Sathya Sai with Students: “You should Serve the Society…”

August 22, 2000 (Krishna Janmashtami Day)

Darshan was at around 2.40 pm. After interview, when Swami came near the third block, there were Vibhuti marks on His robe. A former student who follows Swami in Darshan pointed it to Swami and tried to wipe them. Swami told him to leave it. Swami said that while giving Vibhuti in the interview room it fell on the robe.

Swami : (Speaking about the drama presented by the devotees from Germany the previous evening) Yesterday’s drama was very good. They did it with pure feelings. (Mentioning how people get transformed after coming in contact with Swami) Their dramas were unlike our boys’ dramas. Elizabeth (a character in the drama) acted very well. In spite of many difficulties, she stood against them. Last year, while going back from here, one lady’s husband passed away in the plane due to heart attack. After performing his final rites, she came back here and she directed a drama. The drama was very good. She said that birth and death are equal. Anybody who has taken birth, has to die.

Prof. A. K. : The feeling of equal-mindedness has very well seeped into them. One in a crore will have such a feeling!

Swami : No, many have. All the foreigners who come here are like that. Though they are quite opposite there (in their own countries), they get transformed after coming here (Prasanthi Nilayam). Ladies are pure-hearted and gents are stone-hearted.

Prof. A. K. : Swami, men have social interactions and they have a lot of social responsibilities.

Swami : Men say that they are very tired after day’s work. But after coming home, they change their clothes, go to club and play cards and drink. This is due to bad company. Ladies have more responsibilities. They take care of the house, children and pray for the well-being of their husbands.

Prof. A. K. : Creation itself is like that Swami.

Swami : Mistake is in Drishti (vision), not in Srishti (creation).

Prof. A. K. : Yes, Swami, everything is our fault.

Swami : Men are like stone, they have to be chiselled.

Prof. A. K. : (Smiling) Swami, if You chisel too much, they will become powder!

Swami : Tomorrow, children from London are putting up a drama. 180 children. Day after tomorrow, Americans.

Students : Swami, cowboys (students who had brought the cows in a procession to the Mandir on Janmashtami day) Padanamaskar.

Swami : Why? The chance given to you is itself Adrushtam (rare opportunity). You should have gratitude for that.

Students : Thank You, Swami.

Swami : Next year, you all will be replaced.

Students : No, Swami. We will stay here only.

Swami : No, it is time waste and (pointing to the place where students were sitting) this place is also waste. (Swami would always encourage students to go and serve the society based on what they have learnt from Him during their stay at the Institute. He would usually discourage them from spending their time in His proximity after the completion of their course at the Institute.)

Student : Swami, we want to be near You.

Swami : No, go outside and do service. You should serve the society. (To a School student) Is it correct?

Student : Yes, Swami.

Swami : Not after twelfth class, after degree. (Swami went back and came after some time. To Prof. Anil Kumar) The Vice-Chancellor (Sri S. V. Giri) invited the Prime Minister and he readily agreed. He is ready to come at any time. (About another minister who was present there) He was telling, “We have no such chance”. Prime Minister praised our Vice-Chancellor (Sri S. V. Giri) a lot. He called the Vice-Chancellor for lunch.

Prof. A. K. : Swami, is he coming for the Hospital inauguration? (inauguration of the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences at Whitefield)

Swami : Yes, he is coming for that also. (Swami asked Primary School students to give public speech. Three boys spoke in English, Hindi and Sanskrit respectively. Swami praised them and gave Padanamskar to all of them. Many more students came forward to speak, Swami lovingly told them to sit.) Very good English. Institute boys, not so good. (Swami went in and came back after sometime. To Prof. Anil Kumar) Murli Manohar Joshi (Union Minister for Human Resources Development) is coming for Convocation and Vajpayee (Prime Minister of India) for Hospital inauguration. (One student showed some photos to Swami. Swami gave two of them to an Institute student and the remaining ones, He gave to a Primary School student. The student took it and gave it to the Principal. Seeing this) See! They directly go and give it to the Principal, whereas (pointing to the Institute students) these boys first see and then give.