Sri Sathya Sai Baba Teachings

"ONAM` is a festival celebrated all over the state of Kerala, like Diwali in other parts of India. People belonging to this state, are employed all over the world. And yet they do nor fail to visit their native places and join their family during the Onam festival. Though many consider it a harvest festival, it has a spiritual significance.

Swami has mentioned several times, that Kerala state has been blessed by Lord Vishnu in His three separate Incarnations. The Avatar hood of Narasimha, Vamana and Parasurama had taken place in this state. So it is not surprising to see the deepest form of devotion among the Keralities. Taking bath twice everyday and offering Joint prayers in their respective homes has been an age old tradition. Elders show the way to their young children to sustain and develop the culture of joint prayers.

King Mahabali, who belonged to the family of Prahlada, was a noble king though he belonged to the Asura lineage. The king was revered and loved by his subjects. His end came when Lord Vishnu assumed the form of Vamana and placed his Lotus Feet on his head, pushing him down into Pathala. Before leaving the earth the King Mahabali sought a boon. He wished to come back to the earth once in a year and see his loving subjects. It is believed that King Mahabali visits Kerala every year on Onam day and the people wish to present themselves before him in a happy frame of mind and spirit. They put on their best on this day, even if they are poor and cannot afford good food and dress. 'Kaanam vittrum Onam thinnuga ' is the proverb in Kerala. Even by selling away their house, they should eat well on Onam day, is the meaning. Kerala people are very particular in this matter.

Swami once appreciated, in a public discourse at Prashanthi Nilayam, the devotees from Kerala for leaving everything back and reaching at Prashanthi Nilayam, to celebrate the Onam every year in the immediate presence of Swami. In the calendar of 365 days a year, Swami normally allots 2 or 3 days exclusively for the devotees of Kerala during Onam. They put up with the limited facilities available in the Ashram and manage with the food offered at the Canteen, not the least worried about the sumptuous special Kerala Onam Feast. For them it is only the Darshan of Swami that matters. They organize special buses from all over the state, bringing with them the decorative materials, for decorating Prashanthi Nilayam. Prashanthi Nilayam virtually, turns into Kerala, during Onam celebrations due to the meticulous care and concern taken by devotees. Selected Bal Vikas Children, from various Samithi centers, offer cultural programmes for two or three consecutive days in the Divine Presence.

With the Divine Grace, Sri Sathya Sai Trust of Kerala had established a Senior Secondary School inaugurated long back by Bhagavan Himself. It is a residential school, affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education, New Delhi(CBSE). My second son, Sri S. Ramesh studied in this school and finished secondary education before joining the degree course in Prashanthi Nilayam Campus.

This Sathya Sai Vidhya Vihar is situated atop a small hill near a village called Nandi, on the main road, about 15 kilo meters north of Calicut in northern Kerala It is said that the great Rabindranath Tagore, while touring Kerala, was staying on this hill and he had named it "Sri Sailam", as it is known even today.

When my son was studying in this school, I used to visit this place very often with my wife. Once on top of the hill, the view of the breath taking scenery draws you. The blue waters of the Arabian Sea surround the three sides of the hill. Lush green coconut groves dot the place all around. The hill itself is full of grown up cashew nut trees. A beautiful and peaceful place where the institution nestle0s!

Whenever, we visited our son in the school, we used to stay in some hotel in the nearby city of Calicut, now known as Kozhikode. We became acquainted with one Mr. P. V. Chandran and family who is a leading business man in the city. They were in a way the local guardian of our son Mr. Ramesh during his period of study at Sri Sailam. They extended all possible help to the boy.

This family own one of the biggest transport company in India called Kerala Transport Company (K.T.C) with branches all over India. Besides various other business interests, they own one of the biggest vernacular (Malayalam language) daily named 'Mathru bhoomi'. They also publish a weekly magazine bearing the same name.

An ardent devotee of "Gunrvayuroppan " (Deity in the Temple Guruvayur), Mr. Chandran is also a devotee of Bhagavan Baba. They bring out special issues of this weekly magazine, fully dedicated to Swami, containing beautiful photographs of Bhagavan, and many articles authored by eminent Kerala devotees. The issue is released during every World Conference of Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organizations. I was fortunate to sit next to him during the last conference at Prashanthi Nilayam during Darshan times. Mr. Chandran placed the first few copies of the special edition at His Lotus Feet and Swami blessed and returned a few copies to him. A magnanimous Mr. Chandran gave me a copy blessed by Divine Hands. I went through the book the same day. In one of the articles, a Sai volunteer from Whitefield had talked of the experience of a devotee. I was wonder struck reading the article as to how Swami showed His mercy to a particular devotee. With the kind courtesy, of the Mathru Bhoomi, I attempt below to narrate the incident.

One day Swami emerged from His Abode at White field as usual and called out the seva dal and gave him some Instructions. Devotees were sitting outside, awaiting Swami to come out for Darshan. Swami gave the volunteer some identifications of a devotee sitting outside, and Instructed that the particular devotee should be asked to leave the premises immediately. Swami further said that He would come out for Darshan only after this devotee was removed from the premises. The volunteer located the devotee and requested him to move away. Even after disclosing Swami's command to leave, the devotee refused to budge, and flatly refused to get up. He told the volunteer that he was suffering from the dreaded disease of leprosy and that he would not leave until he had Swami's Darshan and His blessings. The volunteer returned back. When Swami asked him whether the fellow had gone away, the volunteer pointed to the reluctance of the devotee to move out. Swami's next command was a surprise. "Either push him out or you go out" was the stem reprimand. No volunteer would feel happy to leave Swami. Hence he rushed to the Darshan line and apprehended the devotee. Since repeated persuasion did not have any effect, he took the help of a couple of others to physically lift this man up and deposit him outside the complex. He was left near the railway level crossing gate.

The volunteer felt very sad for having to undertake such a job. They had no other alternative but to obey the Divine Command. Days passed; even after about a month, a growing feeling was there, very much bothering the volunteer, as to why Swami was so harsh on that devotee. But they could not know, or guess at that time that Swami was actually saving that devotee. Nobody can comprehend the ways in which the Divine Drama is being played.

Swami was still in Whitefield. Barely 30 days after this incident, the volunteer was told that somebody was waiting outside the main gate wishing to meet him. He was surprised to find the devotee whom he had pushed out, standing outside the gate smiling at him. He was worried that the fellow might force his way inside, thereby creating problems for him. He tried to shun him and go back. The devotee called out, and told the volunteer that he would not attempt to force himself inside. He only wanted to tell him the wonderful experience he had.

On the day when he was dragged out and deposited near the railway gate, it pained him very much. He was asking himself again and again whether he was such a sinner, not to have even a Darshan of Bhagavan. He moved along to the nearby Railway station and laid down on one of the concrete benches. Before long, he fell sleep at this odd hour. He had a dream in which appeared Swami, who had denied him the Darshan inside. Swami told him that it was not his physical body, which He tried to push out, but the very disease itself and those 30 days from then, he would be fully cured. He could then come back and have Darshan.

True to Swami's assurance and by His Grace, he had been completely cured now which happened to be the 30th day as foretold by Swami in the dream. He would come inside only the next day. He only wanted to personally thank the volunteer for what he had done to him. But for his action, he would not have, had the chance of Swami's Darshan in his dream followed by the miraculous cure.

As he was narrating the incident, there was a hush among the devotees, as Swami was coming out to give Darshan to the devotees. This devotee was also enjoying the Divine Darshan though from a distance i.e. near the gate. As Swami was nearing the place, the devotee could not contain himself any longer. To the utter dismay of the volunteer, he rushed to Swami and fell at His Feet. He was weeping profusely. Swami lifted him and patted on his back and commanded him to go inside for the interview.

We cannot even remotely imagine, when and/or in what manner the Grace would flow on a devotee. We are simply to follow His teachings and practice a life as shown by him, engaging ourselves in selfless service, leaving everything to Him We should know that we are in Divine protection.

Author's statement in:
http://in.groups.yahoo.com/group/SaiGroup-BombaySrinivasan/message/1

Many of you may be aware that I had authored a book with the title "Sri Sathya Sai Hrudaya Nivasi (Indweller of Hearts). This book had seen the third reprint, and is being sold in Bhagavan's Bookstall at Prashanthi Nilayam. Many of you would have purchased and many would not have got chance to go to Parthi and get the book. After the third edition, this may not go to print again. As such I wish to bring the contents of this book to each and every one of you.

Starting from today I shall post one chapter every week or if possible twice a week, depending upon the response I get from you all. I would request you to kindly read it and then re-circulate it to your other friends in the Sai Family.

The text could be transferred to your hard disk, and if possible print outs taken out.

Utilize the contents, as much as you like.

With Lots of Love and regards
Bombay Srinivasan
 

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