The kind of noble life one must lead

[Guest guest]

Update from Radio Sai Correspondent - 27th morning

 

Today morning the devotional hordes from God's own

land had arrived to the haven of peace. On the Onam

day, the Keralites believe that their king Bali comes

out of His abode to grant them Darshan and joy. All

awaited the arrival of Swami. At 8:30am, Swami came

out on the wheelchair. There was a huge procession

consisting of a band, children holding lighted earthen

lamps in their hands and a contingent of Veda chanting

children. Bringing up the rear of the procession was

our dear Swami. There was the traditional Panchavadyam

being played by students from the Institute. Swami

crossed the ladies side and then moved across the

gents side. When He came front, He saw the huge

'floor'al decoration which consisted of multicolored

flowers. He slowly moved along the students of the

Primary school and then turned to the portico.

 

And then it happened. Mr.G.K.Raman, a long standing

devotee of Swami, collapsed in his place. Mr.Raman was

the Trust convener in Tamil Nadu and the director of

Sundaram finance. He had suffered a massive heart

attack and the heart had stopped as he glimpsed Swami.

Swami immediately enquired as to what had happened and

came close to where he lay prostrate on the floor. He

was told what had happened. Mr.Raman had arrived to

the mandir in the morning looking very tired. He had

not had a proper sleep in the night. When asked as to

why he should not take some rest in the morning, He

said, " I must have Swami's darshan. Then I will go.

Swami will come at 8:30. Till then I will sit. " It was

in these circumstances that he collapsed when Swami

came.

 

Doctors- the best in their fields from the SSSIHMS -

came there immediately. They tried very hard, pumping

at his heart and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Swami

sat watching the whole seen quite steadily. The Veda

chanting continued, the mandir was agog with devotees

and yet the portico was in a state of freeze. The next

ten minutes saw the doctors try everything they could.

The pulse would return weakly and at one point,

Mr.Raman also weakly moved the eyelids and saw Swami

maybe. Swami then asked for a glass of water to be

brought. He gave to Mr.Raman's son to put it for his

father. Then Swami went into the interview room. While

the body was shifted to the general hospital, Swami

asked the students to start bhajans. It was during the

bhajans that Swami was 'informed' that he had passed

away.Truly blessed indeed is Mr.Raman that on the holy

Onam day, as the Vedas were being chanted, he breathed

his last in the presence of Swami. And it happened so

quickly. The statements he made before that moment

seem specially significant. As it is said, a person's

death is an indicator of the kind of life he lived.

Blessed indeed was Mr.Raman that he had such a holy

end. The pious soul must have found fulfillment at the

feet of its Master.

 

Death is such an awe-inspiring phenomenon. It is a

powerful reminder of the temporary nature of

everything that we see around. In its wake, the

problems seem to torment us, differences that we

promote, negative feelings that we harbour- all just

melt away into relative insignificance. The importance

of just thinking of the Lord and doing His work alone

hits very hard into our innermost being. All else but

the Love of God, that we achieve in life, are just

absolutely worthless. The lonely journey becomes a

beautiful sojourn of solitude only if our lives have

been saturated with love for God and service to Him.

 

After the bhajans, Swami received Aarthi and left. The

discourse and speeches that were scheduled were

cancelled. Swami might not have spoken, but this Onam

day, He conveyed to all who were " listening " , a

wonderful example of the kind of noble life one must

lead.

 

Loving Regards

Jai Sai Ram