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Reports of events from the Sai Baba Ashrams

 

Sadhana Camp for Kerala Youth at Brindavan
12th and 13th April, 2003

IT WAS A DREAM COME TRUE for 1170 youth from Kerala who had the rare good fortune to attend a two-day Sadhana Camp on 12th and 13th April 2003 at Brindavan in the Divine proximity of Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. Bhagavan delivered three nectarine Discourses during the Camp. Besides, the participants were addressed by a galaxy of erudite speakers.

Bhagavan Inaugurates the Sadhana Camp

The youth along with other devotees experienced the bliss of Bhagavan's Darshan on the morning of 12th April 2003 in Sai Ramesh Krishan Hall when He came to the Hall at 7.00 a.m. After Darshan, the youth assembled in Sai Krishan Kalyana Mandapam to attend the first session of the Sadhana Camp. Bhagavan came to the Kalyana Mandapam at 8.50 a.m. He was offered a hearty welcome with a devotional song which expressed the happiness of all those who were present there. After this, Bhagavan graciously inaugurated the Sadhana Camp by lighting the sacred lamp.

Before the Inaugural Address of Bhagavan Baba, two speakers addressed the gathering. The first speaker, Sri B. N. Narasimha Murthy, Warden, Brindavan Campus of the Institute observed that all people from princes to paupers were coming to the Lotus Feet of Bhagavan because of His love and compassion for the entire mankind. The second speaker Sri K. Arun, a former student of the Institute narrated his personal experiences and told how he was drawn towards the Lotus Feet of Bhagavan Baba. Thereafter, Bhagavan delivered His Inaugural Discourse.

Bhagavan's Inaugural Discourse

Emphasising the need for develop­ment of character in the youth, Bhagavan said, "The end of education is character". Bhagavan elaborated further:

Merely acquiring knowledge from books is not enough; knowledge should be put into practice. Learning is a continuous process. It is not limited to what is learnt in school and college. Bookish knowledge is only superficial knowledge. One should have practical knowledge which comes from the heart. Practical knowledge leads one to inward path. Inward path is the spiritual path. God is within man in the form of Angirasa, which pervades every cell of his body.

Bhagavan concluded His Discourse by advising the youth to control the senses, master the mind and be a mastermind.They should see, hear, think and do all that is good and avoid all that is evil. That is the way to God.

After concluding His Discourse at 9.50 a.m., Bhagavan left for His abode and directed the proceedings of the Sadhana Camp to be continued. Thereafter, Sri B. N. Narasimha Murthy gave an illuminating talk on the topic "Your Life, Swami's Message". This was followed by a talk on the qualities of youth by Dr. G. Venkataraman, former Vice Chancellor of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning. The gathering was also addressed by Prof. E. Mukundan, State President of Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisation, Kerala. Another talk was given by Sri Ruchir Desai, a faculty member of Brindavan Campus of the Institute on the topic "Sai Message for the Youth". This was followed by a question and answer session on "How to Imbibe Bhagavan's Message."

The afternoon session was conducted in Sai Ramesh Krishan Hall. The programme started with Bhajans which were led by the students of the Institute after the arrival of Bhagavan in the Hall at 4.00 p.m. This was followed by Veda chanting by a group of students. In the beginning, Prof. E. Mukundan presented the summary of the proceedings of the sessions conducted in Sai Krishan Kalyana Mandapam. After this, Bhagavan gave His second Discourse to the participants of the Sadhana Camp. As the venue of the Discourse was Sai Ramesh Krishan Hall, other devotees also got the benefit of listening to Bhagavan's Discourse.

Bhagavan's Second Discourse

Addressing the young boys and girls, Bhagavan said: Youth does not indicate a particular age-group. It indicates purity, sacredness, good character and a sense of adventure. One who has perfect love and perfect bliss is a youth. Young boys and girls should know the right principles of life and adhere to them. For this, they should have Satsanga. Satsanga does not merely mean good company. Sath is changeless and eternal. The youth should get rid of the six evil qualities of Kama, Krodha, Lobha, Moha, Mada and Matsarya (desire, anger, greed, infatuation, pride and jealousy). Where there is anger, love cannot enter there. When anger enters, all evil qualities also enter. The youth should imbibe love; they should fill their heart with love. Then anger and hatred cannot approach them. Anger is followed by ego. When anger, ego and hatred take possession of man, he loses his humanness. The youth should remember their three debts - debt to God, debt to the preceptor and debt to parents. When one pays these three debts, one attains the Trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswara.

Bhagavan brought His Discourse to a close with the Bhajan, "Pibare Rama Rasam ..." at 5.20 p.m.The programme concluded at 5.25 p.m. with offer of Arati to Bhagavan.

Second Day's Proceedings of the Sadhana Camp

The second day's programme of the Sadhana Camp started in Sai Krishan Kalyana Mandapam after the morning Darshan of Bhagavan Baba in Sai Ramesh Krishan Hall on 13th April 2003. Bhagavan came to the Kalyana Mandapam at 8.30 a.m. The first speaker who addressed the gathering was Sri K. Arun. Narrating some inspiring incidents from the life of Bhagavan Baba, Sri Arun observed that Bhagavan is the greatest ideal for the youth today because He is always young at heart and He has the greatest strength of character. Sri Arun concluded his talk with advice to the youth to follow the example of Bhagavan and adhere to the values taught by Him.

The second speaker of the session was Sri Sriram Parshuram. He also narrated a few incidents from Bhagavan's life to illustrate that Bhagavan is the embodiment of selfless­ness. Emphasising the value of sacrifice in man's life, Sri Parshuram said that one should always think that one was the universal Self and not the little self.

The third speaker was Sri Sanjay Sahni, Principal, Brindavan College of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning. Sri Sahni congratulated the participating youth on their great good fortune for this great opportunity of such a sacred camp in the hallowed precincts of Brindavan and in the immediate Divine Presence of the Avatar of the Age Himself. Narrating a few experiences of his life as a student and a teacher in Sai institutions, Sri Sahni observed that Bhagavan always made the students remember their divine origin, so that they could realise that they were the children of immortality. After this, Dr. Ravi Kumar, a faculty member of the Brindavan College addressed the gathering. Dr. Ravi Kumar referred to Swami's letter to His elder brother Seshama Raju which He wrote at the age of 17 years explaining that He had incarnated on the earth to relieve the suffering of mankind and put man on the path of righteousness. Dr. Ravi Kumar felt that youth today should follow the ideals set by Bhagavan to the world and dedicate their life to the Divine Mission of Bhagavan.

The last speaker of this session was Sri V. Srinivasan, All India President, Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisations. Sri Srinivasan congratulated the youth of Kerala who were recipients of Bhagavan's grace in such abundance. Bhagavan, he said, is loving and compassionate but He always maintains very high standards of excellence in every work. Sri Srinivasan advised the youth to make efforts to come up to Bhagavan's expectations and become a Sai devotee by their perfect conduct.

After the talk of Sri Srinivasan, Swami proceeded to His abode at 9.55 a.m. After Swami left, Sri Sanjay Sahni addressed the gathering on "Transformation". After this, Dr. Ravi Kumar shared with the audience a few of his experiences on "Sai Mahima". It was followed by Sri Narasimha Murthy's address on "Faith". That evening, the All India President addressed the gathering on "The Role of Youth in the Sai Organisation".

Bhagavan's Valedictory Address

In the afternoon, the programme was conducted in Sai Ramesh Krishan Hall.

Bhagavan came to the Hall at 3.55 p.m. Two youth representatives from Kerala were blessed by Bhagavan to address the gathering before the Divine Discourse of Bhagavan. First, Sri Gopakumar, youth in-charge of the State presented the future action plan and the decisions taken joy the participants in the course of the Sadhana Camp. This was followed by a brief speech by Ms. Shyama on Swami's Message of love. Bhagavan gave His Valedictory Discourse after these speeches. Bhagavan advised the youth to practise what they had learnt during the Sadhana Camp. He said: Devotion, duty and discipline are the qualities every student must possess. Due to the effect of Kali Age, the students today are adopting bad qualities and are leaving good qualities. It is very rare to find students with good thoughts and good deeds. In this scenario, Sai Youth must become ideals for the whole country. They should set high ideals for their brothers and sisters in the country. Only then can the country make progress. The youth must have Papa Bheeti, Daiva Preeti and Sangha Neeti (fear of sin, love for God and morality in society). Only then can they become true human beings. Wherever they are, whenever it may be, they should develop only good thoughts. Today there is only sadness, violence, suffering and fear all over the world. Bad qualities are the cause of bad deeds. Therefore, the youth should develop only good qualities. They should develop self-confidence and self-respect. Lives of Abraham Lincoln and Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar are worth emulating. The youth should respect their parents. Swami Himself is the example how He fulfilled the wishes of Mother Easwaramma. The youth should develop love. They have love, but it is going in different directions. It should go only in one sacred direction, viz., God.

Bhagavan concluded His Divine Discourse at 5.25 with the Bhajan, "Hari Bhajan Bina Sukha Santhi Nahin ..." The programme concluded with offer of Arati to Bhagavan.

Thus concluded the Sadhana Camp of the Kerala youth. With hearts full of gratitude for the infinite love and grace of Swami, the Kerala youth members and devotees returned to Kerala after the Vishu celebrations on 15th April 2003.

Source: Sanathana Sarathi, May 2003, Pages 157-160
 

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