From The Physical To The Subtle…
Saturday, May 11th, 2013
When Bhagawan Himself says His Name is not distinct from His Form, when Form and Name become inseparable, is it right to call Bhagawan’s transition, from the physical to the subtle, “From Form To Formless” asks Dr Sara Pavan, narrating a couple of His ever increasing ”Divine Sport’ of His physical manifestations post His passing on from the physical plane…
God is the basis of everything known and unknown. God (Brahman) has no particular form (nirakar), neither any attribute (nirguna), and is the substratum in All that IS, which cannot be defined by the limited language of man. The mind and the senses can only perceive forms associated with attributes.
Let us reconsider the phrase – “From Form to Formless”. Form and Name are inseparable. There is no Form without a Name and there is no Name without a Form. We cannot even imagine or picture anything that is ‘formless’! Neither can we give a name to anything that is ‘formless’. Our beloved Swami has a name, Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba or Sai Baba for short. He has a form so graceful, with a compassionate and piercing look, a large crown of Afro hair, and wearing a flowing orange, yellow or white robe.
Mere thought of Swami, our beloved Lord, Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, His magnetic form would appear in our mind’s eye, even without a picture around us thousands of miles away. Swami has said that Form and Name are inseparable as quoted on the back cover of the 83rd Birthday volume of Sanathana Sarathi:
“MY NAME IS NOT DISTINCT FROM MY FORM. THE NAME RECALLS THE FORM AS SOON AS IT IS PRONOUNCED OR HEARD. WHEN THE FORM IS SEEN, THE NAME COMES INTO THE CONSCIOUSNESS THAT VERY MOMENT. SO, WHEN THE NAME IS EVER DANCING ON YOUR TONGUE, THE FORM TOO, HAS TO BE BEFORE YOU AND BESIDE YOU. WHAT NEED IS THERE TO MENTION THIS AS A GIFT FROM ME? I HAVE TO MANIFEST THE FORM, WHENEVER MY NAME IS REMEMBERED WITH FAITH AND DEVOTION.” – Sri Sathya Sai Baba
What Swami means by “I have to manifest the Form” in this quote is that we would instantly perceive His form in our mind’s eye or His presence is ‘felt’ like smelling His trademark fragrance, even have the vision of His Divine Form. Swami is God, our hridaya vasi (the Indweller of our Hearts). His ‘Form’ need not be solid and physical and Swami has even appeared in this form rarely to a few after leaving His physical body.
The usage of the term ‘Form & Formless’ has been of concern to many devotees since Bhagawan’s physical departure. Since the Name and Form are inseparable, it is inappropriate, if not irrelevant, if we continue referring to Swami as “Formless”. He is always within us and around us in His ‘Subtle Form’, let alone manifesting Himself in real form to those so blessed even today! Swami has not forsaken His devotees; only His physical darshan is no longer available to everybody. I append an authentic account of Swami appearing to a devotee in the physical form and speaking to her.
Since Swami continues to be with us in His subtle form it is preferable that we use the term ‘Subtle’ instead of saying ‘formless’. He has only moved “From the Physical to the Subtle Form”.
Bhagawan shows up His presence in Physical Form
This is an authentic story. The persons involved are well known to devotees in Prasanthi Nilayam. It is understood that Swami has been appearing to this blessed young lady, at her home in Bangalore from time to time even before He left His physical form. Since this is a personal experience she had not revealed it to anyone, including her family. She works for a software company in Bangalore.
It so happened that Swami had appeared and given some instructions to this lady sometime in August 2011. Swami asked her if she knew a particular gentleman, a long time devotee who visits Prasanthi Nilayam often and sings bhajan? When she answered in the affirmative Swami gave her specific instructions. This gentleman also resides in Bangalore and an immediate family member of his knew this lady well.
Swami had told her: “He is not taking care of his health … he has stopped having breakfast … ask him not to skip breakfast … he must take care of his health … since I passed on he does not even visit Prasanthi Nilayam … tell him that he should continue visiting Prasanthi Nilayam and sing bhajan as usual.”
Wondering how she could even talk about this encounter with anyone, she kept this experience to herself and did not follow it up. The very next day, Swami appeared to her again and asked her why she had not conveyed His message to this gentleman? Swami reprimanded her: “You think I am unreal … (stretching His hand to her) touch My hand, I Am real … you must give him this message,” and vanished!
This lady immediately obeyed Swami’s command and conveyed Swami’s instructions to this gentleman. Realising the authenticity of this command from Swami, this gentleman came to Prasanthi Nilayam within two days. He stayed for few weeks and sang bhajan daily, morning and evening.
I also came to know from this gentleman that Swami had appeared to this lady at her office. Now she has no doubt about Swami’s appearance being real and stood up immediately. Swami asked her to sit down since none others in the office would see Swami. He told her: “Go to the office two floors below … you will see a man wearing a blue shirt as you enter … tell him he should phone his home immediately … his mother is seriously ill.”
This lady had to follow Swami’s command implicitly. Yes, she did see the gentleman wearing a blue shirt and gave him Swami’s message! The man was taken aback hearing this from a complete stranger. He told her that his mother was well when he left for office and thought this lady was telling him strange things. When he queried further and got to know who the lady was and how she got the message, he still did not believe her, thinking she was crazy.
This gentleman is a resident of Bangalore, never been a believer of Swami, and scoffed at this crazy message. However, when he phoned his home he came to know that his mother had collapsed soon after he had left for work and had to be rushed to a hospital.
This is our eternal, all merciful and omnipresent Lord Sri Sathya Sai.
Glory to our Eternal Sai.
II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II
Posted in Divine Foot Prints, Indelible Impressions |
