Sri Sathya Sai Baba
Sri Sathya Sai Baba is a living avatar and was born on 23 November 1926, in a remote village of Puttaparthi in the State of Andra Predesh and was named Satyanarayana. Sathya means truth and Narayana is a name for the Hindu God Vishnu.
As a child he manifested supernormal powers materialising sweets, fruits and medicinal herbs for sick friends. In May 1940 at the age of 13 he declared “I am Sai Baba”. Following this announcement devotees and disciples began to gather around him. He started performing amazing miracles and has been teaching and doing works of charity since.
Devotees from all over the world visit Sai Baba to this day to recieve his Darshan (blessing) and feel his love. His main ashram is at Puttaparti in India, named Prashanti Nilayam which means “the abode of Highest Peace.
Sathya Sai Baba has said that his followers do not need to give up their original religion, saying “My objective is the establishment of sanathana dharma, which believes in one God as propitiated by the founders of all religions. So none has to give up his religion or deity… I have come not to disturb or destroy any Faith, but to confirm each in his own Faith, so that the Christian becomes a better Christian, the Muslim a better Muslim and a Hindu a better Hindu.” According to “Ocean of Love”, a book published by the Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust, “there is no new path that He is preaching, no new order that He has created. There is no new religion that He has come to add or a particular philosophy that He recommends … His mission is unique and simple. His mission is that of love and compassion.”
Seva (selfless service) activities, are at the heart of Sathya Sai Baba’s teachings, and Sai Baba Centre activities and projects worldwide include arranging food drives and donations, visiting nursing homes, tree planting and park clean up, medical camps, donating blood and serving food to the homeless. Other Sai Center activities include study of the teachings of Sathya Sai Baba and the sacred literature of all religions, Sai Spiritual Education (SSE), dynamic value parenting programs, and study circles . Through center activities, the hope is to achieve the practical spirituality of incorporating the universal human values in all aspects of life and during every conscious moment.
Sathya Sai Baba advocates reverence, adoration and gratitude to the Mother, (and parents) as being God, and the first (and foremost) teacher and guru. Sai Baba often cites well known figures (Abraham Lincoln, Gandhi, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar) who have attained their good character, humility and morality due to listening to the advice of their mother. Sai Baba has said, “There is nothing greater than mother’s love. Mother’s words are always sweet.”
Sathya Sai Baba is the second in the line of three incarnations of Sai Baba. In his previous incarnation he was Sai Baba of Shirdi who lived from 1872 to 1918. Baba has said that he will live until his nineties in the current incarnation and will come again one year later as Prema Sai Baba. If you wish to see a picture of the three incarnations visit www.einterface.net/gamini/threesai.html
There are so many teachings from Sai Baba which uplift the soul and bring us to a greater understanding of our path to enlightenment; here is a small selection:
“You must have calm thoughts. Only then can your mind experience equanimity. It is just a question of the discipline of the mind, difficult in the beginning, but once mastered, capable of conquering all troubles and worries. An unruffled mind is very important for every aspirant. It is one of his beneficial qualities. Strive to gain it, though you may fail in earlier attempts. Such a mind gives real strength and happiness. Do not yield to despair, cowardice or helplessness. Even if a calamity befalls, you must not lose heart. The mind must be ever pure, untarnished, calm, full of courage. No weeping for the past, no faltering in the performance of the task at hand – this is the true mark of a spiritual aspirant. Be prepared to gladly have any obstacle in your path. Only when you confront them, you can realize the goal to achieve everlasting peace”.-Divine Discourse, Prasanthi Vahini
”From the narrow vision of the individual need, one must voyage out into the broad vision of the Universal. When a drop of water falls into the ocean, it loses its narrow individualities, its name and form and assumes the form, name and taste of the ocean itself. If it seeks to live separately as a drop, it will soon evaporate and be reduced to non-existence. Each one must become aware that he/she is part of the One Truth that encompasses everything in the Universe. Make the heart big and the mind pure, only then can peace and prosperity be established on earth”. - Divine Discourse, Dec 25, 1976
“If your foot slips, you earn a fracture; if your tongue slips, you fracture some one’s faith or joy. That fracture can never be set right; that wound will fester forever. The softer you talk, the less you talk, the sweeter you talk, the better for you and the world”.- Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. 8 Ch.2
“Man needs primarily two qualities: Devotion to God and the spirit of sacrifice. Without sacrifice there can be no devotion. Sacrifice is the key to immortality. Man is caught up in the coils of selfishness and self-centredness. How long will these attachments last? Why sacrifice the lasting bliss of a divinely oriented life for the petty tinsel of worldly possessions? Devote yourselves to the service of mankind in a spirit of dedication and sublimate your lives.”- Divine Discourse, October 1st, 1987
The above quotes are taken from the daily e-mail service, ”Sai Inspires”. To subscribe and receive a daily inspirational quote from the Heart2Heart Team straight to your inbox visit http://www.radiosai.org, then click on the link on the right hand side “Sai Inspires” and then on “Click Here to Subscribe to Sai Inspires”.