International Symposium on Cardio Vascular Diseases at Prasanthi Nilayam

Saturday, December 16, 1995 to 

Monday, December 18, 1995 

Dr. Karan Singh lighting the lamp along with Sri Sathya Sai

The Third International Symposium on Cardio Vascular Diseases was held in the Sri Sathya Sai Institute Auditorium at Prasanthi Nilayam on 16th December 1995. Bhagavan arrived at the Auditorium for the inaugural function accompanied by Dr. Karan Singh, former Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, and Dr. Bajaj, Member of the Planning Commission and President of the National Board of Examinations. Dr. Karan Singh lit the lamps to mark the inauguration of the Symposium and delivered his inaugural address. After a speech by Dr. Bajaj, Bhagavan delivered His Address. He gave a clarion call to the medical fraternity to fulfil their primary duty, providing medical care to the poor. 

The Valedictory Function on 18th December was presided over by Sri A. R. Antulay, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare. He commended the unique services rendered by Bhagavan’s Super Speciality Hospital, which is unparalleled in the world. Bhagavan then delivered His Valedictory Discourse. Excerpts from the Discourse are given below: 

“Health is essential for the body. A healthy mind can exist only in a healthy body. Only a man with a healthy mind will take part in joyous activities. This conference is concerned mainly with the heart. Many consider the heart as the most important organ. There is a way to maintain the heart in good condition. Most of the organs in the body are in an immobile state. But the heart is continually active. It is difficult to perform an operation on an organ which is ceaselessly at work. If the heart has to be stopped beating for performing an operation, this cannot be done for more than two or three minutes. No operation can be done in such a short time. Hence heart specialists investigated the methods by which the heart could be kept inactive for a few hours so that cardiac operations could be performed. The heart-lung machine was designed to enable heart operation to be done. 

The heart is the primary organ for keeping the body well. Only when the heart is sound there can be proper blood supply to the whole body. Who invented the heart-lung machine? It is a product of human, intelligence. This shows that intelligence is even superior to the heart. It is this intelligence that has been responsible for the discovery of numerous devices. 

It is by the use of intelligence for a practical purpose that doctors have found the technique of carrying out heart operations. The intelligence is as important as the heart. It is the combination of the intelligence and the heart that helps to keep a person healthy. A doctor may be extremely intelligent in performing operations. But if during an operation his mind wanders, the operation will not be successful. The combination of qualities required for success should be properly understood. 

The relationship between time and action should be recognized. Modern man tends to ignore the consequences of his actions. Purely for the sake of worldly pleasures, he considers wealth as the most important thing. The Chinese were accustomed to a certain traditional practice. Every morning on waking up they used to remember the saying: “Difficulties are our friends; let us welcome them.” Today people regard difficulties as enemies. Without difficulties you cannot obtain a comfort. 

People consider, wealth as, essential for physical comforts and thereby become slaves, of wealth. As long as they remain slaves of wealth, they will have no respite from troubles.

“Sarve Bhavanthu Sukhinah. Sarve Santu Niraamayaah”

(All should be happy. All should be free from sufferings). If you are to pray in this manner, you must have these feelings in you. 

One of the doctors urged that Swami should indicate to the doctors the right path and give them strength to pursue it. You are not lacking in strength. God has endowed you with strength, but you are not using it on right lines. Every human being is endowed with a Divine energy, which has to be used for proper purposes. It has to be used righteously according to the dictates of one's conscience. When the conscience is satisfied the energy gets sanctified. Man today misuses the Divine energy for selfish purposes. 

Men should realise the sacredness of action and time. The presiding deity of Karma is all-powerful. Hence a prayer is addressed to the deity requesting him to see that one's actions are good. The human race is called Mankind, because sacred feelings, thoughts and intentions are there in man. It means ‘humanness’ is synonymous with kindness. The sage Vyasa wrote eighteen Puranas (sacred epics). Who has the time to read so many Puranas? Therefore, ruminating on this point, sage Vyasa declared the quintessence of these Puranas just in these words: "Help ever; Hurt never".

This is the duty of doctors today. They have acquired valuable knowledge. This should be used for public good. The more it is used this way, the more it will grow. Always be prepared to serve a patient when he comes to you. It is a sign of weakness to turn away a patient on a plea of inability. You have the God-given power. Be conscious of your power. 

Doctors should recognise the importance of the five human values: Truth, Righteousness, Peace, Love and Non-violence. Love is the basis for all the other values. Doctors can infuse courage in patients by the love they show towards the patients. If doctors carry out their duties with love they will be crowned with success.” 

Source: Sri Sathya Sai Digvijayam (1986 – 2005)