Sai message for the day

[Guest guest]

Swami! Listening to your spiritual elucidation of worldly studies, we

are lost in wonder. Our Swami, who brings into the open the values of

several disciplines, is the World Teacher. We learn that Swami had

given a message to the M.B.A. students. If you consider us fit to

receive it, kindly describe the salient points to us.

 

Sai Baba: Our institute offers M.B.A., and M.F.M. courses. But,

first, what is meant by " business " ? What does a " market " mean? Who is

a " manager " ? Students learn these things in the classroom and from

their texts. However, business and marketing are spread across the

entire globe. Know that wherever giving and taking occur, that is a

market. This exchange, this give and take activity is business. Not

merely a shopping complex.

 

In the market called the world, what we call the Mind is the Manager.

This Mind has to manage well; then, the Heart is a Leader. Between

one event and another, there is time; between one thing and another,

there is space. What takes place between the two is karma.

 

Now let us turn to appreciate the love of a guru or preceptor.

Teachers like Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle are famous the world

over. Of these, Socrates is quite familiar to you. The judges

sentenced Socrates to death because he thought that under the `evil'

influence of Socrates, young men were taking to wicked ways instead

of joining the army, as they should. But Socrates who loved his

students was not prepared for that sort of death. Ordering them to

obey him strictly, he bade them procure some poison. He had them

seated all around him, and asked them to touch the vessel of poison.

He thought, it is better to die among his students than at the hands

of foolish judges. Such was his love for them. The disciples who

realised this became illustrious later on.

 

Consider the founder of the Bata Company, a man of immense devotion

to God. He used to make creaking shoes with a cushion of horse and

donkey hair. He made a living out of selling these and served the

people thus. His devotion and his spirit of service led to his rise

to honour and fame. Therefore, love, devotion, and the spirit of

service are essential for a Manager

 

Alexander was getting ready to invade Bharat; he approached his

teacher to seek his blessings. Then, the teacher said, " My son! I

heard that some of the most highly esteemed objects are to be found

in Bharat. Get them for me as your offering to the teacher. First,

there are in Bharat wandering ascetics endowed with perfect devotion

and absolute detachment. Bring along with you one such ascetic.

Second, Bharat is a land sanctified by the feet of great spiritual

aspirants, mahants, heads of mendicants, sages, and incarnations of

God in the course of their wanderings. That dust is very sacred.

Bring some along. Third, they say river Ganga washes off all sins. My

son! Bring some Ganga water in a vessel. Fourth, there is the riches

of the Bhagavadgita which underscores the right way to live and its

goal. Procure a copy for me! "

 

Now, being born in the land of Bharat, you have to develop the spirit

of sacrifice. Our high ideals and values help students to attain

prestige and fame. Satya and Dharma are very important in life. They

are as precious as the vital breath. Know that without these, life is

barren. These qualities are absolutely essential for a Manager.