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Parthi Update, 21-23 June, 2005
Sai Ram,
Below are the highlights of a Divine Discourse (on 23 June), the
second since Swami came to Parthy over the weekend.
21-06-2005
This morning, Bhagawan came out for Darshan at 8.30 a.m. and sat
through the Bhajans until 9.30 a.m. when Aarti was given.
In the evening, Swami came out at 3.20 p.m. There was a huge
backdrop
at the rear end of the Sai Kulwant Hall made by devotees from
Chhattisgarh. There was going to be a cultural programme by
devotees
from the Durg District of Chhattisgarh. Swami came and sat down
on the
stage. Vedam stopped at 3.30 p.m. Two members from the
coordinating
group came forward to Bhagawan. One offered a rose while the
other
unfolded a scroll containing the programme for the evening.
Swami very
keenly went through the contents of the scroll and then made a
few
queries about the same.
The programme was a tribal dance performed by a tribe called the
Satnami residing in the heart of Chhattisgarh. The dance master
named
Devdas Banjare from the village Dhanora, around 13 kms. from
Bhilai,
is an internationally reputed artist who has won the President's
Award
and has visited more than 64 countries in the last few years.
Being a
devotee of Bhagawan, his intense desire was to perform in the
Divine
Presence. The dance was a rigorous, vibrant dance with loud drum
beats
and cymbals being played by the dancers themselves. All the
postures
of the dance represented forms of worship to the saint - Sant
Ghasi
Das. This dance form is known as Panthi Nritya.
The dance went on non-stop for around 20 minutes and included a
number
of formations, pyramids, etc. At 3.50 p.m. the dancers moved out
of
the performing area amidst loud claps. Subsequently, Swami spoke
to
the event coordinator Mr. Srinivas for a long time. He showed
Swami an
album containing photographs of the different types of Seva that
they
were performing in the villages in Chhattisgarh. It included
Narayana
Seva, Medical Camps, Donating Sewing Machines, Performing Group
Marriages, etc. Swami was very pleased with all the service
activities
and He kept on enquiring with Mr. Srinivas about all the details
In fact, 186 people from all these villages had come for this
programme, from Chhattisgarh. These people had performed a
number of
spiritual activities before coming and we could see Swami
literally
responding to their prayers. Swami asked the coordinator how
they were
able to get funds for all these service activities. Swami then
asked
him to build a community hall in the village for performing
marriages
and other functions. Bhagawan said that the Central Trust would
sponsor this project. Bhagawan called Mr. Chakravarthi, the
Vice-Chancellor Sri Gokak and Sri S.V. Giri and asked them to
look
into the details of all the activities performed by them in
Chhattisgarh and provide all the necessary support!
The interaction with Mr. Srinivas went on till 4.10 p.m. Bhajans
were
sung by the devotees from Chhattisgarh. At 4.30 p.m., Aarti was
performed and Swami received the rose offered by one student and
tucked it into the hands of Mr. Srinivas! Bhagawan went into the
interview room and later retired to PC.
22-06-2005
This morning was a Darshan Bonanza. Swami came out at 7.45 a.m.
He sat
in the center of the stage and Vedam chanting went on. At around
8
a.m., He asked for the Vedam chanting to stop, and told the
teachers
in the Vedam group to go for their classes. Swami sat there till
Bhajans began at 9 a.m., in Divine silence. In fact, He
continued to
sit there till 9.35 a.m. Then He came in, took Aarti and went
inside
the interview room. People had a wonderful Darshan this morning!
In the evening, Swami was out by 3.30 p.m. Swami sat down at the
center of the dais. He received letters from some students,
spoke to
quite a few students and then even took some for an interview.
He
Blessed the Birthday boys too! At 4.30 p.m., Swami suddenly
called one
of the Vedam coordinators and asked then to chant the Purusha
Suktam.
At 4.40 p.m., He went inside the interview room with some
students.
Bhajans started at 5.00 p.m. and this evening we were all
privileged
to hear brother Ravi Kumar singing at Swami's command, the
Qawalli -
Sai Bina Raha Na Jaye....
Bhagawan took Aarti at 5.25 p.m. and retired for the day.
23-06-2005
Bhagawan was out in the evening at 4.00 p.m. He took a full
round, got
down near the interview room, and proceeded towards the center
of the
dais. The freshers among the I Year Post Graduate students were
ready
with a presentation this evening entitled 'Sevanjali'. However,
Swami
had other plans. He came and sat outside. The Vedam chanting was
stopped at 4.05 p.m. Bhagawan commanded Prof. Anil Gokak - the
current
Vice Chancellor of our Institute to speak a few words.
Prof. Gokak stated his talk by recalling the early part of his
father's life - how his father had developed the first streaks
of
faith when in Edinburgh, the Oxford University had given him
exemption
from the oral test keeping in view his ill health and on account
of
his excellent performance in the written test. He went down
memory
lane and stated that Bhagawan had extended his mother's life by
18
years and his father's life by 5 years. It was in 1965 that
Swami had
first visited their house, but then Prof. Anil Gokak had not
developed
strong faith in Swami.
It was only in 1969, when Prof. Anil Gokak went along with his
wife to
Swami and Bhagawan materialized a necklace and an apple for his
wife,
that he slowly started developing faith in Bhagawan. Initially
he was
focused on Swami's miracles but later being an administrator
himself,
he started taking interest in Swami's social activities. He
aptly
referred to Bhagawan as a 'Vedantic Socialist'.
Prof. Gokak said that he was very much moved by the book 'A
Catholic
Priest Meets Sai Baba'. In 2002 Prof. Gokak delivered a talk in
the
Summer Course in Indian Culture and Spirituality. By now he was
convinced that Bhagawan alone is the saviour of this world. He
said
that Swami always laid less emphasis on mere rituals and
directed all
to go towards the core. He stated that Bhagawan was not a
Vyaktinath
but a Lokanath.
He concluded his talk by drawing an analogy between an Avataar
and a
pilot who temporarily brings down his plane to the ground to
take a
few passengers and then fly back to the skies!
It was 4.30 p.m. and Swami now commanded Sri S.V. Giri, our
former
Vice-Chancellor to share his thoughts with the audience. Sri
S.V. Giri
also struck a personal note talking about the heart surgery that
he
had for the first time in 1989. Within 3 years, 4 of the 5
bypasses
had been blocked. On praying to Swami, Bhagawan had said there
was no
need for any further surgery. Though the doctors said that there
was
no way out other than a surgery, Sri S.V. Giri has been
continuing
since then, discharging all his responsibilities - purely on
account
of Bhagawan's Grace! He expressed his immense gratitude to swami
for
this benediction.
He then shared how Swami had facilitated his smooth exit from
the post
of the CVC (central Vigilance Commissioner) - Government of
India.
Swami had made sure that his resignation was accepted without
any
complications. Sri Giri stressed on the three most important
facets of
this Institute - Service, Society and Faith.
He concluded his talk by stressing on the Truth elucidated by
our
scriptures that all is one. Man and even the fruit fly are
equally
Divine, but man has evolved to great heights. Man's hands,
unlike his
ancestral species are free and this is because he is expected to
serve
others with these hands. He has been given a bigger brain so
that he
can think of practical solutions for the burning problems facing
the
society today. He has been bestowed with the rare gift of speech
(unique only to the species of human beings) so as to express
himself
and speak obligingly!
It was 4.50 p.m. and suddenly to our surprise and delight Swami
started giving His Divine Message. Mikes were soon kept in
place.
Bhagawan spoke until 5.45 p.m. and elaborately sketched the life
story
of Prof. Vinayak Gokak - the father of the current
Vice-Chancellor and
the first Vice-Chancellor of the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of
Higher
Learning. The highlights of Bhagawan's Discourse are as follows
(This
is based on notes taken during the Discourse and may not cover
all the
points).
Vyashti and Samashti and the link between them are very
important.
Transcending both these is Parameshti. Samatvam (equality) is
the link
between individual (Vyashti) and society (Samashti). What is the
role
of an individual in society? No one is able to totally
understand the
spirit of society. As one enquires deeply, Samashti too fades
away and
gives way to the transcending factor of Parameshti.
We find it very difficult to understand this transcendental
picture.
This was the position of Prof. Vinayak Gokak in the beginning.
(So
saying Swami went on to describe the life of Prof. Vinayak Gokak
in
very elaborate terms giving details of his spiritual journey to
Swami).
He read a number of books but could not understand the principle
of
Satyam and Nityam. He was not able to differentiate between Atma
and
Anatma. However, there is nothing like Anatma. There is only
Atma.
Later, Prof. Gokak realized the Truth in depth. I gave him a lot
of
support then. Sometimes continued help may lead to confusion.
But a
true devotee will be highly benefited by the support extended to
him.
Help is not the one which is temporary or momentary, but it must
be
everlasting.
Gradually, Prof. Gokak got rid of all doubts and held on to the
Eternal Truth. It is not easy for everybody to understand this
Divine
Principle. Those who depend on Truth remain changeless. The rest
keep
changing. One must necessarily face the consequences of whatever
they
do. It is only in the doubtless state that we can understand the
principle of oneness. Mere superficial enquiry will land you in
confusion. Truth represents doubtlessness. Such Truth is the
royal
path to Mukti (liberation).
Moksha means Moha + Kshaya. So long as there is Moha one cannot
attain
Moksha. Once Prof. Gokak came to Me and asked a question. "Am I
the
knower or is the conscience the knower?" Maya is the one that
comes in
between the Conscious and the Conscience. It is the main cause
for
delusion. Keep Maya (delusion) away and allow the Truth to come
forth.
Truth cannot be seen or heard. Beyond Conscious and Conscience,
there
is Consciousness. Truth is closest to Consciousness.
Thus his doubts got cleared. But then, once again he had another
fundamental doubt. He asked, "Swami, all my doubts have been
cleared
but where from did these doubts come?" He kept enquiring deeply
in
this way.
When individual reaches out to society, the society also reaches
out
to the individual. Finally, Prof. Gokak was able to understand
the
principle of Satyam and Nityam through Aurobindo's Savitri. The
question may arise, "Is Savitri feminine or masculine?" Savitri
is
beyond gender. Gokak became a scholar on Savitri. He
investigated his
inner most thoughts and realized the Truth.
(Swami continued His Discourse on the same lines, describing
several
instances where Swami had Blessed Prof. Gokak by touching his
head and
once even placing His finger on the Brumadhya Sthanam - point in
the
middle of the brows).
Since then, Prof. Gokak was in Bliss and his interaction with
Swami
reduced. All his doubts vanished and finally he said, "Swami, I
am
One! God is One! I do not need anything." Ultimately, he
visualized
Savitri. As we proceed along the path of Sadhana, we will
acquire
certain spiritual powers. But do not allow the mind to waver.
Hold on
to the fundamental principle. Truth is One, not two!
Bhagawan concluded His Message at 5.45 p.m. Bhajans began and at
5.55
p.m. He took Aarti and retired to the Poornachandra Auditorium.
Sairam
Source:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/saibabanews/message/8694
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