Happy Navratri To All
On this auspicious day of "Navratri" we pray divine mother Sai Maa to fill in our heart with Her pure and sacred love so that we feel ever exalted with the flow of stream of Her universal and divine love.
Navratri, the festival of nights, lasts for 9 days with three days each devoted to worship of Ma Durga, the Goddess of Valor, Maa Lakshmi, the Goddess of Wealth and Maa Saraswati, the Goddess of Knowledge. During the nine days of Navratri, feasting and fasting take precedence over all normal daily activities amongst the Hindus. Evenings give rise to the religious dances in order to worship Goddess Durga Maa.
1st - 3rd day - On the first day of the Navaratras, a small bed of mud is prepared in the puja room of the house and barley seeds are sown on it. On the tenth day, the shoots are about 3 - 5 inches in length. After the puja, these seedlings are pulled out and given to devotees as a blessing from God. These initial days are dedicated to Durga Maa, the Goddess of power and energy. Her various manifestations, Kumari, Parvati and Kali are all worshipped during these days. They represent the three different classes of womanhood that include the child, the young girl and the mature woman.
4th - 6th day - During these days, Lakshmi Maa, the Goddess of peace and prosperity is worshipped. On the fifth day which is known as Lalita Panchami, it is traditional, to gather and display all literature available in the house, light a lamp or 'diya' to invoke Saraswati Maa, the Goddess of knowledge and art.
7th - 8th day - These final days belong to Saraswati Maa who is worshipped to acquire the spiritual knowledge. This in turn will free us from all earthly bondage. But on the 8th day of this colorful festival, yagna [holy fire] is performed. Ghee [clarified butter], kheer [rice pudding] and sesame seeds form the holy offering to Goddess Durga Maa.
Mahanavami - The festival of Navratri culminates in Mahanavami. On this day Kanya Puja is performed. Nine young girls representing the nine forms of Goddess Durga are worshiped. Their feet are washed as a mark of respect for the Goddess and then they are offered new clothes as gifts by the worshiper. This ritual is performed in most parts of the country.
Jai Sai Maa, Jai Sai Janani, Jai Maa Bhawani, Jai Maa Kali, Jai Maa Laxami, Jai Maa Sarswati.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Maa Durga Bhajan And Sloka
Durga Bhajan
Tu Rishiyo Ke Riddhi Siddhi, Tu Brahma Ke Bhaktu Maa
Tu Vishnu Ke Maya Devi, Tu Shanker Ke Shakti Maa
During Navratri, Durga Maa is worshiped mainly in Bengal and other parts of the country.
Here is an easy Durga Bhajan
Maa Teri Mamta Kitni Pyaree, Kitna Pyar Jagaate Hai
Swaas Swaas Ke Raksha Karti, Pag Pag Praan Bachati Hai
Tu Maato Say Bhaag Jagaday, Bhaagi Bhaagi aati hai
Tu Kali Maha Kali Durga, Tu Hai Baal Bhavani Hai
Tu Puran Ka Saar Sarada, Tu Vedo Ki Baani Hai
Tu Balak Goad May Lay Kar, Jeewan Geet Sunaati Hai
Durga Slokas
Durga Puja is traditionally performed in Bengal and other parts of Eastern India during Dussehra or Vijayadasmi.
She is Mother Goddess, Shakti [or the divine force] and an incarnation of Parvati, Shiva's wife. She was manifested to kill Mahishasura, a powerful demon who could not be defeated by man or God. Only a woman could kill him. The victory of Durga over Mahishasura [good over evil] is celebrated on Vijayadasmi.
Here is a easy Durga sloka
Sarva-Mangala-Mangalye Shive Sarvaartha-Sadhake
Sharanye Trayambake Gauri Narayani Namostute
Explanation
Goddess Parvati is the consort of Lord Shiva and is worshiped as Shakti. The Puranic literature describes her as having many forms, including Durga, Chandi, Kali and Uma.While Shiva symbolizes the efficient cause of the creation, Shakti symbolizes the material cause.
Translation
The one who is the auspiciousness of all that is auspicious [Sarvamangalamangalye], the consort of Shiva [Shiv], who is the means of accomplishing all desires sarvarthasadhake, who is the refuge of all [Saranye], the three eyed one [Tryambake], the fair complexioned one [Gauri], Salutations to you, Narayani [Narayani Namostute]. Salutations to the consort of Shri Narayana [Maa Lakshmi Devi], who is all auspicious, who is the Mother of all, who blesses devotees succeed in their efforts and who is the refuge of all.
Tu Rishiyo Ke Riddhi Siddhi, Tu Brahma Ke Bhaktu Maa
Tu Vishnu Ke Maya Devi, Tu Shanker Ke Shakti Maa
During Navratri, Durga Maa is worshiped mainly in Bengal and other parts of the country.
Here is an easy Durga Bhajan
Maa Teri Mamta Kitni Pyaree, Kitna Pyar Jagaate Hai
Swaas Swaas Ke Raksha Karti, Pag Pag Praan Bachati Hai
Tu Maato Say Bhaag Jagaday, Bhaagi Bhaagi aati hai
Tu Kali Maha Kali Durga, Tu Hai Baal Bhavani Hai
Tu Puran Ka Saar Sarada, Tu Vedo Ki Baani Hai
Tu Balak Goad May Lay Kar, Jeewan Geet Sunaati Hai
Durga Slokas
Durga Puja is traditionally performed in Bengal and other parts of Eastern India during Dussehra or Vijayadasmi.
She is Mother Goddess, Shakti [or the divine force] and an incarnation of Parvati, Shiva's wife. She was manifested to kill Mahishasura, a powerful demon who could not be defeated by man or God. Only a woman could kill him. The victory of Durga over Mahishasura [good over evil] is celebrated on Vijayadasmi.
Here is a easy Durga sloka
Sarva-Mangala-Mangalye Shive Sarvaartha-Sadhake
Sharanye Trayambake Gauri Narayani Namostute
Explanation
Goddess Parvati is the consort of Lord Shiva and is worshiped as Shakti. The Puranic literature describes her as having many forms, including Durga, Chandi, Kali and Uma.While Shiva symbolizes the efficient cause of the creation, Shakti symbolizes the material cause.
Translation
The one who is the auspiciousness of all that is auspicious [Sarvamangalamangalye], the consort of Shiva [Shiv], who is the means of accomplishing all desires sarvarthasadhake, who is the refuge of all [Saranye], the three eyed one [Tryambake], the fair complexioned one [Gauri], Salutations to you, Narayani [Narayani Namostute]. Salutations to the consort of Shri Narayana [Maa Lakshmi Devi], who is all auspicious, who is the Mother of all, who blesses devotees succeed in their efforts and who is the refuge of all.
Monday, September 29, 2008
I Will Seek Him
Aum Sairam
Even when we don't think we know, our soul knows. Our soul knows whom it seeks and for what. Part of the reason we so easily sleep through our life is because our soul does not feel fulfilled. It does not communicate to us that the love for which it longs has been found and claimed. Because we do not know this fulfillment, we seek to find it through the normal, natural, regular means of daily life. When nothing in the normal, natural, regular daily pattern satisfies our deep longing, we simply go on autopilot and relax into a state of somnolence. Every once in a while our eyes flutter and we cast a glance around to see if there has been any change – if our soul has found what it is looking for. And, once in a while, we catch a glimpse of that love that is beyond description, beyond manipulation, beyond comprehension, and for an instant our soul is wakened. When the normal, natural, regular patterns return again, however, our eyes close back down.
In those short moments when love slips through the gap of our sleep, filling our soul with delight and fullness, we might choose instead to fully waken ourselves. We might hold onto those moments as if they were gold. We might, like Neo in the movie The Matrix, refuse to return to our sleepy, rather lifeless state and seek instead to find the object of our soul's desire. We might seek the Holy One until the Holy One is found. We might find our souls touching the gate of heaven.
Oh God, when the sliver of your love slices my soul, waken me to run after you until I run head long into your embrace.
Allah Malik
Even when we don't think we know, our soul knows. Our soul knows whom it seeks and for what. Part of the reason we so easily sleep through our life is because our soul does not feel fulfilled. It does not communicate to us that the love for which it longs has been found and claimed. Because we do not know this fulfillment, we seek to find it through the normal, natural, regular means of daily life. When nothing in the normal, natural, regular daily pattern satisfies our deep longing, we simply go on autopilot and relax into a state of somnolence. Every once in a while our eyes flutter and we cast a glance around to see if there has been any change – if our soul has found what it is looking for. And, once in a while, we catch a glimpse of that love that is beyond description, beyond manipulation, beyond comprehension, and for an instant our soul is wakened. When the normal, natural, regular patterns return again, however, our eyes close back down.
In those short moments when love slips through the gap of our sleep, filling our soul with delight and fullness, we might choose instead to fully waken ourselves. We might hold onto those moments as if they were gold. We might, like Neo in the movie The Matrix, refuse to return to our sleepy, rather lifeless state and seek instead to find the object of our soul's desire. We might seek the Holy One until the Holy One is found. We might find our souls touching the gate of heaven.
Oh God, when the sliver of your love slices my soul, waken me to run after you until I run head long into your embrace.
Allah Malik
Shake Yourself From The Dust
Aum Sairam
It's like we're caught in a cobweb. Everything around us can be as complex as intricate filament. We are held within the fragile grasp of the intricacies, and after a time our mind and soul simply shut down. They feel unable to free themselves from the netting that, while fragile, is nonetheless relentless. Our mind and soul begin to collect dust, and the wonder of our true selves is clouded over with powdery grime. What we don't realize is that our very sleepiness and resignation is all that keeps us bound. We may feel precariously wedged within the web, but the web truly is surprisingly frail.
When we are ready to break free, we need only shake ourselves, see the dust fly, feel the filament being broken, and step into the divine grace of freedom. To begin, try this. Take a few moments to quiet yourself and then imagine the web of work, relationships, demands, financial concerns, advertising gimmicks that surrounds you. Feel the pressure that it puts on your mind and soul. Observe yourself going limp in the middle of the web. Watch particles of dust drop silently over you until you are as foggy as the ocean behind a cloud of mist. Then notice that the Spirit of the Holy One is calling to you to wake up. At first the voice is faint no more than a whisper. Then it becomes stronger, and you can feel your heart beginning to beat more quickly. You long to respond. You lift your head and begin to stretch your limbs. The threads of the web push out in tandem with your cat like stretch. Note that the web is not as taut as you thought. Begin to shake yourself and witness the dust and filament of the web disappear like the tiniest atoms into the unseen air.
Oh God, wake me from the cobweb of life that keeps me from breathing, and fill me with the possibility of freedom.
Allah Malik
It's like we're caught in a cobweb. Everything around us can be as complex as intricate filament. We are held within the fragile grasp of the intricacies, and after a time our mind and soul simply shut down. They feel unable to free themselves from the netting that, while fragile, is nonetheless relentless. Our mind and soul begin to collect dust, and the wonder of our true selves is clouded over with powdery grime. What we don't realize is that our very sleepiness and resignation is all that keeps us bound. We may feel precariously wedged within the web, but the web truly is surprisingly frail.
When we are ready to break free, we need only shake ourselves, see the dust fly, feel the filament being broken, and step into the divine grace of freedom. To begin, try this. Take a few moments to quiet yourself and then imagine the web of work, relationships, demands, financial concerns, advertising gimmicks that surrounds you. Feel the pressure that it puts on your mind and soul. Observe yourself going limp in the middle of the web. Watch particles of dust drop silently over you until you are as foggy as the ocean behind a cloud of mist. Then notice that the Spirit of the Holy One is calling to you to wake up. At first the voice is faint no more than a whisper. Then it becomes stronger, and you can feel your heart beginning to beat more quickly. You long to respond. You lift your head and begin to stretch your limbs. The threads of the web push out in tandem with your cat like stretch. Note that the web is not as taut as you thought. Begin to shake yourself and witness the dust and filament of the web disappear like the tiniest atoms into the unseen air.
Oh God, wake me from the cobweb of life that keeps me from breathing, and fill me with the possibility of freedom.
Allah Malik
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Think Positive and Act
Aum Sairam
This is nice - finding something positive out of every negative, which we don't always manage to do.
For the children who complain about doing dishes, because that means they are at home and not on the streets.
For the taxes that I pay, because it means that I am employed.
For the mess to clean after a party, because it means, that I have been surrounded by friends.
For the clothes that fit a little too snug, because it means I have enough to eat.
For my shadow that watches me work, because it means I am out in the sunshine.
For a floor that needs mopping, and windows that need cleaning, because it means I have a home.
For all the complaining I hear about the government, because it means that we have freedom of speech.
For the parking spot I find at the far end of the parking lot, because it means I am capable of walking and that have been blessed with transportation.
For the noise I have to bear from my neighbors, because it means that I can hear.
For the pile of laundry and ironing, because it means I have clothes to wear.
For weariness and aching muscles at the end of the day, because it means I have been capable of working hard.
For the alarm that goes off in the early morning hours, because it means that I am alive.
Allah Malik
This is nice - finding something positive out of every negative, which we don't always manage to do.
For the children who complain about doing dishes, because that means they are at home and not on the streets.
For the taxes that I pay, because it means that I am employed.
For the mess to clean after a party, because it means, that I have been surrounded by friends.
For the clothes that fit a little too snug, because it means I have enough to eat.
For my shadow that watches me work, because it means I am out in the sunshine.
For a floor that needs mopping, and windows that need cleaning, because it means I have a home.
For all the complaining I hear about the government, because it means that we have freedom of speech.
For the parking spot I find at the far end of the parking lot, because it means I am capable of walking and that have been blessed with transportation.
For the noise I have to bear from my neighbors, because it means that I can hear.
For the pile of laundry and ironing, because it means I have clothes to wear.
For weariness and aching muscles at the end of the day, because it means I have been capable of working hard.
For the alarm that goes off in the early morning hours, because it means that I am alive.
Allah Malik
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Those Who Call On God, To Them God Comes
Aum Sairam
There is an answer to every call, those who call on God, to them God comes.
There is no doubt that if an individual believes that a teacher or a reformer will come, he will surely come to them. Similarly, in the case of those who do not believe that any teacher or reformer will come, to them he will not come. To those who expect the Teacher to be a man, a man will bring the message; to those who expect the Teacher to be a woman, a woman must deliver it. To those who call on God, God comes. There is an answer to every call.
There is nothing that you ask that this universe will not answer. For it is the nature of this universe to answer your soul's call. When a person seeks for something in the universe and he cannot find it, it is not true that it is not there. The fact is that he does not see it.
He who is always there has said, 'I am Alpha and Omega. I exist every moment. When you call me, I am there. Knock at the door, and I will answer you.' And those whose eyes are open for them in the eyes of every infant & in the smile of every innocent child, they receive the blessing of God.
It only means changing one's outlook on life, and recognizing the divine in man. But man has ignored the divine spirit that manifests in humanity, and always prefers an idol, a painting, a picture, to the living God, who is constantly before him.
For the sage, the seer, the saint, and the yogi who begin to see the master, and see him living, there is no place where he cannot be seen. Then everywhere the beloved master is ready to answer the cry of the soul coming from friend, father or teacher. And if we go a little further forward, we will find that the teacher speaks aloud, not only through living beings, but through nature.
If the heart is alive, the whole life becomes one single vision of His sublime beauty, speaking to us at every moment.
Allah Malik
There is an answer to every call, those who call on God, to them God comes.
There is no doubt that if an individual believes that a teacher or a reformer will come, he will surely come to them. Similarly, in the case of those who do not believe that any teacher or reformer will come, to them he will not come. To those who expect the Teacher to be a man, a man will bring the message; to those who expect the Teacher to be a woman, a woman must deliver it. To those who call on God, God comes. There is an answer to every call.
There is nothing that you ask that this universe will not answer. For it is the nature of this universe to answer your soul's call. When a person seeks for something in the universe and he cannot find it, it is not true that it is not there. The fact is that he does not see it.
He who is always there has said, 'I am Alpha and Omega. I exist every moment. When you call me, I am there. Knock at the door, and I will answer you.' And those whose eyes are open for them in the eyes of every infant & in the smile of every innocent child, they receive the blessing of God.
It only means changing one's outlook on life, and recognizing the divine in man. But man has ignored the divine spirit that manifests in humanity, and always prefers an idol, a painting, a picture, to the living God, who is constantly before him.
For the sage, the seer, the saint, and the yogi who begin to see the master, and see him living, there is no place where he cannot be seen. Then everywhere the beloved master is ready to answer the cry of the soul coming from friend, father or teacher. And if we go a little further forward, we will find that the teacher speaks aloud, not only through living beings, but through nature.
If the heart is alive, the whole life becomes one single vision of His sublime beauty, speaking to us at every moment.
Allah Malik
Friday, September 26, 2008
Thursday’s Message
Aum Sairam
May This Thursday [Baba's Day] Give You Strength, Good luck, Success, Happiness And Joy.
We thank You, Oh Sai, for the love You have implanted in our hearts.
May it always inspire us to be kind in our words, considerate of feelings, and concerned for each other's needs and wishes.
Help us to be understanding and forgiving of human weaknesses and failings.
Increase our faith and trust in You and may Your prudence guide our life and love.
Bless our life, Oh Sai, with peace and happiness, and make our Love fruitful for Your glory and our joy both here and in eternity.
May Sri Sai Baba on this Thursday bless all the wonderful people who pray for others to get them out of difficult situations. I personally believe that it's in this that the hallmark of our friends lies.
Allah Malik
May This Thursday [Baba's Day] Give You Strength, Good luck, Success, Happiness And Joy.
We thank You, Oh Sai, for the love You have implanted in our hearts.
May it always inspire us to be kind in our words, considerate of feelings, and concerned for each other's needs and wishes.
Help us to be understanding and forgiving of human weaknesses and failings.
Increase our faith and trust in You and may Your prudence guide our life and love.
Bless our life, Oh Sai, with peace and happiness, and make our Love fruitful for Your glory and our joy both here and in eternity.
May Sri Sai Baba on this Thursday bless all the wonderful people who pray for others to get them out of difficult situations. I personally believe that it's in this that the hallmark of our friends lies.
Allah Malik
Oh, My Lord is Fine and Lovely
Aum Sairam
May This Thursday [Baba's Day] Give You Strength, Good luck, Success, Happiness And Joy.
Oh, my Lord is fine and lovely with His silken beard and the graceful way He walks about in white robe that He does wear and the gentle kindness of His face when you're seeing Him close by has brought a tear of gratitude and joy to many an eye
Oh, I love to sing His praises, yes I love to say His name and to think about Him here on earth and the reasons why He came just to contemplate His powers grand His majesty and might and His vow to lead this world of ours from darkness into light
Oh, the sense of sweet security to know He really cares that He watches over us ceaselessly and that He is everywhere and the gentle glow of blissful peace when you're feeling Him close by will bring a tear of happiness for the love of Shirdi Sri Sai will bring a tear of happiness for the love of Shirdi Sri Sai
Allah Malik
May This Thursday [Baba's Day] Give You Strength, Good luck, Success, Happiness And Joy.
Oh, my Lord is fine and lovely with His silken beard and the graceful way He walks about in white robe that He does wear and the gentle kindness of His face when you're seeing Him close by has brought a tear of gratitude and joy to many an eye
Oh, I love to sing His praises, yes I love to say His name and to think about Him here on earth and the reasons why He came just to contemplate His powers grand His majesty and might and His vow to lead this world of ours from darkness into light
Oh, the sense of sweet security to know He really cares that He watches over us ceaselessly and that He is everywhere and the gentle glow of blissful peace when you're feeling Him close by will bring a tear of happiness for the love of Shirdi Sri Sai will bring a tear of happiness for the love of Shirdi Sri Sai
Allah Malik
Sai Baba’s Sayings
Aum Sairam
Bapu Sahib Jog : Sai, I have served you so long with concentration [Ananya Bhava]. How can I discover when its fruition comes?
Sri Sai : The fruition of your service that will gladden both our hearts will be when you wear a kufni and beg your food, as I do [i.e., identify yourself with Me and be free from all attachments]
Allah Malik
Bapu Sahib Jog : Sai, I have served you so long with concentration [Ananya Bhava]. How can I discover when its fruition comes?
Sri Sai : The fruition of your service that will gladden both our hearts will be when you wear a kufni and beg your food, as I do [i.e., identify yourself with Me and be free from all attachments]
Allah Malik
Why GOD Created Us
Aum Sairam
One day, I prayed to God.
“Oh God, You are so wonderful. You have created marvelous things in this world. Yet, in this beautiful world created by You, there is so much misery, suffering, pain, violence and what not. Why don’t You do something about it?”
“I have done something,” replied God.
“You have done something? Where is that? What is that? I don’t see it,” I said in reply.
God then slowly whispered, “Son, I created you!”
Wonderful story is it not? I think there is a deep message and if we reflect carefully, we would realize that Sri Sai is telling us precisely the same thing over and over again. Yes, all we have to do is to serve mankind, remembering that service to man is service to God. If we wipe one tear in one eye, we would be not only making God happy but also experience Ananda ourselves.
Yes the world is packed with misery by way of providing opportunities for us to experience Ananda. Pure and true joy comes not from expensive vacations, but from service to the Lord.
Allah Malik
One day, I prayed to God.
“Oh God, You are so wonderful. You have created marvelous things in this world. Yet, in this beautiful world created by You, there is so much misery, suffering, pain, violence and what not. Why don’t You do something about it?”
“I have done something,” replied God.
“You have done something? Where is that? What is that? I don’t see it,” I said in reply.
God then slowly whispered, “Son, I created you!”
Wonderful story is it not? I think there is a deep message and if we reflect carefully, we would realize that Sri Sai is telling us precisely the same thing over and over again. Yes, all we have to do is to serve mankind, remembering that service to man is service to God. If we wipe one tear in one eye, we would be not only making God happy but also experience Ananda ourselves.
Yes the world is packed with misery by way of providing opportunities for us to experience Ananda. Pure and true joy comes not from expensive vacations, but from service to the Lord.
Allah Malik
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
I Am Where You Are
Aum Sairam
When Moses conversed with God, he asked, "Lord, where shall I seek You?" God answered, "Among the brokenhearted."
Moses continued, "But, Lord, no heart could be more despairing than mine." And God replied, "Then I am where you are."
Sri Sai our God our Sadguru is with all of us in our heart!!!
Allah Malik
When Moses conversed with God, he asked, "Lord, where shall I seek You?" God answered, "Among the brokenhearted."
Moses continued, "But, Lord, no heart could be more despairing than mine." And God replied, "Then I am where you are."
Sri Sai our God our Sadguru is with all of us in our heart!!!
Allah Malik
Miracle - Master's Protection
Aum Sairam
Among the Sri Sai bhakta's, it is perhaps the pure in heart who are blessed with the vision and the grace of the Guru-God. Many a man of humble origin with a simple and unsophisticated mind gets similar marks of the Master's favor. Perhaps Sri Sai like men to be simple and childlike in order that they may enter the kingdom of heaven.
What is the rational explanation of these miracles? Is there a duplication of personality? Does Sri Sai himself enter into the physical semblance of a soul? One cannot say. But one can say with utter conviction that these are no ordinary miracles. Such marvels can only spring from a Divine source and they establish beyond all doubt the supreme avatar hood of the Saint of Shirdi.
Although such uncommon wonders occur in the lives of some bhakta’s only, each and every devotee is blessed with some concrete token of the Master's protection and love. Such inner vision and psychic experience are important avenues of Divine help. Through these means Sri Sai is able to create that intense longing for the Divine which nothing can damp-neither delays, nor difficulties, nor disappointments.
Together with these inspiring instances of Sri Sai's innate Lordship may also be recounted the unique phenomena of what is known as Sri Sai's Anterjnana, or Omniscience. Sri Sai himself, at the close of noon aerate one day, made an avowal of this power which he possessed thus: "Wherever you may be, Whatever you may do, remember this always- I ever know whatever you do or say." No matter with what secret thought or desire or doubt an individual confronted him at Shirdi, Sri Sai could read him like an open book. Sometimes he exposed those thoughts as much as to rebuke them: "Oh those of little faith," he seemed to say," wherefore do you doubt?" At other times he started replying to the half formed questions of the casual visitor; often he solved the problems of those who had not even had the time to speak of their needs.
This Anterjnana was not limited to those who were in his actual presence. Baba could express the thoughts of persons, thousands of miles away, foresee events and reveal the past, present, and future as if space and time had shrunk into an all-revealing point of eternity in front of this Omniscient and Omnipresent presence in Shirdi.
Endlessly could we go on recounting the leela's of the Blessed One. Perhaps hearing of his consummate deeds which out-flash all religious theories and rituals, thousands will come within the ambit of his gracious influence opening to the children of men the gates of immortality.
Allah Malik
Among the Sri Sai bhakta's, it is perhaps the pure in heart who are blessed with the vision and the grace of the Guru-God. Many a man of humble origin with a simple and unsophisticated mind gets similar marks of the Master's favor. Perhaps Sri Sai like men to be simple and childlike in order that they may enter the kingdom of heaven.
What is the rational explanation of these miracles? Is there a duplication of personality? Does Sri Sai himself enter into the physical semblance of a soul? One cannot say. But one can say with utter conviction that these are no ordinary miracles. Such marvels can only spring from a Divine source and they establish beyond all doubt the supreme avatar hood of the Saint of Shirdi.
Although such uncommon wonders occur in the lives of some bhakta’s only, each and every devotee is blessed with some concrete token of the Master's protection and love. Such inner vision and psychic experience are important avenues of Divine help. Through these means Sri Sai is able to create that intense longing for the Divine which nothing can damp-neither delays, nor difficulties, nor disappointments.
Together with these inspiring instances of Sri Sai's innate Lordship may also be recounted the unique phenomena of what is known as Sri Sai's Anterjnana, or Omniscience. Sri Sai himself, at the close of noon aerate one day, made an avowal of this power which he possessed thus: "Wherever you may be, Whatever you may do, remember this always- I ever know whatever you do or say." No matter with what secret thought or desire or doubt an individual confronted him at Shirdi, Sri Sai could read him like an open book. Sometimes he exposed those thoughts as much as to rebuke them: "Oh those of little faith," he seemed to say," wherefore do you doubt?" At other times he started replying to the half formed questions of the casual visitor; often he solved the problems of those who had not even had the time to speak of their needs.
This Anterjnana was not limited to those who were in his actual presence. Baba could express the thoughts of persons, thousands of miles away, foresee events and reveal the past, present, and future as if space and time had shrunk into an all-revealing point of eternity in front of this Omniscient and Omnipresent presence in Shirdi.
Endlessly could we go on recounting the leela's of the Blessed One. Perhaps hearing of his consummate deeds which out-flash all religious theories and rituals, thousands will come within the ambit of his gracious influence opening to the children of men the gates of immortality.
Allah Malik
Desire
Aum Sairam
As children, most of us were probably cautioned not to eat snacks too close to mealtime. You'll ruin your appetite, our parents might have told us. And sometimes they were right. On other occasions, though, we found that just a little taste can actually make us want more particularly if that taste is a chocolate chip cookie, tortilla chip, or handful of salted nuts. The more we have, the more we crave.
A central paradox in our relationship with God is that while this experience satisfies a deep need, it simultaneously creates an insatiable desire for more. How can this be? Imagine that there is a God space in our lives waiting to be filled with the Divine. As it expands, so does its capacity; the larger it becomes, the greater the yearning for God. That's simplifying things, of course, but the principle remains nonetheless.
Hunger and thirst can be slaked temporarily, but sooner than we imagine, our body is sending us a signal that it's time to eat and drink again. In the spiritual life, our longing for God is the same. We may imagine that meeting God once will be enough to keep us satisfied for the rest of our lives, but our heart know better than that. What they tell us, when we are quiet enough to hear, is that we can never have enough.
Oh God, may my desire for you lead to an unquenchable thirst and a hunger too great to be satisfied.
Allah Malik
As children, most of us were probably cautioned not to eat snacks too close to mealtime. You'll ruin your appetite, our parents might have told us. And sometimes they were right. On other occasions, though, we found that just a little taste can actually make us want more particularly if that taste is a chocolate chip cookie, tortilla chip, or handful of salted nuts. The more we have, the more we crave.
A central paradox in our relationship with God is that while this experience satisfies a deep need, it simultaneously creates an insatiable desire for more. How can this be? Imagine that there is a God space in our lives waiting to be filled with the Divine. As it expands, so does its capacity; the larger it becomes, the greater the yearning for God. That's simplifying things, of course, but the principle remains nonetheless.
Hunger and thirst can be slaked temporarily, but sooner than we imagine, our body is sending us a signal that it's time to eat and drink again. In the spiritual life, our longing for God is the same. We may imagine that meeting God once will be enough to keep us satisfied for the rest of our lives, but our heart know better than that. What they tell us, when we are quiet enough to hear, is that we can never have enough.
Oh God, may my desire for you lead to an unquenchable thirst and a hunger too great to be satisfied.
Allah Malik
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Heal The Past
Aum Sairam
What you bring forth out of yourself from the inside will save you. What you do not bring forth out of yourself from the inside will destroy you.
We can transform painful memories by re-imagining them from the soul's perspective of love and meaning.
All experiences have the purpose of serving the soul. An experience in the past blocked us because our fear at the time distorted our perception of what happened. To transform this limiting experience, we must bring what was then unconscious into the soul's realm
through consciousness.
We can do this by following these steps:
1. RECALL the past experience that might inhibit us.
2. OWN the experience [no judgment, blame, etc ].
3. TAKE RESPONSIBILITY for it and the consequences [i.e., the experience was determined by my subjective perception of what occurred, dictated by my lack of wholeness -- specifically my fears].
4. GIVE IT MEANING [the soul was attempting to gain some kind of mastery or skill, but we didn't know that at the time].
5. RE-IMAGINE it from the perspective of soul consciousness [showing its higher purpose].
Letting go of our suffering is the hardest work we will ever do. It is also the most fruitful. To heal means to meet ourselves in a new way -- in the newness of each moment where all is possible and nothing is limited to the old.
Allah Malik
What you bring forth out of yourself from the inside will save you. What you do not bring forth out of yourself from the inside will destroy you.
We can transform painful memories by re-imagining them from the soul's perspective of love and meaning.
All experiences have the purpose of serving the soul. An experience in the past blocked us because our fear at the time distorted our perception of what happened. To transform this limiting experience, we must bring what was then unconscious into the soul's realm
through consciousness.
We can do this by following these steps:
1. RECALL the past experience that might inhibit us.
2. OWN the experience [no judgment, blame, etc ].
3. TAKE RESPONSIBILITY for it and the consequences [i.e., the experience was determined by my subjective perception of what occurred, dictated by my lack of wholeness -- specifically my fears].
4. GIVE IT MEANING [the soul was attempting to gain some kind of mastery or skill, but we didn't know that at the time].
5. RE-IMAGINE it from the perspective of soul consciousness [showing its higher purpose].
Letting go of our suffering is the hardest work we will ever do. It is also the most fruitful. To heal means to meet ourselves in a new way -- in the newness of each moment where all is possible and nothing is limited to the old.
Allah Malik
Killing Each Other In The Name Of God
Aum Sairam
Why are people involved in killing each other in the name of God?
The original founders of the religions were human incarnations of the same God like Krishna, Jesus, Mohammed, Buddha etc. Every religion says that their God alone created this entire earth or this entire humanity. Unfortunately, there is only one earth and this proves that there is only one God mentioned by all the religions. Since God is one and the same, there cannot be contradicting concepts between different religions. But we find some contradictions and people are divided based on these contradictions. This division is leading to quarrels and finally people end up killing each other. These contradictions cannot be from God because there is only one God as said above. These contradictions were introduced into the religions only by some misinterpretations made by the followers, in the name of God. Hence the killing is also being done in the name of God.
The Holy Quran says that you should protect even followers of other religions and convey the message of Allah to him. It is left to him whether to follow the message or not. Hiranyakashipu worshipped Lord Shiva and his son Prahlada worshipped Lord Vishnu. Lord Vishnu killed Hiranyakashipu not because he worshipped Lord Shiva but because he tortured Prahlada to change his religion of worshipping Vishnu. In fact Shiva is Vishnu [Shivashcha Naarayanah Veda]. The conclusion of this is that God will punish you if you torture a devotee of any religion obstructing the freedom of his religion. Prahlada did not force his father to worship Vishnu. The same God exists in different forms in different religions. Hinduism is a mini-model of this unity in diversity that should exist in the universe as Universal Spirituality.
Allah Malik
Why are people involved in killing each other in the name of God?
The original founders of the religions were human incarnations of the same God like Krishna, Jesus, Mohammed, Buddha etc. Every religion says that their God alone created this entire earth or this entire humanity. Unfortunately, there is only one earth and this proves that there is only one God mentioned by all the religions. Since God is one and the same, there cannot be contradicting concepts between different religions. But we find some contradictions and people are divided based on these contradictions. This division is leading to quarrels and finally people end up killing each other. These contradictions cannot be from God because there is only one God as said above. These contradictions were introduced into the religions only by some misinterpretations made by the followers, in the name of God. Hence the killing is also being done in the name of God.
The Holy Quran says that you should protect even followers of other religions and convey the message of Allah to him. It is left to him whether to follow the message or not. Hiranyakashipu worshipped Lord Shiva and his son Prahlada worshipped Lord Vishnu. Lord Vishnu killed Hiranyakashipu not because he worshipped Lord Shiva but because he tortured Prahlada to change his religion of worshipping Vishnu. In fact Shiva is Vishnu [Shivashcha Naarayanah Veda]. The conclusion of this is that God will punish you if you torture a devotee of any religion obstructing the freedom of his religion. Prahlada did not force his father to worship Vishnu. The same God exists in different forms in different religions. Hinduism is a mini-model of this unity in diversity that should exist in the universe as Universal Spirituality.
Allah Malik
Monday, September 22, 2008
Why Does God Keep Silent
Aum Sairam
Why does God keep silent to some people even though they cry to Him intensely?
A diabetic patient cries before a doctor to get to eat a sweet. The doctor has infinite number of sweets but he does not care at all to give one to the patient. You are crying before God, who is the Divine Father [Creator of all the souls] to give some wealth or to solve some problem. If He helps you, there will not be even a trace of any personal loss to Him. Neither is His wealth finite nor is His power finite.
His love for souls is not limited either. The only factor that guides God is seeing the future position of the soul after God helps the soul. If after receiving God's help, you are going to reach the climax of ego, God will prefer to keep silent and not answer your cries. Because He knows that after His help, you will fall down even from your present level and then you will cry again before Him to lift you up. If the doctor gives you the sweet, the level of your blood sugar may go up and the emergent treatment required, is also the responsibility of the same doctor. Hence the doctor will not give you the sweet.
If the doctor is confident of your health, he may give the sweet. Sometimes the doctor gives you the sweet and then also conducts the emergent treatment to show you the truth. This is when you scold the doctor and call him unkind. The response of the doctor lies on his analysis of the situation and it is not the subject of the patient at all. You must have faith in the doctor [God] that any response from Him is for your good alone. You must also know that the patient is ignorant of his own real welfare.
Allah Malik
Why does God keep silent to some people even though they cry to Him intensely?
A diabetic patient cries before a doctor to get to eat a sweet. The doctor has infinite number of sweets but he does not care at all to give one to the patient. You are crying before God, who is the Divine Father [Creator of all the souls] to give some wealth or to solve some problem. If He helps you, there will not be even a trace of any personal loss to Him. Neither is His wealth finite nor is His power finite.
His love for souls is not limited either. The only factor that guides God is seeing the future position of the soul after God helps the soul. If after receiving God's help, you are going to reach the climax of ego, God will prefer to keep silent and not answer your cries. Because He knows that after His help, you will fall down even from your present level and then you will cry again before Him to lift you up. If the doctor gives you the sweet, the level of your blood sugar may go up and the emergent treatment required, is also the responsibility of the same doctor. Hence the doctor will not give you the sweet.
If the doctor is confident of your health, he may give the sweet. Sometimes the doctor gives you the sweet and then also conducts the emergent treatment to show you the truth. This is when you scold the doctor and call him unkind. The response of the doctor lies on his analysis of the situation and it is not the subject of the patient at all. You must have faith in the doctor [God] that any response from Him is for your good alone. You must also know that the patient is ignorant of his own real welfare.
Allah Malik
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Directory of the Shirdi Sai Temples
Om Sai Ram !!!!!
It is a privilage to release the much awaited directory of all the Shirdi Sai temples across the globe . To see this easy to use web page, click to http://www.omsrisai.net/saitemples.php
This list has more than 400 Shirdi Sai temples and the number keeps growing. So now no matter where you go, you can meet Shirdi Sai devotees and join them to sing Baba's aartis and bhajans or do the naap jaap with other ardent devotees like you. This directory is designed in such a way that you can find out the required information in a matter of seconds with a simple click. Just type in your city or country name and click to the search link. Do not type short forms.
Everything pertaining to that particular state or country will show up in a second. I live in a state where there is no temple, exclusively in the name of Shri Shirdi Saibaba. However, there is a Hindu temple and a cultural center close to my house, where there is a Shirdi Saibaba idol and the usual arties are performed respectively there. So I have also included the names of a few hindu temples for some states and countries for obvious reasons. I have also included in this list, the addresses and the contact nos of the places where Satsangs are performed by ASK [American Satsang kendras]. Kindly fwd this mail to all your friends and relatives and if you do not happen to see the details of the temple that you usually visit, plz let me know about it so that I can add it to this list. You can send me your comments and suggestions and your temple details at omsaiseva@yahoo.com You are also welcome to send me pictures of the small place in ur house where you worship our Shri Sadguru Sainath...
It is a privilage to release the much awaited directory of all the Shirdi Sai temples across the globe . To see this easy to use web page, click to http://www.omsrisai.net/saitemples.php
This list has more than 400 Shirdi Sai temples and the number keeps growing. So now no matter where you go, you can meet Shirdi Sai devotees and join them to sing Baba's aartis and bhajans or do the naap jaap with other ardent devotees like you. This directory is designed in such a way that you can find out the required information in a matter of seconds with a simple click. Just type in your city or country name and click to the search link. Do not type short forms.
Everything pertaining to that particular state or country will show up in a second. I live in a state where there is no temple, exclusively in the name of Shri Shirdi Saibaba. However, there is a Hindu temple and a cultural center close to my house, where there is a Shirdi Saibaba idol and the usual arties are performed respectively there. So I have also included the names of a few hindu temples for some states and countries for obvious reasons. I have also included in this list, the addresses and the contact nos of the places where Satsangs are performed by ASK [American Satsang kendras]. Kindly fwd this mail to all your friends and relatives and if you do not happen to see the details of the temple that you usually visit, plz let me know about it so that I can add it to this list. You can send me your comments and suggestions and your temple details at omsaiseva@yahoo.com You are also welcome to send me pictures of the small place in ur house where you worship our Shri Sadguru Sainath...
http://www.omsrisai.net/saitemples.php
"Gurur Brahma Gurur Vishnu
Gurur Devoh Maheshwar;
Gurur Shakshat Parambramha
Tashmai Shri Gurur Veh Namah"
"Gurur Brahma Gurur Vishnu
Gurur Devoh Maheshwar;
Gurur Shakshat Parambramha
Tashmai Shri Gurur Veh Namah"
May the Merciful Sri Sai Baba always shower His grace on us and our families and remove our problems and anxieties by giving us all - strength , goodluck, success and happiness with peace of mind.
Sai bhakt,
Sai bhakt,
Justice and Injustice
Aum Sairam
How can one understand words like Dharma [justice] and Adharma [injustice] in the spiritual effort?
In Pravritti [social behavior] one should vote for justice and vote against injustice. In the spiritual field or Nivrutti [subject related to God], one should vote for God even if it means voting against justice, because God is the ultimate justice [Paramdharma]. Shankara cheated His mother to do the work of God and that was not a sin. He did not cheat her to marry a girl and go away with the girl! Ramanuja left his newly married wife for the sake of God and did not to marry another girl again! You should not mix Pravritti and Nivritti and get confused.
Allah Malik
How can one understand words like Dharma [justice] and Adharma [injustice] in the spiritual effort?
In Pravritti [social behavior] one should vote for justice and vote against injustice. In the spiritual field or Nivrutti [subject related to God], one should vote for God even if it means voting against justice, because God is the ultimate justice [Paramdharma]. Shankara cheated His mother to do the work of God and that was not a sin. He did not cheat her to marry a girl and go away with the girl! Ramanuja left his newly married wife for the sake of God and did not to marry another girl again! You should not mix Pravritti and Nivritti and get confused.
Allah Malik
Fitten With Tree Window
Aum Sairam
Human life may be compared to a house fitted with three windows: body, mind, and soul. Through these openings come pouring into the body three divergent rays of the one perfect light of God: Health rays, faculty rays, and wisdom rays. These triune rays are
responsible for the perfect health, mental equanimity, and soul enlightenment of man.
As a triune manifestation of God's perfect light, man is truly created in the image of God. But then question arises the question: If man is made after God's likeness, why does he suffer in so many ways?
The answer is: Man as a divine child shares the independence of the Divine Being. Since he is essentially a god, created in the image of the Father, man has the privilege of free choice even as the great God. He may exercise that free choice, if he so wills, either to
obscure with error the divine soul image or to keep it dazzling with rays of health, power, and peace.
Allah Malik
Human life may be compared to a house fitted with three windows: body, mind, and soul. Through these openings come pouring into the body three divergent rays of the one perfect light of God: Health rays, faculty rays, and wisdom rays. These triune rays are
responsible for the perfect health, mental equanimity, and soul enlightenment of man.
As a triune manifestation of God's perfect light, man is truly created in the image of God. But then question arises the question: If man is made after God's likeness, why does he suffer in so many ways?
The answer is: Man as a divine child shares the independence of the Divine Being. Since he is essentially a god, created in the image of the Father, man has the privilege of free choice even as the great God. He may exercise that free choice, if he so wills, either to
obscure with error the divine soul image or to keep it dazzling with rays of health, power, and peace.
Allah Malik
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Action and Inaction
Aum Sairam
In many ways inaction is preferable to unintelligent action, for it has at least the merit of not creating further samskaras and complications. Even good and righteous action creates samskaras and means one more addition to the complications created by past actions and experiences. All life is an effort, a desperate struggle to undo what has been done in ignorance, to throw away the accumulated burden of the past, to find rescue from the debris left by a series of temporary achievements and failures. Life seeks to unwind the limiting samskaras of the past and to obtain release, so that its further creations may spring directly from the heart of eternity and bear the stamp of unhampered freedom.
Action that helps in attaining God is truly intelligent and spiritually fruitful because it brings release from bondage. It is second only to that action that springs spontaneously from the state of God-realization itself. All other forms of action, however, good or bad, effective or ineffective from a worldly point of view, contribute towards bondage and are inferior to inaction. Inaction is less helpful than intelligent action; but it is better than unintelligent action.
Allah Malik
In many ways inaction is preferable to unintelligent action, for it has at least the merit of not creating further samskaras and complications. Even good and righteous action creates samskaras and means one more addition to the complications created by past actions and experiences. All life is an effort, a desperate struggle to undo what has been done in ignorance, to throw away the accumulated burden of the past, to find rescue from the debris left by a series of temporary achievements and failures. Life seeks to unwind the limiting samskaras of the past and to obtain release, so that its further creations may spring directly from the heart of eternity and bear the stamp of unhampered freedom.
Action that helps in attaining God is truly intelligent and spiritually fruitful because it brings release from bondage. It is second only to that action that springs spontaneously from the state of God-realization itself. All other forms of action, however, good or bad, effective or ineffective from a worldly point of view, contribute towards bondage and are inferior to inaction. Inaction is less helpful than intelligent action; but it is better than unintelligent action.
Allah Malik
Friday, September 19, 2008
Why is there a difference in the preaching of various Gurus?
Aum Sairam
The first reason is that the preaching of a Sadguru differs from the preaching of a false Guru. The Sadguru shows the true path, which is full of thorns. The false Guru shows the flowery path. Therefore there is a difference. You must choose the Sadguru by knowing the characteristics of a Sadguru from the Vedas. The special knowledge that liberates love and bliss in your heart, which no one else can preach, is the main characteristic of the Lord in the human form [Sadguru]. He also does miracles but only whenever there is a necessity never for cheap exhibition. Thus one can recognize Sadguru, who is the Lord in human form. Some times there may be different human forms of Sadguru existing in the same time to preach to different people who are at different levels.
One Sadguru may be preaching to some person and you might have accidentally gone there and heard His preaching. That person may be in a different level compared to your level. In that case the preaching of that Sadguru will not be suitable to your level. You must catch the Sadguru who suits your level. The Sadguru whom you have caught will preach to you according to your level. Then you may think that there may be some difference between the two Sadgurus, but you are not realizing that the two Sadgurus teach at two different levels.
Thus you must eliminate the fraud Guru and choose the Sadguru, who suits to your level. You must stick to that Sadguru of your level, so that you will not get any confusion in the preaching of various Sadguru’s.
Allah Malik
The first reason is that the preaching of a Sadguru differs from the preaching of a false Guru. The Sadguru shows the true path, which is full of thorns. The false Guru shows the flowery path. Therefore there is a difference. You must choose the Sadguru by knowing the characteristics of a Sadguru from the Vedas. The special knowledge that liberates love and bliss in your heart, which no one else can preach, is the main characteristic of the Lord in the human form [Sadguru]. He also does miracles but only whenever there is a necessity never for cheap exhibition. Thus one can recognize Sadguru, who is the Lord in human form. Some times there may be different human forms of Sadguru existing in the same time to preach to different people who are at different levels.
One Sadguru may be preaching to some person and you might have accidentally gone there and heard His preaching. That person may be in a different level compared to your level. In that case the preaching of that Sadguru will not be suitable to your level. You must catch the Sadguru who suits your level. The Sadguru whom you have caught will preach to you according to your level. Then you may think that there may be some difference between the two Sadgurus, but you are not realizing that the two Sadgurus teach at two different levels.
Thus you must eliminate the fraud Guru and choose the Sadguru, who suits to your level. You must stick to that Sadguru of your level, so that you will not get any confusion in the preaching of various Sadguru’s.
Allah Malik
Cancellation of Sins
Aum Sairam
Sins are not cancelled by doing mere good social works. You will get separate results for your good and bad deeds. The Pandavas did a lot of good works and did very few bad works. The lot of good did not cancel their little sins. The Pandavas went to hell for a short time to suffer for the little sins and then went to heaven to enjoy the good results for a long time. This means that the good works, which will have separate good results, cannot cancel the sin. Hanuman advises Ravana not to do injustice and says that good deeds like penance cannot cancel the sins, since both have to be enjoyed separately [Praptam Dharma Phalam…Adharmasyapiha Phalam - Ramayana]. But the devotion to God can cancel the sin because God will suffer for the sins of His devotees [Ahamtva Gita]. The Gita says “Apichet…Bhajatemam”, which means that even the greatest sinner is protected if he serves God. Some preachers take this verse and apply it to the case of a theoretical devotee, who sings songs etc. The verb Bhaja means service and not songs [Bhaja Sevayam]. This verb has also another meaning of attainment [Bhaja Prapane]. You cannot say that the devotee will be saved if he attains God. Ravana reached Kailasa and stood near God and this is attainment of God, which could not save him.
Allah Malik
Sins are not cancelled by doing mere good social works. You will get separate results for your good and bad deeds. The Pandavas did a lot of good works and did very few bad works. The lot of good did not cancel their little sins. The Pandavas went to hell for a short time to suffer for the little sins and then went to heaven to enjoy the good results for a long time. This means that the good works, which will have separate good results, cannot cancel the sin. Hanuman advises Ravana not to do injustice and says that good deeds like penance cannot cancel the sins, since both have to be enjoyed separately [Praptam Dharma Phalam…Adharmasyapiha Phalam - Ramayana]. But the devotion to God can cancel the sin because God will suffer for the sins of His devotees [Ahamtva Gita]. The Gita says “Apichet…Bhajatemam”, which means that even the greatest sinner is protected if he serves God. Some preachers take this verse and apply it to the case of a theoretical devotee, who sings songs etc. The verb Bhaja means service and not songs [Bhaja Sevayam]. This verb has also another meaning of attainment [Bhaja Prapane]. You cannot say that the devotee will be saved if he attains God. Ravana reached Kailasa and stood near God and this is attainment of God, which could not save him.
Allah Malik
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Thank The Divine Sainath
Aum Sairam
May this Thursday [Baba's Day] bring you strength, good luck, success, happiness and Joy.
Oh Lord Sri Sai, we thank you for this opportunity to be together in one another's company. We thank you for the light you bring to our Sai family.
Oh "Sai" Please grant us the vision to see the highest in one another, and grant us the opportunity to continue to be there for each other in good times, as well as not-so-great-times.
Oh "Sai" Give us strength and fortitude to ride the tides of change, and empower us always to be nurturing and loving with one another. Open our spiritual eyes that we may see one another for who we truly are and love one other in the same spirit.
Oh "Sai" May sadness, disappointment and anger be minimal, may happiness, positive thoughts and good experiences together be bountiful. May we always cope, and hope, with each other with grace.
We thank the Divine Sainath for this Love. May all our life be full with health and well being.
Allah Malik
May this Thursday [Baba's Day] bring you strength, good luck, success, happiness and Joy.
Oh Lord Sri Sai, we thank you for this opportunity to be together in one another's company. We thank you for the light you bring to our Sai family.
Oh "Sai" Please grant us the vision to see the highest in one another, and grant us the opportunity to continue to be there for each other in good times, as well as not-so-great-times.
Oh "Sai" Give us strength and fortitude to ride the tides of change, and empower us always to be nurturing and loving with one another. Open our spiritual eyes that we may see one another for who we truly are and love one other in the same spirit.
Oh "Sai" May sadness, disappointment and anger be minimal, may happiness, positive thoughts and good experiences together be bountiful. May we always cope, and hope, with each other with grace.
We thank the Divine Sainath for this Love. May all our life be full with health and well being.
Allah Malik
I Found Sai There
Aum Sairam
May this Thursday [Baba's Day] bring you strength, good luck, success, happiness and Joy.
The surgeon sat beside my bed; and my friends sat across him. "Tomorrow morning," the surgeon began, "I'll open up your heart..."
"You'll find Sai there," I interrupted.
The surgeon looked up, annoyed. "I'll cut your heart open," he continued, to see how much damage has been done..."
"But when you open up my heart, you'll find Sai in there." The surgeon looked to his wife and kids, who sat quietly.
"When I see how much damage has been done, I'll sew your heart and chest back up and I'll plan what to do next."
"But you'll find Sai in my heart. "Gita, Bible, Koran" says He lives there. The hymns all say He lives there. You'll find Him in my heart."
The surgeon had enough. "I'll tell you what I'll find in your heart. I'll find damaged muscle, low blood supply, and weakened vessels. And I'll find out if I can make you well."
"You'll find Sai there too. He lives there."
The surgeon left. After the surgery, the surgeon sat in his office chamber, recording his notes: "...damaged aorta, damaged pulmonary vein, widespread muscle degeneration. No hope for transplant, no hope for cure. Therapy: painkillers and bed rest. Prognosis:" here he paused, "death within short period"
He stopped the recorder, but there was more to be said. "Why?" he asked aloud.
"Why did You do this? You've put him here; You've put him in this pain; and You've cursed him to an early death. Why?"
The Lord Sai answered, "The child, My Laadla, was not meant for your flock for long, for he is a part of My flock, and will forever be. Here, in My flock, he will feel no pain, and will be comforted as you cannot imagine. His friends will one day join him here, and they will know peace, and My flock will continue to grow."
The surgeon's tears were hot, but his anger was hotter. "You created that Boy, and You created that heart. He'll be dead shortly.
Why?"
The Lord Sai answered, "The child, my Laadla, shall return to my flock, for he has done his duty: I did not put My Laadla with your flock to lose him, but to retrieve another lost Laadla."
The surgeon wept.
The surgeon sat beside my bed; my friends sat across him. I awoke and whispered, "Did you cut open my heart?"
"Yes," said the surgeon.
"What did you find?" I asked.
"I found Sai there," said the surgeon.
Allah Malik
May this Thursday [Baba's Day] bring you strength, good luck, success, happiness and Joy.
The surgeon sat beside my bed; and my friends sat across him. "Tomorrow morning," the surgeon began, "I'll open up your heart..."
"You'll find Sai there," I interrupted.
The surgeon looked up, annoyed. "I'll cut your heart open," he continued, to see how much damage has been done..."
"But when you open up my heart, you'll find Sai in there." The surgeon looked to his wife and kids, who sat quietly.
"When I see how much damage has been done, I'll sew your heart and chest back up and I'll plan what to do next."
"But you'll find Sai in my heart. "Gita, Bible, Koran" says He lives there. The hymns all say He lives there. You'll find Him in my heart."
The surgeon had enough. "I'll tell you what I'll find in your heart. I'll find damaged muscle, low blood supply, and weakened vessels. And I'll find out if I can make you well."
"You'll find Sai there too. He lives there."
The surgeon left. After the surgery, the surgeon sat in his office chamber, recording his notes: "...damaged aorta, damaged pulmonary vein, widespread muscle degeneration. No hope for transplant, no hope for cure. Therapy: painkillers and bed rest. Prognosis:" here he paused, "death within short period"
He stopped the recorder, but there was more to be said. "Why?" he asked aloud.
"Why did You do this? You've put him here; You've put him in this pain; and You've cursed him to an early death. Why?"
The Lord Sai answered, "The child, My Laadla, was not meant for your flock for long, for he is a part of My flock, and will forever be. Here, in My flock, he will feel no pain, and will be comforted as you cannot imagine. His friends will one day join him here, and they will know peace, and My flock will continue to grow."
The surgeon's tears were hot, but his anger was hotter. "You created that Boy, and You created that heart. He'll be dead shortly.
Why?"
The Lord Sai answered, "The child, my Laadla, shall return to my flock, for he has done his duty: I did not put My Laadla with your flock to lose him, but to retrieve another lost Laadla."
The surgeon wept.
The surgeon sat beside my bed; my friends sat across him. I awoke and whispered, "Did you cut open my heart?"
"Yes," said the surgeon.
"What did you find?" I asked.
"I found Sai there," said the surgeon.
Allah Malik
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
There is a Reason
Aum Sairam
For every pain, that we must bear
For every burden, every care.
For every grief, that bows the head
For every tear-drop that is shed.
For every hurt, for every plight
For every lonely, pain racked night.
There's a reason
Buf if we trust Sai, as we should, It will all work out for our good.
He knows the reason.
Allah Malik
For every pain, that we must bear
For every burden, every care.
For every grief, that bows the head
For every tear-drop that is shed.
For every hurt, for every plight
For every lonely, pain racked night.
There's a reason
Buf if we trust Sai, as we should, It will all work out for our good.
He knows the reason.
Allah Malik
Brahma
Aum Sairam
You will become a true Adwaithin [a man with non-dual vision] when you realize that “I and I” are one or that “you and you” are one. There is a small story to illustrate this. When a guru was sitting and teaching his disciples, one day he said, “Guru Brahma, Sishya Brahma, Sarvam Brahma.” Meaning, “the Guru, the disciple, and everything in the Universe was Brahman to God.”
Every day, one disciple was accustomed to greet the guru respectfully on his arrival, but after this particular event, he did not do so, and he never got up from his seat. The Guru questioned him on this strange behavior, and the disciple replied that the previous day, the Guru said that everything is Brahman and therefore there was no difference between them.
Then the teacher thought that what he had said had come back to him like a boomerang and he wanted to teach the student a good lesson. He went to the board and wrote “Guru Brahma” as two different words. He also wrote “Sishya Brahma” and “Sarvam Brahma”.
When you look at these three, though Brahma is occurring as the same in all the three, the Guru, Sishya and Sarvam are different. Only when these three words also become One, can you say that all are One. Thus, until you are able to experience this Oneness of all in practice, the student will remain a student and the teacher will remain a teacher and there is no escape from the need for the student having to respect the teacher. The basis is One but the containers are different.
Allah Malik
You will become a true Adwaithin [a man with non-dual vision] when you realize that “I and I” are one or that “you and you” are one. There is a small story to illustrate this. When a guru was sitting and teaching his disciples, one day he said, “Guru Brahma, Sishya Brahma, Sarvam Brahma.” Meaning, “the Guru, the disciple, and everything in the Universe was Brahman to God.”
Every day, one disciple was accustomed to greet the guru respectfully on his arrival, but after this particular event, he did not do so, and he never got up from his seat. The Guru questioned him on this strange behavior, and the disciple replied that the previous day, the Guru said that everything is Brahman and therefore there was no difference between them.
Then the teacher thought that what he had said had come back to him like a boomerang and he wanted to teach the student a good lesson. He went to the board and wrote “Guru Brahma” as two different words. He also wrote “Sishya Brahma” and “Sarvam Brahma”.
When you look at these three, though Brahma is occurring as the same in all the three, the Guru, Sishya and Sarvam are different. Only when these three words also become One, can you say that all are One. Thus, until you are able to experience this Oneness of all in practice, the student will remain a student and the teacher will remain a teacher and there is no escape from the need for the student having to respect the teacher. The basis is One but the containers are different.
Allah Malik
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
When Tomorrow Starts Without Me
Aum Sairam
When tomorrow starts without me, and I'm not there to see, If the sun should rise and find your eyes all filled with tears for me, I wish so much you wouldn't cry the way you did today, while thinking of the many things we didn't get to say.
I know how much you love me, as much as I love you, and each time you think of me I know you'll miss me too.
But when tomorrow starts without me, please try to understand, that an angel came and called my name and took me by the hand, and said my place was ready in heaven far above, and that I'd have to leave behind all those I dearly love.
But as I turned to walk away, a tear fell from my eye, for all life, I'd always thought I didn't want to die.
I had so much to live for and so much yet to do, it seemed almost impossible that I was leaving you. I thought of all the yesterdays, the good ones and the bad, I thought of all the love we shared and all the fun we had.
If I could relive yesterday, I thought, just for awhile, I'd say goodbye and kiss you and maybe see you smile. But then I fully realized that this could never be, for emptiness and memories would take the place of me.
And when I thought of worldly things that I'd miss come tomorrow, I thought of you, and when I did, my heart was filled with sorrow. But when I walked through heaven's gates, I felt so much at home.
When God looked down and smiled at me, from His great golden throne, He said This is eternity and all I've promised you. Today for life on earth is past but here it starts anew. I promise no tomorrow, but today will always last, and since each day's the same day, there's no longing for the past.
But you have been so faithful, so trusting, and so true. Though there were times you did some things you knew you shouldn't do. But you have been forgiven and now at last you're free. So won't you take my hand and share my life with me? So when tomorrow starts without me, don't think we're far apart, for every time you think of me, I'm right here in your heart.
Allah Malik
When tomorrow starts without me, and I'm not there to see, If the sun should rise and find your eyes all filled with tears for me, I wish so much you wouldn't cry the way you did today, while thinking of the many things we didn't get to say.
I know how much you love me, as much as I love you, and each time you think of me I know you'll miss me too.
But when tomorrow starts without me, please try to understand, that an angel came and called my name and took me by the hand, and said my place was ready in heaven far above, and that I'd have to leave behind all those I dearly love.
But as I turned to walk away, a tear fell from my eye, for all life, I'd always thought I didn't want to die.
I had so much to live for and so much yet to do, it seemed almost impossible that I was leaving you. I thought of all the yesterdays, the good ones and the bad, I thought of all the love we shared and all the fun we had.
If I could relive yesterday, I thought, just for awhile, I'd say goodbye and kiss you and maybe see you smile. But then I fully realized that this could never be, for emptiness and memories would take the place of me.
And when I thought of worldly things that I'd miss come tomorrow, I thought of you, and when I did, my heart was filled with sorrow. But when I walked through heaven's gates, I felt so much at home.
When God looked down and smiled at me, from His great golden throne, He said This is eternity and all I've promised you. Today for life on earth is past but here it starts anew. I promise no tomorrow, but today will always last, and since each day's the same day, there's no longing for the past.
But you have been so faithful, so trusting, and so true. Though there were times you did some things you knew you shouldn't do. But you have been forgiven and now at last you're free. So won't you take my hand and share my life with me? So when tomorrow starts without me, don't think we're far apart, for every time you think of me, I'm right here in your heart.
Allah Malik
Signifance Of Rotating Around The Self
Aum Sairam
Rotating around the self while standing [pradakshina] during Sri Sai's Aarti?
Pradakshina, also called as Circumambulation appears to have a deeper meaning in its ritual. During performing Sri Sai Aarti, devotees circumambulate around themselves chanting, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare, Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, twice paying respects to Lord Rama and Lord Krishna the Hindu forms of God.
It is also a practice to do pradakshina while seeking forgiveness for a wrong doing during a ritual. One source on Hinduism defines pradakshina as the circumambulation clockwise around a sacred person, sacred image, a sacred object or a temple in a clockwise direction.
It is the movement around, not toward a center. It is a movement encompassing an object: a temple, a holy site, a sacred mountain, a lake, a river, a city, and even includes circling around oneself. This also signifies honoring, centering, bonding, setting apart, and reaffirmation of the sacred territorial claim.
Allah Malik
Rotating around the self while standing [pradakshina] during Sri Sai's Aarti?
Pradakshina, also called as Circumambulation appears to have a deeper meaning in its ritual. During performing Sri Sai Aarti, devotees circumambulate around themselves chanting, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare, Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, twice paying respects to Lord Rama and Lord Krishna the Hindu forms of God.
It is also a practice to do pradakshina while seeking forgiveness for a wrong doing during a ritual. One source on Hinduism defines pradakshina as the circumambulation clockwise around a sacred person, sacred image, a sacred object or a temple in a clockwise direction.
It is the movement around, not toward a center. It is a movement encompassing an object: a temple, a holy site, a sacred mountain, a lake, a river, a city, and even includes circling around oneself. This also signifies honoring, centering, bonding, setting apart, and reaffirmation of the sacred territorial claim.
Allah Malik
Monday, September 15, 2008
Cant One Be Ever Truly Happy
Aum Sairam
Have you ever wondered whether one can be truly happy? Happiness and sorrow are states of emotion that is experienced by all of us. Both of them are like two sides of a coin. And both of them come in cycles one after the other. We feel excited, ecstatic, etc. when we are happy and conversely we feel sad, dejected, etc when we feel sorrow. Sorrow hurts more as it negatively plays with our ego, senses and seems to last longer than happiness. Sometimes sorrowful states drives one to such extreme despair that one feels like committing suicide to get out of that pain. It is during hard and sorrowful times that a person's self confidence is at its lowest and one starts to depend on external energies and sources to survive. In all humility one approaches anyone who can help. In such a time, the ever merciful loving and compassionate Sadguru, comes running to the rescue. He takes care of His children and makes them tide over tough times. Then comes the cycle of happiness and joy as one slowly rises and starts taking control of their lives. That little voice sitting inside starts raising its ugly head and one gets into the grip of ego, the other senses and Maya that plays all around us. Desire after desire start flowing in as waves in an ocean never ending and ever playing with our minds. Despite having enough for a decent living, one falls again into the trap of sorrowful state.
It is said that we all have to suffer the consequences of our Karma. Karma is mostly misunderstood as a form of physical action only. Karma is not limited to physical action, it is also generated because of our mental actions. In fact every thought that originates in the mind is causing Karma. Be it positive or negative. Surrendering one to the feet of the Sadguru by constantly and consistently keeping Sadguru in our thoughts is the only means of negating Karma. That continuous process leads one to differentiate and through
differentiation arises a state of mind that recognizes that happiness and sorrow are caused by inside forces and not from outside influences. Control of the inside forces by complete surrender to the Sadguru is the key to true happiness.
Allah Malik
Have you ever wondered whether one can be truly happy? Happiness and sorrow are states of emotion that is experienced by all of us. Both of them are like two sides of a coin. And both of them come in cycles one after the other. We feel excited, ecstatic, etc. when we are happy and conversely we feel sad, dejected, etc when we feel sorrow. Sorrow hurts more as it negatively plays with our ego, senses and seems to last longer than happiness. Sometimes sorrowful states drives one to such extreme despair that one feels like committing suicide to get out of that pain. It is during hard and sorrowful times that a person's self confidence is at its lowest and one starts to depend on external energies and sources to survive. In all humility one approaches anyone who can help. In such a time, the ever merciful loving and compassionate Sadguru, comes running to the rescue. He takes care of His children and makes them tide over tough times. Then comes the cycle of happiness and joy as one slowly rises and starts taking control of their lives. That little voice sitting inside starts raising its ugly head and one gets into the grip of ego, the other senses and Maya that plays all around us. Desire after desire start flowing in as waves in an ocean never ending and ever playing with our minds. Despite having enough for a decent living, one falls again into the trap of sorrowful state.
It is said that we all have to suffer the consequences of our Karma. Karma is mostly misunderstood as a form of physical action only. Karma is not limited to physical action, it is also generated because of our mental actions. In fact every thought that originates in the mind is causing Karma. Be it positive or negative. Surrendering one to the feet of the Sadguru by constantly and consistently keeping Sadguru in our thoughts is the only means of negating Karma. That continuous process leads one to differentiate and through
differentiation arises a state of mind that recognizes that happiness and sorrow are caused by inside forces and not from outside influences. Control of the inside forces by complete surrender to the Sadguru is the key to true happiness.
Allah Malik
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Why go to a Spiritual Place
Aum Sairam
Why Go To The Spiritual Place [Temple/Church/Mosque/Gurudwara]?
A "devotee" wrote a letter to the editor of a newspaper and complained that it made no sense to go to the Spiritual Place.
"I've gone for 30 years now, he wrote, and in that time I have heard something like 3,000 mantras.
But for the life of me, I can't remember a single one of them. So, I think I'm wasting my time and the Gurus are wasting theirs by giving services at all.
This started a real controversy in the "Letters to the Editor" column, much to the delight of the editor. It went on for weeks until someone wrote this clincher: I've been married for 30 years now. In that time my wife has cooked some 32,000 meals. But, for the life of me, I cannot recall the entire menu for a single one of those meals. But I do know this. They all nourished me and gave me the strength I needed to do my work. If my wife had not given me these meals, I would be physically dead today.
Likewise, if I had not gone to the Spiritual Place for nourishment, I would be spiritually dead today!
When you are DOWN to nothing.... God is UP to something! Faith sees the invisible, believes the incredible and receives the impossible!
Thank God for our physical AND our spiritual nourishment!
Allah Malik
Why Go To The Spiritual Place [Temple/Church/Mosque/Gurudwara]?
A "devotee" wrote a letter to the editor of a newspaper and complained that it made no sense to go to the Spiritual Place.
"I've gone for 30 years now, he wrote, and in that time I have heard something like 3,000 mantras.
But for the life of me, I can't remember a single one of them. So, I think I'm wasting my time and the Gurus are wasting theirs by giving services at all.
This started a real controversy in the "Letters to the Editor" column, much to the delight of the editor. It went on for weeks until someone wrote this clincher: I've been married for 30 years now. In that time my wife has cooked some 32,000 meals. But, for the life of me, I cannot recall the entire menu for a single one of those meals. But I do know this. They all nourished me and gave me the strength I needed to do my work. If my wife had not given me these meals, I would be physically dead today.
Likewise, if I had not gone to the Spiritual Place for nourishment, I would be spiritually dead today!
When you are DOWN to nothing.... God is UP to something! Faith sees the invisible, believes the incredible and receives the impossible!
Thank God for our physical AND our spiritual nourishment!
Allah Malik
Holding Hands#1
A little girl and her father were crossing a flimsy bridge. The father was kind of scared so he asked his little daughter, "Sweetheart, please hold my hand so that you don't fall into the river."
The little girl said, "No, Dad. You hold my hand."
"What's the difference?" asked the puzzled father.
"There's a big difference," replied the little girl. "If I hold your hand and something happens to me, chances are that I may let your hand go. But if you hold my hand, I know for sure that no matter what happens, you will never let my hand go."
In any relationship, the essence of trust is not in its bind but in its bond. So hold the hand of the person whom you love rather than expecting them to hold yours.
The little girl said, "No, Dad. You hold my hand."
"What's the difference?" asked the puzzled father.
"There's a big difference," replied the little girl. "If I hold your hand and something happens to me, chances are that I may let your hand go. But if you hold my hand, I know for sure that no matter what happens, you will never let my hand go."
In any relationship, the essence of trust is not in its bind but in its bond. So hold the hand of the person whom you love rather than expecting them to hold yours.
Similarities between Jesus and Sainath
Aum Sairam
Every Grandmaster who walked the earth, like Jesus, Zoroaster, Mohammad, etc came here to give us an identity and a purpose in life. They all preached a religion, gave hope, goals and stability to our lives. They roamed from place to place teaching and spreading the glory of the Lord.
We are grateful to them for all the knowledge and hope they gave us. We can't all be black or white, Hindu or Muslim. On the other hand, Sri Sai appeared with no religion and no identity. He said there is only one God. However, He is the same. He sent the Grandmasters to help us find our way. Man has betrayed that trust, misused the meaning and purpose of religion. In the name of religion, people have covered up acts of wrong doings.
Sri Sai stayed in Shirdi. He went nowhere, yet people from all over the world know of Him and sing His praise. Sri Sai is God incarnate. When all else failed, He himself came to earth to tell us here is only one God. Religion is our identity. The only similarity therefore between Jesus and Sri Sai is that they were both simple in their lives, humbles in demeanor, and taught us the difference between good and evil. Both concentrated on the sinner rather than the good person.
Sri Sai has gone through great lengths to show Hindu, Muslim, Catholic, etc how to live together in peace and harmony, seek God through patience and faith. In doing so, He has achieved volumes. Great is His power and Sri Sai devotees are fortunate indeed to know Him.
Allah Malik
Every Grandmaster who walked the earth, like Jesus, Zoroaster, Mohammad, etc came here to give us an identity and a purpose in life. They all preached a religion, gave hope, goals and stability to our lives. They roamed from place to place teaching and spreading the glory of the Lord.
We are grateful to them for all the knowledge and hope they gave us. We can't all be black or white, Hindu or Muslim. On the other hand, Sri Sai appeared with no religion and no identity. He said there is only one God. However, He is the same. He sent the Grandmasters to help us find our way. Man has betrayed that trust, misused the meaning and purpose of religion. In the name of religion, people have covered up acts of wrong doings.
Sri Sai stayed in Shirdi. He went nowhere, yet people from all over the world know of Him and sing His praise. Sri Sai is God incarnate. When all else failed, He himself came to earth to tell us here is only one God. Religion is our identity. The only similarity therefore between Jesus and Sri Sai is that they were both simple in their lives, humbles in demeanor, and taught us the difference between good and evil. Both concentrated on the sinner rather than the good person.
Sri Sai has gone through great lengths to show Hindu, Muslim, Catholic, etc how to live together in peace and harmony, seek God through patience and faith. In doing so, He has achieved volumes. Great is His power and Sri Sai devotees are fortunate indeed to know Him.
Allah Malik
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Raising your Sight
Aum Sairam
A human being is a part of the whole, called by us Universe, a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings as something separated from the rest - a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty. Nobody is able to achieve this completely, but the striving for such achievement is in itself a part of the liberation and a foundation for inner security.
To grow in consciousness, we expand our perspectives on life. So how do we do that? The more we work with the universal the concept of unity and wholeness, the more everything makes sense. Parts have meaning when they are understood to be parts of a bigger picture.
Consciousness is all about relationships especially how the lower relates to the higher and how the darkness can exist within the light. Hold and experience contradictions like anger with love. Let opposites coexist in you without choosing one over the other.
Higher consciousness, enlightenment, comes from meaningful experiences and lessons passed with the understanding that there truly is only one law the Law of Love. When one leads a life expressing this belief, the mind and heart begin to open to new realities, and other dimensional truths become known.
Allah Malik
A human being is a part of the whole, called by us Universe, a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings as something separated from the rest - a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty. Nobody is able to achieve this completely, but the striving for such achievement is in itself a part of the liberation and a foundation for inner security.
To grow in consciousness, we expand our perspectives on life. So how do we do that? The more we work with the universal the concept of unity and wholeness, the more everything makes sense. Parts have meaning when they are understood to be parts of a bigger picture.
Consciousness is all about relationships especially how the lower relates to the higher and how the darkness can exist within the light. Hold and experience contradictions like anger with love. Let opposites coexist in you without choosing one over the other.
Higher consciousness, enlightenment, comes from meaningful experiences and lessons passed with the understanding that there truly is only one law the Law of Love. When one leads a life expressing this belief, the mind and heart begin to open to new realities, and other dimensional truths become known.
Allah Malik
Quotes
Aum Sairam
"We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give."
"Kind words do not cost much. Yet they accomplish much."
"To cultivate kindness is a valuable part of the business of life."
"A kind heart is a fountain of gladness, making everything in its vicinity freshen into smiles."
"As perfume to the flower, so is kindness to speech."
"Is there any one maxim which ought to be acted upon throughout one's
whole life? Surely the maxim of loving kindness is such."
"You can accomplish by kindness what you cannot by force."
"It really is much easier to help people and causes than what most people seem to think. You just go out and take that first step and things start falling in place. If they don't, you change direction, but you never pull over and park!"
"If someone were to pay you ten cents for every kind word you ever spoke and collect five cents for every unkind word, would you be rich or poor?"
"There are times that when truth and kindness conflict, one ought to choose kindness, especially when a little honesty is better than a lot."
Allah Malik
"We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give."
"Kind words do not cost much. Yet they accomplish much."
"To cultivate kindness is a valuable part of the business of life."
"A kind heart is a fountain of gladness, making everything in its vicinity freshen into smiles."
"As perfume to the flower, so is kindness to speech."
"Is there any one maxim which ought to be acted upon throughout one's
whole life? Surely the maxim of loving kindness is such."
"You can accomplish by kindness what you cannot by force."
"It really is much easier to help people and causes than what most people seem to think. You just go out and take that first step and things start falling in place. If they don't, you change direction, but you never pull over and park!"
"If someone were to pay you ten cents for every kind word you ever spoke and collect five cents for every unkind word, would you be rich or poor?"
"There are times that when truth and kindness conflict, one ought to choose kindness, especially when a little honesty is better than a lot."
Allah Malik
Friday, September 12, 2008
Guru Bhakti
Aum Sairam
Blind, unquestioning obedience to what the Guru says. Service to the Guru with all of ones material and physical resources. Learning the teachings of the Guru to the best of ones ability. Living ones life in accordance with the teachings of the Guru.
These are normal responses.
However, the best form of Guru Bhakti would depend upon the Guru and the Gurubhakt. There are various schools of learning and Gurus in these have different ways of teaching. Some Gurus expect blind obedience, yet others expect a questioning mind. Each seeker goes to the Guru with the object of being guided from darkness to light. Guru Bhakti is not the ritual worship of the Guru. It is whatever enables one to absorb the Guru's teaching so successfully that, at the end, the seeker becomes enlightened enough to be one with the Guru. A true Guru will strive to break all barriers surrounding the seeker. This includes the barrier between the seeker and the Guru. All that the seeker can do to make this a reality is what true Guru Bhakti is about.
The best form of Guru Bhakti is adhering to his commands with Love. So simply yet so hard to follow.
Allah Malik
Blind, unquestioning obedience to what the Guru says. Service to the Guru with all of ones material and physical resources. Learning the teachings of the Guru to the best of ones ability. Living ones life in accordance with the teachings of the Guru.
These are normal responses.
However, the best form of Guru Bhakti would depend upon the Guru and the Gurubhakt. There are various schools of learning and Gurus in these have different ways of teaching. Some Gurus expect blind obedience, yet others expect a questioning mind. Each seeker goes to the Guru with the object of being guided from darkness to light. Guru Bhakti is not the ritual worship of the Guru. It is whatever enables one to absorb the Guru's teaching so successfully that, at the end, the seeker becomes enlightened enough to be one with the Guru. A true Guru will strive to break all barriers surrounding the seeker. This includes the barrier between the seeker and the Guru. All that the seeker can do to make this a reality is what true Guru Bhakti is about.
The best form of Guru Bhakti is adhering to his commands with Love. So simply yet so hard to follow.
Allah Malik
Beauty of God
Aum Sairam
Just as others judge you on the pictures they have in their mind of you. You too judge yourself on the clouded misperception you have built up in your mind of yourself.
The opinion you have, and the opinion that others have of you is based on the distorted reality which you both have created, and are not based on Truth.
The ego would have you believe you are an unworthy being, deserving only of guilt, fear and punishment in an effort that you may never realize that you are a Child of God who owns the Universe.
Do not believe these lies anymore. You are a spirit in a human body having a human experience. Everything seen through the bodies eyes is a total illusion. You must learn to see the Universe through the eyes of Spirit.
Open your inner eyes so you can see everything through the eyes of spirit. Everything will then reflect the beauty of God.
Allah Malik
Just as others judge you on the pictures they have in their mind of you. You too judge yourself on the clouded misperception you have built up in your mind of yourself.
The opinion you have, and the opinion that others have of you is based on the distorted reality which you both have created, and are not based on Truth.
The ego would have you believe you are an unworthy being, deserving only of guilt, fear and punishment in an effort that you may never realize that you are a Child of God who owns the Universe.
Do not believe these lies anymore. You are a spirit in a human body having a human experience. Everything seen through the bodies eyes is a total illusion. You must learn to see the Universe through the eyes of Spirit.
Open your inner eyes so you can see everything through the eyes of spirit. Everything will then reflect the beauty of God.
Allah Malik
Thursday, September 11, 2008
September 11th Remembrance
Aum Sairam
May This Thursday [Baba's Day] Bring You Strength, Good luck, Success Happiness And Joy
On the 7th anniversary of the 9/11 tragedy, we are reminded that grief has its own timetable, one that does not always follow our fervent desire to "move on". I request all Sai Brothers and Sai Sisters to remember those who lost their lives on 9/11, to offer thoughts and prayers for the families and friends who have gone through years without their loved ones, and to recognize those involved in the recovery and clean-up at Ground Zero still coming to terms with the horrors they witnessed. And once again I request you to share your prayers for peace, strength, healing, and wisdom-for our nation and for the world.
Prayer
Oh Sri Sai, help us to use this tragedy to see beyond our divisions of religion, race, and nationality and to embrace our common humanity. May we learn to see that of You in our neighbors, and even in our enemies. May love overcome hate, peace overcome violence, and faith overcome despair.
Allah Malik
May This Thursday [Baba's Day] Bring You Strength, Good luck, Success Happiness And Joy
On the 7th anniversary of the 9/11 tragedy, we are reminded that grief has its own timetable, one that does not always follow our fervent desire to "move on". I request all Sai Brothers and Sai Sisters to remember those who lost their lives on 9/11, to offer thoughts and prayers for the families and friends who have gone through years without their loved ones, and to recognize those involved in the recovery and clean-up at Ground Zero still coming to terms with the horrors they witnessed. And once again I request you to share your prayers for peace, strength, healing, and wisdom-for our nation and for the world.
Prayer
Oh Sri Sai, help us to use this tragedy to see beyond our divisions of religion, race, and nationality and to embrace our common humanity. May we learn to see that of You in our neighbors, and even in our enemies. May love overcome hate, peace overcome violence, and faith overcome despair.
Allah Malik
Reminder For Little Things
Aum Sairam
May This Thursday [Baba's Day] Bring You Strength, Good luck, Success Happiness And Joy
After Sept. 11th, one company invited the remaining members of other companies who had been decimated by the attack on the Twin Towers to share their available office space. At a morning meeting, the head of security told stories of why these people were
alive...... and all the stories were just:
The 'L I T T L E' things.
As you might know, the head of the company got in late that day because his son started kindergarten.
Another fellow was alive because it was his turn to bring donuts.
One woman was late because her alarm clock didn't go off in time.
One was late because of being stuck on the NJ Turnpike because of an auto accident.
One of them missed his bus.
One spilled food on her clothes and had to take time to change.
One's car wouldn't start.
One went back to answer the telephone.
One had a child that dawdled and didn't get ready as soon as he should have.
One couldn't get a taxi.
A man who put on a new pair of shoes that morning, took the various means to get to work but before he got there, he developed a blister on his foot. He stopped at a drugstore to buy a Band-Aid. That is why he is alive today.
Now when I am stuck in traffic, miss an elevator, turn back to answer a ringing telephone all the little things that annoy me. I think to myself, this is exactly where God wants me to be at this very moment.
Next time your morning seems to be going wrong, the children are slow getting dressed, you can't seem to find the car keys, you hit every traffic light, don't get mad or frustrated; God is at work watching over you.
May God continue to bless you with all those annoying little things and may you remember their possible purpose.
Allah Malik
May This Thursday [Baba's Day] Bring You Strength, Good luck, Success Happiness And Joy
After Sept. 11th, one company invited the remaining members of other companies who had been decimated by the attack on the Twin Towers to share their available office space. At a morning meeting, the head of security told stories of why these people were
alive...... and all the stories were just:
The 'L I T T L E' things.
As you might know, the head of the company got in late that day because his son started kindergarten.
Another fellow was alive because it was his turn to bring donuts.
One woman was late because her alarm clock didn't go off in time.
One was late because of being stuck on the NJ Turnpike because of an auto accident.
One of them missed his bus.
One spilled food on her clothes and had to take time to change.
One's car wouldn't start.
One went back to answer the telephone.
One had a child that dawdled and didn't get ready as soon as he should have.
One couldn't get a taxi.
A man who put on a new pair of shoes that morning, took the various means to get to work but before he got there, he developed a blister on his foot. He stopped at a drugstore to buy a Band-Aid. That is why he is alive today.
Now when I am stuck in traffic, miss an elevator, turn back to answer a ringing telephone all the little things that annoy me. I think to myself, this is exactly where God wants me to be at this very moment.
Next time your morning seems to be going wrong, the children are slow getting dressed, you can't seem to find the car keys, you hit every traffic light, don't get mad or frustrated; God is at work watching over you.
May God continue to bless you with all those annoying little things and may you remember their possible purpose.
Allah Malik
Monday, September 8, 2008
Speech
Aum Sairam
I shall consider you blessed when you will renounce all attachments, conquer lust and palate and getting rid of all impediments, serve God wholeheartedly and resort to the begging bowl.
The above is the reply given by Sri Sai to Bapusaheb Jog who asked him why even after serving Sri Sai for so many years, his mind was not calm and composed and why he failed in his efforts for self realization. Sri Sai always laid stress on controlling pleasures of the sense, especially those of sexual passion and tongue.
In our scriptures, great stress is laid on non violence which means not to hurt anybody physically, mentally, or by speech. Sri Sai had realized that of all the above, harsh and scornful words hurt a person much more than physical or mental violence. Such cutting words are more easily forgotten and cannot be withdrawn. Consequently, they cause everlasting ill feeling. Sri Sai, therefore, not only advised his devotees, Not to speak cuttingly to anyone so as to hurt him. He said, let anybody speak hundreds of things against you, do not resent by giving a bitter reply. If you always tolerate such things, you will certainly be happy, and to make sure that they did follow his advice, He also said, he who carps and cavils at others, pierces Me in the heart and injures Me, but that suffers and endures, please Me the most.
Allah Malik
I shall consider you blessed when you will renounce all attachments, conquer lust and palate and getting rid of all impediments, serve God wholeheartedly and resort to the begging bowl.
The above is the reply given by Sri Sai to Bapusaheb Jog who asked him why even after serving Sri Sai for so many years, his mind was not calm and composed and why he failed in his efforts for self realization. Sri Sai always laid stress on controlling pleasures of the sense, especially those of sexual passion and tongue.
In our scriptures, great stress is laid on non violence which means not to hurt anybody physically, mentally, or by speech. Sri Sai had realized that of all the above, harsh and scornful words hurt a person much more than physical or mental violence. Such cutting words are more easily forgotten and cannot be withdrawn. Consequently, they cause everlasting ill feeling. Sri Sai, therefore, not only advised his devotees, Not to speak cuttingly to anyone so as to hurt him. He said, let anybody speak hundreds of things against you, do not resent by giving a bitter reply. If you always tolerate such things, you will certainly be happy, and to make sure that they did follow his advice, He also said, he who carps and cavils at others, pierces Me in the heart and injures Me, but that suffers and endures, please Me the most.
Allah Malik
Just A Call Away
Aum Sairam
There was a time when, day started with worries and anxiety, and I landed up in a fix and then pray, because I didn’t stop by for a second, in front of Him and asked Sri Sai better be this day
He whispered in my ears - Dear child you never asked me in your prayer, I reasoned and agreed, and again did the same next day,
Time swept away and I was all in black and grey, I lost my power, strength and charisma
The way I carried work always, lost the spirit to face the life and carried arguments to prove me better always
There came a time when I was a total wreak. He entered into my unfocused burdened life to help me for the little prayer I ever did, I lost Shradha and Saburi And he came to give me that away.
The time did not remain the same. I had Shradha and Saburi so my life had a way.
I did not rush into the day - I stopped and I prayed, asked for His blessings and went right away with the day.
I had so much to myself that nothing seemed black and grey and now I fold my hands to pray for those who just rush into the day and Sri Sai says, come closer you are on my way
I have realized what it takes to be human and I have learnt, Sri Sai is always there, with Shradha and Saburi he is just a call away.
Allah Malik
There was a time when, day started with worries and anxiety, and I landed up in a fix and then pray, because I didn’t stop by for a second, in front of Him and asked Sri Sai better be this day
He whispered in my ears - Dear child you never asked me in your prayer, I reasoned and agreed, and again did the same next day,
Time swept away and I was all in black and grey, I lost my power, strength and charisma
The way I carried work always, lost the spirit to face the life and carried arguments to prove me better always
There came a time when I was a total wreak. He entered into my unfocused burdened life to help me for the little prayer I ever did, I lost Shradha and Saburi And he came to give me that away.
The time did not remain the same. I had Shradha and Saburi so my life had a way.
I did not rush into the day - I stopped and I prayed, asked for His blessings and went right away with the day.
I had so much to myself that nothing seemed black and grey and now I fold my hands to pray for those who just rush into the day and Sri Sai says, come closer you are on my way
I have realized what it takes to be human and I have learnt, Sri Sai is always there, with Shradha and Saburi he is just a call away.
Allah Malik
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Fuller And Free Expression Of Love
Aum Sairam
Love becomes consciously infinite in being as well as in expression when the individual mind is transcended. Such love is rightly called divine, because it is characteristic of the God state in which all duality is finally overcome. In divine love, lust has completely disappeared. It does not exist even in latent form. Divine love is unlimited in essence and expression because it is experienced by the soul through the Soul itself.
In the gross, subtle, and mental spheres, the lover is conscious of being separated from God, the Beloved; but when all these spheres are transcended, the lover is conscious of his unity with the Beloved. The lover loses himself in the being of the Beloved and knows that he is one with the Beloved. Divine love is entirely free from the thralldom of desires or the limited self. In this state of Infinity the lover has no being apart from the beloved: he is the Beloved Himself.
One thus has God, as infinite Love, first limiting Himself in the forms of creation and then recovering his infinity through the different stages of creation. All the stages of God's experience of being a finite lover ultimately culminate in His experiencing Himself as the sole Beloved.
The sojourn of the soul is a thrilling divine romance in which the lover — who in the beginning is conscious of nothing but emptiness, frustration, superficiality, and the gnawing chains of bondage — gradually attains an increasingly fuller and freer expression of love. And ultimately the lover disappears and merges in the divine Beloved to realize the unity of the lover and the Beloved in the supreme and eternal fact of God as infinite Love.
Allah Malik
Love becomes consciously infinite in being as well as in expression when the individual mind is transcended. Such love is rightly called divine, because it is characteristic of the God state in which all duality is finally overcome. In divine love, lust has completely disappeared. It does not exist even in latent form. Divine love is unlimited in essence and expression because it is experienced by the soul through the Soul itself.
In the gross, subtle, and mental spheres, the lover is conscious of being separated from God, the Beloved; but when all these spheres are transcended, the lover is conscious of his unity with the Beloved. The lover loses himself in the being of the Beloved and knows that he is one with the Beloved. Divine love is entirely free from the thralldom of desires or the limited self. In this state of Infinity the lover has no being apart from the beloved: he is the Beloved Himself.
One thus has God, as infinite Love, first limiting Himself in the forms of creation and then recovering his infinity through the different stages of creation. All the stages of God's experience of being a finite lover ultimately culminate in His experiencing Himself as the sole Beloved.
The sojourn of the soul is a thrilling divine romance in which the lover — who in the beginning is conscious of nothing but emptiness, frustration, superficiality, and the gnawing chains of bondage — gradually attains an increasingly fuller and freer expression of love. And ultimately the lover disappears and merges in the divine Beloved to realize the unity of the lover and the Beloved in the supreme and eternal fact of God as infinite Love.
Allah Malik
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Our Father
Aum Sairam
Our Father Sri Sai knows what's best for us, so why should we complain. We always want the sunshine, but He knows there must be rain. We love the sound of laughter and the merriment of cheer; but our hearts would lose their tenderness if we never shed a tear.
Our Father Sri Sai tests us often with suffering and with sorrow; He tests us, not to punish us, but to help us meet tomorrow.
For growing trees are strengthened when they withstand the storm; and the sharp cut of the chisel gives the marble grace and form.
God never hurts us needlessly, and He never wastes our pain; for every loss He sends to us is followed by rich gain.
And when we count the blessings that God has so freely sent; we will find no cause for murmuring and no time to lament.
Our Father Sri Sai loves His children, and to Him all things are plain; so He never sends us pleasure when the soul's deep need is pain.
So whenever we are troubled, and when everything goes wrong, it is just God working in us to make our spirits strong.
Allah Malik
Our Father Sri Sai knows what's best for us, so why should we complain. We always want the sunshine, but He knows there must be rain. We love the sound of laughter and the merriment of cheer; but our hearts would lose their tenderness if we never shed a tear.
Our Father Sri Sai tests us often with suffering and with sorrow; He tests us, not to punish us, but to help us meet tomorrow.
For growing trees are strengthened when they withstand the storm; and the sharp cut of the chisel gives the marble grace and form.
God never hurts us needlessly, and He never wastes our pain; for every loss He sends to us is followed by rich gain.
And when we count the blessings that God has so freely sent; we will find no cause for murmuring and no time to lament.
Our Father Sri Sai loves His children, and to Him all things are plain; so He never sends us pleasure when the soul's deep need is pain.
So whenever we are troubled, and when everything goes wrong, it is just God working in us to make our spirits strong.
Allah Malik
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
The Wisdom, The Vision and The Strength
Aum Sairam
When you think everything is lost, that help is nearest at hand, and such a thrice so-called defeat, will become victory. Grace is always at hand.
Arise, Awake and Attain Illumination. That is why you are here. That is your Divine Destiny.
Be strong. Be determined. Plod onwards, "Heart within and God overhead". If thus you do, you will get help from God. In your heart have the right attitude and plod on. Exert, and ten from God, help will come.
The wise sadhak always takes the positive approach. "Hope springs eternal in the human breast". This is the right approach. Hope is a divine quality. Determination is a divine quality, a manifestation of Shakti. Therefore, it is our duty to ourselves and to God to always keep our interior in a positive state.
We accept it because it is all part of God's creation. And we love God and trust in His all-wisdom. We have faith that things will not occur if they are not meant to occur. And if things do occur, it means they were meant to occur. So, we have total trust, total faith. The devotee accepts the decision of the divine.
Accept life as it comes, knowing that there is not much you can do to change outside. Yet do that which is necessary, what one feels that one can do, and then, leave the rest in the hands of God, knowing that ultimately all things occur according to the great Cosmic Plan of which we have no knowledge. Thus, established in His wisdom, one is not shaken even by the greatest sorrow.
Allah Malik
When you think everything is lost, that help is nearest at hand, and such a thrice so-called defeat, will become victory. Grace is always at hand.
Arise, Awake and Attain Illumination. That is why you are here. That is your Divine Destiny.
Be strong. Be determined. Plod onwards, "Heart within and God overhead". If thus you do, you will get help from God. In your heart have the right attitude and plod on. Exert, and ten from God, help will come.
The wise sadhak always takes the positive approach. "Hope springs eternal in the human breast". This is the right approach. Hope is a divine quality. Determination is a divine quality, a manifestation of Shakti. Therefore, it is our duty to ourselves and to God to always keep our interior in a positive state.
We accept it because it is all part of God's creation. And we love God and trust in His all-wisdom. We have faith that things will not occur if they are not meant to occur. And if things do occur, it means they were meant to occur. So, we have total trust, total faith. The devotee accepts the decision of the divine.
Accept life as it comes, knowing that there is not much you can do to change outside. Yet do that which is necessary, what one feels that one can do, and then, leave the rest in the hands of God, knowing that ultimately all things occur according to the great Cosmic Plan of which we have no knowledge. Thus, established in His wisdom, one is not shaken even by the greatest sorrow.
Allah Malik
Monday, September 1, 2008
Faith
Aum Sairam
Is Sri Sai a God or could that be He was just a man with a few unique powers and peculiarities? This was also a question raised about two thousand years ago with Christ, was Jesus Christ a man or a magician? Discussions on the father, the son and the Holy Spirit' is still a popular topic at churches all over. Where does the answer lie to the question whether Sri Sai was an ordinary man with a few powers or the manifestation of the supreme conscious that eludes common rationale?
As to how Sri Sai is to be regarded, there is wide divergence of views not merely among religions, sects and people, but also within one's stage of the spiritual growth. Many regard Him as both God and man, just as in case of Jesus Christ.
Thou seemest human and divine
The highest holiest manhood thou.
Our wills are ours, we know not how
Our wills are ours, to make them thine
There are many who are hovering about this level, in their view of Sri Sai Baba now, disposed to submit and surrender, and pray to Him as God, again disposed to regard Him as a highly developed personality acting as their guardian angel or at least as a benevolent but more gifted man, with human frailties and other human peculiarities. Some devotees, if they analyze their perception from time to time, might discover that they can not fix themselves to one particular view of Sri Sai always, but are involuntarily moved from one to the other viewpoints mentioned above and even to pass beyond these, even to the extent of doubting whether Sri Sai is or is not good and powerful. Such is human weakness that one need not be ashamed to discover his own position in the last named class. But commonsense and higher impulses naturally drive us to quit such a useless, nay, pernicious state and strive to reach higher levels of faith and perception.
Allah Malik
Is Sri Sai a God or could that be He was just a man with a few unique powers and peculiarities? This was also a question raised about two thousand years ago with Christ, was Jesus Christ a man or a magician? Discussions on the father, the son and the Holy Spirit' is still a popular topic at churches all over. Where does the answer lie to the question whether Sri Sai was an ordinary man with a few powers or the manifestation of the supreme conscious that eludes common rationale?
As to how Sri Sai is to be regarded, there is wide divergence of views not merely among religions, sects and people, but also within one's stage of the spiritual growth. Many regard Him as both God and man, just as in case of Jesus Christ.
Thou seemest human and divine
The highest holiest manhood thou.
Our wills are ours, we know not how
Our wills are ours, to make them thine
There are many who are hovering about this level, in their view of Sri Sai Baba now, disposed to submit and surrender, and pray to Him as God, again disposed to regard Him as a highly developed personality acting as their guardian angel or at least as a benevolent but more gifted man, with human frailties and other human peculiarities. Some devotees, if they analyze their perception from time to time, might discover that they can not fix themselves to one particular view of Sri Sai always, but are involuntarily moved from one to the other viewpoints mentioned above and even to pass beyond these, even to the extent of doubting whether Sri Sai is or is not good and powerful. Such is human weakness that one need not be ashamed to discover his own position in the last named class. But commonsense and higher impulses naturally drive us to quit such a useless, nay, pernicious state and strive to reach higher levels of faith and perception.
Allah Malik
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