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Sri Sathya Sai Baba Articles

  Anil Kumar's Sunday Satsang at Prasanthi Nilayam
August 20, 2000

SAI STORIES

All the Stories told by Anil Kumar During Sunday Satsang at Prasanthi Nilayam - August 20, 2000



Om Sai Ram

Table of Contents

1) I am not new. I am eternal.

2) Sports Competition for Teachers

3) I know everything.

4) Bhagavan always finds an excuse to bless.

5) "I give to those people who really are in need."

6) "I can bear anything, adjust to any situation, so I don’t need anything."

7) "Serve the society, the people around you. That is the best way to please Me."

8) "Enjoy yourselves. That’s what I want."

9) Everything He does, and gives us the credit.

10) "I don’t want anything but to be with You."

11) "Why fear when I am here?

12) "I don’t know what sleep is, I don’t know what appetite is."

13) "I am always happy."

14) "Creator is eternal, creation is eternal. This eternity is common."

15) All religions are different reflections of Sanathana Dharma.

16) "Foreigners follow whatever I say.

They understand that My life is My message."



SAI STORIES

(1) "I am not new. I am eternal."


The devotees around the world want to know from me what Swami says to the boys. Most of the time, He talks about the boys’ dietary habits to them. It makes them laugh. Sometimes He makes philosophical statements or gives spiritual insights: "I am not new. I am eternal." It only means that Bhagavan has been following us over many, many lives.

Baba mentions names of devotees’ of 50 years ago. I asked Him, "Why do You remember those names?"

Baba said, "I am not new. I am Eternal." It means that Bhagavan has been following us over many, many lives. He has been with us from ages past.

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(2) Sports Competition for Teachers

There was a sports competition for teachers over the age of 50 during the Annual Sports Meet. The teachers were blindfolded and given a stick. They must walk to a clay pot and break it. Most missed it because of being blindfolded. Therefore there was lots of laughter from Swami and the onlookers.

That same evening I said, "Swami, you wanted us to break the pot, but did You break it in time?"

"I don’t break empty pots like you, but pots full of milk and curd." He’s recalling old habits like Krishna long back.

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(3) "I know everything."

Please understand the depth of His statements and utterances. Suddenly He looks at a student and says, "Your elder brother is not behaving properly. Ask Him to be careful. You lost your parents already." The boy is sorrowful.

Listen, it’s important - important for all of us to draw out the meaning. Swami looks at everyone and says, "I know everything, but I ask you only to give you an opportunity to talk to you. These enquiries are an opportunity and excuse to talk to you. You’ll be so happy if I talk to you."

So, when Swami asks you, "Where do you come from?" it doesn’t mean He doesn’t know.

Another example: Suddenly He calls the wife when the husband is in the canteen and she goes out searching for him. The poor lady cannot find her husband, and she can’t go amongst the men and find him. Sometimes He calls the husband after the wife already left to the UK or USA. Not that He does not know that the lady is not there. This is all part of the Divine Romance.

So, my friends, this means that Swami knows everything, but finds an excuse to talk to you. He creates a situation.

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(4) Bhagavan finds an excuse to bless.

A short time ago, a drama was arranged. Local villagers acted the parts. The boys are modern boys. How can they appreciate a drama by the villagers? Boys are used to T.V. and cinema. How are they going to like a village show? Because of Swami, we all had to go there and pass through the torture of watching the drama!

Finally Swami said, "How did you enjoy the drama?" This is another drama within the drama!! He knows we haven’t enjoyed and we’re waiting for it to end.

I said, "So-so, Swami." I can’t say ‘it’s bad’ because I want to stay for some more days!! I can’t say ‘it was fine’ because I don’t want to be a hypocrite. So I prefer to say ‘so-so’!

Immediately Bhagavan said, "I know you did not like it."

Now comes an important statement. He said, "This drama is only an excuse to bring those poor people, artists, here to reward them, give them clothes, give them watches and cash. I want to honour them. This drama is an excuse to bring them here and bless them."

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(5) "I give to those people who really are in need."

On another occasion, there were some very poor people, nomads, not properly dressed, with no written script, uneducated, very, very poor. Once He called them and granted them an interview. Those people passed by me and I was watching them. Most of them were half-dressed, none were fully dressed, all very dirty.

I thought, "Swami, we are here. Why don’t you call the better dressed? I have some perfume. I don’t smell bad. Why do You call these nomads?" I was staring.

He stopped and said, "Why do you look like that?"

I said, "Interview to these people?"

He said, "Why not? Are they not human beings like you? Don’t they have devotion like you? Why do you talk like that?"

Then I understood it’s time for me to keep tight-lipped. He called those people for an interview and they left slowly one by one, with their faces all smiles, glittering. I saw one fellow looking at his wrist, one fellow at his finger. Evidently each person had received either a chain or a ring or something other they received. They come out looking at their ornaments instead of looking at the people. Everyone was carrying a bag with them. Bhagavan gave them clothes also.

Swami came out at the end and said, "I know who to call, when to call and what to do."

Because these were the questions in my mind, He said, "You are the people who sell food to those who are not hungry. You are the people who offer drinks and ice creams to those who are not thirsty, whereas I serve food to those who are hungry. I give to those people who really are in need of it. These poor people will be very grateful for all the blessings they receive."

Not only this. Bhagavan called an officer sitting on the veranda. He was saying something serious, orders, and He turned and said to me, "These poor people, their village has no water supply. They have to walk a very long distance to fetch water. Now I have decided to extend the water supply to the village. The officer will supervise this work."

This is Bhagavan.

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(6) "I can bear anything, adjust to any situation, so I don’t need anything."

One day He was speaking about the many buildings here - W1 to 9, N1 to 7, and I said, "Swami, You provide all comforts and conveniences to all of us. But You are always the same. Your food is the same, now and forever, Your bed and living, then, now and forever. You don’t have the latest modern facilities like air-conditioning, whereas we have wonderful facilities provided by You."

Swami said, "You can’t bear inconveniences. You don’t have the spirit of accommodation to adjust. So I provide everything! I can bear anything, adjust to any situation, so I don’t need anything."

This is a message to us all. If we are accommodating and adjustable, our requirement will be minimum and we will be happier.

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(7) "Serve the society, the people around you. That is the best way to please Me."

A group was called for interview - different events on a different occasion. Every statement has a message and meaning. The group that was called are members of the Sai organisation.

Swami said, "What news?"

One of the senior members asked a question, "Swami, we want to serve You! Please let us know how we can do this." He is a senior man, senior question!!

Bhagavan said, "I don’t want your services. You are seated here, whereas I walk from long distances all the way to come near you, go round you, serve you. You are not serving Me. I am serving you. You don’t have to serve Me. Serve the society, the people around you. That is the best way to please Me."

Another senior chap asked a question, "Swami, we want to start a centre, an Old Age Home, senior citizens.

Baba said, "It is enough if you take care of old people at your home before starting an Old Age Home."

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(8) "Enjoy yourselves. That’s what I want."

Another time, a sacred thread ceremony was arranged by old students. They collected all the necessary materials for the function and the Warden showed the list to Baba.

Swami said, "You don’t have to bring anything here. You don’t have to do anything here. I arranged all these materials 15 days ago. You just distribute them. You participate and enjoy yourselves. That’s what I want. Nothing more."

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(9) Everything He does, and gives us the credit.

Similarly, Bhagavan does so many things and gives us the credit. He makes all the arrangements for everything. He arranges all the decorations. Finally He says, "The boys have done a very, very good job."

Some of the devotees teach the boys new musical techniques and He stands among the boys before all those big people and says, "Nobody taught them. They have done all by themselves." Everything He does, and gives us the credit. But what do we do? We make others do, and claim the credit!

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(10) "I don’t want anything but to be with You."

A T.V. serial was made on the life of Bhagavan. I didn’t know who the actors were. Later I knew that the children from Sai School acted in the serial. He called one cute boy with chubby cheeks, with smiling face, short hair, short in height.

He said, "Do you know him? No chance, no chance. This boy played the role of Sathya Sai in the T.V. serial." Everyone clapped. The boy did a good job. He acted nicely.

Swami said, "What do you want? What do you want?"

I would have a big list: Give me padnamascar and don’t give it to the following!! Give me interview; don’t look at the faces of the people!!

What did this boy say? "I don’t want anything, Swami, but please keep me with You." He went on crying, with tears rolling down his cheeks. He said, "I don’t want anything but to be with You."

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(11) Why fear when I am here?

There was one boy, a new boy. Swami said, "Come on. First year undergraduate course."

The fellow said, "Swami, I have a lot of fear for everything. Because of fear, I cannot sleep at night." Sleep is important for life.

Swami said, "Why fear when I am here? Why fear? Man doesn’t know his capacity. Man has greatest strength. (This includes women.) Man is so weak because he doesn’t know his strength. He has got the strength even to make God come down to him."

My nature is never to keep quiet. I get into trouble like this. A bitter gourd cannot change its taste! "Swami, why, if I don’t know whether I have strength or not, what does it matter? What is the use of such unknown strength?"

Baba said, "Here is the sugar cane. The sweetness of the sugar is not known to the sugar cane. Similarly, man does not know his own capacity."

Then I asked, "What is the benefit? Who will know that, if we don’t know? Ants know the sweetness of the sugar, but not the sugar cane. Diamond cuts a diamond. Where are the ants? Where is the sugar cane? How am I to understand?"

Baba said, "You are the sugar cane. Your friends and relations are the ants. They come to you because of the sweetness in you. That sweetness may be in your personality, knowledge and education."

I continued, "When ants know, and the sugar cane doesn’t know, what is to be done now?"

Swami said, "Do you think I cannot answer you?"

"No, no, no. I want to know."

"Everyone should think, ‘Am I worse than an ant? Even the ant knows the sweetness of the sugar cane, and I don’t know. What a low creature am I! By that way, you can know your strength."

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(12) "I don’t know what sleep is,

I don’t know what appetite is."

Swami said, "Don’t eat all the roots that are grown underground: potato, beetroot, and carrot. All these underground stems will add to your weight. Also don’t use too much oil. You should eat greens.

Believe Me or not, I don’t know what sleep is. I don’t know what appetite is. I am 75. All these years I am never hungry. All these years I have never slept."

Softly and delicately I asked Him, "Why do You switch off the light at night if You don’t sleep?"

He said, "If I didn’t switch off the light, many people would be here and they wouldn’t go. They wouldn’t sleep."

So I asked, "Then why do You have a dining room and table?"

Baba responded, "Several people join Me at times. To make them eat, I also pretend to eat." He has transcended food and sleep.

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(13) "I am always happy."

Swami looked at a boy who was doing his postgraduate year and said, "What do you want to do after this?" The fellow was puzzled, had no immediate answer.

Swami said, "Do MRS!" He didn’t understand.

Swami said, "Do Mrs. - Get married!" That’s what He meant!

The boy got up and said softly to Him, "It is enough if I make You happy." Now Swami said, "I am always happy. I don’t wait until you make Me happy."

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(14) "Creator is eternal, Creation is eternal.

This eternity is common."

I gave a talk in the College Auditorium to the boys on Adi Shankara. Swami was passing by that evening. My voice was fumbling because He might ask me a question for which I have no answer. And I might also give some details and Swami might say, "You are utterly wrong." I was very, very hesitant. I said, "Yes, Swami, by Your Grace." Because Grace is unquestionable, non-controversial.

Swami went in. After an interview He came out and said, "What did you say?" I said a few points.

He said, "OK, OK, right, right, right." But I got stuck up at some place for which the Divine Player is waiting. I said, "Bhagavan, Swami, God is the Eternal Truth, who is changeless. Creator is Eternal, but Creation is momentary. God is changeless, while Creation is changeable. God is permanent, but Creation is temporary." I thought that I was explaining nicely. He gave me a long rope to hang myself!!

At the end He said, "You are wrong."

"How, Swami, how?" He said, "God, Creator, is eternal. Creation is also eternal."

"How can there be two eternal things?" I know paternal and maternal, but not two eternal things, existing things. How can they be? "Swami, one is changeable, one is changeless. How can they both be eternal?"

Then He said, "Human being may die but not humanness or human quality. Cow may die, but not the nature of the cow. Creation may change from time to time, but its nature remains the same."

Then I got thoroughly confused. Sometimes, we teachers do that in the classroom. When a boy is putting questions, we try to confuse him more so that the bell will go for the break!

Now I said, "Swami, the philosophy of Adi Shankara is the existence of the One-without-a-second. Only one Reality exists. Everything else is illusion, delusion or maya. This is what I read. But you say that Creator and Creation, both are Eternal. Now you are speaking of two. I say there is only ONE. What is it that is common between the two? One changes, while the other does not change. Well, what is there which is common?"

Swami then said, "Creator is eternal, creation is eternal. This eternity is common."

I don’t know what an answer it is! Eternity common between the Creator and Creation! Then I could understand it is time for me to remain silent.

That night I was preparing for my class on Bhagavad Gita to teach postgraduate students in the college. I was teaching the thirteenth chapter. Please believe me when I was reading the text, the twentieth verse says, "Creator and Creation both are eternal."

That is Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. Whatever He speaks has got a basis, approved by sacred texts. It is not for an argument He says. He does not mean to convince you. It is based on the ancient Vedanta philosophy.

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(15) All religions are different reflections of Sanathana Dharma.

Then there was another instance. There was an occasion when boys spoke on the Holy Bible, Moses, and the Ten Commandments. They thought that they had done nicely.

Then, in the evening Swami came that side and said, "Who are the boys who spoke this morning?" Three boys got up. "What are the Ten Commandments?" He asked.

The fellows couldn’t open their mouth. They mumbled something. Then He came over to me and said, "You are from Christian College. Tell me the Ten Commandments!"

I got 50% marks. Out of ten, I could say five. Not a total insult. Then He went to another teacher who directed the whole play, who was the director. "Tell Me the Ten Commandments!"

He said a few things that were not any commandment. Swami said, "Don’t speak like that." So everyone laughed.

Then Bhagavan said, "Sanathana Dharma, ancient Dharma, is the bottom, the bedrock, the parent. Out of this parental stock came various religions like Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, and Jainism. These religions have come into existence only three thousand years ago. But this Sanathana Dharma, nobody can say it’s beginning. We can tell the date of every religion’s birth. But when Sanathana Dharma was born, no one can say because it had no beginning."

Then I thought it is time for me to say something. I said, "Now Swami, I understand that Sanathana Dharma is the main thing and that all the other religions are its shadows." I thought it was quite intelligent enough!!

He passed two steps ahead, turned round, "Repeat what you said!"

"Swami, Sanathana Dharma is the main object and all other religions are its shadows."

"No, No, No! They are not shadows! All religions are reflections, not shadows. Shadows are of inferior quality, whereas reflections are as much as the very object itself! Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Jainism, all religions are as great, as perfect, as the object, Sanathana Dharma. Therefore they are reflections, not the shadows. Correct yourself!" He said.

And then He looked at these boys and said, "What else did you speak?" They had heard all this talk, so they kept quiet.

Then Bhagavan said, "While speaking, you should tell the ultimate. You develop your topic. At the end, you should tell the ultimate Truth. You cannot stop in the middle. And this is a hint for all speakers. Because some speakers begin somewhere and stop nowhere. The audience forgets the very topic on which he wanted to speak. And at the end, the speaker may not tell on what he spoke. This sort of speakers we have."

But Bhagavan gave a clue to the prospecting speakers. Establish the speakers by giving a good example. What did He say? "Here you have milk. You curdle it, make it a curd. You churn it, bring out the butter. You heat it and get the ghee. You heat the ghee, it continues to be ghee. The ghee is the ultimate. Milk is the beginning and it ends in the state of ghee. Similarly, talks should begin at the stage of milk and end up at the stage of ghee, the ultimate. You can never drop in the middle."

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(16) "Foreigners follow whatever I Say.

They understand that My life is My message."

One more story: A group of foreigners was called for an interview. I saw them go in quickly, one after one. Of course, in the earlier years I used to be jealous but not now!! Though I don’t say that jealousy has totally left me, some traces appear now and then.

At the end of the interview, when the group of foreigners left, Swami stood and said, "Most of them are teachers. They live on their salaries. They are not rich. They save some money every month out of their salary. With that money, they make a trip to this place. And one rich man said, ‘I will pay for your travel expenses.’ And they told him, ‘Thank you for your offer, thank you for your concern, but our Swami will not like it if we receive money from you. Our Swami will not appreciate it if we receive money from you. We respectfully decline.’"

Swami said, "This is important. This statement is important. All foreigners follow Swamis teachings 100%. You should know that."

That’s what Swami said. "They all follow whatever I say. They have understood that My life is My message."

I don’t receive anything from anybody, I don’t accept anything from anybody. This you should know.

So my friends, time is up.

Om Sai Ram

Om… Shanti…Shanti…Shanti…

Loka Samastha Sukhino Bhavantu!
 

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