Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba wrote a series of articles under the Vahini series, for Sanathana Sarathi, a monthly magazine being published by Sri Sathya Sai Sadhana Trust, Publications Division, Prasanthi Nilayam. These precious articles are brought out now, under the title “Geeta Vahini”, in this book, for the benefit of readers. This is not a commentary or summary of the divine message that was given by Lord Krishna to Arjuna. It conveys the same message in a simpler form to us, in order to remove our delusion and confer faith and strength on us, so that we may realise our own reality. Bhagawan says, “Drawing on the Divine that is inherent in us is the lesson of Geeta… Arjuna is the jiva and Krishna is the Deva. When both are in contact, impregnable might results… Krishna had to work in and through Arjuna, so that the reign of Dharma (righteousness) is re-established. Arjuna means white, pure, unblemished. Hence, he is the proper instrument.” We too can become proper instruments in restoring Dharma, if we follow the lessons that Bhagawan teaches through this book.

Nooshin Mehrabani, the author of this book is a native of Iran. The author takes the readers through a guided tour of her life – her happy moments and travails seem to go hand-in-hand. Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba has been her Guru and God, guiding her through every moment of her life. Many miraculous events happen in her life, when she feels the unseen hand of Bhagawan guiding her convincingly and continuously. She finds answers to knotty, gnarled problems by Bhagawan's grace. The compassionate Lord also grants her many interviews, guiding her life through a safe passage, ultimately leading her to settle at Prasanthi Nilayam. This book will serve as a motivating factor for both newcomers and old-timers in Bhagawan's fold, to hold on to His feet through the thick and thin of life and reach the ultimate goal of life, namely liberation.

In a discourse on 22nd April, 1998, in the hills of Kodaikanal, Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba made a revelation about an aspect of God. “The photographer asks you to be ready when he snaps your picture and he gives you time to ready yourself. But, the Divine Cameraman will not give you any notice. You should always be ready to meet the situation. If you engage yourself in bhajan and daivachintanam (thinking of God) – keerthanam and smaranam (singing and remembrance) – you will not be caught unawares.” The Divine Cameraman wants us to appreciate and love His uncertainty. The prerequisite for seeking the Lord who is ever compassionate is to be ever ready and that is something that the author realized as he graduated from Swami’s educational wing into His service wing. One has to be alert always, because things can ‘click’ at any time; there can be a ‘flash’ of inspiration during any hour of the day and though situations appear to have been captured in a ‘negative’ way, they can quickly be ‘developed’ into the ‘positive’ to fill one with beautiful memories. It was an honour, a privilege, and a boon from the highest heavens in fact, that Aravind got the chance to be His cameraman for a few years. However, that did not reverse the roles with respect to readiness. Aravind had to be alert at all times and be ready to “meet the situation” as Swami puts it. He confesses that he has not been alert all the while, but whenever he was alert and sincere, an experience with the Divine unfolded. This book is a collection of such moments – moments that arose at the most unexpected times and in the most beautiful ways to assure him that his Beloved Bhagawan always has him in His sight.

The Bhagawan Uvacha series brings to devotees the world over, a compilation of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba's teachings in the form of quotations, skilfully compiled and woven together by Shri. N. S. Venkatesh, the compiler. In this book in the series, Do You Know?, Shri. Venkatesh says, “It is only when the inner meanings of various aspects relating to the divine are understood that worship can be offered to the Divine meaningfully. So says Bhagawan to His devotees in one of His addresses. Unfortunately, as only the superficial and worldly meanings of the scriptural texts are expounded these days, men’s devotion is growing weaker continually. It is essential for everyone to understand the inner meaning of the vedantic texts. In this book, Bhagawan beautifully expounds the inner messages behind rituals we perform each day. It provides rare insight into Indian culture and tradition and to the little known aspects of our lives."

The Bhagawan Uvacha series brings to devotees the world over, a compilation of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba's teachings in the form of quotations, skilfully compiled and woven together by Shri. N. S. Venkatesh, the compiler. In this book in the series, My Beloved Ones, Shri. Venkatesh says, "This book is a tribute to the love of Bhagawan for His devotees. Time and again, He has assured us of His constant presence by our side. His words provide sweet succour to the lonely or distressed heart that wants to feel Him each minute. 'Swami is always with us, in us, around us.' His words offer hope, solace, and comfort during times of need. Why should we fear? He is always with us. That is what each word in this book echoes. To deserve Him, we must only need Him. Listen to Bhagawan as He speaks of this beautiful relationship. These are words, which are especially for you..."

The Summer Showers in Brindavan, 1974 are no showers, but a flood. Bhagawan in His compassion and boundless love covered the whole gamut of truths, esoteric and explicit, contained in the Vedas in His discourses. While unfolding the esoteric content and explaining the technical terms, He dispelled many misconceptions in the minds of students and pundits, particularly about the term ‘Brahman’, which He established by drawing from scriptural texts, as also His own testimony as Eternal and Universal. He explained the term Bharath as embracing the whole world and not confined to the geographic entity now called ‘India’. Bhagawan has made a loving and passionate appeal to all students to take His teachings to heart and practice Dharma all the while. In fact, it can be, without exaggeration, renamed ‘The Sathya Sai Gita’.

Swami says, “When a mother is feeding her child, you can see her inducing the child to eat by means of harsh words, a smile, a joke, a threat, or a story, diverting its attention, showing the child a dog, a flower, or the moon. I have also to adopt the same tactics to make you listen and assimilate the valuable food that is so necessary for your growth. That is the reason why I relate stories, sing, recite poems, etc. in My discourses!” With this inspiration, Bhagawan’s teachings and related moral stories are compiled in the form of this book from His Divine Discourses, for better understanding of His teachings. This book should help us in getting inspired, to put His teachings into practice in our daily lives and grow spiritually better and better, with each day.

The auspicious day of Vijaya Dasami, in 1953, opened a golden chapter in the history of mankind, for that was the day chosen by Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba for His first ever divine discourse in public. The flow of divine discourses, which started on that auspicious day out of His immense compassion for the well-being and harmony of humanity, has continued unabated even after five decades. During this period, Bhagawan has delivered hundreds of discourses in various places, to a variety of audiences. His benevolent acts for the humanity at large are also unparalleled. His noble mother made three requests to Him, namely to provide drinking water, a school, and a hospital for the village of Puttaparthi. Bhagawan has commissioned mammoth drinking water projects, benefitting hundreds of villages, towns, and even the city of Chennai. He has also built schools, colleges, super specialty hospitals, and even an outstanding university, and constructed thousands of houses to cyclone-hit people. This priceless inaugural volume in Sathya Sai Speaks contains thirty three divine discourses, of which five are for the students and authorities, giving invaluable guidance. There are also five discourses addressed to the residents of different villages, advising them on the value of unity and brotherhood.

The Bhagawan Uvacha series brings to devotees the world over, a compilation of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba's teachings in the form of quotations, skilfully compiled and woven together by Shri. N. S. Venkatesh, the compiler. In this book in the series, Gratitude, Shri. Venkatesh says, "Gratitude is one of the most powerful, positive forces in the real world. It lends life to existence and meaning to life. Gratitude helps us realise the beauty of relationships in society. Be it parent-child, master-disciple, husband-wife, or God-devotee. Gratitude to the Lord makes us aware of His unseen hand around us at all times. Unseen blessings are abundant in the realisation of the constant presence of the Lord. This book is about an attitude of thankfulness that can change the way we perceive relationships in our lives. It orients us into joyous living. Just listen to Bhagawan in the next few pages."

Prasna means “question”, Uttara means “answer”, and Vahini indicates “a stream”. This book is the stream of the questions that have evoked answers from Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. Among the tasks that Bhagawan has assumed while incarnating, He has declared as basic the one that He calls, “the clarification and purification of the religious scriptures of mankind.” Every Vahini emanating from Him has done this service to some aspect or other of the spiritual upliftment of man. This Vahini is one of the earliest in the series, since it seeks to elucidate the fundamental concepts and precepts of religion, especially the technical words and expressions that seek to concretise them. Hitherto published as an Appendix to a single Vahini, the Gita Vahini, it is now placed in the hands of seekers as a key publication, helpful for readers of all the Vahinis. The Ancient Wisdom (Sanathana Dharma), the Perennial Path, has been communicated to posterity in words that have suffered distortion, devaluation, dilution and denigration through the efflux of time and the controversies among commentators. Varna, asrama, yoga, sanyasa, yajna, karma—these are interpreted by dialecticians and practitioners of varied schools and sects, in confusing and contradictory versions. Bhagawan has resolved these tangles. His exemplary love and patience sweeten not only every answer but every question too, for, He has, by posturing as the interrogator, made the clarifications full and fruitful.