A tribute to mark his b’day on November 23
Divinity manifested in human form, 86 years ago on November 23, 1926, at a village named Puttaparthi in the southern region Damabadiva. He was named Sathya Narayan Raju after the family tradition and grew up with his family up to the age of 14 at which time he declared he was "Sai Baba” and that he no longer belonged to the Raju family, as he had come for the service of entire mankind.
He told his family that many thousands in the world were eagerly awaiting his arrival, bringing the divine light of salvation from worldly bondage to mankind and thus took his first steps for the service to humanity. He embarked on his divine mission with a few of his close devotees and subsequently took up residence at Prashanthi Nilayam (meaning the Abode of Supreme Peace’) located about one and a half km from his place of birth.
His foremost endeavour was to instil and develop the fundamental human qualities in mankind. Anyone embarking on the study of the core teaching of Sai, based on Truth (Sathya), Righteousness (Dharma), Love (Prema), Non Violence (Ahimsa) and Peace (Shanthi), will come to the conclusion that they are not in any way contrary or different to any of the spiritual paths laid out in the fundamental teachings of the world religions, be it Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism or any other.
The experience of true spiritual seekers of the world, belonging to all major world religions was that the teachings of Sai have had a remarkable impact in rightly understanding the deeper meanings of the doctrine taught by their great teachers, be it the Lord Buddha, Jesus Christ, Allah or the Hindu Vedas.
Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba emphasised the fact that everyone should understand the guidelines set out by their own great religious teachers and consciously follow and act according to the principles laid out by their own religions.
Those who understood the underlying truth of the teachings of Bhagawan Baba soon flocked around him in their thousands. Today, there are a multitude of Sai groups and Sai Centres established in over 203 countries worldwide and the service rendered to society at large by these groups, is indeed significant. Bhagawan Baba emphasised that the spiritual elevation along with the satisfaction gained by an individual indulging in selfless service to humanity, is far superior than that gained through the offering of prayers at religious shrines.
Furthermore the manner of paying obeisance to one’s own religious teacher would be more appropriate if done by indulging in ‘selfless service to humanity’. The occasions that Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba practically demonstrated the real essence of his teaching on ‘Service to Humanity’ are numerous. Sathya Sai Baba who often developed mind and kind thought characteristics would radiate with colours like white, yellow, pink, light blue, light purple and green.
A normal person’s aura usually emanates a distance of two inches to a couple of feet depending on his or her intensity of inner development. Prof. Frank Baronovsky of the Arizona State University, USA had travelled to many corners of the world, experimenting on the aura of spiritual teachers, religious leaders, preachers and the like. He carried out photography experiments using the Kirlian camera to photograph the aura of Bhagawan Baba. The aura emanated by the living body of Sai Baba was of extraordinary intensity in white and pink and it transcended to unfathomable infinite distances in all directions, he said.
In the end Prof. Baronovsky not only understood the phenomenon of divinity, but became an ardent devotee of Sai Baba. His personal experiences may be browsed even to this day through the Internet.
At the present time when mankind has deviated from the great religious teachings of the world, the ‘cosmic consciousness’ descended upon this earth in human form as ‘Sai’, to instil the eternal message in mankind which is to follow the righteous path away from sin.
His ceaseless teaching was to always be considerate to everyone and be of service to all beings, while refraining from performing sinful acts, thereby awakening one’s own hidden divinity lying within. Just as our Lord Buddha explained to his disciples, that Nirvana was within one’s own self, Bhagawan Baba too expounded the same truth through his teachings. He encouraged everyone to shred the EGO and instil the eternal divine values taught by our Lord Buddha and Sai.
Bhagawan Baba elaborated his mission on earth in human form, saying “My advent on this earth took place to give to you guidance to reach the pinnacle of spirituality, but out of the many millions of devotees who come to me, those who ask for what I have really come to give and those who actually receive it are only limited to a few. Many of them come to me to ask me for worldly things which will make them more and more attached to the materialistic world.’
It is exceedingly difficult to understand the reality of the spiritual journey towards the goal of reaching Nirvana for the ignorant man living in a materialistic world attempting to satisfy the five senses. Even though this process is an extremely gruelling one, like swimming against the current, it is imperative for one to overcome the obstacles and go through the process to realise the real purpose of human life. To realize this final goal of life, the guidance of a real genuine teacher is essential. It was Bhagawan Baba, who gave proper guidance and propelled mankind into the right orbit towards self-realisation and finally shed his mortal coils on the 24th day of April 2011 to merge with the cosmic consciousness, immersing the world in an ocean of tears.
He established three large super specialty hospitals equipped with the most advanced up-to-date medical equipment in India. Over 1000 medical centres are in operation throughout India offering medical services free of charge to the needy, devoid of any kind of differentiation on race, caste, colour, creed or religious differences, only with supreme love towards humanity. At the same-time, numerous schemes for provision of food for the needy and housing for the poor too are in operation.
He successfully constructed and commissioned large scale drinking water supply projects for the continuous supply of purified drinking water to the backward remote villages in India. The children from poor underdeveloped villages are given ‘free education from kindergarten to PhD level at the numerous Sathya Sai schools, colleges and the universities, so much so that today the Sathya Sai University complex which holds a foremost position among those in the world, is an undoubted testimony to its on-going success.
The Light of the Kaliyuga, as he was identified by the world, worked tirelessly for 85 long years to instil the “Sai Dharma” to re-divert all those treading the unrighteous path, back to the righteous path. He won the admiration and love of people of all walks of life in the world, royalty, Heads of States, religious heads of all faiths, scientists, artists, sportsmen and the common man alike who all flocked together around him. He worked to bring about unity and harmony between all religious faiths and races of the world, so much so that people all over the world, were encouraged to celebrate their religious festivals every year, at Prasanthi Nilayam at Puttaparthi. Accordingly Vesak festivities, Christmas celebrations, Haj, Ramadan, Shivarathri and other religious festivities were organised with the active participation of large crowds from different countries in his presence at Prashanthi Nilayam.
To the doubting mind filled only with superficial analytical knowledge, it is exceedingly difficult to understand the divinity of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba that has been experienced by many thousands throughout the world; there are many who bear living testimony to this fact in Sri Lanka too. From time to time, there have been spiritual teachers born to this world and each of them did have followers and devotees, however, there have not been any records of so many devotees and followers of any other living spiritual teacher as much as with Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. Joyful birthday wishes to Sal Deva, the One who ushered in the divine light to mankind.
Kanchana Kodituwakku
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Meditation as Explained by Bhagawan
"Just like a child yearns for its mother's bosom; a lost calf for its mother in a herd; and a widow cries for her lost husband in a corner, you too must aspire for the proximity of Sai and reap joy therefrom."
"A root pest would eat away the roots of a tree and a white ant would eat away the tree itself. Similarly, a man of evil nature would bring about the ruin of a virtuous one. Listen! O son of Bharat."
The power of spirituality is inexplicable and infinite. The institute or individual that cannot obtain this becomes virile. The power of spirituality can transform an animal into man and man to a divine being. The paths of spirituality have sprung up to lead man from human state to that of divine. Man tries to understand everything. He has been trying to acquire many types of learning. However, he has not yet made an effort to find out his real nature. All learning is naught if it can not help one to realise one's own nature. Knowledge without practical aspect is akin to a lamp in a blind man's hand.
Just as, Narada had skill in 64 types of learning/sciences - 4 Vedas, 6 Sastras, 20 Upangas, Painting, Sculpture, Dance, Music, Literature etc. None could surpass Narada in singing. In spite of such accomplishments Narada could not overcome restlessness. Narada had mastered Gaja Karna and Gokarna which could not be mastered by anyone in the world. Seeking a solution for his restlessness, Narada came to Sanat Kumara. He expressed his restlessness. Sanat Kumara asked Narada about his qualifications. Narada explained that he had learnt everything. Sanat Kumara asked Narada if he had known about his own self. "That alone I have not learnt" said Narada. Sanat Kumara then pointed out that to be the reason for his restlessness.
Today man desires to know about everything that goes on in the world. From the moment he gets up, he desires to know the news from all quarters of the world and does not pay heed to the nuisance coming from within. If he were to understand the principle within him, he could understand the world better. In Andhra region, there is a proverb, "win over the self and win over the village." Unless one saves oneself, one cannot save others. Philosophy and learning can get you food but not liberation. "Therefore, Narada, when you desire to know yourself, you have to awaken a dormant factor within you" said Sanat Kumara. Narasimha Murthy stated that sleep played a chief role in Ramayana. Even in the Ramayana of life, sleep is very important.
Every person has to awaken the Kundalini that is asleep within one. Kundalini, Sanat Kumara taught, should be led in a proper path towards the goal to fulfil one's life. In the Bharat's Yoga Shastras, it has been mentioned that there are 7 types of lotuses in the spinal column helping people to take to right path. They are known as Naadi Mandalas/Chakras. (Nerve centres / disks) Kundalini power starts at Muladhara disk at the beginning of the spinal column. This nerve centre is situated at the place of excretion of faecal matter. It has 4 petals.
Swadhishtana is situated in the urinary excretory point. It has 6 petals. Manipuraka - Naabhi/Navel point has 6 petals. From there to Anahata near heart with 16 petals. Thence to Visuddha the power travels near throat - From there it comes to Agneya situated between the brows. It has two petals. From there it goes to Sahasrara which is situated on the crown of the head. It has 1000 petals.
Muladhara, Swadhishtana, Manipurakam, Anahata, Agneya, Visuddha and Sahasrara are the seven Chakras. Each is at a higher plane than the other. Behind these chakras, on either side of spinal column Ida and Pingala nerves keep throbbing. In the centre of spinal column there is a nerve by the name Sushumna. All these perform their duties in the prescribed manner.
How does one awaken the Kundalini power? All have believed it to be in the form of a dormant serpent near the Muladhara Chakra. Snakes of the world are considered poisonous. The serpent (Kundalini) dormant in man is that of worldly desires. These desires become poison. Worldly snakes eat frogs, rats etc. Kundalini serpent consumes only the life principle of man. To awaken this serpent, one has to control the intake of this life principle. When we hold breath through Yogic practices, the Kundalini power does not get food near Muladhara Chakra. In search of food, it becomes active and continues to come up. During meditation when we deny the food, it travels upwards from Muladhara to Manipuraka, Swadhishtana and comes to throat. Even near the throat food is not available for it. Then it reaches Agneya. Unable to find food even from there, it merges into Sahasrara. Therefore, to awaken the life principle or consciousness from Muladhara and let it merge in Sahasrara has been described as 'liberation' by Vedanta. Dhyana, now-a-days, both in India and abroad has taken various forms. They believe it to be concentration. But both are different. Right from dawn to dusk whatever activities we perform, they are done with concentration. To walk, to eat, to read a book, to write a letter - all need concentration. Concentration is natural for man. Why should are spend/waste time for such concentration by sitting separately. But one has to question the source from which one derives concentration. We have held a book in hand. We can see with our eyes. What has been seen is sent for enquiry to the intelligence/Buddhi. After the enquiry, mind begins to recollect/reflect upon it. It is an 'Indriya' (instrument/sense) that held a book. Again it is another indriya that saw the matter. It is yet again another indriya that reflected over the matter. It is due to the collective effort of all the indriyas that we are able to perceive the matter. Therefore, concentration is below senses. It is meaningless to call concentration which is below senses as meditation. Meditation is beyond senses. There is a border between concentration which is below senses and meditation which is beyond senses known as contemplation. Contemplation is said to be the second stage of intelligence. Intelligence is said to be the essence of Satwa. It can be best illustrated with an example to make it clear to you.
There is a rose plant. It has leaves, thorns and rose flowers. Concentration helps you to identify as to where the thorns are and where the rose flower is. In concentration, we have only rose as the objective, without touching the thorns we have to pluck the flower. "Love is flower; lust is thorn." There is no rose without thorns but we have to pluck the flower without touching the thorns. For what purpose is this cutting of rose? To cut the love (flower) away from worldly desires (thorns) is contemplation. Concentration is identifying the various locations of the thorns and flowers by looking at the tree/plant. To offer the flower so cut, to the Lord is meditation. In our body likened to that of a rose plant, we have pure love in the form of rose. It is permeated with fragrance/good smell of virtues. But right under this are the thorns of worldly desires. True meditation is to identify the thorns of worldly desires from selfless love and offer that selfless love to the Lord. From ancient days, meditation has been considered as the highest goal in Bharat. Today meditation is done as though it were a panacea akin to saridon which removes headache. Meditation that comes so easily cannot be termed as such. People such as Narada, Sanaka, Sanandana, Sanat Kumara and Tumbura considered meditation to be the process of sending the Kundalini from Muladhara to Sahasrara. During meditation, one should not join worldly desires and must reach only selfless love as the goal. The method/posture of meditation is also very important.
In the beginning, we must sit in Padmasana. Spinal column should not bend to any side. Some people bend the neck and sit. This is very dangerous. If Kundalini power were to get locked there, where many nerves are present, it would damage the person and cause paralysis. There are many who have damaged their heads/senses by wrongly adhering to Kundalini. One should not bend backwards either. One should be so straight that if a nail were to be driven down from Sahasrara, it should appear as though the whole body were wrapped around the nail. Not only that, one should loosen the garment that is around the waist prior to sitting for meditation. If the garment is tightly wound round the waist, it might, to an extent, obstruct the Kundalini. Usually people who practise Kundalini yoga are single garmented. So, waist should not be tightly bound. Vision should be centred at the tip of the nose. If one were to sit for meditation with open eyes, all those who pass by would cause disturbance to the mind. If eyes are totally closed, the goddess of sleep would envelop us. Therefore, we should have half closed eyes posture. Some believe the tip of the nose to be between the eye brows. No! It is forehead; It is the end of nose. i.e., Tip of the nose that has to be concentrated upon. Lord Krishna has also described the same.
"Kasturi Tilakam Lalaata(1) Phalake Vaksha(2) Sthale Kausthubam
Naasagre(3) Navamouktikam..."
1) Refers to the eye of wisdom. 2) Lord Krishna adorned his chest with the plaque of happiness 3) He kept his vision fixed on the tip of his nose. Such a Krishna had two bracelets on His hand. One bracelet signifies -
"Save the righteous and punish the wicked"
The second bracelet signifies -
"One who constantly relies on me, I shall take care of all his needs".
God wears bracelets for fulfilling vows. So, Lord Krishna's vision was on the tip of His nose i.e., always meditative. We may have to observe certain physical activities. Mind is very much wavering. Knowing fully well that something is wrong, it would like to do it. We know well that to hear bad things is not good and yet we do it. We should teach it a lesson.
"O ears! Why do you go after listening to the tales of all and sundry? When the Lord's name is chanted, why don't you pay heed?"
You should teach the ears to listen to tales that would give happiness to all and such facts that would gloria the Lord.
"You go and see films, which do you no good, again and again. But you do not wish to contemplate on the Lord even for a moment. O eyes! Pay heed."
In this manner, you must teach senses lessons and control them. When mind begins to wander hither and thither, one must engage it. If mind does not have anything to do, it would roam the whole world. "By the time truth begins to wear sandals, untruth would go around the world and come." Similarly mind, if no work is assigned, would go round the world. So, before sitting for meditation, one must assign some work to the mind. What type of work? It has been a known fact that mind is a mad monkey. To make a monkey busy while he performs other feats, the street performer would plant a stick in the ground and ask the monkey to repeatedly go up and down the stick. Similarly we must assign the job of a watchman to the mind near that part of forehead where eyebrows join. By constant practice, we can make the mind stay in one place. As one constantly breaths 'Soham', the breath gets controlled. This is the great power of Yoga. There is no separate effort that one needs to make to arouse Kundalini. When all the vital air remains outside, in search of food, Kundalini would rise. Some base 'lamp' as the point of concentration. This elucidates the principle of 'Unity in diversity' and 'Many in One'. This cannot be understood by all very easily and does not confer bliss very easily. We should construe three types of pictures - imaginary, mental or one based on feeling and actualisation.
Example for the first one - you have seen Swami. If you close your eyes and begin to visualise Swami's hair and robe, then you would have picture created by imagination or 'Uha'. This picture goes away in a moment. It appears as though it has been seen but goes away the moment you begin to visualise further.
The second type of picturisation - 'Bhava' is not like this. It takes some time. You can picturise Swami from feet upwards - feet, gown, inside robe, hands, neck, eyes, nose, mouth, ears and crown of hair. Like this by the time you picturise, half-an-hour would have elapsed.
If you continuously go about doing this - picturising Swami from foot to head and vice versa - it would lead to Sakshatkara i.e. actual manifestation. Upon practising in this manner you would realise that you are able to see the form for a fraction at least before it fades away. So, this is not the goal. One should not go by imagination. One should go by feeling. One should go on painting each limb. One eye on one side and another eye on the other side-You should not think thus. Is this eye parallel to the other? - In this fashion, one must minutely paint the picture. In the process, mind would become totally engaged.
"Knower of the Brahman becomes Brahman". If you were to melt silver and pour it into the mould of Lord Krishna, the feet, hands, eyes, mouth and even hair would be that of silver. Similarly, when one concentrates and paints the mind with the form, the mind would also be transformed into the form. When you question as to where the mind is, you would get the answer - in Swami's feet, in Swami's hair, in Swami's eyes etc. i.e., mind is totally immersed in Swami's form. Therefore, meditation is that which would transform mind into the form and not vice versa.
When we sit for Meditation our body should not be in contact with anyone else's body. When one works with electricity, one would done some sort of insulation (wood/cloth) to insure against shock. Similarly, meditation also is a kind of power. It also would give a shock if two bodies touch. In every body, there is current. The current goes/gets lost through nails, hair, eyes and speech. In the olden days people allowed nails and hair to grow because they did not want the current to be wasted. It is due to that current that hair and nails grow and eyes and other organs function. What is the reason for Munis to observe silence? They realised that current gets wasted through words and hence observed silence. Not understanding this we begin to conclude that in the forest the saints did not have any facilities to trim their hair and nails and hence they were unkempt. They were making efforts to convert the current in the body into Divine Power and hence their appearance. One should not have contact with another in more than necessary manner. Attachment with an object or a person might grow into a deeper relationship. They lead to certain desires. As the desires get fulfilled, ego would begin to sprout. If the desires do not find fruition, anger would develop. Therefore desires have ill-effects, either way. When the desires become many, man's sense of intelligence dwindles. This causes loss of control over the speech and unwarranted words would emanate from the person, criticising and hurting others. That would lead to abusing others. The act of abusing is a fuel to the fire of sin. Therefore, the root cause for sin is relationship. So, excess of contact should not be had in the first place.
In Rishikesh there was a choultry by the name 'Kali Kamliwala'. It was a tradition in those days to feed all those who came there. One Sannyasi got a wheat bread and since he could not find any place, went to the river Ganga and sitting on a rock, began to partake of the same. In this manner, he spent some years using the rock as his dining place. As it happened, a relation developed between him and the rock. On a particular day by the time he could procure alms, it became later than usual. Meanwhile some other Sannyasi got his alms and sat at that rock to have his meal. The older Sannyasi got his wheat bread and came to the rock. He began to have an argument - "Ai! This is my rock; you go somewhere else." They both began to have a duel. At that place, there was a saint by the name Satchidanandam. He came and enquired of the quarrelling Sannyasins as to the reason for their fight. When he became aware of the reason, he admonished them saying - "You have left behind your wives, children, parents, relatives and shaved your head and swore to lead a life of mendicancy. Now due to your attachment, you have developed anger between yourselves." Similarly, you have all come here leaving behind many things for education and Swami. Why develop unnecessary contacts? Maintain a relation akin to "Hello! Hello; How are you? Good-bye! Good-bye."
There is another incident that took place at Rishikesh. One person went from Mysore state and became a Sannyasin at Rishikesh. About 6 kms from Rishikesh is a famous cave known as 'Vasishta's cave'. Purushottamananda used to do penance there. It was near Ganges and the air was cool and serene and the area was dense with shade bestowing trees. That Sannyasi (one who came from Mysore) used to meditate under the tree and live by eating whatever bread was given to him. One day, a tourist bus came from Karnataka state. They also came to see 'Vasishta cave' and later were sitting under a tree talking. The Sannyasin who was meditating, heard them speak in Kannada. A little attachment towards the language sprouted in him. He left meditation and began to converse with them in Kannada. They told him that they came from Bangalore District. "Which village do you come from?" asked the Sannyasin who was influenced by the attachment to his own street. They said that they were in the street of Rama's temple. Affected by the attachment to his house, he asked them as to what was their house number. They said that their house number was 11. He asked the troupe if they knew his father who was in the house numbered 12. Body attachment prevailed. They said that his father passed away 3 months previously. The Sannyasin began to weep.
Why should the Sannyasin leave his meditation in the first place and enquire of the tourists various details? This attachment caused all the sorrow. It is only when you leave all responsibilities can your meditation progress. Sometimes the varied nature of Nature attracts. One should never succumb to the temptations.
To arouse Kundalini and sit in meditation is very difficult. The easiest path is pure love. No meditation can surpass/equal this.
We want to prepare Sambar. We got fresh vegetables from Bangalore in the morning. We got fresh tamarind, white, spotless salt and impeccable Dal also was procured. The cook is an exceptionally skilled one. We have made Sambar. But when it was served, it turned out to be poison. Reason? None of the ingredients were faulty nor was the cook. The vessel in which it was cooked was not clean!
Similarly, we do meditation, Bhajans - in fact we even swing during Bhajans but we are far away from obtaining peace. This is because we do not have the unsullied love in our hearts. Many wonder as to why they have not obtained peace in spite of doing meditation and Bhajans etc. It is because they have not cleaned their hearts with pure love.
Another example. There is a mango tree. Hundreds of ripe and unripe mangos are present. You water it and put manure also. All of a sudden, one fine morning, the tree looks dried-up, what is the reason? Have you not given water and manure? What is the reason for a tree which was resplendently green the previous day to look lack-lustre the very next day? The roots have been eaten away by the pests! Similarly, we may be doing meditation, chanting rosary and attending Bhajans externally; but wicked qualities might be gnawing at the heart.
Therefore, send away wicked qualities; fill yourself with virtues; and develop love. Meditation is not something of a pose given for a photographer. It is not for others. It is for one's own self. There are certain cautions that are to be observed in this regard.
One should be seated on a plank at least 1/2 inch above the ground. On top of this, skin of an animal - preferably a docile and pure - satvic animal - deer is to be spread. In order to prevent the deer hair causing irritation, a thin cloth is advised to be spread over it. All these to be done so as not to cause any disturbance to our meditation. If kundalini were to really begin rising, the earth would pull it downward. To avoid this and to avoid any shock, this plank is put. In this manner the ancients have experienced and expressed it to us.
Instead of going for meditation and spoiling your mind, it is better you create the form you are interested in, put that picture in front of you and observe carefully. While observing deeply, close your eyes. Now, begin to paint the form that you have seen, in your mind's eye. Then your mind would be totally enveloped in the form. Gradually even when you open your eyes, you begin to see the form everywhere. That is manifestation - Sakshatkara. This does not happen if you were to do it once in a while. You should daily do this both morning, evening and at all other times also. Then you begin to see the form spreading itself in all limbs and all bodies.
Most importantly, youth's mind is most wavering. During the day the youth must spend time reading class books and assimilating them. The reason being that mind will not enter unnecessary avenues when it has a lot of work to do. We must attach ourselves to work so as to deprive mind from associating itself with outside world. Both morning and evening let the mind be immersed in Dhyana/Meditation in the aforesaid manner. Meditation is a path of obtaining sanctity. It is a process of obtaining unity; a path of experiencing divinity. Your mind must merge in the Lord just as a river merges into the ocean. Then mind as such does not exist. Then you become beyond mind. The river has a form, name and taste before merging into the ocean. After merging, it loses all such identities. This has been conveyed by Ramadas in a song form:
"There is a fortress of seven boundaries. In the fort there is a garden - one of worldly desires. If you want to find the path through the garden, sing the name of the Lord Rama. The whole Kingdom will be filled with light."
The boundaries referred to are the seven nerve-centres/chakras. This song was heard by Lord Rama. He replied:
"The essence is like oil. The Truth is like wick. When the light fades away, neither the oil nor the wick follow it. They stay there itself."
Then Ramadas got a doubt "The support is the tree and the grip is another branch of the tree. If the basis/support is left in the hope of relying on the strength of the branch and the branch also breaks then salvation is imminent."
Here, the basis is the worldly desires and the branch which would break is the society in which you live. If you leave the desires and if the world/society shuns you, you are bound to attain salvation. You need the society as long as you have not understood the true reality. Therefore, one needs firewood only as long as the cooking is being done. One does not need firewood after the food has been cooked.
Veda, Shastra, Purana, Itihasa etc. are essential only as long as one has not understood oneself. After one has realised oneself, all these become unnecessary. Hence, it is not possible to renounce/detach oneself from the society unless one has realised oneself. You have to realise yourself by living in the world. Some creatures like caterpillar, crawling from one leaf to another. In the process, it catches the leaf it would like to go to and then release the leaf it has been on. It does not leave the base before catching/obtaining the support. Similarly, we should leave world after obtaining divinity and not before. Otherwise, we would have lost both the worlds.
Do not be carried away by the term Meditation. It is not something that one does by sitting for a couple minutes or hours. It should be always at all places (the contemplation on the Lord). It should not pertain only to Mandir/meditation room. Wherever one goes, be it market or classes, one should be totally absorbed. We should be totally sacred in our feelings. This is possible only through the path of love. Speak lovingly to all people. Even such a speech should be in moderation. This is because mind begins to change as words become many.
One sage came from the Himalayas and declared that he had conquered anger. He met his friends and told them that he was totally at peace and that he had no anger in him at all. One came and asked him - "Sir! Have you conquered anger?" "Yes! I have controlled" came the guarded reply. That person reiterated, "Sir! You of all the people! Have you really conquered anger?" "Yes, it is true" came the gruff reply. "What sir! It is really impossible to believe. How could you conquer anger?" Asked the man for the third time. "Ai! Can't you understand when I have said so?" Came the hot reply. "Sir! When this is the case, how could you have conquered anger?", asked the man for the fourth time. "Are you out of your senses? I told you that I have conquered". So, while saying that he had conquered anger, due to repetition of words, he lost control over anger. If words were not expressed, anger might cooled down. But as he expressed them, anger grew. Due to lack of patience, anger emanates. There is no other remedy for anger. Only cultivation of patience is the answer.
Today man is bent upon conquering/vanquishing/controlling anger. This is wrong. He must inculcate patience. Then anger will automatically subside. If darkness has to be expelled, light has to be brought. Similarly, to expel anger, patience has to be fostered. So, make efforts to develop patience. Patience or sanctity can be attained only through love. There is nothing that cannot be attained with love. One can attain all with love. Everything is dedicated/subordinate to love. Hence it is said LOVE IS GOD; LIVE IN LOVE. If the concept of love is perfectly understood, it in itself becomes Meditation. Meditate on love. But the love should be selfless. It should be dedicated to the Lord. Any kind of love once offered to Lord becomes sanctified.
We have made sweet pongal at home. We call it sweet pongal and eat it. The same sweet pongal once it is offered to the Lord in a temple, we call it 'prasadam' / blessed food. The moment you offer it to the Lord, it becomes prasadam. All defects - defects of the ingredients, cooking and the vessel would get removed after such an offering. For the sweet pongal made at home, there may not be cleanliness of the vessel, ingredients or the cooking process itself. In order to remove all defects from the food cooked - we do not know wherefrom the vegetables have come; may be they were stolen; may be the intention of the seller was not good. We assemble all food items and pray to Lord that everything be blessed. Then it all becomes prasadam and all defects run away from the same.
There is a small clause in meditation. All cannot do the same type of meditation. Meditation changes from person to person depending on their state of evolution/capacity. All doing one type of meditation is not proper. Each has his own form to worship and the way he goes about it may also differ. Some worship God as Mother of the Universe; some consider Him as Father of the Universe while others consider God to be their friend. There are those who worship God as Master/husband. Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Gauranga are examples of this nature. Jayadeva and Gauranga had not done any meditation. They felt no need for meditation as they could see God everywhere.
There is a small anecdote. This happened to many great men in all the yugas. Gaurangada entered a small village called Nava Dweepa. He could not find a place to live. If he were to go the streets to do bhajan, mischievous boys would throw stones at him. They troubled him in numerous ways. To avoid all this, he entered the temple of Lord Eshwara. Keeping his legs on top of the Lingam - image of Lord Shiva, he lay down to sleep. In the morning the chief priest arrived. Considering him to be a mad man, the priest beat him. "O fool! How dare you put your feet on top of the Lord's image? Could you not find any other place to keep your feet?", asked the priest. Then Chaitanya replied - "Sir! Please show me the place where Eshwara does not exist and I shall gladly place my feet on that spot." Saying that he would show him, the priest dragged Chaitanya by the feet and dropped him aside. Due to his merit, even there the image of the Lord appeared. The pujari dragged him all over the mandir, wherever Chaitanya's feet fell, Eshwara's image was seen to emerge. Then the pujari realised his folly. God pervades the universe. How then can anyone define a place to be devoid or filled with God? For a true aspirant God's insignia are seen everywhere. Since God pervades the creation, there is nothing that is unsacred. But there is bound to be a change in the way we utilise the same. Therefore, we can make some changes in the society, house and people with whom we deal. Then alone can we obtain peace of mind. It is not meditation if one were to close one's eyes/sit in lotus posture/sit without movements. The most important factor for meditation is to fill the heart with love. That love is verily God Himself. Along with this love you must also sit in the lotus posture and in the manner described earlier to awaken the kundalini power and thus give more meaning to your lives.
You may go anywhere and do anything. But your heart must be filled with pure love. Gaurangada, Tukaram, Nammalwar etc., have lived in this manner. If purity of heart is one's property, one can question the Lord's ways as a rightful gesture. After a lot of merit, we have acquired the birth of a human being. If we do not make good use of it, it would be a sheer waste.
Gems in the ocean are not easily available. With a great difficulty if one were to dive deep and brave the attack of sharks, one could manage to obtain rare pearls hidden in the womb of the ocean. The pearl that is got after such a strenuous effort, if one were to lose it, one would not get it back however much one may pine.
"Sway! Lord Krishna! I have obtained with great difficulty the pearl of Krishna from the deep ocean of samsara. Please shower your grace that I may not lose it", prayed Meera. Since her prayer was such, Lord Krishna also granted her that wish. She loved and pined for Krishna so much that her anguish at the separation from the Lord turned into penance and she merged into the Lord. Every human who would like to turn the energy in him to divinity must participate in prayers. Prayer for mind is as essential as food is for body. Good food strengthens the body. Stale food brings about ill-health. Similarly, if we participate in prayers, our heart becomes pure. If, on the other hand, one were to participate with pomposity, ego and show, it would be like the bad food harming the mind. Therefore youth must travel from slumber and inactivity to penance. Whatever we may do, we must do with determination. One should not stop meditation after having begun, in a span of 2 days. Whole life should be transformed into meditation. We have come essentially for that purpose. We must discharge our duties. Along with this knowledge we must seek worldly education also. One must accept the basis of the worldly education. I have told many a time. I am repeating, observe the message carefully.
There are many metals in the earth - Iron, steel etc. As they are deep inside earth, due to heat, they are available in the form of liquid. Due to this heat even iron would be in a liquid state. This we call as Chemistry. As we gradually come to the surface, the materials solidify as the temperature decreases and we call it as Physics. As dust and other particles join this, plants begin to sprout in it. The study of these plants is called Botany. Insects and birds come from everywhere to these plants. The study of these birds and insects is called Zoology.
What is the basis for Zoology? Botany? The foundation of Botany is Physics which in turn is based on Chemistry. So, for Chemistry also there must be some foundation. Isn't it? There is water in this tumbler. For the water to stay, there must be a container in the first place. If there is no vessel, how can liquid stay put? Therefore the source of sciences - Chemistry has its foundation in divinity. Therefore, all the sciences have stemmed from the root of Divinity. So, for all subjects Divinity is the primal basis. If we were to catch the vessel, Divinity, all the contents, subjects, would easily become ours. Today we are ready to catch the creation and investigate but have not ever thought of investigating the nature of the creator. Even those that harm us become friendly in the presence of the Lord.
Serpent adorns the neck of Lord Shiva. Since it is around the neck of the Lord, we bow down to it also. Same serpent if seen in the bazaar would die due to the blows received from us. Though it is a poisonous snake, since it adorns the neck of the Lord, it becomes worthy of worship.
Once Lord Vishnu sent Garuda to Eshwara with a message. Eshwara's body is very peculiar. His body is smeared with vibhuti/ash. He has moon as his crown jewel and serpents as his other ornaments. To such Shiva when Garuda flew and landed, the breeze created by his wings disturbed the sacred ash of the Lord which fell into the eyes of the snake adorning His neck. The serpent, in anger, hissed at Garuda. Garuda replied, "O snake! Since you adorn the Lord's neck you are saved. Had you been in the bazaar/market place, I would have snatched you with my feet and torn you to shreds. Since you are in the proximity of the Lord you have earned the right to be forgiven."
Once in a while to recharge your batteries, you can come to Puttaparthi. In this way, you can enjoy Swami's Love and Grace.
"A root pest would eat away the roots of a tree and a white ant would eat away the tree itself. Similarly, a man of evil nature would bring about the ruin of a virtuous one. Listen! O son of Bharat."
The power of spirituality is inexplicable and infinite. The institute or individual that cannot obtain this becomes virile. The power of spirituality can transform an animal into man and man to a divine being. The paths of spirituality have sprung up to lead man from human state to that of divine. Man tries to understand everything. He has been trying to acquire many types of learning. However, he has not yet made an effort to find out his real nature. All learning is naught if it can not help one to realise one's own nature. Knowledge without practical aspect is akin to a lamp in a blind man's hand.
Just as, Narada had skill in 64 types of learning/sciences - 4 Vedas, 6 Sastras, 20 Upangas, Painting, Sculpture, Dance, Music, Literature etc. None could surpass Narada in singing. In spite of such accomplishments Narada could not overcome restlessness. Narada had mastered Gaja Karna and Gokarna which could not be mastered by anyone in the world. Seeking a solution for his restlessness, Narada came to Sanat Kumara. He expressed his restlessness. Sanat Kumara asked Narada about his qualifications. Narada explained that he had learnt everything. Sanat Kumara asked Narada if he had known about his own self. "That alone I have not learnt" said Narada. Sanat Kumara then pointed out that to be the reason for his restlessness.
Today man desires to know about everything that goes on in the world. From the moment he gets up, he desires to know the news from all quarters of the world and does not pay heed to the nuisance coming from within. If he were to understand the principle within him, he could understand the world better. In Andhra region, there is a proverb, "win over the self and win over the village." Unless one saves oneself, one cannot save others. Philosophy and learning can get you food but not liberation. "Therefore, Narada, when you desire to know yourself, you have to awaken a dormant factor within you" said Sanat Kumara. Narasimha Murthy stated that sleep played a chief role in Ramayana. Even in the Ramayana of life, sleep is very important.
Every person has to awaken the Kundalini that is asleep within one. Kundalini, Sanat Kumara taught, should be led in a proper path towards the goal to fulfil one's life. In the Bharat's Yoga Shastras, it has been mentioned that there are 7 types of lotuses in the spinal column helping people to take to right path. They are known as Naadi Mandalas/Chakras. (Nerve centres / disks) Kundalini power starts at Muladhara disk at the beginning of the spinal column. This nerve centre is situated at the place of excretion of faecal matter. It has 4 petals.
Swadhishtana is situated in the urinary excretory point. It has 6 petals. Manipuraka - Naabhi/Navel point has 6 petals. From there to Anahata near heart with 16 petals. Thence to Visuddha the power travels near throat - From there it comes to Agneya situated between the brows. It has two petals. From there it goes to Sahasrara which is situated on the crown of the head. It has 1000 petals.
Muladhara, Swadhishtana, Manipurakam, Anahata, Agneya, Visuddha and Sahasrara are the seven Chakras. Each is at a higher plane than the other. Behind these chakras, on either side of spinal column Ida and Pingala nerves keep throbbing. In the centre of spinal column there is a nerve by the name Sushumna. All these perform their duties in the prescribed manner.
How does one awaken the Kundalini power? All have believed it to be in the form of a dormant serpent near the Muladhara Chakra. Snakes of the world are considered poisonous. The serpent (Kundalini) dormant in man is that of worldly desires. These desires become poison. Worldly snakes eat frogs, rats etc. Kundalini serpent consumes only the life principle of man. To awaken this serpent, one has to control the intake of this life principle. When we hold breath through Yogic practices, the Kundalini power does not get food near Muladhara Chakra. In search of food, it becomes active and continues to come up. During meditation when we deny the food, it travels upwards from Muladhara to Manipuraka, Swadhishtana and comes to throat. Even near the throat food is not available for it. Then it reaches Agneya. Unable to find food even from there, it merges into Sahasrara. Therefore, to awaken the life principle or consciousness from Muladhara and let it merge in Sahasrara has been described as 'liberation' by Vedanta. Dhyana, now-a-days, both in India and abroad has taken various forms. They believe it to be concentration. But both are different. Right from dawn to dusk whatever activities we perform, they are done with concentration. To walk, to eat, to read a book, to write a letter - all need concentration. Concentration is natural for man. Why should are spend/waste time for such concentration by sitting separately. But one has to question the source from which one derives concentration. We have held a book in hand. We can see with our eyes. What has been seen is sent for enquiry to the intelligence/Buddhi. After the enquiry, mind begins to recollect/reflect upon it. It is an 'Indriya' (instrument/sense) that held a book. Again it is another indriya that saw the matter. It is yet again another indriya that reflected over the matter. It is due to the collective effort of all the indriyas that we are able to perceive the matter. Therefore, concentration is below senses. It is meaningless to call concentration which is below senses as meditation. Meditation is beyond senses. There is a border between concentration which is below senses and meditation which is beyond senses known as contemplation. Contemplation is said to be the second stage of intelligence. Intelligence is said to be the essence of Satwa. It can be best illustrated with an example to make it clear to you.
There is a rose plant. It has leaves, thorns and rose flowers. Concentration helps you to identify as to where the thorns are and where the rose flower is. In concentration, we have only rose as the objective, without touching the thorns we have to pluck the flower. "Love is flower; lust is thorn." There is no rose without thorns but we have to pluck the flower without touching the thorns. For what purpose is this cutting of rose? To cut the love (flower) away from worldly desires (thorns) is contemplation. Concentration is identifying the various locations of the thorns and flowers by looking at the tree/plant. To offer the flower so cut, to the Lord is meditation. In our body likened to that of a rose plant, we have pure love in the form of rose. It is permeated with fragrance/good smell of virtues. But right under this are the thorns of worldly desires. True meditation is to identify the thorns of worldly desires from selfless love and offer that selfless love to the Lord. From ancient days, meditation has been considered as the highest goal in Bharat. Today meditation is done as though it were a panacea akin to saridon which removes headache. Meditation that comes so easily cannot be termed as such. People such as Narada, Sanaka, Sanandana, Sanat Kumara and Tumbura considered meditation to be the process of sending the Kundalini from Muladhara to Sahasrara. During meditation, one should not join worldly desires and must reach only selfless love as the goal. The method/posture of meditation is also very important.
In the beginning, we must sit in Padmasana. Spinal column should not bend to any side. Some people bend the neck and sit. This is very dangerous. If Kundalini power were to get locked there, where many nerves are present, it would damage the person and cause paralysis. There are many who have damaged their heads/senses by wrongly adhering to Kundalini. One should not bend backwards either. One should be so straight that if a nail were to be driven down from Sahasrara, it should appear as though the whole body were wrapped around the nail. Not only that, one should loosen the garment that is around the waist prior to sitting for meditation. If the garment is tightly wound round the waist, it might, to an extent, obstruct the Kundalini. Usually people who practise Kundalini yoga are single garmented. So, waist should not be tightly bound. Vision should be centred at the tip of the nose. If one were to sit for meditation with open eyes, all those who pass by would cause disturbance to the mind. If eyes are totally closed, the goddess of sleep would envelop us. Therefore, we should have half closed eyes posture. Some believe the tip of the nose to be between the eye brows. No! It is forehead; It is the end of nose. i.e., Tip of the nose that has to be concentrated upon. Lord Krishna has also described the same.
"Kasturi Tilakam Lalaata(1) Phalake Vaksha(2) Sthale Kausthubam
Naasagre(3) Navamouktikam..."
1) Refers to the eye of wisdom. 2) Lord Krishna adorned his chest with the plaque of happiness 3) He kept his vision fixed on the tip of his nose. Such a Krishna had two bracelets on His hand. One bracelet signifies -
"Save the righteous and punish the wicked"
The second bracelet signifies -
"One who constantly relies on me, I shall take care of all his needs".
God wears bracelets for fulfilling vows. So, Lord Krishna's vision was on the tip of His nose i.e., always meditative. We may have to observe certain physical activities. Mind is very much wavering. Knowing fully well that something is wrong, it would like to do it. We know well that to hear bad things is not good and yet we do it. We should teach it a lesson.
"O ears! Why do you go after listening to the tales of all and sundry? When the Lord's name is chanted, why don't you pay heed?"
You should teach the ears to listen to tales that would give happiness to all and such facts that would gloria the Lord.
"You go and see films, which do you no good, again and again. But you do not wish to contemplate on the Lord even for a moment. O eyes! Pay heed."
In this manner, you must teach senses lessons and control them. When mind begins to wander hither and thither, one must engage it. If mind does not have anything to do, it would roam the whole world. "By the time truth begins to wear sandals, untruth would go around the world and come." Similarly mind, if no work is assigned, would go round the world. So, before sitting for meditation, one must assign some work to the mind. What type of work? It has been a known fact that mind is a mad monkey. To make a monkey busy while he performs other feats, the street performer would plant a stick in the ground and ask the monkey to repeatedly go up and down the stick. Similarly we must assign the job of a watchman to the mind near that part of forehead where eyebrows join. By constant practice, we can make the mind stay in one place. As one constantly breaths 'Soham', the breath gets controlled. This is the great power of Yoga. There is no separate effort that one needs to make to arouse Kundalini. When all the vital air remains outside, in search of food, Kundalini would rise. Some base 'lamp' as the point of concentration. This elucidates the principle of 'Unity in diversity' and 'Many in One'. This cannot be understood by all very easily and does not confer bliss very easily. We should construe three types of pictures - imaginary, mental or one based on feeling and actualisation.
Example for the first one - you have seen Swami. If you close your eyes and begin to visualise Swami's hair and robe, then you would have picture created by imagination or 'Uha'. This picture goes away in a moment. It appears as though it has been seen but goes away the moment you begin to visualise further.
The second type of picturisation - 'Bhava' is not like this. It takes some time. You can picturise Swami from feet upwards - feet, gown, inside robe, hands, neck, eyes, nose, mouth, ears and crown of hair. Like this by the time you picturise, half-an-hour would have elapsed.
If you continuously go about doing this - picturising Swami from foot to head and vice versa - it would lead to Sakshatkara i.e. actual manifestation. Upon practising in this manner you would realise that you are able to see the form for a fraction at least before it fades away. So, this is not the goal. One should not go by imagination. One should go by feeling. One should go on painting each limb. One eye on one side and another eye on the other side-You should not think thus. Is this eye parallel to the other? - In this fashion, one must minutely paint the picture. In the process, mind would become totally engaged.
"Knower of the Brahman becomes Brahman". If you were to melt silver and pour it into the mould of Lord Krishna, the feet, hands, eyes, mouth and even hair would be that of silver. Similarly, when one concentrates and paints the mind with the form, the mind would also be transformed into the form. When you question as to where the mind is, you would get the answer - in Swami's feet, in Swami's hair, in Swami's eyes etc. i.e., mind is totally immersed in Swami's form. Therefore, meditation is that which would transform mind into the form and not vice versa.
When we sit for Meditation our body should not be in contact with anyone else's body. When one works with electricity, one would done some sort of insulation (wood/cloth) to insure against shock. Similarly, meditation also is a kind of power. It also would give a shock if two bodies touch. In every body, there is current. The current goes/gets lost through nails, hair, eyes and speech. In the olden days people allowed nails and hair to grow because they did not want the current to be wasted. It is due to that current that hair and nails grow and eyes and other organs function. What is the reason for Munis to observe silence? They realised that current gets wasted through words and hence observed silence. Not understanding this we begin to conclude that in the forest the saints did not have any facilities to trim their hair and nails and hence they were unkempt. They were making efforts to convert the current in the body into Divine Power and hence their appearance. One should not have contact with another in more than necessary manner. Attachment with an object or a person might grow into a deeper relationship. They lead to certain desires. As the desires get fulfilled, ego would begin to sprout. If the desires do not find fruition, anger would develop. Therefore desires have ill-effects, either way. When the desires become many, man's sense of intelligence dwindles. This causes loss of control over the speech and unwarranted words would emanate from the person, criticising and hurting others. That would lead to abusing others. The act of abusing is a fuel to the fire of sin. Therefore, the root cause for sin is relationship. So, excess of contact should not be had in the first place.
In Rishikesh there was a choultry by the name 'Kali Kamliwala'. It was a tradition in those days to feed all those who came there. One Sannyasi got a wheat bread and since he could not find any place, went to the river Ganga and sitting on a rock, began to partake of the same. In this manner, he spent some years using the rock as his dining place. As it happened, a relation developed between him and the rock. On a particular day by the time he could procure alms, it became later than usual. Meanwhile some other Sannyasi got his alms and sat at that rock to have his meal. The older Sannyasi got his wheat bread and came to the rock. He began to have an argument - "Ai! This is my rock; you go somewhere else." They both began to have a duel. At that place, there was a saint by the name Satchidanandam. He came and enquired of the quarrelling Sannyasins as to the reason for their fight. When he became aware of the reason, he admonished them saying - "You have left behind your wives, children, parents, relatives and shaved your head and swore to lead a life of mendicancy. Now due to your attachment, you have developed anger between yourselves." Similarly, you have all come here leaving behind many things for education and Swami. Why develop unnecessary contacts? Maintain a relation akin to "Hello! Hello; How are you? Good-bye! Good-bye."
There is another incident that took place at Rishikesh. One person went from Mysore state and became a Sannyasin at Rishikesh. About 6 kms from Rishikesh is a famous cave known as 'Vasishta's cave'. Purushottamananda used to do penance there. It was near Ganges and the air was cool and serene and the area was dense with shade bestowing trees. That Sannyasi (one who came from Mysore) used to meditate under the tree and live by eating whatever bread was given to him. One day, a tourist bus came from Karnataka state. They also came to see 'Vasishta cave' and later were sitting under a tree talking. The Sannyasin who was meditating, heard them speak in Kannada. A little attachment towards the language sprouted in him. He left meditation and began to converse with them in Kannada. They told him that they came from Bangalore District. "Which village do you come from?" asked the Sannyasin who was influenced by the attachment to his own street. They said that they were in the street of Rama's temple. Affected by the attachment to his house, he asked them as to what was their house number. They said that their house number was 11. He asked the troupe if they knew his father who was in the house numbered 12. Body attachment prevailed. They said that his father passed away 3 months previously. The Sannyasin began to weep.
Why should the Sannyasin leave his meditation in the first place and enquire of the tourists various details? This attachment caused all the sorrow. It is only when you leave all responsibilities can your meditation progress. Sometimes the varied nature of Nature attracts. One should never succumb to the temptations.
To arouse Kundalini and sit in meditation is very difficult. The easiest path is pure love. No meditation can surpass/equal this.
We want to prepare Sambar. We got fresh vegetables from Bangalore in the morning. We got fresh tamarind, white, spotless salt and impeccable Dal also was procured. The cook is an exceptionally skilled one. We have made Sambar. But when it was served, it turned out to be poison. Reason? None of the ingredients were faulty nor was the cook. The vessel in which it was cooked was not clean!
Similarly, we do meditation, Bhajans - in fact we even swing during Bhajans but we are far away from obtaining peace. This is because we do not have the unsullied love in our hearts. Many wonder as to why they have not obtained peace in spite of doing meditation and Bhajans etc. It is because they have not cleaned their hearts with pure love.
Another example. There is a mango tree. Hundreds of ripe and unripe mangos are present. You water it and put manure also. All of a sudden, one fine morning, the tree looks dried-up, what is the reason? Have you not given water and manure? What is the reason for a tree which was resplendently green the previous day to look lack-lustre the very next day? The roots have been eaten away by the pests! Similarly, we may be doing meditation, chanting rosary and attending Bhajans externally; but wicked qualities might be gnawing at the heart.
Therefore, send away wicked qualities; fill yourself with virtues; and develop love. Meditation is not something of a pose given for a photographer. It is not for others. It is for one's own self. There are certain cautions that are to be observed in this regard.
One should be seated on a plank at least 1/2 inch above the ground. On top of this, skin of an animal - preferably a docile and pure - satvic animal - deer is to be spread. In order to prevent the deer hair causing irritation, a thin cloth is advised to be spread over it. All these to be done so as not to cause any disturbance to our meditation. If kundalini were to really begin rising, the earth would pull it downward. To avoid this and to avoid any shock, this plank is put. In this manner the ancients have experienced and expressed it to us.
Instead of going for meditation and spoiling your mind, it is better you create the form you are interested in, put that picture in front of you and observe carefully. While observing deeply, close your eyes. Now, begin to paint the form that you have seen, in your mind's eye. Then your mind would be totally enveloped in the form. Gradually even when you open your eyes, you begin to see the form everywhere. That is manifestation - Sakshatkara. This does not happen if you were to do it once in a while. You should daily do this both morning, evening and at all other times also. Then you begin to see the form spreading itself in all limbs and all bodies.
Most importantly, youth's mind is most wavering. During the day the youth must spend time reading class books and assimilating them. The reason being that mind will not enter unnecessary avenues when it has a lot of work to do. We must attach ourselves to work so as to deprive mind from associating itself with outside world. Both morning and evening let the mind be immersed in Dhyana/Meditation in the aforesaid manner. Meditation is a path of obtaining sanctity. It is a process of obtaining unity; a path of experiencing divinity. Your mind must merge in the Lord just as a river merges into the ocean. Then mind as such does not exist. Then you become beyond mind. The river has a form, name and taste before merging into the ocean. After merging, it loses all such identities. This has been conveyed by Ramadas in a song form:
"There is a fortress of seven boundaries. In the fort there is a garden - one of worldly desires. If you want to find the path through the garden, sing the name of the Lord Rama. The whole Kingdom will be filled with light."
The boundaries referred to are the seven nerve-centres/chakras. This song was heard by Lord Rama. He replied:
"The essence is like oil. The Truth is like wick. When the light fades away, neither the oil nor the wick follow it. They stay there itself."
Then Ramadas got a doubt "The support is the tree and the grip is another branch of the tree. If the basis/support is left in the hope of relying on the strength of the branch and the branch also breaks then salvation is imminent."
Here, the basis is the worldly desires and the branch which would break is the society in which you live. If you leave the desires and if the world/society shuns you, you are bound to attain salvation. You need the society as long as you have not understood the true reality. Therefore, one needs firewood only as long as the cooking is being done. One does not need firewood after the food has been cooked.
Veda, Shastra, Purana, Itihasa etc. are essential only as long as one has not understood oneself. After one has realised oneself, all these become unnecessary. Hence, it is not possible to renounce/detach oneself from the society unless one has realised oneself. You have to realise yourself by living in the world. Some creatures like caterpillar, crawling from one leaf to another. In the process, it catches the leaf it would like to go to and then release the leaf it has been on. It does not leave the base before catching/obtaining the support. Similarly, we should leave world after obtaining divinity and not before. Otherwise, we would have lost both the worlds.
Do not be carried away by the term Meditation. It is not something that one does by sitting for a couple minutes or hours. It should be always at all places (the contemplation on the Lord). It should not pertain only to Mandir/meditation room. Wherever one goes, be it market or classes, one should be totally absorbed. We should be totally sacred in our feelings. This is possible only through the path of love. Speak lovingly to all people. Even such a speech should be in moderation. This is because mind begins to change as words become many.
One sage came from the Himalayas and declared that he had conquered anger. He met his friends and told them that he was totally at peace and that he had no anger in him at all. One came and asked him - "Sir! Have you conquered anger?" "Yes! I have controlled" came the guarded reply. That person reiterated, "Sir! You of all the people! Have you really conquered anger?" "Yes, it is true" came the gruff reply. "What sir! It is really impossible to believe. How could you conquer anger?" Asked the man for the third time. "Ai! Can't you understand when I have said so?" Came the hot reply. "Sir! When this is the case, how could you have conquered anger?", asked the man for the fourth time. "Are you out of your senses? I told you that I have conquered". So, while saying that he had conquered anger, due to repetition of words, he lost control over anger. If words were not expressed, anger might cooled down. But as he expressed them, anger grew. Due to lack of patience, anger emanates. There is no other remedy for anger. Only cultivation of patience is the answer.
Today man is bent upon conquering/vanquishing/controlling anger. This is wrong. He must inculcate patience. Then anger will automatically subside. If darkness has to be expelled, light has to be brought. Similarly, to expel anger, patience has to be fostered. So, make efforts to develop patience. Patience or sanctity can be attained only through love. There is nothing that cannot be attained with love. One can attain all with love. Everything is dedicated/subordinate to love. Hence it is said LOVE IS GOD; LIVE IN LOVE. If the concept of love is perfectly understood, it in itself becomes Meditation. Meditate on love. But the love should be selfless. It should be dedicated to the Lord. Any kind of love once offered to Lord becomes sanctified.
We have made sweet pongal at home. We call it sweet pongal and eat it. The same sweet pongal once it is offered to the Lord in a temple, we call it 'prasadam' / blessed food. The moment you offer it to the Lord, it becomes prasadam. All defects - defects of the ingredients, cooking and the vessel would get removed after such an offering. For the sweet pongal made at home, there may not be cleanliness of the vessel, ingredients or the cooking process itself. In order to remove all defects from the food cooked - we do not know wherefrom the vegetables have come; may be they were stolen; may be the intention of the seller was not good. We assemble all food items and pray to Lord that everything be blessed. Then it all becomes prasadam and all defects run away from the same.
There is a small clause in meditation. All cannot do the same type of meditation. Meditation changes from person to person depending on their state of evolution/capacity. All doing one type of meditation is not proper. Each has his own form to worship and the way he goes about it may also differ. Some worship God as Mother of the Universe; some consider Him as Father of the Universe while others consider God to be their friend. There are those who worship God as Master/husband. Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Gauranga are examples of this nature. Jayadeva and Gauranga had not done any meditation. They felt no need for meditation as they could see God everywhere.
There is a small anecdote. This happened to many great men in all the yugas. Gaurangada entered a small village called Nava Dweepa. He could not find a place to live. If he were to go the streets to do bhajan, mischievous boys would throw stones at him. They troubled him in numerous ways. To avoid all this, he entered the temple of Lord Eshwara. Keeping his legs on top of the Lingam - image of Lord Shiva, he lay down to sleep. In the morning the chief priest arrived. Considering him to be a mad man, the priest beat him. "O fool! How dare you put your feet on top of the Lord's image? Could you not find any other place to keep your feet?", asked the priest. Then Chaitanya replied - "Sir! Please show me the place where Eshwara does not exist and I shall gladly place my feet on that spot." Saying that he would show him, the priest dragged Chaitanya by the feet and dropped him aside. Due to his merit, even there the image of the Lord appeared. The pujari dragged him all over the mandir, wherever Chaitanya's feet fell, Eshwara's image was seen to emerge. Then the pujari realised his folly. God pervades the universe. How then can anyone define a place to be devoid or filled with God? For a true aspirant God's insignia are seen everywhere. Since God pervades the creation, there is nothing that is unsacred. But there is bound to be a change in the way we utilise the same. Therefore, we can make some changes in the society, house and people with whom we deal. Then alone can we obtain peace of mind. It is not meditation if one were to close one's eyes/sit in lotus posture/sit without movements. The most important factor for meditation is to fill the heart with love. That love is verily God Himself. Along with this love you must also sit in the lotus posture and in the manner described earlier to awaken the kundalini power and thus give more meaning to your lives.
You may go anywhere and do anything. But your heart must be filled with pure love. Gaurangada, Tukaram, Nammalwar etc., have lived in this manner. If purity of heart is one's property, one can question the Lord's ways as a rightful gesture. After a lot of merit, we have acquired the birth of a human being. If we do not make good use of it, it would be a sheer waste.
Gems in the ocean are not easily available. With a great difficulty if one were to dive deep and brave the attack of sharks, one could manage to obtain rare pearls hidden in the womb of the ocean. The pearl that is got after such a strenuous effort, if one were to lose it, one would not get it back however much one may pine.
"Sway! Lord Krishna! I have obtained with great difficulty the pearl of Krishna from the deep ocean of samsara. Please shower your grace that I may not lose it", prayed Meera. Since her prayer was such, Lord Krishna also granted her that wish. She loved and pined for Krishna so much that her anguish at the separation from the Lord turned into penance and she merged into the Lord. Every human who would like to turn the energy in him to divinity must participate in prayers. Prayer for mind is as essential as food is for body. Good food strengthens the body. Stale food brings about ill-health. Similarly, if we participate in prayers, our heart becomes pure. If, on the other hand, one were to participate with pomposity, ego and show, it would be like the bad food harming the mind. Therefore youth must travel from slumber and inactivity to penance. Whatever we may do, we must do with determination. One should not stop meditation after having begun, in a span of 2 days. Whole life should be transformed into meditation. We have come essentially for that purpose. We must discharge our duties. Along with this knowledge we must seek worldly education also. One must accept the basis of the worldly education. I have told many a time. I am repeating, observe the message carefully.
There are many metals in the earth - Iron, steel etc. As they are deep inside earth, due to heat, they are available in the form of liquid. Due to this heat even iron would be in a liquid state. This we call as Chemistry. As we gradually come to the surface, the materials solidify as the temperature decreases and we call it as Physics. As dust and other particles join this, plants begin to sprout in it. The study of these plants is called Botany. Insects and birds come from everywhere to these plants. The study of these birds and insects is called Zoology.
What is the basis for Zoology? Botany? The foundation of Botany is Physics which in turn is based on Chemistry. So, for Chemistry also there must be some foundation. Isn't it? There is water in this tumbler. For the water to stay, there must be a container in the first place. If there is no vessel, how can liquid stay put? Therefore the source of sciences - Chemistry has its foundation in divinity. Therefore, all the sciences have stemmed from the root of Divinity. So, for all subjects Divinity is the primal basis. If we were to catch the vessel, Divinity, all the contents, subjects, would easily become ours. Today we are ready to catch the creation and investigate but have not ever thought of investigating the nature of the creator. Even those that harm us become friendly in the presence of the Lord.
Serpent adorns the neck of Lord Shiva. Since it is around the neck of the Lord, we bow down to it also. Same serpent if seen in the bazaar would die due to the blows received from us. Though it is a poisonous snake, since it adorns the neck of the Lord, it becomes worthy of worship.
Once Lord Vishnu sent Garuda to Eshwara with a message. Eshwara's body is very peculiar. His body is smeared with vibhuti/ash. He has moon as his crown jewel and serpents as his other ornaments. To such Shiva when Garuda flew and landed, the breeze created by his wings disturbed the sacred ash of the Lord which fell into the eyes of the snake adorning His neck. The serpent, in anger, hissed at Garuda. Garuda replied, "O snake! Since you adorn the Lord's neck you are saved. Had you been in the bazaar/market place, I would have snatched you with my feet and torn you to shreds. Since you are in the proximity of the Lord you have earned the right to be forgiven."
Once in a while to recharge your batteries, you can come to Puttaparthi. In this way, you can enjoy Swami's Love and Grace.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
What is the truth - Bhagavan books the Culprits ?
Seized Satya Sai cash not trustworthy: Police
July 4, 2011 Deccan Chronicle Anantapur
July 3: The police is apparently certain that the Rs 35 lakh that was seized was not donated by 12 devotees for Satya Sai Baba’s Mahasamadhi construction works as had been claimed by the Satya Sai Central Trust members.
After enquiring with devotees who had supposedly donated the cash, which had been seized from engineer Harish Ananda Shetty while being taken to Bengaluru from Baba’s personal chamber Yajur Mandir, the police concluded that their claims were false. The bank transaction details furnished by the devotees were found irrelevant as the police realised that most of the transactions had been done six months back. The receipts on the bundles of the seized cash, however, showed that they had been withdrawn from various banks between 2007 and 2009. The police have thus intensified their probe and special teams have spoken to donors in Bengaluru and Chennai.
A police officer said that the Trust had been accepting donations in cash and gold from devotees and this became clear when Harish Ananda Shetty was arrested on June 18 adding that the bank statements produced by the donors were not connected with the cash seized. A police official said that cases might be registered against trustees Mr V. Srinivasan and Mr R.J. Ratnakar as they had found prima facie evidence after two of the three accused in connection with the case had confessed that the two trustees had handed over the cash to them in Yajur Mandir. It is being presumed that there is more treasure and the police think that the trustees have deliberately ignored to take inventories of all valuables.
It is also being wondered why the trust sought the government’s assistance on Saturday to appraise gold and silver as they had not done so when they had opened Baba’s bedroom and other private quarters a fortnight ago.
July 4, 2011 Deccan Chronicle Anantapur
July 3: The police is apparently certain that the Rs 35 lakh that was seized was not donated by 12 devotees for Satya Sai Baba’s Mahasamadhi construction works as had been claimed by the Satya Sai Central Trust members.
After enquiring with devotees who had supposedly donated the cash, which had been seized from engineer Harish Ananda Shetty while being taken to Bengaluru from Baba’s personal chamber Yajur Mandir, the police concluded that their claims were false. The bank transaction details furnished by the devotees were found irrelevant as the police realised that most of the transactions had been done six months back. The receipts on the bundles of the seized cash, however, showed that they had been withdrawn from various banks between 2007 and 2009. The police have thus intensified their probe and special teams have spoken to donors in Bengaluru and Chennai.
A police officer said that the Trust had been accepting donations in cash and gold from devotees and this became clear when Harish Ananda Shetty was arrested on June 18 adding that the bank statements produced by the donors were not connected with the cash seized. A police official said that cases might be registered against trustees Mr V. Srinivasan and Mr R.J. Ratnakar as they had found prima facie evidence after two of the three accused in connection with the case had confessed that the two trustees had handed over the cash to them in Yajur Mandir. It is being presumed that there is more treasure and the police think that the trustees have deliberately ignored to take inventories of all valuables.
It is also being wondered why the trust sought the government’s assistance on Saturday to appraise gold and silver as they had not done so when they had opened Baba’s bedroom and other private quarters a fortnight ago.
Friday, May 20, 2011
Sri Sathya Sai Baba says about Sathyajit
Ref : Sathya Sai Speaks, Volume 31 194 -198 / 6 May 1998 / Brindavan
There are mothers who are worried when their children take to the spiritual path. They hardly realise that it is the fruit of many past lives that accounts for children taking to the spiritual path. Mothers should rejoice over such a development
rather than worry about it.
Many parents desire that after the education of their children is over, they should get married, get a good job, and achieve a high position in life. Out of their love, they want their children to achieve greatness. Swami's love is not like that; Swami wants them to achieve goodness.
What is the difference between greatness and goodness? A good man sees divinity even in a human being. A great man sees the human even in God.Ravana was a great man who had performed great penance.He was very powerful. But seeing Rama in human form, he considered him as a mere human being. On the other hand,Rama was different. He saw the Divine in all beings. That is the mark of goodness.It is better to earn a reputation for goodness than be known as a great man. All that you find in a great man is only selfishness.But in a good man, you find total selflessness. Therefore,all of you should strive to become good men. Revere your parents.Give them joy. Show your gratitude to them.
Students’ concern for Swami
Some students prefer to stay with Swami.
The students know that at Kodaikanal Satyajit made a declaration in public
even when his parents were present there, “I am coming out with my doubt in the open. You must all forgive me. All sorts of officers are coming to Swami. They seek fulfillment of desires and go back. Many business people also come to Swami.They also refer to Swami about their difficulties and go back after securing relief. People with ailments come to Swami and they leave after getting cured. We students have come to Swami. Many of them benefit from the free education given by Swami and leave the Institute.
“Who is taking care of Swami? Nobody seems to be concerned about Swami’s well being. Many times Swami falls down. Once,when Swami slipped and fell down, a pillar fell
on Him.Swami did not care for it. The boys were very much worried in the night. It is necessary that someone should always be with Swami. Only when one or two people sit with Him does Swami take some little food. When He goes alone for lunch, He eats very little.”
My attitude is to eat whatever the students eat. I don't want to eat separately. Swami came to Brindavan from Puttaparthi and took the students to Kodaikanal. Swami used to eat only ragi and groundnut chutney. At Kodaikanal all were eating together.
Swami also took His meals in their midst.If I were to take ragi, boys may not like it. If I want them to eat ragi, they are not used to it. So Swami started eating rice food which students take. Swami likes only ragi; because He stopped taking ragi, He lost 6 kg in weight during 20 days stay at Kodaikanal.
In Puttaparthi, Satyajit was in the habit of taking My weight now and then. He used to plead to Swami to get on to the weighing machine. When Swami was in Puttaparthi He weighed 108 lbs. At Kodaikanal, when weight was taken, it showed reduction by 6 Kilos Swami weighed less than 100 lbs. Satyajit said that he was greatly worried.
I told him that he should not speak about this in public.
Satyajit said, “I offer my entire life to Swami.”
Swami said that he should not say such things in public.But Satyajit spoke with courage and boldness.At that time, Indulal Shah, Chairman of World Council and others were present. All of them congratulated Satyajit on his speech. This is a point about which no one has cared for. Indulal Shah said, “Even though I am a member of Central Trust I have not thought over this point. is a grievous lapse on our part. Hereafter, we will bear this in mind and act accordingly.”God as Mother It is clear that each devotee has his own ideals and aspirations.
But those who are imbued with a feeling of rever- ence for their mother will always have good feelings. One day Satyajit was concerned about surgery done for his mother's fractured leg. As far as I am concerned, all persons are good.
But there is something special about this lad Satyajit. He used to take Swami's permission and massage her leg every day. He wanted to do this to relieve his mother of her pain.
At Brindavan, I was lying in bed. He came and started massaging My leg. I said, “I have no pain in My leg.”
He remarked, “Swami, if You have pain You won’t speak about it. You keep moving about irrespective of the pain.”
Swami then observed, “I am used to this”. He said, “In massaging Swami's feet I am rendering service to my mother.”
He left for Puttaparthi and was staying in the hostel. He closed his eyes. He experienced that he was massaging Swami’s feet. He observed, “With this experience, how can I be attached to the world?”
Swami remarked to him, “Don’t speak in that way. Be silent and carry on your duty.”
He passed his M.Sc. After that he joined the M.B.A.course. I told him, “You have already got a P.G.degree. Why do you want to join M.B.A?”
He replied, I can stay with You, Swami, for two more years. That is the reason.”
In this manner, each student has his own desires. There are any number of students imbued with such feelings. Those who develop taste of maternal love adore God as mother. Many boys go out into the world and get caught up in worldly affairs because of their actions in previous lives. Students should feel,“Having discovered God, we do not need anything else. God will take care of mother, father, and everyone else.” They should develop that firm conviction. Without that faith they can have no happiness.
At Puttaparthi, a Reddy from Nellore brought the film Prahlada and showed it to the students. The actors were small boys. The film showed that, while drinking poison, Prahlada was chanting the name of Narayana. His father had Prahlada thrown from a mountain top by two rakshasas (demons),Chanda and Amarkha. As he fell, he chanted the name of Narayana,and Narayana held Prahlada in His hands. The father wanted him to be bitten by serpents. As he chanted the name of Narayana, the serpent did not bite him. The father tried to get him crushed under the feet of an elephant. As Prahlada uttered the name of Narayana, even the elephant became Narayana and did him no harm.
All this was shown in the film; but Satyajit said, “I have experienced all this directly. I don't need to see a film. I only want Sai Narayana.”
It is only because of merit done in previous life that such experiences came to a person from childhood.
The other day, I asked him to participate in bhajans. He said he would sit under an Asoka Tree and participate in the bhajans. Swami does not impose His Will on anybody. He told Satyajit, “You may do what pleases you.”
How Satyajit strictly adheres to Swami’s ideals
In this manner, many students are imbued with noble feelings.Some students appear as supreme devotees as long as they are in the college, but the moment they leave the college,they go astray. Their speech and their actions are bad. Hence, I
often tell them, as I did at Kodaikanal, “Cultivate good speech.
Develop a good vision (samyag drishti). This leads to good thoughts. Good thoughts make a person listen to what is good.By listening to good thoughts one is impelled to perform good actions. Good actions lead to liberation.”
Satyajit strictly adheres to Swami's ideals. He will not look at anybody. I asked him, “What is wrong if you see persons with good feelings or to see others.”
He replied, “I have no use for such good feelings or to see others. I want only feelings about Swami within me.”
Swami then said, “Please yourself.”
Some students are like this. All the boys who came to Kodaikanal this year were exceptionally good boys. How lucky they are cannot be described. I took care of everyone, of all their needs. If there are more such boys, the world will improve
vastly. It is only when individuals improve that society can improve. When society improves, the country improves.Improvements must start with individuals. The individual, the collective, and the world together constitute the Divine.
Offer your love to mother and enjoy life Noble mothers give birth to noble sons. Mothers should also feel lucky to have noble sons. Kondama Raju used to tell his daughter-in-law, “Easwaramma, you have no idea of your great good fortune. You are not an ordinary woman. The Lord Himself is with you. What a lucky woman you are!” Easwaramma was the daughter-in-law of Kondama Raju.
Kondama Raju was one of those rare persons who could perceive the Truth. Those who cannot recognize the Truth will never be able to understand it. They are like a blind man who cannot see the sun even during the day.
Note : I strongly belive that much harm is already done to a Good boy who has all goodness as Swamy says above and had experienced the fate of Prahlada (read paragraph above). I believe swamy has advised me to post this to the confused world "Sai Ram"
There are mothers who are worried when their children take to the spiritual path. They hardly realise that it is the fruit of many past lives that accounts for children taking to the spiritual path. Mothers should rejoice over such a development
rather than worry about it.
Many parents desire that after the education of their children is over, they should get married, get a good job, and achieve a high position in life. Out of their love, they want their children to achieve greatness. Swami's love is not like that; Swami wants them to achieve goodness.
What is the difference between greatness and goodness? A good man sees divinity even in a human being. A great man sees the human even in God.Ravana was a great man who had performed great penance.He was very powerful. But seeing Rama in human form, he considered him as a mere human being. On the other hand,Rama was different. He saw the Divine in all beings. That is the mark of goodness.It is better to earn a reputation for goodness than be known as a great man. All that you find in a great man is only selfishness.But in a good man, you find total selflessness. Therefore,all of you should strive to become good men. Revere your parents.Give them joy. Show your gratitude to them.
Students’ concern for Swami
Some students prefer to stay with Swami.
The students know that at Kodaikanal Satyajit made a declaration in public
even when his parents were present there, “I am coming out with my doubt in the open. You must all forgive me. All sorts of officers are coming to Swami. They seek fulfillment of desires and go back. Many business people also come to Swami.They also refer to Swami about their difficulties and go back after securing relief. People with ailments come to Swami and they leave after getting cured. We students have come to Swami. Many of them benefit from the free education given by Swami and leave the Institute.
“Who is taking care of Swami? Nobody seems to be concerned about Swami’s well being. Many times Swami falls down. Once,when Swami slipped and fell down, a pillar fell
on Him.Swami did not care for it. The boys were very much worried in the night. It is necessary that someone should always be with Swami. Only when one or two people sit with Him does Swami take some little food. When He goes alone for lunch, He eats very little.”
My attitude is to eat whatever the students eat. I don't want to eat separately. Swami came to Brindavan from Puttaparthi and took the students to Kodaikanal. Swami used to eat only ragi and groundnut chutney. At Kodaikanal all were eating together.
Swami also took His meals in their midst.If I were to take ragi, boys may not like it. If I want them to eat ragi, they are not used to it. So Swami started eating rice food which students take. Swami likes only ragi; because He stopped taking ragi, He lost 6 kg in weight during 20 days stay at Kodaikanal.
In Puttaparthi, Satyajit was in the habit of taking My weight now and then. He used to plead to Swami to get on to the weighing machine. When Swami was in Puttaparthi He weighed 108 lbs. At Kodaikanal, when weight was taken, it showed reduction by 6 Kilos Swami weighed less than 100 lbs. Satyajit said that he was greatly worried.
I told him that he should not speak about this in public.
Satyajit said, “I offer my entire life to Swami.”
Swami said that he should not say such things in public.But Satyajit spoke with courage and boldness.At that time, Indulal Shah, Chairman of World Council and others were present. All of them congratulated Satyajit on his speech. This is a point about which no one has cared for. Indulal Shah said, “Even though I am a member of Central Trust I have not thought over this point. is a grievous lapse on our part. Hereafter, we will bear this in mind and act accordingly.”God as Mother It is clear that each devotee has his own ideals and aspirations.
But those who are imbued with a feeling of rever- ence for their mother will always have good feelings. One day Satyajit was concerned about surgery done for his mother's fractured leg. As far as I am concerned, all persons are good.
But there is something special about this lad Satyajit. He used to take Swami's permission and massage her leg every day. He wanted to do this to relieve his mother of her pain.
At Brindavan, I was lying in bed. He came and started massaging My leg. I said, “I have no pain in My leg.”
He remarked, “Swami, if You have pain You won’t speak about it. You keep moving about irrespective of the pain.”
Swami then observed, “I am used to this”. He said, “In massaging Swami's feet I am rendering service to my mother.”
He left for Puttaparthi and was staying in the hostel. He closed his eyes. He experienced that he was massaging Swami’s feet. He observed, “With this experience, how can I be attached to the world?”
Swami remarked to him, “Don’t speak in that way. Be silent and carry on your duty.”
He passed his M.Sc. After that he joined the M.B.A.course. I told him, “You have already got a P.G.degree. Why do you want to join M.B.A?”
He replied, I can stay with You, Swami, for two more years. That is the reason.”
In this manner, each student has his own desires. There are any number of students imbued with such feelings. Those who develop taste of maternal love adore God as mother. Many boys go out into the world and get caught up in worldly affairs because of their actions in previous lives. Students should feel,“Having discovered God, we do not need anything else. God will take care of mother, father, and everyone else.” They should develop that firm conviction. Without that faith they can have no happiness.
At Puttaparthi, a Reddy from Nellore brought the film Prahlada and showed it to the students. The actors were small boys. The film showed that, while drinking poison, Prahlada was chanting the name of Narayana. His father had Prahlada thrown from a mountain top by two rakshasas (demons),Chanda and Amarkha. As he fell, he chanted the name of Narayana,and Narayana held Prahlada in His hands. The father wanted him to be bitten by serpents. As he chanted the name of Narayana, the serpent did not bite him. The father tried to get him crushed under the feet of an elephant. As Prahlada uttered the name of Narayana, even the elephant became Narayana and did him no harm.
All this was shown in the film; but Satyajit said, “I have experienced all this directly. I don't need to see a film. I only want Sai Narayana.”
It is only because of merit done in previous life that such experiences came to a person from childhood.
The other day, I asked him to participate in bhajans. He said he would sit under an Asoka Tree and participate in the bhajans. Swami does not impose His Will on anybody. He told Satyajit, “You may do what pleases you.”
How Satyajit strictly adheres to Swami’s ideals
In this manner, many students are imbued with noble feelings.Some students appear as supreme devotees as long as they are in the college, but the moment they leave the college,they go astray. Their speech and their actions are bad. Hence, I
often tell them, as I did at Kodaikanal, “Cultivate good speech.
Develop a good vision (samyag drishti). This leads to good thoughts. Good thoughts make a person listen to what is good.By listening to good thoughts one is impelled to perform good actions. Good actions lead to liberation.”
Satyajit strictly adheres to Swami's ideals. He will not look at anybody. I asked him, “What is wrong if you see persons with good feelings or to see others.”
He replied, “I have no use for such good feelings or to see others. I want only feelings about Swami within me.”
Swami then said, “Please yourself.”
Some students are like this. All the boys who came to Kodaikanal this year were exceptionally good boys. How lucky they are cannot be described. I took care of everyone, of all their needs. If there are more such boys, the world will improve
vastly. It is only when individuals improve that society can improve. When society improves, the country improves.Improvements must start with individuals. The individual, the collective, and the world together constitute the Divine.
Offer your love to mother and enjoy life Noble mothers give birth to noble sons. Mothers should also feel lucky to have noble sons. Kondama Raju used to tell his daughter-in-law, “Easwaramma, you have no idea of your great good fortune. You are not an ordinary woman. The Lord Himself is with you. What a lucky woman you are!” Easwaramma was the daughter-in-law of Kondama Raju.
Kondama Raju was one of those rare persons who could perceive the Truth. Those who cannot recognize the Truth will never be able to understand it. They are like a blind man who cannot see the sun even during the day.
Note : I strongly belive that much harm is already done to a Good boy who has all goodness as Swamy says above and had experienced the fate of Prahlada (read paragraph above). I believe swamy has advised me to post this to the confused world "Sai Ram"
Friday, May 6, 2011
Justice P N Bhagawati as chancellor of the Sri Sathya Sai University
The Sathya Sai central Trust has given the cheque signing powers to three trustees Shri.S V Giri, V Srinivas and R J Ratnakar and also the board to avoid any future controversies, has made it necessary that atleast any two of the authorized members should sign each cheque.
In a statement, senior trust Member V Srinivasan said the decision to appoint Justice Bhagawati as the new chancellor was taken by the trust at its meeting here in the morning. Sai Baba was officiating as the chancellor of the university till his demise on April 24. "With Bhagawan Sai Baba leaving his body to the heavenly abode, we have appointed Justice Bhagawati to function as the chancellor of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning (SSSIHL)," Srinivasan said.
In another important decision, the trust also announced the names of three co-opted members to SSSIHL, which is a public charitable trust. Justice A P Mishra, former Supreme Court judge, Prof S P Thyagarajan, former vice-chancellor, Madras University, and R J Rathnakar, Baba's nephew and trust member, were made the members.
In a statement, senior trust Member V Srinivasan said the decision to appoint Justice Bhagawati as the new chancellor was taken by the trust at its meeting here in the morning. Sai Baba was officiating as the chancellor of the university till his demise on April 24. "With Bhagawan Sai Baba leaving his body to the heavenly abode, we have appointed Justice Bhagawati to function as the chancellor of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning (SSSIHL)," Srinivasan said.
In another important decision, the trust also announced the names of three co-opted members to SSSIHL, which is a public charitable trust. Justice A P Mishra, former Supreme Court judge, Prof S P Thyagarajan, former vice-chancellor, Madras University, and R J Rathnakar, Baba's nephew and trust member, were made the members.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Press Release on 28th April by The Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust
Press Statement
Released by
The Trustees and the Council of Management of
Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust
ISSUED ON APRIL 28, 2011
1. The Trustees and the Council of Management of Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust thank the representatives of the print and electronic media who are attending this press conference. Though the media wanted reactions from the Trust in the recent few weeks, the situation, particularly the declining health of Bhagawan Baba, did not make it possible for the Trustees to address any issue other than the treatment being given to Bhagawan Baba. Therefore, the delay in calling this press meet.
2. Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust was founded by Bhagawan Baba in 1972. It is a public Charitable Trust and has been engaged in service activities mainly in the field of Education and Health. Two associate trusts also founded by Bhagawan Baba deal with Medical Relief and Higher Education: they are the Sri Sathya Sai Medical Trust and the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning. The Sri Sathya Sai Medical Trust which has been carrying out the medical relief activities has been taken over by Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust from Dec 1, 2010.
3. Bhagawan Baba has been the moving spirit for all these service activities. The Medical relief activity is carried out through two Super Specialty hospitals, one at Puttaparthi and the other at Whitefield, Bengaluru, and two general hospitals one each at Puttaparthi and Whitefield, Bengaluru. Medical relief has been provided to a large number of poor and needy patients without any distinction of caste, religion and language. The details of the Medical relief provided and the infrastructure which has been set up for this are available in websites of Sri Sathya Sai Medical Trust (www.sssmt.org.in) and Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust (www.srisathyasai.org.in).
4. In the field of education, the Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust runs two schools, one at Puttaparthi and another at Rajahmundry. Higher education is imparted by Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning at its campuses at Whitefield, Bengaluru, Anantapur and Puttaparthi. A new campus which is ready at Muddenahalli near Chickaballapur in Karnataka state is on the anvil of commencing its operations. The primary focus in all these institutions is value based education and character building.
5. All these activities are carried on in a spirit of service with the belief that love and compassion form the bedrock of spiritual evolution. Medical relief and Education is completely free. The resources are provided by the Trusts. The Trusts have a moderate corpus which fetches a reasonable return, which is augmented by voluntary contributions made to the Trusts by donors from India and abroad.
6. The activities of the Trusts are spread over the states of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. The Trusts own and possess land and buildings which are required for education and medical relief activities. The Super Specialty Hospital at Puttaparthi is situated in a campus of about 105 acres of land.
Similarly the Super Specialty hospital at Whitefield, Bengaluru is situated in a campus of 52 acres of land. The Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust has met the cost of construction of the projects for setting up the hospitals which was about Rs 65 crores for the Puttaparthi Hospital in 1991 and Rs 130 crores for the Whitefield Hospital in 2001.
7. The General Hospital at Puttaparthi is located on 7 acres of land. The Trust is also running a General Hospital at Whitefield.
8. Similarly in the case of Educational activities, the Anantapur campus for Women is located on a site measuring about 115 acres. The campus at Whitefield, Bengaluru comprises about 38 acres. The campus, known as Vidyagiri, situated at Prasanthi Nilayam comprising school, University, stadium, administrative buildings, planetarium, etc. is located in about 60 acres of land.
9. As regards the schools, Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust runs a school at Rajahmundry in Andhra Pradesh situated in a campus of about 25 acres.
10. The Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust has also constructed an airport for the benefit of the devotees and patients in the year 1991. The airport is spread over150 acres of land.
11. The Prasanthi Nilayam campus is spread over 70 acres of land. The Trust also owns land and buildings in Kodaikanal, Tamilnadu. The extent of land is around 3 acres. The Trust also runs a community center known as Sri Sathya Sai Nigamagamam at Hyderabad which is spread over about 3.5 Acres. Another community hall known as Sri Sathya Sai Samskrutha Sadanam situated in Bangalore belongs to the Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust.
12. In the recent news reports the value of the Trusts have been hugely exaggerated and it may be seen from the above that the lands are being used as an integral part of the educational campuses and hospitals. They are not meant for commercial use especially in the context of alienated lands which were given for specific purposes.
13. In addition to the above medical relief and education activities, the Central Trust has undertaken drinking water supply projects in Anantapur, Medak, Mahboobnagar, East and West Godavari districts of Andhra Pradesh. The Trust maintained these projects for a year before handing them over to the Government. They have since been running smoothly. Besides these, a project for modernisation of the Kandaleru – Poondy canal for providing drinking water to Chennai city has been undertaken. Such water supply projects undertaken between 1995 and 2010 involved an outlay of Rs. 500 crores.
14. The Trusts of Bhagawan Baba have never made an appeal for donations. The income of the Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust and the Sri Sathya Sai Medical Trust has ranged from Rs 100 – 130 crores per year during the last 4 years. The expenditure for the same period has ranged between Rs 75 – 100 crores per year. It is therefore evident that the size of the Trust is modest.
15. For the medical relief activity, about 1000 persons are employed which includes doctors, nurses, paramedical and other staff. The educational activities involve a total number of around 250 employees. In addition, the Sri Sathya Sai Organisation, which is a voluntary organisation of the devotees of Bhagawan Baba, provides volunteers to support these service activities.
16. Besides these, Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust has set up Sri Sathya Sai International Center at Lodhi Road, New Delhi. At the said Center, a school, a training center for Educare and International Center for dissemination of human values, a library and an auditorium have been provided.
17. Inspired by Bhagawan Baba, many schools are set up and charitable activities are organised by devotees in many cities in India and abroad. These do not come under the fold of Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust and they are owned and administered by separate bodies governed by their respective charters.
18. In light of the baseless, irresponsible and false accusations of defalcation of gold, valuable artefacts and even money, it is emphatically stated that these accusations are wholly untrue and it is believed that these have been engineered by certain vested interests with a view to defame the fair name of the Trust, its functionaries and the Trustees. There is no truth whatsoever in these allegations.
19. All transactions of the Trusts are duly accounted in their books of account. An experienced and qualified chartered accountant oversees the accounting and financial management. The accounts are duly audited by a reputed firm of Chartered Accountants based at Delhi. Periodical returns, accounts and audit reports as prescribed by law are duly filed with the concerned authorities under the Income Tax Act, FCRA and other applicable statutes. There is no proceeding initiated against any of the Trusts by any authority under any statute alleging any impropriety or violation of law.
20. The Trustees, functionaries and the members of the Council of Management have all been personally selected and placed in their respective positions by the revered Founder Trustee Bhagawan Baba. They are persons of impeccable credentials having served in various capacities in their respective careers. All of them serve the Trust in honorary capacity out of their devotion to the Founder Trustee, Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, being motivated by His universal message to serve humanity – "Manava Seva is Madhava Seva. "
Released by
The Trustees and the Council of Management of
Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust
ISSUED ON APRIL 28, 2011
1. The Trustees and the Council of Management of Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust thank the representatives of the print and electronic media who are attending this press conference. Though the media wanted reactions from the Trust in the recent few weeks, the situation, particularly the declining health of Bhagawan Baba, did not make it possible for the Trustees to address any issue other than the treatment being given to Bhagawan Baba. Therefore, the delay in calling this press meet.
2. Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust was founded by Bhagawan Baba in 1972. It is a public Charitable Trust and has been engaged in service activities mainly in the field of Education and Health. Two associate trusts also founded by Bhagawan Baba deal with Medical Relief and Higher Education: they are the Sri Sathya Sai Medical Trust and the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning. The Sri Sathya Sai Medical Trust which has been carrying out the medical relief activities has been taken over by Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust from Dec 1, 2010.
3. Bhagawan Baba has been the moving spirit for all these service activities. The Medical relief activity is carried out through two Super Specialty hospitals, one at Puttaparthi and the other at Whitefield, Bengaluru, and two general hospitals one each at Puttaparthi and Whitefield, Bengaluru. Medical relief has been provided to a large number of poor and needy patients without any distinction of caste, religion and language. The details of the Medical relief provided and the infrastructure which has been set up for this are available in websites of Sri Sathya Sai Medical Trust (www.sssmt.org.in) and Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust (www.srisathyasai.org.in).
4. In the field of education, the Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust runs two schools, one at Puttaparthi and another at Rajahmundry. Higher education is imparted by Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning at its campuses at Whitefield, Bengaluru, Anantapur and Puttaparthi. A new campus which is ready at Muddenahalli near Chickaballapur in Karnataka state is on the anvil of commencing its operations. The primary focus in all these institutions is value based education and character building.
5. All these activities are carried on in a spirit of service with the belief that love and compassion form the bedrock of spiritual evolution. Medical relief and Education is completely free. The resources are provided by the Trusts. The Trusts have a moderate corpus which fetches a reasonable return, which is augmented by voluntary contributions made to the Trusts by donors from India and abroad.
6. The activities of the Trusts are spread over the states of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. The Trusts own and possess land and buildings which are required for education and medical relief activities. The Super Specialty Hospital at Puttaparthi is situated in a campus of about 105 acres of land.
Similarly the Super Specialty hospital at Whitefield, Bengaluru is situated in a campus of 52 acres of land. The Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust has met the cost of construction of the projects for setting up the hospitals which was about Rs 65 crores for the Puttaparthi Hospital in 1991 and Rs 130 crores for the Whitefield Hospital in 2001.
7. The General Hospital at Puttaparthi is located on 7 acres of land. The Trust is also running a General Hospital at Whitefield.
8. Similarly in the case of Educational activities, the Anantapur campus for Women is located on a site measuring about 115 acres. The campus at Whitefield, Bengaluru comprises about 38 acres. The campus, known as Vidyagiri, situated at Prasanthi Nilayam comprising school, University, stadium, administrative buildings, planetarium, etc. is located in about 60 acres of land.
9. As regards the schools, Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust runs a school at Rajahmundry in Andhra Pradesh situated in a campus of about 25 acres.
10. The Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust has also constructed an airport for the benefit of the devotees and patients in the year 1991. The airport is spread over150 acres of land.
11. The Prasanthi Nilayam campus is spread over 70 acres of land. The Trust also owns land and buildings in Kodaikanal, Tamilnadu. The extent of land is around 3 acres. The Trust also runs a community center known as Sri Sathya Sai Nigamagamam at Hyderabad which is spread over about 3.5 Acres. Another community hall known as Sri Sathya Sai Samskrutha Sadanam situated in Bangalore belongs to the Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust.
12. In the recent news reports the value of the Trusts have been hugely exaggerated and it may be seen from the above that the lands are being used as an integral part of the educational campuses and hospitals. They are not meant for commercial use especially in the context of alienated lands which were given for specific purposes.
13. In addition to the above medical relief and education activities, the Central Trust has undertaken drinking water supply projects in Anantapur, Medak, Mahboobnagar, East and West Godavari districts of Andhra Pradesh. The Trust maintained these projects for a year before handing them over to the Government. They have since been running smoothly. Besides these, a project for modernisation of the Kandaleru – Poondy canal for providing drinking water to Chennai city has been undertaken. Such water supply projects undertaken between 1995 and 2010 involved an outlay of Rs. 500 crores.
14. The Trusts of Bhagawan Baba have never made an appeal for donations. The income of the Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust and the Sri Sathya Sai Medical Trust has ranged from Rs 100 – 130 crores per year during the last 4 years. The expenditure for the same period has ranged between Rs 75 – 100 crores per year. It is therefore evident that the size of the Trust is modest.
15. For the medical relief activity, about 1000 persons are employed which includes doctors, nurses, paramedical and other staff. The educational activities involve a total number of around 250 employees. In addition, the Sri Sathya Sai Organisation, which is a voluntary organisation of the devotees of Bhagawan Baba, provides volunteers to support these service activities.
16. Besides these, Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust has set up Sri Sathya Sai International Center at Lodhi Road, New Delhi. At the said Center, a school, a training center for Educare and International Center for dissemination of human values, a library and an auditorium have been provided.
17. Inspired by Bhagawan Baba, many schools are set up and charitable activities are organised by devotees in many cities in India and abroad. These do not come under the fold of Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust and they are owned and administered by separate bodies governed by their respective charters.
18. In light of the baseless, irresponsible and false accusations of defalcation of gold, valuable artefacts and even money, it is emphatically stated that these accusations are wholly untrue and it is believed that these have been engineered by certain vested interests with a view to defame the fair name of the Trust, its functionaries and the Trustees. There is no truth whatsoever in these allegations.
19. All transactions of the Trusts are duly accounted in their books of account. An experienced and qualified chartered accountant oversees the accounting and financial management. The accounts are duly audited by a reputed firm of Chartered Accountants based at Delhi. Periodical returns, accounts and audit reports as prescribed by law are duly filed with the concerned authorities under the Income Tax Act, FCRA and other applicable statutes. There is no proceeding initiated against any of the Trusts by any authority under any statute alleging any impropriety or violation of law.
20. The Trustees, functionaries and the members of the Council of Management have all been personally selected and placed in their respective positions by the revered Founder Trustee Bhagawan Baba. They are persons of impeccable credentials having served in various capacities in their respective careers. All of them serve the Trust in honorary capacity out of their devotion to the Founder Trustee, Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, being motivated by His universal message to serve humanity – "Manava Seva is Madhava Seva. "
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Bhagavan Baba's Maha Samadhi
Wed, April 27, 2011:
Puttaparthi that sung lullabies to infant Sathya, that fondled and nurtured Little Sathya to Sri Sathya Sai and that received the abundance of His love and care over and over again during the past eight and a half decade finally earned a day to grieve, though the day will be marked in the annals of Divine History as the most significant of the day, when Avatar of the age was laid to rest. ...This is definitely not of her choice, but as fate would have it, a grieving Puttaparthi had to accept this present as well, as she has been receiving over the past eight and a half decade, in abundance.
It was a Divine Script that was written by Him alone and executed in His own inimitable fashion. For all the glory, happiness and bliss that she has received over and over again, when the final moment arrived, to bid farewell to the Soul of entire creation, she grieved and so were millions upon millions around the world.
Bhagawan who left His mortal coil on the 24th April 2011 was laid to rest in Sai Kulwant Hall this morning in presence of a huge assemblage of devotees, also attended by a host of political luminaries.
Earlier, the function commenced with an aalaap bhajan by noted classical vocalist Pt. Jasraj, that was followed by an hour-long bhajan by students. A host of prayers representing various religions, that included Jewish, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism and Sikhism followed before a set of selected bhajans, that were so dear to Beloved Bhagawan, was rendered by students bringing tears in the assemblage, taking one and all to nostalgic happy days with their Beloved "Swami".
Among the dignitaries present were both Governor and Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, EVL Narasimhan and Kiran Kumar Reddy, Senior BJP leaders L K Advani and Venkaiah Naidu, former Union Home Minister and Governor of Punjab Shivraj Patil , Karnataka Chief Minister B S. Yeddyurappa, Telugu Desam Supremo and former AP Chief Minister, Chandrababu Naidu, former Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan, veteran VHP leader Ashok Singhal, AP Ministers Geeta Reddy, Raghuveera Reddy etc.
The Divine Physical Frame that was draped in Bhagawan's favourite orange colour was lowered into the Samadhi amidst vedic chanting. In a symbolic gesture, the ceremony was marked with gifting of a cow and clothes (godhaana and buudhaana). Special water collected various holy rivers across India was also sprinkled on the Divine Frame sanctifying the occasion.
Even as the first set of rituals were completed the curtain came down for the finishing touches of the tomb where Bhagawan was laid to rest. Incessant Sai Gayathri chanting continued for the next more than half-an-hour before the curtains went up for the public to have their maiden view of the Tomb of the Avatar of the Age...
As fragrant Vibhuti smell wafted in the air granting the nostalgia of golden days when Beloved spent time amidst on the same dais, and announcement came that darshan would commence at 11:45 hrs. As is the case in Shirdi, this Tomb of the Avatar of the Age would start speaking to His chosen devotees now on...and would be the solace for grieving devotees from around the world. Puttaparthi beckons, with much more intensity as our Beloved Lord Sri Sathya Sai would speak from His tomb from now on!!!
On this first evening of Maha Samadhi of Beloved Bhagawan, there was a change in programme scheudule. One hour Vedam chanting began at 1600 hrs. followed by bhajans at 1700 hrs. to end with Mangala Arathi at 1800 hrs.
As darshan of Maha Samadhi commenced this forenoon at 1145 hrs. a continuous stream of devotees are pouring in to have a precious glimpse of the Maha Samadhi in Sai Kulwant Hall. Many faces are writ with deep emotion and suppressed feeling burst open at the site of Maha Samadhi.
At the end of Mangala Arathi, an announcement was made on the darshan schedule for the next two days. Darshan of Maha Samadhi, for tomorrow and the day after will commence at 0800 hrs. till 1200 hrs. and in the evening from 1600 hrs. till 2000 hrs.
Puttaparthi that sung lullabies to infant Sathya, that fondled and nurtured Little Sathya to Sri Sathya Sai and that received the abundance of His love and care over and over again during the past eight and a half decade finally earned a day to grieve, though the day will be marked in the annals of Divine History as the most significant of the day, when Avatar of the age was laid to rest. ...This is definitely not of her choice, but as fate would have it, a grieving Puttaparthi had to accept this present as well, as she has been receiving over the past eight and a half decade, in abundance.
It was a Divine Script that was written by Him alone and executed in His own inimitable fashion. For all the glory, happiness and bliss that she has received over and over again, when the final moment arrived, to bid farewell to the Soul of entire creation, she grieved and so were millions upon millions around the world.
Bhagawan who left His mortal coil on the 24th April 2011 was laid to rest in Sai Kulwant Hall this morning in presence of a huge assemblage of devotees, also attended by a host of political luminaries.
Earlier, the function commenced with an aalaap bhajan by noted classical vocalist Pt. Jasraj, that was followed by an hour-long bhajan by students. A host of prayers representing various religions, that included Jewish, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism and Sikhism followed before a set of selected bhajans, that were so dear to Beloved Bhagawan, was rendered by students bringing tears in the assemblage, taking one and all to nostalgic happy days with their Beloved "Swami".
Among the dignitaries present were both Governor and Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, EVL Narasimhan and Kiran Kumar Reddy, Senior BJP leaders L K Advani and Venkaiah Naidu, former Union Home Minister and Governor of Punjab Shivraj Patil , Karnataka Chief Minister B S. Yeddyurappa, Telugu Desam Supremo and former AP Chief Minister, Chandrababu Naidu, former Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan, veteran VHP leader Ashok Singhal, AP Ministers Geeta Reddy, Raghuveera Reddy etc.
The Divine Physical Frame that was draped in Bhagawan's favourite orange colour was lowered into the Samadhi amidst vedic chanting. In a symbolic gesture, the ceremony was marked with gifting of a cow and clothes (godhaana and buudhaana). Special water collected various holy rivers across India was also sprinkled on the Divine Frame sanctifying the occasion.
Even as the first set of rituals were completed the curtain came down for the finishing touches of the tomb where Bhagawan was laid to rest. Incessant Sai Gayathri chanting continued for the next more than half-an-hour before the curtains went up for the public to have their maiden view of the Tomb of the Avatar of the Age...
As fragrant Vibhuti smell wafted in the air granting the nostalgia of golden days when Beloved spent time amidst on the same dais, and announcement came that darshan would commence at 11:45 hrs. As is the case in Shirdi, this Tomb of the Avatar of the Age would start speaking to His chosen devotees now on...and would be the solace for grieving devotees from around the world. Puttaparthi beckons, with much more intensity as our Beloved Lord Sri Sathya Sai would speak from His tomb from now on!!!
On this first evening of Maha Samadhi of Beloved Bhagawan, there was a change in programme scheudule. One hour Vedam chanting began at 1600 hrs. followed by bhajans at 1700 hrs. to end with Mangala Arathi at 1800 hrs.
As darshan of Maha Samadhi commenced this forenoon at 1145 hrs. a continuous stream of devotees are pouring in to have a precious glimpse of the Maha Samadhi in Sai Kulwant Hall. Many faces are writ with deep emotion and suppressed feeling burst open at the site of Maha Samadhi.
At the end of Mangala Arathi, an announcement was made on the darshan schedule for the next two days. Darshan of Maha Samadhi, for tomorrow and the day after will commence at 0800 hrs. till 1200 hrs. and in the evening from 1600 hrs. till 2000 hrs.
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