Sai - The Indweller
Prof. Anil Kumar
Paperback, 186 pages, Rs 77
Prof. Anil Kumar has given Sunday Talks in Prashanti Nilayam Ashram for many years. These talks have been recorded and made available on the Internet, in audio tape and in printed format. Tapovanum and Satyopanishad are titles from earlier volumes by Prof. Anil Kumar in this series.
This slim volume has 14 chapters. The early chapters focus on Three Different Paths leading to Divinity. Here, Anil Kumar takes the reader through Devotion, Surrender, Attachment with many examples drawn from his experiences of Sathya Sai Baba, and that of students and devotees.
There is one chapter which recollects highlights from Anil Kumar's recent visit to South America, USA and Canada. Other chapters focus on Follow the Master, and As You Think, so You Become.
First, we must acknowledge that Prof. Anil Kumar (and his team) provides yeoman service to the devotees of Sathya Sai Baba by making these talks available to devotees in so many formats. Secondly, Prof. Kumar plans these talks and takes time and effort to prepare and deliver. He draws on the great treasury of his learning, his experiences with Sathya Sai Baba and his time as a lecturer and teacher in colleges, and in the Sai University.
Many people make the trip to Prashanti Nilayam to seek the darshan and grace of Sai Baba. They come from a cornucopia of spiritual backgrounds and disciplines. Each has their own periscope trained on Sathya Sai Baba and have their own experiences. But how does one begin to fathom the mysteries containd in this darshan, these experiences in Prashanti Nilayam; how does one excavate deeply into the teachings of Sathya Sai Baba? What should you, or anyone else, excavate from these experiences, from these teachings? The relationship is personal, there is no middleman. What then, is Prof. Kumar doing in his Sunday Talks, and in these books?
Anil Kumar comes from a family of teachers and head-masters. Distilled over many generations, the skills of exposition and teaching come easily to him. Here, Prof. Anil Kumar takes simple events, simple experiences, and the activity of the mind, and raises points for attention, for reflection, for consideration. The simple matter of Baba's car coming driving into the Darshan Hall provides an opening to considering how no one may know the actions nor the reasons therefore, of what Baba does, and when he does these things. What time and space within ought a devotee give to considering such things.
Many might say, "Oh, Baba's car came and left; then remain within their own self. But wait, the task of the devotee is sathyham anavesham, excavation of truth. Sathya Sai gives darshan, discourse, interview, gifts, and intereacts with devotees. What excavation is needed in order to obtain spiritual benefit. This is the task Prof. Kumar undertakes.
Several chapters here dip into the nature of family, relationships, how we love our close ones, whether they are near or not. What then, is the relationship with one whom we choose for Guru, Guardian, Guide? Where is the Guru? What form and presence does the Guru take? How can one remain in contact with the Guru when the devotee goes home. Simple analogies given by Prof. Kumar open an entire diorama of spirituality, devotion, discipline and how one might stay in a heart to heart relationship with their chosen Guru.
Thus, Prof. Kumar shares his experiences and talks, Sunday after Sunday. This is book which may be used for for occasional reading, a book for reflection, daily spiritual reading, and taking the short paragraphs for further reflection and practice; above all, mind management. So a versatile book for all readers, those new, those who come back, again and again.
Obtain from the Ashram Bookshop or Online Order. Link