Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba: Divinity in human form

Chandima de SILVA

SERVICE: In 1940, at the age of 14, Bhagavan declared His mission as "I have come to light the lamp of love in your hearts, to see that it shines day by day with added lustre. I have not come to speak on behalf of any teaching, like the Hindu teaching.

I have not come on any mission of publicity for any sect or creed or cause; nor have I come to collect the followers for any doctrine.

I have no plan to attract disciples or devotees into my fold or any fold. I have come to tell you of this unitary faith, this Atmic principle, this path of love, this duty to love, this obligation to love."

All this work is done anonymously by members of the organization with no publicity or public fund-raising, which Swami strictly forbids.

The Sathya Sai Organization in many communities in India provides free services like village hygiene, sound basic education in human values and home industry etc.

Outside India there are well over 1,000 Sathya Sai centres and many thousand more groups spread throughout the world where the organization is represented do selfless service, primarily for the direct benefit of the poor, for refugees, the homeless, the aged and many other kinds of needy and suffering people.

A most significant event for the population of a large part of the poor state of Andhra Pradesh was the inauguration on Sai Baba's 70th birthday of the enormous Rayalaseema water project.

In the presence of a crowd of about 200,000, the President of India officially started the turbines that opened this project, which brings a year-round water supply to each of over 750 villages and several towns in this dry state that were often without any water previously, which lack caused much suffering. Establishment of the most modern and spacious Sri Sathya Sai Super Specialty Hospital in Puttaparthi could be undoubtedly described as a milestone in Swami's selfless service to humanity.

All services at this hospital including complicated surgeries are done free of charge. Leading surgeons from Italy, USA, UK and India work gratis for the hospital. Sai Schools and Colleges also exist in other countries, especially Thailand.

Another Sathya Sai College in Zambia has been in existence for many years. This well-founded college teaches the unity of religions, charges no fees, is run on donations and serves children from low-income families with scholarships.

As a unique service activity, the Sri Sathya Sai Service Organization of Sri Lanka has established the Sathya Sai Suva Sevana in Hanwella, a 50-bed centre for Symptom Control and Palliative Care of Cancer patients.

Due to financial constraints, this centre is presently catering to a limited number of patients but the Organization hopes to increase its services in the near future.

The Sathya Sai education in Human values (SSEHV) for young people from 6 to 16 years of age and a trust for that purpose were inaugurated by Sri Sai Baba in 1981.

SSEHV is a universal system of spiritual education, not bound specifically to any particular religion, sect, Church or other single system of moral belief.

The five human values truth, right action (righteousness), peace (of mind), love and non-violence, which are the most universal ideals in all world cultures and form the essence of all religions and form the basis of SSEHV.

Sri Sai Baba has told his followers that, even though God is in everyone and everything, he is totally aware of this Divinity in a way which others are not.

The breadth and depth of spirituality in India's ancient culture, with its great tolerance and universality, is well reflected in the works and teachings of Sri Sai Baba.

In conclusion, let us quote Swami: "Service to man may deal with his physical or spiritual needs, but serving him by example is best of all.

Do not be a bad example to your neighbours or family members. Be good and radiate goodness. The truth must be spoken without hypocrisy or deceit; there must be no motive to injure. Acts must be regulated by the overall supremacy of righteousness.

He is asked not to neglect the knowledge he has acquired but to ruminate on it and cultivate it by putting it into practice. Treat the mother as God; treat the father as God; treat the preceptor as God; treat the guest as God.

These important declarations should be honoured. And then, the teacher has some very fine advice to give about the gift of service.

Give in reverence; give in plenty; give with modesty; give as to a friend; give without any thought of reward. Do not give ostentatiously. All has to be done with humility and reverence.

Only then will these acts bring about cleansing of the mind, which is the main benefit to be derived from service."

(The writer is a senior lecturer of the University of Kelaniya)