A shower of wisdom from Sri Sathya Sai during Ramadan.

This article is definitely a stand alone one in terms of its content. But it is actually a continuation of an interview that Swami (Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba) granted to the students during the Ramadan of 2006. You can catch the first part at

An unforgettable Ramadan with Sri Sathya Sai Baba.

If you have already read the first part, you will surely enjoy this second part.

Non-vegetarian food

Presently, Swami got a twinkling shine in the eye. It was evident that He was going to pull someone’s legs. He looked at little Sathya, a Muslim boy from Iran, seated in the front and asked him,

“Do you eat meat? What meat do you prefer.... (the boy was nodding - No) Tell me....Mutton or fish?”

The boy did not say anything. But he was putting his head down.

“What about your parents? Do they eat meat?”

Now Sathya answered, “Swami, they gave up eating meat more than 4 years ago...”

“Only 4 years? What measure is four years in a lifetime? Good that you do not eat. You chant Vedas so well, how can you eat meat?”

At this point, I remembered the thousands of arguments for and against non-vegetarianism. Whatever be the dominant argument, Swami has made it clear on several occasions that meat-eating is an absolute no-no for any spiritual aspirant. One cannot progress spiritually if one consumes non-vegetarian food. 

In fact, during the 69th Birthday, on November 1994, Swami delivered a discourse in which He exhorted every spiritual aspirant (devotee) to give up three things - meat eating, alcohol drinking and smoking. He said,

Feeding His dear deer in Brindavan.

Today, let it be anyone, whether one deems himself a devotee or not, he should give up meat eating. Why? meat eating promotes only animal qualities. It has been well said that the food one consumes determines one's thoughts. By eating the flesh of various animals, the qualities of these animals are imbibed. How sinful is it to feed on animals, which are sustained by the same five elements as human beings! This leads to demonic tendencies, besides committing the sin of inflicting cruelty on animals. Hence, those who genuinely seek to become devotees of God have to give up non-vegetarian food. Calling themselves Sai devotees or devotees of Rama and Krishna, they fatten the chickens. How can they be deemed Sai devotees? How can God accept such a person as a devotee? Therefore, whether they are devotees in India or outside, they should give up from this instant meat eating. Therefore, those who aspire to become devotees of God must give up meat, liquor and smoking.

Swami continued to speak.

“Fish is Matsya (the first in the Dasha Avatar of Lord Vishnu). How can you eat God?”

From there, Swami took the conversation into a new dimension.

“See, when the child is in the womb as the embryo, it is like a fish swimming in the fluid. (Matsya). Then, the fluid slowly dries up and the embryo moves to the tortoise stage (Koorma). Slowly, it takes the shape of a boar which is Varaha. When the delivery takes place, the little human comes out. That is Vamana. Like Vamana, you too must grow such that you cover the entire three worlds. Then alone will human life find its meaning and purpose.”

Jagadish spoke up on behalf of all of us,

“Swami, we never knew this or even thought of it in this manner till you told us.”

My thoughts on the same have been recorded in a separate article entitled - Theory for evolution: The Dashavatar.

Practical wisdom

All of us seated there were simply lost in the beauty of what Swami was telling. Taking the conversation to a more personal level, Swami began to speak to different students. He asked Swaminathan Aiyer,

“What is your role in the drama?”

“Swami, I am a soldier.”

“Why are you having such a moustache and beard?”

“Muslim soldier Swami... That is why.”

It was clear that Swami did not like this kind of ‘stereotyping’. Immediately, He responded,

“Ay! Why such distinction? Is there anything like a Hindu soldier and a Muslim soldier? Whatever be the soldier, the soul is one. Soul is fixed and steady.”

Swami asked Gururaja,

“What is your role?”

“Swami, I am a minister...”

A small frown came on Swami’s face.

“Why is it that everyone today wants to be a minister? If not a minister, they want to be at least an MLA or an MP...”

(Even today, that is the case. I remembered the many occasions where Swami has stressed that a true leader does not clamour after power. He clamours after opportunities to serve.)

Omnipresence, Omnipotence, Omniscience

Lokesh was seated to one side wearing an emperor’s costume. Swami asked him,

“What is your name?”

“My name is Lokesh, Swami.”

“When did you grow a beard?”

“Swami, I have borrowed this beard from the costumes department of the hostel.”

As Swami was looking into Lokesh’s eyes, Syed Babjan volunteered to tell Swami,

“Swami this boy comes...”

Swami cut him and said,

“He comes from Dubai. I know.” All of us smiled.

(How many times it happens that while speaking with Swami, we forget who He is. We are so busy ‘informing’ Him and ‘seeking from’ Him that we forget who He is! Thankfully, He parts the veil now and then to reveal His majesty and we are in awe. But soon after that, He again draws back the veil.)

And perfectly drawing back the veil, Swami began to ask different students about where they came from. The various cities, towns and villages were named. I was also hoping to be asked. But Swami did not. Instead, He gave me a sort of ‘opening’. He said,

“Are there none from Puttaparthi here?”

Immediately, my hand shot up. I said,

“Swami, I am from Puttaparthi.” Swami smiled. He told everyone,

“This boy was born in Puttaparthi. He studied in Puttaparthi and he grew up in Puttaparthi.”

(On first look, that statement looks like it is filled with errors. But then, I can cross my heart and say that my ‘life’ truly began only after I came to know of Swami and came to Puttaparthi. What a difference He has made in my life! As for my ‘growth’ who can know better than Him?)

I was not satisfied with what Swami said. I added,

“Swami, I want to be in Puttaparthi always.”

Swami nodded to say yes.

“You will be in Puttaparthi always.”

That was 2006. This is 2013. I am in Puttaparthi and am grateful for that statement that Swami made.

The Master and His pupils.

Lessons in selflessness

Amey, a student from his childhood, told Swami,

“Swami, be like this always... Talking to us in this manner.”

“What about the others then?” Swami asked.

(He is very quick to pick on selfishness - even trace amounts of it!)

“Swami keep all of us near and dear to you.”

“Today, you are near. Tomorrow, you may be far. Nearness and distance are not important. What is the most important is your heart. God is always in your heart. Enshrine and treasure Him there.”

Amey did not give up, “Okay Swami. But keep us near and dear to you.”

Swami smiled, “Yes. Always... forever.”

The conversation had become quite ‘casual’ now. Rangantha Raju got up and said,

“Swami, one wish. Please fulfill that.”

Swami egged him on and he continued,

“Swami, till now, you have made us walk. We want you to also walk Swami! (in tears now) Swami, please walk. We cannot see you in pain. We want you happy.”

Many others began to cry. I felt a few hot tears stream down my left cheek. It had been almost 3 years since Swami had broken His hip bone and had not cured Himself.

Swami also almost broke down and replied.

“I am not in pain Bangaroo. I am always happy. It is only when His children are sad that He is sad.“

Raju continued, “Swami, but we are sad and pained to see you.”

“Is that not selfishness? You want me to do something for your happiness? I am not sad. I am happy.”

“Swami, that is our selfishness - not yours. No problem.”

“There is nothing like your or my selfishness. Selfishness is selfishness.”

Amey stepped in,

“Swami, please make us walk on Your path.”

Swami smiled and nodded. That was true Padasevanam as Swami had already taught on a previous occasion.

The session continued.

...Ready to go to the next part? It is here:

Unforgettable interview with Sri Sathya Sai - Beautiful insights on prayer, love and on seeking Him

For all readers:

(If you enjoyed this and wish to subscribe to this blog, please go to the right hand side and choose the last 'box' which says subscribe. Another blog which I maintain with more than 200 articles on it is at http://aravindb1982.hubpages.com. If you wish to be added to my mailing list, please email me via this page with the subject "ADD ME TO MAILING LIST".

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An Unforgettable Ramadan with Sri Sathya Sai Baba

There are times in life when ‘nothing seems to happen’. The days seem so ‘daily’ and monotonous. The same things repeat themselves over and over again and one is unable to tell one day from the other - they are all the same! So little happens at such times that, if one were to write about it, a few lines will suffice - a page at best maybe. However, there are also times in life when so much seems to happen in so less time! A single day seems to carry the memories and insights of a lifetime. No two things happening at such a time seem to be the same and everything happening is so important. I am sure that everyone would have been through these two types of times. I am no exception.

The former I do not remember much - obviously! The latter, I remember several days with my best-friend and master, Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. With the start of the holy month of Ramadan (or Ramzan) on the 9th of July this year, in 2013, I remembered one such fully-filled and fulfilled day during the Ramadan of 2006. That year, the last day of Ramzan was October 23rd. We, the students of the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, decided to put up a programme in the divine presence of Bhagawan, commemorating the completion of Ramzan. There were also some students who had rigorously maintained the fast during the month and they wished to offer their efforts to Swami via this programme. After meticulous planning and rigorous practice, all of us put on our costumes and assembled in the bhajan hall of the Sai Kulwant hall. It was our hope that Swami would bless the programme and grant us the privileged opportunity of presenting it in His presence. But the Lord had different plans and, as always, it turned out for the better.

(Disclaimer - The happenings recorded here are to the best of my memory as recorded in my diary. They might not have happened in the exact order of narration here but rest assured that everything mentioned here did happen.)

An unexpected ‘inner’view on Islam

Swami (as Baba is affectionately called) used to grant darshan in the Porte car those days. Completing His darshan round, Swami alighted in the portico. He walked straight into the bhajan hall. Seeing us all wearing the traditional Muslim caps, He smiled. Then He walked in and sat on the chair. That was totally unexpected. We were thinking that He would bless us and ask us to put up the programme outside. Instead, He sat amidst us! We were simply delighted!

He looked at me and asked,

“What is the meaning of Ramzan?”

Having prepared for almost 2 weeks on precisely the same topic, I began to reel out everything I knew about it in my mind. My tongue, however, was not fast enough to catch up with the mind. It only said,

“It is a month long fast...”

“Not a month-long fast”, Swami corrected, “It lasts only from sunrise to sunset after which they eat very well.” He smiled and continued, “During the fast, not even saliva is swallowed.”

Soon after that came a lovely insight. Swami spoke about Upavasam or fasting. He said, “Upa means ‘close’ and vasam means ‘residing’. So, true Upavasam is when one resides close to the principles of one’s faith and religion.”

That was quite an insight about ‘fasting’. Swami continued. He looked at me and and asked me why I was in a Muslim costume. My heart answered and the words dropped from my mouth,

“Swami, I want to be near you. If that means I have to wear a Muslim costume, I shall wear that. If a Christian dress has to worn, I shall wear that.”

I should have stopped there. However, trying to be over smart, I added,

“Swami, I have no distinctions between religions. I follow you Swami. I have nothing like Hindu, Muslim, Christian etc.”

Swami immediately responded,

“I never said in that way (as to why a Hindu is wearing a Muslim costume). All are one. But be true to the dress you wear. Follow at least one religiously.”

The next question was about the Muslim cap or topee. Swami asked a little boy, Sathya (from Iran),

“What is the meaning of the cap? Tell me.”

The boy, who was in the 7th grade had no idea. Swami then threw the question open to everyone present - why should one wear the cap? Here were a bunch of students wanting to put up an ‘educative’ programme on Ramzan and nobody had the slightest clue about a regular Islam practice. But how can we be blamed. Even today, when I try Googling as to why the cap is worn, there is no satisfactory answer. The ‘best’ answer I came across was that Prophet Mohammed wore it while praying and so it is worn even today.  Swami then revealed the beautiful answer.

“It is done for the same reason why the Hindus shave the hair off their heads at places like Tirupati. Hair represents Tamas (sloth/lethargy). In fact tamas is represented by the color black. To progress spiritually, one has to give up tamas via rajas (passion, intensity, action and energy) and then move to sattva before going beyond the gunas (attributes) to become one with the divine. Therefore, to remind one that giving up tamas or sloth is the first step in spirituality, the hair is either shaved off or covered with a skull cap.”

A special insight on why Muslims wear the skull cap during prayers - a true Sathya Sai special.

Tips at sense-control

Speaking about the significance of Ramzan, Swami dilated on the concept of ‘fasting’. Truly, it meant sense-control. And He said that sense-control meant keeping a restraint on all the 5 perceptions - Shabda, Sparsha, Rasa, Roopa, Gandha - sound, touch, taste, sight and smell. He went on to say that the senses must be controlled by harnessing the power of the Atma (spirit) and use the Buddhi (intellect) to control the mind. This must be done because the mind is the cause for either bondage or liberation - Mana Eva Manushyanaam Karanam Bandha Mokshayoho.

At this point, I raised my hand. I had a doubt that had been bothering me for years now. It was about a weakness of mine. Swami looked into my eyes and said,

“Your mind is a monkey mind.”

I just nodded in agreement. He continued,

“Not ordinary monkey - Pichchi monkey - mad monkey.”

Again, I just nodded in agreement. Swami smiled. Encouraged, I asked,

“Swami, you say that one should control desires. But at times, the desires come with such force and hit me. What to do at such times?”

Swami nodded, “Yes. Desires do come and hit strongly at times. At such times, stand firm.”

I wasn’t satisfied. I probed further, “Swami, what to do.... suppression?”

“No no! Not suppression but separation. ( Desires are not ‘you’. They can be easily kept away.) Desires come from far. You submit to them when they are far itself! However, what you must do is, even if they come close and hit you as you say, stand firm. Tell yourself that these desires are ‘not me’ and that they are ‘separate from me’. I assure you that though the desires may hit you twice or thrice, when you stand firm like that, they become powerless. But nowadays, people submit at the first hit itself!”

Swami continued on the topic of sense control. He asked,

“What do you do when you see a snake? Do you allow it to come near you?” He looked deep into my eyes at this point.

I nodded to say no.

(At this point, I recollect that Swami has said habits should be given up like one lets go of poisonous snakes. However, when habits turn into addictions, it is a slightly different process and Swami has beautifully explained how one should let go of addictions.)

Swami now made a connection with desires and poison.

“A snake has poison in the head. A scorpion has poison in the tail. But man today, with the sights he sees, sounds he hears, things he speaks, has poison in the eyes, ears, tongue, nose and skin! Remember that desires poison everything.”

Sitting at His Lotus feet, it was a golden opportunity for me to learn s much.

Ram in Ramzan

Swami further elaborated how people used to be ideal and stick to virtues. He gave examples from the Ramayana. (I was struck about how He spoke about Rama during Ramzan. Isn’t it interesting that there is ‘Ram’ in Ramzan and ‘Ali’ in Diwali?) Swami said that when King Dasharatha had no progeny from Kausalya, for the sake of a child to rule the kingdom, he had to marry again. At that time, he sought permission from his wife Kausalya and only after obtaining the same did he seek Sumitra’s hand. Sumitra’s father too ensured the proper permissions had been sought. Again he had no progeny and a third marriage had to be entered. Again, Dasharatha sought permission from both his wives before marrying Kaikeyi.

Swami continued to give a few more instances from the Ramayana. All of us assembled were simply mesmerized by His spontaneity and wisdom. Little did we know that the session was about to blossom into something more personal, wonderful and poignant.

continued in the second part: A shower of wisdom from Sri Sathya Sai during Ramzan.

For all readers:

(If you enjoyed this and wish to subscribe to this blog, please go to the right hand side and choose the last 'box' which says subscribe. Another blog which I maintain with more than 200 articles on it is at http://aravindb1982.hubpages.com. If you wish to be added to my mailing list, please email me via this page with the subject "ADD ME TO MAILING LIST".

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Platform heroes and practical zeroes: Two eye-opening experiences with my Swami

Don't be a platform hero

On several occasions, in several discourses, Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba has exhorted one and all not to be mere “platform heroes” and “practical zeroes”. For instance, in His discourse on the 14th Feb 1999 (Puttaparthi), He spoke about people who speak about doing great service activities but do not put into deed even a single word of what they speak. Once again, in the same year on the 14th March (Mumbai), He impressed on everyone that a hero uses knowledge in a practical manner. On both occasions He spoke against being only a “platform hero”.

While Swami mentions only the glaring examples of platform heroes being practical zeroes, on introspection, we find that many times, we too are guilty of being that way. The way in which we become platform heroes and practice zeroes is so subtle that it often escapes our notice. Leafing through the pages of my diary, I came across a couple of examples where, without doubt, I was shown to be a practice-zero. One of them happened on the 26th of May, 2006, during a Trayee Session that Swami had called us all in for.

A beautiful Trayee Session indeed

The flow of a Trayee session is always a mystery. It is thrilling and charming because, invariably, it is Swami who controls its flow. So it was on this day too. Swami entered the jhoola room where all the students had gathered, humming a tune. As He sat on the ornate swing, He began to sing the song as well. It was a Carnatic classical song entitled, “Rara Venu Gopabala”. It was wonderful listening to that Varnam (a category and level of Carnatic music songs). After that, Swami even sang the swaras (notes) of the same song,

“Sa Re Ga Pa Da Sa Ni Da Pa Da Pa Ma Ga Ri Sa Ni Sa Ni Da Sa “

Then, turning to one of the students, He asked, “Who is the leader in Mahabharatham?”

Student: Swami, Krishna

Swami : Why not Dharmaraja?

Student: Swami, one is leader at human level and the other is at divine level.

Swami: Aha! So there are two levels in Mahabharatham? Tell me then, at human level who are you; at divine level who are you? (no answer from student and so, after a while Swami asks) Krishna kabhi kabhi galti kiya nai? (Krishna made mistakes at times right?)

Student: No Swami! Whatever he did is Dharma.

Swami: Krishna jo bhi bola vo sara right! (All that Krishna said is all right) Jo kiya, jo bola vo Dharma. (Whatever he spoke or did, it was righteousness/Truth).

Having said that, Swami began to narrate an anecdote from Lord Krishna’s life.

The story of Krishna, Arjuna and the Dove

There are many variants of the story which Swami has narrated and I present one of them here. Just to bring all readers up to speed, the “famous” episode between Lord Krishna and Arjuna goes like this.

"Krishna, for me, your words are more
trustworthy than evidence of my eyes"

The two are on a stroll in the garden when they see the bird hovering in the skies. Pointing to it, Krishna says,

“See that bird Arjuna... Is it a dove?”

“Yes my Lord! It is indeed a dove”, replies Arjuna.

“But wait... I think that it is is an eagle. Isn’t it an eagle?” asks Krishna

“Yes! That is definitely an eagle”, is the answer.

“No! It does not look like an eagle”, says Krishna, “it is definitely a crow.”

“Without a doubt Krishna, it is a crow”, replies Arjuna.

At this point, Krishna laughs and chides Arjuna,

“Are you blind my friend? You do not seem to have eyes of your own! You are simply agreeing to whatever I say.”

Arjuna says, “Krishna, for me, your words are far more trustworthy than the evidence of my eyes. When you say something, you have the power to make it so – be it a crow, dove or eagle. Hence, if you said it is a crow, it must be so!”

This story is oft quoted to exemplify how faith must be. Every time I have heard it, I have felt,

“This is exactly what I would have done if I was in Arjuna’ place.” But well, it is not as simple as that.

Swami narrates the story again and shows me how am only a platform hero

As mentioned earlier, Swami began to narrate the same story during this session too. I relaxed mentally because I had heard this same story at least a dozen times over. Apart from changing the order of the ‘birds’, the story would more or less follow the same narrative lines. I was in for a surprise however! Swami, to my great consternation, seemed to make a mistake. he said,

“Krishna looked up at the skies and told Arjuna that the being there was a horse.”

A HORSE??? In the skies??? I sat up and looked at Swami. The expression on my face screamed, “This is a mistake! It should be either an eagle or a dove or crow right?”

Swami did not stop there. He continued, “Arjuna agreed that it was a horse. Then, Krishna looked up and said that it was not a horse, but a lion...”

I was completely taken aback now. I was thinking,

“Swami, animals do not fly! Shift to birds please...”

And Swami completed that story by shifting over to the familiar crow and eagle. I was relieved. That is what I have noted in my diary. Today, when I look back, I realize what a practical zero I was. I felt that there was nothing great in Arjuna’s faith for I would have done the same as he did. But when it actually came to me to demonstrate my faith, even with the same story, I failed and was eager to ‘correct’ Swami and bring ‘sanity’ into the narrative! Well, apparently, Maya (delusion) has the ability to sneak up unnoticed just like selfishness disguises itself as selflessness at times!

The Hadshi incident of being a platform hero

The next episode that reminds me of my fallibility to Maya and to being a practical zero happened in Hadshi, during Swami’s visit to this new shrine in October 2009. One morning, after breakfast, Swami graciously agreed to see through some of the photos that had been taken during the trip so far. I was sitting at His feet, with a laptop by my side and Swami was watching the giant television across as the pictures kept scrolling by. One beautiful image of the rising sun in Hadshi came on the screen.

“Ah! The Moon looks very nice,” He commented.

"Swami, that is the Sun," I corrected Him.

“If that is the Sun, why is everything dark all around?”, was His question.

The photo exposure of the camera was according to the Sun’s brightness which was why everything around was dark. How was I to explain the same to Swami? Instead of going into the details of the exposure levels in the camera, I simply said,

"Swami, it is orange in colour! It is the Sun."

Swami looked at me as if to say,

"Ok! If you say so…"

Completely igno"rant" - I explain to Swami why the picture is not of the moon but of the sun

There! Once again, I had failed. I was in a situation very similar to Arjuna and rather than saying, "Yes Swami! If you say so..." I had made Him say that very same statement to me!  I regret now but with the Lord everything is an opportunity to learn and improve. It was a second chance that He had given me, and I had failed!

Chances galore

Today, when I think of these two episodes where I realized that I failed to be a practical hero, I also think about the many occasions that might exist when I even failed to realize that I had failed!

“Not many times”, the mind tries to pacify. But the heart knows the truth.

When I think of being a practical hero, this is what
flashes in my mind's eye! :)

Swami always says that whatever happens, we should consider it is for our good - Na Manchi Kosame - in His words. But when I don’t do it in troubled or painful times, looking to Him and asking instead - “Why this Lord? How is this good for me?” - I have failed! It just means that I have had the temerity to question His “eagle” and say that it is actually a “crow” isn’t it?

Going deeper in the same line of thought, Swami has always told each one of us,

“Bangaroo, all of you are embodiments of love”. Every time I do not believe or do not act as an “embodiment of love”, I have failed. Haven’t I?

But my Swami is always encouraging and loving. He has no qualms about me being a platform hero. He wants me to be a practical hero as well! And He is ready to wait for as long as it takes, standing by me, supporting me and loving me. And I am sure, all of you to agree to this! :)

For all readers:

(If you enjoyed this and wish to subscribe to this blog, please go to the black bar on the right hand side and choose the last 'box' which says subscribe. Another blog which I maintain with more than 200 articles on it is at http://aravindb1982.hubpages.com. If you wish to be added to my mailing list, please email me via this page with the subject "ADD ME TO MAILING LIST".Thank you)