Finally came the Guru Poornima day. This post is supposed to be part two of an amazing lesson I learn't from Swami. But before I dive into that, I cannot help taking a small detour and relive some parts of today's ceremonies.
The Samadhi is simply elegant, aesthetic and pleasing. You can see it in the picture above and I need not give any description. At sharp 8am, when the curtains parted, it was a breathtaking sight to behold and there were two multi-lamped Aarthis that were on. Tears simply rolled down my cheek for I felt so much welling within me.
Just at that time began the Guru Vandana by the students. Oh! The beauty and charm of it was indescribable! They sang songs that Swami held so dear to His heart and narrated His story as they had experienced it. Sai Bhagavatham in all its infinite facets simply enraptured us. All eyes around were moist and closed. As the narration went on, the incidents seemed to be playing in everyone's mind's eyes as they sat with closed eyes, tears streaming down the cheeks.
There is one interesting thought to be shared here. All of us keep striving to get on the Golden age. We want Rama Rajya to be back. We want the kingdom of God to shine forth. And we make so many efforts for that. We sometimes reach our wits' end wondering as to what more should be done. Listening to and living the experience of these Swami's boys made everyone get immersed in Swami. Personally I felt Swami and cried for Him the way I have never done on any other Guru Poornima. And within me, I felt only devotion and faith! In a state like that, I knew that anything I do would definitely be divine. Everyone would surely have felt the same.
So here is the thought - why not create an environment for everyone to feel that way always? And for that, just discuss and relive His stories and glories. They never seem to fade or jade. They are ever green and each time they are heard, they make new meaning and sense. What these stories of the Lord do is build an intense love for Him. Once that is done, virtues, values, seva, good deeds and the like simply follow. No wonder sage Vyasa too got peace only after the Bhagavatham experience!
The experiences narrated were so numerous that there are plans afoot for Radiosai to upload the video of the whole programme......And if that does not happen, I will dedicate the next blog to relive each of the amazing episodes narrated.
Next there were two fine speeches before the Aarthi was taken. The evening had two concerts and they went on well. But Swami had something really special planned for all.
The sky gained a completely golden hue and it was as if a being in dazzling gold was descending into Puttaparthi. Such was the glow and splendour of the skies that there was an equal number of devotees watching Divinity in the skies as there was a number watching the Divinity at the Mahasamadhi! The gold in the skies danced upon all the buildings in Parthi and people were speaking of the descent of the Golden Age!
I was meanwhile lost, shooting photos in the mandir. It was a hurried tap on the shoulder that told me there was something awesome going on outside, in the skies. As I picked my camera and hurried out, I heard whispers of a dual rainbow. I was thrilled. I reached out and ah! What a beauty! Two rainbows! But alas! I was a bit late. Even as I focused and got ready to shoot, one rainbow faded. But I did manage to capture the other one and here is the picture.
Ah! I looked around and everyone's gaze was riveted to the skies. It was as if Swami was coming for darshan from the heavens themselves. Call it a coincidence if you please but as I look at the images taken from some cell phones, I feel sad that I missed shooting all the glory. There is a golden ball in the skies and all the buildings have been bathed in the light. As I stood watching the spectacle, I was silently grateful to Swami for blessing all of us with such glory and majesty.
People ask, "Have things changed in Parthi? How much have things changed?" The only right answer to this question is, "Everything has changed and nothing has changed!"
Swami is physically not there. How can anything be the same? So everything has changed.
But when He reveals His cosmic form in such majesty, in the same hues of gold and orange that is so dear to us and brings down tears of joy and bliss, nothing seems to have changed! How can anything change when He is so vibrant and alive giving public darshan? I once heard an elder say 10 years ago, that a time would come when Swami would give darshan from the skies. Today I fell on my knees in deep gratitude to Swami for the experience. ( Will soon collect and post as many photos as I can obtain of this divine phenomenon).
Well, after that 'detour' I come back to the title of this post - the lesson. For those who came in late, please refer to the part one of this post.
16th_July_2008
There was a mobile medicare van parked in front of Yajur Mandir at about 8:30am. It was part of the ongoing efforts by the Mumbai Sai organisation to provide better medical facilities to inaccessible places. The van is part of a team of ten vans which will serve as a mobile dispensary and a preliminary diagnostic 'vehicle'! A novel idea, first initiated by the Sathya Sai Organisations, Tamil Nadu had been implemented by Maharashtra too. About 4-5 hospitals had agreed to give treatment free of cost to the tune of 1 hospital bed to the SSSO, Mumbai as a philanthropic measure and the medical vans would find the suffering needy to benefit from that gesture. The organisation would pay for the post operative care! A very good example of society
serving society.
As I waited with the camera for Swami's arrival, I wondered, "How can people get such small vans to get blessed from Swami? What is Swami's stature and how can it be belittled like this?! A few days back, Swami blessed fully equipped posh winger vans and now these vans and simple medicare vans!" Such were my mean thoughts.
At about 9:10am, Swami came out of Yajur mandir. He seemed to be a little surprised at the vehicle standing to the left! He went close to it and the poeple there explained to Him about the concept and utility of the vehicle. The vehicles had been given away by the Maharashtra CM in a special ceremony held a few weeks back. The van has all the items and utilities required for the doctor to engage in primary health care.
Swami saw the vehicle through the front door and then again went to the rear and peered through that door too. He inquired about the procedure in which it would be operated. He seemed so keenly interested in all the details. His eyes lit up and sparkled as He 'learned' more about the project and the vans. Blessing everyone who had assembled there in connection with the van, Swami proceeded to Kulwant hall for the darshan and bhajans that had already begun. At 9:30 am, He received Aarthi and then moved back to Yajur Mandir.
As I was returning, I again was lost in my thoughts about what should be the minimum 'standard' for anything to be offered to Swami. Breaking my reverie was a colleague who patted me on my back. I shared with him my thoughts. He simply said, "You know, a new version of the Airbus A-380 got released a few days back. It was done by some human. Do not demean this van for it had the privilege that even an Airbus A-380 did not have!" He walked away.
It is so foolish that we judge something based on our tiny intellects and huge egos. There is a principal difference between man and God. God judges something based on efforts while man does it based on results. One with greater efforts is greater for God though the results achieved may be puny. And that is why everyone is equal in the eyes of God - because everyone is capable of producing the same efforts; how ever different the results may be.
I sought forgiveness from Swami within. I resolved that anything that happens is the Divine Presence is a wonder simply because the Divine allowed it to happen in the Presence. And though it is very hard, let me not judge based on results. In fact, let me not judge at all so that am not judged by others too.
The Gita tells us that only the efforts are in our hands while the results are left to God. Having the results in His control, when Swami Himself concentrated only on efforts, is it so tough for me to follow His example?
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