Let Our Minds Become The Throne Of God!

Tuesday, November 27th, 2012

Phil Gosselin, Zonal Chairman of Sri Sathya Sai Organisations – North America also the Chairman of Zone 1 of International Organisation gave an inspiring speech on the 23 November morning in Prasanthi Nilayam, reminiscing his precious memoirs and perceptions…

My most heartfelt and humble pranams to our most Beloved Lord, distinguished guests, revered elders, dear Sai brothers and sisters, fellow pilgrims in this life…

How sublimely awe-inspiring it is to be before the ‘Samadhi’ of our Lord before you all, in the heart of His ashram. This is the sacred place He has given to us. We are His People and this is what He built and sanctified for us. Thanks to Swami’s Grace and the efforts of the devotees we can see His House is thriving. If I may, on behalf of the international devotees, we thank the volunteers, ashram management and the central trust for all their care and dedication and selfless service.

This House of Sai contains millions of memories for all of the devotees of more than 6 decades. My own favourite memories of Birthdays go back to the early 70’s -Sai climbing the mandir roof and unfurling the flag and showering flower petals on us below, Sai being anointed with oil by chosen couples till He is drenched with oil, Sai loaded with garlands by devotees up to His eyes and then lifting them off His head like the Krishna child.

Besides we blessed thousands to be here at this sacred moment, there are all the millions who couldn’t be here but are with us in their hearts in the fullness of Sathya Sai. They will be looking to share with us the celebration of the redeeming Birth of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai.

One of the myriad blessings given by Sai to bridge to the vast outer world beyond India is His International Sathya Sai Organisation.

There are already more than 40 Sai schools, 29 EHV Institutes, 2000+ Centers, more than 40 Medical clinics, over 100,000 patients have been helped. But as Swami is interested in quality over quantity, it is most important how hearts are touched one at a time in so many ways. Just a sample showing there is no corner of the Earth that hasn’t been inspired by Sai.

whether it is in working with disabled children in Belarus or Laos,

whether it’s building homes for the needy in Trinidad or Indonesia,

whether it’s disaster relief in Haiti or Guatamala or Japan or NY,

whether it’s giving EHV training in China or Lithuania,

whether it’s expressed in pilgrimages from Turkey or Poland,

whether its students at Sai schools in Ecuador or South Africa,

helping the homeless in Paris,

giving relief even in Afghanistan,

giving birthing kits in Papua New Guinea,

receiving positive high level recognition and interest from Governments in Uganda, Venezuela, Guyana,

presenting Parenting workshops in Oman,

presenting musical programs in Hungary,

having faculty teaching EHV at a prestigious Technical Institute in Mexico,

giving dental camps and veterinary camps, presenting medical conferences,

I deliberately mention some lesser known places and activities. No doubt you’ve heard of even larger National Sai Organizations and activities.

These are all ripples of the Love of Sathya Sai expanding ever outward. Growth continues and accelerates expressing more and more the Brotherhood of Man, the Fatherhood of God.

To share one small personal interaction, Swami presided at a very special family occasion. He also invited a Persian Gulf sheikh and veiled women. Swami materialized Islamic script for them and then a Cross for us and He showed it and said to them “See Christians”. I saw them later at the airport leaving and we shared a look that said Sai had lifted us way beyond ethnicity, race and religion and custom to a sublime place of Brotherhood. Though we shared no language, “There is only one language; the language of the Heart.”

At the same time that we’re being internally transformed by Sai, He is changing the world. History is on the move. We dare to believe that the World will come to Unity in the not distant future and that a Golden Age of love and peace is more than a Utopian dream. It’s as though Sai is saying “Now that I have no body just see what I can do” They used to say the Sun never sets on an empire. As we know political empires come and go but no star ever sets on Sai’s Empire of Love.

And Sai is also beyond this world. Renowned British scientist Frederick Hoyle famously said “not only is this world more unusual than we conceive but more unusual than we can conceive”. We respond “not only is this world filled with Sai’s Love more than we conceive but more than we can conceive.”

Whether we’re exalting or lamenting, young or old, healthy or infirm, in pleasure or pain we’re all in this together and together we’re all moving across the universe. For example, Science confirms we’re speeding along 1600 km an hour as Earth turns, and at the same time proceeding 100,000 km/hr as we go around the Sun, and we’re rotating around our galaxy 1,000,000 km/hr.  And our galaxy is approaching another at a speed that can’t even be measured by present science. Not only is this world more marvellous than we conceive, it is more marvellous than we can conceive. But just as we’re spectacularly unaware of our own mortality, it turns out we’re spectacularly unaware of where we’re going and of what’s going on around us.

All the more reason to never let go of Sai’s Lotus Feet. In this world really speaking we can say He is the only One Who truly knows Who He Is and what He’s doing.

Speaking of the distant corners of this universe—when someone in an interview asked Swami what direction their altar should face, He replied “North South East and West are all man made– In space there is no such thing. Even space comes from God. I am not restricted by time or space. Sai is Omniscient. Before you call Me I Am there.

(and He adds in His adorable child like way) Is it not so?”

He went on to say that - “Sai’s Words are not in the coils of time and space and should be treated as such.

He ends with powerful understatement “live in God and always Be happy… this is best “

We’re so blessed yet we take so much for granted. As Sai would say “Getting and Forgetting”

Sai has allowed us a pause in the dance with His Form so we can step back and admire and cogitate and ponder how we will respond to His Blessings.

Being here is our chance to wipe our slate clean, to start anew. Let’s not throw away this chance. Let’s not be like those Swami says are like elephants who after being carefully washed then immediately go about throwing dirt on themselves.

This is a day to declare what is of real significance for us, Let us stand up for what’s worthy of our commitment. Let us stand up for what is deepest and truest in ourselves.

This mind we take for granted and sometimes unfortunately use as a junk-yard of cares and worries, let it  become the Throne of God, such that all thoughts are of God, all memories are of God, all impressions are of God…even all neurons firing in the brain are of God. And with our breath let every molecule of air be a blessing…

All the world’s scriptures have been reanimated and recharged by the Advent of Sai. In the Light of Sai, this well known Christian prayer may take on new meaning and intensity and relevance. “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want…. He restoreth my soul… He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His Names sake. Yea, though I walk thru the Valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil for you are with me. You prepare a table before me… my cup overfloweth, surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life and I shall dwell in the House of the Lord forever.

II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II

 

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