A beautiful quote from Bhagwan Baba's divine discourses

He is in you, and it is He that has prompted you to project Him into the outer world, as this idol or that image, to listen to your outpouring and give you peace. 

Without the inspiration, solace, and joy that He confers from within, you will be raving mad, as one who has lost his moorings and is tossed about, rudderless on a stormy sea. 

Hold on to Him in the heart, hear Him whisper in the silent words of counsel and consolation. Hold converse with Him, guide your footsteps as He directs, and you reach the goal, safe and soon.

The picture before which you sit, the flowers which you place on it, the hymns you recite, the vows you impose on yourselves, the vigils you go through--these are activities that cleanse, that remove obstacles in the way of your getting aware of the God within.

What's in a name?

Although my name is spelt as 'Aarthi' and is pronounced as 'Aar-thee', over the years, I have noticed that some people used 'Aarathi' too and pronounced my name that way (as 'Aa-ra-thee').

Is there a difference in the meaning of the two? I guess there is. In fact, there is one line in the Sai Ashtottara Namavali that says 'Om Sri Sai Aarthi haraaya namaha'. In this context, 'Aarthi' actually means 'distress' and Swami is hailed as the 'Remover of distress'. The actual 'Aarathi' signifies the waving of camphor as an offering to God, in Hindu rituals and poojas. 

I'm sure my parents did not intend to give me a name that had a negative meaning, when they named me as a child. However, now, when I delve deeper into the significance of the name, I feel there are two ways of interpreting it.

Once, during my college days, when I had to meet the principal for some approval, he asked my name and how it was spelt. That time, he remarked that my name had a negative connotation and that I should probably consider adding another 'A' and make it 'Aarathi', so that the positive meaning was conveyed. I just shrugged and didn't give much thought to it.

I even remember how one of my lecturers always called me 'Aa-ra-thee' and never as 'Aarthi'. I used to get bugged, as I felt 'Aarthi' was the right way my name should be pronounced. In fact, one of my close friends always used to tease me about this and he would first say 'Aa-ra-thee' and then say 'Oh sorry! I mean, Aarthi' and then he would proceed to talk to me. Sometimes, I used to get angry with him. At other times, I used to laugh it off. Even now, in his emails, sometimes, he uses 'Aarathi' only. :)

Now, when I ruminate over the name and its meaning, I realize that I am Swami's child and I should feel very grateful that my parents chose a name that has such a profound meaning. I'm firmly convinced that I must strive to become the perfect offering for Him. As if to resonate my thoughts, a Google search led to this on Wikipedia — Aa means 'towards or to', and 'rati' means 'right or virtue' in Sanskrit. 

It is a well-known practice in Hindu rituals to offer the Aarthi with camphor. There is an inner significance to the use of camphor. Have you noticed that there is no trace left behind when the camphor burns?

"The waving of the camphor flame at the end of the bhajan sessions or any pooja is to remind you that your sensual cravings must be burnt away without leaving any trace behind, and you must offer yourself to God for being merged with His Glory." – Baba

I don't claim to be the perfect offering to God. In fact, most often, I find myself lacking in so many aspects. But, yes, Swami has touched my life and has turned it around. He is slowly but surely transforming me. And I am confident that eventually, He will make me merge in Him.

Although I cannot change the way my name is spelt, I can definitely try to achieve the goal of living up to the phrase 'offering to God'. Just as the camphor burns itself out and is reduced to nothing, I pray to Swami to help me slowly burn away all the vices and desires within me and transform myself from 'Aarthi' to the perfect 'Aarathi', worthy of being offered to Swami.

In you, around you, behind you, above you, below you

“I am in you, around you, behind you, above you, below you.... I am always with you” – Bhagawan Baba

What a statement! I experienced what this means in real terms today.

During the end of my college days, I had asked my friends to write their thoughts and wishes for me in autograph books, which I felt would be a good storehouse of memories for me during later years. And yes, I did feel very nice and warm inside, later on, whenever I revisited those books.  

But, of late, I've kinda outgrown the need to maintain them, 'coz I cherish the memories deep inside my heart and don't feel the need to have the books in the physical form any longer. Hence, a few days ago, I shredded the papers that contained writings from these books. I took out the unused papers so that mom and I can use them as scribble pads at home.

Today, I just wanted to double check whether I'd overlooked taking out any pages that contained writings in them. I found a couple. I read my friends' jottings once before shredding the papers. And this is what I found from one friend – "All the best for a great future. May Baba's blessings be with you." :)

Apparently, the person who'd written this had known that I'm a Sai devotee during my college days itself. :)

I felt so happy and definitely blessed to see these lines today. And it made me wonder how Swami had planned an incident in my past and made me revisit the lines today! :) Isn't it amazing?

This is yet another small incident in my life, but a very powerful reminder that Swami is always with me and indeed, each of us, at all times :) He knows the past, the present, and the future of every being! That is for sure. 

It's such an incredible, inexplicable experience to be so tuned to the Divine Presence all the time, every day. Truly exhilarating! I hope and pray He makes me continue to feel His presence every day and every moment. :)

Message from God - Direct Dil Se

My heart was yearning for a direct message from God today and I found it in the most unlikely manner. 

I was watching a video from Souljourns about the Christmas celebrations in 2009 in Prasanthi Nilayam. (You can watch the video at http://vimeo.com/33382564)

I did not watch the video entirely but kept forwarding and pausing to watch at places where the proceedings interested me (or the music). At one point, I noticed that the video had zoomed in on the lyrics of a song which the choir was practising.

And the lyrics on my screen at that particular moment where I'd paused the video ran thus: "Give your heart unto Swami. Give Him first place in your life. He will guide you & guard you & care for you, through all of life's worry and strife."

That was enough for me. :) So poignant! It was definitely not by chance that i happened to pause the video at exactly that point where these lines came up. What a way Swami chose to send me this message. He thinks of the most innovative methods. :) Simply amazing! He's truly a master planner.

Thank you Swami for making my day with this beautiful incident. And for reaffirming my faith in you every day. It just keeps growing and growing.

Omnipresent Sai

Two incidents that occurred today just reaffirmed that God is always with each of us, at all times. No doubt about it! He knows every little thought we have, every word we speak, every breath we take, every action we do. 

I dunno why but in the last couple of years, I've taken a preference for varying shades of purple in many of my clothes purchases. I have salwars and sarees in shades of lavender, purple, etc. Today, when I went out, I just happened to choose a salwar from my wardrobe in this color combination - purple, white, and pink.

To my utter amazement, sometime later in the day, I read an article on theprasanthireporter.org where I saw this beautiful photo of Swami with a young lady, who was wearing a similar color combination.

 

(To read this article, pls go to this link - http://www.theprasanthireporter.org/2011/12/my-experience-with-sathya-sai-baba-in-darshan/)

What astounded me more was that in the article, she mentions how Swami directed her in a dream to choose this color combination and wear it during her talk in Dec 2009 in Sai Kulwant Hall in Prasanthi Nilayam. And the icing on the cake was the significance she attributes to each of the colors (white for 'peace', pink for 'love all, serve all', and purple for 'transformation'). I was simply stunned! These colors had a significance 'coz I'd worn them today. Moreover, the message for each color left me speechless.

Although this might seem a rather small incident, I personally feel that Swami had sent me a strong message today. He willed that I should read this article today. Yes, He has transformed me; yes, He has filled me with peace; and yes, He has taught me to love all and serve all (and I am trying my best to do that). 

What a revelation, esp. the part about 'transformation'! Amazing! I can only say a silent prayer to Him in gratitude for everything He's doing for me. 

The other incident was that I happened to post a comment on a blog today where I mentioned the foll. point - Swami once said,  "I know everything but pretend as though I know nothing. Man knows nothing, but pretends he knows everything." 

I listened to a talk downloaded from Radio Sai in which the lady being interviewed echoes the same point -

"In truth, Swami knows all about our past, future and present. But He feigns ignorance. Someone asked Swami what was the most difficult task for Him. He replied, “To pretend that I do not know anything despite knowing everything.”

I smiled to myself when I heard these lines. What more proof does one need to believe in His omnipresence? If we firmly believe that God is always with us, we would certainly watch every single thought, act, and word of ours. That way, we only stand to gain, because every good thing gets accumulated in our deposit as credit. By doing, being, and seeing good, we can save ourselves from a lot of future misery. 

Do read the transcript at http://media.radiosai.org/Journals/Vol_09/01MAR11/04-niranjana.htm and you'll understand how we can maintain good credit in our account with God.

Amazing lessons today!

Sai Inspires - Difference between fortitude and patience

Generally, people seek only happiness and joy; under no circumstance do they desire misery and grief! They treat happiness and joy as their closest well-wishers, and misery and grief as their sworn enemies. This is a great mistake. 

When you are happy, the risk of grief is great; fear of losing the happiness will haunt you. Misery prompts inquiry, discrimination, self-examination and fear of worse things that might happen. It awakens you from sloth and conceit. 

Face the dualities of life with thithiksha (fortitude). But be aware, thithiksha is different from patience (Sahana). 

Patience is putting up with something; tolerating or bearing with it because you have no other choice. 

Fortitude is having the capacity to overcome it, but yet, disregarding it - that is the spiritual discipline. 

Putting up with the external world of duality with inner equanimity and peace is the path that will lead you to liberation. 

Bear all, with analytical discrimination - this type of patience will yield good results.

-- Sri Sathya Sai

Inspiring quote to commence the new month

Got this from my Neale Donald subscriptions.

I believe God wants you to know...
...that the quality of one's life is 

in direct proportion to one's commitment 

to excellence, regardless of their endeavor.

Vince Lombardi said that, and he was right.

Are you committed to excellence in everything you think and say and do? 

Ah, yes, it is about thoughts and words too, not just about actions. 

Are your thoughts and words excellent?
And your actions, too?

This does not mean that you must be without errors, by the way,
but only that you must seek to correct them. 

Do not confuse excellence with perfection. 

The first is possible to achieve; the second is probably not.