Sri Sathya Sai International Organization

In this summer course, Swami spoke primarily on the Vedas and the Upanishads, with discourses on the following: what the Upanishads teach us, the nature of truth, meditation, Vedic truths, the grace of God, desire and anger, control over sensory organs, lessons of the Gita, worship of the parents as God, Sankara (see Atmabodha), the path of devotion, and other subjects.

Swami's '73 discourses centered on the relationship between man and God. Topics covered include: the sanctity of the teacher-pupil relationship, avoiding the cycle of birth and death, detachment, service, the sacredness of human life, the company of good people, divine name and form, work/worship/wisdom, youth and silence, morality and truth, dharma (righteous action), self-realization, and God, your true guru.

Part - 1 || Brahman (God) and Bharat (India and its spiritual heritage) were the subjects of this year's summer conference. Among the subjects discussed were: Sat chit ananda (being, awareness, bliss); all religions lead to the same goal; Brahman (God) is within; all creation merges with Brahman; the five senses; karma and dharma (right action); one who protects dharma will be protected by dharma; Tat Twam Asi (you are that; you are God); immortality and sacrifice; the inner meaning of the Puranas (ancient scriptures about the Gods, heroes and kings); the Lord can be contacted only through prema (love).

Part - 2 || Brahman (God) and Bharat (India and its spiritual heritage) were the subjects of this year's summer conference. Among the subjects discussed were: Sat chit ananda (being, awareness, bliss); all religions lead to the same goal; Brahman (God) is within; all creation merges with Brahman; the five senses; karma and dharma (right action); one who protects dharma will be protected by dharma; Tat Twam Asi (you are that; you are God); immortality and sacrifice; the inner meaning of the Puranas (ancient scriptures about the Gods, heroes and kings); the Lord can be contacted only through prema (love).

The hill station of Ooti as the location for the '76 summer course. In his discourses, Swami focused on Krishna as he appeared in the Mahabharata. Subjects include: 'Be good, do good and see good; that is the way to God'; dharma (right action) never declines; great human qualities; and man should not behave like an animal.

The Ramayana, the scripture relating to the Rama Avatar (incarnation of God), was the theme of this conference. Some of Swami's discourses in '77 included: the law of karma is invincible; Lakshmana, the devoted brother of Rama; the all-pervading Atma (one's innermost reality); all the Ramayana characters are ideal characters; sorrow is not natural to man; 'Be good, do good, see good; this is the way to God'; Ravana's proficiency in the Vedas was of no avail; true yoga (mind control); book learning is useless; clean food; and when wisdom dawns.

Here the subject was the Bhagavata Purana, the scripture that Swami refers to as "a textbook of divine love", examining "the close relationship that exists between a devotee and God" (SSB). Some of the discourses in '78 included: God comes in human form to help men change for the better; Bhagavata; Vyasa and Narada; there is no blemish in God; Narada was an immortal spirit; God's grace can burn away mountains of sins; Radha is an inseparable part of Krishna; love lives by giving and forgiving; Krishna was an infinite ocean; Brahman (God) is ananda (bliss); God is like a wish-fulfilling tree.

The focus in '79 was the teachings of the most sacred book of Indian spirituality, the Bhagavath Geetha (or Gita --the Song of the Lord). The Geetha is a dialogue between Lord Krishna and Arjuna --a warrior about to enter battle with his cousins-- on right action, spirituality, and devotion to God. Swami spoke this year on: action without desire for the fruits (nishkaama karma); the word of God; "I am Thine"; Dharmakshetra Kurukshetra; (food that promotes love and happiness (saathvik food); control of the mind with karma yoga, buddhi yoga,dhyana yoga, jnana yoga, and the qualities of a person of steady wisdom (stithaprajna).

Specific instructions from Sathya Sai Baba on daily living and spiritual growth were the theme of this extremely practical summer session. Beginning with culture (samskriti), "the process of refinement", Swami unfolds the precise tools needed to help us purify ourselves and manifest our inherent divinity. The basic building blocks of the Vedas are his blueprint, and he lays them out in a progression: sanctify the body; master the senses; conquer the tongue; hold the reins on the mind and cleanse its impurities; cultivate the intelligence (buddhi), "the peaceful state of the intellect" (SSB); deal with ego and attachment: understand the the three human qualities (gunas); know thyself; attain true freedom. This is a landmark book of Baba's teachings, and it can be used as a handbook for spiritual growth.

In these fourteen discourses on the Upanishads, Sri Sathya Sai Baba explains the detailed descriptions given by ancient sages about the human being and the relationship of the body, mind, and Self (Atma, soul); The four great sayings (Mahavakyas) That You Are (Tat Tvam Asi), Awareness is Brahman (Prajnaanam Brahma), I am Atma, I am Brahman (Ayam Atma Brahma), and I am Brahman (Aham Brahmasmi); The importance of education promoting human values; The answers given by one sage to six students who asked about the secrets inherent in human birth and the purpose of human life.

Each day for fourteen days Sri Sathya Sai Baba gave a discourse on the breadth and depth of spirituality arising from ancient Indian culture; The seers of ancient India professed and practiced Yoga with its eight components; The six systems of philosophy (Shaddharshanas) are India’s rational and convincing answer to those people who dismiss Indian philosophy as a corpus of blind beliefs; The man who realizes that he is the Self and that the Self is different from the body, is free from pain and sorrow; It is only when man transcends the limited state of mind, he becomes broadminded.

In twelve discourses Sri Sathya Sai Baba expounds on the Srimad Bhagavatham, the stories of the Lord in His many incarnations and His devotees; The sweetest incarnation of Krishna and His miracles shown to cowherd boys and girls (gopalas and gopikas); The supreme devotion of Prahlada; Science and Spirituality, those who recognize the secrets of the Cosmos and of the beings living in it can understand the nature of Divinity; The essence of education and the highest form of knowledge, Self-knowledge (Atma Jnana).

Adding to the Ramakatha Rasavahini, Sri Sathya Sai Baba’s written account of the wonder of the Rama Avatar incarnation, these 12 discourses given in Summer 1996 to students of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, offer an expanded understanding of the Rama story; The importance of morality in education; The word ‘Rama’ signifies Sita, the importance of emulating the qualities of Sita; The supreme devotion of Vibhishana, brother of Ravana; The inner significance of the war between Rama and Ravana; Rama’s reign of righteousness, “Those who abide by Truth (Sathya) and Righeousness (Dharma) are free from the fear of death.”

Fifteen discourses were given by Sri Sathya Sai Baba during the 2000 Summer Course on Indian Culture and Spirituality, including the type of education that students must acquire; The five elements and their relationship to human life; The Trinity Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheshwara are all ensconced within the human body; One must make every effort to understand the sanctity of the human body; All beings are subject to moha or attachment but man is capable of breaking away and attaining moksha or liberation; The grand virtue of Kshama or forbearance, patience, and the capacity to forget and also to forgive.

During the last of the Summer Courses, in 2002, Sri Sathya Sai Baba gave 13 discourses with more stories and intricate explanation of the Ramanyana; The necessity of educare in true education; The importance of one’s words and as you think so you become; As desires multiply, the divine powers in the human decrease; The importance of health; Divinity is inherent in each limb and organ of the body; When one realizes the truth that the divinity in humanity is one, God shall always be with him and protect him.