SAI

We are more interested in others than in ourselvesBut we never derive any good from others with this undue interest Moreover, we find fault with them exposing their handicaps in behaviour or we interfere in their affairs give free advice. We never do the work of others nor do we take the responsibility Still we advise them how to do it We deliver Judgements as to how it would have beter been done We boast of our own ability that we could have done it more effectively Thus we interfere in others affairs without any reason, Putting our nose into unnecessary things we get chidings too. One should do one's work with zeal and devotion It is better to remember God to concentrate on the work By this, our aim will be clearand the work is completed,rather smoothlySAI SWARANJALI 307

My guru is very kind hearted I served him long I hoped to get upadesa (teaching) from him But his strategy was different He got my head clean-shaven i.e. removed my ego. He demanded two paise as Dakshina the first paise is firm faith the second paise is endurance I submitted these two, to him with devotion Thus I fulfilled myself in the service of my guru But he never taught me even a single 'mantra' There is no dearth of food and clothing for me, with him He was the embodiment of absolute love No guru was like him He used to be in meditation forever I used to fix my vision on him day and night, with no foodand sleep The day I never saw him I lost my peace of mind I was completely involved in his service and meditation My mind was fixed on him, always This was the dakshina he demanded the devotion with adherence The second paise of Dakshina is 'Saboori' Endurance with Joy and courage It makes us cross the sea of life, Safe and secure, as a ship endurance is a great virtue It removes sins, averts troubles It is the mine of virtues It is a treasure of good thoughts Zeal and endurance are like sisters.308 SAI SWARANJALI

We have to take decisions regarding many issues on several occassions What is good? What is evil? These questions subject us to a dilemma in our life oftenThen a reliable force is needed Fortunately for you You have the support of 'Sai'If you keep faith in his teachings They empower you to take decisions in all issues.SAI SWARANJALI 309

Meaningless desires unnecessary allurements Never Pray me for your short-lived needs and paralyse your powers you know what you want only when you are out of the illusion of expecting too much we seek the infinite, permanent things of welfare from God Pray him to grant them To attain such state we should establish the divine shape of 'Sai' which is Truthful, auspicious and beautiful The Satyam, The Sivam and the Sundaram in our mind.310 SAI SWARANJALI

The depth of mind is in explorable It can create heaven or hell Let the mind be kept stable with acute meditation otherwise the whirl wind of desire makes the mind disturbed and agitated worry and pressure are the results further, it leads to lackof concentration A sense of dedication is lost in discharging our duties Finally, the life itself becomes out of gearIt becomes like a blade of grass blown away windward.SAI SWARANJALI 311

All the earthly things are short lived All the bodies made of natural elements after enjoying all comforts are decayed and burnt The 'Brahman' is permanent our bond with the world is temporary our relationships, relatives Children, wife... they never follow us We came into the world alone and leave it alone To remind you of this fact I distribute 'Udi' The wise realise it.312 SAI SWARANJALI

We can not win God's heart with worship, penance, sacrifices, rituals,The Pure, The absolute, love-filled devotion devoid of 'want' and 'hope' only can please 'Him' Devotion sans love is a false show Unique and concentrated devotion is the easier means to impress God.SAI SWARANJALI 313

The udder of the cow is always full The mother cow showers milk to its dear calf as and when the calf needs it The calf can feed itself on mother's udder Whenever it wants That is the motherly love Nothing can be compared with this in creation It is unique. It has no parellel It has no cause The sadguru too shows the same motherly love for his devotees.314 SAI SWARANJALI

Where there is a doubt there is no will The bond between man and God should never be based on desiresIn pure devotion, there is no give and take credit, bargain etc.Let god be worshipped with pure devotion Then God moves for us I am waiting for you to cause that purity in you So divert your vision to me I soon stretch my glance at you.SAI SWARANJALI 315

My guru never expected anything from me He used to shower his grace Just by his vision all the time on all conditions The mother tortoise is on one shore the baby tortoises are on the other The Mother never feeds them Just by the loving glance of their mother they grow up. My guru loved me in the same manner when man considers his soul to be god. When he knows that the soul itself took shape in all and it is one being in all How can he hate anything?316 SAI SWARANJALI

We seek many things despite their gratification 'The state of without desires is never attained That is human tragedy So fulfilling such desires is of no use.those who realise this can only ascend the first step in the Path of 'Sai' Let us enjoy the state in which God created us and kept us Then only our lives become the temples of JoyThe Devotees first approach me with worldly desiresAfter thier problems are solved They pursue my path (The path of Sai)SAI SWARANJALI 317

Another supreme quality of the Guru is He shows the way to his desciples and his believers to reach God. He bears their burdens He treats them like his children as eyelids protect the eyes The Tithiriyopanishad preaches to respect and worship mother, father and teacher, to study scriptures These are the ways to make the mind pious unless the mind is holy Self-realisation can not be attained senses, mind and intellect can not reach soul The graceof the guru only saves us The Dharma, The Artha, the Kama are acquired by our industry Moksha, the fourth is attained only by the help of the guru.318 SAI SWARANJALI

I always worry about you I contemplate as to how I can relieve you of your debts God left us on the earth Giving intellect, wisdom, and thoughts as debts. He never demands us to repay it We not at all remember our indebtedness to God But God craves to enjoy When man makes use of the properties given by him and sing in his praiseBut we never remember it, do we? That is why I say \"No debt, No grief\"SAI SWARANJALI 319

My miracles are like the light of the sun at Noon They spread with the same heat and light in all directions My miracles are like the clouds of the rainy season It rains equally on the area it covers the love I shower upon my believers is also the same For example If it rains on fields, good crops man yields If it rains on rocks It flows waste The essence of my teachings too is the same The good-hearted grasp them, cultivate good character and stand as an ideal to all. on the wicked they show no effect They simply listen to them and ignore them They neither grasp the good nor yield results.320 SAI SWARANJALI

If you believe me in letter and spirit know that your good or bad tendencies can never go out of my sight Being far away too, I encourage even the small good feeling that move in my desciples heart I nip in the bud even a small bad thought All these are the specialities of my incarnation if you always remember that your every thought reaches me you can be away from bad thoughts.SAI SWARANJALI 321

By Prayer or by penance we earn the grace of God and get the boon we want It may be good or bad God grants whatever we want That is why the demons performed rigorous penance, got the grace of God and earned innumerable boons We read in the puranas that the same boons turned out to be disastrous for them at last But the way of the Sadguru is different Besides giving us what we wanted He distinguishes between what is good and what is bad for us and provides the one which is auspicious.322 SAI SWARANJALI

Those who love me very much can visualise me always in their heart itself without me, all this universe is a nonenity Those who fill me in their hearts tell nothing but my stories They meditate upon me, and recite my name I am in debted to those who take complete resort at me and meditate on me I repay their debt by granting them deliverence I depend on those who always contemplate mewho take up a determined adherence to me who never eat anything without offering me Those who come to my presence are united with me as the rivers mingle with the sea Pray me for complete resort without the least trace of ego and self-consciousness in your heart itself.SAI SWARANJALI 323

My history is an open book In its every page the ultimate goal of human life is seen In every line I greet everyone, blessing with a smile only when you walk in my way your lives are fulfilled Taking resort at my feet is the ultimate offering All bodies should turn into ashes Before the catastrophe Be simple and obedient God will mould you as he likes.324 SAI SWARANJALI

We are born We eat We grow We live til our life-span ends Later we die Is it life? Is it the goal of life?Is there any other goal for human life besides this? As long as man does not know about himself He is ignorant One who make him realise it is the 'Jnani' He is the Sadguru.SAI SWARANJALI 325

Generally the yogis are of different attitudes, life-styles and attires common men can not find their greatness merely by their outward manifestations In many issues We arrive at a decision without analysing its pros and cons Just seeing with our eyes arriving at an opinion, We take the illusion to be real But the actual truth is different It is universal It stands the test of time.326 SAI SWARANJALI

The language of the Sadgurus is mysterious we feel like understanding it But we never understand it. If at all we understand it We derive an altogether different meaning the different import Once upon at time we know its inner meaningThat is the conversational under tone The Sadgurus do not express anything directly Though many people are around They aim at the person whom they want to tell.It touches the aimed person directly 'Brevity is the soul of wit' as the saying goes compressing greater meaning in smaller words is dexterety It is also knowledge In the loose words of Jnanis there is warmth It wets the hearts of the devoteesSAI SWARANJALI 327

The Tithiriyopanishad' says \"Food is the embodiment of the Parabrahman' All living things take their birth from the food only After their death they enter into the food again\" The pain of hunger is the same for all we should feel the hunger first and then eat so cultivate the virtue of 'Poor-feeding' As the 'Dal-rasam' is the best among all dishes Among all the offerings 'Annadana' is the best.328 SAI SWARANJALI

My guru gave me shelter with great love He looked after me as the mother bird rears her babies He admitted me in his school (Hermitage) It was a beautiful school I forgot my parents I discarded my varities I attained wisdom easily When I could not keep the reflection of my guru in my eyes I felt like losing my eyesight Such a school was it Those who enter into it never return empty-handed My guru is my everything He is my entire property All my senses would be centralised in my eyes My Meditaiton, My obsession was the guru When I contemplate himmy mind and intellect would be serene I used to salute him in silence.SAI SWARANJALI 329

The sins and 'Punyas' of the previous birth are certain to be experienced. unless the experience of karma is completed Death will never be fulfilled Without experiencing the Karma of this birth completely If we end our life in the middle Again we will have to take another birth and undergo the outcome, all from the beginning Then, why do you want to escape from the 'Karma' of this birth without experiencing it now itself? without wiping away the sins of the previous birth why do you carry them into the next birth too?330 SAI SWARANJALI

At times, the sky is covered by dark clouds Then darkness enshrouds the entire universe But it is only brief the sharp rays of the sun pierce themselves out of the clouds and fill the world with light The sky becomes clear our life too is similar Joys and griefs come and go In stead of being moved by themIf they are left to me, with their results I will take you to the shore safe. If you simply think \"Baba, the burden is Yours\" I will bear all of your worries and problems I experience the repurcussions It is my reciprocation for your sincere prayer.SAI SWARANJALI 331

If you have any doubt think of me soon and ask me to clarify it Never enquire all and sundry and subject yourself to confusion and hestitation. I never like such attitudes. When I am ready to clarify the doubts and dilemmas of my devotees why should they ask others? Not only regarding God but also on many occassions Your approach is the same Though the main door is open You avoid it and go through the back door There is a plan for all of you with me I kept differennt gifts ready for you As per your eligibility and worthiness Instead craving for them. Why do you run after the ray-like desires?332 SAI SWARANJALI

Conversations, begin with words in general But they end in the war of words The ego that we are rightleads to arguements and disputes By craving for undue supremacyeven sweet talk turns into turmoil Man proposes God disposesThe inevitable cannot be averted Ego and self consciousness never lead us to our goal Keep your intellect aside for a while Even the great people tasted defeat in this regard Do away with your arguement and concentrate on God.SAI SWARANJALI 333

The greedy man always Contemplates on his hidden treasure you should hide the treasure of Baba's grace on similar lines keeping it secure in your heart God's grace makes the dumb speak makes the lame ascend the moutains Makes the blind visualise God The wind blows everywhere It intrudes into every place But the same wind makes the bamboo a flute, merely blowing through it we are carried away by the flute-song Moonlight melts from the moon The sea overflows at the moonrise It is God behind all these things!334 SAI SWARANJALI

The Sastras confirm that the ways to attain deliverence are Peace and power in the kritayugaPerforming sacrifices in the TretayugaWorshipping God in the Dwaparayuga This is the Kaliyuga The Panacea for the problems of this age is only the philosophy of Sai that is why this is called 'the era of Sai' I tell you the easymeans to attain deliverence in this 'Yuga' that is recitation of God's name Any one can practice it It is very easy Attending our day to day owrkthrough reciting the name of 'Om Sai' We can attain self-realisation There is no parellel to 'Sai' in this world, in ideas and languages It is his namethat makes us cross the ocean of life.SAI SWARANJALI 335

We make many plans before we go to bed After we are awake in the morning We plan to do this and that, In our daily routine If we encounter a good thought we decide to implement it we dream that every day form tomorrow will be a memorable day for us. Then we go to sleep in satisfaction At dawn, We are unable to put any preplanned right things in practice in our life of ups and downs we will not even be free to recollect the right thoughts nor will we be patient to take care of them But this is not right Let us start the day with the name of 'Sai' Let us awake with 'Sai' Let us sleep with 'Sai'.336 SAI SWARANJALI

Man should always strive for good, in one way or other Mind is like a wizard It makes us carried in aPalanquin of hopes, sometimes sometimes it makes us lay ladders to the sky At the same time It creates doubts and misunderstandings that drag us down Mind is always volatile To keep it under control Man should involve himself in some or other work and divert his mind He should be busy with some work and its related efforts God will stand by us in our endeavours to get good tendencies into our mind and to get those tendencies fulfilled.SAI SWARANJALI 337

Speaking ill of others Throwing blame on them Scoffing at them entertaining by talking meanly about them Criticising them all these things are vices The educated and the uneducated all are the same in this regard. It is not surprising that Some people are unhappy Unless they throw blame on others. Boasting of themselves and blaming others is the daily routine of many people Those who want to reach the philosophy of Sai should be different and lead a life of rectitude.338 SAI SWARANJALI

See the pig It eats dirty things likingly Even your nature which talks meanly of others is also the same How can you speak ill of your fellowmen with your mouth? Don't you know that blaming others is a sin? There is no difference between you and the pig.By speaking lightly and meanly of others you are cleaning the dirt of their sins with your tongue. you have got this human birth with the great amount of 'Punya' in your credit why do you destroy it with evil thoughts and feelings? Is it your inherent tendency? Is it your wisdom? If you commit mean things. and speak mean words In the next birth you too become an animal If your mind is so deteriorated What can Shirdi do? Be good at least from now onwards.SAI SWARANJALI 339

There is a fine plan for all of us, with God. As long as we live We have to fulfill some tasks knowing them itself is the ultimate goal of life. But, what are we doing? We make God disgusted Seeking too many things If our desires are fulfilled we are elated If not, we are disheartened. Creating a vicious circle of Joy and grief for ourselves we make our life hell. In fact, joy or grief are our own created feelings They occur as per our attitude not being satisfied by what we have, craving for the beyond We make our mind an ant-hill of hopes. As the water springs in a well After one desire is fulfilled, another follows. Revolving round them We live in the illusion that it is real life. If the mind is pure we can live happily, beyond Joy or grief Similarly If we keep our worries aside We can proceed with joy.340 SAI SWARANJALI

I have promised tofulfill the desires of those who come to me If desires are fulfilled Man becomes satisfied, tries to ascend the steps towards spiritual progressHe can discriminate between good and evil Thus he is enlightened.SAI SWARANJALI 341

Some worship a God they hate other Gods Though God is everywhere and in everything Men argue vehemently for and against the greatness of their respective Gods They are adamant not to salute other God except their own They confine themselves to the blind practices of austerity In fact, God is omnipresent It is the power of God that pervades the universe in great dynamism Still men never realise this To open their eyes I manifest myself to them in the forms they like.342 SAI SWARANJALI

God created the Sadgurus to lead people in the right wayand to teach them good behaviour But, these days people scarcely think of God They ignore the association of the Good being trapped in the net of momentary allurements They never follow Truth Ok, let them go But the righteous will stand The Sadguru always Keeps indicating the path of rectitude by which men can fulfill themselves.SAI SWARANJALI 343

When God enters, fear exists When fear exists, faith arises When faith arises, worries disappear When worries disappear, Peace is restored When Peace is restored Fears are averted When fears are averted, God enters God is the beginning God is the end with Endless strife in between, ego attacks you But soul always saves you.344 SAI SWARANJALI

Ego paralyses you But soul energiges you If soul enters, ego exitsThen peace will be your way Joy will be your Journey Sai will be your aim.SAI SWARANJALI 345

Sit here in peace and take rest The real antidote is, Deliverence should be attained by experiencing the sins of our previous birth Our karma is the source of our joy and grief Bear with what you face God makes you overcome it Meditate upon him always He will look after your safety Submit your body, mind, wealth, speech, everything unto his feet Take complete resort at them See what he will do later.346 SAI SWARANJALI

The way of karma is strange Though I do nothing I am considered to be the cause of everything It depends on luck I am only the witness God is the doer, the motivator He is very kind-hearted I am not God I am not Lord I am his faithful servantI remind you of God alwaysThose who discard their ego and bow to Himwho believe Him absolutely will attain deliverence, dismantling their bonds.SAI SWARANJALI 347

There lived a gentleman with a volatile mind He was well-to do and healthy He had no worries He used to lose his peace of mind taking up unnecessary burdens and wandering here and there At times he used to carry them, in his heart His mind was not stable I knew his position and helped him with kindness fix your faith where you like why do you run hither and thither? Let your resort be a single place and be stable Recite the name of Sai.348 SAI SWARANJALI

If I take one rupee as 'Dakshina' from any one I give them 10 times in return I never take any thing free I never ask anyone unduely I take from those whom the fakir shows I receive the money from those who have been undebted to the fakir since their previous birth. offering is like sowingseeds now It will yield good crop in futureMoney should only be used in charity If it is used for our own purpose it will be of no use unless you have 'given' in your previous birth you can not 'enjoy' now So, if you want to acquire wealth offer it to others now. If you offer Dakshina your detachment grows which leads to knowledge and devotion Giving one rupee we can get ten.SAI SWARANJALI 349

To get out of this 'maya' of life There is only one way, Praying God. If we can not do it At least by watching others pray or listening to them we can get the grace of God and proceed, crossing the 'maya' Those who never envy the greatness of others only can be happy always God is the Lord of all He prevades himself in every atom wanders within and without ourselves but neither speaks nor appears Let us worry for him why all this toil for the things that disappear some day or other All the bonds are mere illusion All the relationships too only God is the Truth He is the subject and object for all 'He is the Lord of All'.350 SAI SWARANJALI

For yogis All are equal, the good as well as the bad. They are kind to the wicked and put them in the right track One should wait for one's turn You should fix your faith on the guru never divert it at all God is everything in creationThe real feeling in giving Dakshina is we resubmit what God has provided us, in gratitude.Once the feeling comes to our mind It should be preserved That is the real Dakshina.SAI SWARANJALI 351

If anyone asks for food never send them back in vain If you have nothing Give them at least a piece of Jaggery If you can conquer your mind It will be your friend. If not, It will be your foe. Suicide can never solve our problems Even in the next birth You may encounter many more woes All the woes are not equal to the last woe. Any smile is not as beautiful as that of a baby.352 SAI SWARANJALI