My visit to Prasanthi Nilayam - June 19 & 20

[Guest guest]

Though I have visited PN a lot of times, every visit is unique and happier. I

was there on 19th and 20th instant and the moment I stepped into the presincts

of PN there is a feeling of sublime joy and the mood is different.

 

The crowds were lesser, and foreign visitors were also few. Swami's darshan was

on the red golf cart and most of the days he is not making a full round on the

gents side and takes a short cut and goes off to the Mandir making one feel

frustrated after sitting for hours and with hope to catch a closer glimpse of

Swami. When I expressed frustration loudly, my friend sitting next to me said "

Is Swami under obligation to come out for Darshan everyday? Did he send an

invitation for us to come and sit for darshan?" Answers to both the above are

in the negative. So whatever we get from Him is a blessing. I could see Swami

being helped by students to get in and out of the Golf cart and also to sit in

and get up from the chair. He was sitting for nearly an hour in the chair

listening to the Veda chanting and darshan could be had sitting in the hall

from about say 50-75 feet. His face was bright as usual.

 

When I was looking at so many old people 70+ to 90 in PN whom I have been seeing

in the last decade and also older people in general outside, why Swami alone had

to fall and break his leg and then a shoulder injury. When I was thinking about

that I clearly felt it absurd. All this looks to be his own doing for some

purpose. He has already told that everything in his Avataric Mission would go

as per his predetermined plan. It looks that his stopping of "padanamaskar" and

now this injury and coming relatively lesser into the crowd shows he is

slightly "distancing" himself from the crowd may be asking us to focus less on

His Form. All this made me think and realise that afterall Swami is not REALLY

that thin frame of body but he is something above all that and he is a cosmic

energy operating at a much much higher level gloabally. To see Swami's frail

body and focus on his leg injury and limping and getting lost in thoughts like

"what has happened to Swami" etc

looks foolish and will not make us progress.

 

On Sunday evening I was standing outside the Sai Kulwant Hall to listen to the

Bhajans and take a glimpse of Swami before I left PN at 5.30pm. When you look

at the hall full of people - everyone's only purpose is to have a glimpse of

Swami - that sight of the crowd - mixture of all castes in India, a mixture of

Hindus, Christians, Muslims, Sikhs sitting for HIM and the eagerness on their

faces and the happiness on their faces when the red robe and crown of hair is

spotted is what makes you realise the value of the person whom you have come to

see !! Instead of being in the midst of the crowd distance yourself and see from

a distance you know the value of Swami. May be person who walks with Swami

everyday may not realise the value of his position unless he comes out and sees

from a distance. And when the day's last Aarthi is performed and the om shanthi

is said thrice........there is a total silence with crowd waiting for Swami to

leave to his abode. That moment is

also absolutely absorbing. The silence is just to be felt.

 

The moment you step out of PN the environment is rid with negative vibrations

and life is as usual...........may be you can make it different if you can

capture those moments in PN permanently in your heart. Easier said than done.

But to some extent possible.......Sairam.

 

Note: There is construction activity going on around the Sarva Dharma Pillar

just opposite the existing residence of Swami. This new construction according

to persons in PN is the new accommodation for Swami and should be ready by Guru

Poornima and some persons also say that Swami may go to Whitefield anytime as

this work makes further progress and return after

completion.Do You

?