DYNAMITE WANTS PEACE

DYNAMITE WANTS PEACE

 

"Whose sins or demerits preponderate, go down to hell, and suffer the consequences of their misdeeds for so long a time as they deserve." – Sri Sai Satcharitra, Ch. 8.

 

About a hundred years ago, a man looked at the morning newspaper and to his surprise and horror, read his name in the obituary column. The newspapers had reported the death of the wrong person by mistake.

 

His first response was shock.

 

Am I here or there?

 

When he regained his composure, his second thought was to find out what people had said about him.

 

The obituary read, "Dynamite King Dies."

 

And also "He was the merchant of death."

 

This man was the inventor of dynamite and when he read the words, "Merchant of death," he asked himself a question, "Is this how I am going to be remembered?" He got in touch with his feelings and decided that this was not the way he wanted to be remembered.

 

From that day on, he started working towards peace. His name was Alfred Nobel and he is remembered today by the great Nobel Prize.

 

Just as Alfred Nobel got in touch with his feelings and redefined his values, we should step back and do the same.

 

What is your legacy?

 

How would you like to be remembered?

 

Will you be spoken well of?

 

Will you be remembered with love and respect?

 

Will you be missed?

ENDING EGO FOR EMERGING TRIUMPH

ENDING EGO FOR EMERGING TRIUMPH

 

Baba said, "Though I have become a Fakir, have no house or wife, and though leaving off all cares, I have stayed at one place, the inevitable Maya teases Me often." – Sri Sai Satcharitra, Ch. 13

 

There lived a Sage, who was very pious and was doing penance for the interest of mankind. By caste, he was a Brahmin. Lord Krishna was very pleased with his penance and asked him for any boon. Sage Uttanga told Him that he was desireless and he did not want anything, but Lord Krishna insisted for some boon to be granted to him as a reward to his penance. As Lord Krishna insisted, the latter asked for a boon that whenever he was in need of water (and since this area is a desert area) and whenever he felt thirsty, water may be provided to him. Lord Krishna granted him the boon and disappeared.

 

One day, the Sage Uttanga after walking for a long distance in the desert area felt thirsty, but there was no trace of water. Then he remembered that the Lord Krishna had granted him a boon that he would find water. The moment this thought was within his mind, he saw a hunter dressed in torn rags accompanied by furious dog, carrying water in a leather pouch and asked him, "Sir, would you like to have some water." Looking at the apparent condition of the hunter, being a staunch Brahmin, the Sage felt repelled. He politely refused "No, Thank you." The hunter again approached him for the water, but in utter disgust and in anger the Sage told the hunter to go away and that he was not interested in the water. The hunter and the dogs disappeared. Witnessing this, he realized that it must be God, who disguised Himself and came to quench his thirst. He felt hurt how Lord Krishna could send water to me through a scheduled caste. How could He expect a Brahmin to accept and drink water from the leather pouch?

 

Meantime, Lord Krishna appeared, smiled and asked him: "Do you know who was the Chandala? I had asked the Indra Devta to fetch the water, who instead of water, had actually brought nectar to make you immortal, but on one condition to test whether you could see the Divinity in all. Hence I allowed him to do so."

 

Sage Uttanga understood how he was failed in the test. It was his Ego, which made him refuse the nectar, which came in the form of water and through Indra Devta.

 

When Sages like Uttanga could fail when tested, what are we? Are we capable and fully equipped to understand the Leela or Maya of God? We, therefore, have to be constantly on guard and develop sharp sense to understand the real meaning of life, and stay away from our ego.

RIGHT MAN SPEAKS RIGHT

RIGHT MAN SPEAKS RIGHT

 

"We see that people have a tendency to scandalize others, un-necessarily; and this brings on hatred and ill-will." – Sri Sai Satcharitra, Ch. 18, 19.

 

Once upon a time an old man spread rumours that his neighbour was a thief. As a result, the young man was arrested. Days later the young man was proven innocent. After been released he sued the old man for wrongly accusing him.

 

In court the old man told the Judge: 'they were just comments, didn't harm anyone.'

 

The judge, before passing sentence on the case, told the old man: 'Write all the things you said about him on a piece of paper. Cut them up and on the way home; throw the pieces of paper out. Tomorrow, come back to hear the sentence.'

 

The next day, the judge told the old man: 'Before receiving the sentence, you will have to go out and gather all the pieces of paper that you threw out yesterday.'

 

The old man said: 'I can't do that! The wind spread them and I won't know where to find them.'

 

The judge then replied: 'The same way, simple comments may destroy the honour of a man to such an extent that one is not able to fix it. If you can't speak well of someone, rather don't say anything.

 

A great forest is set on fire by a small spark. Likewise, our tongue can also set fire and destroy peace of mind and harmony. Whereas the mouth of a righteous man utters only words of wisdom, and his tongue speaks only what is just.

 

Let's all be masters of our tongue, so that we won't be slaves of our scattered words.  Let us keep our tongue from evil and our lips from speaking lies and gossips.

 

GOOD FOUNDATION

GOOD FOUNDATION

 

Baba said, "Read this (Gita) completely and you will be benefited" in Sri Sai Satcharitra, Ch. 27

Swami Vivekananda was a man of great wisdom. He was mature enough to meet any challenge that came before him, however serious it might have been. One of his stories is worth quoting.

 

His Christian friend, intending to test the Swami's mettle, invited him to his house where he seated him in a room, opposite a table on which lay piled, one on top of other, sacred books of major world religions.

 

They were placed in such an order that the Bhagavad Gita was at the bottom and the Bible was right on top. Would Vivekananda get provoked, the host wondered.

 

But before his guest could say anything, the host pointed towards the books and asked: "Swamiji what is your comment on this arrangement?"

 

Swamiji smiled gently and said: "The foundation is really good."

WHAT YOU SOW WHAT YOU REAP

WHAT YOU SOW WHAT YOU REAP

 

Baba said, "The donor gives, i.e. sows his seeds, only to reap a rich harvest in future." In Sri Sai Satcharitra,  Ch. 35.

 

The famous Polish pianist Ignacy Paderewski agreed to play a concert organized by two Stanford University students working their way through school. Paderewski's manager said they would have to guarantee the artist a fee of $2,000. The boys agreed and eventually the concert was held.

 

Tough the two student promoters worked hard, they took in only S1,600. Discouraged, they told Paderewski of their efforts and handed him the $1,600 with a note promising to pay him the balance $400. But the artist tore up the note and gave them back the $1,600. "Take your expenses out of this," he said, "give yourselves each 10% of what's left for your work, and let me have the rest."

 

Years later, Paderewski was faced with feeding the people of his war ravaged Poland. Amazingly, even before a request was made, thousands of tons of food were sent to Poland by United States.

 

Paderewski later travelled to Paris to thank Herbert Hoover, who headed up the US relief effort. "That's all right, Mr. Paderewski," said Hoover, "I knew that the need was great. And besides, though you may not remember it, I was one of two college students whom you generously helped when I was in need."

 

The story illustrates a law of successful living; sooner or later we will reap what we sow. Paderewski reaped a harvest of kindness he had sown years before. Those who sow love will eventually reap love. Those who sow goodness will reap even more. Those who sow fear and mistrust will reap an unwanted harvest later.

 

DO NOT BLAME

DO NOT BLAME

 

"He took himself to task mentally for vainly blaming Baba" – Sri Sai Satcharitra, Ch. 40

 

A man was walking along the street when he saw a beggar, blind, hungry and shivering from the cold, crying for alms. The passer-by simply turned their faces away from him.

 

The man became angry and said to God, "What kind of father are You that You allow such misery on earth? Why can't You do something about this?""

 

God's answer came to him, loud and clear, "I certainly did something. I made you!"

 

Attitude counts! Instead of blaming others, blaming ourselves or blaming God, let us face each situation squarely, and do the best we can!

WHAT TO ASK FROM GOD?

WHAT TO ASK FROM GOD?

 

There was an illustrious devotee in Guruvayur by name Poondhaanam. He was so devoted to the Lord that Lord Guruvayurappan would converse with him everyday.

 

In the same town, there was a person who was afflicted with a grave disease. Any medicine could not cure his disease and this made him a dejected individual. One day, he approached Poondhaanam and told him about his disease. He requested Poondhaanam to ask Sri Guruvayurappan if he would be cured of his disease.

 

That night, when Poondhanam spoke to Lord Guruvayurappan, he asked the Lord if the person's disease would be cured. The Lord told Poondhaanam that the disease would not be cured.

 

The next day, Poondhaanam met the ailing person and told him what the Lord had said. No sooner did he hear about Lord's word that he would not be cured than he burst into tears. He cried all day that even the Lord had forsaken him.

 

That was when he met Kroorammai.

 

Kroorammai was a very humble devotee of the Lord who hailed from a very poor family. Although she did not have any status in the society, she possessed special status in Sri Guruvayurappan's heart. Lord Guruvayurappan would talk to her regularly as He did to Poondhanam.

 

Kroorammai heard this person's story and assured him that she will take his case to the Lord. The next morning, with an enthusiastic mood she came down to greet the ailing person. She said, "The Lord spoke to me. When I asked Him about you, He has asked you to chant the Divine Names, 'Achyuta Anantha Govinda, continuously and your disease shall be cured!'

 

The ailing person's joy knew no bounds when he heard that he could be cured. He immediately caught hold of the Lord's instruction and chanted the Names incessantly. As the Lord had predicted, eventually, he was cured.

 

He went to the residence of Poondhaanam and told him what had happened. He said, 'You lied to me! Lord Guruvayurappan has indeed cured my disease!'

 

Poondhanam felt very sad on hearing this. He could not bear the allegation that he had lied. He wept to the Lord, 'Oh! Guruvayurappa! Was it not you who had told me that he would not be cured? Today, I am being blamed of uttering falsehood. Did I really utter a lie? Is this fair?' He kept crying at the feet of the Lord.

 

That night, Sri Guruvayurappan spoke to Poondhanam and pacified him. He said, "It was I who told you that he will not be cured. There is no doubt about it! You had come to me and bluntly posed a question that whether that ailing person will be cured or not, as one would do to an astrologer and I replied to you appropriately.

 

But what did Kroorammai do? She asked me, 'Oh! Guruvayurappa! Today a devotee came and asked me if his disease would be cured. Lord! with your grace, is there anything that is impossible in this world? Pray tell me what he should do to be cured!' and I told her the way!"

 

So often in prayer, we ask God for "easy things" which is usually a list of medical needs, or sustenance for people going through some form of loss or making some demands for God to fulfill . This demand list becomes longer and longer everyday and we get disappointed if they are not fulfilled.

 

But the most important prayer would be to ask God for His blessings and guidance and chanting His divine name and singing His praise simply because of our love or bhakti flowing towards Him. If we have this attitude, He would surely guide us. God definitely hears everyone of us and answers our wishes when we pray to Him sincerely.

 

So, whenever we chant the Lord's name and say our prayers, we should be careful of what we ask and also the right way to ask! We need to linger in our prayers, thinking over what we're asking, listening for the Lord's discernment and insight. The more we understand about prayer, the less disappointed we'll be.