15TH JAN. 2008
Om Sairam dearest Sai Family, Sankranthi,
the holy and rejoicing festival of Harvest, the festival of happiness , the festival
of plenty and prosperity, the festival which brings, smiles on the faces of the poor
farmers after a year long hard work, that moment of the year when the grains come to
the house, the festival which marks the beginning of number of festivals to be
celebrated in the year was celebrated with festivity and gaiety in the abode of
Highest peace,Prasanthi Nilayam in the immediate persence of our most compassionate
Lord Sri Sathya Sai Baba.
As promised, Swami came for darshan this morning to distribute all the trophies and
medals to the outstanding performers in the annual sports and cultural meet. The
stage had all the trophies displayed on both sides..
After a breif introduction Swami as promised very graciously blessed all of us with
His divine discourse which was full of Atma Gnana... and it was so nice to hear
Swami whose voice was firm and strong.
Swami’s discourse was really an eye opener to the modern generation.. Swami stressed
on respect to one’s own mother, sense control and Swami asked to be brave during
difficulties and also asked the youth to think twice before thinking of going abroad
to work.....
This morning all the students were in a black blazer and white pants so also was
Prof.Anil Kumar (ofcourse Swami cracked a joke on his dress in the discourse)
Swami sang a beautiful but thought provoking telugu verse (which sounds targeted to
Indians but holds good for the whole universe). With the little knowledge of
english, Iam trying to put Swami’s words in english, Iam sure there are some
mistakes which again is unintentional and I surrender my self at the lotus feet of
our Beloved Lord)
EXCERPTS FROM THE DISCOURSE
Parama pavanamaina Bharata vani yandu,
(in the holyland of Bharath,India)
Sahana mannadi manaku chakka danamu,
(forbearance is the best quality in us)
Vratamulanniti yandu vanne ganchina yatti,
(Among all the spiritual acts)
Ghana sathya seelame kathina tapamu,
(adherence to truth is the highest form of penance)
Madhura bhavambedi mana desa mandanna
(if any one asks what is sweeter about this country)
Matru bhavamu kanna manya meddi,
(it is the love of mother)
Pranambu kantenu manambe ghana manu mana desa neethini manta galipi
(the country which considered self respect more than life is no longer the same)
Neti kichiri para desa neetula rasi...
(due to the rapid westernisation)
Aura.. emandu bharatha palanambu..
(alas! What has happend to this country)
Enugetula tana balamu eruga kunnado attula ayyinaru Bhrateeyulu nedu...
Just as elephant that doesn’t recognise its strength ,the power of man is not known
to you.. that is why God comes in human form.Every moment think of God. What ever
may be the occassion one should not stop chanting God’s name.
DO NOT BLAME GOD FOR DIFFICULTIES:
Dont forget your true nature. That is Divinity. We are forgetting such divinity.
That is why world is facing lot of suffering today. The main reason for this is our
IMAGINATION. God doesnt give you sufferings nor pleasures. God always confers bliss,
joy and happiness. But people consider that things are DIFFICULT and make their life
miserable. Feelings and thoughts are the root cause for this feelings. If you carry
on your life, with divine in mind, you will not have any problem.
Every thing is your imagination. Today all of you have worn a dark blazer and white
pant. All these are your imaginations. Since all have worn dark blazer, our Anil
Kumar also thought it is necessary to wear that dress, so he has come with a black
blazer( every one including Prof.Anil Kumar burst in laughter). This kind of copying
is every where in the world.
BE BLISSFUL ALWAYS
Many things appear and go in life. It will only give momentary happiness. That which
is constant is only ONE. No one can take even a single coin when one dies. Even
Great emperors who ruled the whole world returned empty hands. Once you leave this
body you wont have any relationship with any thing. All these relations are your own
make. We should not follow all this which is our own making. As long as you are
here, be blissful. Lead a happy life. Life is full of Joy. What is this JOY. It is
not ice cream.(btw JOY is a famous icecream brand in India) The joy which is innate
is the real joy. You have to experience this inner joy.
HAVE COURAGE AND FACE THE CHALLENGES:
this body is made of five senses. The body is bound to fall some day other.When one
is born we celebrate, we cry when the person dies.no one should ever feel sad. No
matter what kind of difficulties you are into, you should face it. U should know
that you are a spark of divine. I shouldnt be afraid of any thing. It is only out of
practice you get this courage. Learn to sacrifice, as Sacrifice is the best quality
one shoud possess.
A man is single prior to marriage. Before marriage he has only two legs. After
marriage 4 legs and after a child is born its 6 legs. As the legs go on increasing,
misery also proportionately increases. All this are not given by God. It is only
because you are making relations. Consider every thing that happens for our own
good. What ever you get take it as for your own God. When everything is for your own
good there is no scope for sorrow.
Who participated in the sports? It all happend as you made it happen. Because u
participated enthusiastically you are enjoying. The whole life is artificial of your
own making. How long can you continue like this. Nothing is permanent in this world.
We shouldnt feel bad for those who left us. No need to celebrate the birth of any
one. What will happen to the one who is born today?
Today, tomorrow, and yesterday should be considered as one. You say yesterday, past
is also your making. You are hapy now.. its is present. Tomorrow you may be in your
respective classes. All three are one. Never be carried away by anything. Present is
present, past is past. Future is not sure. There fore think of OMNIPRESENT.
Omnipresent is present in all three. So consider all three experiences as one
Swami now continued His discourse by sitting on His throne...
Students, all that you experience is untrue. All are passing clouds. Dont feel sad,
or worry for this.. they are just passing clouds. We should not worry for anything.
Some feel very sad. Not only studies they also worry about families.its all your
imagination.. distance your self from this imagination.
Dont be afraid about examination. Write to the extent you know. Be brave. Dont worry
about the result. Have the courage and it will make you successful. If you lose this
courage you will lose everything. Have strong command on the courage. It will give
you strength. Strength, pusthi is responsible for shrusti.
These things are within you. Why do you search outside. It is a mistake to search
out side. Stay away from desires. Dont run after desires. This will ruin you. It is
a mistake to run after desires.
CONTROL YOUR SENSES:
Man acquires big degrees but does not know his own true nature. Without knowing
one’s own nature what is the need for education. All your education should lead to
immortality. your education should benefit the society.You Should serve those who
are not fortunate enough.then only you will be able to bear good name. Serve the
community. One need to develop sense control. Because of sense control you can mould
your self as true individual. Today we dont fiind a trace of sense control. We are
leading a waivered life. Not only education learn to control senses also. Therefore,
understand your true nature.
God has not given you senses to mis use them. Dont worry about your goals. People go
abroad expecting fat salaries. They say they earn 5000 dollars, but its equal to
earning only rupees 500 in this holy land India. There is more income there, but
also expenditure. What is there in abroad. BROAD is within you.. u forget the broad
and want to go to abroad, YOU DONT HAVE TO GO ABROAD. You be here, serve your
parents. See that they are taken care. See that you uphold Indian culture..THAT IS
TRUE EDUCATION. Education doesnt mean merely reading and writing. True education is
innate and not out side. Books only give you bookish knowledge. Mastakam (brain)
will give you true information.. (Pustakam)Books give u only information.. Dont
waste your time learning worldly education. Some read day and night like book worms.
It is spoiling your head. U read all that is not necessary and thus wasting time.
head mastaka is important and not the pustaka (book). Once you open the news paper
these days, it is ful of advertisements and cinema pictures. Follow your conscience,
once you follow the conscience, you will be a true human. U cannot consider your
self true human just because of human form. We should lead an ideal life. We should
be ideal to every one, to the society. This is our culture.
RESPECT YOUR MOTHER:
Dicrimination is very essential. We should know what is needed. When in dark you
need a light, but u dont need any light in the day time. There fore we should
discard what we dont need. Students, u should know what is to be learnt what is to
be discarded. Develop human values. U should never make parents feel sad. Because
they are the ones who gave birth and nurtured you. That is why vedas say mother is
god, father is God. But the modern children dont want parents. But he wants,
artificial doll, Wife. He follows the wife. The mother who carried u in her womb for
9 months, is forgotten once the wife enters your life. Love your wife, but don’t
disobey your parents. It is very clearly declared that mother and father are more
than God. Love all. When u make your mother happy your life will be heaven. If any
mother cries, your life will be a sorrowful one. Make your mother happy and God will
keep you happy.
When mother says some thing, the boy says, keep quiet i know every thing. .he will
also say shut up. U dont have to tell me.. i have a degree. U may get the degree.
But never use harsh words to your mother..True education is respecting parents only.
Discharge your duties righteously. Sing the glory of God. Swami then sung the first
life of Hari Bhajana.. when you listen to bhajans, you will have peace. Always sing
bhajans.others should join u in chorus. There canont be union with god witout
penance and Dhayana. Bhajans will renew your body. If you cant sing loudly, sing in
your heart. U can forget any thing in life, but not God’s name. NEVER FORGET GOD.
Never forget God’s name..lead a spiritual life. ...
Swami then presented huge trophies, to the principals and wardens of three campuses,
Prasanthi Nilayam, Whitefield and Anantapur...later it was the turn of the
respective captains to come over the dias and take Gold and silver medals won by the
respective campuses. Swami then blessed all the merit certificates to be presented
to the out standing performers..
It was close to 11am by then, and the prashanti nilayam band played some beautiful
bhajans, while prasad was distributed to the vast gathering inKulwanth hall on this
auspicious day of Makara Sankranthi.
Thus ended the first festival of this year in Prasanthi Nilayam
Reporting from Puttaparthi
Om Sairam dear Sai
Family, With Swami’s blessings all is well here.. and Puttaparthi and her
inhabitants are enjoying this year which is fully charged and there is no day
without any surprises from Swami...
The annual Sports and Cultural programme by the students of Sathya Sai University [Click Here for Sports day Photos
] was just fantastic and just when
all of us who witnessed the games thought, can there be any other programme fantastic than
this? there came another drama by the students of Prasanthi Nilayam campus on 12th
January, who did a fantastic play portraying the Sundara kanda, the holy episode of
Hanuman... Swami witnessed the play by sitting opposite to the dias...
The very next day was a drama by the students of White field campus who did yet
another masterpiece on the life of Saint Kabir whose poems are full of wisdom and
even to this day are sung with lot of devotion.. The characters were so well made
that it made every one cry.. esp the Qawalis in the drama was fantastic.. I was
watching the play standing in the lane way next to Kulwanth hall and here came one
Muslim woman her face covered in BURKHA, probably she was going towards the shopping
centre in the ashram and thought of stopping by to see Swami. She kept on standing
and in no time she was in tears seeing the play. She was telling to her friend
in Urdu, did I not tell you... Sathya Sai Baba encourages all religions and He
doesn't belong to any religion..
Looking at this minute but very important incident, I couldn't stop my tears rolling
down..Such is the power of Swami, Such is His love and Compassion..
14 January 2008 (morning)
Our most compassionate Lord, made every one’s heart melt this morning.. We all were
waiting for darshan and it was a long wait.. As the clock struck nine, the bhajans
started.. All eyes were staring at the entrance, waiting for a signal for our Lord’s
arrival. It was 9:30 and just when I thought the Arathi will be given, here came big
group of Old folks.. the ladies, all above 60 some of Swami's body's) age entered
through the Main gate right across the dias and another large group of Old Men
entered into the Kulwanth hall through the students gate.. The ladies were allowed
to sit next to the path right across the dias and gents next to the students.. many
were wondering as who they were. I enquired a old grand father as who he was and he
said he belonged to a village next to Puttaparthi and they were all here because,
Swami wants to distribute blankets to them...
I was moved by his statement and kind of Compassion our Lord has showered on those
poor village people. By their appearances every one looked very poor. Many of them
of Swami’s age.. I'm sure, one shouldn't be surprised if some of them were Swami’s
play mates.. There were few familiar faces from the village..
I thanked Swami for selecting such kind of people who are other wise forgotten by
the modern generation. This part of the year is the coldest, and Swami knew it very
well..
Mean while a word was sent from Swami’s residence, to continue the bhajans and all
the chosen souls were asked to sit in such way that a small path is made in between
the lines.. So it was clear that Swami was expected any moment and
would
distribute the blankets.. It was exactly 10 am and all the sevadals were in rapt
attention at Swami’s residence signalling the arrival of our most beloved Lord..
Swami preferred to come in the Mobile throne.. No words could describe the happiness
of the special guests. Who will be seeing Swami in close angles, after a long time,
that Swami whom they felt has forgotten them.... that Swami whom they played with,
spoke with and above all the One whom they kept very close to their hearts... click here for Photos 12th - 13th
-
14thJan.
Swami slowly came into the hall, behind Swami were number of sevadals carrying
blankets waiting for Swami’s signal.. Swami first stopped by the ladies’ side, the
platform was set for Swami, Swami asked the boys to wheel Him in between the lines
making it clear that He personally wanted to distribute the blankets...There were
about 300 old women and Swami went almost to the middle of Sai Kulwanth Hall and
after half hour of distribution, it was the men's’ turn..
Swami with His most beautiful smile came towards the gents side...gave blankets to
each and every one.. To some He gave a very familiar smile as if Swami was saying..
”Hello.. (meeting) after a long time”.. to some Swami was seen enquiring ”Bagunnava”
(How are you?) and couple times it was the other way round, they were enquiring
Swami’s well being.. after all they all are from the same village and grew with
Swami..
It was a very sweet conversation.. many were touching His feet, some touching His
hands and others watching this divine romance were in ecstasy.....
Swami went on to the dias and later moved in the bhajan Hall. Swami then came out of
the bhajan hall and was seen speaking to the old man whom many of us would have
seen, ringing the huge bell during arathi. Swami then blessed him with a
blanket...The Bhajans lasted for nearly two hours as He accepted Arati at 10.50.
While returning to His residence, Swami stopped near the Primary School students in
His car for nearly 10 minutes.
Thus ended a beautiful morning which was like a REUNION for the elderly.. One
elderly man was saying, I thought Swami forgot me and it has been almost 20 years
since he hasn’t come to darshan but now he is confident that Swami has kept him in
HIS hearts. With a child like smile, with no teeth around he said, now I can die
peacefully and happily.. such was the happiness Swami filled into these old
hearts.... click here for Photos 12th - 13th
-
14thJan.
14 January 2008 (afternoon darshan)
Swami came at 5:10 pm for darshan ....After successive plays by the boys it was the
turn of The Anantapur campus girls to steal the show... they presented a beautiful musical programme in the evening. The Anantapur
campus very rarely gets such a chance, and once the chance is given, they see that
Swami never forgets their programme.. The audience witnessed one such memorable
programme, with beautiful renderings which was a mix of classical and devotional
songs with nice commentary in between the songs...for fifty minutes, Especially the
second song Ravamma Mahalakshmi was so sweet and rhythmically sung that Swami was
seen tapping His feet and hands. I could also feel the urge in their voice asking
Swami to visit Anantapur campus which has not happened for quite some time now...
Swami was very impressed with the performance that during the programme He was
saying words of appreciation....Swami then waved His right hand and after three
small circular motions, there came a beautiful golden chain and Swami signalled the
lead singer to come on to the dias and Swami gifted the DIVINE gift straight from
the ”Divine Factory” to her for which she was in tears...
Swami then asked them to continue with bhajans..after about 20 minutes Swami asked
the regular bhajan singers to start bhajans who started from the bhajan hall while
Swami was immersed in the ocean of music, on the dias our hearts filled with joy
singing the glory of the Lord, in His immediate presence... After fifteen minutes of
their Bhajans, Bhagawan asked for Prof Anil Kumar. The ever vigilant Professor,
announced amidst cheers that the Valedictory function of the Sports Festival would
be held tomorrow at 8am in Sai Kulwanth hall and all the all round performers will
be given trophies by Swami..
Swami again called Prof. Anil Kumar and asked to announce that Swami is going to
give a divine discourse tomorrow ... which was received with loud applauds from the
devotees assembled in Sai Kulwanth hall... Swami then accepted Arati and returned to
His residence at 6.40 pm.
Thus ended yet another beautiful day in my Prasanthi diary.. a day full of Sai
Love... Thank you dear Lord.. Thank You very much...
Reporting from Kaliyuga's Mathura, Puttaparthi
R.Satish Naik Member SBOI-Group
