The following is a transcript
of the divine interview granted by Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai
Baba to 28 members of Sarva Dharma Service Center. The
conversions written here are regarding Sarva Dharma Service
Center and few other general topics. They were written down
in the hours following the interview. There may be minor
distortions in the exact word to word translations and the
sequence of these conversations. Some of the words commonly
used by Bhagavan are written here as is. The glossary with
English meanings for these words are presented at the end of
this transcript.
After all the members calmly assembled in the
interview room, Bhagavan closed the door and looked at all
of us. One of the members got up and helped Bhagavan to walk
to His chair and help Him sit on it.
Our President: Svaami, how are doing Svaami?
Bhagavan: I am absolutely fine. No pain at all. The
accident happened while one of the boys was working near the
door. When I suddenly opened the door from behind, he was
caught by surprise and fell on me and so did the chair. You
see, the boy is okay, the chair is okay, this happened to
me. My hip joint was crushed. But, I have no pain and I am
always happy.
Our Center President presented the SDSC building plans to
Bhagavan. Bhagavan passed the first few pages (which
included letter to Bhagavan and financial statement), and
went straight to the drawings. He saw every single page of
the drawings and asked some questions. In order to save
time, our President tried to march forward by flipping few
pages. But Bhagavan held tight and flipped each page and
looked at all the pages of drawings (about 40 of them).
Our President: Svaami, these are our finalized
building plans. We need your blessings.
Bhagavan saw the SDSC packet in detail.
Bhagavan: "Can I give you some advice, if you don't
mind? You don't know who will take care of it {SDSC} in the
future, so, be careful in spending money".
Our President: Okay, Svaami, like you instructed
earlier we will finish it within $1.5 million.
Bhagavan flipped the pages...
Our President: Svaami, some people are saying that if
donors come up with substantial donation, we should name
parts of the building after them? What should we do?
Bhagavan: If you go on putting names, the building
will be full of names. Don't do that. But on the day of
inauguration, you can announce the names of major donors.
Bhagavan continued to flip the pages...
Bhagavan: What is this? (pointing to the mesh in the
top view of phase 2 section of the building)
Our President: It is some frame....
Member: I think it is a structural frame Svaami.
President: Yes it is a structural frame Svaami.
Bhagavan continued to flip the pages...
President: Bhagavan, this is your room (pointing at
one of the rooms in the drawing).
Bhagavan: My room is not there, it is here (pointing
at President's heart).
Everyone laughed...
President: Svaami, can you please sign our building
plans?
Bhagavan: I know, I know, I am looking for an
appropriate page to sign.
Bhagavan flipped the pages back this time, and stopped at
one page... and signed it !!!
"With Love and Blessings,
Sri Sathya Sai."
Member: Svaami, when can we start the construction?
President repeated this question to Bhagavan in Telugu.
Bhagavan: Start it during Dasara.
Svaami counted on His fingers ...
Bhagavan: On Vijayadasami day.
Our President (presenting the album to Bhagavan): Svaami,
these are the pictures taken during the Bhoomi Pooja
performed at the SDSC site.
Bhagavan looked at every picture until the
end and even flipped the blank sleeves to make sure there
was no picture left unseen.
Bhagavan: Santosham.
Member: The world is so beautiful. How to live
without being attached to it?
Bhagavan: You are 100% spiritual many times, but some
times your mind wanders. You have to live in this world
being spiritual but not attached to it.
Member: Please
stop the war going on in the world.
Bhagavan: There is war in every family. First
establish peace within the family.
Bhagavan: What do you do? (looking at one of the
members)
Member: I am a teacher.
Bhagavan: How many types of teachers are there?
Svaami answers: "Three types. 1. The ones who teach
for their own sake (selfish), 2. The ones who are totally
selfless (even this is not good). They work very hard and
think about the future of the children. 3. Those who teach
for the benefit of both. These are the ones who teach about
spirituality. So there are three types: the one you think
you are, the one others think you are and the one you really
are. There are three types of MBAs. 1. Finance, 2.
Management, 3. General MBA."
After speaking to many of the doctors in the group, Swami
praised the role of a doctor saying that it is a very noble
profession because you can help others and you can serve
others through this profession.
President: Svaami, Can we take some pictures?
Bhagavan: Yes.
Our President gave the camera to a member who then went to
the corner, got on a chair and took the pictures.
Member: Svaami, what can we do for the Sai mission?
Bhagavan: Yevvi cheyyakharledu. Prema tho
undandi, andarani preminchandi, anandamga undandi. (You
don't have to do anything. Just love, give love to everyone,
be happy.)
More than once during the interview, Svaami recited a Telugu
poem which explained that anger destroys you from inside,
makes a fool of you in front of others and finally anger
destroys the whole community. He also recited another Telugu
poem few times which explained that unity is very important
and work done hand in hand springs joy and happiness among
people.
Bhagavan answered many personal questions and
offered guidance to the members. He then took help from some
of the members to stand up. He pointed at the basket
containing Vibhuthi packets.
Svaami then distributed the Vibhuthi packets
to everyone. Bhagavan then walked slowly towards the door
with the help of some members. Someone at the door tried to
open it for Bhagavan.
Bhagavan says, "No don't open the door. That is my job". He
then walked up to the door, opened it and stepped out of the
room.
We all walked out of the room silently.
Sairam.
Glossary of Telugu words and their meanings:
Santoosham: Happy.
Thappaka: Certainly.
