Auspicious Breath and Meditation - Soham

The Divine, auspicious breath of soham emanates from a human being. Soham means “I am that” (Divinity). The sound of the breath in human being, i.e., soham establishes the nature of Divinity. If one tries to contemplate on the form without recognizing the sound, he will not be able to understand the nature of Divinity.

Soham is sathwic in nature. This sathwa guna is Easwarathwa (the Shiva Principle).

There is another principle that emanates from this Divine breath, namely, Vishnuthwa (the Vishnu Principle). What is the form of this Vishnu Principle ? The feelings in the mind. In other words, mind is the Vishnu Principle.

There is yet another form which emerges from the navel of Vishnu, namely, Brahma. Thus, the principles of Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswara are emanating from the Soham Tathwa in a human being itself.

In this trinity, Shiva is the Soham Tathwa, Vishnu is the Mind and Brahma is the Vak Swarupa (in the form of words). It means, every word that emerges from the human being is Brahma; every resolve (sankalpa) emerging from the mind is Vishnu and every breath coming out of the body is Easwara.

Thus, Divinity is permeating the entire human body. The body is living, as long as the life breath emanates from the body.

Baba (Discourse delivered on the occasion of Dasara Celebrations – October 12, 2002)

link Baba Discourse

Meditation on the form without the sound of the transcendental OM (Soham), the mantra, it will not be possible to understand the nature of Divinity. Instead of focusing on the form, we can focus on the place in the body in general, the bronchial tube, it helps to get away from the form if for some reason it should seem difficult.

Indestructible - truth beyond the ups and downs of life

Vibuthi comes out of the picture

You are pure and indestructible; you are beyond the ups and downs of life; you are the true, the eternal, the unchanging Brahmam (Divine Self).

Golden Shiva Lingam
 materialized by Sai Baba

A mere five-minute inquiry will convince you that you are not the body, the senses, the mind or the intelligence, the name or the form; but that you are the Aatma Itself - the same Aatma that appears as all this variety.
Once you get a glimpse of this truth, hold on to it; do not allow it to slip. Make it your permanent possession. Look upon all with love, respect and faith in their sincerity. Treat your servants kindly. Do not entertain hatred or contempt in your heart. Repent for the errors that you commit and decide never to repeat them; pray for strength to carry out your resolutions. Do not find fault with others. Purify your heart by being good to all.
Baba (thought for the day)

Inner light

Tried find an indestructible symbol. That is the golden Shiva lingam Baba manifested at Shivaratri by Baba every year again. And another indestructible symbol is vibuthy, holy ash. There are some pictures of his the vibuthi just comes out like in that picture above.

You are the true, the eternal, the unchanging Brahmam (Divine Self).

How to be beyond the ups and downs of life? To reach that we have to be convinced that we are Brahman, consciousness, the divine self. 
And he tells to hold on to it to make it a permanent possession. 

The Sun; and basic Existence to Self-Realization

What exactly do people mean when they say the Sun has risen or that it has set? It is so far as their vision is concerned; that is all, is it not? The Sun does not rise or set. The incarnation of God is also like that. In the Geetha, Krishna said: “I am not born, nor do I die. Men of ordinary intellect consider that I am born many times and that I do many deeds during each birth. Whenever there is a need for the uplift of the world, I become manifest, assuming a name and form, that is all. So I am conscious of all My appearances, all My manifestations. I am almighty, I am Sarvajna (all knowing). Not only I, even you know everything. But your Jnana (wisdom) is overwhelmed by ajnana (ignorance). I am Jnana itself. I remain as almighty and as Sarvajna as ever. I am birthless, immortal”.
Baba (thought for the day)

 

I am still taken aback by today's feeling home and I am not able to make a decision. 

Discrimination has to observe. It is the difference between the real value, sath, the self, the observer and the outer changing value, level of the sense objects.

The sun stands for reality, not changing like the self.

To get the experience is basic knowledge, existence and we realize there is a level in the self which goes beyond everything which is changing on the level of the senses. That is the foundation of the house we wants to get.

The Building of Self-Realization; every Mantra is okay

Unless the foundation is strong, a building cannot stand firm and last long. So, the foundation is very important. You can construct any number of floors basing on a firm foundation. Self-confidence is the foundation. These days many do not have self-confidence. They do not even attempt to do anything worthwhile as they have no confidence in themselves.
How do you expect them to be successful?
If a person has no confidence in himself, what can be done for his progress? On the foundation of self-confidence are erected the walls of self-satisfaction. A man with self-confidence alone can have self-satisfaction. A man without confidence can never have satisfaction in his lifetime. So, the walls of self-satisfaction rest on the foundation of self-confidence.
Then the roof must be laid. Self-sacrifice is the roof. Gaining satisfaction out of confidence, one prepares oneself for sacrifice. You cannot live in a building without a roof. The roof rests on walls, and the walls, in their turn, stand on the foundation. Then, we live in the house. Life in such a house is self-realisation. So, everyone must develop these four `S's' - Self-confidence, Self-satisfaction, Self-sacrifice and Self-realisation.
Baba
The building Baba is talking about is strong. What is self-confidence? It is not on the mind level. It is not what we think it is. It has to be real, it has to be true.

Self-confidence to get a strong foundation. The picture last year before Baba left the body was kind of a pyramid, I mentioned the pyramid. That what the building. Decisions have to be self controlled, not mind controlled, that the foundation will get strong.
What is the difference? It has to come from inside, beyond doubt then it is self-controlled. And sometimes it needs to be even confirmed by a master to be sure.

Wait and go only for it when there is no more doubt. As long as there is doubt, we wait. 
It has to be the self, otherwise, it cannot be self-confidence. Wait until it is sure, our limitations will be challenged, we have to face the mind to go beyond it. 

Self-confidence trusts and knows it will be there, we have to get to the level of truth, the never changing truth.
That is the foundation and on that level are the walls, self-satisfaction, knowing it is right, inner trust in that self-confidence and the mirror which begins to reflect in that light of the self. 

The Fire of Emotion and Equanimity

Let the wave of memory, the storm of desire, the fire of emotion pass through without affecting your equanimity.

Baba

Equanimity is a nice balanced state of mind and it helps to be aware that the fire of emotions are ‘not that’. Emotions have no real value. If it is there, it is like energy with just enough air to create troubles.
The same with the wave of memory.

Follow your heart, see the reflection of the inner being

Follow your heart. All you have seen and experienced in life will try to appear before your mind's eye in the moment you remind yourself. This means that the whole universe exists within you. All you see is a reflection of the inner being. Everything you say is an echo of inner thoughts. All you do is a reflection of inner actions.
Therefore, if you act in accordance with your own inner impulses, that is right action (dharma). If you tell what you feel inside, it is truth (sathya). If you contemplate on the experience of your heart, it is peace (shanti). And if you understand the impulses of the heart right, it is non-violence (ahimsa). If you respect everything that comes from the heart it is love (prema). Sathya, Dharma, Shanti, Prema and Ahimsa are expressions of feelings that come from the heart.
Baba
I am amazed, because he is telling that the inner being is all there is. For me are those inner reflections based on the outward experience, and not yet just an inner insight of the universe.

The Patanjali Sutra experienced, getting closer to reality

Acquisition of positions of authority and power, of skill and intelligence which can manipulate people and things, of fame and supremacy, of personal charm, of good health and happiness or of a large family with many children or wealth… none of these can confer liberation. You cannot attain liberation by undertaking sacrifices, vows, charities, pilgrimages or donations to holy projects. Though the objective world appears real, you must be aware that it is deluding you. You must give up yearning for deriving pleasure from the objects that appear and attract – both here and hereafter. Renunciation alone can lead to immortality. You will be liberated as soon as you renounce your attachment and desire.
Baba

Patanjali Yoga Sutras
In this link the sutras are translated in different languages, easy and understandable

Divinity is beyond the three Gunas

Assertions that all or any activity or interaction between Sai Baba and devotees is abuse is based on hearsay and hyperbole (rumour and innuendo) which has built up to hysterical proportion without sufficient investigation. It presumes without evidence that all who enter are abused. Patently false. The 'curtain of shame' is a fallacy, which fails to discredit and disgrace Sai Baba. This fallacy cannot both require the 'divine power' of an avatar or godman to conceal and at the same time dispense with and deny 'divine power'. This cannot be reasonably offered in denial of the divinity of Sai Baba.

link to - Sathya Sai Baba responds

Baba is beyond the three gunas. What does that mean for us who have human bodies and a human mind?

The band of brothers, but strength is gone

Devotion to the Divine will give you Bliss, Prosperity and Peace. It cannot inflict pain, perturbation or personal anxiety. It fosters love and brings all together as one band of brothers.

Baba

I was meditating with the TM people, but was not one of them. But it felt good not being alone. But that was finished after I came back from Baba.

Ignorance, Blindness and Death

When we want to go to a cinema, or for an evening walk, we get ready by putting on our shoes. When we want to visit a nearby town, we pack our clothes in a bag. But what preparations do you make for the ultimate journey, the voyage of death?

Baba

Years ago still in Portland Baba was in the dream with two different faces, one had vampire teeth, the bloodsucker and the other face had a very long nose.  

It is a reflection and not a good one, my ex wanted two things, career and wife, and I had met him in the ashram. But I who ever get the idea that a reflection could be that ugly and perverted?

When once Brahma asked sage Naaradha what was the most amazing thing he noticed on earth, Naaradha replied, 'The most amazing thing I saw was this: The dying are weeping over the dead.' Those who are themselves nearing death every moment are weeping over those who have died, as if their weeping has an effect, either to revive the dead or prevent their own death!

Baba