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Sri Sathya Sai Baba
Anecdotes
BROTHERS
Swami often asks young boys, "How many brothers do you have?" Boys
invariably reply along expected lines by saying two, or three,
etc., as is the case. Swami then smiles and softly whispers, "All
are your brothers!" After this He asks of another boy, "How many
friends do you have?" Taking the cue from the earlier
conversation, this second boy would say, "Swami, all are my
friends." Swami would again smile, and gently say, "No, all are
not your friends; God alone is your friend!"
HUNDRED RUPEES
For Bhagavan Baba, quality is always more important than quantity;
and to stress it, He often says: "One ounce of cow's milk is much
better than a barrel of donkey's milk!" There is an incident that
graphically illustrates the point:
During the period the Super Speciality Hospital in Puttaparthi was
under construction, Bhagavan was quite busy and could not spend as
much time with His students as He normally did. In the afternoons,
after Darshan and a few Interviews, He would be closeted with
doctors.
One day, after giving Darshan and receiving letters from the
public as well as students, He adjourned as usual to the Interview
room. Suddenly He came out holding a letter in His hand. Waving
the letter He went towards the students and asked, "Which of you
wrote this?" Hesitantly, one boy got up. Swami asked, "You wrote
this?" Meekly the boy nodded his head, fearing the worst. Swami
then turned towards the elders in the veranda and said, "This boy
is a student here. He is very keen to contribute to the Hospital
Project. In this letter, he says that he is not a doctor and
therefore cannot contribute service. He is not a rich man and
therefore cannot make a donation. He is only a mere student. Yet,
he is keen to do his bit. So, what does he do? He saves his pocket
money, collects hundred rupees and gives it Swami." So saying,
Baba pulled out a hundred rupee currency note from the envelope in
His hand and displayed it to the devotees there. Bhagavan then
slowly added. "For Swami, these hundred rupees represent pure Love
emanating from the heart. They are therefore far more valuable
than a big donation made perfunctorily." God always cares only for
quality and not quantity.
"I AM SWAMI"
Once in Brindavan, as Bhagavan Baba was coming out for Darshan, He
saw four boys standing. Swami stopped and asked one of the boys,
"What is your name?" The boy told Baba his name. Swami then asked
the same question to the other three boys. Two of them gave their
names but the third one said, "I am Swami." Baba then told that
boy, "In that case, go and give Darshan!" and moved away.
Man certainly is an aspect of God. In fact, as Swami says, man is
God. But this fact must be realised in the heart and not merely
understood in the head. And having realised this basic truth, man
must always have that Godly feeling. Merely declaring, "I am God!"
will not do.
YOU ALSO ARE GOD
Swami loves children and can be frequently seen talking to them
[especially the Birthday boys] in the veranda in Sai Kulwant Hall
in Prasanthinilayam. A favourite question of His is: "Boy, how old
are you?" When the boy concerned replies, Swami's next question
would be: "How do you know?" Invariably the answer would be, "My
mother told me." Swami would then smile and remark, "Yes, it is
always the mother who is the first teacher." Changing the subject,
Baba would then ask: "Where do you come from?" Quick would come
the reply: "Swami, I have come from You!" Swami would laugh and
then say, "I just want to know where you were born." After a bit
of light banter like this, Swami would then ask, "Who am I?"
Without any hesitation, the boy answers, "Swami, You are God!"
Swami would smile, pat the boy and slowly say, "You also are God!"
Source:
Radio Sai
E-Magazine, November 1, 2003
http://media.radiosai.org/Journals/Vol_01/05NOV01/Anecdotes/Anecdotes.htm
ALWAYS GIVING!
It
is a common sight in Prasanthinilayam to see Swami distributing
various things. No one can say what He will give, to whom He will
give, and when He will give; but that He will give, one can always
be sure of.
Swami
distributes all sorts of things; these include fruits of the
season such as oranges, mangoes, papayas, and apples. Once He even
distributed water melons! It is not just sweets, biscuits,
chocolates, and the like. As birthday time approaches, the items
distributed can be clocks, watches, calculators, cameras, shirting
pieces, dhotis, sarees, sewing machines, push carts [for vending],
hand-pedal cycle carts [for the disabled] - you name it. At new
year time it is often calendars and diaries. So on it goes, not
only in Puttaparthi but also in Whitefield and in Kodaikanal.
Swami does this because He wants people to remember that man is
born to give and not to GRAB [which is what is happening most of
the time these days]. Further, one must give not out of a sense of
condescension but with the idea of filling the heart of the
receiver with joy and happiness. Some people crave to accumulate
wealth. Swami is very critical of this, adding that wealth
accumulated is like dung piled up in one spot; it will only
radiate foul odour. But if the same dung were to be scattered on a
field, it would result in a good crop. This, says Baba, is also
true of wealth. If money is hoarded in a bank, it will benefit no
one but if it is spent for the benefit of the community, it would
bring prosperity to all including the one who is spending.
Source:
Radio Sai
E-Magazine, November 15, 2003
http://media.radiosai.org/Journals/Vol_01/06NOV15/Anecdotes/ALWAYSGIVING/giving.htm
God does not mind
if people do not realise who He is!
In
the celebrated Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna says that when God
comes in human form, most people mistake Him to be just another
man. This frequently happens in the case of our beloved Baba also,
notwithstanding His innumerable miracles and Leelas, all of which
are a clear signature of His Divinity. There is a charming
incident that highlights this human fallibility.
Many
decades ago, Swami visited the house of a devotee in Bombay. Over
there, Baba moved about very freely with the members of the
family, as He always does on such occasions. Among other things,
He spent some time walking to and fro with the aged mother of his
host. This old lady was so happy that in the end she placed her
hand on Swami's head and sweetly said, "God bless you!"
Source:
Radio Sai
E-Magazine, November 15, 2003
http://media.radiosai.org/Journals/Vol_01/06NOV15/Anecdotes/He_Does_not_Mind/mind.htm
PARENT
Ancient Indian scriptures say: "Mother is God, Father is God." The
Bible says: "Honour thy father and mother." In the past, aged
parents were cared for in all societies. But alas, in modern
times, people seem to think that aged parents too must be cast
away like worn-out clothes and appliances. Since longevity has
increased, the problem of aged and abandoned parents has become an
acute problem, especially in the developed countries. Sons and
daughters who owe their very existence to the sacrifices that
their parents made for their sake, abandon their parents without
batting an eyelid. Thus it is that Homes for the Aged and the
Destitute have sprung up all over the world.
Swami
constantly reminds all devotees and particularly students, that
they should never forget the debt they owe to their parents. He
says that when we rent a house or a room, we pay rent to the
landlord. Likewise, we must pay "rent" to the [maternal] parent
for occupying the womb for nine months at a stretch. In His
typical fashion He adds: "Parent means PAY RENT!" In 1999, Swami
set up a Home for Destitute Parents near His Brindavan Ashram. The
message has since gone home and now many Seva groups have done
likewise in their respective areas.
Source:
Radio Sai
E-Magazine, November 15, 2003
http://media.radiosai.org/Journals/Vol_01/06NOV15/Anecdotes/Payrent/payrent.htm
TAMING THE FLOODS
Swami has the power to control Nature but He rarely interferes
with natural phenomena. His argument is very simple. He says, "I
have ordained the forces of Nature and they have their duties to
perform. However, when it becomes absolutely essential for the
welfare of mankind, I intervene in a benign manner." As young
Krishna, he lifted an entire hill to protect the people of His
village from a deluge. As Sai too, He has several times done
similar things. One example is provided by the floods of 1973.
That
year, thanks to very heavy rain, there was an unprecedented flood
in the Chitravathi river. Water submerged all the low-lying parts
of Puttaparthi, and came right up to the Ganesha and the Gopuram
gates. The Ashram being at a relatively higher elevation, the
flood waters had not yet entered its premises, but were
threatening to do so. Meanwhile, all the villagers flocked into
the Ashram seeking shelter. The compassionate Bhagavan not only
allowed the villagers to take shelter but also provided them with
food.
The
weather continued to be inclement, and it appeared as if the water
level might rise even further. At this stage, Baba went to the
East Prasanthi block of flats, and climbed up to the terrace. From
there He looked down at the overflowing river, and whispered
something. People nearby could not make out what Swami was saying
but they could clearly hear the word Shanti being repeated three
times. While 'advising' the river to calm down, Baba also raised
His hands in a gesture of benediction. Miraculously, the flood
waters began to recede immediately, and within a few hours, the
people huddled in the Ashram could go back to their homes.
There are also occasions when Swami emphatically refuses to
intervene. Once during a Discourse, it was raining heavily.
Devotees prayed that the rain be stopped but Baba brushed aside
the request. He explained that while the rain might be an
inconvenience for them, the farmers were eagerly looking forward
to precisely this downpour. Devotees must not be selfish, He
added.
Source:
Radio Sai
E-Magazine, November 15, 2003
http://media.radiosai.org/Journals/Vol_01/06NOV15/Anecdotes/TAMINGFLOODS/floods.htm
Who is the most
beautiful of them all?
There is on the stage in Sai Ramesh Kishan Hall in Brindavan, a
beautiful brass idol of Krishna. Some years ago when the idol was
delivered to Baba for installation, three people were there with
Him. One by one He asked them what they thought about the statue.
The first two said that it was very beautiful. The third person to
be so asked was the Rajmata [Queen Mother] of the erstwhile
Princely State of Nawanagar. Without a moment of hesitation she
replied, "Not as beautiful as My Lord here!"
The
story has a moral. God may have a human form but God He remains;
it is for the devotees to recognise His Divinity. Further, the
Creator is always more glorious and grand than anything in
Creation, however beautiful it might seem!
Source:
Radio Sai
E-Magazine, November 15, 2003
http://media.radiosai.org/Journals/Vol_01/06NOV15/Anecdotes/MOSTBEAUTIFUL/beautiful.htm
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