You are the wind beneath our wings

[Guest guest]

Ranu" <ranumehtaradia

 

Dear members,

Sai Ram. Firstly apologies that this article is not an ego massage

for the devotees but a follow up to the article posted in our forum,

on how much we have truly grown as Sai devotees.

 

I have been coming to Prasanthi Nilayam since the seventies and would

consider that I was amongst the first batch of UK devotees who began

to come to India annually to pay respects to our beloved Lord. In

those days, it was particularly difficult as we had to put up with

cruel jibes from family and friends who were under the impression

that Swami was an imposter but we used to grit our teeth and carry on

coming. Once we come under his influence, we have to be ready for the

rough rides, and despite putting us through trials and tribulations,

we hang on in there no matter what as most of us have experienced his

divine qualities even though we live oceans apart from His physical

presence. During the lowest point in our lives, He was the only one

who lifted us up, and as we soared back into the sky, we knew He was

the wind beneath our wings.

 

Those of us who have accepted him as an avatar must be aware that

divine personalities like Rama and Krishna took birth when it became

absolutely necessary to uphold dharma (righteousness), and before

they take their descent, they set themselves tasks which need to be

accomplished during the time they choose to come in their physical

forms.

 

In recent years, as Swami's health is getting more frail, what

worries me is has Swami met his targets and accomplished the tasks he

set himself? Is it not our duty as we see Swami looking so frail,

that we get ready to roll up our sleeves and ensure that we fill the

gaps that he may have hoped his loyal band of followers would help

him fulfil?? During the building of the bridge, Lord Rama noticed a

squirrel with a little stone in his mouth running up to fill the gaps

amongst the large rocks, and Rama stooped down to pat the squirrel

for performing his duty to the best of his capacity.

 

What is lacking amongst devotees and also this forum (if I may be

permitted to say so)that there is too much emphasis on Swami's

physical presence, his daily schedule which for some of us offers no

motivation as we live in the UK. For us Swami lives in our hearts

24/7, and Darshan or no darshan, we carry on with our duties keeping

Swami's teachings in our mind. What would be preferable is to get

news about what work is being accomplished by his devotees worldwide

to make a difference to the society we live in so we can be inspired

by these role models.

 

As Founder of Sai School of Harrow, we have tried to the best of our

capacity to deliver Swami's message by working at grassroots level in

our local community by getting our children and youths involved in

working with some of the most disadvantaged people in our society.

Last year, as Sai School celebrated its 10th anniversary co-inciding

with 80th birthday celebrations, we won the Queens Award for

Voluntary Services 2005 and our 500 pupils put on a spectacular show

at Wembley Conference Centre called This is Our Planet, Let's Save

It. The show was attended by high profile government officials,s of National Companies, Environment Agencies, Police and

other community leaders. The show portrayed spectacular dances on

creation, moved on to dances of endangered species and how we have

destroyed the only home we have, our planet! The second half of

the show was a presentation by our youths on the different charities

we have adopted and their hands on involvement with the elderly,

disabled, environment and other relevant issues. A representative of

Her Majesty the Queen presented our School with the Crystal Bowl and

Award at the end of the programme with the 40 teachers and our parent

volunteer team on stage as a tribute to their dedication and

commitment. Please log onto our website www.saischool.com to see the

photos of our 10th anniversary celebrations. The programme made such

an impact that our local paper offered us a weekly column which we

call Future Citizens, each week one of our pupils writes a column on

how they want to change the world and become better world citizens.

On Guru Purmina Day, 4 teachers from Sai School were invited to the

Buckingham Palace Garden party for having won the award. In October

of last year, Sai School was invited to perform for Diwali

celebrations at Trafalgar Square where 15 thousand people rocked to

our two dances.

 

In December, the Pakistan Society of Harrow hosted a fundraising

event for the Pakistan earthquake and we were the only School invited

to perform besides the Moslem community because our dances meet their

cultural sensitivities. It was an honour to perform in front of the

2000 strong Moslem community who were overwhelmed with our children's

performances and it really helped improve relations between our

communities. 2005 was definitely a year where we broke new ground on

delivering Swami's message.

 

With Valentine's Day coming upon us on Tuesday 14th, why not give a

pledge to Swami that We will help him accomplish his mission, Swami's

tasks are our tasks, his victory is our victory!!! Please log onto

Sai School's website to see the photos, www.saischool.com

Happy Valentines Day to everyone in the group.

Mrs Ranu Mehta-Radia,

On behalf of Sai School of Harrow.

**

Dear Sister Ranu,

Your post is inspiring and motivating. I fully agree with your views

and feelings. Our coming to Swami, rather His taking us to His fold

is like our joining KG class and by this time we must have become

graduates of the Institution of His Divine Mission. As Swami Himself

had told, you are all like bees coming from far of places to this

garden of LOVE and taking the nector of Swami's LOVE. I have often

noticed in Prashanthi Nilayam, many devotees/people are more

concerned about their own physical comforts than Swami's condition.

They come from thousands of miles away facing all discomforts. But

they cannot walk from Ganesh Gate to 'Chantanya Jyothi' or to

Gokulam. They need autos for it. Such is their need for comforts!

Such being the case I do not know how they would be concerned about

the Divine Lord who is restlessly working on His Mission and for the

protection and upliftment of all of us all the 24 hours. It is high

time that we all bring Him within us and have His Darshan in our

hearts than just satisfying in His physical Darshan and satisfying

ourselves about such Darshans. When we are unable to come nearer to

have His Darshan, He comes to us and gives Darshan for which there

are innumerable incidents both recorded and cherished in the hearts

of every one of us. Let us strive to have His Darshan in the service

activities we do whereever we are.

With Sai love,

M. Palaniswamy - ''