Sri Sathya Sai Baba the Living God

Loganathan Prabhakaran

As per the Book Sathya Sai Speaks Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba has said “ The Lord comes as Avatar, when he is anxiously awaited by saints and sages. Sadhus prayed - and I have come”. Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba is a Poorna (total) Avatar, endowed with divine powers beyond the immediate need.

Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba came into this world and His first and Foremost Annunciation to the world at His age of 14 years in the year 1940, form the basis of all His divine teachings and messages. That is “First learn that you are in the ocean of worldly life; next resolve on crossing it; then fix a Guru or any name and form of God, which appeals to you. Then dwell on His Glory; do Bhajan, but do it with all your mind and concentration; sing in praise of the Master’s Lotus Feet with all your heart; it enables you to cross the difficult-to-cross ocean of the birth-death cycle.

Thus the Living God in this Kali Yuga is Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba.

Spiritual transformation

Spiritual transformation may look a distanced aspect at all times, on a perception by many that it is difficult to achieve. But, every human being should strive to open the door of spiritual transformation, when the rest of the said gamut of behaviour would follow. Bhagawan Baba has said “All are one and Be Alike to Everyone”. This seem difficult to a beginner of Spiritual Practice, but in effect it is simple. How is it simple ? It is simple, when one understands that the one and the same Atma that is within everyone, which has come from Paramathma.

In one of the very recent Discourses in this month of November 2010, Bhagawan has said “Unfortunately, no transformation is taking place in the human beings in spite of repeating the Divine Name several times. You should chant the Name of God wholeheartedly with full faith. Faith develops love towards God and that love towards God confers Grace.

No doubt, people today are repeating the holy name, but not with love and steady faith. They are more concerned with how others are singing and whether their shruthi (pitch) and raaga (melody) are in order, etc. They are doing Naamasankirtana with a wavering mind. There can be no transformation in them by such fickle minded sadhana in spite of doing it for hours together. Naamasankirtan has to be done with absolute concentration and steady faith like a yogi. It is said ‘Sathatham Yoginah’. One can achieve great transformation if the mind is steadily fixed on the Divine Name.

Spiritual transformation takes place by Divine Grace. It is interesting to know how one would have Grace. Bhagawan says, “If you have Purity of Heart and Mastery of Senses, Grace is your Right”.

How Beautiful it is to have as a Right, to Divine Grace.

Miseries in life is common to mankind perhaps the Karmic effects. Nevertless, would misery have a chance. Everyone worships when in difficulties. But, none while happy; If one worshipped while happy, would misery have a chance. Prayers to God mostly for materialistic benefits is the norm in the present times. God is all compassionate and showers His Grace. Bhagawan has often said “I will give you what you want, hoping you will want, what I have come to give you”.

Many proclaim of wanting Spiritual Enlightenment. This cannot be achieved, if the attachment to Ego and body - inspired desires are not given up. This means reducing the desires for tangible things. Our beloved Lord Baba has pointed out that one should impose limits on Waste, particularly in the areas of money, food, time and energy. This is referred to as ‘Ceiling on Desires’.

Divine direction

Once in an interview devoted entirely to the Ceiling on Desires program, Bhagawan pointed out something surprising - that Time is the one commodity that everyone in the world has at their disposal in equal amount. Everyone has just 24 hours each day. If part of it is wasted, it is gone forever and can never be retrieved. Well, the basic fact behind exercising ‘Ceiling on Desires’ is on one side of the coin, is to reduce extravagance and on the other side to invest the savings achieved out of this Ceiling, on Seva activities. Hands that Serve are Holier than the Lips that Pray; Service to Man is Service to God. This is another Divine direction of Bhagawan. Bhagawan said, “Don’t think service means taking a broom and sweeping the villages. It does not mean that.”

He made many qualifications and one of the things He said, which is very important, is if you do your duties in life to the station you are born properly, that is service.

If you are a doctor, do your job properly, that is service. If you are a teacher, if you do your job properly, that is service. If you are a bureaucrat and you do your job properly, that is service. If work is to be transformed into worship, it can happen only as Swami said, “Do your duty sincerely.” There is no point in going outside and doing seva, when in your own house you don’t do service to your own children or in the organization where you are, your proper duty is not discharged, to the best of your capacity. This is an aspect of service which we should not ignore.

Spiritual leader

Sathya Sai Baba is a highly revered spiritual leader and world teacher, whose life and message are inspiring millions of people throughout the world to turn God-ward and to lead more purposeful and moral lives. His timeless and universal teachings, along with the manner in which he leads his own life, are attracting seekers of Truth from all the religions of the world. Yet, he is not seeking to start a new religion. Nor does he wish to direct followers to any particular religion. Rather, he urges us to continue to follow the religion of our choice and/or upbringing.

Sathya Sai Baba interacts with all people on a heart-to-heart basis.

There are no intermediaries between himself and those who yearn for knowledge and experience of God. Everyday for more than 50 years, Sathya Sai Baba has walked among and talked with the spiritual pilgrims who gather around him in increasing numbers. He offers solace and inspiration to all sincere seekers of truth.

The name of Sathya Sai Baba’s ashram is Prasanthi Nilayam, which means “abode of the highest peace”. Sathya Sai Baba interacts with all people on a heart-to-heart basis. There are no intermediaries between himself and those who yearn for knowledge and experience of God.

Everyday for more than 50 years, Sathya Sai Baba has walked among and talked with the spiritual pilgrims who gather around him in increasing numbers. He offers solace and inspiration to all sincere seekers of truth.

Education system

Bhagawan Sathya Sai Baba often stated ‘My Life is My Message’. Seva Projects initiated by Bhagawan is a lesson to mankind to emulate. Education: Sathya Sai Baba places great importance on proper education for young people. Parents and community leaders are urged to concern themselves with the informal as well as the formal experiences to which their children and young adults are exposed.

He has established a model education system, which includes primary schools, secondary schools, and an accredited university with three campuses, offering undergraduate, Masters, and Ph.D. degrees. No fees are charged to students and admission is open to all, regardless of race, religion or economic condition.

In addition to emphasizing the pursuit of academic excellence, Sathya Sai Baba’s system of “integral education” is designed to foster self-discipline and pro-social conduct. Students are required to take courses on morality and spirituality and to devote several hours each week to some form of community service. Sathya Sai Baba says, “the end of education is character”.

Human life

Health care: Sathya Sai Baba has built an ultra-modern 300-bed hospital close to the University and ashram. Highly specialized operations, including open-heart operations and kidney transplants, are performed routinely.

There is absolutely no charge to the patient for professional or hospital expenses.

Motivated by the desire to serve humanity, doctors, nurses, and workers in the hospital render extraordinary, compassionate and loving care to all patients.

Service to those in Need: Recently, Sathya Sai Baba initiated a project to provide an adequate supply of pure water to 1.5 million inhabitants of the State of Andhra Pradesh (India) who were living in drought conditions.

The Prime Minister of India travelled to Prasanthi Nilayam (Sathya Sai Baba’s main ashram) in order to inaugurate the project. Sathya Sai Baba demonstrates that it is the duty of society to ensure that all people have access to the basic requirements for the sustenance of human life.

Sathya Sai Baba has given his life, selflessly and magnanimously, to the service of mankind.

The writer is Central Council Sri Sathya Sai Sewa Samithi - Sri Lanka Secretary