Sri Sathya Sai Baba Centre, QueenstownSri Sathya Sai Baba Centre, Queenstown
HARI RAYA HAJI & ONAMTHE EGO PLAY
DATE: SATURDAY, 2nd SEPTEMBER 2017
Sri Sathya Sai Baba Centre, QueenstownSri Sathya Sai Baba Centre, Queenstown
Message of Abraham
Message of Vamana
The Ego Play
Swami’s Message
CONTENT
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MESSAGE OF ABRAHAM
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Ibrahim, known as Abraham in the Hebrew Bible, is recognized as a prophet and messenger in Islam of God.
Abraham plays a prominent role as an example of faith in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
In Muslim belief, Abraham fulfilled all the commandments and trials wherein God nurtured him throughout his lifetime.
As a result of his unwavering faith in God, Abraham was promised by God to be a leader to all the nations of the world.
MESSAGE OF ABRAHAM
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The Quran extols Abraham as a model, an exemplar, obedient and not an idolator.
In this sense, Abraham has been described as representing "primordial man in universal surrender to the Divine Reality before its fragmentation into religions separated from each other by differences in form".
The Islamic holy day Eid al-Adha is celebrated in memory of the bravery of Abraham, and Muslims perform the pilgrimage to pay homage at the Ka‘bah which they believe Abraham had set up and reformed.
MESSAGE OF ABRAHAM
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Muslims believe that the prophet Abraham became the leader of the righteous in his time.
Ibrahim was born in a house of idolaters in the ancient city of Ur of the Chaldeans, likely the place called 'Ur' in present-day Iraq, in which case, the idolaters would have been practitioners of the hypothesized Ancient Mesopotamian religion
Abraham himself had many children, but Ismail (Ishmael) and Ishaq (Isaac) were the only two who became prophets.
Against idolatry.
MESSAGE OF ABRAHAM
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One night, Ibrahim went up to the mountain, leaned against a rock, and looked up to the sky.
He saw a shining star and said to himself, "Could this be my Lord?" But when it set he said: "I don't like those that set." The star had disappeared so it could not be God. God is always present.
Then he saw the moon rising in splendor and said, "Could this be my Lord?" but the moon also set.
At daybreak, he saw the sun rising and said, "Could this be my Lord? This is the biggest and brightest!" But when the sun also set he said, "O my people! I am free from all that you join as partners with Allah!
I have turned my face towards Allah who created the heavens and the earth and never shall I associate partners with Allah.
Our Lord is the creator of the heavens and the earth and everything in between. He has the power to make the stars rise and set."
MESSAGE OF ABRAHAM
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After this declaration, Ibrahim then heard Allah calling him, "O Ibrahim!" Ibrahim trembled and said, "Here I am O my Lord!" Allah replied, "Submit to Me! "
Ibrahim fell to the ground, crying. He said: "I submit to the Lord of the universe!" Ibrahim kept prostrating himself until nightfall. He then got up and went back to his home, in peace and full of conviction that Allah has guided him to the truth.
A new life started for Ibrahim. His mission now was to call his people to monotheism.
MESSAGE OF ABRAHAM
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God tested his loyalty by demanding he sacrifice his son.
He is esteemed by Muslims who regard him as the ancestor, through his son Ishmael, of the Arabs.
One of the main trials of Abraham's life was to face the command of God to sacrifice his dearest possession, his son.
The son is not named in the Quran, but Muslims believe it to be Ismail.
Upon hearing this command, Abraham prepared to submit to the will of God.
MESSAGE OF ABRAHAM
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During this preparation, Shaitan (the Devil) tempted Abraham and his family by trying to dissuade them from carrying out God's commandment, and Abraham drove Satan away by throwing pebbles at him.
In commemoration of their rejection of Satan, stones are thrown at symbolic pillars during the Stoning of the Devil during Hajj rites.
When Abraham attempted to cut his throat, he was astonished to see that his son was unharmed and instead, he found a dead ram which was slaughtered.
Abraham had passed the test by his willingness to carry out God's command.
MESSAGE OF ABRAHAM
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Significance
God’s Tests
Ego Dissolution
Complete obedience
MESSAGE OF ABRAHAM
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MESSAGE OF VAMANA
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Emperor Bali grandson of Prahlaad.
Bali is the recognition of Divinity in Man.
Bali was a great devotee of God, compassionate, righteous and charitable.
Ruled his kingdom well.
He had however Ego and Possessiveness.
Lord Vishnu came as a Braahmana lad known as Vamana
Requested gift of three feet of land
Guru Shukrachaarya warned Emperor Bali
Emperor Bali reproached his Guru and kept his word.
Bali felt that if the Lord of the Universe came to him for a gift, there was no greater honour for him than to give it.
MESSAGE OF VAMANA
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Immediately the dwarfish Vaamana grew to cosmic proportions.
By his first foot, he covered the earth.
By his second foot he covered the heavens.
He then asked Bali wherefrom he should get the third foot of ground.
Bali begged the Lord to place His foot on his head.
Bali was pushed to the Nether World
Wish to visit his people on Onam every year.
MESSAGE OF VAMANA
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Significance
Vamana as a Dwarf
Humility
Spirituality is not dependent of how big or small a person is
3 steps represents Body, Mind and Soul.
Disobedience towards his Guru, Shukracharya
No person should get in the way between devotee and the Lord
Keeping one’s word
Sometimes the Lord Incarnates not to destroy but purify
Ultimate Surrender towards the Lord with no exceptions
MESSAGE OF VAMANA
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THE EGO PLAY
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Ego
Belief Systems adopted
Identification of the Unreal to be Real
Absence of Divine Connection
Controlled by the 5 senses and mind rather than vice versa
Ignorance
Ego is not evil
Gatekeeper to Divinity
THE EGO PLAY
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Ego Issues
Self Condemnation – false humility
Fear and Trepidation
False Confidence
Self validation versus Others’ validation
Criticisms/ Cynicisms – False logic and perceptions
Possessiveness – Mine and Thine
THE EGO PLAY
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Ego Dissolution
Self Awareness
Acceptance and Love of oneself – Self Validation
Re-establish the Divine Connection
Take responsibility of our own Spiritual Well Being
Surrender the bad qualities to feet of the Lord
Acceptance of the Divine within
Faith with the Divine Within
Relationship with God is equal not higher or lower
God as Best friend who is within and closest
THE EGO PLAY
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SWAMI’S MESSAGE
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“The sages, probing the mystery of the Divine, came to the conclusion that God is everything and no one can claim anything as one's own. By this attitude they were able to realize the Divine. However, because of the influence of Kali Age, today everyone claims everything as "Mine". Indeed, nothing belongs to anyone. Men are immersed in the false and foolish concept of ownership. Possessiveness is rampant in every thought and action. And this leads to the inflation of the ego. Egoism has to be utterly eradicated. Possessiveness should be banished. Divinity should be installed in the heart. Be aware that all things belong to God "You came with empty hands and you depart with empty hands". All that was got or spent in between are mere passing clouds.”
- Onam, 5 Sep 1995, Prashanthi Nilayam
SWAMI’S MESSAGE
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END OF PRESENTATION
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