Now you can go!- Ticket to Eternity.

[Guest guest]

Old Mandir and later at the Nilayam for full 14 years had been injured by a fall

and was in the throes of death. He was declaring aloud with his last breath the

amazing Truth (enshrined in the Isavasya Upanishad) which no one except sages

recall at the moment of mortal crisis: "This body composed of the five

elements is disintegrating into its components; I am being liberated!" I stood

by admiring and envying the old man. "What great good fortune, to pass into the

beyond with these words on one's lips!” I told myself. Suddenly, Baba

appeared in the room, as someone had informed Him of the approaching demise of

His trusted servitor. Baba chided Seshagiri Rao in firm tones. He said, "How

dare you start on this journey,

without taking a ticket from Me? Come down; do the task allotted to you. I order

you to come to the Prayer Hall this noon and carry on with Arathi, as usual.

We stood aghast at this 'unkindness', but who are we to pit our judgement

against the All-knowing One? Seshagiri Rao obeyed the order; he attended Bhajan

and went through the allotted schedule of work.Six months later, he fell ill,

seriously ill and was admitted to the Sathya Sai Hospital; his condition

worsened. His mental faculties began to fail, he lost all disgust for dirt and

it saddened everyone that a faithful servant of God should suffer so. His

brother came from Bangalore and prayed to Baba that he may be allowed to take

him to the Victoria

Hospital where he could be given personal attention by his son and his nephews,

who were employed there. But, Baba said, "Do not worry at his present

plight. I am allowing him to work out the suffering he has to undergo. After

this, he has the chance to die peacefully and quite happily. Otherwise, I could

have despatched him months ago, when he had a fall." And, it happened so. A

month passed. Seshagiri Rao recovered quite mysteriously. The sun shone around

him in his apartment. He spent six weeks of bliss, doing his chores. Then he

started to decline and took to his bed. His son was by his side, tending him

lovingly. One evening, Baba went into Seshagiri Rao’s room. I had the

privilege of going with Him. He asked me to bring a cup of hot milk. Spoon by

spoon, He fed him the entire cup, calling on him by name and telling him that

it was his Baba that was feeding him! Then, He rose and moved; turning back at

the door, He looked at him and said, "Now you can go!" And, Seshagiri Rao

obeyed, within an hour! Baba knew when he had to come down and when he had to

"go". We can only watch and pray, only stand agape at the wonder and the

meaningful "waywardness" of the wind of Grace”. Reference: “Sathyam Shivam

Sundaram”, Vol-II by Prof. N. Kasturi. Page: 224-225. (Chapter: ‘Signs and

Wonders’). Published by Sri Sathya Sai Books and Publications Trust,

Prasanthi Nilayam. (Shraing with Sai Love.) Ram.Chugani Ram ChuganiKobe, Japanrgcjp

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