Special Issue - Sri Sathya Sai Books & Publication Trust

Special IssueHumanitarian WorkofBhagavan Sri Sathya Sai BabaNOVEMBER 2005

EXPERIENCING DIVINE GLORYEDITORIALMAN has been trying to fathom the mystery of the universe and itscreation since the dawn of human history. The Vedas, which are themost ancient texts of the world, also dwell on this subject in depth.According to the Vedas, the universe is as perfect and full as its Creator. Thefundamental truth of the wholeness and fullness of the universe is stated in thefollowing verse of “Isavasyopanishad”:Purnamada Purnamidam Purnat Purnamudachyate,Purnasya Purnamadaya Purnameva Avashishyate.(That is full; this is also full. From the perfect fullness of Brahman came theperfect fullness of this universe, leaving perfect fullness as the remainder.)Governed as it is by divine cosmic laws, the functioning of the universe isalso absolutely perfect. It maintains perfect wholeness at the cosmic level ashuman organism demonstrates it at the microscopic level. Just as anymalfunctioning in one part of the body evokes automatic reaction from the wholebody, similarly, any disturbance in any part of the universe affects the whole ofit and gives rise to spontaneous reaction. The consciousness that is immanentin man permeates the entire universe also. Individual consciousness of man istherefore closely linked with cosmic consciousness. When colossal changesoccur in the total consciousness of mankind on earth, there occur drastic changesin the universe which tries to restore the harmony and equilibrium affected bythese changes. Thus, the cosmic law which operates in the universe comesinto action to correct the errors committed by the individuals constituting thecosmos. To save the world from chaos and destruction, divine forces interveneat such junctures. Saints, sages and seers are born on earth to bring aboutcorrection in the consciousness of man and avert massive disasters. However,at certain critical periods of human history, God Himself incarnates on earth inhuman form. In the vocabulary of Indian spirituality, these incarnations are calledAvatars. They operate on much larger scale than the saints and sages, annihilatethe evil forces, protect the righteous and re-establish Dharma on firm footing inthe heart of man as Dwapar Yuga Avatar, Lord Krishna declares in theBhagavadgita:Paritranaya Sadhunam Vinashayacha Dushkritam,Dharma Samsthapanarthaya Sambhavami Yuge Yuge.(To protect the righteous people and to destroy the wicked ones, I incarnatefrom Age to Age to establish Dharma.)Avatars promote goodness and human values and bring about large-scaletransformation in the consciousness of man so as to restore Dharma to itspristine glory. The word Dharma here does not refer to a particular religion as itNovember 2005 316

is understood in the present sense of the term. It is the eternal religion of man and so it iscalled Sanathana Dharma. Sanathana Dharma has no founder unlike other religions of theworld which are based on the lives of their founders. It is rooted in the Vedas which areeternal and timeless. Explaining the divine origin of the Vedas, Bhagavan Sri Sathya SaiBaba says, “The Vedas have not emanated from any human individual. They are, in fact,words and sounds that have been uttered by God”.Bhagavan has declared that He has incarnated on earth for Dharma Rakshana and VedaPoshana (protection of Dharma and fostering of the Vedas). Bhagavan has therefore beenpromoting the teaching of the Vedas and exhorting mankind to adhere to truth, love,righteousness and honesty in life which will certainly reinforce Sanathana Dharma, raise theconsciousness of man and restore balance, harmony and equilibrium of the universe. SanathanaDharma is, in fact, the most precious gift to man by the Supreme Being who is called bydifferent names, like God, Allah, Bhagavan, Paramatma, Brahman or Ishwar by different peopleof the world. Bhagavan has incarnated to fulfil His Divine Mission of protection of Dharma andredemption of mankind. He has emphatically declared: “The calamity that has come uponmankind will be averted. A new Golden Age will recur. I shall not fail. It is not the nature ofAvatars to fail.” To further emphasise His point, Bhagavan has declared on numerous occasionsthat He has come with full glory of God to accomplish the mission He has undertaken. Toquote His words: “In My present Avatar, I have come armed with fullness of the power ofFormless God to correct mankind, raise human consciousness and put people on the path oftruth, righteousness, peace and love, leading to Divinity”. There are millions of people from allparts of the world who have witnessed the effulgence of Divine Glory embodied in the humanform of Bhagavan and have experienced the truth of His Divinity which He has been manifestingsince His childhood.80th year of the Advent of Bhagavan is a singularly significant occasion when we shouldreaffirm our faith in the teachings of Bhagavan and put them into practice in our lives, lest weshould lose the rare opportunity. Jesus said, “Knock, and it shall be opened unto to you”.Fortunately, we are living in an Age when God Himself is knocking at every door of humanheart and declaring emphatically: “During no previous age did man have this unique chance.No organisation of this nature was established, no conference of this character was held in thepresence of the Avatar and no opportunity was given then to derive Ananda (bliss) throughsuch close association, through conversation and singing together. Undoubtedly, you are allsingularly fortunate”. In earlier centuries, the cataract of disbelief did not allow a large populationto recognise the Divine Beings when they came in the forms of Jesus, Nanak, Mohammad,Rama, Krishna, Buddha and Zoroastra. Let’s not become one of those doubting Thomases.Let’s open the door of our heart when this rare opportunity is virtually knocking at our door.Every Avatar is unique and His way of teaching is also unique. One of the uniquenesses ofthis Avatar is that He keeps Himself engaged in the service of mankind constantly at all times.In fact, no Avatar or prophet has worked so tirelessly to do the greatest good of the greatestnumber of people as Bhagavan. He does not make any distinction between Seva (selfless317 November 2005

service) and Sadhana (spiritual practice). In fact, He considers selfless service as the greatestspiritual practice. He declares, “Hands that Serve are Holier than the Lips that Pray”. Explainingthe true meaning of Seva which makes a man deserving of God’s grace, Bhagavan says,“Though the service of humanity is holy, unless it is merged in the higher ideal of MadhavaSeva (service to God), realising the Lord immanent in everyone, adoring the Lord in this personand that, there is no profit at all. One should have full faith in the divinity of man, and serviceshould be offered in the uninterrupted contemplation of the Lord”.Bhagavan has given the essence of His supreme teachings in the axioms like, “ManavaSeva is Madhava Seva” (service to man is service to God), “Love All, Serve All”, “Help Ever,Hurt Never”. These are not mere words or empty slogans. He has put them into practice in Hisown life, and so He declares, “My Life is My Message”. Bhagavan is infusing these ideals in Hisstudents and devotees. At the same time, He is affording them the practical opportunities toput them into practice in their own lives. A doctor in His hospital sees Narayana (God) in hispatient and serves him in that spirit. A student going to villages for Grama Seva (village service)and offering Bhagavan’s Prasadam (offering of love) to villagers at their doorstep identifiesthem with God and offers the Prasadam to them with humility and love. So, any act of serviceto mankind is, in fact, an act of realising the unity of mankind, which leads man to purity anddivinity. Millions of Sai devotees engaged in service activities in all parts of the world attain thiselevating experience of expansion of their heart, elevation of their spirit and transformation oftheir consciousness. All this is happening at stupendously large scale through a global networkof Sai volunteers and devotees. Those who want, they can see this massive exercise in thetransformation of mankind happening before their eyes. No individual in human history hasdone this act of mass-scale transformation and redemption of mankind through selfless serviceas Bhagavan is doing.Bhagavan has provided succour to suffering masses as much by His Divine Love andimmortal teachings as by His humanitarian work which is incomparable both in its quality andmagnitude. The last eight decades of the life of Bhagavan are a saga of success of His DivineMission. Hundreds of millions in all parts of the world have benefited from the humanitarianwork of Bhagavan. This issue of “Sanathana Sarathi” is a humble attempt to provide a glimpseof this stupendous work done by Bhagavan and Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisations in Bharatand overseas countries. May we all experience the Divine Glory of Bhagavan in its fullness!– EditorNovember 2005 318

Avatar Vani Dasara Discourses 2005HOLD ON TO THE PRINCIPLEOF ONENESS OF GODIf you keep chatting all through the day without doing any work,Do you think this is Sadhana?If you fill your belly thrice a day,Do you think this is Sadhana?If you spend the day in inactivity and the night in deep sleep,Do you think this is Sadhana?Is this for which God has created you?You while away all your time in this kind of routine,But this is not Sadhana.Do not waste your time in this manner.From this very moment, strive to know God.This alone is Sadhana.(Telugu Poem)Embodiments of Love!AIR IS PRESENT AT ALL PLACES INthe world. It is above, below and allaround us. The ancients called it aform of God. God is present everywhere.Though God is omnipresent, He cannot beseen. Only human beings can realise theCosmic Person by constant contemplation. Infact, human life is the manifestation of divinepower.Attain Purity of HeartDivinity is immanent in every living being.The same Atma Tattwa (principle of Atma) ispresent not only in human beings, but inevery living being in the world. But one has tohave a pure and peaceful heart in order torealise this truth. Our ancients thereforecounselled that one should contemplateon God at least twice a day, in themorning and in the evening. By doing so, theheart will become pure and peaceful. Themoment you attain the state of total purity, Godwill surely manifest before you. This shouldbe your Sadhana (spiritual practice). It is notthe practice of Dhyana (meditation) alone thatcan make God manifest before you. God ispresent as an indweller uniformly in humanbeings as well as in insects, birds and beasts.Suppose you ask, “Where is God?” thespontaneous answer would be that God ispresent in you. Many people undertakespiritual practices like Dhyana to find answersto such questions.Sage Narada affirmed that God could berealised through the nine forms of devotion,namely, Sravanam (listening), Kirtanam(singing), Vishnusmaranam(contemplating on Vishnu),Padasevanam (serving His LotusNovember 2005 319

Feet), Vandanam (salutation), Archanam(worship), Dasyam (servitude), Sneham(friendship), Atmanivedanam (self-surrender).God incarnates on earth in different forms like Rama,Krishna, etc. Some aspirants observe differencesbetween various forms of God. Since they try toidentify God with a particular form, they entertainfeelings of difference. By doing so, they makethemselves distant from God and remain at the level ofJivas (bound souls) only. All such differences exist inthe individuals only. God is only one. In fact, He is notdifferent from you. He is in you. You are verily God!VIt is therefore necessary for man to rememberGod and think of Him at all times to experienceHim.There is no one in thisworld in whose heart God doesnot dwell. Does it requiremeditation to visualise such anall-pervading and omnipresentGod? There are many whoteach different techniques ofmeditation today. However,meditation is meant merely toacquire purity of heart. Manundertakes many spiritualpractices to attain purity ofheart. Without attaining thispurity, God cannot be realised.Hence, one has to strive toattain purity of heart. NoSadhana would help in realisingGod if one is devoid of purity ofheart. Some people think thatGod gave Darshan to such andsuch person. But the truth isGod never gives Darshan topeople who have no purity ofheart. Hence, if you wish to haveGod’s Darshan, you mustdevelop purity of heart. All kindsof spiritual practices are meantonly to attain purity. Prayer toGod is one of the most powerfulspiritual practices to attainpurity of heart. When you cleanutensils repeatedly, they shinewith added brilliance. Similarly,repeated prayer makes yourheart shine with the brillianceof purity. The moment youattain purity, the omnipresentGod will manifest right in front320 November 2005

of you. See God everywhere. Sitting inmeditation is not enough. Unfortunately, in theworld today, there is a dearth of Gurus(preceptors) who can lead the seeker on thepath of purity.People listen to others and read booksabout several kinds of meditation and startSadhana that catches their imagination orkindles their interest. In fact, one does notneed to undertake any complex system ofmeditation. One can undertake the simpleSadhana of constant contemplation on theomnipresent God. Few teach such simplemethods nowadays. Purity of heart is,however, of utmost importance if you want toprogress on the path of God realisation.Divinity is Immanent in allEmbodiments of Love!You refer to a certain individual and saythat he is your father. But he is, in reality, thesame Atma Tattwa that is present in all humanbeings. You marry a girl and refer to her asyour wife. But she is, in fact, the embodimentof the divine Atma. Similarly, you caress a childaffectionately, calling him as your son. But heis not your son in reality; he is the embodimentof divinity. Thus, all relationships in this worldare Atmic relationships only. Truly speaking,real Atma Sakshatkara (self-realisation) ismerging of Jiva (individual self) with Brahman(Supreme Self). Whatever you see around isnothing but the manifestation of divinity. Howcan there be human beings without suchomnipresent divinity? Lord Krishna declaredthat He incarnates in every Age. He alsodeclared that He is immanent in all, but is notattached to anyone at worldly level. TheGopikas who were aware of this truthconstantly contemplated on Himchanting the Divine Name “KrishnaNovember 2005 321VGod is one. Develop firm faith in thisprinciple. Do not observe differencesbetween one form of God and another.Hold on to the principle of oneness ofGod. This oneness is the ultimate truth.Adhere to this supreme truth. Onlythen will you have the supremeexperience of the oneness of God. Ifyou are not able to develop faith in thisprinciple, do not make it a matter ofdispute and differences with others. Donot ever attribute duality to God. God isone, and only one. EkatwamSamajivatwam (oneness is thefundamental principle of life).VKrishna!” The very name Krishna brought theembodiment of Divinity before their eyes. TheGopikas were highly evolved souls who hadthe firm conviction that the same Atma Tattwawas present in every individual, nay, everyliving being. That is why they could visualiseKrishna in every individual and every objectof the world. All that we see in the objectiveworld is really the manifestation of Divinity invarious forms. People often get deluded onseeing these external forms. The universalAtma Tattwa is present in all of them. It is onlythe Gopikas who realised this supreme truthnaturally and spontaneously. They couldvisualise Krishna in all individuals and objects.We often refer to individuals as my son, mybrother, my father, my mother, my wife, etc.,keeping in view the worldly relationships. Butthe truth is that the same God ismanifesting through all thoseindividuals. Hence, one has to consider

every individual as the embodiment of divinity.The entire universe is permeated by BrahmaTattwa (principle of Divinity). All the names andforms attributed to the Atma Tattwa are of ourown making.Man is the Reflection of DivinityRamakrishna Paramahamsa used toworship Mother Kali in many ways. One day,the Divine Mother appeared before him andsaid, “Ramakrishna! You are getting mad dayby day. Why do you confine Me to this formand that form? Do not go by the forms. SeeAtma Tattwa immanent in all of them. If youwant to experience divinity, visualise all as themanifestations of divinity. Whomsoever youcome across consider him as the embodimentof divinity. One may be a farmer, another maybe a businessman, but these are merely thenames of their professions. The Atma Tattwapresent in them is the same. God is formlessand attributeless. This attributeless andformless Divinity is present in every humanbeing.” All human beings are, in fact, thereflections of omnipresent Divinity. Hence,consider every human being as Divine andworthy of highest respect. Though God isomnipresent, He assumes a particular formand serves human beings in many ways. Rightfrom now onwards, realise this truth like theGopikas that God is present in every being.When you develop such an attitude, you cansee God anywhere and everywhere.Radha had a sister named Chandrika. OnceRadha told Chandrika, “You are not my sister.You are my Krishna. Krishna has assumedyour form.” In fact her devotion to Krishna wasso deep that she saw Krishna in the form ofChandrika. She was not deluded byworldly relationships as she attainedthe realisation of the omnipresence ofKrishna. She considered all names and formsas the reflections of Krishna only. This truthwas experienced by other Gopikas also. Weshould also adopt the path of the Gopikas toreach God. Like them, we should try toexperience the all-pervasiveness of theCosmic Person. We should perform allspiritual practices to please God, becausewhen God is pleased, all are pleased.People go to Mathura and Dwaraka, theplaces sanctified by Krishna’s presence. Yousee how people are still worshipping Him asGod though He dwelt there in human form longago in Dwapar Yuga. We should neverconsider God as human, even though He mayhave assumed human form. Those whoconsider God as any other individual can neverrealise divinity. In fact, there is no individual inthe world; all are the embodiments of divinity.I often reiterate that I am God. But I alsoremind you that you are also God. You shouldnot give scope for any confusion anddifference of opinion in this regard. You areall the children of God. Every one of you is theembodiment of divinity in reality. When youdevelop such a firm conviction, you canvisualise God. All depends on your thinking.Yad Bhavam Tad Bhavati (as is the feeling, sois the result). If you think you are God, thenyou become God.Experience the Bliss of OnenessSince we do not understand the real natureof divinity, we refer to certain individuals asfather, mother, uncle, etc., keeping in viewtheir physical forms and their relationship withus. If people are so deluded on the basis ofphysical relationships, they are bound to getconfused about the real nature of divinity.Revealing His Divinity, Lord Krishnadeclared that He is Parabrahman(Transcendental Divinity); there is322 November 2005

none other than Him in the entire universe.The same truth is contained in the declarationEkam Sath Viprah Bahudha Vadanti (truth isone, but the wise refer to it by various names).For example, the number 1 is only 1. Whenyou add three numbers to it, it becomes 4.Thus, we go on adding numbers to 1 and arriveat different numbers. However, the firstnumber remains the same, namely, 1. So, 1is the reality. This is what the profounddeclaration, Ekoham Bahusyam (theOne willed to become many) states.People often use two terms,Deva (Supreme Self) and Jiva(individual self). In fact, there is noJiva at all! All are the embodimentsof divinity only. Since people are notable to realise the immortal natureof the Atma residing in the physicalbody, they use the term death for thedisintegration of their body. Atma hasno death at all! It is immortal. Thosewho realise this truth, merge inGod. For those who cannot realisethe truth, Jiva remains as Jiva andDeva as Deva. The feeling of dualitypersists in them. What is theunderlying meaning of the Vedicdeclaration, Ekameva AdviteeyamBrahma (God is one without asecond)? Since there is no entityother than Brahman in this universe,it is declared thus. The Upanishadsexplain our true nature inMahavakya (profound statement)Tattwamasi (That Thou Art).In another Mahavakya, they declarePrajnanam Brahma (Brahman isSupreme Consciousness). To whomdoes this refer? It refers to God only.Thus, all the Vedas and theNovember 2005 323Upanishads proclaim the non-duality of Jivaand Deva. But people do not make any effortto realise this truth; they think God is separatefrom them.God incarnates on earth in different formslike Rama, Krishna, etc. Some aspirantsobserve differences between various forms ofGod. Since they try to identify God with aparticular form, they entertain feelings ofdifference. By doing so, they make themselvesAll human beings are, in fact, the reflectionsof omnipresent Divinity. Hence, considerevery human being as Divine and worthy ofhighest respect. Though God is omnipresent,He assumes a particular form and serveshuman beings in many ways. Right from nowonwards, realise this truth like the Gopikasthat God is present in every being. When youdevelop such an attitude, you can see Godanywhere and everywhere.V

distant from God and remain at the level ofJivas (bound souls) only. All such differencesexist in the individuals only. God is only one.In fact, He is not different from you. He is inyou. You are verily God! If it is not so, whyshould the Vedas declare Tattwamasi? Youshould develop the firm conviction that Godand you are only one. When you attain such afirm conviction, you become one with God andexperience the bliss of oneness within you. Thisoneness is most essential. So, develop intenseyearning for oneness in your heart. This willenable you to experience your oneness withGod. With number 1, you can make anynumber. Zero has no value, but when it isassociated with 1, it gets value. This 1 is thehero. It is God. When you develop yearningfor God, you will never have duality. Forexample, you keep a number of photos of SaiBaba in your Puja room. But in all the photos,you will find that the same God isphotographed in different poses. When yourealise the underlying unity of divinity, therewill be no room for any confusion. Only thenwill you be able to realise the truth. WhateverI speak is the supreme truth (loud applause).Since you are not aware of this truth, you areunable to develop faith in it. This truth ofoneness of God is propounded in all thescriptures. Develop faith in this truth. Do notget confused by those who doubt this truth.When you develop firm faith in the oneness ofGod, you will be able to realise the truth. Onewho is able to realise this truth will have nodoubt. Therefore, make every effort to knowthe truth. Do not criticise anyone. Do not useharsh words against others. Praise and blameare of your own making; they are the creationof your mind. Do not consider anyone asyour enemy. One who is your opponenttoday may become your friendtomorrow. Do not consider anyone separatefrom you. All are friends.Embodiments of Love!You are worshipping God and praying toHim with great love. Continue to love God anddevelop faith in Him. Then all your doubts willbe cleared and you will be able to understandthe nature of divinity in full. Never entertaindoubts. Doubts imply duality, that is, the feelingof separation from God. In fact, God and youare one, not two. Everything is “I”, “I”, “I”. Holdon to the truth Ekameva Adviteeyam Brahma.For example, how many hours does the clockshow? Twelve hours. But in reality there is notwelve. When the hour’s hand crosses twelveit again moves to one. Similarly, there isnothing that can be called second; everythingis one. Develop firm faith in the principle ofunity.God is one. Develop firm faith in thisprinciple. Do not observe differences betweenone form of God and another. Hold on to theprinciple of oneness of God. This oneness isthe ultimate truth. Adhere to this supremetruth. Only then will you have the supremeexperience of the oneness of God. If you arenot able to develop faith in this principle, donot make it a matter of dispute and differenceswith others. Do not ever attribute duality toGod. God is one, and only one. EkatwamSamajivatwam (oneness is the fundamentalprinciple of life). Therefore, develop firm faithin the oneness of God.There is Bliss in Unity and Harmony(Holding a bunch of flowers in front of theaudience, Bhagavan enquired): What is this?It is a bunch of flowers. There are a numberof flowers strung together with the helpof a thread, with the result that it hasContinued on page 353 ...324 November 2005

GRAND DASARA CELEBRATIONSWORSHIP OF DEVI (DIVINEMother) during Navaratri (ninesacred nights) in the form ofDurga (embodiment of energy), Saraswati(embodiment of wisdom) and Lakshmi(embodiment of spiritual wealth) is one of themost important celebrations of PrasanthiNilayam. Performance of Veda PurushaSapthaha Jnana Yajna during this periodadds immense spiritual significance to thecelebrations. The culmination of the nine-daylongworship of Devi comes on Vijaya Dasami,the day on which Poornahuti (final oblations)is also offered at the completion of the sevenday-longYajna. Another important feature ofthe celebrations is Grama Seva, a Yajna ofservice to mankind which is performed duringthis period. Soul-uplifting Vedic chants, studyof sacred scriptures, talks of eruditescholars on spiritual subjectsand above all DivineDiscourses of Bhagavan fillthe entire milieu with divinevibrations. Dasara wascelebrated in this sacredmanner at Prasanthi Nilayamduring this year also.Veda Purusha SapthahaJnana YajnaOn the morning of 4thOctober 2005, Veda PurushaBhagavan Sri Sathya SaiBaba came to Bhajan Mandirof Sai Kulwant Hall andblessed the sacred Kalashafor commencing worship ofDevi for the next nine days.Mandir priest started the Puja after theblessings of Bhagavan. On the morning of 6thOctober, the Kalasha was taken from theBhajan Mandir to Poornachandra Auditoriumin a grand possession of Veda chanting Ritwiks(priests) who were led by richly bedeckedSai Geeta and Nadaswaram musicians. Vedachanting Institute students formed the rear ofthis procession. All the devotees andstudents thereafter flocked to PoornachandraAuditorium to witness the grand spectacleof the commencement of the Veda PurushaSapthaha Jnana Yajna.As soon as Bhagavan was seated on theYajnashala, two priests started the process ofproducing sacred fire in the traditional way byrubbing one piece of wood over the other.Soon the fire was produced. Bhagavanblessed the sacred fire, after which it wasOblations being offered by the Ritwiks in the Yajna Kunda along withchanting of Vedic Mantras during the performance of Veda PurushaSapthaha Jnana Yajna in Poornachandra Auditorium.November 2005 325November 2005 315

placed in the Yajna Kunda. Soon after that,the priests started offering oblations in theYajna Kunda along with chanting of VedicMantras. Another group of priests startedchanting Krishna Yajur Veda. Veda studentssitting on the rear of the Yajnashala alsostarted Veda chanting while three elders ontheir right started Parayanam (devout study)of the sacred texts such as the Ramayana,Bhagavata and Devi Bhagavata. Anothergroup of students also started the Parayanamof Devi Mahatmya. Simultaneously, chiefpriest and his wife started the worship ofDevi, while another priest commencedSahasralingarchana and another theParayanam of Durga Sapthashati. Besides,one priest started the performance of SuryaNamaskar (worship of sun god). Thus, thewhole atmosphere was filled with the sacredsound of Vedic Mantras and other scaredchants. The Yajna which started at 8.30 a.m.continued till 9.30 a.m., when Arati was offeredto Bhagavan. Bhagavan then showered Hisblessings on all the priests. Starting from 6thOctober 2005, the performance of the Yajnaand Parayanam of sacred texts continued forseven days.On Vijaya Dasami, 12th October 2005,Poornahuti was offered by Bhagavan in YajnaKunda to mark the completion of VedaPurusha Sapthaha Jnana Yajna. AfterPoornahuti, Tirtha (sacred Kalasha water)was sprinkled by Bhagavan on priests,students and devotees. In the end, Bhagavanblessed all the priests. One of the priests wasfortunate to receive a gold ring whichBhagavan materialised for him.Prasanthi Vidwan MahasabhaThe proceedings of the PrasanthiVidwan Mahasabha (assembly ofscholars) commenced on theafternoon of 6th October 2005 with theintroductory speech of Sri Sanjay Sahni,Principal, Brindavan Campus of Sri Sathya SaiInstitute of Higher Learning, who introducedthe speakers blessed by Bhagavan to sharetheir views with the devotees.First Session: Sri Anil Vinayak Gokak, ViceChancellor of the Institute was the firstspeaker. Sri Gokak dwelt on the importanceof Navaratri and explained the inner meaningof Devi worship. He lucidly dwelt on how wecould attain victory over our mundane desiresand inculcate virtues and knowledge of God.Thereafter, Dr. Deepak Anand, a facultymember of the Prasanthi Nilayam Campusof the Institute, shared his views with thedevotees. Dr. Anand observed that our lifeitself could become a Yajna when the fire ofpure love was lit in our hearts. Sharing someof his personal experiences, he emphasisedthat Bhagavan was pleased with us when wemade our life a loving offering to Him. The lastspeaker of this day was Dr. T. Ravikumar, afaculty member of Brindavan Campus of theInstitute. Dr. Ravikumar narrated somepersonal incidents to explain how Bhagavangranted him opportunities to experience HisDivinity. After these speeches, Bhagavanshowered His blessings on the devotees anddeclared that he would make all of them happythe next day by His Divine Discourse.Bhagavan then sang the Bhajan “PremaMuditha Manase Kaho …”, which all thedevotees followed with great devotion. Theprogramme came to a close at 6.15 p.m. withArati to Bhagavan.Second Session: The second day’sproceedings of Prasanthi Vidwan Mahasabhacommenced with a talk of SriG.Srinivas Srirangarajan, a facultymember of the Prasanthi Nilayam326 November 2005

Campus of the Institute. Sri Srirangarajanquoted the Vedic axiom Advaita DarshanamJnanam and said that seeing unity in thediversity of the universe was the main principleof Sanathana Dharma. The second speakerof the afternoon was Sri Shashank Shah, anM.Phil student of the Institute. Sri Shahobserved that Bhagavan Himself is the DivineMother who in the form of Saraswati ispresiding over the Prasanthi VidwanMahasabha and in the form of Durga ispresiding over the Yajna and in the form ofLakshmi He is distributing food and clothes tothe needy people through Grama Seva. Afterthese two speeches, Bhagavan blessed thedevotees with His Divine Discourse. After abrief session of Bhajans, the programme cameto an end at 6.05 p.m. with Arati to Bhagavan.Third Session: Sri Sanjay Sahni, Principal,Brindavan Campus of the Institute was the firstspeaker of the third day’s proceedings ofPrasanthi Vidwan Mahasabha which startedon the afternoon of 8th October 2005.Stressing the need for purity for progress onthe path of spirituality, Sri Sahni observed thatpurity could lead an aspirant to imbibe SattwaGuna (quality of serenity), which was thestepping stone to Nirguna Brahman (formlessGod). The next speaker, Sri Karthik Ramesh,a first year MBA student of the Institute,referred to Swami as Divine Mother andobserved that godhood of mother andmotherhood of God go together. The thirdspeaker, Sri Sai Giridhar, a student of M.Sc.(chemistry), narrated the story of Nachiketaand remarked that we should take the path ofSreyas (goodness) in preference to Preyas(pleasure) to attain self-realisation as shownby Nachiketa. The last speaker of theprogramme was Sri Ajit Popat of the UKwho narrated a few incidents to showhow Bhagavan’s Divinity became manifestwhen devotees prayed with total devotion.After these speeches, Bhagavan showered Hisbenedictions on the devotees by giving HisDivine Discourse. After a brief session ofBhajans, the session came to an end at 7.00p.m. with Arati to Bhagavan.Fourth Session: Prof. V.E. Ramamoorthy, afaculty member of Prasanthi Nilayam Campusof the Institute was the first speaker of thefourth session held on 9th October 2005. Prof.Ramamoorthy gave an illustration from hispersonal life and narrated some incidents fromthe life of some devotees to tell how Bhagavangave him the experience that He isomnipresent, omniscient and omnipotent God.The second speaker Sri Sanjay Mahalingam,a research scholar of the Institute, said that itwas through self-effort of eradication ofvices and inculcation of virtues like Vairagya(detachment), Viveka (discrimination),Mumukshutwa (yearning for liberation) thatman could raise himself. This, he said, wasthe real meaning of worshipping Durga,Lakshmi and Saraswati. Thereafter, Bhagavanblessed the devotees with His DivineDiscourse (full text given elsewhere in thisissue). The programme came to a close withArati to Bhagavan at 6.50 p.m.Fifth Session: Fifth session of PrasanthiVidwan Mahasabha started on the afternoonof 10th October 2005 with the talk ofDr. Rajeshwari Patel, a faculty member ofAnantapur Campus of the Institute. Thespeaker quoted the words of Bhagavan andsaid that Namasmarana (reciting the Name ofthe Lord) was like a lamp placed on thethreshold of the house which illuminated bothits inside and outside parts. Similarly,constant repetition of the Divine Namewould illuminate our path in the worldNovember 2005 327

and also our inner being, she added. Thesecond speaker, Kumari Dipali Verma, astudent of Anantapur Campus, referred toBhagavan as the most compassionate andloving Divine Mother who had guided her atevery step of her life since she came toBhagavan with her father when she was just achild. In the end, Bhagavan blessed thedevotees with yet another Divine Discourse inwhich He declared that there would be unityin the world and all the differences woulddisappear. Bhagavan exhorted the devoteesnot to give up the Name of Rama in anycircumstances. He brought His DivineDiscourse to a close with the Bhajan, “RamaRama Rama Sita ...” The proceedingsconcluded with Arati to Bhagavan at 6.30 p.m.Campus of the Institute. Referring toBhagavan as Divine Mother, the learnedspeaker narrated how Bhagavan showeredHis love and compassion on him when hesuffered from backache in the year 2000.Bhagavan, he said, had incarnated for theredemption of mankind but man should haveyearning for it. At the end of these talks,Bhagavan delighted one and all by blessingthem with His Divine Discourse. The sessioncame to a close with Arati to Bhagavan at6.45 p.m.Seventh Session: The first speaker of the lastsession of Prasanthi Vidwan Mahasabha on12th October 2005 was Sri Ruchir Desai, afaculty member of Brindavan Campus of theInstitute. Comparing Bhagavan with anSixth Session: Three learned speakersaffectionate mother who felt happy anddeliberated on the spiritual topics in thesatisfied when feeding and helping hersixth session of Prasanthi Vidwan Mahasabha.children, Sri Ruchir Desai narrated an incidentThe first speaker was Dr. G. Venkataraman,of Narayana Seva in Kodaikanal when afterformer Vice Chancellor of the Institute. Theperforming Narayana Seva in Sai Sruti,learned speaker described the glory ofBhagavan went out to distribute clothes andBhagavan’s omnipotence and omnipresenceblankets to the needy. He exhorted all to followthrough a few incidents. Referring to anthe example of Bhagavan who has beenincident of Bhagavan’s presence at two placesmaking millions of His children happy day inexperienced by a devotee, Dr. Venkataramanand day out all His life by His various acts ofquoted the words of Bhagavan’s reply and saidgiving. The second speaker was Dr. M.that the Creator of the universe can manifestSainath, a faculty member of Prasanthi Nilayamin every part of it. The second speaker wasCampus. Dr. Sainath observed that man wasSri S.V. Giri, former Vice Chancellor of thethe maker of his own heaven and his own hell.Institute. Sri Giri referred to a Discourse ofQuoting a Sloka (verse) of the Bhagavadgita,Bhagavan and explained the meaning ofDr. Sainath said that a man who imbibededucare which helped a student to manifestvirtues like desirelessness, purity, efficiency,his innate divinity. Dwelling on the importancedetachment and renounced the feeling ofof controlling the senses and the mind fordoership in all his undertakings achievedspiritual progress, the learned speakersuccess here and hereafter. Giving symbolicobserved that man should receive illuminationmeaning of the divine pranks of stealing offrom the light of the soul. The last speakerbutter by Lord Krishna, the last speaker,of this session was Sri B.N. NarasimhaMurthy, Warden of the Brindavan Continued on page 330 ...328 November 2005

SRI SATHYA SAI GRAMA SEVA 2005THE LIFE OF BHAGAVAN SRISathya Sai Baba is a saga of divinelove and selfless service to mankind.It is therefore most appropriate to say that 80years of His Advent are, in fact, “80 Years ofLove in Action”. Grama Seva is one of theshining examples of His love in action. It alsoaffords a practical opportunity to His studentsand staff to see God in man and attain theexperience of unity and divinity through selflessservice by offering Bhagavan’s Prasadam withlove and humility to villagers at their doorstep.This year also, Grama Seva was performedwith the same spirit of love and selflessnesslike previous years. From the 4th to 12th ofOctober 2005, thousands of students of SriSathya Sai Higher Secondary School,Prasanthi Nilayam and the students of thethree campuses of Sri Sathya SaiInstitute of Higher Learning fannedNovember 2005 329out to 145 villages, carrying the love ofBhagavan in the form of food, sweets andclothes to every household. Nearly 47,000households with a population of over 2.7 lakhwas thus served in the three Mandals ofPuttaparthi, Kothacheruvu and Bukkapatnam.On 4th October 2005, Bhagavan came toSai Kulwant Hall at 7.40 a.m. and blessed thePrasadam for distribution to villagers.Thereafter, Veda chanting and Bhajan singinggroups of students and staff circumambulatedthe Bhajan Mandir, received Bhagavan’sblessings and departed from the Hall on theirnoble mission of Grama Seva. A group of 15youth from the U.K. was also blessed byBhagavan to participate in Grama Seva. It isappreciable that all of them came all the wayfrom the U.K. specially to take part inGrama Seva with the blessings ofBhagavan. It was a heartening sightNovember 2005 315

to see the enthusiastic students, bearing alldifficulties with a smile. Travelling in fiftyspecially arranged vehicles and chantingfrom the Vedas and singing Bhajans all theway to the villages, they made the atmospheresaturated with sacredness and serenity.Bhagavan Baba had blessed all thoseparticipating in this sacred Yajna with specialdress including caps and T-shirts and it was agreat sight to see them serving with utterhumility with folded hands and “Sai Ram” ontheir lips. Later, it was experienced by themthat on no day did they encounter shortage ofany kind during the distribution process, eventhough, depending upon the rain and otherconditions, the population of villages wassubject to a quick change. Even those livingunder trees were not left out and were servedBhagavan’s Prasadam. On the last day, i.e.,12th October 2005, the students and staff ofAnantapur Campus distributed Prasadam to... Continued from page 328Sri Jagdish Chandra, a student of M.Phil.programme of the Institute, said, “When Godenters our life, He breaks the pot of our ego,tramples over it and then leaves His footprintsfor us to follow Him.” Bhagavan, he said, wasshowing the path of redemption to mankind ina similar way. The proceedings of PrasanthiVidwan Mahasabha came to a close with thistalk.Bhakta Surdas: A DramaAt the end of the deliberations ofPrasanthi Vidwan Mahasabha, the drama“Bhakta Surdas”was presented by thestudents of the Brindavan Campus of theInstitute on the evening of 12th October 2005,the sacred day of Vijaya Dasami. Embellishedwith soul-uplifting lyrics of this great poetsaint of India, the drama picturised themain events of his life. Lively acting ofthe residents of Prasanthi Nilayam. It shouldbe mentioned here that the students ofAnantapur Women’s College played acommendable role in preparing and packagingPrasadam overnight that made the distributionpossible, so that the villagers received freshlyprepared Pulihora (spiced rice) and Laddusbefore their lunch time the next day.Grama Seva performed by Bhagavan’sstudents and staff each year is an example toshow to the world that if one truly loves God,one has to be sensitive to the needs of God inman and serve Him in the weak, the forlorn,the poor and the sick. Though the spirit of workis of utmost importance, through the exampleof Grama Seva Bhagavan is also conveyingthe important message that service should beimbued with an intelligent thought process andmeticulous planning so that maximum benefitcan be derived by the recipients from theresources utilised.A scene from the drama “Bhakta Surdas”.(Inset) Exquisitely carved Krishna temple.the students, sweet music and magnificent setsmade it a superb presentation, and a grandfinale of Dasara celebrations at PrasanthiNilayam which concluded with Arati toBhagavan at 6.25 p.m.330 November 2005

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Dr. A.N. SafayaDESIRE TO HAVE KNOWLEDGEabout the Divine and itsmanifestations including thephenomenon of life in the living has been inthe human mind since the beginning of humanintellectual evolution. Along side it, there hasbeen the urge for the practice of the art ofhealing the afflictions and injuries of the humanform. The two have been together sinceeternity. The Vedas, which present the mostancient documentation on spirituality, amplyexemplify the togetherness of thoughts onDivinity and the art of healing.The Principles of ArogyaIt is therefore but natural that BhagavanBaba emphasised the importance of humanbody and mind remaining in a state of goodprevention of bad health and avoidingunhealthy personal hygiene and unhealthylifestyle. Every now and then, Bhagavan keepson laying stress on the observance of goodand healthy principles of personal hygiene,food, nutrition, and healthy lifestyle.Bhagavan advocates the golden principlesof Arogya (absence of ill health). Seva Dalvolunteers of Sri Sathya Sai Samithis all overthe country are spreading the awareness ofthese principles effectively and diligently.Under this programme of awareness, societyis going on a steady march, at grass root level,towards a state of positive health for itsmembers. This is how Sai Health Mission tookits first step towards Arogya with the messagethat it was the foremost duty of man to keephis body healthy.Sri Sathya Sai General Hospital, Prasanthi Nilayam.health to achieve the desired results when Heinitiated the Sai Seva Mission for the serviceof mankind. Advocating the importance of theawareness of Divinity and the practiceof the principles of spirituality,He emphasises the need for theSri Sathya Sai General Hospital, Whitefield, Bangalore.Sri Sathya Sai General HospitalsThe second step in the direction oftreatment of disease, once it had occurred,was the establishment of two SriSathya Sai General Hospitals, one at332 November 2005

Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences, Prasanthi Nilayam.Prasanthi Nilayam and other at Whitefield,Bangalore. These two general hospitals lookafter the patients of all general ailments,conduct tests, give treatment, drugs and dosurgical interventions completely free ofcharge. Nearly one crore patients have beenbenefited by the services of these two hospitalssince their inception years ago.Sri Sathya Sai Institute of HigherMedical Sciences, Prasanthi NilayamThe third step was to establish the twintowers of Sai Health Mission in the form of twoSri Sathya Sai Institutes of Higher MedicalSciences – one in Puttaparthi, Andhra Pradeshand the other at Whitefield, Karnataka.On the occasion of His Birthday on23rd November 1990, Bhagavan made amomentous declaration of establishing aSuper Speciality Hospital in Puttaparthi forhighly specialised treatment of diseases ofheart, kidney and eyes. As a consequenceof this Divine Sankalpa of Bhagavan,Institute of Higher Medical Sciences wasconceptualised, planned and built in a recordtime of six months. It was inaugurated by thethen Prime Minister of India, Sri P.V.Narasimha Rao on 22nd November 1991and started functioning fully from that day. Ithas never looked back. Established in anarchitecturally and aesthetically beautifulbuilding, which sits majestically in the centreof its sprawling lush green lawns, it lodgesthe specialities of cardiology, cardiothoracicsurgery, urology, ophthalmology,anaesthesiology, laboratory medicine, bloodbank, bio-medical and general engineeringservices. The staff working in thesedepartments is hand picked, well chosen withcare and dedicated to the service of ailingpatients. The equipment used in diagnosis andtreatment of the patients is the latest and stateof the art. All the parameters of functioning ofthe Super Speciality Hospital in all its branches333 November 2005

are highly satisfactory and of internationalstandard. It is highly popular, well renownedand well known all over the world, and isopen for treatment to all, irrespective of thedistinction of caste, creed, colour, religionor country. All the diagnostic investigations,laboratory tests and the treatment includingsurgery are done completely free of cost toone and all, rich and poor!Service with Love and HumilityAll this workload is shouldered by thehospital creditably and completely free ofcost to the enormous number of patients ithas served so far. All the treatment is givenby the dedicated staff of doctors, nurses andtechnicians to each and every patient withhumility and love, amidst spiritual environment,with the name of God on their lips. The hospitalmaintains very high standard of cleanliness,purity and discipline with the help of nearly 100Seva Dal volunteers working round the clock.Seva Dal volunteers are the dedicateddevotees of Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Babaand come by turn from every State of thecountry under a laid down scheduledprogramme. They dedicate their Seva at theDivine Feet of Bhagavan Baba and work inthe hospital in honorary capacity for variedintervals of time of few days to few weeks ormonths. This is an excellent example ofcommunity participation in the healthcareprogramme. Middle level management and thecare of the equipment including its preventivemaintenance is done by a group of TechnicalOfficers who are highly skilled graduates andpostgraduates from Sri Sathya Sai Institute ofHigher Learning, a deemed university. Theirdedication and diligence is responsible fornearly 100 per cent uptime of all theequipment of the Institute. ThisOperations done by the hospitalsince its inception till 31st July 2005.Institute of excellence has developed withintypical rural environment and has beenfunctioning in a purely rural setting since itsinception. Of course, now an airport and arailway station have come up in closeproximity, a great boon for the patients andtheir attendants. Patients of concernedspecialities come from all over the country andare examined fully. Urgent cases are givenprompt medical attention and those who canwait are put on waiting list and are called whentheir turn comes. Attendants of patients havea dormitory facility with a canteen attached.Sri Sathya Sai Institute of HigherMedical Sciences, WhitefieldBhagavan’s infinite love and compassionfor the suffering masses concretised in theestablishment of yet another Super SpecialityHospital at Whitefield, Bangalore. It is, in fact,a second Sri Sathya Sai Institute ofHigher Medical Sciences. The Institute wasinaugurated by the then Prime Minister ofIndia, Sri Atal Bihari Vajpayee on 19th January2001. It is functional since then. TheInstitute is situated in a fully developedurban-cum-industrial setting, in fact,November 2005 334

Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences, Whitefield, Bangalore.next door neighbour being the world famousInternational Technology Park. The palace-likearchitecture of the huge hospital building isbreathtakingly impressive. This white brilliantjewel of a building sits pretty in the emeraldgreen lawns surrounding it. It lodges thesuper specialities of cardiac sciences andneurosciences with all of their necessarysupport services. It has a bed strength of 333which is looked after by highly dedicated, wellqualified and experienced staff. Like theInstitute of Higher Medical Sciences atPrasanthi Nilayam, this Institute also givesinternational standard treatment to its patientsfor the diseases of heart and brain completelyfree of charge. Patients are served by the staff,doctors, nurses and technicians with love,understanding and sympathy in keeping withBhagavan’s principles of loving selflessservice.The hospital is equipped with latest, stateof-the-artequipment; some of the systems fordiagnosis and treatment are made availableto patients for the first time in the country. Abigger team of Technical Officers keeps theequipment of the hospital in a state of perfectfunctioning at all times with practically nodown time. They are supported by theBiomedical and General EngineeringDepartments. Though not connected directlywith the treatment of patients, the workers ofthe support departments have thoroughtechnical experience and knowledge to keepthe hospital infrastructure and supportservices in ideal state of functioning in amanner which should serve as a model toother hospitals of the country.The data and the indices of patientcare are comparable to the data335 November 2005

available from any other hospital atinternational level.Patient Counselling ServiceA unique feature in the patient careprocess of the two Institutes is the PatientCounselling Service. This service has beenintroduced as a model project in SuperSpeciality Hospital at Whitefield. Theconsultants of the treating department of theInstitute keep the patient under healthsurveillance after he is discharged from thehospital with the help of the volunteers ofSai Organisation.The counselling activities cover all thethree phases of the hospital-patient contactperiod, that is, the pre-hospital phase, thehospital phase for which the patient is admittedfor surgery or treatment and the post-hospitalphase after discharge of the patient from thehospital. This arrangement ensures that thecounselling continues at the locality of thepatient’s residence also. Counselling to everypatient also includes spiritual counseling andoffering suggestions on issues like faith, prayer,meditation and control of emotional stress,etc. Such a comprehensive counselling careis not only disease and person specific but isThe Divine Healer, Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Babaconferring His benedictions on a patient.Operations done by the hospitalsince its inception till 31st July 2005.also holistic, and amounts to almost emotionaladoption of the patient with a firm promise ofhelp for his ailment. This is a distinct featureof the functioning of Sai Health Mission. Thesystem is in operation in the State of Karnatakaat present and is in the process of beingextended to all other States of the country.Our country has incomparably largepopulation and has equally huge incidence ofdisease and ill health. We have no illusion thatthese Twin Towers of Healing will treat all thepatients of the diseases of heart, brain, kidneyand eyes and will wipe the tears of all sufferingpatient population. No, it will help only a few– a drop in a big ocean! But, these twoTowers of Healing will serve as models forestablishing such Institutes all over thecountry and all over the world. Such centreswill provide state-of-the-art medicaltreatment through dedicated staff with love,understanding and compassion, free ofcost and without any restriction of caste,creed, colour and country, like these twoInstitutes provide to every patienteveryday.November 2005 336

THE FORMAL EDUCATION SYSTEMdeveloped over the last twohundred years in the West and nowuniversally adopted is flawed. It fails to meetthe real needs of the children, the family, thecommunity or the nation. It was developed inpropounded by Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba.He gives equal importance to educationalachievements and spirituality. He emphasisesthat education must give technical knowledgeas well as skills to lead a balanced life.The children must develop insight andDr. Pal DhallSATHYA SAI EDUCATION INOVERSEAS COUNTRIESSathya Sai Schools and Institutes have not been long established. They are alreadyhaving significant positive impact on their communities, governments and educationsystems. It seems highly likely that their impact will go on increasing and in anotherdecade or so they will transform education and herald a new era in which humanvalues will permeate all institutions and all human enterprises.the industrial age and its main objective wasto secure economic well-being of nations. Itpromotes inequality and competition anddivides the world into rich and poor nations.Such an education with its emphasis ontechnical and academic achievements doesnot promote holistic development of the child.Crime, drug addiction, depression, anxiety,family tensions, violence, delinquency andsuicides are on the increase in all the countriesof the world. The natural resources are beingfreely exploited and the planet is reaching nonsustainability.Educationists agree that mostof these problems could be solved if we reformeducation to meet its two goals – developmentof character and academic excellence. Butthey have not been successful in reformingeducation to attain both these goals.Philosophy of Sathya Sai EducationSathya Sai educational institutions arebased on the philosophy of educationunderstanding into their own life’s purpose.They must develop a lively social conscienceand serve society, and develop a strongidentity with their family and culture, nation andhumanity. Sathya Sai Schools are based onthese central features of Bhagavan’sphilosophy. They aim at human excellencethrough developing all personality domains –physical, intellectual, emotional, social andspiritual, and not just the intellectual. Theseschools do not charge any fees. They followthe mainstream government curriculum. Inthese schools, the culture is suffused withhuman values of peace, love, truth, rightconduct and non-violence. There are nowdozens of Sathya Sai Schools in overseascountries. Many of these schools were startedin the 90’s, and more and more are beingestablished all the time. They are models ofhow human values can be integrated with theschool curriculum to achieve the real aims ofNovember 2005 337

education – character developmentand academic excellence.Institutes of Sathya Sai Educationwere established to manage andoversee standards in the Sathya SaiSchools, to train teachers in Educationin Human Values (EHV) and to formprofessional links (or partnerships)with government or private schools forEHV. They have the task of developingEHV programmes appropriate to theirlocal culture, to create awareness andguide government schools to establishsuch programmes. The questionarises as to what extent the SathyaSai Schools and Institutes havesucceeded in their avowed aims andobjectives. What is the impact of Sathya SaiEducation?Impact of EHV on ChildrenThere is a global trend towards amaterialistic culture based on technology andcommerce. In this culture, television, rapidcommunication, mobile phones, internet,computers and CD players are importantelements. Children’s main entertainment isfrom watching TV, and a significant part of theirtime is spent with the computer, isolated fromothers. A lot of values, language and rolemodels are based on what they watch on theTV. The programmes often glorify violence andare sensual. Children are, in general, morelonely now because the size of the family issmaller (with fewer children), andneighbourhood where the children can playwith others is less safe. Moreover, both theparents work away from home and the timespent with the family has decreased. As aresult of all these trends, children nowhave less well-developed social andImpact of EHV on children: Fijian Sathya SaiSchool children doing meditation.emotional skills. Their language is notanchored in values and their morality isweak. Many children have problems withconcentration because they have becomepassive from watching too much television.The violence that they see on the televisionmakes them fearful and indifferent to pain andsuffering. In fact, they see war and violenceas a part of everyday life from watching worldevents.Sathya Sai Schools counteract these bygiving children capacity of focus through silentsitting. Their discrimination is nurtured as alsotheir problem-solving skills. Many techniquesused in Sathya Sai Education give childrengood social and emotional skills andenhance their understanding of morality.Transformation of children is the main purposeof these schools.People observe that when children frommany schools are gathered together, thosefrom Sathya Sai Schools are identifiablydifferent. They are more disciplined,gentle, kind, friendly, and in general338 November 2005

have better social skills. Parents are the firstto notice their children’s transformation. Theirchildren become more respectful, assumegreater responsibilities, go to bed and riseearly, do not watch as much television, aremore attentive and focused, more interestedin their studies, and more diligent with thetasks assigned to them. Several parents havecommented that their children have becomeaware of wastage and are conscious of theneed to recycle toys, clothes, paper and water.They say their prayers before eating and showrespect for food. In a number of Sathya SaiSchools – Australia, Thailand, Africa, LatinAmerican countries, Taiwan, parents haveexpressed delight to notice how their childrenare fresh and content when they come homefrom the school and believe that silent sitting,daily prayers, and vegetarianism promoted bythe schools contribute to this. Some parentsremark on the peace and harmony in theclassrooms and have observed that the schoolatmosphere is conducive to learning; theteachers are dedicated, caring and good rolemodels. Many parents move from other areasspecifically to be close to a Sathya Sai Schoolin order to enrol their children.Experienced teachers who come to SathyaSai Schools from government schools havenoted that the children are eager to learn. Theyare loving, more friendly, caring and helpfulto others. In the Australian Sathya Sai School,children were friendly even to a violent child,regarding him with affection. They are keento look after the school, attending tocleanliness and tidiness and their honesty isobvious. In the Australian School when a newlyenrolled child could not find his pencil, he said,“Someone has stolen my pencil”. The otherchildren looked with amazement at himand one replied, “But no one steals inthis school”. They take care not toTo date almost all of the 43 ‘at risk’adolescents who have attended theSathya Sai U-Turn Training School inAustralia have improved theireducational performance. The localHigh School, the local Museum and theMunicipal Council are now partners inthis programme. Both the parents andthe teachers recognise the U-TurnTraining School as an institution toreclaim ‘at risk’ adolescents. Schools inZambia, Thailand, Kenya, Nigeria,Malaysia and several Latin Americancountries have had similar experienceswith EHV for adolescents ‘at risk’.damage books and computers. They arerespectful towards the teacher. They trust theteachers more and are open in theircommunication, regarding the teacher as partof the family.Similar results have also been seen in thegovernment schools which have had EHVprogrammes introduced by the Sathya SaiInstitutes. The Australian experience is a goodexample. In Australia, indigenous (Aboriginal)education has been a challenge to thegovernment. Pouring in more and moremoney and creating better educationalfacilities did not provide a solution to the poorachievement levels, high dropout rates, andhigh educational failure in this community.In one such school, a teacher noted thatthe attendance was poor, often only 5 or 6children in a class of 30, and the children inthe afternoon were not the same as theones in the morning. There was hardlyany discipline – the playground was aNovember 2005 339

place of fights. The school hadlitter all over and the windowswere broken. The childrenhad poor social skills, andeducationally the school was afailure.A new principal appointedin the school invited theAustralian Sathya Sai Instituteto establish a partnership inEHV in this school. The teacherswere enthusiastic about theChildren and teachers of the Australian Sathya Sai Institute.programme and implemented it diligently. Theresults are nothing short of miraculous. Twoyears later, research by one of the teachersat the school for a thesis tracked the progressof the children and the school culture. Hefound that the school was a clean and tidycampus. The children were focused andinterested in their studies. They had developedadolescents, boys and girls in grades 7, 8and 9 who are identified as ‘at risk’ ofeducational failure by their own GovernmentHigh School. The High School refers ‘at risk’adolescents to the Sathya Sai U-Turn TrainingSchool. Here they are exposed to humanvalues through a programme based onthe teaching of Bhagavan through thegood social skills and were now able to resolve word “WATCH”: watch your words,their own differences; schools fights were rare. actions, thoughts, character and heart. TheTo solve their differences they either programme gives these adolescentsnegotiated with each other peacefully or took social, emotional and moral skills, whiletheir problem to a teacher rather than resort the adolescents are engagedto fights. Academic levels are now at par withother comparable schools.Education Queensland (the Governmentin blacksmithing, woodwork, leatherwork,sewing, painting and knitting. They workclosely with the teachers. This builds their selfconfidenceDepartment of Education) has located aand trust and they areresearch unit in this school. The schoolprincipal was “The Queenslander of the Year”and the teacher who had acted as the humanvalues education coordinator in this school,recognised for her work, was chosen as oneof the seven teachers in the State to receive“Teacher of the Year” award. This school isnow regarded as a model for Aboriginaleducation.Another success story is the SathyaSai U-Turn Training School in Australia.This school runs programmes fortransformed. To date almost all of the 43 ‘atrisk’ adolescents who have attended theSathya Sai U-Turn Training School in Australiahave improved their educational performance.The local High School, the local Museum andthe Municipal Council are now partners in thisprogramme. Both the parents and theteachers recognise the U-Turn TrainingSchool as an institution to reclaim ‘at risk’adolescents. Schools in Zambia,Thailand, Kenya, Nigeria, Malaysiaand several Latin American countries340 November 2005

have had similar experiences with EHVfor adolescents ‘at risk’. There seems littledoubt that EHV is an excellent methodfor reclaiming adolescents who areheading towards educational failure.Impact on Education SystemBecause of the benefits both to normaland educationally challenged children, itis not surprising that EHV is beingintroduced or being contemplated forintroduction into mainstream education ina number of countries. For example, inKazakhstan, an Islamic country, EHV is beingintroduced widely into the governmentschools. In fact, it seems wherever there arefavourable circumstances — open andreceptive society, belief in God, generalawareness of the need for values in education,generous donors (for Sai Schools) and goodleadership in the Sai Organisation andInstitutes — EHV is taking root and is beingaccepted by the government schools. LatinAmerica is a good example. 40% of all SathyaSai Schools are within Latin Americancountries. Eleven Sathya Sai Institutes areInstitute of Sathya Sai Education, Thailand.Sathya Sai School Pililla, Philippines.active in training teachers from governmentschools. In Chihuahua, with a population1,25,000, EHV programme is being run in 35schools. The Ministry of Education has set upits own Human Values Committee and isrunning its own courses in ethics and values.However, surveys by the local Sathya SaiInstitute show that the teachers prefer thecourses of the Institute as these aretransformational.In Thailand, the government regards theSathya Sai School as a model of educationfor wide adoption. Following a seminaron Human Values in Education andFamily in 2003 in Malaysia, almost 60schools expressed interest in EHVprogrammes in their schools. In China,the government acknowledges the needfor education reform to include anemphasis on values. Apparently, thewidespread single child family there isproducing a generation of self-centredchildren with poor social skills. Theseeffects are being compounded by therapid economic progress, which isheightening materialistic trends inthat society. A Professor of Educationin Guanzao is working on a phasedintroduction of EHV programmes into theNovember 2005 341

public school system – 6 schools at a time.He has had good results and is enthusiasticabout the future of EHV in China.In Sri Lanka, the Sathya Sai Organisationand the Institute held a seminar with theeducators from the local universities andofficials from the Ministry of Education in 2004.The Institute regards EHV as the programmethat would spearhead education reform in thecountry.Impact on ParentsParents become aware of Human Valuesthrough the newsletters and the parent linkmaterial that requests them to support theirchild by practising values at home. Thecommunity service that the children undertakethrough the school also influences the parentsas also do the courses in human values forthe parents that many Sathya Sai Schools run.In many Sathya Sai Schools, the childrenstage an annual event, a human values schoolplay or a musical that the parents are invitedto attend. In the Sathya Sai School in Australia,parents are actively involved in service to theschool. Some take classes in art, yoga andmusic. The impact of all these activities isenormous. The parents become aware oftheir role in the values education of their child.Their relationships in the family improve andare spiritualised. In some cases, the childrenbecome values activists in the family, manytimes correcting even their parents.Impact on the CommunitySathya Sai Schools are acting as the nucleifor creating better understanding incommunities divided by ethnic, political andreligious differences. In Fiji, the divisionbetween the Pacific Islanders and the Fijiansof Indian descent has been deep forgenerations resulting in serious politicalturmoil including an attempted coup.The Sathya Sai School in Fiji is located near alocal village; 40% of the children at the schoolare of Islander descent and the rest are ofIndian origin. The children learn both Hindi andFijian and the parents from both ethnic groupshave reached levels of understanding neverseen before. The Prime Minister observed inthe Parliament that if politicians could followthe example of the children and parents in theSathya Sai School, then all their problemswould be solved!In the Kesaju Sathya Sai School in Kenya,the local Imams, suspicious of the “freeeducation” objected to their children prayingwith children from other religions. The Imamswere invited to hold prayers in the school. Nowthe Muslims are accepting prayers of otherreligions. This has been deeply unifying for thecommunity. Similar experiences are reportedfrom some of the Latin American countrieswhere Catholic nuns have run EHV in CatholicSchools. They have been able to convinceMother Superior and the Bishops that they donot see conflict between Bhagavan’s andChrist’s teachings.Sathya Sai Schools in some instances havebecome useful resources for the localcommunities. Kesaju Sathya Sai School islocated in a semi-desert area with poor watersupply, and in conditions of drought thecommunity used to lose some of its cattle dueto lack of water. Bhagavan gave instructionswhere a borehole should be dug for water. Theresult is abundant sweet water for the schoolto grow its own food, and enough to establisha farm. The school has built a trough so thatthe cattle can have water even in drought.Imagine the gratitude of the local community.The African Institute in Zambia hasdeveloped a partnership with otherContinued on page 375 ...342 November 2005

Books - New ReleasesTribute: A Souvenir in 80 gsm natural shade maplitho paper with spot lamination offront cover page with matt finish wrapper in 300 gsm art card to commemorate the 80thyear of the Advent of the Avatar, Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, containing fivemulticoloured photos of Bhagavan in 130 gsm art paper, with quotations of Bhagavan onthe reverse side, six messages and 49 articles from Bhagavan’s distinguished devoteesfrom all over the world, narrating their personal experiences studded with mind-bogglingmiracles that reveal the shining facets of that Divine Phenomenon.Pages 254 Size 20x28cms Price Rs.70/- (packing and postage extra).The Mission of Sathya Sai at a glance: It is a fully illustrated pictorial book in 130 gsm artpaper with full page multicolour pictures on the global mission of Bhagavan’sDharmasthapana (establishment of righteousness) now in operation in every field of humanactivity, especially under Education, Medical, Social Service and other humanitarianactivities such as Drinking Water Supply, etc., aiming at the happiness, peace and prosperityof the whole world, supported by facts and figures relating to His unique institutions.Pages 108 Size 20x28cms Price Rs.70/- (packing and postage extra).Nivedana (Telugu): A garland of 32 articles from Bhagavan’s distinguished devoteesnarrating their personal experiences and the transformation brought about in their livesby Bhagavan, printed in 80 gsm natural shade maplitho paper with cover in 230 gsm artcard. Bhagavan’s photos are printed in multicolour on the inner side of the wrapper aswell as on two pages in 130 gsm art paper. It also contains six messages from eminentnational leaders.Pages 120 Size 20x28cms Price Rs.36/- (packing and postage extra).Deenabandhu 2006 – Diary on SaleSpecifications: 14.5 x 20.7 cms A5 single date (Saturday & Sunday single page) 394 pages(354 pages in 70 gsm maplitho paper + 40 pages in 130 gsm art paper) with page marker,matt lamination cover and shrink wrapped. Weight 580 grams approx. Price Ind Rs.85/=(at our sales counter)Speciality: 12 multicolour and 12 single colour (sepia tone) full page pictures of Bhagavanback to back in art paper with more than 300 sayings of Bhagavan are included. MinimumOrder 5 (five) diaries. Maximum – No limitPayment calculator for single destination / address (Cost + postage + packing)No of diaries5678Additional 1India RegdBook Post (Rs)498590680770130OverseasRegistered Airmail Book Post122514251660186030529.0033.5039.0044.007.20Payment: Payment can be made through personal cheques / bank drafts payable in India(Ind Rupees) / at New York (US dollars) in favour of Sri Sathya Sai Books and PublicationsTrust, Prasanthi Nilayam and send the same to Sri Sathya Sai Books and Publications Trust,Prasanthi Nilayam 515134, Andhra Pradesh, India with the complete postal address towhich the diaries are to be sent.

Victor Krishna KanuBHAGAVAN BABAíS PHILOSOPHYAND METHODOLOGY OFEDUCATIONWITHA FOCUS ON WATEREDUCATIONFOR AFRICAN CITIESIN THE RECENTLY PUBLISHEDbook “Water – the Elixir of Life”,documenting many drinking waterprojects of Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Babaduring the last decade, we read: “Next to air,water is the element most essential to sustainhuman life. It is therefore no wonder that inancient times, people in all societies reveredwater as a wonderful gift of God. Almost allmajor religions have an important place forwater in their rituals; these involve cleansing,blessing, ablutions of various kinds andofferings accompanied by the pouring ofwater.”Water as a Basic ElementAccording to the story of creation in theBible (Genesis 1: V1-2), we are told: “In thebeginning God created heaven andearth ….. the earth was without form……. And the spirit of God moved upon theface of the waters”. This shows the part playedby water in the beginning and sustenance oflife as perceived by Bible believers.Truly, water is sacred and must be treatedas such by all its users. Yet, there are billionsof people on this planet to whom gooddrinking water is not available or accessible.Sri Sathya Sai Water Supply ProjectIndiaResponding to the dire needs of the peopleof the scarcity affected regions of AndhraPradesh, Bhagavan declared in March 1995that He was going to provide drinking water tothe villagers who had been the victims of acutedrinking water shortages for more than acentury. Sri Sathya Sai Water Supply Projectwas thus started which has providedwater to millions of villagers ofNovember 2005 344

Anantapur, Medak, Mahboobnagar, EastGodavari and West Godavari districts ofAndhra Pradesh during the last 10 years. Ithas also met the acute drinking water shortageof the city of Chennai in Tamil Nadu. All thiswas possible through the unlimited love andgrace of Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba to allmankind. As He Himself says: “I am alwaysready to help you and serve you. You maybelong to any village or any district ……… Ido not have any feelings of difference –religious, regional or national. I do not go bythe position of the people or the place to whichthey belong. All are the same to Me and Iserve all equally”. Bhagavan’s example of Hisconcern for the supply of water is beingreplicated by many countries of the world.Water in African Cities ProjectThere exist many dissimilarities in Africancountries in terms of size, water resources,water management styles, economicdifferentials, social and environmental normsrelated to water, etc. Yet their national goalsand objectives are basically similar. They allhave, as their main goal, the provision ofadequate cost-effective and good water supplyfor all (the economic and social dimensions ofwater). In cognizance of the fact that thesegoals cannot be achieved in isolation, thesecountries have, as complementary goals, themaintenance of a good environment,avoidance of water wastage and pollution,prevention of vandalism and illegalconnections; discouraging late or nonpaymentof water bills, non-tampering of watermeters, prevention of water riots and waterwars, eradication of corruption andenhancement of adequate sanitation andbetter hygiene practices throughtechnical and regulatory measures.A country’s sense of duty oughtto be strengthened throughHuman Values Education towardsthe management of water andother resources which tookbillions of years to develop andyet, which would be diminishedor exhausted within a relativelyshort period of time.In pursuit of their goals and objectives, theAfrican cities have been using differentstrategies as leverages towards the realisationof their national goals. Overall, these strategieshave not produced the desired results ofreaching national goals and objectives. Thisis because of the absence of second towerthat lays emphasis on the transformation ofattitudes and behavioural patterns of waterusers and providers. UN-HABITAT have for along time been searching for a tool ormechanism that will enrich and strengthenWater Education strategies in Africa.Human Values Approach to WaterEducation in AfricaThe introduction of the water educationinitiative was preceded by an Expert GroupMeeting (EGM) convened by UN-HABITAT incollaboration with United Nations EnvironmentProgramme (UNEP) and the SwedishInternational Water Institute (SIWI) inJohannesburg, South Africa from 30th Aprilto 2nd May 2001. The meeting broughttogether international and regionalexperts on education, curriculum345 November 2005

development, urban development, waterresources management and NGOs active inwater education. The objectives of the meetingwere to share information on the ongoingwater problem in Africa, develop a broadconsensus among all stakeholders withregards to the most effective strategy forintroducing Water Education in African cities,agree on sharing of responsibility for projectimplementation by different partners anddevelop an action plan for the projectimplementation.An important outcome of the Expert GroupMeeting was the consensus acceptance of thepaper presented by the Director of the AfricanInstitute of Sathya Sai Education (TAISSE) withthe title “Water Education: A Human ValuesApproach” which was, in fact, a reproductionof Sri Sathya Sai Baba’s philosophy andmethodology of Human Values Education inits pristine form. The recommendation arisingtherefrom was the pursuance of a HumanValues Approach to introducing WaterEducation for African children andcommunities.Understanding Water EducationWhat is Water Education? From the pointof view of the Human Values approach, WaterEducation is not just about water literacy(knowledge of the science of water, types,sources, uses, treatment, management andits associated problems, etc). These are, ofcourse, important tangibles. However, WaterEducation is also about intangible things thatare equally important. These include people’sperceptions of water, the level of theirconsciousness towards water usage,awareness of their civic responsibilitiestowards water, cultural beliefs andpractices in relation to water. In short,There is no doubt thatBhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Babawill forever remain a powerfulrole model in the provision ofwater to the less-privilegedpeople of the world.it is about Human Values – about the country’ssense of duty, the obligations members haveto each other, to the use of water itself and tofuture generations.A country’s sense of duty ought to bestrengthened through Human ValuesEducation towards the management of waterand other resources which took billions ofyears to develop and yet, which would bediminished or exhausted within a relativelyshort period of time.There is, thus, a compelling need for theintroduction of Human Values in WaterEducation as a complimentary to the existingtechnical and regulatory measures in waterdemand management. In this manner, WaterEducation will stand firmly on the twin towersof water literacy and Human Values – theirunderstanding, commitment and practice.The Expert Group noted that WaterEducation should aim at promoting a betterunderstanding of water as a key social,economic and environmental resource andshould facilitate the emergence of a newwater management ethic on the continent. Itis observed that the introduction andimplementation of Value-based WaterEducation (VBWE) through formal,non-formal and informal channels ofNovember 2005 346

learning, especially through the use of thecurriculum is a promising strategy to bringabout a positive and lasting change in attitudeand behaviour towards water at all levels ofsociety.Value-based Water, Sanitation andHygiene Education (VBWSHE)Having been inspired by the successfulimplementation of Bhagavan’s ValuesEducation programme at the African Instituteof Sathya Sai Education (TAISSE), Ndola,Zambia, many countries in Africa today areinvolved in Value-based Water,Sanitation and Hygiene Education(VBWSHE) programme.In 2002,TAISSE was contractedfor two years by UN-HABITAT toimplement the first phase of ValuebasedWater Education (VBWE) insix African countries. By the graceof Bhagavan, this was successfullycompleted in 2004. Impressed withthe effectiveness of the valuesprogramme in the six Africancountries, the UN-HABITAT againasked TAISSE in 2005 to implementthe second phase of the Value-basedWater Education programme toinclude Sanitation and HygieneEducation, known as Value-based Water,Sanitation and Hygiene Education (VBWSHE)in twelve African countries. This CooperationAgreement will end in 2007. This is indeed amajor contribution of Bhagavan’s educationprogramme, which is essentially philanthropicin its nature, to the upliftment of the Africancontinent.Sri Sathya Sai Drinking Water ProjectZambiaBhagavan’s water projects in India haveinspired Sai Education Trust (SET) of Zambia347 November 2005to follow Sathya Sai Baba’s example in theprovision of drinking water to the poor. In asmall way, the Trust, in May 2005, embarkedon the task of providing free clean drinkingwater to disadvantaged townships surroundingSri Sathya Sai School, Ndola, Zambia. Tenbore-holes ranging between 60 and 97metres deep with submersible and handpumps were drilled in five townships wherepeople had been greatly disadvantaged forcenturies past in terms of good drinking water.The sprouting out of water and theChildren rejoicing at the first gush of water in Ndola, Zambia.simultaneous response of many children asexpressed in their shouting and clapping wasa moving experience.There is no doubt that Bhagavan Sri SathyaSai Baba will forever remain a powerful rolemodel in the provision of water to the lessprivilegedpeople of the world.Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust’sOfficial Website: www.srisathyasai.org.inSri Sathya Sai Books & Publications Trust’sOfficial Website: www.sssbpt.org

Gurudev VaniBhagavan’s Inaugural Discourse:Sai Children’s Festival of JoyEAT GOOD FOOD, HAVE GOODCOMPANY, FOSTER GOOD THOUGHTSIn childhood, one develops absorbing interest in play and enjoys the company ofone’s playmates. In youth and middle age, one is engrossed in cultivating worldlyrelations and earning money. In old age, one repents for not having this and that;one still craves for money without contemplating on God even at that ripe age. Inthis way, man wastes his precious human birth.(Telugu Poem)Why waste your time in idleness?Time that is lost cannot be regained.Be aware before it is too late,Nobody knows what lies in the womb of future.(Telugu Poem)Embodiments of Love! Students – Boys andGirls!IF YOU FRITTER AWAY YOUR TIME INvain pursuits, what for is your humanbirth? Have you ever pondered overwhat is going to be your fate? Time is thefundamental factor of human life. Man shouldrealise its importance in his life. Don’t wastetime. Time waste is life waste. So, you shouldseriously enquire within yourself if there is anysense in wasting time. If you waste yourprecious time in young age, when will you workfor your redemption? Having been born ashuman being, you should think about yourredemption. You should therefore makeproper use of your time right from yourchildhood.Perform Good ActionsMan has to perform Karma (action) in thisKarmabhumi (field of action) from birth todeath. In fact, human birth has beengiven to us to perform Karma. We aretherefore engaged in performing variousactions all our life. But very few make any effortto enquire whether the actions performed bythem are good or not. We should undertakeonly those actions which are noble andworthwhile. Only then does human life becomepurposeful. In fact, the goal of life can beachieved only when we undertake goodactions, foster good thoughts and adhere togood conduct. The Bhagavadgita teaches usthat we have right only to perform action andnot to the fruit thereof.Man is born out of Karma,He lives and dies in Karma.Karma is eternal and everlasting,It has neither a beginning nor an end.(Telugu Poem)Every action performed by man has aresult. There will be a good result for a goodaction and a bad result for a bad action.This is the eternal law. When youpartake of a mango, you will have theNovember 2005 348

elch of that fruit only and not that of a lime.In the same manner, your thoughts will beconditioned by the type of food you consume.As is the food, so is the head. As is the head,so is God. Thus, food, head and God areclosely interrelated. Bad thoughts are notconducive to realisation of God. Hence, oneshould always cultivate good and noblethoughts. If you eat Sattwic (pure) food andcultivate Sattwic thoughts right from yourchildhood, your entire life will run smoothly.Hence, you have to be careful about your foodand head. If you wish to sanctify your humanbirth, you should not live like a bird, beast oranimal. Having taken birth as a human being,one has to perform actions worthy of a humanbeing. One has to conduct oneself as a humanbeing. For this, one should foster humanvalues. What are the human values?The human values are: Sathya (truth),Dharma (righteousness), Santhi (peace),Prema (love) and Ahimsa (non-violence). It isonly when we cultivate and practise these fivehuman values in our daily life that we will beentitled to be called human beings. Acombination of Trigunas (three qualities),namely, Sattwa Guna (quality of purity andserenity), Rajo Guna (quality of passionateactivity) and Thamo Guna (quality of sloth)constitutes the nature of man. Unfortunately,there is wide prevalence of Rajo Guna andWParents have a great responsibilityin teaching the children about theefficacy of Sattwic food and gettingthem accustomed to it right fromtheir childhood. On the other hand,if the parents themselves prepareand serve Rajasic and Thamasicfood consisting of meat, fish, etc.,in their homes, how can theyexpect the children to developSattwa Guna? I am of the view thatthe children should abstain fromRajasic and Thamasic food anddemand from their parents onlySattwic food.WThamo Guna in human beings today. SattwaGuna has become a rare commodity. Hence,it is of utmost importance today that peopleare taught to cultivate Sattwa Guna, performSattwic actions so that they can attain the stateof Sattwa (purity).Sattwic Food Fosters Sattwic ThoughtsEmbodiments of Love!You are now at the stage ofchildhood. This is the right age to349 November 2005

cultivate Sattwa Guna. The quality of your lifeat later stages will depend upon the qualitiesyou cultivate now. What is the use of trying tocultivate Sattwa Guna at the fag end of yourlife when your body refuses to co-operate withyou in your Sadhana? Hence, you mustcultivate Sattwa Guna in your childhood itself.If man wishes to experience Manavatwa(humanness) and reach Daivatwa (divinity),Sattwa Guna is very essential. It is only whenyou consciously cultivate Sattwa Guna thatyou will be able to attain Sattwic state. Youcan never attain Sattwic state by indulging inRajasic and Thamasic acts. Therefore, youshould cultivate Sattwic qualities right fromyour young age. All our ancient sages andseers did their Sadhana when they wereyoung and strong.Embodiments of Love!We eat a variety of items as food to sustainthe body. But no one is making an enquirywhether the food he eats is proper or not;whether it is beneficial for him or not. Youshould always eat Sattwic food. By havingSattwic food, you will be able to cultivateSattwic thoughts. And, by cultivating Sattwicthoughts, you will be able to undertake Sattwicactions.Hence, you should partake of Sattwic foodonly. You may at times have a doubt that youmay not get such Sattwic food. I do not at allagree with this view. Don’t you get vegetablesand edible green leaves in plenty? In fact, themoment you are born out of your mother’swomb, you are surviving and thriving on yourmother’s milk or cow’s milk. Is this not Sattwicfood? Can you not live on a vegetarian dietconsisting of vegetables, green leaves andcow’s milk? Never eat the food whichpromotes Rajo Guna or Thamo Guna.Why should you cater to the dictatesof your palate and add condiments and spicesto your food? It is only when you graduallyreduce these ingredients for taste that you willbe able to cultivate Sattwa Guna. Parentshave a great responsibility in teaching thechildren about the efficacy of Sattwic food andgetting them accustomed to it right from theirchildhood. On the other hand, if the parentsthemselves prepare and serve Rajasic andThamasic food consisting of meat, fish, etc.,in their homes, how can they expect thechildren to develop Sattwa Guna? I am of theview that the children should abstain fromRajasic and Thamasic food and demand fromtheir parents only Sattwic food. One has toconsciously cultivate the habit of eating onlySattwic food. When we lead our life in thisSattwic way, we will be able to cultivateSattwa Guna. So, progress on the spiritualpath is possible only when we eat Sattwic food.Good Company Develops Good QualitiesEmbodiments of Love!All our senses are conditioned by theTrigunas (three qualities) which, in turn, areconditioned by the food we consume. Hence,if you start eating Sattwic food, undertakeSattwic actions and move about in thecompany of Sattwic friends, I am sure, you cantransform yourselves into Sattwic individuals.It is the bad company and wrong food that areresponsible for all your evil qualities. If youwant to cultivate good qualities, you have toeat Sattwic food and keep good company. Itis absolutely necessary that you should haveSattwic friends in youth and constantly moveabout in their company. It has been said,when you are in the company of goodfriends, you will have good thoughts.November 2005 350

Good company leads to detachment;Detachment makes one free from delusion;Freedom from delusion leads to steadinessof mind;Steadiness of mind confers liberation.(Sanskrit Sloka)Dear Students!If you develop bad qualities like anger,passion, envy, jealousy, etc., right from earlyage, your entire life will be spoiled. You arepoisoning your minds with these evil qualities.My advice to the youngsters and students is:eat Sattwic food, cultivate Sattwic behaviourand keep the company of Sattwic people rightfrom early age. I often observe that youngsterstoday join bad company the moment they enterschool or college and continue to move aboutin bad company. As a result, they cultivate badqualities, resulting in bad behaviour. Tell meyour company, I shall tell you what youare. Many times, students are not even awareof the subtle changes taking place in theirbehaviour towards elders, parents, teachersand society. They think that they are on theright track since they are pursuing educationin a good educational institution. Theeducation they are pursuing may be good, butthe core of their heart is polluted due to badcompany. Several bad thoughts arise in theirmind even at young age. People often thinkthat it is a natural phenomenon due to youngage. I do not at all subscribe to this view. It isnot a natural phenomenon at all. It is mostunnatural. Since you are consuming bad food,you are having bad thoughts. Hence, first andforemost, give up bad food. Those who aredevoted to Me must join good company. Butyou are joining bad company and, as aresult, are developing bad thoughts.Once bad thoughts enter your mind, none candrive them away. Hence, you have to cultivategood thoughts before bad thoughts enter yourmind.Dear Children!WYou are now at the stage of childhood.This is the right age to cultivateSattwa Guna. The quality of your lifeat later stages will depend upon thequalities you cultivate now. What isthe use of trying to cultivate SattwaGuna at the fag end of your life whenyour body refuses to co-operate withyou in your Sadhana? Hence, youmust cultivate Sattwa Guna in yourchildhood itself. If man wishes toexperience Manavatwa (humanness)and reach Daivatwa (divinity), SattwaGuna is very essential.WSome parents are not so conscious aboutthe future of their children. Either they are toobusy pursuing their vocations or they arehelpless in supervising their children’sbehaviour. But if you tread the right path, theywill be most happy. On the other hand, if youare moving about in bad company, cultivatingbad habits resulting in bad behaviour, they willbe very sad. At the same time, they will beunable to share their distress and anguish withanybody. Hence, it is your foremost duty tokeep your parents happy. If you want to makeyour parents happy, you should tread the rightpath. There are three aspects in human lifewhich are interlinked –thoughts,behaviour and result. As are the351 November 2005

thoughts, so will be the behaviour and as isthe behaviour, so will be the result. It is notpossible to have good company if youentertain bad thoughts. Teachers expect goodcharacter from their pupils. How is it possiblewhen the students move about in badcompany, eat wrong kind of food and entertainbad thoughts? The end result is always bad insuch a situation. While taking bitter food, howcan you experience sweetness? Wrong foodis the cause of bad thoughts.Never Read Bad BooksStudents – Boys and Girls!All of you should tread the right path. Evenif your parents for any reason offer you Rajasicor Thamasic food prepared in the house, youshould explain and convince them of the illeffects of such food, saying, “Mother! If youserve Rajasic and Thamasic food to me, I willonly get bad thoughts. This is not conduciveto good behaviour also.” You should alsoconvince them of the need to prepare andserve Sattwic food to all the members of thefamily. Not only should you eat Sattwic food,you should also read good books. Never readbad books. Bad books generate bad thoughts.Your entire life is dependent upon good food,good thoughts and good company. Associateyourself with good and pious people. All noblesouls read good books and cultivated noblethoughts.Dear Students!You should not read all sorts of trash likecheap novels, stories, etc. Such trash willgenerate bad thoughts in you and pollute youmind. When you go to a library, you shouldread the biographies of great and noble peoplewhich will help you to cultivate goodqualities and good thoughts. Onereason for the pollution of young mindsand proliferation of bad thoughts in them isreading all sorts of cheap literature. In fact, itis only the mind that is responsible forgood or bad thoughts. That is why it issaid, Manah Eva Manushyanam KaranamBandhamokshayo (mind is the causefor bondage and liberation of man).Unfortunately, in these days it is only bad booksthat have become popular. They hold greattemptation for young people. Good books havebecome a rare commodity. A question mayarise as to where one would get such goodbooks. You go to good libraries of institutionscommitted to the moral and spiritual uplift ofhumanity. Many people are resorting to evilpractice of writing bad books just for the sakeof earning money. Bad books are spoiling thelife of children. Therefore, you should readonly those books which develop yourcharacter. Frequently, we come across peopletravelling in trains and buses purchasingworthless books available on the railwayplatforms and bus stands and reading themwith absorbing interest. They may say thatthey are reading them for passing their time.They do not realise how harmful those booksare in generating bad thoughts and pollutingtheir minds. Hence, you must always selectbooks that foster good thoughts and goodcharacter. Character is most important.Embodiments of Love!If you wish to cultivate good thoughts andgood behaviour, you must read good books.Many students today consider it a fashion toread cheap literature that is available at a lowprice, with the result that cheap thoughts andcheap behaviour are generated in them. Theyrun after books and trash distributed freeof cost. They woefully lack the senseof discrimination to judge whether suchNovember 2005 352

ooks are good or bad. They will, however,realise the consequences of their action aftertheir minds are totally polluted. Then it will betoo late for them to retrace their steps. It isonly through good books that good thoughtsand good behaviour can be cultivated.Dear Students!There are many other important things tobe taught to you in these three days which will... Continued from page 324assumed the form of a bunch. Though theflowers are of different variety, the thread thatholds them together is only one. The sameprinciple has been explained in the Vedas asEkameva Adviteeyam Brahma. This exampledemonstrates unity in diversity. When yourefer to a single person, you say he is anindividual. When you refer to a number ofpersons, you call them a group. Though thereis a vast difference in the terms we use whilereferring to a single person and a group ofpersons, there is a fundamental unityunderlying this group. That unity is divinity,which should never be forgotten.Unfortunately, people today tend to look at theapparent diversity, ignoring the underlyingprinciple. Take, for example, the Pandavas.Who were they? The five Pandava brotherswere the sons of Kunti. In the worldly sense,they are five in number. But on the level ofspirituality, they are one. Atma Tattwa in all isthe same. You may not be able to understandthis principle of oneness of divinity now. But ifyou keep thinking about it constantly anddeeply, one day this truth will become manifestbefore you. (Bhagavan showing ahandkerchief to the audience) This is ahandkerchief. There are many threadswoven together in it. Since the threadsenable you to cultivate noble thoughts andtread the right path.(Bhagavan brought His Divine Discourse toa close with the Bhajan, “Hari Bhajan BinaSukha Santhi Nahin …”)- From Bhagavan’s Divine Discourse inSai Kulwant Hall, Prasanthi Nilayam onthe occasion of the inauguration of BalVikas children’s Festival of Joy on 22ndOctober 2005.are woven into warp and woof, it has assumedthe form of a handkerchief. Cloth is one thoughthe threads are many. So, one shouldrecognise the principle of unity in diversity. Wefind many students gathered in this hall. Eachone appears to be different. But they are allthe students of Sri Sathya Sai College. In thisway, we should see unity in diversity.(Bhagavan sang the Bhajan, “GovindaKrishna Jai…”, and continued the Discourse)Dear Students!When you all join together and sing in onevoice, you attain bliss. You should develop thisunity and oneness in every aspect of your lifeto experience bliss. I am extremely happy tosee all of you here (loud applause). I attendto a number of tasks and participate in anumber of programmes right from earlymorning till evening. But I remain happy andcheerful all the time. Is it possible for anyoneto be blissful all the time? Praise and blameare mere vocal expressions of others’ feelings.I have nothing to do with them. I do notentertain any feelings of difference at all.All are one, be alike to everyone.– From Bhagavan’s Dasara Discoursein Sai Kulwant Hall, PrasanthiNilayam on 9th October 2005.353 November 2005

AN IMPORTANT MILESTONE OFBAL VIKAS MOVEMENT.......................................................................A glorious chapter was added to the Bal Vikasmovement of Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba when.......................................................................thousands of Bal Vikas students, Bal Vikas Gurus.......................................................................and former Bal Vikas students came to Prasanthi.......................................................................Nilayam to meet together and seek guidance.......................................................................and blessings of Bhagavan for its further expansion.......................................................................and qualitative refinement..........................................ORGANISED BY SRI SATHYA SAISeva Organisation of India as partof 80th Birthday celebrations ofBhagavan, the programme was held on threeseparate dates for administrative convenience.First of all, the function entitled “Festival of Joy”was held from 22nd to 24th October 2005 inwhich more than 3,000 Bal Vikas children fromall parts of India took part. On 25th and 26thOctober 2005, an All India Conference of BalVikas Gurus was organised in which more than2,500 Bal Vikas Gurus from all the States ofIndia were participants. Finally, an All IndiaConference of former Bal Vikas students washeld on 28th October 2005 in which nearly2,000 former Bal Vikas students took part.The Festival of JoyThe inaugural function of the “Festival ofJoy” was held in Sai Kulwant Hall, PrasanthiNilayam on the morning of 22nd October 2005.On this occasion, Sai Kulwant Hall wasbeautifully decorated with buntings, festoons,banners and flowers. Special decorations weremade on the dais with fresh roses ofvarious colours which looked veryattractive.A scene from the musical “The Glory of Sathya Sai”presented by the Bal Vikas children from 18 States ofIndia on the evening of 22nd October 2005.Inaugural Function: After coming to the daisamidst chanting of Vedic hymns and sweetwelcome songs by Bal Vikas children,Bhagavan graciously inaugurated the functionby lighting the sacred lamp. At the outset, SriV. Srinivasan, All India President, Sri SathyaSai Seva Organisation gave an introductoryspeech. Sri Srinivasan observed that this wasa unique event being held at Prasanthi Nilayamin which thousands of Bal Vikas children weretaking part, some of them having come fromsuch distant places as Sikkim, Assam andother north-eastern States. This was followedby brilliant speeches by three Bal Vikaschildren.The first speaker was Kumari Shwetaof Karnataka who expressed gratitude toBhagavan for giving this great movement ofBal Vikas to children for their all-rounddevelopment and total transformation. Thenext speaker was Master Pranav Shyam Bhatof Maharashtra, who made a ferventplea for spreading the message oflove, service, truth and kindness to theNovember 2005 315 354

entire world as part of 80th Birthdaycelebrations of Bhagavan. The last speakerwas Master Arithro of West Bengal whoreminded the students and devotees thatthe main message of Bhagavan was love,which all should imbibe in their heart.In the end, Bhagavan blessed thechildren with His illuminating Discourse (fulltext given elsewhere) and exhorted themto eat good food, foster good thoughts andkeep good company. The inaugural functionof the “Festival of Joy” which started afterthe arrival of Bhagavan in Sai Kulwant Hallat 9.00 a.m. came to a close at 11.15 a.m.with Arati to Bhagavan.The Glory of Sathya Sai: On the afternoonof 22nd October 2005, a grand musicaloffering was made by the Bal Vikas childrento their Beloved Bhagavan. More than 300children, both boys and girls, from 18 Statesof India made this grand presentation whichportrayed the life, message and glory ofBhagavan in 24 selected songs in Hindi,Telugu and English. The children gave asuperb performance by their brilliant dancesset to sweet musical tunes of melodiousdevotional songs. Perfect choreography andflawless direction made it a grand offering ofa musical tribute to Bhagavan by the Bal Vikaschildren representing the whole of India. As agrand finale to this presentation, a replica ofthe spaceship descended in Sai Kulwant Hall,which added joy and liveliness to thisprogramme. The extra-terrestrial beings fromthe spaceship told that God had descendedon the planet earth, and they had come to paytheir homage to Him. They exhorted theresidents of earth to utilise this goldenopportunity by putting His teachingsinto practice. The residents of earthChildren dressed as extra-terrestrial beingscoming out of the spaceship, a replica of whichwas shown in Sai Kulwant Hall during theprogramme “The Glory of Sathya Sai”.then assured them that they would followBhagavan’s teachings. At the end of thisprogramme, there was a brief session ofBhajans which were led by Bal Vikas children.Then there was distribution of Prasadam. Theprogramme came to a close at 6.15 p.m. withArati to Bhagavan.Religions and Rituals: A very educative andilluminating programme about the tenets,rituals and customs of five major religions ofthe world, viz., Hinduism, Christianity, Judaism,Zoroastrianism and Islam was presentedby the Bal Vikas children of Tamil Nadu,Delhi, Kerala, Maharashtra and UttarPradesh respectively on the morning of 23rdOctober 2005. The programme portrayed theunderlying unity of all religions in spite of theirdifferent customs and rituals and conveyed thecentral message of Bhagavan Sri Sathya SaiBaba’s teachings: “There is only onereligion, the religion of love”. Theprogramme which started after the355 November 2005

Scenes from the programme on tenets, customs and rituals of major religions of the world.arrival of Bhagavan in Sai Kulwant Hall at 8.25a.m. came to a close at 10.40 a.m. with Aratito Bhagavan.Sai Prema Dhara: A stream of divine loveflowed to its brim in Sai Kulwant Hall, PrasanthiNilayam on the evening of 23rd October 2005when the students of Sri Sathya Sai PrimarySchool presented a magnificent culturalprogramme entitled “Sai Prema Dhara” in theDivine Presence of their Beloved Bhagavan.Bhagavan came to Sai Kulwant Hall at 4.45p.m. amidst chanting of sacred Vedic hymnsA scene from the drama “Sai Prema Dhara” enacted by thestudents of Sri Sathya Sai Primary School, Prasanthi Nilayam.and a beautiful welcome song by the students.The programme began with the theme songand dance by the children at 5.10 p.m.Thereafter unfolded the saga of unboundedlove and grace of Bhagavan through depictionof various episodes related to His childhooddays, which kept the audience spellboundfor next one hour or so. The presentation wasmade interesting through a dialogue betweentwo students dressed as Prof. Kasturi and Dr.Hislop, two old devotees of Bhagavan.Excellent acting of the children, perfectchoreography, well chosen devotionalsongs, appropriate dialogues, brilliantcostumes and make-up, thrilling musicand scintillating dances by childrenwere the hallmarks of this wonderfulpresentation. Fast movement of thescenes and excellent video supporton the screen spoke volumes aboutthe superb direction of the programme.Bhagavan sat through the entirepresentation, blessed the children inthe end and posed for photographswith them. This most enchantingprogramme came to a close with Aratito Bhagavan at 6.30 p.m.Heritage Sports and Games of RuralIndia: Rural India came alive in SaiNovember 2005 356

Bal Vikas children displaying heritage sportsand games of rural India.Kulwant Hall, Prasanthi Nilayam when BalVikas children of West Bengal, Jharkhandand Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa andMaharashtra presented an absorbing displayof some rural sports and games, namely,Daria Bandha, Dariya, Top and Karra Samu,Puchhi and Atya-Patya, respectively. Theprogramme which commenced at 9.30 a.m.on 24th October 2005 kept the viewersspellbound for nearly half an hour as all theteams demonstrated exceptional skill in theperformance of these games and sports whichform a rich cultural heritage of Bharat.Talks by Bal Vikas Children: Thisprogramme was followed by talks of three BalVikas children, Master Shivadeep Hans ofHaryana, Master K. Mukund of Andhra Pradeshand Kumari Chandani of Gujarat. Showing anexceptional grip on his subject of talk,Shivadeep explained the teachings ofBhagavan. Thereafter, Kumari Chandanigave an absorbing narration of some of thechildhood Leelas (divine play) ofBhagavan. In the end, K. Mukundexplained how Bhagavan is inculcatingvalues in children like a dotingmother and guiding their path like acaring father.Children’s Expression of Love forBhagavan through DevotionalSongs: The morning programme on24th October 2005 concluded withthree devotional songs by the BalVikas children. Brilliant danceperformance of the children coupledwith sweet songs full of devotion andset to divine music made a befittingdevotional offering of the childrenrepresenting all parts of India to theirBeloved Bhagavan. The songs anddances were followed by Bhajans which werealso led by Bal Vikas children. The morningprogramme came to a close at 10.45 a.m. withArati to Bhagavan.This unique gathering of thousands of BalVikas children from all parts of India was animportant milestone in the history of Bal Vikasmovement. It was an excellent opportunity forthe students to live with their peers from otherparts of India and get acquainted with the richculture of Bharat.Drama on Tulsidas and Kanakadas: TheBal Vikas children of Tamil Nadu presented adrama on the life of two great poet saints ofIndia, Sant Tulsidas and Bhakta Kanakadasin the evening on 24th October 2005. Theprogramme commenced with a devotionalsong in prayer to Bhagavan Sri Sathya SaiBaba, the universal teacher of mankind. Thefirst part of the drama portrayed the life ofTulsidas and the second, the life of Kanakadas.Beautiful dances and acting of the childrensupported by appropriate commentaryand sweet devotional songs effectively357 November 2005

A scene from the drama on Kanakadas. (Inset) A scenefrom the drama on Tulsidas.depicted the life stories of these two poet saintsand brought forth the teachings of Bhagavanon the efficacy of Nama Sankirtan (singingthe glories of God) as the primary meansof man’s redemption in Kali Yuga. Theprogramme which began at 5.45 p.m. cameto a close with Arati to Bhagavan at 6.40 p.m.All India Bal Vikas Gurus Conference2005The All India Conference of Bal Vikas Guruswas held at Prasanthi Nilayam on 25th and26th October 2005, in which more than 2,500Bal Vikas Gurus from all the States of Indiaparticipated. Bhagavan Sri Sathya SaiBaba inaugurated the Conference andblessed the participants with His DivineDiscourse in the Inaugural Session.Inaugural Session: The Inaugural Session ofthe Conference was held on the morning of25th October 2005. Bhagavan came to SaiKulwant Hall, the venue of the InauguralSession, at 8.00 a.m. amidst chantingof Vedic Mantras. After coming tothe dais, Bhagavan graciouslyinaugurated the Conference bylighting the sacred lamp at 8.10a.m. The proceedings of theConference after its inaugurationby Bhagavan began with Vedachanting and a song on the themeof Bal Vikas by Bal Vikas Gurus.Before the Divine Discourse ofBhagavan, two speakers addressedthe participants. The first speakerwas Smt. Sarla Shah, All IndiaEducation Coordinator. Smt. Shahinformed the audience that BalVikas, started by Bhagavan in asmall way in 1969, had now becomea big movement with 11,000 BalVikas classes with 2 lakh 18 thousand BalVikas children in India. Smt. Shah added thatit had also achieved qualitative advancementby adopting the concept of educare which wasbringing about total transformation in children.The next speaker was Sri Nimish Pandya,Member, Sri Sathya Sai Trust, Maharashtra.Sri Pandya observed that Bal Vikas was aprecious divine gift of Bhagavan to Bal VikasGurus, through which they could communicatetheir divine love in a most beautiful way to BalVikas children. Quoting an axiom of Bhagavan,Sri Pandya stated that it was love which couldbring peace and happiness in the home,society, nation and world.Thereafter, Bhagavan blessed theparticipants with His Divine Message whichprovided valuable guidelines for thedeliberations of the Conference. Bhagavanexhorted the Bal Vikas Gurus to understandand practise educare which was concernedwith the knowledge of the soul.Bhagavan observed further thatNovember 2005 358

instead of gathering information from books,one should know one’s true identity by askingoneself, “Who am I?” This, Bhagavan said, wastrue knowledge. After Bhagavan’s Discourse,there was chanting of Vedic Mantras for abouthalf an hour. The Inaugural Session of theConference came to a close with Arati toBhagavan at 9.45 a.m. Prasadam wasdistributed to all in the end.Plenary Sessions: After this, Plenary Sessionof the Conference was held in PoornachandraAuditorium. Bhagavan graced the occasion byHis Divine Presence during the deliberationsof the Plenary Session on 25th October 2005.The venue of Plenary Sessions on 26thOctober 2005 was also the same. In thePlenary Sessions, the participants deliberatedon various subjects concerning the conceptand practice of Bal Vikas, which included: SriSathya Sai Bal Vikas as a Milestone in theDivine Mission; Sri Sathya Sai Bal Vikas – aWay of Life; Unity of Thought, Word and Deed;Unity, Purity and Divinity; Importance ofThought Management; Character and Habits;Integration of Five Techniques (silent sitting,story telling, group singing, group activities,prayer); Guiding Posts of Bal Vikas; Role ofBal Vikas Gurus; Role of Parents in Bal Vikas;Sri Sathya Sai Bal Vikas as the Core of DivineMission of Bhagavan.Valedictory Session: The Valedictory Sessionof the Conference commenced in Sai KulwantHall after the arrival of Bhagavan at 3.50 p.m.on 26th October 2005. At the outset, SriNimish Pandya presented the summary ofproceedings of the morning session held inPoornachandra Auditorium. Thereafter, heintroduced the speakers who were blessed byBhagavan to speak in this session.The first speaker was Dr. Usha Nair,a Bal Vikas Guru from MadhyaPradesh. Dr. Nair dwelt on the effect of BalVikas on rural children and gave instanceshow Bal Vikas had brought abouttransformation in them. The next speaker wasSmt. Nimmi Kanwar, All India Joint EducationCoordinator. Smt. Kanwar paid tributes toMother Easwaramma and expressed gratitudeto Bhagavan who is the guiding spirit of theBal Vikas movement. She then placed therecommendations of the Conference at theLotus Feet of Bhagavan for His blessings.The next speaker was Sri Anil VinayakGokak, Vice Chancellor, Sri Sathya Sai Instituteof Higher Learning who observed that BalVikas was a very important component ofeducare which helped the child to manifest hisdivine potential. The last speaker was Smt.Jayashree Bajaj who observed that it wasexpansion of love that could give us therealisation of divinity in the entire creation andmake us realise our innate divinity and unityof all mankind. At the end of her speech,Bhagavan showered His blessings on thespeaker and materialised a gold chain and aring for her. This brought a spontaneousapplause from the participants and devotees.The deliberations of the Conference endedwith Arati to Bhagavan at 5.30 p.m.First National Conference of formerBal Vikas StudentsThe First National Conference of former BalVikas students was held at Prasanthi Nilayamon 28th October 2005 after the conclusion ofthe Bal Vikas children’s meet and Bal VikasGurus Conference held on earlier dates.On the morning of 28th October 2005,Bhagavan came to Sai Kulwant Hall at 9.15a.m. and blessed the participants anddevotees with His Divine Darshan.After coming to the dais, Bhagavan359 November 2005

graciously inaugurated the Conference bylighting the sacred lamp at 9.25 a.m.Thereafter, Sri V. Srinivasan, All IndiaPresident, Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisationmade an introductory speech. At the outset,Sri Srinivasan welcomed all the participantsto Prasanthi Nilayam, which, he said, wasverily their home. The speaker outlined thesteps for extending the scope of Bal Vikasprogramme which could usher in an era ofpeace and harmony in the world afflicted byviolence and conflict. Stressing the need forimprovement in the quality of this programme,Sri Srinivasan however informed the audienceabout its phenomenal expansion by telling thatthere were at present 30,000 Samithis,Mandalis, centres of Sai Organisation in Indiawith one million members. Sri Srinivasan thenintroduced the speakers who were blessed byBhagavan to narrate their experiences how BalVikas had influenced their life.The first speaker was Sri SathyanarayanaR. Kumar of Karnataka who narrated howBhagavan came into his life at an early agewhen He visited their house. He said that hewas lucky to be born in a Sai family, and laterin life he had always felt the presence ofBhagavan in all the places of worship visitedby him. The second speaker Smt. MeenakshiDey of West Bengal narrated how theteachings of Duty, Devotion, Discriminationand Determination learnt by her in Bal Vikasclasses had saved her at many critical periodsof her life. The third speaker was Dr. SumitThakar of Andhra Pradesh, who narrated hownine years of Bal Vikas course influenced histhinking so that he could discriminate betweengood and bad in life. It was the impact of BalVikas which prompted him, he said, to considerall his patients as divine. The last speaker wasSmt. Krishna Priya Mohanty who said that BalVikas revealed to the students their innerstrength and it was a strong foundation of theirlife. The morning programme came to a closewith Arati to Bhagavan at 10.55 a.m.In the afternoon, the programmecommenced after the arrival of Bhagavan inSai Kulwant Hall at 3.55 p.m. At the outset, SriNimish Pandya gave a summary of theproceedings of the Conference sessions heldin Poornachandra Auditorium and presentedthe recommendations made by theparticipants. Sri Pandya stated that Bal Vikasstudents felt beholden to Bhagavan forever forall that He had done to transform their life. Theyhad full confidence that omnipresent Bhagavanwas always with them in all difficult periods oflife, Sri Pandya stated. Thereafter, Bhagavanblessed the participants and devotees with HisDivine Discourse in which He exhorted themto follow Sathya and Dharma in life anddevelop firm faith in God to make their lifenoble and ideal. The programme came to aclose with Arati at 5.45 p.m.FLIGHT SERVICES TO PUTTAPARTHI (PRASANTHI NILAYAM)Chennai Puttaparthi Hyderabad Puttaparthi}Air Deccan12.20 13.20 15.05 16.15 w.e.f. 12th17.30 16.30 14.45 13.35 November 2005BangalorePuttaparthi}*Indian Airlines w.e.f. 14th10.30 11.00November 2005 (Monday,12.05 11.35Thursday, Saturday)*Enquiries: Ph: 08555-287444, 287484November 2005 360

BABA: THE RESERVOIR OF GENEROSITYANDDRINKING WATER PROJECTSR. Kondal RaoAUNIQUE FEATURE OF THEDivine Mission of Bhagavan SriSathya Sai Baba is massivehumanitarian work which hasbenefited millions of people in all parts of theworld. As part of this Mission, Sri Sathya SaiCentral Trust under the benign guidance ofBhagavan established educational institutionsand medical institutions and hospitals for theservice of mankind. As an extension of this,Bhagavan desired to provide pure drinkingwater, which is important for the survival ofmankind. The emphasis was on providingpure drinking water to the needy poor, whosuffer due to chemical impurities in water suchas excess fluoride.As a first step in this direction, a NationalFluorosis Seminar was held in Puttaparthiin 1994 under Bhagavan’s guidance.Administrators,scientists,engineersand voluntary organisations representingdifferent fields attended this seminar anddiscussed measures to be taken to providepure drinking water to the people. Bhagavangave the message that provision of puredrinking water was to be taken up as a missionas many parts of the State of Andhra Pradeshsuffered from scarcity of water and excessfluoride in ground water. Anantapur is one ofthe districts affected by excess fluoride inground water.Bhagavan suggested to the thenPrime Minister of India, late Sri P.V.Narasimha Rao during his visit to PrasanthiNilayam on 22nd November 1994 at the timeof the Convocation of Sri Sathya Sai Instituteof Higher Learning about the need to takemeasures for providing pure drinking waterto the areas in Rayalaseema region whichsuffered from scarcity of water. Bhagavanalso suggested that rivers like Krishna,Tungabhadra should be harnessed to quenchthe thirst of Rayalaseema people and thatmajor rivers should be interlinked. Bhagavandeclared, “If there is constraint of funds, I willprovide the funds, even up to 200 crore rupeesfor fulfilling the needs of the people”.Sri Sathya Sai Drinking Water SupplyProject, Anantapur DistrictIt is in this context that Bhagavan Babainitiated a massive drinking water supplyproject in Anantapur district in 1995. This isnow known as Sri Sathya Sai Drinking WaterSupply Project. I feel blessed for having hadthe great privilege of being closely associatedwith this project.It was Bhagavan’s direction that schemeswith reliable sources of water should be takenup even if the cost is substantial. It was achallenging task to provide drinking water toabout 730 villages suffering from scarcity andexcess fluoride. Pipelines were laid to a lengthof about 2500 km within a span of about oneyear.The project was taken up in rightearnest. Bhagavan created a specialteam for its efficient and quick361 November 2005

Slow Sand Filters at Bukkarayasamudram 1 Headworks.execution. The work was entrusted to Larsen& Toubro Limited, a company which had theexpertise in construction and projectmanagement and most importantly, devotionto Bhagavan.It is the good fortune of the people ofAnantapur district that Bhagavan Babaprovided sufficient funds for the execution ofsuch a massive drinking water project whichwas completed in record time by His grace.Bhagavan was keen that the quality of workshould be of a high order and that details likesand bedding under the pipes should betaken care of. Bhagavan’s generosity knowsno bounds and His love is as vast as Hiscreation. Bhagavan makes no distinctionbetween rich and poor, urban and rural.During the execution of the schemes, manyrepresentations were made to Swami forproviding drinking water to additionaltowns and villages. In response to suchrepresentations, Swami directed that townslike Anantapur, Dharmavaram should beincluded. The scope of Bhagavan’s projectgot extended and the cost of the projectwas about 300 crore rupees.Sri Sathya Sai DrinkingWater Supply Project started inMarch 1995 on war footing andbecame a reality when Bhagavaninaugurated the first phase ofthe project covering about 150villages. The drinking waterscheme to Anantapur town wasinaugurated by the then PrimeMinister on 18th November1995 and pumping main to thePeddakotla - Puttaparthi line bythe then President of India on23rd November 1995 (70thBirthday of Bhagavan). The entire scheme wascommissioned after stabilisation period andpure drinking water was supplied to about 730villages from November 1996. By Bhagavan’sgrace, drinking water is now being supplied toall these places without any dislocation. Themagnitude of the project can be gauged fromthe following figures: No. of villages covered731, population benefited 9 lakh (ultimatedesign 12 lakh), project cost about 300 crorerupees, length of pipes 2500 km, overheadreservoirs 268, ground-level reservoirs 149,summer storage tanks 8, infiltration wells 20,booster stations 56, borewells 280.Out of the 731 villages, 451 are coveredby comprehensive schemes and thebalance 280 villages by individual borewellsas sources. Water is taken from assuredsources like Tungabhadra canals, PennaAhobilam balancing reservoir, Chitravathi riverand infiltration wells in Penna and Hagaririvers.To ensure proper maintenance of thecompleted schemes, the Government ofAndhra Pradesh has formed anautonomous board, namely, Sri362 November 2005

Sathya Sai Drinking Water Supply Board.Bhagavan’s grace continued even duringthe maintenance phase of the project.Bhagavan allowed the use of materials fromthe Central Trust for maintenance, whichhelped in the supply of drinking water to allthe villages.Sri Sathya Sai Drinking Water Projectfor Mahaboobnagar and MedakDistrictsAfter completion of the project taken upin Anantapur district, Bhagavan desired toprovide drinking water to the people of twodrought-stricken districts in Telanganaregion. The result is the implementation ofdrinking water projects in Mahaboobnagar andMedak districts at a total cost of about 60crore rupees covering nearly 150 villages inMahaboobnagar district and 179 villages inMedak district.Sri Sathya Sai Ganga Canal Project forChennaiDuring the year 2002, Bhagavanannounced that He would provide drinkingwater to Chennai, which had been sufferingfrom acute shortage of drinking water withcontinuous droughts. The city’s population isNovember 2005 363Intake well at Parevula in River Krishna – Makthal(Mahaboobnagar). Comprehensive Protected WaterSupply Scheme (in the background).about 5 million now and the projectedpopulation for the year 2021 is 6.75 million.The water supply is presently maintained atabout 250 mld (million litres per day) for thecity. Various alternatives to provide drinkingwater to Chennai were examined and it wasfinally decided to facilitate provision of drinkingwater from Krishna river at a cost of about 200crore rupees by improving Telugu GangaCanal.Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust, under thebenign guidance of Bhagavan Sri Sathya SaiBaba, took up the scheme of improving theT“I have decided to work towardsbringing drinking water to Chennai,no matter how difficult and costlythe task is.” Thus, Bhagavan madethe announcement during thecourse of His Discourse on the FirstAnniversary of Sri Sathya SaiInstitute of Higher MedicalSciences, (Whitefield), Bangalore.T

existing infrastructure of KandaleruPoondi canal system through which theagreed quantum of 12 tmc of water atTamil Nadu border could be conveyed.This scheme was not only to ensure fullquantum of water being conveyed toChennai city but also help irrigation of 3lakh acres of land in Nellore and Chittoordistricts of Andhra Pradesh. This wasone of the most important schemestaken up on humanitarian grounds,which enabled supply of adequatedrinking water to Chennai city, significantsections of its population being underthe category of urban poor. The entirescheme was taken up at the request ofGovernment of Andhra Pradesh to improveKandaleru Poondi canal, which is nowrenamed as ‘Sri Sathya Sai Ganga Canal’ bythe Government of Andhra Pradesh as a markof respect to Bhagavan.Sri Sathya Sai Drinking Water SupplyProject for East and West GodavariDistrictsBhagavan’s mission to provide water to thepoor continues and as a result, a major projectcovering about 500 habitations in tribal areasand uplands of East Godavari and WestGodavari districts has been taken up at a costof nearly 100 crore rupees.The upland and backward areas of EastGodavari, which are mainly inhabited by tribalsand poor people, depend mostly on borewellsand streams for their drinking water needs.The borewells are getting dry and water levelsare going down year after year due toexcessive usage of ground water. Further, thenatural stream waters are bacterialogicallyunsafe and require treatment. Further,borewell water contains excess iron insome pockets.21.75 mld Treatment Works in progress at Hukumpetain West Godavari district.It is proposed to provide drinking water toabout 220 habitations covering a populationof about 2.30 lakh, with provision for expansionfor another 1 lakh population in East Godavaridistrict. In West Godavari district, it isproposed to provide drinking water to its 220habitations covering a population of 4.70 lakh.The surface water will be filtered throughtreatment plants and supplied to varioushabitations through pipelines. Two sourceshave been selected for drinking water. One isthe Godavari river and the second Pamuleru,which is a tributary of Godavari and flowsthroughout the year.The details given above concerningdifferent projects convey the range and scopeof work relating to drinking water supply byBhagavan. There has been no parallel effortof this nature by any other charitableorganisation. Bhagavan’s is indeed a uniqueeffort.It is a great blessing of Bhagavan that Ihave had the opportunity of being associatedwith these projects as a designer andalso as part of the execution team.364 November 2005

GLOBAL SAI HEALTH MISSIONDr. Narendranath ReddyIN A HISTORIC LETTER DATED 25THMay 1947, Bhagavan Sri Sathya SaiBaba, at the tender age of twenty,stated: “I have a task: To foster all mankindand ensure for all of them lives full of bliss. Ihave a vow: To lead all who stray away fromthe straight path again into goodness and savethem. I am attached to a work that I love: Toremove the sufferings of the poor and grantthem what they lack.”Putting this resolute declaration intopractice, Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba hasbeen working incessantly to bring about thejoyous experience of compassion and love toall mankind all over the world. While the workof Bhagavan has spanned social upliftment,education, healthcare and spirituality, it is theimmeasurable impact He has had in each ofthese fields that sets His work apart. Whatfollows is a small description of the expanseof His Healthcare Mission over the last fiftyyears.Sai Ideal HealthcareWhile there can be many hospitals for thepoor, Bhagavan believed that free healthcare,like free education and water, is an inalienableright of every individual. The public healthcareprojects began when Mother Easwarammasuggested to Bhagavan to start a hospital forthe poor. Thus began the mission. Baba laidthe foundation stone of the first free Sri SathyaSai General Hospital in Puttaparthi on 23rdNovember 1954. The five-room hospital with8 beds was inaugurated on 4th October1956. Soon this hospital began treatingas many as 200 patients daily.365 November 2005Bhagavan visited the hospital often and evenlooked after the patients Himself. In nearly 50years since, Bhagavan’s Healthcare Missionhas blossomed into a vast global systemdelivering free healthcare in several countriespractising the principles of Sai Ideal Healthcareas taught by Bhagavan.Healthcare implemented by Bhagavan hasalways been universally accessible, state-ofthe-artmodern medicine and deliveredwith immense love, patience, altruistic care andcompassion. His Healthcare Mission involvesthousands of healthcare professionals in theworld who espouse His philosophy and workunder His direction so that:1. State-of-the-art healthcare is madeavailable to all people.2. Economic considerations do not preventanyone from receiving the highestbenefits of healthcare.3. Healthcare is delivered with love andcompassion.4. Healthcare includes treatment of thebody, mind, and spirit.5. Prevention is a primary focus.What began in 1956 as 8-bed Sri SathyaSai General Hospital, Puttaparthi is now a 100-bed hospital. Today the hospital serves peoplefrom distant villages. Specialists from the worldover come here for an experience of selflessservice and love. To the villagers it is state-ofthe-arthealthcare next door. Besides thehospital in Puttaparthi, Sri Sathya Sai GeneralHospital, Whitefield near Bangalore wasstarted in 1976. This hospital has in its threedecadehistory treated over 2.20 million casesfrom as many as 2,100 villages.In addition, Bhagavan has built twomajor Super Speciality Hospitals, oneeach in Puttaparthi and Bangalore,November 2005 315

delivering tertiary healthcare. The hospitals ofBhagavan are a shining example of how idealhealthcare should be provided even to thepoorest of poor patient with love andcompassion without any charge whatsoever.Inspired by Bhagavan and with Hisblessings, Sri Sathya Sai Heart Hospital,Rajkot, Gujarat was set up by Sri Sathya SaiSeva Organisation of Gujarat in 1998. This isthe only hospital of its kind in Gujarat and thesurrounding States offering quality healthcareservices absolutely free to the weaker sectionsof society.Besides, Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisationshave conducted 39,500 medical camps all overIndia from 2003-2005 in which 5.2 millionpatients have been seen. The Organisationalso runs 24-hour blood donation serviceswhich have received 28,625 donors in the lasttwo years. In several cities 387 dental campshave been conducted in which 53,256 patientshave been seen and treated. Bhagavan hasalso inspired 1983 eye camps serving 146,780patients, leprosy camps which served 1060patients and multispecialty camps includingpolio, diabetes and school health camps.Veterinary camps are also held regularly,and to date a total of 388 veterinary campshave been conducted in which 34,811 animalshave been treated.International Delivery of Sai IdealHealthcareFrom its humble beginnings in India,Bhagavan’s Healthcare Mission has nowachieved global proportions. In order tofacilitate international activities withsustained energy and enthusiasm, anInternational Medical Committee was setup with Bhagavan’s blessings. Theseinternational activities can be broadlyBhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba hassaid that the duty of the physicianis not only to treat with love andcompassion but to educatepatients in healthy living and thusprevent frequent visits to thephysician and hospitals. Besidesthis, a task was undertaken toeducate healthcare professionalsin the principles and significanceof Sai Ideal Healthcare. The firststep in this task was theInternational Medical Conferenceorganised in September 2005.classified under Ongoing HealthcareDelivery, Disaster Relief, Medical Campsand Healthcare Services, Disease Preventionand Health Education.Ongoing Healthcare DeliverySri Lanka: A hospice built by the Sathya SaiOrganisation of Sri Lanka has been inoperation since 2002 to provide loving,compassionate care for terminally ill cancerpatients. As one enters the hospice precinctsone sees the gleaming white dome of theattractive Sarva Dharma shrine. Since itsinauguration, 65 patients have been lookedafter in the hospice.Philippines: A periodic monthly clinic is runin the Philippines where about 100 patientsare seen each month. In addition to generalmedical care and health screening, acutecases are referred to local hospitalsand the expenses for some of the366 November 2005

Cancer Hospice built by the Sathya Sai Organisation of Sri Lanka.cases treated in the local hospitals are paidfor by the Sai Organisation.Indonesia: For the last five years, acontinuing effort to provide free surgeries tothe poor has been undertaken in Indonesia.As of September 2005, 313 free surgerieshave been performed for hernia, lymphoma,cancer and heart disease. The Sathya SaiOrganisation has provided free vaccinationfor hepatitis-B since 1997 for 11337 children.Free clinics are conducted in Jakarta andMedan on a daily basis providing treatment to150 patients everyday.El Salvador: For the last 13 years, a regularfree medical clinic is operated by the SathyaSai Organisation in El Salvador, where nearly12,000 patients have so far been treated.Mexico: Since January 2001, the Sathya SaiBaba Organisation of Mexico has beenrunning a medical dispensary, entirely free ofcharge in one of the poorest and mostpopulated neighbourhoods of Iztapalapadistrict in Mexico City. To date, it has providedhealthcare to more than 20,000 patientsGuatemala: For the past 8 years, a freemedical clinic is conducted 4 times a week inthe premises of the Sai Centre in Guatemala.November 2005 367140 patients are seen each monthfor diagnosis and treatment.Ghana: Since 1978, the SathyaSai Baba Organisation has beenorganising a medical camp everyFriday in Ghana and has treatedabout 5,000 patients since itsinception.Zimbabwe: For the last 14years, a home is voluntarily run tohelp the HIV victims by a Danishcouple who have been Saidevotees for many years. Manyorphans who are the victims of the HIVepidemic are served with Sai love in this home.South Africa: In 1984, a blood donationprogramme was initiated by Sri Sathya SaiOrganisation of South Africa. After 21 years,they are still actively conducting the blooddonation drive and on an average 10,000 pintsof blood are donated each year. Between 2003and 2005, 30 medical camps were held and1,620 eye glasses were distributed afterscreening 2,700 patients.Africa: With the blessings of Bhagavan, 3,244cataract surgeries had been preformed untilSeptember 2005 in Nigeria, Mombasa,Ghana, Malawi, South Africa and Zimbabwe.Abu Dhabi: A free Sai medical clinic isoperational on all Sundays and alternateFridays offering services like medicines,annual physical check-up and laboratory tests.There are also regular medical camps everymonth serving approximately 100 patients.New Zealand: In New Zealand, 8 medicalcamps were organised from March 2004 toJuly 2005 focusing on disease prevention,education and health screening.USA: In Northern California, USA, a freemedical clinic was opened on 8th January

2005. This is called the Ashland Free MedicalClinic and is entirely run by volunteer staff.About 12-15 patients are seen every Saturdayfor a variety of ailments and treatment isprovided to the patients free of charge.Disaster ReliefBhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba has beenorganising effective worldwide emergencyrelief from natural disasters occurring inseveral countries. Relief has been organisedfor victims of earthquakes in South America,tsunami in Asia, hurricanes in the USA andconflict-torn regions of the world.In December 2004, the world was shakenby the devastation caused by the Asiantsunami. Soon after, the damage wasassessed through personal visits by Dr.Reddy, Dr. Goldstein and scout teams. Reliefwas delivered within a few weeks. Support wasdelivered to deep and secluded areas ofcountries that were not readily accessible toseveral non-governmental organisations.Several teams from the USA, Canada,Argentina, Australia, Malaysia, Thailand,Philippines and the UK worked in places thatwere worst hit by the disaster to provideimmediate and follow-up relief. About 30,000consultations in various specialties, 800cataract surgeries, grief counselling tothousands of people and 7000 pairs of eyeglasses were provided.The Overseas Sathya Sai Organisation hadalso provided quick response and medical helpafter the earthquakes of Talpetate, El Salvadorin 2001 and the February, 2004 earthquakein Karangasem village of East Bali.In the USA, the recent hurricanes Katrinaand Rita had swept the States of Louisianaand Texas in a rage of one of the worstnatural disasters in American history.The two States had several millionHealthcare Mission of BhagavanSri Sathya Sai Baba has blossomedfrom a free hospital in India tospan several continents activelydelivering free state-of-the-artmedical care and primaryprevention with love, compassionand a patient-centred approach.people displaced and turned into refugeesovernight. The Sathya Sai Organisation of theUSA responded swiftly and organised medicaland emergency relief.Medical Camps and Healthcare ServicesIn addition to disaster relief, the OverseasSathya Sai Organisation has conducted freemedical camps and charitable healthcareservices in several countries. The global reachand magnitude of this effort has drawn widesupport and appreciation from local media anddignitaries.A total of 336 medical camps wereconducted in the last 12 months when 77,000patients were seen spanning the worldfrom Argentina to Zambia, in 30countries and 6 continents. The camps368 November 2005

Healthcare. The first stepin this task was theInternational MedicalConference organised inSeptember 2005.Thisconference was unique andthe first of its kind in the worldto focus on delivering medicalcare with love, compassionand empathy.Bhagavan’s message toTsunami relief activities undertaken in Sri Lanka.the healthcare profession isclear. Healthcare delivery must be patientcenteredand suffused with compassion, loveand genuine concern for the physical, mentaland spiritual well-being of the patient. It isremarkable that this holistic approach tohealthcare delivery was mirrored in theMedical Conference from its initialconceptualisation to the final valedictoryclosing. The delegates took this message andexperience to their homeland and, throughprovide primary care, internal medicine,paediatrics, obstetrics-gynaecology andspecialties like cardiology, endocrinology,gastroenterology and ophthalmology. Patienteducation is offered for heart disease,hypertension, diabetes, asthma and smokingcessation. Thus, the medical camps serve anessential role in the Global Sai Health Missionby providing easily accessible healthcare tothe poor and needy.In order to combat the spread ofmalaria, Sri Sathya Sai BabaOrganisation of Kenya has embarkedon a remarkable mission called “SainetProject” to provide mosquito nets to thehigh-risk people such as pregnantwomen and children below 5 years ofage.Health Education and Disseminationof Sai Ideal HealthcareBhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba has saidthat the duty of the physician is not only totreat with love and compassion but toeducate patients in healthy living and thusprevent frequent visits to the physicianand hospitals. Besides this, a task wasundertaken to educate healthcareprofessionals in the principlesand significance of Sai IdealNovember 2005 369Sainet Project of Kenya is the first of its kind tocombat the menace of malaria.their own example, will serve as beacons andexamples of Bhagavan’s teachings.Healthcare Mission of Bhagavan Sri SathyaSai Baba has blossomed from a free hospitalin India to span several continents activelydelivering free state-of-the-art medical careand primary prevention with love,compassion and a patient-centredapproach.

Helping the Less-privileged Sectionsof Society1. Organising Narayana Seva by distributingfood and clothes to needy people.2. Organising free food centres for needypeople.3. Providing Amruta Kalasham (bag of fooditems) to needy families.4. Providing rugs and blankets duringwinter season to poor people.5. Providing Sai Protein to meet thenutritional needs of poor people.6. Organising systematic poverty alleviationschemes for the most needy sections ofsociety by adopting needy families.7. Organising Grama Seva in villages forconducting programmes of total villageuplift.8. Providing training and means of selfemploymentto needy people.9. Providing training and efficienttool kits to plumbers, electricians,carpenters and other trained professionalworkers to make them self-reliant.10. Organising self-help groups in villages formaintaining sanitation and for constructingpublic utility conveniences like approachroads, water storage tanks, busshelters, etc.11. Constructing houses / shelters for thosewho are without shelter.November 2005 370

12. Providing help inrepairing of housesfor those who live indilipidated orunsafe houses.13. Setting up orphanagesto take care ofdestitute children.14. Setting up old age homes for old people.15. Organising visits to old age homes tohelp aged people.16. Providing drinking water to people inscarcity affected areas by diggingwells and setting up watersupply schemes in ruraland remote areas.17. Providing electricsupply to remote areaswhich are still withoutelectricity.18. Organising cleanlinessdrives in villages.19. Adopting villages forvillage upliftprogrammes.20. Providing theservices ofagriculturalscientists tofarmers at their doorstep to improve theagricultural yield.21. Conducting mass marriages to save onwasteful expenditure on marriages.22. Organising rehabilitation programmesfor homeless street children.23. Providing tricycles to physically challengedpersons to make them mobile.24. Conducting Seva camps during religiousfairs for providing sanitation, medical aidand guidance to pilgrims.25. Conducting youth camps to guide theyouth on the path of Seva and spirituality.371 November 200526. Conducting youthcamps to providetraining in disastermanagement.27. Organisingdisaster managementduring calamitieslike floods, earthquakes, etc., forsaving lives of people.28. Organising relief measures for therehabilitation of victims of disasters.29. Setting up small-scale village industriesfor providing employment to villagers,especially the housewives to utilisetheir spare time and increase theincome of the family.30.. Providing electronicdevices like iCARE developedby Sathya Sai Organisationof Arizona (U.S.A.) to helpthe visually challengedpersons to read books and toidentify people.31. Helping the villagers tomake water safe fordrinking bychlorination ofwells and watertanks.32. Setting upagricultural institutes fortraining the children of farmers in bettertechniques of farming.33. Providing value-based education tostudents for proper use of water and othernatural resources so as to avoid wastage.34. Organising tree plantation drives forplanting more trees to combatdeforestation.35. Conducting surveys in villages forproviding need-based services to thevillagers.36. Organising Bhajans, meditation andlectures in jails for the reformation of theinmates.

Healthcare for all37. Conductinghealth check-upcamps andorganising healtheducation meets toprevent the spread of diseases.38. Putting up health education exhibitionsto provide guidance to people on healtheducation.39. Organising medical campsfor providing freemedicare to underprivilegedsections ofsociety in villages,urban slums andremote areas.40. Setting up freehomoeopathic,ayurvedic andallopathic dispensariesto dispense medicines toneedy people.41. Setting up hospitals for providing freemedical treatment to less privilegedsections of society.42. Setting up hospices for terminally illpatients like the one set up by the SathyaSai Seva Organisation of Sri Lanka.43. Organising malaria eradicationprogrammes like the Sainet Projectstarted by the Sai Organisation in Kenya.44. Organising visits to spastic homes tohelp spastic children.45. Setting up leprosy home forrehabilitating lepers and providingtreatment to them.46. Setting up schools for deaf and dumbchildren for their rehabilitation.One single act of service offered to the Godwhom you visualise in anotheris worth all the years of yearning for God.47.Providinghearing aids andspectacles toneedy people.48.Providingartificial limbs to needyphysically challenged people.49. Organising medical help and counsellingto mentally challenged people.50. Setting up schools for the visuallychallenged.51. Monitoring and improving the healthand nutritional needs of expectingmothers.52. Providing health check-ups inschools and colleges forstudents.53.Organising special medicalcamps for drug de-addiction andfreedom from bad habits likesmoking.54. Visiting hospitals and distributinggifts with humility and love to patients onvarious festive occasions.55. Conducting free veterinary camps fortreating domestic animals in rural areas.56. Providing the services of livestockexperts to villagers at their doorstep forimproving the health of the livestock, andfor the eradication of diseases of thelivestock.Education for all57. Setting up schools, colleges and othereducational institutions for providing freevalue-based education to students.58. Conducting literacy classes toeradicate illiteracy in rural areas, urbanslums and other backward areas.59. Providing scholarships, books and otherteaching and reading material to needyschool children.November 2005 372

60. Conducting free coachingclasses for helpingneedy students.61. Constructing buildingsfor schools in villageswith the help andcooperation of villagers.Moral and Spiritual Regeneration ofMankind62. Conducting Bal Vikas classes for providingeducation in human values to children.63. Conducting seminars to provide valueorientationto school and collegeteachers.64. Conducting interfaithmeetings to fosterlove and harmonybetween followers ofdifferent religions.65. Conducting summercourses on IndianCulture and Spiritualityto spread awarenessabout Bharat’scultural andspiritual heritage.66. Setting up forumsof professionalslike lawyers, professors,businessmen, doctors to provide valueorientationto professionals.67. Setting up exhibitions to spread theteachings of Bhagavan on social service,village uplift and for spreading the valueslike Sathya, Dharma, Santhi, Prema,Ahimsa in society.68. Conducting Pallaki Seva (palanquinprocessions) and Nagar Sankirtan invillages, towns and cities for the spiritualregeneration of people.69. Spreading awareness about the needof values in society through Ratha Yatra,seminars, conferences, etc.70. Organising culturalactivities likedramas, Burra Kathato spread values amongpeople.71. Holding exhibitions andseminars on Sathya Sai Parenting toeducate the parents how to inculcatevalues in children.72. Setting up Sathya Sai Human ValuesInstitutes to train human values teachers.73. Conducting Bhajan classes and Bhajancentres.74. Conducting spiritual retreatsand Sadhana camps for the spiritualadvancement of people.75. Conducting functions likeMass Upanayanam to initiatechildren on spiritual path.76. Conducting Yajnas for thewelfare of the world and promotingthe teaching and learning of Vedasby setting up Vedicschools andhonouring Vedicscholars.77. Publishing books andmagazines and producing films to makepeople aware of the humanitarian workof Bhagavan.78. Producing serials on the Life and Messageof Bhagavan for broadcasting to educatepeople about the ideals of Bhagavan like“Love All Serve All”.79. Producing ACD’s VCD’s, DVD’s on theteachings of Bhagavan to spread valuesin society.80. Holding meetings at local, national andinternational levels to propagate the idealsof morality, ethics, spirituality taught byBhagavan.373 November 2005

Do not Forget the King of KingsChinna KathaONCE THERE WAS A KING WHOruled over his kingdom with greatprudence. All his subjects enjoyedpeace and happiness. However, he becameproud, and thought that he was a great ruler,and peace and happiness that prevailed in hiskingdom were the result of his power andcapability.Once a great man came to the capital cityof his kingdom. For quite some time, this noblesoul immersed the entire populace in bliss andthrill with his sermons. The people alsoexpressed their gratitude tohim by honouring him in aproper manner. Gradually, hisname and fame reached theears of the ministers of thekingdom. They thought oftaking him to the king’s courtto honour him. They placedtheir proposal before the kingwho gave his consent. Theministers went to this nobleman and invited him to theking’s court with greatreverence and humility. Thenoble man said to theministers, “I have nothing to dowith the king. I do not need anybody’s charity.I have no desire to go the king’s palace either.”But the ministers prayed to him with greatsupplication and took him to the king’s palacewith proper honour.They made him sit on a befitting seat inthe king’s court. After some time, theking entered the court amidst welcomehails of minstrels. All the ministers, armycommanders, poets and singers stood up andoffered their salutations to the king. But thisgreat man kept sitting on his seat with eyesclosed. Then the court dancer entered andperformed her dance. Thereafter, the courtsingers sang songs. Applauding theperformance of the dancer and the singers,everybody was immersed in joy and thrill. Onlythis great man remained still with his closedeyes. The indifference shown by this manenraged the king. Perceiving it as an act ofThe king ordered that the great man should be arrestedand beheaded before sunrise the next morning.dishonour to the king, he ordered that heshould be arrested and beheaded beforesunrise the next morning.Soon this shocking news spread in theentire kingdom. Gripped by surprise, fear andawe, people exclaimed in anguish, “What hashappened to the king that he has awardedthis terrible punishment to a nobleman! Surely, one’s intellect becomesNovember 2005 374

perverted when the time of his destructionapproaches.” The noble man was the only onewho remained unperturbed by this news. Hehad the same smile on his faceas before; no trace of agitationor anger was visible on it. Evenwhen you cut a fragrant tree withan axe, it will give fragranceonly.The king however had nosleep after awarding thispunishment to the noble man. Hetherefore thought of talking tohim to set his doubts at rest. So,he sent his guards to bring him.When the noble man came, theking asked him, “What was thereason for you to keep sittingwithout showing even a littlerespect to the king? Does notthis act of yours show dishonourtowards me?” The noble man replied with dueserenity, “Oh king! You have awarded thepunishment of beheading me for showingindifference towards you for a minute or so.But, do you realise that you have been showingindifference to God, who is the king of kings,for such a long time? Didn’t you think that onlyyou were responsible for the peace and... Continued from page 342agencies to bring water both to the school andto the local community in Ndola.Almost all the Sathya Sai Institutes aroundthe world are involved in training the localteachers in Human Values Education. Theteachers who go through such programmesof the Institute realise that human valuescannot be taught, but only demonstrated bythe teachers by their own example. They haveto practise the values and transform375 November 2005happiness in your kingdom? Is this not yourpride? Is this the way to show respect to God?Have you ever thought what type ofThe great man told the king that he had been showingindifference towards God who is the king of kings.punishment God may have decided to awardyou?”This was an eye-opener for the king. Herealised his mistake and shed tears ofrepentance that due to his pride he hadforgotten God who is the basis of everything.He expressed his gratitude to the noble manand honoured him in a most befitting manner.themselves, their schools and theircommunities.Sathya Sai Schools and Institutes have notbeen long established. They are alreadyhaving significant positive impact on theircommunities, governments and educationsystems. It seems highly likely that their impactwill go on increasing and in another decadeor so they will transform education and heralda new era in which human values will permeateall institutions and all human enterprises.

Boys’ Hostel, Sathya Sai Vihar, AlikeValue-based Education in PracticeSRI SATHYA SAI LOKASEVAEDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONSB.N. Narasimha MurthyAMONG THE EDUCATIONALinstitutions which have religiouslyput into practice the ideals of valuebasedsystem of education set forth byBhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, two institutionsof Karnataka State can be ranked as mostoutstanding. These are: Sathya Sai Vihar, Alikeand Sathya Sai Grama, Muddenahalli.Founded by a great visionary and selflessTapasvin (man of penance), late Sri MadiyalNarayan Bhat, these two institutions becamea part of the Divine Mission of Bhagavanwhen He accepted them by a deed ofregistration during His visit to SathyaSai Grama, Muddenahalli on 14th August1978.Under the umbrella of Bhagavan’s divinegrace and direct guidance, the two centresflourished very rapidly, and now they impartvalue-based education to over two thousandstudents from all over India. The centres,which also have hospitals, agriculturalfarms, dairies, a publication division and anorphanage, are manned by a group of 60Tyagajeevis (men of sacrifice) who wereinspired by the ideals of self-sacrifice andselfless service to mankind by theirmentor, Sri Narayan Bhat whom theyNovember 2005 315 376

lovingly called Anna (elder brother). Theyaccepted the vow of lifelong celibacy anddedicated their life to Lokaseva (service tomankind). When these institutions wereaccepted by Bhagavan Baba, all of themrededicated themselves to the Divine Missionof Bhagavan. They are bound by a sense ofbrotherhood and they live together in theAshram named Prem Kutir on the campus.Their oath-cum-prayer given to them by theirillustrious mentor runs thus: “Oh Lord SathyaSayeeshwara, grant us the divine strength tobuild up a mighty organisation of dedicatedmissionaries who offer themselves completelyas messengers in Your great mission ofestablishing Dharma in the world. This life ofours filled with Your love is dedicated at YourLotus Feet for achieving this glorious ideal!”Sathya Sai Vihar, Alike – the LittleGarden of the LordSathya Sai Vihar in Alike is situated in avalley surrounded by hills. The location isreflect God’s grandeur and munificence. Thesky above reveals the infinity and eternity oftruth. In their unifying experience, you can seethe face of God in the trinity of Truth, Goodnessand Beauty. Once a saint who was living inthe Himalayan mountains was brought toSathya Sai Vihar by his disciples. After stayingfor a day there, he exclaimed, “Men go to theHimalayas in search of God, but your Annahas brought Himalayas down to this place!”God in the form of Bhagavan Baba has gracedthese institutions in Alike with His visits twice– in 1979 and 2001. During His first visitBhagavan stayed on the campus for one dayin the beautiful Mandir specially built for Himwith great love and devotion.Sri Sathya Sai Lokaseva Junior College,which was started in 1972, with science,commerce and arts sections is one of thepremier institutions in the State. It is affiliatedto the Board for Pre-University Education inKarnataka. In recent years, the college hasgarnered limelight by securing100% results in the State-levelpublic examinations and veryhigh ranks in the CommonEntrance Tests conducted by theState Government for selectingstudents to engineering andmedical colleges. The principlesof Sri Sathya Sai Educare areintegrated into the process ofeducation here and ‘integraleducation for total developmentof the student’ is the motto. MostSri Sathya Sai Lokaseva Vidya Kendra, Alike.of the students reside in thebreathtakingly picturesque and the campus hostel attached to the college and a few dayreminds you of the Gurukulas of ancient India. scholars from the local villages also attend theThe beauty of the place and thecollege. Needy students are providedgoodness of the people living therefree food by the institution.377 November 2005

A fully residential boy’s school affiliated tothe Central Board of Secondary Education,New Delhi was started in 1984. The schooladmits boys to sixth standard and impartseducation till tenth standard.An orphanage located in Sathya Sai Viharhouses about 100 destitute children drawnfrom very poor families and orphans with theobjective of educating them and mouldingthem into cultured citizens of the country.These children also attend the educationalinstitutions run by the Trust.Sri Sathya Sai General Hospital whichprovides free medical care to all those whocome to its portals from the surroundingvillages was inaugurated in 2002. During Hisdivine visit to Sathya Sai Vihar in 2001, Swamideclared that He would establish a ‘SuperiorHospital’ there. A spacious building whichlooks more like a temple than a hospital wasbuilt on the top of a hill overlooking the campuswithin a year. Baba Himself arranged for theconstruction of the building and provided allthe equipment and instruments required forthe hospital.Sri Sathya Sai Vocational Training Centreprovides training in computer processing andprinting to the needy villagers free of cost. TheKannada Monthly – “Sanathana Sarathi” – isprinted here. The publications division of theTrust has also published more than thirtybooks in Kannada on the life, work andteachings of Baba.Shiva Nilaya, a spacious and well-furnishedguest house, serves the needs of the visitorsto the centre. A very well-maintained andvast agricultural farm and a dairy forman important part of the centre.Under the umbrella of Bhagavan’sdivine grace and direct guidance,the two centres flourished veryrapidly and now they impart valuebasededucation to over twothousand students from all overIndia completely free of anycharges. The centres which alsohave hospitals, agricultural farms,dairies, a publication division andan orphanage are manned by agroup of 60 Tyagajeevis (men ofsacrifice) who were inspired bythe ideals of self-sacrifice andselfless service to mankind bytheir mentor, Sri Narayan Bhatwhom they lovingly called Anna.Sathya Sai Grama – a Land of PenanceThe centre at Muddenahalli which is locatedat a distance of seven kilometres from themain road between Puttaparthi and Whitefieldwas christened by Swami Himself as ‘SathyaSai Grama’ in 1973. It nestles in the sylvansurroundings at the foot of the reputed hillstation – the Nandi Hills.Sathya Sai Grama is a sprawling campusof over a hundred acres filled with thousandsof trees and plants, dotted with majesticbuildings. The centre has the proud privilegeof receiving Swami on its hallowed grounds27 times in the last three decades. WhenHe stepped on this land for the first time on14th August 1978, Swami looked aroundadmiringly and said, “This is aTapobhumi – a land of penance!”November 2005 378

Anyone who visits thecampus experiences thepowerful spiritual vibrationspervading the place. PremaDeepa – the light of love –was the name given byBhagavan to the Mandirhere; it is an exquisite pieceof Indian temple architecturesituated almost on thehighest spot in the campus.It was inaugurated byBhagavan on 15th August1994. Encircled by anornamental garden, it hasnow become a place ofpilgrimage for devotees.More than eight hundredstudents study in theeducational institutions inSathya Sai Grama. Out ofthem, 700 boys drawn fromall over India reside in thehostels, and others comefrom eight villages aroundthe campus. These villageshave been adopted by thecentre for their all-rounddevelopment. The alumniassociation of theeducational institutions at Sathya Sai Grama– the ‘Children of Sathya Sai’ – are doingcommendable work in these villages with theobjective of transforming them into modelvillages worthy of emulation.Sri Sathya Sai Lokaseva CompositePre-University College, which wasstarted as a high school in 1973, wasupgraded in 1982 with the addition ofBhagavan blessing the devotees ofSathya Sai Grama, Muddenahalliduring one of His visits.Pre-University sectionin commerce. Ascience section willalso be added from thenext academic year. Themagnificent building of thecollege was declared openby Swami in February 1987.The college is reputed for itsexcellent results in theS.S.L.C. and P.U.C. PublicExaminations and effectiveeducation in human valueson the basis of the SathyaSai ideals.Sri Sathya Sai VidyaKendra is a Central Schoolwith classes from sixth totenth standard. It is a fullyresidential school started in1998.A beautiful auditoriumand a modern dining halladorned with sculpturalembellishments are anadded attraction in thecampus. Sprawlingplaygrounds and goodsports facilities are anotherimportant feature of these educationalinstitutions. The students have wonaccolades in sports, games and athletics inState level competitions. The vast agriculturalfarms and a modern dairy which occupy thewestern side of the campus lend a heavenlycharm to the place.One important and very encouragingdevelopment in Sathya Sai Grama is379 November 2005

country can emulate to give valuebaseddirection to our system ofeducation.Let me complete this articleon these very unique institutionsof Bhagavan by recalling arevealing incident that happenedin July 2003 at Brindavan.Bhagavan had called forinterview, a group of studentsand teachers from Sri SathyaSai Lokaseva Junior College atSathya Sai Vihar. Those were thestudents who had secured theSri Sathya Sai Lokaseva Composite Pre-University highest ranks in the engineeringCollege, Muddenahalli.and medical entrancethat some of the alumni have joined the centre examinations in the State. For the first time inas Tyagajeevis. It augurs well for the fulfilment the history of the State, students from the sameof the grand vision of the founder of thecollege had secured first rank in both theinstitutions, Sri Narayan Bhat, regarding theirengineering and medical entrancecontribution to the divine mission of Bhagavanexaminations. When I submitted this goodSri Sathya Sai Baba.news to Bhagavan, He said joyfully, “It is notRole Models of Integral Education history; it is His story!” We can look forward toIf one wants to see how values are His story unfolding with each passing dayintegrated with studies in schools and bringing peace and joy to mankind!colleges, one should seethe functioning of these twoinstitutions because seeing isbelieving. The entire environmentin both the institutions is saturatedwith values of Sathya, Dharma,Santhi, Prema and Ahimsa astaught by Bhagavan Sri SathyaSai Baba. Both the students andteachers are shining examples ofmorality, ethics and spirituality inpractice. In fact, these twoinstitutions present a model whichall educational institutions of theSri Sathya Sai Vidya Kendra, Muddenahalli.November 2005 380

Meeting the Fundamental Needs of WomenEASWARAMMA WOMEN’S WELFARE PROJECTChethana RajuRECOGNISING WOMEN’S CENTRALrole in society, the EaswarammaWomen’s Welfare Project seeksto help in the development of women in aholistic manner by understanding andsupporting the different roles which they playin life, be it daughter, mother or breadwinner.It is a well-known saying, “Give a man breadand you feed him for a day, teach him to farm,and you feed him for life.” Along these lines,we felt our sisters in the villages would be betterserved by the acquisition of skills; the goalbeing self-support and independence.Powered by the idea of sustainabledevelopment, this philosophy motivated theadoption of a Welfare Project to first addressthe need for a woman’s financial security.Before the Project launch, a survey wasconducted in the surrounding villages,identifying the most deprived andimpoverished women in the area. Theireconomic condition and whether they hadsome basic or no skillswere all points takeninto considerationbefore selection for theProject.A Step towardsMaking Women SelfreliantOn 19th November2004, on Ladies Day,Bhagavan officiallyinaugurated theWe envisage a world where womenhave equal privileges in every sphereof life, a world in which women haveopportunities to support themselves, aworld in which they are self-reliantand not dependent on others. Webelieve that Easwaramma Women’sWelfare Project is a step in this nobledirection.Easwaramma Women’s Welfare Project byunveiling a plaque. On 19th July 2005, theProject facility for these women was graciouslyinaugurated by Bhagavan within PrasanthiNilayam. The Project is already producing alarge number of products and has startedmarketing them initially through local outletsin the Ashram. The proceeds of the sales willbe spent on remuneration for the women andwill also go towards charitable projects in thevillages.Once the products are identified, trainersare engaged to teach the women how tomake these items. When they are proficientat their tasks, one or two women in the groupare trained to interact with suppliers andcustomers. In addition to providing women witha skill that is a lifelong source of income, thisProject will also have socially beneficialeffects. As an income earner, a woman’s selfesteemand her respect in society increases.Speaking on women, Swami has said, “Allwomen should beprovided withopportunities tobecome self-reliant”.The Project seeks totranslate this intoreality. A major stepwas taken to expandand organise thework of EaswarammaWomen’s Projectwhen BhagavanNovember 2005 381November 2005 315

Making women self-reliant underEaswaramma Women’s Welfare Project.graciously established EaswarammaWomen’s Welfare Trust on 18th February2005.Mother and Child ProjectRecently, another dimension has beenadded to the EaswarammaWomen’s Welfare Project byinitiating Mother and ChildProject. This project was startedafter conducting thoroughresearch at grass root level byvisiting a large number of villagesas well as by assessing the needsof expecting mothers from SriSathya Sai General Hospital,Puttaparthi. As a result of this,two requirements have beenrecognised as vital. One is formaternal and infant care, whichhas given rise to the Mother andChild Project. The central role that the motherplays as “the Guru of the children … andthe upholder of spiritual values” hasbeen emphasised by Swami many atime. Recognising the importance of herhealth and well-being for society, theMother and Child Project strives tosupport her during this crucial stage inher life.Visits to the General Hospital,Puttaparthi showed that the generalhealth condition of some of thepregnant women coming in for care isa cause for concern. Many come infor deliveries with extremely lowhaemoglobin levels, far below theinternational recommended level fordelivery. Lack of proper nutrition is oneof the main causes for this deficiency.They often come to the hospital at avery late stage, which significantly increasesthe chances of complications. Regrettably,some are unable to come because of theconsiderable journeying distance and / ormonetary constraints. Therefore, the Motherand Child Project aims to provide medical careProviding mother and child care at the doorstep of villagers.for pregnant mothers and infants in thevillages. Bhagavan, in His infinite grace, hasprovided a fully-equipped ambulancewhich can be utilised for on-the-spotmedical treatment. The two objectives382 November 2005

of the Project, medical and educational, arepursued side by side. The medical care isdispensed in a regular manner, over asignificant period of time, in keeping with theProject’s goal of sustainability. The voluntaryteam of doctors, nurses and Seva Dalmembers visit each village throughout theyear. Records of all mothers and children aremaintained systematically so that their healthcondition can be monitored on a continuous,long-term basis. These records prove to beinvaluable resource for the next team ofdoctors to assess the follow-up care.Each mother-to-be receives a Sari anda special kit for mother and baby as atoken of Bhagavan’s love and blessings. Thekit provides the mothers with importantsupplements such as iron and folic acid. Highprotein nutritional supplements are alsodistributed regularly. As for the delivery itself,only emergencies are advised to go to thehospital. The traditional practice of homedeliverieswith the central role of Dhais(midwives) is encouraged and madeincreasingly hygienic with the training of theseDhais and the supply of sterilised kits thatassist in safe deliveries.Once the baby is born, it is welcomed intothe world with a fresh set of clothes, regularhealth check-ups and full immunisation.Immunisation is done for major locallyprevalentdiseases including polio, measles,mumps, hepatitis-B and tuberculosis.Nutritional supplements are also regularlygiven to the infants. In conjunction with thetreatment, the doctors conduct educationaltalks for mothers. Advice is given on a varietyof practical matters, i.e., available good foodsfor pregnancy, post-natal and infant care, andhandling of emergency cases.We envisage a world where women haveequal privileges in every sphere of life, a worldin which women have opportunities to supportthemselves, a world in which they are selfreliantand not dependent on others. Webelieve that Easwaramma Women’s WelfareProject is a step in this noble direction. One ofthe Mission statements of Bhagavan Baba is:“I am attached to the work that I love: Toremove the sufferings of the poor and grantthem what they lack”. We pray that we allbecome humble instruments in His DivineMission!The first lesson in Seva has to belearnt in the family circle itself. Inthis limited group, which is well-knit,one must engage in loving service andprepare for the wider Seva thatawaits outside the home.- BabaNovember 2005 383

Administrative BuildingSri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher LearningSri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher LearningA BEACON LIGHT OF INTEGRAL EDUCATIONSanjay SahniSRI SATHYA SAI INSTITUTE OFHigher Learning is the visiblemanifestation of Bhagavan Sri SathyaSai Baba’s vision of education which is not onlyan important means for the transformation ofmankind, but also a panacea for the ills thatare afflicting it today. More particularly, it is aprecious gift of Bhagavan to the youth whomHe is moulding to become shining examplesof ethical and spiritual awareness to makethem the torchbearers of moral regenerationand spiritual reawakening of the world. TheInstitute has evolved the integralsystem of education which lays asmuch emphasis on inculcation of values as onachieving academic excellence. Come 2006,the Institute, a deemed university, will becelebrating its silver jubilee. The birth of theuniversity represented a significant milestonein the glorious unfolding of the Divine Missionof Bhagavan whose watchword, “the end ofeducation is character” forms the mainobjective of all its activities. From a humblebeginning in improvised premises to beacclaimed today ‘as the crest-jewel of highereducation in India’, the Institute hascome a long way. On 22nd November1981 this deemed university wasNovember 2005 384

inaugurated by the Chief Justice of theSupreme Court, Justice Y.V. Chandrachud atPrasanthi Nilayam, and Bhagavan bestowedon it a unique honour by accepting to becomeits Chancellor.Divine Vision of the Revered ChancellorThe spirit behind all its achievements is theRevered Chancellor of the Institute, BhagavanSri Sathya Sai Baba who from the verybeginning chartered its course by His DivineSri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, Anantapur Campus.vision. While laying the foundation stone of theSri Sathya Sai College for Women atAnantapur in 1969, Bhagavan declared: “It isindeed deplorable that education of the spirithas been totally neglected while attention isdevoted to the training of skills and for gleaningand garnering information… My Sankalpa isto provide the youth with an education which,while cultivating their intelligence, will alsopurify their impulses and emotions and equipthem with the physical and mental disciplinesneeded for drawing upon the springs ofcalmness and joy that lie in their own hearts.”In another Discourse to the students andstaff of this college in August 1974, Bhagavanobserved, “This college has not been385 November 2005established just to prepare you for earningdegrees. The main purpose is to help you tocultivate self-knowledge and self-confidence,so that each one of you can learn self-sacrificeand earn self-realisation. The teaching ofuniversity curricula and the preparation forpresenting you for the university examinationsand the award of university degrees – theseare only the means employed for the end,namely, spiritual uplift, self-discovery andsocial service through love anddetachment.”Again, while speaking at theBrindavan College on 31st March1974, Bhagavan revealed,“Do notbe under the impression that youand I have come together onlynow, since you study in this college;you have come to Me for the sakeof far higher triumphs, as aconsequence of merit acquired inmany previous lives. You and yourteachers are destined to achievetremendous tasks under Myguidance, in the execution of the Mission onwhich I have come.”Another milestone was reached in thehistory of the Institute when on Vijaya Dasamiday after the Poornahuti of the Veda PurushaSapthaha Jnana Yajna on 8th October 1981,Bhagavan announced that from that day thecolleges at Prasanthi Nilayam and Anantapurwould be raised to the status of the campusesof the new university.Evolution and GrowthIt was Prof. V.K. Gokak, the first ViceChancellor of the university, who gave aconcrete shape to the vision of Bhagavan. In1982, the Institute launched its Five Year

Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, Brindavan Campus.Integrated courses and PG courses in thesciences and humanities. The same year, theBrindavan College became the third campusof the university. I recall how Prof. Gokakoutlined before us, first year UG students then,the grand vision of the academic education inthe Institute. To inculcate in students a wideand liberal mental outlook, education in theuniversity was envisaged as a pyramidicalstructure. The pyramid has a wide base andaccordingly the students in the undergraduatecourses would begin with the study oflanguages and awareness courses along withtheir respective courses in core areas. At theend of the second year, the languageswould drop off and thescience students would startspecialising in their area ofinterest. This would continueinto the PG, after which thestudent would choose anarrow niche for undertakingresearch. In 1984, Bhagavanstarted the Ph.D. programmewith the intention of preparingHis future teachers. Manydoctorates have now joinedthe university as faculty.In 1986, the MBA and B.Ed.programmes were launched. ManyMBA and PG alumni have gone onto man Bhagavan’s institutions inthe Ashrams, hospitals, schoolsand colleges. Others have madetheir mark in the wide world. Othercourses got added in subsequentyears: B.Sc. (Hons.) 1992; B.Com.(Hons.), M.Tech. (1993); M.A.(Economics) (2001); M.Phil (2004).Many academic reforms andinnovations were adopted by theInstitute right from its inception. It has a meritbasedopen admission policy enablingstudents from all over the country to seekadmission to various courses, irrespective ofincome, class, creed, religion or region,making it truly national in character. Educationis provided to students free without any feeswhatsoever, in sharp contrast to the rapidcommercialisation of education elsewhere.Sri Sathya Sai Integral EducationThe Revered Chancellor of the Institute,Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba has given theInstitute its philosophy of integral educationand has been inspiring and guiding theSri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, Prasanthi Nilayam Campus.November 2005 386

administrators, teachers and students of theInstitute since its inception in the practice ofthis philosophy. According to Bhagavan, “Oneshould have the head of Sankara, the heart ofBuddha and the hands of Janaka”. Anintegrated personality is a harmonioussynthesis of a discerning intellect, acompassionate heart and efficient hands; itis a beautiful combination of nobility and ability.Nobility without ability is useless to society andability without nobility is dangerous to it.Spiritual education is the basis of integraleducation. This is what Bhagavan callseducare. Ultimately, all education shouldconverge into educare.Integral education aims at the all-rounddevelopment of the human personality – thephysical, the intellectual, the emotional and thespiritual. Acquisition of knowledge whensupported by its proper utilisation leads to skill;the harmony of knowledge and skill leads tobalance of mind which is thebasis for spiritual insight. Thesurest sign of spiritual insightis the blossoming of true lovein the heart, springing out ofrecognition of the oneness ofall existence.The university is a modernGurukula combining the best ofthe past and the present. All thecampuses of the Institute arewholly residential. The studentsreside in the hostels along withthe Warden and a band ofresident teachers carefullyhand-picked by Bhagavan.Character moulding is a twentyfourhour endeavour and theInstitute could not be387 November 2005The birth of the universityrepresented a significant milestonein the glorious unfolding of theDivine Mission of Bhagavan whosewatchword, “the end of educationis character” forms the mainobjective of all its activities.otherwise. The key to success in communityliving in the hostels, which represent a mini-India, is understanding and adjustment.Mutual tolerance and courtesy, sacrifice andservice to fellowmen, civic sense and socialsensitivity – the blessings of community livingunder the watchful eyes of committed teachersare immense. The daily routine in the campusis designed with the guidance of BhagavanDisplay of courage, skill and balance in theAnnual Sports and Cultural Meet.

and has multifarious activities to foster thedevelopment of integrated personalities.Prayers before sunrise and at bedtime,before meals and at the commencement ofclasses in the Institute help the students to stilltheir minds and periodically reconnect to theDivine who is the source of all succour andenergy. Spiritual talks in the college and hostel,the value-based Awareness Course, thespiritual study circle sessions and above allexposure to the divine influence of Bhagavanstrengthen the moral and spiritual fibre in thestudent’s personality. Since 1990, a numberof summer courses in Indian Culture andSpirituality were organised for the benefit ofall students.Physical culture is encouraged throughparticipation in jogging, games, sports andyoga in the mornings. The objective of physicalculture is physical fitness, though annualcompetitions are organised to spot and nurturesporting talent. The Annual Sports and CulturalMeet on 11th January is an important event inthe academic calendar of the Institute andrepresents the expression ofstudents’ love for Bhagavanmanifesting in the form ofbreathtaking sporting feats andaesthetically delightful programmes,charming one and all.While co-curricular activitiesin literature, music, dance, dramaand other fine arts along withharmonious community living fosteremotional balance and self-reliancein students, social service activitiesinstil in them self-confidence,humility, dignity of labour andhelpful nature apart from nurturingtheir talents. Service in the kitchenand dining hall, cooperative stores,dispensary, maintenance, audiovisualdepartment, garden and myriad other areasis undertaken by the students under theguidance of their teachers. The annual SriSathya Sai Grama Seva in the villages aroundPuttaparthi during Dasara celebrations andinitiated by Bhagavan in 2000 is a greateducational experience for the students andstaff of the university.The Crest-jewel of Higher EducationAt the first Convocation of the Institute on22nd November 1982, the late legal luminarySri Nani Palkhiwala observed, “This Instituteis a tribute to the great organising genius ofits founder, Sri Sathya Sai Baba. Without Hisinitiative and inspiration it would have beenimpossible to found an institution of thischaracter. We are witnesses to a great eventin the history of our country. This deemeduniversity is a memorable experiment in themoral and spiritual regeneration of India. Itstands for nothing less … This Institute aimsat becoming a nation-builder.”Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, President of India with Bhagavan SriSathya Sai Baba, the Chancellor of Sri Sathya Sai Institute ofHigher Learning, in the ceremonial procession in Sai KulwantHall, Prasanthi Nilayam on the occasion of the 21st Convocationof the Institute in 2002.November 2005 388

Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, President of Indiadeclared at the Institute’s Convocation in 2002,“The purpose of real education is to initiate alearning process that transforms students intogood human beings with knowledge andvalue systems. Is value education possible?Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learninghas given an answer in the affirmative.”In December 2002, the Peer Team of theNational Assessment and AccreditationCouncil (NAAC), which is set up by theUniversity Grants Commission to assess andaccredit higher education institutions, visitedthe Institute and reported, “The Peer Teamputs on record its appreciation for providingthe members of the Team the opportunity tospend time with the Institute faculty and thestudents so as to develop a thorough insightinto the higher education process of the SriSathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning,particularly the integral higher educationinterwoven in the blueprint and design ofhigher education products. This made usrealise that there is a way to correct ouralready degrading university education systemin India, if we decide to do so.The Peer Team feels that this Institutestands out as a crest-jewel among theuniversity education system in the country andthis model is worthy of emulation by theinstitutions of higher learning in the countryand elsewhere, so that these benefits wouldbe reaped fast and on the widest possiblescale.”The Revered Chancellor of theInstitute Bhagavan Sri Sathya SaiBaba has given the Institute itsphilosophy of integral education andhas been inspiring and guiding theadministrators, teachers and studentsof the Institute since its inception inthe practice of this philosophy.NAAC granted accreditation at the A++ levelto the Institute for five years in 2002-03 placingthe Institute in the highest bracket of Indianuniversities.I would like to conclude with the followingexperience of an alumnus of the Institute. Hewas facing a job interview and the ManagingDirector of the company, who was on theinterview panel, enquired, ‘I understand thatyou are a student of Sai Baba’s college. I haveheard that Sai Baba creates and gives rings,necklaces, etc., to his devotees. What has Hegiven you?” Spontaneously, the boy replied,“Sir, I am a village boy. Today, this village boyis sitting and talking with so much confidenceto the M.D. of one of India’s most prestigiousresearch based companies. The confidencethat you see in me is Sai Baba’s gift to me.”Faith in oneself and faith in Divinity is trulythe quintessence of education at the LotusFeet of our Beloved Bhagavan.Desire breeds wishes. Wishes cause birth and also death. When man is devoid of desire, he neednot go through birth and death. The next birth is the result of unfulfilled desires in this lifeand is determined by them. Those who have no trace of desire for material objects canachieve the awareness of the Atmic reality.- Baba389 November 2005

NEWS FROM SAI CENTRESCommunity ServiceIndonesiaThe world’s second largest earthquakesince year 1964 (8.7 Richter scale) struckIndonesia on 28th March 2005. Respondingto the massive disaster at Nias Island, NorthSumatra, the Sai Study Groups of Jakarta andMedan despatched a total of 14 cartonsconsisting of 25 items of medicines andmedical equipments to the victims in April,2005. One of the cartons containing 202 boxesof Vaccine ATS was delivered urgently to thegeneral hospital in Gunung Sitoli (capital cityRelief material being given by Sai Study Groupsfor the earthquake victims of Indonesia.of Nias Island). Many schools were badlydamaged and children were left with no booksor stationery to resume their study.Responding to this situation, Sai groupsorganised distribution of stationery andbooks on 18th June 2005 to Primary andJunior High School in Yayasan Budi Bhakti atGunung Sitoli. Large quantities of writing pads,books, pencils, pens, rulers and erasers weresupplied to the school children. On 3rd July2005, food and other items were distributedto 320 families. Each family received 5 kg ofrice, 8 packs of instant noodle, 1 piece of bathsoap and 2 pieces of cloth.NepalMedical CampBhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba’s 80thBirthday is being celebrated in Nepal withgrandeur and devotion. Sai centres in Nepalare organising various programmes to markthis important event. In order to facilitatedissemination of Swami’s message, Sri SathyaSai Baba Organisation of Nepal has beenconducting outreach activities in rural areasdevoid of any Sai centre or Sai group. As partof this, a medical camp along with Sai DarshanExhibition and a talk programme wasorganised in Trishuli, a remote hilly town on27th August 2005. Altogether 12 doctors and10 paramedics rendered services to 500patients. Two of those patients who wereseriously ill were transported to a betterequipped hospital in Kathmandu and theirtreatment was sponsored by the Sai devotees.This was first such combination of avenues inNepal for spreading Bhagavan’s messageof love through medical camp, exhibitionand talks.November 2005 315 390

Public MeetingGermanyA regional Sai Public Meeting for the Rhine-Main-Aerea in Germany was held inWiesbaden on Saturday, 18th June 2005 atVelvets, Black & Light Theatre. Theattendance was approximately 160 people with25% non-Sai devotees.The first speaker Gabriele Göbel, NationalCoordinator of Germany, highlighted five ofthe main teachings of Bhagavan Sri SathyaSai Baba, viz., unity of all religions, divinity ofman, five human values, the programme ofceiling on desires and service to mankind(Seva). The speaker also described the grandservice projects of Bhagavan and elaboratedon the declaration of Bhagavan “My Life is MyMessage” in detail. The next speaker Petravon Kalinowski, described how the socialvalues of the past 100 years in Germanyunderwent some radical changes in course oftime. She emphasised how the practice of thefive eternal human values is essential for allcultures and religions of all nations.Finally, Prof. Dr. Martin Mittwede, Universityof Frankfurt, an eminent scientist in the fieldof Comparative Religion spoke about“Spirituality in Times of Change”. Heemphasised that great religious leaders of allages expressed spirituality in the unique wayof their century and fulfilled the spiritual desireof mankind of their age. In this sense,Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba givesexpression to the spiritual aspiration of ourtime which generally accepts a multiplicity ofcreeds and religions. This multiplicity is nothingbut natural, and so Sai Baba’s main teachingdeals with the unity of different faiths.At the end of the programme, the film“His Work” was greatly appreciated by allpresent and copies were available at the bookdisplay in the hall.– Prasanthi CouncilB H A R A TAndhra Pradesh: A newly-built Bhagavan SriSathya Sai Seva Sadan was inaugurated atVijayawada on 16th September 2005 forhelpless old women and orphans.Mahaboobnagar district constructed a miniwater tank at Venkatamma Banda Thandavillage which was inaugurated on 9thSeptember 2005 to facilitate the drinking watersupply to the Girijanas of the village.Bihar and Jharkhand: Baidyanath Dhamsacred pilgrimage is performed during theentire month of Shravan (July – August) bylakhs of devotees from all over India andNepal. They undertake a very arduousbarefoot 108 km long trek through a roughterrain to carry the holy Ganga water fromSultanganj to Lord Siva Temple at BaidyanathDham.As the devotees carry the holy Ganga waterin pots slung through a bamboo over theshoulders and walk barefoot, they suffer soleand toe injuries and straining of feet and legs.The shoulders also develop problems. Thetired pilgrims called Kawarias come to thecamp set up by Sri Sathya Sai SevaOrganisation of Bihar and Jharkhand whereSeva Dal volunteers massage their legs andshoulders, provide first aid and medicines,give hot foot bath in saline water and offer hottea to them. They are served by speciallytrained Sai Youth who provide thisservice for 30 days every year. About391 November 2005

2,000 pilgrims are served daily.The camp is running since 1981.Its 25th anniversary was celebratedthis year.Jammu and Kashmir: For the firsttime in the history of the State,keeping in view the prevailingdisturbed conditions, Sai Youthconducted Narayana Seva on 7thSeptember 2005 at the Ziyaratof Hazrat Sultan-Ul-ArifeenR.A. Sahib, Nowhatta, Srinagarwhere 150 food packets wereserved to needy persons. SimilarNarayana Seva was conductednear Baba Reshi Ziyarat at Gulmarg on 25thSeptember 2005 where 250 food packetswere distributed among needy persons. Inthe month of August 2005, food and fruits wereserved to about 1550 pilgrims who were dueto proceed for Amarnath Yatra.Rajasthan: Autorickshaw drivers generallysuffer from respiratory ailments and eyeNarayana Seva being conducted by Sri Sathya Sai SevaOrganisation of Jammu and Kashmir at the Ziyarat of HazratSultan-Ul-Arifeen R.A. Sahib, Nowhatta.sight problems. 23 Seva Dal volunteers and 6medical experts of Bikaner Samithi organiseda medical camp on 21st August 2005 atBikaner. 205 drivers and their 15 familymembers were administered medical checkupand free medicines. One sticker withphotos of Shirdi Sai and Sathya Sai and theirdivine messages was pasted on eachautorickshaw for the benefit of travellers.SAI INSTITUTIONS IN THE SERVICE OF MANKIND.........................................................................As part of the Divine Mission of Bhagavan,all the State Sathya Sai Seva Organisations.........................................................................are engaged in Seva activities to cater to the.........................................................................needs of less-privileged sections of society..........................................................................They have also set up a large number of Seva.........................................................................institutions in pursuance of Bhagavan’s ideal.........................................................................of “Love All, Serve All”. The description here.........................................................................provides only a glimpse of this massive Seva...................................................................................work.Sri Sathya Sai Navalayam, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh.This magnificent building is built in an area of20 acres and provides multifariousservices to needy people.November 2005 392

This school in Mylaram Thanda inNalgonda district was built as part ofGurukula Seva Yajnam programme ofSri Sathya Sai Seva Organisation ofAndhra Pradesh. It has so far constructed25 new school buildings and renovated 75old buildings under this programme.Sri Sathya Sai Heart Hospital, Rajkot. Set upby Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisation ofGujarat in 1998, the hospital renders freetreatment for heart disease. Total OPDbeneficiaries till date are 46,922. Totalnumber of surgeries performed to date areover 800. Besides this hospital, the SaiOrganisation is running nearly 30free medical centres / dispensaries in theState to provide medicare with love toneedy people.Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Agriculture andBiotechnology, Aksa, Malad, Mumbai. Set upby Sri Sathya Sai Trust, Maharashtra, theInstitute offers to unemployed rural youth acomprehensive training course, which includestraining in modern and scientific methods ofagriculture and biotechnology, post-harvesttechnology, water management, medicinalplants and herbal medicines, education inhuman values, etc.Inaugurated by Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba,the Salem Community Centre is engaged inSeva activities in Salem district of Tamil Nadu.Other main centres of Seva set up by SriSathya Sai Seva Organisation of Tamil Naduare Mahalakshmi Nagar Community Centre inKancheepuram district, Sai Niwas, Peramburand above all Sundaram, Chennai. There areat present 36 such community centres in theState which provide services of medicare,educare and sociocare to needy people.

Sri Sathya Sai Community Centre,Kodankara, Thiruvanantapuramdistrict. This is one of the centresunder Deenajanoddharana Projectundertaken by Sri Sathya Sai SevaOrganisation of Kerala. There are atpresent 15 centres in different parts ofKerala for old people and destitutechildren. It has constructed 81 housesfor needy families. It has also adopted2,000 families for help in all respects.Sri Sathya Sai Vidya Vihar, Golaghat,Assam. Set up by Sri Sathya Sai SevaOrganisation of Assam, Manipur and N.E.States, the school provides value-basededucation to children.Seva Dal volunteers constructing a village road.Many villages near Kanpur have been adopted by SriSathya Sai Seva Organisation of Uttar Pradesh andUttaranchal, providing needed services to the peopleof these villages. The Sai Organisation is alsoengaged in providing medical aid and food in lepercolonies near Dehradun.Seva Dal volunteers of Sri Sathya Sai SevaOrganisation of West Bengal readyto go for Seva work.Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisation, Biharand Jharkhand engaged in Seva activities.

Showering Ananda is My TaskDo not count and calculate whatPuttaparthi Sai Baba gives. I do notgive in order to attract you to Me; Igive only to fill you with Ananda (bliss).Showering Ananda is My task. I donot want you to extol Me; I shall besatisfied if you rely on Me. Themysterious and indescribablesuperpower has come within reach. Itwill never engage itself in any taskwithout fruit.- Baba