Issue 234 - June 27, 2021 |
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Sairam Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Mahatma Gandhi summed up the importance of service in his statement, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” And, there is no dearth to the world’s need to eliminate suffering. Planet Earth holds in its bosom so much to give to all equally and non-judgementally, for its joy lies in giving.
The scriptures say,
“paropakārāya phalanti vrikshāh,
paropakārāya vahanti nadyā,
paropakārāya duhanti gāvaha,
paropakārarthaṁ idaṁ śharīraṁ.
Trees bear fruits for others to benefit; Rivers flow for others to benefit; Cows give milk for others to benefit; and similarly, this physical body is also meant for others to benefit.”
seva also helps us to listen to the heart and we begin to understand that our innermost nature is a giving one. It helps us reflect, grow and evolve.
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is your true and proper worship.” – Romans 12:1
Sairam
Bhuvana Santhanam
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ātmano mokshārtam
(Emancipation of one’s self)
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Excerpt From Karishye Vachanam Tava |
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For brother Madhusudan, the teaching continued at every step, as it was certainly not easy for an introvert and shy person like him to be knocking at the doors of people whom he had never met in his life. And to wonder how he would be treated when he would speak about him being able to see and hear Baba, was another story! Baba then explained one day to him that he should not have ‘fear or shame’, the two most important qualities to be given up, for anyone on this path of God. Brother Madhusudan believes that this important teaching was very valuable to him, because as the days rolled by, he had to meet devotees with messages from Baba. While a few believed, some were cynics, and most others would simply shut the door on his face! Every time Baba would send brother Madhusudan to meet someone, he had to take along something, a box of favourite sweets or chocolate which Baba would reveal, a saree which would be of particular colour or piece of clothing, something, just to assure the person receiving that it was indeed their dear Swami, whom they thought they had lost in the bowels of the earth.
While we talk about the unique experiences witnessed by man in history, and may have heard about many such instances, it is certainly one thing to see it happening in front our very eyes! Obviously, it is met with a tremendous amount of suspicion, rejection, resistance and opposition. But brother Madhusudan was one person, who kept all this out of his way. He had the single-pointed focus on Baba, and had, in fact, asked Baba at one time, “How do I deal with all this?” Baba had replied, “You focus on Me, and all others will fade into the background. So much so that you should become that – yad bhāvam tad bhavati. While thinking, working, speaking and serving God, you will become one with that feeling. This is the ultimate experience!”
Brother Madhusudan was determined to follow His master, for his heart yearned to experience that oneness. And this is exactly what happened in the years that rolled by. We may have heard of people attained this feeling of oneness, away from the hustle and bustle of a busy city, in the lap of nature, and may be in the Himalayas, engaged in deep penance. But here, slowly but surely a simple and straight forward path, through service, a short cut to self-realisation, was about to unravel itself! This is the path Baba showed brother Madhusudan, whereby he would experience that constant feeling of divinity and bliss, a oneness with the entire creation, with every passing moment!
An excerpt from the book ‘Karishye Vachanam Tava’ authored by Bhuvana Santhanam, pg 70.
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My Story
Breaking The Barriers
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By Karla Lopez
Coach – Spiritual Life, CEIBA Centre
Mexico
My journey with Sai Baba started six years ago, when I heard His name for the very first time. Now, He has become my very heartbeat. I have been very special all these years, as He kept sculpting and mending me, every single day, just to bring me closer to my true destination. The only motivation was to become dear to Him by carrying out every action worthy to be offered to Him. For achieving this a lot of dedication and detachment was required. Practicing these values made me free from all sorts of wrong beliefs and paradigms, time and again.
There were low moments in my life where I seemed impossible to get through them. In retrospect, when I look back and reflect on them, it does make sense to me now. I have developed a better understanding of life. I believe that the low moments where the tests laid by Baba for me to rise up from my petty thinking and limited understanding. In order to serve God, we need to become an able instrument in His hands for which a process of transformation is must. As the gold has to undergo a process of purification to attain its purer form, similar is the story of every person on this spiritual path.
I have learnt to be ever ready and always available to the clarion call of my Master. Swami always said, that it is not the capability but the availability which he expects from His devotees. Developing this kind of unprecedented faith on Him has given me the strength to fight all the situations which life continues to throws at me. My perspective towards life has changed.
Baba has taught me the value of service. The satisfaction and the feeling of completeness which one receives after serving someone is incomprehensive. The exchange of love between the giver and receiver confers boundless peace and tranquility. This is the only time when giving makes more sense than receiving. This service has catapulted my energy notches high which is helping me to progress at spiritual level.
Many times we will have to change the personal perspective for higher truths to reveal themselves. Serving the needy has become a very part of my life and these pandemic times have proven me beneficial to spread the wave of love to all my fellow-beings.
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To help reach Sri Sathya Sai Baba’s human values-based education to the world, and to resuscitate the humanness of humanity, the Sri Sathya Sai University for Human Excellence launched a unique, first-of-its-kind Institute of Human Values, to offer tailor-made courses totally free of any charges, curated by experts from around the world. The Vision of the Institute is to make better humans in their personal and professional spheres, by making them more sensitive towards society’s needs and exploring ways of their contribution to society in a meaningful and selfless manner, thereby creating a sense of global citizenship and responsibility.
The courses will help an individual balance the inside and outside, while progressively being a better human being, that will ultimately help him or her unravel the true meaning and purpose in life.
Learning from the heart is spiritual awakening, Baba would say. The Institute of Human Values is the first step to help lead the world into the beautiful awareness of its heart – a heart that operates from the universal human values of Sathya, Dharma, Shanti, Prema and Ahimsa.
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The indriyas (senses), manas (mind), buddhi (intellect) and ātman (self) are connected to each other and reside within the chariot of body. This body proceeds on the path, where the senses run behind the sense objects. To satiate itself the senses run behind the sense objects and this is the only motivation for them to keep working. In this chariot, senses are the horses for the chariot of body, mind is the reins, intellect is the charioteer and atman is the passenger.
buddhi, the charioteer is of three kinds viz sātvik, rājasik and tāmasik. People with tāmasik buddhi are lazy and work only to please their senses. People with rājasik buddhi are ambitious in nature. They are focused on getting the results, totally unbothered whether it is achieved with dharma or adharma. Whereas the people with sātvik buddhi act with a feeling of offering every action to God which makes their actions purer. They always try indulge themselves in actions which pleases God. Due to this they won’t end up doing wrong doings.
Mind has to be strong to control the senses which tends to run hither ad tither. It can be attained only by developing a good, sātvik buddhi.
The episode 26 featured this week, Sadguru Sri Madhusudan Sai explains the wisdom from chapter one, vallī three of kaṭhopaniṣad.
Come and receive the highest of the truths taught by Sadguru in a most simple way!
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INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE FOR THE WEEK |
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“Always bear this in mind: Everything is in God’s hands, and you are His tools to be used by Him as He pleases. Try to grasp the significance of ‘all is His’ and you will immediately feel free from all the burdens. What will be the result of your surrender to Him? None will seem alien, all will be your very own Self.”
- Anandamayi Maa
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jagat hitāya
(Welfare of the World)
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La Plata, Buenos Aires
The Sai youth from La Plata prepared and distributed meals for needy families through two community dining halls in one of the poor neighborhoods. This service is done once in a week. In addition to this, food packets and clothes were handed over to the underprivileged. More than 400 individuals were benefited during the month of May.
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Córdoba
The Sai youth from Córdoba distributed fresh hot meals to the homeless in their surroundings every week. About 300 meals were distributed during the month.
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Sai youth from Houston, Texas gathered together to deliver close to 75 vegetarian bean burritos to homeless encampments who have made the area under bypasses their dwelling zone. This was done along with Mr Greg Feste, a good samaritan, and his company called ‘Homeless Depot'. He wheels around the city in a trailer to provide the privilege of hot showers to the homeless. When required, Mr Greg extends support to the homeless who lay in their tents for days together to step out. He also sends individuals to local hospital who are in need of medical assistance and follows up on them. The Sai youth were greatly inspired by his sincerity and love that it breathed new life into them and fanned the fire within to serve people in need, wholeheartedly. Where there is a will, there is definitely a way! The Sai youth served food to the homeless as they waited in queue for their turn to shower. The food not just filled their stomachs with hot nutritious food, but the entire experience returned the sense of dignity in their life. |
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