In one of the training programs for managers, the coordinator asked the participants, “What has caused you to stay long enough to become a manager?”
In one of the training programs for managers, the coordinator asked the participants, “What has
One participant, with her voice almost breaking, said, “It was a Rs 200 baseball glove.”
Mary told the group that she originally took a clerk job as an interim position while she looked for something better.
On her second or third day behind the counter, she received a phone call from her nine-year old son, Bobby. He needed a baseball glove for Little League. She explained that as a single mother, money was very tight, and her first cheque would have to go for paying bills. Perhaps she could buy his baseball glove with her second or third cheque.
When Mary arrived for work the next morning, the store manager, asked her to come to the small room in back of the store that served as an office. Mary wondered if she had done something wrong or left some part of her job incomplete from the day before.
She was concerned and confused.
The manager handed her a box. “I overheard you talking to your son yesterday,” she said, “and I know that it is hard to explain things to kids. This is a baseball glove for Bobby because he may not understand how important he is, even though you have to pay bills before you can buy gloves. You know we can’t pay good people like you as much as we would like to; but we do care, and I want you to know you are important to us.”
The thoughtfulness, empathy and love of this store manager is what has caused her to change her mind to look for something better and stay long enough to become a manager.
This demonstrates vividly that people remember more how much an employer cares than how much he pays.
An important lesson for the price of a Little League baseball glove.
Learning:
Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.
Acts of kindness does not only benefit receivers of the kind act, but also the giver, as a result of feeling a sense of contentment and relaxation when such acts are committed.
Swami here emphasizes the importance of experience as the mode of self transformation and discovery. When Vidura asked why the evil minds of the Kauravas could not have been transformed by Krishna instead of having millions destroyed in the Great war, he explained that the learning from experience however bad is the best route to lasting change. Tasting and best utilizing the limited freedom given to Man to discover the optimum way home, even through hard lessons is required is God’s way. Unless you burn your fingers you will not know or understand what a burn feels like.
Prema is essential in all Forms of Devotion: Swami tends to repeat the same few messages ( as explained in the Vedas and Bhagwat Gita) as a loving mother would to an errant child. He speaks of the nine forms of devotion – hearing, singing, remembering the Lord’s Name, prostration, salutation, servitude, friendship, and Self-offering. Of this the most essential is that of Prema ( Love). It is this Love that filled great saints hearts with bliss and gave them a unique experience of the Lord.
Do Acts that are full of Prema for all: Devotional singing is often demeaned as being lesser than quiet meditation but devotional singing eliminates the ego and inspires others too. Love takes on many modes of expression be it in relationships, in actions, in utilization of talents etc. Dedication of this Love/ action to God without any trace of ego is what confers Bliss and satisfaction. But its your efforts to improve yourself from lowly to higher ideals is what gives Ananda to Swami.
Our Relationship is Atmic not Secular: The Love of the Lord is universal and available to all as the Atmic Reality. Grasping this and potentially expanding ourselves unlimitedly is possible for all. The Lords Love while universal presents itself accordingly aligned with the needs, maturity and capability of the individuals concerned.
Some gurus hunt for rich disciples: Several false Gurus misguide their devotees through false praise, giving of titles as well as undue focus on material and wealth acquisition. This limits their spiritual growth besides impeding the so called Gurus themselves. Spiritual brokers don’t become Gurus. To know Sai, merely hearing of Him and forming an opinion is not enough. Come and experience first. You can cannot gauge the size of a mountain by seeing a stone. Science is like the letter “C” with a gap open. while Religion is like an “O” – while it may be small in size it has the capacity to expand in size infinitely while being whole and complete at all times.
Swami ends the discourse with a powerful, prophetic quote as follows “
“I shall certainly achieve the purpose of this Avatar; do not doubt it. I will take My own time to carry out My Plan, as far as you are concerned. I cannot hurry because you are hurrying. I may sometimes wait until I can achieve ten things at one stroke, just as an engine is not used to haul one coach, but awaits until sufficient haulage in proportion to its capacity is ready. But My Word will never fail; it must happen as I will.”
If you take Krishna to be a gopala (cowherd), a man of the world like others, then for you he will be just a cowherd! You too climb only up to that stage. “go” in gopala means living being, so gopala means “He who protects, guides, feeds, and fosters the living beings”; that is to say, “He who is the protector and preserver of beings.”
For eg: Uddhava, who looked upon Krishna as his guru, benefitted more than Arjuna, who looked upon Him as (a friend. If you have faith that He is God, He will be God to you; if you dismiss Him as a mere man, He takes on that role and becomes useless for you. Search for Him with the heart, not with the eye for externals.
The superpower has to be sought in the super-state itself, not in the lower states.
Various people have various methods of worship as well as objects of worship. Vishnu, Shambhu, Sharadha, Allah — are all different degrees of human understanding of the One Unsolved Mystery, the Fathomless Infinite and Absolute. We should seek unity in diversity. Do not enter into quarrels about higher and lower; when the same person is honoured by different titles, why should we quarrel over the superiority or inferiority of the title. They all fall short of His Total Glory.
Truth is changeless
Truth is that which is the same in the past, present, and future, the same in the waking, dreaming, and deep sleep stages, and which is unaffected by qualities of sloth, passion, and serenity. Again, the Name is greater than even the Named, for the Named may disappear, but the Name will continue and will evoke the Form of the Named. There is no need to exhaust yourselves in the search for the Lord; He is there like butter in milk, like the chicken in the egg, immanent in every atom of creation. He does not come from somewhere or go somewhere else. He is there, here, everywhere. From the atom to the great, from the microcosm to the macrocosm, He is everything.
To realise this grand Truth, spiritual exercises or spiritual activity (karma) is needed. That is, karma yoga, karma performed with this end: “karma done in an intelligent manner (karmasu kaushalam).” A millionaire may have various vehicles — cars, coaches, etc. — in plenty. But for his health’s sake, the doctor advises him to walk a few miles every morning. Otherwise he will fall ill, the doctor says. So also, for removal of the disease of ignorance, one has to do virtuous action (dharma-directed karma). The oil in the lamp is the fat derived from the actions of previous ‘lives’. The stronger the flame, the brighter the light and the sooner the oil is used up. Do vigorous karma, exhaust the effects of the past, and be free from the weight hanging round your neck. There is more joy in the doing of karma than in the fruit it may give; the pilgrimage is often more pleasurable than the actual experience of the temple to which the pilgrim went.
Sai Krishna says Do Karma to derive Ananda
It was mentioned in the Gita that you should not care for the fruit of your action, but I say now that you may value the result of your actions to a limited extent. That advice was given according to the conditions prevalent then and the delusion that Arjuna suffered. Since it will increase your Bliss (Ananda) and give greater strength to your spiritual practices, I say now that so far as spiritual practices are concerned, you can do them with a keen eye on the Ananda that you will ultimately derive.
The three kinds of Karma
There are three kinds of karma: natural action, like breathing, which has to be done; action done with intent, like the combination of wick and oil in the burning lamp; and action done without intention to gain the fruit of consequences, where there is neither oil nor wick and so no burning at all.The sages of ancient times divided karma into that which is intentionally done and that which is done without any intention to gain the consequence. Follow the latter, and you will save yourselves from suffering. All other activities like the earning of wealth, of reputation, of fame and publicity, result in suffering.
Inculcate Spiritual practices right from Childhood
Breath control and yoga (divine communion) must become as natural as breathing and so automatic; that is the summum bonum of spiritual discipline, the state of innate spiritual discipline. Learn from childhood the recitation of the Name and prayer and the practice of silence. Let children contemplate the beauties and the magnificence of God’s handiwork and be filled with mystery and awe.
The Supreme Power puts on the cloak of deluding power (i.e. comes in human form) in order to fulfill the purpose of contacting and protecting humanity. I have no desire, and thus no binding karma. Only you have the desire, aim, and wish that drag you along various paths. For Me, your Ananda is My Food, your elation is the swing on which I sit, your activity is My Playground.
Do not count and calculate what the Puttaparthi Sai Baba gives. I do not give in order to attract you to Me; I give only to fill you with Bliss (Ananda). Showering Ananda, that is My task. I do not want you to extol Me; I shall be satisfied if you rely on Me. I cure the madness that makes people run frantically after fleeting pleasures and fall into fits of joy and grief. I am always of one reality only. The Lord will never undergo a fundamental change; only the external form may change. The essence will be the same. There will not be any decline in value, like becoming human for some time, etc. The Lord will be characterised by unbounded Love (Prema) and unsullied sweetness.
Path of Righteousness vs Path of Supreme Reality
There are two duties to be done by man; the one along the path of righteousness for this world and the one along the path of Supreme Reality for eternal liberation. The path of righteousness is the left hand, so it can be left. Why, it will leave itself after the fruit becomes ripe. That is why it is called “left”! Leave it, and do not grieve over it. But hold on to the right, the path of Supreme Reality, for it is “right” that you should do so.
Finally, you must know how to use the chance that you have got in this life to come in contact with the Lord. The lamp sheds illumination, but it can be used for various purposes, good and bad; the Ganga is holy but its waters are used for good as well as bad purposes. How you use this chance depends upon your destiny and luck and the amount of Grace that you are able to win. Develop faith; strengthen devotion; and everything will follow.
Rama was the representative of Truth (Sathya), Krishna of Love (Prema), Buddha of Righteousness (Dharma). Avathar of Sai is of all four: Truth, Righteousness, Peace (Santhi), and Love. Sathya is the Dharma, Prema gives Santhi. I command you: never hate others, wish evil to them, or talk ill of them. Then only can you attain the natural form of peace.
The Lord alone is aware of the Plan, for His is the Plan!
You see only a part of the play on the stage, so it is all very confusing. When the entire story is unfolded, you will appreciate His Plan, not until then; for that, you have to get behind the screen of deluding power (maya) and contact the Director Himself. While you are an actor on the stage reciting your role, you cannot grasp the inner meaning of the entire play, which has the “world” as the stage and “ages” as the duration. If, by acting your role well, you develop Love toward fellow actors, that is more important than getting devotion for God. If you acquire peace, that is a more valuable success than acquiring spiritual wisdom. For devotion is the seed of love and spiritual wisdom is the seed of peace. At the least, devotees should behave as if they are all of one family. Take hold of the chance so luckily available for mutual cooperation in worship and spiritual discipline.
All the powers I have are for you You are My treasure, even if you deny Me. I am your treasure, even if you say No.
I shall be affectionate to you and attach Myself to you; I shall take all the trouble to keep My property safe in My custody! That is to say, in the custody of the Lord, by whichever name you may be calling upon Him. All the powers I have are for you: I am just the store, keeping them ready to be given to you, whenever you ask for them. I shall give Prema even if you do not ask, for it is your right to share in it. Some complain that I did not give them this or that, but that is because their vision is limited to the immediate future or the present; whereas I know what is in store, so I have to safeguard them from greater grief.
When a stretch of road is being repaired, I go by another detour and do not use that bit of road for some time. The purpose is to let the repair works proceed more quickly, so that I may use that road again. I have come to set the world right, so I have to collect all those who are ill and treat them in My “hospital”, restore them to sanity, strength and wisdom, and send them back to their stations in life. I must intensify your devotion, reinforce your faith, and rebuild the foundations of your moral nature, so that you can counter temptations with greater confidence. I have come across people who recite a prayer and believe that they are bringing the world nearer to peace with every occasion on which they pray. But peace can be won only the hard way, by eliminating violence and greed from the hearts of individuals. Do not run after gurus who are themselves suffering from faulty vision and householder’s troubles: do not beg from people who are themselves beggars. Avoid all pride and competition between one another in the spiritual life. Let each one march at his own pace; only the direction and the road have to be Godward.
Children should be taught Vedanta from very early age say great Masters like Swami Sivananda. It is becoming all the more important in times like these where challenges are too many; as lot of focus is mainly on materialism and not much importance is given to spirituality ie recognising the strength and divinity within.
In today’s world most of the children want to fit in with their peers, many of who are not being raised with any spiritual teachings and only believe in material reality. Same is the situation with many adults. People are under the wrong impression that spirituality is only for the elderly. This is because of lack of understanding about spirituality. That is the need to understand our own strength within. When these strong values, character etc are not developed from a young age it cannot be easily inculcated at an older age. What one practices and lives from young forms one’s character and habits which then lasts lifelong. Hence it is imperative to create a community which lives, practises and teaches Vedanta’s universal and transcendental teachings.
Parents also need to be aware of spirituality, understand the importance and value of it and start living their lives in such a way that they are able to have a good influence on their children who can then take up the learning of Vedanta from a young age.
Children, especially little ones, will learn by seeing. They hear through their eyes. So the first duty of parents is to ‘be’, and not just say what the child must do. Action speaks louder than words. Parents must also lead lives that inspire their children. They must be happy, peace-loving, devoted, strong, honest and truthful. Then the children “listen” to them, meaning, see and emulate them. Parents are the best and first teachers in every sense for the children.
Just like the Gita , Many have seen Me , but very few have understood my significance.
When you absorb the Gita , you will be full of vairaagyam, and you are free from senseless attachment to the sensory world.
What is Vairaagyam ? – This is when one gives up raga– things that please and bind them, that ensnare and enslave them.
Both ,this and the Gita, deals with fundamentals of living , and how to handle the deepest problems of life.
To benefit from the Gita , one must have One pointed focus.
When Krishna, sings with his flute at Brindavan or sings Gita at the battlefield, the call is the same- to merge with the Infinite ,the Universal.
For him , the same is imparted equally at the Rudrabhumi ( place of cremation) and Badrabhumi(sanctified ground) .
What is important here is the concentration or one-pointed focus of the listener. Just like the cowherd girls of Brindavan, despite the opposing armies , confused feelings of hatred and guilt, Arjuna was immersed in the teaching of Krishna.
Gita was spoken to remove all delusion and ignorance. Do note – Arjuna ,Dhritarashtra and Sanjaya listened to the Gita at the same time, but only Arjuna benefitted from the same . We too can cross all ‘battlefields’ ,if we listen to the Bhagavad Gita /Sai Gita / Sathya Sai Gita with one-pointed focus.
Gita removes the feeling of I and mine. It advises renunciation of action , that is, karma without attachment to the fruit . All karmas have to be done as duties without any attachment .
When man is content, he does not refuge to prayers , as compared to when he is in trouble. The Pandavas were so full of misery in a worldly sense that they always had an attitude of prayer. You also have to take refuge in the innermost recesses of the heart; in your Atma to be truly peaceful.
Atma-arpana refers to offering of one’s ego, pride ,delusion and attachment at the Lord’s feet . Do that and take Prema from me. Develop the capacity to see all as ‘ moved and motivated by the One Supreme Reality or Self’. Everyday check your progress and focus on pure thoughts and deeds only.
Gita helps destroy delusion and makes one realise true knowledge . It helps one to control agitations of the mind by prompting you to seek the answers and directs you to experience them.
The ‘Sathya Sai Gita’ has been inspired by Me and has a summary of my teachings . This One Truth has been shared by Thirumalachar .
Give up on pride. The genuine Gita is to be in a state of saranagathi, like Lakshmana.
Increase faith , walk in the path of Dharma , get rid of delusion and ignorance, cleanse the agitations of the mind, and know that He is the Atma and that you too are the Atma.
Have a time-table for spiritual sustenance, just as you have now for physical sustenance. A breakfast of pious repetition of Lord’s name and meditation, a lunch hour of ritual worship of the Lord, ‘tea and snacks’ of reading scriptures or sacred books in the afternoon, and a light dinner of devotional music in the early hours of the night. If you follow this regimen, you can sleep soundly and wake up refreshed.- Sri Sathya Sai
In recent times especially in this challenging period of COVID 19 the likes of which the world has not seen in the past 100 years we are experiencing the pain and agony through loss of loved ones, sickness both physical as well as mental, financial loss, job loss, loss of home and many such difficulties which we are unable to handle. Have we ever given a thought to why we are crumbling when facing these challenges? One of the main reasons for this is because we have ignored our inner strength which is within us and given importance only to the external body and mind. We were led only by those entities totally neglecting the third entity ie the ‘spirit or consciousness’ within us. The mind and body always cater to each other and lead it the way it wants. All these are directed only outwards never inwards. It is about time we start working on this third and most important entity which will help us develop our inner strength and help us achieve our actual potential.
What better way than starting when young!! This training and education can be started as early as 3-4 years of age. This will help the children lead a purposeful and meaningful life by achieving their highest potential and being able to handle challenging situations of life in a much better and positive manner. These children are the future citizens of the world. The world needs leaders who are well-educated, wise, and trained along moral lines.
People’s behaviour and conduct depend on their thoughts. Thoughts depend on the mind. Good thoughts are the basis of human values. The head and the heart are two important organs in every human being. Thoughts that arise in the head are worldly and fickle. They are influenced by external activities. Reading, writing, eating and earning are all outward activities. They are the products of the head.
All sacred feelings arise from the heart. Sacred qualities like compassion, love, sympathy, forbearance and truth emanate from the heart. They are all called inward qualities. The world is nothing but a combination of external and internal tendencies. Just as a sapling grows into a huge tree giving you flowers and fruits, likewise, thoughts that are sacred lead to actions that yield fruits of all goodness.
As mentioned earlier; man is a combination of three entities: the body, the mind and the Atma (Spirit). First comes the body. It is the instrument of action. The mind thinks. The conscience is the Atma, or Spirit that exists as consciousness. So human life is a combination of these three aspects: action, thinking and consciousness.
If the body functions independently without consulting the mind and the Spirit, the activity will be animal activity. If the mind acts independently without coordinating with the body and the Spirit, the activity is likely to be demonic. If the Spirit acts independently, the actions will transcend the body and the mind. Hence all the 3 should work in sync to achieve the purpose of human life both in the material as well as spiritual world.
How can one start in this journey?
Developing the body and mind is essential which is already being accomplished with the existing secular education. Physical exercises, sports etc help in keeping the body fit. Academic education, development of other hobbies and various social activities helps in keeping the mind sharp and gaining knowledge of the material world. But what about spiritual education? The education which makes us realise the divinity within, the abundant peace and love within, the unlimited potential waiting to unfold!!!!! That which makes us aware that we are not this body and mind but the Self, the infinite Atman, birthless, deathless, divine, and all-powerful spiritual being; of which we are either unaware off, ignorant or have forgotten completely. Let us at least now start working on this most important entity of ours which actually defines who we truly are!!
We can start by inculcating the right values and culture in children from young. What are these values? These are the human values like Truth, Right Conduct, Love, peace and many more of them. What is culture? Culture is a value system founded by giving up one’s bad conduct, bad behaviour and bad deeds, and cultivating good thinking and fostering good sentiments that lead to good actions. When many follow this kind of noble behaviour; we will have a noble society, a noble country and a noble world.
The male monkey and the female monkey were sitting on the branch of a tree watching the sunset. At one point, she said: ‘What makes the sky change colour when the sun reaches the horizon?’
‘If we tried to explain everything, we wouldn’t be able to live,’ replied the male monkey. ‘Just sit quietly and let this romantic sunset fill our hearts with gladness.’
The female monkey grew angry. ‘You’re so primitive and superstitious. You’re not interested in logic any more, you just want to enjoy life.’
At that moment, a centipede happened to be walking past.
‘Centipede!’ called the male monkey. ‘How do you manage to move all those legs of yours in such perfect harmony?’
‘I’ve never really thought about it,’ came the reply.
‘Well, think about it! My wife would like an explanation!’
The centipede looked at its legs and began: ‘Well…first I move this muscle, no, no I don’t, first, I have to sway my body in this direction…’
The centipede spent half an hour trying to explain how it moved its legs, and the harder it tried, the more confused it became. Wanting to continue on its way, it found it could no longer walk.
‘See what you’ve done?’ it cried out in despair. ‘In my eagerness to explain how I work, I’ve forgotten how to move.’
‘Now do you see what happens when someone tries to explain everything?’ said the male monkey, turning to enjoy the sunset in silence.
“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched – they must be felt with the heart.” Helen Keller
Learning:
We must always appreciate and be greatful for whatever has been provided to us with. We should not randomly question everything because we may not get the answers at times and it is also not required to know every single happening; It is unnecessary and waste of time too. Having an attitude of acceptance will help us to be more peaceful. We should also constantly focus on improving ourselves in order to become better beings.
“Everywhere, in everyone and everything,” said his Guru.
Later, as the disciple was going home, he saw an elephant charging towards him.
“Get out of the way, get out of the way,” shouted the elephant-driver. “He has gone mad!”
But the disciple thought: “God is everywhere. He is in the elephant and he is in me. Would God attack God? No, therefore the elephant will not attack me.”
He stood where he was. The elephant picked him up in his trunk and flung him aside.
Fortunately, he landed in a haystack and was not too badly hurt. But he was terribly shaken and confused.
When the Guru and the other disciples came to help him and take him home, he said, “You said God is in everything, but see what the elephant did to me!”
“It is true that God is in everything,” said his Guru. “He is in the elephant, but he is also in the mahout who kept telling you to get out of the way. Why didn’t you listen to him?”
Learning:
In situations beyond our control, we must be alert and use our wisdom to discriminate between right and the wrong and act wisely.
The little boy came from school on Saturday and told his father, my teacher has given us home-work to Hug 10 people and tell them – “Be patient, trust life and I Love you”.
The Dad said – “OK, we will go to the Mall tomorrow morning and do it”.
The child woke up all spirited up in the morning, got ready. Went to his Dad and said – “let’s go!!”
The father said – “there is Heavy rainfall, I fear nobody might be there”.
The Child still insisted. So the Father drove in the horrible rainy weather to the Mall.
They stood in the mall for 1 hour, and the little boy hugged 9 people.
His father then said – “now let’s go, it’s raining heavily and we shouldn’t get stuck!”
Sad the son went along with his father’s orders. As they were driving past, the child pointed at a random house. Said – “please dad, just 1 person is remaining, I will go to that house and complete my homework”!
The father smiled and pulled the car over.
The child went to the door and began to ring the bell and pound the door strongly with his knuckles. He kept waiting. Finally the door was opened gently.
A lady came out with a very sad look and gently asked:
“What can I do for you, son?
With radiant eyes and a bright smile the child said:
“Ma’am my teacher has told to Hug 10 people and tell them – “Be patient, trust life and I Love you”.
I have hugged 9. May I hug you and pass the message to you.
The Lady embraced him, and started crying profusely.
On seeing that the Boy’s father came out of the car. He went to the lady and asked – “Any problem madam?”
She composed herself, took them inside, gave them a cup of tea and then told his father –
“My husband died a while ago leaving me totally alone in this world. Today morning the loneliness took over me. Since morning I have been thinking that this is the end of the road for me.
Then I took a chair and a rope to my bedroom and decided to end my life. As I was seeing the world for one last time, I begged for forgiveness to GOD and then heard this knock. I thought to leave it. But then nobody comes to visit me.
When I opened the door, I couldn’t believe what my eyes saw this little child. And when he said, “Be patient, trust life and I Love you”.
I knew it was a message from God.
Suddenly I realized I don’t want to die anymore, and have decided to make something productive of my life.
*REMEMBER – Give positive thoughts to people.*
*Tell them you stand by them.*
*And even if nothing, just listen to them.*
Learning:
Compassion is a good virtue one should possess. It will keep us and also the people around us happy. Always remember to give positive thoughts to people, this could be the least we can do but it will give them the strength to approach difficulties in life with confidence.
