“The Prime Minister of Nepal came to Prasanthi Nilayam today…”

Left Photo: Nepal Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala (right) and his daughter (left) with Sri Sathya Sai
Right Photo: Nepal Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala receiving Blessings from Sri Sathya Sai

Saturday, August 5, 2000

Today, the Prime Minister of Nepal, Sri Girija Prasad Koirala, visited Prasanthi Nilayam to have Swami’s Darshan. He arrived at 11.00 am and spent two hours at the Super Speciality Hospital. In the evening at 2.40 pm, he came to Mandir awaiting Bhagavan’s Darshan. Swami came out for Darshan at 2.45 pm. After blessing the devotees with His Darshan, Swami came near students.

Swami : (To the students) Why did you all came early? To see the Prime Minister?

Students : To have Your Darshan, Swami.

Swami : Everyday you come late. You came early to see the Prime Minister.

Students : No, Swami. To have Your Darshan.

Near the lion statue, Swami materialized Vibhuti for the cameraman, who was accompanying the Prime Minister. Seeing the cameraman struggling to take the video while taking the Vibhuti, everybody assembled in the hall applauded. Swami took the Prime Minister and the delegates to the interview room. After sending off the Prime Minister, Swami came near the students.

Swami : (To Prof. Anil Kumar) The Prime Minister was telling that boys are very lucky. They have Swami’s Darshan everyday. We come only once in a while. I told him that quantity is not important. Quality is important. 

Even if you have come once with your heart filled with love, that is enough. One teaspoon of cow’s milk is better than thousand barrels of donkey’s milk. Having Darshan morning and evening is no use. They come from far, Prem Se Aate Hain (they come with Love). He told me to come to Nepal. 

He also said that he will personally come and take Me. I told him to set Nepal right and I will come on My own. (Swami went back to the interview room and came back within few minutes. On the way to the Ganesh portico through the first block, Swami spoke to the Warden, Dr. Siva Sankara Sai) Nepal Prime Minister was telling that boys are very lucky. They have Darshan both morning and evening. I said that the boys have quantity, not quality. (After coming near to the students near third block, Swami materialized a ring and gave it to a student to be given to his brother – an alumnus of Swami’s University – on the occasion of his marriage. To the student) Not for you. Give it your brother. (To Prof. Anil Kumar, about the Nepal Prime Minister) He told, “I want to have a photo with Swami”. (Swami also mentioned that the Prime Minister felt that having a photo with Swami is more valuable than having with anyone else.)

Prof. A. K. : Swami, is he going back to Nepal directly?

Swami : No, he is going to Benaras (Varanasi). Outside people come here to go to places like Benaras, Ayodhya, etc. Indians go to Carlifornia, Los Angeles, Paris… You are also like that only. (Swami meant that people come to India to visit spiritual places, but Indians go abroad for sightseeing.)

Prof. A. K. : (Smiling) Swami, when You told the list (of the cities), then itself I knew that I am there in the list.

Swami : (Taking a letter from a Visiting Faculty) He was doing Tapas (penance) for past four days. (To a student) Are you from Nepal?

Student : Swami, from Sikkim.

Swami : Sikkim and Nepal are near by. Many people come here from Nepal because there is no need of passport to come to India. Nepal is a small country. I told the Prime Minister that there are students from Nepal and they are having fever. (Warden pointed out to Swami few more Nepali students who were sitting in the front. Pointing to one of them) He does not look like a Nepali. (Everybody laughed.)

Prof. A. K. : Swami, he looks like a person from Vijaywada or Guntur. (Peals of laughter.)

Swami : (To another Nepali student) What is your name?

Student : Swami, Asheesh…

Swami : Some people pronounce ‘Asheesh’ as ‘Aaseesh’, ‘Shankara’ as ‘Sunkara’. ‘Asheesh’ means blessing.

Prof. A. K. : Swami, Nepal is a Buddhist country.

Swami : No, it is a mixture of Hindus and Buddhists. Even Chinese are there. Till two years back even communists were there. (Swami materialized two capsules for a School student who had mentioned about his stomach ailment to Swami yesterday.) This is Sodium Bicarbonate. (Swami also mentioned another chemical name. One more student told Swami about his eye problem. Swami rubbed his eyes gently and sent him back. The student asked for Padanamaskar.) Boys come near, so that they can take Padanamaskar.

Student : Swami M.B.A. day.

Swami : What?

Student : Swami, 21st August, M.B.A. day.

Swami : On whichever day you celebrate, it is M.B.A. day.

(To Prof. Anil Kumar) Prime Minister came at 11.00 am. He spent two hours in the (Super Specialty) Hospital. He was asking Me, “How free?” If one is broad-minded, then everything is possible. If one is narrow-minded, nothing is possible.

(To a tall student) What is the height of Clinton? (The student could not answer.) Six feet, two inches. (Telling about Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865), Former President of the U.S.A.) Those days, mothers taught good things to their children. That is why they were able to bring up such children. 

His parents were very poor. His mother used to stitch torn clothes and his father was a carpenter. Those days, mothers used to teach good things to their children. Now-a-days mothers bother only about money. Things are like this only from last ten years. The Bangalore Hospital dome is 150 feet (high). Since it is near the airport, authorities came to check the height. They told it is of correct height. We always go by rules.

Source: Students with Sai: Conversations (2000-2001)