Darshan News: July 5-6, 2008, Sai Students

July 7, 2008

July 6, 2008 Panels for an exhibition on Swami's teachings had been moved into the Poornachandra Auditorium and arranged there by the devotees from USA after Swami had sent word that He would bless the exhibits. Everyone and everything had been kept in perfect readiness in the morning. At about 9:05 am, Swami came out of Yajur Mandir. He moved into Sai Kulwant Hall and that too in the chair. Being a Sunday, the hall was quite filled, almost upto its capacity. Moving gently, He completed a full darshan round, collecting letters and speaking to many. After that, Swami granted a few interviews and then moved into the bhajan hall for the remaining bhajans. At about 9:55 am, Swami received aarthi and retired. In the evening, Swami arrived for darshan rounds after 4:45 pm. He took a detour after the ladies side

and after a few minutes in the portico, entered the bhajan hall. The bhajan hall had been filled up by the senior-most students of the Institute, the 2nd year post graduates. They had come with a focussed agenda of inviting Swami to visit the hostel as it had been long since He had done so. When Swami entered the bhajan hall, a few students got up on their knees and prayed to Him for an opportunity to speak and sing for Him. Swami agreed and told them very sweetly, "There is still time for that. Be ready. I will come" Then in the chair, Swami began to move towards the Yajur Mandir. Then, as He moved for the second time through the ladies side, they exulted They were on cloud nine it seemed. At the same time, it looked at though the cloud nine had decided to come "down to earth". The skies darkened and huge drops began pelting down. Swami reached the ladies side end of the Kulwant hall and immediately a huge colourful umbrella was brought for Him. For

all the devotees who had gathered near the western gates of Yajur mandir, it was a lovely sight. On an evening when everything looked dull and gray, Swami's orange robe topped with His scented mop of hair lent a dash of vibrant colour to the scene. To "top" it was the multi coloured umbrella, open wide and full. The sweet fragrance of rain on earth wafted in the air as the breeze caressed and played with His abundant curls and locks. Swami looked so magnificent and grand - an emperor nonpareil in this world! He came out of the western gate and the devotees were thrilled to say the least. Blessing all of them, He moved into the Poornachandra Auditorium. The meaning of the statement, "God's delays are not His denials" would have come to light for the US devotees who had been waiting patiently and lovingly. Swami moved in and many roses were offered. When the lit candle was given to Him, He lit all the wicks of the traditional lamp that had been

placed there. Then began a sort of "guided tour" for Swami! He went around all the panels that had been placed and looked intently at them. He was the perfect observer, asking questions about the message and the pictures on display. A few members of the visiting group got the great wonderful opportunity to explain to the Lord! Every here and there were seated youth members with placards on the section to follow Swami read each and everyone of these and also spoke to some of the lads. Swami spent almost 15 minutes going around the exhibits. After completing that, Swami came to the devotees group that had assembled in a disciplined manner in the auditorium. He called out the little children and began asking names. He asked one of them, "Which class?" The boy seemed bewildered till an adult said, "Which grade are you in?" He answered, "Swami I have completed my 2nd.Why did you come here?", He asked another kid. "To sing for you Swami" was the

answer. He sent back the kid after rewarding him with a sort of handshake and a pat on his cheeks. He was smiling and was very happy with them. Blessing all with abhayahastha and many with Paadanamaskar, Swami sat in the car and started for a second time towards Kulwant hall. This time, He went for a complete round in the hall and those that had missed a close darshan some time back were rewarded for their patience. He entered the bhajan hall and asked for the assembled 2nd PG students to begin their programme. The programme consisted of songs and short talks. The talks were in different languages and were nostalgic speeches on the wonderful times when Swami visited the hostel. Two students recounted their stories and Swami too became overcome with emotion. He too seemed to be nostalgic. One of the students said, "Swami, we are your dunnapotas forever."Swami - What is meant by dunnapota?Boy - Swami, male buffaloes.Swami - Why only

male? Not female?Even amidst all the boys, Swami had his children at Anantapur too in mind! He then said, that all were good and none were dunnapotas. The songs were the popular ones and a few qawwalis were also embedded. It was like a game show at time. Swami was given a list of songs and the boys said, "Swami tell us whichever song you like, we will sing it out for you." And so, Swami kept picking songs and they were rendered. The programme was interspersed with persistent pleading to Swami to visit the hostel! Swami asked where the hostel was and He said that one must never refer to it as your hostel or my hostel. It is always "ours"! Letters and cards were given. Finally, the boys showed Him a video clipping on a laptop of His previous visit to the hostel! Finally, one of the students came up to Swami and said, "Swami, it has been very long since you have come to hostel We will do whatever you want. Tell us what to do and when you will come

please." Swami said, "I will tell. Wait. There is a programme tomorrow. After Tuesday, I will tell." Blessing all the students, Swami received Aarthi and retired to Yajur Mandir. July 5, 2008 Swami had graciously agreed for a music programme by the devotees of the zone 1 of USA. The men women and children were seated in the marbled block in front of the stage with their characteristic blue scarves. Swami came for darshan at about 4:50 pm. Like He did on the past three days, once again, Swami took a detour from the ladies' side straight to the stage. He immediately told the Veda chanting to be stopped and then asked the devotees about the programme. A few men came up to Him and showed the programme schedule. The women and children representatives too came to Him with roses and offerings. He blessed them all and spoke to them. The programme was introduced with a heart to heart talk with Swami.

The speaker on the mike said, "Swami, to finish the required course to graduate from the attachment to the world, for nine months, our centers in USA have collectively studied the true flowers of non violence, sense control, forbearance, penance, peace, meditation and Truth." As he spoke, Swami looked intently at him and kept nodding. The first song was entitled, "Who am I". It was followed by a song in Spanish. The songs were simple in their tunes and rich in their meaning. Each song had a small introductory talk which was very apt and Swami listened and appreciated each of them. Swami also seemed particularly impressed with the person playing the violin in the first line. In fact His gaze went on him for quite a number of times during the programme. There were more songs on the divine romance between Swami and His devotees. The only prayer embedded in every song was, "Swami let our Love for you grow stronger with every passing moment." Swami

often says, "The Lord knows what you need. You do not have to ask Him for anything." It is so true that any prayer we make may not be "appropriate" in a sense. When we pray for either wealth, material comfort, good health, more time - anything - for either ourselves or for others, how do we know that it is for the Good? God is all wise and it is nothing great to admit that His wisdom is absolute and complete compared to our tiny minds and brains. It is better to just Trust and Love Him with all our hearts. In this context, the prayer, "Swami let our Love for you grow stronger with every passing moment" becomes perfect. For there is absolutely nothing wrong or bad about loving God and though anything we pray for may not be good for us in the long run, Loving God more intensely is always beneficial, irrespective of time and circumstances! The final song was the realization that, "I am God! I am no different from God." As the song concluded, so did

the programme. Swami asked them to sing bhajans and they began. One particular bhajan was, "Sai Mata Pita". A line in it goes, "Mujhe Shakti do....Mujhe Bhakti do" culminating in "Mujhe Mukti do" As the first two lines were being sung, Swami kept mouthing the word, "Mukti do." It was a nice sight to see Him smilingly do so. He then looked at the violinist and told him to accompany on the violin for the bhajans too. As if awakened from a divine stupor, the devotee began to play for the rest of the bhajans. After a few bhajans, Swami asked His boys to sing bhajans. After two more bhajans, with a quick sideward glance and a lovely smile, He said, "Shlokam". The next bhajan was "Sree Raghunandana" and it was rendered beautifully with a prelude chant or "sloka" as it is called. After that, Swami asked for the Aarthi to be taken. He called the violin player and spoke to Him and ended with a loving pat on his cheeks. Then He retired to Yajur Mandir. On the

way, He spoke to the Principal and a few teachers from the Anatapur college too.

http://www.saistudents.org