K S Ramakrishna Reddy
Prasanthi Nilayam
‘God if you think, God you are; Dust if you think, dust you are’. These are the words from a letter written to Brindavan campus students in 1972 by Swami. He gave us a chance to live in Brindavan, where we could smell the aroma of Indian culture and taste the nectarine fruits of spirituality. Nay, we heard from the divine flute the essence of the Vedas, Shastras, and Upanishads every day.
He inspired us not only to think of God, but also exhorted us to be perfect in everything we did. “Dil mein Ram, hath mein kaam” is His motto. Nowhere else can we learn the good lessons of life except at His Lotus Feet. The minute details He observed while teaching about the brotherhood of man had stupefied me.
God first, others first
After giving Darshan in Sai Ram shed in Brindavan every day, Swami used to walk to the hostel. Boys used to stand on either side of the path in front of the hostel to welcome Swami jubilantly. The hostel atmosphere was surcharged with love, devotion and adoration.
One day while entering the hostel, Swami looked at one boy, who was standing beside me and said seriously, “Very bad! Why did you do like that yesterday?” Swami moved forward, but I stood where I was because of the stern looks of Swami and the serious tone, I was taken aback and didn’t even move. The all-knowing Swami understood my predicament and came a few steps back towards me and said, “See, yesterday his mother brought sweets for him. At night he picked up one sweet, covered himself with a blanket and ate it. He did not give you at all!” I said, “But Swami, he definitely will give them to us.” Swami immediately retorted saying, “Yes I know that he gives, but one should give others first before eating himself.” Later, Swami repeated the same in the hostel. Swami’s idea of “others first” and His all-embracing love overwhelmed me.
In Sri Sai Satcharitra, the author Hemadpant tells Sri Shirdi Sai Baba that, he doesn’t eat anything without giving people around him, if there are any. Sai Baba says, “Am I not present near you? Do you remember Me while eating?” To inculcate such feelings Swami introduced the prayer “Brahmarpanam”.
One must observe discretion
One afternoon after classes, I was returning to the Mandir. As I crossed the Vidhyagiri arch, I heard someone calling me “Sairam! Sairam!” from behind.
Thinking he might need help, I turned back. The person walked up in great hurry… and went past me without uttering a word. That day during evening Darshan, Swami walked up to me and said, “Why do you buy Vadas on the roadside?” I went blank for some time. That evening I met brother Radhakrishna and told him what had happened. He said, “Swami knows you would not do like that, but when you stood near the Vidhyagiri arch, someone might have thought you waited there to buy Vadas.”
Next day while going to school, I observed carefully around where I stood the previous evening. An old lady was frying Vadas very close by and indeed selling then.
In Brindavan Swami told me many times, “You are from Parthi, students observe carefully whatever you do. Be careful.” While choosing a place near the arch, I should have looked around and chosen a correct place. Swami says our actions have to be not only correct, but should also not lead to misunderstanding. My carelessness caused this confusion. Swami wanted to caution me to exercise more presence of mind. This correction by Swami helped me in numerous situations.
The Lord knows all
On a Sunday morning after Darshan and interviews, Swami was seated on a sofa in one of the rooms of the old bungalow. He kept a big bundle of letters received that He had received from devotees on His lap. Some students were sitting close to His lotus feet. The students were overjoyed because they were sitting in the immediate presence of their ‘Chittachora’. While reading the letters, He held one letter and without opening it mentioned the difficulties expressed in it. Later He tore open the letter and told me to read the letter aloud because I know Telugu. Those assembled there were astonished to know that the letter mentioned exactly the same things that He had mentioned. Though Swami never allows anybody to read His letters, that day He did it to instil faith in a student, because that boy thought Swami skipped many letters.
Not just on external issues, Bhagawan has guided us and corrected deviations that take place inside us. Students too have never missed any opportunity to be in His presence. Who would like to miss that charming presence? He is a Friend, Philosopher and Guide to all of us. He has showered more love and care than our physical parents. We are eternally grateful to our Jagadguru – Sri Sathya Sai Baba.
Brother K S Ramakrishna Reddy is based in Prashanti Nilayam and is part of the Commerce department at the Higher Secondary School.