Special Moments with Sri Sathya Sai Tanmay Das was a student from 2009-2014 in the Faculty of Management and Commerce at the Sri Sathya Sai institute of Higher Learning. Currently he is a specialist at the Standard Chartered [bank] GDS Pvt. Ltd., Chennai. Being with Swami has always been very special for me, not only because He is God. For me, He is more of a loving mother, a caring father and an adorable sister! The five years in the Institute have been like five days—as if we came just yesterday and today, our academic association with the Institute is over. When I joined for my undergraduate course in 2009, it was for the first time that I came to know about Bhagavan. My mother had been an ardent devotee of Shirdi Baba right from her childhood days, but our family was not aware of Sri Sathya Sai Baba or about Prasanthi Nilayam [Abode of Peace, Swami’s ashram], apart from knowing the fact that there exists a Super Specialty Hospital that treats people free of cost. When one of my friends came to know about this Institute, through his father, he immediately brought me the prospectus of the Institute. He asked me if I was interested in applying for the undergraduate course there. I immediately told him, “No”, thinking the Institute may not be well recognized like Hans Raj College or Symbiosis. But the events that took place subsequently were all part of His divine leela [play] to bring me closer to Him. The last date for applying for the Institute was February 28, 2009. I was one of the few students left in my batch, who hadn’t applied for any college until then, so I was a bit apprehensive and uncertain what to do next. I called the Prasanthi Nilayam Campus Office of the Institute and inquired if I could still apply for the undergraduate course in the Brindavan Campus. To my dismay, I was informed that the last date for applying for any course was over. My brother-in-law had come to know that I was applying for this Institute. He called me up immediately and asked if I was serious about joining the Institute. Something inside told me that I should say yes to him. What followed was like a chain reaction. Suddenly, I received the application form from the administrative block of the Institute in the mail, which I was asked to fill out and send in the same day i.e. 8th March, 2009. By the end of April 2009, I was called to appear for the entrance examination. I did not do well in the written examination and I was sure that I was not going to make it. On the next morning when I saw my name in the list of selected candidates, I was shocked! Everything followed as usual and I was selected for the B.Com. (Hons.) course at the Brindavan Campus. My second experience with Swami was on the eve of Krishna Janmastami [birthday] 2009, when the Brindavan boys had come to Prasanthi Nilayam. The boys who were in charge of card making had made a beautiful card to show to Swami. I was sitting in the third block and for a long time and I wanted to see what the card room boys had made. So when Swami came and the boys were showing the card to Him I made a desperate attempt to see the card. Swami had blessed the card and moved on to complete His usual round of darshan without my having seen it. Later when the photos of the festival were printed, one of the seniors came and informed me that I was photographed with Swami in several of the photos. So those were my first photographs with Swami. In the same year, during Guru Poornima [the festival dedicated to spiritual and academic teachers]celebrations in Prasanthi Nilayam, some boys were called to distribute prasadam [a devotional offering made to a god, typically consisting of food that is later shared among devotees]inside Poornachandra auditorium, where devotees were eagerly waiting for a glimpse of Swami. I took a box containing prasadam and went inside the auditorium where we were asked to wait. I waited there for a while and then ran back to Sai Kulwant Hall where Swami had already arrived. I got a chance to distribute prasadam for the first time inside Sai Kulwant Hall. Once the distribution was over and Swami was returning to His residence, I remembered that I had left my sitting mat and fan inside the auditorium. I rushed to the auditorium to get them, thinking that the Seva Dal might bring down the shutters. But when I reached near the auditorium, I was amazed by the pin drop silence inside the auditorium. As I entered the auditorium, I heard all the devotees chanting ‘Sai Gayatri’ in unison. One of my classmates present there told me that Swami was coming there. My joy knew no bounds as I was sure that Swami would give us individual attention since only a few of the boys distributing prasadam were present there. Uncertain as His ways are, He entered the main stage and sat for a while. He then called a few of the boys to bless the prasadam. I missed that opportunity as I was not wearing a full sleeve shirt. Another brother next to me grabbed that chance and ran to the stage. Nevertheless I was happy that Swami had come there, blessed each one of us and gave us His beautiful smile, assuring that He was very happy. A task by chance was converted into a chance to be cherished for a lifetime. The Annual Sports and Cultural Meet drama presented by the boys from the Brindavan Campus had been a major attraction over the years. With successful dramas like ‘Bhakta Potana’, ‘Sant Kabir’, etc. it was time for ‘Bhakta Tukaram’ to be staged during the Annual Sports and Cultural Meet, 2009-10. By then I had come to know from our teachers, that no role, be it big or small, goes unnoticed by Swami. I got a small

From the Poison of Materialism to the Experience of God Within Kishore Y Madhamshettiwar was a student from 1987-1989 and from 1989-2003 he became a faculty member of Management and Commerce, Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning at Prasanthi Nilayam Campus Iwas brought up in a society that believes in God. My parents took a keen interest in my overall development to be a good man. I was dependent on them to the age of 20 and started earning at the age of 21. Only then did I understand how difficult it is to make a living. At every difficult moment it seemed that God, in the photographs and at the altars, responded to my prayers. By age 27 He answered my prayers and showered all the professional and material bounties. A day came when I thought that I could do everything on my own. However, that thought could not materialize. In an extremely perplexed condition, I ran to the temples of the holy cities of Banaras and Tirupati. During this time I came across a book entitled ‘Vision of the Divine’ written by Dr. Fanibunda. It actually opened my vision to an entirely different world. The following quotations in this book brought two significant truths to my rapt attention: In January 1987, I packed my bags and moved from ashanti [my work and the state of my mind] to Prasanthi [Prasanthi Nilayam and my present state of mind—a rare gift of Bhagavan Baba]. Just at the first sight I was fully convinced that no outside agency was needed to say that Baba is God—my inner motivator, my lost identity, and my goal. On the very first day, I could be at His lotus feet and reach out to and touch them while He waited very patiently. He also found a gap between the devotee’s hands and blessed my vibhuti [holy ash] packet. I felt ‘Yes’. I can rely on Him for everything in my life. I would hold His photograph in my hand and try to match the attributes of God in my heart and mind with those present in His photograph. As time passed by, an inner familiarity developed. Though I was facing many problems in my life and was very restless, something subtly reassured me that this sweet Lord would lift me to the heights of realization. Three years ago, I was scared to mention my feelings openly as I thought people would laugh at me. I am now convinced that He was definitely taking me away from my senses. I continued to pray to Bhagavan to accept me as His student in the MBA course. He granted my prayer. During the initial six months, it seemed as if I was in a workshop. I was stripped of my executive ego and made to put up in the simple but vibrant way of living in His Hostel. I prayed to the loving God to give me strength to hold on to His feet. I felt miserable when I knew God was showering all His mercy but I did not possess even a little bit of good in me. There was only one thing to pray for, even under these circumstances, and that was ‘to raise me to my divine nature.’ Bhagavan’s Institute has a word ‘higher’. It means that by staying with Him and receiving education in His Institute, if one desires one will be equipped with all that is needed to inquire into Atma [universal spirit] and become ‘That’. This was the meaning I derived as a student of His Institute. Now I was determined to face anything and follow the discipline as mentioned by Bhagavan for a student. God saves those who follow Him. I would like to share two experiences to highlight how Lord Sai saved me. He not only made me to continue my journey in this body but moved me nearer to my immortal Self. It was December 1988, I was studying till midnight. Because of the strain and change in weather, I was suffering from a cough. That night at 2 a.m. I got up with a shock for it was very hard to breathe due to severe chest congestion. I was restless. Somehow I managed to get near Bhagavan’s photograph in my cupboard and held it in my hands. Mentally I prayed to Bhagavan, ‘Baba, if you want I should live for Your cause, then let me live properly and if You want I should die, then give me a good death. At that moment I had no desire except death. I remembered that Bhagavan’s vibhuti can grant immortality. I somehow managed to put a pinch of it on my tongue. As soon as I took the vibhuti I felt that someone made me sit in perfect padmasana [lotus pose]. I again prayed to Bhagavan, ‘Baba, please stop all these confusing thoughts.’ Next moment, my body became like a stone and I felt waves and waves of energy going all around and there was a gentle fragrance, too. Very soon after taking vibhuti, my chest cleared up. I could experience that my body, the life force, and the mind were separate. It was a very clear experience of ‘you are none of these, you are truly a silent witness.’ I was sweating profusely, the body started breathing properly, and it was no more like a statue. I slept after this exhilarating experience. I got up for Suprabhatam [verses recited early morning to awaken the deity] at 5 a.m. and felt very fresh and light. I also felt that my outlook had changed, the mind had undergone a great transformation, and my feelings toward my brothers in the hostel also changed. That morning when I went for darshan [sight of a sacred being], Bhagavan came near me and gently pressed my hands with assurance and promised me, ‘Do not worry, Bangaru [endearing term used by Bhagavan], I will always be with you.’ He also said: “I never confuse, I can only save.” I prayed sincerely to Bhagavan to help me and take me to divine heights. My life was full of

How Many Friends Do You Have?” Before joining the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning by the grace of our Lord, I had received a few chances of experiencing minute drops of His Divine leela [play]. Here, I wish to share with you one such drop that had a profound impact on me. The event took place, this year, when Swami was in Madras [Chennai]. Swami went straight to a young boy and asked him, “How many brothers have you?” The boy said, “Swami, I do not have brothers and I am the only son.” Immediately, Swami pointed to the people who were present there, asked the boy, “Are they not your brothers?” Swami went and asked another boy the same question and the reply Swami got was the same. The innate imitativeness in me made me think that if Swami comes and asks me I should say that all are my brothers. The next day the Lord came near me. His nearness made me completely forget myself, and I was inches above the ground. The omniscient Lord in His sweet voice asked, “Where is your brother studying?” “He is studying in Swami’s college,” I said. Then Swami asked, “How many brothers do you have?” Quick came the reply, “One, Swami.” With a mischievous smile Swami asked, “Are the people who are standing here not your brothers?” Completely flabbergasted, I had nothing to say except nodding my head. To prick my imitative bubble a little more, Swami went a few steps, then turned back and asked, “How many friends do you have?” My foolish mind equated at lightning speed that if all are to be my brothers why not all be my friends, and I blurted out, “Swami, all are my friends.” The Lord looked directly into my eyes inquiringly and asked, “What! All are your friends?” Before I could answer Swami continued, “What do your so-called friends do when you are in trouble? They will be with you until they see no money in your pockets. The moment they come to know that you are penniless, they quietly vanish, like the frogs going away from a dried up pond. But Sai is not like that. Whatever may be the trouble, Sai will not forsake you. He is always for you, with you and in you. Your one and only friend must be Sai.” Overwhelmed completely, I could do nothing, but watch the Lord moving slowly away and away from me. Let us ponder for a while. What a revelation! Arjuna had Krishna as his one and only friend. The Lord Himself asks us to keep Him as our one and only friend. But, what a pity that we out of our ignorance, add on to the unending list of friends, leaving the Lord all alone without any friends. ~C.N. KshetrajnaSource: Sai Nandana 1985 (60th Birthday Issue)

Sai My Everything Srinivas is currently a Doctoral Research Scholar in the Faculty of Business Management & Commerce at the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, Prasanthi Nilayam Campus. It is beyond my ability to write about Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, since words fail miserably to portray His glory. Sai, the name itself fills our heart with immense joy, confidence, and happiness. Surrendering my ego and knowledge at His Lotus Feet, let me pen down the story of my journey to Sai. It was in the year 1998 that I came to know about Shirdi Sai Baba when we were staying in Sambalpur, a town in the western part of Odisha. On every Thursday, my mother used to make prasadam [food offering] at home and she would ask me to offer it in a Sai Baba temple that was two kilometers away from my house. With great difficulty, managing the prasadam box on one side of the cycle’s handle and pushing the cycle pedal I used to go on a road full of pits and stones. It continued for years. Something in the temple made me happy and comfortable. A few years later we shifted our house near that temple, and on every other day I used to go and spend my time there, while my classmates would be playing outside in the fields and on the playground. I read Shri Sai Satcharitra in the year 2007 during my under graduation, when I was staying at a hostel in Visakhapatnam. Whenever I read it, I was filled with sadness and grief. I used to consider myself unlucky in comparison with those people who moved and lived with Sai Baba of Shirdi at Dwarakamayi. Meanwhile my parents shifted to Visakhapatnam. One day my sister told me about a satsang [company of seekers of truth] near our house where Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba used to show His presence by performing many leelas [Divine plays]. I went there to see the leelas of Bhagavan. I was told that we could keep prasadam or anything for blessings there. I was preparing for my chartered accountancy examinations at that time. I went with my admission card and placed it at the altar for blessings. Vibhuti [sacred ash] appeared on my card and the devotees told me that Swami had blessed it. I felt good about it and came back. I thought that since Swami had blessed it, I would pass the examination in flying colors. But the reverse happened. So this center to me was just another place for bhajans [devotional singing] and service activities. My mother was a regular participant in bhajans and service activities there. Every morning she used to wake me up singing some bhajan that irritated me a lot. But I would keep quiet and never said anything to her. I had a big gang of friends in the year 2009. We used to go to every movie in the city and roam around. Since my parents were very particular about timings, I used to do all this during my college time, i.e. from 8.00 am to 2.00 pm. It was in the very same year I secured top marks in the university accountancy examination. I still wonder today at this. My so-called best friends doubted that I had manipulated something in the examination and obtained high marks. I started keeping distance from them, because differences of opinion made them doubt me even more. It was during that period after finishing my under-graduation final examinations, I used to participate in satsang and Narayan Seva [feeding service] conducted in a Sai center there. I felt very happy and thought of continuing these Seva activities. One day I felt deeply disgusted with the scandals propagated by my friends. So I went to attend the satsang conducted in the Sai Center and prayed to Swami that He should help me. I also prayed to Bhagavan to keep me away from my friends. I further prayed that Swami should become my only friend. The very next day, I got calls from my friends one after another telling me that they did not want to continue their friendship with me. I wonder even to this day what had made my friends discontinue their friendship with me overnight. From that day till today, Swami has been helping me in many ways, day-in and day-out. I slowly started developing a bond with Swami. Since I had no friends, Bhagavan became everything for me. His name was always in my heart, mind, and on my lips. He would also respond and reciprocate in numerous ways. Whenever I thought of Him, a big picture of His would appear on a hoarding, or on an auto-rickshaw. At times I would feel His touch on my shoulder while riding the bike. At times I would see Him on a branch of a tree, and He would suddenly disappear. For some time, I thought that I was imagining or hallucinating. Either way I was happy. On introspection, I learnt many things about Swami. Swami says, “Test is My taste.” Initially, He encourages us to get closer to Him and tests us. We learn many things during this period and thus become wiser. We can pass Bhagavan’s test if we cultivate the spirit of surrender. The feeling of anyatha sharanam nasthi [other than You there is no refuge] is a source of immense strength and peace. Renouncing the feeling of the doer-ship and resigning oneself to His Will cements our bond with Him. What I have learned being with Swami is to never question Him. When we do not know what is going to happen in the next moment, how can we question the One who knows the past, the present, and the future of everyone and everything? We can ask but not question. Acceptance of His sankalpa [Divine will] and abiding by it is a source of infinite strength. He is not interested in our failure or success. He is not interested in what failure or success does to us. He is interested in our progress. His love for us is unique. I always pray to Him that till the last

Being in the Presence of Sai Rajdeep Singh is a student (1989-1992) from Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning. He was formerly with The Indian Navy and is currently a Pilot with Indigo Airlines. Was it a pleasant coincidence, a miracle, or a fruit of my past karmas [actions] or was it just His infinite grace? It is all beyond my comprehension, but whatever it was, my gratitude toward that unknown phenomenon would remain perpetual. My beloved Lord Sai took me under His protective umbrella to make a man out of me, a man who will be worthy of His Name. Before the memorable event, when He took me in His Institute, I was just a lump of clay, of no use to anyone. He came and made a lamp out of me, filled me with the oil of bhakti [devotion] and the wick of self-sacrifice. He lighted the fire of service to the wick, so that it may burn and burn to give light around by serving others. It is my prayer from the core of my heart to Bhagavan that the oil and wick of this lamp remain for ever and ever and the fire of service continue for all time to come. Earlier I was in darkness, but now by His Divine love and grace I am coming out of it slowly, but steadily. And it gives me great joy that being in the presence of our Sai Mother, a change for the better is coming with the passing of each day. Bhagavan came into my parents’ life way back in 1976, and since then His infinite grace has been flowing ceaselessly to our family. It all started in June 1975. My father, who is in the Army, was then posted in North-Eastern Area. He developed pain and swelling on his left hip/thigh. The army doctors diagnosed it as a recurrence of old athletic injuries and treated him, but without any relief. There was no relief even though he had been treated at the best Army hospitals. Homeopathy treatment also was of no avail. During childhood, my father was religious and used to say his prayers regularly. But as he grew, he had stopped prayers altogether. Bhagavan’s Will was unknowingly and silently at work; seeing no relief from his ailment, my father turned to God and began reading selected Sikh prayers, and it became a daily routine to do so. His faith in God began. Due to his illness and a lot of hospitalization, his promotion though overdue could not be given. And it is now that Bhagavan’s Will began working. A Colonel’s wife, who had not met my parents but had only heard of father’s illness, came to see him. She talked at length about Bhagavan and His miracles of healing, but these had had no effect on father. The lady offered to my father the book—Sathyam Sivam Sundaram (Part 3). He reluctantly took the book with no intention to read it, but in his curiosity he turned to some pages and began to read it. He felt in tune with the life and teachings of Jesus Christ and Guru Nanak. The more he read, the intensity of having Lord’s Darshan was increasing. And my mother, too, began reading the God’s given gift in the shape of Sathyam Sivam Sundaram. A few days later, father noticed fragrance coming from the book—Sathyam Sivam Sundaram. On a Sunday, when the Colonel and his wife visited father, he narrated the incident of fragrance. They, too, smelled the book and were overjoyed. It was the fragrance of Vibhuti [sacred ash], and actually it was the omnipresence of Bhagavan to make the ailing person feel that everything will be all right soon. And the first miracle was that since the day father started reading this book, his health started improving. He could now sit for longer periods of time and had less difficulty in walking and standing. His faith in Bhagavan’s Infinite Love and Grace deepened. In the latter half of July 1976, by His Will, my parents and two elder sisters came to Puttaparthi. As I was young then, they left me with my grandparents at home. On arrival at Prasanthi Nilayam, my father had expected that Bhagavan would call them soon for interview. It was, however, several days later that the interview was granted by Bhagavan. During the interview, Bhagavan materialized Vibhuti and gave it to mother. He then jokingly reminded her of her cribs against Him. Touching father’s left hip, He said, “How is your leg and back?” This surprised father, for, although most people knew about the leg, he had not mentioned the accompanying pain in the back to anyone, not even to mother. Continuing, Bhagavan said, “Don’t worry, it will be okay by October.” Bhagavan directed that the Vibhuti should be taken for three days, and it would be all right. Three days of Vibhuti healed a two-year-old illness. Father stopped all medicines and was healed as assured, and he was promoted also. Since that day, the left leg, which had always been weak, has never had any problems, not even minor ones. It is as though an unseen protective sheath has been guarding it. Soon father began to realize that Bhagavan was not just a saint. For had not Bhagavan been answering whenever he prayed to God in the Sikh traditions? Slowly but surely, he became a devotee of Bhagavan and has come to realize that Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba is none other than Waheguru, one of the names frequently used by the Sikhs for the one and the only God, the Lord of the entire Cosmos. What we have to realize is that the illness was a boon in disguise. Without it father would have remained immersed in his little world and missed the joy of spiritual life and faith in God. Bhagavan, who is the Principal Director in the drama of life, knows when and what to do. When my father’s faith in the world and also its doctors had begun to crumble, He grabbed the opportunity

Vibhuti Does it! It was summer. Some Sai devotees had assembled near the leprosy asylum for seva [service]. The bhajans [devotional hymns] started. Students of the Sathya Sai Higher Secondary School had also gathered there. After bhajan, fruits were distributed to the inmates. It was really a sad sight to see the patients in the asylum. I wondered what karmic law had brought on this dreaded disease to the afflicted persons. As I was thinking about these things, an elderly gentleman, a leader of the Seva Samiti [service association], came and said, “Why don’t you, being Swami’s students, come and talk to them?” I didn’t have enough courage to go in. I looked around and noted that even other friends were hesitant. We had to give in as the elders said, “Don’t worry, we won’t go into the interior. Just speak to them for some time.” A small boy came closer. The old gentleman told him: “See, they are Baba’s students.” His eyes glowed with admi­ration. We boys moved back a little. Suddenly, he said, “Don’t be afraid. I won’t touch you.” We were `touched’ by this statement. Then he started speak­ing in Marathi [dialect of Maharashtra state]. He was 12 years old and the disease was in its early stages. He said that he saw Baba in a dream and describ­ed how Baba comes out for darshan [sight of a holy person], the Prasanthi Mandir [temple], and the college buildings. He had never seen Baba! He said Baba often came in his dreams. He said, “You are so close to Swami, please pray for my healing.” This brought tears to our eyes. We said, “Surely we will pray for you.” Then suddenly the elderly devotee said, “If anybody has the vibhuti [sacred ash] given by Swami, why don’t you give it to him?” While going home for the vacation, Swami had given us vibhuti prasadam [a sanctified offering], so therefore some of us had vibhuti packets handy in our pockets. Immediately we gave the lad some packets. Back at Prasanthi Nilayam after the vacation, we resumed our studies. One day I received a letter from the Samiti leader saying that the boy whom we had met at the asylum had refused to take any medicine and was only applying the vibhuti given to him and praying to Swami. The hospital authorities were a bit appre­hensive about this and rather displeased with the Sai devotees for interfering with the treatment they were giving to the boy. After two weeks, when the doctors examin­ed the boy. There was no trace of leprosy. He was healed! ~Hari Prasanna, M. Sc., VidyagiriSource: Sanathana Sarathi, Jan. 1990