Dear Uncles,

I learned a lot of things through this Forum. Before school starts Amma told me to check the points that I learnt through this Forums, actully I'm in that process of writing down. In that process I got a question : how will spirituality help me ?? Amma answered my question by saying that it makes life easier. For E.X. in my school if anybody says something that hurts me I get sad about it. At that time I will utilize Baba's words.



That would save a lot of time or else I would come home sad and want to get them back for what they said by hurting me.

Then I remembered Baba does things for our good. It reminded me of an Akbar and Birbal Story.


Once upon a time,

Birbal (intelligent and witty minister and Birbal's real name is Mahesh Das, I don't know why they changed his name ) had a habit of saying all that happens, happens for the best. One day Akbar (King) accidently cut his finger with his knife while cutting an apple.All the ministers were showing sympathy to the king but Birbal said all that happens, happens for the best , Akbar got very angry and said "how can cuttng my finger be good"?? Birbal said cooly, "It is your Highness you will realise later" Akbar lost his temper and said " guards put Birbal in prison"! So Birbal was put into prison without doing any crime.

The next day Akbar goes hunting he rode very fast to catch a deer and parted from his hunting group. Unfortunately a tribe of savages found Akbar.They caught the king and tied him to a tree. Soon, they decided to sacrifice him to their Rain God.This would ensure a good rainfall that year they thought.They bathed Akbar's body while doing so,they noticed his injured finger.They immediately began whispering amongst themselves. The plan for the sacrifice was dropped. If an injured man was sacrifice,their Rain God would get angry.So they were forced to release Akbar. The Emperor quickly returned to the city. Akbar thanked God for injuring his finger. This has saved him. Then he remembered Birbal's words all that happens, happens for the bestHe released his minister. " My friend, please accept my sincere apologies " and told his story. Birbal simply smiled and bowed before akbar. Akbar was puzzled. Birbal said "If you have't thrown me in prison I'd have accompanied you on the hunt and the savages would have killed me, since i was't injured.


Uncles, do you want to say something?

Dear Dwaraka Uncle,



"Live to play, play to win"  I saw this quote on my Racket.

Uncle Master said that anyone who knows what spirituality is can't deny it or can't stop themself from following it. But there are some people that know spirituality keep forgetting Master's and Baba's words. For E.X. pretend I know spirituality but somene says something unnecessarily, it hurts me. I know that Baba said, If anyone says anything don't argue with them, don't develop hatred, I'm in all. Just walk away.
But because of my anger I don't want to follow that or I forget it. I will think, why can't I hurt them?? Just because they have Baba in them?? I  have Baba in me too. If they hurt the Baba inside me why can't I hurt the Baba inside them?? 

That is what some people think they know spirituality but don't follow it.What is the reason??



So Uncle are you saying that anybody that doesn't know Spirituality isn't happy??

What is the difference between Happiness and Bliss??

Ok Uncle I'll ask Amma to read Matam Enduku? 



 

Dwaraka Uncle,


I asked this question once. And I found out the answer today in Matam Enduku? Chapter 4 Anandam. It said that Happiness was temporary and that Bliss is ever-lasting happiness, which is continues. We experience Happiness everyday but gevan muktudu(those who get detached from sadness(ignorance) which causes unsatisfaction) have permanent Happiness which is Bliss. Happiness comes from money, fame, and power but Bliss comes from within you.



Uncle tell me some more about Kalahari bushmen. Where do they live, are they some kind of tribe ?? 

I have one question, Why does everybody (on this forums) say Om Sai Ram/Jai Sai Master at the beginning/ending of every message ?? If I know the reason I would like to start doing it too.

Jai Sai Master!

Babu Garu,

In what way I should interpret a win here.Is this acheiving a personal goal or
is it acheiving ultimate goal of self-realization.
Also if it is a personal goal like getting good job etc, is it proper to use spirituality there in
acheiving a selfish goal.Iam just doing loud thinking.
I think using spirituality in acheving a selfish goal is acheving it in a rightful way, correct ?

Jai Sai Master!

Jai Sai Master, Babu garu..
Jai Sai Master, Sai Bandhus..

Jai Sai Master, Dear Srushti..







Srushti, for this particular question, that is not what Veda garu said. It is more like as a spiritual person, you don't truly need them or atleast as a developing spiritual person, you will let go of them slowly, one by one. Let's say as an example, materialistically speaking, you have a toy that you like very much. In one year or whatever time it is, you will get bored with it, then you won't find your toy worth playing it with. You will abandon it. Or you will give it to someone else. Or plainly you will throw it away. So, why did you get bored with it? Why did you want to just throw it away? Because your mind/heart does not find it amusing anymore. You will look for a new toy worth exciting.

So, in this example, I have explained only non-spiritual aspect of it. I have not experienced the spirituality of not owning anything but according to ancient Indian sages, according to Sai Baba, we will all reach a stage where we will lost interest in every single thing in this world.

So, in continuation of the above example of your favourite toy not being your favourite anymore, I will give you another side of the same example. Let's say you have given your toy to your little brother or sister, then your sister/brother will think "how can she give away such a lovely toy? I can't imagine not having that toy OR....I can't imagine not losing that toy"

BUT for you...you had your share of experience with it and you move on you are just happy without it.

So, in the case of a small example like Toy, it may take 1 month or 1 year or maximum of 5 years to lose interest. But in case of not having clothes, house, parents, food, it will take thousands and thousands of lives and still be happy without them. It is possible only for great Saints.


Even if they own something, they are still spiritual as long as they can let of go of them without any sadness or bad feeling in their hearts/minds. So, what Veda garu meant in saying "owning nothing is the characteristic of spiritual living" is also equal to having it and not caring for it. If you don't care whether you have those things or not, then even if they are with you, you are same and even if they are lost, you are still the same. That is called "owning nothing" being Spiritual. Hope I am not confusing you.



Sai Bandhus, these are some complex questions. Any takers?

Srushti, althought Baba is always there everywhere and in every person, it is also important for every person to recognize that Baba is in that person. Baba never created a situation like Bomb Blasts in Mumbai or the Tsunami in Burma. Baba also never created that situation where a patient has a serious problem admitted into the hospital. But inspite of not creating those situations, he is still there, watching those situations, watching people, and trying to help people who could recognize Baba. For example, in the Mumbai blasts, terrorists killed innocent people, so those killers do not recognize or believe in Baba or for that matter any God. They do not even believe in religion, prayers....they do not believe in Saints...they do not believe in love and respect for fellow citizens. Inspite of that, Baba is still there wathing them and being IN them. But do they recognize HIM? No...I hope I answered to your Satisfaction.

Also, definitely, I agree, it is Doctor's duty to rescue the patient, so why did you get the doubt that he going against Baba's will? Like I said just above, Baba is ever watching us in all the situations, and in this case, when the patient is seriously ill, Baba will rescue in the form of that doctor. Baba does not need to come physically as Sai Baba of Shirdi to come there. Because Baba is everywhere and in every person, He will try to rescue the patient in the form of the doctor. But being a patient, sometimes, we reap the bad things also according to what we may have done in this live of previous life. This aspect is called Karma and unfortunately, it is too big of a topic to be discussed by just you and me. And it also takes lot of time to understand even the simple definition of Karma. But just as a quick example, I will try to make you understand the importance of Karma and reaping good/bad benefits as per our actions.

For example, let's suppose, as a 25 year old man,I start eating lots of fatty food, oily food, sugary drinks etc etc. I do that on day one, I don't notice it. I do it on day two, I don't notice it. I keep on doing it for weeks, months, years. My body slowly starts decomposing. So, by the time I am 35, I am over-weight and I have lots of bodily problems. In the same way, mentally, I think of doing bad to others, 10% on day one 15% on day two etc etc, and in ten years time, I start doing bad things to other people my mind is completely filled with bad thoughts.

In both the situations above, I did it myself. Who gave me the thoughts? Suddenly, at the age of 35, I read Master's book or Sai Baba's book and I start to think maybe I am doing wrong, maybe my actions are incorrect. So, now, when I ask Baba like this .."Baba please remove my bodily discomfort, please forgive my actions for what I did to other people..." Then Baba or for that matter any God or any Saint does not agree to that. That is the law of the universe. Every single action that we do reaps something.

Then you might ask me, then why Pray Baba when everything is dependent on our actions. This is what is exactly discussed in Master gari book, "Sai Master Pravachanamulu" which your mom can teach you about, but let me cover that subject also. True our actions decide what we reap. But at the same time, if you closley look at it, we also need Baba to slowly erase what has been done, not by overnight cancellation of our actions but by slowly understanding our mistakes, and by slowly taking in our stride whatever hardship that we got. So, we need Baba to help us walk during the times of our hardship which are brought about by our own action. So, when I ate badly for 10 years, instead of asking Baba to remove my bad eating action, Baba will give me the strength to go through that hardship for some years and at the same time, HE will also give me the intelligence to not eat bad food anymore. So, this is like your mom is earning $3000 and she not only repays 1500$ for the loans taken but also 1500$ into your savings account for future happiness. So, when I follow Baba-given intelligence, what happens is, I go through the stomach pain for the bad eating, bravely and at the same time, I won't eat fatty and oily foods, and also I will drink lots of water. So, in a couple of years time, I am healthy again.

In this very detailed example, as you can see, we are reaping the result of our actions and at the same time, Baba is helping us go through those results in a nice way.

In the same way, a patient maybe seriously ill, but that is not created by Baba. He will watch that situation, but He will help accordingly as per the patient's belief and faith and his past actions.

Also, the patient's family will pray to Baba to make the patient healthy again, and there is nothing wrong in it Srushti. Although, it is not the ideal way of praying, it is nevertheless not a bad one. Almost 99.99% of us, will never be able to say "Baba, do whatever is right according to my actions done previously or in my previous life". So, we should infact ask Baba to decrease the patient's ill-health or atleast give the strength to go through with it. This will not only benfit the patient but also strengthens our faith in Baba. Don't you think so?


Srushti, we definitely forget that Baba is in everybody. All of us forget, not just sometimes, but all the time. Also you should observe, although saying Jai Sai Master every second is not possible (is it possible? you should answer that..) what we mean to say is, in normal conditions, we will definitely forget that Baba is in everybody. But the term "Jai Sai Master", if practised properly, will remind us of Baba and Master every time we say it in front of a person. So, it is like saying "Glory to the SaiMaster in you" to whoever you are saying "Jai Sai Master". Also, by saying Jai Sai Master, you will learn to see the person in a truly universal way. Let's say, your class mate ill-treated you, but you meet in a common gathering in a Sai Temple, when you say "Jai Sai Master", then you will truly forget that that person has ill-treated you and you will also truly forgive that person. So, Jai Sai Master is not only like a tonic for that person for his/her ill-behaviour but Jai Sai Master is also like a useful tool for you to recognize many important aspects of life.

Srushti, I will post further on this thread, once I collect my thoughts from Sai Master's books. Also, the reason I left the start of my answers blank, is because I have an idea on your questions but I don't know how to answer them. So, I will revisit those questions once I start collecting my thoughts so that I can clarify your doubts effectively.

Take care till then..

Jai Sai Master!

Jai Sai Master, Babu garu..
Jai Sai Master, Sai Bandhus..

Swayam garu, Jai Sai Master..


HE is the "doer" not based on Karma. He is the "Doer" to undo the bad karma that we got into and to improve the good karma that we did.

As an example, our Sadguru Sai Baba is both nirguna niraakaarudu and Saguna saakaarudu (I hope I typed it correctly but I do understand the meanings). As Nirguna Niraakaarudu, He keeps watching this universe, BEING THE UNIVERSE. And as Sakaarudu, He will take a physical form (one of the many things that He will do) to remove our bad karma and push us towards good karma.

So, as with the second example, HE is the "Doer" of destruction of our karma.

I know I gave a very vague example, but I hope you got the point.

Regards,
Jai Sai Master

Jai Sai Master!

Dear Asterias garu

Great! thanks for the references.My association with HIM started only since past 7 months.
I do have these books, I need to read them one by one. I didn't know that these questions
are discussed there.Thanks again.

Jai Sai Master!

Jai Sai Master.
Dear Srushti,
1) About Bushmen: Since childhood, we see everybody owning something and trying to own something better.We give value to somebody based upon how much he owns.That is how our society works.

Bushmen, since childhood, see everybody around them reacting to needs..such as hunger, thirst, shelter and security.If they feel hungry they hunt for food and eat for the day. If there is cold weather, they sit before fire. They see Mother Nature as a source for fulfilling their needs. Infact they don't know the concept of owning land, food, money etc.Because they are social beings by nature, they live together.

Even I don't know much about them...I  was just trying to put accross what Dwaraka Uncle meant while he was referring their name.

2) If your stomach is completely full, u dont feel like eating anything more... even if your delicious dishes are kept before u, isn't it? That would be the state of 100% spiritual life. It would be like an Extremely richman choosing to be simple.It is not about owning/ not owning things... it is about not having the desire to own them. A spiritually elevated person like baba is not bothered whether he has/doesn't have something. He is not disturbed even if everything he has is lost. There is no change in his peace of mind and happiness. On seeing him we know that he is not emotionally attached to anything. So there is no need for him to own something. That is what I meant when I said 'not owning something is  the characteristic feature of spiritual way of life'.

I will try to answer other questions in my next reply.
Jai Sai master.