Lifetime Teachings 9- BABA SAYS.....

Jai Sai Master!

"Have an open mind and be positive".  We heard this many a time. What does this actually mean? Listen to what we like and that we feel is aligning with our views and leave the rest? Nay. We keep getting knowledge from all directions and every moment. If one has an open mind, irrespective of where, good point will be taken in and etched in our minds for ever and will try to implement the same, as that would help us in betterment as human being and in turn helps creating a better society. (How an individual's value system can impact a society? Read here)

The key here, however, we should know what is good or bad. For this, we need to look up at those, who lived their life as symbols of swadharma and who showed how to live through their lives. They are called Mahatmas. Those who are omnipotent, or can explain lucidly anything to any human being what they are supposed to do and how a particular thing need to be done. Sri Shirdi Sai Baba, through HIS deeds showed how to live a holistic life. HIS teachings are very pertinent in today's world for every individual of the society where value systems are dwindling. 

Sri Ramavadhuta Pichhamma Talli - A brief

Jai Sai Master!

The main aim of every human being is to search for a Sadguru. However, there is only one way of searching for a Sadguru and it is very well explained in "Sri Gurucharitra". The Guru, comes to the seeker, in some form, when the time is right. Till then, the seeker has to read scriptures, visit Mahatmas and read their biographies to understand how to live like them, and prepare himself.

It is easy to read scriptures, but very difficult to know about Mahatmas, as one can not identity by themselves who is a Mahatma. One of the best things that happened to Andhra Pradesh, is Sri Ekkirala Bharadwaja. He gave the world wealth of information on Mahatmas and wrote biographies on few, which are very famous for giving in-depth information about them. One such person, whom he himself visited, was Mala Pichhmma, as she is called.

Avadhuta Pichhmma was born in the year 1870, in a place called Kurumaddali, which is located in Gudivada district of Andhra Pradesh, around 30-40 kms from Vijayawada. From a young age, she was known to be a great soul through her acts. While not much of literature is found in the form of books or biographies, as she is known to say, "keep my memories in the mind and not on the paper", probably, not many turned up. However, when you talk to people, or read whatever little is available on her, one understands the greatness of this soul.

The tree underwhich Pichhammtalli sat and
 meditated for long hours

Place where Pichhammatalli meditated

Amma is used do penance for many hours and when in samadhi, many serpents used to twine her body like garlands. People used to be surprised at her state and used to get scared. She transcended to a different level through her penance and she used to tell her close associates that atma merged in to paramatma. She used to roam around with a piece of cloth around her shunning proper clothing, indicating that all those are for those who are living in this materialistic world. The most surprising part is, when she roamed around freely in the rain, neither her small piece of cloth or the place in which she sat never got wet. She never used to get wet even in heavy rains.

Lifetime Teachings 6- BABA SAYS.....

Jai Sai Master!

We all search for something in life. When we are tired of fighting with situations due to various reasons, we start feeling depressed and then search for something elusive, called "happiness and peace". At those times, we generally turn to so called "spirituality" of today's world. With umpteen channels to go with and more than handfuls to choose from as Gurus (self styled gurus), we end up with someone. However, many of these Gurus, who are generally Jet setters unlike Sri Ramakrishna, Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi or Sri Shirdi Sai Baba, do not have time for any individuals and they have mass upliftment programs, which we keep hearing as Sibirs or Sakthipath. 

However, the Sadguru, never delivers enmasse. He, like a seasoned Doctor, delivers the right medicine in right dose depending on the individual's capability. Everyone is treated as separate to work on their samskaras as they prevail upon individual's thoughts. Even if one tries to walk on the right path, if the old samskaras are very strong, they will keep pushing that person from the path repeatedly and only a Sadguru can give the strength and right treatment to stay focused.

[The broad translation of the above is - The greatness of a Sadguru is to grant what one deserves or capable of receiving, based on their samskara.  Otherwise, whoever has read the holy books would have got moksha. It is never like that. ]

Lifetime Teachings 4- BABA SAYS.....

Jai Sai Master!

(Broad translation of the above statement - No Guru can say " worship me". Because, in the eyes of Janani, everything and everyone is a form of God or the Ultimate. How can they have disciples or followers? Hence, the One who calls or thinks of himself as Guru, is not fit to be a Guru said Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi)

(extract from "Sri Sai Leelamrutam". To read the book on-line, click Sri Sai Leelamrutham)

At an age, when there are so many people who come and declare themselves as Gurus to attract crowd and to earn materialistic needs, the lives and words of Mahatmas become very valid and appear need of the hour to save the humanity. While there are defined or systematic process with which a human being has to purify himself (the behaviour, thoughts or deeds), to wait for the Guru to manifest himself in some form to guide, how ridiculous it is to think of someone as our Guru and follow blindly without bothering about working hard for such boon from the God? 

Jai Sai Master!