Satsang Saipadananda - The Ever Vigilant Parent
Saipadananda - The Ever Vigilant Parent
By a Doctor devotee of Swamiji who wishes to remain anonymous.
It was 11 a.m. on the 18th March 1989. I was just anticipating a happy
blissful evening at Sai Spiritual Centre as the 'Akhanda Sai Nama Saptaham'
was going on. Just then a patient entered who had cracks in feet and sought
a prescription for an ointment to heal these fissures of feet, which is
quite common. As I was writing the prescription, Saipadananda Radhakrishna
Swamiji talked to me from the small desk photograph I had kept on my table:
"Have you seen Krishna Murthy's feet". The message came twice. Immediately I
got up from my seat to get one small jar of the ointment used in cracked
feet.
Devotees who regularly visit the Thyagarajanagar shrine of Sai Baba are
familiar with Shri D. Krishna Murthy, the most intimate devotee of Sri
Radhakrishna Swamiji and is more or less Swamiji's 'foster son'. When I met
Shri Krishna Murthy and handed him the jar of ointment, tears flowed from
his eyes and told me "Doctor, my feet gave me so much trouble yesterday that
I could hardly walk. I prayed to Swamiji who has taken care much more than a
true father to his infant son".
Shri Krishna Murthy gave me Baba's prasad and then listened to my story. For
a minute he was flabbergasted. He could only say : ''As Sai Baba is blessing
from his tomb at Shirdi, Radhakrishna Swamiji is taking care of us in every
moment of our life".
Sri Swamiji is our Guru and it is needless to say that Guru is greater than
God. Pranams to Swamiji and Sai Baba.
(Source Saipadananda Magazine April 1989)
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Satsang Children: Love ye one another By H. H. Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji
Satsang Children: Love ye one another By H. H. Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji
Children: Love ye one another
By H. H. Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji
(H. H. Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji was the chief guest at the gathering of
Contributors to SAI LEELA magazine held on the 28th and 29th January 1979,
held at Shirdi. Dr. S. D. Parchure, an ardent devotee of Swamiji was then
the Executive Editor of Sai Leela magazine and has recorded Swamiji's speech
for posterity. We are presenting this inspiring speech to our readers on the
eve of Swamiji's Tenth Aradhana - EDITOR)
I thank the Shirdi Samsthan for having given me an opportunity to partake in
this illustrious gathering of the contributors to SAI LEELA magazine. It is
indeed a great day for me to meet all sincere devotees on this holy soil of
Shirdi.
Lord Krishna gave an assurance in the 'Bhagavad-Gita' that He will be taking
'avatar' whenever there is some danger to religion. We find that Lord
Krishna is fulfilling his promise by appearing on this earth in the form of
saints. Sai Baba is such an 'avatar' which has tried for the uplift of all
who came into his contact. The life of Sai Baba is like the fragrant
'agarbathi' which burns away all the time and which ultimately disappears,
but when it is burning it continues to give over fragrance all the time. Sai
Baba's greatness as a 'Guru' is beyond our expression.
Sai Baba fulfilled the desires of everyone. We call him as our father,
mother, friend and we offer all our learning and wealth to him. Sometimes a
doubt arises in our mind as to how Sai Baba can act as a mother. I will give
you an example.
One lady got a child and she wanted that her child should be fed on her
milk, but to her dismay her breasts were dry. She tried all remedies but
they were not of any avail. The lady conceived again and when she was in her
8th month of pregnancy she came to me along with her husband, and requested
me to pray to Sai Baba to give milk to her second child. I assured her that
this time she will get milk in the breasts after her delivery, by the grace
of Sai Baba. I gave her Udhi and asked her to pray to Sai Baba with full
devotion. The lady went away and in course of time gave birth to a child.
Her husband came to me saying that her breasts were dry totally and that he
was afraid that his second child also may not get mother's milk. I asked the
husband to go and pray to Sai Baba after giving him Udhi and directing him
to apply it to the lady's breasts. After the gentleman had gone I prayed to
Sai Baba to fulfill the wishes of the lady and lo, on the third day, this
mother could feed her baby as the breasts were full of milk. This is one
example wherein Sai Baba acted as a mother, because this is one thing which
only a mother can really understand.
Missing Boy Returns
Once, a gentleman came to me and informed that his son had run away and his
whereabouts were not known for 2-3 days. I told him to pray to Sai Baba and
by His grace, his son would return. On the fifth day he got a telegram from
Calcutta that his son was safe and he would reach Madras in a day or two.
After the boy returned to Madras, he was brought to me by his father. When I
enquired with the boy about the reason for his running away, he told me that
his parents were angry with him and therefore he ran away from the house.
The boy said that when he was at Calcutta, Sai Baba appeared in his dream
and told him to go to the station. There he met a person who enquired about
him and gave a telegram to Madras and arranged to send the boy back to
Madras. On further enquiries with the boy, he said that Sai Baba was seen by
him with the tin-pot in his hand as he was proceeding to beg for alms.
Here again, we find the motherly behavior of Sai Baba. His ways are unique
and inimitable. When we come to Shirdi, we forget all our differences and
become one. If our entire nation brings into practice the teachings of Sai
Baba, national unity is not a far off possibility.
The desires of various people are fulfilled in various ways by Sai Baba.
Somebody needing money for his daughter's marriage is given money while
those needing service get the service by the grace of Sai Baba.
In order to meet Sai Baba, you have to enter Dwarakamayi after crossing
three steps. What are these three steps you have to cross in order to be
successful in life? Out of the six enemies of man, lust, anger and greed are
the foremost, which you have to conquer before you are blessed by Sai Baba.
The three 'Gunas' - Satva, Rajas, and Tamas are also indicated by these
three steps and the 'prakriti' and 'purush' are attached to each other by
the Gunas.
I see the image of Sai Baba on the face of everyone sitting here. Sai Baba
has assured us that as soon as we call Him, He would rush to our help. So
keep faith in Him and invoke His favor. He never fails His devotees.
I wish happiness to everybody. Any sort of sorrow let nobody suffer from.
(Source Saipadananda Magazine Jan 1990)
Children: Love ye one another
By H. H. Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji
(H. H. Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji was the chief guest at the gathering of
Contributors to SAI LEELA magazine held on the 28th and 29th January 1979,
held at Shirdi. Dr. S. D. Parchure, an ardent devotee of Swamiji was then
the Executive Editor of Sai Leela magazine and has recorded Swamiji's speech
for posterity. We are presenting this inspiring speech to our readers on the
eve of Swamiji's Tenth Aradhana - EDITOR)
I thank the Shirdi Samsthan for having given me an opportunity to partake in
this illustrious gathering of the contributors to SAI LEELA magazine. It is
indeed a great day for me to meet all sincere devotees on this holy soil of
Shirdi.
Lord Krishna gave an assurance in the 'Bhagavad-Gita' that He will be taking
'avatar' whenever there is some danger to religion. We find that Lord
Krishna is fulfilling his promise by appearing on this earth in the form of
saints. Sai Baba is such an 'avatar' which has tried for the uplift of all
who came into his contact. The life of Sai Baba is like the fragrant
'agarbathi' which burns away all the time and which ultimately disappears,
but when it is burning it continues to give over fragrance all the time. Sai
Baba's greatness as a 'Guru' is beyond our expression.
Sai Baba fulfilled the desires of everyone. We call him as our father,
mother, friend and we offer all our learning and wealth to him. Sometimes a
doubt arises in our mind as to how Sai Baba can act as a mother. I will give
you an example.
One lady got a child and she wanted that her child should be fed on her
milk, but to her dismay her breasts were dry. She tried all remedies but
they were not of any avail. The lady conceived again and when she was in her
8th month of pregnancy she came to me along with her husband, and requested
me to pray to Sai Baba to give milk to her second child. I assured her that
this time she will get milk in the breasts after her delivery, by the grace
of Sai Baba. I gave her Udhi and asked her to pray to Sai Baba with full
devotion. The lady went away and in course of time gave birth to a child.
Her husband came to me saying that her breasts were dry totally and that he
was afraid that his second child also may not get mother's milk. I asked the
husband to go and pray to Sai Baba after giving him Udhi and directing him
to apply it to the lady's breasts. After the gentleman had gone I prayed to
Sai Baba to fulfill the wishes of the lady and lo, on the third day, this
mother could feed her baby as the breasts were full of milk. This is one
example wherein Sai Baba acted as a mother, because this is one thing which
only a mother can really understand.
Missing Boy Returns
Once, a gentleman came to me and informed that his son had run away and his
whereabouts were not known for 2-3 days. I told him to pray to Sai Baba and
by His grace, his son would return. On the fifth day he got a telegram from
Calcutta that his son was safe and he would reach Madras in a day or two.
After the boy returned to Madras, he was brought to me by his father. When I
enquired with the boy about the reason for his running away, he told me that
his parents were angry with him and therefore he ran away from the house.
The boy said that when he was at Calcutta, Sai Baba appeared in his dream
and told him to go to the station. There he met a person who enquired about
him and gave a telegram to Madras and arranged to send the boy back to
Madras. On further enquiries with the boy, he said that Sai Baba was seen by
him with the tin-pot in his hand as he was proceeding to beg for alms.
Here again, we find the motherly behavior of Sai Baba. His ways are unique
and inimitable. When we come to Shirdi, we forget all our differences and
become one. If our entire nation brings into practice the teachings of Sai
Baba, national unity is not a far off possibility.
The desires of various people are fulfilled in various ways by Sai Baba.
Somebody needing money for his daughter's marriage is given money while
those needing service get the service by the grace of Sai Baba.
In order to meet Sai Baba, you have to enter Dwarakamayi after crossing
three steps. What are these three steps you have to cross in order to be
successful in life? Out of the six enemies of man, lust, anger and greed are
the foremost, which you have to conquer before you are blessed by Sai Baba.
The three 'Gunas' - Satva, Rajas, and Tamas are also indicated by these
three steps and the 'prakriti' and 'purush' are attached to each other by
the Gunas.
I see the image of Sai Baba on the face of everyone sitting here. Sai Baba
has assured us that as soon as we call Him, He would rush to our help. So
keep faith in Him and invoke His favor. He never fails His devotees.
I wish happiness to everybody. Any sort of sorrow let nobody suffer from.
(Source Saipadananda Magazine Jan 1990)
Satsang Thought for the day
Satsang Thought for the day
Submitted by "sreeraj guruvayoor"
Living in the present:
A Sadhak (student) once asked his teacher, "Master, Why can't I remain peaceful, in spite of doing so many spiritual sadhanas (practices). Why can't I be devoid of suffering in spite of reading so many spiritual books and listening to religious discourses? Is enlightenment possible for such as I?"
Sri Bhagavan says, "To be liberated from suffering, you must first understand what suffering is. Suffering is nothing but the continuous thought processing that happens in the mind over an event or incident of the past. Suffering is nothing but the ‘carry over' of the past events of our life."
There are two kinds of people who have walked on these sands, enlightened and unenlightened. Enlightened ones are those who are 'ordinary' and unenlightened are those who are 'extraordinary' (extra suffering). An enlightened one does not suffer because he is constantly living in the present - experiencing every bit of what life is offering him. But for those who are unenlightened, life itself is reduced to suffering.
To be aware is to be enlightened.
The whole purpose of life is to live life moment to moment.
If one observes the thought process in oneself, it can be easily discovered that this tendency of the mind to 'carry over', of not living life in the present, is the root of all suffering.
For example, there were two friends who were very close right from their childhood. Out of sheer misunderstanding, they landed in a bitter quarrel and they broke up. The fight by itself is nothing but mere ‘calling names'. But it doesn't end there, the event continues to plague the mind, be it in the kitchen, the office, watching TV, or even at a party! It follows you… It continues to live in your mind and emotions.
Suffering arises only when your mind indulges in unnecessary thoughts about living in past or the future, without living in the present. This constant commentary or dialogue in the mind is the cause for all suffering, where even after an event has ended it is continued within where we still talk to the other person who has hurt us.
An enlightened person experiences everything, which makes his life rich, eternal and ever fresh. But for the unenlightened, life is mechanical and repetitive, hence boring. One who is enlightened enjoys the ice cream whereas one who is unenlightened does not enjoy the ice cream because he would be busy with the question – Who made the ice cream? Which factory did it come from? Which cow's milk? What grass did the cow eat? One who is truly living will never question the purpose of life. Why would he. He is only experiencing.
To be aware is to be enlightened.
The whole purpose of life is to live life moment to moment.
Submitted by "sreeraj guruvayoor"
Living in the present:
A Sadhak (student) once asked his teacher, "Master, Why can't I remain peaceful, in spite of doing so many spiritual sadhanas (practices). Why can't I be devoid of suffering in spite of reading so many spiritual books and listening to religious discourses? Is enlightenment possible for such as I?"
Sri Bhagavan says, "To be liberated from suffering, you must first understand what suffering is. Suffering is nothing but the continuous thought processing that happens in the mind over an event or incident of the past. Suffering is nothing but the ‘carry over' of the past events of our life."
There are two kinds of people who have walked on these sands, enlightened and unenlightened. Enlightened ones are those who are 'ordinary' and unenlightened are those who are 'extraordinary' (extra suffering). An enlightened one does not suffer because he is constantly living in the present - experiencing every bit of what life is offering him. But for those who are unenlightened, life itself is reduced to suffering.
To be aware is to be enlightened.
The whole purpose of life is to live life moment to moment.
If one observes the thought process in oneself, it can be easily discovered that this tendency of the mind to 'carry over', of not living life in the present, is the root of all suffering.
For example, there were two friends who were very close right from their childhood. Out of sheer misunderstanding, they landed in a bitter quarrel and they broke up. The fight by itself is nothing but mere ‘calling names'. But it doesn't end there, the event continues to plague the mind, be it in the kitchen, the office, watching TV, or even at a party! It follows you… It continues to live in your mind and emotions.
Suffering arises only when your mind indulges in unnecessary thoughts about living in past or the future, without living in the present. This constant commentary or dialogue in the mind is the cause for all suffering, where even after an event has ended it is continued within where we still talk to the other person who has hurt us.
An enlightened person experiences everything, which makes his life rich, eternal and ever fresh. But for the unenlightened, life is mechanical and repetitive, hence boring. One who is enlightened enjoys the ice cream whereas one who is unenlightened does not enjoy the ice cream because he would be busy with the question – Who made the ice cream? Which factory did it come from? Which cow's milk? What grass did the cow eat? One who is truly living will never question the purpose of life. Why would he. He is only experiencing.
To be aware is to be enlightened.
The whole purpose of life is to live life moment to moment.
Satsang can any one guide on this
Satsang can any one guide on this
""King Janaka used to gather many rishis in his palace and take delight
in discussing with them about spiritual problems; he was a great adept at
sadhana and he attained the highest stage of samadhi through Raja yoga.
One day, while in the midst of the court, with the Queen and the maids,
even while he was conversing with them, he fell asleep. He had a dream. He
dreamt that he was deprived of his kingdom, that he was roaming half-mad,
hungry and deserted in the jungle, begging for food from whoever he met, that he
came upon some men washing dishes and vessels after a feast which they had
shared, that he ran towards them seeking some crumbs, that they gave him
some little quantity of rice scraped from the vessels, that he was about
to put it into his mouth when a big bird flew in and swooped it out of his
grasp; so, he yelled in pain and grief, and the Queen heard it and she
woke him up.
Of course, when he woke, he knew he was the King. He remembered that a
second previously, he was a beggar. He questioned within himself, which is
real, this or that? To every one who inquired what the matter was, he put
the same question. "Am I a king or a beggar?" The queen and others were
frightened at this behaviour; they sent for the ministers and with them
came, Ashtavakra, the preceptor. He discovered the situation as soon as he
saw the King; so, to the question that the King put him, he answered,
"Raja!
This is unreal; that is unreal; you, who experienced this as well as that,
you alone are real."
The waking stage is real until the sleeping stage; the sleeping stage is
real, until the waking stage. But, both are unreal, because one cancels
the other.""
I just read this story and could understand everything except that one
question keeps bothering me....
How can we explain the continuity of the waking state and the
discontinuity of the dream state... if both are as unreal as the other,
then how is it that life is continuous when we wake up every morning...
also in the dream state we do not continue our dream we had the previous
night.... please help me understand this..
*LOVE,*
*KARTIK IYER*
""King Janaka used to gather many rishis in his palace and take delight
in discussing with them about spiritual problems; he was a great adept at
sadhana and he attained the highest stage of samadhi through Raja yoga.
One day, while in the midst of the court, with the Queen and the maids,
even while he was conversing with them, he fell asleep. He had a dream. He
dreamt that he was deprived of his kingdom, that he was roaming half-mad,
hungry and deserted in the jungle, begging for food from whoever he met, that he
came upon some men washing dishes and vessels after a feast which they had
shared, that he ran towards them seeking some crumbs, that they gave him
some little quantity of rice scraped from the vessels, that he was about
to put it into his mouth when a big bird flew in and swooped it out of his
grasp; so, he yelled in pain and grief, and the Queen heard it and she
woke him up.
Of course, when he woke, he knew he was the King. He remembered that a
second previously, he was a beggar. He questioned within himself, which is
real, this or that? To every one who inquired what the matter was, he put
the same question. "Am I a king or a beggar?" The queen and others were
frightened at this behaviour; they sent for the ministers and with them
came, Ashtavakra, the preceptor. He discovered the situation as soon as he
saw the King; so, to the question that the King put him, he answered,
"Raja!
This is unreal; that is unreal; you, who experienced this as well as that,
you alone are real."
The waking stage is real until the sleeping stage; the sleeping stage is
real, until the waking stage. But, both are unreal, because one cancels
the other.""
I just read this story and could understand everything except that one
question keeps bothering me....
How can we explain the continuity of the waking state and the
discontinuity of the dream state... if both are as unreal as the other,
then how is it that life is continuous when we wake up every morning...
also in the dream state we do not continue our dream we had the previous
night.... please help me understand this..
*LOVE,*
*KARTIK IYER*
Satsang can any one guide on this
Satsang can any one guide on this
Om Sai Ram
Dear Kartikiyer ji,
Well, there are two different ways that this could be explained--
The first one is that we all agree that we see dreams in the night while we are sleeping but we also agree that we all do not remember everything that we see when we wake up in the morning and thus are able to continue with our daily so called 'real lives' that we beleive it to be without having any confusions. Since we just sometimes remember bits and pieces of one dream that was over whelming to us, the fact is that it can not make us rule out the possibility of whether indeed we do have a continuity of our dreams in our sleeping state just like our lives continue normally when we wake up in the morning.So the fact remains, everything is maya- what we experience during our waking state and what we see during our sleeping state.Nothing is real-its all maya.The only thing that is real is ur soul which is waiting for you to realize that all what u see around you is maya and to come out of it and only then u will be able to see something that is actually real and that is the great power -- the bright light---God ,who created this universe and something to fascinate all of us which is nothing but MAYA...
Another logical explaination could also be this --
We all know that what ever we see in our dreams during the sleeping state is representing our so called real lives. The feelings and emotions that for some reason remain supressed in our normal day to day life -are experienced in our sleeping state. King Janaka dreampt that he was a beggar and was alone in a jungle, he had lost his mind and was hungry for food ---- Well, this could be interpreted as his hunger for spiritual knowledge .In the path of spiritual knowledge , are'nt we all alone loosing our minds with what is right and what is wrong - what is real and what is unreal--- our desires pull us one way and temptations attract us making us do things which only a mad person can do .. If u go to think of it -we all are in a jungle-it is just that we are trying to save ourselves not from tigers ,lions and other wild animals instead we are all trying to be away from the wild beast which actually are nothing but bad temptations like greed ,ego ,selfishness ,pride , cheating and the list goes on and on.. King Janaka dreampt that he saw some men washing dishes and vessels after a feast which they shared and that he ran towards them seeking some crumbs,some little quantity of rice scraped from the vessels ,that he was about to eat but a bird swooped it out of his grasp and so he was left hungry ,angry and in pain--- this could be interpreted as:: the men whom he met who were washing dishes after a feast were the learned men in his court whom he gained spiritual knowledge from and who had the pleasure of being with the king and getting a royal treatment. The learned men did share a little knowledge with the king which were the crumbs but maya swooped it all when the king went to sleep. The pain and grief of the king were nothing but his disappointments in the path of gaining spiritual knowledge.
In the end , it is just God what is real and the rest is all a dream.A dream that sometimes we see when we are sleeping and sometimes we see when we are awake.
Allaah Maalik!
"Gurur Brahma Gurur Vishnu
Gurur Devoh Maheshwar;
Gurur Shakshat Parambramha
Tashmai Shri Gurur Veh Namah"
May the Merciful Sri Sai Baba always shower His grace on us and our families and remove our problems and anxieties by giving us all - strength , goodluck, success and happiness with peace of mind.
Sai bhakt,
Deepa H
Om Sai Ram
Dear Kartikiyer ji,
Well, there are two different ways that this could be explained--
The first one is that we all agree that we see dreams in the night while we are sleeping but we also agree that we all do not remember everything that we see when we wake up in the morning and thus are able to continue with our daily so called 'real lives' that we beleive it to be without having any confusions. Since we just sometimes remember bits and pieces of one dream that was over whelming to us, the fact is that it can not make us rule out the possibility of whether indeed we do have a continuity of our dreams in our sleeping state just like our lives continue normally when we wake up in the morning.So the fact remains, everything is maya- what we experience during our waking state and what we see during our sleeping state.Nothing is real-its all maya.The only thing that is real is ur soul which is waiting for you to realize that all what u see around you is maya and to come out of it and only then u will be able to see something that is actually real and that is the great power -- the bright light---God ,who created this universe and something to fascinate all of us which is nothing but MAYA...
Another logical explaination could also be this --
We all know that what ever we see in our dreams during the sleeping state is representing our so called real lives. The feelings and emotions that for some reason remain supressed in our normal day to day life -are experienced in our sleeping state. King Janaka dreampt that he was a beggar and was alone in a jungle, he had lost his mind and was hungry for food ---- Well, this could be interpreted as his hunger for spiritual knowledge .In the path of spiritual knowledge , are'nt we all alone loosing our minds with what is right and what is wrong - what is real and what is unreal--- our desires pull us one way and temptations attract us making us do things which only a mad person can do .. If u go to think of it -we all are in a jungle-it is just that we are trying to save ourselves not from tigers ,lions and other wild animals instead we are all trying to be away from the wild beast which actually are nothing but bad temptations like greed ,ego ,selfishness ,pride , cheating and the list goes on and on.. King Janaka dreampt that he saw some men washing dishes and vessels after a feast which they shared and that he ran towards them seeking some crumbs,some little quantity of rice scraped from the vessels ,that he was about to eat but a bird swooped it out of his grasp and so he was left hungry ,angry and in pain--- this could be interpreted as:: the men whom he met who were washing dishes after a feast were the learned men in his court whom he gained spiritual knowledge from and who had the pleasure of being with the king and getting a royal treatment. The learned men did share a little knowledge with the king which were the crumbs but maya swooped it all when the king went to sleep. The pain and grief of the king were nothing but his disappointments in the path of gaining spiritual knowledge.
In the end , it is just God what is real and the rest is all a dream.A dream that sometimes we see when we are sleeping and sometimes we see when we are awake.
Allaah Maalik!
"Gurur Brahma Gurur Vishnu
Gurur Devoh Maheshwar;
Gurur Shakshat Parambramha
Tashmai Shri Gurur Veh Namah"
May the Merciful Sri Sai Baba always shower His grace on us and our families and remove our problems and anxieties by giving us all - strength , goodluck, success and happiness with peace of mind.
Sai bhakt,
Deepa H
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Satsang Swamiji Welcomes Us
Satsang Swamiji Welcomes Us
Swamiji Welcomes Us
By Hemendra Nath Bannerjee
I live in Calcutta and have been a devotee of Sai Baba for almost two
decades. Every Sai Bandhu I have come across has narrated the greatness of
H.H. Saipadananda Radhakrishna Swamiji. Unfortunately I could never have his
'darshan' when he was amidst us in flesh and blood. But the ever -living
Swamiji made me feel his presence the moment we entered the Sai Spiritual
Centre on February 26th, 1989.
As we steped into the 'Dwarakamayi' of the Mandir, the life size portrait of
Swamiji greeted us. Then the 'Abhisheka' started and we had the rare
privilege of performing Abhisheka to Baba's murthy as well as Swamiji.
Swamiji took me and my wife Lathika into his fold and blessed us with his
ever glowing eyes.
There was a good crowd and I was introduced to several of the devotees
present there. They all talked to me of the greatness of Sai Baba and as to
how Swamiji blessed all by asking them to chant 'Vishnu Sahasranama'.
Instantly I had an urge to perform 'Vishnu Sahasranamarchana' worshipping
Sai Baba with 1000 flowers by chanting Vishnu's thousand names.
I prayed to Swamiji and requested him to fulfill my wish. But I was shy to
ask the priest to help me as this was my maiden visit. But where is the end
to Swamiji's compassion? The priest beckoned one of the devotees to come
forward and perform 'Archana'. That devotee told him that he has to attend a
meeting. So immediately the priest beckoned me and my wife and asked us as
to whether we could do this 'Archana'. My heart was thrilled to the core.
As soon as we finished the 'archana', I sought for a book of 'Vishnu
Sahasranamam' in Devnagari script, Lo, even this was forthcoming. The office
Manager very kindly gifted me a copy of this book in Devnagari script. I
read this daily as an affectionate gift from Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji. There
was a meeting going on to discuss about holding 'Akhanda Sai Nama Japam' for
one week. They invited me to participate in it and offer my views. I only
wished I could participate in this Saptaha. My visit to Sai Mandir at
Bangalore is memorable.
(Source Saipadananda Magazine April 1989)
Swamiji Welcomes Us
By Hemendra Nath Bannerjee
I live in Calcutta and have been a devotee of Sai Baba for almost two
decades. Every Sai Bandhu I have come across has narrated the greatness of
H.H. Saipadananda Radhakrishna Swamiji. Unfortunately I could never have his
'darshan' when he was amidst us in flesh and blood. But the ever -living
Swamiji made me feel his presence the moment we entered the Sai Spiritual
Centre on February 26th, 1989.
As we steped into the 'Dwarakamayi' of the Mandir, the life size portrait of
Swamiji greeted us. Then the 'Abhisheka' started and we had the rare
privilege of performing Abhisheka to Baba's murthy as well as Swamiji.
Swamiji took me and my wife Lathika into his fold and blessed us with his
ever glowing eyes.
There was a good crowd and I was introduced to several of the devotees
present there. They all talked to me of the greatness of Sai Baba and as to
how Swamiji blessed all by asking them to chant 'Vishnu Sahasranama'.
Instantly I had an urge to perform 'Vishnu Sahasranamarchana' worshipping
Sai Baba with 1000 flowers by chanting Vishnu's thousand names.
I prayed to Swamiji and requested him to fulfill my wish. But I was shy to
ask the priest to help me as this was my maiden visit. But where is the end
to Swamiji's compassion? The priest beckoned one of the devotees to come
forward and perform 'Archana'. That devotee told him that he has to attend a
meeting. So immediately the priest beckoned me and my wife and asked us as
to whether we could do this 'Archana'. My heart was thrilled to the core.
As soon as we finished the 'archana', I sought for a book of 'Vishnu
Sahasranamam' in Devnagari script, Lo, even this was forthcoming. The office
Manager very kindly gifted me a copy of this book in Devnagari script. I
read this daily as an affectionate gift from Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji. There
was a meeting going on to discuss about holding 'Akhanda Sai Nama Japam' for
one week. They invited me to participate in it and offer my views. I only
wished I could participate in this Saptaha. My visit to Sai Mandir at
Bangalore is memorable.
(Source Saipadananda Magazine April 1989)
GLASS OF MILK
GLASS OF MILK
One day, a poor boy who was selling goods from door to door to pay his way through school, found he had only one thin dime left, and he was hungry.
He decided he would ask for a meal at the next house. However, he lost his nerve when a lovely young woman opened the door.
Instead of a meal he asked for a drink of water. She thought he looked hungry so brought him a large glass of milk. He drank it so slowly, and then asked, "How much do I owe you?"
"You don't owe me anything," she replied. "Mother has taught us never to accept pay for a kindness."
He said ... "Then I thank you from the bottom of my heart."
As Howard Kelly left that house, he not only felt stronger physically, but his faith in God and man was strong also. He had been ready to give up and quit..
Many year's later that same young woman became critically ill. The local doctors were baffled. They finally sent her to the big city, where they called in specialists to study her rare disease.
Dr. Howard Kelly was called in for the consultation. When he heard the name of the town she came from, a strange light filled his eyes.
Immediately he rose and went down the hall of the hospital to her room.
Dressed in his doctor's gown he went in to see her. He recognized her at once.
He went back to the consultation room determined to do his best to save her life. From that day he gave special attention to her case.
After a long struggle, the battle was won.
Dr. Kelly requested the business office to pass the final bill to him for approval. He looked at it, then wrote something on the edge and the bill was sent to her room. She feared to open it, for she was sure it would take the rest of her life to pay for it all. Finally she looked, and something caught her attention on the side of the bill. Tears of joy flooded her eyes as she read the words ..
"Paid in full with one glass of milk"
(Signed) Dr. Howard Kelly.
There's a saying which goes something like this: Bread cast on the waters comes back to you. The good deed you do today may benefit you or someone you love at the least expected time. If you never see the deed again at least you will have made the world a better place - And, after all, isn't that what life is all about?!
Now you have two choices.
1. You can send this page on and spread a positive message.
2. Or ignore it and pretend it never touched your heart
The hardest thing to learn in life is which bridge to cross and which -- To burn
One day, a poor boy who was selling goods from door to door to pay his way through school, found he had only one thin dime left, and he was hungry.
He decided he would ask for a meal at the next house. However, he lost his nerve when a lovely young woman opened the door.
Instead of a meal he asked for a drink of water. She thought he looked hungry so brought him a large glass of milk. He drank it so slowly, and then asked, "How much do I owe you?"
"You don't owe me anything," she replied. "Mother has taught us never to accept pay for a kindness."
He said ... "Then I thank you from the bottom of my heart."
As Howard Kelly left that house, he not only felt stronger physically, but his faith in God and man was strong also. He had been ready to give up and quit..
Many year's later that same young woman became critically ill. The local doctors were baffled. They finally sent her to the big city, where they called in specialists to study her rare disease.
Dr. Howard Kelly was called in for the consultation. When he heard the name of the town she came from, a strange light filled his eyes.
Immediately he rose and went down the hall of the hospital to her room.
Dressed in his doctor's gown he went in to see her. He recognized her at once.
He went back to the consultation room determined to do his best to save her life. From that day he gave special attention to her case.
After a long struggle, the battle was won.
Dr. Kelly requested the business office to pass the final bill to him for approval. He looked at it, then wrote something on the edge and the bill was sent to her room. She feared to open it, for she was sure it would take the rest of her life to pay for it all. Finally she looked, and something caught her attention on the side of the bill. Tears of joy flooded her eyes as she read the words ..
"Paid in full with one glass of milk"
(Signed) Dr. Howard Kelly.
There's a saying which goes something like this: Bread cast on the waters comes back to you. The good deed you do today may benefit you or someone you love at the least expected time. If you never see the deed again at least you will have made the world a better place - And, after all, isn't that what life is all about?!
Now you have two choices.
1. You can send this page on and spread a positive message.
2. Or ignore it and pretend it never touched your heart
The hardest thing to learn in life is which bridge to cross and which -- To burn
Satsang Prayer to our dearest Sai Baba
Satsang Prayer to our dearest Sai Baba
To our Beloved Sai Baba,
I pray to you today for keeping all my friends , relatives and everyone else in a perfect and peaceful state of mind. Reside in their mind ,ease their pains, relax their nerves n keep them cool always. Give them a faith so strong in you forever.Give them peace! Give them serenity ! And help them all to live a divine life. Hold their feelings close to your loving heart so that they too may feel loved. Give them a clear mind to think your thoughts and help them to flow with those thoughts. Even though they may be facing tough times- Help them all to realise that with you being and holding them ,worry need not bother them at all. Help them to drill that thought in their minds that "when you are in control of their life, no worries should surround them ever. That they will have a best life, best future and best blessings."
Beloved Sai ,please make their faith strong and sturdy.In your Divine Name I pray.
May our liives forever be filled with your grace, blessings and love....
To our Beloved Sai Baba,
I pray to you today for keeping all my friends , relatives and everyone else in a perfect and peaceful state of mind. Reside in their mind ,ease their pains, relax their nerves n keep them cool always. Give them a faith so strong in you forever.Give them peace! Give them serenity ! And help them all to live a divine life. Hold their feelings close to your loving heart so that they too may feel loved. Give them a clear mind to think your thoughts and help them to flow with those thoughts. Even though they may be facing tough times- Help them all to realise that with you being and holding them ,worry need not bother them at all. Help them to drill that thought in their minds that "when you are in control of their life, no worries should surround them ever. That they will have a best life, best future and best blessings."
Beloved Sai ,please make their faith strong and sturdy.In your Divine Name I pray.
May our liives forever be filled with your grace, blessings and love....
Satsang Swamiji's Offer of Job
Satsang Swamiji's Offer of Job
Swamiji's Offer of Job
By M. R. Sanjeev
I am a devotee of H. H. Radhakrishna Swamiji since childhood. It is indeed a
great privilege which is only due to merits of my previous births that I was
associated with this "great God" who existed amidst us in flesh and blood. I
have followed his instructions to chant 'Vishnu Sahasra Namam' and this has
protected me as a shield.
After my matriculation, I underwent Industrial Apprentice Training and was
employed in a private factory. Soon by Sainath Swamiji's grace, I got a job
in Government service. I was posted at Holenarasipur as an Instructor in the
Industrial Training Institute there. With the blessings of Swamiji and Sai
Baba, I reported for duty.
For three months there was no problem. Suddenly I was told that some persons
have filed a writ petition in the High Court challenging our appointments.
While I was happy all along that I got a Government job without any
influence or bribe but by the grace of Sai Baba and Swamiji, this
information was a bolt from the blue.
I do not know how many times I have repeated Vishnu Sahasra Namam and
remembered Swamiji on this dreadful day. Ultimately I left it to Sai and
Swamiji that let no circumstance be changed but change my attitude to
receive everything in a spirit of surrender. Then I slept off. I had a dream
that night. I was standing in front of a Raghavendra Mutt. Two old men were
singing bhajans. While one said 'SADGURUNATH', the other said SAINATH. Then
they switched over, to SATCHI DAN AN DA and SAI PADA-NANDA. As I heard the
name 'SAIPADANANDA' I offered my pranams to them. They blessed me and told
me that I need not worry about losing my job. Then the dream ended.
True to the indication given in my dream, I was continued in my appointment.
When Sai Baba and Swamiji are protecting me in every moment of my life, why
should I at all worry?
(Source Saipadananda Magazine April 1989)
Swamiji's Offer of Job
By M. R. Sanjeev
I am a devotee of H. H. Radhakrishna Swamiji since childhood. It is indeed a
great privilege which is only due to merits of my previous births that I was
associated with this "great God" who existed amidst us in flesh and blood. I
have followed his instructions to chant 'Vishnu Sahasra Namam' and this has
protected me as a shield.
After my matriculation, I underwent Industrial Apprentice Training and was
employed in a private factory. Soon by Sainath Swamiji's grace, I got a job
in Government service. I was posted at Holenarasipur as an Instructor in the
Industrial Training Institute there. With the blessings of Swamiji and Sai
Baba, I reported for duty.
For three months there was no problem. Suddenly I was told that some persons
have filed a writ petition in the High Court challenging our appointments.
While I was happy all along that I got a Government job without any
influence or bribe but by the grace of Sai Baba and Swamiji, this
information was a bolt from the blue.
I do not know how many times I have repeated Vishnu Sahasra Namam and
remembered Swamiji on this dreadful day. Ultimately I left it to Sai and
Swamiji that let no circumstance be changed but change my attitude to
receive everything in a spirit of surrender. Then I slept off. I had a dream
that night. I was standing in front of a Raghavendra Mutt. Two old men were
singing bhajans. While one said 'SADGURUNATH', the other said SAINATH. Then
they switched over, to SATCHI DAN AN DA and SAI PADA-NANDA. As I heard the
name 'SAIPADANANDA' I offered my pranams to them. They blessed me and told
me that I need not worry about losing my job. Then the dream ended.
True to the indication given in my dream, I was continued in my appointment.
When Sai Baba and Swamiji are protecting me in every moment of my life, why
should I at all worry?
(Source Saipadananda Magazine April 1989)
Satsang Baba's Grace on Me
Satsang Baba's Grace on Me
Baba's Grace on Me
By GAYATHRI S. BELLUR
HUMILITY - BABA'S OMNIPRESENCE
On one occasion when Hemad Pant (Anna Saheb Dabolkar) came to him, there was
in the fold of his coat some channa, that is, fried grains, and it fell from
his coat; and people were joking at him. That was a day of fair at Shirdi,
and Dabolkar had perhaps been to the fair. Baba wanting to have a joke at
him, said, "Oh! This channa shows that he is in the habit of eating things
all by himself without sharing it with others." Dabolkar was much upset and
he protested that he had no such habit. But how the channa got into his
dress, he could not explain. Then Baba made further use of the occasion and
told him, ‘when you eat, do you give things to me? Am I not always by your
side’, thus impressing on him a very valuable lesson that Baba was present
everywhere and that they should first offer their food to him as their
Gurudeva, before taking their food. This is a sacred lesson and this
teaching is divine. But it came out of Baba's humor and fun poked at Anna
Saheb Dabolkar.
Sri Sai Baba is everywhere present
This incident occurred some years ago during my stay in Bandra West in
Mumbai. I had gone on a vacation to my cousin's place at East Muland. One
day, my cousins wanted to go to Muland West for shopping and insisted that
we cross the railway track, as it is of a short distance. Somehow I was
against it and suggested that we take the over bridge. They laughed at me
and finally we decided to cross the railway line.
As we were crossing the railway track, my right ankle was caught between the
fish plates and the Guard, being unaware, was
tightening the lever. A train was about to leave from the same track. I did
not lose my presence of mind and started praying to Sai Baba for relief. I
knew He would certainly save me.
Just then a crowd collected and one of them ran to the Guard who was at a
distance to inform him what has happened. The Guard loosened the lever and
my right ankle was freed.
When we returned home the right foot had developed a big swelling. I could
only limp and the pain was terrible. My cousin's parents were shocked. They
wanted to take me to an Orthopedic Surgeon then and there. I consoled them
by saying that Sai Baba takes care of me and 'Udhi' alone would bring down
the swelling.
I budged to their insistence on going to a Doctor. An X-ray was taken. The
Doctor said that there was no fracture and it was only a contusion. I became
all right in a couple of days time.
I think of that incident and gratefully bow to Sai Baba for saving me from a
ghastly accident. Otherwise, I would not be standing on my two feet today.
When I sleep, O Lord Sainath, close my eyes with your blessed hands, and let
me dream of Thy vision-Thy vision alone. When I live, let me walk in Thy
image. When I die, let my last words be: "O Lord, how grateful I am for your
gifts."
Let me close this with a poem;
"When the great External Auditor my book of life receives, And He checks the
daily entries, that are written on the leaves; May He find the accounts in
order and no need for fear or shame, But a credit carried forward to the
glory of His name."
Lord Sainath – I owe you an irreparable debt of gratitude.
While performing the Japa, the Sadhana should dwell on the meaning of these
Divine Names, and should believe that the all pervading divinity has
appeared before him in the form of the Name. This gives ineffable joy and
peace of mind. Or else the Sadhana should keep his mind fixed on the Divine
Form of the Lord-His Ishta Deva.
- Jayadayai Goyandka
http://www.saileelas.org/magazines/saipadananda/oct1998.htm#BabasgraceonMe
Baba's Grace on Me
By GAYATHRI S. BELLUR
HUMILITY - BABA'S OMNIPRESENCE
On one occasion when Hemad Pant (Anna Saheb Dabolkar) came to him, there was
in the fold of his coat some channa, that is, fried grains, and it fell from
his coat; and people were joking at him. That was a day of fair at Shirdi,
and Dabolkar had perhaps been to the fair. Baba wanting to have a joke at
him, said, "Oh! This channa shows that he is in the habit of eating things
all by himself without sharing it with others." Dabolkar was much upset and
he protested that he had no such habit. But how the channa got into his
dress, he could not explain. Then Baba made further use of the occasion and
told him, ‘when you eat, do you give things to me? Am I not always by your
side’, thus impressing on him a very valuable lesson that Baba was present
everywhere and that they should first offer their food to him as their
Gurudeva, before taking their food. This is a sacred lesson and this
teaching is divine. But it came out of Baba's humor and fun poked at Anna
Saheb Dabolkar.
Sri Sai Baba is everywhere present
This incident occurred some years ago during my stay in Bandra West in
Mumbai. I had gone on a vacation to my cousin's place at East Muland. One
day, my cousins wanted to go to Muland West for shopping and insisted that
we cross the railway track, as it is of a short distance. Somehow I was
against it and suggested that we take the over bridge. They laughed at me
and finally we decided to cross the railway line.
As we were crossing the railway track, my right ankle was caught between the
fish plates and the Guard, being unaware, was
tightening the lever. A train was about to leave from the same track. I did
not lose my presence of mind and started praying to Sai Baba for relief. I
knew He would certainly save me.
Just then a crowd collected and one of them ran to the Guard who was at a
distance to inform him what has happened. The Guard loosened the lever and
my right ankle was freed.
When we returned home the right foot had developed a big swelling. I could
only limp and the pain was terrible. My cousin's parents were shocked. They
wanted to take me to an Orthopedic Surgeon then and there. I consoled them
by saying that Sai Baba takes care of me and 'Udhi' alone would bring down
the swelling.
I budged to their insistence on going to a Doctor. An X-ray was taken. The
Doctor said that there was no fracture and it was only a contusion. I became
all right in a couple of days time.
I think of that incident and gratefully bow to Sai Baba for saving me from a
ghastly accident. Otherwise, I would not be standing on my two feet today.
When I sleep, O Lord Sainath, close my eyes with your blessed hands, and let
me dream of Thy vision-Thy vision alone. When I live, let me walk in Thy
image. When I die, let my last words be: "O Lord, how grateful I am for your
gifts."
Let me close this with a poem;
"When the great External Auditor my book of life receives, And He checks the
daily entries, that are written on the leaves; May He find the accounts in
order and no need for fear or shame, But a credit carried forward to the
glory of His name."
Lord Sainath – I owe you an irreparable debt of gratitude.
While performing the Japa, the Sadhana should dwell on the meaning of these
Divine Names, and should believe that the all pervading divinity has
appeared before him in the form of the Name. This gives ineffable joy and
peace of mind. Or else the Sadhana should keep his mind fixed on the Divine
Form of the Lord-His Ishta Deva.
- Jayadayai Goyandka
http://www.saileelas.org/magazines/saipadananda/oct1998.htm#BabasgraceonMe
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