The Sunday Talk Given by Prof. Anil Kumar

“Now and Then”

(Part 2)

Talk Given In Brindavan - Whitefield”

June 19, 2011

Sai Ram

With Pranams at the Lotus Feet of our most beloved Bhagavan,

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Swami movES Around the world while HIS body LIES In bed

Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba is the Doctor of all doctors! (Applause) In fact, all the doctors considered it a matter of service and opportunity to go near Him. They first prayed and only then started His treatment; and He just allowed them to treat Him.

As I know, and as some of you also have witnessed, when we touch His feet, the feet are so delicate, tender, silky, and softer than rose petals. “Swami, how could You bear all these needles in Your body?” With all the intravenous needles, oxygen cylinders, dialysis machines and ventilators, how could that body bear all of those pinches? “Swami, how could You take all of that burden and pain?”

I was thinking about this, and now I have an answer. He allowed the body to lie down on the bed, while He was moving all around the world, meeting and blessing devotees: a task for which He has come on earth. (Applause) I do not think that He remained in that body at that time. Certainly not! The body cannot bear that pain. It cannot receive needle pinches like that repeatedly. Impossible! He left the body and He went around the world.

Well, some of you may say, “It is all your imagination. How can you say that?”

selfless bond of love between god and DEVOTEES

One time it so happened in Prashanthi Nilayam that twelfth class examinations were going on. Swami asked one boy what exam was being given that day.

“Mathematics, Swami.”

“Ah-ha!”

“I have done very well, Swami.”

“Noru Moosuko. Shut Up! Two problems wrong! Sit down, koorcho.”

Then He also asked another boy the same question.

“Swami, I have done well.”

“Ah-ha! Good! How many marks do you expect?”

“Seventy, Swami!”

“No, no! You will get ninety, don’t worry!”

He was telling the marks of the boys on the day of the examination. The scripts of the tests had not gone to the examiners; they had not been dispatched yet. Then Swami declared, “You all think that I am in My room, resting there. No! I am watching all of you, all my devotees, all my children, all my students. That is My only job.” (Applause)

Therefore my friends, Swami cannot leave us, nor can we leave Him. This is an eternal bond; this is an immortal understanding. This is a selfless bond of Divine love between our God and us.

We never see Him alone, nor do we ever see Him eating alone. He wants company—somebody or other to joke with regularly and constantly, and what wonderful jokes! So He cannot be away from us. I am sure that He is listening to this talk right now without fail, here in Brindavan Sai Ramesh Hall! (Applause)

DEVELOP SPIRITUAL CONTACT WITH SWAMI

I remember very well on umpteen occasions, Swami giving a smile or a hearty laugh whenever I was talking in front of Him. Whenever I used to see Him, He used to laugh. It’s really so! Therefore my friends, His life is the life of a hero. But our problem is how to carry on life without that hero, being ourselves zeroes. I am a zero, so how am I to live in the future without that Divine hero?

These pangs of pain, agony, anguish and distress are because of our physical attachment. I saw Him morning and evening; therefore I feel badly now. But those who saw Him only once are a little better. And those who live far away, used to seeing Him only occasionally, they do not cry that much. Why?

It is because those who are physically away from Him are very close to Swami inside. It is a connection heart-to-heart, love-to-love—a spiritual contact, not a physical association. So it is not physical nearness, but spiritual dearness that matters. Therefore on the path ahead, the first and the foremost thing that we have to cultivate and develop is this spiritual dearness. (Applause)

spiritual relationship is eternal

Bhagavan, You are spiritual, not physical. It is my mind that thinks You are physical and limits You to a ritual. Physical and ritual go together. But the spiritual relationship is eternal. It is continuous, like the flow of a river that knows no beginning or end.

Our contact with Bhagavan is not due to this life. It is because of many lives with accrued good merit that we could be here at His Lotus feet. And this will go on and on.

SWAMI GAVE US AN INDICATION ABOUT HIS MAHASAMADHI

Here I should also mention something else. At least eight years back in Prashanthi Nilayam, Swami was standing in front of the Ganesh statue. He called me and said, “This is the place where the Samadhi is going to be.”

I said, “Swami, by temperament I am a coward; I am a timid man. I cannot listen to such words. I am frightened. Do not joke like that. Please do not speak like that.”

Then Swami said, “No! That is inevitable and happens to every body. Inevitable! Body is like a water bubble. Emi Atla Chepthavu, Noru Moosuko. Keep quiet. Body is just a water bubble; it will go.”

I said, “Whatever may be, I do not want to hear it, Swami. It may be a water bubble, but let that bubble enjoy.” That’s it. So Swami gave an indication already.

One time in Kodaikanal the discussion came up about Him being in His body for ninety-six years.

Then Swami immediately said, “If I decide to, I can live for a longer time beyond ninety-six years; or if I want, I can withdraw right now.”

Then I said, “Swami, what is this You are speaking? It is summer. The boys followed You to Kodaikanal to enjoy, to eat, to have individual photographs with You, and to receive gifts from You—not to hear these words!”

“Array! Shut up! That is inevitable. It will come some day or the other.”

sWAMI LIVED NINETY-SIX YEARS ACCORDING TO LUNAR CALENDAR

About the ninety-six years, people say there are still ten more years. But we do not know what the calculation is. For your information, I will tell you that when Mr. Kalluri Gopala Rao was felicitated at Prashanthi Nilayam, he was actually ninety-eight or ninety-nine years old. But Bhagavan said he was one hundred and five years old!

Mr. Gopala Rao said, “Swami, I am only ninety-nine years young. It is not one hundred and five years.”

Baba said, “Yes, as per lunar calendar, you are one hundred and five years. I know.”

Therefore, when Swami left at the age of eighty-five years, let us not think that He has gone back on a promise given. It is ninety-six years as per the lunar calendar. All scholars mentioned this. It has been telecast and broadcast all over the country.

Swami also joked every now and then. When He told Kerala people, “I will come to Kerala,” then I was also tempted to know when Swami was going. It was only because I too could follow Him, not that I was interested in His visit. I was interested in following Him for my own professional job–to translate His discourses.

“Swami, so when are You going?”

“Who said I am going?”

“Swami, You told them that You are going to Kerala.”

“I said, ‘I will come,’ but I did not say when.”

So He said He will live for ninety-six years. Therefore, if we see it in the broader sense, He lived for ninety-six years. That is what many scholars said, based on all astrological calculations.

Let us constantly think of those days with Swami

I can also draw your attention to many other things that have happened. My friends, kindly bear with me. On this occasion, we should enthuse each other, encourage each other, console each other, be supportive of each other, and give up all ego. Let us forget all the pride and silly meaningless comparisons and competitions. Let us not have any kind of individual identity. Let us constantly think of those days with Swami.

We may be wondering, “How do we think of those days?”

Here is a simple example: Baba Himself said, “You are here in Kodaikanal. Here you see Me. The boys are also here. When you go back to your native place, Swami is not there physically, nor will the boys be there physically. This room will also not be there. Yet you can imagine it all again immediately.”

So, psychological thought is superior to physical observation. Mere physical witnessing is inferior to psychological thought.

Therefore, Bhagavan, help us to think of You and picture You. Help us to remember those happy days together, the wonderful sweet days of conversation, and the excellent gifts of grace You gave to us during all those days. Like that, we will forever and ever live in You and be with You. There is no doubt about this! (Applause)

SWAMI IS IN YOU

I am also reminded of an example that Swami Himself mentioned. It is because of forty years of association, and twenty-two years of working right under His nose, that I recall so many things when I begin to tell you something. Some things just flow to me like that. I can’t help it.

Bhagavan Himself said at one time, “I believe you, but you don’t believe Me. Why? I believe every one of you, but none of you believe Me. Why? It is because I am in everyone. Therefore, I believe in Myself. I know—but you do not know—that I am in every one of you. As you do not know that I am in you, therefore you have no faith in Me. That is the difference between you and Me.”

Hence, these days we should constantly ruminate, think and feel that we are never away from Him. As I have already said, let us grow spiritually. Let us forget this physical appearance, the physical frame, the physical body as the main thing. It is not important any longer.

STUDY SAI LITERATURE

Let us not speak of individual experiences in front of a large audience like this, because they are absolutely personal. Swami told certain things to Dr. Amarendra, the first principal of Sri Sathya Sai College of Arts and Science, Prashanthi Nilayam campus. He told him not to blow his own trumpet, and that those experiences given were absolutely personal, and not to be publicised.

So the path ahead is to forget our personal things, and put emphasis on the message of Sai. What does He say about the different aspects of life?

Having led a life dedicated to service, and being associated with several spiritual organisations for decades, in all humility I can declare emphatically to this huge gathering, with a hundred percent guarantee, that nobody has dealt with as many subjects as Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. He has dealt with all subjects under the sun: subjects for youth, for children, for women, for professionals, spiritual history and yoga. He has dealt with all subjects.

So our immediate business is to make a deep study of Sai literature, particularly the students and staff of the Sri Sathya Sai University. We should not simply say that Swami appeared in my dream. You can say that; I do not deny it. But life is not a dreamland, and that cannot convince anybody any more. Let us henceforth speak of His message.

sai bhajans -- the best solution for worries and anxieties

When I am worried, what should I do? What is Swami’s timely message?

Baba gives a simple example. He says, “When you are worried, don’t worry more by thinking of that worry.”

“What should I do, Swami?”

“Get out and go to some bhajans; then you will not have any more worries.”

You do not need any stress management or mind management other than Sathya Sai bhajans–the best solution for all worries and anxieties. (Applause) Sing Sai bhajans and then take it for granted that there will be no further worry, because the worry has shifted to Him! He is there, so leave all burdens at His feet, and go forth from here with bliss, joy, and excitement through and through. Therefore, let us unburden ourselves by singing His glory.

He has an answer for every problem in life. In fact, they have already been classified. Let us talk to students about what Swami’s message is; let us talk to professionals about what He has to say; let everyone be a missionary–a missionary of Sathya Sai. Let all of you be missionaries and visionaries in the Sai mission! That is my earnest prayer to all of you. Everybody should be able to say what Swami has said on a subject.

ATTACH VALUE TO HUMAN VALUES, NOT TO MATERIAL THINGS

Another example: we are seeing escalating prices, spiralling prices, increasing prices, devaluation and inflation, which have been the subject of talks at the global level. Prices are going up.

What does Baba say about it? If anyone asks you, you should be in a position to say what Baba says. You cannot say that you got a dream where Swami gave you a 500 rupee note, telling you to keep it with you, and assuring you that He will not take it back from you, nor rob you of it. What does Baba say about it?

Bhagavan said, “When the value of the life of a human being goes down, the prices of material objects will go up.” Human value has gone down, so therefore prices of material objects have gone up.

He gives us an example. In the heart of the city of Bombay, a square yard of land is very costly. Well, you can purchase ten acres of land in your own village! So why is it so costly there in Bombay and Delhi? It is because it is inhabited by countless numbers of citizens there. Because of over population, the site price has gone up. Man is more important than material objects; but since he has attached more importance to the material, prices have gone up. If he attaches more importance to man, prices will be under check.

SMILE ALWAYS

And we also find that today, people are highly conscious of their health. You find people running and jogging everywhere. They eat double the amount after jogging, but still keep the same size clothes. What solution does He give us for this?

Bhagavan says, “More important than your jogging is mental happiness, mental equanimity, and mental equipoise. These are much more important than the physical exercise that you do.”

We find some people jogging. If you watch their faces, you will understand that you do not have to meet Shakespeare. They are the very replica of Shakespeare, with long castor oil faces. (Laughter) What are we doing by jogging? Our blood pressure will go up! So where is the smile?

Swami would say, “Emira Atlaga Vunnaru, Anta.” (“You have a castor oil face!”) “Abbey! Chi!”

He does not want castor oil faces; He wants us to smile. We may walk for miles and miles, but when we cannot smile, it is useless. Therefore, the mind has to be kept happy. How to keep the mind happy is again another question. He gives us a solution, my friends.

What has drawn me to Swami is His message, which is unique, irresistible, unbeaten and universal. That is the nature of Sai’s message. That has drawn the whole world to His Lotus Feet.

BHAGAVAN HAS GIVEN US GUIDANCE on ALL TOPICS

Bhagavan says, “Do not think of tomorrow, and do not think of yesterday. Live in the present, live in the moment, and thus live in existence. Then you will be healthy.”

There are some other things that Swami has mentioned:

“Keep the stomach half empty. Fill the other half with water and food.”

“Aah! So shall I measure it, Swami?”

“Not necessarily! If you can get up comfortably from your seat, it is enough.”

Bhagavan has something to say for every walk of life, and for every sphere of human activity: interrelationships, friendships, the ideal relationship that should exist between husband and wife, how children should behave towards their parents, what patriotism is, how to love this country, and so on.

In 1972, what did Sri Vajpayee say? Sri Vajpayee said, “Bhagavan, You need to conduct classes on Indian culture and spirituality not only for students, but also for the members of the Parliament.” That is what Sri Vajpayee said. (Applause)

Khanda Khandanthara Kyathinarjinchina

Mahaniyulanu Kanna Maatru Bhumi

The moment you think of this poem, yes, you are fully charged!

Parama Pavanamainatti Bharataavani Yandu,

Sahanamunnadi Manaku Chakkadhanamu.

I can repeat this whole poem, and many other poems that He sang.

Yuga Yugaantharamulayandu

Kyathi Gannatti Bharatha Bhoomathaki

Sai Siddhanthamulachetha

Sana Pettedu, Vanne Pettedu Meeru Ika Sunnitamuga.

But I do not want to exhibit my scholarship in Sai literature during this brief moment of time, nor is there any need for it. I can only tell you that if you want to be patriotic and full of national fervour, follow Sai literature!

About the mission and path ahead, it is the bounden responsibility and sacred duty of alumni. Bhagavan said, “I spend seventy-five percent of My time for students.”

As you do swami’s work, swami will do your work

This is the time to express our gratitude. This is an occasion to show our thankfulness to our God. Love cannot be one-way traffic; it should flow in two ways. So my friends, as you do Swami’s work, He will do your work, and do it much better than what you would have done by yourself! (Applause)

I could give thousands of instances of this kind of grace—where people got promotions, where they get appointments, or win acclaimed reputation because of the grace of Bhagavan. So, alumni responsibility is seventy-five percent. What exactly do I mean?

BELIEVE IN YOUR OWN EXPERIENCES

I have had experience in the Sai Organisation for two decades, having served in different capacities. The immediate thing is that we have to build up confidence among people, because our minds are confused. Our minds are disturbed because of what’s going on in the media, and because the press mentions so many things. Yet I do not need the support of any paper, nor do I need the support of any TV channel. I am myself the witness: my experience in my life is enough. I do not need to be acknowledged by any media.

All of you who are here have had a number of Sai experiences in your own life. In your own way, each experience is enough proof, is enough of a testimonial for you to grow in confidence, without relying on any newspapers.

The newspapers may publish that your father is mad. Are you going to believe it? I know that my father is not a mad man. Let all the papers publish it, but I am not going to believe that my father is mad. Similarly my friends, let us have confidence in our own experiences.

our pledge: hold ON TO the lotus feet of bhagavan

Let the whole world say anything, but our pledge today should be: “I hold on, and hold on to die at the Lotus Feet of Bhagavan!” (Applause) Come what may, let the press and let the channels say thousands of things, but we know the truth.

The truth we know. It was not an easy process. Human history has never recorded an instance of a single boy from a small hamlet (with population of a few hundred, with no approach roads, no electricity, no wells or proper housing or schools—only huts and sheds) making His small village into a global township: a centre of hope and promise, of spiritual excellence, of fellowship of faiths and congregational worship—in short, Prashanthi Nilayam. Only Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba could do it! (Applause) No one else, no one else! Impossible!

You cannot find any place in the world where people of different religious faiths gather at one place and sing in praise of God, in unison and in perfect harmony.

extend services, depending upon their needs

Typically, you do not find youngsters in temples. You usually only find retired people in temples, thinking of their daughter-in-law or son-in-law who have not met up to their expectations.

It is only in Sai centres—I repeat, it is only Sai centres—that the maximum number of youth are involved. That is to the credit of Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. (Applause) Therefore my friends, on the path ahead, I am requesting all youngsters to take service more seriously, and to cover as many villages as possible. Extend services to villagers depending upon their need, not upon what we have.

Swami once was giving out toothpaste, brushes and combs. ‘God is giving out toothpaste and brushes?’ There was a questioning look on my face.

Then Baba said, “Nenu Avasaramainave Isthanayya, Neeku diamonds Ichchi Yemi Prayojanamu, AA Cheyyi Kosestharu, Paste Kavala.” “I give you what you need, not whatever I have, or whatever I want to give. No! I give what is needed.”

Therefore, understand what villagers need and give that to them. Serve them, so that people we know, so the whole of humanity will know, that Sai is service–service is Sai, Sai is sacrifice–sacrifice is Sai. Nothing more than that! (Applause)

So it is only our service, only our sacrifice, which will convince everybody—not by talking or writing articles—but only through seva. That is why Bhagavan avoided publicity at all times, even until His last moment. Publicity is not wanted. Therefore, service is most important, to bring His message to the doorstep of everybody.

GROW IN OUR INDIVIDUAL AND COLLECTIVE SADHANA

Let us grow in sadhana individually. Individual sadhana is very important. We need individual sadhana to survive, so that our mind is not shattered, so that we are not confused, so that we are not carried away.

Manchi Maata Vinaru, Manasu Vippi Cheppina

Chedda Maatalavi Cheviki Soku,

Itti Doorthulu Nannu Erugudura

Sathyamaina Maata Sai Maata

Bhagavan said a long time ago, “Whatever is said, all gossip gets into your ears immediately. So then, you do not listen to good things. Such people, can they ever know Me? Can they ever understand Me?”

Therefore, in order to strengthen our faith in Bhagavan, we should grow more and more in individual sadhana, and then in collective sadhana, by spreading the human values through our relationships. In short, each of us should be the best example of a Sai devotee to everybody.

I know time is up. But before I conclude, I will just mention the highlights, so as to guide you in the future.

SWAMI’s relationship with you is permanent and eternal

“Swami, what is the relationship between You and me? What kind of relationship is there between You and me?”

These answers come directly from Swami’s messages. Bhagavan says, “I shall not forsake you, come what may. Even if you leave Me, I shall not leave you. The relationship between you and Me is permanent and eternal.” (Applause) What more guarantee do you want?

“Swami, what relationship should I have with You? You said that our relationship is permanent. Okay! But what relationship should I have with You?”

Bhagavan said, “See Me in yourself. See Me in yourself because I see Myself in you. I see Myself in you, and you see Me in you too, because we are together once and for all.”

“Bhagavan, I am in search of You. It is darshan time, Swami. It is bhajan time, Swami. Where are You? Where can I locate You? I am here with a letter; I am here with a flower. Bhagavan, are You not going to walk along the front row?”

Swami clearly said, “I am not here. I am residing in your heart.” These are the words of Bhagavan. So if you ask where Bhagavan is, you are asking where your heart is. If you say Swami left, it means you have left yourself, without knowing it.

By reciting Swami’s name, you can establish contact with him

Some people ask me when He will come back. I say, “He has not gone, so where is the question of Him coming back?”

Therefore, let us know that He and we are one. How do we develop this kind of ‘live contact’ with Him in His physical absence? Swami said, “It is only by reciting My name.”

Mad Bhakta Yatra Gayanthe

Thathra Thishtami Narada

By reciting His name, you can establish contact.

“Then Swami, how long will You work like this tirelessly? You have given Your life for us. How long will You continue?”

Bhagavan said, “I shall not rest. I shall not rest until I reform you. I shall not leave you until I accomplish what I want to through you.” That is what Swami said.

Hence my friends, we are here as His instruments, and He wants to achieve something through us. Let us be befitting instruments.

SURRENDER TO HIM

“Swami, people call me a devotee. I tell everybody that I am a devotee of Bhagavan. But how do I know that I am Your devotee?”

Bhagavan said, “You can say you are a devotee only if you place yourself in My hands. Otherwise, you cannot declare yourself a devotee. It would then be more of a declaration than a reality.”

“Swami, I want to speak about You. I want to give wide publicity to Your message, so I want to speak. What should I do?”

Swami said, “Stop speaking. Your faith, your devotion, your detachment, your self-control, your virtue, your steadfastness–that is the real gift that you can offer to Me.” (Applause)

It is like this, my friends. We have many, many things to share with you, but I will wind up. The media has covered miracles after Swami left His physical body. They have started showing the miracles and experiences of devotees, which indicate that He is here. That ‘is’-ness is Divinity.

We can never say Bhagavan ‘was’. No! We should not use Bhagavan ‘will be’. Bhagavan ‘is’! That ‘is’-ness, that existence, that moment, that reality is the Divinity of Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba.

In Puttaparthi, as it was shown on TV, we see honey and vibhuthi flowing out of His idol. Also we see that in Vizianagaram, honey is coming out of His photographs. Similar things were recorded in Ananthapur and Warangal. These are all the places recorded by TV channels, by those who went there with a questioning, challenging mind. Now they have televised all these things.

It was Judas who denied his God. When Judas said, “Oh God, you are my God,” Jesus said, “Shut up! You denied me thrice. You denied me thrice before the cock crowed.” Let us not be like Judas. No, no!

let us all live as sai devotees, havING unshakeable faith

“Swami, we shall not deny You, because denying You is denying ourselves.” Therefore, this sort of commitment, this sort of dedication, should continue in our lives until our last breath. Let us be with Sai, and be in Sai. Let us be Sai at our own level. Let us be examples to the entire community and to the whole world. They are the real Sai devotees who have unshakeable and unparalleled faith. That is what everyone should know.

That day is very close; that day will certainly come. So let us stand united. Let us love and have mutual appreciation, giving appropriate recognition based on talent and skills. Let us move forward.

Therefore my friends, our prayers to Bhagavan, and thanks to the alumni for inviting me to share these thoughts with you.

Last but not least, it is in Malaysia where one hundred and eight water tanks have been built by the youth of Malaysia, on their own!

It is in Japan where six hundred youth have been trained to recite the Vedas for hours and hours. It is also in Japan where they started the Sathya Sai Vedic Renaissance, where Vedas are translated into the Japanese language. All this work is going on all over the world because of Sathya Sai only! (Applause) It is only He. It is only because of Him that the whole world is going on.

In Singapore, the Sathya Sai School is a role model.

In London, the Sathya Sai school children are invited by the Queen of England to Buckingham Palace to stage their cultural program.

So we are recognised by the world, and we are recognised by many governments. Many people have drawn inspiration because of Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba.

Let Him be our guide, our master, and our mentor forever and ever! (Applause)

Thank you!

May God bless you!

Om . . . Om . . .Om

Asato Maa Sadgamaya

Tamaso Maa Jyotirgamaya

Mrityormaa Amrithamgamaya

Om Shanti Shanti Shanti

Jai Bolo Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Babaji ki Jai!