My Journeys to Parthi OR Journeys to Salvation

[Guest guest]

Journeys to Parthi OR Journeys to Salvation

 

Parthi (Mukti) Yaathralu

 

Sairam my fellow flowers on Swami's Lotus Feet! :-)

 

Somehow a thought came in me to write down my Parthi trips and experiences which

I believe are the only worthy moments of my life...lol...and I thought you might

also relish those moments in which the Cosmic Being, the Creator has showered

His infinite Grace on this hopelessly imperfect instrument of His....:-)

 

With loving pranams at the Lotus Feet, I briefly introduce my story to you,

(though the pre-SAI period is of no significance). The name given to me

is Pardha Saradhi.

My father is an austere, disinterested and principled person. He is my first

teacher. Right from my childhood, he has taken every care to nourish good

qualities in me. His simplicity, disciplined life and above all his placid

nature have set the needed examples to mould my character.

My mother is a also a very caring and loving person.

I was right from my childhood, more interested in literature than in any other

subjects. I liked poems, stories. From my 10th class, I think, I have been into

writing also. I liked to sing, entertain people. My father introduced me to

Mahatma Gandhi. I was strongly inspired by Swami Vivekananda and Sri

Ramakrishna Paramahamsa.

During my 9th class and 10th class, the thoughts of patriotism, devotion and

spirituality filled and enthralled my mind. When I am going to step into

Intermediate I was asked by my father to write the entrance test for Sri Sathya

Sai Institute. The merit that I have accumulated over countless previous births

started fructifying exactly at this point. I

was introduced to Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba.

I did not believe in Him initially. Dont know why but I did not believe in Him.

My father got the application form for Swami's college. In the application

form, there was a column which is something like, "Your objective/aim in life".

I wanted to write a big story there, putting all my aspirations and

inspirations. I was a bubbly young lad then...lol.....

My father dictated what I should fill there....in just one sentence - To become

a noble and worthy human being.I did not want to put the whole thing in such a

simple sentence as I thought my ideas and ideals were much higher and

complex....lol...I cannot stop laughing now when I am reminded of the mindset I

had in those days...

But my father is not an easy person. It is not easy to say no to him, I had to write what he said.

Then I went and gave the entrance test on my father's force. Inspite of all my

efforts to write the exam as worse as possible, I was selected for admission.

My father was very happy while I refused to join the institute. He said, "You

are going to study in Swam's college till post graduation. And then I want you

to apply for a teacher's post there and settle in Prasanthi. This is my prayer

to Baba."

'"No way!" I shouted back. "I am going to study computers and then MBA. I want

to help all the people in need. I want money for that! I cannot become a

teacher."

My father patiently replied, '"You are still a child. I am showing you a path

that is best for you. A path that sanctifies every moment of your life".

I retorted strongly, "Dad! You have always thought very less of me. I am not a

silly brat as you think. I too have great ideals. I too have noble thoughts. I

too know what is body, mind and soul...I know what is spirituality....If you

want a proof, see this..." So saying I ran and got my diary in which I made a

silly translation of a part of Sri Aurobindo's Savitri. After that, an hour of

much more senseless yap about my wonderful comprehension of human life came

from my side, all of which could just bring a smile of utter sympathy from my

father's face.

He finally said one word, 'I am sending you to the Feet Of God'.

I did not listen to him. But I knew he would not leave me without joining the

school. So, inorder to esacpe the admission date, I ran off to Tirupathi (a

holy shrine and pilgrimage centre in India)

..

When I came back home, the admission date had already passed and my father was

rendered helpless. I was afraid he would scold me or even beat me. But he did

not. He simply picked up one edition of Sananthana Sarathi and showed me a poem

of Swami and went away. I dont remember the whole poem but the last sentence, I

remember as clearly as sky. Because that is the sentence which I was to repeat

with eyes full of tears in the coming days. That is:

"Poyina dhorikadhu Partheesuni Paadha Sevayandi"(meaning "Once you loose the

chance of serving the Lotus Feet, you will not get it again easily")

I did not realize the truth then. I did not. Hmmm....

When I ran away to Tirupathi to avoid admission in Parthi, I ran in search of

God to save me and lead me in future!!! I don't know if I ran "towards" God or

"away from" God!!! But Bhagawan always comes towards us, irrespective of our

direction of running. His effect still continued on me.

I managed to join a private college in my hometown itself. I still kept reading

Sanathana Sarathi and other books of Bhagavan. I dont know...I started missing

Him. See how compassionate He is!

I could clearly feel one distinctive feature in those Discourses. They were not

simply words of morality or inspiration. There is something more in them. It is

in fact the same truth that you find in scriptures, the same philosophy,

but....there is more. It took time for me to realize what distinguishes His

words, but I realized......They are the very words of God. Yes, God Himself.

Not just one time, every time I read them, I find newer meanings. Not any

meaning which I cannot correlate myself to! He speaks to me! Directly to me.

They answer my questions, soothe me and guide me. Only later, I found that this

happens to every Sai devotee - finding answers to all their doubts in Sai

literature, whenever they want, wherever they are. I learnt much later that it

is a common practise, a speical boon to all Sai devotees!

All my arrogance became ash in no time. I just could see what all I dreamt, what

all I wanted to achieve was in fact, nothing but His Love. That till then, I was

just deluding myself with many lofty ideals covered with a sense of

self-achievement. I could see a path, the Sai path that is far more nobler than

patriotism. An outlook digging into the very existence of me. An idealogy that

encompasses all the good and noble idealogies that have ever existed in the

world from times unknown. A superset of all that is pure, auspicious and

virtuous. The path that gave me a feeling which is much more than

self-confidence. Self-realization?

I started reading Rama Katha Rasavaahini. I was just crying all the while I read

it. For every page, I cried. If someone of you has not read it, I sincerely urge

you to read it. You might have read many other Ramayanas. But they are all third

person narrations. This one is first person narration. As original as it can

be... A caption could have been added to the book's title as "

Rama Katha RasaVaahini - The AutoBiography of Rama".

As you can expect, Swami delineates the whole plot from the viewpoint of Rama.

It fills you with inexplicable love, bliss and faith. No words.

One day, while reading it, I got a strong impulsive desire to go to Parthi. I

took permission from college hostel and went and told my desire to my dad. He

smiled. I still remember how his eyes shone when I said I wanted to go to

Parthi.

His eyes said to me, "I knew you would say this, for He promised He would not

let anyone fall away from Him...and I believed in His promise".

He assigned an uncle of mine to take me to Parthi. But through-out the journey,

I never remembered that there was another person with me. I was simply chanting

His Name continuously. I did not know how 13 hours of bus journey went by. I was

almost in a state of unconsciosuness. When I think of that journey now, I cannot

believe myself that I could feel so much of longing for Him during that journey!

As the bus entered Parthi, I felt homely. I felt its my home. The feeling I did

not have the previous time I came. I realized it after I lost the chance of

being there in His school.

Friends, one moral this unfortunate soul, would like to convey to you all

through his experience is, "Friends, never ever lose an opportunity Swami has

given you. Never." I think I am like Ravana, who gives a message to the world

when he realizes his faults just before dying. But Swami is more compassionate

now than when He was Rama. He makes Ravanas realize their mistakes much

earlier, not exactly when they are about to finish their tenure here. ...thus

giving them a chance to make up for their mistakes.

I had just one day to spend there in the Divine Abode. But that was completely

and thoroughly fruitful because every moment I beholded Him, I beholded God. I

just felt God was speaking to me. He gave a Discourse that day which ended with

the Bhajan - Sathyam Jnaanam Anantham Brahma....I remember every detail!

They were not words of inspirations but commands. Ready-to-assimilate guidelines

for me. Made specially for me. And then when Arati was being performed, I just

cried and cried. My uncle who does not believe in Swami was sitting beside me.

May be he would have felt strange, I did not care. I just cried.

We came out of Darshan and went to a restaurant. Even there, I did not speak a

word to him. Actually I am very close to that uncle. We talk a lot each other,

but I did not know, I did not care to strike a conversation. I was feeling very

disinterested.

And from that Darshan, my exciting Sai journey took off. Hope I did not bore

you. I shall continue with my actual experiences of Swami's Love ( 'miracles'

in common parlance ) in my next mail.

Thanks to ur patience, if you had reached till this point.

May Swami help us to make full use of His existence amidst us. JAI SAIRAMSandesh

[Guest guest]

What an awe inspiring piece taken from the earlier part of your life. Thank you

so much for sharing this with us all. I was moved and touched with Swami's love

and patience he has for all of us. Swami is ever compassionate and merciful and

like a true Sai Mother he will never let his children go astray. Swami teaches

us lessons in unique ways.......

I recently came back from Parthi and it was a wonderful trip, I was very blessed

and fortunate to have been able to share in the Anand and bliss for the birthday

celebration. I have noticed even though getting morning and evening darshan, you

can never get enough of Swami and his love, it is an undying yearning and

longing only when you are in his presence it is fulfilled. Swami is truly the

embodiment of love itself and we also have to realize we are instruments of his

love. I spread this love to all of you here which I have just received from LORD

OF THE UNIVERSE. I will write more later on.

May Swami bless and guide and protect each one of you helping you to realize

your true purpose of existence.....Let there be love in world ...let this love

be transformed from being to being and let this love forever radiate from our

hearts....

Om Jai Sai Raam

Radhey

[ ®Åе£¥]

 

Sai Sandesh <saisandesh >saibabanewsTo:

saibabanewsSubject: [saibabanews] My Journeys to Parthi OR

Journeys to SalvationSat, 3 Dec 2005 21:33:35 +0100

[Guest guest]

SaiRam Wonderful mail. Actually this is the experience

of every one who has been drawn near to our belowed

most compassionate mother, every one of us get the

same feeling having reached home when entering Parthi,

Looking forward to read your further mails

May swami bless us all

SaiRam

 

 

--- Sai Sandesh <saisandesh wrote:

 

> *Journeys to Parthi **OR **Journeys to Salvation*

> *Parthi (Mukti) Yaathralu*

[Guest guest]

Sai ram,

 

I really did enjoy reading your mail, maybe "enjoy" is

not the right word (sometimes my english runs out).

I mean it was really an emotion to read your mail.

you have given food for thought for many topics you touched.

I thought of my sons and of what is the right conduct,

for often they seem to search exactly the oposite of what

I try to teach them.

I felt all the love for your dear father, what a wonderful

father.

I would gladly have the opportunity of going on learning from

your experiences, so if you'd like to share some other experience

I would thank you indeed.

I will keep your mail for it's lines reveal each time something new.

The manner in which Swami did call you, what a blessing!!

thanks for sharing, may Swami bless and guide you every day and shower

His infinite Love and Grace on you.

all my love.

Sai sister Berit

 

 

 

 

>-- Original Message --

>Sai Sandesh <saisandesh

>Sat, 3 Dec 2005 21:33:35 +0100

>[saibabanews] My Journeys to Parthi OR Journeys to Salvation

[Guest guest]

Sairam sister Berit!

 

I am happy that you could derive joy from what Swami has given me. Ya,

definitely I would continue to share my experiences further....I have committed

a lot of mistakes and learnt my lessons. It would be my responsibitlity to share

the lessons I learnt with all Sai devotees.

 

Once one of my close friends made a funny comment..."There cannot be any useless

thing in the world for if such a thing exists, it exists to serve the purpose of

being an example of a useless thing and so it can no longer be useless."

 

I guess my experiences also serve as examples to show what not to be done .

They are not useless...haha!

 

One thing I am sure of....I have such a heart full of longing for Swami....yet I

fail...repeatedly... to meet His expectations. I believe there is a purpose in

this delay. Let me see how long He wills it to be.

 

Sometimes, in movies, the hero says to the heroine, 'I am ready to die for you.'

I dont think its a big deal. A momentary sacrifice, anyone can do. If he can

say, "I am ready to live for you....all my life, bearing the separation from

you, only with you in mind and nothing else....thru years and years, ages and

ages, for all eternity".....and prove it, then it is true love. Isnt it? For

such a thing requires not a momentary overflow of love but complete control

over body and mind. Losing the body consciousness and attaining Atmic

consciousness.

 

When spoekn in Vedantic words like this, it all appears highly tough and

esoteric. But looking at Swamis Face, liberation and attaining pure love seems

to be a moment's job! ....lol...

 

Have a blessed day, sister!

JAI SAIRAM

On 12/5/05, bdelaini (AT) fastwebnet (DOT) it <bdelaini (AT) fastwebnet (DOT) it> wrote:

Sai ram,I really did enjoy reading your mail, maybe "enjoy" isnot the right word

(sometimes my english runs out).....