Issue 218 - February 28, 2021 |
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Sairam dear brothers and sisters,
At a discourse during one of His visits to the USA, Swami said, “Every moment of your life, in every situation of your life, in every crossroad of life that you face, always choose God!"
Every word of this statement is pregnant with deep meaning. If only we can remember this, almost as a mantra at all times, the constant integrated awareness which Swami speaks about can be experienced without a doubt. And naturally, if we keep God at the forefront of all that we do through the day, the results will be extraordinary as we become mere instruments in His hand. ‘brahmaved brahmaiva bhavati’ - the one who thinks of Brahman, verily becomes Brahman...as knowing and being are one and the same.
Urging every brother and sister reading this to sincerely contemplate on the profundity of Swami’s statement, about choosing God at all times and in all situations. Then nothing can stop us, no situation can mislead us and no circumstance can pose a challenge to us. This COVID pandemic has certainly taught us to continue in His footsteps of love and service, to simply ensure we extend a helping hand and do our bit to serve those in need, in myriad ways. Implicit obedience to the Master’s words...and then, He does the rest; it just happens..
Sairam
Bhuvana Santhanam
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ātmano mokshārtam
(Emancipation of one’s self)
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While leadership is considered to be the art of motivating people to act towards a common goal, Baba defined leadership in four simple steps – to be, to do, to see and to tell.
TO BE
Long ago, when I was just beginning to work for Baba, in the current mission of educational institutions, healthcare and nutrition to school going children, I thought that ‘I’ was working for ‘His’ mission, but then He told me something that turned the tables on me. He said, “If you think that it is My mission that you are working for, then you won’t be able to give your best. Instead, if you think that it is your own mission, that is when you will do your best.” The message was to own the mission as one’s very own, for then alone can one ‘be’.
The very presence of such a leader, who stands for what he believes in, will itself be the greatest influence on others around, which would lead them to achieve the shared vision. When each one of the team members ‘becomes’ what the leader is ‘being’, the alone will each one see what the leader is seeing. So, unless one breathes, eats. Drinks, sleeps, walks, and talks the very purpose of the organisation, one cannot be a good leader.
I was not the one to be easily convinced about someone else’s vision; for me to exert my all, I needed to make it my own vision, mission and the very purpose of my life. So, while it all began with the following Baba’s guidance from the realms beyond the physical, eventually His very vision rubbed on to me and became my very own. His personality and presence were infectious, and as I worked for Him and with Him, I eventually began to work as Him, when I too felt the same compassion that He felt for the deprived and the needy children. I experienced the pure selfless love that He had for the sick and the forlorn, and I eventually started to live that He lived.
- Excerpt from the book ‘God Management’ authored by Sadguru Sri Madhusudan Sai. Page Number 117-118
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My Story
Constantly remembering God
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By Rakshit
Software Engineer, U.S.A
There are many moments in a person's life which can be looked upon and can be called as the turning points in life. By Swami's grace, most of the turning points in my life revolved around Swami. Be it the first narayan seva that introduced me to seva, or the first group interview in Sai Anandam where Swami told us that, “If you practice, you will have doubts.” The most recent turning point in my life was when Swami visited Boston in 2019.
At that point in time, I was pursuing my Masters in Chicago. It was the grace and blessings of Swami that a Devotee insisted me on attending the satsang. One of the devotee sponsored the flight tickets for me and another bore the hotel costs. As a student with extremely strained finances, this was a blessing beyond my wildest expectations. After 2 years of being away from the physical presence of Swami, I was eagerly awaiting for the moment when I could be lost in the bliss, the bliss of losing myself in Him.
It was the first day of the Youth Meet and Swami was climbing down the stairs. I held my breath, anticipating the moment when my heart would overflow with the love for Sai. However, that moment never came. My lips were singing, my hands were clapping, but no matter what I did, my heart had become like a stone, feeling less. I was aghast with worry. “Had my time in USA made me lose my connection with Swami?” Later that night in the hotel, I prayed to Swami. Seeing many devotees lost in the bliss of Sai, my heart too wished to experience the same and be immersed in that love.
Looking back, now it feels like Swami was preparing me for the second day. The first note of the Bhajan that was sung in Swami's presence immediately sent raptures of Love which flooded through my heart. My eyes were streaming tears for Sai. And when Brother Sumeet began singing, the only thing I could do was close my eyes and dive deep into the bliss which was so strongly felt in my heart. The resolve became very strong in me, that the only thing I wanted out of my life was Sai. It was that day, that I started on the path of personal sadhana.
Being a student, I had to share the room with few others. I had to find creative ways to meditate peacefully. I frequently used the apartment stairway to meditate, as it was the least noisy place that I had access to or I used to wake up early in the morning and go to the library and find an empty room to meditate in. It was less than a year later that Swami gave His talks on Master the Mind. I often wonder, whether I would have taken up the path showed by Swami in Master the Mind series if I have not started my personal sadhana before this. From that day in Boston till now, I've found that no matter what life throws at me, Swami's grace and sadhana helps me stay equanimous irrespective of situations.
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Many efforts are needed to attain something expensive in one’s life. In that context, God is the most expensive one, for attaining whom, we need to dedicate and put immense effort. Who is this God we are talking about? The real God is within all of us, we are divine. As we have never put effort to realise this truth, we have not experienced it yet. And what can help this process to speed up? It’s the intensity with which we approach this goal. Sadguru Sri Madhusudan Sai says, “Just like how the desperation of a drowning man for a gasp of breath is so intense, so should be thirst for self-realisation by a seeker.”
It is not possible to attain the permanent with the help of impermanent things. To get rid of impermanent things, one must develop dispassion towards them with the help of vivekaḥ and vairāgya. Being a satyadhruti, one who is extremely focused on the aim of realising one’s true self, is very important.
In the Episode 12 that is featured this week, Sadguru Sri Madhusudan Sai explains verse 10,11, and 12 from the second vallī (canto) of Chapter One of kaṭhopaniṣad, in which He elaborates the way to lead one’s life with a different perspective - a perspective where we see only oneness.
Plunge into the Guru’s nectarine words of wisdom and lose yourself!
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INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE FOR THE WEEK |
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"The task is not to see what has never been seen before, but to think what has never been thought before about what you see every day.”
Erwin Schrodinger (1887 - 1961)
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jagat hitāya
(Welfare of the World)
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The three wise men day is celebrated all over Argentina as part of their culture and tradition. The Argentine youth wanted to make this a special occasion for all the destitute families and children from the region of La Plata that they assist every week. Three of the youth dressed themselves as the three wise men and distributed toys and sweets among the children. Indeed, it was a special and wonderful surprise for all the kids. |
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São Paulo, Brazil
During the months of January and February the youth of São Paulo kept the pace with the weekly narayana seva activities. Little more than 220 veggie meals were distributed to the needy of downtown area in association with an NGO.
The youth also contributed by helping with 10kgs of raw veggies for a massive distribution of meals made by priests in collaboration with the same NGO.
Recife, Pernambuco
During the month of January, the youth of Recife consisting of 34 volunteers distributed nearly 500 meals and 528 bottles of water as the part of the narayana seva.
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All activities have resumed with Sai youths using safety precautions during undertaking seva activities.
Toronto
In collaboration with various NGOs in the province of Toronto, seva activities resumed in full swing. Dinner which consists of a pack of sandwiches, cookies and water is served twice a week - Monday and
Friday.
Montreal
Sai youth have joined the Annapoorna Breakfast Initiative and are supporting government schools in Hyderabad and Jamshedpur in India.
Alberta
The youth of Alberta regularly distribute food packets in downtown Edmonton. Food packs containing burger buns, fresh veggie juices, bananas and fruit and nut granola bars were distributed with much love to those in need.
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Thought Sharing Sessions on Mind Control |
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‘Master the Mind’ series by Sadguru Sri Madhusudan Sai has been a boon to old and young alike across the globe. The 30-day sadhana teaches a person various aspects of the mind and how to keep it under control.
A group of youth in USA, organised a thought sharing session on the series and invited a few speakers to share their learning. Swami Sarvadevananda from the Ramakrishna Mission, and two devotees of Baba - Mr Bob Bozzani and Mrs Rajeshwari Subramaniam spoke to the youth on various aspects of mind control.
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The youth of Hunstville, Alabama recently embarked on a grocery distribution drive, and were filled with love and enthusiasm to serve their fellow men who were deprived of the most basic necessities. Grocery bags were prepared for distributing to families in need, and each kit included nine cans of tomatoes, nine boxes of rice, nine jars of jelly, potatoes, carrots and black-beans. In the early morning hours, youth went in search of destitute families and distributed the kits to them. |
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