When Swami tells us, “I am in you,” it does not apply to just you and me but indeed to all beings in Creation. Be that as it may, many have doubts like: “How can God be in a murderer?” This question has been dealt with in detail elsewhere, for example in the Krishna-Arjuna dialogue that Radio Sai has broadcast. Here I would like to narrate a story that was brought to my attention by the students in my Awareness class. That story not only illustrates how God resides in all, but also how He can and does manifest, if only we allow Him to!

The story is about a person named Raja who lives in Bangalore. He used to be an auto rickshaw driver earlier. What is he doing now? Well, therein lies the story. Raja is now 38. Ten years ago he was a goon known as Auto Raja, frequently involved in drunken brawls and given to petty crimes. His parents were so sick and tired of him that they even prayed that he would die! That says a lot, does it not? But then one fine day, this notorious Raja changed beyond recognition. So did Ratnakara a long time ago who, after the transformation became the celebrated Valmiki. As Swami has told us many times, Ratnakara was transformed by the Seven Sages. Who transformed Auto Raja? And what is he doing now? Writing Ramayana in Kannada? Read on for the answers.

No sage transformed Raja. It happened slowly and from within – that’s the important point. As an auto driver he was mostly on the streets and he just could not help seeing suffering, misery, pain, cruelty, injustice, etc., and these sights troubled him very much. As he himself says, “I was never a religious person but whenever I saw these people I wondered how God could do this.” The thought stirred him and soon he began to bring destitute people into the house. His parents were not prepared for this and were shocked. Earlier they lamented his bad behaviour and now they felt disturbed by his goodness! What exactly did Raja do? He himself gives the answer: “All I did was to bathe, clean and feed these people, and they would die in peace.” After death, Raja would arrange for the cremation.

Starting from small beginnings, Raja soon launched the Home of Hope, an NGO that could address efficiently the needs of helpless people. Today the Centre houses nearly eighty people of different ages. There is Deepa, 23, confined to a wheel chair, who looks after kids in the Centre. There is Gracy a four year old who was brought in from the streets with a torn eye. Thanks to an operation she now has a glass eye, and goes to school. She is a bundle of energy.

“It is my dream to make sure that not a single person remains homeless on the streets of Bangalore,” says Raja ambitiously. But it all costs money, does it not? Sure does; that is why Raja wants to build a corpus. But money does not come easily. However, kind souls are still around and that is how Raja is able to carry on. Undeterred by the constant barrage of difficulties, Raja marches on straining every nerve to make sure that as many of Bangalore’s destitute die in a clean and peaceful environment, and with dignity.

I am grateful to my students for bringing this story to my attention. Raja teaches us many lessons. He did not have the physical Darshan of Swami; nor did he hear any Divine Discourse. We have these blessings in such abundance. And yet, Raja saw Swami in his Heart which, I wonder, how many of us have done. And having seen Swami there he quickly realised what Swami dins into our ears: Heart means HRIDAYA. HIRDAYA = HRID + DAYA. If there is no compassion within, how can we claim that we have a heart?

Of course we can argue, “We all cannot be Rajas. We have responsibilities.” Yes of course, but at least can we not set ourselves a goal of one hundredth of what he does? Let us reflect: if five percent of the world’s population does five percent of what Raja does, what a tremendous change it can make to the world. Think about it.

Write and tell us what you feel about this. By the way, I might mention that this story appeared in the issue of India Today, dated 9th July, 2004. There is a nice picture of Raja there, all smiles and with two elderly persons whom he has served. I am sorry that I could only access a xerox copy of this story. The picture in the photocopy is not of a quality suitable for scan and reproduction here.

All the best. God bless.
Jai Sai Ram.
G.VENKATARAMAN