Sathya Sai with Students: February 2013

Sri Adi Shankaracharya: His Message on Advaita Vedanta (Part 7)

Sathya Sai with Students after the Drama on Bhaja Govindam - 1987

…Continued from Part 6

Shankara’s Tapas in Kashmir

The ruler of Kashmir was a great patron of scholars. Shankara wanted to defeat them in debates. The moment Shankara entered Kashmir, the gates of the temple of Kanaka Durga closed. All the efforts to open them proved fruitless. All the Pandits went to the temple and prayed to the Goddess. In answer to their prayers the Goddess spoke in an ethereal voice, “Shankara is a great Acharya. But he suffers from one taint. Only when the taint is removed will these doors open”. Shankara then sang hymns in praise of Shiva. Shankara realised that he had committed a mistake in entering the dead body of the king of Kashi to acquire the experience of a householder for carrying on the debate with Ubhaya Bharati, the wife of Mandana Mishra. To atone for this lapse he decided on an eleven days fast without food or water, to perform Tapas. On the twelfth day, the doors of the temple opened of their own accord. This showed the power of Shankara’s determination and penance. True prayer should stem from the soul and not the body.

Shankara continuously preached the doctrine of detachment to young people because he realised that attachments developed over many lives cannot be shed by listening to one or two speeches. There was a businessman who feared that his son might develop aversion to the world if he listened to the discourse of a Pandit who was expounding the greatness of renunciation. The Pandit assured the merchant that one day’s talk was not going to reform his son, when a series of talks had no effect on the father. When there is need for constant purity in daily life, the efforts at spiritual cleansing should be continuous. This was the way Shankara was preaching to the young the philosophy of renunciation and detachment. Students should hold fast to God as the only true friend and supporter. When you have firm faith, the Divine will manifest Himself to you. This is the truth, the truth and nothing but the Truth.

Today several Pandits expound Advaita, but few practise it. Advaita should be lived, not merely repeated in words! Realise the truth – “Satyam, Jnanam, Anantam Brahma!” (The Supreme Principle is Truth, Wisdom and Infinity)

The Atma is the Basis

Shankara looked upon man’s existence in the world as that of an actor on the stage, who plays his part, by being born, growing and dying.

Man's life is like a drop of water,
Shimmering without rest on a lotus leaf.
It is filled with grief and sorrow.
Give up attachment to this life
And start worshipping Govinda,
Oh man lacking in wisdom!

Human life is like a house filled with many rooms in the form of desires. Desires and disappointments are the order of the day. The human body is full of doubts. Life is full of fear. It is like a ‘Padmavyuha’. Man is racked by fears. Fear haunts him wherever he goes. He is caught up in a maze of troubles. How is he to escape from it? Even the happiness which he seems to derive from life is coupled with fear. There is no freedom from fear. How is it to be got? Where there is no attachment, there is no fear. How is this state to be got? By proximity to the Divine. Shankara exhorted mankind to banish fear by cultivating ‘Vairagya’ (detachment) and journeying towards the Atma. It is through Self-Realisation that the true nature of fear is understood. Sin and merit, joy and sorrow, profit and loss, light and darkness are pairs of opposites in which the absence of one is the sign of its opposite. For both, the root cause is the Atma. All things originate from the Atma. A flower has many petals. These petals appear distinct from each other. But all petals have emerged from the same single stem. The stem is the seat of the Atma, from which the petals have emanated. But we view the flower as a single object. The flower is one, but the petals are many. Although many, the petals have come out of one stem.

There are innumerable waves which arise in the ocean. The waves are many and distinct. Where do these innumerable and distinct waves come from? The source for these waves is the ocean. But they are of the same stuff as the ocean. The waves have the same properties as the ocean though different in form and name. Thus the ocean takes three forms which are water, waves and the foam. These three are based on the ocean. The three represent the three kinds of proofs in logic

Pratyaksha (direct perception), Paroksha (indirect evidence) and Anumaana (inference). The source for all these three is one and the same. This is the logical basis for Advaita. It is termed Triputi – the three-in-one – the Atmic principle. The Chit, Achit and Isaratwa unite to form the Atmic principle. Chit means inert. Achit means physical. Isaratwa means the one which changes. The unity of these three is the inner significance of life. In the human, this three-in-one is found in the unity of the body, mind and Atma. The body functions on the basis of the mind. The mind is based on the Atma. The Atma is the basis for everything. For the entire human life, the Atma is the basis. This is the doctrine of Non-dualism. Ignoring this truth, even if people pursue the myriad ephemeral objects of the phenomenal world, ultimately they will come to a realisation of the Atmic Principle.

Shankara’s Message to Humanity

Sri Sathya Sai with Students acting in the Adi Shankaracharya Drama at Shanmukhananda Hall, Bombay - 1974

Shankaracharya called upon mankind to realise that as human beings they should cherish human values and practice them. Otherwise they would be betraying their true role in life. The study of mankind is man. The unity of thought, word and deed is the true meaning of human life. This is called ‘Trikarana Shuddhi’ in the Vedas. Once this unity is achieved, love shall be born. This love will cause the heart to blossom and thus lead to detachment. Due to lack of love, man leads the life of an animal. This is what Prahlada told his father, “O father! You are so knowledgeable and all powerful but you are not behaving like a human being. You are behaving like a wild animal.” Be good and do good, then your life will be good.

Shankara went round the country exhorting people to lead spiritual lives, shedding their animal qualities. His disciples imbibed the essence of his doctrines and became proficient in expounding Advaita. Unfortunately some of his disciples later started distorting Shankara’s doctrines and started attributing their own views to Shankara. Ultimately the disciples fell out and opposed each other’s views. Similarly, among Christ’s 11 disciples differences developed and they fell apart. Only Mathew remained true to Jesus. He propagated the gospel. Peter was the first among Jesus’ disciples. But he denied Christ when the authorities questioned him. For a time the Advaitic doctrine held sway all over Bharat. In course of time, however, the doctrine lost its hold. Ramanuja who came after Shankara enunciated a modified version of Shankara’s Non-dualism. Then came Madhva, who propounded Dualism.

Students!

I do not want you all to become Sanyasins and give up everything. All that I want you to do is to carry on your duties, place your faith in God and realise that there is one fundamental reality underlying all things. When you get this realisation, detachment will develop in you on its own. Detachment is not acquired by compulsion. As love of God grows, indifference to worldly things develops naturally.

Source: Sri Adi Shankaracharya: His Message, Discourse 17, My Dear Students Volume 3

The Car Experiences with Sri Sathya Sai - By Raja Shekhar Varma

My grandfather, grandmother and mother have known Swami for more than 25 years. My father came into the Sai fold only after his marriage about 17 years ago. All of them have had wonderful experiences of Swami’s Divinity, His infinite grace, His ever flowing love, His omnipresence and omnipotence. I would take it as my great pleasure, to relate two of many miracles that He has graciously showered on us.

Once, my grandfather, grandmother, and mother with some other relatives were going to Puttaparthi. They were coming from Bombay and my grandfather was driving the Hillman car. While going up a particular steep hill, the engine suddenly failed. My grandfather immediately pressed hard on the brakes. For some unknown reason, the break refused to function! The car was slipping down towards the edge of a precipice. Everyone was really frightened and called out in alarm, “Sai Ram.” Suddenly, the car jerked to a stop! Immediately they got out very carefully and went behind to see what had caused the car to stop. They were amazed to see that a big chunk of rock that was supporting the car tyres on the very edge of the precipice. A couple of inches more to the left or right would have seen the car topple over the edge to a fall from which nobody, not even somebody in an iron suit of armour in an iron car, would have survived! - The first miracle.

They breathed a fervent prayer of thanks to Swami. But they were not yet out of woods. They were miles away from any sort of civilisation, on a very lonely stretch of road.

My grandfather opened the bonnet to try and find out what had gone wrong. But to his surprise, he found that it was not a simple case of battery failure or loose connection of any wire or anything of that sort. He could not pinpoint what was wrong with the engine and the brakes. He got inside and tried to start the engine but, try as he might, the engine would not start. Then a lorry came into view labouring slowly up the mountain when the driver of the lorry saw the precarious condition of the car, they stopped and came to ask what the matter was. They too could not spot the trouble. Anyway, they pulled the car away from the edge to one side of the road. The lorry driver and his colleague then took leave, promising to report these to the nearest town authority.

My grandfather made a few more futile attempts to get the engine going again. Suddenly, a taxi appeared, also coming uphill. The taxi driver also stopped. He was an elderly person. My grandfather informed him of the trouble they were in.

The taxi-driver then wanted to inspect the engine. My grandfather opened the bonnet without much hope. But the taxi-driver then fiddled about, waved his handover the engine and spoke in Hindi, “Every thing’s alright. You may go!” He had tried numerous times to start the engine without success and here was a taxi-driver telling him that there was nothing wrong with it! Just to tick off the driver, grandfather got in and turned the key. And lo! The engine started with a smooth purr. He tested all the switches and found them in perfect condition. He then tried the brakes and found them too working perfectly. Still, they were afraid to proceed, on the way. The taxi-driver encouraged them and said that he would be right behind them till they reached the next town. Having been reassured thus, they started on their journey.

When they saw the taxi following them, my grandfather drove on slowly not willing to risk anything. Every few minutes, they looked back and sure enough, the taxi was following right behind them.It was a narrow stretch of road with no side-roads or cart-tracks or anything. After a few minutes, they looked back, to their amazement they found that the taxi and the taxi-driver had vanished into thin air! To make sure, they went back a little and looked, but no, there was no trace of either the taxi or its driver!

The same thought occurred to all of them at the same time - “Swami.” They realised that this was the only possible solution and were glad, happy and wonder-struck. When they reached the next town, they went to a car workshop. The mechanics there were amazed at the extent of the damage of the car and wondered how they over arrived at the town at all! This just goes to prove the endless, infinite grace, omnipresence, compassion and glory of our mother Sai. Like a true mother, He protected us - His children - from any harm befalling us, like the mother-hen protecting her chicks, from a vulture or an eagle.

Another instance - All of us - grandfather, grandmother, mother, my younger brother and I had come to Puttaparthi to see Swami, during Onam. My mother wanted to buy a photo of Swami to put up in the car-a Fiat, the type of photo with a magnet fixed behind it so that it can stick to any ferromagnetic substance. She was very particular that the photo should have Swami with Abhayahasta showing his face clearly in a warm smile. Unfortunately, that very type was not available in any of the shops here. We spent hours going from one shop to another but to no avail. Naturally, we were disappointed. After Onam, having satisfied, at least partially, our eternal desire for Darshan of Swami, we returned to our place.

After a day, my mother opened a drawer for some reason and there, right on top was the photo that she wanted. It was exactly as she imagined it, according to her wish to ever detail. On inquiries, we came to know that none except Swami would have placed that photo there in that drawer. Moreover the drawer had been locked before we went to Puttaparthi! Another reminder of His omnipresence, omniscience and omnipotence. He fulfills every desire of ours if He thinks we are worthy of His grace and if our intention and prayers are true and sincere. May He give us the strength and will power to follow His message, to be His messengers; may He shower on us His infinite grace, may we be worthy of it in every way; may He guide us through the pitfalls of evils in this world and ultimately land us to liberation.

“Lord kindly light, lead thou me on.” My most humble Pranams at His Divine Lotus Feet.

- Raja Shekhar Varma

Alumnus, Sri Sathya Sai Higher Secondary School

Prasanthi Nilayam

Source: Sai Nandana 1985 (60th Birthday Issue)

Jealousy has no Medicine - Part 3

...Continued from Part 2

One of Paropakara has no fear. Fill your hearts with God. When God is in your heart, you will be full of love. Offer everything to God. Sarva Karma Bhagavad Preetyartham.(Undertake all such activities which are dear to God) Consider that everything is Divine. Give up doership. Body is important. Mind is also important. When mind has a thought, hands, legs, eyes, and ears follow in action. All limbs do their duty according to the dictates of the mind. Mana Eva Manushyanaam Kaaranam Bandha Mokshaysho. (It is the mind of man which is responsible for bondage and liberation)

Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha (righteous conduct, righteous wealth, righteous desire and liberation) are the four tyres. Mind is the steering. The tyres are filled with the air of faith. Stomach is the petrol tank. You may have a petrol block because of overeating. Use clean and pure petrol. Eyes are the lights. Ears are loud speakers. Mouth is the horn. So, the body is a car. Everything is within. Journey is also within you.

Men are more valuable than all the wealth in the world. Man is the one who gives value to diamonds and gold. But people themselves are losing human values. Amongst Satya, Dharma, Shanti and Prema - Love is the most important. Love is God, Live in Love. Light is Love, bulb is Peace, wire is Dharma and current is Truth - all must be unified. Students must have Shraddha (faith). Shraddhavan Labhate Jnanam (The one with faith is blessed with wisdom). Your Love is enough. Your Shraddha is enough.

Students must get good name for the Institute. Watching your behaviour and conduct, people must say, “These are students of Sri Sathya Sai Educational Institutions”. You must always talk sweetly and softly. Talk with humility. This is the sign of the truly educated. Speak good words with parents, elders and with all others. You cannot always oblige but you can always speak obligingly. Institute has taken care of you with compassion and care. Don’t get a bad name. Run away from bad company. Always practice Satsanga. Does Satsanga mean the company of good people or devotees? No, 'Sat' is being, which is eternal, permanent and Divine. Be in the company of that which is eternal.

Satkirti is important. The father should be happy not when a son is born but when the society recognises his son to be good. That is true birth. Make your parents happy. Follow their commands. Never ask for dowry. Don’t sell yourself. Don’t demand. Give love. Take love. Develop good qualities. Get good name for the Institute and the country. Don’t have excessive desires. Don’t run away from the country to earn money abroad. Have less desires. Less luggage, more comfort. Money is necessary but within limits. One must have contentment. Boys are good, but parents spoil them due to excessive love. Boys should explain sweetly, softly, and clearly to their parents. There may be a bad son but there never is a bad father or a bad mother. So you should be happy and make your parents happy.

Source: Students with Sai Conversations – Part 1 (1991-2000)

Determining Profit Margins in Business: Sri Sathya Sai Guidelines

To determine the profit margin, one should know the total cost. For the total cost, consider the cost of raw materials, the machine cost, the labour charges, the income tax, excise duties and share holders’ dividends. To this you can add 5% to 10% profit. 10% profit is justifiable. Even if you have higher sales revenue, take only 10% profit.

The surplus can be used on social projects such as construction of hospitals, providing financial assistance to villagers in accordance with their needs, etc. The shareholders may demand more dividends, but you have to abide by 10% profit only.

Source: The Socially Responsive Business, Chapter 3, A Values-Based Management Perspective – Based on the Discourses of Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Sri Sathya Sai Inaugurates Naga Sai Mandir at Coimbatore

Saturday, February 25, 1961 to Tuesday, March 07, 1961

Sri Sathya Sai at the Naga Sai Mandir, Coimbatore

On 25th February, 1961, Swami left for Coimbatore along with Sri Kondal Rao and some other devotees. Swami was welcomed at Udumalpet by the representatives of the Naga Sai Mandir of Coimbatore. Swami halted for a short while at Bhavani house, near the Bhavani Sagar Dam. When He subsequently reached Coimbatore, He was taken in procession on a chariot to the Naga Sai Mandir.

Sri Sathya Sai consecrating the idol of Shirdi Sai at the Naga Sai Temple, Coimbatore

On 26th morning Swami consecrated the marble slab on which the image of Shirdi Sai Baba was to be placed. Swami materialised a gold plate with some mystic symbols and nine gems, and placed them under the slab. He then addressed the devotees for an hour and a half. On the occasion, He said:

"This day deserves to be recorded in letters of gold because of this reason. Moreover, this day is unique because it is rare that an Avatar installs the idol of another. I Myself find it rather amusing. Of course, Rama installed the Shiva Linga at Rameshwaram before He started out for Lanka for the extermination of the evil-doers. Now, there is no question of extermination. My task is Dharma Samsthapanam (establishment of righteousness). And now that I am entering on that Avatar Karya (task of the Incarnation), I too am installing this idol prior to that task.

It is now over 18 years since the Manifestation of Sai as Naga (snake) took place on this spot; but it has taken you all these years to complete the erection of the Mandir and the installation of the Image. Well, the years accumulated to 18 not without reason. It is all in the Plan. Eighteen is a mystic number, having a profound meaning. I find 18 persons in the Mandapa (podium) here; they represent the 18 officiators of the Yajna (Vedic ritual of sacrifice): 6 for the Jagat (world), 6 for Kaala (time), 3 for Manas, Chitta and Buddhi (mind, thought and intellect), the pair that perform the Yajna as the initiated couple, and lastly, Atma, the Witness.

I am installing the Naga Sai in the temple, but that is just a symbolic act. I require that at that very moment, chosen because it is very auspicious, you should install Him in your heart; make Him your Hrudaya-Sthayi!

Sri Sathya Sai taken in a regal procession on an elephant at Udumalpet

Swami proceeded to Udumalpet on the 27th. There, Swami rode through the streets of Udumalpet on a majestically caparisoned elephant flanked on either side by two elephants, granting Darshan to 50,000 people who awaited Him in the hot sun. He stayed there for 3 days.

He also visited Palani, Keeranoor, Amaravati, Ganapatipalayam, Guruvappanaickanoor and Bodhipatti. Swami returned to Coimbatore on 2nd March. Swami proceeded to Cherangode village on the 3rd. After having blessed the villagers, Swami left for Mysore by car on the same day. He reached the city at around 9.30 pm. He resumed His journey on 4th morning and reached Bangalore at around 10 am. Swami returned to Prashanti Nilayam on 7th March.

Source: Sri Sathya Sai Digvijayam Part 1 (1926-1985)

Bilva Stotram

Bilva Leaf offered to a Shiva Lingam

1. Tridalam Trigunaakaaram Trinetram Cha Triyaayudham

Trijanma Paapa Samhaaram Ekabilvam Shivaarpanam.

2. Trishaakhaih Bilvapatraishcha Acchidraih Komalaisshubhaih

Tavapoojaam Karishyaami Ekabilvam Shivaarpanam.

3. Koti Kanyaa Mahaadaanam Tilaparvata Kotayaha

Kaanchanam Shailadaanena Ekabilvam Shivaarpanam.

4. Kaasheekshetra Nivaasam Cha Kaalabhairava Darshanam

Prayaage Maadhavam Drushtvaa Ekabilvam Shivaarpanam.

5. Induvaare Vratam Sthitvaa Niraahaaro Maheshvarah

Naktam Houshyaami Devesha Ekabilvam Shivaarpanam.

6. Raamalinga Pratishthaa Cha Vaivaahita Krutam Tathaa

Tataakaanicha Sandhaanam Ekabilvam Shivaarpanam.

7. Akhanda Bilva Patram Cha Aayutam Shivapoojanam

Krutam Naama Sahasrena Ekabilvam Shivaarpanam.

8. Umayaa Saha Devesha Nandi Vaahanameva Cha

Bhasmalepana Sarvaangam Ekabilvam Shivaarpanam.

9. Shaaligrameshu Vipraanaam Tataakam Dashakoopayoh

Yagnakotisahasrascha Ekabilvam Shivaarpanam.

10. Dantikoti Sahasreshu Ashvamedha Shatakratau

Kotikanyaa Mahaadaanam Ekabilvam Shivaarpanam.

11.Bilvaanaam Darshanam Punyam Sparshanam Paapa Naashanam

Aghora Paapa Samhaaram Ekabilvam Shivaarpanam.

12. Sahasraveda Paateshu Brahmasthaapanam Uchyate

Anekavrata Koteenaam Ekabilvam Shivaarpanam.

13. Annadaana Sahasreshu Sahasropanayanam Tathaa

Aneka Janma Paapaani Ekabilvam Shivaarpanam.

Bilvastotram Idam Punyam Yahpathet Shiva Sannidhau

Shivalokam Avaapnoti Ekabilvam Shivaarpanam.

MEANING

1. One Bilva leaf with three petals offered to Shiva, who is the embodiment of the three attributes, who has three eyes and who holds the trident, destroys the sins accumulated over three lives.

2. O, Lord Shiva, I perform your worship with three vegetables and with auspicious tender and adorable Bilva leaves. I offer one Bilva leaf to Shiva (with this feeling).

3. One Bilva leaf offered to Shiva is equal to the merit earned by giving in charity one crore maidens (by performing their marriage), crores of mountains of ‘Til’ seeds and a mountain of gold.

4. One Bilva leaf offered to Shiva is equal to the merit earned by residing in Kashi, having the darshan of Kala Bhairava (Lord Rudra who annihilates the universe at the end) and Madhava who is the chief deity of Prayaga.

5. Adhering to the vow on Monday, fasting and remembering you day and night, O, Lord Shiva, I offer a Bilva leaf to you.

6. One Bilva leaf offered to Shiva blesses us with the merit of installing Ramalinga, performing a marriage and constructing many water tanks, and bestows upon us progeny.

7. One Bilva leaf offered to Shiva, chanting His thousand names, grants us the merit of performing the worship thousand times.

8. I offer one Bilva leaf to Shiva, who is accompanied by Uma and is riding His vehicle Nandi (the bull) and His whole body is smeared with ash.

9. One Bilva leaf offered to Shiva is equal to giving many Shaligramas (auspicious white stones) to Brahmins, constructing ten crore water-tanks and performing thousand crore Yajnas (ritual sacrifices).

10. One Bilva leaf offered to Shiva is equal to giving in charity a thousand crore tuskers during the performance of a hundred types of Yajnas including the Ashvamedha (the horse-sacrifice) and giving a crore maidens in marriage.

11. Even beholding the Bilva leaf grants us great merit, a mere touch of it destroys our sins. By offering one such Bilva leaf to Shiva, we can get rid of all sins.

12. A thousand chantings of Vedas amounts to installation of Brahma. One Bilva leaf offered to Shiva grants us the merit of keeping up a crore of such vows.

13. One Bilva leaf offered to Shiva bestows upon us the merit of offering food to thousands of people and performing thousands of sacred thread ceremonies and it destroys the sins of many lives.

Whoever chants this meritorious Bilva Stotram with devotion to Shiva, attains the abode of Shiva and revels in His presence.

Source: Vandana: Students Prayer Book, Section 2, Sanskrit Hymns, Hymn 4

Sri Adi Shankaracharya: His Message to Youth (Part 6)

Shankara visits his mother Aryamba during her last moments
(Source: The photos on this section are from the drama Shankara Digvijayam presented by the students of the Prasanthi Nilayam Campus on January 14, 2013 in Sai Kulwant Hall)

... Continued from Part 5

Aryamba’s Last Moments

Shankara had given a pledge to his mother that he would, reach her in the last moments and perform the last rites for her. Being a pure being, he was determined to keep his word. For the pure-hearted the plighted word is bound to be kept. Moreover, whatever they say will happen. The Divine chooses the time and the situation for showering His grace and conveying His message. In the case of Arjuna, the Kurukshetra war was the right moment for Krishna to test Arjuna’s faith and his deservedness for receiving the message of the Gita. At the time of the war Arjuna was 84 years old. For so many years Krishna never spoke about any Vedanta to Arjuna. Krishna said, “You, Me and everyone present here are one”. This confused Arjuna immensely. Krishna said, “You are living in ignorance and I am living in total awareness.”

After Shankara propagated his Advaitic doctrine from Kashi, there was an assembly of great scholars in the holy city. Shankara, who was in that assembly, closed his eyes for a moment and experienced the vision of his mother in great distress. Immediately he dispersed the assembly and left for Kaladi. He reached his mother in her last moments, as promised, administered Tulsi water to her lips and discharged his duties to the mother. At that time, the people of Kaladi did not view with approval the actions of Shankara, because in their view, one who had taken to Sanyasa should not revert to the activities of a householder and perform rituals. Sanyasa means giving up all desires. The view of the orthodox Pandits was that once a person had taken to Sanyasa, he should not perform the last rites for a mother or a father which are the obligations of a householder. To enable the students to understand the implications of this incident, I shall explain what Sanyasa means. Before one takes to Sanyasa, the Viraja Homa is performed which signifies that the person dies as it were and gives up all his previous worldly commitments and enters on a new life, assuming a new form and wearing a new robe. The old form is cast away and the former name is also given up. He gets a new name related to the ascetic order. The suffix Ananda is attached to the name. After going through this ceremony, where is the place for mother or father?

Practice of Cremation in the Backyard in Kerala

Shankaracharya being opposed by the villagers and his family members at Kaladi

Shankara was confronted with a difficult situation. No one in his village was willing to help him. He had to perform the obsequies for his mother. The local Namboodari Brahmins declared that they could not touch the body. They felt that Shankara was going against scriptural injunctions. Utterly helpless, Shankara carried the body himself to the backyard of the house and cremated it. What Shankara did then, is practised even today in Kaladi. When any elders pass away, their bodies are cremated in the backyard of their houses. There is no separate cremation ground for them. When you go to Kerala you will find houses facing the street but the backyard will be open space. Anyone who goes there will have to take a bath. In this manner Shankara fulfilled the promise he gave to his mother. Shankara then left for Kashi. He was deeply pained at the attitude displayed towards him by the people of Kaladi. Shankara was walking all the way to Kashi, with just a stick in his hand and an oil torch to light his way at night.

Shankara’s Message to the Youth

Adi Shankaracharya with his disciples

Looking at young men and women going about on his way, Shankara remarked to his disciples that young people were keener about sensuous pleasures than to enquire about the Atma. It is a pity that people are attached to the body which is a container of many filthy objects. They are carried away by the external physical attractions of the body. It is a crying shame! What a pity that people should be so attached to this impermanent body! How long can youth last? Shankara then and there taught the people about the transitory nature of carnal pleasures. His message was a warning to youth to be very careful in the life they led. They should give up attachment to the body.

Once upon a time, there was a prince who wanted to marry a merchant’s daughter for her beauty. The girl was devoted to God and wished to remain single. She devised a plan to rid the prince of his infatuations. She sent word that she would agree to marry the prince if he approved of her after a week. Meanwhile she took a series of purgatives, collected all the purging in vessels and went to meet the prince. By that time she was so emaciated that all her youthful charm had gone. She told the prince that the beauty he saw in her was all contained in the vessels. The prince learnt the lesson and decided also to remain single and devote himself to serve God.

Shankara sought in this manner to turn the minds of the people away from sensual pleasures to thoughts of God. Shankara did not call upon all young men to take to Sanyasa. He exhorted them to do their duty and dedicate the body to the service of the Divine. He preached the truth, practised it and broadcast it to the world. Young people today have become slaves of the senses and are behaving like the lower animals. Shankara pointed out how worldly life is like the scenes on a screen. They come and go, but the screen remains. He declared, “Brahma Satyam; Jagat Mithya” (The world is an illusion, God alone is the Truth). Shankara also declared, “Sarvam Vishnumayam Jagat” (the world is the very manifestation of the Vishnu Principle). When scholars pointed out the contradiction between the two statements, Shankara said, “Worldly life is illusory because it is continually coming and going”. At the same time, this worldly life is lived like the moving scenes on a permanent screen. In this process the world and the Divine become one as it were like the oneness of the screen and the pictures on it. This is the basis for the statement, “Sarvam Vishnumayam Jagat”. Hence, the Upanishadic declaration that the whole cosmos is dwelt in by God.

This was the non-dualism preached by Shankara. Consider the Divine as the fundamental basis and lead your worldly life recognising its impermanence. Without the Divine, the cosmos has no existence. Hence man must recognise the one Divine Atmic Principle that is present in all beings. It may be called by different names. The Eternal Divine is birth-less and nameless.

Continued in Part 7...

Source: My Dear Students Volume 3, Discourse 17, Sri Adi Shankaracharya: His Message

"How many friends do you have?" - By C.N. Kshetrajna

Sri Sathya Sai
at Sundaram in Chennai

Before joining the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning by the grace of Lord, I had got a few chances of experiencing minute drops of His Divine Leela. Here, I wish to share with you one such drop which had a profound impact on me.

The event took place, this year, when Swami was in Madras. Swami went straight to a young boy and asked him, “How many brothers have you?” The boy said, “Swami, I do not have brothers and I am the only son.”

Immediately, Swami pointed to the persons who were there, asked the boy, “Are they not your brothers?” Swami went and asked another boy the same question and the reply Swami got was the same.

The innate imitativeness in me made me thinking that if Swami comes and asks me I should say that all are my brothers. The next day the Lord came near me. His nearness made me completely forget myself, and I was inches above the ground. The omniscient Lord in His sweet voice asked, “Where is your brother studying?” “He is studying in Swami’s college,” I said. Then Swami asked, “How many brothers do you have?” Quick came the reply, “One, Swami.” With a mischievous smile Swami asked, “Are the people who are standing here not your brothers?” Completely flabbergasted, I had nothing to say except nodding my head.

To prick my imitative bubble a little more, Swami went a few steps, then turned back and asked, “How many friends do you have?” My foolish mind equated at lightning speed if all are to be my brothers why not all be my friends and I blurted out, “Swami, all are my friends.”

The Lord looked directly into my eyes enquiringly and asked, “What! All are your friends?” Before I could answer Swami continued, “What your so-called friends do when you are in trouble? They will be with you until they see money in your pockets. The moment they come to know that you are penniless; they quietly vanish, like the frogs going away from a dried up pond. But Sai is not like that. Whatever may be the trouble, Sai will not forsake you. He is always for you, with you and in you. Your one and only friend must be Sai.” Overwhelmed completely, I could do nothing, but watch the Lord moving slowly away and away from me.

Let us ponder for a while. What a revelation! Arjuna had Krishna as his one and only friend. The Lord Himself asks us to keep Him as our one and only friend. But what pities, we, out of ignorance, add on to the unending list of friends, leaving the Lord all alone without any friends.

- C.N. Kshetrajna
Alumnus, Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning
Prasanthi Nilayam

Source: Sai Nandana 1985 (60th Birthday Issue)

Jealousy has no Medicine – Part 2

...Continued from Part 1

Three fourths of life is character. Character means good qualities, which is very much needed in a student’s life. Today you struggle for friendship, wealth and strength. But without good qualities, all these three are useless. Friendship should be with God and strength should be the strength of virtues. What is friendship? “Hello… Hello…” is not friendship. Two bodies and one life means friendship. It is possible only with God and none else. So God is the true friend. In Sanskrit the word, ‘Maitree’ is used for friendship. It means, physical, intellectual and Atmic understanding. These also refer to, ‘The one you think you are, the one others think you are and the one you really are’. Where is your friend? He is in you. God is the only friend. The answer given by Hanuman to Sri Rama was “Physically You are my master and I am Your servant. Mentally You are the object (Bimba) and I am the Prati-Bimba (reflection). From Atmic point of view, You and I are one.” That is why Hanuman became more and more close to Rama. During Rama’s Pattaabhishekam (coronation), Mother Sita asked Sri Rama why he had not given any present to Hanuman. Sri Rama said, “Hanuman, I give myself to you. You are for Me and I am for you.” He called him Gunavantudu, Balavantudu, Hanumantudu (Hanuman - the one endowed with virtues and strength). Mother Sita was not satisfied and with Rama’s permission, gave a necklace of pearls to Hanuman but Hanuman said that he did not want pearls or diamonds; he wanted only the Love of Rama. That is Maitree. Today’s friendship with classmates and roommates means, ‘Hello, Hello, how are you? Good-bye, Good-bye.’ But God is within you. He is above you, below you, in you, behind you, and around you. God is present in every heart. According to Vishishta Advaita, He is present in all the five elements. He is everywhere.

Modern students have burden-some qualities like hatred, jealousy, ego, pomp and show. These are products of the head - responsibilities. Daya (compassion), Prema (love), Tyaga (sacrifice) and Satya (truth) are natural qualities that come out of the heart. These constitute Manvatva - human values. Without human values, one cannot be called human. He is human only in form. You may have any number of degrees but without character, you cannot be called human. Students must ensure that they possess the following qualities: Spirit of service (Paropakara), hearts free of jealously, feelings bereft of hatred, words without falsehood, bodies with cleanliness, hearts which are not polluted. These will make you Divine. Nothing beyond this is required. True sign of education is Humility. Never be egoistic because of your education. Be humble and respectful to elders, and develop a sense of patriotism for the country. You are born in the society and you live and prosper in the society. You should show respect for the society. Society will value you in turn. One should follow one’s Dharma - the job expected from him. A small example-you should ask yourself, ‘Is my work proportional to my first pay?’ If you work for the salary you get, why should the country need to take loans to pay salary to people? Duty is God. Duty is love. Do your duty sincerely. Follow rules and regulations. Work honestly. This is true service to Bharat.

Continued in Part 3…

Source: Students with Sai: Conversations Part 1 (1991-2000)

Creating Shared Value in Business: Sri Sathya Sai Paradigm

Human life cannot be sanctified by living exclusively for oneself in a selfish way. Here is a small example. Ask anybody a question, “For whom are you living?” The person would say that he is living for himself, eating for satiating his own hunger and taking medicine to cure his own illness. When two people sleep at the same time, each may have his/her own dream; but both would not get the same dream. If one continues enquiring this way, one would arrive at the conclusion that all live essentially for themselves.

If one places the following series of questions one after another, one would get the typical responses as stated:

“Where are you going?” - “I am going to the office.”

“Why you are going to the office?” - “To do my job.”

“Why are you doing a job?” - “To take care of my wife and children.”

At this juncture one should probe: Why is man living? Is it for himself and his family alone? If people are living for the sake of their family alone, why are they living in a city and why not in a forest? The reply perhaps would be, “If I live in a forest, I won’t get coffee, breakfast, lunch, newspaper and other daily needs. Who will give me all these things? My children have to study. They have to go to school. My wife needs milk as well as many more things on a daily basis as soon as she gets up. I have to collect all these things from the market. All these daily requirements are available in the city/town and not a forest.” If another question is asked, “On whom are you dependent?” The reply comes, “I depend on the society.” From the above discussion, one can conclude that the individual, family or community cannot survive in the absence of society.

In this world, there are many government servants, political leaders, business people and educated citizens. All of them struggle mostly for their family or community but not for the society at large. That is the reason for the present turmoil in the country. Every person ought to give top priority to society and show concern for one’s fellow beings. One should realise that one cannot survive without the society. Society is the basis which enables every individual to serve his/her family interests. Instead of asking questions, “What will I or my family get by doing this task?” One should ask – “In what way does the society gain by this task?” Multitudes should not be put to suffering because of an individual. Without putting others to suffering, one is expected to work towards one’s own and one’s family’s happiness.

One should know that individual happiness and peace depend on the peace and happiness of the society. When such broad principles are consciously cultivated by the present-day youth, the problems that are confronting the society today will be solved with greater ease. Today, by losing morality, man is losing his strength. Spirituality is essential to overcome all these hurdles. The absence of morality is causing problems to the nation. Air, sound, water and soil are all polluted. All the five elements are polluted and human beings, being a combination of all the five elements, are also becoming an epitome of pollution. There is degradation in human beings from purity to impurity. Moral values in today’s society have deteriorated and animal qualities are germinating in man. Only when one fosters Divinity, will the animal nature in the individual be subdued initially, and gradually eliminated. Thereafter, humanity will shine forth and will be fit to live as delightful beings in the world.

Source: The Socially Responsive Business, Chapter 3, Man Management: A Values-Based Management Perspective – Based on the Discourses of Sri Sathya Sai Baba

WHEN DID SWAMI GIVE A MUSICAL CONCERT!

Saturday, February 21, 1948

On the 21st of February, Amarendra and Krishna Kumar, sons of Sri Radhakrishna Setty went to Puttaparthi to escort Baba to Kuppam, for their sister Vijayakumari’s wedding.

On the 22nd of February, Baba came to the marriage hall at 12:30 pm, and presided over the marriage function. He materialised a Mangalasutra for the bride. He blessed the couple.

In the evening, Swami gave a musical concert where He sang many Tyagaraja Krithis.

Source: Sri Sathya Sai Digvijayam Part 1 (1926-1985)

Linga Ashtakam

Sai Sundareshwara Lingam installed by Swami at Sundaram, Chennai in January 2007

1) Brahmamuraari Suraarchita Lingam

Nirmala Bhaashita Shobhita Lingam

Janmaja Dukhah Vinaashaka Lingam