The Message of Sri Sathya Sai Baba: In His Words - Part 3

On the Institution of a Family 

"Bharat (India) has always accorded a high place to women as the upholders of all social virtues. The very fact that in mentioning the names of the Divine couples like Vishnu and Lakshmi, Shiva and Parvati, the name of the consort is given the first place, as in Lakshmi Narayana, Uma Maheshwara, shows what importance Bharatiyas attached to women. People generally speak of women as the weaker sex. At last, now Bharatiyas recognise that women cannot be considered as weak. The woman in charge of the home plays the main role in bringing good name and fame to the home. Not only in respect of individual homes but also in the good name of the country and the world the woman plays the main role. From ancient times, woman has been accorded a high place in the society. The scriptures have ascribed seven virtues to women as a class: Satya (truth), Prema (love), Dharma (righteousness), Shanti (peace), Sahana (tolerance), Ananda (bliss), Svanubhuti (spirituality). The woman at home has been held in high esteem as Grihalakshmi, the goddess of prosperity of the home. When her husband faces difficulties, the wife readily shares the burden and is prepared to do anything, to undergo any suffering or even sacrifice her life for the welfare of her husband and the family. It is the woman of the home who is behind the good reputation of the home. The woman is the embodiment of sacrifice. Though the male counterpart may also do sacrifice, it will be with a selfish tinge, while the woman’s sacrifice is absolutely selfless. Therefore, we should be proud of our women."

“Glory of Womanhood”, Sathya Sai Speaks, Volume 31, 

April 19, 1998, Kodaikanal

"There are two different kinds of families. One is a nuclear family where there are father, mother and children. This sort of family is narrow. In a joint family, there are grandparents, parents and children, all living together. What is happening now is that in a nuclear family, both father and mother go to office, and the child has to stay with the maidservant or peon. These children develop the qualities of the peon or maid servant. They may become good for nothing. Parents get their children educated paying some money as fees. The parents do not even think as to where the son is, what he is doing, where he is going and how he is growing up. 

In a joint family, even if parents go to work, grandparents will be taking care of children. They will be teaching them right conduct and good things about life and steer the life of the children in the proper direction. In the nuclear family if parents quarrel with each other, there is no one to settle the issue. But in joint family, either the parents or in-laws advice the quarrelling mother and father against it. Today, the joint family system has disintegrated. How can those who are ruining their own families develop broader outlook? They don’t even care for their parents. They chant ’Lokah Samasta Sukhino Bhavantu’ (May all the beings in the world be happy) out of sheer recklessness without any sort of sensitivity of implementing it. 

Firstly, this nuclear family should be broadened. Joint family should be the family system. There is a lot of benefit in the joint family system. There are many ways people benefit out of such a system. Good qualities develop in children. This system has been responsible for upholding the respect and honour of the family. There is no use of nuclear families. They are only pomp and show."

     “True Education is Knowledge with Discrimination”, 

My Dear Students, Volume 05, June 24, 1989, Prasanthi Nilayam

"As you take care of your parents, you will be taken care of by your children. Therefore, we must know the value of respecting our parents. I tell the boys (students) many times that your blood, food, head and mind are given by your parents. So first you must pay your respect to your parents. Since parents have given you birth and have brought you up, you must first pay respect to them, even before God. God has given us mud and water, but the pots are made by the potters and not by God. In the same way, God has created our parents, and they, in turn, have given us this form. We owe this form to our parents. Your parents are the foundation of this body. Therefore it is said, Matru Devo Bhava, Pitru Devo Bhava – Mother is God, Father is God. Parents are Divine. Even today, we may find a wicked son, but never a bad mother. Parents bring you up with so much love. You should never forget your parents’ love."

“The Transient Human Life”, My Dear Students, Volume 04, July 18, 1996, Prasanthi Nilayam

"Youth is the stage in life when the slightest turn towards wrong will spell disaster. Thoughts shape the career. You plan to earn much wealth, because you imagine that rich people are very happy. The rich have plenty to eat, but they have no appetite. The rich wield power over others but they are held down by disease. The rich can have many servants but they cannot live in peace. So, plan to be rich in virtue, in devotion and in dedication to good causes. Be rich in sovereign character. Steady adherence to truth, renunciation, genuine love, selfless service – these are the essential components of character. Follow the dictates of your conscience; you will never be wrong."

“Why Sai Colleges?”, Sathya Sai Speaks, Volume 15, 

July 18, 1981, Prasanthi Nilayam

On Misuse of Technology

"Television (TV) can be valuable means of educating and entertaining people. But how is it berg used today? As soon as a boy returns from school, he throws away his books and starts looking at the TV. His mother serves him food near the TV set. Both mother and son keep watching TV without regard to their other duties. Several hours of precious time is wasted in watching TV. The fault lies not with the TV, but with the excessive and wrongful use of the instrument. It is like a knife which can be used for slicing vegetables or stabbing a person. It is only when science is linked to spirituality that the results of science can be fully harnessed for the good and elevation of mankind."

“From Creation to Creator”, Sathya Sai Speaks, Volume 18, 

January 26, 1985, Bombay

"I see several boys keeping cell phones in their pockets. They think that they are keeping cell phones for their convenience and easy communication. They do not realise the ill-effects of these instruments. The cell phones are often misused for undesirable purposes like establishing contacts between boys and girls. They develop bad thoughts and bad connections between them. In order that bad thoughts should not enter our minds, we should avoid such connections altogether. It is said that mind is the cause of bondage and liberation of man. It is common practice that we give our telephone numbers to all and sundry. What happens thereafter? Bad contacts develop. All unnecessary calls are made to verify whether we respond to them or not. Thus, boys and girls develop unnecessary contacts and establish undesirable relationships between them. Hence, I would strongly advise you not to make use of cell phones. It may be convenient in the beginning, but gradually it will lead to bad ways." 

“All are One, Be Alike to Everyone”, Sathya Sai Speaks, Volume 41, October 09, 2008, Prasanthi Nilayam

On Professions

"Man should be prepared to make any amount of effort in the pursuit of knowledge. Education today is concerned with worldly comforts, but it should seek to promote, in addition to worldly knowledge, concern for spiritual development. Education has two important characteristics. One is exposition of facts relating to any subject. The other is the unfoldment of the individual’s personality. The first is concerned with matter. The second is with energy. Education is a combination of the two. It is a combination of worldly and spiritual knowledge. Education cannot be confined to stuffing the head. It has to melt the heart, refine it and turn it Godwards. It is not enough to make a man of the student. He has to be transformed into an ideal human being. He must be made compassionate. Every effort should be made to utilise education for the purpose of Divinising man."

“Toward a Values-Based Education”, Sathya Sai Speaks, Volume 23, November 22, 1990, Prasanthi Nilayam

"Scientists announce that the cosmos is composed of atoms. Spiritual seers announce that God is the minutest of atoms and the vastest among the vast. Sea water yields salt crystals. Similarly, the all-pervading Divinity crystallises as Avatars (incarnations). The crystal is the build-up of many atoms; the Avatar principle is the build-up of many Divine attributes. The two sciences - physical and spiritual, can never clash; one complements the other, for the sciences related to nature have bounds which they cannot cross. They can study only the created; the Creator is the special field of study for religion. One is a scientist; the other is a saint. The saint probes the root; the scientist peers into the tree above ground."

“The Purpose of Education”, Sathya Sai Speaks, Volume 15, 

November 23, 1982, Prasanthi Nilayam

"The plight of doctors (in India) deserves sympathy. Many of them have to spend large sums to get seats in medical colleges and to complete their education. The doctor is worried how to recover the money that has been spent on his education. Something must be done to solve this problem. For instance, no one should be admitted in a medical college merely because he is able to pay a large capitation fee (of lakhs). Only those who have the talents and aptitude for medical studies should be admitted. Such students will immensely benefit from medical education and will be of use to society. Today you must have either plenty of money or influential backing to get into a medical college. Students who get admitted this way take even twelve years to complete the five year medical course. Of what use are such men? The stress should be on quality and not quantity in the sphere of medical studies. In earlier years, medical students used to work hard spending even 18 hours a day. Without such hard work, no one would get his degree. Alas! today things are otherwise. Students pass without much study. Such ill-educated doctors are a calamity to the nation. Not all doctors are of this kind. There are quite a few competent doctors. It is the duty of the medical profession to rectify this situation. They should contact the authorities to bring about reforms. Only then will the nation progress."

“Doctors, Patients and Society”, Sathya Sai Speaks, Volume 26, February 07, 1993, Prasanthi Nilayam

"What is the root-cause of all the disorder, chaos, crime, falsehood and violence that prevail in the country today? It is the behaviour of people contrary to the dignity of human nature that is responsible for the present situation. All the education that one receives has no relation to human values. Whether it be in the sphere of political behaviour or social conduct, economic activity or spiritual pursuits, all one’s actions are based upon the tendencies of the mind. No change in any form of activity is possible unless the mind is changed. That is why the Vedas (ancient scriptures of spiritual wisdom) proclaimed that the mind is the cause of the bondage and the liberation of men. One who wants to change others must first change himself. The heart is like a lock and the mind is like a key. If you turn the key to the right, you open the heart to God; if you turn it to the left, you turn it towards attachment to worldly things.

There is no use blaming the government for all the evils prevailing today. The people are responsible for the injustice, the wickedness, the falsehood and the corruption prevalent in the country. The people cannot disown their responsibility for the actions of a government which has been placed in power by their votes. Whether a government is good or bad depends on the people themselves. There is widespread talk in the. country about corruption. Many come and ask Me, “Swami! when will corruption end in this country?” Who is responsible for this corruption? Is it the government? No. It is the businessmen who are directly responsible for this corruption. 

For their own selfish reasons and private gain businessmen have been financing those in power and making them more and more powerful. If businessmen live up to their principles, all this corruption can be ended in a moment. It is true that there is no one who does not desire wealth. An old Telugu proverb says that even a dying person will get up if he sees somebody offering money! It is not surprising if, when bribes are offered, officials do not refuse them. It is for businessmen to set a limit to their business and their profits and utilise their abilities for the promotion of public good. It may be difficult to combine business with morality. Therefore, the first requisite is to install morality in the heart and, with faith in the Divine, engage oneself in business. If this is done the nation will benefit from the business man’s efforts and he will be serving society."

  “Combine Morals with Business”, Sathya Sai Speaks, Volume 17, May 14, 1984, Bombay

Source: Sathya Sai Baba, Chapter 8, Sai Vani: Avatar on Avatar Purushas

Sweet Memories with Sri Sathya Sai – By Adarsh Saraf

Sri Sathya Sai Higher Secondary School, Prasanthi Nilayam

It was in the month of December of the year 2007 that I first came to know about the Sri Sathya Sai Higher Secondary School. My father visited Prashanti Nilayam to see the school. He was very much impressed by the school and immediately took an admission form. The submission of the admission form marked the beginning of a new period in my life, a period which I never knew would change me to such an extent that every single person who knew me, would refuse to believe that it was me. 

I came to Prashanti Nilayam to write the admission test. I was captivated by the beauty of Prashanti Nilayam which is really the paradise on earth. But, I was not so attracted by Bhagavan then. The questions which were asked in the written test puzzled me. I had not prepared even a little for the test and most of the questions seemed to be unfamiliar. I never believed that I would be able to pass the test. After finishing the test, I did not know what to tell my father. I avoided any discussion on it. But Bhagavan had already decided something for me. Later, when we saw the results in the evening, I saw my name in the list of the candidates who had been selected! It was really a great moment for me, not because I had climbed the first step to Swami, but because I would not have to face the shame of being rejected in the entrance test. 

The interview was conducted after two days and I was as usual doubtful if I would be selected. But, by this time, I had already developed a lot of fascination for the place and I just did not want to miss the million dollar opportunity of studying in the Sri Sathya Sai Higher Secondary School. I prayed that I get selected and as destiny would have it, rather, as Swami’s Will would have it, I was selected. 

Just as the dark Earth is illumined by the rising Sun, I felt rays of light enter my dark life after I joined the Sri Sathya Sai Higher Secondary School. I discovered that there were many beautiful things which I had missed in my life the melodious Bhajans, the sweetness of devotion, the satisfaction of having helped someone, the joy of sharing, and the beauty of the Lord. The beautiful Darshan sessions were slowly drawing me towards the Lord and I could not really help it for the beauty of the Lord was something which no one can ever resist. And then, Swami began transforming me and I just became a witness to all that Swami was doing to me. 

It was one of the Darshan sessions. I was sitting in the leftmost corner of the Students’ block, waiting for Swami’s arrival. I saw Him coming towards me. At once, I got an urge to have His Padanamaskar. I just wanted to have it, be it for a moment. He was approaching me and my urge was becoming stronger. I saw Him come right in front of me and He asked me to clear the way for Him. I was overjoyed. I was the closest to Swami and without a second thought I bent down and placed my forehead on His Lotus Feet. When I got up, I just did not know where I was! It was as though I belonged to a different world altogether, the world where only Sai and I existed. If nectar is the sweetest thing that anyone could ever taste in life, then, I had tasted the nectar. 

Bhagavan has not only given me such beautiful moments spent in His proximity but has also helped me in various situations. It was when I was writing my Second Unit Test. The exam was Mathematics and I had completed my preparation for it. I got up as usual and attended Suprabhatam. After coming from Suprabhatam, I just opened my Mathematics textbook to go through few problems just for the sake of making use of the available time. As soon as I opened the book I was attracted by a problem. I started solving it. But, I was unable to do so. I did not bother about it and just saw the solution and went on. Later when I saw the questions in the examination hall, I was surprised to see the same problem in the paper which, had Bhagavan not shown me in the morning, I would not have been able to solve it. And this was not in this test alone, it was a common occurence in many of the ensuing exams. 

When I was in my fifth standard, I had once gone to attend my aunt’s marriage.  My cousins and I were given the task of throwing flowers on the guests. We had collected the flowers and hidden it from each other so that one couldn’t take the others’ flowers. I had also hidden my flowers in a nice place. But, in the afternoon, when I went to the place to see if the flowers were there, I found them missing. I got very angry and thought that my cousins might have stolen them. I went, along with one of my cousins, on the terrace to search for them. In the terrace, in the centre, there was a metal roofing of around my height which had sharp edges. We were passing by the roof and I was talking to my cousin. Without seeing that I was beside the sharp edges, I just turned my head, and got a bad cut. The cut was a very deep one. But the place where Bhagavan worked His wonder is that the cut was above the left eye, on the nose and below the right eye and, my eyes were saved just by a few millimeters of distance! Had Bhagavan not saved me that day I do not know what would have happened that day. But, “Jako Rakhe Saiyaan Maar Sake Na Koi”, which means “No one can harm the one who is protected by Sai.”

Another recent incident was in the month of August of 2008. Army personnel had come to train us for the march-past for the Annual Sports Meet, 2008-2009. During the second practice session, he asked us to run to a wall and come back as fast as we could. I ran my fastest so that I could become the first one to come back. During the run, I got a slight push from a friend which, coupled with my fast speed, resulted in a big fall. My knee was badly hurt and I was unable to even walk. That evening, I struggled to walk up to the Mandir. Just to help me, a friend accompanied me all the way to Mandir. And as we were walking, there was a sudden outburst of rain. I asked my friend to leave me and go ahead but he refused to. I felt guilty. I just wished I could run and started making attempts to run. All of a sudden, I found myself being able to run. This filled me with joy and I ran faster and faster to the Mandir. As soon as I reached the Mandir, I slowed down and after entering the Mandir I found myself limping once more. It was then that I realized that it was Bhagavan who had just granted my wish.

These are just a few of the many situations in which Bhagavan has helped me and guided me. When I think of these incidents there is only a feeling of joy in my heart. I am ever grateful to Bhagavan for all that He has done for me and for having given me such sweet memories. 

- Adarsh Saraf

Student (2013-15), Department of Mathematics and Computer Sciences

Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning

Prasanthi Nilayam Campus

Source: Sai Nandana 2010 (85th Birthday Offering)

Trayee Sessions: Part 11

Tuesday, May 1, 2001

Sri Sathya Sai in Trayee Brindavan

Swami came at 4.31 pm. He spoke to a few students in the central hall. In the Jhoola room, He asked a student as to why he was not sitting close to the Jhoola. To another student, sitting near the Jhoola…  

Swami : Why are you sitting there? (Turning to another student holding a letter) Keep letter inside. Not now. (To another student sitting close by) Where do you come from?

Student : Salem.

Swami : Why didn’t you go for holidays? 

Student : I went and came back. 

Swami : No friends? Where did you go?

Student : I was at home.

Swami : Tell the truth, you went outside.

Student : We went to Kula Daivam (family deity) temple.

Swami : What did you do there?

Student : I prayed that I should always be with Swami.

Swami then indicated to a teacher to come and speak. He came forward, took Namaskar and waited in front of the mic. 

Swami : Why do you look at Me like that?

He then asked him to begin his speech. When he started his speech addressing, “Dear Brothers”, Swami said, “No sisters. Earlier you had said – Sisters and Brothers.” 

The teacher quoted a Shloka “Isha Ganesha”.

Swami : Isha Girisha Mahesha Paresha

After a number of iterations, the teacher finally got the Shloka right. He said that Lord Krishna used to dance before the Gopis for a handful of butter.

Swami : What is the meaning of butter? Pure Love. Soft Love.

The teacher said, “God is Love. Love is God.” Swami completed it saying, “Live in Love.” When the teacher translated, “Dharma is My Aachar” as “Dharma is My conduct”, Swami corrected him telling that Dharma should also be translated as ‘righteousness’. 

The teacher narrated the story of Ambareesha and Sage Durvasa. Swami corrected his narration saying that the Chakra (discus) left by Lord Vishnu chased Durvasa. When he said that every hair on Hanuman’s body chanted Lord Rama’s name, Hanuman plucked a hair and kept it near Lord Rama’s ear. Swami corrected him, “Not Rama… Sita”. After narrating a few more instances, the teacher concluded his speech and took Namaskar. Then Swami asked another teacher to speak. 

Swami : Speak about Ooty. Tell nice things.

The teacher narrated an incident wherein Swami in the 1940s created for a lady a photo of her husband who had died even before Swami’s advent. 

Swami : He had died 40 years earlier.

When the teacher spoke about an incident in the life of a scientist who was searching for the ‘meaning of life’, Swami corrected him saying, ‘purpose of life’. After narration of a few more instances, Swami indicated to the teacher to conclude his speech. 

Sathya Sai with Students in Trayee Brindavan

Swami : (To Dr. Siva Sankara Sai) Prasanthi Nilayam Hostel Warden, how is Hostel?

Warden : Fine, Swami.

Swami : See Belgium boys, he is Prasanthi Nilayam Hostel Warden. Very small boy! (Since Dr. Siva Sankara Sai had joined Swami’s educational institutions as a small boy in Class XI in the year 1976, Swami always treated him with that affection.)

Warden : All are boys in Swami’s presence.

Swami : He is doing everything. During holidays, hostel repairs have to be done, pipes are to be repaired, etc. Since how many years are you Warden?

Warden : 7 years, Swami.

Swami : He has completed B.Sc., M.Sc. and Ph.D. And since ten years he is professor. Speak a few words.

Warden : Swami should make me speak. 

Swami : How old are you?

Warden : 40 years.

Warden started his speech with the Sanskrit Shloka “Sahana Vavatu…” and Swami chanted it with him. Swami blessed him after his speech. Swami then got up and received Aarti at 5.43 pm. He took letter from the students, gave Prasadam plates to them and blessed all from the balcony on the first floor before retiring for the day.

Source: Students with Sai: Conversations (2000-2001)

The Business School at Sri Sathya Sai University – Part 8

… Continued from Part 7 

Sports and Cultural Meet 

Sri Sathya Sai seeing the Annual Sports and Cultural Meet of the Sri Sathya Sai Educational Institutions

The Institute organises the ‘Annual Sports and Cultural Meet’ during December – January of every academic year. There are various cultural events such as elocution, debates, general knowledge quiz, vocal and instrumental music, painting and sketching, poster making, clay modelling, mono-acting, Veda and Stotram chanting, Yogasanas, dramatics, and many other fine arts and performing arts-based competitions and programmes. Various sports and games events like cricket, table tennis, lawn tennis, shuttle badminton, volleyball, basketball, football, etc. are also organised for the students belonging to the Undergraduate and Postgraduate classes in each of the campuses of the Institute. Besides this, there is an exhibition programme on 11th January every year, wherein all the students of the Sri Sathya Sai Educational institutions participate. 

The Sports Meet commences with the arrival of the Revered Founder Chancellor into the Hill View Stadium at Prasanthi Nilayam

The Institute Brass Band leading the March Past

Students leading the Flag March

For a period of more than three weeks, the faculty members and students of every campus, jointly conceive a theme and draw the detailed plans, which are finalised in consultation with the administrators of the Institute who in turn obtain clearance from the Revered Chancellor. The students and faculty members put together the items, which form part of the exhibition programme. 

Students of the Anantapur Campus performing a military drill

Students of Prasanthi Nilayam Campus performing the Giant Wheels event at a height of about 40-50 feet

The Lion Dance Performance

The total programme, which lasts for about six hours, is divided campus wise into groups of items, and each item is assigned to a group consisting of a senior faculty coordinator assisted by younger teachers, senior research student coordinators and student coordinators besides the student participants (the number of student participants depends on the nature of the item). The faculty members and the senior students of the Institute predominantly train the students in these items. There are various departments working for the exhibition programme such as the fabrication group, art and sets group, music group, choreography group, costumes and make-up group, march past group, refreshments group, stage decoration group, security and seating arrangement group, mascot group, etc. The faculty and students make the necessary arrangements making use of the locally available materials. 

A Martial Arts event by the students of the Brindavan Campus

The Giant Flags events by the Prasanthi Nilayam Campus students

Motor Bike stunts by the Men's Campuses

The exhibition programme is of international standards, and is very colourful and spectacular. The most interesting feature is, that all the events of the exhibition programme such as tent-pegging, dare devil motor cycle/jeep/car/truck stunts, judo, karate, taekwondo, para-sailing, paragliding, para-jumping, mono-cycling, aerobics, Yoga-feats, lion-dance, dragon–dance, bungee-jump, cultural and folk dances, gymnastics, etc. are performed by the students in front of a very large gathering of over 10,000 people in the sprawling Hill View Stadium at Prasanthi Nilayam. These are done with minimal involvement of external professional trainers. The students do the march past to the tunes of the Institute Brass Band at the beginning of the exhibition programme after which each campus of the Institute presents its own programme. A part of the programme is held during the morning session and rest of it in the evening. The students and faculty members of the Sri Sathya Sai Higher Secondary School and the Institute while preparing and performing the programme, learn to work under pressure, utilise the waste/scrap materials, recycle the already used materials, work in various groups, work as a team and perform everything selflessly, without any monetary or material expectations. A spirit of cooperation and unity of purpose is the underlying motivating theme for all the students and staff members of the Institute all through the Sports and Cultural Meet. 

The Aerial Grid event performed by the Brindavan Campus students at 50 feet

A bike formation to culminate the event by the Anantapur Campus students

Continued in Part 9… 

Source: Role of Values-Based Management in Management Education: Insights from the Business School at Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, Chapter 24, Man Management: A Values-Based Management Perspective

Sri Sathya Sai visits Kodaikanal - 1997

Sunday, April 20, 1997 to Sunday, May 11, 1997

Sri Sathya Sai at the entrance of Sai Sruthi Mandir, Kodaikanal

Bhagavan along with a group of 10 Institute students visited Kodaikanal from the 20th April to the 11th May 1997. In His Discourses spread out from 23rd April to 9th May, He related episodes from the lives of great devotees like Tyagaraja, Surdas, Tulsidas and many others. The main theme of His Discourses was the power of Love. On 23rd April, during the dinner session Bhagavan went around the devotees in the dining hall. He went near a devotee and said, “Break the puris before you eat”. The person did as suggested and found to his surprise a golden ring inside the Puri. Bhagavan said, “That’s for you. Have it”. Everyone was pleasantly surprised. Prof. Anil Kumar was also there eating Puris. Bhagavan asked him to eat fast. “Swami, who knows what You have put in which Puri!” said Anil Kumar. He further added, “So I am checking every Puri and eating carefully.” Everyone had a hearty laugh. 

Sri Sathya Sai at Kodaikanal - April-May 1997

The anniversary of Trayee Brindavan was celebrated in Sai Sruthi on 26th April in the Divine Presence. Easwaramma Day was celebrated on 6th May 1997 at Kodaikanal. During the Divine Discourse He highlighted the importance of the Mother with examples of Kaushalya and Rama, Anjana and Hanuman, and Aryamba and Adi Shankaracharya. He said: 

“There is no nobler quality in the world than love. It is wisdom. It is righteousness. It is wealth. It is Truth. Everything is permeated with love. Everything in the cosmos arises from love, grows by love and merges in love. Every human being is born from the mother's womb. He is fostered by the mother's love and enjoys many things in life because of the mother. He enjoys, all happiness in life because of the mother's love. Hence, there is no higher divinity than the mother. But this divinity relates to the body alone. 

Man has to recognise the truth that the food which sustains his body is derived from the sun. The sun helps food crops to grow. Hence, without the sun man cannot have food to sustain life. The term Satyam (Truth) is made up of three syllables which represent life, food and the sun. It follows that man is inherently an embodiment of truth. As such, he should lead a life based on truth. Unfortunately, man today leads a life divorced from truth. Consequently, he becomes a prey to innumerable troubles. He has no peace. He is racked continually by many afflictions. Man has to recognise the significance of Love and Truth, which are fundamental to human existence. The mother represents these two basic qualities. 

Rama attained godhood because he was the son of Kaushalya. Lava and Kusha became heroic children because of their great mother, Seeta Devi. It is the noble thoughts of the mother which make the children great. A mother may go wrong in other respects, but she will always strive for the well-being of her children. Hence every son has to love the mother as the primary duty. Then he should 1ove the father and revere the preceptor. The mother confers the body. The father protects it. The preceptor imparts knowledge and wisdom. For every human being all three are essential for getting on in the world. 

Sri Sathya Sai conversing with students during the Kodai trip

Many great men have embarked on noble deeds after securing the blessing of their mothers. For instance, before going to battle to fight against the demon, Tarakasura, Sanat Kumara got the blessings of his mother, Gowri. Similarly, Parashurama received his mother's blessings before he went to fight his foes. Likewise, Vinatha blessed her son Garuda. Every mother similarly blesses her son by saying: “Shri Rama Raksha” (May Shri Rama protect you always.) 

It is because of the blessings of noble mothers, the wives of great sages, that many men were able to perform heroic deeds. Shankaracharya taught that sons who did not get the blessings of the mothers suffered from various vicissitudes in life. Those who had the blessings of their mothers often secured freedom from rebirth. Many high-souled men have extolled the greatness and power of mothers. It is the foremost duty of children to secure the blessings of their mothers for their worldly well-being. 

However, spiritually man's obligation is different, according to Vedanta. Here, there is room in the heart only for the love of God. Affection for the mother and reverence for the father are necessary. But parents and preceptor are transient. Even friends are impermanent. God alone is permanent and unfailing and God alone should have the permanent place in the heart.” 

During Narayana Seva clothes, blankets and food were distributed to the poor. Bhagavan supervised the entire function which lasted for over 2 hours. Bhagavan’s Discourse in the evening was an exhilarating exposition of the role of the mothers and moulding the character of their children. On 7th May, Bhagavan made a lightening trip to Madurai and blessed the devotees there with His Darshan. He along with His group left Kodaikanal for Brindavan on 11th May and reached there that evening.  

The entourage of staff and students blessed to accompany Sri Sathya Sai to Kodaikanal - April-May 1997

Source: Sri Sathya Sai Digvijayam (1986-2005)

The Message of Sri Sathya Sai Baba: In His Words - Part 2

Sathya Sai Speaks

On World Problems and Spiritual Solutions

Today humanity has achieved tremendous progress through science. On one hand, astonishing advances have been made in areas like plastics, computers, electronics and exploration of space. On the other hand, in the sphere of ethics, the picture is depressing. The world is confronted with grave economic and political problems. International, racial, religious, caste and communal differences, inter-state conflicts, violent agitations by students are rampant, all over the world. What is the reason for these contradictory developments, scientific progress on the one side and moral deterioration on the other? How has mankind fallen to this egregious depth of ethical and spiritual degradation? 

Wickedness and cruelty are spreading among men today. Lacking in devotion and righteousness, men are developing only their bad habits and tendencies. Mankind does not lack scriptures like the Vedas, the Upanishads, the Bible, the Quran, the Zend Avesta and other great works to show how peace and the higher wisdom are to be got. Spiritual books are published in countless numbers. Nor is there any dearth of religious preachers, heads of Maths (religious centres) and religious scholars.

Sadhus and Sanyasis (renunciants) are proclaiming spiritual and ethical truths to warn mankind. In spite of all these well-meaning efforts, why is it that minds of human beings are turned towards narrow and unrighteous pursuits?

There has been any amount of transformation in the political, social and scientific fields. But all this development is of no avail if there is no commensurate transformation in the mental outlook of people. Ethical transformation depends on social transformation. Social transformation is related to spiritual change. Without spiritual transformation, social progress tends to become inimical to human advancement. Spiritual transformation is the basis for ethical transformation.

“A New World Order Based on Spirituality”, My Dear Students, Volume 05, 

June 16, 1983, Prasanthi Nilayam

Suffering and misery are the inescapable acts of the cosmic drama. God does not decree these calamities, but man invites them by way of retribution for his own evil deeds. This is corrective punishment which induces mankind to give up the wrong path and return to the right path so that he may experience the God-like condition of Satchitananda. All this is part of the grand synthesis in which the negatives serve to glorify the positives. Thus, death glorifies immortality, ignorance glorifies wisdom, misery glorifies bliss, night glorifies dawn.

So, finally, if the Avatar brings the natural calamities to an immediate end, which I can and do when there is a great need, the whole drama of creation with its Karmic law will collapse. Remember, these calamities occur not because of what God has made of man, but really because of what man has made of man. Therefore, man has to be unmade and remade with his ego destroyed and replaced by a transcendent consciousness, so that he may rise above the Karmic cycle to command Nature and avert its calamities. This is the work of the Avatar which I am presently doing.

“Raising Man to God”, God Lives in India, 

September 1976, Prasanthi Nilayam

On Understanding Him and Practicing His Teachings

You must take a path by which you can see deep into My heart and experience the various Divine aspects of Mine. You must understand the all-knowing power in Me. Do not be led away by people who always talk of having got a locket, a watch or a ring from Me. These things have no deep meaning. If you can earn My grace, it is as good as getting the entire world. Do not talk about My miracles but talk of the Prema which you can get from Me by your conduct. This is what is most important and you must make an attempt to get it. When there is an invaluable diamond in Me, you must try and acquire that. What is the meaning in your wanting to acquire smaller things? You must not go away from this invaluable treasure. You must be as close to it as possible. It is necessary for you to take and treasure it. You may ask what is the necessity for us to earn such a thing as Divine grace and Prema? In this context, it is useful if you know of the kind of love that comes from the Divinity in Me. 

I would have given a protective Talisman to a devotee and that individual would have worn it either on his head or somewhere on his body. You do not have to constantly think of Swami. He will be with you and looking after you, even if you do not have a protective Talisman on your bodies. My grace is always available to all the people. The purpose of the Talisman is that if the individual wearing it is in some danger or difficulty, the Talisman will immediately bring to Me in a flash the news and goes back with My grace to you. This is the function that the Talisman that I give performs. It constitutes a kind of link between the wearer and me in times of danger. Such material gifts have been protecting thousands of people.

“Who is Sathya Sai Baba?”, 

Summer Showers in Brindavan 1974, Part 2, Brindavan

The space encased in the pot must become one with the space that traverses the entire Universe, by the negation of the attachment, which is just an artificial creation of the deluded mind. That attachment must disappear; that inferior status of manhood that now satisfies him must give place to the status of Reality of God (Madhavatwam) which is the genuine status. That is the task for which Sai is calling you; that is the work for which I have come.

I have come to re-form you: I won’t leave you until I do that. Even if you get away before I do that, do not think you can escape Me; I will hold on to you. Whenever I appear to be angry, remember, it is only love in another form. For, I have not even an atom of anger in me; I just evince My disappointment that you do not shape as I direct. When I direct you along a line of action, reflect on My advice; you have full liberty to do so; in fact, I shall be happy if you do so; I do not like slavish obedience. If you feel that it will help you to reach the goal, follow it; if not, go to some other place; but, let Me tell you one thing: Wherever you go, you meet only Me. I am everywhere.I will demand good conduct, good habits, good thoughts, good company, wherever you go seeking for refuge!

“Brahmaanda Linga”, Sathya Sai Speaks, Volume 04, 

February 11, 1964, Prasanthi Nilayam

Sai’s philosophy does not lie in encouraging devotees to sit in a comer, control their breath and go on uttering, “Soham! Soham! Soham!” “Oh, Sadhak! Arise! Gird up your loins! Plunge into social service!” This is the Sai message. No room should be given for laziness and indifference.

“Practise What You Preach”, Sathya Sai Speaks, Volume 18, 

November 17, 1985, Prasanthi Nilayam

There is no Satyam (Truth) without Shivam (Goodness); there is no Shivam without Sundaram (Beauty). Truth alone can confer Mangalam (Auspiciousness) and Mangalam alone is the real beauty. Truth is beauty. Joy is beauty. Falsehood and grief are ugly because they are unnatural. Buddhi, Chittam and Hrudayam (intellect, sub-conscious mind and heart), these are the three centres in the individual where resides Jnana, Karma and Bhakti. The effulgence of Satyam will reveal Shivam. Do Karma that is approved by the higher wisdom, not Karma that is born of ignorance. Then all Karma will be Shivam, auspicious, beneficial, and blessed. The experience of that Shivam is what is called Sundaram. For it confers real Ananda. That is My reality. That is why My life is named ‘Satyam, Shivam, Sundaram’.

“Protection of the Devotees”, Sathya Sai Speaks, 
Volume 03, July 07, 1963, Prasanthi Nilayam

Source: Sathya Sai Baba, Chapter 8, Sai Vani: Avatar on Avatar Purushas