Stop Fuming and Fretting - 3

Stop Fuming and Fretting - 3

In attaining emotional control the daily practice of healing techniques is of first importance. Emotional control cannot be gained in any magical or easy way. You cannot develop it by merely reading a book, although that is often helpful. The only sure method is by working at it regularly, persistently, scientifically, and by developing creative faith.


I suggest that you begin with such a primary procedure as simply the practice of keeping physically still. Don’t pace the floor. Don’t wring your hands. Don’t pound or shout or argue or walk up and down. Don’t let yourself get worked up into a dither. In excitement one’s physical movements become accentuated. Therefore begin at the simplest place, that is by ceasing physical movement. Stand still, sit down, lie down. Certainly keep the voice down to a low pitch.


In developing a calm control it is necessary to think calmness, for the body responds sensitively to the type of thoughts that pass through the mind. It is also true that the mind can be quieted by first making the body quiet. That is to say, a physical attitude can induce desired mental attitudes.


In a speech I related the following incident which occurred in a committee meeting I attended. A gentleman who heard me tell this story was greatly impressed by it and took its truth to heart. He tried the technique suggested and reports that it has been very effective in controlling his fuming and fretting.


I was in a meeting where a discussion was going on which finally became rather bitter. Tempers were becoming frayed and some of the participants were decidedly on edge. Sharp remarks were passed. Suddenly one man arose, deliberately took off his coat, opened his collar, and lay down upon a couch. All were astonished, and someone asked if he felt ill.


"No," he said, "I feel fine, but I am beginning to get mad, and I have learned that it is difficult to get mad lying down."


We all laughed, and the tension was broken. Then our whimsical friend went on to explain that he had "tried a little trick" with himself. He had a quick temper, and when he felt himself getting mad he found that he was clenching his fist and raising his voice, so he deliberately extended his fingers, not allowing them to form into a fist. In proportion to the rising of his tension or anger, he depressed his voice and talked in exaggerated low tones. "You cannot carry on an argument in a whisper," he said with a grin.


This principle can be effective in controlling emotional excitements, fretting, and tension, as many have discovered by experimentation. A beginning step, therefore, in achieving calmness is to discipline your physical reactions. You will be surprised at how quickly this can reduce the heat of your emotions, and when emotional heat is driven off, fuming and fretting subside. You will be amazed at the energy and power you will save. You will be much less tired.


It is, moreover, a good procedure to practice being phlegmatic or apathetic, even indifferent. To a certain extent even practice being sluggish. People thus constituted are less likely to emotional breaks. Highly organized individuals may do well to cultivate these reactions to a degree at least.


Naturally one does not want to lose the keen, sensitive responsiveness characteristic of the highly organized individual. But the practice of being phlegmatic tends to bring such a keyed-up personality to a balanced emotional position.


Following is a technique consisting of six points which I have personally found of great helpfulness in reducing the tendency to fume and fret. I have suggested its use to countless people who practice it and find it of great value:


1. Sit relaxed in a chair. Completely yield yourself to the chair. Starting with your toes and proceeding to the top of your head, conceive of every portion of the body as relaxing. Affirm relaxation by saying, "My toes are relaxed—my fingers—my facial muscles."


2. Think of your mind as the surface of a lake in a storm, tossed by waves and in tumult. But now the waves subside, and the surface of the lake is placid and unruffled.


3. Spend two or three minutes thinking of the most beautiful and peaceful scenes you have ever beheld, as, for example, a mountain at sunset, or a deep valley filled with the hush of early morning, or a woods at noonday, or moonlight upon rippling waters. In memory relive these scenes.


4. Repeat slowly, quietly, bringing out the melody in each, a series of words which express quietness and peace, as, for example, (a) tranquility (say it very deliberately and in a tranquil manner); (b) serenity; (c) quietness. Think of other such words and repeat them.


5. Make a mental list of times in your life when you have been conscious of God’s watchful care and recall how, when you were worried and anxious, He brought things out right and took care of you. Then recite aloud this line from an old hymn, "So long Thy power hath kept me, sure it STILL will lead me on."


6. Repeat the following, which has an amazing power to relax and quiet the mind: "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee." (Isa 26:3) Repeat this several times during the day, whenever you have a fraction of a moment. Repeat it aloud if possible, so that by the end of the day you will have said it many times. Conceive of these words as active, vital substances permeating your mind, sending into every area of your thinking a healing balm. This is the best-known medicine for taking tension from the mind.


As you work with the techniques suggested in this chapter, the tendency to fume and fret will gradually be modified. In direct proportion to your progress the power heretofore drawn off by this unhappy habit will be felt in your increased ability to meet life’s responsibilities.


(From: Power Of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale)

Stop Fuming and Fretting - 2

Stop Fuming and Fretting - 2


A prominent manufacturer was afflicted with tension, in fact, he was in a very high-strung frame of mind. As he himself described it, "he leapt out of bed every morning and immediately got himself into high gear. He was in such a rush and dither that he ‘made his breakfast on soft-boiled eggs because they slid down fast.’ " This hectic pace left him tagged and worn at about midday. He sank into bed every night exhausted.


It so happens that his home is situated in a grove of trees. Very early one morning, unable to sleep, he arose and sat by the window. He became interested in watching a bird emerge from his night’s sleep. He noticed that a bird sleeps with his head under his wing, the feathers pulled all around himself. When he awakened, he pulled his bill out from under his feathers, took a sleepy look around, stretched one leg to its full length, meanwhile stretching the wing over the leg until it spread out like a fan. He pulled the leg and wing back and then repeated the same process with
the other leg and wing, whereupon he put his head down in his feathers again for a delicious little cat nap (only in this case a bird nap), then the head came out again. This time the bird looked around eagerly, threw his head back, gave his wings and legs two more big stretches, then he sent up a song, a thrilling, melodic song of praise to the day, wherewith he hopped down off the limb, got himself a drink of cold water, and started looking for food.


My high-strung friend said to himself, "If that’s the way the birds get up, sort of slow and easy like, why wouldn’t it be a good method for me to start the day that way?" He actually went through the same performance, even to singing, and noticed that the song was an especially beneficial factor, that it was a releasing mechanism.


"I can’t sing," he chuckled, "but I practiced sitting quietly in a chair and singing. Mostly I sang hymns and happy songs. Imagine me singing, but I did. My wife thought I was bereft of my senses. The only thing I had on the bird was that I did a little praying, too, then, like the bird, I felt like some food, and I wanted a good breakfast—bacon and eggs. And I took my time eating it. After that I went to work in a released frame of mind. It surely did start me off for the day minus the tension, and it helped me go through the day in a peaceful and relaxed manner."


A former member of a championship university crew told me that their shrewd crew coach often reminded them, "To win this or any race, row slowly." He pointed out that rapid rowing tends to break the stroke and when the stroke is broken it is with the greatest difficulty that a crew recovers the rhythm necessary to win. Meanwhile other crews pass the disorganized group. It is indeed wise advice—"To go fast, row slowly."


In order to row slowly or to work slowly and maintain the steady pace that wins, the victim of high tempo will do well to get the co-ordinating peace of God into his mind, his soul, and, it might be added, into his nerves and muscles also.


Have you ever considered the importance of having the peace of God in your muscles, in your joints? Perhaps your joints will not pain so much when they have the peace of God in them. Your muscles will work with correlation when the peace of God who created them governs their action. Speak to your muscles every day and to your joints and to your nerves, saying, "Fret not thyself." (Ps 37:1) Relax on a couch or bed, think of each important muscle from head to feet, and say to each, "The peace of God is touching you." Then practice "feeling" that peace throughout your entire body. In due course your muscles and joints will take heed.


Slow down, tor whatever you really want will be there when you get there if you work toward it without stress, without pressing. If, proceeding under God’s guidance and in His smooth and unhurried tempo, it is not there, then it was not supposed to be there. If you miss it, perhaps you should have missed it. So definitely seek to develop a normal, natural, God-ordered pace. Practice and preserve mental quiet. Learn the art of letting go all nervous excitement. To do this, stop at intervals and affirm, "I now relinquish nervous excitement—it is flowing from me. I am at peace." Do not fume. Do not fret. Practice being peaceful.


To attain this efficient state of living, I recommend the practice of thinking peaceful thoughts. Every day we perform a series of acts designed to care for the body properly. We bathe, brush the teeth, take exercise. In similar fashion we should give time and planned effort to keeping the mind in a healthy state. One way to do this is to sit quietly and pass a series of peaceful thoughts through the mind. For example, pass through the thoughts the memory of a lofty mountain, a misty valley, a sun-speckled trout stream, silver moonlight on water.


At least once in every twenty-four hours, preferably in the busiest part of the day, deliberately stop whatever you are doing for ten or fifteen minutes and practice serenity.


There are times when it is essential resolutely to check our headlong pace, and it must be emphasized that the only way to stop is to stop.


I went to a certain city on a lecture date and was met at the train by a committee. I was rushed to a bookstore where I had an autographing party and then to another bookstore where another autographing party was held. Then they rushed me to a luncheon. After rushing through the luncheon I was rushed to a meeting. After the meeting I was rushed back to the hotel where I changed my clothes and was rushed to a reception where I met several hundred people and drank three glasses of fruit punch. Then I was rushed back to the hotel and told I had twenty minutes to dress for dinner. When I was getting dressed the telephone rang and somebody said, "Hurry, hurry, we must rush down to dinner."


Excitedly I chattered, "I will rush right down."


I rushed from the room and was so excited that I could scarcely get the key into the lock. Hastily I felt myself, to be sure that I was completely dressed, and rushed toward the elevator. All of a sudden I stopped. I was out of breath. I asked myself, "What is this all about? What is the meaning of this ceaseless rush? This is ridiculous!"


Then I declared independence, and said, "I do not care if I go to dinner. I do not care whether I make a talk. I do not have to go to this dinner and I do not have to make a speech." So deliberately and slowly I walked back to my room and took my time about unlocking the door. I telephoned the man downstairs and said, "If you want to eat, go ahead. If you want to save a place for me, I will be down after a while, but I am not going to rush any more."


So I removed my coat, sat down, took off my shoes, put my feet up on the table, and just sat. Then I opened the Bible and very slowly read aloud the 121st Psalm, "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills from whence cometh my help." I closed the book and had a little talk with myself, saying, "Come on now, start living a slower and more relaxed life," and then I affirmed, "God is here and His peace is touching me. I do not need anything to eat," I reasoned. "I eat too much anyway. Besides, the dinner will probably not be very good, and I am quiet now. I will give a better speech at eight o’clock."


So I sat there resting and praying for fifteen minutes. I shall never forget the sense of peace and personal mastery I had when I walked out of that room. I had the glorious feeling of having overcome something, of having taken control of myself emotionally, and when I reached the dining room the others had just finished the first course. All I missed was the soup, which by general consent was no great loss. This incident was an amazing experience of the healing presence of God. I gained these values by simply stopping, by quietly reading the Bible, by sincerely praying, and by thinking some peaceful thoughts tor a few moments.


Physicians generally seem to feel that much physical trouble could be avoided or overcome by practicing the philosophy and methodology of not fuming or fretting. A prominent citizen of New York told me that his doctor suggested that he come to our clinic at the church "because," said his physician, "you need to develop a calm philosophy of living. Your power resources are played out."


"My doctor says I am pushing myself to the limit. He tells me I’m too tense, too high-strung, that I fume and fret too much, and," he concluded, "my doctor declares the only sure cure is for me to develop what he calls a calm philosophy of living." My visitor arose and paced the floor, then demanded, "But how in the world can I do that? It’s a lot easier said than done."


Then this excited gentleman went on to say that his doctor had given him certain suggestions for developing this calm philosophy of living. The suggestions as outlined were indeed wise. "But then," he explained, "the doctor suggested that I see you people here at the church, for he feels that if I learn to use religious faith in a practical manner it will give me peace of mind and bring down my blood pressure. Then I will feel better physically. While I realize the doctor’s
prescription is sensible," he complained, "how can a man fifty years old, of a high-strung nature such as mine, suddenly change the habits of a lifetime and develop this so-called calm philosophy of living?"


That did indeed seem to be a problem, for he was a bundle of excitable and explosive nerves. He paced the floor, he thumped the table, his voice was high-pitched. He gave the impression of a thoroughly disturbed and baffled man. Obviously he was showing up at his worst, but he was clearly revealing the inner state of his personality, and the insight thus gained gave us a chance to , help him through understanding him better.


As I listened to his words and observed his attitude, I again understood why Jesus Christ retains his remarkable hold on men. It is because He has the answer to such problems as this, and I proved that fact by suddenly changing the line of the conversation. Without any introductory words I began to recite certain Bible texts such as, "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (Mt 11:28) And again, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." (Joh 14:27) And still again, "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee." (Isa 26:3)


I recited these words slowly, deliberately, reflectively. As this reciting went on, I noticed that my visitor stopped being agitated. Quietness came over him and then we both sat in silence. It seemed that we sat so for several minutes. Perhaps it wasn’t that long, but finally he took a deep breath.


"Why, that’s funny," he said. "I feel a lot better, Isn’t that queer? I guess it was those words that did it."


"No, not the words alone," I answered, "though they do have a remarkable effect upon the mind, but something deeper happened just then. He touched you a minute ago—the Physician with the healing touch. He was present in this room."


My visitor evidenced no surprise at this assertion, but eagerly and impetuously agreed—and conviction was written on his face. "That’s right. He sure was. I felt Him. I see what you mean. Now I understand—Jesus Christ will help me develop a calm philosophy of living."


This man found what increasing thousands are presently discovering, that a simple faith in and practice of the principles and techniques of Christianity bring peace and quietness and therefore new power to body, mind, and spirit. It is the perfect antidote to fuming and to fretting. It helps a person to become peaceful and thus to tap new resources of strength.


Of course it was necessary to teach this man a new pattern of thinking and acting. This was done in part by suggesting literature written by experts in the field of spiritual culture. For example, we gave him lessons in the skill of church going. We showed him how to make church worship a therapy. He was instructed in the scientific use of prayer and relaxation. And as a result of this practice eventually he became a healthy man. Anyone willing to follow this program and sincerely put these principles into day-by-day practice can, I believe, develop inner peace and power. Many of these techniques are outlined in this book.

(From: Power Of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale)

Stop Fuming and Fretting - 1

Stop Fuming and Fretting - 1

MANY PEOPLE MAKE life unnecessarily difficult for themselves by dissipating power and energy through fuming and fretting.

Do you ever "fume" and "fret?" Here is a picture of yourself if you do. The word "fume" means to boil up, to blow off, to emit vapor, to be agitated, to be distraught, to seethe. The word "fret" is equally descriptive. It is reminiscent of a sick child in the night, a petulant half-cry, half-whine. It ceases, only to begin again. It has an irritating, annoying, penetrating quality. To fret is a childish term, but it describes the emotional reaction of many adults.


The Bible advises us to "Fret not thyself . . ."( Ps 37:1) This is sound advice for the people of our time. We need to stop fuming and fretting and get peaceful if we are to have power to live effectively. And how do we go about doing so? A first step is to reduce your pace or at least the tempo of your pace. We do not realize how accelerated the rate of our lives has become, or the speed at which we are driving ourselves. Many people are destroying their physical bodies by this pace, but what is even more tragic, they are tearing their minds and souls to shreds as well. It is possible for a person to live a quiet existence physically and yet maintain a high tempo emotionally. Even an invalid can live at too high a pace from that standpoint. The character of our thoughts determines pace. When the mind goes rushing on pell-mell from one feverish attitude to another it becomes feverish and the result is a state bordering on petulance. The pace of modern life must be reduced if we are not to suffer profoundly from its debilitating over-stimulation and super-excitement. This over-stimulation produces toxic poisons in the body and
creates emotional illness. It produces fatigue and a sense of frustration so that we fume and fret about everything from our personal troubles to the state of the nation and the world. If the effect of this emotional disquiet is so pronounced physically, what must its effect be on that deep inner essence of the personality known as the soul?


It is impossible to have peace of soul if the pace is so feverishly accelerated. God won’t go that fast. He will not endeavor to keep up with you. He says in effect, "Go ahead it you must with this foolish pace and when you are worn out I will offer my healing. But I can make your life so rich if you will slow down now and live and move and have your being in me." God moves imperturbably, slowly, and with perfect organization. The only wise rate at which to live is God’s rate. God gets things done and they are done right and He does them without hurry. He neither fumes nor frets. He is peaceful and therefore efficient. This same peace is offered to
us—"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you . . ."( Joh 14:27) In a sense this is a pathetic generation, especially in the great cities because of the effect of nervous tension, synthetic excitement, and noise; but the malady extends into the country districts also, for the air waves transmit tension.


I was amused by an old lady who, in talking about this matter, said, "Life is so daily." That remark certainly spoke volumes about the pressure, responsibilities, and tension of daily life. Its persistent, insistent demand upon us is provocative of pressure.


One wonders whether this generation of Americans is not so accustomed to tension that many are in the unhappy state of not being comfortable without it. The deep quietness of woods and valleys so well known to our forefathers is an unaccustomed state to them. The tempo of their lives is such that in many instances they have an incapacity to draw upon the sources of peace and quietness which the physical world offers.


One summer afternoon my wife and I went for a long walk in the woods. We were stopping at the beautiful Lake Mohonk Mountain House which is set in one of the finest natural parks in America, 7,500 acres of virgin mountain- side in the middle of which is a lake lying like a gem in the forest. The word mohonk means "lake in the sky." Aeons ago some giant upheaval of the earth cast up these sheer cliffs. You come out of the deep woods onto some noble promontory and rest your eyes on great valleys set among hills, rock-ribbed and ancient as the sun. These woods, mountains, and valleys constitute what ought to be a sure retreat from every confusion of this world.


On this afternoon as we walked there was a mixture of summer showers and sunlit hours. We were drenched and started to fret about it a bit because it took the press out of our clothes. Then we told each other that it doesn’t hurt a human being to get drenched with clean rain water, that the rain feels cool and fresh on one’s face, and that you can always sit in the sun and dry yourself out. We walked under the trees and talked and then fell silent.


We were listening, listening deeply to the quietness. In a strict sense, the woods are never still. There is tremendous activity always in process, but nature makes no strident noises regardless of the vastness of its operation. Nature’s sounds are quiet, harmonious. On this beautiful afternoon, nature was laying its hand of healing quietness upon us, and we could actually feel the tension being drawn off. Just as we were falling under this spell, the faint sounds of what passes for music came to us. It was nervous, high-strung music of the jitterbug variety. Presently through the woods came three young people, two young women and a young man, and the latter was lugging a portable radio.


They were three young city people out for a walk in the woods and tragically enough were bringing their noise along with them. They were nice young folk, too, for they stopped and we had a pleasant talk with them. It occurred to me to ask them to turn that thing off and listen to the music of the woods, but I didn’t feel it was my business to instruct them, and finally they went on their way.


We commented on the loss they were incurring, that they could pass through this peacefulness and not give ear to the music that is as old as the world, harmony and melody the like of which man has never equaled: the song of the wind through the trees, the sweet notes of birds singing their hearts out, the whole background of the music of the spheres.


This is still to be found in America in our woods and great plains, in our valleys, in our mountain majesties, and where the ocean foams on soft shores of sand. We should avail ourselves of its healing. Remember the words of Jesus, "Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest awhile." (Mr 6:31) Even as I write these words and give you this good advice, I recall instances where it has been necessary to remind myself to practice the same truth, which emphasizes that we must everlastingly discipline ourselves to quietness if we expect its benefits in our lives.


One autumn day Mrs. Peale and I took a trip into Massachusetts to see our son John at Deerfield Academy. We told him we would arrive at 11 A. M., and we pride ourselves on the good old American custom of promptness. Therefore, being a bit behind schedule, we were driving at breakneck speed through the autumnal landscape. My wife said, "Norman, did you see that radiant hillside?"


"What hillside?" I asked.


"It just went by on the other side," she explained.


"Look at that beautiful tree."


"What tree?" I was already a mile past it.


"This is one of the most glorious days I have ever seen," my wife said. "How could you possibly imagine such amazing colors as these New England hillsides in October? In fact," she said, "it makes me happy inside."


That remark of hers so impressed me that I stopped the car and went back a quarter of a mile to a lake backed by towering hills dressed in autumn colors. We sat and looked and meditated. God with His genius and skill had painted that scene in the varied colors which He alone can mix. In the still waters of the lake lay a reflected vision of His glory, for the hillside was unforgettably pictured in that mirrorlike pond.


For quite a while we sat without a word until finally my wife broke the silence by the only appropriate statement that one could make, "He leadeth me beside the still waters." (Ps 23:2) We arrived at Deerfield at eleven, but we were not tired. In fact, we were deeply refreshed.


To help reduce this tension which seems to dominate our people everywhere, you can start by reducing your own pace. To do that you will need to slow down, quiet down. Do not fume. Do not fret. Practice being peaceful. Practice "the peace of God which passeth all understanding." (Php 4:7) Then note the quiet power sense that wells up within you.


A friend of mine who was compelled to take an enforced rest as a result of "pressure" wrote me, "Many lessons have been learned during this enforced retreat. Now I know better than before that in the quiet we become aware of His presence. Life can get muddled. But ‘muddied water,’ says Lao-tse, ‘let stand, will become clear.’"


A physician gave some rather whimsical advice to a patient, an aggressive, go-getter type of businessman. Excitedly he told the doctor what an enormous amount of work he had to do and that he had to get it done right away quick or else.


"I take my brief case home every night and it’s packed with work," he said with nervous inflection.


"Why do you take work home with you at night?" the doctor asked quietly.


"I have to get it done," he fumed.


"Cannot someone else do it, or help you with it?" asked the doctor,


"No," the man snapped. "I am the only one who can do it. It must be done just right, and I alone can do it as it must be done, and it has to be done quickly. Everything depends upon me."


"If I write you a prescription, will you follow it?" asked the doctor.


This, believe it or not, was the prescription. His patient was to take off two hours every working day and go for a long walk. Then he was to take off a half-day a week and spend that half-day in a cemetery.


In astonishment the patient demanded, "Why should I spend a half-day in a cemetery?"


"Because," answered the doctor, "I want you to wander around and look at the gravestones of men who are there permanently. I want you to meditate on the fact that many of them are there because they thought even as you do, that the whole world rested on their shoulders. Meditate on the solemn fact that when you get there permanently the world will go on just the same and, as important as you are, others will be able to do the work you are now doing. I suggest that you sit on one of those tombstones and repeat this statement, ‘. . . a thousand years in Thy sight are
but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.’ "( Ps 90:4)


The patient got the idea. He slowed his pace. He learned to delegate authority. He achieved a proper sense of his own importance. He stopped fuming and fretting. He got peaceful. And, it might be added, he does better work. He is developing a more competent organization and he admits that his business is in better condition.


(From: Power Of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale)

Divine Dews from Shri Sai Satcharitra

Divine Dews from Shri Sai Satcharitra

The sense of differentiation as I and thou, is the barrier, that keeps away the disciple from his master and unless that is destroyed the state of union or atonement is not possible. (SSS Ch.XVIII & XIX)

Saburi is the mine of virtues, consort of good thought. (SSS Ch.XVIII & XIX)

I do not need any paraphernalia of worship-either eight-fold or sixteen-fold. (SSS Ch.XIII)

It is a great favour that I saw your feet, I consider Myself blessed thereby. (SSS Ch.X)

I shall never speak untruth (SSS Ch.IX)

The Lord is always brother (befriender) of the poor. (SSS Ch.V)

Baba's Talk with Devotees

Baba's Talk with Devotees

In Vaisak 1914, Bhima went from Bombay to Baba desirous of seeing some chamatkars of Baba. When afternoon Arati was over;

Baba: All of you clear off. You must remain inside your lodgings and not wander about in the open and you must come again when sent for.

When Baba said this, it was clear weather. But very soon a furious gale blew ripping off the zinc sheets on the top of building and threatening to blow down houses. It stopped in 15 minutes of cloudy weather. Thereafter the sun shone with fierce heat. Then Baba sending for all said:

"Are you terrified?" then Bhima fell at his feet and cried for joy.

Baba: Do not fear. This is the play of God. Many more of such plays you may see.

Baba said

Baba said


If you avoid rivalries and bickerings, God will protect you.

Return not evil for evil.

Return good for evil.

Other's words cannot harm you.

BABA AND HUMOUR (3)

BABA AND HUMOUR (3)

We shall mention another occasion when Baba conferred the remarkable power of production or materialisation upon Kusa Bhav while having some fun at his expense. Kusa Bhav had developed his mantric side with the help of a low species of mantras, which resulted in the production of articles belonging to various persons and their transfer to his hands. Baba, when Kusa Bhav came to his feet,directed him to refrain from such sinful practices, and the poor man was regretting that the glorious powers which he had and the fame, which he obtained thereby, were all lost. One day when he approached Baba, Baba asked him, `What did you eat to-day?' Kusa Bhav said, `Nothing, because it is Ekadasi today'. Baba pretended not to know what Ekadasi was, and asked, `What does Ekadasi mean?' Kusa Bhav said, `It is a day for Upavasa'.

Baba again pretended not to know: What is Upavasa?

Kusa Bhav seriously in Hindustani: Rojas, Upavasa is like Rojas.

Baba: What is Rojas?

Kusa Bhav: We fast, that is, we do not eat anything except Kanda Moola. By Kanda Moola, Kusa Bhav meant Ratalai, that is sweet potatoes.

Baba here played a joke. Kanda if slightly lengthened in the first vowel, will become Kaanda, which means onion. Baba then said, `Oh! It is Kaanda you are eating'. Baba, taking a piece of onion gave it toKusa Bhav, saying, `Eat it'. Orthodox people have strong objection to eating onions; especially on an Ekadasi day. Kusa Bhav, finding that Baba was forcing on him unorthodox food, said, Baba, if you eat it, Iwill'. Baba had no orthodoxy and no heterodoxy. So, he ate some. Kusa Bhav also therefore ate some. By this time visitors were arriving. Baba wanted to have some fun, and said, `Look at this Bamnia, he eats onion on Ekadasi day'. Kusa Bhav explained, `Baba himself ate it and so I did'. But Baba said, `No I ate Kanda, that is, sweet potatoes, Ratalai. then Baba vomited Ratalai. Here was the wonder. What had been eaten by Baba was onion, and he was surprised to see that Baba vomited Ratalai. this again is Yatha sankalpa samsiddhi, a very high yogic power which is part of Baba divine equipment of powers. KusaBhav was surprised to see Baba's vomiting Ratanlai, and he fell upon it and the vomit. Baba beat him, saying, `Why do you eat the vomit?' But Kusa Bhav did not mind it. Baba's heart then melted and He wasanxious to give a blessing that would please Kusa Bhav. What Kusa Bhav wanted was power to produce materials. So, Baba said, `I hereby give you my blessings, I give you this power. think of me and hold forth your palm, and in your palm you will have my prasad, that is, warm udhi from the dhuni. Give it, and it will help all the people who receive it, being blessings from me'. It was a very valuable power, which did not require repetition of any mantra, but merely that he should think of Baba and hold forth his palm. but while conferring such a grand benefit on Kusa Bhav and upon others dealing with him. Baba employed his practical joke and played a pun upon the word Kanda and next vomited one thing when he had eaten another, all for the purpose of a practical joke. The end of all the humour and joke was the conferment on Kusa Bhav of a very valuable power, which he exercised right up to the end of his life. Here again, we see the human and the divine feature of Baba, especially the kindness which gave power to a devotee, so closely intermixed with pun and playing tricks. At meal time, it appears, he would often be joking with people and making them eat more and eat heartily. For instance, he might say to one , `Are you afraid you will be impoverishing Baba's Sansthan?' Eat heartily.

(Courtesy: HH Pujyasri B.V. Narasimha Swamiji)

BABA AND HUMOUR (2)

BABA AND HUMOUR (2)

On one occasion, when Shama was bitten by a serpent, he was advised to go to the Bairoba temple to which people usually resorted to when bitten by cobras. But he said that his temple was Baba's place, and he ran up to Baba. Baba had wonderful powers of curing cobra bite and other poisons. But when Shama came and climbed up the steps of the Dwarakamayee, Baba said, `Do not get up, Brahmin Get back. Descend.' Hatmage, Hatmage. Shama was shocked. Here was his hope in Baba, and Baba was asking him not to get up but to get down. Baba enjoyed his confusion for a moment and then asked him to get up. Baba said, `Come up. The fakir is kind. You will be cured'. He then told people to take Shama home and see that he did not go to sleep, but was kept awake for 24 hours till the poison should be completely absorbed in or expelled from the system. The humour in Baba's words was in the fact of the words. Do not get up Brahmin, which appeared to be addressed to the Brahmin Shama, when Brahmin was used in vocative case. But that word was used by Baba in the accusative case. The words addressed were not to the Brahmin but to the cobra poison, and the cobra poison was directed by the command of Baba not to go up the Brahmin, that is, go up Shama's body. Get down, Get down, wereaddressed similarly to the poison and not the Brahmin. So, the poison had to get down his body and get away.

This siddhi is referred to in the Srimad Bhagavata in the verse, Yata Sankalpa Samsiddhih, and in the Upanishadic phrase, Satyavak Satyasankalpa as the attributes of divinity and denote the fact thatwords or ideas expressed by a person in the divine state, in which Baba was, would have immediate effect and so the poison did no further injury to Shama's body. But while such a potent mantra wasbeing uttered by Baba, which is a divine characteristic, there was also human characteristic of humour combined with it. This was peculiar to Baba.

(Courtesy: HH Pujyasri B. V. Narasimha Swamiji)

BABA AND HUMOUR (1)

BABA AND HUMOUR (1)

Humour is a distinct human quality. And of all Baba's human qualities, his sense of humour was the most outstanding. Baba's sense of humour was of a very peculiar kind being at first hardly intelligible to people around him. The humour consisted in there being two applications for the words he uttered, one being patent and other often being discovered after some time and enquiry. We shall give some examples.

In the case of one G. D. Pelaspi who approached Baba, the latter according to his custom of revealing his antarjnana about the visitor so as to infuse faith in him, mentioned the fact that the trouble of Pelaspi was that a debtor of his, named Bapu Saheb was delaying and evading payment of Rs. 4,000 due to Pelaspi. So, Baba said when Pelaspi came, `What is Bapu Saheb doing:" Thinking that Baba referred to Bapu Saheb Jog, someone present said, `He is sleeping'. Baba said, `When he come here, beat him. He owes me Rs. 4,000 and is delaying payment'. People fancied that Baba was angry with Bapu Saheb Jog forthe alleged non-payment of debt to him. But Baba was referring only to the pandit of Pelaspi. Pelaspi understood Baba's words and took Baba's words as good augury that pressure would be brought upon his debtor to make the payment quickly. But the others who misunderstood Baba thought that he referred to his poojari namely, Bapu Saheb Jog. They informed him of Baba's words and he was very upset by Baba's statement, for he did not owe Rs. 4,000 to Baba and he said, `The claim is unjust'. But Baba was enjoying the fun. Similarly Baba used the words, Tatya, Bapu, Vani, referring to particular persons orparticular sort of persons. People who heard him could not make out the real reference. Baba enjoyed the fun.

(Courtesy: HH Pujyasri B. V. Narasimha Swamiji)

BABA'S PUZZLING PERSONALITY

BABA'S PUZZLING PERSONALITY

Baba's personality was always puzzling to those who made an effort to understand him fully instead of being content with accepting one part of him as Baba and ignoring rest. The latter is the widest course forthe majority and is ordinarily adopted by most of his devotees. But the more intellectual and the more curious amongst those approaching Baba make an effort to understand him and try to grasp as much of the facets of his complete personality as is possible. There they meet with apparent contradictions and mutual inconsistencies and they are baffled. So much so that a Parsi doctor named Dr. Jal, told this writer not to attempt to understand or write the life of Satpurushas. He said it was simply impossible to understand them. Evidently in his own case, he had tried and failed and was impressed by his ownfailure so as to give the kindly advice to others not to waste their mental efforts in trying to grasp a Satpurusha's personality. but if we do not understand the whole personality, there is at least somesatisfaction that we have succeeded in understanding a good portion of that personality. In point of fact when we talk of ourselves and other personalities around us, we do not grasp the whole personality either of ourselves or of others. We go on understanding more and more of both and with a working knowledge of both get on in the world. Similarly in respect of a Satpurusha's personality, we must try to understand more and more, for it is our nature to desire more and more of such knowledge and to get on better with deeper knowledge. When a person is attempting to place before the public a picture of the life and lilas of a great Purusha it is incumbent on him to present all sides of the Divine Personality. The task is difficult on account of the various apparent inconsistencies that are bundled together in the personality, but all the same we shall attempt it as we have already stated in an earlier portion of the book.

Emerson has stated that the human and divine are not separate, but rather various grades in one continuous series. When qualities arrive at a certain stage and are of a certain sort, people declare, `Thisis divine', for they are far above the average human. Whether the superiority is in respect of power or of kindness or other qualities, the words are uttered at once, `Those are divine qualities'. At present we are not concerned with the intricacies of Christian theology, and we are at liberty to take Jesus Christ as a human person and point out the divine qualities in him. Tennyson wrote of him in the opening lines of, In Memorium, `Thou seemest human and divine', and many readers would certainly note the human feature of Jesus Christ as beaming out of the gospel, touched not infrequently with the divine features. Similarly those who came in contact with Sai Baba have come in contact with his human peculiarities and the divine peculiarities mixed up so very closely that the two seem to be inseparable. So, Thou seemest human and divine, may be applied to Sai Baba as well as to Jesus Christ. We may note in passing that this combination, far from being an undesirable mixture, is a necessary one. If some being existed with all divine perfections only, human beings would not be able to approach or appreciate him. It is the fact that this satpurusha has his human body, human touches and human limitations that makes us feel that he is also a human being, and we draw inferences about his inner nature from knowledge of our own nature and that of our fellow beings; we have the confidence that we have understood the nature and qualities of Satpurusha to some extent at least, therefore, we are emboldened in approaching and dealing with such a Satpurusha. Unless there were such human features and limitations, this personality would be of no use to us. That is why, avatars are described in the Hindu scriptures as promoting human welfare. They combine human and divine features. Especially in the case of Sri Rama, the seventh Avatar, the human features come out constantly, and yet are supported by the divine features so as to enable the Rama personality to be of great service to us, spiritual and temporal. Rama dhyana, Rama smarana and Rama Lila, in general are found to be very useful for spiritual and temporal purposes alike on account of the human element in Rama. Similarly in Sai Baba, who is often termed Sai Rama, partly because Ram Navami was chosen by Baba to be the day for his Urs to be celebrated at Shirdi and partly because he showed himself as Rama. His human elements and divine elements are both mixed up so finely as to help us to understand him and approach him.

(Courtesy: HH Pujyasri B.V. Narasimha Swamiji)

SRI RAO BAHADUR MORESWAR W. PRADHAN

SRI RAO BAHADUR MORESWAR W. PRADHAN

M. W. Pradhan was President of the Sansthan for some time and his contact with Sai Baba was the result of N. G. Chandorkar's influence. In May 1910, Pradhan's brothers were chatting with Chandorkar, andhis brother Rama Rao asked, `Akkalkote Maharaj was a great saint, and he is dead. Is there anyone nowadays of this type?' Then Chandorkar revealed to him that there was, and that was Sri Sai Baba of Shirdi. Till then Shirdi had never been heard of by others, and they learnt that is was the Kopergaon taluk of Ahmednagar district on the Dhond-Manmad line, 11 miles from Kopergaon station. Chandorkar then gave such a vivid and glowing account of Baba's power, kindness, greatness and his personality that every one hearing it was anxious to start immediately to get darshan of Baba. So, a group of about 14 people went the very next day to Shirdi, but M.W. Pradhan was not in the party. The party returned and brought with them a copy of Baba's picture and Das Ganu's Bhakta Lilamrita, describing Baba's life andmiracles. M W Pradhan took them to his wife and there read the book. Then all his doubts about Baba vanished and he became a firm believer that Baba was a true saint. His wife's faith was even greater. They were anxious to depart for Shirdi. A fortnight after the return of the first party, that is in may 1910, Pradhan went to Shirdi. Chandorkar's two sons, namely Bapu and Babu, were his companions. Hewanted to present Baba with gold sovereigns and carried them as well as some currency notes. When he arrived at Shirdi, Baba was standing on the road near the Lendi as though he was waiting for the party. Atonce Pradhan and others got down and he prostrated to Sai Maharaj. There he met Rao Bahadur Sathe and Mr. Noolkar, First Class Sub Judge, and then went to the mosque where he wished to garland Babaand gave him all the presents. There, he felt that Sai Baba was really a great saint, and that his having come was really fulfilling his mission in life. This rising faith was lucky, because Baba put his faith to the test at once. Baba asked for dakshina. Originally Pradhan had intended to give Rs. 20, but he gave Baba a gold sovereign instead. Baba took it, turned it this side and that side, and said `What is this?' Mr. Noolkar who was there said, `Baba, this is a guinea (a former British coin)'. Baba said, `What is its worth?'Mr. Noolkar replied, `Rs. 15'. Baba returned the coin to Pradhan saying, `I do not want this. Keep it with you, but give me Rs. 15'. Pradhan was glad to have a coin touched by Baba and returned to him and gave Baba Rs. 15, then Baba, professing to count the rupees said, `I find only Rs.10 here. Give me Rs. 5 more'. This was a test because having Rs. 15 in hand, he said that he had only Rs. 10 and was testing a lawyer, who would generally be combative and discuss questions of accounts. But Pradhan rose to the occasion and gave him Rs. 5 more. Then Pradhan remembered that he had intended to give Rs. 20, and Baba took that Rs. 20 under cover of wrong calculation. Baba did not ask for more. So, Baba's vairagya and indifference to money was clear, and Baba's testing of bhaktas also was clear. Baba gave him other means also for strengthen his faith, that is, instances of his antarjnana and help by miraculous means. On the next occasion, when he visited Baba, he beckened to him addressing his as Bhav and said merely, `It will be all right in 2 or 4 days'. Then Baba gave him udhi and Pradhan returned from the Mosque. Pradhan remained for there for 8 days on this occasion. And during that time he arranged for a special dinner or bhiksha to Sai Baba, and asked Baba, `what the dished were to be and who the invitees were to be'. Baba said, `Pooran poli Obbattu' was to be part of the dinner. Babu, nephew of Dada Kelkar, was to be one of the invitees. `I also will come' – `Mehe Yeyin'. So, at the meal the next day every one was served, and a place was set apart for Baba, and dished were also kept there. A crow lifted a pooran poli off the plate, and carried it away. They said, Baba is the crow and had taken the favourite pooran poli.

That evening, Baba gave one remarkable hint of his antatjnana and kindness to Pradhan. Baba touched his limbs on one side and said, `On this side of my body there is excruciating pain. It will be alright in two or four days'. But Baba seemed to be healthy, and what he meant by his words was not then clear. But it became clear after Pradhan reached Bombay.

During this stay, on a Thursday, Pradhan saw Baba preparing food in a hundi pot to feed large numbers, samaradhana. He drove away every one from the Masjid at that time, and was alone with his hundi. Pradhan, Bapu and Babu, went in. Baba received them well and evidently excluded all others to give these a private interview. Baba appeared to be singing something first, but Pradhan discovered that the words were

Kayare Apla kai Manave,
Sri Ram, jaya Ram, Jaya Jaya Ram.

that is, what we should say is,
Sri Ram, Jaya Ram, Jaya Jaya Ram.

At once Pradhan was overcome with emotion, and he placed his hand on Baba's foot. these words were the Guru Mantra that had been given to M.V. Pradhan by his family Guru, Hari Bua, and that mantra he had long neglected. Baba was kindly reviving his interest and regard for that Guru Mantra, for his spiritual benefit, without having any express consultation or question from Pradhan. This deep love of Baba greatly impressed Pradhan. When the contents of the hundi were boiling, Baba put his entire hand into them, not using a spoon or ladle, and his hand was not scalded or swollen. Then suddenly at noon, Baba took Pradhan and the two boys to the Lendi. That was not his usual hour for visiting the Lendi, but there, after taking them, Baba was digging into the earth small hollows and giving some corn seeds into Pradhan's hands and made him sow that corn in the hollows. The seeds were then covered up with earth, Baba made Pradhan water the patches. Then the whole party returned to the Mosque. The significance of this event was that 7 or 8 years later Lendi garden was purchased for Baba's Sansthan by M.V. Pradhan for a sum of about Rs. 1500. Baba recognised that Pradhan would be useful to the Sansthan by his purchase of the Lendi garden, which has numerous holy associations with Baba, and forms an essential part of the sacred places revered by his devotees. At parting on that occasion, Babu Chandorkar placed a plate under Baba's feet, and pouring water over his feet, collected the pada tirtham to be carried home. that was unusual. Only udhi was taken till then, and pada tirtham was used only at the arti, at Shirdi, and not taken home.

But on this occasion, as Babu Chandorkar took pada tirtham home, Pradhan also took some home. On his way back, he was lucky enough to get into the first train, namely, the Punjab mail, though he did nothave the ticket for it. That was lucky, for he reached home four or five hour earlier, and on arrival learnt that his mother had an attack of paralysis, Hemiplegia. She was having excruciating pain on one side as Baba said. So, Baba was referring her pain and not his own pain, and Pradhan was lucky in going home by the earlier train with pada tirtham and Baba's udhi. The relations at home were considering whether they should inform Pradhan of his mother's illness, But Baba himself knew it and sent him back in time. The doctor, noting the high temperature of the patient and her constipation and restlessness, considered her condition critical, but if, however, the bowels moved in the course of the night, the doctor thought he situation would be more hopeful. It was 430 a.m. when Pradhan reached home. At once he gave Baba's udhi and tirtham to the mother. She became somnolent. A little later, her bowels moved, and her temperature fell. The doctor came and noted the improvement. Baba had arranged everything for the benefit of Pradhan's mother. `In two or four days it will be all right', Baba said. Actually in two daysit was all right with Pradhan's mother. Baba's antarjnana and his blessing to the mother of Pradhan had this double advantage of first benefiting the devotees in the family and next of developing faith. So, every member of Pradhan's family went to Baba and got his blessing.

(to be continued)

BABA'S WORDS AND DEEDS

BABA'S WORDS AND DEEDS

Whatever a word Baba utters, whatever an action however simple He does, there is ocean full of meaning impregnate in it. We, normal human beings are not at all capable to understand what is the reasonbehind Baba words and deeds.

For example, we know Balaji Patil Newaskar, a great devotee of Baba. He rendered excellent and selfless service. Every day he swept and kept clean all the passages and streets in Shirdi, through which Baba passed in His daily routine (Sri Sai Satcharitra, Ch. xxxv). Baba never accepted anybody's labour free of charge and He is very liberal to give their dues. Baba paid two Rupees to the person who broughtladder just for a single use. Somebody asked Baba, why he paid so much for this. Baba replied that, nobody should take the labour of others in vain. The worker should be paid his dues promptly andliberally. (SSS Ch. xviii & xix)

Balaji Patil used to get four Rupees daily from Baba regularly for several years. While giving, Baba advised not to lend these monies, nor give them away to others, do not eat and excrete these. Babaevidently wanted the money to be invested in land purchase. Accordingly Balaji purchased 84 acres of land. When Balaji reaped his corn every year, he brought the whole quantity and presented it toBaba. He returned with what Baba gave him and maintained himself and his family with it. This was a kind of devotion followed by a gratitude devotee throughout his lifetime.

Baba did give lot of money to lot of people every day without keeping anything for Himself. Baba declined to form a mutt or Ashram or to be head or proprietor of an institution, estate or property. He left noestate to succeed to. The devotees who gave dakshina to Baba as well as who received money from Baba, both are equally benefited. The givers received tenfold returns and the persons who received stillgot higher benefit, only those who acted according to the wishes of Baba. Naturally whatever the moneys given by Baba to Balaji return back to Baba as grain produce and this helped to feed thousands whovisited Shirdi during those days. Evidently this simple four Rupees labour charge given to a devotee had transformed to help thousands, then thousands of Rupees distributed every day by Baba, what will beits magnificent achievements on this holy earth, we are just unable to imagine its impact.

O! Lord of Lords, Sainath Maharaj, your each word is life transforming mantra to us, your each deed is direct message for our spiritual development.

Bow to Sri Sai - Peace be to all.

Divine Dews from Shri Sai Satcharitra

Divine Dews from Shri Sai Satcharitra

Why should he suffer for ten births? In ten days he can work out sufferings and consequences of his past karma. (SSS Ch.XXXIV)

He who casts aside his egoism and thanks Him and he, who trust Him entirely will have his sackles removed and will obtain liberation. (SSS Ch.XXXIV)

Tell your son to believe Me, to throw aside horoscopes and predictions of astrologers and palmists and go on with his studies. (SSS Ch.XXIX)

Whatever is bestowed on him by God, must be good. (SSS Ch.XX)

Being quite desireless, you should meditate on God, who is in all the creatures and when the mind is concentrated, the goal will be achieved. (SSS Ch.XVIII & XIX)

SADGATI TO A BLIND MAN

SADGATI TO A BLIND MAN

A blind man went to Baba for restoration of sight.

Baba did not give him any encouragement and so he went out of the Mosque.

He was then admonished, that restoration of physical sight to a man in his position, with only a short of life before him perhaps, is undesirable, as restored sight may merely develop desires and that his appeal to Sri Sai Baba should be for the grant of spiritual vision.

The man returned and said, "I do not want my physical sight. Please take me under your protection and give me the inner vision."

Baba: Stay on.

The man stayed for a month, improved spiritually and died.

Baba: This man is not dead. It is only his wife, (ignorance) that is dead. He has attained Sadgati.

Baba said

Baba said

Baba: (to some one to his face)

Our (your) end will get so better or wretched. Once or twice, I will warn. The end will be hard indeed if one does not heed the advice given. Even the child in the womb, we will cut to pieces and throw away if it falls athwart.

DEEPAVALI MESSAGE

DEEPAVALI MESSAGE

On this Deepavali Day, we are busy lighting candles to spread light around us. But we have to consider ourselves when will be a candle?

The candle gives light and in the process, burns itself. When shall we likewise?

The Sufi mystic Rabia once sent three things to Hasan – a piece of wax, a needle and a hair.

Hasan could not get the message. And Rabia explained to him: “Like wax light up the world by burning yourself. Like a needle stitch garment for others while you remain naked. And make your ego thin as a hair, so that you may not even be aware of the good you have done.”

Have a meaningful Deepavali this time!

DETACH KARMIC BONDAGE

DETACH KARMIC BONDAGE

Baba said:

God is great. He is the Supreme Master.

Allah Malik: How great is God! No one can compare with him.

He creates, supports and destroys. His sport (Lila) is inscrutable.

Let us be content to remain as He makes us, to submit our wills to His.

Allah Rakega Vahisa Rahena.

Take what comes.

Be contented and cheerful. Never worry.

Not a leaf moves, but by His consent and will.

We should be honest, upright and virtuous.

We must distinguish right from wrong.

We must each attend to his own duty.

But we must not be obsessed by egotism and fancy that we are the independent causes of action.

God is that Actor.

We must recognise His independence and our dependence on Him and see all acts as His.

If we do so, we shall be unattached and free from Karmic bondage.

(Courtesy: HH Pujyasri B V Narasimha Swamiji)

HOW TO CONQUER JEALOUSY

HOW TO CONQUER JEALOUSY

Baba to N. G. Chandorkar: Among the six Viharas; Jealousy is the easiest to conquer.In this Vihara, there is no question of (actual) gain or loss, to ourselves, Jealousy (Matsara) is the inability to endure another's profit and prosperity.

If another gets fortune or power, we cannot put up with it, we scandalise him? When he meets with loss, we rejoice. But is it good? When that man attains prosperity , what loss have we really suffered? But people do not consider this point of view. If he attains good letus rejoice (with him) (or let us consider ourselves also as lucky or benefited); or let us attain or strive to attain equal good. That should be our desire and determination. What has he taken away of ours? Nothing.

He received the prosperity that is the result of his Karma. How then should we feel aggrieved at it? So, Nana, conquer jealousy first.

(Courtesy: H H Pujyasri B V Narasimha Swamiji)

THE DISTINGUISHING TRAITS OF THE GOOD AND THE WICKED from Sri Ramacharitamanasa

THE DISTINGUISHING TRAITS OF THE GOOD AND THE WICKED from Sri Ramacharitamanasa

The conduct of saints and the wicked is analogous to that of sandal-wood and the axe. The axe cuts down a sandal-tree, while the sandal-tree in its turn perfumes the axe by imparting its virtue (fragrance)to the axe. For this reason, sandal-wood (in the form of paste) finds its way to the head of gods (as tilak on the images of gods), and is loved by the world so much; while the axe has its metal edge heated in the fire and beaten with a hammer as punishment.

Saints as a rule have no hankering for the pleasures of the senses and are the very mines of amiability and other virtues. They grieve to see others in distress and rejoice at the sight of others' joy. They are even-minded and look upon none as their enemy. Free from vanity and passion, they are conquerers of greed, anger, joy and fear. Tender of heart and compassionate to the distressed , they cherish guileless devotion to the Lord in thought, word and deed...... They never swerve from the control of their mind andsenses, religious observances and correct behaviour and never utter a harsh word.

Now hear the characteristics of the impious, association with whom should be scrupulously avoided; for their company ever brings woe, even as a wicked cow ruins by her company a cow of noble breed. Theheart of the wicked suffers terrible agony; for they ever burn at the sight of others' prosperity. Wherever they hear others reviled, they feel delighted as though they had stumbled upon a treasure lying on the road. Devoted to sensuality, anger, arrogance and greed, they are merciless, deceitful, crooked and impure. They bear enmity towards all without rhyme or reason; they behave inimically even with thosewho are actively kind to them. They are false in their dealings (lying is their stock-in-trade). They speak honeyed words just like the peacock that has a stony heart and devours the most venomous snake.

Malevolent by nature, they enjoy other's wives and other's wealth and take delight in slandering others. Such vile and sinful men are demons in human garb.... Devoted to their own selfish interests, theyantagonise their kinsfolk, are given up to sensuality and greed and are most irascible. They recognise neither mother nor father nor preceptor nor the Brahmans; utterly ruined themselves, they bring ruin upon others. Overcome by infatuation they bear malice to others and have no love for communion with saints nor for the stories relating to Sri Hari. Oceans of vice, dull-witted, and lascivious, they revile the Vedas and usurp others' wealth. Though bearing malice to all, they are enemies of the Brahmans in particular; and full of hypocrisy and deceit at heart, they outwardly wear a saintly appearance.

Such vile and wicked men are absent in the Satya and Treta Yugas; a sprinkling of them will appear in the Dwapara, while multitude of them will crop forth in the Kali age.

(The Ramayana of Goswami Tulasidas Uttar-Kanda - 37-40)

BABA TESTING DEVOTEE'S VAIRAGYA

BABA TESTING DEVOTEE'S VAIRAGYA

Kakasaheb Dixit once came with a trunk full of silver rupees, which he had earned by working for a Native State, and placed it before Baba.

Kakasaheb Dixit: All this is yours.

Baba: Is that so?

Then Baba opened the lid and with both hands drew out all the contents and poured the same to all and sundry. In a few minutes, the trunk was empty.

Mr. Garde, Sub-Judge of Nagpur and a friend of Kakasaheb Dixit, watched the latter's face. Kakasaheb Dixit had not the slightest regret or sorrow or concern at the disappearance of his hard earned fees.

It was evidently to test and strengthen his vairagya that Baba scattered his money thus.

(Courtesy: H H Pujyasri B V Narasimha Swamiji)

FORMULA FOR PEACEFUL LIFE

FORMULA FOR PEACEFUL LIFE

Baba to R B Purandhare:If anybody comes and abuses you or punishes you, do not quarrel with him. If you cannot endure it, speak a simple word or two; or else leave the place. But, do not battle with him and give tit for tat. I feel sick and disgusted when you quarrel with others.

Baba to Mrs. MW Pradhan:If anyone talks ten words at us, let us answer with one word, if we reply at all. Do not battle with anyone.

(Courtesy: HH Pujyasri B V Narasimha Swamiji)

How to Create Your Own Happiness - 3

How to Create Your Own Happiness - 3

A genuinely happy man is a friend of mine, H. C. Mattern, who, with his equally happy wife, Mary, travels throughout the country in the course of his work. Mr. Mattern carries a unique business card on the reverse side of which is stated the philosophy which has brought happiness to him and his wife and to hundreds of others who have been so fortunate as to feel the impact of their personalities.


The card reads as follows: "The way to happiness: keep your heart free from hate, your mind from worry. Live simply, expect little, give much. Fill your life with love. Scatter sunshine. Forget self, think of others. Do as you would be done by. Try this for a week and you will be surprised."


As you read these words you may say, "There is nothing new in that." Indeed, there is something new in it if you have never tried it. When you start to practice it you will find it the newest, freshest, most astonishing method of happy and successful living you have ever used. What is the value of having known these principles all your life if you have never made use of them? Such inefficiency in living is tragic. For a man to have lived in poverty when all the time right on his doorstep is gold indicates an unintelligent approach to life. This simple philosophy is the way to happiness. Practice these principles for just one week, as Mr. Mattern suggests, and if it has not brought you the beginnings of real happiness, then your unhappiness is very deep seated indeed.


Of course in order to give power to these principles of happiness and make them work it is necessary to support them with a dynamic quality of mind. You are not likely to secure effective results even with spiritual principles without spiritual power. When one experiences a dynamic spiritual change inwardly, success with happiness-producing ideas becomes extraordinarily easy. If you begin to use spiritual principles, however awkwardly, you will gradually experience spiritual power inwardly. I can assure you that this will give you the greatest surge of happiness you have ever known. It will stay with you, too, as long as you live a God-centered life.


In my travels about the country I have been encountering an increasing number of genuinely happy individuals. These are persons who have been practicing the techniques described in this book and which I have presented in other volumes and in other writings and talks and which other writers and speakers have likewise been giving to receptive people. It is astonishing how people can become inoculated with happiness through an inner experience of spiritual change. People of all types everywhere are having this experience today. In fact, it has become one of the most popular phenomena of our times, and if it continues to develop and expand, the person who has not had a spiritual experience will soon be considered old-fashioned and behind the times. Nowadays it is smart to be spiritually alive. It is old-fogyism to be ignorant of that happiness-producing transformation which people everywhere are enjoying at this time.


Recently, after finishing a lecture in a certain city, a big, strapping, fine-looking man came up to me. He slapped me on the shoulder with such force that it almost bowled me over.


"Doctor," he said in a booming voice, "how about coming out with the gang? We are having a big party at the Smiths’ house, and we would like you to come along. It’s going to be a whale of a shindig and you ought to get in on it." So ran his racy invitation.


Well, obviously this didn’t sound like a proper party for a preacher, and I was hesitant. I was afraid I might cramp everyone’s style, so I began to make excuses. "Oh, forget it," my friend told me. "Don’t worry, this. is your kind of party. You will be surprised. Come on along. You will get the kick of your life out of it." So I yielded and went along with my buoyant and racy friend and he was certainly one of the most infectious personalities I had encountered in quite a while. Soon we came to a big house set back among trees with a wide, sweeping driveway up to the front door. From the noise issuing from the open windows there was no question but that quite a party was in progress, and I wondered what I was getting myself into. My host, with a great shout, dragged me into the room, and we had quite a handshaking time, and he introduced me to a large group of gay and exuberant people. They were a happy, joyous lot of folk.


I looked around for a bar, but there wasn’t any. All that was being served was coffee, fruit juice, ginger ale, sandwiches, and ice cream, but there was lots of those.


"These people must have stopped somewhere before coming here," I remarked to my friend.


He was shocked, and said, "Stopped somewhere? Why, you don’t understand. These people have got the spirit all right, but not the kind of ‘spirit’ you are thinking about. I am surprised at you," he said. "Don’t you realize what makes this crowd so happy? They have been renewed spiritually. They have got something. They have been set free from themselves. They have found God as a living, vital, honest-to-goodness reality. Yes," he said, "they have got spirit all right, but it isn’t the kind that you get out of a bottle. They have got spirit in their hearts."


Then I saw what he meant. This wasn’t a crowd of sad-faced, stodgy people. They were the leaders of that town—businessmen, lawyers, doctors, teachers, society people, and a lot of simpler folk besides, and they were having a wonderful time at this party—talking about God, and they were doing it in the most natural manner imaginable. They were telling one another about the changes that had occurred in their lives through revitalized spiritual power.


Those who have the naive notion that you can’t laugh and be gay when you are religious should have been in on that party.


Well, I went away from that party with a Bible verse running through my mind, "In him was life; and the life was the light of men." (Joh 1:4) That was the light I saw on the faces of those happy people. An inner light was reflected outwardly on their faces, and it came from an effervescent spiritual something that they had taken into themselves. Life means vitality, and these people obviously were getting their vitality from God. They had found the power that creates happiness.


This is no isolated incident. I venture the assertion that in your own community, if you will look around for them, you will find lots of people just like those described above. If you don’t find them in your own home town, come to the Marble Collegiate Church in New York City and you will find them by the score. But you can get the same spirit by reading this book if you practice the simple principles set forth.


As you read this book believe what you read, because it is true; then start working on the practical suggestions the book contains and you, too, will have the spiritual experience that produces this quality of happiness. I know this is so, because many of those to whom I have referred and shall refer in later chapters got their vital new life in the same way. Then, having been changed inwardly, you will begin to create out of yourself not unhappiness, but a happiness of such quality and character that you will wonder if you are living in the same world. As a matter of fact it won’t be the same world because you are not the same, and what you are determines the world in which you live, so as you change, your world changes also. If happiness is determined by our thoughts it is necessary to drive off the thoughts which make for depression and discouragement. This can be done first by simply determining to do it; second, by utilizing an easily employed technique which I suggested to a businessman. I met him at a luncheon and have seldom heard such gloom as he got off. His conversation would have been ultra-depressing had I permitted it to affect me. It reeked with pessimism. To hear him talk you would think everything was headed for ruin. Of course the man was tired. Accumulated problems had swamped his mind which was seeking release in retreat from a world which was too much for his depleted energy. His principal trouble was in his depressed thought pattern. He needed an infusion of light and faith.


So rather boldly I said, "If you want to feel better and stop being miserable, I can give you something that will fix you up."


"What can you do?" he snorted. "Are you a miracle worker?"


No," I replied, "but I can put you in touch with a miracle worker who will drain off that unhappiness of yours and give you a new slant on life. I mean that," I concluded, as we separated.


Apparently he became curious, for he got in touch with’me later and I gave him a little book of mine called Thought Conditioners.[1] It contains forty health and happiness producing thoughts. Inasmuch as it is a pocket-sized booklet, I suggested that he carry it for easy consultation and that he drop one of the suggested thoughts in his mind every day for forty days. I further suggested that he commit each thought to memory, thus allowing it to dissolve in consciousness, and that he visualize this healthy thought sending a quieting and healing influence through his mind. I assured him that if he would follow this plan, these healthy thoughts would drive off the diseased thoughts that were sapping his joy, energy, and creative ability.


The idea at first impressed him as being a bit queer and he had his doubts, but he followed directions. After about three weeks he called me on the telephone and shouted, "Boy, this sure works! It is wonderful. I have snapped out of it, and I wouldn’t have believed it possible."


He remains "snapped out of it" and is a genuinely! happy person. This pleasant condition resulted because he became skilled in the power to create his own happiness. He later commented that his first mental hurdle was honestly to face the fact that while his unhappiness made him miserable, yet he was at home in self-pity and self-punishment thoughts. He knew that these sick thoughts were the cause of his trouble, but he shrank from the effort required to want to change sufficiently actually to go about changing. But when he began systematically to insert healthy spiritual thoughts into his mind as directed, he began first to want new life, then to realize the thrilling fact that he could have it, then the even more amazing fact that he was getting it. The result was that after some three weeks of a self-improvement process new happiness "burst" upon him.


Everywhere in this country today are groups of people who have found the happy way. If we can have even one such group in every city, town, and hamlet in America, we can change the life of this country within a very short time. And what kind of group do we mean? Let me explain.


I was speaking in a Western city and returned to my hotel room rather late. I wanted to get a little sleep, for I was to be up at five-thirty next morning to catch a plane. As I was preparing for bed, the telephone rang, and a lady said, "There are about fifty of us at my house waiting for you."


I explained that I could not come due to the early hour of my departure in the morning.


"Oh," she said, "two men are on their way to get you. We have been praying for you, and we want you to come and pray with us before you leave the city." I am glad I went, though I had very little sleep that night.


The men who came for me were a couple of alcoholics who had been healed by the power of faith. They were two of the happiest, most lovable fellows you can imagine. The home to which they took me was packed. People were sitting on the stairways, on the tables, on the floor. One man was even perched on the grand piano. And what were they doing? They were having a prayer meeting. They told me that sixty such prayer groups were going on in that city all the time.


I was never in such a meeting. They were anything but a stuffy group. They were a released, happy crowd of real people. I found myself strangely moved. The spirit in that room was tremendous in its lifting force. The group would burst into song, and I never heard such singing. The room was filled with a wonderful spirit of laughter. Then a woman stood up. I saw that she had braces on her legs, and she said, "They told me I would never walk again. Do you want to see me walk?" And she walked up and down the room.


"What did it?" I asked.


"Jesus," she replied simply.


Then another fine-looking girl said, "Did you ever see a victim of the narcotics habit? Well, I was one and I was healed." There she sat, a beautiful, modest, charming young woman and she, too, said, "Jesus did it."


Then a couple who had drifted apart told me that they had been brought together and
they were happier than ever before.


"How did it come about?" I asked. And their reply was, "Jesus did it."


A man said he had been a victim of alcohol, that he had dragged his family down until they were living in abject poverty and he was a complete failure. And now as he stood before me he was a strong, healthy personality. I started to ask how, but he nodded and said, "Jesus did it."


Then they burst into another song, and then someone dimmed the lights and we all held hands around in a great circle. I had a feeling as though I had hold of an electric wire. Power was flowing around that room. Without any question I was the least spiritually developed person in that group. I knew in that moment that Jesus Christ was right there in that house and those people had found Him. They had been touched by His power. He had given them new life. This life bubbled up in an irrepressible effervescence.


This is the secret of happiness. All else is secondary. Get this experience and you’ve got real, unalloyed happiness, the best the world offers. Don’t miss it whatever you do in this life, for this is it.


Footnotes


[l] Thought Conditioners, published by Sermon Publications, Inc., Marble Collegiate Church, 1 West 29th Street, New York 1, New York.


(From Power Of Positive Thinking by Norman V Peale)

How to Create Your Own Happiness - 2

How to Create Your Own Happiness - 2

An incident from one of my railroad journeys may suggest an answer. One morning in an old-style Pullman car approximately a halt-dozen of us were shaving in the men’s lounge. As always in such close and crowded quarters after a night on the train, this group of strangers was not disposed to be gay, and there was little conversation and that little was mostly mumbled.


Then a man came in wearing on his face a broad smile. He greeted us all with a cheery good morning, but received rather unenthusiastic grunts in return. As he went about his shaving he was humming, probably quite unconsciously, a gay little tune. It got a bit on the nerves of some of the men. Finally one said rather sarcastically, "You certainly seem to be happy this morning! Why all the cheer?" "Yes," the man answered, "as a matter of fact, I am happy. I do feel cheerful." Then he added, "I make it a habit to be happy."


That is all that was said, but I am sure that each man in that lounge left the train with those interesting words in mind, "I make it a habit to be happy."


The statement is really very profound, for our happiness or unhappiness depends to an important degree upon the habit of mind we cultivate. That collection of wise sayings, the book of Proverbs, tells us that ". . . he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast." (Pr 15:15) In other words, cultivate the merry heart; that is, develop the happiness habit, and life will become a continual feast, which is to say you can enjoy life every day. Out of the happiness habit comes a happy life. And because we can cultivate a habit, we therefore have the power to create our own happiness.


The happiness habit is developed by simply practicing happy thinking. Make a mental list of happy thoughts and pass them through your mind several times every day. If an unhappiness thought should enter your mind, immediately stop, consciously eject it, and substitute a happiness thought. Every morning before arising, lie relaxed in bed and deliberately drop happy thoughts into your conscious mind. Let a series of pictures pass across your mind of each happy experience you expect to have during the day. Savor their joy. Such thoughts will help cause events to turn out that way. Do not affirm that things will not go well that day. By merely saying that, you can actually help to make it so. You will draw to yourself every factor, large and small, that will contribute to unhappy conditions. As a result, you will find yourself asking, "Why does everything go badly for me? What is the matter with everything?"


The reason can be directly traced to the manner in which you began the day in your thoughts.


Tomorrow try this plan instead. When you arise, say out loud three times this one sentence, "This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." (Ps 118:24) Only personalize it and say, "I will rejoice and be glad in it." Repeat it in a strong, clear voice and with positive tone and emphasis. The statement, of course, is from the Bible and it is a good cure for unhappiness. If you repeat that one sentence three times before breakfast and meditate on the meaning of the words you will change the character of the day by starting off with a happiness psychology.


While dressing or shaving or getting breakfast, say aloud a few such remarks as the following, "I believe this is going to be a wonderful day. I believe I can successfully handle all problems that will arise today. I feel good physically, mentally, emotionally. It is wonderful to be alive. I am grateful for all that I have had, for all that I now have, and for all that I shall have. Things aren’t going to fall apart. God is here and He is with me and He will see me through. I thank God for every good thing."


I once knew an unhappy sort of fellow who always said to his wife at breakfast, "This is going to be another tough day." He didn’t really think so, but he had a mental quirk whereby if he said it was going to be a tough day, it might turn out pretty well. But things really started going badly with him, which was not surprising, for if you visualize and affirm an unhappy outcome, you tend thereby to create just that type of condition. So affirm happy outcomes at the start of every day, and you will be surprised at how often things will turn out so.


But it is not sufficient to apply to the mind even such an important affirmation therapy as I have just suggested unless throughout the day you also base your actions and attitudes upon fundamental principles of happy living. One of the most simple and basic of such principles is that of human love and good will. It is amazing what happiness a sincere expression of compassion and tenderness will induce.


My friend Dr. Samuel Shoemaker once wrote a moving story about a mutual friend. Ralston Young is famous as Redcap No. 42 in the Grand Central Station in New York. He carries bags for a living, but his real job is living the spirit of Christ as a redcap in one of the world’s greatest railway stations. As he carries a man’s suitcase, he tries to share a little Christian fellowship with him. He carefully watches a customer to see if there is any way in which he can give him more courage and hope. He is very skillful in the way he goes about it too.


One day, for example, he was asked to take a little old lady to her train. She was in a wheel chair, so he took her down on the elevator. As he wheeled her into the elevator he noticed that there were tears in her eyes. Ralston Young stood there as the elevator descended, closed his eyes, and asked the Lord how he could help her, and the Lord gave him an idea. As he wheeled her off the elevator, he said with a smile, "Ma’am, if you don’t mind my saying so, that is a mighty pretty hat you are wearing."


She looked up at him and said, "Thank you."


"And I might add," he said, "that sure is a pretty dress you have on. I like it so much."


Being a woman, this appealed to her, and despite the fact that she was not feeling well, she brightened up and asked, "Why in the world did you say those nice things to me? It is very thoughtful of you."


"Well," he said, "I saw how unhappy you were. I saw that you were crying, and I just asked the Lord how I could help you. The Lord said, ‘Speak to her about her hat.’ The mention of the dress," he added, "was my own idea." Ralston Young and the Lord together knew how to get a woman’s mind off her troubles.


"Don’t you feel well?" he then asked.


"No," she replied. "I am constantly in pain. I am never free from it. Sometimes I think I can’t stand it. Do you, by any chance, know what it means to be in pain all the time?"


Ralston had an answer. "Yes, ma’am, I do, for I lost an eye, and it hurt like a hot iron day and night."


"But," she said, "you seem to be happy now. How did you accomplish it?"


By this time he had her in her seat in the train, and he said, "Just by prayer, ma’am, just by prayer."


Softly she asked, "Does prayer, just prayer, take your pain away?"


"Well," answered Ralston, "perhaps it doesn’t always take it away. I can’t say that it does, but it always helps to overcome it so it doesn’t seem like it hurts so much. Just keep on prayin’, ma’am, and I’ll pray tor you too."


Her tears were dried now, and she looked up at him with a lovely smile, took him by the hand, and said, "You’ve done me so much good."


A year passed, and one night in Grand Central Station Ralston Young was paged to come to the Information booth. A young woman was there who said, "I bring you a message from the dead. Before she died my mother told me to find you and to tell you how much you helped her last year when you took her to the train in her wheel chair. She will always remember you, even in eternity. She will remember you, for you were so kind and loving and understanding." Then the young woman burst into tears and sobbed in her grief.


Ralston stood quietly watching her. Then he said, "Don’t cry, missy, don’t cry. You shouldn’t cry. Give a prayer of thanksgiving."


Surprised, the girl said, "Why should I give a prayer of thanksgiving?"


"Because," said Ralston, "many people have become orphans much younger than you. You had your mother for a long, long time, and besides you still have her. You will see
her again. She is near to you now and she always will be near to you. Maybe," he said, "she is right with us now the two of us, as we talk."


The sobs ended and the tears dried. Ralston’s kindness had the same effect on the daughter as it had had on the mother. In this huge station, with thousands of people passing by, the two of them felt the presence of one who inspired this wonderful redcap to go around this way spreading love.


"Where love is," said Tolstoy, "God is," and, we might add, where God and love are, there is happiness. So a practical principle in creating happiness is to practice love.

(From Power Of Positive Thinking by Norman V Peale)