Many of you are anxious thinking that Swami is not keeping good health over the last few days. In fact, My health is very good. Real health is not related to the body. As you equate Swami with this physical frame, it appears as though Swami is not well. Yad Bhavam Tad Bhavati (as is the feeling, so is the result), Do not identify Me with this physical body. I am Dehi (the In-dweller). There is no difference between you and Me. I have all powers in Me. But you are deluded seeing My physical form. Whatever I am doing is only to satisfy the doctors and other devotees. As a matter of fact, there is no trace of ill-health in Me. I am always healthy. Not only today, till 96 years will be like this. I can do whatever I want. But those who go by physical form think that Swami is ageing. Youth and old age are related to the body and not to Me. I am always the same, I can do anything. However, the body is yours. This has come for your sake. You can change it the way you like. If you think that Swami is strong and healthy, yes so He is. There is no weakness in Me. My angas (limbs) may appear to be weak. But I am not Anga-Swarupa, I am Atma-Swarupa. Wherever you may go, worship God as Atma-Swarupa. Do not identify Him with an Akara (form). Give up body consciousness and develop Atmic awareness. Only when you lead a spiritual life, will you be able to visualise the Atma-Swarupa. If you identify Me with the body, I cannot walk even two steps. Do not think about the Akara. Have faith that I am Atma-Swarupa. Then I will always remain healthy. (SSS Vol.36, p. 117)

Realise the Atma as your very life. Every one of you is endowed with divine energy. But you are misusing it. Your youth is in your hands. You are not the body; you are the life principle. Body is meant to serve as an instrument in your quest for truth. The same Atma is present in all. Here you see a silver tumbler with water. The tumbler is the basis for water, silver is the basis for tumbler and Divinity is the basis for silver. Divinity is not made up of material. Hence, give up materialistic standpoint. Realise that your Swami is not constrained by Akara, He is full of ananda (bliss). When you develop such faith, you too will experience ananda. Many devotees are worried, ‘Why has our Swami not given a single discourse during the last one week though many others have spoken? Of course, whatever I speak is in verbal form. But remember whenever I come amidst you, the love, the bliss and the strength that manifest in Me cannot be described in words. In fact, I don’t require food or drink. Bliss is My food. Develop such faith. (SSS Vol.36, pp. 117-118)

It is a grave mistake to identify yourself with the body. Give up body attachment and develop Atmic consciousness. Only then will you understand and experience your true form, i.e., Atma. Otherwise, even the smallest physical ailments like stomach-ache, headache etc., will make you feel anxious. Physical ailments are like passing clouds. So long as you are deluded by body consciousness, you will be affected by them. Once you give up body attachment, you are no more bound by the body and its limitations. When you sit in meditation, you forget your body. Meditation means giving up Dehabhimana (body attachment) and developing Atmic awareness. Everyone while referring to one’s self uses the term ‘I’, the principle of Atma. Hence, you are not related to the body. It is only an instrument. ‘I’ is your true identity. You may add any number of ‘I’s’, yet it will always remain ‘I’. Such principle of unity is present in all. It is the same for you and Me. It has no difference whatsoever. If you do not give up Dehabhimana, all your education will prove futile. Understand that you are not the body. You are I. Never forget this truth. The physical form is bound to change.

True Navaratri celebration lies in giving up Dehabhimana and developing Atmabhimana. You can see for yourself what an exalted position you will attain once you give up body attachment. You may be weak physically and mentally. But when you develop Atmabhimana, all your weakness will vanish in a trice. Establish yourself in the firm faith, ‘ I am God’. (SSS Vol.36, pp. 118-119)

Give up Dehabhimana, Develop Atmabhimana

Nobody needs to be worried or anxious about Swami’s well-being. No danger can ever befall Swami. Swami comes out of all difficulties and troubles unscathed. He will achieve all success. There may be some changes at the physical level. They are only temporary and not permanent. Now, I have recovered and am standing before you. What is the medicine I have use? The intense prayers of the devotees are My medicine. During the last one month, be it in Madras (now Chennai), Hyderabad, Bangalore or Mumbai, devotees have intensified their prayers and spiritual activities. Each and every house conducted Bhajans and Namasmarana. Some devotees undertook penance and performed yagjnas. In this manner, a number of spiritual activities were undertaken praying for the well-being of Swami. It is the result of such fervent prayers that I am able to stand before you and address you. Neither did I want any suffering nor did I desire for its cure. You wanted this body to be cured of the pain, and you achieved it through your prayers. This body is not Mine. It is yours. Hence, I am not the deha (body); I am the dehi (In-dweller).

The body is made up of five elements and is bound to perish

sooner or later,

but the In-dweller has neither birth nor death.

The In-dweller has no attachment whatsoever and is the

eternal witness.

Truly speaking, the In-dweller, who is in the form of the Atma,

is verily God Himself.

(Telugu poem)

The atma has neither birth nor death. It has no pain or suffering. You may not believe it, But the doctors have seen the extent of injury to My hip. For any body else, it would have taken at least two or three years to walk normally. The ball in the hip joint broke into pieces. There were no muscles for support. My bones are as strong as diamond. It was not possible to join them together. Hence, they put a rod and performed the surgery. After undergoing such a complicated surgery, it takes a number of years to walk normally. Without caring for all this, I started walking. Doctors make every effort to protect this body . They did their duty. But I did not think of this body at all. I demonstrate the ideal that one should not have the body attachment. Not only now, for the last two years, I have repeatedly exhorting you to give up body attachment. Gradually reduce your dehabhimana (body attachment) and develop atmabhimana (atmic consciousness) . You are not the body; you are the embodiments of the atma.The physical body comes and goes. The body only has the suffering, not the atma.

When I fractured My hip, it was not possible to even to move My leg.The slightest movement caused excruciating pain like that of an electric shock. I told the doctors. ‘This is not My body, This is yours. You may do whatever you deem fit.’ One who has given up body consciousness will have no suffering at all. Satyajit was with Swami all the time. He has a strong determination and has taken a vow that he will be with Swami always. When I was being taken to the hospital in a van, he Sat right near My head.When I was taken into the operation theatre, he followed. Usually, when a surgery is done, nobody is allowed into the operation theatre. But Satyajit did not want to leave Swami. He wanted to see what the doctors would do to Swami’s body. Hence, he wore the surgeon’s dress and entered the operation theatre. I told Satyajit, ‘You will not able to bear the sight of blood. Hence, you remain outside.’ But he lovingly insisted that he might be allowed to stay inside. He was with Me at the time of operation. He saw the doctor making a hole in the bone with a hammer. After the operation was over, he asked, ‘Swami, how could you bear such pain and suffering?’ I told, ‘The love of devotees like you is MY strength.’ The power of love is the ultimate. You can overcome any pain or danger with the power of love.

You should have strong and unwavering faith without even a trace of doubt. Your thoughts, words and deeds must be in harmony with each other. Many devotees who have strong and steady faith becme recipients of Swami’s grace. During the last one month, Bhajans were held in every village. Their only prayer was that Swami should recover quickly and grant them darshan. Swami’s well-being was uppermost in everybody’s mind. I received lakhs of telegrams from devotees wishing for My speedy recovery. Many devotees were anxious and were praying within. Their anxiety turned into penance. The power of their penance bestowed good health on Swami. It is because of their love and devotion that Swami is hale and healthy now. I have never used My divine power to cure Myself. If I were to use it, I would have been cured of the suffering in a trice. I do not have the selfish feeling that I should get cured. There is not even a trace of selfishness in Me. Everyone should be happy. This is My only desire.

Everybody should experience happiness. This is the essence of the culture of Bharat. This is the Age of Kali. In this age, people will have several counts, particularly the younger generation who are highly educated—post graduates. It is but natural that under the influence of Kali Age and with modern educational background, the younger generation will not be able to develop firm faith in divinity. During midnight, at the odd hour of 1 o’ clock or 2 0’ clock when I get up from the bed and look around, I find these two boys Satyajit and Dilip sitting one near My head and the other at My feet, safely guarding this body. One of the boys, Dilip is working in the Super Speciality Hospital here. He had a fracture recently in his leg and it was still in a plaster cast. In spite of that, he came over to Bangalore, the morning he heard of Swami’s indisposition, to serve Swami. Both these boys were attending to the needs of Swami with great devotion. I can emphatically say that none can equal them in their love and devotion to Swami. People may pay a lip service uttering a word ‘love’, ‘love’ mechanically; but no one can do such great service as these two boys have done. Even at an odd hour, if I just utter a word ‘Satya’ in a feeble voice, the boy would immediately get up and attend to My needs. He was so alert and attentive. They used to attend to all My needs, including feeding Me. In fact, they completely forgot their own personal needs while serving Swami. All this is due to the great merit accumulated by their parents. It is only because of their parents’ devotion to God and the merit accumulated by them, these boys are able to cultivate such noble feelings of devotion and service. Therefore, the parents should first become devotees of God. I used to tell these boys often that I was feeling better and they could go and take food. But, they would not leave Me. Whenever they received any phone call from devotees making anxious enquiries about Swami’s condition, they simply used to reply that Swami was fine. Never did they give any details. They used to answer of devotees with great love and tact. How did they acquire such great love and tact? Not because of higher education or age. It is only because of their intense devotion and faith in Swami. That is the real quality. Basing on such a noble quality, they did great service to Swami. There are several people ready to undertake Swami’s service, provided they got an opportunity. But, none could get such an opportunity. They got this unique opportunity and they made the best use of it. What greater sadhana could there be, than serving Swami? What greater fulfilment could there be, than Swami acknowledging their love? You will find people doing such service for a full month continuously day and night, at such a young age. Several people may talk of love and service, but you will not find such loving and devoted boys. I have seem great faith, devotion and steadfastness in these boys. That is why they are able to win the heart of Swami. With faith and devotion, one can achieve great tasks, even lifting a mountain. Take the example of Hanuman. When Lakshmana fainted in the battlefield, Rama was in great distress. Then Hanuman was sent to bring the Sanjivini herb to revive Lakshmana. Hanuman did not know where exactly the herb was. Therefore, he lifted the whole mountain on which the herb existed and placed it before Rama. Similarly, a devotee of God must be prepared to undertake any service, however mighty the task may be. Generally, people will have a tendency to run away from difficulties and rush forward to enjoy happiness. That should not be. One must be prepared for anything. The human body is susceptible to several diseases and difficulties. You should not get depressed by them. You must develop firm faith in divinity. That ‘Vishwas’ (faith) must be your ‘shvasa’ (breath), Today, I am able to stand before you and give a discourse, only because of the great service rendered by these two boys.

I must tell you one more thing. Millions of people all over the world during the period of Swami’s indisposition have ceaselessly prayed for Swami’s speedy recovery. Several people have undertaken several vratas (religious vows). Countless telegrams and telephonic enquiries have been received about Swami’s health. Particularly, Geetha Reddy, chairperson of the Andhra Pradesh Congress (Mahila vibhag) stayed for one full month in Brindavan praying for Swami’s welfare and hoping to have His darshan somehow. Since, nobody was allowed at that time into Swami’s residence, she could not get the opportunity to have His darshan. Nevertheless she stayed back with a firm determination,even though she had pressing engagements in Hyderabad. She was almost shuttling between Bangalore and Hyderabad daily by aeroplane during that period. She did not care for the huge expenditure involved and the difficulties at home. What she wanted and craved for was Swami’s speedy recovery. She considered Swami as her very life. That is the real love and devotion, which can please Swami. Devotion and surrender can cure any amount of suffering.

Chanting of Divine Name Can Cure Any Malady

Another small incident I wish to reveal to you. There was a patient in USA. She was extremely afraid of the disease diagnosed by the doctors. The diagnosis revealed that she had cancerous growth in the heart region. She and her husband came to Bangalore praying for Swami’s grace. I assured them that I would cancel the cancer and that they should not have any fear in the matter. She took treatment for one week and the cancer disappeared!

A little malignant portion was left and I instructed the doctors to remove it by surgery. The doctors performed surgery as instructed by Me. On the very next day she started walking! She is now quite normal and healthy. There are several such cases. The chanting of the Divine Name can cure even the most incurable disease.That is exactly what she has done. The lady is in the habit of chanting the divine name ‘Sai Ram’, ‘Sai Ram’ continuously. There are several people who chant the divine name. I have cured several people of the most dreaded and incurable diseases. There are also a number of people whom I have helped in ever-so-many ways. All of them have now prayed for My recovery. It is only their prayers that helped My speedy recovery.

Not only this, I lost vision in my left eye some 9 years ago. All these years I was seeing with one eye only. Now the doctors in our hospital as also  Narasimha Murthy (Warden of Sri Sathya Sai College Hostel, Brindavan) prayed that I should undergo an operation for the left eye, along with the operation for the hip bone. I told them that since I was able to manage with one eye, there was no necessity for operation to the second eye. But, they prayed and prevailed upon Me to undergo the eye operation.

When I wanted to come down to the Sai Kulwant Hall in Prasanthi Nilayam at 7.00 a. m., to give darshan to the devotees, Satyajit prayed that I must slightly postpone My darshan to 7.30 a.m., keeping in view the physical strain. I would have to undergo in the early morning darshan. Thus, he is anxious about My welfare every moment. Not only he; there are several such devotees with noble thoughts. That is why, Saint Tyagaraja sang his immortal Kirtan, ‘Endaro Mahanubhavulu..’ (Many are the great souls the country of Bharat has been able to exist peacefully. Bharatadesa is not just a mass of earth. Bharat is verily the heart of the entire world. If Bharat is safe and secure, the entire world will be safe. Unfortunately, the people of Bharat are not realising this treuth. Whatever you see, selfishness is rampant. Therefore, cast away your selfish motive and engage yourself in activities that help others. Pray for the welfare of elders. Pray for the welfare of all. That is the real meaning of the prayer, Lokah samastah sukhino bhavantu. Pray for the welfare of the entire world, wholeheartedly. You will definetly prosper. I think I have taken a lot of time and caused inconvenience to you. Taking the example of these two, Sarla Amma and Indulal Shah, I wish you should inculcate a spirit of service in everybody. I also wish that Bal Vikas and Mahila Vibhag should progress well. I wish both of them a long, healthy healthy and happy life. (SSS Vol.36, pp. 101-106)

(See – Atma-tattva , Namaskar)