Download – My Life Is My Message

Today, Swami is going to speak about the childhood of this body.

Childhood is childhood, but the significance of the childhood of this particular body cannot be easily understood by students. That is why Swami is going to speak on the subject this morning.

Kondama Raju [Swami’s grandfather] had four sons. The eldest was named Pedda Venkama Raju. The second son was named Chinna Venkama Raju. The third son was named Venkata Subba Raju while the fourth bore the name Venkata Rama Raju. Since Venkavadhoota was his preceptor, Kondama Raju liked the name ‘Venka’ very much; that is why all his sons had Venka admixed in their names.

In due course all these sons got married but being poor, all the four families had to the same small hut. The hut did not have a tiled roof but only one of thatched grass. As time passed, children were born in all the four families. Chinna Venkama Raju had twelve children; Pedda Venkama Raju had eight children; Subba Raju had nine while Venkata Rama Raju had eleven. There were enough children to fill a small primary school! [Loud laughter.] In those days, people knew how to live united, adjust to each other, get along with each other, and help each other. For the sons, Kondama Raju was father but for their wives, he was not a blood relative. Thus, on account of the daughters-in-law, differences of opinion slowly began to crop up. Noticing this, Kondama Raju realised that it was no longer possible to continue the joint family, that it would have to be split, and that each son would have to shoulder his responsibility separately. The family had just two acres of land – it was that poor. Kondama Raju divided this land equally amongst the four sons so that they got only half an acre each. He also divided the ancestral house into four portions, ten feet by eight feet each, and gave one portion to every son for living with his family. This may seem small but by the standards prevailing then in the villages, this was ample space.

After this division, Kondama Raju had no of his own in the original house. So he moved to a small plot eight feet by eight feet and built there a small hut for himself.

The four sons told him, “Father, why do you have to live alone You are old. Please be with each one of us by turn for a while, and spend your remaining days in this manner.” He replied, “I do not wish to live with my sons and daughters-in-law. I wish to live independently, supporting myself by opening a small shop.” It was a small provision shop that supplied common needs like pulses, puffed rice, some edibles, coconuts, etc. The shop was very small, not bigger than this table [at this point, Swami indicated the table in front of Him]. For the village, however, this was a big enough shop. When Kondama Raju declared that he would run a small shop and take care of himself, Pedda Venkama Raju said, “But who would cook for you, look after you, attend to your needs, etc. We feel it would be good if you were to have someone by your side.” Kondama Raju thought over the matter for sometime.

Whom should he take with him At that time, this body was about seven years of age. Kondama said, “Venka (this is the way he addressed his eldest son), don’t think otherwise; I would like to have Sathyam live with me. He alone is my property.” Everyone said, “But Sathyam is so young! How can He cook for you We will hire a cook.” Kondama replied most emphatically, “I do not want anybody except Sathyam. If Sathyam is by my side, no one is required.”

At that time, Sathyam had just one pair of shorts and one shirt. He had to manage with those for one whole year. The shorts and shirt would be worn while going to school; at home, Swami would wear a small dhothi. Life was very simple then. After advancing to the fourth standard, it became necessary to go to the school in Bukkapatnam since the school in Puttaparthi did not offer studies beyond the third. One had to go to Bukkapatnam by walk. There were other boys in the village who studied there, and Swami used to go along with them.

Early in the morning, Swami would make a millet preparation – two balls of it, one for the grandfather and one for Himself; also, some groundnut chutney to go along with it. After this, Swami would run to school. Once a week, He would prepare some dal [a soup-like preparation made out of pulses], laced with spinach. There were no vessels made of metal; only earthen pots.

After hurried cooking, Swami would run all the way to school.

At noon, there would be a break; as soon as the bell rang, Swami would run back home. The distance to be covered was three miles [about four and a half kilometres]. All the boys used to do this, and Swami did the same. On reaching home, Swami would serve food to His grandfather. He would wash the clothes, keep food for the night, and then have His meal. After this, a long run back to the school; this was how life went on for some years.

Kondama Raju was quite upset by all this. He thought, “There is no one to help Raju.” One Sunday he asked, “Sathyam, am I giving You a lot of trouble” Swami replied, “Grandfather, if I do not work hard now, when then Start early, drive slowly, and reach safely! This is work that I have to do with pleasure! So long as I am strong in body and mind, I am ready to do any amount of work.” The grandfather was immensely pleased with this reply. This is the loving manner in which we spent time together. Sometimes in the evenings, Swami would prepare rasam. The wonderful aroma of the preparation would spread all over, attracting the attention of people who lived in the neighbourhood. They were mostly tribals, called Valmikulu or Boyavallu. These people would wonder, “Where from is this nice aroma coming What is the item being cooked Raju is too young to make such items and Kondama Raju is too old to do the cooking. Who could it be”

One day, one of the tribals who had discovered the secret came to the hut, wrapped up in a blanket. He was shivering and suffering from fever. He said, “I am getting the smell of something good being prepared here. Please give me some of it.” Kondama Raju was a most compassionate person. He called Swami to his side and whispered into His ears; he did not want everyone to know and that is why Swami was summoned to his side. Kondama Raju said, “Poor fellow, he is eager to have the rasam that you have prepared. Give him some.” Swami gave that person some rasam. Next day, his fever was gone. The news quickly spread and from then on, everyone in the neighbourhood started coming for rasam, bringing aluminium tumblers; and for their sake, Swami had to make extra! He would make rasam in a big pot.

Meanwhile, the tumblers would have been lined up, and Swami would pour rasam into them one by one. Thanks to the rasam, sickness disappeared from the village and everyone was happy.

In due course, this news reached the other street where Pedda Venkama Raju and Chinna Venkama Raju resided; soon, people from there also started coming for the rasam! What you have to note here is that even at the age of seven, Swami not only had to manage the house but also serve others outside. Drawing water, cleaning, cooking, procuring the provisions – everything had to be done by Swami.

Meanwhile, Swami was made a teacher! Students living on the street – students does not mean just young boys; some of them were in their twenties (!) – they all came to Swami and said, “Raju, please teach us alphabets and how to read.” Swami readily agreed. Kondama Raju was not happy about this and said, “Raju works so hard during the day; He has little rest, and now you are adding to His burden.” Swami intervened and told Kondama Raju, “My mission is to make everyone happy. Teaching these people is no problem at all. I will do this teaching without problem or inconvenience to you.”

There was a person named Narayana Rao, who lived near the Sathyamma Temple. There were only two persons in the village, namely, Karnam Gopal Rao and Narayana Rao, who had proper houses. This Narayana Rao, made available a small thatched hut in his compound and that became our ‘school’. Classes were in the evening, after all the household work was over. Swami used to serve food to Kondama Raju, eat, wash the vessels and put them away, and then leave for teaching.

Swami must make a special mention about the type of students He taught. These students were really adults; some even had moustaches! Swami would come wearing shorts; yet, all these grown-up people would stand up as a mark of respect. In the beginning, they used to address Swami as ‘Raju’ but soon they began to say ‘Sir!’. There was no chair for the teacher; so, a big, nice stone was brought, covered with cloth, and this became the chair. The students had no slates to write on. Swami therefore asked them to bring sand from the Chitravathi River and spread it in the ‘classroom’ before the s where the students sat. The sand thus became the slate! Swami used to write the alphabets, starting in the traditional manner with ‘Om Namo Narayanayah’.

This is how the instruction was commenced. Within a week, the students had learnt the basics of the alphabets. The students now needed books and slates. In those days, the slate cost one anna [the decimal system of currency did not exist then; the rupee was divided into sixteen annas, and each anna into twelve pies; three pies made one pice], and for one pie, one could get three slatepencils.

Swami asked the students to procure these but they did not have any money, not even one anna – that is how poor they were.

Students! You have to note how much Swami cared about the welfare of those whom He taught. There was a small shopkeeper named Venkataramana Shetty who lived in Puttaparthi in those days. Swami told him, “Listen, I want you to give slates to each of the eleven persons studying with Me.” The shopkeeper said, “But they will not pay me any money!” Swami replied, “I shall see to it that they do; My students will not default.” Having total faith in Swami, the shopkeeper supplied slates and slatepencils to all the eleven students. Swami then told His students, “Be careful with the slates and the slate-pencils. Use the slatepencils till they become really small. You have obtained all these by paying money and so you have to be careful with what you have acquired.” This is how Swami taught even in those days that money never ought to be wasted. The students learnt everything with great enthusiasm. These people had no regular employment. They used to grow a small amount of spinach in their backyards and then try to sell it. Swami taught them how to augment their income. He asked them to go where there were tamarind trees, collect the tamarind fruits that fell down, remove the seeds, and then sell the processed tamarind. Swami said to them, “This belongs to no one; it is God’s property. No one can object to your collecting and selling tamarind this way.” These people followed Swami’s instructions with implicit faith and total obedience. With money earned this way, every week they used to pay back the shopkeeper one bottu [a quarter-anna]. In a little over a month’s time the slate and the pencil were paid for completely, by each and every student. The students were now happy and declared, “At last, the slate and the pencil really belong to us.” Swami cautioned, “Yes, it is now yours, but never waste anything!” This is how Swami constantly reminded His students about the importance of never wasting anything. In due course, the spinach business began to thrive. Where there is sacrifice, there is quality; and where there is quality, there Goddess Lakshmi [the Goddess of Wealth] appears. Swami now advised these people to grow papaya fruits along with spinach. This way, in due course, they could now earn about half to one rupee per month, which they kept aside. Two years passed. Swami had completed studies up to the sixth standard, which was the highest available in Bukkapatnam. In those days, one prepared for ESLC [Elementary School Leaving Certificate] examination; for this one had to study up to the eighth standard which meant going where. But then some one would have to look after Kondama Raju. At this juncture, Seshama Raju [Swami’s elder brother] came to Puttaparthi and told Kondama Raju, “By keeping Him here, you are denying Him education; this would spoil Him. Therefore, send Him with me.” Kondama Raju was a very wise and philosophical man. He replied, “Well what have I studied Nothing. You are supposed to have studied; what good has it done to you What is the harm that has come to me by my being uneducated It is all the same, whether one receives this education or not. I do not care for this type of education. You do not possess even one thousandth of the good qualities that Sathyam has! In what way has your education benefited you” Seeing the angry response of Kondama Raju, Seshama Raju remained silent; in those days, youngsters kept quiet when elders became angry; they did not argue back. Later, Seshama Raju called Swami aside and said, “Look Sathya, education is very important. What can you do without education Even to count, for example, for counting the number of clothes given to a washerman, one has to study and learn. Education is therefore indispensable.” Swami then went to His grandfather and said, “Grandfather, I am going.” He asked most anxiously, “What happens to me” Swami then arranged for one of the sons of Venkata Subba Raju to take His . In this manner, Swami prepared to leave for Kamalapuram, along with His elder brother Seshama Raju. When word got round about the impending departure, the eleven students being trained by Swami began to cry, “Our teacher is going away; we are losing our teacher. What happens to us now What will be our fate” That was their affection for Swami. On the following morning, these eleven students planned to walk all the way to the Bukkapatnam Bus Stand along with Swami and His elder brother to see them off. From Bukkapatnam, we were to go to Dharmavaram, and from there to Kamalapuram. These students wanted to give a parting gift and so they collected some money; each contributed half-an-anna. It came to almost six annas. They offered the money to Swami but Swami refused saying, ” I do not want all this. You keep it for yourself.” In those days things were so cheap that one could buy a short-pant for half-an-anna and a shirt for just one anna. Swami took just what was needed for one shirt and one short-pant, plus two pice for stitching charges. But the tailor was so nice and so full of love for Swami, he said, “Raju, for You there are no charges!” What you must notice here is that everyone had love for Swami. What was the reason Soft and sweet words, always spoken by Swami. This is what endeared everyone to Swami. These students got the dress stitched and sent it over. Meanwhile, Seshama Raju got married. Following his marriage, he had to go to Anantapur for some further studies and training. His wife was left behind in Kamalapuram, and Swami had to do all the household work. In those days, a train used to pass by early in the morning. Hearing the whistle of the engine, all the town-people would take their pots and head for a pond five miles away, to fetch drinking water. Swami would go at four in the morning to bring water. It was the time of the Second World War. It so happened that one day, a special military train passed by at eleven o’clock at night. Hearing the whistle of the engine, all the people went as usual to the –

th, and always adhere to righteousness, form the fountainhead of Bharatiya culture. Hence, follow the path of truth and foster love for God. Once you have intense love for God, you can achieve anything in this world. There is nothing greater than love in this world. You young people should never forget love. With love, you can accomplish anything. You can even acquire big and valuable objects. [At this point, Swami materialised a big diamond. The creation of the diamond was greeted with loud applause. Holding up the diamond, Swami asked the audience, “Can you see it” He then showed the diamond to Prof. Anil Kumar (who was translating) and asked, “How is it” Amazed, Prof. Anil Kumar replied, “Swami, it is brilliant!”] Such things will be in your hands. Once you have truth, everything comes to you. King Harishchandra was able to accomplish everything; how On account of adherence to truth. He lost his wife. His son died. He also lost his kingdom. He then ended up as a caretaker in a cremation ground. However, in spite of all his difficulties, he never compromised on truth. His wife then told him, “I too shall strictly adhere to truth. Together we shall sail through all other problems. Otherwise, together we shall sink. But we shall never give up truth.” [Swami interrupted His discourse and, pointing to the diamond He had created earlier, asked Prof. Anil Kumar, “Is it glowing” He replied, “Swami, it is shining brilliantly!”] If you adhere to truth, you can do anything. Once in Kodaikanal – many must have seen it. [Swami asked someone in the audience what He had materialised in Kodaikanal. He then continued.] Swami had materialised the Syamanthakamani in Kodaikanal. This extraordinary jewel belonged to Sathyabhama. Swami showed the jewel to all present there; later, it was sent back to where it came from! Whatever you want is in these Hands. Do not underestimate Swami just because He is moving about and talking to you all like an ordinary person. Everything is in this Hand! You may not know about it, but just wait; in the days to come, the whole world would be in this Hand like this diamond [so saying, Swami pointed to the diamond in His Hand, and there was a big applause]. From today, all of you students must become wedded to truth. Always be just and you would then be automatically respected. Adore and revere your parents and also your teachers. Are you aware to what extent Swami gave respect to His teachers I don’t think you know. The other day, Swami spoke about kshama. There is a lot of difference between mere patience and kshama; people often mistake one for the other. Kshama is the golden virtue that enables you to face with equanimity all difficulties, troubles, obstacles, losses, suffering, calumny, etc. The world is not aware but it is because of kshama that Swami generously forgives and forgets all the misdeeds done against Him [applause]. Without kshama, it would not be possible to put up with even for a moment, what is going on around! Yet, Swami is so forgiving that He tolerates every mistake including very big ones – which is possible only when there is kshama. It is Swami’s Kshama that will bring the whole world to Him. Adhere firmly to sathya and dharma, and you would have no reason to worry about anything. Only then would you be able to achieve anything you want. Students must therefore be humble always; humility and kshama go together. [Swami paused and then gently indicated that perhaps He had been speaking for ‘too long’. In unison, all the students roared, ‘No Swami!’. Laughing, Swami joked, ‘Already you have started telling lies!’ Bhagavan then continued.] Swami wishes to mention one more thing. One day as Swami was returning from Bukkapatnam, He passed by an elderly lady who was removing lice from the hair of a child. This lady had the habit of chewing betel leaves and spitting frequently. It so happened that when Swami was going past her, she spat and the red spittle splattered all over Swami’s dress. It all happened quite accidentally of course – nothing deliberate. The lady saw what had happened and became quite upset. She lamented, “Raju, look what I have done!” She then tried to remove the stain left by the betel juice. Swami told her not to worry, went home and immediately washed the shirt clean. Had the shirt have been given to a washerman, he would have charged about half an anna or so. But no; Swami would never spend money like that; money was not only scarce but also very valuable. Swami would wash and then iron the dress using an improvised iron – a vessel with burning charcoal in it. That is how frugal Swami was. He never added to the financial burden of His parents. Swami never borrowed, never caused any dissatisfaction to parents, always upheld the family honour – that is how Swami spent His student days. You too should be like that, and bring credit to your parents. They struggle hard to bring you up and you owe them a deep debt of gratitude. Just because you can receive money from home, it does not mean you should spend it any way you like. It is not good to waste money; misuse of money is evil. Good conduct and behaviour would not only get a good name for you, but also bring credit to the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning. Swami will, without fail, help you to any extent, if you endeavour to earn a good name. Swami will ensure all success. It is not enough if you merely listen; you should actively put into practice, the teachings of Swami. If you do so, it will do you a lot of good in the future. Purity will not only bring you peace but a good reputation as well. [Swami then asked the students to sing bhajans. They sang two bhajans: Govinda Murahari Madhava … and Bhajore Bhai Sai Ram…. Swami greatly enjoyed both the songs. Swami then asked, “Who wants this diamond Tell Me, and I shall give. Who wants it” Bhagavan then threw the diamond into the audience and it vanished! The miracle was greeted with loud applause.]