Did any of you Students ever spend any money for your education here? Tell me honestly. I am always worried whether you had to spend money on any occasion during your stay in this Institution.
I am revealing a small incident that has happened sometime back. Normally, I will not reveal such things. Usually, during examination time, students study the whole night, keeping the lights on. One day, the warden advised the students to limit the period of their study during night, since the charges for electricity are gradually on the increase. The students did not pay heed to the advice and continued to study for long hours in the night. Consequently, the electricity bill came to a huge amount. Meanwhile, exactly two months before the examinations, the Electricity Department disconnected power supply to the hostel due to non-payment of the bill. They cannot be blamed, for, it is their duty. There were no lights in the hostel rooms. Students were feeling a lot of inconvenience. The warden came to Me and explained their plight. I enquired him, Why did he not bring it to my notice earlier. The warden replied, "Swami! You are spending so much amount on the education of the students. You are taking so much responsibility. How can I add some more burden? With that intention, I did not bring it to your notice." I enquired from him the amount of the bill. He replied that it came to Rs. 70,000/-. Thereupon I advised him, "Go immediately and pay the entire amount. Ask the Department people to restore the power supply immediately. Do not reveal to the students anything of what transpired between you and Me." Thus, I take so much trouble to look to the convenience and welfare of the students. - From Bhagawan's 2002 Convocation Discourse.
