Om Sri Sai Guru Ganeshaya Namaha

SAI BALA

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CHILDREN’S NEWS LETTER 20
20/9/2003

Om Sri Sai Guru Deva

Dear boys and girls

We meet every weekend. This letter is for you, to love your parents and
every parent in this world.

If we are unable to come on weekends please excuse us. There may be some
reasons. You should always keep loving and enjoy your life with love. Tell
your parents or elders to receive this email print it and give it to you.
You can share our SAI BALA with all your friends. If you do not understand
any big words, ask your parents they will help you. Your parent is your
immediate GOD. OBEY THEM WITH LOVE. SATHYA SAI BABA WILL PROTECT YOU. Jai Sai Ram.

SATHYA SAI BABA WORLD ONLINE DEVOTEES CHATROOM

Open 24 hours and 7 days a week.

We have normal and voice chat facilities.

You can make appointments with fellow devotees and use our Chat Room facility at any time.

Please note the timings for free general Online Counselling Sessions and genera discussion on Swami for all by Dr Jose Luis Hernani.

FREE PROFESSIONAL ONLINE PSYCHIATRIC COUNSELLING FOR YOUR MAJOR PROBLEMS

Are you a drug addict? Are you an alcoholic? Do you have a marriage Problem? Career Advice? or Any other.

Daily General Online Free Counselling Sessions and General Discussions on Swami by Dr Jose Luis Hernani :

5:00pm - 6:00pm Mon - Fri (Indian Time)

7:00pm - 8:00pm Sat - Sun (Indian Time)

Special weekly meetings on Sundays 9:30am - 10:30am (Indian Time)

You can make appointments with fellow devotees and use our Chat Room facility at any time.

Jai Sai Ram

THE TEN FOLD PATH TO DIVINITY

Fold 7

Do not develop jealousy, hatred or envy on any count.

BHAGAWAN SRI SATHYA SAI BABA

The next fold will be on the next week’s newsletter.

Jai Sai Ram.

THIS WEEK’S MESSAGE BY BHAGAWAN SRI SATHYA SAI BABA

The Bala Vikas is the primary basis of the great movement to restore
righteousness in the world. The elders have gone wrong in their ways; and it
is difficult to expect a change in their habits and attitudes. Children have
to be led into good ways of living life, into simplicity, humility and
discipline. The parents have to be persuaded lovingly through the example of
bright, cheerful and cooperating children from the Bala Vikas classes, to
send their children also to these classes. As you know, you cannot draw
children to your side if you hold a stick in your hand; you will have to
hold some sweets instead. So the gurus have to be embodiments of Love and
patience.

The ideal of the Bala Vikas is raising a generation of boys and girls who
have clean and clear consciousness. The actual syllabus is not so important
as the creation of an atmosphere where noble habits and ideals can grow and
fructify.

BHAGAWAN SRI SATHYA SAI BABA

Jai Sai Ram.

CHILDREN’S WORD FOR THE WEEK

SAI NAME

One fundamental point that you have to bear in mind while repeating the Sai
Name, is that when you take that Name, you must feel that it is only by His
Will and power that you are doing so, and not by your own.

BHAGAWAN SRI SATHYA SAI BABA

Jai Sai Ram.

STORY FOR THIS WEEK

THE PURNAVATARAS

According to the Indian conception, the Lord Vishnu has so far descended
incarnate in nine forms, UNTIL THE CURRENT SHRI SATYA SAI BABA THE
YUGAVATARA.

7. RAMAVATARA

The very utterance of the name Rama sends thrills through the spine of every
enlightened soul, the waves of bliss transforming him into a different man
from what he has been.

We are now charmed by the presence of the Yugavatara Sai Baba. But he is
endearingly called, Sai Rama. Every devotee when he meets another accosts
him as Sairama. It has become synonymous with Pranama or Namaskara!

We have just studied the purpose of the advent of Parashurama incarnation.
The Lord decided to descend as Rama as He found that again the Rakshasa who
had been weaned away from their Asura  non Vedic culture, were again proving
a great nuisance to the followers of the Vedic Dharma and culture under the
leadership of Ravana himself a Brahmana. Groups of Rakhsas were organising
raids on the yajna worshippers all over Bharata, particularly in the regions
south of the Vindhyas.

Rama was born to Dasharatha the king of the Ikshvaku dynasty with his
capital at Ayodhya. His mother was Kausalya, the daughter of the Kosala
king. Rama had three brothers, Bharata, Laxmana and Shatrughna. They were
all ideal in their behavior. Rama had all the excellent qualities. He was
therefore called Ramachandra  Rama with the face of the moon was like-wise
very cool in temperament. He was in direct contrast to his earlier
incarnation Parashurama who had a very fiery temperament.

At his early age of sixteen, the sage Vishwamitra who was performing jyajnas
thrust on Rama the responsibility of protecting them from the raids of the
Rakshasas. Rama along with Laxmana his brother and very devoted follower,
discharged it very ably. Vishwamitra then took him to Mithila the capital of
the sage- king Janaka who was intending to marry his daughter Sita to a king
who would lift a strong bow and string it. All the princes from all over
India had gathered together for the occasion. Rama was taken to the hall to
participate in the ceremony.

None of the assembled princes could lift it and string it. To the surprise
of all, Rama the youngest of them all, could perform this marvellous feat.
He was married to Sita the most beautiful princess with noble character.

But as ill-luck would have it, due to the obstinacy of his step mother
Kaikeyi  the daughter of the king of Kekeya  modern Persia famed for her
beauty, and the weakness of his father Dasharatha, he had to take to
forest-life for fourteen years. Laxmana, his brother and Sita his wife
insisted upon accompanying him. They all left willingly and instantly for
forest, leaving behind them the luxurious life at the palace. Rama was so
self-controlled that he did not feel even the slightest pang in accepting
forest life. He was as comfortable and happy in his palace as in his hut in
the forest.

Rama’s life-story is so wellknown that his glory is sung in every home in
India. He is also famous for his bravery and equanimity of mind all over the
world. Sita his only and the dearest consort was abducted by Ravana the
Demon King of Lanka. Rama and Laxmana had to run all over South India in
search of her. All signs around Rama pointed out the direction in which she
was taken. It was southern Bharata. On the way they forged friendships with
all the different peoples of Southern India viz the Vanaras the people with
the monkey flag and the Ribhus (the people with the bear flag) and others.
He gave them confidance and trained them for battle with the mighty king
Ravana. This mighty king belonged to Brahmana Varna but was demonic by
nature.

Rama could get victory over him through sheer force of his character and
bravery. When Ravana heard of the defeat of his mightiest sons and
commanders, he exclaimed: Is he Narayana? God himself!

Ravana was ultimately killed and the south was again made safe for the
propagation of Vedic culture.

People always thought that Rama was the Lord himself but Rama stated that he
is a man and not God and that he was the son of Dasharatha the king of
Ayodhya. But his whole behavior was so extra-ordinary that it was
unbelievable that such a man could ever have moved on this earth in flesh
and blood. He was there fore, elevated to the position of the God –
incarnation. His whole life was without a blemish. He had to kill Vali, the
Vanara king, from behind a tree. It was not because he was afraid of Vali.
Rama, had to kill him for he had abducted the wife of his younger brother
Sugreeva by banishing him from the kingdom wrongfully. Moreover by inviting
Vali to a straight fight would have meant a fratricidal war between the
Vanaras in which thousands would have been killed and the cause of rescuing
the honour of Sita would have suffered. It was a states-man like decision.
Even Vali admits his faults and absolves Rama from all belmish for killing
him thus.

There is a dispute amongst scholars as to whether Sita was abandoned by
Rama, when she was carrying. Any way that was again a political decision to
please the section of his people who were not convinced of Sita’s
unblemished character. By this decision the greatest sufferer was Rama
himself.

For Rama’s tireless efforts not to be considered blameworthy by his people
or friends, he is considered as Maryada Purushottam – the best amongst men
though not as perfect as Lord Krishna.

To blame such a blameless person is the frailty of those who indulge in this
nefarious game.

Rama killed Shambuka belonging to Shudra Varna, not because he was a Shudra,
nor for his aspirations to be a Brahmana by practising penance. Shambuka
like Trishanku, past Ikshwaku king in the same line as Rama himself, was
practising penance by, hanging from a branch of a tree with his feet up and
head down. His purpose in following this path of severe austerities was to
obtain heavenly abode with the same body. For this very purpose
Trishanku was cursed to be a Chandala by the sage Vasishtha. This act was
setting a vry bad example before the posterity. It was an anti-social act,
and the punishment for it was death. Rama, therefore, on discovering him
instantly beheaded him.

The sage Valmiki had risen to the rank of a venerable Brahmin from his lowly
position of a highway robber. This profession even the Shudras did not
follow then. If, therefore, there was no bar for any body to rise to the
highest level from the lowliest of professions, how a Shudra’s attempt to
better his lot by fair means could have been frowned upon?

To sing the glory of Rama is a thing of joy forever. How much more it is so
when we have the very Rama in our presence! My salutations to Sai Ram!

Jai Sai Ram.

Bye for now and see you again next week with the EIGHTH  Puranavatar
KRISHNA.

Jai Sai Ram

All our thoughts, efforts actions and outcomes are surrendered upon the beautiful lotus feet of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba
In Sai's Love

News Letter Editor
Soma