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Prashanthi Bullettin - July
4th to 11th, 2005
July
11th, 2005
This morning was an unforgettable one for all students and
staff of the Institute. The Foyer prayer session had just
begun and the Management students were getting prepared for
their Workshop. Vedam was being taught in the Foyer as part
of the Prayer session, when there was some commotion on the
road outside. Some of us who were outside the Foyer realized
that it was Swami's car making its way forward. We thought
that Bhagawan must be going out for a visit to the Hospital
or just for a round as He does sometimes, Blessing people on
the way! Least did we know what surprise was in store for
us!
As Bhagawan's car came close to the Institute entrance gate,
we found devotees rushing forward. To our greatest surprise,
the car turned inside the College Campus. We were stunned.
What were we to do? Immediately, the Principal Prof. U.S.
Rao was intimated about Swami's arrival and he came running
all the way. By then, Swami's car had already proceeded half
way to the Auditorium side entrance. Prof. Rao ran to the
car and there was some interaction with Bhagawan.
Meanwhile, some students ran to the Auditorium and opened
the doors. The Workshop was to be held in the Audio Visual
Room of the College and hence the Auditorium was not in use
this morning. The car slowly moved forward and was finally
parked near the Auditorium side entrance, from where
Bhagawan used to enter the Auditorium in earlier days. By
now, Prof. A. Sudhir Bhaskar and some others had reached the
spot and were interacting with Swami.
The news reached the Vice Chancellor who rushed from his
office to the College. Swami then asked for Sri S.V. Giri
our former Vice-Chancellor. He too drove down in a few
minutes. All along, Bhagawan was silently sitting in the
car, Blissful as ever! We were standing over there in awe
and wonder at the immense patience of our Lord! By now the
students had moved into the Auditorium and Bhajans were
going on in full swing.
Inside the Auditorium there was pandemonium. There were one
set of students arranging Swami's Chair, another set
arranging the Public Address System and some more were busy
in miscellaneous tasks. Welcoming Bhagawan is not a simple
task. We need to be perfect in welcoming the Lord who is the
embodiment of perfection!
A short while later, the guest speakers for the Management
Workshop also arrived and took there seats. It was 9.00 a.m.
Our Lord had sat in the car waiting for the preparations to
be made for a full 40 minutes. Incidentally, today happens
to be a Monday and Rahu Kalam just ended at 9.00 a.m.
(Divine Will !).
The Vice Chancellor offered a rose to Bhagawan and the chair
manoeuvered itself outside the car. Swami entered the
Auditorium and sat down in the centre, in front of the
stage, facing the first row of chairs. There was a podium
arranged next to Swami's Chair. Bhagawan looked at everybody
seated in the Hall and then signaled for the Vedam chanting.
A large group of students came in from the side door and
chanted Vedam.
Swami then asked the Vice Chancellor to speak. The Vice
Chancellor gave a very brief talk for around 5 minutes,
summing up the various initiatives taken in the Institute
since June 2005 in the areas of various academic programmes,
Human Values integration, etc. After his talk, the mike was
arranged for Swami and the Management Professors prayed to
Swami to Bless the Workshop with His Message. However, Swami
was looking for something else.
After a few minutes Bhagawan indicated for His regular chair
in which He normally used to sit when He came for viewing
programmes to the Institute. The sofa was brought
immediately. Then Bhagawan was assisted in shifting from the
Porte Chair to the red coloured sofa. The sofa was placed
facing the stage in the middle of the Hall in line with the
first row of chairs. Once He was in this position, He asked
for the programme to begin!
What a crisis! No one was clear which programme was to
begin. The talks of the Management Executives were arranged
in the Audio Visual Room. Was that to be held here or was it
something else? Very soon, it became clear that Swami was
looking for the Music boys. Well, so that's it. It was going
to be a continuation of yesterday's Music Programme.
Within minutes, the Music Group was ready on the stage.
Mikes were arranged and the songs began. After a few
glitches with the mikes and speakers, in due course, things
went on fine. Tyagaraja Keertanas, "Piba Re Rama Rasam" and
other classical songs were rendered. It was around 9.30 a.m.
and Swami asked them to sing the "Rama Katha" song. Once
again, boys ran helter and skelter to get the appropriate
instruments. Within minutes, the Rama Katha began. It was a
soul stirring experience!
Swami was very involved in the music. He kept talking to Sri
S.V. Giri and Sri Gokak every few minutes and was also
giving instructions to the singers on the stage. We were
very surprised to hear Bhagawan talking so loudly that His
voice could be heard by the singers on the stage. He is all
mystery and inscrutable! At 10.00 a.m. the Rama Katha came
to a close. Swami was very happy with the performance. The
two lead singers Sri Omprasad (I M.Sc. Phy) and S.V.B.S. Sai
Krishna (II MBA) came running down for His Blessings. There
was a long feedback session and Swami gave them a number of
tips regarding singing.
In the course of His interaction, suddenly, He waved His
right Hand and created a gold ring for Brother Sai Krishna.
There was loud applause and all students raised their heads
to see the ring and the lucky recipient and above all the
Creator! By 10.05 a.m. Swami signaled for His chair. Once
again, He shifted to the Toyota Porte chair and as He went
past the aisle to the exit door, the Management Workshop
Guest speakers standing along the path were Blessed.
Prasadam had been arranged (very thoughtful of somebody) and
was Blessed and distributed to all. Swami took Aarti and
moved to the car.
The car made its way outside the College Campus. What a most
fortunate and lucky day it is for the Institute and all of
us. A most unexpected visit and most cherishable moments in
the Lord's Presence!! The entire Campus was Blessed by His
sacred and Divine Presence.
In the evening, Bhagawan came out at around 3.00 p.m., took
a full round of the Darshan Hall and stopped near the
interview room door. He waited until all the students came
for Darshan and moved over to the centre of the dais. Vedam
chanting went on in full swing. At 4.10 p.m. Swami called
the Vedam Teachers forward. Brother Sudhindran, Dr. Anil
Kumar and Sri Vedanarayana went towards Swami. Bhagawan
spoke to them for some time and then with a wave of His
Hand, He materialized a beautiful gold chain for Sri
Vedanarayana. Bhagawan spent a long time in untangling the
chain and all the while Sri Vedanarayana spoke to Swami. One
could see the Bliss on both the faces! Finally Swami Blessed
him and put the chain around his neck. There was loud
applause in the Kulwant Hall.
After this Vedam chanting stopped for some time. Prasadam
distribution began and at 4.20 p.m., Rudram chanting
commenced once again. At 4.25 p.m. Swami went inside the
Bhajan Hall and there He had a wonderful informal session
with the Bhajan Boys. He asked them to sing some songs like
"Challa Gaalilo", "Madhura Mohana" and "Kondalalo..." -
suggesting changes, telling them the correct way to sing,
and so on. After the interaction Bhagawan retired at 5.15
p.m. Bhajans went on till 5.30 p.m. concluding with Aarti.
July 10th, 2005
This evening, Swami was out very early - before 3.00 p.m.!
He waited near the interview room door, talking to the Vice
Chancellor. Then, He left the Hall for a ride through the
campus. At 3.40 p.m. He reentered the Kulwant Hall. The car
moved towards the portico and came onto the stage.
This evening, the Music Group boys of the Institute had
planned for a Music Programme. They were all set, waiting
for Swami's arrival. The Vice Chancellor went forward and
told Swami that the boys were ready with the programme. The
sofa moved out of the car and Swami sat in His regular
position the centre of the dais close to the Brass railings.
He immediately stopped the Vedam chanting and asked the boys
to begin their presentation. What followed was something
worth witnessing! The Lord has some surprises for us
everyday. We thought it would be a regular Music Programme
with classical and some light devotional songs.
The first song was "Deva Namo Deva..." - a Telugu
composition. After one verse, Swami asked them to stop and
begin another song. They sang the most popular "Madhura
Mohana Ghana Shyama Sundara Sai...." This too went on for
some time and then Swami intervened.
He called the lead singers front and gave them some
instructions. They went back. A few minutes elapsed possibly
they were trying to work out how best to meet the unexpected
demand from the Lord! Crisis Management in action! "Kondala
Nelakonda Koneti Rayuduvadu..." began and half way through,
they switched over to "Sai Charanam Baba Charanam
Sharanam...."
Even this was not completed. Swami had some more
instructions for them. Next came "Murahara Nee Charanamu
Veedaga...." It looked like some selections were going on.
Sample testing as they call it! "Krishna Krupa Sagaram",
"Appa Rama Shakti Ento Goppa Ra", "Ranga Baro Panduranga
Baro", "Rama Nannu Brovaraa" - all these followed in short
bursts.
By 4.15, the 'music programme' came to an abrupt end. We
were left wondering, whereas Swami was giving them some
clear cut instructions. Who can ever understand His
mysterious ways? He called the lead singers again and spoke
to them for quite some time. Subsequently, He went into the
interview room. All students rushed into the Bhajan Hall, as
they do whenever Swami goes inside for Bhajans.
Once Swami goes inside for Bhajans, it is a real feast. He
stays inside the Bhajan Hall throughout the Bhajans and even
for the complete Aarti. Only after the Lokaa Samasta Sukhino
Bhaavantu and 3 times Shanti, the sofa is wheeled out
towards the car. Therefore, students literally wait to rush
into the Bhajan Hall and book a place for themselves!
This evening, Bhajans began at 4.30 p.m. itself. A few
minutes later Swami went back to the Poornachandra
Auditorium. Bhajans went on till 5.00 p.m. and then Aarti
brought the day to a close. On quite a few occasions Swami
leaves the Mandir during the Bhajans. At such times, the
Bhajans go on for exactly half an hour and then Aarti is
given.
Thus each day is full of new patterns. The Lord is truly an
enigma wrapped in mystery! Who can ever comprehend His Ways!
Let us just sit back and enjoy and experience His very
Presence!
July 5th to 9th, 2005
On 5th , in the morning, Swami went in His car on a round
outside the Ashram. He went up to the Music College in
Vidyagiri, and after a few minutes, returned to the Ashram.
In the evening, Darshan was at 3.30 p.m. Swami sat outside
all the while and we had continuous Vedam Chanting. It was
great to see Bhagawan chanting with the students from time
to time, and He was all the while encouraging them to chant
with vigour by often nodding His head in sync with the
intonations of the chants.
The same pattern continued on the following days. Swami
spent long hours sitting outside in full view of the
devotees giving all of us a golden opportunity to feast on
His Divine Form. He would sit all the while, absolutely
still, looking into the emptiness and this gave us a feel of
what Divinity is all about. He is the unchanging eternal
Witness and that is the feeling one gets these days when
Bhagawan sits outside during Darshan.
But now and then, He suddenly asks for letters and then it
is great to see one student after the other, going forward
and giving their letters to Swami. Bhagawan spends quite
some time with each boy talking to him, asking him some
questions and giving him some answers. It's a great sight to
watch the Divine interaction.
The best part is when Swami calls the Birthday boys. They
move forward like a train with a number of compartments.
Each one makes the best of the opportunity, giving letters,
getting Blessings, praying for solutions to their problems -
a total package! Very patiently, Swami caters to the needs
of each one and the whole episode goes on for quite some
time, to the delight of one and all.
One evening, Swami went inside the Bhajan Hall, which He
does occasionally. Inside the Bhajan Hall, He spent some
time talking to the Bhajan singers and others seated in
front. He spoke to them about the life of Paanchaali
(Draupadi) and Savitri. In the course of His conversation,
He materialized a huge locket (round disc) having a colour
portrait of Lord Rama profile view in the typical posture of
holding the bow and arrow. The other side was shining with
gold. Bhagawan gave the sacred locket to a senior faculty
member.
On 9th July, the Dean of the School of Business Management,
Prof. U.S. Rao sat in front in the Darshan lines, to pray to
Bhagawan for Blessing the Management Workshop that commences
in the Institute on the 11th and goes till the 13th . The
theme is: "Service Sector in India - Building World Class
Organizations". As the car went gliding by the stage, Swami
called him and spoke to him for a while and gave His
Blessings for the Workshop.
A group of Sai Students (Alumni of the Institute) had come
to Parthi to have Bhagawan's Darshan and seek an audience
with the Vice Chancellor and identify opportunities for the
Alumni of the Institute to offer their service as part of
the 80th year celebrations of the Avatar. The Vice
Chancellor spent quite some time talking to them and giving
them guidance and advice regarding their role in the
oncoming celebrations of Bhagawan's 80th Birthday.
July 4th, 2005
This evening, Swami came out for Darshan at 3.50 p.m. A
group of devotees from USA were seated in front, ready to
put up a programme in the Divine Presence. A huge backdrop
draped with a dark blue screen was erected at the rear end
of the Kulwant Hall. On it was the following text:
THE ONLY ELEMENT
SSE Children Region X USA
The dais too was very well decorated with flowers. The
pillars on either side of the stage and even the brass
railings bordering the stage were decked with bright orange
colour flowers.
At 4.00 p.m. two young boys dressed as Vedic Pundits went
forward to Swami. They had a yellow Angavastram (upper
garment) draped around their pant and shirts making them
look like Pundits. They offered a bouquet to Swami who
received with them with Love and Blessed the two lads. At
4.15 p.m. Vedam chanting stopped on Swami's command. Two
young girls now went forward to offer their Pranaams with
flower bouquets. Another two went forward with a programme
card and three more with a tray of fruits, chocolates etc,
for Blessings.
Swami spent a long time reading the contents of the
Programme Card and Blessed all the children talking to them
and enquiring about their details.
The play was a 50 minute presentation on the importance of
the five elements in life which have been bestowed as a free
gift for humanity by God. Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Ether.
It depicted through the lives of two gentlemen, Shawn and
Sid, a number of instances where the two experience the joy
of selfless service to the needy. Thanksgiving Day
celebration forms the backdrop for the play.
A brief description of the play:
Shawn joins Sid's family as they go out to serve food to the
homeless at the shelter in downtown. It was wonderful to
share the gift of food that Mother Earth has bestowed upon
us in abundance. He realizes the significance of the element
Earth.
Shawn goes on to serve a thirsty person with Water, a person
shivering in the cold with a warm blanket (Fire); a person
wilting under the oppressive heat with a fan (Air). When he
experiences in return, the helping hand of the very people
he was serving, he is thrilled to experience the joy and
brotherhood among men! All of this takes place in space
(Ether) created by God.
Finally, the play concludes by revealing to Shawn and Sid,
the One Final Element that transcends all these. That is the
Element of Love - Selfless Love!
All Seva depicted in the play were based on real life
events.
At 5.05 p.m. all the participants joined together in a
closing song. The play was followed by a series of light
devotional songs in English and Hindi sung by elderly
devotees from USA. At 5.30 p.m., Swami signaled for the next
group. Yet another team of singers came forward and sang a
number of Bhajans and devotional songs. Prasadam was
distributed to all. Swami was totally involved in the songs
and kept beat with His right Hand all the while.
At 5.45 p.m. Aarti was offered and Swami retired for the
day.
Source:
http://radiosai.org/pages/PB.htm
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