"How many brothers do you have?"

Sunday, June 18, 2000 (Evening)

Swami came out for Darshan in the afternoon at 1.30 pm to talk to some school children from Anantapur. However, the regular Darshan was at 4.00 pm. During Darshan…

Swami : (To a student) Hum 1.30 Ko Aya (I came at 1.30 pm). Boys Ko Pants, Shirts Diya. Readymade. Watches Bhi Diya. Teachers Ko Saris Diya (I gave readymade pants and shirts, and watches to the boys, and saris to the teachers). (Pointing to a student) This boy needs to be sent to mental hospital. He is bringing same Vibhuti packet for the last five to seven days!

(Smiling) Three weeks treatment is enough! Primary School boys can get like that but not you. (Swami is always particular that senior students should behave in a matured way.) (To a teacher) This boy needs three weeks treatment, but you need one week treatment. I am standing for the past three hours. I came at 1.30 pm. School boys (from Anantapur) have come. I was speaking to them in Telugu.

Teacher : Swami, from where have these boys come?

Swami : From nearby villages, 500 boys and girls. They have come from our schools.

Teacher : Swami, the schools which Swami built?

Swami : Yes. Next month, boys from these villages will be coming. 

(Swami mentioned the names of Harijana Wadas, a locality on the outskirts of the village where people belonging to the socially backward strata reside.) These boys have to go to schools. They do not have proper dress. So I have given them pant and shirt, and watches too. (After this, Swami enquired from Prof. Anil Kumar and Prof. S. Krupanidhi 

(Prof. S. K.), Department of Biosciences at Swami’s University, about the repairs going on in the teacher’s quarters.) Are your houses being painted nicely?

Prof. S. K. : Yes, Swami, they are doing masonary work and then the painting will be done.

Swami : (To Sri Bhagia) Tumhara Ghar Thik Hai? (Is your house fine?)

Sri Bhagia : Yes, Swami. (Sri Bhagia offered a kerchief which Swami lovingly accepted.)

Swami : (To the teachers) The staff quarters have been made like the Dhobi-Ghat (a common place for washing clothes by the washerman community). Dirty! (Swami said that children of a particular School in Russia held a strike because their teachers were not clean. The next day onwards, the teachers wore proper dresses and came to School. The teachers must make their hearts clean before they can become worthy of acceptance by their students. After that, Swami called a devotee Sathyanarayan, who was His classmate in Class VI.) How are you? How is the Kalyana Mandapam construction going on? I am building for your satisfaction only.

(To students) He was my classmate in Class VI. There were six in all. All others have passed away. Only he is here. From the beginning, he is Swami’s devotee. He was the Samiti President (in Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisation). (On seeing his grandson) Nee Manavadaa (Is he your grandson)?

Devotee : Yes, Swami.

Swami : How is your wife?

Devotee : Swami, You have given her a second birth. (Then the devotee recollected how Swami had cured his wife’s kidney problem.) Swami, please come to Bukkapatnam to inaugurate the Kalyana Mandapam.

Swami : You were complaining that the Kalyana Mandapam was small. How is it now?

Devotee : Now, more than a thousand can be accommodated, Swami.

Swami : Nowadays, thousand people won’t come for a marriage. Are the people happy?

Devotee : Swami, they are very happy. Swami should come to inaugurate it.

Swami : Santhosham (I am happy). (To students) I am Sathya Narayana (Swami’s name as a School student); he is also Sathya Narayana. He was the Samiti President. He used to go on tour and spread Swami’s teachings. Now he has retired. (Swami went to the birthday boys and blessed them. He then asked one Primary School student his name. The boy answered. He was holding a pen and a photograph of Swami for an autograph.) Keep it. 

(Later Swami signed it) Where do you come from?

Student : From Assam.

Swami : Assam! You have come all the way from there. How many brothers do you have?

Student : All are my brothers.

Swami : (Looking at the Collector and other guests) See, he says all are his brothers. Good boy! (Pointing to an Institute student) Who is he?

Student : Swami, he is a brother.

Swami : Good boy. How many sisters do you have?

Student : No sisters.

Swami : No sisters! (Jokingly) How many wives do you have?

Student : No wife.

Swami : Why?

Student : Swami, I am still a small boy.

Swami : Don’t you want to go to Assam?

Student : Swami, only in holidays.

Swami : Why? Don’t you like Assam?

Student : Swami, here it is more nice.

Swami : (To the guests) See, he says it is more nice here. (To the student) Why is Assam not nice?

Student : Swami, there are no friends.

Swami : (To the guests) He has no friends there. (To the student) Who is your friend? (The student keeps quiet. To another student) Where do you come from?

Student : Swami, Meerut.

Swami : (To another student) You?

Student : Swami, Hyderabad.

Swami : (Pointing to Vineet Basotia, a Research Scholar from the School of Business Management) See, that boy is also from Assam. Have you seen him? 

(The student nodded in negative.) He is from Guwahati. Do you like apples?

Student : Yes, Swami.

Swami : Do you get apples in Assam? How big? (The student nodded his head and showed the size of the apple with his hands.) Hey, not so big, still small. Is it not? (Then the student showed a smaller size. Swami went inside the interview room and got few apples.) Do you get these big apples in Assam?

Student : No Swami, much smaller.

Swami : (Swami gave him an apple, which had a sticker on it.) What is there on it? (The student tried to decipher but could not. Meanwhile, Swami was looking at another apple.) Sun and moon. Is it not? Are you going to eat it alone?

Student : No, Swami. I will share it with others.

Swami : Good boy. (To the guests) See, he is going to share it with others.

(To the student) How many boys are there in your room?

Student : There are 30 boys in my class.

Swami : Not classmates, room-mates?

Students : Swami, we don’t have rooms. We have dormitories.

Swami : Oh! You sleep on those multiple cots. (Swami explained to the Collector how Primary School students sleep on multiple cots, with the smaller ones occupying the lower berths. Swami then asked the student) How old are you?

Student : Swami, eight years.

Swami : How do you know?

Student : Swami, last year I was in second standard and I was seven years old. Now I am in third standard and therefore I am eight years old.

Swami : (Swami was smiling and facing the guests) Last year he was seven. This year he is eight. (The student casually put his palm behind his neck.) Aiyyo Papam (Oh! Poor thing). All this time you were looking up, your neck must be paining. (Swami gently rubbed his neck.) What about your future? What do you want to do? (The student answers in a low voice.) What! Science! What is the meaning of Science?

Student : Swami, Science is a subject.

Swami : But what is the meaning?

Student : Swami, I don’t know.

Swami : (Very lovingly explained) Split of Love is Science. Spirit of Love is Spirituality. The modern scientists are cutting everything into pieces and pieces. (Swami said something softly to the boy.)

Student : Swami, I don’t know History.

Swami : History is a mystery. Which subject do you know?

Student : Swami, Mathematics.

Swami : How many marks?

Student : Swami, 99.

Swami : (Pulled both his cheeks and told the guests) See, he has got 99. (Looking at the student) Why not 100? Didn’t the headmistress give you? You should ask for grace marks. (Smiling) Nowadays, everyone gets grace marks using influence!

Student : Swami, I made one mistake. So, I lost one mark. 

Swami patted him and went inside the interview room. After some time, He came back and gave the students wrist watches. Still one watch was left in His hand; Swami gave it to a guest.

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

"Spiritual practices under this Bodhi Tree at Prasanthi Nilayam will give fulfillment"

Monday, June 29, 1959

The Sasana that was materialised by Swami in April 1959 was deposited in the ground at a spot specially chosen on the hill behind Prasanthi Nilayam, and over it was planted a banyan tree. 

On that sacred occasion (Guru Poornima 1959), He addressed the devotees and declared “This tree is the Bodhi tree sitting under which Gautama Buddha received Spiritual Illumination. This is the tree of Enlightenment (Jnana) Lord Krishna is known as Vata Patra Shayee (He who reposes on a banyan leaf), because during the period of Pralaya (deluge), He assumed the microcosmic form of Balakrishna and reposed on a banyan leaf. This is the tree referred to by Sri Krishna in Bhagavad Gita. If aspirants meditate and undertake spiritual austerities here, they will attain fulfillment of their desires, success in their efforts, control over their senses and steadiness of mind”. 

Meditation Tree at Puttaparthi as it stands today

With reference to planting of this tree, one of the lines in the Ashtottara Shata Namavali reads: ‘Sadhaka Anugraha Vatavruksha Prathishthapakaya Namaha’. 

Source: Sri Sathya Sai Digvijayam (1926-1985)

“Why are your eyes red?”

Sunday, June 25, 2000 

Today around 100 alumni of the Institute assembled for the village service camp. Evening Darshans began at 3.10 pm. By the time Swami came near to the students, both His hands were full of letters.

Swami : (To a student) Where is your brother? (The student pointed out to his brother.) No, all are brothers. 

(After completing the interviews Swami came out to the portico and asked a student) Why are your eyes red?

Student : Swami, allergy.

Swami : Is it always like this? 

Student : Swami, only when I am exposed to the sun.

Swami : Due to the sun, the blood circulation increases and retina will get damaged. When you go out in sun, wear cooling glasses. Wear blue glasses. 

(Immediately, Swami sent a person to Poornachandra to get a cooling glass. But he came back without finding it. The next day, Swami Himself gave the student a blue colour cooling glass.) 

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

The Dialogue between Dakshina Murthy and the Ocean

Students! In this tender age, you believe that the human nature has no value by itself. Humanness is very valuable; it is sacred, Divine and worth living. It is because we live with petty ideas of selfishness that we are disgusted with our lives. We have to acquire several kinds of learning. In order to realise the true nature of life, we should keep learning something new each moment. No impurities should be allowed into the mind. Even if evil feelings enter our heart, we must try to send them out. Then alone, our pure heart attains the supreme state.

Lord Dakshina Murthy at Prasanthi Nilayam

Dakshina Murthy’s was a silent discourse. It was not in His nature to teach through speeches. With a glance itself, He would let the cosmic principles and spiritual truths unfold. Once upon a time, He was travelling by the seaside. He was greatly elated by the sound of the sea that resounded ‘Om’. Shabda-Brahma (Sound Almighty) is indeed an ocean. But, the waves are the most significant feature of the sea. A poem by Basaveshwara (a Kannada poet) reads that “A lotus is the attraction of the lake, houses are the charm of the hamlet, moon is the charm of the sky, waves are the charm of the sea, character is the charm of man and Vibhuti marks on the forehead is the charm of devotees.” Dakshina Murthy too was convinced that waves add beauty to the sea! What He meant by this was that Divinity is an ocean, which is an ideal for all beings. We can consider this worldly life as the sea. Just as the waves originate incessantly in the sea, one after another, in the worldly life too problems come our way continuously. But then we have a lesson to learn from these troubles and sorrows. Dakshina Murthy illustrated this point using the sea as a model. He watched as a gust of wind brought an amount of waste material and dropped it into the sea. The sea at once sent wave after wave and pushed the waste ashore. Not even for a moment was the sea ready to take the waste inside. Dakshina Murthy was upset at the sight and questioned the sea, “How selfish you are! You possess unfathomably deep and infinitely vast abysses within you. But you cannot tolerate a little amount of waste material dropped into you. How selfish of you, who is so vast, not to accommodate the waste! How narrow minded you are!” The sea gave a wonderful answer to Dakshina Murthy. “Dakshina Murthy! Of course, you know it all. If I accept a little impurity in me, tomorrow all the muck will be dumped into me. It will deform my looks. By and by, the dirt will accumulate and alter my form and nature irrecoverably. So, right from the beginning, if I take care not to allow any impurity into me, I shall remain clean. I shall remain the treasure chest that I have been,” said the sea. Hence, each man should try and repel at once any trace of impure thought that enters his mind. If you neglect it assuming it to be just a small bit, it will grow into a giant and cover up your real Self and it will make you forget your human nature. We must assert our human virtue and let them blossom fully. In this effort, if any bad thoughts, bad feelings or bad ideas arise in us, we must spot them at once and strive to clear them away.

There is a minor solution to every major problem. Little ants come together and kill huge serpents. We should never have any inferiority complex. We must rather build up the strength to do our bit of duty. In this world, bad things happen to the good all the time. Cuckoo’s song is a cacophony to the crows. Swans are ridiculed by the cranes because of their looks. But the former has nothing to lose. Such things are common in this world. In fact, good and bad are always in a pair. We should never go down or bow down. We should face it, fight it out, discover the truth behind all this and emerge victorious. We wish for peace and comfort. How can we get these? Peace and comfort are products of our self-control alone. How can we achieve self-control? In the presence of God alone we can achieve self-control. It is in this context that the Bhagavad Gita answers the one who seeks victory and peace. “O mad being! You aspire for peace and comfort and desire victory. How exactly can you obtain these?”

Yatra Yogeeswarah Krishnoh,

Yatra Partho Dhanurdharah,

Tatra Shri Vijayo Bhuthih,

Dhruva Nitir Matir Mama

Where there is the Lord Krishna and where there is Partha, therein lies the victory. Here Partha means not just Arjuna, but the son of the soil, that is man. Where there is God on man’s side and man on God’s side, victory manifests. Great victory is accrued. So, if you desire success, happiness and comfort, be sure to enthrone God in your heart. If you ask yourself where God is, you will find that He is in your prayers itself. You get your answers from the daily prayers you chant before you partake meals.

As you chant, ‘Bramharpanam…’, you say I am offering to God. But then what’s God’s reply? ‘Aham Vaishwanaro Bhutva…’ – I am in the form of the digestive fire in the bodies of all beings and digest all that they consume. So, if you question yourself where God is, the answer emanates from within, “I am the ‘Vaishwanara’ within”. But you don’t care for this answer. Indeed if our digestive system refuses to function, what would happen to all the food we consume! Who added the digestive and other systems to human body? Who is responsible for births and deaths? Unaware of Him are the foolish men.

Source: Namasmarana: The Boat to Cross Samsara, Discourse 10, My Dear Students Volume 1, Divine Discourse given on June 18, 1989 at Sri Sathya Sai Hostel, Prasanthi Nilayam

"What was there for breakfast?"

Sunday, June 18, 2000 (Morning)

Swami : (To a Primary School student) What did you have for breakfast?

Student : Swami, Dosa.

Swami : How many?

Student : One, Swami.

Swami : (To the Institute students) What was there for breakfast?

Student : Uttapam, Swami.

Swami : Utta… Appam! How many?

Student : One, Swami.

Swami : Only one! What was the other item?

Student : Tamarind rice, Swami.

Swami : Kya? (What?)

Student : Pulihora (Tamarind rice), Swami.

Swami : Oh! That is just coloured rice. 

(After the interviews, to the teachers) Why should boys sit along with the teachers? (No reply. Then asking a teacher) Tell, is it good?

Teacher : No, Swami.

Swami : Then why are they sitting?

Teacher : Swami, when they come for Your Darshans, it sometimes gets late. So for the sake of a seat, they sit near us.

Swami : (To a teacher about the book that he was holding) What is it?

Teacher : Swami, four to five Vahinis, I bound them together. (Vahini, literally meaning a stream, is the series of books written by Swami as articles in the Sanathana Sarathi monthly magazine since its inception in February 1958)

Swami : Vahini! Bharya Vahini? (Your wife’s Vahini? Meaning her writings.)

Teacher : Prema Vahini, Prasanthi Vahini. (Then the teacher took out a magazine ‘Sai News-Australia’.)

Swami : What is it?

Teacher : Swami, it is an Australian book. Swami, the paper quality is very good and photos are also very good.

Swami : They spent a lot of money. With money you can get anything, except a mother. You may get a mother also, but not a real one, only artificial mother.

Teacher : How nicely You said it, Swami! (Swami repeated the statement and went through the whole book.)

Students : Swami, Poornachandra session. (Poornachandra sessions were an opportunity wherein Swami permitted all the students to come to the Poornachandra Auditorium. He would sit in their midst and interact with them on various topics. It would be a personal session only for the students and teachers, and a much sought-after opportunity.)

Swami : Go to Poornachandra now, it is there.

Students : Please, Swami.

Swami : (Smiling mischievously) Your Wardens and Vice-Chancellor did not ask Me, what can I do? Ask them? (To a student) What is the programme? Drama?

Student : No, Swami.

Swami : Why? Put up one drama.

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

A Unique University: A Gift To Humanity - Dr. Pallav Kumar Baruah

Dr. Pallav receiving his PhD from Sri Sathya Sai at the Convocation on November 22, 1995

Having been blessed with the good fortune of being a part of Sri Sathya Sai University as a student as well as a teacher for many years, I proudly assert that the Sri Sathya Sai University is a unique university: a gift to humanity. The vision of all the visionaries, panacea to all the cries to bring sustainable peace to human hearts came with the advent of Sathya Sai and His declaration of the Avataric mission. He has taken upon Himself the grandest of all challenges ever faced by anyone, the challenge of “The Realization of the Truth”. He said, “I am God, you are also God, but the difference is I know and you do not”. He also clearly states the ways and means to achieve this. 

The mission took off formally in 1940. About forty years down the line, He established a University. We know that the purpose of our university is to serve the society. If we take a panoramic view of the landscape of universities across the globe, we find only one university which defines “service to society” as one of its objectives. To help and initiate students in the highest order of spiritual discipline and to lead them through the four-fold path to self-realisation starting from self-confidence, is one of its core purposes. This is the only university which keeps spiritual advancement as its core purpose. No other university could ever address this issue or gauge the requirement.

Our university is the only one of its kind that has been established by an Avatar of the age. No other Avatar did that. Probably the time and situations were not ripe to achieve this. The question is how to achieve our objectives and goals. Do we have to think of doing something big like the giants Plato, Aristotle, Archimedes, Galileo and a host of scientists who brought far-reaching changes? Or should we get dejected that in more than 30 years of existence we do not have anything to show as the grand achievement of the University or a great alumnus whom the world will look at with awe and sing the glory of the University? One clear message that rings in our ears is: He does not want us to be great but good individuals, endowed with the goodness of character, personality, behaviour and conduct. Our students should be illustrious examples of ability coupled with nobility. Anybody endowed with one bereft of the other may not be able to contribute to the mission in the contemporary terms. He expects us to be proficient on the work spot, upholding truth, justice, love, peace and compassion.

Head of Shankara, Heart of Buddha and Hands of Janaka

We have alumni and students who are on the path to achieve greatness; we have capable people to bring good name to the university based on their achievements, but the emphasis has been always on goodness. We may achieve greatness but the emphasis is always on the goodness. We need good people who can, by their own illustrious life, inspire and motivate others to be good. We need leaders who can lead by the power of their own exemplary conduct and not by the power of material possessions. When such individuals mingle with others in the society, goodness spreads. Individual transformation leads to societal transformation. Unlike other conventional universities, in this University we provide training in all the six dimensions of human personality, namely – physical, mental, intellectual, emotional, psychological and spiritual, leading to the cultivation of a well-balanced personality and a good character. This lays the foundation for a student to enter into the society and lead “a good life” – a life of harmony and goodness as desired by Him.

Bhagavan explains the ideals for which the University stands through the utterance: “Head of Shankara, heart of Buddha and hands of Janaka”. This statement of Bhagavan contains the essence of integral education. Bhagavan declares that an ideal student is one who possesses the hands of Janaka, the heart of Buddha and the head of Shankara. The hands of Janaka signify Karma Yoga; the heart of Buddha signifies Bhakti Yoga and the head of Shankara signifies Jnana Yoga. The Sri Sathya Sai Educational System trains its students to travel from Karma Yoga to Jnana Yoga through Bhakti Yoga. 

The blossoming of the physical, the emotional, and the spiritual constitutes the human excellence. This is the very essence of integral education gifted by Bhagavan to humanity. All this is possible if there is harmony in the individual. Harmony in the individual leads to harmony in the family; harmony in the family leads to harmony in the community; harmony in the community, at last, leads to harmony in the world. Bhagavan declared in His discourses that individual transformation is the basis for transformation at all levels.

He emphasises: Transformation of the individual is the basis for all these. Progress of individual is the foundation for societal advancement. His analogy is “Providing water and nutrients to the root is important for the overall growth of the sapling into a plant and ultimately into a gigantic tree”. Individual transformation is the very foundation on which the mansion of Sri Sathya Sai mission stands. That is why Bhagavan encouraged individual participation and heart-to-heart communication. Hence individual transformation is the keystone to the success of the Sai Mission. Each one of us is important for the success of this Mission. There is no second thought about it.

How do we become part of the Mission and contribute?

Bhagavan Himself has given a simple recipe of Service and Prayer to us. He has declared in no uncertain terms: the path of love is the simplest and the best for achieving self-realisation. He has prescribed Seva to understand love; He has prescribed prayer to internalize the unity of the creation. If this can be practiced and propagated, this will yield much better result than all the propaganda that goes on in the name of national integrity or world peace. Universal brotherhood will be a natural consequence for those who follow the path of service and prayer. We all are witness to it. While this leads every individual to realise his inner Divinity, in the process it also solves all the problems within the family, in the society, amongst nations. Just like what cancer research has done to the field of medicine, when a great problem is attempted to be solved, bountiful benefits accrue to society. So when every individual is making efforts to realise his nature by taking part in Seva and Prayer, practicing love with responsibility, will solve many other problems. In His own sweet benediction, Bhagavan has permitted the existence of Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisations, study circles and Bhajans to take care of these aspects in the most nascent form. It is up to us to make use of these avenues for self-development which itself is a contribution to His mission.

I think this should be the approach for all the alumni, in order to be a positive contributor to the Mission. “My life is His message”, should be the motto of our life. There is a tremendous demonstration of commitment by one and all, to the cause of integral education and the zeal to follow the path set by Him. We have also received very positive and inspiring feedback from a number of external bodies about this endeavour. Let me inform you in this context about the recent visit of the “Internal Audit Committee” consisting of expert academicians from various universities in the country. These people are totally new to our system. At the end of their visit, they complimented on the uniqueness of this university and its tremendous performance in all aspects of education including various components of integral education. More importantly, they strongly advise the preservation and propagation of this system set up by Him and that under no circumstances we should deviate from the course that is set for us. They reflect our own feelings. This is the message from Prasanthi Nilayam.

Dr. Pallav with Sri Sathya Sai at Prasanthi Nilayam - March 2008

- Dr. Pallav Kumar Baruah

Student and Research Scholar (1985-1995)

Currently, Head, Department of Mathematics and Computer Sciences

Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning

Prasanthi Nilayam

Source: Sai Nandana 2015 (90th Birthday Offering)

"What are the other names of Saraswati?"

Tuesday, June 20, 2000

In the evening, Swami gave Padanamaskar to the Uttar Pradesh Bal Vikas children and their teachers. Wrist watches and Prasadam were also given to them. In the first block, He told the former students waiting for His guidance and instructions to go home and start working. Nevertheless, they said that they wanted to stay with Swami. He then told a guest, “Nobody wants to leave from Prasanthi Nilayam. Everyone wants to stay with Swami.” Then Swami spoke with the Research Scholars.

Swami : What did (mentioned a teacher’s name) he teach today? 

R. S. 1 : Swami, we met in the morning.

Swami : Which subject?

R. S. 1 : International Finance.

Swami : Who is a leader?

R. S. 2 : Swami, Krishna.

Swami : Who are the followers?

R. S. 2 : Dharmaja, Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadeva.

Swami : What about Bheema? He is also a devotee. (Smiling) Bheema Kodathadu (Bheema will beat you). What is the meaning of Bharata? 

R. S. 2 : Bhava, Raga, Tala (Devotion, rhythm and beat).

Swami : That is in Music. What is its meaning? (Getting no response from the students). ‘Bha’ Ante Prakasamu (means effulgence), ‘Ra’ Ante Ramminchutamu (attraction), ‘Ta’ Ante Tanmayatvamu (forgetting oneself). (Getting attracted by the effulgence and forgetting one’s own self. That is the meaning of Bharat.) 

Goddess Saraswati at Prasanthi Nilayam Campus

Who is Bharati? (No response from the students.) Bharati is Saraswati. What are the other names of Saraswati? Saraswati Namastubhyam Varade Kaamaroopinee, Vidyarambham Karishyaami Siddhir Bhavatu Mesada, Padma Patra Vishaalakshi Padma Kesari Varnini, Nityam Padma Layam Padma Saamam Paatu Saraswati, Bhagavati Bharati Nisheshya Jaadyapaha. (Oh Goddess Saraswati, I bow down to You. Please bless me. As I commence my pursuit of gaining knowledge, I pray that I be successful in my endeavours. Oh Mother Goddess who resides in the Lotus, and who has the complexion of lotus-like saffron, please protect me. Oh Goddess Bharati, please remove my laziness.) See, so many names for Mrs. Brahma! (Mother Saraswati is the consort of Lord Brahma.) What are those of Lakshmi? (Swami then said all those names and asked one of the Research Scholars to repeat the same.) You should know all these; it is there in Mahabharata. Yenna Bharathe, Tanna Bharatha (What is not there in Bharat is not there anywhere else in the world). Who said this? 

R. S. 2 : Swami, Vyasa.

Swami : There is a saying, Vinte Bharatame Vinale, Tinte Gaarele Tinale (Only Mahabharata is worth hearing and Vada (a fried savoury) is worth eating)! Who is an ideal leader? 

R. S. 3 : Tata.

Jamsetji Tata (1839-1904)

Swami : Tata is his surname. His real name is Jamshed. At that time, people were known by their professions – Rickshawala, Jhatkawala, etc. What did he do?

R. S. 3 : He set up industries.

Swami : Nee Thalakai (Your head)! He was in iron and steel business. He used to import and export. He got cycle rickshaws from China to Bombay. He wanted to clean up Bombay, but he could not. Even now, it is dirty. Where you have come from?

R. S. 3 : Jamshedpur, Swami.

President Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865)

Swami : (Smiling) That is why you know so much about Tata. (To students) American President Lincoln, was a great man. His father was a carpenter. It was a poor family. His mother used to stitch clothes for other small children and thus they made a living. Lincoln was taught to be a self-confident man. Later, he lost in the elections a couple of times, but finally, he was elected as the President of America. He had self-confidence, Atma Vishvasamu. Columbus (repeated thrice), what did he do?

R. S. 2 : Discovered India, Swami.

Swami : Thalakai! Discovered America. As a small boy in Italy, he lived by the side of the ocean and would always keep staring at it. He had many unanswered questions: From where did all this water come? Where does it go? Is there land beyond these waters? He wanted to find out. Who financed his trip?

R. S. 1 : Spanish Queen, Swami.

Swami : He was given money by the Spanish Queen. She gave him two ships and four men. They traveled for a long time in search of land. After 10,000 miles, they did not see the land. The other men got disillusioned. However, Columbus had self-determination and self-confidence. They went on. After 10,500 miles, they spotted land. All because of self-confidence. 

Christopher Columbus discovered America 1492

(Praising the students) Many of them have double degrees. The students (alumni) are working in various companies. Some are in Sundaram Finance in Madras. They work very well. Once, the employees were planning for a strike. Our students said that we are being paid for work and not for strike; we will not be a part of it. The other employees accepted our students’ explanations and called off the strike. There have been no strikes since then. Three students are working in Indonesia too, in Sai Lakshmi Mills. 

(Pointing to Sri Nitin Acharya) He is from Bombay. He left his job and joined here. He has done his engineering and M.B.A. He now works in the Book Trust. His brother is in Indonesia, our M.B.A. student. 

(Then Swami introduced Sri Rameswar Prusty.) His first brother (Sri Venkateswar Prusty) is a teacher in our School (Sri Sathya Sai Higher Secondary School); second brother (Sri Rameswar Prusty himself) works in the Central Trust, the third (Sri Bisweswar Prusty) M.B.A. Ho Gaya (has finished M.B.A.), Wait Karta Hai (he is waiting for Swami’s instructions).

(Calling a student) Where did you work?

Student : Swami, C-DOT.

Swami : They did not relieve him immediately. He had to pay 1,00,000 (to break the contract) to come and study here.

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

God’s Love is equal for all

God’s love is indeed equal towards all. A fragrant flower emits the same fragrance irrespective of the hand it is held in; be it the left hand or the right. It is not for God to treat one with liking and another with dislike. But man, by his nature, feels guilty and tries to see anomalies in God. A man, with his worldly intelligence, cannot properly understand the Divine. How can a fish vendor evaluate precious gems? As is the thought, so is the fruit. Each one differentiates good and bad as per his own outlook and thus experiencing the good and the bad, binds himself with self-inflicted worry. The axe ruthlessly chops off the sandalwood tree. But the sandalwood tree, without any malice or anger, leaves its fragrance on the axe that cuts it. So does Divinity. Out of ignorance, pride, arrogance or blinded by self-indulgence, men may undermine God in a number of ways, in thought and word. Some might even think that they could cause pain to God by speaking ill of him. But these do not affect God. Even to such cynical men, he grants his goodness and good will.

Good and bad are two sides of the same coin. The citizens of Ayodhya were greatly devoted and dedicated to Lord Ramachandra. However, disregarding all their prayers, He proceeded to leave for the exile. The same people who had shown love, loyalty and devotion towards Lord Rama, became angry with Him for going against their wishes. They criticized Lord Rama saying, “We mistook Rama to be soft and sweet at heart, like butter and nectar. Never did we imagine that He would turn out to be so cold, with a heart of a stone.” 

Now, this criticism is a reaction that contradicts the praises showered earlier. That is how everything inherently has components of pleasure and pain, gain and loss, praise and censure, etc. Good men and bad men, both cause sorrow to the Divine. In fact, believers and non-believers, both speak ill of Him! Both, the good and the bad are violent towards the Divine! What is the inner meaning of ‘violence’ here? How can we consider it to be violence? On reasoning out, it is understood that separation from the good and association with the bad are the reasons for the root cause of sorrow. Thus, separation and association both can cause sorrow. That is why the Divine blesses both equally.

What exactly is this blessing? He blesses that one may never suffer the association of bad men or the separation from the good men. To get in touch with good men and to break up with bad men should be the basic practice of a human being. Then again, both these association and separation are born within our heart. The nectar and the poison were produced from the same sea. The nectar gave happiness and the poison lead to sorrow. The nectar rose to fame and the poison became infamous. Hence, one should cultivate goodness in pursuit of the great glory that the human beings can reach. Man today craves for meritorious positions but doesn’t come forward to perform meritorious deeds. He refuses to accept the results of his sin but is ever ready to commit acts of sin. This is the basic problem. “Punyasya Phalam Ichhanti, Punyam Na Kurvanti Maanavah; Na Papa Phalam Icchanti, Papam Kurvanti Yathatah”. (If you do not desire a bad outcome, do not embark upon a bad activity. When you desire good results, take the initiative to perform good deeds only.). 

The principles of good and bad are inherent in humanity. In some, the good and bad principles are fused together. The crow consumes bitter neem with relish. The cuckoo relishes sweet mango. In the same way, some men desire worldly pleasures, which they firmly believe to be the source of happiness, and run after those. Good men aspire only to experience love and Divinity and crave for these. Good and bad are inherent in the nature of both these types.

Goodness is always accompanied by suffering. In the eyes of the world, it is a lowly and deprived of way of life. But then, the wish-fulfilling tree is merely a tree, belonging to the lower forms of life. The ocean that gives precious gems is all salt water. So, when the good and the bad within human nature is analyzed deeply, it is seen that good and bad arise out of one’s wishful thoughts and have nothing to do with the object that is judged.

Man must duly persevere to take noble ideas to heart and experience the happiness thereof. Man must foster the principle of love within himself. Giving and forgiving – by these alone can we fill our life with love. By getting and forgetting, selfishness grows. Forgetting the favours taken from others is the prime reason for growing selfishness. Hence, in order to develop love in us, we should go on giving and forgiving.

Source: Namasmarana: The Boat to Cross Samsara, Discourse 10, My Dear Students Volume 1, Divine Discourse given on June 18, 1989 at Sri Sathya Sai Hostel, Prasanthi Nilayam

"Jamsetji Tata worked for the country..."

Thursday, June 15, 2000 

Morning

Swami came for morning Darshan at around 6.55 am. He then told Prof. Anil Kumar that 50 Kalyana Mandapams (marriage halls) have been constructed in and around Puttaparthi. In Kothacheruvu, ground floor and first floor of a college building has already been constructed. After interview, Swami came near the Primary School students and asked them what they had partaken for breakfast.

Students : Idli and vada. (Swami called the old students and spoke to them.) 

Swami : What did you have for your breakfast?

Alumnus : Swami, in canteen…

Swami : How many of you are there?

Alumnus : Swami, 25-30.

Evening

The evening Darshan was at 3.22 pm. Swami blessed the birthday boys. (As per the Hostel custom, a set of students who have their birthday on a particular day have the opportunity to sit in front as a group and pray to Swami for birthday blessings.) Swami asked a few of the former students to get baskets containing mangoes from the Poornachandra Auditorium. Swami asked the students to distribute the mangoes. The numbers were insufficient and a Mandir staff member told Swami that the mangoes were not enough for the students. He prayed to Swami to personally check the quantity. Swami came and had a look at the baskets and yet asked the boys to distribute them. The mangoes were distributed not only to all the students, but also to the Madhya Pradesh Bal Vikas children and some Seva Dal Volunteers. Yet, in the end, a lot of mangoes were left! That’s the power of the Divine glance!

Swami : (To a student) Whose mango is next to yours?

Student : Swami, another student’s mango.

Swami : Are you its guardian? (Then Swami enquired about the morning Moral Class programme. Every Thursday at Swami’s University, the first hour of the time table is a Moral Class where the students and staff gather in the College Auditorium and listen to talks by eminent speakers. On certain occasions there are cultural programmes by students themselves. This was one such occasion.) 

This morning there were dramas. (Then Swami asked for the first year Postgraduate (PG) students). Only first PG drama was positive. They thought beforehand what Swami will like and presented in the right way. Soch Vichar Kiya (They thought about it). Other boys, so much negative. Hamare Khayal Mein (In My opinion), the whole world is a drama. So, there is no need for putting up drama. Four dramas, twelve minutes each; forty-five minutes waste! Someone can speak on some good subject. In drama, you depict jokes. All laugh and forget the inner meanings. The ideas are good. (Swami mentioned the titles of the dramas.) ‘Janani Janmabhoomishcha Swargadapi Gariyasi’ (Mother and motherland are greater than heaven), ‘Enna Bharathe Tanna Bharatha’ (What is not there in Bharat, is not there anywhere else). (Mentioning about the characters in the drama, Swami said) Other friends wanted to go abroad and so too did that boy. His father did not agree, but still he wanted to go. Boys should obey their parents. This is the ancient Indian culture. Army man lost his hand, he felt bad that he lost only his hand and not his head. What a high ideal it is! But all boys laughed. The number system was discovered by Indians. But the Arabs took it to their country and brought it back saying that those were Arabian numerals. But it was formed in India only. Ganitha Shastram, Bhoogola Shastram, Vignana Shastram (Mathematics, Geography, Science) all originated here only. First, we exported these from India and now we are importing from abroad! (To a student) Do you know Sanskrit?

Student : Yes, Swami.

Swami : What is the meaning of ‘Enna Bharathe Tanna Bharatha’?

Student : What is not there in Bharat, is not there anywhere else.

Swami : Is it ‘Enna’? (Asked whether the stress should be there on ‘nna’ or not.)

Student : Swami, ‘Enna’ with stress on ‘na’. (Swami saw a student holding Vibhuti packet. He asked him what it was.) 

Student : Vibhuti, Swami.

Swami : Why did you press that, you spilled half of the Vibhuti. (The student had pressed the packet and made it look very thin. Swami showed him the way he pressed the packet.) You pressed like this.

Student : Yes, Swami.

Swami : I know, I know.

Student : Swami, Padanamaskar.

Swami : Yenduku? (Why?) Which language?

Student : Tamil.

Swami : Ippo Sollu, Enthuku Padanamaskar Venum? (Now tell, why do you want Padanamaskar?) 

(To another student) Where do you come from?

Student : Swami, from Hyderabad.

Swami : What are you doing now?

Student : I am in I M.F.M., Swami.

Swami : Manchidi (Good). What did you study before this? Engineering?

Student : No, Swami. B.Com. I wrote my final exams this March.

Swami : Are you confident that you will pass?

Student : Yes, Swami.

Swami : If you don’t pass, then your seat here will… (As the per the University rules, if the students do not clear the previous examination, they lose the seat to the new course that they have joined.) How many marks did you get in the third year?

Student : I have not yet got my results, Swami.

Swami : You will get less marks in one subject. You are poor in that. Do you know which subject it is? It is Accountancy and Auditing. However, you will pass your exam. How many marks did you get in Accountancy before?

Student : Swami, in first year it was 90%, and in the second year it was 82%.

Swami : And third year? Are those marks gift marks or grace marks? What grade did you get?

Student : Swami, we do not have grading system. It is percentage wise.

Swami : Do you know what is ‘O’ grade?

Student : 75% and above.

Swami : Above 75%? Do you know Tata?

Student : Yes, Swami.

Swami : Who is he?

Student : An industrialist, Swami.

Swami : (Shaking His head in disagreement.) (Jamsetji) Tata did business in iron and steel. He set up many factories. What did he do in the field of education?

Student : Yes, Swami. Research.

Jamsetji Tata (1839-1904), Founder, Tata Group

Swami : Who founded the Indian Institute of Science? Tata! He went to China and introduced rickshaws from China for the city of Bombay. He developed Bombay a lot. What is the place of birth?

Indian Institute of Sciences, Bangalore is built from the corpus donated by Jamsetji Tata

Student : Machilipatnam.

Swami : Not your place. Tata’s… Surat (Jamsetji Tata was born in the town of Navsari neighbouring Surat in the year 1839). Surat at that time was just a village. Tata was not able to study there. Therefore, he went to Bombay. The British opposed him; still he worked for the country. One should speak about the leaders of yesteryears. There are no leaders today. 

(To another student) What is your name?

Student : Narendran.

Swami : Oh! Vivekananda’s name. Who named him?

Student : His father.

Swami : Eh! Not father, Ramakrishna. What is the full name?

Swami Vivekananda and Sri Ramakrishna

Student : Sadasivam Subramaniam Narendran.

Swami : Not yours. Vivekananda’s. (To both the students) Go and sit down in your places.

Swami : (To Sri Bhagia, Faculty Member, School of Business Management in Swami’s University) How was morning programme?

Sri Bhagia : Swami Thik Tha, Practice Karna Chahiya (Swami, it was fine. They should have done some more practice).

Swami : What practice, drama? It was not correct. The boys depicted negative things. That is wrong because negative things get imprinted on the heart easily and remain there for a long time.

Sri Bhagia : Yes, Swami.

Swami : What do these boys know about India and its culture? How can they have a correct understanding? Today, I expressed My displeasure to the Vice-Chancellor and the Warden for not doing anything.

Sri Bhagia : Swami, if You come to the Institute and talk to us, it will improve the situation.

Swami : Institute! Dirty! That has been spoilt. When I talk, I tell all fundamentals, like how Chemistry, Physics, Botany, Zoology came (into existence). And then came the other branches like Mathematics and Management. But now it has been put upside down. Roots are uprooted and branches are hanging down.

Swami spoke to the teachers and expressed His displeasure about the drama contest held in the Institute Auditorium during the Moral Class, especially on the fact that some of the dramas had negative themes and episodes. He said that so much freedom should not be given to students. They misuse it by expressing negative ideas before the entire College. Swami went to the Bhajan Hall and asked one of the students whether he got the mango Prasadam or not. Bhajans began at 5.30 pm and got over around 5.56 pm. Thereafter, Swami retired to the Poornachandra residence.

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