Issue 9
May - Jun 2013
A Magazine by the Sai Youth of Maharashtra and Goa
Issue not for sale
Archives: www.srisathyasai.in/yes www.facebook.com/YES.Mag.SSSO
Youth in Eternal Service
the worDS OF BHAGAWAN Your life is really like a tapestry. You look at one side, see all the disconnected and loose ends, and say, “What a mess my life is!” God sees the finished product on the other side and sighs, “How beautiful you have become!” ~ Baba
LOVINGLY YOURS
02
A downpour of compassion floods droughtaffected villages as the SSSSO gets to work.
CHANGING SOCIETY
03 04
Girls dare to dream, spurred on by the Mother Easwaramma Scholarship. Two villages are set to harvest rainwater. We track their progress.
TICKET TO GOD
05
NEW
We discover an ancient temple in God’s Own Country—and God’s secrets too!
SOUL STORIES
05
How does a merchant save himself from the wrath of Goddesses? Find out!
MULTIPLEX MUSINGS
06
What does it take to be a true warrior? Kung Fu Panda reveals the secrets.
seconD Life
07
A 72-year old lady suddenly needs immediate surgery. Does she make it?
DIARY OF A SEEKER
08
Neil starts off on a journey to perfection. Read what inspired him to change himself.
HAVE A GOD-DAY
08
Bask in the Lord’s Glory even as you take a few steps toward Him.
LOVINGLY YOURS
DRY WELLS
PARCHED FIELDS
No Drought of LOVE!
TWO MONTHS FOOD SUPPLY
WATER TANKS BRING THE ELIXIR OF LIFE
D
‘
rought-affected
expert panels of vets visited villages
state’
and nursed dying cattle back to
declared
every
newspaper in the country as 11,000 villages in Maharashtra health with a steady dose of vitamin-enriched fodder, even as reeled under the cumulative impact of cracked lands, scorched an army of Seva Dal (SSSO volunteers) rushed into the villages fields, empty wells, dying cattle and starving children.
and took upon themselves the herculean task of tilling the
The Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisation (SSSSO) lost no time parched soils and building dams, bunds and wells to store water. in getting to work. Massive relief operations were planned and In several villages, Rain Water Harvesting systems have been executed within less than two weeks. Water tankers sped to the most severely affected villages
installed as long-term solutions to the drought. As many as 100 villages and 2,050 cows have already
(24 villages were identified as needing immediate relief), large benefitted from the SSSSO’s Drought Relief operations. bags (Amrut Kalash) containing two months supply of rice, dal, Devotees and corporates are contributing generously to oil, sugar and wheat were rushed to 2,500 families in 69 villages, support this humanitarian cause with love and compassion. Download a free QR Scanner onto your mobile device and scan this code to watch an unforgettable video.
DIGGING OF WATER TROUGH
FREE MEDICINES
02
CHANGING SOCIETY How Far Can the Fourth How Did a Quiet Little Daughter of a Poor Girl from a Noisy Slum Vegetable Vendor Go? Become a Lawyer? Very, Proves a 19-year old. This is the true-life account of Supriya
At a time when the girl child is still treated as a liability rather than a blessing, the Sri Sathya Sai Organisation shines out as a beacon of hope in the lives of these often neglected children. Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba always held women in high esteem. Throughout His Life, He extolled, “If you want to gauge the progress of a nation, look to its women. As are the women, so is the nation.” Bhagawan played His part as Divine Mother and Father magnificently, by establishing schools, colleges and even a university for women at Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh. In the year 2000, Swami established the Mother Easwaramma Foundation to recognise that women are the backbone of a virtuous and value-based society. That same year, the Mother Easwaramma Scholarship for meritorious girls was instituted by the foundation to encourage girls to fulfill their academic dreams. Till date, 700 aspiring recipients of the Easwaramma Scholarship have become successful CAs, CSs, lawyers and computer engineers. These girls enjoy rewarding jobs and are also well-settled in happy marriages. With the sheer dint of their hard and honest work, they have changed age-old perspectives and earned the love and respect of their families— and critics too. Having emerged from the shadows of anonymity, they are shining examples the indomitable spirit of a girl!
Life was never easy for Vandana Chowgule. She grew up in a large family of six members who barely survived on a meager income of less than Rs. 5,000 a month. Her father sold vegetables outside Dharmakshetra, Mumbai and her mother was a clerk in the Sri Sathya Sai school at Dharmakshetra. What kept their body and soul together was Bhagawan’s Divine Grace. Devoted to Bhagawan since childhood, Vandana had the good fortune of attending Sri Sathya Sai Bal Vikas classes from the tender age of six. When she was 14 years of age, Vandana applied for the Easwaramma Scholarship. Vandana bagged the Easwaramma Scholarship for four years. Empowered by the scholarship’s financial assistance (a total of nearly Rs. 17,000), the youngest of four girl children, successfully completed her diploma in Computer Engineering. Says Vandana, “The scholarship really helped me. My father, who is now a worker in a printing studio, could not afford to pay for my education. He was already struggling to repay the loan he took for my sister’s graduation. Even today, he saves a small amount every month so he can work off that loan.” Vandana is currently seeking a parttime job so she can continue to study and acquire her engineering degree. Just before she concludes her interview with us, Vandana expresses her gratitude to her parents and to Bhagawan. She says, “Without Swami, I could not have come this far. I didn’t ever dream that things would work out so well for me. He (Bhagawan) has taken care of everything!” (The Chowgule family has been Bhagawan’s devotees for over two decades.) Vandana ends our chat with a motivational message to all girls: “Mehenat se kuch bhi haasil kar sakte hain (With hard work, you can achieve whatever you set your heart on).”
Sakpal, a 23-year old girl who stands on the threshold of an exciting new beginning. Her wedding has been fixed to a young man who is not a devotee of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba but is yet fully supportive of her spiritual and professional goals. As far as Supriya is concerned, her prayers have been answered. The Sri Sathya Sai Organisation discovered Supriya in August 2002, when it adopted the slum she lived in, with the aim to transform it into a Sai Colony. Since then, Supriya has been a Bal Vikas student—and a worthy recipient of the Easwaramma Scholarship. In the twelve years that Supriya received the scholarship, she studied hard. Often, to get away from the noise of the slum, she would go to one of her Bal Vikas Guru’s homes and study to her heart’s content. The youngest of four sisters, Supriya might not have had a chance at a good education—if it weren’t for the Easwaramma Scholarship. Her father, who is engaged in construction repair work, saved whatever he could to pay for the graduation of her elder sisters. So how did Supriya come to be a lawyer? Was it the hand of destiny? Or sheer Divine Will? “Divine Will, for sure,” she says. “I never aimed to be a lawyer. I was guided by my (Bal Vikas) Guru.” After acquiring her Bachelor of Law degree, Supriya went on to finish her Company Secretary (CS) course. She is currently in the first year of her LLM course (Masters in Law). Yet, she does not have a swollen head. The modest girl is quick to attribute her success to her Bal Vikas teacher. The most educated girl in her slum, Supriya is today an inspiration to those around her. She brings our chat to a close with an inspiring message: Never give up. Help will come. Hang in there and you will receive the Grace of God. Supriya’s fiancé knows how lucky he is!
03
Catching the Rain A Pre-monsoon Update from Shrigiri and Karasgaon
Bore Well Re-charge Pit (Shrigiri)
Hand Pump Re-charge in Village School (Shrigiri)
Bund Construction (Karasgaon)
D
uring the punishing summer, every villager cast hopeful eyes towards the vast skies for a sign of cooling rain. Fortunately, this monsoon, 8 villages will be able to catch and conserve rainwater for everyday use, long after the last cloud has floated away. Months of undying effort put in by the villagers, the volunteers of the Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisation (SSSSO), consultants and engineers, is finally culminating in success.
Scientifically designed Rainwater Harvesting Systems (RHS) have already been built to slow rainwater, collect it and drive it underground to re-charge the parched wells in 5 villages of Maharashtra. Work is on in full swing in 3 more. We bring you this report from the villages of Karasgaon and Shrigiri: The residents of Karasgaon suffered severe water deprivation when the bund on the hill slopes broke several years ago. Lack of expertise to fix the bund left the villagers thirsty and the wells completely dry. In record time, the SSSSO volunteers and the villagers (who enthusiastically engaged in Shram Daan) reconstructed this huge bund—at a fraction of the normal
industrial cost. The bund is expected to store 90,000 cm of water during the monsoon and re-charge all bore and open wells in the village. Upon hearing of this Rainwater Harvesting activity, the amazed District Collector visited the site. He was impressed by the quick mobilisation of resources and the unity displayed by the villagers in constructing the bund. In Shrigiri, a RHS has been built in the village school. Thousands of litres of harvested rainwater will be channeled through the specially-dug re-charge pits to restore water in the hand pump and wells. With Swami’s Grace flowing through these villages, villagers have rediscovered their happiness.
04
ticket to goD
Visit Tirunelli Temple Where Lord Brahma
Performs Pujas Every Morning
T
owering teaks line the road, forming a canopy. Driving through the forests of God’s Own Country, Kerala, towards the Tirunelli Temple, the spiritual experience begins long before the destination. Set amidst the lust green forests in the heart of Wayanad, the temple of Maha Vishnu at Tirunelli is located atop a small hillock surrounded by mountains—the Western Ghats, the Eastern Ghats, and the Nilgiris. It is not just the location of the temple which is interesting, but its story too. It is said that Lord Brahma was once flying over this area, when he was struck by the beauty of this place. He stopped to rest here for a while. It was then that he noticed an image of Lord Vishnu on an Indian Gooseberry (Amla or Nelli) tree, and prayed to it, in effect, consecrating the idol of the Lord. That’s where the Tirunelli temple gets its name from. Rather appropriate isn’t it—for a temple located in a forest, to be named after a tree? The connection with Lord Brahma transcends legends to even the present day. The temple has five regular pujas every day, but the priest readies for a sixth puja before closing the temple for the day. It is said that when the temple is opened the next morning, one discovers that the sacred materials are used and the puja, performed. It is believed that it is none other
than Lord Brahma Himself who performs these prayers day after day. The recorded history of the temple dates back to the 8th century AD, when the Chera king, Kulasekharan, constructed the temple. Built in typical Kerala style of architecture, with stone walls and tiled roof, the temple stands against the backdrop of the serene green-blue mountain ranges. A few granite pillars, resembling a corridor, stand incongruously against this sight; the only remnant of a time when a king from Coorg tried to renovate the temple. Unfortunately, his plans did not beget the approval of the local king, and the work was abandoned, leaving us with just a few pillars as memories of the failed attempt. A little distance away is a mountain stream so sacred that she, Papanasini, is believed to wash away all the sins of those who bathe in her. People come from far and wide to perform rituals for their ancestors on her banks, thus giving the place the status of Dakshina Kashi, or Kashi of the south. Nearby is a cave temple, Gunnika, dedicated to Lord Shiva. Thus, Tirunelli is an especially sacred place, unifying all aspects of the trinity. Is it any wonder then, that peace reigns here? Visit this temple to experience how nature and spirituality triumph over the mundane!
soul stories How a Wealthy Merchant was Saved by a Smile!
O
nce Wealth and Poverty approached a merchant and introduced themselves as Goddesses. The merchant offered his salutations to both of them and said: “May I know what brings you to my humble tenement?” The Goddess of Wealth said: “We want you to judge and tell us as to who is more beautiful between us two?” The merchant was in a fix. He knew he was between the devil and the deep sea. If he were to declare Wealth as more beautiful than Poverty, Poverty would curse him. If he were to declare Poverty as more beautiful, than Wealth, Wealth would forsake him. However, he regained his composure and said: “I have great respect for you both. Would you please act according to my instructions? Only then can I judge well.”
The Goddesses agreed. He said: “Mother Wealth, would you please go to the entrance (gates) and walk into the house? Mother, Poverty! Would you please walk from here towards the gates? I can have a good look at you both, from near and far.” The two Goddesses did as the merchant wished them to. Then the merchant happily declared: “Mother Wealth! You appear very beautiful when you enter the house. Mother Poverty! You look very beautiful when you leave the house!” The Goddesses appreciated the wit and wisdom of the merchant. The Goddess of Wealth happily stayed in his house while the Goddess of Poverty cheerfully walked away. Significance of this Chinna Katha (short story): When a serious problem confronts us, if we look within and think calmly, a ray of hope and light will beam forth and show us the way.
05
BELIEVE in Yourself
Because There is No Charge for
AWESOMENESS!
M
EET PO: A fat, flabby panda who dreams of becoming
a Kung Fu warrior. He is ‘accidently’ conferred with the greatest Kung Fu honour — the mighty title of Dragon Warrior. His task? To defeat the savage villain,Tai Lung, and restore peace to Dragon Valley. Can Po shake off his lethargy and achieve this impossible feat? Read on to find out. The Furious Five: Tigress, Mantis, Monkey, Crane and Viper are the ultimate Kung Fu warriors. Po worships them, even in his sleep. Yet, he manages to annoy them with every sound he makes and every step he takes. In short, they loathe him. Shifu: A red panda, is the Furious Five’s Kung Fu Master. He refuses to accept Po as the Dragon Warrior and does all he can to get rid of the lazy panda. Will he have a change of heart? Only Oogway knows. Oogway: The old, wise and lovable turtle announces Po as the Dragon Warrior. He is the only one who believes that Po can defeat Tai Lung. Tai Lung: A strong and mighty Kung Fu warrior, Tai Lung turns wicked when Oogway denies him the title of Dragon Warrior. He wrecks havoc in the valley but is soon caught and imprisoned. Years later, he breaks out of prison to claim what he believes is his: the Dragon Scroll, which contains the Secret to Limitless Power. Po’s Dad: Is a duck (don’t ask!) who runs a restaurant and rustles up the most delicious noodles. His noodles are yummy because they are spiced with a secret ingredient. We present epic lessons learned from this witty film.
NOTHING IS AN ACCIDENT Thus spake Oogway when Shifu insisted that Po had arrived (or rather crash landed from the sky) in their midst only by accident. Shifu was sure Oogway had made a horrible mistake in declaring Po as Dragon Warrior. Often we brush away inexplicable happenings as coincidences. We forget that life is simply playing out our divine script, which was written long ago by the Master Planner. Having said that, it’s important to remember that we have the freedom to make our own decisions. At the end of the day, what we choose to do or not can make or break us.
BELIEVE IN THE ABILITIES OF OTHERS Shifu refuses to accept Po as the Dragon Warrior. Sometimes,
MULTIPLEX MUSINGS our egos blind us and we think only we can perform a particular task. At such times, we become intolerant of the other individual and resort to insults, mockery and even physically injure ‘the annoying one’. What we fail to realise is that each individual, no matter who s/he is or how s/he looks, is gifted with special abilities—and is in our lives for a jolly good reason. It was in Shifu’s destiny to train Po and in Po’s destiny to restore peace to Shifu. And hence, the universe brought the two together.
GIVE UP CONTROLLING OTHERS Standing under the Sacred Peach Tree of Heavenly Wisdom, Oogway explains to Shifu that no matter how hard he tries, Shifu cannot control the destiny of the tree. He may wish for oranges and apples from it, but the peach tree will always give peaches. He urges Shifu to give up the illusion of controlling Po’s destiny. Often, we try to change others because it conveniently suits our purpose. We are unwilling to accept people as they are. We judge—or rather misjudge—them, frequently. We forget that every soul has chosen to manifest itself as a particular individual because it has a particular destiny to fulfill and specific lessons to be learned in this lifetime. Controlling others will only hamper their spiritual journeys. So it’s best that we allow our friends and family to discover their own paths to deliverance— because they inherently know where they are headed and why—and will consciously or even subconsciously choose experiences that will take them closer to their spiritual goals, no matter what we try otherwise!
THERE IS NO GOOD OR BAD Everything is just a perspective. We are but a bundle of thoughts! If we think good will come of something, it will. If we think we are doomed, we are. The key to happiness is to have rocksteady faith in our Master and not be concerned with what was or what will be.
THERE IS NO SECRET INGREDIENT Imagine Po’s surprise when he discovers that the all-powerful Dragon Scroll is but an empty parchment, and that the secret ingredient to his father’s yummy noodle soup is ‘Nothing’! It is in our nature to rely on outside paraphernalia for inner success. We forget that whatever special powers we require to fulfill our glorious destinies are already packed into every atom of our being, into every cell of our body, into our very DNA. God created us in His Own Image. We are already Divine Beings who possess tremendous potential. So dear friend, remember, who looks outside, dreams; who looks within, awakens. You are destined for great things and success is sure to be yours—if only you believe. So here’s to a lifetime of awesomeness! SKADOOSH!
06
seconD life
A Return Journey by Train Turns into a Journey Back to Life
S
ix years have passed since that fateful night when I fell I was whisked off to Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital, where unconscious in a train compartment full of strangers. emergency arrangements had already been made for me. Today, I share with you all that happened. Necessary tests, including an MRI, were carried out at once. It was March 15, 2007. I was all set to return to Pune after The neurosurgeon advised immediate surgery. However, he completing an exhausting but exhilarating 10-day seva (service) warned my family of the complications and risks involved— at the Superspeciality Hospital in Prashanthi Nilayam. That there was a high chance of me losing one of my senses during morning, I was fortunate to have received Swami’s Darshan the surgery. My distraught family prayed fervently for my safe and Blessings while He graced us with His Divine Presence in and rapid recovery. Kulwant Hall (the main temple at Prashanthi Nilayam). The operation began at 7:00 PM and went on for 5 hours. I As the night approached, I took the last bus to the railway was brought to the ICU at 1:00 AM. The doctor had said that station and waited for nearly two hours for the train to arrive. the effects of the anaesthesia would wear off in the morning It finally chugged in at 11:45 PM, by which time I was giddy with but I regained consciousness within an hour! fatigue. With tremendous effort, I managed to reach my berth. When I opened my eyes, I sensed the presence of tubes and Since my co-passengers were asleep, my entry went unnoticed. drips on my body and a mask covering my nose and mouth. My Dear reader, it’s important to mention here that the following hands were tied to the bars of the bed. The nurse asked me, incidents were related to me by my relatives— “Do you know where you are?” To her surprise, I ********************* I have no memory of what happened that night. “I had absolutely replied, “At Deenanath Hospital.” Apparently, I had not stirred till late in the no reason to call Just then, the doctor who operated on me came morning. My ashen face alarmed my co-passengers, into the room and told me that the operation was you that day, who informed the ticket checker, who in turn but I felt Swami successful. “My Guru was with you,” I said to him, called the railways’ doctor. The doctor administered simply. urging me to.” some medicine, which helped me regain partial As I recovered, I thanked Swami for the abundant ********************* consciousness. He then advised me to alight at Grace He had showered on me. Friends from the the next station. Somehow, I apparently found the strength to Sai family came to visit me in hospital and gifted me packets refuse, and insisted that I wanted to go to Pune. The doctor of Vibhuti, prasadam and Swami’s photos. Ten days later, I was finally agreed; he departed after giving some instructions to the discharged—with all my senses intact! passengers around me. When I returned home, I telephoned the friend who had Just then, my mobile phone started ringing. One of my called me while I was on the train, and who had then alerted co-passengers answered it at once, hopeful of informing my Swami’s student about my critical condition. I was astonished family about my condition (I had not spoken to them since at what she said to me: the previous day). The caller was my friend. On hearing the “I had absolutely no reason to call you that day but I felt a situation, she said that she did not know my family, but she strong urge to do so. It was almost as if Swami was forcing me to would get the message across to them. make that life-saving call to you!” She called one of Swami’s students who was based in Pune. My Pranaams at Your Lotus Feet, SWAMI!” He immediately contacted my family and both my sons and (This is the experience of a 72-year old, long-standing devotee daughters-in-law rushed to receive me at Pune station. from Pune. She is also an active member of YES!’s Marathi edition.) “
07
DIARY OF A SEEKER I’m so EXCITED. I’ve stumbled upon something truly amazing! Let me start at the beginning. When I was little, my grandma always reminded me to thank God for my blessings. My school teachers too taught me prayers to thank God for our food, our parents and the world we live in. But as I grew older, my childhood habit of thanking God faded away, as my increasingly complex life took over. Recently, I came across a book. It reminded me about the magical power of gratitude, of thanksgiving. It persuaded me to reinstall gratitude in my heart. I decided to give it a shot. Yesterday, I was caught in a terrible traffic jam. Grr! I was just about to start cribbing when I remembered the book. So instead, I thanked God. “At least we’re inching ahead. At least the view is good.” And guess what? In a matter of moments, we were speeding away on the highway. I could not believe my LUCK! The afternoon was hotter than usual. I was perspiring and feeling very grumpy. I started
cribbing about the horrible weather but checked myself. “At least it is cooler than the deserts of Rajasthan! THANK GOD for that!” And lo! That evening it rained! The first rains of the year; the sweet smell of the damp earth, the refreshing breeze of the heavens. I felt blessed. Was there some great connection between me expressing gratitude and my problems vanishing?? Slowly, a painful awareness dawned on me. I complain SO MANY TIMES everyday! I crib about Mithu squawking noisily as I study, even though I know my parrot is my greatest comfort when I’m distressed. I grumble about my ‘overprotective’ parents knowing fully well that they adore and pamper me. I protest that my friends no longer ‘hang-out’ with me even though I know they will stand by me in the most trying times. I whine about eating at home despite knowing that Ma cooks every meal with love and prayers. Hmm. This ‘thank you despite imperfections’ is really working for me. I’m going from imperfect to I’M-PERFECT. Are you?
16
June
23
June
Bhajans & Tabla Recital by Guiness Book record holder, Truptesh, the youngest tabla player in the world. Dharmakshetra 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM 022 28377999
18 July
30
Ashadi Ekadashi Celebrations at Prashanthi Nilayam for 3 days from July 18 to July 20, 2013.
June
Spiruality Workshop ‘Beyond Freedom’ by Dr. Shrikant Sola & Smt. Shivani Sola. Dharmakshetra 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM 022 28377999
22 July
Email us at yesmag.feedback@gmail.com
Devotional Music Programme by Smt.Vidya Harikrishna. Dharmakshetra 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM 022 28377999
Guru Poornima Celebrations All centres Maharashtra & Goa.
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All rights reserved by Sri Sathya Sai Books and Publications Trust, Maharashtra. This issue is not for sale.
SPIRITUAL EVENTS
JUNE - JULY 2013
HAVE A GOD-DAY
08