Loving Hand Turns Burning Sand To Water

Loving Hand Turns Burning Sand To Water

    ___            ___
               (__  _   *     |__ )   _
             (_ __)(_|_ |_    |   \__(_|_ |\/|_

             A human being is a part of the whole,
             called by us `Universe-, a part limited
             in time and space. He experiences
             himself, his thoughts and feelings as
             something separated from the rest- a
             kind of optical delusion of his
             consciousness. This delusion is a kind
             of prison, restricting us to our
             personal desires and to affection for a
             few persons nearest to us. Our task
             must be to free ourselves from this prison
             by widening our circle of compassion to
             embrace all living creatures and the
             whole of nature in its beauty.
                                    -Albert Einstein

Dear One,

This details a recently given discourse in Geneva by Ryuko Hira on the
SATHYA SAI DIVINE GRACE WATER PROJECT, on June 10, 1995

===================================

R. Hira Speaks:

Sisters and Brothers!

In the preparation for Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba’s 70th birthday I have
been given much work and little time.  That’s Baba’s way!  The lesson from
this is that “in other’s welfare lies our gain”.  The title of this
project, the Sathya Sai Divine Grace Water Project, was given by a poet
from Thailand who has written poems on Baba in Thai and in English.  Here
is one example:

   “Sai Baba has set the norm
    For worship at its highest form.
    To remove the misery of others
    And to treat all beings as brothers.”

Water for 700 villages

The area called Rayalaseema, in which Puttaparthi is located, lies in the
State of Andhra Pradesh.  Although this area is the birthplace of Sri
Sathya Sai Baba Himself, it has year after year been stricken by drought,
with continuous serious shortages of water.  This scarcity has caused
unbearable suffering to many people who are our sisters and brothers
living there.  With their children they walk barefooted in the hot sun, an
average of 4.6 km every day, carrying heavy pots of water on their heads.
There is also a high arsenic content in the wells due to contamination
from the soil, and this has produced serious lesions on the feet and hands
of the people.  The Central Government of India and the State Government
have been trying their best to alleviate this water shortage, which
affects not only India but other countries also in Asia. The United
Nations has said that water will be the world’s most critical resource by
the year 2000.  Recently the Far Eastern Economic Review had a special
article on water shortage.

Baba has come for the whole universe but He will answer first those who
pray sincerely.  To remove the suffering and the sickness of these people
He announced on 23 November 1994 that within one year He will supply
potable drinking-water to 700 villages with a total population of about
1.3 million (500-3000 in each village).  On 23 November 1995 we shall
celebrate Baba’s 70th birthday and all these 700 villages, because of His
Divine Will, will receive water.  There are many more needy villages
which, hopefully, the Sai Organisation will be encouraged to take up in a
second and third phase.

Loving Hand Turns Burning Sand To Water – A Divine Miracle Of Compassion And Grace

Loving Hand Turns Burning Sand To Water is a beautiful spiritual theme that reminds us how divine love can transform even the harshest condition into comfort, hope, and blessing. Burning sand represents pain, dryness, struggle, and helplessness, while water represents relief, life, peace, and grace. When the Divine touches human suffering with compassion, what seems impossible becomes possible, and what feels unbearable becomes a path toward faith.

In life, every person faces moments that feel like burning sand. These moments may come as illness, loneliness, failure, poverty, fear, or emotional pain. The heart becomes tired, the mind becomes restless, and the path ahead seems dry. At such times, ordinary strength may not be enough. A person needs something deeper: faith, prayer, patience, and the loving touch of divine grace.

Loving Hand Turns Burning Sand To Water teaches that compassion is not weak; it is powerful. A loving hand does not merely express sympathy from a distance. It reaches out, comforts, heals, and transforms. True compassion feels the suffering of others and tries to reduce it. When love becomes action, it becomes a miracle. Even a kind word, a gentle smile, or a small act of help can become water for a thirsty soul.

Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba always taught that love is the foundation of spiritual life. His message was simple and universal: love all, serve all, help ever, hurt never. These words are not only teachings to remember; they are values to practice. A person who follows them becomes an instrument of peace. Such a person does not add heat to another’s suffering but brings coolness through patience, understanding, and service.

Loving Hand Turns Burning Sand To Water also reminds us that the Divine often works through human hands. When a hungry person is fed, when a sick person is cared for, when a sad person is comforted, and when a lost person is guided, divine love is moving through someone’s action. Service done with humility becomes sacred because it carries the fragrance of God’s compassion.

The burning sand of life can also represent the ego. Ego creates heat in the mind through pride, anger, jealousy, and desire. It makes relationships dry and painful. But when love enters, ego begins to melt. Forgiveness becomes possible. Harsh words become gentle. Selfishness turns into service. In this way, the loving hand of wisdom turns the desert of ego into the stream of peace.

Loving Hand Turns Burning Sand To Water is also a lesson in faith. Sometimes life may appear completely dry, with no sign of relief. But faith tells us that grace can appear at the right moment. A devotee may not always understand divine timing, but trust gives strength to wait. What looks like delay may be preparation. What feels like hardship may become purification. What appears impossible may become a blessing through God’s will.

Water is a symbol of purity and life. It cools, cleanses, nourishes, and sustains. In the same way, divine love cools anger, cleanses negative thoughts, nourishes faith, and sustains the soul during difficulty. A heart touched by such love cannot remain the same. It becomes softer, more grateful, and more aware of the suffering of others.

Loving Hand Turns Burning Sand To Water encourages us to become loving hands in the world. We may not perform great miracles, but we can bring relief in simple ways. We can listen without judging, help without showing pride, forgive without bitterness, and serve without expecting praise. The world has many people walking through silent deserts. Our kindness may become the water they need.

Spiritual life is not only about receiving grace; it is also about sharing grace. If we pray to God for help, we must also become helpful to others. If we ask for compassion, we must also show compassion. If we seek peace, we must avoid hurting others. This is the practical path of devotion. The Divine blesses us so that we may become blessings in someone else’s life.

Loving Hand Turns Burning Sand To Water finally teaches that no suffering is beyond the reach of divine love. The heart may feel dry, but grace can make it bloom again. The mind may feel burned by sorrow, but prayer can bring cooling peace. Life may seem difficult, but faith can reveal hidden strength. When love guides action and surrender fills the heart, even the desert becomes sacred.

In the end, the greatest miracle is transformation. A hard heart becoming kind is a miracle. A restless mind finding peace is a miracle. A selfish person turning toward service is a miracle. A hopeless soul gaining faith is a miracle. When divine compassion touches life, burning sand becomes water, sorrow becomes wisdom, and ordinary human life becomes a beautiful offering to God.

“Love Walking On Two Feet”