Programme:
Opening Prayers and Rudram
108 Names of Swami
Bhajans
Guest speaker: Navinbhai Patel
Aarti, vibutti mantra and prasadam distributed
Introduction to Guest Speaker – Navinbhai Patel
Navinbhai first encountered Swami when Bhagawan visited Uganda back in 1968 – Swami’s only visit outside India.
During this visit Swami invited Navinbhai to join HIS college at a time when the college did NOT even exist. Just appreciate the foresight of our Bhagawan – HE knows our past, present & future.
It was only in 1970 that when the college – Brindavan campus started that Swami handpicked 12 boys and amongst them was Navinbhai. What a great honour!
Navinbhai has had numerous interactions with Bhagavan and has attended several festivals both in Prasanthi & Brindavan.
Our Navinbhai was the chosen one – and he was very dear to Swami. Let me share one anecdote. The year was around 2009 when Swami invited all his students on 1st Jan to the Poornachandra Hall. There were around 1000 students – so it was quite a big gathering and Navinbhai was sitting right at the back. Swami arrived and gave wonderful Darshan to the congregation. Then Swami started talking to elders and then he gestured and pointed towards the back…. bit of commotion. No one knew what Swami was referring to? Swami then sends Sathyajeet who walks right to the end and speaks with Navinbhai. He conveys Swami’s message ” Are you comfortable sitting on the floor? can we possibly get you a chair? ” Navinbhai humbly declined stating that he was OK sitting on the floor and the same message was relayed back to Swami. Such was Swami’s bond with him.
Fast forward…. after completing his BSc in mid-70’s Navinbhai returned to the UK on Swami’s say so. Professionally he was a Bio- medical scientist and he offered his expertise & services to NHS for over 4 decades.
We are therefore privileged to have him in our Sai Family in Leicester and it gives me immense pleasure to invite respected Navinbhai Patel to come forward and share his experience with Swami.
Navinbhai Patel – Click here to read the full talk
In 1971 Swami started the first Hostel for men at Brindavan. It was located at the entrance to Brindavan dormitory, above the car garages. There were no sperate rooms or beds, just a bare floor with 24 rectangles, denoting each student’s area of residence.
Swami then spoke about daily activity…..
In those days Bangalore region, including Brindavan used to be very cold in Winter and we didn’t have any hot water, but Swami had promised us that if we follow His ‘formulae’ that He had suggested then we would not fall ill.
Swami on food.
After that Swami had suggested that we contemplate into that day’s lectures.
In the College, Swami started spiritual classes every Thursday and Swami Himself used to conduct our lessons. He did this as He wanted excellence in both Spiritual and Academic Achievements.
Swami also encouraged us to do village seva and we started cleaning up a village called Belthur, which is about a mile away from Brindavan.
As a Supreme Teacher He gave us a lot of discourses. I had the privilege of setting up and operating the PA systems during festivals and Summer Courses in Brindavan and Prashanti.
Swami gave me a new lease of life.
Have a relationship with Swami, be it as your Father, Mother, Friend, Teacher or Guru. Talk to Him. You may feel that He is not listening but do not waver from your faith. He will do whatever is best for you, it may take time but He knows what is best for you and when to give. It’s just that we need to be patient and never to forget the constant recitation of God the Sai.
