Followers

Monday, December 30, 2019

Farewell to the current year and welcoming a New Year!

We are now bidding farewell to the current year and welcoming a New Year! There is an intimate relationship between the two. We give a send-off to one while we welcome the other. In the same token, should we not bid farewell to our bad qualities and welcome good and divine qualities? You may offer all your bad qualities to God. There is nothing wrong in this. Indeed, it is only God who can take them and bestow His grace on you to foster good qualities. For example, suppose you have a soiled, torn and mutilated hundred rupee currency note, no one will accept it. But if the number is intact, the Reserve Bank of India will accept it and give a good note of the same value in return. Similarly God alone can and will accept the bad qualities, provided you offer them with sincere devotion and repentance, and in return He will shower His abundant Grace on you!

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

Plant the seed of devotion of remembering Lord's name (namasmarana) in your mind. That will grow into a tree with branches of virtue, service, sacrifice, love, equanimity, fortitude and courage. You swallow food, without being aware of how it is transformed into energy, intelligence, emotion and health. Similarly, swallow the food for the spirit, this remembrance of Lord's name, and watch how it gets transmuted into virtues without you being aware of it. Ravana discovered that Rama and kama (desire) cannot coexist in the mind. Develop steadiness in the recitation of the Name of God and in the worth of that Name. Then, even if the whole world says, "Do evil," you will refuse to obey; your system itself will revolt against it. And even if the whole world asks you to desist, you will insist on doing right.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

Happiness and sorrow have to be experienced in the worldly life as they are inevitable like the sunset and sunrise. You think new year will give better experiences; this is not correct. It is the mind that is responsible for pleasure and pain. If your mind is good, you will find anything good. You are embodiments of the Divine which is nothing but bliss. While being so, is it not folly on your part to say that you are suffering from pain and grieve over this? Some want to have uninterrupted happiness. When you eat at 10 a.m. you do not go on eating every hour thereafter without break. So also when you experience pleasure it has to be digested before you meet with another bout of such experience. Just as you have to do some exercise for helping the food to digest, you have to go through the exercise of confrontation of pain after experiencing pleasure. Therefore, you must take whatever is given by God as good for you.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

What exactly is the meaning of ‘Sai Baba’? Sai means Sahasrapadma (thousand lotuses), Sakshatkara (realisation or direct experience of the Lord), etc., Ayi means mother, and Baba means father. Thus, ‘Sai Baba’ means “He who is both Father and Mother and the Goal of all yogic endeavour”, or “The ever-merciful Mother, the All-wise Father, and the Goal of all spiritual efforts”. When you are groping in a dark room, you must seize the chance when someone brings a lamp into the room. You have to hurriedly collect your belongings scattered there or discover where they are located and do whatever else needs to be done. Similarly, make the best of this chance when the Lord has come in human form to your very door and get ready to save yourself from disaster! The undue importance now attached to the satisfaction of sensual desires must diminish as a result of your association with sacred books and saintly personages.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

Embodiments of love! Brahman (Divinity) is full of love and is in fact the embodiment of love. Your love should merge with this love. This is only one; there is no second. It is the non-dual state. The essential nature of love is sacrifice. Under any circumstances true love does not give room for hatred. It is love that brings even a person far away closer and more intimate to you. It is love that drives away the feeling of separateness and promotes the feeling of oneness. Love also raises a person from the animal to the human. Prema (Love) is the Prana (Life Force) of mankind. Love is shown only to persons who are alive. No one loves a corpse. One without love is like a lifeless corpse. Love and life are therefore inter-related and intimately connected.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

Hanuman is the brightest example of a realised soul who succeeded in the journey of life. When he first presented himself before Rama and offered his services, Rama turned to Lakshmana and said, "Brother, listen! Notice how Hanuman has mastered the Vedas. His speech is saturated with humility and dedication which the Rig Veda embodies, the retentiveness and reverence that Yajur Veda promotes and the intuitive vision that Sama Veda grants. Hanuman is a genuine devotee and knows all scriptural texts. Sugriva is fortunate to have Hanuman as his minister whose thoughts, words and deeds are offered to God." When these three are in perfect harmony, they will surely win God's Grace, just as Hanuman succeeded!

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

Jesus Christ demonstrated and preached the power of faith and ultimately, invited on Himself the supreme sacrifice of life itself. Jesus was conscious of His supreme purpose and duty, and sanctified His body by sacrificing it for protecting others. With faith in the oneness of humanity, Jesus stood against opponents and critics, and confronted their onslaughts. Jesus taught Peter, His foremost disciple, to live in love, for Love is God. Jesus advised that one can experience God only when one becomes the embodiment of Love, who doesn't seek anything or expect even gratitude in return! Love spontaneously becomes sacrifice and service! When Peter listened to such exhortations from the Master, he found a new joy welling up within him and also, a new meaning in the word 'joy'. 'J' meant Jesus and the letter directed him to love Jesus first. 'O' meant others who must be loved next. 'Y' meant yourself who ought to be loved only last.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

The destiny of a nation or community is dependent on the moral fibre of its people. Their character must be deep-rooted in faith and in truth. Today, in a world broken into racial and religious units, there is a great need to cultivate a broad outlook and large hearted attitudes. Narrow loyalties cause friction and conflict. Jesus emphasised the importance of faith and the danger caused by hypocrisy. Christ’s teachings must be interpreted, understood and followed from the universal point of view. Truth must be revealed as unity in Thought, Word and Deed. Jesus Christ proclaimed that God is all powerful and omnipresent, one without a second. This is the primary message of Jesus. His understanding of God grew within him in stages. First he looked upon himself as a Messenger of God. Later, developing a closer relationship with God, he announced himself as the Son of God. Finally, realising his identity with God, he asserted, "I and my Father are One."

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

The power of Love is infinite. It can conquer anything. Once while Lord Buddha was journeying, He was confronted by a demoness who threatened to kill Him. Smilingly, Buddha said: "You are not a demon; you are a deity! I love you even if you behave like a demon." Hearing these loving words, the demoness turned into a dove and flew away. Love can change the heart of even an inveterate enemy. It is this kind of Universal love that should be cultivated by everyone. There are people professing different faiths in the world - Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Zorastrians and so on. There should be no difference or distrust amongst religions, for all of them uphold Truth and Righteousness (Dharma). Today, the world is bedevilled by conflict and violence. Peace and prosperity can emerge only when people turn to the path of love and morality, and lead purposeful lives.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Saturday, December 21, 2019

Thought for the Day

The Gita does not encourage inertia, indifference or slothfulness. It recommends Karma as a divine communion (Yoga), as an activity in tune with the Divine Will, and directed to the promotion of one's spiritual consummation. Karma must be an act of fulfilment, of adoration and of one's duty to oneself and others. The Gita marks out the steps and the path towards the realisation of this goal. It accepts all attitudes as valuable and sublimates each one into a spiritual effort (sadhana). No one can do better than their best. The body is gifted with all its inherent excellences and defects so that every moment of life can be used for purposes that can sanctify time through service, sacrifice and love. Mundane action (Karma) then becomes Karma-yoga, karma yoked with unselfish ideals.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

A piece of mysorepak (an Indian sweet made of gram flour) has sweetness, weight, and shape; the three cannot be separated, one from the other. Each little part of the sweet has sweetness, weight, and shape. We don't find shape in one part, weight in another and sweetness in a third. And when it is placed on the tongue, taste is recognised, weight is lessened, and shape is modified - all at the same time. So too, the individual soul (jiva), the Atma and the Supreme Lord (Parameshwara) are not separate; they are one and the same. Similarly every individual deed, all activities in life must be full of the spirit of selfless service (seva), divine love (prema), and spiritual wisdom (jnana). This is verily the yoga of the Supreme (Purushothama-yoga). It must be practiced in action, not merely spoken in words. Spiritual discipline must be constantly done with an ever expanding heart full of devotion and spiritual wisdom.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

You must be happy that the Lord has placed newer and newer materials to serve Him and worship Him in various means and forms. Pray for ever new opportunities and exult in the chance that your hands receive. This attitude gives immeasurable joy. To lead a life suffused with this joy is indeed bliss. Whatever is done from sunrise to sunset must be consecrated as if it is the worship of the Lord. Just as care is taken to pluck only fresh flowers and to keep them clean and unfaded, so too, ceaseless effort should be made to do deeds that are pure and unsullied. If this vision is kept before the mind's eye everyday and life is lived accordingly, then it becomes one long unbroken service of the Lord. The feeling of 'I' and 'You' will soon disappear; all traces of self will be destroyed. Life then transmutes itself into a veritable devotion to the Lord.
Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba


Thought for the Day

When work is undertaken with an egoistic attitude, impelled by selfish motives and inspired by hopes of self-advancement, it feeds greed and pride, envy and hatred. Then it fastens the bond and fosters the feeling of attachment to more profitable work. It promotes ingratitude to those who lent their hands and brains, and to God Himself who endowed the person with the urge and the skill. "I did it", one declares when the work succeeds and say "Others spoiled it" when it fails. Resentment, depression and despair follow when the work results in failure. The more deeply one is attached to the fruits, the more intense and painful is one's grief when one is disappointed. The only means therefore, to escape from both pride and pain is to leave the result to the Will of God, while one is happy in the thought that one has done one's duty with all the dedication and care that one is capable of.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

The one who is unable to imbibe true wisdom which broadens the mind and explore the inner truth about life, cannot promote the welfare of the world. The well-being of the world depends on the well-being of society and the latter depends on the welfare of individuals. All these are mutually interdependent. They are integrally related to one another. Hence the need for individuals in society to be truthful in thought, word and deed. This spiritual principle dearly warns those who mouth slogans of peace but indulge in acts inimical to peace. Human life can be truly understood only in the context of harmony and co-operation. For this to be realised, one must engage oneself in service to society. Such service is rooted in spiritual faith.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Be like a lotus, which is not affected by the water in which it is born.

The one who is unable to imbibe true wisdom which broadens the mind and explore the inner truth about life, cannot promote the welfare of the world. The well-being of the world depends on the well-being of society and the latter depends on the welfare of individuals. All these are mutually interdependent. They are integrally related to one another. Hence the need for individuals in society to be truthful in thought, word and deed. This spiritual principle dearly warns those who mouth slogans of peace but indulge in acts inimical to peace. Human life can be truly understood only in the context of harmony and co-operation. For this to be realised, one must engage oneself in service to society. Such service is rooted in spiritual faith.

Be like a lotus, which is not affected by the water in which it is born.

The one who is unable to imbibe true wisdom which broadens the mind and explore the inner truth about life, cannot promote the welfare of the world. The well-being of the world depends on the well-being of society and the latter depends on the welfare of individuals. All these are mutually interdependent. They are integrally related to one another. Hence the need for individuals in society to be truthful in thought, word and deed. This spiritual principle dearly warns those who mouth slogans of peace but indulge in acts inimical to peace. Human life can be truly understood only in the context of harmony and co-operation. For this to be realised, one must engage oneself in service to society. Such service is rooted in spiritual faith.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Transform work into worship, and worship into wisdom.

Study of the Upanishads and Shastras (spiritual sciences) and reciting God's names may be good acts in themselves. But, if there is no love, which is the basis of all sadhana (spiritual discipline), they are of no use. They are like buttermilk. But the love of God is like well-boiled milk; it contains all the proteins and vitamins. Love reinforces one's physical, mental and spiritual energies. Devotional acts without love are like diluted buttermilk in which there are no nutrients. Dhyana (meditation) and japa (repetition of the holy name) without love are lifeless rituals. Love which expresses itself in service to all living things is the best expression of the love of God. There is no true devotion without such love. It is love which is unchanging and which does not mind any sacrifice in serving others.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Do we use the clothes worn during winter in summer too?

Do we use the clothes worn during winter in summer too? Likewise, as long as the gales of worldly attachment blow and till we are unable to withstand such gales, this dull and dirty human vesture is essential. Once this gale does not affect one's mind, body or words, then one can assume a subtle body. “This Supreme Divine is repeatedly offering me newer instruments to do service and getting loving acts of service done through me; He is conducting this beautiful play through me and engaging me in a variety of useful endeavours” - if one were to journey through life with this feeling, would it not be one filled with immense joy?

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

Education must be regarded as a sacred process and preparation for unselfish service to society. There are innumerable people in the world who are suffering from various physical and other disabilities. It is the duty of educated persons to serve them and help to relieve their suffering to the maximum extent possible. This is the best form of service to the Divine. There is pollution and impurity in the air, water and in many things around us. You must use the knowledge you acquire to purify what is impure. Service to society must become the primary purpose of education. Students of Sai should devote their knowledge not only to earn a living, but to use their talents and energies in whatever walk of life they may be engaged in to render service to society in all ways open to them.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Friday, December 13, 2019

Thought for the Day

When Dharmaja lost his vast empire to his enemies and had to live in caves amongst the Himalayan ranges with his consort Draupadi, she asked him one day, “Lord! You are undoubtedly the foremost amongst those who follow the path of righteousness (dharma) unwaveringly; why did such a terrible calamity happen to you?” She was stricken with sorrow. Dharmaja replied, “Draupadi! Do not grieve. Look at this Himalayan range. How magnificent and glorious it is! How beautiful and sublime! It is so splendid a phenomenon that I love it endlessly. The embodiment of this sublime beauty is God. Mountains need not grant me anything, but I just love them and their Creator for their beauty. I do not wish for any favour, nor will pray for any boon. The highest reward for my love is His love, Droupadi! Let Him keep me where He loves to keep me.” Thus Dharmaja explained that love must be divine, spontaneous and must be practiced accordingly!

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

This body is meant for performing actions; it is a mere implement and instrument gifted by God.

Tat Twam Asi – You are the embodiment of the Atma. This is the highest and holiest Mahavakya or divine axiom. You are that indestructible fruit and its inner essence. You are that Atma Tatwa, the Atmic principle which is different from the body and is blemishless. It is for the sake of this Atmic principle alone that you are given this body. You, the Atma, is always steady. Have you come with the body as a vehicle to destroy yourself? Surely not. You are here to exercise authority over the body to thereby promote welfare of the world. The body has to be utilised for this mahat tatwa – great purpose. This body is meant for performing actions; it is a mere implement and instrument gifted by God. Once its intended purpose is served, it is needed no more. Until you have realised your true self, the body has to be protected by all means.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

It is not wrong to love children. But parents should learn how to love them.

It is not wrong to love children. But parents should learn how to love them. Whenever the children go astray, wittingly or unwittingly, parents should hasten to correct their faults and bring them to the righteous path. The obligations of parents do not end with providing food, schooling and knowledge on worldly matters. Children should also be provided with right values. They should not be made to think that the acquisition of wealth is the be-all and end-all of life. Wealth does not accompany one when they leave the world. Wealth is necessary only for meeting one's essential needs. Too much wealth is an embarrassment like an oversized shoe. Too little of it is likely to be painful, like a tight-fitting shoe. So it is desirable to have only that amount of wealth that is adequate for one's basic needs. It is deplorable that in the mad pursuit of money, people are forgetting or compromising human virtues.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Behaviour is important for man.

Man does not live long. However in this short span of life he has the ability to experience divine bliss. Two people might appear ostensibly made of the same mould. Their limbs might look alike. Nevertheless, one could turn out to be an angel and another a beast. What is the reason for this? Looking at their behaviour, it is hard to believe that both of them belong to the same community. Therefore, primarily behaviour is important for man. Each and every moment, human life may superficially appear to be simple but truly it is not so; there is a great meaning inherent in it. The entire life is a great act of sacrifice or yajna karma. If the sleep that one enjoys after offering all the experiences of the day to the Lord in a spirit of surrender, is not Samadhi then what else is it? Because of the all pervasive feeling of “I am the Body”, man, without discrimination, explores various ways to boost his physical being. Therefore, instead of thinking day and night about the body, preserve it only for the purpose of serving all living beings with Trikarana shuddhi - purity of thought, word and deed, so that you can realize the Higher Self, as you are not the body but the Atma.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

There is no greater quality in an individual than selfless love, which expresses itself in service to others

People have faith in the results given by scientists of the calculation of planetary distances and sizes. But they hesitate when confronted with conclusions arrived at by investigators who have seen and shown, experienced and enjoyed the Truths by going into the inner space and inner regions of the Spirit. It is unreasonable willfulness that makes people stick to the beliefs they have accepted as unchallengeable. As the statement goes, “The subterranean fire can be grasped in the palm and the sky can be contacted as a concrete entity; but one can never refine the mind of an obtuse and obstinate person." For one can awaken a person who sleeps; one can make a person who is not asleep to rise and move; but one can never awaken a fellow who pretends to be asleep. Willfully avoiding the illumination of knowledge is a sin against spirituality. Our students must welcome light at all times and from all quarters.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Transform work into worship, and worship into wisdom.

One must take up work, that is of some use to the world. Move into the villages and help to keep them clean. Instruct the women of the village in the basic principles of child-health, child-care and child-training. When health fails, people become despondent and even desperate. When health prevails, vitality pervades both mind and body. By the process of loving service, you can become the promoters of much joy. Do not consider any act of service as demeaning. Sweeping the streets, for example, is not below your dignity. Do you not sweep the floor of your home? Do you not scrub and wash off dirt? When you undertake such tasks, the villagers will also gladly share in them. Why be ashamed to be good? The ridicule that may be cast on you has been the reward of many saints. It will soon fade away.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Close your eyes to others’ faults, but keep them open to recognize your own faults.

As our vision, so is the creation. Will not the colour of creation change based on the colour of glasses we wear? There have been and there are great masters now too who demonstrate to man the great heights one can attain, and also reveal the great power that is latent in the human body. Mind of man is often wasted wandering on things outside, criticising others and similar such activities. When one is always engaged in seeing faults in others, how can one attain ekagrata or one-pointedness? Ask yourself this question: When many valorous and great ones, who have physical bodies just like me, have attained such exalted status, why should my position be anything less? What do I gain in finding faults of others? I have to search within myself for my own faults and keep my mind under control – Making this firm resolve is the first step in spiritual practice.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

To battle against the tendency of body identification and to win the grace of God, spiritual exercises such as philosophical inquiry (Tatwa Vicharana), mind and sense control (sama-dama) and other six-fold spiritual disciplines (shat-sampatti) have been laid down. Their practice will ensure the purification of the consciousness; it will then become like a clean mirror that can reflect any object, and the Atma will stand revealed clearly. For the attainment of the highest wisdom (jnana-siddhi), cleansing of the consciousness (chitta-suddhi) is the royal path. For the pure in heart, this is easy to achieve. This is the central truth of the Bharatiya search for the ultimate reality (Paramartha). This is the very vital breath of the teaching.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Man has within him the capacity to change his evil propensities and habits.

Perfect character lasts till the end of one's life, nay end of all ages; it is immortal and is associated with the Atma. Such immortal qualities are - compassion, kindness, love, forbearance, integrity and patience. Habits form only because of the deeds we indulge in. These habits shape the intelligence. All that we weave in our imagination, our aspirations and deeds, leave an indelible imprint on the mind. Due to these, man makes his own perception of the world. Man’s present condition is the result of his past birth. These habits mould man’s character. Whatever be the nature, just by the process of imagination and practice, it can be modified. A bad person will not remain so always. Did not Angulimala, the dacoit, turn into a good person just by the darshan of Buddha? Did not the thief Ratnakara become Valmiki, the sage? Man has within him the capacity to change his evil propensities and habits. Selfless service, renunciation, devotion, prayer, enquiry - these will enable the inculcation of new svabhava - conduct.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

God is all mercy; adore Him as long as you have breath, so long as you are conscious.

Develop faith in the Atma principle and love it earnestly —this is true worship. The Atma is the one and only Loved One for humanity. Feel that it is more lovable than any object here or hereafter —that is the true adoration one can offer to God. You must live in the world where they are born like the lotus leaf, which, though born in water, floats upon it without being affected or wetted by it. Of course, it is good to love and adore God with a view to gain some valuable fruit either here or hereafter, but since there is no fruit or object more valuable than God or more worthwhile than God, the Vedas advise us to love God with no touch of desire in our minds. Love, since you must love for love’s sake; love God, since whatever He can give is less than He Himself; love Him alone, with no other wish or demand.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Good Character is Power!

Human life is undoubtedly the highest in evolution, and to give it meaning, spiritual endeavour and effort that is pure and holy, is essential. For this way of life, character is most important. Character makes life immortal; it survives even death. Some say that knowledge is power, but it is not true. Character is power. Even the acquisition of knowledge demands a good character. So everyone must yearn to attain flawless character, without any trace of evil. Buddha, Jesus Christ, Shankaracharya, and Vivekananda, as well as great sages, saints and devotees of the Lord are treasured in the memory of people even to this day! What quality made them all memorable for all times? It is their character! Without character, wealth, education, and social status are of no avail. Character is the fragrance of the flower; it gives value and worth. Poets, painters, artists, and scientists may be great, each in their own field, but without character, they can have no standing in society.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Wherever and whenever the lamp of love is shining bright, God manifests and showers His Grace

Love unfolds first on the lap of the mother. The eyes of Love fasten themselves on the caressing face of the mother. It then spreads towards the father, brothers and sisters, kith and kin, friend and playmate, region and language, world and its Maker. The ‘I’ that lives within the body is like a lion in a cave. It is the monarch of the forest; but it limits itself to the few square feet of rocky floor. Let it come out, renouncing the petty possession. So long as you crib yourselves into the body-consciousness (I am the body), you are the lion moping in the musty cave! Do not feel, Dehosmi (I am the body). Roar Brahmasmi! (I am Brahman) - I am all this and more, I am all this is, was, and will be. Then the littleness, time, space, ego - all will flee from your heart! You will be Love, Love, Love and nought else. That is to say, you will be Divine, one with the One.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Do your duty; leave the rest to God.

You can hold fast to God either through Jnana, Bhakti or Karma maarga (paths of knowledge, worship or work). You may travel first, second or third class in the train; the destination is the same. Jnana proceeds on the assumption that God is immanent and transcendent. Bhakti believes that God is Creator, Preserver and Destroyer, that He is to be adored, and propitiated by deeds that He appreciates, that God is Master and you are privileged to serve. Karma takes into account a third category - Nature! Man has to utilise Nature, live in Nature, live by Nature, always dedicating one’s activity to the further Glory of God, resigning oneself to the worshipful activity, unconcerned with the fruits of the activity, for they are in the hands of God. The three colours - Jnana, Bhakti and Karma are different only when the white light of God passes through the prism of human reason and mind. Activate them in deed, they are but parts of one ray.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

When a lamp is lit from another, there are two where there was just one! The first one did not stop shining light. You can light a million lamps from one; yet, the first will not suffer! Love too is like this. Share it with a million, it will still be as bright as when it was alone. When each house in the street lights a few lamps and keeps them on the door, parapet wall, gate, porch and so on, what is the effect? The town is filled with light, residents are happy, children dance in joy and the sky shines in the glow of earthly joy. Light spreads mingling with other sources of light! It has no boundaries, no prejudices, no favourites! This is the lesson of light and love; share, expand, clasp, spread, give up limits of mine and thine, his and theirs, caste and creed, in one limitless flow of Love. That is the culmination of all spiritual sadhana!

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Saturday, November 30, 2019

ஓம் ஸ்ரீ மாத்ரே நமஹ

சுமார் 300 ஆண்டகளுக்கு முன் தை அமாவாசை தினம் பகலவனும் மறைந்தார், சந்திரன் இன்றி களிறு போல் நிறமுள்ள காரிருள் விண்ணை பற்றத் தொடங்கியது...
உரியின் மீது அமர்ந்துக் கொண்டு அன்னை அபிராமியின் வரவை எதிர்நோக்கி அபிராமி பட்டர் சொற்குற்றம், பொருள்குற்றம் இன்றி அந்தாதியின் 78வது பாடலை பாடி முடித்தார்.
🌹நம்பிக்கை நிறைந்த பக்தி🌹
பட்டருக்கு சற்று இக்கட்டானச் சூழல்நிலை தான், கிட்டதட்ட 80 பாடல் நெருங்கி விட்டார், இன்னும் 20 பாடல்களே மீதம் உள்ளன. நிலவு இன்றி வானும்; காலனை சுமந்து வரும் கருப்பு எருது போல் கருப்பாக இருந்தது.
பட்டரை பித்தர் என்று தூற்றி பேசியவர்கள் எல்லாம் திருக்கடையூர் ஆலய வாயிலில் அவரை பார்த்து கை தட்டி சிரித்துக் கொண்டு இருந்தனர். ஆனால் பட்டர் அவற்றை பொருட்டாக எடுத்துக் கொள்ளவில்லை…
அம்பாள் வந்தே தீர வேண்டும் என்ற நிலையில் முழு நம்பிக்கையுடன் மனமுருகி அன்னை அபிராமியே வேண்டிக் கொண்டு 79வது பாடலைப் பாடத் தொடங்கினார்…
"விழிக்கே அருள் உண்டு அபிராம வல்லிக்கு வேதம் சொன்ன வழிக்கே வழிபட நெஞ்சு உண்டு எமக்கு அவ்வழி கிடக்க பழிக்கே சுழன்று, வெம் பாவங்களே செய்து, பாழ் நரகக் குழிக்கே அழுந்தும் கயவர் தம்மோடு என்ன கூட்டு இனியே? "
உரியின் 79வது கயிற்றை அறுத்து பாடி முடித்தார் பட்டர்…
🌹அன்னையின் திருக்காட்சி🌹
100 நிலவுகள் ஒன்று சேர்ந்தார் போல் ஒளி வீசும் முகத்தை உடைய, பவளக்கொடி போல் சிவந்த நிறமுடைய, குளிர்ச்சி தரும் முத்துப்பல் சிரிப்பழகில், திருநீறும் குங்குமமும் நெற்றியில் நர்த்தனம் ஆட…
மாணிக்கம், வைரம் பதித்த கிரிடம், அட்டிகை, ஆரம், வளையல், தோடு, நெற்றிச்சுட்டி ஆபரணங்கள் அணிந்து, சிவப்பு பட்டு உடுத்தி, வண்ணமலர் மாலைகள் தரித்து அங்குசம், பாசம், கரும்பு, மலர்கள் ஏந்திய திருக்கரங்களுடன்…
அன்னை அபிராமவல்லி வானில் ஆதி அந்தமில்லா விஸ்வருப திருக்காட்சி தந்தருளினாள். அன்னையே கண்டவர்கள் "ஓம் சக்தி ஆதி சக்தி பரா சக்தி" என்று பக்தி பரவசத்தில் அழைத்து விழுந்து வணங்கினார்…
உரியின் மீது அமர்ந்திருந்த பட்டர் எழுந்து நின்று விழிகளில் ஆனந்தக் கண்ணீர் பெருக இருகரம் குவித்து வணங்கினர். பட்டரின் மீது அன்னை திருபுரசுந்தரியின் கடைக்கண் பார்வை பட்டது…
🌹தோடு நிலவானது🌹
இடது காதில் இருந்த தாடங்கத்தை பொற்கரங்களால் கழற்றி வானவீதியில் தவழ விட்டாள். அத்தாடங்கம் அன்னம் போல் நகர்ந்து சென்று நிலவாக மாறியது. வானில் இருள் மறைந்தது, ஒளி வெள்ளம் நிறைந்தது…
தேவரும் மூவரும், சப்த ரிஷிகளும் அகத்தியர் முதலான முனிவர்களும் வானில் இருந்து அன்னை அபிராமி மீதும் மலர் மாரி பொழிந்தனர், அச்சமயம் நெற்கதர் தழைத்து வளரும் தஞ்சை தரணி எங்கும் மலர்கதிராக காட்சி அளித்தன.
"திருத்தாடங்கத் திகழொளி விண்ணும் மண்ணும் எண்திசையும் படர்ந்திட அவ்வற்புதங்கண்ட அற்புதம்! அற்புதம் என முழக்கமிட்டார் பட்டர். அன்னை சரணாலய பாதங்களை வணங்க, உரியிலிருந்து இறங்க முயற்சித்தார், அப்போது அன்னை பட்டரை தடுத்து „
"வாய் சோர்ந்து அரசரிடம் கூறிய சொல்லையும் மெய் என நிறுவினோம்! உரியிலிருந்து தொடங்கிய 100 அந்தாதியை தொடர்ந்து பாடியருள்க! யாம் உனக்கு ஆலய கருவரையில் திருக்காட்சி தருவோம்!" என்று ஆணையிட்டு மறைந்தாள்.
🌹ஆத்தாளை அபிராமவல்லியே🌹
உள்ளம் பூரித்து பேருவகை
அடைந்த பட்டர் …
"#கூட்டிய_வா! என்னைத் தன்
அடியாரில், கொடிய வினை
#ஓட்டிய_வா! என்கண் ஓடியவா, தன்னை உள்ளவண்ணம்
#காட்டிய_வா! கண்ட கண்ணும்
மனமும் களிக்கின்றவா,
#ஆட்டிய_வா! நடம் ஆடகத்
தாமரை ஆரணங்கே"
எனத் தம் அனுபவ நிலையைத் தெளிவுற கட்டளைக் கலி வெண்பாவாகப் 80வது பாடலை பாடினார் பட்டர். 100 பாடல்களையும் முடித்து உரியிலிருந்து இறங்கி அன்னை அருளாட்சி செய்யும் கருவரையில் தரிசிக்க ஓடினார்.
கருணைக் கடலான அன்னை பராசக்தி பட்டருடைய கண்களுக்கு மட்டும் புன்னகைத் தவளும் முகத்துடன் அங்குசம் பாசம் கரும்பு ஏந்திய பொற்கரங்களுடன் திருக்காட்சி தந்தருளினாள்; கண்குளிர தரிசித்த பட்டர்……
"ஆத்தாளை, எங்கள் அபிராம
வல்லியை, அண்டம் எல்லாம்
பூத்தாளை, மாதுளம் பூ நிறத்தாளை,
புவிஅடங்கக் காத்தாளை, ஐங்கணை
பாசங்குசமும் கரும்பும் சேர்த்தாளை, முக்கண்ணியைத் தொழுவார்க்கு
ஒரு தீங்கு இல்லையே !"
என்று அபிராமி அந்தாதிக்கு நூற்பயன் பாடி முடித்தார் பட்டர். நம்பிக்கை நிறைந்த பக்தர்களுக்கு கடவுள் எதையும் நிகழ்த்துவார் என்பதற்கு சிறந்த உதாரணம் நமது அபிராமி பட்டர் ! நாமும் அபிராமி அந்ததி பாடுவோம்! அன்னையின் திருவருள் பெருவோம்!
🙏

உலக அதிசயங்கள் 7


ஒரு வகுப்பில் ஆசிரியர் பிள்ளைகளை உலகின் சிறந்த ஏழு அதிசயங்களைப் பட்டியலிடச் சொன்னார்.
பிள்ளைகள் அனைவரும் எழுதிக் கொடுத்துவிட்டனர். அவர்களின் கணிப்புப் படி கீழ்க்கண்டவை உலக அதிசயங்கள் வரிசைப் படி.
1.எகிப்தியப் பிரமிடுகள்.
2.தாஜ்மஹால்
3.கிரேண்ட் கேன்யான் (Grand Canyon )
4.பனாமா கால்வாய்
5.எம்ப்பையர் ஸ்டேட் கட்டிடம். (Empire State Building )
6. செயின்ட் பீட்டர் பேஸிலிக்கா (வாடிகன்)
7. சீனப் பெருஞ்சுவர்
ஒரே ஒரு குழந்தை மட்டும் இன்னும் முடிக்கவில்லை;யோசித்து யோசித்து எழுதிக் கொண்டிருந்தாள். ஆசிரியர் அருகில் சென்றார்
" சாரு! என்ன ஆயிற்று ஏன் இன்னும் முடிக்கவில்லை?
"என்ன சார் செய்வேன்? ஆனடவனின் படைப்பில் அதிசயங்களுக்குப் பஞ்சமேயில்லை. அவற்றில் எனக்கு அதிசயமாகத் தோன்றியவை களைப் பட்டியலிட்டு விட்டேன். சரிதானா எனப் பார்த்துச் சொல்லுங்கள்." என்றாள்.
ஆசிரியர் சாருவின் பட்டியலை வாசித்தார்.
சாருவின் பட்டியல் இதோ:
என்னைப் பொருத்தவரை இந்த ஏழும்தான் கடவுளின் படைப்பில் அதிசயங்களாகக் கருதுகிறேன்.
1. பார்க்க முடிவது (ஒருநாளைக்குக் கண்களில் கர்சீஃபைக் கட்டிக்கொண்டிருந்து பாருங்கள்) 💐
2.கேட்க முடிவது (ஒருநாளைக்குக் காதில் பஞ்சு வைத்துப் பாருங்கள்)🎂
3.தொட்டு உணர முடிவது ( கற்பனை செய்து பாருங்கள் உங்கள் 6 மாதக் குழந்தை உங்களைத் தொடுவதை உணரமுடியாவிட்டால் எப்படியிருக்கும் என்று) 👌
4.சுவையை உணர முடிவது ( பிரியாணிக்கும் கம்மங்கூழுக்கும் வித்தியாசம் தெரியாமல் இருந்தால் எப்படியிருக்கும்) 👍
5.சிந்திக்க முடிவது (இதை விடாய் பெரிய தணடனை இருக்கமுடியுமா?)👋
6.சிரிக்க முடிவது (எவ்வளவு சந்தோஷப்பட்டாலும் மிருகங்களால் சிரிக்க முடிவதில்லை. சிரிப்பு எவ்வளவு பெரிய வரப்பிரசாதம் மனிதனுக்கு? 👏
7.அன்பு செலுத்துவது( ஒரு நாய்க்குட்டி வளர்த்துப்பாருங்கள் அன்புக்கு அர்த்தம் தெரியும்)🎁
வகுப்பில் ஒரே அமைதி (pin-drop silence). ஆசிரியர் மெதுவாகக் கைதட்டினார். புரிந்ததும் எல்லாக் குழந்தைகளும் ஒவ்வொருவராகக் கை தட்ட ஆரம்பித்தன.
வகுப்பே கைதட்டிப் பாராட்டியது சாருவை.
எல்லோரும் யோசிப்பது போலவே
யோசிக்க வேண்டுமா என்ன? மாற்றி யோசியுங்கள். புதுப் புது
விஷயங்கள்புரியும். புதுப் புது அர்த்தங்கள் தோன்றும்

Faith and Patience..



Sometimes we keep thinking that things Would change tomorrow..But slowly slowly tomorrow gets change into months ,years and nothing improve but one day God change the things for us.. it's nothing but our own Karma and test of God..Faith and Patience..

Jai Sai Ram

“ஸ்ரீபாதம்தாங்கிகள்” கைங்கர்யம் பாராட்டுக்குரியது..

திருச்சானூரில் பத்மாவதி தாயாருக்கு தற்போது பிரம்மோற்ஸ்வம் பத்து நாட்களாக நடந்து வருகிறது...
இந்த கைங்கர்யத்தில் தாயாரை எழப்பண்ண அதாவது பல்லக்கு தூக்க கடந்த 27 வருடங்களாக ஶ்ரீபாதந்தாங்கிகள், வேத்தாள் என கைங்கர்யபரார்கள் ஶ்ரீரங்கத்திலிருந்து 40 க்கும் மேற்பட்டோர் சென்றுள்ளனர்...
(பெருமாள் மற்றும் தாயார் இருவரையும் அமர செய்து தோளுக்கினியாள் எனப்படும் பல்லாக்கை சுமப்பவர்கள் “ஸ்ரீபாதம்தாங்கிகள்” ..அதே வாகனங்கள், பல்லாக்கு, கனமுள்ளதை சுமக்க அதிக அளவில் தேவைபடுவார்கள் அவர்கள் “வேத்தாள்கள்”...)
இதை கடந்த 27 வருடமாக நிர்வாகித்து வந்தவர் திரு அப்பட்டை ஐயங்கார்( அவரூம் ஸ்ரீரங்கம் ஸ்ரீபாதம் தாங்கி) பார்த்தசாரதி ஐயங்கார்.. அவர் கடந்த ஆறு மாதம் முன்புதான் மறைந்தார்...
நாம நினைப்பது போல பல்லக்கு தானே என்ன கனம் இருக்க போகிறோது என எளிதாக நினைக்க வேண்டாம்...
ஸ்ரீரங்கம் வாகனங்களில் உள்ள வாரை(கம்பு) யை விட பெரிய மர வாரை திருச்சனுரில் உள்ளது..நெஞ்சை அழுத்தும் தோளை கிழிக்கும் சுமை... கொஞ்சம் அசால்ட்டாக இருந்தால் தோள்பட்டை இறங்கி விடும்...
ஸ்ரீரங்கத்தை போல் இல்லை இங்கே சுவாமி புறப்பாடு என்பது ..
பல்லாக்கின் மேலே தாயாருடன் குறைந்தபட்சம் ஆறு பட்டர்கள், பெரிய வாகனங்கள், இரண்டு குடை என புறப்பாடு நடக்கும்...அத்தனை கனத்தையும் சுமக்க வேண்டும்...
ஓரு நாளில் காலை மாலை, இரவு என மூன்று புறப்பாடுகள்...இது இரவு 1 மணிவரை நீடிக்கும்.... மறுபடி மறு நாள் அதிகாலை புறப்பாடாகும்...
கொட்டும் மழையானாலும் நனைந்து கொண்டே புறப்பாடு நடக்கும்...
கடந்த இரண்டு நாட்களில் சுமார் ஐம்பாதாயிரம் ஆரத்தி செய்த பக்தர்கள்.... அத்தனை ஆரத்தியுலும் ஒரு நொடி நிறுத்தியே செல்ல வேண்டும்..
இந்த கைங்கர்யபரார்கள் தங்கள் செய்து வரும் அத்தனை வேலைகளையும் ஒதுக்கி வைத்து விட்டு பத்து நாட்கள் தாயார் கைங்கர்யத்துக்காக அங்கேயே தங்கி பிரம்மோற்ஸ்வம் நிறைவான பிறகே ஶ்ரீரங்கம் திரும்புகின்றனர்..சென்றுள்ள அத்தனை பேரும் ஏதாவது ஒரு அலுவலகத்தில் பொறுப்பான உயர்ந்த பதவியில் உள்ளவர்கள் அல்லது தனியாக சொந்த தொழில் நடத்தி வருபவர்கள்.விடுப்பு எடுத்து இந்த கைங்கர்யத்தில் ஈடுபட்டு வருகின்றனர்.இத்தனை அர்ப்பணிப்பு உணர்வுடன் இதில் ஈடுபட முதல் காரணம் ஆத்ம திருப்தி..அடுத்து நம்ம தாயார் ...வாரை அழுத்திய காயம் தானே ..வேலை தானே, போய்ட்டு போகுது என்ற இதை எல்லாம் மறக்க செய்யும் தாயார் கைங்கர்யம்...
காலம் காலமாக செய்து வரும் இவர்களின் இந்த கைங்கர்யம் பாராட்டுக்குரியது..

Everyone must express gratitude to their parents for this gift of life.

I like simplicity, I like dress that will not discourage people from approaching you for a kind word, a bit of service, a helping hand. It must be clean and decent; not outlandish and queer. It should not be worn to attract attention. Just as you desire to wear clean comfortable clothes for the body, desire also clean and consoling exercises for the mind like japam, dhyanam (repetition of holy name and meditation), etc. Use the eyes to watch wholesome things, the feet to proceed to the house of God, the hands to serve the embodiments of God moving around you as men, the tongue to soothe pain, praise virtue, and glorify God. Do not use the eye to vulgarise your brain, and the feet to stand in queue for deleterious films. Character is the most precious gift of education. I consider gratitude as its chief component! Everyone must express gratitude to their parents for this gift of life.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thursday, November 28, 2019

Thought for the Day

It is easy to give up sadhana; it is a task to stick to it. But there is no use climbing just one step; ascend higher and higher, into the purer air. Climb until you see the hills and valleys as one flatness, all the ups and downs as of no concern. You talk as if you have surrendered everything; but when you lose a pen, you report to the police station and rely on the police to recover it for you! You are a hero, a lion in the forest of the world, only when you neither exult nor droop, when good fortune or bad assails you. In order to develop and grow in spiritual practices, you must reduce your wants and discard your wishes. See everything as a disinterested witness; do not plunge and get entangled. When the shackles are loosened, you will feel happy and light. Travel light, even in the journey of life.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

Frustration is caused by wrong diagnosis of the root-cause of suffering. By massaging one’s head, can you relieve an excruciating pain in the stomach? Delay does not matter; discover the real root of the trouble and then do the remedy. The real remedy for all troubles is attachment and illusion. Married couples think they will be happy when they get a child; but that is just the beginning of a series of worries! They worry about the child’s health, habits, schooling, friends, marriage, career prospects and so on, in an endless chain. The mind multiplies the roots of worry, anxiety and grief. Cultivate detachment, not attachment. Dwell on the great heritage of humankind; then, you will give up attachment and not engage yourself in low thoughts, words or deeds! Contemplate on Dharma, Sathya and Prema (Righteousness, Truth and Love) which are the foundations of humanity and that will guide all your actions to be righteous.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

There is a law of cause and effect; every karma (action) has a consequence, whether you like it, anticipate it or not! A good karma produces good results; a bad one will produce a bad result. Birth is the result of the karma done before death. If you are asked what happens to a person after death, you can point to yourself and declare, "This is what happens - Re-birth happens!” This is no religion of despair; it is a religion of hope, of assurance, of encouragement to lead an active, useful and beneficent life. For, the future is in your hands. Though today has already been shaped by yesterday, tomorrow can be shaped by today! Various types of Karma are performed to induce detachment, to channelise the desire towards eternal and universal ends, to transmute all acts into acts of worship, to offer adoration to God who presides over every force of Nature, every energy of man, and every limb of his anatomy!

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba