Chapter from: Sanathana Sarathi – Bhagavan 70th Birthday Commemoration Volume, Nov. 1995

Baba Tunes A Piano Tuner's Heart

Paul Buscaino, Santa Maria, U.S.A.

In March of 1995 I returned from my fifth trip to see Baba. It was a short 3-week trip, as compared to the two previous trips which were some 3 to 4months. So much had changed at the Ashram during the past 3 years but Baba was as loving as ever.

How He's able to find time to accomplish all that He does, just amazes me. I was very fortunate to see Him daily and be in His presence while He walked among the thousands of people who have come from all parts of the world to see Him. I was truly blessed to have a personal Interview with Him on my last day, just about two hours prior to leaving for the USA. He not only bestowed His love on me but gave me two personal items as keepsake.

I'm not a very intellectual person, I believe. For the most part I would not understand or grasp things during my life, as others do. At times I felt as thought I had to be hit over the head with a bat before I would get the message, and that applies for some experiences·with Baba.

Just a few years ago I arrived at Prasanthi in early December 1991. I stayed until March, 1992. I’d been in my usual way, running around trying to keep busy because I'm not one to be idle. I filled in some of my morning and evening time teaching some basic instrumental music, and principles to a couple of students who were new in playing the Trombone and Baritone. But this was not my main purpose for being there on this trip. I received permission to restore the Piano on a previous trip and was completely involved in trying to arrange to get the piano moved to a suitable location to perform the necessary work. Talk about obstacles! There certainly were numerous ones in trying to get the piano from the Primary School to the Western Canteen, where I was to do the work. The piano finally arrived on February 27th, just short of 3 weeks to my leaving! I have to tell you that the restoration work truly was the challenge of a life time! Thanks to the aid of Robbin James and a couple of others who also lovingly assisted, we managed to get the mechanical part of the piano to work. But I was not able to get the pitch established so it might stay in tune for a relatively good period of time. The refinishing work did not get completed.

On February 2, 1992, during this trip I had a Personal Interview with Baba. The most dearest words to me were when He spoke to me that day at Brindavan. I'd prepared a list of questions which numbered some 11-12. My personal, and most important question, I thought was about the restoring of His Grand Piano. We had discussed some other questions as well and about this time - frame in the interview He sort of leaned forward in His chair, looked down at me, while holding His hand over His chest spoke to me calmly with a degree of softness and gentleness, and looking directly into my eyes said, "I only want your hear." I now knew what He meant! Finally I got the message, and it came quite dear. Here finally was a message that I'd not heard before because I wasn't "In Tune" with Him! He wasn't really interested in my assisting the college students with their music. Nor my locating musical instruments. And now, coming to restore His 87 year old German Grand Piano. All of these material things weren't important to Him. Oh yes!. I sure thought they were! He played the game with me and showed me His loving patience. I guess for me it was like the old traditional saying. "You can't see the forest for the trees." But boy, did I get the message.

My final little experience I'd like to share with you was when I came back from my very first trip to see Baba which was in 1986.

I serviced pianos for some major Hotels and Clubs in the area. This was my primary occupation then. I'd been back home just a day or two and had been working on a piano. All the while I was working on the instrument I was thinking of Baba. I was still in a state of "bliss" and was constantly thinking of Baba. As I look back on it now, I can recall how beautiful it was and what a heart-felt joy and pleasure it was for me to have met Him in the physical form. And also how excited I was in the interview room when Baba said to me, "Paul, sit over there" as He pointed to an area next to His foot stool. I was having a wonderful time recalling all the blessed experiences I had. However, now, before I knew it 2 hours passed and I'd finished the required work on the piano and started driving home. Within a few minutes I wason the freeway. Music came on my radio and as I listened I immediately started to swell up and get a flush feeling inside. Like the feeling one gets prior to the Bhakthi tears. While I listened to the music, I became deeply touched by the words of the song I heard playing. This wasn't the first time I'd heard this song. It was a top seller several years ago. But now, for the first time, it took on a very special and different meaning! As I continued to listen to more of the "words" of the song - it was as if I was talking to Baba. Just how I felt after having seen him for the first time. The words of the song go like this:

"Why is my heart so light? Why are the stars so bright? Why is the sky so blue since the hour I met you? Alone I sing in the moonlight-with you in my heart supreme to hear you say, "I Love You". That is my hope-my dream.

"Love, this is my song-Here is a song, a serenade to you. The world cannot be wrong-If in this world there's you. I care not what the world may say-without your love there is no day. Love! This is my song- Here is a song, a Serenade to you." So, here I am, driving on a southern California Freeway, traffic all around, with it's usual stop and go traffic while wiping tears from my face, hoping nobody notices. I'm sure Baba heard my message. I felt so good inside. Immediately, after the song had finished, without interruption of any kind, another song started playing. I recognised it also as a popular song of the late 1960's. But, this time it's Baba talking TO ME. Here's what HE was saying tome through this song, as I felt it that day.

"There is someone - walking behind you, turn around-look at me.

There is someone - watching your footsteps, turn around look at me.

There is someone who really needs, (loves) you-here's my heart in my hand.

Turn around look at me and understand that there is someone to stand beside you.

Turn around look at me, and there's someone to love and guide you, turn around, - look at me. Oh, I've waited-but I'll wait forever for you to come to me. Look at someone who really loves you, Turn Around Look At Me."

I was deeply moved by the songs I'd just heard and they will always have a very special meaning to me whenever I hear either of them.

As I now look back over the past nine years I see that I have made some progress in my spiritual path, although I have much more to learn and to put into practice. Inspite of all my seeming frustrations, I now understand that He is in control of my life. He knows that I'm ever so grateful to Him for allowing and giving me the privileges HE's so lovingly granted me.

I'm looking forward to the future, knowing He will guide and take care of me. He'd been playing that sweet melody to me for months and perhaps years before. But, I couldn't hear it because "I was not IN TUNE with Him." The melody can mean so much if you take time to understand the words.

Music is the Quickest Way To God.

OM SAI RAM!

Paul Buscaino