Guest guest Posted April 20, 2004 Report Share Posted April 20, 2004 Photos: om/ph/print_splash">High-quality 4x6 digital prints for 25¢ JOURNEYS TO SATHYA SAI BABA Tue, 20 Apr 2004 13:36:06 +0300 Thread-Topic: JOURNEYS TO SATHYA SAI BABA Thread-Index: AcQmw0l0m+77XR+rSPaQWuTVicIziQ== "Ramalingam Balaji" RBALAJI "saibabanews" saibaba_news height:269.25pt'> mso-ansi-language:EN-US;font-weight:bold"> MY JOURNEYS TO SATHYA SAI BABA Monika M€ üller EN-US">( http://www.euro-ataxia.org/newsletter/eanews17.pdf ) 12.0pt">This year was special for me, marking the 10th anniversary of my journeys to Sai Baba in Puttaparthi, South India. When I first heard of Sai Baba in a lecture 13 years ago, an old lady doctor told me that by going to him I would do something beneficial, not only for myself but also for my younger sister and brother who were also suffering from Friedreich€ ’²s Ataxia *. Well, when I heard this I didn€ ’²t need much time to decide and so I booked a trip to Sai Baba that very same evening. What I learned and experienced in India was so overwhelming that it took me a full four years to allow these new and unfamiliar thoughts to settle in my head: They tell us that we are not separate from God and that people from all religions and cultures are our sisters and brothers. Sai Baba€ ’²s teachings helped me to find sense in and give sense to my life; in other words, to take life into my own hands and constantly remain focused on the human values which are the essence and basis of all€ great religions. These values are truth, right conduct, selfless love, peace and non-violence. text-autospace:none"> 12.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-ansi-language:EN-US"> text-autospace:none"> 12.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Since 1989, equipped with my own wheelchair, I have been going to see Sai Baba every year. A few times I spent a whole three months in his ashram. Twice I travelled in a group, but as a rule I am either accompanied by a girl friend or just by myself. But as chance would have it, I actually never found myself alone on these trips, because nearly always I met other Sai Baba devotees with the same goal. Regarding the doctor€ ’²s € ’±prophecies€ ’², my trips remained without effect on my sister€ ’²s and brother€ ’²s condition. As a matter of fact, my brother died already ten years ago and my sister€ ’²s present physical as well as mental state is quite poor. But for me, the course of the disease is rather mild. Now at the age of 46, I still manage to get along on my own, although with considerable difficulty, but nevertheless on my own. I still work in my profession and am € ’¶ in addition to that € ’¶ always engaged in one or another interesting project; perhaps, because I find it hard to say € ’±no€ ’². At present, I am sounding out my theatrical abilities and have thereby discovered that acting is fun! I am making a monthly radio programme for disabled as well as non-disabled people, and on TV I am moderating an information programme for the disabled community. And last but not least, I have recently began to try my talent as a fashion model € ’¶ in my wheelchair. My mother is happy about my journeys to Sai Baba. She knows only too well how much they mean to me and what invigorating and uplifting effect they have on me. Besides, the warm Indian climate has a soothing effect on my body. My grandmother feels the same way, since she noticed the change in me which my connection to Sai Baba has brought about. I am fully aware now of what is important in life and live up to my truth. text-autospace:none"> 12.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-ansi-language:EN-US"> text-autospace:none"> 12.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Three times I was fortunate enough to have an interview with Sai Baba. To have an interview text-autospace:none"> 12.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-ansi-language:EN-US">means to be invited into a private room, together with a small group, where he speaks about spiritual matters to those present and also replies to their personal questions and problems. In my first interview I asked him, whether there was any remedy against FA. Three times he said € ’±yes, yes, yes€ ’² and materialised a lingam for me. A lingam which is of oval shape (like an egg) is symbolic for the process of creation. Both the atom and the planetary system are of elliptical shape. The materialization of objects out of nothing is certainly God€ ’²s great miracle, but the greatest miracle is his infinite love and compassion, which I had the good fortune to experience text-autospace:none"> 12.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-ansi-language:EN-US">myself. In my first interview Sai Baba encouraged me to get up from my wheelchair, which I was able to do in his presence with the support of his arm. For me this was an absolute divine experience. There was no pain whatsoever and yet I was able to feel each cell in my body. I expressed the desire to walk around my wheel chair, but under the effort I kind of panicked thinking € ’±it is not possible€ ’² and reached out for my wheelchair again. The same thing happened text-autospace:none"> 12.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-ansi-language:EN-US">on the occasion of my third interview. Just when I was supposed to cross the tiny threshold of the door leading to the interview room, fear seized me and made me call for the wheelchair. text-autospace:none"> 12.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Now, I am taking a good look at my fear and inner blockades, for I realise only too well that that part in me which is still rigid will have to be transformed, so that I may turn to the divinity within. Divinity is equally present in all of us, and it is only up to me/us to realize it. Once we have taken this step, divinity can flow freely and allow us to experience peace and happiness. text-autospace:none"> 12.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-ansi-language:EN-US"> text-autospace:none;border:none;mso-border-bottom-alt:solid windowtext .75pt; padding:0cm;mso-padding-alt:0cm 0cm 1.0pt 0cm"> text-autospace:none"> 12.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-ansi-language:EN-US"> text-autospace:none"> 12.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-ansi-language:EN-US"> text-autospace:none"> 12.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-ansi-language:EN-US">Note : text-autospace:none"> 12.0pt;font-family:Arial;mso-ansi-language:EN-US"> What is ataxia? font-family:Arial">The word "ataxia" just means "no co-ordination". It is given to a number of neurological disorders in which parts of the nervous system which control balance and co-ordination wear out prematurely. € ’¥’¥..There are many different kinds of ataxia. Some are inherited; others arise at random and are called idiopathic ataxias. The best known ataxia is Friedreich's ataxia, which is inherited€ ’¥’¥ font-family:Arial"> font-family:Arial;mso-fareast-font-family:"Arial Unicode MS"">€ ’¥People with ataxia are often mistaken for drunk, because their speech is slurred, and they find it difficult to balance when they walk. This causes them great distress€ ’¥’¥ font-family:Arial;mso-fareast-font-family:"Arial Unicode MS""> font-family:Arial">Ataxia may start in childhood or in later life, and progresses faster in some people than others. We do not fully understand why this happens€ ’¥. font-family:Arial"> font-family:Arial">(http://ataxia.org.uk/) "Arial Unicode MS""> Attachment: (image/png) image001.png [not stored] Attachment: (image/jpeg) image002.jpg [not stored] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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