Isn't it strange how a 20 rupee note seems like such a large amount when
you donate it to temple,but such a small amount when you go shopping?

Isn't it strange how 2 hours seem so long when you're at the Temple ,
and how short they seem when you're watching a good movie?

Isn't it strange that you can't find a word to say when you're praying,
but you have no trouble thinking what to talk or gossip about with a friend?

Isn't it strange how difficult and boring it is to read one chapter
of the Bhagwad Gita, but how easy it is to read 100 pages of a popular novel ?

Isn't it strange how everyone wants front-row-tickets to concerts or games, but they do whatever is possible to sit at the last rowat the TEMPLE or Bhajans and Prayers?

Isn't it strange how we need to know about an event for Temple 2-3
weeks before the day so we can include it in our agenda, but we can
adjust it for other events in the last minute?

Isn't it strange how difficult it is to learn a fact about God to share it with others, but how easy
it is to learn, understand, extend and repeat gossip?

Isn't it strange how we believe everything that magazines and newspapers
say, but we question the words in our Ramayan and Bhagwad Gita?

Isn't it strange how everyone wants a place in heaven, but they don't want
to believe, do, or say anything to get there?

Isn't it strange how we send jokes in e-mails and they are forwarded right away,
but when we are going to send messages about God, we think about it twice before we share it with others?

Miracle 3

From: Ramakrishnan Ramanarayanan Sairam

This is a true story happened to me last year.
the house next to my house had cut off two big trees and i am sure they have snake of the big venom like MAMBA a definite poisonous killer was there. when they cut the tree, i think in all my opinion that i framed which later Swami confirmed to me in my dream , the snake entered into my house through the gate and found itself in my rock garden.

normally i go to my garden to pick up flowers and do some gardening in the evening hours and all saturday. One fine morning Swami said while picking up flowers, where radiant Swami appeared before me and said
please wear the chappels (footwear), and he didn't tell me why. From that day i was wearing the chappals (footwear) and go to the garden.
after a gap of some days when we came from dinner and got out of the car and when my wife got out of the car the snake passed under the car but slightly edge between the legs. We saw it, before i could park the car
the snake went inside the garden.
immediately i have to call the men from the local tribe and told them to find where the snake could have hidden itself.

then after a whole long hunt, the snake was beneath the rock garden and they took it out and they told us it is dangerous snake of African variety worst than cobra,

we pray to swami that day and thanked Swami for saving us.

Swami said that night in my dream that he knows best at what time he should help the devotees and bless me and disappear. The next day Vhibuti was there in my house in all the photos. I have only video coverage and not photos and i do not know how to clip into the computer.

This illustrate Swami is omnipotent, omni presence, and wherever we are
he will be there. What he wants our faith and love ,once we surrender to him he will take care of us. Sairam

Miracle 3

Once Swami picked up a south african devotee for the interview. This devotee is full of doubts about Baba and that was the first time he came to Parthi with an intention to understand Baba.
After talking to him for a while Swami asked him what do you want then the reply came I want a watch. Baba immediately materialised a watch and gave him. The testing devotee asked further that I want the bill. Well, Swami waved His hand in the thin air to give a bill, which, to the astonishment of the devotee had the address of this very devotees home town in South Africa, with that days date. Totally surprised devotee took that invoice and came out of the room wondering how could on earth Swami could buy a wach from his own town which was more than 10,000 miles away from Parthi.

On his return to his town he went to the shop which issued that invoice to find the duplicate and checked. It was there. No magic, the duplicate was existing, the shop owner recollected the incident and narrated "On that day a small tiny person with curly hair and red robe came to my shop to buy the watch. He spend a long time to select this one and took it, paid the money. He immediately left the place. But after a few minutes He came back and asked for the receipt. Very pleasing personality .......... The shop keeper continued.

from Sai journal published by South African devotees.

Miracles 2

A certain person was a captain during the second World War, but since he died of a commonplace disease in a civil hospital his widow did not get much by way of pension. So she had to earn some money teaching music, in order to keep her three children - two daughters and a son in elementary ease. The son passed his B.Sc examination with a first class from the Madras University, while still in his teens. The army authorities gave him a job in their cantonment office at Bangalore. His mother, who was overwhelmed with joy, sent him to offer homage to the family deity, Venkatachalapathi on the Tirumala Hills in Andhra Pradesh , so that he could join duty at Bangalore with divine blessings.

However what did happen was the boy got drowned in the holy tank of the temple. His body was in police custody for two days as it was unidentified. The anxious mother was confronted by the photograph of her son's corpse which appeared in the daily papers. But , Baba appeared to her in a dream and directed her to come to Puttaparthi. Bhagawan called her and her children for the precious interview. " Don't weep", He said , "for your son who led a disciplined life and was full of devotion, has now merged with God. When he has found the lotus feet of Bliss, you should not indulge in grief". But she could not be consoled.

Then Baba said, "I know your heart is broken since you could not have even a last glimpse of his body. See, it is here." Saying this, He spread His palm in front of her, and she could clearly see the events of that faithful pilgrimage appear upon it: The son slipped on the steps of the tank, and a few people jumped in to save him. A lotus like bunch of flames rose from his body and proceeded towards the innermost shrine where the idol of Venkatachalapathi is installed, disappearing in a blaze of glory of the Lord's feet. Then she saw the idol come alive and change into a charming image of Baba Himself.

After sometime Baba spoke to her, "Mother, the one you loved as your son was a staunch devotee of the Lord during his previous life. He was engaged in tapas for 12 years on the steps of this very holy temple tank. His deepest desire was to attain Jala samadhi(water-mergence) in those sacred waters. To fulfil that desire he took birth again. Remain in Puttaparthi, ever singing the glory of Venkatachalpathi, who has accepted you on into His fold".

Miracles

A pilgrim to Puttaparthi suddenly developed acute appendicitis. At the time, there was no hospital there nor was there a surgeon, so Sai Baba was asked to come to the room where the patient lay groaning. He waved his hand in the air and produced a surgical knife out of nowhere. A second wave materialized vibhuti which he used as an anaesthetic. With these aids he performed the operation to remove the inflamed appendix. Then the surgical knife vanished into thin air. He applied the vibhuti on the wound which healed immediately, leaving only a small scar.

Important Revelation From Sai

who I am

"There was no one to know who I am till I created the world, at My pleasure, with one word. Immediately earth and sky were formed, mountains rose up, rivers started flowing, sun, moon and stars sprang out of nowhere to prove My existence. Came all forms of life - plants, insects, beasts, birds and men. Various powers were bestowed upon them under My orders. The first place was granted to man, and My knowledge was placed in man's mind." -Baba
Sathyam Sivam Sundaram Part IV

Prayer Resource

The Sai Prayer Group will pray every Thursday and every Sunday for all those who request prayers and will pray for universal love and peace. The Prayer Service is at 7.00 am every Thursday and every Sunday. Wherever you are, please follow the time zone of your country.

Please use the following Prayer Service Format:

1. Aum ­ 3 times

2. Ganesh Mantra ­ 3 times

Aum Sree Ganeshaya Namaha

3. Gayatri Mantra ­ 3 times

Om Bhur Bhuva Svah

Tat Savitur Varenyam

Bhargo Devasya Dheemahi

Dhiyo Yo Nah Prachodayaat

OM SHANTI SHANTI SHANTI

We meditate on that Supreme effulgence of the Radiant Being

The Indwelling Controller and Director of all Things

May He stimulate our Intellect entirely (to realize the Truth)

4. Sai (Eeshvara) Gaayathree ­ 28 times

Om
Sayeeshvaraaya Vidhmahe
Sathya-Dhevaaya Dheemahi
Thannah-Sarvah Prochodhayaath

Meaning
We know this Sai is Supreme Divinity incarnate. We meditate on this God of Truth. May this Almighty Personality lead us on the path of total liberation.

5. The Maha-Mrityunjaya Mantra ­ 3 times

Om trayambakam yajaamahe
Sugandhim pushti - vardhanam
Urva - rukamiva bandhanan
Mrytor muksheeya ma - amritaat

Meaning
Om. We worship the Three-Eyed One (Lord Shiva),
who is naturally fragrant, immensely merciful and who is the Protector of the devotees. Worshipping Him may we be liberated from death for the sake of immortality just as the ripe cucumber easily separates itself from the binding stalk. By your Grace, Let me be in the state of salvation (Moksha) and be saved from the clutches of fearful death.

6. Viswamitra's Mantra ­ 3 times

"Boothabavya bavathprabho! Sri Prasanthi Sai
Bhoothatma, dharmatma, Sri Dhanvantri amsa
Sathya Saiyey", mama prarthana:
'Uthishta sokha sankata dhuhkhanivarana'
Mahakrupa Kadaksha, 'Paahimaam Paahimaam Paahi'.

Meaning
Oh Lord, the Glorious - Sri Prasanthi Sai
May the elements do good always
Thou art the Controller of the elements
Thou art the Prime-mover of righteousness
Thy tiny fraction is Dhanvantri (Divine healer)
Lord Sai, we pray unto thee:
'Wake up, remove depression, sorrow, misery',
Thou, Embodiment of mercy and grace
'Save us, redeem us, reclaim us, - one and all of us'.

7. Dhanvantari ­ 3 times

Aum Namo Bhagavathe
Vasudevaya Dhanvantraye
Amruta Kalasa Hasthaya
Sarvaamaya Vinaashanaaya
Thrailokhya Naathaaya
Sri Mahavishnave Namaha

Meaning
Obeisances unto the supreme Bhagawan known as Sudarshana Vasudev Dhanvantari, The holder of the kalasha full of nectar of immortality, who removes all fears,who removes all diseases,
The well wisher of the Three worlds, and sustainer of the three worlds, He is Vishnu Swarup, By the name Dhanvantari Empowered to Heal the Jiva souls.

8. Prayer to Sree Sathya Sai Baba ­ 28 times

Sri Sathya Sai Sampoorna
Paripurna Arogya Praaptirastu

Meaning
Sree Sathya Sai get cured completely (fully).

9. 10 Minutes meditation - sending divine love and healing energy to sick and needy people throughout the world.

10. Loka Samastha Sukhino Bhavanthu ­ 3 times

Meaning ­ "Let the whole mankind be Happy and Prosperous."

Sathya Sai Baba's 46 Maxims/Quotes

1. Prema, Love, should be considered as the very breath of Life.

2. The Love that is manifest in all things equally, believe that the same Prema is Paramatma.

3. The one Paramatma is in every one, in the form of Prema.

4. More than all other forms of Prema, man's first effort should be to fix his Love on the Lord.

5. Such Love directed towards God is Bhakthi; that is the fundamental test, the acquisition of Bhakthi.

6. Those who seek the Bliss of the Atma should not run after the joys of sense objects.

7. Sathya, Truth, must be treated as life-giving as breathing itself.

8. Just as a body that has no breath is useless and begins to rot and stink within a few minutes, similarly, life without Truth is useless and becomes the stinking abode of strife and grief.

9. Believe that there is nothing greater than Truth, nothing more precious, nothing sweeter and nothing more lasting.

10. Truth is the all-protecting God. There is no mightier Guardian than Truth.

11. The Lord who is Sathyaswarupa grants His Darsan to those of Truthful Speech and Loving Heart.

12. Have undiminished kindness towards all beings and also the spirit of self-sacrifice.

13. You must also possess control of the senses, an unruffled character and non-attachment.

14. Be always on the alert against the four sins which the tongue is prone to commit:
Speaking falsehood
Speaking ill of others
Back-biting and
Talking too much
It is best to attempt to control these tendencies.

15. Try to prevent the five sins that the body commits:
Killing
Adultery
Theft
Drinking intoxicants
Eating of flesh
It is a great help for the highest life if these also are kept as far away as possible.

16. One must be always vigilant, without a moment's carelessness, against the eight sins that the mind perpetrates:
Kamam or craving
Krodham or anger
Lobham or greed
Moham or attachment
Impatience
Hatred
Egoism
Pride
Man's primary duty is to keep all these things at a safe distance from himself.

17. Man's mind speeds fast, pursuing wrong actions. Without letting it hurry like that remember the Name of the Lord at that time or attempt to do some good deed or other. Those who do thus will certainly become fit for the Lord's Grace.

18. First give up the evil tendency to feel impatient at the prosperity of others and the desire to harm them. Be happy that others are happy. Sympathise with those who are in adversity and wish for their prosperity. That is the goal of cultivating the love for God.

19. Patience is all the strength that man needs.

20. Those anxious to live in joy must always be doing good.

21. It is easy to conquer anger through love, attachment through reasoning, falsehood through truth, bad through good and greed through charity.

22. No reply should be given to the words of the wicked. Be at a great distance from them; that is for your good. Break off all relations with such people.

23. Seek the company of good men, even at the sacrifice of your honour and life. But be praying to God to bless you with the discrimination needed to distinguish between the good men and the bad. You must also endeavour, with the intellect given to you.

24. Those who conquer states and earn fame in the world are hailed as heroes, no doubt; but those who have conquered the senses are heroes who must be acclaimed as the conquerors of the Universe.

25. Whatever acts a good or bad man may do, the fruits thereof follow him and will never stop pursuing him.

26. Greed yields only sorrow; contentnment is best. There is no happiness greater than contentment.

27. The mischief-mongering tendency should be plucked out by the roots and thrown off. If allowed to exist, it will undermine life itself.

28. Bear with fortitude both loss and grief; try and search for plans to achieve joy and gain.

29. Assume silence when you are invaded by anger or remember the Name of the Lord. Instead, do not try to remind yourself of things which will inflame the anger more. That will do incalculable harm.

30. From this moment, avoid all bad habits. Do not delay or postpone. They do not contribute the least joy.

31. Try as far as possible within your means to satisfy the needs of the poor, who are really Daridranarayana. Share with them whatever food you have and make them happy at least that once.

32. Whatever you feel should not be done to you by others, avoid your doing such to others.

33. For faults and sins committed in ignorance, repent sincerely; try not to repeat the faults and sins again; pray to God to bless you with the strength and the courage needed to stick to the right path.

34. Do not allow anything to come near you, which will destroy your eagerness and enthusiasm for God. Want of eagerness will cause the decay of the strength of man.

35. Yield not to cowardice; do not give up Ananda.

36. Do not get swelled up when people praise you; do not feel dejected when people blame you.

37. If among your friends any one hates another and starts a quarrel, do not attempt to inflame them more and make them hate each other more; try, on the other hand, with love and sympathy to restore their former friendship.

38. Instead of searching for others' faults, search for your own faults yourself; uproot them, throw them off. It is enough if you search and discover one fault of yours; that is better than discovering tens of hundreds of faults in others.

39. Even if you cannot or will not do any Punya or good deed, do not conceive or carry out any Papa, or bad deed. This is far preferable.

40. Whatever people may say about the faults that you know are not in you, do not feel for it; as for the faults that are in you, try to correct them yourself, even before others point them out to you. Do not harbour anger or vengeance against persons who point out your faults; do not retort, pointing out the faults of those persons themselves, but show your gratitude to them. Trying to discover their faults is a greater mistake on your part. It is good for you to know your faults; it is no good your knowing others' faults.

41. Whenever you get a little leisure, do not spend it in talking about all and sundry, but utilise it in meditating on God or in doing service to others.

42. The Lord is understood only by the Bhaktha; the Bhaktha is understood only by the Lord. Others cannot understand them. So, do not discuss matters relating to the Lord with those who have no Bhakthi. On account of such discussion, your devotion will diminish.

43. If anyone speaks to you on any subject, having understood it wrongly, do not think of other wrong notions which will support that stand but grasp only the good and the sweet, in what he says. True meaning is to be appreciated as desirable, not wrong meaning or many meanings, which give no meaning at all and cause only the hampering of Ananda.

44. If you desire to cultivate one-pointedness, do not, when in a crowd or bazaar, scatter your vision to the four corners and on everything, but see only the road in front of you, just enough to avoid accidents to yourself. One-pointedness will become firmer if one moves about without taking one's attention off the road, avoiding dangers, and not casting eyes on others' forms.

45. Give up all doubts regarding the Guru and God. If your wordly desires do not get fulfilled, do not blame it on your devotion; there is no relationship between such desires and devotion to God. These worldly desires have to be given up some day or other; Bhakthi feelings have to be acquired some day or other. Be firmly convinced of this.

46. If your Dhyanam or Japam do not progress properly or if the desires you have entertained do not come to fruition, do not get dispirited with God. It will dispirit you even more and you will lose the peace, however small or big, that you might have earned. During Dhyanam and Japam you should not be dispirited, desperate or discouraged. When such feelings come, take it that it is the fault of your Sadhana and endeavour to do them correctly.



Source: Sandeha Nivarini by Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba