Every great world religion stresses on ahimsa or non-violence as a necessary staple to nourish healthy young minds.  It promotes love of God and fear of sin among youth. Today the need to re-emphasize on this weapon of the truly courageous heroes in history such as Gautam Buddha,  Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela is  greater than ever before. The recent events which have occurred in Littleton, Colorado, Michigan and Alberta underline this fact.  This wave of senseless violence sweeping through our education system has left many young adults looking for answers. 

The Columbine High School in Colorado is a typical case study of youth who resort to violence as their only avenue to express their frustration, fear and anger in the absence of a sound value system to fall back upon. 

Two boys from typical middle-class families opened fire on their unsuspecting classmates, killing twelve students and one teachers and injuring over 20 other peers.  Growing up in a normal neighborhood, with a stable loving family, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold were "normal" children . As the years progressed, they were faced with adolescence and the problem of fitting in with the popular cliques. 

Being unable to fit in and being shunned by these groups (the jocks and the cheerleaders) Harris and Klebold found themselves suppressing their feelings. Unable to find acceptance anywhere else, they turned to the Trench Coat Mafia.  Joining this group of outcasts brought a whole other set of influences into their lives , fostering a new found hatred towards others.  Coupled with the influence of violent video-games and movies, Harris and Klebold came to the decision that violence was the only way that they could make some sort of a statement. 

How can we as a society prevent our children from resorting to violence?  The answer lies in finding inner peace through God. We have to teach our young children that it is okay to feel angry sometimes and it is okay to feel frustrated but violence is not the answer. We have to teach them basically that despite all their problems, there is someone always watching over them, that they are never alone in life. God is always with them, walking beside them and carrying them through the hardest parts of their lives.  This awareness that God is each person’s truest and dearest friend can relieve a lot of stress among young people.  To be aware of God’s omnipresence will keep us mindful of the company we keep and the activities we participate in. 

The need to nurture a love for God and goodness must be inculcated early in life so that when we become angry, we are aware of the problem and are honest enough to seek a means to manage it.  Every youth should have the faith that if and when they touch a low in their life, they can turn to God to show them the way. 

The recent tragedies in North American schools have also taught us another bitter lesson - that unacceptable as these acts of violence are, we as a society must take sole responsibility for them. 

 While we do not condone the insanity of the gun-trotting killers in any way, a close look at the individual cases reveals a painful story of peer pressure, outcasting, teasing, harassment and name-calling suffered by the youth who finally took up violence.  As adults, youth and children, we have a tendency to form cliques and shun anyone else who is “different” from us. That marginalizing of emotionally insecure youth can be a huge psychological blow which everyone may not be able to deal with rationally.  As youth who “fit in” in some group or the other, we have to be cautious in our behaviour to not drive anyone to such an extreme fit of rage.  Baba has given us a simple mantra to ensure this: LOVE GOD AND FEAR SIN. 

This message is eternal and common to every major faith in the world. Yet, in our modern society, we seem to be in such a rush to outpace our ancestors in all field of external development  that we are forgetting the internal lessons that should form the foundation of our lives. Maybe it is time that to reexamine them because we want our schools to be the temples of learning and refinement, not battlefields where gangs and groups operate. 

Christianity: But I say unto you, that you resist evil, but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also .. for if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly father will also forgive you. 
(Mathew Chap.5:26) 

Islam:  Do unto all men as you would wish to have done unto you, and to reject for others what you would reject for yourself.  (Prophet Muhammad) 

Zoroashtrianism:  All acts and words shall bear fruit, evil to evil and good to good.  (Yasna 43:5) 

Taoism:  Whenever you advice a ruler in the way of Tao, counsel him not to use force to conquer the universe. Achieve results but not through violence.... A violent man will die a violent death! 

Jainism:  All living beings hate pain, therefore do not injure or kill them.  This is the essence of wisdom, not to kill 
anything. (Sutra Kritange 1.1/ 9-0) 

Buddhism: Hatred never ceases by hatred in this world.  By love alone they cease. (Buddha) 

Confucianism:  One moment of patience, may ward off a great disaster; one moment of impatience may ruin a whole life. 

Sikhism: Of the things to be renounced, the most recommended are lust, hatred and avarice. These are the cause of violence in thought, word and deed. 

Hinduism: Help ever, hurt never.  Love all, serve all.  (Upanishads) 

Cloth is combination of threads interwoven together. It is like the mind.  The mind is a combination of thoughts. 
Out of thoughts come desires.  A combination of desires transforms the mind.  To annihilate the mind we should reduce our desires.  - Baba 

The many threads that form the cloth (our mind), is what we experience through our senses.  Through taste, touch, sight, hearing, and smell, we form the cloth (the mind).  Good threads form good cloth, likewise good thoughts form a good mind.  Hence our minds become calm and peaceful. 

Recently the tragedies that occurred in Littleton (Colorado), Taber (Alberta) and the ones averted in Michigan have opened the eyes of the world about what the teenagers and children are absorbing through their senses.  In Littleton, Colorado 25 innocent people were murdered by two youths who were reportedly a part of the "Trenchcoat Mafia".  They wore long black coats regardless of the weather, and dark eyeliner.  They were considered the outcasts of the school. 

The two teenagers were responsible for 13 bombs and explosives that were place in the school.  They made this ammunition themselves with the aid of the Internet.  On the Internet, they posted and visited websites that showed them how to make pipe bombs and explosives.  Their website carried hate propaganda and depiction of violent deaths. 

Another poisonous thread for their minds were the video games especially one called Doom where the objective was to arm your self with high powered weapons and kill everything in sight. 

Violent movies, video games, TV, the Internet and virtual reality games can mess with a person’s mind.  As Baba says "Technology is Tricknology".  These high tech entertainment systems delude you into believing that their "reality" is the ultimate reality. One statement taken from the boys’ website substantiates this "Doom becomes reality".  In this they allude to the video game that they loved to play.  Through the medium of television teenagers and children are exposed to violence, guns, drugs and explicit language. Examples of 
controversial programs on TV are South Park,  Power Rangers, X - men etc.. 

Baba says "from the moment television made its appearance, the mind of man has been polluted.  Before the advent of  T.V, people’s mind were not so much polluted.  Acts of violence were not so rampant previously." 

 Another way to corrupt our minds is by opening our ears to everything including all the garbage and filth.  We all possess the ability to discriminate.  We should weed out what is bad and take in only what is good.  Swami says "See no evil, see what is good, talk no evil, talk what is good, hear no evil hear what is good, think no evil, think what is good, do no evil do what is good." 

Music is something that many young people relate and cannot live without.  Many of us listen to hip hop, R&B, rap and rock.  Many of the songs we listen carry subtle, hidden messages behind the music.  Some are bold enough to display their messages openly.  Many artists such as Marilyn Manson, Puff Daddy, Mase, Tupac 
Shakur, and Eminem, have faced controversy over their lyrics.  Marilyn Manson’s style of clothing and lyrics has created a subculture where nothing is sacred. 

Tupac Shakur led a hard life, and was forced to commit crimes to meet his needs, before he became a role model.  Even though he is only recounting his life, he glorifies his actions in his music, guiding many adoring fans onto a path he took.  His fans believe that they too will be respected and be successful. We must to do is understand that by taking their path we cannot expect the same outcome for us. 

Swami has often said " No smoking, no drinking and no meat."  But many of us reluctant to give up meat due to its protein and health benefits.  What they are unaware of is the fact that meat is the major cause of most of the human diseases and the disruption to our peace of mind. 

When an animal is killed, the blood from the arteries and veins rushes into the flesh, taking with it impurities.  When we eat the flesh, we consume the meat, the blood and its toxins.  When these toxins enter our bodies they stay within our intestines for a long time.  As the food takes awhile to pass out, the toxins and impurities seep out into the human system and as a result our bodies become polluted.  Due to this the mind develops animal characteristics, like becoming quick to anger, allowing jealousy and  pride to take over. 

Drinking, smoking and drugs are poisonous as well.  They are portrayed in commercials as desirable, fun, and the key to popularity.  But in reality they have the capability to freeze your mind.  You cannot think straight or walk straight.  They make you experience mood swings, depression and can cause hallucination.  They can also kill.  Lung cancer, impaired driving, throat cancer occurs from these three poisons.  Impaired driving is the most common cause of death amongst youth.  When we are unable to control our thoughts, emotions, and actions it is difficult to steady our minds and become more peaceful. 

Swami says by talking too much, we speak lies.  When you talk less, there is no scope for lies or falsehood.  There should be less talk more work.  Gossip is the one crime we have all committed and a habit we find very hard to break. We have all misused our tongue and spoken harsh words against another.  Swami says that our tongue is our strongest weapon.  In order to control this weapon, we must have good thoughts.  "Sow a thought reap an action; Sow an action, reap a habit; Sow a habit, reap a character; Sow a character, reap a destiny" says our Bhagavan Baba.  Our good thoughts lead us to perform good actions which is the key to forming good habits and a sound character, which will shape our destiny. 

Therefore we should pull ourselves away from talking ill of others and make righteous use of our tongue to reach our destiny. 

The root cause of all our bad thoughts and bad actions is the food we consume. The nature of the food determines the state of the mind.  Food does not mean merely what is eaten, but includes all that is received through the senses and stored in the mind. Baba has said, "Give up all your bad thinking, bad thoughts, bad behavior, bad action here.  Take back with you good feelings, good thoughts, and good actions. Give up the bad here, and take the good". 

" There is no other penance greater than Non-Violence. The pure love and truth are otherwise known as
 Non-Violence." - Baba 

" MAA HIMSI STWATWA PRAJA.."  - Yajurveda
  Meaning:  Do not inflict any type of harm to any living being with your body. 

" NAHI PRANOW PRIYATAM " -Mahabharata
Meaning: AS you love your own life, all beings love their lives in the same way. The act of Charity done in Yagnas, the fruits of the Holy baths taken in Holy Rivers will not be equivalent to 'Ahimsa Vrata' - Practising Non-Violence. 

" Thou shall not kill and ye shall be holyman upto me, neither shall ye eat any flesh that is torn of beast in the field."  -Christianity 

" As I am so are these; as these are so I am identifying with others. Let him not kill nor cause (anyone) to kill" 
 - Buddhism 

" No man is a true believer unless he desires for his brothers, what he desires for himself. God will not be affectionate to that who is not affectionate to God's creatures. Assist any oppressed whether he is a Muslim or a Non Muslim." - Holy Qu'ran 

" Tolerance is the only punishment for the mistake of the agitated person " - Jainism 

 A story to explain the above: The founder of Jainism is known as 'Vardhmana Mahavira'. His teachings are found in Kalpa Sutras(Ahimsa Principles). When he was spending his time in 'Mouna Vrata' (silent sitting) penance in a forest, a  farmer came by and requested Mahavir to watch his two bulls in his absence. The farmer was ignorant of Mahavir's state - a state of being in trance and absorbed in the penance, took his silence as 'yes' and left the bulls near Mahavir. When the farmer returned, he couldn't see his bulls. He abused Mahavir verbally and physically thinking that he has stolen the bulls. Mahavir, who was immersed in penance did not get disturbed or affected. The blood was flowing from Mahavir's ears. 

Lord Devendra appeared before Mahavir and asked permission to burn the farmer into ashes. Then Mahavir replied "Tolerance is the only punishment for the mistake of the agitated person." Lord Devendra could do nothing, so he disappeared. Even though the farmer caused such harm to Mahavir, he never accused the farmer. "This is the ideal Non-Violence", says SWAMI.

Grace of Lord Ganesha removes all obstacles. There is a special significance in placing Lord Ganesha before starting an undertaking. In a forest when an elephant moves through the jungle it clears the way for others to follow. Likewise by praying to Lord Ganesha the path is cleared for our undertakings. Journey of life is made smoother and happier by the grace of Lord Ganesha. 

What is the meaning of the elephant head? The elephant is known for its acute intelligence. Acute intelligence means ability to think fast and grasp things in short time. The elephant's large feet clear the way. Likewise Ganesha helps us clear the mind. 

Ganesha is called Buddhi Pradayaka. Buddhi means intelligence and Pradayaka means who gives or grants. Hence Buddhi Pradayaka means giver of intelligence. Praying to Lord Ganesha illumines our mind. 
Ganesha is called Siddhi Vinayaka. Siddhi Vinayaka means giver of everything his devotees ask him. He also gives strength. We pray to Ganesha for grace. 

Ganesha has one tusk. He used the tusk to write the great epic Mahabaratha. Vinayaka could write the whole Mahabaratha because he possessed all the knowledge. 

Ganesha is the son of Lord Shiva. He has four arms and an elephant head. He is described as Vigneshwara the one who wears white cloth. White symbolizes purity in thought. His vehicle is a mouse. The mouse is a clever and lively creature. As a symbol it means we should be clever in our actions. 

By worshipping Ganesha you get his grace and his divinity.

Hilda Charlton, a foreign devotee of Swami, had the fortune of seeing a vision of a white horse above Bhagwan Baba's head during bhajans at Prashanthi.  Though at the time she was unaware of its significance, she inquired among her Indian devotees of the vision's meaning and later found out the white horse is the mount of Lord Kalhi, the tenth and final incarnation of Vishnu at the end of the Kali Yug.  Therefore, it is without doubt that Lord Sai is indeed the Kalhi Avathar, as predicted by the ancient Hindu scriptures such as the Puranas and Ithihasas. 

Hinduism, one of the world's oldest living faiths, relies mostly on the word of God passed down through the vision of the sages.  According to such ancient scriptures an avathar of Godhead can be recognized by his seven 'cosmic characteristics'. Surprisingly not, Bhagwan Baba displays the seven characteristics of splendour, wisdom, powers to create, preserve and destroy, prosperity and non-attachment thoroughly in his daily life.  His miracles of various nature; from materializing vibhuthi, gem stones and necklaces to manifesting himself at foreign lands, quoting and speaking eloquently of any ancient scriptures, languages known to man to even interfering with nature to protect his devotees are true testaments of his Supreme Consciousness.  He is constantly in a state of ananda or bliss and possesses an aura of love upto thirty feet, curing diseases and past karmas of everyone that comes in contact with him.  Hence, Bhagwan Baba meets all criteria of avatharhood as outlined by the sacred scriptures of Hinduism. 

However, one can raise the question that "Why does Baba not look like a soldier and ride a white horse as mentioned in the scriptures, if he is the Kalhi Avathar?"  The pundits of India respond that the form of a soldier and the white horse are symbolic and are not to be taken literally.  Imagine, at the present time, someone mounting a white horse dressed as a medieval Indian soldier, complete with a sword and a shield?  Baba has often joked that if he were to appear on earth as Vishnu portrayed in our shrine pictures, with a blue complexion, four hands, the changku, chakra and katha and padma, we would put him in a museum and charge fees to see him!  Hence, the Lord takes on the form that can be related to by humans, so that we too, may inspire to become God.  But, Baba's discourses and teachings are representative of the sword that destroys all evil, his white Benz in the earlier days of the white horse mount and he is indeed a soldier of peace and deliverance. 

If one is still unconvinced, the declarations made by Swami himself reveal his true divine nature.  On a fateful day in July of 1980, Bhagwan Baba declared that he is the incarnation of the divine couple Shiva and Shakti, a union of the male and female aspects of Godhead.  He also revealed that this avathar was promised to a rishi thousands of years ago as his boon for his penance. 

Subsequently, Swami revealed to all on June 17th, 1996 that the Padma Purana written by Sage Paraasara contained the information of the Sai avathar, being born in a village called Parthi in South India and would be called Sathya and that the avathar will attract millions like a huge magnet.  He also mentioned that a European scholar Wilson was the one to translate the prediction in the 1800's. 

Sir George Trevelyan, a Nobel-laureate of Britain declared in 1983 at the First International Sai Conference that, "…an energy of love has been released into the planet and is operating now, actively transforming Man.  This supreme possibility is Sai Baba.  In him truly God manifests upon Earth." 
Hence all prophecies of sacred scriptures and revelations of seers and enlightened souls point to Bhagwan Sri Sathya Sai as divine incarnation of God in the Kali Yug.  His teachings of truth, righteousness, peace, love, non-violence, and unity of all faiths reflect the mission of the previous avathars - Krishna, Rama, Buddha etc.  The Bible contains a description of the Kalhi Avathar as strikingly similar to the Puranas.  Swami's mannerisms and leelas reflect the nature of a divine incarnate. 

His discourses and knowledge of the most profound truths of the universe reveal his omniscience.  Hence it is undeniable that Sai Baba is the veda purusha, agni purusha, the leelavathara, Shiva-Shakthi incarnate and Lord Kalhi, the deliverer of peace and righteousness at the dawn of the new millennium. 

July 24 - 25 Annual Retreat 
       25 Guru Poornima
       31 Narayana Seva

August 22 SSE Student Bhajan

September 5 Sri Krishna Jeyanthi
                 11 Peace Bhajan - All centres in Canada
                 11 SSE Parents Orientation 11 am - 2 pm at Woburn College