Thought for the day

We must sacrifice the fruits of action. Only then will we attain God.

From the book How the Sathya Yuga is Coming

Radha Krishna’s first meeting took place on Purattasi Purnima. They knew on their very first meeting that they were tied to each other by Prema. This is not an ordinary love, it was bond of the soul, a love beyond the body. This is why they did not suffer pangs of separation. Radha lived in Brindavan while Krishna lived in Mathura and Dwaraka. They lived in each other’s thoughts. Krishna knew about Radha’s end, so He came on Purattasi Purnima. He called Radha with his flute. Radha came running, the moment she heard the flute. Krishna made her sit beside him. He removed a ring with blue stone from His finger and put it on her finger and said, “This is our Gandharva marriage”. Sage Naradha and two brothers witnessed  this. Krishna asked Radha what she wanted. She wanted to listen to Krishna’s flute. Sri Krishna played music on his flute. Radha left this world, laying on Krishna’s laps, listening to the music. She left her body with Krishna’s darshan, sparshan and sambhashan along with the thoughts of marriage. 

Thought for the day

The only way to secure real peace is through the path of sacrifice.

From the book How Sathya Yuga is coming 

Life is sustained by the breath that enters through the nose. Without breath there is no life. Oxygen is inhaled and carbon dioxide is expelled. This body will become lifeless if breathing stops. I do not breathe in oxygen, I take the Adi Prana, Moola Prana, Paramatma Prana, which is the basis for all other Pranas. This Prana works through me as Atma Shakthi, power of the soul. This is ‘I without i’.

Now let us see about the skin and the sensation of touch. Touch feeling is the cause for birth. We touch with our mind, speech and through our actions; everything is touch feeling. I interact with many people from morning to night. All touch while traveling on the train and by car, so many people touch, yet this does not touch me. This state of being touched and yet not touched is ‘I without i’. Vishwagarbha and Vasanthamayam show the state of touching without touching. This is ‘I without i’.

When I touch only God, I am in the ‘I without i’ state of Omnipresence, Omnipotence, and Omniscience. I did not touch anything yet I have touched everything through my feelings for God. I touched everything that is not connected with this body and name. All say that only those who are connected with the body are relatives. Their ‘i’ identifies with a particular name and form and with those who are connected with it. They call them ‘my parents, wife, child, etc’. This is why their touch feeling is limited only to them. All the rest are considered strangers. I touched everything, not only those connected with the name and form of Vasantha, but the universe, its 580 crore beings, animals, birds and all. This is ‘I without i’.

The call, ‘Raja, Raja, Raja,’ is arising from the depths of my self, this is ‘I without i’. The call is continuous like breathing, it cannot be stopped. It awakens each and every living being, calling the Lord. This call will end only when it has shaken the pillar of consciousness in all.

This time while in Puttaparthi, the call became very intense day and night. Swami’s beautiful divine face made me mad and cry for Him. The call and this cry is the ‘I without i’. Swami is going to bring about the change of yuga through this ‘I without i’. This ‘I without i’ is revealing itself through this name and form Vasantha for this purpose.

   How the ‘I’ without name and form functions is demonstrated through this name and form called Vasantha. The functioning of the nameless, formless, Omniscient Parabrahma through the human body is called Prajnana. This is inner knowingness, innate wisdom, verily Brahman Himself. The ‘I without i’, dons the dress of name and form for the Prajnana to function. How can this Prajnana be contained in a single name and form? Yet, Swami has contained it in this name and form Vasantha effortlessly through His divine play. If a bomb kept in a particular place explodes, it will shatter everything around it to pieces. In the same way, when the Prajnana that is contained in this small form explodes, it will smash the karmas of the world into dust. It is for this reason that Swami has transferred it from this small human form into the big body of stone, the Mukthi Stupi. Swami has changed the Prajnanam that was cloaked in a human dress, to the dress of stone called the Stupi.

   In the chapter Mehendi, Swami writes the name, ‘Raja’ on all Prema’s fingers, saying that He was only revealing that which is within her.

   He said,

               Your unsullied Prema is reflected in the mehendi,

               Your effulgent Prema is revealed by the Stupi.

Just as the word written in mehendi reveals what is within me, the Stupi will show how Prema makes the Kundalini Shakthi function. The selfless existence of the self will usher in this unique age of Truth, the Sathya Yuga.

Swami said, “Mahalakshmi is the presiding deity of wealth and prosperity. My giving you a coin everyday symbolizes My pledge to keep My word to you. I shall keep honoring My words to you. I will send you back to Mukthi Nilayam, making you very happy. Stop crying, I will do something very special for you!” It is for this reason Swami is giving a coin every day.

When Swami was in Brindavan, I cried continuously, calling Him to Puttaparthi. On the 16th, I got up from my cot and a two-rupee coin fell down, dated 1999. The following day, on the 17th Rishi found another 2-rupee coin; this was from the year 2000!

Life in Puttaparthi without Swami was like a barren desert. I kept crying and calling Him to return. Swami still had not returned by the 18th and I felt desperate and cried not being able to control my feelings. On that day too, Rishi found a two-rupee coin on the table. It was from the year 2000. Swami came that evening. We went and had a wonderful darshan. While in the darshan line, Rishi found an old ring. It was dark and covered with dirt. When we cleaned it, the ring was made of panchaloha and had seven circles on top of it; one was red and one white. I asked Swami about it in meditation.

Thought for the day

Immortality is only attained through sacrifice. When we sacrifice worldly life for God, the effects of Karma dissapear.

From the book How Sathya Yuga is Coming

KRISHNA'S FEELINGS

          ‘The Yamuna flows silently in the gentle surroundings of Brindavan. The river is not uproarious like the Ganges. Yamuna has a light reddish hue. The Ganges is white. Why is the Yamuna red…? There! Who is that’?

A beautiful blue form walks out from under the dark shade of a tree and stands in the waters.

          ‘Oh! Now we know why… since she resides near Krishna, the Yamuna girl is blushing red! As soon as the divine feet of the Lord touch her, the quiet Yamuna quickly springs up and falls over Him in great delight’.

Krishna slowly walks away and sits on the nearby bank. The Purattasi Poornima moon lights up the entire place. Brindavan blissfully sleeps in the cool moon light. A gentle breeze carries the fragrance of flowers. The flowers sway in a dance of welcome expressing their joy at Krishna’s arrival!

The Lord takes the flute from His waistband; He places it on His lips and begins to play. The flute that was on the waist now gets the lip throne. Can one imagine its joy? The music is supremely melodious. The whole world is immersed in the flood of music. Radha springs to her feet hearing the sweet strains. The music strums her heart strings and enters every cell of her body. As she walks toward the flute sound, the sweetness thrills her whole being. Each step she takes adds to the rhythm.

Krishna’s eyes catch a glimpse of Radha’s form from a distance...

          ‘What is this? Who is she? Is she a goddess or a heavenly maiden? Has Brahma deva given this form to all the beauty in the world’?

The moon rays and dark shades fall on her body adding to her beauty. She comes near. Krishna’s eyes forget to blink. The flute slips from His lips. Radha sits at the feet of Krishna. As if all the beauty of the world is being offered at the divine feet, she gently touches the holy feet with her tender fingers. The touch shakes Krishna’s heart and lights a spark.

          ‘I know this touch. This touch belongs only to Me. Who is she? Is she not the Shakthi in My heart?’

The Lord’s heart flutters in joy. The eyes show the joy in the heart.

          ‘How is it possible? It is true? The shakthi within Me has come out for the sake of My mission. How surprising that it is so beautiful and attractive. What is this? In this green sari, she looks like a flower creeper come to life. Is she a woman or a rose garden? She is mine; she belongs to Me, My Shakthi. She has separated from Me. Now this moment, I will take her with Me. This beauty is My own.’

Flooded with many tender feelings, Krishna strokes Radha’s head very fondly. The touch fills Him with ecstasy. He calls her softly,

           ‘Radha…’

She falls gently at His feet. The next moment His wisdom awakens,

          ‘No, though she belongs to Me, I must wait. I must complete the Avataric task. We have come only for this. There is no place for such tenderness until the task is completed.’

     The heart did not accept these words of wisdom.

          ‘She has come from Me. She is My power of action. Why does this power have a beautiful feminine form? I did not expect the divine power of God would take such an enchanting form. She has fallen like a child at My feet at the first sight. How can I keep her away? My Radha! Should we wait for two more ages? Should I remain as if I am unaware of your child like heart, your trust and faith in Me?’

Thought for the day

Practice small acts of sacrifice and see for yourself the happiness that you derive.

From the book How the Sathya Yuga is Coming

Peak of ‘I’ is Peacock’s Eye

Today in satsang when I spoke about, ‘I without ‘I’, Fred said, “Amma, we are working without wages, you are our wages.”

I replied, “This is correct.”

Evening meditation

   Vasantha : Swami is Fred correct?

   Swami      : Yes. You receive Truth as wages from Me and give wisdom as payment to them. You feed them first before giving your wisdom to the world. You eat Me, they eat you.

 s

I pull Truth from Swami and explain the wisdom in a way simple and easy to understand. I share all with the ashramites after meditation. Wisdom reaches them first before I write it in the books. This is why Swami says, “First you eat Me and then they eat you.”

When I was talking to them, I saw a picture of a beautiful dancing peacock on the cover of my diary, its feathers fanned. I said, “All love peacocks.”

Peacocks live in the fields that surround the ashram. Whenever a peacock comes in our ashram all run to look. A peacock looks very beautiful when it dances opening its feathers. If by chance we find a single feather, its beauty captivates us.

If all were to pluck a feather from the peacock’s tail saying, ‘I want one, I want one’, the beauty would be lost. The bird would look ordinary and ugly.

‘Sarvatahpaanipaadam  tatsarvato’ksisromukham

Sarvatahsrutimalloke sarvamavrtya tisthati’

   With hands and feet everywhere, with eyes, hands, and mouths everywhere, with ears everywhere he stands pervading all.

The whole universe is the body of the Lord; His limbs are everywhere. If we separate this world saying, ‘this is mine’, ‘that is yours’, it is akin to breaking the limbs of God. It is like cutting and separating the One. The beauty of Creation would be lost. I wrote this principle as ‘Beauty Worship’ in the book, ‘The Establishment of Prema’. One should not want to keep beauty, as ones own possession. It should be worshiped by offering it to the Lord.

If you are not able to remove the small self (i’), become one with the true self (‘I’). That is verily Eddymayam, Fredmayam. I have said in a previous chapter, if your name is Rama, then Rama becomes everything, you pervade all– Ramamayam. If your name is Raja, see all as Raja–Rajamayam, see all as your very own self. If we do this, we can enjoy the complete beauty, like that of a peacock. We can dance like the peacock in bliss.

Who is not captivated by the beauty of the peacock? All experience bliss watching the male peacock dance, its tail fanned. How to praise the glory of the Lord who has created the colorful splendor of the peacock’s feathers? A single feather has an eye shape at its tip. When the bird opens its feathers and dances, it seems that a thousand eyes are looking at you. How much bliss is derived looking at a single feather? Lord Krishna sported a peacock’s feather in His crown. What is synonymous with Lord Krishna? A peacock feather on His head, a flute in hand.

How would it be if each one of us were to pluck a feather from the peacock’s tail? The bird would lose its beauty and look ordinary. The fantail of the peacock is made up of many feathers, which move together in a blissful dance! In the same way, the Universe is God’s cosmic form. According to the sloka Sarvatahpaanipaadam, God’s eyes, ears, hands, legs and face exist everywhere. It indicates God’s all-pervasive nature. He is in every living being. Sri Krishna asserts in the 15th chapter of the Bhagavad Gita,

               ‘Mamaivamso jeevaloke jeeva bhutha sanatana’

               He resides in the heart of all…

We should not divide this all-pervasive God.

  

Thought for the day

Sacrifice thrives through Prema and Prema grows through sacrifice. 

My Prayer

From the book How the Sathya Yuga is Coming

God is infinite compassion. He has taken birth to transform man to God. This is a rare opportunity. Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba has given the essence of the four Vedas, scriptures and epics in four letters, LOVE. He says, “There is only one religion the religion of Love... show love to all. I will liberate you from the cycle of birth and death.”

Knowing Swami…

My mouth has spoken only truth, only His glories, nothing else.

My skin has not touched anyone other than Swami. My feelings have touched only 

God, nothing else.

My nose knows only the divine fragrance, nothing else.

My eyes have seen only Swami, nothing else.  

My ears have heard only about Swami, nothing else.

In the beginning of sadhana, seeing the world as Maya, one should turn within.  

After attaining the vision of God, he should see the entire world as God.

 My entire life is filled with God; I have connected all with God. Though I lived a family life, I lived with the feeling that I was living with God. All the feelings that arise from me are for God. I have lived life as you have, like an ordinary person. I was born, grew up, studied, married,  had children and a family; everything was the same, only feelings were different. Though we perform the same household duties, I have done mine with the feeling of doing all for God. I did everything as an offering to God and attained this state. I have not fallen from the sky. I am an ordinary village woman. I only turned all my feelings and thoughts to God. Due to the difference in feelings, this ordinary Vasantha has been transformed, like iron that is turned into pure gold. If you turn all you feelings to God, you can also become pure gold. This is the principle of becoming God.

My fervent prayer is that all live life immersed in God:

Let your mouth speak only Truth,

   only of the glory of God.

Let your skin only touch the Lord, skin means touch feeling.

Your feelings should touch God, nothing else.

Let your nose know only the fragrance of the divine, nothing else.

Let your eyes see only God, nothing else.

Let your ears hear only God and about God, nothing else.

Jai Sai Ram

Thought for the day
Internal worship is much more effective than showy ritual.

From the book how the Sathya Yuga is coming

Feelings Make an Avatar!

30 August 2003   Morning meditation

Vasantha  :   Swami, in Your Krishna Jayanthi discourse You have said that Vasudeva was in trance when he carried the newly born Krishna in a basket and that when the basket was put down, it was Radha who saw Krishna first; the form of the Lord came to dwell in Radha’s heart from that moment. That impression, that association, that imprint has made me mad… why?  Tell me, what is the cause?         

                                                                                                                                               

                       Why she saw first? How did she realize it was Krishna? What is the reason? Tell me the reason    why have You made me mad like this?

                  

Swami      :   Do not cry. I will tell you the reason. During the Rama Avatar all loved Him. Saints, sages                       ordinary people, all loved Rama. Yet Rama did not allow anyone to come near Him, nor touch Him. He didn’t touch anyone except Sita, even in thought. All were surprised at this purity and wondered, “Is it possible?” Sita herself was surprised and was filled with a sense of gratitude towards Rama.

                       As time passed, an answer emerged to the question, ‘Is it possible?’ The Prema of Rama and Sita took form as a star and incarnated as Radha. This child came into the hands of Shiva and Parvathi and was then given to Vrushabhanu, the father of Radha.

                       Radha did not open her eyes after birth. Only when she was twenty-six months old did she open her eyes for the first time. Krishna’s form was the first thing she saw. This is the reason why Krishna’s form became deeply imprinted in Radha’s mind. Radha did not see anyone after this, till now.

                       It is Radha’s feelings, her Prema that brought Krishna. Krishna danced and played with the Gopis and Gopas; He later married many princesses. Yet, Radha’s feelings of Prema were not shaken, they remained strong as ever.

Afternoon meditation

Vasantha  :   Why was I married in this life?

Swami      :   It is to show that even after getting married and      leading an ordinary life, your sight did not waver from Me.

I contemplated on this. Radha came as an answer to the question, ‘Can there be a love such of that of Rama and Sita?’ Rama and Sita defined Prema and epitomized chastity. When their Prema and chastity united, the form of Radha emerged. The letters ‘Ra’ from Rama and ‘Tha’ from Sita came together to form Ratha or Radha. Radha did not see anyone after her birth; she opened her eyes after 26 months to see her beloved Krishna. Radha’s intuition, her inner feelings, thus showed her the Lord of her Prema, Sri Krishna. Radha is the embodiment of the Prema of Rama and Sita. She came to prove that not only can one have the Prema of Rama and Sita, but one can even go beyond that.

Her feelings brought an Avatar who could contain her boundless love. Sri Krishna Paramatma of Dwapara Yuga descended at a time when dharma needed to be reestablished. He took form in response to Radha’s Prema.

With her first sight, Krishna’s form became deeply imprinted in Radha’s mind. She, who came as a response to a question, saw the One who was the source of that feeling, that response. After this, she did not see anything else.

In meditation Swami said, “Her sight was only on Krishna. Her thought and mind did not search for anything except Him. Her mind, intellect and senses were centered only on Krishna. Even though she lived in this world, she lived only with Krishna.”

 Sight does not mean just seeing with the physical eyes. It indicates one-pointedness of thought, senses, mind, intellect and consciousness; all these constitute ones sight. It is the thought that does not attach itself to anything but to Sri Krishna, inside, outside, everywhere only the Lord.

One may wonder, ‘Is it possible to be like this!?’ It is possible.

Radha is living in the same thought for two ages. Her sight has been one-pointedly fixed on her Lord. Ages change, many people come and go, different events take place; however amidst all that happened around Radha, her sight did not change.

People were surprised by the one-pointed love that existed between Rama and Sita. They wondered is it possible to have such love? The union of their Prema came as Radha. Rama and Sita enjoyed physical nearness. Radha is the Prema, which flowed from their nearness. Now since the same Radha is not enjoying the proximity to Sai Krishna, more and more love flows from her towards Him. Prema grows in separation.

For Radha, Krishna was like a fruit, a delicious fruit that was beyond reach. How was she able to taste that which she could not reach? There was no physical connection between them; their pure Prema was united at the Atmic level. Though they are not together physically and are separate, they are one in feeling. So in truth Radha and Krishna are never separated. Worldly people give great importance to the body and therefore cannot think beyond it. Prema is divine; it has nothing to do with the body. True Prema can only arise when one does not have body consciousness. So this feeling of oneness is not worldly, it is not connected to the body. It is transcends the body and senses; it is borne in the Atma, it is a merger of feelings.

That is why it is a fruit that can be tasted though not touched. Now this same Prema continues with Sathya Sai and Vasantha Sai. Because they are the same Radha and Krishna this Prema continues. It is not affected by time; it flows continuously from age to age, since the beginning of eternity. Radha’s total surrender continues now also.

After 64 years of penance, I totally surrendered myself at the feet of Swami. Swami accepted me. This offering is only one half of my goal.

Now the question may arise why I have the desire to see Swami and talk to Him physically. If this Prema is beyond the body then why do I have this desire?

It is because my goal in life is to merge this physical body in the physical body of Bhagavan. From a young age I have aspired that at the time of death my body should not become food for earth or fire, it should merge in Swami’s body. This bond is only to attain that end. When this body turns into a jyothi and becomes one with Swami, then alone my sadhana will come to an end.

I asked Swami for Universal Liberation. To attain this boon my penance continued beginning the second phase of my life. Now I am continuously praying that all my children should experience the bliss I am enjoying; all should attain Mukthi. My feelings of Prema that were directed only to Bhagavan have been converted into motherly feelings and are showering on the people of the world. Prema feelings are often difficult to understand, not all can perceive them.

Thought for the day

Morning to night if we dedicate our feelings to God, it is akin to performing 24 hour pooja.

From the book Liberation Here Itself Right Now Part III

Sri Krishna and Radha are not two but one. They have become two, to rejoice in Prema. Theirs is eternal Prema; it does not have any relation with the body. It can be  easily understood if we chart out the differences between Prema and Kaama.

PREMA

1. Prema is pure consciousness.  There is no relationship with the body.

2. In Prema Bhakthi (the path of love), Bhagavan and the bhaktha, the one  who  receives Prema and the one who gives Prema, are pure consciousness. Sometimes,  Bhagavan in the state of bhaktha and bhaktha in the state of Bhagavan enjoy the Prema.  The one cosmic soul takes two forms to rejoice in Prema.  

3. The bhaktha who has become a Jeevan Muktha loves God only for Him. This is  Prema.

4. It is selfless. In the absence of body  consciousness, there is no desire to enjoy  pleasure of the senses. Out of love for God, the devotee always thinks of satisfying God, serving God.  

5. Superficially, it looks physical, but in truth, it is pure consciousness.

6. There is no delusion. Prema is based on the light of Jnana.

7. One who has Prema does not have worldly bondage. He does not desire the fruits of heaven or earth. So he has no sorrow. He revels in bliss forever. He becomes a jeevan muktha, who is liberated while living on earth. 

9. In Prema there is total freedom, because it is unrestrained and boundless.

Bhagavan submits to the love of the bhaktha. 

10. There is sacrifice in Prema. Prema cannot be complete without sacrifice. Sacrifice and Prema are related to each other. There is no sacrifice without Prema and no Prema without sacrifice. It takes one to a higher state.  

11. Due to Prema, the Bhaktha is totally free and surrenders himself to Bhagavan.

12. Prema expands every second. Every moment, it expresses itself in new ways. Life is never dull. With this divine energy there is no tiredness or boredom.  

13. The bhaktha aims only at Bhagavan‟s happiness.   

14. Prema is born in purity. A pure mind is the reason for the bhaktha‟s serenity.

15. The path of Prema takes one to Bhagavan. It opens the gate to liberation.

16. Prema is oneness.

Thought for the day

If the mind is withdrawn from the outer world and the consciousness is focused within, it is Atma.

From the Awareness Article #9

Swami gave a list of many questions. Question 28 asks,

28-Which word best describes you?

If asked this question,how should I answer?Let usanalyzethis.

I amAtma.If I am Atma, then why do I give so much importance to the body? It is because this body must merge with Swami’s body. Why do I think in this way? Up until this time, none of therishis andsages who havecomehave thought in this way. Why doI alone think like this? From my very youngest age, I wanted to marry God. If it is marriage,thenthe bodyalsomust be offered to Him.I am very strong and determined that thisbody, which is tobeofferedto God, must not fall on the ground. Thus, I am not Atma.

Am I Shakthi? No, I am not Shakthi.Swami told me that I am His Shakthi.I wroteaboutthis in my first book, which Swami signed.However, after I wroteit, I was chased away and not allowed to see Swami. I no longer went to Puttaparthi

In 2001, Swami gave theMangalyaand proved that I am His Shakthi.In 2003, Swami called me back to Puttaparthi at the time of Shivarathri.There,He showed that we are Shiva Shakthi. In 1963, Swami lay paralyzed for 8 days. Aftercuring Himself, He revealed that the paralysis to His left side was due to Shakthi and told the story of Sage Bharadwaja.

In the same way, before the opening of the GarbhaKottam, we performed many yagnas. It was then I suffered 8 days of pain down my left side. Nanjundaih Dixit, an aspect of Sage Bharadwaja came here to perform theyagnas. Swami said that this all showedthat I amHisShakthi. In 2007, I wrote the book'Last7Days of God'and was again stopped from going inside Prasanthi Nilayam. How many obstacles are there for Swami’s Shakthi to see Him?I was chased away from every place I went. Up papa! Enough! I am not Shakthi! Please leave me alone!Enough!Enough! Iam not Shakthi! God may tell of HisShakthi, but human beings will never accept it. Thus,I am not Shakthi, no no no! Who am I? Am I the mind? If I am the mind, then thousands and thousands of desires will arise in me. Yet, I do not have any worldly desires.My one and only desire is

that I want to see and talk with Swami physically. It is due to desires that a man is born and dies again and again. I have no mind; my mind is only with Swami. Thus, I am not mind. I have no mind. Then, ‘Who am I'?I ask myself the very same question. Am I a woman? No! No! Thinking that I am a woman, I was stopped from seeing Swami. They would not allow me. God is man and I am the woman who loves God. What a strange world? Nothing else is known in this world except the man and woman relationship. This is how they see God also. This is their view. As I am a woman, they chased me away like a dog! No, no! Oi Yo! I am not a woman, please leave me alone. I have been tortured like Saint Catherine.Can the one born as a woman not become a saint? Do women haveno right to attain the post of sage orsaint? Has she no rights? A woman cannot be one who renounces all? Swami came here to show the greatness of womanhood.Thus,we make the world as Sathya Yuga. Swami makes it Vasanthamayam.Now who will chase me? You are Sathya Sai. TheVasantha,who is chased by you, is also your mother,wifeand daughter! So who chases whom? And   where are they chased? Who am I? There is only one word to describe me.I am thedustunder Swami’s feet.Swami,enough of this human birth!This world and those in it are all unfamiliar to me. I am not familiar with them or their qualities. There is only one place for me to hide and that is underYourfeet.There, I am unseen by the world. Swami gave me 108 Sanskrit names,108Tamilnamesand 89 names for the body. Of all these there is only one name that I want,

‘Sai Pada Dhulikayai’, the dust of Swami’s feet.