With Swami in Nigeria

One of our alumni writes...

Could not resist writing about our little experience with Swami here in Nigeria today....

We set out on a bumpy road that resembled the good old Wild West kind dust roads headed for what I had "discovered" on the Net to be one of the Sai centers at Nigeria. It was a distance of 4-5 kms from our hotel suite on Lekki Highway to what would be a spiritually enlightening experience from all the hustle bustle routine we have been having for the past week at various banks in Nigeria. It was also the first time that we were stepping out in the "real" Nigeria and that too on our own.

As we drove across the terrain with our security guard in the front seat of the cab who was himself grumbling about the bad road/weather/security, we wondered if we had taken the right decision and that too on a lonely Sunday afternoon. Moreover before we left, we had told our team mates in our hotel suite who were worried because of the security situation not to worry about us as we were off to "see our alumni" (read Swami and Nigerian Sai devotees!). It was not that we did not want to discuss about Swami with them but we did not want to be dissuaded from making the much awaited visit to the Nigerian Sai Center and Sunday was the only free day we had. We also firmly believed that Swami would take full care of our onward and return journey from the Center.

Before we left, we had promised our colleagues that our alumni would also drop us back - and as we said this, both of us prayed to Swami that He should arrange a safe trip to the suite from the Center as it would be late night when we returned and it was our first ever trip outside in Nigeria. Little did we know that it was Swami who made us say all this as it was happening exactly as per His screenplay.

We arrived at the Sai Center to find a beautifully decorated altar with a life size statue set of Lord Krishna and Rukmini with Guru Nanakji's pictures on either side and Swami's photo at the centre.



We were then asked to speak about our experiences and for the next half hour we recalled our beautiful experiences with Swami during our MBA days. After our talk, we were delighted when we were suddenly approached by a couple of our Sathya Sai alumni brothers in the Center (Ravy and Mahesh from Parthi & Brindavan) and we spent the rest of the evening with them in Satsangh. This confirmed that only Swami had made us say that we were off to "see our alumni" to our colleagues before we left our hotel suite! Our alumni were also kind enough to ensure that we were safely dropped back to our hotel later in the night. As Swami says, you take one step towards Me and I will take a hundred towards you...

Following our brief talks, there was a very nice Bhajan session for 45 minutes with the vibrations and atmosphere building up to a crescendo and we could almost feel as if we were in the Bhajan Mandir at Parthi. To our pleasant surprise at the end of the Bhajan, we were informed by the Center Secretary Mr. Jayram that the Nigerian Sathya Sai Organization had been nominated for the award of the Best Social Service by the Uttar Bharat Organization in Nigeria.

We then set off with all the devotees to the Dassera Mela at Federal Palace Hotel - the venue for the awards ceremony. It was a special feeling mixed with love and gratitude towards Swami as we saw our beloved Sri Sathya Sai organization receiving the award - the key Seva volunteers involved lined up on the stage to receive the same from the Indian High Commissioner.



It was also a real eye-opener and humbling experience for us in terms of the good work that Swami is able to inspire in the most unheard corners of the world and far flung places like Nigeria. We heard during the award citation for the SSS Organization Nigeria that a few of the projects done by the SSS Organization in Lagos are regular medical camps, leprosy home visits, Narayana Seva and even a full fledged 100% free Educare program -- the latest project in Nigeria is to set up a school to offer free education to the youth to prevent them from resorting to crime and vandalism. In a flash I recollected Swami's oft repeated statement to His Devotees, "I do not know the concept of physical distance". It is amazing how Swami's Mission is carried out with the same (or probably much much more) dedication in other countries.

We also heard miracles that are happening in remote places within Nigeria where Vibhuti is materializing on photos of not only Swami but all Gods and Goddesses across religions - in fact some of the photos have Vibuthi taking the shape of the actual diety! One of the Center members also told us that the "real" pictures of these dieties were being shown by Swami through these photos as the Vibuthi that was materializing was actually taking shape in such a way so as to modify the image - for e.g he said Hanuman's nose was "elongated" perfectly by the materialized Vibuthi resembling Garuda.

I remembered an interview when Swami had said to me - "Today you are physically near, tomorrow you may be physically far"... I did not realize far would mean as far as Nigeria! At that moment, all of us around Swami had scrambled and begged to Swami to remain dear to Him forever and He so sweetly consented - "Yes, you will all be dear to Me forever.." Perhaps this visit was just a reminder of that promise, when we are in a far off place with security scares afloat all around and not many Indians venturing out, the biggest solace and happiest moment on this trip was felt in His Presence in Nigeria through this little experience....