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Prashanthi
Bulletin - April 7th, 2006 - Sri Ram Navami Celebrations
April 7th, 2006 - Sri Ram Navami
Celebrations
This morning, our Lord Sai
Rama came out for Darshan at 8:25 AM. As the car made its
appearance in the Sai Kulwant Hall, what do we see? Not the
grey coloured Porte car but a beautiful bright red coloured
open shutter car with Swami seated in the front, easily
visible to all. The car is a very small compact one. It is a
Mini Cooper model, made by a company recently taken over by
BMW and known for making sophisticated compact cars. As the
car passed along, devotees were ecstatic as they could
clearly see Swami without the usual glass shutters and light
reflections on the window panes obscuring their vision. On
the name plate was written merely the alphabets BABA.
The car took a full round and then stopped near the
interview room. The car rolled out just like the Porte car
but the maneuvering mechanism was not as smooth as that of
the Toyota. The seat went up a little and then out and then
down again. Swami then got up and walked to the dais and sat
on the sofa.
The moment He sat down, the Primary School children, few of
them who have stayed back during the vacations, came forward
with a large card for Blessings. Subsequently, a group of
Music College students went forward with their programme
card. Swami had Blessed them the previous day to be ready
with a Veena recital programme this morning.
At 8:40 AM, the Veena recital began with Mahaganapatim
Bhajeham?.Then followed Enadaro Mahanubhavulu
accompanied with vocal too. Swami gave some instructions and
then came the song Brova Baa Rama. This was
followed by Paluke Bangaara Mayana on Veena.
After this piece, there were some more Divine instructions
and the focus shifted to another group of Music College
students who are proficient in Hindustani Classical music.
This group has now come to be identified as the Meera group
by all, as they have been singing Meera Bhajans in the
Divine Presence since a couple of weeks. The Meera group
sang the Rama Katha song in Hindi elaborating on
the various episodes in Lord Rama's life.
Following the Rama Katha one of the singers sang
Payo Ji Meine Rama Ratana Dhana Payo. After this
the usual Bhajan boys took over. We had a very melodious and
soul stirring song sung by Sri Aswath Narayan - O Rama
Nee Naama Emi Ruchi Raa...and then Jagadabhi Ramudu
Sri Ramude...finally ending with the popular Lata
Mangeshkar Bhajan - Ram Bhajan Kara Man...
Swami took Aarti at 9:50 AM and retired to His abode.
In the evening, Swami was out at 4:00 PM. He took a full
round and got down near the interview room. To our delight,
He then came out into the Kulwant Hall on His Porte Chair
and took a round along the front row of boys and the Vedam
group. He turned back near the old students group and they
had a wonderful chance of offering their letters and
prayers. Swami then called the Meera group boys inside the
interview room, which He has been doing very frequently
since the past few days. At around 5:00 PM, Swami came out
and sat down on the dais.
He Blessed the Vice Chancellor to share his thoughts with
the audience. The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Anil Gokak spoke
briefly for about ten minutes. He highlighted the spiritual
symbolism of the story of Lord Rama as enunciated by
Bhagawan Baba. He compared Rama to compassion and Lakshmana
to Prema saying that, they both together gave Bliss
- Ananda to all. He explained how Swami compares king
Dasaratha to the ten senses, the four brothers to the four
human values and Sita and Rama to Prakriti and
Paramaatma.
The golden deer stands for the material world and its
temptations. Finally, Ravana symbolizing Rajas and
Kumbhakarna symbolizing Tamas are eliminated and
Vibheeshana who manifested Satva was made
victorious.
At 5:10 PM, Swami called Sri Ajit Popat, the well known
devotee and orator from U.K. and asked him to speak a few
words to mark the auspicious occasion. Sri Popat spoke for
around 20 minutes. He stressed on the fact that we humans
need no physical or mental 'make-up' to come to God. What we
need is to make up our minds.
He stated that we must go with all the 'force' to the
'source' and we would get all the 'resources' that we need.
He reminded us that Lord Krishna commanded Arjuna to get up
and fight, but merely as an instrument. That, he said, is
the need of the day. What is required fundamentally in
spirituality, the speaker opined was the quality of
vigilance. To be aware that He is aware?..
He said that Bhagawan had advised him to follow the dictum
'Karishye Vachanam' to start with, even before
attempting to follow 'Karishye Vachanam Tava'. That
is to follow one's own words. This in fact was the main
message of Lord Rama's life. To keep up one's word.
Raghukula Reetie Sadaa Chali Aayee, Jaan Jaye Para Vachana
Na Jaaye. He concluded stating that the word 'JOY'
communicated a very strong message to all of us. It meant,
Jesus first, Others next, and You last.
It was 5:30 PM and Swami on His own, signaled for the table
to be brought. He stood up amidst applause and delivered His
Divine Ramanavami message.
The highlights of His Divine Discourse are given below:
You all are essentially Divine. Since
ancient times, Rama's story is being composed and shared by
all. The story actually took place 1000s of years ago. But
yet, His story is heard by one and all even today. Right
from a beggar to a millionaire, they repeat Rama's name.
There is no Bharatiya who does not repeat Lord Rama's name.
You all are embodiments of My own Divinity, said Lord Rama.
Truth is the foundation of Dharma. Satyam
Naasti Paro Dharmaha. Therefore, the first lesson is to
always speak the Truth. Act as per the word given. One
should speak only after ensuring the feasibility of the word
to be translated into action. Dharma is not merely an act of
charity. It must come from the heart and must be translated
into action. Manas Ekam, Vachas Ekam, Karmanyekam
Mahaatmanam. Lord Rama is an example of this. On the
contrary, Manas Anyat, Vachas Anyat, Karman Anyat
Duraatmanam. Ravana is an example of the latter. Rama
stands for Satya and Ravana for Asatya.
Today, man is faced with a number of problems because of
speaking untruth. Once, we speak untruth, we lose the
quality of life. Truth is ever lasting. It is changeless.
Students, you all must observe Truth from this age onwards
so that you will become ideal citizens tomorrow. Offer all
your actions to God and it will get transformed into Truth.
All innermost feelings are reflections of Truth. However,
when they manifest through the tongue and other senses they
become false. Therefore, senses are responsible for merit
and demerit. Truth shows the direction, Dharma
follows it and Prema experiences and tastes it.
Once you taste this Love, you will never be able to cause
Himsa (violence) to anybody. Himsa is not
just hurting others. Not following one's given word is also
violence - Himsa.
Mind is clouded by desires, just as the moon is covered with
dark clouds. But do not feel sad. The moment the dark clouds
clear away, the moon is seen. We must do Naamasmarana
to blow away the clouds of desires covering our minds.
At this point, Swami narrated the story of how
Lakshmana too once gets very evil thoughts. But then Lord
Rama explains to him that it was because they were present
in the forest where Shurpanaka had lived. It was those
vibrations that were responsible for Lakshmana's bad
thoughts.
Tell me your company and I shall tell you
what you are. Never be in bad company. Always be in good
company.
Yad Bhavam Tad Bhavati. Many of us question as to
why God cannot transform us. God never does anything. Your
thought and action itself does everything and gives you
feedback. If you eat a mango fruit you will invariably get
only the belch of a mango fruit. You cannot get the belch of
a neem fruit, having eaten a mango fruit.
One who thinks constantly can never be happy. We must
transcend our thoughts. Bookish knowledge leads to allergy
and all our energy is lost. At a higher level, one need not
think, - Is it good or bad. Everything is good only.
Whatever happens is for our good only. Live with this
conviction.
Love all, never hate anybody. Some doubt God also. That is
the greatest sin. When such bad thoughts come, consider them
as enemies and brush them aside. Love will protect and
nourish you. Live in love. You all are Embodiments of Love.
Pain and pleasure come in succession. We must learn to
possess equanimity. This was the lesson that queen Sumitra
taught queen Kausalya when Rama was to leave for the forest.
Later, Lord Rama dissuades Sita from coming with Him to the
forest saying that there would be many animals over there
and Sita would not be able to face the challenges of a
forest life. To this Mother Sita replies that the Lord Rama
who holds the entire world in His Hands, can He not take
care of me and protect me. Then why should I have any fear?
When Sita is abducted to Lanka, Lakshmana gets very furious
and prays to his brother Rama to permit him to burn all
those responsible for the abduction of Sita, to ashes. To
this Lord Rama replies, "You and I need do nothing. Their
own bad actions will burn them on their own".
Do not have the feeling of mine and thine. All belongs to
God. What is yours? The body, the mind, the intellect?
Nothing is yours. You may lose your body any moment. You are
not able to control your own monkey mind. Therefore, say and
feel 'I am I'. That is the right approach to life. This is
the key teaching of Lord Rama.
How can anyone dislike Lord Rama? He hated none, hurted
none. It is impossible to have bad consequences for good
actions. Once we control our senses, everything will be
rectified.
Ramayana is not just a story. It happens in each one of our
lives. It is a thought process in our mind. The one who
always smiles can never be put to hurt by anybody. Never put
up a castor oil face saying that exams have come. It is
better if examinations of life are advanced. This will
enable us to write and pass soon and move to higher levels.
At 6:15 PM, Swami sat down on the sofa and sang the
song - Rama Naamamu Mithai Idigo Randi Bhaktulaara.
As the students too did not know this song, Swami sang line
by line and made us repeat every line, literally teaching us
the song like a music teacher. He then continued the
Discourse sitting on the sofa.
Normally sweets are very tasty, but they
are poisonous to the stomach. But Rama Naama is a
sweet which will never spoil the stomach.
Rama's name is eternal. It has no age bar. It is
transcendental. Never give up this nectarine name. Modern
students do not pay heed to this name of Lord Rama. It is
their bad luck. Even Meera sang - I have got this precious
pearl. Can I ever drop it and lose it?
What we need today is not expansion of the physical heart,
but transformation of the spiritual heart. Be in search of
the path that can accommodate as many people as possible.
Tomorrow all of you will be leaving for your hometowns. Keep
all that you have learnt here in your mind. Never make your
parents feel sorry. Make them happy. If you are happy they
too will be happy. This is your duty. Khana, Pina, Sona
and Marna will automatically happen. The main purpose
of our being born is to make our parents happy. Be good
ideals. Then alone will you gain the fulfillment of being
students of the Sri Sathya Sai Educational Institutions.
It was 6:25 PM and Swami concluded His Discourse with
the Bhajan, Rama Rama Rama Sita...
Laddu Prasadam was distributed to all and Swami got back
into the Porte and retired for the day.
Source:
http://radiosai.org/pages/PB.htm
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