Q & A with Bhagavan Archive

Q.  Even those, who proceed along the path of spiritual progress toward the goal of moksha have, it seems, big obstacles, Swami. A.  Yes, the past, the present, and the future obstacles. Q.  What

Swami: Oh! How is this? You have come so early this time? Bhakta: You made me come, and so I have come. Is there anything I can call mine? Bhakta: That is true; but

Hislop: The Buddha’s way of slowing down the mind is given much attention to in Burma. Swami must have a better way. Sai: The Buddha’s way of watching the breath as it enters and

Devotee: In the West, sadhana [spiritual effort] is gene­rally taken to be a process of self‑improve­ment. But that implies identification with the changing personality? Sri Sathya Sai: First, there may be the urge to

Q. In this cosmos that is the human body, what is the best dharma [right action] to follow? Which Ashram [four age-based life stages] is most conducive for that dharma? How many Ashrams are

Bhakta: Namaste [greetings], Swami. Swami: Shubhamastu [let there be auspiciousness]. Bhakta: With Your grace, everything is shubham [auspicious]; without it, everything is ashubham [inauspicious]. Swami: Good, but have you realized how both these are

Hislop: Is not praying to God the same as begging? Sai: To beg from an equal puts you down and him up. But when you ask God, you rise up to His level. You

Hislop: Swami says that ‘All is done by the Lord, and not by you.’ But the world over, there is the concept that man is responsible for his own actions. Sai: You are God.

Swami: Oh! When did you arrive? You were not visible anywhere outside. Are you well? Bhakta: It’s two days since I came. I see here a number of people everywhere outside. I hear the

Swami: O, you have come! Well, what is the news? Bhakta: What other news have we except yours? I heard that Your Kerala tour was most pleasant and wonderful. I am sad I was not

(A visitor, a prince from another state of India, came to Bhagavan, offered some acres of land for a yoga center and asked Bhagavan to visit his state and use His will to avert

Bhakta: Swami, tell me how we should, generally, conduct ourselves. What are the qualities we should possess? Which type of subjects should we try to under­stand? To receive the Divine grace and to attain