Kindly Help me Understand.

[SaiServant]

Dear Sai bandhus,
Sai Ram!
Please provide your valuable thoughts on something that puts me in a dilemma often: 

Baba has asked us to avoid the company of athiests, wicked and irreligious people (Sai Satcharitra, Chapter 3). But, He also teaches us to see God in every living being and to love and serve everyone. I often face the dilemma of how should I handle people who show wickedness, irreligiosity or atheism. Though I would like to avoid such people, I remember Baba's teaching of seeing God in everyone and to love all. So when I entertain such people or when I avoid them, both ways I disobey Baba. I'll wait to hear your views on this concern.

Om Sai Ram!

[sureshsarat]

Om Sri Sainathaya Namaha
Om Sri Sainathaya Namaha
Om Sri Sainathaya Namaha

Sai is in all beings. When we are at a stage where we can get easily influenced by other people, it is always better to avoid them but do it without hurting them and with no animosity. But when we are at a level where we can stay at equilibrium, it is easy for all to associate with all and yet go up our chosen path.

Sairam

[SaiServant]

Om Sai Ram!

Thanks, Sureshsarat ji. That sounds good. Yesterday, I came across some quotes on association with unvirtuous people. Just to share them:

" A root pest would eat away the roots of a tree and a white ant would eat away the tree itself. Similarly, a man of evil nature would bring about the ruin of a virtuous one" ---Satya Sai Baba.

"As your company, so you shall become" --Satya Sai Baba

"Associate with those who are good and true, not with those who are bad and false"---Buddha.

Even Baba would not allow people with bad thoughts to come near Him. He reformed them first before they could reach Him. Devotees like Megha, Saptnekar, Haji Phalke were driven away initially. And, others like the European gentleman could never approach Him. If the enlightened Master couldn't bear the mental waves or energy fields of those with unvirtuous thoughts, the disciples must remain ever cautious. I guess my dilemma is resolved. 

Om Sai Ram!

[sureshsarat]

Om Sri Sainathaya Namaha
Om Sri Sainathaya Namaha
Om Sri Sainathaya Namaha

"Even Baba would not allow people with bad thoughts to come near Him. He reformed them first before they could reach Him. Devotees like Megha, Saptnekar, Haji Phalke were driven away initially. And, others like the European gentleman could never approach Him. If the enlightened Master couldn't bear the mental waves or energy fields of those with unvirtuous thoughts, the disciples must remain ever cautious. I guess my dilemma is resolved. "

I would like to differ on this. Baba reciprocated to exactly what was in the minds of the above devotees - namely distrust. This was more to make them realize their mistakes rather than keeping them away. And also a wonderful way of convincing them of his Omnipotence. A human's fickle mind looks for logic in everything and these doubting toms needed to be convinced in order to be set on the right path. Verily so, with us too. In fact it is baba who pulled the towards himself like sparrows with feet tied with strings.

There are many assertions by Lord Sai himself, where in he has stated : he was never known to be angry with anyone. He has also stated not to take the sense of doership and own up on responsibilities. He is the wirepuller.

And finally Lord Jesus in his parable about the Lost Son and forgiving father made it clear the the Lord welcomes the wayward son foremost to set him right.

If we are sure that the influence of others will not have affect on us, we need shy away from them. In fact, by putting faith and responsibility on our Lord to Guide us, we need not turn away the such dubious people. But at the same, we need not set out seeking them.

It would do good for the persons with little control over themselves to keep away from such people. 

Finally, we need to bear in mind all the good and bad are in our mind. Whichever is predominant will determine our course of actions !

Sairam

[SaiServant]

Om Sai Ram!

Baba was God incarnate. His ability to read minds of people and to sense their subtle energies is something that none of us possesses. Many people who were pulled to Shirdi didn't necessarily become His devotees. Many of them left for good, and others lost faith after a while. Didn't Baba talk about the tree laden with blossoms and how only a few stayed to become fruits. That shows He was aware about the range of human imperfections and weaknesses, and not just their doubting attitude.

Baba would indeed become angry with some people, and would even beat them up. Though some may think that was His queerness, but in reality it was His innate ability to read their hidden thoughts and feelings. Anything that was unvirtuous would make Him react angrily. SSC is full of such episodes.

While the issue of 'influence' or 'self-control' could be true with regard to athiests and irreligious people, there are subtle and unseen influences that wicked peple emanate. My concern is more about the latter. Yes, the good and bad lie in our minds, but people send out energies, positive or negative, all the time. Those are unseen subtle fields that any sensitive soul can feel. Have you ever felt good just by sitting quietly in someone's presence or felt unhappy or uncomfortable with others. For instance, people would feel instant peace and bliss in Baba's company or at his mere sight. And, that even Baba talked about someone's evil eye once. The subtle ethreal or causal energies are simply imperceptible. But they have devastating effects on sensitive souls who come in contact with such energy fields.

I raised this issue because I have a couple of acquaintances with whom I generally have a good conversation. They fall in the categories that Baba has asked us to avoid. Our conversations revolve around general topics and never of the nature that can influence my habits or spirituality. Yet, every time I sit and chat with them, and once they are gone, I experience an intensely uneasy and deeply unsettling feeling. Not by what they said, but simply by being in their presence. I am not being judgmental, but intuitively understand that something is wrong somewhere. Though I cannot figure out what it is. Having understood the phenomena of energy fields, my dilemma was about Baba's injunction of seeing God in all. I guess the best option would be to avoid them, not to test my control or their level of influence on me that does not really play a part here.

I agree that Baba is the doer. Perhaps, He sends such people to test our obedience to what he wants us to do. I guess we need to use 'Viveka' (power of discrimination) not judgement in facing such situations. And, Viveka needs to be exercised at the level of energy fields as well.

Those are just some humble thoughts. I don't mean to assert myself or deny what you wrote. You indeed are right in a certain sense. 

Om Sai Ram!

[Ramesh Ramnani]

जय सांई राम।।।

My dearest sister Sunita I don't know much about anything but what I learnt through BABA lies in only in one solution of all ills and that solution is hidden in one little word and that word is 'उपेक्षा' -'Upeksha' -Equanimity, or impartiality. The emotionally detached state of one who witnesses without becoming emotionally involved. It is a virtue, and an attitude to be cultivated as opposed to simple indifference or lack of interest. Upeksha is the fourth of the Divine Abidings (Brahma-vihāra) and seventh of the ‘Limbs of Enlightenment’

अपना सांई प्यारा सांई सबसे न्यारा अपना सांई
ॐ सांई राम।।।

[SaiServant]

Om Sai Ram!

Thank you , dearest Ramesh Bhai. You can see how bad a disciple I am  . I remember that you taught me this concept of "Upeksha" once. Sureshsarat ji also hinted at this idea.  Thanks to both of you. I'll understand this concept well, and try to implement it at the subtle plane. Though I seem to have developed it at a grosser level. So, you should not be disappointed with me completely. 

I'll get back to you with questions and seek clarifications, if any, as I try to cultivate this lovely sounding but difficult to attain quality called "Upeksha". May Baba help me in this endeavour. 

Om Sai Ram!

[saidasan]

Om Sairam.

 If you attract negative people, it’s a sign that there is negativity in you mostly Subconsciously as sanskara - impressions that influence/trigger a trait/emotion/reaction. Like attracts Like that’s why you attract them (unconsciously) and have a conversation. Subconcious Sanskaras cannot be identified easily as they are yet to be impressed firmly as a trait in the Conscious mind. So the conscious mind continues to remain unaffected by them.
It's like a dormant volcano.  Road rage is a good anecdote. Suddenly people become nasty for petite reasons in a moment.
It’s an indication that you have to work on yourself and raise your Positive vibes and not worry about negative people. When you raise Positive Vibrations you will attract Positive people. Negative people will be kept away by Polarity mismatch.
I met lot of negative people and some of them wasted plenty of my time.  I had been involved in a few verbal road brawls too.

Surrender is the best way to cleanse our Soul from Negative impressions and vibrations. Surrender is a spontaneous praise of Sai for being Sai, it can be Meditation, Prayer, Singing, Dancing just anything. Even listening to Sai songs in Ipod

If we take SSC literally then we can conclude Sai attacked people, avoided some. In reality that defeats the whole mission of any Divine Manifestation because he is Universal not an individual. There are no others for Sai. Sai works in several planes Cosmic – controlling Nature, Universal – Saving the child from Fire in a remote village and getting his hands burnt, Physical – allowing devotees to Massage his legs, Subtle planes – SaptaShringi priest at once gained Peace that evaded him for quite sometime. Since we operate only on Physical and Mental plane, our inferences cannot be conclusive.
SSC was certainly not intended to be like Ten Commandments. It's a Divine Symphony
If any point of mine offended you, I seek Sai’s forgiveness.
Jai Sairam.

[ashokjain]

Ravi sent me thread of this discussion and asked me if i could contribute. I was too busy to even go through the entire thread, however after reading SunitaJi's post, i felt i could share this link in which Sathya Sai replies to your question.

This is a very rare and 30 years old video (normally interviews are not filmed).

[ashokjain]

This is the 3rd and the last part of the interview with the earlier parts available too. This is just to provide information for someone who would be interested to watch the entire interview.

[SaiServant]

Om Sai Ram!

I am deeply indebted to my dear brothers for their enlightening posts. Thank you, and may Baba bless you.

Dear Saidasan ji, you have not offended me in any way. Rather, I find your thoughts right on the target. I agree that we have samskaras as impressions on the subconscious, which attract people with a matching energy. As much as I have developed awareness about my conscious self, there may be traces of negativity in my subconscious. As far as cleansing of the subconscious mind is concerned, complete surrender is indeed an effective tool. The Master throws up discomforting situations whereby the negativity is brought up to the surface, through interaction with people with undesired traits but in sync with the hidden samskaras. Surrender forms the substratum on which the quality of equanimity ('Upeksha') grows. Your thoughts on Baba and SSC are absolutely correct. Baba and His ways are indeed inscrutable and beyond our comprehension. So, I may have made an error in inferring from some incidents in SSC. However, I would like to add that despite the fact that Baba is beyond any form and name, keeping SSC as our main guide actually helps. That in no way means that we don't or can't read other masters, who happen to be the manifestations of the same divinity.

I extend my profound gratitude to Ashok ji for providing this wonderful interview of Satya Sai Baba. Though I have read some of his excellent works, I was delighted to hear him speak for the first time. Satya Sai Baba is an embodiment of love and wisdom. I greatly benefit from his teachings.  It was my good fortune to see and hear the master. Thank you so much.

Om Sai Ram!

[sureshsarat]

Om Sri Sainathaya Namaha
Om Sri Sainathaya Namaha
Om Sri Sainathaya Namaha

Sairam everybody !

Such discussions help us in further understanding Baba's unique ways ! In fact, I take this too as his unique method of teaching us ! Baba bless us ever like this !

Rameshji's "one solution of all ills and that solution is hidden in one little word and that word is 'उपेक्षा' -'Upeksha' -Equanimity, or impartiality’ is right on dot. The world around is is filled with negativity ! There is no denying it ! forgive me if I am wrong or hurt someone ! But the TVs, Newpapers and other beings are mostly sending out strong negativity.  Though not all, but a greater percentage. We can not really avoid such occurences, acquaintances, or encounters. Imagine going to a movie and seeing some unwanted scenes like violence. The best way is "Rameshji's Upeksha".
The very feeling that you have encountered something wrong is your conscience alerting you. Now just train you mind to block the influence. This can  be done with chanting "Sai Sai " , meditating on him , singing aratis or anything.

Thanks to Sai for this great teaching
Sairam

[v2birit]

Om Sai Ram,
    I read this post late, but when i read, i immediately recall that it happened with me also & it happens with all sadhakas (spiritual aspirants).
    As we progress spiritually, we become more & more sinless, knowledge & Vairagya starts accruing within. This is all due to the great Lord sitting within, who becomes dominant.
    When this happens, we are not able to tolerate the inconsistency in the surrounding world. We get cross with non-devotees who just don't want to surrender & talk of the Lord. At the same time, we get extremely pleased when we see some soul worshipping the Lord.
    No matter how much a sadhaka can get cross with the world, due to it's non-devotion, but the heartening fact is that the Lord is always behind the Sadhaka & takes him safely across the ocean of worldly existence.

Om Sai Ram.

[SaiServant]

Om Sai Ram!

The negativity can be both outside and inside us. While the outer negativity can be tackled through the practice of Upeksha, the inner negativity needs to be confronted head on and removed by deliberate effort. While we can identify and clear away the negativity at the conscious mental plane by changing our attitude through following Baba's instructions, the unconscious or subconscious negativity is the hardest to detect and remove. Chanting of Sai's name, surrender and prayers can cleanse our inner world and offer immunity to the outer onslaughts of negativity to some extent. But, the practice of Upeksha is the real antidote to the toxic influences of the outer world.

After I read and reflected upon dearest Ramesh Bhai's concept of "Upeksha", I conducted a small experiment. I went to see one of the acquaintances whose presence used to disturb my inner peace. I wanted to put Upeksha to test. I spent two hours with her and applied the mental frame of equanimity consciously. I indeed was able to maintain my tranquility throughout the conversation and ever since I returned home. It does work. But, it will require more and more practice till it is perfected. Thank you for your guidance, Ramesh Bhai. 

I posted an article on Upeksha under "philosophy and spirituality" earlier today. Please post more on that topic.

Victory be to Sai!

Om Sai Ram!

[SaiServant]

Om Sai Ram!

Very well said, v2birit ji. You are right that Baba is the real doer and our saviour. We must take refuge under his lotus feet and surrender completely . He will save us from all the negativity by inspiring us in the right direction.
May Baba keep his loving gaze on us always!

Om Sai Ram!