DOES SWAMI GET A VACATION?

i must apologise for being out of blogger for a long time. there was so much to write about and lots to share. i'm sorry to have missed the part.

Since a fortnight, Swami seems to have changed His darshan timings as he generally comes out 1 or 2 hours later than His usual time. The Grama Seva during the Dassehra festival was an exhilarating experience for all students. it rejuvenated us after a nightmarish time with the exams. I could see the enthusiasm of students in doing seva which was doubled this time because of vacation and therefore less headache.

On the day of Poornahuti, Swami gave a much needed and beautiful discourse. i guess i'm pretty late at discussing that so i'll prefer to skip the part. during the past few days, there have been programmes by the Youth, one from Prakasam district of AP and other by the youth from North eastern states of India. we should be grateful to them as they have given Swami more than one reason to bless us with His presence. Since most of the students have gone home for vacation, we cannot expect Swami to come out and sit in the portico everyday.

I had missed the excitement generated a few days ago when some people saw Swami's face on the moon. i had received emails and calls, even few people stopping me on the road, just to share their happiness of that occasion.it was a unique and blessed moment and shouldn't be discounted. last evening, when i sat for darshan, i was looking at our Swami giving a beautiful smile. I wondered, "we get so excited to see Swami on the moon, why doesn't the same enthusiasm be felt when we see him right in front of our eyes?" i think it's time we felt the nearness to our Lord rather than sending Him to some far off planetary body out there.

This same enthusiasm which i talked about was visible in the dance troupe of Manipur drummers who performed before Swami yesterday. there were two dances by the youth, a bhortal dance and a drum dance. Swami was very much impressed with the main drummer whose acrobatic steps enthralled one and all. He materialised a ring and put it on his finger. this man taught me a lesson about true enthusiasm and craving for Lord's presence.

Let me end on a personal note. today, I sat inside bhajan hall for the morning bhajans. Swami hasn't been coming out in the morning for the past few days. Since i'm leaving home in a couple of days' time, i thought i must sit inside mandir and meditate. Lo and behold! our lord comes out during the bhajans and straightaway enters the bhajan hall. Lesson: blessings are always unexpected. He sat for a few moments and the went to the veranda and talked to a few VIPs. As he was passing by, i could see Him from the window outside. Imagine Swami walking outside your house and then peeping through the window inside! Lesson 2: Stop being foolish. the house isn't yours, it never was. He is the owner , you're merely a guest.
He came inside the hall(His hall) from the backdoor and blessed us all. i was lucky to give Him a letter after a long time. At 9.40 am, aarati was given and he He returned to Yajur mandir.Swami doesn't have a vacation. He's too busy giving love. It's drizzling outside but i think it's pouring (His love) inside too.Sai ram.