PATIENCE REWARDS.PROF ANIL KUMAR'S PART-2 CONTINUE.

[Guest guest]

pATIENCE REWARDS

Then one of the teachers asked another boy, “Hey boy, how were you brought here? Could you tell me one incident in your life with Swami?“

“Yes sir, I will tell you. One of our friends did his MBA (Master of Business Administration) here. After completing his studies, he appeared for an interview. There were a number of contestants, and they were not called for a long time; they were waiting in the lounge, sitting on the sofa, for a very, very long time. After three hours, they started calling some people and then stopped again. This unnecessary waiting irritated everybody and everybody left. But, my classmate who did his MBA stayed there. At 4:30 p. m., he got a call, ‘Boy, come here.’ He went inside. The Managing Director told him, ‘You are appointed now. You go.’”

“Sir, how can you appoint me? You have not interviewed me; you have not put any questions to me? How did you select me?“

He said, “Boy, your patience is enough of a criterion for selection. You are a student of Baba’s college where patience, perseverance and purity have been emphasised, have been stressed. Because you had the patience to wait until you were called is the very reason why you are selected for the job.”

 

SWAMI CURES PIMPLES

Then one of the students said, “Sir, please note that we are from different places, yet, we all understand that Sathya Sai Baba, God can transform our lives. The kind of Love that He has showered upon us is most invaluable. We have had wonderful experiences.”

Another student got up and said, “Sir, let me tell you an experience. We had one student who had a problem. It happened to be pimples on his face.

Baba called him and said, “What are they?“

“Swami, pimples.”

“Are they painful?”

”Yes.”

“Don’t worry, I will give you vibuthi.”

“He applied vibuthi and in three days all the pimples were gone. Today the boy says, ‘My skin is smooth because of Bhagavan’s vibuthi.’ That made me hold on to Him, cling on to Him till now.”

 

swami’S LOVE FOR HIS STUDENTS

And then another boy said, “Sir, we are very happy to tell you that we stay in the hostel, which is ultra modern, with so many facilities. The hostel was constructed directly under the supervision of Baba. It has big halls and fans, and Swami sends food every day. We have no words to express our thanks to Swami.”

Then another boy said, “Sir, let us tell you how Swami is keen on minute things. One day Swami came to our hostel. During the construction process, He saw an iron rod protruding. Seeing this, He called the engineer, ‘Look here, cut it; do not take any risks. My boys stay in the hostel; they run for darshan. As they run, this iron rod may hit them; so cut it immediately.’ That’s the concern that Baba has for us. He views everything from different angles and sees to it that we will not be put to trouble in any way. That’s the Love that Bhagavan has for us.”

Then the teachers were talking among themselves. “What was Puttaparthi in those days and what is Puttaparthi today? It is unimaginable -- so many buildings, so much construction -- how wonderful! It is really fulfilling to have been here this day.” That is what all the teachers felt.

 

SWAMI’S UNIVERSITY RECOGNIsED AS A ‘CENTER FOR EXCELLENCE’

Now, another student got up and said, “Sir, today the whole country says that Sathya Sai education is the best form of education.”

My friends, at this moment, I am conveying the hottest news to you. I have come straight from the college. I have not even gone home. You are the first to hear this from me.

The Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning is recognised by the University Grants Commission as a Centre for Excellence. The University Grants Commission is going to fund research projects under different schemes. The UGC (University Grants Commission) is going to sanction thirty crores. That is not a small amount. I have just come to know this.

The Sathya Sai University is declared as a Centre for Excellence because, as you know, earlier the National Assessment and Accreditation Committee (NAAC) judged this university as the best.

Based on that recommendation, the University Grants Commission declared Sathya Sai University a Centre for Excellence. We are so happy to hear that news, which I wanted to share with you; it is the hottest and the latest ‘news’ bulletin.

 

TRUE EDUCATION IN SWAMI’S UNIVERSITY

Another boy said, “The kind of education we have here is a true education, where the values from within are brought out. It is not just the stuffing of information; it is one of transformation.”

Then another student said, “Sir, we are so glad to hear and see the teachers of our God, Bhagavan. Let me tell you one thing. Here we have students from all classes of society, coming from rich families, poor families, all castes, all states and all countries. This is a centre where the whole of humanity is represented. It is not meant only for a cross section of society. It is universal in its approach.”

Another boy said, “Here our character is moulded. Here we are given the spirit to take ups-and- downs, humiliation, jubilation and felicitation. They are all received in equipoise; they are all received in equanimity. We are not elated and we are not frustrated. The kind of attitude that Baba has developed within us helps us to take bouquets and brick-bats alike.”

 

STUDENT MENDS HIMSELF WITH ‘TALK LESS AND WORK MORE’

Then Mehboob Khan asked the students, “Boys, will any of you tell me how Baba’s teachings have helped you? Will anyone of you get up and tell me?”

One student got up and said, “Sir, why not? All teachings of Baba have helped us. But I will give you one simple example.”

The boy went on telling like this: “I am too talkative. My friends make fun of me as a ‘chatterbox’ because I talk endlessly. One day Baba told me, ‘Talk less and work more. If you talk less, your memory power will increase.’ I was getting very poor marks, but ever since I started practising Baba’s teachings, that I should talk less and work more, I began getting 85% and 90% marks in the examination. I benefited immediately, as soon as I began practising Baba’s teachings.”

 

WHERE IS THE Teacher’S TEACHER?

All the teachers had put a volley of questions. Then one said, “Yes, it is true that you are giving wonderful answers. Who taught you all this? How could you develop this equanimity? How could you consider tears of joy and sorrow equal? How can you face struggle and strife in life at the same time?”

Then all of the boys with folded hands said, “Sir, it is all because of Sri Sathya Sai Baba. Here we have students from all religions, from all castes.”

Now all the teachers began searching in the audience for Sathya Sai Baba. They pointed their fingers and all of them turned to Swami sitting on the chair. “Here He is; here He is!”

My friends, this idea was wonderfully conceived by the students. The teachers of Baba from heaven came down in search of Him, to recall their past association and memories. Then they told how Swami influenced them. In the end, they found Him on the dais. Everybody liked this program.

That ends the presentation made by students on 5 March 2004.

 

SECOND PRESENTATION BY PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN

Then there was a presentation by the Primary School children last week on the 14 March 2004. How could they have prepared? How long did it take and who guided them? We have no answer. All the children were busy with examinations. When could they write the script? When could they practise? When did they rehearse? How could they do it so nicely in front of Swami?

Is this not enough proof to believe that Sathya Sai Baba is the Inspirer, that Sathya Sai Baba is the Motivator, that Sathya Sai Baba is the Indweller, that He is the Guide, Producer, Director and Actor and what not? Therefore, students could present such a nice program.

 

EPISODE OF NACHIKETA

The Primary School children put on these very interesting programs. There were several episodes. The first one was the story of a young boy, by the name of Nachiketa. Nachiketa went to his father, who was offering all things in charity to many people. He was just offering in charity to everybody.

Nachiketa said to his father, “Dad, to whom are you going to give me?” (Laughter)

Out of disgust, his father said, “I will give you to the god of death, Yama.”

The boy laughed, “Very good; it is a wonderful gift. Let me go there.”

He goes to Yama, the god of death, who was ready to take him into his kingdom. There was a dialogue between Yama and Nachiketa.

Nachiketa told him, “Oh lord, teach me the secret of life.”

Yama said, “No!”

“Sir, you must tell me.”

Then Yama said, “Boy, don’t insist on that. Instead, I will grant you three boons. Ask for them.”

First boon: “Granted!”

Second boon: “Granted!”

Third boon: “Granted!”

He persisted, “Sir, I want to know the secret of life.” Nachiketa was so insisting, persisting to know the secret of life.

Lord Yama, the god of death, wanted to divert his attention. “Hey boy, I will give you the whole world; take care of it.”

“No sir, I don’t want it; I want to know the secret of life.”

“I will give you the whole wealth of life.”

“No sir, I want to know the secret of life.”

Nachiketa’s persistence helped him to learn the message of life, the secret of life, from Yama the god of death.

That was enacted in front of Swami and Swami liked it very muchRam ChuganiKobe, Japanrgcjp