Being a Sai Student - By Rakhal Gaitonde

Being a student in Swami’s institution is indeed a wholesome experience. Apart from being an ideal place for the pursuit of studies, it offers a unique physical proximity with Swami.

To us students, Swami is a mother, father, teacher, friend and confidante. One thing that strikes anyone who is in Prasanthi Nilayam, is the healing power of Swami’s love that is all encompassing and does not distinguish between big and small.

This healing power of Swami’s love is seen in a beautiful incident which occurred in the life of a fellow Sai brother. He was given to the vices of the world. When this boy came to see Swami, Swami blessed him with a personal interview. In the interview room, Swami asked him, “Do you believe in Me?” The boy was shocked. How did Swami know that he was an atheist? Even his parents did not know! Swami went on to say, “I know everything. I know that on this date (Swami told him the exact date) you used your pocket money to see a movie instead of going to school.” Swami mentioned to him the name of the theater, name of the movie and the name of the friend with whom he had gone. He even told the boy the exact amount of money he used on Samosas (snacks). The boy was shocked, bewildered and thoroughly convinced and the transformation was instantaneous.

Swami is indeed our mother and father. Swami’s love is that of a thousand mothers. When we are unable to comprehend the love of one mother, how can we comprehend that of a thousand? Once, Swami threw biscuit packets from the Mandir balcony to boys even though He was suffering from excruciating pain due to a hip injury. This shows the immense love of mother Sai towards Her children.

Another incident showing Swami’s love and care for children occurred in the life of an 8th class boy. One day, the boy suddenly developed high fever and had to be taken home. At home, he had a bath. He immediately developed cough and soon was very sick. The doctor was summoned immediately and it was diagnosed as Pneumonia. The boy was immediately rushed to the intensive care unit in a nursing home. Yet there was no sign of improvement. His mother was very much concerned and she broke down in front of her prayer altar. Lo and behold! On the altar appeared a globule of Vibhuti. This was given to the boy and he recovered immediately. The ‘serious Pneumonia case’ walked out of the hospital four days later! According to the doctors, it was one of the fastest recovery cases in that nursing home.

Swami’s visits to the student’s hostel are always memorable. The scene resembles that of a mother amongst her children. On one occasion, in Brindavan, Swami agreed to dine with the boys. However that day a boy fell sick and could not take part in the function. Swami arrived at about 7:30 p.m. He sat down and looked around and asked the Warden “Is everyone present?” “Yes Swami”, replied the Warden. Swami looked around again. “Where is ... he?” He asked referring to the sick boy. The surprised Warden replied that he was sick. Swami had the boy brought over and seated comfortably and that night, all dined together - a happy family. 

Swami looks after us in every way. He is very keen on our academic progress. Many a times, He gives us advice on how to study and prepare for the examinations. Swami is a strong supporter of the adage: “Health is Wealth.” “Only in a healthy body can you house a healthy mind”, He says. Swami has introduced compulsory games so that we may develop the noble qualities of unity, determination and courage.

Swami stresses on all round development and if we have any untapped skill, it is brought out to its fullest. A prime example of Swami’s encouragement of skills is the idea of having students speak in His presence in front of large audience.

Swami says, “Manav Seva is Madhav Seva” and He sees to it that we follow the same. It is the students who maintain the hostel. In times of need, it is the boys who roll chapatis and bake them as well. Sometimes we have social work, wherein we clean the institute, school and hostel buildings. Indeed, here we learn the dignity of labour.

But apart from all this, the most important thing Swami teaches us is spirituality. During our stay in the hostel, we meet people from all over India and abroad. Boys in the hostel have to share rooms with 12 to 15 boys per room and must learn to adjust. This adjustment is the greatest Sadhana.

Swami, in His various discourses, teaches us how to become true men. “Only one who controls the mind is human. He is wise who knows and follows the intellect. An ideal person is one who harmonizes thought, word and deed.”

Once a group of scientists met Bhagavan and asked Him, “Who are You?” Swami made a revealing statement: 

“I am a man amongst men,

I am a woman amongst women,

I am a child amongst children

… and when alone I am God.”

I end this article with a humble prayer:

“Beloved Bhagavan, Please grant us the power to recognize Your love and grace, so that we may tap the limitless potential within and become worthy instruments in Your Divine Mission.” 

- Rakhal Gaitonde

Alumnus, Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning

Prasanthi Nilayam

Source: Sai Nandana 1995 (70th Birthday Offering)

What is Sadhana? How can we progress in Sadhana?

Trishna has two meanings: Desire and Thirst. It is natural in daily life to have a desire for certain necessities and comforts. Among the necessities for daily living, three are most essential food for sustenance, garments to wear and shelter for dwelling. The desire for these is natural for man. Even in this there are two kinds of desires: One is natural. The other is excessive and misdirected desire. "I want a house" is a legitimate desire and one should seek it. But it is greedy to possess two or more houses.


Today greed is more prevalent among men than desire for necessities. With the result that man is afflicted with grief and worry. He has become a stranger to contentment. He is steeped in discontent on account of insatiable desires.


The other meaning of the word Trishna is thirst. Whenever one is thirsty one has to drink water. When will this thirst end? Thirst will not end as long as life lasts. Even at the moment of death people feel thirsty. How is the thirst (for material things) to be quenched? It is possible through the efflux of time to get rid of iron shackles when they get rusty, but it is not easy to get rid of Trishna (desire). Trishna is the cause of limitless desires. If desires are fulfilled, one's Ahamkara (ego) gets inflated. If they are not realised hatred develops.


Sadhana constitutes Divine Wealth


There are three doorways to hell for man' Kama (lust), Krodha (hatred) and Lobha (greed). Desires tend to get out of bounds. Hence it is essential to try to curb them as far as possible. The process of controlling desires is called Sadhana.


The literal meaning of Sadhana is the effort you make to achieve the object you desire or to reach the goal you have in view. Sadhana is thus the primary means to realise your aim or objective. A second meaning of the term is Sa-dhana, that is wealth that is associated with Divinity. Dhana is described in three ways as Aishwarya, Sampada and Dhana (material wealth). All of them refer to the same thing. The wealth will not accompany us when we give up the body. If wealth is lost, it can be regained. If strength is lost, it may be recovered. But if life is lost it cannot be got back. Hence, while life still remains, one must strive to acquire the divine wealth that is imperishable and everlasting. Your conduct constitutes this divine wealth. It is only by the way we live that we can acquire this divine wealth.

Cultivate good qualities, character and conduct

Good conduct alone is our real wealth. Good qualities alone constitute our real Aishwarya (treasure). An unsullied character, expressing itself in a pure and perfect life, constitutes the most precious riches one can possess. Good conduct, good qualities and an exemplary character are the most valuable riches one can possess. But men today have given up these three and are seeking worldly goods and, immersed in their own concerns, are imagining that they are leading pious lives. The Divine cannot be attained through such delusions. All the teachings one listens to, the books one studies and the education one receives, are only serving to nourish these delusions and not helping men to seek the Divine.


To realise the Divine, one has to get rid of these delusions. Today education is said to be advancing at giant strides. Students! Nothing much will be lost if we have no education at all. All education today aims only at preparing students for worldly purposes. Think of the great sages and renowned men of the past who did not have this education but who led such exemplary lives! What great things are you going to achieve by pursuing these studies all during your waking hours, merely for earning a living, while forgetting God? The uneducated and illiterate are better than the "educated," who are ruining the country. It is the educated who are responsible for plunging the country deep into the mire of insolvency. The illiterate might not be doing any positive service to the country but they are not doing any harm to it. But the educated are doing more harm than good to the nation. It is better not to have such deleterious education than allow it to cause havoc.

Discover your own true nature

Man today is trying to master every kind of knowledge, but is unable to discover his own true nature. This is what Prahlada told his father Hiranyakashyap when he said that although Hiranyakashyap had conquered all the worlds, he had not conquered his senses. By conquering the worlds one may become the supreme sovereign over them. But one who has mastered his senses is supreme over all rulers. He is the king of kings, the king maker.

True education should induce humility in the student. Without humility education will lack lustre. Humility will bring out the true qualities of an educated man. It will proclaim the virtues of a person. Reverence for elders, loving regard for parents, discriminating between right and wrong, adoring the Lords - these are the hallmarks of humility in an educated person. This is the essence of good character. It is the fragrance of hum an life.

We should realise that one who has given us this human birth may be expected to take care of us in one way or another. It is needless to aspire after wealth, position, fame or power. If you do your duty, all these will come to you of their own accord. Enthrone in your heart the love of God. Once that love is enshrined in you, the whole world will be yours. If you are a slave of desire, you are the slave of the world. If you have conquered desire, the world will be at your feet.

Truth and love are the essence of all Shastras

Truth and Love should be regarded as the two eyes of every person. If we have these two eyes, we can master the world. Truth and Love can be regarded as the distilled essence of all the Shastras. Love is the quintessence of all the Dharma Shastras; it is the goal of all religions. If we drink nectar of Love and Truth, we do not need anything else to sustain us. Love and Truth cannot be taught by gurus or learnt from books. They may be set forth in Granthas (books), but you will not experience their Gandham (fragrance). They can be acquired only by living them in life. We must endeavour to love all. If we are to earn the love of the Lord, we have to love everyone. The best way to love God is to love all.

Fill your heart with Divine Love


Love all, serve all. Hating everyone, caviling at everyone, feeling jealous of everyone, if you want to experience grace, how can you have it? Only if there is water in the tank, you can get water in the tap. If the tank is dry, how can you get water from the tap? If you fill the tank of your heart with Divine love, you can have love towards everyone and receive love from everyone.

Whoever it may be, whether he is a devotee or a believer, an aspirant or an unbeliever, his actions will determine what rewards or punishments he gets in life. You sometimes think: "The Lord has protected me in this manner or punished me in this way." It is not the Lord who has protected you. It is not the function of the Divine. It is your prayer that has protected you. Your good actions have saved you. Your good behaviour is your shield. If you have experienced difficulties, calamities or sorrows, they are the consequences of your thoughts and actions.

Hence, whatever happens to man, good or bad, it is the result of his own deeds. God is a witness. Current is flowing in an electric wire. When you switch it on, the light burns, when you switch it off, the light goes. But it is not the light that is coming or going. It is the operation of the switch which brings the light or turns it off. The current is serving you and also punishing you. God is the cause of creation, protection and mergence. Likewise, the current has powers of creation, protection and destruction. How does the current create? Drawing energy from a generator, it provides power for lamps to burn, for fans to work and for various other instruments to function. The current is one, but the uses are many and diverse.

In all these ways it discharges a creative function. It also gives protection to man in various ways through light, fan, etc. But, if out of a mistaken sense of gratitude, you touch a live wire, it will give you a shock, which may even prove fatal. Thus, it has also the capacity to punish.

God is present in you as Prajna

God acts as creator, protector and destroyer. You must show your gratitude to God by your actions, not by words. You have to learn how to make proper use of the things provided for you. God is omnipresent. He is within you. Your good conduct, in the form of God, gives you protection. He is present in you as Prajna (Constant Integrated Awareness). The Vedas have declared: "Prajnanam Brahma" (Consciousness is Supreme Reality). If the students ask themselves, "Where is God?" they will get an answer in the prayer that they utter before every meal. You utter the mantra, "Brahmarpanam" and recite the Shloka: "Aham Vaishvanaro Bhootwaa Praaninaam Deham Aashritah." The latter Shloka means: "I (the Divine) have entered all bodies of living beings in the form of Vaishvanara." This means that the Lord who is within you is giving you protection (by digesting the food you eat and nourishing the entire body). If you act against the dictates of your heart and conscience, God will punish you.

All that you see outside is only the reflection of your inner being. The good or the bad you experience are the reflection of your feelings. Do not delude yourselves that by merely offering worship in a temple, you have earned the grace of God. If you worship God, but harass the people around you, will you earn the Divine grace? Your prayers earn a plus for you in your spiritual balance sheet. By causing harm to people you earn a minus. The result of this plus and minus is zero. It is, therefore, of primary importance that you should develop a consciousness of the divinity present in all beings.

Practise Scriptural Teachings

Today the Bhagavad Gita is being preached from street to street. It is revered as a sacred book. Similarly the Quran, the Bible and other sacred books are worshiped as spiritual texts. But is anything being done to practice what the sacred books teach? Many eminent persons have declared their belief in the Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of Man. The Brotherhood of Man is considered a great ideal. But the Gita has presented a higher ideal. Brotherliness is considered as a great quality. But we know how brothers fall out, take their differences right up to the Supreme Court and ruin their families. How can the mere fact of being brothers be considered a great virtue in itself? The Gita commends the "Ekatma Bhaava," the feeling that "One spirit dwells in all beings." It declares that the Atma residing in all beings is one and the same. "Eko Vasi Bhoota Antaratma," declares the Gita (The indwelling Spirit in all beings is One). Nor is that all. It also declares that all human beings in the world are a fragment of the Divine. How many are aware of this truth and how many are living up to this pronouncement? Very few, indeed. In spite of the prodigious propagation of the Gita, how many are practising its teachings? How many are leading exemplary lives? Few. In this situation, it is enough if you adhere to one thing. You have no need to study any books to contemplate on God or earn God's love.

Spirituality is the only way to purity

There is nothing wrong in studying the scriptures. But you have to put into practice the teachings which you value. Continuous study merely clutters up the brain with lumber. Confusion results from studying the views of different authors. The first requisite is to strengthen faith in one's self. Hold fast to one belief and adhere to one path. If you persevere in this manner, Divinity will manifest itself spontaneously in due course. Students have to cultivate along with education, humility and observance of Samskaras (right conduct). It is only when the heart is purified through Samskaras that education will also get saturated with purity. Spirituality is the only way to purity.

Source: Divine Discourse at Trayee Brindavan, on May 29, 1988

Where are the Fourteen Lokas mentioned in Indian Scriptures? How can we Reach them?

The Puranas speak of fourteen Lokas (seven higher and seven lower regions). People have adopted the superficial meaning of the names given to these and they classify them as 'sacred' Lokas and 'condemned' Lokas - Deva Lokas and Patala Lokas. But, all these lokas do exist, in our own bodies, (the bodies which we carry about and care for), seven in the upper part and seven in the lower part.

Which is the upper part of the human body? It is the head, the Trikoota Peak, the crown, the higher region. Seven Lokas are situated therein. They are the Garuda Loka, the Gandharva Loka, the Yaksha Loka, the Kinnara Loka and the Kimpurusha Loka. They are all situated in the head. The Garuda Loka is the nose, the seat of inhalation and exhalation. The Gandharva Loka is in the eye. The Yaksha Loka is in the tongue. Kinnara Loka is the ear and the Kimpurusha, on the skin, seat of the sense of touch. Though the names of the lokas are five, there are seven regions to which the name applies. The nose is the first, the eyes are the second and the third, the tongue is the fourth, the ears are the fifth and the sixth and the skin is the seventh. These are the Upper Lokas.

Those who sanctify these Lokas by recognising the respective organs as instruments for higher ideals can be deemed worthy of human existence. That is to say, inhaling unpolluted air, seeing auspicious sights, hearing heartening sounds, etc. These Lokas when properly cultivated, can make man divine.

Does thou know why you are given eyes?

To see whatever can be seen ?

No! No!

To fill the eyes with the Vision of God

Who resides on Mount Kailash.

Both Higher and Lower Lokas are necessary 

An artist's depiction of the Fourteen Lokas

We have to cast our looks at sacred sights. We must visualise in every one only the good and the godly. That is the purpose for which God has equipped us with eyes. He has not gifted them to us to observe and judge others, to follow people into the bazaar or to see unsightly films.

Dost thou know why you have a tongue?

To despatch tasty foods in ?

No! No!

The prime purpose is not to enable us to swallow our meals. The object is to utter holy words Now, when some one is narrating some good incidents, the ears show no inclination to listen. But when one whispers something confidential to another, the ears jointly seek to overhear. Is it for this that God has blessed us with ears?

Therefore, the seven higher Lokas have to be utilised for Divine ends. When that is done, one becomes divinised, one is liberated. The rest of the Lokas are intended for the maintenance of the physical frame in which we are enclosed. The stomach, so to say, is the petrol tank. When that is filled, every limb and cell of the body is supplied with energy and activated, to execute the beneficial duties assigned to each. With the two hands and the two legs, these make five Lokas. The two others are the anal and the urinal parts. These seven lower Lokas maintain the physical body. 

Both the higher seven and the lower seven are necessary; they complement each other. The lower Lokas are the Patala Lokas according to the Puranas. They form the foundation, the base. Those who long for flowers and fruits have to feed the unseen roots. Patala too should not be neglected merely because they are described as "low". Joy has to be churned from grief. Pleasure is a product of pain.

Source: Divine Discourse at Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, Prasanthi Nilayam on May 28, 1982

Sri Sathya Sai Narrates Stories in Trayee Brindavan

May 1994

After His return to Brindavan from a most memorable trip to Kodaikanal, Swami interacted with students, teachers and elderly devotees in Trayee every evening. He motivated them to share their experiences by giving talks and the end of it He blessed them with His Discourses. He enlivened His Discourses with episodes from the great epics Here are some of the stories, He narrated:

"Complete faith is most essential if you want to experience Divinity. There should not be even an iota of doubt. One living without faith in the Divine is like a lifeless corpse. I would relate a story to illustrate the power of faith.

A young boy used to go from his village to school which was in a nearby town. He had to cross a forest en route to the town. Generally he used to return home well before sunset. One day; it so happened that he had to leave the school late in the evening and darkness set in. The boy was afraid to walk through the forest in darkness and told his mother that he was afraid to walk in the night without company. His mother said: "Why are you afraid? Whenever you are in need of company, shout aloud calling your brother. He will help you." The boy asked her: "Who is my brother?" The mother replied: "He is none other than Lord Krishna. God is mother, father, teacher, brother, relative, friend and all. Whenever you are in trouble don't hesitate to call on him for help." The boy had full faith in his mother's words. In these days, even if God himself tells, nobody believes. That is why Jesus declared: "If I were to be a child everyday for a while, with full faith in my mother, how happy I would be!"

God is searching for a Real Devotee

Another day the boy was returning home from school late at night in the darkness. He shouted: "Anna Krishna" (Brother Krishna). After a few moments Krishna appeared before the boy in the form of a lad and told him- "Why do you fear when I am here? I shall escort you home." He accompanied the boy to the village outskirts and disappeared. The boy told his mother how the brother helped him true to her words. The mother said: “He helps not only you, but everyone who seeks his help."

From that time onwards, the boy used to call the brother whenever he needed his help and Krishna never failed to respond. Gradually he picked up courage. When you have full faith, God will surely help you and make you fearless. People who have faith in God will never be let down. But those who have no faith suffer. You need not search for God. It is God who is searching for a real devotee.

The mind's speed is unparallelled. It is only became of lack of control of mind one gets into bad temper, which causes loss of discrimination and spells ultimate ruin. It is imperative that one should control the temper and avoid getting angry.

One who yields to anger is bound to suffer

Shri Rajendra Prasad, First President of India

Let me cite an incident from the life of Babu Rajendra Prasad, the first President of India. Rajendra Prasad had a very good servant by name Ratna who was exceptionally faithful and served him for a long rime to the satisfaction of his master. One day he was asked to clean his room. Rajendra Prasad had kept a pen given to him by Mahatma Gandhi, in one of his books. When the servant was cleaning the table the book fell down and the nib broke. He became nervous but told his master the truth begging his pardon for his mistake. On hearing this, Rajendra Prasad shouted at him in rage and asked him to get out and not to show his face again as the pen was a highly valuable gift from Mahatma which he had broken. Then the servant pleaded that he could not survive without him and sought his forgiveness. But Rajendra Prasad was in no mood to listen to him and went out bidding his servant to get out of his sight.

Rajendra Prasad with Mahatma Gandhi

During the night, Rajendra Prasad could not sleep as the memory of his having driven away his servant was haunting him. When he got up next morning he missed his usual morning coffee which Ratna would usually serve him. He reflected over his behaviour and felt sorry for having sent out such a faithful servant for no big fault. He realised that it was his own mistake to have kept the pen carelessly in a book instead of keeping it in a safe place. He sent word to Ratna and took him back seeking his pardon saying: "Ratna you are a good boy. It was my mistake to have kept the pen in the book. So you must excuse me for my rash action." He asked him to continue to serve him till the end of his life.

Anger comes from temper inside and one who yields to this bout of temper is bound to suffer.

You should control anger and avoid talking or acting while in an angry mood. Another instance of how anger gets the better of even a very good person can be cited from the Mahabharata.

Krishna seeks the help of sage Durvasa

Ashwatthama prayed to Kaali to help him to keep his vow of killing the Pandavas before sunset next day and got a sword from her. Draupadi heard about this and said, "The Pandavas are the five life-principles and I am the sixth. How can I live after they are gone?" So saying, she prayed to Krishna as He was always their saviour whenever they were in trouble. Krishna appeared before her and asked her why she had called Him. She explained how Ashwatthama had obtained a sword from Kaali with Her blessings for his killing the Pandavas before sunset next day Krishna said: "The word of Mother Goddess has to be fulfilled. At the same time the Pandavas have to be protected as they are my devotees. I shall have to devise a master plan." 

He summoned sage Durvasa. Though God can act on His own, sometimes He uses others as instrument. Durvasa was glad to have Darshan of Lord Krishna and asked Krishna as to why he was called. When Krishna said his help was needed, he remarked that everyone needed God's help and it was strange that God was seeking his help. Durvasa said: "Lord, I shall surely follow your command." Krishna disclosed His Master Plan. He asked Durvasa to prepare a pit large enough to hide the Pandavas therein. He said: "You should spread some branches of tree to cover the pit and sit on the top of the pit. Ashwatthama will come to you. You may tell the truth, but change only the tone." Ashwatthama came in the afternoon and prayed to Durvasa in all humility to disclose the whereabouts of the Pandavas, as he was a Trikalajnani (one who knows the past, the present and the future). Durvasa said in an angry tone: "The Pandavas are under my feet." As everyone knew the effects of Durvasa's rage, Ashwatthama did not dare to proceed further and incur the sage's dreaded wrath. He slipped away from the place. By that time the sun had set and the Pandavas were saved.

God's signs of pretending to get angry are only for the good of others and to protect humanity.

God has to act in different ways in different situations. God has no anger in Himself. When He takes human form He has to act as a human.

Source: Sri Sathya Sai Digvijayam (1986 – 2010)

Sri Sathya Sai Message to Karnataka Villagers

Thursday, May 22, 1986

Bhagavan visited Vagata village near Brindavan in the morning on the 22nd of May 1986. Sri Bachegowda, MLA from the constituency, welcomed Bhagavan and offered his gratitude on behalf of the villagers for the relief provided to the drought-affected population by the Sri Sathya Sai Organisation of Karnataka. Bhagavan blessed the villagers with His Divine Message. He said:

“Purity, Unity, Divinity - these should be the Watchwords of the millions in Indian villages; they alone can ensure material and spiritual well-being.

Men should take great care to see that their senses did not go astray and commit offences. Thinking evil, speaking evil and seeing evil invariably led to total ruin. For example, in Mahabharata, Duryodhana always had evil thoughts about the Pandavas and ultimately he brought destruction upon his entire family. Keechaka cast en evil eye on Draupadi, when the Pandavas were living incognito in Virata King's palace, and he paid for it with his life. 

The Ramayana had the story of Kaikeyi, who listened to the evil counsel of Manthara, and so lost not only her husband but the regard and love of her son Bharata. No one today even likes to be known by these infamous characters - Duryodhana, Keechaka or Ravana. But though the names are not favoured, the bad qualities associated with them have not been given up by mankind.

Strive to give up evil thoughts, evil looks, vicious speech and the greed to give ear to evil

counsel and slanderous gossip. People in the villages are more simple-minded and good natured than those in towns and cities. The atmosphere in the villages is less polluted. If villagers can cultivate purity in thought, word and deed, they can lead happy and contented lives.

Learn to live in harmony and unity. The village is to the villagers what the body is to the individual. Every organ in the body functions in cooperation with every other part. If the foot steps on a thorn, the eye feels the pain and sheds tears. If the eye notices a thorn or stone on the road, it warns the foot to avoid it. Villagers should develop the same sense of unity and share their joys and troubles as one organic body. There is nothing you cannot achieve with unity as your strength.

With purity and unity, you can disclose your divinity and develop genuine devotion to God. In Vagata you have an ancient temple venerated for centuries by your forefathers. You should conduct bhajans daily in the morning and evening and earn the Lord's grace. You should fill your hearts with love and make your lives holy and purposeful. When everyone works in this spirit of unity and charity, this village would become a model for all the rest.”

At Samethanahalli village enroute to Brindavan, Bhagavan addressed the Mahila Vibhag members of the Sri Sathya Sai Organisation.

Source: Sri Sathya Sai Digvijayam (1986-2010)

How Sri Sathya Sai Healed Me... - By R. Manjunath

I was brought up in a spiritual atmosphere during my childhood days and was perhaps destined to join the Sai family. What I am today is all due to Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. I am grateful to Him, and I wish to recapitulate the various experiences which I have had during the course of my life. 

When I was studying in the school, I had heard people say that Baba is God and has come to uplift Dharma, but I did not believe such a thing would happen in Kali-age. As I grew up and entered the higher classes, my doubts whether Swami is God or not, increased immensely. To add fuel to the fire of doubt, many relatives and friends misled me. It was my parents and some devotees of Swami, who reinstalled the faith in me. I was extremely happy to have the support of such people, to put me on the right path. 

Later I came to know that some of the members of Sri Sathya Sai Trust were going to start a school in Hyderabad. I jumped in joy on hearing this wonderful news. Then it was announced that they would be holding an entrance examination for admission into the school and all were required to prepare for it. As soon as I heard that Mathematics was a part of the entrance examination, my heart sank because I was weak in Mathematics. Therefore, I sincerely prayed to Swami to give me a seat in His school, so that I would be in touch with the Lord. 

My younger brother, who had taken part in a play staged by Bal Vikas children, had got a chance to speak to Swami. At an opportune moment, he asked Swami whether both of us would obtain admission in His school. Swami said, “Yes, Bangaru. Both of you shall join My school.” Later, my brother informed me about the good fortune that both of us would have if we were admitted to the school. I thanked Bhagavan mentally and we started preparing for the entrance examination to the best of our ability. When the results were declared, I came to know that my brother had passed in all subjects and I had not performed well in the Mathematics exam. I prayed incessantly to Swami. To my amazement I found that I had been selected. I thanked Swami profusely. 

Later I wanted to get admission into the Sri Sathya Sai College, at Brindavan, Bangalore. I was told that only those who secured a first class would be given a seat. The authorities said that, although I would get admission into the college, I may not get any hostel accommodation and so I was asked to return and try for admission somewhere else. I took refuge in Swami, who had helped me all along and all the time. Two days later, miraculously a telegram reached me asking me to come immediately to Brindavan with my marks sheet. I was given a seat in the college and was allowed to stay in the hostel. I never felt homesick, as I had placed myself in Swami’s hands. 

I improved in my subjects gradually, and stood first in my subjects (science). My happiness was short lived, because I fell ill in the year 1983, due to abdominal complaints. I suffered nearly for 6 to 7 months from amoebic dysentery, and later from ulcerative colitis. I never wrote a letter to Swami, that I was ill because I knew that He was aware of everything. He used to give me directions only through dream visions. I took treatments from many doctors in Hyderabad, Bombay and Bangalore, but it was to no avail. The pains only doubled, and increased my suffering. Sometimes, all I wanted was a painless death. Seeing the condition I was in, the hostel warden suggested that I go home for rest and return after recouping some strength. Accordingly, after two days, my mother was called from Hyderabad to take me home. My mother came on the third day and took me straight to Prasanthi Nilayam. As soon as we alighted at Puttaparthi, we went to a dormitory nearby. Swami had come out for evening Darshan at that time. I was holding a letter to give to Swami. Swami took the letter from me, read the contents and asked me to wait. Swami’s words are difficult to understand. I waited for two days, but Swami did not respond. My mother decided to leave me alone in the place as she was needed at home the following evening. I also made up my mind to leave the following day for Hyderabad. As I was walking away from the Mandir portico, I was stopped by an elderly gentleman. He told me that I was supposed to wait, and that Swami would give instructions the next day morning. I was taken aback but I kept this piece of information to myself. 

Sri Sathya Sai in the Prasanthi Nilayam Interview Room

The next day dawned and I was ready sitting in the Darshan grounds. Swami called me inside the interview room along with a few overseas devotees. He then created a locket and gave it to me. He went on to narrate, in detail, about the problem I suffered from. Then He created Vibhuti and rubbed it on my stomach. Swami asked me to stop using all the medicines and continue taking Vibhuti water, and also prescribed a bland diet till I was well again. I recovered very fast. Today, I have no ulcer and I am rid of every other complaint regarding the stomach. This event took place on 8th of February 1985.

After passing my degree examinations, I joined the post graduate course (M. Sc.) in Prasanthi Nilayam. One more problem arose, and this time it was solely concerned with the skin. For five months, I suffered from eczema and took many a medicine without consulting Swami. These medicines gave only temporary relief, but the burning sensation, bleeding and itching continued to trouble me day and night. I was wondering whether I should go to Bangalore and get myself checked thoroughly. The same night, I had a dream vision of Swami. He appeared before me, and led me by hand to the Mandir and granted an interview. He then gave me a glass of milk to drink. Bhagavan assured me in the dream that I would be cured of my troubles. Saying so Swami disappeared and the dream ended. I got up in the morning and found that my eczematic patch disappeared completely.

This is how Swami cured my physical afflictions and along with it my mental affliction. To me, HE is the Supreme healer. 

- R. Manjunath

Alumnus, Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning

Prasanthi Nilayam

Source: Sai Nandana 1995 (70th Birthday Offering)

What is the Correct Age to commence Sadhana?

Sri Sathya Sai in Trayee Brindavan

Who is your true friend? There is only one friend and that is God Himself. Subjects like Physics, Chemistry and Math are at a worldly level. The world is the book that you have to read and study. God is your true friend. You should have a pure heart. These three things should be kept in your mind. When you do this, your life will find fulfillment.

Many students say that they will chant the name of the Lord after studies are over, after getting employment, after retirement, and so on. What is the surety that you can do it at that point of time? You cannot do it then. That is why you should start early, drive slowly and reach safely. If you start thinking of God from a small age, you can continue it for a longer period of time. Many people get into military. When they join the military, they are given training, they go for drills and later they are given the rifle. They learn firing and then they are allowed to fight in a war. After the training, the soldier will be able to fire at the enemy. If he was sent to the battle field without training, what would he do there? He would not be able to do anything. His life would go waste and the weapons would also go waste. Hence first of all, there should be training. That is what you have to do even in life. If you get trained in the spiritual path from a young age, it will be helpful for you all through the life and even at the end of life. Whatever you practice right from your young age, you will become an adept in that and it would be easier for you in the later part of life.

A boy was smoking right from his young age, and he got used to it. At the end, while he was dying, he put his fingers on his lips as though he was smoking! If you practice doing Japa right from a young age, you will continue doing Japa till the end of your life. Everything comes by practice. Hence you should practice first. When you practice from a young age, it will become a firm foundation. If you do not practice now, you will not get anything in the end. You should get trained for this from a very young age. If you want help to get rid of this bondage of life and death, you have to practice from now onward. You should practice from your young age as the singers practice for their singing and the cricketers practice every morning and evening. You will not get anything without practice. The Sadhana (spiritual practice) you do when you are young, comes to your rescue when you become old. That is why students should start practicing contemplation on God from a young age so that they don’t suffer in the future.

Atma Vidya

Anything may be converted into a useful thing by refinement. The salt water of the ocean is converted into fresh and pure water by the action of sun and clouds. This water serves the needs of many species. The refined water which is sweet acquires lot of fame and name like the rivers Ganga and Godavari. There is no name and fame for the ocean. But it is the water from the ocean that got evaporated and got transformed into the river water that acquired a lot of name and fame. You have to strive to become pure and sacred. For that, you should serve the society. As you go on serving the society you become pure. Service to the society is very important. All your education is useless if you do not serve the society. If a monkey is trained to ride a bicycle it can also do so. Is it education? By practice you can learn anything. As you read books all the content of the books get transferred into your head. Is it also education? That is worldly education. That is helpful only for begging for jobs! It is meant only for feeding the stomach. That is also necessary. However, true education is that which is changeless. That is Atma Vidya (Education of the Soul). Krishna said in the Bhagavad Gita that He is spiritual education among all kinds of education (Adhyatma Vidya Vidyanaam). That spiritual education is true education. Subjects like Physics and Chemistry are helpful only at a worldly level. But they do not transform you. It may lead only to a rise in your ego. Rise in the ego triggers a downfall. Hence you should put in efforts to sanctify your life without getting yourself ruined. Put your education to good use. Use your education for the welfare of humanity and the society. When education is put to the service of society and the fruits of the education are reaped in the form of development in the society, your education will be meaningful. Today, students don’t think of the society. All the time they keep thinking about themselves. They are selfish. If one gives up one’s bad thoughts and gives up one’s ego, only then can one prosper in life. Cleaning of the mind is known as Sadhana. Namasmarana (chanting of the name of the Lord) is a way of refining one’s mind from bad thoughts.

Students! All this worldly education is important for you all. Worldly education is necessary. But first try to look at yourself and then help others. If you don’t have place to stand, how can you bear the responsibility of others? Hence worldly education is also necessary. Along with the worldly education, you should have spiritual education too.

Ihamunu Sukhiyimpa Hema Taraka Vidya;

Paramunu Sukhiyimpa Brahma Vidya.

The worldly education is to confer happiness in worldly life.

The spiritual education is to confer happiness in the world hereafter.

One is worldly education and the other is spiritual education. When both kinds of the education are combined, then it becomes Atma Vidya. This is also necessary. Why else should I start this College? Through this College, I brought you towards Me and am trying to help you get rid of your laziness. The word ‘College’ is broken as ‘Ka’ and ‘lazy’. When the part ‘Ka’ is removed, you will become lazy. You should try to remove all laziness from yourself.

Yashoda wanted to catch Krishna and she went out of the house in search of Him. So many neighbours complained about Krishna saying, “He is going on stealing butter and also breaking the pots. It is acceptable if He eats the butter but why should He break the pots which we have been preserving for generations together. This is what your son is doing.” Yashoda was disgusted with this. Krishna liked butter so much. So Yashoda kept butter in one hand and hid the stick in the other hand and kept it behind. Then she called out for Krishna by showing the butter. This butter attracted Him to His mother. That is what Sai is doing today. Sai is coming to you with the butter of worldly education in one hand and the stick of spiritual education in the other hand. Thus He is trying to put you on the right path. You have practiced the worldly education for lives and births together. You have gathered a lot of dirt in yourself and you cannot get rid of all that in one day. Gradually by practice, you should get rid of it. By practice you get wisdom, and not just like that. By practice you get wisdom and by wisdom you come to know of sacrifice and then peace follows. You have to practice till you get peace. If you have inner peace then you have peace everywhere. If you do not have inner peace, everything outside seems only pieces. You should try for that inner peace. You are the embodiment of peace. When you contemplate on this, you yourself will attain peace. Peace is not somewhere else. You yourself are the embodiment of peace. If you find that peace, you will not have these tribulations. 

Therefore, everyday you should try to understand from where you have come and where you are going. If you stop on the middle of the path and ask a passerby where you came from, nobody will know that except you.

A person wanted to go somewhere and went to the railway station. The station master asked him where he wanted to go. If he replies, “I don’t know where I came from, I don’t know where I have to go”, the station master will think that the person is mad. You should know where you came from and where you are going. Otherwise it is equal to being like a mad person. You should get an answer to one of these questions. Today, nobody is thinking along these lines. If you ask a student as to where he came from, he says that he has come from Delhi. If he is further asked what for he has, he will reply that he has come for studies. If he knows the source and destination of his travel, then it is enough. You should identify where you came from and where you are going. Then you will end up in doing necessary and right kind of work. Therefore once you realise that you have come from the Atma and you have to go back to the Atma then you will always perform actions to reach your goal. If you forget that, there is no way you can travel. Your journey goes on only as long as you remember your goal.

Source: ‘Where Have You Come From? Where Are You Going?’ Discourse 28, My Dear Students Volume 5; Divine Discourse on June 2, 2000 at Trayee Brindavan

Let us be Sensitive to God's Grace - By Prem Majumdar

This is a message which Swami firmly imprinted on my mind through a precious experience. It made me acutely aware of how delusive the mind is and how it will cunningly utilize the entire repertoire of deception at its disposal to divert a Truth seeker’s attention from the Divine presence, which always pervades every aspect of our lives. 

Sri Sathya Sai in the Prasanthi Nilayam Interview Room

Around 1990, during my holidays (I was studying in Europe at that time); I came to Prasanthi Nilayam and was blessed with an interview. I should mention here that in the time leading up to that visit, I had come to Prasanthi Nilayam several times in an interval of six months, following Swami’s advice. Somewhat bewildered at finding her son embarking in such expensive journeys so frequently, my mother dropped the humorous remark that Baba might be thinking that I live in Anantapur and that I should not ask Him when to visit Him next. Nevertheless, in the above mentioned interview Swami told me to come again within the next six months. Divided between the joy about the Lord’s invitation on the one side and the slight distress of my mother on the other, I was struck by a sudden wave of audacity and placed the following request at Bhagavan’s feet, “But then You have to give me the money, Swami.” Swami replied, “Yes, yes” and took no further notice of the matter.

On arriving in Germany, I immediately booked a ticket for my next trip to Swami. The payment had to be made at the latest, a few weeks before departure. I prayed to Swami and said, “If I can get the required amount (without running to my parents for it) by the stipulated time, it will be a miracle, Your gift to me, however much it may look like a coincidence.” A few weeks after my return to Germany, I was notified by my principal that, on account of my grades, I was among the students who might be eligible for a student grant. And wonder of wonders, I ended up as being the only student who actually received a grant, due to certain seemingly “accidental” circumstances in our family. The grant came in the form of a one-time payment in cash and it exactly covered the fare of the plane ticket I had already bought.

I expressed my thanks to Swami, but after having received the money I somehow failed to maintain the acute awareness that everything is dependent on Bhagavan’s grace. I am sure all of us have experienced similar situations at the time of examinations. Especially, when we feel that we have not got a firm understanding of a certain topic, we arduously pray to God and acknowledge that without Him we cannot achieve anything. Yet, once the exams are over and especially when we have fared well, we suddenly seem to need God less urgently and are less concerned with getting His guidance and blessings.

Anyhow, I traveled to India and in the interview room in Prasanthi Nilayam, Swami suddenly turned to me and asked, “Who paid for your journey; your mother, your father?” I was totally bewildered. Why was Swami asking such a trivial and mundane question, I asked myself (I had made a whole list of ‘spiritual questions’ and was totally focused on a more ‘elevated’ conversation). Suddenly, the reason as to why Swami was asking this question dawned on me. He was referring to the promise He had made to me six months earlier, namely, that He would give me the money to come to Prasanthi Nilayam. Swami wanted to make sure that I would not brush off this wonderful repose of His as a kind of coincidence. So I smiled at Swami and said with confidence and with deep gratitude, “You gave me the money, Swami”. Swami also smiled and seemed very pleased. Obviously, I had given Him the correct answer.

Since then, this incident has often served me as a reminder - a reminder of the truth that God responds to our prayers. This experience also taught me that I may fully and even blindly rely on Bhagavan’s grace to do any task. If we are sensitive and receptive to His grace we can discover how He is always ready to bestow blessings in the fullest measure.

- Prem Majumdar

Alumnus, Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning

Prasanthi Nilayam 

Source: Sai Nandana 1995 (70th Birthday Offering)

Sri Sathya Sai Guidelines for Social Service

The process of education involves the process of self-control and self-denial. No person is free to live as his impulses prod him. Even the impulses are the products of unseen and unknown impacts, of previous lives and the pressures - social, cultural and economic - of this life. The impulse for action and the nature of action are determined by various hidden factors. As a result, when one claims that he has achieved or accomplished something, he is only revealing his pride and his ignorance. Man is so bound by circumstances and conditions that he cannot act independently of society, of cultural traits and of the will of the Supreme.

This world belongs to God. It has not been mortgaged to Man to be used as he likes. It has to be used for advancing His glory and demonstrating His Love and Power. Man has been endowed with senses, mind and intellect for this very duty. He has therefore to keep them pure and efficient. Of the eight steps laid down by the science of Yoga in order to succeed in this effort, Sama is the first and foremost.

Sama means mind-control; the mind, if properly trained and directed, can liberate man; or else, it can degrade him to the level of beasts. Sama is a great exercise in tapas or asceticism. An ascetic is not a person who flees into forests, lives on leaves, and spends his time in God-centered thoughts. True tapas lies in the mastery over the intellect, the mind and the senses. Now, why are they to be mastered? For achieving constant awareness of Brahman, and be immersed in the Ananda which It is.

Examine every thought rigorously

The Sadhana for achieving this goal is to concentrate on co-ordinating one's thoughts, words and deeds and directing them along holy paths. Every thought has to be examined rigorously., can it promote love, joy, peace in us, in the society, in the nation, in the world? Thoughts arise from bursts of emotion or passion. These must be tested and rejected if they would cause evil later or bring ill-fame, if acted upon. Dhyana (meditation) is the only saviour for such.

Meditation is of two types - meditation on the Personal and on the Impersonal. The first is centered on an idol or picture or an object with form. The mind, while engaged in such meditation, is liable to waver or wander. The second type does not depend on name and form. It dwells on the Universal and the Infinite Cosmic Consciousness, Brahman. Its consummation lies in mergence, as heat penetrates an iron ball, immanent, totally and inseparably. Mergence is the result of selfless surrender, as gold surrenders to the smith who melts and rolls, hammers and hits to turn it into a jewel.

Service activity opens the mind and heart

Education has to endow you with this eagerness to surrender. The uneducated may assert that his desire must prevail, he must be allowed to correct himself and he ought to shape his career as he wills. But the learned must be humble and eager to follow the Lord's will. These virtues can be discovered in man only when he engages himself in some activity, say, service of his fellowmen. The activity will reveal to him his plus points and faults and help him to improve himself and advance spiritually.

Since you are entering upon intensive social service in the villages of the Sathya Sai Taluk, I must tell you that this activity must open the doors of your minds and hearts, in order to let in the Divine Light. Your minds and hearts are now moved by gusts of emotion and waves of thought. There is no stability or fixed loyal. You are led hither and thither by desires that delude and pleasures that are phantoms. So, you must take refuge in the Divine and recognise the Diane in every object and event. 

Know that nothing can exist or happen without berg willed by God. Egoism and envy are blinding men from this Truth. Bhakti (devotion) is defied as the awareness of the Lord being one's Reality (Swa Swarupa Anusandhanam). The ego prevents the awareness of this fact. Utilise the time allotted to you in attempts to acquire the awareness and live in that ecstasy. Time flows fast, regardless of circumstance. Time has no friend or foe, no kith and kin, no favourite or competitor. So long as man is bound to the relative world of name and form, he is bound to the wheel of time. But, he can transcend the relative world, if he sanctifies time by good Karma.

Seva is the best of all good deeds of all good deeds, the best is Seva, intelligent and loving service to those in need. The body is the Temple of God. He resides therein; the intellect, the mind and the senses which constitute the Temple are His, not ours to be handled as our whims dictate. They are His Instruments, to be used by Him, for Him. In the Gurukulams of ancient India, the sages, saints and scholars communicated this message to their pupils and imprinted it on their hearts.

They implanted the seed of dedication to the Divine in the heart, ploughed by faith. The sapling was to be helped to grow by seasonal showers of Dhyana. In time, the flower of Shanti (peace) turns into the sweet fruit of Ananda. The seed has to be firm; the dedication has to be unconditional. Really speaking what right has man to desecrate the Temple of God? His duty lies in maintaining the holiness of the Temple and use it for Puja prayer, Dhyana and devotion. The intellect, mind and senses are the furniture that belongs to the Temple. They have to be revered as such and used with care. God, residing therein, is the master, the maker and the motivator. You have to worship Him with pure unblemished thoughts, words and deeds.

How can a person escape from blemish? By watching the antics of the mind as a witness and not allowing the body to assist the mind to fulfil its foul desires. The mind by itself cannot commit theft; when it longs to commit it, do not allow the body to obey. When the mind is foiled in this way when it calls upon the body, the mind will give up its evil tendencies. When the child runs forward, the mother tries to catch up. Hence, the child tries to elude her grasp and, falling, hurts itself. Instead, if the mother turns her back, the child too will return to her side. Cultivate this Sadhana. You can master the mind and keep it on the Godward path.

Make good use of mind and intellect

When a festival involves large-scale feeding, people borrow for the occasion cooking vessels from rich persons. After using them, they clean the vessels spic and span before returning them. The rich man will be greatly disturbed and disappointed if the vessels are returned, damaged and unclean. God has lent us, for use in the festival of life, vessels like intellect, mind and senses. We have to use them with gratitude and return them in clean condition. 

While in the stage of earning Vidya, you should not yearn for Vishaya. Vidya (study) is spiritual exercise. Vishaya (objects) allure and deceive. Cultivate a steady mind and a fixed vision. This is the Tapas that has to supplement studies. Vidya and Tapas are the very breath, the Sadhana of inhaling and exhaling, the proper Pranayama.

Social service is also a Tapas, a spiritual exercise. It promotes the practical application of your knowledge, skills and virtues. Wealth, scholarship, power and prestige are all despicable if they are not directed towards moral ends. Ravana tried to win Sita by parading before her, while she was a captive, his might and wealth. But, Sita threw a blade of grass in his direction and said that he was worth much less. For, he had no mastery over his mind. The mind had rendered him a mean coward and a thief. 

Youth alone can transform youth. The youth of the villages will be inspired when they find you, graduate and post-graduate students, in Khaki work clothes, evincing practical interest in the cleanliness of the environs, the health of the villagers and in fulfilling their needs. You must bring the youth together and form them into a group which can, with the guidance of the elders, maintain and expand the work done by you. Discover what their needs are, so that you can attend to them. We can, for instance, open gruel centers for the aged poor and their dependents. You have to win their hearts through love. When Love is planted and fostered, factions will disappear from the villages.

Villagers are basically good-natured, God-fearing folk. But politics as well as attractions for city life, have led them to the present impasse. When they hear wise counsel from the lips of the children, they are bound to be affected. Train yourselves to speak in their own language to gatherings of villagers.

When you have offered service for some days, I shall proceed to those villages with you and bless your work and the villagers you have served.

Source: Divine Discourses to Students of Sri Sathya Sai Institute at the Prasanthi Nilayam Mandir on May 13, 1985