Politics

I have always been political. My family is political. Some of my fondest childhood memories concern election nights and waiting up to hear on the radio about who won. I remember when Truman won one year I was in the 9th grade. We were so happy. We are died in the wool Democrats although during the Civil Rights Era my mother, born and bred in Mississippi, turned Republican. I don't know about Daddy; he wouldn't say. I was always a 'blue dog' Democrat. My young niece called Mama a racist. Well, she was raised in the Mississippi Delta when Grandpapa was a doctor and a Methodist preacher He would ride out with a medical bag on one side and his Bible on the other. Many days he never saw another white face. She tells stories about the times when the farm hands would come in for breakfast of flap jacks, dozens of large black men filling their bellies with flap jacks and thick molasses, laughing and talking together at the long tables in the back yard. Try ti tell her about equality and school de-segregation. Of course she was a racist but there was great love there too. Later when I was at junior college my yankee friends said their parents didn't want to hire blacks to come into their houses and clean. Now that to me is racist. When we had black girls come out to clean, Mama would walk them to the bus stop in fear that these white men in cars would give them a hard time which they did! Is that racist? I remember a white couple we had once living in the cottage. Her name was Elvira. They were non descript and I never tried to interact with them because they weren't very friendly. Annie Mae and Rosalie were my friends, my surrogate mothers which I g lamed on to because Mama wasn't very affectionate and I was sort of a needy child, emotionally needy. If you all have read that best selling book, 'Help' it's kind of my story. To this day I have an immediate feeling of love in my heart towards black people. I'm sort of prejudiced but pro not con.

But this blog was supposed to be about politics wasn't it. This senior housing facility is a polling place and so I voted the other day in a municipal election mostly because the man who volunteers at our little store has a brother who is on the city council. He won, maybe my vote helped. I didn't even ask if he were a republican and when I found out he was, I laughed and said I'd never voted for one before and that this would be the last time. Then things polarized rapidly into a shouting match. I said 'you people want to take our entitlements away' and he said that was just Democratic propaganda. I hope I can keep my mouth shut from now on as the election heats up. I wouldn't want to be lynched or anything. I am definitely in the minority here in a Florida senior community. They all listen to FOX news and are very conservative. I said, 'well I'm conservative too, a conservative Democrat.' Actually I'm too conservative to be out there in the park with a 'Occupy Wall Street' sign but feel guilty because I'm not. I believe that the 0ne percent has controlled the rest of us for far too long. But I think they should be in Washington occupying this tea bagger congress because they make the laws which govern Wall Street...maybe. But again, maybe Wall Street is above the law and governs Congress. I suppose the Occupiers will form a third party eventually as the tea baggers have. Then I won't be a blue dog Democat anymore.

New Project

I do a bunch of prayers in the living room every morning before returning to the bed room for the rest. Which reminds me I didn't do my meditation this morning before I got up. One of Devi's names is that she is known through meditation so I really try to meditate every day even when it seems sort of hopeless. I feel that Swami keeps track of our efforts all the time because He is with us every moment. Anyway, I do my 'living room prayers ' and then ask myself if I have a blog before going back to the other room. I have my little shrine to Jesus and Mary in the living room. When I was in India my friend Maraina who decorated for Christmas for so many years, gave me a precious little baby Jesus to go with my figure of Mother Mary so I give salutations to Jesus Christ each day in the living room.

So this morning I realized that I hadn't told you all about my new project. The teacher of our Drama class at the Senior Center whose name is Mary Anne, I think that's her name, anyway she asked us if we had written any plays. You know I really don't need to be encouraged to write and decided to try to write a soap opera, maybe one a day for the first month and then...that's ridiculous of course but it gives me something to fill in the time. Otherwise I'd have to pray all the time, ha ha, and then I might get enlightenment or something, ha ha.

I wrote the first play about this place, Peterborough and gave it to her yesterday to take home to read. I should tell you about my inspiration first. See the guy who is on the desk downstairs, Mark, wrote a play last year and videoed it and we were invited to the DVD party last month. That's really something isn't it. He is a ventriloquist... and in the movie there is a weird looking dummy with blond fuzzy hair who is the wish fairy. The play is about this dummy fairy who grants this guys wishes. So I said to Mark, “You ought to do another play about the wish fairy granting other wishes. He wasn't particularly interested...so that is what my play is about. All these old seniors wish they were young again and act really silly dancing around and racing their scooter chairs and grabbing handfuls of cake. I can't see our dignified seniors here doing stuff like that but maybe. And then, of course, I got carried away with the project and wondered if we could get people with a cam corder to film a whole soap opera here at Peterborough to be on one of the local channels. There's one for city government and one for the schools. Well St. Petersburg is known for the millions of seniors who live here. Even Jack Kerouac the great hippy writer came here to die, He said this is a great place to die, and did. Our county sits on a peninsular in Florida which is already a peninsular surrounded by water. Maybe the departing soul likes that. Anyway I thought we seniors should do a soap opera about living here at Peterborough bringing in the 'wish fairy'. So I wrote the first which I turned into the teacher and yesterday I wrote two more....five pages hand written, about 15 minutes, half hour with music. The second was about a blind man who had lots of cock roaches and got sick...a true story and the third about two seniors without families, at Christmas time, one Jewish and one Christian. Christmas is coming up so it might be true. I'll keep you posted if this works out.

My New Blog

I feel as if it has been years since my last blog. It may be because my mind seems to be slipping now a little that I don't remember as clearly as I did. I had my phone and INTERNET disconnected last week by Verizon, for no reason and living without a connection to the world was strange. Of course I still had my newspaper and television but that wasn't a personal connection. You know, I believe that everything that happens to us on the outside is a lesson for the inner life as well. Like at Prasanthi Nilayam when the toilet wouldn't flush or the light blew out, those were always signs of lack of spiritualprogress. This 'gift' from Verizon may have been a sign of trouble with my mind, a loose inner wire or connection. So, I switched from Verizon to Knology as my provider. Maybe it will bring the highest knowledge. We hope so

In any case I feel as if I'm less connected now then I was last week. And I don't even have a good reason to feel that way except that last week seems so remote. I did have one good thing happen. I have spoken often of SPIFFS, the wonderful folk fare that my sister founded 37 years ago. It's still going strong and my sister is known as it's 'mother or founder'. I agreed to miss it last week so I could dog-sit Puggles for my sister, as Puggles hates to be alone and now there's a new rule against taking pets into the venue. So on the way to SPIFFS. Betty dropped Pugles off for me to take care of, We had a lovely time together catching up on all the affection I've missed. She hasn't missed out on any affection as she is really treasured there at Betty's house by everyone. Betty takes her out to the patio about every hour to pee and gives her pats and strokes every minute. She wont go out to the patio by herself and Betty must stay with her or she comes right back in. They say she is quite willful, like me so she is getting all the attention I wanted but never got. I just quietly moved out and got an apartment when the atmosphere at home became hard to take. Puggles just rolls over sweetly so they can scratch her tummy. I never tried that

Do you see what I mean about a lack of connectivity? Oh well, it's like nothing is as important now as it was even a month ago. I'd been looking forward to SPIFFS all year and yet so easily gave it up. They all went, my sister, her favorite daughter and her favorite grand-daughter Sara and her favorite great grand-child I am her only living sibling but still don't feel favored. I know that Swami is working on my attachments; one reason for returning to USA. He's pretty much detached me from India, from my family here and from my sister. That has been harder as she was my surrogate mother being 10 years older. When I was three Daddy had a heart attack and he and Mama were in Washington at Walter Reed hospital for six months while my 13 year old sister took care of me. She got imprinted on my psyche, but, dear God, you all have heard all of this so many times before. I know this is boring to you and I wish it were as boring to me but as you can see, it is still charged with emotion. He's working on it though. I've always used this blog as my psychiatrist. My programmer doesn't like it and when I throw in too much psychological stuff he calls me long distance from India to say that it's too depressing. Maybe I'll get back in the swing of things this week.

Sai Ram - Deepavali Parthi News

Sai Ram,

Life is wonderful here. Even with the rains causing inconveniences in the late afternoon and evening, it was still a great time to be here.

There was a lot of activity near Baba’s residence. I am not sure what is going on.

Make no doubt about it, Baba is running the place.

One morning as I was concentrating on the MahaSamadhi, the realization came that it was the center of the universe, not just the spiritual universe but also the physical and all other levels too.

Another reason to visit Prasanthi Nilayam.

Saturday – October 22. There was a very small crowd in the morning especially since it was Saturday. In the afternoon more people came but was less than expected for a Saturday evening. However, all is well. Baba blessed us both times, during Rudram, bhajans, arati and darshan. It was wonderful to be there.

Sunday – October 23. One month until birthday. A lot of activities ahead. At 3.30, with an empty Kulwant Hall, the Punjab Governor Shivraj Patil and his entourage came up the center driveway to the MahaSamadhi. The curtain was opened. They prayed and went into the Mandir to meditate. After 10 minutes, they left the hall and proceeded to the Puttaparthi Airport.

We had Rudram, bhajans, arati and darshan.

Monday – October 24. We heard a story that happened about 2 weeks ago. A seva dal was stationed at the gas pump in the ashram. As he was standing, Sai Baba tapped him on the shoulder, said “Good Job”, manifested vihbuti and disappeared.

Today, I saw something I had not seen before. 2 policemen came into the hall with a boy possibly about 12. One officer went with him as they sat on the floor in the general section. The officer sat behind him. I would have thought that as a special person that he would sit with the vip’s.

The crowds remain small. We had Rudram, bhajans, arati and darshan.

Tuesday – October 25. Surprise. By noon it was cloudy. It looked like rain. By 3:00 the rains came. The heavy part lasted until about 4:30 and then light rain for a few more hours. About 1,000 people from Gujarat came today. They will do two musical performances. We had Rudram, bhajans, arati and darshan.

Wednesday – October 26. Deepvali. After starting out with a warm sunny morning we got more rain starting at 3:00. It lasted a few hours and was not as heavy as the previous one.

The Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organization of Gujarat presented the evening program which included a Gujarati folk dance performed by Sai youth boys.

They were followed by an incredible performance by Rajendra D. Raval, a devotee, with a type of dancing that has been handed down for many generations in his family. For about 15 minutes he whirled his body turning around without stopping even when he was handed props.

It started off 1then 2 swords balance against his arms. Later, he made a peacock from a multi colored sari followed by a pigeon and a rabbit without stopping. This unique act was appreciated by all.

He was followed by bhajans, arathi and darshan.

Thursday – October 27. Gujarat New Year. Morning was sunny but the afternoon became cloudy with some rain eventually starting at 4:00.

The evening program by Gujarat start with a dance by Bal Vikas girls. They were followed by a 35 minute drama “Living in Sai Omnipresence”. It was incredible.

The drama which seemed as though it was going to portray some true Baba incidents which I am sure would had been interesting. Then Baba showed up in the form of a young boy wearing an orange robe and black curly wig. Everyone came alive. They all wanted to have his darshan. He did his best to imitate Baba by taking letters, blessing people and healing. His appearance was accompanied by music that was used when Baba entered the hall. Even though we knew it was imitation, it was nice seeing the form move about once again.

The last performer was Chirag Mahida, a devotee and professional entertainer, with his unusual form of dancing which concluded with dancing with pots on his head. Eventually he had about 10 of them stacked up. He even went into the men’s section near the marble area, moving toward the Chair and Samadhi and back to the center area. It was incredible.

There were bhajans, arathi and darshan.

Friday – October 28 to Monday – October 31. Gujarat devotees left. The people in the hall were few increasing just before darshan. In the evening there were more. Rudram, bhajans, arathi and darshan.

The next planned activity is Akanda Bhajans on November 12 & 13. All activities that were done previously will continue to be done. There is a busy calendar for November and December.

Attached are some wonderful pictures of Baba and the story, a story about Baba manifestations in Kuwait and a picture taken by NASA on Diwali.

Also attached is a wonderful article from RadioSai - Part One about Anant Pandey
who is with Anna Hazare, a social-activist. The interviews happened because Anant heard what Anna had to say about Sai Baba. It is an interesting story.

Another wonderful story from RadioSai is about Dr. Wangai Muta Maathai who recently died and has won various awards for her environmental work in Africa and around the world. (Photo)

There is a press release from the Central Trust that I have included as a warning to everyone to be wary about scams concerning Sai Baba and or the Central Trust. The event happened in India but it could be almost anyplace else.

“It has been reported in some sections of the media, that at certain post offices in the East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh, members of the General Public are opening Accounts expecting that the Trust would deposit cash in their accounts.
The Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust states that there is absolutely no basis whatsoever, for such a rumour. The Trust does not distribute money to the public. Money is received only through check or bank draft and whatever is disbursed is for the Trust operations which are fully accounted.
The public are warned not to be taken in by such false and mischievous rumors and claims.”
There are 4 Seema Messages - An Inner Reflection, The First Light, Holding on to Grace and A Thoughtful Process

Thought for the Day
23 October 2011
"Allaho Akbar; La Illah Ill Allah". This sacred formula signifies that God is the supreme sovereign; He is the undisputed, unexcelled Ruler of the Creation. He alone is worthy of worship. In the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna says, "There is nothing higher than Me". The Koran formula says the same. Thus Islam and Hinduism convey the same message. The Holy Koran advises the followers of God to acquire self-confidence and place all burdens on God. One must have implicit faith in the power of God and recognise it every moment to lead a meaningful life. To evidence rectitude in the Durbar (palace) of the Lord, when the end is near, one must follow the straight path laid down by the Lord until the very end. The Holy Koran is the guide till the end. It has to be revered and observed down to the very letter. This is the spiritual instruction observed by the followers of Islam.

Baba

Thought for the Day
26 October 2011

The Deepavali festival teaches a profound spiritual truth. On this day an entire array of lamps is lit just by the flame from one lamp. This act signifies that it is the One that has willed to become the Many. That one lamp symbolises the Supreme Effulgent Lord. The others symbolise the light of the individual selves. As long as the demonic qualities remain in man, he will be immersed in darkness. Deepavali has to be observed as a day for getting rid of all the bad qualities in us, symbolised by the demon Narakasura. The destruction of Narakasura symbolises the destruction of evil and the restoration of what is good. This is the inner significance of the festival.

Baba

Thought for the Day
31 October 2011

There are many snakes of wicked qualities in the anthill of your heart. When you loudly sing the Name of the Lord (Namasmarana), all the ‘snakes’ of bad qualities will come out. Namasmarana should be the very breath of your life. You must repeat God's name in order for you to get rid of evil qualities. Today there are many who do not attach any importance to Namasmarana. It is a great mistake. In this Age of Kali only chanting of the Divine Name can redeem your lives. There is no other refuge. Singing the glory of the Lord is highly sacred. Keep your mind clear of evil thoughts as they will produce discordant notes. Only then will you become the recipient of divine grace and energy. You must sing the glory of God wholeheartedly without any inhibition. Then can you can certainly experience divine bliss.

Baba

Busy Day

Yesterday was such a busy day that I could write a book about all that happened. It was like I was having a dozen or so exams or tests about all my trials and tribulations of the last year, or really this last lifetime. I felt as if He were tying off all the little veins and arteries around the heart of this person, this Susan Caffery, in preparation for the removal of her heart and soul.

Yesterday an old beau came to visit from the north. Actually he came to St. Pete to attend a high school reunion and dropped by to see me. We went out to visit 1019, my sister's house, and while we sat in the patio discussing our past courtship, my niece Bethia came down from the north. She'll stay for about a month before returning to her husband who isn't well. She'll probably spend the holidays there with her children before returning again to my sister's house for about four months. That is the usual schedule.

So yesterday was sort of a pivotal point in a way. I knew that the Lord was examining my feelings throughout, or my divine self was examining those feelings, same thing, in order to determine my progress. At least that's what I think happens in order to decide what issues need more work....like jealousy or arrogance or greed for instance. I think I may have done pretty well as I was simply my self throughout the day and didn't change personalities to cater to the occasion. This was an improvement because I tend to change colors like a chameleon depending on who I'm with.

Yesterday was 'Country Classics' as well and I sang three songs. You know, as I was sitting there watching this elderly woman in tight short shorts and ti-shirt dancing up and down the aisles gyrating her hips and skipping in time with the music, I was wondering why on earth I was there at all. These old people who sing these songs are not like any other people I've ever known. I think they maybe the same people who watch fox news and would cut back on Social Security except that they depend on Social Security to live. Also it makes me a nervous wreak to stand up there with a Mic and sing . “Why should I submit myself to this torture” I was thinking.

Then on top of everything else my Vonage phone line collapsed. So there were various tests throughout the day and I think I did pretty well and past all of them. I realized that I wouldn't have been happy with the 'old beau' and where as I would have been comfortable and secure as mother to his two sons, it probably would have been a pretty dull life. I was happier with my significant other.. When my niece arrived it was a warm and affectionate meeting after so much past anger and suffering and that was fine. And then I was able to sing my little songs with a smile on my face to an audience of pretty descent people actually, conquering my fears again, my snobbery and reaching out. I think the secret of my successful day was that I didn't want anything. I have found independence at last in my small flat and really need nobody and have no desires . If people like this person, if they like this costume I'm wearing well that's fine. If they don't, well, that's fine too. As my glorious, real self, I'll be taking off this costume one of these days, hopefully for the last time.

Who are the deserving

Having lived at the ashram for so many years, I've met many saints or near saints and seen many crash too, including myself. Not that I was ever even a near saint before I crashed. So I guess this blog came up this morning because I was thinking about one saint in particular, and it's turning out to be about me instead....as usual. Swami, if you want this blog, you're going to have to write it because I'm not doing very well with it. Which is the exact point, He always writes these blogs just as He wrote all the books and songs that bare my name. And even all the stuff I penned which had assumed names. In my heart I believed that I wrote the stuff and that I would get credit for it someday because I deserved the credit.

The thought which kick started this blog was of this one particular near saint losing her halo. I WANT TO SAY THAT THESE WINGS AND THESE HALOS DO COME OFF AT THE END. THEY ARE ATTRIBUTES JUST LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE AND ARE NOT A PART OF THE REAL SELF. I pictured my friend with the halo slipping down, sort of lopsided over one eye. Ha ha, I thought wickedly.

But now, of course, the last laugh turns out to be about myself. Real saints, those who know their own divinity that is, real saints don't parade around with halos and wings. In fact, this might be one of the final hurdles, showing off your halo. Maybe your real shining light is only inside. No, that isn't right, Swami, because a light shines outside as well. Maybe a really dim light wouldn't show outside but I'm missing the point. I wanted to talk about how people, myself included, think they deserve to have recognition, to have the fruits of their good deeds and they don't. We don't because God is the only doer, the first lesson on the spiritual path. Wow, Swami, it took you long enough to get around to that punch line!

So there I was at Prasanthi Nilayam receiving so much grace from the Lord and feeling so totally unworthy. I wanted to PAY BACK the Lord. Incredible, right? I wanted to try to pay Him back so I wrote all those books. Only I didn't write them, HE wrote them. He was giving me even more grace by writing the books so I wouldn't feel so unworthy. So then, I BEGAN TO FEEL THAT I DESERVED RECOGNITION. THE FRUITS, when I really should have just felt MORE AND MORE GRATITUDE For THE LORD FOR GIVING THEM TO ME. I may not be the only one in the world to have these incorrect thoughts. Maybe many sainta and near saints and just ordinary people think they are deserving when they're not. I think this may be one of the last hurdles. In fact, believing that you are deserving of sainthood, or enlightenment, might be incorrect. I'm using 'incorrect' because it isn't really good or bad to think this way. It's simply, 'incorrect'. And what does a real saint think about it? Maybe they know that the Lord is the only doer because otherwise it's an ego trip and ….we all know that realization doesn't include the personal ego. That isn't who we are. You can't take credit for anything. But hang on, who are we anyway? This is where it gets complicated because you...and I are God. Does that mean that actually we are the doers​? Dangerous thoughts which could destroy all our hard work, HIS HARD WORK

Dasara News - Parthi

Om Sai Ram!


Life is wonderful. This is the best place in the universe to be. Aside from a few days of cloudiness the weather has been sunny. The crowd has been light except for Dasara. It was a very busy time with yagna, Grama Seva, speakers and musical programs.



A great time to be here. The other programs coming up for Birthday, Christmas, New Years, etc will be just as terrific. Come.



Saturday – October 1. The yagna continued until noon. The evening program

consisted of 3 speakers. Saurabh Kumar explained how Baba wove the 9 paths of devotion as part of the education program at the Universities.



Dr. P.L. Rani spoke about the importance of the 3 S’s: Sri Sathya Sai; Service, Sacrifice, Satsang; Sathyam, Sivam, Sundaram as well as Baba repeating yeS, yeS, yeS.



The 3rd Speaker was Sathya Sai with except of his 21 October 2001 discourse. Sai emphasized the importance of following India’s spiritual culture. Sai said, “Leading a life of character is culture”. He concluded with a bhajan.



Afterwards, there was a musical program by Brindavan students with songs mixed with prayers.



Sunday - October 2. The crowd seems to have gotten larger over night. The weather was cloudy which provided some relief from the higher temperatures and humidity from the past few days.



The system for having darshan produced very long lines and a longer waiting time. However, as I walk along the lines of men and women outside Kulwant Hall, I realized that something has changed.



The message that Baba is alive, well, giving darshan and healing people is spreading. In addition, a major change in the energy of the planet is taking place now leading to world peace and happiness.



Also, today is the anniversary of Gandhi birthday. In the future his birthday will be an even bigger event than it is now. He has not been appreciated as much as he should be.



In addition, this morning in 1974 was the first time that I saw the physical form of Sathya Sai Baba in Prasanthi Nilayam in this lifetime.



In the evening, Shashank Shah spoke about the glory of the mother especially Sai as Mother followed by Kumari Lalitha Sarma speaking about learning detachment. The Sai Mission purifies our intellect. The last speaker was Sai Giridhar SaiRam who spoke about the grace of living in the Prasanthi Nilayam area, living your life as Sai would want you to, surrendering completely to Sai and merging with Sai.



There was another except from a Dasara Discourse where Baba urges us to follow our heart and remember that everything we have belongs to God.



The Anantapur students put on a musical program of songs they composed and put to music. Before starting they placed a miniature Golu on the Samadhi. (Photos) They sang in Telugu, Hindi and multilingual song as well as a Carnatic tune.



Monday – October 3. The morning yagna continued in the Poornachandra. In the evening there were 2 speakers; Rishabh Sachdeva and Prof Anantaraman who is also the media coordinator for the trust. Rishabh said that the best way to meet life challenges was by surrendering to god.



Prof Anantaraman said there were 2 main characteristics of the avatar: Cosmic Will and Absolute Detachment. Everything that Baba wrote in 1947 to his brother has happened. The world will remember Baba by his devotees.



There was another excerpt from a discourse.



The music program was a classical Carnatic and Hindustani concert by staff and students from Baba’s music college. (Photo)



Tuesday – October 4. General Hospital 56 Anniversary Day. Also, Tool Day. Anything you use for work and other reasons was to be blessed this day. It was Durga Ashtami. Baba has often said that gratitude was one of the most important virtues of man.



Baba’s 4 cars and his Chariot had rituals done at 8 a.m. at an altar that was set up next to the chariot. Chants were recited and coconuts were broken.



As I walked from the Western Canteen, I passed a resident who had just performed rituals on his car which included washing it.



In the evening, Shivam Chopra spoke about the importance of gratitude especially to Baba for everything he has done. Baba has also said that you should “Offer all your deeds to Me. That is the gratitude, I want from you”.



Amey Deshpande shared his experiences with Baba. He met a yogi last spring who reminded him not to feel sad. Baba went from embodied form to disembodied form.

Another story was about a student who forgot the tunes to some bhajans he was about to sing. The student thought that Baba also forgot. Baba said, I cannot forget, If I forget the entire universe will come to a standstill”.



Another excerpt from a Baba discourse was played.



Next was a special performance by staff from the General Hospital in honor of their anniversary. In 1954 when Baba was 28, he laid the cornerstone for the hospital. In those days Baba would sometimes act as a doctor by prescribing medicine and give advice to patients. The drama was ”Gamyam Neevuga…Payanam Nee Thoduga”

(Journey to Sai..With Sai..) The message was that while doctors treat the patient it is Baba who cures. Many miraculous cures were mentioned during the drama.

Following were slides and movies of Baba visit to the hospital.



Today is also the anniversary of one of the most exciting and mysterious event in Puttaparthi. Orbs. On this evening in 2007, Baba and most of Puttaparthi went to the Puttaparthi Airport where Baba said he would appear on the Moon. Supposedly nothing happened. Baba was also unable to get out of his car as there so many people. After about an hour, Baba left.



However, some people reported seeing little round orbs at the airport. Later, people

took pictures of some of them in Puttaparthi. They are here to help raise the vibration of the planet.



Wednesday – October 5. This was the last day of Navaratri and the end of Grama

Seva. (Photos)



It was an evening of speakers from Anantapur College. Kum Lalitha stated that the real aim of Navaratri was moving from darkness and ignorance to light and divine consciousness which pervades the entire universe.



Suma Rao, a faculty member, spoke about how God loves us selflessly while we tend to love god for material gain. Baba told her mother that Suma gets angry and goes to the prayer hall to overcome the anger. He said, “Why get angry at all”.



The music program was by students of Prasanthi Nilayam (Photo) along with visual of Sai inaugurating different places that were part of the ashram. The 2002 Dasara discourse was video as well as audio. Also, clothes were distributed to staff and students from all of the various educational campuses.



Thursday – October 6. Today is Dasara with the concluding ceremonies and special yagna (Photos) in Poornachandra. As expected the place was packed. No room for anyone else. It seemed like it was last year as we waited for Sai to come bless the final rituals.



In a way nothing has changed. Baba was present this morning. He sat in chair and walked about. He blessed everyone especially the priest as they did a good job.

And as usual the Poornachandra Hall was filled with invisibles having Baba’s darshan and absorbing the vibrations of the chanting and love transmission.



Near the end the priest walked through the crowd sprinkling holy water on everyone. (Photo) A memory of Baba doing this walking up the center aisle. Today he did it through the pundits.



Later Anantapur students distributed Grama Seva in the ashram. Male Students gave out more rice packets and laddus from trucks.



In the morning new housing for those taking care of the cows at the Gokulam was inaugurated.



In the evening with the hall mostly filled as another program was presented. Shashank Shah spoke about the various reasons for celebrating the holiday. It was a victory of good over evil. Rarheesh Kumbalath spoke about the importance of mother, the motherland and the divine mother. While Sanjay Sahni emphasized that we can never understand Baba and that he is everywhere from the largest to the smallest.



The Baba discourse night was about how only God can provide selfless Love.



The musical was a form of classical music that is about 350 years old performed by Pandit Bhushans, Pandit Rajan and Pandit Sajan Mishra from Varanasi (Photo). They were accompanied by several other musicians.



Friday – October 6. This morning United Kingdom presented a musical program called “Sai Harmony” from 8 – 9:30 which was unusual as this time was reserved for Rudram and bhajans. It was our treat. The music was outstanding. There were vocals and instrumentals. The highlight was the singing by Charlotte, a blind lady, who has sung in front of Baba before. Her voice was beyond the angels. The heavenly invisibles rejoiced to her vibrations.



She also played some bhajans medley on the accordion. Following her were instrumental and group songs. (Photo)



Baba was very happy with U.K.



For all the programs in Kulwant Hall, 2 big screens and several monitors had been set up for viewing Baba slides and videos. Each evening during the playback of Sai giving part of a discourse, the slides were made to give an impression that they were a live viewing of Baba speaking. (Photo)



Also attached are 2 Dasara discourses.



Thought: "Tell me your company, I shall tell you what you are." This is from Baba’s discourse. He has said this many times. As I was reading it this morning, I realized another important meaning of this statement. Baba used this statement when referring to the kind of friends you have, where you work, what you at other times, etc.



However, My feeling is that the real meaning is the kind of thoughts you think about, how much time you spend thinking about God and how much about other stuff.



The company in your mind maybe more important that the physical ones.



Those of you planning to travel to Sri Lanka might want to reconsider. Effective 2012, there will be no more Visa On Arrival. However, you can get a temporary Visa at their embassy or through the computer.



Please when you send me an email, please state under your name where you are from.



Seema messages “The Divine Bird” and “God Knows...God Gives…God Saves”.



Thought for the Day

2 October 2011



Gandhiji looked upon India as one country. He planted the seed of unity of all faiths and all communities, which under his guidance grew quickly into a big tree. He built a great movement on the basis of Atmabalam (soul-force) that strengthened unity and self-confidence. There was a lot of suffering while the freedom movement was on. But sufferings are the prelude to success. Sathyagraha was the path of Truth and Love, of the means being as pure as the ends. He who accepts criticism gladly and thanks the critic for his remarks is the one really human. Since Gandhi was willing to learn and had the humility to acknowledge criticism, he could mould the people of his land and be hailed as the Father of the Nation.



Baba



Thought for the Day

5 October 2011



During the ten days of the Dasara, the Rakshasas (demons) in the form of wicked qualities are destroyed. Rakshasas do not mean demonic beings. The bad qualities in people are the demons. Arrogance is a demon. Bad thoughts are demons. When the Lord metes out a punishment, it may appear harsh. They depend on the time, place and the circumstances in which the Lord acts. Butter can be split with a finger. But a powerful hammer is needed to break a piece of iron. The Lord deals with Sathwic persons in a Sathwic way. The Lord applies the Rajasic weapon against Rajasic persons. Unknowingly, people attribute dreaded forms and qualities to the Divine. This is not proper. The Divine has only one attribute, Love. Love is God. Love pervades the Cosmos. View the world through the eyes of love and you will experience bliss.



Baba



Thought for the Day

7 October 2011



The term "Devi" represents the Divine power that has taken the Rajasic (powerful) form to suppress the forces of evil and protect the Sathwic (good). Whenever the forces of injustice, immorality and untruth have grown to monstrous proportions and are indulging in a death-dance, when selfishness and self-interest are rampant, when people have lost all sense of kindness and compassion, the Atmic principle, assuming the form of Shakthi, God will destroy the evil elements. This is the inner meaning of the Dasara festival. Develop good qualities. Cultivate love amongst all people. All the festivals have been designed to promote Divine love amongst everyone. It is to confer such love on the people that the Lord incarnates on earth. He Himself demonstrates how love should be expressed. He showers His love and teaches everyone how to love. Hence, experience this love and joy in your life and live in peace.



Baba