“Kodaikanal 2007” Part - II
By Prof. Anil Kumar

 Part  I  -  Part  IIPart  III

Photo Gallery: Glimpses of Kodaikanal 2007

  
Photo serial- Kodai Kanal With Sai 2006 : [Set 01
]  [ Set 02 [ Set 03 [ Set 04 ]
[ Set 05 [ Set 06 ] [ Set 07 ] [ Set 08 ] [ Set 09 ] [ Set 10] [ Set 11] [ Set 12] [ Set 13]
[
Set 14] [ Set 15]

OM…OM…OM… Sai Ram

With Pranams at the Lotus Feet of Bhagavan,
Dear Brothers and Sisters,

God doesn’t receive -- HE only gives

Now we come to the second part of the details of the Kodai trip. Last week I shared with you certain particulars relating to our trip to Kodaikanal and Shirdi. I also remember talking about some experiences I had in Shirdi, for the benefit of all of you. This week, we shall spend some time on the Kodaikanal trip experiences.



A top engineer, who is in charge of the water project, brought a very big photo album. He came close to Swami and said, “Swami, I want to present this album to you.” Swami said. “Alright, you keep it with you.” The man said, “Swami, this album is for You.” I want you to know the answer given by Baba.



Taking advantage of this situation, Baba conveyed a message to all of us. He said, “If I accept albums like this, I would need so many buildings to accommodate them!” Baba said, “Look here, I don’t take; I only give. I don’t receive; I only give.” The presentation of the album may be a simple event, but Swami took advantage of it to convey a message that God does not receive; God only gives and gives.



I would like to share another experience with you. One gentleman came to Kodaikanal along with Swami, and he wanted to leave the next day, if possible. He wanted to return towards the end of the trip so that he could come back to Bangalore along with Swami. We were all gathered, and the gentleman was waiting for Swami’s clearance that he was free to go.



Before he opened his mouth, Swami immediately looked at him and said, “Tomorrow, by this time, you will be at your home.” The gentleman had not even reserved his ticket or intimated that he was thinking of going, but Swami immediately answered his request. The gentleman was very much surprised and said, “Swami, in fact, I wanted to seek your permission to go; but You have also given the timing of my arrival!” He was very surprised. That is Bhagavan!



let your pure heart be like a shawl, coVERING HIM

Swami wanted the boys to buy something for their parents, sisters or brothers. He gave money to all the students to do some shopping. Before they proceeded, Baba said, “In Kodaikanal, there are many Tibetan men, women, and girls. They came all the way from Tibet and are selling woollen shawls, coats and sweaters, and other woollen materials. They will be waiting for Sai Baba’s arrival. Seeing you boys in white dress, all those Tibetans will be feeling extremely happy, because they will have good business. They are the people coming all the way from Tibet, so I want you all to go to those shops and buy whatever you want.”



Naturally, our boys went there and, seeing the white dress, the Tibetans were shouting, “Aye, Sai Ram, come here. Sai Ram, sweater, come here. Sai Ram! Shawls, come here!” They know all of the regional languages. They were so happy to find these boys because it is ‘Sai season’. The boys purchased everything they wished.



When they returned, one boy wanted to present a shawl to Swami, so he placed it before Him saying, “Swami, this shawl is for You.” Bhagavan said, “I don’t cover Myself with any shawls like these. I want your heart to be a shawl that covers Me. I want to be covered by the shawl of your heart. Your heart is a shawl, not a woollen shawl. I don’t want it.” That is what Baba said. These may be private individual conversations, but they excite us. Listening to such sweet conversations between Swami and students creates a sense of thrill and joy.



devotees find a place in the heart of GOd

Another boy came forward and said, “Swami, I brought a present for you.” “Em thechinav?” Swami asked, “What did you bring?” The boy opened the box and took out a beautiful, small idol of Meerabai. Swami said, “What? You want to present Me Meera? It is not necessary. Meera is already there with Me, and in Me, with Me.”



For the information of those who have not heard of Meera, I may tell you Meera is a great devotee. Meera bhajans are most popular all over India and Swami said, “Meera is with me,” meaning, the devotee finds a place in the heart of God. “Meera is not outside; Meera is in Me, with Me.” It should be an earnest prayer. It should be a sincere sadhana for every devotee to find a place in the heart of Sai, so that Baba would say, “I have never forgotten you; you are there.”



Swami met a newly married couple. Swami had performed their marriage and He looked at the girl from the ladies’ side and said, “How are you? How is life? How is your husband?” And then He said, “Does he remember Me?” The girl was surprised, and didn’t know what to say. She kept quiet and Baba said, “It doesn’t matter. Even if he forgets Me, it is important that he should not forget you.” (Laughter) All these talks and conversations are full of wit, humour, fun and frolic; yet they convey a message that gets deeply ingrained.



Swami is omniscient

Another interesting thing happened. Swami wanted the boys to exercise around the lake in Kodaikanal every morning. Swami told those boys, “Look here, if you go around the lake, six kilometres in diameter, it will be exercise, so that you can eat more!” Swami was very particular that the boys should walk or jog around the lake.



That day, Swami looked at the warden and said, “Have all of you gone for morning jogging around the lake?” The warden said, “Yes, Swami, we all went around the lake.” Bhagavan immediately said, “No, no, three boys did not join you. They found some escape and they are still sleeping. I know.” These are the glimpses of His Divinity that we get to know about by inquiring from others. He knows the truth; it cannot be concealed or hidden from His Divine attention.



delve inside to find god

Swami presented so many gifts to all the people. Swami gave us basic requirements like toothpaste, toothbrushes, tongue cleaners, soap, Turkish towels, shaving sets, perfume, blankets, shirts, dresses, cameras and watches -- sufficient to fill an entire suitcase! Though we went with one suitcase, we had to return with two suitcases – the second one being full of His gifts!



Swami presented us with HMT watches (Hindustan Machine Tools) that were wrapped in small, beautiful black boxes covered in thin wrapping paper. He was giving the watches, showing the watches, and talking to us. (He is God, you know. He cannot give and keep quiet!)



He said, “Look here, this box is the body; on this box are written the letters HMT. That represents the name of your body -- you are so-and-so, you are Rao, or you are David. Your body is like the box and the name is like the brand written here. The wrapper paper around the box is like the mind, which is closely associated with the body. The watch inside is God.



“The watch inside is God, present within the box, which is the body, and the box is covered by a white wrapper, which is the mind,” Swami told us. That simple present carried this beautiful message. Whenever I listen to these things, I get a shock. What a pleasant, beautiful interpretation this is! I derive greater pleasure in knowing these details than from receiving the watch itself. A watch you may get anywhere, but this interpretation is to be found nowhere else. Only Swami can give this beautiful interpretation.



On May 6th there was a festive holiday, Eswaramma Day. On that day, Swami distributed clothes and about 2,000 watches to about 10,000 people. To children, He distributed slates, pencils, books, erasers, shawls, blankets, woollen rugs and what-not. Each one must have received at least six gifts! They were heavy to carry. And the prasadam was sumptuous—great, both in quality and quantity.



On the previous night, Swami had instructed the seva dal people about pulihora, the hot stuff to be served the following morning. He was telling them how it should be made: “Its smell should be so attractive that it should reach all those who are gathering there near the lake. They should feel the smell. I brought special rice for making pulihora from Puttaparthi. That special quality of rice is called basmati rice. And it is quite loose.”



He told them again and again, “Be careful while making it, and use enough oil to make it as tasty as possible, no compromise. When I am supplying the rice and material, you don’t have to be a miser. Make use of everything.”



That day, right from morning, 8 o’clock till 12 o’clock, He was going around and around the devotees. Usually, it is the devotees who will go around God in a temple, but, surprisingly enough, here is God, who is going around the devotee. Very interesting!



Swami did not feel tired at all. I could gather that He did not have even a single drop of water from the morning, 8 o’clock till 12 o’clock. He felt so happy distributing these things. On two other occasions, we also had distribution of prasadam on a larger scale, in a similar fashion, full of love and concern.



pray to him to have his eternal darshan

I wanted to draw your attention especially toward these things: There were no regular formal discourses. In fact, there were none, except for one discourse that Swami gave on Eswaramma Day. Bhagavan stayed there for twenty-four days and he gave only one public discourse. But, please believe me, all the twenty-four days were full of enthusiasm, full of laughter and full of smiles. How all the twenty-four days passed so quickly, we do not know! It all appeared as if it were two seconds, just like a flash.



All the devotees were extremely happy because Swami went around the devotees both morning and evening, three times in the morning, three times in the evening. Everyone got a chance to give a letter. Everyone got a chance to be seated in the first row. I did not see any long face, nor any disappointed soul.



Old files were also cleared. Those who could not give a letter to Swami for four to five months in Prashanti Nilayam could give ten letters there in Kodaikanal. So all devotees were full of joy because Swami was going around again and again, morning and evening.



It is our good luck, good fortune, that Swami is now going around in His wheelchair for the last three to four days in Prashanti Nilayam. We pray to Him that He continue to do so. We are tired of car darshan, we are tired of tyre darshan (Laughter), we are tired of driver darshan, because we want to have Baba darshan! When Baba goes in His wheelchair around the line, it is really fantastic. He has been doing so for the last few days. Let us all jointly pray that He will continue to do so.



THE time to perform an auspicious task is right now

What I want to draw your attention to is this: In private conversations, in the company of students and some chosen guests, we find some precious jewels in Swami’s messages. One day He was talking about human action and activity.



Someone wanted to know when one should start doing any project. People look for Thursdays, auspicious moments like 10 o’clock. Some say 10:05 is the auspicious moment. How do you know it is really 10:05? Your watch is 10:05, your neighbour’s watch is 10:10, the other man’s watch is 9:45 and Indian standard time is 9:30 (Laughter). No two watches ever agree. But we want to look at the watches and find out the auspicious moment to begin any important task or program or activity.



Commenting on this, what Baba said applies to everybody. He said, “The moment you start, the moment you get a noble thought or a sacred thought, that is the auspicious moment. That is the time to take action.” If you want to do a good thing, come on, do it when the thought arises, in that auspicious moment. You don’t have to wait for a Thursday that will never come. You want to wait for Christmas or New Year’s Day for the commencement of your project?



For the beginning of the good program you want to start, Baba said, “Thadeva lagnam, sudinam. Chandra balam, tara balam.” Thadeva lagnam means “That is the most precious moment”; Sudinam means “auspicious day”; Tara balam, Chandra balam means, “That which has all the strength of sun and moon, which has all the strength and benediction of the entire universe.” Therefore, this little message droves home this point that, the very moment that thought arises to do a job or undertake an auspicious project, we should take action.



sincerity and devotion grant us wisdom

A boy, who is working for his PhD program, said, “Swami, I have a question.”



“Yes, what is your question?” He asked.



“Swami, how does one develop shraddha (steadfastness, sincerity) and bhakthi (sincerity and devotion)?” It is a good question. I don’t know if he developed them after listening to the answer or not, but it is a sincere question.



The answer that Bhagavan gave is this: “If you have that feeling, that love, you will develop these qualities. A kind of love, yearning, and desire for fulfilment will naturally help you cultivate shraddha and bhakthi.”



Then Bhagavan said, “Shraddha and bhakthi will ultimately give you jnana, or wisdom.” Jnana, or wisdom, is not a by-product. It is the culmination, amalgamation, combination, synthesis of shraddha and bhakthi. Sincerity and devotion together give us jnana, or wisdom, as explained by Bhagavan.



as are your looks, so is the scenery

One gentleman devotee asked a question out of emotion. (The names of devotees who asked questions are not important; the issues are important. Though I recorded their names, it would not be fair on my part to mention them in public.)



The man was criticising the world: “Swami, the world is horrible; the world is terrible. But, in Your presence, I am in heaven itself. The boys here are models. But outside, we don’t find anything good.” He went on speaking like that out of emotion. Our good God listened to him for a long time; naturally, one should be given a long rope with which to hang one’s self!



He gave the gentleman much attention, and then He said, “No, no! You are wrong.”



“In the world, good and bad exist together,” Swami said. ”You claim that everything is bad in this world. No, you are mistaken. There is also a lot of good in society. It is unfortunate that you have not noticed it. Life is a combination of good and bad. The world is a combination of good and bad.”



Swami went on to say, “Good has no value when there is nothing bad. It is only bad that is contributing to the good.” And He finally said, “Good and bad depend on time. Actually the Truth is beyond. Truth is neither good nor bad. It is non-dual. It is only time that makes things look bad or good. It is your attitude, in that particular moment, and your condition in those prevailing circumstances—that is all.”



This sends a message to all of us that we should be aware that there is good around. There are some who go around criticising and pointing out all that is bad, saying, “He is bad; she is bad.” It is because you are sufficiently bad that you see only bad. You are wearing coloured glasses that make everything look bad.



If all you see is bad, something is bad with you. Get your eyes checked up. Etti drishtiyo atti srushti – “As is the vision, so is the creation.” If your vision is good, everything is bound to be good; and if your vision is bad, naturally, everything will be bound to look bad. And the true reality is beyond. That is the message conveyed in this particular story.
 




there is no need to fear to do his work

There is also another statement made by Bhagavan. One gentleman said, “Swami, I know certain things, I know certain values; but I am not able to practice them in my office. I am not able to put these into action in my field of work because I have a lot of fear about what to do.”



Bhagavan mentioned two points here: “You don’t need to fear to do anything good. You don’t need to be afraid to do anything that you believe in, when you have deep conviction of the thing you are doing. Once you fear to do anything against your own conscience, if you act against your conscience, against something bad from your point of view, then that inner voice tells you. Otherwise, you should not have any fear.”



And then Swami made another statement: “It is rather rare that good receives support. A college student who wants to attend bhajans will not have any of his classmates join him, whereas a student going to a cinema hall or a movie will have a number of friends join him. Bad will have ample support; good will not have support. But, whether or not there is support, remember always that you will have the support of God. God within you gives support. You can proceed. That’s what faith is.”



swami is the indweller in all of us

Somebody was in an ecstatically happy mood, and he said to Swami: “While you are doing so many things, how is it that the world does not know? Outside, people do little things, cheap things even, to which so much publicity is given. When very few, negligible, minimal things are done, these acts are given maximum propaganda or publicity. When you are doing so much for humanity, how is it that the world does not know?”



Swami said, “Publicity is necessary when a person is different from another person. Someone helps you. You and they are separate, or you are the receiver and they are the giver. You two are separate. So, where there is dualism, where there is separation, publicity and propaganda are needed. What I have done to all of you needs no publicity, for I am not separate from you. You and I are one. Where is the need for publicity?” said Baba.



“There is no need for publicity because you and I are one. If we are separate, then there needs to be some propaganda. When I do it, it is My duty. It is for My own pleasure. It is for My ananda that I do it.” And finally, He concluded, “Truth does not need publicity. It is only untruth that needs publicity. Truth is enough unto itself. Sun does not need any publicity. His light is enough. Moon does not need any publicity. The moonlight is enough.”



Baba is the same Indweller in all of us. He and we are not separate, and are not different.



unity is ONENESS with god at all times

I think you will be very surprised to hear the following statement from Swami. It is the very first time I have heard such a statement from Him.



The theme was unity. In the past, He has spoken on unity many times; we all know that. Particularly with reference to India, Bhagavan has said, “India needs unity. There is no unity in India. Bharath is land of resources. It’s a land of people – multiracial, multicultural and multilingual – people of talent and excellence; yet the country needs unity. Where there is unity, you are strong enough. Nothing and no one can attack you.” Bhagavan gave a number of examples, which we have discussed on other occasions.



What has been our understanding of unity? That all of us live together without differences – that is unity. Let us all live together with a common purpose. That’s what Baba said earlier. However, this time He said something different about what unity is.



This time He said, “The very feeling that God is within you – that you are not alone, that there is within you unity with God, identification with God, an awareness of God within you, the experience of God within you – that is true unity.” That is what Baba said.



When I feel that I am alone, lonely, just one person with no support whatsoever, that is disunity. When I know that there is disunity in me, then I know I am not one. When I know I have got God within me, I know there is unity within me. What a wonderful definition or interpretation this time! We should treasure this in times to come.


 


whatever we give should be of use to others

Swami was distributing gifts of grace and love to everybody. As I told you earlier, cameras and film were given to us. What is the use in having a camera without film?



Swami was enquiring of everybody, “Where is your camera?” And He looked at me and asked, “Where is your camera?” I said, “Swami, You have given me a good number of cameras; but I have never used a camera before. I don’t know how to use it.”



Swami laughed and said, “If you don’t know how, ask any boy. They will teach you. Our students will teach you how to use the camera because all the latest brands of cameras are available in Puttaparthi.”



When He was distributing items, He said an important thing: “Do you know why I give? In fact, you have towels, but again I give you towels; you have soaps, but still I give you soaps. Why? The reason is to let you know that whatever you give should be useful.”



Suppose I give a computer to the man on the street, what will he do? He will throw it into the Chitravathi River. A man who is hungry comes to Me and, if I give him a camera, what will he do? He will break it or break My head. So you should give that which is useful to others.



“To teach that, I am giving these things,” Swami said.



do not misuse god’s wonderful gifts

The second point He made in regard to gifts was: “All the gifts I give should not be misused.” My friends, let us spend a minute on this. All that we have are gifts from God. We should not misuse them. Air is the gift of God. Misuse of air results in air pollution. Water is a gift of God. Misuse of water results in water pollution. The mind is a gift of God: to think, to contemplate, to meditate. Misuse of the mind results in committing bad deeds and sins. The body is gift of God. Misuse of the body results in many vices and bad habits. Therefore, when Baba said, “Don’t misuse all that I give you,” it means we should know their preciousness; we should know their value; we should never misuse them. That’s how Swami indirectly, subtly, communicated the message.



To sum up again, two things we have to learn: one, to give those things that are useful to others; and two, to not misuse the gifts of God.



THE world is a projection of our mind

Then somebody said, “Swami, my mind is a monkey mind. I am not able to manage with my mind. My mind is bringing misery to me. I am not able to control it. Would You suggest to me a method? Would You please tell me how I am to handle my monkey mind?”



Swami is like a diamond. As you all know, He gives one interpretation on Monday and another interpretation on Tuesday. Just as a diamond has so many faces, Swami’s Divine knowledge is multi-faceted. All facets are true. They are not contradictory, but complementary. One interpretation represents one dimension of the subject. Another interpretation presents another dimension of the subject.



When Swami describes the mind as a monkey, what does He mean? Many times He has said, “Body is a water bubble; mind is a mad monkey.” What does He mean? The monkey is known for its hyperactive nature. The mind, too, is very unsteady and restless. Therefore, He has said that the mind is a monkey mind.



But this time, He didn’t say that. If mind is not a monkey, then what is it? A fellow like me, who thinks he knows all of these points and shares them with others, gets a sudden shock when I find that Swami has changed His point from past statements.



“Swami, You said it’s a monkey mind; now you say it’s not a monkey. Then who is the monkey?”



“It is not a monkey mind; it is mankind.” Now Swami says, “When mind is full of good and noble thoughts, it will take you to mankind. When it is polluted, it is monkey mind. So mind as such is beyond such limitations; it is pure and non-dual.”



Mamo moolam idham jagath: “The whole universe is the making of the mind.” The whole cosmos is the projection of the mind, says Adi Shankara. We shall study later what the saint has to say on the mind.



So when you say monkey mind, it only means that the mind is polluted and full of bad, wavering thoughts. On the other hand, when the mind is full of good thoughts, it elevates you to the level of mankind. That’s what Bhagavan said.



surrender fully to god to control the mind

But that gentleman did not keep quiet. He asked, “Swami, how do I control the mind?” It is a good question because he knows enough to know that there is a need to control the mind. (Some people don’t even understand the need. They think the mind is everything. But let’s not bother about them.)



Mind has to be put under some check. It has to be controlled. The question is how to control the mind. Bhagavan said, “If you have the spirit of surrender, daiva arpita - surrender to God, with that feeling of surrender, you may control your mind.”



One might ask: How does the feeling of surrender and the control of the mind go together? How does surrender help control the mind? Swami explains now, “When you think you are the mind, it is the ego; but when you think the mind is separate from you, it is surrender. When you think you are the mind, it is ego.” Therefore, Baba says, only the spirit of surrender will help you control the mind.



“Swami, please help me develop good thoughts. Swami, help me remove all bad thoughts. Bhagavan, help me drop this ‘I-ness’, or ego.” By that prayer, through that spirit of surrender, one can grow beyond himself. One can control the mind; otherwise it is impossible to control the mind. It is only devotion and surrender that will help us control the mind; so says Bhagavan Baba.



he is the doer -- You are only his instrument

Then one boy, another PhD student, asked, “Swami, I am staying in the hostel along with six hundred other students. How can I control my mind? So many people come to me and disturb me. I talk to so many people. I have to interact with so many boys in the hostel. How can I control my mind?”



This situation applies equally to all of us. It is a problem with most of us. How to control the mind, living amidst so many people, with so many jobs and responsibilities, ups-and-downs, the bumps-and-jumps of daily life. Bhagavan said, “If you think that you are not the doer, you can know you have controlled the mind. You are not the doer. Think that God is the doer. He is doing through you. He is in you. He is everything. You are only an instrument.”

 



So, through this feeling that you are an instrument in the hands of God and that He is doing all things all through you, the mind gets controlled on its own. By moving among the students in the hostel, understand that you are doing your duty, that’s all. Don’t take things to heart. Don’t become carried away by all your responsibilities.



Most of us bring home whatever we do in the office, and we create confusion at home. There will be a ‘Korean war’ at home because the office is transferred or shifted there. Some people transfer home problems to the office and become a nuisance to their colleagues. We should know this art of living. We should know how to live at the office, and we should also know how to live at home. We should not carry home anything, and we should not take anything out of our family. When once we develop that ‘I am not the doer’ thought, we will be able to win over the mind, as explained by Bhagavan.



love him, above all else, to EARN HIS grace

When Swami says you can ask any question, He is in a good mood. You are free to ask any number of questions. One boy said this, “Swami, is it enough if I am here in Your company, with You? Is it enough?”



The question put by that boy applies in a broader sense to all of us, because there are many who think that it is enough if they stay here in Puttaparthi. There are some who think that if they sit in the bhajan hall, it is enough; or if they sit at the same place until God removes them and takes them to another planet, it is enough. There are some people who think it is enough if they boss people around and shout, as long as they are at the Lord’s Feet. Enough is enough with such people!



Is it enough just to be in Bhagavan’s company? Bhagavan is not a simple human being. If He were a human being, He would have said, “It is enough to be with Me.” But He did not say that. Swami said, “It is not enough if you are with Swami alone. No, no, something more. Mere association is not enough. You should earn the grace of God. You should earn My grace.” This applies to all of us. We may feel that it is enough to be here, but no! It is not.



”Have I earned His grace? Am I the recipient of His grace? Have I received His grace?” That was the first question to cross my mind when I heard Swami’s reply.



The same boy immediately asked another question, “Swami, how does one earn Your grace?“ (Laughter) (These are boys in the computer age. In those old days, we never dared to ask questions. And by the time we came out of class, we forgot the question itself. But modern boys won’t leave you alone! They will catch you, and they will come to your house to ask these questions.) So the question is: “How to earn Your grace, Swami?”



Swami’s reply was this: “Very easy, very easy.”



“Oh, is it so easy to earn God’s grace?”



“Yes.”



“How, Swami?”



“Love – that is enough. If you love God, you will earn His grace. Nothing more.”



Unfortunately, we complicate things because we love complication. People don’t eat thrice in a week: “O-ho! Alright. Get up at 3 o’clock and do japa. Very good, and sleep in the class.” (Laughter) We want to strain, exert, and torture ourselves.



Or somebody will say, “Read this book. Complete it in one day.”



“How can I complete it?” you ask.



“You have to. If you want to have liberation, you should complete this book, all 500 pages, in one day.”



“O-ho!” You should simply turn the pages; that’s all.



And somebody will come and say, “Go around Ganesha temple 108 times.”



“Oh? Morning or evening? “



“Both – 108 times each.” (Laughter)



It is easy to advise. I can tell him, “Go around in the afternoon also.” (Laughter) And when someone cannot go around 108 times, you say (in a boasting tone), “Well, I am going around.”



“Oh, you are also going around. Well, I go around Ganesha twice each time, 108 times.”



“Oh. So you are more than me.”



Another fellow says, “No, no, I go around thrice each time, 108 rounds!” (Laughter)



It goes on like this, like a cricket score. We feel happy to complicate things. We find some sense of satisfaction in undertaking strenuous, tiresome jobs. But God is not so unkind as to give us tiresome hard work. We are not casual labourers.



He simply says, “Love. That is enough.” But we cannot understand it.



Instead, we say, “Ah, why love? No, no, no. Not necessary. I want to feed one thousand people.” Alright, so what? God is feeding the entire world everyday; you feed just once a year, and you feel you have done a great thing, but there is nothing great about it. You are fed by Him, first of all. You think you do some feeding of the poor, but He feeds you. First, understand that. Therefore, my friends, it is rather painful that we want to exert and strain ourselves and make life mechanical.



“No, no,” Swami says, “it is enough if you love.” Love Him more than you love anybody else. Love Him more than you love yourself. Love Him so that He is the number one priority in your life. Love Him unconditionally. Love Him such that you accept whatever He does. Love Him no matter what happens in your life. Just continue to love Him; that’s enough. That’s how Bhagavan said we earn His grace.



love is never expressed, but felt

One gentleman remarked, “Swami, I am very happy, very happy very happy.” He did not stop saying that he was happy. He went on repeating, “Very happy.” It sounded rather odd to me. You can say, “Swami, I am happy.” You don’t need to say, “Happy, happy, happy!” I wanted to see Swami’s reaction.



Swami said, “True happiness is never said, but felt. Be happy within; don’t say that you are happy. When you say that you are happy, still you are to experience true happiness. You are not yet fully happy. When you are fully happy, you remain in happiness.”

 



When you are continually happy, you don’t say that you are happy. When you say that you are happy, it means you are yet to be happy and yet to experience happiness. Bhagavan said, “Precious things are never expressed. You don’t express your love. You don’t express your happiness. It is felt in every cell, in every nerve, in every heartbeat. Love is never expressed; it is felt.” That’s what Baba said.



perform seva to the best of your ability

Somebody said, “Swami, You are distributing mangoes. Shall I give this mango to that person?”



Baba said, “I would never ask anybody to give on My behalf. I give directly Myself because I consider it My duty to give. I feel so happy while giving. I don’t delegate powers; I don’t ask you to give on my behalf. I give directly.”



Then He turned to everybody and said, “Unless you yourself give directly, you will not have the full satisfaction of giving. Likewise, the other person will be most joyful only if he receives directly from Me.”



If Swami gives a laddu directly to me, oh, it is very precious! Cover it up immediately. Put it in my pocket so that nobody will ask for a share. (Laughter) If a seva dal gives one, I will break it into a thousand pieces and distribute them one-by-one. When it comes directly from God, that’s most precious. Swami said, “Learn to give directly, all by yourself. Don’t delegate powers to somebody. Don’t ask somebody else to give on your behalf.“



One gentleman innocently asked, not out of any bias, “Swami, will there be a poor feeding on Eswaramma Day?”



Swami asked, “What? Malli cheppu (meaning, “Repeat again”)?”



“Swami, will there be a poor feeding on Eswaramma Day?”



“Emi English adhi (“What sort of English)? No, no, feeding the poor and not poor feeding. (Laughter) ‘Poor feeding’ means cheap. ‘Feeding the poor’ is rich. Understand this. Never say ‘poor feeding’; say ‘feeding the poor’.” That’s how Bhagavan corrected his English. This is also very important for all of us.



change of work is rest

On another occasion, somebody said, “Swami, You are very tired. You are so busy from 7 o’clock in the morning and until 12 o’ clock, and again You are back by 2:30. Now it’s 6:30 in the evening and You have been busy all day. Swami, take some rest. You are very tired.”



Baba said, “I don’t need rest. I don’t desire to take rest. I have no desire to take rest.” Then Baba turned to the boys and asked, “What is rest?”



One boy said, “Sleeping.” Oh, I see. Another boy said, “Sitting”; another said, “Not doing anything.” Swami said, “Change of work is rest. You are doing one form of work and you are tired. Change or shift to another form of work. That is rest.”



Then He said, “If I take rest, what will happen to you? (Laughter) If I take rest, who will take care of you? God is never on vacation. God never rests. He doesn’t desire any.”



Similarly, in our life, we waste most of our time in taking rest, in relaxing. If we also learn to change the form of work as rest, we will be able to do more work and render more service to everybody all around us.



god has a personal relationship with his devotees

Then somebody said, “Swami, there are so many miracles happening in my life and in the lives of people. Why can’t they be published in book form?” This was a good question!

 



Baba said, “No, no, it is a matter of Divine romance. It is a matter between Me and my devotee. I help him; he receives help. I bless him, and he is blessed. It is a matter between Me and him. It doesn’t need to go to the press. It is not necessary.”



To add a note or observation here: if we started recording all the experiences and miracles of each devotee, I don’t think that we would ever be able to finish writing the book. It would become an infinite number of volumes. Those stories to be mentioned are beyond count and all measure, and one lifetime would not be enough to record them. This is the truth. I am sure most of you would agree with me.



god’s love is the essence of A thousand mothers

I would like to tell you a miracle that happened. One boy had a sprain near his ankle and he could not walk. Baba went close to him and applied ointment with His own hands. The boy was very embarrassed. “Swami, you are touching my ankle, my feet. You are applying ointment, I am so sorry. Please don’t do it.”



Baba said, “When you have pain, when you suffer, won’t your mother apply ointment to your feet? Won’t your mother serve you, or press your feet? Why not this mother who has a thousand mothers’ love for you?” That is Swami’s love for His devotees.



he knows all our actions

One gentleman came there and said, “Swami, let me have padnamaskar.” Baba said, “You already did it. Why again?”



The man said, “Swami, I just came only now. Why do You say I already did it? No. Please bless me with this opportunity to do padnamaskar – to touch Your Feet.”



Baba said, “You are coming from Bombay. Before you boarded the airplane flight, you did padnamaskar to My photo at home. I have already received it. You don’t have to do it now.” (Laughter)



Whatever is done is registered. There are a few more things to be said to you. Swami made many references to the Ramayana and Shirdi Sai. Swami mentioned some episodes related to the history of Meerabai. That we will take up next Sunday. With that, the Kodai series will come to an end.



Thank you for you time and gracious presence. May Bhagavan bless you! Thank you very much.





OM…OM…OM…



Asato Maa Sad Gamaya

Tamaso Maa Jyotir Gamaya

Mrtyormaa Amrtam Gamaya



Om Loka Samastha Sukhino Bhavantu

Loka Samastha Sukhino Bhavantu

Loka Samastha Sukhino Bhavantu



Om Shanti Shanti Shanti



Part  I  -  Part  IIPart  III