In August 1986, Bhagawan selected me among the 28 ‘handpicked’ first batch of students to join the MBA program that was inaugurated at the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning. The word Management had been given a new meaning by Swami – ‘Manage Men and Time’, a newfound definition, hitherto before missing in all Management treatises. Let me begin by sharing with you a unique classroom lesson taught by the revered Chancellor Himself!

Not Zero-based budgeting but Zero-based Bhakti

Once Bhagawan walked into our classroom and looked at the words ZBB (Zero Based Budgeting) written on the blackboard. In our excitement, we prayed to Him to take our class that day; when He announced that He would be teaching us ‘ZBB’, we were all excited!

We had learnt that ZBB meant one had to start from a zero liability quotient. Bhagawan started by saying that ZBB meant – Zero Based Bhakti! He said, “ZBB (Zero Based Bhakti), on the other hand, is when you start your day today, you should sincerely pray and tell Bhagawan that ​whatever you may have undergone yesterday, the same is surrendered at His Feet. You must surrender all your bad thoughts and ill feelings at His feet and start afresh today. Swami asserted, “If you do that, then I would take care of all of them and when you empty your mind at My feet, then I will make it a zero! Rid of the ailing thoughts of yesterday. Start afresh with prayers for a new day as if you are born today. Start as zero today and when your mind is completely empty, I would fill it with Bhakti. This is Zero Based Bhakti!”

When you have My hand, you have everything under the sun

After finishing my education, I told Him that I intended to set up a free school, hospital, and a vocational training project in a village for under-privileged sections of the society. Very lovingly Bhagawan assured me that all this would be ‘done by Him’.

As He had promised, by 1990, with His Grace, I was able to compile a project report of a multi-dimensional rural project. I presented the project report to Bhagawan; He named it – Sri Sathya Sai Gramin Jagriti. On the first page of the report the land requirement was projected as 27 acres. When I pointed this out, Bhagawan patted my back and said, “You do not need land. You need My hand, and My hand is always with you”.

After evening Darshan I boarded the train to Delhi. There were three strangers in my compartment who greeted me with ‘Sairam’ as I entered the compartment. They told me that during Darshan they had seen Bhagawan blessing the project report. They inquired about it and upon knowing that this was a rural development project, they asked me to come to Yamuna Nagar, Haryana where they would show me a piece of land for this project! I was taken aback at this development and could not believe my ears. Be that as it may, after reaching Yamuna Nagar they took me to a village where they showed me a large parcel of land. The headman willingly agreed to donate 27 Acres of land – exactly as much was required as per the report. The Panchayat passed a resolution and gifted the land to our organization for the rural project!

I returned to Parthi and showed the resolution to Bhagawan. He pointed out the date mentioned was 17th July 1991. Swami told me that the date was Guru Poornima! He elaborated that on Guru Poornima, the Guru takes a vow that the sun will not set until the resolution of His disciple is not fulfilled! This is how, 30 years ago, Sai Jagriti was established on Guru Poornima Day.

All through it has been His unseen hand that has been making it happen every day. We are all a witness to this live and living miracle that has been taking place in our lives every day and every moment.

It is His Will alone that has taken Sai Jagriti to a level of a quality institution, where it stands today. Bhagawan told us that the evolution of this project is directly proportional to our own evolution. He is an alchemist – whatever He touches turns to gold; we only have to believe it. We have to live to His words, to allow His grace to flow through us and then alone we will be His Sai Students.

Amar Vivek MBA, 1986 – 1988, Prasanthi Nilayam. Currently a practicing lawyer. A founder member of Sri Sathya Sai Gramin Jagriti Sewa Sadan, a non-profit organization committed to rural empowerment and education, which has set up a free school till 10th class, a hospital and a Vocational School.