Thought for the Day

The moment we hear the name of Ganges, we are reminded of the two banks thereof on which are the many centres of pilgrimage, and on which lie the great places of learning. We visualise the great spiritual centres like Benares, Prayag, Rishikesh and Hardwar. In the same manner, we should also recognise the great pilgrim centres of our mind too. Our own intelligence and Antahkarana (inner instruments or senses) are the great pilgrim centres of our body. It is customary that in the holy places of pilgrimage, sacred tasks are performed; and as a consequence thereof, sacred ideas are generated. In the inner body, alongside the life flow of blood, our mind, our Chitta(heart), our Antahkarana, etc., can all be recognised as places where good ideas can be generated.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

The Vedas do not have their origin in human beings. All history has been created by experienced people. In such things which have been created by men, there are possibilities for changes, additions and alterations; but there is no such possibility in the case of the Vedas. As the Vedas have been obtained merely by listening to sound, it has been referred to as Shruti (that which was heard). We have forgotten the Vedic culture which has neither a beginning nor will have an end, and placed our faith in material comfort. We have also tried to give more importance to what we see around us in the form of material comforts and given up what is essential for our own culture. This has brought our life into great difficulty.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

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Thought for the Day

Brahman or Divinity is present in your own heart and is functioning as a witnessing consciousness all through. To imagine and to deceive ourselves into thinking that there is no one seeing us do a bad thing is not correct. Whether anyone sees it or not, the aspect of Brahman which has been described as one which has thousands of heads and thousands of eyes is always watching you and the good and bad that you do. Without recognising and understanding this basic truth that God is always with you, you spend a great deal of time and energy thinking that God is somewhere outside and that you should find Him elsewhere. In the Bhagavad Gita, this is the reason why God has been described as being present wherever you go.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

In order to save His devotees, God takes many different actions in several ways. Devotees, unable to recognise and understand the inner meaning of such actions, think that God is giving them unnecessary difficulties. People only have external vision. God has inner vision. Paramatma is always caring for the well-being of His people. Even if a son, who has been brought up with much care by the mother, makes a mistake, the mother will correct the son and punish if appropriate. When we see this, we feel that a mother who has brought up the son with such care, love, and tenderness is harsh in punishing the child; but the mother does so with affection. In the same manner—God, the universal father, will punish His devotees, when needed, with love. Do not mistake it to be God desiring to punish people. God is always full of grace.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

When born from the mother’s womb, you did not have a necklace of pearls or gold. You neither had a necklace of diamond nor one of emerald round your neck. But, whatever good or bad deeds you may have done in your past are brought along with you when you are born. This is the invisible garland which everyone wears round one’s neck. By doing a good act, you cannot get an evil result and by doing a bad act, you cannot accumulate good. Whatever kind of work you do, the result will correspond to that. Therefore, it follows that today you should make up your mind to do only good things and thus you will reap, in your future lives, the benefit of only good things. You should do good and thus aspire to get good for yourself.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

Lord Krishna made a sacred determination that he would bring peace and happiness to all by setting a personal example. He radiated happiness, irrespective of whether he was in a battlefield, cremation ground or in a peaceful place. This was a great quality of Lord Krishna. We sing only in our happy moments, but Lord Krishna was singing even in a battlefield and was exuding happiness. He was always in bliss. Look at the root meaning of the name Krishna: ‘One who is an object of attraction to everyone is Krishna.” The other meaning is ‘Karshayateethi Krishna - Krishna is one who ploughs the field’. Realise that the field that Krishna ploughs is the field of your heart. By ploughing your heart, He generates the fruits of peace and distributes them amongst the human beings. Such is the ideal picture of Krishna which we should form in our mind.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the day

If you have the misapprehension that God (Brahman) outside is causing good or bad to you, or that He is giving some punishment to you, it is not the right attitude. This power or strength which we attempt to describe by the word ‘Brahman’is not something which is external to and outside you. It is present in you and is in your own self. The fruits that you get will correspond to whatever seeds you plant. If the seed is of one kind and if you have the ambition to obtain a different fruit, how is it possible? You may be very clever, but all the cleverness is of no avail if you are not giving up your mean qualities. Whatever good or bad you may have done, the aspect of Brahman is not going to break the good and bad into separate parts. God is going to give you an unbroken garland of all the good and all the bad that you have accumulated

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

Lord Krishna and Balarama (His elder brother) were willing to do hard work and showed that prosperity can be achieved through hard work. Lord Krishna was all-knowing, all-powerful, and Divinity incarnate, yet He worked as a charioteer for Arjuna. Krishna was one who recognised the importance of service to the community; and by His own example showed that service to others was important. Everyday, after the war of Mahabharata, Lord Krishna took the horses to the river, washed them and tended their wounds and applied medicines. Lord Krishna demonstrated that hard work and compassion to all living beings constitute the duty of all human beings.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Desire destroys devotion, anger destroys wisdom, greed destroys work – hence these bad qualities must be sacrificed

You should never undertake to discuss the good and bad in others. If you entertain bad qualities in your mind, it will lead you to a bad path and you will surely fall. People who entertain bad ideas will certainly be destroyed in course of time despite any amount of wealth or knowledge that they may possess. An individual, who endeavours to keep away the bad in oneself and attempts to promote the good, will make real progress. If you use a thousand eyes for locating the faults in others and spend all your time in this process, your heart will get impure and will develop bad ideas. Our heart is like a camera lens. The object on which we concentrate our attention gets imprinted on the mind. Youth and elders alike should try to see that qualities like jealousy, hatred and lack of forbearance never enters their minds.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

On a platform we parrot words like Truth, Love and Nonviolence, but in our daily life we do not have faith in Truth, we do not practice Non-violence, and we don’t follow the path of Discrimination (buddhi). Young people today must learn to put these values into practice sincerely. Your lives depend upon three things — your words, thoughts, and deeds. Whatever desires you get, you will exhibit them and take them to your mind. For getting a thought, mind is the basis. The thought that comes to your mind will be exposed to the world as words through your mouth. Once you utter words from your mouth and expose the thought that has come to your mind, now to put that into practice, you take action. It is only when there is a harmony between your thoughts, words and action that you will be able to recognise your own true nature.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

More Illness is caused by the malnutrition of the mind than of the body.

Many men are accustomed to shaving and they know that if they press the razor too hard they will cut the skin and if they do not press at all, it will not be possible to remove the unwanted hair. Only when they apply moderate pressure they will be able to attain the necessary result. The human mind is like a razor’s edge. Without controlling the mind too rigidly and without allowing it to go too freely, we should encourage it to do good acts, and we should control it when there is any tendency to participate in bad deeds. Only when your mind behaves in a manner in which it ought to, you can conduct yourself as a human being. Hence you must discriminate and distinguish between good and bad acts, and guide the mind in a moderate manner between the two extremes.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

There are four categories of intelligence — selfish, the selfish-selfless, the purely selfless and Soul (Atma) based. The first category is always thinking of what is good for one’s own self and makes decisions. It is like the intelligence of a crow. This is very common today in the world. The second category will think of one’s own good along with the good of others. This appears as the ordinary way of life. The third, always thinks that others must get the same kind of happiness one wishes for oneself. In that context, realising that the human body is given for the sake of causing benefit to others; this third category of persons will always try to do good to others. The fourth category — the Atma Buddhi is always concerned with the aspect of dharma and the necessity for safeguarding it. They consider themselves as messengers of God; and forgetting their own selfish interests, always think of sacrifice and do good to the rest of the world.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

In the Gita, our body is described as the Kshetra and the Lord who resides in it is called the Kshetragna. Devotees who have a sacred heart and who entertain sacred thoughts go on pilgrimage to sacred places (also calledKshetras). They are undertaking a pilgrimage to such centres only because they believe those places to be sacred. If they are not sacred, there is no need for them to undertake such a pilgrimage at such expense of money and energy. As in this analogy, because the human body is sacred people establish connections between each other. If truly the body of an individual does not undertake a sacred task and lead a sacred life, no one will want to have any relationship with it. Therefore anyone who claims to keep the body sacred should make an attempt to indulge only in good actions, good thoughts, and good deeds.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

A prescribed quality is exhibited or worn as a cloak by every entity in creation. This quality is also called its dharma. Just as a student in a particular class can be promoted to a higher class by effort, an individual by promoting one's own natural dharma, and giving attention to something higher and nobler, can earn promotion to a higher level. A piece of iron is worth only a few pennies, but by making suitable changes to it, you produce a watch worth a thousand rupees. Observe here that it is the Samskara, or the change that we give to the substance, that brings the value to it and not the inherent value of the untreated material. Even an ordinary person can get an opportunity to elevate oneself to the position of a realised sage (Paramahamsa), by seeking the company of elevated beings.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

The Vedas advocate us to sacrifice everything, and through sacrifice we would be able to have vision of the Divine within. The creation and its maintenance depends only on sacrifice. If there is no sacrifice, there will be no life, and the society will not remain intact. Even from a worldly perspective, if we do not give out the breath that we take in, we cannot live. If blood is not constantly flowing from one place to another every instant, we cannot live. Unless the clouds give up the water they have gathered, they cannot remain as clouds. That is why it is said, what you cannot get by your knowledge and effort can be got by sacrifice. If we think that something is good and welcome it, some bad too may come in the process. That which gives you happiness when it comes will also cause sorrow when it goes away from you. Whether it is the good or the bad, we have to sacrifice continuously.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

hildren without good qualities, education without character building as its objective, and life which has no morality, are purposeless.

Children without good qualities, education without character building as its objective, and life which has no morality, are purposeless. An individual without peace of mind and the world which has no moon shining in it are similar. Every item of creation in this world has some distinctive feature and a character of its own. If any item gives up this distinctive aspect, it will destroy itself. For example, fire has the ability and quality to burn. Water has the ability to flow. Man has got the quality of human nature, and an animal has the quality of being brutal. When the ability to burn disappears, you cannot call it fire. When the ability to flow disappears, you cannot call it water. Similarly when the inner vision or the basic human nature disappears in an individual, you cannot call him a human being. Being humane is the natural quality of a human being.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Desire makes people forget their real nature and reduces them to the status of a beast.

Bharatiyas lead lives of hope. The Bharatiya culture teaches that one must never lose hope. To suffer from lack of faith and to lose hope is not only losing all the strength within, but it also amounts to demeaning the human birth. Utsaham (Enthusiasm) and Shraddha(earnestness and interest) are things which will show the way for the progress of man. Every individual having such Utsaham andShraddha is sure to achieve success and attain glory in any kind of work undertaken. It is also said that one who possesses this Shraddha will attain wisdom too (Shraddhavan Labhate Jnanam). So we should make an attempt to go through the journey of our life with interest and enthusiasm.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

The body has been gifted in order to serve others. You must firmly resolve not only to take care of yourself but also others.

The country is not made up of dust. It is a conglomeration of human beings. It is the human beings that give it the name of a country. If there are no human beings, it is not called a country. A country is very much like a human body. The divine strength of the country is the human nature in the body. If there is no divine strength in the human body, what is the use of this body? A body devoid of divine strength is equivalent to dust. The human form and human qualities are like the negative and the positive. If the unity and the oneness of these two aspects are not properly brought about, then both of them are useless. To make an attempt to transform the human nature in yourself and elevate it to divine nature should be the purpose of all the education that you wish to have.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

We must control our desires. Don’t waste money, time, food, and energy.

Ramayana is replete with many lessons for mankind. It reveals that worldly tendencies lead us to sorrow, whereas spiritual tendencies lend contentment and happiness to mankind. Unfortunately, people today do not wish to follow the example of the great devotees of God, who live in eternal Bliss. To people, desire (abheeshta) has become dearer than ideals (adarsha). Desires are ephemeral, whereas ideals are eternal. During their life in the forest, Sita rightfully remarked to Rama that the three evils, namely, untruth, lust, and violence are the cause of all evils in the world. Sensual pleasures are like passing clouds. These pleasures give temporary joy, whereas Atmic realisation bestows eternal Bliss. There is no sorrow for those people who live in the Bliss of God.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

Today we see human forms, but the human nature and human qualities are dormant in this form. Most people are behaving very much like an animal. The qualities which are precious and which characterise the human being are morality, adherence to truth, dharma, and the like. If these are not evident, then the human nature does not shine at all. We should promote human qualities. We should not cultivate simply the human form and appearance. You not enshrining sacred Divinity in your heart and thereby becoming distant from it, and also you letting your body go where it likes, are not human qualities at all. Enshrine Divinity in your heart and make it sacred. Then you can use the human form to its fullest potential.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

When Divinity dons the garb of a human body, people are thickly blanketed by illusion and become blind to the Divine Principle. Even Yashoda was no exception to this. Once Balarama complained to Mother Yashoda that Krishna was eating mud. When questioned by Yashoda, little Krishna made a startling statement, “Oh mother dear! Am I an infant to eat mud?” Poor Yashoda failed to fathom the depth of this wonderful divine revelation. She demanded that Krishna open His mouth, so that she could verify herself. Little Krishna opened His mouth wide. To her utter shock and amazement, Yashoda saw heavenly spheres revolving in Krishna’s mouth. That instant she realised that Krishna was verily God Himself. However as soon as Krishna closed His mouth and stood before her with an innocent look, she forgot about His Divinity, hugged Him, and treated Him like an ordinary child.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

The Ramayana unfolds the story of Rama. It is also the story of Divinity. Further, the Ramayana is the epic that unfolds the story of Sita, which is that of the individual self. The third aspect of the Ramayana is the annihilation of Ravana. The destruction of Ravana signifies the destruction of ignorance. Ignorance is extinguished when we realise perfectly the relationship between the individual self and the Absolute Self. There are three syllables ‘ra, aa, and ma’ in the word Rama. ‘Ra’ signifies the principle of fire; ‘aa’ signifies the principle of the Sun; ‘ma’ signifies the principle of the Moon. The Sun principle dispels the darkness of ignorance. The Moon principle cools the inner heart. And the fire principle destroys illusion.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

Earning money cannot be the sole purpose of education. Acquiring good qualities can be the only purpose of education. From our birth till the body perishes, we are making many attempts to earn money and acquire food. In this process of amassing wealth, we are adopting several methods which are adopted by the birds and animals. To acquire food, different kinds of strength, abilities, and skills are used by us; just as the very same skills are used by animals and birds! It is not right that we use all our knowledge and skill for doing just what the animals and birds also do. In the process of spending all our energies in acquiring food, we are going far away from the aspect of the Divine principle (Atma) which is the very purpose of this special birth.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

Mother Sumitra's twin children, Lakshmana and Shatrughna, arrived in the world crying. Sumithra tried various strategies but failed to soothe their inconsolable grief. Sage Vasishta then suggested keeping Lakshmana in the cradle with Rama, and Shatrughna in the cradle with Bharatha. Sumithra did accordingly and found that both stopped crying immediately, started drinking milk and playing in the cradle. The Sage explained thus, “Oh noble mother, a branch is a part of the tree. Humans are part of Divinity and cannot live without Him. Lakshmana did not rest until he was united with Rama and Shatrughna could not bear separation from Bharatha. The Individual cannot live apart from the Absolute Self, which is its source. A fish cannot exist away from water, even if it is placed in a golden bowl studded with precious stones. Similarly, the individual self is restless until it reaches the Absolute Self, which is its source.”

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

Imagine a golden necklace around your mother or sister’s neck. When you look at this form of an ornament, you call it a necklace; but when you look at the basic material in it, you say it is made up of gold. It cannot be that gold is one thing and the necklace is a different thing. It is not possible to make a necklace without gold. So when you call it a gold ornament, it only demonstrates the oneness of the basic material that is the gold, and the name and form, namely the necklace. In the same manner, by recognising the oneness of humanity on the one hand and the underlying divinity on the other hand, we should be able to proclaim the greatness of our culture and spiritual education.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

In this world, there are many types of relationships, but none equals the relationship that exists between the mother and the child. It is because of this intimate relationship with the mother that one’s own country is called motherland. Similarly one’s own language is called mother tongue, and not father tongue. Among the parents, the first place is given to the mother; next comes the father. Not only in day-to-day life but also in the field of spirituality, mothers and women are given the highest regard. For example, when we mention the names of divine couples such as Sita Rama, Radha Krishna, Lakshmi Narayana, etc., the names of the goddesses come first. What is the inner significance of this? Mother represents Nature, which is the manifest aspect of Divinity.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

If you honour your mother, the Mother of the universe will guard you against harm

Never look down upon any woman. They are most virtuous. With all sacred feelings in your heart, respect women and be respected. Love and Respect your mother, obey her commands. Never disrespect your mother or hurt her feelings. Try to satisfy her in all respects. Only then will the seed of devotion sprout in you. Mother protects her children in many ways. Even after death, she will come back and help you. Everyone should follow the dictum,Mathru Devo Bhava (Mother is God) in letter and spirit, and receive their mother's love. Mother Easwaramma was full of love and sacrifice and she led a life of fulfillment and peace. In order to propagate this sacred ideal, this day is being celebrated as Easwaramma Day. This is to emphasise that each one of you should make your mother happy. If your mother is happy, Swami is happy.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

If you honour your parents, your children will honour you

There may be a wicked son, but not a wicked mother. It is because of the noble feelings of the mothers that sons become virtuous, intelligent, attain exalted positions and earn name and fame. It is the mother who fosters and nourishes you. It is she who knows your choices and preferences, and fulfils all your needs. So be grateful to your mother always. First and foremost, you should show gratitude to your parents, love them, and respect them. Your blood, your food, your head, and your money are all the gifts of your parents. You do not receive these gifts directly from God. All that is related to God is only indirect experience. It is only the parents whom you can see directly and experience their love. So, consider your parents as God. God will be pleased and will manifest before you only when you love and respect your parents

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

God descends and takes on the human form only to change the lives of humans by His own example. Only humans descend to the depths of degradation by their utter disregard of their dharma (code of conduct) and Divinity. Birds and beasts firmly adhere to their own respective dharmas. There is no need for the Avatar to arise amongst birds and beasts since dharma has not declined in them. Lord Krishna declared, “I come down for the protection of the good” (Paritranaya sadhunam). God always protects the virtuous. There is no use merely lisping Rama’s name. Emulate Rama and transform yourselves by following the path of Love. However deep and great your scholastic eminence may be, one cannot achieve anything without undergoing the transformation of the mind.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the day

Most God fearing people believe in Karmaphilosophy, that fruits we reap, are a result of our own actions. Because of our strong faith in the doctrine of Karma, we readily come forward to do good deeds, and hesitate or abstain from doing bad acts. To lose hope is not a characteristic feature of cultured people. To suffer from lack of faith and to lose hope is a weakness; by entertaining such weaknesses, one will lose all the human strength one has. Enthusiasm and care will show the way for the prosperity of human beings. Every individual with these qualities will surely achieve success and attain glory in any work that they undertake. Hence lead your journey of life with interest and enthusiasm.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

சபாஷ் கமல்...

வாக்களிக்க பணம் வாங்கினால் எங்களை ஆள திருடன்தான் வருவான்.

சபாஷ்... நல்லா சொன்னீங்க கமல்...
இரண்டு திருடர்கள் ஆளத் துடிக்கும் தமிழ்நாட்டில் இதை சொல்வதற்கு தைரியம் வேண்டும்..

அரசு மருத்துவமனையை அழகு மருத்துவமனையாக மாற்றிக்காட்டிய காந்திமதிநாதன்

குப்பையில்லை... குமட்டலில்லை... ஒரு அரசு ஆ(ஹா)ஸ்பத்திரி!

''சார், தோப்பூரில் உள்ள மருத்துவமனையை கண்டிப்பாக ஒருமுறை வந்து பார்க்க வேண்டும்'' என்று வாசகர் ஒருவர் அழைக்க, அப்படியென்ன அந்த மருத்துவமனையில் இருக்கு? என்று நமக்கும் ஆவல் அதிகமாகவே, நேரில் பார்க்க கிளம்பினோம்.

மதுரை கப்பலூர் அருகே, தோப்பூர் ஊராட்சியில் வறண்ட நிலங்களுக்கு மத்தியில் அமைந்திருக்கிறது அந்த மருத்துவமனை. வளாகத்துக்குள் நுழைந்ததும் கொடைக்கானலுக்குள் வந்து விட்டோமா என்று நினைக்கும் அளவுக்கு எங்கு பார்த்தாலும் பச்சைப் பசேல் மரம், செடி, கொடிகள்.

நோயாளிகள், சிமென்ட் பெஞ்சில் அமர்ந்து பேசிக்கொண்டிருக்கிறார்கள். நீண்டுசெல்லும் தார்சாலைக்கு இரு பக்கமும் மருத்துவமனை கட்டடங்கள் அழுக்கில்லாமல், காரைபெயராமல், துடைத்து கவிழ்த்தது போல பளிச்சென்று இருக்கிறது. மருத்துவமனையின் முக்கிய கட்டடம் முன்பு விரிந்து கிடக்கும் பசுமை போர்த்திய புல்வெளியில், பறவைகள் அமர்ந்து நீர் அருந்துகின்றன.

மருத்துமனையின் நிர்வாக அலுவலகத்தின் முன், நட்சத்திர ஹோட்டலைப்போல் வண்ண வண்ணக் கொடி கள் பறக்கின்றன. மருந்துமனைகளுக்கே உரிய பினாயில், டெட்டால், ஸ்பிரிட் வாடையைக் காணோம். கட் டடத்தின் நுழைவுப்பகுதியில், ஒருபக்கம் நோயாளிகள் கேரம்போர்டும், தாயமும் விளையாடிக் கொண்டி ருக்கிறார்கள். இன்னொரு விசாலமான அறையில் அன்றைய நாளிதழ்களையும், வார இதழ்களையும் வாசித்துக் கொண்டிருக்கிறார்கள். செல்ப் எங்கும் பழைய, புதிய இலக்கிய புத்தகங்கள் அடுக்கி வைக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. மு.வ. முதல் எஸ்.ரா வரைக்கும் அடுக்குகளில் சிரிக்கிறார்கள். எங்கு பார்த்தாலும் பளிச் பளிச்.!

ஒவ்வொரு வார்டிலும் தொலைக்காட்சி பெட்டிகள் பொருத்தப்பட்டுள்ளன. மற்ற நேரங்களில் தன்னம்பிக்கையூட்டும் பாடல்கள் சன்னமாக ஸ்பீக்கரில் ஒலிக்கிறது. இதை ஒரு பண்பலை வானொலி நிலையத்தினர் இவர்களுக்காக பிரத்யேகமாக தயாரித்து கொடுத்திருக்கிறார்களாம். சுகாதாரமான முறையில் மாடர்ன் கிச்சனில் இவர்களுக்கான உணவு தயாரிக்கப்படுகிறது. உணவு நேரத்தில் ஒரு நிமிடம் கூட தாமதிக்காமல் சாப்பாடு அவர்களை தேடி வருகிறது. நோயாளிகளுக்கு காம்ப்ளான், ஹார்லிக்ஸ் போன்ற விலை உயர்ந்த பொருட்கள் இலவசமாக வழங்கப்படுகிறது. மருத்துவமனை அருகில் இரண்டு மைதானங்கள் உள்ளன. ஆண்கள், பெண்கள் தனித்தனியாக விளையாடவும் ஏற்பாடு செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளன.

இப்படி நிறைய.... இவையெல்லாம் நட்சத்திர ஓட்டலை போல செயல்படும் தனியார் மருத்துவமனையில் பார்த்தது அல்ல. தோப்பூரிலுள்ள அரசு மருத்துவமனையில்தான். அதிலும்... எலும்புருக்கி நோய் என்று அருவெறுப்பாக சொல்லப்படும் காசநோய்க்கு சிகிச்சையளிக்கும் மருத்துவமனை.

தமிழகத்தில் குறிப்பிட்ட சில இடங்களில் மட்டும் செயல்பட்டுவரும் காசநோய் மருத்துவமனைகளை காட்டாஸ்பத்திரி என்றுதான் மக்கள் பொதுவாக சொல்வார்கள். அந்த காலத்தில் அது மோசமான தொற்று நோய் என்பதாலும், நோய் வந்தவர்களுக்கு விரைவில் மரணம் வந்து விடும் என்ற அறியாமை மற்றும் அச்சத்தாலும், பொதுமக்கள், காசநோய் மருத்துவமனை வாசல் பக்கம் வரவே பயந்தார்கள்.

உறவினர்களுக்கு காசநோய் வந்துவிட்டால், மருத்துவமனையில் அநாதையாக போட்டுவிட்டு ஓடிவிடு வார்கள். அதனால்தான், அப்போதைய அரசாங்கம் ஊருக்கு ஒதுக்குப்புறமாக மலையடிவாரத்திலும், அடர்ந்த வனப்பகுதியிலும் காசநோய் மருத்துவமனையை உருவாக்கினார்கள். ஊரைவிட்டு ஒதுங்கியிருந்த தால் காட்டாஸ்பத்திரி என்ற பெயர் தானாகவே வந்துவிட்டது. அப்படி 1960ல், 110 ஏக்கரில் மதுரை வட்டார மக்களுக்காக உருவானதுதான் இந்த மருத்துவமனை.

மதுரை அரசு ராஜாஜி மருத்துவமனைக்கு ஆரம்ப நிலையில் வரும் காசநோயாளிகளில், தீவிர சிகிச்சை தேவைப்படுகிறவர்களையும், நோய் முற்றியவர்களையும் இங்கே அனுப்பி வைப்பார்கள். சில ஆண்டுகளுக்கு முன் இந்த மருத்துவமனை இருந்த கோலத்தை பார்த்து, 'இறந்தாலும் பரவாயில்லை, இந்த ஆஸ்பத்திரியில் இருக்கமாட்டேன்' என்று நோயாளிகள் ஓடி விடுவார்களாம். ஆனால், இப்போதோ குணம் ஆனா லும் கண்டிப்பா டிஸ்சார்ஜ் ஆகணுமா என்று, ஏக்கத்துடன் நோயாளிகள் கேட்கும் வகையில் நிலைமை மாறியுள்ளது.

கடந்த இரண்டு ஆண்டுகளுக்கு முன்புவரை இந்த மருத்துவமனை எப்படி இருந்தது? என்று அந்த ஊர்க்கார் களிடம் கேட்டால், ''இந்த பக்கமே யாரும் வர மாட்டார்கள், இங்கு அட்மிட்டாகும் நோயாளிகள் நோய் முற்றி போவார்கள். சிலர் தற்கொலைக்கெல்லாம் முயன்றிருக்கிறார்கள். அதற்கு காரணம், ஆதரவற்று இங்கு வந்து கிடப்பவர்களுக்கு இருக்கிற சூழ்நிலையாவது கொஞ்சம் நிம்மதியை தரணும். இந்த ஆஸ்பத்திரியே பொண்க்கொட்டகை மாதிரி இருக்கும். அவ்வளவு மோசமா இருந்த இந்த ஆஸ்பத்திரியை ரெண்டு வருஷத்துக்கு முன்னால டாக்டரா வந்த காந்திமதிநாதன்தான் சோலைவனமாக்குனாரு.’’ என்று பெருமிதப்பட்டார்கள்.

மருத்துவமனையின் பழைய போட்டோக்களை தற்போதுள்ள அமைப்புடன் ஒப்பிட்டுப்பார்த்தால் ஆச்சரி யம் ஏற்பட்டது. தற்போது ஐ.எஸ்.ஓ தரச்சான்றிதழ் வாங்கும் அளவுக்கு தயாராக உள்ளது.

கிராமங்களிலுள்ள ஆரம்ப சுகாதார நிலையங்களையே நீட்டாக வைத்திருக்க முடியாத சூழல் நிலவும் போது, எப்படி இது சாத்தியமாயிற்று என்று தலைமை மருத்துவர் காந்திமதிநாதனிடம் கேட்டோம்.

'இங்கு ஐந்து டாக்டர்கள், நர்சுகளுடன் சேர்த்து 56 ஊழியர்கள் இருக்கிறார்கள். மதுரை ஜி.ஹெச்சில் வேலை பார்த்த என்னை ஆர்.எம்.ஓ.வாக இங்கு மாற்றினர். சேர்ந்தபின் மருத்துவமனை இருந்த நிலையை பார்த்து, பனிஷ்மென்ட் கொடுத்துட்டாங்கனு நெனைச்சேன். பாழடைந்த கட்டடம் போல, எங்க பார்த்தாலும் முள்ளுக்காடு, புதர், மேடு பள்ளமுமாக கரடுமுரடாக இருந்தது.

நோயாளிகளும் ஒரு கண்டிப்பும் இல்லாமல் இஷ்டத்துக்கு வருவார்கள், போவார்கள், சமூக விரோதிகள் பலர் இதை தங்கள் நிரந்தர வீடாகவே பயன்படுத்திவந்தனர். நோயாளிகளும் தங்களுக்கு வியாதி குண மாகாது என்ற விரக்தி மனநிலையிலேயே இருந்தார்கள். கட்டடங்களும் நோயாளிகளை விட மோசமாக இருந்தன. இதைப்பார்த்துவிட்டு இங்கிருந்து போய்விட வேண்டுமென்றுதான் நினைத்தேன்.

ஆனால் நண்பர்கள் சிலர், 'உனக்கு பிடிக்கவில்லையென்பதால் கிளம்பிவிடாதே. இங்குள்ளவர்களை சிகிச்சை அளித்து அவர்களை சராசரி மனிதர்களாக மாற்ற கடவுள் உனக்கு ஒரு வாய்ப்பு கொடுத்திருக் கிறார். அந்த மருத்துவமனையை நல்ல நிலையில் கொண்டு வர உன்னால் முடியும்' என்றனர். ஒரு நண்பர், ஐயாயிரம் ரூபாயை கொடுத்து, 'இதிலிருந்து அந்த மருத்துவமனைக்கு தேவையானதை வாங்கிக்கொள், மற்ற தேவைகளுக்கு அரசாஙகத்தை மட்டுமே எதிர்பார்த்திருக்காமல் தெரிந்த நண்பர்களிடம் உதவி கேள், கண்டிப்பாக செய்வார்கள்' என்றார்.

அதைக் கேட்டதும் எனக்கும் ஒரு உத்வேகம் ஏற்பட்டது. வழக்கமான டாக்டராக வாழ்ந்து என்ன பயன்? சமூகத்துக்கு நாமும் ஏதாவது செய்வோம் என்று அதை ஒரு சவாலாக எடுத்துக்கொண்டேன்.

முதற்கட்டமாக மருத்துவமனையின் புதர்களையும், மேடு பள்ளங்களையும் அருகிலிருக்கும் ஒரு கல்லுாரி மாணவர்களின் உதவியோடு சுத்தம் செய்தோம். மருத்துவமனையின் அத்தனை வார்டுகளையும் வெள் ளையடித்தோம். தெரிந்த நண்பர்கள் மற்றும் அவர்களது நண்பர்களான பிசினஸ்மேன்களிடம் மருத்துவ மனைக்கு தேவையான சிலவற்றை கேட்டு வாங்கினோம். கப்பலூர் எக்ஸ்போர்ட் நிறுவனம் நான்கு லட்ச ரூபாய் செலவில் தண்ணீருக்காக ஆர்வோபிளான்ட் வைத்து கொடுத்தார்கள்.

வனத்துறையினர் செடிகளையும், கன்றுகளையும் கொடுத்தார்கள். இருக்கிற மரங்கள் போக இரண்டாயி ரத்து ஐநூறு செடிகள் நட்டு பராமரித்து வருகிறோம். அடுத்து மிச்சமிருக்கிற நிலத்தில் பயிர், காய்கறிகள், பூக்கள் உறபத்தி செய்யலாமென்று இருக்கிறோம். மருத்துவமனையின் சுற்றுப்புறமும், அமைப்பும் மாறி யதில் இயல்பாகவே மருத்துவர்களும் மற்ற ஊழியர்களும் உற்சாகமாகி இன்னும் கூடுதலாக நோயாளி களுடன் தங்கள் நேரத்தை செலவிட்டனர். முறைப்படுத்தி நோய்களுக்கான ட்ரீட்மென்ட் கொடுத்து வருகிறோம்.

கவலைதான் ஒரு மனிதனுக்கு மிகப்பெரிய நோய். காசநோயாளிகள் சிகிச்சை நேரம் போக மற்ற நேரங்களில் தங்களை இயல்பாக உணரவேண்டும் என்ற நோக்கத்துடன் டிவி, ரேடியோ, நுலகம், விளையாட்டுகள் என்று ஈடுபடுத்தினோம். அவ்வப்போது அவர்கள் குடும்பத்தினரை அழைத்து விழா நடத்துகிறோம், நல்ல மதிப்பெண்கள் எடுத்த அவர்களின் பிள்ளைகளுக்கு பரிசுகள் கொடுத்து உறசாகப்படுத்தினோம்.

நல்ல சூழல், தொடர்ச்சியான வைத்தியம், பாசிடிவான மனநிலை இருந்தால் மனிதனுக்கு வரும் எவ்வளவு பெரிய வியாதியும் பறந்தோடிவிடும். அதைத்தான் நாங்கள் செய்து கொண்டிருக்கிறோம். இம்மருத்துவமனைக்கு ஐ.எஸ்.ஓ. அங்கீகாரம் பெற முயற்சித்து வருகிறோம். இனி இதை யாரும் காட்டாஸ்பத்திரினு சொல்ல மாட்டாங்கள்ல." என்றார் அமைதியாக.

அரசு மருத்துவமனையை அழகு மருத்துவமனையாக மாற்றிக்காட்டிய காந்திமதிநாதனுக்கு பாராட்டை தெரிவித்துவிட்டு வெளியேறினோம்-
சரவணக்குமார் வே(கிராமத்து இளைஞன்.

Thought for the Day

Without the control of your senses, your sadhana will be ineffective; it is like keeping water in a leaky pot! When the tongue craves for some delicacy, assert that you will not cater to its whims. If you persist in giving yourself simple food that is not savoury or hot, but amply sustaining, the tongue may squirm for a few days, but it will soon welcome it. That is the way to subdue it and overcome the evil consequences of its being your master. Since the tongue is equally insistent on scandal and lascivious talk, you have to curb that tendency also. Talk little, talk sweetly, talk only when there is pressing need. Also, talk only to those to whom you must, and do not shout or raise the voice in anger or excitement. Such control will improve health and mental peace. It will lead to better public relations and less involvement in contacts and conflicts with others.

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Thought for the Day

We should not delude ourselves into thinking that the Avatar is a simple human form like ourselves. His form may be human; but His majesty and magnificence are Infinite. The principle of Rama is most sacred, sublime and glorious. There is nothing in the world that cannot be achieved by cultivating the Rama Principle (Rama Tatwa). Though thousands of years have elapsed since Ramayana took place, the Rama Principle is deeply imprinted in the hearts of the people. It is ever fresh, ever new and embraces infinitude itself. The Rama Principle is contained in the smallest of the small and the largest of the large. It is not confined to the name and form. It is a transcendental principle, which transcends time itself. True seekers will understand the true nature of humanity by realizing the Rama Principle. 

Bagavan Sri Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba