Sai Ram!
The world’s money market is playing havoc with us. Our poor Canadian Loonie (dollar) is taking a hammering. While this is terrible for Canadians buying books from the US which includes our own Bookcentre importing from the States, anyone buying books from us has a distinct advantage as it works the opposite way - our books will be so much cheaper. So, for those interested in Sai literature in the US take 30% off our Canadian listed price. Another advantage for non-Canadians is that you are exempt from the 7% GST (Goods and Services Tax) which we Canadians have to pay. This is one reason we have so many books from India and elsewhere, as the US dollar is too strong for us and consequently US books come out to be expensive for Canadians.
AIDS FOR STUDY CIRCLE
Now that the summer is winding to a close, many Centres will be planning
their fall program of STUDY CIRCLES. Study of Sai literature is one
of the essential Nine Points in the Code of Conduct for members of Sai
organizations. We have two classic Study Circle books to recommend.
There is Pathways to God by Jonathan Roof, which is an excellent
all-round book. Portions can be read aloud and then discussed before
continuing. Roof gives a clear overview of the topic for the westerner
put in his own words and using quotes from Swami. He also gives references
so that further study on a particular topic can be undertaken. We
are offering this at a low price of Canadian $12.00 each (US $8.40) so
that everyone can afford a copy. Because there is some guidance given,
this book is a good place to start for those new to Study Circles.
The second recommendation is a more comprehensive book - for those who
have already done some group Study Circle work. This is Study
Circles for Dvinity from the Discourses of Sri Sathya Sai Baba
- by Dr. R Woodward & Dr. R Farmer. Some devotees only want Swami’s
words with no mediation by others, so this book will suit them as
the authors have just collected what Swami has said on various occasions
and put them together under topic headings. As well as the more ususal
topics such as Living the Values - Truth, Love, Peace, or Spiritual Disciplines
- Prayer, Surrender etc., it has such topics as `Managing Emotions’
such as Anger, Grief, etc and `Cultivating Relationships’. Such a
book saves hours of researching for the Study Circle Coordinator.
Available at CAN $19.95 (US $13.95).
NEW BOOK - BABA IS HERE
Leela Press in the US is a non-profit publisher dedicated to
publishing books about Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. They now have
an impressive list of books in their stable, and their latest is from South
America called “Baba is Here - Conversations with God on His Omnipotence”
by Graciela Busto. Originally written in Spanish entitled Baba Esta
Aqui - it has been translated by Anthony Albanese. The people at
Leela Press have gone to extraordinary lengths to ensure the accuracy
of this book, both in translation and also in content. Baba tells us he
speaks directly to us with no intermediary, and Graciela Busto’s
book describes her inner conversations with Baba. Through these dialogues,
the author explores the very substance and intention of truth, love, and
existence. We find here answers to questions such: If God is omnipresent,
whay is it necessary to invoke Him? Is faith a necessary condition
for realization? Is love indespensible in porder to gain wisdom?
Why doesn’t God always respond to our prayers? How can you tell when
someone has reached enlightenment? Why have we forgotten out origin?
Other topics are discussed such as free will, pride, greed, surrender,
lust and forgiveness.
Leela Press were initially very cautious about publishing such
a personal document, and add a note of caution that we must exercise discrimination.
However, when the manuscript was presented to Swami and he was specifically
asked twice for permission to publish as it pertained to inner messages
received from Baba himself, Swami approvingly said “Yes, good” and signed
it `With Love, Baba ‘. So now this inspiring book has been made available
for everyone. Can $13.50 (US $9.45)
THE TOUCH OF BABA
By Joyce Darlene Barker Review by Amrit Bahal
If you are looking for serious advice from Baba on dharma, look to
the Summer Showers series - but if you are looking for Swami’s transforming
effect you should look to Joyce Barker’s The Touch of Baba.
Joyce seems to be a dynamo disciplined in `Surrender to the Lord’.
She says in the Foreword that `this is a simple story written to express
my awe of the touch of Baba’. The book is not a cover containing
112 pages but a throbbing heart! What really makes the book stand
out to the spiritual aspirants is the advice she received through dreams,
her interviews with Baba, and the stories she relays of some of the gripping
experiences of numerous devotees. Joyce’s own spiritual journey
began with a dream on October 31st, 1987, together with her study of Samual
Sandweiss’ book `Sai Baba, the Holy Man and the Psychiatrist’, when she
felt an urge to be in the presence of the Holy Man. She visited Whitefield
and Puttaparthi where, as she says, `I would discover heaven’. When
Baba does not look at her, she feels that `He is not ready to see me, or
I was not ready for Baba’. The gift of a silver ring during her interview,
the conversion of the heart of a 70-years old former Catholic nun, the
symbolic interpretation of her dreams given to her by her ex-teacher Mrs
Hager, all these depict poignant emotions and open a window for the aspiring
devotee who comes to know what to expect at the initial stages. Her
story of Sadesh Chand who walked with two hand crutches with a cancerous
tumor on his knee and who was medically advised that the leg had to be
amputated, is heart-rending. After four interviews with the Lord,
he walks out all alone, cured. I feel that the defining moment in
this book lies in her advice at the end - `Never despair! Think of
that hand, that precious hand of Baba, reaching out to touch you.
Take it!’ How I wish we could all really grab it and make our
life more meaningful! CAN $7.50 (US $5.25)
LETTERS FROM A GRANDFATHER
by Brig. S.K Bose Review by Gopal Mehta
Mr Bose is a highly qualified construction engineer who has spent the
past quarter of a century with Bhagawan Baba. As he writes, Baba
involved him in the construction of projects auch as the Super Specialty
Hospital, the Airport and the College buldings. He has described
in a unique and humble way the divine experiences of some of the devotees
he met from all over the world including some of his own experiences while
with Baba. He tells again of the day he`died’ on Dassera while listening
to the Discourse of Baba,and Baba , in the presence of thousands of people,
brought back his Atma and brought him physically back to life. This
book, Letters from a Grandfather is, as the title suggests, letters
written in simple terms describing Baba and his message and the ways and
means of becoming his instrument, and ultimately becoming one with Him.
The book is a good source of guidance and inspiration for those who would
like to follow the Path of Karma Yoga (selfless service for society) and
attain Oneness with the Lord. Aum Sri Sai Ram! CAN $9.95 (US $6. 95)
Ed. note: You may remember Brig. S.K. Bose’s excellent book ~ My Experiences
of the Divine Will, reviewed a few months ago.
AN EASTERN VIEW OF JESUS CHRIST
Although this little book was written in 1982, we find we have to keep
it constantly in stock as those who like it really love it and buy multiple
copies for thir friends. An Eastern View of Jesus Christ is
a book of references to Christ in the Discourses of Sathya Sai Baba and
is extremely helpful to those raised as Christians and who need to understand
the relationship between Sai and Jesus . The quotations are presented
and formatted like poems or aphorisms -
“When we live and practice Jesus’ teachings we are true Christians - not before” Sai Baba
Again, in a Christmas Discourse Swami said: “Jesus was not the only Messenger sent by God. We each come into this world as a Messenger sent by God”. The book is translated by Lee Hewlett and K. Nataraj and there is a Foreword by Sir George Trevelyan Bt. M.A. CAN $8.00 (US $5.60)
P. SUSHILA IN LIVE CONCERT - THE VIDEO
When the famous devotional singer P. Sushila came to Toronto in 1996
a film was made. This is now available to the public on a Video entitled
ENGUM SAI GEETHAM. Readers may recall that P. Sushila is the
lady who sings the beautiful Tamil devotional songs at Swami’s Birthday
celebrations every year, while he swings on the Jhoola. The Video is CAN
$20 (US $14.00)
HINDI DEVOTIONAL SONGS ON CASSETTE
Kabitha Krishnamoorthy has just released a new cassette of Hindi Sai
devotional songs called SAI DARSHAN. Songs such as Eeshwarama;
Main Aayee Thi Darshan Paane; Sai MujheVardhan Do; Mere Sai Ki Parthi Nagariya;
Is Dharti Pe Aakar Sai; Parthiwale Shiridwale; Sai Ram. It
is CAN $4.00 (US $2.80)