VOL 5, ISSUE 18 |NOVEMBER 2016

Birthday Edition

www.insaightpath.wordpress.com

91st

PUBLISHED BY MUDDENAHALLI CAMPUS

SRI SATHYA SAI INSTITUTE OF HIGHER LEARNING

SAI SAMBHASHAN

DR K SAYEE MANOHAR SRI V BHASKARAN SRI S SAI MANOHAR SRI B CHANDRASHEKAR SRI B VENKATRAMANA SRI S SRINIVAS

Bhakti is the state of mind in which one has to separate existence apart from God. The Bhakta’s very breath is God; his every act is by God, for God; his thoughts are of God; his words are uttered by God, about God. For, like the fish which can live only in water, man can live only in God—in peace and happiness. In other media, he has only fear, frantic struggle, and failure. The Nandi (Bull) is the lower nature of man; when it is used as the vehicle of God it secures a place in front of the central shrine of God, and it shares some of the adoration offered to God. It is only association with the Divine that can confer value and significance. The mind too gets illumined, and feels joy, peace and calm, only because the peace, joy and calm, which are the native characteristics of the Atma (God), are reflected on it.

- BABA

THE EDITORIAL BOARD

NOVEMBER 2016, VOLUME 05 / ISSUE 18

The Month Of Amber

Shall I ?

Brooding Woods

Editorial 01

04

02

08

The Divine Mother 10

NOVEMBER 2016, VOLUME 05 / ISSUE 18

SSSIHL

Our True Guide

Living in Love

11

18

17

19

Did We Come Here… 22

NOVEMBER 2016, VOLUME 05 / ISSUE 18

Holidays – A Travelogue

My Journey to Sai

25

27

26

28

And That’s the Magic… 30

" तेरा नूर "

అమ్మ - కనిప ించే దేవత

NOVEMBER 2016, VOLUME 05 / ISSUE 18

Hiring the Hands

The Rhythm of the Heart

The Quintessence… 32

36

35

39

Sketches 40

When life puts you through a test, Know that God plans for the best!

- Art by ASHIK RAI (MCA I)

In general terms, November might be no better or worse a moniker than any other for the eleventh month in

the Gregorian calendar. However, the name of the month is extra special to us, for it immediately brings to our

minds the Birthday of the Physical Frame of our Beloved Lord. The fact that November is ‘temporal home’ to

the akhanda bhajan – a global event where bhajans are chanted for twenty-four continuous hours by Sai

devotees everywhere during the second week of the month – and the Institute’s convocation ceremony makes

it significant in both academic and spiritual respects.

Enraptured as we are at feting November as ‘Swami’s Birthday month’, however, we would also benefit from

remembering the life-changing messages He has given us on the occasion of his Birthdays. Swami says that

the celebration of His birthdays is meant to light a lamp in our hearts and awaken our spirits, so that we begin

to seek Him within ourselves. The day we realize that He is firmly installed in us, He adds, would mark our

true birthday; for that day would reveal to us the Supreme Bliss born out of the liberation of the Self from all

intellectual, physical and emotional attachments.

Praying to Swami to give us the resilience and patience to keep seeking our true birthday, we place this issue

of InSaight at his Celestial Feet.

OF BIRTHDAYS AND ‘BIRTHDAYS’

November is here with us and that means balmier days, indigo evenings and cooler breezes, even as the Sun shines gloriously but less punitively than at other times during the year. The mist-clad hills dotting Muddenahalli stand testimony to the changing climes, as ever, and we begin another even semester by seeking Swami’s guidance and blessings for all the cultural, academic and spiritual activities which populate the semester.

- FACULTY DESK

1

The month of November is significant in many ways. It is one of the winter months which

bring the chill wintry winds, the fog-laden mornings, the short days and the long nights

and the kindlier warmth of the sun!

As per the Hindu calendar, the auspicious month of “Kaarteeka”, which is dear to Lord

Shiva, coincides with this month and during it the “Layakara” is worshipped. People

undertake many rituals to appease the Lord during this month.

For Sai devotees this month is all the more important as this is the birth month of the

Shiva Shakthi incarnation in the form of Sri Sathya Sai. How else can one describe the

Divine plan of the great Shiva – and His consort – to descend to earth in a month that is

dear to Him?!!

It is the experience of many devotees that during trying and testing times, the Lord

appears, extends help and uplifts them in the nth moment when all the human effort fails.

This is aptly reflected in the advent of our Lord in the penultimate month of the year!

The month of Amber - SHRI B VENKATRAMANA

2

It is the day when one gets the opportunity to

reminisce the blissful bygone days when the

devotees celebrated the occasion in the

physical presence of the Divine and remember

the lessons learned, the love experienced, the

messages received; and share them with our

fellow brothers and sisters with rejuvenated

enthusiasm.

The air in Prashanthi Nilayam and elsewhere is filled with ecstasy and

expectation as the Sai family waits for the 23rd November 2016 which

signifies the 91st birthday of our beloved Swami.

He is the caring and loving Mother, the

disciplinarian Father, the chiding and guiding

Guru and the omnipresent Friend. We are

indeed very fortunate and need to count our

blessings that we have been brought into His

fold, to Puttaparthy, the home of the advent,

to celebrate the occasion amidst fellow

brothers and sisters.

3

A conversation that never happened.

- SHRI V BHASKARAN

Oh man! The rules and regulations in this place. It is choking me! So many rules to follow! And there is a rule for everything - physical appearance to even eating! Come on, can I not have my freedom? Why not? You can have your freedom, but have you defined it? I don't care! But I do not want anyone nosing on me - I want to live according to my wish. Sure. You can. But first enquire if living as you wish brings you freedom? Well, what else? Yes, that is my absolute freedom. I experience it each time I go for vacation!

Shall I ?

4

You are right. Your experience of happiness during vacation is correct but the reasoning that non-enforcement of rules leads to it need not be right. Really? What is the reason then? Feeling enforced. Once feeling enforced disappears, freedom appears. Home also has certain rules. But there is no feeling of enforcement. Interesting...then why do I feel enforced here? Rather ask, why do you not feel enforced at home? Ok, why not at home? Because when you are at home, you are at home. Where there is love, there is peace. Where there is peace, there is no force. Ok, now I get it. It means there is no love here! You are right. But if you are open enough I can show you another possibility. Yes, I am listening. It is also possible that there is love here, but you cannot see love here. Yes, I do not see it at all.

5

Yes again you are right. Love can be seen only with love. What! Are you saying that I am not loving? You are concluding fast. If you are open enough I can show you another possibility. Sure. I am listening. You are indeed loving, but you have decided to not show it here. Because you have concluded that there is no love here. It’s confusing. What do I do now? Love. See with love. You will only see love. You mean discipline is love? Absolutely. You are beginning to see. How could it be? I am not liking it at all. When you love you will stop asking whether you like it or not. You mean I follow all those rules out of love? Perfect. Where there is love, there is peace. Where there is peace, there is no force. No feeling enforced - that is your freedom 6

But why? Why should I do all that? In love, there is no reason. Would you mind standing upside down for two days for your mother? Well, that is a very odd question. But I will not mind anything for my mother.

Brilliant. You see - you do not see any logic in love. You do not seek a reason.

You mean I can love to follow all rules without even knowing why?

Right. Asking why and following is one thing. But love is blind. It knows no

reason. Neither does it seek.

I see it. There is a point. But what will following all those rules give me?

There you go again. Love never seeks a reason.

Ok. Let me give it a shot.

You are wonderful. And when you truly follow His words out of your Love for Him,

you will see why He put all those rules in place.

I shall. Because I love my Master with all my heart.

7

The boughs, they brood of years; the barks the air

Of decades bygone breathe; the leaves repair

On windy nights the flute of plaintive tunes;

The fruit awaits its day in flowery runes;

The Root amid its flock of roots is still

And seeds from tongues the woolen shadows till.

As one, they don the crowns and hearts of hills;

They flank the plains, and silent valleys fill;

As one, they dot the lanes and roads of towns,

String villages, and stare at cities brown.

“All bits of trees are trees,” they seem to sing,

“And trees there are in every wooden thing.”

They stand, and talkers settle into thought;

They stay, and dreams with spinal steel are wrought;

They sway, and not a nest or bird is felled;

They sing, and never is a birdsong quelled;

They brave the Sun and brood thro’ many moons,

And neither wax nor wane; nor turn maroon.

Brooding

- SHRI S. SRINIVAS (FACULTY)

Woods

8

To love they offer lair; to lyr’cal muck,

Another leaf and breezes laced with luck;

On hate-wrung hands, they rain as flowers, and leave

The cynic searching for a different peeve!

In friendship is their silence fathomed best,

As earthy loyalty that time does test.

The tempests tempt, but they attain no feet;

Nor grapevine lilts their absent egos greet.

The creepers take their limbs, the fall their garb,

But limbless strength survives a seasonal barb!

The night pervades their skin but leaves no trolls,

As Days evade their roots to trace their soul…

We stroll their arches through on evenings dense,

Until their winds our acid thoughts do cleanse;

By day, their shade regales our jaded hearts

With hope, and glimpses in this life of Art.

At night, when sleep enfolds our worst and best,

They blow away our doubts at dreams’ behest.

9

All of us have heard the story of King Parikshit, and how Lord Krishna saved him when he

was in the womb of his mother. For many of us it is a story but for me it is more than that.

It was in the seventh month of my mother's pregnancy that my father decided to visit Puttaparthi and be a

part of Bhagawan's Birthday celebrations. One day during that month, my mother felt that the size of her

womb was decreasing and that there was no movement of the baby inside the womb. She expressed this to

my maternal grandmother and was duly rushed to the hospital.

The doctors, after examining her, decided that they would operate her the next day, but were of the opinion

that they could save either the mother or the child, but not both. My maternal grandmother felt that mother

should be saved, while my paternal one felt both should be saved.

The next day, when my father was sitting for darshan, Swami came straight to him and said, “Bangaru, baby

boy”; created Vibhuti and went away. My father was in for a surprise when he was informed that the child

was born and was indeed a baby boy. The Divine Mother He is, He took care of me before I was born, is

taking care of me now and (I am sure) will take care of me – and everyone who surrenders to him – in the

future, as well.

- SHRI PRASHANT VYAS

The Divine Mother

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11

12

13

14

15

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- G.RANGESH (I BBA)

C

A

M

P

U

S

M

D

H

S

S

I

H

L

S Caring like parents,

Always encouraging us in

all aspects,

Motivating us, guiding us in

Personality development and by

Unifying that each one for

GOD and every one for other

So as to make our home a better

place to live in.

Make your stay meaningful

Day by day so that,

He blesses us.

“See Always Inside”,

Said SAI,

So that you can develop,

in yourself Peace and

Harmony, for better

Living, full of Love

- G RANGESH ( I BBA)

Every travel has a source and a destination. So is this travel of mine. The uniqueness of this travel is

that the source is the destination. This journey starts as soon as one comes down to the Earth and

will last until one lasts. This is a journey that everyone has to undertake, yet no two can take the

same path during it. This journey is a very dangerous and tedious one. One should be extremely

careful while travelling so that one does not take the wrong route. So a guide is necessary to

conduct this journey back to its source. And the only guide one can have is God Himself because He

is the only one who can help us through this travel from Aham to Soham. The only thing we need to

do is to hold our guide by our side always and follow Him.

Our guide will take several forms to guide us through this often dangerous journey. The first form

that our guide takes is that of our parents. Our guide protects us in the form of our mother and

shows us the world through the form of our father. Later, our guide takes a new form to show us the

path we must tread. He is our teacher. He introduces us to God and lets us travel back to him.

Mother shows Father, Father shows Teacher and Teacher shows God. However, when we see God, we

realise that our Mother, Father and Teacher are our true Gods. When this realisation dawns upon us

we regret all the troubles we caused to our true Gods. Let us remind ourselves that to complete our

journey we need to hang on to our God and our God is none other than our Mother, Father and

Teacher.

Our True Guide - M. V. S. S. S. DURGESH (BCA I)

18

It was not just any other afternoon in tranquility inside Sai Kulwant Hall; not because most of my chums

were snoring in East Prashanti (a rare chance for a Muddenahalli Student indeed!); not because I was

trying my best to avoid any pigeon waste which somehow finds its way on my back or fingers; but

because for the 7th time I was repeating the same good bhajans. The reason for the tranquility is thus

obvious – The Global Akanda Bhajan. Halcyon was the morning mike session that it would saturate the

Divinity throughout oneself from within. As I was singing and pondering upon the New Mandir, its design, I

wondered how You (SWAMI) would have spent your usual afternoon during late 1950s when it was being

built; how you would had given interviews; how you would have looked at Devotees from your room,

singing those glorious old bhajans inside the Bhajan Hall!

***

An elderly Grandmother in her mid-80s walked droopingly beside me with a stick on her hand for support.

It looked as if it was a herculean task for her to walk till Bhagwan’s Samadi, for such an old Grandmother

she was! I wonder if I could ever survive till her age. After reaching the front of the samadi, she signalled

the Seva dal to give her a bucket full of decorative stuff. As she very sluggishly started taking out things

from her bucket, a lady Seva dal approached her and told her to do her usual decoration near the

entrance of the gate of the Samadhi. The grandmother stood up and went back to the place from where

she had come, without arguing with the Seva dal who was not letting her decorate her beloved Swami’s

Living in Love -GIGME WANGCHEN LEPCHA ( I MCA)

19

Samadhi. On reaching the entrance gate, the first thing she did was bow down on her knees and take

namaskar, which was not very easy for her due to her age, before starting her decoration.

By then the second post-graduate students of Prasanthi Nilayam campus were already seated and had

started singing bhajans full throated. My mind presently shifted from the old grandmother to a friend who

greeted me and asked me whether I was part of the convocation drama. We chatted for a minute or two

and bid each other farewell.

When I turned back to the old grandmother, she was holding an old diary which contained some old

pictures of Swami. After drawing the old photos to her forehead and chanting some prayers, she started

her decoration. Perfected by experience, the rangoli she produced was flawless—a beautiful combination of

red and white flowers offered to her beloved Bhagawan. The moment she completed her first rangoli she

looked up straight towards the New Mandir and, listening to the energetic bhajans seemed to be lost. It

looked as if she was searching for the most adorable person she had ever seen—her best friend, her

master, her Divine love who had lived in that very hall, in that inimitable building for years and years. The

memories of her Bhagawan giving Darshan, manifesting vibhuti and singing the most melodious bhajans

made her gaze towards the New Mandir for a couple of minutes.

At this point, I wondered: “Swami! If you had been here physically, how happy and peaceful she would be!

For, only you can value the work she does every single day.”

She then completed her next two rangolis and started walking back, without admiring her work because

her duty was over for that day and because she needed energy to come back the next day till her beloved

Swami blessed her with Ananda.

20

What sort of contentment the grandmother, and old people like her, experience every day is beyond my

understanding and imagination. Then, I tell myself: it must be you Swami, it’s your Pure Love for which

every one of us is here!

Soon after the grandmother departed, a grand Prasadam was served to everyone and, in the process, the

beautiful rangolis lost their charm. They were slowly obliterated by the feet of the distributors and the

devotees.

21

I completed my secondary schooling in 2010 from Rajasthan. I had studied in a Hindi medium school and we

did not have much exposure to English. So, my English was rather weak at that time. Though I managed to

get admission into Sathya Sai Loka Seva PU College at Muddenahalli, I struggled a lot to learn English. At the

end of second year PUC, I managed to score 72%. The year was 2013. Then I applied for BBM and B.Com

courses at SSSIHL. I wrote the entrance test for both the courses and got selected for the B.Com interview. I

could, however, not do well in the interview. As expected, the list of students selected for B.Com did not have

my name.

I returned to Bangalore and spent a whole year at home doing nothing. After failing in the interview, I became

a little silent at home. I could see sadness writ on my father’s face, which I could not bear, and cried a lot in

silence. That year passed, but I did not apply for any other college. I wanted to study only in ‘Sai Institute’.

In April 2014, I applied again for BBM and B.Com. This time I could not even clear the written test. Everyone

lost the hopes they had pinned on me. My father was a little upset. He said, “You are wasting your life. Take

admission in some private college in Bangalore itself.”

I agreed reluctantly and joined the New Horizon College (NHC) for BBA. Everything was good, days passed

quickly, and fun they were! However, I missed that lifestyle, that culture, that routine which I had enjoyed

during my PUC days. I somehow completed the first semester at NHC. The second semester began but still

the urge to study at SSSIHL had not subsided one little bit.

Did we come here? Or

Were we brought? - PRAMOD RAJPUROHIT (II BBA)

22

One evening I went to my father and told him, “I want to apply to SSSIHL one final time.”

He said, “You have completed your first year in NHC. If you join SSSIHL, this one year will go waste. Are you

ready for that?”

I replied, “I have got a very long life, if I finish my degree so soon what I will do when I turn old? I will get

bored. Let me go to SSSIHL and enjoy my life and create some memories.”

He agreed and brought two application forms, one for BBA and another for B.Com.

I filled both the forms and personally went to submit them.

The entrance test was approaching but I did not prepare hard enough for it. I reached Parthi two days before

the test and though I had not prepared much, I was confident that I would clear it. A Voice inside me roared

that this time nothing was going to stop me.

I appeared for the entrance tests for both BBM and B.Com.

Next day, the list of students selected for the interviews was put up on the notice board. I went and searched

for my name in the list. I was selected for both the interviews. I was very happy. I called my parents, who

were in Rajasthan, and told them about my selection. They were also very happy and my joy knew no bounds.

It was 6 a.m. and the interview was scheduled at 11 a.m. I finished my breakfast and headed towards the shed

where I was staying. There was still a lot of time remaining for the interview. So, I closed my eyes and lay

down on the bed. When I opened my eyes and glanced at my mobile it was 11 a.m. already. I quickly dressed

up in whites and rushed out of the Ashram. I reached the auto stand, got into an auto rickshaw and moved

towards the Institute where the interviews must have already begun.

23

On reaching the Institute, I saw some boys sitting outside the interview

room. I joined them. When my turn came I went in. Someone in the

interview panel asked, “In case you are selected for both the courses,

which one would you prefer?”

I thought fondly of Muddenahalli (MDH), and answered BBA.

After a few days, the final list of students selected for BBA and B.com

was put up. My name appeared in the BBA list. I went home and

thanked God.

For the next few days, there was nothing to do at home. My parents

were also in Rajasthan, leaving me no company for conversation: so,

for passing time, I took the handbook which had been given along with

the application forms, and started going through it. I stopped at one

page which read ‘Eligibility for the candidates who can apply for these

courses’. The page mentioned that only those whose year of birth was

1996 or earlier were eligible to apply.

The year of my birth, however, was 1995. I was amused. ‘How did I get

selected then?’ I thought aloud.

Then, one amazing feeling filled me, and I am unable to express in

words even now.

Never think that we chose this university; it is this University that has

chosen us. 24

" तेरा नूर "

- नननिल जगवानी (II BBA)

जो भी तेरा हुक्म ्,वो होगा मुझ ेमजूंर अगर ना करूँ , तो होगा वो कसूर

तू ही मेरी मजंजल , तू ही मेरा दस्तूर है तेरा हर गीत , है तेरा हर सुरर जो भी तू चाहे, वो होगा ज़रर

ना कोई इस जाहाूँ मे , तुझसा मशहूर हूूँ तेरा अशं, है ये मेरा गुरर

ससर्फ तुझसे समलना ही , मेरा फर्तूर हर लम्हा रहूूँ तेरे साथ, मेरे हुज़ूर

ऎ मासलक है अब यही दआु फक ला पाऊूँ तेरे चहरे पे नूर 25

- PRATYAY DAS (I BBA)

Holiday is a word which fills the heart of many with joy. Whether a child, a middle-aged person or a veteran, everyone waits for this occasion. Even I wait eagerly for a holiday to arrive. After I had joined SSSIHL, the recent winter break was the first holiday to arrive. Even at the outset, it was somewhat different from earlier holidays. For starters, I am no longer a school boy and I have grown up into a college-going student. Moreover, I am a SAI student now. Even before holidays arrived I was eagerly waiting to return to the feet of my dearest Lord and friend – SAI, and celebrate the auspicious occasion of Diwali with him. As planned, on the 19th October, I started from Muddenahalli and hurried towards Puttaparthi to board my train. The train journey (alone for the first time) was wonderful and adventurous as well. I reached Kolkata, my home town, on the morning of the 21st. My relatives were eagerly waiting to see me after a hiatus of five months. I spent the days in Kolkata with my relatives, friends and teachers and visited some well-known places like Belur Math (Headquarters of The Ram Krishna Mission established by Swami Vivekananda) and the Kali Temple at Dakhineshwar. Spending five wonderful days and concluding the first episode of my vacation at Kolkata, I boarded the train to my second home as well as the home of my Lord, Puttaparthi, to celebrate Diwali with Him. I spent six wonderful days at Puttaparthi with my family and my Lord. From taking prasadam to Samadhi (a rare chance for a student of SAI) to decorating Yajur Mandir (Swami’s Residence) to bursting crackers in front of Yajur Mandir, everything was a wonderful experience. Saying goodbye to Puttaparthi, I started my journey towards the Muddenahalli hostel, my present and third home, on 3rd November with two of my close friends. The end of the journey brought to a close a beautiful, memorable and eventful holiday spanning 15 days.

Holidays – A Travelogue

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అమ్మ - కనిప ించే దేవత - UMESH G (II MCA)

మ్ాధుర్యానికి అర్ధిం అమ్మ మ్మ్కయర్యనికి నిలువెతతు ర్ూపిం అమ్మ స్నేహానికి చిహ్ేిం అమ్మ ఆప్యాయతకు ర్ూపిం అమ్మ త్యాగయనికి చిర్ునయమ్ా అమ్మ పనేమ్కు పతేిర్ూపిం అమ్మ అటువింటి అమ్మకు ఏమి తిర్ిగి ఇవవగలిం అిందుకే చివర్ిక్షణిం వర్కు అనుక్షణిం నీక ై త్ోడ ింటా అమ్మ

27

This is an incident which took place six years ago. I was studying in class nine in the Sri Sathya Sai Vidya Mandir School. After morning recess, we had a Geography lecture. Our teacher entered the class and read out a list of students, selected for a student pilgrimage to Puttaparthi. There are around 99 Sai schools all over India and our school is one among them. A notice came from the centre that 20 students from each school were being called by Swami for pilgrimage. By God’s Grace I was one among them. When I heard my name, I was on cloud nine. Along with a letter, the Centre had sent a CD containing three songs that we needed to sing in front of Swami. Our music teacher started teaching us those songs and we learnt them with a lot of enthusiasm. Although it was difficult to learn a Telugu song, we finally did it, after considerable practice. We were all eagerly waiting for the 30th of August, 2010, when we would start our journey to Puttaparthi. Finally, the day arrived. Three teachers accompanied us, including my mother. Throughout the journey, we revised those three songs and reached the lovely Abode of Swami on the morning of 2nd September. After some post-journey refreshments, we spent the rest of the day exploring Puttaparthi. On 3rd September, there was a special programme for the pilgrims and many schools were supposed to give various cultural performances. In the evening evening, we gave our audition to some dignitaries. They did not give us a chance to perform and as a result, we were extremely depressed. Singing was our only chance to see Swami at close quarters, but it was lost. After sometime my friends accepted their fate, but I cried a lot.

My Journey to Sai - DEBASHISH PATNAIK (II BBA)

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The next morning, after breakfast, we headed to Kulwant Hall for darshan. After darshan, we went to the food court beside the shopping center. Here my mother met a person from our state (Odisha) and started talking to him. He was the State Coordinator. I bought some food, sat on a bench and started eating. Suddenly, I saw one of my friends and my mother coming towards me. I could see the happiness on their faces. They were discussing something amongst themselves that I was unable to hear. They came near me and said, “You are giving Arathi to Swami this evening.” I did not believe them. The next instant, they took me to the State Coordinator who confirmed the words of my mother. Oh! The joy of that moment was something which can’t be expressed in words! That evening, I went to Kulwant Hall a bit earlier than usual, with the State Coordinator keeping me company. He told me to sit in a place where Swami could see me directly. Then the Vedam-chanting started, and was followed by Bhajans. During the Bhajans, the Creator, the Almighty, entered the hall. The scene was a feast to the eyes and his Divine Form was inexpressible. His feet were as beautiful as a lotus. Swami’s eyes were constantly on me but I was unable to look into His eyes; I was terribly afraid. My hands and legs were shaking as though I was in the midst of the freezing Himalayas. At length, the time came when the Arathi song started, and I got up and gave Arathi to Swami. I did not commit any mistake while doing that! During those few moments, when I was giving Arathi, I totally surrendered at His Lotus Feet and have stayed surrendered ever since.

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There comes my rain Having you is our gain

Descending to remove pain And sending off nature’s stain

And That’s The Magic of My Rain

Residing in the dark cloud

Giving some unexpected visit Each time pouring proud

Every time you’re so explicit And That’s The Magic of My Rain

And That’s The Magic Of My Rain

- SAI KISHORE .G (I BCA)

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Rolling down as cloud’s tears Chasing away all our fears Seeing you, the Earth smiles When the whole sky wails And That’s The Magic of My Rain You give nothing but joy For people of all ages For one, you are a toy For an other, you are wages And That’s The Magic of My Rain I wish you’d be mine Impossible, but it is fine Coming from the top None can make you stop And That’s The Magic of My Rain

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Every time I get up in the morning, His smiling face and blessing hands say- “This day is going to be the most wonderful day ever.” With lots of hope we get into our routine. I feel we human beings remember God only when life throws challenges at us, when life takes us through gruesome experiences. Rather, that is the time when God takes a step towards us in order to liberate us from the domineering and demanding darts of life – darts which are intended to take us farther from God and nearer to dust.

THE QUINTESSENCE OF HUMANITY

Learnt From Animals --

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- N. YOGENDRA (II BBA)

God, while creating this cynical creature, also injected something called intellect into him, which made it possible for him to reach the higher standards of life from generation to generation in the name of civilization. But what has man really made out of it? He has gone to the extent of destroying life. God also bestowed upon him a beautiful gift called Love, which has the power to sustain humanity and the products of its intellectual capacity. But this infinite love has not been shared, and we have caged our infinite selves in the illusions of this finite world. Our ‘busy’ness and indifference have made us incapable of loving and caring for our fellow beings.

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In Dvapara yuga, Dharmaraja gave away everything in life for the upkeep of Dharma and for the good of mankind, stating that nothing in this world is greater than Dharma. Today, however, man is ready to give away Dharma for the sake of trivial things in life. His rapacity, imperiousness and intrusiveness have brought about his spiritual death. As the illustrious poet T. S. Eliot writes in his beautiful poem The Rock, “Where is the life that we lost in living Where is the wisdom we lost in knowledge Where is the knowledge we lost in information” Elliot could not have summed up modern life better!

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To what is humanity clinging, which takes him away from his very own self? For once let us look at other creatures. Aren’t they peaceful? (Humans have disturbed even them.) It is only human beings who lead this finicky life. Have we ever heard of a tiger killing another tiger in the name of religion, or have we ever heard of anything like Jungle War I or Jungle War II just like World War I and II? Sounds funny? Then what is it that makes man do all these things? Can we call it greed? 33

When our neighbour has a bigger car or a bigger bungalow than we do, don’t we try our best to have more and better than what our neighbour has? We are not only greedy but also jealous! Going back to the animal analogy, have we ever heard of a tiger which feels jealous on seeing another tiger’s cave or have we ever heard of a lion fighting with another lion with the greed of conquering its domain? Only humans do that. Why? Because lions and tigers know that every one of them belongs to the same clan. But man, ignoring the fact that he and all others around him are sparks of the supreme Divinity, has let greed and jealousy envelop his good sense of compassion. Harmony can be achieved in the community if we consider others as the reflections of the Divine, cooperate with them in their endeavours and consider their progress and prosperity beneficial for the whole community. What is it that a tiger does in its lifetime? It goes for a hunt when it is hungry, eats and sleeps. Have we ever heard of a tiger storing meat for its next generation? It only eats to satiate its hunger because animals are destined to act on instinct. It never loses sleep thinking ‘what if I don’t have enough for the future?’ and that is why it finds peace. That is what Swami said in short: “LOVE ALL SERVE ALL.” Swami also says: “A HEART THAT CANNOT LOVE ALL CAN NEVER BE MY HOME.”

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One young man went to apply for a managerial position in a big company. He passed the initial interview,

and now would meet the director for the final interview. The Director discovered from the CV in front of

him that the youth’s academic achievements were excellent.

He asked “Did you obtain any scholarships in your school?”

The youth answered: “NO.”

“Was it your father who paid for your school fees?”

The youth replied: “My father passed away when I was one year old, it was my mother who paid for my

school fees.”

“Where did your mother work?”

Y: “My mother washed clothes.”

The director requested the youth to show his hands. The youth showed his hands that were smooth and

perfect.

“Have you ever helped your mother in washing the clothes before..?”.

Y: “Never, my mother always wanted me to study and read more books; besides, my mother can wash

clothes better and faster than I.

- VISHNU P. M. (II BBA)

HIR NG THE HANDS

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The Director said: “I have a request: when you go home today, go and clean your mother’s hand and

then see me tomorrow morning.”

The youth felt that his chance of landing the job was high. When he went back home, he asked his

mother to let him clean her hands. His mother felt strange and happy, and with mixed feelings she

showed her hands to her son.

The youth cleaned his mother’s hand slowly. A teardrop fell from his eyes, as he noticed for the first time

that his mother’s hands were so wrinkled and that there were so many patches and bruises on her hands.

Some bruises were probably so painful that his mother winced when he touched them.

This was the first time the youth realised that it was this pair of hands that had washed the clothes every

day to enable him to pay his school fees. After cleaning her hands, the youth quietly washed all the

remaining clothes for his mother. That night mother and son talked for a long time. Next morning, the

youth went to the director’s office.

The director noticed the tears in the youth’s eyes when he asked: “Can you tell me what have you have

learned yesterday in your house?”

The youth answered: “I cleaned my mother’s hand, and also helped her wash clothes.”

He continued, “I know now what appreciation is; without my mother, I would not be who I am today. In

helping my mother, I realised how difficult and tough it is to get something done on your own. I have now

come to appreciate the importance and value of helping one’s family.”

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The Director said: “This is what I am looking for in a manager. I want to recruit a person who can appreciate

the help of others, a person who knows the suffering of others to get things done, and a person who would

not put money as his only goal in life.

“You are HIRED”.

A Child, who has been protected and habitually given whatever he wanted, would develop an ‘entitlement

mentality’ and would always put himself first. He would be ignorant of his parent’s efforts.

Dear Friends,

You can let your brothers and sisters live in a big house, eat a good meal, and watch a big screen TV.

However, when you are cutting grass, please let them experience it. After a meal, let them wash their plates

and bowls together with you. It is not because you do not have money to hire a worker/maid, but it is

because you want to love them in a right way. You want them to understand, no matter how rich one’s

parents are, one day their hair will also grow grey, same as the mother of the Young person.

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As the music flows through the violin,

The sky begins to clear,

And the trees and greens start to bloom,

One can feel Him, somewhere.

The fresh air goes in, making

The mind and body pure as itself;

As the lamp in darkness brings light,

The purity glows peace and happiness.

When one sits around nature,

And plumbs the state of nothingness,

A beautiful thought envelops them,

Making them realise, somewhere inside—

Talking to Him, slowly, expressing thoughts…

“The Rhythm of the Heart” -SHISHIR RANA ( II BBA)

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Sketches

- G.RANGESH ( I BBA) - RAMA RAO ( I BBA) - T.ROHIT VERMA ( I BBA ) 40

Sri Sathya Sai Institute Of Higher Learning

Muddenahalli Campus