PROF. ANIL KUMAR’S INSPIRATIONAL TALKS – Part 3

[Guest guest]

Om Sri Sai Ram

PROF. ANIL KUMAR’S INSPIRATIONAL TALKS – Part 3

Anil Kumar's Sunday Satsang at Prashanthi Nilayam - December 8, 2002

 

OM… OM… OM…Sai Ram.

With Pranams at the Lotus Feet of Bhagawan,

Dear Brothers and Sisters!

Sharing Some More Experiences

Today I’ll divide my talk into two sections. In the first section, due to the

request of some friends, I’ll share with you more of my experiences. In the

second part, we’ll have questions and answers.

It was back on the 25th of October that I shared with you Part One of my

personal experiences. I thought that was the end of the matter. But I have

received a series of letters and demands, (Laughter) saying that you want to

know more of my personal experiences.

Really, I love to do it, except for the simple fact that I'm afraid that people

may mistake this as some sort of advertisement or publicity seeking, which I'm

totally against. But because of the spiritual pestering from my friends, I’ll

share certain experiences with you this morning.

As I said in my last lecture on October 25th , I was in a period of ‘exile’,

receiving total silence from Bhagawan, without any recognition of this human

being by the name of Anil Kumar (Laughter). For seven to eight long years, I

was non-existent, a non-entity, and almost in a vacuum wherever I sat. It went

on for a very long period - from seven to eight years. Later in the talk on

October 25th, I mentioned how things went following this long period of

waiting.

Very Busy Teaching Students

During that long period of waiting, certain things happened mysteriously, which

were not understandable, beyond all explanation and expectation. It was the

year 1975 when I was very, very busy during the summer teaching. I was

preparing students for the medical entrance examination, which is an annual

feature. During this period, we make some money too – unaccounted for, so it is

all the more welcomed! (Laughter)

I was extremely busy preparing students until 10 o’clock at night. The program

commenced at 6:30 in the morning, and went on until 10 PM. It depended upon the

star value of the person, the magnitude of attraction and presentation, to the

taste of the students. Depending upon the demand, you would be given as much

workload as possible. There were times when I taught for 13 hours a day because

the star value was such.

An Interview Conducted By Rotary International

Here it was the last hour, around 9.45 PM or so. Suddenly, I received a message

from some of my friends, asking me to appear for an interview at 10 o’clock in

the night. What interview I did not know. I said, "I shall meet you

afterwards."

But they all went and met the Principal, C.V.N. Dhun, of a reputed college by

the name of Ravi Tutor College at Guntur.

The Principal himself came and said, "I could not risk my reputation when your

friends came here. Better you cancel this class and oblige them."

Then I asked my friends, "What is it that you want of me?"

They said, "An interview is going on. You should appear for that interview."

"What interview? What am I supposed to do?"

They did not tell me. They pushed me into a big building very close to this

college. Finally I found out that it was an interview conducted by Rotary

International, which selects a team of five every year to go abroad to study

the social and educational aspects of that country. The visiting team is called

the Group Study Exchange program, GSE. Under the GSE program, five are selected

every year – one representing agriculture, one representing engineering, one

representing medicine, one representing education, and so on -- one from each

walk of life. Except for the condition that you cannot be related to members of

the Rotary Club, it is an open competition.

Well, I didn’t have face powder; I had chalk powder instead, having taught until

10 o’clock that night. You can imagine me - my personality - at 10 PM: totally

tired, after having taught 13 hours that day. As I could not say ‘no’ to my

friends, somehow I went inside. My turn was last, as interviews had started at

8 o’clock. Good! I could say ‘goodbye’ to them and run away from there!

Well, when I went in there, the President, who happened to be a doctor, a

secretary, and a senior lawyer said, "We don’t have to ask you any questions."

"Then why did you call me for an interview?" (Laughter)

They said, "It is just a formality. Our children are your students, so you were

selected at the regional level."

I simply laughed at them, "Oh, things go like that? Okay!"

The next morning, they sent me an application form to fill out -- selection

first, application next – just the reverse order. (Laughter) That’s how Sai

started working in His own way.

Going To The Final Interview At Hyderabad

Then I was to appear for the final interview in Hyderabad at the Riggs Hotel,

one of the prestigious hotels in those days. Later, many other costly hotels

were built. But in those days, Riggs was the costliest.

Somehow I was tempted to attend the final interview that included contestants

from three states. The interview spread over five days. Many people attended.

Somehow I simply decided to attend the interview. But I had no time to prepare

or read anything because of my tight schedule, teaching botany to my students

and preparing them for the medical entrance examination. The number of seats

that my students would get would decide my fate for the next year. (Laughter)

Therefore, I had to be very, very careful, and highly competitive.

As I sat in the train, which was speeding up towards Hyderabad, I saw many

youngsters preparing for the interview. I found out that I was the only married

man with four children, while many of the others were eligible bachelors.

Anyway, I was just relaxing because there was no investment. There was neither

profit nor loss. Since I had not prepared for anything, there was nothing to

lose!

Having just come into the Sai fold, being in that fresh period, I was humming

Sai Bhajans, as most of us do. I never realised that I would be disturbing some

of these people who were preparing for the examination. (Laughter) One or two

got down from their berths and gave me some books to prepare with. (Laughter)

They did not ask me not to sing. In a polite, refined, cultured way, they

wanted me to read instead of sing. (Laughter) Maybe it was for two

'Times New Roman'">reasons: my voice was not that good, and they could not concentrate.

Then I realised my mistake and said, "What are the books you are giving me?" The

title of one book was "India, Who is Who?" That book is published every year. It

covers all the latest developments in the country, plus national and

international coverage of personalities figuring in the newspapers,

particularly on the front page. Expecting that questions would be asked on

this, some people were preparing. As one chap completed reading that, he passed

it on to me. Another man gave me "Manorama", which also covers all the latest

developments.

Because I was sufficiently matured, I told these gentlemen, "I understand your

problem. I am disturbing you. Don’t worry. I have nothing to read because I

have never read anything along these lines to prepare for an interview. So why

should I read them now? “India Today" (a popular national magazine), India

yesterday or India tomorrow, India is India. I have no time to read. Please

leave me alone," I said. (Laughter) They were happy with my silence.

Anyhow, a cardio-pediatric surgeon, a doctor by the name of Balakrishna Murthi,

who deals with the heart ailments of children, was sitting just opposite me

along with his daughter. His daughter was staring at me, I didn’t know why. I

told her and her father, "I'm not a mad person. (Laughter) I'm not going to

bite you. After all, I'm just humming some Sai Bhajans. Don’t be afraid of me."

They just laughed

Little did she realize that after three or four years, she would become my

student. Now she’s happily married and settled in the USA. Even to this day,

whenever they happen to see me, they laugh wholeheartedly recalling my comments

that I was not a madcap. So, that was the situation.

Nothing To Lose Or Gain

Another gentleman, an elderly man, very well known to me, came and said, "What

is it you are doing? Why don’t you read? I appeared for this interview last

year and the year before last. I was not selected. It calls for preparation.

Then why are you doing like this?"

I told him, "My sister lives in Hyderabad. They sent an invitation, asking me to

attend their house-warming function, which I could not attend because of a busy

medical entrance-coaching program. Now, in the name of this interview, as a

plea, I’ll go and have nothing to lose or gain. Sir, please busy yourself, I

pray that you be selected." And thus I silenced him.

Then I got ready to appear for the interview. My wedding suit was still so nice

in those days(Laughter). I picked up that dark blue-colored suit with an

orange-colored shirt, a dark blue tie with stars on it, and well-polished shoes

with spray applied. I then went to Hotel Riggs, where I was to appear for the

interview.

The Questions Put To Them

Many youngsters, after completing their interview, were talking among themselves

about the questions they were asked. Because of curiosity, I wanted to know the

questions, though I had no answers for any of them.

It was the year when India launched a space research project called "Arya

Bhatta", which landed a space satellite. People were asked some questions

relating to "Arya Bhatta" -- about the launching of this satellite by Indian

scientists. I was wondering, "If that question was asked of me, what answer

would I give?" A nice big zero! (Laughter)

Some other gentleman was asked a question about a treaty between India and the

Soviet Union. This was a time when India and the Soviet Union had entered into

an agreement. "India, being a non-aligned country, how was it that it could

enter into a treaty with the USSR?" That was the question. I didn’t know that

there was an agreement at all, let alone justifying it! (Laughter)

It was also a time when a very big person, a big black marketer, was arrested.

There had been a thorough search all over the country. Ultimately, the

government succeeded in arresting him. Some questions were asked about that. I

didn’t know such a gunda (bandit) existed, nor did I know about the subsequent

arrest of that person.

It was also the time of a national emergency declared by Indra Gandhi, who

happened to be the Prime Minister. There were some questions on this. "India,

being a secular, sovereign, democratic republic, how could a state of emergency

(which is not a democratic act) be declared in this country?" Well, emergency or

non-emergency, I wasn’t bothered because I just did my duty. I'm the least

affected, being a teacher, by emergencies. Maybe those in the field of politics

are affected by an emergency. But most of us are employees. We are not at all

affected. So there’s nothing to worry about. But I had no answer, if the same

question were asked of me.

I prayed a silent prayer to Baba: "Swami, see that I'm not exposed to such questions." (Laughter)

"Swami, Save me From Insult!"

My second prayer was this: "Let them not ask certain questions of general

knowledge such as, ‘What is the capital of Norway, of Sweden, of Denmark, of

Guatemala, or of Argentina?’ (Laughter) I may not have immediate answers."

"Once they know that I am a student of biology, don’t have them ask, ‘Name a

frog without a tail. Name the frog with a tail, with a head, and without a

head.’ Finally, lifting their eyebrows, I'm afraid they may say, ‘What kind of

teacher are you if you do not know these things?’ My job would be in disrepute.

I would be defamed, and I’d feel personally insulted if such questions were

asked of me."

"Swami, save me from that insult and save my job as a professor, so that we will

not be a laughing-stalk in the sight of the public, particularly the members of

the interview board."

Anyway I went and sat relaxed, cross-legged, with my arm on the chair behind,

totally free, because I had nothing to lose and nothing to gain. (Laughter) I

was fully aware that I was speaking in the Divine Presence of Baba, not only

there, but here in your hearts, too. And everything is subject to verification

at any moment because Bhagawan is a silent listener to every one of our

conversations. I have had many bitter experiences too, in this regard.

(Laughter) He gives no scope for any exaggeration or under-estimation, but only

statements based on facts and not fiction.

All Questions Centered Around Sai Literature Only

So, in full understanding of this, I'm telling you -- believe me or not – all

the questions were centered only on Sai literature! (Exclamations of "Oh!" from

the audience, and applause) That’s all! In my bio-data, there was no mention of

Sathya Sai Baba -- nothing whatsoever! Yet all the questions were on Sai

literature.

That period I was fresh to the Sai movement, and was very familiar with Sai

literature. Going around to every village (in Andhra Pradesh state) in those

years, I was quite conversant with the teachings of Sai. So I could answer

every question. I think you’ll be interested to know some of those questions.

They will be of interest to every one of you.

There were 12 members of the Rotary International -- past district governors,

who asked these questions, one-by-one. It was something like Abhimanyu

surrounded by so many people in Padmavyuha (a formidable military formation) –

such was the interview hall.

"God Is One And The Same"

The first question asked was this: "India is thickly populated, not only with

people, but also with many gods. How do you justify the number of gods and the

number of people there are in your country?" That was the first question.

The answer was quickly available from Sai literature, which Bhagawan prompted

from within. What did Bhagawan say in this direction? "There may be many

different names and forms of Divinity, based on our likes and dislikes and on

our whims and fancies; based on our intensity of devotion and on our

concentration. The names and forms may be varied, but Divinity is One and the

same. You may give Him any name, but God is One and the same. You may think of

any form, but He’s the same." That’s what I said, just as I also quoted

Bhagawan’s famous poem:

Flowers are many, but worship is one.

Forms are many, but God is One.

Cows are many, but milk is one.

Jewels are many, but gold is one.

Paths are many, but goal is one.

I repeated the famous quotation, and they seemed to have been satisfied.

"It All Depends On You"

Then came the second question: "If God is the same, why is one God so tall, like

Rama, while one god is so short, like Ganesha? (Laughter) Why should there be

differences in the height of the gods, if all are the same God?"

The answer was also available from Sai teachings. I remembered very well

Bhagawan saying that you get your dress stitched according to your

measurements. You don’t wear the same shirt as the one worn by King Kong!

(Laughter) No! Or you don’t give your shirt to that boxer man. A shirt for a

thin man cannot be given to a fat man. You cannot wear a shirt stitched for a

fat man because three of you could fit into it! So, a garment or a dress is

made as per your measurements.

Similarly, depending upon your choice, depending upon your temperament,

depending upon your background, your level of comprehension, understanding and

experience, the deity is designed in that form. Some can easily concentrate on

Rama. Some can concentrate on Krishna. So it all depends on you. That was the

second answer.

"You May Give Any Name Or Form"

Then came the third question: "If that’s so, why should there be so many names?

How can there be Siva? How can there be Rama, or Krishna, or Durga, or Lakshmi?

Why so many names? Why?" That was the third question.

Bhagawan had given an example: It seems on one day, a hotel-keeper and a medical

shop owner both got headaches on the same day. The medical shop fellow went to

the hotel for a cup of coffee. The hotel-keeper went to the medical shop for a

pill or a tablet. So he had faith in the tablet. This other manhad faith in the

cup of coffee. Both of them had a total cure of their headaches.

Similarly, you may give any name or any form to God. Water is called neeru in

Telugu. In Sanskrit, you may call it vaari; in Hindi, paani; in Tamil, tanni;

but the water, H2O, continues to be the same.

That’s the example given by Baba, which I could also give because of His Divine Grace.

Vast Spiritual Literature

Then there was a question like this: "India, being the land of rich spiritual

cultural heritage, how is it there is illiteracy? How is it there’s poverty?

How is it there is corruption? Why? What answer can you give?"

There was an answer, which I thought of at that moment. What did Baba say?

"Where do you find the doctor? You find the doctor where there are patients.

So, you get what you really seek. There are several countries that have sought

physical comforts -- countries that want a daily life full of comfort and

conveniences, luxury and extravagancy. But Bharath has always been in search of

God. This country has always been in search of the experience of Divinity. There

has been a constant search for this by sages and saints, seers, aspirants and

seekers."

"There is so much spiritual knowledge today. In addition to four Vedas, you have

108 Upanishads, 18 epics, Brahma Sutras and Yoga Vasishtha. So much vast

spiritual literature has grown in this country because of the selfless service

and the penance undertaken by sages in those days for the welfare of mankind.

They prayed for the progress of mankind without any trace of selfishness. So,

spirituality has grown here, not the electronic gadgets, not the physical,

mundane comforts and requirements." That answer seemed to have satisfied those

people.

50% Answered

Then came a final question, which was really amazing -- nay, unbelievable! "Who

is the Prime Minister of Israel?" (Laughter) This question had nothing to do

with the questions asked before. Well, I had to put on a blank face. I fully

realised at that moment that Bhagawan was telling me from within, "All these

questions I made them ask you. Now you tell how much you know! (Laughter) Come

out of your emptiness and nothingness. I am exposing you now."

"Swami, it is a serious test! I am not such a fool to think that it is for my

glory. I'm not so stupid to think that I am a wise man. No! I know every second

that You have been prompting me."

Then immediately I said, "Sir, I know Goldameir has been the Prime Minister of

Israel until now. Now she is out of power. A man has come in her place whose

name I do not remember." (Laughter) Then one of the persons said, "50%

answered. You can go." (Laughter)

My situation was like a child in elementary school, who runs out of school

hearing the final bell,carrying his bag of books, running happily! I was so

happy and gay, dancing, coming out of the interview hall because nothing had

happened to me. Nothing happened to my prestige whatsoever. Then I returned

home happily, not expecting anything.

There was some pressure from my friends, who were asking me to find out the

results. I was afraid to find out the results because I was not prepared to

accept failure. Success I didn’t expect. There were no expectations at all. I

thought to myself, ‘Let things come in their own time, but let me not advance

it.’

I said, "I'm not going to find out. No!"

Why? Because I had made no preparation, no investment and no training.

"Leave me alone," I said.

I Stood First!

After a month, the results were announced. I stood first on the list of people

selected to go to Southern Indiana in the United States that year. I have been

to a lot of places in the United States: (in Indiana) Brazil, Corydon, Alora,

Columbus, Indianapolis, New Albany, and Terrehaute. All those places I have

visited under the courtesy of the Rotary International.

After my return home, I received a letter stating: "You are to attend a meeting

where you will be given some training before you go to the United States. We

will give you some training on how to answer questions, how to meet people, and

on certain requirements."

Suddenly, on the day of the training, the college where I was working was to

have the College Annual Day Celebration. I went to the Principal, Dr. Isaac, at

that time, and told him, "Sir, kindly grant me leave on that day, so that I can

attend the training before I go abroad."

That man immediately said, "Who are they to give you training? I will give you

training here!" (Laughter)

"Sir, when they are spending their money, how can you give me training here?"

He said, "Nothing doing. It happens to be the College Anniversary Day.

Therefore, I cannot grant you leave."

I said, "The College Anniversary is not based on me, Sir. The college has 5,000

students and 300 faculty members. I don’t think that anything would happen if I

go on leave."

He said, "Nothing doing!"

Then I returned home and prayed to Baba, looking at His picture: "Baba, You are

really fantastic. You made me stand first in the list, and now I am the last to

go. Whether I can go or not, I do not know. But anyway, it is a question of Your

prestige and Your Name -- nothing to do with me, please remember! (Laughter)

Because You selected me, alright, You take the credit or discredit. The whole

world knows that I had not made any preparation. So what do I care about it?"

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TO BE CONTINUED...

With Sai love from Sai brothers –‘’

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