From Bal Vikas classes to Bhagawan’s darshan: A Journey Truly Sublime

How beautifully we are blessed through Bal Vikas, as we now learn from Suraj Yadav, who belongs to the North 5 Samithi, Mangalpuri Village, and he was blessed to experience Bhagawan’s presence through Bal Vikas classes. Currently, Suraj is working in the Indian Railways and he is one of the faculty members for ‘Sri Sathya Sai Future Talent Programme’, an initiative of SSSSO Delhi-NCR to offer online coaching (free) for competitive exams to secure government jobs.

In Suraj’s words, “We have always been taught by our elders that we should not be greedy, but if we are children and we make a mistake, then we are all forgiven, isn’t it? This is what our elders believe. The beginning of my story also started with a little bit of greed for biscuits. Although life had started on the day I was born, the real meaning of life came to be known from the greed for that biscuit. The thing is that I was about 9-10 years old and we had human values classes in a municipal school, although I had no interest in them, but when I got biscuits at the end, I felt happy. Gradually, on a similar sentiment, I began going to attend Bal Vikas as a habit, where the children's minds become focused and sharp after learning slokas and bhajans. This too was my selfish motive and greed – to become better than others around me.”

Instruct the children of the Bal Vikas to revere their parents. This is the first thing to do. It is a simple act of gratitude, for those who endowed them with the material instrument for life. But, mere possession of the human body, however wonderful it may be, is not enough, for one's peace and joy. One must know how to unravel its mysteries and how to regulate one's own impulses and hungers. This process is accomplished by the Guru, and so the pupils must be instructed and encouraged to revere the Guru, in gratitude for the service he renders. – Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba (Sri Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol 12)

Suddenly, one day our Bal Vikas Guru asked me, “Son, will you go to Puttaparthi?”

I said, “Where is this, aunty?”

She explained lovingly that it is where Swami resides and has built a sacred place with schools, colleges and hospitals. There was still a doubt in my mind, “Where is this place and what is it all about?”

Then Aunty ji asked me to confirm, “Will you go to Bangalore?”

I immediately said, “Yes aunty ji, why not, we will definitely go to Bangalore.”

In December 2009, Suraj, the young Bal Vikas student, was blessed to have Bhagawan’s darshan and he says, “I was born in reality.”

As all of us have experienced the inner joy and transformation that Bhagawan’s darshan fills us with, Suraj underwent an entire gamut of emotions. In his words, “The feelings inside me changed, now my feelings turned to absorb and practice Swami's ideals. You will not believe that I was so mischievous, my mother used to pray in the temple, ‘God please correct my child.’ After visiting Puttaparthi and seeing Swami, there was such a change in my life that I cannot express this in words. I can only say there was no external miracle, the change was inside; a change in my thoughts and in my understanding. That day I embarked upon the Godward journey - real purpose of life.”

Education must aim at providing the child, not livelihood, but, a life worth living. – Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba (Sri Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol 12)