Sweet Memories - By Sri K. Suresh - A Former Student of Swami's Institute

[Guest guest]

Swami to come out and spend some time with them. They were surprised by the

sudden brush of a cool breeze that heralded soothing showers. It was the

time when the Sai Kulwant Hall had not yet been built. To those directly

exposed to the scalding rays of the sun, the rain was a welcome relief. To the

students it meant a blanket permit to rush forward and occupy the front portico

of the Mandir. It was a vantage spot as it gave us the advantage to be very

close to the interview room door so that when Swami came out, His gaze in our

direction was guaranteed. I was then in my second year of the MBA programme.

Along with another brother of mine I was blessed to secure a strategic spot in

the front portico. From here we had a clear view of Swami's throne in the

Bhajan Hall. As the rain persisted without any respite, I began reading a

book on Swami's miracles in Africa. I was particularly drawn to an incident

where two of the devotees who were driving a car on an express way at speeds

over 110 km/h suddenly met with an accident. Their car was thrown out of the

express way and into the bushes. The car was totally smashed and there was no

chance that its occupants would survive such a crash. The devotees in the car

however had taken the Lord's Name on their lips at the critical juncture and

had escaped unscathed. They were nonplussed and thanked Swami for His

Omnipresence. I was quite overwhelmed by this incident and happened to share it

with the brother beside me. I couldn't but help remark – 'Look Swami is in

Africa also'. African Avathar Some moments later the interview room door

opened. Swami came out and stood on the upper portico of the verandahh in the

Mandir. He paused and looked at me and my brother for a few seconds. I looked

at Swami with reverence. Suddenly Swami asked the students sitting in front of

me to make way. A path was made for Swami in the tightly packed verandahh.

Before I could realise Swami walked straight up to me and then paused. Gazing

into my eyes He remarked –"Dunnapotha! You are talking in the verandah." Then

after a small pause He continued, "I am here. I am in Africa. I am everywhere."

Saying this, He walked away with a nonchalant gait. Do I have to say anymore?

Six years later while I was in search for a job, a Singapore based

multinational company hired me and sent me on my first assignment to guess

where: West Africa ! It has been six sweet years in Africa. I have been blessed

to get involved in the Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisation here as an office

bearer. I try to serve the Lord in my own little way, feeling and experiencing

His constant Presence and Guidance. One important truth that we, His

students, must cherish always in our hearts is His Omnipresence. Wherever we

are, we need to conduct ourselves accordingly. Swami is our Inner Soul. He is

always with us, in us and around us. The awareness of this truth suffices to

boost our confidence and help mould our lives in the right direction. Heart

to Heart During my student days at Swami's Lotus Feet, I learnt a lot

through innumerable such instances. Many times it happened that Swami would

refuse to accept a letter from me and I used to feel

completely dejected. On one such occasion, Swami gave me the 'cold storage'

treatment by not accepting my letter for many days at a stretch. One fine day,

He suddenly called me and literally grabbed the letter from my hands. Even

without opening the letter, He went on to reveal its contents and concluded

with a great revelation, 'I need not go through your letter to know its

contents. The prayer in your heart reaches me instantaneously, even before you

pen down your thoughts.' To be frank, after this incident I reduced the

'written mail' and instead concentrated on heartfelt prayers. This is what

Swami implies when He exhorts us to develop 'a heart to heart relationship'

with Him. I

Shall Write Anew On another occasion, Swami walked up to where I was seated,

looked into my eyes and said 'Faithkaawali raa' in Telugu, which means – 'You

need Faith'. Putting His hand on His forehead He went on 'If you have faith in

Me, I shall wipe out your old Karma and write a new one. But faith is

required.' Swami is Premaswaroopa. Just pure, unsullied Love on two Feet. He

loves His students so much. His love for us is unfathomable and indescribable.

Let me share a very cherished incident in my life. Baba's Bangra Boys It

was the time of Swami's 60th Birthday in the year 1985. A group of 25 boys,

which included me, were selected to perform the Bhangra dance before Swami's

chariot as it made its way from the Mandir to the Shanti Vedika in the Hill

View Stadium. We had practised more for a stage performance rather than for a

procession in front of Swami's chariot. But then, Swami's message came on the

evening of November 22nd that we need to be prepared for the procession the

next day. All of us were too tired because of various activities on 21st and

22nd November. But we had Swami in our hearts. Though we slept very late on

22nd night, all of us got up by 3 a.m. on 23rd morning and managed to reach

Mandir before 3.30 a.m. Even at that time, all the streets of Puttaparthi were

overflowing with devotees moving towards the Mandir. We managed to squeeze

through the crowd. We were tired and by the time we reached Mandir we were

already feeling drowsy. But nevertheless, we started dressing up and were ready

by 6 a.m. for the procession. The procession was scheduled to commence at 7 a.m.

Students Come First Swami had already come out at 6 a.m. He then summoned

all of us, the Bhangra group boys, into the Bhajan Hall. We were quietly

dressing up at the car shed behind the Mandir when we received this message. We

rushed into the Bhajan Hall. Swami then enquired from us whether we were ready

for the procession and we replied in the affirmative. Then Swami said 'Oh no!

You boys did not have anything to eat or drink since morning and you need to be

in the procession for at least one and half hours.' While everybody including

the VVIPs were waiting for Swami to come out for Darshan, Swami was inside the

Bhajan Hall, catering to the little needs of His little ones. Swami then sent

someone to bring breakfast for us from the canteen and ensured that we had

had our fill. He also went into His room and got apples for us to partake. All

the while Swami was waiting for us to say, "We are ready Swami, we can start".

At about 7 a.m. when all of us were ready, Swami put on His white robe and

walked up to the chariot and stood on it while the first golden rays of the

rising sun fell on the Divine Lotus Feet. The procession started with us

performing ahead of His chariot. By His Grace everything went on well. In that

huge crowd we were thrown around like puppets. But for Swami's Love and Grace

in the morning, we could not have performed the dance. That is the Love of

Swami for His students. Students always come first for Him. Spiritual

Practice in Business Such incidents are unlimited. Each one of His students

have baskets-full of such stories to narrate. The underlying theme is Love,

Love and Love alone. Swami loves us so intensely and expects us to share this

love with the people around us in the same way. He wants us to look at the

unifying principle that binds us all. We need to start in our own little way to

practise what Swami says. I would like to state how this has helped me in my day

to day business. When I deal with my customers I feel that it is the same

Swami who is also in them and that I need to approach them with the right

attitude and

love in my heart. This has always given me an upper hand to solve the most

difficult issues which could not be handled by others. When I am at peace, have

Swami in my heart and look at my opponent as a reflection of the same Being,

positive vibes are generated and that gives me a cutting edge. While other

preparations are definitely required for a good negotiation, positive attitude

and good vibes can change the whole negotiating atmosphere. In the corporate

world, my company calls negotiation and wheeling as dealing skills. I am ranked

highest on these skills in my company. But for me the real skill is 'Love in the

heart'. I end this article here with a small prayer to Swami…… "Dear Lord,

Let our Hearts overflow with Divine Love for Thee at all times". - Courtesy:

'Fragrance'. - Heart2Heart Team Source: Radio Sai E-Magazine, February 2006

Issuehttp://media.radiosai.org/Journals/Vol_04/01FEB06/Sweet-memories.htm

[Guest guest]

viduvaraadu". But is Swami testing everyone on ackowledging his Omnipresence

and our Inner growth??? towards ATMIC realization?? Is he testing to see how

many will really physcally would write to him??? Will not the Hridaya Vaasi,

one and only AATMA of all and every animate and inanimate respond to a deep

devotion of a devotee and manifest in Flesh and Blood where ever the devotee

is?? Does the mother need to be invited to her own abode??? If he is every

where and the dearest SAI KRISHNA never left his physical abode to draw

millions across the globe, wants to be invited??? Where to?? Who are we to

invite him, when he is teh holder of the

UNIVERSE??? What awaits a devotee in the pranks of this SAI KRISHNA'S commands

and demands??? I just want to know what the world is thinking about this?? I

am certain many elevated Rishis and Munis whom he willed to be born with him

are also in this group, who might know what is happening!!! With love and

eternally binding devotion to Swami Meena Chintapalli saibaba list

wrote: Sweet Memories By Sri K. Suresh - A

Former Student of Swami's Institute