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Posted on: Mar 19, 2013
THE MYSTIFYING GLOBAL SAI
A Conversation with Dr. Narendranath Reddy
Part 01
Dr. Narendranath Reddy graduated in medicine with distinction from S.V. Medical College, Tirupathi, Andhra Pradesh. He then went to the United States of America where he specialised in internal medicine and endocrinology. He has been a consultant and practicing internist-endocrinologist in Southern California for over 34 years.
He is a fellow of the American College of Physicians and the American College of Endocrinologists, California.
Four generations of Dr. Reddy's family are devotees of Swami, with Dr. Reddy himself having come to Swami at the age of five. Since 1984, Dr. Reddy and his family have had a Sai Baba centre in their home.
He is currently the chairman of the Prasanthi Council, the governing body which oversees the activities of International Sai Organisations.
This conversation was recorded a few days after the 87th Birthday celebrations of Bhagawan in Prasanthi Nilayam, on November 26, 2012. In conversation with Dr. Reddy is Radio Sai's Bishu Prusty.
Radio Sai (RS): A warm welcome to you, sir, to the studios of Radio Sai.
DR. Reddy (NR): With love and gratitude, I offer myself at the divine lotus feet of our omnipresent, omniscient and loving Lord, Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. Loving Sairam to you, Bishu, and to all Radio Sai listeners.
RS: Sir, I should thank you, because the time now is 10.00 p.m., and you are leaving tomorrow! Today is 26 November; Bhagawan’s 87th birthday celebrations have just concluded a couple of days ago, and you have been so busy with the celebrations.
My heartfelt gratitude to Swami, to have enabled you to take some time out to speak to us tonight.
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| Dr. Narendranath Reddy speaking in the divine presence | |||||||
NR: Thanks to Swami and the Radio Sai team for giving me this opportunity to share the love and message of Bhagawan. I want to share a relevant anecdote with you. For many years, devotees around the world used to invite me to give talks. At one time I felt, who am I to give talks? – as I felt it was like a blind man leading the blind, since I am not a realised soul. So I said, “Swami, devotees are asking me to share, but I don’t want to, because I myself have not realised the truth. I want to lead a contemplative life.”
Swami said, “This is not the right attitude. You are selfish! I have given you love! It is your obligation and duty to share My love with others.”
Swami used the Telugu words, “Premanu Panchuko Penchuko,” which means, “Share the love I have given to you; share with others, and then it will multiply.”
So, it is a divine command, and this is an opportunity for me to follow His command by sharing Swami’s love and message with all.
The Organisation Will Continue its Service Globally
RS: Thank you for sharing that beautiful anecdote. I remember a talk you gave in 2011 (Sai Shines in Us and Through Us) – I felt it was Bhagawan speaking through you, because it was just a couple of weeks after Baba had left His mortal coil. The world seemed to have collapsed for many of us, and there were people outside, especially of the Sai fraternity and some even in the Sai organisation, who were questioning about the future of the organisation. There were some who were even asking if the programmes in Prasanthi Nilayam would go on the way they had been going on all these years, and would the activities in the Organisation continue like before.
And that day, in your talk, you responded to them, saying, “Yes! They will continue, but with a difference.”
Then you went on to say, “Now they will happen with greater intensity, with more enthusiasm, and with much more love!”
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| The spread and activities of the Interanational Sai Organisation - Map 1 | |||||||
And the audience burst out in applause, but today, when I had a chance to look at the copy of the Annual Report of the International Sai Organisation (2011–12), (PDF Version of the Report) I was reminded of what you said then.
Today, over a year down the line, I see in the Annual Report that there are activities going on in all parts of the world – and some in countries I haven’t even heard of. I requested you to come to the studio to share with us these beautiful scenes of love and service that you have witnessed over these two years.
NR: It is really exciting to see the glory and mission of Sai all over the world. The Sai organisation is present in 115 countries, where there are more than 2,000 Sathya Sai Centres, participating in various types of activities, like devotional singing, SSE classes, community service and other programmes, spreading Swami’s message and love all over the world.
It is only by Bhagawan’s grace that devotees are participating in various activities of the organisation with enthusiasm and love. Truly, Bhagawan is the only source and inspiration.
It is a joy to witness all these wonderful projects happening. As Swami said, “My work will go on.” He is blessing more and more devotees in many ways, who are experiencing His omnipresence and His love much more than ever before. In the past we thought Sai was Parthi Vaasa, residing in Parthi. Now we experience Him as Hridaya Vaasi – residing in our hearts. He is omnipresent! We can feel His presence and love everywhere, and that is not only my experience but that of devotees all around the world.
Sai Seva, the World Over
RS: You have travelled a lot over the last 2–3 years. Could you please share with us some of the experiences that have really touched you during your travels – be it in the education movement or in service activities. There are a lot of things happening in Fiji, Guatemala and Thailand! Maybe you can tell us a few things that have really gladdened your heart. (The Sai Movement in Latin America)
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| The spread and activities of the Interanational Sai Organisation - Map 2 | |||||||
NR: After looking at the international Annual Report, senior leaders and devotees of the Sathya Sai Organisation were amazed to see that Swami’s glory and message has spread in countries such as Afghanistan, China and some parts of Russia, Uzbekistan, Croatia and Bosnia. Swami’s message and His love are inspiring people in all corners of the world and more and more are eager to hear His message.
Recently I attended a conference on Sathya Sai Education in Human Values in San Luis Potosí, Mexico, from 26–28 October 2012. This was conducted in a university auditorium, and 1,200 educators, mostly teachers and professors, attended the event.
I was informed that among all the delegates there were only 200 Sai devotees – the rest had never even heard Swami’s name before. I also came to know that according to their law, one cannot talk about God in such a conference. So I could only talk about Swami’s message. This was difficult for me, because I had to restrain myself to focus only on Swami’s message, not on His leelas or love or glory.
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| EHV Conference In Progress at San Luis Potosi, Mexico | |||||||
This conference was unique, in that it started with a military band arranged by the government, followed by the Mexican national anthem. The Deputy Secretary of Education, Mr. Ramos, gave the inaugural address, followed by my opening address on SSEHV. Senior educationists such as Dr. Art-Ong Jumsai, Dr. Ronnie Marantz and Dr. Pal Dhall also addressed the gathering. By the end of the conference, many educators were touched. They all wanted to know about Sai Baba and the Sai movement. During the three days of the conference, many expressed interest to attend SSEHV courses, and some even wanted to visit Puttaparthi.
I would like to share an interesting incident that happened over 10 years ago. We have a Sathya Sai Baba Book Centre in Tustin, California. You might have heard that it was started by Mrs. Elsie Cowan.
RS: Yes.
NR: She was an ardent devotee who served Swami for many, many years. Swami, too, was very fond of her.
RS: Swami had resurrected her husband, Walter Cowan!
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| Mrs. Elsie Cowan with Bhagawan in the interview room at Prasanthi Nilayam |
NR: Yes. We were remodeling the book centre. We had to install a new air conditioning unit. Workers were hired from outside. While they were working, the office manager, who is a Sai devotee, had to go out of town. When she returned, the workers informed her that while she was away, her boss oversaw the work. Naturally she wondered who her boss was. They pointed to a large photograph of Swami and said, “He came and inspected the work to make sure everything was going right.”
RS: Oh, my God!
NR: She was amazed. She later told other trustees of the book centre that Bhagawan hadn’t given darshan to devotees and volunteers, but He had given His vision to these workers who were doing His work!”
A few months after that, I happened to come to Prasanthi Nilayam, and I was with Swami in the car. I then mentioned this particular incident and said, “Swami, You gave darshan to non-devotees, but You didn’t give darshan to devotees!”
Swami cut me short and said, “How do you know who is a devotee and who is not?”
That was a great lesson. We are nobody to judge who is a devotee or a non-devotee; only God knows. From then onwards, I have been careful of labeling people as devotees or non-devotees. I will say that the 1,000 people present in the auditorium at the EHV conference in Mexico may have never heard of Swami, but they were happy to hear Swami’s message on human values.
RS: They may not have heard of Swami, as of now; that’s all.
NR: Yes, that is correct.
Sai Seva in China and Central Asia
RS: You mentioned that there is so much happening in China!
NR: I was in China in April 2012 and was amazed to see how Swami’s work is going on silently in that country. Organised religion is not allowed in China. I was invited to the University in Guangzhou, where a programme on SSEHV was conducted. Sathya Sai devotees are doing a lot of good work and are practising Sathya Sai Education in Human Values in their daily lives. There were professors and teachers who attended that event, and I happened to address the gathering.
I was impressed to see their enthusiasm for teaching and practising the Human Values. They have been doing this for a few years. In their presentations, they showed how much the schools that are practising these Human Values have benefitted. They showed how it helped children to change their behaviour at home, to respect their parents, enhance their academic performances and also improve their relationships with peers and teachers. The Human Values education programme has also had an impact on their community, which has become more service-oriented.
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Dr. Reddy visits a school that has adopted SSEHV and participates in a EHV conference (right) in China |
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They were telling us how Human Values were helpful in all aspects of life. They had made a scientific study of how [practising] love and truth has helped the students and the teachers. They are recognising love as the underlying principle. I was telling our Sai brothers and sisters in China, “Yes, they may not say that they believe in God, but they are really practising God’s message. That is more important.”
When I was traveling from Guangzhou to Hong Kong to address the devotees, on the way we visited a regular school that has adopted Sathya Sai Human Values. There they have big billboards – both in Chinese and in English – that read, “Help Ever, Hurt Never” and “Love All, Serve All.” As we entered the school, the children were practising silent sitting. Then they sang bhajans in the Chinese language and were dancing to the tune. It was very inspiring, and I was touched.
So, it is happening all over – whether in Mexico or in China. I want to relate another event that happened in Kazakhstan recently. At the invitation of the First Lady of Kazakhstan, our Sathya Sai Organisation arranged a conference on Education in Human Values, in which 250 teachers participated. It was a great success, and we received a letter that was written by the First Lady (who about how many people were touched. She wrote to the organisers of the conference, “You should try to come more often and do many more similar conferences.” Some of the teachers expressed their gratitude, saying that it had transformed them overnight!
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| Seminar on Human Values in Kazakhstan organised by the Sai Organisation | |||||||
RS: The First Lady of Kazakhstan wrote that?
NR: Yes, we received that letter just two weeks ago! So, Swami, in His own way, is touching people in China, Kazakhstan, Mexico and all over the world.
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