| (Tuesday,
October 22, 2002 8:38 AM)
Today also we had a surprise.
During afternoon darshan, right after Swami had a short interview
with a local couple, the microphone was brought out. Then Swami
walked graciously to his chair & sat. A student announced there
would be 2 boys from Swami's school sharing their Divine experience
with Swami.
First speaker was Sri Rama, a student who attended to Swami's school
in Ooti. He said when he was in the 4th grade his teachers always
complained about his handwriting saying it’s not beautiful. In Ooti,
Swami's home was very close to the classrooms. One day Swami walked
into the classroom & very politely asked the class teacher, “May I
come in?” Then Swami walked to each desk. Sri Rama quickly opened
his notebook & began to write something, trying his best to work on
his handwriting. Suddenly he saw Swami standing near & watching him.
Swami asked, “What are you writing?” Sri Rama gave the book to
Swami. Then Swami looked through the book & said, “Good boy, very
nice handwriting.” This boy could hardly believe it since the book
had remarks written by the teacher saying, “handwriting needs to
improve.” After Swami left, Rama told his teacher. The teacher
responded saying, “Swami said that because He is God.”
After graduating with a Masters from Swami's University, in an
interview, Swami told Rama & his fellow mate that they will be going
to U.S to the Loma Linda University in CA to get a Degree in Health
Administration. Swami said first you must get the permission from
your Parents & then get back to Swami.
Then Swami brought the application papers & asked the 2 boys to fill
them out. The form asks why you want to come to this University. In
reply, they wrote about the work that Swami does for the people,
mentioning the Super Specialty Hospital & many more. They said that
after they graduate they will serve Swami at the Hospital.
By now Swami told the boys to
prepare for the Toefal & GMAT exams as they only have 2 wks left
before the exam. They were so nervous, wondering how they could
prepare for these tests in such a short time. They didn’t want to
let Swami down by scoring low marks. Then Swami said, “I'm with you,
don't worry.”
They
received a reply from the Loma Linda Univ. saying they were very
impressed with what the boys had written on the application form
responding to the question about their reason for wanting to attend
the university. Therefore, for the first time in history, the
university would drop the Toefal exam & they would only need to do
the GMAT.
The boys were happy to a certain extent, but now they worried over
the GMAT. Usually students take a minimum of 3 – 4 months preparing
for this exam. But Swami said, “You need to take this Exam in 9
days.” They asked their teachers to help them study & the teachers
said, “Only God can help you.” Now these boys wondered why Swami
wanted it this way when they were so happy doing their practice in
Swami's University. Why was Swami testing them& putting us through
this difficult situation. They took the pre-test 3 times, each time
scoring very low. Now they were afraid of bringing a bad name to
Swami's Univ.
The big day was on a Thursday the 9th. They did the test & were so
afraid to click the button on the computer that says, ‘Would you
like to see your scores?’ Finally, with sad faces they pressed it &
what a surprise! Score is 2400 out of 2600.
Then Swami said, “Why you don't
trust me? I told you not to worry, that I'm with you.? Swami did the
exam for them.
The next step was to get the visas to come to US. Then in September,
they hear of the tragic moment in New York - 911. (Sept.11, 2002).
The embassy is closed.
After 2 days they went back to the Consular - stamped on the
passports were the word saying - ‘No entry to US is allowed.’
Then Swami said don't worry & told them the date & the time of the
day they would get the visas.
The Loma Linda University sent an urgent message to the Embassy
asking them to reconsider & issue the visas as this was a very
special case. The consular apologized to the boys & issued visas on
the day & exact time that Swami mentioned earlier. Then Swami
brought a suit for boys & said, “When you are in US, you have to
dress according to their way, not white pant & shirt like in Parthi."
The boys had forgotten to take the suits with them to the US.
A few days before their graduation @ Loma Linda, they heard a knock
on their room door. An elderly person had come from Parthi saying,
“Swami sent me with this package for you.” When they opened it, they
found 2 suits that Swami gave to the boys. He has sent a message
saying, “You forgot to take it with you. Please wear this on your
graduation.”
After graduating in June 2002, they returned home successfully in
Nov. 2002 before Swami's birthday.
It was another lovely day of listening to our Mother Sai who pours
his love on each one of us.
(Friday, October 25, 2002)
As we were sitting inside the Kulwant hall waiting for afternoon
darshan we saw the microphone set out.
In fact, the microphone was set yesterday too, but there were no
speakers. At 2:15pm Swami came – giving lovely darshan to all and
then went into the inner room. There were no interviews. As the
darshan music (instrumental music) stopped, some of the crowds began
to leave. Usually if there is a special event, or a devotee is going
to speak, they start by 3pm, not later than that. It looked liked
nothing special was going to happen. After sitting for an extra 15
minutes, I thought of saving my spot with a cushion & taking a short
break for tiffin. As I walked towards the gate to take my first foot
step out, Swami walks to the hall. I felt the calling to stay and
not go for tiffin.
Prashan, a student from Swami's school spoke. He said Swami asked
him to take prasad to the villages. One particular house he went to
had no response after knocking on the door for some time. He decided
to open the door and walk inside this small dark home. He saw an old
lady at the back of the house lying in bed. This old lady had a high
fever. She asked the boy, very sweetly, why he is here. The boy
replied. “Amma (mother) Swami sent prasad for you.”
The old lady said, “Son, my daughter & son in law no longer live
with me. Now I'm alone & have to cook for myself. Today I'm having
fever & in so much pain & unable to cook. So I thought of starving &
just continue to stay in bed.” She was very happy to receive the
prasad from our dear Lord.
Another student, Sai Krishna, said there was a family in UK. Their
wish was to visit Swami in India. Knowing that they didn’t have the
income to afford take this precious journey, they began to save a
pound at a time. After lots of hard work & saving money for years
the big day arrived.
Now this family is sitting for their First darshan. Swami comes &
says, "GO". They are sitting by the interview room waiting for
Swami. Swami came to the boys of this group & said "You boys are
coming from UK like Teddy Bears with hairs long up to your noses.
See how clean cut my students are. That’s how you should look", and
he sent them back to the darshan hall, without interview.
Next day when Swami was coming for darshan, Swami sees all the boys
in this group are with bald heads. All of them have shaved their
heads. Now Swami said, "Why did you shave your heads, I only asked
you to have a hair cut not to shave the head?" The boys replied"
Swami, if the students can be so close to you with clean hair cuts,
how much closer can we be by not having any hair?"
Swami was pleased with the reply & called them for interview. Each
day of their trip they had morning & afternoon interviews. (2 per
day)
Another student of Swami’s attended
Swami's school from the primary classes. When he was in the 12th
grade class, a friend had said how fortunate he was to be in Swami's
school all through his education. Then this boy replied, “Yes, I
FEEL VERY FORTUNATE to be in Swami's school since a little boy, but
I don't know whether Swami knows that I came from the primary
classes.”
Next day at darshan Swami stops by this boy & says, "Hey you –
primary student, come.” This boy had his lesson that Swami knows
everything.
There was a devotee who's a smoker. Each visit he came to Swami was
for about 2 weeks. Within these 2 wks he's able to give up the
desire of smoking due to Swami's grace. But when he returns home the
habit continues.
On this particular trip, he happens to stay one month to be with
Swami. After 2 wks he no longer was able to control the desire to
smoke. So he thought of going outside the ashram to have a smoke &
then return.
The next day he's back for darshan after fulfilling his desire.
Swami walks right to him & says, "You are smoking." He said "No
Swami." Swami said, "You are not smoking?" He replies, "No Swami I
didn't smoke". Then Swami makes a gentle wave on his hand &
materializes a photograph of this boy smoking outside the ashram.
During darshan Swami called one Australian group for interview. One
devotee looked very sad. Swami asked "Why are you sad". He replied,
"Swami my wife is sick & she is in Australia". Swami asked, "Do you
want to go home?" He said "yes". Then Swami points to the interview
room wall & says, "What do you see on the wall". Swami has created
the map of Australia on the wall. Swami points to the map & asks,
"What do you see now". He says, "That’s my city". Swami asks, "What
do you see now". He says "Swami that’s the street I live". Then
Swami says "What do you see now", "That’s my house Swami". Swami
shows the entrance door to his house and asks, "You want to go in?"
As he said, "yes" Swami said, "go".
So this devotee takes one foot inside the door (thru the interview
room wall) & finds himself in Australia. The rest of the group
members are stunned not knowing what happened to their fellow group
member. This was a group of 12 devotees that went in & coming out of
the interview room with 11 devotees. As they began to worry thought
of calling Australia. He picks up the phone & says, "YES I'm in
Australia", & clears the confusion.
As the student was just about to end these lovely stories, Swami
surprised him by asking to sing a bhajan. The student was breathless
& there was a 5-minute pause. Then he calmed down & said that Swami
has requested me to sing a bhajan & I would like to take this moment
to think, so I can sing an appropriate bhajan that will express my
feelings. He sang a short bhajan in Hindi.
The evening was completed with
lovely bhajans - Om namah Shivaya shivaya namah om
Bolo Vittala
Ram Ram bajamana hare hare
With Blessings from our Lord
Indika
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