Sathya Sai Gram News - May 2015.

Sathya Sai Grama News May 2015

There were two major events in this month.

First, the Kodaikanal retreat from 11^th to 20^th.

·      You may recall that the last year Kodaikanal retreat was the first major event through with Swami made his presence known to the world at large. The event was organized in ‘Hill-top Bungalow’, Kodaikanal.

·      This years’ retreat was another example of how Swami’s ‘will’ works -when He wants, it will happen. Swami kept telling about 2015 Kodaikanal retreat right from the last year trip. He kept granting permission to whomsoever prayed sincerely for an opportunity. As the date for retreat was approaching, the event managers started having heart attacks. Because they could not secure permission from the owners of the Hilltop Bungalow to have the retreat there, as late as 1^st of May. But Swami without any concern kept going ahead with His plans and preparations, for He is the all knowing. Finally, on 5^th May, the owners came with a proposal that if Swami is willing to buy the Bungalow, they will have no objection for the retreat. Swami immediately purchased that entire place and named it as “Sai Aananda Ashramam’.  So the retreat was he held as per the schedule, and will be in future, without any hindrance or suspense.

·      After all said and done, it is a small place. It was just adequate for 150 people last year. But this year, on any given day there were 400 people. Swami made every possible arrangement to make it comfortable. Built a new dining hall. Expanded the meeting hall by merging the old dining hall. Yet it was just enough. In fact, to provide an opportunity for all, the guests and the teachers and other invitees were divided into three groups and each group had the opportunity to enjoy the bliss for three days. Swami had made all the arrangement to pick and drop back the participants of the retreat.

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    I am told the details of this retreat will be published in a web portal managed by the multimedia group at Sathya Sai Grama, Muddenahalli. Once I get the url I will be happy to share it.

·      The main theme of Swami’s talks was about the three phase of ‘upliftment program’ He has for us. 

According to Swami….

·      What He did at Puttaparthi was a primary school education. The goal was “ God is”. He beckoned people form all walks of life - believers, nonbelievers, atheists - made them believe in God, showed them that God is love. Just as a primary school teacher uses various tricks and methods to keep the children engaged in learning, He also did very many things. He had been very patient with them giving them every possible opportunity to learn and pardoning every indifference. For this the body was necessary and He used it most effectively.

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    His mission has now reached a high school level. People have to learn that “God is within us”. That is why He has chosen the form of ‘sukshma sareera’ – a form through which we are aware of His presence / manifestation, but yet cannot experience it with senses. ‘Earlier darsan was dhyanam. Now darsan only in dhyanam’.  In primary school a child learns all lessons in the class, no home work.(!! present day schools do not go by this any way). But in high school, one has to go back home and do home work, with out which passing is difficult. So Swami says this is the time to practice and practice what He is teachings – ‘nisvartha seva (selfless service) to eliminate ahamkaram (ego) and ‘sarva karam phala thyagam ‘ (renunciation of fruits of all actions) to remove ‘mamkaram’  (attachment). An easy approach to this is to do all actions as an offering to God ( ‘sarva karama bhagavth preethyaartham’ )

·      The third phase is to experience that “I am God”; that is what Prema Sai will teach. That is a university education. Professors come once in a way give a talk, your will have to go to the library study, understand on your own and pass the exam. He will not have time (or prefer) like Swami to repeat the same again and again until we understand. Prema Sai will come and just sit and in His presence one has to experience the unity with divinity.

   

      So at present, Swami putting in every effort to take us through the high school in the next 6 to 9 years and prepare us for the university education. This is one of the major purposes of assuming the ‘Sukhshma Sareera”. Those who do not practice and follow Him will remain at primary or high school level.

                   The Second major event of May was the three-day summer course on ‘ Practical Spirituality’organized by the alumni of Swami’s institutions under His guidance from 29^th -31^st. About 800 youth from different parts of the country and abroad (Singapore,  Malaysia, Japan), who did not have an opportunity to study in Swami’s institution had the chance to participate. Swami, with all His compassion, accepted and declared them as “His Students”. Even those of us who have attend many summer courses earlier found it exhilarating and three days passed by like three hours. --- one of the participant has promised to write a summary of the summer course and post it in this blog. 

Sairam until next.