Sri
Sathya Sai Baba
The Life of Sri Sathya Sai Baba
Sathya Sai Baba, an exceptional spiritual leader with millions of followers throughout the world, was born on November 23, 1926 in Puttaparthi, a small remote village in South Central India.
As a child he demonstrated exceptional qualities of wisdom, compassion and generosity, and it was known in the village that he would take part of his meals out of the house to feed the beggars in the street. At the age of seven he began to compose spiritual songs which were performed at religious festivals. A year or two later he demonstrated his powers by materializing objects out of thin air for his playmates, usually candy. On other occasions he would pick a variety of fruits from the same non-fruit producing tree.
During his fourteenth year the full power and glory of Sathya Sai Baba started to emerge. He announced to his parents and the villagers that he was the reincarnation of the Indian Saint, Sai Baba of Shirdi.
His mission was to bring about the spiritual regeneration of humanity by demonstrating and teaching the highest principles of Love, Truth, Peace, Right-Conduct and Non-violence. With the statement, 'My devotees await me', he left his parents' home to live alone outside the village.
Sathya Sai Baba has established hospitals, elementary and secondary schools, colleges and a major university in India, all of which provide services without charge. P.V Narasimha Rao, in 1991, the then Prime Minister of India, opened the Super Specialty Hospital in Puttaparthi to provide for patients with cardiac, lung, kidney and neurology ailments. The hospital has been equipped with the most modern and sophisticated technology from various countries around the world. Sai Baba has also inspired the creation of thousands of Centers in many countries throughout the world whose members practice His spiritual teachings and engage in a variety of community service activities.
His Mission
Since 1950, Sathya Sai Baba's residence and headquarters have been at 'Prasanthi Nilayam' (the Abode of Perfect Peace) a spiritual center adjacent to the village of Puttaparthi. His name spread quickly in India and then he became known to people on every continent. For many years Prasanthi Nilayam has been a gathering site for millions of spiritual pilgrims, from all religions throughout the world. To his followers, Sathya Sai Baba is accepted as the Avatar of this age; a Divine Being who has come to Earth as a manifestation of Divine Will to fulfill a cosmic mission. He has stated:
‘For the protection of the virtuous, for the destruction of evildoers, and for establishing righteousness on a firm footing, I incarnate from age to age. Whenever disharmony overwhelms the world, the Lord will incarnate in human form to establish the modes of earning peace, and to re-educate the human community in the paths of peace.'
Sai Baba addresses his attention to a wide range of profound issues in his discourses and astounds scientists, philosophers, scholars and religious leaders with a superhuman grasp of knowledge and practical skills in many areas. The fame of Sathya Sai Baba was spread, in the beginning, by the stories of his ‘miracles’, acts which cannot be explained by science and transcend physical laws. His manifestation of material objects; the creation of sacred ash (Vibhutti) by the mere wave of his hand, to be used for spiritual and physical aid; changing an object from one metal to another simply by blowing on it; all of these phenomena and many more are done ‘by an act of will’. Before hundreds/thousands of people he is known to heal the sick, the maimed and the blind. He has protected from harm those who call for help, even though some have been thousands of miles away. He has frequently appeared in his physical form in two different places at the same time. And he has raised from the dead several persons, including Walter Cowan a man from California, who died from heat attack in a Madras hotel. Of these miracles Sai Baba has said,
‘I give you what you want so you will come to want, what I have to give… Very few of you desire to get from me the thing I have come to give you, namely, Liberation itself.’
It has been said that his greatest miracles are the transformation of people who come to him, often with doubts and apprehensions, and who leave with love in their hearts, peace in their minds and a resolve to live a more useful, spiritual life. He says,
‘Let the different faiths exist, let them flourish, and let the glory of God be sung in all languages and in a variety of tunes. That should be the ideal. Respect the differences between faiths and recognize them as valid as long as they do not extinguish the flame of unity. If each person lives the ideal propounded by the founders of his religion, unaffected by greed or hate, then the world will be a happy and peaceful habitation for man.’
His Teachings
Sai Baba's principle teachings can be summarized as follows:
1. Belief in God - there is only one God for all the Universe and man calls Him by many names.
2. Follow your own religion - but be sincere. Understand the true teachings and values of your religion and put them into practice in your daily life.
3. Respect all religions - for none of them advocate breach of right-conduct, values or morality. All attempt to foster the highest spiritual thoughts in man and urge all to think, speak and act righteously.
4. Undertake selfless service to the sick, the poor, the needy without thoughts of praise or gain.
5. Uphold in your life and promote Truth, Right-Conduct, Peace, Love and Non-Violence as reflected in the emblem of the Sai Organization. These are the five human values which are the basis of His teachings.
The responsibility for bringing about world peace, says Sathya Sai Baba, rests with the individual. His prescription is simple, yet profound:
‘If there is
righteousness in the heart,
There will be beauty in the character.
If there is beauty in the character,
There will be harmony in the home.
If there is harmony in the home,
There will be order in the nation.
If there is order in the nation,
There will be peace in the world ‘
OBJECTIVE OF THE SATHYA SAI ORGANISATION
In the words of Sathya Sai Baba,
‘The sole objective of the Sathya Sai Organization is to enable man to discover his innate divinity - regain his self-confidence and faith in God... The unity of all Faiths is the main base of the Sai Organization... Never entertain malice( hatred) towards anyone, God is inherent in all beings... You must have firm belief that the aim of this organization is to remove the obstacles that keep man away from God... This organization must elevate the human into the Divine’.
The Sai Organization provides an environment where spiritual aspirants can develop an awareness of the Sai Avatar and His teachings to achieve happiness and peace and discover their true nature, which is divinity.
With this objective
in mind, the thousands of Sai Centers and Devotional Groups established
throughout the world, give people the opportunity to understand the
significance of spiritual practice and move forward on their spiritual path.
SATHYA SAI CENTERS AND DEVOTIONAL GROUPS
Sai Baba says,
‘The Sai Center is intended to broaden your love, to channelize your activities through devoted service. It has not been devised to parade devotion or to collect devotees to canvass support for some new-fangled breed. It is dedicated to the great task of progressively aiding people to their Reality and merging in it.’
The Sathya Sai Center is a SERVICE and SPIRITUAL center. It's objectives are to provide spiritual awareness among those who seek (including children and youth) and to provide service to the needy and the poor by undertaking a series of diversified service projects. One of the purposes of this introductory information is to provide some guidance for newcomers should they decide to participate in any of the spiritual, educational and service activities of the Center or Group.
Sai Centers around the world are structured to foster Sai's teachings among their members and others who participate. The activities should assist Hindus to become better Hindus, Christians to become better Christians. Buddhists to become better Buddhists, Muslims to become better Muslims, etc.
Sathya Sai Baba has often repeated that he has not come to promote any particular religion or cult. The Centers are not vehicles of evangelism - they exist only to help us all on our spiritual paths to discover our own divinity.
The activities of the Center are wide and varied. Some of the following activities take place at such meetings.
Center\Group Meetings
Devotional Singing
Devotional singing, which is the gathering together of a group of people for the purpose of singing the glory of God, is held at different Centers and Devotional Groups at set times. Before attending a meeting for the first time check the starting time and ensure that you arrive in time to be seated ten to fifteen minutes before it commences. The members of the Center or Group observe a period of silence before the devotional singing starts. If parents bring children to the meeting they are requested to keep their children quiet during the meeting.
An aisle is left down the center of the hall to separate male and female devotees and to provide a symbolic pathway for Sai Baba to walk on. Separation of male and female devotees occurs during most Sai functions to avoid distractions to spiritual practice that could arise due to close proximity. An aisle should be left on each side of the hall to allow access for late comers.
Devotional songs can be dedicated to any religion and/or God form and can be sung in any language, provided most devotees can follow. Various forms of ceremony may be conducted during and at the conclusion of the devotional singing meeting, including mantras and chants. These mantras and chants are optional. Their inclusion depending on the religious make-up of the members of the Center or Group.
Announcements
Short announcements on spiritual, educational and service activities of the Center or Group are made at the end of the devotional singing.
More information about all activities can be obtained from the notice board, the coordinators for the activities, state or zone newsletters and Sai internet sites.
Spiritual Talk/Interactive Discussion/Readings
Usually, at the conclusion of the devotional singing someone from the center reads or gives a spiritual message about Sai Baba or a related topic.
Center Activities
Study Circle
The study circle provides aspirants with an opportunity to study and discuss Sai Baba's teachings. The study circles are structured so everyone can contribute in a constructive way to an exchange of views on spiritual matters. The topics for study circles should include spiritual teachings from all religions as well as the lives of spiritual leaders.
Meditation
The Center provides instruction for and the opportunity to participate in guided light meditation as advised by Sai Baba.
New-Comers' Corner
Most Centers and Groups have some material available from Sai books and publications prepared as hand-outs on Sai Baba’s teachings, discourses and sayings.
Sai Library
Centers and Groups usually have a lending library to enable newcomers and aspirants to borrow Sai books, magazines, audio and video tapes.
Human Values Program
A fully functional center will have a Human Values Program. The program is based on the values of Truth, Peace, Love, Right Conduct and Non-Violence. One of the elements of the program are human values classes that are held on a regular basis for Sai devotees' children aged between six and fifteen years. The purpose of these classes is to educate the children in the daily application of spiritual and human values in society - values which are missing from standard educational curricula. All members are encouraged to have their children attend the human values classes at the Center. Members who are interested in becoming teachers in the above classes can enroll in training courses which are arranged from time to time.
Youth Wing
The Sai Organization considers the youth of today as its most valuable asset in fulfilling its mission to assist us in discovering our innate divine nature. The youth will be the leaders of society and the Sai Organization of tomorrow. Special activities to develop youth talent, knowledge and spirituality are organized.
All youth are welcome and encouraged to contribute to the operation and, where appropriate, to the management of the Center or Group.
Service
Members are encouraged to undertake some form of community service activity on a regular basis. These service activities should be undertaken in the community for the benefit of people who are in need. The essence of participating in the service activity is that time, which one would otherwise spend for personal matters, is now applied to assisting others.
Sai Baba encourages aspirants to serve others in the community. He has proclaimed that:
‘Service to man is Service to God’ and
‘Hands that serve are holier than lips that pray’.
Dress
Persons attending devotional singing meetings are requested to wear modest and neat dress as you would in His personal presence. Sai Baba has said,
‘I manifest Myself wherever My glory is sung’.
Some Centers and Groups in the Sai Organization in Australia have adopted the Eastern custom of people removing their shoes before entering the hall where devotional singing takes place.
Membership of Sai Centers or Devotional Groups
For those who wish to discover their true selves, becoming a member of a Sai Center or Devotional Group may assist that process. There is a minimum of formality to become a member. The Sai Organization has an administration requirement for all Centers and Groups to maintain a membership register. There is no membership fee or solicitation or collection of funds. ONLY MEMBERS may make donations towards the costs of hall hire and other operating expenses, if they so wish.
Sai Baba has set out a Nine Point Code of Conduct for members to follow.
1. Daily meditation and prayer (according to your own religious tradition).
2. Devotional singing/prayer with members of family once a week.
3. Participation in Sai Spiritual Education organized by the Center for children of Sai devotees.
4. Participation in community work and other programs of the Organization.
5 Attendance, at least once a month in Devotional Singing organized by the Center.
6. Regular study of Sai literature.
7. Speak softly and lovingly to everyone.
8. Not to indulge in talking ill of others, especially in their absence.
9. To put into practice ‘Ceiling on Desires’ and to utilize any savings generated by this practice for service to mankind.
Membership forms are available at the Center or where the Group meets.
Conclusion
It is hoped that this information may provide some insight for newcomers and new aspirants about Sai Baba and the Sai Organization. The leaders of a Center or Group can also assist to provide further information about the organization, the activities of the Center or your involvement with Center or Group.
‘You must have firm belief that the aim of this organization is to remove the obstacles that keep man away from God... This organization must elevate the human into the Divine’
Sathya Sai Baba