July 12, 1997
Swami : Who has given you permission to be here? It’s not Sunday. Was it the Vice Chancellor or the Warden?
Students : No, Swami. You have given us the permission.
Swami : No, no. It’s not My business. (Turning to a teacher) How many days’ holidays?
Teacher : One week, Swami.
Swami : Why? There is no programme now. Boys can attend programmes whenever they are held and classes can be conducted the rest of the time.
Teacher : No, Swami. We all would like to be with You.
Swami : But boys are wasting their time by talking. It is better to go and study. Where is that old man? (Referring to an overseas devotee) (The cameraman pointed to the person) (To the cameraman) Where do you come from?
Cameraman: From Australia, Swami.
Swami : And that old man?
Cameraman: From Argentina, Swami.
Swami : ‘Urgent-Tina’ (Turning towards the students) Boys have song practise after Bhajans.
Students : Yes, Swami.
Swami : Yes, yes. I know, I know. All are singing?
Student : Yes, Swami.
Just before Bhajans began, Swami came out and moved towards the Primary school boys. He called a small boy, spoke to him, patted his cheeks and sent him back. Swami called another small boy and asked him to get his Japamala (rosary). The boy took his Japamala and went up to Swami. Swami asked him if he knew how to use the Japamala correctly. The boy gave a correct demonstration, which pleased Swami. After this, Swami came near the Institute students.
Swami : See, that small boy is doing Japa (chanting God's name). What Japa are you doing? The Primary School boys are 100% perfect. When they come to Secondary School, they are 50% perfect. When they come to Institute, they become 0%. Institute students say, “What is this Suprabhatam? It is difficult to get up at 5’o clock.” Primary School boys get up at 4 am and all of them attend Suprabhatam joyfully. (Swami called the leader of the Primary School and introduced him to all the Institute and Secondary School students.) He controls all the boys by example. He says, “I never tell. I only do it myself.” See boys, what leadership do you all have? (To the leader) Where do you come from? (Swami would often chide the Institute boys in this way to motivate them to adhere to the discipline as expected in Sai Hostels.)
Student : From Sikkim, Swami.
Swami : There is a big Sai temple in Sikkim. Did you see it?
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| Sri Sathya Sai Temple Sikkim |
Student : Yes, Swami.
Swami : (To the Institute students) A very big official who was a devotee of Swami built this temple in Sikkim. (Turning to the small boy) How many boys?
Student : 89 boys, Swami.
Swami : (To Institute students) See, he knew the exact number. You do not even know how many boys are there in your class. (To the schoolboy) How many girls?
Student : I don’t know, Swami.
Swami : (Turning to Institute students) See, he does not know about the number of girls in the school. Boys and girls live separately in the same hostel. It is difficult to control one boy and one girl. Swami has so many students – 1,300 and odd. Yet everything goes on well. (To the student) What do you want to become?
Student : Doctor, Swami.
Swami : Why?
Student : So that I can work in the Super Speciality Hospital.
Swami : Why not a Lecturer in the Institute?
Student : Whatever Swami says.
Swami : Whatever Swami says? Anyway, it is too early to decide.
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