In plain words
Scientist - Nagarasaṅkīrtana
In the Name of God lies immense power and strength. It is enough that we choose that Name of God, enough that we remember it: we shall cross over. Once, in Hyderabad, all the Sai devotees came together and held a Sai Nāma Saptāha. The nagarasaṅkīrtana was to start at Chikkadapalli. At that time Bhagavantam was Scientific Adviser to the Government of Bhārata. I told him: “Bhagavantam! Instead of idly saying ‘science, science’ and doing japa of science all twenty-four hours, you too go and take part in the nagarasaṅkīrtana.” He said, “Swami! Our science does not agree to this.” “Science divides unity into multiplicity; but spirituality makes multiplicity into unity. Science is split of Love, Spirituality is spirit of Love. If you wish to gain this spiritual Ānanda, go to the nagarasaṅkīrtana,” I told him again. Then his wife too: “What is all this? You keep drowning in this wretched science. Have you gained Śānti from it for even a single minute? So do as Swami says,” she said.
This is the Kali age. However great a scientist, however great an intellect, they do not listen to what their elders say. But what the wife says, that they obey at once, bowing their heads. That is why Tyāgarāja said long ago, “However much they have learned, however much they have seen, however great they may be, they are nothing but slaves of women.”
Well then, Bhagavantam put a towel over his shoulder and came to the nagarasaṅkīrtana. How far did he walk? He walked ten miles. Ordinarily, if he walked for ten minutes, he would get out of breath. But that day, though he walked ten miles, he felt no breathlessness at all. As the devotees went along singing nagarasaṅkīrtana from in front of the Osmania University hostel, many students of the hostel also joined in. All of them together came to ‘Śivam’, waved the ārati and raised cheers of victory. I stood on top of Śivam and gave darśan. Afterwards I called Bhagavantam and asked, “Bhagavantam! How was the nagarasaṅkīrtana?” “Swami! Our science does not agree to this, but I am very happy. Walking along in the cool breeze remembering the sweet Name has given my heart great comfort. If I take part in the nagarasaṅkīrtana like this every day, my health too will improve,” he said. Then I said, “Do not think about health; think about Ānanda; strive for Ānanda.”