Sathya Sai Baba – A Thought For The Day – May 21st 2010

Sathya Sai Baba – A Thought For The Day – May 21st 2010

Sathya Sai Baba - A Thought For The Day

If Vedanta (Vedic Philosophy) is spoken parrot-like to others without any attempt to put it into practice in one’s own life, it is not just deceiving others but deceiving oneself, which is even worse. Therefore you must be as you want others to be. It is not the nature of a Sadhaka (spiritual aspirant) to search for faults in others and hide his/her own faults. If your faults are pointed out to you by anyone, do not argue, try to prove they are wrong and do not bear a grudge against him/her for it. Reason within yourself how you are at fault and set right your behaviour. Instead, rationalizing your faults for your own satisfaction or wreaking vengeance on the person who pointed them out – these are certainly not the traits of a Sadhaka or Bhaktha (devotee).
~ Sathya Sai Baba

Sathya Sai “Thought for the day” as written at Prasanthi Nilayam
May 21st 2010 – Curtesy RadioSai

‘Divine Lessons From Sathya Sai Baba’ by Diana Baskin

‘Divine Lessons From Sathya Sai Baba’ by Diana Baskin

Divine Lessons From Sathya Sai Baba

Sri Sathya Sai Baba: “It is not a question of surrendering or giving to some other one. One surrenders to oneself. Recognition that the Atma is oneself is to surrender. Surrender really means the realization that all is God, that there is nobody who surrenders, that there is nothing to be surrendered, nor is there anyone to accept the surrender. All is God. There is only God.”

‘Divine Lessons From Sathya Sai Baba’, by Diana Baskin, Quotations from talks, interviews and discourses by Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba; Sri Sathya Sai Sadhana Trust, Prashanti Nilayam, First Edition 2009. Visit the Sathya Sai Organisation Website.

Sathya Sai Baba – A Thought For The Day – May 19th 2010

Sathya Sai Baba – A Thought For The Day – May 19th 2010

Sathya Sai Baba - A Thought For The Day

Every person is prone to commit mistakes without being aware of it. However bright the fire, some smoke is bound to come from it. So also, whatever good deed one might do, there may be a trace of bad in it. However, every effort should be made to ensure that the good is more and the bad is less in due course of time. You must also carefully think over the consequences of what you do, talk or execute. In whatever way you want others to behave, love and honour you, in the same way you should first behave, love and honour them. If you do not love and honour others and complain that they are not treating you properly, it is surely a wrong conclusion.
~ Sathya Sai Baba

Sathya Sai “Thought for the day” as written at Prasanthi Nilayam
May 19th 2010 – Curtesy RadioSai

Sathya Sai Baba – A Thought For The Day – May 18th 2010

Sathya Sai Baba – A Thought For The Day – May 18th 2010

Sathya Sai Baba - A Thought For The Day

The benefit we can derive from anything is proportional to the faith we place in it. From adoration of Gods, pilgrimages to holy places, uttering of Mantras (hymns) or resorting to doctors, we derive benefits only according to the measure of our faith. When someone gives a discourse, the more faith we have in the individual as a scholar and expert, the more clearly and directly we can draw the subject into our hearts and understand it deeply. For the growth of faith and the fostering of clear understanding, the most essential requirement is the purity of the heart.
~ Sathya Sai Baba

Sathya Sai “Thought for the day” as written at Prasanthi Nilayam
May 18th 2010 – Curtesy RadioSai

Yaani Drucker – An Amazing Story Of Fear And The Triumph Of Love

Yaani Drucker – An Amazing Story Of Fear And The Triumph Of Love

A Yaani Drucker Story

The following account by Yaani Drucker is an amazing story about how a brutal, fearful and violent attack took an unexpected “quantum leap” into self-healing, love and compassion through the transformative power & inspiration of Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba.

What Is Real And What Is Unreal?

From the unreal, lead me to the real
From darkness, lead me to the light
From death lead me to Immortality

(Talk presented by Yaani Drucker at the United Kingdom Sai Baba retreat, April, 2000, followed by excerpts from Al Drucker’s talk on the same subject)

I would like to share a story with you that is not real, that never happened, and that had no effect on truth. It did however serve me deeply as a wake-up call, as a classroom for discerning that which is real and eternal from that which is unreal and has no power over me. It revealed to me the truth of who I really am.

Fourteen years ago, I had a most intense experience, first incredibly brutal, and now seen as a true spiritual turning point. Up to that moment I had been Sai Baba’s ardent devotee living a simple life as a Montessori teacher, residing by myself, spending 6 months out of every year in India with Baba. Life was beautiful.Then one night everything changed. It was Mahashivaratri in India, the holiest day of the year. I was staying in a Sai Baba center in California. We were scheduled to celebrate with an all-night bhajan the following evening. I was fast asleep in a room adjoining the bhajan hall. It was 3:00 am. It could not have been a more auspicious time or setting.

Suddenly I am jolted into awakening by a threatening voice ordering, “Scream and I’ll kill you.” I feel a knife at my throat, and see a massive menacing figure looming over me. Still groggy I instinctively scream, and to shut me up he pummels me in the face with his fist. I am drenched in blood. He gags me and ties me up and rips my bedclothes off me. In total terror I cry out to Baba to come and save me. Somehow, in my heart of hearts I fully expect Baba to physically appear and dispel this horrendous nightmare that has suddenly overtaken me. Baba did not come. And yet he did. Even while I was being raped, within me all fear and horror of the situation had left. Quite inexplicably I became very calm and to my astonishment discovered an incredible compassion welling up in my heart.

As he was leaving, I managed a muffled, “God bless you.” He hissed back, “God hates me!” and disappeared into the night. I struggled to untie myself and went to get help. The police were called and the man was caught. He had a long criminal history; he had been in and out of jail. And yet, this time something had changed for him. From his jail cell he made a considerable effort to get a message to me. And that message was, “I feel bad about what I did. I’m real sorry I hurt you. Please pray for me.” So, even in that horrible scene God was present and even the rapist was affected. To my surprise, I could muster no anger toward the man. I found myself focusing not on my personal trauma but on the tragedy of the human condition that could lead to such a desperate state.

Although my body was badly beaten and bruised I remember absolutely no pain. Yet, it was not like I wasn’t traumatized or bewildered. I remember walking outside in the night and feeling afraid that somebody might be lurking behind a bush. When anyone entered my room I was startled and jittery, feelings that were completely uncharacteristic for me. In my being I felt tainted and my familiar sense of security, knowing that I was always in the protective hands of the divine, had been badly shaken. My confusion centered entirely on Sai Baba. In my mind, Baba, in whom I had put complete trust and whom I regarded as my savior, had not helped me, though I had desperately called out to him. Why hadn’t he? I kept praying to Baba, imploring him, “Why did you let this happen to me? Please help me to understand.” As I was praying thus, I distinctly heard Sai Baba’s voice gently asking, “What happened to you?” “I was raped, brutalized, robbed, and my very life was threatened” came my response, “and I called out to you, but you did not come!” Again Baba asked, ever so tenderly, “What happened to you?”

Suddenly, I understood. Nothing had happened to me. I remembered one of my favorite passages in the Bhagavad Gita where Krishna taught Arjuna, “You are not this perishable body. You cannot be destroyed by weapons, you cannot be incinerated by fire, you cannot be drowned by water, you cannot be blown away by the raging tempest. You are the indestructible, eternal Atma, the one Self.” Suddenly this mystical pronouncement of Lord Krishna was no longer a conceptual thought but a direct experience for me. My bewilderment, my fears and feelings of abandonment all dissolved in the light of that incredible realization.

Far from failing me and abandoning me, Baba revealed to me the truth of who I am, the immortal Self, and there is nothing in the whole universe that can ever threaten me. I knew myself to be invulnerable, indestructible, eternal. I exploded in joy and exhilaration. What a surprising outcome for such an intense and fearful happening! It turned out to be the quantum leap into the discovery of who I truly am. I am so very grateful. Thank you God!

Reference

‘Sadhana The Inward Path’ – Quotes From Sri Sathya Sai Baba

‘Sadhana The Inward Path’ – Quotes From Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Sadhana - The Inward Path

Sri Sathya Sai Baba: “There is no short cut to any laudable achievement. Steady struggle alone can ensure victory. Things that are gained with little or no effort are not worth exulting over. The process of yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dhyana and dharana (control of the inner and outer senses, regulation of pose and breath, withdrawal into the inner consciousness, meditation and concentration) is difficult; but the final stage is Nirvikalpa Samadhi, the condition of perfect undisturbed equanimity. Whereas the pursuit of material pleasures will be ‘agre amritopamam pariname visham’ (like nectar at first but poison in the end). The pursuit of equanimity will be ‘agre visham pariname amritopamam’ (like poison at first but nectar in the end).”

Sadhana ~ The Inward Path Quotations from the divine discourses of Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba; Sri Sathya Sai Education and Publication Foundation, Bombay, Revised Edition 1978. Visit the Sathya Sai Organisation Website.

‘Sadhana The Inward Path’ – Quotes From Sri Sathya Sai Baba

‘Sadhana The Inward Path’ – Quotes From Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Sadhana - The Inward Path

Sri Sathya Sai Baba: “Just as the sugar cane does not yield sweet juice unless it is crushed, just as sandal wood does not give the fragrant paste unless it is grinded on a stone; the goodness of people does not come out unless they go through difficulties. From ashanti you get prashanti. From prashanti you get prakanthi. And from prakanti you get paranjoti. It is like the alternating of night and day; this recurring of joy and grief. Welcome disappointment, for it toughens you and tests your fortitude. The ills draw you nearer to God, making you call on Him always when you are in difficulty. Love God though tribulations may be your lot. Love Him though you are refused and rebuked; for it is only in the crucible of travail that the metal is purified and cleansed of blemish. The saints Jayadeva, Tukaram, Kabir, Gouranga, Ramakrishna, Ramadas, all had to go through travail and tragedy so that they could see God and merge in Him. They have won permanent niches in the temple of human memory. Ridicule and contempt must be met with joyous unconcern. Even Avathars are not free from such feeble tactics from small men.”

Sadhana ~ The Inward Path Quotations from the divine discourses of Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba; Sri Sathya Sai Education and Publication Foundation, Bombay, Revised Edition 1978. Visit the Sathya Sai Organisation Website.

The Real Story Of The ‘Miracle’ Saibaba Statue In Lower Hutt

Sai Baba Of Shirdi

The Real Story Of The ‘Miracle’ Saibaba Statue In Lower Hutt
13/05/2010 13:01:00 Bhaskar Duvvuru

The ‘emergence’ of a statute of Shirdi Sai Baba recently in Lower Hutt fuelled rumours and speculation, with varied versions appearing in the media.

I accompanied Shri Shirdi Saibaba Sansthan of NZ Inc Vice-President Thulasi Krishna and Saikrishna Tridandapani to Wellington last week to ascertain the facts.

We met the owner of the property where the statue was reportedly found along with our Wellington based members Srinivas Gazula and Dharmesh Patel.

John Peters Presley (of Madhya Pradesh, India) and his wife Charlene own six acres of land in Wainuiomata. They constructed a house two years ago and planned to subdivide the balance land for residential purpose.

There was a spot next his house with a little water, frequented by wild birds and his domestic sheep. In September last year, Their daughter suggested that the pond be dug deeper to provide additional quantity of water.

It was while digging that Mr Presley found the Statue of Baba in His classic sitting posture. He thought he had found a Maori artefact but later learnt of Baba.

He was a devout Christian but decided to keep the Statue inside his house. As the news spread, streams of devotees of Baba began to visit the house.

Many of them offered money for the Statue but Mr Presley decided to return it to the place where it was discovered but secured on a wooden platform.

Following discussions, Pravin Gandhi, Karthik Badiyani, Ram Chander, Mr Patel and others took the initiative to form the Shirdi Saibaba Holy Land Trust, with Mr and Mrs Peters as the main trustees.

We were told that the Trust would consider plans to construct a Temple but issues relating to purchase of the land by the Trust, Resource Consent, mobilising funds and other issues are still under discussion.

I will keep our members and Indian Newslink readers informed of the developments as they come to hand.

Meanwhile, visitors to Wellington can have Dharshan of Jala Saibaba (Water Saibaba) at 195, Wise Road, Wainuiomata, Lower Hutt.

Bhaskar Duvvuru is Secretary of Shri Shirdi Saibaba Sansthan of NZ Inc based in Auckland. Email: secretary(at)shirdisaibaba.org.nz

India Newslink Reference

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Shri Shirdi SaiBaba

New Sai Baba Organisation emerges
13/05/2010 14:51:00 Staff Reporter

A group of promoters have got together to propagate the teachings of Shirdi Sai Baba and construct a Temple in Auckland.

The Shirdi Sai Baba Temple Committee has more than 20 founding members.

The founding members have recently established the Shirdi Sai Baba Temple of New Zealand Inc with the Registrar of Societies to conduct regular meetings, prayers and other activities.

Founder Secretary Ravi Chittajallu said the first prayer meeting will be held on May 20 from 730 pm at the Thiru Subramaniam Temple (also known as Stanhope Road Temple), located at 41A Stanhope Road in Auckand’s Ellerslie.

“The programme will include Bhajans, Ashtothram (Sanskrit slokas and prayer songs) and Mangala Aarti. This is the first programme of the new organisation and we are hopeful of achieving our main objective of constructing a Temple for Sai Baba with the help and support of donors and the public,” he said.

Shirdi Sai Baba (who attained ‘Samadhi’ on October 15, 1918) is one of the most revered Saints of India with a huge following around the world. As well as Hindus, the Saint has increasing following from people of other religious faiths.

A number of organisations have been established worldwide and weekly prayers are held (usually on Thursdays) in praise of Sai Baba.

There are also informal groups, which meet at individuals’ homes to offer prayers, promote the teachings of Sai Baba and undertake community and social work.

What: First Prayer Meeting
By Whom: Shirdi Sai Baba Temple of New Zealand Inc
Where: Thiru Subramaniam Temple (Stanhope Road Temple) 41A Stanhope Road, Ellerslie, Auckland
When: Thursday, May 20 at 730 pm
Contact: Ravi Chittajallu on 021-332922 or Anil Anna on (09) 5272244

India Newslink Reference

Also see:
Shirdi Sai Baba Statue Found Underground In Wellington, New Zealand

Sai Isa

Sathya Sai Baba – A Thought For The Day – May 14th 2010

Sathya Sai Baba – A Thought For The Day – May 14th 2010

Sathya Sai Baba - A Thought For The Day

There are many destructive forces in the world. But, luckily along with them, there are also constructive forces. As students of Vidya (True Knowledge) you should not turn yourself into worshippers of bombs and machines. You must transform yourself into active persons, worshipping the Divine. Authority and power are powerful intoxicants. They will pollute one until he/she is completely destroyed. They breed misfortune. But, genuine knowledge will confer on you fullness and fortune.
~ Sathya Sai Baba

Sathya Sai “Thought for the day” as written at Prasanthi Nilayam
May 14th 2010 – Curtesy RadioSai

Aum Sai Ram

Sathya Sai Baba

Aum Sai Ram

Sri Satya Sai Baba has been benevolent enough to visit Delhi-NCR (April 9th-14th).

Satya Sai Baba has a following of billions of devotees all across the world who have been enthralled by his divine visit and also vastra-daan and narayan seva was done for general public queuing up in thousands at the Satya Sai International Centre in Delhi.

Ahimsa may be central to our world view yet how many of us follow it?

Similarly we are a secular country and as such each one of us is entitled to their choice of God and belief.

In an age when Durga and Kali are worshipped as symbols of profundity, erudition and might in the world’s largest democracy, it is indeed disheartening to see the feelings of devotees hurt many a time by disturbing articles written by non-believers.

The crazy thronging of people queuing up for Sathya Sai Baba’s darshan was indeed a sight to watch! For those who called him Human, isn’t it ironic, the kind of work he has done from building universities to hospitals to providing water to billions of people?

I question the world that has forever questioned Satya Sai devotees! How many times must the divine prove themselves? In the words of Bob Dylan, “The answer my friend is blowing in the wind! How many times must a man turn his head; and pretend that he just doesn’t see!”

Times Of India Reference