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Highlights of a Talk by Dr.
Goldstein & Mr. Kanu
By A Devotee from
Puttaparthi, IndiaDr.
Michael Goldstein, International Chairman of the Sai Organizations
was in London yesterday and addressed a public meeting. Apparently,
Swami asked him to address 6 other such meetings around the world
before Guru Poornima and asked him to start with London ! I got to
know this only today!
Dr. Goldstein and Mr. Victor Kanu
were the two speakers and both of them spoke very well. In fact,
the entire programme was very well conducted started exactly at
2.30pm as announced and more importantly, finished exactly at
4.30pm as announced! Rarely do we see a public function that keeps
to time on both sides.
I was also made aware of some of
the things happening around the world:
- The National Accreditation Body
of the UGC has said that Human Values should become an integral
part of the curriculum for all universities in India . They have
highlighted our Institute as the lead in this regard.
- There was recently a meeting
with Ministers from 19 Asian countries in Manila where the Sai
organization (Mr. Victor Kanu, Mr. Jum Sai and Dr. Goldstein I
think) made presentations on the Education in Human Values. They
have asked for another meeting later this month or next (I am not
sure) to finalise the plan. This would involve introducing the
Human Values curriculum in all these countries.
- I was also told on an earlier
occasion that some of the Latin American governments including
Brazil and Argentina have already made a plan for introduction of
Human Values education in their countries.
- Yesterday's function was
covered by BBC and ATN (Asian Television Network) apart from the
press. The BBC is apparently making a documentary on Swami's work
and has already been to Puttaparthy and interviewed Mr.
Chakravarthy (our Regi). BBC is going back to Parthy later this
month.
- The House of Lords in UK (the
equivalent of Rajya Sabha in India ) has invited some of our Sai
organization members to speak to them about the work of Swami.
- Mr. Victor Kanu had addressed
the UN General Assembly sometime back on the Human Values
programme and Swami's work in general.
- The African countries want to
learn from the Water projects done by Swami about how to solve the
water crisis they face in their countries.
Here are a few points from Dr.
Goldstein's and Mr. Victor Kanu's talks:
Dr. Goldstein:
- We need to have faith in God
cannot use reason to explain divinity and God
- We are truly selfless when we
are one with God
- Self confidence is essential to
spiritual progress; that also means following our inner conscience,
we will then be in heaven on earth
- The differences in religion are
a matter of emphasis, not of essence
- When the earth goes around its
own axis, and a day elapses; the earth goes around the Sun, and a
year passes by. We revolve around our own illusions and
attachments, and a whole life-time elapses!!
Mr. Victor Kanu:
- Swami is the only teacher who
has been teaching for over 60 years now without a salary;
without insurance and other benefits; without a pension!
- While most people in the world
talk about technological advancements in medicine, Swami quietly
heals innumerable number of people in His own inimitable style
without any consultation fee!
- He never tires, He never frowns;
always loves and forgives.
- Many of us who sit in the
veranda know what wrongs we have committed, and yet He comes and
speaks ever so lovingly. How easily He loves us all despite our
short-comings!
- When the Central Trust
approached Swami asking what birthday present they can give Him
for His 60 th birthday, He asked that they adopt 6000 villages and
care for those villages in all respects.
- And for the 70 th birthday,
again when they approached Him, He asked them to provide 70
tractors for villagers who are having difficulty ploughing their
fields; give 70 sewing machines to ladies as a means of
self-employment; 70 auto-rickshaws to unemployed youth in
Puttaparthy and perform at least 70 marriages for those who cannot
afford the expenditure.
- Contrast this with the way our
political leaders celebrate their birthdays!
- The hallmark of a great person
is that He does not think of Himself.
- The Sathya Sai Institute is the
only university whose students go into the villages to serve the
poor and needy
A Devotee
Puttaparthi, India |