Construction Updates- Making of Sai Krushna Mandir

With the Divine Blessings and grace of our Beloved Swami, Phase 1 of the children’s home – Sai Krushna Mandir – is to be inaugurated on 23^rd November, 2012. While there are numerous challenges, the SKM construction team is working to ensure that the foundation, construction and funding are all moving along expected timelines.

By Swami’s grace the earthwork, excavation and foundation work for Phase 1 of Sai Krushna Mandir was completed in the first week of August. The ground floor roof is expected to be completed by the first week of September.  

      Sai Krushna Mandir Phase 1 after completion

The dry summer in Southern India had been a cause of concern and the onset of monsoons in mid August was a huge relief for not just the agriculturists, but also from the perspective of construction. As mentioned in the previous update, the foundation work was finished in end July and the plinth work has also been done in first week of August. The monsoons could not have been timed better for us as the cement needs curing just after foundation work is ready. This will ensure maximum strength and natural curing. Our construction consultants- Shankarnarayan consultancy- have designed the foundation particularly strong to allow for future expansion of the building vertically by even 2 additional floors. This will ensure saving of useful land space for play. Once foundation was complete, the land refilling has been completed and the columns and beams now project above the ground. The floor plan markings have been done for ground floor and the work is in earnest progress to complete the ground floor roof by the first week of September. The common entrance area for portico, lift and stair case have all been clearly demarcated. Plumbing, electrical and roof diagrams are expected shortly to enable construction work.  The members of the SKM construction team are also making frequent site visits to monitor the quality and quantum of progress.

Our construction consultants, the civil contractor Mr Umesh and members of the SKM construction team are all satisfied with the rate of progress and quality of construction. Kindly see the attached photos. We are working to ensure good safety standards by not allowing children near the site. Children of the construction workers are attending the Sharavathi Higher Primary school while their parents go to work. On Krushna Janmashthami day, sweets were also distributed for all the construction workers.

We look forward to all your active involvement and participation in this God given opportunity. We also welcome you to come and visit the site and witness the making of Sai Krushna Mandir. From our side, we will keep you updated through Venugaanam and the website. You are free to contact us directly for any further information. We are confident that, just as Swami’s bounteous blessings ensured the procurement of excellent drinking water and land, Swami’s grace will crown our genuine intentions and He will continue to guide and bless the entire effort.

School Updates- Independence Day Celebrations

SHARAVATHI SCHOOL UPDATE

The 66^th Independence day of our country was marked with celebration and festivity at the Sharavathi Kannada Higher Primary School. The programme began with assemble of the students and marching which was followed by the flag hoisting and singing of the National Anthem.

All the students from the school between classes 1-10 participated in various cultural programmes highlighting different aspects of Indian culture. The themes varied from freedom struggle and patriotism, to the glorious culture of India and its stress on human values.

Each class had prepared 2 items in the form of a skit/ dance/ drama/ musical recital/ speech. The children were dressed in colourful attires and performed with great rhythm. The teachers of the school had paid special attention in training the children for this day and it was the outcome of this dedicated effort that the programme exceeded all expectations.
The function was attended by many dignitaries and guests from Lions Club of Jayanagar and the members of Sai Krushna Charitable Trust. Pictures of the programme may be seen below and will also be available in the gallery section of the website in greater detail.

Scholarship for an alumnus to pursue higher studies: One of the students of the school, Mr Sathish who passed out of the 10^th grade of the school last year was also give a merit cum means scholarship of Rs 1700/- only to pursue an ITI Technical training course in the nearby government college. Sathish has been a rank holder throughout his high school and was about to enter construction profession after the 10^th grade to support his family. His family had been struggling financially after his father had left them and it was up to Sathish , his brother and sister to help their mother who makes an income by selling flowers. Considering the financial constraints and the keen interest and potential of Sathish, a decision was taken by Sai Krushna Charitable Trust to provide a scholarship for his future education

The Independence day function concluded with a tree plantation (Van Mahotsav) programme. The children of the school planted various kinds of trees like Neem, drumstick and some fruit bearing trees along the boundary of Sai krushna Mandir site. The trees were also protected with bushes and thorny plants to keep animals away. The children have been regularly watering the plants and tending them with care.

Astrology and Spirituality- Moon symbolizes Mother Aspect

By KVRK Bhargav

(Bhargav is a student of Swami who after completing his B.Tech in Textile Engineering graduated with an MBA from the the Sri Sathya Sai University in 2001. Ever since, he has had the great fortune of waiting for Swami’s direct guidance. He has been blessed with many interactions with Swami and he pursues astrology as a hobby to understand how it complements and dovetails spirituality. He shares his insights on how the planets are not causes of fear; rather they all serve the common goal of prodding man towards his spiritual destiny of Self Realization)

 He gets the coveted place as a crescent in the locks of Lord Shiva and adorns the forehead of Divine mother. The sublime beauty of Divine mother gives her the epithet of  Sharad chandra nibhanana(face shining like the autumn moon) in Lalita Sahasranamam. The charming personality and pleasing demeanour of Lord Rama gave him  the name Rama-chandra. In the religion of Islam he is considered very auspicious for breaking the Ramzan fast on the day of Id.

"Dreamers can find their way by moonlight and their only punishment is that they see the dawn before the rest of the world." says Oscar Wilde. Moon or Chandra has been an inspiration from time immemorial in religion, mythology, art and literature. Its beauty and grandeur makes many a philosophers, poets, writers and mystics extol its myriad facets. He awakens eager thought: he is a generator of hymns, a leader of poets, a seer among priests.

Moon is a planet of beauty, emotions, sensitivity, compassion, devotion and hospitality. Chandra is also identified with the Vedic Lunar deity Soma (lit. "juice"). The Soma name refers particularly to the sap in the plants and thus makes the Moon the lord of plants and vegetation. It is scientifically proven that moon rays are essential for the growth of all the plant kingdom. Lord Krishna says in verse 13^th of Chapter 15^th   of Bhagwad Gita –‘Pushanami choushadhi sarva somo bhootwa rasatmakaha’- Becoming the sap-giving moon, I nourish all the plants. (15.13)

'Chandrama Manaso Jataha' says Purushasuktam. Moon is the ruler of mind and all the senses are controlled by the mind. The crucial importance of Chandra Graha (Moon Planet) lies in the fact that it controls five senses of human life.  
Moon signifies the mother aspect of nature. Natives with strong moon are excellent hosts and have a caring and nurturing attitude towards all. They are very attached to their families.
People with strong moon have corpulent bodies as moon comprises kapha constitution. These natives are generally fickle and moody and vacillate like the phases of the moon.
Moon is an indicator of the females, the public, general well-being and happiness, femininity and beauty, the eyesight and memory. The moon or Chandra which represents the mind gives all the senses vitality and ability to enjoy life in all its splendour.
 Moon is the planet of masses and mass appeal as it shines equally on all without any reservations. Natives with strong moon can very easily understand the pulse of the masses and can become mass leaders. Jawahar Lal Nehru had a strong moon in the first house of self in his horoscope, giving him a charismatic personality which he used predominantly for his political aspirations. Swami Vivekananda on the other hand had a strong philosophical and insightful moon which he used for philanthropic and spiritual purposes. 
Moon indicates early childhood and primary education. A native with weak moon has a troubled childhood and unfruitful primary education. Albert Einstein had a weak moon resulting in his lack of interest in education in school. Charles Dickens also had a weak moon resulting in his traumatic and disturbed childhood which he portrayed admirably in the character of Pip in his novel 'Great Expectations'.
A waxing moon is strong compared to a waning moon. A full moon is generally a harbinger of spiritual perfection giving the native traits like universal love, devotion and wisdom. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was born on a full moon which resulted in the flowering of his unparalleled devotion to Krishna.  
Weak or afflicted Chandra gives mood swings, pessimistic attitude, depressive tendencies and irritability. Due to weak Chandra, problems like mental retardation, skin and nerve problems, jaundice, fluid accumulation are also observed. The term lunacy has its origin in lunar i.e. related to moon. The best remedy for all these problems related to moon is respect and service of one's mother. Swami always tells us to keep our parents happy especially our mother. It is a waste of time, money and energy to consult an astrologer and perform all the poojas prescribed by him without following this dictum. Avoiding dark clothes and wearing white clothes, partaking white items like rice, milk and curd also is very helpful to keep the mind always positive and happy in addition to namasmarana and worshipping divine mother.
As we celebrate the Ganesha Chaturthi festival this month let us throw some light on the chaturthi(fourth day): Chaturthi is the fourth digital phase of the waxing moon. The spiritualists believe that Amavasya or the moonless night is the period of hibernation of this luminary. When one wakes up from the deep slumber, one gets fully conscious in the fourth stage. These are 'Swapna', 'Swaap', 'Jagaran' and 'Chetana' which can be loosely rendered as the stage of dream, hangover, awakening and consciousness. It is in the fourth stage that one is fully conscious after getting up. In this stage one sees the world as it exists, sans any imagination or dream. Hence this is the stage when one's all senses are fully conscious and alert. This is also the stage when one can fully concentrate with total devotion. It is for this reason that those who are well versed in spiritualism recommend worship of Lord Ganesh. the first god to be worshipped, on the Chaturthi Day.*

Let us now read the story:

Ganesha and the Moon Once on his birthday, Ganesha ate too many sweets and had difficulty moving due to his big belly. Looking at him, Moon laughed mockingly. Parvati who saw that got angry with Moon and cursed that who ever sees Moon will be blamed for things they did not do.  All the Gods and humans were worried because every one sees the moon every night, They prayed to Parvati to modify her curse.  Parvati relented and said that if people worship Ganesha on his birthday, fourth day of the rising moon in the month of Bhadrapada, and then sees the Moon, they will face no problems and instead receive good luck.

Lord Ganesha cursing the moon

The next story will tell us how Lord Krishna got into trouble because he saw Moon on Ganesha’s birthday without worshipping him.

Krishna Himself Worships Vinayaka

The story of the Syamantaka Mani shows how powerful the curse of Ganesha is. Satrajit of Dwaraka had a gem called Syamantaka Mani. It was dazzling and beautiful. If it was worshipped with devotion it used to give plenty of gold every day. Once, even Krishna asked to borrow it but Satrajit refused to lend it to anyone.

Once Prasena, Satrajit's brother, went out hunting. He was wearing the Syamantaka Mani. A lion killed him and went to a cave, carrying the gem. A bear by name Jambavan killed the lion and gave the Syamantaka Mani to his cub to play with. This Jambavan was not an ordinary bear; he was the heroic follower of Shri Rama.

When Prasena did not return to Dwaraka, Satrajit became worried. Satrajit then suspected that Krishna himself had killed him for the sake of the Syamantaka Mani. After all, he did want to borrow it. The rumor spread throughout the kingdom.

Krishna had not done anything wrong. So when he heard about Satrajit's doubts, he was angry. To prove himself innocent, he went in search of Prasena.

He found the corpse of Prasena. There were footprints of a lion nearby. Following these footprints, Krishna entered the cave of Jambavan. He fought with Jambavan for twenty-eight days. At last, Jambavan understood that Shri Krishna was Shri Rama himself in another form. He finally offered the Syamantaka Mani to Lord Krishna.

Krishna gave the Syamantaka to Satrajit and put an end to the evil rumors. However, he was still surprised at what had happened. "How could such things be said of me even when I had not done anything wrong?”  Narada Muni told him the story of Ganesha's curse and said, "You saw the Moon on the fourth day." Krishna then remembered how he saw the reflection of the moon in a bucket of milk.

Then Krishna worshipped Ganesha. Siddhi-Vinayaka Vrata, the worship of Ganesha, is performed on the fourth day of the bright fortnight of the month of Bhadrapada. The devotees believe that those who see the Moon on that day will not suffer, if they listen to the story of the Syamantaka Mani.  

It says that by observing this Ganesh Puja mankind can attain their just and dharmik desires.  Students who aspire good education, achieve excellence in education.  Those who desire prosperity will attain prosperity.  People who pray for children get children. Warriors become victorious, and seekers of true knowledge attain spiritual knowledge and through it liberation. **

*Source: www.bhriguashram.org/ver3/ganesh.php#(d)TheSpiritualSignificanceoftheChaturthiDay
** Source:  www.balavikas.org

A Journey Within- Past Life Regression(PLR)

-By Sriram S.
(Sri Ram. S is an MSc (Math) and MBA grad from Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning. He was also the University Brass band leader, a mandir bhajan singer and one of the founders of the alumni Band Group known as Rhythmic Energy. Post studies he worked in the IT industry for over 6 years after which he moved on and is currently a practising Clinical Integrated Hypnotherapist working out of Bangalore. He has founded Sunshine Wellness Studio (www.SunshineStudio.in) that aims at using various modalities of hypnotherapy for healing. Feel free to write in on your experiences and also if you have any further queries at info@SunshineStudio.in )

“Who are we really? Combinations of common chemicals that perform mechanical actions for a few years before crumbling back into the original components? Fresh new souls, drawn at random for some celestial cupboard where God keeps an unending supply?

Or the same soul, immortal and eternal, refurbished and reused through endless lives, by that thrifty Housekeeper? In Her wisdom and benevolence She wipes off the memory slates, as part of the cleaning process, because if we could remember all the things we have experienced in earlier lives, we might object to risking it again.”
― Barbara Michaels, The Sea King's Daughter

As a regression therapist I am asked a few pointed and recurring questions on Past Lives. I am capturing some key elements of the theory of Past Lives, needless to say, in my own perspective.

The world is divided on the topic of reincarnation. There have been many cases where the past life experience registered in a regression session could not be verified. There certainly have been many cases where the details could be documented. I have seen a pretty neutral video documentary once, on the topic of past lives where both types of cases were testified. Frankly, I had not thought much about this until I learnt and started practicing PLRs. Based on my learning and personal experience my thoughts and beliefs on the subject crystallized (at least for now). Sharing these with you...

At the outset, the context for PLRs, is set (for me) by the underlying healing out of a problem (physical or mental plane) of the client. It is imperative to keep this in mind as you read on. That said, there are two ways of considering a PLR: 1) As a truthful account of a lifetime that has been lived earlier or 2) A metaphoric imagery in the deep recess of the person’s subconscious mind. Either way, it is my experience that these ‘memories’ or ‘figments of imagination’ have a lasting impact in the day-to-day life of the client. When the person ‘views’ his / her past life and figures out the root cause of the issue in current life, magically it seems to result in the healing of the issue on hand.

That brings us to the question: How could a memory or an imaginary memory create such an impact in our lives? The answer is this:There is a popular (metaphysical) concept of ‘cellular memories’ that postulates that every cell in the human body carries memories of the individual. In fact much as the DNA represents or contains all genetic instructions of the organism, the cells seem to be a holographic representation of memories and metaphysical aspects of the ‘being’ (or person). These memories are repressed or lay dormant unless there is a ‘trigger’ that incites them into action. The trigger itself could be from any source: person (met a stranger who seems familiar?), place (ever visited a place first time and felt you’ve been here before?), time and so on. Once activated the person could feel or go through emotions or physical changes that seem unnatural or unwarranted in the present day circumstances.

In a PLR, under hypnosis, when we try to get to the source of the problem, the subconscious mind of the person brings up the memory (irrespective of lifetime, current or otherwise) and the person finds a deep seated meaning and lesson in the current experience. The therapist helps the client in using this knowledge to heal that memory and implement the learning in current life. There are many documented cases of how these regressions have helped people in their day-to-day lives.

Books by Dr. Brian Weiss (Many Lives Many Masters) & Dr. Micheal Newton (Journey of the Soul) where they have captured case studies of such PLRs throw more light on this topic.

Please feel free to write back to me at info@SunshineStudio.in with your feedback, questions and suggestions. In my next post I shall outline a simple method by which you could practice doing regressions on your own and benefit from a dive into the metaphors and memories of your subconscious mind.

Healthy Mind in a Healthy Body- Amaranth

-By S. Pushpalata
(S. Pushpalata, a student of Swami did her B.Sc AND M.Sc. (Food science and nutrition) in Anantapur campus of SSSIHL between 1996-2001.She then went on to complete her MBA from ICFAI University and also qualified the prestigious NET examination. She also has experience serving the Super Speciality Hospital at Puttaparthi as a dietician. Currently she works as a lecturer in Jamshedpur Women’s college in the department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics. Pushpalata is an active member in the Sathya Sai Organization as a state co-ordinator for the Education wing of Bihar and Jharkhand.)



Green Leafy vegetables,the common man’s healthy foods,are rightly placed under the category of protective foods.They are less expensive as compared to other vegetables and are available throughout the year. Majority of the green leafy vegetables belong to Amarathaceae family. In India,Amaranth is commonly cultivated as rabi crop in hilly areas. But it is also grown in the plains of Andhra Pradesh,Gujarat,Madhya Pradesh,Maharastra and Tamilnadu.

VARIETIES:
In India, about 20 species are found wild and some of them are domesticated and cultivated as pot herbs. Six varieties of Amaranthus sp., are grown in different parts of India.The varieties grown for grains are known as grain Amaranthus and the varieties cultivated for foliage are known as leafy Amaranthus.

Amaranthus Plant

LOCAL NAMES IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES

Hindi- Chaulai

Kannada -Dantu

Malayalam -Cheru Cheerathandu

Tamil-Keerai

Telugu-Thotakoora

Marathi -Matha-chedeth

NURITIVE VALUE OF LEAFY AMARANTHUS

Amaranthus leaves are rich in various nutrients, and because of this nutritional wealth, it is regarded as very important leafy vegetable as compared to all other vegetables. It is an excellent source of iron, calcium, protein, vitamin-C and other trace elements. In addition, these leaves contains unsaturated fatty acids. Tender shoots and leaves are used in soups and curries.

MEDICINAL PROPERTIES OF AMARANTHUS LEAVES

Amaranthus leaves contain several medicinal properties. The varieties of A.hybridus are used for curing indigestion and the dark red varietiy to remove toxic substances from the system. Amaranthus roots are galactogenic.They provide relief for those suffering from stomach pain. These leaves have laxative properties. External application of plant extract is believed to cure burns and is used as antiseptic. The decoction of the flowers has curing properties in Haemorrhages. A.hybridus is used to cure piles,to purify blood and helps in reducing the pain in discharging urine.It is reported to be highly effective in prevention of scury and it’s leaves are used to relieve chest congestion. External application of these leaves provides healing effect to sores caused by infection. The decoction of this plant is also used as diuretic. The roots of A.Tricolor and other species are used to cure worm infestation caused by Ascaris sp. The seeds of A.virdis are also said to have antihelmenthic properties.

AMARANTHUS IN YOUR DIET

Amaranthus seeds

Apart from using them as curries and soups we can prepare number of recipes from them. Amaranth seeds on light roasting pop up and tastes like popcorn.The light brown and crisp popped Amaranth grains are mixed with either sugar or jaggery syrup to make ladoos. Pancakes are also prepared with dough of amaranth grains. They can be added in Dosa batter, Pakodas, Rotis and Chutneys. As we know it has good content of Protein it should not be cooked for long time. We should always remember any food which contains high amounts of protein should not be exposed to high temperature because prolong cooking destroys protein and vitamin C.Cooking Amaranth leaves in 10% oil helps in greater retention of vitamin A. So to retain protein ,vitamin A and vitamin C short cooking time is recommended.

Amranthus grains and greens contain well balanced combination of macro and micronutrients that are required for our health. The grains of amaranth contain energy yielding and body building nutrients like carbohydrates and proteins, while the leaves contain protective nutrients. The most important contribution of amaranth in our diet is as a very good source of fiber, which makes it very  important for Diabetics and Heart patients. The importance of this vegetable is felt by many agriculturists the world over and first Amaranthus Congress was held in Mexico in September 1991.According to FAO. It is placed at 100^TH position among the foods as it has the highest concentration of protein followed by corn, wheat, soya and cow milk. Therefore, awareness and proper education to the farming community about the importance of amaranth cultivation as a main crop for greens and grains will improve their economic status and help in making them self sufficient. Sensitizing the community members on the nutritional value of these grains and greens and encouraging them to grow in kitchen gardens will not only provide dietary diversification but also go a long way in combating micronutrient deficiency. Sri Sathya Sai Village Integrated Programmes (SSSVIP) can play very good role in creating awareness in villages regarding amaranth cultivation.

SOME USEFUL TIPS IN COOKING THESE GREENS TO HAVE MAXIMUM BENEFICIAL EFFECTS ARE:

-Buy greens when they are fresh and use them same day.

-Wash the greens in running water to remove mud and dirt.

-Cut them into big pieces and immediately transfer them to pressure cooker to avoid loss of nutrients.

-Include vitamin C rich foods in the diet, as they enhance absorption of iron present in these grains. (Always add lemon juice to any green leaf curry after cooking when it is cold.)

Consider all green leafy vegetables and especially those of amaranth family as an integral part of your daily life. They are the protective –foods given by God with an immense potential to ward off many nutrition-related diseases. Grow them in your backyards as they are easily grown without much care and attention. Cultivate the habit of growing them regularly. These greens are indeed a treasure-trove of nutrients.  

Significance of Teacher's Day

By Vijayalakshmy Krishnan
(Vijayalakshmy has been in the field of education for over 24 years. A former High school Teacher at DBMS English School, Jamshedpur , she started her teaching career from primary school and went to become the High school coordinator. She has been a very active member of the school's social and environmental activities. She was also a prominent member of the Jamshedpur Sathya Sai Seva organization. Known for her loving and caring nature, she served as the city's Bal Vikas Co-ordinator besides involving herself with activities such as poor feeding, Grama Seva etc and has experience in counseling juvenile delinquents. Currently, she helps with the educational development at the Sharavathi School.)

Gurur Brahma, Gurur Vishnu Gurur Devo Maheshwara Guruh Saakshath para Brahma Tasmai Sree Gurave Namaha

5^th of September every year is celebrated as Teacher’s day by all. It is also the birthday of Dr S. Radhakrishnan. The importance of this day is not clearly understood by all. Teachers are the pillars of any institution who help the child to face the world and discover its true identity.

They help the family by guiding the children to rediscover who they are and the purpose of their birth. They bring out the latent values in the child and assist the children in developing their skills. Children are so full of love. They are innocent and their minds are impressionable like a clean slate. The ideal teacher understands how to use this wonderful slate to elicit the true and highest values which eventually remain etched in the hearts of the child.

Such ideal teachers are never forgotten by students. The true love and care, understanding and encouragement from the teachers are permanently embedded in the minds of the children. It is these teachers who have shaped and moulded the young impressionable minds to become good citizens, great thinkers and above all humane, wise individuals whose hearts are filled with compassion to render selfless service for the well being of their brethren.

Lord Rama and Vashishtha, Arjuna and Dronacharya, Shivaji and Samartha Ramdas, Helen Keller and Annie Sullivan, Sachin Tendulkar and Ramakant Achrekar: all form a unique duo highlighting how great disciples are shaped by the tender care and stern vigilance of a mature teacher. In all these cases, we can see the role played by teachers. Great teachers can make a tremendous impact in a world torn by corruption, theft, and dishonesty. Good students can only emerge from the training of dedicated teachers.

The dedication of teachers who are committed to their work and have a keen passion to teach and mould them have made big difference to the world.

If we find courageous individuals who can stand up fearlessly against wrongs and fight the evil in the form of corruption and cheating, it is because of good teachers who shaped them. Correspondingly, the absence of wise teachers can leave society in the doldrums and faced with potential doom.

Teaching is not a profession for those who find no other jobs. It is a way of life for passionate individuals who believe that they can play their part in improving the next generation through their loving care and wisdom. Teachers day is a reminder to express our gratitude towards those teachers who sacrificed their comforts and made us whatever we are today. More importantly, it is a reminder to live by the ideals that they set before us. And which better teacher to follow than the Sai Avatar Himself who clearly said “My Life is My message”.

Project Suvichara

Sowmya Roopa

(Sowmya Roopa completed her B.A in 1987 and B.Ed in 1988. She received her gold medal for distinction in B.Ed from the Sri Sathya Sai University. She taught at the Sri Sathya Sai Vidya Vihar Ootacamund from 1989 till 1991. From 1991 till 2000, she taught at the Sai Sathya Sai Primary school, Puttaparthi. Sowmya Roopa was invited to the Sai Sathya Sai Schools, Rishikesh and Kathmandu in 2000 and 2001. There she shared her knowledge about value-oriented education with the teachers and students through talks, poems, songs, charts and demonstration. Currently, she writes value-based skits and paints quotation boards. She attempts to spread Bhagwan’s teachings and the wisdom of different religions through her brainchild ‘Project Suvichar’.)

“Let good thoughts come to us from all sides”. This saying from the Rigveda inspired me as a 8^th standard school girl. Slowly I filled diaries with a collection of quotations and poems from Tagore , Khalil Gibran, R.L. Stevenson , the Bible , Reader’s Digest , greeting cards etc. Later at the Sri Sathya Sai College, Anantpur, Bhagwan’s words had a deep impact on me. The words “Think with your heart” puzzled me, since, we are taught to think with the mind or brain. One day, Bhagwan, our inner Guru, revealed that we must think with compassion.

 One day, in an English class, our teacher, Dr.Mrs.Zeba Bashir-ud-din discussed a quote of Bhagwan – “I am the ocean, everything is in Me”. In the hour long discussion, I learnt that a single thought is a seed from which many thoughts and feelings emanate.

In 1987, Prof.Saraf, the Vice Chancellor of the Sri Sathya Sai University spoke to the students selected for the B.Ed course. He said “Each wall of the school should speak; each wall should be well utilized to spread knowledge”. Later, as a teacher, these words motivated me to paint many simple pictures to teach subject-oriented topics, prayers, shlokas etc.

In this context, I also remember that subsequent to an interview to the B.Ed students at Trayee Brundavan on 8^th April, 1988, Swami mentioned: “All My boys will spread my message like lions and all My girls will spread my message like parrots”. On other occasions, Swami has clearly said that those who follow His message and strive to help others follow human values are His real boys and girls. I thought that these painted quotation boards would be my small way of spreading His message of love by helping the little children to practice human values. Simultaneously, it helped me to ponder on the inner meaning of these sayings and this labour of love became a source of self improvement for me.

In the summer of 1989, Bhagwan stayed at the Sri Sathya Sai Vidyavihar Ooty. He looked at the simple quotations from the teachings, turned and looked at me and said, “Good”. This direct blessing spurs me to continue with Project Suvichar.

In February 2011, I started using long-lasting material. I was advised and initially helped by professional artists like Zilya from Russia, Elena from Kazaksthan, Lalita from South Africa and Ramu from Parthi.  The following are details about the material used –

1. Softwood- 6mm thickness 24inches x 15 inches

2. Paints –

a) white water emulsion paint for the background

b) Oil paint – blue, green, red for writing

c) Acrylic pearl paints for designs.

  A set of 120 paintings contain 9 paintings for each class from Standard 1 to Standard 12.  In addition, there are 12 boards for other areas of the school, like staff-room, library etc. The schools which receive the 120 paintings are expected to make more of the same kind.

The set of 120 paintings, have been sent to the schools at Parthi, Rishikesh, Shimla, Sikkim, Mysore, Bukkapatnam, Bagaepalli, Muddenahalli, Orissa, Assam, Haryana etc. One set has also been given to the Sharavathi Kannada Higher Primary school and one special set is being prepared to match the theme of Sai Krushna Mandir. Private schools have also welcomed these paintings at Chidambaram, Nagpur and Bihar. Smaller sets of 12, 24 or 54 have been sent to Noida, Chandigarh, Dehradun, Singapore, Chennai etc. For Oman, 12 quotations were chosen from the Koran. Small groups are forming at Delhi, Bangalore and Hyderabad to do similar work. If groups of devotees in each part of the world paint quotation boards, good thoughts would spread faster. Who knows, a single sentence may become a guiding light for some pilgrim in a distant land!

A 3 pronged action plan could be followed –

1. Bhagwan’s quotations for all Sathya Sai Schools, Hospitals, Music College, Balvikas centres, Samitis etc.

2. Quotes from the religious texts like Bible, Koran etc for schools which have affinity to particular religion eg: Convents, Madarsas etc.

3. Quotes from social welfare leaders like Mother Teresa, Ambedkar, Gandhi, etc for government schools.

IMPACT –

Each stone which the squirrels carried was very small, yet they did their best to help in building the bridge to Lanka for Sri Rama. Bhagwan’s words give the light of Vidya- true knowledge. Each painting is like a lamp, by which we share and brighten the world.

As the following poem says –

We may not light the whole world

But we can do a part

For, as we share His light of Love

We light another’s heart

And, as each heart in return

Begins to share this light

We see that the Whole Earth,

Has become beautiful and bright.

IMPACT ON STUDENTS –

a) Students try to comprehend by discussing each quotation.

b) Translation exercises are being conducted by teachers and students into local language.

c) Students are inspired to do similar work in their drawing note-books, book marks, etc for their school or home.

d) Students improve their English language skills. They use dictionaries to know the meanings of words like – contentment, bliss, experience etc.

e) They are using it according to context in their daily life, eg- (Help Ever, hurt never) – on the playground. 

I would be happy if people could form independent teams all over the world to paint inspiring quotes for their local schools. This would help classrooms become brighter and enable children to learn in a more conducive environment.

Living and Learning in the Umbrella of Sai

 Prakash Srinivasan

(Prakash is a student of Swami who did his B.Com(Hons) in Brindavan campus and then his MBA and PG Diploma in Indian Culture and Philosophy in Prashanthi Nilayam. During his student days, Prakash had the good fortune of being a Mandir bhajan singer and has enjoyed singing for our Lord many times. A passionate lover of music, food and nature- Prakash is currently heading the European system operations for Hewlett Packard(HP) from the Bangalore office. His enthusiasm, humour and cheerfulness are contagious. In this article, Prakash shares his insights on cinema and how movies can deeply affect our daily life).

One of the best things to happen to me was that I got an opportunity to study in Sri Sathya Sai University.  I learnt a lot of things during my 6 year stay there and I will briefly recollect as to how it helps me in life (not just worklife) everyday. It has completely changed the way I look at things and has given me a lot of self-satisfaction and made life more fulfilling.

1.      COMMUNITY LIVING: One of the greatest lessons that Swami taught us was to live in unity and to live as a large family. The adage “Vasudeiva Kutumbakam” is practiced in its own unique way in all Sai institutions. Right from the hostel dormitories where 8-12 of us share the room to the self-reliance activities, we are taught to be part of a team where we work with many hostel mates. The best practical education is what you learn by seeing others. it is very tangible and directly registers in our brains without us needing to remember anything.  Moreover the environment is such that there is a lot of knowledge-sharing and people are more than willing to help you to learn. Be it organizing a music program, Ganesha chariot making, Sports Meet practice - we can learn so many things by working in wonderful teams. I feel that was a perfect team because all of us had a common objective of pleasing Swami. In a corporate context, we never feel out of place and we are able to contribute to the “teamspirit.”

2.      HUMILITY: There is no better place to learn humility. We may be very talented and accomplished but we learn to keep ourselves grounded and be thankful to God for He chose us to showcase that talent. However talented or accomplished one maybe, all are treated with equal respect and everyone moves with you irrespective of the tags attached to you.  This lesson is extremely important for life because ultimately we should not let the accolades and achievements affect the person that we actually are. We also need to respect others for what they are. This lesson also ensures we do not get carried away and work on constantly improving ourselves.

3.      RESPECT FOR THE ARTS: Being an amateur singer, this had a fantastic impact on me. In Sai institutions, all kinds of arts are encouraged and there are ample opportunities for talented artists (music/fine arts etc) to display their talent. Personally for me, it has helped me appreciate music (my first love) much better. It has ingrained in me such a fine music sense that I am able to appreciate many genres of music and derive great joy! I have also seen such extraordinarily talented musicians, artists that it has helped to benchmark myself much higher rather than being content with mediocrity.

4.      THINKING OF SOCIETY: This is related to the first point but also has a larger perspective. Swami has set such a precedent in this area that its quite impossible for any human to equal it. Every action that we take, we need to see how we can do it in such a way that it helps the larger interest of society. I am able to practice this almost on a daily basis, starting from mundane activities like buying something to more complex ones. For e.g. I like to buy vegetables from poor vegetable vendors whose margins are pretty slim compared to the super market and I do not bargain much. Also, I read a lot about some corporate doing some significant activities (like Birla foundation of Aditya Birla Group or Tatas building a free Cancer hospital) and I try to ensure I can give them some business. This may sound a little funny and may look like too much extrapolation but psychologically I feel more satisfied in contributing to someone who is trying to do some good. Also it has helped me to count my blessings because now I know that I have SO MUCH that most others don’t have at all. There is no reason for me to be unhappy when God has given me everything I need in life and I also recognize that I may need to sacrifice some of my wants so that I can help someone else fulfill their needs.

5.      ACHIEVING BALANCE IN LIFE: Swami has taught us to lead a balanced life which I understand as doing everything in moderation and giving things the place they deserve. For e.g. money is a very important thing but not as important as ethics and values. The integrated education program has taught me the importance of being fit (though people seeing me now would dispute it), of controlling our emotions and not jumping to conclusions. It has immensely helped me in becoming a better person (not allowing my office frustrations to reflect at home). I have also learnt to respect the other person’s point of view though I may not agree with them fully. I have learnt patience (extremely important today) and I recognize that there will be moments when I have to be very patient as things are not in my control.

6.      RESPECT FOR NATURE: This is extremely important but grossly undervalued. In practical terms, it has helped me live in a more “ecofriendly manner.” I ensure that I do not waste any resources and I am extremely careful about using water and electricity as we cannot take them for granted. I also avoid using plastics, practice better garbage management thro composting etc.

To sum up, I feel very humbled and fortunate that I was able to live in an ecosystem that fostered the best things that one can ask for and it has helped me in becoming a better human being (one who tries to be the best he/she can in all areas of life).

Lessons Learnt at Master's feet

 -By Shrikanth Srinivasan
(Shrikanth is a student of Swami who completed his B.Com from Brindavan campus and then his MBA from the Prashanthi Nilayam Campus. An outstanding student throughout his career, Shrikanth also had the unique opportunity of being a Vedam lead boy and used to regularly lead Veda chanting before Swami in Mandir. He is currently the Industry Manager for the Business and Financial Services team in Frost & Sullivan, Chennai. He is widely acknowledged as a very honest leader with deep knowledge and interest in the well being of his team. In this article he shares some of the lessons from Swami that he imbibed which held him on good stead in life.)

Swami has remarked that rather than reading the Bhagavat Gita, it is more important to follow at least one sloka of the 700 slokas fully in life.   Each word Swami utters has the highest significance.  Earlier only Arjuna had that privilege, but all of us who heard His Divine Discourses are equally privileged if not more. 

I have been a huge beneficiary of following Swami’s teachings.   Three of the teachings that deeply impressed me are:

·         Speaking truth under all circumstances

·         Story of Anthony’s violin

·         Joining small organization in the initial phases of career.

In one of the discourses which I read in man management, Swami advised the students to join a small organization in the initial phases of their career.  Swami said if we join a small organization, we will be able to understand the full spectrum of the work done, and that experience will be useful when we are working in a big organization.   He advised further to not jump from one organization to another quickly and emphasized us to staying in that organization for at least 5 years.  Additionally, He cautioned us not to compare the salaries and if someone comments that the salary one is drawing is low, then we should think “for my experience this is the right salary”.  He also highlighted the importance of quality than quantity by telling that a tea spoon of cow’s milk is better than barrels of donkey’s milk.  

I found these teachings of Swami of highest importance.   I joined a small company called as Frost & Sullivan in July 2005.   At that time some of my less academically distinguished classmates were earning 1.5 times to 2 times the salary compared to me. I remembered Swami’s golden teaching.   I reminded myself that this is a small company and I will gain valuable experience, and thought that for the work I do this is a commensurate salary.  I focused on quality of work delivered and worked hard.  I remembered the story of Anthony who worked with the thought that God is perfection and he was able to finish making just one or two violins per year.   I remembered this teaching and put in all efforts to achieve perfection in work.  Over time, my manager appreciated the quality of work and encouraged me to do higher value adding work.   Over the years, by Swami’s grace I was able to get Analyst of the month award, and President’s club award multiple times.

I feel that in the corporate world it is more important to speak the truth at all circumstances.   By adhering to this teaching, my colleagues perceive me to be sincere and trustworthy.   However it is also important to remember Kabir’s Doha of speaking only pleasant truth and avoiding unpleasant truth.  I also remember Swami telling us about Sage Durvasa’s adherence to truth when Ashwathama questioned him on the whereabouts of the Pandavas.  The sage raised his voice and spoke the truth and this saved the life of Pandavas.   I found speaking truth is very useful because one of the main offshoots of speaking the truth is avoiding the need to remember what I spoke earlier.   It is so much so easier to speak the truth.  I find this useful not only while dealing with colleagues but also while dealing with clients.   Sometimes the clients can be demanding.  I would like to point out one instance.  We were commissioned by a university client to find out the market size of a potential new product.  The only known competition to this new product is a company called Novozymes.  The client insisted on getting information from Novozymes.  I got on a call with Novozymes and told the truth that I was working on a university’s client’s new product whose only competition is Novozymes and I wanted to discuss with Novozymes about their product.   The executive in Novozymes asked me if I was crazy and why he should talk to me and create competition.   I was praying to Swami and somehow through His grace, I spoke these words “The position is like this.  The university is going to be funded by a private equity and will create competition for Novozymes.  But if you can talk with me and convince me that it is not profitable, I can try and convince the investors not to invest.”   Novozymes discussed about this product for about two hours with me and my colleague.   They told us very useful details about their product.   I realize that by following Swami’s teaching, Swami will help us.  And if I had told some other reason telling that we are doing some study or market insight, Novozymes might have spoken, but would have spoken for much lesser time, and divulged less useful details.  After this incident, my colleagues also started respecting me as a person who not only speaks the truth, but also as an ethical person.   They also come to me for an impartial advice.   So it is my personal experience that it is important especially in corporate environment to speak the truth. 

My personal feeling is we are only to gain by listening and obeying at least one or two of Swami’s teachings and they will go a long way in shaping us as a person.   Swami has told us that the only thing He expects us is to get a good name, and the only way I think it is possible to achieve this, is by following His teachings.