Dinesh Talreja
2006 Prashanti Nilayam

What does an oyster mean to a random drop that gets encased in the oyster and gets transformed into a pearl? What does the potter mean to the pot that, without his touch, was worthless clay! We, His students are the empty canvas that He has chosen to make His masterpiece, the lone music note that He has willed to string together into a mellifluous melody. Whatever Bhagawan may mean to each of us, but to all of us, He has given meaning to our existence. Years spent at His lotus feet are not merely a memorable period of life – they are the defining period – it’s like the moment the caterpillar transforms into a fluttering butterfly.

I came to His College as a confused teenager; I left an educated man, someone trying to be a worthy citizen and an earnest seeker. I came to learn in a college that was run by God, I left learning God is Love, God can be loved and to Love God is to Love your fellow man.

Let me conclude with His words, in fact it was the last conversation I had as a student with Him. We had performed a drama entitled ‘Karishye Vachanam Thava’ (Will do as per Your word). We went up to Him for blessings. He appreciated the theme and the title. He kept repeating the title “Karishye Vachanam Thava”. It was one of those moments that you know something special is coming from Him. I mustered some courage, got up, and asked Him, “Swami bless us that we live as per Your teachings”. He gave a hard look and said, “Have good thoughts, good actions”.

For all our promises to Him, all our empty words – he desires not mere vocabulary. He desires purity in thought and that thought to become action. Mere words can be given a miss.

Brother Dinesh Talreja is based in Mumbai and works as a finance professional in an Infrastructure organization. Service activities learnt during his college days have oriented him to be involved in the local Sai samithi. During his college days, he was blessed to be part of many stage performances in the divine presence. He is part of the Vidyullekha (alumni magazine) team