No One is Weak

On February 12 this year, Swami granted an interview to final-year students from the women’s college, the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, Anantapur, India. Below are edited excerpts from Swa1ni’s discourse given during the interview, as written by Shvetal Patel, one of the students present.

What is the basis of unity? If the seed is sweet, the fruit is sweet. If there is any difference, it is because of different seeds, not the earth. Similarly, there are (sometimes) differences in the earth like some seeds grow only in black soil. Seeds grow in the soil according to their capacity. You are all students. You should see in what way you can be useful to the society. But sometimes if the earth is not good, even the seeds will not be good. You might all become future mothers. Sow good thoughts in children. Aryamba got such a good son like Shankaracharya because she was a pious soul.

Gandhi’s mother was also very virtuous. She had a certain vratam (vow) where she ate only after the cuckoo sang. One day it was already two o’clock and it hadn’t sung. So Gandhiji went behind the wall and imitated the voice of the bird. But the mother, after hearing the cuckoo all these years, recognised Gandhi’s voice and didn’t get fooled as he thought she might. She was so hurt that she pulled him by the ear and slapped him twice. She said, “How can a son born of me speak such untruth?” From that day the little boy Gandhi promised never to hurt his mother again. The mothers of all great men had good qualities. Today everywhere there is fear and insecurity. Once Gandhi ran to his aaya (household help), Ramba, and said, ‘I am scared.’ She told him, ‘Always say Ram, Ram, when you are scared.’ Face your difficulties bravely, don’t be afraid.’ It is God’s nature to test. If you say, `I can’t take this test, O Lord!’, then how will you proceed in life? It’s like passing exams of one class and going to the next grade.

Near Calcutta there was a small village where there lived a very poor lady. Her son studied under the street lamp as they didn’t have any light in their house. The mother always advised the son—”Don’t study for wealth and fame, but study to do some good for the society.” He obeyed her and finishing his degree he got a job. While working, he studied further. One day there was fair in the next village. The mother said that she wanted to go as well. Over there the son was in tears as all the other women wore grand sarees and jewelry. So, he asked his mother, “Mother, please tell me what you want. I will surely get it for you. What is the use of my earning?” The mother said, “I will ask you when the time comes.” As time passed, he earned money, position, and fame. He came to the mother and asked, “Please tell me now what you want.” The mother said, “I will tell you, but you must stand by your word: (1) Poor children, they have to go far to other villages to study. So, you should build a school in our place. (2) There are no doctors in our place, so build a hospital. (3) Whatever you do, do it with humility and everyone should identify you as the son of so and so.”

He promised his mother he would do all this. This son was none other. than Ishwar Chandra Vidya Sagar (an educationist and social reformer, also known for his writings). He was so famous that everyone came to hear his speeches. One high-level officer got ready to go for his speech. He packed a small notebook in a small hand bag. When he got down from the train, he got irritated that there was no coolie around. There was a gentleman there who rendered help to him and said, “Why do you want a coolie for this?” The officer said, “Because it’s below my dignity to carry it.” Walking slowly, they reached a hotel. The man took out money to pay the gentleman, but he said, “I don’t need money; you gave me an opportunity to help, that’s enough.” The next day, the officer saw to his surprise that the man who carried his baggage was speaking on stage, he was the person for whose speech he had come—ISHWAR CHANDRA VIDYA SAGAR. The officer accepted his fault in front of the mass of people and praised Vidya Sagar for his humility.

Though his mother was illiterate, she was broad-hearted. She was very poor, but she only asked about the welfare of others. Today’s mothers say, “Son, go and earn. Build one house for each of your children.” You should have the desire for your children to be virtuous and not just wealthy. Water is white, but if you put it in a red bottle it looks red, in a blue bottle it looks blue, in a black bottle it looks black, and so on. Education and money are not bad. It is the use of them which is bad. If heart is pure, the use of education will be pure. No use learning something and doing another.

Every student must have duty, devotion, and discipline. (Swami showed the three fingers of His right hand.) Devotion (middle) is like the governor and the other two are personal protectors (bodyguards). Unless devotion is guarded firmly by duty and discipline, it won’t remain strong and safe.

No one is weak. Everyone has great strength, whether it is to write exams or face life. Everyone has the power to do anything, but there must be someone to make you aware of it. And this someone is Swami, who is reminding you that you can do it.

~Shvetal Patel
Belle Mead, New Jersey, USA