If each one of us were to open the treasure chests of our lives, the precious jewels that would emerge from them would indeed be the time spent at Bhagawan’s institutions. Precious time, made so by Bhagawan’s infinite love and His people who have so generously given their time, their talents, and verily their self into making each of us a ‘Sai Student’. Memories of life at the Sri Sathya Sai Higher secondary school transport one back to a place of tender warmth and love, a home where each one lived for the other and together for Sai.

As a trailblazer in the system of integrated education, the higher secondary school continues to inspire generations of students to new heights of self-confidence and academic achievement. The teachers not just inculcate academic competence, but also prepare students for higher attainments in areas of sports, dramatics, music and a multitude of other arts. Bhagawan’s love, coupled with the dedication of the faculty provides students the terra firma for embarking upon physical, mental as well as spiritual pursuits. The faculty members have held aloft the torch of Bhagawan’s teachings to light up the lives of thousands of students.

The alumni reached out to some of the senior faculty members from higher secondary school and they gladly consented to provide guidance as well as share their experiences on a variety of questions. Presented below is a selection from the detailed responses received from six faculty members of higher secondary school: Sivarama Krishna Sir, Janardhan Sir, Ram Mohan Rao Sir, Ramakrishna Reddy Sir, B K Mishra Sir, and Venkateshwarulu Sir.

Q1. How do you look back into the experience of teaching in the Bhagawan’s institution? What made it special?

Sivarama Krishna Sir: Living with God and experiencing Him is true education. It is life’s opportunity to work at His lotus feet and to be part of His great mission. The students here, His chosen children, are always ready to accept and listen to the advice of their teachers. To be able to work with the tender hearts and tender minds and moulding them in the right path shown by Bhagawan gives a very special feeling.

Janardhan Sir: It is my fortune to be a teacher in His institution. Both Bhagawan’s students and His institutions are unique. As Bhagawan proclaimed that His students are His only property, the great responsibility of moulding them for the task for which He is preparing them, rests on the teachers. His institutions do not merely impart bookish knowledge; but more importantly take care of the development of the individual as a refined human. The teachers’ loving care for the students and their dedication for the profession, along with the personality of the students whose minds are conditioned by the spontaneous love for Bhagawan make these institutions a place of unique experience.

Venkateshwarulu Sir: I feel specially blessed to get this wonderful opportunity to serve in His institution where students and teachers singularly love God and do everything to please Him.

Q2. Is there one experience that sums up the entire experience?

Sivarama Krishna Sir: I feel that the work allotted to us is the Prasad given by Bhagawan and doing that to the best ability makes it as our worship to Him. This is only our tapas.

Janardhan Sir: Experiencing Bhagawan’s love for the students and teachers sums up the total experience of our service in His institution. Before joining here I was teaching Chemistry in a college for under graduate students in Tamil Nadu. After joining Bhagawan’s school, I continued to teach Chemistry without paying special attention to the learning skills of school students. Later one day in Kodaikanal during one of the dining sessions, He suddenly asked me how my teaching in school was. I was surprised at the question and before I could answer He moved away. But, at the same time it opened my eyes to the difficulties of school children learning Chemistry. I bow humbly to the One who cares all the time so much for the students.

The students’ behaviour is also noteworthy. While showing keen interest in academic pursuits they keep up high standards of behaviour. I would like to recall  the behaviour of a 12^th class student who after enjoying the winter vacation at home started his journey to Prasanthi Nilayam by train. On reaching Penukonda station he learnt that there was no road transport available to reach Puttaparthi due to a transport strike. As he was determined to report back to school on the reopening day, he walked through all the 25 kilometres and reached the school in the afternoon.

B K Mishra Sir: Every good teaching assignment is a new experience for the teacher. Challenges open new dimensions in self-evolution.

Q3. What has given you the sense of fulfillment in teaching here?

Sivarama Krishna Sir: The atmosphere in Bhagawan’s institution is highly congenial for the teacher–learner process to bear maximum fruits. We derive immense satisfaction to listen from the students about their progress and success in their chosen fields. This offering to the Lord gives me the sense of fulfillment.

Janardhan Sir: One can get the sense of fulfillment in whatever he may do if he believes that God is the doer and all are His instruments. When the instrument is in the divine hands whatever maybe the task involved, there will be complete satisfaction and fulfilment.

Ram Mohan Rao Sir: When God had descended on earth as the Avatar of Love for the upliftment of mankind, that I played a role in His divine mission, however small and insignificant it may be, gives me a great sense of fulfilment. When I hear good accounts of my students playing their magnificent roles in the mission of Sai, I am filled with tremendous sense of fulfilment.

Q4. What are your hopes from the Alumni? What advice do you have for us?

Rama Krishna Reddy Sir: While studying in Brindavan, I used to often hear Bhagawan saying, “College students should lead an exemplary life of purity, with devotion to God, and love for motherland. They should inculcate a sense of service to mankind; respect parents and elders.” All these are well known to each of us. Alumni have been participating in various service activities. Senior professionals from various industries, government organizations and service sectors often praise our alumni. So I would only believe that this should grow year after year; that is my hope and my advice.

Venkateshwarulu Sir: When students are here, they go through a very rigorous time schedule given by Bhagawan by participating in several activities apart from academics. This brings in a transformation in them without their knowledge. Naturally, they stand apart amongst the crowd outside. Watching Bhagawan giving and experiencing the brotherhood of man and fatherhood of God during their stay here, they aspire to do something for society and grow in life. In order to sustain this enthusiasm they should regularly participate in Bhajans and take up service activities organised by local Sri Sathya Sai Seva Samitis and lead by example. This will bring joy to Bhagawan and they will experience the bliss that Bhagawan often mentions.

Ram Mohan Rao Sir: The alumni of Bhagawan’s institutions embody His hopes, aspirations and dreams. Not just that, they are also our hopes and dreams. We teachers who have had the good fortune of teaching Bhagawan’s students see ourselves in the alumni. We measure our success and glory in terms of accomplishments of the alumni. They are verily the index of our achievements and failures.

A great responsibility is fastened on all the alumni. Bhagawan often said, “To whoever much is given, much is expected.” Bhagawan bestowed most of His time and attention on His students. Alumni can deserve the appellation, Messengers of Sai, when their life becomes His message.

I will narrate an incident to bring out the great responsibility that Bhagawan fastens in His alumni. That was the year when Bhagawan launched the Grama seva project. When we all were in the mandir one evening, word came from Bhagawan that some of us should assemble in Mandir prayer hall. Bhagawan blessed us with a short discourse where he narrated an incident about a mother committing suicide along with her children as she was not able to feed them. Bhagawan then expressed His resolve to start Grama seva scheme in which His students will be main participants. With a choked voice and tearful eyes Bhagawan said, “My students will carry on my work. My students are doing my work in Book Trust and Central Trust. I wish to hand over all My work to My students and live the last days of My life with the satisfaction that My students will carry on My mission”. This is the supreme faith and confidence that Bhagawan placed in His students.

Unity is strength. There is an imperative need for alumni of Sai to organize themselves under a single banner in the spirit of the brotherhood of Sai students just as the disciples of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa organised themselves under the banner ‘The brotherhood of the monks’.

The coming years will pose the toughest challenges to the alumni community. Narendranath (earlier name of Swami Vivekananda) faced great challenges when the brother hood of the disciples of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa started breaking soon after the great master passed away. Similarly, the toughest time for alumni will be now after Bhagawan has shed His mortal coil. There may be deserters. The toughest task will be keeping the brotherhood of the alumni intact. This was the very task that the disciples of Jesus had to face when Christ left His body. The invisible presence of Jesus gave them the strength to remain intact and carry on the mission of the master.

Bhagawan too is with each of His students. Alumni need to pray for strength to be able to remain calm in what appears to be the greatest challenge of our life – the passing away of our beloved Lord.

All of us have derived inspiration from His physical presence. We have to evolve ourselves to spiritually to manage to work in the absence of the physical body of the Avatar .The great Arjuna himself flinched when Krishna left the physical body. When the going becomes tough, the tough get going. We have to become spiritually strong to face the enormous challenge of continuing the mission of Bhagawan. We have to train ourselves to face the greatest challenge of our lives.

Q5. What is your advice to the junior teachers of this school?

Rama Krishna Reddy Sir: Most of the junior teachers of the school are from Bhagawan’s institutions. Each of us work at His school to sanctify our lives, it is the same with the junior faculty. They are clearly aware of His expectations. With Bhagawan eternaly guiding them no separate advice is necessary to be given.

Venkateshwarulu Sir: Love Him intensely and transform that love in serving His children by devoting substantial time other than teaching subjects in the classroom.

B K Mishra Sir: Be true to yourself, for teaching isn’t a profession, it is a mission.