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Sai Pearls of Wisdom - 3
November 6, 2002
Professor Anil Kumar has presented this talk as an extra satsang.
He has selected important messages Baba has imparted to the
students gathered around Him during the afternoon sessions on the
verandah at Prashanti Nilayam. These talks will continue.
Anil Kumar Satsang:
Baba's Conversations with Students
"Sai Pearls of Wisdom"
Part Three
November 6th, 2002
OM…OM…OM… Sai Ram
This is the third session of ‘Sai Pearls of Wisdom’. During the
two previous sessions we completed all of the September
conversations that Bhagavan had with the students and the teachers
on the verandah at Prashanthi Nilayam. Now today, we pass on to
the third session. And, as we did previously, I’ll go in reverse
order to cover the earlier portions also.
NOVEMBER 5th, 2002
Traditions and Culture in His Childhood Days
It was on the 5th November that in the afternoon Bhagavan was
talking about His childhood days. I have not told anybody yet
because this conversation happened just yesterday afternoon. You
are the first people to hear it. He was speaking of His childhood
days, and the traditions and culture of the villages in this part
of the State (Andhra Pradesh).
The culture in the villages signifies and testifies to the unity
among the folks. They all lived in the spirit of unity, and they
cooperated with each other, particularly during this season
following Deepavali. This November is called Karthika. During this
month, people would take cold-water baths in the early hours of
the morning, around 5 o’clock. Also during this time, on the
weekends, people would go on retreats to sadhana camps, spiritual
camps. There they would enjoy some fun and frolic. All the
villagers would go to distant places where they would sit under
trees. They would dine and exchange all the food they brought from
their homes. They would sing, and dance, and play and enjoy the
festivities. Such festivals brought people together, creating an
understanding and opportunity to exchange views. These gatherings
promoted fraternity and unity among the inhabitants of the
villages.
Bhagavan said, "By 5 o’clock in the morning, we would complete our
bath and return during this season."
"Swami, this cold season?"
"Yes, why not? When you just jump into the Chitravathi River, you
don’t feel the cold anymore. As long as you stand on the sand, you
start shivering. Once you jump into the river -- no more cold."
"Oh, I see, Swami, nice to hear. I won’t venture to do it anyway
for myself."
And then Bhagavan said, "Weekends we would go to a place and we
would sit under the trees. You must have heard of pearl millet? It
is millet grain that looks like pearls. There’s a meal made out of
pearl millet and chilies. It is very tasty, I like it even to this
day - and also ragi malt, a little bit of ragi malt. It’s very
delicious, I like it very much." That’s what Bhagavan said.
People would also dance; they would sing; and they liked to swing.
One of the dances, called Kolakam, uses wooden sticks that are hit
together…tak-tak (Anil Kumar sings Govinda, Govinda, Gayiye, as he
demonstrates with his hands a criss-cross movement of the
sticks…Bhajo Radhey Gopala, Krishna Gayiye.) They would hold two
sticks and do that…tak-tak. In the Kolakam dance, it seems they
would jump between the moving sticks. Bhagavan said His
grandfather Kondama Raju used to do this.
"Oh Swami, very interesting. And, what did You do? Did You also do
that Kolakam? Did You also jump along with them?"
He said, "No, no. No, I didn’t do all that."
"Then what were You doing, Swami?"
"I collected all the urchins, the young boys of the village, and
started singing bhajans. ‘Panduranga Bhajana Mandali’ - Panduranga
Bhajana Mandali - the first congregation for music." That’s what
Bhagavan. So, Bhagavan started devotional songs during that time.
For Me, All Are One
Then Bhagavan also recalled a visit to the house of an
untouchable. It seems there were untouchables in those days, and
they lived in the outskirts of the village. Today it’s not like
that -- today the privileged class lives in the outskirts.
Once it seems that Swami promised He would visit one of the
untouchables, a gentleman by the name of Madhiga Narayana.
He said, "I will come to your house."
Swami went, and He was followed by a Brahmin woman named Karanam
Subbamma. In those days, Brahmins did not visit untouchables, even
in their dreams. If they saw one face-to-face, they would have to
bathe immediately. That was the situation in those days; but this
lady followed Bhagavan anyway.
And Swami said to her, "Don’t do that. All the villagers will feel
so badly. For Me, all are one -- I will go to anybody. But it’s
not proper for you."
She said, "Swami, I don’t care for the society. I am not bothered
by what others think of me. I want You. Wherever You go, I will
follow You."
That’s what she said and that’s what Bhagavan said. He also
recalled that the villagers never locked their houses. No -- no
locks, no lock and key system, just the doors open, that’s all --
no thefts, no keys in those days.
And, all the people would go to the outskirts of the village to
celebrate all the festivals during this season. They would sit
under the trees and have fun there and nothing would happen to the
village during that time. That was the level of honesty and
integrity in villages in those days, Bhagavan told us.
And then, after playing the whole day, what did they do? They
would just lie down on the sand. They would enjoy a beautiful
sleep -- without a foam bed or cushions or anything. They would
just lie down on the sand and sleep well. That’s what Bhagavan
said about those days.
Experts in swimming
And then, He recalled another story. It seems His mother,
Easwaramma, and His two sisters Venkamma and Parvatamma, were all
three experts in swimming. They taught swimming to the children of
the village in those days. It seems they would carry the small,
small children and help them to swim - initially. And then later,
they would just leave them alone, so they learned the art of
swimming by themselves. That's what Bhagavan said yesterday.
NOVEMBER 1st and OCTOBER 28th, 2002
A Devotee from Greece
Now I come to the 1st of November and also on the 28th of October.
These two days are important in the sense that Swami spoke to a
gentleman from Greece. The gentleman’s name is George. Swami stood
there and just called, "Hey, Greece, come here."
The gentleman came crawling forward. I wondered if something was
wrong with his feet, or something like that?
Swami said, "See how he’s coming?"
"Swami, he’s crawling on his knees."
"Out of devotion. He's not like you - to walk like rowdies. No,
no. You see, he feels devotion."
"Oh, I see, Swami."
The fellow came forward and Swami asked, "Boy, what’s your name?"
"George, Swami."
"Oh, George, hmmm. What do you do?"
"Swami, I run a bookstore."
"What is the name of the bookstore?"
"’Ananda’, Swami, ‘Ananda’."
"Oh! Who else assists you?"
"Swami, my sister helps me."
"Oh, I see. What do you do?"
"Swami, bookstore cleaning, selling and all that."
"Oh, then what else?"
"We sing, Swami."
"What do you sing?"
"Sai bhajans."
"When do you sing?"
"Throughout the day."
"Where do you sing?"
"Everywhere."
Swami said, "See his devotion. You’re not like that, mmm – that
fellow from Greece -- see there’s devotion."
And then He said, "Oh, I see. Last time how did you come to
Prashanthi Nilayam? How did you reach here?"
"Swami, I walked from Bangalore airport to Puttaparthi."
"Oh, how many miles?"
"180 miles, Swami."
"How long did it take?"
"Four days, Swami."
"Oh, did you just walk like that?"
"No Swami, I carried 18 kilos of luggage on my back."
He walked for four days to reach Prashanthi Nilayam.
Swami said, "Anyone of you like this? See, see his devotion."
Then Swami said, " How long have you been coming to Puttaparthi?"
"Swami, 29 years. I’ve been visiting here for 29 years."
"Ah, what did you do in those days?"
"Swami, I used to collect sand from Prashanthi Nilayam and put it
in a bag. Wherever You walked, I collected the sand. I collected
it in bags and took it back to Greece. I kept it there in my puja
room at the altar," he said.
"Did you hear that, boys? You see Swami every day. See that Greece
man."
He teased them like that.
And then Swami said, "Marriage, are you married?
"No, Swami, no."
"No? For some help with cooking, why don’t you marry?"
"No, Swami. I don’t want to marry."
"Why?"
"No, Swami," he cried.
Then Swami looked at me and said, "Why does he cry?"
I said, "Swami, those who got married cry, and I am happy this
fellow, who is not married, is also crying. So, both of us cry -
no difference. Because of the fear of marriage, he is crying.
Because we got married, we are crying. Alright, let us cry in
chorus!” That’s what I said.
He said, "Swami, no marriage."
And then Swami said, "You are the only fellow who came here?"
"No Swami, my friend is also sitting there."
"Your friend?"
"Yes."
"Who is he?"
"Swami, he is an international Olympic champion."
"Olympic champion?"
"Yes, the high jump -- number one in the world - from Greece. He
is also here, Swami."
"Oh, I see. Come on, boy." He called him. That fellow came
forward, a very tall man.
"Mmm, what? Tell your experience to these boys."
He shared that he got married, and when he and his wife were
expecting their first child, they consulted many doctors. They all
said his wife would deliver a male child. All tests, scanning
tests, confirmed that a male child would be born to them. But both
of them prayed to Swami, "Swami, we want a baby girl -- not a
boy."
Swami said, "All doctors said you would have a male child."
"No Swami. You can change it."
"Do you have faith?"
"Yes."
"You go."
They went, and the wife delivered a female child, just as they
wanted. And Swami said to the boys, "Takka, I changed it. If you
boys don’t behave properly, I will change you into girls
immediately! Behave yourselves properly."
That’s what Bhagavan said. (Laughter)
Then Swami said, "Hey George, all your relations are in Greece.
Why do you come here when all your relatives are in Greece?"
"No Swami, I have no relations."
"You have no relatives?"
"No."
"It’s strange. You have no relations?" Swami asked again.
"Swami, Sai devotees are my relations. I don’t have anybody else."
Bhagavan was happy.
"George, are you going to stay here for the Birthday?"
"No Swami, I must go back."
"You must go back? Why?"
"We celebrate Your Birthday there in Greece."
"I see. How do you celebrate? How?
"Swami, with balloons and lights - lights, illuminations,
balloons, distribution of sweets."
"Oh, I see. How many devotees are there in Greece?"
"Swami, ministers, officers, educated - many people are Your
devotees."
"Oh, good, good, all right. You go to Greece and celebrate Baba’s
Birthday.
Swami went inside and gave him new clothes as His Birthday gift.
That’s what happened on the 1st of November and the 28th of
October.
"Why Do You Bluff Like That?"
Also on the same day, the 28th of October, all the boys were
expected to report to the college. Because the college started on
the 29th, they needed to report by the 28th.
So Swami called the warden of the Bangalore Campus, "Hey Warden,
have all the boys come? Have all the boys reported to you?"
"Yes, Swami. All came. All 300."
"Hey, why do you bluff like that? Three boys have not come. Three
boys have not come, I know. Why do you bluff like that?"
Then the warden started shivering. "Sorry Swami. Sorry Swami,
three have not come."
"Why?"
Before the warden answered, Swami said, "Ah, one boy had a
fracture so he didn’t come. Another boy is suffering from
jaundice, so he did not come. And another boy got delayed on the
way because the buses and trains were canceled due to a strike in
Karnataka. Because there was some water dispute, all transport was
suspended, so the boy could not get here. You said all the boys
have reported. No, no, no. Three have not yet come."
We were all really wonderstruck when Bhagavan said that.
NOVEMBER 4th, 2002
My Words and My Actions Are Not Understood By Many People
And now I move on to what Bhagavan said on the 4th of November.
What did He say?
He said this as if He were helpless: "My actions and My words are
not understood by many people. You don’t understand My actions.
You don’t know the meaning of what I say. Some people are even
mistaken. They feel so badly because I use some words that make
them feel hurt. They don’t understand. That makes Me very much
worried. I don’t tell you the meaning of My actions; I never
explain the inner significance of My actions. I feel so badly
because you don’t understand the spirit behind it. Whatever I say,
whatever I do is in your best interest. I’m not selfish."
What made Swami make that statement when I was there? (Laughter)
Then I started introspecting. On the 4th, Swami was very harsh to
me. Wow! He blasted me like anything. Ta-ta-ta, abba -- I felt so
badly, very much hurt.
And in the afternoon He said, "Some people don’t understand My
words. (Laughter) Some people don’t understand My actions. They
don’t know that whatever I say is only in their best interest."
Not some people, He meant me, nobody else. ‘While Swami can
directly tell me, why this indirect way?’ So, that’s what I felt.
NOVEMBER 3rd, 2002
Bhagavan, the Doctor of Doctors
And this happened on the 3rd of November – what did He say?
Bhagavan just came out and stood there in front of us and said,
"Look here, Anil Kumar. Do you know what happened yesterday in our
hospital?"
"Swami, what happened?"
"An eleven-year-old boy was operated on for his heart problem. The
operation was successful, but later some complications started.
His abdomen was swollen, and he could not eat by himself. He was
suffering terrific pain in the abdomen, and complications. The
doctors were very much worried.
They came to Swami and said, "The heart operation was successful,
but later there have been complications. What shall we do?"
Bhagavan materialized vibhutthi for that boy, and the doctor
applied the vibhutthi. “Everything became normal and that night
the boy ate a normal dinner." That’s what Swami said.
In this context, I want to bring to your attention a very
important point. That Dr. Alreza, the Superintendent of the
General Hospital, meets with Swami every day.
Dr. Alreza says, "Swami, so-and-so is to be operated on. So-and-so
is to be treated. So-and-so is to be admitted. We want prasadam."
And Swami gives prasadam to everybody.
And sometimes He says, "Don’t operate; give this medicine.” Or,
“Treat this. It is not influenza; it is pneumonia."
I am the witness to such things. Bhagavan Baba, the Doctor of
doctors, not only diagnoses the diseases, but He gives the
prescriptions too. That’s what happened on the 3rd of November.
OCTOBER 29th, 2002
Veda Chanting
And then, I should also let you know what Bhagavan said on the
29th of October. All the boys were sitting in the front rows. It
was a very pleasant evening. The weather was fine, very cool.
Bhagavan said, "The weather and the climate are like Kodaikanal.
You'll enjoy the whole of Puttaparthi and Prashanthi Nilayam as if
it is air-conditioned." (Laughter)
And then some boys said, "Swami, we want to recite Vedam."
Baba said, "Ah, wait."
Then I said, "Swami, Veda chanting is auspicious. If they chant
Veda it will be auspicious for everybody. All devotees will be
very happy to hear the Veda chanting. Please permit it."
"Mmm, come on then. This man is recommending it. (Laughter) All
right, you can do it."
And they started Veda chanting - reciting Veda. Then, at the end
of the line of boys, I saw young children - little kids - they too
started chanting Veda. I saw their lip movement.
Then I said, "Swami, I think the children are also joining the
Veda chanting."
"What? The children know it much better than the big boys!"
He asked the older boys to stop and called those children.
"Come, sit. Come on, chant Veda."
They started chanting Veda better than the big boys, I tell you.
Then Swami said, "See? Can you chant like that? Can you recite
Veda?"
I said, "Swami, I was not a student of Your Institution. How do
You expect me to chant Veda? No. For the simple reason they
studied here, they have learned it. For the same reason -- I have
not studied here -- so I don’t know Veda chanting."
"Oh ho! Manchidi knack (meaning, good trick)! Instead of saying,
'I don’t know,' you say that you are not a student of the school,
eh? Good. All our boys and girls, all children, including grown-up
boys and Ph.D. students from all the three campuses -- Brindavan,
Prashanthi and Anantapur -- they all know Veda. They all know how
to chant Veda."
Then I said, "Swami, Your Institutions are the very symbols of
Vedic culture, ancient traditions -- the very metaphor of Veda. So
I’m not surprised."
On the same day of October 29th Baba said, "In Veda chanting,
there are two portions. One part is Namakam. The second part is
Chamakam."
Namakam and Chamakam were the two parts in Veda chanting on that
day.
Swami started explaining, "Namakam, the first part means, 'I don’t
want anything.' Nama -- Na means ‘no’, while ma means ‘want’. 'I
don’t want anything.' ‘I don’t want anything’ is the first half.
While the second half, Chamakam means 'I want.' 'I want' indicates
being full of desires. What do they desire? ‘Oh God, grant us pure
air; grant us good hankying water; bless us with good food.’ That
is Chamakam - prayers of request."
Well, you must have understood by now that I am an extrovert. I
cannot keep anything to myself. I immediately ask, take Divine
risks, and face spiritual dangers and threats. (Laughter) But, I
can’t help it. I am born with this openness. What to do?
Then I asked, "Swami, while we say, 'I don’t want anything,
Namakam,' why should we also say, 'I want everything, Chamakam'?
Why both these types of prayers? Either we should pray, 'I want
it,' or pray, 'I don’t want it.' What is the point of saying
both?"
Baba immediately replied, "Both are there in Veda so that those
people who have desires will recite Chamakam and those people who
have no desires will recite Namakam. That’s all. The Vedas give
provisions for both these types of people, for both categories of
people."
Further Bhagavan also said, "Look here, those ancient sages did
penance for a long time and they said, 'Vedaha Vedam Purusham
Mahantam Aditya Vurnam Thamasah Parasthath.' This is a quotation
from Veda. The sages said, 'Vedaha Vedam Purusham Mahantam.' 'We
have seen God.' Saints said, 'We have seen God.' ‘Purusham
Mahantam.’ ‘Purusha is God. We have seen this Purusha.’ ‘Vedah
Vedam, Purusham Mahantam.’ ‘We have seen God.’ Where? ‘Thamasah
Parastat.’ ‘Beyond darkness.’ ‘Beyond darkness, we have seen God.'
"
What does this mean? Beyond the darkness of ignorance, there is
Effulgence, or the Light of Divinity.
Then Bhagavan said, "And saints declared that God is everywhere,
inside and also outside. ‘Anthar Bahirscha Thathsarvam’. ‘Antha’
means ‘inside’. ‘Bahirscha’ means ‘outside’. ‘Thathsarvam’ means
‘Divinity is present everywhere’. ‘Vyapya’ means ‘spread’.
‘Narayana Sthitha’ means ‘God is installed everywhere, inside and
outside.’" That’s what Bhagavan said, explaining Veda that day.
TREAT HER IMMEDIATELY
Now I pass on to the 22nd of October. That evening Swami asked one
boy to speak. That boy did his MSc. in Bio-Science and he also
completed his MBA. He is an outstanding student. Now he is serving
as Technical Officer in the Super-Specialty Hospital. Swami asked
him to speak. He talked about two miracles that were very
interesting.
It seems one day a father came to the hospital with his daughter.
The doctors examined the girl and said she should be operated on
because of a heart problem. The doctors further explained that,
even after the operation, the family would need to spend 200
rupees per month for medicine. The girl would need medicine for
two years.
"We’ll operate on her now. Later, every month, she will need 200
rupees per month for expenses," the doctors said.
The father replied to them, "We can not afford 200 rupees. Doctor
sir, I have a boy. I have to take care of my son. If I have to
spend 200 rupees per month on this little girl, what will happen
to my son? Moreover, my son will be able to earn money, whereas
this girl may not be able to -- so why waste money?"
The doctors reported this matter to Bhagavan, "Swami, the father
said that he cannot afford 200 rupees per month. He said it would
be a waste of too much money to spend on the little girl --
especially when he has a boy to maintain and take care of, who
could earn an income later on."
Swami melted. Swami was deeply touched. He promptly told the
doctors, "Treat her immediately. Send 200 rupees every month to
the girl for two years. Not only for this girl, but for any
patient who cannot afford the cost, tell them that we will send
money from here for their maintenance."
I don’t think there is any hospital like this in this world. Free
operations, free treatments, free medicines, free diet and also
free maintenance -- who will do that?
HE WILL NEVER SEND YOU AWAY EMPTY-HANDED
Then the Technical Officer mentioned another miracle. You know,
one fellow came all the way from the border near Pakistan. He had
some heart problem. There on the Pakistan border, somebody told
him to go to Puttaparthi.
They said to him, "Everything there is free – the surgery,
treatment, everything. Don’t worry." This person there in Ladhak,
that border area, told him, "Don’t worry! You are going to God. He
will never send you away empty-handed. You will return hale and
healthy. Don’t worry."
That man came here, had an operation, and returned. As a token of
love, he wrote a letter to Swami. He wrote, “How do I pay the debt
of gratitude? How do I express thanks to You, Swami, because You
saved my life?”
That’s what was said on the 22nd of October.
OCTOBER 21st, 2002
EGO LEADS TO A SENSE OF FEAR
Now, we move on to the 21st of October. Bhagavan asked two boys to
speak on that day. One of them, Sriram Parasuram -- who has a MSc
in chemistry and is a gold medalist, a smart guy indeed -- was
sent to Loma Linda University in California, USA for studies in
Hospital Management.
He shared the following: "Coal -- a piece of coal is transformed
into a diamond by the touch of Bhagavan. We students are like coal
pieces. Charcoal is useless stuff; but in the hands of Bhagavan,
we are transformed into priceless, most precious diamonds. Thanks
to Swami."
Then he made mention of another point, "Look here, you must have
noticed that all the school children speak fearlessly. On Sundays,
when Swami asks them to speak, they all make a beeline one after
another. They have no fear. They are ready to speak --
tak-tak-tak! (quickly, one after another). If Swami asks any of
the big boys to speak, they have some reservations. The older boys
are not ready to speak. But, the younger children are ever-ready."
He continued on this theme: "Primary school children are ready to
get up any time. They are ready to speak any time. Why? Children
are innocent. Innocence is Divine. Innocence is Godly. Innocence
is child behavior. Because of their innocence, they have total
Love for Bhagavan. And, due to Love, they are 100% successful in
their performance -- a very good development. First there is
innocence; then innocence takes one to Love; then Love leads to
Victory. That’s the case with children.”
Sriram Parasuram continued, "But with the grown-up boys of the
college, what happens? Ego. Ego – ‘Will I speak well or not?’ ‘How
much applause will I get?’ ‘How many people are going to
congratulate me?’ ‘Will Swami be happy or not?’ ‘Will people think
of me as a good speaker?’ So this is ego. With age we develop ego,
and this ego leads to a sense of fear. Fear is due to ego, and
this fear is responsible for failure. Fear is the cause for
failure. That is the case with the grown-up boys."
"THERE IS ALREADY A MAN SEATED THERE"
Next, let's cover two points mentioned by another speaker who is
named Arun Kumar. Arun Kumar studied engineering from a
prestigious Institute of Technology. Later, he completed his MBA.
Now, he is working at Sai Radio for Global Harmony.
That boy said, "It seems a train was moving fast and one drunkard,
who was really drunk, got into a compartment. He was standing
there and almost lost his awareness and started misbehaving. He
started speaking in abusive and vulgar language. One girl was
seated nearby. She was feeling so sad.
'Swami, save me!' she prayed, 'This drunkard may sit here because
there is an empty seat next to me. If this drunkard sits here by
my side, then how will I bear his company -- his awful smell and
idiotic behavior, what do I do?'
Then, another fellow passenger in the train said to the drunkard,
'Hey, sit down over there, where there is space -- sit down.’
'Where?’
'By the side of this girl,'
This was by the side of the girl who was already praying, ‘Don’t
let that fellow sit here!' (Laughter))
That drunkard came close to the girl, and when he was just about
to sit, he shouted, 'Why did you ask me to sit here? There is
already a man seated here. Don’t you see him? (Laughter) A short
man, with a red robe and long hair is already seated there. Don’t
you see?'
'Nobody is seated there.'
'No, you are a blind fellow. The seat is already taken,'
That’s how Swami rescued and saved that girl from embarrassment."
And then Arun Kumar made mention of another thing.
"When people feel happy with the world, the fact is that the
happiness is not out there in the world. The happiness is within,
not outside. Happiness is not outside -- happiness is within. Why?
You are the embodiment of Bliss. You are the embodiment of Truth.
You are the embodiment of Peace. You are Bliss. To think that
Bliss is outside is a mistaken idea. Bliss is within you, you are
Bliss."
In this context he gave one example.
"It seems a street dog got hold of a bone. This dog went on
chewing on that bone. In the process, his gums started bleeding
and some of the blood spread on the surface of the bone. The dog
started licking the blood, enjoying it. The dog thought the blood,
which it relished, came from outside. But actually, the blood
didn't come from anywhere. It was his own blood. Similarly, we are
happy with some people, we are happy with some objects, but not
because of happiness outside. It is only our own reaction,
reflection and resound."
That’s what Arun Kumar mentioned on that day, which I liked very
much and wanted to share with you.
OCTOBER 19th, 2002
Love Is God, God Is Love, Live In Love
Now I come to the 19th of October. Bhagavan was talking to the
professors on the veranda. As you know, usually the boys will
perform a drama on the 22nd of November, which is the Convocation
Day for Sathya Sai University. Every year they stage a drama.
On October 19th, in a most casual manner Baba asked, "Mmm, what
drama are you getting ready?"
One boy said, "Swami, different religions."
"Mmm, I see."
He asked another boy, "What drama are you reading?"
"Swami, there’s a lot of violence in the world, and we show what
Love is - what Unity is."
Swami said, "Look here, I don’t want you to criticize any
religion. I don’t want you to criticize any other country. I don’t
want you to expose the differences. I don’t want you to project
anything that is negative. Never project negative things to the
public. No, focus on the positive things in you. I always say:
There is only one caste, the caste of humanity.
There is only one religion, the religion of Love.
I want you to develop themes along these lines -- not religions,
not clashes, not differences of opinion, not violence. I don’t
want it."
That’s what Bhagavan said.
And finally He said, "In these Institutions, you must have
understood by now that the purpose of the Sathya Sai Education
Institution, the objective of Sathya Sai educational philosophy,
is that ‘Love is God. God is Love. Live in Love.’ All students
should know that ‘God is Love and Love is God’. You have to ‘Live
in Love’ -- there is no other theme for our Institutions. So, I
want our boys to project this Love in their drama. That should be
the theme. No fighting. No arguments."
That’s what He said.
OCTOBER 18th, 2002
Greatness Lies In Making Others Happy
Then 18th of October, what did Bhagavan say?
Well, by a slip of the tongue, I said, "Swami, there is some
violence somewhere. The newspaper reported this morning that many
were killed there."
Then He said, "You are always after some news. What do you get in
the news, excepting nuisance. (Laughter) News is nothing but
nuisance."
"Ah, oh I see. You are speaking about violence outside?"
Then Bhagavan said, "There is nothing great in killing people.
Cobras can kill people. Lions can kill people. Tigers can kill
people. Scorpions can kill people. So, there is nothing great in
killing people. Greatness lies in helping people. Greatness lies
in serving people. Greatness lies in making others happy. Nothing
great in killing others."
Distance Does Not Matter
And further He also made another statement. It was a story. I know
many of you foreigners know more about these stories than what we
know. I have met some foreigners who have gone through the
Bhagavad Githa and the Tripura Rahasya in depth. Most of us do not
know those things, I am sorry to say that. The Sai Family is such
today that distance is not a criterion. Distance does not matter.
I met some of the devotees from Argentina. They have gone through
all these texts. I saw one gentleman from Argentina reading
Tripura Rahasya. I never read it.
I asked him, "What is this?"
"Don’t you know this?" he said.
"Well, I am sorry, I’ll find out and then meet you later.
(Laughter) So, I shouldn’t doubt your scholarship."
The Prestige of the Family
This story is an illustration from the Mahabharata where the birth
of Karna was not announced to the world because Karna's mother,
the virgin Kunti, gave birth to him before she was married. So, it
would have been a matter of insult -- it would have reduced the
prestige of the family -- so she didn’t tell anybody about the
birth of this boy, gifted to her by the Sun god himself. Somehow
she left that baby.
That baby was taken care of and brought up by a low caste man.
Karna was brought up to be the chieftain of the Kauruvas. Towards
the end of the war, the Pandavas were ready to kill anyone. Karna
was a major general of the opposite camp. Naturally, a mother is a
mother, so Kunti went to her son Karna.
"Look here, you are my eldest son. The other five are your younger
brothers. You belong to the enemy’s camp. I want you to give me a
boon as your mother. Don’t kill your brothers. You may be the
chief of the enemy’s' camp, but don't kill your brothers," she
went on crying.
Then Karna said, "Mother, what a thing you have done! Why did you
not tell them that I am their brother? Why did you not tell me
earlier that I am your son? What a tragedy is going to take place
now."
Karna also cried, "Look here, Mother. I am the chief of the
Kauravas, and I should be loyal to my king. Just because in this
last moment you tell me that I'm your son, I am not going to leave
my duty. I should be loyal to the king. So, I won’t touch four of
your sons. I will attack only one -- Arjuna. He is my enemy. I
will only kill him, that’s all. Your other four sons, I won’t
touch them. Don’t be worried."
That’s what he said. Bhagavan was explaining this.
Then immediately I said, "Swami, wasn’t it wrong on Kunti’s part
not to tell the truth -- that Karna was her son, her eldest son?
Was it proper of her to hide it like that?"
Bhagavan is really supreme. He will never humiliate any character.
He will make every character sublime.
He said, "No, no, you are mistaken. Kunti was not wrong. She did
not reveal that Karna was her son because of the prestige of the
family. He was born to her when she was not married. If that truth
had been revealed to everybody, the royal family would have been
viewed as very cheap by the kingdom. So, for the prestige of the
family, she did not reveal the truth."
That’s how He built up the nobility of her character.
And then He said, "In those days, the punishment was not capital
punishment. One was not beheaded or killed. It was enough if his
head was completely shaven and then he was driven out of the
country. That was the punishment. One didn’t have to be killed
with a sword, no. They let him go. They let him leave the country
with a shaven head. Exile -- that was the punishment in those
days." That’s what Bhagavan said.
Later He made reference to two people from the Mahabharata - one
was Bheeshmacharya, the other was Dronacharya. Acharya means
‘professor’. According to Bhagavan, Bheeshmacharya was a real
professor or acharya because he practiced what he preached,
whereas the other man, Dronacharya, was only a professor by title
because he did not practice what he preached. This was a first
time revelation from Bhagavan.
The Parents of Rama and Sita
Then, on that same day, the 18th of October, He made a reference
to the Ramayana. He spoke about Parasurama. Parasurama was trying
to kill all the Kshatriyas (warrior caste). He had taken a vow to
kill all the Kshatriyas. He killed all except for two, Dasaratha
and Janaka. Dasaratha was the father of Rama and Janaka was the
father of Sita. These two were saved.
"How, Swami? When everybody else was killed, how were those two
saved?"
Swami gave the answer, "A newly-married man should not be killed.
Dasaratha had three wives, and he married one after the other.
Whenever Parasurama got ready to kill him, Dasaratha would have
another marriage. In this way, his life was saved." (Laughter)
"And then how was Janaka, the other king, the father of Sita --
how was his life also saved? How?"
Baba replied, "Someone who is performing a yagna should not be
killed. Janaka was always performing yagnas, so he was spared.
Dasaratha and Janaka were spared like that, and they happened to
be the parents of Rama and Sita. That is all the Divine drama."
OCTOBER 16th, 2002
Divert and Direct Your Mind Towards God
I should also let you know what happened on the 16th of October,
what Swami said. A few questions were asked.
One question was, "Swami, for every action, there is a reaction.
For every action, there is a result. Karma is action. Karmaphala
is the result of the action. So, whatever I do, I cannot escape
from the consequences of my action. If my actions are good, I will
have good results. If my actions are bad, there will be bad
results. I have to face them. I cannot run away from the
consequences. This is what You tell us. But I have one doubt,
Swami."
"What is it?"
"In Adwaitha, in non-dualistic philosophy, there is neither action
nor the doer. There is nothing like that. There is no action.
There is no doer because all the life is a dream, as per
non-dualistic philosophy. Swami, how do You explain this
‘action-reaction’ on one hand, and ‘no action whatsoever’ on the
other hand. How do You correlate this non-dualistic philosophy,
Shankara Adwaitha, and this action-reaction?"
Then Bhagavan immediately said, "Go to the root cause of action.
What is the cause of your action? Thought. From where has this
thought arisen? From the mind. So, out of the mind, thought has
arisen. Thought has led to action; action has given you the
consequence, the reward or result. Now, as long as you operate at
the level of the mind, as long as you work at the mind level, you
cannot be free from karmaphala or the consequences of your
actions. You cannot escape from the reaction because you are
operating at the level of the mind. But, Shankara Adwaitha says
that you should transcend the mind. You should go beyond the
mind."
"Oh Swami, to transcend the mind or go beyond the mind, is it
possible? What’s it all about? Please let me know."
Baba said, "To transcend the mind and go beyond the mind, know the
mind and what it is."
"Oh! I only say, 'Never mind,' but I don’t know what the mind is!
Swami, what is the mind?"
"Ah. Look here. Mind is nothing but a bundle of thoughts. Like
threads interwoven make a piece of cloth, a bundle of thoughts
interwoven constitute the mind."
"So, Swami, how do I go beyond the mind?"
"Withdraw all the thoughts, then you will be thoughtless. When you
are thoughtless, there is no mind. When there are no threads, then
there is no cloth. Similarly, when there are no thoughts, there is
no mind."
"Oh ho, Swami, how to be thoughtless? (Laughter) How to be
thoughtless?"
"Yes, it is possible."
"Why? How?"
"By diverting the mind towards God. Divert and direct your mind
towards God. Your mind is towards the world, now. Divert it.
Direct it. Re-direct it towards God. Once the mind is directed
towards God, thoughts disappear. The mind is full of Divinity. The
mind is full of God. No more thoughts, no more mind, no more
action, no more reaction. That is the way," He said.
So nice to hear, but I have yet to practice. (Laughter)
Positive Thinking
Then, "Swami, how do I develop positive thinking?"
"It is very easy," He said.
"Very easy? When a fellow starts blaming me, how can I take it
positively? When a fellow is harming me, how can I have positive
thinking towards him? When a fellow is doing so much harm, how can
I have positive thinking? Is it possible?"
"Very easy."
"Swami, how? Please let me know."
"When you realize that all that is said to you and all that is
done against you is for your own good, that is positive thinking.
Positive thinking means taking everything that happens to you as
for your own good. No matter what others say about you, no matter
what others may do towards you, no matter how you are harmed, just
take it as for your own good. That is positive thinking."
"I see – anything more Swami, on how to develop positive thinking?
How to accept that everything is for my good? For example, if I
beat someone, how can they take that to be for their own good?
How?"
Then He said, "It is possible by having strong faith in God.
Strong faith in God helps you to develop positive thinking."
Cosmic Mind
Then someone asked, "Swami, what is the difference between the
individual mind and the Cosmic Mind?"
Swami said, "The Cosmic Mind is Universal. The Cosmic Mind is
Divinity. The individual mind is an entity. It has an identity.
Entity and identity have a name and a form, whereas the Cosmic
Mind or Universal Mind is nameless and formless. Nameless,
formless -- Universal Mind is Cosmic Mind. The one with a name and
a form -- an entity, an identity -- is the individual mind."
"Oh Swami, is there any relationship between the two?"
"Yes, both are the same."
"Both are the same? One has a form and the other has no form? One
has a name and the other has no name? How can they be one?"
"It is very simple."
"How Bhagavan? How is it so simple?"
"Yes, it is simple."
"Why and how?"
"When the individual forgets his identity, when he is not mindful
of the name and form, when he transcends and goes beyond the name
and the form, when he is not attached to name and form any longer,
then he becomes the Cosmic Mind. So long as you are attached to
your name and form, you are separate from the Cosmic Mind. Once
the name and form are given up, then the individual mind and the
Cosmic Mind are one and the same."
"Still, I don’t understand, Swami."
Swami said, "Very simple. Imagine a balloon. There is air inside
the balloon and there is also air all around it. The air all
around is the Cosmic Mind. The air inside the balloon is the
individual mind. When the balloon bursts, the air in the balloon
merges into the air around it. There’s no difference. So, the
difference is due to the size, name, and form of the balloon.
There is no difference between the air in the balloon and the air
around the balloon. So, the individual mind and Cosmic Mind --
they are different because of the name and the form."
That’s what Bhagavan said.
The Purpose of Life
"Swami, permit us to put another question."
"What is it?"
"Swami, what is the purpose of life?" Simple question! (Laughter)
"What is the purpose of life?"
Swami said, "The purpose of life is to find unity with God, to
realize Divinity within; to find unity with God means to know that
you are God. That’s all. That is the purpose of life. So long as
you feel that you are different from God, there is a long way to
go. You will have to travel along the spiritual path until that
identity, that oneness, that unity is realized and experienced."
That’s what Bhagavan said on that day, the 16th of October.
OCTOBER 9th, 2002
Mother Will Not Forget
Next, I would like to talk to you about what happened on the 9th
of October. Yes, what did He say? It was the day when Swami
ordered the distribution of ice cream to all students. Wow - ice
cream, very nice you know. We all like it. Some students
distributed ice cream cups to everybody.
Swami suddenly came and called these students, "Hey boys, have you
distributed ice cream to everybody?"
"Yes, Swami."
"Everyone got it?"
"Yes."
"You are useless fellows. Those two boys did not get any. Go and
give them some."
Then, He turned to everybody and said, "You call yourselves
brothers. Look here, brothers will forget, but a mother will not
forget. (Laughter) Brothers may forget, but a mother will not
forget."
This is an indication that Bhagavan is a Mother to us all.
I Suffer On Your Behalf
Here is another ‘Pearl of Wisdom’ that was shared on the 9th of
October. What was it? Bhagavan takes upon Himself the sicknesses
of others. What happens when He does that? Will He suffer? Why
should He accept sickness?
Swami said this: "I accept, I receive, I suffer on your behalf in
response to your prayers because, if left to you, the pain would
be unbearable. The pain would be unbearable, excruciating, and
terrible, and you could not bear it. As you pray, I take it upon
Myself."
"Swami, do You also suffer as I suffer? Will You have pain, as I
have?"
"Yes, but in My case the duration is for a short time, whereas you
have to suffer for a long time. When I take it upon Myself, the
period of suffering is cut short -- it’s a very brief time. I do
it so that you are free from that sickness, and you are free from
that pain. That’s why I accept others’ pain."
That’s what Bhagavan said.
Once, Swami granted an interview to a schoolboy who was asthmatic.
Many asthmatic people find it very difficult to breathe during the
rainy season.
The young, innocent boy said, "Oh Swami, I suffer so much. I
cannot breathe. It is unbearable, Swami."
"Oh I see. Don’t worry, My child. Don’t worry."
Immediately Swami was gasping because He had taken that asthma
problem upon Himself. It lasted for a couple of minutes, and then
subsided.
When Swami was normal again He said, "You won’t have an asthma
attack again. Don’t worry."
This is an example of how Baba takes upon Himself the sufferings
of people and gives them total relief.
Before I conclude, here is another story.
Yesterday Bhagavan came out and said, "Have you seen those two
doctors?"
"Swami I did not see them because the doctors went into the
interview room and came out, and I sit over on the steps, as You
know. So how can I see them? Impossible! Swami, I did not see
them."
Baba said, "Those doctors are from Germany. Both husband and wife
are heart specialists. They are top doctors who have performed
several heart transplants. They are heart transplant experts, and
they have been invited by the Government of Australia to go there
and serve.”
Before leaving for Australia, they wanted to have the Darshan of
Baba and visit His Hospital. They knew about Baba and had heard of
the work done in the Super Speciality Hospital. So, having heard
about Swami, they wanted to come here, study and then go to
Australia with His Inspiration and Divine Blessings.
May Bhagavan bless you.
Sai Ram!
Professor Anil closed his talk by singing the bhajan,
"Jai, Jai Prabhu Giridhari, Natavara Nandalala."
Om Asato Maa Sad Gamaya
Tamaso Maa Jyotir Gamaya
Mrtyormaa Amrtam Gamaya
Om Loka Samastha Sukhino Bhavantu
Loka Samastha Sukhino Bhavantu
Loka Samastha Sukhino Bhavantu
Om Shanti Shanti Shanti
Source:
http://www.internety.com/saipearls/06.11.2002%20(E)%20central.htm
© Anil Kumar Kamaraju 2004 - Here
reproduced for personal use of the devotees for the purpose of
seva.
Anil Kumar website:
http://www.internety.com/anilkhome/ -
http://www.internety.com/saipearls/
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