My journal: a treasure lost and found

[Guest guest]

I'm sitting by the window, looking out at the rain - it's been a rain drenched afternoon. Leaves dripping, branches dripping, gables of houses dripping with heavy drops of rain water. Little trees, tall trees, creepers and vines, branches and bushes - alive, refreshed, lush and voluptuous - brimming with happiness, all anxious not to miss a drop. And when the rain stopped, and the sun came out, along came a beautiful rainbow - spanning from one end of the sky to the other - gorgeous, colorful, cheerful. And my heart smiled happily, with the fullness of the rainwater, the hope and magic of the rainbow, the brightness of the sun, every tree, plant and flower sparkling in its clean shine.

 

But there's another reason I'm smiling too - I "found" a lost treasure. The silver locket that Swami had created for me so many years ago.. I don't know when or why I had taken it off, but the sad part is that I didn't even miss it all these years. But just seeing it today brought back so many memories.

 

It was summer vacation, and Swami was in Whitefield. Since Dad and Ma were given a room inside the Ashram, we were permitted to go inside His residence - Trayee Brindavan each evening after Darshan. In that intimate setting, we could see Swami up close, hear and follow Bhajans without a mic, and listen to Him talk to His students or the people sitting around him. One day He talked to Dad and told him that He would call us for an interview the next morning. So we waited by the side door before Darshan the next morning, along with a few other people. Swami, after Darshan, came by and ever the sweetest host, let us all in first, then came in last, and closed the door behind Him.

 

Oh how sacred and intimate and loving that hour felt! After talking to my parents, He turned to us kids [my sister Prathima and I] and asked us, "Show me what I gave you before". At first we didn't understand what He meant, but I think Ma caught on and said He hadn't given us anything yet. He looked so surprised when He said "I didn't give you anything?" and then circled His hand in that familiar gesture we see so often creating things, but this time it was for us! When He held His palm out, there were two newly minted silver lockets, with an embossing of Swami's head on one side, and an Om on the other side, and they came complete with a little ring on top to thread a chain through. He gave one to each of us, and we held them so tightly, that no one could have prised them away from us if they tried. After the interview, Ma got us two gold chains to wear them around our necks. It was such a precious gift, and such a comfort for me for so many

years.

 

But life and its many distractions somehow did separate my silver Swami from me, for some reason. But He must have known that I'm ready for Him now, and He found me again - how merciful of Him! As He says, He waits for us, over lifetimes sometimes to come to Him. Now that He found me again, never again will I let Him get away from me ever again!

 

Sai Ram and Love

sai_sravanthi_999

 

[Guest guest]

                                                      AUM SAI RAM

 

   Dear Saibandhu,

 

    The poetical experience and expression in this loving article " A Treasure Lost And Found " is marvellous.

 

    The SILVER LOCKET  materialised from the Divine Hand of BHAGAWAN and presented to you as

 

Prasadam is a token of Divine love towards to you. Though the silver prasadam appeared to have been lost

 

 from the sight, indeed it was not lost; it was  BHAGAWAN's  long game of " Hide and Seek " with you. Such

 

 deep was the secret of the hiding place, SWAMI's loving child Sai Sravanthi was unsuccessful to find.

 

.. Hence Mother Sai gave up the game and revealed Herself to the child to bestow on you the Bliss of Darshan

 

 of Silver Swami. You have aptly stated that HE has found you. The silver Swami is not only in the Locket, He

 

 is also installed in your Mind and Heart never to loose again. Yes! hold on to the Lotus Feet of Bhagawan so

 

 that never again SWAMI would play the " hide and seek.  " When you would be able to see Him everywhere,

 

 where SWAMI can hide? So the game is over! Therefore no more hide and seek between SWAMI and the

 

 child Sai Sravanthi because the child is happily and peacefully resting on the Divine laps of Mother Sai and

 

the Mother would be rather be joyous to see the child on Her lap than loosing in the game even temporarily.

 

 Loving Sai Ram,

 Your'sSaibandhu, 

  Ranganatha.Rao             

On Tue, Jun 23, 2009 at 6:41 AM, Sai Sravanthi <sai_sravanthi_999 wrote:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm sitting by the window, looking out at the rain - it's been a rain drenched afternoon. Leaves dripping, branches dripping, gables of houses dripping  with heavy drops of rain water. Little trees, tall trees, creepers and vines, branches and bushes - alive, refreshed, lush and voluptuous - brimming with happiness, all anxious not to miss a drop. And when the rain stopped, and the sun came out, along came a beautiful rainbow - spanning from one end of the sky to the other - gorgeous, colorful, cheerful. And my heart smiled happily, with the fullness of the rainwater, the hope and magic of the rainbow, the brightness of the sun, every tree, plant and flower sparkling in its clean shine.

 

But there's another reason I'm smiling too - I " found " a lost treasure. The silver locket that Swami had created for me so many years ago.. I don't know when or why I had taken it off, but the sad part is that I didn't even miss it all these years. But just seeing it today brought back so many memories.

 

It was summer vacation, and Swami was in Whitefield. Since Dad and Ma were given a room inside the Ashram, we were permitted to go inside His residence - Trayee Brindavan each evening after Darshan. In that intimate setting, we could see Swami up close, hear and follow Bhajans without a mic, and listen to Him talk to His students or the people sitting around him. One day He talked to Dad and told him that He would call us for an interview the next morning. So we waited by the side door before Darshan the next morning, along with a few other people. Swami, after Darshan, came by and ever the sweetest host, let us all in first, then came in last, and closed the door behind Him.

 

Oh how sacred and intimate and loving that hour felt! After talking to my parents, He turned to us kids [my sister Prathima and I] and asked us, " Show me what I gave you before " . At first we didn't understand what He meant, but I think Ma caught on and said He hadn't given us anything yet. He looked so surprised when He said " I didn't give you anything? " and then circled His hand in that familiar gesture we see so often creating things, but this time it was for us! When He held His palm out, there were two newly minted silver lockets, with an embossing of Swami's head on one side, and an Om on the other side, and they came complete with a little ring on top to thread a chain through. He gave one to each of us, and we held them so tightly, that no one could have prised them away from us if they tried. After the interview, Ma got us two gold chains to wear them around our necks. It was such a precious gift, and such a comfort for me for so many years.

 

But life and its many distractions somehow did separate my silver Swami from me, for some reason. But He must have known that I'm ready for Him now, and He found me again - how merciful of Him! As He says, He waits for us, over lifetimes sometimes to come to Him. Now that He found me again, never again will I let Him get away from me ever again!

 

Sai Ram and Love

sai_sravanthi_999