Sri Sathya Sai Felicitates Students at Brindavan

 Sunday, August 1, 1976

Sri Sathya Sai lighting the lamp at the Brindavan College Auditorium before commencement of the Function

Swami felicitated the students of the Brindavan College who had secured many distinguished ranks and first classes in the University exams in a function organised by the local Bangalore Samiti on this day. The Revenue Minister of Karnataka, Sri Huchmasti Gowda, presided over the function. Sri Huchmasti Gowda, Dr. M.B. Sundara Rao, Prof. V.K.Gokak, and Principal Narendra addressed the students. The function concluded with Swami’s Discourse. He said:

“There are four chief types of people. Those who see only good in everything and everyone; those who see the good as good and the evil as evil; those who see the good as evil and the evil as good; and, lastly, those who do not see the good at all, because even the good they see they transmute into evil. Of these one can tolerate the first three, perhaps, but the fourth type is definitely demonaic.

Education is now caught up in confusion; instead of leading the country on along prosperity and fraternity, it struggles to take it along alien and degrading paths. It does not build on the strong, sustaining foundations of Indian culture, but is still based on the plans of Macaulay. Among most of the products of modern education we do not find even traces of moral virtue, honesty, integrity, eagerness to serve and readiness to renounce.

One who lives for the sake of eating is a sinner

The education that was practised in ancient India was far superior and far more fruitful, for it equipped the student with a healthy spirit of self-reliance. It endowed him with mental peace and equipose. It never allowed him to be enslaved by the glittering fancies and fascinations of other cultures. It taught him to discriminate between the flippant and the stable, the upgrading and the down pulling. It enthused the student to offer his life at the feet of his Motherland with a glow on his face and a sparkle In his eye. It armed him against all obstacles on the path of self-culture and self-realisatlon. It exhorted him to oppose, without rest or relief, untruth, injustice and violence. 

But instead of cultivating these high ideals and incorporating them in our educational system, we are now borrowing educational ideals from other peoples with different heritages. We have no faith In the system that has been extolled by our ancestors for millennia.

Education is to be valued not as a means of earning one's livelihood, but as the essential requisite for a happy, peaceful and progressive life leading man from the animal stage of existence to the presence of the Divine, where love and light reign undisturbed. He who lives for the sake of eating is indeed a great sinner; he who lives for the sake of reaching the full awareness of his Innate Reality is blessed. The first one is a Paapi (sinner), the second a Gopi (blessed one).

Readiness to renounce is a prime virtue of character

Intelligence being the special mark of humans, every effort must be made to amplify and sharpen it so that it may be a fit Instrument for understanding the inner and the outer worlds. Along with intelligence, character, too, has to be cultivated in equal measure, for then alone can that Intelligence be used to serve society. The readiness to renounce one's pleasure in order to relieve the burden of another is a prime virtue of character. Moksha means liberation; renunciation, too, involves giving up, or liberation. The secret of both is the same.

What exactly has to be renounced? Desire is the worst enemy and it has to be canalised and reduced with determination until it ceases to bother you. Besides desire, anger and greed also have to be discarded, for they are present wherever there is desire. When you say bowman, it is implied that arrows, too, are there with the bow. Thus desire is ever associated with anger and greed. Desire is bad even if it is for fame and authority. It is the avarice for power and pelf that ruins many a human life.

Life is a journey. The students here have to journey long. So, it is necessary to give them the skill, the enthusiasm and the security that can take them happily along. Their hearts are pure, steady and inclusive. Elders should so behave that they do not tarnish their hearts or make them narrow and vengeful. They must be encouraged to enlarge them and soften them through intensive social service.

Wealth cannot yield joyous contentment

Our educational institutions have failed to maintain the high standards of yore. In the past, in the Ashrams (hermitages) of the Rishis (sages), one was declared fit only if one secured a hundred per cent marks in one's subject of study. Now, however, thirty marks out of a hundred are enough for the university to grant one a certificate of having passed. That means that one can commit seventy mistakes with impunity and be none the worse. When such is the ease with which degrees can be secured, and when degrees are the basis for being appointed to positions of authority, the person so appointed will tend to commit a hundred mistakes for every hundred assignments and be safe in his post. How can these people be the saviours and pillars of the India of tomorrow?

Therefore I always tell the students of my colleges to attach more importance to avoidance of 'remarks' than acquisition of 'marks.' Wealth cannot yield joyous contentment. Divinity alone can confer that. Yearn for God, and joy and peace will be added unto you. When you pursue these elevating ideals, you will come up against many obstacles which others place in your path. So you must be ever alert and vigilant not to be taken in by their specious pleas.

Awareness is life; be aware of your Inner strength and glory. Express that glory through loving service to society. In northern India yogis (spiritually advanced person), sages and monks are addressed as 'Maharaj,' which means 'Emperor,' for an emperor is he who has a rich treasury of the gems of detachment and service, not one who has his vaults full of precious metals. The wealth that you hoard is not yours; the wealth that you have shared is yours. For wealth that belongs to you needs not to be hidden.

Defamation and criticism also do some good

The wealth that you have given away is really yours. That is the reason why the Vedhas (ancient sacred scriptures) have declared, "Not through actions, nor through progeny, nor through wealth can Immortality be won; it can be won only through renunciation." The youth must acquire and invest in themselves all the skills and virtues which can help India prosper and shine forth as the benefactor and preceptor of mankind. They must develop self-confidence, the base for the mansion of their life; they must then erect the walls of self-satisfaction and put on them the roof of self-sacrifice. Then they can live In that house and achieve Self-Realisation Thus they must progress along these steps and become exemplars of Indian culture in Its glory.

Some people, afflicted with envy at the reconstruction of Sanatana Dharma (Eternal Universal Religion) for the revival of the glory of India, are attempting to undermine its basic beliefs and create confusion In the minds of the youth. The kokil's song is harsh to the ear of the crow, but the crow's criticism will not silence the lark. The hamsa (swan) is defamed as ugly by the duck, but that does not worry the swan in the least, nor can the duck decrease the glory of the celestial swan. Defamation, criticism and slighting are all to be set aside, unrecognised; they shall not be valued at all. They are all in the order of things. In fact, they also do some good in their own way, for they help to emphasise the excellence and bring it more to light. It is a foil to make the thing shine brighter. Besides, when one person says 'no' and another says 'yes,' it is an individual problem.

Youth should never yield to the call of Fanaticism

The attempt to darken the splendour of Sai can never succeed, except by one means: Suppose Sai-splendour is indicated by a line of a certain length. Efforts to shorten it by wiping or erasing it will not make it shorter. But if you draw by Its side a longer line, then, automatically, it will become shorter! So do the things that Sai is doing, on a grander and more impressive scale, then the fame of Sai will certainly diminish. That is the more effective way, rather than the fabrication of baseless stories. Of course one must have the qualification and the authority to enter on that attempt. How can an ant measure the depth of the ocean? Still, many venture into this field for they have nothing better to do. They succeed only in causing a stir In the calm atmosphere of the land.

Jesus was crowned with a crown of thorns. A thorny fence around a tree is clear proof that the tree has edible fruits in plenty. Precious time should not be wasted in such games: it is best spent in realising one's Divinity and serving society.

The acts of Sai are all selfless, sacred and beneficial. Sai has never caused harm. He is establishing the path of Truth, the Path of Morality, the Holy path to God-Realisation. So Sai's work will march triumphantly on. The person who can make Sai give up His task in fear has neither yet been born, nor will ever be born hereafter. For Truth is Impregnable. Truth must triumph. A dog barks at his own reflection Imagining it to be a rival. Other dogs, not knowing the reason, take cue, and the whole area is drowned with barking. Some bay at stars, but the stars are unmoved. You should not be perturbed by this empty noise; carry on your mission of service as now, with your usual enthusiasm. Youth should never, yield to the call of fanaticism or revolution. Try to control your emotions, even from this tender age. In one way the agitation is useful, because you can practise self-control in these exacting conditions.

Your master is your heart, where God resides

I desire to tell the units of the Seva Organisation that very soon they will witness the realisation of all their ideals. But as and when success is achieved, as a reaction, carping and denigration will also increase. When the well grows deeper, the mound beside it will grow higher. That is but natural. Some people pay attention to the depth of the well; others watch the height of the mound. 

I have been telling you one truth always: your master is your heart, where God resides. You. yourself are three persons, not one: the one you think you are, the one others think you are and the one you reply are. The one you really are, is God. God is in you, with you, above you, around you, behind you. All of you are Divine in reality; differences in name and form are but temporary and external. 

Carry on your highest duty to yourselves - following the four F's - follow the master, face the devil, fight to the end and finish the game. Then you will win My Love in full measure. Love is my highest Miracle. Love can make you gather the affection of all mankind. Love will not tolerate any selfish aim or approach. Love is God; live in Love. Then all is right, all can be well. Expand your heart so that it can encompass all. Do not narrow it down into an instrument of restricted love.

It is said that I try to attract people by miracles; the miracles are not 'performed' in order to exhibit power; they just happen, and serve as evidence of the power. As a matter of fact, whenever any one misuses his powers - physical, mental, economic or spiritual-Sai always condemns them strongly. Therefore, the Sai Power cannot be a subject for a university examinations; it is a subject for universal examination. Sai is limited only by His Own Will. But when a near and dear relationship is established, one can delve a little deeper into the Sai Mystery. That is the highest achievement possible.

Embodiments of the Divine Atman! Develop peace and equilibrium of mind and spend your lives in sacred pursuits like service to the distressed, the diseased and the deprived. That is My advice, and that will ensure you My Blessings.”

Source: Sri Sathya Sai Digvijayam (1926-1985)

Some Experiences With Divinity – By D. P. Sharma

I could not believe that He was what He claimed to be. It was the 22nd day of October 1983. I was sitting in the Darshan line. The day was bright and sunny. A cool breeze blew sometimes, shaking the leaves of the coconut trees and it seemed that the leaves of the Neem trees were dancing with joy as it was the time for having the Lord’s Darshan.

It was a unique opportunity and a wonderful experience to sit on the sands in front of the beautiful Prasanthi Mandir amidst many devotees who hailed from various parts of India and many foreign countries. I had never seen such an assemblage of men and women from different parts of the world sitting quietly for hours, some even closing their eyes and meditating and waiting to have a glimpse of an Indian-born God. I too, was very eager to see Him and was waiting for His arrival. After sometime there was a sudden stir amongst the devotees. I looked around and saw that all eyes were riveted on a door from which He was expected to appear. To the joy of everyone, a short figure clad in a red robe appeared, and first headed towards the lady devotees, and then slowly came gliding towards us. There was pin drop silence. All eyes were fixed on Him. He talked a little here and there, took letters from some, smiled at others, looked sternly at some and simply ignored some. Some devotees were crying, some smiling, some trying to touch His feet, some trying to attract His attention towards them but most of them longed to get a slight glance from Him.

I was looking at Him and the devotees with wonder. The short figure with curly hair, peaceful countenance and gracious movements, was a wonderful phenomenon. I looked at Him and could not believe that He was God, the Lord of the Universe. I thought, “Oh! He is a great Yogi, a great Sadhaka; see how weak He has become by doing strict Sadhana.” My heart was filled with love for this figure. Also a sense of respect came into my being for such a great soul. He went past without looking at me, turned towards the Mandir, reached the portico and disappeared. All devotees started getting up from their places after Darshan.

I was now engrossed in the thought as to who this figure really was? What was it that I had seen just then? Could God be a man, a little man? If He were God, then why didn’t He talk to me? Why didn’t He enquire the purpose of my visit? Many such questions arose in my mind and vanished. Who could answer these questions?

I had my own conception of God from my childhood day. I had read many stories of Shiva, Parvati and other Gods and Goddesses and had a firm conviction that God is the greatest of all. He is Omnipresent, Omniscient and Omnipotent. His Darshan can put an end to all sorrows and sufferings. If, by chance, in the journey of life we were to come across God, He would bless us with His Abhayahasta. After that our lives would be full of Ananda and we would become Divine too.

But here I was not getting this sort of experience and so, I started doubting from the very first day. Strange are the ways of the Lord. We do not understand the mystery of His workmanship. He works on us in different ways. He cuts, grinds, and polishes us. Has He not said, “Man is a diamond; he must shine”? I really did not know what it meant. I was in the process of being cut and crushed in His hands. Little did I realise that the next day would bring quite a different experience for me. The next day, luckily I got the first line for Darshan. He came with His enchanting smile. He came close to me and stood in front of me. I hesitantly touched His Lotus Feet with both my hands. To my utter surprise, my hands received an electric shock and I was in bliss. He did not look at me, but passed on.

During the evening Darshan, I came with a long letter in which I had poured my heart out. As He came closer, I saw His half-smiling face in full majesty. I extended the letter towards Him. He took it with one hand and blessed me with the other. Suddenly a flash of light emerged from His palm and entered my eyes. Ah! What a wonderful experience! I had received what I wanted from my Lord - the Abhayahasta. How could I, now deny His omniscience? This act of the Lord was the answer to many of my questions. Now, I started contemplating on the mystery of the Lord’s creation, and His mysterious nature. I read a lot about Him and made up my mind not to leave this place if possible. 

Many months passed in His presence. I had many experiences. Swami would come in my dreams and give me advice or predict some future incidents. Many a time I used to ask questions in front of Swami’s picture and He, in person would answer during Darshan. Swami, in one of my dreams, gave me an interview. He walked for a long time, and I narrated all the misfortunes I had in my life. Swami listened to everything with rapt attention but did not comment on it. He simply looked at me compassionately.

In another dream, Swami called me near Him and said, “You shall continue your studies”. I was not in a position to believe that I would become a student again, and so asked, “Will I Swami?” He said, “Yes, Yes, Certainly. You shall continue your studies.” And needless to say after a long lapse of almost five years I became a student again and started renewing friendship with my old friends (books), with new zeal and growing interest.

The following incident not only shows the omnipresence of Sai but also His love and care for His children. It was May 1985; I was on my way to Manipur, my home state. I was nearing the crowded Howrah junction in West Bengal. As I was alone I was afraid that I would not get a reserved seat. The train stopped and I started praying to Swami in my heart of hearts. While I was about to proceed towards the enquiry office, suddenly I smelt Vibhuti. I looked around and found no one nearby. But the fragrance was so strong that I didn’t take time to realise that Swami was there to take care of me. I got a seat and continued my journey happily.

But a greater proof to show the Lord’s care for His children waited on the border of Nagaland and Manipur. Everybody is aware of the fact that in the border state such as Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim & Mizoram, unless one has an identity card showing that one is in a Government service or a student, one cannot enter these states.

I did not have any identity card with me. The police personnel were very strict and they had become all the more strict due to the impact of 'Foreign Nationals issue'. A person without the necessary documents was sent to prison or sent back. Since there was no way out, I started chanting, “Sairam, Sairam, Sairam ...” Three police personnel got into my bus, checked everyone, and questioned all the passengers and asked them to show the necessary documents. But surprisingly, I was neither questioned nor asked to produce any documents. A policeman came in front of me, sternly scolded some passengers around me, looked at me too but did not ask for anything. After few minutes I was proceeding towards my home town. 

I met my parents, and after a very short stay I came back to Prasanthi Nilayam. Swami called me for an interview and mentioned to me what I had spoken to my parents there in Manipur, which is nearly 3,500 miles away from here.

He, in that interview, said, “I am you. You are Me.” The essence of all the Divine wisdom, the only truth of the universe, the relation between the creator and the creation - is contained in this sentence.

Every minute in Prasanthi Nilayam we get a unique experience with Swami. But we have to be alert and watchful. Today I don’t have any doubts about Sri Sathya Sai Baba. He is God, “The Lord of the universe”. 

- D.P. Sharma

Alumnus, Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning

Source: Sai Nandana 1995 (70th Birthday Offering)

Why Practice is more important than Preaching?

Practice whatever you learn. You may learn many things in spirituality but you should try to practice one or two at least. Once Narada approached Sanata Kumara and prayed to him for supreme wisdom. Sanata Kumara, in turn, inquired about Narada’s eligibility for receiving the highest wisdom. Narada replied that he had studied the four Vedas and the six Shastras. He had understood the secrets of all rituals and the fruits gained by the actions as expounded by the Vedas. He also claimed to have understood the meaning of each and every word. Having listened to all this, Sanata Kumara asked Narada, “It is good that you have gone through all these sacred texts, but how many things you have practiced from the Vedas? You would have gained wisdom if you would have practiced one of them”. Bliss or happiness does not lie in education. Modern education is confined to textual knowledge, and it is not enough if you are familiar with texts. Throughout your life you keep on reading. But when are you going to practice all that you have learnt, and when will you attain permanent bliss? All the food served in the plate should be partaken and digested. Only then will it give you strength. Narada was well versed with all 64 kinds of knowledge and yet he could not experience bliss. We should, therefore, gain practical experience. We should realise what we are reading so that we practice at least a fraction of it in our daily life. 

Cultivate Spiritual Knowledge

Students! Instead of lecturing in tons, it is enough if you practice in pounds. One pound of practice can cure all your diseases. You don’t know what is to be taken in. You take into your mind all the happenings of Japan and Russia. All unnecessary material is taken inside and hence there is no place for necessary material. Stuff your minds only with that which will help you in leading a peaceful life. There were so many great people who were born in this country who excelled everywhere. But do you find their name in the world today? You all know the city of Calcutta. It is the city of great people such as Bipin Chandra Pal and many others who were highly intellectual and highly educated. But does the present generation remember them? Their names are there only in books. But, the name of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, a person who didn’t even learn alphabets, is present in the heart of every person. Therefore, we should try to enter into the hearts of people and not into books. Students, along with your regular studies you should cultivate spiritual knowledge. Only then there will be harmony. Just as a bird cannot fly without two wings and a car cannot drive without four wheels, you should have perfect balance between studies and spiritual knowledge. The text ‘Grantha’ and the fragrance ‘Gandha’ are our hearts itself. You should win all praise and acclaim so that people follow you later. 

Along with education refinement is also necessary. Many people like Elliot did research on this topic but could not come to the conclusion. Finally, Elliot concluded that culture is the way of life. What is this way of life? Even bad way is a way of life. Therefore, you should select that path which can directly take you to bliss. You get eternal bliss if you follow the direct path to God. That path is the path of love. This bliss is one of wisdom and it is the one which is attributeless. Therefore, we should try to reach that God who is attributeless. This whole world is full of attributes. What are these attributes (Gunas)? They are Satva (the pious), Rajas (the emotional) and Tamas (the dull). A violin, for instance, has only four strings but you can play all tunes on these four strings. In the same way many things originate from these three attributes only. 

Follow Your Own Conscience

Purity leads to unity, and unity leads to Divinity. Therefore you should strive to acquire purity first. What is the mark of purity? There are many colours, but white is the most important colour. White reminds us of purity. But that doesn’t mean that by wearing white cloth we can attain purity. You should have purity in heart and purity in mind, so that it (mind and heart) becomes selfless and very affectionate. Whatever you are from inside, you should be the same from outside; otherwise it is regarded as cheating. Students should try to get a good name for your institution, your parents and finally to yourself.  Parents want only one son who is decent and brings good name to them. The Kauravas, for instance, were hundred in number, but they were of no use to their parents. It is enough if you have one son who acts as the light of the family. If you have one good son, he will bring good name for the whole family. Be like the jasmine flower in the midst of a thick forest that spreads its fragrance everywhere. Just like the flower, you can transform the whole forest with your fragrance. You should never hurt anybody and you should follow your own conscience. Therefore ‘Help ever, Hurt never’. You should follow all these teachings with full faith in God. On the other hand if you oscillate like a pendulum then nobody can do anything for you. Even if you are supposed to sacrifice your life, be prepared and be firm. The name of Harishchandra who stood firm in order to save truth is found everywhere even this day. This body is not at all permanent. Hence we should surrender our mind and body to God. This body is like a water bubble and this mind is like a mad monkey. Therefore, we should never follow this mind. We should follow our conscience, our Atma, which is your firm witness. The modern students and the grown-up adults have a monkey mind. It is not ordinary monkey but mad monkey. Take time to discriminate between good and bad or right and wrong. 

Students! Don’t act in haste because haste makes waste and waste makes us worry. Therefore hurry makes us worry; hence you should not be in hurry. Always try to maintain peace and composure while performing any act. You should not pray for your benefit only. Pray for the benefit of the whole world. All religions are the same. They all lead us to the same goal – God. Therefore you should pray for the welfare of all the religions and all the people. Bring harmony in thought, word and deed. Give up hatred and develop the feeling of love towards everybody. Share the loving thoughts with others and lead a perfect life so that you get a good name for our country. 

Source: Discourse 6, My Dear Students Volume 4; Divine Discourse on July 17, 1996 at Prasanthi Nilayam

Happiness is in Union with God - By Marcello Sandri

After having been in the Divine fold for the last many years, after having observed Him, after having talked with Him many a time, the only thing of which I can be sure about Bhagavan is that He is love, love and nothing other than love. The way He looks at everyone, the way He smiles at everyone, the way He moves, are all reflections of His inner being, of what He really is, and that is Love alone.

Often we may feel that He is ‘angry’ with us, but we should never forget that He is the greatest actor in this drama of life. He acts so well that we fail to recognise the Love. He acts ‘angry’ in order to correct us, for we do not change otherwise. So, His main aim is our happiness. Isn’t that Love?

When He gives discourses, when He sings Bhajans, we are all exhilarated and feel overjoyed though we may be far away from Him. How does this happen? It is because His love is like a wildfire, which spreads out making everything and anything burn in the same fire. At that moment we really feel happy. The only problem is that we do not keep that fire alive, we let it die out and thus we return to our normal state.

Our life as a student seems to be like in paradise for we have everything that we need around us and to top it all, we have Bhagavan Himself who lives with us. But why is it that He then emphasises the point “Look within, start your inner journey.” ? A journey within! And where is the destination? First of all, what could we possibly find inside us that is not already outside us?

I am reminded of a small poem, which answers all these questions beautifully. It goes like this:

God wanted to hide, He said:

“If I hide on top of the highest mountains man will climb it and find Me,

If I hide in the atom, He will split it and find Me,

If I hide on the stars, He will spy me out with His telescopes.”

So, God decided to hide in the place where man would never search,

And that is in the depths of His heart.

So, God is there inside us, in our heart. That is what our Dear Lord means when He asks us to look within. He gives us a clue to this treasure hunt and the treasure is immense, immeasurable. It is up to us to find this treasure so well hidden. It is said that the best way to hide something from someone is to keep that object right under his nose! That’s exactly what Bhagavan has done. The biggest treasure of all is not under our nose, it is with us already, but we do not know it! How foolish is it of us to go around searching for what we actually already have.

‘God’, ‘Consciousness’, ‘Bhagavan’ and ‘Inner Being’ is all synonymous. Bhagavan is no different from us except that He knows that He is God while we do not. In the Bible too it is written: “God made man in His very form.” Does it mean physically? I don’t think so. Our soul is the same as His. We are just a part in His endless whole. How beautiful it is to think of this! We are God, God is we. So, if we are God, we can achieve anything! We can do what others can’t. We can now do the things we were afraid of. This is great. All this would be true only and only if we really believe that we are God. Another poem springs up in my mind in this connection:

A small boy looked up at a star and began to weep.

And the star said: “Boy, why are you weeping?”

The boy said: “You are too far away,

I will never be able to touch you.”

And the star answered, “My dear boy, If I weren’t

Already in your heart, you would not be able to see me.”

When I read this poem for the first time, I was out of breath. I was really astonished. This poem clearly describes the way we are living today. We are like the small boy weeping for the worldly things around us knowing not that we have them already inside us. This is in accordance with what Bhagavan says: “Everything is a reflection of your inner being.” Everything we see around us; if at all we are able to see anything, it is already inside us. The worldly things we see are just reflections, and reflections are not real. This is what is called Maya. The whole world is Maya; it is unreal. But we are very much attracted by it. You may ask me how it is possible to have everything inside. This is indeed possible because we have Bhagavan inside us. Then we have the whole Universe and much more too! It all comes back to the point that we have God inside us.

Then, how is it that we do not hear Him or why doesn’t He talk to us? It is because we do not try to listen and also we do not give Him the necessary time to talk. Once, a student went to Socrates and asked him: “Master, how can I find God?” The great master then took him to a river. The boy obediently followed him into the river. Suddenly, Socrates pushed the boy into the water. The boy began struggling for breath but in vain. When the boy became blue in colour, Socrates pulled him out. The student was very angry and abused him. Socrates then said, “Dear boy, when you were under the water, what did you want most?” The boy answered “Air.” Then the great truth was revealed: “My dear boy, you can find God only if you want Him as badly as you wanted the air then.”

We can hear the Lord inside us only if we really want to. The choice is in our hands. It is up to us to make this choice fast, for God is waiting.

Finally, another big question arises. Why should we create a bond with the inner Lord when we have Him physically with us? This question makes real good sense right now, the future, when Swami sends us into the world to spread His love and mission to everyone, it would make no sense at all. Then we wouldn’t have Bhagavan physically anymore. What would we do then? Should we just forget everything that we have learnt here in Prasanthi Nilayam? No. It is then that an inner Lord takes over. This is why we should create a very strong bond with Bhagavan within. Just imagine, we would have Him however we want Him to be, wherever we want Him, whenever we want. There would be no physical limitation then. He would be available to us at any time ready to love us, help us and rescue us. He will then surely guide us on to the right path. He will enact through us. He would become us.

And that is the final stage of our life where we would feel the real happiness, which we feel so often in Bhagavan’s presence, so often but for so less time. But now it would be a never-ending happiness, for, “Happiness is Union with God.”

I would like to conclude with a poem. But this is a poem with a difference, for, it was written by Bhagavan Himself:

Come one, come all; See Yourself in Me, for,

I see Myself in You all. You are My life, My breathe, My soul.

You are all My forms. When I love You, I love Myself.

When You love Yourself, You love Me.

I have separated Myself from Myself so that I could love Myself.

My beloved ones,

You are My Own Self.

- Marcello Sandri

Student (1992-2001)

Sri Sathya Sai Higher Secondary School

Prasanthi Nilayam

Currently, Senior Software Engineer, Italy

Source: Sai Nandana 2000 (75th Birthday Offering)

How should we celebrate Guru Poornima?

That is Full; This is Full; When Full is taken from the Full, Full remains - this is the Upanishadic axiom! The Divine is Full; Creation is Full; even when Creation happened and the Cosmos appeared to be produced from the Divine, there was no diminuition In the Fullness of the Full. Fullness is the attribute, the nature of the Supreme. It cannot' be diminished by the process of creation of the Cosmos. Why is creation also called the Full? Because, it came from the Full.

You go to the bazaar to purchase a kilogramme of jaggery. The keeper of the shop brings from his store a big lump, and he slices off a portion, weighing about a kg; he then weighs lt and gives us, in return for the price amount, one kg. of Jaggery. We sample a piece from the big lump and we expect the portion to behave as sweetly as the original lump. We go home and take a little to prepare the sweet drink called paanakam. The paanakam is sweet; the kg of jaggery and the mother lump - all are equally sweet. Fullness is the quality of the Divine; it is found in part or portion or in half or whole. Quantity is not the criterion; quality is In the visible world that has been taken from the substance of the Divine, this quality is found equally full. We shall not consider the world as anything less than God.

God is in the world, in and through everything

Of course, there are scholars who proclaim that the world is a hollow zero, that it has no latent or potent strength, being but a dream and a delusion. This is a sign of the blindness of Ignorance. God is very much in the world, in and through every thing in it, with no exception. In the Geeta the Lord announces, "I am human among living beings, the cow among animals, the lion among beasts, the cobra among snakes, the eagle among birds, Prahlaada among Rakshasas. No item is discarded as not worthy of God. There is no body that He does not activate, no Form that He does not reside in. He is fragrance, brilliance, sweetness and taste, intelligence, valour, austerity, fame, contentment - an desirable and even undesirable things and qualities. One can acquire unalloyed bliss only by knowing this universal all inclusive glory of the Lord.

There are four stages in securing the Grace of the Lord, by this means: 

(1) Attaching the mind to God

(2) Loving tile Form of God to which the mind has been attached

(3) Installing that Form in the heart and 

(4) Dedicating all that one has and does to the Form so installed. 

You have a great example of one who successfully travelled through these stages and realised the Goal of Life, in the Mahabharata, namely Ekalavya. Though Dronachaarya refused to accept him as his pupil, Ekalavya attached himself mentally to him as Guru (preceptor); he Installed him in his heart; and finally, he offered at his feet all the skills and fame that he had won through the grace of Dronachaarya!

The Three Grades of Intelligence

It has become a routine affair - this observance of the Festival of Guru Poornima. This day, the Guru is adored, and Gods are worshiped, praised and propitiated by song and feasting. But, are these enough, let Me ask. The observance can yield fruit, only when the deeper significance of the Day is grasped and meditated upon. Gum is the person who destroys the darkness of Ignorance by his own illumination. Most Gums have only feeble, borrowed light; the removal of darkness has to be complete, with no trace of lurking shadow. Like the Full Moon that happens every year on this Day, the mind of man has to be charmly fair, cool and full. This gift of Light can come only from God, for, he is self-illumined; He Is the source of Light for all planets and stars, as well as for all beings.

In Vedantic vocabulary, Chit and A-chit are two terms set against each other, comprehending between themselves, the Created Universe. Chit means 'Intelligent' and A-chit means 'non-Intelligent'. There are no two opposites like this. There are grades, slowly passing from one to the other, from the less intelligent to the fully intelligent. In fact, there are three grades, not two!

The first is: Shuddha Tattva, the second is: Mishra Tattva and the third is: Vasana Tattva.

(1) The Shuddha Tattva is what Christ referred to as the Kingdom of God. It is far beyond the reach of Mind, it is the realm of pure equanimity. 

(2) Mishra Tattva is this earthly kingdom, alternating between repose and activity, sloth and adventure, Thamas and Rajas. While the first is spoken of as the Nithya Vibhuti (the ever-lasting Glory of the Divine), this the second is spoken of as Leela Vibhuti (the scene of the ever-changing ever-fresh sport of God). 

(3)This is the region of inactivity, ignorance and inertia, the Tamo Guna.

The Vedantic point of view

The Universe is the Field where God sports. Be aware of this fact, every moment of consciousness, and there is nothing more you need for a happy existence. For, you will then contact God in every thing through every thought at every place and at every moment. His Leela is evident in the smallest flower and the most distant star. The joy that you can derive from the contemplation of these proofs of providence is indescribable. Krishna has said in the Geeta that He is ever by the side of the joyous being. Be joyful yourself and make others too share in that joy. To limit oneself and be happy while self-centred, is bad.

The third stage is called Vasana Tattva. This is where your narrow selfish will takes charge of you, and enslaves you. Vasana is the ingrained force of aeons of enslavement to the senses. You have to overpower its subtle impact and liberate your will from Its hold.

Cultivate the attitude of un-attachment, of indifference, of bypassing the urges, through prayer and systematic practice. This will lead you to Dharma (Righteous behaviour) and Truth; you are then entitled to the Dharma Stambha, or Satya sthambha (the Pillar of Righteousness or Truth). This is also referred to as the Vedanta point of view. Vedanta does not mean, running away from home and the company of men and escaping into the solitude of the jungle. (Home is certain to haunt you, wherever you may take refuge). It implies recognition of all this (the idam) as Divinely Poornam (full). and dedication of all thoughts, words and deeds to the Divine. When you have the Vedantic Vision, the place where you are will thereby be Kailaas for you.

When Leela entices God, it takes eight forms

The Sun cannot illumine God; God is the source of the illumination of the Sun. The waves can say they belong to the Sea; but, they cannot claim the Sea belongs to them. The individual can say, "I am Yours" to God; he cannot say, "You are. mine" to God. God is the support; you are the supported. The Nitya-Vibhuti is the support of the Leela Vibhuti; the Sea is the base on which waves happen. When Leela entices God, it takes eight forms: Shuddha Brahmamayi (the absolutely Pure), Chara-charamayi (the moving and the non-Moving), Jyotirmayi (the Luminous), Vaangmayi (the Vocal), Nityanandamayi (the ever-blissfull, Paratparamayi (transcending this world and the next) Mayamayi (enrapturing by its delusive charm) and Shrimayi (resplendent with wealth). The attributeless God assumes the Mind, the Intelli- gence and the Ego, and the magnificent Leela is inaugurated!

The experiences of the waking stage are laid aside when dreams start; dream experiences disappear when sleep supervenes. Being too Is lost in becoming. Christ said, "Life is lost In dreams." But, whatever is experienced in any of these three stages, they happen on the basic Truth, that is, God - just as, all the fear and anxiety, the activity to beat and kill the serpent, is based on the rope that was ignorantly mistaken for a snake.

Let your Love enfold all things and all beings

So, man must endeavour to escape from this delusion and reach the state of fully Illumined wisdom. The best spiritual discipline that can help him to do so is Love. Foster the tiny seed of Love that clings to 'me' and 'mine', let it sprout into Love for the group around you, and grow into Love for all mankind, and spread out its branches over animals, birds and those that creep and crawl, and let the Love enfold all things and beings in all the worlds. Proceed from less Love to more Love, narrow Love to expanded Love. The statement, "From untruth to Truth" is not correct. The progress Is always from the lesser Truth to Truth which is God.

This is a story about the Gods. It deals with the greed of men. It was a fine day in Heaven; Sriman Narayana and His Consort Lakshmi were talking away the hours, when Narada, the wandering minstrel, entered and attracted their attention. Narayana asked Narada whether the denizens of the Earth were happy. Narada replied that since they worshipped Him and won His Grace, men everywhere were quite happy and prosperous. At this, Lakshmi (who was the Goddess of Wealth) was afflicted with Jealousy and anger for, Her share in conferring happiness on man was not acknowledged. She challenged Narada to prove that Naaraayana was more adored than Herself down on earth. 

Goddess Lakshmi accepts a challenge

Narayana accepted the challenge. Donning ochre robes, He transformed Himself into a monk and went down amongst the villages and towns, preaching the Path. Thousands flocked at these meetings and listened to the enchanting oratory. They followed Him from place to place and adored Him with effusive enthusiasm. He was being carried along on a huge wave of devotion and adulation.

Lakshmi saw this and could not contain herself: She was overwhelmed by envy. So, she too donned the Sanyaasi (ascetic person)robe and came down to the very region which Narayana had conquered for Himself. The people were drawn towards Her by the effulgence of Her presence, many came away from the meetings addressed by Narayana to bask in Her Presence. A few invited Her to their homes for dinner. She agreed but, declared that it was a vow she had Undertaken, not to eat out of plates other than her own. She said, she would bring Her own plate, cup, drinking vessel etc. The host was only too glad to comply with Her request, for, that helped him to overcome one bother among many!

Lakshmi took with Her when She went to the houses of Her hosts, a plate of gold, a cup and a water-vessel, all three of gold! The host admired and adored Her the more for this display of pomp and wealth. But, he was astounded and delighted, when, after dinner, Lakshmi said that she was leaving the plate etc., at the host's home, since that too was part of her vow! When the news spread that it was highly profitable to Invite Lakshmi to Dinner and to adore Her, there was a huge clamour for Her Grace and millions deserted Narayana's Discourses and hovered around the Giver of Gold. People prayed to Narayana to go back to whence He came, for, they had no time to receive Him or listen to Him. Lakshmi was monopolising their attention! So, Lakshmi came back to Heaven, to meet Narayana who was already there. She asked Naaradha, "Who is being worshiped more, Narayana or Lakshmi?"

Righteous activity is prompted by Truth

Narada replied with another question: "Whom are You worshiping, please?" Lakshmi answered, "Why? I worship Narayana." Then, said Narada, "Know that it is Narayana's Grace that is helping you to bestow those gifts of gold, which make men worship you." Lakshmi's pride was humbled; but, man's foolishness continues. He worships Vasudeva (mere earthy riches), not Vasudeva (indwelling divinity), Lakshmi, not Narayana!

Righteous activity is prompted by Truth. Truth is the basic teaching of all Faiths. Also, Morality and Love. These three have come to establish. This day is Guru Poornima. The morning I laid the Foundation for the Pillar of Truth, which supports and sustains the twin virtues of Love and Morality. In the Vedic Rite of sanctifying the spot where the Pillar will be erected, you must have noticed that nine different grains that grow on the earth and nine precious gems that are got from under the earth were used. These represent the Nine forms of Bhakti (devotion), the Nine stages in man's journey to God, the Nav Vidha Bhakti. Of these, the most vital is Seva (selfless service) to fellow-beings. I exhort you to dedicate yourselves fully to this task and live in the full cognisance of this primary duty to your own self-service.

Source: Divine Discourse on July 23, 1975 on the occasion of Guru Poornima at Prasanthi Nilayam

The Highest Devotion

This world is a manifestation of the mind. The world as well as the senses are manipulated by the mind alone. The senses and the world take sustenance from the mind. The entire universe is made up of the five elements. Ether, Air, Fire, Water and Earth are the five elements. Each of these elements assumes subtler forms than the other. Water, for instance, is lighter and subtler than the Earth. Fire is subtler than Water and Air is still subtler than Fire. Of all these, Ether is the subtlest. Hence the Earth, Water, Fire and Air, all emerged from Ether. Because of the motion of Ether, Air is formed. From Air is formed Fire. Fire cannot sustain without Air. Because of the coolness from Fire, Water is born. Water, when solidified, forms Earth. All these elements take sustenance from Divinity. Mind is the root cause of all these. 

Mind is present inside the body amidst the five sheaths (Pancha Koshas). The five sheaths are Annamaya Kosha (gross body sheath), Pranamaya Kosha (pertaining to the Prana, life force), Manomaya Kosha (mind sheath), Vijnanamaya Kosha (intellect sheath), Anandamaya Kosha (Bliss sheath). Where is the mind inside these five sheaths? Above the mind is Prana (life force) and below it is discrimination power. Both these are related to Fire. Mind is related to Water. The Moon is the presiding deity for the Mind. Hence coolness is the nature of the Mind. Because of the presence of life force above and discrimination power below, the Mind melts and gets transformed into water. The nature of water is to flow towards the lower level. It does not have the nature of flowing upwards. Hence the mind always wanders around the sensory pleasures. It is always driven into worldly activity. It can’t voyage towards the pure and higher stages. To divert the mind towards the higher realms, spirituality is of utmost necessity. 

Journey to the ‘Amanaska’ State

Every human being is aspiring for happiness and is desirous of it. How can one be happy? You should understand the nature of the Atma which gives sustenance to all the senses. The source for all the five senses is the space or ether. This ether emerges from the Atma. If you understand the Atma clearly, there is a possibility that your senses and the five sheaths will be under your control. Then you can enjoy happiness. Happiness is beyond comfort and sorrow. Comfort and sorrow are just manifestations of the human mind. That state which is beyond this pleasure and grief is happiness. Such a state of happiness is knowledge. This knowledge is all pervading. This is referred to as “Prajnanam Brahma” – Knowledge is Brahman. Even though this knowledge is all pervading, certain ways have to be followed to identify it. This is called Prajna as it speaks of the equanimity present at all levels viz. body, mind, discrimination and intelligence. This is called the inner voice. There exists no difference between this inner voice and God. God is the inner voice and the inner voice is God. When the voice of the heart, that is the voice which comes from within you is adhered to, happiness follows. How to experience that inner voice? To experience this inner voice, you have to control the activity of the external senses. When the inner and outer sense organs are completely controlled, then the inner voice can be heard. What manifests externally, the activity pertaining to the external world has been named ‘Manas’ (mind). That which is internal is named ‘Nama’. That which is not the mind (Manas) is Nama. As long as he is under the influence of the mind, man treads various paths. When he gains control over this mind, he reaches the state of Amanaska (No Mind State). The voice of God is heard only in the ‘no mind state’. To listen to this inner voice, you have to practice various spiritual disciplines. These are named as devotion and surrender to God. 

Different Types of Devotion 

To understand these aspects, you should have love for God. To achieve love for God, the easiest path is to worship God as having a form. There are various ways in this type of devotion. Most important of them are three: Satvic, Rajasic and Tamasic. In the Tamasic form of worship, man prays to God through violence (causing pain), anger, and pomp. That which is done for the sake of name, fame with pomp and ego is called the Tamasic worship. Rajasic worship is done for the sake of name and fame, for power, for fulfilling selfish interests and to attain great heights in one’s life. A Sattvic devotee performs all the activities to please God, with total surrender and does it as a service to God. Beyond these there are various other forms of devotion: Nirguna Bhakti (devotion to the attributeless), Rakshasa Bhakti or Asura Bhakti (demonic type of devotion) and Moha Bhakti (devotion with attachment). Devotion with the feeling that one alone should be safe, one alone should be happy, one alone should be blessed, involves utter selfishness. Such a devotee does not aspire for the well being of his family or the society around. One with devotion of the demonic nature leads a life of cruelty and anger, lacking mercy and compassion. A devotee of Moha Bhakti does not think as to what is real and what is unreal. He does not have the faculty of observation and discrimination. Even though he has no intention of troubling others, he causes pain to others. In such a situation, he loses the capability of understanding. All the three types of people (the ones with Rakshasa Bhakti, Asura Bhakti and Moha Bhakti) do not have the devotion for God. They have no quality of helping others. They are devoid of compassion and pity. Such people ‘preach’ about devotion beyond attributes. This preaching can be said to be demonic. 

There are two other kinds of devotion which are different from these: Vipraka Bhakti and Sankarshaka Bhakti. In the latter kind of devotion, the aspirant tries to get closer to the objects and persons, be friends with them, believing that what is distant from him is also his own. This pertains to the principle of love. Coming close to the objects and persons, far away from oneself is this kind of devotion. The other kind is full of hatred. Losing the objects and relationships with people who are near to you, thinking that the object which is near to you is far away are the characteristics of this kind of devotion. This can be called as devotion with hatred. In the Sankarshaka Bhakti, there are again three kinds. One form is that the person respects someone elder to him, is obedient to him, welcomes him and enjoys his company. The second kind is where the person makes friendship with others of his age, and loves them and has no fear in their company. The third kind is that the aspirant has love, compassion and pity for those who are less privileged than him and shows them a way in accordance to their status. For all these love is primordial.

Para Bhakti: The Highest Form of Devotion

There are four goals (Purusharthas) in the world which people aspire for: Dharma (righteousness), Artha (wealth), Kama (desire) and Moksha (liberation). They are not able to realise that there is one more thing higher than all these. God is higher than everything else in the world. When such God is realised, seen and when a close relationship is established with God, the happiness one enjoys, that state of liberation, that principle of love has been called as Para Bhakti (devotion of the highest order). This devotion can be called as liberation itself. Liberation is merger with God. Liberation is that when there is no difference. The ability to look for unity in diverse things rather than differences is the principle of man. Para Bhakti is reaching that state. This can’t be attained by everyone. One need not be in despair that it can’t be attained. One should try for it. One should not waste his time thinking that he is different from others. As long as one sees others to be different from him, man will be in doubt. So long as there is doubt, he can’t realise the eternal Truth. 

Today man is preaching a lot of things but he is forgetting the fact that the same things apply to him as well. He does not enquire whether he is practicing what he is preaching. This is ostentatious devotion. Such fanfare and ego fails man in his attempt to reach his goal. He moves away from God. You should not entertain such doubts which take you away from spiritual and Divine thoughts. Such doubts exist for those who have selfishness and self-centered feelings. No such doubts arise in the minds of those people who aspire for God’s love and devotion. Today’s man exhibits his love and devotion for God only in matters related to worldly issues. But in the case of the Atmic principle which is related to Divinity, the individual’s devotion and commitment is its own witness. 

Source: Discourse 7, My Dear Students Volume 3; Divine Discourse on July 9, 1989 at Sri Sathya Sai Hostel for Senior Students, Prashanti Nilayam

Love of the Divine – By Anand Sastry

Everybody experiences the love of one mother in this world. But we see here that the students of Sai experience the love of a thousand mothers. She shapes our destiny. Her compassion and Love towards us cannot be repaid. A few of the Divine miracles of such Compassionate One are given below. 

In the year 1995 I came here as a Seva Dal. When we were given Padanamaskar I asked Bhagavan for admission into His school the coming year. When I came the next year Bhagavan told that the admissions were over. Then one year passed after which I joined in Bhagavan’s institution in Alike. This institution runs under Bhagavan’s direct supervision. 

Introduction of my family to Sai Organisation in Kerala has a short story behind it. My maternal grandfather was good at singing and very often he used to sing in the temples. Once a member of Sai Samiti approached him and requested him to sing in the Samiti Bhajans. Initially, he hesitated but later he agreed.  

As he was a staunch devotee of Lord Shiva, he planned to sing a Bhajan on Lord Shiva. Soon after he began singing, a snake appeared on Bhagavan’s photo and remained there throughout the Bhajan session. After this miracle, my grandfather joined the Sai Organisation. When he came to Puttaparthi for Darshan, Bhagavan called him for interview and told that he would look after his whole family. Now his daughter and sons are very well settled. 

My grandfather was a scholar in Sanskrit. Slowly he was drawn towards Bhagavan upon hearing various miracles experienced by many devotees. Our home deity is Lord Muruga. After gaining firm faith in Bhagavan, my grandfather became a good devotee of Bhagavan. Thus, his practice became to worship Lord Muruga first and then Bhagavan. When he came to Parthi for the first time, he was fortunate enough to be called for an interview. Bhagavan noticed a photo of Lord Muruga in my grandfather’s pocket. Bhagavan took a close look at the photo. A few moments later Bhagavan blew at it, and to my grandfather’s surprise, he found that a portrait of Bhagavan appeared behind Lord Muruga’s photo! Then Bhagavan explained to him that He and Lord Muruga are one and the same. 

When I was young, my parents had a wish that my ‘Vidyarambham’ (Beginning of Study) must be done by Bhagavan Himself. So, we all came to Prasanthi Nilayam. Bhagavan came near us. I directly caught His Pada (Legs). So, in order to release it, Bhagavan held me with both hands and lifted me. He then called me as “Bangaru.” Then He caught my hand and made me write “AUM” on the slate. I have preserved it since then. 

My father works in a bank as a senior manager. When I was studying in third standard my father was posted in a place called Kanur. But my brother, mother and I stayed back. Since he was staying there, he started to attend that Sai Samiti. At my father’s place from the photo of Bhagavan,Vibhuti started coming out! It was a continuous flow. 

After two years he got transfer to a place called Trishur. So we also shifted our residence to Trishur. He had applied for a car loan. In a few months, the money was sanctioned. So, he started attending the driving school. But in a dream, Bhagavan came and blessed him by teaching him how to drive. This happened regularly. In this way Bhagavan blessed him. 

My brother, studying in Whitefield (Brindavan) campus of the Institute, had a wonderful experience with Bhagavan. When he was studying in fifth standard, our State President asked my parents if they would like to make the boy sing in the presence of Bhagavan. Later two others also joined him. They learnt a Telugu song, which was not familiar to them and presented it in front of Bhagavan. Bhagavan was pleased and blessed them. My brother asked Bhagavan if he could get admission in His Institute. Bhagavan said, “Yes” and blessed him. 

Once Bhagavan graciously allowed our district Bal Vikas students to present a cultural programme. I was also fortunate to be a part of the acting team - of the drama called ‘Sai Avatar’. During the stage rehearsal session, the drama was shortened from around thirty minutes to twenty minutes. We were not happy with this, but we carried on. On the day of the programme, we were all dressed in our costumes and were taken to Poornachandra Auditorium. We were asked to cut short the time of the drama further. After a while it was informed that there wouldn’t be any drama. I broke down. Suddenly, Bhagavan came there and observed me so. He signalled me to be calm and referred to me as “Chinna (small) Shastry.” We all got Padanamaskar. By this we can understand that Bhagavan has His own ways to bless His devotees. 

Bhagavan’s miracles are mysterious. They have a definite reason behind them. He will never leave our prayers unanswered. Thus, He alone is the embodiment of Love. He works for the welfare of humanity. We are really fortunate to have come to His Lotus Feet. Our virtues blossom only because of Him. He alone can lead us to the light of wisdom. 

My cousin lives in Bombay at Dombivli. He had a serious internal problem near the kidney. My father went to attend the operation. He gave the book ‘Shirdi Sai Satcharita’ to my cousin’s mother. On the day of operation, my father was sitting outside the operation theatre and was doing Namasmarana. A Sadhu dressed like Shirdi Sai Baba came there at the very moment the operation started. He sat there until the operation was finished. 

Prior to this incident, my father had a similar dream. Thus the operation was a success. This is another way how Bhagavan showers His blessings. 

Bhagavan likes those persons who have good thoughts in their mind. He blesses everyone at the appropriate time. The things practised by Him alone teach us. He loves everyone in this world. There is no enemy or friend for Him because it is from Him that we have all come into this world. He never tells that we must worship only Him. He tells that we can devote ourselves to any God. 

A paralysed lady used to attend the Bhajan sessions. Many treatments were tried on her but all in vain. She was brought to the Samiti by her son and was made to sit in a corner. She took the Vibhuti given after the Bhajans. She sent a letter to Bhagavan through the Kerala Seva Dals. The letter was given to Bhagavan and from the time Bhagavan accepted that letter, she started recovering. She became healthy within a week and became an active member in the Samiti. 

This following incident will clearly prove the omnipresence of Bhagavan. My brother was studying in Bhagavan’s Institution in Alike. Once the Warden of the Hostel had given an important instruction to the boys. My brother could not understand the instruction because he could not understand the local language in which the instruction was being given. He was caught and reprimanded by the teacher. He felt sad and ashamed. The next day he was still feeling sad. Suddenly in the morning, the teacher who had reprimanded him came and consoled him. The teacher said to him that Bhagavan had come in his dream the previous night and told that he was a good boy and that he did not know the local language. By this incident we can learn the omnipresence of Bhagavan. He would never let His devotees down - never ever. 

If you surrender to Him, He will look after everything. He will reward everyone for his devotion and dedication. Whenever I see Bhagavan, I feel a burst of Love from Him. Love is the bond between Him and me. This love is the real bond between everything in this world. 

- Anand Sastry

Alumnus, Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning

Prasanthi Nilayam

Source: Sai Nandana 2000 (75th Birthday Offering)