"What is Sujnana? Considering oneself as Divine is Sujnana; it is the removal of the ignorance that one is just this body-mind complex. The moment this ignorance that ‘I am just the body – a conglomerate of various limbs and organs and a complex of body and mind’ – is given up, ignorance immediately disappears. And this understanding of Daivabhimana or attachment or identification of oneself to the Divine rather than Dehabhimana or identification of oneself to the body leads to true wisdom."
-Baba
With the Blessings of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, we are delighted to present our Fifty Seventh issue of Ananda Vahini. The weekly newsletter includes interesting musings and short excerpts from the week's events.
In this issue, we bring you reports on the Bhagawan's Divine visit to Sri Lanka from January 1 to January 3, 2017, New Year Celebrations and the details of Sri Sathya Sai Annual Sports and Cultural Meet - 2017.
In this week's INNER VIEW, Brother Madhusudan Naidu shares yet another interesting moment between a devotee and the Lord.
- Sathya Sai Grama Communications Team
INNER VIEW
-By Sri Madhusudan Naidu
Just two days ago we were in Sri Lanka, Batticaloa to be precise, when Swami's lunch was brought to be served. The lady who was serving the lunch to Swami had very small spoons, using which she was trying to serve the rice. Since the spoon was small, she was trying to take as much rice as possible from the serving bowl and put in on the plate. But due to the small size of the spoon she had to serve again and again, to serve enough quantity. Looking at this Swami commented, "How much ever you may try, you can only get so much rice due to the size of the spoon. Even if you dig more in the rice bowl, you will not be able to serve more." Swami then quoted a Telugu poem which echoed the same thought, which meant 'One can carry only so much water, as is the size of the vessel. Whether one dips it in to the lake or an ocean, the water that can be carried will be according to the size of the vessel used'. Swami then went on to say, "One deserves only so much as the 'Karma' one has undertaken. How much ever one may try, 'Karma' will decide what one finally gets."
At this point in time the lady said, "But Swami, you can change the Karma isn't it?", to which Swami gave a profound reply, "Yes, I can give you the bigger spoon, but how many of you are willing to give up that small petty spoon that you are so dearly clinging on to? Only if you give up attachments to what you have, can I give you what I have."
Isn't it why He always reminded us to ask Him for that which He has come to give us.
In this New Year, let's ask only one thing from Him, "I WANT GOD" for all else is too small, too petty. Let's empty our hands and hearts of all petty attachments so that He can fill them with His gifts of Love and compassion.
On this note, wish you all a Sai filled New Year! Don't you forget that happiness is union with God and therefore only when all our moments, days, weeks and the whole year is filled with Sai, can we be truly happy!
DIVINE VISIT TO SRI LANKA – JANUARY 01 AND JANUARY 02, 2017
Sunday, January 01, 2017
As the flight took off from the Bangalore International Airport to Columbo on the very first day of a spanking New Year, one could not help but ponder deep about the current phase of Bhagawan’s glorious mission. “I have much to accomplish in the last few years of this Avatar“, He had declared many decades ago. And every day this grand mission is gaining momentum, like it has never before. The Lord’s entourage on the first trip of the year included Sri B N Narasimha Murthy, Sri C Sreenivas, Dr Hanumanth Rao, Brother Madhusudan, Brother Anand Kadali, young Maria Tan (daughter of Mr Anthony and Karen Tan from Singapore), and Sister Bhuvana, who were welcomed with much love at the Bandaranaike International Airport by Mr Ravi Jayewardene, his devout wife Mrs Penny Jayewardene and the organising team. As always, special arrangements were made at the Arrivals Hall, and the entourage made their way out to a convoy of cars, as they proceeded on their one hour journey to Piliyandala.
Bhagawan manifested at the entrance of the Jayewardene residence and was welcomed with a lot of devotion and gratitude by all the devotees. Though this was a little past midnight, the loving Lord spoke and blessed everyone who were gathered at the residence. He asked Brother Nishanta, youth leader for Sri Lanka where he was going to stay for the night, as his house was an hour’s drive away Piliyandala. When Brother Nishanta said he was going to stay at the Jayewardene residence, and will be sleeping on a couch due to the lack of rooms, the compassionate Lord took pity on him and said, “Paapam”, and revealed something beautiful. Swami said, “This place is like a temple. In a temple, people can rest anywhere!”
Day One – Monday, January 02, 2017
Barely after a few hours of sleep, the Jayewardene residence was buzzing with activity from wee hours of the morning. While breakfast was being
Swami's entourage on a chartered plane to Batticaloa
Swami being received with Poorna Kumbham at the Sri Sathya Sai Karuna Nilayam Medical Centre
Swami inaugurated the Sarva Dharma Stupa at the Medical Centre
Swami speaking to the team and encouraging them with His divine words
A young girl who spoke very eloquently in Tamil about Swami
Bal Vikas student presenting a card to Swami
The overwhelming Public Satsang at Batticaloa
DIVINE VISIT TO SRI LANKA – JANUARY 3, 2017
Day Two – Tuesday, January 03, 2017
The day began with much anticipation as Bhagawan was to visit Sarvodaya, a Foundation established by Dr A T Ariyaratne. He is the Founder of the Sarvodaya Shramadhana Movement, which is based on the principles of non-violence, rural development and self-sacrifice. This has shaped the Sarvodaya Movement in ways that forged a significant link between secular principles of development and Buddhist ideals of selflessness and compassion. The original Sanskrit definition of Sarvodaya is “the welfare of all,” but Dr Ariyaratne has redefined the term to reflect a Buddhist ideal, “the awakening of all.” The volunteers see selfless service to others as a way of changing their own consciousness into a more awakened and compassionate state, on the way to Nirvana.
Winner of many global awards, Dr Ariyaratne is also the recipient of the Ramon Magsaysay Award, the Jamanlal Bajaj Award, as well as the Gandhi Peace Prize in India, and fondly called as ‘Mahatma Gandhi of Sri Lanka’. But more than anything, the octogenarian and his family have been ardent devotees of Bhagawan for many decades. Dr Ariyaratne was also awarded the Sri Sathya Sai Award for Human Excellence, which Swami instituted during His 91st Birthday in November 2016, for the category ‘Unity of Religions’.
After breakfast and a couple of interviews, Swami chaired the Board meeting of the Sri Sathya Sai Karuna Nilayam Foundation. The dining room of the Jayewardene residence was converted into a Board room! The Foundation that was formed by Bhagawan during his earlier visit in July 2015, has already taken the first steps to establish an Ashram at Batticaloa where an elaborate Ashram with medical, educational and spiritual facilities...
Swami receiving a warm welcome by Mrs Neeta Ariyaratne and Ms Malki at Suwa Setha
Swami blessing the children profusely
Vishva Nikethan
Dr Charika explaining about all the Awards received by her father Dr Ariyaratne
The Bodhi tree from Anuradhapura
Inauguration of the Cancer Counselling Centre
Public Satsang at Sarvodaya
Mrs Penny and Mr Ravi Jayewardene offering Arati to the Lord before the entourage departed for the Airport
JANUARY 1, 2017 – NEW YEAR CELEBRATIONS
The New Year of 2017 began on a happy note with Bhagawan splendid entry followed by Vedic invocations by students of the first-year Pre-University college chanting the Pranahuti Mantra. There were many firsts and launches on this day at the Sri Sathya Sai Premamrutham. To begin with, Bhagwan launched two CDs put together by the alumni and alumnae of various Sathya Sai Institutions. The CD titled Bhajana Sudha, was inspired and guided by Bhagawan at every step of the way. Within a span of three days, nine Bhajans were composed which was truly Bhagawan’s inspiration. Swami lovingly taught them the right way to chant AUM and expounded each and every aspect of this CD.
The next launch had the most eminent musicians attached to it. The Sri Sathya Sai Smaranam-Volume 4 brought out by the Veena Vahini Team was released by Bhagawan. The proceeds of this album will be offered to the well-being of destitute children at Sai Anandam, Bhubaneswar (Orissa). Veena Vahini (http://www.veenavahini.org/) is an endeavour with the Divine Guidance to enable a seeker find inner communion with life through music. Soon to be registered as Non-Profit, Veena Vahini is being led by Pandir Shiv Kumar Sharma and Sri Mahesh Babu as the Chief Mentors and Trustees along with Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia and Pandit Jasraj.
The team that occupied centre stage next was the team from the Annapoorna Trust. The breakfast programme started by the devoted team has won many an accolade from Bhagawan because of their dedicated efforts to provide nutritious food to the children in the morning hours before the village children attend school. The team prayed to Swami for His blessing after He commanded that the breakfast programme graduate from providing just milk and banana to a sumptuous and nutritious meal to children from almost 50 schools from the 67 that are currently....
Vedic invocation by students of the first-year Pre-University college chanting the 'Pranahuti Mantra'
Launch of Music CD 'Bhajana Sudha' composed by Alumni and Alumnae of Sathya Sai Institutions by the Lord
The Team of 'Bhajana Sudha' along with the Lord
Launch of 'Sri Sathya Sai Smaranam-Volume 4' from 'Veena Vahini' team by Bhagawan
Launch of 'Love and Peace', the weekly Sai Youth Global Newsletter by Bhagawan
DIVINE BOOKLETS
Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba has been travelling all over the world in the Subtle to keep His promise of visiting the countries. Below is the link to the Google Drive library of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba’s divine visits overseas.
If you would like to subscribe to receive the new Booklets of Bhagawan’s overseas travels in 2016, as soon as they are available, kindly email bhagawanspeaksglobal@gmail.com.
And as Swami continues travelling in 2016 and beyond, and new Booklets are created, they will be added to the Google Drive Library.
DIVINE DISCOURSE SUMMARY -
JANUARY 1, 2017
There is one thing which we cannot regain once we lose – this human body. Adi Sankara proclaimed to the world that among all species of life, human birth is the most precious and once you get it, you have to treasure it. There are three things that are very difficult to get but which alone can lead us to Divine grace. The first is the human birth, second is the aspiration to liberate oneself and thirdly, the company of the great noble souls. We need to understand the inner meaning of the word ‘Manava’ which means ‘not new’. The body cannot be said ‘not new’ – it is new only. It comes and goes, it is born and dies, it grows and diminishes. The body may be new but the indweller, the Atma, the Dehi is not new. There is a meaning why we are called Manava – not new. It is because man is not just the body. The body may be new but the Divine principle, the Atmic principle in the body is not new.
To be born as a human being with a human body is one thing but actually what is Mumukshatva or desire for liberation is to attain the ultimate goal of self-realisation. What we need to do on this New Year day or in the New Year is come to this Divine Ashram, give up worldly feelings and realise and experience the Divine state that is the ultimate destination for us. In this New Year, ask for only one thing. Only one desire and aspiration that you have to develop: Let me experience my Divinity, enjoy that bliss and also share it with many others around me. The important resolution that all of us is to break the shackles of bondage ....
To cross over this ocean of Samsara, of life and death, it is not enough if you do penance, or if you visit pilgrimage centres, or if you study all the scriptures in the world. It is possible only when you render service to noble people, noble souls. This body is given to us for helping others. The human birth is given to us in order to render service. If you look at the creation, you find that everything in creation is rendering service everywhere. Rivers flow only to quench the thirst of others; they never drink their own water.
There are two aspects of devotion to God. One aspect of devotion is to chant the name of God, participate in community singing, visit pilgrimage centres – all this is one aspect of devotion. Devotees do it with great love: that is right. But having only this kind of love is not enough. The love for God in the heart of a devotee has to manifest itself as service to everyone because God is the indweller in everyone. Body is the temple of God and the individual soul is none other than God. God resides in the heart of every being and therefore, love Him by serving them.
Though born in the species of the monkeys, Hanuman rendered great service to God, attained God’s grace and attained the supreme state. In your mind, you have to chant the name of Rama. With your hands, you should do the service of Rama. Only then you can win....
Sanathana Vani is a platform to invite, associate, speak, listen, contemplate, seek, practise and realise the truth, taught by all the great beings that ever walked the face of our planet.
A new show 'My Lord and I’has been launched, which is a series of stimulating conversations, cutting across boundaries and barriers. Sweet stories of the Lord and His devotees from different walks of life, which are refreshing, inspiring and scintillating will be On Air every week. These will be a beautiful amalgamation of an individual’s journey from 'I' to 'We' to 'He'.
Come, let’s listen, contemplate and bask in the divine bliss of the Voice Eternal, every Thursday at 1500 hrs IST and repeat at 2200 hrs IST. This week our guests on show are Dr Ram Shetty and Mrs Usha Shetty,sharing their experiences with their Lord.
A repeat broadcast of the interview with Sri Anandan Sivamani, a well known and a popular percussionist in India, will be aired on Monday, January 9, 2017 at 0900 hrs IST and 1900 hrs IST.
Subscribe to 'Amruta Vahini', the monthly magazine from Sathya Sai Grama, Muddenahalli today! From Divine Discourses to event updates, from photo features to travelogues, from book excerpts to news updates, 'Amruta Vahini' is a must-have monthly magazine!
Amruta Vahini also features the series, 'Sri Sathya Sai Divya Anandam', the continuing biography of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba in the subtle form, by Sri B N Narasimha Murthy.
To subscribe to 'Amruta Vahini' mail us at commsmdh@gmail.com
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Tune in to Sanathana Vani every Thursday (IST 5:30pm), Sunday (IST 6pm), and during festivals, to listen to the LIVE satsang, streamed directly from Sathya Sai Grama, Muddenahalli.
