The search for truth starts with one question ……
….. Always has, always will ……
The search for the soul begins at birth and continues til death ….
We go through life with our hands over our eyes —
and complain that it is dark …
Sathya · Sanskrit word for truth · The same forever, unaffected and unchanged
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Soul Nourishment
Stories that nurture the spirit and help us find our way to the truly important things in life.
Story One
A 5th grade teacher who thought she knew her students discovers the transformative power of compassion. When she truly sees a neglected boy named Teddy — and opens her heart — the ripple travels across an entire lifetime.
Read the StoryStory Two
At a fundraising dinner, a father cries out in anguish about his disabled son Shaya. The answer to his impossible question doesn't come from the pulpit — it comes on a baseball field, when eighteen boys reach the level of the divine.
Read the StoryStory Three
In a mother's womb, two babies debate whether life exists after delivery. One denies what it cannot see. The other simply says: "Sometimes, when you're in silence and you focus and listen, you can perceive Her presence."
Read the StoryStory Four
A dying girl asks each of her four lovers to follow her beyond this life. The body refuses. Wealth refuses. Even family can only walk to the grave. Only one companion — the most neglected — says: "I'll follow you no matter where you go."
Read the StoryStory Five
An old man confesses his lifelong secret to a priest: he never knew how to pray — until a friend told him to place an empty chair in front of him, and in faith, see God sitting there. When he died, his daughter found his head resting on the chair.
Read the StoryStory Six
A man dies and meets God, who carries a suitcase. "Your belongings," God says. My things? My memories? My talents? God opens the suitcase — it is completely empty. "Every moment you lived was yours alone. Live now. Don't let anything stop you."
Read the StoryWords That Touch the Soul
Verses gathered across a lifetime of seeking — from Rumi to Kipling, from Kabir to Ehrmann.
GO PLACIDLY amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment, it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be. And whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.
Teachers of the Path
A twenty-year pilgrimage to find those who embody the truth they teach.
I salute Lord Krishna to whom nothing is impossible, nothing unknown, and nothing unbearable. — Mahabharata
As I started my quest for spiritual truth I was invariably led to India. Both my parents were born in South India but I was born and brought up American. As such I have studied and followed many religions and faiths — including Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, and of course Hinduism.
Here are some of the teachers whom I have searched out and met, paid homage to, and learned from. In some cases I was privileged enough to support their good works through the Dharma Trust.
A sworn Sanyasi since birth, Swami G lives his life as a living example. He runs a small temple with free bhajans, satsangs, weekly abishekam, counsel for all, and daily feedings for the poor.
The hugging saint. Ammachi embodies unconditional love and has personally embraced tens of millions of people worldwide — without distinction of faith, caste, or creed.
A revered spiritual mother whose compassion and grace have touched countless seekers. Her name itself — Karuna — means compassion, the very quality she radiates to all who come to her.
A silent monk who has not spoken since 1952, teaching entirely through action and a small chalkboard. He has guided thousands of Western seekers in the classical practices of yoga and Ashtanga.
A spiritual teacher whose name — Turiya — refers to the fourth state of consciousness beyond waking, dreaming, and deep sleep: the ground of pure, silent awareness in which all else arises.
Revered the world over as an incarnation of divine love. His teachings draw from the Vedas, the Bible, and the Koran. His prema — pure love — is contagious and transforms all who enter his presence.
One of the four sacred Mathas established by Adi Shankaracharya in the 8th century — a living center of Advaita Vedanta and Sanatana Dharma in the ancient hills of Karnataka.
Philanthropic Work
Dharma: Sanskrit for Duty and the Right Path. In Vedic teachings it is correct to follow your Dharma.
The Dharma Trust was established as a vehicle to support spiritual teachers and charitable works in India. As Sathya.com has chronicled the inner journey, the Dharma Trust became the outer expression of that journey — turning spiritual insight into tangible action in the world.
From helping build a free medical dispensary in Bangalore to supporting teachers who serve without expectation of reward, the Trust follows a simple belief: our resources belong not to us alone, but to the path that brought them to us.
Free medical care for the poorest of the poor in the Girinagar neighborhood of Bangalore — providing treatments, vaccinations, and lab tests to those who would otherwise go without.
Supporting access to education as the foundation for a meaningful life. The Dharma Trust has sponsored scholarships and educational resources for children in underserved communities throughout India.
Providing resources to ashrams, temples, and individual saints whose selfless work serves thousands — ensuring those who give everything to their mission can continue to do so.
Free Medical Care · Bangalore, India
Serving the poor for free since November 23, 2000 — inaugurated on the Birthday of Bhagavan Sathya Sai Baba.
"Food, water, and good medical treatment should be provided for all people regardless of race, age, or station. For a great healing atmosphere a medical establishment must have a feeling of love, warmth, and caring." — Swami GopalKrishna
In August 2000, Swami GopalKrishna told a small gathering of devotees that he had a plan to build a dispensary offering much-needed medical attention to the poorest of the poor in the surrounding neighborhoods. I was present during that private meeting with Swami — and committed to support his selfless goal with the resources of the Dharma Trust.
With Swami's infinite grace the dispensary was inaugurated just 3 months later. The center is staffed by professional doctors and nurses and includes a blood and urine lab. Indeed at the Sai dispensary, the feeling of love and warmth is as important as the prescriptions themselves.
Urine Routine, Hemoglobin Percentage, HIV, Hepatitis B (HBasg), VDRL (Syphilis), Widal (Typhoid), Peripheral Blood Smear for Malaria Parasites, Pregnancy Detection, Blood Sugar.
Sacred Calligraphy · BIJA Art Form
Where the written word becomes a vehicle of the divine — every brushstroke a living prayer.
This resplendent painting of Sri Sathya Sai Baba blessing his devotees — with the little, mischievous Baby Krishna at his side — is no ordinary artwork. It is the magnum opus of calligraphic artist Mrs. Saroja Nagarathnam of Madras, India, who specializes in the ancient art form of BIJA calligraphy, where the entire canvas is covered with sacred mantras and divine names, making the artwork reverberate with the potency and power of the written word. This piece was commissioned by Kannan Ayyar for his personal prayer room.
Painting image to be placed here
| Placement in Painting | Sacred Names & Mantras |
|---|---|
| Sai Baba & Padukas | Om Sri Bhagawan Sathya Sai Babaya Namah |
| Baby Lord Krishna | Vasudeva |
| Sri Sathya Sai's Throne Floor & Hanging Carpet | Sathyam, Sivam, Sundaram |
| Background Wall | Om Sayeeshwaraya Vidmahe · Sathya Devaya Deemahe · Thano Sarva Prachodyaath |
This artwork was envisioned by Kannan Ayyar, a Silicon Valley entrepreneur and Sai Baba devotee, and commissioned for his prayer room as a living object of devotion and contemplation.
In Honor of Bhav
Dedicated to a woman who makes big differences in people's lives in small ways.
This is the true joy of life — the being used up by a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one; being a force of nature instead of a feverish, selfish little clod of ailments and grievances, complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy.
I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the community, and as long as I live it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can. I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work the more I live.
— George Bernard ShawBhav is a woman who moves through the world differently than most. While others rush toward goals, she notices the flowers. While others measure success in grand gestures, she creates change in small, quiet, consistent ways — and those small ways accumulate into something extraordinary.
The Bhav Foundation carries her spirit forward: the belief that one person, showing up with love and full attention, can make a profound difference in the lives they touch — without fanfare, without recognition, simply because it is right.
This site is dedicated to my mother Bhav, who makes BIG differences in peoples lives in small ways.
A Moment with Bhav · Bangalore Airport
We were late. We were hustling through a busy terminal to make a plane departure in Bangalore airport. My sister and I were moving fast, blocking people out of our path. Eyes on our goal — we were going to make it.
"Where's Bhav?" she asked.
"We lost Bhav! There are 10,000 people here!"
"What are we going to do?"
"Oh there she is smelling the flowers…"
"Smelling the flowers! We are going to miss our plane!"
A Lifetime of Reading
Books that marked the milestones of a spiritual journey — each one a door that opened at exactly the right moment.
Book One
The book that introduced millions of Westerners to the ancient science of yoga and the inspiring lives of India's masters. A rare blend of Eastern and Western culture, science and religion, skepticism and faith.
"Read when I was 13 … it began everything."
Book Two
Like the coal basket dipped in the river — you may not understand or remember everything, but when you read it, you will be changed, inside and out. That is the work of Krishna in our lives.
"I have eight different versions — each one reveals something new."
Book Three
A practical guide to using the difficulties of everyday life — whatever our personal prison — as opportunities for genuine spiritual growth and awakening. Written for inmates, wisdom for all of us.
Book Four
The classic guide to presence, consciousness, and the journey from Harvard psychology professor to Hindu pilgrim. A book that has awakened a generation to the possibility of living fully in this moment.
Book Five
A Western psychiatrist's account of his encounter with Sathya Sai Baba — a fascinating dialogue between modern science and ancient wisdom, between trained skepticism and direct experience of the miraculous.
Book Six
An Australian journalist investigates the miracles of Sri Sathya Sai Baba with the eye of a thorough skeptic — and finds himself transformed by what he witnesses firsthand. A gripping account of the inexplicable.
The Journey Behind the Site
Sathya.com is a site maintained and created by Kannan Ayyar. It chronicles his journey to find a higher truth and to express his philanthropic interests. As our world gets more complex, intertwined and more off track, we all need to decide how we can help — and believe that we CAN make a difference.
This site has been around for twenty years. It is my document of my journey on the spiritual path — a community for like-minded people, a place where seekers, wanderers, believers, and questioners alike are welcome. Soul-nourishing content: stories, quotes, art, and charitable works which nurture the spirit and help us find our way to the truly important things in life.
This is the true joy of life — the being used up by a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one; being a force of nature instead of a feverish, selfish little clod of ailments and grievances. I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the community, and as long as I live, it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can. I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work the more I live. — George Bernard Shaw
Welcome to you! If you have started your journey toward finding out who you REALLY are — and what are the truly important things in life — then you will have an amazing journey ahead of you.
Good luck. And God Speed.
Kannan Ayyar