Also read:  Keynote address delivered by Isaac Tigrett

The celebration of this grand day began in the most apt manner as all office bearers from throughout the State of Maharashtra assembled in Dharmakshetra for a state meeting. The meeting  began at 10:45 am and went on till 3:30 pm. This was a special gathering with a one point agenda – To encourage all the office bearers, to experience the Omnipresence of Bhagawan, since the physical form was not accessible anymore.  Soulful and powerful talks delivered by senior office bearers of the organisation reiterated the fact that Omnipresence was the only way!

The evening celebrations began with Bhajans sung with tremendous gusto. During the Bhajans, all were taken on a nostalgic trip down memory lane as a slide show of photographs (shown below) depicting the evolution of Dharmakshetra from a remote barren hill to the centre of the most significant landmarks in Bhagawan ’s Mission cascaded on the giant screens.

Amidst chanting of Vedas, lighting of lamp was done by Shri Indulal Shah, Founder and International Advisor, Sri Sathya Sai Organisations. Welcoming the huge gathering of over 1000 people, as fellow pilgrims on the path of Sathya, Shri Keki Mistry, Trustee of Sri Sathya Sai Trust, Maharashtra pointed out the fact that it was indeed a great blessing to walk on Earth at the same time when Sri Sathya Sai Avatar was here. He called upon the need to translate and radiate His messages in our daily lives as it was time now to show in spirit His teachings.

Calling Dharmakshetra literally as a field of action and Prashanthi Nilayam the seat of conscience, Shri Nimish Pandya, District President, Shri Sathya Sai Seva Organisation, Mumbai, cited the invaluable contribution of Shri Indulal Shah and Smt Sarla Shah which made Dharmakshetra synonymous with them. He further recounted the epoch making milestones, that were an integral part of Dharmakshtetra, like the seeds sown for the Sri Sathya Sai  Bal Vikas Movement, the establishment of the World Organization, the First World Conference, all of which had been laid here. Shri Pandya reiterated the fact that for the first time in the history of mankind an Avatar had come not to make us His devotees but to reveal to us our Divinity. He reminded us of the great responsibility that rests on our shoulders to reflect the ideals of Sai and spread His message. Shri Pandya unravelled Bhagawan’s definition of a devotee as one who remains unruffled in joy and in sorrow and urged all to live Swami’s eternal message.

Speaking on the Avatars of bygone Yugas, Shri Vijay Bhaskar, Trustee, SSST, Maharashtra, brought notice to the fact that followers of each and every Avatar have actually increased manifold after their lifetime only because of the exemplary conduct of their devotees who were instrumental in spreading their Master's messages. He urged everyone present to live up to Bhagawan’s teachings and thus become beacons of His glorious love for all of mankind.

Shri Ramesh Sawant, State President, SSSO Maharashtra and Goa, said Bhagawan was not just the 5 feet 2 inches body that he adorned, but a Poornavatar, an embodiment of the Lord of the Universe. Just as Shirdi Sai Baba had Patience and Perseverance as His message, Love and Sacrifice form the universal message of Bhagawan Sathya Sai Baba. Shri Sawant took this opportunity to declare the fact that throughout His life, The Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust had not spent even a rupee for Bhagawan’s personal needs, all of which were met by devotees and Bhagawan simply accepted whatever was given to Him. Every penny of the Trust was spent in the humanitarian service activities undertaken by it in keeping with Bhagawan’s Sankalpa. He emphasized the awe inspiring example of true sacrifice as given by Bhagawan and urged all present that the only way to pay homage to Him would be to engage oneself in relentless service.

Shri Isaac Tigrett, had graciously consented to deliver the keynote address  on “Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba – Avataar of the age”. Shri Isaac is the world famous founder of Hard Rock Café, a philanthropist and most importantly the blessed one with the unique good fortune to have been Bhagawan’s instrument in building the Super Speciality Hospital at Puttaparthi. He overwhelmed all with a dynamic presentation suffused with photographs and music of his experiences and insights during decades of association with the Lord.

Speaking about Bhagawan’s Maha Samadhi Shri Isaac Tigrett vehemently declared that by leaving His mortal coil Swami has indeed blessed us all with a great boon as He has now freed us from the restrictive identification of His ‘Maya’ in the form of a physical frame. By taking Maha Samadhi Baba has left us no choice but to now seek Him in the only place God must be sought – within our own selves and within all of creation. Shri Tigrett revealed that Swami had prepared him for this by forbidding him to look at Him during Darshan for four long years! This was a lesson which was necessary for his spiritual journey had to be undertaken at this time in the evolution of the Universe. Speaking about the Organisation and it's activities Shri Tiggrett declared that now that Bhagawan had freed us from the 'Maya' of a limiting form, the organisation would not only function with the same values and enthusiasm, it would in fact become better in its operations since every individual will now act in accordance with the directions of the Sai within each of us. He strongly emphasized on the fact that everyone (specially people from Sai community) must have faith that Bhagawan has Himself chosen each and every office bearer, be it in Puttaparthi or anywhere else in the world and we must stop believing in the many news reports and rumours.

He recounted that Bhagawan had once taken Him into the ‘future’ for a glimpse of the Golden Age. Shri Isaac experienced that the Golden Age represented a tremendous shift in man’s consciousness shattering the limiting frames of ‘I’ and ‘Mine’ and of transcending and becoming one with the Universe, by actually feeling the cosmic connectivity with all. To be ushered in by Prema Sai it would be the era of the energy of Love and Peace. He said, that we were indeed fortunate to be alive at a time when this most beautiful event in the history of humankind was unfolding and that this is the time to connect with Bhagawan and His love.

He repeatedly highlighted that there is none who is ‘closer’ to Baba as Baba loves all equally and that His love, protection and guidance is available to all. But we MUST ask Him for it as God will never interfere with man’s free will. It is for this reason that Baba would say, “If you take one step towards me, I shall take a hundred towards you.”

Shri Tigrett further expounded that God has never incarnated to gather devotees or to set up institutions. God incarnates with the sole purpose of generating positive vibrations to cleanse the negativity in the world – and the present time, just before the Golden Age which according to Swami would arrive in 26 years; is indeed the darkest time in human history. As Sai devotees it is our duty to constantly send love to everyone including those we do not like. He recalled what Swami had told him on one occasion. Swami had said, “If you cannot send them your love, send them my love. Picture Me in front of you and send love to all.”

He elaborated that the human mind is indeed powerful as all its thoughts and feelings are a manifestation of ‘Prana Energy’ which radiates throughout the cosmos and can influence anyone or anything not only in any part of the world, but also all over the cosmos across the three dimensions of light, geometry and sound. All the organisational activities of Bhajans and Seva are meant only to create positive feelings and vibrations in the Universe. He exhorted all to love and seek Swami within and realize that Bhagawan IS and not WAS.

The beautiful evening ended with the rendition of Aarati, while the flames of devotion, and the new found purpose of seeking Him within, lit every heart with hope, love and faith.