Take one step towards me and I shall take ten towards you

Two lads and their tears

It was late in the day and the sun was setting over the horizon in the city of Calcutta (now Kolkata), India. Two lads stood in a temple dedicated to the Goddess Kali, praying to the divine mother. Their eyes were filled with tears and hearts with aspirations. They were hoping to convey to the Mother what they wanted through the language of the eyes. But both of them were experiencing something very strange. In the presence of the Mother, though the tears continued to stream down the cheeks, their tongues did not seem to gather sufficient energy to seek what they actually desired. Instead, the tongues seemed to pray for something which was totally unexpected, but something that their heart truly wanted. The two boys indicated here belonged to two different eras separated by more than 100 years. And yet, so similar was their situation that a single paragraph could be written about their plight and duplicated to describe the other!

The first lad was the 21-year old Naren who later grew into the world-famous Swami Vivekananda. His father had suffered a sudden demise in 1884 and the burden of staving off the family bankruptcy by repaying the dozens of creditors had fallen on Naren’s shoulders. Unable to bear the burden and unable to find a good paying job, he approached his new-found guru, Ramakrishna Paramahamsa.

“Master, Mother always listens to you. Why don’t you ask her to provide me and my family with sufficient financial resources to live a happy life?”

“My child! You suffer from the false idea that I am close to the Mother and you are not. Why don’t you yourself go to her and seek what you want?”

It was this goading that had resulted in Naren standing in front of the Mother. But as he stood before Her, he felt the warm trickle on his cheeks turn from tears of sorrow and lack into tears of gratitude. Without his knowledge, his tongue sought,

“Mother! Grant me discrimination... grant me devotion... grant me renunciation...”

He walked out of the temple and his Master reprimanded him for not seeking from the Mother what he immediately needed. He sent Naren back into the temple reminding him to remain focused on his wants. However, the lad was unable to do anything different even the second time. The drama repeated for a third time too when Naren realized that the Mother’s supreme love for him had made him seek what he truly needed.

(Here is a video of the beautiful dramatization of that episode between Naren and Mother Kali by the students of the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning.)

The second lad was standing before Mother Kali but not in the Dakshineshwar temple. The year too was totally different, this one being 2000. However, Saptarshi Chatterjee’s tears too were as hot and sorrowful as Naren’s when he entered the temple. He too had lost his father’s support, in a different manner though. Seeing his below average marks in the Grade 12 exams, his father had called him and told him,

“See Sapto, the way you have been faring in high school is very depressing. If things go on in this way, you will not get admission into any decently good college even! I have no money to get you an admission by paying hefty donations to these educational institutions which have become businesses today. It is good that you try to find a job and get employed next year.”

The father’s words had bred regret and struck terror in the 17-year old’s heart. With God as the last resort, he had walked into the temple of Mother Kali in the evening after school. Swami Vivekananda was Sapto’s hero and he knew in his heart that he should not ask the Mother for anything worldly. Yet, so heavy was his heart that, unlike Naren, he poured out to the Mother,

“Mother, I am your child forever. Keep me safe and happy always by keeping me close to your bosom. But also ensure that I get higher education in a good Institute.”

And he cried and cried till his tears dried.

That was more or less Sapto’s schedule almost every day.

An Institute education and much more

Naren’s story of his growth into Swami Vivekananda is well documented. Saptarshi’s journey is bound to be interesting and inspiring for the modern youth who find it hard to emulate Swami Vivekananda though they wish to do so!

Unknown to anyone, Saptarshi had something in his life that Naren never had - a girlfriend! In the teenage years, he had experienced love at first sight. So powerful was the effect that he did not know whether she was an attraction or a distraction. Nevertheless, he felt that there was atleast a great traction in their relationship. In fact, it was she who seemed to bring the solution to his problem. She informed him about a very good Institute, the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning (SSSIHL), which promised great academic adventures and degrees without charging even a single penny as fees! Sapto was instantly interested and, seeking an application, he applied to this University in Puttaparthi, Andhra Pradesh.

In Hindi, there is a popular saying which goes thus,

“Dane dane par khanewale ka naam likha hain.” (Every grain of food has inscribed on it, the name of the person who will eat it.) The saying intends to heighten the importance of destiny in one’s life. Sapto found out that, apparently, every seat in the SSSIHL also had on it the name of the person who will get it! There was no other way to explain the miraculous sequence of events that led him to get through the entrance examinations, group discussions and the interview to actually procure a seat in the prestigious B.Com(hons) course at the Brindavan campus of the Institute. He called up his dear friend back at Calcutta to convey the good news to her. She also rejoiced. He wished he could go back home to give her a hug but the joining date did not permit a return journey back home.

Saptarshi performing a mimicry for his Swami in Kodaikanal

Sapto did not realize that he had won an admission into an Institute of HIGHER learning. However, as days turned into weeks and weeks into months, Sapto came under the divine umbrella of the little orange robed figure, the Chancellor the the University, Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. Each little interaction with Him, his Swami, seemed to take him a step closer towards his unconscious yet ultimate goal of ‘Higher’ learning. Like hundreds of students before him, Sapto too wanted to become a ‘form boy’, the hostel lingo for a student who got the privilege of regular interactions with the Master. In the meanwhile, he also experienced the blossoming of his hitherto unknown talents of mimicry, mono-acting and dramatics.

Turning point

Sapto had not forgotten his love in Calcutta. She too sought admission in Swami’s womens’ college at Anantapur. The two hearts seemed to have come closer. However, Sapto was still undecided on whether she was an attraction or a distraction. He took the safe route of directing all his love and feelings towards his God, his Swami. In fact, he developed an irrepressible urge to sing a Bengali Rabindra Sangeet for Swami.

It was the year first week of October in the year 2004 and Sapto, having graduated with honours in the B.Com course, had enrolled for the MBA programme at Puttaparthi. During one darshan session (when Swami moved around the entire Sai Kulwant hall, blessing devotees and interacting with them), he gave Swami a letter expressing his desire to sing a Rabindra Sangeet for Him. Swami accepted the letter. Swami looked into his eyes and asked him,

“Do you want to sing it only to me?”

It was a song of love set in a melodious tune. Sapto had no second thoughts as he nodded that he indeed wanted to sing it out only for Him. Swami smiled and called him in for an interview. Sapto was pleasantly shocked! He could not imagine that the Lord was as eager to hear him as he was to sing for him. This was the first time in four years that he was actually entering the hallowed precincts of the interview room.

Seeing Swami from so close, Sapto had no words to say. He just sat in front of Him, dumbstruck. Very causally, Swami told him something that completely overwhelmed him,

“I have seen you come to me every evening and praying for good education. Your longing for me has impressed me. That is why I gave you this chance in my institution.”

Sapto’s mind was in a tizzy. What did Swami mean by that? He got to know Swami only in the year 2000 and he had done nothing like what He had said since then.

“Swami, I got to know you only when I joined here. Before that, I did not know you”, Sapto said before adding, “even in photographs!”

“Who do you think you have been praying to near your house? You think that she is only an idol? Her heart melted for you! She told me to take pity on you and it was on her request that I took you in!”

Now Sapto was reeling. How on earth did Swami know something that he had not shared with anyone else? Even as his head was spinning, he got a scary thought - this Swami knew everything about him. Getting on his knees, in a shaky voice, he said,

“Swami, I have committed many sins in the past...”

“Past is past! Forget the past. All your sins have been washed the minute you stepped into Parthi.”

Sapto was feeling that he was in some ethereal dream. Everything was happening so beautifully. Swami continued,

“I know that the girl you love is in Anantapur. But listen to me. Her family will not be suitable and amenable to you. When the right time comes, I shall give you a good girl, a girl who loves God. Remember, don’t run for sex! Run for Sai.”

The mind was blown to pieces and Sapto felt completely blank. He did not feel the need to say anything. Swami smiled and said,

“You want to sing something right?”

Sapto was unable to answer even that question. He was absolutely tongue-tied and washed away in the floods of Swami’s omnipresence and love. Swami smiled again. He took his right hand in His left hand and placed it on His chest. He then placed His right hand on Sapto’s chest.

“Sing now. It is heart to heart and you will get the tunes.”

Such was the surge of inexplicable bliss that Sapto’s heart began to serenade on its own! And to his great joy, Swami began to sing along! God and devotee, Master and disciple became one in that song of love. The words flowed effortlessly from both lips till the final line in the song, “Tomaro Madhuro Preme” (Your sweet love). Swami then said,

“See, how sweet My love is?”

A personal photograph overlooking the lake in Kodaikanal. 

Swami’s Vivekananda

The interview ended but not Sapto’s divine romance. He had goosebumps when Swami selected him as a principal actor for the upcoming Convocation drama on the 22nd of November, 2004. What was to be his role? Of Swami Vivekananda!!

Sapto (in turban) as Swami Vivekananda offers
a card to Swami before the Convocation drama.

The story of how the drama developed is another beautiful chapter in Saptos’ life but the fact remains that when he had to speak forcefully as the fiery monk seeking only divinity, Sapto could do it with great ease and natural flair. His pining for Swami and Swami’s reinforcing grace had indeed made a Vivekananda out of Saptarshi - a lad who was enjoying Ananda (bliss) because he had been conferred Viveka (wisdom)!

As he completed his narrative, Sapto told me,

“Aravind from that day till today I have received that Madhura Prema (sweet, divine Love) in various ways. My heart melts remembering that moment of my life as I write it to you. Whatever I have in life; am in life is because of Swami and Swami alone. Apart from pining for him (in some other form that too), I don’t know what else I have done. But what He has done and is doing, I can never repay even in a million lifetimes. I have a good family, a lovely job and everything is so smooth and fine. Even when things seem to go wrong, I know that it is just a part of His Masterplan! No complaints at all... no questions... no doubts. Just enjoying every moment that has been GIFTED!”

His narrative taught me the importance of always pining for the Lord. It also brought to my mind the statement Swami had made about the youth in modern times. That statement was made during the famous and historic discourse in 1976, in Ooty, when Swami materialized a medallion with a map of India on it.

I shall prepare individuals capable of spreading the Bharatiya culture and spirituality to the whole world. In the case of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, he had to use only one or two persons (for the fulfilment of Ramakrishna’s mission), Vivekananada and Brahmananda, who were sannyasis (renunciants). You don’t need to become sannyasis. In this particular task of Mine, I am going to use you young people in a large measure, as you are, putting you on the right path. I will use you as My instruments for doing all that is intended to be done.

Ah Swami! How loving you are! You seek nothing from us and yet promise to achieve everything through us. The modern world will surely see many Swami Vivekanandas for anyone who calls “Swami” with love and faith, you make a “Vivekananda” out of him/her.

If you enjoyed this, you may also like the following:

1. Pining for God is more important than experiences with God - a lesson from my Master

2. The final namaskar - the ultimate message of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba.

3. Why visit Prasanthi Nilayam (or any pilgrimage spot) when God is everywhere? - A message from Sri Sathya Sai

4. God's pining for a devotee.

For all readers:

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Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba's historic 1976 Ooty discourse - the medallion discourse

A surprise gift

Baba at a devotee's home in Cantonment, Bangalore in
1968. The photo gives an idea of how Swami looked
a few years before this episode occurred.
 Photo credit: S.Balasubramanya

I received an email with the subject line - “Swami’s revelations for the future”. With eagerness, I opened it to find an audio file. I heard it and felt a surge of joy and love welling in my heart. That audio clip had been constituted from 3 different discourses delivered by Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. The first part was from a landmark discourse that Swami delivered in Ooty, during the summer course there in 1976. The second and third part were from discourses delivered later. As I searched via Google, I found the same audio clip on a few blogs. While they presented the clip, the details provided along with the same were almost sketchy.

That was when I enlisted the help of Dr. T.Ravikumar and Dr. Sundaresan, both serving at the Brindavan campus of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning. They had been physically present when all the three discourses had been delivered and provided the details. They are thrilling and, as is the case with Swami always, are pregnant with meaning at different levels and planes. (In fact, Dr. Sunderesan stichtched together these three clips based on similarity in content). Hearing the audio clips, one is just lost in wonder, awe, love and gratitude for Swami. Without further ado, let me present the details.

The Ootacamund summer course of 1976

The summer course in Indian Culture and Spirituality had been shifted from its traditional Bangalore venue at Brindavan to the hill-station at Ootacamund (Ooty) in the state of Tamil Nadu because the boys hostel was being built at Brindavan. For those that are unaware of what a Summer Course with Bhagawan Baba is, here is a brief description. It had started off as a study of the Indian scriptures and value systems for a time period ranging from a fortnight to a month for the youth from various parts of India and the world. Swami would take active interest in it and would address the students on a daily basis. The students were also blessed to hear different scholars and erudite speakers. As years passed by, attending a Summer Course was made a special privilege of only the students studying in the various educational institutions started by Swami. The format and schedule remained the same.

It was in a private session with the students, Dr.Bhagawantham and Al Drukker. Al Drukker has recorded his memories of the session in his book. However, the details are not elaborate as his understanding of Telugu was minimal, if not nothing! As Swami gathered the students around him one day, He revealed.

I will now announce what I am going to do in future for this country, India— and for the rest of the world. It will now be shown to you on what I am going to materialize.

(It was at this point that Swami materialized a medallion and showed it to the gathering. The medallion was round with a black onyx base. It had a silver map of India with 18 jewels embedded in it. The map had a 100 Sanskrit verses inscribed on it and Swami said that it had all information about the Avatar. He continued to speak after that.)

Photo credit: www.radiosai.org

What I have materialized contains a map with all the eighteen different components in India. The map also shows where the memorial stupas (pillars) will be which represent the work that is going to be done by Me in pictorial form on this medallion which I have just now materialized. On the medallion the work and the future tasks which I am going to fulfill  is inscribed in Sanskrit.

This Body in which I have come is going to be present for another forty-six years and in those forty-six years, whatever dharmasthapana, whatever work will be done by Me in the country is all written now on the medallion in complete detail. Not only this, but which boy is to be entrusted with the task in which of the states, (his name) is also written on this medallion. If there is anyone who reads this Sanskrit script very well, he can read what is written on this.

At this point, all the students requested Swami Himself to reveal what is on the medallion. As the requests grew louder, Swami said, - “I shall not reveal the future - if you wish, you can read for yourself.” One of the boys took the medallion, and as Dr. Ravikumar revealed, tried to read what was on it. The text was very tiny. He borrowed the spectacles of a friend and tried to read it under the magnification. But all that he could make out was that the lettering was in the Devanagiri script or Sanskrit. Swami continued to speak. As you can hear in the audio file, Swami speaks continuously for several minutes before allowing the translator, Dr. Bhagawantham, to step in. So, the translation given below is not exact sentence by sentence, but the gist.

All the things that are going to happen in time, in the future is present on this.  I shall prepare individuals capable of spreading the Bharatiya culture and spirituality to the whole world. In the case of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, he had to use only one or two persons (for the fulfilment of Ramakrishna’s mission), Vivekananada and Brahmananda, who were sannyasis (renunciants). You don’t need to become sannyasis. In this particular task of Mine, I am going to use you young people in a large measure, as you are, putting you on the right path. I will use you as My instruments for doing all that is intended to be done. Where the instruments will be and what will be their qualities - all that is described here on this materialized item.

In order to show all of you children who have gathered here that you should be good in upholding the ideals of Swami, I have done this. Gradually, I shall tell you everything in a way you understand. You need not worry.

(And then came the most beautiful statements. One can hear Swami pouring out His love and compassion.)

A close up of the materialized medallion

Why do you hanker after this thing (medallion)? Why, when the Person who has produced this is here and He belongs to you and is in your grasp, why do you want to look at what has been produced?  I am here before you - I who have produced this. I belong to you. I will look after you. I will tell you what to do.The way you have to be taken to your goal, transformed and built is all with Swami. Go slowly, don’t be in a haste. What has been described here, what I intend to do…all in the next forty-six years; who I am going to use, and how I am going to use them; how you will all put on the right path, this will all be described by Me to you, item by item, in due course. Don’t be in a haste. Only remember that you should take the determination to do it and you should appreciate the task you are called upon to do. You should determine to take the right path, to follow Me and My task. This is all you have to do.

Swami Himself will do and secure the future of Bharat with Dharma that is more progressed and advanced than the glorious 'olden' days. Whatever happened in the past (regarding Dharma) happened without people properly understanding. But now, you will see it’s glory clearly, the way you see yourself in the mirror. You will get opportunities to see Swami in many forms. Make efforts to protect and preserve this experience. That much is enough.

The rest will be looked after by Me. I belong to you, and I am with you. Why do you think (only) of what I have produced (materialised)?Moreover, in future you will see Me in many different forms which are manifestations of Myself.

- end of the Ooty discourse excerpt. We are eternally grateful to Mr.Nanjunda Kumar for sharing this audio with humanity.

The second part of the discourse on the audio clip

As I stated in the beginning, the audio file has three clips. It should not be mistaken as the same discourse. What follows next is another excerpt from a discourse translated by Prof Nanjundiah to the first batch of MBA, MCom, students ,research scholars and teachers in multi media room in Prasanthi Nilayam campus on 7th Sep.1986.

Swami had, right from the beginning, the plan to implant His Divinity and Divine Power all over the world. For the sake of this, Swami has established educational institutions all over the world. In the name of education I brought all the students here. I will tell you how this Divine power, how these sound waves and electric waves and jyothi (Divine light) power --will function in the future. When Swami is talking in the auditorium, Swami may be seen in mandir. When Swami is seen in the auditorium, He will been seen in the classrooms - that too, when Swami is receiving Aarthi in the temple - actually through this jyothi power. Even in My discourses, when Bharathiya (ancient Indian) culture is being explained, Swami will be just giving you these experiences through experiments.

It is easy to tell. What is essential is that you should experience it. You will all experience this. You will all experience this. You will all enjoy it. You will also distribute it and you will expand your heart. This is the primary goal of our Institute and aim of our Institute.

Stay with that faith, devotion and conviction - Shraddhavan Labhate Jnanam.

The Actual Audio of the discourse with subtitles...

"Everything is in the palm of the hand of the all-knowing
one." Photo credit: S.Balasubramanya

The third part of the discourse on the audio clip

The third discourse clip is being translated by Sri. Sudarshan on the 23rd November, 1980 (55th Birthday). My guess is that the similarity of themes inspired the compiler to stitch these clips together. The contents of the third clip are also very inspiring as you can read for yourself here. (At the end of it, there is a link to download the audio file)

I have also resolved that very soon I will be launching on a massive programme of revitalising our ancient customs, our ancient treasures, our ancient traditions, and all the scriptural truths—about all people and in all lands. You need have no doubt whatsoever that we will be successful. Victory is bound to be ours. We will surely experience the trumpet of victory.  Don’t give yourself to doubt or distress. Don’t get hassled by doubts. We shall be very soon blowing the conch of victory all around. This is a certainty. This is a certainty.

Embodiments of Love!

What the future holds is beyond your sight, beyond your understanding. But I can see what the future is going to be like. A time will come when the whole world will be at My Feet. A time will come when the whole world will rejoice, in having understood My true Divinity, My true Nature. It is a great effort that I am making thereby. At present I am confining Myself; I am not letting not letting My glory spread all over, all of a sudden because the world cannot possibly put up with it (now). But certainly a day will come, when the peoples of the world would recognise what Swami is; His Majesty, His grandeur.

The world will very soon become a big Prashanti Nilayam by itself. They will all come flocking in their lakhs and their millions. Even those who have the golden opportunity of sitting so close to Me understand this truth now. Make the best of the opportunities that are coming your way. Listen to Swami’s words. Live in His love. Experience His bliss which is very much your own. Do not fritter away this golden opportunity for you will not get this later.

The audio file of the above two clips is presented in the link below. Please use any ONE of the links below to download the file.

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B51YrGHFxchFQkpfaTROVUw3cVk/edit?usp=sharing

OR 

https://soundcloud.com/user554603133/swamis-revelations-ooty-1976-medallion-discourse

Share the file along! :) God bless us all with love divine. 

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