I Am in Africa… Sunday, March 11th, 2012 A quizzical smile, an intent gaze, a hand gesture, every move of Bhagawan is packed with indepth meaning, and every word He utters is suffused with Divine Wisdom, that would not necessarily be transparent to all. A Bhagawan’s student shares with us one such anecdote that throws light into His unfathomable Divine touch, that crosses the realms of human perceptions. Read on for an account by Sri K. Suresh, an alumnus of Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning as published in Fragrance – A Tale of Love, souvenir brought out by the School of Business Management – Accounts and Finance, Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning… Read on… It was a serene evening in the Mandir during the rainy season of 1990. Along with another brother of mine I was blessed to secure a strategic spot in the front portico. From here we had a clear view of Swami’s throne in the Bhajan Hall. I was reading a book on Swami’s miracles in Africa. I was particularly drawn to an incident where two of the devotees who were driving a car on an express way at speeds over 110 km/s suddenly met with an accident. Their car was thrown out of the express way and into the bushes. The car was totally smashed and there was no chance that its occupants would survive such a crash. The devotees in the car however had taken the Lord’s name on their lips at the critical juncture and had escaped unscathed. I couldn’t but help remark to my Sai Brother – ‘Look Swami is in Africa also’. Some moments later Swami came out and paused and looked at me and my brother for a few seconds. I looked at Swami with reverence. Swami asked the students sitting in front of me to make way. A path was made for Swami in the tightly packed veranda. Swami walked straight up to me and then gazing into my eyes, remarked –“Dunnapotha! You are talking in the veranda”. Then after a small pause He continued, “I am here. I am in Africa. I am everywhere.” Saying this, He walked away with a nonchalant gait. Do I have to say anymore? Six years later while I was in search for a job, a Singapore based multinational company hired me and sent me on my first assignment to guess where: West Africa! Heart to Heart Relationship During my student days at Swami’s Lotus Feet, I learnt a lot through innumerable such instances. Many times it happened that Swami would refuse to accept a letter from me and I used to feel completely dejected. On one such occasion, Swami did not accept my letter for many days at a stretch. One fine day, He suddenly called me and literally grabbed the letter from my hands. Even without opening the letter, He went on to reveal its contents and concluded with a great revelation, ‘I need not go through your letter to know its contents. The prayer in your heart reaches me instantaneously, even before you pen down your thoughts.’ To be frank, after this incident I reduced the ‘written mail’ and instead concentrated on heartfelt prayers. This is what Swami implies when He exhorts us to develop ‘a heart to heart relationship’ with Him. II Samasta Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II sourced: http://www.theprasanthireporter.org/2012/03/i-am-in-africa/ Poisoned Arrows Or Scented Blossoms…Sorrow or Celebration? Sunday, March 11th, 2012 All that, to which, our conscience whispers a firm “No” are most undesirable and to all which our conscience hums a firm ‘Yes’ are the most desirable actions for man to follow. When man listens to his conscience, that is the Inner God, he moves in the right direction and thus pleases Him Who is The Indweller…and when he moves opposite, he is inflicting pain in Him, Whose directives he chooses to ignore. Every negaive thing, be it our lackadaisical attitude, actions that reeked of kama, krodha, lobha, moha, mada and matsarya are arrows, darts, shafts, missiles that hit the Divinity Within us writes Ms. Jullie Chaudhuri quoting references from Prasnottara Vahini reminding the children of Sathya Sai to awake, exult and herald in the Golden Age following Him studiously…Read on… She lit the evening lamp, Watching the rays of the Sun bid adieu and disappear, Dusk pirouetted to the fore from the rear, Deep was her contemplation on the events of the past year, A colossal ‘why’ and many, many , many ‘why nots’, In the mind did churn and appear… With open eyes she saw that Effulgent Form, The mist lifted even as the heart did mourn, With delight she looked upon Him, Moist eyes in which teardrops did brim, Upon a closer look she couldn’t stifle a loud gasp, She ran over and the Beloved One’s hand she did clasp, Agony stabbed her aching heart, Her voice was a hoarse and painful rasp – ‘My Lord, Beloved Mother, Oh! Baba, Baba…’ Was all she could muster, Mind reeling, senses not at par, As grief did her nerves scar, And the flow of words completely debar… Up close, She saw that His frame was entirely covered with arrows… Slowly the meaning did unfold. Every thought, word and deed which was not in sync, that was negative, harmful in intent, thoughtless, uncaring, acutely insensitive, horrifyingly arrogant, cruel and abusive to any living being or the minutest part of creation, was indeed an arrow; each thought and word wrongly intended brought on a torrent of chain reaction in rapid succession. Every lackadaisical attitude, each action that reeked of kama, krodha, lobha, moha, mada and matsarya was an arrow, a dart, a shaft, a missile, embedded in the lotus like frame of Beloved Bhagawan. Each arrow had a name on it. Countless arrows pierced His gentle frame through the flaming orange robe. Arrows that came from all over the globe. Each and everyone was responsible for having pierced with toxic arrows and shafts, the Benevolent, Magnificent and Supreme Frame of God. Let us read excerpts from ‘Prasnottara Vahini’ by Beloved Bhagawan to get a clearer picture about these venomous and destructive weapons which lie either subtly, overtly or downright blatantly in every human persona. Q – Swami! What are the traits of character that we have to avoid, that is to say, which are the obstacles in the path of one who seeks liberation from the cycle of Birth and Death? Ans – The six, the Ari-shadvarga: Kama, Krodha, Lobha, Moha, Mada and Matsarya; these are to be avoided. Q – What exactly is Kama? Ans – Desire for riches, property, honour, status, fame, children; why list the lot? Attachment to all things of this sensory world – this false, temporary, impure world. Q – Krodha? Ans – Yearning to harm others and cause ruin to them. Q – And Lobha? Ans – Determination that no one else should partake of even a small fraction of what one has earned or what one has; also, that even in times of distress, one’s possessions should not be diminished by use. Q – What is the meaning of Moha? Ans – The delusion that some people are nearer to one than others and the desire to please them more than others, leading to exertions for earning and accumulating for their sake. Q – Mada? Ans – Mada means the swagger that develops when one feels that he has either scholarship or strength or riches or fame, more than others. Even when one has not got these, Mada makes men move about without reverence for elders and consideration for others’ feelings and craving only for one’s own comfort and security. Mada is extreme egoism. Q – The last that You mentioned is Matsarya. What does that mean, Swami? Ans – When others are as happy as yourself, Matsarya makes one miserable; one cannot tolerate it. Such lucid explanations about the excess baggage that we carry, weapons of self as well as social destruction in the psyche of each individual. Yet, we point fingers at disgruntled neighbours, street fights, terrorists and warring nations. Each arrow that falls off due to virtuous, ethical behavior continuously gets replaced when the worst in us gets the better of us. But these attempts at self transformation needs a Cosmic Boost, intense endeavour and an absolute one-pointed focus. The arrows on that Cherished Form have to be removed. They have to fall off, disintegrate, vanish, crumble. Since those arrows belong to us all, the remedy too lies with us. We need to replace those arrows cautiously, skillfully, carefully, being ever dexterous and vigilant so that they do not surface ever. These poisonous arrows need to be wiped out, their repeated recurrence barred. And for this we need ‘zoomed in’ determination, a soul centered obsession with the Ultimate Goal, a burning passion for purification, a supreme will and complete absorption in the gigantic task at hand – unfurling and manifesting our inherent, latent divinity. If these words have touched your hearts, dear brothers and sisters, if they have created ripples of impression upon a mind ever ready to please the Beloved One, if they have evoked feelings of harmony and linked our thoughts…then we must not remain sanguine, nor must we procrastinate. Nothing else matters, no other call is more urgent, no trivial distraction need attract our attention. ‘That’ ever overflowing Ocean of Love, Compassion, Mercy and Truth deserves only petals of fragrant blossoms, perfumed and coloured with the myriad hues of goodness, purity, unity, divinity and the oneness of adoration. Beginning this very moment, the thought uppermost in our mind posthaste must be – ‘I have to remove those arrows’. Unwanted, unnecessary, hurtful and harmful thoughts, words and deeds have to be banished forever to be replaced, displaced, interchanged with a shower of flowers having the intent and scent that never does fade. That is the offering of love and reverence that should shine bright on the Unique Form of the Most Loved and Loving One. Right now is the time to start…the time is right – now! Do you agree, that we, the children of Sai, must join hands, form a link and pledge ourselves to do what is loving, harmonious, right and true for Beloved Mother Sai? That, we must not allow another arrow even unconsciously ever to slip by, exercising great care and concern, for there is no gauging the radius of Beloved Mother Sai, Who is always present everywhere. With every kind thought many arrows fall off, with every loving word and selfless action, rare florets make an appearance…making lethal darts evaporate into nothing. Sweet scented rose buds, soft and silky bouquets, finest of lotus blossoms, or poisoned, malignant, toxic arrows, darts and spears? Sorrow or Celebration? The choice which has a Cosmic Impact rests totally within and with each one of us…the children of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai. So does the onus to not only honour and exalt but to exult and herald in the Golden One and the Golden Age. Come, let us pray for ‘that’ miracle to unfold. II Samasta Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II sourced: http://www.theprasanthireporter.org/2012/03/poisoned-arrows-or-scented-blossoms%e2%80%a6sorrow-or-celebration/ Swami The Supreme Saviour Sunday, March 11th, 2012 An ardent devotee of Bhagawan, Dr. Narottam Maharaj Alreja has worked in the well known J.J.Hospital, Mumbai as its Superintendent. He joined the Sri Sathya Sai General Hospital, Prasanthi Nilayam as its Superintendent in the year 1975 and served almost his entire life. Dr. Alreja merged at Bhagawan’s Lotus Feet on 18th Feb 2012 in Mumbai. Read on Dr. Alreja’s reflections as published in 80th Birthday Special, Trubute. I had a preceptor. He revealed to me in the year 1963 that he was casting off his body, as it had become old. I requested him for a Mantra. He said if he gave a Mantra to me, I would be his shishya and son and that he would have to take birth again to see my salvation. He further revealed that he was not my guru and that my real guru was someone else to whom he would himself take me in due course of time. In 1965, I went to Swami’s ashram at Brindavan. There was one Dixit at the gate. He told me that Sai Baba had gone to Ooty and that He would come back in 2 or 3 days’ time. It was Thursday, about 9.30 a.m. Three cars arrived one after the other. In the second car was seated Sai Baba. At that time, there were about six persons only, who stood in line with folded hands. When He passed me, He enquired, “Doctor, when did you come from Bombay? And what do you want?” I replied that I came the previous day and wanted an interview with Swami. He said, “I will call you.” Then He went inside the bungalow. After 45 minutes, He came out in a car and went to the city. He returned at 4 p.m. By that time about 100 people had gathered. He parked the car by my side, but did not call me. At about 5.15 p.m., Dixit started to close the main gates. I told him that Sai Baba had told me He would give me an interview, and that he should kindly find out. He said, “Come tomorrow.” While this talk was going on, a watchman from the bungalow came running and asked, “Any Bombay doctor is there? Swami has called him.” I rushed to the verandah of the bungalow and went inside leaving my wife outside sitting in a chair in the verandah. Swami looked at me and enquired, “Why you want an interview?” I replied, “I seek your Sparshan, Sambashan and blessings.” Swami again asked, “What do you want?” I replied that by His grace I did not need anything. He said, “Still, you may want something.” This prompted me to ask, “What can You give?” He said, “You ask anything, I will give.” I enquired, “Can I ask anything?” He got up from His chair and with His raised hands, He said, “You ask anything that you want, I will give.” My head started reeling and then I realised my buddhi was cautioning me not to ask for any material thing. Swami said, “Yes, I know your buddhi is paripakuva (ripe) enough. What do you want? I said, “I want shraddha and bhakti.” Then He embraced me. My hair stood on its end and the tiresomeness in me disappeared. When I touched His feet, I felt that I was touching the feet of my earlier preceptor. Thus, I was totally subdued and I surrendered at His Lotus Feet. Later on, at Dharmakshetra (Mumbai), He gave me a Mantra “Sai Krishna” along with a Lingam to do abhishekam and drink the water every morning. I joined the Sri Sathya Sai General Hospital in 1975 during Bhagawan’s 50th Birthday celebrations. My sister Shanti had a tumour in her left breast. A doctor colleague of mine in the hospital wanted a needle biopsy done for her. Accordingly, the biopsy was done. The report showed malignant cancer. She was shown to Dr. Ramdas, a surgeon at Tata Memorial Hospital. He fixed a date for operation. Meanwhile, I went to see Swami and explained to Him thus: “My younger sister has cancer on her left breast and she is to be operated upon.” Swami gave me seven packets of vibhuti and enquired if she had any faith in Him. I said, “I don’t know that.” Then I gave her one vibhuti packet to be applied on the malignant part everyday for seven days. The operation was fixed for the fourth day, but Dr. Ramdas got a call from Madras for an urgent operation. He went to Madras and my sister’s operation was postponed to the 16th day. By that time, my sister had completed applying the seven packets of vibhuti on the affected portion as prescribed by Swami. Further reports of investigations done showed there was only inflammation of tissues, but no malignancy. The original slide showing malignancy and the recent one with non-malignant tissues were shown to an expert, Dr. Purandare, oncologist, for opinion. He opined that the first slide showed severe malignancy whereas the other showed no trace of cancer. Once I was called upon to do a postmortem on the body of one Joseph about 45 years of age which was found in a well in the second week of June 1970. After the postmortem, I gave the cause of death as asphyxia due to drowning. In the middle of August, a Police Inspector came and told me that he and me were in trouble as the body had to be exhumed and a second postmortem done. I told him, “You look after yourself and when time comes, I know what to do.” As informed by the Police Inspector, the Commissioner of Police, Mr. John Croft and the Police Surgeon Dr. Majumdar came to the hospital and told me that the body had to be exhumed and re-postmortemed. We went to the cemetery of the church where the body was buried. The priest showed the chart and the coffin was taken out and kept in the open. I told Mr. John Croft that as per rules a fresh panchanama had to be done. He called upon the brother of the deceased and his relatives to show us the injuries and fractures as complained by them. They turned the body upside down, but no injuries or fractures were found. The Commissioner of Police rebuked the relatives for making false allegation. The police surgeon Dr. Majumdar took a copy of my previous postmortem report and wrote ditto, i.e., “cause of death: asphyxia due to drowning.” After the postmortem was over, it started raining. I ran to my car and got inside. I suddenly realised that the body was as fresh as when I first conducted the postmortem. Was it saponification or mummification? I told them to take off the lid over the coffin and to my surprise found a conglomeration of decomposed flesh instead of the body. Subsequently, when I met Swami next time, I asked Him about this miracle. He said, “I kept the body fresh for two months as one piece to preserve your integrity and good name.” Once I was sitting in the verandah of the mandir and evening bhajan was going on. In the middle of the bhajan, Swami came out in the verandah and told me that He had received a telegram that Kumar’s (an alumnus of Bhagawan’s institute) mother, Smt. Seethalakshmi was seriously ill and that I should go and see her. I went to her room and found her unconscious. There was an Insulin needle and insulin vial lying on the table nearby. I knew that she was a diabetic. She was in hypoglycaemia. I put some glucose in her mouth along with water. I repeated the process till she recovered. I went back to the verandah and told Swami, “She had taken insulin without having food.” I further told Him, “I did not see any postman with telegram”. Swami said that her son had prayed before Swami’s photograph to look after his mother and that was the telegram. This is enough to prove Swami’s omnipresence. Once Swami called me to His residence at 1.30 p.m. and said that He was feeling uneasy and asked me to take count of His blood pressure. He always allowed me to take BP on His right side. When I took BP, it was 80/56 and pulse rate 48 per minute. He looked at me and enquired whether there was anything serious. I said, there cannot be anything serious with Swami. He said, “The expression on your face changed.” Then I said, “I want to take BP on the left side.” When I took BP, it was 120/80 and pulse rate was 72 per minute. “Now come out with your diagnosis”, He said. I replied: “You got a heart attack with a blockage of the artery. You say that You are Siva Shakti Swarupa. Siva on the right side had taken over the heart attack of a Siva bhakta. On the left side, Shakti aspect was unaffected. This proves medically that You are Siva Shakti.” Swami said, “See on the right chest and arm, there is hair. On the left side of My chest and arm, there is no hair.” “I have got a mole on the left cheek. When you look at My back, I look like a lady and from the front side, My face is that of Siva”. I pleaded with Him to take some rest. Swami asked me, “How can I take rest and not come out for darshan when so many devotees are waiting?” I further requested, “For today evening at least, You just come to Mandir for Bhajan, take Arati and go back.” II Samasta Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II sourced: http://www.theprasanthireporter.org/2012/03/sai-the-supreme-saviour/ __._,_.___
