject. You must investigate and reason out, not laugh cynically and condemn. If you stand on the seashore and hesitate to dive into the waters, you cannot secure pearls. The Message of the Vedas One Bhakta sings, “O Krishna! You are dark; the ‘Kalindi deeps’ in the Yamuna river into which you have descended is also dark with rain clouds; my eyeball is dark; my heart too is darkened with dark thoughts. How then can I discover You? Your secret is beyond me; your majesty is ever receding before my imagination.” Now, the dark colour of the Lord is the colour of the deep sea and the deep sky. It signifies the fathomless, unfathomable. What has to be changed is the heart, the intelligence. Above all, do not be traitors to yourselves. If you say one thing and do another, your conscience will itself condemn you as a cheat. You are your won witness. Not all the stones which Rama trod on were converted into humans; only one stone changed into Ahalya, for, repentance and penance had elevated it to that status. Nothing ever is born without the will of God, nothing ever happens without His will; that is the message of the Vedas; understand the Vedas well and this lesson will be instilled into you. Fleas drink only the blood of the cow; but men draw from her the sweet and nourishing milk. So, learn from the Vedas the potence of the Will of the Lord. Once you are fixed in that faith, you will be able to brave all dangers. You complain that God is invisible; but the fault is yours, not to recognise God in all His various manifestations. You are yourself “manifestation of God.” But you do not know it; you call yourself a sinner, worm born in sin, wallowing in sin, essentially wicked. But, let some one, who takes you to your word, call you, “Hello sinner!” you resent it. Why? Because your real nature is purity, peace, joy. Manas, Buddhi, Chittam, Ahamkaram, Indriya (mind, intellect, thought, egoism and senses) these are like the bricks, iron rods, cement, wood, etc., that go to make up a house for the Atma to live in. They are jewels that the Atma wears. They are not you; they are only incidental. The real you is the Atma. This can be learnt only by constant meditation, by moving in good company, by listening to the talks of realised men, by following some prescribed course of discipline. That is why I lay so much emphasis on discipline. Sanatana Dharma: Co-operative Commonwealth The Varna Ashrama (social groups and stages of life) disciplines, to which the Shastri referred, is very useful in this field. Varna or what is called caste, is a convenient arrangement for the conduct of worldly affairs; the Ashramas or the stages of life are roots of supra-worldly joy. The four Varnas are universal; they can be found in any country. The leaders of thought are the Brahmins; the fighters carrying arms are the Kshatriyas; the entrepreneurs and the business executives are the Vaishyas; the busy producers and labourers are the Shudras. Whether head or heels, it is the same blood that circulates through each; it is the same body which claims them as limbs. Each limb has to perform its task, the task for which it has specialised. You cannot walk on your head or think with the feet. It is a co-operative commonwealth, the body as well as the body-politic. The eye is the master of sight; the ear cannot question the authority of the eye, nor the eye that of the ear about sound, or the ear that of the tongue so far as the taste is concerned. Each is the master in its own field. The Ashramas are also steps towards the attainment of detachment and fulfillment. They ensure experience and the unfoldment of personality. God cannot be bamboozled Each Varna and Ashrama has it own rules, regulations and restrictions. A bullock cart cannot move on rails nor a locomotive on the road. Each type of vehicle has its own type of road. But, all move forward and reach the goal in their own good time. When the heart is pure, the Lord is revealed. He is the judge; He cannot be bamboozled. The doctor may assure you that you have no fever, but the thermometer cannot lie. The doctor may

Sri Sathya Sai Message on First Ladies Day Celebrations at Prasanthi Nilayam Sunday, November 19, 1995 Bhagavan chose to celebrate 19th November as Ladies Day. Ladies Day was celebrated at Prasanthi Nilayam on 19th November 1995 for the first time.  Swami gave a Discourse to the ladies at Poornachandra Auditorium. He said: In this infinite universe, among the myriads of living beings humanity is eminent. Among human beings, it is a privilege to be born as a woman. There are many examples to demonstrate the preeminence of women. Was not Rama born as a Divine incarnation in Kaushalya’s womb? Did not Lava and Kusha (the twins) become great because they were born to Seeta? Was it not Jijabai’s loving care which made Shivaji great? Was it not Putlibai’s piety which made Gandhi a Mahatma? All the greater sages, and saints, heroes and warriors were born to women “who made them great”. Woman is the Goddess of Nature… Women should be revered From ancient times the feminine aspect of the Divine has been worshipped in various ways. The Veda declares that where women are honoured and esteemed, there divinity is present with all its potency. Unfortunately today men consider it demeaning to honour women. This is utterly wrong and is a sign of ignorance. Stree (Woman) is Grihalakshmi (the Goddess of Prosperity for the home). She is hailed as Dharmapatni (the virtuous spouse). She is called – Illalu (the mistress of the house) and Ardhaangi (the better half). People gloat over petty titles conferred on them. But women have been conferred the highest titles which are valid for all time. A home ‘without a woman is a jungle. Men should realise the high status of women and honour and respect them accordingly. They should not make women weep and shed tears. A home where the woman sheds tears will be ruined. Men should give an honourable place for women and lead a respectable life. The archetypal woman is described as Adi Shakti (the primal source of all energy) having a whole array of powers. She is hailed as the mother of the Amritasyaputraah (children of immortality). The Trigunas in the word “Stree” The word Stree is made up of three, consonants, “Sa”, “Ta” and “Ra”. “Sa” signifies the Sattvic nature of women. It represents also the triple aspects of experiencing divinity Saalokyam (vision of the Divine), Saameepyam (proximity) and Saayujyam (mergence). “Tha” signifies the Tamasic quality. But this Tamasic quality is’ not indolence and slothfulness. It includes qualities like humility, kindness and modesty. This means that women begin with qualities like meekness and-modesty so that they may serve the family and society in the right spirit. There is a saying in Andhra Pradesh: “Judge a house by its mistress.” “Ra” represents the Rajoguna. This does not mean pugnacity and querulousness. This quality signifies the preparedness of women, where necessary, even to sacrifice their lives for the sake of their honour and the honour of their family. Bharat’s history is full of examples of women who fought valiantly and gave’ up their lives to protect their husbands and their honour. Stree thus represents the combination of the three Gunas. Woman, who should be highly honoured for these qualities, is being treated as a Abala (weaker vessel) and assigned an inferior status. It will not be out of place to mention here that women who have wielded power in Bharat or other countries have proved themselves to be exceptionally able and successful…  There are several organizations which are being run by women with great dedication and zeal for the benefit of the people. Valmiki extolled the sweetness of womanhood. What is the cause of, this sweetness? The spirit of sacrifice is the cause, according to Valmiki. Spirit of sacrifice is found-only in women A mother is ready to sacrifice everything even her life, for the sake of her child. Such a spirit is to be found only among women. If a child is grievously ill, the father may say that the child may as well die. But the mother will try to save the child at any cost. It is for this reason, that woman is described as Tyagamurti, the embodiment of sacrifice. Men do not have the same spirit of sacrifice as women. Men may present a heroic pose, but do not have the determination and perseverance to carry on the struggle to the end. Valmiki described woman as the Bhakti Swaroopini (embodiment of devotion). Man was described as Jnana Swaroopa. The Jnani has limited access to the Divine mansion. But the woman devotee has access to innermost apartments. The preeminent status accorded to women will be evident from all the ancient scriptures. In this context the role of women as mothers should be understood. The great hero, Shivaji, was moulded entirely by the teachings of his mother. Rama was taught by his mother Kaushalya to follow the sacred path of Dharma. The lives of the great show to what extent they were the products of their mothers. Gandhiji became a staunch adherent of truth after a lesson he learnt from his mother, who could not bear her son telling a lie even to make her break her fast. It is the mothers who make their children take to the right path, not so much the fathers. Today we find the father’s teaching the children to utter lies. For instance, when the telephone rings in the house, the father who is in the house tells his son to inform the caller that the father is not at home. The practice of fathers allowing the sons to go astray has a long ancestry. It started in the Dwapara Yuga with Dhritarashtra, father of Duryodhana. Whatever evil deeds his son did, Dhritarashtra used to say he was a good man. Fathers who allow their sons to go astray are not real fathers at all. Prahlada observed: “Only he is father who advises the son to seek God. Only he is a true guru who instructs the pupil about God.” The mother is the first preceptor for the child Mothers in ancient days used to teach, the children about right conduct, morality and devotion. The first preceptor for a child is the mother. For this reason, Bharatiya culture gave the first place to the mother among the four persons to be revered

The ‘Moon’ Miracles Swami performed another fantastic Moon-Leela at Brindavan on this day. Swami in the middle of His conversation with the College students asked them in a joyful mood, “Ask anything you want”. That day was a full moon day. A daring student requested, “Swami, please bring down that Moon from the sky for us”.  “Very well”, said Swami looking at the sky. The next moment there glowed in His hands a wondrous ball, shedding cool moonlight all around. “Look up”, He said. The surprising sight that the students saw in the skies! The original Moon was shorn of its lustre and looked pale as a piece of paper. Swami closed His hands over the ‘Earthly Moon’. At once the anaemic Moon above regained its regal splendour. As Swami opened His hands once again the sky Moon became lack-lustre. On His closing the hands, once again the effulgence of the moon spread above in the sky. Saturday, December 8, 1973 Swami visited a sylvan resort along with His group enroute to Brindavan from Prashanti Nilayam on 8th December, 1973. One of the devotees plucked a ripe wood apple about an inch in diameter from a wood-apple tree and gave it to Swami. To the delight of the devotees around, He held it in His closed palms and transformed it into a mini-Moon, and showed it to all the devotees. With another folding and unfolding of His palm, the mini-Moon regained its original form of the wood-apple.

Divine Tutelage under Sri Sathya Sai – By Prof. G. Bhalachandran Our Loving God says that in the present, the past lives; the future gets shaped in the present. I feel quite nostalgic while I go down the memory lane. When I was eight years old, my parents showed me this wonderful Lord as my ‘Saviour’.  When I was eleven, my parents brought me to Parthi for His Divine Darshan, Sparshan, and Sambhashan and for His Divine benediction in the course of the Interview that He graciously granted the entire family. Then onwards, all the members of our family have been drawn to His fold one after another, guarded, guided, and groomed to be instruments in His Divine Mission. Way back in 1976, I was in my second year MA (Economics) class, preparing for my university examinations, under the ‘watchful eye’ of my revered teacher, Prof. A N Rajamani. We had seven papers. The sixth one, Regional Economics, was the first optional paper, on a Saturday afternoon. The examination started at 2 p.m. nowhere, could I see any economics in that question paper. I was in the predicament of the legendary elephant-king, Gajendra! I was completely lost! Then, I closed my question paper, surrendered to my Lord faithfully in my heart without a trace of ego and invited Him to write the examination through me, Then, I opened my question paper. Lo and behold! The five questions, out of ten which I had to answer were there, so simple and straight forward. The members of my family and I, could realize the Divine Play in it only when I was awarded Justice P. Chandra Reddy Gold Medal by the University of Madras, for having stood first in MA (Economics) which fetched me later, by choice, an Assistant Professorship in Economics at CBM College, Coimbatore, in the very same year. As a Seva Dal volunteer, I actively participated in the service activities of the Coimbatore Samiti. In November 1978, I was one among the several groups posted on duty at a site where (the Prasanthi Nilayam Campus of SSSIHL is housed now) our beloved Swami laid the foundation stone for Sri Sathya Sai Arts, Science and Commerce College (SSSASCC).  I had an intuitive feeling that I would be drawn soon to serve in His glorious educational institution the very next year. Since I was in a permanent job then, there was no reason for me to think of any other alternatives very seriously. When I stumbled upon the advertisement in a newspaper, inviting applications for the post of a Lecturer in Economics, at SSSASCC, Prasanthi Nilayam, I got a phone call informing me that our beloved Lord would visit Ooty the following day. Immediately, the devotees from Coimbatore made arrangements for a bus to go to Ooty for the Darshan of the Lord and took me also along with them. When Swami approached the Coimbatore group, I gathered courage and prayed to Him to permit me to serve in Puttaparthi College. Swami replied in the affirmative; “Yes, yes, yes.” Then, I consulted my parents and applied for the post. A formal interview was conducted at Brindavan and I was selected. The management of the CBM College, Coimbatore was considerate enough to relieve me from my duties immediately. But, the Principal of the CBM College who had joined just then, directed me to get an extension of time from the authorities of SSSASCC. I rushed to Parthi and Swami lovingly conceded my prayer and graciously permitted me to join after 15 days. Fifteen days passed. The Principal of the CBM College did not keep his promise and directed me to approach the authorities of SSSASCC for yet another extension of fifteen days. When I was in a fix, a senior colleague of mine there challenged me by remarking: “Your Baba is known for miracles! Why couldn’t He do something in your case?” A voice from within came and I replied: “He does and you will be the first to witness that!’ The next day, I happened to go to the house of the former Principal of the CBM College, Prof. Narayanan, who got very annoyed on hearing about the way in which the issue had been handled. He took me straight to the Chairman of the CBM College, pleaded with him on my behalf and persuaded him to take the initiative in getting my relief. The following day, the Chairman came to the college, ordered the Principal to issue my ‘relieving order’ immediately. After obtaining my ‘relieving order’ from the Principal in just fifteen minutes, the first person I met was the same colleague who had doubted the ever-encompassing love of Swami! The very next day, I joined my duty at SSSASCC and met Prof. N Kasturi with whom I maintained a close relationship for decades. While recounting my experience in getting relieved from the CBM College to him, I got a flash of revelation that the ordeal I had gone through was to pound my ego which should never raise its head for the rest of my life. A few days later during Darshan, Swami enquired after me and christened me ‘Coimbatore’. Whenever occasion demanded, He called me ‘Coimbatore’ and I had a doubt for a long time whether Swami knew my name at all. The ‘staff meeting’ of the college used to be in the Divine Presence in the Divine Interview Room in the Mandir. Swami used to touch upon several issues in the course of His conversation and fill the hearts of everyone with confidence, missionary zeal, and love. On one such occasion, I was far away from Him. He spoke in mellifluous Telugu for over an hour and a half without any translation. After He concluded, without looking at my side, He lovingly enquired in Telugu, “Bhalachandran! Did you understand what I spoke?” Though Telugu was not my mother tongue, I followed His Message. I replied quickly, “Yes, Swami.” He turned back and gave me a broad

Sri Sathya Sai On: Overcome Four Blemishes to Avert Spiritual Disaster Education must provide illumination; the darkness of ignorance and the dusk of doubt have to flee before that splendour. Then it is easy to cultivate good thoughts, feelings and impulses in the brightness of heart. Or, as some perverted persons do, bad thoughts, bad feelings and bad impulses can be bred in the original darkness itself. The first is the Rama path, the second, the Ravana path. Education does not end with the accumulation of information; it must result in transformation of the habits, character and aspirations of the individual. Knowledge has to be tested in daily action. Now, man has no information on the most precious heritage that he has within him. He is interested in everyone except his own self. If only he becomes aware of his self, he can have vast strength, deep peace and great joy added unto himself. Now, he is like a man standing under a blazing sun wailing, “O! I am in the darkness, I am caught up in the night.” He is like the man standing on the bank of the Ganga, and crying that he is having unbearable thirst. He has in him the very embodiment of Peace, Bliss and Love. But, he has no knowledge of this. He lives out his days in fear, hatred and sorrow. Science has provided man with the radio, the television set and the film. They are each useful and productive of good, if each one is manipulated by persons with a pure social consciousness and with love in their hearts. But, they are now in the hands of people with no high moral standards, who find in them tools for amassing money and so, they have become enemies of human progress. The tender minds of growing children are polluted by these media of communication. Person endowed with Shraddha gains wisdom Man has to cleanse his mind of four blemishes before he can overcome the disaster that is fast overtaking him. They are Ashraddha, Krodha, Avishwasam and Chinta (want of steady application in work, anger, faltering faith in oneself and a perpetual sense of worry). First Shraddha (steady interest) and application in the discharge of one’s duty. It is said that the person endowed with Shraddha gains Jnana (wisdom). How can Jnana be won by half-hearted dedication? Youth today is very flighty; they are carried away by fantasies, whims and fancies. They are reluctant to dive deep into the truth of themselves or the outer world, They run after the sheets of water they perceive in mirages; can glow-worms light, a lamp? Frivolities and fancies cannot grant peace and happiness; what is really worth while has to be discovered first; then, steady effort must follow to gain them. Anger is injurious to the progress of youth Krodha (anger) is deadly poison. It affects others by its fumes, manifested through the eye, the tongue and the hands. The seed of a poison tree sprouts into a poisonous plant and when it becomes a big tree, its leaves, flowers and fruits will be certainly poisonous. So too, the person addicted to anger can only emanate poison, through thought, word and deed. An angry thought is like a pebble thrown into the calm waters of the Manasa-Sarovar (Mind-lake), inside man. It creates a circular effect which spreads through the entire lake. Anger is very injurious to the progress of youth. Strive by all means to prevent the poison entering your mental make-up. Cultivate love, kindliness, the spirit of Seva, and encourage all thoughts of co-operation with others See the Divinity in each one, as you must see it in your own selves. The third handicap is Avishwasam (weak faith in oneself). Now, you have faith in the body and its appurtenances and not in the inner motivator, the charioteer. That is why. faith falters when some minor calamity happens. Contemplate on the impermanence of wealth, fame, worldly friendship, etc. Youth today have faith in unreal, transient, momentary pleasures and pastimes. They have no knowledge of the-eternal, the changeless, the ever-blissful. Precious years of life are thus wasted in worthless pursuits. Cultivate faith in the value of Seva; believe that love can overcome hatred. Have faith in righteousness and the moral life. This is called Dharma (righteousness) since, Dhara means that which is worn, that which envelops, etc. Do not stray into wrong paths, enticed by sensual desires and plans for self-aggrandizement. The next attitude to overcome is ‘Chinta‘ (the habit of sliding into worry and despot). Once this weed takes root in the mind of man, it assumes many forms to assert its hold. Every stage of life is fraught with anxiety; every step in the progress of man is a cause for worry. In fact, birth, death, old age, illness, every one of these multiply worries of their own. How to get sleep is a cause for worry; how to get up from the bed is another worry! Today admission to Colleges causes worry; admission to the hostel is another worry; the examination causes worry. But these are matters that are not essential. They need not cause so much heart-burning as the problem of removing the fundamental error in the thought process – the ignoring of the Divine that inspires and guides you always and for ever. Science can give only incomplete information Jnana (Knowledge) is usually associated with two ways of acquisition – the worldly or the material and the Spiritual or Brahman path. The worldly path is like a pair of scissors. It cuts knowledge into pieces. The Brahman path is like a needle – it makes the separate parts into One and indivisible. The Sadhaka (spiritual aspirant) must be aware of both. When you declare a person to be a Jnani (liberated person, he has passed through these two stages.  Science or the study of observable sensory matter, of measurable and calculable items, can give only incomplete information. The sea has pearls in its depths; but, you have to dive into it to secure them. The waves throw out only shells. You are celebrating Swami’s Birthday today in this College. It is only when brotherliness, devotion, dedication and discipline are cultivated that Swami can be installed in your hearts. Do everything to develop love and to share that love with all, especially with the villages

Conversations with Sri Sathya Sai on Hostel Food Menu December 20, 1999 After interview… Swami: What sports do you have? Student:  March past, Swami. Swami:  It is not a sport.  What sport do you have? Student:  Cricket Swami. Swami: Cricket!  Do you know, how it got its name?  (The boy did not answer.  Then to a teacher) Do you know? Teacher: No, Swami. Swami: The pads, which the cricketers put one, make ‘kir-kir’ sound.  Therefore, they called it cricket.  (Everyone laughed along with Swami.) Idli is the ball. It will fall in chutney and it will come into your mouth! (Swami called the hostel kitchen in charge.)   What Venkatachalam?  What is the food? Teacher: Swami, Idli, Vada and Sambar. Swami: Idli!  Idli is small or big?  Big dosa is called dosa and even small dosa is called dosa?  How many idlis?  Two, is it not? Teacher: Swami, Three. Swami: Vada, only one. Teacher: Swami, two. Swami: (To students) Who ate more Idlis?  (One boy lifted his hand)  How many? Student:  Three, Swami. Swami: Three or four?  (To Institute Warden) You buy bread from outside. It gives liquor smell because they add it for fermentation. Warden: Swami, we have told them not to do so. Swami: They will not tell you.  But they will mix (casually). Brindavan boys have to go to canteen when they come here. You do not accommodate them! Nevertheless, it is the Wardens’ job; they should settle it with the canteen. Brindavan boys eat more and so, therefore a little more expenditure!  Boys should not eat more. It will lead to Tamas. Eating less will help in doing more work.   (To the kitchen in-charge)  What was there for lunch? K Inch.: Swami, Cabbage Pulav. Swami: Cabbage Pulav!  I do not know how they make it. K Inch.: Swami, rice, and cabbage are mixed. Swami: But pulav with cabbage, how can it be made! What else did you have for lunch? K.Inch: Cucumber, Pacchi Dosakai… Swami: Cucumber! Pacchi dosakai. How was it given?  With salt or with lemon? K.Inch: We made them round and gave it. Swami: Round!  Like chips.  Chips are made very thin.  Boys can eat ten cucumber pieces in one stroke. How many kilograms of rice are needed per day? K.Inch: Swami, fifty kgs of rice. Swami: How many boys can eat one kg of rice? K.Inch: Ten boys, Swami. Swami: One boy should eat quarter kg.  So four boys should eat a kg.  Is rice of good or second quality? K.Inch: Swami, good one.  (Swami asked boys for approval) Students: Yes Swami. Swami: What is for dinner?   (A teacher told something to Swami in a low voice)  I saw Venkatachalam 25 years back in Delhi. That time I stayed in Mr. Krishna Menon’s house (then Defence Minister of India) (Then Swami asked the boys if anyone had seen Delhi. Swami picked up a boy and asked where he was from.) Student: Delhi, Swami. Swami: Then you have seen Delhi, is it not?  Which part of town do you live in? Student: Old town. Swami: Old town.  (To a teacher)  Nowadays, every place has old town and new town. Teacher: Yes, Swami. Swami: Even in Anantapur, old and new towns are there.  Now they are building a ‘Modern Sathya Sai town’.  I had given the government, 100 acres and asked them to build houses, and distribute them to poor people.  Now 500 houses are there. They are insisting that I should come for opening that.  Also, they told that they would not open them if Swami was not going to come. Collector is insisting. I told that I would give them water and even arrange for drainage system. Teacher: Swami, You have provided everything. Then what is it that they do? Swami: No, no. They are happy, and so am I. It costed 80 lakhs in those days, now it will cost 8 crores.  Then Swami told about the newly built Junior College in Anantapur. He told that it was as beautiful as the Administrative Block of the University. When a teacher asked what was the strength, Swami replied 700-800. Swami also told they would be coming for the Sports Meet.  After this, Swami went on to tell how the Anantapur Campus Warden had dealt with a group of striking students (students of the neighbouring colleges). He told that a group of students went to the Anantapur Hostel and asked the students to join them.  They even asked who their leader was.  Then the Warden came out and explained the correct position to those students. She added that strikes would result in waste of time, energy, exam-postponement and other related problems, and so it was not good for the students. Swami reiterated the fact that strikes were never good for students. Swami: (Swami called the Warden) Are you paying for the boys who went to Bangalore? Warden: Yes Swami. Swami: Yes, that is Nyayam (Justice).  None of those boys wrote a letter to Me.  (Warden tried to explain that they were busy with the coaching but Swami did  not agree to it).  Manchidi, Manchidi.  Are you giving Ghee to boys? Warden: Sometimes, Swami. Swami: Ah! One teaspoon of Ghee contains 100 calories. In Primary School, they give Ghee.   Swami: But do you give curds? Warden: Swami!  No buttermilk… Swami: Ah! Water curds you give.  Water curd. In my opinion, lot of wastage is there. Do not waste.

Sri Sathya Sai On: Isa, His Spiritual Journey and Message The followers of every religion, in their own way and style, call upon the One God who is Omnipresent. It is the same God who confers upon all mankind, health, prosperity, peace and happiness. No religion has a separate God showering Grace upon those who profess to abide by that faith alone! It is the destiny of man to journey from humanity to Divinity. In this pilgrimage he is bound to encounter various obstacles and trials. In order to illumine the path and help him overcome these troubles, sages, seers, realised souls, Divine personalities and Incarnations of God take birth in human form. They move among the afflicted and the seekers who have lost their way or strayed into the desert, and lead them into confidence and courage. Certain personalities are born and live out their days for this very purpose. They can be called Karana Janmas (born for a purpose), for they take on the Janma (birth) for a Karana (cause, purpose). Such guides, exemplars and leaders, appear among all peoples and in all lands. They inspire faith in higher ideals, and teach in the Voice of God, counselling from the heart. Of course there are many aspirants who by their devotion, dedication and disciplined lives, attain the vision of the Omnipresent, Omnipotent and Omniscient One. They are content with the Bliss they have won for themselves. There are others who go out to share this bliss with those beyond the pale; they guide and lead and are blessed thereby. They teach that multiplicity is a delusion and that Unity is the Reality. The three stages of Jesus’ life Jesus was Karana-Janma, a Master born with a purpose, the mission of restoring love, charity and compassion in the heart of man. He had no attachment to the self, nor paid any heed to joy or sorrow, loss or gain. He had a heart that responded to the call of anguish, and he went about the land preaching the lesson of love. His life was a libation for the upliftment of humanity. Like most seekers, he first searched for the Divine in the objective world. But he soon realised that the world is a kaleidoscopic picture created by one’s own imagination, and sought to find God within himself. His stay in the Himalayan monasteries in Kashmir and in other centres of eastern asceticism and philosophical inquiry, gave him greater awareness.  From the attitude of being a Messenger of God, he could now call himself the Son of Clod. The bond of relationship increased: the ‘I’ was no more some distant light or entity; the light became a part of the “I.” With the body-consciousness predominant, he was a messenger. With the heart-consciousness in the ascendant, he-felt a greater nearness and dearness, and so the son-father bond seems natural at this stage. Later as the Atman-consciousness was established, Jesus could declare, “I and My Father are One.” The three stages may be described as: “I was in the Light,” “the Light was in me,” and “I am the light,” and may be compared to the Dwaita (dualism), Visishtadwaita (qualified non-dualism) and Adwaita (non-dualism) stages as described in Vedic philosophy. The final stage is the one when all duality has been shed. This is the essence of all religious disciplines and teachings. Jesus’ original name was Isa Jesus was honoured by the populace as Christ, for they found in his thoughts, words and deeds, no trace of ego. He had no envy or hatred, and was full of love and charity, humility and sympathy. Jesus’ original name was Isa which, when repeated, is Sai. Isa and Sai, both mean Ishwara (God), the Eternal Absolute, the Sat-Chit-Ananda (Being-Awareness-Bliss). In the Tibetan manuscript, at the monastery where Isa spent some years, his name is written as Isha, which means the Lord of all living beings.  When Jesus proclaimed that he was the Messenger of God, he wanted to emphasise that every one is a messenger of God and has to speak, act and think like one. This is the true Karma-Kanda (branch dealing with action and its reaction) of the Vedas: Sadhana (discipline) of Karma (work), Japa (prayer), Seva (service) and Dhyana (meditation). When progress is furthered, Jesus asserted, each one can recognise all as Sons of God, Children of God, brothers and sisters of oneself, and so, deserving of worship. The Upasana Kanda (branch of Vedas dealing with contemplation) is the scripture in Sanatana Dharma (Eternal Universal Religion) for this stage. Finally, knowledge ripens into wisdom and the goal of Jnana Kanda (branch of Vedas dealing with spiritual wisdom) is reached, when each one realises, “I and my Father are One.” Do not confine Jesus to one community The Birthday of Jesus must be celebrated by all mankind, for such Karana-Janmas belong to the whole human race. They should not be confined to a single country or community. Jesus found that scholars and ritualists had befogged the true religion, He engaged himself in teaching both spirituality and morality, for education is the very light of life. Jesus found that people were running after glass beads, imagining them to be diamonds and attaching great value to them. He went round the holy shrines and discovered that they had become bazaars where Grace was being bargained and commercialised. He condemned the priesthood which tolerated and encouraged these practises. So he drew upon himself the anger of the heads of temples and monasteries. They tempted one of his disciples with 30 silver pieces, to betray him into their hands. The Roman rulers were told that Jesus was attempting to assert himself as King and so could be punished for treason. Their insistence made the Governor order his crucifixion. When the nails were being driven into him to fix him on the Cross, Jesus heard the Voice of the Father saying, “All life is one, My dear Son. Be alike to every one,” and he pleaded that those who were crucifying him may be pardoned for they knew not what they did. Jesus sacrificed himself for the sake of mankind. Carols and candles, readings from the Bible and acting out the incidents that surrounded His Birth, are not enough to celebrate the Birth of Jesus. Jesus said that the bread taken in the ‘last supper’ was