Preface - Before you read this Book...

Dear Reader, this is not just another book on the Nature of Jiva and the technique by which the Jiva discovers its Reality. When you turn over the pages, you are actually sitting at the Feet of Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, the Avathar of the Age, come in answer to the prayers of Sadhus and Sadhakas to guide them and grant them Peace and Perfection. "Place all your burdens on Me", He says. "Start on the spiritual pilgrimage this very day", He exhorts. "Why fear, when I am here?" He asks. His Grace is Omnipresent; His miraculous powers proclaim His Omnipotence. His wisdom, His analysis of the ills of Humanity and His prescriptions for their cure reveal His Omniscience. You have the unique chance of meeting Him, at the Prasanthi Nilayam, and receiving from Him His Blessings for the success of your spiritual pilgrimage. He knows and appreciates your earnestness and faith; and you can continue with greater confidence and courage because He assures victory. He is the Eternal Teacher of the Gita, the Charioteer in your heart.

In the pages of the magazine, published with His Blessings and named after Him as Sanathana Sarathi, He wrote, out of His overwhelming Prema towards humanity caught in the meshes of cynicism and credal fanaticism, this series of articles called Jnana Vahini. Month after month, thousands of readers awaited these articles (in the original Telugu as well as in the English translation) and when they received their copy, they perused it dilligently and with reverential eagerness. They are now put together in book form, for your guidance and inspiration.

N. Kasturi, Editor, Sanathana Sarathi