Thursday 22 December Anand Krishna visited the Sai Center in Nusa Dua. The program was begun with a prayer and was then followed by Bhajan together. After the Bhajan was finished, Anand Krishna then shared his experiences when he was with Baba. Indeed, sharing about personal experiences is interesting and there are many humorous things. So were the experiences of Anand Krishna with Baba.
Anand Krishna this time was invited by the chairman of the Sai Center in Nusa Dua. He said he was moved and he felt as if he had come home, hence he started his sharing.
Anand Krishna then told his story about his experience with Baba. Around 1975, when not many bhaktas came to Prashanti Nilayam, the Ashram of Baba, he already went there to meet Baba. Nevertheless it was not easy to meet him. He thought, “How can I meet Baba amongst the numerous devotees?”
Anand Krishna wanted to participate as a member of seva but there was a restriction because at that time seva was forbidden for overseas people. But he was determined, he said, “I am an Indian, why can’t I?”, “But you hold an Indonesian passport,” replied the head of seva.
He did not know what happened, with the help of an Indian friend, he was included in one seva group. He was very happy. Incidentally the visitors of Prasanti Nilayam were far too many; the number exceeded the expectation, so the need of toilets also mounted. His tasks there was to dig holes every morning for the Devotees and closed them every evening, and then dig holes in another place the following day. Every participant of seva was given a scarf as a mark. This way he could see Baba often.
Another experience that he shared was when he accompanied one of the Palace’s family members (during Soeharto’s regime) to Prashanti Nilayam. In those days he was still a businessman. It was significant for him, as a businessman to be close with the Palace’s family. When he arrived in Prashanti Nilayam, when it was their turn for interview, Baba did not permit him to enter the room.
“You have only come here as a companion, why should you join us. Sit down here,” said Baba. At that time Anand Krishna already considered Baba as his guru so he obeyed whatever the guru said. “Baba asked me to sit down, I sit down,” he thought.
After the interview the Palace’s family members wanted to do some sightseeing in the city, Baba forbade Anand Krishna to join. Also when they were going back to Indonesia, Baba did not yet ask Anand Krishna to go. Baba only said a few hours before his departure.
“Why are you sitting here, go back to Indonesia.”
So, said Anand Krishna, a master really cannot be predicted. A master is really not consistent. A master knows exactly what his students really need. That’s why a master continues to grow.
(Reporter & Photografer : Made Mulia, Translator: Sylvia Antaresa)
