His master plan – the indications!

Dear Editor,

The 27th of April 2011 saw poignant scenes the likes of which have never ever been witnessed on the face of this earth: the mahasamadhi of an avatar was witnessed the world over by a number unmatched in human history. Tears flowed unbounded. Being in the world at this point in time was such a cleansing experience, for the whole atmosphere was washed with tears – pure, selfless, love-filled and grateful.

They were sufficient to wipe out all sins committed by all humanity, it seemed! A lot has been written about the mahasamadhi of Bhagwan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, and a lot more will be written, for this is ‘History! But here is a little thought I think worthy of sharing.

The amount of prayers that have gone on in the world has been tremendous. The name of Sai filled every conceivable space, for it had been enshrined in a billion hearts. Bhajans, service activities, and spiritual sadhana of unprecedented proportions pulsated on Mother Earth. At the physical level, the best man and the best machines worked tirelessly day and night at the temple of Healing that He Himself had built. His most dear students constantly were by His side and aware of every breath He was taking.

The sheer magnitude of the combined effort of every devotee was enough to bring life into an inert stone! And yet, the Lord took Bhagwan Sri Sathya Sai Baba.

This thought had plagued me when I realized that prayer is not an act of asking God or telling God. It is silent communion with Him. When we either ask of tell God, we make the preposterous and utterly foolish assumption that we know better than Him. Swami often told us the story of two farmers – one who prayed for rain for his crops, the other who prayed for a dry day so that his daughter’s wedding could go on uninterrupted. Whose prayers should God listen to?

Should He listen to the one who cries more? Or to the one who pines more? Should He give precedence to age, or should He give precedence to status and influence?

It is everyone’s experience that we feel some intuitive urges. And then these urges just manifest themselves. Let us know that these are instances when we have been in communion with Him. And when these intuitive urges have manifested for me, I have felt the thrill of experiencing Him. I see Him, hear Him and feel Him, and He speaks to me! I feel the thrill because I ‘know’ His plan. And I know His plan because I have been able to be in sync with Him for those precious moments.

It happened on the evening of 20th of March. Swami had not been ‘keeping well,’ if I may use that term. His darshans were few and spaced between. And yet, on this day, He took two rounds of darshan. He called all the students who were seated for blessings and poured grains on their heads. (about 40 students were blessed that day).

He distributed a few sweets, and smiled at all present.

He even called the tiny tots from primary school and blessed them. In the words of a very senior singer, “Today Swami seems so hyper active!!” There was rejoicing. And when He received Aarthi, everyone was thrilled with His tapping His hands rhythmically. And then it happened…

As the Samastha Loka chant filled the air, Swami raised His hands. But it was not the familiar Abhayahastha. He had FOLDED HIS PALMS IN SALUTATION! He seemed to send a beautiful message, “Salute all, for God is in all”.

The Vedic chant “Sahasra sheersha Purusha” resounded in my heart. (That hymn says that God has thousands of limbs, heads and sense organs symbolic of the fact that God is in all.) In the Bharatiya custom, this is how one takes leave after a visit!

And today, just seeing the pictures is so relieving and enthralling, for it told me that Swami knows His plans. Even when He was fine and was a week away from being ‘admitted’ to the hospital, Swami had shown us His decision. And in showing us this decision, He also showed us His expectations. He wanted our lives to be His message, and one of His final acts of benediction teaches us that we should see Him in all just as He saw Himself in all. We should bow to Him in all just as He bowed to Him in all. We should love all and serve all just as He did.

And in order to share the experience, insight and blessings from Swami that day, I post the following five images.

Let us pledge to Him that we will, in our lives, imbibe His message of pure Love for all. And as a teardrop makes its way down my cheek, a firm resolve flows in my blood – a resolve to Love Him and see Him in all!

Yours sincerely,

Aravind Balasubramanya