85th B’day Celebrations– Program List

 

November 2010 Fireworks fly in Prashanti

Diwali used to be a very special event in Prashanti Nilayam. An evening discourse would be followed by a burst of activity as the students would rush to gather on the stupa lawns opposite to the Poornachandra. Then there would be fireworks, the beginning of which would happen with Swami triggering a garland of fireworks through a switch. With the construction of the Yajur mandir, the lawns have almost disappeared. For the past few years, a few children would burst a few firecrackers in Swami’s presence in front of the Residence. This year however, Swami had a lovely surprise for all. Diwali celebrations restarted with a ‘bang’ literally in the Sri Sathya Sai Hill view stadium!

Announcements were made that all devotees assemble at the Vidyagiri stadium instead of the Kulwant hall. Swami would be arriving at the stadium shortly before 6pm. And so, the entire schedule was shifted to the stadium. Veda chanting began at 4:30pm and the bhajans began at 5:30pm. Special stands had been erected in the grounds and the galleries which would be hosting the fireworks. Sharp before 6pm, Swami arrived to the ground and He was accorded a grand welcome by children bearing lamps and lights. At the Shanti Vedika, Swami moved up the stage via the lift and lit the lamp to mark the beginning of the celebrations.

And then started the fireworks that lit up the skies. A cyclone was predicted by the meteorological department but it was evident that it had been cancelled by the HOD of all these departments! There was not a single cloud in the skies and the darkness that seemed to envelope earlier than usual, added to the glory and brightness from the fireworks. The skies were soon lit up and a plethora of flower pots sprayed colourful sparks on the hillside. Adding colour and gaiety to the event were groups of students who danced to the lively tunes of some devotional songs. Commentary was made available in Hindi, English and Telugu and through the words of these student commentators, flowed the meaning of the festival of lights and its inner significance. The stage was filled with VIPs and everyone seemed to be enjoying the light of the fireworks and the warmth of Swami’s hospitality.

The event that took the cake however, was when separate triggers lit up the letters, “85 YEARS OF LOVE” that got boldly emblazoned across the night skies. The sounds of the fireworks were drowned by the applause and joyous cheers that went around the stadium. All the students now gathered in the front in a formation singing out to Swami. “Swami, to live in your love is what our life is all about”, rang out the chorus and at the end of the song, Swami clapped and was so happy. The boys thundered, “We Love you Swami!” Swami was moved as He responded, “I love you all!” This was conveyed to the commentator who announced it over the mikes so that all could drink deeply into this statement of pure love! Students came forward and gave roses as the Aarthi was taken. Blessing everyone along the way, Swami descended the stage and then slowly got into the car. Waving to all, Swami left from the stadium at about 7:50pm.

You will never be abandoned

Bhagavan narrated this experience which happened 30 years ago. A devotee from East Godavari had come to Bhagavan and prayed to Him to come for a house warming ceremony. Swami consented to his prayer and fixed a date when He would be there. He even said, “I will be there on that day at 9:00 a.m.”

Given this Divine assurance, the devotee made all preparations for Bhagavan to visit his home in East Godavari. As usual, the yearly rains came and played havoc with the lives of the people. And that year too a cyclone hit East Godavari. As the Godavari River began to swell, so too did the hearts of the devotees with prayer. But God had given them His word and assured them that He will be there.

Swami says: “There may be people who suffer because they do not have Faith, but there is no one who will be let down if he has Faith..” Based on this assurance, they made ready to receive SWAMI in East Godavari.

Nature continued to pour down relentlessly on East Godavari and the only connection East Godavari had with the rest of the world was the old bridge at Rajahmundry. For obvious reasons, the district officials closed the bridge and no transportation was now possible across the river.But SWAMI had said He would go. And so, on the due date, He set forth with a few dignitaries to East Godavari. When they approached the river it was in full spate.

The district officials tried to dissuade the party from attempting to cross the bridge.They insisted that Swami had to give a declaration that He is taking the journey at His own risk. Consider the irony of the situation where God had to assure them of what He does!!!

Bhagavan wrote there: “Nothing will happen to anyone who is with me!”

Who else can give such an assurance except the POORNA AVATAR? And so, a small boat was arranged to ferry Bhagavan across to the other side. And it was in such a position that it had to go under the bridge to reach the shore.

The devotees gathered on either side of the river to see what would happen. By now the water level had risen so high that when the boat reached the bridge it was lashing the roof and there was absolutely no space for the boat to pass beneath it. The people waited eagerly and anxiously wondering what would happen.

Bhagavan instructed the people in the boat, “Close your eyes. Do not watch what will happen.” Then, in a fraction of a second, the boat suddenly disappeared and appeared on the other side!

Imagine the roar of the devotees on both sides drowning out the roar of the river. And as promised, Bhagavan reached the home at exactly 9:00 a.m.

During a public meeting SWAMI said, “When I came as Rama, the ocean gave way; it had to give! When I came as Krishna, Yamuna gave way! When I came as Sai, what is Godavari? This Lord of Puttaparthi will never give you up – He will never forsake you. This ocean of mercy will take you by His hand and guide you across. You will never be abandoned.”

Always believe in Truth at all times

I always say that everyone should speak the Truth and believe in it.

Thirty years ago, I traveled the length and breadth of the country to propagate My message. I would visit Bombay four times a year. Now, Bombay has changed a lot. Sai Institutions have multiplied. In every nook and comer Sai's name is heard.

During one of those days, the headlines of some leading newspapers carried an open challenge by a Hatha yogi. He dared to challenge Sathya Sai Baba to perform some absurd feats like swallowing a living fish, eating glass pieces, drinking acid and walking on water. He claimed that he would perform the above-mentioned feats with ease. This angered and pained the Sai devotees all over. The devotees requested Swami to give a fitting reply to the challenge. I answered, "Foolish fellows! It is not mandatory to reply to his challenge. In fact, replying only shows one's weakness." The devotees said, "Swami, if you don't reply, we shall do it." Ramana Rao was on his toes to reply.

I went to Madras from Bombay. At Madras, the Maharajah of Venkatagiri was fuming. The furious Raja asked me, "Swami, who is this wicked fellow? For earning his livelihood he is tarnishing the image of Swami. I shall reply to him." I said, "Raja, do not react to it."

A week later the Raja convened a huge gathering. The meeting was attended by many sanyasins from Ramakrishna Mutt and Sivananda Ashram. The sanyasins discussed this matter. They were convinced that only people jealous of others' fame and name would indulge in such cheap activities. The Raja considered Swami to be the very breath of his life and loved Swami very much. I tried to pacify him, but he would not stop. When one of the sanyasins asked me, I replied, "Friendship or fight should be between equals. He should be my equal to challenge me. I do not accept challenges from any person roaming on the street. My dear son, the cow eats grass, the pig eats excreta and man eats rice. It makes sense when a man challenges another to eat as much rice as he can. If a pig challenges a man to eat excreta, should he respond? Therefore, I will not respond to the challenge." This reply delighted the gathering.

A week later, the Hatha Yogi came to Bangalore. At that time I was at Nandanvanam, in Ooty. He wanted to meet Me and seek pardon. I sent word to him that he need not beg pardon or repent. I also advised him to tread the path of Truth. He had announced that he would walk on water on a particular day. People flocked to buy tickets for this show. The people of Bombay have too much of money. I told them, "Misuse of money is evil. Do not waste your money." On the scheduled day lots of people thronged the venue. Our Sai devotees too waited near the gate with sticks. Were he to fail, they were ready to even kill him. Immediately, I sent a telegram telling them not to involve themselves in this matter.

The Hatha Yogi placed his feet on water and he sank. The police fished him out and with great difficulty managed to get him home through the back door. For the sake of earning money, some people indulge in challenging well-known people. They think that they can attract the attention of the world by doing this.

That is why always believe in good things and always have love for your fellow Beings and above all Believe in God

- From Swami's Dasara Discourse on October 5th '2000

Faith - Our Divine Lord takes care of everything

A couple of incidents which showed me what kind of faith Swami expects. It was one Dasara day like this; I had just joined Brindavan College as a student of the pre-University class in the year 1974. One day before the Narayana Seva, normally the students know - we take out the bundles of dhotis which come in pairs and we cut them and pack them in bundles of twenty five or so.

A few of us were doing this upstairs in the Mandir here. Swami was walking around and talking to us. He came to me and asked, "Has your father come?"
I said, "No Swami."
He then asked, "Is your father coming?"
I said, "No Swami."
He said, "Ah! How can you say that?"
  I said, "Swami, he is scheduled to have an operation today in the morning; so I am sure he won't come." Swami said, "No, No. He is coming! And when he comes, ask him to stay with you in the hostel."
I am talking of the time when there were hardly any buildings; there was only one row of buildings here. When the work upstairs got done I came down. When I came he had reached Prashanti – my father was walking in with his luggage! I was stunned. I asked him, "How is it that you are here? What about your operation? Did you not have your operation?"
He said, "No, No. I had my operation today in the morning!" I asked, "Then how is it that you are here?" He said, "I couldn't miss the opportunity to have Swami's Darshan, so I got discharged and came straight from the hospital."
I was stunned and asked him, "Father, there is no accommodation here. Don't you think you will get infection?" He said, "Infection? Swami's Darshan will take care of everything! He will provide me accommodation." Then I remembered and I said, "Yes! He has provided you accommodation. He has told me that you were coming and He has told me to take you with me and make you stay in the hostel." When we have Faith in the Lord; the Lord is the most faithful. He takes care of us so much.

There was another instance which I remember – this happened in the year 1971 – even before I joined here. I was in the bal-vikas of a Samithi (centre) called Ulsoor Samithi and they wanted to have a drama in Swami's presence. So they had asked me to be a part of it and I was getting trained. One week before Dasara, when our half- yearly exams exams were announced, I noticed that all the exams were exactly during the Dasara time. So I told the Bal Vikas teachers, "I will not be able to come for the drama."
They were very shocked! When I went home and told this to my father, he said, "No! You are going for the drama!" I said, "Father! I have exams!" "Exams don't matter – they keep coming every year," my father said and continued, "But this chance to go near Swami comes rarely. Don't miss it – go ahead! This is the most important thing; have faith in Swami and do what He tells you."
We are a joint family and nobody else knew much about Swami at that time – many of them were teachers and they told my father, "No! You are spoiling his education." My father said, "No! This is the true education! The more closer you go to God; that is true education. I want him to go closer to God."
So we came to Prasanthi Nilayam. I would just like to tell you one instance of how things were in those halcyon days. When we landed at 2:30 pm in what was called the `pata-shala' block at that time, the bal-vikas teacher called me after a few minutes and said, "Go to the Mandir and find out what time is the Darshan."
When I opened the door; Swami was standing outside! Swami had come to see whether all the bal-vikas children were housed properly. I was so stunned! Swami came inside and sat and spoke to us for forty five minutes! So we finished our drama in Prashanti Nilayam; and Swami blessed us and sent us back.
When we returned home after Dasara, I went to one of my classmates and said, "Please tell me what exam we have today so that I can read and come." He said, "What do you mean exams? All exams have been cancelled! The government has sent an order that they want to have some Dasara sports – so all exams have been cancelled." – Not even postponed!

So this is the way God takes care of you. And when He takes care of you;

- From a Wonderful talk delivered by Dr. T. Ravi Kumar in the Divine Presence During Dasara Celebrations on October 1, 2006.

True spirituality

Once Swami had called us for an interview. One of the brothers said to Swami, "Swami, Please define Spirituality in one sentence."

Swami replied, "True spirituality is to love all and serve all"

Not Satisfied as everyone felt it was a Routine one. Then Swami said suddenly, "But, before loving others, You have to Love yourself. This means that you should not have any bad habits and bad thoughts about yourself & you should be very much self confident that you Love yourself to the fullest. For that, You should be perfect in everything. This is Sadhana.

Sadhana doesn't mean namasmarana, offering worships etc.. If You could love Yourself completely, You can love others also completely.This is so called Sadhana."

What an answer! Do we really love ourselves fully? Are we sure that there is no quality in us which we detest? Think about it! Let us all think about it.

Every act of Swami is pregnant with meaning

 

Narrating a Wonderful Instance from a drama which was enacted on November 22 , 1980 , one of Swami's Oldest Students and now a Professor in SSSU, Dr. Ravi Kumar says,

“I had the opportunity to act in the play ‘The Kingdom of Heaven.’ This was a drama on the life of Jesus Christ, written and enacted by former students, who prayed to Swami to permit them, and the Kind Lord had agreed. Swami then looked through the entire list of actors, picked up one particular role, and said, ‘Ask Ravi to do this role.’

"At that time, I had finished my education in Swami’s College and was doing my post-graduation at Anantapur, about 80 kms from Puttaparthi. So they said, ‘Swami, Ravi is not here, he is studying there.’ Swami then said, ‘No, he comes on weekends, he can practice at that time.’ I, therefore, was given that role, and it was only much later did I realize how so beautifully Swami had indicated to me what was to come later in my life.

“The role was that of a blind beggar, who is cured by Jesus Christ. And during one of those days, when we were having practice sessions, as Jesus was curing me in the drama, Swami entered through the side, and remarked: ‘See! Sai Baba came and this fellow got his eyesight!’ And we all laughed. The next day, the same thing happened, and again Swami remarked: ‘See, Sai Baba came and he got his vision back!’

“The normal tendency after the rehearsal session was to rush to Swami, and He would make a few comments about the drama, ask us to repeat certain dialogues, tell us the correct emotion which should animate the scene, and so on. While this interaction was going on, Swami suddenly asked, ‘Did you hear the applause during Darshan?’ We had heard the clapping sitting inside the green room, so we said, ‘Yes Swami, we heard the applause.’ And then He looked at me and said, ‘You know, I gave vision to an 18 year old girl who was born blind!’ And, with His Eyes riveted on me, He immediately continued, ‘And, I will give you also!’ We all laughed because we thought Swami was making a joke, since I was a blind beggar in the drama. But we never realized that Swami was actually indicating to me what was to come in the future - that I would lose my eyesight, and He would give it back! It was five years later that I burnt my eyes completely while doing an experiment in the Chemistry lab and gained my vision back only by His Grace.”

Every session with Swami before the actual performance, therefore, was a boon to the students. Because the Supreme Teacher would take that opportunity to instill attitudes and behaviours, knowledge and wisdom, faith and conviction into the hearts and minds of His wards, which could mould them into masterpieces of men. And to this end, He would invest any amount of time and exert Himself to any length.

Om Sai Ram

Service – Wholehearted Sadhana

 

The Below wonderful incident was told by Shri.Anil Kumar in a wonderful talk on September 20th 2002 :

Once Swami Was serving Food to some poor people to start Narayana Seva, Suddenly stopped at one spot, noticing a lady who was carrying a little, small child in her arms. Swami stopped there and called to one Seva Dal boy. "We are serving food to these people; how about that child?"
The Seva Dal Boy had no reply. "Swami, what should I do?"
"Bring a glass of milk for this child."
So the Seva Dal boy went all the way to bring one tumbler of milk.
Swami went on moving around the lines, serving food. From a long distance, He stopped and shouted, "Did you give milk to that child?" 
That boy said, "Yes, Swami."
Swami said, "Nothing doing!"
Swami went all the way back to that lady and touched the glass. "It is very, very hot. How do you expect the child to drink the milk? No, bring another glass."

He started cooling the milk -- pouring it this way and that, pouring it from one glass into the other. He made it cool and offered the milk to the child and only then left.
This shows the personal care He takes and the sprit that He wants us to maintain while doing seva. Seva or service is not a routine; it is not mechanical, no! It is not a schedule. We have to do it wholeheartedly.

Divine Will

Swami has many times said, whether during discourses or during private sessions with devotees, that HIS will is infinite. Baba takes many of His students to Kodaikanal with HIM. Likewise He has taken some students to Mysore sanctuary once in their summer vacations. Devsen sir was lucky to be one of them.

The students had already reached the sanctuary and it was nighttime. Swami was discussing the secrets of nature with students assembled at HIS feet. He was talking about the start of creation from the primordial sound OMKAR, the emergence of the MILKY WAY, PLANETS etc. He was describing in detail as to how the clouds got formed and the emergence of the SUN, the MOON etc.

As Swami was explaining so, He suddenly looked around and said, "Isn't the night beautiful today.". "Yes, Swami" replied the students " It is blissful here in your immediate presence. Even the moon seems to want to make his presence felt here in your physical proximity". As soon as this was mentioned Swami looked upwards at the moon. He kept looking for sometime and then started explaining the different features of the moon -- that there were so many craters on it, He even mentioned that there were rivers flowing on the moon.

As He said this, students started asking "Swami.... Rivers on the moon..." "Yes, Why not, don't you know rivers existed on moon" asked Swami. "But Swami" students questioned "Something of this sort has never been mentioned in any of the documentaries recorded by astronauts who have visited the moon.". "Oh that...." replied SWAMI "How can they see ... They saw with physical eyes ... Can their eyes see all that divinity has created? They did not see ... but it is there." So saying Swami stopped.

As Swami stopped speaking, there was silence for while but the friction in the minds of students persisted. Fully aware of this, Swami asked, "Would you all like to see all that I mentioned were present on the moon?" "YES SWAMI" replied the students in one voice. Swami immediately got up from HIS seat and pointed towards the moon and waved His hand. In a moment the moon disappeared from the sky.

Shocked at what they saw, the students wanted to ask Swami as to what had happened to the moon but before they could they saw a circular object appear in HIS hands. "This" Swami said, "is the moon ... (Silence for a while) ... now clear all your doubts about the feature of the moon". So saying He started showing the craters and the rivers on the moons surface. As long as the 'moon' was there in Swami's hand there was no 'moon' in the sky. When asked what would happen when anyone looked up and did not find the moon present as usual or questioned the disappearance of the moon all of a sudden, Swami said, "Nothing happens without my will. As long as the moon, which I have reduced to a size enough to fit into my palms, is in my hand, no one in the world will dare look up in the sky. I have willed that".

There was silence for a while as the students tried to grasp the phenomenon they had just witnessed. Swami then asked" Has everyone seen it. Ok, come closer and see. Ask for doubts if any". All those present came closer and looked ... they were all there. The craters, the rivers, the mountains.... All in the miniature form of the moon in swami's hand.

Swami then said, " OK, now I shall send it back". So saying Swami let go the 'moon' from His hand by thrusting it upwards. In a moment it was there ... again resplendent as before.

As students retired for the day, they reminded themselves of an important lesson they learnt that day. Everything in this universe is functioning in full awareness of Swami as per His will.

All we see is HIS will... What doesn't seem to be is so simply because HE hasn't willed it that way.

- Narrated during the summer course 2000, by Mr.Devsen, Faculty Member of the Sri Sathya Sai University

Om Sai Ram

Raso Vai Saha

 

The examinations were approaching, Swami said that if He was with us at Brindavan, we do not study. Finally He decided to leave for Puttaparthi, just to make us study for exams.

The boys fell at His feet, pleaded with Him, but Swami insisted on going. He said that He felt that He was the cause of the boys neglecting their studies and that feeling gave Him much pain.

It was Monday. Swami was preparing to leave by 8.30 A.M. The boys crowded round Him with sadness pain on their faces. Pleadings and prayers had proved fruitless. Swami was down on the ground floor. He got into the car, and the white vehicle glided away.

With heave hearts, boys walked slowly back into the Hostel. We tried in vain to concentrate on what the books had to tell us, so full was our hearts with the thought of our Lord. Barely 15 minutes had passed, when some one shouted "Swami has come!" and started running behind the car. I thought that the poor fellow was still dreaming and that his fantasy probably had given shape to that car.

But many more boys followed and I came out to ascertain for myself. What I saw, I could not believe. I saw the white car driving right up to portico. I rubbed my eyes once or twice to make sure for myself, and then I also ran. Swami walked up the stairs. Many of us could not believe what was happening. Swami said, "You boys were creating so much noise that I forgot to take the keys," ... Swami forgetting to take the keys!
Our hearts were full,... no one spoke. The tears that rolled down were probably more eloquent in expressing what was in our hearts. Somebody had probably still some doubts that Swami may leave again with the keys. So he asked very wisely. "Swami! shall we start unloading the things back from the car?"... No I am leaving again in the evening." Swami said, in pretended anger...

Then He broke into a beautiful smile, At this, a chorus of pleading voices followed, "Swami! Swami! And Swami decided to stay on. He told us latter, "You pulled me back here, just by your pure yearning. Now you must study well, if you want me to stay here. Trivial, insignificant instances these, do you say? And What have they got to do with spirituality, do you ask? But what else is spirituality than yearning for Him, pining for Him, suffering anguish for Him?

What is spirituality but deserving to live in Him. This is made possible only by the form full God, the God without whom one cannot live. His benign smile, the loveliness of His Graceful Form His tender affection that flow when He enquires about your welfare, and above all, the nectarine sweetness of His childlike sport--these help us to fuse our heart with the Lord's and thus raise ourselves to the heights of Blessedness.
Boys have made an unsuccessful attempt to put these in words, for, it is impossible to contain them in human language. They belong totally to the realm of experience which the heart alone can experience "Raso vai Saha" He is Sweetness itself. His sweetness is infinitely enhanced when He comes, Humanness enveloping His Divinity.

-- Brindavan boys experiences

The Gift of Darshan

 

“Always find a quiet corner after my Darshan. My energy goes from Me as I pass you. If you proceed to talk immediately, the energy received by you is dissipated and returns to Me unused. Rest ...assured that whatever My eyes see becomes vitalised and transmuted.You are being changed day by day. Never under-estimate what is being accomplished by the act of Darshan. My walking amongst you is a gift yearned for by the Gods of the Highest Heaven and here you are receiving this grace. Be thankful. But also remember that to whom much is given - from him/her much will be demanded”. - BABA.