PROF ANIL KUMAR PEARLS OF WISDOM...BABA'S CONVERSATION WITH STUDENTS

[Guest guest]

PEARLS OF WISDOM Kidney Stones

Immediately Swami got up from His chair and was about to move towards the bhajan hall, but He stopped. “Hmm, come here,” He said, “You must look at that.” I got up and went over to Him. He asked one man, “Bring that bag.” One boy brought a polythene bag. He asked me, “What is in that bag?” “Swami, I see some stones.” “What stones?” “Swami, stones of this size -- big size.” “Hmm. What are they?” “Swami, I don’t know!” “They are the stones which were recovered from the kidneys of our student! A student was operated upon recently and those heavy stones were removed from his kidneys.” I was shocked. “Swami, so big!” “Yes, you have seen there.” I was watching all the time there. And suddenly Swami said, “Doctor Bhat,” with His sweet melodious voice. There came Doctor Bhat, an 83-year-old man, a well-built, hefty personality. He’s called the ‘Father of Nephrology’, which means he’s an expert in kidney science. He served in Philomena Hospital in Bangalore. He also served as professor in the Department of Nephrology at Vellore Christian Medical College. He’s a very top man. “Anil Kumar, do you know him?” “Swami, I know Doctor Bhat, who’s an old devotee of Bhagavan. I see, Swami.” “He did the operation only this morning.” “Swami, an 83-year-old doctor?” “Yes! Those who are with Swami are never old. (Laughter) They are ever-young.” Oh, everybody laughed. And then He said, “Bhat, you did the operation?” “Yes, Swami!” Then Swami looked at me and said, “You see, at this old age he’s doing such tremendous work in our hospital – a very good devotee. Then with folded hands, Doctor Bhat said, “Swami, there is an American doll that goes on playing. How does it play? When you wind the key on that doll, it goes on playing. I'm only a doll in Your hands, Swami. You are the key and the key man behind this dancing doll!” Immediately I caught hold of both of his hands and said, “Sir, you are Baba’s gift to Sai devotees and a person of inspiration to all of us.” This I thought worth sharing with you all.

September 30th, 2002

“I Don’t Want These Comforts and Conveniences”

Well, this happened on the 30th of September this year, 2002. Well, we think that Bhagavan has so many cars, and we also think that Swami has so many comforts and conveniences. That’s what we think, what we see and what we say. But this is the remark of Bhagavan: “Anil Kumar, look here. I'm never comfortable with these conveniences. I don’t want these comforts and conveniences. Devotees force Me to accept these things, so what can I do? They go on crying and crying until these things are brought here. Do you see? They also put a lift for Me there inside. I want to walk, but what to do? I like to walk, but they brought a lift there. I don’t want these conveniences.” My friends, because we are human, we think that God also needs comforts and conveniences. As human beings, we may want conveniences. With this feeling, we think God also wants them. But here Bhagavan clearly said, “I don’t want them. I feel very comfortable just being average and normal.” That’s what He said.

“Where Do You Come From?”

And that evening, there was a joke. The primary school boys spoke to Swami -- so nice to watch. To a little boy Swami asked, “Boy, where do you come from?” That boy said immediately, “Swami, I come from You, Swami!” “Oh.” Then He will turn to the big boys and say, “See? He says, ‘From You, Swami,’ whereas you fellows say, ‘From Bombay or from Chennai.’ Chi! See those boys!” And then He’ll ask another little boy, “How old are you?” “Swami, eight years.” “How do you know?” “My mother told me, Swami.” “Correct answer. Hey, where are you fellows? How old are you?” “Twenty years.” “How do you know?” “Date on birth certificate.” “Chi!” (Laughter) See, what nice answers given by the little boys! As a result, the big boys wanted to copy them so that Swami would appreciate them too. Then He asked one big boy (I mean a postgraduate student), “Hey, where do you come from?” Swami asked this question in Telugu. That boy said, “I come from You, Swami,” imitating the primary school boy. Swami immediately said, “Oh, from Me? Then you must know Telugu! If you are from Me, why don’t you know Telugu?” Because that fellow could not give an answer, Swami said again, “Where do you come from?” He could not answer. “Why don’t you give an answer?” “Uh, I don’t know.” “You said, ‘From Me’, so then you must know Telugu!” (Laughter) So, it was a big joke. But at the same time, it was a hint that we should never imitate; we should never copy. Long ago Bhagavan said, “Imitation is human. Creation is Divine.” We are basically Divine. We don’t have to imitate. When we imitate, we lose our originality; we lose our nature; we lose our identity. So let us be creative by being original. This is a lesson for everybody. Ram ChuganiKobe, Japan