Thought for the Day
Whatever talents a person may possess, they must be dedicated to the service of humanity, indeed of all living beings. Therein lies life's fulfillment. All men are kin, moulded out of the same five elements, with the same divine essence residing in everyone. Service to your fellowmen will help your divinity to blossom, for service to man is service to God. God resides in the heart of every man and every living being, in every stone and stump. Let every act be a flower to be offered at the feet of God, free from the creeping worms of envy and egoism and full of the fragrance of love and sacrifice.
- BABA
Thought For the Day
Without unwavering faith in an all-knowing God, life becomes dry and drab, darkened by the ever-present shadow of despair and doom. Love for God and fear of sin are the two primary needs for a happy life. Without these two, man becomes a monster. Man must be ever ready to sacrifice his selfish needs for the sake of the larger community. There is nothing as glorious as renunciation. Be honest, be detached, and with God installed in your heart march forward to offer your talents and skills in discharging your duties. Do not strive for your happiness alone, but strive for the happiness of all.
- BABA
Thought for the Day
Food is an important factor which determines the alertness and sloth, the worry and calm, the brightness and dullness of man. When the mind is fed on Rajasic food that induces passion and emotion, activity and adventure, it gallops into the world with the plunge of desire! It brings man deeper into the morass of suffering. When it is fed on Tamasic food, which dulls and induces sloth, the mind becomes callous, inert and useless for uplifting man. Every activity of man is dependent on the energy he derives from the intake of food. The success of the Sadhana (spiritual exercises) that one undertakes depends upon the quantity and quality of the food taken by the Sadhaka (spiritual aspirant).
- BABA
Dear Swami,
Yesterday 54 of your Youth gathered to practise songs and Vedam for the trip to Parthi. One of the Brothers from Melbourne explained Purusha Suktam verse by verse, our Youth Leader, V.K addressed and motivated us with so much love that there wasn't a dry eye in the place at the conclusion of his speech. My favourite part? When song practise begun. How can I begin to express how it felt to sing Your glory with 50 of my fellow youth? It was amazing! I can't even begin to imagine what it's going to be like in Parthi with 160 of us singing your glory. One thing VK said really stood out for me, one of the brothers, P, asked him what the probability was of us having an opportunity to perform in front of you whether it's Vedam or songs etc. VK looked thrown aback, but answered without hesitation "Swami's grace is proportional to our prayers, to our committment"....
Help us to be more dedicated, help us to think of You at every moment, in every instance...we all want to breathe Sai at every moment, but the irony holds that only You can help us love You...to keep loving You.
Aum Sai Ram.
Study Circle Bliss
We've been reading through
Summer Showers 1990:Indian Culture and Spirituality for nearly two months now as part of our preparation for the July Parthi trip and part of the VB Program. It's been a wonderful, edifying experience dicussing each chapter. This book is - if you will pardon the cliche - a necklace of the rarest jewels. Each chapter is a gem. It can be examined in isolation from the rest of the book and yet makes perfect sense. Each paragraph is a careful elucidation of principle and teaching, instruction and example. They are so dense it takes at least two readings to fully comprehend it at the most basic level. Yet the teachings are essentially accessible. Every time we end the session, we can only conclude that "this was the best yet." It's been particularly informative and rather exhilarating to be discussing them with the Youth as well. Perspectives that I would not have dreamt of, experiences that directly related are put forward. It's through discussion that we've gained the most. We strive to find the practical example of the teachings, the practical way of implementing these teachings.
And what is most wonderful still is that while there are these eternal truths and principles, it is up to us to understand them, comprehend them according to our situation in life and in mind, and apply them as best we can with the Lord in our minds and hearts.
Thank you Sai.
(and Thank you Youth :-).)
You are My Hiding Place
You are My Hiding Place
You always fill my heart with songs of deliverance
Whenever I am afraid I will trust in You...
I will trust in You,
Let the weak I am strong
In the strength of My Lord...
The Golden Age Cometh
From Walt Whitman's poem, "A Passage to India":
Lo, soul! seest thou not God's purpose from the first?
The earth to be spann'd, connected by net-work,
The people to become brothers and sisters,
The races, neighbors, to marry and be given in marriage,
The oceans to be cross'd, the distant brought near,
The lands to be welded together.
Thought for the Day
The Universe is the Field where God sports. Be aware of this fact in every moment of consciousness and there is nothing more you need for a happy existence. For, you will then contact God in everything, through every thought, at every place and at very moment. His glory is evident in the smallest flower and the most distant star. The joy that you can derive from the contemplation of these proofs of providence is indescribable. Lord Krishna has said in the Bhagavad Geetha that He is ever by the side of the joyous being. Be joyful yourself and share it with others. Limited happiness arising out of self-centeredness should be given up.
- BABA
Behold the Day
"Listen to the Exhortation of the Dawn!
Look to this Day!
For it is Life, the very Life of Life.
In its brief course lie all the Verities and Realities of your Existence.
The Bliss of Growth, The Glory of Action, The Splendor of Beauty;
For Yesterday is but a Dream,
And To-morrow is only a Vision;
But To-day well lived makes Every Yesterday a Dream of Happiness,
And every Tomorrow a Vision of Hope.
Look well therefore to this Day!
Such is the Salutation of the Dawn!"
-
Kalidasa
Sai Ram,
Well it is after an extremely long break that we post again, and I'd like to bring to your attention a web page which links to a number of
stothras. It contains prayers addressed to Vishnu, Siva and the Mother Goddess, as well as some Vedic hymns you would be familiar with, such as the
Rudram and
Narayana Suktham. I was intrigued to find
Bhaja Govindam there as I thought it was only a bhajan!
Translations are provided with the Sanskrit in Roman lettering. Click on the title of the post to access the page.
Retreat Update
SPIRITUALITY IN PRACTICE
Sai Youth National Retreat
Details:
Saturday 21st May 9am-5pm
Sunday 22nd May 9am - 12 pm
Location:
Institute of Sathya Sai Education
Unit 13/48 Corinna St. Phillip, Canberra
Accommodation: $28 per night (5 ppl to 1 cabin), Sundown Lodge, Jerrabomberra Ave. Narrabundah
Update: Bookings have now been made for Sundown Lodge, with 4 cabins booked for 20th May Evening (for those flying in early)
6 cabins for 21st May
Excess will be billeted out to Youth and Sai Families
LAST DAY FOR REGISTRATION 6 MAY
Contact: saiyouthact@yahoo.com.au
National Retreat
Sai Ram!
Great news! Kumarbhai from Victoria, and ex-student of Swami's has proposed a visit-cum-workshop with Melbourne and Canberra Youth in Canberra, to be held either 21 or 22nd May. The Retreat has now expanded from one to two days and in addition to sessions facilitated by Kumarbhai, will feature interactive workshops. It has been agreed to invite Youth from all over Australia, and currently interest has been expressed from Sydney and Brisbane.
This is *very* exciting! Kumarbhai is a dynamic and inspiration speaker and has had marvellous experiences with Swami to relate. More details to follow! Look forward to a major energy and motivational boost!
