Shri Shirdi Sai speaks-28th June /Short Stories with Great Morals from the Bhagavad Gita: Sir Alexander Fleming

Om Sai Ram !Om Ganeshaya Namaha!
Jai Maata di!Om Nama Shivaya!
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THE BHAGAVAD-GITA (For Children and Beginners)
Click Below incase you have not yet read Chapter 1 and the Introduction of the Bhagavad Gita http://debu7370.blogspot.com/2010/06/shri-shirdi-sai-speaks-25th-june.html
Chapter 2::::KNOWLEDGE OF GOD
http://debu7370.blogspot.com/2010/06/shri-shirdi-sai-speaks-26th-june-latest.html
CHAPTER 3:::::KARMA-YOGA, THE PATH OF DUTY
Jai: Why do we have to control our desires, Grandma?
Grandma: When you choose wrong behavior for sense enjoyment, you also choose its results. That is why work has to be done for the welfare of all and not just to satisfy your desires or for personal gain. One who practices KarmaYoga is called a KarmaYogi. A KarmaYogi finds the right way to serve and turns her or his work into worship. In KarmaYoga, no work is more important or less important than other work.
Jai: Uncle Hari left his family and home and went to an Ashram last year to find God. Do we have to leave home to seek God?
Grandma: No, we do not. In the Gita, Lord Krishna has given us different paths to God-realization. The path you choose depends on your individual nature. In general, there are two types of people in the world: the inward (or studious, introvert) type and the outward or active type. For the introvert like Uncle Hari, the path of spiritual knowledge is best. Followers of this path go to a spiritual master or a guru where they study Vedic scriptures under proper guidance. In this path, we learn who we are and how we can lead a happy and peaceful life.

Jai: Do we have to read all the scriptures to understand and find God?
Grandma: There are many scriptures in our religion, such as the 4 Vedas, 108 Upanishads, 18 Purānas, Rāmāyanas, Mahābhārata, various Sutras and many others. Reading all of them would be a difficult task. But Lord Krishna has given us everything we need to know about God in the Gita. The Gita has the essence of all the Vedas and Upanishads for the modern time.
Jai: Uncle Puri is a farmer and has no interest in studying the Gita. He says the Gita is difficult and not for common people like him. So how can Uncle Puri realize God?
Grandma: Uncle Puri should follow the second path, the path of KarmaYoga that is described in this chapter of the Gita. This is the path of duty or selfless service. This path is better for most people who work hard to support a family and have no time or interest to read scriptures. Followers of this path do not have to leave work and go to an Ashram. They give up selfish motives and do all work for the greater good of society, instead of just for themselves.

Jai: But people will work harder if they have selfish motives, won’t they, Grandma?
Grandma: It is true that people may earn more if they work for selfish gain, but they will not find permanent peace and happiness. Only those who do their duty selflessly for the good of all people will find real peace and satisfaction.
Jai: If people don’t work for personal gain, will they still do their best and not become lazy?
Grandma: A true KarmaYogi works hard even without personal gain. Only the ignorant work just for personal gain. The world runs smoothly because people do their duty. Parents work hard to support their family, and the children do their part. Nobody can remain inactive or idle all the time. Most people engage in some activity and do what they can. Brahmā, the creator, gave his first teaching to humanity when he said: Let all of you progress and prosper by helping each other and by doing your duty properly. (Gita 3.10-11)

Jai: What happens if people work hard just for their own benefit?
Grandma: They commit sin, Jai. It is wrong to perform any action selfishly without considering its effect on others. Lord Krishna calls such a person a thief, useless, and sinful. (Gita 3.12-13) We should never live and work just for ourselves. We should help and serve each other.
Jai: What does a person gain who follows the teaching of Lord Brahmā and works for the good of society?
Grandma: Such a person attains peace and success in this life, reaches God, and does not take birth again on this earth.
Here is a true modern story of how selfless service, discussed in Chapter 3, works wonders in life.

3. Sir Alexander Fleming
A poor Scottish farmer one day, while trying to make a living for his family, heard a cry for help coming from a nearby swamp. He dropped his tools and ran to the bog. There, sunk to his waist in the swamp, was a terrified boy, screaming and struggling to free himself. Farmer Fleming saved the lad from what could have been a slow and terrifying death.
The next day, a fancy carriage pulled up to the Scotsman's simple home. A well dressed nobleman stepped out and introduced himself as the father of the boy that Farmer Fleming had saved.
"I want to thank and repay you," said the nobleman. "You saved my son's life."
"I can't accept payment for what I did," the Scottish farmer replied, rejecting the offer.
At that moment, the farmer's own son came to the door of the family hovel.
"Is that your son?" the nobleman asked.
"Yes," the farmer replied proudly.
"I'll make you a deal. Let me provide him with the level of education my own son will enjoy. If the lad is anything like his father, he'll no doubt grow to be a man we both will be proud of."
And that he did. Farmer Fleming's son attended the very best schools and in time graduated from St. Mary's Hospital Medical School in London and went on to become known throughout the world as the noted Sir Alexander Fleming, the discoverer of Penicillin.
Years afterward, the same nobleman's son who was saved from the swamp was stricken with pneumonia. What saved his life this time? Penicillin.
The name of the nobleman? Lord Randolph Churchill.
His son's name? The famous Sir Winston Churchill.
Someone once said: What goes around comes around. This is the universal law of Karma, the law of cause and effect. Help fulfill someone’s dream, and your dream shall be fulfilled too by the Lord!

Jai: Please give me more examples of true KarmaYogis, Grandma.
Grandma: You have read the story of Rāmāyana. Lord Rāma’s father-in-law was Janaka, the King of Janakapur. He attained God by serving his people as his own children, selflessly and without attachment to the results of his action. He did his duty as worship of God. Work done without any selfish motive, as a matter of duty, becomes worship of God because it helps God run the world.
Mahātmā Gandhi was a true KarmaYogi, who worked selflessly all his life without any personal motive, just for the good of society. He set an example for other world leaders to follow. There are many other examples of selfless persons.
Jai: Is that how our leaders should work?
Grandma: Yes, a true KarmaYogi shows by personal example how to lead a selfless life and attain God by following the path of KarmaYoga. (Gita 3.21)
Jai: If I want to become a KarmaYogi, what do I have to do?
Grandma: KarmaYoga requires doing our duty in life the best we can, unselfishly, without attachment to the results of our work. A KarmaYogi remains calm in both success and failure and has no likes or dislikes for any person, place, object, or work. Work done as selfless service for the welfare of humanity produces no good or bad Kārmic bondage and leads one to God.

Jai: It would be hard to work without wanting to gain something personally from it. How do we do this, Grandma?
Grandma: Spiritually ignorant persons work just for themselves. The wise work for the welfare of all. The ignorant work to enjoy the result of their labor and become attached to it because they think they are the doer. They do not realize that all work is done by the power supplied to us by God. With the power to do our duty and the intellect to choose between right and wrong action, we become responsible for our actions. People act wrongly because they don’t use their intellect and don’t think of the results of their action on others.
The wise offer all their work to God with no selfish desire of their own. The ignorant work only to fulfill their personal desires. (Gita 3.25)
Jai: Can a common person like me do what great people like King Janaka and Mahātmā Gandhi have done?
Grandma: With a little effort, anybody can follow the path of KarmaYoga. Think of whatever work you are doing as your gift to society. If you are a student, your duty is to attend school, do your homework, respect your parents, teachers, other elders, and help your brothers, sisters, friends, and classmates. In student life, prepare yourself to be a good, productive citizen by getting a good education.

Jai: What kind of work should I do when I graduate, Grandma?
Grandma: Choose the work that you like and can do well. The work should be suited to your nature. (Gita 3.35, 18.47) If you choose work for which you don’t have a natural skill or attraction, your chances of success are limited. You know what you can do best. Trying to be someone you’re not is the greatest cause of failure and unhappiness.
Jai: But shouldn’t I try to find good work, like engineering, teaching, or government service?
Grandma: There is no such thing as good or bad work. All types of workers are needed to keep society running. Some work pays more than others, but higher paying jobs are usually more difficult and stressful if you are not qualified for them. If you are qualified for a lower paying job, lead a simple life and avoid unnecessary items. A simple life means not desiring too many material things. Limit yourself to the basic needs of life. Keep your desires under control. Lord Buddha said: Selfish desire is the cause of all evils and misery

Jai: Is selfish desire the reason why people do bad things?
Grandma: Yes Jai, our selfish desire for enjoyment is the cause of all evils. If we don’t control our desires, our desires will control us, and we will become the victims of our own desires. Control your wants because whatever you want, wants you also!
Jai: Then are all desires bad?
Grandma: No, all desires are not bad. The desire to serve others is a noble desire. The desire to enjoy pleasures is bad because it leads to sinful and illegal activities. Always remember that desire never ends after you get what you want. It just leads to new desires and creates greed. And if you don’t get what you want, you feel angry. People do bad things when they are angry.

Jai: How can we control our desire for pleasures?
Grandma: One way is by the knowledge given in the Gita and by the power of thinking. Before you act from desire, always think first of the results of that action. Desires start in the mind and stay there. You can control your mind by intellect and reasoning.
When you are young, your mind becomes dirty just as the clear water of a pond becomes muddy during the rainy season. If your intellect doesn’t control your mind, your mind will run towards sense pleasures. This will keep you from achieving the higher goals of life. So set a high goal in life to keep your mind from getting dirty by sensual pleasures like smoking, alcohol, drugs, and other bad habits. Bad habits are very hard to get rid of, so avoid them to start with. Always keep good company, read good books, avoid bad people, and think of the long-term result of your actions.
Jai: Since we know right from wrong, Grandma, why can’t we just avoid doing wrong?
Grandma: If we don’t control our mind, it will try to weaken our will and take us for a ride to the wrong road of sensual pleasures. We have to watch our mind and keep it on track.

Chapter 3 Summary: Lord Krishna mentioned two major paths to peace and happiness in life. The path chosen depends on the individual. It is easy for most people to follow the path of KarmaYoga, the path of selfless service. To help each other is the first teaching of the creator. This keeps society going and progressing. We should all do our duty to the best of our ability. Choose the career best suited to your nature. No job is small. It’s not what you do, but how you do it that is important. Finally, Lord Krishna tells us we must control our desire for pleasures. Uncontrolled desires for pleasure lead us to failure and suffering in life. We must think about the results of an action before taking it up. Avoid bad company at all costs.

Realize that Baba is Unique

Man has to make the best use of available time. We should always try to focus our mind on God. Even though we are busily engaged in selfless service, our minds should always think of God. We should not stop remembering God simply because we are engaged in social service. Slowly, the egoistic feeling that 'I' am doing work' will dominate the mind. It causes us to forget God who made us as His instruments to accomplish His great purpose. When ego gets bloated, we may lose the spirit of spirituality in our service. Deprived of the spirit of service, we may get alienated from God. In whatever work we are engaged in, we must always chant Baba's name and remember that Baba pervades in all beings and everywhere. To serve all is to serve Sai, the Omnipresent One.The devotion to God should not be like the dress we change everyday but should become the breath of our lives. 'Before you get to work, offer it to me'.... these words of Baba have to be kept in mind. If we can constantly chant His name while engaged in work, Baba will make it successful and Himself decides the due returns for it. It is Baba who does and gets the work done through us. Even the receiver and the active force of help is Baba alone. In our spiritual practice, we must bear in mind the truth that Sai is the Prime Mover of our lives.

Shri Shirdi Sai speaks-27th June /Shirdi temple trust under high court scanner

Om Sai Ram !Om Ganeshaya Namaha!
Jai Maata di!Om Nama Shivaya!
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Latest News from Shirdi
Shirdi temple trust under high court scanner
The Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust at Shirdi, the second richest temple trust in India, has come under the scanner of the Bombay High Court.
A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed by two agriculturists from Ahmednagar, Rajendra Uttamrao Shelke (31) and Suresh Patil (52) that alleges misappropriation of funds and raises questions over the trust having the same managing committee for the last six years.
The PIL had alleged that the trustees, including the Minister for Transport and Ports and Law and Jurisdiction, Radhakrishna Eknath Vikhe Patil, have “freely indulged in the misutilisation of funds and acts of gross negligence, and were responsible for mismanaging.” Although the temple trust is managed under a separate Act, the Shree Sai Baba Sansthan Trust (Shirdi) Act, 2004, the Maharashtra government has still not framed rules to govern the trust.
The high court recently directed the government to frame the rules at the earliest, to govern the trust as provided under provisions of the Act.
“Functioning of a public trust involves not only adherence to the provisions of law but a sense of devotion. Public sentiments and dedication is attached to such trusts.
There cannot be any dispute that the functioning of such trusts shall exhibit fairness and transparency,” observed the division bench of Justice N.D. Deshpande and N.H. Patil.
The court directed the government to keep a proper record of the meetings of the Managing Committee, Advisory Council and Bhakta Mandal.
The court also asked the government to consider forming a new managing committee. A managing committee was appointed in August 2004 when the new trust was formed after the enactment of the Shree Sai Baba Sansthan Trust (Shirdi) Act.
The Act provided for a three-year tenure for the members of the managing committee.
An Appeal To All Saibaba Devotees
It has come to our notice from the website www. saibabasansthan.in that agency named Shri Saibaba Bhakti Prachar Sansthan Shirdi ,Hyderabad is using the name of Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust,Shirdi for the sale of silver flowers offered to Shri Saibaba Samadhi from 16th May to 25th July.
We hereby appeal to all Saidevotees that Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust,Shirdi does not approve this scheme and has no connection with the said agency Shri Saibaba Bhakti Prachar Sansthan Shirdi
Sai devotees are requested not to send any amount for purchase of such offered silver flowers
Executive Officer
Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust,Shirdi
Love Binds us Live Together

If the universe is a globe, then its focal point is pure and selfless love. Love is, indeed, the basis for not only earning a place at the feet of God but also to live in harmony with every living being of the universe. Love is the Law of Life. We can reach God through several ways and means of devotion. We should never think that we are living in this world with thoughts of God, and, therefore, we alone are only related to God. What are we to do with this world? Because God loves us either in the form of a teacher, mother, father or friend, and keeps us on the right track. Having stepped on the right path and moved closer to God, it would be sheer selfishness to neglect and forget worldly duties. The winds blowing over the jasmines will steal the fragrance, store them and provide us the delight of the aroma. Likewise, we have to fill our hearts with God-Love and live in harmony with our neighbours. This is not a difficult task. What we essentially require is to have patience, obedience, love and sympathy. If we see the world with eyes embalmed with love, God appears in every being of nature. All are like us. What we think as the best for us, the same should be given to our fellow beings. Love enriches spiritual wisdom and deepens devotion in us. Then, God would be held as a captive in our hearts.

Shri Shirdi Sai speaks-26th June /Latest News from Shirdi/The Graduation Test:Short Stories with Great Morals from the Bhagavad Gita

Om Sai Ram !Om Ganeshaya Namaha!
Jai Maata di!Om Nama Shivaya!
If for some reason you are not able to see , or download the below pictures or click to the below links and pictures- Plz go to http://debu7370.blogspot.com/You can also have access to all the previous Shirdi Sai speaks mails at the above link.And if any of you would like to receive these messages directly to your mailbox everyday--
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Latest News from Shirdi

An Appeal To All Saibaba Devotees

It has come to our notice from the website www. saibabasansthan.in that agency named Shri Saibaba Bhakti Prachar Sansthan Shirdi ,Hyderabad is using the name of Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust,Shirdi for the sale of silver flowers offered to Shri Saibaba Samadhi from 16th May to 25th July.
We hereby appeal to all Saidevotees that Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust,Shirdi does not approve this scheme and has no connection with the said agency Shri Saibaba Bhakti Prachar Sansthan Shirdi
Sai devotees are requested not to send any amount for purchase of such offered silver flowers.
Executive Officer
Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust,Shirdi

THE BHAGAVAD-GITA (For Children and Beginners)
Click Below incase you have not yet read Chapter 1 and the Introduction of the Bhagavad Gita
http://debu7370.blogspot.com/2010/06/shri-shirdi-sai-speaks-25th-june.html
CHAPTER 2:::::KNOWLEDGE OF GOD
Jai: If Arjuna felt so kind-hearted for everyone he was supposed to kill in the war, how could he go out and fight, Grandma?
Grandma: That is exactly what Arjuna asked Lord Krishna. He said: “How shall I strike my grandfather, my guru, and all other relatives with arrows in battle? They are worthy of my respect.” (Gita 2.04)
Arjuna had a good point. In Vedic culture, gurus, the elderly, honorable persons, and all other superiors are to be respected. But the scriptures also say that anyone who acts wrongly or unlawfully against you or others, or anyone who supports such deeds, should no longer be respected, but punished.
Arjuna was confused about his duty and asked guidance from Lord Krishna. Lord Krishna then instructed him on the true knowledge of Atmā and the physical body.
Jai: What is Atmā, Grandma?
Grandma: Atmā is also called the Spirit, or the soul. Atmā is never born, never dies, and is everlasting. Our body takes birth and dies, but not Atmā. Atmā supports the body. Without Atmā, the body becomes dead. Atmā supplies the power to our body, mind, and senses, just as air burns and supports fire. Weapons cannot cut Atmā, fire cannot burn it, wind cannot dry it, and water cannot make it wet. Therefore, we should not grieve over death of the body because the Atmā inside the body never dies. (Gita 2.23-24)

Jai: What is the difference between Atmā (Spirit), soul, and body Grandma?
Grandma: One and the same Atmā dwells inside all bodies. Our body changes with time. Our old-age body is different from our childhood body. But Atmā does not change. Atmā takes a childhood body, a youth body, and an old-age body during this life, then takes another body after death. (Gita 2.13) The Sanskrit word Atmā is translated as Spirit in English. Spirit is universal and all pervading. The English word spirit or soul also means the Spirit residing in individual bodies. In Sanskrit language, we call this individual soul Jivātmā or Jiva (also spelled as Jeeva). If Spirit is compared to a forest, the individual soul (spirit or Jiva) can be compared to the tree in the forest.
The body is called a garment of Atmā. Just as we get rid of an old, worn-out garment and put on a new one, similarly, Atmā gets rid of the old body and takes a new one after death. So death is like changing the garment of Atmā. (Gita 2.22) All beings are visible between birth and death; they can’t be seen before birth or after death and remain in their invisible form. (Gita 2.28) Therefore, we should not grieve over death of the body. We are not the body. We are Atmā with a body. Death just means our soul passes from one body to another new body.

Jai: Then why did Arjuna grieve over deaths of loved ones on the battlefield? Why didn’t he want to fight?
Grandma: Arjuna was a very tough warrior, Jai, but he wanted to run away from the horrors of war and lead an easy life of a Samnyāsi, a wandering hermit. Lord Krishna taught us to face the battle of life by giving Arjuna the beautiful science of KarmaYoga, the art of peaceful and prosperous living. Chapter 3 of the Gita tells us more about this. Arjuna was worried about the results of the war, but Lord Krishna asks us to do our duty without worrying too much about the results, such as gain and loss, victory and defeat, success and failure. If you are constantly worried about the results of your studies, you will not be able to put your heart and soul into them for fear of failure.

Jai: But Grandma, how could Arjuna fight his best if he wasn’t fighting to win and gain something?
Grandma: Arjuna must fight to win, but he should not weaken his will by worrying about the result while he is fighting. He should put all his attention and energy into every minute of the fight. That energy is what will bring the greatest result.
Lord Krishna tells us that we have full control over our action, but no control over the results of our action. (Gita 2.47) Harry Bhalla says: A farmer has control over how he works his land, yet no control over the harvest. But he cannot expect a harvest if he does not work his land with best effort and with tools he has.
We should do our best at the present moment and let the future take care of itself.

Jai: Could you tell me more about the secret of success as told by Krishna to Arjuna?
Grandma: We should be so completely absorbed in work or study as to become unaware of everything else, even of its results. To achieve the best results from what we do, we should be focused on the action with undivided attention.
Action should be done sincerely without worrying about its results. The results of the action will be greater if we put all attention and energy into the action itself and do not allow our energy to be diverted by thinking of results. The result will depend on energy put into action. We are asked not to worry about results during the course of action. This does not mean that we should not care about results. But we should not expect only positive results all the time.
The secret of living a meaningful life is to be very active, and do our best without thinking of our own selfish motives or even the results. A Self-realized person works for the good of all.

Jai: What is a Self-realized person like, Grandma?
Grandma: A Self-realized person is a perfect person, Jai. Lord Krishna tells us the mind of a perfect person is not shaken by difficulties, does not run after pleasures, is free from fear, desire, greed, and attachment, and has control over mind and senses. (Gita 2.56) A Self-realized person does not get angry, is peaceful and happy.

Jai: How can we keep from getting angry, Grandma?
Grandma: We get angry if our desire is not fulfilled. (Gita 2.62) So the best way to control anger is to control or limit our desires. We should not want too many things. Desires begin in the mind, so we should control our mind. If we don’t control our mind, we drift like a ship without its rudder. The desire for pleasure takes one to the dark alley of sin, gets us in trouble, and prevents our progress. (Gita 2.67) As a student, you should set a higher goal for yourself than pleasure. Put forth your best effort and concentrate on your studies.
Arjuna was a very good example of such concentration. Here is a story about him.

2. The Graduation Test
Guru Drona was the military teacher for both the Kauravas and the Pāndavas. At the end of their military training came final examination time. Drona put a wooden eagle on the branch of a nearby tree. Nobody knew it was just a doll. It looked like a real eagle. To pass the graduation test, every one of the students was supposed to cut off the eagle’s head with one arrow.
Guru Drona first asked Yudhisthira, the eldest of the Pāndavas: “Get ready, look at the eagle, and tell me what you are seeing.”
Yudhisthira replied: “I see the sky, the clouds, the tree trunk, the branches, the leaves and the eagle sitting there”
Guru Drona was not very pleased with this answer. He asked the same of all the students, one by one. Every one of them gave a similar answer. Then came Arjuna’s turn for the test.
Drona asked Arjuna: “Get ready, look at the eagle, and tell me what you are seeing.”
Arjuna replied: “I only see the eagle and nothing else”
Drona then asked a second question: “If you are seeing the eagle, then tell me how strong is its body and what is the color of it’s wings?”
Arjuna replied: “I am only seeing its head and not the entire body.”
Guru Drona was much pleased with Arjuna’s answer and asked him to go ahead with the test. Arjuna easily cut off the head of the eagle with one arrow because he was concentrating on his aim with a single mind. He passed the test with flying colors.
Arjuna was not only the greatest warrior of his time, but also a compassionate KarmaYogi. Lord Krishna chose Arjuna as a medium to impart the knowledge of the holy Gita.
We all should follow the example of Arjuna. Read the Gita and be like Arjuna.

“Arjuna Bano, Arjuna Bano,” my dear grandson! Whatever work you do, do it with single-minded attention and put your whole heart and mind into it. This is the main theme of KarmaYoga of the Gita and the secret of success in anything you do.

A word for the youth from Swāmi Vivekananda:
"Whatever you are doing, put your whole mind on it. If you are shooting, your mind should be only on the target. Then you will never miss. If you are learning your lessons, think only of the lesson. In India boys and girls are taught to do this".

Chapter 2 summary: Lord Krishna taught us, through Arjuna, the difference between Atmā and body. We are Atmā with a body. Atmā is unborn and indestructible. One and the same Atmā dwells inside all bodies, human or nonhuman. Thus we are all connected with each other. We should do our duty to the best of our ability without worrying about success or failure. We must learn from our failures and go forward without letting our failures defeat us. To become a perfect person, we need to control or limit our desires.

Our Body is a Means for Attaining Salvation

The wonderful power of human beings lies in their knowledge. Man realizes God by the power of Self-knowledge. For this reason, even gods are jealous of the human birth. They too wish to take human birth and attain liberation. Man, who is blessed with the precious human life, should be ever-watchful and make the most of every hour of his life. Knowing that time once lost cannot be regained, one should shun laziness and dullness and set himself to make his life worthier. One must resolve not to eat much, or sleep long hours or wallow in pleasures and instead eat less and sleep less and abide by Baba's words of prudence and guidance.Even though we possess abundant wealth, we should do all our works on our own and never depend on others. However, if we pamper the body and accustom it to luxuries and pleasures, life becomes futile. But, the body should neither be neglected nor loved too much. We must just take as much care of the body as a horse-rider takes care of his horse till the destination is reached. We should ensure that the body is cared for as a befitting instrument for Self-liberation. Indeed, it is a great boon to beget human birth. And we are doubly fortunate to have the opportunity of getting self-liberated by serving and adoring the Feet of Sainath.

Shri Shirdi Sai speaks-25th June /Mr.Truthful::Short Stories with Great Morals from the Bhagavad Gita

Om Sai Ram !Om Ganeshaya Namaha!
Jai Maata di!Om Nama Shivaya!
If for some reason you are not able to see , or download the below pictures or click to the below links and pictures- Plz go to http://debu7370.blogspot.com/You can also have access to all the previous Shirdi Sai speaks mails at the above link.And if any of you would like to receive these messages directly to your mailbox everyday--
Click Here to Subscribe to Sai Picture Gallery via Email
For everything else related to Shri Shirdi Saibaba - Click Here
Om Sai Ram !
Personally, I am really impressed by this particular version of Shri Bhagwat Gita which is for beginners and children and so I request all the devotees to not only read it themselves and pass it on to your friends but also save it in your inboxes and read it to your children or grandchildren. It has 25 stories , 133 gita verses and other teachings. In this way you will not only spend some quality time with them but also teach them the good moral values which will help them become better individuals and give them the right knowledge to lead a happy, peaceful and blissful life..
May Sai baba's blessings and grace always be with us and our families... Sai bhakt,
Deepa H

THE BHAGAVAD-GITA (For Children and Beginners)
Introduction
Jai: Grandma, I have a hard time understanding the teachings of the Bhagavad-Gita. Would you help me?
Grandma: Of course, Jai, I will be glad to. You should know that this holy book teaches us how to live happily in the world. It is an ancient holy book of Hindu Dharma (also known as Sanātana Dharma or Hinduism), but it can be understood and followed by people of any faith. The Gita has eighteen (18) chapters and a total of only 700 verses. Anyone can be helped by daily practice of only a few of its teachings.
The word ‘Bhagavad’ means God or The Supreme Lord, Bhagavān in Sanskrit. ‘Gita’ means song. Thus The Bhagavad-Gita means the Song of God or the Sacred Song, because it was sung by Bhagavān Shri Krishna himself.
Here is the introduction to the Gita:
In ancient times there was a king who had two sons, Dhritarāshtra and Pāndu. The former was born blind; therefore, Pāndu inherited the kingdom. Pāndu had five sons. They were called the Pāndavas. Dhritarāshtra had one hundred sons. They were called the Kauravas. Duryodhana was the eldest of the Kauravas.
After the death of king Pāndu, his eldest son, Yudhisthira, became the lawful King. Duryodhana was very jealous. He also wanted the kingdom. The kingdom was divided into two halves between the Pāndavas and the Kauravas. Duryodhana was not satisfied with his share. He wanted the entire kingdom for himself. He tried several evil plots to kill the Pāndavas and take away their kingdom. Somehow he took over the entire kingdom of the Pāndavas and refused to give it back without a war. All peace talks by Lord Krishna and others failed, so the big war of Mahābhārata could not be avoided.
The Pāndavas didn’t want to fight, but they had only two choices: fight for their right because it was their duty or run away from war and accept defeat for the sake of peace and nonviolence. Arjuna, one of the five Pāndava brothers, faced this choice in the battlefield.
He had to choose between fighting the war and killing his most revered guru, who was on the other side; his very dear friends, close relatives, and many innocent warriors; or running away from the battlefield to be peaceful and nonviolent. The entire eighteen chapters of the Gita are the talk between confused Arjuna and his best friend, mentor and cousin, Lord Krishna --- an incarnation of God --- on the battlefield of Kurukshetra near New Delhi, India, about 5,100 years ago. This conversation was reported to the blind king, Dhritarāshtra, by his charioteer, Sanjay. It is recorded in the great epic, Mahābhārata.
All lives, human or nonhuman, are sacred, and nonviolence or Ahimsā is one of the most basic principles of Hinduism. So when Lord Krishna advises Arjuna to get up and fight, this may confuse you about the principle of Ahimsā if you don’t keep in mind the background of the war of Mahābhārata.
This spiritual talk between the Supreme Lord, Krishna, and His devotee-friend, Arjuna, occurs not in a temple, a lonely forest, or on a mountain top, but on a battlefield on the eve of a war.
Jai: This is an interesting story, Grandma. Can you tell me more?
Grandma: If you come to where I sit every evening, Jai, I will tell you the whole story, one chapter each day. Just make sure your homework is done and you have time to listen. If you agree, let’s start tomorrow.
Jai: Thank you, Grandma. I’ll be there to hear more.

CHAPTER 1
ARJUNA’S CONFUSION
Jai: I would like to know first how Lord Krishna and Arjuna happened to talk on the battlefield, Grandma.
Grandma: It came about in this way, Jai. The war of Mahābhārata was about to begin after peace talks by Lord Krishna and others failed to avoid the war. When the soldiers were gathered on the battlefield, Arjuna asked Lord Krishna to drive his chariot between the two armies so that he could see those who were ready to fight. Seeing all his relatives, friends, and soldiers on the battlefield and fearing their destruction, he became compassionate.
Jai: What does compassionate mean, Grandma?
Grandma: Compassion does not mean pity, Jai. That would be looking down on others as poor, pitiful creatures. Arjuna was feeling their pain and their unlucky situation as his own. Arjuna was a great warrior, who had fought many wars and was well prepared for the war, but suddenly his compassion made him not want to fight. He spoke of the evils of war and sat down on the seat of his chariot, his mind full of sorrow. He saw no use in fighting. He did not know what to do.
Jai: I don’t blame him. I wouldn’t want to fight either. Why do people fight, Grandma? Why are there wars?
Grandma: Jai, there are not only wars between nations, but quarrels between two people, quarrels between brothers and sisters, between husband and wife, between friends and neighbors. The main reason is that people are not able to let go of their selfish motives and desires. Most wars are fought for possession and power. But all problems could be solved peacefully if people could see both sides of the problem and work out an agreement. War should be the last resort. Our holy books say: One should not commit violence towards anyone. Unjustified killing is punishable in all circumstances. Lord Krishna urged Arjuna to fight for his rights, but not to kill needlessly. It was his duty as a warrior to fight a declared war and establish peace and law and order on earth.
We humans also have wars going inside all of us. Our negative and positive forces are always fighting. The negative forces within us are represented by the Kauravas and the positive forces by the Pāndavas.The Gita does not have stories in it to illustrate the teachings, so I will add some stories from other sources to help you.
Here is a story about negative and positive thoughts fighting each other that Lord Krishna Himself told to Arjuna in Mahābhārata.

1. Mr. Truthful
There once lived a great hermit, who was famous for telling the truth. He had taken a vow not to lie and was popularly known as “Mr. Truthful.” No matter what he said, everyone believed him because he had earned a great reputation in the community where he lived and did his spiritual practices.
One evening, a robber was chasing a merchant to rob and kill him. The merchant was running for his life. To escape from the robber, the merchant ran towards the forest where the hermit lived outside the village.
The merchant felt very safe because there was no way the robber could find out where he was hiding in the jungle. But the hermit had seen the direction in which the merchant went.
The robber came to the hermit’s cottage and paid his respects. The robber knew that the hermit would tell only the truth and could be trusted, so he asked him whether he had seen somebody running away. The hermit knew that the robber must be looking for somebody to rob and kill, so he faced a big problem. If he told the truth, the merchant would certainly be killed. If he lied, he would incur the sin of lying and lose his reputation. Any immoral act that may harm others is called sin. Ahimsā (nonviolence) and truthfulness are two most important teachings of all religions that we must follow. If we have to choose between these two, which one should we choose? This is a very difficult choice.
Because of his habit of telling the truth, the hermit said: “Yes, I saw someone going that way.” So the robber was able to find the merchant and kill him. The hermit could have saved a life by hiding the truth, but he did not think very carefully and made a wrong decision.
Lord Krishna’s purpose in telling Arjuna this story was to teach Arjuna that sometimes we have to choose between a rock and a hard place. Lord Krishna told Arjuna that the hermit shared with the robber the sin of killing a life. The robber could not have found the merchant if the hermit had not told the truth. So when two noble principles conflict with each other, we have to know which one is the higher principle. Ahimsa has the highest priority, so the hermit should have lied in this situation to save a life. One may not tell a truth that harms a person in any way. It isn’t easy to apply Dharma (or righteousness) to real life situations because what is Dharma and what is Adharma (or unrighteousness) can sometimes be very difficult to decide. In such a situation, expert advice should be sought.

Lord Krishna gave another example of a robber coming to a village to rob and kill the villagers. In this situation, killing the robber would be an act of nonviolence because killing one person may save many lives. Lord Krishna Himself, on several occasions, had to make such decisions to win the war of Mahābhārata and put an end to all the evil-doers.
Remember, Jai, do not tell a lie, and do not kill any living being or hurt anybody, but saving a life comes first.

Chapter 1 summary: Arjuna asked his charioteer friend, Lord Krishna, to drive his chariot between the two armies so that he could see the Pāndava’s army. Arjuna felt great compassion to see his friends and relatives on the opposite side, whom he must kill to win the war. He became confused, spoke of the evils of war, and refused to fight.

Every Day is a Thursday, We are All Members of Sai Family

Several Sai devotees among us observe fasting on every Thursday, sing hymns in Sai's glory and make charity by visiting Sai Temples. They get busily engrossed in their occupations or business during the other days of the week. But, true devotees of Baba should treat every day as a Thursday. Generally, the reading of "Sri Sai Satcharitra", would take seven days to complete it, if started on a Thursday. Instead, if we read it again and again, we get peace of mind as a result of Baba's teachings getting deeply imprinted on our minds. They are the true devotees of Sai who undertake a work with a clear grasp of its nature and engage themselves to work eagerly, in a dedicated spirit. Sai's Light of Grace always guides them to succeed.It is not justified to wait for a Thursday to feed a starving man. Every moment should be thought of as a great boon of God and inspired by Sai's Spirit of Love and Compassion, one should treat every soul as Sai. All those who lead a life of transparent honesty and selfless service of love are treading the Sai Path. One should know that one need not wait till a Thursday to do good works. If we realize it, everyday is a Thursday, every heart a Shrine of Shirdi, every mind is but Dwarakamayi. We should all deem ourselves as members Universal Sai family.

Shri Shirdi Sai speaks-23rd June /Short Stories with Great Morals

Om Sai Ram !Om Ganeshaya Namaha!
Jai Maata di!Om Nama Shivaya!
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Short Stories with great Morals :

The World is a reflection of what you Feel

There was a king who was a great admirer of art. He encouraged artists from all over his country and gave them valuable gifts.

One day an artist came and said to the king, "Oh King! Give me a blank wall in your palace and let me paint a picture on it. It will be more beautiful than anything you have ever seen before. I promise you shall not be disappointed."

Now, the king happened to be constructing a big hall at the rear end of the palace. So he said, "All right you may work on one of the walls in the new hall."

So the artist was given the job and he was very pleased indeed.

Just then, another young man said, "Oh King! Please allow me to work on the opposite wall. I too am an artist."The king said, "What would you like to make?"The man said, "My Lord, I shall make exactly what that man will make on the opposite wall. Moreover, I shall do so, without looking at his work. I would even request you to have a thick curtain put up between the two walls so that either of us cannot see the other."

Now, that was a tall statement. Everyone in the king's court, including the king and the first artist were intrigued. But the king loved surprises and he decided to give the young fellow a chance.The following day a thick curtain was put into place and both the artists got to work. The first artist brought in a regular supply of paint, oil, water etc. The second one would come with a cloth and a bucket of water every day.

After a month the first artist told the king that his work was complete and he would like to show it to the king.The king sent for the second artist and asked him, "Young man, when would your work be ready? I am coming to see the first wall this evening."The man said, "My Lord, my wall is ready too!"The king went to see the first artist's wall. He was very, very impressed with the painting and gave a hefty sum as a reward to the artist. He then asked for the curtain to be opened upLo and behold! The same painting was to be seen on the opposite wall too!
After a month the first artist told the king that his work was complete and he would like to show it to the king.The king sent for the second artist and asked him, "Young man, when would your work be ready? I am coming to see the first wall this evening."The man said, "My Lord, my wall is ready too!"The king went to see the first artist's wall. He was very, very impressed with the painting and gave a hefty sum as a reward to the artist. He then asked for the curtain to be opened upLo and behold! The same painting was to be seen on the opposite wall too!Amazing! But true! Each line, each minor detail was exactly as it was on the first wall. But this man had not been seeing what was going on, on the other side of the curtain.

So how had he done it? The king wanted to know the secret.

He gave a double reward to the fellow. Then he said, "Young man, I am indeed very happy with your work. But you must tell me; how did you do it?"

The lad said simply, "It's very easy! I just polished the wall every day!"

It was a wall made of white marble! The fellow polished it till it shone like a mirror. The reflection of the painting across the room, showed up in it!
That is what it means to polish yourself. For when we polish our hearts and souls, we see God's reflection within. It is said that the world is a reflection of you. Whatever you are, the world will seem to be that too. If you are sad, jealous, dejected, angry, restless ... that is what the world will seem to be! If you are happy, the world will seem to be paradise.You decide how you want your world to look...

Let Trees be our Ideal Teachers
Plants and trees which draw sap from the earth, water from the cloud, energy from the wind and sun not only survive for themselves, but they are proving to be of great use to all beings. As long as they live, they serve the society by yielding fruits, flowers, medicinal leaves and bark. Trees supply pure oxygen and offer cool shade. They draw clouds and cause them to rain. They are holding the earth stronger with their roots. So long as they survive, they not only give cool shade to the birds, fodder to the cattle and turn into fuel-wood useful to man.Baba wants us to emulate trees which can set before us ideals and serve as our guides. Thus, He brought several plants from every nook and corner and planted them in the Lendi Garden. He Himself watered the plants everyday. Every act of Baba has a meaning for it and it is a lesson in the art of living for us. We enjoy the fruits of trees that were planted by our ancestors. Likewise, we have to take pains and raise beautiful gardens and orchards for the posterity. If a plant is protected when it is a sapling, it will protect us, in turn, when it grows into a big tree. Trees do not store fruits for themselves. The message they drive home is that even man should not hoard all his earnings. We have to look to trees as our teachers and take them as a model and make use of our earnings for the social upliftment and good.

Shri Shirdi Sai speaks-22nd June /Lessons for a Beautiful life

Om Sai Ram !Om Ganeshaya Namaha!
Jai Maata di!Om Nama Shivaya!
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T R U S T
Trust is a very important factor for all relationships. When trust is broken, it is the end of the relationship. Lack of trust leads to suspicion, suspicion generates anger, anger causes enmity and enmity may result in separation. A telephone operator told me that one day she received a phone call. She answered, "Public Utilities Board." There was silence. She repeated, "PUB." There was still no answer. When she was going to cut off the line, she Heard a lady's voice, "Oh, so this is PUB. Sorry, I got the number from my Husband's pocket but I do not know whose number it is." Without mutual trust, just imagine what will happen to the couple if the telephone operator answered with just "hello" instead of "PUB".

NO POINTING FINGERS

A man asked his father-in-law, "Many people praised you for a successful marriage. Could you please share with me your secret?"
The father-in-law answered in a smile, "Never criticize your wife for her shortcomings or when she does something wrong. Always bear in mind that because of her shortcomings and weaknesses, she could not find a better husband than you." We all look forward to being loved and respected. Many people are afraid of losing face. Generally, when a person makes a mistake, he would look around to find a scapegoat to point the finger at. This is the start of a war. We should always remember that when we point one finger at a person, the other four fingers are pointing at ourselves.

If we forgive the others, others will ignore our mistake too.

CREATING PERFECT RELATIONSHIPS

A person visited the government matchmaker for marriage, SDU, and requested "I am looking for a spouse. Please help me to find a suitable one." The SDU officer said, "Your requirements, please." "Oh, good looking, polite, humorous , sporty, knowledgeable, good in singing and dancing. Willing to accompany me the whole day at home during my leisure hour, if I don't go out. Telling me interesting stories when I need companion for conversation and be silent when I want to rest." The officer listened carefully and replied, "I think you need a television."

There is a saying that a perfect match can only be found between a blind wife and a deaf husband, because the blind wife cannot see the faults of the husband and the deaf husband cannot hear the nagging of the wife. Many couples are blind and deaf at the courting stage and dream of perpetual perfect relationship. Unfortunately, when the excitement of love wears off, they wake up and discover that marriage is not a bed of roses. The nightmare begins.

NO OVERPOWERING

Many relationships fail because one party tries to overpower another, or demands too much. People in love tend to think that love will conquer all and their spouses will change the bad habits after marriage. Actually, this is not the case. There is a Chinese saying which carries the meaning that "It is easier to reshape a mountain or a river than a person's character." It is not easy to change.

Thus, having high expectation on changing the spouse character will cause disappointment and unpleasantness. It would be less painful to change ourselves and lower our expectations..

RIGHT SPEECH

There is a Chinese saying which carries the meaning that "A speech will either prosper or ruin a nation." Many relationships break off because of wrong speech. When a couple is too close with each other, we always forget mutual respect and courtesy. We may say anything without considering if it would hurt the other party. A friend and her millionaire husband visited their construction site. A worker who wore a helmet saw her and shouted, "Hi, Emily! Remember me? We used to date in the secondary school." On the way home, her millionaire husband teased her, "Luckily you married me. Otherwise you will be the wife of a construction worker." She answered,"You should appreciate that you married me. Other wise, he will be the millionaire and not you."

Frequently exchanging these remarks, plants the seed for a bad relationship. It's like a broken egg - cannot be reversed.

PERSONAL PERCEPTIONS

Different people have different perceptions. One man's meat could be another man's poison. A couple bought a donkey from the market. On the way home, a boy commented, "Very stupid. Why neither of them are riding on the donkey? "Upon hearing that, the husband let the wife ride on the donkey. He walked beside them. Later, an old man saw it and commented, "The husband is the head of family. How can the wife ride on the donkey while the husband is on foot?" Hearing this, the wife quickly got down and let the husband ride on the donkey. Further on the way home, they met an old Lady. She commented, "How can the man ride on the donkey and let the wife walk. He is no gentleman." The husband thus quickly asked the wife to join him on the donkey. Then, they met a young man. He commented, "Poor donkey, how can he hold up the weight of two persons. They are cruel to you." Hearing that, the husband and wife immediately climbed down from the donkey and carried it on their shoulders. It seems to be the only choice left. Later, on a narrow bridge, the donkey was frightened and struggled. They lost their balance and fell into the river. You can never have everyone praise you, nor will everyone condemn you. Never in the past, nor at present, and never will be in the future.

Thus, do not be too bothered by other's words if our conscience is clear..

BE PATIENT

This is a true story which happened in the States. A man came out of his home to admire his new truck. To his puzzlement, his three-year-old son was happily hammering dents into the shiny paint of the truck. The man ran to his son, knocked him away, hammered the little boy's hands into pulp as punishment. When the father calmed down, he rushed his son to the hospital. Although the doctor tried desperately to save the crushed bones, he finally had to amputate the fingers from both the boy's hands. When the boy woke up from the surgery & saw his bandaged stubs, he innocently said, "Daddy, I'm sorry about your truck." Then he asked, "but when are my fingers going to grow back?" The father went home He stood in front of truck looked at the dents surprised but read “I love you Dad” & committed suicide. Think about this story the next time someone steps on your feet or u wish to take revenge. Think first before u lose your patience with someone u love. Trucks can be repaired.. Broken bones & hurt feelings often can't. Too often we fail to recognize the difference between the person and the performance. We forget that forgiveness is greater than revenge.

People make mistakes. We are allowed to make mistakes. But the actions we take while in a rage will haunt us forever.

Harshness is even Justified at Times

If we always remember Sai, we cannot behave harshly, since our hearts would be filled with the soft qualities like mercy, love and tolerance. Then, how could we survive in this deceptive world? Our superiors and peers may take a lenient view. Sometimes we may not be able to run the family in a right direction. We should be soft-hearted; but, if need arises, harshness should be made an option.A mystic preached a snake-turned-yogi to be gentle. When the snake was harshly treated by people, the yogi chided the snake and spoke to it as, "I asked you not to bite anyone; but did I ask you not to hiss?" He wanted the snake to pose angry looks. Sometimes a mother, father or teacher might chide a child and their anger is not a mark of hatred, but is only meant for the welfare of the child. Although it appears harsh outside, it is love inside. A master might reprimand the servant, which is not with hate or vengeance. The master's intention is to improve his skill and make him progress in his career. At times, Baba looked angry but then He declared that He would never get angry with His children. It means, the anger is not on His devotees but only on the adverse conditions. With His one shout, sufferings, diseases and problems of His devotees took to heels. The Merciful Baba delights in protecting His devotees.

INVITATION FOR SHRI GURU POURNIMA 2010`FESTIVAL IN SHIRDI

http://www.shrisaibabasansthan.org/new/invitation/GuruPournima2010.pdf

FROM SHRI SAI BABA SANSTHAN TRUST

Chavadi Celebration

In Shirdi, after the Samadhi Mandir, the most important sacred place to visit is Chavadi. Baba used to sleep there on alternate days. One day, some devotees sent a palanquin for Baba from Vardha region. Raghuveera Purandhare decorated it with beautiful flowers. But Baba did not agree to mount it. Instead, they kept Baba's wooden footwear in it and took out a procession. Sai, being a kind mother, approved the celebration. The Chavadi celebration is observed on alternate days since 10th December, 1909, without break. Before the great celebration done in the honour of Baba, Abdullah and Radhakrishna Mayee used to clean and wash the streets and adorn them with colorful patterns on the floor. There would be a festive occasion with drums, chorales with hand-drums, torches and lights. Clothes would be spread from the Masjid to the Chavadi. Tatya would hold Baba's hands and make Him get up from His seat. He would honour Baba by covering Him with a gold-embroidered shawl. Baba would get ready for the procession towards the Chavadi with a baton (satka) under His arm-pit and a clay smoking pipe in His hand. Sai Maharaj was escorted in a majestic manner by the devotees and accompanied by His royal horse Shyamakarna. They were fortunate to see that glorious day and let us recall the event, rejoice and be blessed.