Never Forget…

In July 1977, when Bhagavan was in Brindavan, and when the festival of Gurupoornima was just a few days away, He wrote a letter to Sri YV Kutumba Rao, then Secretary of the Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust, Prasanthi Nilayam. The letter serves as a ‘Sailent’ reminder to all the ashramites at Prasanthi Nilayam… and a direct directive from the Supreme One.

Kutumba Rao, accept My blessings.

Gurupoornima festival will be celebrated here at Brindavan. My Presence is required here for the college. You may celebrate the festival there, too. Convey My blessings to everyone there. Tell the residents of the ashram that they should never forget the objectives for which they have come here, and that they should strive to achieve their goal. They should sincerely follow all the disciplines of the ashram and should not involve themselves needlessly in the affairs of others.

Stress the point that having come to the ashram after giving up all relatives and friends for the sake of God, if they now give up God and develop new relationships and friendships, it contradicts the basic principles of an ashramic life. The important principle of living in an ashram is that one has taken shelter at the feet of God, forsaking the anxieties and worries of a worldly life. One has to develop virtues like peace, patience, humility, and obedience, and eschew anger, jealousy, and ego.

One should behave in the same way in the physical absence of Swami as one would do in His presence; otherwise it is self-betrayal and self-deceit. Tell everyone that they should practice these principles always and derive bliss, and also set ideals for others. Only when there is such model behavior and transformation can they deserve the grace of Sai. Convey to them that indulging in unnecessary talk or involving in others’ affairs is not good, and that slandering others out of jealousy is a heinous sin.

My blessings to one and all there ~ Baba