“Since I move among you, eat with you and talk with you, you are deluded into the belief that this is, but an instance of common humanity. Be warned against this mistake. I am also deluding you by singing with you, talking with you, and engaging Myself in activities with you. But any moment My Divinity will be revealed to you; you have to be prepared for that moment. Since Divinity is developed by humanness, you must endure to overcome the Maya that hides it from your eyes. Never forget that I am Super Human Divinity in human form.”
- Baba
These words of Bhagavan were like a dash of cold water
jolting me awake from the delusion my mind was slowly
cocooning itself into, thinking Bhagavan to be a
wonderful, loving friend. These words made me
remember once again that it is indeed God in whose
presence we are spending the best part of our lives.
Yet, it is indeed God who teases us, jokes with
us, makes us laugh and is so charming and endearingly
‘human’ that we tend to forget His Divinity.
 |
| Lord Narayana in His Divine Form |
Bhagavan is like a multifaceted diamond, each day
revealing more wonderful facets of Him. It would be
impossible to capture and write about His many moods,
actions and behaviour. Here, I would like to pen down
some of the aspects of Bhagavan, which have particularly
touched me.
Bhagavan says, “When I am with a man, I am a man;
when I am with a woman, I am a woman; when I am with a
child, I am a child; when I am alone, I am God.”
Bhagavan is as affectionate as a mother, as lovingly
authoritarian as a father, as considerate as a teacher,
as forgiving as God. So, He is loved by all who long to
secure a loving mother, a wise father, a
sympathetic teacher and a compassionate God.
“I ask only that you turn to Me when your mind drags
you into grief or pride or envy. Bring Me the depths of
your mind, no matter how grotesque, how cruelly ravaged
by doubts or disappointments. I know how to treat
them. I will not reject you. I am your Mother.”
Bhagavan says, “My love for you is more intense that
the love of a thousand mothers. Your mother may be with
you in this birth, but I’m with you birth after birth,
showering My love and care on you. I’m your real
Mother.” A fine example is the relationship between
Bhagavan and His students. It is difficult to describe
Bhagavan’s limitless and unbounded love and compassion
for the students. He looks into all the needs of the
students from routine mundane matters such as breakfast
and lunch served, to the health and well being of all
the students. He knows the spiritual needs of His
children and administers the spiritual teachings in such
a way that we can easily grasp and practice His
teachings in our daily lives. Regarding Bhagavan’s
motherly love, the incident, which really touched me, is
as follows:
Once Bhagavan was going along with some students to
Kodaikanal. Bhagavan was in His car in the front and the
boys in a bus behind Bhagavan’s car. In the course of
the journey the bus developed a snag and the boys
were stranded. However Bhagavan’s car went on and Had
reached the destination.
Meanwhile, the repairs and delays took some three hours
and after that they resumed their journey and when they
reached the destination, they found Bhagavan waiting
anxiously for them. Beloved Mother Sai, who
usually retires by 8:00 pm, was pacing up and down near
the gate for three hours, waiting for Her children to
come.
 |
|
Swami waiting at the entrance of Sai Sruthi Mandir, Kodaikanal |
“I alone know the agony of teaching you each and
every step in this dance of life. My life is my
message.”
Bhagavan’s work is so universal and practical that the
modern world will slowly come to apply. His entire life
is a meaningful and inspiring message. At the material
level, one of the best gifts that Bhagavan has given to
humanity is the unique Sai Educational system, which now
become famous all over the world for its excellence and
effectiveness. Apart from imparting academic
instructions, special attention is given to
the development of moral, ethical, spiritual and human
values.
At the spiritual level, He guides each person in the
spiritual path, according to his nature and knowing his
capacities and weaknesses. He is aware of each person’s
spiritual position and modifies the teachings in such a
way that they can be easily grasped and put into
practice. To some, He has prescribed strict penance and
sent them to the Himalayas after making them renounce
their worldly attachments. To some others, He
has prescribed Namasmarana. He asked many others
to form groups and serve the society. Thus, His
teachings and guidance vary from person to
person according to their needs and also the nature of
the person concerned.
Bhagavan has expressed His artistic talents right from
His childhood. As a child, He composed songs and poems,
acted in dramas, even dressed Himself as a lady dancer
and and gave a professional dance performance! He
continues to compose poems and songs during His
discourses. He directs plays and guides the students in
acting, as well as dressing each character in the play.
He is a good musician too, and is quick to find and
correct faults not only in the songs but also in the
accompanying music.
 |
|
Swami with the materialised statue of Hanuman |
The main aspect of Bhagavan that has attracted millions
of people from all over the globe is His selfless love,
unsullied by any attachment or partiality; flowing alike
to the rich and the poor, the old and the young, the
intellectual and the ignorant.
.jpg)
I would like to cite an instance to show that Bhagavan’s love is not influenced by the material status, caste, creed and so on. Once, when Bhagavan was staying in Bangalore at the bungalow of a rich devotee, many people were flocking to the bungalow to see Bhagavan. A cobbler sitting outside also wanted to have Bhagavan’s Darshan and hence went inside with a bunch of half - dried flowers. Bhagavan came near him, accepted the flowers and asked him what he wanted. The cobbler said that Bhagavan should come to his house and bless his family. Bhagavan agreed and went away, but the cobbler wasn’t satisfied because he didn’t give Bhagavan his address and went home not quite happy. But a few days later a car stopped in front of him on the road and Bhagavan was seated inside. He beckoned the cobbler to join Him and they went to the cobbler’s hut. There Bhagavan blessed and created sweets for the man’s wife and children. He also sat on a wooden plank and leaning against the wall, ate the fruits offered by them, all the while talking to them. Later Bhagavan returned to the bungalow.
Bhagavan expresses His love in various forms, a few of
which are as anger, humour, pranks etc. It is not always
serious and weighty matters that Bhagavan
discusses. Bhagavan is witty and humorous beyond our
imagination and at times delightfully plays with words.
He can bring different meanings and perceptions from
things that seem so ordinary. Being the perfect
Divine teacher, He uses humour effectively to drive home
His point. It is Bhagavan’s humour that acts like a ray
of sunshine and brightens our lives and whenever we
recall His words, our hearts are aglow!
Once a sceptic told Bhagavan, “If you change our
Indian Ocean water into petrol, all our country’s
financial problems will be solved.” Bhagavan said,
“I don’t want to, because people like you might throw
a lighted matchstick into it by mistake!”
 |
| Prof. Kasturi (extreme left) with Swami |
Bhagavan is indeed a unique multifaceted diamond,
precious and priceless!
- K. Sai Suhas
Alumnus, Department of Mathematics and Computer
Sciences,
Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning
Currently, Systems Specialist, GE Healthcare, Bangalore
Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning
Currently, Systems Specialist, GE Healthcare, Bangalore
Source: Sai Nandana 2000 (75th Birthday Issue)