International Health Meet at Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences, Bangalore

Saturday, January 19, 2002 to 

Tuesday, January 22, 2002

Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, Karnataka Chief Minister S M Krishna (left) and Union Health Minister Dr. C P Thakur (right) with Sri Sathya Sai at the International Health Meet

The 1st anniversary of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences was celebrated at Whitefield on 19th January 2002. Bhagavan lit the lamps amidst Vedic chants and inaugurated, ‘Sai Health Meet 2002’, at 10.45 am on this occasion. Dr. C.P. Thakur, Union Minister for Health, Sri S.M. Krishna, the Chief Minister of Karnataka and Sri Vilasrao Deshmukh, the Chief Minister of Maharashtra shared the dais with Bhagavan. Dr. A.N. Safaya, Director of the Institute welcomed the guests and explained the role of Super speciality hospitals. The Chief Guest of this Meet Dr. C.P. Thakur and Sri S.M.Krishna spoke about the great transformation brought about by Bhagavan in the society. They observed that the government and the people should follow the ideals of selfless service set by Bhagavan.

Sri Sathya Sai inaugurating the Health Meet; Chief Minister S.M. Krishna is on the extreme right.

Bhagavan then delivered His Discourse. He highlighted the role of health in one’s life and the nobility of the medical profession. He said:

“It is true that health is wealth. Dharmartha Kamamokshanam Arogyam Moolamuttamam. Health is the fundamental requirement to achieve the four goals of human life, namely, Dharma (righteousness), Artha (wealth), Kama (desire) and Moksha (liberation). However, once you attain the state of bliss, you can always enjoy good health. Man is deluded with the feeling that he can lead a blissful life by acquiring wealth and position of authority. Neither wealth nor position of authority can confer bliss on you. Bliss can be experienced only when you visualise unity in diversity. If you do not understand the principle of unity and attain bliss, all the service activities like construction of hospitals will be of little consequence. 

Sri Sathya Sai at the Radiology Division of the Hospital

Everyone working in a hospital, be they doctors, nurses, paramedical staff or technicians, should have the spirit of unity. This hospital demonstrates the ideal of unity. All the staff in this hospital work with the feeling that they belong to one family. Our hospital stands for unity in diversity. It does not crave for money, name and fame. In olden days, education, health care, food and water were provided free of cost. I have determined to provide them all free. 

Our hospital is not a business centre. Most of the hospitals have become business centres. It is the worst of sins to run a hospital with the sole purpose of earning money. You should understand that you too might fall ill someday. Hence, you should treat the patients with love, without expecting anything in return. You should not aspire for money from them… 

Each one of you is endowed with Hridaya (heart). That which is filled with Daya (compassion) is Hridaya. But today man has become stone-hearted. Truly speaking, man is not one of wicked qualities. He is one of virtues. It is said, human birth is the rarest, but if man indulges in bestial and demonic traits, how can we say that he is superior to other beings. He should utilise his education, wealth and energy for the welfare of others. No doubt money is essential, but one should not crave to amass wealth. One may build a hospital spending crores of rupees, but one should not expect manifold returns. One should spend at least fifty per cent of the money earned on charity. Today doctors do not give free medicine even to a single patient. The cost of medicines has gone up these days. 

Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences, Puttaparthi

It is ten years since we constructed the Super Speciality Hospital in Puttaparthi. Believe it or not, so far we have conducted 70,000 operations free of cost. This hospital has completed one year and here also we have performed hundreds of open heart and bypass surgeries. Crores of rupees are being spent every month. Not many are aware of this. Even if I have to spend thousands of crores, I will not give up this sacred task. I want this hospital to grow further and serve the needy. Our Chief Minister Krishna helped us to a great extent in the construction of this hospital. Besides other things, he gave us the land free of cost. His heart is filled with the spirit of sacrifice. Tyagenaikena Amrutattwamanasu (only through sacrifice can one attain immortality). The Chief Minister of Maharashtra who is with us here today wants a similar hospital to be constructed in Mumbai. He is prepared to give the required land for it. In Mumbai, life is becoming increasingly difficult because of pollution. Health is very essential to achieve any task. Human life is not meant to amass wealth. When you depart from the world, can you take even a naya paisa with you? Man cannot take even a fistful of sand when he leaves the world; otherwise, there would have been rationing for sand also. What you ultimately carry with you is only the results of your actions, merit or sin. Hence, do not indulge in sinful deeds. Undertake meritorious activities. Paropakaraya Punyaya, Papaya Parapeedanam (one attains merit by serving others and commits sin by hurting them). Help ever, Hurt never. To the extent possible, perform acts of charity and help everybody. Fill your hearts with love. We consider it our duty to treat the patients and alleviate their suffering. Duty is God. Work is worship. I am doing it with love. It is from the source and not by force…

Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences, Bangalore

Today we are celebrating the first anniversary of our hospital. I am not interested in such celebrations. I want each one of you to cultivate purity, love and compassion. There is no human being in the world without love. Love is sacred, infinite and most wonderful. Having been endowed with such divine love, why do you behave in a manner that is contrary to your true nature? I wish that you lead your lives with love and make this country an ideal one. With this, I bless you all and bring My Discourse to a close.” 

The programme concluded with National Anthem at 12.40 pm. 

In the afternoon session, eminent personalities held a panel discussion in the Divine Presence. The members of the panel were: 

1. Dr. A.S. Hegde, Chief, Neuro Sciences, Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences; 

Sri Sathya Sai with Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam at the meet

2. Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Former Scientific Advisor to the Defence Ministry, Government of India; 

3. Dr. Michael Nobel, Chairman, Nobel Family Society and great grandnephew of Alfred Nobel;

4. Dr. Noah Samara, CEO, World Space Corporation;

5. Dr. H. Sudharshan, Head, State Task Force, Health and Family Welfare, Government of Karnataka;

6. Dr. Shekhar Rao, Chief, CTVS, Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences; 

7. Prof. M.S. Valiathan, former Vice Chancellor, Manipal Academy of Higher Education;

8. Prof. Gowri Devi, Director, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences.

9. Dr. Chandrasekhar Shetty, Opthalmologist; and 

10. Prof. B.M. Hegde, Vice Chancellor, Manipal Academy of Higher Education. 

Sri Sathya Sai with the staff of  Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences; Dr. Hegde, Director of the Institute is on the extreme left holding Baba's hand

On 22nd Bhagavan visited the exhibition organised at the Hospital on this occasion and spent over two hours in the hospital to give profound joy to all the staff and the patients.

Source: Sri Sathya Sai Digvijayam (1986 – 2005)