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Nine point code of conduct What is the Nine Point Code of Conduct? This code of conduct laid down by Swami is the most complete personal development guide to live a contented life and progress towards the ultimate goal of Universal Truth - God is everywhere and Atma is eternal (unchanging). The code addresses transformation at three levels -Individual, Family and Society.
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The Ten-Fold Path to Divinity
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Sadhana for a Devotee Individual Sadhana
Self Audit
Family Sadhana
Service to the Society
Source: Sai Geetanjali
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A few simple ways of Practising the Nine Point Code Of Conduct in our daily lives:- We have all heard about the Nine Point Code of Conduct but we can only benefit from it when we move from knowing to practising. In the past too many words have been spoken on the subject of 9 Point Code of Conduct. It's time to stop talking and start practising. 1 Every day meditation/japa Daily prayers morning, afternoon, and evening e.g. Sai Three, or just remembering God for a few minutes at these times during our busy schedules. Constant Naamsmaran - e.g. whilst walking or on bus, in the car etc. Daily Jyoti Meditation or 5 minutes silent contemplation. Full concentration in whatever activity is being undertaken. 2 Bhajans with all members of the family once a week Encourage family bhajan. Bhajan does not have to be just singing, it can include any devotional activity performed as a family, e.g.:- Listening to bhajans together. Family discussions/study circles - e.g. events from past scriptures and how we can practise it today. Send Love through family prayers to those in need. 3 Participation in Bal Vikas(SSE) Programme by Children of the family Practice the 5 Human Values - Love, Truth, Peace, Non-violence and Right Action. Parents to spend time with children on SSE work as well as school work etc. Parents to encourage children to attend SSE. Youth to act as a link between the Youth and SSE wings and act as role models for the younger children. 4 Participation in community work and other programmes of the Organisation Meals on Wheels Helping the elderly e.g. with shopping etc Help in local community voluntary programmes. Take an active part in one of the Sai Centre wings e.g. Spiritual, Service, SSE. (More information on service activities available from the Information Desk) 5 Attendance at least once a month at Bhajan or Nagar Sankirtan Organised by the Centre Attend centre bhajans as often as possible. Attend bhajan practices and lead bhajans. Morning Naamsmaran/devotional singing - e.g. whilst walking or on bus, in the car etc. 6 Regular study of Sai Literature - (Many books are available from the Centre Library) Read a little Sai Literature everyday, e.g. Sathya Sai Speaks, Sanathan Sarthi containing Baba's discourses etc, also holy books like Gita, Bible, Koran, and Ramayan etc. Children can read short storybooks e.g. Ek Chin Katha, Baba's Life stories etc. Read a quote from Baba every morning and practice this throughout the day. 7 To speak softly with everyone Think before you speak - words cannot be retracted. Sometimes it is better to remain silent. Talk softly to others, this will create a chain reaction and they too will lower their voice. Practice different ways of controlling anger - e.g. if you find yourself raising your voice, then take a deep breath and count to 3 before speaking. Respect others point of view, especially elders and don't speak back. Smile - remember it does not cost anything but will brighten someone's day! 8 Not to indulge in talking ill of others especially in their absence Do not gossip and do your best not to listen to gossip, change topic if possible or try and move away from the situation, if this is not possible recite the name of the Lord silently. Do not judge people, judge yourself. 9 Narayana Seva (Service) Form habit not to waste food, only take food as required, do not take too much and waste it. Buy one get one free offers; give the extra to charities, or those who are less fortunate. Practice Ceiling on Desires and do not waste Food, Energy, Time and Money. Use the gifts that God has given us wisely, recycle etc.
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A letter written by Bhagwan during student days which clearly spells the essence and meaning of true Spiritual living - "My Dear Boys!
Are you feeling my presence in the very cells of your body? God you think, god you are. Dust you think, dust you are. Verily thoughts are things. As you think, so you become. What you sow, so you reap.
Spiritual development does not germinate from the seeds sown in the soil of earthly pleasures. Every action in the form of hatred or evil is so much loss to the mind, and every evil thought or deed of hatred or any thought of reaction, if controlled, will be laid in your favour. It is not that we suspect. each time we lose by restraining ourselves, but we are gaining infinitely more than we suspect. Each time we suppress hatred or a feeling of anger, it is so much good energy stored up in our favour. That piece of energy is converted into the highest powers.
God is Love.
Baba 29.10.1973"
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Events Leading to Bhagawans Birthday in Prashanti Nilayam The month of November is a very busy month in Prashanti Nilayam. The ashram is a hype of activity with new archways being erected, the decorations go up, the tents are put up where the sale of books and other paraphernalia will take place and colourful festoons and rangolis adorn the ashram. Devotees' start arriving from all over the world, all eager to celebrate the day the Lord descended on earth. Below are some of the activities leading up to the day: 19th November Is Ladies day. The whole day is dedicated to the activities of Women. This is the day when women take the leading roll in around Prashanti Nilayam. The women would organise and lead the whole day. In the afternoon a divine discourse would be organized and the women will be the speakers along with Bhagawan; they will also get the precious opportunity to accompany Bhagawan in and around the ashram. As Bhagawan has declared 19th November as Ladies day, all Sai Organisations across the world have incorporated this day as such and have organised events accordingly. 20th November It is usually the Education Day when Bhagawan spends most of the time with the students and staff of the Sri Sathya Sai Institute. Various activities are organized for the whole day and in the late afternoon Bhagawan graces them with a divine discourse. A cultural programme will be held in the Poornachandra Hall in the evening. 22nd November Is the Convocation day for the institute when Bhagawan and a large contingency of dignitaries e.g. The Prime Minister and / or President of India attend the event. One needs to note that Bhagawan is the Chancellor of the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning and thus on this day students would be honoured for their educational achievements - this is an opportunity when no student or staff would want to miss. It is a remarkable site when Bhagawan wearing a white robe and a maroon convocation gown appears along with the vice chancellor, Registrar and the head of faculties and of course the VIP dignitaries in a massive procession. Bhagawan then confers degrees to passing out students and gives a divine discourse. 23rd November The whole of the November Celebration culminates on Bhagawan's Birthday on 23rd November. In the morning the hall is decorated before the darshan time. A very large number of devotees come to pay their respects on this very auspicious day. A procession in the stadium is led by the elephant Sai Gita, followed by students with their musical band and sloka team, and followed by Bhagawan with dignitaries from all over India and abroad proceeds towards the main auditorium. In the auditorium wonderful bhajans are sung. Once Bhagawan has reached the auditorium the student's sing enchanting bhajans to the glory of Sai Era. The whole atmosphere is very lightning and cannot be described, but can only be experienced when one is congregated there. When the program completes Bhagawan distributes Ladoos, Sweet pongal (sweet cream cooked rice) to all the devotees. In the evening, a cultural program is setup when eminent performers from the music world as well as theatrical world performing in front of Bhagawan, who would normally wear a white robe instead of the usual orange-red robe. Bhagawan would sit on a joola at this event. The food for the day would be served free of charge to all. Also, Bhagawan would do a "Narayan seva' during the morning session when he would distribute clothing and food to the poor and needy. Events described above have been the norm for years but may vary as Bhagawan may change these as, and when necessary.
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''For the protection of the virtuous, for the destruction of evil, for the establishment of Righteousness, I incarnate from age to age" |
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The Avatar Sri Sathya Sai Baba has said that the purpose of the Avatar is fourfold: Dharma Rakshan Protection of Righteousness Bhakta Rakshan Protection of Devotee Veda Poshana Nurturing the Vedas Vidvat Poshana Nurturing Scholars
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The Avatar The scriptures have provided 6 qualities by which to recognise the Supreme Being in human form: Soudarya Perfect Beauty Veerya Splendour Power Aishvarya Inexhaustible Wealth Jnana Absolute Wisdom Yasha Undiminished Fame Vairagya Complete Detachment
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AKHAND BHAJANS The programme of conducting Group Devotional Songs (Bhajans) for 24 hours will be carried out all over the world in all the Sai Centres, on the allocated day. It saturates the atmosphere with thoughts of God and of the Peace and Joy that He showers. It purifies the environment. The vibrations of the "namasankirtan" (reciting the Lords Name) will cleanse the atmosphere and render it pure and calm. This year the 3 Centres of Leicester are joining together, for Akhand Bhajans. The programme will be over Saturday and Sunday 8th & 9th November 2003 at the Lohana Community Centre on Hildyard Road, Leicester in the upstairs hall. Start time is 12.30pm, with doors opening at 12.15pm. For those unable to climb up the stairs, we have also booked a small hall downstairs for limited times. These times are from 7pm to midnight on Saturday and 9am till noon on Sunday. T here will also be an altar set up in this hall. "The Bhajans that are sung penetrate the ether in the form of sound waves, and fill the entire atmosphere. Breathing in this purified atmosphere, our hearts get purified. Reciting the Lords name is a process of give and take. Singing the lords name should become an exercise in mutual sharing of joy and holiness. It should be remembered that the sounds we produce reverberate in the atmosphere. They remain permanently in the ether as waves, and outlast the individual uttering the sounds" Baba
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Birthday Celebrations in Leicester The day has arrived, the one that all Sai devotees have been waiting for, - the Birthday of our Beloved Lord, Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. This year this auspicious day falls on a Spiritual Sunday, which only happens every 7 years or so.
So how are we going to mark this joyous occasion? A fun-filled day has been designed to help us both develop our selves spiritually, as well as please our Lord - through Service.
The day will start early by waking up the Lord within with Suprabhatam. We will then have the opportunity to offer our devotion at His Lotus feet through Paduka Archanam. "Hands that Help are Holier then Lips that Pray" - this is the inspiration for the days activity. An opportunity for everyone of all ages and abilities to take part in some sort of Service. A variety of activities have been organised so that there is something to suit everyone. These include outdoor Tree Planting, visiting Residential homes, food parcels for the refugees and clearing up the grounds of a local school. To round of the day, an exciting cultural entertainment programme has been devised. This will include Divine bhajans, inspirational talk by one of Swami's ex-student, a colourful children's play, a vibrant Youth choir, and of course plenty of cake! This day has been designed so that everyone can take part in all the activities, and truly make it a day to remember. The theme for the day is Unity, Purity & Divinity. That is Unity of Word, Thought and Deed, Purity of the mind and heart, and Divinity, which is inherent in all of us. So over to you now......
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Birthday Programme Sunday 23rd November 2003. Ram Mandir, Hildyard Road. Leicester
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Morning Programme
6:15 to 9:30 Ganth Naad 21 Omkars Suprabhatam Vedic Chanting Paduka Archanam Bhajans Breakfast Departure
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Service Activities
10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Tree Planting Refugee Support - Food Parcels Entertainment at Residential Homes Clearing Local School Grounds
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Evening Programme
5:30 pm to 9:00 pm
Arrival& Book sale Group Devotional Singing Re-Cap of the Day Play by SSE talk by Brother Partish Leicester Youth Choir Birthday Song & Cake Aarti Interaction Departure
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Swami's birthday cake is always very popular, so we have adapted the recipe for you to try at home.
Egg less cake Ingredients:- 16oz Castor sugar 8oz margarine 20oz self raising flour (superfine cake) 2 tins (41O gm) tin unsweetened evaporated milk 1/4 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda 2 teaspoon Baking powder 1 teaspoon vanilla essence Method Heat the oven to Gas mark 4, Electric 200 (The oven should be fully heated before the cake goes in). 8 inch round (depth - 3 % approx) cake tin, greased and lined with baking parchment. Sift flour, baking powder and bicarbonate of soda, in a separate bowl. Mix margarine and sugar together until light and fluffy.Alternately, add the evaporated milk, then flour mixture until all of the mixture is used up. The mixture should be light and fluffy. Put the mixture in the cake tin and put it in the oven. Cook on gas mark 4 electric 200 for the first half hour then turn the oven down to gas mark 3 electric 50 and cook for approx 45 minutes. DO NOT OPEN THE OVEN DOOR FOR THE FIRST HOUR.
When checking if the cake is cooked, insert a sharp skewer or knife in, it should come out clean. When cooked turn the cake out on a cooling rack and remove the baking parchment whilst hot. Allow it to cool
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On his birthday, Swami personally distributes (Bundi Ladoos to his devotees. 'We hope the recipe for(Bundi wiCIinspire you to try mating it at home.
Bundi
Ingredients:- 1lb Gram Flour 1 Tablespoon Ghee (clarified butter) 1/2 Teaspoon deep orange food colouring Oil for frying Water EIchi Pista Syrup:- 1 & 1/2 Ibs sugar 1 & 1/2 Cups water Yellow/Orange food colouring Method Mix the flour, ghee and food colouring together until it forms a batter consistency. Fry the batter in oil over a Bundi sieve to form small droplets. Once fried leave the Bundi to drain on some paper towels. Meanwhile, to make the syrup, mix the sugar, water and food colouring together. Bring to the boil and simmer until a syrup consistency is formed. Once cooled, place the Bundi in the syrup. Leave for 1-2 hours or until all the syrup is absorbed by the Bundi. Garnish with crushed cardamom, and a selection of finely cut nuts (e.g. pistachio). Enjoy!
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