Story of the week - The Accident

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Story of the week

 

The Accident

 

Students are tender hearted, full of noble feelings and love for

Swami. They planned various programmes to please Me. I was very well

aware of the impending danger. But the students were not receptive

to My words. I felt there was no point in advising them in such a

situation. Only when they face the consequences of disobeying My

command do they realise the value of My words. Until this moment

nobody is aware of exactly what happened on the 11th morning. They

said that the sports meet was a grand success. I am also happy when

you are successful. The students performed extremely well. Each

contributed to the success of this event based on his or her

capacities and capabilities. That morning as I entered the stadium,

I spotted two lorries. Immediately I could visualise the danger

lurking in the future. I saw the lorries with huge scaffoldings

placed over them. The boys planned to perform a few acrobatic feats

on them. I knew that one of the ropes was not fitted properly and

was about to give in. If that were to happen the boy would suffer a

major head injury and his spinal column would break. I willed that

the boy should be saved and decided to take the future accident upon

Myself.

 

Prior to this, one boy suffered a spinal injury and had been

admitted to the Manipal Hospital in Bangalore. I willed that such an

untoward incident should not recur. Once the spinal column breaks it

is impossible to set it right. Immediately I arranged for an

ambulance to shift the boy to the hospital in Bangalore and gave ten

thousand rupees to defray the immediate expenditure. I also ensured

that our doctor accompanied him. The parents shed tears of gratitude

when they came to know of the love showered by Swami on their son.

The doctor said that the boy would not be able to sit or lie down as

his spinal column was badly damaged. I said to him, "Do not

entertain any misgivings. Do as I say!" By the time the boy reached

the hospital he could miraculously sit up! He entered the hospital

and sat down on the bed. He regained sensation in all his limbs

which were numb till then. No danger whatsoever. He was protected

because of My infinite mercy and boundless grace. All students

should be safe and secure. I have repeatedly declared that students

are My property. I consider students welfare as My welfare, and

their happiness, My happiness. I never think of My happiness and My

comfort. My only concern was that the students should not be

disappointed or put to any inconvenience. A day prior to that I had

instructed four boys to surround the chariot and keep a vigil. They

are also full of love and devotion for Swami. But I noticed that

none of them were present at that spot. Nobody is to be blamed. No

one does this deliberately. Swami is the very life-breath of the

students.

 

I asked for the chariot to be stopped. A senior devotee was driving

the chariot, with all sincerity, love and devotion. He stopped the

vehicle in accordance with My command. Just when I was about to

speak to the Vice-Chancellor, the driver accidentally put his foot

on the clutch instead of applying the brake. That resulted in a jerk

and I fell down in the chariot. I suffered injuries on My head and

arm and My spinal column was badly damaged. What the boys had to

face, I took it upon Myself. Many men and women were seated in the

gallery, but I took care that none should notice My injuries. I

pretended as though nothing had happened. The Vice-Chancellor was

worried thinking that Swami was unable to get up. I knew that any

further delay would cause anxiety in the minds of devotees. So I

immediately got up, forgetting the excruciating pain and started

blessing the devotees, waving My hands. The pain was intense, and

the cut on My arm so deep that it appeared to have been caused by a

knife. But the sleeve on the robe covering My hand was intact. This

incident gives you a glimpse of the infinite power of Divinity.

 

I found Myself in an awkward situation. I had to walk to the dais

without My injuries being noticed. So I willed that no one should

notice My injuries, lest they become anxious. I walked up to the

dais and took My seat. But in the meanwhile the dhoti below My robe

was drenched in blood. Concerned that the devotees may get to know

of this, I discreetly walked into the bathroom. The available towels

were insufficient to wipe the oozing blood. I did not want to leave

the blood stained towels in the bathroom, lest some one notice them.

Though there was excruciating pain, I washed the towels Myself with

soap, squeezed them and put them up for drying. Under no

circumstances do I reveal My suffering, pain and fatigue. Some boys

were curious to know why I went to the bathroom repeatedly. I

replied, "Why are you concerned? It is my job." Usually I go to the

bathroom only twice a day, morning and evening. Since the injury was

bleeding profusely, I had to go to the bathroom five or six times in

that short duration. Just then two students came and prayed that the

institute flag could be hoisted. When I got down from the chair it

felt as if I had an electric shock. Reflecting on the incident I

feel like laughing to Myself. I could not stand firmly on the

ground. I thought I should not be deluded by the attachment to the

body and walked forward smilingly to hoist the flag. Then I lighted

the lamp. I again found Myself in an embarrassing situation. I could

not sit in any posture comfortably. When I exhort all devotees to

give up body attachment, I should set an example Myself. Speaking to

Myself in this manner, I conducted myself accordingly.

 

The Primary School children performed extremely well and desired to

have a photograph with Me. Acceding to their prayers I walked up to

them and posed for a photograph, as I did not want to disappoint

them. Subsequently I had to walk up to the playing field five more

times to have photographs taken with the remaining students. In this

manner I detached Myself from the body. My body was numb. There was

no sensation whatsoever. My head was reeling. I resolved to make the

students happy no matter what happened to the body. I decided to

keep this to Myself. Concerned that the bloodstains may be visible

while returning to the dais from the playground, I ascended the

steps leading directly to My seat. Is it possible for human beings

to conceal such a major injury from the public gaze for such a long

time amidst such a huge gathering? No. I was seated on the chair for

five long hours. I am relating all this so that students and

devotees may comprehend the nature of Divinity. Anyone in My

predicament would not have been able to sit in the chair even for a

second. It would have been impossible even to put a step forward. It

was as though electric shocks were piercing My body. The electric

current gives shock: but when I am the current Myself, where is the

question of Myself being subjected to shock? With this feeling I sat

through the whole proceedings and returned to the Mandir.

 

The Central Trust members followed Me, but they were not aware of

what had happened to Me. The senior devotee apologized for his slip.

Then I told him, "Why do you worry about the past? Past is past. I

am happy. Do not worry about Me." All of them had their lunch. After

lunch My back started bleeding again. The students were waiting

outside for photographs, again I went into the bathroom to wipe the

blood. Noticing this, Indulal Shah cried out, "Swami what is this?"

I told him lovingly, "Indulal Shah, whatever had to happen to the

body has happened." Saying so, I showed him My injury. All of them

cried out in agony. They noticed blood all over. I told them that I

would not reveal anything in future if they expressed their sorrow

like this. No one knew about the injury until I reached the Mandir.

Likewise, I take upon Myself the untold suffering of students and

devotees many a time to protect them. No one is responsible for this

mishap. You may find fault with one individual or the other, but no

one is responsible for this. Whatever had to happen, happened.

That's all.

 

- Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Source: Prize distribution for Sports & Cultural Meet, Prashanthi

Nilayam, January 14, 1999

 

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