GURU KRIPA .............

[ShAivI]

OM SAI RAM!!!

Q:  How do I manage the expectations of people around me,
      and how to be happy without expecting much from my loved ones?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:

See, you do your 100% and then that’s it!
If they expect more from you, say, "I am so sorry, I can’t do this".

If you are not a doctor and somebody expects you to treat them,
what would you do?
Will you give them an injection just to satisfy them?
No!
You have to honestly tell them, "My dear, I am sorry",
and they will understand that.
You do your 100% and that is how you manage others' expectations.

Now, you expect others to do something for you.
Well, if they don’t do it, don’t become miserable.
Have compassion and see that this is the limit of their capacity.
They have not learned the art of expression.
Don’t expect someone to say 'Thank you' and all nice things.
Suppose they don’t thank you, have compassion on them that
they haven’t been trained or cultured that way.
 You simply have to see beyond an event or incident.

Take it to a bigger scale and you will see that, in this world,
the behavior of a person is the outcome of their upbringing,
their education, and their environment. If they lack these
three things, it will show in their behavior.

So, instead of blaming them, feel sorry for them that they
didn’t get the education that you got. They haven’t developed
the same type of sensitivity that you have. You are sensitive
to others' demands; they aren't! Suppose someone does
something for you and you express your gratefulness and thank them.
If they don’t reciprocate, you simply have to attribute it to their
lack of education and culturing rather than blame them.

This is what I would suggest you to do. See, if you blame them,
you feel bitter, but if you attribute it to their lack of their culturing
or education, you are at peace.

What do you say?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

OM SAI RAM, SRI SAI RAM, JAI JAI SAI RAM !!!

[ShAivI]

OM SAI RAM!!!

Q:  I have low self-esteem. I criticize myself and others. How to work with my ego?
      I notice it happens when my energy is low but is it possible to get rid of it for good?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:

You can get rid of it right now, this moment, otherwise there is no chance.
Are you ready for it? If it is ever possible, it’s possible now in this moment,
and that's it. .

Remove this label that you have put on your own head that I have a low self-esteem.
Who said you have a low self-esteem? This is an illusion, this is nonsense.
You don't have any low self-esteem. Peel off this label you put on your own head
that you have low self-esteem.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

OM SAI RAM, SRI SAI RAM, JAI JAI SAI RAM !!!

[ShAivI]

OM SAI RAM!!!

Why does our mind run after fame money and glamor? Is it necessary?

Sri Avadoot Baba :

Well, you got this question! First, you understand that the mind is running.
Then you get this question, ‘Is it necessary?’ I leave this question to you.
It is very personal, very individual. I don't think it is necessary.
But my answer will not necessarily suffice for you. It has to come from within.
Otherwise, it will be just a mood making. ‘Oh, I don’t want money’,
but one part of the mind will say, ‘No, I need money.’ One mind will say,
‘I don’t need fame and another will say, ‘No, I need fame’. Like this,
the conflict starts happening. But when you wake up and see, and see those people
who have had all this - how shallow and hollow they are, then naturally you find
there is no significance in all this. Then neither will you crave for it, nor will you
make any effort to renounce it. People who say, ‘I don’t want fame’, inside,
somewhere, the mind is saying, ‘Oh, I want fame, I want fame’. When the sun
has arisen, what is the use of torchlight? You are moving with torchlight and
suddenly you realize there is no meaning in moving with the torchlight,
when the sun is there. Then that is your experience, your true experience.
So when you run behind things which are illusive - you will realize that it is
causing more pain, more suffering and ‘it is not giving me what I really want’.

Then there is fulfillment, centeredness, a subtle solid strength comes from within.
Then if fame comes, money comes, it doesn’t touch you. It comes or doesn’t come,
doesn’t matter to you. ‘I want it’ or ‘I don’t want it’ are two sides of the same coin.
Somewhat we need to be – let it be.

Sri Avadoot Baba

OM SAI RAM, SRI SAI RAM, JAI JAI SAI RAM !!!

[ShAivI]

OM SAI RAM!!!


Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:

“A plum once said, ‘just because a banana lover came by,
I converted myself into a banana. Unfortunately,
his taste changed after a few months and so I became an orange.
When he said I was bitter I became an apple,
but he went in search of grapes.

Yielding to the opinions of so many people,
I have changed so many times that I no more know who I am.
How I wish I had remained a plum and waited for a plum lover.’

Just because a group of people do not accept you as you are,
there is no necessity for you to strip yourself of your originality.
You need to think good of yourself, for the world takes you
at your own estimate. Never stoop down in order to gain recognition.
Never let go of your true self to win a relationship.

In the long run, you will regret that you traded your greatest
Glory – your uniqueness, for momentary validation. Even Gandhi
was not accepted by many people. The group that does not accept
you as YOU is not Your world.

There is a world for each one of you, where you shall reign as
King/ Queen by just being yourself. Find that world…
In fact, that world will find You.

What water can do, gasoline cannot and what copper can,
gold cannot. The fragility of the ant enables it to move and the r
igidity of the tree enables it to stay rooted. Everything and
everybody has been designed with a Proportion of uniqueness
to serve a purpose that we can fulfill only by being our unique self.
You as you alone can serve your purpose and I as I alone can s
erve my purpose. You are here to be you… Just YOU.

There was a time in this world when a Krishna was required and
he was sent; A time when a Christ was required and he was sent;
a time when a Mahatma was required and he was sent; There
came a time when you were required on this planet and hence
you were sent. Let us be the best we can be.

In the history of the universe, there has been nobody like you
and to the infinity of time to come, there will be no one like you.
Existence should have loved you so much that it broke the mould
after making you, so that another of your kind will never get repeated.

You are Original.
You are Rare.
You are Unique.
You are a Wonder.
You are a Masterpiece. .. Your Master’s piece.
Celebrate your Uniqueness.'


OM SAI RAM, SRI SAI RAM, JAI JAI SAI RAM !!!

[ShAivI]

OM SAI RAM!!!

Q:  How to work with those people who are negative
      and have a criticizing nature? Even after doing regular Kriya
      I am not able to deal with such people?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:

First of all, don't think that negativity is the permanent feature
of some people. Nobody can be permanently negative, it is just a
tendency. So be hopeful, anyone can be positive anytime. When you
label people as 'negative’, your behaviour towards them will be very
different. You will over-react. So, people with negative tendencies
will bring more skills form within you. With a positive person, you don’t
need to develop any skills, but to deal with negative people you need to
have more skill. It’s wrong to say 'negative people', it is more of a
'negative situation'. So when a negative situation arises -it calls for more
skill from you. So, actually you should thank them because they are
making you more skillful.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

OM SAI RAM, SRI SAI RAM, JAI JAI SAI RAM !!!

[ShAivI]

OM SAI RAM!!!

Q:  How to stay in the present?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:

First of all, you must know that my mind is wandering, then,
half the job is done! The second thing is, take out a little time
for yourself - just 15 seconds in between.

I want to share a little story with you. There was an executive
who said that he was very upset with his boss. So he wrote a
very nasty letter to his own boss. He signed it and decided to send it
out after his meeting with me. When he mentioned this to me, I gave him
this idea, that before signing any important paper, take a 15 seconds gap
and just be still and reflect. So he did it, and he later said, "Gurudev,
I did not send that letter that I had written, and it saved me a lot of
embarrassment. And it saved my job as well".

Taking that little time, that 15 seconds gap, can make a big different.
You can do this several times during the course of the day.

As children, we used to play this game called ‘Statue’. We would be
running and playing and someone would say, ‘Statue’, and we had to
stand still. Have you played this game? This is one of the brilliant things
to do to bring the mind to the present moment. And of course,
meditation is very important. A few minutes of meditation keeps your
mind like a clean slate to take on new load of work.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

OM SAI RAM, SRI SAI RAM, JAI JAI SAI RAM !!!

[ShAivI]

OM SAI RAM!!!

KNOWING THE SELF WITH GURU

We know that knowing the “ SELF “ is very difficult.
The Presence/Grace of Guru is always needed in One"s Life to understand it.
We always require a Help from ..........A Guide ,
A Teacher who has already walked on Path of Self Realization
so that he can Guide Us the steps to be taken for it .

A Guru who can Bless his Disciple with Illumination
on Path of Darkness due to Ignorance is a must
so as to be on Path of Spirituality.
A Guru with Patience and Time for his Loving Child.

A loving example of Patience alongwith Time
Graced by God in form of A Guru is read by Us in Bhagwad Gita.

When Arjuna was in constant state of Dilemma,
Krishna as Guru made Arjuna aware with aspects of
Bhakti , Karam , Gyan .... thereby guiding him
with what is right in performing one"s duty

The Sacred Words of Krishna to Arjuna
were as a Guide/Teacher/Guru ..... guiding his disciple
by clearing all his Doubts of Life , thereby blessing Arjuna
by showing him the path of Divine Harmony .

Likewise when a Rich person came before Sadguru Sai
to be blessed by Brahma Gyan
His mind filled with Greed for Money

In a greedy person .......
Peace Satisfaction & Contentment are not found
even when ...........
One is blessed with Entire Knowledge still the Desires of Life , His Ego ,
His Greed keeps him away from knowing the Self

THE TEACHINGS OF GURU ARE OF NO USE TO A PERSON
FILLED WITH EGO , GREED AND DESIRES OF LIFE .

OUR SADGURU BABA SAI rightly said ...............

" MY TREASURY IS FULL AND I CAN GIVE ANYONE
WHAT HE WANTS BUT I HAVE TO SEE
WHETHER HE IS QUALIFIED TO RECEIVE "

Special Disciples like Arjuna are few
because disciples usually have little Faith in their Heart
for their Guru .

........ PROJECTING ONESELF AS DEVOTIONAL
..............AND ACTUALLY BEING DEVOTIONAL
....................ARE TWO DIFFERENT STATES OF A DISCIPLE

BABA guided the Rich Man to Surrender
Five Pranas , Five Senses , Mind , Intellect & Ego
in order to have Brahma Gyan .

Let Us All start by Surrendering
Our Mind Our Intellect Our Ego
in shelter of our Loving Guru/Sadguru

The Blessing/Grace of Guru is very Vast Just like an Ocean
So if We have the Grace of Guru with Us and We follow
the Path shown by Our Guru
We will always be Blessed by
Light in every Dark Moments of Our Life .

If We understand the Holy Grace / Blessing of Our Guru
We will never be drowned in Sorrows of our Life .

IT HAS NEVER HAPPENED THAT IF WE CALL OUR GURU
IN OUR MOMENTS OF BEING IN SILENCE
OUR GURU DOESN"T LISTEN TO OUR VOICE

as we walk with our guru
....... away from the darkness of ignorance
.......... leaving behind the sorrows & desires of our life
................we move towards a light full of realizing the self
.................... hidden till now silently in our inner core of life

HAPPY GURU PURNIMA TO ALL SAI DEVOTEES



OM SAI RAM, SRI SAI RAM, JAI JAI SAI RAM !!!

[saibabakibeti]

Thanks You for sharing such beautiful thoughts in praise and Mahima of Guru.
 

[ShAivI]

OM SAI RAM!!!

Why didi Buddha wait for this little girl ?

  Once upon a time, Gautam Buddha visits a town.
The entire town gathers and is waiting to listen to him,
but he goes on waiting. He keeps looking backwards at the road,
expecting a little 13 year old girl to come. He happened to meet her
on the road and she had told him – “Wait for me. I am going to
give this food to my father at the farm, but I will be back in time.
Don’t forget, wait for me!”

Finally, the elders of the town said to Gautam Buddha –
“For whom are you waiting? Everybody important is present,
you can start your discourse.”

Buddha replied – “But the person for whom I have come
so far is not present yet and I have to wait.”

Finally the girl arrives and exclaims –
“I am a little late, but you kept your promise!

I knew you would keep your promise because
I have been waiting for you since my first memory as a child,
when I first became aware… I think I was four years old
when I first heard your name. Your name was enough to ring
a bell in my heart. And since then for ten long years…
I have been waiting!!!”

Buddha responded – “You have not been waiting in vain.
You are the person who has attracted me to this village.”

At the end of his discourse, that little girl was the only one
who goes to him and says:  “Initiate me. I have waited enough,
and now I want to be with you.” Buddha replied “You have to be
with me because your town is so far out! I cannot keep coming
again and again. The road is long, and I am getting old!”

In that entire town not a single person came up to him be i
nitiated into meditation, other than that little girl.

At night as they were getting ready to sleep, Buddha’s chief disciple
Ananda asked Buddha “Master, before you go to sleep I want to ask
you one question. Do you feel a certain pull towards a certain space…
just like a magnetic pull?”

Buddha replied, “You are right Ananda. That is how I decide my journeys.
When I feel someone is thirsty…so thirsty that without me, there is
no other way for them… I have to move in that direction.”

Master moves towards the disciple and the disciple also moves
towards the master. Sooner or later they are bound to meet.
The meeting is not of the body, the meeting is not of the mind.
The meeting is of the very soul!

It is like when you bring two lamps close to each other;
the lamps remain separate but their flames become one.



OM SAI RAM, SRI SAI RAM, JAI JAI SAI RAM !!!

[ShAivI]

OM SAI RAM!!!

Q:  Please tell us something about Hanuman?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:

It is said that the Ramayana is happening in your own body.
Your soul is Rama, your mind is Sita, your breath or life-force is
Hanuman, your awareness is Laxmana and your ego is Ravana.

*When Sita (mind) was stolen by Ravana (Ego) then Rama (soul)
got restless. Now the soul (Rama) cannot reach the mind (Sita)
on its own, it has to take the help of the breath (Hanuman) - the prana.
With the help of the prana ( Hanuman)  the mind (Sita) got reunited with
the soul ( Rama) , and the ego (Ravana) vanished.

This is the spiritual significance of the story.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

OM SAI RAM, SRI SAI RAM, JAI JAI SAI RAM !!!

[ShAivI]

OM SAI RAM!!!

Q:  What is love?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:

Well, if you have not known it, there is no way you can know it!
There is not a single being on this planet which or who does not
know what love is. On one hand this is true, on the other hand,
nobody has known love.

Love is not something that you know, it is something that you feel.
Why do you want to analyze and put a tag to it?

You can go on describing the shades of love, or the types of love that
are there, but what are its repercussions? In fact, all the negative
emotions are just distortions of love. Your anger is because of love.
You love perfection, so you get angry at imperfections. You love people
too much, and so it becomes jealousy or possessiveness. You love
yourself too much, and that becomes arrogance. When you love objects
more than people or more than anything else, then it is greed. Love
plus knowledge or wisdom leads you to bliss. Love minus knowledge or
wisdom, leads you to misery. We can go on analyzing it, but what is
the use?

If you have a puppy at home, it will tell you what love is. If you have a
dog at home, when you return home, it will show you what love is. It will
not say, "Yesterday I greeted you, I don’t have to do it now". Every day
when you come home, a dog or a baby can tell you what love is. Hours of
lecture cannot convey what a baby can convey in a fraction of a second.
As far as love is concerned, a thousand words cannot equal one glance,
and a million glances cannot equal a moment of silence, one moment of
that inner connection. That is love! You are made up of a substance called
love and everything in the world is made up of that one thing called love.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

OM SAI RAM, SRI SAI RAM, JAI JAI SAI RAM !!!

[ShAivI]

OM SAI RAM!!!

Q:  How to change someone’s nature?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:

Why do you want to change someone else’s nature?
If you want to change someone’s nature because what they
are doing is troubling you, then it is never going to change!
However, if we wish that they change their nature because
it will harm them, if this is our perspective, then there definitely
 is a possibility of change.

Why is it that people are unable to bring about a change in
another person's behavior? This is because they are caught up
with themselves. If you say, ‘Change for me’ then nobody is
going to change.

Why or how is it that only a Guru can bring about a change in a
person? It is because a Guru never wants anything for himself.
A Guru wants transformation in someone only because what the
person is doing is harming himself or herself. A Guru looks at people
with this compassionate perspective which is why people transform
when they come to Him.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

OM SAI RAM, SRI SAI RAM, JAI JAI SAI RAM !!!

[ShAivI]

OM SAI RAM!!!

Q:  My mind feels good at times and sad at other times. What to do?

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar:

Forget about how you feel, feelings keep changing.
One minute it is good, next minute it is not good, so what!
Move with valour and courage.

There are many situations or states of mind,
but generally you can categorize them into three kinds:

When there is craving or longing.
Longing for worldly or spiritual experiences
When there is dullness.

There is neither longing nor there is any interest in anything.
a sense of inertia in our mind.
You just go on with inertia.
This situation can set now and then in life.
When there is contentment, happiness and joy.

The purpose of all celebrations is to move from inertia to joy,
to move from longing to contentment. It’s so beautiful.

There are those who do not even look at their mind,
they just keep working and working.

Then there are others who keep looking at their own mind.
Both are not good, take the middle path.
Sometimes take a look at the mind, but not all the time.

Do you see what I’m saying?
Otherwise you will become self-centred, all the time thinking,
'What do I want?'
Or
'I am feeling like this'.
If you want to think, then think about what you can do for the world
and not what you should do about your mind.
There is a (higher) power to take care of the mind.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

OM SAI RAM, SRI SAI RAM, JAI JAI SAI RAM !!!

[ShAivI]

OM SAI RAM!!!

Q:  How to get rid of hatred?

Put yourself in the shoes of the person you hate.

A youth came to me once and said,
“I hate my uncle, I cannot stand him”.

I said, “Okay, you can continue to hate him, but before that,
just for half an hour, behave and act like your uncle”.

So for half an hour he acted like his uncle and suddenly
he came and said, “You know Gurudev, I feel different now”.

So, put yourself in the shoe of the person whom you hate.

Secondly, why do you hate the person?
Is it for what they are doing?
If they are doing horrible things, either they are ignorant or
they are stressed.

By hating them, can you change them?
People make mistakes and you hate them?
Why do you hate them, because they make some mistakes?
By hating a person who makes mistakes, can you correct them?

No, you cannot correct them when you hate them.
Do you want them to be corrected?
Yes.
So what is the way?
Not hating them but by educating them.
This is necessary.

People like ISIS, they hate everybody and people hate them.
By hating we cannot change them and they cannot change us.
They also do not know this. Their idea is to change everybody.
We hate them because they are doing such heinous crimes.
But by hating will they change?
No. Not hating them but educating them.

The young children need to be educated before they get
into this kind of mind set.

That’s why, harmony in diversity should be part of the education.
We need to educate the mind because all crime begins here
in the upper chamber.

To educate someone you need to have compassion.

See, in your life, you come across many people who think
differently, and you want them to change, and by you wanting them
to change they do not change.

When you say what they are doing is hurting you,
so please do not hurt me, they do not change so easily.
But when you tell them what they are doing hurts them,
and so they should change, that will be much more effective.
So love can transform the world, compassion can change the
world and this is our experience.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

OM SAI RAM, SRI SAI RAM, JAI JAI SAI RAM !!!