ANTARYAAMI
The human race today is caught in the crossroads of history. Profound and striking changes are spreading over the whole world. A great cultural and social transformation is taking place. Communism is crumbling and democracy has proven to be a paradise for the rich and the greedy. People are restless, alternating between faith and love, hope and anxiety. Man has become disillusioned with the scientific and the technological developments and the material comforts they offer. As he gazes back across the centuries, he finds his admiration overcast by sorrow. He witnesses the havoc that religious intolerance has caused. Thus mankind having tried religion with its associated dogmas and beliefs, communism with its despotic nature and democracy with its economic imbalance - is groping in the dark not knowing where to go. At such a significant moment in this chaotic world, like the dawn ushering in its freshness and brightness, Bhagavan Baba’s message brings in the only solace, hope and answer - the message of oneness of the whole creation - “The Message of Love.” By “love”, Swami does not mean any natural tenderness, which is there in people in varying degrees according to their nature, but a larger principle of the soul, which makes us tender, kind and gentle to all our fellow creatures. This can be achieved by the simple experience of loving Swami, because He is the Purusha of Purusha Suktam and the Purushottama of Bhagavad Gita. Swami has always been revealing His universality and oneness with creation. When we constantly practice this love, our being will be integrated and will feel caught up in a universal purpose. We will break the bonds that are laid on us by our first birth and by nature and rise above original imperfections. We will apprehend the unknowable and experience a joy so extreme, that no language will be adequate to describe the joy of the soul. All religions preach that we should love our neighbor. But the ability to love is difficult to acquire. Growth in spiritual life is the only force which will give us the ability to love our neighbor even when we are not naturally inclined to do so. The insight into the reality of every being comes spontaneously when one is in the constant presence of Swami. Bhagavan, out of His infinite mercy and compassion, imparts this wisdom and conveys this message to every person in His own characteristic and unique way. Every action of Swami is pregnant with meaning. Pure love is the motive, the means, and the goal of all His actions. Every moment with the Lord is an experience in itself. But a few of them stand out as they give us inkling into His majesty and glory. The profundity and the impact of these experiences cannot be aptly described in words. The lesson that God is everywhere, both inside and outside “Antar Bahischa Tat Sarvam Vyapya Narayana Sthitaha” - and knowing all our thoughts and feelings, was taught to me through one such wonderful experience. In 1980, I was doing my pre-university course in the Brindavan College. That year Swami came to Brindavan on the 3rd of December, after the world conference celebrations. I was overjoyed as my birthday had fallen on the 9thof December, according to the Hindu calendar. On the evening of His arrival, we all prayed to Swami to visit the hostel so that we could celebrate Swami’s Birthday at Brindavan. After prayerful pleading, Bhagavan consented to come and fixed the date as the 9th. My heart missed a beat, since Swami’s visit to the hostel meant preparations right from the morning till the evening and I could not possibly hope to get Swami’s blessing that day. As per schedule, Swami came to the hostel at 4.30 p.m. on the 9th. Swami gave us an inspiring discourse which was followed by a wonderful musical program by the students. It was 9 p.m. I was at the same time sad and happy; sad as I could not even get Padanamaskar, and happy that Swami had come to the hostel and we all had such a wonderful time. When Swami was leaving the hostel all of us ran to the Mandir to have a last glimpse of Him before He retired. I tried to get a place somewhere along the path, but was unsuccessful. Swami came back from the hostel and went into His room and bolted the door. All the students had left and I was still standing in the staircase room, forlorn, dejected and in tears. My birthday was over without Swami’s blessings. Suddenly I heard the door open and the melodious voice of Swami calling out “Aye! I have brought this handkerchief from the hostel. Take it and give it back.” I ran up the stairs to take the handkerchief, when the all-knowing, Hridayavasi looked at me compassionately and with a voice full of love and sympathy said, “Today is your birthday, isn’t it? Take Namaskar.” So saying, He gave Vibhuti Prasad. I was thrilled! I learnt the lesson that He is everywhere and is all-knowing. Merely knowing that He is in every being does not make one Love Him or the creation. But, feeling it by constant recapitulation of the truth, makes one Love Him more and more, for His sake. This Love makes us see all creation, nature and life as sacred. It brings about a change in our attitude which develops the qualities of truth and honesty, chastity and sobriety, mercy and forgiveness. This is the reason why Swami emphasizes on Love being the most basic of human values. I pray to the Lord to bless us with incessant, intoxicating Love for Him. - Dr. Kruthiventi Anil Kumar Former Faculty Member, Dept. of Chemistry, SSSIHL Currently, Senior Research Scientist, Tata Chemicals Ltd., Pune Source: Sai Nandana 1995 (70th Birthday Issue)
