Omnipresence

Sairam Everyone,

I read this in an forwarded email with Q&A. The question asked was about Swami's absence in the physical form. Swami's response was

"Always, at every time, at every place, I am where you need me. All things without are subject to the limitation of time and space, to the material laws of Nature. My outer form is no exception! If you would perceive my physical form, it must come within the range of your gaze, so position yourself so that you can see it. And even then, it may not gaze at you. But, I am omnipresent! The limitations of the body and the outer senses do not hold for the inner vision. Therein, you can see me at any time and any place and receive darshan. The outer vision is purposely insufficient, instantaneous, transitory, casual, so that you may crave for and accomplish the inner darshan. If I have separated you from my physical image off and on, it was only to bring you to me and to establish my presence within you. That alone will replenish you and refresh you, I know."

Sairam,
With Love,
Vijay

Sing to His content

Sairam Everyone,

As we get ready to offer our Love to Swami through Bhajans here is a quote from His Discourses about the importance of Namasmarana.

Turn the key in the lock to the right, it opens: turn the same key to the left, it is locked. So too, turn your mind towards the objective world, it is locked, caught, entangled. Turn it to the right, away from the objects of the senses, the lock is loosened, you are free, deliverance is at hand. How to turn right? Well, begin with Namasmarana, as the first step. All journeys start with the first step. That will itself take you through the second and the third to the very goal."

Hope that all of us can sing to His content!

Sairam,
With Love,
Vijay

Pure Love

Sairam Everyone,

Swami says "For achieving anything in life, two things are essential: firm faith and pure love...If you develop love of God,that love will banish all sorrow and evil tendencies like attachment, anger and envy...One filled with Divine Love will be fearless, will seek nothing from others, and will be spontaneous and selfless in expressing his love."

When I think of Pure Love, the next thought that comes in my mind is Swami, His Love and Compassion. The following song beatifully written and composed by His students articulates it so well.

Kanula Mundara Kadali Aade Karuna Roopamu Neevu
{You are the Embodiment of Compassion moving about in front of our eyes}
Pilachi Nantane Palukarinche Prema Bhavamu Neevu!
{You are the Embodiment of Love who responds to our calls}

Neeve Maa Sarvam, Neeve Maa Praanam!
{You are our all, You are our very life}

Girula Taruvula Taaki Galagala Paaru Nadulamu Memu
{We are the rivers that flow down from the mountain peaks making murmuring sounds}
Aruna Kiranapu Kaanthi Milamila Meriyu Kadalivi Neevu!
{And You are the ocean with its surface shining in the rays of the sun}

Neeve Maa Sarvam, Neeve Maa Praanam!
{You are our all, You are our very life}

Ella Veelala Madhuvu Korakai Vedaku Bramaramu Nenu
{I am the bee ever in search of honey}
Prema Madhuvunu Nindiyunna Hridaya Kamalamu Neevu!
{And You are the Lotus filled with the Nectar of Love ever present in our Hearts}

Neeve Maa Sarvam, Neeve Maa Praanam!
{You are our all, You are our very life}

Please see the Video of this song!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPPFZ76ns2w

Sairam,
With Love,
Vijay

Talking of Surrender to God, here is another article...

Hi there!

I was looking for some stories that show us what Surrender to God actually means, and I came across this article, published in 'The Hindu', an Indian newspaper, that gives us a simple, yet elegant description of the true meaning of Surrender and further illustrates some really nice stories of Surrender from Hindu spiritual texts.

Spiritual knowledge is posited in the scriptural texts as that knowledge knowing which all else becomes known. According to the Chandogya Upanishad, Sage Narada who had mastered all the arts and the sciences approached Sanatkumara to gain knowledge of the Self (Atman). All other knowledge is of no avail unless a human being gains Self-knowledge, which will liberate him from bondage. This is the result of experience gained in many lives and total surrender to God. For this one must turn inward.
The majority of us fail to look upon God with love. Devotion is not praying before a deity for sometime everyday or deliberating about spirituality now and then. It is a constant search with yearning for realising Him amidst all worldly preoccupations. Like a village maid who balances pots of water on her head deftly and chats with her friends without losing balance, a spiritual seeker must stay attuned to God without getting distracted by his worldly engagements. He should surrender to God with total faith that whatever happened in his life was the working of the divine will, said Sri T.V.Venkataraman in his discourse.

Surrender to God is love which transcends all other love that human beings are usually familiar with. Sacrifice is the leitmotif of this all-consuming love of God and there comes a stage in spiritual evolution when the devotee is not bothered about the goal of liberation, which was originally the objective of his spiritual quest. This is the level of the mystics who sometimes even defy conventions of normal behaviour as they look upon everyone with the eye of devotion. The Nayanmars in the Saiva tradition are a case in point.

Sekkizhar relates about Cheraman Peruman Nayanmar who fell at the feet of a washerman because he appeared white like Lord Siva smeared as he was in quicklime. Meyporul Nayanmar was a king who was an ardent devotee of the Lord. His arch enemy disguised himself as a mendicant and gained entry into the palace saying he was going to teach the king scriptures, but stabbed him. When the guard came to his rescue the king stopped the guard from harming the enemy saying, "He is one of us." He instructed the guard to escort the assailant to safety lest someone killed him in retaliation. This Nayanmar breathed his last only after his guard Dhathan returned and informed him that he had carried out his instruction. No wonder then that Lord Siva blessed him with His vision.

http://www.hindu.com/2004/11/22/stories/2004112200270900.htm

Enjoy your reading!

Surrender

Greetings!!

I came across this page while searching for "Surrender". It is very thought-provoking. Hope you enjoy reading this and benefit from it.

http://www.saibaba.ws/messages/surrender.htm

Prayer of Surrender
Why get agitated? Let Me take care of all your business. I shall be the one who will think about them. I am waiting for nothing else than your surrender to Me, and then you do not have to worry any more about anything. Say farewell to all fears and discouragement. You demonstrate that you do not trust Me. On the contrary, you must rely blindly on Me.
To surrender means: To turn your thoughts away from troubles, to turn them away from difficulties you encounter and from all your problems. Leave everything into My hands saying "Lord, Thy will be done. Thou think of it." That is to say: "Lord I thank you for you have taken everything in your hands, and you will resolve this for my highest good."
Remember that thinking of the consequences of a thing is contrary to surrender. That is to say, when you worry that a situation has not had the desired outcome, you thus demonstrate that you do not believe in My love for you. You will prove that you do not consider your life to be under My control and that nothing escapes Me.
Never think: How is this to end?... What is going to happen? If you give into this temptation, you demonstrate that you do not trust Me. Do you want Me to deal with it...yes or no? Then you must stop being anxious about it! I shall guide you only if you completely surrender to Me and when I must lead you into a different path than the one that you expect, I carry you in My arms.
What seriously upsets you is your reasoning, your worrying, your obsession, your will to provide for yourselves at any price. I can do so many things when the being, as much in his material necessities as in his spiritual ones, turns to Me saying: "You think of it." then he closes his eyes and rests quietly. You will receive a lot but only when your prayer will rely fully upon Me. You pray to Me when in pain so that I intervene, but in the way you desire it. You do not rely on Me, but you want Me to adjust your requests.
Don't behave like sick ones who ask a treatment to the doctor, all the time suggesting it to him. Do not do that; but rather, even in sad circumstances, say: "Lord I praise and thank You for this problem, for this necessity. I pray You to arrange things as You please for this terrestrial and temporal life. You know very well what is best for me."
Sometimes you feel that disasters increase instead of diminish. Do not get agitated. Close your eyes and tell me with faith: "Thy will be done. You think of it." And when you speak thus, I accomplish a miracle when necessary. I only think of it when you trust me totally. I always think of you, but I can only help you completely when you rely fully on Me.

—Sathya Sai Baba

Be Happy!
Sairam,
Vijay

An interesting story..

Greetings!!

I got this from a Sai brother who is also a dear friend of mine. It reaffirms my thoughts that "Life is a game!"

One day I decided to quit. I quit my job, my relationship, my spirituality. I wanted to quit my life. I went to the woods to have one last talk with GOD. "GOD", I said."Can you give me one good reason not to quit?" His answer surprised me..."Look around", GOD said. "Do you see the fern and the bamboo?""Yes", I replied."When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I took very good care of them. I gave them light. I gave them water. The fern quickly grew from the earth. Its brilliant green covered the floor. Yet nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo. In the second year the Fern grew more vibrant and plentiful. And again, nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo." GOD said."In year three there was still nothing from the bamboo seed. But I would not quit. In year four, again, there was nothing from the bamboo see. I would not quit."
GOD said."Then in the fifth year a tiny sprout emerged from the earth. Compared to the fern it was seemingly small and insignificant. But just 6 months later the bamboo rose to over 100 feet tall. It had spent the five years growing roots. Those roots made it strong and gave it what it needed to survive. I would not give any of my creations a challenge it could not handle." GOD said to me."Did you know, that all this time you have been struggling,you have actually been growing roots?" "I would not quit on the bamboo. I will never quit on you.""Don't compare yourself to others." GOD said. "The bamboo had a different purpose than the fern. Yet they both make the forest beautiful." "Your time will come", GOD said to me. "You will rise high""How high should I rise?" I asked."How high will the bamboo rise?" GOD asked in return. "As high as it can?" I questioned "Yes." GOD said, "Give me glory by rising as high as you can."I left the forest and bring back this story. I hope these words can help you see that "GOD will never give up on you. GOD will never give up on you""Life is not a problem to be solved, but a gift to be enjoyed"

Keep smiling,
Sairam,
Vijay.

My first post

Greetings everyone!
A few days back, I was pondering the reason for all the ups and downs that I was facing. I was praying to God to set right all of my problems for now and I would then be in a better position to solve the other problems. I then started thinking why I would solve the other problems whereas I wanted Him to solve my problems now. Am I running away from my life ? Am I making false promises to God ? Am I fooling myself ? I then realised that all this is part of the drama that God is enacting and we are just actors. So all I have to do is just PLAY THE GAME! I remembered that my Guru, Bhagwan Sri Sathya Sai Baba has said " Life is a challenge, meet it! Life is a dream, realize it! Life is a game, play it! Life is Love, enjoy it! "
But this is so difficult. We often get so involved with our lives that we are constantly getting affected by the joys and sorrows and that makes us all the more vulnerable to the problems we face.
My solution is to constantly remind ourselves that Life is a Game and all we have to do is play it. Play it like a professional. Give it our best and not care about the results.
With this motto, I am hoping to sail this life and reach God!
Keep smiling,
Sairam,
Vijay.