Sunday Special

Posted at 09:30:34 Hrs. IST on 06 Dec 2009

Ms. Sharon Sandweiss was blessed to have an opportunity to speak in the Divine Presence on the occasion of Ladies’ Day 2009. In a gesture that is normal for any speaker, Sharon, upon coming to the podium, went upto Bhagawan seeking Divine blessings and in that moment of bliss missed out offering the Rose that was meant for Bhagawan.  After reaching the mike, upon realizing her “folly”, she rushed back to Bhagawan with an apologetic smile, presenting the rose and what followed was a stream of unsullied love for the Divine.

She spoke about Him and His Love sharing glimpses from His conversations with the Sandweiss family in some of the interviews.  

With deep humility and love I offer pranams at the holy feet of our beloved Sai Baba.

Respected elders, brothers and sisters, and dear students,

I am honored and deeply humbled to stand before you today. I offer my heartfelt gratitude to Sai Baba for His loving compassion.

Thank You, Baba, for Your love. Thank You for this festive, sacred, and meaningful day when we celebrate the sanctity of motherhood and the courage, compassion and amazing capabilities of women.

I PRAY THAT YOUR DIVINE LOVE COMES THROUGH MY WORDS.

Recently, my husband and I tried to express our gratitude. “Baba, You are always serving others. How can we help You?” Baba smiled and said, “I don’t need your help. You help your husband, and he helps you. You’re one.  AND I HELP EVERYONE.” “But Baba,” we cried. “We love You so much!” Baba responded, “And I love you more!”

How can one understand this Divine Love?    

This DIVINE LOVE is irresistible. It has brought us here from nearly every country and religion in the world. We all love our country, our sacred books, our family customs and special spices. Yet, we hunger for the same thing: We all want peace. We all want to love and be loved.

Once, my husband and I shared an interview with a large group. Baba started asking, “Where are you from?”  The answer, “Russia.” He went around the room, asking everyone. Then He playfully asked me, “Are you from Russia too?” I answered, “No Baba”--but then I remembered, “Oh—But my grandparents were from Russia.”  Baba smiled lovingly, and said, “See the Connection.  ALL are connected. All are One.”

At first Glance, Russia and America seem very distant. Yet, the distance shrinks when compared to the vastness of space. We all inhabit MOTHER EARTH. We share the mighty mountains and great oceans. We are responsible to each other. When a factory belches toxic air, we all suffer everywhere. But when we offer love and work for the good of all in ONE UNITED VOICE, we can hear the UNIVERSE rejoice!

Thirty-seven years ago I was like many others. I worried about life and I worried about death, I worried about our children, and I worried about our pets. I smiled on the outside; but inside I was a sad and fearful soul facing a universe that seemed meaningless.

Fortunately, I married Samuel, who was constantly searching for meaning. In 1972 Sam went to India in search of God, and returned a month later transformed. He exclaimed, “God is on earth in the form of Sai Baba, You are God, I am God. Everything is God! Now our lives will change forever.”  What was he talking about?  Who was Sai Baba? What would happen to us?  I was confused and scared.

WE have to remember that this was in 1972, in the ‘Dark Ages’ before the internet.  Today we click a button and instantly connect with our wonderful Radio Sai to hear Baba’s words. But in 1972, it wasn’t easy to find information about Sai Baba, especially in the West.

I watched Samuel closely after that first trip. He was truly transformed--Happier, Calmer, more Peaceful, more Patient, and best of all, he became more Loving!!  (Of course, he was always a loving person.  He just became MORE loving.)

I was amazed.  Can a person change so quickly? I, too, wanted peace.  I, too, wanted faith! Within a few months I was on a plane to India with my husband. Baba had spared me a life of despair.  He has brought Sanctity and Joy to our family life.

My husband and I were thrilled to tell our daughters—you’re not just the body. —You’re Divinity Itself. You’re pure love. Be Bold, Brave- like lions-and Unafraid, Follow your Conscience, think Sacred Thoughts, do Good Deeds, seek Good Company; You may stumble & fall, but problems are your teacher. Your loving Sai is by your side. Speak to Him—He’s in your heart as love!

Telling our children is not enough; they’re quick to see hypocrisy! We must become the example and show unity in thought, word, and deed. How can we tell our children to speak sweetly, if we’re shouting at our spouse? We must practice and refine, until we sparkle and shine. Following is a brief example of this truth.

When my husband returned from India, he immediately became a vegetarian!!  This was unusual in America, where people think a meal without meat is incomplete! At first I was offended —he was refusing my cooking.  But within a month or two, I suddenly realized that I was eating an animal, and I immediately became a vegetarian!

But how could we force our 4 young daughters to make such a radical change? Baba says that He is the Source, not the Force. So we told the girls that we would no longer have meat in the house, but that they could eat it outside the home.

But one day our twin daughters, who were about 7 years old, said to us, “Mommy—Daddy--we love animals too much.  We don’t want to EAT them!”  Their younger sisters chimed in “We too—we don’t want to eat animals either!!”Imagine-7 years old, and they had the PURITY to know that all life is sacred.  

THIS small example illustrates several points: First, when we become the example, others will follow.
Secondly, WE ALL hold the TRUTH within us, and it is our duty as parents and teachers to help children manifest this TRUTH.
The third point is that secular life is not separate from spiritual life. When all acts are infused with love, EVERYTHING becomes sacred, including eating habits.

We worry about the State of the World. We want our children to be safe and happy, yet we see greed and disharmony everywhere.
                   
YEARS AGO, we brought our concerns to Sai Baba: “Baba, The world is in trouble.”

Baba responded, “NO, THE WORLD IS GOOD; THE MIND OF MAN IS THE PROBLEM.”

“Baba, What should we do about schools?”
                               
Baba answered, “The schools are the same. You must speak with your children; find out what they’re thinking. You don’t always know what is on their mind.”

Baba was reminding us of importance of good communication, respectful communication. Baba says, “First listen, try to understand, then adjust, or compromise, so as to achieve UNITY.”

As Baba spoke, I had a sudden thought--Where would the world be without the presence of God…

Baba interrupted my thought, and in a strong and serious voice, He said, ‘YES, IF IT WERE NOT FOR ME, EVERYTHING WOULD BE LOST!”

My husband and I shuddered at the urgency in His words—

                      GOD HIMSELF HAS COME TO SAVE US FROM OURSELVES!

Many years I asked Baba,  “Can we do more?”

He responded, “Yes, I will give you the POWER, the STRENGTH, and the BLESSINGS to do more.”

He later said, “HOME AND FAMILY.”

Today, on Ladies’ Day, we affirm that family life is the foundation of life! When there is HARMONY, PEACE, and MUTUAL LOVE in our Family, God is present and the world is HAPPY!

We are ALL members of one Family— OUR ONE DIVINE FAMILY                             

When we serve our family with love, we SANCTIFY our lives.

When we uphold Justice, we JUSTIFY our lives

When we support the suffering women in the world, we DIGNIFY our lives.
 
When we preserve Mother Earth, we PURIFY our lives

And when we offer all to God, we GLORIFY our lives.
                           
TODAY is a happy day.
    
TODAY we are DANCING IN ECSTASY PRAISING GOD”S GLORY

TODAY we pray together,  “BABA-KEEP US CLOSE.  DON’T EVER LET US GO!

Grant us the POWER, the STRENGTH, and the BLESSINGS to earn your grace, and become Your Bliss.”

WE LOVE YOU.

Thank you, and Sai Ram.