FAQ – The Loud Silence

In the depth of silence, you can hear the voice of GOD

Q: Is Silence a virtue? How?

A: We are living in a world where everyone talks and no one listens. Every one knows that they have something profound to say and if only the others listens, they could be salvaged for good. Everyone also knows that listening is not important, even though nature has given us one mouth and two ears. Listening should be double than talking, ideally. But, that is not the case. Raise your voice, for the helpless, against injustice. That is a virtue. That will strengthen your character. That will establish your true nature of selflessness, if it is not done for selfish interests. Otherwise, Silence is a virtue. In the depth of deep spirituality, that is where we arrive. SHANTI (PEACE). It is stillness and silence. When we deliberately block words and allow mind to chatter, the society is saved from your contribution to the sound pollution. But, your inner chatter cannot lead you into spiritual growth. Silence is a virtue, provided, silence has happened to you and you are not forcing it. If silence becomes your spontaneous expression, it is a virtue. It shows your stature. That silence is deep, profound and fully energized. Silence should happen inside first and as a natural expression of your inside, it should happen in your daily life too. That silence is powerful and you will glow. When we become a victim of words, often our own words and opt for silence out of fear and fatigue, it is escapism from the reality. Escapism, like suicide, is absolutely useless under any circumstances. If silence happened due to death, that is beyond our control. We had no control over that silence. It was a natural phenomena. If silence happens out of increased awareness and a deep establishment on stillness within, it is realization, a virtue. Deep silence is being-ness. Sound amounts to doing-ness. So, silence is a virtue – but again,  it depends!!!

Who is actually Clothed and Who is actually Unclothed? Think...

Q: What do you like to wear? Did you ever feel that you should conform your clothes to your stature?

A: Never. The answer to the first question is – NOTHING. Even when I wear nothing, I am clothing my soul. My body is the dress of my soul. I have worn many such dresses in the past. And eventually, I have always left the earth, as a naked soul. I never felt that I have to conform to anything terrestrial, let alone dress. I wear clothes just because the society demands it and has very strict rules about acceptable dress codes and obscenity. I prefer loose, airy, roomy clothes in which I can feel unclothed or Jeans and T shirt. Anyway, end of the day, we all are naked individuals. Born alone, will die alone. Some people even live their whole life alone, mentally, seething in selfishness. So, I never felt that I should conform to anything that is transitory. This whole existence is transitory. What can you hold as permanent? This aging body? This changing mind? Fragile thoughts? Compelling Habits? Changing environment? Thank-less social system? Greed? Depressive attitudes? Transitory feelings and emotions? Conditional Love? Mushrooming people? Inevitable death? Physical, Mental, Intellectual, Spiritual Ego? Ever changing knowledge and understanding of life and existence?  Ignorance of our true nature? Intellectual understandings? I could not find anything that is worth holding on to, till now, except the ever present soul. If you have found something on earth which we can hold on to, please let me know. Now – Tell me the truth – for most of us, isn’t this vibrant clothing a deliberate and feeble attempt to hide our insecurity? Are we not hiding from something? Or, we are just surrendering to the social norms. Aren’t we afraid of our nakedness? Aren’t we living our many fears? I am not propagating nakedness. That is up to you. I just want you to think and understand where we stand, in a world of expensive clothing and related pomposity. Just be aware.

IF I actually fear that unless I conform to a certain style or fear that people will ignore me because I am not conforming to certain clothing or socially approved mannerism, consider that I am not worth your respect.  Consider that I am an ignorant man not worth following. IF I feel that clothes enhance my stature, I am wrong. If I feel that clothes will establish a certain image in people’s mind about me, I am pathetically silly. I am not worth your time anymore. if people cannot identify the real me behind the physical frame and uttered words, I am not expressing enough. Then again, I am ignorable. So, please understand that non-conformity is liberating for me. I am not bound by anyone’s expectations. I am not bound by anybody’s thoughts. I live liberation. I may or may not clothe “properly”. I will  still remain as naked as I was born or at the time of funeral. So, non-conformity might confuse people, but, there is stability behind all confusions. That is the stability that I am inviting your attention to. That permanence is liberation. It is unbound joy. Look at avadhootas and how effortlessly they express their unbound liberation!!! Look at Shirdi Sai Baba, Bhagawan Nithyananda, Ramana Maharshi. Learn. Be unbound.

Receptivity is Your Discretion. The more the faith, the more you will receive..

Q: What is the source of your meditations?

A: Universe. Where else can you source anything from? Everything comes out of the universe and merges back into the universe. Nobody is apart from it and nothing can be created by man, per se. We are only sourcing materials for a purpose, while existing in various levels of consciousness. Everything is downloaded from the universe. I own nothing. Nothing is original. While existing at a particular frequency, we access a particular information. We de-code it and pass it on for the benefit of others. When we start owning it, the grace element disappears. When we try to make a name and ego associated with it, the purity gets wiped out. Then the whole exercise becomes useless chaff minus grains. God has left us the basic raw materials. Man is only trying to figure out what combinations of these raw materials gives maximum happiness if combined together. This meditation is not created by me. It happened to me. I delivered it, in its purity and thats why you are getting the results. Grace happens when purity is at its optimum level. Who can patent God? Who can patent God’s gifts? God’s creation? It is foolishness to think that we are original and all our thoughts are also original. These thoughts have happened in many minds before. Some were clear and some were blurred. The more the clarity, the better will be the expression. Lesser the clarity, more will be the confusion. So, there is nothing to be proud of. There is nothing to be owned. We are all temporary custodians, performing in the orchestra that God conducts. He does His job well. There are no mistakes anywhere, because He Himself created the world order, its symmetry and synchronicity. If we understand this aspect, we will also do our part very well, without our mind  stuck with the result of the show or fruit of the effort. Thats up to the conductor. He runs the show, not us. Once again, all meditations were given to me. I am delivering it with optimal purity.

Q: Are positive results guaranteed in our meditation?

A: Doubt is the enemy of spirituality. Doubts block progress. Doubts block faith. Blind faith is bad, just like emotional criticism. But, creative criticism is good. Criticize something for the purpose of gaining more clarity about it; not to destroy it. So, results are up to you. How consistent are you? How dedicated are you? Are you fast food oriented or do you entertain patience to cook and eat a healthy meal? Do you read hair-raising fiction or books on lives of saints? Do you keep your house filthy? Do you procrastinate? Do you walk around with a filled cup of intellectual trash? Is there room in your mind to take on new experiences? Are you brave enough to experience or daring enough to jump upside down into spiritual experiences? Do they scare you? Are you guided by your own experiences or others words or book knowledge? How deep is your devotion? Is your devotion transactional; that is, does your devotion ends where results are not satisfactory? Do you get all what you expect? I have to ask you all these questions. You are expecting me to deliver experiences all the time. I am doing that too. But, what are you doing? What is your contribution to yourself? You are expecting a lot from me. No problem, I will give as best as I could. What can I expect out of you? At least sincere practice and faith? When ever you expect lots from others, just for a moment think – what are you giving to them in return? I do not want your money or goodies. All I want is your whole-hearted attention and openness to receive.  Do you think I am arrogant to ask such questions? Consider me so, it does not matter to me because my intentions are unselfish. Results are directly related to your capacity and openness to experience other realities. Each gets what they deserve in our meditation. This is for sure. This is our experience in the last 3 years. Many come with filled up buckets of spiritual expectations and trash. What can I give them? Even if I give them something, unless they trash their junk, how can they carry it home? I shall deliver, provided you can receive and save. Meditations are powerful. Just let go, unburden yourself and come to me with empty minds. You can take home the celestial nectar. Nobody can eat the whole buffet. You can eat only as much as your belly can accommodate. Eat only as much as you can digest. Over eating will lead to stomach disorder. In spirituality also, walk the strides that you can easily take. Never walk or run to keep up with another. If you do that, it will be a BIG mistake. When ever you approach a Guru, do not go there to test your mettle against His. You should meet a Guru with an attitude of surrender. A willingness to receive and ability to assimilate the pearls of wisdom that you might gather there. No words happen by accident. No thoughts are unnecessary. They all come out of the substratum which makes you and your expressions. They are important for you. So, faith as one leg and patience as the other, walk to the glory of spirituality. You will reach the realms of your Father effortlessly. Destroy expectations. Destroy ego. You will see the light. Nobody can give you experiences until you are ready to receive them and experience them. Hope this matter remains clear in your mind.

Q: Competency of Spiritual Masters

A: Who wants to compare? Who are you comparing? Me? And whom are you comparing with? Why? From which level are you comparing? Can a 5th standard student understand the awareness level of a post-graduate student? Why do we compare at all? These are all wasted exercises.  Utter waste. Instead, Chant the name of God. Surrender to Him. Understand that all of God’s creations are unique and never identical. Nobody can compare anything with anybody. Live that uniqueness. Express it. The competency of your Guru will be equal to your receptivity. Understand that clearly. You will not get a 10th standard tutor while still in 5th standard. Grow up. You will become eligible for higher masters. At that point of time, you will realize that all masters were one. All have same expressions. All are children of the same father and there is no difference between the Guru and you. Then you win the test of life and touch the realms of non-dual reality.

Q: Astrology and Astrologers

A: Astrology is science. I respect it. But, please don’t send your astrologers to me to check my horoscope. Be satisfied with yours. I do not know how you felt that I might be interested in astrologers or palmists or face readers!!! Did you feel that I am too insecure? Friends, I am not eager to know my future. If they say that my future is great and bright, the maximum that I would do is smile. If they say that my future is very bleak, still I will smile. So, please do me a  favor, do not send them to me. I do not have much insecurity, by the grace of the Lord Almighty. I am ready to accept what ever He wants me to endure. I have endured a lot – much more than you can imagine – in the past. I am not scared to face my future, head on. I have observed that most of these astrologers are not doing astrology as a passion. For many, it is a profession. First, they will tell you what you like to hear – some bright story about your future. When you are thus pleased, they put some fear in you about some inevitable catastrophe ahead in your life. Then they will propose remedies such as poojas, gems or stones. Thus they bleed you from your money and possessions. Your otherwise secure future will become insecure when you have lost all the money. And many people, like donkeys – (poor animals do not know why they are carrying all the burden that they always do), carry a lot of stones and metals on their body – just to feel “future secure”. Anyways, I am only living in the present and the future does not give me any fear. Once again, I am not against astrology. I am only against those who create fear in you. Our path is that of fearlessness and liberation. Avoid all those who put junk in your mind.Thank you for your kind understanding. May your future be as bright as the ever-benevolent sun.

Q: What shall we do for you?

A: Serve the humanity for me. Serve the helpless of the world. Be kind and compassionate to the less fortunate. Feed birds and animals. Never capture them, bind them or kill them. Love all beings. Empower and liberate as many beings as possible in this life. Do not count your positive action. Just do it and do another and another. Do not expect thanks or gratitude from anyone and do not be disappointed if you did not receive applauses. Help the helpless not considering the time or space. Just entertain an attitude of gratitude and compassion. When ever you feed and help other beings, I feel deeply satisfied. Otherwise, I need nothing from you.

Q: What is your future agenda? What is the ideal agenda for a seeker?

A: Nothing. I am not living my agenda. I am living the Universal agenda. If I cannot make an agenda for myself, what can I give you? The agenda of any captive soul (that which resides in any body) is ultimate liberation from the birth-death cycle. I hope your ultimate agenda is the same.

I am the subtle living in the gross. My collaboration with the gross is only for the expressions. Once need for expressions cease, I will leave the gross. When and where is immaterial. Time and space is immaterial when we live beyond time and space. Consciousness which is everything never existed as a unit and never ceased to exist as a conglomerate too. All are one. You and I are one. God is One. We are God. Shivoham. I am Shiva.

The Audible Silence is SHIVA

Great Masters – Shirdi Sai Baba – Part 2

The Great Avatar Sai Baba of Shirdi

Sai Baba lived a simple life, in a dilapidated mosque. He used the same set of clothes till it became obscenely torn and useless. He never cared for fancy clothes, which was always available, as his popularity rose. Many people brought many goodies to Baba. He immediately distributed them to who ever was around at that time. Very few things did he ask Shama to keep, such as some pictures of his that devotees gave, some vegetables, wood for dhuni etc. Many times, Baba appeared to people as very ordinary. He used to smoke chillum – and even suffered breathlessness and asthma at times. He would ask very basic ordinary questions to devotees which would make them wonder if Baba was indeed a true master or actually an ordinary man. Baba always behaved like an ordinary man to confuse his visitors. Those who could not see beyond his simplicity and natural behavior, left him with a confused mind. Some came back again, some never returned back to him.  Some others who saw the fire inside the ashes, never left.

A master should be internally felt and absorbed, not heard or seen. What you see or hear could be very ordinary stuff. The true master hides behind this ordinary matter. A true master may look too ordinary and simple. People who are used to spiritual pomposity will easily get confused. They may even consider the shallow pompous as real and the true but ordinary master as unreal. Nevertheless, masters always served their purpose of assuming their gross body precisely and with commitment. They always gave forth what each deserved, instead of what each desired. In this chapter, we shall see how he bestowed blessings on some of His closest disciples.

Sai Baba Deluded His Devotees with His simplicity

Status and stature are two entirely different things. Status can be conferred while stature needs to be earned. Status can be created while stature has to happen. There are many acharyas, Gurus and philosophers. Some have only book knowledge and borrowed experiences. They have read enough books to know how each situation in spirituality feels, including the state of enlightenment. They have only theoretical knowledge and they depend on books to deliver knowledge to seekers. They can never impart experiences. It is important that we develop our sixth sense, enough to identify these acharyas who pretend to be Gurus, and avoid them as much as possible.

Shirdi Sai Baba once entertained such a man called Javhar Ali, brimming with knowledge, but with no stature. Baba seemingly respected and obeyed Javhar Ali and confused those who respected or worshiped Baba. Was Javhar Ali indeed superior in stature to Baba? Baba was playing a game to make Javhar Ali humble and also make His devotees sharper in their awareness and understanding. Stature always comes out into the open and wins, sooner or later. As is the case here, Shirdi Sai eventually proved to be much more superior and a true master than the egoistic Javhar Ali. This is how Great Masters operate. They convey messages and teachings quite implicitly. Only those who have developed the faculty of keen observation will know the difference and truth between the real and the glamorous.

A Great Master is a True Expression of Divinity

In His early days at Shirdi, Sai Baba used to have long hair, unshaven or cut. He was a strange, but handsome boy. He used to dress like an athlete.After His wrestling bout and defeat at the hands of Mohiddeen Tamboli, Baba changed His attire completely and started dressing up like a Muslim Fakir. He did not even have a name, when He came to Shirdi. The name Sai Baba was a spontaneous expression from the mouth of the priest of Khandoba temple, Mhalsapati. Mhalsapati recognized the master inside the ordinary man; he felt the stature of Baba. He spent all his life with Baba. He always used to sit with his eyes closed near Baba. He became blind soon after Baba left His body, because he wanted to only see Baba and nothing else. Baba never allowed Mhalsapati to accept any money or gifts that devotees who came to see Baba showered on him. Baba kept him poor in kind, but rich in his  spiritual heart. Baba gifted him the supreme bliss, much more valuable than any physical and transitory richness.

Mhalsapati named this Young Avadhoota, SAI BABA

Kasinath Govind Upasani Sashtry  was born on 5th May 1870 in a family of Brahmin priests. He was a spiritual renegade. He had no interest in academics and practiced chanting, Yoga and Meditation rigorously. His spiritual practices were often extreme. He used to even meditate in Burial grounds on Lord Shiva. Even though he married thrice and tried his luck in medicine and other means of livelihood, he always went back to his supreme aim – spiritual growth. He stayed in Nasik and Pune at times, and even begged for a living. He resorted to extreme penance without food or water and attained great spiritual powers. It was Shirdi Sai Baba who finally converted Kasinath into Upasani Maharaj, a true master. He left his physical frame in 1941. Even now, Sakori (near Shirdi), where Upasani Maharaj lived the latter part of his life, is a shrine frequented by many. He continues to guide many, even after his physical exit.

Sai Baba and Upasani Maharaj

Baba had a unique connection with Upasani Maharaj. Upasani Maharaj used to know every thing happening in Dwarakamai, sitting in Khandoba temple. Whenever Upasani Maharaj left Shirdi on his own, Baba brought him back. This is the love of the master. Remember the famous lines of Ramana Maharshi ” He who has earned the grace of his Guru will undoubtedly be saved and never forsaken, just as the prey that has fallen into the tiger’s jaw will never be allowed to escape.” Baba protected him, elevated him, empowered him and made him in His own spiritual image. After meeting Baba and connecting with Him, Upasani Maharaj stayed in Khandoba Temple, alone. He cooked his own food and contemplated on Lord Shiva all the time. Baba told Upasani Maharaj ” You must sit quiet in the temple and do nothing. Have nothing to do with anybody. You have great (spiritual) future”. When ever Upasani Maharaj requested through Shama for Baba’s permission to go from Shirdi, Baba said “He has to clear his account. This is a connection of many lifetimes. Our families have been connected for thousands of years. So, we are one.” Finally Baba said “Everything I have got has been completely given to him”. When his third wife died and Maharaj became sad, Baba consoled him and said ” I myself have taken care of the welfare of her soul. I am fully responsible for you”.

Upasani Maharaj

Sai Baba did test Upasani Maharaj in many ways. Baba visited Maharaj in the form of a dog during lunch time. He also visited Maharaj who was a staunch Brahmin in the form of a lower caste man, and later scolded him for not caring for Baba. Baba also took away most of the money that Maharaj had, in the form of dakshina and even did not allow Maharaj to wear new clothes sent by his elder brother on religious occasions. Thus, Baba taught him detachment to worldly matters, increased his sensitiveness to see Baba in everything, a dog, a poor man, a bird, and established Maharaj in supreme spiritual well-being.

It was Upasani Maharaj who wrote the famous verse on the occasion of the installation of Sai Paadukaas (Holy footwear representing the feet of the master), under the neem tree where Baba appeared first in Shirdi. The lines that Upasani Maharaj wrote are chanted everyday as part of the Arathi. It goes like this:

“Sada Nimba Vrikshasya Mooladhiwasat

Sudhaastravinam tiktamapyapriyamtam

Tarum Kalpavrikshadhikam Saadhyayantam

Namaameeswaram Sadgurum Sai Naatham”
(I bow at the feet of Sadguru Lord Sai Nath who, by His Divine presence, made the bitter Neem tree into a tree oozing with life-giving nectar, much greater than Kalpavriksha, the celestial wish-fulfilling tree)

Madhavrao Deshpande - SHAMA

Madhavrao Deshpande alias Shama was “Baba’s Boy”. He used to be a teacher in the neighborhood of the masjid where Baba stayed. He used to observe Baba’s mannerisms very closely and used to get bewildered. Is this a saint or a mad man? Later, wisdom dawned on him and he came closer to Baba. Baba took care of him. Shama used to be like a personal assistant to Baba. They used to chat informally in the quiet hours of the days, during the times when Baba’s popularity was relatively less. Once Shama asked Baba: “Does Brahma Loka and Vishnu Loka exist?”  Baba replied: “Yes, they do, but, what have you got to do with it?” Shama had a wish to see these lokas. Baba asked him to close his eyes and enabled him to see these lokas as clearly as he would see the outside world with his eyes open. Baba said: “Understand that these lokas are also as illusory as earth. We must go well beyond all these illusions and merge into the supreme, non-dual world.”

Shama: “Did Rama and Krishna really exist?”

Baba: “Indeed, they did.”

Shama: “Is it true that all the monkey squads helped Rama?”

Baba: “It is true. I myself saw innumerable monkeys assembling and them climbing one on top of another like ants.”

Shama: “How can you see them? You are not that old. This happened centuries ago”.

Baba: ” I was as I am now. We have lived numerous lives. You do not know that, but I do.”

Baba gave short cut remedies to people. He was a practical Guru. When Mr. Pradhan wanted to go home and heavy down pours were dampening his hope, Baba read his mind and said “Are Allah Abhi Barasat Purakar. Mere balbacche ghar janewala hai. Usko sukhse jane de”. (Oh God, Stop the rain now, my children need to return home. Let them go back in comfort.) The rain stopped soon and Mr.M.W.Pradhan was given permission to leave.

Mr.Narke saw Sai Baba in the heighth of His anger. He was fuming and full of passion and anger. That was Narke’s first experience and he was confused. “Is this a saint or a mad man?” That evening, when Narke went to Baba and, while massaging His feet, Baba stroked Narke’s head and said “I am not mad.” Baba knew Narke’s innermost thought!!!

As we know, Baba had power over elements. Once a severe storm lashed Shirdi, along with rain and thunder. Baba stepped on to the edge of Dwarakamai and shouted. “Jara Dhav” (Stop Little). The storm abated quickly.

Abdullah who served Baba with devotion and faith had seen many strange behaviors of Baba. Everyday, He used to stare at east, west, north and south and talk something, and even wave his stick at some invisible entities. Das Ganu Maharaj also observed Baba vigorously rubbing coins between 1PM and 2PM – almost everyday, when He was alone. Everything had a purpose – He was liberating body-less entities from terrestrial bounds, and also liberating embodied entities like Abdullah, Shama and Das Ganu from emotional bondage.

Some people are never satisfied with anything. They habitually complain and see something lacking always. They can never be truly happy. To one such woman, Baba said “why do you constantly complain about things big and small? Chant the following mantra many times everyday and be happy”. He asked her to chant

“Sree Raama Raama Ramethi

Rame Raame Manorame

Sahasranaama Tathulyam

Raama Naama Varaanane”

She found peace within and Baba warded off all internal and external evils from her with this “manthropadesh.” Even if someone asked, Baba never used to give a mantra. In this case, even without asking, He gave one. Such is the style of Great Masters. The nature of Shiva is “Kshipra Kopa” Easy to get angry and “Kshipra Prasaada” easy to be happy or bless. This is why even Raavana and such others pleased Shiva and got many boons. In both these states, Shiva removed heavy karmas of devotees. Shirdi Sai Baba was also very famous for his anger and also for his deep compassion and kindness. He was easy to be pleased. There were occasions where he was violently displeased with the rich and tasty gifts offered by a rich merchant and very much pleased with a small banana offered by an old woman.

Words cannot explain the truth of Baba’s existence. He blessed us by his visit on earth. What a master!!! A master par excellence  indeed!!! The story will continue, as long as Baba wants it to. I wish all of you Blessings from Sai Baba.

Sai Ram

M

The Light of Shree Sai Leads us all...

Tribute to Shirdi Sai Baba

Thus Spake Sai Baba of Shirdi

Supreme Avatar - SAI BABA

• Allah is the protector of the poor. There is nothing besides Him.
• Look at me and I will look to you. Trust the Guru fully. That is the only sadhana. Guru is all the Gods.
• Sit quiet. I will do the needful.I will take you to the goal.
• I will not allow my devotees to fall. Night and day, I think of my people.
• My tomb will speak and move with those who make their sole refuge. I shall be active and vigorous from the tomb also.
• My name will speak. My mutti (dust) will reply.
• If one meditates on Me, repeats My name, sings My deeds, and is thus transformed into Me, his karma is destroyed. I will stay by his side always.
• I draw My devotee to Me at the time of his death, though he may die a thousand miles away.
• If one sees Me only, always listens to talk about Me, and perpetually repeats “ Sai Sai”, with a heart overflowing with devotion, and is devoted to Me alone, he will reach God; he need not fear or worry for his body and soul.
• If one never tastes food before offering it to Me, I am his slave.
• I will never leave anyone in the middle.
• In the abode of my devotees, there will be no dearth of food and clothing.How can I allow my children to fast or starve?
• I will not allow my men to get away from Me.

Baba about Himself

Beyond all Dualities exist a Sadguru

• Iam the slave of God. God is the Lord and the Master
• This is a Brahmin, a white Brahmin, a pure Brahmin. This Brahmin will lead lakhs of people to the subhra marga (White path or path to Self Realisation) and take them to the goal, right up to the end. This is a Brahmin Masjid.
• Brahman is my father and Maya is my mother. As they interlocked, I got this body. I am Parvardigar ( God). I live in Shirdi and everywhere.
• All things are mine, I give everything to everyone.
• All this universe is in me.
• All that you see taken together is Myself. He who thinks that Baba is only at Shirdi has totally failed to see Baba.
• I look on all equally. Not a leaf moves except by My grace.
• I get angry with none. Will a mother get angry with her kids? Will the ocean send back the water to the several rivers?
• I do not instruct (anyone) through the ear. Our traditions are different.

Baba’s Teachings

A Sadguru's Life itself is His Teaching

• Be the real and true sons of the mother ( Dwarakamai). And fully stock your magazine. What is to become of us? Earth will return to earth, and air ( breath) will return to the air. This opportunity will not return.
• Give up all desires and dwell in your mind upon God-in-all. If the mind is thus concentrated, the goal is achieved.
• For Dhyana ( Meditation), meditate on me as formless, mere Ananda. If that is hard, then think of my form, just as, you see it here. Think of it night and day. With such meditation, the mind dissolves into unity. The difference between the subject, object and the act of contemplation  will be lost. This results in Chaithanya Ghanatha ie, Brahma Samarasata.The Guru’s glance is bread and milk for the desciple.
• If you make me the sole object of your thoughts and aims, you will attain paramartha, the supreme goal.Look at me with undivided attention; so will I look at you. This is the only truth that my Guru had taught me. The four sadhanas and the six sastras are not necessary. With entire confidence, trust your Guru. That is enough.
• Stick to your Guru with unabated faith, what ever the merits of other Gurus and however little the merits of your own.
• It is not the Guru that makes himself your Guru. It is you who must regard him as your Guru., ie, place faith in him. Take a postherd and regard it as your Guru and see if your goal or aim is reached or not!
• My Guru, after depriving me of everything, asked me for two paise. I gave them to him. He did not want metallic gifts. What he asked for was 1.Faith ( Nishta) and 2. Saburi ( Patience or cheerful endurance.)
• One should not stay in any place where saints (or one’s Guru) are spoken ill of.
• If anybody is angry with another, he wounds me to the quick. If anyone abuses another, I feel pain. If anyone bravely endures abuse, I feel highly pleased.
• If anybody comes and abuses you or punishes you, do not quarrel with him. If you cannot endure it, speak a simple word or two, or else leave the place. But, do not battle with him and give tit for tat. I feel sick and disgusted when you quarrel with others….Do not fight with any; nor scandalize any. When one talks ill of you, pass on unperturbed. His words cannot pierce your body. Others acts will affect only them and not you. Its only your acts that will affect you. If others hate us, let us take to Nama Japa ( Chanting God’s name) and avoid them…..Do not bark at people; do not be pugnacious. Bear with other’s reproach….This is the way to happiness. Let others and the world turn topsy-turvy, but do not mind that; keep on to your own straight course. The world maintains a wall…..between oneself and others. Destroy this wall. Allah Malik (God is the supreme Lord.)
• Have regard to Rinanubandha. Who ever or what ever creature comes to you, do not drive it away, but receive it with due consideration. Give food to the hungry, water to the thirsty and clothes to the naked. Then  God will be pleased.
• If anyone begs anything of you, if you can grant the request or get it granted, do so, Don’t say ‘No”. If you have nothing to give, give a suave ‘no’; do not get angry with him. If you do not like to part with what you have, do not say falsely that you have nothing to give. Decline to give it in polite terms and say circumstances and desires stand in the way.
• Work, utter God’s name, read scriptures. If you avoid rivalries and bickerings, God will protect you.
• We should never kill a snake.Because it will never kill us unless it is ordered to do so, by God. If  God has so ordered it, we cannot avoid it.
• If anyone talks ten words to us, let us answer with one word, if we reply at all. Do not battle with any…. Who is whose enemy? Do not say anyone that he is your enemy. All are one and the same.
• Among the six vikaras (feelings) jealousy is the easiest to conquer. In this vikara, there is no question of (actual) gain or loss to ourselves. Jealousy ( Matsara) is the inability to endure another’s profit and prosperity. If another gets fortune and power, we cannot put up with it; we scandalize him. When he meets with a loss, we rejoice.But, is this good? When that man attains prosperity, what loss have we really suffered? But, people do not consider this point. If he benefits, let us consider ourselves benefited; or let us strive to attain equal good. That should be our desire and determination. What has he taken away of ours? Nothing! He received the prosperity that is the result of his Karma.
• Never accept gratis, the labour (or property) of others. This should be the rule of your life.
• You must always adhere to truth and fulfil all the promises you make.Have faith and patience. Then, I will be always with you wherever you are.
• What ever you do, do thoroughly. Else, do not undertake.
• Adhere to vairagya (dispassion). Women are a great danger to an ascetic.Think of God and kill out the ego. A person that has not overcome lust cannot see God.
• Do not borrow for celebrating a feast or festival, or for pilgrimage.
• Athithi (guest) is what ever creature is hungry and comes to you  at  the lunch time, whether it is human being or a bird, beast or an insect. All these seek food. The real athithi that you get, that you do not regard as such ….At Kakabali (offering food to crows) time, take plenty of boiled rice outside the house and leave it there. Do not shout or call for any creature nor drive any away. Whatever the creature that comes to eat, let not that disturb your mind. You get – thus – the merit of feeding lakhs of guests!
• Eat very little. Do not go for a variety of eatables. A single sort, ie, dish will suffice.
• The earth bears seeds. Clouds rain on them. The sun sends his rays, and makes them sprout. When these sprout, earth, clouds and sun keep on their happy course in all directions. They neither exult at the growth nor deject at the destruction of the sprouts. You should be unaffected like these.If you are, when can sorrow come to you? Mukti ( liberation) is this absence of sorrow.
• We are not to bother ourselves about the beauty or ugliness of the person, but to concentrate solely on God underlying that form.
• What God gives is never lost and what man gives never lasts.
• People wrongly think they are different from one another.  Iam inside you and you are inside me. You continue to think in this way. Then you will realize it.

Miscellaneous

A True Master Remains Simple and unassuming

• Never argue. Reply to 10 words with one.
• God is afraid of evil and evil is afraid of God.
• Whenever 10 persons join, there is a rub.
• Money says, “ If you use me well, I shall serve you well.”
• Food (meal) says , “ Cook me well and I shall serve you well.”
• A Yogi is always better than a bhogi.
• He who, being a king, wears a beggar’s robe is good.
• People have a house each – I have none.
• The fruit of good is great; of evil, very little.
• I travel thousands of  kos ( 1Kos = approx 3miles) to protect thousands of people.
• This ( Baba himself) is no servant of anyone; this is the slave of Allah only.
• One should be content to remain as God keeps him.
• One should know the Master. Or else, Why have you come?To collect dung cakes?
• One should know the inmates of Wada ( lodge)
• The name of Allah is eternal; Allah is all-in-all.
• Once the strings are entrusted to the Sadguru ( Absolute Master), there is no cause for grief.
• There is a low-born one ( Mahar) in the body; he should be evicted.
• Either we must resort to someone or we must show the path to others.

Golden Words of Sai Baba ( Excerpts from Baba – The Master by Acharya E. Bharadwaja. Deepest Pranaams to Sri Bharadwaja, the self-realized one.)

Another Excerpt – Relevant for all times:

Curious to know what Baba was doing, Nana asked him why he was scrutinizing the same coins again and again. Baba replied, “Beta (dear son), it is true I am repeating the same action again and again, repeating the same words. Look at the mango tree in front of you. It is in full bloom. The leaves are hardly visible. If all the flowers in the tree were to become fruits, will the branches be able to bear the weight? But it does not happen that way. Most of the flowers are swept away by the wind. Many others drop of their own account. Only some of them become fruits. Of these some are eaten by squirrels, birds, or monkeys. In this way ninety percent of the flowers do not result in fruits. Only ten percent remain in the tree. Is it not so?” They agreed, that it was so.
Baba continued, “In the same manner thousands of devotees are coming to me. Are they all ripening into good devotees? Many drop away in the middle. Some come for getting their desires fulfilled. Some seek wealth. Many are coming either for study or in connection with jobs, marriage or other personal desires of their own. In each of them, there is some defect or other. No one comes for My sake. I have a precious thing to offer in my coffers. But no one seeks it. It is for this reason that I am examining them (coins). Among these coins there are some which are worn out, some which are debased, and some which are twisted and worthless.”
“Just as I am examining the defects in these coins, I am also looking for the defects among the devotees who come to Me. I am trying to find out what defects are there in these people and whether, with those defects; they can really comprehend My Truth. They want Me, but all their desires are related to mundane objects. How can they attain Me with this attitude? How can you reach your destination if you get into a wrong train going in some other direction? They want Me, but they don’t make efforts for realizing Me. Among those who come to Me, it is only one in a thousand who really makes the efforts to realize Me.”
“The minds of the “so called” devotees are turned in the wrong directions. If their desires are fulfilled, they praise Me. But, once a desire is not realized they go to the extent of even reviling Me. Even while they are attempting to understand Me, they harbor doubts from head to foot. Some even leave Me, when their worldly desires are not fulfilled. These are not sincere devotees at all. They are in fact worst sinners. How can they reach Me?” said Baba.

I surrender all my sundry expressions at the feet of Lord Sai Bhagawan

Great Masters – Shirdi Sai Baba

A Master Beyond Comparisons

Nobody knows where He came from. Everybody knows that He is still very much Alive and Omnipresent. He answers to people’s calls. He still appears in physical form. He instantaneously grants boons and blessings. He conveys messages through dreams as well as through various mouths of His. A true master of masters. Words cannot justifiably explain the phenomenon called Shirdi Sai Baba. I humbly bow to this avatar. I prostrate at His feet.

A True Avadhootha - A True Avatar

He lived in a dilapidated mosque in a village called Shirdi in Maharashtra, constantly attributed everything to the Lord by repeating “Allah Maalik” and never took any ownership. The whole ownership, of every thought, word, action and miracles always stayed with Allah. He never had anything to do with it. He was an avadhootha – a renunciate who always reveled in his omnipresence and was always in tune with the Universal consciousness. They are born to bless the world. Baba explicitly conveyed His universality while He existed in His physical body and even more, after exiting it. He never bothered to explain where He came from and what His mission was. His pedigree was immaterial to the brilliance of His stature. He confused many people with His ordinary, unassuming fakir looks, yet extra ordinary presence. His major mission seemed to be to unite the warring Hindus and Muslims, while the British policy was to divide and rule. In that sense, he was uniting what the British were separating. He worked in a subtle, but sure way. Like any great master ahead of his time, He was also misunderstood by the then society. Many considered him as mad. Many thought He was fake. Many objected to Him collecting dakshina (offering or donation to express gratitude to Guru or Lord, in the micro sense). The fact remained that what ever He collected each day, was distributed on the same day. He never saved anything. He never accumulated wealth. He mostly took from the rich and distributed to the poor. He took money and removed karmas of seekers. In the end, all that remained in His pocket was sufficient money to bury His body. He only kept that saving always. He saved nothing else. Just like any true master, He had no needs of His own.

Baba Lives in All Beings. By feeding an animal, we are feeding Baba.

Baba is not to be understood intellectually nor to be worshiped mechanically. Baba has to be felt. Baba works subtly through many bodies or takes any form at will. He gets the show moving in the most unexpected way, and keeps His devotees guessing. His purpose is to destroy expectations and increase faith. To many, at the most unexpected moment, Baba has appeared as a beggar, a wandering monk, a fakir, a dog, a cat, a pigeon, a crow or even a snake. Nobody can say in which form He will appear and when. Baba wants us to respect all creation. We should not kill either. We should be compassionate to all beings. We should share our food with other beings. Blessings happen through various bodies. We should never underestimate any creation of God. Baba always teaches us love and compassion. He lives and works through many creatures so that we always stay benevolent for His sake. Life cannot be taken for granted.

Significance of Dakshina (Offering/Donation to express gratitude)

As mentioned earlier, Shirdi Sai Baba used to collect donations and distribute it to the needy on the same day. He never stored any money, except what was required for his funeral. He also over-paid for all services rendered to him. He never ever bargained. Those who tried to cheat him, used to experience great difficulties in their life ahead. This is the same with all spiritual masters. All those who hurt, cheated or harmed spiritual masters, suffered many troubles over lifetimes. They accumulated huge karma by such deeds. Masters were not perturbed by any wrong doings nor took any revenge against anyone.

Through his action, Baba was teaching us that accumulation of anything is bad, including karma. Money becomes alive when it is transacted. Stagnant money is of no use for anyone. This was one significant lesson that he wanted us to learn. When accumulated, it is a burden and when released, it liberates us. When we try to accumulate, we distance from God because tendency for accumulation is a result of our insecurity. A man with firm faith is never insecure. When our faith increases, accumulation decreases. It liberates us. Liberation is the sign of proximity to God. In the same way, a person with his eyes constantly focused on future is prone to tremendous insecurity. Astrologers and fortune tellers will be ruling his life. Pardon the slight deviation. So, we should keep sufficient money for our purposes and use the rest for the good of others, including environment, animals and birds.  Thus we stay light and liberated. I am sure you would have read in Sai Satcharitra about the rich man who came for moksha and, even though he had plenty of money in his pocket, he was not willing to share a fraction of it with Baba. Baba then tested him by pretending to be in urgent need of money. How can such binding to money help moksha or liberation? Look into ourselves, most of us are of the same nature. We do not care about others. Our comfort is the only important thing for us. Some people do not even care for their families. That again, is besides the point, but we definitely need to be aware.

On a physical level, what ever calories you accumulate need to be burned or else, obesity and disease will happen. What ever we eat also should be excreted on the same day or else constipation will happen and toxins will be released into our system, which in turn, could get blocked. The water that we drink goes out of our body as sweat or urine without much delay. But if it stagnates?  Thus, in physical level, we are constantly accumulating and releasing. We have to, or else, we will die. Body does not allow health and accumulation together. Either good health or accumulation. Internal accumulation of food becomes fat.Weight is a problem for many. We are constantly told to watch our weight. However, even if nobody reminds us, we become watchmen to our own wealth, afraid to spend and afraid of theft. The same way we crave for money, we crave for food. We eat emotionally. We accumulate emotionally. Only when intellect takes over, we become moderate. BUT, when do we allow intellect to function??? So, just like Baba collected Dakshina and distributed it on the same day, we have to eat only what we need and burn it out on the same day. Unemotional eating habits and limited consumption will ensure and maintain good health.

Similarly, on the emotional plane, we accumulate a lot of emotional garbage while experiencing various situations during our waking hours. Emotion plus thought, word or action creates karma. Hence, we have to trash all emotions that we accumulate each day, on the same day itself. How do we do it? Through replaying incidents and forgiving, meditating, chanting mantras, or attending bhajans or poojas. This is why traditionally, people were asked to wake up in the most subtlest of times of the day – Brahma Muhoortha – between 3 and 6AM – and do yoga, chant mantras and meditate. This will strengthen their minds, reinforce it and make it impregnable for emotions to easily penetrate and establish within. When we do that, there will not be much accumulation of  emotional trash each day. Hence, before going to bed, it is enough to forgive and forget and surrender all thoughts, words and actions at the feet of the Lord. We will then get emotionally purified. This is like an internal bathing or cleansing. Since through everyday life,  we allow emotions to run wild quite unconsciously and we create emotional trash as we live an emotional existence, the  elimination of it is equally important. If this cleansing is not done regularly, just like we stink if we do not take bath twice a day, our mind will become contaminated with emotional filth. This increases our karma and invites catastrophes. Moreover, it ensures confusion in our life. Hence, it is important to trash all emotions each day and cleanse ourselves internally.

On the intellectual plane, we accumulate knowledge each day. It also has to be converted into purposeful and benevolent action immediately. Knowledge is raw dough until it is baked and made usable. So, intellectual knowledge, if it remains like unused wealth, becomes a burden. This burden can also be called EGO. Ego beyond a reasonable limit is useless as well as dangerous. It distances us from God. Faith and surrender takes us closer to God, while ego separates us from God. So, a man who is proud of his intellect and knowledge is like a prisoner who is proud of his prison cell. These are words of Fr. Anthony D’Mello.  Therefore, what ever intellectual matter we accumulate each day, it must be processed and made useful for others on the same day. Otherwise, it contaminates and isolates us. This adds to repeated births and deaths, until ego is broken and nullified like a coconut at the feet of the Lord, through various hardships of life. Ego is the shell of the coconut. Only once it is broken can we taste the sweet kernel and nourishing water of divinity. So, Baba shows us how we should also take care of our intellect. Baba is a supreme master and His ways of teaching are quite unique and inimitable.

Reality Stays Well Beyond Senses. A Master should be Felt, not just looked at

Grace is not easy. It needs perfect surrender. Once Grace flows, life becomes very easy. We have heard many lectures where people talk about awareness. What is awareness? How does one become aware? It is easy. Look at the children. Small children. They start their life through feeling. They feel the ground, they feel their mother, father, a flower, a comb, a brush; they feel heat, cold, clothes, bed, etc, etc. When they grow older and their senses starts to co-ordinate with their mind, they start forming concepts. Then, they detach from feeling to knowing. We have to get back to feeling first. Become a child. Feel everything. Feel food, feel relationships, feel weather, feel sunshine, feel flowers, birds, animals or their behaviorism. When we start feeling, our mind is in the present – because, you need your conscious mind to feel. When you establish in feeling, emotions are at check. You will start accepting realities as they are, without resistance. Resistance breeds emotions. Emotions breed karma. So, when we shift ourselves to the feeling mode, we shift to the non-karmic existence mode which is quite liberating. When we are well established in the feeling mode, we will be “wonder-fueled”, like a child. And this helps awareness. Feeling will lead to awareness. It expands our consciousness to that level where we feel rather than depending on our senses to know. Dependency on senses is quite limiting. Awareness makes us unlimited. Please understand that those who talk about awareness are sometimes only aware of their wallet. Hence, do understand that this is a self-help path. Nobody else can increase or reduce your level of awareness. The benefits of “feeling” are aplenty. By feeling, I do not mean emotions. If you feel and become emotional, it is anti liberation. This feeling is the feeling related to wonder. This is how the child feels the world. When emotions are overflowing with feeling, understand that mind is having a field day. It is dragging you with it. So, use the wonder aspect in you and feel everything. Even feel happiness or sorrow. Do not get drowned in both. If you are constantly operating in the feeling mode, even negativity will not stay within your mind. Hope I have clarified it enough. If not, please ask. I shall try to explain differently. This was an excerpt from one of my communions with Baba.

There is much more to talk about Sai. A life time will not be sufficient. I shall narrate my experiences later. If you have a Sai Satcharitra with you, please read it everyday, at least one chapter per day, and surrender your thoughts, words and actions at His feet. If you do not have a copy, please buy one and start reading it. May Sai Bless You with Deep Peace, Prosperity and Strength to make your world a better place. Sai Bless YOU.

My Sai Experiences will Follow

Aum Sai Ram

M

LOOK WITHIN to see BABA

True Thoughts

Time Flows... Life also Flows over Life times

2010 has landed. Well, it is not by accident. As we travel parallel to time, years are bound to happen. We have dissected time into seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months and years, for our measurement and understanding of the transit of our own life. Time has also given tremendous insecurity and anxiety to many people. Some worry about lapse of time and of nearing to their death. Some worry about unfulfilled desires which they have accumulated while living this life. Some fear about debts. Some fear about the lives of their own children, ignoring the basic fact that they are also individual karmic beings and you can do nothing about their praarabda. Some fear about people. Some fear about the unknown. Thus, all people fear about  something. Fear also attracts such incidents in our life. Just like love attracts, fear also attracts. Kindly note how animals and birds are not bound by time!!!

Time Breeds Anxiety and Fear in people

Long life is not important. “Life” in our life is very important. The amount of energy and “life” while living is very important. “Life-less” days are burdens. A life without energy and “life” is mere existence. There is no power in it. Most people are handling this life without “life”. It is like the dead – living, filled with lethargy and negativity. On the other side, some are pressured for pleasure and they exhaust themselves not knowing what they are seeking and where to find it.They keep running for nothing.  So, it is the “life” in our life which is more important than a long life that drags on for nothing. Death is only a transition, a stock taking of karmas before we take another life. So, clinging on to this body is useless, unless there are karmas to tackle and things to be accomplished. That agenda too our conscious  mind cannot understand.

Life is Priceless. Never Kill

A fulfilling life is the one lived with benevolence. If a person has been able to express love and compassion to fellow beings all through his/her life, it has been a life well lived. If someone led a life without any concern for the poor and needy, especially if that life was filled with anxiety and fear about oneself, it is definitely a life ill spent. So, wake up, buckle up. Get on to the nearest mountain and roar out your liberation. Express your liberation through self-less actions. Take on command. Please do not be a back drop or a door mat. Be your own leader first and then be a leader in the external world. One who cannot lead himself well, cannot lead others. One who has vested interests will falter today or tomorrow. Not feeling – is no virtue. Lack of benevolent action leaves us basic, unrefined. Beware.

Life is Awesome...To witness it, all we need are eyes of kindness and LOVE

I wish You Great Health, Supreme Bliss, Grace of the Masters and the Lord Almighty, Ability to express love, kindness and compassion, Ability to be satisfied with what ever is available and be grateful about it, Ability to make others feel happy and grateful – I wish you everything that is justifiably possessed as a temporary custodian. I wish You Peace, Joy and Happiness for ever.

God Bless You, Always… May you be successful in all your self-less efforts.

I love You

Mohan

May The Grace of the Great Masters always be with you...