NEWSLETTER OCTOBER 1997 Volume 3 No. 4

Om Sri Sai Ram

Our big event this October is our Fall MEET THE AUTHOR program which will be held on Friday 31st October. Those who attended previous Author talks, know that we have had two very successful `Meet the Author' evenings. This time we are extremely happy to welcome Peter Phipps from New Zealand, author of Sathya Sai Baba and Jesus Christ - A Gospel for the Golden Age. Through a personal experience Peter realized that the whole Christian story made sense on a higher level. On his visit to Toronto we hope he will expound further on this topic and also we will be launching his new book in North America. It is called Greater Than You Know - Sathya Sai Baba, Jesus Christ and Christianity. The Talk and Book Launch will be held at the Radisson Plaza Hotel on Harbourfront in downtown Toronto at 7.15 pm. Everyone is welcome.

We are also happy to announce that at last our new Fall Catalogue is out. Please find it posted on our web page http://www.saibooks.org and from now on it will be kept up-dated. For those not on the web, please phone, fax or write for a Catalogue. It will be reprinted twice a year.

MY BABA AND I by John S. Hislop - Review by Marianne

One of the most insightful books on Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, and essential reading for anyone wishing to go beyond the initial thrill of discovering Sai Baba, is My Baba and I by Dr. John S. Hislop. Dr Hislop recently passed away, and has left us all with a valuable legacy. The book is in four sections - each a gem in its own right. The first he calls `Happenings' - the phenomenal experiences he and his wife had over more than 28 years. Some of these stories have become legendary, Swami's materialization of the crucifix on a piece of the actual cross on which Jesus was crucified; the resurrention of Walter Cowan; the prevention of their home in Mexico falling into the ocean; the car crash prevented by Swami in his role as Master of Time and Space; and finally the famous Prema Sai ring. The second part called Baba's Teachings, is equally valuable for he tackles questions that we would all like to ask Swami; Where does evil come from? What does surrender really mean? How can there be free will when everything is God's Will? Hislop has the advantage of having been able to ask Swami to get the definitive answer on these knotty points. The third and fourth parts Conversations with Baba and Letters, both give us Swami's direct words on the numerous points which arise in daily life. Hislop himself had a varied background of spiritual seeking which took him from his Episcopal church to involvement with Dr. Annie Besant and Theosophy. He and his wife explored Yoga, then embraced the Transcendental Meditation of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Leaving that for Buddhist meditation they finally found Swami in 1968 and their search was at an end. His book was published in 1984, and although 13 years has passed it is still vitally relevant today. Indian edition $5.95 (US $4.45) American ed. $11.95 (US $8.95)

ASHES ASHES WE ALL FALL DOWN - Review by Michael Sawer

This slim but very powerful volume will be a source of comfort to those of us who despair of ever journeying to India and/or getting a personal interview with Swami. Gloria St. John, a practical modern-minded woman, made it as far as the darshan line in Brindavan but her major spiritual transformation occured during her private sadhana at home in the West. Baba manifested as a tangible, vital presence in her everyday life, guiding her and inspiring her to greater spiritual progress. This book, Ashes Ashes we all Fall Down serves to prove that both time and distance have no relevance when it comes to the Avatar's divine power to reach his devotees. Favourite Quote: "Synchronicity is God's way of being anonymous". $6.95 (US $5.20)

GUIDELINES TO SPIRITUAL PRACTICE

Initially written in 1993, this Booklet has been re-published by the Sri Sathya Sai Baba Organisation of the West Indies, and is an invaluable way to introduce newcomers to essential practices advocated in the Sai Centres. It explains topics like: Format of Satsangs; The Nine Steps to Devotion; The Many Aspects of Namasmarana; What is Japam; Chanting of OM; Jyoti (Light Meditation); Soham Meditation; Prayer including prayers from all religious tradition; Sri Sathya Sai Suprabhatam (morning song of praise to Swami); 108 Names; Significance of Arathi; The Vibhuti Song; Nine point code of Conduct; and dates on the Sai Calendar. A mine of information in a compact volume. $3.25 (US $2.45)

MAJOR RELIGIONS & THEIR FESTIVALS

This book is a companion to the previous booklet, compiled by Dr. Shyam Ramnarine. The three major religions it covers are Christianity, Hinduism and Islam, with most emphasis on Hinduism. The origin and significance of each of the main festivals is clearly defined. Information is given in question and answer form, and thus it makes a handy reference tool. Information on Sathya Sai Baba is also given at the end. $3.25 (US $2.45)

NEW STUDY CIRCLE BOOK FROM AUSTRALIA

Entitled Study Circle for Divinity - from the Discourses of Sri Sathya Sai Baba, compiled by Dr R Woodward and Dr Farmer, this book is authorized by the Sathya Sai Organisation of Australia. Beautifully produced and newly published this year (1997), it is a large spiral-bound book so that the pages stay open easily. It tackles such topics as `Living the Values', `Managing Emotions', `Cultivating Relationships', `Spiritual Discipline', Spiritual Principles', and `Celebratory Discourses - such as Christmas, Birthday, New Year etc.. Based on Swami's discourses, this is excellent material for Study Circles. $19.95 (US $14.95)

INDIAN SCRIPTURES & EPICS

There are certain books we get asked for repeatedly, and our answer has been in the past that our mandate is to make books available by, on or about Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, or his previous incarnation as Shirdi Sai Baba. However, Swami often refers to the Great Epics and Scriptures of India, so we have now decided to stock some in this genre. There are 4 small volumes of the Vedas - Rig, Sama, Yajur and Atharva. There are also similar books of the Puranas - all 19 of them, for example Skanda Purana - the list is in the catalogue. $3.95 each (US $2.95). We also have the Ramayana and the Mahabharata by C. Rajagopalachari, each of which gives a concise rendering of these two classic Indian epics. $5.95 each (US $4.45) To help Westerners understand the Indian deities we sing about in bhajan, Rama, Krishna, Yasoda, Vitthal, Durga etc., we now stock a book entitled Hindu Gods and Goddesses by A.G. Mitchell. Information on each deity is prefaced by a b & w photograph of a bronze depicting that particular deity, which is followed by a one page description. The intro gives the significance of the hand movements (mudras) and symolism of the weapons and items in the hands. $7.50 (US $5.65). We have Comic Books of many of these epics for children. $3.25 (US $2.45) - see the full list in the new Catalogue.

WATCHES WITH SWAMI'S PICTURE

We are pleased to inform you that we now have a better quality watch in stock with Swami's picture on the watch-face. Every time you look at the time you are thereby reminded to say `Sai Ram' - an aid to Namasmarana! These fun watches are in gold and silver and have either a gucci - style strap or a black imitation alligator leather strap. They come with a 1 YEAR WARRANTY, and would make a lovely Christmas present. Our low price is $25.00 each (US $18.75)

WANT TO INTRODUCE A FRIEND OR NEIGHBOUR TO SWAMI?

We have a very nicely produced leaflet in three colours called Sri Sathya Sai Baba - An Introduction. It was authorized and printed to the specifications of the Sri Sathya Sai Baba Organization in Canada, and covers topics such as; Who is Sri Sathya Sai Baba? The Teachings of Sai Baba; What is the Sathya Sai Organization? Objectives of the Sai Organization; and How can I join a Sai Centre. The books in Recommended Reading are all available at the Bookcentre: Sai Baba...The Holy Man and the Psychiatrist by Dr. Samuel Sandweiss, Sai Baba: Man of Miracles, by Howard Murphet. My Baba and I by Dr. John Hislop. Sai Baba - The Ultimate Experience by Phyllis Krystal, Sathya Sai Speaks, Vols 1-17, and Sathyam Sivam Sundaram Vols 1-4 by Prof N. Kasturi. Leaflet 20 cents each (US 15cents) or $20 per 100 (US $15)

Happy Thanksgiving Oct 13th (Canada) from all our Volunteer staff

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