November 30th - Inauguration of SSSBPT Annexe

[Guest guest]

The morning dawned with a lot of hectic activity for the members of the Sri Sathya Sai Book trust as Swami had promised to inaugurate their new e-commerce cum storage building.. The building stood in all its majesty and grandeur just by the Supermarket stores area and it was now being readied and bedecked for the grand beginning of its life of service to the Lord. And as everything stood ready by 8:30 awaiting the arrival of Swami, the Yajur Mandir area seemed too peaceful to show any indications of Swami coming out.

 

It was about 9:25am when Swami came out of the Yajur mandir and proceeded for darshan in the chair itself. As He moved down the gentle slope through the ladies side, eager heads popped up and hands holding letters stretched out in thrilled anticipation. Swami collected letters and also spoke to a few ladies. In fact, right in the beginning, a couple of ladies got up to show Swami a newborn babe! Swami sweetly looked at the baby and blessed it.

 

Moving through the gents side which was a little empty, because of the natural lull after a heavy season, Swami collected a lot of letters. There might be a lull in terms of quantity of people but with Swami there is never a lull in the intensity with which the people long and crave for Him.

 

Gently gliding through the students' area, He blessed all the students holding trays. Many made good of the opportunity to touch His tender lotus feet and He seemed to be in a gracefully obliging mood for that today. Bhajans were on and Swami moved into the interview room granting a couple of interviews. After that, He moved into the bhajan hall where He sat for about 2-3 bhajans. Then, receiving Aarthi, Swami left for Yajur Mandir. He was moving in the car via the ladies side when something interesting happened near the big gate that leads from Kulwant hall to Yajur Mandir..

 

A little boy with both his legs fractured had been brought by his mother in a wheelchair and he was seated praying to Swami. Seeing him, Swami lowered the window glass and enquired about him. Later, much to the delight of everyone around, the car door opened! Swami asked for the child to be brought near and then slowly patted the legs in the cast! It was such a humbling sight - an answer to the mythical question that emperor Akbar once asked of his favourite minister Birbal, "Why does God descend himself to save mankind? Cannot He send any of His many attendants?" - God's love knows no reason and season; it siply gives without a second thought. As Swami gently touched the toes of the child and the cast too, He alone knows all the transformations and healing going on through that transmuting touch.

 

Swami then reached the Yajur Mandir entrance where the convenor of the Books and Publications Trust offered his salutations and pleaded with Him to grace the new e-commerce cum storage building with the touch of His lotus feet. Swami's word is the greatest bond in the Universe. once He says it, it is as good as done.

 

Swami had promised earlier and He said that in a few minutes He would be arriving at the building to inaugurate it. The good news travelled fast and far and soon devotees were headed towards today's "special" building. Meanwhile, it was the final day for the security gaurds who change once every month. At the end of this great month long opportunity, they too cluster around Swami to bid goodbye. The problem of bidding goodbye to God/Love is that though we may leave Him physically, we keep carrying Him in our hearts! And that ensures that a goodbye is actually never a goodbye! Swami lovingly posed for photos with them and blessed them.

 

Soon, Swami too was at the special "Annexe" building as it was named on the commemorative stone slab. As He got out of the car, He depressed a switch that parted the curtains in front of the slab to reveal the purpose and nature of the building. Then as the heads of the various departments of the Trust and the convenor welsomed Swami, the Vedic chanting with the Poornakumbham and the welcome song filled the air. Swami cut the ribbon to mark the formal opening of the building and also lit the lamp sending out a profound message of what He expected the "building" as a physical entity to achieve - lighting up lives and giving more people the joy of participating in His mission of Love.

 

Quickly He moved through some of the rooms in the building. Roses galore were offered to Him and He smilingly accepted all of them.. He was taken through the storage area where huge racks stood empty. Surely these will be full and brimming very soon for thats how it always is with Swami - He enters into lives when they are empty and once He does it fullness automatically enters too!

 

Swami went via the lift to the first floor where there was a nice little balcony. Swami came into the balcony and had a look at the view from there. Soon after that, Swami descended, blessing all the people who had gathered along the way. Coming out of the building, He seemed to have another look at the stone slab. As He slowly entered the car, "kala jamuns"- the prasadam- were brought to Him for blessings. He blessed them and then, receiving Aarthi, Swami left for HIs residence.

 

Om Sai Ram