Om Sairam dearest Sai Family,
The YATRA and DRAMAS season has started in the holy land Puttaparthi. After a quiet
but boiling HOT month of May cool breezes blew by the arrival of Students in their
respective campuses. Swami as always continued His COOL and TENDER looks at every
one of us when ever He came out to give His divine darshan.
18th June started with a beautiful programme by the Balvikas students of Gujarat
followed which it was the turn of Andhra Pradesh Youth. About 2000 of them both men
and women, thronged Parthi. Neatly and culturally dressed like Sai Students and
while moving around in the ashram they made every one feel WHY are Swami's students
moving around freely in the ashram instead of being in the college.
The Andhra Pradesh Youth have been doing match less service taking cue from Swami's
teachings. They went very hard on developing remote villages and educating the
illiterates.
The other day when I was chatting to a group of youth, I was surprised to know all
the activities they have taken up and I was thinking would this be true or I'm
dreaming.
The drama on 19th June Prema Vahini was very well written by Mr.Rao, another
masterpiece, scripted to tell the activities they have taken up, the motivating
force behind it and parallely they depicted the life story of Bhagawan..
Swami was very very impressed by their performance. the little girl who played
little Sathya was specially blessed with a golden bracelet by Swami. Swami went into
the interview room and brought clothes and watches to the 100+ cast. Swami made sure
every one of them got the divine prasad. Swami at one time asked the sevadals to put
the watch around the children saying they are so small and they can't open and put
on their wrist themselves. Obeying Swami's command, the sevadals were putting the
watches around the children's' wrist and now a new problem, many watches,
understandably double the size of the little wrist and at least two or three links
were to be taken away to fit properly, watching this Swami now signalled, ok just
give away the watches.
It was nothing but PURE motherly love that was seen during those sweet moments. All
the participants were thrilled by Swami's gesture and mind you almost half of the
youth were new comers and they were more than thrilled to see our beautiful Swami up
close and His minute considerations like the watch incident brought tears to many.
Many were wondering, how compassionate OUR lord is.. He is FULL of unsullied love.
After taking group photos, Swami asked the ladies' from the Sai Youth group to sing
bhajans in His immediate presence, yet another boon, which they would have never
dreamt about.
By the time Arathi was given it was 7:30pm and after a quick supper, the whole bunch
of youth headed to Conference hall as Prof.Anil Kumar was scheduled to talk to the
anxious youth..
The programme started at 8:30pm very late in Ashram standard time, but the anxiety
and enthusiasm in the youth compelled Prof. Anil Kumar to speak in spite of the
deadline time framed by the ashram.
The talk was a real eye opener to all the Sai youth and especially many of the
Center heads who think they are separate from others. Prof. Anil Kumar made it very
clear that the office BEARERS should be well aware that they would not have been the
BEARERS without His blessings and He will BEAR you only to a certain extent and
afterwards you will be left in the middle of the sea.. It is once in a life time
opportunity for all of you that you have been given the opportunity to serve the
society under Swami's safe umbrella. A waste paper, when it bears the signature of
Reserve Bank Governor turns into a currency note and the Reserve Bank Governor is
Swami and we are the waste papers blessed to be transformed into currency notes.
Prof. Anil Kumar who has been with Sri Sathya Sai Organisations for almost 40 years
shared his experiences. Many a times, tears rolled down when he narrated some
incidents from his life. Those were the days when the transportation was not this
advanced. Communication system was NON EXISTENT. Prof.Anil Kumar who started his
teaching career in 1963 was a very well known teacher even in those days. After
coming in Swami's fold, he visited many remote villages to spread Swami's messages,
to spread His love and to lend a helping hand to the poor sacrificing the extra
income a teacher of his caliber could earn in the form of special classes during
holidays...
The Prof. Anil Kumar we see today, has succumbed to lot of WEAR and TEAR in those
days. Being a father of 4 children, and to balance the family life and SAI FAMILY
life, he had to do lot of sacrifices. Many a times he had to travel in jam packed
train compartments. .Hearts were squeezed when he said he even stood in the train
toilets on one leg while traveling, slept in the railway station platforms and many
a times in bus stations. To reach those remote villages he travelled in trucks,
tractors, bullock carts etc...Many a times he had to sleep on the floor on the banks
of rivers with sand as bed...
Come Saturday he would be in some village or other and many times he used to go
directly to the college on Monday. Addressing a packed audience of about 2000 people
he said only my beloved Swami and my beloved Family is the witness for all my
troubles. Those are not troubles those are His BLESSINGS. There were very few people
who realised what he is upto and the reason behind it. Professor was put into severe
tests, many of his colleagues laughed at him and some even said, you have three
daughters and how will you pay hefty dowries if you move around chanting name of Sai
Baba instead earning money. But Professor Kumar never looked back. He knew for sure
he was on the right path. Appreciating his self less service, Swami one day called
Prof.Anil Kumar and said, Look Anil Kumar, you are taking care of My family which is
in BIG number and do you think this Sai Baba will NEGLECT your family which has less
than ten members. A perfect and straight answer to
all the negative talks he heard from his colleagues.
Prof.Anil Kumar asked the youth not to worry or bother about their colleagues or
friends' comments. You are on the right path. Always bear His name in your mind.
Even in your resume you put Swami's name and believe me all the questions in the
interview will be on Swami and nothing else. He gave the example of himself when he
was called for interview by Rotary Club for selecting people from various
disciplines to tour USA.
A humble person he is, he narrated an interesting conversation between him and
Swami. It so happened in Bangalore Swami suddenly asked Prof.Anil Kumar, you ask me
what ever you want and I will give it to you. Prof.Anil Kumar, was very cautious to
answer and very humbly he said, when I have Swami who gives everything that I need
and when ever I need what is there to ask specially Swami. Swami then asked, do you
want Moksha? Prof. Anil Kumar's instant reply was Swami I have never seen how Moksha
looks like, I have never met some one who has attained Moksha, I don't know anything
about Moksha and how can I ask something that I haven't seen or experienced BUT if
at all you permit and if there is another life for me, bless me to spread your
loving message, your love to the whole world to which Swami was very touched. Prof.
Anil Kumar said never ask any thing to Swami He knows everything and He knows what
you deserve.
Also never underestimate His love and Power. He can do anything and at any time. It
so happened during Eswaramma day in Kodai, Narayana seva was in the process.
Apparently Prof.Anil Kumar was still new recruit then. Thousands had come to partake
the food. Mrs. Ratan Lal, a long time devotee, who is still serving Swami, called
Prof. Anil Kumar and said all the food we prepared is over, please pass this message
to Swami. Prof. Anil Kumar then rushed to Swami to inform this arguably a SAD news
to Swami. Swami in a firm voice told Prof. Anil Kumar, words like FINISHED, NOT
POSSIBLE, NOT AVAILABLE should not be used here. Never say such words. Who said the
food is over. What do you think, people will go back hungry after coming to Swami go
and see in the kitchen, probably your eyes need to be tested.
When Prof. Anil Kumar went to the kitchen he saw all the Vessels full with rice,
sambar, sweets and next to those vessels, he saw Mrs. Ratan Lal gone speechless.
That is what our Swami is.
Prof. Anil Kumar also said, all the office bearers and members of Sai Organisations
should be watchful and be extra careful. Have a perfect team spirit. Never work for
name and fame and don't bother if any one doesn't appreciate or recognise your work.
Swami never likes to appreciated.
Be humble and simple. Especially when you get a chance to serve the poor, do it
whole heartedly. Never pre estimate what is the BENIFIT you
get by doing a seva. Prof.Anil Kumar told another incident that happened when Swami
successfully completed the water supply project. Many Village heads from surrounding
villages came in a group to thank Swami for giving them water. When Swami heard
this, our matchless Lord's reply was very touching, He immediately replied, I SHOULD
THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART. YOU GAVE ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE AND IAM
HAPPY THAT MY SEVA MADE YOU HAPPY. A very BOLD statement and only Swami can whole
heartedly make this statement after being the primal force behind this massive water
project. Prof.Anil Kumar reminded all the people to have that simplicity towards
seva. That is the quality of a true leader..
Many a times we all think Swami might not be watching us but
He is omnipresent and knows everything. It so happened one day Prof. Anil Kumar was
returning from Mangala giri and the college buildings were still under construction
then. Just then some one said, Swami's car would be coming to that premises very
soon. Prof. Anil Kumar suddenly ran to the construction area, took a spade and
started digging something, pretending to be doing seva. just then Swami's car stops
right near him and our beloved Swami calls Prof. Anil Kumar and says, Anil Kumar how
nicely you are acting my bangaru? to which Prof. Anil Kumar
said, Swami at least because of my pretention, I had this beautiful chance to speak
to you and have your divine darshan. But this example is to let you know that you
can't hide anything from Swami and He is always watching you..
Prof. Anil Kumar's story is the story of a common man. He has seen the life in all
angles. It is the story of a Sai Devotee who was always put to test by our Lord
Sai... If there is at least one incident which is common to that of your life then
don't hesitate, just hold on to Swami. As Prof. Anil Kumar in his talk said, if you
hold the feet of a man he will push you down to PATHALA and if you hold Swami's
Lotus Feet He will take you to VAIKUNTA.. the choice is yours..
Hopefully all the Sai Centers all over the world, have a definite message from this
little talk. Swami wants all of us to be united, work united, spread Swami's message
of love and the day has come for us, to say YES IAM SWAMI's favourite BANGARU...
When ever you happen to come to Parthi in big numbers, do have satsangs like this
with many humble souls that are living in Parthi and let the group members go back
home with thumping enthusiasm to make the life more worthfull...
With Pranams at the lotus feet of our beloved Lord,
Submitted to
SBOI-Group
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