Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai And The Emphatic Significance Of March/April 2011 – A Period Of Profound Reflection…

The forty day period of Lent is a time of repentance, fasting and preparation for the coming of Easter, when countless devout hearts spend their days praying to God, contemplating, overhauling the mindset and enhancing spiritual discipline. Two thousand years since the supreme sacrifice by the Son Of God, crucifixion of Jesus Christ, The Supreme Divine Father HimSelf, as Sri Sathya Sai, enacted a Divine Drama in March – April 2011, during the Lent period, resulting in HimSelf being aloof from the human sight hitherto. Connecting the two epochal events spanning two millennia, Ms Jullie Chaudhuri writes about her passion called ‘Sai Lent’, touching upon the unparalleled glory of Sri Sathya Sai Avatarhood and His Divine Sports…

More than two thousand years ago an incident shook the world – the Crucification of Christ. Seemingly barbaric, bizarre, savage and ruthless…yet, it was a distinct part of the Cosmic Plan.  The ripples of this unbearable pagan episode are felt even now when anyone genuinely reflects upon the life of Jesus with a pure intent to know, understand, learn and grow. This extreme occurrence gave birth to the solemn period of Lent which culminates on Easter Day. There is an ancient Hawaiin belief – Ho’oponopono, which states that if we are a witness to any incident even if we simply hear of it…may it be whatever is happening around us…we are a part of it and are responsible for it.  It is not related to reproach, fault finding or blaming…but it indicates a healing process – in order to heal any situation…it is our responsibility to heal ourselves first.

And so, right now, we are in the midst of a sombre phase…where millions are involved in a penance of sorts…heartbeats that remember the selfless life, the sacrifice…the incomparable gentle love, the spontaneous forgiveness…and the matchless compassion so classically synonymous with Christ.  While one participates in a ‘Fast’ one indulges in a feast too. Fasting is an abstinence which goes beyond food…and this takes place while incessantly feasting on the Holy Name and the accompanying divine dictums, messages, parables, and so on…from dawn to dusk and dusk to dawn.

Lent is a 40 day period and Beloved Bhagawan chose this period of Lent for His immensely mystifying leela…and all that He chose to put His Form through for the sake of humanity – akin to forsaking His Form for the sake of humanity. His ways are unfathomable to our finite minds…yet, it doesn’t stop us from thinking, introspecting, wondering about this particular span of time and what it entails for all humans.

The Supreme Father and His compassionate Son…sacrosanct advents that took so much upon Themselves for the benefit of the human race. Infinitely incomprehensible, utterly perplexing, puzzling and interwoven with humans and earth matters…because humans and earth matter to Him…in Whom merges the Son with the line – I and my Father are One.  The depth of what They exemplified with their Incarnation is totally inexplicable …much too vast and completely beyond human ken and understanding.

So, what does the human heart feel for Jesus…for Sathya Sai…for Their advent…their ‘life’ on this planet? Is it filled with Paschatap – regret/lament and Prayaschit – atonement? Does it want to do something? Does it feel responsible in some minute way? Isn’t it true, that oft times it’s not what we have done…but what we have omitted to do; it’s not what we have thought…but what we have forgotten to think; it’s not what we say but that which we have overlooked to mention that turns us into a defaulter of sorts?

Is there a tug in the heart…to remodel our thoughts, alter our words, rectify our actions, re-intensify our endeavours so as to live to please only Sai?

What does Bhagawan and all that He stood for and exemplify mean to each of us?

Should not each moment of this span of time be spent in reflection, reaction, resound and deep response? So much went into this span of time…the Divine Decision to take so much upon the Sacred Form…the onus lies upon us all to accord it reverence supreme.

II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II