Swami and Discipline

Swami brings in discipline by setting an example

by Colonel S.K.Bose 

Whenever we have bhajans like here or anywhere or any other place or location, the first thing we were taught as sevadals was to see that every pair of chappal was kept in one line. 

It all started when the first Akhanda Bhajan was held by Dr. Padmanabhan of Bangalore, who was a dental surgeon. When Swami said, “The bhajan which you have been having, will become Global Akhanda Bhajan from now on., You arrange it.” So he arranged for a hall and there was no sevadal those days. Family members came and made all the decorations and Swami would go around and say, “What is this picture of Mine you have here?  It looks like I have swallowed castor oil. Get a better photograph of Mine.”  He used to joke, laugh and move around. 

In this hall, at the back, there was a stage and behind the stage there were two rooms. One room was made comfortable for Swami to rest. The other room, they had thrown their baggage and chappals. Swami was going around with them and suddenly they realize, Swami is not seen anywhere. Where has Swami gone? Everybody dispersed trying to find Swami and they found Him in the second room, you know doing what? Putting chappals in one line! The creator who created this universe, the Supreme Being, putting everybody’s chappal in one line and He said, “All of you are so busy, I had no work. So I thought I’ll put chappals in one line.” 

The owner of the Vishwa Brahamanda, if He doesn’t mind putting other people’s chappals in one line, can we not put our chappals in one line?  In Chaitanya Jyoti, I tell the incoming sevadals this anecdote and tell them to put their chappals in one line as the Lord would have done it. I also tell them that if I see anyone’s chappals not in line, I will put  in a line, but 10% of his punya will get  transferred to me. And next time onwards, nobody’s chappal is out of line.

(From Sri Sathya Sai Bhagawatham)