From: Heart to Heart, Radio Sai E-Magazine, June
2005
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Sai-Sruthi |
Dear Reader,
This issue of Prasanthi Diary contains a
vivid description of Swami' s recent trip to
Kodaikanal in the month of May from the view of
a devotee sitting in the darshan lines.
Accompanying the article are some beautiful
photographs. We are compiling a more descriptive
story of the Kodai trip, including the
experiences of people fortunate to be Swami' s
guests, which will appear in the next
issue….Don' t miss it!
Kodai conjures many an image in the devotee' s
eye. For it is here where our Lord relaxes in
His 'playground' , dotes on His children and
pampers them with special attention. In the
emerald hills, Sai has a special twinkle in His
eyes and bewitched by His Love many come to be
blessed by the Creator of
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The-First-Glimpse
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all the wonders around them, rejoicing in the
splendour of the cool hills. For if Nature
Herself can renew the tired human spirit, then
surely the blessing of the Lord Himself will be
so much more, the Creator of all that is.
It
is with such thoughts that devotees make their
upward journey and eagerly approach ' Sai
Sruthi', the Lord' s residence. Firstly, one has
to walk along the charming lake-side to arrive
at the morning Darshan. The water is
lit up by the rising sun and the encompassing
trees seem to hold all in a silent benediction.
The lilies in the lake open up as one walks by,
as if to give a greeting. One cannot help but
feel a special excitement.
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Blessing-the-Ladies |
As
one nears Sai Sruthi one glimpses the line of
ladies on the other bank and then the men' s
line comes into view. It is certainly a happy
throng who await their turn to go inside. When
the lines are allowed inside, some are seated
under the green roof and some under the open
air.
When Bhajans begin all attention is
focused on the Holy Vision. There He comes….onto
the balcony. Our Lord turns first one way for
sometime…to see and to be seen. Then He turns
the other way until all have been assured of His
benign gaze, His Love and Protection. Sometimes
His hair blowing in
the wind necessitates sweet attention from His
hand. The flowers below offer fitting
accompaniment to the devotees' vision now
bursting with love and yearning. He raises His
hand to bless one…He raises both hands to all!
Oh, we are so happy!!
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Sooooo-Close!
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Is
that not enough? No! For then He walks down the
ramp, slowly but surely…100 Divine paces. This
occurs on the ladies side and from there (as the
days pass), Sai blesses some deserving devotees.
One lady calls out, "Swami, I am sick, please
help me". Sai rewards her with a golden necklace
and her previous downcast air is permanently
banished by His shining Love.
On
another day, a lady strains to hold up her baby
to Him. Sai' s hand blesses the little one -
golden light flashing to his golden hair. One
lady asks for a blessing of her japamala.
Swami refuses and instead creates a unique ring
- a wide band encrusted with small diamonds set
with 8 square larger rubies.
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He came out of the Bhajan Hall for
us |
Having left the ramp Swami then enters the golf
cart and comes past the devotees. He is
delightfully close - so much so, that seemingly
all can give Him their letter; all receive His
glance and all feel His Love. Swami is so close
that the daring ones can easily touch His Feet,
despite remonstrations from the attendants.
Swami is so close that all feel ' Sai is here
only for me!'
There was one group interview for an Iranian
family. They relate afterwards how Swami has
accepted their boy into His school.
(This child is called Sathya and led the prayers
last year at the festival of Prophet Mohammed' s
birthday held in the Sai Kulwant Hall.) How they
were able to hold Swami' s hand for ten minutes
inside the Interview Room and how they had
indescribable feelings while doing so.
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Overseeing-Narayana-Seva
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Bhajans are held in the hall in the
afternoon, but it is a difficult matter to get
inside due to special seating allocation! But
our Lord does not disappoint those waiting
outside and comes to light up those hearts that
are beating only for Him. Is not a second' s
vision of Him enough!
Our Lord' s compassion creates two special
mornings for those less fortunate brothers and
sisters; Narayana Seva. Hundreds throng
the ashram waiting for the blessing which only
He can give. Only He can arrange such a perfect
example of Love in Action; a demonstration for
the whole world of how we should conduct
ourselves. Swami comes to bless the
Narayanans and oversee the distribution of
saris, dhotis, blankets and food that
will remain a cherished memory for all who took
part.
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The-Charming-look |
The second of these Narayana Seva days
took place on May 6 th the death anniversary of
Easwaramma. Of course, our Lord gave His
nectarine Discourse which dealt with the holy
nature of Motherhood.
One feature of Kodai is the many trips our Lord
makes in the car. We do not know where He is
going - we only want a glance from Him. He seems
ever ready to oblige and seemingly all are
rendered blissful by His smiling face as the car
passes by.
But all good things must come to an end. And so
one leaves with so many impressions in mind. The
hills, the lake, the rain, the cool temperature,
waiting for Him. But the heart thrills with its
own impressions of how He came and made life
sweeter in so many ways. How just by Him passing
by one could live happily for the whole day. How
even one brief second' s Darshan was
enough to meditate upon and derive bliss.