He told me this story so emotionally and in detail that it began to seem to me that he himself was one of the participants in everything that happened. When I tried to ask him directly about it, he waved his hands and said that all of this happened not to him, but to two of his friends. Who knows?
One day two devotees were sleeping on the veranda right under the windows of Sathya Sai Baba's room. In later times, this was no longer possible due to the large number of visitors, but in those distant blessed times, devotees could fall asleep right at the door of their beloved teacher. On that day, everyone in the ashram fasted in honor of a special holiday.
The Vedic tradition also has its own fasting system called Ekadashi. This fast is observed for one day, falling on the eleventh day of the lunar calendar. In accordance with tradition, it is recommended to arrange fasting days for yourself on this day according to the lunar calendar, which favorably affects the health and emotional state of a person.
The most important post in the annual cycle is called Vaikuntha Ekadashi. The observance of this fast is considered especially important and auspicious. Vedic myths tell that Lord Vishnu listens especially carefully to the prayers of people and instantly blesses those who fast on this day.
So, the day we are now remembering was Vaikuntha Ekadashi, which is the most important post of the year. The two devotees were sleeping peacefully on the veranda under the night sky full of stars. They suddenly woke up after hearing a strange noise. Looking around, they saw a bright light shining from Sathya Sai Baba's window.
The light was so strong and flickering that both devotees immediately realized it could not come from an ordinary light bulb. Frightened, they went to the room in order to check what was going on. Opening the door, they saw a strange sight that surprised them so much they were forced to stop at the entrance and could not enter the room even a single step.
Sathya Sai Baba was reclining on the bed. He seemed to be in a state of deep trance. Directly in front of him stood several luminous Gods and Demigods, who respectfully bowed to Sathya Sai Baba. Around the bed, seven large fires were burning right in the air. Both devotees watched this scene for a while and then respectfully left, carefully closing the door behind them. Almost all night the light shone from the windows of the room, and the two devotees reverently prayed sitting nearby.
The next morning, they approached Sathya Sai Baba and asked him to explain the meaning of what they saw the previous night. Sathya Sai Baba explained that the seven fires burning around his bed were in fact the Sapta Rishis, the seven ancient sages. They came to his room along with the Gods and Demigods.
Important festivals of the Vedic tradition were regularly held in the ashram. Vedic holidays were celebrated, and the most important holidays of world religions were also celebrated: Buddha's birthday, Christmas, Chinese New Year and Jewish New Year. Sathya Sai Baba never suggested that people change their religion. He helped people to understand more deeply the teachings and practices of the tradition to which each one belonged.
Sathya Sai Baba blessed Hindus to study the Vedas and practice mantras, Christians to study the New Testament and practice prayers, and Muslims to study the Koran and pray. No matter what language you speak to God, ultimately all prayers reach the Highest Divinity, which is your True Self.
God is love, and because of love He incarnates in the world of people. Being among people, Sathya Sai Baba simultaneously blessed the heavenly Gods, who sometimes appeared visibly in his room. There were many such stories. In later years, I and a few of my friends saw how, on special days, luminous balls appeared in the sky above Sathya Sai Baba's house and then flew rapidly toward his chambers.
60. Mindful breathing is the eternal presence of the Spirit of God
Listen to what your breath is telling you. With each inhalation, the mystical sound “So” sounds, and with each exhalation, “Ham” sounds. "So" means God, "Ham" means "I". Thus "So-Ham" means – "I am God." If you constantly meditate on your breath, then the Divine Consciousness will awaken inside you, and the false ego will dissolve. In the Vedic tradition, the great mantra "So-Ham" is called Hamsa Gayatri. Every day you breathe 21,600 times, which means that your breath invisibly recites this great mantra 21,600 times. “I am God,” “I am God,” “I am God” is the great message of the inner voice that is constantly resounding within you.
(Sathya Sai Baba – “Collection of Lectures”, 1991)
Sathya Sai Baba often preached the So-Ham meditation. In this book we have already considered this meditation. While seemingly simple, it is actually a complex and powerful technique. According to my observations, most people, having learned about this technique, do not attach much importance to it, as it seems too simple.
The first sound "So" means God the Father. The second sound "Ham" means the individual soul. During the execution of this technique, it is necessary to be aware of the process of your breathing, mentally pronouncing “So” on each inhalation and “Ham” on each exhalation. The sound “So” is mentally pronounced on the inhale, and the sound “Ham” is mentally pronounced on the exhale.
It is not necessary to say these sounds in Sanskrit. You can say them in your own language: "I am God." As you inhale mentally say “I”, as you exhale mentally say "God".
On inhalation, spiritual energy rises up the spine, and on exhalation, it descends. This movement of energy happens every time you breathe, whether you are aware of it or not. In order for the movement of vital energy to be stronger, it is necessary to strengthen it with visualization.
You can imagine how with each inhalation an energy ball of light rises up the spine from the coccyx to the crown, and with each exhalation this imaginary ball of light descends from the crown to the base of the spine into the coccyx.
Visualization is a powerful technique that sets energy processes in motion. We often talk about the famous principle: "if you can imagine something, it's already happening." As I mentioned, energy circulates through the spine whether you are aware of it or not, but you can enhance this process with your visualization.
Meditation is not about achieving something but contemplating what is already here and now. In meditation, you discover and notice what is already the essence of your being. In meditation, you don't need to strive anywhere, you just need to be yourself.
You begin your meditation by being aware of the breath, which is already happening, you just have to notice it. Then, begin to fix your attention on the divine, such as the image of Krishna, Buddha, Jesus, or Sathya Sai Baba. Over time, you will realize that you do not need to reach God, you just need to notice him, because he initially dwells in the depths of your heart.
The ancient philosophical text Avadhuta Gita perfectly describes what is the highest mystical experience that a yogi receives as a result of the practice of meditation "So-Ham":
“My Divine Consciousness does not appear and it does not disappear, it has no beginning and no end. The Higher Self is not created, originally free, not bound by anything, by its very nature it is perfect. I am free from birth and death, free from doubt and confusion, even the gods worship me. In my true nature there is no attachment, there is no liberation from attachment, in my true nature there is no desire and there is no detachment from desire.”
The poetic lines of the Avadhuta Gita perfectly describe the divine state that one who practices the So-Ham meditation receives. This meditation technique is based on conscious breathing. When considering breathing, it is easy to understand that the process of breathing occurs outside of your will or your decision. Of course, you can adjust the speed and depth of breathing, but the breathing itself is beyond your will. Who is breathing? God breathes in you.