Saturday, December 31st, 2011
Want to listen to the wonderful tales of A Mother with a Thousand Mother’s Love…come ye all, listen to the alumni from Sri Sathya Sai Primary School…
At Your Feet Dear Lord We Pray…
Grace Us With Your Love This Day…
Sai Baba Sai Baba You Are Krishna You Are Rama
Oh Baba Oh Baba, You Are Mother You Are Father
You’re All Names And Every Form
All That Was And Will Be Born
You Are All Names And Every Form
All That Is For Ever More…
These above lines stand as testimony to what Bhagawan was for them…is for them..will be for them…the alumni of Sri Sathya Sai Primary School, who assembled in hundreds commemorating 30 years of their illustrious alma mater.
Hundreds of alumni from the Sri Sathya Sai Primary School (with higher secondary wing for girls) assembled on the New Year Eve, commemorating three decades of running of their alma mater, on 31st Dec evening in the Divine Presence in Prasanthi Nilayam. The Primary School was founded in the year 1981 and it is for the first time the alumni from the school having a get-together of this sort in the Divine Presence.
The programme for the evening commenced at 1715 hrs., with offerings and salutations at Multifaceted Sai, Who has been invariably donning different roles, as Father, Mother, Friend, Guru and God for the students.
Ms. Anamika Aravind with her pleasant task of introduction dwelled on the inception of the school, involving an Italian devotee Antonio Craxy, way back in the late seventies. Craxy who would often drive Bhagawan to Gokulam those days was given the first hint by Bhagawan about the ‘would be’ school that housed 108 handpicked students in its first batch in the year 1981. Recapping memoirs from those golden days, Ms. Aravind narrated how Bhagawan donned the role of a Thousand Mother, by often visiting the school, serving them food by Himself and attending to every minute details, thus comforting the tiny tots who missed their parents, being away from home.
The presentation for the evening was in the form of reminiscences by two of the alumni, interspersed with Songs of Love for Beloved Mother Sai.
Beginning with a chorus song, “At Your Feet Dear Lord We Pray”, these grateful students sang in a united voice, extolling Him Who preferred to walk amongst them, invoking His Grace Divine.
View Photos/Slideshow:http://www.sssbpt.org/images/primaryschoolalumni2011.swfThe first speaker was Ms. Sai Geetha MN (1983-1993) who took the audience down the memory lane with wonderful tales of many a student with Mother Sai. A physicist by profession, with proven academic brilliance, Ms. Sai Geetha began ruminating on the vastness of the galaxy that numbers in millions and billions, wondering how the Creator of this wonderful creation donned the garb of a human that would ever remain an incomprehensible mystery to human minds at all times. Narrating how students would do things to earn a smile from Bhagawan, the speaker shared her own secret of academic excellence of winning almost eight to nine gold medals, owing the same to Bhagawan Who blessed her with ‘Aksharabhyasam’, introduction into the world of letters, in His unique unorthodox style.
How the mighty Lord heard every heart beat of His students, like a thousand Mother, ever shying Himself away as if completely ignorant of what He was bestowing upon, carrying the entire burden upon Him, showering His all conquering love was the essence of many an experience narrated by Ms. Sai Geetha on this wondrous evening.
The second speaker was Mr. Partish Dubey (1978-1995) who began with the inception story of Bhagawan’s school at Ootacamund, Ooty, which was later shifted to Prasanthi Nilayam. Narrating tales galore, the speaker wondered whether they could ever repay Bhagawan for all that He has done for them.
How the Lord played His role, most uniquely, suiting to various situations, every time instilling greater values, teaching greater lessons summed up Partish’s reminiscence that ended with the collective Universal Prayer, Tumhi Ho Mata Pitha Tumhi Ho Tumhi Bandhu Sakha Tumhi Ho…attributing multifaceted role unto Him…
Songs for the evening included “At Your Feet Dear Lord We Pray…”, “O Maa…Sai Maa…”, “Why Fear When I Am Here…” Teri Hain Zameen Tere Aasmaan…”, “Sai Mata Bindalam…”, “We Have A Great Big Wonderful Lord…” etc.
A commemorative book containing voices from three decades entitled “Love everafter” was released on the occasion. The book contains collective childhood experiences of students at the Primary School, in the form of poems, articles, anecdotes and life changing interactions with Bhagawan.
Bhajans by alumni continued before Mangala Arathi offering at 1845 hrs.
II SAMASTHA LOKAH SUKHINO BHAVANTU II
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Friday, December 30th, 2011
Vidya Vahini, the name that became synonymous with modern educational reforms, reflects Bhagawan’s teachings of Education in Human Values infusing the same into modern generation through school curriculum. The project that was Bhagawan’s 85th Birthday present to humanity has grown, over the months, from its infant stage making rapid progress.
Reiterating commitment, offering gratitude to the Master for His benevolence, students from Sri Sathya Sai Jagriti Vidya Mandir, Darwa, Yamuna Nagar, Haryana offered a presentation entitled, “Sarvadharam Swaroopa Sai” on the penultimate evening of Year 2011 in the Divine Presence in Prasanthi Nilayam.
The presentation, based on an insightful letter written by Bhagawan addressing Bal Vikas Gurus echoing on the role of teachers, dated 30th December 1981, showcased how role model teachers could influence the society following Bhagawan’s ideals. It was a depiction of Bal Vikas Teacher’s simple, pure act of ‘Liquid Love’, blood donation that finally helped bringing positive changes in a village that was marred by fanatic dispute over a petty issue. Set up against the beautiful Christmas backdrop, the presentation echoed the message of harmony of religions, as preached by Bhagawan.
The skit began with a Bal Vikas scene wherein the Guru reviews the Christmas preparations. Yasmin, a muslim student arrived late in the class and the teacher, upon enquiry, came to know that the girls had a domestic issue, as her brother was hospitalized after a street brawl between two warring factions belonging to two different religions, over a petty issue about a piece of common land. As an aftermath of the incident, an enraged father arrived on the scene, deciding to take Yasmin away from Bal Vikas class.
The Teacher’s effort to convince the girl’s father bore no effect on the adamant man blinded with fanatic feeling. Upset over the developments and already anemic the teacher fainted in the classroom and a doctor was summoned. Meantime father forcefully took his daughter away.
Upon reaching home, the girl’s father understood his folly when his wife told him that it was the Bal Vikas Guru who had saved the life of their son by donating blood. A group of hooligans belonging to the other community, blinded by fanatic feeling, barged inside the house challenging the girl’s father for trespassing the territory that they believed belonged to them. As the altercation continued, the mother’s effort for conciliation was of no vail.
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Meanwhile the son returned from the hospitaltelling that he too wish to join his mother in meeting the Bal Vikas teacher who had saved his life with blood donation.
The father turned repentant as wisdom dawned upon all that it was Bhagawan’s teachings of universal harmony holds forte for a harmonious society.
In response to their prayers, Jesus descended and they had a wonderful Christmas, practically experiencing ‘Unity in Diversity’ as taught by Bhagawan.
The programme was interspersed with beautiful songs and dances and befittingly also aired the high ideals preached and practiced by a Bal Vikas Guru.
Earlier, before the commencement of the programme, organisers offered pranams at Bhagawan’s Lotus Feet. Introducing the programme, Sri Amar Vivek, an alumnus of 1990 batch of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, narrated a couple of beautiful incidents with morals showing how Bhagawan influences lives of many who are dedicated and surrendered to the Divine Will. Sri Amar Vivek was blessed by Bhagawan in 1990 to take up multi-dimensional rural empowerment programme. Sri Sathya Sai Jagriti Vidya Mandir was one of the three projects that set in motion in 1993.
The first incident that the speaker narrated came from his own school, Sathya Sai Jagriti Vidya Mandir. One fine day teachers of the school decided not to waste precious 40 minutes during lunch time, that they normally spent gossiping around, and utilize the time eating with their students. As this was being practised, one day, one of the teachers observed that one of the boys had got rotten chappathis in his lunch box. Having understood of the sorry plight of the poor student, the teacher immediately offered her chappathis to the boy asking him to eat; the boy despite repeated insistence denied to have it and preferred to keep it safe with a promise to eat later.
Upon further enquiry it was learnt that the boy had two younger siblings in the same school, a boy and a girl, and this elder one wanted to share the same with these siblings, as otherwise they would go without food. Inquisitive that they were, the teachers further enquired the case and found out that these children were coming from an odd background, as their father had been convicted recently for murdering his own wife to which this elder son was a witness. After testifying true to the horrid tale, to the police, the grandparents with whom these children were put up started penalising the children, reason being these children by testifying to the police caused their son to be imprisoned. Moved by the sorry plight of the children teachers in the school subsequently met, discussed the issue and finally decided to sponsor three time food for these hapless children as a collective effort. A moral of high standard for one and all to learn and imbibe.
Mangala Arathi was offered at 1800 hrs. after fifteen minutes of bhajans. All the participating children were felicitated at the end of the programme.
Prof. Anil Kumar in his concluding remarks congratulated the students of Jagriti Vidya Mandir for their wonderful show.
II Samasta Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II
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Thursday, December 29th, 2011
Over 200 devotees from Rajasthan arrived on a three day pilgrimage to Prasanthi Nilayam on 27th Dec 2011. On the final day of their Tirth Yatra, they got the opportunity to perform a drama on the life and message of Swami Vivekananda in Sai Kulwant Hall. The drama started with the depiction of the spiritual inclination of Narendranath Dutta from his early childhood and progressed through the intense inquiry of his adolescence and his spiritual maturity at the feet of his master, Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa.
After the Mahasamadhi of his master, the drama featured his wanderings as an unbounded monk. His advice to the youth to develop self-confidence as something even more superior to confidence in God was exceedingly inspiring. During his wandering, he reached the palace of the Maharaj of Alvar, who derided idol-worship infront of Swami Vivekananda who responded by asking a courtier to spit on the portrait of the King. Though initially offended, the king understood that just as picture was a symbol of the Royalty, so too is the idol a symbol of Divinity.
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The Maharaj of Khetri, Ajit Singh coronated the monk with the title Swami Vivekanada. The Maharaj also persuaded him to attend the world congress of Religions where representing India and Hinduism, the Swami stressed on Universality and religious tolerance. The life of Swami Vivekananda is the classic example of Bhagawan’s teaching of 4F: Follow the Master, Face the Devil, Fight to the End and Finish the Game. With a prayer to make our Life His message, the youth concluded the programme.
The drama was followed by Bhajans. The participants were honoured with clothes and Rajasthani sweets were distributed to the assembly.
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