The sun was beaming in anticipation for a glimpse of the Lord. The devotees had braved its scorch all afternoon. Suddenly, as a reply to the million prayers in thousands of hearts, a murmur of activity was noticed in Bhagawan’s residence. The Lord was coming after what seemed like eternity! No other sound of engines, no other cavalcade of cars had ever been so blessed and so very welcome! With anticipation, the devotees prepared themselves for yet another Divine Encounter.
The Bhajans had already commenced and man and nature seemed to become one in an ambience of love and devotion. Sai Krishna arrived just as “Madhusudhana Hare Madhava” was being sung. Seated on the grand entrance of the Vitthal mandir, the Lord of the Universe graced the thousands present with His Darshan. He presided at the gathering like an Emperor holding the court of love in the land of the heart. The beautiful Bhajans were followed by yet more beautiful Divine feelings of Love flowing from the devotees’ hearts. Some of them – Shri Jadhav, Shri V. Srinivasan – the All India President, Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisations and Shri Nishikant Barodekar – faculty at the Sathya Sai Mirapuri College of Music, Prasanthi Nilayam shared their experiences and offered gratitude to Bhagawn for His infinite Grace. Shri Jadhav in all humility thanked Bhagawan for coming over to Hadshi. He was filled with gratitude at the immense gathering for coming to the pristine surroundings of Hadshi, sanctified by Bhagawan’s Divine Presence. He declared to the delight of all gathered that Pandurang Kshetra is in the shape of the Divine AUM – the source of all knowledge, the seat of all dharma. Shri Jadhav gratefully reminisced the day’s events when Bhagawni had graciously performed the Prana Pratishtha ritual for enlivening the Divine energy in the Ganesha, Vitthal Rakhumai and Shirdi Sai Baba idols . He had no words to thank Bhagawan for this grace and he earnestly prayed that we all indulge in spiritual and service activities. Shri Jadhav concluded his talk by urging Bhagawan to come again and again to Hadshi, to the delight of the thousands gathered there. The All India President of the Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisation - Shri V. Srinivasan spoke next. He declared that for 37 years devotees of Bhagawan from Lonavala and Pune had been eagerly waiting for His arrival. The land had faced problems as even rains had become scarce. Shri Srinivasan was convinced in complete faith that with Bhagawan visting Pune, even dry, arid lands would become fertile. He further urged that Bhakti is the only way to reach Swami. He reiterated Swami’s teachings that nothing is greater than Love. He spoke of Swami’s various institutions namely, the University , hospitals etc. Exhorting the devotees to follow His path making their lives His message, he reiterated that the Sai Avatar has come for transformation and to help us realise innate divinity. Stressing about the greater importance of Grama Seva activities, the speaker urged everyone to engage in Grama Seva to fulfill their desire to do Rama Seva. Quoting Bhagawan, saying “When have I left Maharashtra? I am always here” the speaker ended his speech urging that Maharashtra has to progress to become a “Sai Rashtra”. He The last speaker for the day was Sri Nishikant Barodekar who related experiences of his own family to the delight of all the devotees. His narration dated back to the times of Shirdi Sai Baba. The story goes thus: In 1912 they had been travelling by train. Their 3 year old daughter was suffering from typhoid and her condition had deteriorated. They alighted from the train at Kopergaon where they were guided to go to Shirdi. Once there, their daughter was cured. Years later, in 1965 the same girl who had by then, become a famous singer, Smt. Heerabai was going to be felicitated by renowned artists and other dignitaries at a function to be held in her honour on her 60th birthday. Swami called for her to perform before Him on the very same day. Without a second thought, Smt. Heerabai decided to skip the function and left for Puttaparthi. There, Swami told her that she had seen Him before, clearly referring to her first encounter with Him at during Bhagawan’s Shirdi sojourn. At another time Smt. Heerabai had been invited to perform by the Government of India before a group of foreign delegates. Once again, Swami wanted her to perform before Him on the very same day. She therefore declined the Government's invitation and rushed to Puttaparthi instead. A few days after she returned from the Divine Presence, she received a cheque from the State congratulating her for her performance at the all important event! Clearly, Bhagawan had Himself taken her form and had performed instead of her at the prestigious event. Finally, Shri Nishikant narrated his own experience. While he had been learning Tabla, his Guru had asked him to perform in his place owing to his ill-health. Shri Nishikant who had been extremely nervous, recalled Bhagawan’s advice to contemplate on him and take His name; Shri Nishikant immediately thought of Swami, seeking His grace for the performance. No sooner did he begin contemplating on Bhagawan, did Bhagawan grace him with His Darshan and needless to say, his performance was a great success! Lastly, Shri Nishikant urged the devotees to surrender to the Lord. He said it is important for us not to think of how much faith we have in the Lord, but rather, how much faith the Lord can have in us! He further emphasised that spirituality can be found only in the depths of simplicity. The speaker was blessed with a ring by Bhagawan at the end of his inspiring speech. This was followed by an enthralling Divine Discourse translated into English by Prof. Anil Kumar and Marati by Dr. Bhagawat, formerly Medical Superintend at the Sri Sathya Sai General Hospital, Prasanthi Nilayam and also held the post of the President of Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisations, Maharashtra. GIST OF THE DIVINE DISCOURSE as posted by the Official Website of SSSO, Maharashtra In the land of Bharat, tolerance and forbearance constitute the real beauty. What is the nectarine feeling more than the feeling towards one own mother? How much ever you may learn, still there remains knowledge which is infinite and there is always more to learn. Bharat is the most sacred land – a land of Divinity. Everyone born in this holy land Bharat have done a lot of meritorious deeds in their past lives. What is the purpose of this human life? Human life is gifted to earn God’s grace. The person who receives God’s grace in abundance can bring transformation in society. The modern society is full of anxiety and restlessness. Wherever you go, whatever you encounter, you only find misery. We have witnessed several natural calamities recently. The calamities we are passing through have nothing to do with God. It is because of man’s own mistakes and his own makings. God teaches only Dharma (righteousness). He never wants you to walk the path of Adharma (unrighteousness). Satyam Vada, Dharmam Chara. We cannot escape from reflection, reaction and resound. Therefore we should know that God is one. We give many names to the One and the same God. All are one. Therefore, in the whole world, only one is in existence. There is same consciousness in all beings. Ekam Sath, Bahuda Vipraha Bhavanti. In fact we feel we are miserable. If you ask yourself, you will know that the misery is of your own making. It has nothing to do with God. Therefore, never think that everything is given by God. Everything comes back to us because of our own thought process. It is only God which confers bliss to all of us, that is not dual, that is ethereal, and one without a second. If we make deep enquiries into our Vedanta, God gives us nothing. Pain or pleasure is of our own making. We are mistaken if we thing that someone else is responsible for our pain or pleasure. Help Ever, Hurt Never; Love All; Have faith in Everyone. There is no human being without love. Even beasts, birds, animals and insects have love. This love is experienced even in the smallest of creatures. We should have deep conviction that God is present in everyone in the form of the Atma – consciousness. You are not hating yourself, you are hating God when you hate others. Every human being is like a mirror. In the mirror, you find a reflection of yourself. In many mirrors, you see many reflections of yourself. Reflection. Reaction. Resound. You are accusing yourself, blaming yourself. Therefore, whoever you come across, have deep faith that they are all God’s forms. Man fails to understand this truth. It is not proper on our path to make fun of anyone or hate anyone. Love is the only royal path that takes you closer to God. Therefore all noble souls merged in God because of their incessant love for God. Sakkubai went on repeating “Ranga, Ranga, Ranga”. Everybody made fun of her and her husband persecuted her. Ultimately, she merged in God. She always said “I am not different from Ranga”. In all three states of awareness, she thought of Ranga only. An atheist in Tamil Nadu used to take the idol of Vinayaka and beat Him with slippers. Karunanidhi used to enjoy this act. But Karunanidhi now declares that Sathya Sai is God. It’s quite likely that we commit mistakes out of ignorance. Then we repent. But you have to make amends for your mistakes. True repentence gives us atonement for our sins. Karunanidhi’s son Stalin believes in God. He comes to Puttaparthi and shares his experience with others when he goes to Delhi. It is only God who speaks, walks, listens to every activity. We go by name and form. We may call it snake or scorpion. God is in every creature. God has given skills to different creatures to protect themselves. The scorpion stings in self defence and not with an intention to hurt. In a dense forest, a lion hurts only if hurt. Reaction, reflection, resound. Bad actions lead to bad results. So do good. All that you face are consequences of our thought process. Our thoughts should be pure. A human being should have human values. Today, human beings are treated like dogs. Therefore all defects and mistakes lie with man. Reaction, reflection and resound. Therefore, it is absolutely necessary that we correct our own mistakes and do not search for mistakes in others. People made fun of those involved in the rescue of flood victims. In the same way, the whole community made fun of Sakkubai who kept chanting the name of Krishna. They were finally taught a lesson by Krishna. God is an ocean of love. Out of gross injustice and utter ignorance, we don’t understand ourselves and we blame God. The good or bad that we face is the consequence of our own doing. So we have to correct ourselves within. The Christians believe in ‘I’. Cut the ‘I’ and it becomes a cross. The ego has to be killed. Once we get rid of this ego, then we can realise the real self. Man today is knowledgeable in all aspects of life. He is conquering space, prepared to count stars. But he fails in simple things. Love is the undercurrent of everything. There are different kinds of sweets, but the sugar is one. The Upanishads say that whomsoever you salute, it reaches God. God is the one, who gives you everything. Understand your own mind. Realise your own mistake. Help Ever. Hurt Never. He is a true man who knows this fundamental truth, who has morality and character. If you understand this, you will not put anyone to suffering. Recognise unity in diversity. God is only one – Atma – consciousness, has no name or form. It is the spirit or consciousness which permeates all beings. Several lights exist, but current is one. We may undertake several spiritual activities but it all comes back to oneness. If you understand the oneness, you will have peace and bliss. You are Atma – the only one – the eternal one. God is only one – never think that He is many. When we face difficulties, we chant many names. But when we don’t have any problems in life, we don’t think of God. We should cling on to ‘Soham’. The name given to everyone at the time of birth is ‘Soham’. We will redeem our lives, working for liberation, if we know the Divine principle and Divine nature. Many people speak of Swami differently. It is their imagination. Bhagawan has no imagination at all. All imagination should be dispensed. Politicians know nothing. If they know the truth, the nation will be a better place. Do not follow politics. There is no relation between what the politician says and what he does. If anybody does good, follow it. This is the message of Baba to all of us today. The whole world should be happy. Let all the beings be happy. You will acquire this bliss through love. We say ‘Peace, peace, peace’. Where is this peace ? Only pieces. Bhagawan is happy and blesses all those gathered here. The discourse concluded with the song ‘Bhajo, bhajo, Vithala’ by the music college students. Source : http://www.sssbpt.org/Pages/Prasanthi_Nilayam/29thevening.html
