BhagawanBhagawanSri Sathya Sai BabaSri Sathya Sai BabaPrashanthi Nilayam, IndiaPrashanthi Nilayam, India

Interview with DevoteesInterview with Devotees

Excerpts from an interview given in Excerpts from an interview given in late November 2009 to overseas late November 2009 to overseas

devotees from New Zealand devotees from New Zealand

Many instructions & lessons Many instructions & lessons for all devotees herefor all devotees here

Baba:Baba: What's new? Ask questions What's new? Ask questions

Devotee:Devotee: Baba, we come from Baba, we come from such long distance, travelling such long distance, travelling thousands of miles to see you. thousands of miles to see you. Please bless us.Please bless us.

Baba:Baba: No, not thousands of No, not thousands of miles; you have not even miles; you have not even travelled an inch! travelled an inch!

Have you made the journey Have you made the journey inside your heart? You have not inside your heart? You have not even started yet, how can you even started yet, how can you say you've travelled so many say you've travelled so many miles....only a physical journey.miles....only a physical journey.

What about your spiritual What about your spiritual journey, still having trouble journey, still having trouble starting? starting?

First, go inside to see Baba in First, go inside to see Baba in your heart and then come here.your heart and then come here.

Devotee:Devotee: But I'm trying hard to But I'm trying hard to make that journey, still too many make that journey, still too many starting troubles, Swami.starting troubles, Swami.

Baba:Baba: Yes, Yes, I'm aware of Yes, Yes, I'm aware of all your plans and all your plans and weaknesses. weaknesses.

Your first enemy is Anger! Your first enemy is Anger!

Get rid of it and the journey to Get rid of it and the journey to God will begin right away. God will begin right away.

Begin with a lot less luggage Begin with a lot less luggage and it will be a smooth journey. and it will be a smooth journey.

Until you get rid of anger and Until you get rid of anger and jealousy, you'll not succeed. jealousy, you'll not succeed.

These are the invisible devils These are the invisible devils that dance within you and that dance within you and torture you. torture you.

Too much anger...Baba has Too much anger...Baba has nothing to do with you, right?nothing to do with you, right?

Devotee:Devotee: How do we get How do we get close to you, Baba?close to you, Baba?

Baba:Baba: Distance is only in Distance is only in your imagination! your imagination!

You are always close to me You are always close to me when you realise that I'm in your when you realise that I'm in your heart. heart.

But until that happens, I remain But until that happens, I remain here and you remain there, here and you remain there, thousands of miles apart. thousands of miles apart.

No connection is made.No connection is made.

Practice what I want you to do Practice what I want you to do and then I'm yours and then I'm yours automatically.automatically.

Eliminate your anger and Eliminate your anger and jealousy; sublimate your ego jealousy; sublimate your ego and purify your heart... and I'm and purify your heart... and I'm there. there.

Have you ever thought of Have you ever thought of practicing at least one idea, one practicing at least one idea, one teaching from Me? teaching from Me?

Do it, Do it, Do it! Do it, Do it, Do it!

Then surely success will come Then surely success will come and grace will flow.and grace will flow.

Devotee:Devotee: Swami, how do we Swami, how do we get your Grace?get your Grace?

Baba:Baba: Grace is always there Grace is always there like the ever-shining sun. When like the ever-shining sun. When you open the windows of your you open the windows of your house to the Sun, light floods in house to the Sun, light floods in removing all darkness. The removing all darkness. The amount of light depends on how amount of light depends on how wide you open the window.wide you open the window.

In the same way, My Grace will In the same way, My Grace will depend on how broad your depend on how broad your heart is, how expansive your heart is, how expansive your love is. love is.

You have too much anger in You have too much anger in you! Remove all the evil you! Remove all the evil qualities, then all will be divine.qualities, then all will be divine.

Devotee:Devotee: How do we work for How do we work for Sai's mission as true servants of Sai's mission as true servants of the Lord?the Lord?

Baba:Baba: For this Baba has given For this Baba has given you the Sai Organisation. Make you the Sai Organisation. Make use of it to your best capacity by use of it to your best capacity by doing service, by devotion and doing service, by devotion and by being loving to all.by being loving to all.

Sometimes you're very Sometimes you're very impatient with the Organisation.impatient with the Organisation.

I know, I know, I watch I know, I know, I watch everything... Baba makes rules everything... Baba makes rules and regulations for a specific and regulations for a specific purpose. purpose.

Without rules, without discipline, Without rules, without discipline, soon it becomes a zoo!soon it becomes a zoo!

Discipline is the watchword in Discipline is the watchword in any spiritual path. any spiritual path.

Sai Organisation is not like Sai Organisation is not like Rotary or Lions Club!! It is not a Rotary or Lions Club!! It is not a family club; it is a purely spiritual family club; it is a purely spiritual and service organisation.and service organisation.

The very name SAI stands for : The very name SAI stands for :

S = Spiritual Transformation,S = Spiritual Transformation,A = Association (Social) ChangeA = Association (Social) ChangeI = Individual Transformation I = Individual Transformation

... all these have to be achieved ... all these have to be achieved through the Organisation. through the Organisation.

But if you're not interested in But if you're not interested in transformation, better to stay transformation, better to stay home and not waste your home and not waste your time.... time is precious, life is time.... time is precious, life is speeding fast, make best use of speeding fast, make best use of every minute. every minute.

Make every minute the best Make every minute the best minuteminute forfor youyou andand allall aroundaround youyou

.

Have as few connections as Have as few connections as possible. Have few attachments possible. Have few attachments as possible. There is only God... as possible. There is only God...

Wife, husband, daughter, son, Wife, husband, daughter, son, this, that....all are mere passing this, that....all are mere passing clouds.clouds.

Fix your attention on God only. Fix your attention on God only. Focus on God, do selfless Focus on God, do selfless service and be happy. service and be happy.

Devotee:Devotee: What about the What about the Golden Age, Swami?Golden Age, Swami?

Baba:Baba: Yes, what about the Yes, what about the Golden Age? When is it Golden Age? When is it coming? It comes only when coming? It comes only when your behaviour is Golden, your your behaviour is Golden, your attitude is Golden, when your attitude is Golden, when your heart is Golden! heart is Golden!

Lead exemplary lives. As Lead exemplary lives. As members of the Sai Organisation, members of the Sai Organisation, I want you to have good I want you to have good behaviour, good conduct.behaviour, good conduct.

Remove anger, remove jealousy, Remove anger, remove jealousy, remove falsehood and enmity, remove falsehood and enmity, stay far away from the wicked and stay far away from the wicked and the manipulative...and then the the manipulative...and then the Golden Age will begin.Golden Age will begin.

Lust, anger, hate, jealousy, and Lust, anger, hate, jealousy, and selfishness - these are the selfishness - these are the strands that weave a cobweb strands that weave a cobweb around you.around you.

Clear these and you are free – Clear these and you are free – Blemish-less.Blemish-less.

Devotee:Devotee: Is bhajan a good Is bhajan a good antidote to all evil qualities?antidote to all evil qualities?

Baba:Baba: Yes, only if it's done with Yes, only if it's done with love...love for God and love for love...love for God and love for all round you. No use singing all round you. No use singing like a nightingale, when you are like a nightingale, when you are acting like a crow!!acting like a crow!!

Don't make show like cinema Don't make show like cinema stars. It will be waste of time for stars. It will be waste of time for everyone! everyone!

First bring love inside you, and First bring love inside you, and then the love that comes out then the love that comes out through your voice will touch through your voice will touch God.God.

Pay strict attention to Pay strict attention to Bhava, Bhava, Raga, TalaRaga, Tala (Feeling, Melody, (Feeling, Melody, and Rhythm) that will touch God and Rhythm) that will touch God and transform all who listen. and transform all who listen.

Keep it vibrant and don't let it Keep it vibrant and don't let it drown in sorrow and pity...God drown in sorrow and pity...God doesn't want your pity, God doesn't want your pity, God wants your joy. Now talk is over, wants your joy. Now talk is over, too much talking is not good.too much talking is not good.

Devotee:Devotee: Before we leave one Before we leave one last question?last question?

Baba:Baba: Yes, you may ask Yes, you may ask anything.anything.

Devotee:Devotee: What should be our What should be our daily medication for a divine daily medication for a divine life?life?

Baba:Baba: Medication or meditation?Medication or meditation?You need both.You need both.Be good, do good, see good...Be good, do good, see good...

Don't fight, stick to the discipline Don't fight, stick to the discipline of of SadhanaSadhana (spiritual practice), (spiritual practice), sing the Name of God always; sing the Name of God always; Love All, Serve All...Love All, Serve All...

Accept everything that happens Accept everything that happens to you as the will of God done to you as the will of God done for your own good...then no for your own good...then no worry, no pain. worry, no pain.

But first, always act with But first, always act with dignity... dignity...

That you are God, That you are God,

Not animal, not animal.Not animal, not animal.

Devotee:Devotee: Swami, what's the Swami, what's the first step in Sadhana (spiritual first step in Sadhana (spiritual practice)?practice)?

Baba:Baba: Silence, silence of all the Silence, silence of all the senses...now go and practice senses...now go and practice Swami's words and don't waste Swami's words and don't waste time in gossip.time in gossip.

I bless, I bless all.I bless, I bless all.

Years ofLove in Action85

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‘Antaryami Tumhi’ - ‘Antaryami Tumhi’ - Instrumental music track from the ‘Close to You’ compilation Instrumental music track from the ‘Close to You’ compilation reproduced with kind permission from Publisher, Bro. Deepak Khazanchi reproduced with kind permission from Publisher, Bro. Deepak Khazanchi

Love All - Serve All