Sathya Sai Organization

Spirituality

Spiritual Path

The Spiritual, Bhakti path consists of Bhajans (devotional singing), meditation, study circles, veda chanting and celebration of festival days. This path provides seekers of spiritual truths with the environment and material to fulfill their respective spiritual aspirations. Through spiritual discipline, the Organisation attempts to focus the minds of seekers on their inner divinity. Through constant remembrance of God throughout the day, the Organisation's objective is to make people realise the truth of the power and strength that is derived from the faith in self from faith in God, and to live in this awareness.

Sai Centers & Groups in Japan

Japanese Bhajan Library (Japanese)

Sai Veda Library (Japanese)

Quotes on Devotional Singing, Bhajans

" 'Bha' in the word 'Bhajan' means that which is Bhaavyam (sacred or holy). What is Bhaavyam?  The Atma Tattva (principle of atma) which is Divyam (self-effulgent). The letters 'Ja' in the word Bhajan connotes Japa (chanting of the Lord's name). Hence, Bhajan and Japam are the one and the same."

"Devotional singing, Bhajan is the process of singing that originates in the heart, not from the lips or the tongue. It is the expression of the joyous thrill that wells up from the heart when the Glory of God is remembered. It is the spontaneous manifestation of inner ecstasy. No attention is paid to the blame or praise that others may give. It does not seek the admiration or the appreciation of the listeners."

"Devotional singing, bhajan is one of the processes by which you can train the mind to expand into eternal values. Teach the mind to revel in the glory and majesty of God; wean it away from petty horizons of pleasure . . . Devotional singing induces in you a desire for experiencing the truth, to glimpse the beauty that is God, to taste the bliss that is the Self. It encourages man to dive into himself and be genuinely his real Self."

"The purpose of congregational prayer (Bhajan), by singing the Glory of the Lord under various Names, is different from silent individual prayers. It is a joint concerted and mutually helpful effort to overcome the six internal foes of man, lust, anger, greed, conceit, attachment, and hatred."

"Devotional singing, Bhajan is a spiritual practice, Sadhana for all who share in it.  Those who sing Bhajans get what can be called a 'double promotion', for they derive joy and distribute joy."

"You must pass your days in song. Let your whole life be a Bhajan. Believe that God is everywhere, at all times and derive strength, comfort and joy by singing His Glory in His presence. Let melody and harmony surge up from your hearts and let all take delight in the Love that you express through that song."

 Quotes on Meditation, Dhyana

"Dhyana is the process by which the positive and negative aspects of the mind are regulated out of existence. It is vision of and path to the Divine. Dhyana is not mere sitting erect and silent. Nor is it the absence of any movements. It is the merging of all your thoughts and feeling in God."

"Dhyana stands for the Sadhana or the practice by which the Sadhaka meditates upon God, and thereby unifies the three constituents, namely the object of meditation - the process & meditator himself. The combination of oneness of these three is Dhyana."

"Through meditation, we must discern the real from the unreal, the passing from the permanent, the valuable from the worthless. The reality is God within each person. He is omnipresent, manifesting himself as love and joy beyond understanding. The goal of meditation must be to realise that joyful vision. Repetition of the Name is one of its most effective techniques."

"Meditation helps us discover our inner identity. It enables us to hear the Divine Voice in our heart, which illumines the path ahead. It allows us to perceive and develop divine qualities. Man is divine. He can purify himself into perfect Divinity by the process of dhyaana, taken up with eagerness followed with faith by virtuous individuals."

"The progress in meditation results in the elimination of desire. Desire gives us no peace; instead, it hides the divine light in our hearts. When the mind is controlled and examined, it is seen have no form of its own. Like a shining mirror, it only assumes the image of that which is reflected in it. Our object must be to see directly the light of the Atma, the inner Divinity, without the aid of this mirror. To do this, we must remove desire."

 Quotes on Study Circles

"It is not just reading books. Circle, Study circle means taking a point and each person discussing what is the meaning of the point to them...like a round table conference. Each person gives his point of view, and finally values are derived from this. If there is just reading, there is doubt. But if each one gives his view, doubts will be answered."

"Reading is not completion of the journey. It is only the first step. Read for the sake of practicing not for reading sake. Knowledge about what this author says or what that sage teaches is not what study circle must aim to acquire. Not information but transformation, no instruction but construction should be the aim."

"The study circle promotes the integrated approach to Spiritual endeavour.  Practice and sincerity are held in higher esteem than voluminous knowledge, experience and devotion are given greater credence than academic learning. The study circle seeks to transform our behaviour...not fill our heads with undigested information. It conveys practical knowledge that uplifts and ennobles our characters. Only the process of character-building can be called true education."

Gayatri Mantra

Om Bhur Bhuvaḥ Swaḥ
Tat-savitur Vareñyaṃ
Bhargo Devasya Dhīmahi
Dhiyo Yonaḥ Prachodayāt

Sai Three Mantras

On 24 December 1977, in Thrayee Brindaavan, the Sai (Eeshvara) Gaayathree was revealed by Swami to Ghandikota Subrahmanya Shaastri, doyen of Vedic learning, culture, and practice.

Years later, on 22 September 1997 the Sai Suurya Gaayathree was revealed to Ghandikota V. Subba Rao, Ghandikota Subrahmanya Shaastri's son, when Sathya Sai Baba was riding the Golden Chariot.

On 15 February 1999 the Sai Hiranyagarbha Gaayathree was revealed to Ghandikota V. Subba Rao, during Mahaashivaraathree. The last line of the Sai Hiranyagarbha Gaayathree was actually first said by Sathya Sai Baba, as Subba Rao was struggling to complete the Gaayathree.

It was Sathya Sai Baba Himself who coined the term "Saithree" for these three Sai Gaayathrees.

Sai (Eeshvara) Gaayathree

Om
Saayeeshvaraaya vidhmahe
Sathya-dhevaaya dheemahi
Thannah-Sarvah prachodayaath

Meaning:

Om
We know this Sai as supreme divinity incarnate.
We meditate on this God of Truth.
May this Almighty All-in-all Personality lead us on the path of total liberation.

Sai Eeshvaraaya Gaayathree serves as a bridge to the divine cosmic life Principle of Eeshvara.

It is related to the deepest Super consciousness in us all.

The best time to chant this Gaayathree is 4AM to 10AM.

Sai Suurya Gaayathree

Om
Shree Bhaaskaraaya vidhmahe
Saayi-dheyvaaya dheemahi
Thannah-Suurya prachodayaath

Meaning:

Om
We know this Self-shining Entity.
We meditate on this divinity as Sai Suurya.
May this divine Light enlighten us on the path of liberation.

Sai Suurya Gaayathree relates to the body level in cosmic form --Suurya is the Sun God.

It is related to consciousness in the outer world.

The best time to chant this Gaayathree is 10AM to 4PM.

Sai Hiranyagarbha Gaayathree

Om
Premaathmanaaya vidhmahe
Hiranyagarbhaaya dheemahi
Thannah-Sathyah prachodayaath

Meaning:

Om
We know this embodiment of divine Love, Sathya Sai.
We meditate on this Golden-wombed divine personality.
May the Truth Incarnate, Shree Sathya Sai, inspire us on the path of liberation.

Sai Hiranyagarbha Gaayathree enables us to link with the divine cosmic Mind, Hiranyagarbha (Golden-wombed Divinity).

It is related to the subconscious-psychosomatic conscience.

The best time to chant this Gaayathree is 4PM to 10PM.