THE ENNOBLING PATH OF SACRIFICE

Bhagawan Baba chose Professor G. Venkataraman to be one of the speakers at this convention. A person of outstanding qualifications, Professor G. Venkataraman holds a Ph. D in Physics from the University of Mumbai. He served as a Senior Scientist, Department of Atomic Energy in the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, from 1955 to 1973.  From 1973 to 1987, he worked as Director - Physics and Electronics Group, Head of the Computer Centre, Head Library and Information Service, at the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam.

Thereafter, till 1992 in his position as the Director, he led the ANURAG project in the Defence Research and Development Organisation, holding the rank of a Distinguished Scientist. He retired from that post on superannuation to serve as the 5th Vice-Chancellor of the Sri Sathya Sai University, Prasanthi Nilayam. He is a recipient of many professional awards and also the prestigious Padma Shri conferred by the President of India.

Prof. G. Venkataraman has authored dozens of books on scientific topics. However, since 1992, he has turned his attention to serious spiritual enquiry, writing books on the various facets of the Sri Sathya Sai Mission, Teachings and Glory.

International audiences welcome his talks over Radio Sai and his writings such as a contemporary version of the song celestial, the Gita, under the title Conversation Between God and Man. 

Currently, as the Director of Radio Sai Global Harmony, Professor G. Venkataraman remains committed to spreading Bhagawan Baba’s message of universal love to every nook and corner of the world.

Humble salutations at the Lotus Feet of our Beloved Bhagawan by whose specific and explicit command, I am here.

 

The Jewel of Sacrifice

Earlier, Mr. Sanjay Sahani gave a very moving talk. Even as you are trying to digest that, I would like to present a few points, which are supplementary and complementary to his. What I am going to focus on is sacrifice or tyaaga because at some point, that is going to be demanded of all of you, as indeed of every person, but especially of you. And I am going to set the stage by drawing attention to a few important examples from the life of our own Swami because that is neither quite well known nor appreciated as much as it ought to be. Mr. Sanjay Sahani made many references to the Ramayana, so it would be in the fitness of things to start from there.

The Ramayana means many things to many people, naturally. And they are all valid. But to me, looking at the Ramayana epic through the prism of Swami’s life, what strikes me is sacrifice. And when I reflected on it, I was just stunned! He said:

“Rama sacrificed, He didn’t go to the Supreme Court and file an appeal for a stay order. Lakshmana said:  ‘I am coming with You.’ Bharata sacrificed; he didn’t have to; Shatrughana sacrificed; Sita sacrificed; and two others too – Kausalya and Sumitra."

And when I think of that, I tell myself if there was a Ramarajya (ideal kingdom under Rama’s rule), the seed was sown by the sacrifice made by all those people.

So sometime, when we read the Ramayana, and admire, appreciate and experience bliss in its nuances, let us not forget the theme of sacrifice which is always running through creation and that thread is the invisible thread created by the Creator Himself.

During the 1976 Summer Course Discourses in Ooty, Swami has described how Krishna washed plates; how He saved the Pandavas from the wrath of Roma Rishi by prostrating before the Pandavas - God prostrating to man! And how He carried Draupadi’s sandals, and so on…

 

The Declaration of Divine Intent

Let me now come to our own Swami, and go back to the year 1940. I remember that year very well because World War II had started. And as we all know, in October, Swami had declared who He was – that He was not Sathya Narayana Raju, but Sathya Sai Baba. Who was He from a worldly point of view? A 14 year-old school dropout from a hamlet, namely Puttaparthi, which had a population of maybe 100-150, with not even a road leading to it. And I don’t think that the map of British India even showed this place! And yet, He made a public resolve to serve humanity – at least that’s what He told His brother. I don’t think anybody even heard it, or took it seriously if they heard it.

But nevertheless, He was saying and declaring something that was very profound. And the first time He spelt it out in some detail, was on May 25, 1947. India had not yet become independent, and indeed the fate of India was not known because Viceroy Mountbatten had just gone to England with many options. One was to keep India as one country, and the other was to break it into two. Nobody knew what was going to happen at that time. And here was Swami declaring explicitly, how He is going to serve the world in 1947!

It was an incredible declaration, and what resources did He have? In terms of material wealth, connections, whatever - nothing!  Then from where did His confidence come? He pointed to a Source and that is the Source embedded in us. And that Source is Love. And I shall come to it in certain detail, but let me continue how with zero capital, but infinite self-confidence born out infinite Love, and the capacity for infinite compassion, and limitless sacrifice, anything can be done!

 

The Lord Demonstrates by Example

 

 

Mr. Sanjay Sahani said God can do anything but He doesn’t do it the way we want Him to by waving a hand. No! He does it by setting examples. He goes through the grind. He says: “If I can go through the grind, so can you!” Rama went to the forest to show that Ramarajya will come only when Sathya and Dharma are observed; not for any other reason. He had already been appointed Prince Regent. He could have just gone and sat there. But no! He had to show that there is a price to pay for Ramarajya; it doesn’t come free. And God Himself showed how that price ought to be paid.

In earlier days, when power cuts were so much more frequent, and I was here in west Prasanthi, the power would go off in the night, and the fan would stop and I would say: “Swami! How did You remain for 14 years in the forest without a fan! I can’t even stay for 14 minutes! Please tell us some of that trick!”

In this place, many people who had great experience, said that there would be no University. It did come, it is thriving – even I managed to serve as the Vice Chancellor at that University. It is growing strong – all set to have a new Campus, and it is set for bigger things to come.

 

The Blossoming of Health Care for All

There was a Hospital established in 1954, it is still there. And I have heard Dr. Alreja say there were only 6 beds! Four were reserved for women and two for men, and there was one reserved for the doctor himself, and there was one nurse; that’s all; nothing else. There were no funds; nothing! Somehow, medicines would come; somehow some other things would arrive and everyday, Swami would go and spend two hours there and talk about every patient.

 

 

 

In 1990, He announced that there would be a Super Specialty Hospital, everybody clapped, nobody believed in it; nobody took it seriously. But in 1991, I was there for the inauguration! It was a mind-boggling achievement and it still remains so! And some of the boys of the University, who were trained in the AIIMS – All India Institute of Medical Sciences – came back and I talked to them and the doctors there had said: “Ah! Very good! The Hospital will fold up in 6 months and you will have to look for a new job; so don’t forget you have an MBA!” 

This is August 2009, and that was in November 1991. It is running much better than many other hospitals in the world. And let me tell you, I don’t think many of you are aware of the extraordinary debate that is going on in the United States right now about health care for all. It is a highly contentious, highly polarized issue; the conservative right wing is trying to deny health care for all, but here is Swami who has done it for so many years at the highest level! That is what the triangle of love, compassion and sacrifice can achieve. And that is what I would like to focus on now. But just before I come to that golden triangle, let me mention a few facts.

 

The Gift of the Water of Life

 

Over there is the Poornachandhra Hall - now cut back to November 1994. Dr. Venugopal was being honoured. Prime Minister P. V. Narasimha Rao had come. Swami was speaking and because the Prime Minister was there, Swami said: “The Rayalseema region suffers from droughts. Why don’t you create a Water Project? If you do, the Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organization will join, the Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust will make a contribution, and we will come to your help and assistance.”

And in March 1995, Swami got fed up [with the lack of any action by the authorities], He asked everybody to roll up their sleeves, and declared that the Central Trust would do it.

Swami said: “I want this Project finished in record time, and good, pure drinking water must be available before such and such a date – no matter what the cost! One million people shall benefit!” I mean, who can dare to say that!

I have talked many times to Mr. Kondal Rao, and Mr. Ramakrishna of Larsen & Tubro, who have done many Water Projects for Swami and they have said that the Anantapur Project was one of the most difficult that they had done till today - I won’t go into the technicalities of that.

931 villages received water; about 1 million people were benefited, and the projects executed were of different kinds! At that time, it was the largest water project executed anywhere in the world by a private charitable trust!

 

The Millions of Chennai Receive Bhagawan’s Drinking Water   

After that, take the Chennai Water Project. He announced it out of the blue, at the first anniversary of the Bangalore Hospital. I was present there. He was talking about the Hospital Medical Camp and in the middle of it, He said: “People in Chennai are suffering; I am going to give them water!”

I was taken aback! I mean, what’s this! But He did that because that was January 19th and I later learnt that it was the anniversary of the establishment of Sundaram. They had never come and asked: “Swami, please give us water!” They had never even dreamt that Swami would even think of such a project! But He said: “I have gone there and I have drunk that water…I am Krishna, so I am bringing Krishna to Madras!”

When Swami said that, in less than 20 months, a perfect Canal was built, all the way up to the Andhra border!

Now, the water travels so well! In five days, water reaches Chennai. Previously it used to take 20 days! And that too if it came! Meanwhile, it would be hijacked on the way!

 

 

Swami’s Compassion Bestows Drinking Water on the Godavari Tribals 

In addition, I have gone to the Godavari area and spent three days in the tribal areas. That is a potential Naxal area! Nobody cares for them! Absolutely nobody! But Swami gave them water! It is an incredible project! And you know, there should have been so much publicity, but there was absolutely none! Just a few months ago, the tribals came and danced for Swami. There was no inaugural function either!

When the Project was completed, Swami told the All India President: “Go there, do bhajans, open the tap, distribute the prasadam, take photographs and come back and show them to Me.” That’s all that was done! No television, no newspapers, no speeches – nothing! God does everything but stays in the background.

 

The Avatar Exemplifies Love and Sacrifice

I would now very quickly like to refer to this triangle of love, compassion and sacrifice. Imagine this triangle, and imagine some kind of a line, Creation below, and the Creator above.

Love is in that domain of Nirakaara Brahman. But when Brahman takes a Form we cannot understand that abstract Love! It flows to us via compassion. When Swami smiles with compassion, we feel it! It brings tears to my eyes! And then He gives!

We say He sacrifices, but sacrifice is not in His dictionary – it is only in man’s dictionary! And I want you to keep this in mind and go back to something that happened last year, when there were terrible floods in Orissa.

 

Giving Homes to Those who Lost Everything

There were some terrible floods in Orissa…people were suffering…and a few days later the All India President brought a lot of photographs and showed them to Swami and said: “Swami, our organization people did all this seva.” Swami was very moved. “You say, so many houses, hundreds and thousands of them have been washed away! Is anybody doing anything to help them?” He said: “No Swami.” Swami asked: “Are there no rich people there?” He said: “Swami there are many billionaires there.” Swami asked: “What do they do there?” He answered: “Oh, they have mines, steel factories, etc.” Swami asked: “Have they not given anything?” He replied: “Nothing Swami.” Swami said: “Alright! I will do it! Go and build 700 houses.”

More than 400 have been completed and handed over! The first batch of people came here, and they were given keys to their homes and some clothes too. There was no fanfare – no television, news, movie cameras, speeches, nor Ministers – nothing! Then, came the next batch of 400 houses; they did not come here. Swami sent the All India President and a little function was held there - bhajans and prasadam was distributed and they were given the keys and they went home; that’s all. No fanfare.

 

‘Love without Duty is Divine!’ - Baba

And I will now like to make a brief reference to the issue of duty, love, sacrifice and responsibility as discussed by Krishna and Swami. Krishna says, “Arjuna, in all the three worlds that I have created, I have no duty to perform like you have and yet, here I am, in human form, doing things which may be called duty. Why do I do it? I do it in order to set an example to you. And while defining duty, Swami says one thing: “Love without duty is Divine”. I have often wondered about that. And then I realized that when we do something, we say: “It is my duty.” If I serve my parents, I say it is my duty; if I come and teach in the college as I am supposed to, then I am doing my duty.

 

 

Swami has no duty; yet He will do the same things. Because what motivates Him is not a sense of responsibility or duty but sheer love! “I love you and I do this! That’s all! That is My nature!” You call it Swami’s Infinite Compassion, no; for Swami, “It’s just My love! Love is My Form! Love is My Nature, Love is My language, Love is My breath! So whatever I do is Love; you can give it other names, that is fine.”

Now, He tells us: “I have put that love in you. And so that you don’t forget it, I keep on calling you ‘Premaswarupalara’ (embodiments of Divine Love).

What is the big deal in calling us this when we are so heartless? He says: “No! That Divine seed is in you! That Divine gene is in you! Your biological genes may have come from your parents, but God has also given you a gene; the gene of Prema; don’t forget it.”

 

Proper Education is the Essential Need of the Day

Most of you here are connected with education and some of you have gone through that educational system and are working elsewhere as in the Hospital, for example. And Swami’s contribution to education is number one! Because He is shaping the minds of thousands of people and that will have an impact all over the world.

I am going to read out a very brief comment by an educator in a newspaper article many years ago:

“A society like ours, dedicated to the pursuit of happiness, which means in practice, the pursuit of pleasure, money, eroticism, success etc., with violence for kicks, is to me very repellent! It is my considered view that the way of life of the Western man today, is the most horrible and degraded that ever existed on earth.

"Education, the great mumbo-jumbo and fraud of the age, purports to equip us to live and is prescribed as a universal remedy for everything – from juvenile delinquency to premature senility. For the most part, it only serves to enlarge stupidity, inflate conceit, enhance credulity, and put those subjected to it at the mercy of brainwashers in printing presses, radio and television.”

The man who said this is Malcolm Muggeridge, who used to be a teacher of English in Kuchi before partition. He went back to England and was utterly disgusted with their educational system!

In 1972, when the Anantapur College was opened, Swami set the perspective rightly and I quote: “India is being forced into the land of bhogabhoomi; a land of sky scarpers, tin food, air-conditioning and television.” I don’t know what He would say today when we have the internet, Twitter, Facebook, cell phones, SMS and all sorts of things.

Swami went on to say, “Indians are being shaped into an imitative, insurgent and ill-disciplined mass. They are being transplanted on other soils and encouraged to grow without roots. This is an insult to the past and a sacrilege on the history of time. That is the reason I have decided that this College will now be inaugurated on Guru Poornima Day as a reminder of the highest tradition in which the highest ideals of life will instill with personal example and guidance from the Guru to pupils eager to imbibe.”

As Mr. Sanjay Sahani reminded us, that our Sathguru has been with the students all the time! And He said: “There was a time when I used to give 80% of My time to the students.” On this day, it is our duty to recall all that, because a sharp U-turn is needed in the march of mankind.

 

The World is in Need of Love

There is everywhere a huge poverty of love! That is the simplest way of explaining most of the problems and it is an accurate explanation. The human body can suffer from vitamin deficiency, calcium or iron deficiency and so forth. If there is iron deficiency, they prescribe iron; if there is vitamin deficiency, they prescribe vitamins and so on. But if there is poverty of love, obviously, love is the remedy. And so, we have really to explore how to spread Swami’s love, which we have been receiving in abundance.

If there is no Love, it is not possible to have morality. Daiva preeti (Love for God) alone will bring papa bheeti (Fear of Sin); without daiva preeti, there cannot be papa bheeti. Now let me tell you there are forces arraigned against morality - a big powerful lobby in fact! And it is controlled by huge media power, money power, criminal power – in grand proportions. And what they have done is turned the entire dialogue towards the individual and his rights. There is no responsibility. Even Lakshmana told Rama: “It is Your right!” But Rama said “No! It is My responsibility”

 

The Responsibilities of the Thyagajeevis

That conversation took place long ago! Rights vs. responsibilities. Craving for rights flows from ego! When there’s passion for responsibility, it flows from the spirit of sacrifice. So now I ask the simple question. Swami has been showing the example of compassion, love and mercy for 85 years! All of us have been exposed to it in some measure or the other – some more, some less – but nobody can say he has not received it. So, do we not have the duty, the obligation, and the responsibility to take it further? That is the question we have to ask ourselves. Now, in God’s creation, everybody has a role to play and it is quite obvious that the thyagajeevis have a very special role and that is what I want to point out.

In what way do they have a special role? Now for example, if a country is attacked, everybody doesn’t take a gun and fight with their enemy - it is a soldier’s responsibility to protect. When virtue is under attack and siege, it is the thyagajeevis who have to play a special role.

In the Dwapara Yuga, there was one Krishna, and one Arjuna and he alone had the opportunity to play a pivotal role. But in this Yuga, there is only one Sai Krishna, but lots of thyagajeevis and that number can multiply. And what a blessing! You are really chosen and that was clearly stated by Swami in a message long ago, which is as follows:

“You are My instruments from whom this love will radiate. The moment you let your ego descend on you, My work with you will cease. When you overcome this negative attitude - you will again become My instrument! The intensity of My Love will be felt throughout this world!

"I have prepared you for this and I have drawn you to Me. My work is ceaseless, so do your work without an aid and know that I am with you, within you as well as without you. There is no difference! Rid your mind of all petty matters, you are now Me and I am now Thee! There is no difference between you and Me!”

So, I would like to conclude by saying that we need what may be called an ICS. Before the IAS (Indian Administrative Service), there was the ICS – that was called the Indian Civil Service – but the ICS that I am talking about is the Indian Compassion Service! And with your effort, it should become Immortal Compassion Service so that it has members from all over the world. There is no need for any special Indian identity to be a member of this Compassion Service, because compassion is love, and love is in all because God is in all.

Thank you for your patience; God bless you all. May your life be fruitful with thyaaga (sacrifice) and may your jeeva (life force) glow with the radiance of prema (love). Jai Sairam!

 

 

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