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

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

Divine Pastime… When God Supreme is credited as The Creator of this visible and all invisible universes, He and He alone can authentically speak of His mysterious creation. Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai has often made profound revelations about His projected creation and His role as the Master Creator. God initiates man into innocent, tender, loveable and loving childhood, and what does he do in turn… Read on Sri Sathya Sai… Creation has emerged from God, Who is free from desire. It is a spontaneous unfolding, beyond human understanding. No one can unravel the Divine Mystery. Human activity, however spontaneous it may seem, can be explained to originate from some patent or latent wish or other. But, God’s activity can never yield an answer to human enquiry about its why or whence or wherefore. God is omniscient. He is the source of supreme delight, of extreme ecstasy. The joy flashes as sport, as prank and purposeless play, leela. God needs neither helper nor material for the process of Creation. His serene, stable, sovereign Fullness can become movement, rotation and vibration, when He Wills. And, all the living and non-living entities God projects are led towards acquisition of the very Ecstasy whose overflow they are. God is the paramount principle of Bliss that is not affected by time or materiality, for He is the basis for the material world of time and matter. His Bliss pervades all Creation. That is the way His leela works. But, created beings are diverse and entangled in duality. If they emerge from the Bliss of the One, how could some be so fearful and anxious and some calm and peaceful? An inference such as this is very wrong; it is unwarranted and unjustified. The Rain God showers his gift on all things on earth, edible crops as well as thorny weeds. The seeds of both sprout and grow in accordance with their different natures. Likewise, the Divine Bliss, Love and Light are the sustenance for all nature. The qualities of head and heart, either virtuous or vicious, decide whether life is happy or miserable, praiseworthy or blameworthy. Good deeds mould men into saints; bad deeds shape them as sinners. God initiates men into innocent, tender, loveable and loving childhood. But men relish envy, greed and hatred and cast off the gift of softness and sweetness. They cultivate instead the thorny weeds. Men seek joy in this Cause Consequence duo. God has no gain to achieve, no need to project the Cosmos. He has everything; He is everything. He plays motiveless and unattached out of sheer elan. II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II

OneNess – The Mantra Of True Truth Aspirants… Ekoham Bahusyami – the most authentic Indian scriptural declaration about the process of creation indicates that in the ‘beginningless’ beginning The One chose to become many. The Big Bang theory of the western philosophy also points towards the same truth, of The One multiplying into many. The term ‘Oneness’ points towards The One without any second, call it Totality or The Absolute. Isn’t it the beginning of the ‘beginningless’ beginning? If one subtly observes the created world around, the answer becomes quite clear that, there is no second thing, except The One. To understand this man has to exercise a reverse engineering process, turning himself inward, instead of being focused on the illusory, hallucinatory world around. With a ‘bit of inner perception’ one will be able to understand that every single act happening in Sri Sathya Sai Prasanthi Nilayam serves a pointer towards this unity, harmony, oneness. Umpteen times Bhagawan has personally asserted about Unity, Harmony, Cooperation, crowning it all with His Teachings on Love and Peace to all of creation. He has time and again exhorted that ‘Love’ is the undercurrent of everything, be it human or other forms of existence. The Lord Who has ever spoken in the most easily understandable language – the language of the heart, always referred to everyone as Divyatma Swarupulara, Premaswarupulara, meaning ‘Embodiments of Divine Atma’, ‘Embodiments of Love’, certainly serving an indicator towards man’s exalted position of Godhood. The theory of Ekoham Bahusyami has an interesting ‘tale’ wherein the Supreme Godhood, The One and Only Param Atma, Who, while manifesting HimSelf into many, creating countless ‘jeevatmas’, had given the promise to man that he is made in His Own Image with the same Essence, the essence being that of Oneness and the image being all the virtuous attributes, of Truth, Righteousness, Peace, Love, Compassion, etc. Every single act endorsed by Bhagawan, be it in His ever alluring Physical Presence or now in His most astounding subtle omnipresence, is pointing towards this supreme truth of Oneness. He is preparing His loved ones towards this ‘Truth Beyond Truth’, enticing them in His most inimitable way to become ‘True Truth Aspirants’. Be it the everyday spiritual sadhana of Prasanthi Nilayam that includes Prasanthi’s own Sai Bhajans to the multifarious activities running through the calendar year, namely, the Dasara Jnana Saptaha Yajna, various functions and festivities, the Summer Course for students – the tailor-made educational curriculum of Sri Sathya Sai Institutions with its steadfast stress on human values, every single enterprise summits towards this goal of Oneness, script-writer being The Timeless Supreme Lord called Sri Sathya Sai. Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai’s famous revelation on His creation is recorded thus: “There was no one to know Who I Am until I created the world at My Pleasure, with one word. Immediately mountains rose up, oceans, seas, lands and water shades, sun, moon and desert sands sprang out of nowhere to prove My Existence. Then came all forms of beings, men, beasts and birds, speaking, hearing, flying, all powers were bestowed upon them under My Orders. The first place was granted to mankind, and My Knowledge was placed in man’s mind.” The famous dictum of Bhagawan on Life, which begins with ‘Life is a Game Play It…’ and ends with ‘Life Is Awareness…’ indicates this subtle truth of Sri Sathya Sai that, He, Who has created this world as His past-time has definitely meant it to be a game. The same could be accepted with the spirit of challenge, so as to realise the dream, while blending it with love unsullied, finally to manifest the true truth that Life is an Awareness, that of Oneness. The epochal Divine discourse after Sri Sathya Sai ‘healed’ HimSelf of a paralytic stroke way back in 1963 has a subtle, yet profound pointer. This was the discourse wherein Bhagawan revealed to the world of believers the ‘Bharadwaja’ story involving Lord Shiva, revealing HimSelf as “Shiva-Shakthi’ Avatar. Shiva here stands for the Eternal Purusha, and Shakthi refers to Adi Parashakthi, moulding into One as Para Brahma Sri Sathya Sai, the Supreme Resolve. The subtle indicator here is, on 6th July 1963, while delivering His Divine discourse, His Voice had turned ‘feeble’, barely audible to the anxious, devout assemblage. He asked, again and again, over and over again, “Vinipisthundhaa?” meaning ‘do you hear Me?’ He, Who Is the Cosmic Canvas, keeps sending us gentle reminders, gentle taps from His Greater Heaven, reminding His dear ones of The True Truth Behind Truth. But, is man ready? It has to be accepted that He is loud and clear, loud enough to hear, but He can act ‘helpless’ if man turns a deaf ear, drooping in darkness, only to teach him a better lesson. Prasanthi Nilayam is a ‘workshop’ with a unique curriculum, teaching ‘Sai Yoga’ or the ‘Sai Path’, which is a fine blend of all the paths described in the scriptures, be it the Karma Yoga, the Bhakti Yoga or the Jnana Yoga. Every action here leads to ‘That Oneness’, be it the various service activities that come under the ‘Karma Yoga’ or the everyday bhajans that can be exemplarily classified as a mode of the ‘Bhakti Yoga’, every single activity here leads on to the Jnana Yoga of Oneness. The One Who has embodied as Sri Sathya Sai has His definite agenda, antidote for the world in Him, and His game is on… The Karma and Bhakti modes of worship promoted by Prasanthi Nilayam will definitely help man to expand, by practising to behold the Beloved One in every bit and being around him, and thus to expand to Infinity. When He becomes The Supreme Resolve, every single religion, every single scripture, every single master and teaching becomes His, belonging to Him, and thus this final quote credited to Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj, one of the illustrious masters of India, an eternal beacon radiating the supreme reality of Oneness. “I Prostrate To MySelf Who Am Within All Beings, The Ever Free Self-Abiding As Inner Consciousness.” II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II

My Life Is My Message What i think, i must speak and what i speak, i must act… this is Trikarana Suddhi, purity and unity of the three essential faculties of man, viz., thought, word and deed. Bhagawan has always been in the forefront, practising what He preaches, not by being ‘liable’ or ‘duty bound’, but purely by being Love HimSelf. On 5th June 2005 Prasanthi Nilayam witnessed something unique, when Our Beloved Bhagawan plunged ‘HimSelf’ into a unique action,  acting HimSelf out His dictum ‘My Life Is My Message’. Reproducing a beautiful ‘Darshan’ story from 2005. World is a big stage and we have greater lessons to learn watching it. With Bhagawan, one has to be on a constant watch, as every moment is counted and if one is focused, he will have lessons galore to learn and imbibe. After a momentous Thursday, the day when Bhagawan decided to bless the University Campus in Prasanthi Nilayam with His Divine visit, came a pleasant Friday. Though summer’s clutch was loosened, it has not left the spiritual township completely and the day’s weather was a mix and by the time for evening Darshan, it turned cool again with ominous signs of imminent rains. Bhagawan came out just after 1630 hrs. before coming onstage for a brief spell, watching and blessing the students chanting Vedam. Bhajans started at the scheduled 1700 hrs. and Bhagawan came on stage once again. …And following Him came the rainy showers lashing from the heavens as if the mythical ‘Rain God’ was waiting for the Over Lord to come and decorate His dais. Lashing rains with strong winds splashed the rainy drops all around bringing in renewed natural freshness all over. With Bhagawan on stage granting static Darshan, with mellifluous bhajans on, hundreds of devotees outside the main gate next to the Sita-Rama statue got stranded in the lashing rains, leaving them completely drenched. Bhagawan, The Silent Witness He Is ever, was waiting as He had something to demonstrate, a unique visiting card of His Love and Compassion. Even as the bhajans continued, He was glued to the main gate watching the hundreds getting ‘drenched’. For the onlookers, it was something uniquely strange, that He was physically focused on His devotees, watching the rainy celebration. Who would know what was happening inside of Him, as from inside ‘out’ Bhagawan was bathing them in His indefinable Gaze Of Love! Sevadal volunteers were  disciplined enough to maintain ‘peace’, especially with Bhagawan onstage, watching the melee. Lord AlMighty He Is, and His Heart Is nothing but Love n’ Compassion, it was time for action! Bhagawan soon sent word to the security to break the cordon, allowing the stranded devotees inside to occupy the vacant area near the Sita-Rama statue. The Prasanthi Nilayam Security, being conventional following the ‘laid’ discipline in letter and spirit, allowed the gents in,  leaving the ladies out. In Prasanthi Nilayam, as a matter of customary discipline, gents and ladies are not allowed to mix-up in the Darshan hall. Watching this security ‘drama’, Bhagawan sent special instructions ‘to break the deep cordon’, allowing the devout ladies in, allowing them to occupy one side of the vacant spot! Action done and lessons imparted, leaving the onlookers to take the best out of the ‘drama’. Bhajans went on till 1750 hrs. when Bhagawan indicated for Mangala Arathi. Post the Arathi Bhagawan’s compassionate loving gaze continued to shower on the special group,  who are the recipients of a special  ‘rain-packed-blessing’ from the Lord Supreme in His earthly Abode, right outside His Sanctum Sanctorum!!!  Our Lord Of Compassion was not in a mood to stop. He moved unto them next, granting them the DARSHAN of their lives… and one could hear ecstatic hearts, drenched in Pure Love, chanting Jaikars of infinite gratitude, that reverberated Prasanthi in the rain-hit twilight. The Lord Who penned the thematic value-oriented drama ‘Cheppinattu Chestara’ during His teen years, meaning ‘do i follow what i speak’, Who HimSelf followed His ‘own’ dictum, ‘Love All Serve All, Help Ever Hurt Never’, demonstrated it in action yet again, out in public, leaving the best of the lessons for the world around. II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II

Manasa Bhajare… With this first-ever message to humanity, He spilled out The Secret For Liberation… Now, man must remember that every recurrence of 20th Oct is a ‘SaiLent’ reminder to him to revisit His ‘first-ever’ message to make ‘’Manasa Bhajare…’ one’s life-breath and . . . beyond!!! Announcing the dismissal of Maya, announcing His True Truth, Sathya, The ‘little’ Divine at 14, bestowed upon the humanity the first blessing and in fact, the Ultimate Blessing… Prayer For Liberation, Manasa Bhajare… While revisiting the epochal happening on the 20th October 1940, man should ponder upon as to what does The Mantra entail? It is simpler than the simplest. The mind that serves as a mirror for the individual jeeva need to be purified with the everlasting presence of the Guru, The SadhGuru, Who Is nothing but the purest feeling of I Am…SAI…I Am… Bhagawan says, the ‘I’ represents The Brahmam, and He…Sathya Sai Is the very Source of this Brahmam…Para Brahmam…The True Truth, The Absolute!!! It is this Truth that the then 14 year old ‘Little Divine’ pronounced to you and me and to one and all, to His creation at large! The Mantra that becomes the essence of human life, that contains the Secret For Liberation! A recap of the epochal happening on the Annunciation Day, as penned by Prof N. Kasturi. On the 20th day of October, 1940, the day after they all returned from Hampi by special bus, Sathyanarayana started for school as usual. The Excise Inspector of the place, Sri Anjaneyulu who was very much attached to the little Baba, accompanied Him, as far as the school gate and went home, rather reluctantly. He seemed to see a superb halo, round the face of Baba that day and he could not take his eyes away from that enchantment. Within a few minutes, Baba too turned back to the house. Standing on the outer doorstep, he cast aside the books He was carrying and called out, “I Am no longer your Sathya.” “I Am Sai.” The sister-in-law came from the kitchen and peeped out; she was almost blinded by the splendour of the halo, which she saw around Baba’s head! She closed her eyes and shrieked. Baba addressed her, “I Am going; I don’t belong to you: Maya has gone; My bhaktas are calling Me; I have My Work; I can’t stay any longer.” And, so saying, He turned back and left in spite of her pleadings. The brother hurried home on hearing all this; but, Baba only told him, “Give up all your efforts to ‘cure’ Me; I Am Sai; I do not consider MySelf related to you.” Neighbour Sri Narayana Sastri heard the noise; he listened and realised that it was something serious; he ran in; he saw the splendour of the ‘halo’ and fell at Baba’s Feet. He too heard the Historic Declaration, “Maya has left; I Am going; My work is waiting.” Seshama Raju was nonplussed; he could scarce collect his wits to meet this new situation. A boy, just fourteen, talking of bhaktas, work, maya, and the philosophy of belonging! He could think of only one plan: Sathya was entrusted to him by the parents and it was therefore his task to inform them; Sathya could leave the house, only after they came to Uravakonda. But, Sathya would not step into that building again; He moved out into the garden of Excise Inspector’s Bungalow, and sat on a rock, in the midst of the trees. People came into the garden from all directions bringing flowers and fruits; the tope resounded to the voices of hundreds, singing in chorus the lines that Sathya Sai taught them. The first prayer that He taught them that day was, as many still remember, Maanasa bhajare GuruCharanamDusthara bhava saagara tharanam “Meditate in thy mind on The Feet of The Guru; that can take you across the difficult sea of samsara.” His classmates wept when they heard that Sathya will no longer attend school, that He was much beyond their reach, that His company was hereafter only for those upon whom He showers His Grace. Many came to the garden with incense and camphor, to worship Him. Some came to sympathise with the family, some to congratulate them. Some came to learn and some, alas, even to laugh! Three days passed thus in that garden; three days of bhajan and namasankirthan. A photographer came with a camera; he wanted Baba to remove a crude stone that was right in front of Him but Baba did not pay heed to that prayer. He clicked nevertheless and lo! As can be seen ‘above’, the stone had become an image of Shirdi Sai Baba! But only in the photograph, not for all assembled there. II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II

Vedic ‘Sai’ Renaissance… “The arrival of the Lord is anxiously awaited by saints and sages. Sadhus prayed and I have come. My main tasks are fostering of the Vedas and fostering of the devotees…”, thus declared The Avatar Of Eternity, Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai. If at all mankind ever remember One Persona for the revival of the Vedas, for keeping It loose from any catchy grips, it is undoubtedly Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai. A peep into His ‘extra-ordinary’ initiatives in the field of Vedic Renaissance.  Vedahametam purusham mahantamadityavarnam tamasah parastattamevam vidvan amrita iha bhavatinanyah pantha vidyate’yanaya Thus, declare the sacred verses of the Purusha Suktham, the purport being: “I have known that great Purusha, the Supreme Being, Who Is brilliant like the Sun and Who transcends and Is beyond all darkness. One Who knows Him thus becomes immortal here. There is no other path for liberation than this.” If Atmic Knowledge is what man pursues as his Ultimate-Goal, beyond his most subtle instincts, then the Vedas are the bedrock of this Atma Vidya and thus man’s best and most reliable ally. Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai, Who in no uncertain terms made it clear by way of subtle hints that His Is The Most Unique – One Off – Avataric Phenomenon, has chosen the ‘Renaissance Of The Vedas’ as a premier objective of His mission, declaring: “The arrival of the Lord is anxiously awaited by saints and sages. Sadhus prayed and I have come. My main tasks are fostering of the Vedas and fostering of the devotees…” Where fostering of the Vedas finds a direct connotation with fostering of the devotees, the Avatar, Whose descend is to primarily help man ascend to his true nature, aims at ‘achieving His Mission’ by reviving the waning ancient treasure of the Vedas to its pristine glory. “The Vedas seek to promote good thoughts, eliminate ideas of evil, and help mankind lead the good life. Hence they have to be cherished and fostered,” proclaims Bhagawan. It certainly is the right antidote for human malady of modern days. Bhagawan continues: If the injunctions given in the Vedas and Shastras are followed by mankind, they will be freed from affliction. Most of our troubles have arisen because we have forgotten the Vedas. The Vedic sages had carried out spiritual explorations on the basis of the Vedas. Because their findings were made known in Bharat, it cannot be said that the Vedas are not to be found anywhere else. The Vedas encompass the whole world and are immanent everywhere. If one closely observes the evolution of Bhagawan’s mission ever since its epochal declaration, it is quite clear that, Bhagawan had long ago resolved to forge ahead with His mission in a ‘Divinely’ strategic manner, steadily engulfing the world with Vedic intonations, not by force but by inculcating awareness of Its sheer absolute significance. First thing He did towards ‘achieving’ this end was establishing a ‘Veda Patashala’, decades ago, training blossoming minds into the greater efficacies of Vedic learning. Later, when Bhagawan established His educational institutions, Vedic learning became an essential part of the curriculum, as a mandatory co-curricular activity. …And the grand ‘cosmically effective’ Veda Purusha Saptaha Jnana Yajnam that commenced late in the early part of the sixties, in the very Physical Presence Of The Veda Purusha HimSelf in the form of Sri Sathya Sai??? …and the allied Prasanthi Vidhwan MahaSabha, ensemble of the learned, deliberating on the ‘holy’ in the immediate Holiest Presence! Rightful initiative from the Cosmic Divine towards fixing the maladies of the world and the worldly, through His already promulgated Divine Task of Vedic Renaissance! As a customary practice, every festival and function in the Divine Presence begins with invocatory Vedic chants. As the next ‘calculative’ step, starting from the year 2003, Prasanthi started reverberating with Vedic ‘Darshan’ chants, per day, per session, accompanying ‘The Beauty Beyond Compare’ – Sri Sathya Sai Darshan. As is His Divine Sankalpa, the right fillip came yet again, when, on September 8, 2008, Bhagawan gave the Divine directive that everyone should learn and chant the Sri Rudram, in the run up to the 83rd Birthday, supposedly the year of Sahasra Poornacha Chandra Darshan of the Avatar. As per His Divine command, as three of His students commenced chanting the Rudram in stages on the microphone, the rest of the assembly of students and devotees repeated after them twice, thereby proceeding to learn it systematically, under His immediate Divine guidance and supervision, an exercise that stretched from 9th to 27th September 2008. Often times, Bhagawan would be seated on the dais watching the session in progress. Imbibing inspiration from this Divine directive, devotees, irrespective of barriers whatsoever, have taken to this learning most religiously, thus demonstrating the universal relevance and appeal of the Vedas. Indeed, the Vedas cannot be limited to any particular denomination of humanity; it is a Divine Gift, verily the Breath Of God, a legacy to which every human being is a rightful heir. The grand legacy is on, as Prasanthi Nilayam witnesses the miracle of this Vedic transformation as a daily experience….and the Sai Centres the world over, under the auspices of International Sai Organisations, follow it in an earnest manner, meticulously taking up the Vedic learning, thus spreading the ancient glory far and wide. It is no accident that the Vedas received Bhagawan’s prime attention; it was His pure Divine Sankalpa that, the Vedas should be revived for the renaissance of man, helping him to ascend to his true self. If the Vedas are verily the Breath Of God, if the Vedas are the foremost Repository Of Truth, and if the Vedas claim that “I have known that great Purusha”, then man must ponder over, to embrace this ancient technique, optimising the same to the fullest extent, helping himself to synchronise in cosmic harmony and expansion. Every human being must revere the Vedas. It is the very foundation of life. Every act of daily life has its roots in the Vedas. Whether everyone knows this or not, the Vedas pervade everything. – Sri Sathya Sai Indeed, in time to come, in fulfillment of the cosmic process, the Vedas will flourish beyond any and every barrier, engulfing humanity, the environment and the world at large as it is the most likely outcome, a natural consequence of the Absolute and Infinite ‘Sai’ Sankalpa… The Divine Will Of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai. II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu

Divine Pastime When God Supreme is credited with the creation of the very visible and all invisible realms of existence, He and He alone can authentically speak of His mysterious creation. Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai has often made profound revelations about His projected creation and His role as the Master Creator. God initiates man into innocent, tender, loveable and loving childhood, and what does he do in turn… Read on Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai… Creation has emerged from God, Who Is free from desire. It is a spontaneous unfolding, beyond human understanding. No one can unravel the Divine Mystery. Human activity, however spontaneous it may seem, can be explained to originate from some patent or latent wish or other. But, God’s activity can never yield an answer to human enquiry about its why or whence or wherefore. God is omniscient. He Is the source of supreme delight, of extreme ecstasy. The joy flashes as sport, as prank and purposeless play, leela. God needs neither helper nor material for the process of Creation. His serene, stable, sovereign Fullness can become movement, rotation and vibration, when He Wills. And, all the living and non-living entities God projects are led towards acquisition of the very Ecstasy Whose overflow they are. God is the paramount principle of Bliss that is not affected by time or materiality, for He Is the basis for the material world of time and matter. His Bliss pervades all Creation. That is the way His leela works. But, created beings are diverse and entangled in duality. If they emerge from the Bliss of the One, how could some be so fearful and anxious and some calm and peaceful? An inference such as this is very wrong; it is unwarranted and unjustified. The Rain God showers His gift on all things on earth, edible crops as well as thorny weeds. The seeds of both sprout and grow in accordance with their different natures. Likewise, the Divine Bliss, Love and Light are the sustenance for all nature. The qualities of head and heart, either virtuous or vicious, decide whether life is happy or miserable, praiseworthy or blameworthy. Good deeds mould men into saints; bad deeds shape them as sinners. God initiates men into innocent, tender, loveable and loving childhood. But men relish envy, greed and hatred and cast off the gift of softness and sweetness. They cultivate instead the thorny weeds. Men seek joy in this Cause Consequence duo. God has no gain to achieve, no need to project the Cosmos. He has everything; He Is everything. He plays motiveless and unattached out of sheer elan. II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II

Divine Pastime… When God Supreme is credited with the creation of the very visible and all invisible realms of existence, He and He alone can authentically speak of His mysterious creation. Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai has often made profound revelations about His projected creation and His role as the Master Creator. God initiates man into innocent, tender, loveable and loving childhood, and what does he do in turn… Read on Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai… Creation has emerged from God, Who Is free from desire. It is a spontaneous unfolding, beyond human understanding. No one can unravel the Divine Mystery. Human activity, however spontaneous it may seem, can be explained to originate from some patent or latent wish or other. But, God’s activity can never yield an answer to human enquiry about its why or whence or wherefore. God is omniscient. He Is the source of supreme delight, of extreme ecstasy. The joy flashes as sport, as prank and purposeless play, leela. God needs neither helper nor material for the process of Creation. His serene, stable, sovereign Fullness can become movement, rotation and vibration, when He Wills. And, all the living and non-living entities God projects are led towards acquisition of the very Ecstasy Whose overflow they are. God is the paramount principle of Bliss that is not affected by time or materiality, for He Is the basis for the material world of time and matter. His Bliss pervades all Creation. That is the way His leela works. But, created beings are diverse and entangled in duality. If they emerge from the Bliss of the One, how could some be so fearful and anxious and some calm and peaceful? An inference such as this is very wrong; it is unwarranted and unjustified. The Rain God showers His gift on all things on earth, edible crops as well as thorny weeds. The seeds of both sprout and grow in accordance with their different natures. Likewise, the Divine Bliss, Love and Light are the sustenance for all nature. The qualities of head and heart, either virtuous or vicious, decide whether life is happy or miserable, praiseworthy or blameworthy. Good deeds mould men into saints; bad deeds shape them as sinners. God initiates men into innocent, tender, loveable and loving childhood. But men relish envy, greed and hatred and cast off the gift of softness and sweetness. They cultivate instead the thorny weeds. Men seek joy in this Cause Consequence duo. God has no gain to achieve, no need to project the Cosmos. He has everything; He Is everything. He plays motiveless and unattached out of sheer elan. II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II

Cheppinattu Chestara??? Decades ago, as young Sathya, Bhagawan staged a drama of value-oriented message titled ‘Cheppinattu Chestara’, asking the ‘worldly’ around, as to whether they follow their words with appropriate deeds, practising Trikarana Suddhi, unity in thought, word and deed. Time and again during His sojourn on earth Bhagawan would send timely reminders for the man to follow suit. Every human being has a heart. This heart is filled with love. With how many are you sharing the love in your hearts? …With none at all. What, then, is the use of that love if it is not shared? You must share with all the love in your hearts, not with humans alone, but with all beings in creation. Love, which is the gift of God, has to be shared with everyone in the world. All human troubles arise out of the failure to share this love with one and all because of selfishness. Everyone repeats the benediction: “Lokaas-Samasthaas-Sukhino Bhavanthu!” (Let all the people of the world be happy). To how many are you giving happiness? You are repeating the words mechanically, but are you praying from your hearts for the well-being of the world? …No, not at all. You are concerned only with your selfish interests. The day you root out selfishness from within you, Divinity will blossom in your heart. People talk about Sakshatkaram. What is it? It is not something external. Sakshatkaram is contemplation of the Divine at all times and in all states within one’s self. “Sarvadhaa Sarvakaleshu Sarvathra Hari Chinthanam” (Thinking of God at all times, in all places continuously). People do recite the Name of Rama incessantly. But will liberation be got by this repetition? To gain liberation, to win Rama’s grace, it is not enough to repeat His Name; you have to act up to Rama’s principles. Rama sacrifised everything for the sake of Dharma. You have to make a similar sacrifice. Keep Dharma as your ideal. Engage yourself in righteous activities. Only then will Rama shower His grace upon you. If, on the contrary, you perform no Dharmik acts but only repeat Rama’s Name, it is tantamount to abusing Rama. Likewise, there is no meaning in repeating Krishna’s Name. What the devotee should do is to experience the ecstasy of Krishna Consciousness. …Nor is that all. You should develop the equal-mindedness of Krishna. Krishna maintained the same serenity of mind whether He was in a Yoga- Bhumi, or a Yuddha-Bhumi (battlefield) or Smashana-Bhumi (a cemetery). He was always in a state of bliss. You should aspire to experience such bliss; only then can you be said to experience Krishna Consciousness. Whatever deity you may worship, you should experience the lessons of the deity within you. II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II