Golden Moments..

 







Soumya Roopa

It was on 18 January 1988 at Parthi, during the morning darshan that Bhagwan gave me a moment of unimaginable joy. Each time I remember it, it fills the moment with renewed joy.

The Annual sports meet was over. We, the students doing the B.Ed course had stayed back for a few more days. The first two batches of B.Ed students had studies had studied at the Brindavan Campus. Later, since 1988 June, course is being conducted at Ananthapur. We were requesting Bhagwan to come to Brindavan. As Bhagwan came near us, I kneeled and said,  “Swami…” I wanted to request and ask Bhagwan when he would come to Brindavan. He had already walked on. When I began the sentence, saying “Swami….”. He turned, looked at me and tapping His chest lightly, He asked, “Han Sri Vaishnavi Aaa?” Meaning “Yes, (did you say) Sri Vaisnavi?” He was asking me and confirming that He was indeed Sri Vaishnavi Mata. Our Omnicient Lord had validated an experience which I had not told anyone. The incident was as follows.

Golden Moments

 

Sowmya Roopa

A few months had passed as a teacher at Sri Sathya Sai Vidya Vihar, Ooty. On June 1989, Bhagwan called us, a small group of “Ooty teachers” for an interview. It was my first interview as a teacher.

Bhagwan said,” Fish is better than a selfish person. A fish cleans the water it lives in. Whereas, a selfish person does not contribute to anything in society.”

Our Jagat Guru said,”Teachers and parents should not be like Dhritarashtra and Gandhari. Do not be blind to the faults of the children. A good mother controls her child with one look. The vision of the mother is beneficial for her children. Since the Kauravas did not get Gandhari’s motherly vision upon them, they were unlucky. Since Gandhari blindfolded herself, she did not do her Putra Dharma, the Dharma of a mother towards her children. Look at what the children do. Correct them when they make mistakes and instantly appreciate them for the good that they do.

As an inexperienced teacher, I was attempting to find the balance between Love and Law. Teaching history to 12-13 year-old boys was easy but dealing with a cheeky boy who wrote about cricket in a history test was a daunting task. To ensure discipline without curbing natural boyish boisterousness is as much an art as pruning a rose bush! So, I asked Bhagwan, ”Bhagwan, how should we control children? They don’t pay heed to us!” Bhagwan kindly answered me,” Tell them again and again.” Today, I realize that is exactly what Bhagwan, our teacher has been doing with us, His naughty students. He has repeated with immense patience and love, the same lessons for years and years the lessons of Sathya, Dharma, Shanti, Prema, Ahimsa and Kshama. He has taught by personal example, stories, jokes and songs with untiring zeal.

A brick knows only its own arduous journey from clay to foundation brick. Does it know the toil of the brick maker who makes thousands of bricks for the edifice?

A couplet by Kabir says,”Karat Karat Abhyas te,  Jadmati hot sujan, Rasri avat Jat le, sil par parat nishan.” Meaning – By practice a dullard can become knowledgeable just like a mark can be made on even a stone by repeatedly rubbing a rope on it.

Recapitulation re-assessment and repetition are necessary for any type of learning. As we recollect the abundance we all received from Bhagwan…the gifts, teachings, encouragement, guidance, care, protection…lovingly showered upon us…each of us bow at His lotus feet and ask,” Oh sweet Mother, what can I do for you?”

This reminds me of a little conversation in the darshan grounds. Bhagwan had just given sarees to all the teachers and the Warden of the Sri Sathya Sai Primary School, Mrs Prem Behl asked Bhagwan, ”Swami, You give us all so much, what can we give you?” It was a gratitude-filled yearning echoing in the hearts of many devotees. Bhagwan smiled and said,” Pure heart! I want only a pure heart and you have it.” Bhagwan gave each of us the gift of a pure heart…keeping it pure by His grace needs constant effort, recapitulating lessons until it becomes a part of us.

Thank you Bhagwan for patiently repeating the lessons You want us to learn. Hope we learn them soon.

(Sowmya Roopa completed her B.A in 1987 and B.Ed in 1988. She received her gold medal for distinction in B.Ed from the Sri Sathya Sai University. She taught at the Sri Sathya Sai Vidya Vihar Ootacamund from 1989 till 1991. From 1991 till 2000, she taught at the Sai Sathya Sai Primary school, Puttaparthi. Sowmya Roopa was invited to the Sai Sathya Sai Schools, Rishikesh and Kathmandu in 2000 and 2001. There she shared her knowledge about value-oriented education with the teachers and students through talks, poems, songs, charts and demonstration. Currently, she writes value-based skits and paints quotation boards. In this series, she shares her experiences and learning as a student and staff in Swami’s educational institutions. )

Golden Moments

Soumya Roopa





It was the summer of 1988.Bhagwan arrived on a rainy April night at the Sri satya sai vidya vihar nandavan Ooty. The next morning there was a sports and cultural programme on the play ground. In the evening there was a cultural show by the students in the school prayer hall. When Bhagwan visited ooty school on His way to kodaikanal, He stayed for a day. On His return journey to Bangalore, Bhagwan used to stay for a few more days. Bhagwan came to the school on 9^th may 1989 on His way from Kodaikanal to Bangalore.

Golden Moments-5

Soumya Roopa

   We were completing our B.Ed course and longed to be called by Bhagawan to receive the shower of His ambrosial words, His love and Blessings as we left the portals of His university enter into His universal university. We will cherish forever the nectarine grace we received that afternoon-8^th April 1988……2.30pm, Sunday at Trayee Brindavan.

                   Bhagawan was standing at the entrance with His hands behind Him, smiling. As the first one entered Bhagawan said-“perfect, perfect, punctual”. He then asked us all to sit down. Bhagawan kept standing, then He said ,”when daughters come to their mothers house and are leaving, they must not be sent empty-handed. So, I am giving you this, Bhagawan gave each of us two notes of Rs 50 (Rs 50 + Rs 50=Rs 100) totaling to Rs 100/- . We were touched and surprised. He gave us the love of more than a thousand mothers! Then we offered Him pakodas, He took the plate and distributed it to us. We held our pakodas and requested Bhagawan to eat first. Bhagawan said “I don’t eat anything in the evening but since it has been made with bhakthi I will have it”. Then Bhagawan ate a pakoda while we ate ours and quickly tried to hold His feet. He joked with us that all the oil from the pakodas would be on His feet! He told us all to sit comfortably, then Bhagawan started speaking.

Golden Moments

Soumya Roopa


It was a joyous moment, when we were called by Bhagwan for an interview on 22nd feb 1987, Sunday .Bhagwan spoke to us the final year under graduates and post graduates studends, from 4.20pm till 5.45 pm. In the interview room at prashanthi nilayam, we had prayed for this valuable interview for many months, since it would perhaps be the only interaction with Bhagwan before we left the portals of His university.
Swami knows everything, all that you do .But you don‟t know that Swami knows everything, that is the difference between you and Me .The reason for this is your ignorance. Even death is better than ignorance. There are three reasons for ignorance- Mala, Vikshepa and Avarna.

Golden Moments-1

Sowmya Roopa

(Sowmya Roopa completed her B.A in 1987 and B.Ed in 1988. She received her gold medal for distinction in B.Ed from the Sri Sathya Sai University. She taught at the Sri Sathya Sai Vidya Vihar Ootacamund from 1989 till 1991. From 1991 till 2000, she taught at the Sai Sathya Sai Primary school, Puttaparthi. Sowmya Roopa was invited to the Sai Sathya Sai Schools, Rishikesh and Kathmandu in 2000 and 2001. There she shared her knowledge about value-oriented education with the teachers and students through talks, poems, songs, charts and demonstration. Currently, she writes value-based skits and paints quotation boards. She attempts to spread Bhagwan’s teachings and the wisdom of different religions through her brainchild ‘Project Suvichar’.)

The Shri Guru Gita say’s “Salutations to Shri Guru, by whose joy people are joyous”, Bhagawan, the source of joy gave each of us joyous Golden moments. It is our pleasure to share those memories with each other. In these series of articles entitled ‘Golden Moments’ I share some joy- filled memories with all of you. The joy came when Bliss incarnate Bhagawan, answered a question, alloyed a fear, showed His unseen presence, wiped a tear, taught a profound truth…endless are His ways of giving joy.

     It was 1984, I had just joined the Sri Sathya Sai college for women at Ananthpur and was in first year B.A, It was a Thursday, we were assembled for prayer in the college auditorium, as we finished praying, there was a sudden hush, then a few whispers “Bhagwan has come”, we turned in amazement to see Bhagwan walking into the auditorium. Then Bhagwan gave a discourse. He told this chinna katha- little story.