It was a serene evening in the Mandir during the rainy season of 1990. Sathya Sai Baba had completed His usual Darshan rounds and had called some devotees for interview. All the students were eagerly waiting for Sathya Sai Baba to come out and spend some time with them. They were surprised by the sudden brush of a cool breeze that heralded soothing showers.

It was the time when the Sai Kulwant Hall had not yet been built. To those directly exposed to the scalding rays of the sun, the rain was a welcome relief. To the students it meant a blanket permit to rush forward and occupy the front portico of the Mandir. It was a vantage spot as it gave us the advantage to be very close to the interview room door so that when Swami came out, His gaze in our direction was guaranteed. I was then in my second year of the MBA programme. Along with another brother of mine I was blessed to secure a strategic spot in the front portico. From here we had a clear view of Sathya Sai Baba’s throne in the Bhajan Hall.

As the rain persisted without any respite, I began reading a book on Sathya Sai Baba’s miracles in Africa. I was particularly drawn to an incident where two of the devotees who were driving a car on an express way at speeds over 110 km/h suddenly met with an accident. Their car was thrown out of the express way and into the bushes. The car was totally smashed and there was no chance that its occupants would survive such a crash. The devotees in the car however had taken the Lord’s Name on their lips at the critical juncture and had escaped unscathed. They were nonplussed and thanked Sathya Sai Baba for His Omnipresence. I was quite overwhelmed by this incident and happened to share it with the brother beside me. I couldn’t but help remark – ‘Look Swami is in Africa also’.

African Avatar
Some moments later the interview room door opened. Sathya Sai Baba came out and stood on the upper portico of the verandahh in the Mandir. He paused and looked at me and my brother for a few seconds. I looked at Sathya Sai Baba with reverence. Suddenly Sathya Sai Baba asked the students sitting in front of me to make way. A path was made for Sathya Sai Baba in the tightly packed verandahh. Before I could realise Swami walked straight up to me and then paused. Gazing into my eyes He remarked – “Dunnapotha! You are talking in the verandah.”

Then after a small pause He continued, “I am here. I am in Africa. I am everywhere.” Saying this, He walked away with a nonchalant gait. Do I have to say anymore?

Six years later while I was in search for a job, a Singapore based multinational company hired me and sent me on my first assignment to guess where: West Africa ! It has been six sweet years in Africa. I have been blessed to get involved in the Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisation here as an office bearer. I try to serve the Lord in my own little way, feeling and experiencing His constant Presence and Guidance.

One important truth that we, His students, must cherish always in our hearts is His Omnipresence. Wherever we are, we need to conduct ourselves accordingly. Sathya Sai Baba is our Inner Soul. He is always with us, in us and around us. The awareness of this truth suffices to boost our confidence and help mould our lives in the right direction.

Heart to Heart
During my student days at Sathya Sai Baba’s Lotus Feet, I learnt a lot through innumerable such instances. Many times it happened that Sathya Sai Baba would refuse to accept a letter from me and I used to feel completely dejected. On one such occasion, Sathya Sai Baba gave me the ‘cold storage’ treatment by not accepting my letter for many days at a stretch. One fine day, He suddenly called me and literally grabbed the letter from my hands. Even without opening the letter, He went on to reveal its contents and concluded with a great revelation, ‘I need not go through your letter to know its contents. The prayer in your heart reaches me instantaneously, even before you pen down your thoughts.’

To be frank, after this incident I reduced the ‘written mail’ and instead concentrated on heartfelt prayers. This is what Sathya Sai Baba implies when He exhorts us to develop ‘a heart to heart relationship’ with Him.

I Shall Write Anew
On another occasion, Sathya Sai Baba walked up to where I was seated, looked into my eyes and said ‘Faithkaawali raa’ in Telugu, which means – ‘You need Faith’. Putting His hand on His forehead He went on ‘If you have faith in Me, I shall wipe out your old Karma and write a new one. But faith is required.’

Sathya Sai Baba is Premaswaroopa. Just pure, unsullied Love on two Feet. He loves His students so much. His love for us is unfathomable and indescribable. Let me share a very cherished incident in my life.

Baba’s Bangra Boys
It was the time of Sathya Sai Baba’s 60th Birthday in the year 1985. A group of 25 boys, which included me, were selected to perform the Bhangra dance before Sathya Sai Baba’s chariot as it made its way from the Mandir to the Shanti Vedika in the Hill View Stadium. We had practised more for a stage performance rather than for a procession in front of Sathya Sai Baba’s chariot. But then, Sathya Sai Baba’s message came on the evening of November 22nd that we need to be prepared for the procession the next day. All of us were too tired because of various activities on 21st and 22nd November. But we had Sathya Sai Baba in our hearts.

Though we slept very late on 22nd night, all of us got up by 3 a.m. on 23rd morning and managed to reach Mandir before 3.30 a.m. Even at that time, all the streets of Puttaparthi were overflowing with devotees moving towards the Mandir. We managed to squeeze through the crowd. We were tired and by the time we reached Mandir we were already feeling drowsy. But nevertheless, we started dressing up and were ready by 6 a.m. for the procession. The procession was scheduled to commence at 7 a.m.

Students Come First
Sathya Sai Baba had already come out at 6 a.m. He then summoned all of us, the Bhangra group boys, into the Bhajan Hall. We were quietly dressing up at the car shed behind the Mandir when we received this message. We rushed into the Bhajan Hall. Sathya Sai Baba then enquired from us whether we were ready for the procession and we replied in the affirmative. Then Sathya Sai Baba said ‘Oh no! You boys did not have anything to eat or drink since morning and you need to be in the procession for at least one and half hours.’

While everybody including the VVIPs were waiting for Sathya Sai Baba to come out for Darshan, Sathya Sai Baba was inside the Bhajan Hall, catering to the little needs of His little ones. Sathya Sai Baba then sent someone to bring breakfast for us from the canteen and ensured that we had had our fill. He also went into His room and got apples for us to partake. All the while Sathya Sai Baba was waiting for us to say, “We are ready Swami, we can start”. At about 7 a.m. when all of us were ready, Sathya Sai Baba put on His white robe and walked up to the chariot and stood on it while the first golden rays of the rising sun fell on the Divine Lotus Feet. The procession started with us performing ahead of His chariot. By His Grace everything went on well. In that huge crowd we were thrown around like puppets. But for Sathya Sai Baba’s Love and Grace in the morning, we could not have performed the dance. That is the Love of Sathya Sai Baba for His students. Students always come first for Him.

Spiritual Practice in Business
Such incidents are unlimited. Each one of His students have baskets-full of such stories to narrate. The underlying theme is Love, Love and Love alone. Sathya Sai Baba loves us so intensely and expects us to share this love with the people around us in the same way. He wants us to look at the unifying principle that binds us all. We need to start in our own little way to practise what Sathya Sai Baba says. I would like to state how this has helped me in my day to day business.

When I deal with my customers I feel that it is the same Sathya Sai Baba who is also in them and that I need to approach them with the right attitude and love in my heart. This has always given me an upper hand to solve the most difficult issues which could not be handled by others. When I am at peace, have Sathya Sai Baba in my heart and look at my opponent as a reflection of the same Being, positive vibes are generated and that gives me a cutting edge. While other preparations are definitely required for a good negotiation, positive attitude and good vibes can change the whole negotiating atmosphere. In the corporate world, my company calls negotiation and wheeling as dealing skills. I am ranked highest on these skills in my company. But for me the real skill is ‘Love in the heart’.

I end this article here with a small prayer to Swami……

“Dear Lord, Let our Hearts overflow with Divine Love for Thee at all times.”