In these days, when the black clouds of hatred are spreading from state to state and poisoning the relations between man and man, spiritual discipline and spiritual illumination alone can serve as a beacon light. People feel helpless before the flood of falsehood, injustice and violence. They can be saved only by the four-fold refuge of Sathya, Dharma, Shanthi and Prema. They are infused in man by the religious scriptures and by the stories of the saints and sages in the Puranas which depict their search after God.

The enthusiasm which is aroused by the study of these books should not fade away, like the boiling over of milk on the stove. After a few minutes of bubbling over, the milk starts cooling off. When one reaches home, after listening to a discourse, the fervour derived from the message fades into nothingness and one slides back into the fateful routine.

This is called purana-vairagya–the gust of renunciation that one gets when he hears a religious discourse, which soon passes off into the realm of neglect. The sadhaka (spiritual aspirant) must crave for deeper impression; the Mahavakyas (Vedic Statements of Truth) he hears, the visual experiences he gains, have to be imprinted on the heart. There are no two entities but only One, Brahman.

All the manifold rules, regulations, limitations, directions, do’s and don’ts, have just this aim: to merge the soul with the OverSoul – the jeevathma with the Paramathma. The shastras prescribe yama (various forms of abstention from evil-doing), niyama (disciplined observances), asana (physical posture), pranayama (control of breath), prathyahara (withdrawal of the mind from sense objects), dhyana (meditation) and samadhi (super-conscious state of absorption in the Atman), etc., as limbs of Yoga; besides japam (repetition of Lord’s Name or mystic formulae), shravanam (listening to God’s glory), mananam (recapitulation of what was heard), nidhidhhyasanam (constant musing on God’s glory), etc.- all with this one end in view— of merging the jeevatma with Paramatma. Spiritual Sadhana is like a duel with a tiger, maya; it is like playing with fire, maya. By means of the hammer strokes of joy and grief, the iron piece is shaped into a hollow vessel, so that it may not sink in the sea of maya (world illusion).

Mix honey and sea water; the concoction will be undrinkable. In the same way, do not mix the nectarine Grace of the Lord with the greed for sensual pleasures. Develop Prajnana – the pure, unsullied vision of the Reality; then you can visualise the One that is appearing as this many. Prajnanam Brahma, says the Veda; “the constant integrated awareness is Brahman.” It is that by which the intelligence integrates, that by which the senses co-operate in bringing about workable conclusions.

The physical body and the Prajnana are related through the senses and the intelligence. When man and God operate together, like the positive and the negative, Prajnana, the current, is generated. It is this Prajnanam that establishes in you the conviction, Aham Brahmasmi, I am Brahman; not that there are two entities, Aham and Brahman, but, as in syrup, where water and sugar have merged, Aham has merged in Brahman and there is only one entity, Brahman.

The Sama Veda has the great statement, Thath Thwam Asi (That Thou Art), meaning ‘That which is beyond Rupa and Nama (name and form) is you, who now pitiably differentiate yourself and feel distinct, by means of name and form, two transient changing insignia of individuality.” Contemplation on these grand expressions of the Truth fills one with inexplicable joy. Not being aware of these and their sweetness, man misses the great opportunity.

II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II

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Amid changing scenarios and apparent threatening developments of global magnitude, he, one who is His true devotee is sure to follow Him with love and gratitude, knowing and understanding everything as His Divine Sport. With this inner awareness, he stands focused, knowing and seeing Him and His Hands in everything around. Here, every looming threat that seems to endanger His creation becomes His own blind-fold game, a reminder from Him to His own images and reflections, you and me and everyone.

On that infinitely fateful day of 31st August 2008, Beloved Bhagawan, addressing a selected congregation of His White Army in Prasanthi Nilayam spoke of the Cosmic MahaMantra, ‘Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu’ introducing the same, rephrasing the already existing one from the Vedic lore. 

Addressing His folk of White Army,

A group of men of cadre and character,

Thus Spake Sai on 31st August 2008,

Inside the sacrosanct bhajan hall,

In The Cosmic Hub at Prasanthi Nilayam,

At Puttaparthi in the south of India.

He spoke on the greater need to pray for the many existing worlds…

Focusing on the intensified feeling of goodness for all…

Stressing on OneNess He intoned…

Birthing a new MahaMantra…

Rephrasing the existing one from the Vedic lore…

Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai, The Cosmic Monarch of time and beyond,

The Master Supreme averred then…

“Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu”

Blessings the worlds many with Peace n‘ Happiness.

Before it slips away, let’s reaffirm in ‘BOLD CAPITALS’ that we are duty-bound to follow our Beloved Master Supreme as our True Truth, as The Love behind our very existence, beingness. Let’s remember Him in The Now with absolute love and gratitude, for, He Alone Is…Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai!!!

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The Divine Whisper

A lady retired Professor who would frequently interact with one of her bright students had once sent some interesting literary, spiritual stuff to her student, ending the same aptly with ‘Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu’. The student, in turn, noticed the ‘error’ while returning the message. He wrote, “Madam, there is a mistake in your message that, you wrongly said, ‘Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu’ instead of ‘Lokah Samastha Sukhino Bhavantu’.

Upon receiving the text, she smiled inward before replying. In response, she wrote: ‘My dear child, it was consciously and intentionally done, and thus was not a mistake, as the Mantra has originated from Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba.’ She further added: ‘Anything that comes from Bhagawan has to be true and He, Bhagawan, is beyond any correction or judgement. He cannot be corrected.’

Narrating the incident, the professor said that, when the new Mantra was born out of Bhagawan in August 2008, there were many an argument in her circle about the same and one specific person, a so-called scholar, even went to the extent of saying, ‘actually there is no real difference between the two, the original one and the rephrased one.’

Why argue? A difference or no difference, nothing comes out of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai without reason. The Cosmic Creator, The Supreme Commander Of All of Creation, known and unknown worlds many, while delivering the Mantra averred thus:

“At the end of the bhajans, you are chanting ‘Lokah Samastha Sukhino Bhavantu’. It is great and expansive.  As you chant this, you are thinking of only this world, in which you are living in, implying an individual feeling. This is not correct. It is ‘Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu’, which is an expansive, all-encompassing feeling, covering all the worlds.”

At a time when an invisible virus is virtually locking the entire globe down, with humanity staring at one of the worst of the crisis in the recent history, can man move a step forward envisioning a Silver Lining at the end of the tunnel, something every positivist can do with trust and faith in his Self, Godhood. For the Sai fraternity, the Silver Lining is ‘Sai…Sai…Sai’, or should we say ‘SaiRam… SaiRam… SaiRam’ and His promises, that He would always tell us, ‘Why Fear When I Am Here’. If alone we believe in His Supreme Godhood, to the extent of our faith and belief, He will reciprocate. Here, let’s remind ourselves, The Supreme Creator, intoning the MahaMantra by HimSelf, has already put His Sankalpa (resolve) of ‘Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu’ for His creation at large.

At the most crucial time when Kali is raging to its peak, The Supreme Godhood introduced this MahaMantra as the panacea for all universal and cosmic maladies. Bhagawan, Who Is verily The Pulse of time, delivered it to the humans at the right time, for the man to use it most effectively.

The onus is on us, you and me… to follow His FootSteps, diligently.

Can we hear The Divine Whisper: “Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu”!!!

II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II

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On the 27th April 2011, after what was called, the most disheartening episode, having watched the physical frame being interned in the Sanctum Sanctorum in Prasanthi Nilayam, we had a report published on this very website, that read as below:

Puttaparthi that sung lullabies to infant Sathya, that fondled and nurtured Little Sathya to Sri Sathya Sai and that received the abundance of His love and care over and over again during the past eight-and-a-half-decade finally earned a day to grieve, though the day would be marked in the annals of Divine History as the most significant one when the Supreme Avatar of all time, all yugas, was ‘laid to rest’. …This is definitely not of ‘her’ (Puttaparthi) choice, but as fate would have it, a grieving Puttaparthi had to accept this ‘present’ as well, as she has been over the past eight-and-a-half-decade in abundance, receving His Love Infinite.  

It was a Divine Script that was written by Him alone and executed in His own inimitable fashion. For all the glory, happiness and bliss that she has received over and over again, when the final moment arrived, to bid farewell to the Soul of entire creation and beyond, she grieved and so were millions upon millions around the world. Bhagawan Who had ‘left’ His mortal coil on the 24th April 2011 was ‘laid to rest’ in Sai Kulwant Hall this morning in the presence of a massive assemblage of devotees, also attended by a host of political luminaries. (end of the report)

Back to the same day, 24th April, after nine long years, today, the world of Sai fraternity is commemorating ‘Sathya Sai Aradhana Mahotsavam’ in a different fashion. Amid an almost world-wide lockdown owing to the pandemic coronavirus, today when the fraternity of Sai devotees is focusing on the Antaranga Sai, the Inner Sai, it is wise to give a thought on the most mysterious, yet most profound of the Divine drama staged by Bhagawan during March – April 2011. By staging this drama of hospitalisation and subsequent physical exit, Bhagawan had then demonstrated to the world around the most selfless lesson of ‘transcending from the finite to the infinite’ attaching nothing to the temporal physical frame. From the finite to Infinite, from akara, sakara to nirakara… Bhagawan had it in a practical demonstration, telling the world around in full and unambiguous terms of The True Truth of His ‘Avataric’ existence. Did He really stop there… then, did His voice stop forever from then for the world of devotees? No… No… Never! He was as vocal as He was, as active as He was… for He Is… ever in the Now, Nithyanoothanam!!! Ever Fresh In The Now!!!

The world around devotees have been experiencing His Presence in myriad fashion, helping themselves in conscious evolution. Today, back to the same day of 24th April, what do we have to offer for our Aradhya Sai? Every single devotee has his or her level of conscious evolution and thus the choicest path. Bhagawan had once mentioned to a devotee that He Is so close to the devotee that there is no room or place for a path in between . What does it indicate? It shows a pointer to the True Truth that He Is. The Beingness, The Consciousness, The Existence of each one of us.

Knowing this Truth in essence, today in the Now, while feasting ourselves in a commemorative mood celebrating the Aradhana Within, Soulful Aradhana To Araadhya Sai, let us give Him our Ultimate Pledge, The Pledge that is leaving no trace of our egotistic existence. Let’s today offer our twin demons of our egotistic existence,  Ahamkaram and Mamakaram, the two devils of ‘me’ and ‘mine’, offering unto him our 13 vices or inner foes as mentioned in the ancient scriptures, along with the last traces of three virtues of Iccha, Bhakti and Shraddha to nullify our complete existence, leaving ourselves completely unto Him, in total, absolute surrender.

Did  He not remind us time and again that He Is The Indweller in each one of us? If it is so, then where is the question of our ‘mundane’ existence, the existence of the devilish, demonic ego, when He Is The very base of our existence?

Two thousand years after the proclaimed Son Of The Lord, Lord Jesus The Christ, today, let’s affirm with complete dedication and surrender to Him that, “i am not, You Alone Sai, SadhGuru Sai Alone!”

This act of surrender is the Best Act Of Gratitude, Gratitude For The Master Supreme, Who had 95 years ago descended only to help lift each one of us to the same status, unto Him, Him Alone!

Let this be the intense affirmation on this day, for our Beloved Sai as the ChidagniKunda, The Infinite Power-Packed Consciousness Within, as He Is ever waiting with arms wide open, for that infinitely priceless Eternal Embrace, The Embrace Of Oneness Unto SadhGuru Sri Sathya Sai!

Are We Ready, Are We Ready To Shun our egotistic existence with this Best Act Of Gratitude? This should be the question we should introspectively ask ourselves, on this very Day. 

II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II

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Q: Baba! Your advent has been a great landmark in human history.

A: Millions come to me, but, few give me their attention. It is a matter of demand and supply. God demands attention, for, every one needs Him. The need is to surmount the falsehood and the fear, that mankind has woven around itself.

Q: The mind of man does not accept that it is woven by itself.

A: Your mind weaves further stratagems to escape from this falsehood. It perpetually seeks other forms and other places to assuage the need; it repeats the same error, not realising the potency of the only answer to all its problems, Mindlessness. Where the mind is not, God is automatically.

Q: Yes, Baba. It pesters us with desires.

A: You call it `desire’. But really it is something in which the mind takes refuge, temporary refuge. But, you should seek a refuge that can restore balance and equilibrium to the mind. Let the part merge with the whole, the wave with the sea. Seek the whole, the boundless. There is only one God and He is omnipresent. Seek Him, desire Him, that alone counts; that desire alone works.

Q: Inspite of all attempts and searches, contentment, Baba, is so hard to come by.

A: Real contentment comes only when you are aware of the frailty of seeking anywhere else, for what does not ask for attempts or searches, for what is self-evident and self-effulgent. See the condition of all men in all lands! Each one seeks in time and space that which is beyond time and space; each one seeks through study and scholarship that which is beyond the senses and the intellect. Then, when some one advises him to try elsewhere, he agrees and moves on. But what they seek is ever, all around them, even in their own being as their very core, no matter where they are. Always, they seek the right thing in the wrong place, through persons, books, symbols, situations, paths. But, I Am too near to need a path. Lift the veil, and I Am there. Or, deny that there was ever a veil; that is enough for Me to shine forth.

Q: When that illumination is attained, there is no more death, is there?

A: Birth and death exist within the realm of opposites. You cannot have one without the other. If there is death, birth must follow. Leave the body’s health or demise to Me. It is not your affair, nor is it your responsibility if it languishes or perishes. It is the boat I have given you, to be used cautiously and carefully for crossing the ocean of objective change. It is a vehicle provided for your journey to Me. Once you realise that I Am you, the vehicle’s task is done. But, you may have to take care of it for some more time, so long as I wish.

Q: Morality cleanses the mind, you have said, Baba.

A: Yes. I have said, Be Good; See Good; Do Good. But, the good you can do is limited by the capacity of the vehicle and the environment which surrounds you, physically and socially. Let Me tell you the highest good you can do: Abide in the Absolute and The Eternal. That will ensure your liberation and the welfare of the society where you are.

Q: It seems to be an impossible task, Baba, to be established in the Eternal and the Absolute.

A: The meaning of what you say is that it cannot be ‘held on’ by the mind. Give up the mind. That is why I say, “Die mind, not Diamond, should be the precious gem you crave for.” The mind is such a wayward instrument. Holding soon tires of holding. That is the nature of holding. Release the hold and you earn release.

Q: Baba, I admire the saintly persons who have developed rare virtues and are moral giants.

A: You do not know that they are. Most are afflicted by pride at their being so virtuous! This pride bars them from Me. Be humble; humility is the highest virtue.

Q: Whatever happens, I hold on to you and you must vouchsafe humility to me. When I find I am neglected, I suffer pain.

A: That pain comes from the misconception of your mind, that I am far smaller than I am, and that I am limited and localised. Suffering is only another name for misunderstanding.

Q: What should I do to be free from pain?

A: Go to the centre of the cyclone; the rod in the centre of the bottom millstone, where you will not be affected by pressures, or what goes on around you. I Am where stillness and silence are, to help you establish yourselves in yourselves.

II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II

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Devotee: In the West, Sadhana is generally taken to be a process of self-improvement. But, that implies identification with the changing personality?

Sri Sathya Sai: First, there may be the urge to self-improvement. But, the next stage is inquiry, the inquiry into the reality of `this’ and `that’. Seven-tenths of Sadhana is ENQUIRY.

Devotee: Sadhana as it is described, seems wrong, because it is a conscious effort aimed at getting a reward. It seems to me that Sadhana is real, only when it is spontaneous. That is to say, as when one naturally loves God. He cannot but help love God. And, he cannot help but make inquiry.

Sri Sathya Sai: It is as you say; but, you have not experienced the spontaneous love for God. It is still just an idea. You have a conviction that love for God exists naturally in you. That conviction itself is the result of many lives spent in spiritual practice.

Devotee: I have the conviction so strong, that it is the very marrow of my bone that Life is One; that others, Swami, and myself are One. The Atma is that One and it is fully here at this moment; and I am, constantly engaged in Sadhana; so, the question remains: Why do I not actually experience, that Unity, as no other than myself?

Sri Sathya Sai: Your conviction of Unity is an Idea, a Thought. It is not experience. For instance, when your wife has pain in the head, do you have it too? If not, where is the experience of the Unity? The Unity must be experienced, not just felt as an idea, or entertained as a thought.

Devotee: Swami! If Sadhana and conviction do not bring the experience, how is one to get it?

Sri Sathya Sai: Through steady Sadhana. Just as with ourselves now, in this car. We need concern ourselves only with the careful driving of the car; in due course, we will arrive at Anantapur, wouldn’t we? With correct and steady Sadhana, the actual experience of the ONE will naturally come about.

Devotee: How does one really experience that he is the same as another? Because now, one feels for another through compassion. Compassion is idea, understanding; it is not direct experience of unity. When some one hit a dog, Sai Baba of Shirdi had the bruises. That is the actual experience of Unity.

Sri Sathya Sai: All is Divine. When you are firmly established in the fact of your Divinity, then, you will directly know that others are Divine. Compassion for others is felt so long as you consider yourself as a separate entity, as a consequence of the body consciousness. The story of Shirdi Sai Baba that you have heard about is not fully correct. The facts are: a lady cooked and got ready a plate of sweets for Baba, and a dog ate them. The lady drove the dog away, with blows. The lady then carried another plate of sweets to Baba, who refused them, saying that He had eaten the sweets she previously provided, and His hunger was satisfied. The lady pointed out that this was the first time that she was offering the sweets; so, how could he say to the contrary? Baba said, “No.” You offered them and while I was eating them, you have also beaten Me.” Thus, He gave a lesson that He was omnipresent and that there was only ONE Universal Life.

Devotee: What does Swami mean by `omnipresent’

Sri Sathya Sai: Omnipresent means everywhere, at the same time, all the time.

Devotee: Swami says, that at a certain stage in Sadhana, the exterior nature ceases. How is that?

Sri Sathya Sai: There are ten stages in Sadhana, each cognised by sounds of various types, ranging through different vibrations—bell, flute, conch, OM, thunder etc. The tenth stage is reached when the senses are transcended. Beyond the senses, it is the state of Bliss.

Devotee: Is that State of Bliss experienced only for a time? What happens in the daily round of life?

Sri Sathya Sai: That state remains always. Then, it is always Bliss. He thinks God, eats God, drinks God, breathes God, lives God.

Devotee: Does every one pass through these ten stages?

Sri Sathya Sai: No. One may go direct to the tenth, the transcendental state. Or, to stage six, or seven. Or not progress at all. It is not uniform for all.

Devotee: What should be one’s attitude to these stages in Sadhana, as one encounters each stage one by one?

Sri Sathya Sai: The states change, but, the `attitude’ should be unchanging.

Devotee: But, what value should one give to the various states?

Sri Sathya Sai: The Sadhaka will not be satisfied, with any of the states. For, complete union is the goal. Desire remains strong, until the transcendental bliss is realised, and then, desire ceases. At that state, all is God. Thoughts, desires, all are God.

Devotee: These thoughts that stream through the mind, are they material?

Sri Sathya Sai: Yes. They are matter. All matter is impermanent.

Devotee: Where do thoughts come from?

Sri Sathya Sai: They come from food and environment. If you have satwic food and desire only for good things and atmosphere around you, good thoughts only will come.

Devotees: Where do thoughts go?

Sri Sathya Sai: They go no place. Because, thoughts do not flow through the mind. The mind goes out and grasps, and gets engaged with thoughts. If the desire is for God, the mind does not go out. The best way is not to get involved in the problem, ‘How to get rid of thoughts?’ See all thoughts as God. Then, only God thoughts will come. The entire mechanism of body, mind, intelligence, will work in a coordinated manner, for the benefit of the higher goal.

Devotee: Then, for whom should the entire mechanism be functioning?

Sri Sathya Sai: For the Atma. A small example: The earth turns on its own axis, but, at the same time, it is revolving around the Sun. The various faculties of man should do their own work, but, the Atma is the center of their Universe.

Devotee: Swami! How can one bring these faculties under the control of the Atma?

Sri Sathya Sai: When one realises that the Atma is the Reality, the ONE, then, everything will function smoothly. It is a question of surrendering all to the Atma.

Devotee: But, Swami has said, we should ask ourselves, “Who am I that I dare talk of surrendering my mind and intelligence to God? They do not belong to me. How can I surrender that which I do not own, and cannot even control?”

Sri Sathya Sai: It is not a question of surrendering or giving to some other one. One surrenders to oneself. Recognition that the Atma is one self is surrender.

Devotee: Then, Swami means, that surrender is really a putting aside of that which one perceives as incorrect or false.

Sri Sathya Sai: Yes.

Devotee: I now understand. “Surrender” implies a person offering himself or his possessions to another person. But, really, it is more like the abandoning of ideas and concepts for which one has no further use, or which one sees as inadequate or wrong.

Sri Sathya Sai: Yes.

II Samasta Lokaha Sukhino Bhavantu II

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Subsequently, the Year 2020 took off and was having a smooth, comfortable ride in the first couple of months, not before the early signs of a looming threat, from a so-called disastrous coronavirus, started gaining substantial ground. The virus that had originated in a Chinese city soon started spreading over, finally ‘forcing’ and ‘enforcing’ itself to become a disastrous pandemic, something which neither the current generation nor any of the recent, preceding generations have ever witnessed or experienced.

The coronavirus that is not visible to the human eyes started dictating the human machinery and mechanism, asking the most intelligent species on the planet to dance to its dictating tunes, and the result was a virtual ‘global lockdown’, with a leading share of human populace opting to stay indoors, practising ‘social distancing’.

For the fraternity of Sri Sathya Sai devotees, the whole happening was something similar to the mysterious March-April episode of 2011, with Bhagawan enacting one of His most mysterious Divine Sports, literally inviting the devotees and humanity at large to LOVE HIS UNCERTAINTY.

Hearts many, individually and in unison, sacrosanct Prasanthi Nilayam, both inside and outside that included the streets in hallowed Puttaparthi, and the fraternity the world over joined in unison then, praying, pleading, beseeching and entreating Him, to bail HimSelf out of His ‘own’ Divine script. Finally came the jolt on the 24 April 2011 morning, with Beloved Bhagawan moving on from His physical frame, leaving the whole of creation into a mystery loop, forcing and enforcing to LOVE HIS UNCERTAINTY.

Come March this year, when the humanity is back in the trails of suffering from a traumatic pandemic that is demanding a global toll, leaving it into the hands of an uncertain future, how do we go about, moving on, surviving the scare? …and thus reverting to our opening prayer during the commencement of the year, to help to illumine, elevating and resurrecting humanity?

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The answer for the above is clear and distinct… that we need to develop in our trust and faith in our Beloved Bhagawan that, if alone one believes Him, Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai to be The God Supreme Incarnate, or be it in any Name or Form, then, he or she has no room for anymore worries. He should then move on eschewing all concerns, worries and fear, embracing courage and wisdom, listening to His constant Divine Whisper of Divine Assurance that comes with crystal clarity – ‘Why Fear When I Am Here’, moving on practising His precept. This becomes his essential act of gratitude to The Supreme Source n’ Force, That came down as Personification of Love Supreme – Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai.

When he moves on in this path, he will soon realise that any so-called threat or disaster that looms large over him, at an individual, societal, national or global level, is nothing but a blessing in disguise, a loud warning from The Cosmic Creator for him and the humanity at large to race back to the original roots, leaving behind the lost ways, practising loving discipline coupled with diligent devotion.

When almost the whole of humanity is currently under a quarantine period of lockdown, devotees in God should, at this specified point in time, be able to take it from a positivist’s perspective, knowing that he is being quarantined from the murky and mushy world around, leaving his infamous ‘arishadvargas’ or the six vices, under complete lockdown. The six six-fold beasts that man has to eschew before claiming his original ‘Divine’ stardom are: are kama (lust), krodha (anger), lobha (greed), moha (attachment), Madha (pride), and matsarya (jealousy); the negative characteristics of which prevent man from attaining moksha or liberation. …And once man re-emerges out of this quarantined lockdown, he is coming afresh with a new birth, as a resplendent persona, as an empowered being, now in pursuit of his final stardom, The True Truth!

Is not this the ‘right’ time for him to remind himself of his true origin of ‘Amritasya Putra’, as reminded by Bhagawan quite often, that, he is by his true source, the son of immortality, having originated from the Supreme Divinity. Bhagawan’s first ever message of ‘Manasa Bhajare…’ serves a pointer to this True Truth of man, asking him to worship the SadhGuru within, Who Is none other than The True Divine Self within, the foremost of all the Gurus. The light of this SadhGuru within lights up the whole of the universe, creation at large and it is with the light of his own Self that man is able to see, view, experience the creation around, including his own self.

So, pandemic or any so-called disastrous event, for the fraternity of ‘Amritasya Putra’ nothing should ever matter, for he is ever bound to his True Truth…as is the river that long travels only to merge in the mighty ocean, leaving no trace of individuality. Where life becomes a game, that he is bound to play with sporting spirit, let him be armed with courage and wisdom, surging on, meeting up with the challenge that life presents in various formats. Rightly Bhagawan taught us that, Life Is A Game – Play It…and Life Is A Challenge, Meet It. When he does this in diligent fashion, he will be guided to the advanced realm to Realise The Dream Of Life vide the tool of Love!!!

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Back to the starting point, our wishful, hopeful prayer on the NY eve, lovingly penned by Sri Jullie Chaudhuri, let’s, in the wake of this global pandemic coronavirus episode, remind ourselves once again without fail… reminding us rhyming with the below given thought- provoking lines…

Oh! 2020…as with everything and each atom…

Your Source too is The Cosmic Heart,

Thus, what messages do you hold in store?

Will each human being know his core…

…to be Divine and Godly?

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Let the above poetic quest be our joint quest from within, today and in the eternal now…the quest from every single heart, asking himself or herself, reminding the self to Become n’ Be!

II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II

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Vedahametam purusham mahantam
adityavarnam tamasah parastat
tamevam vidvan amrita iha bhavati
nanyah pantha vidyate’yanaya

Thus, declare the sacred verses of the Purusha Suktham, the purport being:

“I have known that great Purusha, the Supreme Being, Who Is brilliant like the Sun and Who transcends and Is beyond all darkness. One Who knows Him thus becomes immortal here. There is no other path for liberation than this.”

If Atmic Knowledge is what man pursues as his Ultimate-Goal, beyond his most subtle instincts, then the Vedas are the bedrock of this Atma Vidya and thus man’s best and most reliable ally.

Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai, Who in no uncertain terms made it clear by way of subtle hints that His Is The Most Unique – One Off – Avataric Phenomenon, has chosen the ‘Renaissance Of The Vedas’ as a premier objective of His mission, declaring: “The arrival of the Lord is anxiously awaited by saints and sages. Sadhus prayed and I have come. My main tasks are fostering of the Vedas and fostering of the devotees…”

Where fostering of the Vedas finds a direct connotation with fostering of the devotees, the Avatar, Whose descend is to primarily help man ascend to his true nature, aims at ‘achieving His Mission’ by reviving the waning ancient treasure of the Vedas to its pristine glory.

“The Vedas seek to promote good thoughts, eliminate ideas of evil, and help mankind lead the good life. Hence they have to be cherished and fostered,” proclaims Bhagawan. It certainly is the right antidote for human malady of modern days.

Bhagawan continues: If the injunctions given in the Vedas and Shastras are followed by mankind, they will be freed from affliction. Most of our troubles have arisen because we have forgotten the Vedas. The Vedic sages had carried out spiritual explorations on the basis of the Vedas. Because their findings were made known in Bharat, it cannot be said that the Vedas are not to be found anywhere else. The Vedas encompass the whole world and are immanent everywhere.

If one closely observes the evolution of Bhagawan’s mission ever since its epochal declaration, it is quite clear that, Bhagawan had long ago resolved to forge ahead with His mission in a ‘Divinely’ strategic manner, steadily engulfing the world with Vedic intonations, not by force but by inculcating awareness of Its sheer absolute significance.

First thing He did towards ‘achieving’ this end was establishing a ‘Veda Patashala’, decades ago, training blossoming minds into the greater efficacies of Vedic learning. Later, when Bhagawan established His educational institutions, Vedic learning became an essential part of the curriculum, as a mandatory co-curricular activity.

…And the grand ‘cosmically effective’ Veda Purusha Saptaha Jnana Yajnam that commenced late in the early part of the sixties, in the very Physical Presence Of The Veda Purusha HimSelf in the form of Sri Sathya Sai??? …and the allied Prasanthi Vidhwan MahaSabha, ensemble of the learned, deliberating on the ‘holy’ in the immediate Holiest Presence! Rightful initiative from the Cosmic Divine towards fixing the maladies of the world and the worldly, through His already promulgated Divine Task of Vedic Renaissance!

As a customary practice, every festival and function in the Divine Presence begins with invocatory Vedic chants. As the next ‘calculative’ step, starting from the year 2003, Prasanthi started reverberating with Vedic ‘Darshan’ chants, per day, per session, accompanying ‘The Beauty Beyond Compare’ – Sri Sathya Sai Darshan.

As is His Divine Sankalpa, the right fillip came yet again, when, on September 8, 2008, Bhagawan gave the Divine directive that everyone should learn and chant the Sri Rudram, in the run up to the 83^rd Birthday, supposedly the year of Sahasra Poornacha Chandra Darshan of the Avatar. As per His Divine command, as three of His students commenced chanting the Rudram in stages on the microphone, the rest of the assembly of students and devotees repeated after them twice, thereby proceeding to learn it systematically, under His immediate Divine guidance and supervision, an exercise that stretched from 9th to 27th September 2008. Often times, Bhagawan would be seated on the dais watching the session in progress.

Imbibing inspiration from this Divine directive, devotees, irrespective of barriers whatsoever, have taken to this learning most religiously, thus demonstrating the universal relevance and appeal of the Vedas. Indeed, the Vedas cannot be limited to any particular denomination of humanity; it is a Divine Gift, verily the Breath Of God, a legacy to which every human being is a rightful heir.

The grand legacy is on, as Prasanthi Nilayam witnesses the miracle of this Vedic transformation as a daily experience….and the Sai Centres the world over, under the auspices of International Sai Organisations, follow it in an earnest manner, meticulously taking up the Vedic learning, thus spreading the ancient glory far and wide.

It is no accident that the Vedas received Bhagawan’s prime attention; it was His pure Divine Sankalpa that, the Vedas should be revived for the renaissance of man, helping him to ascend to his true self. If the Vedas are verily the Breath Of God, if the Vedas are the foremost Repository Of Truth, and if the Vedas claim that “I have known that great Purusha”, then man must ponder over, to embrace this ancient technique, optimising the same to the fullest extent, helping himself to synchronise in cosmic harmony and expansion.

Every human being must revere the Vedas. It is the very foundation of life. Every act of daily life has its roots in the Vedas. Whether everyone knows this or not, the Vedas pervade everything. – Sri Sathya Sai

Indeed, in time to come, in fulfillment of the cosmic process, the Vedas will flourish beyond any and every barrier, engulfing humanity, the environment and the world at large as it is the most likely outcome, a natural consequence of the Absolute and Infinite ‘Sai’ Sankalpa… The Divine Will Of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai.

II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II

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Announcing the dismissal of Maya, announcing His True Truth, Sathya, The ‘little’ Divine at 14, bestowed upon the humanity the first blessing and in fact, the Ultimate Blessing… Prayer For Liberation, Manasa Bhajare… While revisiting the epochal happening on the 20th October 1940, man should ponder upon as to what does The Mantra entail? It is simpler than the simplest. The mind that serves as a mirror for the individual jeeva need to be purified with the everlasting presence of the Guru, The SadhGuru, Who Is nothing but the purest feeling of I Am…SAI…I Am… Bhagawan says, the ‘I’ represents The Brahmam, and He…Sathya Sai Is the very Source of this Brahmam…Para Brahmam…The True Truth, The Absolute!!! It is this Truth that the then 14 year old ‘Little Divine’ pronounced to you and me and to one and all, to His creation at large! The Mantra that becomes the essence of human life, that contains the Secret For Liberation!

A recap of the epochal happening on the Annunciation Day, as penned by Prof N. Kasturi.

On the 20th day of October, 1940, the day after they all returned from Hampi by special bus, Sathyanarayana started for school as usual. The Excise Inspector of the place, Sri Anjaneyulu who was very much attached to the little Baba, accompanied Him, as far as the school gate and went home, rather reluctantly. He seemed to see a superb halo, round the face of Baba that day and he could not take his eyes away from that enchantment. Within a few minutes, Baba too turned back to the house. Standing on the outer doorstep, he cast aside the books He was carrying and called out, “I Am no longer your Sathya.” “I Am Sai.” The sister-in-law came from the kitchen and peeped out; she was almost blinded by the splendour of the halo, which she saw around Baba’s head! She closed her eyes and shrieked. Baba addressed her, “I Am going; I don’t belong to you: Maya has gone; My bhaktas are calling Me; I have My Work; I can’t stay any longer.” And, so saying, He turned back and left in spite of her pleadings. The brother hurried home on hearing all this; but, Baba only told him, “Give up all your efforts to ‘cure’ Me; I Am Sai; I do not consider MySelf related to you.” Neighbour Sri Narayana Sastri heard the noise; he listened and realised that it was something serious; he ran in; he saw the splendour of the ‘halo’ and fell at Baba’s Feet. He too heard the Historic Declaration, “Maya has left; I Am going; My work is waiting.”

Seshama Raju was nonplussed; he could scarce collect his wits to meet this new situation. A boy, just fourteen, talking of bhaktas, work, maya, and the philosophy of belonging! He could think of only one plan: Sathya was entrusted to him by the parents and it was therefore his task to inform them; Sathya could leave the house, only after they came to Uravakonda.

But, Sathya would not step into that building again; He moved out into the garden of Excise Inspector’s Bungalow, and sat on a rock, in the midst of the trees. People came into the garden from all directions bringing flowers and fruits; the tope resounded to the voices of hundreds, singing in chorus the lines that Sathya Sai taught them. The first prayer that He taught them that day was, as many still remember,

Maanasa bhajare GuruCharanam
Dusthara bhava saagara tharanam

“Meditate in thy mind on The Feet of The Guru; that can take you across the difficult sea of samsara.”

His classmates wept when they heard that Sathya will no longer attend school, that He was much beyond their reach, that His company was hereafter only for those upon whom He showers His Grace. Many came to the garden with incense and camphor, to worship Him. Some came to sympathise with the family, some to congratulate them. Some came to learn and some, alas, even to laugh!

Three days passed thus in that garden; three days of bhajan and namasankirthan. A photographer came with a camera; he wanted Baba to remove a crude stone that was right in front of Him but Baba did not pay heed to that prayer. He clicked nevertheless and lo! As can be seen ‘above’, the stone had become an image of Shirdi Sai Baba! But only in the photograph, not for all assembled there.

II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II

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Thus Spake Sai on August 31, 2008, addressing a group of ‘His’ former students in the sacrosanct bhajan hall in Prasanthi Nilayam:

“ “At the end of the bhajans, you are chanting ‘Lokah Samastha Sukhino Bhavantu’. It is really great and expansive.  As you chant this, you are thinking of only this world, in which you are living in, implying an individual feeling. This is not correct. It is ‘Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu’, which is an expansive, all-encompassing feeling, covering all the worlds.”

…And as per His Divine Commandment, after an initial three rounds of instant chanting in His immediate Divine Presence in that very sacred evening, the newly born Maha Mantra, “Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu” came into existence from Thursday, September 4, 2008.

Now, the onus is on us,  to remind and remember today, in the Eternal Now, that if alone our Beloved Bhagawan had anything, anytime categorised as His lone ‘desire’, that was (is) ‘Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu’.

Concluding His Dasara Divine discourse in 2009, Bhagawan spoke of God’s one and only ‘desire’:

“God illumines the entire universe as the Atma Tatwa immanent in all the living beings and objects. Even though God may appear to be involved in so many activities in the world, it is only for the pleasure of His devotees. He has no desire of His own. He has only one desire – Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu!”

Taking cue from this above statement from our most Beloved Bhagawan, Who Is The One And Only Source n’ Force for His creation and beyond, for all the worlds and beyond, for the Cosmic Existence and beyond, let’s pledge today, in the Everlasting Now, to plunge into, dedicating ourselves to an Eternal Yajna of intentional chanting of ‘Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu’… in an effort to fulfil our Beloved’s sole, soulful, ‘desire’.

If we have to live a life that pleases You, Sweet Mother Sai,
We earnestly need to chant: ‘Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu’,
Peace for all beings,
For all are dear to You,
Peace for all beings,
For all belong to You,
This prayer pleases You immensely,
So let us chant it incessantly,
For life should be lived to please only You…

One can live his life pleasing Him simply by loving one and all… creation in It’s entirety… with that Ultimate Feeling Of Oneness!!!

II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II

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Why ‘Samastha Lokah…?’ and what is Its added significance?? …and why this transition from ‘Lokah Samastha…‘ into ‘Samastha Lokah…’??? What, Why and many a question can be raised by many minds that dwell in doubts and resort to arguments, but the very fact that the Maha Mantra was borne of The Lord Supreme, in His natural flow sans any pretence, negates all arguments, simply surrendering to His Will Supreme. Does not The Mother know the need of Her child?

If the Maha Mantra was introduced by Bhagawan with His Divine Sankalpa of Cosmic, all- embracing expansion, Samastha Lokah… does cover anything and everything, most unconditionally, rightfully endorsing the legacy of Sri Sathya Sai, that being Love… All-Embracing Love…Unconditional Love… Love That Conquers… simply L-O-V-E!!!

“Samastha Lokah…” is undoubtedly the One Off Universal Maha Mantra that claims credit to Its being from Bhagawan in His physical form. Most of the other Mantras claim their origin from the Vedic time, perceived internally by great and elevated souls. …And such a Maha Mantra that claims its origin from the Divine Resolve Of the Supreme-Most Avatar,  One Who Is hailed as The Sarvadevathaatheetha Swarupa, (The Divine Form beyond all other forms) must definitely be power-packed with Intention Of That WholeSome Divinity – The Supreme Resolve.

What could be this power-packed intention from a human perception? The Supreme Lord, from Whose Resolve sprang out this vast creation that include human beings, made humans, the highest of beings with reference to conscious expansion, in His own image… and thus, does want humans to raise to His level of vastness… expansion… becoming That… by Becoming and thus Be, His True Self, Embodiment of Love.  This is clear from His ‘own’ words, wherein He spelt out God’s single-most desire in no uncertain terms….

Concluding His Dasara Divine discourse in 2009, Bhagawan spoke thus:

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“God illumines the entire universe as the Atma Tatwa (Innate Divine Principle) immanent in all the living beings and objects. Even though God may appear to be involved in so many activities in the world, it is verily for the pleasure of His devotees. He has no desire of His own. He has only one desire – Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu!”

This Mantra stands as the Mantra beyond all other Mantras.. as it is completely selfless and cosmically vast… Pointing to His physical body, He said once that, He Is ‘top-to-toe’ selfless. Indeed, it can be rightly perceived that, this Supreme Lord, Who created man in His own image, does ‘desire’ man to be unmade and remade as… His own… reflecting The Truth beyond all truths, The Essential Sai Para Brahmam.

At a time when Kali is raging to its peak, The Supreme Godhood introduced this Maha Mantra as the panacea for all universal and cosmic maladies. Bhagawan, Who Is verily The Pulse of time, delivered it to the humans at the right time, for him to use it most effectively.

Anyone who tries this Mantra with an innate feeling of Love is sure to experience EXPANSION soon… and thus entitled to ‘Become and Be’, becoming One With Him… The Master Supreme! Sri Sathya Sai – The ‘True’ SadhGuru!!!

Can We Hear Him Whispering…  “Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu”!!!

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II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II

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