|
Report on International Sai
Medical Conference
3rd- 4th September, 2005
Bhagawan Sri
Sathya Sai Baba has often stated that spiritual progress is not
possible until one is equipped with a healthy body and a sound
mind. Hence, healthcare is one of the major areas of focus for
service projects undertaken by Bhagawan as a part of His Divine
Mission. Commemorating the 80th year of the Advent of Bhagawan,
the Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organization organized an International
Sai Medical Conference on 3rd and 4th of September, 2005 in
Prasanthi Nilayam. More than 900 doctors, surgeons, professors
and medical experts and eminent personalities across various
specializations in the fields of medicine and healthcare from
across the globe assembled at the Divine Lotus Feet to imbibe
the Divine teachings and to discern their role in the Divine
Mission.
On 3rd morning,
Bhagawan inaugurated an exhibition on the theme "Global Sai
Health Mission", which highlighted the medical Seva undertaken
by Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organizations all over the world. At 8.30
a.m., Bhagawan granted darshan to the thousands assembled in Sai
Kulwant Hall and formally inaugurated the conference by lighting
a lamp. Dr. Michael Goldstein, the chairman of the Prasanthi
Council, welcomed the delegates and spoke a few words by way of
introduction and outlined the scope of the conference. He was
followed by Dr. A.N.Safaya, Director, Sri Sathya Sai Institute
of Higher Medical Sciences, Prasanthi Gram
and Whitefield. Dr. Safaya is an eminent figure in the Indian
medical scene having held the post of Medical Superintendent,
All India Institute of Medical Sciences for nineteen years
before taking over as Director at Bhagawan's super-speciality
hospitals. Dr. Safaya chose to speak on the theme, 'Ideal Sai
Healthcare'. He held out the super-speciality hospitals and the
general hospitals set up by Bhagawan at Prasanthi Nilayam and
Whitefield, Bangalore as sterling examples of translating
Bhagawan's vision of healthcare into reality. He said that the
basis of Bhagawan's mission of healthcare is Divine Love that is
given to everyone equally without any consideration of religion,
nationality or economic status. This philosophy of healthcare
stands on four pillars:
- Globalisation of medicine - Healthcare should be made
available to one and all.
- Decommercialisation of medicine - Quality medical care
should be provided absolutely free of charge.
- Human Values in medicine - Medical care should be
administered with love.
- Spiritualisation of medicine - It should cater to the
needs of not just the patient's body but also the mind and
soul.
By applying these canons,
doctors can understand that the interaction between the patient
and the doctor has a spiritual dimension to it. They learn to
treat patients as human beings rather than as a disease complex.
It is in this way that the ancient Indian ideal of 'Arogyam',
the absence of disease, can be achieved.
Dr. Safaya concluded by saying
that by establishing these hospitals, Bhagawan has provided the
medical community with a working model that can be replicated
anywhere and help in realizing the vision of health for all.
Dr.
Alan H. Gradman, Chief Cardiologist at Western Pennsylvania
Hospital, Pittsburgh was the next speaker. He began by outlining
the tremendous advances that have taken place in the past few
decades in the technology and techniques available for the
treatment of cardio-vascular diseases. However, he said,
concomitant with this positive development, there has arisen a
negative trend ? the invasion of economic self-interest into
healthcare. He said that the present economic model of
healthcare that is being followed in developed countries is
flawed as it allocates medical resources according to the
ability to pay rather than according to the need of the patient.
This results in an unfortunate situation where many people are
left without adequate medical attention. Bhagawan, Dr. Gradman
said, has given the remedy to this crisis, showing the world
what is possible in the field of healthcare by building
hospitals that provide world class medical care without charging
any fees whatsoever from the patients. The hospitals are also a
testimony to what wonders can be achieved by dedication and
commitment. Dr. Gradman concluded by saying that the most
important lesson he has learnt by observing the working of
Bhagawan's hospitals is that the definition of service is not
restricted to undertaking some welfare work in one's leisure;
doing one's duty diligently and with dedication is also a form
of service.
Bhagawan answered the prayers of the delegates and the thousands
gathered in Sai Kulwant Hall and granted His Divine Message. He
elaborated on the theme of what constitutes true education. In
modern society it is
commonly understood to be the transmission of the information
contained in text books. But, the true purpose of education,
Bhagawan said, is the awakening of the divine consciousness of
man. This process of awakening is called 'Educare'. In order to
get an education people traverse the entire globe, but Educare
only requires one to turn one's vision from the outside world to
the realms within. One must distance oneself from identification
with the body and realize one's identity with the Indweller of
the body, which knows neither birth nor death, joy nor sorrow,
bondage nor liberation. The body is given for the fulfillment of
a particular task, and one must retain the 'I' consciousness
only to accomplish that task. Relinquish physical attachments
for they only lead one to sorrow. The true devotee is one who
realizes the principle of Oneness by seeing divinity in all
creation, He said.
After
the inaugural session at Sai Kulwant Hall, the delegates
adjourned for the closed sessions in the Institute Auditorium
where many eminent medical professionals from different parts of
the globe presented their papers on the theme of the conference,
'Ideal Sai Healthcare'. After the deliberations held over two
days, the delegates again assembled in Bhagawan's presence on
the afternoon of 4th for the valedictory session of the
conference. Dr. Goldstein introduced the speakers for the
session. Dr. Michael Rakoff, a consultant in Hospital
Administration to many hospitals in USA, who spoke first,
recalled the advice given by Bhagawan when he asked Him how he
should teach ethics and human values to his students. Bhagawan
told him that the only way to teach the values of truth, love
and compassion is by putting them into practice in one's own
life. His conduct would engender the process of absorbing these
values in the students. Dr. Rakoff shared with the gathering
three most valuable lessons he had learnt from Bhagawan: 1) One
need not attempt to change the world. All that is needed is to
change oneself. 2) To have love and compassion towards all
beings 3) Unity of Thought, Word and Deed.
Dr.
Venkatraman Sadanand, Fellow of Paediatric Surgery in Children's
Memorial Hospital, Chicago and Adjunct Professor in Game Theory
at University of Guelph, Ontario was the next to speak. He said
that the need of the hour for doctors is to consider their
patients as God, sacrificing one's self interest for the welfare
of the patient. Indeed, doctors must function as conduits for
God's Love to flow into their patients.
After
the talks by Dr. Rakoff and Dr. Sadanand, Dr. Safaya and Dr.
Goldstein delivered their closing remarks on the proceedings of
the conference. Following this, Bhagawan graciously presented
mementos to the doctors who had made presentations during the
two day conference to the delegates, and also to the chief
organizers of the conference. A few of the doctors spoke on
behalf of the delegates expressing their gratitude to Bhagawan
and prayed for His blessings and guidance. The proceedings
concluded with arati being offered to Bhagawan.
Jai Sai Ram!
Photographs
Bhagawan at the Exhibition on the
theme, Global Sai Health Mission
Dr. Safaya addressing the delegates during the inaugural session
Dr. Alan Gradman presenting his views on the state of healthcare
in todays world
Bhagawan giving His Divine Message to the delegates
Dr. Michael Rakoff speaks during the valedictory session
Bhagawan blessing Dr. Sadanand with a gold chain materialized by
Him
Bhagawan presenting the speakers at the conference with mementos
Source:
http://srisathyasai.org.in/pages/International_Conference.htm
|