The Role of Sacred Intentions: A Case of Sri Sathya Sai Institutions

Vegetarian Food in a Non-Vegetarian Hotel

There were two hotels in a town. One hotel was a ‘Vegetarian hotel’ while the other was a ‘Non-Vegetarian hotel’. A vegetarian entered the non-vegetarian hotel inadvertently. He called the waiter and ordered for some vegetarian dishes not being aware that it was a non-vegetarian hotel. The waiter was surprised at the order and questioned him “Sir, don’t you know that it is a non-vegetarian hotel. Haven't you seen the board outside?”

The message that should be taken from this anecdote is that the world is transient and it is not the place where people can find true happiness. Such ever-lasting happiness is not available in this ever-changing world. Hence, there is no use of scouting around for that which is unavailable. The ancient scriptures declared, ‘Anityam, Asukham Lokam’ which means ‘The world is impermanent and gives no happiness’. Thus, it can be said that just like the non-vegetarian hotel, this world also has a sign-board stating, ‘Genuine everlasting happiness is not available here’! Giving a direction for finding such happiness, the ancient scriptures further declare, ‘Imaam Praapya Bhajaswa Maam’ i.e. God is the only source where such a search for eternal happiness can end fruitfully. In order to attain such eternal happiness one should gradually discard desires one by one. Removal of immorality is the only way to immortality. One should lead an ideal life as long as one lives in this world and leave behind an ideal example for posterity.

Myrdal  persevered until the end of his life for this kind of an ideal. However, he had to work amidst different cross currents when he was the head of the economic body. People used to believe in different schools of thought to tackle the economic problems. He could not make up his mind regarding the approach to be adopted to tackle economic problems. Finally, he decided to follow the dictates of his conscience. Purusha (Divine principle) is the basis of humankind and other creations of God. Therefore, it should be remembered that this conscience is all pervasive and it should be the endeavour of man to recognise the Unity of Divinity in all. Once this unity is understood and experienced, the finance problems cease to bother people in the world. 

Note: 

Baba here refers to the well-known Economist Gunnar Myrdal, the author of the work ‘Asian Drama’. Karl Gunnar Myrdal (1898 – 1987) was a Swedish economist and politician. He was born in Gustafs, Dalarna, and died in Danderyd, close to Stockholm. He graduated from Stockholm University Law School in 1923 and received a doctorate degree in Economics in 1927. With Friedrich Hayek, he was awarded the 1974 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences for their pioneering work in ‘The theory of money and economic fluctuations’ and for their penetrating analysis of the interdependence of economic, social and institutional phenomena.

The Case of Sri Sathya Sai Institutions

Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences, Prasanthigram, Puttaparthi

The cases of the Super Specialty Hospitals at Puttaparthi, Bangalore and the drinking water projects in Anantapur and four other districts in Andhra Pradesh and in Chennai in Tamil Nadu illustrate this point. Baba proposed the Drinking Water Supply Project in Anantapur district with an estimated cost of Rupees 200 crores. At that time, even Rupees 100 crores was not available with the Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust. In case of the Super Specialty Hospital at Puttaparthi, the hospital administration put forth a monthly budget of Rs. 1.20 crores (1 crore = 10 million) to pay wages and salaries of personnel in the hospital and this amount were not available with the Trust’s bank account at that point of time. However by My Sankalpa (Divine Will) and to the astonishment of the hospital administration, at the time of presentation of the cheque, the exact amount of Rs. 1.20 crores were made available in the concerned account. Therefore, one has to realise that whenever one initiates any activity with sacred, pure, and selfless intentions; there need not be any room for apprehension or anxiety. All the actions must be based on Satya. ‘Satya’ (truth) and ‘Dharma’ (righteousness) should always be the guiding values while embarking upon any project, including learning the subject of finance. 

Source: Values-Based Economic Development, Chapter 1, Man Management: A Values-Based Management Perspective