Sunday, August 3, 2008 The central area in Kulwant hall today was occupied by devotees from Kuwait and they had been granted permission by Swami yesterday to put up a programme this evening. It has been a very significant pilgrimage for them. They had come prepared with a programme called, "Prayer" with a prayer for an opportunity to put it up in His divine presence. Days had passed and nothing seemed to happen. Swami too had avoided the gents side for some time. And yesterday, when Swami Himself went to them , enquired about the programme and granted permission, they really experienced the joy of praying and the thrill of it being answered at the right time by the Lord!
At about 4:40pm Swami came out for darshan rounds. As He moved in the chair and neared the Kuwait devotees, He asked, "Drama?" They were all very happy as they nodded in agreement. Swami, with a lot of interest, watched the huge screen they had put up as the backdrop and moved over to the gents side. Waves of devotees rose to catch a glimpse of the smiling, orange-robed, lovable and adorable form that was gliding through them. The balconies of the East Prashanti block were also bursting at the seams with old ladies looking at their Sai Krishna. Smiling and granting Abhayahasta,
Swami moved on. With His scented curls of jet black hair dancing to some ethereal melody, red lips sporting a divine all-knowing smile and twinkling eyes with the unique ability to thrill and fill with joy every person on whom they fall upon, seeing Swami is a joy sublime!
Completing the rounds, Swami came onstage and as soon as He arrived, He called one of the ladies seated in the front and asked her whether the drama was first or there was a music programme first. She said that both were together but things would go as Swami wanted. One of the most common answers that people give Swami is, "Swami as you will/wish." On deeper introspection, we realize the absolute needlessness of that statement. Anything that happens is 100% in tune with what He has willed and no amount of effort from us can change that. Only complete surrender to Him can change things and that too is because He will do anything for one who surrenders completely to Him.
But still, that statement is made very frequently and Swami too seems pleased when it is stated thus. More than informing Swami, that statement serves to remind each one of us that everything is going on beautifully well and nothing can ever go wrong because whatever is happening is His Will and His Will alone!
As Swami sat on the stage, a few devotees from Kuwait came up to Him with flowers and cards and booklets as offerings. Swami received all of them and blessed them. After that, Swami sat for a while listening to the veda chanting. Then He went into the interview room for a brief interval and then He came back to the stage. He told them to start the programme. The programme that began was a skit cum music programme that was many shades different from the standard presentations made in Swami's presence.
The storyline was very simple. There is a devout Muslim searching a good match for his daughter. In his daily interactions with the shopkeeper of the local grocery store, he discovers the power of prayer. The episode narrated here is of a very pious but poor lady who begs for food at the store. When the shopkeeper mockingly tells her that he would give her provisions equivalent to the weight of her shopping list, she takes the name of Allah and places the list on the scales. The scales get "tipped" so heavily in favour of the one taking the Lord's name that no amount of provisions seems to move the weighing balance! With the Lord's name, nothing is impossible. And so with the Lord's name on his lips, the devout Muslim is able to find a good match for his daughter. That lad is also devout and hardworking and helps a music teacher, Rammohan, to run his music classes. Finally, there were simple dances and songs in praise of Swami. The striking aspects of the presentation were twofold - firstly, it was a very simple story with everyone would identify; the problem portrayed, the questions asked and the line of thinking employed were so similar to the slice of life of any common man and secondly, there were quite a few songs embedded in the play which were sung live and were very lively too! The co ordination and synchronization between the ladies and gents on either side of the "play" were very harmonious and the counters sung were also very effective.
As the programme concluded, Swami called a little girl in a Muslim dress to come on the stage. He materialized a gold chain for her and put it lovingly around her neck. He also agreed to move down and pose for group photos. As He posed for pictures, He spoke to the children asking them where they had come from and what their names were. Some answered and many did not even open their mouths. But well, can they be blamed? Swami's presence is so overawing that one is muted into a mind-free moment! As Swami was moving back on the stage in the chair, one of the wheel seemed to trip and slip out of the ramp. There was a collective gasp but Swami seemed to just shrug it off. He just said, "Ay" to the person moving the chair more because of the 'gasp' he had caused among the devotees rather than because of the actual act. Swami never bothers about Himself at all. And His thoughts and feelings are always about the devotees. Even a slightest discomfort to them, makes Him very uncomfortable. If we really want Swami to be comfortable alway, let us vow to remain comfortable and fine always! His joy lies in our joy and comfort.
Swami then permitted them to sing bhajans. Very creatively and nicely, they sang what we call as the "chain bhajans"- one bhajan threaded into the other! After the singing went on for about 15 minutes, Swami blessed the prasadam to be distributed and then left after receiving Aarthi. Submitted Photos & Sai news to - SBOI GROUP
