IMPORTANT     Posted on April 2, 2011 at 05:00 p.m.   Here is an update on Swami’s health by Prof. G. Venkataraman Loving Sai Ram and greetings from Prasanthi Nilayam. This is a bulletin I am offering specially for the benefit of devotees all around the world, all of whom are understandably most anxious. Last evening, I went as usual to the Hospital, to spend some time, reflecting and meditating. Of course, I did not go into the ICU, nor did I make any attempt to, since doctors were absolutely strict about entry into the ICU. I strongly believe in professional discipline, without which Karma Yoga would be a joke. I was personally happy to notice that the highest norms were being observed. That said, I was hoping that by some chance I would be able to see Dr. Safaya, and sometime later, my prayers were answered. Out came Dr. Safaya into the main corridor where a few of us were gathered, and when I looked at him, I was absolutely thrilled. There was not only relief writ all over his face but, more importantly, he was also smiling broadly and appeared totally relaxed; and that said it all. No doubt I asked him the mandatory question, “How is Swami?” However, Dr. Safaya was so lost in relief and joy that he just tapped my hands! Dear reader, I have been observing Dr. Safaya from the moment when Swami was first taken to the Hospital; for me therefore, this sight was the greatest news ever. Meanwhile, the Hospital has of course issued a formal statement on the evening of April 1, 2011.   Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba who was hospitalised in Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences, Prasanthigram on March 28, 2011 afternoon is showing considerable improvement. There is positive and good response to the treatment. He is under constant care of a panel of expert doctors and His vital systems continue to function satisfactorily. - Director, Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences, Prasanthigram. This morning, that is to say, the morning of April 2, 2011, I called the hospital and checked again, and they said that recovery was taking its normal course and that there was nothing special for me to report. Yet, around noon, I got a message from the Hospital, asking Radio Sai to read out a statement just then released by Dr. Safaya. This we did, and that statement is reproduced below:   Yesterday late in the night Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, who is admitted in this hospital for treatment, developed difficulty in breathing. He is put on supportive respiratory device. He is now breathing more easily. All other vital systems are functioning normally. There is no cause for any anxiety. - Director, Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences, Prasanthigram.   A little later, I learnt why this statement was issued. Apparently, all sorts of wild rumours were floating around in the media, TV channels and what not, leading to wild speculations in the Puttaparthi village too. I was completely taken aback because I simply could not understand what caused this enormous flutter of wild rumour mongering. In this hyper-media age, rumours have their own way of being born, rapidly growing and spreading all across the Universe instantly. Alas, that seems to be a fact of life, and unhappy though I am about it, I guess none of us have any choice in that matter. That said, as devotees we do have a choice, that of being responsible and NOT going by mere hearsay and simply believing all that passes off for authentic news, which are in reality are nothing but wild rumours. Especially where Swami is concerned, it behoves us to be doubly, I would say even triply, careful.   For a person who has gone through what Swami has, a bit of breathing difficulty is not unusual; in fact, even when normal, Swami used to occasionally have a bit of breathing problem in recent years, especially when He had exerted Himself a bit too much. Under the circumstances, the Hospital took it as one of the normal patient care routines and did what is generally done. However, somehow, since in this case it is Swami who is involved, the whole thing seems to have been blown out of proportion.   The Official Statement from the Hospital issued at 4 p.m. on April 2, 2011 Swami continues to be on respiratory support device with His respiration showing marked improvement. All other vital systems are funtioning normally. The team of doctors treating Him is quite satisfied with the progress. This is to reiterate that there is no cause for any anxiety.   Allow me now to make a few personal observations. Firstly, Swami is not a VVIP and we are not a 24 hours news channel. That is why we confine ourselves to communicating to the public what the Director issues as Official Statements. Yes, we ARE a 24 hours channel, but devoted to the dissemination of Swami’s teachings rather than meaningless chats. Recall, on the other hand, what happens when a celebrity becomes hospitalised. The media becomes hyperactive, with talk show hosts chatting with doctors, with reporters chasing doctors to say something, with others trying to get hold of anyone remotely connected with the family of the patient or the hospital, and so on. Clearly, all of that is meaningless here, for, as I just said, Swami is NOT a VVIP but the Infinite and Formless who is in our midst donning a human form, for a Divine purpose. I am sure you would agree with me on that point. Yes, at the physical level, Swami has had a health problem, yes He has been hospitalised for the first time in this incarnation, and yes all of us are most anxious.  At the same time, we must also ask ourselves the important question: “What would Swami really like us to do?” Let us say we do manage to ask, “Swami, what should we do?” I am 100% sure that Swami’s response would be: “Bangaru, what God likes most is the love of the devotee!” Now of course there is not one amongst us who would not swear that he or she loves God very much. But words are not enough since sadly, they often do not come from the Heart. The Love we offer Swami must be of the Heart to Heart type. What does that mean? By way of answering that question, I draw attention to a remark that Swami often used to make during His discourses in earlier days. He would say: Sarva jiva namaksaaram, Kesavam prathi gatchathi! What it means is that if you offer obeisance and respect to any individual that really reaches God. Thus, if we offer love to any individual or indeed any living being, that love reaches Swami, every bit of it. Only, we must have firm faith in that. Incidentally, why does Swami say what He does? Because, both as Krishna and as Sathya Sai He has emphatically asserted that He is in all beings. In brief dear reader, there are a thousand different ways in which we can show we love Swami. A teacher can pour out his or her heart in work and treat the children in the class as having been specially given to his/her charge by Swami. That love in action would reach Swami and make Him very happy. Extending that argument, anyone anywhere can offer love to Swami. If you are not able to understand all that, then just sit down in a group and pray, as people are doing all over the Ashram here, at times convenient to them and in places where they can assemble. I see this all over the place, in the sheds, in various meeting rooms, and it is most moving. One thing we must not and should not do is to treat this as hot news and generate chain mails, tweets, text messages, all based on rumours of various kinds. Every one of these activities is a complete waste of time and totally contrary to what Swami represents and stands for. To put it in simple language, this is NOT the hour for the internet but the INNERNET, if I might put it that way. With much humility and deep respect I offer my Pranaams to Bhagawan and end with the request that wherever you are, please ensure that your time is spent in sending Love to Swami. Dr. H. S. Bhat, once a familiar figure here always used to say, “The surgeon merely cuts, but it is Swami who really heals.” In this case, when Swami Himself is a patient as a part of His inscrutable drama, it turns out that the doctors merely attend on Swami while we the devotees must make Swami return to normal by offering Pure Love. Swami has made no secret of the fact that more than anything, He wants the true love of devotees. That we sure can give, wherever we are, and at all times! Hoping that we would all rise to the occasion, I bring this brief message to a close.   Thank you and Jai Sai Ram.