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Spiritual Blossoms
Bhagavan
says:
On
Dharma (Righteousness):
"You can select your wife, but
not Dharma. Dharma is like your
mother, you have to obey"
Swami says: "If
you save Dharma, It will save
you".
On
Manava (Human): (manava is the word
used in both Telugu and hindi
literature)
a)
MA = Ignorance
NA = Without it
VA = Who conducts
himself
i.e., One who conducts
himself without ignorance.
b)
MA = Not
NAVA = New
i.e., One who is not new.
c) M = Maya overcome
A = Atma realized
N = Nirvana attained
This is the
first mail with regard to "SPIRITUAL
BLOSSOMS". Just go through these swami
sayings. You will have a brief idea. The
succeeding mails will help you, how to
practice these in daily life. We will take a
week time between each mail; so as to make
you, use this time (between mail to mail) to
put them into practice. A simple scan with
your mind will not help you. Scan with your
heart by practicing this whole-heartedly.
This description is taken from the book
"Hand book for sai youth". You need not buy
this book, as some may read it in a week and
have a feeling that their job is done. We
want you to practice these "Spiritual
Blossoms" every day with your heart. As you
know great people said, "follow your heart
not your mind". We don't want to rush with
this mail, by sending it everyday, instead
we want to give you some time between each
mail, so that practicing will benefit you.
We know you will understand our purpose.
Courtesy:
Satyanarayana Raju
Source:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/saibabanews/message/8752
Bhagavan says:
On Purpose of Life:
As a boy he
spends his time playing with his friends;
As a youth he is after the fair
sex;
Even in the old age he does not think of GOD
But keeps lamenting (feel grief) and feeling
sorry
For not having this and that.
He
is not able to give up his bad habits,
Is not interested in devotion.
He
ruins (Spoils) himself and wastes his life.
Human life, so rare is reduced to dust!
The human beings
are highly intelligent. But man does not know
where to direct his intelligence. He does not
put it to proper use even when he knows what is
right. If he questioned as to who is responsible
for this state of affairs he is not prepared to
accept personal responsibility.
You must first
have a clear understanding of the nature of the
goal- GOD or GOODNESS or the Universal Absolute
(complete), whatever the name? its grandeur
(majesty or high rank), its beneficence
(generous, kind), it's magnificence (splendid,
fine, excellent). Then, that understanding
itself will prompt (assist) and urge you towards
it. The universal, of which you are a unit, is
pure, true, ego less, unlimited and everlasting.
Contemplate (survey visually or mentally) on it
and your innate (inborn, natural) egolessness,
truth, purity and eternality (existing always)
will manifest (prove) itself, more and more
every day.
You may have
accumulated (quantity of) riches, acquired deep
scholarship and achieved health and strength.
But, unless you have gained in addition, a
vision (dream or act) of the Supreme Sovereign
(supreme ruler), and an aspiration (ambition or
desire) to be ever in the ecstasy (over-whelming
joy) of that vision, all that has been garnered
(collect, store) by you is mere lumber (waste).
India has a great epic, the MAHABHARATA, which
describes a war between the Kauravas and
Pandavas. The Kauravas had superior financial
and military resources. They approached Krishna,
the Incarnation (embodiment in flesh or human)
of the lord, for help; they were content to
receive from HIM a large army and a huge
quantity of hardware. The Pandavas sought from
HIM only HIS grace. The lord agreed. He came
over to their side, alone and unarmed. He held
just a whip (lash attached to a stick for urging
on animals or punishing etc.) and drove the
horses of Arjuna's chariot! That was all, but
that was all that was needed for victory. The
Kauravas were defeated to the uttermost; the
Pandavas WON the empire and eternal (without an
end) fame.
Look!!! How Swami
explained clearly and blissfully. Who can
explain us, so heart fully? He is none other
than our own sai. Just follow what Swami says in
these "SPIRITUAL BLOSSOMS" to attain his bliss
(perfect joy, being in heaven). We want you to
practice what swami says. "Practice makes man
perfect". This is up to you to shine eternally
(without any end). Practice this. Swami will be
with you forever. Dear brothers and sisters
please forward this mail to you family and
friends, so that, they too can feel the essence.
For your convenience, we have listed the
meanings of specific words enclosed in brackets.
All the best, for your new and purposeful life.
Courtesy:
Satyanarayana Raju
Source:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/saibabanews/message/8926
Bhagavan says:
On Mind
A
single wife is enough to give much agitation
(disturbance, excite a person) and turbulence
(disturbance, restless) to the home. With two
wives the problems are intensified (violent,
nuisance) beyond estimation. A person with two
wives is put to great hardships (severe
suffering or privation). What would be the
situation of a fellow with ten wives? Imagine!
Well, the mind has ten wives! The ten senses are
the ten wives. The mind is the husband with the
ten wives. The mind is the master of the senses
that put the mind to such suffering.
The eyes (one wife) put the mind
(the husband) to many difficulties asking him to
be taken to a TV show, a cinema, a drama. The
tongue (second wife) feels sad- it pesters
(trouble or annoy) the husband (the mind) that
she wants masala dosa and other eatable. The
next wife, the nose desires fragrant (sweet
smelling) flowers. The ears (another wife) want
to listen music. How is the mind to satisfy the
demands of all the ten senses? It is so
difficult to satisfy the demands of even one of
these, how to satisfy them all? The mind is put
to a lot of trouble because it cannot satisfy
all its ten wives. Then the mind cries, "O God I
don't want this family". Then the mind starts to
exercise control over the senses. How does the
mind feel?
So guys and gals it is in your hands, to make
your life comfort. As you know "Less luggage,
more comfort". It is up to you, to move the
cheese.
Courtesy:
Satyanarayana Raju
Source:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/saibabanews/message/9118
Bhagavan says:
On Human Body
The human body has been given to you for a grand
purpose- realizing the Lord within. If you have
a fully equipped car in good condition, would
you keep it in the garage? The car is primarily
meant for going on a journey; get into it and
go. Then only is it worthwhile to own it. So
too, with the body. Proceed, go forward to the
goal. Learn how to use the faculties of the
body, the senses, the intellect, the mind, for
achieving the goal and march on. This human body
is given to man to undertake good activity (
sarera madyam kalu dharma sadhakam). Of all the
living being the human life is the rarest. Do
not consider yourself unworthy and low. The
human life is to be surrendered to Narayana,
God. Human life is gifted to us only for that
purpose. Humanity should attain Divinity (being
divine). Human life has evolved out of animal
life, but its destiny (fate) is to attain God.
Unfortunately man is turning back towards the
level of animals. He is in a 'reverse gear'. You
should not use this 'reverse gear'. Apply the
'forward gear' and march ahead- go forwards. You
should not stop in your march forwards at any
point- not until you reach your goal, your
destination. There is only one stop. That is the
way to travel through this life. You are on a
pilgrimage ( karma kshetra-yaatrika) in the
field of action. You should reach your goal and
fulfill your obligations (duty, task) ? this is
the true purpose of life.
Sairam please
Practice! Practice! Practice
Courtesy:
Satyanarayana Raju
Source:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/saibabanews/message/9336
Bhagavan says:
On Sense Control
Consider also the true nature of what is now named Bhoga or
luxury, a thing that drags people away into excitement and
insane (extremely foolish) pursuits (actions). All the variety
in taste, colour and smell of the multiform items of food is,
when you consider it fairly and squarely, a mere drug to cure
the illness of hunger; all the drinks that man has invented are
but drugs to alleviate (make pain etc) illness of thirst. Man
suffers from the fever of the senses and he tries the quake
(shake) remedies of recreations (entertaining oneself),
pleasures, picnic, banquets, dances etc., only to find that the
fever does not subside (become tranquil).
The first step in spiritual training is to curd the Icchasakthi
(desires), which prompts the senses to pursue(follow with intent
to overtake, capture, or do harm to) the objects. If the Iccha
(desire) is for God, it is good; if for objective pleasure, it
harms the individual. If a house is set on fire, it is
incendiarism; if Hunuman sets fire to Lanka, it is justifiable
retribution and a good lesson. If a dacoit cuts off your hand it
is Himsa (violence); if the doctor amputates (cut of surgically
it), he saves your life and so it is Ahimsa (non-violence).
You don't eat paddy, do you? You have the sense to remove the
husk and then, boil the rice, before you eat it. So also, why do
you take in, nature as it is? Remove the allurement
attractiveness, personal charm, fascination) it has, to the
senses, make it just an expression of the Divine Will and then
assimilate (absorb or be absorbed) it.
The fundamental factor in spiritual life is suppression of
desire: the surrender of the individual will to the Divine Will
will elevate all thoughts, words and deeds into acts of worship.
When Ravana fell dead, his queen Mandodari lamented over his
body; "you conquered every enemy of yours, except your own lust!
(Passionate desire for or enjoyment) You were pious (devout;
religious), you were learned, you subdued (conquer) even the
most powerful foes (enemy)- but you allowed yourself to be
enslaved (make a person a slave) by desire. That brought about
your downfall." The magnifying glass draws the rays of the sun
on a single point and can set fire to paper or glass. So too,
concentration of attention can destroy the seeds of wanton
(licentious; sexually promiscuous) desire. That is why, I advise
a few minutes of dhyana (meditation) everyday, both in the early
morning hours and in the evening, after dusk (darker stage of
twilight).
Please practice, practice, practice.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/saibabanews/message/9756
Purpose of
this mail:
In today's
world, we face many destabilizing (unstable)
influences all around us. The result of all
this is that we are enveloped by negative
factors such as fear, stress, anger, hatred,
conflict, greed, jealousy etc.
Bhagawan Sri
Sathya Sai Baba has been propagating the
path of Namasmarana (chanting the
name of God) as a means of achieving
everlasting Joy and Peace. Every thing in
this mail is taken from the exhibition
conducted at puttapathi in prasanthi
nilayam. Enjoy this way??????????
Liberation Through Namasmarana (Chanting
gods name with love):
Sage vyasa was
aware of this and when some other sages
approached him to learn as to which yuga
(age or century) was most conductive for
attaining liberation (set free). vyasa said,
"Oh! How fortunate
are those destined (be fated) to be born in
Kali yuga (present age we live in). It is so
easy in this Kali age (present century) to
win the grace of the lord with just "
Namasmarana" (chanting gods name form
heart) as a means of liberation (set free).
Namasamarana ? A sadhana(A practice):
"The NAME or GOD
is most effective tonic; it will keep of all
illness. Do not indulge (take pleasure
freely) Namasmarana (chanting god's
name) as a pastime or fashion or a passing
phase or as the unpleasant part of an
imposed timetable or as a bitter quota to be
fulfilled each day. Think of it as a
Sadhana (practice ) to be seriously
taken up for the purpose of reducing your
attachments to fleeting (brief) objects,
purifying and strengthening you and
liberating (set free) you from the cycle of
birth and death, hold fast to it as the
means of rescuing yourself in every way,
from the bonds of time and change."
Namasmarana:
"Turn the key
in the lock to the right, it opens, turn the
same key to the left, it is locked. So too,
turn your mind towards the objective
(external to the mind) world, it is locked,
caught entangled (complicate). Turn it to
the right, away from the objects of the
senses, the lock is loosened, you are free,
deliverance is at hand. How to turn it
right? Well, begin with remembering the
lord's holy name "namasmarana", as the first
step. That will itself take you through the
2 nd and 3rd, to the
very goal".
Chanting the divine name:
"As a first step
towards the acquisition (thing acquired) of
viveka (wisdom) and vairagya (detachment),
enter from now on into a discipline of
Namasmarana the incessant (unceasing,
continual, repeated) remembrance of GOD. A
fashionable excuse that is trotted out
(introduce an opinion) by those who do not
like
this
discipline is "Waste of time". It
does not need any special time or extra
allotment of time; it can be done always in
the waking stage, whether you are bathing or
eating, walking or sitting. All the hours
now spent in gossip (unconstrained talk or
writing about persons or social incidents),
in watching sports or films, in hollow
conversation can best be used for silent
contemplation (survey visually or mentally)
of name and form, and splendor (dazzling
brightness) of the lord."
Atmosphere is purified, by chanting the
divine name:
Experiments in Russia and other countries
have demonstrated the relationship between
the food one consumes and one's mental
attitudes. It was found, for instance, that
a child, who had been fed on apple juice
while in the womb, exhibited a love for
apples after birth. Similarly, the
relationship between devotional singing of
the lord's name and the positive energy it
generates in the atmosphere has been
established. Chanting of the Divine Name
can purify the atmosphere that has been
polluted by impure sound waves.
The evil
thoughts arising in the mind should be
diverted and it should be filled with Godly
thoughts by reciting the Divine Name.
This
Namasmarana can compensate every mistake
we made till now. Every one should pay for
their mistakes, in this life or other life
(our 2 nd life or reborn). But
Namasmarana
will help
you to over come the pain for the mistakes
you done in the past. That is the power of
Namasmarana in this Kali age (present
age).
We can find
many great people like Naradha (chanting god
Narayana's name), Hanuman (chanting lord
Rama's name), Radha (chanting lord Krishna's
name) and others chanting god's name with
deep love from their hearts.
One main
thing is chant the divine name from your
heart and try to visualize the Gods form. No
one will be as lucky as you.
Swami
says:
"One who chants
Rama's name and has the vision of HIS divine
form will not be born again. There is no
amruta (drinking it, you have no birth)
greater than Rama's name. Spread the glory
of Rama's name in every nook and corner of
the world. You can chant any name of your
choice Rama, Krishna, Govinda, Shiva etc.
Only the divine name can grant you peace and
happiness. Never forget the divine name,
wherever you are and under any
circumstances."
We people
are so lucky to have Swami in this age. Even
our own mother can't love us or teach us so
beautifully. Thank you Swami (my mother,
father, Teacher, friend and every thing) for
caring for us. We love you.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/saibabanews/message/10023
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/saibabanews/message/10231
8. On Dharma Of
The Tongue: (Small story)
One day Indra
(head of the heaven) wished to test an ascetic
(religious person) who was a mahayogi(great
saint), a total renunciate. He had taken
upon himself two vows-'I shall never hurt
anyone' and 'I shall never utter an untruth'. To
accomplish his vows he undertook much penance
(act of self punishment as reparation for
guilt). In order to test his resolve, God took
the form of a hunter and chased a deer. This
deer ran past the mahayogi (great saint)
and he watched it get into a bush to hide from
the hunter. Then God in the form of the hunter
came and asked the mahayogi, "swamiji
(divine saint), I am chasing a deer. Have you
seen it"? If the mahayogi had said, "I
have not seen it" he would have been speaking
the untruth. If he had said "I have seen it"
this would have been followed by the question
"Where did it go"? and if he had told the hunter
where the deer was it would have been killed.
The mahayogi had taken a vow not to harm,
but if he said, " I have not seen the deer", it
would have been a blatant (loudly obtrusive)
lie. He prayed to God "O God! Please give me the
right words so I would not break the two vows I
have pledged myself." Immediately God granted
him the vision. If you pray with pure heart, God
responds immediately. Of our prayers are merely
lip service them God does not respond at
anytime. If you pray with your heart, you will
get the 'reflection, reaction and resound'
instantaneously. There came the vision and the
saint said:
O
hunter!
What am I to say to you?
The eyes that have seen have no
tongue to speak,
And the tongue which can speak has no
eyes to see.
That is how he
found an escape. This as the vision granted by
God to the mahayogi to solve his dilemma
(situation in which a difficult choice has to be
made).
You may not always
oblige (do a person a small favour,help), but
you must always speak obligingly (helpful). You
need not use high-sounding words; it is enough
if you speak in a respectful way- in a courteous
(polite, considerate) way with talk that is
smooth and sweet. Our words should reflect
humility and obedience and must be always sweet.
Tongue is to be used for not only speaking the
truth but for chanting the name of the Lord, for
namasmarana (chanting gods name with love from
inner heart) and for singing bhajans (devotional
songs).
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/saibabanews/message/10455
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/saibabanews/message/10669
10. On Dharma (right-conduct)
of Eyes:
Everything is a reflection of the inner
being. At one time Krishna summoned Dharmaja
(bigger of the pandavas) and charged him to
find out if there was a wicked person in the
kingdom. Similarly he also called Duryodhana
(bigger of kauravas) and charged him to seek
out a good man in the kingdom. Dharmaja and
Duryodhana went in different directions.
Dharmaja came back and said, "Krishna, there
is not a single wicked person in the entire
kingdom- all the people are virtuous
(morally good)." Krishna sent Dharmaja away.
After sometime Duryodhana came. He said,
"Krishna, our kingdom is full of bad people-
I have not come across a single pious
(sincere,religious) or good man." Then
Krishna said
"Yad
bhaavam tad bhavathi."(Every
thing is a reflection of the inner being).
As duryodhana was full of wicked feelings he
saw everyone as bad. As is the colour of the
glasses so is the vision. The vision of a
bad person is bad. Duryodhana was bad,
wicked and cruel. Dharmaja was a sadhu,
pious (religious), truthful and full of good
practice. He was the very embodiment of
Dharma (right conduct). Thus he saw good in
people and met only good people. The vision
and the experience of Dharmaja and
Duryodhana are based on their own inner
thoughts.
Do not see bad in others
It will get into you!
See good, then feelings of goodness gets
into you.
Avoid frashy materials in books, magazines
and on the T.V.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/saibabanews/message/10866
10. On
Dharma of Eyes: (continuation????.)
A young man should know how to conduct
himself; how to achieve a good reputation;
what sort of vision he should have, how and
to what he should listen and what words he
should use. All the three, the vision, the
ears and the words should be kept under
control. Just because we have eyes does not
mean that we should look discriminately (see
a distinction) at everything. This way you
make your eyes unsacred through sinful acts.
What do you really obtain from sinful looks?
You look at a woman in a sinful way just for
your mean satisfaction. But when you do this
you lose the very authority to look. You
should look at what you are supposed to.
Why? Bhagawan considers it His duty to tell
you what is happening in the world today if,
an elder brother of 25years is traveling
with his sister of 20years, the society
thinks they are lovers because of their age
and because they are going out together.
They both get a bad name. In keeping with
the ancient tradition of Bharat (India) even
brother and sister should not ever go
together to the cinema, the beach or for
shopping. Their father or mother should
accompany them. This was the command in the
ancient times. Through the brother and
sister have good feelings within, the world
thinks bad of them. We should never give any
scope for actions, which will give us a bad
name. The sister must go with the mother. A
mother or a sister must never go alone. The
prestige of the family and respect is
important.
The modern youth have looks, you can say,
like that of the crow, which looks with each
of its eye in isolation on the two sides.
Why? The crow has a long beak. One eye does
not see what the other eye sees. This is
natural for the crow. But you should not
have the nose of the crow. So you have to
have straight looks, an integrated vision, a
good vision. Good looks beget (cause) a good
name. Your tongue should know how and when
you should speak. The students should know
when to smile and when not to smile. At
times they just look and smile, but even a
smile at an inappropriate occasion can put
you into much trouble.
Do not see bad in others
It will get into you!
See good, then feelings of goodness gets
into you.
Avoid flashy (cheaply attractive) materials
in books, magazines and on the T.V.
INTEGRAL VISION is to see the total picture,
not to see like a crow that sees with each
eye in isolation.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/saibabanews/message/11046
11. On Food
For the Mind:
All that you take is ahaara, or food.
Bhajana (singing God's glory with love from
inner heart) is food to the mind (Bhajana
manasukahaaram). You decorate and paint a
chariot. This mind, which we do not see with
the physical eyes, is like the chariot. What
is the use of merely decorating the chariot
if the horse is not fed properly. Such a
chariot is fit for a museum only. First of
all you have to see to it that the horse is
strong enough. The mind has to be
strengthened with manosakthi (Strength of
heart). How do you obtain manosakthi?
Through good thoughts, good feelings, good
emotions and good sentiment.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/saibabanews/message/11202
Bhagavan Sri
Satya Sai Baba says:
12. On Real Ornaments:
Hathasya bhushan dhanam ? Charity is
the ornament of the hand.
Kantham sathyasya bhushanam ? Truth
is the ornament of the neck.
Srothram Dharmasya bhushanam ?
Listening to the words of Dharma (right
conduct) is the ornament of the ear.
Bhushanai Kim Prajanam? ? What is the
use of any other decorations?
What other decorations do you need? We
should consider that virtues (good
qualities) are our ornaments. Peace is the
ornament of the noble souls, speech is the
decoration of the mankind, and bliss
(perfect joy, being in heaven) is the jewel
gifted by God.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/saibabanews/message/11357
13. On
Food:
The prayer " Brahmaarpanam Brahmahavir
Brahmaagnu Brahmanahutam Brahmeva Tena
Gantavyam Brahma Karma Samadhinaha" is
recited (repeat aloud or declaim from
memory) at the time of offering. When food
is offered thus to Brahman it becomes
sacrificial food, or prasaadam (divine
food). Before the offering it was merely
delicious food, after the offering it
becomes prasaadam (divine food). It becomes
sacred (dedicated to a God). It has no
impurity or defect any more when it is
prasaadam that is eaten.
You should eat to the extent that the
stomach can accommodate the food
comfortably. If you eat to excess, it leads
to indigestion. Sometimes we don't observe
discipline and we don't follow the command
of the stomach. When you pray before eating
with the prayer "Brahmaarpanam Brahmahavir
Brahmaagnu Brahmanahutam Brahmeva Tena
Gantavyam Brahma Karma Samadhinaha", you
always get the Divine reply from inside
"Aham Vysyanaro". That means you should eat
to the extent needed. But because the food
is tasty, you may eat more than you need.
Vysyanaro will caution (attention to safety)
you. "Don't eat any more! Don't eat
anymore!" If you load yourself with too much
food, you will get breathless and sick.
Sickness leads to other disease. When the
stomach is upset, it will give rise to other
complaints. Therefore a part of your stomach
should be kept empty. When this is followed,
your eating is under discipline. Every day
you should observe this discipline. All that
you do from morning till evening ? sitting,
standing, walking, everything should be
under discipline. Then your life will be a
disciplined life and this is the yoga of
Karma (person's actions in previous lives,
believed to decide his or her fate in future
existences), which will give you all the
skills you need in life.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/saibabanews/message/11533
14. On
Discipline:
Birds and animals, without any trace of
knowledge or education follow their
discipline wholeheartedly where as man with
all his intelligence does not follow the
minimum discipline observed by these birds
and animals.
For proper discipline, there are certain
requirements. You should keep your body pure
and clean. To keep the body pure, you should
undertake good actions. Only through good
activity is the body purified. You can
purify your mind through good thoughts. Once
you purify these two, the intellect becomes
pure all through. These are the benefits of
discipline.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/saibabanews/message/11684
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