TRAYEE: THE GIFT OF DIVINE INTIMACY

Few realise to what extent Swami goes out of the way to confer favours upon the students. One of the incomparable gifts of Divine intimacy that He confers is the famous 'Trayee Sessions' that take place while Swami is in Brindavan.

Trayee Brindavan or Trayee as it is more popularly known, is the Mandir of Bhagavan's Ashram in Brindavan [in Whitefield, Bangalore]. It is Swami's residence when He is in Whitefield.

The circular building called Trayee came into existence in 1984, replacing an earlier building [known as Bungalow] of more conventional design. The centre of Trayee is a circular hall with a high ceiling. On the periphery of this hall are several rooms, some of which are set apart for Interviews. There are similar rooms on the first floor too, and Bhagavan occupies one of these. Right behind the main entrance is a large, curving, 'veranda' that can seat about two hundred or so. At one end of this veranda is a sofa and at the other end is a small swing or jhoola. During the famous 'Trayee sessions', Swami is seated on the jhoola while the boys crowd all over, spilling into the adjoining circular hall. In front of the building are lawns and flowerbeds.

The Trayee sessions take place in the evenings, after Darshan and Bhajan are over. Typically, this is what happens: Swami first returns to Trayee while boys wait in the Sai Ramesh Hall [where Darshan is given], eagerly looking forward to the signal to go in. They then rush into the veranda of Trayee and take vantage seats. The teachers and a few elders also are permitted to attend these sessions but basically they are meant for the boys.

Innumerable are the variations to the Trayee session, and countless are the lessons and experiences they provide to those lucky to be present. Typically, the session would commence with Baba signalling to someone in the audience to speak. After the preliminary warm-up speeches are over, Swami slowly rises to speak to the boys. His 'speech' is a Discourse of course, often linked to one of the points made by those who spoke earlier. Sometimes, He speaks sitting down in the jhoola.

The Trayee Discourses have a unique character of their own, and are quite different from the public Discourses that one is generally used to. Swami's voice is soft, gentle, loving, and most affectionate. It is very much like a mother talking to her children; indeed, it is nothing but that. When Swami speaks to students in Trayee, there is only one purpose - to mould their character. He does this in innumerable ways, illustrating His points with appropriate stories and historical anecdotes.

There are days when Swami takes it easy, leaving the proceedings entirely to teachers, students, and the elders present. Some evenings it is all music, with the boys displaying their skills in both singing and in playing various musical instruments. Occasionally, it is all jokes, with even Swami narrating a few amusing ones of His own! At times, Swami just sits in the jhoola and asks the boys to chant the Vedas in unison. And while they chant, He is in Pure Bliss. Occasionally, He chants along with the boys, though very softly.

In May, it is vacation for the boys, and most of them go home to be with their parents. Some, however, stay on. When the number of students is small, Swami permits ladies and parents of students also to be present in Trayee. The sessions now acquire yet another complexion.

One such day in the month of May, Swami spotted a small boy about seven years old seated near Him, and started teasing the boy in various ways. He then said, "Listen, get married". The boy said, "No Swami". "I have selected a nice girl for you". "No Swami". "Why are you saying 'No Swami'? The girl I have selected is very good looking and an ideal match". Again, "No Swami". "Why 'No Swami'"? Without a moment of hesitation the boy replied, "Too much problem Swami!" Everyone burst into laughter, including the mother of the boy, who was present. Joining the laughter, Baba said with a twinkle in His eyes, "See? He already knows!" More laughter! After some moments He added, "That is what the boy is saying now but wait till he grows up to twenty two or so; then he will change his mind." A small lesson there.

One year during the vacation period, Swami asked a Greek lady to address the gathering. This lady happens to be a doctor, actively involved in Sai service. One of her service campaigns was in Croatia, then torn by war and conflict. She organised a volunteer group and took it to Croatia for rendering assistance to the war victims. The members of the group distributed packets containing food, medicines, clothing, and along with these, a small photo of Swami. Recalling the service experience, the doctor said, "The people were very happy that we had come to help them. One of the people there held up Baba's photo and said, 'We know this person'. I was very surprised and asked, 'How do you know Him? Have you heard about Him?' They replied, 'No, we have actually seen Him here.' I was astounded and asked, 'Seen Him? Here in Croatia? And what was He doing here?' They said 'Just what you are doing; distributing food, blankets, and medicines.' I was stunned."

After the electrifying narration was over, one of the devotees present remarked, "Swami this is absolutely extra-ordinary!" Swami replied, "For you it is extra-ordinary but for Me, this quite ordinary and routine." A hush descended on the audience - naturally.

There are dramatic moments too. Once, after sitting down on the jhoola, Swami asked, "Where is the person from America?" The gentleman concerned was spotted and he rose to come forward. Swami asked the devotee to come near Him and while the devotee was doing so, with a wave of His hand Swami materialised a bottle. He held the bottle up so that everyone could see it. He then said, "This devotee has an eye problem, and has come all the way from America to seek Swami's advice. This bottle contains eye-drops." Meanwhile, the devotee, Dr. Ram Setty, had come close to Swami and knelt before Him. With much Love and Compassion, Swami poured a few drops of the liquid into the eyes of the devotee and then handed the bottle over to him with instructions about further doses. The event was not only etched permanently in the hearts of all those present but also touched everyone. The devotee had not even 'met' Swami after arrival and placed his problem before Bhagavan; but He was ready with the treatment, nonetheless. Swami was indirectly telling everyone present, "If you think of Me, I too shall think of you!"

The story does not quite end with Swami giving Dr. Ram Setty the bottle of eye-drops. A couple of days after this incident, Dr. Setty was called for an Interview. A few boys also were present. Baba asked the boys, "Do you remember this person?" "Yes, Swami; You blessed him with eye-drops the other day." Swami then continued, "You have no idea how bad his condition was then". He then asked Dr. Setty to describe the condition of the eyes before Swami gave him medicine. Swami then added it was very red, red like this; so saying, He waved His hand and there appeared two strawberries! To the stunned audience He asked, "What are these?" Dazed, one of them replied, "Swami, strawberries." Swami said, "Not just strawberries but California strawberries! Dr. Setty lives in California!" Turning to Dr. Setty, Baba asked, "Are these not the type you get in your part of the world?" The astonished doctor nodded his head. Swami gave him the strawberries and said with a smile, "Eat it!"

There are tender moments too. Once, a casual conversation was in progress at the beginning of a Trayee session when a boy seated in the front offered some peanuts to Baba in a small bowl. Swami brushed it aside and continued the conversation. After a few minutes the boy tried again and once more Swami refused. A third try and a third refusal. The fourth time the boy was successful. Swami took the bowl from the boy's hands and after popping a couple of nuts into His mouth began distributing it to the boys nearby. Eagerly, boys thrust their hands forward. Swami dropped a few nuts into each palm stretched out to Him. He then asked the boy who originally gave the nuts to stretch out his hand; the boy did. Swami dipped into the bowl, picked a few nuts, and then made a gesture like dropping the nuts into the out-stretched palm. What fell into the palm were not peanuts but a shining diamond ring! The boy was stunned. Swami took the ring and slipped it on to one of the fingers. The boy now began to cry; he was too overwhelmed to utter any words. Baba then said, "This boy loves Swami very much. He did not want to come empty handed here. He did not do anything great. He just took a small bowl, went to the Hostel store, filled it with shelled peanuts and brought it here - that is all. Swami is not bothered about what you offer but the feelings that accompany the offering. Any day, a teaspoon of cow's milk is better than a barrel of donkey's milk!"

For Swami's boys Trayee is a magic word that recreates scenes not witnessed since the boyhood-days of Krishna. In a manner of speaking, what happens is similar, though the settings and the time period are different. One of the Actors in the Drama is also the same; about the others, only He can say!

---Dr.G.Venkataraman