Sai Students Video on Guru Pournima 2015 (Video) An offering from His grateful students to Our Eternal Master – Sri Sathya Sai, on the occasion of Guru Pournima 2015. As life goes on and on, sometimes we feel lost, confused, misdirected. But we have only failed to see that throughout this daunting and deceptive journey, we have at every stage been assisted by our Guru, accompanied by our Guide, and awakened by our dearest Sai.  It is this unnoticed hand of His that puts life in its right perspective, that straightens out its topsy-turvy turns, and that always gives us something to look forward to. Source: An Offering by the Multimedia Division, Sri Sathya Sai Hostel for Senior Students, Prasanthi Nilayam

Conversations on Kubera and Srinivasa Kalyanam… After the evening interview, in the Ganesh Portico… Swami        :    (To a student) When are you going home? Student       :    Swami, 7th October. Swami        :    Holidays! When will you come back? Student       :    Swami, 22nd October. Swami        :    Good. Don’t go anywhere, be with your parents. Student       :    Yes, Swami, I won’t go anywhere. Swami        :    Do you have any old friends? Student       :    No, Swami. I won’t meet them. Swami        :    (Pointing to another student) He is also not your friend. I am the only friend to you. (Swami went inside and came back again at 5.00 pm. To Prof. Anil Kumar)  You had your share (tiffin)? Prof. A. K.  :    I had little Swami. After going home, I will have little more. Swami        :    (To students) What is the tiffin (snacks) in your Hostel? Student       :    Swami, Mirchi Bajji. Swami        :    (Jokingly) There will be no Bajji, only Mirchi. (Swami called the Hostel kitchen in-charge, Sri K. Venkatachalam.) What is the size of the Bajji, big or small? Sri K. V.      :    Swami, medium size. Swami        :    What is the tiffin in School? Students     :    Swami, Kharam Puri. Swami        :    Good, good. What was breakfast? Student       :    Swami, Pulihora and Bunpatti. Swami        :    What is Bunpatti? Student       :    Swami, inside the bun, they will put potato curry. Swami        :    (To the Institute students) What did you all have? Students     :    Three Rava Idlis and Parothas. Swami        :    What was yesterday’s tiffin? Students     :    Swami, puffed rice. Swami        :    (Opening a letter) Red ink! Handwriting is good. (Pointing to a Seva Dal) Delhi Seva Dals are very good. They work sincerely and nicely. Isn’t it? Student       :    Yes, Swami. Swami        :    (To Prof. Anil Kumar) Do you know who is in-charge of Delhi Seva Dal? Prof. A. K.  :    I don’t know Swami. Swami        :    Nanda. Prof. A. K.  :    Oh! Nanda, our security in-charge. Swami        :    Not this Nanda. (Swami mentioned three names who held high posts in the three forces, i.e. Army, Navy and Air Force.) Once, these three called Me for breakfast at 8.00 am. The traffic was fully blocked at Golf Links (a part of Delhi) for Darshan. He told, “Swami, I will arrange military forces”. I told, “No, you should not do like that”. Finally at 10.00 am, I went for breakfast, which was supposed to be at 8.00 am. (To a student) Who is Ravana? Student       :    Swami, Kumbhakarna’s brother. Swami        :    His other brother? Student       :    Swami, Vibhishana. Swami        :    Who is the eldest brother of Ravana? Student       :    I don’t know Swami. Swami        :    Kubera is the eldest brother of Ravana.(To Prof. Anil Kumar) You also didn’t know till now? Prof. A. K.  :    No, Swami. Swami        :    Ravana defeated Kubera and took his kingdom and the Pushpaka Vimana. It also belonged to Kubera. (Pushpaka Vimana is the celestial chariot which could fly at the owner’s will. It was originally made for Lord Brahma by Vishwakarma, the celestial architect. Later, Lord Brahma gifted it to Kubera, the presiding deity of wealth. Later, it was stolen along with Lanka, by his half-brother, the demon king Ravana.) Prof. A. K.  :    Swami, some say that Lord Venkateshwara took money at interest from Kubera and He is still repaying it. Is it the same Kubera?  (Lord Venkateshwara is the presiding deity of the temple at Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh. The name Venkateshwara stems from Sanskrit where ‘Vem’ translates to ‘sin’, ‘Kata’ translates to ‘destruction’, and ‘Ishwara’ translates to ‘Supreme Lord’. He is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu.)  Swami        :    When the marriage took place, only Srinivasa’s (the other name for Lord Venkateshwara) mother, Vakuladevi, and Padmavati’s (the consort of Lord Venkateshwara) parents were present. No one else was there. Then how can He spend so much? (Smiling) If He is still paying the interest, when will He pay the real amount?Swami then went inside the interview room.

“You sweep very nicely…” – By Y. Ranganath Raj That was an insult that was an irrational expectation, and an unforgettable obligation. He said that it was a tacit agreement but I prayed that I shall not be bound by it. As the sweet memories rolled by, my glory stood grand and great. I was a prince, I was a master. Aromatic lunches, languishing comforts were at my behest. Mother and maids sought sanctification in obeying my orders. Father and brothers strained and strived to appease my demands. I was a hero of my grandfather’s past time stories and my grandmother’s unstoppable chattering about my mischief widened my eyes and even drew shocked gasps from her old friends. I was a cynosure in my school, a celebrated hero.  But that day everything seemed to have doomed, for I had been insulted. He indeed was ignorant of my old life, for He ordered me to do that unimaginable task. But…ah! Helplessness shackled my self-respect and cowardice veiled my ego. His eyes were fierce, he was fuming and I knew it would be an added insult to be slapped for my persistence.  Meekly as ordered by my wing teacher, I picked up the broom and swept the whole room. It scarred my image and pounded my dignity. As I finished sweeping my heart silently mourned for the just buried respect and honour. I was shocked, for a school run by the Divine Himself sought to insult and educated individuals imposed the mean job of sweeping rooms on their students. In those early days of hostel stay in class XI, I knew only a handful of boys and as I narrated this insolent injustice to them, I was laughed at and my wound was still deepened. In a gloomy corner I then sat and cried for not merely being insulted but also for being misunderstood. Then, like a lightning it struck me that the only entity Who can heal my wound, restore my self-respect was Swami and that I should write to Him a letter narrating the entire situation. But I was not sure whether the letter would be accepted and whether I would be given the justice I wanted.  With a prayer in my heart, with His name on my lips I sat for Darshan expectantly. The music started and the entity garbed in striking orange and enveloped by a beautiful mortal mantle glided silently and gently.  As He approached me I stretched out my hand to pass on the letter. Those few minutes were filled with intense prayer. He neared me and but to my delight, He started circling His hand and there appeared the much talked about Vibhuti. My joy knew no bounds, for all these fifteen years I merely heard about it and sometimes dreamt of having a closer glance. But there it was dropping slowly into my palm from the fingers of God. Then softly He said, “This is My gift for your hard work. You sweep very nicely.” His look conveyed that He understood it all and His each word consoled my troubled soul, tendered my mind, and definitely resurrected my self-respect. Slowly He walked away but in an instant His head swung back and a piercing look passed through my soul. I knew not what His look carried but at that very instant my bloated, egoistic-self, shuddered agonisingly, floundered pitifully and then crashed, revealing the glory and purpose of a seemingly mean act. Today, as this sweet experience passes through my memory, tears swell up in my eyes, for the mightiest Lord had the time to answer an ignorant appeal.  My seven years of stay in His hostels strongly engraved in me the necessity of self-dependence. This stay taught me that self-respect does not arise through dependence but through independence. Attending to your own needs is not stooping down but rather it is an elevation to an existence endowed with freedom. This apparently insignificant incident had made a deep impact on my way of thinking and changed my perception of self-reliance in its unique way.  – Y. Ranganath Raju Student (2003-2005), Department of Economics Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning Prasanthi Nilayam Campus Currently, Head of Economic Research, TVS Motor Company Ltd., Hosur 

I Just Want To Spend My Life With Sai (Video) Each one of us have experienced that one magical moment, where the lord, in His supreme benevolence, establishes Himself in our hearts, for ever and ever. In that moment of infinity, when our beings are drenched in his Divine Love, our soul cries it to Him. For it is then that we realize that He is the supreme goal of all our pursuits; He is the path, He is the goal, He is giver, and He indeed is the receiver. This short video tries to capture that one moment of infinity, when we lose ourselves in His Love and the only prayer that emerges from the depths of hearts is: You are my dream my love my life, I just want to spend my life with You…  Note: The original song is from a movie and is sung by Clinton Cerejo, Dominique Cerejo. Source: An Offering by the Multimedia Division, Sri Sathya Sai Hostel for Senior Students, Prasanthi Nilayam

The First Ati Rudra Maha Yajna at Prasanthi Nilayam – Part 2 Bhagavan’s messages contained in the 10 Discourses given by Him during the Ati Rudra Maha Yagna are as under:  9th August, 2006 “The day people took to fascination for English language, knowledge of one’s own religion and language declined. When one’s own religion and language declined, love for one’s culture disappeared. When love for one’s culture disappeared, righteousness declined on Earth. When righteousness declined and disappeared from Earth, Bharat lost its exalted position. Oh! Bharatiyas! Open your eyes and be alert to the situation at least now. Oh! Men of noble qualities! What more can I explain and convey? This Yagna is being conducted for the welfare of the world. A very important aspect this Yagna is that it will protect and foster the Divine nature of men. At the same time, it will eradicate his demonic qualities. Thus, it will promote the welfare of the humanity. The Vedas are the gift of the God for the welfare of entire mankind. Vedic Mantras can be chanted by one and all without any distinction whatsoever of religion and nationality.”  10th August, 2006  “It is only in Bharat that people, despite their trials and tribulations, are able to lead a peaceful life by thinking of God at all times. It is the great good fortune of the Bharatiyas that they have taken birth in this sacred land. Performance of sacred rituals like Yagnas and Yagas is not found anywhere else in the world. People think that offering oblations in the fire is Yagna. But true Yagna is to offer oneself to God, to please God and to become deserving of His Love”.  11th August, 2006  “As long as you harbour evil qualities like desire and anger and greed etc., humanness cannot blossom in you, and you cannot experience bliss. You are all embodiments of Love. You cannot live without love even for a moment. You may express your love in any form, but lead your life as an embodiment of love. In this way, you will eventually attain Divinity. This is the important message I am conveying to you today”.    12th August, 2006  “The body is made up of five elements and is bound to perish sooner or later, but the indweller has neither birth nor death. The indweller has no attachments whatsoever and is the eternal witness. Truly speaking, the indweller who is in the form of the Atma, is verily God Himself. Death is certain someday or the other. Therefore, earn a good name even at the cost of your life. There is no point in becoming a great man in life; it is enough if you earn a good name”.  13th August, 2006 “The day on which all the devotees gather and sing the glory of God melodiously, the day on which the sufferings of the poor are lovingly removed and all people live like brothers and sisters, the day on which groups of Dasas (Servants of God) who constantly contemplate on God are served a sumptuous feast, the day on which they visit us and narrate the stories of God lovingly, enjoy that day as the real day. All other days are mere death anniversaries. Do I need to say more, Oh noble souls?” (Telugu poem) “The youth have matchless powers. Though they are highly educated, having graduate and post graduate degrees and occupying high positions, yet they do not know the essence of education. Thinking that they are highly educated and have high academic degrees, they are inflated with pride. Due to this pride, they are forgetting the canons of their religion and culture.”  14th August, 2006  “The day you give up the body attachment, forget the senses and contemplate on the Atma Tattva (Principle of the Self), that very day, you yourself will become the embodiment of the Divine principle. You are not merely a human being.  You are God yourself. But you are deluded to consider yourself a human being. You have donned the garb of a human being for the sake of living in this world. This human form is only a dress. As long as you are acting on the stage of this world, you wear that dress. The moment you leave the stage, you cast off that dress. You wear this dress only to enact a role”.  • 14th August, 2006: Sri M. R. Vaidyanathan of Coimbatore presented devotional songs. Bhagavan blessed the artiste and materialised a gold chain for him. • 15th August, 2006: Ustad Rique Khan of Gwalior Gharana and party presented a Sitar recital. Bhagavan showered His blessings on the entire group and gifted clothes to them. The Institute students presented two dance items, Yaksha Gana dance (a traditional folk art form of Karnataka) and Tandava dance of Lord Shiva. Pleased with their performance, Bhagavan showered His blessings on the participants and posed for group photos with them. • 17th August, 2006: The reputed artistes from Chennai, the two sisters Smt. Ranjani and Smt. Gayatri presented devotional songs. Bhagavan blessed the artistes and presented saris to them.  • 19th August, 2006: Sri Ghatam Kartik and his troupe presented a fine medley of instrumental, light classical and classical vocal devotional music.  Bhagavan blessed the entire group and presented clothes to them. He also materialised a gold ring for one of the member in the troupe. With this excellent presentation, the devotional music programmes that were arranged for the Ati Rudra Maha Yagna came to a conclusion. 

Sri Sathya Sai converses with Cricket Legend Sunil Gavaskar In the evening, Swami blessed the students and staff from the Department of Mathematics and Computer Sciences at SSSIHL for their workshop on Data Communication. After blessing the birthday boys, Swami called Sunil Gavaskar (former captain of the Indian cricket team) and his son (Rohan Gavaskar). Swami praised the Research Scholars and students from our Institute to them for a long time. Another cricket veteran, Gundappa Vishwanath was also present. After enquiring from Gavaskar about his son’s education…  Swami : In our Institute, boys study hard and get good marks. (Swami called the Research Scholars and introduced them to Gavaskar.) Here, it is not percentage, but grading system. (To an old student who at present is working in the Ashram) Why did you resign and come here? You might have got so much money.  Alumni : Swami, I want You, not money.  Swami : Why? Money makes so many things. (Pause) Money also makes so many wrongs. (After talking with the Research Scholars for some more time, Swami read out a poem written by a student, which he showed to Swami.) Do you know poetry? (Swami again read it out loudly for others. When the word ‘Anjali’, offering, came in the poem) Who is that? Is it cinema actress Anjali (referring to Smt. Anjali Devi from Chennai)? Where are you from?  Student : Swami, Kothagudem.  Swami : Is it the one near Bhadrachalam? I went there. At that time, you were not even born!  After this Swami came to the Ganesh Portico. He enquired about breakfast.  Students : Swami, Pongal Paratha.  Swami : Not Pongal Paratha. It is Pongal and Paratha. What is tomorrow’s breakfast? (Nobody answered. Swami called the Warden and asked him the same.  He also did not know.) Tomorrow morning, there is a programme at the Institute.   (Every year, the students and staff of all the campuses gather at their respective campuses on the Indian Independence Day (August 15th) and Republic Day (January 26th) for flag hoisting. At the Prasanthi Nilayam Campus, the Vice-Chancellor addresses the students. At the other campuses, the Principal of the Campus addresses the students. On certain occasions, this is followed by a cultural programme. On a few occasions, in the 1980s, during the formative years of the Institute, Swami had addressed the students at their respective campuses and inspired them to be ideal citizens of Bharat by following its rich cultural and heritage.)   Warden : Swami, flag hoisting is at 7.00 am.  Swami also enquired about the sacred thread changing ceremony.  Swami : (To Prof. Anil Kumar) Tomorrow morning, all should go to the Institute for Independence Day function.  Prof. A. K. : Swami, compulsorily all of us will go.  Swami : Not compulsory; without fail. (Pointing to sound of a plane) Tomorrow, at Delhi, planes should not fly (above the Red Fort). If it flies, they will shoot it down.  Prof. A. K. : Swami, for security.  Swami : Tension. Life is three parts tension and one part temper.  Prof. A. K. : Swami, if life is three parts tension and one part temper, where is Ananda (bliss)?  Swami : For you, what is the problem? You keep tension and temper on one side and Idli and Sambar on the other side, and enjoy! (Everybody laughed. Students of the Department of Mathematics and Computer Sciences started to speak.)  Students : Swami, workshop.  Swami : What workshop? Students : Mathematics and Computer Science.  Swami : Have it.  Students : Swami, You should come.  Swami : It is not My business. Computer and Me, no connection.  Swami went back to the interview room. 

Sri Sathya Sai Educational Institutions – By Dr. S. Jagadish Chandra During the ‘Samudra Manthan’ (churning of the Ocean of Milk), the Devas and the Asuras struggled hard. Lord Narayana presided over the whole proceeding. His main aim was the emancipation of all the worlds, which was possible by obtaining nectar as a result of the churning of the ocean. In the modern world when man is suffering because of so many factors, which have been caused due to the effect of the Kali age, Lord Narayana has once again incarnated on earth as Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. This time too, for ‘Samudra Manthan’, which will result in the emancipation of all the worlds. But this time, the heart of each human being is the Samudra and Lord is using love as the Mandara Mountain to churn the heart so that the innate good qualities in the form of nectar may come out and help mankind.  In the Kali Yuga what the confused man needs most is knowledge, but the modern man has made it a rare commodity by fixing a price tag on it. Seeing all this Bhagavan said, “Just as the sunlight is same for everyone, in the same way the light of knowledge should also be same for everyone.” Saying this, Bhagavan established a heaven on earth that is a dream for every student, not only in India but also all over the world. That heaven is ‘Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning’. Students from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, from Kutch to Bengal and Nepal come here and receive education at the Lotus Feet of Bhagavan. Let it be a child from the K.G. or a Ph.D research scholar, each one is given education totally free of cost.  The life of every student here has three facets. Firstly the college, secondly the hostel and the third and the most important – Mandir, where each one learns the most important lessons of life at the Lotus Feet of the Lord Himself. The Lord teaches these lessons in various ways. Bhagavan once said:  “Believe that I am always walking around you, to motivate you and to inspire you, to awaken the Me within you, and when I see you responding, I put all the knowledge of the world in front of you and Myself teach you in a language that is for Me and you.”  Once in the Higher Secondary School Hostel, one of the boys suffered an accident due to which the vision of one of his eyes started deteriorating. Days passed, examinations were approaching and the boy was not even able to read a book. But he had the faith that Swami would definitely cure him. He did not tell about his accident to anyone. Finally his faith paid dividends. One day Bhagavan approached him and said, “I know that you are not able to see with your eyes clearly.” Swami materialised Vibhuti and applied it to his eyes. The very next moment the boy could go back to his place and started reading the books! This is the way the Lord instils faith and inspires each and every one of us. If we talk of inspiration, the heart of each patient at the Super Specialty Hospital, every leaf of the lush green Rayalseema area, every drop of water of the Sri Sathya Sai Water Supply Project, speaks of nothing but His inspiration!  One of the students, who was newly admitted in the hostel was feeling homesick as he had been staying with his parents for many years. He did not know whom he should approach for consolation. He slept that night crying in front of Swami’s photograph. Bhagavan appeared in his dream and took him for an excursion tour around the hostel. First, He showed him the hot water tap. Then showed him the bathroom, the kitchen, the dining hall and every important place in the hostel. As if all this was not enough, Bhagavan took him to His car and told the boy, “See My new car. Isn’t it wonderful?” The dream ended there. The next day, the boy was all smiles for the hostel was no more strange to him. For some reason all the boys assembled in the Institute Auditorium for some programme. They came to know that Bhagavan was coming to the auditorium. The moment Bhagavan’s car approached the auditorium this boy too went near the car and found him in the same position as in the dream. This time too Bhagavan said, “Isn’t My new car wonderful?”  Tears trickled down the eyes of the student.  Where can we find such a loving God who comes to your rescue when you shed even one tear for Him? This is the same way in which the Lord is so intimate to each and every devotee of His.  Describing the childhood of Lord Krishna, Sri Raskhan describes, “The one whom all the Gods adore, the one whose glory cannot be sung even by sages like Narada and Vyasa, that Lord was made to dance for a handful of butter by the Gopikas of Brindavan.” The Lord decided to shower His love on those innocent Gopikas. Similarly, the very same Lord for whose Darshan the Gods of the highest heaven keep waiting, that Lord is amidst us and is continuously showering His love on each and every one of us. Truly said, if on earth there is heaven, it is very much here, at the Lotus Feet of our Beloved Bhagavan.  – Dr. S. Jagadish Chandra Student and Doctoral Research Scholar (2003-2010), Department of Physics Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning Currently, Associate Specialist – Systems, KLA-Tencor, Bengaluru

Sri Sathya Sai On: Ten Kinds of Purity for Students and Youth – Part 2 6. If you want to develop Satwic feelings and thoughts, your vision must be pure. All Srishti (creation) is based upon Drishti (sight). It is only when you have wrong vision that you have wrong thoughts. You must look upon every elderly woman as your mother and all women who are younger as your sisters. When you are filled with such pure thoughts, you will have pure feelings. It is because you are students you have to be told this. Imagine how offended you will feel if someone looks at your mother or sister with an evil eye. Realising this, you have to entertain pure feelings towards other women. You should not commit the sort of offences that you will not tolerate in others.  7. Whatever books you read or whatever you write should be pure. This is the Sadhana relating to study – Sahitya Satwica. If you read or write that which is not pure, it warps your mind. A good book makes a good mind. You may study any book in Physics or Chemistry or other subjects; it does not affect your character. If improper books are prescribed for study, treat them as mere textbooks and do not attach any high value to them as guides for life.  8. Pure Satwic Service. With regard to service, you have to decide what is Satwic and what is Rajasic. We go and clean streets, build roads in villages or dig wells and do them all as a service to the community. But, the kind of service which we do should give real happiness to the people. In the name of ‘Social work’, you go to a hospital and approach a patient. This is not real service. Any person whom you wish to serve, you should regard as an embodiment of the Divine. Going to the help of the destitute and the neglected is rendering service to God. Narayana has two forms – one is ‘Lakshmi Narayana’, the other is ‘Daridra Narayana’. This ‘Lakshmi-Narayana’ is full of wealth. He is able to help any number of people. He will be able to get many persons to serve Him. But, for ‘Daridra Narayana’, there is nobody to serve Him. It is to such persons that we should do Satwic service.  9. Sadhana: This is spiritual discipline. This must be Satwic. Some people do Hata Yoga. Some strive to develop the Kundalini Shakti. Some invoke evil spirits to do harm to others. These forms of Sadhana are not Sadhana at all. The individual is Chit (Consciousness), God is Sat (The Eternal Absolute). When Sat and Chit combine, you have Anand – Sat-Chit-Ananda. Only the Sadhana undertaken to realise Satchidananda is true Sadhana. Where is this Sat? This Sat, the Divine, is in everybody. So, you must be prepared to serve everybody, regarding everyone as Divine. You may have normal relationship with your kith and kin. There is nothing wrong in this. You must perform Sadhana in the spirit that the One pervades the many. In this process, you must cultivate the feeling of Love. There is no higher Sadhana than the cultivation of Love!  Gopikas’ Devotion to Krishna Uddhava was an adept in the path of Jnana Yoga (Knowledge and Wisdom). He wanted to teach the Gopikas (the cowherdesses) the path of Wisdom. So, he approached Krishna. Krishna said to Uddhava, “The Gopikas are totally devoted to Me. Their devotion is fundamental to their life and reaches My heart! Their purity and devotion are like a light that shines! You cannot understand the hearts of such devotees! I am completely enshrined in their hearts”. Uddhava doubted whether the ignorant and illiterate Gopikas could understand the Divine. To dispel the doubts of Uddhava, Krishna sent him to Gokul. Uddhava summoned the Gopikas and told them: “I will teach you the path of Dhyana to realise the Divine”. The Gopikas came to Uddhava and said to him, “We are not interested in learning any Shastras! Teach us one simple means by which we can realise Krishna! We are not aware of any Yoga or Bhoga or Mantra. Krishna is everything for us, our Yoga, our Bhoga. Please, therefore, tell us the means by which we can obtain Krishna! We do not want to waste our time on Yoga”.  Uddhava asked the Gopikas, “How can you become one with Krishna?” One Gopika answered, “If Krishna were a flower, I would be a bee whirling round Him. If He were a tree, I would be a creeper twining round Him. If He were a mountain, I would be a river cascading from its top! If Krishna were the boundless sky, I would be a little star, twinkling in the firmament. If He were the deep ocean, I would be a small stream, joining the ocean. This is the way I would be one with Krishna and merge with Him.” Another Gopi said, “If Krishna were a flower, I would be a bee which goes on sucking every drop of honey in the flower! This is our approach to God.” So, spiritual Sadhana means to regard a mountain, tree, flower and the ocean, as a means of God-realisation. 10. Your occupation or profession. What is the kind of work you should take up? It should be work that can benefit the community, the nation. The nation enables you to earn a living. You must see what you can give to the nation in return. You must ask yourself, “What is the service, what is the help I can do for the community?” You must see that there is no untruth in any work you do, no unfairness, no fraud, no evil motive.  Ensure Freedom from Birth by Present Karma These are the pure things that you must observe in your life. If you engage yourselves in right action, you will not be bound by the consequences of Karma. Because of past Karma, you have the present life. By your present Karma you can

“Our Students are Our Central Trust…” In a grand function held at Prasanthi Nilayam on 2nd September, 2007, the 35th Anniversary of Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust was celebrated in the Divine Presence of Bhagavan Baba, the Founder Trustee of the Central Trust. In the afternoon, Bhagavan granted His Divine Darshan to the devotees in Sai Kulwant Hall at 3.45 pm. Bhagavan lit the sacred lamp at 3.55 pm to inaugurate the programme. Sri Rameswar Prusty, a former student of Bhagavan working at present in Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust, in his introductory speech observed that the Central Trust and other institutions subsequently set up by Bhagavan were, in fact, the channels of Bhagavan’s unbounded love for mankind and provided a glimpse of His divine glory. He then introduced the speakers blessed by Bhagavan to speak on this occasion. The first speaker Sri N. Sudhindran, a former student of Bhagavan working in the Central Trust, narrated his personal experiences with Bhagavan which transformed his life by sowing the seeds of faith in his heart. The second speaker, Dr. T. Ravi Kumar, a faculty member of the Brindavan Campus of Sri Sathya Sai University narrated how Bhagavan came in his life when he was nine years old and transformed his life by making him experience His Divine Love since then. Followed by these students Sri V. Srinivasan, All India President, Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisations, Sri K. Chakravarthi, Secretary, Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust, Sri S. V. Giri and Dr. G. Venkataraman, former Vice-Chancellors of Sathya Sai University addressed the gathering. In the end Bhagavan blessed the gathering with His Discourse. Bhagavan’s message was: “Embodiments of Love – Students!  Our students have a pure and sacred heart. They are untouched by pride or selfishness. They are absolutely blemishless. They may at times commit mistakes but they themselves rectify them. Hence our students are, in fact, our Central Trust. It is they who are handling the entire work of the Central Trust. Elders are there only to give them guidance and advice, but the actual work is being done by the students. Hence, none can underestimate their capabilities simply because they are young in age. I am standing here only to speak about the selfless work being done by our students. Otherwise I had no intention of giving a discourse. Our students are doing extremely wonderful work and setting everything right. You cannot say they are ordinary students; they are destined to be the main support of the Central Trust in future. The Central Trust is mainly dependent on the students. They are working day and night. Nobody can describe the strength and capacities of these students. Students! It is My earnest desire that you should lead the Central Trust, follow the right path and set an ideal to the entire world. The future of the Trust rests upon you. The entire work of the Central Trust is your responsibility. Make proper use of your time and earn a good name.  Students! My mind is always focussed on you only. In fact, I can’t exist without you. I am here because of you; you were here because of Me. You and I are one. Be happy and do your work with dedication.” At the conclusion of His Discourse, Bhagavan presented watches to the former students working in Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust and other Trusts. He also honoured the distinguished elders who spoke that evening and presented shawls to them. In the end, Sri Hari Shankar, a former student working in Sri Sathya Sai Medical Trust, expressed gratitude to Bhagavan for His grace and blessings on the functionaries of the Trusts. The grand function concluded with offering Mangala Aarati to Bhagavan at 6.20 pm.

“You should Serve the Society…” Darshan was at around 2.40 pm. After interview, when Swami came near the third block, there were Vibhuti marks on His robe. A former student who follows Swami in Darshan pointed it to Swami and tried to wipe them. Swami told him to leave it. Swami said that while giving Vibhuti in the interview room it fell on the robe.  Swami : (Speaking about the drama presented by the devotees from Germany the previous evening) Yesterday’s drama was very good. They did it with pure feelings. (Mentioning how people get transformed after coming in contact with Swami) Their dramas were unlike our boys’ dramas. Elizabeth (a character in the drama) acted very well. In spite of many difficulties, she stood against them. Last year, while going back from here, one lady’s husband passed away in the plane due to heart attack. After performing his final rites, she came back here and she directed a drama. The drama was very good. She said that birth and death are equal. Anybody who has taken birth, has to die.  Prof. A. K. : The feeling of equal-mindedness has very well seeped into them. One in a crore will have such a feeling!  Swami : No, many have. All the foreigners who come here are like that. Though they are quite opposite there (in their own countries), they get transformed after coming here (Prasanthi Nilayam). Ladies are pure-hearted and gents are stone-hearted.   Prof. A. K. : Swami, men have social interactions and they have a lot of social responsibilities.  Swami : Men say that they are very tired after day’s work. But after coming home, they change their clothes, go to club and play cards and drink. This is due to bad company. Ladies have more responsibilities. They take care of the house, children and pray for the well-being of their husbands.  Prof. A. K. : Creation itself is like that Swami.  Swami : Mistake is in Drishti (vision), not in Srishti (creation).  Prof. A. K. : Yes, Swami, everything is our fault.  Swami : Men are like stone, they have to be chiselled.  Prof. A. K. : (Smiling) Swami, if You chisel too much, they will become powder!  Swami : Tomorrow, children from London are putting up a drama. 180 children. Day after tomorrow, Americans.  Students : Swami, cowboys (students who had brought the cows in a procession to the Mandir on Janmashtami day) Padanamaskar.  Swami : Why? The chance given to you is itself Adrushtam (rare opportunity). You should have gratitude for that.  Students : Thank You, Swami.  Swami : Next year, you all will be replaced.  Students : No, Swami. We will stay here only.  Swami : No, it is time waste and (pointing to the place where students were sitting) this place is also waste. (Swami would always encourage students to go and serve the society based on what they have learnt from Him during their stay at the Institute. He would usually discourage them from spending their time in His proximity after the completion of their course at the Institute.)  Student : Swami, we want to be near You.  Swami : No, go outside and do service. You should serve the society. (To a School student) Is it correct?  Student : Yes, Swami.  Swami : Not after twelfth class, after degree. (Swami went back and came after some time. To Prof. Anil Kumar) The Vice-Chancellor (Sri S. V. Giri) invited the Prime Minister and he readily agreed. He is ready to come at any time. (About another minister who was present there) He was telling, “We have no such chance”. Prime Minister praised our Vice-Chancellor (Sri S. V. Giri) a lot. He called the Vice-Chancellor for lunch.  Prof. A. K. : Swami, is he coming for the Hospital inauguration? (inauguration of the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences at Whitefield)  Swami : Yes, he is coming for that also. (Swami asked Primary School students to give public speech. Three boys spoke in English, Hindi and Sanskrit respectively. Swami praised them and gave Padanamskar to all of them. Many more students came forward to speak, Swami lovingly told them to sit.) Very good English. Institute boys, not so good. (Swami went in and came back after sometime. To Prof. Anil Kumar) Murli Manohar Joshi (Union Minister for Human Resources Development) is coming for Convocation and Vajpayee (Prime Minister of India) for Hospital inauguration. (One student showed some photos to Swami. Swami gave two of them to an Institute student and the remaining ones, He gave to a Primary School student. The student took it and gave it to the Principal. Seeing this) See! They directly go and give it to the Principal, whereas (pointing to the Institute students) these boys first see and then give.  Prof. A. K. : In excitement they see, Swami.  Swami : No, it is mental madness.  One Primary School student showed Swami a sketch of Krishna. Swami showed it to others and blessed him.