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    Prashnottara Vahini
    Prashnottara Vahini
    Prashnottara Vahini
    Ebook82 pages1 hour

    Prashnottara Vahini

    By Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba

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    About this ebook

    Prashna 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, which 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 uplift 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, Ashrama, Yoga, Sanyasa, Yagnya, 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.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherSri Sathya Sai Sadhana Trust, Publications Division
    Release dateMay 4, 2014
    ISBN9789350691724
    Prashnottara Vahini
    Author

    Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba

    Sri Sathya Sai Baba was born as Sathyanarayana Raju on November 23rd, 1926 in the village of Puttaparthi, in the state of Andhra Pradesh in South India. Even as a child, His spiritual inclination and contemplative nature set Him apart from other children of His age, and He was known as 'Guru' and "Brahmajnani' among His peers and others in the village. On October 20th, 1940, He made the historic declaration of His Avatarhood and the world at large learnt of this divine phenomenon. Today, millions of devotees worship Him as an 'Avatar' and an incarnation of the Sai Baba of Shirdi.Revealing the purpose of His Advent, Sai Baba has said that He has come to re-establish the rhythm of righteousness in the world and repair the ancient highway to God, which over the years has systematically deteriorated.Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba is an integral manifestation who combines two very significant roles. Firstly, He is a great spiritual Master, famed for His simple and sweet exposition of the greatest and most intricate of spiritual truths which form the fundamental teachings of all the religions of the world. His formula for man to lead a meaningful life is the five-fold path of Sathya, Dharma, Shanthi, Prema, and Ahimsa. Love for God, fear of sin and morality in society - these are His prescriptions for our ailing world.Secondly, He is an inexhaustible reservoir of pure love. His numerous service projects, be it free hospitals, free schools and colleges, free drinking water supply or free housing projects, all stand testimony to His selfless love and compassion for the needy and less privileged. True to His declaration - "My Life is My Message", He has inspired and continues to inspire millions of His devotees worldwide by His personal example to live the ideal that service to man is service to God.Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba is a beacon of hope in the world. A devotee said, "Bhagawan Baba is nothing but Love walking on two feet."

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      Book preview

      Prashnottara Vahini - Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba

      Prashnottara Vahini

      (Answers to Spiritual Questions)

      By

      Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba

      Sri Sathya Sai Sadhana Trust, Publications Division

      Prasanthi Nilayam - 515 134

      Anantapur District, Andhra Pradesh, INDIA

      STD: 08555 ISD: 91-8555 Phone: 287375 Fax: 287236

      E-mail: orders@sssbpt.org

      Website: www.srisathyasaipublications.org, www.sanathanasarathi.org, www.saireflections.org

      © Sri Sathya Sai Sadhana Trust, Publications Division; All rights reserved.

      The copyright and the rights of translation in any language are reserved by the Publishers. No part, passage, text or photograph or artwork of this book should be reproduced, transmitted or utilised, in original language or by translation, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photo copying, recording or by any information, storage and retrieval system without the express and prior permission, in writing from the Convener, Sri Sathya Sai Sadhana Trust, Publications Division, Prasanthi Nilayam, Andhra Pradesh India - Pin Code 515134, except for brief passages quoted in book review.

      This e-book is commercially licensed for you only. This e-book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

      First Edition: 4th May, 2014 (04/05/2014)

      ISBN: 978-93-5069-172-4

      Paperback ISBN: 978-81-7208-808-8

      Published By

      The Convener,

      Sri Sathya Sai Sadhana Trust, Publications Division

      Prasanthi Nilayam, India, Pin Code – 515134

      STD : 08555 ISD: 91-8555 Phone: 287375 Fax: 287236

      Distributed By Smashwords

      www.smashwords.com

      The Answer

      Prashna 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, which 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 uplift 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, Ashrama, Yoga, Sanyasa, Yagnya, 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.

      N. Kasturi

      Editor, Sanathana Sarathi

      14th Jan., l984

      Contents

      1. The Body and the Indriyas

      2. The Fourteen Lokas

      3. The Four Ashramas

      4. Moksha and Karma

      5. Vidya and Bhakti

      6. Obstacles To Moksha

      7. The Pancha Koshas

      8. Yoga and Moksha

      9. Gnyana and Yoga

      10. Brahma Vidya and Women

      11. Ashramas and Varnas

      12. The Shastras and Sanyasa

      13. Mantra and Japa

      14. Tapas

      15. Ashtanga Yoga

      Chapter I

      The Body And The Indriyas

      Q. Why is this human body said to be composed of the Five Elements, the Panchabhootas?

      A. Since it is a product of the Five Elements.

      Q. What exactly are the Five Elements?

      A. Akasha, Vayu, Agni, Jala, and Prithivi, which are usually referred to as ether, air, fire, water, and earth.

      Q. From where did these originate?

      A. Each subsequent element originated from the previous one.

      Q. Which is the cause of the first and therefore, of all the five?

      A. Brahman, the unmodified, the fixed, the Basis.

      Q. What is the relationship between these Five Elements and this human body?

      A. From Brahman originated Yatna and Mahat (Effort and Cosmos); from these was born Akasha, from Akasha was born Vayu; from Vayu, Agni; from Agni, Jalam; and from Jalam, Prithivi. The human body is the result of the combination of all these five.

      Q. In what form do these elements persist in the

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