Eminent Scientist, Professor G. Venkataraman, Talks about Sathya Sai Baba’s Divine Life

HOUSTON: The Sri Sathya Sai Centers of Houston organized a special talk by Dr. G Venkataraman, an eminent scientist, recipient of the C.V. Raman Centenary Award, the Padma Shri award from the Government of India, author of numerous books and articles, and the current head of Radio Sai Global Harmony. Over 300 people attended the one and a half hour talk at the beautifully decorated Durga Bari Temple Auditorium on Sunday, June 23. The main theme of Dr. Venkataraman’s presentation was how Sathya Sai Baba worked tirelessly throughout His life in restoring Dharma (righteousness) and conferring joy and bliss to all who came to Him. Dr. Venkataraman interspersed his talk with over 200 slides comprising of early and recent pictures of Sathya Sai Baba’s institutions along with Sai Baba’s message to humanity.

There were three aspects to Dr. Venkataraman’s talk. The first aspect of the talk was based on the fact that Sai Baba was bliss personified, and He gave ananda (joy) to his devotees. Dr. Venkataraman described how Sai Baba traveled far and wide in India and in Africa to confer joy to his devotees. Sai Baba lived like a mortal, but his every action had the fragrance of Atma Bhava (Divine Feelings). He was the personification of pure, unselfish Love.

The second aspect of Dr. Venkataraman’s talk was about Sai Baba’s service projects and of the incredible institutions that He built. Sai Baba worked tirelessly to provide free schools, universities, and hospitals for the common man. Sai Baba took on a massive drinking water project that even the Government could not undertake. The project provided free water that benefited over a million people in 31 districts. To fund this project, He even mortgaged his Ashram (residential campus) in Southern India. Such was Sai Baba’s love for humanity. During the havoc created by the Orissa earthquake, Sai Baba constructed 1000 houses for the people affected by this disaster. Sai Baba also gave a lot of attention to his students, encouraging and motivating them to lead a spiritual life.

The third aspect of the talk was about Sai Baba’s message to Humanity.  Sai Baba implored Man to see God in every person and to realize the Atma (divinity) within. Dr. Venkataraman quoted noted physicist Victor Weisskopf who once said: “[Scientific] knowledge without compassion is inhuman while compassion without knowledge is ineffective.” Dr. Venkataraman said that in Sai Baba’s institutions, there is a special emphasis to impart education blending knowledge and compassion. He spoke about how Sai Baba believed that our lives should exist on the two pillars of “Compassion” and “Knowledge”. These two pillars should rest on a foundation of “Righteousness” with a “Ceiling on Desires”. Man should then lead a life based on Sai Baba’s principle of Love All Serve All.  Dr. Venkataraman said that based on Sai Baba’s teachings, we should come together to form team Dharma (Right Action), and carry on Sai Baba’s task of Dharmasthapana (establishment of Righteousness)  through Prema (love)  and Ahimsa (non-violence). The talk concluded with an interesting question and answer session.

The talk commenced with melodious devotional group singing including songs in Sanskrit, Hindi, Spanish, and English. The inspiring evening ended with the distribution of (sanctified) snacks (Mahaprasad) for all assembled.

Houston area Sai devotees meet at two locations in North and South parts of the town on Sundays from 3:00pm – 5:30pm.  They engage in weekly activities that include community service, Sai Spiritual Education classes for children, meditation, study circle, and devotional group singing.

For further information, visit www.saicenterofhouston.org.