21st Anniversary-SBMAF, Prasanthi Nilayam

[Guest guest]

21st August' 2007

 

Today happenend to be the 21st Anniversary of the birth of the School

of Business Management Accounting and Finance (SBMAF). As per what

Swami wanted, the students of the MBA programme displayed real

courage and their Love for Swami as they gave up the drama they had

prepared. Swami wanted two speakers in the afternoon.

 

The afternoon arrived and the stage had been set. Swami completed His

darshan rounds and went into the bhajan hall. He came out and sat on

the stage.The VC made a few introductory comments on the significance

of the day. The first speaker of the afternoon was the Principal and

the dean of SBMAF, Prof. U.S.Rao. He spoke with gratitude on how

Swami had made the MBA course so special and unique -one of its kind

in the world. Swami was touched with his short but sweet speech. He

patted him lovingly on His head. For Swami, age is no bar at all. If

one loves Him like a child, then He will treat him like a child. Pure

Reflection, Resound and Reaction. Swami also gave him a vibhuti

packet to keep.

 

The next speaker was Sri.Ameya Deshpandey - a research scholar of the

Sri Satya Sai University. He spoke wonderfully well with the maturity

of a Sai student who had been deeply touched by Swami. Structuring

his speech on the popular song, " Hain Aankh Vo Jo Shyam Ka Darshan

Kiya Kare " , he narrated incidents on what a Sai Student is - and what

Swami makes him/her into. Being a student of Satya Sai University is

not enough. One must strive to be a Sai Student too! His mellifluous

voice won him Swami's emotional appreciation and the crowd's

enthusiastic one. Liberally sprinkled with experiences from the lives

of Sai students, the speech demonstrated why Swami means everything

to His students.

 

Once a student, forever a student till He makes us the Master! There

may be miles that separate us from Him, but He is always near and

dear- guiding and comforting us. As He says, " You may leave me and

go, but once I have accepted you, I will never give you up. You are

Mine forever. " No lover in the history of the cosmos can ever be like

the Lord - so selfless and sacrificing. All the incidents narrated

brought out these facts. At the end of the speech, Swami blessed the

speaker beautifully and slipped in a vibhuti packet into his pocket!

 

The final speaker was Sri.Subash Subramanyam. His speech was another

masterpiece in terms of the sublime feelings that were conveyed. When

Swami's students make public speeches in His presence, there is

something very paradoxical. It is neither meant for the public, nor

it is a speech. Very often, it becomes a private conversation that

we are able to hear on the speakers! As we listen to them express

their love for Swami, we are touched at how Swami has touched their

lives. That was the story of Subash's speech. As he sang melodiously

and conveyed his love and gratitude to Swami, one could not help

getting a bit emotional and Swami too was very deeply moved. At the

end of his speech too, Swami profusely blessed him and slipped a

vibhuti packet into his pocket.

 

Then Swami was requested to deliver His divine discourse. Swami said

that He was so overwhelmed by what the boys had spoken that He was

unable to speak. He asked for songs to be sung. The students sang out

for Him and that was again a beautiful experience in itself. After

that Swami received Aarthi and left.

 

 

22nd August' 2007 - Morning

 

Swami was so happy with brothers Ameya Deshpandey and Subash

Subramanyam who spoke yesterday, that He called all the students for

morning Darshan to Kulwant Hall and promised that He would address

them.

 

All had assembled by 7:15 am. Swami came out at about 8:00 am. He

came in the wheel chair to the delight of everyone. He went around

the whole hall collecting letters. He sat on the stage and told the

Vice Chancellor to speak on the reason of the day's occasion. the VC

spoke about the boys who had made Swami so happy. Then he continued

to speak on the University. Swami told him to speak on MBA and

MANAGER. Unable to get the hidden import, he spoke on the qualities

of a manager and MBA as Master of Business Administration.

 

After his speech, Swami called out for the two students. He

materialised gold chains for both of them and put it around their

necks. He patted them on their cheeks and very lovingly blessed them.

He spoke to them for a while too. Then He rose up to address His dear

children. It was such a beautiful sight.

 

Swami was smiling and seemed so excited to speak. His enthusiasm was

just bubbling and bursting forth. His voice sounded like music to the

ears as He began.... given below is a summary:-

 

1) Today is supposed to be a day dedicated for the management

students. But business is something that goes on everywhere. All the

senses in the human body too are constantly carrying out business.

 

2) It would be wrong to compare the business done in India with that

done in other foreign countries. It is different scenario here. Never

compare and never stretch out your hand and ask anything of them.

Elsewhere the bases of business is only power and domination. Only

the cost is taken into account. It is of paramount importance even to

consider the country and culture too. Culture is to follow the

traditional path that has been laid from the times immemorial.

 

3) Culture can be inculcated only when there is discrimination.

Without that,the culture becomes perverted. Discrimination is the

first step in Self-Realization. Discrimination leads to confidence

and also to self satisfaction.

 

4) When I was small, a 70 year old communist by name of Hanumantappa

came to me and said, " Swami you write poems so beautifully. Please

write a poem on Communism too. " Swami wrote the poem as a lullaby.

(Swami sang out the lullaby. The lullaby predicted the fall of Hitler

at the hands of the red armies.) Sure enough, the next day itself saw

the downfall of Hitler at the hands of the Russians.Then Hanumantappa

held Swami's feet and said that it was God who spoke otherwise such a

coincidence was not possible!

 

5) I had composed songs on the fashion of those days too. It was

funny the way people would keep a French-cut like beard and

moustache. A few hairs in the centre and they would think that they

look handsome. Even the moustache, they would just leave a small

portion in the centre! The same was true even of clothes. The fashion

then was the bell-bottom pants. It would be tight on the top and hang

out wide and loose at the bottom. Then came the age of the parallel

pants. Now finally people have come to senses and they wear normal

pants.

 

6) Today the education system is being changed constantly and that is

not good. The minister Arjun Singh is really foolish to keep doing

this. From times immemorial, we have been using earthen pots for

keeping food and other materials. In the recent times there has been

a proliferation of plastics.And see what the result is. Everything is

being choked and food kept in plastics turns into poison. That is

what will happen if you try for quick changes from the traditional

ways. So do not try to change the Satya Sai University type of

education. It will ensure a bright future for all.

 

7) Help ever and hurt never. You spoil the present by unnecessary

worry about the past and the future. present is the omnipresent.

Right now see you have a comfortable living and your mind is also

steady. So be in the present. Even parents of children cannot know

the mind. The too teach only of the past and the future. Less

luggage, more comfort, make travel a pleasure. Don't carry the past

in your mind. Present is the most important. Even in a class, you

have to be present. Else they will mark you absent and you lose out!!

 

8) Today wherever you see, you see conflict. there is no unity, no

purity- only enmity. Enmity was the cause for Bose leaving India.

Utter selfishness caused that. We need good people like Bose. The

teachers too are very good here. They want the students to stay here

and work for the welfare.

 

9) Why go abroad? instead of going there and earning Rs.10,000, stay

back here and earn Rs.1,000. That is far greater. There is nothing

great or special in going away. Half of what you earn, you will have

to spend for rent itself. You will be made to pay for everything -

even water. But it is not so here. You can comfortably eat and drink.

Why do you invite trouble by going abroad. I never went abroad.

People may immediately say that I went to Africa, but that was only

for a short time.

 

10) In the African forests, one could see a herd of elephants. Their

ears are so huge like fans. When they swing them, mosquitoes are

thrown far away! There are also zebras, giraffes. They are so happy

and living harmoniously. They harm you only if you harm them. There

were also 10 lions with the cubs. When Swami fed them fruits also,

they accepted. They wanted more and I told them that I would be back

the next day with more. Yad Bhaavam Tad Bhavati. Animals react as you

treat them. Even snakes don't harm anyone. They just slither away if

you leave them alone.

 

11) These two boys who spoke and sang so well made me very happy. Be

good boys always. Gold may lose its value but never goodness. Have

the feeling, " I am from a very good University. " Keep the Institute

flag flying high. For that keep good company and have self

confidence. Dhruva,Prahalada and Radha succeeded only because of

confidence and good thoughts. Prahalada was thrown from hilltops,

into oceans, trampled by elephants and bitten by snakes. But Lord

Narayana was always there guarding him. One with faith in God will

never have failure in life. Strengthen your faith. Faith will lead to

Love and that Love is the Atma. All you have to do is to trust God.

He will take care.

 

12) You know your parents. Even if thousands of people tell you that

they are not your parents, you will not be affected. That must be

your faith in God too. These two boys are here are gold medallists.

They always put a lot of efforts.

 

13) When Ramadas was deep in debt, he told Rama, " I am struggling

here. I made a necklace worth 10,000 varahas for you. But you just

walk around parading it and I am in trouble. " Later he repented, " Oh

Rama! That was my weakness. I am so sorry that I criticised you. "

Rama did never desert him. Two boys appeared out of nowhere and paid

off the debt that hung over his head. By Swami's grace, all of you

will be 100% successful. The confidence of the foriegners is

something to be appreciated. They come here leaving everything and

they adjust to all the difficulties. Remember,wherever you are- in

the forest , on the hill, in the city or in the sea, faith in

God will rescue you. Have that confidence.

 

14) Students, you are good and like pure gold. Clouds just seem to

appear in between. Don't get carried away by them. All your study is

of any use only if you are steady. Those two boys are so good.

Likewise all of you are good. Their music was melodious and all

enjoyed it. They are virtuous, strong and well behaved. They are

valued wherever they go. Such boys are needed. Such boys must stay

with us.

 

15) PRESERVE ALL I SAID IN YOUR MIND. Nothing great about amassing

wealth. You cannot eat money. Money will come and then go. Morality

is most important. Bose visited many countries but he never gave up

his patriotism. Do not spoil the national culture.

 

Hmmm.....Swami must have put you all to a lot of strain.

(NOO.......OOOOOO....OOOOO Swami echoed back everyone very loudly) Be

HAPPY.

 

At the end of the discourse, Swami asked for songs. The students

sang, " Humko Tumse Pyaar kitna. " today that song seemed to have such

a rich flavour of Love. One could feel the Love in the air and the

gratitude in the hearts.

 

The " bond " of Love is so liberating!! Swami called the two students

and gifted them with white cloth pieces and a white shirt. He also

agreed that two students would speak in the evening too! Then he

received aarthi and left at about 9:50am.

 

Om Sai Ram