Man by and large considers himself to be healthy and tries to lead a happy life. But in fact there are 326 diseases which haunt man day in and day out. Excessive vaata, pittha and sleshma (wind, bile and phlegm) are responsible for various diseases. vaata gives rise to 80 types of diseases, pittha to 82 types and sleshma to 164 types. Such being the case, how can man enjoy a healthy life? Only when he develops Atmic Consciousness and distances himself from the adverse effects of vaata, pittha and sleshma can he be healthy.

For the past one month, you could not see Swami. What is the reason for this? It is because of the indisposition of this body. I have neither taken upon Myself the illness of anybody nor has it emerged from this body. Today, I am revealing the truth to you.

The body is made up of five elements and is bound to perish sooner or later, but the indweller has neither birth nor death. He has no attachment whatsoever. Truly speaking, the indweller is verily God Himself who is in the form of the Atma.

(Telugu Poem)

Man is always concerned about his health. He has become a victim of various ailments as he is steeped in body consciousness rather than Atmic principle. It is very essential for man to realise that diseases underscore the need for getting rid of body consciousness.

You are all aware of the fact that Swami fractured His hip and it was in three pieces. The ball in the hip was in two pieces. The pain was so excruciating that it cannot be described in words. It was impossible to move this way or that way. It pierced the body as if it were an electric shock. But, I was unaffected by it. I underwent all this suffering only to demonstrate that one should not be attached to the body. Instead, one should develop Divine consciousness. I am not this body. Body consciousness leads to untold suffering. One has to get rid of body attachment in order to enjoy peace and happiness. What is this body composed of?

"This body is a den of dirt, and prone to diseases; it is subject to change from time to time; it cannot cross the ocean of Samsara. It is nothing but a structure of bones. O mind, do not be under the delusion that body is permanent. Instead take refuge at the Divine Lotus Feet."

(Telugu Poem)

Dehabhimana (body consciousness) will disappear once you develop Daivabhimana (Divine Consciousness). The first step in spiritual path is to keep body consciousness under check. You are subjected to misery as you are immersed in body consciousness. Body consciousness and Atmic consciousness are inversely proportional. Nobody can escape the consequences of karma (action). Karma is the cause for birth and death. The Bhagawad Gita declares:

(Man has right over action but not over the fruits of action). Karmanubandheeni Manushya Loke (human society is bound by action).

Man should develop Atmic consciousness and plunge into the field of action without aspiring for the rewards. Dharmaraja, eldest among the Pandavas, was the very embodiment of righteousness. Yet, he had to undergo the ordeals in the court of King Virata as a result of karma. "Were not the mighty Pandavas compelled to go into exile and lead a life full of troubles? Did not emperor Harischandra, having lost his kingdom, become caretaker of a graveyard?" Everyone is bound to face the consequences of his or her action. However, man does have the capacity to escape from the consequences of karma. He has become weak as he is unable to harness his innate potential due to body attachment. Having assumed a human body, one cannot escape from suffering. Body is momentary like a water bubble.

I was all smiles when I was being taken to hospital. Many doctors surrounded Me at the hospital. They were anxious. I told them not to worry. "This body is not Mine. It is yours. You can do whatever you deem fit to this body. I have no pain whatsoever", I assured them. I came back after three hours. I was full of smiles. A true spiritual aspirant is one who undergoes difficulties with a positive frame of mind. Do not care for the suffering of the body. Suffering is quite natural to human body. One has to face suffering with Atma Balam (will power).

Today, being Doctors' Day, doctors have to set an ideal by infusing courage and conviction in patients. Doctors, after putting in lot of efforts, have been able to find remedies for various ailments. But, there seems to be no end to diseases. There are many doctors all over the world. But, the number of patients and ailments are on the rise. If there are two doctors for a family, there are four patients! Patients outnumber doctors. Man's lifestyle and habits are responsible for this spurt in diseases.

After the surgery, I was able to walk within a short span of three days. The reason being I have no body attachment. I see all of you with Atmic consciousness and hence am blissful. I teach everyone, "My dear! don't fall a prey to body attachment; develop Atmic consciousness and lead a blissful life". Your Aananda (bliss) is My Aahaara (food) and Aarogya (health). You call a person healthy when all his limbs are functioning properly. All the organs of My body are functioning effectively.

Physical afflictions are temporary like passing clouds. Life is a Challenge, Meet It; Life is Love, Enjoy It; Life is a Game, Play It. You have to play the game of life in the right spirit. I have been doing the same. I have absolutely no pain. Generally, the pain arising out of hip fracture is unbearable. But, I am unaffected by injury to any organ of the body, leave alone the hip. Suffering arises when you identify yourself with the body. I have no pains since I have no body attachment. I take delight in your love. Your prayers are responsible for My speedy recovery. In all the corners of the world devotees have been praying intensely. Through prayer you can achieve the impossible.

Embodiments of Love! Gradually give up body attachment. Develop Atmic consciousness. Atma alone is true and eternal. Atma is our life. Everything else is a passing cloud. Today we are celebrating Doctors' Day. This is the day when doctors rededicate themselves to the alleviation of suffering. There are very few doctors who discharge their duties with a spirit of sacrifice, keeping the welfare of patients as their sole objective.

Dr. Sundareshan took great pains to ensure the well-being of Swami. He was monitoring Swami's progress every moment. I was telling repeatedly, "Sundareshan, I am all right, do not worry". But he would not be satisfied. He would keep on enquiring about My welfare; whether I had pain in any part of the body. He is equally concerned about the welfare of other patients too. When one of our college students met with a motorcycle accident, Dr. Sundareshan used to monitor his progress day in and day out. He used to make frequent visits to Puttaparthi without taking any rest just to treat that patient. If all doctors in the world were to be like Dr. Sundareshan, there would not be any disease at all. Today diseases are on the rise because doctors have become money-minded.

One day, nine years ago, after having a head bath, I wanted to dry My hair. One of the American doctors had lovingly presented a hair-drier to Me. When I was trying to use the same, the power supply was cut off. It was restored when I was having a close look at the drier. Consequently, a sudden gust of hot air ripped through My eye damaging the retina. I was least perturbed. One eye is sufficient to see this wide world.

(God has a thousand heads, eyes and feet).

Dr.Hemanth Murthy (ophthalmic surgeon) pleaded with Me to undergo an eye operation as well, along with the hip surgery. The damaged retina, which was removed from My eye, was as dark as charcoal. Since then I am able to see clearly with both My eyes. With such doctors around, any surgery can be performed successfully. Eye surgeons like Dr.Hemanth Murthy and orthopaedic surgeons like Dr.Sundareshan are few in number in this world. Such doctors should be given all encouragement and support. Even the government is unable to provide the necessary infrastructure. Consequently the doctors are handicapped and are unable to give their best. Doctors' Day is being observed to encourage and motivate these doctors. However skilled a doctor may be, he cannot discharge his duties diligently unless he is provided with proper equipment. Swami's intention is to support and encourage such doctors by providing the necessary facilities.

Health and education are the two most important aspects of life. One can put knowledge into practice only when one has good health. Embodiments of Love! In today's world many people are suffering for want of proper medical facilities. It is your bounden duty to help the suffering humanity. Only then will the country prosper. Money comes and goes; Morality comes and grows. Today many doctors are commercializing the field of medicine. Such doctors are sinners of the worst kind. He is a true doctor who aspires for the well-being of the patient. We have to encourage such noble doctors.

Embodiments of Love! One has to take good care of one's health with proper food and habits. There are many poor people in our country who lack the basic necessities of food, raiment and shelter. Who will take care of them when they are afflicted with diseases? Our hospitals are doing yeoman service to suffering humanity. Do not think that I am lavishing praises on our own hospitals. You can see it for yourself when you visit these hospitals. If you go to our General Hospitals and Super-Speciality hospitals, you will find a number of poor people being treated for various ailments totally free of cost. Elsewhere, the Super-Speciality hospitals are established with commercial motives. They collect fees even to check the temperature of a patient. How can the poor afford such costly treatment? Doctors should render free service to patients to the extent possible.

Embodiments of Love! Doctors should serve the poor with spirit of sacrifice. There is no greater service than this. God is the sole refuge of the destitute and the forlorn. As man is the embodiment of God, it is his primary duty to help the destitute and the forlorn. Medicine should not be commercialised. It is meant to promote heart to heart and love to love relationship between doctor and patient. A true doctor is one who realises this truth and conducts himself accordingly. One with commercial outlook is not a doctor at all. In fact, he is a patient himself! Spirit of sacrifice is the hallmark of a true doctor.

The doctors who are working in our hospitals are endowed with that spirit of sacrifice. Dr. Savitri and others are working tirelessly day in and day out in our General Hospital. I often tell them, "take proper care of your health in the first instance. Only then can you serve the patients more effectively." How can you look after the patients if your health is spoiled? Our Principal in his speech mentioned the axiom: Vaidyo Narayano Harihi (doctor is verily God). Being the very embodiment of Lord Narayana, doctor should serve everyone. God is ever engaged in service.

(one attains merit by serving others and commits sin by hurting them)

One need not be a doctor in order to serve others. One should help his fellow beings to the best of his ability. We have established hospitals at various places like Puttaparthi, Bangalore, Alike, Muddenahalli, etc. I feel very happy to see the doctors working there with great dedication. We have opened a hospital in Alike quite recently, which is catering to the needs of many poor patients. I am thrilled whenever I see their happy faces. Their happiness gives me immense strength.

Only through service, can one become the recipient of Divine Grace. Life is meaningless if one does not participate in service activities. The best way to love God is to serve God. You should aspire for the welfare of all and follow the path of Love and Service. Only then will your life find fulfilment.

There is a General Hospital at Puttaparthi. There is one more at Whitefield. Amazing cures are taking place in these hospitals. It is the happiness of the patients that gives Me happiness and health. If you aspire for the health and happiness of Swami, look after the patients well. Patients, welfare must be your topmost priority. Serve them with dedication. Service to patients is service to God. There is no service higher than this.

Celebration of doctors' day will be meaningful only if service activities are undertaken with dedication and not merely by donning grand attire. As you are aware, Dr. Savitri and Dr. Santha are doing yeoman service in our General Hospital here. Several other doctors also come from city regularly and render voluntary service.

(The programme concluded with singing of the National Anthem)

posted by sivalalita manicka

Sai Ram!

Discourse Saibaba gave yesterday (Sunday) in Whitefield. This version was
taken from the audiocassette, therefore it maybe a little different (meaning
more complete) from the edited version in
Sanathana Sarathi, which has yet to be received. Enjoy!



Discourse of Bhagavân Srî Sathya Sai Baba
On 5th July 2003 at Brindavan

(Saibaba says in English)
If you look at Me, I will look at you.

(Saibaba sings)
In the sacred land of Bharat patience or tolerance
is considered to be the highest wealth.
Among all the worlds truthfulness is deemed to be
the best penance.
The sweetest feeling in this sacred land is the
feeling of motherhood.
But, whereas, today the Indians have forgotten the
dictum
That one's honour is greater than one's own life.
Have been imitating the false philosophies of the
West,
Subjected themselves to the philosophy of
licentiousness.
Like an elephant that does not know its own
strength.
Today our country is steeped in stupor and inertia.

Embodiments of Love!

Every being is born in bondage to action. He lives
in action, he thrives in action and ultimately he
merges in action. It is one's own action which is
responsible for one's happiness or sorrow. Generally
man behaves as if he is quite healthy, full of
happiness and decorates himself. But there are 326
kinds of diseases which haunt every man. The wind,
boil (heat - pitta?) and the phlegm (?) enter man's
body and generate many diseases. Because of water or
the wind, 80 kinds of diseases are born. Because of
the boil (heat - pitta?) 87 diseases emerge. Because
of the phlegm 224 kinds of diseases will be in the
body of man. In total, because of these three causes
of wind, boil and phlegm, 326 diseases are always
there in man's body. How can we really become healthy?
Only when man depends on the atmic principle and is
able to get rid of the adverse effects of the wind,
boil and phlegm, he will be healthy.

Since one month Saibaba was not seen by you. What was
the reason? The reason was the illness of the body. It
is not that Saibaba had accepted anybody's disease. They
were not born in this body. Today Saibaba wants you to
listen to the truth. All the time man is thinking of
his health. The body is made up of five elements. One
day or the other it has to collapse. But the indweller
is eternal. If you want to look into the truth,
actually man has no death, no birth and no bondage of
any kind. In truth this indweller in the body himself
is God. Man suffers from many kinds of diseases
because he forgets his divine consciousness and is
steeped in body consciousness. It is very necessary
for us to recognise the truth that once you get rid of
body consciousness all diseases will vanish.

You know it. You know in this body the hip was
broken into three pieces. The ball(?) also was broken
into two. It is not possible to describe the
excruciating pain that one gets. It is not possible to
move, it is not possible to get up. All the time it
haunts you like a shock. But Saibaba did not care for
that, giving up body consciousness completely, Saibaba
subjected Himself to this kind of suffering in order
to demonstrate the teaching to all of you that you
have to rise above body consciousness and enjoy divine
consciousness.I am not this body. When you are steeped
in body consciousness you will have to suffer much. If
man aspires to enjoy happiness and peace, he has to
get rid of body consciousness.

What is this body? It is made up of five elements.
It is a den of ? , a basket full of diseases, a
(tuber?) which moves from birth to death, a bush which
cannot cross over the ocean of life. O mind, don't
trust this to be eternal. Take shelter at the lotus
feet of God. When you develop divine consciousness,
body consciousness will not make you suffer.

The first step in the spiritual path is to control
body consciousness. Because you develop body
consciousness you are subjected to many kinds of
sorrows. As the body consciousness develops, divine
consciousness will decrease. For everybody bondage of
action is inescapable. Man is born out of action. In
Bhagavadgita it is said, you have only the right to
act and not for the reward thereof. The world of man
is bound by the bondage of action. How can man escape
from this bondage of action? Even when you involve
yourself in bodily activity it is possible for you to
develop divine consciousness and get rid of body
consciousness.

Dharmaraja was the very embodiment of righteousness.
Because of the bondage of action he was even censured
by his own brothers. The five Pândavas had to go to
the forest and lead a life of exil. Whoever he may be,
the bondage of action is inevitable. There is great
strength in man to conquer the bondage of action. When
man is so strong and has this power, why is he weak?
When you develop divine consciousness, automatically
body consciousness will come down. Even the great
Satya Harischandra, because of the bondage of action
he became a security guard in a ? . Anybody who comes
with a body has to suffer. This body may collapse in a
moment and die in a moment. Gradually we have to
reduce body consciousness and body attachment.

Saibaba was taken to the hospital. Saibaba was smiling
all the way. Many doctors came to meet Saibaba there.
But a lot of them were troubled. Saibaba consoled them,
"This body is not mine. I am offering this body to
you. You do what you want with this body. I don't have
any kind of pain."After three hours of surgery Saibaba
came out of the operation theatre. But Saibaba was all
the time smiling. A person, who welcomes all kinds of
suffering with a smile, is a true spiritual aspirant
and a spiritual gainer. Don't care for the body. The
body comes. That is natural. You have to conquer the
natural law with the law of the âtma.

On this 'Doctor's day', doctors should understand,
they have to demonstrate this ideal. Today's doctors
they get educated with hard labour and cure many
people of many diseases. There are many doctors in the
world today. Even each house has two doctors. But
there are four patients in every house. There are more
patients than doctors. What is the reason? It is not
because of the doctors, it is because of one's own
desires and aspirations.

In three days Saibaba could walk. What is the reason?
Saibaba has given up body consciousness. Saibaba does not
have any trace of body consciousness. With divine
consciousness Saibaba gives delight and joy to everyone.


Son, be happy all the time, don't be subjected to
body consciousness. Your joy is my food. Your bliss is
my health. What is health? When all the limbs and
organs in the body are working all right, it is ? .
All the limbs and organs of Saibaba are functioning
properly. When the body is physical, naturally there
are some troubles. These come and go. They are like
passing clouds. It is natural for any human body.

The whole world is bound by bondage of action. The
very man is bound by action. We have to conquer this
bondage.Live is a challenge, meet it.

Live is love, enjoy it.
Life is a game, play it.
With this kind of attitude we should push forward.

Saibaba is all the time playing with His body. Saibaba
has no pain of any kind. Many people with suffer with
excruciating pain when it happens. They say it is very
difficult for a person when the hip-bone is broken.
Not only the hip-bone. Anything may break, but Saibaba
has no problem of any kind. You will face the
suffering only when you develop attachment to the
body. Saibaba has no attachment to body at all. Saibaba
takes delight in your love.

What is the reason for Saibaba getting well so soon?
It is the prayers of the devotees which made Saibaba's
body healthy so soon. In all corners of the world
there is prayer and prayer and prayer. With prayer you
can conquer and achieve anything. The impact of prayer
is responsible for Saibaba's body to get healthy so
soon.

Embodiments of Love!

Gradually detach yourself from body consciousness.
Develop abhimana, divine consciousness. That is
eternal and ever new. Atma is our life. All other
things are passing clouds. You should not be deluded
by body consciousness.

Today is 'Doctor's Day'. This is the day on which
doctors should give joy to the patients. Some doctors
have sacrificed their selfishness. They keep the
welfare of patients in their view. They discharge
their duties well.

Our Dr. Sundaresh went through great trouble. Every
moment he looked after Saibabas body carefully. Saibaba
would tell Dr. Sundaresh, 'I am all right, don't worry
about me.' But he will never listen to Saibaba. Every
now and then he would come and ask Saibaba, "Saibaba, do
you have pain anywhere in the body?" It is not only
Saibaba's body. This doctor has taken care of many of
our students. He works day and night without caring
for the rest of his own body and looks after the
students so well. If such kinds of doctors like Dr.
Sundaresh are there, there won't be any kind of
diseases in the world. But there are many doctors who
are always after selfish interest and go up to money.
That is why the diseases are increasing in the world
today.

Here is a small thing. Nine year ago...(Saibaba ask for
the English word of 'hair-dryer', NM repeats two,
three times) ...Saibaba was trying to dry his hair with a
hair dryer. Saibaba does not know the modern methods(?)
One American doctor sent this hair dryer to Saibaba.
Saibaba was holding it in his hand. But the power had
gone. Saibaba was thinking why it is not working. But
suddenly the power came, a big blast of air struck the
retina of Saibaba's left eye and it got burnt. Saibaba
said, "With one eye I can see everything. One eye is
enough to see all the world. Why do you need so many
eyes?" God has thousand eyes, thousand heads, thousand
hands and thousand feet. "One eye is enough", Saibaba
thought.

When Saibaba was admitted to the hospital, Dr.
Hematamurthy, the eye-specialist came and saw Saibaba in
the hospital. He said, "Saibaba, I will set right the
eye." The retina in the left eye was like a charcoal,
pitch dark. It was burnt. He removed it. From then on
Saibaba is able to see with both eyes. If such doctors
exist in the world, anything can be achieved in the
world. The eye-specialist Hematamurthy, Sundareshan,
the bones doctor - such people are very rare in the
world. We have to develop that kind of doctors today.
You have to encourage them and the enthuse them. They
don't get much support from the government.

Today diabetes is rampant in the world. Any patient
has diabetes. To set right the eye of such a person we
need a lot of instruments. Because the government does
not support them with such equipment and instruments...
we have to support the doctors, to enthuse them and
encourage them.

Saibaba has got this function done - 'Doctor's day' -
in order to encourage, enthuse and support the
doctors. A doctor may be great, but instrument should
also be good. Because of lack of equipment many people
are troubled. Saibaba wants to support, encourage and
enthuse the doctors by providing such equipment.

The whole world is based on health and education. We
need education. Without education there is no use. We
have to gain some worldly knowledge. We should have
good health also. When you have good health education
will be of some use.

Embodiments of Love!

In the world today many people are suffering. All of
you should encourage and support such good people. You
have to give inspiration and encouragement to such
doctors. Then the nation will prosper. There are many
people who aspire for only money. They struggle only
for wealth. Money comes and goes. Morality comes and
grows. That's what we have to develop: morality.

Today a lot of doctors have become commercial.
Commercial attitude in medicine is a great sin. A
doctor should help others. They have to aspire for the
welfare of the patient and not for the money of the
patient. A true doctor should aspire for the welfare
of the patient. We have to nourish and develop such
doctors. When you bring up such doctors, patients will
be happy.

Embodiments of Love!

You have to keep up your good health. Man's attempts
should be vigilant. Food and our activity should be
under our control.

We have our hospitals. It is not that Saibaba is
praising his own hospitals. Go to the General Hospital
in Whitefield. There are many poor people who flock
there. They don't have food to eat. They don't have
clothes. They don't have a house. If such people get
diseases who will look after them? Everything is free
and free in our Hospital. Many poor people get rid of
their diseases in our hospitals.

Take for example the Super Speciality Hospital. You
can go and see there. Today you name it Super
Speciality Hospital. But all the time they (the
others) are thinking of earning money only. When you
test the temperature of patients, there are fees? But
how can the patient be all right if you demand money?
To the extent possible we have to render free service.
The patients also suffer like us. We should not
subject them to suffering; we have to look after them.


Embodiments of Love!

A lot of people... there are many doctors who serve
the patients. The service to patients is very
important. There is no service higher than that. God
alone is responsible for a person who is an orphan.
When God nourishes everyone... Man is the embodiment of
God. On the basis of his divinity he has to help
others.

Many hospitals are being started today. They are
only struggling on the commercial lines to develop
their hospitals. Medicine is no commerce. It is a
heart to heart, give and take relation. Heart to
heart, love to love, give and take. That is very
important. A true doctor is one who recognises this
truth and behaves properly. A doctor who has desires
for money is no doctor at all. He himself is a
patient. We should develop a sense of sacrifice and
serve people.

All the doctors here are men of sacrifice. Even in
General Hospital there is Dr. Savitrî. Day and night
she is dedicated to the hospital. Saibaba tells her,
"You look after your health first and then serve. If
you spoil your own health how can you look after the
patients?" Saibaba tells them, "You be healthy and look
after the patients." Everyone should look after his
health properly. If your health is not good you cannot
do anything. That is why our principal said, 'Doctor
himself is equal to God." And in fact, a doctor is the
embodiment of God. That embodiment of God, the doctor,
should help everyone. God always helps others. Merit
is to help others, sin is to hurt others. Even those
who are not doctors, to the extent possible you should
help others.

The hospitals in Bangalore that Saibaba has started,
the hospitals in Puttaparthi, in Alike also there is a
hospital, in Muddenahalli there is a hospital - Saibaba
is very happy to look at these doctors who are there.
When Alike Hospital was opened, many poor patients
take delight in going to the hospital there. Saibaba is
delighted to see those happy faces. That delight gives
strength to Saibabas body. You should render good
service and gain God's grace. Without service life is
useless. The best way to love God is to serve God.
Both you should learn. Your human life will be
fulfilled only then. All the time aspire for the
welfare of everyone.

There is a General Hospital in Puttaparthi and in
Whitefield. Every moment many amazing cures are taking
place in these two hospitals. Their delight, the
patients delight is Saibaba's... If you want Saibaba to be
happy and healthy, look after your patients well. Look
after the patients well! That is service to God. There
is no service higher than that. Just Doctor's day does
not mean you come in good attire but you have to take
part in service.

Savitrî and Shantalâ - they are doing great service
in our hospital. Many doctors from Bangalore City come
to our hospitals and do service. In Bangalore there is
no doctor who does not serve. Everybody comes and
works honourally.

(The two lady doctors from General Hospital are
honoured by Saibaba, who gave them something - we do not
know what - great applause; Saibaba says chaala')

END of SAIBABA'S DISCOURSE (started at 8.40 and ended
at 9.15)

The National Anthem is sung


Present at the function were the Governor of
Karnataka, M. Chakravarthy, sitting at Saibabas left
side and the Chief Minister of Karnataka, M. Krishna,
sitting at Saibabas right side.

First speaker before Saibaba was M. Srinivas, Chairman
of Sri Sathya Sai Educational Trust. He said that the
doctor's day is celebrated to honour the doctors. He
said in the very beginning of the General Hospital in
Whitefield, some 30 years ago, Saibaba had said that in
future many doctors will do service in this hospital.
At that time there were only three of them and they
could not image how that would be possible. But today,
one may believe it or not, there is a waiting list of
doctors wishing to do service in Saibabas Hospitals.

CM Krishna is a power of strength to our
institution. Two doctors are representatives of all
doctors: Dr. Sundareshan, leading orthopaedic surgeon
and Dr. Hematamurthy, the eye specialist. At the end
of M. Srinivas' speech both doctors were given 7 lakh
Rupies and a shawl.

After M. Srinivas Dr. A.N. Safaya, Director of Super
Speciality Hospital of Whitefield spoke about his
experiences since he started working in Saibabas
Hospital. He also gave a rapport about operations done
in the last years.