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Sai Pearls of Wisdom - 4
November 13, 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'S SATSANG:
BABA'S CONVERSATIONS WITH STUDENTS
“Sai Pearls Of Wisdom”
Part 4
November 13th, 2002
OM… OM… OM…
Sai Ram!
With Pranams at the Lotus Feet of Bhagavan
From June, 2002
Fourth Session on Sai Pearls It is very nice to be among you all for the fourth session of ‘Sai
Pearls of Wisdom’, covering the conversations of Bhagavan with
students and teachers on the veranda of Prashanti Nilayam. I
believe we have covered the conversations from September to
October. And, to the best of my knowledge, there are still many
more to follow. We pray to Bhagavan to give us sufficient time and
strength in order to keep every one of you informed about what He
says to His students on different topics, on different occasions.
Let me now refer back to conversations on the veranda from June
2002. Here we have many references from the summer classes that
were held during the last week of May. Some of Bhagavan's comments
I noted during that time when He shared these pearls of wisdom.
First Episode
Why the Difference?
It was a bright sunny day, and Bhagavan was on His way to give
Darshan to devotees seated in Sai Ramesh Hall. He noticed
everybody and instructed all the teachers, students and guests to
move over to the college auditorium where the summer classes were
held. Yes, the sessions were interesting, and in the evenings
Bhagavan, as usual, came for the Divine discourse. As you know,
every evening during summer classes, Bhagavan used to give a
discourse to all the students, teachers and devotees.
On that evening, He was proceeding towards the dais, then suddenly
He stopped and stood in front of an elderly gentleman. Here the
name is not important, but the event is important. He stood in
front of this elderly gentleman who wore the Indian dress of this
state of Andhra Pradesh. You know dhoti? The pundits wear dhoti
and also a lalchi (upper cloth). Do you know that?
He stood in front of that gentleman and said, “This morning I saw
you with a vermilion dot on your forehead that was in plastic.
(Laughter) Now you are here wearing the vermilion dot of kumkum
powder. This morning you had plastic and this evening kumkum. Why
the difference?” He asked.
I was wonderstruck because I know this gentleman was sitting far
back in the auditorium -- he must have been in the 50th or 60th
row. This good God notices even the plastic dot on his forehead
and then asks about it in the evening, “Why the difference?”
Well, as usual I said, “Swami how is it that You noticed that
small vermilion dot on his forehead? I know this gentleman was
sitting far behind. What is all this? It is very mysterious!”
Swami laughed and said, “Nobody needs to tell Me anything.
Everything comes under the preview of My notice and observation.
Everything will come to My notice. Nobody needs to tell Me.” This
was really a revelation!
Second Episode
Surrender to God Is Your Destiny
On another day, Bhagavan turned to me and asked, “How did you like
My discourse?”
God wanting human comment on His discourse! Well, it is really a
matter of fortune, a matter of good luck, to be privileged to
comment on the Divine discourse to God Himself.
Well, then I said, “Swami, Your talk was fantastic! All our doubts
are dispelled. All our doubts are clarified. It was a beautiful
discourse.”
Then Bhagavan said, “Hmmm, you want Me to believe that all your
doubts are now dispelled? No! Your body is full of doubts, top to
toe. They will never be clarified.” (Laughter)
Then I said apologetically, “Swami, if my body is full of doubts
that can never be clarified, what am I to do? What is my fate?
What is my destiny?”
Destiny in Sanskrit is called gathi. I said, “Swami, what is my
gathi, what is my destiny, what is my fate? If I'm full of doubts
that cannot be clarified, what am I to do?”
Then Bhagavan said, “What? Repeat your question!” (Laughter)
I said, “Swami what is my gathi? What is my fate?”
He said, “Sharanagathi is the solution.” (Laughter)
Sharanagathi means, surrender.
“You surrender to Me. Sharanagathi, that is your gathi. That is
your destiny.”
That’s what Bhagavan has said. So my friends, the only gathi or
destiny for all of us is Sharanagathi, surrender to God. This is a
nice statement that I wanted to share with you.
Third Episode
Inquiry and Revelation
On another day -- I'm talking to you about all the events that
happened in the month of June 2002, this is the third episode:
Bhagavan, while moving amongst His students, looked at one of the
boys and said, “Where do you come from?”
That boy said, “Swami, from Bangalore.”
Then Bhagavan immediately said, “How is your father?”
Bhagavan also wanted to know where the father was from. The next
question was another one about his father. I didn’t know why all
this curiosity? Why all this inquisitiveness?
And then Bhagavan put another question to the boy, “What is your
father, boy?”
That boy said, “Swami, my father is a lecturer in Hindi working in
Swami’s college in Bangalore.”
All of you know that I served as the Principal of Whitefield
campus for six years. I know all of them. I was immediately
shocked. “Your father is in Whitefield? I must know him. What is
his name?"
Before that boy opened his mouth, God started speaking, “His
father's name is Suresh Chand Jain.”
“Oh, Swami!”
Then Baba said, “You know what happened 20 years ago?”
“What happened, Swami?”
“His father was riding on a motorcycle with this little boy at a
high speed, and met with an accident. The whole motorcycle
smashed, but nothing happened to the boy and his father. He is the
very same boy, you understand?” He said.
This is an incident, which I wanted all of you to look at it from
this angle: Just because Swami asks, “Where do you come from?”
that does not mean that He doesn’t know where we are from. He
knows. But He makes such inquiries in order to give us the
satisfaction and joy of being spoken to by Him.
Here is a typical example: “Where do you come from? Where is your
father?” Then Baba explains what happened 20 years ago! See that!
One is an inquiry; the other is a revelation. The inquiry is for
your satisfaction. The revelation is an expression of His
Divinity. Really, we were all wonderstruck that day when Swami
explained all that had happened.
Fourth Episode
I Know Everybody
The fourth episode: One day, one of the boy’s was waiting for
examination results that had not yet been announced. Baba began
talking to the boys and said to this one boy, “Look here, your
other brother is studying at the Whitefield campus. You are
studying at the Prashanti Nilayam campus. I know both of you. And
your sister is at the Anantapur campus, I know her also. Your
brother got ‘O’ (‘Outstanding’) grade, and you got only ‘A’
(‘Excellent’) grade. "
Then I started saying, “Swami, You know his brother and sister?”
“I know everybody. Not only the students here. I know everybody
all over the world. I know the students, their brothers, their
sisters, their parents, forefathers -- everybody I know.”
And then this is an important statement that Baba made. Turning to
the boys, He said, “Boys, you are so young, you don’t understand
Me. You think that I am not talking to you. You think, ‘Swami is
not looking at me.’ But I know everybody. I know the members of
your family. I know your marks in every subject. Yes, that’s what
I know!” That’s what Bhagavan said.
And in fact He said, “Never feel that you are away from Bhagavan.
Never feel that I am not talking to you. I may not talk to you; I
may not look at you; but I know every detail of everyone here.”
That’s what Bhagavan has said.
Fifth Episode
Do It Yourself
Episode five: This is what happened: One morning Swami was talking
to a student of the MBA class. This student had completed his
engineering and was now doing his MBA, business management.
Swami looked at him and said, “You, boy, you applied for a job.
Hmm, I know. But you didn’t get it. I also know that.”
Then I said, “Swami, since You knew, why did You not see to it
that he got the job? (Laughter) Why do You say that he didn’t get
the job?”
Then Baba turned to that boy and said, “Shall I tell him what had
happened?” That boy said, “Swami, please, I won’t tell.”
(Laughter)
Then Swami said, “You know, this boy did not fill out the
application form. His mother filled out the form, so he didn’t get
the job. Your mother can't fill out the application form on your
behalf. You have to fill out the application form. So, never do
that,” Baba said. “If you want to apply, you fill out the
application form yourself. Don’t ask anybody else.”
And then He said, “If you are hungry, is it enough if your mother
eats on your behalf? If your leg is broken, your mother can't have
bandages, no! You have to put on bandages for yourself. So, each
one has to work for one’s own liberation, for one’s own salvation.
For one’s own moksha, we cannot ask somebody else to do it on our
behalf.” This is an important note that Swami said.
Sixth Episode
It Won't Rain
Then the sixth: It was a cloudy day. The clouds were all over, and
it also started to rain.
Bhagavan looked at the clouds and said, “Stop.”
And He told all the boys, “Don’t worry, they are only passing
clouds. It won’t rain; everything will be perfect.”
Believe me or not, the rain stopped immediately! When He said
‘stop,’ that ended the matter. Why? Who did He ask to stop? Maybe
the rain god, maybe the clouds to stop their business -- that’s
all! Immediately it stopped!
It is a matter of knowledge and awareness for all of us to know
that Baba is the Master of the five elements. He can control rain.
He can control fire. He can control any of the five elements. Most
of you know -- most of you must have heard this. Well, I'm a
witness to that. Many times it so happens that it rains everywhere
in Puttaparthi, but not in Prashanti Nilayam. Many times it has
happened that rain starts at the end of a discourse, when all
devotees have already returned home. When all the devotees have
dispersed, when they have all returned to their homes, then the
rain will start. It has happened many times, I am a witness. So,
Bhagavan controls all the elements -- the five elements.
Most of you must have also come to know of a miracle that Indra
Devi wrote about in her book. There was a fire everywhere, all
over in Los Angeles, California. Indra Devi was conducting yoga
classes there and said to her students, “We’re helpless now -- the
fire is all around us. Just sit down where you are and chant, ‘Sai
Ram’.”
They were all chanting, “Om Sri Sai Ram, Om Sri Sai Ram.”
What happened? After ten minutes, the fire got extinguished on its
own! Many things had happened all around the area, but the
building where the class was held was safe and secure. This is
proof that Baba is the Master of all the five elements.
Seventh Episode
Cured of Heart Disease
Now, the seventh episode: There is one student here who you must
have observed. He’s a Sikh boy, of the Sikh philosophy. Not
‘sick’. It is ‘Sikh’, a follower of Guru Nanak. When I say he is a
Sikh boy, don’t feel that he is a hospitalised fellow, no!
(Laughter) I mean Sikh, like Sardarji. You must have seen this one
student. That day Swami asked him to speak. So, the boy began
speaking.
Well, the Sikhs have very good, well-built bodies. Most of them
are in the North (a wheat-eating place), in the border areas,
protecting this country.
The boy said, “Twenty-three years ago an old lady visited this
Prashanti Nilayam along with her little grandson. Why? To receive
Baba’s blessings. What happened there?”
“The doctors said that this little grandson had a hole in his
heart, and that he must be operated upon. The doctors also said
that this little boy had no hopes of survival even after the
operation. So, this old lady, the grandmother, prayed to God,
‘Swami, you should save my grandson because the doctors said the
situation is critical, and all the doctors have confirmed it is a
heart problem.’”
“Swami blessed and gave vibhuthi to that little child. The child
was cured because of the vibhuthi. That little boy has grown up
and completed his schooling. He completed his college studies and
that little boy is the one talking to you now,” he said. “The one
whom you see now is the very same boy who was cured of heart
disease 23 years ago, when he came along with his grandmother to
visit Swami. That is the power of Sai vibhuthi.”
And further, as I said earlier, most of the Sardarjis are army
people.
He said, pumping his chest, “Look here, I declare that Guru Nanak
and Sai Baba are one and the same! The head of a strict philosophy
- Guru Nanak, and Baba, yes, I say that. I declare it.”
All clapped in joy.
And then Swami said, “Hey boy, nice talk, good! Hmm. I know your
father is in the Kashmir area. Now a lot of fighting is going on
there. Don’t worry, I’ll take care of him, don’t worry!”
And then He turned to every one of us and said, “Hey, poor
fellows! Do you think there will be a war now? No, no! No war will
take place now. Don’t be afraid of that. It is only a threat -- a
war threat -- but not actual war.”
“Nothing will happen to your father. He will come for Swami’s
Darshan next month, don’t worry.”
That’s what Bhagavan told him, “Be happy.”
This is an incident of the miracle of the boy and Swami’s blessing
to the boy’s father, working in the border area, protecting this
country.
Eighth Episode
Examinations Are Advanced
Now, we think of the eighth episode: He asked another MBA boy to
speak. His name is Sashank. This boy spoke in front of Swami for
the first time -- quite fair enough, with big eyes, nice to look
at -- a boy from the city, delicate, quite sensitive, well dressed
and handsome too.
The boy began talking like this, “I wanted to be a student of
Sathya Sai University. It had been my long-cherished dream and a
desire. But I could not get admission all these years, though I
really wanted to be here. There is one genuine reason. I was a
student of Bombay University. After the examinations, by the time
the results were announced at Bombay University, the classes would
begin here at Sathya Sai University. So, I had no chance to apply
because the examination needed to be completed there and the
results published before I could apply here. Only then it would be
possible to join here. So, it was not possible. I was very
desperate. I was very disappointed.”
Then that boy said, “Look here, my friends. The Bombay University
has five lakhs students on its rolls. It is one of the oldest
universities in this country. In response to my prayers, for the
first time, examinations were advanced -- for the first time!”
In India, examinations are always postponed. (Laughter) Of course,
boys want total cancellation (more laughter) – but that’s only a
dream. It will never happen! But here, for the first time,
examinations were advanced. So, he could write his examination,
appear for the entrance test, get the seat and then talk to
everybody. Really, can you imagine a university advancing
examinations? It never happens! Believe it or not, it did happen.
And the boy said, “The whole thing happened because of my prayers
to Bhagavan.”
Reversing the Train
Here my friends, I may tell you a personal story. I was travelling
from Hyderabad by train. And I have this weakness -- I lose track
of the time when I start speaking about Swami. This is my
weakness, but I can't help it. It is too late to repent or correct
it, and I feel it’s not necessary! Why? When devotees are so eager
to hear me, when I have so much stuff with me, why can't I share
it? After all, it doesn’t matter.
So one time, it so happens, I was travelling by train and somebody
-- the stationmaster, said, “Anil Kumar, I heard that you gave a
beautiful talk this evening in the city. I could not attend the
meeting because, as you see, I'm on duty. Why don’t you have a cup
of coffee?”
He asked me into his air-conditioned office. There was some time
before the train was due to arrive, so I accepted his offer and
was enjoying the coffee. I always like a hot cup of coffee.
(Laughter)
As I was drinking the cup of coffee, that man said, “What did you
speak about? What was the topic?” That was enough for me!
(Laughter)
Then I began to speak. (Laughter) Suddenly, that man looked at his
watch and said, “Anil Kumar, I think it’s time for the train.
Let’s go and check.”
We both went to the platform and found that the train had not only
arrived, but it was also in the process of leaving the platform.
“Ah-re, what a fool I am! The train left already.”
Then I told the stationmaster, “Sir, you are responsible. I have
to wait for the next train. That train may arrive, or it may not.
Trains always run late here -- that is 'punctuality'. So what is
it I can do?”
That man said, “Don’t worry, Sir!”
I replied, “Sir, it is very nice for you to say, ‘Don’t worry’,
however, I have to ‘bear the cross’.”
I was feeling so badly. “Swami, please help me because I must go
to the college. Please help me!”
To the best of my knowledge, it never happened before. For the
first time, the train started reversing! (Laughter) I never saw a
train reversing. It came back and stopped. I got in the train –
yes! -- and then it started moving again.
“Baba, hey! You are capable of reversing the train also! Ah!”
It has happened in my case, so I am the witness. Most of the
people will tell you this story if you talk with them. There is
one place by name Kajipet near Hyderabad -- all of them there
speak about this miracle. It happened. The train that had left the
station began reversing. That happened, yes!
Ninth Episode
I Want Your Love
And the ninth episode -- what happened was this: Swami sat there
on the chair with a bunch of letters, and then He said, “Hmm. Pick
up this letter.”
I picked up that letter.
“See what is there inside.”
I opened the envelope and saw a cheque for Rps. 37,500. It was a
check sent by a student to Bhagavan. It was his first month’s
salary, as a token of love and gratitude.
Swami said, “The boy who has sent the cheque is also here, but I
won’t tell his name because that boy will feel embarrassed. He
will start crying. I won't tell his name, but look here, boys and
teachers! I'm telling you now. Hear me! I don’t want your cheques;
I don’t want your money. This is not the thing that I want from
you.
I want your Love. I want your Love, that’s all. And this Love is
not your property. I gave you this Love at the time of your birth.
You are born with Love. Why? It is My gift to you. So I want you
to give Me that which I gave you. Give it back to Me, that’s all.
Not the money. I don’t want anything.”
And then what happened? He tore up that cheque! He tore it into a
number of pieces, and He went on tearing it.
Then I laughed and said, “Swami, one tear is enough! (Laughter)
You don’t need to make so many pieces like that. If you tear it
once, that’s enough. The cheque is invalid.”
Then He laughed, “I'm doing it to let you know how I dislike these
things.” (Laughter)
My friends, what is the position today in society, all over the
world? Many gurus want money. Most of the gurus all over the world
give discourses in the name of spirituality, and collect money.
But here is a place, Prashanti Nilayam, where there is only one
God, by the name of Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, who says: “I
don’t want your money, no! I want your Love.” This is really
unique.
Tenth Episode
Two Muslim Boys
The tenth episode: Here in Sathya Sai University, we have students
of all religions. There are two Muslim boys here.
Swami called one boy, “Hmm, what is your name?”
He said his name.
“Hmm, good!”
He waved His hand and materialised a chain for him. It was a gold
chain, and at the centre there was a crescent -- a half-moon of
diamonds with a star, which is the symbol for Muslims. Because
this boy was a Muslim, He gave him the symbol of the Islamic
faith.
And then, He looked at me and said, “Did you see that?”
“Swami, I saw it.”
“What did you see?”
“Swami, I saw the crescent and the star -- the symbol of Islamic
faith.”
“Hmm, come here, come here. Take it. See what is written on the
reverse side of the locket. It is written in English -- read it!”
‘Allah Bismilah’ was written on the reverse. It means ‘Have faith
in God.’
And Baba said, “You see, I promote, I encourage, all religions.
All religions are Mine. I don’t believe in conversions. I don’t
believe in changing your religion. Follow your own religion -- you
will reach Me.”
That is what Bhagavan has said.
And then He called another Muslim boy and He said, “Boy, are you
feeling jealous that I gave him a chain? Jealousy?”
The boy replied, “No, Swami.
“Don’t worry.” And then, He materialised a ring for this boy -- a
chain for one Muslim boy and a ring for another Muslim boy. So, He
made everybody happy that day.
That’s the reason why, during bhajans, we sing loudly:
Sarva Dharma Priya Deva,
Sathya Sai Deva.
Allah Yesu Buddha aur Nanaka
Have you not heard that song, “Sarva Dharma Priya Deva”? It means
“Oh God, all religions are Yours. All religions are acceptable to
You.” That is the substance of that song.
Eleventh Episode
You Belong to the Whole World
Now, let me share with you the eleventh episode. One day in the
course of conversation, unknowingly, I committed a mistake. I
said, “Swami, people of our region, of our area, don’t act like
this. They don’t speak like this.” I made this remark on one of
the occasions.
Immediately, Bhagavan said, “What? You said ‘our area’, ‘my area’.
No, no, no, no, no! You should not talk like that. You belong to
the whole world. You should not say ‘my area’, ‘my region’. Why
did you say that?”
Then I said, “Swami, I'm sorry. I will not repeat it. In fact I
want to give up this feeling of identification with the place
where I was born. I'm attached to my native place. I'm sorry. I'm
trying to give it up.”
Swami said, “Trying? No, no, no! ‘Try, try, try’ -- it becomes
dry, dry, dry. (Laughter) No trying! You must do it! Give up that
regional feeling.”
“Swami, I’ll do it.”
Then He said, “You know, when you understand that what you hold in
your hand is a serpent, what do you do? Do you play with it? Do
you continue to hold it? No! You immediately drop it because you
know the snake is poisonous. Similarly, when you know this
regionalism is bad, you should drop it immediately.” That’s what
Bhagavan said.
It is a beautiful message for everybody. The world is divided on
grounds of religion, region, language, politics -- narrow, silly,
stupid considerations, when, in fact, we are all one. The whole
world is one. We belong to the family of the universe. We are not
separate. So Baba says, “Give up that regional feeling. You belong
to the whole world.” And, we should never say, “I will try to give
up”, no! You must do it, as the message given by Bhagavan so
nicely conveyed.
Twelfth Episode
I Visited the Home for the Aged
Now, I move on to the twelfth episode. It was the time when
Bhagavan had just returned from Bangalore after the summer course,
and He was standing there.
“Anil Kumar, do you know why I am late? Do you know the reason for
the delay?”
“Swami, how am I to know? I don’t know.”
Swami said, “On the way, I visited the home for the aged. The
local Samithi people started a centre for old people, and they are
all staying there. I visited that centre.”
And then, Swami started speaking about it.
“I spent one hour with the old people there. I gave them clothes
and sweets. I joked, and made everybody happy.”
So nice to hear Swami, so nice! And then Swami started telling us
a few details.
“Those people who are running the centre there, the home for the
aged, they are facing so many problems. There is some opposition
from the locals. There are some people who are not cooperating.”
Then I said, “Swami, what is to be done then? When the local
people pose a threat, a challenge to the authorities, how do they
run the centre for the aged – this centre for senior citizens?
How?” (Or what, in USA, you call a ‘young adult centre’ because no
one wants to be called ‘old’. No one is old -- no all are young,
ever young! Young adults, that’s all.)
“So Swami, what is to be done?”
Then Baba said, “Any good program will have to face challenges.
Because of opposition, you should not run away. Because of
criticism, you should not be fear stricken. You should resist all
the problems, all the difficulties, all the obstacles, and proceed
ahead. You will have God's blessings.”
This is a message to all of us: We should not be carried away by
blame, by insults, by assaults, whatever it may be -- losses,
criticism, or whatever may happen. But, in the name of God, we
should start doing something good, and we are bound to be
successful because there is God above, who will bless our
attempts.
Thirteenth Episode
You Cannot Escape from My Notice
This is the thirteenth incident: One day, the music started -- it
was Darshan time, morning time. Well, I was late for Darshan. What
is to be done? My place, the place where I sit -- though it is
very convenient, though it is a very good position, an
advantageous position -- it is also an embarrassing position. If I
am late, I will be caught. It will be noticed. So therefore, it is
a very risky position.
Seeing Swami had started already, and the music was on, I ran. I
didn’t come in by way of the front. I started walking from behind,
across the veranda. Swami was walking this way and I was going
that way -- management, you know (Laughter) Then, silently,
slowly, softly, walking amongst -- in-between the devotees --
cautiously, I sat in my usual place. I just sat there, adjusting
my collar and adjusting my hair, thinking that I was a very
successful manager, if not manipulator.
Our dear God started Darshan. He crossed the ladies line, and
started moving amongst the gents. Slowly, slowly, He came towards
us.
He stood in front of me and said, “Hmm, you came from behind!
(Laughter) You came late and sat in the front, chi! Are you not
ashamed to do it?”
Then I simply said, “Swami, I thought that I would be able to
escape from Your notice. I thought that I would be able to
manage.”
Then Swami laughed, smiled and said, “Your grandfather also cannot
do it! Your grandfather also cannot escape from My notice, I tell
you! You want to manage? Impossible! I will know whatever you do.
Your intelligence is nothing. I can easily detect it and find out
your plans.”
That’s what Bhagavan said. Here I am reminded of a statement from
the Bhagavad Githa, the “Song Celestial”, which says that God's
Feet are everywhere; God's Hands are everywhere; God's Eyes are
everywhere; God's Ears are everywhere. So that He can hear, He can
watch, He can go, and He can pick you up. So, I could not escape
the Divine notice. I had to face the music that morning, along
with the usual music. (Laughter)
Fourteenth Episode
Change Your Qualities
Fourteenth episode: Well, I made a casual remark, “Swami, the
Andhra Pradesh State Government is trying to bring in some reforms
in the Department of Police.”
You call them ‘cops’ in USA, right? ‘Constable’ in UK, police
people, ‘cops’.
“So, the Andhra Pradesh Government is trying to make a change in
the uniform of cops,” that’s what I said.
And Baba said, “Oh, oh! It’s not enough if they change their
dress. They should change their qualities. Changing the dress is
easy, but to change the qualities is tough. So, I want you to
change your quality -- to change your mentality -- not merely your
dress.”
That’s what He said, which is also a lesson for all of us.
Fifteenth Episode
A Few Students Are Privileged
I will close for this evening with the fifteenth episode:
Bhagavan started to say something special one evening.
He said, “Out of so many students, a few students are privileged.
A few students are specially blessed because they stay with Me at
My residence. They sleep by My bedside. They sleep in the
anteroom. They are very, very close to Me.”
And Bhagavan said, “Do you know that? Some people sit and sleep
very close to My bedroom.” Please listen carefully and
attentively. These are the boys who are working in the Super
Speciality Hospital -- Swami's college students.
Bhagavan said, “One day, these boys got up around midnight. What
did they see? Only the bed -- Bhagavan was missing! These boys
started shivering. Their bodies were literally shaking, and
immediately these boys got the other boys up -- about five boys
all together. ‘Where is Baba? Baba is not here -- only the bed!’
They were all talking, and very much surprised and worried. Some
of them even started crying. Then, immediately, all of them
gathered and went into the bedroom again. This time they saw Swami
sleeping there on the bed.”
“And another time, what happened was…” These are all Baba's words.
I am putting in the words of Sai, quoting Him literally.
“Another time what happened was this -- Swami was resting. The
boys were sleeping there in the anteroom. They started hearing
some conversation. Immediately they thought that Swami was talking
to somebody. However, they did not see anybody. Swami was simply
talking. They were very much surprised.”
Swami said, “My mother comes to Me now and then. I talk with her.
These boys were wondering, ‘With whom is He speaking? We don’t see
anybody!’ They see Me talking to somebody, but there is nobody.
Sometimes they don’t see Me in the room. They have many
experiences like this, and quite often they cry.”
“But,” -- this is an important statement -- “I see to it that they
forget these experiences.”
Then I said, “Why, Swami? Why do You do that?”
Baba said, “If I didn’t do it, all the newspapers will publish
these experiences! (Laughter) The whole thing will come to
everyone’s notice. I don’t want that.”
That’s what He said. Really speaking, if Swami allows these things
to be known to the whole world, we’ll not have space here at
Prashanti Nilayam. The whole world will start pouring in.
And so, what I said was, “Bhagavan, it is really surprising that
You manifest and You express Yourself to some, and You hide
Yourself to many!”
Bhagavan said, “It is out of compassion for you all. Because of
compassion for you, I see that many people don’t understand Me. It
is also My leela.” That’s what Bhagavan has said.
Sixteenth Episode – July 2002
I Watch the Thoughts in Your Head
And then, I would talk to you now about the sixteenth episode:
This is from the month of July. (From now on, we think of July
episodes.)
It was the time of Guru Purnima, and all the preparations were
going on in a hectic way. You also know, this year we had an
exhibition in the Hill View Stadium. Many of the foreign countries
had their own stalls, and many of the states from India also had
their own stalls.
I said, “Swami, the crowds are gathering; the population is
increasing day-by-day, as Guru Purnima is fast approaching.”
Swami said, “Good, good. You will not be put to any inconvenience.
Don’t worry. You don’t worry. You will not be put to any
inconvenience! Let any number come here,” He said.
Then I said, “Swami, somebody told me around 50,000 people are
expected for Guru Purnima. Am I right?”
Then Bhagavan said – this is a very important statement -- “Look
here, you go by the numbers, by the count of heads, of how many
people are here. No, no, no! You go by the count of tala, the head
-- talalu, heads. But, I go by the talampulu, the thoughts. I
watch the talampulu, the thoughts in your heads.”
This is an important thing. The crowds, or the number who gather,
do not carry Swami away. He goes by the feelings, by the thoughts,
of the devotees who come here.
And further, He made a remark, “One spoon of cow’s milk is better
than barrels and barrels of donkey’s milk.”
That’s what He said.
“I'm not for publicity. Even if there is only one genuine devotee,
it is enough for Me.”
That’s what Bhagavan said. We’ll proceed next time with the rest
of the episodes from July 2002.
I'm very, very grateful to you all for this wonderful opportunity
given to me, in sharing these episodes with you.
May Bhagavan bless you.
Sai Ram
Thank you very much!
Source:
http://www.internety.com/saipearls/13.11.2002%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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