Here are a few excerpts of Prof. Anil Kumar’s talk delivered in the Divine Presence on the 13th july 2004.
“You Should Know That I Know”
These were the days when I was there in Brindavan quite fresh to the Sai system of education and the campus as well. (Prof. Anil Kumar had newly joined the Brindavan campus as the Principal of the college).
One Sunday Bhagavan drove straight to the campus about 8 am. Luckily I was there, even though usually we would take rest on Sundays but I congratulated my
stars that they had driven me to be present on that day most unexpectedly.
At that time there was a gentleman named Col. Sood from Punjab who, along with 18 associates, was working in the garden. Well I did not know who they were but someone told me that they do the work regularly.
Bhagavan got down from the car and asked me who are those men. I replied that I did not know. Bhagavan immediately said 'Can anybody step into the college like that and do work without your permission?' (Prof. Anil Kumar being the Principal).
What am I to do? But then I wanted to be smart and said 'Bhagavan shall I ask them to get out?' Bhagavan replied, 'Since you did not ask them to come in, how can you ask them to go?' I was stuck in between 'to be or not to be that is the question'. Swami smiled and left.
Then I thought it is my duty to keep myself abreast of the situation. I slowly approached Col. Sood and did some homework: who he was and his associates. I became familiar with all the data: so and so from Kerala, another from Tamil Nadu, etc.
Bhagavan again came to the college campus at 4 pm . Without being called to come close I ran up to Bhagavan and started to exhibit my knowledge. So and so is Col Sood, so and so from Kerala, so and so from Tamil Nadu.
Swami heard this and I thought that He appreciated my knowledge. Swami walked to Col. Sood and materialised a big ring for him. He then enquired about his son and daughter saying that she must be in her final year of medicine and that his son is in Patilia… He went on talking like this.
I was really non-plussed at that moment. I went up to Bhagavan and said 'Swami, when You know him and everybody very well, why did You ask me about them? Why did You listen to all this information from me?
Swami's reply is the message that we should take note of. He said,
"I know everything but you should know that I know - therefore I ask you."
Anything Can Happen At Anytime
Another experience that I wish to share with you happened in Kodai Kanal. We were all seated at the breakfast table and by my side was one gentleman by name Mohan Das. A very good gentleman of my age group and both of us usually sit together. Swami walked slowly up to us and said 'What is the breakfast?' Then I replied, 'Swami, poori and idli.'
'Oh I see' said Swami, 'good, good' and looked at the plate.
Then Swami came close to Mohan Das and picked up one poori saying, 'It is well done' and tore it at the centre. A diamond ring appeared there! Swami put it on Mohan Das' finger!
Watching all this I started to eat slowly. Bhagavan asked me why I was eating slowly? I replied,
'Swami who knows there may be a diamond ring in my poori also. I want to be extra careful so that it does not get stuck in my gullet by accident!'
Baba reposted, 'I am not going to give - ask your mother-in-law. '
So I saw the materialisation out of a poori ! Anything can happen at anytime
He Can Never Forget You
I remember Bhagavan attending a music concert in Choudaiah Memorial Hall in Bangalore . A very good music programme attended by the Chief Minister of Karnataka, the Chief Commissioner, the Railways Minister and Bhagavan presided over the whole programme.
At the end of the programme while Bhagavan was leaving the auditorium I saw an old couple who must have been in their 90's at the back of the hall. Swami went all the way there, took the old man's hand and asked him how he was. Swami blessed the couple and then left.
I was very much surprised at this but later I came to know that he had been the Electricity Board chairman and also an ardent devote of Bhagavan for a long time.
This only goes to prove that Bhagavan will never forget us. We may find it difficult to walk because of age, we may find it difficult to hear but Bhagavan always remembers everybody.
Long back in the 1980's a yagna was taking place in the Poornachandra auditorium. Next to me sat a man called Rajagopal, a revenue inspector from Venkatagiri. He told me that he had visited Prashanti Nilayam many years ago but he is returning now after 20 years. He related that Swami would visit Venkatagiri every year and sang some of the songs that Swami used to sing.
Around 9 am Swami started walking in the midst of the devotees, came straight to Rajagopal and said, 'Rajagopal, how are you?' This man was shocked! Swami remembered him after 20 years! And then Swami looked deep into his eyes and said,
'You might have forgotten Swami but Swami has not forgotten you.'
Swami remembers every one of you.
Now this is My car
Once a man brought a brand new car and asked Swami to accept it. Swami said that He did not want it. The man started crying but Swami replied,
"If I accept all the cars offered and they are all piled one on top of the other there will be no space to walk. So I do not want it.'
Then Swami gave him an interview but still the man was crying in the interview for Swami to accept the car. Bhagavan said, 'Alright, where are the keys?"
Swami took the keys saying,
Now this is my car. You run the car in My name; the car belongs to Me. You use it, you understand.'
He gave him back the keys.
The name of God is the most effective tonic; it will keep off all illness. Do not indulge in Namasmarana as a pastime, or a fashion or passing phase or as an unpleasant part of an imposed timetable or as a bitter quota to be fulfilled each day. Think it as a Sadhana to be seriously taken up for the purpose of reducing your attachments of fleeting objects, purifying and strengthening you and liberating you from the cycle of birth and death. Hold fast to it as the means of rescuing yourself in every way from the bonds of time and change. It has to become as much as a must, as breathing, as welcome to the tongue as sugar; as essential for happy living as sleep or food or water. Rise every day with the thought of God; go back to bed with the thought of His Glory as enshrined in His Name. Have faith in His Name and repeat it whenever you get the chance.
