Aum Sairam
The very skills, attitude, knowledge that one learns become a source of
hindrance for one's ability to embark on a spiritual journey and to
realize God. Human beings like any other thing in this universe are a
creation of Nature. Being caught in the illusion and the worldly
affairs, the soul gets lost. Mind and intellect pump up the ego. Thus
the "I" and "ME" clouds us and makes it difficult to see the reality.
One becomes a slave to the various senses and gets caught in
conflicting theories and concepts proposed by the Human race! Human
beings tend to become creators forgetting that we ourselves are a part
of nature's creation.
What eternal thing could we create as a species when we ourselves do
not survive too long? Nothing! Yet we base our lives justifying our
existence on worldly affairs and modern concepts of convenience and the
appeasement of ego! Scientists from all branches of science invent or
discover new insights to Nature's creation and how it works. The
creations and inventions that have thus far happened are nothing more
than God revealing a nature's secret through the scientist's thoughts!
Even the greatest scientists of all times give up after reaching a
point because Nature is unfathomable, can not be understood and can not
be perceived without divine help and interference! If that is so, then
what is our role and goal? Where did the world come from? Who created
it? How does it function? Such questions have been and continue to be
asked by intellects as well as ordinary persons since the creation of
this universe. The Supreme and divine soul, of which we are all but a
part, taught the purpose of Human life, its role, how it should be
lived, and its ultimate destination as well as the creation of this
universe through the ancient scriptures. In today's times, the ancient
teachings are neither understood nor practiced by an average person. It
is very difficult, although not impossible, to understand, perceive and
live these teachings in the times we live in.
Does the diligent following of a religion provide the answers? Path,
though it is, blindfolded at times due to our own selfishness
otherwise, could there any single life be lost in the name of religion?
Who provides the answers?
For this reason, the divine soul manifested itself as a common person
to teach the eternal truth. Composed of infinite love, infinite
knowledge, infinite compassion, infinite power, and infinite bliss "Sri
Sai Baba" came into our lives to lead the souls of his devotees out of
misery, pain and illusion to set them on the right path towards the
ultimate destination. Singing, reading, hearing, talking, preaching,
reflecting, contemplating, etc on the life and teachings of "Sri Sai
Baba" will awaken the soul and start to make it walk towards the right
path. Said Sri Sai Baba to His intimate devotee Nana, "Awaken the inner
self... you will see the magnificence". Let us all gather and sing the
praise of that Lord who will bring us all to the path to destination.
Allah Malik
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Baba and Vasudevanand
Aum Sairam
Vasudevanand, a contemporary of Sri Sai Baba, was a staunch fire worshipper and a rigid observer of religious practices. He had also perfect command over several mantras. Sri Sai Baba, too, was a fire worshipper. Hence these two saints regarded each other as brothers.
When vasudevanand was at Rajmahendry, Pundalikrao, a lawyer from Nanded and friends came for his darshan. Pundalikrao was a Sri Sai Bhakta. So in the course of conversation, Baba's name came up. Hearing it, Vasudevanand was overwhelmed with a feeling of reverence and folding his hands, enquired, when are you going to Shirdi? Right from here, I am going to Sri Sai Baba, said Pundalikrao.
Vasudevanand picked up a coconut, held it near his heart and, handing it over to Pundalikrao, said, and then, please give this to my brother. Soon Pundalikrao and his friends started for Shirdi. They took with them flowers, coconuts etc. to offer to Sri Sai Baba, and a few eatables for themselves. On their journey, they ate some chiwada, which tasted very not. To appease the heat, one of them suggested that coconut be mixed with it. So a fruit was broken and, mixing it with chiwada, they ate it with pleasure. Then it struck them that the coconut they broke was the same which Vasudevanand had given for Sri Sai Baba. They all felt very sorry. What could they tell Sri Sai Baba? No hatched up account would do, for Sri Sai Baba would already know everything. So Pundalikrao went and sat with his head hung down. Sri Sai Baba slyly asked, Pundalikrao, where is the present from my brother? Pundalikrao confessed everything and said he would go and bring another coconut. No other coconut would do, Sri Sai Baba intervened. That coconut cannot be replaced by a thousand others; for it was not a mere coconut; it was the very heart of my dear brother. Remember, how my brother had given it to you?
Pundalikrao recollected that Vasudevanand had held the coconut near his
heart and said, give this to my brother. He had put his very heart in
the coconut before making it over to Pundalikrao. Highly developed
souls like Vasudevanand and Sri Sai Baba can communicate with each
other by means of their psychic powers. That is how Vasudevanand had
informed Sai Baba about the coconut he was sending. Sri Sai Baba too
had immediately received that message. This is called telepathy.
Allah Malik
Vasudevanand, a contemporary of Sri Sai Baba, was a staunch fire worshipper and a rigid observer of religious practices. He had also perfect command over several mantras. Sri Sai Baba, too, was a fire worshipper. Hence these two saints regarded each other as brothers.
When vasudevanand was at Rajmahendry, Pundalikrao, a lawyer from Nanded and friends came for his darshan. Pundalikrao was a Sri Sai Bhakta. So in the course of conversation, Baba's name came up. Hearing it, Vasudevanand was overwhelmed with a feeling of reverence and folding his hands, enquired, when are you going to Shirdi? Right from here, I am going to Sri Sai Baba, said Pundalikrao.
Vasudevanand picked up a coconut, held it near his heart and, handing it over to Pundalikrao, said, and then, please give this to my brother. Soon Pundalikrao and his friends started for Shirdi. They took with them flowers, coconuts etc. to offer to Sri Sai Baba, and a few eatables for themselves. On their journey, they ate some chiwada, which tasted very not. To appease the heat, one of them suggested that coconut be mixed with it. So a fruit was broken and, mixing it with chiwada, they ate it with pleasure. Then it struck them that the coconut they broke was the same which Vasudevanand had given for Sri Sai Baba. They all felt very sorry. What could they tell Sri Sai Baba? No hatched up account would do, for Sri Sai Baba would already know everything. So Pundalikrao went and sat with his head hung down. Sri Sai Baba slyly asked, Pundalikrao, where is the present from my brother? Pundalikrao confessed everything and said he would go and bring another coconut. No other coconut would do, Sri Sai Baba intervened. That coconut cannot be replaced by a thousand others; for it was not a mere coconut; it was the very heart of my dear brother. Remember, how my brother had given it to you?
Pundalikrao recollected that Vasudevanand had held the coconut near his
heart and said, give this to my brother. He had put his very heart in
the coconut before making it over to Pundalikrao. Highly developed
souls like Vasudevanand and Sri Sai Baba can communicate with each
other by means of their psychic powers. That is how Vasudevanand had
informed Sai Baba about the coconut he was sending. Sri Sai Baba too
had immediately received that message. This is called telepathy.
Allah Malik
Let go of my life
Aum Sairam
The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your needs in parched places, and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water whose waters never fail.
Imagine the beauty of a watered garden. The wild color of flowers flashing in the sun, the beads of dampness on green leaves, the shy hesitancy of buds beginning to unfold their petals, and the abandon of playfulness and joy unfettered by the cares and troubles of the world.
Imagine if our lives were like the watered garden. If our soul was as carefree in the hand of heaven as flowers are in the dance of the sun. Much of the arid and parched feeling that overtakes and even overcomes us at times comes because we are trying to be something other than what we are, or trying to manipulate and control our circumstances, or insisting that we are the only ones responsible for our lives. We stress and strain to be in control of our lives and sadly find ourselves feeling, not like a watered garden, but like dry, fissured cracks of dirt in a desolate desert.
Try being a flower for a day, simply being the willing recipient of God's great grace. Let the hand of heaven mold and shape you, warm you, nourish you. Watch yourself unfold and notice how you pirouette as playfully as a daisy in the soft breeze.
Oh God, help me let go of my life for just a day, to become a flower in the sun.
Allah Malik
The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your needs in parched places, and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water whose waters never fail.
Imagine the beauty of a watered garden. The wild color of flowers flashing in the sun, the beads of dampness on green leaves, the shy hesitancy of buds beginning to unfold their petals, and the abandon of playfulness and joy unfettered by the cares and troubles of the world.
Imagine if our lives were like the watered garden. If our soul was as carefree in the hand of heaven as flowers are in the dance of the sun. Much of the arid and parched feeling that overtakes and even overcomes us at times comes because we are trying to be something other than what we are, or trying to manipulate and control our circumstances, or insisting that we are the only ones responsible for our lives. We stress and strain to be in control of our lives and sadly find ourselves feeling, not like a watered garden, but like dry, fissured cracks of dirt in a desolate desert.
Try being a flower for a day, simply being the willing recipient of God's great grace. Let the hand of heaven mold and shape you, warm you, nourish you. Watch yourself unfold and notice how you pirouette as playfully as a daisy in the soft breeze.
Oh God, help me let go of my life for just a day, to become a flower in the sun.
Allah Malik
Evolution of Prayer
Aum Sairam
Sri Sai Baba says: Four types of persons pray to me:
Those who are in distress,
Those who are in need,
Those who are curious, and
Those who are wise [Jnani]
Out of these the first one can be excused for he prays out of panic and
helplessness, and the second one remembers the Lord only when his needs
cannot be fulfilled. The third and the fourth categories are of
selfless aspirants. The third devotee - the curious one, like a
scientist, tries to know the secrets of this mind boggling universe of
name and forms, of joys and sorrows, etc. He says: Oh Lord, I do not
understand the intricacies of this universal order [or disorder]; pray,
tell me the secrets of this Sun and the Moon, the Earth and all your
creation! But the fourth, the Jnani, prays because he has had realized
the glory of the Self. Lead me from darkness to Light, lead me from
ignorance to Knowledge, lead me from mortality to Immortality, is one
such true spiritual prayer.
The Lord naturally loves His fourth devotee who prays Him through
Knowledge and whose prayer transforms automatically into the highest
form of worship. In Jnana one finds the true and esthetic synthesis of
prayer and worship; in Jnana we find beauty of simultaneous complaint
and reverence of a sadhaka towards God. However, the highest prayer
comes from the highest Knowledge of Advaita. Albeit, when such a person
comes down to ordinary level of human consciousness his knowledge of
universal solidarity stays with him and his prayer becomes universal in
appeal and compassionate in content. The highest Advaita prayer is:
Rise thou effulgent one, rise thou who art always pure, rise thou birth
less and deathless, rise almighty, and manifest thy true nature.
No prayer should ever be ridiculed or despised, how so ever crude it
might be, and how so ever selfish it might appear; for, in every prayer
one finds the acceptance of higher authority of God. Every person who
prays accepts the higher Self and his ego takes a secondary place at
least for that period of time. Gradually, with some inexplicable
factors, his power of discrimination leads him to selfless prayer in
course of time.
Allah Malik
Sri Sai Baba says: Four types of persons pray to me:
Those who are in distress,
Those who are in need,
Those who are curious, and
Those who are wise [Jnani]
Out of these the first one can be excused for he prays out of panic and
helplessness, and the second one remembers the Lord only when his needs
cannot be fulfilled. The third and the fourth categories are of
selfless aspirants. The third devotee - the curious one, like a
scientist, tries to know the secrets of this mind boggling universe of
name and forms, of joys and sorrows, etc. He says: Oh Lord, I do not
understand the intricacies of this universal order [or disorder]; pray,
tell me the secrets of this Sun and the Moon, the Earth and all your
creation! But the fourth, the Jnani, prays because he has had realized
the glory of the Self. Lead me from darkness to Light, lead me from
ignorance to Knowledge, lead me from mortality to Immortality, is one
such true spiritual prayer.
The Lord naturally loves His fourth devotee who prays Him through
Knowledge and whose prayer transforms automatically into the highest
form of worship. In Jnana one finds the true and esthetic synthesis of
prayer and worship; in Jnana we find beauty of simultaneous complaint
and reverence of a sadhaka towards God. However, the highest prayer
comes from the highest Knowledge of Advaita. Albeit, when such a person
comes down to ordinary level of human consciousness his knowledge of
universal solidarity stays with him and his prayer becomes universal in
appeal and compassionate in content. The highest Advaita prayer is:
Rise thou effulgent one, rise thou who art always pure, rise thou birth
less and deathless, rise almighty, and manifest thy true nature.
No prayer should ever be ridiculed or despised, how so ever crude it
might be, and how so ever selfish it might appear; for, in every prayer
one finds the acceptance of higher authority of God. Every person who
prays accepts the higher Self and his ego takes a secondary place at
least for that period of time. Gradually, with some inexplicable
factors, his power of discrimination leads him to selfless prayer in
course of time.
Allah Malik
Cardinal Rules of the Sai Way of Living
Aum Sairam
1. Sri Sai Baba advocated Nishta and Saburi. Nishta means complete
surrender to Sri Sai Baba and belief in Him, Saburi meant patience.
2. Udi removes all physical and mental ailments when taken with faith
and devotion. This Udi has been touched by Baba as He Himself lit the
flames of Dhuni and is our direct connection to Him.
3. Sri Sai Philosophy believes that we need a Guru to lead us to
salvation. Sri Sai Baba is our Sadguru, Lord and sole refuge.
4. Sri Sai Baba believed in Karma and rebirth. Hence we should be ever
conscious in our behavior to never hurt people nor build bad karma and
attachments. Baba despised speaking bad about others.
5. Sri Sai Baba said that no quest could be successfully carried out on
empty stomach.
6. Sri Sai Baba can come to us [a] in dreams [b] in the form of Himself
or of any Sadhu [c] in the form of His picture. These are all clear
indications of His grace and Sri Sai Baba coming to us.
7. It is preferable to receive holy daily parayana books, such as Shri
Sai Satcharitra, from Sri Sai Baba by placing them on Sri Sai Baba's
Samadhi. Sri Sai Baba prescribed regular parayana.
8. Feeding a hungry soul is like feeding Sri Sai Baba. Sri Sai Baba
called this the axiomatic truth.
9. Sri Sai Baba stated My bones will speak and I am ever alive from My
tomb. We should only go to Him with all our requests.
10. Sri Sai Baba stated that once we enter Dwarkamai, our troubles have ended.
11. One who lovingly sings Sri Sai Baba's fame and those who hear the
same with devotion, both will become one with Sri Sai Baba,
12. Sri Sai Baba said that we couldn't escape from paying for loans
[dues], animosity and murder.
13. Sri Sai Baba dissuaded people from approaching palmists and
occultist for advice. We depend on Sri Sai Baba's grace for everything.
14. Sri Sai Baba told us to knock the wall of difference between Him
and us and see Sri Sai Baba in ourselves and in everybody. He said
spiritual progress would be rapid then.
15. We should not be anxious, leave everything to Sri Sai Baba and do
our duty. He wants to be responsible for us like a parent. Give the
responsibility to Sri Sai Baba.
Allah Malik
1. Sri Sai Baba advocated Nishta and Saburi. Nishta means complete
surrender to Sri Sai Baba and belief in Him, Saburi meant patience.
2. Udi removes all physical and mental ailments when taken with faith
and devotion. This Udi has been touched by Baba as He Himself lit the
flames of Dhuni and is our direct connection to Him.
3. Sri Sai Philosophy believes that we need a Guru to lead us to
salvation. Sri Sai Baba is our Sadguru, Lord and sole refuge.
4. Sri Sai Baba believed in Karma and rebirth. Hence we should be ever
conscious in our behavior to never hurt people nor build bad karma and
attachments. Baba despised speaking bad about others.
5. Sri Sai Baba said that no quest could be successfully carried out on
empty stomach.
6. Sri Sai Baba can come to us [a] in dreams [b] in the form of Himself
or of any Sadhu [c] in the form of His picture. These are all clear
indications of His grace and Sri Sai Baba coming to us.
7. It is preferable to receive holy daily parayana books, such as Shri
Sai Satcharitra, from Sri Sai Baba by placing them on Sri Sai Baba's
Samadhi. Sri Sai Baba prescribed regular parayana.
8. Feeding a hungry soul is like feeding Sri Sai Baba. Sri Sai Baba
called this the axiomatic truth.
9. Sri Sai Baba stated My bones will speak and I am ever alive from My
tomb. We should only go to Him with all our requests.
10. Sri Sai Baba stated that once we enter Dwarkamai, our troubles have ended.
11. One who lovingly sings Sri Sai Baba's fame and those who hear the
same with devotion, both will become one with Sri Sai Baba,
12. Sri Sai Baba said that we couldn't escape from paying for loans
[dues], animosity and murder.
13. Sri Sai Baba dissuaded people from approaching palmists and
occultist for advice. We depend on Sri Sai Baba's grace for everything.
14. Sri Sai Baba told us to knock the wall of difference between Him
and us and see Sri Sai Baba in ourselves and in everybody. He said
spiritual progress would be rapid then.
15. We should not be anxious, leave everything to Sri Sai Baba and do
our duty. He wants to be responsible for us like a parent. Give the
responsibility to Sri Sai Baba.
Allah Malik
Humble and Modest
Aum Sairam
Sri Sai Baba said, "He [the devotee] should be modest and humble
towards all, and worship Me with heart and soul. If he does this, he
will get eternal happiness" in Shri Sai Satcharitra Ch.III. If you
derive the least benefit from anyone, or should anyone contribute to
your happiness in any way, acknowledge his services sincerely and feel
grateful to him.
Never for a moment think that the benefit of happiness you derived was
due to your own Prarabdha and he was only an instrument and did nothing
to earn your gratitude. On the contrary, you should feel that he
conferred a great happiness. Gratefully remember the help received from
him, do not forget it throughout your life even when circumstances have
changed and always try to make him happy and be of service to him.
Do not hesitate, when necessary, to acknowledge his services to you
openly before a large gathering. This will foster mutual love between
you and your benefactor and promote happiness and peace; the spirit of
making others happy will grow from more to more among people, mutual
sympathy and the spirit of service will receive encouragement.
Remember that he who cherishes a feeling of gratitude towards his
benefactor renders a great service to the world at large; for such an
attitude pleases the heart of the benefactor, he feels encouraged, and
the spirit of service and benevolence gets strengthened within him.
God pleased with those who are grateful, and angry with those who are
ungrateful. Therefore, be grateful and never forget the obligation of
your benefactor.
Allah Malik
Sri Sai Baba said, "He [the devotee] should be modest and humble
towards all, and worship Me with heart and soul. If he does this, he
will get eternal happiness" in Shri Sai Satcharitra Ch.III. If you
derive the least benefit from anyone, or should anyone contribute to
your happiness in any way, acknowledge his services sincerely and feel
grateful to him.
Never for a moment think that the benefit of happiness you derived was
due to your own Prarabdha and he was only an instrument and did nothing
to earn your gratitude. On the contrary, you should feel that he
conferred a great happiness. Gratefully remember the help received from
him, do not forget it throughout your life even when circumstances have
changed and always try to make him happy and be of service to him.
Do not hesitate, when necessary, to acknowledge his services to you
openly before a large gathering. This will foster mutual love between
you and your benefactor and promote happiness and peace; the spirit of
making others happy will grow from more to more among people, mutual
sympathy and the spirit of service will receive encouragement.
Remember that he who cherishes a feeling of gratitude towards his
benefactor renders a great service to the world at large; for such an
attitude pleases the heart of the benefactor, he feels encouraged, and
the spirit of service and benevolence gets strengthened within him.
God pleased with those who are grateful, and angry with those who are
ungrateful. Therefore, be grateful and never forget the obligation of
your benefactor.
Allah Malik
LOVE - Must Read This
Aum Sairam
We hear so much about love, and talk about it but do we really practice it? I am sure you would agree with me that we bear a taboo where using the word 'love', either we use it carelessly or guard is closely. For most love are attraction + lust. That is the reason why we restrict the use of word. The whole universe is based on the powerful 4 letter words, all the underlying teachings of Holy Quran, Holy Bible, Shree Bhagawad Geeta, Shri Sai Satcharitra you name it are based on only one premise 'LOVE'. Then why do we fear that word? Remember that incident in Shri Sai Satcharitra where Sri Sai Baba presses hand of Mrs Kharpade when she is shampooing His legs, and the sweet murmurings of Sri Sai Baba in her ears which touched her heart and lodged the words of Sri Sai Baba "Rajaram Rajaram" in her heart. That is love, divine love. LOVE is a strong emotion devoid lust.
We all love people beyond our home and family. I do care about my colleagues and love them. I always run to help them when they are in trouble. I don't want them to suffer. Love according to God is divine. Have you noticed that as the years pass by the relationship between wife and husband is more of a care, mother or father towards each other? Shocking to acknowledge this, but each of the partner assumes the role of a parent, sibling, friend and companion as the years go by. This is divine love. It is okay to love people who don't belong to us and are not related to us. It is okay to tell them you love them.
Let us not jump to conclusions when a woman and a man talk. There are
different relationships in this world other than one involving primal
instincts of propagation. Let us love everybody, which is the basic
principle of every religion and purpose of spirituality. I feel honored
to know you all. I love each one of you, and would die to be of any
service to you, for each one of you have contributed to my
understanding of world and God through my writings. I feel fortunate to
have known you. God bless you abundantly for the love you showered upon
me. My Sri Sai Baba said HE LOVES ME through various media and sources,
and NOW I pass on that love of Sri Sai Baba to you and beg you to open
your hearts and receive him. Love everybody you come across and see
what a difference it makes to your life and happiness.
When you spread love nothing can touch you. God lives in love. The
stars you see when in love is nothing but the infinite light manifested
by God. Be enveloped in the warmth of the lord through this love. Start
loving people, show you care by small gestures, which bring smile to
their faces.
This is the love between Guru and his followers, Lord Krishna and his
Gopis, Shree Rama and Mata Sita. Sri Sai Baba and his followers. Let us
follow Him and love everybody, irrespective of age, sex and race. WE
CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE TO THIS WORLD.
Sri Sai Baba bless us always and give us strength to always stick to
the right path of love.
I LOVE YOU ALL
Allah Malik
We hear so much about love, and talk about it but do we really practice it? I am sure you would agree with me that we bear a taboo where using the word 'love', either we use it carelessly or guard is closely. For most love are attraction + lust. That is the reason why we restrict the use of word. The whole universe is based on the powerful 4 letter words, all the underlying teachings of Holy Quran, Holy Bible, Shree Bhagawad Geeta, Shri Sai Satcharitra you name it are based on only one premise 'LOVE'. Then why do we fear that word? Remember that incident in Shri Sai Satcharitra where Sri Sai Baba presses hand of Mrs Kharpade when she is shampooing His legs, and the sweet murmurings of Sri Sai Baba in her ears which touched her heart and lodged the words of Sri Sai Baba "Rajaram Rajaram" in her heart. That is love, divine love. LOVE is a strong emotion devoid lust.
We all love people beyond our home and family. I do care about my colleagues and love them. I always run to help them when they are in trouble. I don't want them to suffer. Love according to God is divine. Have you noticed that as the years pass by the relationship between wife and husband is more of a care, mother or father towards each other? Shocking to acknowledge this, but each of the partner assumes the role of a parent, sibling, friend and companion as the years go by. This is divine love. It is okay to love people who don't belong to us and are not related to us. It is okay to tell them you love them.
Let us not jump to conclusions when a woman and a man talk. There are
different relationships in this world other than one involving primal
instincts of propagation. Let us love everybody, which is the basic
principle of every religion and purpose of spirituality. I feel honored
to know you all. I love each one of you, and would die to be of any
service to you, for each one of you have contributed to my
understanding of world and God through my writings. I feel fortunate to
have known you. God bless you abundantly for the love you showered upon
me. My Sri Sai Baba said HE LOVES ME through various media and sources,
and NOW I pass on that love of Sri Sai Baba to you and beg you to open
your hearts and receive him. Love everybody you come across and see
what a difference it makes to your life and happiness.
When you spread love nothing can touch you. God lives in love. The
stars you see when in love is nothing but the infinite light manifested
by God. Be enveloped in the warmth of the lord through this love. Start
loving people, show you care by small gestures, which bring smile to
their faces.
This is the love between Guru and his followers, Lord Krishna and his
Gopis, Shree Rama and Mata Sita. Sri Sai Baba and his followers. Let us
follow Him and love everybody, irrespective of age, sex and race. WE
CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE TO THIS WORLD.
Sri Sai Baba bless us always and give us strength to always stick to
the right path of love.
I LOVE YOU ALL
Allah Malik
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