Prasnottara Vahini – Brahmavidya and Women

Sathya Sai Baba On Brahmavidya

Prasnottara Vahini – Brahmavidya and Women
by Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Questioner: You were talking of strict regimen; men too should follow this, is it not?
Sri Sathya Sai Baba: Of course! They too are flesh and blood, bone and marrow; they too are afflicted with illness. Each and every person who is afflicted with birth and death and suffering from this cycle is in need of this medicine. And, whoever helps himself to this treatment has to follow the regimen too. Man or woman, whoever neglects the regimen, cannot get rid of the illness. Men cannot afford to say that they are free from it; they have to stick to it closely and observe it strictly. Even if they have had Brahmopadesam (initiation into the spiritual path of Brahma-realisation), if they are devoid of virtues like Sama and Dama they cannot save themselves, whether they are men or women.

Questioner: But then, Swami, why do many scholars learned in the Sastras declare that women have no right for acquiring Brahmavidya? What is the reason?
Sri Sathya Sai Baba: There is no reason at all in declaring that women are not entitled to Brahmavidya. Vishnumurthy taught Bhudevi the glory of the Githa; Parameswara taught Parvathi the Brahmathathva through the Guru-Githa. That is what the Guru-Githa means when it says, “Parvathi Uvaacha”. What do these words mean? Besides, Easwara initiated Parvathi into Yogasastra and Manthrasastra. The Brihadaranyaka Upanishad mentions that Yajnavalkya taught Maitreyi this very same Brahmavidya. This is a well known fact. Now, you can yourself judge and draw your own conclusion whether women are entitled to Brahmavidya or not.

Questioner: There are some others, Swami, who declare that women are not entitled to Brahmacharya and Sanyasa. Is it true? Do the Vedas prohibit it?
Sri Sathya Sai Baba: The Vedas have two sections: Karmakanda and Jnanakanda. The Karmakanda is for beginners, for the undeveloped; and the Jnanakanda is for the more advanced, the developed intelligences. There is no reference to men or women in connection with these. The beginners are worldly; how can they understand the immortal message of the Jnanakanda about the Atma? In the Brihadaranyaka we have mention of Gargi and Maitreyi who shine in the spiritual splendour of Brahmacharya and Sanyasa. In the Mahabharatha also, we have Subha Yogini and other women who are ideal women, full of virtue.

Questioner: Can women win Brahmajnana, even while leading the householder’s life?
Sri Sathya Sai Baba: Why not? Madaalasa and others were able to get Brahmajnana while in the Grihastha stage of life, the house-holder status. You must have heard of these from the Yogavasishta and the Puranas, how they attained the height of auspiciousness, Brahmajnana itself. Then again, do not the Upanishads declare that Kaathyayini, Sarangi, Sulabha, Viswaveda and others were adepts in Brahmajnana?

Questioner: Swami, are there any women who have attained Brahmajnana while in the Grihasdtha stage? And who attained it while in the Sanyasa stage? Or any who realised it while in the Vaanaprastha stage? Are there women who got it in the Brahmacharya stage of life?
Sri Sathya Sai Baba: Do not think that there are no women who have realised Brahmajnana while in any one of these stages. Choodaala attained it while a Grihastha; Sulabhayogini won it while a Sanyasini; Maitreyi attained it while in the Vaanaprastha stage of life; and Gargi got it in the Brahmacharya stage. There were other great women of Bharath who have achieved this height. Why, there are even today many who are of this great category. I simply mentioned some four names because you came up with that question now; so do not in the least lose enthusiasm. There is no need for loss of heart.

Questioner: When we have so many examples of women who have attained Brahmajnana, how is it that so many argue against it? Why do they impose limitations on women?
Sri Sathya Sai Baba: It is sheer absurdity to deny women the right to earn Brahmajnana. But in worldly matters, it is necessary that some limitations are respected by them. They are laid down only in the interests of Dharma and for Loka-kalyana. For the sake of the upkeep of morals and for social health in the world, women have to be bound by them. They are too weak to maintain certain standards of life and discipline; they have some natural handicaps; that is the reason for these limitations.

This does not mean any fundamental inferiority. Why, even Pundits and men learned in the Sastras acquire their Jnana through the reverential homage they pay to the Feminine Deity, Saraswathi. The patron Deity of Vidya, as well as of Wealth and Jnana are all three feminine. They are Saraswathi, Lakshmi and Parvathi. Even in customary correspondence, when women are addressed, they are referred to as, “To…who is equal to Lakshmi” etc. You always speak of Maatha-Pithaa, Gowri-Sankara, Lakshmi-Narayana, Seetha-Rama, Radha-Krishna etc. The feminine name comes first and then the masculine. From this itself you can gather how much reverence is paid to women here.

Questioner: The distinction between man and woman – do you condemn it as Mithya-jnana or do you value it as Atma-jnana?
Sri Sathya Sai Baba: My dear fellow! The Atma has no such distinction; it is eternally conscious, pure, self-effulgent. So, it can only be Mithya-jnana; it can never be Atma-jnana. It is a distinction based on the Upadhi, the mask, the Limitation. The Atma is neither masculine, feminine nor neuter; it is the form that limits and deludes and that wears the names.

Ashadi Ekadashi

Sathya Sai Baba

Ashadi Ekadashi
Veda Chanting Procession and Hindustani Musical Concert
Posted on 2nd July @ 0015 hrs IST

Ashadi Ekadashi, one of the most auspicious days in the Maratta vernacular calendar brings the legacy of Maharashtra along with the state’s devotional fervour for her presiding deity, Lord Vittal Rakumai of Pandarpur. In fact, Ashadi is the day, when lakhs and lakhs of Varkaris from all parts of the country, especially from the state of Maharashtra throng the spiritual capital of the state, Pandarpur to have darshan and blessings of their chosen deity, Vittal Rakumai.

Ashadi Ekadashi marks the beginning of the Chaturmasa and ends with Kaarathik Ekadashi. It is celebrated during the months of June-July, known as Ashada Shukla Paksha in the vernacular calendar. People consider the two eleventh days, “Ekadashi”, of every month to be of special significance. The eleventh day of Ashadi is known as the great Ekadashi or Maha Ekadashi. This is the day on which people go on walking in huge processions to the Abode of Lord Vittala in Pandharpur, which is popularly known as Vaarkarari Sampradaya. This is a time honoured cult and an important landmark in the colourful history in the state of Maharashtra. According to historians devotees have been performing Vaari long before the advent of Sant Jnaneshwar in the 13th century and the current practice of carrying the paadukas of the saint in a palki from the Samadhi of the saint to Pandarpur for the holy darshan of Lord Vittala was started by the son of Sant Thukkaram by name Sant Narayan Maharaj in 1685.

Like the previous years at Prasanthi Nilayam, a large contingent of devotees from the twin states of Maharashtra and Goa arrived at Prashanti Nilayam to celebrate Ashadi Ekadashi in the Divine Presence of Sathya Sai Baba. The celebrations that began this morning would conclude on 3rd July 2009, the day of Ashadi Ekadashi. Bhagawan was accorded a traditional welcome with Poornakumbham by Veda chanting Bal Vikas children and Youth. Chanting of the Vedas in unison by about 300 people, young and the old surcharged the atmosphere with divine vibrations. Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba listened to their Vedic chants for about an hour before retiring for the session.

Speaking on the preparations and the hard work put in by about 300 people ranging from 8 to 72 years of age in learning the Vedic Mantras, one of the core member of the group who is also a former student of Bhagawan Sri Satya SaiBaba, said that Veda chanting classes started in the scorching summer month of April in the twin states of Maharashtra and Goa. The classes were held in different parts of these two States, namely, Nagpur, Akola, Amaravati, Goa, Sholapur, Parbani, Bhiwandi, Thane, different parts of Mumbai and Navi Mumbai, Nasik and Pune. The classes would commence at 11 a.m. and would go on till 8 p.m. in the night; such was the dedication of the group, said the leader. The group members were supplied with Veda Mantra books and CD. At each and every stage of their learning, Bhagawan’s presence could be felt. Speaking on a wonderful experience, the leader said that on one of these classes which was held in a temple, there was a secluded cloud cover over the temple which proved that Bhagawan’s unseen hand was guiding and guarding them. After the primary preparations, combined practice sessions for the whole group were held in Dharmakshetra, Mumbai.

Samasta Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu (May all the beings of all the worlds be happy!). Peace and welfare of the world was their motto. Even the Samana Suktam, which they chanted at the end of the morning session speaks of Unity, Purity and Divinity, said the team member.

The programme for the evening session was a Hindustani classical concert by Kalapini Komkali, the daughter and disciple of Pandit Kumar Gandharva and Vidushi Smt. Vasundhara Komkali.

Pt. Kumar Gandharva was a Hindustani classical singer, famous for his unique vocal style and innovative genius. The name Kumar Gandharva was a title given to him when he was a child prodigy; a Gandharva is a god of music in Hindu mythology. Kalapini could be said to possess an Alto just a little husky but true as a blade. Her Akar is perhaps the closest yet to that of Kumar Gandharva, a magical mixture of the five vowels that make language ring true and unforgettable. She uses much the same technique her father used to do, that lets you hear the Swara as part of the Raga and the Swara also as pure Swara kindled separately and individually.

Smt. Kalapini, after offering her obeisance to Bhagawan Shree Sathya Sai Baba said that all the songs that she was going to sing during her concert were sung by her late father Pt. Kumar Gandharva. Beginning with a Tukaram Abhang: “Lakshmi Vallabha …”, the songs of Smt. Kalapini grew from strength to strength both in terms of tenor, pitch and clarity. Singing in her booming voice Kabir Das’s Nirgun Pad, “Sunta Hai …” Nirgun Pad is a form of devotional song which believes in formless God. After singing a Mira Bhajan she concluded the concert with a Gorakhnath Bhajan. Bhagawan Baba blessed the singer by materialising a chain and presented her with a Sari. The accompanying artistes were also presented with clothes by Bhagawan.

It was the turn of the students of the University to take over; they not only sang bhajans in tandem, but also sang solo songs. When Bhagawan asked a student to sing a Hindi song, he sang the evergreen composition, “Hey O’ Vitthale Bhakta Jana Vatsale …” with such beauty and mellifluousness that the entire audience was enraptured at the devotional height combined with artistry. At the end, Prasadam was distributed to the entire congregation and Arati was offered to Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba at 6.30 p.m. before He retired to His “Divine Abode”, Yajur Mandiram.

Reference

Recent Events At Prashanti Nilayam – Sathya Sai Baba Ashram – June 2009

Recent Events At Prashanti Nilayam – Sathya Sai Baba Ashram – June 2009

- Curtesty Sri Sathya Sai Sadhana Trust:

• Godavari Girijan Parthi Yatra – 28th June 2009
• Prasanthi this week – 28th June 2009
• Godavari Girijan Parthi Yatra – 27th June 2009
• Prasanthi this week – 21st June 2009
• Andhra Youth – Distribution/Musical Presentation, 20th June 2009
• Cultural Programme by Youth from Andhra Pradesh, 19th June 2009
• Cultural Programme by Children from Gujarat, 18th June 2009
• Prasanthi this week – 14th June 2009
• Burra Katha by Students of Sri Sathya Sai University, 13th June 2009
• Prasanthi this week – 7th June 2009
• Love All Serve All Help Ever Hurt Neverhttp://www.sssbpt.org/Pages.5th June 2009
• Bhagawan visits Prasanthi Nilayam Campus, SSSU – 4th June 2009
• New Academic Year Begins in Prasanthi 1st June ‘09

- Curtesty RadioSai:

Sunday, June 28, 2009
This evening, Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba came at 4.35 pm for darshan, and moved to the interview room from the Eastern side of the Mandir. Ladies who were to be recipients of sewing machines were seated in the centre of Sai Kulwant Hall as part of the second day of the Godavari districts programmes. At 5.15 Swami came onstage and began the proceedings. After the sewing machine distribution, many devotees came up with items for blessings, and their dance drama began at 5.30. The hill folk paid tribute to their Lord in the fifty minute Telugu play featuring many songs and dances. Swami moved to the interview room and songs by the devotees commenced. The rural folk sang group songs in Telugu till Swami returned with clothes for the participants. Bhagavan blessed them with group photographs, prasadam and clothes were distributed as the students commenced bhajans. With Arati concluding at 7 o’clock, Swami sat onstage for a few minutes more interacting with the group leaders before retiring for the day.

Saturday, June 27, 2009
The hill people from the Agency areas of the East and West Godavari districts of Andhra Pradesh are at Prasanthi Nilayam on their Parthi Yatra. This evening, the Mandir was decorated with festoons and banners, and they presented a programme. Bhagavan came out from His residence by 3.50 pm, and after His darshan round sat onstage while the Vedam went on. At 4.30, He asked for the programme to begin, and many devotees came up to Him, getting many items blessed. After a short speech in Telugu by the leader of the group, there was a short rally by the members of the villages which were being served by the Seva Organisation. A series of traditional dances by the tribal folk followed. After the 75 minute programme, Swami went down from the stage and had group photographs with the participants. When He returned to the stage, bhajans by the devotees commenced and Prasadam was distributed. The students continued the bhajans as clothes were distributed to the participants. Swami accepted Arati at 6.15 pm and returned to His residence.

Wednesday, June 24, 2009
This evening, Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba came for darshan at 5.30 pm while the bhajans went on. After His round of the Sai Kulwant Hall, He came onstage and sat for a while. At six o’clock, He asked for some bhajans with alaps, and accepted Arati ten minutes later before returning to His residence. The School of Business Management is hosting a three day Management Workshop on ‘Predictive Analytics’ at the Prasanthi Nilayam campus of the University beginning tomorrow.

Saturday, June 20, 2009 (Full Story With Images)
The Governor of Rajasthan Sri Shilendra Kumar Singh is here for a couple of days. This evening, Sri Ashok Singhal of the VHP along with the Shankaracharya of Sri Ramachandrapura Math of Gokarna were here for Bhagavan’s darshan. The second day of programmes by the Andhra youth consisted of distribution of material to the needy and group songs. Swami came for darshan at 4.30 pm, and when He came to the verandah after His darshan round, He blessed the group of Sai alumni working at the Barclays Bank who had won a prestigious award. He then came onstage to begin the proceedings at five o’clock. After a short speech, the names of the more than 100 beneficiaries were called out, and the needy were presented with implements for livelihood like electrician kits, wet grinders, sewing machines, plumber kits, computer education and so on. The distribution was followed by group songs for more than 45 minutes. Swami sent clothes for the participants, and went down from the stage for group photographs. After this He accepted arati at 6.15 p.m. and left for His residence in the car.

Friday, June 19, 2009 (Full Story With Images)
This evening, the Sai Youth from Andhra Pradesh presented a drama. Bhagavan arrived at 5.10 pm for darshan, and after His darshan round, came onstage to begin the programme at 5.30 pm. The drama ‘Prema Vahini’ brought out the transformative qualities of the Village Service programme incorporating dances and songs. After the drama, Bhagavan blessed the participants by calling up the children for group photos, then going down from the stage for group photos with all the participants. He also sent watches for the participants while bhajans went on and prasadam was being distributed. It was 7.15 when Swami accepted Arati and returned to His residence.

Thursday, June 18, 2009 (Full Story With Images)
Last evening, the Union Power Minister Sri. Sushil Kumar Shinde was at Prasanthi Nilayam for an audience with Bhagavan. This evening, Sai Schools from Gujarat presented their programmes in Sai Kulwant Hall. Swami came for darshan just before five o’clock and came onstage to begin the proceedings after a full round of the Hall and blessing the new students of Class I of the Primary School. Beginning with a dance in praise of Lord Ganesha, the children presented a half-hour drama “Samasta Loka Sukhino Bhavantu” on the theme of Love and Peace for universal well-being. Next was another half-hour musical skit “Yoga for Salvation”, demonstrating many Yogasanas and methods of Pranayama with tableaux depicting symbols of various religions. Bhagavan went down from the stage and blessed the performers with group photographs, interacting with them and giving them clothes for fifteen minutes. Prasadam was distributed as bhajans by the children went on. Two bhajans by them were followed by a bhajan by the students and arati at 6.45 pm.

Monday, June 15, 2009
In the last three darshan sessions, Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba has blessed three people with chains. On Sunday morning, He interacted for a while with the elders from the institutions at Muddenahalli and Alike, and blessed one of the gentlemen there with a chain. Later, that evening, just before accepting Arati, He called up a first-year student of the Brindavan campus who had earlier studied in the Music College here, and blessed him with a chain. And this evening, just before going to the interview room after sitting onstage for a while, Swami called up one of the students and after a short interaction, put a chain around his neck. It was 6 pm when Swami emerged from the interview room and came onstage to accept Arati.

Saturday, June 13, 2009 (Full Story With Images)
It was a beautiful and special Saturday at Prasanthi Nilayam. It was past 4:40 p.m. when Swami arrived for darshan on June 13, 2009. He took a complete round and then moved into the interview room for a short while. Soon, He went into the Bhajan Hall where the three students who were ready to perform a Bukkakatha, sat costumed and ready for His command to begin their performance. At about 5:15 p.m., Swami arrived on the stage and asked for the warden of the Brindavan campus to introduce the programme. The trio arrived and offering their salutations to Swami, took their positions. The theme for the day’s performance was the same as the one on Easwaramma Day, that is, on Mother Easwaramma. They performed for nearly an hour and delighted everyone with their soulful rendering. Swami was immensely pleased and at the end blessed them with white safari cloth pieces as prasadam. Bhagavan retired at about 6.40 p.m.

Wednesday, June 10, 2009
“Everyday is a festival in Prashanti Nilayam,” said someone during the peak of the ‘programme season’ when as many as 15 programmes were put up in a single month. That statement held good even during the first tens days of June, in spite of there being no single programme put up in the Mandir; the days were special in their own inimitable way. There weren’t any festoons, backdrops, costumes and the other paraphernalia, which are usually associated with festivals. But the festivities came in the guise of more than 5000 people, who had gathered with devotion and Love for God to sing His praises. It indeed was festival time as that’s what had been happening at the Prasanthi Nilayam everyday since the beginning of the new academic year. Here is the description of one typical day of the past one week.

On June 10, 2009, Swami arrived just as the first bhajan had begun. The ladies’ side and the gents’ side were both almost full. It is so interesting the way people think and arrive at Puttaparthi. During the major festivals and the pilgrimage visits by devotees from the many Indian states and countries, the hall becomes full because of the sheer number of devotees that arrive. And during the “non-peak” days, news quickly travels that the Mandir is sparsely crowded and immediately devotees pour in to increase their probability of getting a close darshan. The net result – Prashanthi Nilayam is filled with devotees always!

Swami moved through the ladies side accepting letters and talking to a few of them. Moving into the students’ section, He faced a multitude of letters. A gentle smile seemed to come over His face. (An onlooker might even wonder as to what the students write in their letters to Him daily! But He knows every heart, and responds accordingly too!) There have been occasions when Swami has come for darshan before all the students had arrived from their places of study. On such days, the few who had arrived, rush to the rear side of the portico with their letters. Once, Swami passes that way, they move back to the front and (again) have another letter to offer to Him! One day Swami also indicated to a student and, to the merry laughter of those around, said, “You were sitting yonder. Now you have come here. You will return after I pass! Correct?” The boy sheepishly nodded a yes.

Swami collected a few letters and asked the people walking behind His chair to collect some more on His behalf. The same continued into the gents’ side too. After the darshan round, Swami moved on to the stage and sat for the bhajans. As always, the bhajans gain in volume and enthusiasm with Him around. Swami looked at all the people who had assembled and granted His attention to different sections of the hall during different phases of the bhajans. Almost everyone had that cherished feeling, “He saw me and I am blessed.” Sometimes, during the bhajans, people rise and leave – they either have a bus to catch, a duty/call to attend or any of the many reasons. Swami watches them leave with the same look as He watches those sitting and singing. The feeling of God being the Eternal Witness envelopes one during such moments and a silent joy surges in their beings. That feeling may culminate in a gentle smile on the Divine lips or at times with a stern look from Him and at other times with Swami going into a trance. Silently, He moulds, charges, transforms, guides, assures or commands but all the while a mass communion is on.

Swami sat for about an hour for bhajans that day. In between, it was sought from Him as to whether prasadam could be distributed. Swami told them to hold back till the aarthi. The students from the new M. Tech batch held a card for Him to see and a cake for Him to cut. Swami saw them and told them to wait. At the end of the bhajans, Swami also chanted the universal peace prayer, “Samastha Lokaha Sukhino Bhavanthu”. Then, He blessed the mangoes to be distributed to all and retired for the day.

Friday, June 5, 2009 (Full Story With Images)
This evening, Bhagawan came for darshan around 4.30 pm. After a round of the Sai Kulwant Hall, He sat onstage listening to the Vedam chanting for a while and then went into the interview room to emerge when the five o’clock bhajans began. As the bhajans went on, prasadam was being distributed, and the heavens opened up in a downpour. Swami noticed some devotees standing outside the front gate of the hall getting drenched in the rain, and instructed that they be brought into the sheltered area and be given prasadam. At the end of the bhajan, after accepting Arati, Swami Himself went all the way up to the gate to bless those devotees. He then returned to Yajur Mandir in the chair itself.

Thursday, June 4, 2009 (Full Story With Images)
Yesterday, the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Principal of the campus and other teachers prayed to Bhagawan to bless the students and staff by coming to the college auditorium and addressing them, and Bhagawan had indicated that He would come. The students were busy preparing for the visit in the auditorium today when suddenly Swami arrived there at noon! He told them He’d come to see the arrangements, and that He would return at four o’clock. Accordingly, all were ready at the auditorium in the evening, and Bhagawan came there from Sai Kulwant Hall at 4.15 pm. A couple of books by the faculty were blessed by Bhagawan, and there were talks by the Vice-Chancellor and an MBA student. Swami then commenced His Divine Discours? at 4.55 pm, relayed live to the other two campuses of the University by web-conference video link.

Swami stressed on the need for students to realize that each and every living creature is the embodiment of God, and behave accordingly to Help Ever and Hurt Never, Loving All and Serving All. Students should not just close their eyes and think they are concentrating – they should help the society. After His 45 minute Discourse, He sang ‘Hari Bhajan Bina’ and immediately left for the Senior Students’ Hostel. There, He went into the dining Hall, and acceded to the prayers of the teachers there to bless the new room built for Swami. Moving through the entire complex, Swami moved back to the dining hall seeing the Ranganatha installed nearby on the way and blessing the students there. From the Hostel, He moved in the car to Sai Kulwant Hall where the bhajans were going on. Sitting onstage for a couple of bhajans while prasadam was distributed, Swami accepted Arati and returned to His residence around 6.30 pm.

Monday, June 1, 2009
This evening, Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba came to Sai Kulwant Hall in the car at 3.50 pm, and directly moved out through the main gate for a drive. Five minutes later, the Chief Minister of Karnataka Sri. B. S. Yeddyurappa accompanied by a few of his ministry colleagues arrived at the Mandir. Swami returned after fifteen minutes and granted an audience to the distinguished visitors, and they left before five o’clock. At around 5.15 pm, Swami came onstage while the bhajans went on, and accepted Arati after prasadam distribution around twenty minutes later.

Sathya Sai Baba On Non-Violence (Ahimsa)

Sathya Sai Baba On Non Violence Ahimsa

Sathya Sai Baba On Non-Violence (Ahimsa)
Extracts compiled from Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba’s Discourses.

Sathya Sai Baba: The meaning of Ahimsa is that either in thought, word or deed, you should not cause harm to anybody. What does Ahimsa signify? It is not merely refraining from causing harm or injury to others. It implies also refraining from causing harm to himself. One who harms oneself cannot avoid harming others. How is this to be ensured? By constantly examining whether his conduct is right or wrong. For instance, in the matter of speech, one must examine whether the words are causing pain to others. One must see that the looks are not tainted by evil intentions or thoughts. One should not listen to evil talk. Hence everyone should see that they give no room for bad looks, bad hearing, bad speech, bad thoughts and actions.

Sathya Sai Baba: You should also be careful with regard to your food. Excessive eating does violence to the body. Moderation is conducive to happiness. Ahimsa is thus what confers happiness on you. When you realize that God is in everyone, you will practice non-violence.

Sathya Sai Baba: “Ahimsa Paramo Dharma” – Ahimsa is the most meritorious deed. Non violence is an alternate name for Truth and Love. By following Non-violence, one achieves Love. To follow the path of non-violence, it is necessary to change the mental attitude. Nobody should be harmed by mind, body or speech. By purity of thought, word and deed, one should serve even one’s enemies. Overwhelm the bad and jealous by your goodness. Humility is the main quality of those who want to don the mantle of non-violence.

Quotes By Satya SaiBaba -Sathya Sai Baba Quotes

Sathya Sai Baba On Love (Prema)

Sathya Sai Baba On Love Prema

Sathya Sai Baba On Love (Prema)
Extracts compiled from Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba’s Discourses.

Sathya Sai Baba: Love is the basic nature that sustains human being and strengthens his resolve to march ahead. Without love man is blind; the world for him will be a dark and fearsome jungle. Love is the light that guides the feet of man in the wilderness. All the four goals of man (Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha) can be attained through the practice of love. The Atma principle expresses itself in man as Prema (Love).

Sathya Sai Baba: Every human being needs love, inhales and exhales love. Love is the basic breath; every one is the embodiment of Love. Love knows no fear; it seeks no rewards; love is its own reward. When it is directed towards God, it is called Bhakthi. Love removes all egoism; the self is forgotten, it is superseded, it is transcended. Divinity is the magnet. Humanity is the iron. Love is the force that brings them together. Nara is the iron, Narayana is the magnet. Bhakthi or love is the force that draws the two together.

Sathya Sai Baba: God is love and can be won only through the cultivation and exercise of Love. He cannot be trapped by any trick; He yields Grace only when His commands are followed – command to love all, serve all. Love is God, God is love. Live with Love, move with Love, speak with Love, think with Love, act with Love – this is the most fruitful Sadhana. Love is the core of Atma. Love is selflessness. Love brings people together. Love is the solvent for hardest hearts. Love is the strongest antidote for greed. Love will destroy the roots of ego.

Sathya Sai Baba: Love is the natural state for man and all the other contrary emotions are unnatural. When you recite the Name of God, remembering His majesty, His compassion, His glory, His splendor, His presence, Love will grow within you. Its roots will grow deeper and deeper, its branches will spread wider and wider, giving cool shelter to friend and foe. Love God without reserve. To love God destroys all the barriers to Love. If you develop love, you do not need to develop anything else.

Sathya Sai Baba: Prema must grow with every moment of Sadhana. It must sweeten every word, deed and thought of yours. Emerge from Dhyana as a person more charged with Love! Return from Bhajan with a greater measure of Love! Return from Nagarsankirtan with a firmer conviction that everything is surcharged with the same Divinity that is behind all your activity.

Sathya Sai Baba: Love in speech is truth. Love in action is righteousness. Love in thought is peace. Love in understanding is non-violence.

Sathya Sai Baba: There is no power greater than love in this world because it is selfless and pure. Love is ananda; love is power; love is light; love is God. Love helps you to see God in everyone, everyone as divine.

Quotes By Satya SaiBaba -Sathya Sai Baba Quotes

Sathya Sai Baba On Peace (Shanti)

Sathya Sai Baba On Peace Shanti

Sathya Sai Baba On Peace (Shanti)
Extracts compiled from Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba’s Discourses.

Sathya Sai Baba: Shanti denotes the capacity to bear success and failure, joy and misery with perfect equanimity. It is there deep down as the very core of our being. Only thoughts of God and intense love for Him bring peace. As worldly thoughts diminish, thoughts of God increase. Normally, the mind desires these worldly things all the time. As the desires are cut out, the peace becomes stronger.

Sathya Sai Baba: The external peace is a reflection of your internal peace; it is an echo. Peace alone is eternal Truth. It has great power. It confers eternal bliss. It is man’s principal treasure. You may be of brilliant intellect, or a wealthy person or a physically strong person, but all this is useless, if you do not have peace. By absence of attachment, desire and egoism, you can achieve peace. To gain peace is the only aim of life. Not name, fame and wealth. By leading a life of contentment, one achieves peace.

Sathya Sai Baba: Endurance with joyful resignation of the ups and downs of life is the royal road to Peace. Everyone craves ‘Sukha’ and ‘Shanthi’; but there is no one to instruct Youth how to win them. The Ramayana and the Mahabharatha are reservoirs of knowledge for the seekers of Peace. They are replete with examples and precepts, which are inspiring and timely. By taking the teachings to heart, Purity can be attained. The pure heart directed towards God and reflecting His image is indeed Heaven, Vaikuntha or Kailasa.

Sathya Sai Baba: You must discover your identity; then only can you have peace. You are like a man who has forgotten his name; his address and his mission in life. Realize it and try to delve deep into yourself; so that you may know who you are. Then you get security and peace. Sharpen your intellect for this purpose; and cleanse your consciousness for this purpose through Sathsang, Japa, Dhyana, Namasmarana etc.

Sathya Sai Baba: Perfect peace means the type of peace derived as a result of the absence of desire, anger, greed and hatred. Pace must be expressed in feeling, word, posture and action; also in mind and the performance of duty – all in uniform measure. Then peace becomes perfect, the highest and most stable type. Genuine peace is won by control of senses. Pure love can emanate only from a heart immersed in peace. The realization “Everything is God” then becomes natural to you.

Sathya Sai Baba: Shanti is another name for steadiness of the mind. Peace is a sacred virtue; it is the embodiment of the Self. It is an ornament to man; the heart of the selfless one is its abode. Accumulation of riches and power cannot endow peace. Peace can come only from the fountain of peace within. How do you get Shanti (inner peace)? By knowing that you are the Atma, which has no birth or death, no joy or grief, no up and no down. Faith in the fact that, man is an instrument in His hands for the execution of His plan, is the key to genuine peace. Only when God is the goal and guide can there be real peace. World peace can be achieved only by people investigating their inner world, removing the junk therein and setting evil urges at rest.

Sathya Sai Baba: The foundation for real peace is, according to the Vedas, the quality of Maithree. Maithree means amicability, friendship, compassion, and kindness. It can also be taken to mean, “My Three” that is to say, my word, deed and thought shall be in accordance with words, thought and deed; that is to say; we shall speak, think and act together, without friction or faction, in an atmosphere of love and understanding. That is what is wanted in the world today: My three.

Quotes By Satya SaiBaba -Sathya Sai Baba Quotes

Sathya Sai Baba On Right Conduct (Dharma)

Sathya Sai Baba On Right Conduct Dharma

Sathya Sai Baba On Right Conduct (Dharma)
Extracts compiled from Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba’s Discourses.

Sathya Sai Baba: Dharma is the foundation for the welfare of humanity; it is the Truth that is stable for all time. God is the embodiment of Dharma; His Grace is won by Dharma; He is ever fostering Dharma; He is ever establishing Dharma. He is Dharma itself.

Sathya Sai Baba: Dharma is a body of principles that are fundamental to social stability and individual progress. “Dharma Moolam Idam Jagath”. Dharma is the root of this world. Obey it and you are happy. One common definition of Dharma is that it is the adherence to the rule: ‘Do unto others what you wish them to do unto you. Do not have a double standard. Treat all as your own self’.

Sathya Sai Baba: The basic principles of Dharma are Sathya (Truth), Prema (Love), Sahana (Fortitude) and Ahimsa (Nonviolence). “Dharmo Rakshathi Rakshithah” – Dharma protects those that protect Dharma. Dharma means certain obligations and duties and regulations over actions, words and behavior. For example, elders have certain obligations towards younger people and vice versa; neighbors have mutual duties and rights.

Sathya Sai Baba: The task of everyone is to do the duty that has come upon him, with a full sense of responsibility to the utmost of his capacity. There should be complete coordination between what one feels, says and does. Then work becomes worship.

Sathya Sai Baba: How are you to decide in any particular case what is Dharma and what is not? That which does not inflict pain on you and others – that is Dharma. This follows from the recognition that same God resides in everyone and if you injure another, you are hurting the same God who is in you. Dharma enables you to come to the recognition that anything that is bad for another is also bad for you. So act in such a way that you get joy and others too get joy. Or take another standard for your actions: Make the mind, the speech and body agree in harmony. Act as you speak, speak as you feel, do not play false to your conscience. That is the Dharmic way of life.

Sathya Sai Baba: Dharma trains you to be calm, level headed, secure in equanimity. You know the transitory nature of success or failure, riches or poverty, joy or grief. You are not elated or deflated. You are serene, unmoved. Anything that helps you to maintain this unruffled stability is Dharma. To summarize: sensual life is Adharma; the spiritual life is Dharma.

Sathya Sai Baba: Dharma is not a matter of time and space to be modified and adjusted to the needs and pressures of the moment. It means a number of fundamental principles that should guide mankind in its progress towards inner harmony and outer peace. When man stays away from Dharma, he meets with greater harm than even physical slavery. These principles are called Sanathana because their origins are not dated, their author is not identifiable; they are the revelations made in the clarified intellects of impartial sages. They are basic and eternal.

Sathya Sai Baba: Dharma is the eternal source. Dharma is a great virtue. Dharma is the basis for everything. In this world nothing is higher than righteousness. Man must follow the path of Dharma, to know himself, to discard demonic qualities, to foster human qualities, to develop divine qualities and to achieve a good life.

Quotes By Satya SaiBaba -Sathya Sai Baba Quotes

Sathya Sai Baba On Truth (Sathya)

Sathya Sai Baba On Truth Sathya

Sathya Sai Baba On Truth (Sathya)
Extracts compiled from Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba’s Discourses.

Sathya Sai Baba: Truth is not merely telling the facts about what you see or hear or know. These are temporal truths. Facts relate to momentary appearances. Truth relates to unchanging reality. In its full sense Truth can be applied only to what comes out of your heart in its pure and unsullied form as the voice of conscience. It is true for all time – past, present and the future. It is not affected by changes in time or place. Time does not transform it, creation does not increase it, Pralaya (Destruction) does not reduce it. History does not stain it. Truth lives eternally in full. The ancient seers called it “Ritham”. It is unchanging and cannot be suppressed.

Sathya Sai Baba: When you seek the Truth, you are seeking God. Truth is God. Truth exists; so too, God exists. Truth must be considered as life giving as breath itself. Just as a person with no breath in him becomes useless, life without Truth is useless and becomes a dwelling place of strife and grief. Believe that there is nothing greater than Truth; nothing more precious, nothing sweeter and nothing more lasting.

Sathya Sai Baba: It is folly to think that you have to search for Truth somewhere. To know one’s Self is Truth. How can man realize the Truth? He can do this only when he experiences non-dualism. As long as he is steeped in dualism (that he and divine are different) he is bound to be racked by the opposites, joy and sorrow, the real and unreal.

Sathya Sai Baba: God wears Truth, the good seek Truth and the bad are rescued by Truth; Truth liberates; Truth is power; Truth is freedom. It is the lamp that illuminates the heart and dispels doubt and darkness. The effulgence of God is Truth.

Sathya Sai Baba: The discovery of Truth is the unique mission of man. Man is a mixture of Maya (illusion) and Madhava (God); the Maya throws a mist which hides the Madhava, but through the action of the healthy impulses inherited from acts performed while in previous bodies or through the cleansing done by austerities in this body or through the Grace of the Lord Himself, Maya melts away; for it is just a mist which flees before the Sun. Then Nara (man) is transformed into Narayana (God) and this Bhuloka is elevated into a Prasanthinilayam.

Sathya Sai Baba: Universe is dependent on Truth. If there is no Truth, there is no Universe. Truth is of eternal quality. No one can change it. Nor hide it. Truth is God. All wealth, all riches emerge from truth only. God is the embodiment of Truth. Truth alone is God’s abode. Dharma permanently lives in Truth. Vedas, the repository of knowledge and wisdom emanate from Truth. Truth alone is the royal path. Truth is knowledge – Infinity, Brahman. Wherever Truth is followed, there lives Dharma. There is no Dharma higher than Truth. There is no morality higher than Truth. Through Truth, you can experience love; through love you can visualize Truth.

Quotes By Satya SaiBaba -Sathya Sai Baba Quotes

A Continuous Presence

Sathya Sai Baba A Continuous Presence

A Continuous Presence

In friendship there should be good feelings in the heart. This is possible only for God. There will be an element of selfishness and self-interest in the love between parents and children, between brothers and sisters and among friends. Only God can be a true friend. He never asks for anything, only keeps on giving. How then do you reach such a God? Only through good conduct and behaviour built up assiduously. (Divine Discourse, June 27, 1996)

Sathya Sai Baba is a continuous presence, says the author while narrating his own version of experiencing Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba’s omnipresent Divinity. The writer feels that with our limited understanding of the physical phenomena, we are unable to explain His Divinity and at times reject the presence in our ignorance. Read on…

I had only read of Sathya Sai Baba, when a few years ago a few of my friends who were devotees of Sai Baba encouraged me to visit Prasanthi Nilayam at Puttaparthi. I went along with a lawyer friend of mine, a distinguished lawyer in Colombo, a lady who was a relation of my wife and my elder son who had come for a holiday to Sri Lanka from France. My son is of a rather disbelieving nature.

On that occasion, I took a letter of introduction to the trust secretary and proceeded through Trivandrum by air and then by car to Bangalore from whence we set out to Puttaparthi.

I carried with me the letter of introduction, which strangely enough, on the first day of my stay at Trivandrum, I took out while unpacking the luggage. My friend asked me why I did this. “The letter would have great value when we go to Puttaparthi.” I laughed and put the letter back. The next day strangely enough the letter was missing. We searched the suitcase, but we could not find that letter. On the third day, I opened the suitcase to find the letter on top of the suitcase. I was happy I had rediscovered it, and I kept it back in the suitcase and we went out to town. When I came back again, very strangely the letter was missing. The next day, the letter was found in the bag. We set out and stopped at a bungalow belonging to the Indian Government. During lunch, I showed my friends the letter. Before we got to Puttaparthi, we stopped at another place. Again, the letter was strangely missing. It was discovered at the Circuit Bungalow and sent to me by the Indian police.

At Puttaparthi, when we arrived, it was early in the afternoon when everyone was resting. The party with which I came had wanted to get back to Bangalore soon, and had wanted me to use my influence with the officials at Prasanthi Nilayam. I thought it highly improper and disrespectful to a person of high religious stature.

An hour later a person came from inside and asked, “Are there any people here from Sri Lanka?” When we admitted to it, we were told that Sathya Sai Baba had wanted us to be lodged in an apartment and given some food. Then we were conducted to a large hall and asked to stand in the verandah of that hall.

Suddenly a door opened and Baba summoned us and we went into the room. He laughed and asked, “Have you found the letter to me?” This appeared most unusual, because only we were aware of it. My son, in a moment of disbelief had said, “I don’t believe in Him nor do I believe He has any powers and I will not personally take any notice of Him unless He speaks with me.” My son was seated when Sathya Sai Baba called him to His side and said, “Now will you believe in me because I spoke to you. You had said you would not care the slightest for Me, but listen, I know what you said and I shall bless you, and you will be happy in the future.”

The day prior to going to Puttaparthi from Bangalore, a telex had reached us informing one of the ladies in the party that her cousin sister had passed away. We had made enquiries at Bangalore and we were told there was no chance of her returning to our country in time for the funeral and much against her own wishes she joined us in this trip to Puttaparthi. When addressing her, Sathya Sai Baba said, “Yesterday, your sister died. You wanted to go back but could not; you have come here and joined in prayer at this place. Extend the benefit to the person who has passed away from this world.”

That evening, we were summoned by Sathya Sai Baba who exhorted us to wait the night. Unfortunately, we had a programme that could not be avoided. On the journey back a strange occurrence took place. We missed the road. We suddenly came across what we thought was a pool of water. We halted. The driver reversed the car and we were waiting not knowing what to do. Just then a lorry arrived nearby apparently going to a farm. The lorry driver said, “Go back to where you have just turned.” We told him there was a pool of water. He replied, “I don’t think so. Why don’t you try again?” The driver drove back for five minutes. There was no pool of water, and we went right through. These different incidents convinced me that Baba is a continuous Presence, which we with our limited understanding of physical phenomena are not able to explain and which we sometimes reject in our ignorance.

—From an address given by Justice Nissanka Wijeyeratne of the Ministry of Justice, Colombo, Sri Lanka, to the Sathya Sai Baba Centre of Hong Kong on Full Moon Day (from Sanathana Sarathi, September 1984).

Reference

The Interviews

Sathya Sai Baba Interviews

The Interviews

People of other countries referred to this country by several names. However, even now, when Indians go abroad, they introduce themselves saying, “I am from Delhi; I am from Kolkata; I am from Bengaluru”, etc., instead of replying “I am from Bharath.” These are actually cities and regions which form part of India. Hence, it would be appropriate to say that you are from India. Wherever you go, you must be proud to refer to yourself as Bharatheeyas. The name ‘Bharatha’ has great significance. ‘Bha’ refers to ‘Bhagawan’ or ‘God’ and ‘ratha’ refers to ‘Love’. Thus, Bharatheeyas are people who love God. The country of Bharath has acquired its name on account of such people inhabiting it. (Sathya Sai Baba: Divine Discourse on Onam, 12th September 2008)

“Are you staying a little time?” “Of course, of course!” I said “Come back the day after tomorrow, and I give one hour to discuss all these things.” The words, when read, might appear casual, but Sathya Sai Baba talks to you as if you are the only person in the world. He does so with tender concern, intimacy and emphasis, looking into your eyes, and with that beautiful, understanding smile. He gives everything…writes Peggy Mason.

With a last smile to us both, He turned towards an inner room through a curtain. He seemed to float away rather than walk, with that gentle movement which is indescribable. I have to keep on using the word “gentle” in connection with Sathya Sai Baba. He is the embodiment of Love. If, on occasion, He ever appears stern in any way, it is only the appearance, only out of love, if correction is needed, or in order to induce people to examine themselves, to “enquire within”, for their own sake.

I have no idea how long or how short that interview was, for time stands still in His presence. One is transported to another dimension. When He bestows personal attention, one experiences so much more than any actual words—from His expressions, movements, voice, and being within that radiant rose pink aura, ‘the memory of which can never dim once it has been experienced’.

The fact is that no one can attempt to analyse or explain anything about Him. As He once gave out: “I am beyond the reach of the most intensive inquiry and the most meticulous measurement. Only those who have recognised My love and experienced that love can assert that they have glimpsed My reality”

I passed a strange but wonderful night. My whole being, seemed galvanized into greater intensity and life.

During the interview Sathya Sai Baba did what I am sure He had planned to do the day before! He took hold of my chain and pendant again, and asked: “Wouldn’t you like a real one? This is imitation.” Whereupon He circled His hand in the air and produced a charming silvery disc with His face on one side and the OM sign on the other. What a joy! It was of course what I had secretly longed for, but would not ask!

A little later He asked Ron what He wanted. Ron said, “To love more, and something from you, Swami.” Immediately Swami circled His hand again, and produced a gorgeous oval ring made of Swami’s “five metals,” with a coloured picture of His head in enamel.

He leaned forward and pushed it firmly onto the fourth finger of Ron’s left hand. It fitted perfectly, and was exactly what Ron had day dreamed about in the aeroplane on the flight to India- even the correct finger!

But a further and most unexpected blessing was yet to come which completely overwhelmed me. During a general conversation Satya Sai Baba turned to me again, and asked, “Do you do sadhana?” (a form of prayer and meditation). “Yes, Swami.” “When?” “At night, Swami.” To my wonderment He circled His hand several times in the air. As everyone gasped, out fell a long, beautiful 108 bead japamala—rosary necklace. Its total length, were if undone, is 48 inches and can be worn doubled round the neck and still be ample.

It just streamed down from his fingers like a cascade of crystal light. With an almost casual gesture, He spread it out with both hands and threw it over my head onto my shoulders without touching a single hair. “Oh Swami!” was all I could say, hardly believing that I had been blessed with two gifts from Him at one interview! (And always there was Vibhuti).

This is what He has said about such gifts:

“Do not crave from Me trivial material objects: but crave for Me, and you would be rewarded. Not that you should not receive whatever objects I give as sign of grace out of the fullness of love. I shall tell you why I give these rings, talismans, rosaries, etc. It is to mark the bond between me and those to whom they are given. When calamity befalls them, the article comes to me in a flash and returns in a flash, taking from me the remedial grace of protection. That grace is available to all who call on Me in any name or form, not merely to those who wear these gifts. Love is the bond that wins grace.”

(from Sanathana Sarathi, September, 1980)

Reference