Two inspiring and joyous discourse video clips of Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba - 20th Oct. 2002 and 4th Nov. 2002

Today is Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba's birthday. So I am going down memory lane reliving some of the joy and inspiration I was blessed to receive from my beloved and revered Gurudev, Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba.

I moved to Puttaparthi in beginning of Oct. 2002, after having retired from commercial work in end Aug. 2002, and was offering voluntary service (not staff) in Prasanthi Nilayam ashram (Radio Sai and Book Trust) during the period of the two discourse clips given below, one of which is from 20th Oct. 2002 discourse and another from 4th Nov. 2002.

These discourse clips revive memories of basking in the wonderful spiritual ambience Bhagavan's physical presence and discourses would create in Sai Kulwant Hall. He would start by referring to us devotees as Premaswarupulaara (embodiments of love) or Divyaswarupulaara (embodiments of divinity). That itself was so inspirational. The Avatar of the age declaring that all of us (our reality) are embodiments of love and divinity!

His sharing of his love for devotees, especially students, his exhortation in simple language to us devotees to lead noble lives and serve others with love - how inspiring it was then for me! Watching them today too, gave me joy and inspiration!

And when he would talk about his old days like the Uravakonda days, he would relate powerful miraculous events like him being seen both inside and outside the Virupaksha temple in Hampi by his elder brother who had doubts about Bhagavan's divinity (Bhagavan then being just a fourteen year old boy from worldly level perspective), in a very simple narration style. Miraculous events were normal for Bhagavan!

As seen in the video clips, Anilkumar Kamaraju sir would do a wonderful job of on-the-spot translation of Bhagavan's words (Telugu and some Sanskrit) into English with a lot of devotional zest that was inspiring and would spread (devotion) to others.

The first clip has Bhagavan singing Prema Mudita Man Se Kaho Ram Ram Ram at the end of the discourse (and clip). The second clip has Bhagavan singing Hari Bhajan Bina Sukh Shanti Nahi at end of discourse (and clip). Bhagavan would sing with so much involvement in the song, his eyes and face being very expressive, and the words of the song (in Hindi) are so spiritually powerful yet simple to understand that just listening and watching Bhagavan sing these bhajans were, and continue to be via such videos, a spiritually uplifting, learning and reinvigorating experience.

Divine discourse of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba delivered on 20 Oct 2002, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxD53uG4gFs, 20 min. 24 secs.

The above video clip seems to have selected parts of the 20th Oct. 2002 discourse. The English transcript (edited) of the full discourse is available here: http://www.sssbpt.info/ssspeaks/volume35/sss35-17.pdf .

I have given below a few extracts from the above discourse text pdf which are part of the video clip 

[This corresponds to portion starting around 1 min. 45 seconds in above video clip]

The Commissioner and his wife played host to us for three days. They took us to the Virupaksha temple in the nearby Hampi Kshetra (Temple). Seshama Raju and his wife told Me to remain outside the temple and keep a watch over their belongings as they would go inside to have darshan of the deity. I readily agreed and remained outside. As soon as they entered the temple, to their utter astonishment, they found Me standing inside the sanctum sanctorum where the deity is supposed to be standing. Seshama Raju could not believe his eyes. He thought, “Why did he come here when I told him specifically to remain outside and take care of our belongings?” He at once came out of the temple only to find Me standing there! He again went inside and found Me there also! Still he was not convinced.

He told his wife, “You go outside and keep a watch over Sathya. Do not allow him to go anywhere. Meanwhile, I will go inside and see whether he is still there.” She did accordingly. He again saw a smiling Sathya standing in the sanctum sanctorum. The Corporation Commissioner was also a witness to all this. He recognised My divinity. When they came out of the temple, he caught hold of Seshama Raju’s hands and said, “Raju, do not be under the impression that Sathya is your brother. He is not an ordinary person. You are deluded seeing His physical form. There is divine power in Him.”

We came back to the Commissioner’s house, had our food there and started our return journey to Uravakonda. The Commissioner wanted to give Me a gift. He said that he would get four pairs of shorts and shirts stitched for Me. I firmly told him that I would not accept even one. He did not want to force Me either. Then his wife suggested that a gold collar pin would be an appropriate gift for Me. In those days, it was a matter of prestige for children to wear a collar pin. Immediately, he bought a gold collar pin and put it on the collar of My shirt. I protested. Under any circumstances, I never accepted anything from others. But Seshama Raju insisted that I accept the gift. He said that my refusal to accept the gift would amount to showing disrespect to the Commissioner. So I obeyed him. After returning from Hampi, I was going to school wearing the collar pin. The pin dropped on the way and could not be traced. A major change took place in Me. Worldly attachment left Me in the guise of a collar pin. I decided to embark on My mission to alleviate the sufferings of My devotees. 

...

First the collar pin was lost; then I stopped going to school and parents arrived and brought Me here. Owing to all these changes, I left Uravakonda. After I came here, many people from Bangalore and Mysore started visiting this place in their cars. Maharani of Mysore, coffee planter Sakamma and Desaraj Arasu, the maternal uncle of Mysore Maharaja were among those who used to come here. One day they prayed, “it is difficult for us to come here often. Hence, please come and settle in Mysore. We shall build a big mansion for You.” I told, “I don’t want palatial buildings. I want to be here.” That night, mother Easwaramma came to Me with tears in her eyes and said, “Swami, people want to take You here and there for their selfish purposes. If you leave Puttaparthi, I will give up my life. Please promise me that You will remain in Puttaparthi for ever.” I gave her My word that I would never leave Puttaparthi. This is why I have constructed many buildings in the Ashram for the comfort and convenience of devotees.

--- end extract from discourse transcript pdf ---

Follow God In Total Faith | Divine Discourse | Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba | 4th Nov, 2002, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SK9vctMWviE, around 16 mins.

The English transcript (edited) of the above discourse (full discourse not just above extracts) is available in this pdf file: http://www.sssbpt.info/ssspeaks/volume35/sss35-18.pdf .

I have given below a few extracts from the above discourse text pdf related to the video clip. I have also given the video English caption version at times.

[This corresponds to beginning of above video clip]

Life in the world is impermanent.

So are youth and wealth.

Wife and children are also not permanent.

Only truth and good name are permanent.

(Sanskrit verse)

[From video itself: Embodiments of love]

...

[From video itself: We should follow God in total faith in whatever He says. You have faith when things are as per your liking and no faith when you dislike it. It is not right. A small example.]

[Restarting from discourse transcript in pdf:]

Some ten years ago, a gentleman came here and proclaimed that Sri Sathya Sai Baba was God. Not only that, he also proclaimed and propagated that not only Sri Sathya Sai Baba, but every living being was permeated by divinity. After some time, when some of his desires could not be fulfilled, he propagated that Baba was not God. 

[From video itself (slightly edited): The same man with the same mouth declared both yes and no. He said yes then. Today he says no. Is that true or is this true? One must be false out of these two. But which one of it is a lie? That which has been said then is a lie and that which has been said now also is a lie. The one who makes contradictory statements is a Rakhshasa (demon). ]

[Restarting from discourse transcript in pdf:]

For those who say ‘yes’, I say ‘yes’. For those who say ‘no’, I say ‘no’. ‘Yes’ and ‘no’ are related to you, but for Sai, everything is ‘yes’, ‘yes’, ‘yes’. (Telugu poem)

For Me, all are good. There are no bad people. Those who develop negative feelings without enquiring into the good and bad of things in this objective world, will only spoil their own life.

[From video (slightly edited): So Bhagavan has to teach you these things. Bhagavan likes all. Swami loves all. But when we are confused, Bhagavan (has to) teach us. Or else, you will be put to danger in your life.

You may have doubts. No man can live without doubts. But don't give scope for any doubts. The doubt in you will make you agitated and restless. Develop love. When there is love in your heart, everything will be full of love. Where there is love, there will be no hatred. When there is no hatred, there is no anger. When there is no anger, there is no violence. Where there is confidence (faith), there is truth. 

Where there is truth, there is peace.

Where there is peace, there is bliss.

Where there is bliss, there will be God. 

So first, we should cultivate faith. Without this faith, of what use is human life? There is nothing wrong if you believe everybody. But have faith in divine prompting. With spiritual (divine) prompting, everything will be divine. 

Thought is one, speech is different. This is not proper on your part.

The thought is one, spoken word is another and action is altogether opposite. When thought, word and deed are at variance, it is demonic nature. There should be perfect unity and harmony in thought, word and deed.

You are a true human being if you have perfection in all the three attributes (triguna). Who is Vyakti? Vyakti, the person, is the one who can acquire Shakti, the energy, out of all. That energy you should acquire. But you say energy, energy and go to allergy. What happiness will you get from that? Everything will ultimately turn useless.

Dear Students!

Most importantly, develop love. You may not be able to achieve anything but you can achieve love easily.

As Chaitanya said, I am not bothered about your heaven and paradise... I am not bothered about your Vaikuntha. What I want is this love. Give me a place in this kingdom of love. That is enough for me. With that, I will get fulfillment in everything. There is nothing that cannot be achieved in this world through love. So you can accomplish anything in the world through love.

So there are 3 things that are said: Run away from bad company. It is not enough to be away from bad company. You should also be in good company. Do meritorious deeds, day in and day out. Man is born for that. Human life is not just about spending time for food, raiment and shelter. 

This eating and drinking is done by animals/birds as well. Man is noble. Sacred. Capable of liberation. He is one of truth. He has good feelings. Such a man should not have such mean thoughts. Therefore one should be away from wicked thoughts. Then everyone will become divine. Divinity will manifest in everyone. Let us be in search of that process which will help manifestation of the divinity within and share it with rest of the people in the neighbourhood. Let there not be any cruel/wicked activity in us.

Cultivate good feelings. Develop good conduct. Don't pay heed to any others saying anything else. ]

[Restarting from discourse transcript in pdf, I have slightly edited it:]

Do not be carried away by others’ opinions – either good or bad. Develop your own line of thinking, based on your conscience. Develop self-confidence. “Where there is self-confidence, there will be self-satisfaction. Where there is self-satisfaction, there will be self-sacrifice. And , through self-sacrifice comes self-realisation.” Self-confidence is the foundation for the building; it remains below the surface of the earth. Self-satisfaction represents the walls; self-sacrifice, the roof and self-realisation, the life. Without the foundation of self-confidence, self-realisation cannot be achieved. Therefore, build up your self-confidence slowly. In this process, “start early, drive slowly and reach your goal of self-realisation safely.”

...

At least from today, children, respect your parents. Love your parents. Enjoy the love of your parents. It is only those who experience the love of their parents (who) will have a bright future. Those who make their mothers feel sad, will lead a life of difficulties and suffering. Therefore, never cause any pain to your parents under any circumstances. Make them happy. Only then you will feel happy and, in turn, your children will make you happy. Give happiness and take happiness. Happiness is not a one-way traffic, it is a two-way process of give and take. Speak good words. Develop samyak drishti (sacred vision). Lead a life of purity. Make your life sanctified.

--- end extract from discourse transcript pdf ---

[I thank sssbpt.info and have presumed that they will not have any objections to me sharing the above extract(s) from their website on this post which is freely viewable by all, and does not have any financial profit motive whatsoever.]