When Bill Clinton sent a letter to Sri Sathya Sai…

Tuesday, February 20, 2001 

Today the Brindavan students arrived at Prasanthi Nilayam for Shivaratri celebrations. After the evening interviews, while Swami was coming to Ganesh portico…

Swami : (To a student) Chor! Chor! (Thief) You have shifted your place. 

(To teachers) It seems that in the drinking water that you get, drainage water is mixed. Inside Ashram, we have taken care that it did not happen. What about the teacher’s quarters?

Teacher : Swami, we did not see anything like that in our drinking water.

Prof. A. K. : Swami, whom should we report to?

Swami : Complain to the Collector. (Then Swami called a person, who had gone to Gujarat along with the relief material sent by Swami. He showed Swami photographs of the relief work done by the group. Swami was amused when he saw a photograph, where one of the Ashram office bearers was wearing a cap while distributing the relief materials.) Chief Minister’s wife also participated in the relief work. 

Prof. A. K. : Swami, is all the relief work over?

Swami : Yes, our people have finished the work. (Showing a photo) The tents are also erected. The Finance Minister has sent a letter. The Government is planning to build Sri Sathya Sai Hospitals in all states. They are going to pay the salary and also meet all other expenditure. But they want us to administer the Hospitals. The opposition and all other parties have agreed that they would not interfere with the working of the Hospital now or in the future. I told them that I didn’t want such responsibilities. 

(Regarding earthquake relief) I am adopting 100 boys (who don’t have anyone for support) from among the earthquake victims. I will also take care of rebuilding 15 villages and will pay for the expenditure.

Prof. A. K. : The kind of work that Swami takes up are like Bruhatpathakam (work of great nature). 

Swami : All my works are Bruhatpathaka only. I never take up Alpapathakam (work of mean nature). Clinton has also sent a letter saying that he wants to come here to learn how Swami’s system of free education, free medical service and free drinking water project works. He is coming with his wife. They were saying that though they have enough money, they are not able to do such work. Hence, they want to see how we do such things.

(Then Swami sent Warden, Dr. Siva Sankara Sai to get something from the interview room. Swami explained to the minutest detail to help him locate the letter in the interview room. After sometime, the Warden returned with two envelopes.) 

Swami removed the letters from the envelopes and showed them. The first envelope was having the letterhead of ‘Government of India’ with its characteristic emblem (of four lion heads). The letter was from the Union Finance Minister, and at the end was his signature – ‘Y. Sinha’ (Yashwant Sinha). Swami pointed out the signature to Prof. Anil Kumar. 

Yashwant Sinha, Former Union Finance Minister, and his family with Sri Sathya Sai

The second letter was from Bill Clinton. This letter also had the signature at the end of it. On the envelope it was written – ‘White House, Washington’.

Bill Clinton, President of USA
(1993-2001)

Swami : White House. You are also white house.

Prof. A.K. : Only dress is white, not house Swami.

Swami : (Then Swami spoke with Brindavan Warden about the Hospital project. Then to Prof. Anil Kumar) I need people who can take up responsibility for doing such works. Nadumuku Kattukune Dhaniki Readyga Unnava? (Are you ready to tighten up your waist belt? Are you ready to take up the responsibility?)

Prof. A. K. : (Taking only the literal meaning) Swami, I am ready to tighten up my belt.

Swami : Don’t joke. 

Student : Swami, what major (subject) should I take?

Swami : (Jokingly) Wife. (When the student persisted) Ask your parents.

Student : Swami, they told me to ask You.

Swami : Tell them that I told you to ask them. (On His way back to the interview room, seeing a student who had shifted his place, Swami told the Brindavan Warden) Brindavan boys don’t have steady mind. They don’t have stable mind. They keep changing.

Swami went back and came after sometime. After occupying His chair, Swami blessed few students and Prof. Anil Kumar by giving them an opportunity to speak in His presence. The first speaker spoke in Sanskrit and Prof. Anil Kumar spoke in Telugu, wherein he quoted many poems written on Swami by his teacher, Sri Pappaya Shastri, who was a great poet and devotee of Bhagavan. A sparrow was moving around Swami’s feet and was moving closer and closer to Swami. Then it moved behind the chair. All the while, Swami was paying full attention and was watching it with His beautiful smile. Everyone felt joyful watching this act of Swami. After the talks…

Swami : What will I speak tomorrow! (Shivaratri Day) Let boys only speak. 

Prof. A. K. : Swami, if it were so, I might not have spoken. (But the next day Swami graciously agreed to give a Divine Discourse.)

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