When the lord descends on earth for the sake of humanity, whatever the single word He utters has significance and profound effect. 

It was the 15^th of June, 1994. I was celebrating my first birthday in the physical proximity of the lord of the universe. My parents had come to my hostel to visit me on my birthday. I always wished the best for my parents like any other child would and a thought came to my mind that day to ask Swami to give us a family interview which I considered as a lifetime moment for my parents. I anticipated such a moment during darshan where I would ask Swami for an interview for my parents. Following my intuition, before going for darshan, I briefed my parents on the protocols to be followed during darshan when Swami blesses us with an interview.

Being prepared thereby, I was carrying the tray filled with sacred rice, cloves and chocolates for Swami to bless. I mustered up the courage to ask Swami during darshan when He approached me to bless me. As I was eagerly waiting for the life changing moment to arrive, Swami after giving darshan till the last row of Sai Ramesh Hall, glided towards the birthday boys. As I was sitting in the first row, I knelt in front of Swami and extended the tray to bless me. Before blessing me, Swami asked me with a smile “What is today for you?” I replied “Swami, It’s my birthday today and I need your blessings”. Swami asked again but this time he was almost bent on me. As I was filled with complete bliss, I forgot to ask my question to Swami, but still something reminded me even at that moment to tell Swami that my parents have come and I would need Swami to give us a family interview. When I asked Swami, Swami smiled at me, nodded His head and blessed the birthday tray. I was thinking to myself that Swami did not hear my question and so I asked Swami the same question again when He was preparing to move away from me. He took a sharp U-Turn and He looked at me as if He was preparing me for life.

Then with a sweet smile, Swami uttered the profound sentence with an insisting tone “No Interview. Only Inner View”.

I was disappointed at the moment as I was sure enough expecting a close proximity for my parents with the lord that day. My little mind did not understand the inner meaning of the word at the moment but it took several years to realize that one sentence that He uttered had the same potency as that of Geetha Upadesh bestowed by lord Krishna to Arjuna. Till the present moment, whenever I make critical decisions for my parents, for my family or for me, the words blessed by the Lord as a birthday gift ring in my ears and inspire me to make correct decisions. The life lesson that I learnt was to turn inward and seek Swami within so that He keeps guiding and guarding us every moment of our life. 

Srinivasan Venugopal had the opportunity to be his student since 1994. Currently General Manager, Commodity Trading at Divino Food International based in Chennai, India.