SAIPADANANDA

Only the Knowledge imparted by a Guru is powerful and beneficial; otherwise it becomes useless
and fruitless. He, who attains knowledge by pleasing his Guru with every attention and adoration,
readily obtains success therein. There is not the least doubt that Guru is Father, Guru is Mother
and Guru is God even; and as such He should be served by all, with their thought, word and
deed. By Guru's Grace every felicity (or Good) relating to the soul is obtained. Hence the Guru
ought to be worshipped for one's own good. May Baba bless you all with contentment and peace
"Jai Sri Sai Ram"
- Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji

CONTENTS
1. Greatness of the Guru (Editorial)
2. Homage to the Guru
3. Swamiji's Message of Divine Love
4. Swamiji Solves our Problems
5. Worship of the Primordial Guru
6. Swamiji at Hysodlour
7. Plan of Action for Guru Poornima
8. Significance of Guru Purnima
9. Power of Guru (Permanent Feature)
10. Test in Detachment
11. Prayer Stairs
12. 'Madhu' Tahsildar
13. Be a Tool of the Higher Power
14. The Mind must be raised
15. Worship of SaiBaba
16. The Power of Saintliness
17. Sarveshwara of Shirdi
18. Unfailing Influence of Swamiji
19. Mother Turns Hundred
20. Sai Baba Everywhere
21. Pray for Light
22. All is well
23. Truthful Living and Miracles
24. Swamiji Rings the Bell
25. Love and Devotion
26. A Garland of Love
27. Sai Love Personified
28. Swamiji's Birthday Celebrations
29. Looking beyond one Crore
30. Jubilee Convention
31. To the other Shore
32. Sri Sai Baba of Shirdi, the Wonder Maker

Editorial
Greatness of the Guru
THE glory of the Guru is full of mystery and is supremely divine. He gives a new birth to man, he
gives him the experience of knowledge; he shows him 'sadhana' and makes him a lover of God.
There are so many Gurus in the world. Everyone becomes a Guru. Wherever you go there is
nothing but Gurus-so many that people have become confused by all their conflicting teachings.
Whenever a Guru appears, he starts a new sect. He has never been anybody's disciple but he
claims to be everybody's Guru. There are countless teachings, countless sects. It has become a
way of earning, a living, and a business that does not involve any hard work. But this is not how it
should be.

A true Guru awakens the inner 'Shakthi' of a disciple and makes him revel in bliss of the 'Self.
This is what the Guru really is. He bestows the ecstasy of knowledge and the joy of divine love,
who teaches detachment in action and grants liberation in this very life time. That supreme Guru
is identical with Vishnu. That Guru is Shiva, that Guru is Rama, that Guru is Sai Baba, that Guru
is your father and mother. He is being worshipped by all. He makes the light blaze in the body of
his disciple, gives him his blessing and grace, and then remains immersed in his own sport.
Through the favor of the Guru, man takes on the form of God and lives drunk with ecstasy. Such
a Guru is great and exalted; he cannot be understood by the ordinary intellect.

H.H. Sri Saipadananda Radhakrishna Swamiji was a supremely divine Guru. He lived like a
simple man and his glory was not of an ordinary kind. Through his grace alone, this great being
would transform his devotees into priests of love. By his grace, he made his devotees perceive
knowledge and led them to Sai Baba. The qualities of knowledge, yoga, devotion and selfless
action were perfectly blended in him. He always lived in a thought-free state, as if mind itself had
become consciousness. We knew him as a unique ecstatic yogi. Although omniscient, he feigned
ignorance.
He did not attach any importance to miraculous powers; believed that compared with Sai Baba's
miracle of 'Self-manifestation' all other miracles are insignificant. The world is in Sai Baba-what
miracle could be greater than this? Even the earth considers herself fortunate when a perfect
saint like Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji walks on her. Blessing him with divine fervor, the Guru turns a
person's ordinary life, with mother, father, and relatives, into a sacred existence. Then he follows
his occupation in society and sees his life as a gift bestowed by Sai Baba. He performs every
action with a mind devoted to Sai Baba and as he gains the Guru's grace, he naturally, through
recitation of 'Vishnu Sahasra Namam' sees Sai Baba shining in his own heart. Sri Radhakrishna
Swamiji has this way bestowed on us the vision of Sai Baba even while we are living in this world.

How should we act toward that venerable supreme Guru Radhakrishna Swamiji who enters his
devotee as he recites 'Vishnu Sahasra Namam'? How should we love him? How should we repay
his beneficence? O Swamiji! In our impure and ever-changing physical bodies, you see neither
difference nor non-difference, purity nor impurity, disease nor absence of disease. Full of grace,
you enter us and wash away our sins and uncleanliness. You enter us as we recite 'Vishnu
Sahasra Namam' and activate every blood cell and nerve. What sustenance you give; how
gracious, how compassionate you are? What friend can there be like the Guru Sri Radhakrishna
Swamiji who initiating us into 'Vishnu Sahasra Namam', cleans like a washer man all the limbs
and organs of the body, both pleasant and unpleasant, who cleanses its nerves clogged with
impurities, and takes away all its disorders of phlegm, bile and wind? What friend, what lover,
what mother, what deity is there like such a Guru? What service can one offer him? How can we
sing the greatness of such a Guru? Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji is everything to us our, supreme,
father, our deity, our ecstasy and meditation are solely Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji - beloved
Saipadananda. "I worship the Sadguru, the beloved Guru" -can we, singing thus, ever repay Sri
Radhakrishna Swamiji's bounty? No, Swamiji, you are Almighty. We exist only because of you.
Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.
- Goethe

Homage to the Guru

We in Sri Sai Spiritual Centre worship the Trinity-Sai Saba, Sri Narasimha Swamiji and Sri
Radhakrishna Swamiji — as the 'three-in-one' Guru. As we celebrate 'Guru Poornima' on July 7,
1990:
We invoke the lotus feet of Samartha Sadguru Sainath Maharaj, the most auspicious one, whose
look of grace dispels all misfortunes and bestows the highest good. We remember our Parama
Guru Sri Narasimha Swamiji, who is Supreme Being, untainted, utterly pure, the Absolute, whose
presence easily grants the transcendental state. May Sri Saipadananda Sri Radhakrishna
Swamiji, the goal of our worship, the spring of Vedanta, the divine witness who is realised through
knowledge and detachment and recitation of 'Vishnu Sahasranamam' promote our true welfare.

May our Guru, Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji, by whose favor we achieve new awareness’, who
securely establishes his devotees in the state of perfection like his own by transmitting his
'Shakthi' into us, as we recite 'Vishnu Sahasranamam' lead us in every moment of our life. To
obtain their munificence, we bow to Sai Baba, Sri Narasimha Swamiji and Sri Radhakrishna
Swamiji, who reside in our hearts, pervade everywhere, whose favor is the knowledge of the
identity of the individual soul and the Absolute.

Bring peace and goodwill to all of us.

Direct our pathway into unity, happiness and prosperity.
Remove the thought of fear and greed from our minds.
May every thought of hate be turned to love;
May every thought of fear be turned to faith.
May every thought of doubt be turned to certainty
May every thought of fight be turned to peace.
May everybody be happy and none suffer from sorrow.

Swamiji's Message of Divine Love

By Rangaswami Parthasarathy
The world is in a mess today. We see conflict, hatred, strife and turmoil everywhere. Man's heart
is wrecked by violence and passion which have assumed monstrous proportion and threaten to
destroy the very foundation of human life and existence. Our mind has become a battlefield of
emotions, of challenges and evil designs and we are all the time devising weapons and resources
to satisfy our cravings and to beat the other fellow. The animal in us is gaining control day by day
and we have forgotten what it is to love and to show compassion.

H. H. Sri Saipadananda Radhakrishna Swamiji came in our midst as a personification of love and
compassion and he taught us what love is, what compassion is. His biographer described his
presence in these words: "Radhakrishna Swamiji was the embodiment of love. He lived in love,
breathed love and spread the message of love. His eyes radiated love and there was compassion
in every word of his, in every act. He loved everything that lived, man or animal, birds or insects,
every creature that owed its existence to God. He believed in the philosophy and efficacy of love,
and said it was the surest and painless way to reach God. Love was divine, he said, love
conquered everything, man's inhumanity, and his baser emotions like hatred, jealousy and greed.

With St. Paul, he believed Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels if I have not
love I am become as a sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal'. "Love, which Radha Krishna swami
taught, has nothing to do with love as we know it or as we practice it in varying degrees in our day
to day life. It is not sexual love, it is not parental love, it is not love which is given in return for
something. The love which Swamiji spoke of and which he embodied in his own self was inborn,
without a cause or reason, elemental and spontaneous. It is infinite, timeless and ever present. It
is not evanescent like the waning moon ever at the mercy of emotions and passions and
flickering like the lamp disturbed by the wind. It is not the creature of desire and ambition, of lust
and greed; it cannot be sold or bought.

It is not a plaything to allure people, a device to deceive people by false pretences. Swamiji's love
was colorless, tasteless and universal. It had no beginning and no end. It was not separate from
him; it was part of his being. It had a glitter and dazzling brilliance as it shone in his eyes
scattering its rays and illuminating all those around him. It penetrated the stoniest heart and
melted the minds of even the worst specimens of humanity. As his biographer noted: "His love
was an all-embracing love, unconditional, abundant. It made no distinction between the high and
the low, the rich and the poor, the religious and irreligious, the believer and non-believer, the good
man and the bad. His love was like an ocean in which anybody can have a dip and taste its
nectar. His eyes spoke words of comfort and cheer and there was love in every gesture of his, in
every action".
He believed that true religion did not mean only ritualistic observances, baths and pilgrimage.
True religion stood for love, love for all animate and inanimate things, for nature and its creations.
He said there was no higher religion than love. Cosmic love is all embracing and all inclusive, he
said. It is hatred that separates man from man he said and it is pride and egotism that divides one
from another. Hatred, jealously, greed and pride are the products of our imagination, of our
ignorance. "Just as darkness is dispelled by the rays of the sun so also jealously and hatred is
dispelled by the rays of Divine Love," he said. Divine love is totally free from the tinge of
selfishness.

Swamiji said that pure love alone can purify the heart and liberate one from grief, pain and fear
and lead to the path of self-realisation. Swamiji again and again referred to Krishna's Rasa Lila
and said it was the finest expression of divine love of the gopis for Krishna and there was nothing
sexual in it. He said: "Divine call (nada Brahman) is aroused only when the jiva is prepared to
meet the Lord and only it could hear it. He stood there on the banks of the Yamuna only to
receive their love offerings. It was a lila of love (pure prema) between loving devotees on the one
hand and their beloved on the others. There was nothing in this like lust or Kama, the degraded
form of earthly love. The Rasa Lila symbolizes the eternal activity in the manifested universe of
prakriti and purusha, of matter and spirit."

Swamiji said: "Love is the summon bonus of life without which life is a desert. Love is the very life
of the soul and the very light that enlightens the subtle spiritual stages for the full revelation of
Krishna. The more we love the more we live and live in accordance with the highest principles of
nature." Swamiji believed that if the masses of people comprising the nations of the world
adopted the path of love and peace the danger of the growth of the devilish nature in us would
vanish and we would be better human beings. "Love between man and man, nation and nation
will grow and there will descend on earth a reign of perpetual peace.

"Man has evolved through the ages in progressive stages from the primitive savage, with little to
choose between him and the beast, to the highly intelligent and creative being with sharply
developed brain and emotions which spur him into discovering the mysteries of nature and at the
same time using his tireless energy to destroy it and the world. The process of evolution of a
higher, more spiritual human being rid of passions and emotions had been arrested and the time
has come for mankind to resume the advance towards evolving a new human being, the Man of
Love.

Swamiji Solves Our Problems

By Dr. G. R. Vijayakumar
"Silence of the mouth, silence of the mind, silence of the will is the formula for
approaching the Almighty." —Molinos

How can I express in words the depth of my gratitude to H.H. Saipadananda Sri Radhakrishna
Swamiji? Ever since I came under his magnetic spell in 1977, I have undergone a complete
transformation by his grace. But for his benediction, I would have been entrapped in worldly life,
experiencing happiness and misery. But now I float in the waters of bliss. I feel that I am the
happiest of all, as I have discovered 'Kalpa Vriksha' in the form of Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji. I am
marching ahead on the spiritual path. Whether or not I reach the final destination depends entirely
on him.

What is it that we all suffer from? We are lonely, our lives are empty; there is no love in our
hearts, no richness of content. We are afraid of death, we are more afraid to live. The fear of
being nothing is the greatest of all fears. Because we are inwardly poor, we seek compensation in
outward wealth. We are inwardly powerless and we seek to control and desire outward power
and authority. Because we have no love in our hearts we indulge in charity and service of the
poor. Because we are inwardly nothing, we identify ourselves with great causes and noble ideals.

With this background I met Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji for the first time in 1977. With relentless
clarity he exposed my hidden motives and incentives to my action. He pointed out that all my
individual problems were the products of a motivated action — the incentive always being the
desire to be somebody, great and distinguished. Swamiji pointed out that this is a self-enclosing
process. It leads to loneliness. Great men are very lonely men. Is motiveless action possible?
Can man act spontaneously, freely? Real freedom is the unimpeded activity of the human spirit.
Motive is desire which destroys this freedom. How can we be free from desire?

Sensitive
This is the fundamental truth that Swamiji discovered in all human problems. Swamiji had
perfected his gift for listening in the story of human heart that is poured out in spontaneous self-
exposure. He was extraordinarily sensitive to the tragedy of man, and he had the rare gift of
attracting to himself crowds of people who are in suffering and who seek to expose them selves to
the radiations of his healing love. Initiation into 'Vishnu Sahasranamam' is the way in which
Swamiji dealt with concrete human problems. He threw the searchlight of his powerful and subtle
intuition and made his visitor aware of the complex problem of his self. Every human problem is
essentially the problem of the self. The human mind is the creator of the problem. In our daily life,
we are not aware of this. We separate ourselves from our suffering and struggle to put an end to
it. We desire to forget ourselves in all kinds of activities and we do not face ourselves. "Why do
we not do so" Swamiji questions. Because we are nothing and the human mind refuses to face
the state of nothingness. Everlastingly, the self wants to become something greater, finer, and
more distinguished.

It is only when we recite 'Vishnu Sahasranamam' and concentrate on the lotus feet of Sai Baba
we are ready to face the source of our suffering. Swamiji told me: "Why are we not content to be
just ourselves. Why do we perpetually strive to be something which we are not? The tree is
perfect, because it does not strive to be anything else but a tree. In the universe each one is
perfect. There is no great and small, except in our world of egoistic selves. To be content to be
just what one is, is the beginning of wisdom; it opens the door to the Eternal. In our desire to
perpetuate our happy experience the mind dwells constantly on them and strengthens the
memories of past happiness. So we linger as long as possible on such memories and we
continually miss the beauty and freshness of the new. To be sensitive to the eternal Reality which
exists only in the present, the mind must be cleansed every moment of its past accumulations.
Only then does Sai Baba come into being. Sai Baba is ever new.

The desire ceases when the supreme is seen. But the supreme cannot be seen by a petty mind.
The awareness of the pettiness and the stupidities of our mind without condemnation or
resentment bring freedom from desire. Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji has given me a new life and
what a new life? A life now so full of joy, a life so full of meaning, and a life now spent with
Swamiji. Swamiji—May you fill all my thoughts—nay my entire being.

Love looks forward; hate looks back, and anxiety has eyes all over its head.
- Mignon McLaughlin

Worship of the Primordial Guru

By H. H. Chidananda Avadhuta
(H. H. Chidananda Avadhuta lived on Baglamukhi Mountain on the bank of River Tungabhadra,
beyond Hampi in Karnataka. He was a great Siddha and had directly realised the Goddess
Baglamukhi. This article describes a method of meditation on the Guru in which one installs the
Guru within oneself, so that one becomes the Guru and then meditates on him. The article is in
the form of a dialogue between Parashiva and one of his sons, Karttikeya)
- Editor
Para Shiva said. "O! Karttikeya, you are a jewel among devotees to the Guru; great is meditation
on the Guru. It is the supreme and secret sadhana of the Siddhas. Meditation on the Guru brings
both liberation and worldly enjoyment. Furthermore, as one continues to meditate, he eventually
becomes the supreme Guru, who is immersed in transcendental bliss and whose essence is
transcendental radiance Karttikeya, the Guru is without beginning or end, even though you can
see him in a physical form. His ways cannot be known. The principle of the Guru is the primordial
principle, which is of the nature of supreme bliss, which is motionless and yet the root cause of all
motion, where all thought ends, where the course of rebirth ceases. It is the ground of the
animate and inanimate world, the goal of Om, the home of Siddhas. O! Lover of gurubhakti,
Karttikeya, It is where all controversy between nirguna and saguna dissolves where no one can
go without a Guru, and from where there is no return. It is the God of all gods, the support of all,
the destiny of all, the true Self of all, such is Sri Gurudev

Pure Consciousness
"Periodically, he incarnates in the form of a man outwardly and in the form of the Guru inwardly.
Through his blessing and his discipline he gives his disciples his own nature and his own
condition. The highest benefits come from meditating on the image of the Guru, who is the
essence of pure Consciousness. O! Karttikeya, firm in yoga, that transcendent radiance, which is
without attributes, without form, which is the origin of being, is the supreme Guru. All directions,
all spaces, all mountains, all forests, all rivers, all oceans and all great masses of land—
everything formed of the five elements-are all the very body of the Guru. From east to west, from
north to south, from above to below, from hell to heaven, Kailasa, Vaikunta, and the final
destination of the liberated— all of this is the forever-blissful Guru. He has become all things, but
he is separate from them all. He belongs to nothing and nothing is his.

"The Guru is the supreme goal of the mantra So'ham, and the form of So'ham. He is the movable
and the immovable. He is the microcosm and the macrocosm. He comes, as the human Guru, to
grant his Shakti to his people, his children, his own souls, his dear devotees. He is the founder of
the Path of the Siddhas. His mind, habits, and behavior are in no way ordinary. He is neither a
man nor a woman. He is, simply, the Guru, His body has been tempered in the flames of
Kundalini yoga—the seven elements have become filled with Chiti, and pranava—the primordial
sound, Om—has become So-ham, and plays in his prana. All the activities of the world are the
divine play of the Guru.

"You should meditate on the Guru, imagining him to be in every part of you. O! devotee of the
Guru, this is the highest worship. Be still, drive out all the fluctuations of thought, and make your
mind free of all support. Remove all the thoughts from your mind. Sit down before the Guru. First,
bow to him, the supreme Guru who contains all gods, all mantras, all saints and sages. Bow to
him in all directions saying, 'Gurudev, you are everything. You appear as the universe. In
whatever form you may be, I bow to you again and again.' When you have bowed to him in this
way, with your whole mind, O! Karttikeya, then meditate on him, understanding him to be perfectly
present before you and behind you, above you and below you—the complete Guru-principle in all
directions.

Let your body become filled with him. Remember that just as cloth is composed of threads, with
cloth present in every thread, so are you in the Guru, and he in you. With this kind of vision, see
the Guru and yourself as one. A pitcher is no different from the clay it is made of, and your Guru is
no different from you. This is the understanding you should have. Now, sit down, become
perfectly peaceful, and adopt a meditative posture. Raise your hands to your head as if it were
your Guru's head and touch your Guru's head and touch your two eyes, your ears, your nose,
your tongue, your neck, your shoulders, imagining that they are all parts of the Guru in the same
way touch your chest, your heart, your stomach, your back, your waist, your thighs, your knees,
your calves, your feet, saying over and over, "This is the Guru's; this is the Guru's—right down to
your toenails. And as you move down your body, keep repeating in your mind 'Guru Om, Guru
Om, and Guru Om.' You should touch every part again in the same way, repeating the mantra
Guru Om until you reach your head. Implant the Guru in every part of your body, and finally touch
your head, saying 'Guru Om', so that you, yourself, are the Guru you are the mantra, you are
everything, you are in the Guru and the Guru, is in you. Concentrating on this feeling, begin to
meditate. Every day meditate in this way: 'The Guru is in me, I am in the Guru'—and do not have
any doubts at all about it, meditate and repeat Guru Om."

Forget yourself as you. Parashiva continues: "....O Swami Karttikeya! When you have your bath,
you should wash yourself as the form of the Guru understanding that he lives in every part of your
body. When you eat offer your food to the Guru, saying of yourself, "The Guru who dwells in the
heart is enjoying my food' To bathe the image of the Guru when you bathe yourself: to offer what
you eat to him, and to offer all your other actions to him, your benefactor; to recite every day
'Guru Om, Guru Om', understanding him to be the giver, the enjoyer, the sacrifices and all the
sacrifices—this is the great worship of the Guru."
Again Parashiva says: "O! Karttikeya, by worshipping the Guru, a disciple soon becomes the form
of the Guru. A person becomes like him to whom he chants, whom he worships, and on whom he
meditates. So, the saguna discipline of meditating on the Guru, worshipping him, remembering
the Guru mantra, and installing him in every hair of the body, quickly brings a great change in the
heart of the disciple. Therefore, in solitude, with secret feeling, meditate in your heart on the
supreme Guru, becoming the Guru. This is the secret path of the Siddhas, the master key of the
Sadgurus, the divine and happy bed that bestows inner peace to the Guru's devotee. It is the
ladder to the city of liberation.

"All this will not interest people who are not devoted to the Guru. O! Swami Karttikeya! only they
on whom the Guru has bestowed his grace can understand these mysteries. Without God's
grace, they will not be able to understand and enjoy the worship of the Guru." Having described
the glory of the Guru, worship of the Guru, and meditation on the Guru in this way. Lord Shiva
departed for Mount Kailasa, and Sri Karttikeya fell deep into meditation on the Guru."

Swamiji at Hysodlour
By G. Baba Mohan
Readers of 'Saipadananda' are aware that a group of our devotees led by Sri D. V. Krishna
Murthy participated in the sixth Anniversary celebrations of Sai Baba Ashram at Hysodlour, in
Coorg in 1989, wherein a large photograph of H. H. Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji was unveiled. We
again took part in this year's Anniversary held on April 26 and 27, 1990 on the 'Akshay Trutiya
day.

Swami Sukhatmananda, President of Ramakrishna Ashram, Ponnampet, was the chief guest.
Our own Sai-brother, Dr. G. R. Vijayakumar, presided over the Anniversary celebration and
highlighted the mission of Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji and Sri Narasimha Swamiji. He invited Sai
devotees who were present to visit Sri Sai Spiritual Centre and obtain the blessings of Sri
Radhakrishna Swamiji.

H. H Sri Swami Chinnappa, who runs the Ashram, looked after us very well. We had an
illuminating 'Satsang' with him and were happy to see our Swamiji in the serene atmosphere of
Hysodlour Ashram.

Plan of Action for Guru Poornima

(Excerpts from the message of H.H. Sri Narasimha Swamiji to All India Sai Devotees' Convention)
 H.H. Sri Narasimha Swamiji
IT is up to every hearer of this message to vigorously whip up his own attachment to Sai Baba,
improve his knowledge also of Sai Baba's ways of working, get into contact with Baba's children,
and develop himself by surrender and service to Baba into an 'Ankita' child. This is only part of
the work of diffusion of knowledge about Sai Baba.

It is necessary for us to diffuse as much knowledge about Baba as possible. Literature is the chief
means that we think about in this connection. Journals must be multiplied in various languages
and gatherings and lectures and kirtans should be held all over the country. Poojas and bhajans
without number must be found everywhere everyday. Sai must permeate the country from one
end to the other. Let no one think that this is a fancy sketch. At present conditions approximating
to this are found in several parts of the country. Even young, little, toddling creatures pick up the
name 'SAT 'SAT 'SAI' and have sufficient faith to cure themselves of various diseases by merely
taking Sai's udhi.

So I will close my message with this prayer that Baba may put it into the heart of you become
extremely practical and to carry on work in dead earnest. May you become the ' Ankita ' children
of Baba by your total surrender to him and devotion of all your time, energies and wealth to his
cause?

Significance of Guru Purnima

By H. H. Abu Babaji (Ooty)
What people call Guru Purnima, I call God's day. Why? Because I understand and firmly believe
that there is only one God for all mankind and every religion. He is the creator of all. He is the
only true Guru. The explanation is very simple-nobody has come to this earth with knowledge or
the power to speak, even those whom He has sent as His special chosen ones as messengers of
God whom we call Prophets, Nabis, Avtars and Saints. We all know that their jnana or knowledge
is from Almighty God. Thus, he is the true Guru.

So, I request my children, if you wish to celebrate Guru Purnima, to do so while revering our
original Guru, Almighty God. At the same time, we must not forget God's messengers-the Nabis,
Avtars and Saints - who impart God's knowledge to us to put us on the right path. So, it is our
duty to seek their blessings also.

The highest joy we can give God, our Merciful Creator, is that which He likes most—
1) To remember Him with gratitude and reverence for all that He has given us.
2) If He has given us more than we need, we must share with those in need.
Furthermore, I want to teach you the true significance of "Guru-dakshina" A loving disciple gives
'dakshina' to his Guru with reverence. Generally it is meant for his Guru, who, in fact got the
Mantra from the ultimate Guru—Brahma, Allah or God. So, the 'dakshina' should be given in the
name of God through his Guru, provided his Guru utilizes this 'dakshina' for good causes, if he
declares himself a servant of God and also a father and mother to his disciples.

! have seen that a Guru usually gives Mantras on this day only to his followers but, according to
me as Mantras are given to a Guru by our God, it should be given to all mankind, and not only to
his followers. His duty is to give the Mantras in the name of God, and not to compel anybody to
accept or to reject. It is between him and God.

On this auspicious day, I have been inspired by my Master, our Almighty God, to give you this
Mantra in six words to recite—three in Sanskrit and three in Arabic. Despite the different
languages, the meaning remains the same:
Pavitram — Nishta
Shaktiman
AI-Quddus — AI-Mumin — Al-Jabbar

Meaning: The Holy — The Faithful — The Strong

Men think of ways and matters, of rules and devices to arrive at God's Love. But is it not quicker
and easier just to do our common duties, day by day, wholly for the love of God? You need
nothing beyond this. Go as you are to Him, unpretending, single-hearted.
- Brother Lawrence

Permanent Feature
Power of Guru
(Extract from an article 'From Heart to Heart' by Swami Gnaneswarananda, depicting the life of
Pavahari Baba)

BABA was a great saint and lived in a cave. When he went to bathe in Ganga, a burglar entered
his cave and searched every where but could not find any money. He found nothing but a brass
pot which he took. As he was leaving the cave, he found himself confronted by the holy man, who
was just returning. The burglar threw down the pot and ran away. At a glance, Pavahari Baba
understood the whole affairs. He picked up the pot and ran after the thief calling him to stop.
Finally Baba overtook the burglar and kneeling before him offered the brass pot saying: "My God,
you came to my home and going away without accepting any offering. May it please you to
accept this" These were not mere words. The sincerity behind that outburst of inner feeling struck
the burglar and without a single word he took the pot and went away.

That one act of Pavahari Baba transformed the burglar. He considered Baba his Guru and the act
of offering the pot initiation. He did not go home after that. He renunciated everything and went to
Himalayas practiced austerity and meditation, and ultimately attained illumination.

Empty your mind

Nan-in, a Buddhist monk was visited by a University Professor who came to enquire about
Buddhism.
Nan-in served tea. He poured the visitor's cup full and then kept on pouring.
The professor watched the overflow until he could no longer restrain himself, then said, "It is
overfull. No more can go in."
"Like this cup", Nan-in replied, "you are full of your own opinions and speculations- How can I
show you Buddhism unless you first empty your cup."

Test in Detachment
BY Miss B. CHAYA DEVI
I did not see H.H. Saipadananda Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji with these physical eyes. But my
heart goes to him, as I learnt that he visited Vishakhapatnam in 1973 to install the marble idol of
Sai Baba in our Shipyard Housing Colony. The holy touch of this great saint has made this temple
a unique one, offering peace and prosperity to many far and wide.

By Swamiji's grace, in 1989 I came in touch with an intimate devotee of Sri Radhakrishna
Swamiji, who has taken me as his young sister. For him, Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji is everything.
He initiated me into 'Vishnu Sahasranamam' and never tires of glorifying Sri Radhakrishna
Swamiji in all his letters. With this background, I request the devotees of Sai Baba and Swamiji to
answer the following queries. Those are really fortunate who had the physical contact of Swamiji.
There must be umpteen people like me who must have been influenced by Swamiji even in the
post-Samadhi period.

As Swamiji's devotees, are you free of enslavement to current, social standards and passing
movements, knowing that they are but ripples upon the stream of life? Can you look upon all
religions, sciences and ideologies as steps in the search of truth, always transitory in nature,
always disintegrating to re-integrate on a higher level of understanding? With regular recitation of
Vishnu Sahasranamam, can you walk with the proud, the wealthy or celebrated without a feeling
of inferiority and without apologizing or comparing yourself with them?
Remembering Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji, can you walk with the ignorant, the weak or the poor,
without the feeling of superiority, knowing that they are your Sai - bandhus? Do you
respect the free-will of your friends? Can you rejoice in their accomplishments? Can you give
to your most beloved a devotion that is more an outpouring than a receiving one and
which guards and cherishes without something your love with possessiveness? Do you think
of your wealth and possessions to inspire awe in an enemy? (Do you have enemies at all.......?)
Do your possessions possess you?

Are they a burden you carry or a false standard you must maintain? Would not be a pauper be
richer in freedom than you?

Can you reach out your hand to offer a cooling cup, to ease a burden or lead a straying one,
without becoming bound to the unfortunate one by ties of pity or sentiment? In acting as your Sai-
brother's custodian, can you fulfill an obligation without interfering with his right to learn his own
lesson? If you, my dear Sai brothers and Sai Sisters, can do all these, then you belong to the clan
of Sai Baba and Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji—rarest of the rare and who know real emancipation,

Prayer Stairs
By B. Bhasker
"I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I,
here am I; send me" -
- Isaiah 6: 8
My boss is a Sai devotee. He has an elevator straight up to his office. He seldom uses it,
preferring the stairs. He calls them his 'PRAYER STAIRS'. In the morning as he walks up to his
office, with each mounting footfall he prays, asking Sai Baba to guide him in every step he will
take that day.
"Nothing so completely describes my God as Truth. Denial of God we have known. Denial of
Truth we have not known,"
- Mahatma Gandhi

'MADHU' Tahsildar
By D. Ramakrishnaiah
"I shall find Thy infinite joy abiding in each glory of sound, sight and scent My passion shall burn
as the flame of salvation. The flower of my love shall become the ripe fruit of devotion."
- Rabindranath Tagore
I have the good fortune of having the blessings of both Sri Narasimha Swamiji and Sri
Radhakrishna Swamiji. On several occasions I had accompanied them in Sai Prachar work in
Nellore District during 1945-47. I used to translate the English speeches into Telugu. Whenever I
used to visit Madras, invariably their magnetic influence pulled me to All India Sai Samaj. When I
was working as Deputy Tahsildar in the upland taluks of Udayagiri, Kanigiri and Atmakur of
Nellore District, I used to take fresh honey available in those areas and offer it to Sri Narasimha
Swamiji, and he used to bless me by calling endearingly "My 'Madhu' Tahsildar is here."

After retirement I settled down at Nellore and from 1963-74, I had the privilege of working as
Treasurer of the Sai Mandir there and also actively took part in conducting the All India Sai
Devotees' Convention in 1972. We have been told by our scriptures that the grace of the Guru is
a wonderful, mysterious factor that will enable the aspirant to seek and to attain the summon
bonnum of life- Self-Realisation - Vision of God. This was my experience when I stayed in the
Mylapore shrine of Sai Baba along with H.H Radhakrishna Swamiji for over a month in 1972. He
endearingly used to compel me to have food along with him. Again when Swamiji came to Nellore
to attend the Sai Devotees Convention he honored me by staying with us. I can never forget this
holy and honored guest and the 'satsang' we had with him.

My reminiscences of Sri Narasimha Swamiji and Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji have made me affirm
that whether the disciple does Sadhana or not, whether he is deserving or undeserving, Guru-
kripa sets aside all normal laws that operate in the spiritual plane and takes one to the
transcendental bliss. Besides Guru-kripa, there is nothing needed for one to attain perfection in
life.

May the blessings of Sai Baba - Narasimha Swamiji - Radhakrishna Swamiji be always with us.

Be a Tool of the Higher Power

By Bhagawan Ramana Maharishi
Only so long as you think you are the actor, you are obliged to reap the fruits of your actions. If,
on the other hand you surrender yourself and recognize your individual self to be a tool of the
higher power that power will take over your affairs along with the fruits of your actions. You are no
longer affected by them and the work goes on unhampered. Whether you recognize the power or
not, the scheme of things does not alter. The need is only for a change of outlook.

The mind must be raised

To understand right the teachings of Masters like Krishna, Buddha, Sai Baba and others the
consciousness must be raised beyond the accepted teachings. The consciousness must be
attached to the Master, and through the Master to the ultimate, and then allowed to descend.
Thus will emerge the unified teachings of the Great ones in place of the diverse schools of
thought that have arisen out of the conflicting interpretations of their teachings by the limited
human minds that would fain annihilate these teachings.

If the teachings persist in spite of the conflicts, it is because they are based upon truth. But the
mind can understand them only when it is raised up to the Master. This is needed not only in
religion, but in all knowledge, metaphysical or physical, perceptible or imperceptible,
- H. H. Upasani Maharaj

Worship of SaiBaba
By Mrs. Usha Ranganathan
O! My mind! Worship Sai Baba, the Almighty and repeat day and night. The great Mantram
Vishnu Sahasra Namam that you have received from Sri Saipadananda Radhakrishna Swamiji.
When you lie down think that you are meditating on Him. When you eat, think that you are
offering food to Him. With great joy, I proclaim: "Sai Baba dwells in all bodies. When you walk in
the day, think that you are going round Sai Baba."

The Power of Saintliness

By H.H. Swami Rajeswarananda
Saintliness is the sunshine of life. Saintly conduct excels in all names and methods. It is the most
perfect conduct conceivable in any environment. It is a commentary on the excellence of non-
resistance, charity, love and truth.

Saints are authors of goodness and greatness by their radiant example. They are the torch-
bearers and clearers of the human weakness and spiritual darkness.

Saintliness is in short, a blessed mystical illumination of our own divine nature, unaffected by all
sorts of chaotic conditions, the husks of life.

Sarveshwara of Shirdi
Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Isayee Sab ko Sadguru is our Sat Sai.
Bhagawan is only one
And our Sai is second to none
Sai is Eesa (Iswar), His ways are many
For us to choose means any
See Him in every soul
The pinnacle of one's soul

Water and stones or what you will what is that He does not fill Lo! God is present everywhere. So,
see our Sai in water & stone. Stone, a pedestal of His seat. A stone grinded evil to people. A
stone ever fives and breathes. You inhale Sai in every breath. Sai is indispensable like water.
Water fuelled the earthen lamps. Lamps radiated Sai Jyothi. Sai jyothi dispels mental darkness.
Sing, shed tears on His deeds & Mahima till thy stony heart does melt Chant for ever Vishnu
Sahasranama when His presence will be ever felt.
- Sai Premi

Unfailing Influence of Swamiji

By O. K. Varada Rao
"A very rich young man becomes ill, and then to get rid of his disease he begins to give to the
poor. That is good, but it is not religion yet, not spiritual religion. It is all on the material plane.
What is material and what is not? When the world is the end and God the means to attain that
end that is material. When God is the end and the world is only the means to attain that end,
spirituality has begun."
- Swami Vivekananda

It was in 1946 that we had drawn out an elaborate plan for celebrating Sai Baba's Mahasamadhi
anniversary on a grand scale at All India Sai Samaj, Madras. My intimate association with H.H.
Sri Narasimha Swamiji had made me confident that somehow we would get the required money
for the celebrations, as an unsuspecting faith in Lord Sainath to solve our problem had developed
in me. One morning, Swamiji asked me; "O.K, V. you are yet to start your fund campaign for the
Dasara festival, more so with so much costly program to go through." This query did not result
from the Dasara celebration angle but as to how to meet the estimate of Rs. 10,000.

My childlike answer amused Sri Narasimha Swamiji: "Swamiji, Sai has suggested the
program. May be it is costly from our angle but He has a magnetic wand to drag money from
willing Sai-devotees. I am awaiting His direction as to whom to approach." Swamiji laughed and
said: "O.K.V" Thou art a perfect bag of Saism." Needless to mention that Sainath provoked Sri
Narasimha Swamiji to query this as the events in the evening proved.

Myself and our Joint Secretary, Mr. Rajagopal, went to the Madras Central Station to bid farewell
to a common friend of ours. There we heard a heated argument between the Ticket Examiner and
a well-dressed affluent lady. I approached her and offered our services. She said: "Yes. I am
going to Bangalore with a first class ticket. This young man wants me to get the luggage weighed,
produce the receipt and then get into the compartment. The main problem is that there is no time
left and the train is about to start". I requested the Ticket Examiner to stop the train for five
minutes more and meanwhile we would get the luggage weighed and bring the receipt and the
lady can immediately get into the compartment. The Ticket Examiner agreed to our suggestion
and the lady's problem was also solved. She was very happy and enquired us: "who are you?"

It must be Sai Maharaj who made me say: "We are Secretaries of All India Sai Samaj, Madras."
She was extremely moved and said: "Now I know why both of you helped me. You are my Sai-
men. Can I do anything for All India Sai Samaj? | am from the Royal family of Mysore." Most
spontaneously I told her about our Dasara festival and requested her for a small donation. As the
train was about to start she told us that she would be sending us a Bank draft for Rs. 1,000/-in the
name of the Samaj, as soon as she went back to Mysore.

We saw Lord Sainath's hand right from Sri Narasimha Swamiji's query to the promise of Rs.
1,000/- from the Mysore princess to make us feel that Sainath knows our needs and accordingly
acts.
My Beloved Guru
Mother turns Hundred
By V. S. Kuber
Holy Mother Shivamma Mathaji, who had the rare privilege of having Sai Baba's 'darshan' in
1918, and who stays in her humble Sai Ashram in Madiwala in the outskirts of Banga lore,
completed 100 years in this birth on May 1990. A special function was arranged with Swami
Purushothamananda (of Ramakrishna Mutt, Bangalore) and H.H. Hasan Mathaji as Chief guests
and noted Kannada author, 87-year old Mr. T. S. Shama Rao presided over the meeting. The
whole program had enchanting bhajans and Sai devotees lined up in hundreds to receive
Mother's blessings. Over a thousand partook 'Maha-prasadam' in the afternoon. We pray to Sai
Baba to bestow many more years of life on Shivamma Mathaji to guide us to Ultimate Reality.

Die and re-exist, for until this is accomplished, thou art but a troubled guest upon an earth of
gloom.
- Goethe
— By Mrs. Mani Sahukar
"He alone is religious, he alone is happy and he alone is wealthy who is sincere in himself, bears
no malice, exploits no one, and always acts with a pure mind."
Round about 1942, I was going through a difficult period of my life and was feeling unhappy and
frustrated. Though I was God fearing, I was not particularly religious and knew nothing about
saints and had not even heard about Sai Baba. Mentally and spiritually, therefore, I was not ripe
for the Master's grace, and yet God fulfills Himself in strange ways. A neighbor of ours brought Sri
H. H. Narasimha Swamiji to our house.. He was a holy man, a true Sadhu and one of the most
distinguished apostles of Sai Baba.

Sri Narasimha Swamiji at once sensed that all was not well with me; indeed he seemed to have
come prepared, through some strange psychic perception to meet me and help me. Taking me
aside, he told me gently not to worry and said: "Why don't you seek refuge in Sai Baba?" asked:
"Who is Sai Baba?" Whereupon Sri Swamiji put in my hand a pocket of books written by himself
about Sai Baba. "Read these," he said, and while blessing me, also added, "There is a lovely
picture of Sai Baba in this packet for you". Sri Narasimha Swamiji really seemed to have come
prepared to lead a troubled soul to his Master!

I confess that though I was touched by Sri Swamiji's kindness, his advice and gift made no
immediate impression on me. I put away the whole packet without even opening it, and persisted
in my misery. Here, my husband was made an instrument to draw me to the spiritual path. For my
husband opened the packet and after reading one of Sri Swamiji's books and seeing Baba's
radiant picture, he said to me "Sai Baba seems to be a great saint, why don't you read these
books, they might help you." But I remained unaffected.

After a few days, however, I began to feel contrite, and just to please my husband, I took out
Baba's picture from the packet, framed it and put it on a table in front of our beds. This simple and
penitent gesture started the miracle of my conversion. For, the very next day in the afternoon as I
lay sleeping on my bed in front of the picture, so casually placed there by me, I was blessed with
a lovely visitation. It was in fact a vision.

Magic touch
I was dozing, when suddenly Sai Baba's picture lit up with a translucent glow, his face broke into
a tender smile, and his hand came out of the frame, as it were, while with his forefinger Baba
beckoned to me. Still in the dream, I saw myself jump out of the bed and rush towards Baba's
photograph. Sai Baba then placed his hand on my head in blessing. I actually felt the ecstasy of
his touch and woke up with a start. I was thrilled! This was indeed an initiation. Sai Baba's grace
had penetrated to my innermost being at last, and I knew I was saved. I subsequently
remembered how one of Baba's compassionate sayings applied in this case: "I seek out my
Bhaktas from long distances, under many pleas and draw them to me."
From the very hour the vision was bestowed on me, my life changed, as I rose out of my apathy,
and struggled to meet the Light that shone upon me through the Guru's radiant initiation. My
chance meeting with Sri Narasimha Swamiji did pave my way for a spiritual sadhana, Years later,
Sri Swamiji himself subtly pushed me over to his successor. My unfathomable hankering for a
living embodiment of the Guru was also fulfilled when I stood in Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji's
presence. Sri Swamiji appeared to recognize me, and welcomed me like a long lost child on the
very first day of our meeting, and I too intuitively felt the complete identification of Sri Radha-
krishna Swamiji with Sai Baba and Sri Narasimha Swamiji.

Sai Baba is the most approachable God. Men and women could go to Him at anytime with any
problem. No yearning of the human heart is too insignificant for this compassionate Avatar. His
heart, even now, burns for the woes and miseries of the ordinary householder. It is but natural
that with such an amazing outpouring of love Sai Baba should have favored the way of devotion
as the most important spiritual path.

It belongs to the Gods to want nothing, to Godlike men to want, as little as possible.
- Antisthenes

Sai Baba Everywhere

By K. N. Narayan Swamy
"To separate the true from the false in everything, whatever its nature may be, that is the part of a
wise understanding."
- St. Thiruvalluvar
Once in the local bazar, I found attractive calendars of Sai Baba with a caption 'APKA RAKSHAK'.
I purchased 10 copies for distribution of which I retained one for keeping in the pooja room.

Somehow Sai Baba prompted me to get this photograph framed. I was in a dilemma as it was a
large one and would pinch my purse considerably. One day I took it to a photo-frame shop near
our home and I was told that it would cost an amount ranging from Rs. 50/- to Rs 60/- depending
upon the frame, glass etc., I chose a particular frame and settled for Rs. 45/-.

Two or three days later I went to the frame shop to collect the photograph. The owner had gone
out and his brother was in the shop doing some woodcraft. During our conversation, I offered him
to give a few pieces of a wooden Almirah lying useless in our house. He was delighted at this
unsolicited offer and immediately we went to our house to see this. He agreed to take it and
instead of money, I suggested to him to give me a rebate on the frame as barter. He said that he
would accept whatever I give him. He was quite happy when I offered him a tender.

When he had come to our house, I told him about my Tape recorder. It was giving me frequent
trouble and had deprived me of listening to Sai bhajans. I had an idea to dispose this set and buy
a new one. This friend told me that he would arrange for this also as he knows a shop-keeper
who buys second hand tape-recorders. Accordingly he sent a man the very next day. I could
strike a deal at a reasonable price and in the same evening, brought home a brand new tape
recorder.

We strongly believe in Sai Baba's hand in every moment of our life. With deep faith and
wholehearted devotion one can achieve abundant blessings of Sai Maharaj - 'I am there where
there is devotion.'

Pray for Light

By M. Rama Rao
"Men shall see the earth filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the
sea."
Bible (Hab2: 14)

There is only one thing which pierces the darkness - that is light. Therefore pray for light -
understanding.

There is no night as dark as the night of the soul - when the courage in the heart fails and doubts
overwhelm the mind.

Yet it is true that when the night is darkest the stars are most brilliant. And it is only at night that
the heavenly bodies may be discovered. They are always there, but we see them only against
darkness.

Remember this when you have sorrow or failure or misery of any kind. There are stars of the
mind - great truths which have guided other men through the night. They can and will guide you.

On the May 7, 1990, my third daughter - in - law had prolonged delivery pains. Ultimately she
delivered a daughter after a surgical operation. As the newborn was premature, it was kept in the
incubator at St. John's Medical College Hospital, Bangalore. In spite of the best of medical
attention, the newborn baby breathed her last 20 hours after it was born. Our whole family was in
grief but it is only Sai Baba who consoled us.

In the midst of your darkness, direct your mind, force it, and compel it to think of the power of Sai
Baba and Radhakrishna Swamiji in you and the temporary nature of all distress. Affirm that you
are moving forward with the infinite wisdom of Sai Baba and empowered by the grace of
Radhakrishna Swamiji. Don't agree with the darkness. Refuse to let yourself be buried. Demand
the light and the light will come. The star in the east did not rise only once in history. It rises
forever and forever - wherever and when ever anyone prays through the night "until the day
drawn and the day-star arises in your heart."
"And I will give him the morning star." (Rev. 2:28).

All is Well
By G. K. Bhardwaj
"Make your inner self a temple of God. Make it a temple of the mystic fife of the universe. Then
you are king of everything, and not attached to anything."
- Paramahamsa Yogananda
When we recite 'Vishnu Sahasranamam' in front of Sai Baba and Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji, we
will be blessed that 'all is well" and the known outward facts of life point to this being so. We are
aware of the blessings we get and the outward facts of life would be favorable in every way to our
desires and plans. Then we say — 'all is well.' But there is a deep interior way of knowing that all
is well that has nothing whatsoever to do with outward facts and it is this deep interior knowing
that is the real thing.

There are moments in life when we come so close as if we have totally merged in Sai Baba that
we are filled with the awareness of the goodness of God. At such a time we have no desire to
make any plans or to do anything specific in the outward world. But we are very vividly aware that
all is well. We become absolutely certain that the next step will be the right one and that ft-will
occur to us at the right moment in the right way. At such times we evoke from other Sai-bandhus
a great response and friendship. They are eager to be of service to us and the reason is clear.
When the soul is conscious of Sai Baba's goodness then that goodness is flowing through a life,
and it is precisely this goodness that everybody else is seeking all the time — then they are very
glad to see evidence of it and are usually ready to help it.

Once it so happened that I had a bad time which shook my faith in Sai Baba. But the Almighty Sai
soon reminded me by a letter from a Sai-brother 2000 KM away. He had sent me a photo of Sai
Baba with the caption;
IF YOU DISCARD ME, I WILL NOT,
I WILL TAKE YOU IN MY FOLD.
Two days after this H.H. Jagadguru Shankaracharya of Dwaraka Badrikashram Sri Sri
Vidyanarayana Thirtha came to Madras and when I met him, he asked me to have steadfast faith
in Sai Baba. Very next day I was requested to preside over Sri Narasimha Swamiji memorial
oration function conducted by Prof. Nanjunda Rao Education Trust, wherein I was asked to give a
lecture on Sai Baba.

This inward knowledge of the goodness of Sai Baba can give us peace and confidence even
when outward things may seem to be in a state of chaos. For we may know beyond any doubt
whatsoever that when we are inwardly conscious of the grace of Sai Baba and Sri Radhakrishna
Swamiji — in that very moment a divine adjustment is taking place.

Truthful Living and Miracles

By T. A. Ram Nathen

"Once you are in touch with that Power, all the divine forces of nature will wait on you."
- Ramakrishna Paramahamsa
Truthful living hastens miracles. That is to say 'whatever you utter' simply happens. Shirdi Sai
Baba said in Shirdi and they happened elsewhere without fail. He had also acknowledged it when
he said: "I say here, they happen there."

The eldest noble Pandava Yudhishtira was nicknamed 'Dharmaputra' as a compliment to his
truthful living and exemplary conduct. Yet, in the horrendous 'Kurukshetra' war, his chariot which
was plying above the ground level had dropped to the ground no sooner he had uttered a lie that
'Aswathama' had expired.

As long as he was truthful, miracles overtook him. As soon as he uttered a lie, obstacles dogged
him.

Swamiji Rings the Bell

By G. Viswanatham Chetty
"There is no higher virtue than charity. The lowest man is he whose hand draws in, receiving. And
he is the highest man whose hand goes out in giving. The hand was made to give always"
- Swami Vivekananda
Man on earth is but a puny creature struggling under a host of several limitations. Everywhere he
experiences pain, frustration, misery and wretchedness. On the other hand he knows that there is
the grand cosmic experience that is full of perfection, infinite knowledge and light transcendental.
The mortal individual is the rightful heir to this grand cosmic experience. But how to attain, tied up
as he is by countless bonds, defects and imperfections? His Holiness Sri Narasimha Swamiji and
His Holiness Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji are with us to provide answers to this.

In July 1946, I was transferred from Vellore to Madras as Joint Registrar of Co-operative
Societies. This stint provided me a unique opportunity to be with two saintly souls -Sri Narasimha
Swamiji and Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji, as I made it a practice to drop in at All India Sai Samaj
daily in the evenings on my return home from the office. Once I was prompted to gift a silver bell
with Maruthi on the top to Sri Narasimha Swamiji. I informed Swamiji and placed an order with
M/s Vammudiar Jewelers.

On receipt of the bell, I informed Sri Narasimha Swamiji. He asked me to hand it over to him the
next morning as he had planned a trip to Shirdi. So I collected the parcel from the Jewelers in the
evening and placed it safely in the wardrobe. Next day, as usual after breakfast, I dressed up to
go to office. My office box and water jug were being taken down to be put into my car by a peon.
While going round the stairs, I heard a bell ringing. It was not the telephone bell. But what was it?
Ringing without stopping? I stopped and looked up. It dawned on me that I had forgotten to take
the parcel to be handed over to Sri Narasimha Swamiji.

Did the bell jump out of the parcel and the wardrobe and start ringing the alarm without stopping?
Was it not the handiwork of both Sai Baba and Sri Narasimha Swamiji? My offering to Sai Baba
could not be left behind. Hence to remind me, the alarm was triggered off by divine intervention.
May the Guru within us lift the veil of ignorance and bestow upon us the light of knowledge. May
the blessings of H.H. Sri Narasimha Swamiji and H.H. Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji be our support
and inspiration in the quest for truth?

Love and Devotion

By H. H. Meher Baba
Love burns the lover
Devotion bums the Beloved
Love seeks happiness for the Beloved
Devotion seeks for blessings from the Beloved
Love seeks to shoulder the burdens of the Beloved
Devotion throws the burden on the Beloved
Love gives
Devotion asks
Love is silent and sublime, devoid of outward expressions
Devotion expresses itself outwardly Love does not require the presence of the Beloved in order to
love
Devotion demands the presence of the Beloved to express affection
"The man who knows more than I do is my father. He who knows less is my son, and the man
who knows as much as I know is my brother."
— PYTHOGORAS (Greek Philosopher)

A Garland of Love
By Anil K. Rasal
"He prayed well who love the well, both man and bird and beast."
He moved in life, and gently he moved out of it — back to his unseen Home. As a lamp is
suddenly extinguished, so was his passing on! Till the last he continued to shed the radiance of
love. The life of H.H. Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji is a silent dedicated prayer at the lotus feet of Sai
Baba. He was fully commanding the treasure of all powers but did not display them openly or
abused them, I had met Swamiji for the first time in 1976 or so at Shirdi but an eternally
memorable contact was in 1979 at Sai-brother, G. R. Inamdar's residence at Bombay.

Myself and my wife, Chi. Sow. Sunanda sat cross legged on the floor of the drawing room.
Swamiji entered and beckoned us to take the chair. We could not, as we were lucky to get his
'darshan' and see his lotus feet. He started his conversation with one apt utterance" "If one says
HARI — HARI, Hari comes in the heart and worry goes". This itself filled me like a glove for he
correctly assessed the state of my mind and prescribed a suitable remedy. I told him that my
'Namasmarana' was not ceaseless but intermittent. Then the asked my 'first name' and called me
near his feet. He gave me three pats on my back. And lo, there resumed the ceaseless pouring of
'Namasmarana' on the deity that dwells in my heart. It was automatic and effortless remembrance
of Sai Baba.

Swamiji spoke to us very kindly in silken voice, which soothed us and gave us handfuls of udhi
packets and chocolates with the remark that this was 'Shirdi prasad'. We had not mentioned
anything about children. I requested him to bless our home and he readily agreed. Swamiji kept
up his word of visiting our house in his own inimitable style. On Sunday the 13th January 1980,
while I was in meditation at my flat in Bombay, Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji appeared to me in full
form. He was shaking and showed signs of great struggle. He said: "I am going, but before I go, I
have come to see you." And the very next day he had cast off his mortal coil at Bangalore. Before
he took leave of this transient world to merge in Sai Baba, he kept his word by a visit in my
meditation.
The knowledge of the self
The knowledge of the 'Self is the real knowledge; all other kinds of knowledge are mere
semblance of knowledge, as they do not attempt to find out the essence of reality which is the
Self.

He lives the best life who is always studying to improve himself.

"—Xenophon

Sai Love Personified

"Work is worship" which I firmly believe and this faith can neither change nor deceive. For 'love' in
reality is more than a hardship, 'Cause am always, in love with my workmanship. "Life is truth"
that's what I sincerely believe, and this concept is the only way to reprieve, for 'love' in routine is
not a thing to idolize, when in-factual, life is handsome to visualize.

"Music vaporizes sadness" which I strongly believe,

And this notion cannot but rebounce and retrieve,
For 'love' in entity can become rhythmical,
When days, months, years, pass in moods unmusical.
"Sai love works wonders" that's what I truly believe
And this miracle is full of experiences we achieve,
For 'love' in devotion cannot be fathomed.
When Sai love kindles, Sai spirituality in enlightened.
- Ms. Neelam Sangukar.

Triangle of love

True love can be regarded as a triangle.

The first angle is: love knows no bargain. So when a man is praying to God, 'give me this, and
give me that,' it is not love. How can it be? 'I give you my little prayer, and you give me something
in return;' that is mere shop keeping.

The second angle is: love knows no fear. So long as god is regarded as is warder or a punisher,
there can be no love for him.
The third angle is the apex, is: love is always the highest ideal. When we have reached the
point where we can worship the ideal as the ideal, all arguments and doubts have vanished
forever. The Ideal can never escape, because it is part of our own nature.
- Swami Vivekananda

Swamiji's Birthday Celebrations

By S. Shyama Rao
Man breathes in and out and thus life is sustained. He goes to sleep for a certain period of time,
when his life actively apparently comes to an end - it disappears temporarily. In the morning, on
his awakening, his soul actually comes forth again and he reappears to active life.

The same law governs earth. The cosmic drama life force which permeates all and is responsible
for all living things and beings, at a certain period of time in the year, retires into the earth for rest.
It disappears from the face of the earth, when all vegetation comes to a standstill. At a certain
other time of the year, this divine life force within the earth comes forth again and manifests in the
magnificent growth of plants and the rejuvenation of nature.

This symbolism veils a great cosmic truth. Our Radhakrishna Swamiji is being born again on
earth this year on the 17th April 1990 (Chitrai Sapthami). After 'Abhishek' to Sai Baba and
Swamiji, 'Vishnu Sahasra Nama Homam' was conducted by Sri D.V. Krishna Murthy and others.
After ‘Poornahuthi’ over 1500 persons partook 'Maha prasadam'. As Poornahuthi' for the Homam
was being done, we could feel the 'Saipadananda Consciousness' taking birth in our hearts. This
is the greatest gift and the greatest reward to us from Sai Baba. As this great event was taking
place, we could feel the union of our consciousness with that of Radhakrishna Swamiji. May this
Saipadananda Consciousness be born in the hearts of all of you and yours. May the blessings,
the grace and the peace of Sai Baba, Narasimha Swamiji and Radhakrishna Swamiji be with you
all. In the evening there was an illuminating discourse on 'Sharanagati' by Asthana Vidwan
Sampath Kumara Bhattacharya.

Earlier, we celebrated the 37th Anniversary of the Centre on the March 27, 1990 and Sri Rama
Navami / Sri Sai Baba's Birthday on April 3, 1990. Abhisheka, Bhajan, Arathi marked the lively
programmes. In addition, we had devotional music concert by Smt. Savithri Ranganathan and
party on April 5, 1990.

Looking Beyond One Crore

BY K. S. Nagaraja Rao (Puttanna)
"Let work be ever on your hands, with “Om Sai Sri Sai Jaya Jaya Sai” always on your lips for
your deliverance surely from mundane things"

We are happy to record here that on May 10, 1990, Sai Maharaj blessed us to complete more
than one crore Likhit japa, 'Om Sai Sri Sai Jaya Jaya Sai'. Over 400 Sai bandhus are participating
in this Yagna and as on June, 1990, the total figure has crossed one crore fifteen lakhs (at the
rate of 10-15 lakhs a month). To mark this auspicious occasion, we had a two hour Akhanda
Japam' of 'Om Sai Sri Sai Jaya Jaya Sai' on the May 17, 1990, in which hundreds of Sai devotees
took part.

We are also happy to record here that Sai Baba has inspired over 400 devotees to participate in
the Yagna and the following devotees have offered more than two lakhs Likhit japa "at the holy
feet of Sai Maharaj:—1. Smt. Ramu Gowramma, 2. Shri D. R. Nagaraja Rao, 3. Shri A. C.
Varadarajan 4. Dr. Dr. Jyothsna Ben.

Sai Baba has blessed them with a copy each of Sai Satcharitra (two in Kannada and one each in
Tamil and Hindi) as ‘prasad’. There are 30 to 40 other Sai devotees who have so far completed
one lakh Likhit japa each and are soon to achieve the two — lakh mark.

The enthusiasm and interest evinced by Sai devotees are beyond the power of
expression. They are putting the two-pice 'dakshina' — Shradda and Saburi — into
practice. The vibrations of Mahatharaka Mantra ‘Om Sai Sri Sai Jaya Jaya Sai’ have filled the
Sai Spiritual Centre with its divine fragrance. Even a baby in the arms clasps while
singing the Taraka mantra, school children enter Sri Sai Spiritual Centre Chanting: 'Om Sai Sri
Sai Jaya Jaya Sai. Every devotee — material of caste, creed, age and state of health-gets inspire
with devotion to chant 'Om Sai Sri Sai Jaya Jaya Sai'.

May Sai bless all of us to take shelter under the eve inspiring shade of his 'Kalpa Vriksha'.
"To resort to Mammon, is to acquire the boot-power of physical mite To resort to 'OM SAI SRI SAI
JAYA JAYA SAI' is to acquire the root-power of soul-mite."

Instead of putting others in their place, put yourself in their place.

- Anon
He who laughs lasts.
- Hugh W. Phillips
Jubilee Convention
By D.V.L.N. Murthy
'Sai - brotherhood is thicker than Blood - brotherhood"
- Anonymous
I am grateful to Sai Baba and Sri Narasimha Swamiji and Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji for enabling
me to attend the 25th All India Sai Devotees' Convention held at Madras on June 8, 9 and 10,
1990 This was a unique convention as it marked the silver jubilee of the All India Sai Devotees'
Conventions started by H. H. Sri Narasimha Swamiji way back in 1950 and also the Golden
Jubilee year of publication of SAI SUDHA magazine which was started by Sri Narasimha Swamiji
in 1940 for Sai propagation - four years after he obtained the treasure of Sai Baba's grace in
1936.

About 300 devotees from all parts of India attended this Convention. A good number of devotees
from our Centre led by our President, Shri Bhaskara Rao actively participated in this Convention.

On June 8th morning, delegates performed special 'Abhishek' and Archana to Sai Maharaj for
invoking His blessings. After a 'Nagar Sankirtan' at 5 p.m. in the streets of Mylapore, Mrs. Shanta
Rege (daughter of Rege Maharaj) lit the traditional lamp to mark the inauguration of the Conven -
tion. Mr. Justice N. Krishna Swamy Reddy presided over the function. Bhajans and Sankirtan
marked the convention throughout.

The speakers at this convention appreciated the great strides made by Sri Sai movement
and stressed that Sai bhakti is bringing about Universal Brotherhood and paid tributes to the
pioneering efforts made by Sri Narasimha Swamiji and Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji in this
regard. The Open session on 'Satsang' and 'Devotees' Experiences’ were held on 9 th and
10th June 1990, under the speaker ship of Sri C. V, Bhaskara Rao. Everyone was appreciative of
the purpose of such conventions as devotees from different parts of the country and the
resultant satsang was of immense value adding to the development of Sai Bhakti and Sai
Prachar. They highlighted the need of such satsang and how Sri Narasimha Swamiji who started
Conventions and Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji stove hard' to build Sai-brotherhood on love and
service.

At the end of the convention, the special Golden Jubblle year Souvenir of SAI SUDHA was
released by Kulapathi Joshi. The delegates moved the following resolutions:-

a) To undertake social service activities in addition to religious activities (such as Balavihars,

medical aid etc.)
b) In view of the need to have trained pracharaks. All India Sai Samaj and other Sai-institutions
will explore the possibility of training Sai-pracharaks whose services] can be utilized by all.
The convention concluded with homage to Sri Narasimha Swamiji for his pioneering efforts in
bringing to light the precious jewel of *Sai Baba for the welfare of humanity and for ushering in a
society based on respect to all religions and the real significance of 'Satsang.'

We also appreciate the untiring efforts of Shri T. Keshava Rao Co-coordinator of the Convention,
Shri R. S. Ramakrishnan and Shri M. Vasudevan and a host of others in making this convention a
grand success.

The Wasp at the Window

Many years ago, I heard His Holiness Sri Saipadananda Radhakrishna Swamiji tell the story of a
young prince whose new Nurse was instructed to give the little boy anything he wanted, denies
him nothing.

"This is your future king" the Royal Mother told the Nurse, you are to obey him, not command
him."

For a few hours, things went smoothly. Then suddenly there was an agonized wail from the
nursery, and the nurse was immediately summoned.
"Did I not tell you" the Queen demanded, "that His Highness was to have anything he wanted?"
"I did not forget, your Majesty", the Nurse said, was a wasp at the window and he wanted it."
‘There’
"Like the mountaineer using his rope to ascend the summit take the 'Sound' of Vishnu - Sahasra -
Namam to ascend the Sai-Summit
- T. A. Ram Nathan

Lead a Worthy Life

To the other Shore
Time is fleeting and every minute spent is precious and cannot be regained. Time lost is lost for
ever. So, let us hasten to continue our activities with the divine prayers, resting the mind and
faculty with perfect case on the benign form of our Ishta or Kula Devatas, Guru Maharaj such as
Shri Sainath, H.H. Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji and the like, who will be able to rouse our Kundalini
and other shakthis to go on to higher reaches, in the realms of equanimity, magnanimity,
dharmam with elastic activity etc.

Births and deaths are inevitable to all; one can lead a virtuous, active life. He has got his family to
attend to along with certain prescribed duties which are incumbent on him to follow and lead a
worthy life, as ordained by God with full activity and alertness, without selfishness, special
attachment, treating all things alike with samatva bhavana; as enjoined in the Shasthras and laid
down by the experienced Mahans for our benefit like the renowned Bhagavad Gita.
- V. RajagopaLa Iyer

Dr. Gajanan Dabholkar

In the death of Dr. Gajanan Dabholkar, son of Hemadpant (author of Sai Satcharitra) on 2nd
March 1990 at a ripe age of 87 years, we have lost a great man who had the physical contact of
Lord Sainath. At the age of 14 years in 1916, he had gone to Shirdi for the first time along with his
father. Sai Baba had presented him a packet of udhi which he had preserved it till the end. He
was also blessed with an idol of Sai Baba, which is being worshipped even today at his Bandra
residence. He was a Medical Doctor by profession and his compassion and love were stretched
out to all Sai-bandhus. Throughout the country and naturally his passing away caused a universal
grief and evoked a responsive chord in every heart. Together with our Radhakrishna Swamiji, he
had served as a Trustee of Shirdi Sansthan. He suffered two paralytic attacks-once in 1971 and
again in 1988. On both the occasions he recovered miraculously by Sai grace. But a fracture of
the pelvis sustained by him in late 1989 took him to the lotus feet of Sai Baba on 2nd March
1990.

Mr. G V.R. Naidu

A veteran devotee at Secunderabad, Mr. Naidu passed away on the 9th March 1990 at a ripe age
of 92 years. He was actively involved in Sai-Prachar work along with Narasimha Swamiji and
Radhakrishna Swamiji and till the last breath; he was an active and dynamic Sai-worker. The
small shrine he had built in the Market Road has been a place for solace to many. Books on Sai
Baba, rings, lockets were always available with him. His advices on Sai-worship and guidance on
Sai-marg is incomparable, it is our sincere and solemn prayer that the piety, loving kindness and
the other sublime ideals that were exemplified in the life of Mr. Naidu be followed by all Sai-
bandhus. May Sai Baba rest his soul in peace.

Sri Sai Baba of Shirdi - The Wonder Maker

Oh Bhagavan Sai of sacred Shirdi!
Of all the wonders Thou fill with the minds of Thy devotees.
Remarkable are those by which Thou lift souls to heights unsurpassed
And pall it does not recollection in repetition by hearts filled with Thy Image,
Shama and Nana Nimonkar are examples such to enlighten and edify both
In the way Thou bestowed on them Thy light and Thy love. The simple soul Shama was made by
Thee a scholar of "Vishnu Sahasranamam'
How but by a few sweet words of Thine simply extolling the greatness of the Text,
Thus Thou changed the ignorant to shine with both knowledge and wisdom
Even to expound the text to no less than Narke educated high though he was.
Thou asked Nana Nimonkar to read and understand "Jnaneswari"
Educated Nimonkar was unlike Thy favorite Shama
But confessed he, his ignorance of Sanskrit in which was embodied the book,
However one word came from Thee that Masudi Ayi will teach he
The language to read and understand the master-piece.
So like Shama, with Thy blessing master did he the holy piece To the extent of its exposition to no
less than Dixit Thy devotee par excellence and what more a scholar himself was he.
Here it was that Thou applied the brakes on Nimonkar Not to get puffed or inflated about his
learning or its expounding
Sought not of Thee Shama or Nimonkar their thirst for
"Vishnu Sahasranama" or "Jnaneswari" put blessed them thou unsolicited purely out of love for
them, There are seekers of both knowledge and wisdom of Thee
Oh Jewel of Shirdi! Bless these with Thy grace as Thou blessed Nimonkar and Shama
Oh Lord of sacred Shirdi I take these supplicants under Thy sheltering wings
So that fulfilled May they feel both in their minds and hearts.
Sai Ram!
Sai Ram!
Sai Ram!
C. R. NARAYANAN.
Let me sing, my body is lost,
My sense is lost, my mind is lost;
Let me sing, I lost my “I” and gained 'SIVAM' thereby.
- St. Manickavasagar