Humans are full of love. Their hearts are springs of mercy. They are endowed with true speech. Peace is the characteristic of the human mind; it is its innate quality. There is no need to go anywhere else in search of peace. Just as gold and silver lie hidden under the earth, and pearl and coral u...nder the sea, peace and joy lie hidden in the activities of the mind. Desirous of acquiring these hidden treasures, if one dives and turns mental activities inward, one becomes full of love. Only one who has so filled oneself with love and who lives in the light of that love can be called human. Those devoid of love are demons, monsters and subhumans. That holy quality of love will not waver in its presence; it will be ever present, without change. It is one and indivisible. Those saturated with love are incapable of spite, selfishness, injustice, wrong, and misconduct.
- Prema Vahini, Ch 47.
A peaceful mind is the abode of love. - BABA
You must proceed ever towards strength (balam); you must not take to untruth, wickedness, crookedness - all of which denote a fundamental fatal trait of cowardice and weakness (Balaheenam). Weakness is born of accepting as true a lower image of yourself than you truly are.... You believe you are the husk, but you really are the kernel. This is a key fact. All your spiritual practices must be directed to the removal of the husk and the revelation of the kernel. So long as you say, "I am", there is bound to be fear, but once you say and feel, "Aham Brahmasmi" (I am Divine), you get infinite strength. The influence of the Divine is so subtle and strong that while you are contemplating on Him, all traces of envy and greed will disappear from your mind. The pure love the cowherds (Gopis) had for Lord Krishna is a great example. This is the characteristic of Divine Incarnations at all times.
- Divine Discourse, 14 Jan 1964.
The sole purpose of Life is to transform 'human' to Divine, who we really are. - BABA.
By carrying a bundle of sandalwood, can a donkey become an elephant? The donkey will sense the difference in weight but not the scent! On the other hand, the elephant disregards the weight and inhales the sweet scent. So too, the spiritual aspirant, or devotee will take in only the pure truth, the pure... essence of good activities, of godliness and scriptures. On the other hand, one who goes on arguing for the sake of mere scholarship, learning, and disputation will know only the weight of logic, missing the scent of truth! Love (prema) is the most effective instrument for constantly remembering the Lord. Keeping that instrument safe and strong needs the power of discrimination (Viveka). Many in the world utilize their vast learning in disputation to prove their superiority; this is a great mistake. If they really were so learned, they would silently experience the core, the pure Divine.
- Prema Vahini, Ch 44.
Education should promote discrimination and humility. -BABA.
30 YEARS OF SEVA BY THE PRASHANTHI MAINTENANCE GROUP:
Prasanthi Nilayam, heaven on earth, HOME of every Sai devotee, has seen a set of sevadals who have been serving the holyland for 3 long decades (very quietly with no fanfare) unmindful of the scorching summer heat of Puttaparthi to facelift the Prashanthi Nilayam premises every year..
It all happened in the year 1986 when the main man behind this PRASHANTHI MAINTENANCE GROUP (PMG), Sri. B.M. Wadegonkar (Vadey- gaon- car) lovingly called as "BMW or Kaka" was blessed with an interview with Bhagawan.
In the interview Swami said "You are a millionaire as the whole Prashanthi Nilayam is yours". Even though it sounded a casual statement by Swami but Mr. BMW looked within and asked What is that i am doing to "my home"? This was the seed that was sown which is now become a gigantic tree where sevadals from the age of 6 to 80 throng to Prasanthi in the month of May and do what ever little they can do. This includes removing all the weeds, bush, thorny plants, repairing the septic tanks, drainage system, cleaning up all the rooms that are let out to devotees etc.
Many a times you can see kids accompanied by their mothers lending their helping hand in mopping, sweeping etc reminding of the little squirrel which took part in building the bridge in Ramayana.. Over the years the PMG group has developed a great rapport with the ashram authorities and Swami used to profusely bless the PMG group which had volunteers from all over India and from all walks of life.
AGE IS NOT A LIMIT TO SERVE HIM, IN FACT EARLIER THE BETTER:)
This year, which also happens to be the 90th year of the advent of Bhagawan, the PMG team was busy laying the cement roads within the ashram, cleaning up the whole premises. Every volunteer works with utmost dedication no matter how small or big, neat or untidy the work assigned to them is, setting aside their societal status as most of them are well off working in highly paid sectors like software and banking.
BEFORE AND AFTER IMAGES:
This indeed is the hallmark of a true devotee. In the battle of EGO the loser always wins. May Swami continue to inspire all of us and give us the role to be part of His divine mission..
What does God seek from us? A messiah's story
Are we really ready to do anything for God? Ready to be like this sheep that has climbed on to the Kjeragbolten in Norway? |
This is probably one of my favourite stories. It is so full of intrigue and suspense in the beginning; yet so simple and profound in its ending. I have heard it only once but I have narrated it a hundred times at least. And each time I narrate it, it fills me with new vigour, enthusiasm and direction. It is the a story about a messiah - a messiah who wanted to retire!
The first time I narrated this story was in Swami's presence on the 29th of July, 2005. I keep narrating this story many times. And that is to keep reminding myself more than anybody else of what Swami wants from me.
A messiah who wanted to retire
There was this messiah who lived in a village. He was a tremendous source of help and inspiration for the villagers who sought his wise counsel for almost every problem. He sought nothing himself and selflessly gave of himself to the people, whenever they needed him. Everything seemed to be going well when, out of the blue, the Messiah made a startling revelation.
"I am ready to announce my retirement now," he said much to the shock of all the assembled villagers, "I have been preparing for this moment and ultimately, it has arrived."
"No! You cannot do this. Please do not leave us..."
"What will we do without you? Whom shall we turn to for succour and solace?"
"How can a messiah retire? What do you mean!"
"Why do you want to retire? Have we failed you or disappointed you in any way?"
The messiah smiled within himself. As usual, men made their own audacious assumptions and theories. The assumptions may vary in nature and scope, but they all are tinged to varying degrees with selfishness. Everyone wanted him to stay for reasons that meant a lot to them - not him directly!
"Every person in every occupation enjoys a retirement. I am only seeking mine! Is that not fair enough?" asked the messiah with a smile.
That was an argument that none could refute. But still, how could they live without the services of their messiah? Looking at the whole situation objectively, the people realized that their domestic problems could be solved through discussions with each other. Financial advice could be sought from some money-lender who still had scruples left. Health matters could be taken up with a doctor. But what about matters relating to the spirit? Spirituality, though very 'important', is never 'urgent' and thus gets neglected till times such as these. Now that the messiah was about to retire, spirituality seemed to gain urgency too along with importance.
And so, they all pleaded with him,
"How will we remain in touch with God if you retire?"
"Please, if you must retire, then ensure that we will be in touch with God in some way at least."
"Tell us what we must do so that God is happy with us always..."
"Yes! Tell us the one 'most important' thing that God wants us to do..."
"Yes! Yes! Tell us that 'one thing' which God wants from us", everyone chorused.
The messiah smiled to himself again. If only the people had approached him with this feeling and intensity before, each and every thing that he had said could have served as the potential 'one thing'! However, people seem to realize the value of something only when they are about to lose it or, worse, when they have already lost it. So, this reaction was not at all surprising. With all love he said,
"I shall find out what that 'one thing' which God wants from you is. And then, I'll retire."
The worries of the people were mollified to a certain extent. The at least had something to look forward to now.
What God wants from us...
As per his promise, the messiah went to get the message of the Lord. In a day's time, he returned from the adjoining mountains. As he walked the streets of the village, all the villagers gathered around him. They knew for sure that he had got the message from God. That 'one thing' which God wanted most from them would now be revealed.
Even though the whole village had gathered around him, there was perfect silence. Has it not been said that it is only in the depths of silence that the voice of God can be heard? Physical silence was the first step for true silence. Nobody wanted to miss the great secret that was going to be revealed.
"I am ready to reveal God's message. But are you ready to listen and follow?"
The first sentence from the messiah broke the silence. There was a lot of murmur and chatter among the gathered people. Small groups began to discuss among themselves. Soon, a few men and women stepped forward to speak. Each of them had something to say.
"If it is something that God wants us to do, we are ready for anything."
"Even if it means sacrificing all our comforts and going through great suffering, we are ready to do it for God's sake."
"If we are told to hang upside down by our toes, we are ready. If we have to blind ourselves, we are ready. If we have to kill we are ready... We are ready for anything..."
"Yes! We are ready to shed tears all our life. Any pain, we shall bear. Please tell us what is it that God wants us to do."
"Speaking is easy my dear people", said the messiah, "but when it comes to practice, I hope your enthusiasm and energy does not fizzle away."
"No! Just give us a try! We will do anything."
"Not only are we ready to sacrifice, we shall make others sacrifice as well. We will give up our own parents, husbands, wives, children, friends and relatives is need be."
"Anything! We are ready to do just anything. Please let us know what God wants us to do."
The messiah took a deep breath. And that breath could be heard through the gathering for everyone was silent, waiting with a bated breath. He then smiled because the answer was so simple and straight. He had in fact revealed the same all through his messiah 'career' days and nobody had paid such attention. His retirement seemed to have focused everyone to the crux of all spirituality.
"Listen oh people to the request from God. This is the one thing that God wants you to do so that you remain in touch with the Divine always."
The silence was deafening now. All the ears were trained completely on what the messiah was about to say.
"God wants you to be HAPPY for him."
Allowing a few moments for that statement to sink in, the messiah continued,
"God does not want your tears and pains for Him. He does not want your sacrifices and suffering for Him. Nor does he want you to be hung upside down or struggle to please Him. He just wants you to be Happy for Him."
Go back to your places with firm faith that everything will turn out to be good. Lead a happy and peaceful life."
The first time I narrated this story was in Swami's presence on the 29th of July, 2005. I keep narrating this story many times. And that is to keep reminding myself more than anybody else of what Swami wants from me.
A messiah who wanted to retire
There was this messiah who lived in a village. He was a tremendous source of help and inspiration for the villagers who sought his wise counsel for almost every problem. He sought nothing himself and selflessly gave of himself to the people, whenever they needed him. Everything seemed to be going well when, out of the blue, the Messiah made a startling revelation.
"I am ready to announce my retirement now," he said much to the shock of all the assembled villagers, "I have been preparing for this moment and ultimately, it has arrived."
"No! You cannot do this. Please do not leave us..."
"What will we do without you? Whom shall we turn to for succour and solace?"
"How can a messiah retire? What do you mean!"
"Why do you want to retire? Have we failed you or disappointed you in any way?"
The messiah smiled within himself. As usual, men made their own audacious assumptions and theories. The assumptions may vary in nature and scope, but they all are tinged to varying degrees with selfishness. Everyone wanted him to stay for reasons that meant a lot to them - not him directly!
"Every person in every occupation enjoys a retirement. I am only seeking mine! Is that not fair enough?" asked the messiah with a smile.
That was an argument that none could refute. But still, how could they live without the services of their messiah? Looking at the whole situation objectively, the people realized that their domestic problems could be solved through discussions with each other. Financial advice could be sought from some money-lender who still had scruples left. Health matters could be taken up with a doctor. But what about matters relating to the spirit? Spirituality, though very 'important', is never 'urgent' and thus gets neglected till times such as these. Now that the messiah was about to retire, spirituality seemed to gain urgency too along with importance.
And so, they all pleaded with him,
"How will we remain in touch with God if you retire?"
"Please, if you must retire, then ensure that we will be in touch with God in some way at least."
"Tell us what we must do so that God is happy with us always..."
"Yes! Tell us the one 'most important' thing that God wants us to do..."
"Yes! Yes! Tell us that 'one thing' which God wants from us", everyone chorused.
The messiah smiled to himself again. If only the people had approached him with this feeling and intensity before, each and every thing that he had said could have served as the potential 'one thing'! However, people seem to realize the value of something only when they are about to lose it or, worse, when they have already lost it. So, this reaction was not at all surprising. With all love he said,
"I shall find out what that 'one thing' which God wants from you is. And then, I'll retire."
The worries of the people were mollified to a certain extent. The at least had something to look forward to now.
The messiah comes back with the simple command from God. But are the people ready to listen? |
As per his promise, the messiah went to get the message of the Lord. In a day's time, he returned from the adjoining mountains. As he walked the streets of the village, all the villagers gathered around him. They knew for sure that he had got the message from God. That 'one thing' which God wanted most from them would now be revealed.
Even though the whole village had gathered around him, there was perfect silence. Has it not been said that it is only in the depths of silence that the voice of God can be heard? Physical silence was the first step for true silence. Nobody wanted to miss the great secret that was going to be revealed.
"I am ready to reveal God's message. But are you ready to listen and follow?"
The first sentence from the messiah broke the silence. There was a lot of murmur and chatter among the gathered people. Small groups began to discuss among themselves. Soon, a few men and women stepped forward to speak. Each of them had something to say.
"If it is something that God wants us to do, we are ready for anything."
"Even if it means sacrificing all our comforts and going through great suffering, we are ready to do it for God's sake."
"If we are told to hang upside down by our toes, we are ready. If we have to blind ourselves, we are ready. If we have to kill we are ready... We are ready for anything..."
"Yes! We are ready to shed tears all our life. Any pain, we shall bear. Please tell us what is it that God wants us to do."
"Speaking is easy my dear people", said the messiah, "but when it comes to practice, I hope your enthusiasm and energy does not fizzle away."
"No! Just give us a try! We will do anything."
"Not only are we ready to sacrifice, we shall make others sacrifice as well. We will give up our own parents, husbands, wives, children, friends and relatives is need be."
"Anything! We are ready to do just anything. Please let us know what God wants us to do."
The messiah took a deep breath. And that breath could be heard through the gathering for everyone was silent, waiting with a bated breath. He then smiled because the answer was so simple and straight. He had in fact revealed the same all through his messiah 'career' days and nobody had paid such attention. His retirement seemed to have focused everyone to the crux of all spirituality.
"Listen oh people to the request from God. This is the one thing that God wants you to do so that you remain in touch with the Divine always."
The silence was deafening now. All the ears were trained completely on what the messiah was about to say.
"God wants you to be HAPPY for him."
Allowing a few moments for that statement to sink in, the messiah continued,
"God does not want your tears and pains for Him. He does not want your sacrifices and suffering for Him. Nor does he want you to be hung upside down or struggle to please Him. He just wants you to be Happy for Him."
The only thing that Swami wants us to be is - HAPPY! It would help us to remember that true happiness comes only in union with God. |
Concluding thoughts
We are all prepared to pine for the lost, cry for the Lord, suffer for the Lord and endure pain for the Lord. But are we ready to be happy for the Lord? Our objective in life is to be happy and that is our constant endeavour. God wants us to be happy always. Then, where is the problem. That is a point to ponder; some food for thought.
Is that not how Swami mostly concluded His discourses? One sample is presented below:
"Always be happy, smiling, and loving. When you are smiling, love will automatically develop in you. There are, of course, some people who will put up a "castor oil" face. You must always be smiling and cheerful. God is always blissful. He does not at all worry for anything. Sorrow and worry are nowhere near God. Always be happy and peaceful. Live like members of the same family with love and affection. Do not be weighed down by petty difficulties and suffering. Do not give scope to any worry. Even if your wife or children suffer from a disease, do not get perturbed.
"Always be happy, smiling, and loving. When you are smiling, love will automatically develop in you. There are, of course, some people who will put up a "castor oil" face. You must always be smiling and cheerful. God is always blissful. He does not at all worry for anything. Sorrow and worry are nowhere near God. Always be happy and peaceful. Live like members of the same family with love and affection. Do not be weighed down by petty difficulties and suffering. Do not give scope to any worry. Even if your wife or children suffer from a disease, do not get perturbed.
Go back to your places with firm faith that everything will turn out to be good. Lead a happy and peaceful life."
- Discourse on 28th July, 2007 (Valedictory function of Youth Conference)
The ABC of life is "Always Be Cheerful". Can we start learning the alphabet for God's sake? |
How An Elephant and Her Caretaker
Rose to Shine Like Saints
Part 01
This is no story but a real life narrative about two souls – an elephant and her caretaker - who were inextricably bonded in a special relationship through their unconditional love for Swami. Simple and humble, with every breath suffused with their love for Bhagawan, the two communicated not just in silence, but also through words! Their lives as retold here exemplify the power of unshakeable faith, trust and surrender. It also illustrates how pure and potent love for the Lord instils an aura of resplendent divinity in the devotee.This is the third article in this 90th Birthday special series, the previous two being: When Faith Powers You and Love Strengthens You and A Sai-Centric Life and Living.
Swami Reveals His Great Devotee
The date stood out on the calendar – May 22 – a day that stirred some powerfully poignant and vivid memories. "I remember that morning vividly," said Mr. Pedda Reddy, caretaker of Sai Geetha (Baba's beloved elephant) for more than two decades. As he prepared to speak, he looked far into the distance. His tender expression and glistening eyes gave away the emotions welling up within him. He said:
"I cannot forget that day ever. It was not even seven in the morning and Swami's car was already there. As He alighted eagerly, His eyes were only searching for the body of Sai Geetha that now lay silent and still. The moment He saw her, Swami clasped my hands and broke down. He started weeping like a baby. Seeing Him in that stage, the dam within me also burst. I just could not hold myself any longer and succumbed to a sea of tears.
"Swami held on to my palms just as a best friend would hold you and cry in a moment of intense grief, somehow to lessen the sense of loss and find some solace. At one point, His grip grew tighter and then He looked into my eyes and shaking with anguish said, 'We have lost a great devotee... I have lost My great devotee'. The pain with which Swami uttered those words virtually paralysed me. In that instant, intense remorse was transformed into a moment of intense revelation.
"I knew how much Swami loved Sai Geetha and how great her love too was for the Lord but I had not known Sai Geetha meant so much to Swami!
Mr. Pedda Reddy, the indefatigable servitor, handpicked by the Lord |
"He repeated those words 'I have lost a great devotee' several times as He began moving closer to her. My mind was now overwhelmed with powerful memories of this divine elephant and her ethereal love... the way she would literally dash to Mandir on festive occasions impatient to see her Swami; the manner in which the Lord, the moment He spotted her, would cross the verandah and walk all the way down Sai Kulwant Hall and allow her to caress Him, touch His feet and fondle His hair; the uncontainable restlessness in her to come on to the road the moment she 'sensed' Swami had left the Mandir; the graceful, dignified and disciplined manner with which she led all the processions in Prasanthi Nilayam, absolutely conscious of what would please her Swami; the prayerful and patient attitude with which she would wait for any length of time in the Mandir just to be blessed with that one darshan and one look; how she always avoided company and wished for silence at her shed and would not tolerate the sevadals gossiping at the gate; the way she welcomed Swami's students to her only because Swami too loved them; how she would inconsolably and unceasingly shed tears and even go without food for days when Swami was away from Prasanthi Nilayam - how life without Swami was just unthinkable for her.
"In fact while tending to her one night, about four days before she passed away on May 22, 2007, she actually confided in me that she did not want to live any longer..."
Now Sai Geetha Reveals about Swami
"Is it? She told you that? She knew she was going?" I was absolutely bewildered and even intrigued. "How did she tell you?"
"She spoke to me in Telugu," Mr. Pedda Reddy replied nonchalantly as if it was common for elephants to communicate with us in our native languages.
"What? Really?" It was obviously unbelievable.
Mr. Pedda Reddy didn't seem in the least surprised – he was as still as a lake. "Yes," he said, "Actually no one knows this. In fact even I was startled when this happened to me for the first time sometime in 2002-03. One night after I finished her work and was about to leave, I heard a voice calling out to me in Telugu. It was soft, serene, warm and welcoming. I wondered who was calling me and looked around but there was no one. When the call was repeated, I paid attention towards the direction of its source and can you imagine what I saw? It was not Sai Geetha anymore. Instead, where she stood, I saw a resplendent halo of bright light. It was this light that began to speak to me. Since that day, I have had many conversations with this Bright Light, generally during the nights.
"Actually when Swami had His first fracture in 2003, I asked her if Swami would walk again and she clearly said, 'No, He is never going to walk normally. Swami has decided to slowly conclude His earthly sojourn'. And then, she stated something that completely shook me. She said, 'I too do not want to live long. I cannot stay here if He is not here.'
"Of course I did not share this with anyone then for obvious reasons. Same thing happened on May 18, 2007. That night she spoke her last words to me. With piercing sadness she said, 'Swami is not going to be here for long. I am going... I just cannot live to see the day when He is not here anymore. I cannot bear it. I have to go. I am going.'
A legendary love story... |
"But what puzzled me then was the thought that we all knew - that there were at least 14 years more for the Sathya Sai Avatar. Like every other devotee I had dreamt of seeing Him till He was 96 as He had declared. So I asked myself, 'What is the hurry? Why does she want to leave so early?'
"Things became clear much later. Sai Geetha truly 'knew' the Lord more than any of us on earth. In fact, if you remember the discourse that Swami gave to students in the institute auditorium in July 2007, which was perhaps the first discourse after Sai Geetha's departure, Swami explained why Sai Geetha had departed so early."
"Yes, I remember," I said. "Swami indeed was in tears as He recalled Sai Geetha and said, 'When I mention Sai Geetha, I am not deeply grief-stricken. In fact, I have no sorrow. I am never worried. I am not remorseful at all. It is only Vatsalyam – Supreme Maternal Love. When she arrived, I applied honey to my finger and put it in her mouth and she went on sipping. Later, I fed her milk through a feeding bottle, and from then on she forgot about her mother. I christened her Sai Geetha.'"
"So true. She is His daughter," Mr. Pedda Reddy continued, "Another revelatory moment on May 22 morning was when Swami came close to her and called 'Geetha... Geetha' and she did open her eyes for a few seconds! She was waiting for her Lord. You may be amazed to know that even though she was declared dead the previous night itself, her body had not become stiff. Until Swami came and poured Vibhuti in her mouth all her limbs were supple. She had not gone. How could she go without seeing her beloved? She was waiting."
"That is exactly what Swami said to the boys that morning," I added, "After revealing how she was waiting for Him, Swami became intensely emotional and physically tired too. So He took to His chair. His voice then grew feeble. But then He said something that rattled everyone within earshot. It was so disturbing that Prof. Anil Kumar too did not want to translate it. So only a few people actually understood what He said. Fortunately we have that video and now when we see the recording we can watch Swami clearly saying in Telugu - 'Sai Geetha left because she did not want to live when I am not here.'"
"That is precisely what she told me," Mr. Pedda Reddy continued, "She just could not imagine her life without Swami. Her connection with Swami was so solid and her love for Him so intense, so pure and so potent.
An Unmatched and Unprecedented Bond
"Tell me if there is anyone else in the history of the Sathya Sai Avatar for whose funeral Swami was present physically?" Mr. Pedda Reddy went on, "Not only was He there early in the morning, He in fact supervised every minute detail of the ceremony. He even gave instructions that the body should not have a single scratch, and must be carefully lifted not dragged. That is when a crane arrived to take her off the ground and place her in the sacred pit – all under Swami's watchful and protective eye. Swami wanted that space to be filled with all holy items like Vibhuti, turmeric, vermillion, loads of flowers and all the choicest grass and other leaves that she loved to eat.
"As this was going on, Swami returned to Yajur Mandir and asked me to follow Him. He handed over to me all her precious jewellery that He always kept in His residence. Sai Geetha used to be decked with these on all major festivals. 'All these should be on her now too. Place them on her,' He instructed. After handing these over to me He again started off to the Samadhi site. He wanted to be there all through the entire ceremony.
The morning of May 22, 2007 - it was for this day that the Lord cut short His Kodai sojourn and returned in a hurry |
"Actually it was very hot then. It was 11 in the morning. But Swami insisted on being there until the ceremony was complete. So lost was I in managing the proceedings that I too in my foolishness did not request Swami to come inside the planetarium and sit in a shady area. How negligent of me! I feel very bad when I think of it now. Swami left the premises only after directing all the offerings that should be made on her sacred body and watching the pit finally covered with Vibhuti and then mud. It was beyond 12 noon.
"It did not end there. Eleven days later, just as many in India conduct Narayana Seva as part of the eleventh day ceremony, Swami too came to the Samadhi on June 3 and offered her fruits and sweets, and then took them to the Gokulam and fed those to the cows there. Have we ever heard Swami personally observing this ceremony for any devotee? Sai Geetha's saga is simply exceptional and highly exemplary."
"Undoubtedly," I humbly nodded, trying to absorb everything he had narrated. But there was more coming.
A farewell as royal and divine as it can get |
"I must tell you this," Mr. Pedda Reddy went on, "At the time of the inauguration of the Indoor Stadium, Swami brought Dr. Narendranath Reddy in His car. Seeing the love that Swami had for Sai Geetha, he asked, 'Swami, what will she be in her next life?' Swami replied, 'No rebirth for her. This is her last life. No more birth or death for her.' I remember how Dr. Reddy rushed to me later to share these prophetic words."
"Wow! How holy she is! And how blessed you are!" I told Mr. Pedda Reddy, "You had the chance to serve such an enlightened being!" His fortune indeed was immeasurable and I did not know how to congratulate him for that.
How Pedda Reddy was 'Picked and Ticked' by the Lord
"It is His love for me, that's all. I know I do not deserve any bit of it," Mr. Pedda Reddy admitted in all humility. "In fact I was a nobody and had He not saved me, I would have got lost in the world leading a lacklustre regular life with all of its trappings and trauma. Indeed, He pulled me to Him at the right time!"
The fulfilment of the prayer of many lives - Mr. Pedda Reddy was blessed with the chance to serve Him closely and bask in His love for decades together |
"So when did that happen? And how?" Having heard so much about Sai Geetha, now I was eager to hear the story of her caretaker too. Intuitively, I knew that he too was no ordinary soul.
"Well, I heard of Swami for the first time in the '60s. By then I was studying in Sambalpur College affiliated to Utkal University in the state of Odisha. Even though we belong to West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh, my parents had bought some lands in Odisha as they were available for very low prices then. However, during my vacations, we used to come back to Andhra Pradesh.
"There was a Sai bhajan group in my hometown, then run by a school teacher. Out of curiosity, I had gone there a couple of times. Meanwhile, my uncle had already been to Puttaparthi and seen Swami.
"Based on his experience, he told me that Sai Baba was no ordinary being. Then I read some of His books and heard recordings of His discourses. 'He must be a great soul' I said to myself. This itself was strange because until then I was never inclined towards spirituality or anything to do with religion. But somehow there was some attraction towards this 'Sai Baba'.
"I saw Him for the first time in Brindavan (Bangalore) in 1969. There was some charm about Him. I felt like coming back to the ashram. So the next year I was in Puttaparthi for the Dasara celebrations. This time Swami picked me up from darshan and told me to go in for an interview.
"Once inside, He narrated every detail of my family to me. My parents had passed away by then. He revealed all that was going on with my brothers and sisters. I sat there zapped and stupefied. I was convinced He was not ordinary. That day He foretold the direction my life would take. 'You will be with Me in the future. You are not going to enter marital life. You are going to stay with Me.' This came as a pronouncement, clearly and emphatically. I was too stunned to even think. I came out of the interview room like a person who had lost all awareness of himself. It was a life-altering experience.
part 02
The Penance of Pining for Him
"Soon I returned to Odisha as I was then a lecturer in Sambalpur University. After completing my Bachelors in Science and Masters in Physics, the same college offered me a job and I took it. I was back but my mind was locked to Puttaparthi. I longed to return here. Swami started appearing in my dreams. One night, He wrote on my tongue 'Om'. Now the desire to stay with Swami was only becoming more intense every day. I was almost feeling like a fish out of water.
"So the next month I returned to the ashram, now for the Birthday celebrations. I could not stay long as I did not have enough leave. So reluctantly I returned but came back again during the summer holidays of 1971. Every time I was in Prasanthi, I would ask Swami permission to stay here but He would always say 'Wait, wait'. It was becoming really hard for me. I was desperate to work here.
"By now I was familiar with all the service opportunities in the canteen (there was only the South Indian canteen then). In fact if I was not in darshan I was serving in the canteen. I loved the chance to do His work. Mr. Kutumba Rao was the secretary of the ashram then. He was extremely impressed with me. One day he suggested to me to write a letter to Swami asking for the opportunity to stay here and do His work. So keen was Mr. Kutumba Rao that I join the canteen that he himself wrote the letter for me; I only signed it. It was sent to Swami but nothing happened. Crestfallen, I returned to Odisha after the summer vacation.
The Fruit of Indomitable Focus
"I was in the ashram again for the 1972 Birthday celebrations. I participated wholeheartedly and served to my heart's content during this festival. However the sorrow of not being able to secure permission from Swami to stay in Puttaparthi was giving me sleepless nights. Every second was becoming unbearable. I decided that I had to end this chapter of my life to continue living in a sane manner. So after the celebrations concluded, in a moment of intense agony and frustration, I wrote to letter to Him saying 'Swami, if You do not give me the chance to serve here permanently I will never return to Puttaparthi again! I will settle down in Odisha and start a new life.'
"The next day Swami instructed Mr. Kutumba Rao to allot me a room in the ashram and I was given some responsibilities in the canteen. That is how my life in Prasanthi began.
"The ashram had very few rooms then and no bachelor would be given a room all to himself. But Swami was too gracious with me.
"In those days my duties apart from canteen tasks included looking after the gardens in front of the Mandir. This continued till 1979-80. I would serve in the canteen almost the entire day."
"Were you getting any salary?" I could not resist asking this question.
Simple Living, High Serving
"No, I wanted to serve freely. When I came I had brought with me Rs. 3,000. I had planned to manage with this as long as I could, with basic self-cooking. But Swami told me to keep this amount in the bank and gave instructions to Mr. Kutumba Rao on the first day itself that I should always be given free food in the canteen. For what else do I need money? Bhagawan gave me clothes a couple of times or more in a year along with stitching charges. So I never had the need to buy my dresses. In fact I have not bought a single piece of cloth in the last 45 years that I have stayed in Puttaparthi. The only other expense is soap and razor, which cost less than Rs.50 per month. I cut my own hair with two mirrors and do my own laundry. My brother used to send me some money and that would last the whole year. So why do I need salary?
"However when the University came into being in 1980 Swami asked me to work in the library too. I was now given a honorarium of Rs. 400 per month. I accepted this for a few months but later when the college officials objected to me working anywhere else I declined this offer. So I continued to serve in the canteen and in the library in the early '80s.
"In the beginning of 1985, the work for the planetarium started and it was inaugurated in November that year. Swami asked me to learn the operations and maintenance of this edifice. Actually, my name was not listed as part of the planetarium team but Swami made sure that my name was included. So, during this time, I was really occupied. On Thursdays, I would be extremely busy as the planetarium opened for the public on that day.
"Meanwhile, in the mid-'80s many people who were managing the canteen left. So the task of running the entire canteen fell upon me and I discharged this responsibility for nearly 12-13 years since 1986."
"But when did you start taking care of Sai Geetha? And how did that happen?" I was eager to connect this vital missing link.
A Golden Chapter of Mr. Pedda Reddy's Life Begins...
"Yes, it was during this time, 1984-85. Sathyanarayana, a mahout from Andhra Pradesh, was her caretaker then. However, he was not keeping well and one day he approached me and requested to help him in his work. That day, suddenly Swami came there and saw me in the Sai Geetha shed. Sathyanarayana told Swami that he had called me to help him look after Sai Geetha. Swami immediately said, 'Yes yes, let him learn' and then looked at me lovingly and actually laughed mildly.
"That was for me a positive sign and blessing from Him. So from then on, I began tending to Sai Geetha along with Sathyanarayana. He taught me all the nuances – the words she responded to, what and how much to feed her, how to bathe her, dress her up and so on. Sai Geetha got used to seeing me along with Sathyanarayana, and slowly began to accept me. You know that the elephant has accepted you only when it allows you to ride on her back. One of those days I rode on her back too along with Sathyanarayana and gradually we became comfortable with each other.
Sai Geetha wholeheartedly cooperated whenever she was being dressed because she knew she would be seeing Swami that day |
"A year later, Sathyanarayana left and I became Sai Geetha's sole caretaker. That was a hectic period for me.
"I would wake up at 3.30 a.m. and open the canteen at 4 and manage all the activities there until 8 in the morning. Then in a bullock cart I would load Sai Geetha's food for the day – the likes of ragi, pulses, vegetable fibre – and go to her. She would be on the sands and her body would be covered with mud. I would brush, clean and bathe her and then apply Vibhuti on her forehead. In case she had any wounds, I would apply medicines.
"Once she was fresh and ready, I would serve her breakfast. All this would take 2-3 hours. At 11 am, I would be back in the canteen and manage the crucial lunch hour. At 3 p.m., I would return to my room for a little rest and an hour later I would be with Sai Geetha again. I would take her for a walk for at least two hours. Once she was back, I would cut grass from the adjacent fields for her. In fact, I was looking after these fields too as they provided the much-needed fodder for her. It would be nearly 8 p.m. by the time I finished all her work. At 9, I was back in my room. That is how packed my days were then.
"It would be even more challenging on Thursdays as I had to be in the planetarium as well to organise the shows! But the comforting factor was that with time Sai Geetha became very friendly with me. I always treated her with much respect and would constantly think of her comfort and well-being. I would bring the sweets she liked and procure the leaves and grass she relished. All this only brought us together. In fact with time she became so close to me that she never allowed anyone else to come near her, not even experienced mahouts.
"At one point, sensing my work pressure, the ashram administration wanted to appoint a full-time caretaker for her. They even brought in a few people but Sai Geetha rejected all of them. She would follow me wherever I went. She became really affectionate towards me and would listen to everything I said. I did not need to tell her much; she was self-disciplined.
"I recall in early 2000 when she had many wounds on her legs, I would spend a lot of time cleaning them, applying medicine and covering them with a cloth bandage. She would let the bandage be – like a human child. Swami used to constantly enquire about her and when I narrated her problems, He would say 'It will go, it will go' and advise me a few solutions. When she was afflicted with the foot and mouth disease, all leather came off from her feet and she was dripping saliva all the time. She suffered for nearly two weeks until the disease got cured by His grace.
"By this time, after the year 2000, she showed visible signs of ageing. She was unable to move like before. I would take her out for walks only on alternate days. But I used to spend a lot of time with her. In fact she would not like me leaving her in the night and would wait eagerly every morning to see me. I too enjoyed serving and being with her."
A Faith That Moved The Lord
I interrupted him at this point to ask - "But were you not missing out on darshans as you had to be with Sai Geetha every evening while everyone else was in the Sai Kulwant Hall?" I wondered how Mr. Pedda Reddy had reconciled himself to the notion of serving Him without receiving anything in return especially when I was so used to seeing people doing one tenth of what Mr. Pedda Reddy did and yet looking for the chance of a pada namaskar or a photo or a gift from Swami.
"Actually that thought never even crossed my mind. It was because I was extremely busy doing His work. I know He is God. This conviction was firm in me right from the time I came to Him. I had heard how in 1979 during Shivarathri Swami manifested as Shiva Shakthi in the house of a devotee in West Godavari district and blessed them with a Shiva lingam. That year there was no Lingodbhavam in Puttaparthi. This is just one instance. There are millions like this. I had no doubt that He is Divine and that He knows everything. I do not have to work in front of His eyes and see Him daily to receive His blessings. Actually once He gave me responsibilities I never had the time to sit for long hours in Sai Kulwant Hall. And, even when I would go fordarshans in the early days, I would sit among the general public, not with the staff."
"Really?" I blurted out. This was too perplexing. I know of scores of people whose only aim of becoming a staff member was to get that privileged place in the Mandir but here was someone who did the opposite. "Why did you do that?" I prodded.
Mr. Pedda Reddy laughed heartily and said, "Sitting with the devotees had a charm of its own. I loved waiting with the general public and eagerly expecting which token our line was going to be awarded in the lots that day. If my row won first or second line I would go inside the hall, else go back to work. The most beautiful part was the fact that wherever I was seated, Swami would always spot me. And if He happened to create Vibhuti for someone there, He would place a little on my palms too. So it was always a special experience. However, I did this only for a few years. Later I got too busy with my tasks.
When The Lord Longed to Bless His Dear Devotee...
"I loved His form, yes, but also knew that He is all-pervasive. In fact, in 1986 during Dasara celebrations, Swami was giving clothes to all staff members. He did this for three continuous days and I could not go because of work. Finally, on the third day the warden of the hostel came to the Sai Geetha shed and said, 'Swami is waiting for you! Go quickly!' As soon as I went to the interview room Swami said, 'Where were you? I have been waiting and looking for you for the last three days! I will never leave you. Do not worry!' Then He gave me two pairs of clothes and money too.
"In fact Swami used to give me clothes at least twice a year. That would be enough for 12 months. Actually even now I have clothes that will last me for the next 10 years minimum!
"Six months before Swami left His mortal coil, one night Mr.Chakravarthi (then Secretary of the Ashram) called me and said, 'Swami is asking for your passbook. Bring it and see Swami the next morning'. I guessed Swami wanted to give me money. So I told him 'Sir, I do not need money. Please tell Swami.' But he said, 'You tell that to Swami directly.' So next morning I went to Swami but without my passbook. I persistently submitted to Him that I was comfortable and did not need any money. Swami reluctantly acquiesced to what I said.
"However, after a month, during Sankranthi celebrations in 2011 Swami called me again and gave me clothes and Rs. 5,000. He repeated this again after a month during the Shivarathri festival. This time He put a lot of money in my pocket. In fact, to share with you, I had saved all the money Swami had given me from the beginning because I hardly had any expenses. During His 70th Birthday I gave Swami Rs. 70,000. The money that I had originally brought had accumulated a lot of interest. Besides, my brother used to send me some money off and on. Swami however refused to take this. He said, 'I will not accept anything from you.' So I deposited the money back in the bank.
Part 03
Prophetic and Profound Blessings on the Final Day
"In the early years, when I had just arrived in Puttaparthi, way back in 1972, Swami had said 'I will look after you in every way'. But He has done much more than I could ever imagine. I have experienced His love in abundance!
"To give you another instance, on March 25, 2011, during His last darshan, I was standing by His residence with Sathya Geetha (the new elephant after Sai Geetha passed away in 2007). Before going up to the devotees, when Swami spotted me with the baby elephant, His chair turned and He came near us. That day He personally wanted to feed Sathya Geetha. He put a few apples in her mouth even though His physical frame was so weak, and then He looked at me and said, 'Take Namaskar'. So I immediately prostrated at His feet. When I rose He said, 'This is the last, this is the last'. I had no clue then what that meant. I thought maybe Swami did not want me to get Sathya Geetha anymore to Mandir. Sai Geetha used to come only on festival occasions. So I surmised that was the tradition we would follow from now on with Sathya Geetha too. I had no idea that it was indeed the last time I would be seeing my Swami.
Sathya Geeta, the little one that came under His loving care in 2007 |
"It was unbearable for me to see His body in the casket. It reminded me of all those sweet memories with the Lord. All my beautiful moments are those when I came to Mandir with Sai Geetha. Every such encounter was so exceptional, so eternally colourful. What a play of Pure Love it was! When I look at the Samadhi, I miss Swami, I miss being with Sai Geetha. But then I have no regrets. I have achieved my target. When Shiva Himself was here in human form I saw Him, I served Him and I served His greatest devotee. And I did everything wholeheartedly with absolute sincerity, commitment and love. What else do I need? Everything else is temporary. I have experienced His love in full measure.
He Strengthened the Mind and Safeguarded the Body
"I remember during one of the major Birthday celebrations, we had to prepare 1.4 million ladoos. I did not sleep for days together. We did not have so many staff or volunteers to execute this mammoth task. So Swami asked the students of the Brindavan campus to help. We did this work in the Poornachandra Auditorium. Swami Himself came to oversee this work.
"Like this, I have stayed awake for nights together on so many occasions. I do not know how I got that much strength and stamina. I would never fall sick. However, once I did collapse. It was after the major world conference during 75th birthday celebrations. I had perhaps exerted myself far beyond my limits. That night the headache was severe. The pain was so excruciating that I was rolling on the bed with high temperature, sweating and groaning. The secretary of the ashram got very scared. He thought I may not live. He immediately went to Swami and knocked on His room even though He had retired. Swami called for Dr. Patel and gave him Vibhuti for me. After partaking the Vibhuti I felt better. The next morning the Secretary asked me to sit in the front in the portico. The moment Swami saw me He asked, 'What happened to you?'
"'Unbearable headache, Swami!' I said.
"'It will go away, do not worry.' Saying this He patted me on my head and gave me some more Vibhuti. That was it. The headache disappeared. I never had to visit the hospital or take any medicine. Even now, although I am past 75, I do not take any pills. I have no ailments by His grace. He is taking care of me even now, as always."
Sai and His Little Sathya Geetha
"Do you still work?" I was curious.
"Yes, of course. However, after Sathya Geetha passed away my workload has reduced quite a bit."
"How was Swami's relationship with Sathya Geetha?" I did not want to miss this tiny but sweet chapter of His story.
"Well, initially Swami had no interest in another elephant after Sai Geetha. However, when an elderly devotee presented her to Swami in 2007, He called me and asked me to take good care of her. Sathya Geetha was few months old then. I used to bring her for darshan every Thursday. Looking at her growth, He even complimented me a couple of times. He would ask what I was feeding her and one day I remember He put Rs. 5,000 in my pocket and said, 'Do not starve! You eat well and buy whatever she wants. Once this money is over, come to Me and ask.'
Sathya Geetha was slowly trying to fit into the big shoes of Sai Geetha... |
"In 2008, one day Swami sent for me and enquired about Sathya Geetha's health. He told me she was not well. That was true. She had suddenly developed arthritis and was unable to walk. But I had not told Swami yet. He said, 'Bring her in the evening. I want to see her. Call the doctors too.' I told Him, 'Swami, You alone can cure her'. Indeed by His grace in four weeks she was completely cured. After this she was growing up well. She was alright until the time Swami was there. However after 2011 she started developing many maladies. She had a major gastrointestinal problem in 2012. Her body swelled much beyond normal proportions; she actually became like a drum. Many doctors tried to treat her but she did not respond. Eventually one night she passed away peacefully.
"Now, I work only in the South Indian canteen. I am there for two hours in the morning, three hours in the afternoon and again three hours in the night. Of course my body has slowed down now; it has become weak but my mind is peaceful."
"I have attained my target" - Mr. Pedda Reddy
"You have spent more than four decades in Prasanthi Nilayam and never stepped out beyond the Sai Geetha shed on one side and the canteen on the other. Don't you feel your world has been so limited? Does it occur to you sometimes that all these years because you were so busy with Sai Geetha and Sathya Geetha you actually lost out on many other things?" I wanted to probe if there was any regret at all in his life.
Mr. Pedda Reddy - now a picture of perfect peace and contentment |
"Where is the question of losing anything? I have only gained. The greatest blessing Swami has conferred on me is peace of mind. Nowadays I do not have any desires. I feel so much at peace. I have no obligations, no worries and no wants. Last year I donated all my savings to the Trust - the money that Swami had given me over the last 40 years plus whatever my brother used to send me. It was a total of Rs. 1,20,000. I feel so grateful to Swami and just relive those beautiful moments."
"Did Swami ever create anything for you?" I was just inquisitive and telling myself that it was simply impossible that Swami had not materialised something special for him.
"Why does He have to give me anything else? He has sustained every cell of my body, literally. From 1985 till 2005, I only ate the food that Swami sent me. Yes! Every afternoon I would wait for the prasadam from Swami's residence. I never ate in the canteen. How much He has loved me and cared for me! I never felt I lacked anything. In fact this Prasanthi Nilayam is my father's property. This is all mine. I always have this feeling. I have lived comfortably in my father's home, ate the sumptuous food He gave me, wore the beautiful clothes He gifted me and worked happily looking after His property. What better gift can anyone aspire for? Now, He has blessed me with peace. I am only waiting for the final moment, to just leave this body peacefully and go back to Him."
I was speechless. I had read about the lives of many great saints and devotees of the Lord. But now I was in front of one in real life. Truly, I was being blessed with a glimpse of how a Ramdas or a Tukaram or a Surdas would have loved their Lord, served Him and experienced the bliss of feeling His love and presence in every pore of their beings every second of their lives.
"You are such a colossus of inspiration to all of us, Sir!" I prostrated with folded hands. But he just casually brushed it aside saying, "Nothing, nothing. He pulled me. He blessed me. I am a nobody, sir. Who will care for me and bother about me? It is all His love. That's all."
True enough - it is all His love. But some people like Mr. Pedda Reddy know how to make the most of that love – just as an oyster knows how to convert a particle of sand into a precious pearl.
A Ceaseless Offering of Sai Prasadam
Most of us are aware of the Sri Sathya Sai Grama Seva where students of Bhagawan go out to villages during Dasara, distributing prasadam to the villagers around Puttaparthi, at their very doorstep. But few know about a project that Swami silently launched on 23 Nov 2010, that takes Bhagawan's Prasadam everyday to one village in the vicinity of Prasanthi Nilayam.
The Sri Sathya Sai Nithya Annadana Padhakam (SSSNAP) serves a sumptuous meal to 800 to 1000 villagers everyday of the year, and it is a project that has been silently going on for the past four and a half years. As the name suggests (Nithya or continuous), this is a project that happens without a day's break. Be it a festival or a public holiday, this service continues relentlessly.
Two trucks and a mini bus convey the food and seva dal to one of the 31 nodal villages everyday. All the villages are within the radius of about 30 km from Puttaparthi and are from the six taluks of Bukkapatnam, Kothacheruvu, Puttaparthi, Nallamada, O.D.Cheruvu and Chennakothapalli. Over the years, a schedule has been drawn out according to which the same village is visited on a particular date of any month.
Though SSSNAP is an initiative run under the Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust, the food for this project is cooked in a dedicated kitchen in the Ashram by cooks employed specially for the project. Apart from these staff, 42 members of the Seva Dal (21 men 21 women) are allotted for this project
The unique feature of this project is the complete Sadhana-Camp-like schedule that is in place for the participating Seva Dal. Their day begins at 4 a.m. with chanting of Omkaram, Suprabhatham and namasmarana.
At 4:30 the gents Seva Dal goes to the kitchen to assist the cooks and the women seva dal to cut vegetables. The cooking for the day begins at 4:30 and by 6 a.m. most of it is completed. There after the Seva dal refresh themselves and finish their breakfast and report back by 7 a.m. for loading one of the trucks with the utensils and water.
At 4:30 the gents Seva Dal goes to the kitchen to assist the cooks and the women seva dal to cut vegetables. The cooking for the day begins at 4:30 and by 6 a.m. most of it is completed. There after the Seva dal refresh themselves and finish their breakfast and report back by 7 a.m. for loading one of the trucks with the utensils and water.
From 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. everyday the seva dal participate in an elaborate and interactive study circle. Various spiritual topic of interest are discussed and this also serves as a fine orientation programme to those who are new to Bhagawan's message. This is a well-received initiative as an increasing number of Seva dal are first timers to Prasanthi.
The convener of the project, Col. Sundar attends and steers these sessions, discussing various topics of spiritual interest and also encouraging the participants to freely share their views and doubts. By the end of the tenure, the seva dal leave satisfied having attended a sadhana camp, where they not only studied but also had the opportunity to practise Bhagawan's message.
The convener of the project, Col. Sundar attends and steers these sessions, discussing various topics of spiritual interest and also encouraging the participants to freely share their views and doubts. By the end of the tenure, the seva dal leave satisfied having attended a sadhana camp, where they not only studied but also had the opportunity to practise Bhagawan's message.
At 9:30 a.m., the cooked food is loaded into the second truck, and at 10 a.m. the convoy proceeds towards the village. The gents seva dal travel in the trucks while the ladies travel in a mini bus. By the time the volunteers reach the village, a marquee is erected and a shrine set up by a few locals in readiness for the seva. After a session of Bhajans, the prasadam is served at around 11 a.m.
Men and women of the village are made to sit in rows and the prasadam is served in a loving manner. The menu typically consists of rice, dal (lentils), potato curry and buttermilk. In the initial days of the project, the villagers were served sambar rice and curd rice, but later Bhagawan instructed that what they like should be served to them. The menu was then fixed in consultation with the villagers themselves.
Men and women of the village are made to sit in rows and the prasadam is served in a loving manner. The menu typically consists of rice, dal (lentils), potato curry and buttermilk. In the initial days of the project, the villagers were served sambar rice and curd rice, but later Bhagawan instructed that what they like should be served to them. The menu was then fixed in consultation with the villagers themselves.
On an average 800 people are fed everyday. Some times the number goes upto 1200. The Seva dal are instructed to serve the villagers as much as they want. After the serving, the seva dal too partake of the same prasadam and leave. If a good quantity of food is left over (to serve 100 or more) the team heads to a nearby village and the food is distributed to those who wish to take it home in their own utensils.
After this the team returns to Prasanthi Nilayam. On reaching, they unload the trucks, clean the vessels used, offers Arati to Bhagawan and disperse for the day by 4:30 - 5 p.m. They then report again at 4 a.m. the next day for the prayer session.
After this the team returns to Prasanthi Nilayam. On reaching, they unload the trucks, clean the vessels used, offers Arati to Bhagawan and disperse for the day by 4:30 - 5 p.m. They then report again at 4 a.m. the next day for the prayer session.
On innumerable occasions Bhagawan has shown His presence and blessings for this project through the shower of Vibhuti, kumkum or amritham at the shed in Prasanthi Nilayam and in the altars set up in the villages. An interesting incident the volunteers recall is when one of the cooks added 6 kgs of salt to 20 kgs of cooked dal (lentils) by mistake. It was too late to cook again and the dal prepared was definitely unpalatable. The nervous team made a humble prayer to Bhagawan and added little vibhuti to the dal, and that was enough to miraculously offset all the salt, and make the dal as tasty as it is everyday!
There are many Social welfare programmes such as the SSSNAP. Yet this programme that is running its 5th year now has some unique qualities to it. Firstly the approach to make this a Sadhana Camp for the visiting seva dal; and secondly, men and women from different parts of the country and strata of society come to Puttaparthi and take part in this project. Thereby they also get to learn from observing a stable, well thought-out working programme which has enabled the replication of this model in many other states – a purpose that was meant to be served by every project initiated by Bhagawan Baba.
Discarding the path and wasting one's life is an insult to the very name of the species! Instead of getting enslaved to the evanescent and the false, and wasting precious time in their pursuit, dedicate every minute to discovering truth and contemplating on the everlasting, ever-true Lord. Such dedication is the real function o...f the soul. On the other hand, spending time in illusory appetites is the drag of the world. One shouldn't fall victim to the poisonous attractions of worldly luxuries or the wiles of seductive beauty. One day, all these fascinating scenes will vanish as a story unfolded in dream! The characteristic of a spiritual aspirant is the attainment of truth, not the search of the unreal in this evanescent world. In this false world, there can be no true living (sathya-achara). There can be only false living (mithya-achara). True living consists in the realisation of the Lord. This must be borne in mind by everyone every moment of their life.
- Prema Vahini Ch 58
Selfless Love alone can dispel the darkness of ignorance.-BABA.
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