| mūkaṃ karoti vācālaṃ paṃguṃ laṃghayate giri yat kṛpā tamahaṃ vaṃde paramānaṃda mādhavam I salute that supreme bliss, Madhava, by whose mercy the dumb become most eloquent and the lame are able to jump over the mountains. If there is one unmistakable characteristic that singles out our dearest Bhagawan as the Lord incarnate, it is His ability to transform the hearts and minds of those individuals that have had the good fortune to know Him. Indeed, Swami Himself has said: "Transformation of society must start with transformation of individuals." (Sri Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol 31, Ch 1: 1 January 1998) This is the third in a series of articles showcasing the personal journeys of Young Adults from across the United Kingdom, as they share with us how Swami has transformed their lives in a very deep and lasting way. In this issue, we hear from Brother Arvind Kywalya, Region 5's Young Adult Coordinator. I had the divine opportunity to study in Swami's institution for two years. As a budding teenager, being in that environment played a pivotal role in shaping the person I am. I learned so much about life, Swami, and even myself during those years. I want to take this opportunity to share one such experience. As an aspiring singer, my biggest yearning as a Sai student was to sing in Sai Kulwant Hall. I'd nearly finished my two years in Puttaparthi and had never managed to do so and it gradually just became a distant dream that I'd almost forgotten about. It was a tradition for the year 12 boys to write, direct and stage a play for the annual sports event, which is a couple of months before graduation. I was part of a small group who were tasked with the responsibility of conceptualising and writing the play. After hours of brainstorming, we decided that we'd present a few different ideas and allow the teachers to pick. It so happened that the teacher chose the idea I came up with. I was suddenly at the centre of this tradition, and I thrived. I gave the process everything I had and made sure that the output was of a great standard. Eventually, my classmates were cast roles and I took a backseat. I then shifted my focus over to writing and composing the music for the drama. We went over to the RadioSai studio and a couple of us singers recorded the songs as well. It was a surreal moment for me to be in that studio amongst people that I looked up to and gradually witness my vision come to life. In that moment, ego crept in, and I thought to myself, "Wow, none of this would've been possible without me." The day before the drama, I heard the song and realised that only a single line of my voice had been used. I went over to the acting practice, and everyone was so busy that it didn't even matter that I was there. I went to bed that night feeling very down. The next day as I was thinking about all this, I finally realised how egoistic I had been. Ironically, the title of the drama was Tu hi karam, Tu hi kartha which translates as, 'You are the act, you are the doer.' I immediately went over to the prayer hall and apologised to Swami. The very next minute, our teacher came over to me and handed me a rose and asked me to offer it at Swami's Mahasamadhi before the drama. Shocked and elated, I ran to my room and put on a fresh pair of whites and went to the Mandir. I thanked Swami at the Ganesha gate and went to the Mandir early. I was greeted by a brother from the bhajan group who said, "You school boys will sing bhajans today, right?" and I was speechless. My biggest dream was about to come true and all it took was letting go of my ego. Ever since, I have made a conscious effort to believe that Swami is the ultimate doer and that we are mere tools in His hand. I have found that ridding myself of ego and separating myself from a task, especially if it is for a Sai activity, allows me to focus more on the work, rather than the outcome or recognition I get for the work. I am ever grateful to Swami for teaching me that. | 
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