Compiled by Nirmal
Vancouver: Nirmal, 1997

(Copyright declined. You are welcome to copy freely)
1st edition: 1996 2nd edition: 1997

Introduction

30 March 1996

Sri Sathya Sai Baba has declared that He will usher in a new era of Love, Peace, Righteousness, and Truth. This "Golden Age," as He calls it, is destined to begin soon with an event (or series of events) that will draw world attention to His Divinity. Many of Baba's devotees wonder what these events will be like, what the Golden Age represents, and what our duty is towards it, Bhagavan, and each other.

This book of quotations, written for Baba's devotees, draws together all the material that I have been able to find on the nature and characteristics of the Golden Age and on our duty in regards to it

Baba tells us that we are fortunate to live during these times. Never in human history has the planet witnessed a full Incarnation of the Divine working with the world's population to raise human consciousness to a level where world peace and fulfilment are possible. All power resides in Swami's Palm and yet He does not intend to correct the Earth's problems with a sweep of His hand. Instead, He proposes to work with humans from within, to raise our awareness so that we are empowered to solve our own global predicaments. Swami promises all of us accelerated spiritual growth, and even liberation for those who stick to their sadhana to the end. The opportunity of these times should not go uncontemplated.

Baba's is an unfolding gospel. He adds to His revelation daily. We sit, mere spectators, watching and waiting for the golden moment to arrive when He announces Himself to those in the world who remain unaware of His Presence on Earth. Talk circulates of an impending economic crisis, during which the leaders of the world turn to Baba as the only one who can solve it. Miracles occur such as Ganesha statues drinking milk. Food animals such as salmon and cod disappear from the Earth's oceans and whole herds of cattle are infected with disease and must be destroyed. To what extent are these evidences of Baba's activity in pushing and pulling the world towards some unknown consummation? We cannot know until Baba unfolds for us the whole of His Plan.

For my part, I find more satisfaction than I can say in being able to watch over and participate in these events as a Sai researcher and writer. I thank Bhagavan for answering the prayers and pleadings of saints and sages, whose supplications have brought Him here. And I thank Him for allowing me to serve Him in this way as a means of earning His Grace.

Om Jai Sai Ram!

Nirmal

Prophecies of Baba

Aurobindo on Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Twenty-fourth November, 1926, was the descent of Krishna into the physical. A power infallible shall lead the thought in earthly hearts, kindle the Immortal's Fire, even the multitude shall hear the voice! (Sri Aurobindo in DMSSB, 1. For full references, see bibliography at end of paper.)

Mohammed on Sai

[Sanjay Kant:] According to an article published in "Two Worlds" magazine of London, an Iranian writer was irresistibly drawn to a huge volume in Tehran. This Book, called "The Ocean of Light", is in 25 volumes. It is claimed to be the collection of the discourses of Prophet Mohammed. Volume 13 of these discourses is called "Mehedi Moud" in Arabic, meaning "The Great teacher that was promised." The teacher is also referred to as "Master of the World", "Master of Time", "God"s President" and "God Speaking and Advising". Prophet Mohammed is quoted by Peggy Mason to have indicated a large number of signs or marks by which the great teacher would be recognised. Prominent among these hallmarks, which remarkably identify ... Sathya Sai Baba are: "His hair will be profuse. His forehead will be large and concave. His nose will be small, with a slight bump at the bridge. His front teeth will be spaced apart. He will have a mole on his cheek. He will not have a beard but will be clean shaven. His clothing will be like a flame. He will wear two robes (one an under robe). The colour of his face will be some times yellow like gold, some times very dark and some times shining like the moon. His body will be small. His legs will be like those of a young girl. All the teachings of all the religions of the world will be in his heart from birth. All the science and knowledge of the world from the beginning of time will be in his heart.

All things which you will ask from God, he (the Master of the World) will give you. All the treasures are under his feet. He will give gifts that are light in weight. He will go around among his devotees and touch their heads with his hand. Every eye that sees him will be happy, not only humans but disembodied souls. He will live 95 years. (Sai Baba has said that will be in the present body for 95 years -- this means he would leave his present body around 2020 A.D.)

In the last twenty years of His life, He will be the 'King of the whole world', but at that time only two thirds of the world will believe Him.. (This period would then be 2000 A.D. -- corroborating [the] Cayce Prophecies [see below]. Muslims will recognise him only nine years before his passing from the world. He will make the world light and full of peace. So as not to be deceived, you should know that the Master of the World will bring things out of His body, through His mouth. (GDOE, 29-31.)

According to all prophecies and predictions Sathya Sai Baba is going to emerge as the universal Messiah and savior by the end of this decade. All prophecies and predictions also point to great upheavals on the economic, geographic and political fronts by 2 000 A.D. Recent changes in Russia and eastern Europe are evident examples. (GDOE, 1991, 89.

[Swami Maheshwaranand:] Irani Ma, one of the old devotees of Bhagavan, wanted to publish what prophet Mohammed had prophesied ... "Ocean of Light". In this book 27 attributes pertaining to the Avatar have been mentioned in full detail. Baba, however, did not give permission for its publication. (SSBNNGA, 1990, 39.)

Cayce on Sai

[Sanjay Kant:] When those that have gradually forgotten God entirely have been eliminated ... there will come at the close of this next year, the period when there will be no part of the Globe where man [will not] hear, 'THE LORD HE IS GOD," and when the period has been accomplished, the new era, the new age, is to begin. (Edgar Cayce cited in GDOE, 21. The year of Cayce's prediction is around 1998.)

Nostradamus on Sai

[Sanjay Kant:] According to ... Nostradamus who recorded his prophecies in his book 'Centuries' about 400 years back, a very great leader would be born in South India.... He would have unlimited wisdom and power, and He would be the greatest conqueror in history. He would be [an] immortal ruler. With His efforts, world war would be over, and India's spiritual message to humanity would be spread far and wide. He would observe Thursday as the holy day. (GDOE, 36-7.)

Sai Baba is the Apocalyptic Conqueror and the Kalki Avatar

And I saw, and behold, a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering and to conquer. (St. John, Revelation 6:2.)

And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.

His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns, and he had a name, written, that no man knew, but he himself.

And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.

... .And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. (St. John, Revelation 19:11-13 + 16.)

[Howard Murphet:] There are Sai devotees in the West who think that the Satya Sai Avatar is the promised Conqueror of Saint John's Apocalyptic vision as given in the Book of Revelations in the New Testament. Like all visions lying beyond the space-time dimensions, the Apocalypse is couched in symbolic language. It has, therefore, been given many different interpretations by different people. But in general its theme is the return of the Godman, the Avatar, who will come as a Conqueror of evil forces and establish the Kingdom of God.

In one place St. John writes, 'And I saw heaven open, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.'

In her book The Hidden Manna [Patrizia Norelli-Backlet, The Hidden Manna. Aeon Books: 1976], Patrizia Norelli-Backlet endeavours to interpret the Apocalypse according to cosmic astrology and the language of the zodiac which, she says, was understood by the initiates of old. She states that the Conqueror is, in fact, the Kalki Avatar who is pictured riding a white horse in Hindu Puranas.

Swami has not, himself, stated that he is the Kalki Avatar, but people have experienced, in his presence, visions of that evolutionary Avatar, mounted on a white horse. (SBIG, 1982, 192-3.)

[Kasturi:] The ten incarnations [of Vishnu] were revealed to [a] gentleman, now deceased.... Baba took him to the river and asked him to watch His reflection in the water. The man announced later that he saw at first Sathya Sai Baba Himself, then only the halo of hair that surrounds His Head, and then all the ten incarnations in the order in which they are mentioned in the legendary histories of India; the tenth and last incarnation on a white horse, had the form of Baba Himself! (LSSSB, 62.)

[Hilda Charlton:] As I sat in the bhajan hall at Prasanthi Nilayam, listening to the joyous songs sung by the devotees, and looking at Sai Baba sitting in his chair on the dais, suddenly over Baba's head there appeared a figure of great beauty, riding a white horse. At this time I did not know the significance of this symbolic figure. I asked someone if there was in Hindu scriptures a person who rode a white horse. I was told that the Kalki Avatar rides a white horse, and Kalki is the Avatar for whom people are looking forward. [Cited in SBA, 70.)

[Murphet:] Norelli-Backlet believes that the Hindu Puranas are cosmic revelations, containing the cycles of Times, and the manifestations of divine truth, in their structure, and that the Puranic stories corroborate the Apocalypse of Saint John.

... Some western students of the Sai Movement ... equate him with the Apocalyptic Conqueror, and the Kalki Avatar. If they are right, we can, according to the Apocalypse and the Puranas, [expect] some violent clashes of opposing forces, some cataclysmic world struggles ahead. Avatar Rama led the armies of righteousness in a great war against the demonic forces. Avatar Krishna was involved in the holocaust of the Kurukshetra war. The prophecies foretell even more terrible wars in the time of the Kalki Avatar and St. John's Conqueror. (SBIG, 194.)

[Murphet:] Many rumours fly around as to what Swami has said about frightening large-scale events and conditions of the near future. But when I, and others in my presence, have asked him about these matters, he has never said that cataclysmic wars, with wholesale destruction, are imminent. (SBIG, 195.)

[Murphet:] In [a] talk [with Sage Markandeya] a few years before the Kali Age began [and recorded in the Mahabharata], Lord Vishnu told how Light would come to earth when the evils of the [Kali] Age had reached a level that required the direct action of God. Lord Vishnu said to the sage Markendaya: "When evil is rampant upon this earth, I will take birth in the family of a virtuous man, and assume a human body to restore tranquility by the extermination of all evils; for the preservation of rectitude and morality, I will assume an inconceivable human form when the season for action comes. In the Kali Age of sin I will assume an Avatar form that is dark in color. I will be born in a family in South India. This Avatar will possess great energy, great intelligence and great powers. Material objects needed for this Avatar's mission will be at his disposal as soon as He will think of them. He will be victorious with the strength of virtue. He will restore order and peace in the world. This Avatar will inaugurate a new Era of Truth, and will be surrounded by spiritual people. He will roam over the earth adored by the spiritual people."

"The people of the earth will imitate this Avatar's conduct, and there will be prosperity and peace. Men will once more betake themselves to the practice of religious rites. Educational centers for the cultivation of Brahmic lore, and temples, will reappear again everywhere. Ashrams will be filled with men of Truth. Rulers of the earth will govern their kingdoms virtuously. The Avatar will have an illustrious reputation. "

This prophecy concerning the Kalki Avatar, from the Mahabharata, is collaborated in the ancient classic, the Vishnu Purana, which also mentions that this Avatar will display great superhuman powers in establishing the new age of Truth. It adds that, "His parents will be devotees of Vishnu, and will reside in a village worshipping the cowherd form of Sri Krishna." (SBA, 71.)

Baba Mentioned in Ancient Hindu Scriptures and Naadis

[Swami Maheshwaranand:] What is special about [the epic called the Jaimini Mahabharata] is that it contains a detailed and complete account of Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, an incarnation of Lord Shiva. It mentions the name of the Avatar, a full account of his dynasty, and contains descriptions [of] several wonderful miracles. performed by the Lord indicating the beginning of a new era by establishing true religion on the lines of Satya Yuga.

The Siddhas who visited the Gufa Ashram had the good fortune of going through this holy book. They were amazed to see, read and hear the contents. They realised then that over five thousand years ago the great Muni Jaimini who was [farther] advanced in spirituality than them predicted .... the incarnation of Lord Sainath. (SBNNGA, 1990, 35.)

[Swami Maheshwaranand:] When the sadhakas staying at Gufa Ashram sought permission for the publication of the reference about Bhagavan Baba in Jaimini Mahabharata, Baba refused. (SSBNNGA, 1990, 39.)

[Swami Maheshwaranand:] Acharya Ganjur Narayana of Bangalore is in possession of a rare script of 'Sai Charitamrutum'. This was written by Shuka Muni five thousand years ago. There is a detailed description about the incarnation of Lord Sai in Kaliyuga. Some of the Sai lovers approached Bhagavan and sought permission to publish this important document. But their request was not granted. (SSBNNGA, 1990, 39.)

[Shakuntala Balu:] A well known astrology professor ... of Bangalore, Sri Ganjur Narayana Shastry, recently traced a Shuka Naadi Grantha (a volume of palm leaf manuscripts by Sage Shuka) on Sri Sathya Sai Baba, entitled Saicharitamrita Grantham. It consists of hundreds of palm leaf manuscripts written in Sanskrit and is thought to have been set down over 5000 years ago. It describes, accurately and at great length, Sri Sathya Sai Baba's family tree and many facts about him. ...

His glory will spread, and many people will get near him. ... Total equanimity will be his. ... He will not be concerned with public opinion and will only do what is right. ... His life will be for the good of mankind. .... The naadi astrologer says that adharma (unrighteousness) has grown to three fourths proportion. When it increases by one fourth more, that is when all becomes unrighteousness, Sri Sathya Sai Baba's full powers will come into play and be known in the world. In other words, evil has to rise to its uttermost before his divine quality can be fully realised.

As things stand at present, Sri Sathya Sai Baba displays only one tenth of his real self. After a while, his efforts to save the world will increase tenfold.... He will show that he alone can control the fury of nature. ... In a short time, his greatness will spread further and there will be universal worship of Sathya Sai. ....

If people recognise the truth of Sri Sathya Sai Baba, salvation will not be long to follow. ... The Shuka Naadi emphasises that Sainatha (Lord Sai) is Mahavishnu Swarupa, a form of Great Vishnu Himself. Seeing Him is the same as looking upon Lord Vishnu. . ..

Very soon, more and more people will come to accept his divinity, for they will have seen his divine powers. After the spring of 1979, the tide will turn and dharma will slowly reassert itself, atheism will begin to decrease. India will come into better days, too, and once again the influence of the present Mahapurusha [great being] or Mahashakti [great power] will be decisive. Sri Sathya Sai Baba will perform even greater miracles, more wondrous than any he has performed up to now. One of the examples of his miracles mentioned in the Shuka Naadi is ... he will keep an aeroplane airborne for a long time after it runs out of fuel, through his will alone. ... Very soon now, the days of his great glory will be upon us. (LD, 51-6.)

One article, which was taken from Sanathana Sarathi of February 1961 is entitled "Bhagavan Sathya Sai Baba's 500-year old Horoscope." It reads: "There is an institution in New Delhi known as Indian Astro-Occult Research Association. Dr. E.V. Sastry [ evidently not the same as Sri Ganjur Narayana Shastry of the previous instance], a famous and prominent member of the association happened to read the book Sathyam Sivam Sundaram. He then began a search to find out from Nadi Grandham available in Tamil Nadu, about the indications in Baba's horoscope. ... In these collections of grandhas which are more than five hundred years old and are considered as one of the wonders of the world, were found some parts describing Baba, all of which were not in a single instance different from what is published about Baba's life in the book Sathyam Sivam Sundaram. This truth made him wonderstruck. ... Dr. Sastry ... [whose] pen name is Leo ... happened to come to Puttaparthi in November 1960 on the birthday of Baba. On that occasion Dr. Sastry had with him an old palm leaf taken out from the Nadi Grandham, which contained details about Baba written by ... an old, famous and well learned pandit.

... In one Nadhi Grandha the following is said: "The person to whom this horoscope relates in his previous birth was Sai Baba, who was a famous Maharishi. He was also a world famous Sad Guru!" Another Nadi says, "I am an avatar of Sai". ... In all three Nadis [Agastheya, Budha and Sukra Nadis], the names of his father and mother are mentioned, clearly, truly and accurately. In addition, another fact clearly mentioned in these is, "the person to whom this horoscope relates, whose name is Sathyanarayana Raju, will renounce the world in his boyhood, will start schools and hospitals, will publish books for the upliftment of the world, will spend every day of his whole lifetime for the establishment of dharma, which is his ideal and objective." Another fact written in Budha Nadi is, "the person to whom this horoscope relates will spend the whole of his lifetime always enjoying the bliss from uniting jivatma with paramatma." In Agastheya Nadi it is mentioned that Baba will be an all merciful avatar of God. Not only that, but it is also mentioned that He will be Akkilathara pitha, i.e., authority of manava vamsam, preceptor, protector, and father of the world.

In Sukra Nadi it is written, "Baba will have all the siddhis, possessed by Sai Baba; by love, kindness and knowledge he will establish eternal bliss in this world. He will establish a mandir which will be conducive for practising tapas, etc." On top of all this is another important passage in Sukra Nadi, i.e., "the person to whom this horoscope relates will be an avatar amongst the avatars." Another sentence is, "He will derive immense pleasure in the service of mankind."

... The fact about [Baba's] coming into being, written separately, several centuries before His incarnation by three special expert astrologers, ... describing His character which is in no way different from what we see now in Him, is an agreeable surprise. (GOS, 122.)

1955 - Baba's Mission

In this avathar [Divine Incarnation], the wicked will not be destroyed; they will be corrected and reformed and educated and led back to the path from which they have strayed. (SSS, I, 22; from talk given Mahashivaratri, 1955.)

1955 - Follow My Advice

You can get Anandam [Divine Bliss] only by following the advice I give you and that is why I am particular that you should listen carefully and take to heart all that I say. (SSS, I, 15; Mahashivaratri, 1955.)

1956

1956 - The Avatar's Mission

When man loses his way and strays into the wilderness, believing that he is the body or gunas [illusory cosmic qualities] or the object, then the Avathar comes to warn and guide. (SSS, I, 25; from talk given August 1, 1956.)

The present situation in the world is like a typhoon, causing unrest and confusion. No one has mental quiet; fear and anxiety stalk everywhere; panic reigns even while the conquest of space and the creation of new planets is being hailed. (SSS, I, 39; from a talk given Feb. 2, 1958.)

Today, the typhoon of hatred and falsehood is scattering the clouds of Dharma [Righteousness], Nyaya [Philosophy] and Sathya [Truth] to the far corners of the sky and people feel that Sanathana Dharma [Hinduism in particular; the Ancient Wisdom in general] itself is in danger of extinction. But that can happen only if the lord wills, and the Lord who has laid down the Dharma [the Law or Order] will not allow it to be destroyed. (SSS, I, 51; March 24, 1958.)

The World today is suffering from Rajobuddhi [restlessnes of mind] rather than Thamas [slothfulness]; people have violent likes and dislikes; they have become fanatical and factious, they are carried away by pomp and noise, show and propaganda; that is why discrimination has become necessary. To reach the goal, Sathwabuddhi [balance of mind] is essential; it will seek the Truth calmly and stick to it whatever the consequence. (SSS,I, 66; July 25, 1958.)

1958 - Baba's Mission

Man ... has been forgetting the path prescribed in the Scriptures for the cultivation of his nature, and hence all this suffering: hence also My Advent. (SSS, I, 65; July 25, 1958.)

Of course, I confer on you these boons of health and prosperity but only so that you might, with greater enthusiasm and with less interruption, proceed with spiritual Sadhana [practice]. (SSS, I, 66; July 25, 1958.)

1958 - The Lord is Omnipotent

They feared that I may not be able to cross the floods and come south in time for this engagement. From the fact that I had permitted them to announce My arrival for this function, they could well have inferred that the floods would subside and that I would be in their midst, for once My Word goes forth, it must happen accordingly. Do not doubt it. (SSS, I, 94; Sept. 9, 1958.)

Believe Me, nothing can hamper Me; My will must prevail. Those who spread stories that I was held up by the floods were ignorant of My Reality.

Nothing can hold Me up or agitate Me or cast a shadow on Me in this Human Form; be certain of that. Not even a hair can be touched by forces of calumny or distrust or ignorance. My Sankalpa [Will] must prevail; My task must be accomplished. My Mission will succeed. I have come to illuminate the human heart with the Light Divine and to rid man of the delusion that drags him away from the path of Santhi [Peace], the perfect equanimity of Realisation. (SSS, I, 94-5; Sept. 9, 1958.)

1958 - The Lord is Inscrutable

No one can understand my Mystery. The best you can do is to get immersed in it. It is no use your arguing about pros and cons; dive and know the depth; eat and know the taste. (SSS, I, 71; July 25, 1958.)

1958 - I Give You What You Ask For

I am like a shopkeeper whose shop is stocked with all things man needs. But, like the man behind the counter, I give you only what you ask for; if the customer asks for a towel, how can I give him a dhoti [wearing cloth]? But these material things are not important at all. Ask for Bhakthi [Devotion]and for Jnana [Wisdom] and I shall be happy. Many do not crave for such things now; it is their misfortune. They are merely wasting their chance. (SSS, I, 54; March 24, 1958.)he Lord is the Kalpatharu, the Divine Tree that gives whatever is asked. But you have to go near the tree and ask for what you want. (SSS, I, 59; March 25, 1958.)

Earn the right to approach the Lord without fear and the right to ask for your heritage. (SSS, I, 59; March 25, 1958.)

1958 - Love is the Wealth I have to Give You

You can call me Premaswarupa [Embodiment of Divine Love]! You will not be wrong! Prema [divine love] is the wealth I have and which I scatter among the miserable and afflicted. (SSS, I, 63; July 22, 1958.)

1958 - What is Essential

It is not even Bhakthi that is essential. It is Love, Truth, Virtue, the eagerness to progress, to serve, to expand one's heart, to take in the whole of humanity in one's Love, to see all as Forms of the Divine Consciousness. (SSS, I, 55; March 24, 1958.)

Today, I am really full of joy for I have before me people who are engaged in hardy toil and who sacrifice their personal comforts in order to make others happy. What the world needs is work done in that spirit. (SSS, I, 83; Sept. 2, 1958.)

1958 - Attach Yourself to the Lord

Attachment to nature has limits, but the attachment to the Lord that you develop when the Inner Eye opens has no limits. (SSS, I, 43; Feb. 2, 1958.)

Attach your mind to the Lord. Then you will be led on to the company of good men and your talents will be transmuted. (SSS, I, 67; July 25, 1958.)

1958 - Begin Now

You owe your birth to God, you subsist on God and you merge in God. Every living thing has to reach that consummation; why, every non-living thing too. So, do it now; take the first step, purify the heart, sharpen the intellect or at least, begin the recital of the name of the Lord. That will give you all the rest in due time. (SSS, I, 79; Sept. 2, 1958.)

The tragedy is that when Godhead is invisible, formless, you concretise it as you like and pray to it and get consolation and strength out of it; but when it is before you, concretised in human form, you doubt and discuss and deny! (SSS, I, 127; from talk given July 10, 1959.)

The Lord had announced that he would come down for the restoration of Dharma and that He would assume human form so that He might gather round Him and feel the thrill of His Companionship and Conversation. And the Lord has Come, as announced. (SSS, I, 150; Jan. 22, 1960.)

1959 - The Lord is Inscrutable

You need not waste time in trying to discover Me and My Nature. Understand what I teach, not 'who is the teacher' for I am beyond your intellect and your sakthi. You will understand Me only through My work. That is why sometimes in order to reveal who I am, I myself show you my 'Visiting Card', something you call a Miracle. Know the 'marma' or the mystery and carry out the karma or the duty I assign you. (SSS, I, 114; February 2, 1959.)

1959 - How Best to Use the Avatar

You must dive deep into the sea to get the pearls. ... So also if you must realise the full fruit of this Avathar, dive deep and get immersed in Sai Baba. Half-heartedness, hesitation, doubt, cynicism, listening to tales, all are of no avail. Concentrated complete faith - that alone can bring victory. This is true of any worldly activity, is it not? How much more true it must be, therefore, in the spiritual field? (SSS, I, 128; July 10, 1959.)

1959 - The Past and Future of India

The science of spiritual culture and of the control of the mind has been developed and practised in this country for thousands of years; and that is why Indian civilisation has stood the shock of ages and the fury of typhoons that swept whole peoples off their feet. India is still green and fresh, on the threshold of a new era, under the leadership of her on ancient ideals. (SSS, I, 135; July 11, 1959.)

1959 - The Next Generation

In the next fifteen years, a number of young people now growing up will shine as devoted aspirants in the spiritual field; they know that each of them is Nithyam [Eternal] and Sathyam [Truthful] and Pavithram [Holy] and that they are Amrithaputhras or children of immortality. They are growing in Viveka [Discernment] and Vairagya [Renunciation] and they are purifying themselves by Namasmarana [repetition of the Name of God]. (SSS, I, 114; Feb. 7, 1959.)

1959 - Let There be Consistency in Thought, Word and Deed

You who shared in this glorification of the Lord will tomorrow as enthusiastically join in some other gathering where falsehood and injustice are honoured! There is no consistency in your behaviour. What you feel as correct and what you do are poles apart. That is not the mark of a Bhaktha [devotee]. (SSS, I, 124; April 12, 1959.)

Karma [action] is the very foundation of Bhakthi [devotion]. It is the basement on which devotion is built. Dharma is the attitude in which action is done, the Truth, Prema and Equanimity with which the mind is activated, when it seeks to do things. ... Those dominated by Sathwaguna [the quality of balance, goodness, or purity] will do Karma, regardless of the fruits thereof, leaving the result to the Lord, not worrying whether it leads to success or failure, conscious of their duties and never of their rights. (SSS, I, 125; April 12, 1959.)

1959 - Give up the Pursuit of Wealth

The Jivi [individual soul] has come to this birth in order to reveal the splendour of the spark of Godhead which it is. The body is the wick of the lamp, yearning for God is the ghee which feeds the flame. But like the rat which, attracted by the strong smelling cheap stuff inside the trap, neglects all other articles of food in the granary and falls a prey to its foolishness, man too neglects his real sustenance and wastes his life in pursuit of mortal riches. (SSS, I, 125; April 12, 1959.)

1959 - Liberation does not Come at a Single Jump

The sensory world is the cloud that hides the Atma [Self], ever shining in the firmament of your heart. ... Train the mind to disperse the clouds, not to gather them. Every aspirant has to do this by following a systematic discipline. You cannot reach the peak in one jump; it is a hard job to negate the evidence of the senses; one has to overcome the tendencies that have grown through hundreds of births. (SSS, I, 121; April 12, 1959.)

1960 - Baba's Mission

I have come to set the world right and so I have to collect all those who are ill and treat them in my 'Hospital' and restore them to sanity, strength and wisdom and send them back to their stations in life. I must intensify your bhakthi, reinforce your faith and rebuild the foundations of your moral nature, so that you can counter temptations with greater confidence. (SSS, I, 183; Sept. 28, 1960.)

All these [spiritual treasures] are now fast declining and I have come to restore them to their pristine purity and strength. (SSS, I, 175; Sept. 27, 1960.)

My Mission is to give you Ananda [Divine Bliss] and I am ever ready to do so. (SSS, I, 155; from talk given June 25, 1960.)

Showering Ananda, that is My task. (SSS, I, 180; Sept. 28, 1960.)

You are My treasure; even if you deny Me. I am your treasure, even if you say No. I shall be affectionate to you and attach Myself to you; I shall take all the trouble to keep My property safe in My custody! That is to say, in the custody of the Lord, by whichever name you may be calling upon Him. All the powers I have are for you; I am just the store-keeper, keeping them ready to be given to you, whenever you ask for them. My Prema [Divine Love] shall [I] give even if you do not ask, for it is your right to share in it. (SSS, I, 182; Sept. 28, 1960.)

1960 - The Lord is Inscrutable

No one can unravel the Mystery of the Lord. (SSS, I, 175; Sept. 27, 1960.)

You cannot understand Me and My Secret ... without first understanding yourselves. For, if you are too weak to grasp your own Reality, how can you hope to fathom the much grander Reality of My Advent? To grasp My Meaning, you have to tear into tatters the doubts and theories you now have and cultivate Prema; for the embodiment of Prema can be understood only through Prema. (SSS, I, Jan. 22, 1960.)

I have no ... balance of karma to work out! I am unaffected by karma.... The Mahasakthi [Divine Energy] puts on the cloak of Mayasakthi [illusory energy and its forms] in order to fulfil the purpose of contacting and protecting mankind. I have no desire and so, no binding karma. It is only you who have the desire, aim and wish that drag you along various paths. For Me, your Ananda is My Food, your elation is the swing on which I sit. Your activity is My Playground. (SSS, I, 179; Sept. 28, 1960.)

1960 - The Lord is Unchanging

The Lord will never undergo a fundamental change; only the external form may change, the essence will be the same. ... The Lord will be characterised by unbounded Prema and unsullied sweetness. (SSS, I, 180;Sept. 28, 1960.)

1960 - My Will Must Succeed

[The superpower] will never engage Itself in any task without fruit. (SSS, I, 180;Sept. 28, 1960.)

There is no one who can change My course or affect My conduct to the slightest extent. I am the Master over all. (SSS, I, 182; Sept. 28, 1960.)

I will be in this mortal form for 59 years more and I shall certainly achieve the purpose of this Avathar, do not doubt it. I will take My own Time to carry out My Plan so far as you are concerned. I cannot hurry because you are hurrying.

I may sometimes wait until I can achieve ten things at one stroke.... But My Word will never fail; it must happen as I Will. (SSS, I, 189; Sept. 29, 1960.)

1960 - The World is My Mansion

Suffering in one corner of the world is as much the concern of the Lord as suffering in any other. ... The world is a Temple; the temple of the Lord, His body where He resides. (SSS, I, 156; June 25, 1960.)

1960 - I Speak with the Authority of Love

I am not commanding you today on the basis of my authority; I am telling you out of the fullness of Prema, on the basis of the right I have to chastise you and direct you along the path. (SSS, I, 152; Jan. 22, 1960.)

I have not come for propaganda or publicity or gaining disciples or devotees. I am yours and you are Mine. Where then is the need for publicity? I give not lectures but mixtures for your mental health and moral re-invigoration. So take My words as medicine necessary for your health. (SSS, I, 159; June 25, 1960.)

1960 - I Want no Praise

I do not want you to extol Me; I shall be satisfied if you rely on Me. (SSS, I, 180;Sept. 28, 1960.)

1960 - Only He Knows What is Ahead

The Lord alone is aware of the Plan, for His is the Plan. You see only a part of the play on the stage and so it is all very confused. When the entire story is unfolded, then you will appreciate His Plan, not until then. (SSS, I, 181; Sept. 28, 1960.)

1960 - Our Role

If by acting your role well you develop Prema [Divine Love] towards fellow-actors, that is more important than getting Bhakthi [Devotion] for God. If you acquire Santhi [Peace], that is a more valuable success than acquiring Jnana [Wisdom]. For Bhakthi is the seed of Prema and Jnana is the seed of Santhi. At least, Bhakthas should behave as if they are all of one family. (SSS, I, 181; Sept. 28, 1960.)

Let each one march at his own pace; only the direction and the road have to be God-wards. (SSS, I, 183; Sept. 28, 1960.)

1960 - Don't Miss This Opportunity

I must tell you that you are luckier than men of previous generations. The accumulated merit of many previous births must have granted you this luck. You have got Me and it is your duty now to develop this relationship that you have achieved by sheer good fortune. In four or five years' time, you will see Yogis [those who are united with God] and Maharishis [great seers] and Munis [silent sages] crowding here and you may not have such chances of asking Me questions and getting the answers, of approaching Me and directly speaking to Me. (SSS, I, 174-5; Sept. 27, 1960.)

I have now fallen into your grasp, the very Treasure that you have been searching for. (SSS, I, 186; Sept. 29, 1960.)

The mysterious indescribable superpower has come within reach. ... I bring tears of joy into your eyes and wipe the tears of grief. ... I make [people] mad about God and about the Sadhana [spiritual practise] needed [to reach Him]. I cure the madness which makes people run frantically after fleeting pleasures and fall into fits of joy and grief.(SSS, I, 180;Sept. 28, 1960.)

You must know how to use the chance that you have got in this life to come in contact with the Lord. ... How you use this chance depends upon your destiny and luck and the amount of Grace that you are able to win. Develop faith; strengthen devotion; and everything will follow. ... I command you: never hate others, or wish evil of them or talk ill of them. Then only can you attain the Santhaswarupam [??]. (SSS, I, 181; Sept. 28, 1960.)

1960 - The Way is Long

To reach the [final] stage..., you have got to go a long way. But do not be down-hearted.... I am here ready to help you from the first lesson to the last. Do not be weighed down by sorrow that your Prarabdha karma is against your progress. The accumulation of the effects of your past karma is sanchitha and out of that store what you have selected for present consumption can be made sweet, palatable and health-giving. Moreover, God's Grace can destroy the effects of past karma or modify its rigour. Never doubt that. If the law of Karma is so unbreakable, then why recommend Sadhana, good living and cultivation of virtue? Prarabdha [karmic consequences that one is currently encountering] will melt like mist before the Sun if you win the Grace of the Lord! ( SSS, I, 196; Sept. 30, 1960.)

1966 - Baba Refuses Audience to Advanced Sadhakas

[Swami Maheshwaranand:] Bhagavan Baba is not allowing the Rishis [divine seers] and Siddhas [those with yogic powers] to meet him. But the time is not far off when all [the] ill take human forms and ... go to Puttaparthi along with [the] Rishis and Munis to offer their prayerful salutations to the Lord and seek His blessings.

Twenty years ago [ie., 1966] ... the Lord was having breakfast with some close devotees. They proposed to Bhagavan [i.e., the Lord], "Swami! Your leelas and miracles are the talk of every home in almost all the major countries of the world. As such we want to organise a conference of all spiritual seekers at the international level and declare from that forum that God, the Creator of this Universe, has already come down to earth. By so doing the entire humanity will get the benefit of the Lord's presence."

Bhagavan Baba listened to them with a smile and spoke compassionately, "Your feelings for your fellow beings are commendable and I respect them. But that time is still far off. Prior to that I have to bring such persons near me, who, in their previous lives, have been incessantly and untiringly trying to get access to me through their severe sadhana. A time will come when the world will know about the Avatar through public declaration. All the same impelled by a sense of duty if you wish to bring this truth to the knowledge of your fellow devotees and friends, you may do so on a personal level." (SSBNNGA, 1990, book written in 1986, 38.)

1968 - Kali Yuga

At the present time, strife and discord have robbed peace and unity from the family, the school, the society, the religions, the cities and the state. (Baba in 1968 in HMAP, 1975, 86.)

Respect for spiritual institutions, temples, holy places, elders and sacred books is fast declining. Pride in material wealth and competition in acquiring it, are fast increasing. This is the tragedy of our times. (SSS, VI, 169; from talk given March 26, 1 968.)

Man's mind is too full of the world; his stomach is demanding too much of his time and energy. His desires and wants are multiplying too fast for his capacity to satisfy them; his dreams are far too real for him; they lead him into false victories and absurd adventures. Engrossed in the analysis of the material world, he has lost all sense of sin, sweetness and sublimity; under this new dispensation, truth has become just a word in the dictionary. Compassion is reduced to a meaningless travesty. Humility, patience, reverence -- these are invalid as a flameless lamp in the far distance.

The only hold that man has in this dreadful darkness is the name of God. That is the raft which will take him across this stormy sea, darkened by hate and fear, churned by anxiety and terror. (SSS, VI, 163; Feb. 26, 1968.)

1968 - Baba's Mission

God incarnates for the revival of Dharma (Righteousness) which includes morality, truth, virtue, love and a host of other qualities that uphold the communities of man as well as the individual. The other purposes usually give -- serving the devoted, destroying the wicked, re-establishing the sacred tradition -- these are all secondary. For, he who is righteous will be guarded from harm, by righteousness itself; he who is unrighteous will fall into disaster through the evil that he perpetrates. The one task includes all else.

I shall fulfil that task, whatever the comments that others may make. Comment is a natural corollary. I do not pay attention to it; nor should you. The higher the hill, the deeper the valley. Praise or blame will not affect me in the least. The unshakeable foundation on which my work is proceeding is Ananda. I cannot be moved from it, by any one, at any time. (SSS, VI, 167; from talk given Feb. 26, 1968.)

For the protection of the virtuous, for the destruction of evil-doers and for establishing righteousness on a firm footing, I incarnate from age to age. Whenever asanthi, or disharmony, overwhelms the world, the Lord will incarnate in human form to establish the modes of earning prasanthi, or peace, and to reeducate the human community in the paths of peace. (Baba in 1968 in HMAP, 1975, 86.)

I have come to correct the buddhi, the intelligence, by various means. I have to counsel, help, command, condemn and stand by as a friend and well-wisher to all, so that they may give up evil propensities and, recognizing the straight mark, tread it and reach the goal. (Baba in 1968 in HMAP, 1975, 87.)

I have come to give you the key to the treasure of ananda, or bliss, to teach you how to tap that spring, for you have forgotten the way to blessedness. If you waste this time of saving yourselves, it is just your fate. You have come to get from me tinsel and trash, the petty little cures and promotions, worldly joys and comforts. Very few of you desire to get from me the thing that I have come to give you: namely, liberation itself. Even among these few, those who stick to the path of sadhana, or spiritual practice, and succeed are a handful. (Baba in 1968 in HMAP, 1975, 88.)

1968 - Who Can be Called a Devotee?

You can lay claim to be a devotee only when you have placed yourself in my hands fully and completely with no trace of ego. (Baba in 1968 in HMAP, 1975, 86.)

1968 - Baba's Promise

Cultivate a nearness with me in the heart and it will be rewarded. Then you too will acquire a fraction of that supreme love (Baba in 1968 in HMAP, 1975, 91.).

You can enjoy the bliss through the experience the Avatar confers. (Baba in 1968 in HMAP, 1975, 86.)

1968 - The West Misleads Itself

In western countries now, God is denied, and man is relying on himself; he exaggerates his own intelligence and sense of adventure and prides himself on the advance he has made through science and technology. But, intelligence without equanimity is filling mental hospitals. Peace is fleeing from the hearts of men and women; social harmony is becoming a distant dream; international concord is a mirage, pursued by a few. Man travels to the moon, but does not explore his own inner levels of consciousness. ( SSS, VII, March 16, 1968, 12.)

1968 - When Changes will Start

[Dr. John Hislop:] According to the astrology of ancient times, the change in world conditions to be brought about by Swami's influence will come in about 15 years [this conversation was in December, 1968]. This was predicted about 5,600 years ago in the Upanishads. The coming of Baba, the Sai Avatar, which includes the three incarnations, is all forecast quite clearly. People born in this generation may consider themselves quite fortunate. (CSSB, 1978, 101. The 1985 change is the beginning of the "Great Awakening," mentioned below; the beginning of the Golden Age is said to occur around 1998-2000.)

1968 - Be Confident that You will All be Liberated

This is a great chance. Be confident that you will all be liberated. Know that you are saved. Many hesitate to believe that things will improve, that life will be happy for all and full of joy, and that the golden age will recur. Let me assure you that this dharmaswarupa, that this divine body, has not come in vain. It will succeed in averting the crisis that has come upon humanity. (Baba in 1968 in HMAP, 1975, 91.)

A group of scholars who had come to me recently asked me, "Swami! You talk of the flames of anxiety and fear; but, surely, you appreciate the great step forward that man has taken by landing on the moon!" I told them, it was wrong to spend billions of dollars and roubles on such enterprises. ... It is a question of priorities; first things first. When so many nations upon the Earth are undernourished, undereducated, underhoused, it is sheer absence of discrimination to spend time, skill and money for this spectacular competitive adventure. Later, when the earth has been made the home of a happy family of peoples, such enterprises can be planned. (SSS, VIII, 7; from talk given March 6, 1970.)

1970 - Live in the Community

The community in which you find yourself is the arena where you can win the victory, the gymnasium where you develop the skill to win. The spiritual journey lies through compassion, sympathy, mutual help, and service, and these are fostered by society and are to be used for society. (SSS, VIII, 5; from talk given March 6, 1970.)

1971

1971 - Baba's Mission

Baba has announced many times that He has come to save the world and [that] He is the Lord Himself. (LBSSSB, 1971, 181.)

My task is the spiritual regeneration of humanity through truth and love. I have come to show you how to live usefully and die profitably. (LBSSSB, 1971, 207.)

I have come to guide and bless those who undergo the discipline and practice leading to Divine union. (LBSSSB, 1971, frontispiece.)

I came ... because the good men of the world, the saintly, the wise, the sage, and the seeker, the guides and the Godly longed for Me. (LBSSSB, 1971, 235.)

Where there is a desire for mental tranquillity, I hurry to grant it; where there is melancholy, I hasten to lift the drooping heart; where there is no mutual trust, I restore it; I am ever on the move to fulfil the mission for which I have come. (LBSSSB, 1971, 124.)

Baba's campaign of spreading the message of love has only just begun, and all who have heard His message can clearly visualize the significance of the declaration He made on the opening page of Sanathana Sarathi [the name means "the ancient charioteer" and refers to Krishna in particular, who guided Arjuna's chariot in the battle of Kurukshetra, the backdrop of the Bhagavad-Gita, and God in general, who is the internal Guide], the monthly magazine He inaugurated on February 16, 1958, the thirty-second year of His earthly career. On that day, the Sanathana Sarathi, the charioteer, started out on the campaign against falsehood, injustice, wickedness and evil -- the minions of the spirit of egoism. The victory to be won is the welfare of the entire world. When the triumphant drums are beaten in the joy of success, humanity will have achieved happiness and peace, prosperity and bliss.

The word "Sarathi" is an assurance from Baba that He will guide the seeker if only he takes the initial step of inviting Him to take over the reins of his life. The word "Sanathana" is a reminder that this has been the role of Baba since the dawn of creation. (LBSSSB, 1971, 224.)

I have not started the work for which I have come for I am still in the stage of preliminary reconnaissance. When I start my campaign the whole world will know of it and benefit by it. (LBSSSB, 1971, frontispiece.)

Already the plans of the campaign are clear on the horizon. (LBSSSB, 1971, 209-10.)

1971 - Time not Ready for Publicity

You know this [incident] now, because [someone] wrote about it. But remember, this is only a millionth part of My activity in showering Grace. (LBSSSB, 1971, 186.)

1971 - Baba Reveals His Time of Death

[Kasturi:] Baba has assured us that He will remain in the human frame beyond the year 2020. (LBSSSB, 1971, 235.)

1971 - Shirdi and Sathya Sai Baba

The mother is usually stern when the children enter the kitchen and disturb her while cooking; but while serving the food, she is all joy and patience. I am now serving you the dishes cooked then [when I was Shirdi Sai Baba]; wherever you may be, if you are hungry, and if you have a plate, I shall serve you the dishes and feed you to your heart's content. (LBSSSB, 1971, 170.)

1971 - Baba's Behavior is All Meaningful

I never utter a word that does not have significance, or do a deed without beneficial consequence. (LBSSSB, 1971, 196.)

1971 - Baba will help the Sincere Inquirer

If you ... act according to My words, and put them into daily practice, I will gladly tell you more and more, for that is the reason why I have come. (LBSSSB, 1971, 225.)

1971 - His Devotees Rely on Him

Why fear when I am here? Put all your faith in Me. I shall guide and guard you. (LBSSSB, 1971, 98.)

Ardent devotees of Sai Baba are content to leave the welfare of their physical frames to His Will. (LBSSSB, 1971, 111.)

Nothing will harm him who turns his attention towards Me. (Shirdi Sai Baba in LBSSSB, 1971, 187-8.)

1971 - Our Good Fortune

You of this generation are indeed lucky that you have the fortune of contact with Me and the chance to receive the guidance I have come to give. (LBSSSB, 1971, 227.)

1971 - Grace Available to All

It is not mentioned anywhere that the Grace of God is available only for certain classes or races or grades of people. From the smallest to the biggest, throughout the world, all are entitled to it. (LBSSSB, 1971, 210.)

1971 - Religion is Being Challenged

[He said] religion and belief in God are being challenged now from all quarters. It is therefore the duty of all good men to meet this challenge by demonstrating to the critics how the realization of the constant presence of the Lord has made them more efficient, more earnest, and more courageous for the task of living. (LBSSSB, 1971, 204.)

1971 - The Character of New World Leaders

The world can achieve prosperity and peace only through ... persons whose hearts are pure and whose minds are free of prejudice and passion, lust and greed, anger and envy. (LBSSSB, 1971, frontispiece.)

1971 - Service Undedicated to God is Unprofitable

Though the service of humanity is holy, unless it is merged in the higher ideal of the Lord, realizing the Lord immanent in all, adoring the Lord in the form of everyone, there is no profit at all. One should have full faith in the divinity of man and service should be offered in the uninterrupted contemplation of the Lord. Use the power, knowledge and attainments the Lord has endowed you with for the greater glory of the Lord, whatever be the field of activity or the region of duty where you are called upon to render service. (LBSSSB, 1971, 231.)

1974

1974- Prepare to Shoulder Your Task

Prepare for shouldering the task assigned to you - to be instruments dedicated [to] the mission on which the Divine has come. (SSS, IX, 94.)

1975 - The Kali Yuga

You are fully aware of the characteristics of this Kaliyuga [an age of evil and violence] we are passing through. You find around you injustice, irregularities, immorality and untruth with all their devilish attributes and atrocities. But we have to march ahead in spite of all this with a quiet, tolerant and benign attitude towards life. (BSSS, 1975, 72.)

The main reason for this disorder is that the human mind is haunted and dominated by two devilish blemishes, viz. selfishness and ambition. These forces are standing in the way of human beings realising the human values which go to make up humanity. It is not becoming of a man to exchange his valuable life -- as precious as a gem -- for worldly desires and ambitions which are as worthless as a coal-stone. Man becomes immortal neither by deeds, nor by procreation nor by wealth. We should therefore try to make our lives meaningful by sacrificing our personal comforts for the sake of society and our fellow beings. (BSSS, 1975, 73.)

1975 - Baba's Mission

It is my mission on earth to make every one happy. (BSSSB, 1975, 228.)

1975 - Baba's Promise

Today our country is witnessing a number of agitations and disturbances. People have a fear that any moment foreigners may step in and dominate our national life. ... But there is no scope for such fear of disaster. You need not be afraid of any such eventuality. You should develop a spirit of sacrifice and derive pleasure from within. You keep the weapon of love always sharp and shining. An atom bomb can destroy innumerable lives while the bomb of love unites several hearts and fills them with love. We should therefore develop this love for all mankind and accommodate them in our hearts. (BSSS, 1975, 48.)

1975 - Why Baba Avoids Publicity

[Miracles are] happening in millions of homes. The time has not come as yet to assess it publicly. I am waiting so that all the devotees who have yet to come to me may do so. (BSSSB, 1975, 73.)

1975 - Timetable of the Golden Age

[Dr. V.K. Gokak:] There is the possibility that there is going to be a world crisis around the 1980s, after which there will be a definite turn towards what we call the Golden Age. At this time, it will be clear to man that any more entering into world power games will end in disaster for the whole world; and this will not be done. Simultaneous with this realization, there will be a descent of Grace. This descent of Grace is what will really bring forward the "Hour of God". This "Hour of God" is different from the prediction regarding the collapse of California.

The "Hour of God" is the hour of the unexpected; there will be different patterns in things. We may find that all elections that take place will place good men into positions of power. It is the good men that will begin to lead the industries. It will be the good men that will serve the people. Then there will be a great change in the very atmosphere. This will be one of the signs of the coming of the Golden Age. (BSSSB, 1975, 54.)

1975 - Look to God

Prominent men of society and great political leaders ... are heroes on the platform, but zeros in practical life. There is no use depending on these leaders. The one that leads us is the Lord of the entire universe, who creates and sustains his whole creation. It is only He who can give us lasting happiness and peace. (BSSS, 1975, 29.)

1975 - Find God in Everything

We should develop a habit of visualising unity in diversity and not diversity in the unity that is Divine. God is everywhere and in everyone. The whole universe is inhabited by Him. One should find God in every object. These are the ideals we find in our scriptures. (BSSS, 1975, 78.)

1975 - The West has Misled Itself

It is a strange [that] westerners ... during the past 200 years ... have done their best to get control over the powers of nature and to create fearful machines for that purpose. But ... today, although man has conquered the entire world, ... he is not able to conquer himself. To conquer and control one's mind is the primary duty of man. The path which enables us to control our mind is the spiritual path. (BSSS, 1975, 55.)

1975 - Serve Society

This material prosperity and our power and positions are purely temporary. What accompanies us to the other world is our good conduct. We should therefore try to do something good to society and spend whatever time we can afford on virtuous actions. This is the only way we can make our lives meaningful and become eligible for the sacred love of our Lord. Be kind to mankind. Take pity on the helpless to the extent you can. (BSSS, 1975, 32.)

1975 - Peace Lies Within

When we say there is no peace in the world, the world is never like that. The lack of peace is in your heart. To keep on shouting that there is no peace in this world is not right. Lack of peace is the problem of an individual. .. There is as much peace in this world as you want. (BSSS, 1975, 70-1.)

1976

1976 - Kali Yuga

Evil is so widespread that humanity itself would be destroyed in a nuclear holocaust in the event of a world war. It is to prevent such a catastrophe that this present Avatar has come to raise human consciousness above the existing syndrome of anger, hate, violence and war and save the world from disaster. (Baba in 1976 in SM, 1985, 239.)

There will be minor wars and skirmishes. (Baba in 1976 in SM, 1985, 239.)

1976 - Baba's Mission

I incarnate from age to age, time to time, to save dharma from anti-dharma. Whenever strife, discord and disharmony overwhelm the world, God incarnates in human form to show mankind the way to love, harmony and peace. (Baba in 1976 in SM, 1985, 236.)

The Avatar takes the human form and behaves in a human way so that humanity can feel kinship with the divinity. At the same time he rises to godly heights so that mankind also can aspire to reach God. (Baba in 1976 in SM, 1985, 236.)

The realization of the indwelling God as the motivator of life is the task for which Avatars come in human form. (Baba in 1976 in SM, 1985, 236.)

1976 - Baba's Mission

The godliness which is present in everybody in the form of a little spark exists in me as the full flame, and it is my mission to develop every little spark of God in everyone to the fullness of the divine flame.

The first imperative of this development is that the receiver of the grace also provides from his or her side the devotion necessary to the consummation. (Baba in 1976 in SM, 1985, 243.)

1976 - Baba is a Full Manifestation of God

In my present Avatar, I have come armed with the fullness of the power of formless God to correct mankind, raise human consciousness and put people back on the right path of truth, righteousness, peace and love to divinity. (Baba in 1976 in SM, 1985, 236.)

The present Avatar has come invested with the totality of cosmic power to save dharma (righteousness) from anti-dharma. (Baba in 1976 in SM, 1985, 236.)

I am everything, everywhere, omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent; and so whatever I will, instantly happens. (Baba in 1976 in SM, 1985, 243.)

1976 - How the Avatar Works

There are two ways in which an Avatar can help people: an instant solution as against a long-term one.

Any instant solution would go against the fundamental quality of nature itself as well as the karmic law of cause and effect. Most people live in the material world of their desires and ego, which is governed by this law. They reap the fruits of their actions. This brings about their evolution or devolution. If the Avatar intervenes to instantly solve their problems, it would stop all action, development, even evolution. This solution can be ruled out because it totally negates the natural laws.

The other and more effective alternative presents a long-term solution whereby the Avatar leads the people themselves to a higher level of consciousness to enable them to understand the truth of spiritual laws so that they may turn towards righteousness and steadfastly work for better conditions. This will relate them back to nature and the karmic law of causation. They would then transcend the cycle of cause and effect in which today they are involved as victims and thereby command and control the natural forces to be able to avert the calamities you mention. (Baba in 1976 in SM, 1985, 244.)

[Men will] become shareholders of my sankalpa shakti (divine power, universal energy). I have to work through them, rouse the in-dwelling God in them and evolve them to a higher reality in order to enable them to master the natural laws and forces. If I cure everything instantly, leaving the people at their present level of consciousness, they would soon mess up things and be at one another's throats again with the result that the same chaotic situation would develop in the world.

Suffering and misery are the inescapable acts of the cosmic drama. God does not decree these calamities but man invites them by way of retribution for his own evil deeds. This is corrective punishment which induces mankind to give up the wrong path and return to the right path so that he may experience the godlike condition of sat-chit-ananda -- that is, an existence of wisdom and bliss. All this is part of the grand synthesis in which the negatives serve to glorify the positives. Thus death glorifies immortality, ignorance glorifies wisdom, misery glorifies bliss, night glorifies dawn.

So, ... if the Avatar brings the calamities mentioned by you to an immediate end, which I can, and do, when there is a great need, the whole drama of creation with its karmic (universal, inescapable duty) law will collapse. Remember, these calamities occur not because of what God has made of man but really because of what man has made of man. Therefore, man has to be unmade and remade with his ego destroyed and replaced by a transcendent consciousness, so that he may rise above the karmic to command. (Baba in 1976 in SM, 1985, 245.)

1976 - Shirdi Sai

The previous Avatar, Shirdi Baba, laid the base for secular integration and gave mankind the message [that] duty is work. (Baba in 1976 in SM, 1985, 237.)

1976 - Sathya Sai

The mission of the present Avatar is to make everybody realize that [the] same God or divinity resides in everyone. People should respect, love, and help each other irrespective of color or creed. Thus all work can become a way of worship. (Baba in 1976 in SM, 1985, 237.)

1976 - Prema Sai

Prema Sai, the third Avatar, will promote the evangel news that not only does God reside in everybody, but everybody is God. That will be the final wisdom which will enable every man and woman to go to God. (Sai Baba in 1976 in SM, 1985, 237.)

1976 - The Three Sais

The three Avatars carry the triple message of work, worship, and wisdom. .... [The holy mission and divine purpose of the triple incarnation is] to unite all mankind into one caste or family in the establishment of the unity -- that is, atmic realization -- in every man or woman, which is the basis on which the entire cosmic design rests. Once this is realized, the common divine heritage that binds man to man and man to God will become apparent and love shall prevail as the guiding light of the universe. ( Baba in 1976 in SM, 1985, 237.)

1976 - Humanity One Family

Once this primary lesson [of harmony in word, deed, and thought] is taught in the family, the school, the college, the society, the cities, the states, the nations of the world, then man will become conscious of the fact that all mankind belongs to one family. (Baba in 1976 in SM, 1985, 237.)

Everything points to the terror of [a thermonuclear] conflagration coming; and my mission is to preempt the fires by reestablishing dharma and the spiritual law of one God, one religion, one language [of the heart] embracing one humanity. ... I want to build one humanity without any religious, caste or other barriers in a universal empire of love which could enable my devotees to feel the whole world as their family. (Baba in 1976 in SM, 1985, 257-8.)

I preach only one religion of love for all, which alone can integrate the human race into a brotherhood of man under the fatherhood of God. I know only one language of the heart beyond the mind and intellect which relates man to man and mankind to God, thereby creating mutual understanding, cooperation and community life in peace and harmony. On this basis I want to build one humanity without any religious caste or other barriers in a universal empire of love which would enable my devotees to feel the whole world as their own family. (Baba in 1976 in SM, 1985, 258.)

1976 - Science

How can science which is bound to a physical and materialist outlook investigate transcendental phenomena beyond its scope, reach or comprehension? This is a fallacy on the face of it. One belongs to the material and the other to a spiritual plane. Science must confine its inquiry only to things belonging to the human senses, while spiritualism transcends the senses. If you want to understand the nature of spiritual power you can do so only through the path of spirituality and not science. What science has been able to unravel is merely a fraction of the cosmic phenomena; it tends, however, to exaggerate its contribution.

... The very fact that science is changing all the time proves its incapacity to investigate the ultimate and absolute truth. Some time ago scientists maintained that the atom cannot be broken, but recently they succeeded in breaking it. They are still ignorant about the realities of the pranic force behind the atom, which is the least of its components.

Science is a mere glow-worm in the light and splendor of the sun. It is true that it can research, discover and gather a lot of information about nature and its material functions and use it for the development of worldly things. Spiritualism, on the other hand, reigns over the cosmic field where science has no place. That is why some discoveries of science are useful while others can be disastrous. (Baba in 1976 in SM, 1985, 252.)

1976 - Choose Spiritual Values

We need to transform society from false to real values. We have to convince people that the ideal of a high standard of life is wrong. It must be replaced with a high level of living and thinking on the basis of humility, morality, compassion and detachment, as against the existing greed for competitive luxury and conspicuous consumption. People have to be convinced that the only way to rouse the latent divinity in them is to master desires and conquer greed for pleasure and luxury instead of being a slave to these false materialistic values. (Baba in 1976 in SM, 1985, 248-9.)

It is the spiritual path that can save this country and the world from the wrongs of a materialistic order. What we need is a synthesis of the spiritual and material aspects of life. That will provide man with the social conscience and cooperative spirit imperative to the creation of national wealth and prosperity through selfless, cooperative labor. (Baba in 1976 in SM, 1985, 249.)

Curb your desires, reduce your wants, live in spiritual austerity, and the available material will be sufficient for humanity. More than that, the tensions of a competitive socioeconomic system will be dissolved and peace of mind will be restored. (Baba in 1976 in SM, 1985, 250.)

1978

1978 - Time Not Ready for Publicity

[Hislop:] Leelas [miracles] are happening throughout India in tens of millions of homes. Swami keeps His hand down so that publicity about the leelas will not spread. The rulers of the country know, but they keep it quiet. If the facts were to have publicity, millions would converge on Swami. The Government would surround Him with security guards, and devotees could not get close to Him. The time is not ready. (CSSB, 1978, 27.)

1978 - Baba's Declarations about the Golden Age

Presently, there is great disorder amongst both politicians and students. This will continue for a time, but at a certain point Swami will step in and bring about some order. (CSSB, 1978, 100.)

SAI: Crime has become very bad in India. There is no safety.

JOHN HISLOP: Swami, this is not particular to India. The same is true all over the world. How will it end?

SAI: To the good. In a few years, all will be peaceful.

JH: But Swami, it is getting worse, and it is the Kali Yuga (a world period of diminishing virtue).

SAI: No. It is not as bad now as it was. It is like in the ocean. There is a time of high waves, and there may be some peak waves that crash heavily on the shore, but this is followed by a calm and peaceful sea.

JH: Many people are saying that, very shortly, we will enter a period of great catastrophe.

SAI: There may be some peak waves, as I mentioned, but the world will be happy, peaceful, and prosperous.

GUEST: No world war?

SAI: No. No world war.

JH: We are fortunate to be alive so that we may see this peaceful world.

SAI: You will all see it. Even the old men will live to see it.

GUEST: Then Prema Sai will not have much work to do! Swami will have made the world peaceful.

SAI: That is some 40 years away. At that time the world will be peaceful. That is the Name: Prema Sai. All will be love -- love, love, love everywhere.

GUEST: It would be good to be reborn in the time of Prema Sai!

SAI: It is best to merge with God. No rebirth. (From Dec. 1978 talk in MBI, 188-9.)

1978 - Foster Righteousness

If God Himself is here to foster Dharma, and you engage yourself in the same task, then you are worshipping Him. Then you are near and dear to Him, for you are serving Him, His devotees, and yourself. (CSSB, 1978, 41.)

1979

1979 - Baba's Mission

God has incarnated in human form, in order to inspire man to follow higher ideals not only in India but foreign countries also. (SSS, XI, 14; from talk given Dec. 25, 1979.)

1979 - Humanity is One Family

There is only one race really, and that is the race of mankind. We now consider petty distinctions of nationality, race, religion and language as vital and hold back Love which must flow to every one from the heart. (SSS, XI, 14; from talk given Dec. 25, 1 979.)

1980

1980 - Baba on the Coming Golden Age

SAI: In all countries there is a rapid deterioration of the human quality.

JOHN HISLOP: When will it change for the better?

SAI: Soon there will be a change.

JH: When is soon, Swami? Twenty years? Ten years?

SAI: No. Now. Already there is some slight improvement in India. One cause of the general deterioration in the world is rapid communication. This allows advertising and publicity to have a strong influence on people. Your American election is an illustration of how the leaders are television actors.

JH: Swami, there is no evidence of a change for the better.

SAI: If there is a change, it will be a universal change. Not local. It will occur every place.

JH: This rapid world-wide communication also results in common knowledge of how to build an atom bomb. Is there not a great danger of some small nation using the bomb?

SAI: The danger is not of someone using the bomb. People are no longer afraid of death from the bomb. So long as they can pursue their objective of getting money, they are willing to risk death and to die. It is not the bomb that is the danger, it is the mind that is the danger. The bomb exists only as an instrument of the mind. The need is for a change of mind.

JH: But Swami, people do not care to learn about that. They have no interest in Swami or in listening to him.

SAI: Minds can and do change. For example, the life style of people can be so bad that they become ashamed and change. The hippies' life style is so low and so dishonest and immoral that groups of hippies, observing their own life reflected in another group, become ashamed and of themselves they change.

JH: Well, at least Swami's devotees know about changing the mind and can do so.

SAI: Were it not for the mind change of Sai devotees the world would already have fallen into complete chaos. The deterioration of mind and man has been very rapid and abrupt, even precipitous during the last fifteen years. That the world is not in total destruction is due to the change in mind of Sai devotees and to Sai's Grace. You are not aware of it, just as you are not aware of your eyes until they are lost. In the same way, the world is not aware of Sai's Grace. (Baba on November 7, 1980 in MBI, 189-9 0.)

1981

1981 - Baba on the Golden Age

Many people are scared because they believe that the Kali Age in which we live will witness the ultimate Deluge. Others call it the Kalaha Age, the Age of Conflict, for it is now well-nigh omnipresent. No, no. This age is the Golden Age for the seekers of God, for earning and learning Viveka. (SSS, XI, 186; from talk given June 11, 1981.)

1982

Earth Changes

There will be physical repercussions because of growing selfishness, minor adjustments to the planet, and a certain clear-out. (SSBEL, 1982, 21.)

1982 - Baba's Mission

To meet the needs of different ages, God sends sages and Divine Incarnations to sustain human life on Earth. These living examples of Divine Law lead ideal lives and guide humanity in the disciplines needed to live according to the Divine Plan for each Age. (EVJC, 1982, 66.)

I have come to revive the ancient wisdom contained in the scriptures of every religion. (EVJC, 1982, 10.)

JOHN HISLOP: When Swami says He will confer liberation at death, what does that mean?

SAI: It means that birth is finished with, there is no more birth again.

JH: But Swami, there is this temporary liberation that was mentioned. Maybe it is that kind?

SAI: No, it is not like that. Sai gives total, final liberation. (MBI, c1985, 203; talk with Baba on Dec. 2, 1982.)

1982 - Golden Age must Recur

The Will of God cannot be stopped. The events God ordains must take place. The joyful Golden Age will recur. (EVJC, 1982, 12.)

1982 - Knowledge of Baba will Spread Slowly and Naturally

JOHN HISLOP: Swami has said that the entire world will know of his presence. At this time only a relatively few people know of Sai. As of now only local individuals represent him, and they do not draw the attention of people of substance and importance throughout the world.

SAI: Sai does not look at status and worldly importance. He looks at the heart.

JH: Yes, Swami, but it is the leaders in society who tend to arouse the attention and interest of the general population.

SAI: Sai does not force such things. He will be in [the] body for many more years. What you refer to will develop naturally. Devotees of world stature, able to speak of Sai, will be present when the time is correct for them. (MBI, c1985, 205; from talk with Baba, Dec. 2, 1982.)

1982 - Time of Change in Avatar's Career

After age 60, Sai will directly give added strength to the minds of those persons who are actively working with Him. Now is starting a time of change [in the career of the Avatar]. It is just as when a strong wind comes up and blows away the husks, leaving only the sound kernels. In these times, many devotees will fall away from Sai, leaving only those devotees whose faith is sound and solid. (MBI, c1985, 204; talk with Baba on Dec. 2, 1982.)

1982- Baba's Desire

I want each and every one of you to reach the highest spiritual state. I wish each of you to know the joy of full Unity with God. (EVJC, 1982, 80.)

1982 - Hold Satsang

It is wise to form a spiritual study circle with others who are honestly seeking the spiritual life. Exchange truths, discuss virtues, and listen to the glories of the Lord. (EVJC, 1982, 26.)

1982 - Connect with Others

Look at the "other person". Try to discover a point of contact, not a point of conflict. Use your knowledge to make yourself kinder. Don't worry about failure; life will become worth living. (EVJC, 1982, 47.)

1982 - See God in Everyone

You must see that all persons are simply different faces covering the Divine Face of God. Attempting to hate God is the height of ignorance. There is no room in your lives for hatred of anyone. (EVJC, 1982, 86.)

To see all things as One you must expand your outlook. You must develop a broad loving heart. Selfishness must disappear. You must find the greater meaning of life - Godliness. ... Striving to lead godly lives is the only truly sacred behaviour. (EVJC, 198 2, 87.)

1982 - Serve

If you wish to blossom forth as your true Self, your Higher Divine Nature, you must spend the life given you serving humanity with great humility and no concern for selfish gain. (EVJC, 1982, 76.)

1982 - Sai Organizations

The Sai Organization may be limited in size now, but as time goes on, it will attract so many people that the general public will not be able to be accommodated in the Sai gatherings. All available spaces will be assigned to the people within the Sai Organization. Thus, the Sai Organization membership affords a chance. (MBI, c1985, 209; from talk with Baba, Dec. 2, 1982.)

1983

1983 - Sai Avatara

The Sai Avathar is the only such where his Divinity is known to all peoples of all religions. Never has there been that before. With Krishna, only the gopis were aware of him as God. (MBI, c1985, 212; talk with Baba, Jan. 10, 1983.)

Swami ... builds slowly, but it is firm and sound and it continues. (MBI, c1985, 213; talk with Baba, Jan. 10, 1983.)

1984

1984 - On Life in the Universe

The question about life in the universe arises because you project your own particular circumstances. You feel that other ways of life would be intolerable because such ways of life would be intolerable for you. In the hot, blazing Sun, for instance, beings are living. This life exists in circumstances considered to be intolerable by you. Elsewhere in the universe, life feels it is Divinity, is one with Divinity, and is quiet happy, and feeling all is right. ... This small planet Earth is very special. It is unique in the universe. One who can understand the mystery of the Earth is great indeed. He is infinite. (MBI, c1985, 226; Oct. 23, 1984.)

1985

1985 - Baba and America

[Phyllis Krystal:] At about the same time as the announcement of the Rome Conference [c. 1982-3], Baba had given instructions for the American Sai centers to start organizing open public meetings to introduce him and his teachings to a larger audience. It was clear that he was getting ready to bring his message to the rest of the world. He has said that on his sixtieth birthday he will announce his special mission to bring balance into the world chaos fast accelerating everywhere. (SBUE, 1985, 272.)

1985 - Servants of Sai

Men who are my dasas (servants) are full of love. They stand by dharma or righteousness. They speak the truth. Their hearts melt with mercy. They are devoid of wrong conduct. They avoid sin; they will renounce everything gladly. They act in moderation. They are engaged in doing good to others. They are not selfish. They are not worried by doubts. They do not lend their ears to flattery. They are eager to listen to the praise of others. (GOS, 1985, 84.)

1985 - Opportunity Baba Presents

Today, this day, [the] precious elixir of knowledge is ours if we are sufficiently awake to reach out and take it. This precious knowledge is available to us in the teachings of that extraordinary being, the divine Sri Sathya Sai Baba. Full release from the turning of the wheel of birth, death, and rebirth may be ours now, in this brief lifetime, now that we know of Baba; and if we have the good sense to pay careful attention to his teachings and the will to take appropriate action. However, if we, by our carelessness and inattention, gloss over this extraordinary and unique opportunity, who can say to what distant shore we will be carried by the hurricane of karmic consequences readying itself to manifest as another of our continuing existences? (MBI, c1985 , 83.)

Here to me is one of the most wonderful miracles of Sathya Sai Baba. The fettered heart, turning to Baba, can be free from all its bondage. Seeing him, being sure that he will not betray, is a most wonderful feeling. With joy the heart responds to this trust. With each day, love for Baba grows stronger. He is divine Mother and Father to his devotee. One may love him without reserve, without guard, without fear, however guarded one may still be with fellow human beings. (Hislop in MBI, c1985, 64.)

1985 - Baba is a Towering Personality

Sri Sathya Sai Baba is a towering personage in the world today. His stature in the eyes of men will grow to a supreme height before death removes him into the realm of history. A thousand years from now, five thousand years from now Baba's correspondence will be a treasure for historians as well as for people of that age whose hearts are pulled to him as they read of his glorious life. (MBI, c1985, 231.)

1986

1986 - He is Parabrahman

[Devaraha Baba:] He is Parabrahma incarnate. ... The Lord incarnate has strictly forbidden the siddhas to mention this fact to anyone. As such we cannot even discuss the matter among ourselves. This mystery about the incarnation of Bhagavan Sainath can be discussed briefly only in the company of the highly realized sadhakas, who are really inquisitive. ... The time is not far off when seers, sages and saints from all over the country will assemble in Puttaparthi to receive the blessings of the Lord incarnate. (SBNNGA, 1990, 35-6.)

1986 - Difficulty of Realizing God with Form

It is very difficult for people who stay around me to understand that I am Bhagavan. Only a sadhaka who is ever alert may succeed. (SSBNNGA, 48.)

1986 - Baba's Promise

Mankind can and will be saved. ("Christmas Message, 1986," SMFYM, II, 1988, 37.)

1986 - Use This Opportunity

My children, awaken now while the divine Avatar is here to guide you. The way ahead is clear, sign-posted through the teachings of the Lord, and you have this unique opportunity to escape from the darkness into light simply by putting those teachings into practice in your daily lives.

Open your hearts and let the love flow, knowing that love can overcome all barriers. See God in everyone and everything and become part of the universal whole which is My reality. ("Birthday Message, 1986," SMFYM, II, 1988, 28.)

My children, the time of awakening has come and that time is NOW. But for many of you it will pass without any positive action or participation on your part until, one day, you experience something traumatic which finally awakens you from your placid sleep. (SMFYM, II, 1988; c1986, 31-2.)

1987

1987 - Liberation is the Goal of Life

Liberation is the goal of mankind: release from the constant cycle of birth and death. It is desire and the craving for material pleasures that bind man to the earth plane, and he will only find liberation through purification and enlightenment. (SMFYM, II, 1988; c1987, 56.)

The integration of all mankind will come in the course of time and it will result from better understanding of the truth. I am the truth and I have come to teach the truth so that man can escape from darkness, ignorance and illusion. It is these which have led man to experience antagonism, hatred and even war.

My children, God is love, you are God, and you should awaken to that truth. See the light, live in light, and let love blossom in your hearts so that it lights up the world and cleanses it of the evil and the ignorance of the present age. (SMFYM, II, 1988; c1987, 43.)

Your future is assured once you find your own self, the divinity within, the real you, the child of the living God who lives deep in your heart. (SMFYM, II, 1988; c1987, 45.)

1987 - Man's Stagnation

Man tends to stagnate on the earth plane, even though the awakening may have begun. The same habits and desires have ruled his life for so long that he finds it difficult to change. But change is essential if you want to move forward. (SMFYM, II, 1988; c19 87, 64.)

1987 - Golden Age is Man's Creation

The Golden Age is the creation of man, not of God. (SMFYM, II, 1988; c1987, 71.)

1987 - Transition has Begun

The transition from that unhappy state to the state of bliss cannot be achieved overnight, but the changes have begun and the seeds are sown. Man is living at the dawn of a Golden Age and he himself will determine the timing of the transition by his own acts and thoughts. (SMFYM, II, 1988; c1987, 71.)

The time has indeed come for a great awakening, when the days of ignorance and illusion are replaced by a new Golden Age. That Golden Age is here now, just waiting for man to move into it and find the peace that has eluded him all this time. (SMFYM, II, 19 88; c1987, 73-4.

1987 - Day of Awakening is Here

The day of awakening is here and the day of reckoning, or weeding out, is not far away. The cleansing of the world will take place and only those awakened souls will be left to experience life in the divine state. Others will fall by the wayside, left behind and lost in a world of illusion and darkness.

When the Lord incarnates in human form it is a time of great opportunity for those who are ready. All of you here today have that opportunity, but that alone is no guarantee of liberation. Much effort is required, also an irreversible commitment to the spiritual path, leaving behind for ever the life of illusion with all its worldly desires, attachments and false values. So long as desire remains, you cannot firmly establish your feet on the spiritual path.

Surrender to the Lord and love Him as He loves you, then extend that love to all mankind, for the Lord is in all. Only in this way can you find true peace, happiness and ultimate bliss. ("Christmas (II) [1987]," SMFYM, II, 1988, 63.)

Although the Golden Age lies in the future, man can prepare himself by turning to God and living his life in complete harmony with the Infinite. That is possible now, if you surrender your will to God and dedicate your life to Him. You will become His instrument and, in that capacity, you will find fulfilment through service to humanity. (SMFYM, II, 1988; c1987, 70.)

1987 - Human Family is One

The unity of mankind is the goal.

Unity will come only through love, the motivating force which flows throughout the universe. That love, that motivating force, is God, and all of you are part of it. (SMFYM, II, 1988; c1987, 73.)

The unity of mankind will come when man becomes awakened and when he allows love to flow from his heart all the time. Then he will recognise the same love in others and see them as they really are, part of himself, part of God, divine.

Divinity cannot be divided into separate parts, so how can man himself be separated?

An understanding of this basic truth is the key to the future of mankind. The time has indeed come for a great awakening, when the days of ignorance and illusion are replaced by a new Golden Age. That Golden Age is here now, just waiting for man to move into it and find the peace that has eluded him all this time.

Everyone has the opportunity to enter the new Golden Age. But each one has a choice, the free will, to decide his own future, whether he wishes to continue living in the wilderness, a life of illusion, or move forward along the spiritual path and enter the new Golden Age.

Perfect peace awaits him at the end of the path which leads to ultimate liberation. (SMFYM, II, 1988; c1987, 74.)

1987 - What the Golden Age will be Like

When the Golden Age dawns there will be harmony throughout the world and love will flow everywhere. All thoughts of hatred will disappear. Today you cannot visualize such a state because there is chaos everywhere, fighting, scheming, hatred, evil; all the negative emotions are in the ascendent. But eventually the change will come. (SMFYM, II, 1988; c1987, 70.)

The arrival of the Golden Age shall be heralded by a new coming as well as some upheavals, sufficient to uproot the evil that is so prevalent today. (SMFYM, II, 1988; c1987, 70.)

1987 - Use This Opportunity Fully

My children, the time has come for a great awakening of mankind. You are the leaders and I have given you this great opportunity to join in the work of the Lord. Do not lose the opportunity to help lead mankind out of the wilderness, back to the divine state. That state exists now, if only you can light the lamp of love which is in the heart of every living soul. (SMFYM, II, 1988; c1987, 65.)

Man is sick, engrossed in physical and material pursuits which will lead him nowhere. Yet he continues blindly, imagining that his present way of life will eventually bring him success and some form of satisfaction. But he is mistaken and his vision is clouded by illusion. What is he really doing? He is doing nothing of any consequence, merely wasting his precious time and ignoring the divine opportunity which he has been given by the Lord in this lifetime. All of you have the same opportunity, a chance to see the light in this lifetime, otherwise you would not be here. ("Christmas [1987]," SMFYM, II, 1988, 62.)

1987 - Only the Spiritual Path is Fruitful

Arise, My children, awaken to the truth, listen to the word of God and know that only the spiritual path can lead you out of the wilderness. Love is the key, love is the way. Open your heart and let the love flow. (SMFYM, II, 1988; c1987, 64.)

1987 - Spiritually Advanced Souls are Alive to Help

Many spiritually advanced souls are here today, full of understanding, and they all have a part to play in helping humanity. Often, much effort and sacrifice are required because the task of spreading the truth is never easy. Too many prejudices exist from the past. However, the world is crying out in agony, and there are more and more people everywhere searching for the truth and seeking a light to draw them out of their darkness. You have the chance to radiate that light and you should join in this great work.

So, in your lives, by your examples, live and practise My message, knowing that some will understand and others will not. Have no concern with the outcome of your efforts, for some people are ready and others are not. Each one is free to go his own way in his own time. Many will choose to remain in darkness with all the attachments that hold them back from the true path. But, eventually, their time will come and, one day, all will be re-united in the Kingdom of God. (SMFYM, II, 1988; c1987, 58.)

1987 - Start Now

It is the only path, the divine path, and it is there in front of you now. Start the new journey hand in hand with God at this very moment and never turn back. The path ahead is glorious and will bring peace of mind, something which has eluded you for so long. And the Lord will always be there to guide and protect you. (SMFYM, II, 1988; 1987, 45.)

The Lord is omnipresent and appears in human form from age to age. Many of you have seen the Lord, but others should know that the Lord is always present everywhere, dwelling in your heart. He remains awake, even while you sleep, a sleep which continues for decades before you become awakened.

Now is the time for that awakening, the awakening of man to the truth. The days of illusion and wrong living should be put behind you for they lead nowhere. ... Once you experience this awakening, you leave behind you for ever the attachment to materialism and the illusion that goes with it. Instead, you live on the divine level and place yourself in the hands of the Lord who looks after all your needs.

Christmas is truly a time of celebration and the Lord waits patiently, watching for signs of an awakening of those souls who have been struggling in the darkness for so long. The Lord has shown the way and many have heard the call. Everyone here today should listen again to that call and leave behind them their lives of illusion and attachment to materialism, a type of life that conceals the truth and the way ahead. Turn, instead, to the spiritual path and realise your own divinity. That indeed would be something to celebrate! I will always be with you to help and sustain you. ("Christmas [1987]," SMFYM, II, 1988, 53-4.)

1987 - The Avatar will Lead You

Today, the divine Avatar is here to lead man back from the brink, back towards the ultimate goal which is liberation and the merging, once again, with God. The process has begun and many are now following the spiritual path, the road to ultimate liberation. (SMFYM, II, 1988; c1987, 56.)

1990

1990 - Reason the Lord Comes in Human Form

People could not stand the Lord in super-human form. ... If the Lord came in all His majesty people would be afraid and would have nom opportunity to know and love him. It is only when the Lord comes in a human body that people are able to approach him and learn to love him and know him even a little bit. But one should not make the mistake of thinking that is all there is. ... For instance, the airplane flying high in the sky descends to the airport. But one should not make the mistake of thinking that the plane is a ground machine because they see it on the ground. In like fashion, although the Lord has made a landing here on earth, so to speak, He is not limited to His human form. (SV, 1990, 66.)

1990 - Sai is the Totality of Divine Energy

The totality of Divine Energy has come unto humanity as Sathya Sai. ... This is a human form in which every Divine Entity, every Divine Principle, that is to say, all the names and forms ascribed by man to God are manifest. (GDOE, 1990, 31.)

1990 - Attempts to Win Baba's Grace

Once in Prasanthi Nilayam, ... a lady got up from the last row and spoke loudly, "Swami! I need your Grace." The lady repeated these words a number of times. ... Suddenly, the Lord stopped, turned towards her and said, "Grace, grace. Do you really know the meaning of Grace?" The lady replied, "Swami, it means your compassion, your blessings." Baba said, "No, it means much more than that. If you really want My Grace you should prepare yourself to face every type of calamity. You will lose all your wealth and happiness and still instead of crying and repenting you will have to completely merge yourself in meditating upon me and utter my name in your heart. Your near and dear ones will turn against you. People will implicate you in conspiracies with which you have nothing to do. They will find faults with you where you are totally innocent. Under all such circumstances, you will have simply to think of Me and Me alone and suffer everything silently. Come on, are you prepared to face all these things?" The lady was stunned. She could not utter a word and sat down quietly. (SBNNGA, II, 1990, 31.)

Baba [refers] to two ways of getting His favour by the devotees. He calls one of them ... entry through the front door and the other ... entry through the back door. Some scholars, sadhakas, and artists among His devotees expect an interview or a miracle in their favour on the basis of their scholarship or sadhana or love and execution of performing arts. But these people do not succeed as they want their entry through the back door. They have an inflated ego and carry the impression that because they are some one in particular they are bound to get the favour of the Lord. There are others who are simple minded, and egoless devotees. They have nothing to fall back upon except their true love and devotion to the Lord and want entry through the front door. ( SBNNGA, II, 1990, 68-9.)

1990 - Universal Acceptance of Sai Avatar Predicted

My name and form will ... be found getting established everywhere. They will occupy every inch of the world. (GDOE, 1990, 37.)

1990 - Success of Mission Guaranteed

The success of the task for which I have come will very soon reverberate throughout the world. (GDOE, 1990, 58.)

Remember, God has incarnated Himself as SAI. I am Truth and My Sankalpa [wishes, will, determination] is inevitable. (SBNNGA, II, 74.)

1990 - Golden Age Unfolding

A silent revolution is going to pass through every structure of human society. Those who are present in this hall and all those who have total faith in Sai, though they may not be here, have a golden opportunity of earning My grace and thus [achieving] their goal; i.e., Liberation. If you miss it, you miss it for ever. (SBNNGA, II, 1990, 74.)

[Justice V.B. Eradi:] Bhagawan has declared that His objective is to bring about a global integration of the entire mankind where the whole human race will be united as one world-family, knit together by strong bonds of mutual love and respect believing in the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man. The recent most unexpected developments in the international sphere, such as the sudden termination of the cold war, the removal of walls and barriers separating Eastern and Western Europe and the most welcome signs of establishment of friendly relations between the "Big Super Powers", which were hitherto ranged on opposite sides and were piling up nuclear and conventional weapons for use against each other, are clear signs that the divine Sankalpa is fast taking concrete shape. Bhagawan has His own time schedule for completion of His programmes. ... The day ... when the whole humanity gets unified as one big family observing strictly the principles of Truth, Righteousness, Love, Peace and Nonviolence ... will mark the establishment of the Sai Rashtra and blessed indeed are those who will be able to experience that Heaven on earth. (SV, 1990, 25.)

1990 - Our Mission

Your mission has begun. ... Each of you has a unique and valuable part to play in this lifetime. Only those whom I have called can serve me.

My Mission has now reached that point in time when each one of you now has work to do. This planet has a purpose in the great galaxy in which it is held. That purpose is now unfolding before your eyes. I call upon you to radiate the Devotion within you so that its unseen power will envelop all who come into your orbit. To successfully perform your part always remain centred upon me. Allow yourself to impart that purity of heart within you towards all human beings and all living creatures and do not reach for the fruits of your work. This part of My Mission is performed in absolute silence. You are My instruments from whom My love will pour. Be always aware that the moment you let your ego descend upon you, My work ceases. When you have overcome your negative unmindfulness you will again become My source. The multiplication of My Love will be felt throughout the world. I have drawn you to Me. I have made great steps in My Mission over these past Incarnations.

My work is ceaseless and so your work, too, is without end. Know that I am within you and without you. There is no difference. Rid yourselves of petty matters for ever more. You are now ME and I am now THEE. There is no difference. My Darshan will pour forth from ME to and through you. You may be unaware of this constant action. Be ever pure in heart and soul, and mankind in your lifetime will benefit from your unique qualities. (SV, 1990, 126.)

1991 - The Kali Yuga

Today the world is sick, poisoned by man. (SSSBFM, 1991, 224.)

The world situation today is dreadful and frightening. Wherever you turn, fear confronts you. Whether you remain at home or go out into the street, whether you travel by train or walk on the road, fear haunts you. The world is enveloped in fear. If you want to banish this fear, you have to develop firm faith in God as the sole refuge. Then you are freed from fear. (SS, Vol. 34, No. 1, Jan. 1991, 10.)

Men today are lost in the pursuit of fleeting sensuous pleasures and material possessions. (SS, Vol. 34, No. 6, June 1991, 151.)

[A] rise in income has been followed by a decline in morality. With the collapse in morals, the nation has become a prey to violence and disorder. (SS, Vol. 34, No. 9, Sept. 1991, 251.)

In the competition for over-reaching each other, men are immersed in selfishness and are pursuing wrong courses. Politics and economics are bedevilled by crises. Men are riven by caste and religious conflicts. The appetite for power and position has become insatiable.

These are causing the disintegration of the sacred land of Bharat. (SS, Vol. 34, No. 6, June 1991, 151.)

With the collapse in morals, the nation has become a prey to violence and disorder. (SS, Vol. 34, No. 9, Sept. 1991, 251.)

If there is no love of God, fear of sin, and practice of social ethics, how can there be peace in the world? (SS, Vol. 34, No. 6, June 1991, 151.)

[Today] there is no trace of humility and discipline [in] education. In the place of character and good conduct, which should be prevalent among students, we notice today the spread of materialism, ostentation and arrogance amongst them. (SS, Vol. 34, No. 9, Sept. 1991, 249.)

Developing insatiable desires, the modern student is vitiating his mind. He lacks the capacity for introspection. But his external vision is turned in all directions. (SS, Vol. 34, No. 9, Sept. 1991, 249.)

With no prospect of getting jobs, educated young men are getting frustrated and mentally upset and are turning into ... terrorists. (SS, Vol. 34, No. 9, Sept. 1991, 251.)

What is the reason for the lack of peace in the world today? It is because there is no harmony of thought, word and deed in the lives of the people. (SS, Vol. 34, No. 1, Jan. 1991, 4.)

Today ... because there is no unity of thought, word and deed among men, Dharma (righteousness) has declined. As a result science (Vijnaana) has lost its true form. The nation's prosperity and well-being have been destroyed. Security has become scarce. Morality and integrity have disappeared. Mammon-worship reigns supreme. In the insane pursuit of wealth, men are losing their morality and integrity. (SS, Vol. 34, No. 11, Nov. 1991, 302.)

All people in the world suffer from delusions of different kinds. Consequently they suffer from various fears and hallucinations and have no peace of mind. The only way to get rid of these delusions and fears is to practise love and realise the divinity that is present in all beings. Once this spiritual unity of all beings is recognised, the relevance of this truth for every sphere of life - the physical, the social, the political, the economic, the ethical and the spiritual - will become clear. (SS, Vol. 34, No. 1, Jan. 1991, 7.)

1991 - Failure of Science and Technology

With the rapid advance of science and technology in the world, there is a corresponding decline in peace and security. (SS, Vol. 34, No. 9, Sept. 1991, 249.)

Science and technology are undoubtedly necessary. But they should be utilised properly. Scientists are trying to discover everything about the external world. But they make no attempt to understand the truth about themselves. (SS, Vol. 34, No. 6, June 199 1, 152.)

Mankind's problems today cannot be solved by science and technology alone. Only a transformation in the character of man can serve to solve the present crisis. (SS, Vol. 34, No. 6, June 1991, 151.)

1991 - Spirituality in Eclipse

In our daily life, we are all the time involved in the pursuit of endless desires and are immersed in sorrow. It must be realised that in such a life spirituality is like a beacon that beckons man to a higher life. (SS, Vol. 34, No. 7, July 1991, 175.)

There can be no refinement (of conduct) without spirituality. (SS, Vol. 34, No. 7, July 1991, 175.)

Unfortunately, today spirituality is in eclipse. Many refer to spirituality derisively. But it is only those witless persons who are lost in the trivialities of the mundane world who indulge in such derision. (SS, Vol. 34, No. 7, July 1991, 175.)

1991 - Sai Baba and Nuclear War

Today only the grace of the Divine can save the country from the chaos and disorder in which it is plunged. (SS, Vol. 34, No. 11, Nov. 1991, 303.)

Only the power of the Divine can save the world and not any tank or bomb or Government. Therefore engage yourselves in prayer to God for the welfare of the world. Always chant the name of the Lord. (SS, Vol. 34, No. 11, Nov. 1991, 302.)

If atomic war [were to take] place, then the whole of mankind shall be destroyed. To prevent this, this Avatar will raise the conscience of man in such a manner that he can be free from the feelings of hate, envy, anger, revenge and violence. (SSSBFM, 1991 , 224.)

Sai has come in order to achieve the supreme task of uniting as one family all of mankind, through the bond of brotherhood; of affirming and illumining the atmic reality of each being in order to reveal the divine, which is the basis on which the entire cosmos rests; and of instructing all to recognise the common divine heritage that binds man to man, so that man can rid himself of the animal, and rise into divinity, which is his goal. (SSSBFM, 1991, 119.)

At this time, whatever competitive spirit to destroy others is prevalent, it will be removed and in its place co-operation shall be enthroned and thereby the world war will be prevented. (SSSBFM, 1991, 224-5.)

1991 - No Cataclysms Ahead

[Kasturi:] In categorical terms, Bhagavan Baba repudiated, on February 13, [1991] at Prasanthi Nilayam, certain reports circulated in various countries attributing to Him predictions of various disasters facing the world in the coming years. (SS, Vol. 34, No. 3, Mar. 1991, 63.)

Some persons in overseas countries as well as some people within India have been [saying] that Swami has stated that in a short while the world will be deluged by a great flood. [According to them] large areas will get submerged and ... other disasters will overtake the world and many countries will suffer very much. Such thoughts have never occurred to Swami and will never occur. These are the fancies of ... idle minds. (SS, Vol. 34, No. 3, Mar. 1991, 63.)

In no circumstance should devotees believe in such stories. Nor should they give them currency by passing them on by word of mouth. ... It is a sign of weakness to listen to such stories or discuss them. (SS, Vol. 34, No. 3, Mar. 1991, 63.)

Over the vast globe, there may be some mishaps here and there, from time to time. The Iran-Iraq conflict lasted ten years. You should not consider it a major war. Even in India, terrorist activities have been going on in the Punjab. Is it a major struggle? Some disgruntled individuals have been resorting to these methods. (SS, Vol. 34, No. 3, Mar. 1991, 63.)

No disaster is imminent for the world. (SS, Vol. 34, No. 3, Mar. 1991, 63.)

1991 - The Golden Age will Come

Fear not, My children, all will be well. Love and light will replace the darkness and a new era will be upon you very soon. (SSSBFM, 1991, 110.)

After the storm there will be a completely different beginning and the atmosphere will be completely different. It will be ... the age of love, harmony and cooperation replacing the age of war, ... hated, ... and greed. (SSSBFM, 1991, 223.)

Love and peace will ... cleanse the horrors and excesses of the dark ages which today pollute the very atmosphere. (SSSBFM, 1991, 10.)

Life will change, it will improve and you will experience a richness in the quality of life which has eluded you in the past. (SSSBFM, 1991, 221.)

[Kasturi:] Let us wait joyfully for the new world order, the Perfect Sai Order, not in a far off future, but very soon, sooner than any human mind can comprehend, looking at the present state of affairs in all walks of life. (SS, Vol. 34, No. 8, Aug. 199 1, 224.)

1991 - Day of Awakening, Day of Reckoning, Hour of God

The day of awakening is not far away and when it comes there will be a revelation of the true power of God [Gokak's 'Hour of God'?], a manifestation of the omnipresence of the Lord. This will be the signal of a great move forward and the weeding out of those who are [not] ready to accept the challenge of the moment. (SSSBFM, 1991, 223.)

1991 - Prema Sai

Prema Sai ... will work ceaselessly for the good of the world and will establish love, goodwill, and peace. His Name and Fame will reach every corner of the earth. He will be the Universal Guru, the World Teacher, a Leader of leaders. ... His Voice will be heard all over the world. He will receive universal recognition and devotion and will directly lead the world towards truth, love and peace. (SSAV, n.d., 34.)

1991 - Role of India

India will be the leader of the world in all respects - spiritually, culturally, socially, politically and economically. (SSAV, n.d., 34.)

[She will] play the role of World Teacher. (SSSBFM, 1991, 224.)

All her past glory, culture and traditions will be revived and she will shine forth as the leading nation of the world. This is how it was yugas [ages] ago and this is how it will be once more. (SSAV, n.d., 34.)

1991 - Responsibility of Humanity

Now is the time for change, change of vibration, change of ideals of consciousness. It is achieved through closer links and better communication with God. Now is the time to start. (SSSBFM, 1991, 222-3.)

Transformation must begin with the individual. When the individual changes, the world will change. This transformation has to take to take place in the minds of men. Right thoughts will lead to right actions. (SS, Vol. 34, No. 1, Jan. 1991, 4.)

To keep your minds pure in such [an] environment [as today's world], fill your hearts with love and keep your daily actions pure and unsullied. ... Avoid wasting of food, time, money and energy. When you move in the outside world, your life should be exemplary. Look upon God as your only true Friend. Follow the dictates of your conscience. (SS, Vol. 34, No. 9, Sept. 1991, 252.)

Shedding all fear, carry on your work with courage and determination, without any worry about the future, and plunge into service activities. If you act with this faith, you will be able to serve the nation well. (SS, Vol. 34, No. 1, Jan. 1991, 10.)

When there is understanding and harmony in the family, peace will spread to the community, and from there to the nation and the world. Unity confers joy and peace. (SS, Vol. 34, No. 1, Jan. 1991, 4.)

1991 - Forego Hankering for Wealth and a High Standard of Living

What men have to aim at is not wealth (sampada) but right conduct (samskaara). Life is governed by restraint at every stage. The eye cannot tolerate the glare of blazing lights. The body cannot bear a rise in temperature. Anything in excess is a cause of trouble. (SS, Vol. 34, No. 6, June 1991, 152.)

There is a need to acquire wealth for living. But excessive wealth is harmful. (SS, Vol. 34, No. 6, June 1991, 152.)

Money earned by unworthy means is nothing but dust. That wealth will be of no use to you. Hoarding wealth is of no avail. Ill-gotten wealth is not truly yours. There are four covetous elements waiting to get at it. The first entity is the Government. In the name of some tax or law, the Government will make a raid on the hoarded wealth. The second entity is fire: somehow or other fire reaches the ill-gotten wealth and destroys it. The third entity is a thief. The thief is after secreted wealth. Somehow he tries to steal it. The fourth entity is disease. To deprive a person of his ill-gotten wealth, disease seizes hold of him and makes him spend money on treatment. Misers, who will not part with a paisa to a beggar, will spend any amount on doctors and medicines. These are the ways in which money earned by dishonest means is taken away. (SS, Vol. 34, No. 11, Nov. 1991, 302.)

Therefore, you ... who are the nation's hope for the future should rigorously eschew unfair means to earn money, adhere to morality and integrity in your professional life, uphold Dharma through love and truth and serve the nation. Only then will the nation [of India] recover its ancient greatness and glory. (SS, Vol. 34, No. 11, Nov. 1991, 302.)

1991 - Live up to High Ideals

It is not your intellectual ability that will serve to protect the country. If you adhere to Truth and Righteousness, they will protect both you and the country. Live up to the truth of your being. Act righteously. (SS, Vol. 34, No. 1, Jan. 1991, 10.)

All things in the world are perishable. Mortality is the inescapable destiny of every man. But the ideals for which men live and for which they are prepared to give up their lives last for ever. Hence [everyone] should have great ideals and try to live up to them. That is the secret of immortality. By [our] exemplary lives, [we] should transform the world. This was the role of Bharat in ancient times. (SS, Vol. 34, No. 6, June 1991, 151.)

Whether it is Bharat or any other country, its security lies in the promoting of right attitudes. Who are our friends and who are our enemies? Our own good thoughts are our friends. Our evil thoughts accompany us like shadows. When our thoughts are purified, our lives will be transformed into ideal ones. (SS, Vol. 34, No. 3, Mar. 1991, 63.)

1991 - Engage in Service

Always remembering that you are a fragment of the Divine, you have to engage yourselves in service. No Government or other service organisation has this attitude. Only Sathya Sai Organisations can render service successfully in this spirit. Very soon you will experience the bliss and peace to be got from such service. Whatever the difficulties or obstacles, you are bound to overcome them. These are incidental to any undertaking. Do not bother about what has happened in the past. Get immersed in the tasks of the present. Render service with a pure and selfless heart. The delight of the individual gladdens the Divine. Equally the Divine esteems you. Do everything with the Lord's name on your lips. Develop all that is good in you and share that goodness with one and all. (SS, Vol. 34, No. 1, Jan. 1991, 11.)

How is the mind to be purified? Through service to society with dedication and identification with everyone. You have to cultivate this feeling of oneness with all.... By engaging yourselves in service, you develop this sense of oneness. (SS, Vol. 34, No. 1, Jan. 1991, 6.)

Try to be helpful to others in all your activities. There is no greater sadhana or puja than this. (SS, Vol. 34, No. 11, Nov. 1991, 302.)

The spiritually realised person will recognize the permanent that subsumes the changing entity. Such a realisation can only come when a person is pure in thought, word and deed. Purity must express itself in loving service. Help to the needy has been described as the highest virtue (punya). Harming others has been condemned as a sin. Sai devotees must engage themselves in acts of service, which will sanctify their lives. (SS, Vol. 34, No. 1, Jan. 1991, 7.)

It is only when man is filled with the spirit of service that his divine nature is revealed. He then experiences the peace that passeth understanding. (SS, Vol. 34, No. 1, Jan. 1991, 4.)

Sai Service organisations must grow in numbers and cover the entire country. Only then [will] the country ... enter on an era of prosperity. (SS, Vol. 34, No. 1, Jan. 1991, 10.)

1991 - Don't Delay

Everyone should prepare NOW for this change, for I promise you that it will come, and only those who are ready will survive. (SSSBFM, 1991, 223.)

Do not delay action to put right your own life style and change it to the way of God. There is no other way. (SSSBFM, 1991, 110.)

1991 - Men will be My Partners

Men will be partners in My Sankalpa Shakti (Determination). (SSSBFM, 1991, 225.)

All of you should play a part in bringing forward the transformation [leading to the Golden Age] and the instrument you should use is Love. (SSSBFM, 1991, 224.)

I shall be grateful to each child of mine who helps me in my task. (SSSBFM, 1991, 125.)

[And] I will help you all, for each one of you is helping My mission in one way or another. Never doubt or have any fear. (SSSBFM, 1991, 114.)

1991 - It Will Happen as I Say

I have given the warning. I have given My message a thousand times and no one who hears My words can proclaim ignorance. (SSSBFM, 1991, 110.)

What I will, must take place; what I plan must succeed. (SSSBFM, 1991, 117.)

It will be just so. Mark my words. But few will listen, very few. (SSSBFM, 1991, 223.)

1993

Humanness has reached its nadir

Today every step of man is marked by unrighteousness. Every word is tainted by untruth. His thoughts are not free from evil. All his desires are rooted in selfishness. ... In short, humanness has reached its nadir. (SS, Vol. 36, No. 12, Dec. 1993, 318.)

Nature is reflecting the human condition

In various parts of the world Nature is causing various disasters such as earthquakes, famines, floods and volcanic eruptions. What is the reason? The spiritual lapses of man account for these calamities. Disturbances in the heart (human heart) are reflected in earthquakes. (SS, Vol. 36, No. 11, Nov. 1993, 292.)

All the evil tendencies that are manifest today are indications of the impending disasters. (SS, Vol. 36, No. 12, Dec. 1993, 332.)

Why do untoward events happen? Only to promote what is good. They have a cleansing effect. (SS, Vol. 36, No. 12, Dec. 1993, 332.)

Very soon the Glory of Sai will Spread

Very soon the glory of Sai will spread to every part of the world. It will increase a thousandfold. (SS, Vol. 36, No. 12, Dec. 1993, 333.)

The winnowing

After the harvest when the sheaves of grains are winnowed, the wind blows away all the chaff, leaving only the grains behind. Through this process, the true devotees will remain steadfast. The wavering puppets will drift away. This is the process of winnowing. (SS, Vol. 36, No. 12, Dec. 1993, 333.)

1997

My airplane about to take off

When an airplane is about to take off, it must first approach the runway. When it reaches the runway, it must make a full turn in order to face the direction of takeoff. This turn is navigated slowly by the aircraft. After the turn has been completed, the airplane receives a signal from the tower and begins to accelerate rapidly for takeoff. When the craft has reached sufficient velocity, it leaves the ground. Swami's mission has made this turn to face the runway. The 70th birthday was the signal from the tower to accelerate. In the 75th birthday, the airplane will leave the ground. (Sri Sathya Sai Newsletter, USA, 31, Winter 1996-1997, 29.)

OM SAI RAM

Today the seeds are still in the ground, slowly germinating, as the teachings of the Lord begin to spread throughout the world and infiltrate the mind of man. Soon those seeds will begin to grow, and what emerges will brighten the world as the beauty of the absolute truth begins to reach so many people. It is a process which takes time and the new Golden Age will evolve gradually.

So you should live in hope.... Let the divinity within shine forth and become one of the great beacons to light up the world and hasten the arrival of the new Golden Age. It is there now for some, those enlightened souls who have already reached the state of God realisation. It is that awakened state that will lead to the new age. (SMFYM, II, 1988, 71.)

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