September 6, 2008 (source:http://www.saistudents.org/alumni/home/news.php)

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September 6, 2008

Devotees from Kadapa district of Andhra had arrived in thousands and

they had been permitted to put up their programme today. Wet grinders,

sewing machines and iron boxes had been placed for distribution to the

poor from Kadapa. It is a very special chance for these people who have

to think twice even before getting into a bus whether they have the

necessary fare required for even an inter-village journey. The members

of the Sai samithis identify such poor and as a token of Swami's Love

gift them with articles to carry out their livelihood. And when Swami

graciously agrees to Himself gift away those articles in His Divine

presence, those people are brought to Parthi so that they too are

blessed with the wonderful gift of Grace-Darshan.

Swami arrived to Kulwant hall and it was filled. He moved

through the ladies side blessing the girls from the primary school who

were seated there. Then at the center of the hall He looked keenly at

all the items placed. Moving to the gents side, He received the

adoration and devotion that was laden in the air as the devotees 'rose

to different heights' to see Him and then stood even 'higher' with the

sheer joy of just seeing Him. Swami completed the rounds of the gents

side and then moved through the students and into the interview room.

After a while, He came and sat outside listening tothe Vedic chants. He

called the district president and enquired into the programme

scheduled. He also called Prof. Anil Kumar and gave him some

instructions. Then as the chanting ceased, the district president spoke

for a few minutes outlining all the activities being undertaken at

Kadapa. After him Prof Anil Kumar spoke on why Kadapa was so special

for Swami. It played an important part of His "education" and hence has

got embedded in all the leelas and mahimas that little Sathya performed

there, years ago. The famous fair and Pushpagiri that Swami attended

too are in Kadapa. After a beautiful 25 minutes when Swami seemed to

become very nostalgic about what was being spoken, Prof. Anil Kumar

concluded his talk.

Then the names of the recepients of the articles of Love were

read out and they reverentially came forward to receive the tokens of

Love. There were volunteers to help move the heavy gifts! The

distribution went along very quickly and without much fanfare - the way

it always is when it comes to Swami. As the distribution concluded, the

next programme, a dance ballet entitled Annamaya began. It consisted of

the compositions of the saint Annamacharya and dances tuned to their

rhythms. The children participating in this programme had been drawn

from the poorest strata of society. Some of them were also children of

people who had taken to begging as a means of living! But on the stage,

they were such wonderful performers that they won everyone's hearts.

They were all extremely rich in their love for God and simple in their

faith in Him. Swami sat watching the dance providing the rhythm through

the beat of His hands. There were about 5 dances in all and different

sets of children performed them. The most prominent among the songs was

"Adigo Allidigo Sri Harivasamu" for which every member in the audience

also began to clap rhythmically. Every dance was received by rounds of

hearty applause. As the final dance concluded, all the children came

forward and in a very disciplined manner stood in lines. Swami was very

happy. He had sarees and white cloth pieces distributed to the girls

and boys respectively.

As the distribution concluded, He said that He would move down

to bless them all with group photos. He slowly moved down and smilingly

sat amidst the children. As the photos were taken, Swami told the

photographers to move to the right and then to the left so that none of

the children get left out! That was a very sweet gesture from Swami. He

asked the names of a couple of kids and blessed them. Moving back to

the stage, Swami asked the devotees to sing some songs. They were

ecstatic! It was already late and they never expected that chance. But

with Swami, it is joy always! He always wants everyone happy and will

always go out of His way to ensure it. And so, the group songs began.

Though it was late, Swami sweetly satting tapping His hands

rhythmically for one song each by the gents and the ladies. After that,

He received Aarthi and left.

 

Click here to see pictures of the event.

 

September 5, 2008 Teachers'

day was welcomed by most of the residents of the Sri Sathya Sai

institutions like one would do for the New Year's Day - by keeping

awake through the night! Swami had notified everyone that Ganesha

immersion - an event of great significance in the Indian annual

calendar - would take place on the 5th. The act of taking the clay idol

of Lord Ganesha to the nearby water body and immersing Him in it has a

great spiritual meaning. The clay idol is symbolic of the human body

composed of the five elements. It should spend time on the earth in a

manner that it is worshipped! After its worshippable stay on the earth,

it finally merges back with the elements. Though the idol is gone,

Ganesha lives forever! And that story is the same for the true being,

the soul, too. It is in this spirit and fervour that the immersion is

celebrated all over India, more so in Puttaparthi. And everyone is

fully immersed in making either chariots or palanquins for carrying the

sweet elephant Lord Ganesha!

At about 3:00 pm, all the chariots from the school and

Institute and the various institutions were all lined up along the main

road at Parthi and what an impressive sight it was! The procession

began to the singing of bhajans, enthusiastic rhythms of the chants and

the musical beats of the drums. The beeline towards the mandir was

ready and it began. As the chariots entered the mandir, they were led

to the bays that had been earmarked for them to park. Soon the entire

array was ready and what an impressive sight it was! The mandir

resembled a cosmic battlefield where the Lord pervaded all the

chariots! To add to this was a contingent of little Ganeshas from

primary school waiting in front of Swami's residence along with the

nadaswaram and the Veda chanting contingents. There was a peacock

chariot and another one that had the Golden eagle. A palanquin and a

chariot had been inspired by Adi Sesha, the serpent which forms the bed

for Lord Vishnu, and they were designed like that divine snake. There

was a "Harry Potter" cup inside which Ganesha sttod as the prize, a

huge Hibiscus flower had Ganesha as its centre, a castle and a mountain

added to the variety. An elephant with Ganesha seated atop in the

howdah also paraded in the procession. A "navaratna ring" chariot too

was present and there were chariots from the indoor stadium and from

the Sri Sathya Sai airport too.

It was about 4:00 pm when Swami came out for the darshan

rounds. A little "Ganesha" immediately moved forward to his "father"

and offered a rose and that instantly brought a sweet smile on Swami's

face. He asked for all the procession to begin as He sat watching from

in front of Yajur Mandir. Representative members of each group that had

gathered there went forward to Swami and offered flowers before

embarking and joining the procession. The procession entered the

Kulwant hall and so did Swami, behind it. He slowly went past each and

every chariot and as He went by, there were people holding out fruits

and various articles of worship. Very patiently, Swami blessed each of

them and looked at the chariots. He went for a full round looking at

and appreciating the creativity and devotion embodied in the vehicles

for Lord Ganesha. He then came and sat on the stage. As part of the

programme, a dance on the glories of Ganesha had been organised. The

children from the school did a wonderful job and there was a loud round

of applause for all of them. As they concluded, Swami called the warden

and blessed everyone to go around for the pradakshina.

There is a very famous story of how Ganesha went around Lord

Shiva and Mother Parvati and claimed that He had circumambulated the

entire universe. When questioned, He simply replied that his parents

were the Universe for Him. In that similar manner, all the students and

staff went around Swami and the mandir. After that, each chariot was

brought up in front of Swami as the announcers introduced them and

explained the significance of their vehicle.

The chariots slowly made their way to their final destination as Swami

very lovingly blessed each and every chariot with Abhayahastha. Strains

of "Jai bolo Sai Baba Ki" and "Jai Bolo Ganesh Maharaj Ki" filled the

air. The wholoe atmosphere was one of enthusiasm and energy. Swami sat

viewing till the entire procession moved past Him. As it left the

mandir, Swami went into the bhajan hall. There He interacted very

lovingly with one of the students for quite some time and materialized

a gold chain for him. Spending time speaking to him, Swami then asked

for bhajans to begin. Bhajans went on for about 40 minutes after which

Swami received Aarthi and left to Yajur Mandir. Again there too were

students who offered roses of gratitude to Him. Swami accepted them and

blessed the students and retired for the day.

 

Click here to see pictures of the event, and click here to see short videos of the immersion procession.

August 31, 2008 Today

was a special day for all the students working at the various

institutions that Swami has personally set up. September 2nd is the

anniversary of the formation of the Central Trust and it happened to be

a Tuesday. To enable all the students from even places like Bangalore

to assemble in His divine presence, the celebrations were advanced to

the 31st of August, a Sunday. And it turned out to be very apt for

indeed it was an 'August' gathering!

 

In the morning, all the student-staff, 165 in all, gathered in the

bhajan hall. The ages ranged from the early twenties to the mid

fifties! It was indeed such a wonderful brotherhood that has united

under the fatherhood of Sai! Swami too seemed to be very eager to make

the occasion very special. He arrived at 9:10am and then sat in the

bhajan hall for bhajans till 10:00am! He promised that He would speak

to everyone in the evening and then left receiving Aarthi. In the

meanwhile, the Lord, divine Mother that He is, arranged a sumptuous

feast for all the children that had so lovingly and sincerely gathered

at His feet. All of them were escorted to the South Indian Canteen

premises where a meal of more than 18 items had been spread over regal

plates royally for the 165 gathered!

 

It was around this time that all the chief priests of the Tirupati

Tirumala Devastanams arrived at Swami's residence, Yajur Mandir. Very

graciously, Swami permitted them to enter and chant mantras in His

presence. The new Chairman of Tirumala Tirupati Devesthanam (TTD) Adi

Kesavalu Naidu, had also come along with his wife to offer his

obeisance and great sense of gratitude to Swami. Swami blessed them and

told them,"The opportunity to serve the Lord is something that people

do not get even after intense prayers. You have got it so easily even

without asking for it! Indeed it is a great blessing conferred on all

of you." Everyone fell in full prostration at the feet of their living

Lord and left after Swami very smilingly and graciously blessed them.

 

As He had promised, Swami enquired at about 3:30pm whether all the

students had gathered in the bhajan hall. He wanted to make sure none

miss the bounty that He was about to confer. At exactly 4:00pm, Swami

and His dear children had all gathered inside. Swami took a round and

enquired sweetly from everyone as to whether they were all happy with

the food! When everyone responded with joy, Swami was very touched and

happy. Moving to the front, Swami lit the candle and cut a specially

made cake. Then Swami settled comfortably facing all the students.

 

 

 

"What do you want me to speak about?", "Ask your doubts."

 

A research scholar from the University put forth his sincere shortcoming. "Swami, how do we control the mind?" he asked

 

 

Mind has no death and none can control it. It is forever. Without that

consciousness, man cannot live. Mind should be there. Mind is the

nature of man. When you are a man, mind will exist. When you become one

with God alone, mind goes and all become One. Only in the Advaitic

state, mind vanishes. As long as I & We and Mine and Ours exist,

mind will exist. "This is mine", "that is mine" - such thoughts lead to

the persistence of the mind. All this is Dvaita or dualism. Mind will

be fickle as long as duality exists. Advaita is I am I. If you think

you are the other, the materials etc, mind continues. If you say, "This

is mine", you are different from the material. The physical world

removes spirituality. Reduce your desires gradually- less luggage, more

comfort.

 

Many people take to meditation. What is it? It means the halting of the

mind. Ask for anything, but be detached. Thoughts and desires come. As

long as ocean is there, waves are natural. You cannot get rid of waves.

When waves merge in the ocean, they disappear. The waves are physical

in natural and they have stayed from the birth. They do not reduce.

When you get the oneness with God, waves reduce. Till then desires keep

attacking. Physically, mentally and materially, thoughts arise. The

thoughts are the saplings. Courage is necessary. Seeds of Love and rain

of devotion mixed with feelings, lead to good crops. If worldly

thoughts arise, they keep growing. You say meditation, but no one does

it. One just sits but does not focus the mind even for a moment. When

you say to yourself that, "I and God are one" with full faith, the

thoughts will cease. "God is not separate from me. I am not separate

from God." Have firm faith. There is no place without God. Everything

happens from thoughts. People say they saw things in meditation. That

is only imagination due to the thoughts. There should not be any

thoughts. Even if you think God has come and stood, that's also

imagination. It is an aberration of the mind. There is only one- no

other! Have no feeling of 'I' or separation. As far as possible, crush

the feeling of 'I'. As long as 'I' exists, 'you' also will exist.

 

The mind, brain, Buddhi, Chitta- everything will go. Only the Atma

remains. To think that you will achieve through meditation is a

mistake. Indrajit was Ravana's son. He had conquered the senses. But he

too died when Rama came. Vibhishana's son was also there. If he is won

over, Victory is assured. He came to fight.

 

Formerly, Hanuman had gone around all the streets of Lanka. He got

himself caught by Indrajit only to see and study the place. After that

was served, Indrajit got killed. Vibhishana's son, Buddhijit, was very

fearsome. If he is gone, Lanka too shall be gone. None knew where his

life principle was. Vibheeshana told Rama to shoot his right shoulder.

Then he died. Then the father began to cry and Rama came to know the

Truth. Lanka will be gone. The war was as good as over.

The father gave up the life of his own son. Even among rakshasas, such

people are there. He was a man without feeling of mine and I. When he

gave up these, then only victory was achieved. Vibhishana was

coronated. All were happy including his wife Sarma and children,

Shakini and Dakini. They had protected and enthused Sita. "Do not

worry, Rama will surely come and kill Ravana and remove all of his ten

heads." Sita then became courageous. Lanka was full of demons but Rama

made even that place also peaceful. The reason for all demons getting

killed was because they all had the feeling of I and mine. If

Vibhishana had the feeling of I and mine, then Lanka would not have got

redeemed. Even demons helped God.

 

In the world, Sathya, Dharma, Shanti, Prema and Ahimsa will come only

if you tell, "I am man and not an animal". Animal thoughts must go.

Human qualities and human values must arise. From Sathya, Peace comes.

From these emerges Love. When Love is there, you hate none and all are

equal. This Love has to be developed. It is there in everything. You

see ants moving in a single line, talking to each other, kissing and

then moving ahead Ants have love. When a calf is born, the mother may

go to forest to graze, but she is always thinking of the child. The

calf too keeps telling "Amma, amma" till she comes. Even animals have

Love. The love is same in all. So you cannot give up one another.

Therefore develop human values.

 

The first is Truth. It is everything and everywhere. There is only one

Truth. Not two. From that arises Dharma. From that comes Shanti. Then

everything is so serene!! Love emerges then. When peace comes, you have

feeling of Oneness. In ancient times, people meditated even in forests

with vicious animals. All animals would come and sit with them. Why?

Because of pure feelings and absence of ill-will. Yad Bhavam Tad

Bhavati. If you harm none, none will harm you. If you try to harm only,

problems arise. There is a dog sleeping if you just pass by, it'll just

remain. Even if you bend to pick a stone, it will get up. Thoughts are

there too. When you take care of thoughts, nothing can happen. Do not

harm others even in thoughts. Never pain or hurt others in thoughts

too. It's a way of cheating yourself, to trouble others in your

thoughts. Everything is in us. The whole world is in us. Good and bad

reside in us. When bad thoughts arise, bad actions follow. The

connection between thoughts and actions is like the switching of a

light bulb. The action definitely follows your thoughts. If you think

of all as brothers, all will be that way. But if you develop hatred and

anger, they too will feel like beating you up. Do not have bad feelings

on others, for it is what you are feeling towards yourself. All that

happens to you is because of yourself alone. The thoughts and feelings

do not affect others, they affect you only. Be thought-less, then you

are pure. Lest, the thoughts come back and trouble you!

 

A small story.

 

 

A dog went into a house of mirrors. It saw many dogs coming towards it.

It got fearful. So it attacked one dog. The mirror collapsed and broke.

Now, thousands of dogs began to attack it! The dogs increased. The dog

resigned and left. As many pieces you break, that many dogs come. But

if a human enters such a house, he will know, "I am only getting

reflected everywhere." So, if he sees any fault, he sets himself right.

For everything is but a reflection. Ishwara sarva bhootanam. God is not

separate from us. He is within us. That feeling must be there. Help

ever hurt never. If you hurt anyone, it'll come back to you. Even if

you help, that'll come back. That is the secret of God's creation. In

God's creation, There is God alone. Truth, God and Consciousness are

all one. Everything else will change. What is consciousness? That is

Myself. That is self realisation- to recognise oneself. That animal is

me. That dog or that lion- all are me. The dog barks at elephant not

knowing that both are the same. If you look within, dog and elephant

are same. Names and forms are many but Conscious within is the same. It

is changeless. There is only one sun in the sky. Same is seen in Russia

or USA or Italy. But it is day here and night in USA. Does not mean

that the sun is not there! It is only due to the changes in the earth.

There is only one sun. S-u-n not S-o-n! (all laugh) The countries are

different but feelings are same. Put in efforts to realize the unity.

Work for Oneness.

 

 

You need not meditate to see God. You are God. Why do you struggle to

see Him? Daivam Manusha Roopena. When the artist draws, naturally he

will draw as a human form. Be it Rama or Krishna- because God takes

human form, He has human qualities. Because of this, those human

qualities act as a screen on His divinity. That is Maya. As long as the

screen exists, one is deluded. The dog is confused as long as the

mirrors are there once the mirrors are removed, no problems! We are

only increasing our attachments and not destroying them.

"Mukkalu"(divide") cheesthe Kukkalu vosthayi(dogs will come)! There are

not many dogs but only one. But reflections are seen in all. No need to

fear that there are so many dogs. Do not feel that we are facing so

many sorrows and obstacles? The trouble is actually you. You alone are

responsible for them. We develop and keep only the photographs of the

feelings. Remove all the images and keep the negatives - the basis. If

you keep taking photos, they will go one day. Keep the negatives, you

can get any number of images printed.

 

 

How does God look? Peacock feather implies Krishna and trident is for

Shiva. None have seen Him. This is all imagination. You say Swami, we

saw Krishna. You are Krishna. Why efforts to see yourself. It is only

when you forget your nature, you desire thus. So do not forget

yourself. God does not have many forms. They are all like Ravi Verma

pictures! Its not that God came in that form. It is the imagination of

the painters. People without wisdom alone stick to forms. These forms

are all for satisfaction alone.

 

But when you think you are God, you must have God's qualities. But if

you consider yourself anything lower, lower thoughts arise. Everything

arises, lives and merges back into pure Truth. Your Self is the Truth.

Everything else are copies. There is only one original. Creation is all

copies. Everything is born from love, depends on Love for sustenance

and Merges into love again. Your reflection is seen on the water

bubble. But the bubble bursts in moments. You are eternal! All

reflections will die down one day.

 

 

 

When Sita was taken to Lanka, she always kept repeating Rama's name. If

you want to see Rama, keep his form in mind and his name on the lips.

Same is the case with Krishna. The name and from are one and the same.

If you see form, name comes and if you chant the name, form comes. So

whatever bad feeling comes, it is you. You cannot say that it came from

this or that person. All are born of you. Bad thoughts arise in this

age. Where did it come from? You see a woman. But if she comes in your

thoughts, did she enter you? No, because you think of her, her form

came in mind. Both good and bad arise out of us. The belch depends on

what you eat. If you eat mango, cucumber belch does not come. Whatever

you think of only comes in your dreams. You may think I did not think

of it before sleeping. You must have thought of it sometime before

then! Nothing can come from outside and get into you. Is it easy for a

lady to come and get into us? Because of your feelings the form arose

in the mind. Feeling has no form and she too is formless. So formless

always remains formless. When you develop the thought of a form , that

will appear before you. Everything comes from within you. You are the

cause for everything. All the good and bad is in you!

 

 

Think of bad, bad comes. Good gives good So understand everything comes

from thoughts. So think always that, "I am the Atma." What is the form

of Atma? It is Purity. It is true consciousness. Develop the purity

first. Unity arises out of purity. From there comes divinity. Therefore

get purity and you can reach God. So when you want to see oneness, move

from the multiplicity to Unity. When you see Swami, you think only of

Him and then only He will come. Some think, Swami is not speaking with

me. Not only you, Swami is not speaking with anyone. Now I am speaking.

Tell with whom I am speaking? To all. I always speak to all. Never

think, Swami is speaking to me alone. Swami is close to him and far

from him. Swami never goes far nor goes near to anyone. Swami will

never give up anyone. It is all the fault in the feelings. So set right

the feelings. That is meditation. Get the feeling of oneness. As is the

feeling so is the happening. Nothing comes from outside. It is all from

within. Even the child is born from within It does not enter the womb

from outside. Only physically differences exist. Truth is one but

described in many ways. Do not go by the descriptions. Did you all

understand?

 

From this moment realise I and God are one only one and not two. It's

not the bodies merging, but in the I, Swami exists. Even Jesus

declares, "There is only 1". Cut the 'I' of the ego and only 1 remains.

Even the Muslims say,(here Swami said "Alla-o-Akbar" and told the

meaning of Akbar also.) "Allaha". Aa- means I and La means not this. It

too says to remove the i. There is only that sound of Akaara. Joining

different consonants, many sounds are created.....What is the time now?

5:00 pm!

 

After the bhajans, you sing, Loka Samastha Sukhino Bhavanthu It means

let everything in this world be happy. Dont say that. Say, "Samastha Lokaha sukhino bhavanthu".

It means let all the worlds be happy. It is very broad based and

expansive. Let all the worlds be happy. Start it from now or from

Thursday.

 

 

What else? Remember that God's work is real work. Swami's darshan is

true Aanandam Swami's words are your meditation and joy. Body is for

work and mind is for contemplation. If these two are there, all merge

into one. Contemplate on any name. Gods are not separate All are one

and they differ only in pictures. In Uttar Pradesh, peacock feathers

are easily available and so all children put it on their head They will

not become Krishnas! Peacock feather alone won't make you Krishna.

Think of the beauty of God. Everything is God. So also, all work you

do, it is God's work. Do not think I am working in hospital, college,

hostel or Central Trust. Everything is God work But you make it bad

work by thinking of differences. In book stall you tell this is Rajan's

work. That is neither Rajan nor Central Trust work. It is all Sai work.

Be united in every small thing too. Then you will get true meditation.

But you close eyes and search for mosquitoes biting you! All work done

by this body is God's work. Then no need of any tapas or penance. Many

are doing japam and instead of forgetting the world, they forget the

rosary! Whatever you think in the heart, that will happen. That is

everything. Any more doubts?

 

 

 

How can one be spiritual, following the Gruhastha Dharma?

 

That is also divine! Think that is divine work Do not separate

things as worldly or spiritual. Everything is God. In and around God!

 

 

Is it not being boastful telling that I am God I am God?

 

 

NO. That is the correct. Satyam. If you think you are God and do mad

things then its wrong. When you think you are God, work like God If you

do something, think "Will God do like this?" Search yourself. That is

true. Whatever work you do - home work, office work- do not separate

them. You are important. Nothing else exists and you are there

everywhere. Keep the I. Forget the differences of work of all sorts.

That is Oneness! So in everything, get rid of I and mine. If these two

are gone, all is achieved.

 

This is my towel. If I give it to you, how will it be mine? There is nothing called mine. Have no sense of difference.

 

 

Swami we are all very grateful to you!

 

Then You should not tell that! Treasure and keep it! Its all God's

Grace. Grace alone gives you gratefulness. Without Grace, everything is

grass! You cannot divide and chop Grace. You can cut grass but not

Grace.

 

 

 

All are happy?

 

YES SWAMI!! All look forward to such sessions with you!

 

 

 

Very happy. I'll give one more opportunity. (claps)

 

 

Swami then permitted a senior brother to speak a few words. He

beautifully recounted experiences with Swami that had touched him and

in turn everyone gathered at His feet, very deeply! After that, Swami

asked all the students to sing songs. Two Telugu songs narrating the

unique love between the Lord and His devotee and a Hindi song

expressing the great joy at being in HIs presence praying that such

things happen over and over again were sung. Swami then looked at the

clock and said, "Even bhajans time is over!" Receiving Aarthi and

blessing prasadam to be distributed to all, Swami retired for the day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Copyright © 2005 - . Sri Sathya Sai Students.

 

 

 

 

 

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