Dear Reader,
Bhagawan’s mission reaches out far beyond the circle of His
devotees. The Super Speciality hospitals founded by Him provide
continuous relief of an enduring nature to thousands who cannot
dream of such care.
We propose to include one article in each issue that gives us a
glimpse of how Bhagawan’s Love is translated into action in
these Temples of Healing. In this issue we place before you an introductory
article titled…
THE DIVINE WILL
THE INSIDE STORY OF
HOW BABA’S FREE HOSPITALS CONTINUE TO HELP THOUSANDS
During these times when commercial gain seems to be the major motivating
force behind almost any sort of activity, it seems strange and difficult
to believe that one person would come up with an idea that is original,
deeply rooted in compassion, requires intensive effort to translate
into reality and is unimaginably difficult to sustain.
So often and with such interest, we read and retell
the stories of entrepreneurial and political success, but rarely
do we dwell on the noble and sacred idea and implementation of an
enterprise that is totally targeted at the gain of our poor and
needy fellow men, without looking for any self-gain whatsoever.
For it is as Bhagavan says, “Love without Duty is
Divine”.
You do not have to look far to see why the Sri Sathya Sai Super
Speciality Hospital is a dream Hospital. This magnificent edifice
came to life in one of the most backward areas of this country with
its 346 million people below the poverty line. It was not the affluent
societies of the West with their rich trusts and foundations but
the Sri Sathya Sai Trust Founded by revered Bhagavan that ventured
into such uncharted territory and the result was splendid!
Puttaparthi and the region around it is perennially drought prone.
Power is scarce. Schools and colleges are few and skilled manpower
is hard to come by. Availability of essential commodities, leave
alone life saving equipment, their maintenance and upkeep were unimaginable.
Not only were the idea and the choice of its location
totally unique in that there has never existed a completely Free
Tertiary Care Hospital anywhere in the world, but the fact that
Bhagavan insisted on beginning with the Cardiac Surgery Department
is noteworthy. No doubt, the University runs entirely free courses
right up to MBA, M.Tech & even Ph.D, but then providing free
Cardiac Surgery and top level Cardiology is an entirely different
matter and cannot be equated or compared with. In fact it is astonishing!
Unlike other specialties, Cardiac work involves huge initial capital
investment in infrastructure. Blood bank services that can manage
the demand; laboratories; microbiology; a reliable gas supply for
oxygen and other gases for anaesthesia and ventilation of patients
for several days at time; a dedicated laundry; and central sterilisation
services; theatres equipped with operating tables; expensive heart-lung
machines; anesthesia machines; operating lights; cautery and surgical
instruments etc.; several echocardiography machines with TEE probes;
cath labs costing over a core of rupees for diagnostic and interventional
work; post-operative recovery ICUs equipped with multiparameter
monitors; ventilators; blood gas machines and so much other equipment.
Several patients need radiology services, CT scans and stress Thallium
tests.
Add to the many crores of rupees invested, the personnel needed
to run these complicated equipment and you have the perfect recipe
for a hospital administrator’s nightmare, especially considering
where Puttaparthi is located! Doctors specialized in so many different
areas, nurses in three shifts in each unit, technicians to man the
equipment with expertise, biomedical and other engineers, besides
other technical staff to run generators, air-conditioning equipment
and carry out various types of repairs.
As if that were not enough the recurring costs are high too. Heart
operations are very expensive. The cost of oxygenators for open
heart operations, valves, suture material, injections and drugs
is very high because like the equipment, most of these have to be
imported.
Some believed that the Hospital would start working,
but that it would do just run for a while and then stop to recover
from the financial crisis it would engender. Others were more generous
and thought that it could function only with visiting teams and
that eventually it would be mired in problems. Then there were those
who called it an “experiment”.
None of that ever happened. Even now after 10 years
of continuous, unparalleled, 100 % Free service
by this Institute, it stands out tall. Not a single rupee has been
collected from patients in this Hospital. Top quality medical treatment
is available without barter. The Hospital is living proof
of a love that knows no mathematics. How true each statement
of Swami is! “Love lives by giving & forgiving.”
The Hospital is a beacon of hope. Elegant in structure and humming
internally with redeeming activity, with its own permanent staff
working hard to satisfy an uninvited but welcome throng of ailing
humanity that has known rejection only because they do not possess
enough money. For Bhagavan it is inconceivable that someone should
be without help if He can assist.
Swamiji always feels the pulse of the people. No government, no
leader feels as much and also has the capability to translate sympathy
into action.
Many of us feel for others, but can do little or
nothing about another’s need. But in Bhagavan’s case
it is different. He sees and His heart goes out to suffering humanity….and
He acts.
Bhagavan has set new benchmarks for the leaders
of the world. One cannot even do so much for ones’ loved ones.
Here is Baba accomplishing the unimaginable, the impossible for
strangers, for people from afar, for people who have never heard
of Him, for people who may not believe in or practice the ideals
and truths He stands for. What greater example of large heartedness,
what greater example of unconditional love does
the world need?
Compassion without frontiers and service without self-gain! It
is the same universal love that one reads of in the scriptures and
makes you wonder. Only, now it is open to appreciation and study.
Swamiji has a way of making difficult things look easy. Many thought
this project would lead other trusts and philanthropic organisations
to follow suit after Swami had set a precedent -after He had set
the trend. No one has been able to replicate this effort even on
a smaller scale despite there being so many philanthropic organizations.
A decade and 12,000 heart operations and nearly
as many Urology and Ophthalmology operations later, no one had even
tried. Bhagavan, seeing the overwhelming need of so many patients
flocking to this Hospital, took the gracious step of starting another
Hospital this time offering Neuro-surgery and Neurology, besides
Cardiac facilities.
Dear Reader, so much has happened only due to an amazing degree
of Baba's personal involvement and that too without any trace of
strain or compromise on His numerous other spiritual and service
activities!
The Lord’s mission is vast and embraces new
frontiers but the kindness and meaning it brings into individual
lives is unimaginable. Blessed are we to be His contemporaries and
witness first hand His work of Love.
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