Our karmas and the sufferings of the innocent

March 31, 2008

Our Karmas and the Sufferings of the Innocent Karma means “action” or any action that brings a reaction that binds us to the material world. Although the idea of karma is generally associated with Eastern philosophy, many people in the West are also coming to understand that karma is a natural principle, like time or gravity, and no less inescapable. For every action there is a reaction. If we cause pain and suffering to other living beings, we must endure pain and suffering in return, both individually and collectively. We reap what we saw, in this life and the next, for nature has her own justice. No one can escape the law of karma, except those who understand how it works. To understand how karma can cause war, for

example, let’s take an illustration from the Vedas. Sometimes a fire is started in a bamboo forest when the trees rub together. The real cause of the fire is not the trees but the wind that moves them. The trees are only the instruments. In the same way two nations are not the real causes of the friction that may exist between them, the real cause is the karma generated by the world’s supposedly innocent citizens. According to the law of karma, the neighborhood supermarket or hamburger stand has more to do with the threat of war than anything else does. We recoil with horror at the prospects of nuclear war while we permit equally horrifying massacres every day inside the world’s automated slaughterhouses. The person who eats an animal may say “I haven't killed anything” but when buying neatly packaged meat at the superstore you are paying someone else to kill

for you, then both of you bring upon yourselves the reactions of karma. Can it be anything but hypocritical to march for peace and then go to McDonald’s for a hamburger or go home to grill a steak or have ‘Chicken tikka or chicken biriyani’? This is the very duplicity that George Bernard Shaw condemned: We are living graves of murdered beasts Slaughtered to satisfy our appetites We never pause to wonder at our feasts If animals like men could possibly have rights. We pray on Sunday that we may have light, To guide our footsteps on the paths we tread. We are sick of war; we do not want to fight, And we gorge ourselves upon the dead.

Ahimsa allows the animal to live a natural evolutionary progress. However if it is killed it will need to return to live out the rest of its life in that same species. Those who understand the laws of karma know that peace will not come from marches and petitions, but rather from a campaign to educate people about the consequences of murdering innocent animals not to mention unborn children. Our Sai Nath teaches us the principles of Non-violence and to be kind to all the living being as they reserve to live a happy life…..God is the life giver and only he decided when to take it back……

Sai Ram Shakuntla VishaniShakuntla Vishani B.A. (Hons), PGCE Sai Baba Community Service Project Mobile: +255 784 230 057 Email: shakuntlavishani

March 31, 2008

Om Sai Ram,With reference to the thought provoking article " Our Karmas and the Sufferings of the Innocent " by Ms Shakuntla Vishani, I would like to add that under the directives and with the blessings of our Beloved Bhagwan, an animal hospital and shelter were set up in Puttaparthi in 2000 for Swami's 75th birthday under the name KARUNA SOCIETY FOR ANIMALS AND NATURE.

Swami cares for every single child of His, including the voiceless ones. As it is rightly said, " Animals are children that never grow up. " Their purity and innocence stays with them all their life and man has a lesson to learn from each one of them. Swami says : Universe is university.

Unfortunately, man who has been endowed with the power to help and heal, often chooses to hurt and harm his innocent brethren. The Catholic patron saint of animals, St. Francis of Assisi said, " Poorer and purer than the poor are the dumb, defenseless creatures of God. "

I would like to share a poem that aptly expresses my sentiments regarding helpless, abused children and animals.

THE CHILDREN, THE

VOICELESS

By M. Linda Steffey

God, have mercy on the

children

The dark ones and the fair

Have mercy on the voiceless

The creatures in our care...

Look down upon the children

And if it be Thy will...

Help us to feed the hungry

Their empty tummies fill..

I pray their eyes see no more

wars

No more are they forsaken

No more to die unwanted, God

No more tiny lives are shaken!

Help them all to know of love

To live in a world worth living

Despite the ups and downs of life

To have a heart that's giving...

Thy creatures, God, are

voiceless

You put them in our care

We haven't treated them too well

They're extinct or becoming rare...

We've shot them for their

heads

Or fur, ivory, and their oil..

Or shot them for the " sport " of it

Leaving remains to spoil....!!

The rest we've stuffed in

cages

To stare at in a zoo...

Up and down they pace in cells

For there's nothing else to do!

There're those we poke and

torture

And say we do it all for man...

We're not as humane as we think

Or could be...or we can!

The children and the voiceless

The earth under heaven's blue

They suffer each and every one

They look for peace from You...

Thy loving touch is needed

here

This pain in life to cease!

The golden sun to shine down

On Thy world at last at peace.....

---------------------------

Animals - They can't fight wars like us, pollute the

world like us,

or create acid rain.

But they love like us, cry like us, and they definitely feel pain.- from the poem " Neglected Vicitms "

by Melissa Tkachyk

The health of humans, animals & the environment are

of equal importance for they share the same breath of life, are interconnected and

interdependant.

Live and help live!With grateful and loving pranams at the Lotus Feet

Om Sai Ram

Romula D'Silva

Vice-President

Karuna Society for Animals

& Nature

Puttaparthi – Andhra Pradesh

www.karunasociety.org

email: karunasociety

Tel: +91.8555.287214

April 1, 2008

SAI RAMs,

Poems and sermons apart, how many of us put into practise what our beloved Baba and our scriptures tell/advise us? We are keen to have Darshan of Swamy in his physical form in His coloured robe and His grand Aura. We spend time, money etc. etc. in visiting Puttaparthy and get up early in the morning so as to be seated in the front rows at Sai Kulwant Hall and get close Darshan of our beloved Bhagawan in His physical form. The moment Swamy leaves for His residence from Sai Kulwant Hall at Prashantinilayam after Darshan, we leave behind His teachings and advices at Sai Kulwant Hall itself and we allow ourselves to be governed by our natural tendencies of say,likes and dislikes, hatred and jealousy etc. etc. Unless we put it into practise what we have read or heard from Swamy`s discourses etc.,we are not going to be benefited.

There is no use in blaming/repenting on our Karma. Let us understand this clearly: We are the architects of our future. Every moment we are engaged in writing the blue-print for to-morrow. Blue-print for to-day`s sufferings and enjoyments were written earlier either in this very birth by us or during our previous births. " What can not be cured has to be endured " , goes a saying. Of course, God can mitigate our sufferings,if He wants. He can exonerate,exempt, waive, write-off,moderate etc. etc. our sins and Karmas. Surrender yourself unconditionally and then see the results. Do not have even the slighest doubt whether God will listen to your prayer. 'Samsayatma Vinasyati' says Lord Krishna in the Gita. Those who doubt His grace are bound to suffer. He is nearest to you. He is with you always. He is watching your thoughts, actions etc. etc. You can not deceive or cheat Him. If you engage yourself in noble and selfless activities,if you sacrifice all that you consider as yours, the grace of God is bound to descend on you.

SAI RAM

On 3/31/08, Romula D'Silva <romula9 wrote:

Om Sai Ram,With reference to the thought provoking article " Our Karmas and the Sufferings of the Innocent " by Ms Shakuntla Vishani, I would like to add that under the directives and with the blessings of our Beloved Bhagwan, an animal hospital and shelter were set up in Puttaparthi in 2000 for Swami's 75th birthday under the name KARUNA SOCIETY FOR ANIMALS AND NATURE.

Swami cares for every single child of His, including the voiceless ones. As it is rightly said, " Animals are children that never grow up. " Their purity and innocence stays with them all their life and man has a lesson to learn from each one of them. Swami says : Universe is university.

Unfortunately, man who has been endowed with the power to help and heal, often chooses to hurt and harm his innocent brethren. The Catholic patron saint of animals, St. Francis of Assisi said, " Poorer and purer than the poor are the dumb, defenseless creatures of God. "

I would like to share a poem that aptly expresses my sentiments regarding helpless, abused children and animals.

THE CHILDREN, THE VOICELESSBy M. Linda Steffey

God, have mercy on the childrenThe dark ones and the fairHave mercy on the voicelessThe creatures in our care...

Look down upon the childrenAnd if it be Thy will...Help us to feed the hungryTheir empty tummies fill..

I pray their eyes see no more warsNo more are they forsakenNo more to die unwanted, GodNo more tiny lives are shaken!

Help them all to know of loveTo live in a world worth livingDespite the ups and downs of lifeTo have a heart that's giving...

Thy creatures, God, are voicelessYou put them in our careWe haven't treated them too wellThey're extinct or becoming rare...

We've shot them for their headsOr fur, ivory, and their oil..Or shot them for the " sport " of itLeaving remains to spoil....!!

The rest we've stuffed in cagesTo stare at in a zoo...Up and down they pace in cellsFor there's nothing else to do!

There're those we poke and tortureAnd say we do it all for man...We're not as humane as we thinkOr could be...or we can!

The children and the voicelessThe earth under heaven's blueThey suffer each and every oneThey look for peace from You...

Thy loving touch is needed hereThis pain in life to cease!The golden sun to shine downOn Thy world at last at peace.....

---------------------------

Animals - They can't fight wars like us, pollute the world like us, or create acid rain. But they love like us, cry like us, and they definitely feel pain.

- from the poem " Neglected Vicitms " by Melissa Tkachyk

The health of humans, animals & the environment are of equal importance for they share the same breath of life, are interconnected and interdependant.

Live and help live!

With grateful and loving pranams at the Lotus Feet

Om Sai Ram

Romula D'Silva

Vice-President

Karuna Society for Animals & Nature

Puttaparthi – Andhra Pradesh

www.karunasociety.org

email: karunasociety

Tel: +91.8555.287214

April 1, 2008

Dear blessed heart Sri Romula Thank you for such a heart touching reply to my article. It has surely given me the comfort and has wiped my tears regarding the rights of poor defenseless animals. Thank you so much and may Baba shower his grace upon you for showing such devotion and compassion towards animals and all God's beings who reserves the rights to live peacefully on God's earth. Sai Ram Shakuntla VishaniRomula D'Silva <romula9 wrote: Om Sai Ram,With reference to the thought provoking article "Our Karmas and the Sufferings of the Innocent" by Ms Shakuntla Vishani, I would like to add that under the directives and with the blessings of our Beloved Bhagwan, an animal hospital and shelter were set up in Puttaparthi in 2000 for Swami's 75th birthday under the name KARUNA SOCIETY FOR ANIMALS AND NATURE.Swami cares for every single child of His, including the voiceless ones. As it is rightly said, "Animals are children that never grow up." Their purity and innocence stays with them all their life and man has a lesson to learn from each one of them. Swami says : Universe is university.Unfortunately, man who has been endowed with the power to help and heal, often chooses to hurt and harm his innocent brethren. The Catholic patron saint of animals, St. Francis of Assisi said, "Poorer and purer than the poor are the dumb,

defenseless creatures of God."I would like to share a poem that aptly expresses my sentiments regarding helpless, abused children and animals. THE CHILDREN, THE VOICELESSBy M. Linda Steffey God, have mercy on the childrenThe dark ones and the fairHave mercy on the voicelessThe creatures in our care... Look down upon the childrenAnd if it be Thy will...Help us to feed the hungryTheir empty tummies fill.. I pray their eyes see no more warsNo more are they forsakenNo more to die unwanted, GodNo more tiny lives are shaken! Help them all to know of loveTo live in a world worth livingDespite the ups and downs of lifeTo have a heart that's giving... Thy creatures, God, are voicelessYou put them in our careWe haven't treated them too wellThey're extinct or becoming rare... We've shot them for their headsOr fur, ivory, and their oil..Or shot them for the "sport" of itLeaving remains to spoil....!! The rest we've stuffed in cagesTo stare at in a zoo...Up and down they pace in cellsFor there's nothing else to do! There're those we poke and tortureAnd say we do it all for man...We're not as humane as we thinkOr could be...or we can! The children and the voicelessThe earth under heaven's blueThey suffer each and every oneThey look for peace from You... Thy loving touch is needed hereThis pain in life to cease!The golden sun to shine downOn Thy world at last at peace..... --------------------------- Animals - They can't fight wars like us, pollute the world like us, or create acid rain. But they love like us, cry like us, and they definitely feel pain.- from the poem "Neglected Vicitms" by Melissa Tkachyk The health of humans, animals & the environment are of equal importance for they share the same breath of life, are interconnected and interdependant.

Live and help live! With grateful and loving pranams at the Lotus Feet Om Sai Ram Romula D'Silva Vice-President Karuna Society for Animals & Nature Puttaparthi – Andhra Pradesh www.karunasociety.org email: karunasociety Tel: +91.8555.287214 Shakuntla Vishani B.A. (Hons), PGCE Sai Baba Community Service Project Mobile: +255 784 230 057 Email: shakuntlavishani