Darshan News - May 2-6, 2008 - Sai Students

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May 6, 2008 It was a very very special occasion in Puttaparthi for more than one reason. Foremost of them all was the fact that Swami was physically present in Puttaparthi for Eashwaramma Day after a gap of more than 20 years. Swami had been to Brindavan for about a week and had returned to Parthi. The question doing rounds was, "Why did Swami go suddenly to Brindavan for such a short break?" As the sun rose to usher in a beautiful morning on the 6th, it became evident that the question should have been, "Why did Swami leave Brindavan so suddenly?", for which the answer seemed to be, "To be at Puttaparthi for the day commemorating His beloved Divine mother."The past few days saw a lot of activity gearing up for Eashwaramma Day which is also celebrated as Mother's Day in Sai families the world over. Swami had expressed His wish to Grace the Samadhi (holy mausoleum) of Mother Eashwaramma on the occasion. The narrow

alley leading up to the Samadhi had been cleaned and paved on either sides with decorations and Seva Dal volunteers. All the shops were closed as the owners all lined up along the lane to glimpse their beloved Lord who would be Gracing their lane after such a long gap. The Samadhi too wore a festive look with festoons and buntings suspended everywhere. A huge portrait of the blessed Mother adorned the wall in the Samadhi and there were multicoloured flowers everywhere. At about 9am Swami set out to the Samadhi. Swami was received at the beginning of the Samadhi road by a procession consisting of students chanting the Vedas and ladies carrying holy items of worship. Swami drove gently into the Samadhi premises and then came out of the car. The path leading into the samadhi had been filled with flowers on a red carpet. The students' bhajan group had assembled and they continuously were singing bhajans which highlighted the grandeur of mothering the Avatar of the age.

In the chair, Swami went in. Once inside, He first told the priest to light the lamps that had been placed there. As they were lit, Swami the MaryadaPurusha as always, moved to the 'gents' side of the Samadhi as all the ladies moved on to the side where Mother Eashwaramma's remains had been buried. Swami then handed over a silk Dhoti and a silk saree to be placed on the Samadhi. All the elders and seniors then paid their respects to the divine parents. Swami sat watching as one by one, the elders came forward and placed garlands and silk clothes. As per tradition, the priest also placed a leaf with sweetened rice and tamarind rice and ladoos (a sweet) on the samadhi. Swami kept watching all the proceedings with a glisten in His eye and once in a while, He seemed to be overwhelmed with the sweet emotion of maternal Love and affection. There were kids who were four to five generations down the line from the Divine Mother prancing about the Samadhi. In their childlike

innocence, they were blissfully unaware of the gravity of the proceedings going on. A smile flowered on His face as He saw them. Their parents tried to restrain them and that made Him smile even more. As time passed, Swami sat there, the diamond of the Ratnakara clan, nonchalantly watching everything that was going on. He was like the calm in the centre of a storm. Some members of the family came up to Him and sought blessings which He liberally showered. The proceedings inside went on for about 15-20 minutes. The priest then brought sweet pongal, tamarind rice and laddoos for Swami to bless as prasadam to be distributed to all. He looked at the photographer who had been shooting pictures and told Him to cover photos of the ladies assembled too! He guided the priest on what had to be done to the last detail. Swami was personally so involved in everything that went on. Finally, He told the priest to take Aarthi. After that, He came out and the procession began once

again from the Samadhi to the mandir. Swami entered the mandir to the joyful salutes of everyone present. The visit to the Samadhi had been made into a private affair for obvious reasons that it would be unable to hold the crowds surging in it. And so everyone were assembled in the mandir thirsting for His darshan. Swami did not disappoint anyone. On arrival, He took a complete round and granted darshan. He then came to the stage which had been aptly decorated for the occasion. There was a huge portrait of Mother Eashwaramma and Swami sat on the ladies side of the stage. There was a distribution scheduled. Swami went into the bhajan hall briefly to oversee the sarees and other clothes coming in. He gave instructions as to how the distribution should go on. Then going on to the stage once again, He asked for the prasadam to be brought. In His presence, everyone was served tasty Pongal, Tamarind rice and laddoos. Swami specially instructed that two leaves must be given to

all as the food would slip through if only one leaf was given. As soon as the food was served, Swami kept gazing intently at the leaves of the Primary school students. When an Institute student in the front row tried adjusting his leaf, Swami signalled to him saying, "Food is coming - be patient", much to the mirth and merriment of all there! He told the children to begin eating and the primary school children, as obedient as ever, immediately put His command into action. As they ate mouthfuls, Swami seemed overcome with motherly Love. When a lady from the security came up to the children to ask them for a second helping, it looked just like a mother feeding her children. Seeing this, Swami was overcome with emotion. It was such a beautiful scene made more poignant with Swami adding His 'emotion' if we may be allowed that usage. The distribution went on smoothly and there was joy and satisfaction everywhere. All the while, as Swami sat outside, bhajans related to

the divine Mother were on. Whenever the word,'Eashwaramma' came up in the bhajans, Swami would be touched - an ideal for children the world over. How many are there that feel so much even at the mere mention of one's mother's name? The Lord is an ideal in every aspect of Life and it was so touching and inspiring to see the demonatration of His love and reverence for the mother. Swami then received Aarthi and left for the Yajur Mandir. It was then announced that there would be a public meeting at 4 pm. In the afternoon, Swami arrived shortly after 4 pm. He came onstage as the Vedam chanting went on. He sat for a few minutes listening to the chantings. Then He began to call students who had letters with them, one by one to the stage. He took letters and spoke to a few of them. He called on primary school student who hailed from Iran and asked him whether he knew the Veda being chanted. With utmost confidence, the boy chanted and Swami was very pleased. He told out

loud,"That boy is from Iran and he chants so well." After a few minutes, Swami called Prof. G. Venkataraman and asked him to speak. The ways of the Lord are indeed mysterious and inscrutable. No one knew that Swami had instructed the dynamic professor, currently the director of Radio Sai Global Harmony, to speak in Telugu. In his inimitable frankness and direct style, GV as he is popularly called, started his speech in Telugu. A short while and six sweet sentences later, he requested Swami permission to speak in English as he had been better equipped with it. Swami smiled sweetly and allowed him to do so. He dilated on length on how Swami was educating the modern youth with the eternal message of Mathru Devo Bhava, revering the mother as God. After a 20 minute speech he took leave. Swami then looked around and seemed to ask, "Who will speak next?" The students in the front said, "Swami, you must speak." A blushing sort of smile came on His face and then He asked for the

mike. As the mike was placed before Him, He sat silent for about half a minute. That was such a beautiful period of complete silence. It was followed by a more beautiful period where there was a honeylike flow of His words. He began by asking "What can I speak of the mother? Where can I begin?" He spoke a bit on the last days of mother Easwaramma and emphasised that though the bodies may come and go, love is eternal. The mother is always with the child for love is immortal and permanent. HE exhorted the students to serve their parents as they would serve God. He told all as to how one can serve and please the parents. He also spoke at length on how it is the same God that resides in all. One must always speak softly and sweetly. He talked about the universality and greatness of the Vedas. Everyone, irrespective of caste, religion, nationality or sex can learn and chant it. He called out the primary school boy from Iran, Sathya, a Muslim by birth, and asked him to

chant different mantras. The boy did so with elan and correctness of elucidation. Swami was very pleased with his chanting and created a gold chain with a Ganesha pendant for him. Swami continued saying that it was God and God alone who can give peace and happiness. And that too, one must always sing His name and glory. Swami has said many times, "My boys are my voice!" Today, it was literally given shape as Swami started to sing the bhajan, "Bhajan bina sukh shanti nahi" and told the boys to lead the entire bhajan. Swami joined in the lead once in a while! At the end of the wonderful evening, Swami blessed the prasadam to be distributed, received Aarthi and retired for the day.Click here to see photos of the event. Click here for the text of Bhagawan's

Discourse. May 2, 2008 Bhagawan gave a Divine Discourse at Brindavan this evening. Swami started with the poem"Khanda khandaantara khyaatinaarjinchina mahaneeyulanu ganna maatru bhoomi"He continued by saying -The Vedas taught one to revere ones parents- "Maatrudevobhav, Pitrudevobhava, Achaarya devobhava." But today all these are not to be seen or practiced by any one any where. Every one is running behind money and the desires are becoming limitless. Today even as all the foreigners themselves are speaking of control of senses and ceiling on desires, we Indians are not doing this. There is nothing wrong in having desires but they must be in limit. Everything is getting polluted - the 5 elements themselves are being polluted. When the basic 5 elements responsible for man's sustenance are polluted how can we expect man to be good?Nowadays people look good outwardly, while inwardly they

have poisoned minds. This is not good. Who is man? He is nothing but the embodiment of divinity. When he is traversing in wickedness how can you call him a man? Nowadays people are proud of their children getting high degrees. What is the use of degrees? They are only leading to money-mindedness devoid of love and truth. Every one is learning to put a smile on the face where as inside they are completely poisoned. When you practice truth and learn to love every one, then alone peace will descend. If you want peace develop love. People resort to untruth for even small things. They get angry over silly matters. All this leads to violence. True humanness is nothing but desirelessness.In today's generation we do not love our parents who gave us birth and toiled their lives to make us what we are. But we readily love some outsider who comes in to our life more than our parents. Is this true love? No.... No .... People are searching for peace outside whereas it is

present within us. Rituals do not confer peace. First we should see to it that there is no conflict or turbulence in our heart. All the conflicts that we are seeing today are because of wickedness in the human heart. We do not find a true friend today. Even best friends fight with each other. People are behind money and amassing wealth. Whats all this finally for? You have come empty handed into this world and you will go back the same way. Money comes and goes whereas morality comes and grows. Devoid of morality man is nothing but a demon. Everyone is seen in terms of money while the values like gratitude and respect are dying day by day. For all these problems there is only one remedy. That is God's name. When you think of Him all miseries will melt away. God is the one who punishes, He is the one who praises, protects, loves ... He is everything. Difficulties, pleasures, pain, every thing is God's gift. If you think of God constantly all the miseries will turn into

happiness. Pleasure is nothing but an interval between two pains. The cause of all is the mind. Mind is nothing but a bundle of thoughts. Do not hurt any one. Try to love every one. Because "Vishvam Vishnu swaroopam." (The world is but a form of God).Results of hurting or helping someone will come only later. As you eat so is the belch. If you eat a cucumber will you get a belch of a mango? No! In the same way, because of desires alone, all the suffering comes. The results of your actions will depend on what you do. The whole creation works on cause and effect. As you sow so you reap. If you ask anyone "who are you?" They will say I am so and so. But if you ask God "who are you?" He will say I am I - Aham brahmasmi. Whomever you ridicule it reaches God. If we control our thoughts, every thing will be in place. Either good or bad - all depends on our thoughts. If you believe everything is God then can love criticize love? No, it cannot. Even as animals love each

other, can not men love one another?Keep love and truth as the two main principles of your life. God is the only saviour and true love can be obtained only from him. That is why he is called as apathbhandava. (A friend in times of distress). Look at a young married couple. When they are newly married and walking on the road, if husband happens to see a thorn he will quickly go and remove it. After some more time the same husband will say,"Look and walk. There is a thorn." After some more time he will say, "Are you blind? Can't you see the thorn there?"This is what worldly love is all about - temporary in nature. Love of the heart is what is important, not of the body. Here so many people are assembled and were participating in bhajans. Will everybody's prayer reach God? No..no..only some one or two prayers would reach Him. And that one or two prayers are enough to protect every one. This is what Gurunanak said when he was asked about the efficacy of

bhajans. The arrival of politics are creating divisions every where. Every home has 4 parties. Participate in bhajans with whole heartedness.Swami started to sing Hari bhajana bina sukha shanti nahin. Then after He repeated japa dhyana bina samyoga nahin, He asked, What is true meditation? Merging your heart with God ..that is true meditation. Bodies are many but there is only one atma. God is like the Sun who provides light for everyone. Peace is nothing but the union of love and truth. Don't run after passing thoughts. Hold onto the eternal God - kill the I, the ego within you. This what is symbolized by the cross.Then Swami sang Rama Rama Rama Sita. Source: http://www.saistudents.org/alumni/home/news.php