SAI – OUR DIVINE MOTHER, FATHER, GURU AND OMNIPRESENT GOD -Part - I

[Guest guest]

SAI – OUR DIVINE MOTHER, FATHER, GURU AND OMNIPRESENT GOD -Part - I

LOVING MOTHER

Sai the Mother is all Love. Here she knows only to forget and forgive, to tend,

uplift and correct. The rod is spared to give a love-lash. And in that flood of

Love pure all dirt and filth inside and outside are washed off. When it comes to

attending Her children she is meticulously careful. They miss nothing. The way

Baba looks after the students whom He claims as the 'only property of His' will

abash even the loving earthly mother. His looks and smile virtually stroke them

with tender affection. Basking in that shine of Love and enlightenment they

also respond almost in the same measure, if not equal, for who can equal Him in

anything? He sits like a proud mother to hear His children reciting Vedas or

delivering a lecture. None is in ecstasy more than Him to listen to the

brilliant academic performance of His

children.

This love of His has the same warmth when it is doled out to the elders as well,

for whose mother He is not? Those who have traveled with Him can vouch for this.

Kasturiji, His biographer, who had had the good fortune of traveling with Him

many times says in his autobiography, 'Loving God' that Baba would Himself fill

the cups with coffee from the thermos kept in the car and serve His devotees

traveling with Him whenever the car halted for a break. So is the case with

lunch. And like a loving mother He would insist on their having more of certain

delicious items except where a certain item is harmful for a devotee owing to

certain chronic ailments.

Let us listen to a full description of this from Kasturiji himself from his Loving God.

"When He wills a journey by road He loads the car with hampers heavy with

breakfast, lunch or dinner, besides snacks and fruits in plenty. He scans the

countryside to spot a sheltered nook encircled by blossoms and He finds one

soon. The carpet is spread, jugs of water are brought, hampers are opened,

baskets are emptied, plates and cups are handed out. Mother Sai squats in the

center. With exclamations of appreciation, He places each item of food on the

plates held before Him by us - the children. Devotees dare not say 'Enough' or

'No' on the basis of their digestive efficiency, allergic alarm, dietary

prejudices, etc. They relish whatever comes from the Divine Hand and consume

the quantity He grants. So, Baba decides the measure and the menu for each. He

prohibits, persuades and recommends. "You have a touch of

diabetes", " you are over eighty", "This pickle is popular in your state", He

comments as He fills the plates…Bhagawan too shares the breakfast or lunch with

us; He loves to watch us enjoying the food He gives. Even while inside the car,

He takes out one by one-luscious apples from the bag He keeps near Him, slicing

them with care; He tempts us to eat in plenty. Once …. The skin could not be

chewed and swallowed by me since I had a set of artificial teeth unused to

tough tasks. I dared not to spit the stuff through the window for fear the

denture would follow the skin. Swami recognised the embarrassment, the next

slice He handed over to me had the skin removed!”

On another occasion Baba and a few others were traveling by car from

Trichinopoly to Bangalore via Palamaner. On reaching the Forest Rest House at

Palamaner at 10 in the night the party had to be satisfied with food from a

hotel, which had not yet closed luckily. But there was nothing to protect them

from biting cold. Kasturiji says, "We were able to persuade Him to use a shawl

which the engineer-devotee was parading his torso at Trichinopoly. Sleep stole

into our eyes in the silence. When I woke at dawn from my bare reed-mat, I

found the shawl keeping me warm from head to foot. Baba, the mother, had

tiptoed during my sleep and gently spread it over me. Baba found me in tears.

How else could I express my good fortune and my gratitude at the lesson He

taught us?"

When Swami visited Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh) in 1982 a plane was chartered for His

return journey to Bangalore via Jamnagar. A retired Wing Commander of Indian Air

Force was requested by the Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisation of Madhya Pradesh to

pilot the aircraft. There were seven others in the plane other than Bhagawan and

the pilot. During the flight Bhagawan took seat in the cockpit and, peeling an

orange Himself, started giving petal after petal to the Pilot with great love.

But the pilot after one or two politely declined more in the usual way of

courtesy, for he did not realise the stature of the Giver at that time - an

action he repented for with moistened eyes thereafter. Bhagawan also graciously

created a gold ring with nine precious gems studded on it as a memento for him -

a priceless possession for

anyone.

When sick or injured, His loving care has a feather touch. During the African

tour of 1969 the car in which Kasturiji and Raja Reddy were traveling met with

a small accident and Kasturiji was injured with minor wounds. In his inimitable

style he says:

"The East Africa tour enabled me to secure two priceless gifts of Grace. The

first was a car accident in which I received a few injuries, which drew on me

for full seven days the shower of tender affection from Sai, the Mother. I had

long cherished a desire to be nursed through an illness by Swami. The African

continent conferred that boon on me."

It is not that He showers His motherly affection only on the devotees around

Him. Time, space and distance cannot come in the way of His compassion or

motherly concern. The author of Anyatha Saranam Nasti narrates an incident:

"One night He was lying on his bed and was talking to us, when He suddenly fell

down. His body looked like a small bundle that was twisted and tangled. After

some time… He was in great pain … He was still in some world … He opened His

eyes and asked a devotee to massage His body. Baba then said :"A lady was in

labour. I just made a trip to America. The baby in the womb was in breach

position and could not come out. I entered the womb, turned the baby into the

correct position, blessed the child and the mother after delivery and now I

have come back."

RESPONSIBLE FATHER

Sai as Father is a strict disciplinarian. He brooks no mercy for those who cross

the limit He has prescribed whether it is in the Sai Organisation or among

general devotees.

"Following My instructions without demur is the best plan while engaged in

service or Seva; it is wrong to yield to lower craving or to follow one's own

impetuosity… I dislike flippant talk, frivolous prattle, casual conversation

and even face to face grouping of men and women, at all times and, more

specially during spiritual gatherings and occasions. You must be models of

straight and courteous behavior." Baba directs.

Many so-called 'close devotees' had to leave the Mandir at short notices

whenever they crossed the Lakshman Rekha marked by Him. But He will never have

any ill will towards them. All that He wants is to make them look inward and

correct themselves for their own good. Kasturiji admits of a bad habit he had

had of using frequently the expletive 'idiot' for expressing displeasure even

without much of a provocation. Baba once admonished him rather harshly "Don't

cause injury to anyone's self-respect, intentionally or unintentionally" and

this practice was virtually erased.

As Father Sai He grooms His devotees far and near. During a halt at the

residence of one of the devotees, a young man in the group asked the host for a

glass of buttermilk. Baba unexpectedly entered the room detected the empty glass

on the sill of the window. With patriarchal authority he pointed out the

mistake, as it must have caused inconvenience to the host and advised all to be

satisfied with whatever was given or served and to keep our urges under check.

He also gave tips on table manners and insisted on the need to desist from

asking for second helpings.

In order to discourage and dissuade His devotees from carrying on with certain

bad addictions that have assumed chronic proportions over a period of years

Baba sometimes expresses His displeasure about it in general terms within their

hearing as the first dose of treatment. If they do not give up such bad habits

with such oblique references then He will directly deal with them.

Kasturiji was a snuff addict for three decades when he traveled with Baba to

Rishikesh and other places of great spiritual importance. So he had stored

enough of that stuff that would suffice for considerable period. One night

while camping at the Ashram of Swami Sivananda, Baba came out of His cottage in

the Ashram complex and straightaway walked into the dormitory where Kasturiji

and five others were preparing for sleep. Swami Sadananda and Satchidananda

accompanied him. Baba came near Kasturiji's cot and turned the pillow over to

expose the snuffbox. Baba looked at him sternly and said only one word "Dirty".

Kasturiji in great remorse and embarrassment took it and threw it away, and

touching Baba's feet assured Him "No more Swami, I am giving it up from this

moment". The immediate reward was a soft pat. The

harshness or roughness of Baba intended to correct anyone at all times has an

undercurrent of perpetual love which makes an everlasting impact on the

corrected.

SAI MAHAVAKYAS

The Proper Study of Mankind is Man

Man is the basic unit of Mankind. So it follows that he should be the epitome of

the ideals that mankind stands for. How can man epitomize mankind? By

spontaneously revealing the divine qualities of Love, Compassion and

forbearance in perfect harmony in his thought, word and deed. In other words he

should be a perfect example of his species.

Work is Worship, Duty is God

Any work undertaken with dedication and selflessness ie, without any expectation

of reward becomes worship when it is offered to the Lord as an offering. All

work is God’s work. When one belongs to God how can his work belong to another?

When one discharges his responsibility with a sense of commitment to one’s own

Self – the God seated in every heart that performance becomes verily God.

Fatherhood of God and Brotherhood of Man

Humanity has to be seen as a single race. Just as a beautiful garland is made up

of flowers of various hues size and fragrance strung together the human race is

also made up of men and women of different complexion and languages. Again,

just as a garland is strung together by one thread, which is common to all

flowers, the human beings also have the same Atma or life force as the core.

This obviously means that a common binds all humans on the face of earth bond

and therefore are brothers, east or west, black or white. This common factor

called Atma has its origin in Brahma or Brahman or God. Hence, the Fatherhood

of God and the Brotherhood of Man.

Hands in Society Heads in the Forest

Here hands stand for service and head for mind of the humans. Service to society

is the bounden duty of everyone. And such service (Seva) has to be done

selflessly, without expectation of any gain or reward. In other words, it has

to be done with complete detachment. If the hands are to be engaged in Seva in

a spirit of detachment and disinterestedness the mind should be completely free

from desires. Freedom from desires means cultivation of Vairagya (detachment).

Forest stands for Vairagya and head for the mind, which has to be cleansed of

desires that cause attachment and selfishness. When the mind is thus cleansed

the individual can do any amount of Seva selflessly for the welfare of society.

My Life is My Message

Preaching is easy; but to practice the same is difficult. For this Bhagawan Baba

refers to a Drill Master for example. While all other teachers only teach the

Drill Master demonstrates also what he instructs the students. Man must put

into practice what he professes himself first. Then only he has the right to

advise others. Bhagawan Baba lives every syllable of what He preaches to His

devotees from daybreak to dusk. So, such an ideal life becomes a practical

lesson and therefore a deep-going Message to His followers who need only

remember what He does throughout the day.

Miracles are My visiting cards

What is natural with the Miraculous is miracle for the ordinary. Man cannot

easily identify or recognise Divinity as he is enveloped in Maya or ignorance.

He has to be woken up and told of the Advent of an Avatar who has come for His

upliftment. Hence just as many of us present our identity card or visiting card

to a stranger the Lord has to draw our attention to the Superhuman Power of the

Avatar so that we would listen to Him. It is like a call attention notice. Once

the identity is established, He can convey His Message. But He has not to make

any special effort for this, as what He does naturally and spontaneously will

look miraculous to us.

You cannot always oblige, but can speak obligingly

This applies both to the material and the spiritual world. One cannot be in

society without mutual help and societal obligations. But very often one may

not able to extend help in solving the problems of a brother or a sister

because of personal limitations. In such cases one must, without losing

balance, explain the position in an understanding way so that the one in need

will be able to appreciate it. Such a situation often occurs while undertaking

Seva activities by the Sevadal. Where discipline does not permit you to comply

with somebody’s seemingly genuine request, one has to convincingly explain the

position in minimum words so that the other party will feel satisfied and

properly attended. Soft, short and sensible talk satisfies everyone.

Hands that serve are holier than lips that pray

What is the use of spending long hours in prayers and meditation behind closed

door when one’s neighbour is helplessly groaning in pain? Such prayers will

certainly fail to be responded by the Lord. What is expected of a human being

is to leave the prayers and rush to attend to the one in pain. It amounts to

the God in you rushing to the help of the God in that person, since Manava Seva

is Madhava Seva. That is how one should visualise God – the God in everyone.

Wiping a tear or rendering help to alleviate the misery of a brother is much

holier that reading the scriptures or repeating Vedic mantras as the former is

a selfless act while the latter is a selfish one.

The end of education is character; the end of knowledge is wisdom

When the knowledge acquired by reading and studying is analysed and pondered

upon it develops into wisdom, granting an inner vision. The same knowledge can

be converted into skill by its practical application. For example, values are

understood and stored in memory as knowledge, but when applied in daily life it

becomes a skill in the service to society. And the spontaneity of their

application brings refinement in an individual resulting in good character,

which really is the end of education.

Money comes and goes, Morality comes and grows

Money is known for the evanescence. It appears and disappears like a cloud. It

never stays with anyone for all times. Still it can easily ensnare man in its

web, as without it one cannot exist. But enamored by its glow and the comfort

it offers man thinks that it has come to stay. But like passing clouds it

disappears leaving its possess or still under illusion as he tries to obtain it

more and more by fair or unfair means. In direct contrast is morality. Once one

begins to adhere to the moral principles they permeate his life in every field

of activity. Every exercise of its application gives a boost to its luster and

growth with the result morality becomes ingrained in its votary as a permanent

asset.

Help Ever Hurt Never

This is the quintessence of the eighteen puranas authored by the great Vyasa.

Every being is a spark of the Divine that accounts for the totality of this

universe. Hence there is an unseen bond between human beings. So, helping

another would mean helping oneself. It becomes the bounden duty of all to help

each other. Conversely it is a sin to harm anyone. It amounts to harming

oneself. ‘Paropakaraya Punyaya Papaya Parapeedanam’, it is said. That is, it is

meritorious to help others, but it is a sin to harm anyone. Under no

circumstances one should think of harming another – in thought, word and deed.

Hurt is not inflicted only bodily; it can be by harsh words as well. The wound

caused by words cannot be healed, as it remains etched in the mind forever.

Hence, one should never hurt another even if one cannot offer

any help.

Love All Serve All

Only when one loves all, one can serve all, i.e., offer service without any

discrimination. One who loves you is bound to be loved in return normally. But

what is important and expected of us is to love the one who does not love us.

This needs the awareness that there is a bond between all of us and the dislike

is only superficial and momentary. All are embodiments of the same Atma and

hence related inseparably. It is this awareness that underlies the urge to

offer selfless service to one and all without any consideration of separateness

based on any distinction. Offering help to another amounts to serving oneself.

Because, by doing so one is only relieving oneself of the pain or discomfort

that has afflicted him at the sight of the suffering of the other. In fact,

only the body sheaths are different, the core is

one and the same.

Life is a Game Play It

Victory and defeat are the duality natural with any game and life is no

exception. But as one takes it in a spirit of sportsmanship in the case of a

game, in life too, the ups and downs should be welcomed with equanimity. But

the possibility of victory can be worked up in the case of the game of life by

selecting better and more powerful teammates. In life the fight is between the

good six and the evil six. No doubt the evil six, namely, lust, anger, greed,

attachment, pride, and jealousy are highly skilled ones. But, the good six,

namely, truth, righteousness, peace, love, non-violence and sacrifice always

have an edge over the opponents because of their inherent virtue. So, life can

be steered to success provided our teammates are the good or the desirable six.

 

Matru Devo Bhava, Pitru Devo Bhava, Acharya Devo Bhava

These Vedic injunctions virtually provide the pillars of Indian Culture. Bharat

considers mother as the first God to be revered, as she is the one whose care

and sacrifice are responsible for our birth and growth. It is on the lap of the

mother that one learns the alphabets and the basics of one’s conduct. It is she

who teaches the child to walk and talk and the fundamentals of social life.

Naturally she deserves the first place of reverence and adoration. She tells

the child of its father, who, as provider of wherewithal for the family,

occupies only second place in the hierarchy of veneration. The father in turn

takes the child to the Guru or Preceptor who trains him in morals, ethics and

the scriptures for a meaningful life. And it is the Guru who tells him about

God and his relationship with the Almighty. So

mother first, father next, preceptor later and God last and Ultimate - that is

the order of reverence expected to be offered by everyone.

Praying Hearts, Serving Hands

Every human heart is a temple. And in the altar of the temple is seated the

Lord, the source of Love Energy that sustains the individual. It is not love

alone that is housed there. Compassion, patience and forbearance also find a

place there. In fact, heart is the origin of these divine qualities that charge

human feelings with a sense of sacrifice, prompted by which the hands go out

into action of charity and help to alleviate the sufferings of our brethren.

Wherever and whenever selfless service is offered a heart filled with

compassion and love must be behind that service. And for the Lord seated

therein their prayerful offerings are the unfading flowers of Love, Compassion,

Forbearance and Sacrifice.

Character is the Most Precious Gift of Education

Bhagawan Baba repeatedly tell all His devotees in general and students in

particular that ‘if wealth is lost nothing is lost; if health is lost something

is lost; and if character is lost everything is lost.’ Character constitutes

ninety per cent of a man’s personality whether it be in the field of social

life or leadership. And it is the function of Education to bring refinement in

an individual making all the facets of his personality shine providing him an

impressive (not only physical) personality. Wherefrom can the shine come for a

good personality? It is by the harmonious blend of the five human values that

lie embedded in every individual. So the purpose of education is to bring out

those sterling qualities that alone can gift good character – the hallmark of

true education. Swami calls this process

‘edcuare’ i.e., an education that takes care of the innate basic qualities,

which are divine in content but lying hidden in an individual. And that is the

most precious gift of education.

Example, Not Precept is the best Teaching Aid

‘Example is better than Precept’ is an old adage that conveys more than what it

looks to imply. While discussing pedagogy, Bhagawan Baba often mentions the

example of a Drill Master who not only instructs but physically demonstrates

also. If the teacher is an ideal person, fifty per cent of teaching can be

presumed to have been done. The young students whose eyes and ears are wide

open, observes their teacher from all angles – how he looks, how he behaves,

not only in the class but even outside. This total impression makes a strong

background for teaching. If the teacher maintains lofty ideals, his exhortation

goes deep into the hearts and minds of the young ones. He will be adored and

emulated. And, that exactly is the purpose of teaching. It is not to doll out

what is written in the book that a teacher is meant

for. He has to set an example before the young ones. In other words he has to be

the embodiment of virtues rendering his designation meaningful.

On Himself

"I have come not to disturb or destroy any faith. But to confirm, each one in

his own faith, so that a Christian be a better Christian; a Muslim be a better

Muslim; a Hindu be a better Hindu "

In truth, you cannot understand the nature of My Reality either today, or even

after a thousand years of steady austerity or ardent inquiry even if all

mankind joins in that effort. But in a short time, you will become cognisant of

the bliss showered by the Divine Principle, which has taken upon itself this

sacred body and this sacred name. Your good fortune, which will provide you

this chance, is greater than what was available for anchorites, monks, sages,

saints and even personalities embodying facets of Divine Glory!

Since I move about with you, eat like you, and talk with you, you are deluded

into the belief that this is but an instance of common humanity. Be warned

against this mistake. I am also deluding you by My singing with you, talking

with you, and engaging Myself in activities with you. But any moment, My

Divinity may be revealed to you; you have to be ready, prepared for the moment.

Since Divinity is enveloped by humanness you must endeavor to overcome the Maya

(delusion) that hides it from your eyes.

This is a human form in which every Divine entity, every Divine Principle, that

is to say, all the Names and Forms ascribed by man to God, are manifest! Do not

allow doubt to distract you; if you only install, in the altar of your heart,

steady faith in My Divinity, you can win a Vision of My Reality. Instead, if

you swing like the pendulum of a clock, one moment devotion, another moment,

disbelief, you can never succeed in comprehending the Truth and win that Bliss.

You are very fortunate that you have a chance to experience the bliss of the

vision of the sarvadhaivathwa swaruupam (the embodiment of all forms of

Divinity) now, in this life itself.

Let Me draw your attention to another fact. On previous occasions when God

incarnated on earth, the bliss of recognising Him in the incarnation was

vouchsafed only after the physical embodiment had left the world, in spite of

plenty of patent evidences of His Grace. And the loyalty and devotion they

commanded from men arose through fear and awe, at their superhuman powers and

skills, or at their imperial and penal authority. But ponder a moment on this

Sathya Sai Manifestation; in this age of rampant materialism, aggressive

disbelief and irreverence, what is it that brings to It the adoration of

millions from all over the world? You will be convinced that the basic reason

for this is the fact that this is the Supra-worldly Divinity in Human form.

Again, how fortunate you are that you can witness all the countries of the world

paying homage to Bharath; you can hear adoration to Sathya Sai's Name

reverberating throughout the world, even while this body is existing-not at

some future date, but when it is with you, before you. And again, you can

witness very soon the restoration of Sanathana Dharma to its genuine and

natural status, the Dharma laid down in the Vedas for the good of all the

peoples of the world. The revival of Vedic Dharma is Sai Sankalpa (Sai's Will),

not just drawing people towards Me, attracting them

by the manifestation of My powers and potential. This is not a phenomenon of

illusion. This phenomenon is the one that will uphold truth, uproot untruth,

and in that victory make all of you exult in ecstasy. This is the Sai Sankalpam

(Sai's Will).

Sent with Sai love

Sai brothers – ‘’

Source: http://www.sssbpt.org/home.htm

 

Get better spam protection with Mail