February 2, 1997
Swami was talking about the industrial tour of MBA students to one of the teachers
Swami: Are you not going to Madras? How can you go now? Final exams are in March and it is already February now.
Teacher: Swami, previously, we have gone in the month of February.
Swami: If you want, you all can go. I won’t come. There is no place.
(Swami was referring to the place for the devotees to attend Darshan and public functions. Swami then changed the topic to the forthcoming Chinese New Year.)
Swami: From 4th February itself, the Chinese will start coming because it is difficult to get flights as and when they want. Around 9,000 Chinese devotees are coming.
Prof.A.K.: Swami, then our place will be outside the gate.
Swami: Not only Chinese, but Japanese, Sinhalese and Buddhists are also coming.
Prof.A.K.: Swami, only Swami could transform the Chinese. None else could do it.
Swami: I didn’t transform them. They themselves got transformed. If the transformation is by external force, they may revert to their old habits. They got transformed on their own. This transformation is from the heart. So, it is permanent.
Prof.A.K.: How to have such type of a transformation, Swami?
Swami: Faith, unshakeable faith is essential.
(Talking about collection of money in various ways, Swami expressed his displeasure on such activities.)
Swami: Do you know when I stopped accepting garlands?
Prof.A.K.: Swami, I think in Guntur.
Swami: No, no, in Madras. For some function they got a big garland in a lorry. At that time it cost ₹2,000. 6 people carried it. Very big! I told them to keep it there and take Padanamaskar, otherwise, they should not even touch Me. I didn’t even touch the garland. It was kept down only - not even brought to the stage. No need for any pomp and show. If love is there in the heart, that is sufficient. Heart to Heart relation should be there.
Evening
The 1st year M.B.A. and M.F.M. students prayed to Swami that He should accompany them during their Industrial trip to Madras. Swami said…
Swami: (In Tamil) You all go.
The students insisted once more
Swami: 3 lakh people will come for My Darshan. Sundaram (Swami’s residence at Madras) is very small. There will be a lot of accommodation problem.
After the interviews, Swami came up to a student and asked…
Swami: Exams Ho Gaya? (Are your exams over)
Student: Yes, Swami.
Swami: How did you do?
Student: Good, Swami
Swami: How much will you get?
Student: Swami, 85%.
Looking at another student …
Swami: How much will you get?
Student: Swami, more than 75%.
Turning towards another student…
Swami: How much will you get?
Student: Swami, 70%
Swami: If you do not get….(Swami acted keeping His index finger on His nose and ears)… Surpanakha. (the character from Ramayana whose ears and nose were chopped by Lakshmana)
When the flute music was going on, one student asked Swami…
Student: Swami, Upanayanam, Swami.
Swami: Ennamma? (What dear?)
Swami placed His hand lovingly on his head and made the student sit down.
No comments:
Post a Comment