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Sadhana Camp for Kerala
Youth at Brindavan
12th and 13th April, 2003
IT WAS A DREAM
COME TRUE for 1170 youth from Kerala who had the rare good fortune
to attend a two-day Sadhana Camp on 12th and 13th April 2003 at
Brindavan in the Divine proximity of Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba.
Bhagavan delivered three nectarine Discourses during the Camp.
Besides, the participants were addressed by a galaxy of erudite
speakers.
Bhagavan Inaugurates the Sadhana Camp
The youth along with other devotees experienced the bliss of
Bhagavan's Darshan on the morning of 12th April 2003 in Sai Ramesh
Krishan Hall when He came to the Hall at 7.00 a.m. After Darshan,
the youth assembled in Sai Krishan Kalyana Mandapam to attend the
first session of the Sadhana Camp. Bhagavan came to the Kalyana
Mandapam at 8.50 a.m. He was offered a hearty welcome with a
devotional song which expressed the happiness of all those who
were present there. After this, Bhagavan graciously inaugurated
the Sadhana Camp by lighting the sacred lamp.
Before the Inaugural Address of Bhagavan Baba, two speakers
addressed the gathering. The first speaker, Sri B. N. Narasimha
Murthy, Warden, Brindavan Campus of the Institute observed that
all people from princes to paupers were coming to the Lotus Feet
of Bhagavan because of His love and compassion for the entire
mankind. The second speaker Sri K. Arun, a former student of the
Institute narrated his personal experiences and told how he was
drawn towards the Lotus Feet of Bhagavan Baba. Thereafter,
Bhagavan delivered His Inaugural Discourse.
Bhagavan's Inaugural Discourse
Emphasising the need for development of character in the youth,
Bhagavan said, "The end of education is character". Bhagavan
elaborated further:
Merely acquiring knowledge from books is not enough; knowledge
should be put into practice. Learning is a continuous process. It
is not limited to what is learnt in school and college. Bookish
knowledge is only superficial knowledge. One should have practical
knowledge which comes from the heart. Practical knowledge leads
one to inward path. Inward path is the spiritual path. God is
within man in the form of Angirasa, which pervades every cell of
his body.
Bhagavan concluded His Discourse by advising the youth to control
the senses, master the mind and be a mastermind.They should see,
hear, think and do all that is good and avoid all that is evil.
That is the way to God.
After concluding His Discourse at 9.50 a.m., Bhagavan left for His
abode and directed the proceedings of the Sadhana Camp to be
continued. Thereafter, Sri B. N. Narasimha Murthy gave an
illuminating talk on the topic "Your Life, Swami's Message". This
was followed by a talk on the qualities of youth by Dr. G.
Venkataraman, former Vice Chancellor of Sri Sathya Sai Institute
of Higher Learning. The gathering was also addressed by Prof. E.
Mukundan, State President of Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisation,
Kerala. Another talk was given by Sri Ruchir Desai, a faculty
member of Brindavan Campus of the Institute on the topic "Sai
Message for the Youth". This was followed by a question and answer
session on "How to Imbibe Bhagavan's Message."
The afternoon session was conducted in Sai Ramesh Krishan Hall.
The programme started with Bhajans which were led by the students
of the Institute after the arrival of Bhagavan in the Hall at 4.00
p.m. This was followed by Veda chanting by a group of students. In
the beginning, Prof. E. Mukundan presented the summary of the
proceedings of the sessions conducted in Sai Krishan Kalyana
Mandapam. After this, Bhagavan gave His second Discourse to the
participants of the Sadhana Camp. As the venue of the Discourse
was Sai Ramesh Krishan Hall, other devotees also got the benefit
of listening to Bhagavan's Discourse.
Bhagavan's Second Discourse
Addressing the young boys and girls, Bhagavan said: Youth does not
indicate a particular age-group. It indicates purity, sacredness,
good character and a sense of adventure. One who has perfect love
and perfect bliss is a youth. Young boys and girls should know the
right principles of life and adhere to them. For this, they should
have Satsanga. Satsanga does not merely mean good company. Sath is
changeless and eternal. The youth should get rid of the six evil
qualities of Kama, Krodha, Lobha, Moha, Mada and Matsarya (desire,
anger, greed, infatuation, pride and jealousy). Where there is
anger, love cannot enter there. When anger enters, all evil
qualities also enter. The youth should imbibe love; they should
fill their heart with love. Then anger and hatred cannot approach
them. Anger is followed by ego. When anger, ego and hatred take
possession of man, he loses his humanness. The youth should
remember their three debts - debt to God, debt to the preceptor
and debt to parents. When one pays these three debts, one attains
the Trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswara.
Bhagavan brought His Discourse to a close with the Bhajan, "Pibare
Rama Rasam ..." at 5.20 p.m.The programme concluded at 5.25 p.m.
with offer of Arati to Bhagavan.
Second Day's Proceedings of the Sadhana Camp
The second day's programme of the Sadhana Camp started in Sai
Krishan Kalyana Mandapam after the morning Darshan of Bhagavan
Baba in Sai Ramesh Krishan Hall on 13th April 2003. Bhagavan came
to the Kalyana Mandapam at 8.30 a.m. The first speaker who
addressed the gathering was Sri K. Arun. Narrating some inspiring
incidents from the life of Bhagavan Baba, Sri Arun observed that
Bhagavan is the greatest ideal for the youth today because He is
always young at heart and He has the greatest strength of
character. Sri Arun concluded his talk with advice to the youth to
follow the example of Bhagavan and adhere to the values taught by
Him.
The second speaker of the session was Sri Sriram Parshuram. He
also narrated a few incidents from Bhagavan's life to illustrate
that Bhagavan is the embodiment of selflessness. Emphasising the
value of sacrifice in man's life, Sri Parshuram said that one
should always think that one was the universal Self and not the
little self.
The third speaker was Sri Sanjay Sahni, Principal, Brindavan
College of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning. Sri Sahni
congratulated the participating youth on their great good fortune
for this great opportunity of such a sacred camp in the hallowed
precincts of Brindavan and in the immediate Divine Presence of the
Avatar of the Age Himself. Narrating a few experiences of his life
as a student and a teacher in Sai institutions, Sri Sahni observed
that Bhagavan always made the students remember their divine
origin, so that they could realise that they were the children of
immortality. After this, Dr. Ravi Kumar, a faculty member of the
Brindavan College addressed the gathering. Dr. Ravi Kumar referred
to Swami's letter to His elder brother Seshama Raju which He wrote
at the age of 17 years explaining that He had incarnated on the
earth to relieve the suffering of mankind and put man on the path
of righteousness. Dr. Ravi Kumar felt that youth today should
follow the ideals set by Bhagavan to the world and dedicate their
life to the Divine Mission of Bhagavan.
The last speaker of this session was Sri V. Srinivasan, All India
President, Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisations. Sri Srinivasan
congratulated the youth of Kerala who were recipients of
Bhagavan's grace in such abundance. Bhagavan, he said, is loving
and compassionate but He always maintains very high standards of
excellence in every work. Sri Srinivasan advised the youth to make
efforts to come up to Bhagavan's expectations and become a Sai
devotee by their perfect conduct.
After the talk of Sri Srinivasan, Swami proceeded to His abode at
9.55 a.m. After Swami left, Sri Sanjay Sahni addressed the
gathering on "Transformation". After this, Dr. Ravi Kumar shared
with the audience a few of his experiences on "Sai Mahima". It was
followed by Sri Narasimha Murthy's address on "Faith". That
evening, the All India President addressed the gathering on "The
Role of Youth in the Sai Organisation".
Bhagavan's Valedictory Address
In the afternoon, the programme was conducted in Sai Ramesh
Krishan Hall.
Bhagavan came to the Hall at 3.55 p.m. Two youth representatives
from Kerala were blessed by Bhagavan to address the gathering
before the Divine Discourse of Bhagavan. First, Sri Gopakumar,
youth in-charge of the State presented the future action plan and
the decisions taken joy the participants in the course of the
Sadhana Camp. This was followed by a brief speech by Ms. Shyama on
Swami's Message of love. Bhagavan gave His Valedictory Discourse
after these speeches. Bhagavan advised the youth to practise what
they had learnt during the Sadhana Camp. He said: Devotion, duty
and discipline are the qualities every student must possess. Due
to the effect of Kali Age, the students today are adopting bad
qualities and are leaving good qualities. It is very rare to find
students with good thoughts and good deeds. In this scenario, Sai
Youth must become ideals for the whole country. They should set
high ideals for their brothers and sisters in the country. Only
then can the country make progress. The youth must have Papa
Bheeti, Daiva Preeti and Sangha Neeti (fear of sin, love for God
and morality in society). Only then can they become true human
beings. Wherever they are, whenever it may be, they should develop
only good thoughts. Today there is only sadness, violence,
suffering and fear all over the world. Bad qualities are the cause
of bad deeds. Therefore, the youth should develop only good
qualities. They should develop self-confidence and self-respect.
Lives of Abraham Lincoln and Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar are worth
emulating. The youth should respect their parents. Swami Himself
is the example how He fulfilled the wishes of Mother Easwaramma.
The youth should develop love. They have love, but it is going in
different directions. It should go only in one sacred direction,
viz., God.
Bhagavan concluded His Divine Discourse at 5.25 with the Bhajan,
"Hari Bhajan Bina Sukha Santhi Nahin ..." The programme concluded
with offer of Arati to Bhagavan.
Thus concluded the Sadhana Camp of the Kerala youth. With hearts
full of gratitude for the infinite love and grace of Swami, the
Kerala youth members and devotees returned to Kerala after the
Vishu celebrations on 15th April 2003.
Source: Sanathana Sarathi, May 2003, Pages
157-160
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