Management Lessons from Sri Sathya Sai – By Dr. N. Sivakumar Our dear Bhagawan defined the Vision of the Faculty of Business Management (later rechristened as SBMAF) in His Inaugural Discourse on 21st August, 1986 stating, “All over the world there are numerous Institutes of Management. They confer the Master’s Degree in Business Administration. In our Institute, we should turn out Masters in Man Management (MMM). Our students should develop a broader outlook and prepare themselves to serve the society with sincerity and dedication. They must set an example in morality, bringing credit to the country by their work and by their contribution to the development of the nation”. This vision of the SBMAF has been fostered by Bhagawan personally over the years. He takes personal interest in the selection of students for the course, showers His abundant Love on the students pursuing their MBA degree and even takes care of them once they leave the portals of this sacred Institute. It is due to Swami’s infinite Love and Grace that the SBMAF has been able to scale great heights in these twenty years. I have learnt several managerial lessons from my long association with the SBMAF as a student, researcher and later as a faculty member. Here are some nuggets which I consider very precious and valuable.  It was Swami who Blessed me with an admission to the MBA programme. In 1986, when I was in my third year B.Com., I came to know about the Common Admission Test (CAT) conducted for the IIM’s and started preparing for the same. In December 1986, when Swami had come to Brindavan, I took courage and asked Swami for blessings and permission to write this test. Swami asked me “What is the admission test for?” I replied innocently, “Swami it is for joining MBA in the IIM’s”. Swami continued, “But don’t we have MBA in our Institute itself? Why do you want to go out to study?” Pointing to a dog which suddenly passed by, Swami remarked, “If you go out, you will have to roam like that dog”. It was only then that I realised the importance of continuing my studies in our Institute.  Later Swami granted an interview to my father and myself during which He Blessed me that He would grant me a seat in MBA in our Institute, the next year in 1987. Thus I was fortunate to be selected among the second batch of students who pursued their MBA degree in the Institute. The first managerial lesson I learnt was that, a manager must have faith in his internal systems. Trying to imitate others blindly can lead to disaster. Swami is the Divine Manager. He demonstrates that no work is low or demeaning. All acts become Divine when imbued with love. In 1988, our batch of students was Blessed by Swami to be taken to Ooty and Kodaikanal. In Kodaikanal, which is a cold place, one of my classmates suddenly took ill. He was lying in the bed room adjacent to the hall, and could not take part in the proceedings of the day. In his weak state, he prayed to Bhagawan to cure him. Swami responded immediately. He asked for a cup of coffee to be brought. Swami carried this cup to the place where the boy was sleeping and asked him to get up. The boy got up and was about to take the cup from Swami’s hands. Swami stopped him and took the cup near the boy’s lips. Swami asked the boy to sip the coffee as He held the cup. We have only heard of Mother Parvati feeding saintly children, when they were in distress. However this was an incident where even the demigods would have felt jealous witnessing the fortune of the boy being personally fed by the Poornavatar Himself. Indeed it is a unique bond of Love between Swami and His students. Every action of Bhagawan is mysterious and has profound significance. We may not be able to appreciate its implications immediately, yet over a period of time we realise the value of Swami’s actions. In another incident at Kodaikanal, I had a sudden attack of cough and cold. Being an asthmatic, it was but natural that I got an attack in that cold place. Once when Swami was talking to all of us, I started sneezing and coughing loudly. Swami turned towards me and chided saying, “Chhi”. I felt distressed because the cough was not under my control and it was involuntary. Later I controlled myself with great difficulty and eventually forgot the incident.  We stayed in Kodaikanal for several days, and after returning to Brindavan, we were posted on our summer projects. The company I was assigned, was very far from Brindavan and it entailed travelling in bus and train through heavy pollution, for atleast four to five hours everyday, for nearly a month. At the end of the summer project, we were taking stock, when my friend, who was an asthmatic too and myself remarked that we never faced any asthma problem during the past several days, even though we were in a heavily polluted place. It was even more interesting when we found that not even one of our classmates had an asthamatic problem during that summer.  It was only then that I recalled the chiding “Chhi” that Swami had pronounced in Kodaikanal. It was not a chiding for my involuntary coughing. That chiding was for the asthma trouble itself. It vanished not only from me, but from all my classmates having that problem for more than a month, allowing us to enjoy Swami and do our summer projects peacefully. As a manager we must have a long-term view of things and events. Such a perspective will help us to understand and appreciate others’ actions correctly. Swami always remembers our achievements and takes great pride in encouraging us. Once in my first year MBA, Swami was annoyed with the students in general. He had stopped talking

Sri Sathya Sai narrates Stories from the Bhagavatam King Parikshit entered the forest, hunting for pleasure and he was tired after a very hectic day when reached an Ashram. A king should always have a broad mind. A king should always consider his subjects as his own children. A king should consider Maharshis as people who are ideal. The king will have to conduct himself according to the dictates of the people who know what is right and wrong. But what did this king Parikshit do? Having entered the Ashram, he was tired and thirsty. He did not get anything to quench his thirst and became angry. He took a dead snake and put it around the neck of the Maharishi, who was in deep meditation. This is not what a king should have done. Shringi, the son of the Maharshi, saw this particular sight. He was annoyed and gave a curse to this king saying that the Takshak snake will bite the king and he will die at the end of seven days. The king, who was a good person, realised his mistake took a vow that he would not waste even a moment in those seven days. He decided that he would remember God constantly and sanctify his life. The moment a man gets a good thought; all the circumstances will help him to fulfill that particular good thought.  Thousands of Maharshis came there. At the same time, Sage Shuka also happened to come there. Such an assembly of great Maharshis happens only when there is a sacred moment. Shuka Maharshi narrated the Bhagawatam on this occasion. All the Maharshis who had assembled there drank the nectar of Bhagawatam. The king too listened to the narration of the Bhagawatam with a concentrated mind and tears of happiness. Before leaving his last breath, king Parikshit announced, “Oh great Shringi! The curse that you gave me is a great boon for me.” But, unfortunately, people do not understand the real purpose of a curse. Any curse that comes out of the mouth of a Maharshi will be really a boon. People who take it literally may not be able to comprehend its true value. Therefore, they criticise the Maharshis. Suppose there was no curse like the one given by Shringi to king Parikshit, Parikshit would not have come to such a glorious end.  The Story of Gajendra   Agastya Maharshi also cursed Devendra similarly. He cursed Indra to be born as an elephant (Gajendra). And in this form, Devendra used his entire physical prowess and all his capabilities to fight against a crocodile. But he could not succeed in his fight. He finally realised that physical powers are futile when compared to the great power of God. He then prayed to Lord Narayana to come and save his life. So long as man or animal has ego, they will not be able to achieve the goal of life. As long as this elephant had egotism in him, he faced many difficulties. The elephant told himself, “Well, physically I am tired and exhausted. I do not have sufficient mental power too.” Only during difficulties we remember God. When we are happy, we do not bother to think of Him. In that way, it is the trouble that is giving us happiness (by making us think about God). In this context, a curse can only be a boon to a person, when he understands and conducts himself properly.  That is why it is said, ‘A pleasure is an interval between two pains.’ There is a Telugu proverb which says that, you remember Lord Venkataramana only when you are in difficulty and trouble, otherwise you do not care for God. It is possible to remember God in an intense way only when you are in real trouble, when you are in grief, or when you are sorrow stricken. Students would not be able to remember God as intensely in other times as they can during examination time, because for achieving anything in life, God’s grace is essential. The intensity with which you pray until you get a seat will not be there after you get the seat. Man’s mind consists of this type of thinking. Curses would become a boon because of the peculiar nature of mind. If there had not been any curse on the elephant, he would not have thought about God. As is the vision, so is the creation. As is the feeling, so is the result. As is the flour, so is the cake. As is the food, so is the belch.  The difference we find in the creation depends upon our own vision. Do good and reap good results. If you do bad and expect good results, it is not possible. If we eat bitter gourd, how can we expect the taste of a mango in our belch? You must be therefore ready to receive the consequences of whatever actions you undertake. Great sages, only for the benefit of the persons for whom they are given, intend curses. The scriptures have been giving this kind of benefits to man.

Shiva-Parvati Kalyanam at Prasanthi Nilayam A grand function to celebrate Shiva-Parvati Kalyanam (marriage of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati) was held in the Divine Presence of Bhagavan in Sai Kulwant Hall on 4th September, 2010.  On the afternoon of 4th September, 2010, Bhagavan was led to Sai Kulwant Hall at 5.20 pm by Nadaswaram music troupe, Vedic chanting priests and two palanquins carrying the idols of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Bhagavan lit the sacred lamp at 5.30 pm and inaugurated the function. The idols were placed in the specially made Pandal, facing each other, in front of the dais. Then the priests began the ceremonies of the celestial wedding amidst Vedic chanting of Mantras. Once the rituals were completed, the idols were brought on the dais and placed close to each other.  Finally, Mangala Sutra (sacred thread worn by married woman) was offered to the idol of Goddess Parvati at 6.25 pm to complete the wedding ceremony. Aarti was offered to the idols. The students sang Bhajans dedicated to the Divine couple. A sumptuous feast of Prasadam was offered to the entire gathering in the Hall. The joyous celebration concluded with offering of Mangala Aarti to Bhagavan at 7.00 pm. 

“No one is thinking of the welfare of the people… Everyone is selfish…” At 8.15 am, Swami went in car to see the Music College construction work. While going, He told a person about the Seva Dal who was opening the gate, “Seva Dal people work very fast”.   During the evening Darshan, near the fourth block, Bhajan students asked permission to sing Stotrams on Ganesh Chaturthi.  Swami : (Seeing them get up) Idi Forest Kade, Giraffelu Enduku (This is not a forest, then why these giraffes)?  After giving Darshan, Swami distributed pens, first to the Research Scholars, and then to the recently passed out students seated in the first block.  Swami : (To a waiting student) These pens are for teachers, I am not going to give you. (Then He went to the second and third blocks and distributed the pens personally to some teachers and few students. To a student) I saw your sister-in-law and your mother and gave Padanamaskar. But I could not find your brother.  Student : Swami he is sitting in the old students’ block.  Swami : Akkada Koorchuntae Yela, Nenu Ikkada Vethukuthunnanu (If he sits there what can I do? I was searching here).  Student : Swami, shall I call him.  Swami : Koorcho (Sit), keep quiet. When your Kalyanam (marriage) will be over, then come. (Sri Santhisri, Faculty member in Department of Telugu at Swami’s University showed something from far. Jokingly to Sri Santhisri) Do you want to get married? (The teacher came near Swami and gave a compilation of his articles in Telugu to Swami, and prayed to bless him and his book. Swami read the title of the book and went through many articles in it and pointed out a few things which were not of good handwriting.) Who wrote all this? You or your grandson?  Teacher : Swami, some he wrote, some are written by me.  Swami : (Smilingly) He swallowed so many letters, maybe he was very hungry. Where? I don’t find your handwriting? Doesn’t your wife write?  Teacher : No, Swami.  Swami : She gave me letter, her handwriting is better than yours. What about the sketches.  Teacher : Swami, students did it.  Swami : (Seeing a sketch of Jaya-Vijaya) Why their knees are hanging like that?  (He kept quiet.) I shall go through it once more. (Swami gave Padanamaskar and returned the book. To Prof. Anil Kumar) Why are you looking at Me like that?  Prof. A. K. : Nothing, Swami.  Swami : Tell, why are you staring at Me?  Prof. A. K. : Nothing, Swami.  Swami : Tell, am I looking fat or thin? Are you looking at My dress?  Prof. A. K. : Swami, Your feet.  Swami : During November, there are going to be heavy rains. I do not know how we can have celebrations.  Prof. A. K. : Swami, what about other programmes? Will they be here or in the  (Sri Sathya Sai Hill View) stadium?  Swami : How can we have in the stadium if rains are there?  Prof. A. K. : Swami, if programme is here, then four times the people inside, will be outside.  Swami : But on the other hand, if we have programmes inside, at least some people will be safe, some covering will be there. Pandal can be put.  Prof. A. K. : Many will be required.  Swami : In Kodaikanal, there are heavy rains. All the lower areas are filled with water.  Prof. A. K. : Our Mandir (Sai Sruthi) is at a very high altitude, Swami.  Swami : Steps Daaka Neellu Vacchinayi (Water has come upto the steps).  Prof. A. K. : Swami, our Mandir is at 7,500 ft.  Swami : Like boat-houses in a lake, only top is seen. So much water. One lady from Kodaikanal has come. She heard the rumour that Swami is coming to Kodaikanal in September. So she came to tell that Swami should not come now since there are heavy rains. Today, Chandrababu Naidu (Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh) spoke very well. No one is thinking of the welfare of the people. Everyone is selfish.  Prof. A. K. : Swami, thirst for power.  Swami : Not thirst for power, but thirst for money. Thirst for power causes thirst for money and vice-versa. Everywhere violence. Here people are crying due to rains and floods, there politics and violence. (To a student who was holding a letter) Which language? (The student could not understand what Swami was asking.) From Bombay (Mumbai)? Bombay heavy rains.  Did you receive letter from your parents? How are they?  Student : Yes, Swami, I received a letter recently. There are heavy rains. All roads are blocked.  Swami : (To another student from Bombay) How is Bombay?  Student : Heavy rains, Swami.  Swami : What is your brother doing?  Student : Swami, he is working in a bank. Computer…  Swami : What course, did he complete? M.B.A.?  Student : Swami, M.Tech.  At 4.30 pm, Swami went into the Bhajan Hall. The Music students showed the card again.  Swami : (Referring to the Saptaha Homam to be conducted for a week from Ganesh Chaturthi day) Their programme is also there, I have to see. They have put tents also.  Teacher : Swami, can boys sing songs?  Swami : I have to see that. At 6 o’ clock, there Saptaha should be started. I have to go there. I will see.  Teacher : Swami, are boys going there?  Swami : Sthalam Ledu (No place). Even for devotees, not much place is there. I will see, I will see. Tonight, they will come (referring to the people from Bangalore who will be conducting the Saptaha). I will talk to them and then I will see. (To a teacher referring to the Krishna’s hand in the idol)  Finger should be bent more so that it looks as if Krishna is playing flute. Are there any Vaishyas (people belonging to the business community) here?  Teacher : Means what Swami?  Swami : Varthakallu (Merchants). (To a student) Are you a Vaishya?  Student 1 : No, Swami.  Student 2 : Swami, father is not well.  Swami : What? 

Experiencing the Divinity of Sri Sathya Sai – By Akshay Kamath Life is not a bed of roses. We experience many ups and downs in our lives. However, when we experience the Lord Himself, an extra golden shade is added to our rainbow coloured life.  Let me narrate a family experience. We have been devotees of Bhagavan since my great-grandfather’s time. My great-grandfather was a great man, a freedom fighter and a social worker. But, he was blind. Once, when Swami had gone to Bangalore, He gave a discourse. My great-grandfather could not see Bhagavan, but hearing His sweet words he said, “I am listening to the words of God.” Later when Swami came to Mumbai, my great-grandfather wanted to go for the Darshan of Swami. Though he could not see Swami, he believed that being in His presence would be enough to wash away all his sins. Swami came for giving Darshan, moved around the devotees and came and stood in front of him. Swami did not say anything, but just kept His hand on my great- grandfather’s head and gently massaged it. After Swami went, a person told him how fortunate he was to be blessed by Bhagavan.  Swami is the Divine Doctor and can heal every ailment of a person who believes Him with true faith. There is a lady in our Sai Organisation who has been a dance-drama teacher. She had been a professional dancer herself for the last twenty-five years. About fifteen years ago, one day while sitting in her room, she realised she could not move her hands or legs. Her parents took her to specialists around the country, but however much they tried, they could not cure her. She was bed ridden for over a year. Her faith in God was shaken.  Then someone mentioned Swami’s name to her. Till then, the family did not even know about Bhagavan. With great difficulty and little faith they took her to Puttaparthi. Swami came out to give Darshan. He looked at her father signalled him to go inside the interview room. The lady, at that time was in a wheelchair. From the portico end, Swami Himself wheeled her into the interview room. Inside the interview room Swami began to talk in a normal manner with all the persons. He even talked on general matters with her parents. He gave Vibhuti to all but not to them. They started losing hope as Swami was just giving fleeting glances towards her without any effort to cure her. At the end of the interview, Swami asked everyone to take Padanamaskar. Swami came to that lady in the wheelchair and asked her to take Padanamaskar. She started weeping and said she could not. Swami said, “Who said you can’t?” Swami then held her by the shoulders and made her bend down in an instant. Then He made her stand up the next moment. She felt a surge of energy through her spine and her paralysed limbs came to life. The person, who went into the interview room on a wheelchair, came outside walking!  There has been many an instance when Swami was present in more than one place at a time. Even as a child, when his brother took Him to a temple at Hampi, Sathya said that He would stand outside. The others went inside the sanctum sanctorum. When the puja started, they saw that it was Swami receiving the Arati in the place of the deity. Running outside, they saw Him standing calmly leaning against a tree!  Swami watches so many dramas being enacted in the Sai Kulwant Hall and Poornachandra auditorium. But does He remember all of them? Yes. In 1999, we performed a musical drama known as the ‘Kar (Car) Rally’ in Bhagavan’s Divine presence. Swami was very happy and gave all of us Vibhuti, talked to us and took group photos with us. Six months later when Swami called some of the Balvikas Gurus who had made that drama a success, He suddenly closed his eyes. Then as if is in a state of bliss, He said, “Whenever I close My eyes, I see those boys performing the drama before My eyes and then I feel very happy.” This shows that whenever we offer our Love to Swami, He cherishes it forever and gives us the same Love thousand fold.  Swami can make staunch devotees out of non-believers. For that, He need not give them a physical experience. A mere dream is enough. Once there was a family in Mumbai. They lived in a locality in which a lady took Balvikas classes. The parents and children had only seen Swami in photos. Once, when they were going to Pune for some reason, the lady of the family got a dream. She saw that her house in Mumbai had been broken into but that suddenly Swami had appeared and drove away the thieves. The dream was very vivid and it gave her mother some kind of premonition as if something was going to happen. They thought that only Swami would save them from the tragedy.  The next evening they began to return to Mumbai in their car. It was dusk and there was darkness. The vehicle was travelling over a hundred and hundred kilometers per hour on the expressway. There was a ditch in the road, which their driver failed to notice. The car skidded, turned upside down and then landed on its top. The people in the other cars gathered around, thinking that everyone inside the car would be either dead or badly injured. But wonder of wonders, all the five persons in the car, the driver and the members of the family, crawled out of the car with only minor injuries! All the members of the family understood that it was swami alone who could have done this. From that day on, they have become staunch devotees of Bhagavan.  There is a lot more that can be written about our Loving Lord, who is an ideal for us. He is such a multifaceted personality and we can only pray to Him to give

Sri Sathya Sai gives The Soham Mantra and Its Inner Significance When you play the harmonium and the seven notes, there is a small difference between each of the notes. However, the air which is the basis of each of these notes is the same. The tongues may speak differently, but the sound is one. It is the omnipresent sound – Om. Om Ekaksharam Brahma – That Om syllable is Brahman. How can you say that? Our inhalation and exhalation goes on as So-Ham. In waking state it is ‘Soham’. In the sleep state, the ‘S’ from ‘So’ is deducted and it becomes ‘O’. In ‘Ham’, ‘H’ gets removed. It becomes ‘M’. Thus these two ‘O’ and ‘M’ become Om. Many people while doing this ‘Om’ in their sleeping state, even snore! This ‘Om’ sound is the chariot of Saraswati (Saraswati Vahanam). Soham is also called Hamsa Gayatri.  What do you mean by Saraswati? It is the presiding deity of the word – Vak Devata Swarupini. You can only speak when there is breath. Without the respiratory process, there is no word, no sound, no speech. The presiding deity of the word – Saraswati moves on the chariot of inhalation and exhalation of the individual. This is Hamsa Gayatri. Hamsa means a swan. What is the meaning of the Hamsa (swan)? It separates the body feeling (Deha) and the Divine feeling (Atma). It separates the ephemeral from the permanent, the milk and water. As it separates the milk and water, it is called swan. But the scientists say that this is all mad faith. They say that the Paramahamsas have given this name Hamsa to this bird which separates milk from water. The Yogis are called Paramahamsa.  Who is a Paramahamsa? The one who has given up the body feeling, and has full faith in the Divine feeling. It is detachment from the body and attachment to the Brahman. Therefore, the Hamsa stands for the attachment to the Brahman and the detachment from the body. Where is this swan? It is present in Manasa Sarovar – the lake of the mind. It is not the Manasa Sarovar that is in the Himalayas. This swan is present in the lake of the human mind. From where has this swan acquired this power? Our scientists say that the swan has got an acid in its beak. As a result, on contact with the milk, it is able to separate it from water. This is a material aspect and has nothing to do with spirituality. They call it a law of nature. This is the truth. But, who put this acid at the tip of the beak of the swan? They can’t explain that and hence stop their discussion there.  In spirituality, the question is put as to who put the acid there? The scientists can’t answer as to why the acid is present only at the beak of the swan and not in any other animal. It is the secret of the creation and the Creator. The swan dwells only in cold areas. Similarly, it is only in the peaceful mind that this swan of discrimination lives. It does not live in the hot places. What are these hot places? Worldly desires are the hot places. It does not exist where worldly desires are present. When we continue to enquire like this, we realise that all this Rutam. Truth is not apparent. It is everywhere. The good and bad come from truth. That Truth is God. Sarvam Khalvidam Brahma – Everything is Brahman. The whole world is pervaded by this transcendental truth. One may possess great fame, education and knowledge, but without putting it into action, it is all useless. Preserve truth in your heart. Detachment from the World is for Attachment to God In ancient times, people used to give up bad company. By watching, talking and interacting with bad people, they would also get spoilt, and therefore the sages went off to the forest. Modern people call it as an act of cowardice. But the people of those times were more intelligent and wise. They wanted to be away from such society. If you meet anyone, they will ask, “How are your wife and children?” They didn’t want the burden of a family and the associated attachments and therefore sought detachment by going into the forest. They left the society to give up bad company and live in the good company of saints and sages in the forests. These sages and saints would always speak good things and would speak only of the Atmic nature. They practiced to reach the true Self. All their activities were based on Truth.  The diversity of this world, will never let you get away from these attachments and will never give you liberation. However, in this modern age, is it possible to gain liberation? It is possible. How? If you do every act feeling that everything is God, then your acts will get sanctified. You should think that whatever you eat is God, and the one who eats is also God. The whole world is full of food. The body is also food. The body came from food. Thus, food (body) is consuming food. Similarly it is Brahman that is experiencing Brahman. If we think in this direction, how easy it is! The forms may be different, but everything is Brahman. It is not enough if you say that everything is Brahman. These days a lot of people say many things as truth. But believing it we may be betrayed. You should not believe empty words. It should be converted into actions. 

Who is greater: Vibheeshana or Bheeshma? Swami  : (To the guest lecturer) How are MBA students?  Guest  : Very good. They are learning, Swami.  Swami  : Learning is quantity, thinking is quality. I want quality and not quantity. (To another guest lecturer) How are students?  Guest  : Swami, very humble and sincere. They will be picked up like chicken. We want more of such students. They don’t lie.  Swami  : Our students have good thoughts, not influenced by the outer world. Our students are working (In a devotee’s organisation) in Malaysia, 4 months back students went to Indonesia, and there they have been asked to stay permanently, though they went only for training. Sincerity and Honesty are important. They develop gratitude because of free education. If they pay for education, they demand an equal repay. Without cotton, no thread, without thread, no cloth. The one you think you are (thread). The one others think you are (cloth). The one you really are (cotton).  Principal  : Swami, students presented good summaries today.  Swami  : 2nd year students, not 1st year students. All these (pointing to the students in front) are 1st year students. 2nd year students are sitting inside. (To a guest lecturer) How is your manager?  Guest  : Fine, Swami.  Swami  : How is business?  Guest  : Doing well, Swami. Joint ventures have been proposed.  Swami  : In my opinion, it is the old bottle with a new cork. (About his manager) In the house – cheap, outside – chief. Am I correct? I am always correct!  (After a pause)  Is Vibheeshana greater or Bheeshma?  Guest  : Vibheeshana, Swami.  Swami  : Because Bheeshma was chief of the Kaurava army, he did not tell them how to behave even though he lived with them. Vibheeshana went away from Ravana, surrendering to Rama. In business, they always use knack… beyond a point, it becomes crack (Pointing to one student) He is from Madras. He also uses knack, very clever but very selfish. Fish is better than selfish. Fish at least cleans up dirty water; selfishness creates dirt in the society. So you want Self or selfish?  Student  : Self.  Swami  : (Looking at the student) Are you a Brahmin? You can eat fish! (Looking at the guest) No, no, only for fun. He is not selfish. Selfishness is there in everyone, only percentage difference. (Pointing to another student) This student – good violin player. Who is your teacher?  Student  : Swami, Lalgudi Jayaraman (a famous exponent of the instrument).  Swami  : Kadugodi? Not Kadugodi (a place near Whitefield. Bangalore where the Brindavan Ashram is located); Lalgudi. (Looking at a school student) What do you want?  Student  : Swami, You.  Swami  : Why are you staying here? To study. That is why you are in the hostel three fourths of the time! 

Antaryaami Sai – By Shivashanker Krishnan It was the year 2007. I was a shy 16 year old boy who had just left the comforts of his home to lead the life of a Sai student. It did not take me more than a couple of days to realise that our school Hostel was nothing less than a home away from home – a home where each lives for the other and all live for God! Little did I miss my home in Chennai and my heart yearned for an interaction with Swami. As I sat in the Sai Kulwant Hall eagerly awaiting His Darshan, I made a silent prayer to Him to speak something to me. But at the end of the day, nothing exceptional transpired. All I could cherish for the day was His Darshan and His Padanamaskar. As if that was not a blessing enough, I stormed out of the Mandir with disappointment written all over my face.  While treading across the Ganesh courtyard, I was greeted by my father, who along with his friend had accompanied me on this trip to leave me at the Hostel. On being questioned by my father, I realised that I was not very good at hiding my emotions. I explained how I was battling with the feelings that entail an unanswered prayer. I was ignorant at that time that God’s delays are never His denials. As I described the day’s happenings, my father’s friend, whom I fondly call ‘uncle’ was an alert witness to all this. He then shared a personal experience which turned out to be very relevant to my context. He went on to narrate how he was once blessed with an interaction with Swami many years ago. The blessing was the result of a humble letter which he had offered to Swami. He gladly revealed the contents of the letter when I expressed my curiosity. What were those blessed words which could move the very Lord of the universe to speak to him?  I was under the impression that the words would be something Divinely exotic, if it had to attract Swami’s attention. But on the contrary, I was puzzled by the simplicity of the contents of the letter. All my uncle had written in the letter was a simple sketch of Swami’s feet with a few sentences beneath – “Swami, You are my mother; Swami, You are my father; Swami, you are my Guru; Swami, You are my best friend; Swami, You are the Divine Avatar. Accept me at Your Lotus Feet”. I was deeply intrigued by those sentences. In my mundane, human understanding, it seemed to me that flattery was an easy way to get Swami’s attention. I didn’t have the slightest idea that Swami seeks the true feelings and intent behind each word and never the word itself! My uncle’s immediate suggestion needed no guessing. He prompted me to try and offer a similar letter to Swami on my own. Although I was not very convinced of this path of ‘flattery’, I still wanted to give it a sincere try. My only purpose was to have an interaction with Swami. I wasted no time running back to the Hostel to begin my endeavour.  I skipped my dinner that evening and spent the rest of the time, putting all my enthusiasm, making the letter for Swami. I mentioned in it exactly the same things as my uncle had said. A simple sketch of Swami’s feet and the same sentences beneath. All that differed in my letter was the name that signed it off. I managed to get it ready before I retired for the day. The next evening in Sai Kulwant Hall, I sat exactly in the same place where I had sat the previous day. Secretly hoping that Swami would read my letter then and there, I did not cover it with an envelope. Soon after the Vedam chanting and the music started as Swami entered the Hall. When I saw Him from a distance, I could sense that He was in the mood for some Divine mischief. My eyes closely followed every movement of His.  I noticed Swami doing something pleasantly unusual – He was accepting every letter within His reach! By the time Swami crossed the ladies’ side, He had accepted hundreds of letters! That was when my human mind began to doubt Swami’s ways. Does Swami really read all these letters? If He says that He knows everything, then why take letters at all? Will not my letter, among those thousand others, become just another letter to Him? Will my letter be special enough to attract His attention? Will He even look at it?  As I experienced this raging battle of doubt and faith, Swami reached the place where I was seated. By then He had collected several more letters and I felt the letter in my hand becoming more and more insignificant. When Swami came near me, I stretched out my letter with such brimming hope that I almost toppled over. Swami gently pulled it from my grasp and simply stowed it amongst the countless others on His lap. My heart broke an instant later as I watched Him slowly moving away. He continued accepting more letters and I felt that mine must have got lost in the pile on His lap. The chances of His reading my letter had become very bleak. After Swami retired for the day, I was so heartbroken that I avoided my father who was waiting for me outside the Mandir. I walked back straight to the Hostel filled with grief and found myself a corner to sulk in. Eventually with time, the turbulence within me subsided and I regained calm. It was only then that I began hearing a voice deep inside me which was persuading me to try again.  Although very disappointed, I relented and decided to rewrite the same letter to Swami. I skipped dinner – this time more out of frustration – and started

The Four Principles to be remembered in Life Whatever you think, you become that. If you know the source you have come from, you will become that. You should know where you have come from. All have come from the Atma. There is no other place other than the Atma. And again at the end of lives’ sojourns, you have to return back to the Atmic Principle. In between these two, you may take many lives. As told earlier, the water in the ocean gets converted into water vapour and forms the cloud. The clouds further form the rain. All the water evaporated from the ocean doesn’t come back to the ocean directly from the rain. Some water gets collected in the tanks, some in streams and some goes into the rivers. But finally all these rivers, streams and the lakes merge in the ocean. Because of good company the streamlets also get elevated and subsequently merge in the mighty ocean. Hence your company is important. You should have good company and good relations. Run away from bad company. That is what you have to do first and foremost. Then you will become good. You should not be contented that you are away from bad company. Get into good company. Do meritorious deeds day and night. But you don’t do that. If you do good deeds, you will know what is eternal and what is temporary. You should merge into the Reality; then you will know what is good and what is not.  You should have a clear understanding of these four components:  1. Running away from bad company (Tyaja Durjana Samsargam); 2. Getting into good company (Bhaja Sadhu Samagamam); 3. Doing meritorious deeds day and night (Kuru Punyam Ahoratram); and 4. Understanding what is real and what is not (Smar Nitya Anityatam). Till you understand all these things clearly, your practice should go on. As long as you don’t know all these four things, you will be caught in this cycle of birth and death. Thus, everything in this world is depends on your company.  Once there was a thief who used to rob every day and escape from the police. One day he killed a person while robbing. When he was caught, he was put in the jail. He was sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment. Ten years passed, his punishment was over, and he was to be sent back. But before he was about to leave the jail, the jailer went to him and asked him to pack his clothes so that he can leave the next morning. But the thief replied “Why should I take the luggage from here? Even if I go, I have to come back tomorrow.” Such was his mindset! In the world today, this is the situation of students. Today’s students love to enjoy and make merry, but in that process they commit lots of mistakes. As a result of this, when they die, they have to return again to this world. Today’s generation should strive for not returning back. One should not have the life of going back and coming again. Going and coming like a thief is not good on your part. The same thing was told by Shankaracharya – Punarapi Jananam, Punarapi Maranam, Punarapi Janani Jathare Shayanam. As long as you have bad thoughts, gaining any amount of knowledge or reading of sacred scriptures, is of no use. When you read the books, all that is present in the books will get into your head. Your head becomes like the book. What is the use? The evil actions, qualities, thoughts and ego inside you were not expelled. As long as you have bad thoughts, there is no use whatsoever even if you have read a large number of books. Whatever is the level of education, a mean person cannot forego his bad quality. By studying so much, you enter only into argumentation and can never attain true knowledge.  A person went to a sweets shop for purchasing some sweets. He went to a shop and tasted some of the sweets. But he spit it out immediately saying that the sweets contained salt. He went to the next shop. Over there also he took a sweet for tasting and over there also he told that the sweets contained salt. The shop owner told him that his sweets were not salty, but the man’s mouth was salty. He told him to go to a nearby tap and wash his mouth. After washing his mouth, he tasted the sweets again and found them to be sweet! In the same way as long as you have bad qualities in you, even if you try to learn good things, they seem bad to you. It is no use talking good things if your thoughts are not good. These bad thoughts come through bad company. This bad company ruins your life completely. If someone is talking foolishly, you should immediately leave that company. 

Sri Sathya Sai – The Divine Protector – By Sri Mallikeswaran Sathya Sai Baba protects us not only when we are physically with Him, but also when distance separates us from His form… In this episode of Satsang: Experiences of Students and Teachers with Sathya Sai Baba, Sri Mallikeswaran, an alumnus of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, shares how Swami saved the lives of both his children.