The Youth from Hyderabad got taste of Divinity as they basked in the joy
of His darshan and were immersed in Swami as eloquent speakers addressed them
in the Poornachandra Auditorium.
The three day Youth programme had other lecture sessions with various
research scholars and faculty members from Sri Sathya Sai University addressing
the congregation. The speakers for the 29th evening were Sri Srinivas
Srirangarajan, the Controller of Examinations, Sri Sathya Sai University, Sri
Amey Deshpande and Sri Jagdish Chandra, both research scholars, and the
speakers for 30th January were Sri Sanjay Sahni, Principal, Sri Sathya Sai
College, Brindavan, Sri Shashank Shah and Sri Sai Giridhar, both research
scholars. There were many guests of honour for the session which included vice
chancellors of many Universities in Andhra like the Kakatiya University and the
Osmania University.
Prof.Anil Kumar was addressing the youth from Hyderabad at this venue. He
was enthusing them and coming to know that Swami was arriving, hw quickly
concluded his speech with Jai Bolo to Bhagawan. The enthusiastic youth screamed
out Jaikars even as Swami entered the auditorium from the stage. A small Veda
contingent led Swami from the stage to the temporary stage that had been set.
On the way, Swami interacted with all the assembled vice chancellors. It was
interesting that almost every vice chancellor who had come had a story. Take
the VC of Osmania University for instance. Prof.V.Tirupati Rao had agreed to
come for the meet but then when things got hot due to the Telangana issue, he
canceled his plan. Meanwhile, Swami indicated at Parthi that the gentleman
would indeed be coming. The organisers seemed flummoxed. The unrest at Osmania
grew to such proportions and a student committed suicide too! In search of
solace and answers, the vice chancellor had indeed arrived! Th VC of Jawaharlal
Nehru Technology University decided to forego the AICTE meeting to come to
Swami. It is true indeed that unless He calls, none can come to Him!
Swami moved up the stage and blessed the proceedings to begin. The first
speaker for the session was Sai Gollapudi, who completed his higher secondary
education from Easwaramma School and Sri Sathya Sai Vidya Vihar, Hyderabad. The
speaker, divulging in detail about the initiatives taken to organize and
motivate the youth, was categorical in expressing his grateful thanks to
Bhagawan on behalf of the Hyderabad Youth. The next speaker was Sri Ravi Kiran
Sripada, an MBA from Illinois University, US and the Youth co-ordinator of Sri
Sathya Sai Seva Organisations, Hyderabad. Sri Ravi Kiran spoke about the "Sri
Sathya Sai Reprogramming Lives Programme", an initiative by the Sri Sathya Sai
Youth of Hyderabad. Sai Youth working with various MNCs would assemble at
Shivam Bhajan Hall at 6 pm to conduct the training programme till 9 in the
night. He narrated many an inspiring anecdote to highlight the transforming
power of love.
Given below is a are some excerpts of the Divine Discourse.
Starting off with a mention of the life of Savitri, who with her
unsullied devotion won back her husband Sathyavan's life from the Lord of
death, Bhagawan narrated the sacrificial story of Chandramathi and Harischandra
bringing home the point that Truth ultimately triumphs. Everything comes out of
Truth and Truth alone comes to our rescue in the long run and finally
everything merges back into the Truth, exhorted Bhagawan.
None can escape the consequences of one’s own actions. Pain and pleasure
do not persist for long. Everything is the result of reaction, reflection and
resound. One should do good and remain to be good for you are responsible for
all your joys and sorrows. God is merely a witness. So cultivate values. Five
human values are the ones which give live value to human life. A human can be
called human only when he exhibits these values.
All the worldly learning is of no use. Look at these lawyers, they carry
heavy fat books. After all, these books have the same A,B,C,D... (laughter). No
use of memorising huge books if you have no values.
All that you see is the reflection of your inner space... this whole
world is nothing but reflection, reaction and resound. First you are one, then
you marry.. you become two... then you have children... you become three and
four... but in fact you are only one... All this is illusion! A mother sent her
child to tend to cows. He was singing loudly when he heard someone repeating
his song. When he called, "Krishne", he heard the same. He though that someone
was mocking him. His mother told him that it was his own echo!
When one is unaware, one makes such mistakes thinking that someone else
is responsible.
All are puppets in the hands of God. (Swami narrated the story of
Kanchanamala, an actress who came to Him saying that she had enough of the
artificial "screen life".) I blessed her with peace and ten days later, she
breathed her last.
None are born with any name; names are given by parents after birth; all
are essentially Atman. Atma has no definite form. The So-hum, the process of
inhalation and exhalation, goes on throughout one’s life which indicates that
one is supreme consciousness itself.You are God. All the names and forms of God
too are born out of imagination. Rama, krishna, Shiva are all from Ravi Verma's
paintings. Did he see them in person? No no!
When someone asks you what is your name, tell them 'aham brahmasmi' 'tat
twam asi''ayamatama brahma'.You say ' This is my body' that means you and the
body are different. You say 'this is my mind' that means you and your mind are
different. Then who are you? Inquire in this way. The greatest service you can
do is to find out who you are.
There is no difference between Swami and you. Swami may be sitting on
this chair and you on the ground... but in fact all this is illusion, the fact
is that I am you and you are me.
Swami then called the second speaker, Ravikiran and asked him what his
name was.
"Swami, Ravikiran"
"That is what your parents named you. Your true name is Atma. Okay?" He
nodded. Swami continued,
"What is your name?"
The boy did not answer. Swami then asked, "You like Swami?" He nodded
whole heartedly and Swami materialized a beautiful gold chain with His pendant.
Swami then said, "Time waste is life waste, do not waste time. Do not have any
more illusion; do not have too many thoughts of activities, know by yourself
the reality and concentrate on the principles of reaction, reflection and
resound. Your own words will come back to you; action is bound to have reaction”
The other speaker for the evening, Sai Gollapudi, was also called on
stage and Bhagawan repeated the same question about his name. This time, having
learnt from the ‘previous’ experience the speaker chose to give a wise answer.
He replied: “Sai Prasad”, literally meaning the same. Upon hearing his full
name “Sai Prasad Gollapudi” Bhagawan repeated the same advice given to the
previous speaker telling that these are names given by parents to the temporal
body and the real eternal name is “Atma” alone. He further assured the youth,
“Call me by any name, I will respond…there is no difference between
names….forms are based on the paintings done by Ravi Verma. To the speaker’s
prayer for benediction to continue his activities with much more vigour, Swami
advised the youngster to go by His conscience as Swami was always there.
Soon Aarthi was taken and Swami agreed to move around the hall, amidst
the assembled youth. But the highly energetic youth almost seemed to turn
unruly in their fervour and after moving a little, Swami was requested to turn
back. As Swami turned, one could see some of the youth members banging their
hands on their heads in agony at the missed chance. But Swami's heart was with
them. He moved to the stage and asked for the chair to be turned around. He
raised both his hands in loving benediction and gave a long blessing to all
assembled. It was almost 8pm when He retired. One could see the oozing Love and
Grace in the twinkle of his eye.
Om Sai Ram
