Events at Prashanti Nilayam 01-08-03

[Guest guest]

Source:

http://www.kingdomofsai.org/2003/NEWS/NEWS20030801.html

 

Events at Prashanthi Nilayam

01 AUG 2003

 

The following is a narration of the events at Prashanthi Nilayam by

a Sai Sister:

 

A big group from UK (hundreds of people) were (is

still?) here - as usual, wearing white, with badges

with photo of Sai pinned on. Swami was really kind to

them, giving them plenty of "good chances"! On

Thursday and Friday morning, they were in the Mandir

leading the bhajans. They were so good that we could

hardly tell the difference from the usual bhajans -

except with them, lady and gent bhajan leaders

alternated. For a second I thought that maybe Swami

was allowing ladies to lead bhajans again, like before

the 1990's! Unfortunately, as it was morning bhajan

Swami didn't have the microphones on. I wish that

would change!

 

On Thursday evening, there was a beautiful program

with the UK people. Swami came about 3:30 PM and the

UK group started to sing a whole repertoire of nice

hymn-like Western style devotional songs. After that,

they sang a few bhajans, too. Then, Swami gave the

word fro the boys to sing the usual bhajans. By that

time, it was nearly 5 PM.

 

After the boys had sung only a few bhajans, however,

Swami again gave the word for the UK group to continue

the bhajans! Unusual! They sang and sang, and it was

maybe past 5:30 PM when Swami finally gave the word

for arathi.

 

The whole time, the microphones were on and Swami sat

on the outside veranda in His chair.

 

On Friday morning, when the UK group sang in the

Mandir for bhajans, I happened to be sitting near to

where He gets into the car (doctors from somewhere had

come and were sitting in the section by the kitchen

door - West end of mandir, where Swami's relatives sit, and

the volunteers also had us latecomers sit in that section, behind).

 

When Swami came out, I could see Him much closer than

usual, and it took my breath away! We see Him every

day, but when we see Him close up after many days, it

is always an overwhelming experience! He tilted His

head in the sweetest way, and with a little-boy

expression and His soft, lilting voice asked,

"Hospital? Hospital doctors from (?)? Very happy!"

Then He gave them "Abhaya hasta" ("Why fear", with His

Hand up), and got in the little car. As he drove by,

our whole section received the Abhaya hasta, as he

kept His Hand up, smiling and sweet, until He turned

the corner.

 

In the mornings, though, that car sure causes a

racket! The rubber wheels squeak and crunch something

awful, going over the highly polished floor. In the

silence after bhajans, it sounds like an electronic

drill pounding away, as Swami drives by!!

 

Did anyone else notice (I saw it first time a few days

ago) that the car Swami rides in (two seats front, two

seats back, red golf cart) has a round sticker put

right on the front of it, with an American flag and

proclaiming proudly, "MADE IN USA"?!

 

On Friday evening during Ganesh bhajan, there was a

terrific downpour of heavy rain for about 15 or 20

minutes, which then tapered off to a sprinkle. Swami

stayed in the Mandir and only ended bhajans at 5:35

PM, by that time the rain had totally stopped and it

was safe for everyone to go home without getting wet.

Sometimes we think Swami may have a hand in all of

this...!!

 

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