Are We Ready? - By B. Satish Chandra
Sathya Sai with Students from the SSSIHMS, Bangalore
"Are you ready?" He asked, looking straight into my eyes. It was a defining
moment for me.
It was March 2001. I had finished 'waiting' for almost one year, waiting to
join in Swami's service in one of His organisations. One fine day, Swami
summoned a few of us 'waiting boys' (students waiting for Swami's instructions
after completing their education in His University). He had in His hand a sheet
of paper with our names and educational qualifications. He read out our names
and our qualifications and then looked at each one of us, as if sizing us up
for the tasks He had chalked out for us.
Shortly afterwards, he called two of us and mentioned about the openings in the
Whitefield Super Specialty Hospital, which had been inaugurated a couple of
months earlier. He asked me whether I would work there. I said without
hesitation, "Whatever you say, Swami". Swami then asked, what I have come to
consider as the most difficult question I ever faced. He asked me, "Are you
ready?" I thought I was being the epitome of surrender when I answered, "Swami,
if you say I am ready, I am." That was not what He expected. He repeated the
query, "Are you ready?" with emphasis on the word you. After a pause, within
which I had learnt the lesson He wanted me to, I answered, "Yes! Swami." Swami
rewarded me with a loving pat on my cheek. This lesson of taking responsibility
for your actions is the most valuable lesson Swami has taught me. In addition,
the question, "Are you ready?" is timeless as it is relevant at all times.
Moreover, the answer to this question will hold the key to the future.
Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences, Bangalore
Working in Swami's Hospital has been a unique experience. Not a day passes by
without feeling how wonderful it is to be able to provide medical care to those
who need it the most - absolutely free of cost. It is as heartening, as it is
humbling to think how much can be achieved with pure thoughts and feelings.
I share below a few experiences I had while working in Swami's Hospital. None
of them has to do with patients, who are the prime beneficiaries of the
Hospital. None of them is a "miracle" in the generally accepted sense of the
word, but to me, each one of them stands out as a shining example of the
transformation Swami is bringing about in mankind slowly, silently, and
patiently.
Sri Sathya Sai with the doctors and staff at the Super Speciality
Hospital, Bangalore
Once it happened that certain equipment had been imported and was awaiting
customs clearance at the Bangalore inland container depot. The equipment had
come in a 40 feet container and was required to be sent to Puttaparthi
urgently. By the time the clearance was completed it was close to 8:00 p.m.,
well past the closing time of 6:00 p.m.. The crew of dockyard workers, which
was loading the equipment into the trucks, was a grubby lot, used to tobacco,
hard work and harder words. Their hands were calloused by the manual labour
they undertook from dawn to dusk. Going by my instincts, I was certain they
would demand more than their normal fare for working overtime. Once the loading
was completed and it was time for their payment, I handed over the fare due to
them to our liaison. He had a brief interaction with them after which he came
back with half of the payment. He then told me the workers had come to know
that the equipment was going to Swami's Ashram at Puttaparthi and they wanted
to offer their services as a small contribution to what Swami has been doing to
humanity. And this they did by working at half-rate, when they were eligible
for over-time wages! I suddenly saw these workers in a new light. There
appeared a shine in their eyes, a shine that comes from reverence to a greater
power. I was so touched by the sentiments of these simple dockyard workers that
I could only gather enough courage to bow to them and say, "Sai Ram". These
'uncivilized' people had more civility and spirit of sacrifice than I can
probably ever muster. Such is the power that Swami's name has in transforming
people.
At the Hospital, the standard way of looking at the expenses on the maintenance
front is by questioning how we can optimize this expenditure, (without
compromising on the quality, of course) so that the funds saved are available
on the medical front, for buying more medicines, treating more patients and the
like. All the suppliers to the support service departments in the Hospital are
therefore explained in detail how the Hospital functions, how many patients
have been and are being benefited and how they too can serve the patients in an
indirect manner, by reducing the prices of their supplies and services to the
Hospital. Without exception, all of them give sizeable discounts; go out of
their way in helping the Hospital; as their contribution to the good cause for
which the Hospital has been set up. Here is one such incident.
A Cardio Thoracic ICU at SSSIHMS
One of the imported pumps needed a spare part which was not available with us.
It appeared that in the absence of this spare part, we might be forced to buy a
new pump altogether. After searching the internet, we located a local dealer
who could supply us the spare part. He came to the Hospital, saw the pump and
noted the required details. He assured us that he would send us the quotation
for the spare parts shortly. Imagine my surprise when we received by courier,
within two days, instead of the quotation, the actual spare part we needed!
Certain that there had been a mistake, I called him up. He said, "There has
been no mistake. I had a new pump in stock with me. I have removed the spare
part from the new pump and have supplied it free of cost to you. I shall
explain to my Management about this. You can please use the spare and
commission the pump." He later even had the pump collected, the spare fitted,
tested and delivered back to us.
It is amazing how Swami works through various people in providing for the needs
of the Hospital. I recall the time we were trying to procure a good multimeter
for use in the biomedical lab. Having located a dealer and obtained a
quotation, I called him up with the hope of eliciting further discount on the
meter. After I had finished speaking, he asked me for my number and assuring me
that he would call me back within five minutes, hung up. Sure enough, the phone
rang within five minutes. It was the same dealer and he said, "Sir, we will be
supplying to you the model of the multimeter you wanted within two days' time.
Our man will come and hand this over to you. This will be given at no cost to
the Hospital". The receiver almost slipped from my hands. It took me a few
seconds to gather my wits before I asked him more details. He then told me that
a person, who wanted to remain anonymous, had left standing instructions that
he would like to contribute towards any requirements that the Hospital might
have. So the dealer consulted him just before he confirmed to me about the free
supply of the meter. The meter was delivered to the Hospital shortly afterwards
and it is in use, reminding me and everyone else of the anonymous donor, who
had so lovingly donated it.
It does not always happen that every supplier is deeply touched by the
Hospital's work. But then, where there are rigid companies, there are also very
accommodating employees! I know a service engineer, who comes to the Hospital
on a Sunday to service equipment free of cost, because he is not permitted by
his company to "waste" company time on charity on other days!
These are just a few instances from the hundreds that exist where people,
cleansed within by the outpouring of Swami's Divine Love, go out of their way
to play their part in Swami's Mission. Each one of them seems to be drawn to
the light of Love that Swami is holding up to all of humanity. Every one of
them wants to contribute his or her might to the service the Hospital is
rendering. And the beautiful part is that many of them have not seen Swami
physically and they experience Him only through His works.
Swami's Hospitals and all His service projects stand out as role models to show
to the entire world what can be achieved, given the right attitude, conviction
and perseverance. As His student, I feel happy and blessed to be associated
with the Institute and pray that He gives me enough strength to discharge my
duties to the best of my abilities (and in time better my abilities too). In
times to come, we may face many challenges in running the Institute. But, I
take refuge in the fact that this Institute, started by Swami through His Vajra
Sankalpa (Diamond Resolution) will shine, come what may.
B. Satish Chandra with Sri Sathya Sai
The pertinent question has been and will be, "Are we ready?" to take upon these
challenges. Be it a hospital, a bank, a factory or an NGO that we work in, it
is vital that we, His students, ask ourselves this question, "Are we ready?"
The question is exciting because it has got answers in many dimensions and it
spurs us into action and shows us the direction that we need to take. It also
shows us that if we are convinced in the truth that He is the Ultimate Doer, we
have to take responsibility for our actions and answer to the question in the
affirmative. He will work through us and achieve extraordinary things. We
should be ever ready to hitch our wagons to the star that Swami is and be
prepared to sacrifice the petty things we hold dear, to leap across the chasms
of self-doubt and reach the bounty of greater treasures that Swami has in store
for us. I fervently pray that all of us can collectively say, "WE ARE READY,
SWAMI!"
B. Satish Chandra
Student (1998-2000), Department of Management Studies
Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning
Prasanthi Nilayam Campus
Currently, Senior Manager, Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences
Bangalore
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