SRI SATHYA SAI BABA BOOK & INFORMATION CENTRE

290, Merton Street, Toronto, Ontario, M4S 1A9, Canada

Official Book Centre of the Sai Organization in Canada
Phone: (416) 481-7242  Website: http://www.saibooks.org
Fax: (416) 481-7292       Email: saibooks@hotmail.com
NEWSLETTER OF THE CANADIAN SAI BOOK CENTRE
May 2002 Volume 7 No. 9
Aum Sri Sai Ram!

We wish you all a happy celebration of Mother Easwaramma's day on May 6th. From now on an events calendar will be posted on the Web Site at www.Saibooks.org announcing all the events for the current month. Here at the Merton Sai Centre in Toronto the Easwaramma day celebration will take place on May the 5th being a Sunday with a programme by the children and the Youth. Swami (as Sai Baba is lovingly called) describes the Mother's final moments, "The significance of the day is that it is celebrated as Children's Day, a day when little children are to be reminded of the ideal, a day when she presented an ideal. Eswaramma had finished her bath; she drank her coffee as usual, quite happily, and took her seat on the inner verandah. All of a sudden, proceeding to the bathroom, she cried out, "Swami, Swami, Swami," thrice. I responded, "Coming, coming." Within that period, she breathed her last. What greater sign of goodness is needed? She had no need to be served and nursed. Swami will come to the memory at that time only for a very few. Beside her at the time was her daughter Venkamma and her grand daughter Shailaja, but she called out only for Swami. Getting this yearning at the final moment is the fruit of holy purity. It is the sign of an ideal adorable life."

EASWARAMMA THE CHOSEN MOTHER BY LATE PROF. KASTURI – A BEFITTING TRIBUTE

The book is a befitting tribute to the life of Easwaramma whom Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba the God incarnate chose to be His Mother. It provides rare glimpses into her psyche;her curiosity, compassion and wonder. She was tender-hearted and pious and like an earnest seeker had to trudge along the inner path that leads from Maya (the great delusion) to the Master.

This short narrative of the earthly life of Easwaramma (literally means God's Mother) pictures lucidly her expanding awareness and delineates hesitations, hazards and hopes that she had to encounter.

Naturally simple, meek and modest, she always stepped back from publicity, admiration and adoration. As Mother of the global family of Sai, her love had to be all –enveloping and unconditional. The book is an inspiring account of the most precious motherhood a woman could aspire to.

Price: $2.00; US$1.40

KALGI AVATAR-LORD INCARNATE BY NIPLA HASIJA

The author of this lovely book is a Canadian named Nipla Hasija who is an ardent devotee of Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba.  She regularly attends the Sathsangh here at the Merton Sai Centre.  This book on the whole touches the life of Swami, the Lord of Lords who has incarnated into human form for leading and saving mankind from annihilation and ruin.  It not only contains His leela and manifestations, but the more important work of raising national, moral and spiritual level of the world through His devotees by His charisma and inspiration. 

This is written in play form, not written in a cold tone, as a story or narration, but alive with lot of action and humour. The dialogue and experiences between devotees, friends and the author herself, very inspiring, lively, interesting and appealing for such dialogues naturally illumines our mind and is a sort of tonic to hear the facts of His life in action.  Such a book would inspire the whole world when it would be enacted on stage from time to time and year to year like the life of Lord Rama (the hero of the Great Indian epic Ramayana), and Lord Krishna; which are enacted on stage from time immemorial.

Price: $7.50; US$5.25

SAIBABA AND NARA NARAYANA GUFA ASHRAM I & II
- Review by Gopal Mehta

The author Swami Maheshwarananda, who is resident of Prashanti Nilayam, has very skillfully, with his good knowledge of Hindu scriptures and saints, blended together the principles of discipline, devotion and actual practices as done by 11 young  men in the Ashram. The volume 1 deals basically with this group of eleven well-educated young men, who were drawn by Sri Sathya Sai Baba. These men were instructed, inspired and blessed by Him to go to a cave in the Himalayas, nearby the holy shrine of Badrinath for sadhana (spiritual practices). Baba gave them a vessel (akshaya patra) where food would appear for them for breakfast, lunch and dinner every day.  They lived under very difficult conditions encountering extreme cold and lack of oxygen. They lived, with His grace in this cave, at 18000ft.above sea level for several years.

The young aspirants went through rigorous spiritual practices. Baba looked after them all the time and would physically appear and converse with them on spiritual matters. The book also contains other illustrations of individuals, including some from the West, where Baba has been guiding and supporting them in their spiritual efforts. The author also describes different ways to attain liberation as contained in the Puranas.  This book was originally published in 3 volumes.  Volumes I & II are now combined into one book in this latest edition.

Price: $9.00; US$6.30

THE GLORY OF INDIA – A FABULOUS BOOK FOR CHILDREN

Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba once said, "neither the parents, nor the society rulers as well are competent to instruct the children about the glory of Bhaarath (India)…hence I have taken up the task of educating the children about the glory of Bhaarath."  Whatever Baba said about India's cultural heritage and her people has been put together in this book titled The Glory of Bhaa-rath along with attractive and colourful illustrations making this an ideal book for children from age 8 onwards as well as their parents.  Swami makes it very interesting for all ages especially the children as he uses amusing anecdotes drawn from the life of eminent people as well as his own to illustrate his words of wisdom.  The size of this book is about 27cmsX27cms and has an attractive cover with a picture of Swami in the centre.

Price: $7.00; US$4.90

CUTTING THE TIES OF KARMA - UNDERSTANDING THE PATCHWORK OF YOUR PAST LIVES

According to Sathya Sai Baba, one meaning of Karma that is popularly accepted is that it is one's destiny or fate, the inescapable writing on the brow which has to work itself out.  There is no escaping it.  But people forget that it is not written by some other hand.  It is written by one's own hand and the hand that wrote it can also wipe it off.  In this latest book Krystal, a Psychotherapist, provides invaluable exercises to make this happen.  Learn to identify what your bad patches are through dream work, figure out your karma in relationship to significant people in your life, and ultimately eliminate the bad karma from your life.  Cutting the Ties of Karma makes possible a new patchwork of life from which to unfold.  This book will explain the various lessons we must learn in this life if we failed to learn them in previous ones.  It will incorporate some of the Symbols and exercises presented in Cutting the ties that bind, Cutting More Ties that Bind and the Cutting the ties That Bind Workbook.  In the latter, the symbols are illustrated and the exercises are outlined in simple steps that make it possible for anyone – even children – to follow.  It is therefore advisable to work with these books before undertaking the work contained in this one, which is on a deeper level.

Price: $12.99; US$9.09

[Ed. Note:  We now have all of Mrs.  Krystal's books including Cutting the ties that bind (price: $7.95; US$5.57; Cutting More Ties that Bind (Price: $7.95; US$5.57); Cutting the Ties Workbook (Price: $7.95; US$5.57); Sai Baba: The ultimate experience (Price: 5.95$; US$4.17); Taming the Monkey Mind (Price: 5.95$; US$4.17)].

SAIBABA AND NARA NARAYANA GUFA ASHRAM III BY SWAMI MAHESHWARANANDA

Volume 3 of this book describes the difficulties spiritual aspirants encounter and the remedies to overcome them. As per the author, God incarnated at one time as twins called Nara and Narayan. It was their mission to show humanity how and why they should go through severe penance to conquer the mind and free one self from bondage. The author vividly describes their spiritual practices and includes many instances from Lord Rama’s and Sai Baba’s lives where the Incarnations continue to support those who seek help in their spiritual journey. The 3 obstacles in one's spiritual path, as per author, are mala (residue of worldlly attractions),vikshepa (fickleness of mind) and avarana (the veil). To overcome these three and purify mentally, he recommends three types of sadhana (practices) - selfless actions, steadfast devotion and divine knowledge. Those eleven youths, with Sri Sathya Sai Baba’s guidance and grace, practiced these disciplines and attained liberation from the cycle of birth and death. These two volumes are immensely educating and inspiring to the spiritual aspirants and the readers will feel blessed even to read and develop strong faith in the nearness of the Lord for our Inward Journey.

Price: $2.00; US$1.40

BARGAIN BOOKS!!

All Tamil books will be offered at a discount of 30% until June 15th 2002.















Aum Sri Sai Ram!
CDs OF THE MONTH
  • MADHURAM SAI GEETHAM: all the songs on this CD are in Sanskrit and Hindi rendered by T V Hari Haren an ardent devotee and student of Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. The CD contains the following songs – 
    1. Jaya Ganesha Jaya Ganesha Deva
    2. Aum Namah Shivaaya
    3. Shiva Charanam Athitharunam
    4. Aavo Shankara Sai Naath
    5. Vibhuthi Sundara Sai Naath Hara Hara Mahadeva
    6. Chandra Shekaraa Sai Sundaraa
    7. Gangodhbhavakara Pinaaka Vaibhava
    8. Dayakaro Kripakaro
    9. Nirupama Guna Sadhanaa
    10. Jeevan Ki Nayya Chalo Sai Naath
    11. Easwaramba Nandana Sai Janaardhana
    12. Jaya Jaya Raghuvara Sree Rama
    13. Hara Hara Shankara Shiva Shiva Shambo
    14. Jhoole Mere Sai Jhoole Mere Baba.

    Price: $12.00;US$8.40

  • JYOTI SVARUPAYA NAMO NAMO: the following songs on this CD are rendered by Shankar A Iyer in Sanskrit as well as Hindi. The lyrics for all these bhajans are printed on the inlay card of this CD in English script. The CD contains the following songs –
    1. Ishta Siddhi Daayaka
    2. Jnana Pradaata
    3. Sai Maheshwari Ma
    4. Om Hari Om
    5. Om Shri Sai Ram
    6. Sai Bhakthi Maargamey
    7. Jhoola Jhoole Sathya Sai Ghana Shyam
    8. Jyoti Swaroopaya Namo Namo
    9. Chaahe Ram Kaho, Ghan Shyam Kaho
    10. Leela Naataka Vesha Dhaari
    11. O Sai Ram, O Sai Ram
    12. Sadhaa Padma Paadam Namaami.

    Price: $12.00;US$8.40

  • SAI GEETHAM VOLUME III: All the songs on this CD are very melodious and sung by renowned singers from India. A demo for all the 3 CDs mentioned above can be heard (in MP3 format) on the web site www.saibooks.org. In order to hear these demos you have to click on the link for the May 2002 newsletter and then click on the green play buttons in the CDs section. The CD contains the following songs –
    1. Omkaara Roopane by P Sushila rendered in Tamil
    2. Jaya Gurudeva by Jayasri in Sanskrit 
    3. Bhaja Moha Priya by T K S Kalaivanan in Sanskrit
    4. Sri Ranjani Chitharanjani by P Sushila in Sanskrit
    5. Jai Jai Hey Rama by Mano
    6. Neela Nava Gana by Jayasri
    7. Singaara Vel Murugaa by T K S Kalaivanan in Tamil
    8. Sainaatha Bhodakam by P Sushila in Sanskrit 
    9. Swaagatham Krishna by T K S Kalaivanan in Hindi
    10. Sundara Nadai Alankaara by V Prasanthi in Tamil 
    11. Chithraavathi Theera by P Sushila in Hindi 
    12. Sathya Dharma Dhaayakaa by T K S Kalaivanan in Hindi.

    Price: $12.00; US$8.40.