FROM PUTTAPARTHI...SPIRITUAL QUOTIENT - 47: PRAY UNTIL SOMETHING HAPPENS !!!

SPIRITUAL QUOTIENT – 47

 

A man was sleeping at night in his cabin when suddenly his room was filled with light, and the Lord told the man that he had work for him to do, and showed him a large rock in front of his cabin. The Lord explained that the man was to push against the rock with all his might every day!

 

The man did so, day after day. For several days he toiled from dawn to dusk, his shoulders set squarely against the cold, massive surface of the unmoving rock, pushing with all his might. Each night the man returned to his cabin sore and worn out, feeling that his whole day had been spent in vain as the rock simply didn't budge even an inch!!! But he persisted.

 

Since the man was showing slight discouragement, the 'Satan' decided to enter the picture by placing thoughts into his weary tired mind. "You have been pushing against that rock for a long time, and it hasn't moved. You've been fooled by God! The task is impossible and you're a failure."

 

These thoughts discouraged and disheartened the man. Satan continued, "Why kill yourself over this? Just give minimum effort, and that will be good enough. Then come & enjoy life with me."

 

That's what the man planned to do as the 'monkey mind' played mischief & he was completely influenced by the Satan, but decided to take his troubled thoughts to the Lord. "Lord," he said, "I have labored long and hard in your service, putting all my strength to do that which you have asked. Yet, after all this time, I have not even budged that rock even by half a millimeter. What is wrong? Why am I failing? Why have you asked me to do this?"

 

The Lord responded compassionately, "My dear fellow, I told you that your task was just to push against the rock with all your strength, which you have done. Never once did I mention to you that I expected you to move it! Your task was just to push. That's all & that you've done successfully!!!"

 

"And now you come to me with your strength spent, thinking that you have failed. But, is that really so? Look at yourself. Your arms are strong and muscled, your back sinewy and brown; your legs have become massive and hard. Your abilities now surpass that which you used to have. Your task was to be obedient and to push and to exercise your faith and trust in my wisdom. This you have done. Now I, my child, will move the rock." Announced God triumphantly!!!

The Man simply bowed in reverence & humility!

 

PS: What actually God wants is just simple obedience and faith in Him. We should not waver - having devotion today, tomorrow seeking sensual gratification, and then the day after, back to devotion again. When something goes wrong, we are filled with despair. When discipline is enforced, we start holding back, and when love is showered, we are first again. This dual attitude must be given up. SATHYA SAI BABA

 

 Pray Until Something Happens!

(Compiled from 'Radio Sai Journals…might be a repeat but worth it…)

A FEW RESPONSES…

1.    Thanks for SQ- it is a great pleasure to read it and to remember it - these stories I can use in my classes - a good way to make my pupils think and remember - hopefully to change their consciousness

Angelika Holler

 

2.    Dear Sai Brother, hope there is no auther's rights on your prayer, because I'm using it, may God pay you in full for this beautiful prayer you have shared with us. Om sai ram

Frances

3.    Dear Sir,
This is very useful story. Quite often we see that people try to
hurt each other, whether it is in public transport or in office. One
person speaks very badly to other, because of which his Ego gets hurt tremendously & he retaliates, by speaking badly of the former.

The former returns the garbage & this continues to happen. Those people who happen to hear this are disgusted.
Reading this story, we understand that we should ignore the
garbage, & not try to retaliate but forget it.

Om Sai Ram.
Sai Bhakta.

VAIBHAV

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FROM PUTTAPARTHI...SPIRITUAL QUOTIENT - 46: THE GARBAGE TRUCK !!!

SPIRITUAL QUOTIENT – 46

THE GARBAGE TRUCK!!!

How often do we let other people's emotions affect our mood? Do we let a terrible driver, or a rude comment ruin our day?

The mark of a spiritual aspirant is how quickly we can 'regain our focus' on what is important. One man learnt this experience while in the back of a New York City cab. Here's what happened.

He was traveling in a taxi, on his way to Grand Central Station. All of a sudden, without warning, a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of them. The taxi driver slammed on his brakes, skidded and missed the other car's back end by inches.

Then, the driver in the other car, who nearly caused a huge accident, whipped his head around and started abusing the taxi driver. So did the companion sitting next to him! One would have thought that it should have been the other way round!!!

But the taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. The startled passenger sitting in the taxi said, "Why did you take it so easy? The guys almost caused your car to crash and send us to hospital!"

The taxi driver laughed and then related what he called, "The Law of The Garbage Truck."

"Many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of rubbish, filled with frustration, bursting with anger, and packed with disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it. And if you let them, they'll dump it on you. When someone wants to dump it all on you, don't take it personally. You just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. You'll be glad you did. I assure you."

The passenger started thinking how regularly he let garbage trucks run right over him? And how frequently he took his own garbage and spread it onto other people, at work, at home, or on the streets? It was that day he promised to himself, "I'm not going to do it anymore. Enough is enough!"

Over time he learnt how to distinguish when a "Garbage Truck" was coming to dump all over him. He noticed the junk they were carrying and prepared himself to avoid it all being unloaded onto him. Like the taxi driver, he did not make it a personal thing; he just smiled or waved or wished them or did all of these and moved on!!!

(A very popular story in all 'Emotional Intelligence' sessions & was also published in 'radio sai journals'))

PS: "Can you not be saturated with Love? Why use harsh words against anyone, for words wound more fatally than even arrows? Can you not speak softly and sweetly? You don't have to oblige but you can always speak obligingly!!!" – SATHYA SAI BABA

SOME RESPONSES…

1. Dear Sir,

 I never cease to be awed by the way SQ manages to drive home the point with the help of your spiritual quotes, examples and short stories.

 

We youngsters always have these misconceived notions that spirituality is something which is to be pursued only in old age after we have enjoyed our life in our youth, but SQ has been an eye opener for us.

 

The messages are wonderful that we need to be thankful for mental peace and material comfort bestowed by God on us, than to hanker after things which can just give us momentary feeling of happiness.

 

This write up of SQ is much more intense and thought provoking. I think the effort taken for compiling these articles for SQ is really commendable and hope that you continue to nourish us daily with your spiritual anecdotes.

Regards

REVATHI  

2. Dear Sir,

In fact, your SQ has become quite a repository of spiritual knowledge that besides your quotients, the debates and the exchange of ideas and thoughts have also become equally popular. I have become quite an avid reader of all these.

 

Thank you once again for this wonderful opportunity to 'learn' and to 'debate'.

 

May your column grow from strength to strength?

Regards

JAWAHAR.N.R

 

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FROM PUTTAPARTHI...SPIRITUAL QUOTIENT - 45: PRASAADAM & NAIVEDYAM !!!

SPIRITUAL QUOTIENT – 45

 

In the South Indian tradition, there are 2 words that are very commonly used during functions & rituals one performs in adoration of God. These words are: Prasaadam, and Naivedyam. The former word as we all have heard is often distributed during functions; the word essentially means a blessing from God. But an everyday affair in many houses & temples.

 

The other word Naivedyam means an offering to God. During the Pooja ritual, food and other items are offered to God by way of consecrating them but in our context, any loving offering we make becomes a Naivedyam.

 

In other words we get Prasaadam from God & we offer Naivedyam to God! Similarly what we are is a gift from the Universe and what we become is our gift to the Universe!

Each one of us has received some gifts from God. These gifts are the Prasaadam of God.  Life must be so lived that one makes use of these Prasaadam and gives it back to God as Naivedyam. When we use our gifts for the benefit of Society in a reverential manner, we are actually offering Naivedyam to God.

 

For example, we offer flowers to God. We pluck the flowers and make a garland before offering. In worldly parlance, "some value addition" is made before offering to God! Just like that, we must utilize the talents / the skills / the knowledge / the material wealth that we have in a suitable manner, do what we're supposed to, i.e.; make some value addition and offer them back to God.

Just like our nail is a part of our finger, the finger is a part of our hand, the hand is a part of our arm and the arm is a part of our whole body, man is a limb of Society, Society is a limb of Nature and Nature is a limb of God!!!

Speaking during a concluding function in Dec. '96, the famous West Indian cricketer Clive Lloyd said, "Talent is a gift of God and it must be offered back to God." 

 

Similarly, a Pakistani singer of Ghazals when asked why she was not adopting modern methods of singing replied, "I can't do that. Ghazals are a gift of Allah and I must offer it back to Allah in a pure form and not with modern distortions!!!"

The concept is the same irrespective of religion!

 

The great Isaac Newton once exclaimed, "The thumb alone is enough to prove that there is a superior power & that is God!"

This is the easiest way of going back to God – from God we have come and to God we must return. This cycle guarantees a safe return journey.

 

This is the P / N PRINCIPLE that we're all supposed to follow.

The human birth is the final birth and, dependent on the virtue of the life, it ends in the Divine, or is reborn again. - SATHYA SAI BABA

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FROM PUTTAPARTHI...SPIRITUAL QUOTIENT - 44: THE PRAYER !!!

T here is a story of about a sea captain who in his retirement skippered a boat taking day-trippers to Shetland Islands .

 

On one trip, the boat was full of young people. They laughed at the old captain when they saw him say a prayer before sailing out, because the day was fine and the sea was calm.


However they weren't long at sea when a storm suddenly blew up and the boat began to pitch violently. The terrified passengers came to the captain and asked him to join them in prayer.

 

But he replied, "I say my prayers when it's calm. When it's rough I attend to my ship."


Here is a lesson for us......


If we cannot and will not seek God in quiet moments of our lives, we are not likely to find him when trouble strikes. We are more likely to panic. But if we have learnt to seek him and trust him in quiet moments, then most certainly we will find him when the going gets rough.

 

 

Sai Ram

 

PS:

A devotee is like a needle which is always drawn towards the magnet. But the needle has to be near enough and must be clean. If you stay far away and complain that Grace has not come, what can be done? You must scrape off the mud and rust by the process of repentance. Sometimes, you come near for some time and stray way.  I do not mean the physical distance. I do not measure distance in miles or meters. Realize that I am always with you, in you, beside you, ever. Only you have to be aware of Me and make use of My presence. - SWAMI

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FROM PUTTAPARTHI...SPIRITUAL QUOTIENT - 43: WHERE & WHO IS GOD ?!!

SPIRITUAL QUOTIENT –: 43

 

WHERE & WHO IS GOD!!!

 

·        Situated on the banks of the Ganges near holy Rishikesh in the Himalayas, there was once an ashram that had attracted a fair number of seekers.

 

The HEAD MONK once noticed that the Ashramites were often quarrelling and he could hear rude words that left him pained. 'Why are they angry with one another?' the guru asked himself. But he could not bring himself to throw anyone out - such was his compassion.

 

One day he saw two inmates fighting over food in the ashram canteen. The incident left him shocked and he returned to his hut in a despondent mood. 'What can be wrong with them?' he asked himself. He was racked with the problem of remedying the situation and elevating their souls.

 

So, he increased his discourses to them and gave more personal advice. The inmates' reverence for their guru increased, but unfortunately this did not translate in better behavior towards each other.

 

The GURU prayed to LORD SHIVA to help him find a solution. The LORD appeared in his dream & said, "I will come & stay in your ashram but not in this form. I shall be there in the guise of one of the inmates."

 

The guru's joy knew no bounds & he went & shared this information with all of the inmates. They were excited but at the same time confused.

 

"Is this inmate sitting near me SHIVA in disguise?" one disciple thought. "Who could be that person?" Nobody knew and everybody was left guessing and as a result careful too.

 

For, each one thought, "How can I fight against him if he is LORD SHIVA? And thus, a subtle change slowly came over in each one of them. They began to see God in everyone and took every opportunity to help the other and be kind and courteous. The whole atmosphere in the ashram was now totally transformed – only love and harmony prevailed.

 

·        There was a religious man who had invited all the members of his family, a few friends & relatives for food on 3 consecutive days on account of a function. That night LORD VISHNU came in his dream & said, "I shall come to your house tomorrow to take PRASADAM."

 

The man was elated & the next day, while all others were enjoying their meal, he waited for the LORD. An old beggar happened to come that time to his house & wanted to eat as well. But since everyone was busy, the beggar was overlooked & ignored!! The security then sent him away.

 

The man was very disappointed that GOD didn't keep up his word. That night the LORD came into his dream once again & said, "I came today to your house as the old beggar but you didn't even bother to serve me food."

 

The man was truly shocked, & exclaimed, "Oh! I had absolutely no idea." The LORD said in all compassion, "OK, I'll come again tomorrow."

 

The next day, the man ensured that all 'old men' including 'beggars' were served food while he looked at everyone 'minutely' wondering which one of them was the LORD.

 

Suddenly one DOG came into the dining hall barking & wagging its' tail. The man saw the DOG inside the hall & screamed at the security to get the dog out as it was a disturbance & a nuisance. The security drove the dog out!

 

For the 3^rd night in a row, LORD VISHNU appeared in the man's dream & said, "I came in the form of that dog & you shouted at me & drove me away! What is the use of all your religious practices if you can't even recognize that GOD is in everyone?"

 

PS: Thank you for all the responses that have been coming in during the last 1 month. We're re-starting the SQ series...

 

We've also sent vibhuti to SRILANKA, MAURITIUS, MUMBAI, VIJAYAWADA...as per recent requests.

 

Moderator

 

 

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FROM PUTTAPARTHI...THE CHOSEN ONES !!!

Once Swami was sitting with the students around Him. Suddenly He asked a strange question. "I am going to give Sai Gita(Swami's pet elephant) to you. Tell me who wants her? Who will take her?"

 

The boys were taken aback. Everyone wanted to say 'Yes' when Swami asked them something, but this... They thought,"How will I take her home?", "How do I feed an elephant?", and so on. Suddenly one of them said, "Swami, I am ready to take Sai Gita".

 

Swami, in His immense Love, waved His hand and materialised a small silver elephant and gave it to the boy. I am sure you can imagine the plight of the other students. Would not each of them have regretted not accepting Swami's offer? Regretted that they let their heads think and find obstacles instead of letting their hearts decide?

This beautiful leela was enacted by Swami, for each one of us. It echoes to the entire Sai fold, "Grab every chance Swami gives you! Else, you might regret it later."

 

But what exactly is this chance ? It is every opportunity to get closer to our Lord, every opportunity to make Him happy. Everyday, every moment, we are surrounded by opportunities to help others, to put a smile on a sad face, to do some noble deed. But we hardly realize that they are unique chances for Sai Seva, to make our dear Lord happy, to get one step ahead in our journey towards Him(which is in fact the journey to our true self).

Be ready to realize and accept every opportunity for Seva, to participate in a service activity of the nearby Sai centre, take time out of your busy schedule to stop and help out a collegue at the workplace, spare a few moments so that someone in misery can speak their heart out and confide in you. It is said that man was born with two ears and one mouth so that he talks less and listens more!

If at all we do realize this fact, and decide to do a noble deed, what follows immediately is a train of thoughts, each one finding a new reason as to why it should not be done. The brain is at work then, and not the heart. We are all full of limitations, full of incapacities. Put the heart to work and we realize "After all, who am I doing it for? Doesn't the Loving mother know my limitations?"

 

Yes. Swami knows what we are capable of doing. He knew very well that none of the students are able to take Sai Gita home and feed her. But when we are ready, He will create a Sai Gita that fits into our hands.

So, dear brothers and sisters, the next time you come across an opportunity for Sai Seva, dont think twice. Grab it and leave the rest to the all compassionate Lord of the Universe!

 

Remember, we are THE CHOSEN ONES, The direct messengers of the Avatar! If we dont make a difference in the world, who will???

 

PS:

Just as you prescribe minimum qualifications for every profession, the minimum qualification for Grace is surrender of egoism, control over senses, and regulated food and recreation. The body is the boat on which we voyage across the ocean of our worldly lives. It has to be kept trim and sea-worthy.  The atmosphere we breathe in, the water we take in, the ground we live in, the animals and plants that surround us - all have to be maintained clean. Exercise, bathing, washing and cleaning activities are prescribed for this purpose. So also, the voyager too, must be strong, confident and courageous.

SATHYA SAI BABA

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FROM PUTTAPARTHI...SPIRITUAL QUOTIENT - 42: THE BARBER !!!

SPIRITUAL QUOTIENT – 42

 

THE BARBER!!!

 

(Extracted, compiled & edited from RADIO SAI JOURNALS)

A man went to a barbershop to have his hair cut and his beard trimmed. As the barber began to work, they began to have a good conversation and talked about many subjects. When they eventually touched on the subject of God, the barber said, "I don't believe that God exists."

"Why do you say that?" asked the customer.

 

"Well, you just have to go out in the street to realize that God doesn't exist. Tell me, if God exists, would there be so many sick people? Would there be abandoned children?"

 

"If God existed, there would be neither suffering nor pain. I can't imagine a loving God who would allow all of these things."

 

The customer thought for a moment, but didn't respond because he didn't want to start an argument. The barber finished his job and the customer left the shop.

 

Just after he left the barbershop, he saw a man in the street with long, stringy hair and an untrimmed beard; he was looking dirty and unkempt.

 

The customer turned back and entered the barber shop again and said to the barber, "You know what? Barbers do not exist."

 

"How can you say that?" I am here, and I am a barber. And I just worked on you!" asked the surprised barber.

 

"No!" the customer exclaimed. "Barbers don't exist because if they did, there would be no people with dirty long hair and untrimmed beards, like that man outside"

 

"Ah, but barbers do exist! That's what happens when people do not come to me" argued the barber.

"Exactly!" affirmed the customer. "That's the point! God, too, does exist! It is only because people do not go to God & listen to him there's so much pain and suffering in the world. There is no point sitting in a boat & dangling your feet into the water saying that there are no pearls. If you want pearls you have to dive down & see yourself!!!""

 

PS: "Keeping salt in our mouth, we can not taste anything sweet. Only by rinsing our mouth and getting rid of the salt can we taste sweetness. Our perceptions & state of mind are like salt. Discard them; then we can see and realize divinity."

SAIRAM

Moderator,

http://groups.google.co.in/group/premasai_gurukulam

RESPONSES…

1.       Dear Sir,

This SQ – 41 reminds me of two things...

One is Kunti Stuthi in Srimad Bhagavatham, where Kunti prays to Lord Krishna to give her only sufferings so that she could ever be thinking of Lord Krishna alone.

 

The other is the various Panduranga bhaktas, our Azhwars and Nayanmars, who were always thinking of the Lord irrespective of what state they were. They thought about the Lord when they were happy or sad.

Regards

Vasantharajan R

2.       I have been enjoying the reading of Spiritual Quotients and the SQ – 41: SIN OF INGRATITUDE is really a wonderful article which teaches about ungratefulness. 

 

It is true that in times of trouble we call upon GOD but forget to give him thanks for all the good things that He has been doing to us.

Regards,

GANESAN A K

3.       Sai ram

Thanks a lot for wonderful sharing these special short stories!

I really enjoy every one of them!

Jai Sai Ram

LisaLosch

4.       This is the first time I am replying to this mail. I have no clue how I got into this group. However, I am glad that I did. Thank you for this wonderful thread. Most of the time if I have some questions, Swami seems to answer them through this link.

Love and regards to everyone. Please keep up the good work.

Swami Nathan

5.       Dear all
SQ 40 is not mere pearl necklace but the content is a priceless LIFELACE.
sairam
ganeshbalyu

6.       Jai Sai Ram,

YOUR STORIES ARE GOOD. I CAN TELL MY GRAND CHILDERN AS BED TIME STORIES. MANY THANKS.

NEENA AGARWAL

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