Prasanthi Bulletin - April 7th, 2006 - Sri Ram Navami Celebrations

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along, devotees were ecstatic as they could clearly see Swami without the usual

glass shutters and light reflections on the window panes obscuring their

vision. On the name plate was written merely the alphabets BABA.The car took a

full round and then stopped near the interview room. The car rolled out just

like the Porte car but the maneuvering mechanism was not as smooth as that of

the Toyota. The seat went up a little and then out and then down again. Swami

then got up and walked to the dais and sat on the sofa.The moment He sat down,

the Primary School children, few of them who have stayed back during the

vacations, came forward with a large card for Blessings. Subsequently, a group

of Music College students went forward with their programme card. Swami had

Blessed them the previous day to be ready with a Veena recital programme this

morning.At 8:40 AM, the Veena recital began with Mahaganapatim Bhajeham?.Then

followed Enadaro

Mahanubhavulu accompanied with vocal too. Swami gave some instructions and then

came the song Brova Baa Rama. This was followed by Paluke Bangaara Mayana on

Veena.After this piece, there were some more Divine instructions and the focus

shifted to another group of Music College students who are proficient in

Hindustani Classical music. This group has now come to be identified as the

Meera group by all, as they have been singing Meera Bhajans in the Divine

Presence since a couple of weeks. The Meera group sang the Rama Katha song in

Hindi elaborating on the various episodes in Lord Rama's life.Following the

Rama Katha one of the singers sang Payo Ji Meine Rama Ratana Dhana Payo. After

this the usual Bhajan boys took over. We had a very melodious and soul stirring

song sung by Sri Aswath Narayan - O Rama Nee Naama Emi Ruchi Raa...and then

Jagadabhi Ramudu Sri Ramude...finally ending with the

popular Lata Mangeshkar Bhajan - Ram Bhajan Kara Man...Swami took Aarti at 9:50

AM and retired to His abode.In the evening, Swami was out at 4:00 PM. He took a

full round and got down near the interview room. To our delight, He then came

out into the Kulwant Hall on His Porte Chair and took a round along the front

row of boys and the Vedam group. He turned back near the old students group and

they had a wonderful chance of offering their letters and prayers. Swami then

called the Meera group boys inside the interview room, which He has been doing

very frequently since the past few days. At around 5:00 PM, Swami came out and

sat down on the dais.He Blessed the Vice Chancellor to share his thoughts with

the audience. The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Anil Gokak spoke briefly for about ten

minutes. He highlighted the spiritual symbolism of the story of Lord Rama as

enunciated by Bhagawan Baba. He compared Rama to compassion and Lakshmana to

Prema saying that, they both together gave Bliss - Ananda to all. He explained

how Swami compares king Dasaratha to the ten senses, the four brothers to the

four human values and Sita and Rama to Prakriti and Paramaatma.The golden deer

stands for the material world and its temptations. Finally, Ravana symbolizing

Rajas and Kumbhakarna symbolizing Tamas are eliminated and Vibheeshana who

manifested Satva was made victorious.At 5:10 PM, Swami called Sri Ajit Popat,

the well known devotee and orator from U.K. and asked him to speak a few words

to mark the auspicious occasion. Sri Popat spoke for around 20 minutes. He

stressed on the fact that we humans need no physical or mental 'make-up' to

come to God. What we need is to make up our minds.He stated that we must go

with all the 'force' to the 'source' and we would get all the 'resources' that

we need.He reminded us that Lord Krishna

commanded Arjuna to get up and fight, but merely as an instrument. That, he

said, is the need of the day. What is required fundamentally in spirituality,

the speaker opined was the quality of vigilance. To be aware that He is

aware?..He said that Bhagawan had advised him to follow the dictum 'Karishye

Vachanam' to start with, even before attempting to follow 'Karishye Vachanam

Tava'. That is to follow one's own words. This in fact was the main message of

Lord Rama's life. To keep up one's word. Raghukula Reetie Sadaa Chali Aayee,

Jaan Jaye Para Vachana Na Jaaye. He concluded stating that the word 'JOY'

communicated a very strong message to all of us. It meant, Jesus first, Others

next, and You last.It was 5:30 PM and Swami on His own, signaled for the table

to be brought. He stood up amidst applause and delivered His Divine Ramanavami

message.The highlights of His Divine Discourse are given below:You all are

essentially Divine. Since ancient times, Rama's story is being composed and

shared by all. The story actually took place 1000s of years ago. But yet, His

story is heard by one and all even today. Right from a beggar to a millionaire,

they repeat Rama's name. There is no Bharatiya who does not repeat Lord Rama's

name. You all are embodiments of My own Divinity, said Lord Rama.Truth is the

foundation of Dharma. Satyam Naasti Paro Dharmaha. Therefore, the first lesson

is to always speak the Truth. Act as per the word given. One should speak only

after ensuring the feasibility of the word to be translated into action. Dharma

is not merely an act of charity. It must come from the heart and must be

translated into action. Manas Ekam, Vachas Ekam, Karmanyekam Mahaatmanam. Lord

Rama is an example of this. On the contrary, Manas Anyat, Vachas Anyat, Karman

Anyat Duraatmanam. Ravana is an example of the latter. Rama

stands for Satya and Ravana for Asatya.Today, man is faced with a number of

problems because of speaking untruth. Once, we speak untruth, we lose the

quality of life. Truth is ever lasting. It is changeless. Students, you all

must observe Truth from this age onwards so that you will become ideal citizens

tomorrow. Offer all your actions to God and it will get transformed into

Truth.All innermost feelings are reflections of Truth. However, when they

manifest through the tongue and other senses they become false. Therefore,

senses are responsible for merit and demerit. Truth shows the direction, Dharma

follows it and Prema experiences and tastes it. Once you taste this Love, you

will never be able to cause Himsa (violence) to anybody. Himsa is not just

hurting others. Not following one's given word is also violence - Himsa.Mind is

clouded by desires, just as the moon is covered with dark clouds. But do not

feel sad. The moment the dark clouds clear away, the moon is seen. We must do

Naamasmarana to blow away the clouds of desires covering our minds.At this

point, Swami narrated the story of how Lakshmana too once gets very evil

thoughts. But then Lord Rama explains to him that it was because they were

present in the forest where Shurpanaka had lived. It was those vibrations that

were responsible for Lakshmana's bad thoughts. Tell me your company and I shall

tell you what you are. Never be in bad company. Always be in good company. Yad

Bhavam Tad Bhavati. Many of us question as to why God cannot transform us. God

never does anything. Your thought and action itself does everything and gives

you feedback. If you eat a mango fruit you will invariably get only the belch

of a mango fruit. You cannot get the belch of a neem fruit, having eaten a

mango fruit.One who thinks constantly can never be happy. We must

transcend our thoughts. Bookish knowledge leads to allergy and all our energy is

lost. At a higher level, one need not think, - Is it good or bad. Everything is

good only. Whatever happens is for our good only. Live with this

conviction.Love all, never hate anybody. Some doubt God also. That is the

greatest sin. When such bad thoughts come, consider them as enemies and brush

them aside. Love will protect and nourish you. Live in love. You all are

Embodiments of Love.Pain and pleasure come in succession. We must learn to

possess equanimity. This was the lesson that queen Sumitra taught queen

Kausalya when Rama was to leave for the forest. Later, Lord Rama dissuades Sita

from coming with Him to the forest saying that there would be many animals over

there and Sita would not be able to face the challenges of a forest life. To

this Mother Sita replies that the Lord Rama who holds the entire world in His

Hands, can He not take care of me and protect me. Then why

should I have any fear?When Sita is abducted to Lanka, Lakshmana gets very

furious and prays to his brother Rama to permit him to burn all those

responsible for the abduction of Sita, to ashes. To this Lord Rama replies,

"You and I need do nothing. Their own bad actions will burn them on their

own".Do not have the feeling of mine and thine. All belongs to God. What is

yours? The body, the mind, the intellect? Nothing is yours. You may lose your

body any moment. You are not able to control your own monkey mind. Therefore,

say and feel 'I am I'. That is the right approach to life. This is the key

teaching of Lord Rama.How can anyone dislike Lord Rama? He hated none, hurted

none. It is impossible to have bad consequences for good actions. Once we

control our senses, everything will be rectified. Ramayana is not just a story.

It happens in each one of our lives. It is a thought process in our mind. The

one who always smiles can never be put to

hurt by anybody. Never put up a castor oil face saying that exams have come. It

is better if examinations of life are advanced. This will enable us to write

and pass soon and move to higher levels.At 6:15 PM, Swami sat down on the sofa

and sang the song - Rama Naamamu Mithai Idigo Randi Bhaktulaara. As the

students too did not know this song, Swami sang line by line and made us repeat

every line, literally teaching us the song like a music teacher. He then

continued the Discourse sitting on the sofa.Normally sweets are very tasty, but

they are poisonous to the stomach. But Rama Naama is a sweet which will never

spoil the stomach.Rama's name is eternal. It has no age bar. It is

transcendental. Never give up this nectarine name. Modern students do not pay

heed to this name of Lord Rama. It is their bad luck. Even Meera sang - I have

got this precious pearl. Can I ever drop it and lose it?What we need

today is not expansion of the physical heart, but transformation of the

spiritual heart. Be in search of the path that can accommodate as many people

as possible. Tomorrow all of you will be leaving for your hometowns. Keep all

that you have learnt here in your mind. Never make your parents feel sorry.

Make them happy. If you are happy they too will be happy. This is your duty.

Khana, Pina, Sona and Marna will automatically happen. The main purpose of our

being born is to make our parents happy. Be good ideals. Then alone will you

gain the fulfillment of being students of the Sri Sathya Sai Educational

Institutions.It was 6:25 PM and Swami concluded His Discourse with the Bhajan,

Rama Rama Rama Sita...Laddu Prasadam was distributed to all and Swami got back

into the Porte and retired for the day. You can see an illustrated version

of

happenings at Prasanthi Nilayam in the Prasanthi Diary of our monthly e-Journal

Heart to Heart. The previous issue of Prasanthi Bulletin is available here. The

Photo album contains photos of events of past Prasanthi Bulletins. Index of past

Prasanthi Bulletins... Source: Radio Sai

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