Fw: An Unusual Interview ... Sathya Sai Darshanam .... Quiz ... From Me to Myself
Sangram Kondel
An Unusual Interview…
Saturday, September 7th, 2013
In His message to us, our beloved Lord Sathya Sai tells those who have not found Him yet: “Take one step towards Me and I will take ten towards you”. I would like to tell you about exactly such a case which I witnessed during my November trip to Puttaparthi. It was not my first meeting with The Lord. Life in this world, especially business life in the difficult situation that we find ourselves in Russia now, imposes such cares, trials and tribulations that one can be released from them only by physically coming to Bhagawan Sathya Sai and delving into the spiritual environment that one can find only in the Prasanthi Nilayam Ashram.
It happened that this time I had to go from St. Petersburg on my own and I thought that at least one of my Moscow friends might like to join me. None of them yet realised the importance of the fact that it was high time to step out on the spiritual path, though all of them heard, mainly from me, about the phenomenal occurrence in the history of humanity - the embodiment of God on Earth in the form of a man, Whose Name is Sri Sathya Sai Baba. My closest Moscow friend (I’ll call him ‘M’) heard rather much from me about The Lord. Nearly every time returning from India I would visit “M” at his home and tell him of my fresh impressions about the journey, leaving some books in Russian about Sathya Sai Baba. However he would listen politely but do nothing else: he did not show any interest and did not read a single book. I could not understand it knowing that “M” was an educated man with a subtle critical mind. He was a rather well known scientist and achieved nearly all-scientific titles: doctor of technical sciences, professor, inventor emeritus of the State, State Prize-winner. He knew me since we were students and could be sure that I would not say anything that was not true or overstate facts. From my information “M” knew about the fascinating cases demonstrated by Swami especially as I myself was a witness to some of them during three interviews. It was evident that phenomena that cannot be explained from the point of view of this world were taking place in Prasanthi Nilayam. These were not in accordance with the known laws of physics, chemistry etc.
At the present moment my friend has serious life problems: like many scientists in Russia, he lost his permanent job; his health is far from perfect; he has harmful habits; smoking, drinking for several years. All that had a harmful effect on his health and state of mind; he was unusually in a depressed mood; he knew that ahead of him was old age with all its difficulties, illness, deterioration, loss of close friends. That is why I tried so hard to help him to discover for himself Sathya Sai Baba.
We are so lucky we live in the same time as He. Our country has become democratic enough for us to be able to go and see the Lord for ourselves and, if lucky, to have His interview. I thought it would be a great loss for anyone to miss such an opportunity.
Now, before going to India, I rang my Moscow friends, offering them an opportunity to go with me for 2 – 3 weeks; but all of them including my friend “M” politely refused my offer pleading they were too busy etc. I was surprised, but suddenly “M” rang me up saying that after talking it over with his wife he decided to go in spite of his financial difficulties. He told me later he persuaded his wife saying that possibly, after this trip he might stop drinking. His calculations showed that if he gave up drinking for half-a-year this would cover the cost of this trip to India. I had explained to him no one was allowed to drink or smoke, or eat meat or fish in Prasanthi Nilayam. He agreed to obey these rules but would not read books about Sathya Sai.
We were given a room with all conveniences; besides us there were two young men: a Japanese from Osaka and a German from Berlin. On the second day of our stay in the Ashram I gave my friend three of the last editions of the quarterly magazine “Divine Love” my Sai friend Sophia gave me when she learned “M” had not read anything about Sai Baba yet. On the third day before going to bed my friend at last opened one of the quarterlies and started looking through. He would choose only those pages where Swami Himself speaks, and being transfixed, continued reading through the night in the bathroom, so that the rest of us could sleep undisturbed (after 9 o’ clock people in the Ashram are supposed to go to bed).
Next morning at darshan I got the second row and managed to keep a place behind me for my friend. Usually it is not allowed and a Sevadal on duty did not like it but I managed to persuade him. “M” came half-an-hour before darshan when the first ten rows were filled, but seeing me he successfully got through to the third row. At darshan Swami passing us made a sign with His hand three times looking straight at “M” and me. First I thought it was for me and understood it as a blessing. It made me very happy as any look or sign of attention from Swami is very exciting and pleasant for us all. After darshan my friend took me aside and started with great excitement telling me that last night he saw Swami in his dream and spoke with Him. This was a very unusual dream, he could see everything very clearly and remember everything as if it was real. “M” was very agitated and confused; he could not understand whether it was a usual dream cast by what he had read or it was something he could not fully comprehend.
Below is the dialogue between him and Swami as related by “M”. Swami was sitting at the rostrum in an auditorium where “M” usually delivers lectures for students, and he was sitting opposite Swami at a table like a student.
Swami: “You wanted an interview – you will have it now. You always liked double lectures (2 x 45 min without a break): you will now have such a period yourself. You may ask Me questions”.
“M”: “Not everything is clear in religions. They divide.”
Swami: “All religions were written for the time when people were primitive and so they were expounded in the language and concepts of that period. A blind belief and miracles were required. Look at Moses who was taking Jews from Egypt showing miracles. Each time requires its form. Temples were constructed but the real temple must be in one’s soul. You did not want to read books about Me, but you studied mathematics: first 2 x 2, then further, then physics. From the simple to the complex, but all the knowledge is held up by the highest knowledge that is God. Gradually one goes from intellect to spirituality; one needs intellect to live in this world. You started reading about Me for the sake of your friend. Your friend is My channel. He brought you here and did it selflessly. Do not worry about material things - you have a good intellect. Just imagine that man’s life in a cosmic scale lasts only one hundredth part of a second, so what difference does it make where you live: in a palace or in a hut?”
“M”: “Where can I find strength?”
Swami: “If you have spiritual strength, then physical strength is not important. Your programme was to go swimming in the sea (this is exactly what Alexander and his friend were going to do: to spend 3 days at the coast for swimming). Go or you will be sorry. One must do everything sincerely, nothing should be done under compulsion. You have a good intellect and it’s not necessary for you to stay here long. You have to decide”.
“M”: “How shall I live now? May be I should become a monk or work out an algorithm of my future actions?”
Swami: “If you put bread into the mouth of a hungry man, then he will never learn to earn it himself. One can’t work out algorithm for the whole of one’s future. That is why you are given a choice in your life. I give you a trial and watch what choice you will take. On that depends whether you pass your test or not. If there was no choice, you would be slaves, and I don’t need slaves. You should find a spiritual path by yourself, everything depends on you. You should not expect any gratitude for whatever you give.”
“M”: “What concrete steps should I take to come to spirituality?”
Swami: “Let us take an example of water – it is a substance. One may pour it into a vessel; they may bring it to you in a restaurant in a crystal glass or you may pour it into a gold goblet. But the best of all is to go to the source, the spring and drink it from there. The spring is in your heart. It is forgotten; you must yourself converse with God. What should you do? You must gradually change yourself morally for the better. You have bad habits. Start with getting rid of them. You have already become better; less proud. Pride is making you blind. Alcohol dries up your brain – that is the worst, it’s an obstacle to God. Smoking dries up your body. It hinders your development.”
“M”: “What then?”
Swami: “Act according to the criteria of Truth. One can clean the puss out of the wounds like Mother Teresa or help people, but if you are proud then everything is in vain. If you want you may bring people the knowledge about Me, but do not be a lecturer. Nothing should be done without sincerity, one should not be lazy. Your wife is more spiritual than you, she is more compassionate. Both of you still have an opportunity to come to Me – our life span is not finished yet”.
“M”: “I can’t understand: is it a dream or not? I am waiting with my group for an interview”.
Swami: “The cleverer a man is, the less faith he has. There are no miracles in the world, only a level of knowledge. For you to believe, tomorrow morning at darshan I’ll make a sign by moving My hand three times like that (and Swami showed how He will do it). That’s the end of your double time.”
Next morning during the darshan Swami confirmed that it was not a dream by moving His hand three times. Swami repeatedly said that no one can see Him in a dream without His will. It is truly surprising that for each person Swami finds an individual way of helping him in his spiritual growth at the right moment; and giving this amazing interview, Swami expressed His Love to my friend as He always does.
sourced:
http://www.theprasanthireporter.org/2013/09/an-unusual-interview/
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Sathya Sai Darshanam – The Beauty Beyond Compare!!!
Saturday, September 7th, 2013
Prasanthi brings the rarest ever boon, to invoke the Lord in physical, singing His glories twice per day. With bhajans rolling from one to another, it becomes a virtual Sadhana of enticing The Lord with many a name. The more the waiting prolongs, which is a one-off boon for Prasanthi, her yearning intensifies.
Given below is an excerpt from the ‘Darshan Story’ on 6 & 7 September 2010 in Prasanthi Nilayam as chronicled by The Prasanthi Reporter…
Let’s read..assimilate…live with it and thus manifest HIM, our Beloved Mother Sai!
Let’s re-connect to PRASANTHI DARSHAN UPDATES to connect to THE BEAUTY BEYOND COMPARE!!!
Mon, Sep 06, 2010: As the fresh week’s maiden darshan was awaited, this evening, there was added devotional fervour in the air and as time rolled by Prasanthi continued with her “Penanace” invoking The Lord! …And soon with the arrival of the beautiful twilight, there was a bustle outside the Yajur Mandiram indicating the imminent emergence of The Divine!
Emerging at 1845 hrs. to come for a full round of darshan, Bhagawan moved into the bhajan hall for a short stint. Coming out shortly through the main entrance, blessing someone on His way, Bhagawan moved onstage at 1905 hrs. through the doctors’ block marked by a raised tempo in bhajans.
In next five minutes, Bhagawan nodded for Mangala Arathi. Asking for an encore of “Samastha Lokaha…” Bhagawan sat for another five minutes, glancing at the assembly, and the hall was engulfed in total silence. Moving off, Bhagawan interacted with some devotees before gliding into the ladies’ side at 1925 hrs. retiring for the day.
Tue, Sep 7, 2010: This Tuesday morning earned the Divine favour as Bhagawan came out granting Divine Darshan! Hit by gloomy weather with shady sky blocking the brightness of the Sun, The Lord emerged at 0921 hrs. lighting up the morning with His warm presence! Coming for a full round, interacting with some devotees, Bhagawan moved into the bhajan hall to spend quite some time in. Subsequently emerging at 0951 hrs., Bhgawan moved into the interview room to spend next forty minutes in. As time sped past, bhajans went on until Bhagawan emerged at 1028 hrs. to accept Managala Arathi. Moving off the dais at 1033 hrs., Bhagawan glided into the ladies’ side retiring for the session.
In the evening, one of intensified yearning, Bhagawan emerged at the twilight hour, at 1843, and the response in Sai Kulwant Hall was swift as flash of light spread across luminating the God’s Theatre, heads turned and eyes glued with hands going up in reverential posture and full throated bhajans rented the air with added vigour…and…Bhagawan moved on!!!
A slow round ensued with many getting their share of bliss of close darshan, sparshan and some with sambhashan. Completing a full round Bhagawan moved further into the ladies’ end, before turning about to come onto the portico.
Lengthy interactions followed and even as He glided past the lower portico, many received His attention before Bhagawan assumed His seat at 1915 hrs. Soon it was time for Mangala Arathi. In the meanwhile, blessed prasadam went for distribution.
After Arathi and the Universal prayer, Bhagawan asked for an encore of “Samastha Lokaha…”. With prasadam distribution in the half-way, Bhagawan sat on and a group of children with a card moved unto Him. Bhagawan spent quite some time with the group, seeing the card, in between calling some of the related faculties, blessing them all.
At 1930 hrs. Bhagawan moved off, continuing to interact with some enroute, before gliding into the ladies’ end at 1935 hrs. retiring for the day.
II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II
sourced:
http://www.theprasanthireporter.org/2013/09/sathya-sai-darshanam-the-beauty-beyond-compare-33/
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DISCOURSE QUIZ ON 'CEILING ON DESIRES'
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Right answer on your 1st attempt
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Right answer on your 2nd attempt
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Right answer on your 3rd attempt
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On one occasion Baba said “Man minus desire is God”. Desires are what takes us away not only from God from our own peace, happiness and well-being. As they say, the one with least desires is infact the richest and most contended man on this planet.
The fact of the matter is that the moment you stop desiring for things, the more they start coming to you. And the more you chase them, the more they make you chase and finally tire you, exhaust you and in the process take away your health, happiness and peace. Perhaps it is for this reason that Baba always insisted on everyone putting a voluntary ceiling on their desires.
God in His infinite compassion has been showing us the path to permanent and lasting joy. Let us think deeply about this and bring it to action seriously in our lives. To help us contemplate on this more and understand this in the right perspective, here is a quiz based on what Baba has directly said on this theme over the years.
01. During a Divine
Discourse given in 1983, Swami emphasised the need for setting limits on
everything we need in order to function normally: “Man needs some essential
commodities for his sustenance and he should not aspire for more. We can learn
a lesson in this respect from Nature. Only if air is available in sufficient
quantity will it be comfortable and good. If it is excessive and there is a
gale you will feel uncomfortable. When you are thirsty, you can consume only a
limited quantity of water. You can't consume the entire water of River Ganga!
We take only as much as is needed for the sustenance of the body.
“Doctors know that the body temperature is normally at 98.4. If this goes up
to 99 they say fever has set in due to some disorder in the body. We inhale
and exhale at a normal rate. If there is a slight increase or decrease in the
rate it indicates a problem in the body. Changes in the pulse rate or blood
pressure also indicate disorder. So you find that if you cross the limits even
to a little extent it is dangerous or harmful to the body. There is a limit
for everything to function in a normal way. When your eyes happen to see a
flash of lightning or a flash light while taking photographs, they
automatically close because they can't withstand such high illumination. Ear
drums also cannot tolerate hearing beyond a certain volume and we close our
ears or keep cotton inside the ears. Our life therefore is a limited company!”
Then, during a Divine Discourse given in 1984, Swami declared: “There is the
programme connected with ‘Ceiling on Desires’... You must realise that this
programme has not been launched to raise funds... The objective of this
programme is to prevent waste of money, time, food or other resources and to
use all these for the welfare of the people.”
According to Swami, “The seva programme is intended only to provide you with
opportunities to make your lives sacred and worthwhile. It is to
..........................”
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02. During a Divine
Discourse given in 1973 during the Summer Showers, Swami guided students by
elaborating on the importance of the proper usage of money: “We should never
regard wealth as the most important thing in our life. We should regard
dharma as the most important thing. We should thereby earn the grace of
God. You should have money which is enough to meet your essential
requirements. Anything more than that should be used for charity and such
other good things.
“Today, we do see many students getting spoilt by possessing excess of money.
In the first instance, it may look very difficult to get on with minimum
amount of money; but if they can control their desire for money, they will be
very happy and peaceful thereafter. When students are really in need of ten
rupees, they prepare themselves to ask for twenty rupees. In that context,
when the children ask for twenty rupees, the parents should give only ten
rupees. This is very essential. The son may feel hurt but that hurt is
momentary, he will get strength later on. If he is given twenty rupees when he
actually needs only ten, he will get bad friends and spend that money on them.
“There is a small story which is significant in this context. On a Saturday, a
father was engaged in worshipping the Lord and he called his son and told him
to get some plantains for one rupee. This son was a good boy and he went and
purchased the plantains, but on the way he saw a mother and son standing on
the road; they were very hungry. When the hungry boy saw the plantains, he ran
towards them. The hungry mother, who saw the boy running, ran after him and
caught him; but both of them collapsed of hunger. When this young man found
these people suffering so much from hunger, he thought that it was much better
to feed these hungry people than take the bananas home. He gave the bananas to
this mother and son, also later he brought water and gave it to them. These
people were so relieved of their hunger and thirst that they expressed their
gratitude in many different ways and shed tears of joy.
“This young student went home empty handed. When the father asked him if he
had brought the bananas, he replied in the affirmative. When asked where the
bananas were, the son replied that the bananas which he brought were sacred,
will not rot, and cannot be seen. The son explained that he fed two hungry
souls with the bananas; and the fruits which he brought home are only the
sacred fruits of action. The father then felt that his son was worthy of him
and felt that all his prayers had been answered that day. He thought that his
life was very sacred as he had such a good son. The father developed great
affection for the son from that day and they came much closer to each other.
Such a closeness between father and son is very rare today. If you can develop
such a feeling, you can develop your country into a Thyaga Bhoomi
(land of sacrifice) and a Yoga Bhoomi (land of yoga) and build up
great traditions.”
With regards to when parents offer money for education, Swami advices students
thus: “Never waste money. If you waste money, it amounts to ................”
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03. During a Divine
Discourse given in 2008, Swami guides us further on the topic of money by
alerting us: “If you waste money, you may have to face many difficulties... We
should not waste money. What is the use of wasting money? Misuse of money is
evil. Therefore, never misuse money. Spend only when it is necessary. Is it
proper for you to spend money unnecessarily only because your pocket is full?
Is it not a mistake? In this manner, many people waste money. Those who get
fat salaries spend money in an arbitrary way. When you lead your life in such
a lavish manner, low income people like sweeper and milkman will also try to
imitate you and ask for more salary. We should not set a bad ideal to others.
We should follow the path which is beneficial to all. When you have too much
money, you don’t mind wasting it. But do not spend money like that. You should
think before spending, whether you are making proper or improper use of
money.”
During another Divine Discourse given in 1983, Swami elaborates more on the
misuse of money: “Similarly our desires also should be limited. Women are
usually desirous of adding to their wardrobe any number of sarees when they go
to a shop or an exhibition. You should have a reasonable number of sarees, but
not a huge collection for pomp or show. Misuse of money is a great evil. Even
men will have to do their own bit in controlling the expenditure on unwanted
and unnecessary things. Money is Dhaivaswaroopam (Embodiment of
Divinity). When you talk of wealth you should be careful to avoid avaricious
accumulation and extravagant expenditure.”
During a Divine Discourse given in 1985, Swami gives a very sound advice: “A
man should own only as much wealth as is essential. It is
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04. During a Divine
Discourse given in 1973 during the Summer Showers, Swami also impressed on the
importance of valuing Time: “Time is moving away fast like the wind. The
duration of our life is melting away like a block of ice. We will drop the
body sometime or the other and leave this world without knowing the purpose of
life. When life departs, the body will either be buried or cremated. What is
distinctive of human life? Man must recognise the sacred task for which he has
taken birth. If he spends his time only in fulfilling his sensuous desires, he
will be wasting his life. The duration of a life is an important factor.
Therefore, time should be used properly. Man is relying very much on his
physical and mental strength. He is not making the slightest attempt to fall
back on divine strength.
“Today, in the human heart, there is a huge fire. The fire of anger, the fire
of lust, the fire of greed and the fire of attachment are always burning in
his heart. He does not seem to realise that all these fires can completely
consume him and reduce him to ashes. Unmindful of this, he carries on his life
and makes grandiose plans for his future.
“Our birth, our life, our growth, our decadence and our destruction are all a
result of passing time. Night following the day and day following the night
are also a consequence of passing time. When it is day time for us in India,
it is night time for people in America. For half the earth, it appears as day
while for the other half, it is night. The earth itself is teaching us a good
lesson by exchanging the darkness, of one half with the brightness of the
other half. In spite of this lesson, we believe that our life is unchanging
and permanent. This is ridiculous. That we change from boyhood to youth, from
youth to old age is illustrative of the fact that passage of time brings about
changes in us.”
According to Swami, “Our primary objective should be to recognise the nature
of time and utilise it in a sacred manner.” Swami also alerts us: “Any work,
which has no specific .................... means wasting time.”
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05. In the Gita Vahini,
Swami makes us ponder even more deeply on the matter of time: “If you fritter
away your time and energy in vain pursuits thus, what for is your human birth?
What will happen to you in future? Did you ever ponder over this? Time is the
measure for human life. Time is the most precious aspect in human life. Don’t
waste time.
“Man has to perform karma in this karmabhoomi (field of
activity) right from birth to death. In fact, the human birth has been given
to us to perform karma. We are, therefore, engaged in performing
various karmas continuously. But, very few make any effort to enquire from
themselves whether the karmas performed are satkarmas (good deeds) or
not. One has to strive to sanctify his time right from childhood.”
Then, during the 1990 Summer Showers, Swami alerts us more: “Only when the
body is strong, healthy, and happy can you enjoy the proper state of balance
in life. Man’s life is wasted in brooding over the past and worrying about the
future. What is the root cause of man’s sorrow and sickness? Not being content
with what he has, and hankering after what he does not have, man forfeits
peace of mind. There is no need to think about what is past or about what is
in store in the future. Of what avail is it to think of the past, which is
irrevocable, or to worry about the future, which is uncertain? It is a sheer
waste of time. Past is past, future is future. You can do nothing about
either. What is most important is the present. This is not ordinary present.
It is Omnipresent. The result of the past and the result of the future are
both present in the present. You are reaping in the present what you had sown
in the past. And what you are sowing in the present you will reap in the
future. Thus, both the past and the future are contained in the present only.
So, make the best use of the present. Give up all sorts of worry and lead
ideal lives leading to immortality and fulfilment of the purpose of human
life.”
According to Swami, “In one's life, the years ..................... are the
most precious. This is the period when all of one's faculties and energies are
at their peak. Hence one should strive to make the best use of this period.”
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06. During a Divine
Discourse given during the 1990 Summer Showers, Swami gave priceless advice on
how one should have value for food: “It is only man that is endowed with the
capacity to discover his Divinity. In this context, food habits play an
important role. Out of 84,00,000 living beings on earth, 83,99,999 species of
creatures like insects, birds, animals, and beasts, etc., live on what is
provided by God in Nature, and hence they do not generally suffer from any
diseases. Man is the sole exception in this regard. By becoming a slave to his
palate, he relishes only cooked and spicy foods of various kinds, without
realising to what extent such foods are curtailing his own longevity.
“Besides this, it is significant to note that those who live on vegetarian
food are less prone to diseases whereas non-vegetarians are subject to more
diseases. Why? Because animal food is incompatible with the needs of the human
body. Doctors speak about proteins being present in non-vegetarian food, but
the fact is that there are better quality proteins in food articles like
vegetables, pulses, milk, curd, etc. Non-vegetarian food not only affects
man’s body but also has deleterious effect on his mind.
“Food, Head, God - these three are interrelated. By consuming animal food,
animal tendencies are aroused. As is your food, so are your thoughts. Men
today are behaving in a manner worse than that of wild animals in the forest.
They have become cruel, pitiless, and hard-hearted. There is no sympathy or
understanding even between man and man. The main reason for this condition
lies in the kind of food that is consumed. Students, be careful about the food
you eat. See that it is conducive to your health and happiness.”
According to Swami, “You should partake of only sacred food. Only then you
will have sacred feelings. For sacred thoughts and sacred deeds, sacred food
is essential. In order to have sacred feelings, apart from partaking of sacred
food, you also need to have .................”
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07. During a Divine
Discourse given in 1969, Swami expands more on the topic of having
self-control on food: “There is an axiom believed in by men of old, which
says: 'One meal a day makes a Yogi, two meals a day make a Bhogi
and three meals a day make a Rogi. Yogi is the
contented God-centred man. Bhogi is the man revelling in sensual
pleasure. Rogi is the man ridden by illness. Yes. The quantity of
food intake by the well-to-do is now much beyond essential requirements.
Over-eating has become a fashion.
“The breakfast does not serve to break any fast, for there has been no fasting
at all! It is as good as a full meal. Lunch is pressed in and consists of many
dishes, chosen for the palate rather than to assuage hunger. Tea is tea only
in name; it includes rather heavy fare, out of all proportion to the needs of
the body. Dinner at night is the heaviest meal and includes the largest
variety and so one goes to bed, weighted with unwanted stuff, to roll from
side to side, in a vain effort to get a few minutes of sleep. The shortage of
food grains is mainly due to bad and wasteful eating habits; it can be set
right, and people can live longer and more healthily, if only they eat the
minimum, rather than fill themselves with maximum.
“The body is a chariot, wherein God is installed, being taken along in
procession. Let us consider some points on which we have to be vigilant, in
order to avoid breakdowns on the road: Fast one day in the week. This is good
for the body as well as for the country. Do not eat a dozen plantains, half a
dozen puris and drink a quart of milk and call it a fast! Take only
water, so that all the dirt is washed away. Do not crave for fruit juice or
other liquids. Even physical machinery is given rest; they cannot run forever,
continuously. What then shall we say of this delicately organised human body!
It is not a sign of culture to overvalue the body, by over indulging in its
whims. It is a sign of barbarism.”
According to Swami, “Illness is the inevitable result of idleness and
indulgence; health is the inevitable consequence of ........................
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08. During a Divine
Discourse given during the 1990 Summer Showers, Swami also talked about the
importance of not wasting energy: “A balance has to be maintained between
individual interests and national interests. Everything in life depends on
maintaining the proper balance, whether it be walking, sitting, cycling or
driving a car. Today this balance has been lost because of excessive knowledge
and its misuse. If knowledge is to be put to right use, it should be
transformed into skill. However, instead of skill, young people in particular
are killing knowledge. You are wasting knowledge and energy in seeing,
hearing, talking, thinking etc., in wrong manner and in excessive measure.
Therefore one of the items in the 'Ceiling on Desires', says: 'Don’t waste
energy.'
During a Divine Discourse given in 1999, Swami elaborated more: “Do not waste
energy! Energy is God. Today, students are wasting a lot of energy through
unsacred vision, bad thoughts, bad hearing, and excessive talk. Our body can
be compared to a radio. When the radio is turned on continuously, the cells
get discharged quickly. Likewise, if you indulge in excessive talk, you will
be losing a lot of energy. That is why the ancient sages and seers used to
observe silence. So, conserve energy by observing silence at least one day in
a week. I often tell the students, talk less and work more. Only then the
latent energy develops. This was the sole aim of sages and seers in
undertaking various spiritual practices. Once the latent energy develops, your
memory power as well as the power of concentration will increase.
“Some students are not able to perform well in examinations because they are
not able to concentrate even for a moment. They are constantly engaged in
listening to radio news, cricket commentary, etc. with the textbook in their
hand! With such distractions, how can they concentrate and retain their
memory? In olden days education was imparted to students in the gurukulas.
Students had to rely entirely on their memory power and concentration to
acquire knowledge, since there were no papers, pens, pencils, etc. to jot down
what the teachers would teach. Their learning consisted of merely listening to
the teachers, yet they could acquire high education. Though the modern
students have access to papers, pens, etc., they fail to excel in studies
because they lack concentration and memory power.”
Swami then said: “The modern system of education has become computer-oriented.
There is craze for computers everywhere. You are not a computer. You are a
.....................”
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09. During a Divine
Discourse given in 1994, Swami summed it all up so that parents can teach the
benefits of self-control to their children at an early stage: “Ceiling on
desires is a must for leading a peaceful and meaningful life. You must curb
the desire to seek more and more wealth and turn your effort to realise the
Reality within. In pursuing this effort, you must avoid waste of food, money,
time, energy and knowledge as all these are Forms of God.
“Besides observing the ceiling on desire, students should also practise the
discipline of seeing no evil, hearing no evil, thinking no evil and doing no
evil. Only when children are taught these good disciplines in the formative
stage, they will grow as good persons. By leading a life without discipline,
students will practically be like cars without brakes which will spell danger
to the occupants. Sense-control is an essential requisite for students who are
in the vulnerable stage of succumbing to the temptations of sensual pleasures.
“You must teach them how to talk softly and sweetly while adhering to truth.
Some mothers complain that their children don't listen to their advice and
retort- 'Don't talk. I know.' For this situation, the mothers alone are to be
blamed because this is the result of their having allowed indulgence to their
children in the earlier stages. From childhood, good things should be taught
to them. When they send their wards to school, their responsibility does not
cease. They should take care to ensure that not only they study properly, but
develop good behaviour, respect for parents and elders, speaking the truth and
avoiding unrighteous actions.”
During a Divine Discourse given during 1973 Summer Showers, Swami guides
parents further: “In order that we may control our senses, we have to control
our attachments or desires for material things. Today, young people do not
understand what is meant by going close to Atma. They are vitiated by
material desires and due to lack of guidance at home they are unable to
distinguish between good and bad. On account of bad company and by witnessing
inconsistent stories which are portrayed in our cinemas, our young people are
involved in developing blind lust, arrogance and greed. They are becoming
proud of the little knowledge they acquire. They do not have humility, with
the result that they are developing into undeserving citizens of this great
country. Thus they are ruining themselves. You must dedicate your life to
truth and promote prosperity of the world and thus spend your life in a
fruitful manner. The easiest way to control sensuous desires is to practise
altruistic love.”
According to Swami, to realize our divinity, the Vedanta has a fool-proof
method where man can have his cake and eat it too! “Material objects can be
enjoyed with a sense of detachment and ...........................”
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10. During a Divine
Discourse given during the 1979 Summer Showers, driving the message further on
the lurking dangers of desire and anger, Swami gives us an excellent example
from the Mahabharata:
“Krishna taught Arjuna, 'Desire and anger, born of rajas are the
greatest enemies of man. They stifle his innate goodness. Out of the three
basic traits in man, the rajasic and the thamasic traits
oppose his interests. Kama or desire, derived from Rajas,
knows no satiation, even as a raging fire does not. It shakes man’s inner
poise and leads him astray. It creates a breach in man’s heart and enters
therein. After its entry, anger and the attendant vices join the invasion and
steal the jnana rathna (jewel of wisdom) kept therein.
“Desire makes man forget his real nature and reduces him to the status of a
beast. It robs him of all his virtues and jeopardises his honour and
reputation. Arjuna! This battle is not an accidental happening. You have
yourself been making preparations for it for several months. Even during the
year of your incognito existence, you were aware that a satisfactory agreement
with the Kauravas was impossible; and seeing no way to peace, you had
corresponded with friends and relations seeking help and assistance in the
war. You had even tried to prevent Me from going to Dhritharashtra to
negotiate for peace and had maintained that war was inevitable.
“Your sudden decision not to fight, clearly indicates that some powerful force
is shaking your confidence and making you alter your prior decision. This
force obviously is desire. Turn this desire Godward and perform actions as
offerings to God. It is futile to waste time by pondering over the matter any
further. Realise the immanence of God and perform your duty.
“Although I have no desire and am not bound by karma, I undertake
work. I have entered this battle and become your charioteer not because I do
not have horses of my own to look after, but because I have vowed to restore
dharma. Arise, Arjuna! For the peace and prosperity of the world, the
clash of arms and the shower of arrows are inevitable.”
Swami clarifies: “The ways of God are inscrutable as well as
inexplicable.....To understand God’s nature, man has to develop universality
of outlook and cultivate the all-embracing concept of ..................”
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Dear Reader, did you like this quiz? Is it too difficult? Is it interactive enough? Would you like more such quizzes? Please help us in serving you better by writing to h...@radiosai.org mentioning your name and country. Thank you for your time.
- Heart2Heart Team
sourced:
http://media.radiosai.org/journals/vol_11/01SEPT13/quiz.htm
Posted on: Sept 06, 2013
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CONTINUING THE JOURNEY FROM ME TO MYSELF
By Ms. Charu Sinha, IPS
Secretary, AP Public Service Commission
An IPS (Indian Police Service) officer of the 1996 batch, Ms. Charu Sinha served in different capacities in the state of Andhra Pradesh. Later, she also went on deputation to the U.N. Peace Keeping Mission in Kosovo for a year. After working as DIG (Deputy Inspector General of Police), Anantapur Range, for almost three years, she is currently the Secretary, Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission in Hyderabad.
She came into the Sai fold in 1989 and since then it has been a story of the transformation Swami brings in each one of us, removing all that is less than divine in us. This is her second article on Radio Sai website and it is appropriately titled "Continuing the Journey from Me to Myself" as the first article was called "The Journey from Me to Myself" published in April 2006.
The Dream DIG Job
In April 2010 came the day I had been waiting for all my life. I was promoted and posted as DIG (Deputy Inspector General of Police), Anantapur Range! The next day I was asked not to join, as I was politically unacceptable! I prayed to Swami.
A few days later, one night at 10, I was told to join by 9 AM the next morning. I rushed and travelled by road the whole night and joined on April 28 at the appointed hour and immediately after taking office, went in the evening to Puttaparthi for Swami's blessings. He took the flowers I offered and blessed me with padanamaskar saying, “Very happy, very happy”. My dream of being posted in Anantapur had finally come true, but little did I know that I had been called to witness one of the most important periods in spiritual history.
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Then started a series of beautiful interactions and experiences with Swami. Every weekend after work and on every holiday I would go to Puttaparthi from Anantapur. I would wait outside His residence with my heart beating eagerly. And then the door would open and He would come out with a smile. Several times I would tell Him something or ask a particular thing or at other times just be in His presence.
Many days I would just watch Him interact with other Godselves (read people) and derive vicarious pleasure out of the opportunities with Him. I would look at every expression on His face, the way He would smile, acknowledge the devotees, talk to them softly, listen with full attention, the way they would run up to Him when called like little children, or wait for Him literally holding their breath, their reactions, their joy, their overwhelming tears, as if this was the day they had been waiting for all their lives. Each interaction would become a lifetime memory, which the Lord had gifted to them.
As days progressed, my spiritual learning too progressed through Swami and some of His old devotees. What is the mind, how does it control us, what are the games it plays, how does it create doubt and fear, how does it create lifetime after lifetime, what is the ego, what is the personality that I am, how the mind-body-personality-ego complex does not allow us to be our divine selves and what is the way out – these questions were addressed by Swami.
The learning was beautiful, in perfect response to my yearning for the truth. But was I willing to practise this truth every day? Swami kept testing that again and again. And slowly I learnt the most beautiful truth that I am Swami and He is me; there is no separation. I was thrilled the day I learnt this. I was at the ashram and when I went for darshan I waited for Swami thinking, “Thank you Swami for giving me the most beautiful truth my soul has ever known”, and then He came out for darshan and looking straight at me, nodded His head in acknowledgement and said 'YES!' Only He and I knew the secret of what was going on in my mind. It was our secret!
Swami always said that if we don't finish every interaction in love, we have to come back again lifetime after lifetime till we learn to finish in love. And the only thing that matters is – how much love we have shared with the whole of creation and not what and how much we have achieved and acquired in life. As a part of wrapping up all my relationships so that I don't have to come back again and again to finish them with the same people, I was trying to finish every relationship in love, mentally forgiving myself and others.
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Once when Swami came out of His residence, I asked Him to help me finish an extremely difficult professional relationship, in love. And then since I asked for it, I had it! What followed was like a virtual bomb blast. The whole thing just ruptured.
It was probably the most difficult lesson I had to learn. But I did hold onto my lesson and practised it fervently. Whether I got through or not, only He knows but then, hasn't the Lord promised that we only need to make the effort and that He will take care of the results?
Several times He asked me about my parents. One other time He told me to come for darshan on a particular day. Once He even discussed the family problems of a home guard at home, a young widow, and gave Vibhuti for her!
Whenever I went to Him with an issue about family or friends, before I even finished talking, He would have the exact number of Vibhuti packets in His hands for the number of persons I spoke to Him about. Like a child, I wanted to and several times did discuss every issue which came up in my life and the people around me, with my Swami. What a treat to have an issue and go run to the Lord to discuss it! Just being able to talk to the Lord about it was enough. Who was bothered about what ultimately happened! Everything I ever wanted to talk to Him about, share with Him or just tell Him, I was able to do in this period. I had the habit of getting angry very soon whenever I saw somebody indulge in wrongdoing, and in His own way Swami alerted me. Again, what a treat to have a personality quirk and have it corrected by the Lord!
The
Police Wish Baba 'Happy Birthday'
November 23, 2010 – Swami's 85th birthday was one of the grandest ever
celebrated. Lakhs of people turned up. In the morning, with a few police
officers, I waited outside His residence. Swami came out and we were the first
to wish Him a happy birthday. Along with several others, I was in front of His
chariot, leading the procession into the stadium. As soon as the crowd saw
Swami, a huge cry rose and people started crying. They were in bliss just to be
able to have His darshan. The celebrations went on for almost half a
day. At the end, we ran back and reached His residence again, this time with a
cake. He was gracious enough to cut it with a knife and we sang ‘Happy Birthday’
for Him!
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The celebrations went on in the evening too, with His schools, colleges and university staff bringing cakes and the students' band playing. It was a feast for the heart and eyes too. After that every time He saw me, He would say softly, “Police?” In the evening while distributing sarees, He called me and gave me a beautiful saree and the next day another one for my mother, knowing she had been waiting for one too!
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On March 19, 2011, on Holi when I stood outside Swami's residence, it was with the pink gulaal (powder). I had yearned to play Holi with my Swami, my Krishna. When He came out and I wished Him 'Happy Holi', He took the gulaal and put it on my forehead! He fulfilled even this little wish! That was my last physical darshan of my Lord. I was unaware of the events to follow which changed all our lives.
The Cataclysmic Period for Every Sai Devotee – March 27 to April 27, 2011 and the Role of the Police During this Month
Then on March 27 He became unwell. The next day He was hospitalized in His super-speciality hospital. On April 2 we rushed to Puttaparthi on hearing that He was critical. Crowds had started gathering and were extremely agitated as they felt that no information was forthcoming from the ashram or the hospital about His condition. The hospital was then requested by the district authorities to issue a bulletin on His condition every morning and evening. A team of doctors was sent by the government to review and monitor His condition and brief the press every day so as to quell all rumours and the panic welling up in the hearts of the people who could not see their beloved Lord and did not know what was happening.
The role of the media during this entire drama was a classic example of the present trend in the country of how to suspect, cast aspersions, disrespect, pull down and tear apart every model institution built by anyone. After a few days, the pot-shots began. Rumours were spread about those close to His physical form, who took care of His organization and Him – ranging from stealing, cheating, misappropriation, attempt to murder, to gold smuggling. The motives, sincerity, commitment, surrender and love for Swami of the devotees in close proximity to Him were questioned. Character assassination became the order of the day. Any independent, clean, objective and positive news reporting disappeared. All reporting ethics were thrown to the wind. Media unaccountability was at its peak. And the ones feeding the press were unfortunately devotees who did so for their own reasons, adding fuel to the raging fire.
The Crowd, the Chaos and the Unkind Media
The media enjoyed ripping apart individuals and all the institutions established by Swami. Rumours were created out of nothing, to keep an issue alive and to create doubts about the functioning of the institutions. And in doing so, each channel tried to beat the other, claiming to have found the real truth behind Swami’s legacy. The whole world was watching the sickening drama.
Devotees were hurt at what was being portrayed, many withdrew, the fence sitters distanced themselves and the non-believers or critics simply said – “I told you so”. One particular news channel was being fed by a prominent devotee targeting another devotee, all in the name of a desire to bring out the truth, little realizing the enormous damage done. Swami used to say He was keeping the snakes under His feet and now, they had been unleashed onto the world!
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| The Bus Stand of Puttaparthi was occupied by the OB Vans of a host of TV channels who had stayed put there once Swami's body was placed in Sai Kulwant Hall. It was a similar scene in front of the hospital from the day Baba was hospitalised. | ||||
One could see devotees in the grip of tremendous fear, shock and insecurity, and the question which loomed large was – what would they do if He left? They felt lost, as if they had lost their anchor and did not know what to say or do. Many were depressed and all round there was sheer sadness, madness and chaos. A huge pall of gloom had descended over the town and everywhere people were praying He would heal Himself and come back. We all wish that the Lord even in His physical body should be immortal and be around us, with us, all our lives, to take care of us! Oh selfish man!
Crowds kept swelling and we had to move in police forces from five districts of Rayalaseema in Andhra Pradesh, not knowing what to expect but desirous of being well prepared for any eventuality. Almost 5000 personnel were deployed to handle the crowds in a place with poor infrastructural facilities, with every likelihood of the crowds running out of patience, getting undisciplined and unruly. The police were in a dilemma. Making arrangements for any kind of crowd management or barricading was fuelling rumours in the media about Swami's passing away and was likely to create unnecessary panic amongst the public, which was avoidable. And not making arrangements was making it difficult for us to handle the crowds. We had to be firm and strict yet kind.
One devotee in the hospital, who brought flowers to offer to the deity at the hospital entrance, triggered rumours in the media that flowers had been ordered to lay at Swami's body and He had passed away. Every rumour would bring in more frantic crowds alleging that the hospital was hiding the truth. And on the administration lay the onerous task of dispelling all rumours, which they did as much as they possibly could, through regular press conferences. Every day was like baptism through fire and it brought a new challenge to deal with.
Meanwhile, the media kept whipping up passions against the ashram authorities whenever they got the chance, clearly playing certain people against each other. And the ones at the receiving end, keeping in mind Swami's teaching never to react to what others say, bravely practised it, in spite of being under heavy fire and severe character assassination.
The
Divine Transition on that Fateful Day
In between all this were my visits to the ICU to
see Swami, lying quietly amidst the chaos and the madness, even though He is
omniscient and omnipresent. His condition, with all parameters relevant
to the human body, was being monitored every second by the best team of doctors
in the world. They were at the receiving end of allegations from the media and
other devotees too – that they had not taken care of their beloved Swami, they
had not done what they should have, that they were responsible for His
condition, that they allowed things to get worse, that they did not force Swami
to listen to them, etc. In spite of all the hurtful things said, impervious to
all going on in the outside world, they went about doing their work with Swami
in their hearts and mind, and His name on their lips. No wonder Swami had chosen
them as a part of His mission. Their level of surrender, sincerity, commitment
and love for Swami is unparalleled.
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Amidst all the drama, balance and control had to be maintained by the police and forces had to be gathered, deployed and commanded to handle the crowds correctly. We did what we had to do, quietly yet determinedly, in spite of resentment from the ashram authorities, who felt embarrassed and angry because of our presence in and around the ashram, which had hitherto never been allowed, little realizing that when the law takes its course, it spares no one and whatever was being done was in the interest of transparency and for the good of the ashram, which was the need of the hour.
Then on April 24 at 6.30 AM, I was informed that He was critical. Everyone knew what to expect. I rushed to the hospital immediately and saw a team of doctors around His bed, holding His hands and feet, chanting the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra.
I joined in the chanting, standing
at Swami's feet, bidding farewell to my Lord in my heart, thanking Him for
giving me much more than I could have ever asked for and making me what I was.
We did so till 7.40 AM. The monitor was showing Swami's heart beats and blood
pressure. From 80-120 the BP started dropping and at 7.40 AM at 15-15, the
monitor went blank. Swami had actually left His physical body. The Avatar had
left the earthly plane. The doctors who had been attending onto Him day and
night just sat down, shocked, tired, shattered, and battered. There was complete
silence in the ICU. After a few minutes a few people broke down, sobbing
silently.
Now the news had to be released to the whole world. We had already alerted our
forces and they were in place since morning. All barricading had been erected at
jet speed within a couple of hours and all important points like railway
stations and bus stands at Puttaparthi and Dharmavaram and all roads were
covered by the police, making all traffic and crowd management arrangements. No
one knew what to expect. We only had to be prepared for every possible
eventuality now. Logistical arrangements for the police personnel were worked
out with the help of the ashram authorities. The press release was given an hour
later. The news spread like wildfire.
It had been decided to have the Samadhi built at the place from where Swami would give darshan every day. The last rites were to be performed three days later, so that devotees had time to come and pay their last respects to Him.
For the embalming of the body which was done a few hours later, the police had to give permission. The local Deputy Superintendent of Police and Circle Inspector broke down crying while giving the permission, not having imagined in their wildest dreams that one day they will be giving permission for this. The Body had to be taken from the hospital first to the residence of Swami, through the crowds, before being taken to Sai Kulwant Hall. And this time I led the ambulance with Swami's body. What an irony, what a contrast! From leading Him in the chariot on His birthday a few months earlier to leading the ambulance with His body just five months later.
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Devotees were shattered. They were not allowed near the hospital or on the roads but asked to go to the Sai Kulwant Hall in the ashram to pay their last respects to Him.
In the next three days, almost three lakh people came, pouring in from all over the country and the world, the young and the old alike. Some could not even walk but trudged with a walking stick, all the way from almost five km away, where their vehicles were parked, due to lack of parking spaces near the ashram. Local devotees had set up free food facilities for them. There was no place in Puttaparthi for people to even stay. So they would just come, have a glimpse of the Lord and leave immediately.
Everything I had learned professionally was put to test in this period. There was pressure from all sides. The media as usual preferred police bashing rather than appreciating the enormous task, creating false rumours every day that we were ruthless and had done lathi charge, etc. We still had to maintain our cool, in spite of the unfair lashing we were being meted out. The subordinates had to be commanded, disciplined, controlled and guided so as not to lose patience with the media and the grief-stricken crowds. Innumerable stampedes were avoided in these three days, very quietly by the police but went totally unrecognized and unappreciated. Not a single policeman had time to rest; they were stretched mentally, emotionally and physically to the utmost.
In one area where a stampede was avoided by the police very tactfully, after pushing and pulling the crowd and rescuing children and the elderly from getting suffocated, we were thoroughly tired. Then we heard the sweet voices of four little children chanting 'Sairam Sairam', having come to distribute water to the thirsty devotees! That sight was a feast to the eyes and brought a smile even on the faces of the tired and impatient devotees, waiting for their turn to rush inside the Sai Kulwant Hall. Apart from the devotees, every known VIP came to pay his/her last respects to Swami.
On April 27, 2011, after a grand performance of the last rites, Swami's body, which had been wrapped in the Indian National Flag as part of the state honours accorded to Him, was lowered into the Samadhi.
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Feeling Him Yet Missing Him
Then began the struggle of moving from the form to the formless for every
devotee – the journey within. Each devotee in his/her own way had to get used to
the absence of His physical presence from all activities in the ashram, which
had hitherto revolved only around Him. The habit of running to Him for
everything, the dependence, the attachment had to stop. We all had to learn to
go within, to hear Him and depend on the Him inside us.
Since childhood, I was always afraid of facing the day when I would lose my parents in their physical form to the phenomenon called death. But with Swami in the hospital for a whole month, watching as an observer the divine drama and the entire madness He had created and directed, remembering His words that all this is just an illusion, from somewhere deep inside I was very calm and unruffled, just watching silently the role everyone was playing, understanding that this was all just a drama, and my fear melted away. And when He left His physical form, I thought that when I could see my beloved Swami leave I could face anything in the world. This drama had put to test all that He had taught me spiritually, giving me strength beyond my own imagination. And this time I am sure I passed this test with flying colours.
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When I started from Puttaparthi on
the evening of April 27, to head back to my headquarters in Anantapur, someone
mentioned that the children in the hostel were crying asking before whom they
would stage their Sports Day the next year! Listening to that innocent cry,
after 25 physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually gruelling days, I
broke down and cried because in spite of knowing the spiritual truth that He is
in me, I knew I would still miss His physical presence, His smile, His hands,
His feet; I would miss running to Him every time I wanted to have darshan,
sparshan or sambhashan, or every time I wanted to share
something with Him; I knew I would miss His
reactions, His expressions of love and the sheer bliss of just being in His
presence. I LOVE YOU SWAMI.
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When my arms cannot reach people who are close to my heart, I always hug them with my prayers