January 15th, 2008 (SOURCE:http://saistudents.org/alumni/home/news.php)

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January 15th, 2008

The northward moving sun dawned on the glorious day of Sankranthi,

considered as the day when the sweet fruits of one's patience and

perseverence are rewarded. The great Bheeshmacharya was rewarded with

the highest heavens when he decided to give up his body. For the

students of the Sathya Sai Institutions too, Sankranthi is the day when

they are rewarded by their dear Lord for all the efforts put in during

the Sports and Cultural Meet.

 

Swami decided to grant darshan on the chair itself and He was welcomed

by the flag bearers from the Institute and the brass band. Towards the

centre of the hall, the boys made a canopy of flag salutes and Swami

slowly moved through that. After completing the darshan rounds, Swami

came and took His place in the centre of the stage. He lit the

ceremonial lamp and went over to each of the sides where all the

shields and trophies had been arranged. He let His gaze scan across the

prizes and seemed to charge them with His love before they could be

handed over to the winners.

 

The physical instructors from all the different campuses came forward

and offered roses and their salutations to Swami. After that, the Vice

Chancellor spoke briefly on the importance of sports in the upkeep of

the body to reach its ultimate goal. After him, Swami blessed Sri.

Dileep, a gold medalist and the script writer of the recently displayed

Hanuman drama, to address the august assembly. The student began on a

very confident note. He narrated as to how it is Swami who does

everything including applauding and rewarding the students - His

children - for the efforts He put in. His short and sweet speech was

topped with a loving pat from Swami. Then a thrill of anticipation ran

through the entire hall as Swami sat with a playful smile on His lips.

He rose to speak and all applauded. Given below is a summary of the

discourse:

 

The great king Harishchandra - where is he today. He had to depart

inspite of his vows of truth. Similar was the fate of Nala, Maandhaatha

and Rama. All the great kings had to depart from the earth - no matter

what their greatness. So many others have also come and gone. But you

foolishly think that property and bank balance are permanent. Man was

born silent without shedding tears. (He was made to cry on birth) He

should leave the earth also very joyfully. Do not struggle for the

ephemeral objects. This is not the duty for which man was born. It is

the Vyashti (individual) who determines the Samashti (society). This in

turn decides the Srishti (creation) and all are part of Parameshti

(God). But without individual, creation loses meaning.

 

Do you ever cry for God? It is not good to keep crying for mere clouds.

The dark and thick clouds may come but they will disappear. Sometimes

they hide the sun and moon also. At such times, just be patient. In

this land of Bharat, Kshama is our true wealth, the feeling of Love

towards the mother is the sweetest feeling and the character is more

important than life itself. Bharatiyas today are just aping other

cultures and have become like elephants that do not know their own

strength. Man is very powerful. That is why even God takes a Human form

when He descends. Daivam Maanusha Roopena.

 

It is betrayal if you forget God. Every moment, think of God. The jobs

that you do may differ, but keep the true identity and your true nature

the same. That is divinity. We forget that today and therefore have a

lot of suffering. It is our imagination that is the cause of all

sorrow. God has nothing to do with that. God always confers happiness

and joys. Your imagination causes all the sorrow. You take things in a

perverted way and that makes things difficult.

 

See, today you are all wearing black coats over white shirts. Seeing

that, Anil Kumar here thinks that he should also do the same as all are

doing. So he came dressed the same way. The whole world is engaged in

the copying game today. It is not correct. This will give only

momentary happiness. None can carry back even a single coin that he has

with him here. All the emperors too went empty handed. So as long as an

object exists, experience and enjoy it. After that there is nothing.

All the intimacy that you experience is all of your making. Enjoy it as

long as it lasts. Life is full of Joy. And JOY is not just that ice

cream! It is in the heart. Keep it there and keep relishing it always.

We celebrate birth and mourn death. Never do that. Let any difficulty

come, keep telling yourself, "I am a spark of the divine. I will not

shed a tear." By practise, you will get that. Concentration and

contemplation will give you the strength to sacrifice.

 

A person is single till marriage. Then he gets 4 legs. After the first

child it becomes 6 legs. As the legs increase, the misery also

increases. And all the sorrow is due to your own weaknesses and mad

thoughts. To avoid misery, keep telling yourself, "Whatever I get is

for my own good." Yesterday, today and tomorrow are all one. Today is

the yesterday for tomorrow. Past is past. Future is uncertain. The

present is the omnipresent and it includes all the three in it.

 

Students, all that you experience is the untruth. Don't worry. You have

moved forward already and then why do you look back. Some people feel

very sad - not only in matters of the studies but in samsara also. They

worry that he / she was there before and is not there now. Everytime

they are there. Only the fashions keep changing. From today, think that

the new year has begun. The old becomes new every moment. Don't worry

or be afraid of anything. Do not anticipate worries. It is only courage

that can achieve anything. If you lose it, you lose everything else.

Courage is the Pushti (strength) that is responsible for Srishti.

 

Do not search outside for that which is within. Kama is desire and you

run after it. Contain it. Do not feel sorry that you are losing Kama.

Every quality is installed in you. All is a reflection from within.

Treasure all that is within. It is a mistake to run after that you

don't have leaving all that you have. Students, you have studied a lot

but of what use is all these studies? With all this you do not know

your own nature. We all study and finally die. Therefore all education

must lead to immortality. The education must benefit society. Teach all

that you know to the less fortunate ones. Share your knowledge and then

alone will you have the expansion of knowledge. Vyashti will then

expand into Samashti. Samashti needs Pushti and that can be obtained

from sense control alone. And today there is no trace of sense control.

You lead a wayward life - not only in studies but in conduct also. It

is to help you achieve the true purpose of life that Srishti has been

made. Even ants have progeny, they feed and nurture. You need not take

care of family etc if it is only feeding. The creator will do that.

 

People go abroad for more money. Whether you get $5000 there or Rs.500

here, it is the same. There are lot of expenses and troubles there.

What is there abroad? 'Aa' (meaning 'that' in Telugu) broad is all

within you. Remain here and serve your parents. Pass on the Bharatiya

culture to your children. Education is not mere scribbling on paper.

Without Sujnana (wisdom and discrimination) all education is useless.

What the teachers tell you is all in the books. The reality is in the

Mastaka (head) and not in the Pustaka (book). Do not waste time

studying. Some like bookworms read day and night. Read when you are

supposed to. You read all that is not necessary. Even the junk fallen

on the streets and the bazaara, you pick up and read. The heads are

empty nowadays due to cinema and novels. You just open the newspaper

and it is full of ads and cinema models. Your inner voice teaches you

very well. Follow your conscience.

 

You do not become a human just because you have hands and legs. Lead an

ideal life. This is our true culture. That is our caste. The culture is

ingrained in the caste and the caste depends on tradition and lineage.

The caste is that you are human. None can change that. Along with the

caste and culture, discrimination is of paramount importance. It is

like the light in the darkness. You must foster it.

 

Never make your parents feel sad. Mother and father are equivalent to

God. Modern children do not want parents but their toy dolls - wife.

Everyone comes after parents only. The Vedas too declare that. Love

your mother and follow her commands. If you make her happy, you will be

happy. Make her shed a tear and you will feel sad throughout. Your joy

is directly proportional to the mother's joy. Very few are able to

understand the love of the mother. They say, "Keep quiet mother! Having

grown so old, can I not decide this?" It is only from the parents that

one can receive true education.

 

Keep singing the glory of God. You will be peaceful when you listen to

a bhajan. Bhajan is a way to attain Samashti. Sing within yourself.

Today the bhajan singing is also on the decline. Never forget God.

Everything comes and goes. But the bhajans are permanent and will stay

and remain.

 

After the discourse, Swami announced that He would be gifting away the

huge cups to each and every campus. But this time, He announced, that

the wardens and principals of each campus would be receiving it for the

excellent performance during the Sports. So then, it was such a

wonderful sight as the wardens and principals of the Prashanti Nilayam,

Brindavan, Anantapur, Higher Secondary School, Mirpuri College of Music

and Primary School came forward and received the cups and blessings

from Swami. While everyone were whole heartedly applauding, one could

not help but notice a tinge of disappointment on the faces of the

captains and vice-captains who usually receive the cups. When it was

evident to people, will not the loving Lord notice it? He immediately

got more cups and gave them away to the captains and vice captains as

well!

 

As if that was not enough, He asked for all the certificates and medals

to be brought to Him. He blessed each and every tray containing the

certificates and picked up all the gold medals and silver medals in His

hands, blessing them all. He also got the number of medals for each of

the campus announced. Then He blessed prasadam to be distributed to all

as the brass band struck up a lively and lovely tune "Murali Krishna

Mukunda Krishna". The band played two more pieces after that and Swami

blessed them. He then retired for the morning.

Click here to view pictures of the Sankranthi celebrations.

 

January 12th, 2008

Today was a day of frantic and intense activity for all in the

Prasanthi Nilayam campus of the University as Swami had advanced the

drama by three days and everything had to be readied for the drama in

the evening. From 12:00 pm itself the mandir had become a hub of

activity and the stage was being set. This time, as Swami had asked for

the previous year, the stage was set facing the audience so that all

would be able to view the drama. Swami's position was towards the end

of the first marble block.

 

Swami came out at about 4:50 pm after making enquiries as to whether

everything was in readiness for the drama to be enacted. He came on the

chair and all were happy at this close darshan. The crowds were

swelling and since the stage orientation had changed, the people on the

gents side were so seated that Swami had no place to navigate for the

darshan rounds too. Swami came straight to the place designated for

Him. He did not seem to like the idea of Him sitting in the centre,

away from everyone. He got His chair moved to where the other chairs

had been placed towards the gents side of Kulwant hall. The stage and

sets were in their barest state of readiness. But when Swami wants a

programme, everything seems to come in alignment perfectly.

 

There is such a beautiful message in this for all. However the

programme may be, Swami decides to be happy and He is happy. That is

the secret He says quite often in His discourses. Choose to be happy

and thats what you will be. Instead we seem to be choosing to be

unhappy and we blame everyone and everything around as the cause for

it. It is no coincidence that we feel that once Swami decides to be

happy with a programme, everything always goes on well. Swami says that

it holds good with everyone of us too. If we sincerely decide that

something is good and feel it that way, it turns out to be good. Well,

these are just random musings and have nothing to do with the drama

that was put up by the students. It was one in which the script alone

was enough to carry the message home.

 

The programme began formally as Hanuman, Rama, Lakshmana and

Vibheeshana came forward and offered their salutations via roses to

Swami. The opening scene was a meeting between the celestial sage

Narada and the celebrated saint, Tulsidas. Tulsidas is wondering as to

whom he should choose to depict as the ideal devotee of the Lord as an

example for the youth. Narada hints at Hanuman and Tulsi is excited and

pleased at the idea. The narrative begins with the court of the monkey

king Sugriva. He is holding a meeting to discuss the entry of two

strangers. Hanuman volunteers to go the "espionage" work. In the guise

of a brahmin, he approaches the strangers and then begins the beautiful

conversation full of subtle hints and puns. When he comes to know he is

face to face with Rama, he falls at His feet in tears. This is the

beginning of the immortal love and devotion of Hanuman to his Lord.

 

Rama entrusts the ring to be handed over to Sita to Hanuman. Hanuman

lives up to the Lord's trust and also succeeds in sending a powerful

warning to the demon Ravana of the impending doom. The verbal volleys

between Ravana and Hanuman were beautifully captured in Telugu poems

and they won Swami's and the crowd's appreciation. The drama moved into

the most moving portion where Rama and Hanuman meet after the

successful return of Hanuman from Lanka. It concluded with the

coronation of Rama where Hanuman is gifted a pearl necklace by Sita. He

breaks it and bites each pearl to see if it has the Rama Naama in it.

When people in the court ask him as to how he could accept a body that

does not have Rama's name, he just closes his eyes and every fibre of

his body is resounding with Rama's name.

 

Swami was absorbed seeing the drama. Especially whenever there was a

loving exchange between Hanuman and Rama, Swami appeared very touched.

Whenever we see the Lord showering His love and giving Himself

completely to his devotee, tears well up. The same happens to the Lord

to when He sees the devotee showering his love and giving himself

completely to God. It was a really uplifting experience to watch the

beautiful drama in Swami's presence.

 

As the drama concluded with a beautiful final song and all the boys

came into the final formation, Swami said that He would walk up to them

and gift them with photos. Before that, He asked as to who had scripted

the drama. The script writer came out of the background. Swami

materialized a gold chain for Him and put it around his neck. He

blessed him and then got up to go for the photo session. There were the

"pearls" that Hanuman had scattered all over the place. They were

cleared as Swami walked up to the waiting group. Knowing His boys'

expectations very well, Swami began to call out the boys in small

groups of 5-6 and gifted them photos. He spoke to many of them and all

were so happy. He gifted the boy who had acted as Lakshmana in the

royal court with a beautiful ring. The entire photo session itself

lasted almost 15 minutes where Swami thrilled every mind with His

presence and filled every heart with His love.

 

As prasadam was being distributed, Swami received aarthi and blessing everyone, left in the chair itself.

Click here to view pictures of the drama.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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