Sadhana -- Path of Karma (action) -- from life and teachings of Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Sadhana … Path of Karma (Action) •

… from life and teachings of

Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba Compiled by: Dr. M. Thirumaleshwar July 31, 2016

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Sadhana-Three Paths Swami says: • Jnana (Knowledge), Bhakti (Devotion), and Karma (Work) … these are the three paths.

• There should be a harmonious mix of these three.

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Karma …

Swami says: • When you come out of mother’s womb, you do not have a necklace of gold or diamonds in your neck • Instead, you have a necklace of ‘karmas’ (actions) done in your many previous births…

• … including the ‘good’ and ‘bad’ deeds

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Necessity of Karma …

Swami says: • Body can not remain without doing any ‘karma’ (deed) • To fulfill the purpose of having a body, you should necessarily perform ‘karma’ • I require … not just ‘Bhakti’ … but, Karma (work) inspired by Bhakti July 31, 2016

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Result of doing Karma…

Swami says: • Man, whether he is aware of it or not, is always engaged in some karma (work) or other • By pure works, the ego is destroyed and the heart awakens

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‘Nishkama karma’ (work without desires) …

Swami says:

• When deeds are done with an attitude of offering to Him, they become ‘nishkama karma’ • ‘Narayana seva’ (offering food to needy), service to the sick.. etc are ‘nishkama karmas’ July 31, 2016

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‘Nishkama karma’ …

Swami says: • You should work like this clock • It shows the ‘correct time’ to all those who desire to know time • It has no ‘like’ or ‘dis-like’ towards any one

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‘Nishkama karma’ …

Swami says: • Offer your ‘deeds’ and their ‘results’ to GOD • Then, you become His ‘property’ • You should not work like a laborer working for wages

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Importance of ‘Nishkama karma’ … Swami says: • In a way, ‘Dhyana’ (meditation), ‘Tapas’ (austerities), Yoga … etc are all selfish acts • ‘Niskama karma’ which has no personal involvement is more sacred than these acts • ‘Nishkama karma’ destroys our animal tendencies and gives Godly (sacred) tendencies July 31, 2016

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Method of doing ‘karma’ …

Swami says: • Let the ‘Karma’ be full of Bhakti (Devotion); and let Bhakti be filled with Jnana (Knowledge) • Having only Jnana .. makes the heart dry • Bhakti makes the heart soft with empathy, and …

• Karma gives work to hands July 31, 2016

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Method of doing ‘karma’ …

Swami says: • It is better to practice one thing than saying hundred things • It is better to know the meaning one stanza of Gita and practice it, than ‘learn by heart’ all the 700 stanzas

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Method of doing ‘karma’ Swami says: • ‘Karma’ gives ‘results’ • ‘Results’ generate ‘desires’ • To fulfill these desires, one takes ‘future births’ • If you offer all your deeds, actions to God, then, their results will not ‘bind’ you July 31, 2016

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Method of doing ‘karma’ …

Swami says: • ‘Karma sanyasa’ does not mean giving up action; • it is: giving up attachment, aversion, ego and desires • Actions performed with ‘attachment’ and ‘desire for results’ cause worries and fear

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Method of doing ‘karma’ …

Swami says: • Headmaster of a school knows that tables, chairs and desks in the school are not his; but, he takes care of them properly • He has no personal attachment to them • Similarly, think that your senses, mind, intellect, heart etc are your ‘properties’ and protect them carefully July 31, 2016

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Method of doing ‘karma’ …

Swami says: • Body has three types of ‘limbs’: … mind, speech and deeds • When these three limbs are engaged in ‘good actions’, this temple called ‘body’ becomes pure and sacred • Then only you get the vision of the ‘In-dweller’

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Method of doing ‘karma’ Swami says: • Do not forget that ‘yajnas’, sacrifices, charity etc are only for purification of mind • Going beyond, perform ‘nishkama karmas’ (i.e. actions with no desire for the fruits thereof), and finally reach GOD • Perform your actions, but do not covet the fruits of actions July 31, 2016

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Method of doing ‘karma’ Swami says: • Reaction, Resound, Reflection … these are the laws of the Universe • Tree depends on seed, ‘Roti’ on the flour, and belch on the food eaten …

• Similarly, fruits of action depend on our ‘desires’ July 31, 2016

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Method of doing ‘karma’ Swami says: • Many people think that ‘yajna’, worship etc are ‘His works’ and the remaining works are ‘their works’.

This is a great mistake.

• Know that ‘all works’ are His only!

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Importance of Time..

Swami says: • Time is GOD. All things happen according to the dictates of Time; Both good and bad depend on Time; Prosperity and poverty likewise depend on Time; Time is the determinant of all things, There is none who is not subject to Time in this entire world; that's the Truth.

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Importance of Time..

Swami says: • Realize the value of Time.

• Time is supremely precious.

• It waits for no one. Everyone has to submit himself to Time. It is not subject to any one.

• It is only when Time is utilized properly through right actions that the human can rise to the level of the Divine July 31, 2016

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Swami says: • The time, space, cause, instrument, intelligence, skill, opportunity, luck… all these required to perform the work are given by Him only… then, why do you think that you are the ‘doer’?

• Work like a clock… it shows correct time to all …

• .. it has no ‘love’ or ‘hate’ towards anyone!

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‘Seva’ or Service…

Swami says: • Life without service is like a house without light.

• Since God is the indwelling Divine Spirit of all living beings, doing service or good to a person is in reality worshiping God • LOVE must be manifested as Service or Seva. Seva must take the form of food for the hungry, solace for the forlorn, consolation for the sick and the suffering.

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‘Seva’ or Service…

Swami says: • True human qualities get expressed through Seva • Seva makes it possible to experience divinity • World does not need your Seva and it does not come to an end without your Seva. You should render Seva for your own sake to become pure and sanctified, so that you can experience Unity in Diversity.

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Be aware..

Swami says: • Do not believe that you can, by means of Seva (service), reform or reshape the world. You may or may not achieve this. That does not matter.

• The real value of Seva is its most visible result, that it reforms you and reshapes you.

• Do Seva as a ‘Sadhana’ (spiritual practice); then you will be humble and happy.

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Secret of Karma …

Swami says: • To know the secret of Karma, one should have a pure mind and heart • Karma is like the flow of a river • Only when the Karma is performed in the ‘right way’, it becomes Seva July 31, 2016

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Secret of Karma ..

Bhagavad Gita: • One who performs all works without attachment and surrendering to the Lord….

• Such a one remains unattached to the world, just as a lotus leaf is un-attached to water

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Secret of Karma ..

Bhagavad Gita: • Your right is to work only..

• Do not covet for the results • Do not imagine that you are responsible for results..

• At the same time, do not shun the works that you have to do July 31, 2016

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Secret of Karma …

Swami says: • Man simply imagines: ‘I am doing this’, ‘I am planning this’ … etc • Really, it is that all pervading Supreme Consciousness alone that prompts him, enhance his skills, and guides his intellect July 31, 2016

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Secret of Seva …

Swami says: • Seva refines and perfects human being • Seva unfolds faculties of mind and intellect • Seva makes it possible to experience divinity

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Prayer ‌taught by Swami

• O Lord, take my love and let it flow in fullness of devotion to Thee.

O Lord, take my hands and let them work incessantly for Thee.

O Lord, take my soul and let it be merged in oneness with Thee.

O Lord, take my mind and thoughts and let them be in tune with Thee.

O Lord, take my everything and let me be an instrument for Thy work.

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His Mother asked...

• Easwaramma, Swami’s mother, expressed her three desires to Him: • Build a school here, since children have to walk a long distance to go to school • Build a dispensary here, since sick people do not have medical facility here • Get a well dug here, since there is water shortage here

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And… He gave…

• Swami built not only a school, … but a University with colleges in Puttaparthy, Anantapur, Whitefield • He built not only a dispensary… but, World class Super Speciality Hospitals in Puttaparthy and Whitefield • He got dug not only borewells, … but provided clean drinking water to hundreds of villages in Andhra Pradesh and also to Chennai July 31, 2016

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My Life is My Message ….

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Sri Sathya Sai University, Puttaparthy .. where all education is free

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College at Puttaparthy‌

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College at Brindavan, Whitefield ‌

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College at Ananthapur ‌

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High school, stadium‌at Puttaparthy

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Well equipped labs…

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General Hospital at Puttaparthy‌ where all healthcare is totally free

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Super-Speciality Hospital at Puttaparthy.. where all healthcare is totally free

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Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences (SSIHMS), Bangalore‌ where all healthcare is totally free

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Inauguration of Sri Sathya Sai Water Project… 18th Nov. 1995

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Some statistics of Water project

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Handing over of Sri Sathya Sai Water Project… 11th Oct. 1997 • After successful completion, the project was handed over to Andhra Pradesh Govt.

• Chief Minister of A.P. was present to receive the Project July 31, 2016

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Speaking on the occasion, Swami said:

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Water supply to Chennai • Swami declared His intention on 19th Jan. 2002 • Work commenced in July 2002 and ‘Sai Ganga’ water reached Poondi on 27th Nov. 2004 • Work involved: Improvements to the Kandaleru Reservoir (capacity enhanced from 16 TMC to 68 TMC), • Lining of the Kandaleru-Poondi canal (150 km), • Construction of Regulators and Escape structures.

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Water supply to Chennai • Some Project statistics:

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Water supply to Chennai ‌ some photos

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‘Narayana Seva’ …service in villages

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The play is His‌. • The play is His, The role is His gift, The lines are written by Him He directs, He decides the dress and decoration, The gesture and the tone, the entrance and the exit.

You have to act well to receive His approbation when the curtain falls.

Earn by your efficiency and enthusiasm, the right to play higher and higher roles.

That is the meaning and purpose of life July 31, 2016

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Sadhana - Path of Karma Lovingly offered at the Lotus Feet of

Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba by M. Thirumaleshwar July 31, 2016

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