the worDS OF BHAGAWAN

~ Baba
A downpour of compassion foods drought-
affected villages as the SSSSO gets to work.
LOVINGLY YOURS
02
Neil starts off on a journey to perfection.
Read what inspired him to change himself.
DIARY OF A SEEKER
08
We discover an ancient temple in Gods
Own Countryand Gods secrets too!
TICKET TO GOD
05
Girls dare to dream, spurred on by the
Mother Easwaramma Scholarship.
CHANGING SOCIETY
03
A 72-year old lady suddenly needs
immediate surgery. Does she make it?
seconD Life
07
How does a merchant save himself from
the wrath of Goddesses? Find out!
SOUL STORIES
05
Bask in the Lords Glory even as you take a
few steps toward Him.
HAVE A GOD-DAY
08
What does it take to be a true warrior?
Kung Fu Panda reveals the secrets.
MULTIPLEX MUSINGS
06
Youth in Eternal Service
Issue 9 May - Jun 2013 A Magazine by the Sai Youth of Maharashtra and Goa Issue not for sale
Archives: www.srisathyasai.in/yes
www.facebook.com/YES.Mag.SSSO
Two villages are set to harvest
rainwater. We track their progress.
04
NEW
Your life is really like a tapestry. You look at one side, see all
the disconnected and loose ends, and say, What a mess my life
is! God sees the fnished product on the other side and sighs,
How beautiful you have become!
LOVINGLY YOURS
02
D
r o u g h t - a f f e c t e d
state declared every
newspaper in the country as 11,000 villages in Maharashtra
reeled under the cumulative impact of cracked lands, scorched
felds, empty wells, dying cattle and starving children.
The Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisation (SSSSO) lost no time
in getting to work. Massive relief operations were planned and
executed within less than two weeks.
Water tankers sped to the most severely affected villages
(24 villages were identifed as needing immediate relief), large
bags (Amrut Kalash) containing two months supply of rice, dal,
oil, sugar and wheat were rushed to 2,500 families in 69 villages,
expert panels of vets visited villages
and nursed dying cattle back to
health with a steady dose of vitamin-enriched fodder, even as
an army of Seva Dal (SSSO volunteers) rushed into the villages
and took upon themselves the herculean task of tilling the
parched soils and building dams, bunds and wells to store water.
In several villages, Rain Water Harvesting systems have been
installed as long-term solutions to the drought.
As many as 100 villages and 2,050 cows have already
beneftted from the SSSSOs Drought Relief operations.
Devotees and corporates are contributing generously to
support this humanitarian cause with love and compassion.
No Drought of LOVE!

PARCHED FIELDS
WATER TANKS BRING
THE ELIXIR OF LIFE
WATER TANKS BRING
THE ELIXIR OF LIFE
WATER TANKS BRING
THE ELIXIR OF LIFE
DIGGING OF WATER TROUGH DIGGING OF WATER TROUGH
FREE MEDICINES FREE MEDICINES
TWO
MONTHS
FOOD
SUPPLY
DRY WELLS
Download a free QR Scanner onto your mobile device
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At a time when the girl child is still
treated as a liability rather than a blessing,
the Sri Sathya Sai Organisation shines out
as a beacon of hope in the lives of these
often neglected children.
Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba always
held women in high esteem. Throughout
His Life, He extolled, If you want to
gauge the progress of a nation, look to
its women. As are the women, so is the
nation.
Bhagawan played His part as Divine
Mother and Father magnifcently, by
establishing schools, colleges and even
a university for women at Anantapur,
Andhra Pradesh.
In the year 2000, Swami established
the Mother Easwaramma Foundation to
recognise that women are the backbone
of a virtuous and value-based society.
That same year, the Mother Easwaramma
Scholarship for meritorious girls was
instituted by the foundation to encourage
girls to fulfll their academic dreams.
Till date, 700 aspiring recipients of
the Easwaramma Scholarship have
become successful CAs, CSs, lawyers and
computer engineers. These girls enjoy
rewarding jobs and are also well-settled
in happy marriages. With the sheer dint
of their hard and honest work, they have
changed age-old perspectives and earned
the love and respect of their families
and critics too. Having emerged from the
shadows of anonymity, they are shining
examples the indomitable spirit of a girl!
How Did a Quiet Little
Girl from a Noisy Slum
Become a Lawyer?
This is the true-life account of Supriya
Sakpal, a 23-year old girl who stands
on the threshold of an exciting new
beginning. Her wedding has been fxed
to a young man who is not a devotee
of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba but is
yet fully supportive of her spiritual and
professional goals. As far as Supriya
is concerned, her prayers have been
answered.
The Sri Sathya Sai Organisation
discovered Supriya in August 2002, when
it adopted the slum she lived in, with the
aim to transform it into a Sai Colony.
Since then, Supriya has been a Bal Vikas
studentand a worthy recipient of the
Easwaramma Scholarship.
In the twelve years that Supriya
received the scholarship, she studied
hard. Often, to get away from the noise
of the slum, she would go to one of her
Bal Vikas Gurus homes and study to her
hearts content.
The youngest of four sisters, Supriya
might not have had a chance at a
good educationif it werent for the
Easwaramma Scholarship. Her father,
who is engaged in construction repair
work, saved whatever he could to pay
for the graduation of her elder sisters.
So how did Supriya come to be a
lawyer? Was it the hand of destiny? Or
sheer Divine Will? Divine Will, for sure,
she says. I never aimed to be a lawyer. I
was guided by my (Bal Vikas) Guru.
After acquiring her Bachelor of Law
degree, Supriya went on to fnish her
Company Secretary (CS) course. She
is currently in the frst year of her LLM
course (Masters in Law).
Yet, she does not have a swollen head.
The modest girl is quick to attribute her
success to her Bal Vikas teacher. The
most educated girl in her slum, Supriya is
today an inspiration to those around her.
She brings our chat to a close with an
inspiring message: Never give up. Help
will come. Hang in there and you will
receive the Grace of God.
Supriyas fanc knows how lucky he is!
CHANGING SOCIETY
03
How Far Can the Fourth
Daughter of a Poor
Vegetable Vendor Go?
Very, Proves a 19-year old.
Life was never easy for Vandana
Chowgule. She grew up in a large family
of six members who barely survived on
a meager income of less than Rs. 5,000
a month. Her father sold vegetables
outside Dharmakshetra, Mumbai and her
mother was a clerk in the Sri Sathya Sai
school at Dharmakshetra.
What kept their body and soul
together was Bhagawans Divine Grace.
Devoted to Bhagawan since childhood,
Vandana had the good fortune of
attending Sri Sathya Sai Bal Vikas classes
from the tender age of six. When she
was 14 years of age, Vandana applied for
the Easwaramma Scholarship.
Vandana bagged the Easwaramma
Scholarship for four years. Empowered
by the scholarships fnancial assistance
(a total of nearly Rs. 17,000), the
youngest of four girl children,
successfully completed her diploma in
Computer Engineering.
Says Vandana, The scholarship really
helped me. My father, who is now a
worker in a printing studio, could not
afford to pay for my education. He was
already struggling to repay the loan he
took for my sisters graduation. Even
today, he saves a small amount every
month so he can work off that loan.
Vandana is currently seeking a part-
time job so she can continue to study
and acquire her engineering degree.
Just before she concludes her
interview with us, Vandana expresses
her gratitude to her parents and to
Bhagawan. She says, Without Swami,
I could not have come this far. I didnt
ever dream that things would work out
so well for me. He (Bhagawan) has taken
care of everything! (The Chowgule
family has been Bhagawans devotees for
over two decades.)
Vandana ends our chat with a
motivational message to all girls:
Mehenat se kuch bhi haasil kar sakte
hain (With hard work, you can achieve
whatever you set your heart on).
04
D
uring the punishing summer, every villager
cast hopeful eyes towards the vast
skies for a sign of cooling rain. Fortunately, this
monsoon, 8 villages will be able to catch and
conserve rainwater for everyday use, long after
the last cloud has foated away.
Months of undying effort put in by the
villagers, the volunteers of the Sri Sathya Sai Seva
Organisation (SSSSO), consultants and engineers,
is fnally culminating in success.
Catching the Rain Catching the Rain
Scientifcally designed Rainwater
Harvesting Systems (RHS) have
already been built to slow rainwater,
collect it and drive it underground
to re-charge the parched wells in 5
villages of Maharashtra. Work is on in
full swing in 3 more.
We bring you this report from the
villages of Karasgaon and Shrigiri:
The residents of Karasgaon suffered
severe water deprivation when the
bund on the hill slopes broke several
years ago. Lack of expertise to fx the
bund left the villagers thirsty and the
wells completely dry.
In record time, the SSSSO
volunteers and the villagers (who
enthusiastically engaged in Shram
Daan) reconstructed this huge
bundat a fraction of the normal
industrial cost. The bund is expected
to store 90,000 cm of water during
the monsoon and re-charge all bore
and open wells in the village.
Upon hearing of this Rainwater
Harvesting activity, the amazed
District Collector visited the site.
He was impressed by the quick
mobilisation of resources and the
unity displayed by the villagers in
constructing the bund.
In Shrigiri, a RHS has been built
in the village school. Thousands of
litres of harvested rainwater will be
channeled through the specially-dug
re-charge pits to restore water in the
hand pump and wells.
With Swamis Grace fowing
through these villages, villagers have
rediscovered their happiness.
Bore Well Re-charge Pit
(Shrigiri)
Bund Construction
(Karasgaon)
Hand Pump Re-charge in
Village School (Shrigiri)
A Pre-monsoon Update from Shrigiri and Karasgaon
ticket to goD
05
T
owering teaks line the road, forming a canopy. Driving
through the forests of Gods Own Country, Kerala,
towards the Tirunelli Temple, the spiritual experience begins
long before the destination.
Set amidst the lust green forests in the heart of Wayanad,
the temple of Maha Vishnu at Tirunelli is located atop a small
hillock surrounded by mountainsthe Western Ghats, the
Eastern Ghats, and the Nilgiris. It is not just the location of the
temple which is interesting, but its story too. It is said that Lord
Brahma was once fying over this area, when he was struck by
the beauty of this place. He stopped to rest here for a while. It
was then that he noticed an image of Lord Vishnu on an Indian
Gooseberry (Amla or Nelli) tree, and prayed to it, in effect,
consecrating the idol of the Lord. Thats where the Tirunelli
temple gets its name from. Rather appropriate isnt itfor a
temple located in a forest, to be named after a tree?
The connection with Lord Brahma transcends legends to
even the present day. The temple has fve regular pujas every
day, but the priest readies for a sixth puja before closing the
temple for the day. It is said that when the temple is opened
the next morning, one discovers that the sacred materials are
used and the puja, performed. It is believed that it is none other
than Lord Brahma Himself who performs these prayers day
after day.
The recorded history of the temple dates back to the 8
th

century AD, when the Chera king, Kulasekharan, constructed
the temple. Built in typical Kerala style of architecture, with stone
walls and tiled roof, the temple stands against the backdrop of
the serene green-blue mountain ranges. A few granite pillars,
resembling a corridor, stand incongruously against this sight;
the only remnant of a time when a king from Coorg tried to
renovate the temple. Unfortunately, his plans did not beget the
approval of the local king, and the work was abandoned, leaving
us with just a few pillars as memories of the failed attempt.
A little distance away is a mountain stream so sacred that
she, Papanasini, is believed to wash away all the sins of those
who bathe in her. People come from far and wide to perform
rituals for their ancestors on her banks, thus giving the place
the status of Dakshina Kashi, or Kashi of the south. Nearby is
a cave temple, Gunnika, dedicated to Lord Shiva. Thus, Tirunelli
is an especially sacred place, unifying all aspects of the trinity.
Is it any wonder then, that peace reigns here? Visit this
temple to experience how nature and spirituality triumph over
the mundane!
O
nce Wealth and Poverty approached a merchant and
introduced themselves as Goddesses. The merchant
offered his salutations to both of them and said: May
I know what brings you to my humble tenement?
The Goddess of Wealth said: We want you to judge
and tell us as to who is more beautiful between us
two?
The merchant was in a fx. He knew he was
between the devil and the deep sea. If he were
to declare Wealth as more beautiful than Poverty,
Poverty would curse him. If he were to declare
Poverty as more beautiful, than Wealth, Wealth
would forsake him. However, he regained his
composure and said: I have great respect for you both. Would
you please act according to my instructions? Only then can I
judge well.
The Goddesses agreed. He said: Mother Wealth, would you
please go to the entrance (gates) and walk into the house?
Mother, Poverty! Would you please walk from here
towards the gates? I can have a good look at you
both, from near and far. The two Goddesses did as
the merchant wished them to. Then the merchant
happily declared: Mother Wealth! You appear very
beautiful when you enter the house. Mother Poverty!
You look very beautiful when you leave the house!
The Goddesses appreciated the wit and wisdom
of the merchant. The Goddess of Wealth happily
stayed in his house while the Goddess of Poverty
cheerfully walked away.
Signifcance of this Chinna Katha (short story): When a
serious problem confronts us, if we look within and think calmly,
a ray of hope and light will beam forth and show us the way.
soul stories
How a Wealthy Merchant was Saved by a Smile!
Visit Tirunelli Temple
Where Lord Brahma
Performs Pujas Every Morning
Visit Tirunelli Temple
Where Lord Brahma
Performs Pujas Every Morning
Visit Tirunelli Temple
Where Lord Brahma
Performs Pujas Every Morning
Visit Tirunelli Temple
Where Lord Brahma
Performs Pujas Every Morning
M
EET PO: A fat, fabby panda who dreams of becoming
a Kung Fu warrior. He is accidently conferred with the
greatest Kung Fu honour the mighty title of Dragon Warrior.
His task? To defeat the savage villain, Tai Lung, and restore peace
to Dragon Valley. Can Po shake off his lethargy and achieve this
impossible feat? Read on to fnd out.
The Furious Five: Tigress, Mantis, Monkey, Crane and Viper
are the ultimate Kung Fu warriors. Po worships them, even in
his sleep. Yet, he manages to annoy them with every sound he
makes and every step he takes. In short, they loathe him.
Shifu: A red panda, is the Furious Fives Kung Fu Master. He
refuses to accept Po as the Dragon Warrior and does all he can
to get rid of the lazy panda. Will he have a change of heart?
Only Oogway knows.
Oogway: The old, wise and lovable
turtle announces Po as the Dragon
Warrior. He is the only one who
believes that Po can defeat Tai
Lung.
Tai Lung: A strong and
mighty Kung Fu warrior, Tai
Lung turns wicked when
Oogway denies him the title
of Dragon Warrior. He wrecks
havoc in the valley but is soon
caught and imprisoned. Years later,
he breaks out of prison to claim what he
believes is his: the Dragon Scroll, which contains the
Secret to Limitless Power.
Pos Dad: Is a duck (dont ask!) who runs a restaurant and
rustles up the most delicious noodles. His noodles are yummy
because they are spiced with a secret ingredient.
We present epic lessons learned from this witty flm.
NOTHING IS AN ACCIDENT
Thus spake Oogway when Shifu insisted that Po had
arrived (or rather crash landed from the sky) in their midst
only by accident. Shifu was sure Oogway had made a horrible
mistake in declaring Po as Dragon Warrior. Often we brush
away inexplicable happenings as coincidences. We forget that
life is simply playing out our divine script, which was written
long ago by the Master Planner. Having said that, its important
to remember that we have the freedom to make our own
decisions. At the end of the day, what we choose to do or not
can make or break us.
BELIEVE IN THE ABILITIES OF OTHERS
Shifu refuses to accept Po as the Dragon Warrior. Sometimes,
our egos blind us and we think only we can perform a particular
task. At such times, we become intolerant of the other individual
and resort to insults, mockery and even physically injure the
annoying one. What we fail to realise is that each individual,
no matter who s/he is or how s/he looks, is gifted with special
abilitiesand is in our lives for a jolly good reason. It was in
Shifus destiny to train Po and in Pos destiny to restore peace
to Shifu. And hence, the universe brought the two together.
GIVE UP CONTROLLING OTHERS
Standing under the Sacred Peach Tree of Heavenly Wisdom,
Oogway explains to Shifu that no matter how hard he tries,
Shifu cannot control the destiny of the tree. He may wish for
oranges and apples from it, but the peach tree will always give
peaches. He urges Shifu to give up the illusion of controlling Pos
destiny. Often, we try to change others because it conveniently
suits our purpose. We are unwilling to accept people as they
are. We judgeor rather misjudgethem, frequently.
We forget that every soul has chosen to manifest itself as
a particular individual because it has a particular destiny to
fulfll and specifc lessons to be learned in this
lifetime. Controlling others will only
hamper their spiritual journeys. So
its best that we allow our friends
and family to discover their
own paths to deliverance
because they inherently know
where they are headed and
whyand will consciously or
even subconsciously choose
experiences that will take them
closer to their spiritual goals, no
matter what we try otherwise!
THERE IS NO GOOD OR BAD
Everything is just a perspective. We are but a
bundle of thoughts! If we think good will come of something, it
will. If we think we are doomed, we are. The key to happiness
is to have rocksteady faith in our Master and not be concerned
with what was or what will be.
THERE IS NO SECRET INGREDIENT
Imagine Pos surprise when he discovers that the all-powerful
Dragon Scroll is but an empty parchment, and that the secret
ingredient to his fathers yummy noodle soup is Nothing!
It is in our nature to rely on outside paraphernalia for inner
success. We forget that whatever special powers we require to
fulfll our glorious destinies are already packed into every atom
of our being, into every cell of our body, into our very DNA.
God created us in His Own Image. We are already Divine
Beings who possess tremendous potential.
So dear friend, remember, who looks outside, dreams; who
looks within, awakens. You are destined for great things and
success is sure to be yoursif only you believe. So heres to a
lifetime of awesomeness! SKADOOSH!
MULTIPLEX MUSINGS
06
BELIEVE in Yourself
Because There is
No Charge for
AWESOMENESS!
07
seconD life
S
ix years have passed since that fateful night when I fell
unconscious in a train compartment full of strangers.
Today, I share with you all that happened.
It was March 15, 2007. I was all set to return to Pune after
completing an exhausting but exhilarating 10-day seva (service)
at the Superspeciality Hospital in Prashanthi Nilayam. That
morning, I was fortunate to have received Swamis Darshan
and Blessings while He graced us with His Divine Presence in
Kulwant Hall (the main temple at Prashanthi Nilayam).
As the night approached, I took the last bus to the railway
station and waited for nearly two hours for the train to arrive.
It fnally chugged in at 11:45 PM, by which time I was giddy with
fatigue. With tremendous effort, I managed to reach my berth.
Since my co-passengers were asleep, my entry went unnoticed.
Dear reader, its important to mention here that the following
incidents were related to me by my relatives
I have no memory of what happened that night.
Apparently, I had not stirred till late in the
morning. My ashen face alarmed my co-passengers,
who informed the ticket checker, who in turn
called the railways doctor. The doctor administered
some medicine, which helped me regain partial
consciousness. He then advised me to alight at
the next station. Somehow, I apparently found the strength to
refuse, and insisted that I wanted to go to Pune. The doctor
fnally agreed; he departed after giving some instructions to the
passengers around me.
Just then, my mobile phone started ringing. One of my
co-passengers answered it at once, hopeful of informing my
family about my condition (I had not spoken to them since
the previous day). The caller was my friend. On hearing the
situation, she said that she did not know my family, but she
would get the message across to them.
She called one of Swamis students who was based in Pune.
He immediately contacted my family and both my sons and
daughters-in-law rushed to receive me at Pune station.
I was whisked off to Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital, where
emergency arrangements had already been made for me.
Necessary tests, including an MRI, were carried out at once.
The neurosurgeon advised immediate surgery. However, he
warned my family of the complications and risks involved
there was a high chance of me losing one of my senses during
the surgery. My distraught family prayed fervently for my safe
and rapid recovery.
The operation began at 7:00 PM and went on for 5 hours. I
was brought to the ICU at 1:00 AM. The doctor had said that
the effects of the anaesthesia would wear off in the morning
but I regained consciousness within an hour!
When I opened my eyes, I sensed the presence of tubes and
drips on my body and a mask covering my nose and mouth. My
hands were tied to the bars of the bed. The nurse asked me,
Do you know where you are? To her surprise, I
replied, At Deenanath Hospital.
Just then, the doctor who operated on me came
into the room and told me that the operation was
successful. My Guru was with you, I said to him,
simply.
As I recovered, I thanked Swami for the abundant
Grace He had showered on me. Friends from the
Sai family came to visit me in hospital and gifted me packets
of Vibhuti, prasadam and Swamis photos. Ten days later, I was
dischargedwith all my senses intact!
When I returned home, I telephoned the friend who had
called me while I was on the train, and who had then alerted
Swamis student about my critical condition. I was astonished
at what she said to me:
I had absolutely no reason to call you that day but I felt a
strong urge to do so. It was almost as if Swami was forcing me to
make that life-saving call to you!
My Pranaams at Your Lotus Feet, SWAMI!
(This is the experience of a 72-year old, long-standing devotee
from Pune. She is also an active member of YES!s Marathi edition.)
A Return Journey by Train
Turns into a Journey Back to Life
I had absolutely
no reason to call
you that day,
but I felt Swami
urging me to.
*********************
*********************

HAVE A GOD-DAY
08
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All rights reserved by Sri Sathya Sai Books and Publications Trust, Maharashtra. This issue is not for sale.
16
18 22
June
July July
June June
Bhajans & Tabla Recital
by Guiness Book
record holder, Truptesh,
the youngest tabla
player in the world.
Dharmakshetra
6:00 PM to 7:00 PM
022 28377999
Ashadi Ekadashi
Celebrations
at Prashanthi Nilayam
for 3 days from
July 18 to July 20, 2013.
Guru Poornima
Celebrations
All centres
Maharashtra & Goa.
Spiruality Workshop
Beyond Freedom
by Dr. Shrikant Sola &
Smt. Shivani Sola.
Dharmakshetra
10:00 AM to 1:00 PM
022 28377999
Devotional Music
Programme by
Smt. Vidya Harikrishna.
Dharmakshetra
5:30 PM to 7:00 PM
022 28377999
23 30
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Im so EXCITED. Ive stumbled upon
something truly amazing! Let me start at the
beginning.
When I was little, my grandma always
reminded me to thank God for my blessings.
My school teachers too taught me prayers
to thank God for our food, our parents and
the world we live in. But as I grew older, my
childhood habit of thanking God faded away, as
my increasingly complex life took over.
Recently, I came across a book. It reminded
me about the magical power of gratitude, of
thanksgiving. It persuaded me to reinstall
gratitude in my heart.
I decided to give it a shot.
Yesterday, I was caught in a terrible traffc
jam. I was just about to start cribbing
when I remembered the book. So instead, I
thanked God. At least were inching ahead. At
least the view is good. And guess what? In a
matter of moments, we were speeding away on
the highway. I could not believe my LUCK!
The afternoon was hotter than usual. I was
perspiring and feeling very grumpy. I started
cribbing about the horrible weather but
checked myself. At least it is cooler than
the deserts of Rajasthan! THANK GOD for
that! And lo! That evening it rained! The
frst rains of the year; the sweet smell of
the damp earth, the refreshing breeze of the
heavens. I felt blessed. Was there some great
connection between me expressing gratitude and
my problems vanishing??
Slowly, a painful awareness dawned on me.
I complain SO MANY TIMES everyday! I crib
about Mithu squawking noisily as I study,
even though I know my parrot is my greatest
comfort when Im distressed. I grumble
about my overprotective parents knowing fully
well that they adore and pamper me. I protest
that my friends no longer hang-out with me
even though I know they will stand by me in
the most trying times. I whine about eating at
home despite knowing that Ma cooks every
meal with love and prayers.
Hmm. This thank you despite imperfections
is really working for me. Im going from
imperfect to IM-PERFECT. Are you?
DIARY OF A SEEKER
G
rr!