the e-Newsletter Prema Vahini of Νοvember 

from Mukthi Nilayam is available in our e-Library

This world is an expression of our thoughts and feelings. It is a mirror

Five states of a Sadhaka (cont…)

Next, is the state of Bhokta, which means one who experiences, enjoys. The devotee says, “Lord, You are the true enjoyer of the fruits of action,” I surrender all to You. The Bhaktha surrenders his body, life, property, honour and respect at the feet of God and asks Him to enjoy the fruits. That is why Radha and the Gopikas were not bothered about attaining Moksha. Due to their intense love and devotion, true devotees even surrender the Moksha that they have won and say, “I am surrendering that fruit also to You. You take that too.” Do not have the desire for any result. When the Lord is your supporter, then let Him be the one who experiences the result. (cont...)

the e-Newsletter Prema Vahini of Νοvember 

from Mukthi Nilayam is available in our e-Library

When you show one-pointed devotion to God with a pure heart, wisdom will arise and show the light of truth.

Five states of a Sadhaka (cont…)

 Among the Saivites, there was one Bhaktha who was once deeply immersed in the worship of Lord Shiva. One day, his mind was occupied by a serious doubt; “I am worshipping God with such intense devotion. Is it real Bhakthi? Will I still have the thought of God if I loose my mind, or will I behave like an ordinary madman?” As an experiment, he took an herbal mixture that induces madness. He asked some devotees to give him an antidote after noting down whatever he uttered. Even when mad, he was continuously chanting the names of God. After some days due to the antidote, he became normal. But the words, which he uttered while temporarily insane, became the famous verses in praise of God known as ‘Unmathashtakam:’ verses rendered in euphoria. He became known as ‘Unmathanayanar’ meaning, the one who is euphoric. This is an example of true devotion. Though he temporarily lost his mind, the madness he experienced was for God only. There is a reason why I am writing about this here. Today, ever since I got up at 3:30 am I have been yearning for Bhagavan and calling Him by several names. Swami came in my meditation and asked, “What are you mumbling about?” I answered, “I do not know Swami. Like a mad person, I call you by several names. Do you like it Swami? Is there any meaning to these mad utterances?”

Swami responded, “Will a mother look for any meaning in the prattle of her child? That prattle itself gives her extreme bliss.”
You will be shocked to know how I have ranted and raved like a mad person. In my ecstasy, I used to utter pet names for Swami like Rajappa, Kannappa, Saiappa, Pappukanha and so on. These were my offerings of worship, Archanas. One should constantly call on the Lord and pray to Him, suffer for Him. The story of Unmaththa Nayanar is an ideal example of how mad one can become with love and yearning for God. One should become mad for Him, at times even becoming hysterical. We should be as thirsty for God as we are for water. Just as the fish desperately gasps for air, when it is taken out of water, we should also have the same longing for God. God sustains only such people, in the state of Bartha. (cont...)

the e-Newsletter Prema Vahini of Νοvember 

from Mukthi Nilayam is available in our e-Library

Truth cannot be attained in its entirety until all traces of duality are removed from the mind.

Five states of a Sadhaka (cont…)

Next comes Bartha; it means sustainer. Now the Jeeva discharges his duties correctly and leads a good life. He tries to remove the negative qualities and blemishes from his mind by keeping in good company and by performing good deeds. At times in spite of sincere effort, he faces obstacles on the path and may become disheartened. He prays to God, “Oh Lord! Come to my rescue. I cannot do anything by my efforts alone. I pray for your blessings too. Only if my efforts are combined with Your grace, can I taste success.” He thus understands the significance of prayer. For example, a selection of doctors may prescribe varying treatments like Allopathic, Homeopathy and Naturopathy to treat a patient. When after all this the patient is still not cured, he turns to God and prays. In the same way, it is only when the Jeeva goes through the process of improvement and reform that he understands the necessity for prayer.
At this point the Jeeva calls on the Lord and the Lord comes to his rescue. Bhagavan is always close to us, very near, closer than the air itself. He only awaits our call and then immediately comes running towards us. The Lord is the Bhakthasahaaya, the one who supports the devotee. The Lord thus becomes the sustainer. He helps us to evolve spiritually by shouldering all our burdens and removing the impurities from the mind . At this stage, the Jeeva surrenders all his actions to God. Bhagavan Himself then stands along side the Jeeva and helps him to accomplish all his tasks. Sakkubai, who reached this state, is an example. The Lord swept the house, ground the flour, washed utensils and did all her household tasks. He Himself took her form and performed all her duties, thus allowing her to go to Pandaripur to worship Lord Panduranga. Owing to this, her husband and mother-in-law were unaware of her true whereabouts and could not punish her for disobeying their order not to leave the house.
The Lord went to the house of Korakumba in the form of his brother to help make and sell pots. He cooked and did all his household duties. Bhagavan came as a servant called Kandiya Krishnan, and served Eknath for twelve years. He brought water, cooked for him and looked after all his needs. So we see how all things are made possible when the Lord helps His devotees. Now the same Lord has taken Avatar as Sathya Sai Baba and helps His devotees in many ways. Whatever is stated in the Gita is Truth. The Gita is not a book to be read only. It has come to illustrate that one must put into practice what one has learned in order to fully realize the benefit.
How can we make the Lord come and help us in this way? It is only possible through continuous Bhakthi. One should yearn for God and should think about nothing else except Him. (cont...)

the e-Newsletter Prema Vahini of Νοvember 

from Mukthi Nilayam is available in our e-Library

Only when the form and feeling are in harmony can it be said that truth is experienced. 

Five states of a Sadhaka

A Jeeva goes through five states on his journey as a Sadhaka. In the beginning, Bhagavan observes the actions of the Jeeva and is the Saakshi or mere witness to whatever is happening to his body and mind. At this point, the Jeeva thinks that he is the doer of all his actions.
He lives according to the dictates of the mind. However, one day he starts to think about the real meaning of life. What is the true purpose of life? Why is it so? Is there any meaning to it? As the Jeeva begins to contemplate in this way, the Paramatma, which had remained a witness, comes to the aid of the awakening Jeeva. He gives encouragement when the Jeeva tries to do a good deed and prompts as the inner voice of conscience saying, “You are doing a good job, continue.” This state is known as Anumantha, where God gives His consent and approval to our actions. Thus Bhagavan, who was merely an onlooker in the beginning, gives His consent or permission. (cont...)

We should follow the exemplary lives of sages and great souls and only depend on the Truth that is our very self.

This world is an expression of our thoughts and feelings. It is a mirror

Our experiences are a reflection of our own feelings.

One should realize that benefit comes through the power of our own faith and devotion and not because of any person or thing external to us.

The power of sacrifice reveals truth.

The devotion we have for God will turn undesirable qualities into virtues.

Love alone is my nature. I am in a state where I am only conscious of love. It is for this reason the petals of the Sahasrara on the Mukthi Stupi are shown as open. The star on top represents the light of the Atma. This star resonates with a vibration that pervades the whole world and transforms all. 

Do not limit Sathya to Vedas and Upanishads alone. Truth is all-pervading. It belongs to everyone.

Through the path of sadhana, one goes further and has the vision of the all-pervading Universal “I”. This is God-realization.

“I” is symbolic of the ego; through self-effort one attains the inner “I”. This is self-realization.

When the light of pure consciousness is revealed, the body shines with a divine radiance.

All can know God and become God through sadhana.

With the sword of dispassion and through the power of intellect, destroy the enemy called lust.

Pathways to Divine … (Cont.)

Dasyam – It is serving the Lord like the great Hanuman did. Of all who were in the service of Lord Rama, none could serve Rama like Hanuman. He showed in an exemplary manner how one should serve the Lord.

Every year people go for Prasanthi Nilayam service. One should do service by living according to the principle of Swami. 

Everything is within us

Pathways to Divine … (Cont.)

Vatsalya – Vatsalya is imagining the Lord as one’s child. Devaki and Nandagopal thought that Krishna was their own child. Dasaratha also thought of Rama as his very own son. All had great affection and love. When Sage Vishwamitra wanted Rama and Lakshmana to protect his Yagna from the Asura’s threats, Dasaratha was overtaken by fear at the prospect of danger to their lives. The King pleaded with the Sage saying that Rama is but a small child. He does not know the evil ways of the Asuras. I will come for your service in their place. This is Vatsalya bhakthi when the devotee thinks that the great Lord is a small child.

Kulashekar Thevar imagined Rama as his son and sang songs like a father. Periazhavar also sang songs imagining Krishna as a child. Mother’s love is the greatest love in the world. So Swami says, My Love is greater than a thousand mothers. One can catch the Lord with Love called Vatsalya. Not even a thousand mothers or the love of the whole world is equal to the love of Sai.

We are the cause for both our suffering and salvation.

Pathways to Divine … (Cont.)

Vandana – One always falls at the feet of the Lord. He always worships the Lord. He shows gratitude to the Lord. The Lord’s Mercy towards us is limitless. As soon as we bow to Him, He showers his Grace. The relation between the Mother and child is an example of the highest kind of Love. The mother feeds her child, sacrificing her very life’s blood and energy: changing it into milk. The Love of the Father is also very great. All creation is His Grace and He has blessed each soul with all the necessities for survival on earth

Lust obscures wisdom. Born of passion, it enters the senses, shows them all sorts of desires, envelops true knowledge like an insatiable fire and eventually leads to destruction.

Pathways to Divine … (Cont.)

Pada Sevanam – Serving the Lotus feet of the Lord. He must be immersed in the thought of the Lotus feet always. Goddess Mahalaksmi is a good example for this. The Goddess of all wealth wanted only to serve the Lord. She did not want anything else. Her hands always served His Lotus feet. One should hold on to His Lotus feet always. Bharatha was always bearing the thought of the Lotus feet of the Lord in his head and heart. So, Kaushalya acclaimed him saying, “A thousand Ramas will not equal you.” He renounced the Kingdom and lived the life of a renunciate in a small village called Nandigram. He dressed and lived like Rama. Soon, with the power of penance, he became like Rama. Since Bharatha held on to Rama’s feet he became like Rama.

Similarly, Radha’s heart is home to Krishna’s feet. Once when Rukmini gave hot milk to Radha, boils appeared on Krishna’s feet. The hot milk that Radha had taken, affected the feet of Krishna. When one holds on to the feet of the Lord with great faith and devotion, the Lord responds immediately. The response is there externally for us to see.

For example, during the 2002 summer course at Brindavan, we had satsang in a place where I stayed. On whatever topic I spoke about, Swami used to speak about the same in summer course. All were surprised. When I asked Swami about this, he said, “You and I are the same. Your thoughts are reflected in me and My thoughts are reflected in you.” The hot milk that Radha had, caused boils on Krishna’s feet. In the same way, since Swami’s thoughts reflect in me, both of us talk in the same way. This is the glory of pada sevana.

A stingy person counts every penny before spending. Similarly, think about God without wasting one second. Refuse to spend your time on any other matter. Then, stinginess can be turned into Yoga

Pathways to Divine … (Cont.)

Smaranam – This is chanting the names of the Lord. Continuous chanting is a very good sadhana. It is the best sadhana for the present age, the Kali Yuga. We cannot do penance and yogas. This is a fast-paced age of instant gratification. There is no time or patience for the slow and steady ripening of the spirit. So Nama Japa is the best. Valmiki became a Maharishi due to chanting. He was a robber. Sage Narada corrected Valmiki’s mind and told him to chant the name of Rama. However Valmiki could not chant it because he had amassed to great an amount of sin. So he chanted “MaRa” and on repetition it sounded as “Rama”. He continued chanting in this way for many months and years. Hundreds of years he chanted and an anthill grew up around his body. So he was called Valmiki, which means anthill. He then wrote the epic Ramayana. Thus Rama smarana transformed a robber into a Saint.

Feelings take form

Pathways to Divine … (Cont.)

Keerthana – It is singing the Lord’s glory. One gets Liberation when one sings or hears Namasankeerthana with true bhava. Sage Narada always sings about the glory of the Lord. This is the Nagarsankeerthana advocated by Bhagavan. In the times of Andal, Keerthans were sung in the early morning hours to wake up people and call them to the feet of the Lord. These songs were styled to wake up the Lord from His sleep. Is God sleeping? It is we who are sleeping. It is to wake up our own selves. Many have attained His Lotus Feet by singing His glory always. Saint Thyagaraja and Meera Bai melted with the Lord, losing themselves in devotional singing.

Like a raging flood, love for God has to surge from the depths of the heart. It cannot be learned or known by reading books.

Pathways to Divine …

There are no teachers or professors at the Universal Prema University. How can this be? How can there be a University without teachers or professors? Here it has come true!. 

Each student has his own inner Guru. He is the spiritual heart of the student.

Through sadhana and internal training, one can locate one’s Guru. The Lord who is the indweller of our hearts will show us the way. It is enough if we learn how to make him show us the way. Thereafter, He will do everything. The task of the Ashram University is to reveal the existence of the previously unknown Guru who dwells within each of us. If each student were to choose the path that suits his or her nature and meditate on it, the Lord will surely show the path. The path is of the following types:

Shravana – Listening to the stories of the Lord, one forgets about one’s self. In the old days, people used gather in the streets to listen and to tell stories from the epics. They used to listen intently to speakers talk on the Divine Classics. Every house front would reverberate with stories and satsang. There was no entertainment such as TV, cinema or drama, so people used to get together for such healthy pastimes. Hearing the stories of the Lord instills His thoughts in the mind. Prahlada is one who benefited from such listening. Sage Narada preached him even as he was in his mother’s womb. Bhagavan took the Narasimha Avatar for Prahalada’s sake as soon as he called to the Lord.

A small desire of a soul who is merged in God consciousness takes a cosmic form and benefits the entire creation.

Awareness Article #6

Pig or Zip?

Your each and every desire creates you. It makes your many facets. You are like the sculptor who chisels a statue. Each thought of yours is a chisel shaping you and becomes your next birth. I have only one desire, ‘I must attain Swami’. Thus, my every thought chisels His form. My tears and cries chisel each of His limbs. Thus, Swami now comes in a new form. This is true romance. I have never seen Swami close up. He has never spoken one word to me, nor have I ever touched Him. Yet, I like Him only. I want Him. Swami and I see, talk and touch in meditation, but this is not the physical body, it is the divine body. It is Pure; it takes place in Pure Consciousness. This is not body consciousness. God and His Shakthi have no body consciousness; only divine consciousness. Shiva and Shakthi are two halves of One body. Shiva and Shakthi are present in the body of all and function as the Kundalini. When the two unite, it is the Jeevan Muktha state. Swami and I came here to demonstrate this and it is the reason why we suffer in separation. Yet, these are not lovers' pangs of separation; this is one
jeeva’s suffering in separation from God. The demonstration of this is Swami’s Avataric task. Yet, in ordinary human life, when this is experienced, it is called romance. It is based in feelings of lust; marriage takes place. This is like living a worldly drainage ditch life.

It is the feelings of each soul that create the form of the Lord.

Awareness Article #6

Pig or Zip?

"Do not look back and do not dream about the future, either it
will neither give you the past, nor satisfy your other aydreams.Your duty, your reward-your destiny are here and now."
Previously, Swami gave many quotes from the Bible and asked me to write. I wrote. He has now given this in the same way. This person livedfrom1905 to 1961. Let us see. He first tells that we should not look to the past. Yet, man is always thinking about what happened in the past. This happens particularly in his old age, when he has nothing to do. The mind looks back to the past, to old thoughts. He thinks about what happened in his youth and contemplates. What is the use of this? There is more benefit in him thinking of God or chanting His name. There is no use in thinking of the past.
The man then tells not to dream of the future. Yet, man is always doing this. He spends all his time immersed in dreams of the future. These two are his life. He never thinks about the present. The mind always thinks of the past or future things. These two are of no use. What is your duty? It is only to attain God. There are no other duties for man. Man is born here only to attain God. Our thoughts and deeds should only be on how to attain God. This is our duty. This must be contemplated on and known clearly. Each and everyone are given birth, in order not to be born again. If you do not use your life for this, you will be born and die again and again. The reward we get is in accordance with the duty we perform. This is our destiny, which we get' here itself right now'.

The Lord reveals Himself according to the devotees effort.

Awareness Article #6

DoYouWant to be a Dog?

Swami marked the following page in Sathya Sai Speaks volume 2, from His discourse 19 May 1962. Here is the story. There is a story of a dog that came to Rama, bleeding from blows. Laksmana was sent to inquire why it was in such pain. He discovered that a Brahmin had beaten it with a stick. When asked, the Brahmin could only give as sufficient cause that the dog was coming across his path. 
So Rama asked the dog, "Well, how do you want me punish this Brahmin?" The dog promptly gave the reply, "Make him the manager of a temple." "What?" said Rama. "That would be a reward, not a punishment." The dog said, "No, I was a manager and since it is next to impossible not to mishandle or misuse or appropriate some fraction of God's money, when he is the manager, he too will get this canine birth and perhaps get beaten too." 
Remember, not only that dog and that Brahmin, but every one of you is living off the property of God, for does not all this belong to Him? And what do you do in return for all the benefits you derive from the property of the Lord? You cannot eat it and sit quiet. You must at least give some physical labour in return; he who does not work but eats is indeed a cheat. Not that the Lord wants anything from you, but it will give self-respect and it will purify your heart.

Thougth for the Day

Only in the pure thoughtless state can you hear God’s true voice.

Awareness Article # 5

Cannon Ball Bombs

Lord,

See through me

Hear through me

Feel through me

Work through me

Speak through me

Let me empty my ‘Self’, so like Krishna’s flute,

You can use me and play a beautiful tune through me.

'Be a zero, be a hero'.

Lord, ‘Speak through me’. When God fills us, He speaks through us. How will it be? When our senses, mind, intellect, consciousness and ego are emptied, God fills us within. We come to the Bhoktha state, where God talks through us. Many of the great saints have proved this. When they were deeply merged in God’s thoughts, they heard His voice. They recorded these as the Vedas and Upanishads.
Now, all casually say, ‘Swami is talking through me’. One must renounce all things as the ancient rishis have. Only the one, who has emptied himself fully, becoming nothingness, can hear God’s voice and speak with Him. When we no longer have the eight types of egoism and make ourselves empty, then like Krishna’s flute, God will play sweet music through us. God can only play through the flute, which is hollow and empty.

Thougth for the Day

The God In you reflects your nature.

Awareness Article # 5

Cannon Ball Bombs

Lord,

See through me

Hear through me

Feel through me

Work through me

Speak through me

Let me empty my ‘Self’, so like Krishna’s flute,

You can use me and play a beautiful tune through me.

'Be a zero, be a hero'.

Swami then indicated, ‘Feel through me’. God says to feel through Him. Feel means ‘touch feeling’. Whatever we touch should become like God’s touch. How does God touch? He is in the Witness state. Whoever touches Him, does not affect Him. Whomever He touches, does not affect Him either. One must be like this. A man feels the touch of his wife and thinks it is like heaven! When his child touches him, he is in a bliss state. Yet, when an enemy touches him, he becomes angry; he feels as though he has been touched by fire! Thus, all is untruth, false and illusion. This must be changed.
Nothing will touch the one who performs sadhana and makes themselves empty. This is because God alone is all relationships. This jeeva is ever calm in the God state. He is always in thoughts of God, singing His glory; his world becomes separate. He does not touch the world and lives on his own, separate from all. This was my state. Thus, Swami created the separate world of Silver Island for me.

Thougth for the Day

The revelation of Truth does not happen so easily. One has to be entirely pure.

Awareness Article # 5

Cannon Ball Bombs

Lord,

See through me

Hear through me

Feel through me

Work through me

Speak through me

Let me empty my ‘Self’, so like Krishna’s flute,

You can use me and play a beautiful tune through me.

'Be a zero, be a hero'.

Swami then wrote, ‘Hear through me’. God never hears bad words. This is the state of one who has fully emptied himself. One only hears the words of God. What are God’s words? Japa, meditation and bhajan are all about God. What did Swami hear in Prasanthi Nilayam for 84 years? Only Veda and mantra chanting. All was only about God, Him. There were no other sounds, like those heard in a market place! There was no sound of one man challenging another, as happens around politicians. Whatever we must not hear, should not come to our ears.
Sanyasis are always alone. They have no connection with others. Their ears only hear the voice of God. Even the sound of the buzzing insect is the sweet melody of God. The sound of a birdcall, Nagarsankirtan. This is how they hear each and every sound. They live life in the same way, everywhere, whether in the forest or market place.

Thougth for the Day

As the quality of our devotion becomes more refined, the distance between God and us reduces and things happen by themselves.

Awareness Article # 5

Cannon Ball Bombs

Lord,

See through me

Hear through me

Feel through me

Work through me

Speak through me

Let me empty my ‘Self’, so like Krishna’s flute,

You can use me and play a beautiful tune through me.

'Be a zero, be a hero'.

Here, Swami explains that after leaving the eight kinds of egoism, one should empty oneself. This is to become a zero. From zero, one becomes a hero. How are those who leave the ‘i’, the ego?
'See through me'-In answer to this, Swami tells that whatever is seen is seen through Him. When there is no ‘i’, all is seen as God. If there is ‘i’, then whatever is seen we say, ‘This is mine...that belongs to others’. It is through this, the feelings of differences arise.
Only when one fully empties himself and is without ‘i’, will the blue light, the Indweller within all, expand and expand. This is God. I have written about this many times. When we empty ourselves, the God within us, grows larger and larger, filling us completely. The jeeva then tells God, ‘O Lord, I am now only an instrument. You do al l through me’. This is the state of Bartha, the sustainer. Man tells God, ‘As You are doing all, I offer all the fruits of action to You’. God alone should enjoy the fruits. Here, God is in the Bhoktha state, where He enjoys all. Whatever is seen, it is God alone who sees.

Thougth for the Day

Do not aspire for the outer world, praise, property, anyone or anything. You should aspire only for God.

Awareness Article # 3

Compulsory Marriage!

We must perform sadhana with full effort and attain God. Everything else in this world is perishable. Whatever one earns in life is not permanent. Money post, relatives, none of these things can be taken with you when you leave this world. If this is realized clearly, then you will be greatly benefitted. This rule can be followed with any form of God and you will attain Him. This is what Swami shows and declares through the Sarva Dharma symbol. God is one; all religions are the same. God is in the heart of all as the Indweller, the Antaryami. He is there in the state of Witness.

Thougth for the Day

If you chant a mantra continuously, it becomes as natural as breathing

From the book

The Primal Stupi

It is through the omnipotence of God that the New Creation comes. When God come as the Avatar, He is only able to function in a limited way. He is in the state of witness. Swami separated me from Himself. I came in another form, which has none of these limits. Through my sadhana, I attained the Shad Gunas, the God state. Yet, I cannot create, as I have no ‘i’. The kundalini, which is within me, came outside and functions as the Stupi. This is ‘I am I’. This is the power to rule and control the entire world. On 30 September 2003, Swami told of the Shad Gunas in the book ‘Beyond the Upanishads’. Now, today on the 30 September 2012, nine years later, He tells the New Creation is coming