Memoirs of the Boatman

 

By Mr. K.V.S. Dileep

An alumnus of the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning who has spent nine years studying in Baba's educational institutions, Dileep completed his Masters in Technology (Computer Science) in the Prasanthi Nilayam campus in 2010. Currently he is a Doctoral Research Scholar at Artificial Intelligence and Databases Lab (AIDB), Department of Computer Science and Engineering, IIT Madras in Chennai, India.

When I heard the tragic news on April 24, I was totally confused. I then prayed to Swami and He inspired me with a message which I have composed in the form of a poem. This did help me a lot and I hope it will serve many others too.

I faced an ocean far and wide,
Only a small boat I had for a ride,
Frightened I was, and completely crestfallen,
Cursing the misery befallen
Then came this boatman along the way,
With smile so serene and words so pleasing
He offered to be my friend, philosopher and guide,
Through the journey of ocean called LIFE
Armed with oars, and other implements
Me and the boatman set out for an adventure
We laughed together through the smooth sailing,
Leaving the oars to Him for the rough patches
Through the journey he always told
Tales of morality, and about lands far and behold
Under his tutelage and expert instruction
I found myself becoming a better boatman
How can I repay you, I used to ask,
Help and Love your travelers he used to tell
Where do I find you, I asked
Find ME in every heart that needs help
We journeyed along until time immemorial,
And then suddenly He vanished from the boat
No proper goodbye or a farewell hug
Leaving me in total shock
As a gasp of sorrow threatened to escape me
A strange feeling began to encompass
The boat continued to sail
As if He was never gone
It surged through the water much more than I rowed,
Then the subtle realization did dawn
For though the hold is gone, the grip remains
For though his voice is gone, the echo remains
The whistling wind of the sea then whispered,
Why to say goodbye my child If I never left
Keep rowing my friend, for I am always there
In the strength of the oars
And the Wind beneath the sails.

Rain Rain Go Away

 

- - Prof. N. Kasturi

I remember another funny incident. We were in Coorge, where the rain fall is the highest in the South, and once it starts raining it goes on for 10-15 days. Baba was there, so there was a public meeting in the open. I was to translate His Telegu speech into Kannada, the language of the area. Before Baba spoke, He asked me to say something. And like a fool, I started with rain as the subject.

Everyone in the audience, there were about 10, 000 people, were looking back at the hills in the distance, because they were conscious that the rain would be coming soon upon them. So I said in my speech, "Why are you turning back like that all of you, looking at the mountain ranges in the distance'? There won't be any rain because wherever Baba is, He has said His functions will never be disturbed by rain", and I told them a story that is in the Bhagavad Gita.

The story is that Indra - the God of rain, felt that he was insulted by Krishna who wanted the Indra worship to be stopped and he wanted the mountain in that region to be worshipped. Krishna said, "Why is everyone worshipping God in the sky, we must worship this mountain because it is full of trees, and it is this mountain that brings down the rain that grows the grass for our cattle to feed and therefore we must be thankful to the mountain and not to some imaginary God who lives in the sky". Hence, Indra worship stopped and Indra got angry and He poured tonnes of rain on every square inch of the ground. Krishna lifted up the hill with one finger, they say, and underneath the hill, the entire population of man and the cattle were sheltered.

I told the audience that Swami can stop the rain without lifting up the hill, as was done in Krishna's time.

When Swami began His speech, I had to translate, so I was standing by His side. When I looked at the mountain range in the distance, I saw the rain coming closer. It came down the hills, it was attacking the plains, it was coming towards the town. It came very close; the distance was so small that we could feel the cold wind that was accompanying it, and all the time I was engaged in praying within my mind, "Swami, please stop that rain, If it comes here, people will be disillusioned. I am sorry Swami, I should have asked you whether I could give the story of You being able to control the rain. I should have asked You! But I did not, so You have to pardon me for my impertinence".

I was feeling terrible! My mind was in a dither. But I had to listen to Swami and translate His speech, and so I had to cut down my fear. I was terribly tortured during that one hour whilst Swami spoke. I continued to pray to Him in my mind, "Swami, stop this speech, the rain is coming. Swami please stop, the rain is coming". But He would not stop; He even spoke for extra time. And finally He said.

This Kasturi, though he gave the story of the rain, does not have faith, all the time he worried in his mind whether I will be able to stop the rain. The rain will come now. It will be here in about 15 minutes. So all of you get home".

A Wonderful Incident of Bhagawan's Love – From a Sai Student’s Diary

 

This incident happened on Jan 3rd, 1989. Every year, the first two weeks of January are very lively for all the Students of Swami's college. Because, the Inter-campus Sports and Games take place during this time. I was a good Athlete in my school and college and I have participated in many sports and games and won a number of medals and had the good fortune to receive them from the lord himself for many years. That day early in the morning ( around 6 :30 a.m. ) I was all set to go for the Long Jump finals. There were 5 other finalists. I had won the first prize during the previous two years and I was a little overconfident this time, and thought I would repeat the history. I did not even warm up or loosen my muscles because of this overconfidence. But I always prayed to Swami before I took the jump.

As all of us know, we would be given 3 chances to make our best mark in the Long Jump. I have taken my first and the distance I jumped was awfully low. Almost all
others cleared it. I have taken my second jump and it was fairly better but surely not the best of me. But something happened at that time. I sprained my ankle. I could not even stand up after that jump and I had to be physically lifted and taken to the hospital directly from the field.
I could not bear the excruciating pain at that time. Obviously, I did not take the third jump. I knew I would lose the prize this time as that was not my best jump. I was feeling awfully bad because Swami taught me a lesson for my overconfidence and I repented for this. The ever-forgiving and ever-kind lord has forgiven me and I learnt later at the hospital that I won the First Prize. I was in tears for his benevolence. There is more... Because of the Sprain I had to "bunk" my college, I was happy about it, but I was hoping to make it for the Darshan in the evening.

My doctor advised me not to strain my leg any further and he has advised complete rest. I pleaded to go for the Darshan and he said "Pray to Swami he will take care of you, but do not go for Darshan", because my foot was swollen and round like a big
football ! I felt miserable at this time and I kept crying as I had never missed Darshan in my whole stay at Prasanthinilayam. That was the first time. I was lying down on my bed kept imagining what was happening at the Ashram. " .......Now Swami is coming out... He is on the ladies section .. now He is taking letters from a devotee.. now He is creating Vibhuti for another Devotee... Now He is signalling a devotee to go in for the interview.......".
Another student, Srinivas, who was participating in some sports events that evening, was asked to take care of my needs as well, as I could not move out of my bed without someone's help. It was just around 4:15 p.m. or so.. Srinivas excused himself and went to the rest room. I was lying down on the bed, turned towards the wall, covered my face with the rug and lost in my imaginations about Swami's darshan. Tears kept rolling from my eyes as I was feeling really bad for not having Swami's Darshan. I did not want any one to see that I was crying so, I covered my face fully and turned towards the wall. Then.. I felt as if someone tapped my back from behind. I thought it was Srinivas again, I thought he brought me some coffee or some snacks.
Slowly I turned to tell him that I was not in a mood... but...it was not Srinivas... and behold... I found the Lord standing there !!! I was dazed... trust me I was totally amazed...I thought I was still imagining Swami's Darshan...and kept staring at Swami's beautiful face without an expression or a word.... I was not sure if I was in a dream or wakeful status.
As you all know by now that Swami gives Darshan in the mornings and there would be Bhajans at 9 a.m. Swami takes quick ( 3-5 minute ) lunch soon after bhajans and at that time if he wants to visit different places, he goes out for about 1 hour, and then retires for that session. The objective is to generally oversee how different organizations ( like the Super Speciality Hospital, the University or the Gokulam etc.,. ) are operating and any other new constructions etc.

Obviously Swami's visit to these places gives immense joy and pleasure to people working there and it rejuvenates their energy and dedication to their work. Because everyone wants to please Swami with their devotion and dedication to work. He, however, does not visit the Boys' hostel during these times. The Students will have to pray to Swami to make a visit, it is only then He goes to the Hostel when all the students are in the Hostel, and gives them the immense pleasure of his presence.
Apart from these morning visits, Swami normally does not go out of the Ashram at all. But that day was different.Swami apparently gave a very quick Darshan and got into His car along with another senior devotee ( Mr.V.K. Narasimhan- editor of Sanathana Sarathi ) came straight to the Hostel.......into my room. Swami said " it is not a dream, it is real " (in english ).. I tried to get up and Swami asked me not to.

He then started explaining to Mr. Narasimhan in Telugu as to how I jumped and fell down in a wrong position. he told Mr. Narasimhan that for that fall, I should have broken my ankle. But Swami saved me, made sure that my ankle was not broken and it was only a sprain.
I then realised finally that swami was actually there in front of me !! I broke down, my heart melt down for His motherly love and I threw myself on His feet and kept sobbing. Swami patted my back with a lot of affection, created Vibhuti and rubbed it on my face, put some in my mouth, gave some in hand and asked me to put it on my leg. He said, "do not worry.. It will go away soon.( in telugu )" and quickly walked out of the room.

No one in the Ashram knew where and why Swami was going. I was just one of the 800 students and thousands of devotees sitting for swami's darshan in the Ashram, leaving all his near and dear devotees in the Ashram and many important tasks in the Ashram and go out of his way to shower his grace on a small, not-so-important, unwanted soul like me ? He would melt for pure Love from the devotee and sincere yearning and craving for Him.

OUR LIFE IS HIS MESSAFGE