SAIPADANANDA A Thought At all times should one be on the alert to detach the feeling of T from the body, life, the mind, the intellect and the senses. It should be always borne in mind that one's real self is not the body or things pertaining to it, one's self is different from the body, and one’s self is the seer. - Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji

Contents The Key to Spirituality Gifts of Sri Sai Baba Vision of Radhe-Krishna Power of Guru Sahasranama The Guru and the Disciple Deserve it and you will have it A Rendezvous with Sri Narasimha Swamiji Sai Baba Close behind Our Thoughts Sri Saikoti Mahatharaka Nama Yagna 1993 Life after Death To The Abode of Sri Sai Gurupoornima Boundless Mercy of Baba and Swamiji Narasimha Swamiji's Marble Idol

Editorial The Key to Spirituality The human personality has many facets such as height, complexion, beauty, gift of speech and various physical and mental powers. These features vary from man to man and some are more important than the others. Few people however would accept them as marks of spirituality. But the fascination of the supernatural is overpowering; many people succumb to it and believe that the power to perform miracles, to cure incurables, to produce objects by a mere wave of hand, is proof of piety and a worthy object of religious pursuit. Though occult powers are generally attributed to saintliness, common experiences show that miracles are also performed by some ordinary persons. Moreover, verified cases of extra-sensory perception and supernatural phenomena like clairvoyance, precognition and tele-kinesis reveal no connection between them and piety. Similarly visions of God and incarnations of God are believed to be hall marks of spirituality. We know from 'Puranaas', that demons and wicked people who had easy access to incarnations never reformed. The belief that anyone who has seen or met God in a vision has attained a very high spiritual position is clearly a myth. Ramana Maharshi said: "The value of the vision is the same as that of the seer. That is to say, the nature of the vision is on the same plane as that of the seer". In any case what is the good of a fleeting vision when Lord Krishna has clearly warned that he alone who sees the Supreme Lord, the only imperishable substance, abiding equally in all perishable beings? (Gita:13 -27). The chemical properties of a substance are different from its medicinal properties, which again are different from its physical properties. Similarly the spiritual quality of life is different from all its other qualities. In anticipation of what is to follow it may be briefly stated that spirituality is character, self-restraint, being and doing good. Our Guru, Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji, saw to it that the tree of Godliness, with all its best flowers and fruits, grows out of the simple seed of right conduct or the proper performance of all duties.

Many claim to worship Sai Baba and like to be called His devotees. But the real question is whether Sai Baba loves them, whether they have made themselves worthy of His love and grace. Sai Satcharitra is full of incidents in which Sai Baba has enumerated the qualifications of a devotee who is dear to Him. For example, the devotee who is beloved of Sai Baba bears no ill will to any being, is friendly and compassionate to all, free from attachment and egoism, balanced in pleasure and pain, forgiving and wants nothing for himself. The implication is that those who do not fulfill these conditions are not dear to Him in spite of all their devotion.

Sattva One must cultivate divine qualities, establish oneself in 'Sattva' and grow into a likeness of God. This is how beloved Sri Narasimha Swamiji and Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji attained the highest perfection and realized God. The man who aspires to become godly should acquire the quality of 'Sattva' and make his whole nature and works 'Sattvika'. 'Sattva' uplifts a man; 'Rajas' keeps him in the middle while 'Tamas' pulls him down. Bhagavatha says: "Work done for My sake and without any desire for fruit are 'Sattvika' (uplifting), work done with a desire for fruit is 'Rajasika’ (stagnating) and that attended with cruelty is "Tamasika' (degrading)".

Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji said: "A desire less person is a veritable Emperor". Unselfishness as the master key to spirituality has been stressed in many verses of the Githa: "He who gives up all desires and goes onwards free from yearnings, selfless and without egoism, attains peace (Githa 11-71). He whose undertakings are all free from desire and whose actions are burned up by the fire of wisdom, him the wise have called a sage (Githa FV-19). He who does his duty without expecting the fruit of actions is a 'Sannyasi' and Yogi' both (Githa VI-1). According to Sri Narasimha Swamiji: "When all the desires that dwell in the heart are cast away, I then does the mortal become immortal. He becomes 'Brahma' even here."

A man cannot grow into an image of God or become unselfish by a mere wish or resolution. Divine qualities can be built into one's character by constant practice in daily life. The method is to work as God does untiringly, efficiently and yet selflessly, for the welfare of the world and as an example to others. Sai Baba has assured: "My eye is ever on those who love me. Whatever you do, wherever you may be, ever bear this in mind that, I am always aware of everything you do." Swamiji always felt that the devotee whose heart is a fit abode for Sai Baba is one who wants nothing for himself and to whom, hell and liberation are alike because he sees Sai Baba everywhere. According to him: "The ego is the most formidable of the knots which keep us tied to be ignorance. The true solution can intervene only when by our spiritual growth we can become oneself with all beings; know them as part of our self, dear with them as if they were our other selves". Sri Narasimha Swamiji's unselfish mission of 'taking Sai Baba out of Maharashtra into every nook and corner of India' during 1940-56 should make us sacrifice our 'little self' so that the 'man within dies and only Sai Baba remains'. Thus Sri Narasimha Swamiji said: "A person who is religiously enlightened appears to me to be one who has to the best of his ability liberated himself from the fetters of his selfish desires and is pre-occupied with thoughts, feelings and aspirations to which be clings because of their super-personal value....Man is here for the sake of other men. All this teaching is beautifully summed up in a poem of Tennyson:

Lord, help me to live from day to day in such a self-forgetful way; That even when I pray, my prayers shall be for others. Help me in all the work I do ever to be sincere and true And know that, all I do for Thee must needs be done for others. Yes, others, Lord, others Let this my motto be: Let me live for others That I may live like Thee.

There is one more vital point. If a person, like God, wishes for the welfare of all, his power is identified with the power of God and spontaneously the good of all is done by him with that great power.

In our families there are the heads; some of them are successful, others are not. Why? We complain of others in our failures. The moment I am unsuccessful, I say, so-and-so- is the cause of the failure. In failure, one does not like to confess one's own faults and weaknesses. Each person tries to hold himself faultless and lay the blame upon somebody or something else, or even on bad luck. When heads of families fail, they should ask themselves, why it is that some persons manage a family so well and others do not. Then you will find that the difference is owing to the man-his presence, his personality. Gifts of Sri Sai Baba Most Varied and Unique Pearls for Swans By Sri Narasimha Swamiji We find ourselves awake at night, Disturbed about another's plight. Not things that have, but things that might befall a loved one, out of sight. We want to stretch protective arms, or help by sounding out alarms, or even use some ancient charms to obviate potential harms. Our efforts seem go for naught, and worry doesn't help, we’re taught. It doesn't have the strength it ought, to do the job our heart has sought. There is a way that we many turn to seek the answers we should learn, and get the strength for which we yearn, provide the cure for our concern.

"Newton's dog, his fellowmen and Newton all looked, at Nature and saw apples fall. The first looked on and derived no benefit. The second ran up and ate the fruits. Newton alone discovered the Law of Gravitation which has served mankind, as a useful theory or hypothesis to explain many facts of Nature.

All sorts of men and women have approached Sri Sai Baba. Some have returned without any benefit. Some received much of temporal goods with just a taste of the spiritual; others, higher and higher spiritual goods. Every one received what he was fit to receive. Baba, the Universal mother that he was, impartially offered his gifts, nay, scattered them before his visitors; but the crows picked up the offal and the swans, the pearls.

It was in accordance with the capacity, the receptivity and the circumstances of each visitor due to his Karma Rinanubandha, i.e., prenatal merits and ties, that Baba's gifts were effective; and hence spiritual benefits received from him are of a very varied description. Anything like an exhaustive statement of them being impossible, we may content ourselves here with a set or samples.

That Boundless Love: When people talk of God, to most He is a word and nothing more. They know how to use it for their worldly purposes, nothing what effect it has on the hearer. Convention and current feeling invest its use with a certain dignity and telling force, especially in oaths and curses. But how few have felt at all or in any appreciable degree the sacred awe, the first basis of the idea of the Holy or that far higher feeling of all consuming all-sacrificing boundless Love! For too many have been begotten or brought up in godless families amidst cheerless, cramped and darkened surroundings where the words and conduct of the parents, relations and friends are really a stifling negation of God, conscience and the moral principle, sometimes nominally veiled by an occasional observance of forms of worship are reference to God. Some of these are at times candid enough to admit and sometimes to bemoan the fact that they could never conceive of, much less experience God in their lives.

Spiritual Rebirth, First step in God-Realisation: The greatest service Sri Sai rendered and renders to mankind is to save such souls from their utter darkness, to show them the existence in himself and elsewhere, of vast power, vast knowledge, vast goodness and self-forgetting Love which blesses him that gives and him that receives and to make them float on waves of joy and happiness, hither to inexperienced. Rudely shaken from or terrified out of their prolonged stupor and indifference they just receive a few gleams of light into their sin soiled eyes, feel a glow of gratitude, love and other noble emotions in their chilled hearts, begin their spiritual birth and see or feel their God in Sai, their real Savior. For the first time, they get a rudimentary idea of Sri Sai and know God. He is the giver of the God- idea to them and is God, in their view and it may be their only God.

The benefit is by no means confined to this class just described. Persons, who start life better, fall into evil ways, get tainted by wicked company, sunk in voice and sin from drama and cinema songs and street talk, lose their early innocence and receptivity, become thoroughly care- hardened, sneer at purity and piety and blatantly proclaim their imperviousness to godly influence. To such, Sai has many times restored, in some degree, their lost innocence by making them feel that they see God in him and in his devotees. Some cultured and English educated persons that this writer met have confessed to him that Baba, who has restored their faiths, is God to them, that in their present life of holiness the foregrounds are fully occupied by Baba, and that Rama, Krishna, Siva, Datta and Pandarinath get their halo of glory through Baba. One lady said "Krishna no doubt appeals to me and attracts me. But Baba who often appears and instructs me in visions is a hundred times more powerful".

The need for a noble "Superman" that leads one to God is at its height in the case of advanced spiritual aspirants who style him their Samartha Sadguru and derive from him the maximum benefit that a human being can enjoy. Realisation of the Ishta devata, perpetual enjoyment of Heaven at His feet, attainment of Adwaitic Bliss or Nirvana Sukha can alike be had at the guru's feet and there alone.

A Warning: Sri Sai Baba showered his benefits on thousands in a variety of ways. Some only of these have been revealed to this writer; and these may be a sample of his gift to others. But one cannot be sure that the highest have been yet made public. However that may be, before proceeding to give a very brief sketch of these, the writer has one request to make or a warning to give. Persons who are great admirers of particular saints, like Krishna Chaitanya, Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Samartha Ramdas, Haranath or Thayumanava, should not judge others exclusively by the life, teachings and methods of their saint or hero. Let not Sri Sai Baba be measured on the Procreates bed of any particular saint. Sri Sai is a rare phenomenon by himself and his services to Humanity, if judged calmly, would be found great enough to require a special corner in our pantheon and a readjustment of our ideas based wholly on a few past examples. In the words of Browning (As adapted) we must insist,

Our times are in His hand, Who said "A whole I planned, past shows but half; Trust God, see all, nor be afraid". Add this to the rest, Take it and try its worth.

Attitude to Suffering Examine yourself, and you find that you deserve all your suffering and more. You, Be satisfied with the condition in which God pieces Suffering becomes sweet when you are with Him. Comfort yourself with Him who holds you fastened to the Cross. Consider sickness as coming from the hand of God, an act of mercy designed to turn the mind inward. God is the one physician for all maladies: rely on other. No Rely more on physic than on God, and you retard your own recovery. Put your whole trust in Him, and lay aside all fears and cares.

Vision of Radhe - Krishna By Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji narrates his early quest for the vision of Lord Krishna and how his intense desire was fulfilled by Radhe to, when Swamiji came to Madras in the forties, and started his sadhana. This manuscript of Swamiji was made available by a close devotee. - Editor.

From my younger days I had a natural bent of mind towards the Supreme. By nature, I was always timid supersensitive and highly imaginative. All these had a severe effect on me. There was no taste for food nor did I have any interest in studies. But, I had reverence for elders. The same state continued even in the later part of my life. But, all these could not disturb my natural aptitude to know the Supreme and whatever little time I got was devoted to the quest of the Divine. I used to spend much time in temples. I experienced only dejection in all fields of life except in my venture to see God, and that persuaded me to become more and more active in my search.

After a long struggle between the real and the unreal, I found my beloved Guru, Sri. B.V. Narasimha Swamiji, with whom I had over 12 years of contact for my spiritual good, was able to throw light on me. Of course, prior to this blessed meeting, I had already the grace of Sri Narayana Maharaj, who met me at Ooty. He had already molded me to some extent to achieve the aim of my life. I met Sri Narasimha Swamiji also at Ooty and I had a long discussion on spiritual matters and during the course of talk I questioned Swamiji as under: Every child has been given a name by its parents. Really, does it have any particular significance? Generally, Hindu names are all Avataric names of the Lord, either after Vishnu or Shiva.

Swamjji asked: What is your name? My reply: My name is Radhakrishna. I don't deserve that name as I am not able to realise the true significance of it. If every child in India begins to rightly understand the significance of the name given and realise the truth of it, all of us will be very happy. I prostrate before you Swamiji. If you kindly show me the way to understand the significance of this name I will be the happiest man on earth.

Then Swamiji asked me to go over to Madras to have closer contact, and he assured me that I would be blessed with a vision because I had that intensity of desire in knowing such things in the spiritual field. He also added that his Master (Sri Sai Baba) would bless me and fulfill all my wants. Swamiji returned to Madras.

After a few months I went to Madras and met Swamiji, my Spiritual father, for he lifted me in the spiritual path. After my meeting him at Madras, he first directed me to join bhajan parties whenever and wherever opportunities were available. With his blessing while in Madras I had the opportunity of meeting a good soul, Brahmashri. M.S. Venkatarama lyer, with whom I was much acquainted. He was an ardent bhakta. I had his company every evening in bhajans. We also used to attend study classes on Jayadeva's Ashtapathi. The meaningful Astapathi songs inspired me a great deal. Besides my daily chores, I used to chant day and night the sweet name of Radhe Govinda. This sadhana minimized my normal worldly activities. Being shy by nature and avoiding publicity, I conducted the sadhana in privacy, to elevate myself spiritually. But in the bhajans I tried to appear as a normal person. I also used to offer prayers and perform simple puja to Lord Krishna. In my room I had a picture of Krishna with Gita in his hands. I intensely worshipped it offering 'Tulsi' leaves or whatever was available readily.

This kind of sadhana, though not strictly traditional, continued. Some times in the bath room I used to chant the Lord's name, keeping the shower open, and also dance in ecstasy for long spells. I used to concentrate for some time on Radha pleading with her to show me Krishna. On occasions I used to visualize mentally the presence of Gauranga and plead with him to bless me with the vision of Radhe Govinda. After such practices, my mental attitude gradually changed. I started feeling confident that Radha, having a motherly heart, would definitely show me beloved Krishna. At this stage my taste for food ceased in my pursuit. I did not feel hunger and thirst, but the hunger to see Krishna remained. Naturally, this affected my health, weakening me. Despite this I did not slacken my quest, but actually it was more intense. Then I was even prepared to sacrifice my life if it was a question of not being able to see Krishna. Such strong determination rose in my heart and mind. My struggle for the divine cause with intense faith went on for three or four days continuously. I contracted fever also, which made one of my friends summon a Doctor, Dr. U. Krishna Rao, Speaker of the Madras Assembly. The Doctor, after examining me, prescribed three doses of a powder and four ounces of a mixture. I pleaded with the Doctor with folded hands that I would be all right soon without the medicines. But how could a Doctor diagnose my real malady? Still to please him, I offered to take the medicines. After he left, I emptied the bottle. I had a shooting pain in my head the whole night and I felt as though my head would split into two. Calmly and quietly, I endured the pain remembering my Guru.

At about 3 or 3.30 a.m., as I felt very sultry in my room, I shifted the cot near the front door, from where I could look at the sky, with glittering stars twinkling. To forget my pain, I wanted to look at the sky as there was a pleasant breeze. This helped me a great deal. I gazed at the sky with half- closed eyes. After a few moments, I got some sleep, which gave me some relief. At that moment, I witnessed a light blue coloured ring at about 20 feet away. There in the circle appeared a young maiden dressed like a Guajarati. I was wonderstruck at the sight of the smiling lady. Forgetting that it was only a vision, I called out "Radha you have come. Where is Krishna?”

Just a smile came from her lips in response. In a few seconds, the picture of Krishna was drawn by an unseen hand beside her on a white sheet. In a dark blue hew the form of Sri Krishna appeared. Immediately, Radha put her right hand on Krishna's left shoulder. Soon Krishna got life. This was no more a picture. A 12-year lad stood before me. Standing cross-legged, he took his flute to his lips, presenting a grand and gracious spectacle beside Radha. Well one may think it was only a vision after all, but I did not take it in that spirit. I began to think inclusive of myself, it was Triputi (knower, knowable and known) in me. I felt that both Prakrithi and Purusha were there. This phenomenon lasted for some time. I offered myself at his feet and addressed him: "I must thank Radha. Well, Krishna takes possession of me." In a moment, Krishna's figure slowly started fading away in the blue background. Then Radha also took her turn and left the scene, leaving me in my old body and mind.

I had spent an hour or so to regain my composure, happy with awe and at the same time missing the enchanting figure of Radha and Krishna. From then on, staunch devotion began in me without needless worries in my search for Truth. Whenever there are any disturbances, I used to recall this great experience which had filled me with hope for progress. In the next few days I missed body consciousness at times. I used to feel as though I was flying. This lasted a few days before I became normal.

Divine grace is always without motive. Bestowing of human life is itself an instance of motiveless grace of the supremely kind and benevolent God. That human birth is not the result of any past meritorious actions is proved by the fact that such actions can be performed only after and not before one gets the gift of human life.

Permanent Feature: Power of Guru (From the glorious life of Bodhala Baba) In the village of Dhaman, there lived a pious family which was devoted to Sri Vittal of Pandharpur. That famous abode of the Lord was near their village, and no day passed without their remembering the great mercy of Lord Vittal. Manakoji Bodhala was the father, Mamatha Bai the mother, Yamaji the son and Bhagirathi his wife. All the four were deeply religious and worshipped the Lord and fed Sadhus with real fervor. Every 'Ekadashi' they would all go to Pandharpur and spend the day in soulful bhajans and on 'Dwadashi' they would feed guests and take the remnant as the Lord's 'prasad' and then return to the village.

One day, Bodhala was watching over the jowar crop in his field. As his thoughts were full of Lord Vittal, he did not notice what was taking place in the field. Several birds were taking the ears from the stalks and depleting the grain that should otherwise fill the granaries of the devotee. His wife noticed this and implored the absent-minded Bodhala to watch the field more carefully, but he did not care. A party of pilgrims happened to pass that way felt hungry and begged Bodhala if he could give them food. But Bodhala simply told them that they were free to take away as much corn from the green stalks as they wished. Soon the revenue collectors came and demanded their dues. The fields had yielded no corn. But the revenue arrears had to be paid. Bodhala had half the amount in his hand and prayed for time till the next morning for the balance. He went to his neighbor Nagabai for a loan which she promised to give a few hours later. But meanwhile the envious neighbors who wanted Bodhala to suffer, dissuaded Nagabai from giving any loan to Bodhala, who they said was getting bankrupt.

The myrmidons of the law came for the dues; Bodhala was disappointed in Nagabai and so left for the neighboring village of Virala to raise a loan from certain friends there. The tax collectors thinking that the devotee had absconded laid siege to his house and forbade the exit of the inmates. But Lord Vittal assumed the form of a Talayari went to the Taluk Office and paid the necessary dues of Bodhala and obtained a receipt. The Tax collectors on production of the receipt by the Talayari accepted it and went away. Meanwhile, Bodhala had gone to the Taluk Office to pay up, but was informed that a Talayari had paid and obtained the receipt. The devotee was overwhelmed with gratitude for the Lord. On coming home he found all his chests were full of gold, and his granaries full of corn and the stalks of jowar in the fields were hanging down unable to bear the grains in the ears which showed forth in large clusters.

Bodhala lived for a long time singing the glory of Lord Vittal and ultimately reached the lotus feet of the Lord.

Learning to Love the Divine in Others When we look at another human being, we can remind ourselves what he really is. Ordinarily, we focus on the outer appearance and behavior of people their idiosyncrasies, their quirks, their habits, the clothes they wear, the way they comb their hair, and so on. But have you ever looked at someone and thought: "That is a soul, a child of God. That human being is an expression of the Infinite?" By doing so, we acquire a more understanding perspective: "That person has feelings just as I do. He has thoughts and opinions and aspirations that are as important to him as mine are to me. The life energies of God in that person are manifesting in the services he performs- in the things he does for me, the dishes he washes, the money he earns, the joy he brings me".

A dip into Vishnu Shasra Namam-VII Sahasra Nama An Aid to overcome anger and greed By Dr. H. Janardanacharya Every night God shows you what you are; why doubt it? You are not the bundle of bones and flesh at all. Consciously or unconsciously you are with God. Beyond the dream state, the true Self is manifest. "Beyond the flights of fancy, formless am I. Your consciousness is expanded in the omnipresent Spirit. Hold on to the thought that every night you are with Spirit; only temporarily do you forget Him in the day time.

Vishnu Sahasranama argument to bring conviction of an idea is fool-proof. He is the killer of your pride 'Dharpaha'). To understand that He is the repressor of pride we have the preparatory phase in 'Bhootavasah-Surva-sunilayah'. He is residing in every being and in all things. While conceiving the idea, your mind passes from one individual to another, form one thing to another and goes on adding and adding things endlessly to infinitum. Now you are asked to compare yourself and your place in that scale of that infinitum and to realise for yourself what an insignificant and infinitesimal speck you are. Your glowing pride is brought down to a flicker ('Darpada'). At this juncture, the 'Sahasra Nama' bids you to suppose that the darkness would be caused by the extinguishing of this faint flame? Suppose you pass away, the lamenting hue and cry thus caused can be compared to a dim whisper in the ant- world.

The annihilation of pride, however will not work the world that is set going. So He hastens to instill pride in man ('Darpadhaha). At one breath, He takes away the pride and at another, He brings it back. Such a one, - such a "Maya Purusha' deserves to be called proud - 'Dhruptaha'. He is proud of His creative genius. His ways of running the world' are thus incomprehensible (Durdharaha).

Is there a formula, a short cut recipe to overcome anger and hatred? While I was still a boy, I was told of an expedient by an old and wise teacher to count up to ten or until the heat of the situation got cooled. This arithmetic only helps to quieten the emotion by a diversion and scarcely solves the situation. The Sahasra Nama gives a formula, a spiritual exercise, to annihilate anger. The recipe properly imbibed never fails. This cure is a couplet of ‘Anantharuapaha-Anantha-srihi'.

This prescribes a mental regimen to think that this universe is but His manifestation and each individual is one of His forms through of different potentiality and of different evolutionary projection. When therefore one of these varied individuals is the source of the cause of your anger, you have to exercise to conclude that anger is necessitated by certain evolutionary set-up where nothing goes wrong-a set-up designed ultimately for your benefit though all reasoning may go against such a thought process. Since you yourself do not comprehend the reason of your position in the order of evolution, you have to give by the same token, the benefit of your doubt and ignorance to the individual who has provoked your anger. As much as you are involved in the conception of 'Anantha-rupaha Anantha-shrihi' he who now, seems to be in the opposite camp is also involved in the same concept. This ideology should bind you both in the common pursuit of fuller life.

Nothing in the world goes amiss and everything is governed by His impartial justice ‘Chaturashraha'. Each individual gets his share - even the irritative provocation is his due. For one with such a convention, the Sahasra Nama asks: 'What is the fear' (Bhayapahah). That is the wonderful disposition of 'Ghabeerathma'.

The Guru and the Disciple By K. VARADARAO Perform your duty to your family. The root cause of quarrels in a family is that every man demands his right but does not do his duty efficiently and sincerely. So perform your duty honestly keeping in mind that the other members of the family have a claim on you. But don't set up a claim on them. Don't expect your wife and sons to obey you by laying a claim on them. Ask them to do a piece of work in a loving and cordial manner. If they obey you, you will be in bondage. But if they don't obey you, you will be free form the bondage.

I have the privilege of knowing Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji from the days he came to Madras to live with Sri Narasimha Swamiji. Those days he was referred to as 'Sri Radhakrishnan'. He had a radiant face and a captivating smile. We were always struck by his penetrating eyes, his stirring voice, and his hearty and unaffected laughter. Although his spiritual influence was felt by the people who met him, he carefully concealed his full attainment from everyone so that he would appear to be simply a devoted disciple of Sri Narasimha Swamiji. He was unassuming in both word and action. They lived together for 8 to 10 years. I had the good fortune of being with both of them at this time (1943-52), and so I had the opportunity to see their relationship. This is itself was a great experience.

One of Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji's favorite passages is from the 'Rigveda' "Only one who obeys can command"(1.54.7). He explains the meaning in this way, "One who has not learnt to be a worthy disciple cannot become a true Guru". I have seen these words amply illustrated by Swamiji's own life in relation to his Guru. Once Sri Narasimha Swamiji told Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji not to eat mango. Swamiji not only did not eat that particular mango, but he did not eat any other mango until Sri Narasimha Swamiji gave him one to eat, five years later. This is what it means to obey a command. Sri Narasimha Swamiji told him to live in Bangalore and take up 'Sai- Prachar' in 1953 and he based himself there for the next 26 years. I was often present when the two of them were together. It was beautiful to see Sri Narasimha Swamiji and Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji together. Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji would gracefully bow to offer his salutations to the feet of his Guru and then he would stand in a corner. He would not speak unless spoken to, for there was hardly ever anything to ask. Both would be silent for some time, and then Sri Narasimha Swamiji would begin to speak. He would talk about the Sai-Prachar work and the people who had come to see him. Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji's replies were always affirmative. His "yes, yes" was like punctuation at the end of every few sentences from his Guru. Sri Narasimha Swamiji used to ask Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji to read a verse from the 'Githa' or 'Upanishads'. The next hour or so would be lucid interpretation from the Guru about the verse and Sai Baba as the anchorage for everything. Then the visitors would be given permission to go.

In the presence of Sri Narasimha Swamiji, Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji had the child-like innocence of a young boy with his father. Swamiji's 'Shishya Bhava' (identification as a disciple) towards his Guru was such that it was nearly impossible to get any idea of his real spiritual attainment by outward observation. His cloak of commonplaceness was extremely deceptive. Many times people used to approach him in the All India Sai Samaj and ask him if he knew where they could find 'Sri Radhakrishna'. And many of us at AISS thought that Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji was still a seeker. Indeed, he behaved like a seeker, taking care with the utmost humility and tact not to show himself off in his Guru's presence.

Those who came a little closer to Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji were amazed when they became aware of his attractive wit, his undaunted courage, his striking ability to elucidate spiritual truths, and his deep self-confidence, all of which are rare attributes in one still walking the path. Even though Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji was careful not to reveal his spiritual powers, attributing everything to his Guru Sri Narasimha Swamiji, a sensitive soul could not help but become aware that there was something Godly in him. This perplexed some, myself among them. Swamiji himself a Self realised soul, an obvious question was raised concerning his relationship with Sri Narasimha Swamiji. When I went to Sri Sai Spiritual Centre, Bangalore in 1967, and Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji greeted me with love and affection. My mind went back to the forties when he was 'Sri K. Radhakrishnan' but in less than a second I was seeing Sri Narasimha Swamiji standing in front of him. I prostrated to his lotus feet as they revealed the essential oneness.

When I mentioned this oneness of Guru and sishya to him, Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji smiled and replied: "A true disciple, no separate from his Guru." Thus I saw Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji both as Master and disciple. The 'Trinity' of Sai Baba, Sri Narasimha Swamiji and 'Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji are all one and the only 'spirit’ and are watching and guiding every step we take and merciful towards us all.

Prayer and Worship God is nearer than you imagine: you need not cry aloud. Prayer is nothing but a source of the presence of God. Behold God in your heart as the Father. Make the heart a temple, and adore Him unceasingly. Seek Him not elsewhere. Pray for help in knowing His will. Pray not for relief from suffering, but for strength to bear it. Pray for grace with perfect confidence God has infinite treasures to bestow: stop not the current of His grace. He never forsakes you until you forsake Him. Mind plays havoc. It is the mind which is a veritable seat of pleasure and pain. Actually, events in life haven't got their own significance. It is mind and mind alone which attaches importance to those events in life.

Attitude to work Act purely for the love of God, not to please man. Act as a steward, not as an owner. You need not change your work, but should do for His sake what you do for your own. God regards not the greatness of the work, but the love with which it is done. All things are possible to him who believes, easier for him who hopes, easier still for him who loves, and easiest for him who perseveres in the practice of all these three virtues.

Deserve it and you will have it By Dr. G.R. Vijayakumar So long as your physical activities are not truly dedicated, the outer upasana, or devotion is only a mere show and self-deception. Dedicated upasana means that all your habits of food, drink, sleep and exercise must be absolutely in accordance with the laws of Nature. We break the laws of Nature, if we are slave to sense enjoyments and bad tastes, the punishment of which is sorrow and suffering. How can you concentrate on Upasana or devotion, when you are experiencing trouble and affliction? The man whose bent of mind is according to the Laws of Nature, whose desires are', as if those....of God Himself and whose habits are natural, is in fact enjoying oneness with God and is in practice singing Sivoham (I am Siva) . How can he have any sorrow or suffering? In Mundaka Upanishad (II.4} it has been mentioned that "a man of weak strength cannot attain Atma.." His strength menas physical, mental and spiritual. It is also called "Adhyavasaya" and, in the terminology of Gita it is called "Prajna, Pratisthita".

Spiritual disciplines are many and varied. In the case of subtle disciplines, however, much depends on the capacity of a seeker to understand guidance that comes by indirect methods rather than by explicit, verbal instructions from the guiding Master. One who can grasp Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji's quick, spontaneous reactions to his innermost thoughts and who can give the obedience demanded of him, immediately recognizes the Guru in him. Swamiji brings about a complete inner transformation in such a seeker. He patiently and ceaselessly leads those who place complete reliance on him forward from the narrow individual self to the realisation of the all-pervading Universal Self which is their true being. Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji is thus a Guru whose real mission is to help the seeker turn his mind within and find inner peace and joy through which he can attain Self-realisation.

One fine morning in 1978 or so, I went to meet Swamiji at the Sai Mandir. He was deeply engrossed in reading a letter from a devotee from Madhya Pradesh. The letter indicated that the devotee was in real distress and had sought Swamiji's blessings.

He had written to him:"...... I have been reciting 'Vishnu Sahasra Namam' as advised by you. But why do I face problems after problems. Is there no end for this? ...... " Swamiji gave me the letter and said: "If a devotee is interested in having the Guru remove whatever obstacles or difficulties come in his path, then he is behaving like a business man. As for as worldly advantages are concerned, they are purely transitory; wealth comes and goes, success comes and goes; it wise to use the precious wealth of Vishnu Sahasra Namam to acquire these petty advantages?"

Exactly at that time, an old lady came and prostrated to Swamiji. She was full of tears and was apologetic to Swamiji. On enquiry, she told me that about a week before, her only son was missing and she had come and told, Swamiji! “As to what is use in the recitation of Vishnu Sahasra Namam and she is full of problems.” Unperturbed, Swamiji had directed her to go back home and most unexpectedly, her son had returned home. She had now come to Swamiji to convey her gratitude for the turn of events.

As the lady left the place, Swamiji told us that one should not pray to the Lord for the removal of small, insignificant difficulties. After all, pleasure and pain are purely transitory. Pain is followed by pleasure and pleasure by pain. Pain did not exist before it came and it will not exist after a while. Similarly pleasure did not exist before it came and will not exist after a while. So why pray to the Lord for things which are only short-lived? It is as stupid as approaching the brim surgeon to help you pull a thorn from your foot when it can be removed with the help of a needle by yourself.

Swamiji narrated an anecdote from the Bhagavatham, which happened just before the 'Nirvan' of Lord Krishna. Krishna and Arjuna were walking in the forest and Krishna felt thirsty and asked Arjuna to bring water. Arjuna went in search of water and conies across a cottage, wherein a lady was worshipping Krishna. A picture of Krishna was in front of her. She had applied 'kum-kum' and decorated it with flowers. In front was a newly decorated cushion. On both sides of the picture, however, was a naked sword hanging on the wall. As Arjuna looked in he was amazed. He could not understand the significance of words there. The old lady opened her eyes and saw Arjuna. Arjuna asked her for water and she readily gave it. He also sought her permission to ask a question: "Mother, I am greatly bewildered. I see that you are a great devotee of Lord Krishna and your heart is saturated with love for Him. I see a picture of Krishna and a cushion that has not been used by anyone. But I wonder what those two naked swords are for. You are so old and you surely cannot use them. And you are filled with love and the atmosphere is so pure. In such an atmosphere, what could you possibly need these swords for?"

The old woman said: "The sword on the left is meant for Draupadi and on the right for Arjuna". The bewildered Arjuna asked: "What is their crime that you have kept swords ready for them? What have they done?"

She flared up and said: "You say they have not committed any crime. For the sake of ephemeral power, Arjuna troubled and pestered the Lord so much. For the sake of a throne, which after all is bound to pass, he compelled the Lord to wash his horses and made all sorts of demands on him. If I see Arjuna, I will cut off his head. Draupadi was the worst sinner. She harried the Lord so much. While she was being stripped in court she began to call upon Him and the Lord had to run to help her. He had to change Himself into a roll of cloth to cover her and save her honor. Why was she so particular about it? If she had left her saree go when it was pulled, no harm would have come to her. After all the body is a corpse and after it dies you do not care whether it is kept covered or not. And on every slight occasion she was calling upon Krishna, wanting Him to save her even though she had not given Him any devotion. If I see her I will cut off her head too." Arjuna was really taken aback. Then he asked about the cushion. The old lady said that the cushion is for true devotees like Uddhava and for Gopis who loved the Lord selflessly, who did not make the least demands on Him in return for their devotion and love.

After narrating this story, Swamiji told us that we should not use the divine power for gaining petty material advantages which are not going to last in any case. We should not use such great power be used for spiritual growth and enlightenment? One's devotion should be utterly selfless, should not be accompanied by any petty or trivial desire Pleasure and pain come and go, and all misfortunes a fortunes do not last. True devotion is free from selfish desire.

Mind can be trained by 'Vairagya' (detachment) and 'Abhyasa' (studies). Realisation of transistorizes "Vairagya1. Ceaseless meditation is 'Abhyasa'.

So long as even the slightest trace of ego remains, the objective cannot be achieved. When the Sadhaka cannot tolerate such state and finds himself incapable of doing anything else, then he reaches the limit of Santi, Surrender in the real sense of the term comes only then, and this results in egolessness and achievement of the goal. - By O.V.G. Subramanyam

Self-Giving So soft is the word that caresses The innermost depth of one's feelings; Soothing, gratifying, Soul-pleasing Acts those are so appealing 'Is not effort rampant and vain, But energies given off to love, sustain; That embodies the good of a life worth living, such as we witness, when –we are self-giving

A Rendezvous with Sri Narasimha Swamiji

It was 1944; I was hunting for a job. My sister-in-law Smt. O. Lakshminarasamma was a staunch Sai-devotee. She advised me to pay my obeisance to Sri Narasimha Swamiji and obtain his blessings. Accordingly I went to his house somewhere in central Madras. Swamiji was quite old by then. He greeted me with his dazzling face. I felt as if I was addressing Sai Baba Himself.

He was seated on a reclined easy chair. He invited me and gestured me to sit on a chair opposite to him. I prostrated at his feet. He blessed me and placed his hand on my head, sending waves of thrill in my young body. He rose and put his two hands on my shoulders and gently pressed me to sit on the chair and enquired of my mission. I am trying my best to report the enthralling conversation I had with him. The conversation was in Tamil.

Swamiji: Young man, what brought you here? Who are you? O.V.G: Swamiji. I am Subramanyam. My sister-in-law Lakshminarasamma of Saluru in Andhra Pradesh asked me to seek your blessings. I have lost my parents long ago and am hunting for a job now. Please bless me to settle down in life. Swamiji: Oh, very good. That pious mother sent you here. She is capable of blessing you herself. Anyway, having approached me, I fully bless you spontaneously. What after all I am? The power that motivates to survive and do some work is SAI Himself. The blessings I give you now is His, since the one who is known as B.V. Narasimhan of this body has long ago disappeared. It is the merciful Sai that lives in every atom and of my person. O.V.G: (In ignorance) Swamiji! I do not understand what you say? How Sai Baba is blessing me, when actually it was you who blessed me. Swamiji: (smilingly) Yes! I know that. Have patience to understand the purport of what I say. I was an obstinate person. I studied law and felt I was enriched with all glory of life and can reach many heights in my life efforts. I never believed anyone. I had a powerful ego. I enjoyed life fully, minus one thing that is peace. I was never satisfied with one achievement and went on seeking more and more. How then could there be peace? Many calamities overtook me. Two of my children fell into a well and died due to drowning. This changed the pattern of my thinking: 'all the fame and beauty waits alike the inevitable hour. The paths of glory lead but to the grave — you must have heard of this. I was disillusioned in life. I met many saints who opened the hollowness of my life which is time bound and seeks for the one that keeps one in eternal peace. I was puzzled as to how to attain peace of mind. Each Saint advocated one 'sadhana' or the other which will ultimately eradicate the ego and knows our 'swabhava'. I wandered and roamed in several places. Yet due to my sticky qualities, I could nowhere be near achievement. At last, I stumbled at Shirdi to know that Sai can do any favor. As I stood in front of Sai's samadhi, I was metamorphosed. A big change began to take place in me. My study became acute. I stuck on to him, without any further wandering. Slowly and steadily, I have developed my inner courage that I am in safe hands and I am vastly developing to the goal of life anyone has to reach. Today BVN is surviving only for name's sake. The great Lord Sai in His ubiquitous form has engulfed me. I am in the awareness. I belong to the Sai, the Universal. True, I am surviving only to do the work of Sai. What all I say and do is fully motivated by him. It is therefore I told you that this BVN with the ego centered on him cannot bless you and it is Sai, who represents all is blessing through me. Go, young lad, with peace of mind - Take Sai's name. You shall be provided with what all that is needed in life.

O.V.G: Swamiji! It is a great day for me and I am really blessed. I am initiated in a new order, which I am sure is likely to blossom in future. Thank you very much. Pranams. The above is only a few excerpts of our conversation. I am nothing at his presence and his eloquent speech. I met him afterwards on a number of occasions but this maiden rendezvous is memorable for ever. The rudderless ship of my life got anchored to Sai Baba through the initiation by Sri Narasimha Swamiji and looking back I can only say 'I am nothing and He is everything.'

Think a While Water is Brahma, sky is Brahma mind is Brahma and so on. The main purpose of Upasana is to establish and strengthen the idea of true Reality, having effaced that of unreality. If it be taken as mere supposition, let it be that of a child who is made to believe the rules of multiplication and division, as taught by the teacher. Why are the rules of multiplication and division so and so and not otherwise, and what is the cause "of getting the right answer by following those rules, will be understood by the child later on, when he will learn algebra. But, by having faith in the teacher's instructions, all the exercises will be solved correctly. But beware. Do not misunderstand the formula as other than what has been taught by the teacher. - Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji

Sai Baba Close behind Our Thoughts By Mrs. Usha Ranganathan The Positive Approach As you move on the pathway of life, do not look for obstacles, difficulties, dangers. Look only for opportunities. Sai brother, Dr. G.R. Vijayakumar received a letter from Mr. Jal H. Chinoy, B-3, Khullar Apartments, Byramji Town, Nagpur, who was struggling with grief. "I am desperate for some advice and help" he wrote, "On 3rd July 1992 with no warning, my wife, Mrs. Mani Chinoy, collapsed and died. Cause: a sudden heart attack. We had been married for 38 years. Mani was so lovable; she was such a clean-living, talented person, devoted to our children, Sai Baba and to society. Here are my questions: "I worry about where she is now. How can we be sure where our loved ones go when they die? If Sai Baba is such a living God why would He take Mani from me and children, who need her so much? "We are all devoted to Sai Baba, but this bereavement has shaken my faith and I cannot pray at all. I know that when you have lost your faith, you have lost everything. If only I could find my way back to Sai Baba instead of accusing and resenting Him, then may be I could find the will to go on. "For some people, time may heal the broken heart; for me each day opens the wound still further? Can you help me?" Mr. Chinoy's problem is one of those common denominators of all mankind. We see widowers all over. I have no final answers to these cries of the human heart. Yet I want so much to give a helping hand to Mr. Chinoy and to all others he represents. So I wrote to him as follows:

Dear Sai Brother Chinoyji: Your letter to my brother touched my heart. I understand what you are going through because I have been there, too; my husband Dr. R.J. Ranganathan and I had been married for 12 years when he died in 1990 at the age of 44.

Let me begin by offering you this word of hope. While time alone does not heal, three months after your wife's death, you have reached the lowest point of physical and spiritual agony. Mrs. Mani has been gone from your side long enough for you to realise how large your loss really is. But hang on, there is light ahead…….

You ask where Mrs. Mani is? Sai Satcharitra tells us that Sai Baba conquered this last enemy, 'Death', for us through His blessed assurance: "Through I be no more in flesh and blood, I shall be ever active and protect My devotees." His ringing assurance: To look to Me - I look to you'. But we are now piling up experimental proof of this blessed assurance of Sai Baba that life goes right on after death. Not long ago we entertained in my brother's house, a Specialist in Heart diseases, who is also an ardent Sai-devotee. This Doctor began his practice with the settled conviction that death is simply extinction. But then with modern resuscitation techniques, he witnessed what patient after patient saw and experienced as they were being resuscitated from clinical death, his thinking was turned around. It was exciting to hear a Physician as unequivocally convinced of immortality as any Sai-devotee I ever listened to. What the evidence points to, he asserts, is that there is not a moment's gap between this life and the next; that beyond death's door we look and feel like ourselves and are recognizable to those who have preceded us.

We have a spiritual body - perfect now- and no longer subject to the limitations of space and time. Even Sai Baba remarked to Shama that they have been together for seventy-two births.

Obviously, when we really believe in another life, we are forced to rethink our limited viewpoint of death as the ultimate tragedy. You should ask yourself whether your grief is not so much for Mrs. Mani Chinoy as for your own loss.

So what about you and your loneliness? You wrote that you can no longer pray and that you are accusing and resenting Sai Baba for her death. You should shut yourself in a room and tell Sai Baba as to how exactly you feel about Him in regard to your wife's death. To establish communion with Him, ruthless honesty is necessary. I have done this in moments of despair and found to my surprise, even a feeling of Sai's blessings simply because I was being real.

But then you need to go beyond bitterness and anger. Why? Because grief is a real wound in the human spirit. And that bitterness is effectively cutting you off from the only one who can heal that wound and give you answers and a reason to go on living.

Let me share an experience with you. When my husband passed away, I was sunk down in my grief and asking: "Why? Why?". My faith was shaken, too. And I stayed in my rebellion for almost six months. In desperation, a friend gave me a straight talk: "You are a child of God, He has promised to supply your every need...... you should not be grieving ever."

That did more good to me than a profusion of sympathy ever could have! That day I learned that often the kindest thing we can do for the ill or sorrowing is to refuse to feed self-pity with large doses of sympathy. This jolted me into realizing that the solution lay in my own will. I was free to remain in my rebellion if I wanted to, but if I chose that, I would be left hanging in limbo in a living death. So my prayer was, "Lord, I do not understand anything about your ways. But now, I want you and Your blessings for ever."

The result……….? Suddenly, the world was green and beautiful again. And "the God of all comfort" as Sai Baba has promised to be, immediately begun to pour His healing balm deep, into the wound in my spirit.

This is the answer to your second question. "If any one casts his burden on me and thinks of me, I look after all his concerns." I have never known this promise to fail. Over and over Sainath achieves this miracle of bringing something good and positive out of life's wreckage.

Finally, I want to give you a prescription to restore zest to your life. It is based on one of the immutable laws at work in our world; we get back what we give away. Figure out the number of hours you are awake each day. Then take at least one-tenth of those waking hours, and each day gives unselfishly that much time to your own children or to others -as Sai Baba leads you. It is not an easy exercise at first, but day by day you will find life returning to you.

Sai Baba came into our life to make it purposeful. He is close behind our thoughts. Give your life and problem over to Him. I can guarantee that He has an answer tailor-made for your needs. He loves you personally and wants to see you laugh again. This is God's law that whatsoever a man thinks at the time of death, he gets the same body. Thus according to God's law a man remembering God at the time of death may attain Him. How is this law full of mercy? It is full of mercy because you can attain God merely by thinking of Him at the time of death. Thus either you can attain Him or get the body of a dog by remembering a dog or any other body out of the eighty four lakh forms of lives by thinking of it. Thus by this merciful law of God you can attain God and be free from the shackles of birth and death.

If your heart bubbles with love, do not proclaim it beat of drum. Sai Baba who abides in the heart of every devotee knows what passes in your heart, too. - By Radhakrishna Swamiji

Constant Remembrance of God What is an idol (Pratima). An idol can be compared to a measure or a weight. You may call it the unit of measurement. When the measuring weight is small, the result will be great. Suppose the measuring weight is a quarter, the result of it will be four units. When the measuring weight is one- sixteenth, the result will be sixteen units. Now, we have to see what the Pratika and the Pratima (external objects and idols) in the Hindu religion are. They are units of measure to estimate the greatness of God. In Hindu religion, the great Sun and the Moon are also the forms of Pratika (external object) to form an estimation of God. Next to them are also Guru (religious teacher), Brahmana (Man of realization), cows, Garuda (the biggest bird) Pipala, Tulasi, Kailasa (one of the high peaks of the Himalaya) the Ganga, etc. etc. Besides these, the short round black stone (salagrama) has also been taken as a form of Pratima, the measure. Was the smallest Pratika or Pratima (the unit of measure) only meant to make God look small? No. Not at all. In taking a small unit of measure it was aimed to enhance the estimation of God consciousness and Divine vision. When even the smallest stone has been accepted as Divinity, all the other things and the entire world will be nothing but Divinity. But, he who worships the idol with limited ideal that it alone is Divinity is steeped in ignorance. Such a man can well be compared to the 'worm' which is confined to the stone only. - Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji

Swamiji - You Will Not Turn Me Away! By Air C.T.M.M. Raghavan While the lips and the throat chant physically, the mind chants it intellectually, and the heart chants it in a language of higher emotions. Thus the threefold chant of this sacred syllable Om brings you to that unison and oneness with the All, the light. Swamiji - here, there, everywhere You are the Leader of my life! I come to you with broken hopes and unfulfilled dreams Impure am I, Full of faults and failings; Yet this I know That you will not turn me away, For you are the refuge of the lowly and the lost; You are the ever-merciful one! Do you look on me, Swamiji with loving eyes and open the door of the heart, the door to Lord Sainath! Concentration and its difficulties Watch attentively over all your passions. Try to be tranquil in all conditions. Reckon God as your greatest treasure: the heart will be with the treasure. Let God alone possess the heart; empty it of all else. Reject all useless thoughts, and return to communion with God. Recall the mind as often as it wanders from Him during meditation. Let not the mind wander too far at other times either. The practice will be painful at first, but blissful in the end.

A Thought Every husband should adore the Devi or Goddess who abides in his wife, and every wife should worship the God who abides in her husband. This attitude of worship implies a profound reverence for the souls of each other. With this attitude, an ideal love evolves-a love that sacrifices, that waits with patience, which is ever intent upon being helpful and deeply compassionate. Such a love is not thwarted by adverse conditions of life; rather, like the moon, it shines brighter and brighter as the dark clouds of adversity pass on.

Until God becomes the sole object of your life and until you turn your face towards God and adopt the means conducive to His realization and until you actually begin to practice those means you will never and in no case be able to catch a glimpse of peace, happiness and contentment. - Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji

OM SAI SRI SAI JAYAJAYASAI Sri Saikoti Mahatharaka Nama Yagna 1993

Under the auspicious of Sri Sai Mandal (R), Malleswaram, Sri Saikoti Mahatharaka Nama Yagna was started on 26.7.1991, on Guru Poornima Day. Now, nearly 850 Sai devotees are engaged in Sri Sai Likhit Japa. We have received Likhit Japa not only from different parts of India but also from America, Quwait etc. It is expected by the end of September 1992, the grand total of Sri Sai Tharaka Nama Likhit Japa will exceed TWO CRORES. The following devotees have offered more that 2 lakhs Likhit Japa at the Lotus feet of Sri Sai:-

1, C. Nagamani 2. C. Chandrasekhar and Family 3. S.N. Shastry 4. H. Vasudeva Sharma 5. C. Purushotham A copy of Sri Sai Satcharitra has been given to each of the above devotees as Sai Gift. Bow to Sri Sai — Peace be to all. - Puttanna

Conversations with Swamiji Life after Death By M. Rama Rao Worshiping that Guru with devotion, and approaching him, when he is pleased with prostration, humility and service, (he) should ask him what he has got to know: O! Master, O! friend of those that bow to thee, thou ocean of mercy, I bow to thee; save me, fallen as I am into this sea of birth and death, with a straight-forward glance of thine eye, which sheds nectar-like grace supreme. Save me from death, afflicted as I am by the unquenchable fire of this world - forest, and shaken violently by the winds of an untoward lot, terrified and (so) seeking refuge in thee, for I do not know of any other man with whom to seek shelter.

Devotee: Swamiji! I have lost a dear one; my sorrow has no end, I think of the dear, departed one and I shed tears. How may I bear the bereavement? And what should be my attitude to the dead? The dead are not dead. It is natural to have grief in our hearts when our dear ones depart. To be natural is to be spiritual. Suppression is not spirituality. It is the form that passes away; but the soul does not die. I know of persons who feel hopelessly miserable at the departure of their dear ones. Such miserly is a denial of God. The dear departed ones enter higher realms and are under the protection of God. As you think of your dear departed one, send out love and prayer and so help him to grow more and more in a new life of beauty and blessedness. Swamiji: What is ill? Is your conception of death? Does death end? Death is only of the body, not the 'Atman' the real 'Being’. The gross body dies but the 'Athma persists. Cut the tree; it drops down dead but the bird sitting on that tree flies to another. 'Athman' is like the bird. The body drops dead; the Athman appears in another form. Dead is dissociation, not extinction. What about a man who does not see his way believe in re-birth?

The idea of re-birth may be viewed as a 'dogma' of an 'outlook'. A dogma is a barrier. As an outlook may be found helpful in shaping our life in the light of the great truth of development and in different stages. With this outlook on life, a man will exercise more charity in his dealings with others. Men are in different stages of evolution this is one aspect of the idea of re-birth; the aspect has a practical value; for it teaches us to more patient with others. Yet we must no over- emphasize the idea of re-birth. A man may reject it, and yet live a noble life. Many there are to whom the idea fails of its appeal, but their lives are beautiful. The emphasis in my outlook is not on dogma but on 'doing’. Go and do the will of Sai Baba in your daily life. This is 'all' that matters.

Now, you may rationalize that it is easy to think well of other people when they are good, but what about them when they are bad? What about them when people aren't very nice to us? That admittedly, is more difficult. But trying to see the Divine in everyone is a very effective way to create harmony in our relationships. If we practice this, then even if we don't enjoy being around a particular individual (or perhaps can hardly stand him!), we will eventually establish a rapport with him-first in our thoughts, then in our actions. It is amazing how people's attitudes towards us change if we spiritualize our feelings towards them. As we sow, so do we reap? According to the law of Karma, the law of cause and effect, the attitudes we direct towards other people come back to us. If we want to get along with others we should not treat them as though they were objects in our environment, but as human beings who are children of the Infinite. When we are in harmony with our fellow beings, we can more easily sustain the devotional awareness of God's presence in our daily lives.

To The Abode of Sri Sai Sri M. Subbaramiah We are deeply pained to announce that Shri Mokshagundam Subbaramaiah (85) a close associate of Shri Saipadananda Radhakrishna Swamiji and a great devotee Shri Sai, left for the abode of Sri Sai in the early hours on 10th August, 1992. A Sai bhakta since 1943, he invited Shri Swamiji who had arrived in Bangalore sometime in 1952, to his house at South End Road, Bangalore, where he had performed Sri Sai pooja and bhajan. On April 4, 1954, Swamiji inaugurated Sri Rama Navami celebrations in his house which fortunately marked the beginning of Sri Sai Spiritual Centre.

Shraddha and Saburi were the great hall marks of his devotion to Sai. Repetition of Sainam was his life breath unto the last. No doubt Sri Sai has taken him to His Saayujya and Sameepya. We, at the Sai Spiritual Centre pray to Sri Sai give enough strength to his bereaved family to bear the irreparable loss. Bow to Sri Sai - Peace be to all - Puttanna

Guru Poornima Guru Poornima was celebrated with special pomp and ceremony on 14th July 1992. After Ekadasha Rudrabhisheka, "Vyasa Pooja was conducted by Shri D.V. Krishna Murthy. Devotees in hundreds participated in the 'worship of the Guru'. There was 'Sathya Narayana Pooja' and a lecture by Dr. P.S. Narayana Rao on 'Guru's grace in the evening.

Promise Yourself To be strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind] To talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet. To make all your friends feel that there is something in them. To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true. To think only of the best, work only for the best, and expect only the best. To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own. To forget the mistakes of the past and press on the greater achievements of the future. To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile. To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others. To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble. To think well of yourself and to proclaim this fact to the world not in loud words but in great deeds. To live in the faith that the whole world is on your side so long as you are true to the best that is in you.

Boundless mercy of Baba and Swamiji By Smt. Kamala Mani Time comes in everybody's life to pay his gratitude to his Guru. During the past seven years, Sai Baba and Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji have showered upon me and my family their blessings and have pulled us out of many a difficult situation. The purpose of this article would have been served if all the devotees of Sai Baba and Swamiji cast their burden on them and wait to see the results.

In 1985, my daughter passed her XII Standard examination. She wanted to become a doctor and nothing else. Though she had secured good marks, they were not good enough to get her automatic entry into a Government medical college. As she was very adamant, we got her admitted to a private medical college. Though this was much beyond our financial capacity, Baba and Swamiji saw to it that her medical education was completed unhindered. The moment I put her in the college, certain forces which were burning with jealousy and were inimical to us, got my husband's salary reduced by 50% to see that his daughter's education was discontinued (my husband is a partner in a family business and takes his monthly salary). Sai Baba and Swamiji put all of them to shame by helping at every step with money encouragement and guidance through dreams and visions.

After finishing her MBBS in December '90, my daughter wanted to go to Saudi Arabia and earn a lot of money. She could not succeed as three years' experience is a must. Then we came across an alliance where the groom is working as a doctor in Saudi Arabia and was confident of getting her a good job even without the requisite experience. My daughter was married on 12-12-91 and joined her husband immediately thereafter. She got a nice job and is doing well. What else is this except the mercy of Sai Baba and Swamiji?

While trying to find a groom for her, because of my faith in Swamiji, I felt that her would be husband would also be from Bangalore. Lo and behold, without any effort we got a very good alliance from Bangalore from a religious and pious family, who demanded nothing from us. As we had spent heavily on our daughter's education, we were unprepared financially to conduct the marriage. Help came to us unasked. Hail His mercy!

Swamiji also got our son admission in the National Defense Academy, Pune. He saw to it that he passed out from there in December '91 and he is now in "Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, waiting to be commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant by the end of this year. As getting through NDA training is not easy, we were worried throughout. But Baba and Swamiji appeared in my dreams several times and assured "Don't worry. One day your son will become a very big officer in the Army."

Swamiji once told me in my dream: "Then baytti ko meraj dhua hai".

Like me and my husband, my two children have also great faith in Baba and Swamiji and that faith has not gone in vain.

I have read umpty times Baba Satcharitra and Sri R. Parthasarathi's "Apostle of Love". I and my family have been amply rewarded. OM SAI SRI SAI JAVA JAYA SAI! Narasimha Swamiji's Marble Idol H.H. Narasimha Swamiji is one of the greatest Apostles of Sai Baba and Guru of our Sri. Radhakrishna Swamiji. He received Sai Baba's grace as he stood before his Samadhi in 1936 when he visited Shirdi in his itinerant days.

He had such acute insight that he surpassed everyone in being able to detect the greatness of Sai Baba, The great treasure Sai grace he found in 1936, he shared with every other fellow being. As a result of his untiring efforts during 1936-56, today Sai Baba is being worshipped all over the country and abroad. In fact 'he took Sai Baba out of Maharashtra'.

Sri Narasimha Swamiji deputed Sri. Radha Krishna Swamiji in 1952 to Bangalore to sow the seeds of Sai movement in Karnataka. We owe a lot to Sri Narasimha Swamiji for giving us a great gem in Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji. We at the Sai Spiritual Centre have been worshipping the Trinity - Sai Baba, Sri Narasimha Swamiji and Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji - as three - in - one spirit. We have always felt the need for a marble idol of Sri Narasimha Swamiji and now Sai Baba has given us the green signal to go ahead and install a marble idol of Sri Narasimha Swamiji.

We are happy to inform that the marble Statue of Sri Swamiji has arrived in the Sri Sai Spiritual Centre, exactly on the date of his Mahasamadhi Viz. 19.10.1992, exact date of installation will be announced shortly.