Om Sai Ram

PRELUDE

Before the reader dwells into the contents of the book and derives the benefit, it is essential to know the sequence of events that culminated into the shape of this compilation.

The author had the fortune to be initiated through Sri Brij Kishorjee, Hyderabad (India) to Shiridi Sai's grace on the "Sivaratri day" in 1978. In the same year in the month of July, Swamy entered the authors residence in the from of a gold idol, just before the commencement of bhajan. Later, several experiences were felt by the author and his family members at their Hyderabad residence.

In March 1979, the author had to move to Sri Lanka on a foreign assignment with the grace and blessings of Lord Shiridi Sai. As the family also moved to Colombo in June 1979, the bhajans at Hyderabad residence could not be continued; but everyday `Pooja' to Sri Sai remained unchanged at Colombo. Especially on Thursdays the intensity of prayer was more along with the family members.

In spite of the above, it took considerable time and effort to cleanse the surroundings and environment, so as to purify the same for permanent dwelling of the Lord. This process was achieved through vigorous "Nama japam" and constant prayers.

Since January 1980, the grace of the Lord descended through prayers. This process was coupled with meditation. The Lord not only started showing His "Leelas" but his actual presence could be felt during the prayers. Initially, it used to be for a couple of minutes, but now extends even for hours. The whole process of five years stay in Colombo (1979-83), gradually shunning all social life and deeply engrossed with the Lord's service, has to be treated as a special mission carved out by Swamy for the author. During this period, several people have been benefited by the grace of Lord Shirdi Sai and virtually some of these are nothing short of miracles.

The most significant and completely different nature of benefit derived by the author through this process of meditation cum prayer is the receipt of messages of wisdom from the Lord directly for the benefit of humanity.

It may be remembered that intelligence is different from knowledge. Similarly wisdom is different from knowledge. Knowledge can be acquired through study but wisdom cannot be acquired through knowledge. Wisdom only dawns. Meditation provides means for this process of enlightenment. Wisdom derived through the grace of the Lord is the first step. Wisdom put to practice in life is the greatest sacrifice one can offer to the Lord for the deliverance of the soul.

What has been recorded in these pages of the book for the benefit of mankind is nothing but truth and only the truth. It is hoped that these messages, derived through the Lord's grace would be of immense benefit in shaping the lives of many ardent devotees.

Let us bow to the Lord to give us further strength to receive the nectar of messages and derive the spiritual strength to fulfill the mission of life -- God realization.

K.V. Raghava Rao

JANUARY 1980
1. "Inflict suffering on thyself, You are one step nearer to the Lord".

FEBRUARY 1980
2. "Development of individual soul is the prime essence of life".

3. "Nearness to the Lord depends on the strength of detachment one develops from worldly bondage".

DECEMBER 1980
4. "I am the wick, I am the light, I am the eye -- without the eye (Spiritual wisdom) you cannot see the wick or the light".

5. "Restore thyself to the Lord, you develop detachment --from the sense of body, feeling of I and worldly detachment. This is the path for firm attachment with the Lord".

JANUARY 1981
6. "It is not for you to question the actions of others -- it is only for you to ask the Lord to excuse you if you have erred".

FEBRUARY 1981
7. "I am not to drown you, I am here to save you, I am the lifebuoy/life belt for you to swim across the `Samsara' and make you reach the shores of safety -- the Divine".

8. "I am the cosmic ray to keep you live in the warmth of the light -- the light of Divinity".

9. "I am an elephant. My strength is shown only when it is needed".

MARCH 1981
10. "Meditation brings many things, Meditation is the wick to the lamp of wisdom, The lamp of wisdom is nothing but the Lord". (Through the process of meditation you are nearer to the Lord).

11. "I am there always to help you, I am ready to serve you, you have to approach me with a clean heart".

12. "When you are with Me, you are there to take the pain and not to transmit the same to others -- in deed, thought or action".

13. "Feed the body to the extent it deserves to function; Man unknowingly tries to overfeed the body; What is needed is to feed the Soul which is everlasting". (This path takes you to the position where is no need to have a body nor feed it too -- as the Soul merges with the Lord neither life nor death takes place, except complete bliss).

APRIL 1981
14. "Suffering is yours, Service is to others". (This motto takes you nearer to the Lord).

AUGUST 1981
15. Swamy appeared as a butterfly and gave the following messages. "Butterfly is delicate and short-lived. It sucks honey and does no harm to others. Man should emulate the same -- he should suck Divine honey, be harmless to others and make his life sweet and short lived".

SEPTEMBER 1981
16. Swamy appeared in prayers holding an umbrella and said the following:
"You need an umbrella
It protects you from sun and rain;
Sun is the brighter side of life
Rain is the shadower part of it
I am the umbrella to protect you
from Sun and Rain".

OCTOBER 1981
17. Swamy appeared driving a nice Chariot (as Lord Krishna guiding the Chariot in Bhagavad Geeta) and offered the following message.
"You cannot be the `Saradhi' as you do not know the destination. I alone can be the `Saradhi' for my devotees. As I can take them safely, surely and quickly to the destination".

NOVEMBER 1981
18. "Mountains can be moved through meditation".

DECEMBER 1981
19. "Social functions cease to have any value when you start seeing the Lord".

FEBRUARY 1982
20. "Liberation of individual soul is important as even a single liberated soul saves multitude of miseries associated with the human beings."

21. "Physical ailments and suffering have to be fought inevitably on the battle field of `KARMA', looking at the Lord as the Chariot driver -- as Arjuna did by looking at Lord Krishna. In this process of fight any commitment to suicide is considered cowardice."

APRIL 1982
22. "Sacrifice coupled with religious discipline is the highest offer one can extend to the Lord".

23. "Evolution of the soul is important in the process of God realization, as a single evolved soul can save millions of sins committed by people."

MAY 1982
24. "Prayer is yours, Action is Mine".

25. "Each life is like a rose, Man should emulate the rose -- the fragrance of the rose to be thrown open and not the thorn. God within self is the fragrance to be thrown open through prayer".

JUNE 1982
26. "I am the radar,
It has no range limit
It can catch any distant object and bring it into focus."

27. "I am the telescope to view the universe and space and even beyond -- it possesses a lens whose focal length cannot be determined."

28. "My Philosophy is open, It is for the individual to have the nectar and ambrosia out of it or feel nostalgic over it."

JULY 1982
29. "The first step in spiritual pursuit is nothing but faith in God -- the creator of you present life and the planner of you future life till such time it merges with Him."

30. "Pain is for the body and mind and not for the soul; Try to live with the soul and you will be liberated."

AUGUST 1982
31. "For whom you are craving? You should crave for Me for the merger of your soul with Me; That is the perfect bliss without sorrow."

32. "There is no substitute for Mother,
There is no substitute for Prayer
Prayer to Mother Divine
Brings supreme bliss and salvation."

33. "See mother in every woman you succeed in many ways".

SEPTEMBER 1982
34. "Turn to the Lord and tackle your problems."

35. "Universe is my family
Suffering calls for my attention
Devotees prayer brings me into action."

OCTOBER 1982
36. "Life is a wheel
I am the spoke for the wheel
Without Me there is no safe journey."

37. "Follow the path I have led
You will be nearer to the goal."

38. "The fruits of meditation are deliverance of the Soul from bondage and rebirth."

NOVEMBER 1982
39. "Sacrifices in life do not suffer defeat in the eyes of the Lord, they are rewarded."

40. "It is difficult to please everybody in all matters, for this only, we have to look to the Lord to please everybody".

41. "Baba give me strength to follow the moral path;
Give me strength to pray for your blessings;
To merge my tiny soul with thy mighty power;
The "Power" which pervades forever, everywhere to protect the seeker."

42. "Save the soul through meditation and sacrifice the body."

DECEMBER 1982
43. "Body seeks pleasure
Soul seeks salvation
Live with the soul to achieve liberation -- liberation from the mind and liberation from pleasure.

44. "Soul has no pleasure, It is beyond pleasure."

45. "Feed the soul with prayer, Starve the body from desires

46. "I am the Nature
Look to Nature with reverence
I look to you naturally."

47. "Do not condemn anybody
Each man has his level of power, for some it is visible and for some it is invisible."

48. "You can reach Lord only through slow and steady means
You can never reach Him overnight."

49. "Man needs certain level of sacrifice to derive the solace of the Lord." (This sacrifice is multifaceted.)

50. "Man should try to be as pure as a Lotus and as sweet as a rose in the normal life."

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