|
Anil Kumar's Sunday Satsang at
Prasanthi Nilayam
February 8, 2004
The Sunday Talk Given by Anil Kumar
“Sai For You and Me”
February 8th, 2004
OM… OM… OM…
Sai Ram
With Pranams at the Lotus Feet of Bhagavan,
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
The topic for the day is “Sai For You and Me.” I would like to
share with you a few thoughts in connection with this topic. Let
me speak about Sai’s Love in His words, taken from Sai literature.
Sai is Love - LOVE is SAI
Sai’s Love is unique. Sai’s Love is
Divine. Sai’s Love is unconditional and beyond time and space. It
is beyond nationality, caste, community, gender, position and
economic status. To quote Bhagavan’s words: “Sai’s Love is like
moonlight, spreading coolness, whilst giving us all the joy and
excitement of beautiful moonlight.”
So Sai’s Love can best be compared with the moonlight. Sai’s Love
is nectarine. It is so sweet. We cannot compare it with any sweet
that we have consumed up until now! Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba
is sweetness personified. He is embodied sweetness. He is the sum
total of all sweetness. That is Love, as we experience it in Sai.
Bhagavan also said, “To realize this Love, to experience this
Love, and to share this Love with others, is true education.”
Education, as we understand it, is only the acquisition of
knowledge. It is merely the obtaining of a degree. It is only a
means to obtaining a job in order to eke out our living. But
Bhagavan’s concept of education is quite different from the way we
understand it. Sai education is to experience Sai’s Love, and to
share it with the people around us. Sai’s Love is the very
reflection of Divinity. Just as you cannot separate your
reflection from yourself, or be separate from your shadow; just as
you cannot make the obverse and the reverse separate, Sai and
Sai’s Love are one and the same. Where there is Love, there is
Sai. Sai is Love, Love is Sai.
Shakti - Yukthi – Rakthi – Virakthi - Anurakthi
Further Swami says that Sai’s Love
will help us to develop Shakti, that which we call energy. Sai’s
Love is energetic. Human love weakens us. Human love will shorten
our life. Human love is unreliable. Divine Love will make us more
vibrant and energetic. Sai’s Love will also show us the pathway
towards a successful life. Sai’s Love is directed towards
achieving the very aim of life.
Shakti is energy. Yukthi is the way, or the path, leading to
success. Sai’s Love will also help us follow this path most
sincerely. Following Sai’s path is not a wayward journey. It is
not a half-hearted affair. The spiritual path that we follow
requires enormous discipline and one hundred percent sincerity.
Sai’s Love will help us to have the sincerity required to follow
His path. Rakthi is the sincerity.
Sai’s Love will also help us to develop detachment to worldly
possessions and worldly properties. Attachment to the world is a
sign of weakness. Attachment to God is our strength. Sai’s Love
will help us to develop attachment to God, which is called,
Anurakthi. Attachment to God is Anurakthi. Detachment from the
world is Virakthi. We become detached from the world (Virakthi)
and develop attachment to God (Anurakthi).
Sai’s Love is multidimensional. In a sentence: Sai’s Love helps us
to develop Shakti – energy, Yukthi – the technique needed to be
successful, Rakthi – sincerity towards the spiritual path,
Virakthi – detachment from the world, and Anurakthi – attachment
to God Himself. These are the different advantages or benefits
that we get from experiencing Divine Love - Sai’s Love.
I ADMONISH you only to correct you
A doubt may arise: “In what way is
it different from the mundane love, worldly love, or human love?”
Our human love is based on physical relationships. The
relationship that exists between the son and father, son and
mother, brother and sister – these are all physical relationships,
whereas Divine Love is beyond the physical. It has got nothing to
do with the physical relationship.
In this context, I can tell you my own experience. Once Swami
admonished the boys, as He does quite often, to correct them and
to set them right. Naturally, all of them, including me -- or
rather starting with me -- felt very sad. I got my due share of
the admonishment. (Laughter)
Then He asked me to get up. “Why is that look on your face?”
I said, “I can’t help it, Swami! I am so sorry!”
Then He said, “Come on! Translate.” His words, on that day, will
be of immense help to everybody.
He said, “You and I are not physically related. If you prosper in
your life and progress physically, emotionally, economically,
spiritually, morally and ethically, I am not going to gain
anything. If you are going to be spoiled totally and ruin
yourself, I do not lose anything either. I have no gain or loss.
There is no blood relationship between you and Me. I am not going
to get anything out of you. You do not contribute to My Name.
Neither can you defame Me. Whatever I say is in your best interest
only. I admonish you, condemn you and scold you only to correct
you. I don’t have any prejudice or bias. You should congratulate
yourself that you are here to be corrected. You should be so happy
that you are here in order to evolve towards a higher state of
consciousness. You don’t have to feel so bad about it!” Then He
looked at me and said, “Including you.” (Laughter)
In this context, He said that all the worldly love that we find is
Pravritti - outward, physical and mundane; whereas Sai’s Love is
Nivritti - inward and spiritual.
Now I would like to bring to your attention certain instances that
relate to this morning’s subject, “Sai For You and Me.”
Why don’t you look at me?
Many people say, “Swami is not
looking at me. Swami is not talking to me. Swami is refusing to
take my letter. When I sit in the front row, He turns His head
away from me. When I manage to be the first in the first row, His
car moves in another direction (Laughter). When I get there at 2’o
clock, He chooses to be there at 3:30. When I get there at 3:30,
darshan will be over. (Laughter). What is all this? Why does it
happen? Oh God! Why don’t You look at me? Oh Lord! Why don’t You
say ‘hi’ to me? Why not? Why don’t You give me a smile? I came
here, leaving everything in the world behind. I spent lots of
money to reach You. I experience so much stress and tension. Oh
Merciful Lord! Are You really merciful? (Laughter). Or are You
merciless? (Laughter) What’s wrong with You, my Lord?”
This question naturally enters our minds. Some will have the guts
to verbalise it, while others will repress it. (Laughter). But all
are human, despite the fact that some deny having this human
weakness.
You will find the answer to this question in the incident I am
going to narrate now. A student of one of the Sri Sathya Sai
educational institutions was asked to make a speech. That boy
stood by Swami’s side whilst he presented the speech. That’s the
best time to speak and to ventilate your worries. (Laughter).
‘When He doesn’t talk to me, what shall I do? When He asks me to
talk, I shall do it.’ (Laughter). Well, the boy said, “Oh God! You
spoke to me three years ago! Since then You stopped looking at me.
And today my father is also here. My father’s fate is similar.
What have we done? Why don’t You look at us?”
He said this along with a few other points. Thereafter, Bhagavan
got up and started His Divine Discourse. I shall now relate the
answer He gave. “You heard just now the boy complaining that I
have not been looking at him for the past three years, and that I
ignored his father also.”
“Boys! Note this point. (Please note this point. It is very
important for all of us). I may not be looking at you. I may not
be talking to you. But yet, what is there that I have not done for
you? What is there that I have not taken care of? This boy’s elder
brother got a seat in the medical college because of My Grace. He
himself is studying second-year medicine. They have not even made
mention of that to Me. I have been taking care of you. I am
looking after you. You are very fine. Why should you worry and
bother that I am not looking at you, that I am not talking to you?
You should understand that I am in you. You must try to see Me in
you. Don’t simply go by externals, such as whether Swami is
talking to you or not.”
I am sure this will help those of us who feel sorry for ourselves
because Swami is not speaking to us. But Swami, being a Divine,
mischievous God (Laughter) -- I would like to add ‘Divine’ because
some may misunderstand me. His mischief is also Divine --
concluded this part of His discourse saying, “Yet, you should try
hard to be spoken to. You should pray incessantly to be spoken to
you. You should deserve Swami’s conversation. You should work for
it.” With that note, Swami left that topic and moved on to other
issues.
Sweetness personified
I would like to bring to you another
point. A close relation of a boy belonging to this institute
happened to be here in Prashanti Nilayam. He gave the boy some
advice. We elders advise, but may not practice what we preach. We
advise because we want at least, that others benefit from our
experience. A wise man learns from others’ experience. We don’t
want youngsters to commit the same mistakes we did. With all good
intention, we advise the young.
This close relative of the boy advised him, “Look here, my boy!
You are studying in Swami’s institution. Remember, you should
always look at His Feet. This is very important because His Feet
bear the entire weight of the universe. It is not easy to have His
Feet. It is not easy to look at them. Concentrate on His Lotus
Feet.”
The boy replied, “Thank you, uncle!” and sat there in the darshan
line. When Swami passed along the line, this fellow went on
looking at His Feet, with his head bent towards the ground. Swami
thought, “Something is wrong with this fellow.” (Laughter). He
came close to him and said, “What happened to you? What is it?”
This fellow said, “Swami! I am looking at Your Feet.” (Laughter)
“Why?”
“My relation told me to.” (Laughter)
Swami said, “He is a fool and you are a double fool.” (Laughter)
(Please note the reason Swami gave here, as it applies to
everybody. I am taking advantage of such examples to enable us to
learn lessons).
He said, “Every inch of this body, top to toe, is important.”
One has to look at Bhagavan’s cosmic form, from top to toe; from
the top of His hair to His toenails, because Madhuraadhipathe
Akhilam Madhuram - the head is sweet; the ears are sweet; the lips
are sweet. Madhuraadhipathe Akhilam Madhuram. The whole of
Bhagavan’s personality is nectarine. The reason for this is that
Baba is the Poornavathaar –the Divine Incarnation in all its
depth, fullness and profundity. Therefore Bhagavan instructed that
boy, “No, don’t only look at the Feet. You have to look at the
whole Form of God.” This, I am sure, will provide a guideline for
all of us who may be entertaining such whimsical ideas.
Immediately this boy got an idea. “Maanasa Bhajare Guru Charanam –
what does it mean, Swami? (Maanasa Bhajare Guru Charanam means,
“Let the mind concentrate on the Feet of God.”) Why do You ask us
to look at the whole form? Why?” (Laughter)
Bhagavan replied, “For darshan, you should see the whole body. For
dhyaana, concentrate on the Feet.”
Maanasa Bhajare Guru Charanam – concentrate on the Feet of the
Lord whilst in meditation or dhyaana. During darshan, let us enjoy
the opportunity of seeing Bhagavan standing in front of us. Let us
see Him from top to toe, He being the Poornavathaar.
SHOULD I COME ALL THE WAY?
I can also tell you of another
instance. Bhagavan spoke to one devotee and moved on. That devotee
started crying. Why? We don’t understand why others cry when Swami
speaks to them because we cry when Swami is not talking to us.
Maybe we are uniform in that we all cry. (Laughter) There is
unanimity in crying, if not competition in crying! (Laughter)
So, this man is crying. I asked gently, “Why do you cry? What’s
your name? Swami spoke to you. There is no reason to cry. Why do
you cry?”
Then he said, “Sir! My name is Narayana Charanam. As you see, I am
quite aged. My wife and I had been to Madras for an eye check-up.
While returning from Madras, we had to change buses at Madanapalli
in order to reach Puttaparthi. I requested that the conductor
inform us when the bus reached the Ramakrishna Ashram at
Madanapali, because we wanted to rest there that night and take
the other bus to Puttaparthi the next day.
The bus was speeding ahead. The conductor suddenly said, ‘Sir! Get
down.’ Well, both of us got down. It was 10 o’clock at night.
While getting down, I asked somebody, ‘Where is the Ramakrishna
Ashram?’
‘Twelve kilometres from here.’
And the bus left. As you know, near Madanapalli, there is a thick
forest with wild trees. It is pitch dark. No lights. An old
couple, left there to themselves, twelve kilometres from the
ashram at 10 o’clock at night! This is not a holy night. There is
no moonlight either. Then we noticed lightning and thunder. It
started drizzling.
Having been left with no other option, I started crying and
repeating God’s Name, ‘Sai Ram! Sai Ram!’ It is only in agony that
true prayer arises. It is only in adversity that the depth of the
prayer is revealed. It is only in challenging moments that a
genuine prayer arises. Then the helping Hand extends spontaneously
and instantaneously because God is ever living, ever loving, and
always moving amongst us.
What happened when I shouted ‘Sai Ram’? We watched a car coming
towards us with the headlights shining. The car stopped just where
we were standing. I was afraid again. I thought, ‘That fellow, the
conductor, dropped us off in the middle of the forest. Now this
fellow will rob us of our belongings.’ We were very worried.
The car driver got out of the car and said, ‘Sir! I am driving
alone. No one is in the car with me. What do you want? May I help
you?’
I said, ‘We have to go back to the Ramakrishna Mission Ashram,
twelve kilometres from here. That is where we were supposed to get
off the bus. It’s most unfortunate that we are here. It is due to
the mistake of the conductor.’
The driver said, ‘No problem! I will take you, sir!’
He gave us a lift up to the Ramakrishna Mission. We were very
happy when we got accommodation in the ashram. As we were settling
down, we remembered the driver’s kindness. We wanted to pay him
for his kindness. We came out of the room, wanting to pay him some
money and to convey our thanks. He was not there and his car was
also found to be missing. Neither the car nor the driver was
there! The next day, we reached Puttaparthi.”
Swami looked at this old man and said, “Should you not be careful?
Though you informed the conductor, it is your duty to be vigilant.
Do I have to drive all the way to pick you up at midnight, to give
you a lift? Useless fellow! Be careful, here after!” (Applause)
That is Bhagavan for you and me. In helpless moments, Bhagavan is
always there. In certain unavoidable circumstances, as ill luck
would have it, God never fails.
Are you ready?
I should also tell you about another
instance. One time, Bhagavan was talking to the college boys. He
said, “Boys! Are you ready to do whatever I say?”
“Yes, Swami! Why not?” They all joined in chorus, “Why not? We
will do whatever You say.”
Then Baba said, “Yes! Come on! There is a three-storey building
there. You climb up to the top and jump from there.” (Laughter)
And they started looking at each others’ faces!
Finally one boy got up and was just about to run. He started
proceeding towards the building. Then Swami called him back, “Come
back! Come back! Don’t go!”
The physical mother cannot bear it if there is just a simple cut
of a blade on her child’s body. She cannot bear the sight of a
drop of blood on the body of her child. Sai has the ‘Love of a
thousand mothers’. “Can I watch you fall from the top of the
third-storey building? Can I watch that? No, my child! Stay back.
I am happy with you. This is only a test.”
Out of all the boys, who said ‘yes’? Only one started running
towards the building. That boy did his schooling, graduation and
post-graduation here in Puttaparthi. Then he was sent abroad for
some time. He is presently working in the Super-Speciality
Hospital as a technician.
What I want to bring to your notice is this: Bhagavan naturally
wishes that we should face the challenges of life. But, He will
see to it that we will emerge triumphant. He will see to it that
we come out victorious. He will see to it that we win the game,
provided we surrender to Him.
Can’t you speak louder?
Here is another instance of “Sai For
You and Me”: Usually we find Swami talking with the boys, ranging
from primary school students to postgraduate students. What are
His favourite questions during morning darshan?
“Boys! What did you have for the breakfast? What did you eat?”
One fellow says,” Two idlis, Swami.” Another fellow says, “Three
idlis, Swami.”
And Swami will ask, “Only idlis?”
“No, Swami. Dosa also” (Laughter)
“I see. How many?”
“One.”
“Only one?”
“No, no, no. Two, Swami.”
“Only two? They were only very small – two inches diameter.”
Whatever they say, Swami wants them to eat more, because Swami
likes everybody eating more and more, though He Himself does not
eat. (Laughter) The reverse is true with us -- we eat more and
want others to eat less. Bhagavan wants them to eat more because
they are at an age where they are growing physically. In order to
be energetic, they should eat more.
One boy thought, “Swami really wants me to eat more. Let me try to
eat the maximum number of idlis and then present myself before
Swami, so that He will be quite satisfied with my innings or
score.” (Laughter).
With that intention, on the next Sunday at breakfast, he started
eating idlis. One – fine. Two – nice. Three – difficult
(Laughter). He found it difficult to complete the third idli. ‘But
three is the normal number they serve. So, let me try to have a
fourth idli also,’ he thought.
He started eating the fourth idli. He had such great difficulty
eating the fourth one that he could not get up (Laughter)! And
when he completed eating it, there was the danger that the other
three might come out (Laughter)! But yet, somehow, he managed to
eat the fourth one.
A few boys had to assist him to walk, because there was a quite a
‘parliamentary session’ going on in his abdomen (Laughter). (You
know how parliamentary legislature is like a disturbed abdomen.)
(Laughter) Somehow he managed to sit in the darshan lines.
Bhagavan came and talked with other boys, but not with this boy.
This boy thought, ‘Swami! You made me eat four idlis. (Laughter)
In order to catch Your attention next week, should I try to eat
four idlis again? This week, it has been difficult enough. How can
I repeat this tough, physical exercise?’
Swami called a group for interview. The boy thought that his
chance had passed. After sometime, Swami opened the door and
slowly started walking towards this boy.
Then the boy said to himself, ‘Oh good! Next week I can be
comfortable and eat only two idlis.’
Swami came towards him slowly and asked him to get up. “Come on!
Speak now.” And he spoke. Baba said, “You ate four idlis. Why are
you speaking so softly? Nobody is able hear your voice. You ate
four idlis. Can’t you speak louder? What’s wrong with you?”
(Laughter)
Instead of feeling bad, he was so happy that Swami knew he had
eaten four idlis (Laughter). Sai is for you and me.
He did my work
I would like to draw your attention
to another instance of “Sai For You and Me”. A science graduate
was asked to teach Sanskrit. Swami came to him and said, “You
teach Sanskrit.” That man had no knowledge of Sanskrit. Quite the
contrary, he was allergic to Sanskrit. He tried to keep away from
learning Sanskrit. He found it very tough and altogether too
difficult.
But Swami came to him and said, “Teach Sanskrit.”
Teaching without learning! This man started shaking, “What is to
be done?”
Baba said, “Start with the lower classes. Don’t worry!”
This man started learning Sanskrit slowly, and Baba turned back
and said, “Begin teaching from this Ganesh Chathurthi.”
That man struggled day and night. Somehow he managed to memorise a
few verses by heart and started teaching the boys in the lower
classes. He taught them Ganaanaamthwaa, the prayer of worship to
Ganesh. The boys learned quickly. And thus, this gentleman started
acquiring more and more knowledge of Sanskrit. Because he followed
Swami’s instructions, he not only became efficient, but was also
proficient. He taught all kinds of Sthothrams. Sthothrams are
prayers of worship to God and the various deities. He learnt them
by heart, and taught all the students.
That particular gentleman says, “I followed Swami’s instructions,
and He did my work for me. If you follow Swami’s instructions, He
will do your work for you. My life is a testimony. My life is an
example. I do not think I taught the students. I don’t think that
I acquired knowledge of Sanskrit. Swami taught me. Swami taught
through me because I simply obeyed what He told me to do.
‘Karishye Vachanam Thava: I will act according to what You say, Oh
God!’ And You said, ‘Karishye Kaaryam Thava: I will do your work.’
And therefore, here I am with all the knowledge, Buddhi, and its
fulfilment, Siddhi.”
And that gentleman got his post-graduate degree in Sanskrit. Yes,
he got his Ph.D. degree in Sanskrit. I can tell you that no one
can ever equal him in reciting Sanskrit verses, not even
professional temple priests. This man recites Sanskrit verses with
perfect erudition, diction, accent, pronunciation, precision; and
with all exactness and awareness of their meaning also. He is Dr.
Vedanarayan of the Higher Secondary School. He leads all the boys,
who join in chorus to recite Vedic verses in front of Bhagavan.
Name and form together
All the Vedas are sung in praise of
God. The Vedic verses are learnt and memorised by heart, to attain
the vision of God, to experience the manifestation of God. We are
extremely lucky. We hear the praise of God by way of the
recitation of the Vedas and see the manifestation of Divinity, God
Himself, seated over there. Two birds at one shot!
We, the listeners, who see Bhagavan, are more fortunate than
anybody else because we hear His praise and we see Him in physical
form simultaneously. The Name and Form – a happy blend of both.
That’s what we experience here!
Only vibhuthi?
Dr. Vedanarayan had some wonderful
experiences with Swami. He was a student here. Don’t think that I
am creating any propaganda. After all, he is not my relation.
(Laughter)
This gentleman had a problem long back, whilst a student at
Swami’s college. He suffered severe and excruciating abdominal
pain. After two days or so, he admitted himself to the hospital.
The doctor came and examined him and asked, “How long have you
been suffering?”
He said, ”For the last three days, doctor.”
“What have you taken to ease your abdominal pain?”
He said, “Vibhuthi, doctor.”
The doctor had an enquiring look on his face and asked,
“Vibhuthi?”
“Yes, doctor.”
“Vibhuthi! Are you sure?”
“Yes, doctor.”
That doctor went and reported to Swami. “Swami! Here is a fellow
who is not taking medicines. He says that he has taken only
vibhuthi to cure his abdominal pain. What shall I do with him?”
Swami said, “All right! You go and see him in the hospital now.”
The doctor again went to see this boy in the hospital, accompanied
by the caretaker of the Mandir. In those days, the caretaker of
the Mandir was a person called Kutumba Rao.
Kutumba Rao asked this boy, “How are you?”
“The pain is severe, sir!”
“What are you taking?”
“Vibhuthi”
Then Kutumba Rao said, “Look here, boy! Along with vibhuthi, you
should take medicines also.”
This boy innocently asked, “Why medicine?”
Kutumba Rao answered, “You will have the exact medicine required.
You better take the medicines with vibhuthi so that they can work
properly.”
The boy simply listened to what Kutumba Rao said, but did not take
any medicines. Both the men went back to Swami and reported,
“Swami! That boy refuses to take medicines. He is only taking
vibhuthi.” (Laughter)
Swami said, “Tell that useless fellow that he should take
medicines also. Tell him!” (Laughter)
Bhagavan didn’t want to displease the doctor, who was a qualified
professional expert. The doctor should not be humiliated in front
of a boy, after all! So, He said, “Tell him this is not the way!”
(Laughter)
Both of them came back and said, “Look here, boy! These are
Swami’s instructions – that you should take medicines along with
vibhuthi.”
“Okay, sir.”
But the pain persisted. One day, Bhagavan went to the hospital,
looked at this boy and ignored him. This boy shouted, “Swami!
Please!! I am suffering from severe pain.”
And Swami said, “You are not following My instructions. I won’t
give you vibhuthi.” He simply passed by. But, out of compassion,
He turned back, and gave prasadam to the boy. He looked at him
with a mischievous smile. After that the boy’s health started to
pick up and he was eventually discharged from the hospital.
Unfortunately, he had other problems –a kidney problem, a liver
problem and what not!
All this is recorded, my dear friends. All this is recorded by the
person who experienced it. It is first-hand, hot, hot information,
passed on to you, fresh from the oven! I believe in serving hot,
not old stuff. (Laughter)
Naturally, he was hospitalised again. This time, Bhagavan went to
the hospital. This boy could not turn from side-to-side. There was
a real possibility that the liver and kidney problems could affect
the brain. Things come in battalions, rather than singly. The good
and the bad in life come in battalions. This is true for every one
of us.
Swami made Himself comfortable. He sat on the boy’s bed and
applied vibhuthi to his abdomen. Until that moment, he had vomited
whatever he had drunk or swallowed. Swami made him drink coconut
water and applied vibhuthi, after which the boy suddenly sat up!
Swami looked at the doctor and said, “He is taking vibhuthi only;
what to do?” and then left silently. (Laughter)
So, ultimately what is it that cured him? The latest antibiotic --
Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba’s inter-continental vibhuthi!
(Laughter) That’s what is “Sai For You and Me”.
“Oh! You are still alive!”
Usually when Bhagavan goes to
Bangalore during summer, some of the residents of Prashanti
Nilayam choose to go home, to their native places, to settle
certain matters: to clear up their house taxes, land taxes, or
water bills; or to say ‘hello’ to their near and dear. That’s the
only free time the residents have to go. They request Swami’s
permission and Swami obliges them.
One year, when Swami was about to leave, one resident came close
to Swami and said, “Bhagavan! Shall I go?” He expected Swami to
say, “You go!” and thought that He would give him vibhuthi also.
(Laughter)
But Baba looked at him and said, “Don’t go. Be here.”
The man never expected this! It was a shock for him. What to do?
He stayed back, even though he already had reserved the train
tickets for his journey.
Nobody can ever guess when Swami will leave. People ask me, “When
is Swami going?” What shall I say?
My standard answer is this: “He is not going.” I will tell
everybody the same, because until His car moves out of the campus,
nobody can say when He will leave. Anybody who says he knows when
Swami is leaving is a No.1 fool. (Laughter)
Bhagavan will not tell anybody when He is going to leave. He
always says, “Love My uncertainty.” So, nobody can say when He
will go. We roughly estimate when He might leave. But it’s just a
possibility!
So, this gentleman had made his ticket reservation, expecting
Swami to leave on a certain date. Swami left the place, telling
him not to go. What was to be done now? He stayed back.
One day, while he was passing by the canteen building where some
construction work was going on, a brick fell on his head. He
sustained an injury and went to the hospital, where he received
some sutures and a bandage. He felt so bad. ‘Though Swami asked me
to stay back, I should have gone. I should blame myself for having
obeyed His command. I did not go, and now I have a head injury as
a result of the brick falling on my head.’ That was his feeling.
Next day, he saw the newspaper. The train he was supposed to
travel on had de-railed and 100 people died! He would have been
amongst them. Then he thought, “This head injury is much better
than total collapse!” (Laughter)
“Swami wanted me to stay back for my own good,” he thought.
After Swami returned to Parthi, He smiled at this man and said,
“Oh! You are still alive? Good!” (Laughter). Sai for you and me.
When did you change your dress?
Another instance is that of a Bal
Vikas teacher from the State of Orissa. This teacher was looking
after her aged mother, who was ailing for quite some time. Her
situation was critical. In spite of medication and regular
treatment, she was unable to recover.
One Sunday, this Bal Vikas teacher had to teach a class, but she
could not leave her mother alone. She was very keen to take the
class, but her mother was alone at home. What was to be done? She
took care of all her mother’s requirements. She gave her mother
all her medicines, and took care of her diet, gave her breakfast
and everything else she needed. Then she went in search for
someone to take care of her mother until she was to return from
her regular weekly Bal Vikas class.
With great difficulty, she found somebody to assist her mother
during the period of her absence. By the time she had organised
everything, she was very late for her Bal Vikas class.
Nevertheless, she went all the way to the school, where she was to
teach her regular Bal Vikas classes. When she arrived, she saw all
the children outside the classroom. She thought that they were
about to leave, having waited so long. She was most apologetic
that she could not be there on time.
As she approached the children, one boy came jumping towards her
and said, “Teacher! When did you change your dress? You were
teaching us in the classroom wearing a pink saree. Now I see you
wearing a white saree. When did you change your dress? I saw you
with a kumkum dot only; now I see vibhuthi also. When did you get
it?”
She was in tears. Bhagavan came in her form and taught the Bal
Vikas classes! Look at that!
Sai for you and me.
as a revenue officer
I can also give you the story of a revenue officer. He is a close
friend of mine, who retired in the Kurnool district, where he
settled. If you are keen to meet him, I shall introduce him to
you. He was serving as a revenue office before retirement. While
he was in service, he was the convenor of the local Sai centre.
During that time, he made a trip to Prashanti Nilayam.
I am sure that all of you would agree with me when I say that we
forget the date and the day, here in Prashanti Nilayam. Everyone
fumbles, “Is it the fifth?”
“No, no, no! It’s the seventh!”
“The seventh??”
“No, no! Possibly it’s the eighth.” (Laughter)
“Is it Monday?”
“No, no, sir! Thursday.”
“Oh! Thursday? Fool! Today is Sunday!”
“Oho! Is that so?” (Laughter)
So, we forget the date and the day because Prashanti Nilayam is
beyond time and space. Baba is beyond time and space. So, we will
not have time consciousness, date consciousness or day awareness
either, because we live within ourselves. The real Self is beyond
time. The real Self is Bhagavan Himself. Therefore, we are not
aware of time and space.
So, this revenue officer came here and stayed. He overstayed. He
had applied for casual leave for a week, but stayed here for three
weeks. No responsible fellow would ever do it. What was to be
done? While passing by him, Swami said, “When are you going?”
This man thought, ‘I have been here for the past three weeks. You
never cared to look at me until now, and today You ask me when I
am going?’ Unknowingly he replied, “Now, Swami!”
Having said now, he had to go. He went straight to his office,
thinking that he would face either dismissal or at least a
suspension. He thought there would be some police complaint about
a missing officer. He was expecting something like that. He went
straight to his office and met his personal clerk there.
The clerk said, “Sir! You only left now. How is that you have come
back again? Are there papers to be signed? Are there cheques to be
signed? Why have you come back, sir? You should have given me a
phone call. I would have come to your residence.
This man was wonderstruck. But not wishing to expose himself
before his personal assistant, he said, “Yes, yes, yes! I didn’t
have any feeling to stay at home, so I came back to the office.”
He went straight to the attendance register where he is supposed
to sign everyday. He saw his own signature in the attendance
register for the entire three weeks of his absence! What sort of
situation is this!
Suddenly his camp clerk came. “Sir! Here is our monthly programme,
which you signed yesterday. We are to leave tomorrow morning.”
He replied, “Yes, yes, yes! We will certainly go.” (Laughter)
He was yet to draw his monthly pay packet. All government
officials know that if they don’t draw their salary within a
couple of days after it reaches the office, the salary will be
deposited back in the treasury. It cannot be kept in the office
for long. This man was in dire need of money. What was to be done?
He began talking to the cashier/accountant, who said, “Sir, I am
yet to deposit your money back to the treasury. I have forgotten.
Please excuse me, sir. I have not deposited your money because I
am very busy with the accounts.”
This man said, “Yes, yes. I know. You can cash it and give it to
me now.”
My dear friends! This is an instance where Baba did the job of the
revenue officer! Earlier I related the case where Baba served as
the Bal Vikas guru, in the role of a woman, dressed in a saree,
with a kumkum dot. (Laughter)
A patient needs a doctor
Someone yesterday asked me a
question, “How is it that Baba is not taking letters from ladies,
these days?” I told them, “Sometime back, Swami’s car just moved
around where the ladies were seated. It didn’t come towards the
gents’ side at all. We never complained. So, our life is our
message. Learn from us!” (Laughter)
So, those of us who feel that Swami is not going towards the
women’s side should know that in fact, Swami has full concern for
them. He is a woman among women. Someone asked Swami, “Why don’t
You spend as much time with the girls from Anantapur campus as You
spend with the boys of Brindavan and Prashanti Nilayam campus?”
Do you know the answer? He said, “Who needs a doctor? A patient
needs a doctor, not a healthy man. Women are spiritually healthy;
men are spiritually weak and sick. So, I have to give them
treatment.” (Applause)
And He further said, “If you just see the university ranks, though
I have not gone to Anantapur campus for the last twelve years, all
of the girls passed in ‘O’ grade, above 80 percent. Though I am
talking with these fellows, some get ‘B’ grade, some also fail.
Therefore, they need more medication and treatment than the
girls.” The third point He made was, “The girls have steadiness in
their devotion. They have got strong faith. So, they don’t need
the attention.” That’s what Bhagavan said.
Swami puts out the fire
I can give you another example of a
devotee from Orissa, a lady. Unfortunately, whilst she was
cooking, her saree caught fire. The whole saree was ablaze.
Suddenly, she began shouting, “Sairam!” This incident is recorded,
along with her name and address.
“I am a student of science, with plenty of common sense. Yet,“ she
tells openly, “out of the picture of Bhagavan, Swami came walking
towards me and put out the fire. My body does not have the
slightest scar!” Sai for you and me.
Students are saved
Bhagavan saves people. I will give
you an instance of two youngsters who worked in the World Trade
Centre, New York. On September 11th, the Trade Centre was the
scene of one of the worst tragedies in human history. The tragic
incident was an example of human cruelty, brutality and the
demonic nature of man. Humanity should feel ashamed about the
bombing of the World Trade Centre. We feel very bad about it, very
sad about it. Man cannot feel proud of himself for that
treacherous act.
I want to bring to your attention, the experience of two boys who
worked there. One boy worked throughout the night on his office
files. He went to sleep at around 3 o’clock in the morning. By the
time he woke up, it was 9 o’clock in the morning. When he rushed
to the office, he saw that the multi-storeyed building had indeed
collapsed. His delay saved his life. As a result of working
throughout the night, he could not get up in time to report to the
office. This saved his life. Sai for you and me.
What happened to the other boy? (These are the two students of
Swami’s college. That’s why I am bringing these to your special
attention.) There was a restaurant on the top of the World Trade
Centre. This boy used to have his breakfast there, on the top of
the building. But on that tragic day, he decided, ‘Why not, for a
change, go elsewhere to have my breakfast?’ He left the building.
By the time he finished breakfast, the Trade Centre had been
attacked! “This is how Swami saved me,” reports that boy, a former
student of this institute. Sai for you and for me.
It’s abc, not BBC!
I have a number of things to share
with you. I would like to conclude this morning’s session with a
note that Sai is for you and me, and for all – but He gives us the
feeling that He is exclusively for each of us. (Laughter)
Let me tell you, we are a Sai family; there are no secrets between
us. Particularly, in the life of Anil Kumar. I do not even know
the spelling of ‘SECRET’ (Laughter). Until now it has not been in
my life’s dictionary. I am sure it will not be in it in the future
either, because I tell everybody everything. Whatever you tell me
will be broadcasted and telecasted immediately (Laughter). ABC –
Anil Kumar Broadcasting Corporation (Laughter). It is not BBC.
Know that you are talking to ABC. Be more cautious.
The mystery of divinity
I want to inform you, brothers and
sisters, of another thing that happened. A close relation of mine
started narrating her experiences to me. I was simply listening.
Suddenly she said, “Your face has no expression. Are you not
interested?”
I said, “I have been hearing all this, day in and day out. Many
people have similar experiences.”
She got wild. “Why do you say that? Only I had the interview. Do
you know that?”
“Oh, I see!”
“I am exclusively fortunate to hear these words from Swami. Do you
realise that?”
What to do? She started bombarding me (Laughter). A close relation
- I can’t ask her to go. I listened patiently and finally said,
“This is the feeling of every devotee. Everyone says, ‘Swami spoke
to me, not to you.’ Do you know that?”
“Oh, I see.”
“These are words especially meant for me. Not for anybody else.”
“Oho!”
This is the mystery of Divinity. He is personal and yet
impersonal. By making everybody feel that they are special, He is
a personal God. By saving everybody, by appearing to everybody in
their dreams, physically, and however else, He belongs to
everybody. Baba is personal and also impersonal.
All are his children
Bhagavan is sensitive to all
creatures, not only human beings. One day in Brindavan, Swami was
passing by some plants. There are so many plants in Brindavan. You
must have seen their flowers. Bangalore is the city of gardens.
There are beautiful flowers in Brindavan. But there was one plant
which was dry and without flowers. Swami stopped there for a while
and called the boys. “Can’t you water that plant? Why don’t you
help that plant? The plant has got life just as you have.”
If the plant was fortunate enough to be able to speak, it would
have said, “Swami saved my life! This happened uniquely for me, no
one else.” (Laughter) So Swami cares for plants too.
You must have heard of Sai Geetha, Swami’s elephant. She is quite
old now. In the years of her youth, when she was first presented
to Swami, she used to be tied up to a post, very close to Swami’s
building. She was quite uncontrollable then. Nobody could control
her. So, once, the mahout started whipping her. Suddenly, Swami
opened His window and admonished that mahout. He said, “I will
send you away. Don’t whip the elephant. Don’t punish her.” Swami
cares for animals.
In the old days, when people had to come all the way across the
Chitravati sands during summer, they used to travel in bullock
carts. After their arrival, Swami used to ask them, “Can’t you
walk? Those bulls could not pull those carts across the sands.
Couldn’t you walk and carry the luggage, which was in the cart?
Can’t you walk?”
Swami is concerned because Swami is present: “Cheemalo, Brahmalo,
Sivakesavaadulalo.” God is present in every microcosm, macrocosm
and also in Brahman and the cosmos. Swami cares for everybody and
everything.
Do you know Sai Baba?
One day Swami was proceeding to
Ooty. In the old days, Swami used to visit Ooty, also called
Ootacamund. There was one school there, which is no longer in
existence. It was a beautiful school! I visited Ooty with Swami.
One day, whilst Swami was proceeding to Ooty, He suddenly stopped
His car. He saw a little child crying on the road, whilst its
grandmother was a certain distance away, doing her work. She was
just a casual labourer. She was working.
Baba stopped the car, got out and walked to her. He said, “Amma!
Neeku Sai Baba telusaa?” (Do you know Sai Baba?)
And that lady said, “I know.”
Then Baba said,”Nenu telusaa?” (Do you know Me?)
“I don’t know.” (Laughter)
Then Baba said, “I am Sai Baba.” (Laughter)
That lady immediately got up and fell at His Feet.
Swami said, “Paapam! Your grandchild is crying there. Don’t make
the child cry like that. Come on! Take it.”
He gave her a number of boxes of sweets, clothes, and money. He
then moved on. This is Baba for you and me. His Love is universal.
He loves everybody, but gives the feeling that it is exclusively
for each one. He is both personal and impersonal.
Dhoop
He granted an interview sometime
back to a group of devotees. Amongst them was one person who had
not given up his habit of smoking. Swami didn’t want to hurt his
feelings because he was a visitor coming for the first time. Yet
He wished to correct him. If it had been a regular devotee, or a
confirmed devotee, he would have received different treatment!
(Laughter) But this man was on his first visit. He was on a
‘visitor’s visa’ (Laughter). He should not feel threatened, you
see.
So, Swami said, “Mmmm…Dhoopam ayipoyindhana maata.”
Dhoop means what? After lighting incense sticks, we offer Dhoop –
the fragrant smoke to God, during worship time. So, Dhoop means
the smoke of the incense sticks, which we offer to God. But, what
Baba meant here was the smoke of the cigar! (Laughter)
The man’s feelings were not hurt in front of the others, but he
could get the meaning (Laughter).
“Oh! You have completed your Dhoop (last smoke or last puff of
cigar)!”
Swami corrects everybody. And that was the last cigar he ever had
in his life. He became a non-smoker thereafter. Sai for you and
me.
For you and for me and for entire human race
One day, during Krishnashtami, there
was a garland of white jasmine flowers. Swami started playing with
those flowers and dropped a few flowers on the ground. All of us
were watching. They were transformed into precious shining gems!
On another occasion, it was Paaduka Pooja. The Paaduka festival
was proceeding in a big way. On the last day, many gold coins were
placed in front of Him. What did He do? He collected a fistful of
gold coins and threw them at the devotees, “Come on! Take it! Take
it.”
Whether it is gold, a flower, a gem or a diamond, all are the same
before God. God is One who loves all. “All are one, my dear son.
Be alike to everyone.”
Sai Ram! Thank you very much.
Anil Kumar then concluded the satsang by singing, ”Bhajamana
Narayana Narayana Narayana.”
OM… OM… 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
Jai Bolo Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba Ji Ki Jai!
Thank you!
Source:
http://www.internety.com/anilk2004/08.02.04(E)central.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/
|