The Company You Keep… Where world becomes a stage and the body a costume to deliver the alloted role man should tread with atmost caution reminds Bhagawan…delivering a discourse on the importance of The Company desired to keep… Bhagawan says, The company you join must be qualitatively and quantitatively greater and higehr than the one in which you are now caught. From Bhagawan’s Divine discoures at Brindavan, Whitefiled, on 7 July 1975. Kamal Sahani, of the Second B. Com. class of the College spoke now, using fine simple appropriate words, on the human body and the purpose for which it has been given to you. He said that the world is a stage and that the body is a costume that one has to wear in order to act the role that God has allotted to you in the play produced and directed by Him. This is a correct interpretation. But, when you are allotted a part, your duty is to do it well and earn the appreciation of the Director. The stage on which you play your role is an infinitesimal dot when compared with the vast unlimited Cosmic space. The time when you strut about the stage in this costume or in any other is also infinitesimal. Deepak of this College acted as Sankaracharya on the stage at the Shanmukhananda Hall, Bombay. But, his Deepak-ness was not lost thereby; even while he was Sankaracharya, he was Deepak. His Sankaracharya-hood was but a temporary phase. So too, the Atma is the Eternal Truth; the body which it dons is temporary and the role it induces is also short. Or, to illustrate this in another way—the time spent in dreams is infinitesimal, when compared with the time spent awake. The ‘waking’ stage is the representative of the stage of wisdom and illumination, of the Atma; the dream stage is the representative of the ’ignorance wisdom’ hazy stage of human life. The question may legitimately be asked, why or how did this eternal universal Atmic principle take up residence in this temporary, particularised body box? Well. You do not keep diamonds in a diamond casket, do you? If you do, the robber would be doubly benefitted. You keep it in an iron box only. Of course, the iron box or safe will be artistic and charming, for, the container is chosen, to suit the value or sanctity of the thing contained. To drink milk or some such beverage, you select a clean attractive tumbler or cup. But, for a spittoon, inferior metals or mud is felt ample. The body is a chalice, wherein you collect the nectar of Divine Grace. That is the prime purpose for which it has been gifted, to you. For, without a cup or chalice, casket or jug, how can the nectar be taken? Raso Vai Sah: say the Vedas; “He Is Sweet-Nectar, no less.” And when His Graces is showered, the body is thrilled. The Body has to be kept ever clean and pure, unaffected by dirt, disease, distress, or defeatism. Nara and Narayana, man and God are like iron and magnet. God by His very nature attracts man near, for in man, there is the Divine. When the magnet fails to attract the iron piece, the iron foolishly concludes that the magnet has lost its power! The real fact is: the piece of iron is too thickly covered by rust and dust. It does not realise its own defect; it rushes to blame God (the magnet) or even to deny Him! The easiest and the most fruitful method of keeping yourself free from dust and rust is the Satsang. The company of the good and the godly will slowly and surely chasten and cleanse the persons prone to stray away from the straight path towards Self-Realisation. Care has to be taken to see that you select and stick to the proper company. A cup of water has no cash value; but, if it is poured into ten cups of milk, it acquires the value that people attach to milk! If on the other hand, one cup of milk is poured into ten cups of water, it loses the value it had and is condemned as useless. So, the Satsang you join must be purer, more venerable, and sticking to higher ideals of virtue and truth than you yourselves. When a smoker joins a group of non smokers, there is every likelihood of his giving up that bad habit; but, when a non smoker falls into a den of smokers, he is certain to become a victim soon! Such is the subtle influence of the company one keeps. The company you join must be qualitatively and quantitatively greater and higher than the one in which you are now caught. There are precious gems of wisdom within your hearts, which require excavation, in order to be of any benefit to you. Intelligence is the instrument you have to use, in order to gain them. At the very start, you will encounter a boulder barring your way—that is the Body Consciousness, the Ego. Desires are the loose rocks that have also to be dug out and kept aside. Then, you come to a bed of sand—good thoughts, good words, good deeds; when this stratum is reached, you are nearing success. If you keep on in Satsang, every day, your hearts will maintain their purity unimpaired; but, if you seek one, only off and on, it will be difficult to win grace or partake of it, for, the vessel will be tarnished and untidy. In your own households, you must have noticed that a vessel in daily use is bright and clean; but, vessels stored and used only now and then will have to be scrubbed with great vigour to become bright. Yeh Draft Ready Hai: The Company You Keep – A Sacred Lesson On Influence, Character, And Inner Growth The Company You Keep… is a powerful reminder that the people, thoughts, habits, and environments around us quietly

Follow Your Dharma… When Dharma guides Karma it becomes praiseworthy and the act turns out to be successful. Bhagawan says “Where there is Dharma there Krishna is; so, think for yourself, each one of you, how far have you deserved the grace of The Lord? You draw Him near; you keep Him far. You entangle yourself, bind yourself, and get caught in the trap. No one is your foe except yourself. No one else is your friend. You are your only friend. The Guru shows you the road and you have to trudge alone, without fear or hesitation.” When Guru becomes the guidepost, showing us the right path, are we not to meticulously follow the right path??? Bhagawan speaks out quoting an incident from the illustrious life of Shivaji Maharaj involving Swami Samartha Ramadas recounting how great men and Avatars stood for greater values in life, overruling material passion… Once Samartha Ramadas appeared before Shivaji, with his usual call for alms: Bhavathi Bhikshaam Dehi. Shivaji realised that the Guru is God; so, he wrote something on a piece of paper and deposited it reverentially in the alms bag of Ramadas. “For the relief of hunger how can paper suffice?” asked Ramadas. Shivaji prayed that the paper may be read. The paper recorded a gift of the entire kingdom and all that Shivaji owned to the Guru. Samartha Ramadas replied: “No, My Dharma is Dharmabodha, the teaching of Dharma, instructing the people in the right way of life; Kshatriyas like you must follow the Dharma of ruling the land, ensuring peace and content to the millions under your care.” Sage Yaajnavalkya too once refused a kingdom, because he cared more for the Kingdom of Moksha, the realm of eternal freedom. Sage Vasishta is also said to have renounced a kingdom, offered to him by Rama. That was the ideal in the past; it is only now that men pursue paths that lead them away from Dharma. You have allowed the treasure that the sages gave you to drop from your grasp. Though the medicinal root that you so badly need is lying across your path and has actually tripped your step, you have no eyes to recognise it and realise the value. What a pity! Look at the way Rama refused to accept the kingdom out of which He had willingly come, to carry out the wish of His mother and the plighted word of His father, when Bharatha entreated Him piteously to take it from him. Rama taught that artha and kaama should not be allowed to overrule Dharma and the discipline of Moksha. For, fundamentally, the objects of the world are incapable of conferring joy. Follow Your Dharma – A Sacred Path Of Duty, Truth, And Inner Peace Follow Your Dharma is a powerful spiritual reminder that every human life has a sacred responsibility. Dharma means right conduct, righteous duty, moral discipline, and living according to truth. It is not only a religious word; it is a practical guide for daily life. When a person lives according to dharma, life becomes peaceful, meaningful, and pleasing to God. Many people become confused because they compare their path with others. They look at another person’s success, position, wealth, or comfort and feel restless. But every soul has a different duty, situation, capacity, and lesson. The path of peace begins when we stop copying others blindly and begin doing our own duty sincerely. Follow Your Dharma teaches that true duty must be performed with honesty, love, and responsibility. A parent has the dharma to guide with care. A student has the dharma to study with discipline. A teacher has the dharma to shape character. A worker has the dharma to work sincerely. A devotee has the dharma to remember God and serve creation. Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba often emphasized truth, righteousness, peace, love, and non-violence as the foundation of human life. These values are not meant only for books or speeches. They must be practiced at home, in the workplace, in society, and in every relationship. Dharma becomes real only when it enters conduct. Follow Your Dharma becomes meaningful when duty is done without selfishness. Many people perform actions only for praise, reward, recognition, or personal gain. But sacred duty is done because it is right. Even if no one appreciates our sincerity, God sees the purity of our effort. The approval of conscience is greater than the applause of the world. Dharma does not always choose the easy path. Sometimes doing the right thing may bring difficulty, misunderstanding, or sacrifice. Speaking truth may be uncomfortable. Standing for justice may require courage. Controlling anger may require effort. Forgiving someone may feel hard. Yet, these choices strengthen the soul and purify the heart. Follow Your Dharma also reminds us that each person must listen to conscience. The inner voice quietly tells us when something is right or wrong. If we ignore it repeatedly, the mind becomes weak and confused. If we obey it sincerely, the heart becomes strong. Conscience is one of the ways God guides us from within. A person following dharma should not become proud. Sometimes people do good actions but develop ego about their goodness. This reduces the purity of the act. True dharma is humble. It does not shout, “See how righteous I am.” It quietly serves, forgives, works, and loves without unnecessary display. Follow Your Dharma finally teaches that duty and devotion are not separate. When work is done with love, it becomes worship. When family responsibility is done with patience, it becomes service. When truth is spoken with kindness, it becomes spiritual practice. When difficulties are faced with faith, life itself becomes a sacred classroom. Prayer, namasmarana, bhajan, meditation, and seva help a person remain steady in dharma. Prayer gives strength, the divine name purifies the mind, bhajan fills the heart with devotion, meditation brings silence, and service removes selfishness. These practices protect the mind from laziness, fear, and wrong influence. Dharma also asks us to respect others.

He Is That… Idle curiosity and vain words are of no use to an aspirant. Try to know yourself. When you realise who you are, you will realise Who Sri Sathya Sai Baba is!”  said the Great Jnani Nisargadatta Maharaj to a devotee of Bhagawan revealing that Sri Sathya Sai Baba is Paripoorna Parabhrahmam…an episode from Sathyam Sivam Sundaram – Part 6. Once there was an interesting dialogue between a well-known jnani of our times and his disciple about Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. One of the disciples of Sri Nisarga Datta Maharaj was a frequent visitor to Prasanthi Nilayam and he became an ardent devotee of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba in course of time. One evening while serving his Guru, who lived at Kethwadi in Mumbai, he submitted his question, “Maharaj, who is Sri Sathya Sai Baba?” Instead of answering the question of the curious disciple, the Guru asked him, “What does Baba say about Himself?” The disciple, who did not expect that question from his Guru, said what he could remember at that time, “Maharaj, Baba has revealed that He is the reincarnation of Sai Baba of Shirdi!” “When did Shirdi Baba shed His mortal coil?” “In 1918.” “When did Sri Sathya Sai Baba make His advent?” “In 1926” “Baba is what He was between 1918 and 1926!” The disciple could not comprehend what the Jnani had meant by that; he was also not satisfied since the answer was not what he had expected. He pleaded with his Guru, “Maharaj, I cannot understand what you said about Baba…” “Sri Sathya Sai Baba is Paripoorna Parabhrahmam!” declared the Jnani. The disciple was very happy with that answer since that was what he wanted to hear from his Guru! But the Guru was not satisfied; he wanted to teach his disciple a higher lesson. He asked the disciple, “What do you understand now about Baba?” The disciple was baffled by the question; he kept silent. Then the Guru told the bewildered disciple, “Idle curiosity and vain words are of no use to an aspirant. Try to know yourself. When you realise who you are, you will realise Who Sri Sathya Sai Baba is!” II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II He Is That – A Sacred Reflection On Divine Truth And Supreme Reality He Is That is a profound spiritual statement that points toward the highest truth of existence. The Divine is not limited to one name, one form, one place, or one idea. God is the source, support, and final goal of all creation. Everything that appears in this universe has its foundation in that one eternal Reality. Human beings often try to understand God through the mind. They ask questions, seek explanations, compare traditions, and search through scriptures. These efforts are valuable, but the Divine cannot be fully captured by thought alone. The mind can point toward truth, but the heart must become pure enough to experience it. He Is That teaches that the Lord is both near and beyond. He is beyond the stars, beyond time, beyond birth and death, yet He is also present within the heart as conscience, love, peace, and inner guidance. This is the beauty of divine mystery: the infinite becomes intimate for the devotee. Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba often reminded humanity that God is one, though names and forms are many. People may worship Him as Rama, Krishna, Shiva, Devi, Allah, Jesus, Buddha, Sai, or by any sacred name. The outer paths may differ, but the truth behind them is one Supreme Reality. He Is That becomes meaningful when we stop fighting over outer differences and begin recognizing the same divine light in all. Religion should not create pride or separation. True spirituality expands love, deepens humility, and teaches respect for every sincere path that leads toward goodness and God. The phrase also reminds us that God is not merely an object of worship outside us. The same divine presence lives within every being. When we hurt others, we hurt the sacred life within them. When we serve others, we serve the Divine hidden in them. This understanding transforms ordinary life into worship. He Is That also teaches that the world is a passing appearance, but the Divine is eternal. Bodies change, relationships change, success changes, and circumstances change. Joy and sorrow come and go like waves. But the truth of God remains steady like the ocean beneath all movement. A seeker who understands this begins to live with more balance. Praise does not make him proud, criticism does not break him, success does not blind him, and failure does not destroy him. He learns to see every experience as part of a larger divine plan meant for growth and purification. He Is That finally teaches that knowing God means becoming more divine in conduct. If we say God is love, then our life must become loving. If we say God is truth, then our speech must become truthful. If we say God is peace, then our mind must become calm and forgiving. Prayer, namasmarana, bhajan, meditation, and seva help us move closer to this realization. Prayer softens the heart, the divine name purifies the mind, bhajan fills life with devotion, meditation brings silence, and service removes selfishness. Through these practices, the truth becomes not only an idea, but a living experience. The ego creates distance from this truth. It says, “I am separate, I am superior, I am the doer.” Spiritual wisdom gently removes this ignorance. It teaches that all strength, talent, opportunity, and life itself come from God. Humility arises when we understand that we are instruments in divine hands. A devotee should not only speak about high philosophy, but live it through simple goodness. Helping someone in need, forgiving a mistake, speaking gently, doing duty honestly, and remembering God in daily life are practical ways of honoring the Supreme Reality. Great truths must become small daily actions. The sacred statement also brings comfort during difficulty. When life

Don’t Worry; I will give him realisation… Great Masters with complete awareness know what they do… and so with Avatars… it will be foolhardy for man to attempt to gauge their actions, rather man should submit to the will of Great Masters and Avatars…  Years ago, Bhagawan Nithyananda of Ganeshpuri had direted one of His disciples to visit Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai… For Swami Shradhanand, the trip turned out to be an ‘enlightening’ one… enlightened to know that God Is One…and One Only!!! …narrates Dr DJ Gadhia. Swami Shradhanand, a disciple of Swami Nithyananda of Ganeshpuri (or Vajreshwari) near Mumbai, attended one of these programmes in 1962. Soon after the Arati, he went into meditation. Later, he came to us and said, “My Guru has suggested that I should have the Darshan of Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba only with Dr Gadhia”. So, we proceeded to Puttaparthi on the very next day. A very memorable incident happened in the interview room. When Swami started waving His right hand to materialise Vibhuti, Swami Shradhanand caught hold of His hand! All devotees in the room were stunned. I was utterly shocked because it seemed to me that Swami was insulted by a person that I brought. This was the right time Swami taught us the lesson as He used to teach often, “My Life Is My Message.” He was not offended and on the contrary, He smiled and spoke softly and with loving care, “Why did you hold My hand?” Swami Shradhanand replied, “I have not come here to see peppermints and chocolates You distribute everyday to these children; I have come with a very great expectation from You!” Bhagawan replied, “Swami knows that you recite Gayatri Mantra everyday and your Sadhana has reached up to the point of saturation so much so that you are going to get liberation soon. So, continue with your Sadhana.” Nobody was aware of this. Swami Shradhanand was surprised and became happy and apologised for his mistake. Then Swami said, “Don’t worry, mistakes are like passing clouds. Let Swami distribute peppermint and chocolates to these children.” He waved His hand and materialised Vibhuti and distributed to all, except Swami Shradhanand! Bhagawan then asked Swami Shradhanand, “Would you mind if Swami gives interviews to these children first?” When I was granted interview, Swami assured me by saying, “Don’t worry, Swami will give him (Swami Shradhanand) realization.” When Baba granted him a personal interview, Swami Shradhanand started shedding tears of joy and prostrated at the Lotus Feet of Bhagawan, saying, “Oh my Master! You Are residing here in the form of Sri Sathya Sai. I am very grateful to You for granting me this Vision!” Swami Shradhanand would just not stop crying. Having come out of the interview room, Swami Shradhanand gave a vivid description of his wonderful experience. He said, “Baba did not ask me anything nor did He give any opportunity to ask questions, but straightaway said, `Look here!’ and opened His gown (Kafni), revealed His chest and gave a vision of my Guru, Swami Nithyananda! I am really fortunate for having had such a realisation. I am also grateful to you, Gadhia, for having brought me here!” We learnt a great lesson. Swami can give realisation of any form or Guru or any incarnation to anyone deserving, and that is the reason why He is known as `Sarva Devata Swarupa’ (Sarvadevatateeta Swarupa, as Bhagawan Himself mentioned once). II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II I will give him realisation – A Sacred Assurance Of Grace, Awakening, And Divine Love I will give him realisation is a powerful spiritual assurance that shows the compassion of the Divine Guru. Realisation is not merely intellectual knowledge, scriptural learning, or the ability to speak beautifully about God. It is the direct awakening of the soul to its own divine nature, where the seeker understands that the true Self is eternal, pure, and one with God. Many people search for truth through books, discussions, rituals, pilgrimages, and spiritual practices. All these have value when performed with sincerity, but the final awakening comes only through divine grace. Human effort prepares the heart, but God’s compassion opens the inner door. Without grace, knowledge may remain only in the mind; with grace, it becomes living experience. I will give him realisation teaches that the Divine knows the readiness of every soul. A seeker may not understand his own spiritual condition, but God sees the depth of longing, sincerity, purity, and surrender within the heart. When the time is right, the Lord gives the experience, understanding, or inner light needed for spiritual awakening. Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba often reminded devotees that the purpose of human birth is to realize the divinity within. We are not merely the body, name, profession, family role, or personality. These belong to the changing world. The true Self is beyond birth and death, beyond fear and sorrow, and beyond all temporary identities. I will give him realisation becomes meaningful when the devotee learns humility. Realisation cannot be demanded through ego. It cannot be purchased through outer offerings or forced through pride. The heart must become pure, simple, loving, and surrendered. The more ego reduces, the more divine light can shine within. The path to realisation begins with self-examination. We must ask ourselves whether our thoughts are pure, whether our words are gentle, whether our actions are helpful, and whether our love is selfless. If anger, jealousy, pride, greed, and selfishness rule the mind, the inner mirror remains clouded. Purity makes the heart fit to receive grace. I will give him realisation also reminds us that God’s method is compassionate but not always according to human expectation. Sometimes grace comes as joy, peace, or a sacred experience. Sometimes it comes through difficulty, correction, delay, or loss. What appears painful may become the very lesson that removes attachment and awakens wisdom. A true Guru does not merely satisfy worldly desires. He guides the devotee toward the highest goal. If a

Sai As Dattatreya… God Is One and the same… yet, in different yugas, different times, God incarnated in different forms, accepting different Names… For the one with pure awareness…He is Absolute Consciousness in different forms…  call Him Rama…Krishna…Sai…Dattatreya… At Shirdi, Baba was questioned once by the police…and He in His inimitable style answered “Truly” which was intriguing yet confusing for the foolhardy. Later, to some ‘Doubting Thomases’ Bhagawan showed up Himself as Lord Dattatreya… Trinity in One Supreme Form… Commemorating the Birthless Sai’s ‘Birthday’, the episode as recounted by Bhagawan… Baba was involved in a criminal case. He had to give evidence in a case which related to the theft of some valuables from a rich man’s house by a gang of thieves. The police caught the thieves and questioned them about the stolen ar­ticles. The thieves said that the valuables had been given to them by a fakir. Searching for the fakir, they came to Baba. They asked Him: “Fakir, did you give these articles to them?” “Yes,” He said. “Wherefrom did You get them?” was the next question. Baba replied: “They have come from the same place from which all things come.” “Who gave them to You”? “I gave them to Myself.” Baba gave such intriguing an­swers, which the police could not understand. “I Am the giver of every­thing. How can anyone get anything without my sanction?” declared Baba. Feeling that it was futile to question him further, the police prepared a report. Baba received a summons from the magistrate to give evidence in the case. Chandubhai Patel did not want Baba to go to the Magistrate and so arranged for Baba being examined on commission (in Shirdi itself). During the examination on commis­sion, Baba was asked: “What is your father’s name,” He replied: “Baba.” (Baba means “Father” and the reply meant that the father’s name was “fa­ther.”) Q. “What is your religion?” A. “The religion of God”. Q. “Wherefrom did you come?” A. “I have come from the Atma.” Q. “What is your caste?” A. “The caste of the Divine.” Baba answered all the questions in this manner. Earlier He had been hailed as “Sai.” In his examination, He had given his father’s name as Baba. By the combination of these two names, he was therefore called “Sai Baba.” No one knew when and where Sai Baba was born and who gave Him that Name. Later, many persons began to have doubts about His transcendental powers. One day, the birth anniver­sary of Dattatreya was to be celebrated (in the month of Margasirsha on Pan­chami day.) Several devotees had assembled in Shirdi. Among them was a wealthy man, a great scholar called Kaijack. He is not to be confused with Hijack!” His name was Balwant Kaijck. As he was approaching the Masjid, Baba took His stick and waved it at the devotees, asking them to get away. He even beat some of them, shouting, “Saitan! Saitan!” No one could understand why Baba was be­having like this. “I Am suffering labour ­pains. Get away, all of you!” He shouted. In those days, Baba not only used to shout at people, but also wield the stick on them on occasions. He used even to throw the stick at fleeing persons. Every one used to be afraid of him. They all fled from the place. Some time later, He called all of them to come. “Balwant Kaijack, come!” He said. When Balwant came, Baba went inside the Masjid. Balwant went in and found that Baba was not there. He found a three-headed baby on the floor. Baba had declared that He was suffering from labour pains and there was a baby there. The three­ headed child appeared to represent Dattatreya. It was a small baby with a number of hands. Balwant recognised the child as Dattatreya and called other devotees to come inside. They went in and on seeing the child closed their eyes. At that instant Baba reappeared there. From that time onwards, people started looking upon Baba as the incarnation of Dattatreya. II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II Sai As Dattatreya – A Sacred Reflection On Guru, Grace, And Divine Wisdom Sai As Dattatreya is a beautiful spiritual theme that reveals the unity of divine guidance, compassion, and eternal wisdom. Lord Dattatreya is worshipped as the supreme Guru, representing the combined essence of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. In the same way, Sai is experienced by devotees as the loving teacher who creates goodness, sustains faith, and destroys ignorance. The form of Dattatreya teaches that the Divine Guru is not limited by ordinary boundaries. He is beyond caste, religion, time, and place. He guides seekers through nature, life, experience, silence, and inner awareness. A sincere devotee learns that God can teach through every situation when the heart is humble and alert. Sai As Dattatreya teaches that the Guru’s role is not merely to give comfort, but to awaken the soul. A true Guru removes darkness, corrects mistakes, strengthens faith, and leads the devotee toward self-realization. He does not only answer worldly prayers; He guides the seeker toward the highest truth of life. Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba often reminded devotees that God is within as conscience, love, and wisdom. This is also the essence of the Dattatreya principle. The outer Guru helps us recognize the inner Guru. The divine teacher outside points us toward the divine light already present within the heart. Sai As Dattatreya becomes meaningful when we understand that the Guru teaches through both love and discipline. Sometimes He blesses, protects, and comforts. At other times, He tests, delays, corrects, or remains silent. But every action is guided by compassion. The Guru knows what the soul needs, even when the mind only knows what it wants. Lord Dattatreya is also connected with the lesson that the whole world can become a teacher. Earth teaches patience, water teaches purity, fire teaches transformation, air teaches freedom, and the sky teaches vastness. In the same way, Sai teaches devotees to learn from

Do Not Disrespect Any God-Form… Avatars Who live in the most exalted state of ‘Brahmam’ have nothing to differentiate between many forms and many names… All names and all forms belong to the One Supreme Godhood. …And when They continue Their sojourn on the physical plane they do leave indelible impressions in the human hearts and minds, teaching them the most subtle truth and lessons. In one such incident Bhagawan at Shirdi taught His devotees not to disrespect any God-Forms… an interesting episode from Sree Sai Samartha Satcharita, originall written in Marathi byGovind Raghunath Dabholkar a.k.a. Hemadpant. A beautiful lesson commemorating The Advent of Bhagawan at Shirdi. One day Baba returned from the Lendi and sat in the Masjid. The devotees began arriving for darshan. Amongst them was the great devotee Chandorkar whom Baba loved very much. He came with Biniwale, (his brother-in-law), eager for darshan. After doing obeisance to Sainath, both of them sat in front of Him. While they were exchanging generalities about the welfare and well being, Baba suddenly got ‘angry’. Baba said: “Nana, how is it that you have forgotten? After having spent such a long time in My company, is this only you have learnt? Is this the result of the time you have spent in My company? Tell Me in detail.” Listening to this Nana became dejected. He wondered about the reason for this anger but could not recall anything. He felt sad. He could not recall where he had erred. He could find no reason for the ‘anger’. But unless something had happened Baba would never ‘hurt’ anybody. Therefore, he clutched on Baba’s Feet and repeatedly entreated Him. Finally Nana supplicated earnestly and asked: “Why are You angry?” “Though you have been in association with Me for so many years, how could you have acted like thus? What happened to your senses?” Baba asked Nana. “When did you come to Kopergaon? What happened on the way? Where did you get down on the way? Or did you come here straight?” “Something strange happened on the way. I feel like listening to it in detail. Tell Me what happened and where, be it big or small incident.” Hearing this Nana realised his mistake and his face fell immediately. Though he felt ashamed to speak of it, he narrated it. Nothing could be concealed here! Having decided this, Nana told Baba whatever had happened in detail. There could be no lying before Sai. Falsehood does not gain Sai’s grace. Disharmony leads to destruction and ultimately lies lead one to hell. To deceive the Guru is a very great sin, from which there is no atonement. Realising this Nana described in detail to Baba whatever had happened. Nana said: “We hired a tonga to come straight to Shirdi, as a result of which Biniwale missed the darshan of Lord Dutta on the banks of the Godavari. Biniwale is a Dutta devotee. When we came across the Dutta temple on the way, he wanted to get down to have Dutta’s darshan. But I was in a hurry, so I prevented him and told him that we could take the darshan on our return journey from Shirdi. Thus becoming hasty and thinking it would get late to come to Shirdi, I tried to avoid the matter and disregarded Dutta’s darshan. Later, while bathing in the Godavari, a big thorn pierced my foot and gave me a lot of trouble on the way till I could pull it out with much effort.” Then Baba advised: “It is not good to be in such a haste. Thank your stars that you had only the thorn to contend with, though you had disrespected the darshan. When a very venerated deity like Dutta is on the way, awaiting darshan, unfortunate is he who has not taken the darshan! How can I help him?” Do Not Disrespect Any God-Form – A Sacred Lesson On Reverence, Unity, And Divine Love Do Not Disrespect Any God-Form is a powerful spiritual reminder that the Divine is one, though people may worship Him through many names, forms, symbols, and traditions. Human beings may differ in language, culture, religion, and personal devotion, but the same Supreme Reality shines behind every sincere path that leads toward love, truth, and goodness. The human mind often becomes attached to one chosen form of God and begins to think that only its own path is correct. Devotion to one form is beautiful when it creates love, purity, and surrender. But when devotion creates pride, comparison, or disrespect for other forms, then the heart has not understood the true spirit of spirituality. Do Not Disrespect Any God-Form teaches that every sacred form is a doorway to the same Divine. Some worship Rama, some worship Krishna, some worship Shiva, some worship Devi, some worship Ganesha, some worship Sai, and some worship God without form. The outer expression may differ, but sincere devotion reaches the same Lord. Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba often emphasized the unity of all faiths and the oneness of God. He reminded devotees that God does not belong to one religion, one community, or one tradition alone. The sun gives light to all, rain falls for all, and divine grace is available to every pure and loving heart. Do Not Disrespect Any God-Form becomes meaningful when we learn humility in devotion. A person may love one chosen deity deeply, but that love should make the heart broad, not narrow. If God is infinite, then He cannot be limited by our small understanding. The wise devotee respects all sacred expressions of the Divine. Disrespect toward another form of God often comes from ignorance. People may mock what they do not understand, criticize what they have not experienced, or reject what does not match their upbringing. But spiritual maturity asks us to be careful with words and attitudes. What is sacred to another heart should not be treated lightly. Do Not Disrespect Any God-Form also reminds us that insulting another’s faith can

His Revelation – My Realisation… For the seeker of Supreme Wisdom of Advaita, Non-dualism, the whole physical world vanishes and thus the problems associated with it. At the most crucial phase of his life, suffering from what psychiatric science calls it, Reactive Depressive Psychosis, unable to see the suffering of the world around, Dr MS Ramakrishna Rao once heard Him, as his inner-voice, giving His words of wisdom of Oneness Of Everything, The One Reality. I suddenly got up from a frightful dream. It was 15th November 1977. We returned a few days ago from Barrankula, a cyclone relief camp in Divi taluk. We went there in knee-deep mud, lived in tents surrounded by corpses, eating just to maintain the body. We spent nearly a couple of weeks. Bhagawan Baba appeared in dreams silently on 3 or 4 occasions. But after returning to Visakhapatnam, melancholic thoughts haunted me. Even though I am accustomed to go to hospital in a car for the past 18 to 19 years, I felt guilty of the same when thousands are not having any conveyance. Similarly, I was hesitant to put on a “T” shirt, thinking that many of my brethren are going half-clad. The same is the case with food. On top of this, scenes of dead bodies, collapsing huts etc. began appearing in my dreams successively for 3 days and from one such dream I got up suddenly, on the 15th November. I know that I was suffering from ‘reactive depressive psychosis’. I thought I must have a consultation with a psychiatrist or write a letter to Swami. I wrote to Bhagawan only on two occasions on purely official matters, which forced on me while discharging the duties of a District President. At that time I was working as Resident Medical Officer of one of the two mental hospitals in the State and treating several people counselling and administering drugs etc. As such I know swallowing a few drugs will improve my mental state without much ado. Suddenly, I went into a reverie: People are suffering from all sorts of miseries from times immemorial. Is there no way out of it? Lord Buddha pondered over it but not many were benefited out of his teachings. So is the case with every religious preceptor. The golden kingdom promised by Jesus has never appeared so far. Are they referring to a different plane of consciousness? Bhagawan must answer my questions and also show a solution. In all probability He may not answer my letter. As it was my previous experience, I may get the answer in a book or somebody may pick a conversation with me without any relevance and answer all my doubts. So I wanted the answer then and there, remembering that HE is ANTARYAMI and not only Prasanthi-Nilayam-Vihari. Suddenly, I heard a clear inner voice asking me, ‘About whom are you lamenting? On whom are you relying to get the answers? And who are you?’ Abruptly the three groups—suffering humanity, God and myself—appeared before me commandingly ‘You know why all this misery is occurring’? I meekly said ‘Yes, Bhagawan, because I feel instead of One, these three as different entities’. ‘So when will this misery disappear’? asked the Divine voice. ‘When I feel that I am one with God and with all beings, and not separate, then there is no more misery’. I could not help the feeling that Bhagawan is making me answer my own questions, in a vivid manner. All of a sudden I remembered the sentences of Baba at Whitefield in the interview room one day during 1970. On that memorable occasion He emphasised that the answers I am getting now and then are not emanating from my own thought process but are revelations made directly by Him. With a mischievous laughter, the voice asked me ‘Is this all theoretical?’ I said ‘No Baba, we are not able to maintain that non dualistic state always and hence this suffering’. Absolute silence prevailed for some time. From that very moment my depression vanished entirely and I could carry a new sparkling energy for days thereafter. So, let us always be aware of HIS presence within us, ready to give us unerring counsel, May HE bless us all to become that ONE REALITY. His Revelation – My Realisation – A Sacred Journey From Divine Grace To Inner Awakening His Revelation – My Realisation is a beautiful spiritual theme that shows how the Divine reveals truth to awaken the devotee from within. God’s revelation is not always loud, dramatic, or visible to everyone. Sometimes it comes as a quiet inner knowing, a sudden peace, a powerful experience, a loving correction, or a moment when the heart understands what the mind could not grasp. Human beings often live through the surface of life. They see events, people, success, failure, joy, and pain, but do not always understand the deeper meaning behind them. The Divine, out of compassion, slowly removes the veil of ignorance and helps the seeker see life with greater clarity, faith, and surrender. His Revelation – My Realisation teaches that spiritual understanding is not created by ego. A person may read many scriptures, listen to many discourses, and discuss many truths, yet real awakening happens only when grace touches the heart. Knowledge becomes realisation when it changes the way we live, think, speak, love, and serve. Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba often reminded devotees that God is not far away, but present within as conscience, love, truth, and inner guidance. This itself is a great revelation. When the devotee understands that the Divine is seated in the heart, fear reduces, faith deepens, and life becomes more sacred. His Revelation – My Realisation becomes meaningful when a devotee looks back and sees how God was guiding every step. What once appeared like delay may be understood as protection. What once felt like difficulty may be seen as training. What once looked like loss may later reveal itself as a blessing in

“i will not lie any more, no more…” Coming from the wrong side of the society with a blurred backdrop, painted by poverty and social disadvantages, little Anthony was led to the wrong track of practising small lies. However, his wrong run was not to last long as GOD decided to write a fresh chapter in the little one’s life with His magical wand, “Truth”… an inspiring incident from the life of a little Bal Vikas student, Anthony from Bal Vikas Group, Gaenza, Italy… from Sanathana Sarathi archives, republished here… A new student joined the Bal Vikas class. His name was Anthony. He was 13 years old. He probably came to Swami just in time. Anthony was coming from the wrong side of society. It was the same story: the father had left the family, the mother did not have much resources and he also had other small brothers. It was not easy to be poor and disadvantaged in a welfare nation. So Anthony found a way to survive: telling lies. He was saying that his mother owned a good flower shop and that his father was a fireman. These were small lies, they were his dreams. He wanted to be a fireman when he had grown up. He wanted very badly to be respected, loved, to enjoy all the big gifts that life is giving when you walk in Dharma. As no one taught Anthony how to get these gifts, he imagined he had them. One day there was a fire in the classroom. Some kid set fire to the rubbish. The teacher called him: “Anthony, as you know everything about the fire brigade, how does the fire extinguisher work?” Now, everybody was looking at that small boy wearing dresses not very clean. Anthony felt inside a big determination. With a punch he broke the glass case, took out the extinguisher and in two seconds he extinguished the fire. That little success helped Anthony to change his life. He got a little more confidence in himself, so the other kids loved him more. One of his friends was Francis. One day Francis took Anthony to the Bal Vikas class and you can imagine what happened. Anthony asked: “Who is that man dressed in orange, with all that hair?” Francis: “He Is Sathya Sai!” “What does it mean?” Anthony asked. Francis answered: “Truth.” The two boys looked at each other in their eyes. One minute of silence followed and then Anthony said: “I don’t want to lie anymore, I will not lie anymore, no more.” When Anthony found the love of our beloved Master then he found himself. II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II i will not lie any more – A Sacred Promise Of Truth, Courage, And Inner Purity i will not lie any more is a simple statement, but it carries the power of deep inner transformation. Truth is the foundation of spiritual life, noble character, and peace of mind. When a person decides to leave falsehood and stand with truth, a new journey begins inside the heart. Lies may sometimes appear useful for a short time. They may protect the ego, hide a mistake, avoid embarrassment, or bring temporary advantage. But falsehood always creates fear within. The mind has to remember what was said, hide one thing with another, and live under the burden of inner disturbance. i will not lie any more teaches that truth gives freedom. A truthful person may face difficulty for a moment, but the heart remains light. There is no need to pretend, hide, or fear exposure. Truth may test courage, but it also gives dignity, strength, and peace. Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba often emphasized truth as one of the highest human values. He taught that truth should guide thought, word, and deed. If the mind thinks one thing, the tongue says another, and the action shows something else, life becomes divided. Unity of thought, word, and deed brings purity. i will not lie any more becomes meaningful when the decision is made sincerely, not only out of fear. A person should not avoid lying only because of punishment or shame. The deeper reason should be love for God, respect for conscience, and the wish to live with clean character. Sometimes people lie because they are afraid of consequences. They fear being corrected, judged, or misunderstood. But a mistake admitted honestly can become a lesson. A mistake hidden through falsehood becomes a heavier burden. Truth gives the chance to correct, grow, and become better. i will not lie any more also reminds us that truth should be spoken with kindness. Truth does not mean harshness. A person should not use truth as a weapon to hurt others. Spiritual truth is honest, but also compassionate. It is firm, but not cruel. It corrects without hatred. The first step toward truth is self-honesty. We must stop lying to ourselves about our weaknesses, habits, intentions, and mistakes. When we clearly accept what needs to change, transformation becomes possible. Self-deception delays growth, but self-awareness opens the door to grace. i will not lie any more finally teaches that conscience is a divine witness within. Even when others do not know the truth, the inner voice knows. If we ignore conscience again and again, the mind becomes weak. If we listen to it, the heart becomes strong and peaceful. Prayer helps a person remain truthful. Before speaking, one can silently ask, “Lord, guide my words.” Namasmarana purifies the tongue, bhajan fills the heart with devotion, meditation gives self-control, and seva removes selfishness. These practices support a life of honesty. A truthful life also builds trust. Family, friends, teachers, coworkers, and society depend on trust. Once trust is broken, it takes time to repair. Therefore, every truthful word is a brick in the temple of character. Every lie weakens that temple. Truthfulness should begin in small situations. If we practice honesty only in big matters but lie casually in daily life, the habit remains weak. Small