Transcendence of the Ego

Aum Sairam

Through various acts, advice and examples, Baba advised his children tofollow the path of dharma which means transgressing the limitations ofour small ego. Keeping in mind Sri Sai Baba's advice we may all striveto transcend limitations of our mind and body. In the path ofspiritualism transcendence is necessary. Transcendence of what?Transcendence of the fetters of body and mind. This can only beachieved by controlling the compulsions of body like hunger, lust andthe mental compulsions of mind like greed, jealousy, anger, hatred etc.When one by one the mental fetters fall off, two elements of mind likedesire and feeling pertaining to those compulsions also vanish. Thesoul slowly but imperceptibly then enters into a state of pureconsciousness. At this stage he goes beyond all bodily fettersincluding birth and death. He also crosses the barriers of time andspace. The progress in the path of spirituality is the march of thedivine consciousness from its primordial state to the original divine self.

All species controlled by time, in terms of birth and death, includinghuman beings are a part of that creative process. Life after life theyevolve ultimately to reach that state of God where from they emanated.Except God, no one and nothing in this world is perfect. All theimperfect beings and things in the world, which includes all species,get birth, because they are imperfect. Life after life they go onperfecting themselves, little by little. The meaning of life is toendeavor to become perfect. Self analysis, self-study, self-orientedactions towards that goal and prayer to Sadguru to lead in that path isthe only way to progress meaningfully in life.

Saints and the people truly following this spiritual path always think,not only of their own evolution but also about the evolution of allhuman beings or other species around them. Any action (in thought,speech, activity), which helps in the evolution of the self or othersis a good act called virtue [punya] and any action detrimental to suchgrowth is an evil act called sin [paap]. It is very difficult to followsuch a path in a world as ours and therefore, the process of evolutionof human beings is so slow, spread over a number of lives.

We must use our imperfections of yesterday and try to evolve towards alittle more perfection. Knowing that no ordinary mortal is totallyperfect, we try to find a model of perfection which is epitomized inSadguru or Perfect Master. Sri Shirdi Sai Baba was in such supremestate of perfection. He possessed such powers or siddhis, which no onecan imagine, however he maintained a humble life. Humility, simplicityare not weakness, they are the biggest strength one can possess in thepath of spiritual development. Let us
remember this.

Allah Malik

Highest form of Devotion

Aum Sairam,
Often we think the life we are leading does not bring us close to God.Most of us are put away from devotion thinking we have to give up ourworldly life. I am one of those persons. I am currently reading a bookon Meher Baba and the Perfect Masters who formed His life. And this iswhat Upasani Maharaj, the premier follower of Shirdi Sri Sai and one ofthe perfect Masters says

Gulmai fell at Upasni Maharaj's feet and begged him to accept thesurrender of her body, mind, progeny and possessions. She burst intotears again as she narrated how difficult her life had been. Finally,she beseeched Upasni to allow her to stay with him permanently at Sakuri.

Upasni Maharaj explained that she could not do so: Those withoutworldly attachments pursue forms of worship and disciplines [puja andsadhanas]. It is not new to them; it is thus easy. But to be in theworld [samsar] and belong predominantly to God and totally devoted toHim is the highest form of worship.

May Sri Sai Baba bless us and guide us always.
Allah Malik

Why and How to Pray

Aum Sairam

May This Thursday [Baba's Day] Bring You Strength, Good luck, HappinessSuccess and Joy.
Many of you, I'm sure, are confused about the underlying philosophy ofprayer. Consequently, often your prayers are not answered. Here, Iattempt to provide some insights into the success of prayers.

To begin with we must understand as to why do we pray?

There are basically 12 reasons for prayer:
1. We pray to depend on God for help in distress.
2. We pray for asking God for enlightenment.
3. We pray for communion with God through single-minded devotion.
4. We pray for asking for peace from God when the mind is restless.
5. We pray for surrendering ourselves to God completely.
6. We pray to God for giving us the ability to comfort others.
7. We pray for thanking God for his blessings.
8. We pray for expecting God to decide what is best for us when we arein a dilemma.
9. We pray for making friendship with God.
10. We pray for melting the mind and ego in silence in God.
11. We pray for requesting God to give strength, peace and pureintellect, e.g. Gayatri Mantra.
12. We pray for asking God to purify the heart and make us abide in Him forever.

In essence, what the above 12 reasons convey to us is that a prayer hastwo parts:

one is soliciting a favor from the Almighty and the other issurrendering ourselves to His will. While the first part is practicedby most of us on a daily basis, the second part is the real andultimate goal because it implies dedication.

Dedication means feelingthe light of God within your heart. If your heart is devoid of divine light, you will not be happy, cheerful and successful in your lives.

This Thursday [Baba's Day] remember, your success depends on theinward state of your mind. Your mind will create hindrance in your workif it is not in communion with God because He alone is the permanentabode of peace. Yes, I agree that most of us want to have riches,healthy lives, nice children and prosperous future. But if we alwaysapproached God with a begging attitude then we are treating Him as ourbearer to supply the things required by us at once. This is no devotion to God but devotion to our own selfish desires.

Allah Malik

Aarti

Aum Sairam

Oh Sri Sai Baba, we wave light before You, The Bestower of happiness tothe jivas. Give us - Your servants and devotee's rest under the dustof Your lotus feet, burning [destroying] desire. You remain absorbed inYour Self, and show the Lord [God] to the aspirants. As one feelsintently, You give him experiences or realizations accordingly. Oh Kindhearted, Your power is such! Meditation on Your name removes our fearof the Sansar. Your method of word is really unfathomable as, Youalways help the poor and the helpless. In this Kali age You - the all- pervasive Lord Datta, have really incarnated as Sagun Brahma. Wardoff the fears of the Sansar of the entire devotee's, which come toYou every Thursday, so as to enable them to see the Lotus Feet of theLord. Oh God of God's. I pray that, let my treasure be the service ofYour Lotus Feet. Feed Madhav with happiness as the cloud feeds theChatak bird with pure water, and thus keep up Your Word.

Allah Malik

We Experience What We Believe

Aum Sairam

You are free to believe what you choose and what you do attest to what
you believe."

You most likely believe that your experiences have taught you what is
real and what is true - at least for you. However, what you may not
know is that your beliefs - conscious and unconscious - have
determined what you would experience.

Experiences do not determine what you believe. What you first of all
believe is what you will experience. It follows, then, that if you wish
to experience life in new ways, you need to examine your belief systems.

Change your consciousness and you'll change your life.

"Sooner or later, those who win are those who think they can."

Allah Malik

Lord Sai - Accept These Thousand Pranams

Aum Sairam

Oh Grand Master! I offer a thousand pranams at Your Lotus feet! I am a
nameless servant surrendered at Your Majestic Excellence!

My soul hums round Your divine feet which can save the erring world
through grace.

Your name vibrates in my pranas. My soul is weaving garland of unending
recitation of Your auspicious name and offering it at Your beloved feet.

Oh Sai you have opened the gateway of grace and given me an access to
the heaven of ecstasy on the merit of my service, dedication and
prostration being thirsty of knowledge. My mind is bubbling with joy;
love is overflowing from my heart. You have united my wings and flung
me in the free and open air to discover the charming new sky of truth.

I have realized the intensity of devotion, the sublimity of knowledge.
My soul floats in the pulsating ripples of atmic energy and bliss. My
body, mind and existence are surrendered to You. My individuality has
melted into Your Cosmic Awareness. This is the union of the Bhakta and
God. You are not only unique, but also exquisite. You have adorned and
ornamented my entire life.

There has been no trace of duality between me and Lord Sai. The wealth
of ananda is right in my hand. The aroma of our union is carried away
by the magic tunes of music of these songs of mine which sing Your
glory for the edification of mankind at large.

The tiny drops of water now realize that they own their existence to
the ocean. The relationship between You and me is more than
established. The dark cloud has assumed the shape of peacock who dances
at its very sight. The unity is now perfect and absolute. The eight
sublime sentiments are today singing the music of non duality and the
philosophy of the essential oneness of God and His bhakta. My heart is
overflowing with the upsurge of the eight sublime sentiments.

Oh Sai, your loving bird Chakor, craving for the moonlight of Your
Grace, has now been transformed into the lunar orb of Sai Moon. The
charming Sai Moon is turned into bhakta Chakor. Lord Sai has absolutely
merged into me. This is the union of the cosmic with the individual,
the macro with the micro, Paramatma with Atma, Shiva with Jiva. This
merger is so complete, so consummate that all four muktis have come to
meet collectively here and merge into the full moon orb of the
assimilation of God and His devotee. The duality of Bhakti melts here
finally into Supreme Bliss.

Allah Malik

Fruits of Action

Aum Sairam

Deeds and the results of one’s deeds are fundamental aspects of the karmic cycle. Once this every action has a reaction phenomenon is understood, the limitedness of the individual’s role in the bigger realm of things should become clear. However, as it may seem due to the ignorance, the craving for the ownership is an irresistible eventuality. It is as involuntary as the heart beat. How could one yield to the cycle of action and reaction, and yet contemplate on what the Sadguru is capable of giving? Baba said its wisdom that leads one to detachment. It is the stateless state that could only be perennial. It is possible only by surrendering the self to the Sadguru.

The fruits of action and the experiencing of those fruits in this world are dependent on the effort we put in. If one works hard in the fields, one gets good harvest. But the fruits of action, like the grains that one grows, will be spent after some time. To replenish it, one will have to work hard again. Happiness in the other world also depends upon the amount of merit earned by us in this world. More the effort, more the merit and more the happiness. With more and more effort, one might become eligible to go to Vaikunth, Kailash or Brahma Lok.

But it must be remembered that even this merit is like a bag of grains. It will be exhausted sooner or later. In this world, there is a possibility to preserve a part of the harvest for producing crops again. In other words, here it is possible to experience happiness as well as to strive hard to earn merit. It is not so in the other world. There, it is not possible to earn Punya while enjoying the fruits of merits earned previously. One will have to experience happiness completely, exhaust his merit, and then return to this world to earn more Punya.

By this, we can realize that the happiness of the other world is not only temporary, but is also troublesome to us because it drains us of our merit and sends us here to strive hard again and again. When this knowledge sets in, you will automatically lose interest in the pleasures of this and the other world. The detachment should be so strong that even if someone offers you heaven, you should turn it down and look upon it with disgust. To reject a cake when the stomach is full does not constitute Vairag. Real Vairag is that state in which an individual shows no desire for any sort of pleasure here or hereafter.

Yes, it is possible only by surrendering the self to the Sadguru.

Allah Malik