I. I AM I - AYAM ATMA BRAHMAN [Sanskrit]
We have to ask ourselves four questions :
- Who am I ? I Am The One Nameless, Formless Consciousness or Awareness - The Soul or Atma.
- Where have I come from ? From the Infinite Ocean of Consciousness.
- Where have I to go ? Back to the Source.
- How long will I be in this world ? Till I am in the body.
1. Do you know Sri Sathya Sai Baba was born in Puttaparthy, on 23rd November 1926 to Mother Easwaramma and Father Venkamma Raju ? His parents gave him the name Sathyanarayana. Sathya means Truth – What is Truth ? That which does not change, no birth...no death. That which exists [is] always, everywhere. By the way, do you know the National Motto of India is Sathyameva Jayate - Truth always wins. In Truth lies victory ! Although people sometimes forget or doubt this guiding principle of life, it is always better and safer to lead a life of truth. Untruth will land one in trouble. Sooner or later one has to face the results of wrong actions; one reads of many such cases in the newspapers. So why take the foolish risk. Be honest and sincere. The Dharma Chakra, the Wheel of Time turns bringing results of actions done, both the good and bad. You see the Chakra, there between the saffron and the green, on the Indian National Flag. Our National Motto and Flag reflect Spirituality : Sathyam vada, Dharmam chara.
2. Declaration Day: At the age of hardly 14 years, on 20th October 1940, when Sathyanarayana was studying in
only 8th Form in the High School of the small town 
called Urvakonda, he gave up his studies, saying his work was awaiting him... and thus at the age of hardly 14 years, he embarked on his life work. Mother Easwaramma wanted him to provide clean drinking water, school and medical facilities for the people of Puttaparthy. In obedience to his earthly Mother’s wish, and out of his immense Pure Love, Sathya fulfilled his Mother’s desires, thus showing the right path: Matru devo bhava - respect mother as God, this advice is one of the secrets of success. [Father left the physical body on 4.11.1963 and Mother on 6.5.1972.]
[For more please see HVSS Books 1 to 12]
In a small skit enacted in front of Swami in Kodai Kanal many years ago, there was a scene where the students working as factory workers go on strike. Then and there, Swami stopped the performance, and asked, ‘What are you doing?’ ‘Swami, it is a strike, it is a drama, and in the plot there is a strike,’ the boys cautiously tried to clarify. ‘Drama? No, even in a drama, you should not do a strike.’ With great concern in His Voice, Swami said very significantly, ‘See, in my opinion, our students should not even get such ideas…’ Thus He gave a glimpse of what He wants of us, 'If you get such an idea, it means there is some element of that inside you. And when you enact a character or a scene like that, a little bit of that can get into you. Very few people can avoid feelings and tendencies seeping into them.' That is how sensitive we have to be to what Bhagawan wants. [Nothing is hidden from the All-Knowing, He is aware of the innermost thoughts, feelings, emotions, etc., of all, He is One with all]
Bhagawan often told, “Manomoolam Idam Jagat –The mind is the basis for this world” and “The world is a mirror. It reflects the inner being of man.” Hence to make the world peaceful it is necessary to suffuse the human mind with peace, love and divine thoughts. In one of His Divine Discourses Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba explained the role of thoughts in life thus:
“Once during the Pandavas exile, Krishna who was visiting them volunteered to do his share of night duty. Dharmaja said, “Krishna You are the Protector of the whole world. Why do you need to do Security Duty !” Still he told Krishna, “Beware of the Devil, many times it attacks, at night.” Krishna replied, “You call Me Protector of the world, yet you are cautioning Me !”
When Arjuna came to relieve Krishna he found Krishna sitting on a rock smiling to Himself. Arjuna fell at His Feet and asked if He had killed the demon. Krishna replied, “Arjuna I have never created demons and evil spirits. How can the demon appear ? The demon is just the reflection of the evil qualities within you like hatred, anger, jealousy etc. The anger in you is reflected in the form of a demon. Its power increases, as anger increases in you. The evil qualities of man are the real demons. Man troubles another man. Your own psychological fears and bad qualities make you imagine these demons and evil spirits.” [Pl. see HVSS Book 9, Unit 2 and 4]
One significant rehearsal session many years ago, the Music group was in the pit, in front of the stage, playing the background music. Swami was seated in the first row of the auditorium watching the play. They could not see Him as they were sitting in front of Him facing the stage. Suddenly, the drama stopped, and somebody tapped the Music Director from behind. He turned, and Swami said, ‘Soft… don’t play music so loudly’. He immediately rectified. And they have experienced this many times, for Swami, it is the feeling and the word which go together, and that’s what is most important; the tune and other aspects are secondary.
“Music is a combination of feelings [Bhaava], melody [Raaga] and Rhythm, [Taala], beat.” –Sri Sathya Sai Baba. The type of feelings and emotions that are in the heart pour out in the form of different types of melodies and rhythms.
“The divine feelings [Bhaava] flowing out of the heart express themselves in the form of devotional songs in proper Raaga [tune] and taala [beat]. These represent the Sama Veda.” - Bhagawan, Sri Sathya Sai Veda Vani [Page 378].
The Omkara, Pranavah Sound the Primeval Sound is the basis for creation. It is the Sound Aspect of the Unmamifest, Formless Reality. All other sounds are variations [vikaaras] of the Primordial Sound.
“The Sama Veda is composed entirely in metrical form.....The word Sama means sweet songs or hymns......These hymns were sung such that the initial pitch or volume was high and was gradually reduced. Since the pitch never fluctuated between a high and a low, the listener’s mind was gradually lulled and drawn towards the inner peace. Sama hymns were not pure incantations [mantras], nor were they pure songs. They were a mixture of the two.” [- The Sama Veda by Bibek Debroy & Dipavali Debroy, Published by ‘Books For All’, Delhi, 1994 / 2000].-
“Einstein was a great lover of music, he used to play the violin. Once he was invited to play at the Belgium Palace. Even as he started in such a low pitch, all were stunned - the sound of the violin with the Primordial Sound of Omkara pervaded all over the palace. Playing on the violin Einstein lost himself in the music. He was such a true lover of music.” – Bhagawan, Divine Discourse to students, 10th April 2000 [‘My Dear Students’ Vol 2, Page 64-65]
“Music has the quality to soothe or excite. The mind and the kind of sounds one is surrounded by can take us to the heights of bliss or to low levels of depression and destruction. Soothing melody [Bhajans] creates a kind of hush, the mind is stilled and thoughts are directed towards The Divine, the soul is nourished.” –from the Introduction to the World Music Festival, Global Unity 9th.-10th. July 1995, Prashanti Nilayam.
In the Indian system of Music there are 72 Raagas. Just as sounds and words create their effect on the listener music too affects listeners. The different types of tune [Raaga] and rhythm [Taala-beat] produce different types of feelings in the heart. [Example: trumpets heralding, war drums beating in unision, Christmas Carols, hymns, Jaaz music etc all evoke different emotions and feelings]
“The sounds we produce reverberate in the atmosphere; they remain permanently in the atmosphere [ether or Akaash] as sound waves, even after the individual producing the sound is gone. Today the atmosphere is filled with all sorts of noise and sound pollution and bad thoughts which produce unhealthy, negative vibrations and cause pollution of human mind.” –Baba, Akhand Bhajan, 8.11.1998. It is therefore necessary to purify the atmosphere by removing the polluted adverse vibrations. The destructive sound-waves have to be replaced with Divine vibrations, by congregational singing of Bhajans, Veda chanting, Prayers etc.
“Bhajan Singing should be vibrant and soulful and not mechanical or drawling, dragging and uninspiring. Participants should sing with full-throated joy and deep feeling, not with the mind engaged in thinking of one’s voice and music-capabilities. The purity of feeling will make up for everything else. Picture the Lord in your heart. When you feel and experience the joy of singing the Names you will evoke joy in others.” –Bhagawan, Global Akhand Bhajan Discourse 8.11.1998, Prashanti Nilayam.
When the singers are aware of, and understand, the meaning of the words they are singing, and the various aspects of Divinity that the Name represents [they should understand the meaning basing on etymology ‘study of word-history and roots’ and semantics ‘study of word-sequence’] then they can experience the divine in the heart and automatically, spontaneously, there will be the pure Bhaava [feeling]. Such pure heart-felt feelings, ‘Bhaava’, spontaneously flows out in divine music in correct Raaga [melody] and Taala [rhythm]. The true feeling of divine joy and ecstasy flows melodiously from the heart, not mechanically from the lips. Notice the similarity in the words Psalm and Sama (SamaVeda). Similarly the words: Gnyana, Gnosis, Knowledge.
In His Divine Discourses, Bhagawan has told, “Hindus, Muslims and Christians may differ in some religious customs but they are all one in the glorification of the Names of God...When the sacred Names of God are heard or sung with love, the singing raises the mind to higher planes of peace and purity. One can derive full joy only when one sings with full attention on the meaning of the Divine Name. ”
“The Swaras [notes of the song] should come out from the depth of your heart, the thought of God should be full and dipped in love...” “When the Name dances on the tongue, the tongue will speak only soft sweet words giving pleasure to others. The clapping adds rhythm to our thoughts and feelings and helps to keep our own mind properly tuned in harmony with the Holy Names of God.....”
According to tradition there are 99 Names of Allah called ‘the Beautiful Names’. The Compassionate attributes of Allah, the Supreme, Al-Rahman, Al-Rahim, God the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful, which are invoked at the beginning of each chapter of The Koran, the resounding choruses of Alleluia [Hallelujah] -Praised be The Lord, the soft hushed, sweet notes of Silent Night, the adoring joyous notes of Joy to the World, the stirring Hymn Nearer, my God to Thee, Nearer to Thee.... all awaken and transport the soul to the Spiritual realm.
‘Infinity’, the boundless and limitless, in Spiritual terms is ‘Divinity’ or God. ‘Divinity’, the Divine Cosmic Force which pervades the entire Universe is pulled, attracted or ‘captured’ to the finite world, and the finite is lifted to the Infinite, through Music.
By Sri Maharajakrishna Rasagotra, former High Commissioner of India to U.K.
Ever since my first meeting with Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba on 2nd July 1972, I have been going to Him for spiritual sustenance two or three times a year......even simply seeing Him, is an uplifting and ennobling experience. His emphasis on the importance of Human Values of truth, righteousness, peace, love and non-violence in human conduct and of one humanity bound together in love and service are of critical relevance to today’s world torn by political confrontations, economic greed and religious strife. That is why millions flock to His Ashram at Puttaparthi, and are moved by what they see and spread the word in far corners of the earth that a new Avatar, in the tradition of Rama, Krishna, Buddha and Jesus, is here to usher in the dawn of a new, more human civilization.....
The most stunning revelation, in my direct personal experience, took place on 23rd June 2009........[...On 22nd June in the Interview room, referring to Mrs. Rasagotra, Baba had said, “She has devotion, but her faith wavers.” Then looking straight into Mr. Rasagotra’s eyes had said, “And now doubt is beginning to assail you also !”...] ........ I demurred, but the All knowing One was right, of course. I had been paying attention to sarcastic remarks by some ‘devotees’ about the Avatar in wheelchair,...a tiny taint was lurking in some dark recess of my mind. Baba had decided to root it out........on the morning of Tuesday 23rd June, I took my usual chair in the Mandir’s outer veranda from where I get a clear view of Baba’s arrivals and departures and of much of the round He makes to give Darshan to the devotees assembled in Sai Kulwant Hall..........A moment after Baba came out of His residence, and my eyes caught sight of Him, things started happening.....All of a sudden, I felt a surge of warmth in my body and a change started coming over my vision. All that was static and stable a moment earlier- the boundry wall the gate, the solid buildings beyond...rows of women devotees......the vast Kulwant Hall itself – all became a sea of gentle waves of multi-hued light.
Instinctively, my right hand went to the pulse in my left wrist. The pulse beat was normal. I could still see for a fleeting moment or two, Baba in the wheelchair, ........... slowly advancing towards the gate. Momentarily the scene changed again, and it was all light everywhere-the purest of pure white light enveloped all !
It looked as if nothing else ever existed there, nothing except the heavenly radiance I now beheld. Whichever way my gaze turned, I saw only light, an all–enveloping luminescense everywhere. Boundary walls topped by iron grills, solid buildings.... Bhagawan Baba and His party......all had miraculously dissolved into that dazzling, transporting splendour of divine effulgence......I also observed how remarkably calm I was as my eyes feasted on that cool bright light which transformed everything into itself. ...How long did all this last ? I cannot say. Perhaps not more than 4 to 5 minutes.....In this way Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba revealed Himself to me as Supreme Light....” – From: Sanathan Sarathi, Nov. 2009
SPIRITUAL SCIENCE
Silence [Sai-lence] - the lens to see Sai
“Children are Sath-chith-Aananda Swaroopa,” i.e. embodiments of Truth-Awareness-Bliss. This was almost the first point told by Bhagawan in His opening Divine Discourse in the first ‘Teacher-Trainers Course for Education in Human Values’ held in Brindavan, Bangalore in Sept. 1980. He went on to explain: “Faith in the Atma, Awareness of this Truth, the Atma, the True Self within, is Bliss. A bird perched on the thin branch of a tree is moved up and down as the branch sways in the breeze. Similar is the case of man who looks for happiness in this world, he will get ups and downs, joys and sorrows. The bird swaying on the thin branch has confidence in itself. It can spread its wings and fly. Similar is the confidence if one has Atmic Consciousness, faith and awareness of the Atma, the Real Self within. The satisfaction [Santosh] one gets from worldly activities is only Some-tosh [some satisfaction, temporary]. Looking for lasting satisfaction in the world is searching for it in the wrong place. Lasting happiness is in the Atma."
Once, in1983, Bhagawan was walking on the lawns in the Kodaikanal Bungalow where He was staying. Talking in general, almost as if to Himself, Bhagawan said, “All matter is made of Energy. Don’t waste energy. Sath-Chith-Ananda is energy. Energy is all and energy is derived from God”. [Pl. see HVSS Book 6 Unit 2, Book 7 Unit 1, Sections A & B, Book 10 Unit 1 Section A & Unit 5 Section A, Book 11 Unit 1, Book12 Unit 1 and Methodology].
A flock of pigeons was caught in the net and there seemed no way to escape the terrorism of the hunter. What did their leader instruct ? He gave the wise instruction to all to fly up together, unitedly, at the given signal. Thus united, the small pigeons could fly up carrying the net with them !
Within human beings, both good and bad, the evil, d’evil, the human and animal exist. We are caught in this net of dualities (Opposites). Opposite of GOD is DOG. We have to reverse this negative situation, by united effort the reversed, mirror image dog has to be reverted to God . To rise up, let us learn from the example of the flock of pigeons and their wise leader, who safeguarded and saved the whole flock from danger. To free ourselves from deteriorating, downward traits we have to put in our united effort. There is no reason why inhuman qualities – frustrations, anger, violence, greed, hatred, animosity, pride, envy, uncontrolled desires etc cannot be overcome by the UNITED EFFORT of all - Governments, Educationists, Teachers, Parents and Sai devotes.
We have to remember the three: “Unity, Purity, Divinity”- Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. Unity with the Real Self within and within all ‘others’, whom we call ‘others’. All are parts of the One. We have to GET..... UP .... understand and cultivate Higher, Divine Vision !
The eternal method has been reiterated and shown again by Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba in our times. Human beings have to implement it. Ignorance can be removed only by KNOWLEDGE .
Both Science and Spirituality are needed to give a unified view of life: To illustrate the point just a few examples are given below:-
- All matter is made of Energy
- In Experiments: all Precautions and Procedures have to be followed to get correct result. Similarly all the precautions and procedures have to be practised for Spiritual Experience.
- Whether we know or not Law of Gravity applies to all. Divine Laws too apply to all, and we should know them.
I. Physics :
- Newton’s third Law of Motion- to every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. In the Spiritual domain: there is the Law of Causation, Karma Theory, explained by Lord Buddha, as also others.
- Inertia: Unless forced to do otherwise the state of rest or motion continues. This applies to human life also: Suffering enforces change, when good sense fails.
II. Chemistry :
- Two gases hydrogen and oxygen combine producing water, an entirely different state - liquid. Associations can change people entirely. Keep in good company.
- Each element has its own specific structure and reactions. Who is the Supreme Designer ?
III. Biology :
There is Systematic organisation and unity amongst all organs and systems in all forms of life, down to the minutest detail. Human beings, societies, nations need to emulate such unity and co-operation.
IV. Medical Science :
Over-stepping limits, Diseased cells proliferating produce fatal disease. Painful treatment or death is the result of such Dis-ease. Healthy Living is balanced life, honest and sincere duty and devotion. Dis-eased living, Proliferating wrong, finally results in painful remedial measures or destruction.
All are members of the One. Hurting or harming others is harming our own-self. Present is effect of past actions. Present makes Future. Take care of the Present (Omnipresent), the Future will take care of itself. Thoughts finally form destiny.
I. History :
Rise and fall of empires: Empires declined as the character of people declined and ideals were lost in indulgence. To hold on to Character and Ideals, let us understand and follow the ideals set by HIS-Story i.e., stories of God's Incarnations and Messengers.
II. Social Studies :
All are dependent on society for daily requirements. Individual welfare is dependent on the welfare of society, nation and the world. Give up selfishness and self-centredness. Work for the welfare and purity of society. Vibrations of thoughts and words affect people. Hence maintain good vibrations. Avoid Pollution. Spread Divine Vibrations. Sthala Bala - places have their own vibrations that affect the mind. Places of worship, pilgrim centres have elevating divine vibrations. Places of ill repute, foul or bad vibrations have negative influence. (Sri Sathya Sai Speaks : 28.2.1995, 22.11.2005 and 4.9.2007)
III. Economics :
Law of Diminishing Returns : Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy results in End of joy. Live in such a way that End is Joy.
As all teachers know: Good students pay attention, pick up fast, and need hardly any correction or punishment. In the School and University of life, let us be good students, so that we do not need corrective measures from the Supreme Teacher and Doctor. Let us Wake-up, learn fast ! And pass on the knowledge and experience of righteous living to our youngsters for their welfare !
Criticising others is criticising God, respecting others is respecting God. The Epic Mahabharat shows the patience, forebearance and unity of the Pandavas, qualities worth emulating. Finally victory was theirs. Yuddhistira could not find a wicked person, all have some good in them; Duryodhana on the other hand could not find any good person, all were bad. As is the vision, so is the creation. “Yad Drushti, Tad Srushti.” When ‘drushti’ (vision) becomes Premamayam (loving), ‘srushti’ (creation) becomes (divine)– Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba.
The Sai Ganga of Divine Knowledge flows swift and refreshing. All who take a holy dip in her sacred waters are sanctified. Bathe in the cool purifying waters of the Sai Ganga and emerge from the Divine Ocean of Love and Bliss, sanctified, refreshed and re-vitalised.
