Glittering 96th BirthDay Morning In The Immediate Divine OmniPresence
Tuesday, November 23rd, 2021
23rd November, the dotted Day in the ‘His Story’ Of Sri Sathya Sai Baba, travelled past 95 times earlier to reach this milestone today – this very Day that marks the 96th Year of His Supreme Advent! The Year 96 assumes stellar significance in ‘His Story’, as Bhagawan had often spoken about it, defining it as the final year of His epochal earthly Avataric sojourn.
With myriad memories and emotions, when the Day with the magical touch of ’96′ dawned this morning in Prasanthi, a minuscule of humanity – of the Sai fraternity – is sure to have focused on His message of ‘Loving His Uncertainty’.
Puttaparthi, the Land That Did Penance, and the eternally blessed Sri Sathya Sai Prasanthi Nilayam join millions, billions, and gazillions of devotees worldwide, exuding gratitude galore for His infinite generosity. What bigger and greater blessing one could have asked for this tiny hamlet that was once, in Arnold Schulman’s language, ‘ten minutes past the stone age’?
So, this is the Day of ‘Happy Birthday’ for the Supreme Divine in the human frame, The Day, He, with His magical munificence, bestowed upon humanity to rejoice and celebrate. It is apt to remind oneself amid all these celebrations as to what Bhagawan had spoken about it; He said, “My Birthday is the Day when Divinity blossoms in your heart.” Is it not our ought to be, duty-bound, supposed endeavour suffused with infinite gratitude for the supreme munificence, by being adhered to the path of Becoming and Being, the path of True Truth?
The morning session commenced at 0800 hrs with regular Veda chanting. Prasanthi Bhajan group took over at 0820 hrs with an offering of Guru Vandana, a well-knit compilation of hymns and devotional songs. Welcoming The Lord, the session commenced with ‘Jagamulele VishwaMohana SathyaSaiKi Swagatam…’, flowing on with the Sri Sathya Sai Navaratnamala Stuthi… ‘Sathyaaya Sathya Stithaye Samaaya…’, ‘Ye Rishta… Hamaare Pyaar Ka…Ye Rishta…Hey Janmon Ka…’, Maa Sai Maatante Jagathiki Vedam Raa…’, ‘Happy Birthday Swami…’, to end with Prasanthi Nilayam’s evergreen number, ‘Hum Ko Thum Se Pyaar Kithna…”
Sri SS Naganand, member, Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust, presented a report of the activities during the past year next. Beginning by paying obeisance to Lord Dakshinamurthy, the well-read speaker quoting Adi Shankaracharya drew a parallel between his core teaching and Bhagawan, highlighting the message – to follow the words of the Guru.
Sri Naganand then presented the annual report of activities of Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust.
Divulging on the income and expense sides of the balance sheet, hinting upon the surplus and the corpus, Sri Naganand, in brief, spoke about the three major areas of activities, sociocare, medicare and educare. New amenities and developments in the Ashram, expansive visions and activities of the three major institutions, Sri Sathya Sai Vidya Vahini, Sri Sathya Sai Cente For Human Values and Sri Sathya Sai Media Centre, also featured in his report.
Dr V Mohan, Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust member and a Diabetologist of repute, spoke next, stressing the need to connect to Prasanthi Nilayam.
A senior medical professional he is, he began with a mention of the unseen enemy of Covid 19 that grappled the world leaving on tenterhooks, posing a threat to humanity and the world around. Thanking Bhagawan for His guiding and protecting hands during the trying times, he divulged on the silver lining of the virtual world of communication and much more. Prasanthi Nilayam is Bhagawan’s birthplace and the centre of activities, said the speaker, expressing hope that Prasanthi Nilayam becomes the spiritual capital of the whole world. ‘Love All Serve All’, ‘Help Ever Hurt Never’, Bhagawan’s mantras of eternal proportions, should become the Divine Mantra for all in the run-up to the centenary birthday celebrations, said Dr Mohan, urging one and all to reaffirm the internal presence of Sai, Sai Within.
Sri Nimish Pandya, All India President of Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisations and the Vice Chairman of Sri Sathya Sai Global Council, speaking last, stressed the need of the hour to adopt the path of Sadhana and Transformation. The best gift for Bhagawan on His Birthday is to practise unconditional obedience to the message of the Master by practising the same, giving way to transformation, said Sri Nimish Pandya. Explaining the structure and plans of the global body of Sri Sathya Sai Global Council, the speaker said that the GC was needed to ensure a direct connection between Bhagawan and His devotees.
In his closing remarks, he said, ‘Devotion to Bhagawan is not an expression, but action’ and ‘it is time to practise Swami’.
The Trust Members then dedicated a new Sri Sathya Sai Global Council website, www.srisathyasaiglobalcouncil.org, at Bhagawan’s Lotus Feet.
Bhagawan’s Divine discourse was the last but the most important item on the agenda. In His Divine discourse on 23rd November 1999, played on the public address system, Bhagawan spoke on the need to see God in everything, everyone. Divinity is all around us, in us, in everything, yet man is searching for God, said Bhagawan, exposing the world with myopic vision. Absolute Love, absolute unconditional surrender is the true path to reach God. If you put conditions, you will be bound by conditions, reminded Bhagawan. Exhorting the assembly of devotees not to believe the body, not to go by the world and never to give up God, He said, “I Want Only Love, Love, Love!” The Divine discourse came to a close with the Bhajan ‘Hari Bhajana Bina Sukha Shanti Nahi…’
Bhajans continued, and the session came to a close with Mangala Arathi to Bhagawan.
II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II
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