Issue not for saleMar - Apr 2012Issue 3srisathyasai.in/yes

A Magazine by the Sai Youth of Maharashtra and Goa

The time we have is limited. Are you spending yours productively?04

THOUGHT LEADERS

02 As a village transforms, even the Government takes notice.

CHANGING SOCIETY

07 Coming up! Several opportunities to browse the inner-net!

have a goD-DAY

03 Small amounts of money can bring joy to those who have none.

citY zen

05 Make God your fan by being a Rockstar in the spiritual world.

multiplex musings

06 Our food determines our mental and emotional health. So eat right!

feeling gooD!

04DIARY of a seeker

A late night movie teaches Neil an unforgettable lesson.

06A seconD life

A man’s faith and devotion prove medicos wrong!

07Soul sTORies

Lord Krishna appears before a thief but not a priest. Find out why!

lovingly yours

01 As pavement dwellers shiver in the cold, Sai volunteers wrap them in warmth!

Enjoy reaDing YES!?Don’t put away the magazine after you’re done.Pass YES! on to your family, friends & librarian!

Youth in Eternal Service

NEW!

HOLI is celebrated as the victory of Lord Vishnu over the evil demon king, Hiranyakashyapu. Prahlad, the king’s son, was a steadfast devotee of Lord Vishnu. His father could not bear this and tried several times to kill him. He even instigated his sister Holika to burn Prahlad alive. But Lord Vishnu came to His devotee’s rescue, and instead of Prahlad, Holika was consumed by the flames. Thus triumphed the love of Lord and bhakta. March 8, 2012

We wish all our readers a Very Happy Gudi Padwa, Cheti Chand, Sajibu Cheiraoba and Ugadi! Ugadi means ‘Beginning of a new era’. Sri Sathya Sai Baba says, “The real new era commences when we have new and noble thoughts. Therefore, look within and experience God who is present in your heart. That is the real celebration of Ugadi. ”March 23, 2012

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Service Activities that Spread Love and Warmth!**************************

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Lovingly Yours

Over 200 women at Shrigiri village, Washim were given gynaecological check-ups, perhaps for the �rst time in their lives. Women diagnosed with dangerously low haemoglobin levels were given blood transfusions. �ey are now well on the road to recovery!

While most of us enjoyed the winter snuggled up under our warm blankets, the pavement dwellers of Mumbai shivered in the cold. �e Sathya Sai youth from Mumbai took it upon themselves to o�er blankets to the men and women, thus protecting them from the chilly winds. Sure gave new meaning to the phrase, ‘Love is in the air!’

Republic Day was well-spent by the Sai youth of Maharashtra and Goa. Several blood donation camps were organised across the states and hundreds of people willingly came forward to share what Sathya Sai Baba has called ‘Liquid Love’, a timely dose of which saves not just an individual but indeed an entire family!

A Patient Equipment Cell was recently inaugurated in Bandra, Mumbai. �is unique centre provides medical equipment like hospital beds, wheel chairs, walkers, crutches, I.V. stands etc. for free usage for a refundable deposit. �e centre is open from Monday to Friday between 2:30 pm and 5:00 pm. It is located at A/11 Nirmala Niketan, S V Road, Opp. Standard Chartered Bank, Santacruz (West) Mumbai - 400 054. Kindly call 98191 90739 for details.

CHANGING SOCIETY

02

changing society

From Hut to HomeA Village Gets a Make-over

�e families of Palasdhari, a hamlet at the foot of the Sahyadris near Karjat, have witnessed one of the most amazing transformations in rural India.

Barely four years ago, Palasdhari lacked water, electricity, sanitation facilities, and schools for children; alcoholism was rampant. �e wood-gathering tribal folk were staring at a dark, uncertain future.

But today, ample water is available, the thatched mud huts have been replaced by pucca houses and the liquor dens are gone. �e families earn much more than they used to, through varied sources of income. Most importantly, the villagers are optimistic about their future!

Undoubtedly, Palasdhari is an exemplary example of ‘Nation Building’ in its true sense.

Palasdhari was adopted under the Sri Sathya Sai Village Integration Programme (SSSVIP) in 2008. Our volunteers surveyed the needs of the villagers and classi�ed their solutions under three groups: Sociocare, Educare and Medicare. �e aim was to instil con�dence in the villagers and make them self-reliant as soon as possible.

�e SSSVIP volunteers visited the village every month over a span of three years. Slowly but surely, the tide turned, and the village and its inhabitants, underwent a sea-change!

Take a look at the many projects that made this complete transformation possible:Sociocare: As a �rst step, a water project was started. Pipelines from eight points in the village were connected to a nearby pond, from which water was pumped out. Women folk were thus saved the hassle of walking for hours to acquire water.

Vocational training skills like hotel management, driving and sewing were imparted to the villagers. �ey also received basic computer training from our tech-savvy volunteers. A new world of opportunity and employment instantly opened up to them!

A Community Centre was constructed in the year 2009. Young villagers enthusiastically came together to form

self-help groups for the well-being of the village. Today, many villagers are skilled masons and have bagged government contracts for constructing roads and schools.Medicare: Nearly six villagers used to succumb to TB every year. Several villagers su�ered acute pain in their joints.

To arrest the spread of disease and ill-health, the Sai volunteers conducted medical camps regularly. �ese were followed up with tertiary care as required by the patients.

Toilet blocks were built by the government and the good habit of hygienic sanitation was instilled in the villagers. Needless to say, they are now much healthier!Educare: Even though there were primary government

schools in the area, the drop out rates were very high. �e SSSVIP team implemented an Adult Literacy programme and also started an informal school for drop-outs. Step into Palasdhari today, and you just might �nd some villagers deep in discussion about how they are now planning to get their children educated!

When we visited the village recently, the local anganwadi teacher delighted us with a personal experience. She said, “When I was a child, Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba passed through Palasdhari and even stopped for tea at a house nearby!”

It’s heartening how decades later, His Divine Grace and the love and determination of the Sai volunteers have put this village on the glorious path to economic and spiritual progress.

Having witnessed the great transformation in Palasdhari, the Government rewarded the villagers with a title deed, which gave the villagers legal possession of their land. Palasdhari is the �rst village in Maharashtra to receive such an honour. Government grants and schemes are now easily available to the village folk. In fact, last year in 2011, the entire village received electricity!

Since the village is now self-reliant, the SSSVIP volunteers have formally closed this project.

For details about the SSSVIP, kindly email us at yesmag.feedback@gmail.com or call Shri Chandrashekhar on 098214 82711.

�e Government rewarded the Palasdhari

villagers with legal possession of their land!

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An extraordinary true-life account

Ample water for daily use Building pucca homes Community Centre in the village

03

CITY ZEN

commutes by taxi from home to her workplace agreed to travel only half the regular distance by taxi and cover the rest of her journey by bus.

�us, she SAVED Rs 1,500 every month!But it doesn’t stop here. She ‘invests’ these savings by

buying medicines for the cancer patients who are compelled to live on the footpath opposite Tata Memorial Hospital. Having exhausted all their savings on their treatment, the patients have nothing left for daily sustenance. �is lady’s sel�ess giving is a golden ray of hope in their lives!

When we asked her about how she felt travelling in crowded buses, she exclaimed happily, “It’s worth the trouble! You should see how the patients smile when I give them their much-needed medicines!”

�ere are several opportunities to save money and a million more people to serve! No amount saved is too little. Even Rs 11, the minimum

fare of an autorickshaw, can buy wholesome milk for a child who is unwell.

Shirdi Sai Baba rewarded Shri Cholkar for placing a ceiling on his desires. Shri Cholkar

stopped sweetening his tea with spoonfuls of sugar. He used the money he saved to go to Shirdi. Undoubtedly, we do well by ourselves when we save a small amount and use it for the bene�t of others.

In our country while some cry for extra jam, many crave for bread itself. By cutting back on ‘extras’, we can create MORE, and share it with those who don’t have ANY.

Placing a ceiling on desires is extremely easy! Here’s how you can do it everyday:

1. Curb excessive talk and unnecessary gossip - cut your phone bill drastically.

2. Refrain from accompanying friends on shopping sprees. You can thus avoid impulsive and expensive purchases.

3. Reduce the number of times you eat out. You can use your savings to feed the impoverished children in your neighbourhood.

Remember, it’s not about ‘sealing’ our desires. It’s about putting a ‘ceiling’ on our never-ending wishes!

�e word ‘austerity’ is all over the news these days. Entire nations are teetering on the edge of bankruptcy and governments are cutting back on spending while ironically they want people to spend more so that the economy gets the oxygen it needs. But we do not need to be told to spend more; it’s all around us:

‘Feed your Greed. Blow up money as though there is no tomorrow.’

‘My space. My career. My wealth. A world for myself and me alone.’

‘Welcome to this new township. Spot a mall and watch how a new civilization springs up nearby.’

Sample this: Mr and Mrs Menon, a young working couple, have a beautiful �at in the city (bought on Equated Monthly Installments). To keep up with peer pressure, they bought a luxurious car (on EMIs). More recently, they bought a state-of-the-art home theatre (you got it – on EMIs!). To honor these EMIs, the Menons work 12 hours a day, under tremendous stress. Quite naturally, they don’t have the time to enjoy their luxuries. What’s worse, despite wanting to have a baby, Mr and Mrs Menon are afraid that they will not be able to a�ord the rising costs of bringing up a child. �is adds to their stress.

Like the Menons, all of us have desires. �ese desires could be anything: money, food and other objects of self-grati�cation.

It’s a no-brainer that happiness does not depend on one’s earnings. We can create unlimited ‘Happy Hours’ for ourselves when we realise that happiness springs from within and is not obtained from objects of desire. All we need is a regulated and disciplined life and expenditure pattern.

Introducing ‘Ceiling on Desires’ – a powerful mantra to ensure that you stay in control of your life.

Let’s try a small experiment: Save money by �xing a ceiling on any desire. Spend part (or all) of the money thus saved on any social service activity of your choice. Voila! You have a double dhamaka – Save and Save (save your money and another’s soul).

Here’s a true-life example: A lady executive who

Experience the joy of placing a

‘Ceiling on Desires’

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Could Be the Keyto Your Happiness!

Shar

ing Your Savings

04

Time waste is life waste! Sri Sathya Sai Baba*

THOUGHT leaDers

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6

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“The span of life allotted to man is very short; the world in which he lives is very wide. What little man has to do here, has to be

done quickly, at the place that is assigned to him and within the time that is allotted to him. Man has such a formidable task before him. It is to fulfil this task that he has come as man, exchanging for this human habitat all that he has

acquired during many past lives. The task is no less than the manifestation of the Divinity latent in man.”

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba

The Clock is Ticking!

managed to reach on time. PHEW!As I wrote my assignment, I felt a wave of

happiness overcome me. I felt in control. I was reflecting about the day gone by when suddenly, like a bolt of lightning, my friend barged into the classroom. He was panting; even had a torn shoelace! The teacher yelled at him. Disoriented, he wrote his assignment. But goodness! He made such a mess! He had more spelling errors in his essay than the hair on his head! Aggravated, he snapped at his desk partner.

Was I having a deja vu?? I could now see it all. Plainly enough.

I had stayed hungry, shouted at Mom, ripped my favourite shoe, spoilt my shirt, been jostled around in a crowded bus, been shouted and laughed at, been denied attendance, and had even annoyed my best friend.

Everything had gone WRONG! And WHY? Just because I stayed up late watching a film! It totally RUINED my next day’s schedule! I’ve decided: I’m going to listen to Pa and reserve my entertainment for weekends only. Going to get my priorities right.

For my own good.

I sat up watching a movie yesterday and slept way past midnight. I woke up terribly late for college, skipped my bath, and gulped down a hurried on-my-toes breakfast. When Mom ran

after me with my juice, I lost my temper and stormed out of the house.

While rushing to the bus stop, I tripped and tore my favourite shoe. I missed the bus and was forced to take an over-crowded one. I was pushed… nay, literally hauled out at my bus stop. I fell and soiled my shirt!

I reached class ten minutes LATE! The angry teacher informed me that I was already marked ‘Absent’. I scowled and sat glowering at her. I soon realised that the girls in my class were giggling at me and whispering things to each other. WHY do people have to giggle at another’s difficulties?! I was SO MAD at them, and myself, and with the world-at-large that I ended up fighting with my best friend!

While I was sulking alone during the break, sleep caught up with me and I dozed off. Before I knew it, drrrrrinnnngggg went the school bell. It was time to get to class! I hurriedly gathered my things and rushed off. This time, somehow, I

Diary of a seeker

05

multiplex Musings

Rockstar – �is intense, gripping �lm moved many a heart and feet! Let us view the 70mm blockbuster once more, but this time, with a ‘Sai Lens’.

Janardhan, the protagonist, is a typical youngster. He goes to college, but his textbooks hold no interest. He is taken up with the idea of becoming the next Jim Morrison, but is told that he lacks rockstar mettle.

How many of us identify with Janardhan’s predicament! We want to achieve BIG things, but have no clue how to! What’s worse, people try hard to turn us away from our dreams.

After making some terrible music, Janardhan �nally learns that success is preceded by a �re in the belly and pain in the heart. Convinced that a love a�air is the solution to his ‘failure’, he �nds himself a girlfriend. But love eludes him. And frustration begins to gnaw at him.

Ironically, the longer he roasts in his hell, the brighter he glows! And Janardhan is transformed into Jordan, a successful singer who moves audiences across the globe with soul-stirring music and lyrics that speak of passion and pain. His metamorphosis can be compared to worthless molten metal being converted into invaluable gold when subjected to searing heat (of trials and tribulations).

Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba always referred to His devotees as ‘Bangaru’, meaning ‘Gold’. When we were bogged down by di�culties, Baba gently reminded us that the purpose of problems is to chasten us, remove the gross and the dross in us and make us pure – in thought word and deed. All that we have to do is to patiently endure the tests with full faith in God.

As the months blaze on, Jordan continues to yearn for his lady love, Heer Kaul.

How many of us yearn for God in the same way? Does our atma experience an unbearable pain of separation from its Eternal Source? Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba emphatically said, “Of all the madness in the world, madness for God is most desirable!” We may have �eeting desires that may or may not fructify depending on how much steam we add to the engine, but the desire to reach God, if followed with one-pointed attention, will surely zip us closer to the Lord.

As the movie progresses, one realises that Jordan and Heer are soul-mates. �ey are not merely acquaintances who met casually and moved on. �ere is a deep connection between them. Each knows what the other is thinking and feeling, even though they are geographically

apart!Bhagawan repeatedly extolled,

“You and I are One!” Mystically speaking, there is no di�erence between you and any other person. All of us originate from and share the same source of inexhaustible Cosmic Energy. �e concept of ‘Vasudaiva Kutumbakam’ originated in Hitopadesa, a well-known Sanskrit classic. It explains that the entire

world is one great big family. �ere is a relative in every stranger we meet!

�e modern concept of ‘Global Village’ is an extension of Vasudaiva Kutumbakam. �is philosophy explains that one cannot hurt another person without hurting oneself. Similarly, one cannot help another

person without helping oneself!

Rockstar’s melodious song ‘Kun Faya Kun’ beautifully conveys the idea of the Universal

Spirit. �e lyrics convey the Ultimate Truth: When there was nothing, nowhere, He was, the only One. He �lls my being, just as He �lls your being.

From the �rst to the last soulful note, Kun Faya Kun reveals deep spiritual insights. One verse is particularly poignant: ‘O Mujhpe Karam Sarkar Tera / Araz Tujhe, Karde Mujhe Mujhse Hi Riha / Ab Mujhko Bhi Ho Deedaar Mera.’ �ese rousing lyrics convey a profound message: It would be Your generosity upon me, my Master, I pray to you, please free me from the bonds of the self, grant me visitation to my True Face. Truly, this should be our sincere prayer to God.

Yet another beautiful song ‘Naadan Parindey, Ghar Aa Jaa’ makes us wonder if it is God who is singing this song to all of us, His naive children, who are wandering around without a spiritual goal emblazoned in our hearts.

So the pertinent question to ask ourselves is: Can we draw inspiration from the �lm and become spiritual rockstars, who rock in our inner world?

a seconD life

I laboriously hobbled in on crutches. Sensing my pain and inability to sit down, Bhagawan Baba made me sit next to Him on the sofa. After the initial talk with everyone, He took my wife and me to the inner room. �e very �rst question He asked my wife was, “What was the argument about last night, in your room?” My wife was taken aback! She said, “Swami, since You gave Vibhuti, I thought You have blessed us and we should go back soon as he needs to get operated as soon as possible.”

Baba looked at us very sternly and repeated at least a dozen times in the tone of a strict teacher, “No operation! Don’t do operation!”

Baba then consoled my wife with His sweet, soothing words. He told her that her husband takes care of so much of Swami’s work that

Swami will de�nitely take care of him!Baba then rubbed both my knees

vigorously. He blessed us many times and said that everything will be just �ne. He then held two of my �ngers with His hand

and led me gently out of the interview room. It was only when someone came running behind me with my crutches that I realised I had walked out quite normally, without any support or strain! Everyone was amazed!

We joyously returned to Mumbai. Promptly, I �xed an appointment with the doctor who was to operate on me. Imagine his astonishment when I strode into his clinic! “It’s a miracle,” he exclaimed, still unable to fathom the in�nite Grace of the Lord.

To allay all doubts, I took all the medical tests again. ‘Negative’ came the result of each one!

It is now almost twelve years since Baba cured me. My legs are strong again and I can even run if need be! On retrospection, I believe that my severe health problem and miraculous recovery were necessary – for me and the world at large. It only served to rea�rm our faith in Bhagawan! It was Baba’s way of renewing my energy and ensuring that I remain ever-dedicated to His Mission!”

�e writer is the State President of Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisations, Maharashtra and Goa.

“�is life-altering experience dates back to July 2001. I was working several hours, preparing for the Ashadi Ekadashi festival at Puttaparthi, Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba’s Spiritual Abode. Soon after returning to Mumbai after the hectic but immensely joyous festival, I started getting severe cramps in my legs and feet. Within a month, the cramps became so acute that I could not feel anything below my waist. Walking, sitting, sleeping - the easiest tasks had become a challenge. Medical reports showed that I had developed a cyst in my spinal cord. Every doctor we consulted said the same words: Operate immediately!

My family and I were overwhelmed with grief. We consulted more doctors only to hear the same verdict. Being a longstanding devotee of Bhagawan, I decided to get operated only if I received permission from Him.

So my wife and I left for Puttaparthi. Even the Airport Manager at Puttaparthi had tears in his eyes when he saw my condition. No one could believe how drastically my health had deteriorated in just thirty days!

In the mandir, I sat for Baba’s Darshan with great di�culty. As luck would have it, the entire family of Shri Omar Abdullah from Kashmir was sitting right in front of me! �e chances of Baba seeing me during that Darshan were dismal.

But look at Bhagawan’s loving Grace! As soon as He approached the portico, He came straight to me and created Vibhuti for me! My joy knew no bounds! Despite all the VIPs seated there, He chose to answer my prayers �rst!

My wife believed that Baba had granted permission to undergo the surgery. She was ready to head back to Mumbai. I, however, was not content. I wanted to stay on; I expected a private audience with Bhagawan. �at night, my wife and I argued about our return journey. Ultimately, my wife relented and agreed to stay back for an extra day.�e next afternoon, as we sat for Darshan with bated breath and moist eyes, we got the much-awaited signal of ‘Go’ from Baba – meaning ‘Go to the Interview Room!’

“I could feel nothing from waist-down. �e doctors insisted that

I get operated!”

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Medical Verdicts Proved Wrong; Miraculous Recovery Stuns Doctors!

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“�e food consumed by man should be proper, pure and wholesome. But nowadays people eat whatever they get and wherever they get it, and thereby spoil their health. Food plays a major role in the preservation of health. Care should be taken to see that the food consumed does not have much fat content, for the fats consumed in large quantity are detrimental not only to one's physical health but also to one's mental health.” ~Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. (Sathya Sai Speaks - Vol. 27, Chapter 3)

feeling gooD!

07

soul STORies

Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba wove small, delicious nuggets of wisdom into stories for His beloved devotees. He called these stories ‘Chinna Kathas’. We share with you one of our favourites!

Who is the Bigger Thief?

while handing over His jewels replied, “No, she won’t. You see, I am a bigger thief than you are, for I steal people’s hearts.”

After this life-altering experience, the thief went to the priest, who, upon seeing the jewels, ranted and raved at the Lord for appearing before a common thief while denying a devout worshipper like himself of His Divine Darshan. Krishna spoke sweetly, “You told the thief what you thought was a story about Me. But

the thief believed in good faith that I would come. His faith compelled me to appear before him.”

Spiritual Signi�cance: Mere rituals are not enough to earn the Lord’s favour. One must truly yearn for Him. He will then surely reward us with His Divine Grace.

A thief heard a priest describe the beauty of Lord Krishna and the resplendent jewels He wore. �e greedy thief threatened the priest with violence and demanded he reveal Krishna’s whereabouts. In order to get rid of the thief, the priest concocted a tale of Krishna appearing in the early mornings on the banks of the river Yamuna.

Eager to rob Krishna of His jewels, the thief lay in wait for Him at the Yamuna. With the rising of the sun, the thief beheld the divine forms of Krishna and Balarama walking towards him.

Unable to bear the beauty of the Lord, the thief stood dumbstruck until Krishna gently reminded him to take His jewels. “Won’t your mother scold you if you give away your jewels?” the thief asked, to which Krishna,

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This issue is not for sale.

Here’s a list of spiritual events you can attend in March, April and May.

have a goD-Day

All centres in Maharashtra and Goa

Apr 24, 2012

Devotees Meet Margao, Goa 9:00 am to 6:00 pmContact Shri Pramod Divgi on 95611 58338

Mar 25, 2012

May 1, 2012

Royal Turf Club, Mahalaxmi, Mumbai 7:00 pm onwardsContact Ms. Lata Gurnani on 98203 17754

Commemoration of the 1st Anniversary of the Maha Samadhi of Bhagawan Baba

Commemoration of the 1st Anniversary of the Maha Samadhi of Bhagawan Baba