Q & A with Bhagavan Archive

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

Hislop: One regards himself as a son of Swami. Swami is as the mother and we confide in Him directly, if possible, but if not then by prayer and by writing to him. Sai:

Question: Swami! Excuse me. A person observing you moving amongst people and choosing some of them for special attention is puzzled why some are left out. Sri Sathya Sai: Yes. It is quite natural

Hislop: Swami mentions Vedanta [one of the six schools of Hindu philosophy]. What is the correct use of that word? Sai: Vedanta is metaphysical enquiry of the divine, the world and the valid experience

Hislop: Swami, what does the mind know? There is much knowledge in the mind, but what does it really know? Sai: The mind does not know anything. So-called education is just book knowledge. Hand

Hislop: This car in which we are driving has certain natural factors that are neither good nor bad. If moving, it has speed and momentum. In like fashion, what are the natural powers of

Bhakta: Swami, the inner meaning of the Maha­bharata and the Ramayana that You explained is re­ally very interesting. If only one probes deeply, what else is there in them? That kind of Mahabharata and

Bhakta: Swami, last time you spoke of the Mahabharata war; in the same manner, does the Ramayana also happen in everyone’s heart? Swami: Undoubtedly! It does take place systemati­cally and in the same sequence.

Hislop: Once one has tasted sugar, one never mistakes salt for sugar. If that bliss of which Swami speaks is our real nature, how is it that we confuse the unreal for the real?

Q.    Swami, you say that one has to do some things, that one should not do certain other things. How are we to know which is which? What is the authority? A.  

Hislop: Swami, on the road to Simla [hill station in North India], drivers were very reckless in trying to stay close behind Swami’s car. At one moment our car, which was going at a

A Visitor: The word ‘surrender’ is not the correct word, so self-realization… Sai: Self-realization–that is why they call it so. You realize your own Self. You are you, not your wife. You are You.