PEARLS COLLECTED FROM VARIOUS DISCOURSES OF SWAMI

[Guest guest]

There are four types of persons: the ‘dead’, who deny the Lord and declare that

they alone exist, independent and self-directed: the ‘sick’, who call upon the

Lord when some calamity befalls them or when they feel temporarily deserted by

the unusual source of succor: the ‘dull’, who know that God is the eternal

companion and watchman, but who remember it only off and on when the idea is

potent and powerful: and lastly the ‘healthy’, who have steady belief in the

Lord and who live in His Comforting Creative Presence always”. (Prashanthi

Nilayam, Vijayadasami, 1953)

“Note this also. In this Avatar, the wicked will not be destroyed, they will be

corrected, reformed and educated and led back to the path from which they have

strayed. The white ant infested tree will not be cut: it will be saved. Again

this Avathar will not select some place other than the place where the nativity

took place for the centre of Its Leelas, Mahimas, and Upadesh. This tree shall

not be transplanted: it will grow where it rose from the Earth. Another

specialty is this: the Avatar has no affinity or attachments in Its Career to

members of the family wherein It appeared. Unlike the appearance as Rama,

Krishna etc., where the life was played out mostly among and for the family

members, this Avatar is for the Bhaktas, the Aspirants, the Sadhus and

Sadhakas only. It has no Japa, Dhyana or Yoga: It knows no worship: It will not

pray to anything, for It is the Highest. It only teaches you to worship and

pray.

To a worldly man, a God-intoxicated person will appear mad and he will laugh at

him, But to the God-intoxicated man, the worldly appear insane, foolish,

misled, blind. Of all the insanities that harass man, God-madness is the least

harmful, the most beneficial. The world has suffered untold damage due to its

“mad” guides: but nothing but harmony, peace, brotherliness and love has come

out of the ‘God-madness’ of man.” (Prashanthi Nilayam, Maha Shivarathri,

1955).

“The Lord too has to come in human form and moves about among men, so that He

could be listened to, contacted, loved, revered and obeyed. He has to speak the

language of men and behave like human beings, as the member of the species.

Otherwise, He would be either negated and neglected or feared and avoided”.

(Peddapuram, 03/09/1958).

“Until about an hour ago, the organisers of this function were nervous that I

might not come. They had reconciled themselves to the disappointment in store

and they were feverishly engaged in making alternative arrangements, for they

had heard that the Godavari was in high floods and that I was at Rajahmundry.

So they feared that I might not be able to cross the floods and come south in

time for this engagement. From the fact that I had permitted them to announce

My arrival for the function, they could well have inferred that the floods

would subside and that I would be in their midst, for, once My word goes forth,

it must happen accordingly. Do not doubt it. The furious waves calmed before

Rama, the floods went down in time for Me.

Nothing can hold Me up or agitate Me or cast a shadow on Me, come in this Human

form : be certain of that. Forces of calumny or distrust or ignorance can touch

not even a hair, My sankalpa must prevail. My task must be accomplished. My

mission will succeed. I have come to illumine the human heart with the Light of

Divine and to rid man of the delusion that drags him away from the path of

Shanti, the perfect equanimity born of realisation”. (Venkatagiri Town

09/09/1958)

“That is My path, the path of Prema, along which I shall take you. This I offer

as my visiting card to every one of you when you come to Me. I know your name,

your degrees, your profession, your status and your history. But you do not

know Mine. I have no need to know all about you from perusal of your cards: but

I want you to know something of My glory: and so I give you a glimpse of it, as

a Mahima. But I also give you enough of My Prema so that you can mix a little

of it with whatever you do or feel or think and make it sweet and palatable”.

(Venkatagiri, Adyantic conference, 12/04/1959).

“The Lord had announced that He would come down for the restoration of Dharma

and that He would assume human form so that all might gather around Him and

feel the thrill of his companionship and conversation. And the Lord has come as

announced” (Markandeya Sanskrit College, Aukiri Palli, 22/01/1960).

“I must tell you that you are luckier than men of previous generations. The

accumulated merits of many previous births must have granted you this luck. You

have got Me and it is your duty to develop this relationship that you have

achieved by sheer good fortune. In four or five years time, you will see Yogis

and Maharishis and Munis crowding here and you may not have such chances of

asking Me questions and getting the answers, or approaching Me and directly

speaking to Me”. (Prashanthi Nilayam, 27/09/1960).

“As a matter of fact, Puttaparthi is a name revered and remembered with

gratitude by millions today and it will be treasured in history as an immortal

name. There have been many occasions on which Bhaktas have pleaded with Me to

move out of this miasma and settle down in Bangalore or Madras or some such

town, or if I preferred, some other quiet rural spot. But let Me tell you here

and now: this tree has to grow at the very spot where it sprouted: it will not

be transplanted: I shall not give up this place, no, not I. This place will be

transformed into Tirupathi and those who are little boys and girls today will

surely see it in all its magnificence”. (Puttaparthi, 23/11/1960)

“Can Paramatma assume human form? Well, man can derive Ananda only through the

human form: we can receive instruction, inspiration, illumination only through

human language and human communication”. (Prashanthi Nilayam, Birthday

Festival, 23/11/1960).

“You all are waiting to hear from Me about the journey to Badri and what

happened there. These people went to Badri and returned Bhadram (safe). That is

the story in a nutshell.

For danger lurked all the time from fire, water, wind, sky and Earth - all the

five elements in fact. Every moment these people felt the Lord’s grace: 150

persons, mostly old men with indifferent health, to accomplish this Yatra

without a single moment of even headache was due to Swami. Swami also went to

Badri because the Netralingam, which is the central source of Holiness there,

had to be revived with spiritual efficiency. Shankaracharya brought five

lingams from Kailas and installed one each at Dwaraka, Sringeri, Badri and Puri

and the fifth he placed at Chidambaram. Of these, the one at Badri has the

Narayan-amsam and that had to be consecrated afresh. That was My task and these

people who came with Me saw Me doing it.

The Netralingam laid by Shankaracharya underneath the idol there, was “taken”

out by Me and Abhishekam was done with Gangotri water which I fetched by the

wave of My hand. It was worshipped with golden Bilva leaves and Thumbe flowers,

both created by Me on the spot, and sent back to its original place.”

(Prashanthi Nilayam, 04/07/1961).

“Rama, Krishna and Sai Baba appear different because of the dress each has

donned. But it is the Self-same Entity, believe Me. Do not be misled into error

and loss. The time will soon come when this huge building or even vaster ones

will be too small for the gathering of those who are called to this place. The

sky itself will have to be the roof of the auditorium of the future: I will

have to forego the car and even the airplane when I move from place to place,

for the crowds pressing around them will be too huge: I will have to move

across the sky: yes, that too will happen, believe Me.

You will witness this Puttaparthi becoming Mathura Nagar. No one can stop this

development or delay it. I will not give you up, nor can anyone of you give Me

up. Even if you loose faith, you will repent and come to this refuge very soon,

clamoring for admission. I shall be in this body for 58 more years: I have

assured of this already. Your lives are intertwined with My Earthly Career. Act

always in accordance with that great privilege”. (Prashanthi Nilayam,

21/10/61).

Let me tell you one more thing: Nothing can impede or halt the work of this

Avatar. When I was upstairs all these days, some people foolishly went out

saying, “It is all over about Sai Baba” and they turned back many who were

coming to Puttaparthi: Some said I was in Samadhi, as if I am a Sadhaka: Some

feared I was the victim of black magic, as if anything can affect Me: The

splendour of this Avatar will go on increasing, day by day. Formerly when the

little boy raised aloft the Govardhanagiri, the Gopis and Gopakas realised that

Krishna was the Lord. Now it is not one Govardhanagiri, a whole range will be

lifted, you will see: Have patience, have faith”. (Guru Poornima day,

06/07/1963).

“You might ask Me to speak about My own mystery. It is not easy to understand

it. When you have the chance, gather all the joy that you can. There is no use

bolting the door when the thieves have robbed and fled. Seize the chance and do

not repent later that you have missed the opportunity. Remember, you have to

come to Me, if not in this birth, at least within ten more births: strive to

acquire Grace: Grace is the reward for Sadhana: the highest Sadhana is to

follow the instructions of the Master”. (Prashanthi Nilayam, 12/02/1964).

“The Lord comes as Avatar when He is anxiously awaited by saints and sages.

Sadhus prayed - and I have come. My tasks are three, or rather two,

Dharmarakshana and Vedarakshana both practically the same. The two are

therefore: Vedarakshana and Bhakta rakshana: fostering of the Vedas and

fostering of Bhaktas. Now what is Bhakti? Who are Bhaktas? It is faith,

steadiness, virtue, fearlessness, surrender, absence of egoism. Puja done

however elaborately and pompously is sheer waste of time and energy. Why pluck

flowers and hasten their death? Some of you go round this Nilayam and satisfy

yourselves that you have done so many pradakshinas, but they can be called so

only when your mind circles this place along with your feet. I notice that

while your feet are taking you round by force of habit, your tongue blabbers

about the faults of others, or the price

of the vegetables, or the dish you propose to cook for lunch. Before you start

on your rounds, which you call Pradakshina, give your mind a Dakshina

(thanksgiving offering) to the Resident of the Temple, the Lord. That is the

first thing to do, and perhaps, the only thing to do. Pradakshina is not to be

taken for loosening the limbs or giving them some exercise.

Be confident that you will be liberated. Know that you are saved. Go and tell

all that you had gone to Puttaparthi and got there the secret of liberation”.

(Prashanthi Nilayam, 25/01/1963).

“It was declared that Rama was born of the payasam which was brought by the

Deity from out of the sacrificial fire. No Avathar is born flesh and blood,

including this Avatar. The body of the Avatar is chit substance: it is not Jada

like other materials. The embryo of ordinary mortals is encased in

‘Jalodakasayi’ enveloped in watery stuff; the embryo of the Avatar is encased

in ‘Kshirodakasayi’, the pure white milk of holiness. That is why in the make

up of the Avatar, there is no blemish, there is no trace of Guna. Dasaratha

wept, for he had no sons to offer ritual food when he moved out into the next

world. When all are of the form of God and of the substance of God, who is son

and who is father, who is to offer food to whom, when that high stage of wisdom

is reached? Kshama is the father, Santham is the mother, renunciation is the

wife, and the

Lord is the son, the male issue to save him from perdition. This desire brought

his spirit before Rama, when Sita was about to enter the fire in Lanka.

Ravana was killed and Rama asked Sugriva and Lakshmana to crown Vibhishana as

Emperor of Lanka; he pleaded that Rama Himself should bless him on that

auspicious occasion, but Rama insisted that His vow of hermithood prevented Him

from entering an inhabited city. Rama sent Hanuman and requested him to bring

Sita to the camp in a palanquin. Vibhishana had not thought of that; he was too

immersed in other affairs. Hanuman bowed before Sita and got a vision of Lakshmi

rising out of the waves of the ocean of milk. He felt that that vision was

enough compensation for all the births he had to undergo. While the palanquin

neared the camp, there spread everywhere a sublime splendour from it, which

astonished the varana hordes. Rama sent word that Sita may alight and walk the

remaining distance, so that they may fill their eyes with her glory. This

is not mentioned in the books.

When Sita was about ten yards away, Rama, who is butter when He melts and steel

when He hardens, said, “Stop, I can accept you only after you pass through

Fire”. Lakshmana swooned at this thunderbolt; the monkeys who had to bring the

fuel for the Fire bent under the weight of seven twigs. The Fire ordeal served

two purposes: to scorch the slanderous tongues, which haunt the tracks of

Avatars at all times: and, to retrieve from the Fire the real Sita who had

entered into it, prior to abduction by Ravana”. (Prashanthi Nilayam,

04/02/1963).

“The airplane has to land at certain places in order to take in those who have

won the right to fly, by the tickets they have purchased. So too, the Lord has

to come down so that those who have won the right to be liberated may be saved;

incidentally, others too will know of the Lord, of His grace and ways of winning

it, the joy of liberation. There are some who deny even today the possibility of

air travel; they curse the contrivance; they cavil it. Similarly, there are many

who cavil at the Avatar that has come to save”. (Prashanthi Nilayam,

05/02/1963).

“You can call me on the phone, but I will not be available for all those who do

not have the sincere and steady yearning for the Lord. For those who say, “No,

you are not my Lord,” I say ‘No’ for those who say ‘yes’. I too echo ‘Yes’. If I

am available in your heart, I will be available over the phone, but remember, I

have my own special postal and telephone systems. They operate from the heart

straight to the heart. There are rules and regulations for the operations of

that system, which the Sastras declare. You can find them there”. (Prashanthi

Nilayam, 29/07/1964).

“Krishna-Avatar is a Sampoorna Avatar, the Lord appearing with all the 16 Kalas;

Rama shared the Kalas with other brothers. Rama appeared as if He was associated

with gunas or qualities, or as having qualitative behaviour, whereas Krishna was

above and beyond such. Krishna never prayed, not even in the direst crisis: But

Rama does so, to Adithya, for instance; the intent of that Avatar was

different. Krishna was unaffected by gunas, His relationship with the Gopis was

pure. A person like Dharmaraja selected Him above all the sages and saints of

the day for special worship at the Rajasuya sacrifice”. (Prashanthi Nilayam,

26/11/1964).

“Some of you may imagine that it is source of joy for the Lord to take a human

form. If you are in this state, you will not feel so. I am always aware of the

future, the past as well as the present of every one of you. So, I am not moved

so much by pity. Not that I am hard-hearted, or that I have no pity or Daya. If

you bolt the door fast, how can the rays of My grace be available to you?

“Swami”, you cry, I have no eyes, I am yearning to see you. Won’t your heart

melt at your plight? Of course, his pitiable condition melts your heart; will

it not melt Mine? But since I know the past, the background, My reaction is

different. If only you knew, you too will react differently. It is the

consequences of the evil, deliberately done in the previous births, and so I

have to allow the suffering to continue, modified often by some little

compensation. I do

not cause either joy or grief; you are the designer of both the chains”.

(Prashanthi Nilayam, 26/11/1964).

“When people forget the One and run after the many, Dharma declines; for, there

can be no love, no sacrifice, no detachment in human affairs then. So, the Lord

takes the human form and comes amongst men to restore his sense of values. You

may ask, why should the Lord Himself incarnate? Why can he not set about the

task of restoring Dharma through the many minor Gods He has at His command?

Akbar himself posed this question before the courtiers, for, he laughed at the

Hindu idea of the Formless adopting Form, the descending into the world as an

Avatar to save Dharma. Birbal asked for a week’s time to furnish the answer and

got it granted by his Imperial Majesty. A few days later, when he was in the

pleasure boat of the Emperor sailing across the lake with his family, Birbal

cleverly threw overboard a doll made to look like the Emperor’s little son,

crying at the same time. “O, the prince has fallen into the water:” Hearing

this, the Emperor jumped into the lake to rescue his son:

Birbal then disclosed that it was only a doll and that the son was safe. He

allayed the anger of Akbar by explaining that he had perforce to enact this

drama in order to demonstrate the truth of the Hindu belief why God takes human

form Himself, to save Dharma, without commissioning some other entity to carry

out the task. Dharma is as the son, God loves it so dearly. Akbar could have

ordered one among the many personnel he had on board to jump in and rescue his

son; but his affection was so great and the urgency so acute that the Emperor

himself plunged into the lake to pull out the “son”. The decline of Dharma is

so acute a tragedy; the intensity of affection that the Lord has for good men

is so great that He Himself comes. The Lord is love itself. He comes in human

form so that you can talk to Him, adore Him, move with Him, serve Him and

achieve

Him, so that you can recognise your kinship with Him.” (Venkatagiri Prashanthi

Vidwanmahasabha, 13/12/1964).

“The newspapers have a great role to play; but they are content to cater to the

vulgar tastes and become waste papers soon. I was, during the last month, in

Maharashtra state, in Bombay, where lakhs and lakhs of people satisfied their

thirst for Darshan and while I was discoursing to the several thousands on the

fundamentals of the Vedas and Sastras and directing the members of the

Prashanthi Vidwanmahasabha (Maharashtra Branch) to resuscitate the glorious

value culture of our land. I was discussing with ministers, judges, business

magnates, doctors, lawyers, editors and others belonging to Maharashtra,

Sourashtra and Delhi about the programme of Dharmasthapana. And here, in this

part of India, certain newspapers were wallowing in the lies that they invented

and circulated about what had happened to Me. They print without any

shame their despicable inventions displaying malice and envy of the lowest

order. Of course, such calumny is quite an ancient experience for the eminent;

this is My experience in previous Yugas also. The successors of Sisupala cannot

remain idle; consider to what low level human weakness has descended. I do not

care either for praise or blame; I only pity these people who, in order to

scrap together a few paise from the poor, resort to such venial tricks. For all

who are pained by these subhuman antics I declare, “Even if all the fourteen

worlds unite together, the work for which I have come will not suffer a bit;

even if Earth and Heaven combine. My truth can never be fully grasped”.

(Anantapur High School for Girls, School day., S.S.S,Vol.V)

“It is only in Sanathana Dharma that the importance of Karma in shaping the

destiny of man, the fact of the individual undergoing many births in his

progress towards birthlessness and mighty grace of God’s coming as man among

men to gather them around Him in Holy companionship for saving them and saving

the world through them, is so strongly and clearly laid down. If you doubt any

of these great truths, you are to suffer and grieve. Every one of you must be

saved, sooner or later, by the grace of the All Merciful. Make it sooner than

later. Keep the goal clear before the eye and march on”. (Dasara, 1966.

17/10/1966).

“I am also the target of such comments: people do not understand the way of God.

How can they know why particular event takes place at a particular time in a

particular manner? He alone can know. But people try to sit in judgment and

talk ill, when for example one dies of illness at this place: how can anyone

escape death? Even Avatars cast off the physical form when the task for which

they have come is over. It is the height of foolishness to loose faith in God

when someone you care for dies. The sentence that he earned is over and he is

released. No one is born and allowed to live for the sake of another. Each has

his own burden to carry and lay down. Do not therefore allow any circumstances

to affect your faith in God, who is your strength and solace.”

(Mahashivarathri, Prashanthi Nilayam, 09/03/1967).

“You must have noticed that I do not speak about Sai in My Discourses, nor do I

sing of Sai during the Bhajan with which I usually conclude My discourses. And

you must have wondered why. Let me tell you the reason. I do not want the

impression to gain ground that I desire this name and this Form to be

publicised. I have not come to set a new cult. I do not want the people to be

misled on this point. I affirm that this Sai form is the Form of all the

Various Names that man uses for the adoration of the Divine. So, I am teaching

that no distinction should be made between the names Rama, Krishna, Iswara, and

Sai, for they are all My Names”. (World conference of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai

Seva Organisation, Bombay, 17/05/1968) .

“Since at this place, those who have devotion have gathered and people of all

nations have come, I cannot but tell you one fact. World conferences dedicated

to religion or spiritual problems have, no doubt, been held before; also,

Conference of Followers of Spiritual Faiths. But these have been held only

after the demise of the founders and divine inspirers. This is the very first

time that a world conference is held of the persons devoted, while the

Incarnation is present before every one, with the Body assumed for the purpose,

bearing the Name that is chosen for it by itself. I must tell you this fact,

because ninety nine persons out of hundred among you do not know my Reality.

You have come here drawn by various needs, a taste for spiritual matters,

eagerness to develop the institution to which you are attached, admiration or

affection, love or reverence or spurt of enthusiasm to join others and share

with others your own exultations.

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

thousand years of steady austerity or ardent enquiry even if all the mankind

joins in that effort. But, in a short time, you will become cognizant of the

Bliss showered by the Divine Principle, which has taken upon Himself its 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 in

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 movement, My Divinity may

be revealed to you; you have to be ready, prepared for that 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.

(Sarvadaivathwa Sarvaroopaalanu dharinchina maanavaakaarame ee aakaaram). 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 My vision of My Reality.

Instead, if you swing like a pendulum of a clock, one moment devotion, other

moment disbelief, you can never succeed in comprehending the Truth and win the

Bliss. You are very fortunate that you have a chance to experience the Bliss

of the Vision of the Sarvadaivathwa swaroopam (The Form which is the all Forms

of all God) now in this life itself.

Let me draw your attention to another fact. On previous occasion when God

incarnated on Earth the Bliss of recognising Him in the incarnation was

vouchsafed only after the physical Embodiment had left the world, despite

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

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

skills, or at the imperial and panel 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 Bharat; 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 Vedas for the good of all the people of

the world. The revival of Vedic Dharma is the Sai Sankalpa (the resolve that Sai

has) not only drawing people towards Me, attracting them by the manifestation of

My Shakti (Power) and Samartya (capability). This is not a Bhramatatwam

(phenomenon of delusion). This phenomenon (Tattwam) will sustain truth, it will

uproot untruth, and in that victory may all of you exult in ecstasy. This is the

Sai

Sankalpa”. (World Conference of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisation,

Bombay, 17/05/1968).

“Then we have this programme of Nagarsankirtan. It is nothing new, for Jayadeva,

Gouranga, Tukaram and Kabir used this type of Naamasmarana as a means of self-

improvement and mass spiritual awakening. Gather in the early hours before

dawn, say about 4.30 A.M or 5.00 A.M., and proceed slowly along the streets,

singing Bhajan songs glorifying God. Carry the name of God to every door: wake

the sleeping with it, purify the atmosphere of the streets, rendered unclean by

angry shouts of hate or greed, faction or fight. Let the day dawn for you and

others with thought of the Almighty, the Compassionate, and the Omnipresent

self-knowing God. What greater service can you do to yourself and others? This

will give you health and happiness. Your egoism will be shattered when you sing

in the streets in full view of your neighbours. You will forget in your

enthusiasm all pride and self-esteem. Thus, this Nagarsankirtan is a great

Sadhana, a great piece of social service.

Another point too was raised yesterday, a small one about Prasadam (the edible

that is usually offered to the Lord after Bhajan and distributed as consecrated

food for the participants). Well, the edible offering is to be avoided; the Name

itself is the best consecrated offering to be shared. You can give Vibhuthi as

Prasadam; that is enough. That is the most precious and effective Prasadam.)”.

(World conference of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Organisation, Bombay evening of

18/05/1968).

“Another point; you desire that I should come to your houses: you pray to Me to

do so, you grieve when I do not come, you start reviling yourself that you are

poorer than others, that you are spiritually underdeveloped perhaps, and so on.

Now, all this is irrelevant. I have no place in My heart for such distinctions

and differences. You may believe this or disbelieve. But, I must reveal the

real response of My heart. I have no enthusiasm to visit the houses of the

people; nor have I any disinclination to do the same. I do not care for the

brick and mortar structures in which you live; I care to visit and reside in

your hearts. This Prashanthi Nilayam is not My residence. When your hearts are

transformed as Prashanthi Nilayam, they are My residence. When you pray that I

should visit your village, I think of the facilities it has - not for Me. I

need

only standing space - for the sake of thousand, the tens of thousands, the

hundreds of thousands that gather to have My Darshan. How can I tolerate the

slightest inconvenience to them, the women, the children, the sick, the aged,

the blind, the decrepit, that come for counsel, consolation, courage and cure?

Let me tell you another point also. Do not delay any more; take hold of this

unique chance, even while you can. Ask me about the Sadhana you should adopt

about your liberation; begin practicing from this day. Later it may be

difficult to approach Me and ask Me. For, people are coming towards Me in full

unending streams, and you may have to take Darshan of Me from miles away: This

is bound to grow into a Viswa-vriksha, a World-tree that sheds shade and

shelter on all. This has come down in this Form with that very purpose. It

knows no halting, no hesitation. My name is Sathya (Truth). My teaching is

Truth; My path is Truth; I am Truth.

In each Yuga, the Divine has incorporated itself as an Avatar for some

particular task. This Incarnation is different in that it had to deal with the

crisis, which is worldwide and World-shaking. Intellectual conceit has grown so

wild that men have become foolish enough to ask, “What and where is God?”

Immortality has put of the garb of mortality and is enticing man into the

morass of sin. Truth is condemned as a trap; justice is jeered at; saints are

harassed as social enemies. Hence this Incarnation has come to uphold the Truth

and suppress the False. I behave like you, moving, singing, laughing,

journeying, but watch out for the blow I inflict all of a sudden, to chastise

and to warn. I shall scorch the wrong doer for his wrong and soothe the

virtuous for his righteousness. Justice shall be meted out to all”.

yes"> (Prashanthi Nilayam, 18/08/1968)

“I shall not change my course even by a hair’s breadth, as a result of what

people may say about Me. I am not afraid of any one or thing. Truth has no

fear; untruth shivers at every shadow. This body of Mine is named Truth

(Sathya); the principle that is in this body is also Truth. Truth enclosed in

Truth has been rendered the Truth of Truths (Sathyasaya Sathyam). This form has

been assumed, in order to lead mankind from untruth to truth.

I eat as you do, move about as you do, talk in your language, and behave as you

can recognise and understand, for YOUR sake - not for My sake:. I turn you

towards Divine, winning your confidence, your love, your submission, by being

among you, as one of yourselves, one whom you can see, listen to, speak to,

touch and treat with reverence and devotion. My plan is to transmute you into

seekers of Truth (Sathya-anveshakas). I am present everywhere at all times; My

will must prevail over every obstacle; I am aware of the past, present and

future, of your innermost thoughts and carefully guarded secrets. I am

Sarvaantharyami, Sarva Saktha and Sarvajna. Nevertheless I do not manifest

these powers in any capricious manner or merely for display. For, I am an

example and as inspiration, whatever I do or omit to do. My life is a

commentary on my message.

For example, you must have noticed that I never call a woman alone for

interview. I call women only into group of ten or fifteen. I want that you

should note this and infer that one has to be extremely cautious in dealing

with the other sex, for, though I am above and beyond, the Gunas, since this

body is obviously masculine, I want to teach both men and women how they have

to regulate their social behavior and be above the slightest tinge of

suspicion, or of small talk.

Again, I am active and busy all the twenty-four hours of the day. Everyday, the

mail brings the thousands of letters, and you hand over to Me personally

hundreds more. Yet, I do not take the help of anyone else, even to open the

envelopes. For, you write to me intimate details of your personal problems,

believing that I alone will read them and having implicit confidence in Me. You

write, each one only a single letter, that makes for Me a huge bundle a day; and

I have to go through all of them. You may ask how I manage it? Well I do not

waste a single moment.

And, all this I do, not for personal gain, but only because I have come for your

sake. I never seek another’s help, never receive it. My hand always gives; it

never takes. Conclude from this that this must be Divine, not human power.

Some of you may be wondering, ‘How does Swami arrange these elaborate festivals

and functions? Who does He charge with the various items of work?’ I do not

allot work to this person or that, or consult anyone for ideas and suggestions.

The Divine Will, operating through the force of love, does all this. For

example, though there are thousands gathered here, absolute silence prevails.

Under what compulsion? Only the compulsion of love. In other places, where a

hundred people collect, a hundred and fifty constables are present to keep them

quiet: Here there is no need for any one to see that silence is maintained. For,

here God is the Master, and Creation dances in joy. There is no third entity

here. Only Purusha and Prakriti are here. A glance from the corner of the eye

is enough to get things done towards successful conclusion. Love activates,

love

fulfils.

When the Giver of Grace is here, you run after persons who claim that they got

this or the other article from Me or were blessed with this gift from Me: When

you have Kamadhenu here, why seek to know and secure a cow? Kamadhenu can give

you all that you need. When you have Kalpataru here, why bother about fruits on

a tree? Kalpataru can give you all that you ask. When you have the mountain of

gold and silver, Meru, why cringe for silver and gold from persons who are

themselves beggars? When you have God come amongst you to support and sustain

you, why grovel through crude vulgar entities? Avoid places where they bargain

in terms of gifts, donations, for Spiritual guidance and Transmission”.

(Dasara, Prashanthi Nilayam, 11/10/1970).

“Once Hislop asked me a question whether inanimate things too had emotions and

feelings of disappointment and despair? The occasion was at Dharmakshetra: I

asked that about a hundred sarees he bought, so that I could select some, for

distribution to the women workers at Anantapur who are helping to build a

Sathya Sai College there: I selected 96 and asked them to return 4 to the shop.

I kept the 4 aside and the 96 were placed in my room. Later, when I passed the

table on which the four discarded sarees were kept (Hislop was standing by the

side of the table), it was noticed that the card board box which contained the

four was dripping tears: The sarees were weeping; that they could not get

appreciation from Me and were declared unfit. Yes: They had shed tears. You may

ask whether this is ever possible. I answer, there is nothing in this world

which

has no heart, which is incapable of feeling joy or grief: Only you must have the

eye to see, the ear to listen, the heart to respond”. (Prashanthi Nilayam,

14/01/1971).

“But those who profess to have understood me, the Scholars, the Yogis, the

Pundits, the Jnanis, all of them are aware only of the least important the

casual external manifestation part of that power, namely the “Miracles” : they

have not desired to contact the source of all Power and all Wisdom, that is

available here at Brindavan. They are satisfied when they secure a chance to

exhibit their book learning and parade their scholarship in Vedic lore, not

realising that the person from whom the Vedas emanated is in the midst, for

their sake. They even ask, in their pride, for a few more chances.

This has been the case, in all ages. People may be very near (physically) to the

Avatar, but, they live out their lives unaware of their fortune: they exaggerate

the role of miracles, which are trivial, when compared to My Glory and Majesty,

as a mosquito is in size and strength to the elephant upon whom it squats.

Therefore, when you speak about these miracles, I laugh within Myself out of

pity, that you allow yourself so easily to loose the precious awareness of My

Reality.

My power is immeasurable; My Truth is inexplicable, unfathomable. I am

announcing this about Me, for, the need has arisen. But, what I am doing now is

only a gift of a visiting card: Let Me tell you that emphatic declarations of

the truth by Avatars were made so clearly and so unmistakably only by Krishna.

In spite of the declarations, you will notice in the career of the same Krishna

that He underwent defeat in His efforts or endeavors, on a few occasions you

must have also noted that those defeats too, were part of the drama, which He

had planned, and He Himself directed. For example, when many kings pleaded with

Him to avert the war with the Kauravas, He confessed that His mission to the

Kauravas court for ensuring peace had failed: But He had willed that it should

not succeed: He had decided that the war would be waged: His mission was

intended

to publicise the greed and envy of the Kauravas and to condemn them before the whole world.

Now, I must tell you that during this Sai Avatar, there is no place for even

such ‘drama’ with scenes of failure and defeats: What I Will must take place;

what I plan must succeed. I am Truth; and Truth has no need to hesitate, or

fear or bend.

‘Willing’ is superfluous for Me. For grace is ever available to devotees who

have steady love and faith. Since I move freely with them, talking and singing,

even intellectuals are unable to grasp My Truth, My power, My glory or My real

task as Avatar. I can solve any problem however knotty; I am beyond the reach

of the most intensive enquiry and the most meticulous measurement. Only those

who have recognised My love and experienced My love can assert that they have

glimpsed My reality. For, the path of love is the royal road that leads mankind

to Me.

Do not attempt to know Me through the external eyes. When you go to a temple and

stand before the image of the God, you pray with closed eyes, don’t you? Why?

Because you feel that the inner eye of wisdom can alone reveal Him to you.

Therefore, do not crave for from Me trivial material objects; but, crave for

Me. And you will be rewarded. Not that you should not receive whatever object I

give as sign of grace out of fullness of love.

I shall tell you why I give these things, talismans, rosaries etc., it is to

signalise the bond between Me and to those whom they are given. When calamity

befalls them, that articles come to Me in a flash and return in flash taking

from Me the remedial Grace of protection. The Grace is available to all who

call on Me in any name or form, not merely to those who wear these gifts. Love

is the bond that wins that Grace.

Consider the meaning of my name, Sai Baba. Sa means ‘Divine’; aye means ‘mother’

and Baba means ‘father’, just as Saambasiva, which also means the divine mother

and father. Your physical parents exhibit love with a dose of selfishness; but

this Sai ‘ Mother and Father’ showers affection or reprimands only for leading

you towards victory in the struggle for self-realisation.

For, this Sai has come in order to achieve the supreme task of uniting the

entire mankind as one family, through the bond of brotherhood, of affirming and

illumining the Atmic Reality of each being in order to reveal the Divine, which

is the basis on which the entire cosmos rests, and of instructing all to

recognise the common Divine Heritage that binds man to man, so that man can rid

himself of the animal, and rise into the Divine which is his goal.

I am the embodiment of Love; Love is my instrument. There is no creature without

Love; the lowest loves itself, at least. And its self is God. So, there are no

atheists, though some might dislike Him or refuse Him, as malaria patients

dislike sweets or diabetic patients refuse to have anything to do with sweets:

those who present themselves as atheists will one day, when their illness is

gone, relish God and revere Him.

I had to tell you so much about my truth, for, I desire that you should

contemplate on this and derive joy and reform so that you may be inspired to

observe the disciplines laid down by Me and progress towards the Goal of

Self-realisation, the Realisation of the Sai that shines in your heart”.

(Brindavan, 19/06/1974)

Swami declared, “Why is it that so many lakhs of people have gathered here

today? There must be some compelling reason for it. You must be seeking

something, which you have not found in your native place. Here there is Divine

Love; it is this powerful magnet of Divine Love that has been attracting all

the iron filings in the form of human beings. Not a single invitation was sent

to anyone. No one was asked to come. What has drawn all the people here is

power of Divine Love, the bond uniting hearts. At the root of all this is

purity. Where there is purity there love grows. When purity and love come

together, there is bliss (Ananda). Whatever work we do, whatever sacrifices we

perform, they are not of much use in the absence of love.

NEW HOSPITAL PROJECT: With this object in view (Providing free medical

facilities), we decided to establish a big hospital here. Many persons appealed

to Me to set up the hospital in an urban centre. There are many medical

institutions run as business in several cities. When any educational or medical

institution is established, the sole aim is to make a business out of it. There

are only a few who are ready to set up such institutions to provide free

facilities for the poor. Therefore from the start we decided to set up a

hundred crore hospital near Prashanthi Nilayam itself. Even as higher education

is free here ‘higher medicine’ also is free. People spend some lakhs to get

heart surgery done in the U.S. What is the plight of the poor? Who looks after

them? If they go to the cities, they will not get even coloured water

(Mixture). Recognising

this fact, we have launched this big hospital project, whether it is heart

by-pass operation, or a kidney transplant, or a lung operation or brain

surgery, everything will be free here. THE HOSPITAL WILL BE OPENED ON NOVEMBER

22,1991. No one can understand Sai Sankalpa (working of the mind) Thought and

action are simultaneous, like the light and sound that come out when a gun is

fired. Hence it is not easy for every one to understand Sai’s resolve.

In the case of earlier Avatars their fame grew only after their passing. In the

case of the present Avatar, in His own life time a UNIVERSITY, BIG HOSPITAL, AN

AERODROME, AND MANY OTHER THINGS, have been established, for the benefit of the

villagers, and many more will follow in the years ahead. Many persons have

doubts as to how all these things are being accomplished. The ADVENT (OF THIS

AVATAR) took place 64 years ago. All these years this hand has not been

stretched, at any time, to seek anything from anyone. I will never ask anyone

and there will never be an occasion for it. How then are these things

happening? For any good work, there is not any impediment in Bharat. When you

want to do any good work whole-heartedly, money flows in torrents.

The narrow-minded who undertake any work will never be satisfied. They cannot

understand the actions of those who are large hearted and broad-minded.” (65th

Birthday Celebrations, Hill View Stadium, 23/11/1990)

“Today I have just made a beginning with the exposition of Vedanta. Every Mantra

in the Vedanta is pregnant with meaning. I shall take up every day one Mantra

and explain its meaning in simple and easily intelligible terms. The essence of

the Vedanta can be compressed in a small message, but that small message is

composed of 15000 Mantras. I shall reveal to you the meaning of these Mantras.

This cannot be done by anyone except the Divine.

You have not known even a fragment of My reality. The full nature of this

reality can never be understood by anyone. I am a man amongst men, when they

see Me, I appear as a man. Amongst woman, I am a woman. Amongst children I am a

child. When alone, I am God. This is the truth about Me. The reason is I have to

act towards each section at their level.

You must realise that all this is coming to you because of your extreme good

fortune. Any previous Avatar has not given this kind of blessing to anyone.

Your good fortune will fructify immensely if you make good use of this

opportunity to learn and benefit from Swami’s teachings.

You will see in the due course that even the blind declare, “Swami is God”.

In the human condition, occasionally Maya enters and subjects people to various

tests. Do not submit to Maya in any way.

Succeed in all tests. Then you will become tasty for Bhagawan. Immerse yourself

in the love principle. Its true nature is beyond description.

Give up all bad qualities in you, banish the ego and develop the spirit of

surrender. You will then experience Bliss. (Sai Kulwant Hall, 31/07/1996)

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