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The Sunday Talk Given by Prof. Anil Kumar

“Thirty-fifth Anniversary of the Sai General Hospital”

(Part 2)

Whitefield, Bangalore

August 28th, 2011

OM…OM…OM…

Sai Ram

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

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

LIFE HAS TO BE LIVED, NOT LED

What is the secret of being young? And what makes one look young? The reason all of you look so energetic and young is that you sing His glory. There are many people with crores and crores of money, having lots of gold kept at home, and wonderful mansions and furniture, who go around with sullen faces and look unfriendly. In their entire lifetime, they find no reason to smile. What is the good of all that cash then? In my opinion, it is mere trash and ash if you cannot enjoy your life. Life has to be enjoyed. Life has to be lived, not led. Let us live our lives, and not lead them.

Usually on Sundays, staff doctors and paramedical staff would prefer staying at home, making puddings for their children for the coming week, or at the very least, engaging themselves in washing clothes or mopping the floor. But you have given up your spare time, making yourselves free and available to work. This is the proof of the living Divinity of Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. Giving up your spare time, and coming here to express your gratitude to Swami—that is the secret behind your smiles. You do not know how healthy and good-looking you are! You are all so handsome and beautiful too. Why do I say that?

If you compare yourself with a person of the same age—say someone who is seventy years old, you will find a person with pneumonia, arthritis, bronchitis, spondylitis, and what not. (Laughter) Such people forget to go around temples; they circumambulate hospitals instead! And, what do they talk about? They ask each other, “How many milligrams do you take, 25 mg. or 50 mg.?” (Laughter) They ask, “Who is your doctor? How far did your daughter-in-law kick you?” (Laughter) Or they say, “How nicely my daughter-in-law is kicking me.” (Laughter) This is the kind of horrible talk that goes on between them.

BHAGAVAN IS THE ONLY CARETAKER

But, in contrast, Sai devotees of a similar age are so busy with seva that their children may have to seek an appointment just to meet them! Yes! I often tell my children, “Take it from me: I will never live with you. No! I may just visit you, that’s all. And you may even have to sit among an audience abroad to get to see me!”

I will not live with my children. Why? It is because in today’s modern world, to live with the hope that your children will take care of you is a hopeless thought! Your children are not going to take care of you. There is only one caretaker—Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba! (Applause)

That is why people are happy. Let us rely on Him; let us depend upon Him. We do not need anybody to take care of us. If someone asks us, “How are you?” we should say, “Excellent! I cannot be better.” Or we can reply, “I am doing well for this age.” That is a fact, and should be our answer.

Therefore my friends, if all Sai devotees are good-looking, quite hale and hearty, and still happy in the midst of their problems (yes, we do have problems and some problems have no solutions), it is because the problem is not a problem at all. We laugh at the problem because the solution to the problem is in the Lotus Feet of Bhagavan! It is His job to solve our problems.

If you are traveling by train, carrying a heavy load, will you get a headache if you place it in the compartment of your train? No! Your shoulders will never pain. Why? Because the train carries the luggage. Though the luggage belongs to you, the train carries the luggage.

‘Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Intercontinental Airlines’ carries the luggage and the baggage of our families, so why should we worry? We have no worries! Baggage problems are there, but He will take care of them. That is why Sai devotees continue to smile and look relaxed, in spite of all their problems!

THIS ANNIVERSARY SHOULD HAVE BEEN CELEBRATED IN SAI RAMESH HALL

My friends, this is a closed meeting, so I hope you will allow me to make a statement. Please don’t misunderstand me.

Sai institutions are general and universal. A meeting of this type, celebrating the anniversary of this hospital, should not only be for hospital staff. It requires celebrating on a grand scale. In fact, this anniversary should have been celebrated there in Sai Ramesh Hall (Applause) and not here, because this hospital is not only the property of doctors and administrators. It is you who are the custodians, the trustees, and the sharp, powerful instruments.

I am sure the whole city would have been happy to join us there in the Sai Ramesh Hall, in expressing our gratitude to Bhagavan for giving us such a beautiful hospital. Why? Because in a metropolitan city like Bangalore, medical care is unaffordable.

All villagers owe their lives to the Sathya Sai General Hospital here in Whitefield since its inception, and throughout its 35 years of uninterrupted service. They owe their life and their health to this hospital. We know that the hundreds and hundreds of people, lining up there at the hospital, would have been happy to share the joy of this occasion.

I am taking a small liberty in sharing this with you, as I am sure that you will understand my point-of-view, considering my twenty years of supporting the Sai Organisation, and twenty years here in the University. Therefore, my age and my long period of service demands frank expression, and not conciliatory ideas.

PRESENCE OF GOD IS FELT BY SMILES, HUMOUR, ECSTASY AND BLISS

I am finding that you are rather serious, so I will share a few more points, just to cheer you up! No, no! We do not have to be serious. When Swami comes out of His bungalow, He asks, “Emaindira atlunnaru, emadi, castor oil pettukunnare?” (“Castor oil face, why are you like that?”)

We do not have to be serious. This is not an emergency or casualty ward. We can afford to smile. We can be happy because Bhagavan is within us. He smiles and makes us smile. We find people going into the interview room with long faces–as if they are carrying the weight of the whole planet earth upon their shoulders. But by the time they return, their feet do not touch the ground; they laugh, they sing, and jump around as if floating on air. Why? The presence of God is not felt by seriousness. Sickness is felt by seriousness.

God’s presence is very much reflected by your smiles, by your laughter, your humour, your ecstasy, and by your blissful state. That is religion in itself. One can not become religious by imprisoning one’s self in a room. People bolt the doors, saying they are meditating. Family members might be very happy with this and say, “Please extend your meditation, because you are a nuisance when you are not meditating!”

TRUE MEDITATION IS TO SMILE AND MAKE OTHERS SMILE

To be happy, to smile, and to make others smile is true meditation; to be tragic and make others’ lives equally tragic, in spite of your twenty-four hour sadhana, is not a religious life at all. Therefore, continue to smile! Baba, what an assurance You gave!

These are the times when elderly people, having turned seventy or eighty years of age, stay at home and say, “Array! I may leave the world at any time.” (Laughter) “So, the front room should go to the first son, second room to the next son, broom stick to the first daughter, and tamarind to the youngest daughter.” They talk like this on the first day of their sickness, but by evening they are alright. Ah! Then, everything is okay again.

On the second day of their sickness, they change their mind again. “No, no! First room goes to the daughter and not to the son!” They go on changing their will, because they are very concerned about their property. They wonder what will happen to it when they leave the world.

It’s time that we think of Bhagavan’s assurances and ask, “Swami, did You not say that? You said that, did You not? Sathya Sai Baba, You are the Truth. Yes! You must keep Your promise.”

And what else did You say, Bhagavan? You said, “I will keep My promise. I will never give up. I am as strong as a diamond. No one can make Me change My decision. No one can divert My concentration. I will never give up My project.”

And You also said, “My devotees are My property.” Bhagavan, we continue to be Your property–Your valuable property.

Please note this: These are facts collected from Divine discourses, not my own concoctions or manipulations. These are the Divine declarations, assurances, and promises, which we often need to recall, to strengthen our faith, so that we may continue to live in faith and in joy, and stop crying and shedding tears. If we cry and shed tears, it only means that we have taken Him as a human being. No! Has Bhagavan left you?

PRASHANTHI NILAYAM IS THE VERY HEAVEN ON EARTH

Somebody asked me, “Has Bhagavan dropped His body?” My answer was, “He has not dropped the body because He was never the body. He has not left us because He is ever present within us.”

So Bhagavan says, “Prashanthi Nilayam is a paradise. Prashanthi Nilayam is the very heaven on earth. From here, I protect all of you.”

This is the statement of Bhagavan: “Shirdi praveshame sarva dukha pariharamu.” (“The solution to your misery is the very stepping into the sanctum-sanctorum in Shirdi.”)

Swami has also said, “Parthi is as powerful as Shirdi. I protect everyone from this place. Prashanthi Nilayam is the generator.”

Swami, what a promise You made to us long ago. You said, “Leave your burdens here and go back with joy.” Swami, did You not say that You will wipe out all of our tears? Did You not say that You will make us all smile, like the crying baby that is fondled and caressed by the mother? You promised us, Swami. Yes! We are relying on You.

Swami, have You not said that You are there with open arms inviting us, if only we have faith in You and love You? Let our doors of faith and love be open eternally for You to step into the mansion of our heart, beloved Swami.

Bhagavan, I remember what You said long ago: You said that the time we step into Prashanthi Nilayam, and come to hear the stories and experiences from other devotees, that is the living proof that You are blessing us. It is the living proof that You are with us; because, if you go to the Chickpet or Bangalore railway station, nobody will speak about Baba. At most, you may get some newspapers to read.

BABA IS THE COMMON LINK BETWEEN DEVOTEES ACROSS THE WORLD

The moment you join the Sai family and get into the Sai-fold, the moment you step into Prashanthi Nilayam, you will notice that nobody speaks of their property or bank accounts. Nobody comes there with vanity, or for the purpose of self-glorification. Nothing other than Baba is the common link between devotees all across the world. Therefore, whenever there is talk about Swami, understand that Swami is blessing You. That is what Baba has said.

Another statement that He made was this: In the early hours of the morning, with the singing of the cuckoos and nightingales perched in the branches of the trees, with the cool breeze and the zephyr and aurora, you are reminded of Prashanthi Nilayam and nagarsankirtan. Yes! You will be reminded of that.

Bhagavan said, “I am with you, in you, above you, below you, around you.” (If I forget one phrase, He will supply the one that I forgot in translation!)

And Swami made another point which I always think of: As He sits on the chair, sometimes with one foot on top of the other, moving His fingers to the exact beat of the bhajans which are going on in full speed, Swami forgets Himself. He becomes lost in Himself. Wow!

I always tell my students, friends and the faculty, if Swami starts reading letters while you are singing, understand that He is bored, that it is boring.

If Swami gives padnamaskar to students who line up while you are speaking, you should understand that it is time to shut your mouth, (Laughter) because if it is interesting, He forgets Himself. He gets lost in Himself.

SAI IS THE DOER OF ALL ACTION

When you no longer see yourself as the doer of action—as the singer, dancer, or painter—then Bhagavan becomes the sole proprietor, the doer of all. Then only singing, dancing, and painting remain. However, when you feel that you are the singer, then He does not exist.

Then you need to say, “Swami, I do not exist. I am not the singer. I am not anyone. It is just as you said, ‘I treat, and You cure.’” When you are just present, feeling like you are no one in particular, then you will feel those vibrations of the Divine presence.

SAI NAMA GIVES YOU ENERGY AND MAKES YOU ENERGETIC

Baba has said, “If you sing with a full-throated voice, in full spirit, understand that I dance upon the field of your heart.”

There are some people who sing as if they are grumbling and groaning with pain. Yet when they shout at a neighbour, they yell at the top of their voice. When we do not like what the wife prepares, we are the very image of Vishwamitra or Durvasa (angry sages). (Laughter) When it comes to bhajans, we keep a low, slow voice, and are indifferent. How can we enjoy bhajans like that?

When we sing bhajans, we should be lost in the bhajan. The beat should excite us, taking us up higher and higher, constantly raising our energy. Have you noticed how fast Bhagavan sings bhajans?

Even as we work, we can sing quietly to ourselves. While passing from room to room, we can keep energised by singing bhajans. It is not Boost or the calcium Sandoz that gives you energy. It is Sai nama that makes you energetic.

TO SWAMI, NOTHING IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN HIS DEVOTEES

Bhagavan has said, “To Me, nothing is more important than My devotees.”

He has also said, “If you know the depth of My Love, you will see that it flows eternally and continuously like the Ganges River.”

My friends, I thought it necessary to recall all these assurances that Swami has given us in the past, which will stand us in good stead now and in the future.

I have a few words to share with you as part of the Sai mission. Today, those who are still working here with commitment and dedication are true devotees. Hats off! Hats off to all of you who are still in His service! Though Bhagavan is not in our midst physically, your dedication is the proof of your spiritual awareness. May Bhagavan be with you forever and ever! That is my fervent prayer.

BABA IS KNOWN FOR HIS EXCELLENCE

Baba is known for His excellence. Therefore, as a University, we should be number one in this country, and if possible, we should be number one in the world. And as a hospital, we should be number one, meaning that this hospital will never say “no” to the needs of any patient at any time.

If any patient returns home for lack of proper attention, understand that it is Baba who is returning home, and that we are disappointing our Swami.

And while giving medicines, if we say we do not have enough medicines, understand that it is Baba who is frustrated with us, if we do not give the needed medicines. He will be disappointed if any patient goes home unattended for any reason.

My friends, for all the grace that we have, for all the mercy that we received, for all the comforts and conveniences that we enjoy today, should we not keep the mission of Sai, the flag of Sai, flying high above all the contemporary world? It is our duty to keep up the tempo and quality of the hospital.

HEALTH AWARENESS IS IMPORTANT

And another point: it is equally important to promote health awareness. It is not enough if we just treat people and send them back home. We need to help foster the awareness of health that Swami has spoken of. (I know: the weakness with Anil Kumar is that he has a lot to speak about and time is short, so I will just give one or two hints about health awareness.)

Coming back to health awareness, what makes our hospital different from others? Patients are admitted, we treat them, and they are sent home. But is that all that happens? I teach at the college, but is teaching all I do? A Sai teacher is not merely a teacher. A Sai teacher is a transmitter of the Sai message to all students.

And similarly, a doctor in a Sai institution is the one who promotes health consciousness and awareness. What do I mean by that? Swami has repeatedly told doctors to advise patients to have moderation in their food, in their talk, and in their desires. Moderation in food, talk and desires will make you healthy, wealthy and wise. You will not need a doctor at all. This awareness has to be brought about.

You tell patients that their haemoglobin content is low, that something is wrong with their bones, and thus prescribe calcium, vitamins and tonics; however, Baba wants us to also give them the tonic of contentment. The tonic of contentment is part of health awareness.

SPREADING JOY AND THE TONIC OF CONTENTMENT

And the multivitamin tablet they need, is teaching them the eagerness to serve, and teaching them how to impart joy to others. So the multi-vitamin tablet of spreading joy and the tonic of contentment have to be prescribed. This is the sort of awareness that has to be developed.

Baba asks us, “Why do people get sick?”

Old timers may remember that, years ago, every second day during the Dasara festival was observed as Hospital Day. All the doctors used to come in a procession to the Poornachandra Auditorium. They would line up, and Swami used to have a photograph taken with them. The superintendent used to read the list of how many patients were treated, etc.

SWAMI WILL BE HAPPY WHEN THERE IS NOT EVEN A SINGLE PATIENT

What did Swami say on such an occasion? He said, “Naaku ee aspathri yandu entamandi rogulaki chikitsa chesinaro, entamandiki oushadhamulu icvhchinaro, vicharame isthundi kaani santhoshame ledhu.” (“Giving the number of patients treated, and the number of medicines distributed, does not make Me happy at all.”) “Vokka patient kooda vundanappudu, Swamiki ento santhoshamavutundi.” (“When there is not even a single patient, Swami will be happy.”) He meant that everyone should be healthy.

No doctor would say to his patient, “I hope to see you again soon,” and no patient would say, “I look forward to coming back.” We do not say things like that.

For good health, having a generous attitude towards everyone is important. Having the fortitude to maintain a balance between pleasure and pain, happiness and sorrow, and the enthusiasm to do good and spread goodness among people—all are attitudes required for good health.

MENTAL BALANCE IS REQUIRED

Bhagavan says this: mental balance is a necessity. The moment I shout at people, it is a rajasic quality; the moment I am dull and indifferent, I am thamasic; if I am pious and respond to the situation accordingly, then I am sathwic.

Bhagavan further tells all of us (friends, I am not hiding a secret): Everyone has made a great sacrifice to be here. In today’s world, when so much value is placed on money, you have chosen to put value on the grace and blessings of Bhagavan instead. We have all opted for this kind of life.

Take for example the students of Sathya Sai University, who are serving in these hospitals: all of them are first class students; all of them are gold medalists; all of them are highly talented; and all have dedicated their lives to serve in these institutions.

We should love them, help them, encourage them, and do everything possible to see that they continue to work amongst us. If any one student is frustrated, we are responsible; if any student leaves this institution, we are responsible. If we are not able to talk to him, then we are not able do what he really expects of us. So let us treat everybody as brothers and sisters. That is very important.

OUR VISION SHOULD BE TOWARDS “MISSION OF SAI”

We must change our vision! Our vision should be toward the mission of Sai; but our vision cannot be the same as it was before Swami left His physical body. What is to happen in the next ten years, how we should plan for the next twenty years—that should be our vision, not just for this day. This day is gone; come on, tear off one sheet from the calendar. So let us work with a vision. We need to change our vision this very day—that is important.

Baba wants us to spread the awareness of health, so let us tell people that they should give up smoking, drinking, and eating non-vegetarian food, in order to be healthy. He also wants us to tell everybody not to eat too much spicy food, (though I have not yet been able to follow this) and not to drink too much tea. This is the message that we should spread.

Let us also help people to release their tension, so they can be stress-free. Just like we are when Swami stands in front of us—our tension is gone! Why is that? He is the only one who can make you tension-free and stress-free. How does He do that?

“Bhagavan, You are always with us. It is Your tension (e.g. problem) to make me free from my tension! It is Your stress (e.g. challenge) to make me non-stressful in my life.” So, let us do the same: See that there is nobody under tension. “Why fear when I am here!” Let us know that, realise and believe that, so that there will be no tension.

YOU WILL LIVE LONG, HEALTHY, RELIGIOUS AND SPIRITUAL LIVES

And this is the high point: those who spend their lives in a spiritual organisation like this, which has nothing to do with money, will live a long, healthy, religious, spiritual life. This is a guarantee given by Bhagavan! What more do you want? What more can you want? (Applause)

Therefore my friends, we are especially privileged to work in this institution. Let the coming generations say that Dr. Acharya worked here, Mr. Pavan Kumar worked here, Dr. Narayana Murthy worked here, Dr. Kamakshi worked here, because the coming generations, not our children, will speak of us.

If you give ten lakhs (one million rupees) to your children, they will ask, “Why not twenty? The other boy got twenty lakhs from his father, but you are giving me only ten.” But on the contrary, Sai devotees will speak with gratitude and love. They take you as role models.

What made Dr. Acharya come all the way from the Gulf? What made him leave his job and stay here with us? What made Mr. Pavan Kumar stay here, though he had a brilliant career outside? What makes all of you come here and spend time, although time is money for you? I know! You are willing to spend your time here, because Swami has said, “I will take care of you.” Your lives are going to be sublime. In human history, no man of wealth is ever remembered; no man of money is ever taken as a role model.

However, a man of virtue, a man of integrity, a man of character, a man of prayer, and a man of principles, is remembered forever. No doubt, the future will record and remember all of your names for having rendered your services, and Bhagavan will feel proud of His children and think, “My children are doing good service in the General Hospital.”

SWAMI PRAISES THE DEDICATED DEVOTEES IN THEIR ABSENCE

It is a sight for the gods, to hear how He speaks of His institutions elsewhere. He would not appreciate you to your face, because He is a typical mother: The Indian mind (culture) requires you not to praise someone in front of them. That is our Indian style. We praise them in their absence. That is what Baba does as well.

“Maa hospital chaala goppaga vuntundayya. Maa aspathriki ekkada nundi vasthavundaro, entha chestha vundaro, emi telusayya meeku. Prapanchamlo ekkada vundadu.”

“What do you know about My hospitals? What do you know about the quality of doctors that I have! What do you know, after all?”

“Emi itla chesevarunnaru? Maa sevadal vallu vunnaru. Enta subramuga vunchutharu. Maa doctors vunnaru, enta thyagamu chesinaru, Maa nurses vunnaru, enta seva dhrukpadamuga vundaru, itti hospital inka ekkadaina vunnada?”

He feels so proud of us. Oh! Lord, we shall not disappoint you. As long as we live, we will serve you, Swami! Our life is meant for you; our life is dedicated to you. When the river unites with the ocean, it cannot go back. Swami, our loyalty to You, our devotion towards You can never go back because, “You and I are One. Apart from You, I am none! With You, I am One.”

Therefore, may that Sai inspire everybody! I thank you for having listened to my talk with kind attention. I have taken additional time, and for that I beg your pardon; but, I thought that being a member of the organisation, it would be worthwhile sharing my views on the Sai mission with you.

Thank you. May Bhagavan be with you, and continue to inspire you in the future!

May Swami bless you and your families!

Thank you very much! (Applause)

Anil Kumar ended the talk with the bhajan,

“Ksheerabdi Sayana Narayana…. Sri Lakshmi Ramana Narayana.

Jai Sai Ram!

Om . . . Om . . .Om

Asato Maa Sadgamaya

Tamaso Maa Jyotirgamaya

Mrityormaa Amrithamgamaya

Samastha Loka Sukhino Bhavantu

Om Shanti Shanti Shanti

Jai Bolo Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Babaji ki Jai!