Fw: SAI SPIRITUAL SHOWERS – ISSUE 37

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--- On Thu, 8/5/08, Sai Spiritual Showers Team <noreply wrote:Sai Spiritual Showers Team <noreplySAI SPIRITUAL SHOWERS – ISSUE 37sssprinceksvDate: Thursday, 8 May, 2008, 1:50 AM

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All

worldly pleasures are transient and temporary. Very often they result in

sorrow and disappointment. God alone is the source of enduring bliss. The

purpose of human birth is to realise the inherent divinity in man. This

message was brought home to students of the Sathya Sai Institute, whom

Bhagavan had taken with Him to Ooty in April last, by an interesting story.

Swami said:

Once

a great Maharaja (ruler) held a big exhibition of paintings and art

products. The finest works of art were on display. The exhibition was open

to one and all. The Maharaja announced that anyone could walk in and take

away whatever one liked. Large numbers of men and women went to the

exhibition and took back with them whatever they fancied. Among them was a

lady. She saw everything in the exhibition. She came out through the main

door without taking anything with her.

The

Maharaja noticed that of all the persons visiting the exhibition she was

the only one to come out empty handed. He was curious to know what the

reason for this was. He asked the lady: "Madam, how is it you have

found nothing to interest you in the exhibition? There are so many

attractive things on display. Was there nothing that pleased you?" She

replied: "There are innumerable desirable things in the

exhibition." The Maharaja asked: "But, was there nothing which

you wanted?No,†she said. The Maharaja said: “If

that is so, tell me what you desire and I shall give it to you." She

said: "Maharaja, will you promise that you will give me what I want?

Is your offer genuine? Will you keep your word?"

"Certainly,†replied the Maharaja. "If that is so, I want

only you,†said the lady. True to his word, the Maharaja surrendered

himself to her. When the Maharaja himself became hers, all that was in the

exhibition automatically became hers.

This

cosmos is a vast exhibition. It is the creation of the Lord. All are

entering this exhibition and are taking whatever they choose. Some seek

jobs, others wealth, and so on. They are content to take the objects of

their choice. But no one asks the question: "Swami! If I take away one

thing or another, what is it that I gain? If you become mine, all these

will become mine." When you have entered the cosmic exhibition, you

must seek the Divine. Then, the whole universe becomes yours. You must seek

that which is lasting and unchanging. There is no meaning in going after

one thing after another. There is no end to that process. There is no

satisfaction in that. What you acquire today, loses its charm the next day

and you desire something new. But once the Divine is attained, all things

are obtained.

In this cosmic exhibition, you are seeing, hearing and

experiencing innumerable things. You experience depression, confusion and

disappointment. You have no contentment. "Asantrupto nijo

nashtah". "Lack of contentment is the true loss." The man

who is not contented is continually experiencing loss. There is no Limit to

desires. One feels hungry, another is thirsty. If the thirsty man is

offered water, he is not satisfied, he wants a cool drink. When he is given

a cool drink, he is not satisfied, he wants ice cream. And so on. He is not

satisfied with anything.

There

is no end to desire for material things in the world. To get rid of these

desires, Man must turn his mind towards God. That is the way to achieve

contentment and lasting bliss.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With the arrival of simmering summer it is holiday

time for the students from Bhagawan’s esteemed educational

institutions after another hectic, but most rewarding academic year in His

Divine Presence. Branded as future ambassadors, these students do have a

definite task with them when they move out of Prasanthi Nilayam, to be role

models in the society, in letter and spirit. It is no pressure situation

for these students if they put into practice what they have learnt at the

Divine Lotus Feet. Sai students need not get

panicky at the thought of holidays. Of course, we should

remember to have an iron control over ourselves when we go home for

holidays, writes M. Sainath, 3rd B.Sc., Prasanthi Nilayam Campus as

published in Sanathana Sarathi April, 1988.

 

 

 

 

"So, you are from Puttaparthi, are you?" For the

hundredth time I winced and inwardly I was making a mental note to tell my

mother not to tell everyone that I was from Parthi. I told the gentleman,

"Yes, Sir, I am.Well, then, you would like to tell us

something about the place, how it runs…" And so it went on.

The

conversation might sound insignificant to some. But to Sathya Sai students,

this is an 'Agni Pariksha' or an ordeal by fire, the test to determine his

moral standard as shaped by the Lord. Of course, one cannot engage in the

unholy duty of categorizing those who fail in this test as

"untrue" Sathya Sai students. There might be several reasons for

a person's failure to live up to Sai ideals at a crucial moment. Sai's

ideals are the highest and considering the world from which we all have

come to Parthi, it is obvious that time and patience are needed to see the

day when a student can proudly say that he is a Sathya Sai student without

being afraid of behaving otherwise.

Holidays are one thing which several students look forward

to so that they can go back to their parents. At the same time they are not

happy at the prospect of leaving Parthi. The moment the bus leaves Parthi,

it is as if some part of our being is left behind. This feeling invariably

has an effect on our behaviour, the extent of which depends directly upon

how far one has been able to grasp and absorb our Lord's teachings. For

some, holidays are not just a stretch of days to enjoy, but a period of

severe trial in which their degree of absorption of the Lord's ideals is

tested.

There

are three types of people one is likely to come across in the world

outside, viz., (i) those who seem genuinely interested in us and wish to

know all about Bhagawan Baba, (ii) those who are just not bothered, and

(iii) those who want to know more for the purpose of criticism and

ridicule. Most of us, students, would undoubtedly like to move with people

belonging to the first category and would not mind meeting a few of the

second. But, we definitely would prefer to keep away from the third. But

with all the three types of people one will undergo the above mentioned

'Agni Pariksha'.

How

does this work? The people in the first category have some regard for us

and at any word of disparagement from us, they begin to revise their

opinions about us. Hence, one has to succeed in the test with them.

Regarding the second category of persons who are uncommitted

in their opinion, it is just enough if one speaks the right words that will

tilt their opinion more to the brighter side. As for the third category,

most of us cannot do anything. If they refuse to acknowledge the Lord's

presence, then we should remember that they are to be pitied rather than

shunned.

Most

of us have seen Swami constantly urging us to go home for the holidays.

But, how many of us readily realize that He is sending us into the testing

crucible—the place where we are tested for the qualities we have

imbibed at Prasanthi Nilayam. But, there is nothing to worry. If we just

think about Swami and call on His help at such times of test, we may be

sure He is there. This is my personal experience.

I

have an uncle who is very much of a cynic and casts doubts on everything. I

was always dreading the prospect of encountering him and be the target of

his bombardment. One day what I feared happened. That day he dropped in at

our home and said, "Ah! How is your Puttaparthi?" I muttered

within myself "Hey Bhagawan!" and said, "Fine, uncle.â€

Then followed a fusillade of questions and I answered them all in

monosyllables, until I met my mother's disapproving frown. And then? I saw

Swami frowning that way. I knew then that I must stop my uncle's tirade. I

fervently prayed to Bhagawan and then started answering my uncle's

questions with more fire and punch in them. I even found myself plunging

him into thoughtful silence now and again. I felt very proud of this

achievement, though I never took the credit for myself. It was only later

that I realised that Swami had been with me at that time. I knew this when

I heard my uncle tell my father "Sai (referring to me) has matured

quite a lot! I have never heard such an argument from him!" It was

four weeks later that I got a letter from him in which he expressed his

desire to come to Parthi!

Hence, Sai students need not get panicky at the thought of

holidays. Of course, we should remember to have an iron control over

ourselves when we go home for holidays. Knowingly or unknowingly, there are

a thousand eyes watching every move, and as many mouths to spread the word.

Let us bravely go forward and face our Agni Pariksha with the same zest and

zeal that we show to the "enjoying part" of our holidays. Let us

remember the joy that we would give our Lord if we come out with flying

colours in this test. Let that joy in His eyes and our satisfaction at

that, be our guiding light to our goal.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WITH A VISION THAT GUIDES AND A MISSION THAT

TRANSFORMS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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