"On the eve of Ashadi Ekadashi 2012, the YES! team is happy to offer at Bhagawan's Lotus feet the 4th Issue of the YES! Magazine.

1. Issue 4 Jun - Aug 2012 A Magazine by the Sai Youth of Maharashtra and Goa Issue not for sale
srisathyasai.in/yes
Youth in Eternal Service
guru poornima Message
A true Guru is one who has no Guru. He is not a ‘teacher’ who has had
a teacher himself. A teacher is an ‘acharya’. A Guru is ‘one who dispels
the darkness of ignorance’. He reveals the guri (target) i.e. the Atmic
principle present in every human being. He is the very embodiment of
divine principles and He assumes a form to teach these to the disciple.
A Guru is God Himself.
LOVINGLY YOURS
Lakhs of people are served on the 1st
02 Anniversary of Baba’s Mahasamadhi.
CHANGING SOCIETY
03 Do you hunger to alleviate the food
crisis in the nation? This one’s for you!
04 Yermal and several other villages in
Maharashtra receive the Elixir of Life! Most Beloved Bhagawan,
CITY ZEN
Eighty six years have passed since You
descended on earth for the spiritual ascent of
05 If you thought IPL was related to cricket,
you need to read this! mankind. Fortunate are we to have received
i am yours
Your invaluable Message: Be Good, See
Good, Do Good. Fledglings, we floundered
06 Bhagawan reveals His Divine Mission, in
a letter to His brother. on Your Path. Yet, You blessed us. With
DIARY OF A SEEKER
just one glance, You burned away lifetimes
of bad karma and set us free to pursue You
06 Neil accepts his grandpa’s challenge, only
to learn an unforgettable lesson! with a heart that yearned only for Your Love.
MULTIPLEX MUSINGS
Like a mother, You took us in and made us
Your Own. You emblazoned within us the
07 For Guru Poornima, we bring you Karate
Kid, our favourite teacher-student film! desire to chant Your name, regard all work as
SOUL STORIES
Yours and love all beings as You. Slowly but
surely, You expanded, from a physical form to
08 Arjuna tries to order Lord Krishna around
and is suitably chastised for it! an eternal force radiating within our beings.
HAVE A GOD-DAY
Koti koti pranaams at Your Divine Lotus
Feet, Most Beloved Guru and Best Friend!
08 Presenting several opportunities to
browse the Innernet!
Guru Poornima ~ July 3, 2012

2. LOVINGLY YOURS
Where there is Manav Seva, Service activities, performed on a massive scale, mark the commemoration of
Madhav Lovingly Appears! the first anniversary of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba’s Mahasamadhi.
MASS NARAYAN SEVA, APRIL 24, 2012
On April 24, 2012, Mass Narayana Seva was lovingly rendered by thousands
of Seva Dal (volunteers) all across Maharashtra and Goa. Approximately five
Solapur
lakh Narayanas were served Swami’s delicious prasad. Vibhuti and His photo
were also given. Wholesome meals were distributed at major public places
like bus and railway stations, construction sites, slum areas, temples and other
devotional places all over the state.
VALUE-BASED PROGRAMMES IN GOA, APRIL 22, 2012
Two rallies entitled ‘Walk for
Values’ were held in Margao
and Karmali, Goa. A chariot
Pune
carrying Baba’s photo was
lovingly pulled by devotees
singing melodious bhajans.
Bal Vikas children carried
placards that displayed
Swami’s univeral messages
of Sathya, Dharma, Shanti,
Prema and Ahimsa. On the
same evening, 800 devotees
enjoyed a mesmerising
Mumbai
musical programme ‘Sai
the Indweller’. A video
presentation of Bhagawan’s
great humanitarian projects
brought tears of joy to many
eyes.
MASS MARRIAGES AT CHINCHMAL, APRIL 15, 2012
Nine couples in Chinchmal
village had an extraordinary
Nanded
marriage ceremony! The
SSSSO, Mumbai, lovingly
arranged a Mass Marriage
in the community hall of the
village. Suddenly, a devotee
who was clicking photos of
the Shirdi Baba idol in the
hall, was stunned to see a
figure in an orange robe
appear on his camera screen!
Instinctively, he clicked! And
Goa
was amazed to see an image
of our Beloved Bhagawan!
The miraculous appearance
of our Lord proves that He
is still, and always will be,
with us!
02

3. CHANGING SOCIETY
CHANGING SOCIETY
Baba taught us to regard those whom Alternatively, you can join in the SSSSO’s
Now Here’s Some we feed as ‘Narayan’ (God). He emphasised National Narayan Seva movement.
Food for Thought! that God lives in every being and hence, Once a week, the Sai Samithis distribute
by feeding the poor, we were feeding God! food in poverty-stricken areas. You can
Bhagawan Baba emphatically said, either prepare the meals or assist in the
925 millionare hungry.the
world
people in
“The best type of love is feeding the hungry.” distribution of the food. For details of the
13.7% of the entirestarves.
population
world He warned us not to refer to Narayan Seva localities where you can serve, kindly email
as ‘charity’ because food itself is a gift from
170 million children are
underweight. God and no one has the authority to give
us at yes.feedback@gmail.com
You can also participate in the SSSSO’s
3 million underweightyear.
children die every in charity what has been given by God! ‘Amrut Kalash’ project where farmers in
(Source: FAO) You may argue that by providing meals the drought-affected areas of Maharashtra
H ave you ever seen a famished
old man eating his own faeces?
Mr Narayanan Krishnan, a chef in a five-
to those who are starving, we are creating
a ‘lazy lot’ who does not feel the need to
are provided with groceries every month.
You will be happy to know that every
fend for themselves. Should we not instead month, The Orchid, a 5-star hotel in
star hotel in Europe, was witness to this teach them the means of arranging their
Mumbai, provides rice, dal and other food
disturbing real life incident. Immediately, own food?
items to nearly 300 children
he vowed to cook nourishing meals In answer to this,
of the migrant labourers living
for those who were starved—of food Baba said: Only when
on the pavements. The Orchid
and love. He quit his promising career the stomach is full can
has been engaged in this
in Europe and devoted himself to the the mind comprehend
humanitarian activity for the last
task of managing the Akshaya Trust—a any advice or
10 years!
trust that lovingly provides wholesome teachings! He added,
Mr Sanjay Kotian who started
meals to thousands of hungry people in “We talk of stomachs
the Italian restaurant Mia Cucina
Madurai, south India. to be filled but each
lovingly prepares pulao for
Over the last ten years, Mr Krishnan stomach arrives in the
350 children in the city. How
has served over 1.9 million (19 lakh) world with two hands. Bhagawan serves the poor
wonderful it would be if more
meals. He feeds nearly 450 people every Those hands if kept idle
restaurants joined in this movement!
day! Incidentally, the word Akshaya means or unskilled cannot fulfill their assignment
‘eternal, unending’. Every day, the SSSSO prepares meals
of finding food for the stomach.” Thus,
Several decades ago, Bhagawan Sri for the poor patients being treated at the
Bhagawan regarded Narayan Seva as the
Sathya Sai Baba inspired His devotees Tata Cancer Hospital in Mumbai. Poverty
first step to empowering the needy to
to do all they could to avert the global has compelled the afflicted patients to live
become self-sufficient.
crisis of food deprivation. Baba started You might wonder how one goes about on the footpath and they welcome the
the Narayan Seva movement with the the daunting task of feeding the starved wholesome food offered to them.
mission to not only feed, but also nourish millions all over the world. The trick is to Doing Narayan Seva in the right spirit!
the souls of those who received the food. start small and work hard! It’s relatively easy Baba said, “Give (food) with love and
for us Indians; we love pampering our friends humility and give it sweetened with the
and relatives with our delicious food. Well, name of the Lord. The inner motive, which
you now have the wonderful opportunity prompts the deed, is what the Lord seeks
to extend your love for cooking to those to weigh.”
who really need the nourishment! The soup is for your soul, too!
Here’s how you can do Narayan Seva! The heart overflows with joy when one
Keep aside a handful of rice and dal sees a starved face break into a smile upon
every day. At the end of the month, cook a receiving the gift of food. So start today.
meal for—or distribute the collected grain Let’s create a hunger-free and ‘joy-full’
Some of the earliest recipients
of Narayan Seva to—the poor in your neighbourhood. world!
03

4. Yermal Receives the Elixir of Life!
Savage summers e n e r gy -e f ficie n t
and rocky terrain, submersible pump
skinny children and was placed inside
poverty — this is the ring well. To
what greets you at power the pump,
Yermal, a remote a Diesel Generator
village that you house was built
will find only if you close to the ring
The Dry River Bed at Yermal And the Life Saver!
look for it.
In 2009, the Bandra-Khar-Santacruz Samithi of the Sri Sathya well. A pipe was laid to draw water
Sai Seva Organisation, Mumbai adopted Yermal under the Sri from the well into the centre of the
Sathya Sai Village Integrated Programme. Soon after, on the village, where two 5,000 litre water
auspicious occasion of Diwali, the Samithi illumined every tanks were installed. Five taps were
home in the village with Solar Lamps and skylights. connected around the tanks to enable
In April 2012, with the Divine Sankalpa of Bhagawan Baba, villagers to effortlessly fill up their
the Samithi started a water project to provide the 350 villagers buckets right outside their homes!
with clean water right at their doorstep, every day of the week For 45 days, the young men of the One of the five taps
and every month of the year! village enthusiastically did ‘shram daan’.
Experienced engineers from the SSSSO, a geologist and a They laboured, free of cost, with devotees from the SSSSO,
team of surveyors conducted a contour survey of the ground to bring the villagers the Elixir of Life! On June 3, 2012, the
in Yermal.The geological studies suggested that the best place to Yermal Water Project was inaugurated amidst the energetic
dig a ring well was the bed of a nearby river, which incidentally, claps of the villagers. It goes without saying that the entire
remains dry for months. cost of the Yermal Water
Project has been borne
AMAZING FACT!
Initial estimates indicated that the by the Sri Sathya Sai Seva
team would need to dig between 16 Organisation. Henceforth,
to 20 feet for water. However, with every family in the village
Bhagawan’s Divine Grace, water was will pay only Rs. 2.50 per
reached at just 6.5 feet!
day for running the Diesel
The ring well was constructed in record time! An Generator.
Ring Well Constructed at Yermal
Yermal Speaks from the Heart
Radha Bai Buddhaji
Radha Bai Buddhaji Balu Wada
“We (the young girls and “Sathya Sai Baba has solved “You (the SSSSO) worked
women) suffered great the water problem of this selflessly for our benefit.
hardships to fetch water village. We are very grateful First you gave us (solar)
for our families. You have to Him. We never dreamed light and now, water.
helped us by bringing that we would one day have You have transformed
water to our doorstep! such easy access to water!” this village with your love!
An Easy To-Do
Hundreds Quench Thirst with Project ‘Reach Water’
The next time you leave the water
On another side of Mumbai, water tankers to 10 parched villages:
running while brushing your teeth or
volunteers from the Chembur Samithi Nageshwadi, Januna, Bangarwadi, soaping your hands, spare a thought
did a Google search for ‘drought affected Panchala, Dharkota, Kata, Surala, Kodali, for the thousands of thirsty men,
areas in Maharashtra’. A long list was Timber Khata, and Karegaon! women and children who are starved
thrown up at them. The SSSSO went a step further and of water. Turn off your taps, fix the
Quickly, they noted down the names arranged to have a water tanker deliver leaky ones and use less water, as a
of the villages and dialled the Sai Samithis water twice a week to the drought- gesture of kindness to our fellow
around the affected areas. affected villages. human beings who are less fortunate
Within just a few hours, the SSSSO The happy shouts of the grateful than us. If you’d like to volunteer for a
volunteers made provisions to reach villagers are still echoing in our hearts! Water Project, email us right away at
yes.feedback@gmail.com

5. CITY ZEN
Suddenly, IPL
takes on a whole new meaning!
H ave you ever wondered why we leap out of our seats what does all their cleverness lead to? We may think they get
when Sachin scores a century? When the Indian team away with their crimes, but do they? How much fun is it to
loses on field, why are we disheartened? Match after match, we spend every waking breath of your life trying to hide your
pray for their success. Why? Are we related to the cricketers? misdeeds?
Are they our close friends? No! They don’t even know we With their cruel acts, the miscreants have guaranteed
exist! Why then, do we feel so passionately for them? themselves a life of misery and insecurity. The law of nature
kicks into place: A river cannot flood the adjoining land without
The answer is quite simple, really. We love cricket. And
flooding its own bank, first! The first recipient of joy or pain is
before we realise how it all happens, we grow to love those
the one who initiates it. This means you cannot give happiness
who make the game so special. When it comes to cricket, we
or misery to anyone before being affected by it yourself first!
wear our heart on our sleeve. It has always been this way. And,
it forever will. Whether you admit it or not, that bout of anger would have
certainly hurt you before it hurt the person you directed your
This, friends, is the true meaning of IPL — Intelligence
anger at. Similarly, the surprise you planned for your loved one
Preceded by Love. IPL is a way of life, where love leads the way
would have filled your heart with happiness long before it
and logic merely follows!
***************************** brought joy to your beloved!
Ponder over this fact: The relationships we All the little things that
cherish the most are the ones that manifest IPL. make life worth it, are The good news is that love does not have to
Why does your mother eat a burnt toast and gestures of love, not logic. be restricted to a few friends or family. It can be
give you the golden-brown one? Why does your shared in countless forms by anyone, anytime,
husband miss an important meeting to take you to the doctor? in any scenario. The form could be a sincere compliment or
What makes your father walk an extra mile to buy the best simply a smile! That is all it takes!
fruit for your family? Why do you wear the blouse your friend
So next time you travel by bus or train, abandon the logical
gifted to you, even though you dislike the colour?
argument that you are tired. Let love take dominance; stand up
All these little things that make life worth it, are gestures of
and graciously offer your seat to someone else. Another thing
love, not logic.
you could try, though this one will take effort, is to pray for
Scientists and psychologists have for years been stressing the someone you don’t get along with.
superiority of EQ (Emotional Quotient) over IQ (Intelligence
Bhagawan Baba said, “Every deed performed, do it in My
Quotient). When determining the factors that result in success,
Name. Every person who passes near your path give them
they rank ‘emotional health’ much higher than intelligence.
the sweetness of your smile. Give freely of the nectar of your
So how does one define ‘emotional health’? Simply put, it is
cup of happiness, of kindness, of bliss. Give the warmth of
the innate ability to give and receive love! Love, truly, is the only
your love. Extend your hand as I extend Mine to you.”
anchor for sanity in an increasingly confusing world. And that is
why it is so powerful, even beyond intelligence! Once you get the hang of ‘thinking emotionally’, you will
Consider this: We live in a smart world with smart products, love how special it makes you feel. Unlike the game of cricket,
smarter ideas and even smarter people. But without love, this IPL has no season and no reason. Every ball you play,
would any of it matter? every opportunity you catch and every extra mile you run
Agreed, crime and corruption do take a certain amount for the sake of another, adds up to your score! So keep your
of ingenuity. The people who perpetrate those are smart. But Intelligence Preceded by Love scoreboard ticking!
05

6. i am yours
Sathya is what i teach; Dharma is the way i live; Shanti is the
mark of my personality; Prema is my very nature.
i have a Task: to foster all mankind and ensure for all of them
lives full of bliss (ananda).
i have a Vow: to lead all who stray away from the straight
path again into goodness and save them.
i am attached to a work that i love: to remove the sufferings of
the poor and grant them what they lack.
i have a reason to be proud, for i rescue all who worship and
adore me, aright.
i have my definition of the devotion i expect: those devoted to me
have to treat joy and grief, gain and loss, with equal fortitude.
this means that i will never give up those who attach themselves
to me.
i do not belong to any place; i am not attached to any name.
i have no mine or thine.
Quotation source: Baba’s letter to His elder i answer whatever the name you use. i go wherever i am taken.
brother, Sheshama Raju. Written on May
25,1947, when Baba was 20 years of age. this is my very first vow.
DIARY OF A SEEKER
I WON again, Grandpa!” I boasted. “I leave class. She forgave me, with a warning
challenge you to win at least one game of of course! WOW! Telling the truth had its
chess!” benefits! I was loving Val-One-Won already!
Grandpa watched me as I gathered the That evening, my buddies spontaneously
pawns. Then, he softly said, “Neil, I too planned a party. Since Mom wasn’t home, I
challenge you to win a game, albeit a different left her a note: Will be late, don’t wait!
one!” BOY! The party rocked! Dance, music, pizzas,
I jumped at the idea. I LOVED challenges! cigarettes, beer! It was all a young man
“Sure! Which one?” I asked enthusiastically. could ask for! With a loud “Cheers!” I raised
“It’s called Val-One-Won!” Grandpa replied. my glass. Suddenly, I saw Mom’s face in my
“That sounds interesting! Tell me about it!” mind. How disappointed she would be to know
“I shall give you five values from which to I had been drinking! I put down the glass. I
choose: Truth, Righteousness, Peace, Love, couldn’t bear the thought of hurting her. I
and Non-violence. You must unfailingly adhere just had to be true to Ma!
to ANY ONE of these until next Sunday.” But, Aakash got smashed! On the way home,
“Just one? Oh, that’s going to be a he lost his balance, fell, and fractured his
cakewalk! Will you give me a bicycle if I win?” ankle! He couldn’t move! I rushed him to the
Grandpa nodded in agreement. closest hospital and informed his folks.
“I’ll pick the simplest value,” I told myself. I left after they arrived. Once home, I
“TRUTH!” forced the chaos out of my brain, made up
The next morning, Ms Rao asked for our my mind to concentrate and finished writing
assignments. Oh hell! I hadn’t finished mine! my assignment. Ms Rao was happy with me!
I was so excited about beating Grandpa that But she wasn’t the only one. After college,
I forgot all about the project! Mom welcomed me with open arms! She had
My best friend, Akaash, hadn’t done his received a call from Aakash’s parents. They
either. He lied to Ms Rao and said he wasn’t had explained how my sobriety had saved the
well. Since I had accepted Grandpa’s challenge, day! WOOHOO! I had made SO MANY people
I told the truth. Ms Rao at once saw through happy by being true to myself!I love this
Akaash’s lame excuse and ordered him to game! Gonna try ‘peace’ next week!
06

7. MULTIPLEX MUSINGS
E leven-year-old Dre Parker moves from Detroit, USA, to
China, only to realise life isn’t going to be easy. A slight boy,
Dre is immediately picked upon by a group of boys
to detail. Bhagawan Baba always said, “Put all your faith in Me.
I shall guide you and guard you.”
THE POWER IS WITHIN
who are taller, stronger and meaner than him. The As he climbs to the top of the Wudang mountain,
peace-loving sort, Dre is ill equipped to deal with Dre is astounded to see men and women performing
the bullies, and succumbs to their physical and unimaginable feats with utmost ease and
verbal attacks on several occasions. Tormented precision. Han reveals to him the secret
by the six older boys, Dre lives each moment of Chi (Qi), the internal energy that gives
in the shadow of fear. us power to do the impossible. On several
The bullies remind one of the six shadripus occasions, Swami reminded us, “You are
(the negative qualities of Lust, Anger, Greed, not human beings going through a spiritual experience.
Pride, Attachment and Covetousness), which You are spiritual beings undergoing a human experience!
overpower those who lack the strength to fight You should make an effort to understand your innate divine
these base animal instincts. power, which is truly immeasurable.”
Just when Dre thinks he’s done for, the salve Outside the Dragon Well, Dre watches a
for his soul appears in the form of Mr Han, the snake and a lady move in sync with each other.
residential maintenance man. When the student is He is amazed to learn from Han that
ready, the teacher arrives! Mr Han agrees to teach the cobra is merely copying the
Dre Kung Fu, the Chinese martial art that translates lady’s actions! The lady is quiet
to the ‘achievement of man’. and calm. She is like a mirror –
Dre’s journey to the centre of his being and within
begins. Slowly but surely, he learns that her, the
everything a teacher does is with purpose; snake sees itself.
nothing is futile. Han tells Dre
On the sacred occasion of Guru Poornima, we that the lady can
present the lessons we learned from the teacher- do this only because she has
student duo: emptied her mind of all thoughts and is perfectly still. Han
LOVE THE BASICS demonstrates how still water reflects life as it is. When the
Han compels Dre to repeatedly take off his jacket, water ripples, the reflection blurs. So also, when negativity
drop it onto the floor, bend to pick it up, and stretch out ripples within our heart and mind, we lose our ability to
to hang it up. Dre despises see things as they actually are. Baba taught us, “There is
this ‘basic’ task and makes no only one royal road for the spiritual journey. Be silent
bones about it. Bhagawan yourself; this will induce silence in others.”
Baba taught us, “The secret of “YOU ONLY NEED TO CONTROL YOU” ~Han
happiness is not doing what In the climax of The Karate Kid, Dre fights
one likes to do but in liking what one has to do.” Without Chen, his archenemy and the most vindictive
his knowledge, this very task sharpens Dre’s reflex action of the boys who torment him. In the clincher
of blocking blows, ducking assaults and defending himself. moment, Dre empties his mind and becomes like
Notice the similarity between Han asking Dre to clear water—so still that Chen copies his moves,
perform just one task and Baba repeatedly asking us to just like the snake copied the lady’s moves! Despite
“Love All”. If we allow Love to become the keystone of our a serious leg injury, Dre overcomes Chen. Having acted in
lives, we will instinctively block everything that tries to cause perfect union with his Chi, Dre becomes Kung Fu itself—the
us harm! achievement of man!
DEVELOP THE RIGHT ATTITUDE Of course, he could not have conquered his fears without
At the onset of his training, Dre doubts Han’s intention of Mr Han, his teacher whom he loved like a friend.
making him do the jacket job. Often, we question God’s doing. This Guru Poornima, let us re-dedicate ourselves to our
Bhagawan Baba always said, “Don’t try and understand me. dearest Guru, Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba! Let us know that
Love my uncertainty.” Over time, Dre develops faith in Han by following Him, our Master, we can face the devil, fight to the
and performs every task given by his master with attention end and finish the game!
07

8. SOUL STORIES
The Divine Charioteer Teaches Arjuna an Unforgettable Lesson!
During the Mahabharatha war, Arjuna’s pride was humbled Krishna explained the reason for this shocking incident: The
in an interesting manner by Lord Krishna. As the war was enemy’s incendiary arrows and missiles that had struck the
drawing to a close, Arjuna felt proud that Krishna chariot were powerless as long as Krishna was
was his charioteer and his servant. He felt that as aboard. Without the Lord’s presence, the chariot
master, he should step off the chariot after Krishna
was vulnerable and was immediately reduced to
and not before Him.
ash.
One evening, he asked Krishna to alight from
Thus, Krishna taught Arjuna that every act and
the chariot first. But Krishna was adamant; Arjuna
must dismount first, He said. After pleading with word of the Lord has deep significance and a
Krishna and protesting in vain, Arjuna swallowed his pride and higher purpose, which mortals cannot gauge.
got off very unwillingly. Then, Krishna stood up. As soon as He Learning: Egoism is a constant threat and it requires eternal
stepped off the chariot, it burst into flames! vigilance to conquer it.
E kadashi is the eleventh day of the fortnight after a new moon
or a full moon and is considered auspicious for the worship
of Lord Vishnu. The Ekadashi month of Ashada is of special
this sacred day is of added significance as we celebrate the
occasion in Puttaparthi, in the Divine Presence of our most
beloved Sai Vitthala. Every year, cultural programmes are
significance to the devotees of Lord Vitthal, a manifestation of lovingly performed at Prashanthi Nilayam by Bal Vikas children
Lord Vishnu. and the Sai youth. This year too, the little ones will enact for our
For the thousands of Sai devotees in Maharashtra and Goa, Omnipresent Lord ‘Master the Mind’, a musical dance drama.
Precious Moments Captured for Eternity
Ashadi Ekadashi 2010
HAVE A GOD-DAY
July July July July
1 3 8 14
Youth Bhajan Guru Poornima Spiritual Retreat Overnight
6:00pm to 7:00pm Celebrations for Children Sadhana Camp by
10:30am to 12:30pm 8:30am to 4:00pm Brother Murali Jaju
6:00pm to 7:00pm Bhakti Sarita - 7:00pm to 10:00pm
Devotional Songs
5:30am to 7:00pm
July July
15 22 July
Worship of Goddess
Lalita followed by a
29 Musical Programme
4:30pm to 7:00pm
Shramdaan Musical Evening -
8:00am to 12:00pm Jugalbandhi
For details, contact Shri Kumar Aklekar on
5:30pm to 7:00pm 98210 11192 or Shri Mehul Parab on 98202 51432
Dear Readers, email your feedback and suggestions to yesmag.feedback@gmail.com
All rights reserved by Sri Sathya Sai Books & Publications Trust, Maharashtra. This issue is not for sale.
08