|
Sai Pearls of Wisdom - 8
January 2, 2003
Professor Anil Kumar has presented this talk as an extra satsang.
He has selected important messages Baba has imparted to the
students gathered around Him during the afternoon sessions on the
verandah at Prashanti Nilayam. These talks will continue.
ANIL KUMAR'S SATSANG:
BABA'S CONVERSATIONS WITH STUDENTS
“Sai Pearls of Wisdom”
Part Eight
January 2nd, 2003
OM… OM… OM…
Sai Ram!
Pranams to the Lotus Feet of Bhagavan!
Dear Brothers and Sisters!
MONTH OF DECEMBER 2002
Three Events in December
First, let me wish you a ‘Happy New
Year!’ This is the first meeting of this New Year 2003. I have a
few details to share with you about events that happened during
the month of December. There were three major happenings that I
will explain in full detail.
The first, which I am sure you will be very much interested in,
was Christmas and Jesus Christ. Then the second was the visit of
the President of India, Abdul Kalam, to this place, the sentiments
he expressed, the opinion he had, and the letter he wrote.
Finally, the third is the recent achievement of the Sri Sathya Sai
University. It has been declared to be the best university in this
country! These are the three important milestones that happened
during the month of December, which I want to share with you.
As you know, we are sharing highlights from Divine dialogues. I
didn’t say Divine whispers; they are Divine dialogues. Our idea is
that Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba’s conversations should also be
made available for posterity just as Ramana Maharshi’s
conversations were recorded and just as Sri Ramakrishna
Paramahansa’s conversations with his disciples were recorded and
made available to all of us today. We are all accountable. It is
for this reason that we have started this endeavour. I am glad
that it has been widely published and is well received.
The Christmas Choir
It so happened that the entire Prashanthi Nilayam was full of the
resonance and resound of Christmas carols, particularly in the
afternoons and evenings until bhajan time. It was so wonderful, I
tell you. On certain afternoons while sitting with Bhagavan behind
the curtain in the Poornachandra Auditorium, I also happened to
hear the choir.
Bhagavan was immensely happy with the intensity of the devotion of
these foreigners who were coming from different places and
practising the songs meticulously, scrupulously, scientifically
and carefully to perfection. That was really fantastic! Swami was
all appreciative for both the preparation and the presentation by
these foreigners. Let me congratulate all of you who participated
in this event.
December 22, 2002
The discussion on Christmas and Jesus Christ
On the 22nd of December, some of the conversation that went on
centered around Christmas and the life of Jesus Christ. Bhagavan
said that the Catholics had their own philosophy of Christianity
and followed their own concepts. However, they were not accepted
by a certain section of Christians, who opposed them and protested
against some of their concepts. Hence, this sect became known as
the ‘Protestants’.
Bhagavan also said that Jesus taught that every man is God. He
meant that Atma, Self or spirit is God. Swami calls this Chaitanya
Shakthi, Divine power or energy, or Cosmic energy. That is
Divinity. This is what Bhagavan explained then.
Swami said that Jesus faced opposition. Many people questioned him
and doubted him. Like any God-man, Jesus faced all kinds of
challenges. While declaring his own Divinity, Jesus spoke just as
we find Bhagavan telling us today. He said that all are God, all
are equal and all are Divine.
When a person asks Swami, “Are you God?” He says, “I am God and
you are also God.” This was also Jesus’ teaching. When Jesus said
that he is God and all are equal, He meant that the entire
creation is Divine.
Critics Transformed
Then Bhagavan also mentioned a miracle that happened during the
life of Jesus Christ. It seems that a few fishermen were trying to
fish, spreading their nets. But even until the evening, they could
not catch a single fish. They were all very much disappointed and
frustrated.
It so happened that Jesus passed by the same place. He took them
to another location in the sea of Galilee and told them to try
there. To their astonishment and surprise, when they spread the
net there, they caught lots of fish. They came to know the glory
of Jesus by this experience, which we call a miracle.
Bhagavan said that a tax collector with the revenue department, a
man by the name of Matthew, came there to collect tax from these
fishermen. The fishermen refused to pay the tax.
But Jesus said, “No, no! You just caught enough fish, so why do
you speak lies? Earlier you couldn’t get any fish. But just now,
you are getting so many fish at this place that I have shown to
you. Why do you say that you do not have fish? You must pay the
tax!” That’s what Jesus said.
Jesus is Justice. Jesus is Truth. Jesus is Righteousness. Jesus is
Love. There is no question or doubt about this aspect of the
Divinity of Jesus Christ. Discovering this Truth of Jesus, Mathew
was totally transformed and became his devotee. He also did not
collect any tax from the fisherman that day. He was simply moved
and touched by the Truth of Jesus Christ.
There was also another man, a great personality of Biblical times,
named Paul. He questioned and doubted Jesus Christ. But as Jesus
appeared to him in a dream, Paul became transformed. He was the
beneficiary of the teachings of Jesus Christ. Here was a man who,
at one time, was a critic of Jesus Christ but later became Saint
Paul.
Even today, in the times of Sri Sathya Sai Baba, critics get
themselves transformed. Most of the people who doubt Him later
become staunch devotees. That’s how it happens, and that is even
what happened during the times of Jesus Christ.
The Three Wise Men
Then Bhagavan went on to say that, when Jesus was born, three wise
men happened to visit that place. One of them said, “This child is
going to love God.”
Another, an Arabian king, said, “No, God is going to love this
child.”
The third wise man said, “No, he is going to find his identity
with God, and that is what he is going to be called.” Those were
the prophecies, spoken in the heights of devotion, of those three
wise men who visited the newborn babe in Bethlehem on Christmas
day.
Jesus Is Betrayed
Then Bhagavan mentioned another point. Jesus was always surrounded
by His disciples. So many followers wanted to hear His Divine
teachings. However, there was one disciple, Judas Iscariot. Judas
betrayed and cheated his guru, Jesus Christ, just for a pittance,
just for some money offered to him by the soldiers. That is what
led to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. By receiving a few silver
coins, Judas Iscariot told those soldiers: “Whosoever’s ring I
kiss, that man is Jesus. You can catch him.” The disciples and
Jesus wore the same dress in those days, so Jesus was difficult to
identify. That's how Judas betrayed his guru. What happened to the
other disciples? They escaped on some pretext or the other. That's
what Bhagavan has said.
Mary was crying, watching the situation of Jesus Christ, the only
Son of God. To Mother Mary, Jesus said: “Mother Mary, why do you
cry? Death is the dress of life.”
Commenting on this statement, Bhagavan said that one does not have
to cry or worry about death. Just as we go on changing our dress
everyday, likewise we put on a new body. Do we cry about changing
our dress? Certainly not! We simply wear a new dress. .
Bhagavan mentioned another statement of Jesus Christ. While there
were so many people around who were helplessly looking on, there
were some other people who were ready to blame and crucify Jesus,
the compassionate and righteous One, the only Son of God. What did
Jesus say then? “All are one, my dear son. Be alike to everyone.”
What a statement it is! It was only possible for Christ to say
that. Enemies and betrayers were on the one hand; disciples on the
other; he himself was in pain and agony. Still with all this, the
Son of God could say, “All are one, my dear son. Be alike to
everyone.”
I think you may remember that at one time Bhagavan said, “People
may praise Me; people may blame Me. But I bless both of them
because I am beyond. God transcends both blame and praise.” He is
not carried away by your praise nor depressed by your blame.
Mother Mary
I asked Bhagavan this question: “I have seen the statue of Mother
Mary, carrying the infant Christ. People worship Mary also. In
convents, we find Mary’s statue, and we also find Mary holding
Jesus on her lap. There is a very big church in Bangalore called
‘Infant Jesus’. What is that all about? Why do people worship
Mary?”
Please note what Bhagavan said: “Just as you people worship the
Mother of this body for giving birth to this Avatar (referring to
Easwaramma), people also worship Mary, Jesus’ mother, in
reverence, adoration and gratitude for giving birth to the Son of
God. It is really an act of gratitude. That’s how Mary has come to
be worshipped by Christians.” That’s how Bhagavan answered.
Saints and Sages
I asked Him another question. “Swami, there are sages whom one
refers to as rishis in Sanathana Dharma (the Eternal Dharma). But
there are no sages mentioned in the Bible or in Christianity. I
want you to comment upon this.
Baba said, “No, no. What you call a ‘sage’ in Sanathana Dharma is
a ‘saint’ in the Holy Bible. Saint Paul, Saint Luke, Saint
Matthew, Saint John — they are all sages.” That’s what Bhagavan
told us.
Then I asked another question: “Swami, I am proud to say that I am
from a Christian college. I spent about thirty years in a
Christian college and even to this day, I am proud of my Christian
college, my Alma Mater. The credit for the fact that I can speak
English this well goes to the Christian missionaries, particularly
the Lutheran Church in America. They sponsored our college, the
Andhra Christian College at Guntur. Because of my affinity and
close intimacy with Christian theology, I have one question to
ask.
Swami was in a good mood, so I went on asking, “Swami, how am I to
understand it when Christians, while praying say, ‘The Father, the
Son, and the Holy Ghost’?” How am I to understand the meaning as a
follower of Sanathana Dharma?”
What did Baba say? “Did you not hear what I say quite often? ‘You
are not one but three: the one you think you are, the one others
think you are, and the one you really are.’ That is the meaning of
‘the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost’. They are the same.” What
a beautiful answer He gave!
Dr. John Hislop
“Swami, Jesus was crucified on the cross. What a pitiable
situation it was. I heard that You showed the Cross to a devotee
by the name of John Hislop. Is that true?”
“Yes, I have shown him the original Cross upon which Jesus was
crucified.”
Then I said, “Swami, if You don’t mind, if You could be so kind,
let me know how Hislop came to Your fold -- how did he come to
know of You?”
Bhagavan said that Dr. Hislop stayed in Kashmir, the ‘Crown of
India’, in the Himalayan Ranges, which you must have heard about.
Hislop stayed in Kashmir for ten years, searching of sages and
saints; but he could not find them anywhere.
At that time, there was one Defense Secretary of the Government of
India whom Dr. Hislop knew well. On his invitation, Hislop
happened to visit Delhi, where Bhagavan was at that moment. So,
Hislop met Bhagavan for the first time in Delhi. He met Swami not
only in public, but also in the palace where Bhagavan stayed.
When he saw Swami, he was quite happy that he could finally see
the sage and saint whom he had been searching for all those ten
years. Hislop himself declared that he found a white aura around
the head of Bhagavan, as is noticed in the case of noble souls.
After meeting Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, Hislop expressed that
he had come to the end of his quest or eternal search. After that,
Hislop followed Bhagavan wherever He went.
Swami Himself then mentioned a miracle that was experienced by Dr.
John Hislop. It seems Swami asked Hislop to carry a big iron trunk
full of saris to a place where Bhagavan started distributing them
to everyone. Hislop was handing saris to Bhagavan and Bhagavan was
distributing them. As you know, Bhagavan always distributes the
best quality saris, never second-rate ones. Everything is the
best.
However, there were a few simpler saris that He did not
distribute. When Hislop returned to the trunk, he saw water at the
bottom of the trunk that was not there earlier. Had water been
there at the beginning, the clothes would have been wet. This was
not the case. Hislop was very much surprised. “Swami, what is this
water?”
Bhagavan said, “The saris that were not fortunate enough to be
distributed to the people by the Divine Hands were crying due to
their ill-fate. They were miserable that they did not deserve the
good fortune to get into the Divine Hands themselves.” That’s the
story that Bhagavan mentioned that evening.
This story prompted me to ask a question: “Saris cry, Swami? How
am I to believe it? Do saris have Chaitanya or awareness?”
Bhagavan said, “In this world, there is only awareness, that’s
all. There is no object without this awareness or Chaitanya,
remember that. But Chaitanya, awareness, expresses itself at three
levels. At the body level, it is conscious. At the level of the
mind, it is conscience. At the level of Atma, the spirit or the
soul, it is consciousness.
So, conscious, conscience and consciousness are the three levels
of expression of awareness or Chaitanya. In other words, in the
expression of the manifestation, there will be a degree of
difference; but basically it is all awareness.” This was
Bhagavan’s answer.
Then I said, “Swami, if everything is awareness, if everything is
Divine, am I to understand now that I should not misuse the five
elements, that I am not to misuse my senses or abuse nature? Am I
to understand it that way?”
Bhagavan said, “Yes. That’s why I always say, ‘Do not waste. Haste
makes waste. Waste makes worry, so do not be in a hurry. Don’t
waste food. Don’t waste water. Don’t waste energy. Don’t waste
money. Waste of money is evil. Time waste is life waste.”
Bhagavan said this so that we will understand that everything is
essentially Divine, so we will not be negligent or underestimate
anything at any cost.
Then I said, “Thank You. You told us so many things this evening.”
Remember These Two Statements of Jesus
Then Bhagavan got up from His chair, walked a few steps, turned
back and asked, “What things did I say?”
“Swami, things that we do not know; things that we have
misunderstood; things that have brought light into our lives. We
are indeed very grateful to You, Bhagavan. Thank You.”
Finally I also said, “Swami, how beautifully You have integrated
Christian theology with Sanathana Dharma. What a beautiful
synthesis it is. We have to learn from only You, Swami.”
I thought Bhagavan was proceeding toward the Mandir. As all of you
know, His is the final word! He turned back and said, “Learning?
There is no use in learning. You should start experiencing, not
learning.” Swami said this straightaway because it was bhajan time
and the music had started.
It was time for Him to go into the Mandir, but then He said,
“Remember these two statements of Jesus: What are they? ‘All are
one, my dear son. Be alike to everyone.’ What is the second
statement? ‘Death is the dress of life.’ Bye.” (Laughter)
December 27, 2002
News from Delhi
Now I would like to mention to you certain things that Swami said
on the 27th of
December. This relates to the experiences and the statements made
by Dr. Kalam, the President of India, the ‘first citizen’ and a
great devotee of Bhagavan.
Bhagavan told everybody on the 27th of December, “Look here, Abdul
Kalam is going to speak in Delhi about Sri Sathya Sai University.
He is going to speak on the PhD program of the University.”
Then He immediately called, “Vice-Chancellor, come on.”
Immediately the Vice-Chancellor came and Swami said, “What news
have you received from Delhi?”
“Swami, tomorrow the President is scheduled to speak at 11:30 AM
on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee of the University Grants
Commission, Government of India. He is going to speak on Sri
Sathya Sai University with special reference to the PhD program.”
“I see. What are the highlights in our PhD program?” That’s what
Swami asked innocently -- probably so that we could know.
Vice-Chancellor said, “Fluoride and spectroscopy.”
“Oh, I see. Okay, let them do whatever they like.”
And then the Vice-Chancellor mentioned, “Bhagavan, among all the
universities, the President of India likes the atmosphere of Sri
Sathya Sai University very much.”
Then Swami started joining in. Swami spoke about the feelings and
the sentiments expressed by Abdul Kalam. “Yes, Kalam liked this
atmosphere. He liked Swami and everything around. Yesterday the
Prime Minister, the Deputy-Prime Minister, the leader of the
ruling party, the Delhi Governor and Kalam, all of them sat
together and spoke only about Sai University for one-and-a-half
hours! Do you know what they said? They all said that ours is a
‘high-tech’ college. Vajpayee, the Prime Minister of this country,
said that the Sathya Sai University is so great because there is
an ideal Master, Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, there.
Swami asked, “Boys, do you know who is the ideal Master?”
They all said, “Swami, You are the ideal Master.”
Then Swami added, “Look here, Prime Minister Vajpayee told
President Kalam, ‘I have known Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba for
the last twenty years. You have come to know Him only in the last
one-and-a-half to two years. I know His Divinity and His
University.’”
Then one teacher said, “Swami, I heard that Kalam, the President
of India said, ‘Sai Baba ko, Abdul Kalam ka salam.’” This is a
sentence in Hindi meaning, “Salutations to Sai Baba from Abdul
Kalam.” Salam means ‘Salutations’.
Swami said, “Yes, this is what he said. He is a good devotee. Yes,
you must have seen him also.” That’s what Bhagavan related to us.
Motorcycle and Car Driving
The boys said, “Swami, we want you to see our sports preparation.
Why don’t You come to the stadium?”
Bhagavan said, “I am not going to come. I am going to see the
presentation on the final day. When you want Me to come, how can I
come there? You are all doing motor bicycle stunts. I never drove
a motorcycle. Of course, I sat on a motorcycle – on the second
seat. But I never drove it. I just sat behind.”
“Oh Swami, did You?”
“Yes, in those days I had to come from Karnatakanagepali, where I
was visiting when that village was completely submerged in water
due to rains. I had to take a round-about way to leave the village
by sitting behind another man who drove his motorbike. But I don’t
know how to drive one.”
Then he said, “Boys, I know car driving though. Did you know that?
I have driven all the cars except the BMW.” (Laughter) That’s what
Bhagavan related to them that day.
December 29, 2002
Our Life is a Hospital
Swami made this statement: “When Kalam came to Parthi, he visited
the Super Specialty Hospital. He was very much inspired. He went
back and spoke about the hospital in a conference. The Government
of India is highly pleased with the work being carried on here,
and has given 50 lakhs tax exemption for the procuring of
equipment from foreign countries.” That’s what Bhagavan explained
to us.
It seems that Swami spoke with a few doctors that day and He
pointed to a certain doctor and asked if the others knew who he
was. They said, “Yes, Swami, he is so-and-so.”
These are Swami’s comments: “Our life is a big hospital. Every
particle has a name and form in this body, which is outward or
pravrithi. Every particle of the body is outward or pravrithi,
forgetting the innate, inward nature. The true nature is inward,
nivrithi. That is your true identity.
A scientist is one who goes by pravrithi, duly assisted by the
government. He conducts a number of experiments in a positive
direction, using facilities that have been given to him. But if
the scientist is not encouraged, he turns negative and chooses a
wrong path altogether.” That’s what Bhagavan has shared with us on
that occasion.
December 24, 2002
No Declarations Needed
I have a few more points to share with you. On the 24th of
December, there was just one dialogue, one sentence that is highly
valuable.
I made this statement: “Swami, a Chief Minister of one state said
that he is going to do lots of things for that state.”
Swami said, “Is that so?”
Then I said, “Swami, there is another Chief Minister who said that
he is going to do so many things.
Finally Swami said, “I don’t say. Whatever I do, I don’t say, I
don’t declare. I do, that’s all. There is no declaration and there
is no announcement with respect to My activities and projects.”
That’s what Bhagavan said. This is a very important statement, I
believe.
December 31, 2002
God Knows No Caste
It was quite interesting what Bhagavan said on the 31st of
December. There was a simple experience that I should tell you
about.
Bhagavan was speaking about so many details that day. Then He
called an elderly person and said, “Look here, there is one
driver. He had an attack of chicken pox. He is very thin and weak,
so please tell the canteen that they should supply his whole
family with breakfast, lunch, tea and dinner until he recovers
totally.”
My eyes were filled with tears because of the concern and the Love
that He has. Irrespective of cadre, irrespective of position, He
showered His love on a driver. God knows no class and no caste.
January 1, 2003
Chennai Water Project
Yesterday, the 1st of January 2003, you must have seen the old
students of Sri Sathya Sai University. There were about 500 of
them assembled here, who presented a music program last evening.
Even students who had passed out of the portals of this
Institution in the year 1969 were present yesterday, if you can
imagine that!
Swami was so happy. My observation was that some of them looked so
much older than Bhagavan Baba Himself! Some of them were fat and
out of shape and some were even bald. But Baba looks ever young.
I was just watching Swami and His ‘old boys’. That is perhaps the
reason that they call them ‘old boys’ because they have become
old. Some are allergic to this phrase, ‘old boys’. How can boys be
‘old’? So I often say ‘former students’ or ‘alumni’. ‘Old boys’, I
don’t know. For that matter, no one is old; all are young. Life is
young; life is youthful. There is nothing like old age. Old age is
related to the mind. I was so happy to watch all those boys, who
were assembled there.
You must have also heard two speakers. One was the Secretary of
the Central Trust, who spoke on the Drinking Water Supply Project
taking place in Chennai, once-upon-a-time called Madras, the
capital of the State of Tamil Nadu. I want to share with you some
of the project’s details because they have been discussed this
afternoon also, on January 2nd, 2003. So, I am conveying to you
the very latest information.
Just imagine, the pipeline has been laid for about 170 kilometres.
There are huge canals dug out, 40 feet in width and 40 feet in
depth, with the pipes running through these huge canals. There is
one place called Kandeluru, a place in Andhra Pradesh belonging to
Nelur District, where there is a huge reservoir being constructed
at the height of 85 feet, taller than the Hanuman statue here
(referring to the Hanuman statue in the Hillview Stadium).
Forty-five lorry-loads of cement are used per day. Some equipment
has been specially brought from foreign countries like the cement
mixers, which mix together the sand, gravel and cement. These
cement mixers can hold 25 bags of cement at a time in addition to
the sand and gravel. There is also huge equipment there used to
collect all the gravel, sand and cement. This cement mixer moves
to different places, collecting all that.
When this was narrated, I could not believe the massive program
that is happening there. Thousands of workers are involved in this
program. This work is taken up by an international organization
called Larson and Toubro, L & T Company. You must have heard of
it. Do you know what they said? “We have not taken up such a
project before. By working here, we are learning and gaining
experience.”
On the 29th of December, a very popular newspaper from Tamil Nadu
published full-page photographs and two full pages of narration
regarding the details of the project, and telling of Bhagavan’s
compassion towards humanity. The highlights are:
1) No government can ever undertake such a project. No one other
than Sri Sathya Sai Baba could do this.
2) Only Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba has undertaken this selfless
project, which is absolutely non-political, having no expectation,
no conditions and no strings attached. This is unique in our
times.
3) Sri Sathya Sai Baba stays in Puttaparthi at Prashanthi Nilayam,
far away from Chennai. The scope of supplying water to those
people is unimaginable; so for a long time, Chennai people have
been suffering for want of drinking water. Though the government
has undertaken many projects, they have been unsuccessful. So, it
is Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba who is going to supply drinking
water to all the citizens of that city of Madras.
4) This Sathya Sai Drinking Water Project caters to the
requirements of both irrigation purposes and the supply of
drinking water.
These are the statements supplied by that daily newspaper and all
these things were made clear to us yesterday. You, too, should
come to know of that.
A Model University
A few other points I should also mention to you. A committee of
experts and vice-chancellors, who are specially constituted by the
University Grants Commission, Government of India, happened to
visit Sri Sathya Sai University in Prashanthi Nilayam.
That committee is popularly called ‘NAAC Committee’, meaning, the
National Assessment and Accreditation Council. This committee is
supposed to go around the whole country and visit every department
of every university and grade them, ranking them at the national
level. They rank every department and grade every teacher’s
qualification, performance and research. If their conditions are
not satisfied, the professors and readers will not be promoted.
That university will be ranked low. They have certain parameters
and this NAAC Committee goes around the whole of this country.
The Chairman of this Committee usually monitors all these
activities from Delhi. But he came to Puttaparthi himself along
with the other members, who are all vice-chancellors and
professors — top experts, reputed nationally and internationally.
They visited the University and they had an audience with the
professors and Vice-Chancellors. They also visited hostels and
they went to Bangalore and Anantapur.
What did they say? They all said unanimously that Sri Sathya Sai
University is the ‘Crest Jewel’ of the all universities of India.
Secondly, Sri Sathya Sai University is the best university, a
model university for other universities to emulate. Point three:
The whole world is concerned at this time to introduce values into
the educational program, which has not been totally successful
until now. It has only happened in Sri Sathya Sai University,
where values have been integrated with the regular curriculum and
academics. Further, they also recommended that Sri Sathya Sai
University should start a national academic staff college for
integral education.
Even though it is not an easy thing to do, it is the achievement
of the Avatar of our times. We take no credit. The appointments,
the syllabus, the assessment, the equipment -- everything has been
guided by Bhagavan for all these years. As God is perfection, as
the Creator is perfection, so creation is perfection. Thus, the
University of God is bound to be perfect, nothing less. This good
news is cause of jubilation for all Sai devotees the world over.
President Abdul Kalam
Further, I should also tell you three points that I forgot to
mention earlier with regard to Abdul Kalam, the President of
India. The President of India, after taking over as the President
of this country, sent two months of his salary to Bhagavan as his
contribution. The President sent his salary with a note of prayer:
“Kindly accept this, Bhagavan. I am a bachelor, so I don’t need
this money. I don’t want it.” That was in his letter.
Now look at our Bhagavan. He did not take it. He did not remit it
to any Central Trust Account. He gave instructions immediately
that a gold medal be specially instituted in the name of Abdul
Kalam, the President of India, and that a gold medal be given
every year on the interest accrued on the two lakhs deposited in
the bank.
Sathya Sai University is the only university in this country that
has two gold medals instituted in the name of two past Presidents
of this country. We have a gold medal in the name of Dr. Shanker
Dayal Sharma, the former President of this country, and we are
going to have yet another gold medal, instituted in the name of
Dr. Abdul Kalam, the current President of India. This is all
Bhagavan’s will.
Kalam also made a mention in his letter to Swami, “Swami, it is
only in this place that I experienced supreme Peace.” He wrote in
his letter to Swami and to the Vice-Chancellor also, “When I
happen to come there, do not place any special seat for me. I want
to squat on the ground along with other devotees. I come there in
the capacity of a devotee.”
You must have also noticed on the historic day of the Convocation
of Sri Sathya Sai University, the 22nd of November, that the
President of India came out of the guest house here at nine
o’clock and started going everywhere — the North Indian buildings,
the sheds, the auditorium. The security staff had a terrible time.
He said to them, “You go, and let me go.” He went on moving
everywhere, and everyone along the way could say ‘Sai Ram’ to him.
He started responding, “Sai Ram, Sai Ram” to everybody! This is
the only place and the only President who made himself accessible
to the average Indian. “All are one, my dear son. Be alike to
everyone” was translated into reality, into action, here at the
Divine Lotus Feet of Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, in this place
that is the sanctum sanctorum of the Avatar of our times.
May Bhagavan bless you. Thank you very much.
Anil Kumar ended his talk by chanting the bhajan, “Giridhara
Gopala Murali Dhara.”
Source:
http://www.internety.com/saipearls/02.01.2003%20(E)%20central.htm
© Anil Kumar Kamaraju 2004 - Here
reproduced for personal use of the devotees for the purpose of
seva.
Anil Kumar website:
http://www.internety.com/anilkhome/ -
http://www.internety.com/saipearls/
|