Gayathri is therefore called sarva devata svarupini. By chanting the name of the mantra at least twice a day - in the morning and in the evening - the sins committed unknowingly that day are destroyed and the left over karma is burnt. The person gets purified and in the course of time gets closer and closer to Divinity.
Nowadays many people say they do not have the time for Gayathri japa. It is not a question of lack of time. It is a lack of interest. Anyone who has a will to do, can do it atleast twice daily. Chant the mantra when you are having a bath - it will serve the dual purpose of chanting the mantra as well as performing abisheka to the mantra. Chant the mantra thrice befor eating the lunch - you would have not only purified the food, but also made the food as naivedya to the mantra. Repeat the same in the evening. If you do it everyday, you need not have to chant any other mantra. You will be making your lives sacred. Gayathri is all-powerful and protects you from calamities and confers upon you intelligence, learning and success.
- Swami in the book "Sathya Sai Anandadayi"
The amazing story of Sri Narayana Bhat
Forwarded by: Anupama Singh
[Sri Narayana Swamiji, who has been Principal of the Alik� School (mentioned above) for 12 years, narrated this story during his recent visit to London. This devout Swamiji is currently heading an Anaatha Ashram in Karnataka. He had the honour of working closely with Sri Narayana Bhat during those years.]
Sri Narayana Bhat was the founder, or more appropriately the Instrument, in the Divine Mission of starting the Sathya Sai School at Alik�, Post Sathya Sai Vihar, and Dakshina Kannada District in Karnataka. Alik� is a small village about 48 km from Mangalore.
In 1961, some one gave Sri Narayana Bhat a book about Sai Baba and said to him, this is the story of God incarnate on earth. Sri Bhat did not pay much attention to that. But slowly, his curiosity increased and he decided to make a trip to Puttaparthy
In the same year, he went with some of his friends to Puttaparthy and prayed to Swami (mentally) that he heard both good and bad things about Him, and to show him the truth. After sometime, Swami came out for Darshan on the first floor terrace, and Sri Bhat had Darshan of the Lord from the distance. As soon as he saw Swami, his heart jumped and said to him, "He is the same Lord Rama, Lord Krishna come again." So ripe was his heart, and such a pure and noble person he was - that with one Darshan, He realised who Swami really was! We should ask ourselves how many Darshans and close opportunities we have had with Swami, and where are we in realizing that truth.
Bhat came back to Alik� and he started filling every place with Swami's photos. Everything he did was named after Swami. Whether it was a cow shed, or the agricultural farm or whatever he did was named Sri Sathya Sai�.
In 1962, he decided to start a residential school with the primary objective of imparting value-based education with a background of Indian culture and spirituality. While the school had its own share of financial problems, Sri Bhat was a strong believer in God, and he would say "do not wait for money to do good things; if you are convinced something is good, is good for the society, then do it and money will follow." In fact, he was a man of strong conviction ("Self-confidence") and he would undertake any venture not by looking at his own ability to do it, but whether it did any good to the society; and without worrying about the success or failure, profit or loss. This is a practical demonstration of Swami's teaching, "use fundamental discrimination but not individual discrimination".
Years passed this way, and in the process, as it happens in the case of a real sadhaka (seeker of truth), he was ripe enough, and felt that the time has come to offer everything to Swami, to cast off the ego-feeling in him. On December 31, 1976, he called a General Body meeting of the school governing committee, which unanimously passed a resolution, requesting Swami to take over the school.
A delegation of the entire district under the leadership of Sri Bhat went to Puttaparthy to place this request before Swami and to pray that He should come to Alik�. Swami called the group for an interview where the Memorandum was submitted to Swami. After reading through the note, the all-knowing Lord said to Sri Bhat, "Ok. Your work is over. Now you can go." So the people got up from the interview room, and came out satisfied that Swami accepted their proposal. Sri Bhat also wanted Swami to come physically to Alik�, to see the school and to be present for the formal handing over of the school (the registration process). Swami said He would come on January16th - it was around New Year when the group met with Swami.
In Alik�, preparations were now in full swing to welcome Swami to their village for the first time. Although he was a frugal spender, Sri Bhat spent lavishly in preparations for Swami's Divine visit. One of the centers also decided to conduct a weeklong Akhanda bhajan with the end (Aarti) to coincide with Swami's visit to the bhajan centre. It was also decided that Sri Bhat should inaugurate the Akhanda bhajan.
Bhat was on his way to inaugurate the bhajan when his car had an accident and he died within one hour on his way to the hospital at Mangalore. His mother was inconsolable on her hearing of her son's death - he was also the only son. She wept hard and refused to allow the body to be taken for post-mortem. She strongly demanded the body be taken to Puttaparthi, saying Baba would make him alive. Doctors and many others tried to convince her but in vain. To their surprise, they found Sri N. Kasturi (editor of Sanathana Sarathi and author of Satyam Sivam Sundaram series) in the hospital at that time. He came to the mother and said to her, Narayana Bhat was a very devoted person who had given his everything to Swami - his man (mind), dhan (wealth), and now he had given his tan (body) as well to Swami. "Complete surrender" to Swami was his earnest desire, to see the fulfillment of the life's journey. She should therefore not weep over it but allow destiny to take its course, in a manner befitting the proud mother of a noble son. Coming from Sri Kasturi, she accepted, though reluctantly. The body was then carried to the school premises, after the postmortem.
Within a short while, after the body was cremated on the same day, they received a telegram from Swami - although no one physically told Swami about Sri Bhat's death, and in those days, there was no fast communication like we have today. The telegram said, "Narayana Bhat has eternally merged in Me. Do not bring body, Be bold - Baba". Naturally, they were all amazed to see such a telegram. The next day, another telegram arrived from Swami asking Narayana Bhat's Mother and sister to come to Parthy. A number of people from the village went along with the mother and sister to Parthy in a bus. Swami called the group for an interview. The ensuing dialogue between the physical mother and the Divine Mother is indeed an eye opener for all of us:
Mother to Swami: Swami, all these days Narayana used to look after the school. Now what will happen? Who will look after the school?
Swami: Amma, all these days Narayana alone was looking after the school; now Sai Narayana will look after the school. Remember, this is about 10 days after Swami said to Narayana "Your work is over; now you can go!" Such is the deep and inner meaning of Swami's word!
Mother: Swami, everyone in the village knew that Narayana regarded you as God. Now if they know that Narayana has died, what will they say? They will talk bad about you.
Swami: Tell them Narayana has gone to Puttaparthy. Tell them he is with Swami now.
Mother: Swami, but surely you could have saved him. You could have prevented his death.
Swami: Amma, for one moment I considered that also. Swami said this in Kannada putting His index finger and thumb together to indicate what happened that instant when the accident took place. At that moment, I heard two voices - one was your voice saying "Swami, please save my son", and the other voice was your son's pleading to Him, "Swami, I have had enough of this world; please take me into you." And in the end, I decided to listen to him. Remember that telegram Swami sent shortly after the death "Narayana Bhat has eternally merged in Me!"
Mother: But Swami, why did he have to die such a death - an untimely death at the young age of 49, a very healthy and dynamic person, dying such a violent death - in an accident. Why did he have to die like that?
Swami: Amma, tell me, where was Lord Krishna born? In a Jail. Where did he die? In the middle of a forest to the arrow of a hunter. Was that not a violent death? Where was Jesus Christ born? In a horse stable. How did he die? Crucified by nails driven in his body. Was that not a violent death? How did Mahatma Gandhi die? To the bullets from Gun. Was that not a violent death? God does not look at the birth or the death. He is only concerned with what you do in between the period from birth to death. If I want to call somebody from the crowd, I needn't go myself, it is enough I send a messenger. Similarly, if God is in need of somebody, he will get him through any of his 'Agents'.
Mother: Swami, with his passing away, hundreds of his disciples who have dedicated their lives become orphans. Who is to guide them?
Swami: No need to worry, nobody should leave the institution for this reason. Hundreds of people will join the Mission in the days to come.
Report in "The Hindu" Newspaper
BANGALORE, JAN. 19: Sathya Sai Baba said here on Saturday that he would soon announce a project to solve Chennai's water shortage.
Speaking at the first anniversary of the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences at Whitefield here, he said: `` I am determined to provide drinking water to the thirsty people of Chennai at any cost.'' He felt that much of the water in the Krishna and the Godavari was going waste and some of it could be used to help Chennai. Sai Baba also said he would soon launch a program to provide water to the remaining Rayalaseema districts in Andhra Pradesh as he had done for Anantapur.
Sai Baba criticized sections of the media for exaggerating last Thursday's incident (when a person with an unloaded air pistol was caught at his ashram). ``No media person was present at that time and yet they came out with exaggerated reports and I started getting telegrams from all over the world. Only The Hindu and The Times of India did not publish exaggerated stories.''
Prayers without devotion are like letters without addresses.
Prayers with sincerity, devotion and yearning are like telegrams.
- Swami in the book "Sri Sathya Sai Anandadayi" Page 385
http://sai_baba_2001.tripod.com/manofmiracles
Also note that Howard's book "The Lights of Home" has changed sites and can be found at http://sai_baba_2001.tripod.com/Howard_Murphet
The November 2001 issue of the Sathya Sai Education in Human Values (UK) Newsletter is now available at:
http://www.sathyasaiehv.org.uk/Newsletters/Nov01/Nov01frameset.htm
Bhagavan's Nov. 21st Divine Discourse:
http://www.kingdomofsai.org/DISCOURSES/Disc20011121.html
Swami's Birthday Discourse:
http://www.eaisai.com/baba/docs/d011123.html
Sai Darshan website:
http://www.eaisai.com/baba/
Talk by Michael Goldstein:
http://www.geocities.com/saideep_inv/gold/mg.htm
Forwarded by : Holly Spragens
Dear Friends, Family, Brothers and Sisters, Colleagues,
There were several unique features to our most recent trip to Sai Baba's Puttaparthi, India ashram. Rather than writing a lengthy report, I'll just hit the highlights to make the following very easy reading for you. Three of us from our center left about Dec. 16th and returned home to Colorado on Jan. 5th. The Indo-Pak struggles hit a new high - or was it a new low - while we were there but we felt utterly safe the entire time. Indiaphiles and Sai devotees will
appreciate the details of the following:
1. Crowds: Except for Christmas Day and New Year's Day, the crowds in Sai Kulwant Hall were so sparse that the hall was about three-quarters full most days.
2. Weather was unseasonably cold for India with lots of wool head-warmers and heavy shawls in sight.
3. War and Expansion of Consciousness for Humanity: An American physician (anesthesiologist from the Midwest) with whom I spoke had two interviews before we were graced with ours on our last day, Jan.
3rd. He reported in a group meeting of about sixteen people that Baba had said:
a. Bush is frustrated with the war and with his advisors who have special interests as motivations.
b. Baba will up the level human consciousness not in one step but by gradual stages.
c. In response to the doctor's question, "Swami, how do You manage it when Muslims pray five times a day, Christians pray to You,and all are bombing each other?"
Baba: These prayers are rote/automatic, not from the heart. I don't respond to such prayers. The way to deal with terrorism is not to kill people. Do you know who the real terrorists are? Hatred and jealousy in every heart. Deal with that in your own hearts, then we will have peace."
4. Healings: Another Indian-American family, with relatives in Delhi, had an interview the day after Christmas. (Dr. Sunny Ananda's parents and in-laws) Baba gave a Christmas Discourse as He always does (enjoining us to take the love of Jesus as our example).
5. Resurrection: On Christmas Eve morning after Baba's darshan and before bhajan singing, one of His attendants expired on the temple veranda. He was about twenty-six and just keeled over. There were still a few doctors and others who had not yet gone to breakfast. They ran for Swami, Who was in the area and said, "Swami! Your
attendant has just expired! Shall we remove the body and call his parents immediately?" Baba replied, "Don't touch the body! Bring me a glass of water." When the water arrived, Baba sprinkled a few drops into the mouth of the deceased and brought him back to life. After the resurrection, Baba told him to rest for ten days, not to come to
darshan, and not to give his name out to protect his privacy and the health of the subtle bodies. Just as newborns have to rest away from the harsh vibrations of worldly people upon entry into our plane of existence, resurrected people also must take strict rest. When our friend Bharosa Adhikari of Nepal was resurrected by Baba after dying
of a heart attack during devotional singing in Sai Kulwant Hall, Baba later made her stay in the hospital for 16 days. She couldn't speak for 26 hours after being re-born.
6. Other Resurrections: We now have knowledge of 19 resurrections and have personally met four people who have been brought back to life by Sathya Sai Baba.
7. Unconfirmed Resurrection Report: We were told on Jan. 3, 2002 by a friend of 20 years, who is a permanent resident in the ashram, that Mr. Suri was resurrected twice by Baba last year. Surely there have been countless resurrections, the details of which will be shrouded in mystery.
8. Our Interview: On Dec. 3, 2002, four of us Americans (purple scarves) went into the Interview Room with ten Italians (orange ribbons with gold medallions) and six Russians (blue, white and yellow scarves). Baba manifested a three-diamond ring for an Italian man; a large diamond ring for another Italian; a gold and silver watch for a Russian.
a. An Italian woman asked if the messages she had been receiving daily, and writing down, were from Him. He said "Yes, they are."
b. Connie showed Baba the recent photo making the rounds and asked if the so-called Krishna photo with Baba's face on it were legitimate, as it looked very suspicious to her and she suspected it was a computer rendering with a fraudulent story attached to the photo re its origin. Baba said, "This is artificial. It is (like a) painting." Connie asked, "You mean, as on the computer, Swami?" Baba replied, "Yes, I don't like artificial (things)." He tossed it down.
Connie thanked Him for confirming it.
c. Baba healed a boy with high blood pressure in the rear Interview Room. He said He would bless and heal others.
d. Connie asked Baba in the rear room, "Swami, NO JOKING NOW, how much longer will the war last? Really, NO JOKING!"
Baba: Really, no joking. (He made some invisible writing in the air.)
Five years more. In 2007 there will be no more war. Peace on earth.
Baba: Yes, you will see.
Connie: Then what about the Golden Age (of Peace and Plenty which will last for a thousand years)? When will that actually be here?
Baba: The Golden Age must begin in each person's heart. Then only can we have peace on earth. Each must start now to make the Golden Age in his heart.
Connie: But Swami, we're all doing the best we can in that
(department) now. I mean when will (all of) humanity agree - This is the Golden Age, here, now?
Baba: In five years. 2007. By then. All must do their part. He
blessed the group, answered personal questions and specifically told Connie to do Sai radio, TV and to write (books, articles) consistently. She has been doing radio and TV off and on for decades.
9. Connie's friend, Mrs. Hejmadi, nearly died of cholera, but after 30 bottles of IV fluid and Baba's grace, she recovered and is back at work escorting devotees to the Interview Room.
Runners: At your mark! (Race-car) Drivers: Start your engines.
Light-workers: The count-down to the Golden Age and cessation of war has begun.
Let's make our time and our lives (consciously) count!
Lovingly, from the deep stillness of the I AM Presence Which suffuses all Being,
Connie Shaw
Forwarded by: Ladd Bogdonoff
Some member wanted to hear about Swami's Leela with the poor rather than the rich. Here is one from the latest and last book "The Lights of Home" by Howard Murphet.
A completely new and fascinating phase of Swami's work for mankind has been launched. He is bringing to birth in different parts of the world, what I have termed 'Sai miracle children'. He is reported to have told a Sai devotee who has spent a long period with Swami at the ashram in India that there will be thirteen of these children and I understand that there are five of them in incarnation already. One of the five is in Holland, another in India, two of them in countries that I am not certain of and a fifth one in Australia.
To read more, click on the link below and scroll down to the "Sai Miracle" section:
http://sai_baba_2001.tripod.com/Howard_Murphet/id10.html
Forwarded by: Beverly Harlan
Everyone expects that the new year would usher in peace, happiness
and prosperity for them. The new year does not bring happiness or
sorrow with it. Yesterday is the same as today, and today is the same as tomorrow. Days are the same, but one experiences pleasure or pain depending upon one's own actions.
Humans cannot attain peace and happiness from their actions unless
they have sacred feeling within. Many people have a fond hope
that the new year will bring happiness and prosperity for them. But, in fact,the new year only brings for you the results of your past actions. In order to atone for your past errors, you have to cultivate sacred qualities and involve yourself in sacred activities more and more in the newyear.
You may be a millionaire, but your wealth will not redeem you if
your feelings are impure. Even if you do not possess anything,
you can still achieve the highest if you have purity of heart. Anything that a person of purity sees or touches will turn into gold. On the other hand, if they lack purity and effort in the right direction, even a stick in the hand will turn into a snake.
You have been waiting for the commencement of the new year with
great expectations. But you should inquire whether you have been
making efforts in accordance with your expectations. Before undertaking any activity, you should discriminate and inquite into its pros and cons. People today have lost their sense of discriminations. They don't know how to respect their elders and how to behave with others. They should use their sense of discimination and inquite into such matters. They should make proper use of Mathi (mind), Gathi (destiny), Stithi (position) and Sampatthi (wealth) that God has bestowed upon them. Instead they become victims of six evils, viz. desire, anger, greed, infatuation, pride and
jealousy. These evils are not created by God; they are the
outcome of humanity's wrong food and bad habits. Food and habits are responsible for good and bad qualities in people.
Sacred qualities originate from the heart, and they correspond to
the inward path (Nivritti), whereas all the worldly acts of people
like earning wealth, taking up jobs, playing games, and desiring
positions of authority correspond to the outward path (Pravritti.) Worldly tendencies originate from the head and are subject to change. Only the inward tendencies that originate from the heart are true and eternal.
The New Year does not bring anything new with it. The
day when fresh and sacred thoughts originate in your heart is the real New Year's Day. As you all consider this day as New Year's Day and welcome it with enthusiasm, I bless you all so that you may cultivate fresh, sacred and ideal thoughts. I want that you share with others all that you consider good. I bless you all to lead a peaceful and blisssful life and become role models for the rest of the country.
