Krishnan Rajan
2005 Prasanthi Nilayam
As students of Swami’s institutions, life at Bhagawan’s lotus feet taught one valuable lessons for an entire lifetime. Keeping aside aspects of His divinity, one could observe His perfect demeanour and imbibe ideal ways to conduct oneself. Joining Bhagawan’s higher secondary school at Prasanthi Nilayam was His blessing to allow me to spend my formative years at His presence.
Love is my form
“The Grace of God cannot be won through the gymnastics of reason, the contortions of Yoga or the denials of asceticism. Love alone can win it.”
If there was one thing that Bhagawan emphasized ever so often – it was on the importance of selfless love. Coming to Bhagawan’s fold taught me that God is someone who though all powerful and omniscient, is truly an embodiment of love. Through His life, Bhagawan showed how to love others selflessly. More so, we, as His students, are the greatest recipients of His compassion and grace.
I would like to share an unforgettable incident that happened in January 1999. The sports meet of 1999 marked my first sports meet. After numerous practice sessions we were all set to deliver the final performance. The day of the Sports Meet arrived and by the end of the day, the event was a big success – Bhagawan appeared to be very pleased. Or so it seemed. Three days later, we were shocked to hear Bhagawan’s discourse. On Sports Meet day, He had taken over a serious injury to save the life of one of the students. This incident had happened as a result of not adhering to Bhagawan’s prior instructions. The extent to which Bhagawan could go to for His devotees and students was something that deeply moved us all.
This and many other incidents helped me get a glimpse into the Lord’s heart, and to understand the reality in His statement “Love is My form”. We only need to reflect and recollect on His life and His love for inspiration on how to practice this fundamental value dearest to Bhagawan. Swami wonderfully makes the point that if one practices love, then other human values would follow as they are the expressions of love.
“Love in thought is truth.
Love in action is right conduct.
Love is understanding, is peace.
Love in feeling is non-violence.”
Service to man is service to God
The essence of the all the Vedas and Shastras has been summarised by Swami through just two statements – “Love all, Serve all” and “Help ever, Hurt never”.
The best example of one practicing these teachings is Bhagawan Himself. Through His hospitals, schools, water projects and innumerable other invaluable projects, Bhagawan has shown the world how service is to be done. Each of His institutions in the sphere of educare, medicare and sociocare can be held aloft as peerless examples of social excellence. In the Sri Sathya Sai education system, social service has always been an integral component. In the year 2000, I was blessed to take part in probably one of the largest village service programs India has ever witnessed. This was prompted by an incident where extreme hunger forced an old woman and her children to give up their lives. Then, as part of the Dasara festivities, Bhagawan decided to undertake GramaSeva. This activity still continues to be a regular part of the academic calendar in Bhagawan’s institutions.
In January 2001, I was fortunate to witness the inauguration of the Whitefield campus of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences. The Temple of Healing was inaugurated on 19 January amidst a galaxy of law-makers including the then Prime Minister of India.
Thus, Bhagawan has provided all of us with such wonderful personal examples of serving mankind.
Offer your activities to God
And as students, we expressed our love to Bhagawan in which our form we were good at – be it art, songs, academics or even sports. Bhagawan has said multiple times to students that He accepts any effort, worldly or otherwise, that is offered to Him. Hence, this was the undercurrent beneath all our hostel activities, to please Him through our excellence. Each of His students strove to excel in some field or other, and in my case being part of the Vedam group has given me some wonderful memories.
Respect for mother and motherland
Bhagawan is the best example of an ideal son. He has honoured the promises He gave to Mother Easwaramma in the noblest fashion. In each of our cases, our parents would have a strong role in bringing us into Bhagawan’s fold. In my case, my mother first tried to get me admitted to the 1st standard at Bhagawan’s primary school. However, I was not that fortunate. Year after year my application would be rejected and the admission fee would be duly sent back. My mother kept up her efforts and prayers, and finally thanks to her efforts and with His blessings I could secure an admission in the higher secondary school.
Bhagawan’s discourses invariably contain a message on the greatness of Bharath and on how lucky we were to have taken birth in this land of spirituality. I was blessed to participate in the Summer Courses that were conducted in the years 2000 and 2002 at Brindavan. The strong theme here was on Indian culture and spirituality that He desired the students to inculcate and imbibe.
In the present times, holding on to Swami’s ideals and teachings are more important than ever before, and in doing so we would be propelled into the Golden Age that He wants us to usher in.
Brother Krishnan Rajan is based out of Bangalore and works in the IT field. Post schooling & post graduation from Prasanthi Nilayam, he pursued his M Tech from IIT Delhi. He was a part of the Vedam group during his student days and is a member of Vidyullekha team.