CHERRY BLOSSOM PATH BY SONYA KI TOMLINSON WARREN
SAI TEMPLE TEXT ~ GOD'S GOLDEN PRESENCE
Sairam Divine Ones,
Greetings for the New Year, 2022. My dears, we are living in unprecedented times. We are on the verge of a new golden era.
God is spiritualizing and purifying every person's heart. Our hearts, character, our actions, thoughts, words and deeds have to turn golden like the sun if we want to be part of this beautiful new time.
Spend some of the time during the day contemplating on the purpose of life. Devote some time to exploring the spiritual path. This is the only road that leads to permanent, eternal happiness.
Material happiness is temporary and never long-lasting, after a while we find ourselves bored and looking for something else that will bring satisfaction and joy. Once you really experience the Blissful presence of God you will awaken to a new Joy.
Swami asks: "Where is God?"
And answers from the depths of your heart:
"God is in you, around you, above and behind you."
Cultivate conscious awareness of His presence. Before you undertake anything important ask for His permission and His blessing.
Learn to be quiet. Take gentle breaks and keep your mind still like a calm blue lake.
Understand that God's presence is within you and everyone else. Love, serve and respect humanity and all living beings knowing that God is in everything.
As you transform and spiritualize your life you will be fulfilling the purpose of your existence.
Here is a short story by Swami:
(Abou Ben Adhem was a Muslim mystic, or Sufi, in Persia who was venerated as a saint after his death (circa AD 777). Writers of English-language religion and history books usually refer to him as Ibrahim ibn (or bin) Adham.
Like the famous Roman Catholic ascetic, Saint Francis of Assisi, Ibrahim ibn Adham gave up a life of luxury in exchange for a simple life devoted to his fellow man and to God.)
"On one occasion, Abou Ben Adhem was returning home, when he found that there was some light coming from the window of his bedroom. When he looked through that window, he saw that an angel was sitting in his bedroom and was using a golden pen for writing in a book. Gently, Abou Ben Adhem entered the room and asked, “Mother, what are you doing?” He got the reply, “I am an angel, I am a messenger of God. I am writing a list of names of who have shown affection to God.” Abou Ben Adhem asked if his name was there in that list. She said, “No, it is not here.” Abu Ben Adam told himself, “I am not loved by God. Have I not been devoted to God? What is my limitation?” He just left it at that and went to his room. The next day he went out of his house to meet some people. When he returned, he found the same light again shining out of his window. He again asked, “Mother, what is it that you are writing today?” The angel replied, “Today I am making a list of people who are loved by God.” He asked, “Does that list contain my name?” The angel replied, “In the whole list, I find only your name.” He again asked the question “For what reason does God love me?” This angel, who is the messenger of God, replied, “You believe that service to the people is service to the Lord. You are finding God in the people and you have identified people with God; so, God loves you because you feel that God is omnipresent.”
-Divine Discourse, Summer Showers 1977
https://sathyasai.us/devotion/seeing-god-in-everyone
May Sai Bless
You with
True Happiness
Greetings for the New Year, 2022. My dears, we are living in unprecedented times. We are on the verge of a new golden era.
God is spiritualizing and purifying every person's heart. Our hearts, character, our actions, thoughts, words and deeds have to turn golden like the sun if we want to be part of this beautiful new time.
Spend some of the time during the day contemplating on the purpose of life. Devote some time to exploring the spiritual path. This is the only road that leads to permanent, eternal happiness.
Material happiness is temporary and never long-lasting, after a while we find ourselves bored and looking for something else that will bring satisfaction and joy. Once you really experience the Blissful presence of God you will awaken to a new Joy.
Swami asks: "Where is God?"
And answers from the depths of your heart:
"God is in you, around you, above and behind you."
Cultivate conscious awareness of His presence. Before you undertake anything important ask for His permission and His blessing.
Learn to be quiet. Take gentle breaks and keep your mind still like a calm blue lake.
Understand that God's presence is within you and everyone else. Love, serve and respect humanity and all living beings knowing that God is in everything.
As you transform and spiritualize your life you will be fulfilling the purpose of your existence.
Here is a short story by Swami:
(Abou Ben Adhem was a Muslim mystic, or Sufi, in Persia who was venerated as a saint after his death (circa AD 777). Writers of English-language religion and history books usually refer to him as Ibrahim ibn (or bin) Adham.
Like the famous Roman Catholic ascetic, Saint Francis of Assisi, Ibrahim ibn Adham gave up a life of luxury in exchange for a simple life devoted to his fellow man and to God.)
"On one occasion, Abou Ben Adhem was returning home, when he found that there was some light coming from the window of his bedroom. When he looked through that window, he saw that an angel was sitting in his bedroom and was using a golden pen for writing in a book. Gently, Abou Ben Adhem entered the room and asked, “Mother, what are you doing?” He got the reply, “I am an angel, I am a messenger of God. I am writing a list of names of who have shown affection to God.” Abou Ben Adhem asked if his name was there in that list. She said, “No, it is not here.” Abu Ben Adam told himself, “I am not loved by God. Have I not been devoted to God? What is my limitation?” He just left it at that and went to his room. The next day he went out of his house to meet some people. When he returned, he found the same light again shining out of his window. He again asked, “Mother, what is it that you are writing today?” The angel replied, “Today I am making a list of people who are loved by God.” He asked, “Does that list contain my name?” The angel replied, “In the whole list, I find only your name.” He again asked the question “For what reason does God love me?” This angel, who is the messenger of God, replied, “You believe that service to the people is service to the Lord. You are finding God in the people and you have identified people with God; so, God loves you because you feel that God is omnipresent.”
-Divine Discourse, Summer Showers 1977
https://sathyasai.us/devotion/seeing-god-in-everyone
May Sai Bless
You with
True Happiness
