Swami often talks of service to motherland, "Janani Janma Bhoomischa Swargadapi Gariyasi", the mother who has given birth to you and the motherland you are born in is greater than Heaven. Serve your motherland, serve your society. It is this society that has brought you up. Pay back the debts you owe to society for bringing you up. Render service to society is what Swami says. Similarly, serving parents is the most important ideal we need to do. 'PAY - RENT' … Swami often says that our very existence in this world is because of our parents, as our head, food and blood truly belong to our parents. Hence, it is our primary duty to pay-rent to our parents, and that is by providing loving care to them with devotion. So dear brothers and sisters, let us all resolve to do His work and do our work too…
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FROM THE PEN OF RAM CHUGANI....ARTICLES
Swami's teachings on Atma nivedanamSwami says: "I wish to talk to you today on Atma Nivedanam, an important aspect of Bhagati (Bhakti) Yoga, in fact the last and final stage of bhagathi (Bhakti), which is total surrender to God." Most of us take worship as duty. We rush into the puja room every morning after bath, etc. and chant a few slokas rapidly at full speed, as though a horde of wild animals were behind us, waiting to spring on us. And that is all. For of the day, God is completely absent from our thoughts. Our heads are filled with mundane, materialistic thoughts, or we go to temple, offer flowers, fruits and a coconut, think that we have discharged our duties towards God and go home, well content and mighty pleased with our selves. I ask you is this the way it should be? Can we limit our relationship to God, restrict our association with the Lord who created us, to those fewmintues before an idol or a picture? Should we not (instead) install that same idol or picture in our hearts, enshrine it there and worship it whole heartedly with full fervor and enthusiasms? When we have a little time, why can't we sit back and think of God? Even in grossed in our daily duties, we can still keep chanting His name ceaselessly. Can't we dedicate all our thoughts and actions to Him? Embodiment of Love, offer yourselves entirely and wholly up to God. Let Him do what He wants with you. Put all your trust and faith in Him. God is your greatest well-wisher. Surely, He will never do you any harm. Think…”God, I have surrendered myself unto you…body-mind and soul. I have no will of my own now. Your will is my will. Let your will be done. I am utterly and truly content to let you do what you want to do with me. Take me where you want.” This is true Atma Nivedanam or offering of one's soul to God… By “Soul”, we actually mean “Will” for the soul is already God, is not it? We have to offer our free will to God and seek refuge in Him. Prayer I rest my mind at your Lotus feet, my Lord, I surrender my will unto You, Oh God! Take me where You will, There is no more anything called mine, Everything I have is Thine- I myself Thine
Bhagavan's Teachings to Atma Nivedanam. Excerpt from Holy Mission Divine Vision.
Necklace of nine Sai Gems No. 2 Repository of Supreme Peace and happiness (Purma Santhi Suka Nidhaana)The goal of all living beings is peace and happiness. But the tragedy of it is that we search for peace and happiness in the wrong place. In things external to us. “Peace inside, pieces outside,” quips Swami very meaningfully.SWAMI TELLS US STORYHe gives the parable of a foolish, old woman who lost her sewing needle in her cottage. She was frantically searching for it under the streetlight, because she had no light in her cottage.We are all like that foolish woman, says Baba; because, due to our inner darkness of ignorance, we have apparently lost the Self, which is the source of supreme peace and bliss. But instead of looking for it inward, we are desperately searching for it outside.The name serves to purify our mind and make it turn inward to its Source, the Spiritual Heart, where only we can experience supreme peace and happiness, which is permanent and unmixed.In contrast the so-called peace and happiness we get from external objects’ are only fleeting glimpses, invariably tinged with pain. “Pleasure is only an interval between two pains,” says Swami.And we all have experience of this truth. Thus the Name is the external abode of supreme and un-alloyed peace and bliss. Once we experienced it in our inner being, we shall find it also outside, for as Swami reveals,” The outer scenario is a reflection or projection of the inner Being.”SWAMI SAYS= AS THE AIR WE BREATHE IS OF God’s creation and available to all, so the wariness of God and His powers and Mercy have to be available to all. True seekers on the spiritual path must hold on to this wide outlook and the universality of this message. Then the conflict between the diverse faiths and creeds disappears by itself, and peace and love will be restored on earth.
From Sai Pranam - Monthly Magazine The grace of Sai and story of a yogi walking on water. This the story of Yogi named L.S.Rao, who during 1971 and 1972 carried on a campaign of vilification against Baba. He has said that Baba was a fake and that he himself had performed many such miracles, such as walking through fire and on water.
The Blitz paper had carried these articles, in which the Yogi had carried on a tirade against Baba. He said that he would give a public performance in Andheri, near the Yogi’s ashram. The event attracted international interest and many people came to witness it. Television cameras and all the other media were invited to attend. Admission was restricted and the tickets cost between five hundred rupees and a thousand rupees.
This campaign agitated very much most of Baba’s followers and were very much upset and many devotees thought that Baba should teach this man a lesson. “The Yogi arrived, invoked the Gods, cursed Baba and said that He was fake.
Devotees prayed to Baba saying, “Swami please teach this arrogant man a lesson. Let him find himself at the bottom of the ten foot tank when he tries to walk on water.
The yogi walked up a ladder that had been placed at the side of the tank. He stood at the top of the ladder and again repeated his mantras. He placed his right foot on the water and then the left foot, and promptly sank to the bottom of the tank. Devotees prayed to Baba and asked Him to put an end to this man’s ego
He came out of the tank and again cursed Baba and spoke against Him. He repeated his mantras and made another attempt to walk on the water. He again sank to the bottom and could not come up again. Two man had to go into the tank to rescue him.
When he was up brought the tank, he said “Where is my doctor? I am not well. My doctor told me not to do it today. “The spectators rebelled and shouted for a refund of their money, saying that this was a hoax.
Mr Karanjia, the editor of Blitz came to the microphone and announced that all money would be refunded The proceeds were to have gone to the Yogi’s ashram. After that the Yogi never again made a public appearance and his tirade against Baba ended.
Experience of Vijay Sai, Previously speaker and a lecturer in the dept of English in Brindavan campus He said when I am asked to write or speak about the happy time I had with Bhagavan, as a student and a teacher, I do not know where to begin. Like every student, I have seen Him, experienced Him and basked in His divine love. I wonder whether I should narrate how He once materialised a sugar candy, to clear my sore throat before singing a bhajan or how in Kodaikanal while travelling with students in a bus. He created a silver spoon to distribute some groundnuts , or how He fastened the button on my shirt, while I stood beside Him for a photograph, or how He took a snap of us when we were waking up after a nap, or how He quietly picked my pocket, taking the piece of paper containing the points of my speech, prepared at a short notice, while taking His namaskar before the speech, leaving me completely confused before a large audience. Another day when He waited for me and said, ”I know you like this sweet Lord has specially kept for you.” Or when He gave instruction not to serve me any sweet, because I was putting on a lot of weight, or the day when HE, with a divine wave of His hand, transformed a chocolate into an emerald, a diamond, and a ring. And finally said “ If I will it, this moment I can change all of you into girls”! He then asked me if I would volunteer for the demonstration, or how one day He distributed huge chocolate bars to everyone and then informed them that it was because that day was my birthday. In fact I had forgotten myself. Where am I to begin? Where I am to end? Who am I, after all to write about Him, the highest, God, in such an informal tone. Even now, when I am reprimanded and made fun of, and feel that sometimes life is unbearable, and cry in sorrow and self-pity, I remember one of Shakespeare’s sonnets which expresses how I feel. Yet in these thoughts myself almost despising Happily I think of thee-and then my state, Like a lark at break of day arising From sullen earth, sings hymns at heaven’s gate, For thy sweet love remembered such wealth brings, That I scorn to change my place with Kings”
Earthquake relief - The work has begun
Dear Brothers,
The Sri Sathya Sai International Medical Committee of the Prasanthi
Council, working under the leadership of its Chairman, Dr. Narendra
Reddy, has sent task forces of personnel with the necessary skills
to assess the needs of victims and our own resources to address
those needs.
Task forces have gone to Indonesia to Banda Acheh, and two other
stricken areas in that country nearest to the epicenter of the
earthquake. A team of medical personnel and volunteers from
Indonesia, Singapore, and Malaysia will establish medical and
rehabilitation camps. Likewise, in Sri Lanka, a task force is going
to perform the same function. These task forces and the medical and
rehabilitation camps will not be merely a brief encounter where
goods are distributed and the sick are treated. It will be an
ongoing interaction. In the acute phase we are treating illness and
distributing goods and materials that meet the needs for survival in
the ravaged environment. Then, having met the immediate needs, we
plan to maintain a presence of helpful Sai workers to assist in the
rebuilding of the homes, the rehabilitation of the community, and,
finally, the achievement of self-sufficiency.
Posted on 06.01.2005 by Ram Chugani Bhagavan Baba Sarva Devata Swaroopa(Student Experience Sudheendran) One evening we were all sitting around Bhagawan in Trayee Brindavan at Whitefield. All of sudden, Bhagavan asked me if I would give Him anything that He asked for, immediately, I replied “Yes, Bhagavan.”Bhagavan looked at me in my eyes and asked, are you sure, will you give me even your life? “Saying thus, He streched out His palm, but He withdrew it at once, and said something that overwhelmed me by its impact.Bhagawan said, “You fool, who are you to give your life to Me ? Your life is alread in My hands, and you have no control over it! I realize that none other than Goddess Shakthi Herself, who is permeating each and every cell in my body and sustaining my life every moment, spoke these words.I would also like to narrate another experience where Bhagavan saved my father’s life. In February 2000, my father underwent a regular health check-up where he was diagnosed to have a minor heart problem. The doctors then prescribed more tests. But my father decided that he would not allow himself to be treated further without Bhagavan’s permission.So he came to Prashanti Nilayam to seek Bhagavan’s blessings and permission for his heart treatment. During Darshan, Bhagavan spotted my father and immediatley went up to him and enquired about his health. Then Bhagavan materialized vibuthi and gave it to my father and asked him to get himself checked up again at the Sri Sathya Sai Super Speciality Hospital, Prashanti Nilayam.As per Bhagavan’s advice, my father underwent tests and the doctors recommended an operation. The operation was scheduled for 1st March, after Bhagawan’s prior approval. Since my father was staying alone, he asked Bhagavan if it was necessary for my mother to rush to Parthi immediatley. Bhagavan told that there was no need to hurry and assured my father saying ,“Don’t worry, I will take care of you!”A few days before the operation, my father decided to go for a short walk in the evening. When he was walking on the road, he felt a slight pain in his chest. So he thought that it would be better to sit down somewhere nearby. That very moment an ambulance appeared on the scene, and a senior ashram offical alighted from it and rushed towards my father saying that Bhagavan had personally sent him to enquire about my father’s condition, and if necessary, to rush him to the hospital. Bhagavan thus demonstrated His love and omniscience, and the chest pain vanished.As the D-Day approached, my mother and I landed in Prashanti Nilayam. Finally on March 1st, my father was taken into the operation theatre at 8 a.m. What was supposed to have been a mirror operation turned out to be a major and a critical one, which took five hours. When the doctors operated upon the heart, they discovered that there were five blocks in the arteries and it was a medical miracle how my father lived normally when there was apparently no way the blood could flow in and out of the heart. Undoubtedly my father is alive sheerly due to Bhagavan’s grace.After the operation Bhagavan told me to be happy and said, “Tell your mother about this successful operation. She will feel happy. And also convey to her that I am thousand times happier then she is.Our love is filled with selfishness and attachment born out of a relationship of a few years. But Bhagavan has been loving and protecting all of us for thousands of births!“OM SRI SRI JNANASWAROOPAYA NAMAHA”
Prof Kasturi’s Birthday story.
Kasturi says on my Birthday, I usually spend the day with Swami. On one birthday, He asked me to go to a place to attend a meeting of devotees, and I said “ What Swami? You are pushing me out on my birthday!” Swami said, “What birthday? It is not an important Event. To be born is a calamity not to be celebrated!
My name is Kasturi , Kasturi means musk, the fragrant stuff, which we used to put a dot on God’s forehead. Krishna had “Kasturi Tilakam” on His forehead. It is not only black, but also fragrant.
There is a temple in south India, where the God is known as Kasturi Ranganatha, director of the divine play, wearing a musk dot. I am named after that. So I told Swami that I would go to that holy place on my birthday.
Swami said, “Go there, you will find me there. It is as good as my presence there” and believe me, when I went there, there was no Kasturi Ranganatha; there was my own SWAMI in the shrine room. So everywhere, it is He who answers every prayer, in whatever language it is made, to whichever God it is made.
A mother once complained, “Swami, my son goes to Tirupathi, he does not come to puttaparthi” Swami said, “Yeh! Why do you worry? It is myself there also.” He says, “Attend any church, call on any God by any name, of any form, I am there. “That is Prabhu” The Lord of all.
Swami says, “If you look at me, your image will be in my eyes, and my image will be in your eyes. We are all in Swami’s eyes, because His eyes are everywhere. “Sarvathah pannipadam sarvathokshi shirormukham.” His hands, His feet, His eyes, His head and His face are everywhere to grasp you and save you from a fall.”
Jai Sai Ram Ram.Chugani LOVE IS LIKE ICE CREAM It was Sunday morning at Prashanti Nilayam. After finishing the morning Interviews, Baba went to the western side of the Mandir where the children from the primary school were seated. Baba does not like anyone to sit in the hot sun, and certainly not the sweet little ones. [This was in the days before the present roof was built.] He made them all sit in the shade in the porch near the Interview room. The children beamed as they trooped in and sat in an orderly fashion, followed by Baba who came from behind them, beaming with a big smile! He came to the first row and all of a sudden started singing “Love is My form…” He asked the children to join in. All of us who were fortunate to be there were exhilarated at this unexpected gift of Grace! Grace always comes unexpectedly. Halfway, He stopped and asked the children, “What is Love?” smiling mischievously. The children were taken by surprise at this question and smiled nonplussed!
“Love is sweet like ice cream; Love is joy like ice cream; Love is cool like ice cream and Love is pure like white ice cream.” Apparently meant for the children, but it was a gift from Baba to all of us, this extraordinarily original definition of love from Love Incarnate! Images are sketched by poets to make the abstract concrete; Baba the Poet of poets gives images which have great spiritual depths, and the Avatar of the Age uses the most modern of them to make us understand what He wants to convey. In the Krishna Avatar, it was milk, curds and butter; in the Sai Avatar it is Love, Joy and ice cream! From “Spiritual Blueprints of My Journey” by Indulal Shah Jai Sai Ram Ram Chugani I see what you don't contributed by saikramesh Ram Chugani
Prof Kasturi describes an incident of Calcutta devotee who went on wrong path.
There was a young person in Calcutta who had gone too far on wrong path. He had the calamity of having a rich father and he suffered from that! Cinema star, gamblers, racehorses were his companions.
His father was a good man. He didn’t know that he was the reason for his son’s wayward ways. He had fondled him much and had spoiled him. He wanted to improve him, and so he put three volumes of Sathyam Shivam Sundaram on his son’s table.
He warned his servants to see that the books were always on his table. The son saw them, but never cared to read them. He thought it was his father’s craze! ‘What is the use of reading Sathyam Shivam Sundaram by some Kasturi, when there are far better things to read? ‘ He must have thought.
One day, he had an engagement with a cinema star with his gang of friends. Jay has programmed to go to picnic with her as the central figure. His friends did not turn up as arranged and had to keep on waiting for them.
He was rather upset, and took a book, which was on the table and starting turning the pages, because he had nothing else to do! And what did he read in the book? “Don’t rely on your friends. They are only exploiting you. I am your great friend. I don’t need any thing from you. I will always be with you”
He read whole page! That changed his mind, because those were Swami’s words. He was sitting in P.N Verandah, three days back. He has purchased a bungalow near Whitefield and now wherever he gets time he will be writing “Sai Ram”
That happened because of that one page which he read at a critical time of his life. Swami, who was waiting for the psychological moment, caught him! When the dawn comes, when the morning star raised and the sun is about to give light to earth, that moment, when he opened the book, Swami stood there to receive him!
Swami says, I have a vow and what is that?”Hold by the hand those who have strayed away from the correct path and save them. Swami has said”Patti” is to hold by the hand. To hold them by the hand and save them is His vow. In case of this young man, He was waiting for his hand and caught it, Prof Kasturi asked Swami “Why hold the hand?
“Dear man.” Said Swami. How can you give a person an injection without holding his hand ? So holding the hand is necessary. This young man turned the pages of the book and Swami held him by the hand and gave him the injection. When his friends came and hour later, he said ´ “ he said “ I am not coming, I don’t want the picnic. I am not going you hereafter, I have a great friend now!” He sends his friends out! Swami has converted him.
There was a dancing hall in the ground floor of his house, was now beautifully polished floor which became the bhajan center! That hand that held whisky, now held vibhuthi packet! Complete change! Because he read something that Swami wanted him to read that book, and not what was printed in it. The book was only an excuse.
Jai Sai Ram Ram.Chugani Kobe, Japan
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