Sai Inspires - 23rd October 2005 from Prashanti Nilayam

[Guest guest]

Forwarding the message received from "Heart2Heart" RadioSai e-Journal Team, Prasanthi Nilayam.

 

Sairam

 

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Dear Reader,

 

Loving Sairam from the H2H Team.

 

Our body is actually a house on rent.....Swami tells you today.

 

 

Sai Inspires - 23rd October 2005

 

 

The body is a house taken on rent by man. We know how the owner of a house

persecutes the tenant in order to compel him to vacate when the rent is not

paid, delayed, or when the tenant causes damage through negligence. Therefore,

it is our duty to keep the body in good shape and avoid the wrath of the owner.

The owner will certainly appreciate a considerate, courteous, and cooperative

tenant. The tenant can win the owners love and respect by means of his own

goodness.

- Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol.X p.351.

 

 

Reflections on Non-Violence

Loving Sai Ram and greetings from Prashanti Nilayam. We are very happy to note

that our Sai Inspires service, started almost on an impulse, is loved by so

many of our readers. We did not expect in our wildest dream that more than 4000

people would join us in just 4 months! We are equally grateful to you for

giving us much encouragement in adding the Sunday Special.

If a poll were to be conducted about what people remember Gandhi most for, they

would, we are sure, almost unanimously say: AHIMSA or NON-VIOLENCE. What

exactly is violence? Most of us imagine it means causing physical harm,

especially with a knife or a sword or even a gun. Speaking to students many

years ago, Swami said that the violence caused by weapons no doubt causes

bodily injuries, but the injuries heal in course of time. But, said Bhagavan,

injuries caused to the mind by the tongue seldom heal because they are far more

severe. Thus, true non-violence means not allowing violent thoughts to arise in

the mind.

People sometimes ask: “Rama fought with Ravana and killed him. Is that not

violence? How can the Avatar indulge in violence?” Swami has answered

that one. He says [ineffect]: “When Rama engaged Ravana in a battle, He

was merely imposing discipline. Ravana was harassing the Sages, and it was

Rama’s duty to protect the Sages. There was no hatred in His mind. In

fact, after Ravana died, Rama offered to perform the funeral rites for the

deceased when Vibhishana the sole surviving blood relative refused to do so.

Rama’s action is a lesson for humanity. There is a Police Officer who has

to maintain law and order. He has to do it as a service but never must the

thought arise in his mind that so and so is evil and I must destroy him. If law

enforcement is done in a selfless and clinical manner without any hatred in the

mind, as was done by Lord Rama, then it becomes Karma Yoga. However, if the

action is contaminated with unwanted hatred and anger, then the action becomes

just Karma with a price to be paid for the hatred.”

Going back to the Mahatma, it is interesting to note that Gandhi took his

non-violence most seriously and in manners unexpected. It is known, for

example, that Gandhi was a stickler for punctuality. Do you know why? Was he

being Western in this respect? Not at all. For Gandhi, if he came late for an

event, it was a hurt he was causing to people by wasting their precious time.

By the way, on the very last day, he came five minutes late for his daily

prayer meeting. Even as he entered the ground, he took out his pocket watch and

muttered, “I am late.” That was when the assassin shot Gandhi, and

his last words were “Hey Ram!” In the Gita the Lord says that

blessed are they who depart with the name of the Lord on their lips. In that

respect, Gandhi was truly a blessed one.

One more facet of Gandhi’s non-violence. To the extent possible, Gandhi

always avoided distress and pain showing on his face. He felt it was an act of

violence to show one’s own pain and cause distress to others. Swami too is

very particular about not causing anxiety and distress to others. For example,

during the annual sports meet, He regularly instructs teachers not to plan

event that would make the spectators filled with anxiety. Similarly, He always

advices doctors to fill patients with cheer and hope instead of inflicting them

with gory details about the patient’s illness. This is an important point

because in the so-called advanced countries, the doctor is obliged to tell all

facts. We hope doctors who are devotees would follow the advice of the Supreme

One instead of being guided by the letter of man-made laws.

Thank you for giving us the privilege of being with you and see you again next week.

Jai Sai Ram.

 

 

With Love and Regards,

"Heart2Heart"

RadioSai e-Journal Team,

In Sai Service.

 

Today on RadioSai, Don't Miss!!

Programme

AsiaStar(Time in GMT)

AfriStar(Time in GMT)

Internet(Time in GMT)

Duration

Musings by Prof. G. Venkataraman

03:00 & 13:00

03:50 & 14:00

03:00 & 13:00

20 mins

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