"Both Wardens should tell me what (Sports Meet) events they are doing..."

 December 15, 1998

Swami: How many first year MBA boys?

Student: Twenty-nine, Swami.

Swami: Twenty boys got ‘O’ grade, eight boys got ‘A’ grade. A very good performance. I  am very happy. It is for the first time that the boys have given such a good performance. II year, Itna Achha Nahi Hai. (II years not so good.) I did not sleep yesterday. When I was lying down, I came to know the results. I MBA results are very good. I always think about the boys. 

During Sports Meet students take lot of risks while doing stunts. See Primary School students, how nicely they perform. It is very colourful. This year too they are going to do something very good. You (Institute students) should also do something like that. Sports can be held – Volley ball, Sugriva ball [Swami would often pun on the word Volley Ball as Vali (a character from Ramayana whose brother was Sugriva) and hence say Vali Ball and Sugriva Ball], Cricket and Tennis-not with fire and other stunts. Parents and other devotees tell me “Swami, please don’t give permission to boys for stunts. It is very dangerous.” Parachute jumping - One military man came and said, “We practice it for a number of years and still we don’t do it confidently. And you boys want to do it in a few days. Very dangerous!” Both Wardens should tell me what events they are doing.

A teacher asked Swami about the incident that took place at Tirupati. When the chief priest was performing the ceremonial bath to the idol blind folded, he suddenly felt that the feet of the idol were soft. He was surprised. When he opened his eyes, he saw Swami instead of the idol of Lord Venkateshwara. The head priest and the chairman, along with few others later came to Brindavan for Swami’s Darshan. Swami called them inside and asked the head priest, “Why did you open your eyes during the ceremonial bath!!?” 

Swami: I year MBA boys have done well in the exams, especially those students who have been studying here from Primary School. (After a while) Boys unnecessarily do lots of stunts. A couple of years back, one such stunt required a bike jumping over the boys lying on the ground. What if the bike had fallen on the students? They also play with fire. Once a spectator had a heart attack while watching the students perform stunts! The Wardens should be aware of the risks the boys are exposed to. Where are the I MBA boys? (Some boys got up) Only a few students! Where are the others?

Students: In the Bhajan hall, Swami.

Swami: No, they never sit in Bhajan hall, they sit outside.

Source: Students with Sai: Conversations (1991-2000)