Parthi update, 21-23 June 2005

[Guest guest]

Sai Ram,

 

Below are the highlights of a Divine Discourse (on 23 June), the

second since Swami came to Parthy over the weekend.

 

 

21-06-2005

 

This morning, Bhagawan came out for Darshan at 8.30 a.m. and sat

through the Bhajans until 9.30 a.m. when Aarti was given.

 

In the evening, Swami came out at 3.20 p.m. There was a huge backdrop

at the rear end of the Sai Kulwant Hall made by devotees from

Chhattisgarh. There was going to be a cultural programme by devotees

from the Durg District of Chhattisgarh. Swami came and sat down on the

stage. Vedam stopped at 3.30 p.m. Two members from the coordinating

group came forward to Bhagawan. One offered a rose while the other

unfolded a scroll containing the programme for the evening. Swami very

keenly went through the contents of the scroll and then made a few

queries about the same.

 

The programme was a tribal dance performed by a tribe called the

Satnami residing in the heart of Chhattisgarh. The dance master named

Devdas Banjare from the village Dhanora, around 13 kms. from Bhilai,

is an internationally reputed artist who has won the President's Award

and has visited more than 64 countries in the last few years. Being a

devotee of Bhagawan, his intense desire was to perform in the Divine

Presence. The dance was a rigorous, vibrant dance with loud drum beats

and cymbals being played by the dancers themselves. All the postures

of the dance represented forms of worship to the saint - Sant Ghasi

Das. This dance form is known as Panthi Nritya.

 

The dance went on non-stop for around 20 minutes and included a number

of formations, pyramids, etc. At 3.50 p.m. the dancers moved out of

the performing area amidst loud claps. Subsequently, Swami spoke to

the event coordinator Mr. Srinivas for a long time. He showed Swami an

album containing photographs of the different types of Seva that they

were performing in the villages in Chhattisgarh. It included Narayana

Seva, Medical Camps, Donating Sewing Machines, Performing Group

Marriages, etc. Swami was very pleased with all the service activities

and He kept on enquiring with Mr. Srinivas about all the details

 

In fact, 186 people from all these villages had come for this

programme, from Chhattisgarh. These people had performed a number of

spiritual activities before coming and we could see Swami literally

responding to their prayers. Swami asked the coordinator how they were

able to get funds for all these service activities. Swami then asked

him to build a community hall in the village for performing marriages

and other functions. Bhagawan said that the Central Trust would

sponsor this project. Bhagawan called Mr. Chakravarthi, the

Vice-Chancellor Sri Gokak and Sri S.V. Giri and asked them to look

into the details of all the activities performed by them in

Chhattisgarh and provide all the necessary support!

 

The interaction with Mr. Srinivas went on till 4.10 p.m. Bhajans were

sung by the devotees from Chhattisgarh. At 4.30 p.m., Aarti was

performed and Swami received the rose offered by one student and

tucked it into the hands of Mr. Srinivas! Bhagawan went into the

interview room and later retired to PC.

 

 

22-06-2005

 

This morning was a Darshan Bonanza. Swami came out at 7.45 a.m. He sat

in the center of the stage and Vedam chanting went on. At around 8

a.m., He asked for the Vedam chanting to stop, and told the teachers

in the Vedam group to go for their classes. Swami sat there till

Bhajans began at 9 a.m., in Divine silence. In fact, He continued to

sit there till 9.35 a.m. Then He came in, took Aarti and went inside

the interview room. People had a wonderful Darshan this morning!

 

In the evening, Swami was out by 3.30 p.m. Swami sat down at the

center of the dais. He received letters from some students, spoke to

quite a few students and then even took some for an interview. He

Blessed the Birthday boys too! At 4.30 p.m., Swami suddenly called one

of the Vedam coordinators and asked then to chant the Purusha Suktam.

At 4.40 p.m., He went inside the interview room with some students.

Bhajans started at 5.00 p.m. and this evening we were all privileged

to hear brother Ravi Kumar singing at Swami's command, the Qawalli -

Sai Bina Raha Na Jaye....

 

Bhagawan took Aarti at 5.25 p.m. and retired for the day.

 

 

23-06-2005

 

Bhagawan was out in the evening at 4.00 p.m. He took a full round, got

down near the interview room, and proceeded towards the center of the

dais. The freshers among the I Year Post Graduate students were ready

with a presentation this evening entitled 'Sevanjali'. However, Swami

had other plans. He came and sat outside. The Vedam chanting was

stopped at 4.05 p.m. Bhagawan commanded Prof. Anil Gokak - the current

Vice Chancellor of our Institute to speak a few words.

 

Prof. Gokak stated his talk by recalling the early part of his

father's life - how his father had developed the first streaks of

faith when in Edinburgh, the Oxford University had given him exemption

from the oral test keeping in view his ill health and on account of

his excellent performance in the written test. He went down memory

lane and stated that Bhagawan had extended his mother's life by 18

years and his father's life by 5 years. It was in 1965 that Swami had

first visited their house, but then Prof. Anil Gokak had not developed

strong faith in Swami.

 

It was only in 1969, when Prof. Anil Gokak went along with his wife to

Swami and Bhagawan materialized a necklace and an apple for his wife,

that he slowly started developing faith in Bhagawan. Initially he was

focused on Swami's miracles but later being an administrator himself,

he started taking interest in Swami's social activities. He aptly

referred to Bhagawan as a 'Vedantic Socialist'.

 

Prof. Gokak said that he was very much moved by the book 'A Catholic

Priest Meets Sai Baba'. In 2002 Prof. Gokak delivered a talk in the

Summer Course in Indian Culture and Spirituality. By now he was

convinced that Bhagawan alone is the saviour of this world. He said

that Swami always laid less emphasis on mere rituals and directed all

to go towards the core. He stated that Bhagawan was not a Vyaktinath

but a Lokanath.

 

He concluded his talk by drawing an analogy between an Avataar and a

pilot who temporarily brings down his plane to the ground to take a

few passengers and then fly back to the skies!

 

It was 4.30 p.m. and Swami now commanded Sri S.V. Giri, our former

Vice-Chancellor to share his thoughts with the audience. Sri S.V. Giri

also struck a personal note talking about the heart surgery that he

had for the first time in 1989. Within 3 years, 4 of the 5 bypasses

had been blocked. On praying to Swami, Bhagawan had said there was no

need for any further surgery. Though the doctors said that there was

no way out other than a surgery, Sri S.V. Giri has been continuing

since then, discharging all his responsibilities - purely on account

of Bhagawan's Grace! He expressed his immense gratitude to swami for

this benediction.

 

He then shared how Swami had facilitated his smooth exit from the post

of the CVC (central Vigilance Commissioner) - Government of India.

Swami had made sure that his resignation was accepted without any

complications. Sri Giri stressed on the three most important facets of

this Institute - Service, Society and Faith.

 

He concluded his talk by stressing on the Truth elucidated by our

scriptures that all is one. Man and even the fruit fly are equally

Divine, but man has evolved to great heights. Man's hands, unlike his

ancestral species are free and this is because he is expected to serve

others with these hands. He has been given a bigger brain so that he

can think of practical solutions for the burning problems facing the

society today. He has been bestowed with the rare gift of speech

(unique only to the species of human beings) so as to express himself

and speak obligingly!

 

It was 4.50 p.m. and suddenly to our surprise and delight Swami

started giving His Divine Message. Mikes were soon kept in place.

Bhagawan spoke until 5.45 p.m. and elaborately sketched the life story

of Prof. Vinayak Gokak - the father of the current Vice-Chancellor and

the first Vice-Chancellor of the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher

Learning. The highlights of Bhagawan's Discourse are as follows (This

is based on notes taken during the Discourse and may not cover all the

points).

 

Vyashti and Samashti and the link between them are very important.

Transcending both these is Parameshti. Samatvam (equality) is the link

between individual (Vyashti) and society (Samashti). What is the role

of an individual in society? No one is able to totally understand the

spirit of society. As one enquires deeply, Samashti too fades away and

gives way to the transcending factor of Parameshti.

 

We find it very difficult to understand this transcendental picture.

This was the position of Prof. Vinayak Gokak in the beginning. (So

saying Swami went on to describe the life of Prof. Vinayak Gokak in

very elaborate terms giving details of his spiritual journey to

Swami).

 

He read a number of books but could not understand the principle of

Satyam and Nityam. He was not able to differentiate between Atma and

Anatma. However, there is nothing like Anatma. There is only Atma.

Later, Prof. Gokak realized the Truth in depth. I gave him a lot of

support then. Sometimes continued help may lead to confusion. But a

true devotee will be highly benefited by the support extended to him.

Help is not the one which is temporary or momentary, but it must be

everlasting.

 

Gradually, Prof. Gokak got rid of all doubts and held on to the

Eternal Truth. It is not easy for everybody to understand this Divine

Principle. Those who depend on Truth remain changeless. The rest keep

changing. One must necessarily face the consequences of whatever they

do. It is only in the doubtless state that we can understand the

principle of oneness. Mere superficial enquiry will land you in

confusion. Truth represents doubtlessness. Such Truth is the royal

path to Mukti (liberation).

 

Moksha means Moha + Kshaya. So long as there is Moha one cannot attain

Moksha. Once Prof. Gokak came to Me and asked a question. "Am I the

knower or is the conscience the knower?" Maya is the one that comes in

between the Conscious and the Conscience. It is the main cause for

delusion. Keep Maya (delusion) away and allow the Truth to come forth.

Truth cannot be seen or heard. Beyond Conscious and Conscience, there

is Consciousness. Truth is closest to Consciousness.

 

Thus his doubts got cleared. But then, once again he had another

fundamental doubt. He asked, "Swami, all my doubts have been cleared

but where from did these doubts come?" He kept enquiring deeply in

this way.

 

When individual reaches out to society, the society also reaches out

to the individual. Finally, Prof. Gokak was able to understand the

principle of Satyam and Nityam through Aurobindo's Savitri. The

question may arise, "Is Savitri feminine or masculine?" Savitri is

beyond gender. Gokak became a scholar on Savitri. He investigated his

inner most thoughts and realized the Truth.

 

(Swami continued His Discourse on the same lines, describing several

instances where Swami had Blessed Prof. Gokak by touching his head and

once even placing His finger on the Brumadhya Sthanam - point in the

middle of the brows).

 

Since then, Prof. Gokak was in Bliss and his interaction with Swami

reduced. All his doubts vanished and finally he said, "Swami, I am

One! God is One! I do not need anything." Ultimately, he visualized

Savitri. As we proceed along the path of Sadhana, we will acquire

certain spiritual powers. But do not allow the mind to waver. Hold on

to the fundamental principle. Truth is One, not two!

 

Bhagawan concluded His Message at 5.45 p.m. Bhajans began and at 5.55

p.m. He took Aarti and retired to the Poornachandra Auditorium.

 

Sairam