The Effulgent Sai Avatar
Paperbackack, 54 pages, Rs 9
This small book is a compilation of 8 discourses given by Sathya Sai Baba. It was specifically prepared for the World Youth Conference, held at Prashanti Nilayam in July of 2007. This small book is specifically focussed on the mission of Sri Sathya Sai Baba.
The introduction is the letter written by Sri Sathya Sai to his brother Seshama Raju, in 1947. In the early years of the life of Sathya Sai, both pre-declaration and in the immediate post declaration years of his avatara, Seshama Raju played a small but significant role in the unfolding drama.
This letter is likely to become a spiritual classic of humanity, and makes for an excellent meditation piece. It clarifies the nature and role of mahimas, saints and divine incarnation, who are known by two principal facets, good works for humanity and self reliance. It is also a profound expose of just how humanity looks at and experiences the world of maya. Well worth reading again and again.
The first discourse included is the Manasa Bhajare, the title of the song given by the young Sathya Sai Baba at Uravakonda, in the garden of the Excise Inspector, Anjanayaulu. Sathya Sai has told that Anjaneyaulu was the first to recognise his divinity.
In that discourse, Swami tells that The Lord loves not the devotee, but his devotion, remember. A simple sentence, but also a sentence which flows with deeper import than puja, japa, meditation, service, silent sitting, satsang (the company of the good and holy) or repeating the name of the Lord oa some mantra. The Lord tells he cannot be won by inquiry, discussion, debate nor any stupendous penitential activities. The Lord tells he is known only through Love. Devotion infused with Love melts like butter and brings the Lord close. Only one sentence in a discourse, a sentence which both beckons and offers oceans of never beginning, never ending love, love on the shores of eternity and infinity.
Not surprisingly, in that discourse, Swami told those present that the experience was a first for them; not He, for he told he has spoken to masses before, but not in this appearance, echoing Sri Rama, Sri Krishna, and Jesus with the sermon on the Mount, the feeding of the 5000.
Come, Examine, Experience, Have Faith: this is the milestone speech given by Sathya Sai Baba on the occasion of His 43rd birthday in 1968. Here the echoes of Lord Krishna and the promise of the Bhagavad Gita fulfilled in this day and age:
For the protection of the virtuous, for the destruction of evil-doers and for establishing righteousness on a firm footing, I incarnate from age to age. Whenever disharmony (asanthi) overwhelms the world, the Lord will incarnate in human form to establish the modes of earning peace (prasanthi) and to re-educate the human community in the paths of peace. At the present time, strife and discord have robbed peace and unity from the family, the school, the society, the religions, the cities, and the state.
Sathya Sai Baba reveals the kernel of his mission: The establishment of righteousness (dharma): that is my aim. The teaching of dharma, the spread of dharma: that is my object. These miracles, as you call them, are just a means toward that end. The basis of the Universe, and therefore the basis of human life is dharma. Nothing else. If the Sun and the Earth do not follow dharma, all sorts of catastrophes and disasters would come about. If man does not follow dharma, then he creates the very events wherein humanity as a whole suffers the consequences of this lack of dharma. The Lord has come to avert the crisis that has come upon humanity.
In that same discourse, Swami tells, Cultivate a nearness with me in the heart and it will be rewarded. What is this nearness? How are we ever near the Lord? Through namasmarana, through daily prayer and meditation? How are we perpetually near the Lord in our hearts? It is in the very human heart itself that the Lord resides; his love is interwined with every part of our being. Human love is illusory, fanciful and finally, disappointing. Man cannot satisfy his demands. Yet, Sathya Sai tells us, Love, since you must love for love's sake; Love God, since whatever He can give is less than He Himself. Love Him alone, with no other wish or demand.
In the discourse Who is Sai? Swami tells
My power is immeasurable; My truth is inexplicable, unfathomable. I am announcing this about me, for the need has arisen. But what I am doing now is only the gift of a 'visiting card!' Let me tell you that emphatic declarations of the truth by Avatars were made so clearly and so unmistakably only by Krishna.
Immeasurable, inexplicable, unfathomable: Swami goes on to say
For my grace is ever available to devotees who have steady love and faith. Since I move freely among them, talking and singing, even intellectuals are unable to grasp my truth, my power, my glory, or my real task as Avathar. I can solve any problem however knotty. I am beyond the reach of the most intensive enquiry and the most meticulous measurement. Only those who have recognized my love and experienced that love can assert that they have glimpsed my reality. For the path of Love is the royal road that leads mankind to me.
This message of love, enquiry into Love, turning to God with Love for God, loving God in our hearts, comes ever and ever to the hearts and minds of devotees. Intellectual enquiry is doomed. Only Love, for God is Love, Love is God, and we are love. Swami begins many many discourses with premaswarupa, Embodiments of Divine Love!
In the discourse on Sai Seva, given to the First World Conference of Sathya Sai Organisations in 1968, in Bombay, Swami told,The Presidents, Vice-Presidents and Secretaries of Sathya Sai Organisations from all over the world are here. You are Officers of the Sai Army. How can you lead soldiers into the fray when you are not aware of the intricacies of warfare, when you are yourselves inefficient instruments? You can attempt to lead others only after practising the disciplines to perfection. This is true of all fields of human activity. Bliss and supreme peace have to beacquired first by you and then can be communicated to others.
This is nothing but a description of truth in action, integrity and the actual essence of human character. For character is unity of thought, word and deed. This is the definition of leadership, be it in the family, in business, in the market place, in the stock markets, in the spiritual and religious organsiations. Leadership has to be leadership by example. No one can lead persons if they do not know the road themeselves. No one can speak of doing selfless service nor the benefits that accrue to those who give that service if they have not first completed the activity and acquired that bliss themselves.
There is a discourse on Indian Education and Culture. Swami is repeatedly giving attention to and raising the issue of Indian Culture. Note well, that Swami teaches us that whoever follows and practices the noble ideals of Bharath is a Bharathiya. Whenever Swami speaks of Bharathiya, if you are following those noble ideals and practices, then understand that Swami is including YOU in his talk. Now then, what is so special about it, that Swami gives over the entire summer school in Brindavan to this topic, again and again? Swami tells:
People here are aware of God in everything—the truck driver folds his palms before the steering wheel and utters a prayer, the potter bows his head before the wheel, the poet worships the pen, the musician invokes the deity in the harmonium before he starts playing on it. No one enters upon a task without prayer and making a sign of submission. This means that the spiritual attitude precedes the secular attitude of self-praise.
In other places Swami has told about the purpose of human work, and that the task of the journeyman, the craftsman, the artisan was all dedication unto God. All work was done for God, with God in mind. Speaking of Antonio Stradivarus, the master violin maker, Swami told that he sometimes took a whole year to make a violin. His friends told him he was a fool. Antonio told them he was working for God and that God would take care of him. Such an attitude was all pervasive in ancient days.
All education and learning in ancient India was education for life; it was education imbued with spirituality, education which imparted the path and the practices which lead to the goal of life, Union with God. In this discourse, Swami tells that these days can be recovered, not by pouring over books or by Universities beholden to the purse-strings of governments; no, no. Let Devotion, Discipline and Duty be part of your compulsory curriculum. Then you will win glory.
An excellent little book for youth, and for newcomers to Sathya Sai Baba. Slow reading, mediation, and reflection on these discourses day in and day out will bring one to the heart, wherein the Lord resides, waiting in silence, waiting with Love, waiting only for your love.
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