Sant Asharam Bapu's visit to Sri Sathya Sai Baba - 14 and 15 Sep. 2004

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Sant Asharam Bapu's visit to Sri Sathya Sai Baba - 14 and 15 Sep.

2004

 

"Asharam Babu" the renowned saint seeks Blessings of Swami at

Puttaprthi Today - 14.09.2004

 

Toady early morning renowned saint Asharam Babu arrived at Prasanthi

Nilayam. He was present in the morning Darshan as well as in the

evening darshan. Bhagavan Baba called Asharamji for interview in the

afternoon. Both were alone in the interview room for about an hour.

 

It seems Asharamji decided to stay for two more days at Prasanthi

Nilayam i.e. Wednesday and Thursday. More news on this event is

eagerly awaited.

 

Source: http://www.kingdomofsai.org/modules.php?

name=News&file=article&sid=191

 

 

News for September 14, 2004

 

Today morning Swami came out at 6:50AM for Darshan. After making a a

full round, He called the Washington group ladies for an interview.

He went inside the interview room by 7:10AM.

 

In the afternoon, Bhagawan came around 3:00PM. Once again, He took a

full round and got down near the interview room. He called one

family from Bangalore and also Sant Asha Ram, the famous speaker on

scriptures and religious ideals, along with his disciples. Sant Asha

Ram has many ashrams in India and he appears everyday in the Sanskar

channel at 9:00PM. Swami gave a long interview of one hour. At

5:00PM the Bhajans started and at 5:35PM Aarati was taken.

 

Jai Sai Ram

 

Source: http://sainews.blogspot.com/

 

 

Asharamji Delivers speech at Prasanthi Nilayam - 15.09.2004

 

Today was the second day of Asharamji's visit to Prasanthi Nialyam.

On asked by Bhagavan Baba to deliver a speech to the devotees

gathered at Sai Kulwant hall, Asharamji spoke for about an hour on

spiritual topics of "Bhakti", Devotion and other spiritual

practices. More details of the speech is awaited.

 

The scene of looking at two spiritually vibrant personalities was a

memorable experience for devotees. Swami was looking fresh and full

of joy and as if He was perfectly alright.

 

Also it is learnt that tomorrow Swami has asked Asharamji to deliver

one more speech to devotees at Sai Kulwant Hall.

 

Sai Ram !

 

Source: http://www.kingdomofsai.org/modules.php?

name=News&file=article&sid=193

 

 

a sai devotee

 

Wed, 15 Sep 2004 21:30:53 -0700 (PDT)

 

Here are details of Asharamji Bapu's visit to Prashanti Nilayam.

Can share it with others.

 

S S

 

15-09-2004

 

Monday and Tuesday were filled with calm and silence. Swami was

inside the interview room throughout the evening. On Monday it was a

group of devotees. On Tuesday, the famous saint speaker Sri Asharam

Bapu from Gujarat visited Parthi. Swami took him inside for an

interview that went on till Bhajan time.

 

On 15th evening again Swami gave an interview to Sant Asharam Bapu

and his team. It was about 5.45 p.m. and all of us were getting

ready for Bhajans. Then came the surprise. Prasanthinilayam is full

of surprises. When we are with Swami what appeals to us most is His

uncertainty! You never know what comes next. But I think it is this

very suspense that adds spice to our otherwise monotonous life!!

 

At 5.45 p.m. suddenly there was some commotion. Brother Nitin came

out onto the stage and arranged a white bucket type chair with a

cushion. We guessed correctly that Swami may ask Sant Asharam Bapu

to come and sit over there. Subsequently a mike was also arranged in

front of the chair. It was clear that Bhagawan wanted him to talk to

the students and devotees. Meanwhile the son of Sant Asharam Bapu

came forward and checked all the arrangements. Later Sant Asharam

Bapu himself came and stood near the chair waiting for Bhagawan.

 

A few minutes later Swami came out of the interview room. He sent

word for one student – a good Hindi speaker – Jagadish Chandra of

the II M.Sc.© class. Obviously we understood that Swami wanted him

to give a talk in Hindi. Bhagawan came onto the dais and proceeded

towards the sofa. He asked Asharam Bapu to sit down. But Asharam

Bapu waited for Swami to sit on the sofa and then sat down on his

chair. Swami asked the Vice-Chancellor to introduce the speakers.

There were two speakers preceding Asharam Bapu's talk. The first one

was Sri Sanjay Mahalingam, a research scholar in the School of

Business Management who spoke in English followed by Jagadish

Chandra in Hindi. Both of them spoke for about five minutes each –

mostly about Bhagawan's infinite Love.

 

After that Swami again asked the Vice-Chancellor to request the

guest to speak to the gathering. The mike was arranged in front of

the chair and Sant Asharam Bapu began his talk in Hindi as he

usually does. His voice was very soft. Swami signaled for the mike

to be adjusted properly. That was done. But still one had to strain

to hear his voice. Slowly it became more audible.

 

Sant Asharam Bapu was blissfully sharing his thoughts with all of

us. We could see him smiling and laughing to himself at times. Let

me share with you the highlights of his talk.

 

He started by reminding all of us how fortunate we were to be in the

presence of Baba. He said that whereas devotees from far off lands

come here to just have a glimpse of Baba we students keep having His

glimpses every now and then! How lucky we are.

 

He then moved on to explain about how Lord Krishna went to Mathura

and met the woman named Kubja who had a bent back. She was the woman

who carried perfumes for His Highness – King Kamsa. Lord Krishna

called her Sundari. She wondered whom Krishna was referring to. But

the Lord was referring to her only. For the Lord everything is

beautiful. He sees the inner beauty and not outer beauty!! Krishna

wishes to bless her. God, before giving His Blessings apparently

takes something from His devotee, something as a token, however

small it may be – possibly even a Namaskaar. In this case, Lord

Krishna asks her to give Him some perfume and then placing His foot

on her foot He pulls her chin straight up. With this her hump

vanishes and she becomes a normal woman!!

 

Thus Lord Krishna went among the Gopalas in Brindavan and gave them

so much joy. Students, He comes amidst all of you too and gives you

so much joy. You all know that!! India is such a great land. In the

ancient years Vasco-de-Gama came here and took away so many of our

riches. Indians gave away shiploads of gold and silver vessels.

Later even brass and copper treasures were given away. Today we are

in a situation that we are ready to give away even plastic items and

waste papers. But there is one thing that India can never lose,

which will always remain with us and that is the treasure of the

heart. This treasure of the heart is ever available with we Indians

for the whole world to receive!

 

The Mothers of India were so great! Take for example the mother of

Vinobha Bhave. She used to feed him with some chapatti and food but

whenever any classmate of Vinobha Bhave came to their house, she

would feed the classmate with hot hot chapattis. This would happen

always. Looking at this Vinobha Bhave asked her, "Mother, you say

that the same God exists in all. We must treat all in the same

manner. Then how is it that you give me cold, left over food but you

treat my classmates so well serving them hot and fresh chapattis."

To this, Vinobha's mother replied, "Child, what you say is true. I

see God in all and therefore I treat them so nicely. Your classmate

who has come to our house is our guest. I see God in him. Athiti

Devo Bhava. Therefore I treat him with so much respect. But for me,

you are my son. My motherly love for you attaches me to you and

hence I am unable to see God in you. The day I see God in you, I

will treat you also in the same way!" Such were the noble mothers of

Bharath.

 

Students, there is a very nice exercise that you all must practice.

Every morning when you get up, visualize Baba's hand in your hand.

Hold His hand tightly and pray, "Baba, Baba please let my whole day

go on very well with Your Grace. Baba Bless me." Try doing this and

see what happens throughout the day. Then at night, pray to Him and

beg pardon for whatever mistakes you make. Whatever good happens is

on account of His Grace and mistakes occur because of our Vasanas.

 

The greatest repentance for mistakes is not doing it again. Once you

commit a mistake and you want to repent for it truly, make sure that

you do not repeat the mistake again. This is the greatest

Prayschitartham.

 

Students one last message for you all. Whatever you do not want

others to do unto you, do not do that unto others. You do not want

others to hurt you or cause any suffering to you. Then you too

should not hurt others or cause suffering to others.

 

Sant Asharam Bapu ended his talk with Sahana Vavatu and Om Shanti

Shanti. He then looked towards Swami but Swami was closing His eyes.

Therefore, Sant Asharam Bapu called out to Bhagawan to bless us with

His Discourse. His plea could not be heard. Then he asked one of the

students sitting near Swami's chair to request Swami. The student

gathered courage and did so. Bhagawan smiled and nodded His

approval. The Vice-Chancellor went over to the podium and prayed to

Bhagawan to deliver His Divine Message.

 

It was 5.50 p.m. when Bhagawan stood up and took His position behind

the mike. What followed in the next twenty minutes was a flow of

Love and Wisdom. The main points in Bhagawan's Discourse were as

follows:

 

Nata Pamsi Na Theertanam ………

 

There are many noble souls who perform penance, study sacred texts,

perform Japa and Dhyana and go to pilgrim centers. But none of them

were able to attain the Lord without serving noble souls.

 

Today our students are very fortunate as they have had the

opportunity of Darshan and Sambhashan of such a noble man. There are

many Bharatiyas who could redeem their lives by the Darshan,

Sparshan and Sambhashan of great and holy men. He (Sant Asharam

Bapu) has come all the way from Gujarat and has shared his message

with the students. His message is very essential for the students.

He has a cool heart! In this Kali age when devotion and sincerity

are disappearing and atheism and perversion are becoming order of

the day, his teachings are very relevant and important.

 

However, merely by Darshan or Sparshan or Sambhashan, our needs

cannot be fructified, our desires cannot be fulfilled. All the three

put together can pacify our hearts.

 

There are nine paths of devotion laid down for mankind. Sravanam,

Keertanam, Vishnu Smaranam, Pada Sevanam, Vandanam, Archanam,

Daasyam, Sneham and Atma Nivedanam.

 

Modern generation students are highly intelligent. If they use this

intelligence properly, they can redeem their lives. For this life,

spirituality is most important. However, today students take to the

wrong path and indulge in unnecessary arguments.

 

Divine Grace flows only through true Love. Love is God's gift to

mankind and is the royal pathway to reach God! Students should have

faith to tread on this royal roadway and get liberated. Students,

bookish knowledge alone is not enough. It gives only information. To

acquire Divine Grace, textual knowledge must be converted to

practical knowledge. Prema is very important. Man has achieved so

much through Love. He has been able to win over Mind and Nature

through Love. The mind can never be controlled through bad practices

and bad company. Love grows through spiritual practices. It never

diminishes. What I am referring to is not worldly love but spiritual

Love. Love God as your own Mother and Father. This Love is ever new

and spiritual.

 

Develop such Love from dawn to dusk. Consider everyone as yours. The

whole world can become One only by Love. Love is the only way!

 

Students, you all are struggling hard to acquire mere secular

knowledge. But all this is negative. What we need most, is positive!

Divine Love, Peace, Compassion, Forbearance, etc. are imminent in

us. We must foster them by constant practice. Love alone can

transform the mind of man. You all know the nature of mind. It is so

strong and powerful. However, it can be controlled or conditioned

through Love. Students, direct your Love towards the Divine. So many

direct their love towards information and mere secular knowledge.

Can they attain the Lord? God submits to Love alone, not to anything

else. There is no power higher than Love.

 

The world is full of worry. Birth, death, life, childhood, family

life, old age, difficult times, action,…. everything is full of

worry. All these worries can be done away with, by thinking of God.

Today we are not fostering this Love for God. You may acquire

secular knowledge but true education lies in acquiring that which is

eternal.

 

Many such elderly, mighty and powerful people have gone around the

world and spread the message of spirituality. All people should

follow their advice that is sourced from the Sastras and the

Upanishads. Their advice and words of wisdom should be taken as a

benchmark.

 

You may feel proud of your English language and your communication

skills, but all that is useless if there is no Love. Pride is

ruining man today. It is only Love that can take man to greater

heights. Keep this Love as your true goal. Love may appear to be

simple but there is no power greater than this Love!!

 

Bhagawan concluded His Divine Discourse with the Bhajan `Prema

Mudita Mana Se Kaho.' It was 6.10 p.m. Swami signaled for Bhajans.

Boys started singing Bhajans. The first one was `Eswara Allah Eka

Tumhi Ho….'. Sant Asharam Bapu was enjoying the Bhajans and he too

was singing. Looking at him seated beside Bhagawan, we felt a

strange experience. The Lord Himself and His powerful instrument

next to Him. Sant Asharam Bapu was smiling and was having a Blissful

face and next to him was the very source of this Bliss!! It indeed

was a very lucky day for all of us.

 

We always have Bhagawan – the Ultimate with us, but when we see His

message being practiced and preached by one among us, it makes us

feel very nice and pumps us with hope that we too can rise to higher

levels!

 

Prasadam was distributed to all. Bhagawan got up and moved towards

the Golf Cart and as He went along, He enquired Asharam Bapu about

his return journey. Swami got into the golf cart and glided away

towards the Poornachandra Hall. The sun set on yet another holy day

at the Temple of Peace.

 

Sairam

 

Source: http://guru-charitra.tripod.com/asaramji/asaramji-bapu.htm

 

 

Photographs - Divine Darshan on September 15, 2004

http://www.sssbpt.org/Pages/Prasanthi_Nilayam/Discourse_Photos.htm

 

http://www.saibaba.ws/reports/2004/asharambabu.htm