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FEBRUARY 2016
IN THIS ISSUE :
SAI SUKTHI - ACHARYAVANI
HOW OFTEN IN THE PAST MANY BIRTHS HAVE I BEEN WITH YOU! AND HOW MANY MORE SHALL I REMAIN WITH YOU! WE SHALL MEET AGAIN AND AGAIN.I HAVE TO COUNT TO THE LORD FOR EVERY PIE THAT COMES TO ME.
HOW MANY PAST BIRTHS WE CRIMINALLY WASTED IN THE SLAVERY OF AFFECTION, AVERSION,JEALOUSY AND SUCH NEGATIVE EMOTIONS! AT LEAST NOW LET US WALK IN THE SHADE OF SAI FOR PEACE.
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THE MASTER CALLS ME - FROM THE HOLY TEXT-"SAI BABA THE MASTER" WRITTEN BY BHAGAVAN SRI BHARADWAJA
My quest for truth was awakened by the tragic demise of my nephew in 1955 on the occasion of my initiation (sacred thread) ceremony. Now I see, in retrospect, that it was indeed an initiation. The initial heartbreak had left and, in its wake, several fundamental questions arose in me: "Is there a Supreme Spirit? What is the nature? How can we contact it? What is life? What is death? Is there a soul? Why hasn't man found a way out of death? What is Time?" and such others. The search went on unanswered till 1960. One evening in that year, when I was taking a stroll, something mysterious occurred somewhere deep in me and all the questions vanished in a trice and peace prevailed. These questions seemed out of place, of no value any longer. A book on Zen which came to my hand quite unasked for, contained a description of inner illumination or satori which came nearest to my experience. It was a pleasant surprise and a promise. The quest took on a richer hue.
In 1963, my elder brother Sri E. Vedavyas invited me to join him on his visit to Shirdi. Though I had little faith in saints at that time, I consented just to give him my company. On the 8th of February we reached Shirdi at sunset and we went straight to the samadhi mandir to attend the arti. The deep faith that shone on the faces of the congregation for the saint who left off his physical frame nearly half a century ago, was surprise to me. Soon after, the devotees dispersed and the shrine was mostly empty. My brother showed me the tomb at close quarters and told me that Sri Baba's mortal remains were kept in it. That being my first close look of a tomb, I was shocked. My first reaction was to imagine in what a putrefied condition the body must have been. The marble structure of the tomb and the profuse incense that was burnt there made me suppose that it was intended to keep out any stench that might possibly leak out. The thought was revolting and nauseating. I at once took leave of my brother and slept in the room, unable even to relish food, in the wake of the shock.
Next morning, a keen appetite woke me up and I made straight for the Madras hotel. As I passed before the samadhi mandir, I found that the morning arti was over and the place was almost vacant. The sight of the marble statue over the samadhi attracted my attention and I wanted to have a close look at the form that continues to charm so many devotees. I stepped in and stood at a little distance from the statue and looked at it. It is quite life-like and I felt that the saint must have looked precisely like that. The sculptor must have been divinely inspired in capturing that mysterious smile and the inward look. The look captured my gaze. "What does his face, especially his look and smile, indicate of his attitude? Was he elated that so many visited him to pay their homage, adore and worship him? Or was he overwhelmed with compassion for them? Or, in that mood, was he oblivious of his separate existence, his gaze fixed on the divine mystery, the one omnipresent spirit? Or was it a look of recognition of that ancient spirit, of his contacts with those teeming crowds that had contacted him through their countless previous lives? And, was that smile of reunion pregnant with his joy of their future possibility of reaching the spiritual summit? Or was he just oblivious of all this, lost in his ceaseless contemplation of the one spirit, in his at-one-ment? And is the mysterious Monolisa-smile a manifestation of that peace which passeth understanding? Or is there a possibility that at a higher level of consciousness all these attitudes could coexist without the one interrupting the other?"
This last thought flashed with a particular intensity and my spirit leapt forth to comprehend how, in that state, he was viewing all this existence: "Is the universe of myriad forms an image projected in his consciousness? And am I, then, too, a thought in his Mind and are all these my thoughts parts of it?" The intuition took off and wafted my being into far-off states. I knew of nothing else. My being was still, taut with a particular illumination and my thoughts were both existent and non-existent. I am aware how absurd these words must look to anyone. But what else can they be when I verbalize what cannot be conveyed?
Quite some time lapsed in that timeless moment and I was knocked back into normal awareness by what then felt to me like a rude knocking on my shoulders. It was then that I realized that I was seated and that my eyes were shut, that my cheeks were wet with half-dried tears. The shrine was quite noisy and crowded. I saw my brother patting me gently and asking, "You are still seated here! Had your bath and breakfast? It's almost lunch time. It's better to finish our lunch." His words were quite audible but I found it hard to catch the sense, as though I was abruptly awakened from deep sleep. It was quite disturbing even to endeavor to understand the words and still more to respond, the spirit being totally unwilling to be called out from the heart of peace. It was much easier to just obey what he said. It was nearly four hours since I stepped into the shrine which was getting crowded as the time for noon arti was nearing and the devotees were queing up for finishing abhishek! We walked down to the dining hall but to me it was as though the walk were just a vivid reverie. My mind was all set on sinking back into the state of peace and bliss from which it was roused and with which the connection was not yet completely snapped. It was quite a task to pay particular attention to things and persons.
This mood was persistent and had never quite left me during the brief stay of two days at Shirdi. Perhaps my brother had found out that something unusual was happening to me. "You may go over here again later if you want to, but now we have to go back!" he said. And we were back.
The significant thing, as I see it now in retrospect, is that the spiritual connection with that deeper level of being, continued for months after our return from Shirdi. My mind, when it now and then relapsed into normal awareness, quite instinctively identified that deeper level of Being with Baba. Mostly I was in a continuous state of ineffable peace and quiet and the normal activities of the day were powerless to interrupt it. Days passed as a continuous moment of timelessness; it was as though all things around, including my body, were all parts of a whole which is conscious and aware. Whenever the world around had plucked me into the every day reality, my spirit, once again, at the earliest possible, was summoned back to its pristine state by the vivid appearance of the marble image at Shirdi before my mind's eye. And then objects and creatures all around would seem to be crystallizations of a pervasive consciousness.
This experience was accompanied by a remarkable change in my physical constitution. My lean frame got filled in with flesh to robustness and I was brimming with energy which was not lowered by late hours of reading at night or by missing my meal now and then. There was a strong urge to walk and walk, almost endlessly, through most of the day and I was not tired. My mind was engrossed in the blissful peace and was not stirred by the traffic on the road. My mind, too, seemed to have grown unusually penetrating. For, the most vexatious of meta-physical questions got cleared in a wink and there seemed practically nothing which it could not comprehend. Often knowledge concerning my friends who were far off, or of the thoughts that passed through my associates' minds broke in and then I was no less surprised at it than they. Strangely enough, the pervasive peace was shared by all those around me. It was definite that my life turned a corner. The steady current of this experience has ever continued, sometimes quite vivid and sometimes a little less so.
After three or four months followed my second visit to Shirdi. This time no such spectacular experience occurred but I keenly felt that I was visiting a saint who has been my guiding Spirit through lives, that he was somehow connected with my initiation into the quest for knowledge eight years earlier. There was only an intense personal attachment to the Master, and the sense of not having the good fortune of seeing Him in flesh and blood in this life. "What could have happened then? Now that I cannot hope for this, could I at least see any living saint? What would be his impact on me?" This was the object of my prayer at Baba's samadhi mandir.
The response was prompt and striking, as has always been characteristic of him. During the years that followed, I could come into close contact with numerous saints and bask in their blessings: Mother Anasuyadevi of Jillellamudi, Sri Ranganna Babu (a great Ramabhaktha of Guntur), the late Avadhuta Swami of Chirala, the guru of the Chinthapalli forests of Sileru area, Sri Swami Purnananda of Srisailam, his guru Sri Rakhadi Baba who stayed at Ganeshpuri, Sri Satya Sai Baba, the two Balayogis of Mummidivaram, the Senior Sankaracharyaji of Kanchi, Sri Ma Anandamayi, Sri Akhandananda Saraswati of Muthra, the recluse saints of Kalahasthi and Cuddapah, the recluse woman saint of Chivatam, Sri Samartha Narayana Maharaj of Harihar, and the Saint of Poondi. Besides, I had darshan of some famous devotees of Sri Sai Baba. I saw others like Mother Revati Amma of Madras, and Sri Gulab Maharaj of Nagpur. It is not possible to detail here my experiences with these saints, but one significant feature in all these was I could win their gracious attention only after specifically praying to Sri Baba for the same. Baba was thus once more proving three things simultaneously; he is still alive in spirit and would gladly bless us with the best at our hearty praying; that he is still one with the being of the saints of today even as he was when he lived in flesh and blood; that he can be a competent guru or Master (Samarth Sadguru) to his ardent devotee even today. For a time, a few friends told me that I was on a "saint-gathering" spree and not stabilized on any one. I was not effected by this criticism. Now in retrospect, I am happy to find that, fortunately, my faith in Baba, if anything, grew deeper and has been constant all through. Baba's invisible hand was leading me to act according to the scriptural injunction;
Madhulubdho yathaa bhRiNgaH pushhpaatpushhpaantaraM vrajeth || |
Gnaanalubdhastathaa shishhyo gurorguvantaram vrajeth .
"Just as the bee which is fond of honey moves from flower to flower, the disciple who is fond of wisdom goes from Master (Guru) to Master". -- Sree Guru Geetha.
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RAMA,KRISHNA IS RAMAKRISHNA -- ORIGIN BY BHAGAVAN SRI BHARADWAJA
Sri Rama Krishna Paramahamsa was born on Feb 18, 1836 in a small village in West Bengal called Kamarpukur, to the divine couple Kadhiram Chatopadyay and chandramati.
His parents named him as Gadhadara. As a child he was very interested in listening to stories in puranas. When he was 6 years old, he lost in ecstasy , at the sight of a flock of cranes flying in the sky in a row. He was sent to school at the age of 5 ,but never showed interest in studies. After the death of his father in 1843, He went to Calcutta to his older brother, Ram Kumar. Ram Kumar, tried to make his brother to continue his education. For this Gadhadara answered, “What is the use of this education that is useful for living? The main goal of human life is to find God. One should try to achieve this.” For instance, look at the great truth in the words of Prahlada as written in pothana Bhagavatham - “Nirmala Mandakini Veechikala tugu, rayancha chanune taranginulaku” .
Rani Rasamayi Devi constructed a Kali Temple in Dakshineswar for which Rama Krishna Paramahamsa was appointed as priest. Ramakrishna would stay in meditation continuously in front of Kali Devi. “Mother, Please give me your Darshan? Why don’t you show your mercy? Please provide me the fortune of having your Darshan? Have mercy one me! ” He would plead tearfully. One day, He took the sword hanging on the wall and tried to put an end to his life saying “Oh Goddess! With out your darshan this life is waste, what is the use of living?” when he attempted to do this, He lost consciousness. From the Idol of Kali Devi, brilliant lights appeared, and Mother Kali in Her radiant form appeared in front of him. He became Paramahamsa. As per the wish of Mother Kali, he married Sarada Devi.
By the grace of Kali Devi, a yogini named Bhairava Brahmani came to Ramakrishna and taught him all the tantrika spiritual practices. She declared Sri Ramakrishna as the incarnation of God, in front of all the scholars in a congregation. As per the directions of Parameswari – a monk named Totapuri taught him the spiritual practice—NIRGUNA PARABRAHMA SADHANA (meditation on form less God).” Ramakrishna achieved that practice in 3 days. To realize this truth in all other forms, Ramakrishna followed the practices from other religions. In this way Ramakrishna Pramahamsa experienced the God practicing through different ways, and preached the oneness in all the religions.
The lamp doesn’t light without oil. Man doesn’t exist with out God. We call water as Jalam, pani, tanni etc in different languages. We are using different names for the same water. Similarly, God is one, even though we call Him with different names. God will definitely appear if show distress and yearning for him.
Service of Human is Service of God. Show kindness to wretched, vile, and dejected people. Lord Narayana will be Happy. Many young men were attracted to the divine power of Sri Ramakrishna. Swami Vivekananda was one among them. He spread across the world the greatness of his nation, and the spiritual Knowledge of his nation. Spiritual services of The Ramakrishna mission, received regards from the entire world. The brotherhood in all the religions as preached by Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa is quite similar to purpose of the incarnation of Sri Shirdi Sai Baba. After the 72 hour Samadhi, Sri Sai Baba said “I returned back as per the order of Allah! The responsibility of the welfare of the world to be continued by Gadhadara was given to me by Allah.” Avasthe said that Baba woke up from Samadhi, at the same time when Gadhadara attained Samadhi. This incident is written in Sri Sai Leelamrutham. So on the Jayanthi of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamasa, We should remember his teachings, and try to implement them .This is the only Dakshina that we can offer Him.
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SADGURU – SAIBABA
All the creatures and entire universe is evolved from the Supreme Spirit (Paramatma). Peace, satisfaction, and abolition of sorrow can be achieved permanently only when the living beings reach the Supreme spirit. All the religions in this world preach this and the religious texts are originated from these enlightened holy persons. All the livings beings would be living the lives of beasts if these Holy persons are not around us. Holy texts like Upanishads, Bhagavadgita say that for all living beings should rely on the Mahaneeyulu (Holy persons) to reach the Supreme Spirit.
Rishis said that the result of Nishkama Karma is Chitta Suddhi i.e. purification of Mind, Ekantha Bhakthi is the result of meditation of istha devatha, and Self realization (Atma-Jnaanam) is achieved only through Sadguru Seva(Service of Guru). Now a days devotees are under the false impression that mere worship of the Gods is enough for their welfare, and they are ignoring the most important aspect of Dharma –Sadguru Seva.In Taittariyam,( Narayana prasana ) there is a mantra “Mareechinaam Padamichantho Vedasa” (which means that the Lords of the Universe (Jagannirmaatalu) are praying the Supreme Lord to give them the efficiency of the Brahmaveetas (one who acquainted the superior brilliancy) like Atri ,Mareechi.
Lord Krishna said in Bhagavadgita that worship of Demigods will result in temporary stay in the world of these demigods.Once the Punyam (results of good deeds) is over they come back to earth as human beings. In order to attain salvation, one should worship Lord Krishna who is the Superior being (Brahma Swaroopi) and is of superior brilliancy (Brahma weetta).
To achieve the Ultimate truth Service of SADGURU is the only way. In taittareeyam it is said that all the demigods are under the control of Sadguru.(yaswaiwam brahmano vidyaati taswa deva asanwase). So for one who surrenders themselves and serve Sadguru will obtain the protection of all these demigods with Guru’s blessings and commands.
Then who is the true guru?
Sloka: GURU MADHYE STITAM VISWAM, VISWA MADHYE STITHO GURU.
GURURWISAM NACHAANYOSTHI TASMAI SRI GURAVE NAMAHA.
Menaing: The universe has its being within the Guru;
The Guru abides within the Universe (as its essence);
The Guru is the Universe; Nothing exists besides Him; Salutations to such a Guru
(From GURU GITA in Skaanda Puraanam.)
Guru is the person who can demonstrate that he is OMNIPRESENT.He can show that entire universe is his form.Only such person can be GURU.SRI SHIRDI SAI BABA gave experiences to all devotees that he is all the living beings, all gods, all mahatmas, and all objects in this universe. Even after attaining Mahasamadhi he is giving such experiences.A person whose life is over after death cannot be GURU.
Devout reading of the life history of such Guru will give these types of experiences. For a disciple who reads the life history of Sadguru,this entire world will be a close relative and thereby enables him to be in constant remembrance of the God. However for all other Sadhakas the same world will become an illusion and make them forget God. The ill feelings that develop because of ignorance will cause the Sadhakas to deviate from their ideal.This is revealed by the life of Viswamitra,who did not attain Brahma Jnaanam till he surrendered himself to the great sage Vasista.
Such poorna Guru will never give upadesam (preach religious instruction leading to attainment of salvation) to any devotees.In order to give upadeesam, there should be an ignorance that he is Guru and others are disciples,which means that he cannot be called Guru. When a true Guru is not available, it is important to control the mind. So as an alternative, worship of the Gods with mantras can be done.
Fortunately, Sri Sai Baba showed an excellent royal pathway for the world with out going for such alternatives. He made Khusabau to do 108 times parayana of the holy text–“ SRI GURU CHARITRA” written in Marathi. As a result of parayana of this holy text several Sadhakas received the blessings of Great Sadgurus and by their grace they became Mahatmas. Sri Vasudevananda Saraswathi swamy, is one among such Mahatmas, who translated this great book into Sanskrit for the welfare of the world.
Sri Sai Baba is the incarnation of Lord Dattatreya. He said to Hemadpant that whoever reads his life history and constantly rememberS the divine experiences will obtain incomparable spiritual wealth.Hemadpant collected limited experiences of Sri Sai, so we are not able to take sufficient care when serving Sri Sai. So Sri Sai through Sri B.V Narasimha swamy gave us the perceivable experiences of the devotees. It is important to read the complete life history of Sri Sai Baba. Things that are prohibited by Sri Sai,like telling the future, obtaining vibuthi (sacred) through miracles, preaching his Namam are propagated under his name. Sri Sai came into this world to remove these types of practices and show us the good path. His complete life history and implementation is his true preachings for all of us. Worshipping Sri Sai without understanding this principle and explaining it to others is similar to walking in dark windy night, with the light of a match stick, and not using the torch light in our hands.
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PARIPRASNA :ORIGIN BY BHAGAVAN SRI BHARADWAJA .
Q:What is the difference between AVADHUTHA (Recluse Saint) and a mad person? How can we recognize them?
A: Regular parayana of 'Sri Guru Charitra' and 'Dattaavatara Mahatyam' with an intention of obtaining the blessings of Mahatmas will gradually awaken an inner potential in us. As soon as we approach the place of these Recluse saints (Avadhutha), mind will become calm with out any effort and a wonderful inner peace is experienced .As a result of Parayana, Lord Dattatreya will appear either in the form of the Avadhootha or he will give instructions to do service for a particular Avadhutha.Or another way is, after doing parayana we can also pray these recluse saints for an illustration, like this -- if he is really an Avadhutha then he should come and ask me for something etc and they will definitely do it.
But for this to happen we should be honest-which means after it is proved we should go for their darshan without being ashamed. We should serve them and worship them. Our daily parayana should be more intense and sincere. However, they will not respond to useless inquisitiveness, instead these acts will be dangerous to us.
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SRI CHAITANAYA SWAMYJI'S MESSAGE :
I SINCERELY PRAY THAT GOD THAT MY COMPASSIONATE GURU SHOULD ENLIGHTEN YOUR HEARTS AND GUIDE YOU TOWARDS “SELF REALIZATION."
UPCOMING EVENTS OF THE MONTH
FEB 9 2016 : PUJYA SRI ACHARYA EKKIRALA BHARADWAJA MAHARAJ
BRAHMANUBHUTHI PARVADINAM
FEB 18 2016 :SRI RAMA KRISHNA PARAMAHAMSA JAYANTHI
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Sai Baba The Master is a newsletter started with the divine blessings of Divya janani Alivelumangatayaru garu . This newsletter is devoted to the life, philosophy and teachings of Sri Sai Baba of Shirdi. Feel free to forward this newsletter to your interested associates in its original form. The contents of the email are taken from the literature of Parama Pujya Acharya Sri EKKIRALA BHARADWAJA. This newsletter is not sent unsolicited. This newsletter is e-mailed to you because of you have been gifted a subscription by a friend or a relativeTo Subscribe "Saibaba The Master newsletter"- send an email to srisaimaster@yahoo.com. If you are subscribing the newsletter for your friend or a relative, we request that the person concerned may be notified about receiving the newsletter and the willingness to receive the newsletter be confirmed. Please send a reply to srisaimaster1@gmail.com.
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