Sai Ram

Sathya Sai Study Group of Longview is a small group devotees engaged in the learning and practicing of the Teachings of Sai Baba. Our programs include prayers and meditations, Sai Education program for children, and service programs helping the poor and needy. Due to its origins in India, some of the activities may have an East Indian slant. But it does not have to be! Activities may be set up to suit the needs of a particular group as long as the basic guidelines as set up by Sai Baba are followed. This is not a Hindu or Christian or Moslem or Jewish group. Sai Baba's teachings are Universal and address all religions. I will try to elaborate on that

Who is Sai Baba?! Why do hundreds of thousands of people from all over the world, from all walks of life - why do they all go to see this small, ochre robbed man living in India?! These people sit for hours, waiting for a glimpse of this wonderful man who they consider as the incarnation of Absolute Divinity, the All-Loving, All-Mighty God! They do this because, by being in His presence, just by witnessing the flow of His Love, one can find the Peace and happiness that they do not get elsewhere!

Who is Sai Baba??

Sai Baba was born on November 23, 1923 to a pious Hindu family in Puttaparthy, a remote village in southern India. He was named Sathya Narayana. On October 20, 1940, young Sathya suddenly announced to His family, " I am no longer yours; I am Sai; I do not belong to you; My devotees are calling and I have work to do" Thus He left His home and followers started gathering around Him. He started teaching them devotional songs glorifying God. Thus He started His mission….. Now let me elaborate more on His mission.

Sai Baba is One Who welcomes all seekers of Truth: poor people, rich people, the afflicted people, as well as saints and sinners! He is selfless and a servant of all, a perfect example of pure love. He is a mirror of each person's soul. If you stand before Him and look at your being as it really is, it will be reflected for you to see. Sai Baba says,

...I have come to give you the key of the treasure of bliss, to tell you how to tap the spring, for you have forgotten the way to blessedness. If you waste this chance of saving yourself, it is just your fate. I have come to light the lamp of love in your heart, to see that it shines day by day with added luster. I have not come to speak of any particular religion. I have not come in any mission of publicity for any sect or creed or cause, nor have I come to collect followers for any doctrine. I have no plans to attract followers into my fold or any fold. I have come to tell you of this universal, unitary faith, this path of love, this obligation to love. May you develop this divine love and stand out as harbingers of a new age, free from selfishness, greed, hatred and violence. Let each of you be a light unto himself or herself, and there by, be a light unto others...

That is the essence of His life, message, and teachings.

Sai Baba stands as a beacon for a new age, instilling in everyone qualities of compassion, charity, service and love. He personally feeds, clothes, and houses the poor and underprivileged, inducing a national and international effort to serve mankind.

Because of His example, millions of devotees throughout the world engage themselves in service programs designed to uplift humanity. They carry forth these programs without special fund-raising campaigns, contributing instead their time and energy. As a result, the needy receive food, clothing, medical supplies and housing. Baba says,

...Hands that serve are holier than lips that pray...

In His role as an educator, Sai Baba has renovated modern teaching methods. Placing great emphasis on youth and education, He devotes much time to the overseeing of educational efforts throughout India. "Education in Human Values", His program designed to teach children morality and righteous living along with scholarship, has been installed in public school systems in India and in many other participating countries. The strategy He developed introduces the basic human values of truth, right-action, peace, love and non-violence to the student while he is involved with normal class-room procedures. Sai Baba has established a large University and many colleges offering free education in liberal arts, science, technology, business, medicine etc. He also has set up two super-specialty hospitals providing free medical services, even in such advanced areas as heart bypass surgery and kidney transplant procedures.

Through His actions Sai Baba instills faith, hope and belief in God. He bestows peace upon all who come with open hearts. He feeds and clothes the poor, educates the children, provides medical services to the needy and counsels spiritual seekers from all world religions. Sai Baba rescues devotees everywhere from disaster. He heals the sick; He has even restored life to persons who have been clinically dead!

Sai Baba instills the basic truth that God is Love. His teachings and life reflect a singular goal: to make people realize their closeness to God by imparting the qualities of love and truth into their lives.

Miracles, as they are called, are a part of His mission. They awaken faith in God as they reveal glimpses of the unlimited power He commands. He never uses His power for personal gains, but always to encourage and inspire faith. By directly experiencing Sai Baba's exceptional nature, one also experiences the underlying principles of divinity within oneself.

Sai Baba materializes a variety of objects out of no where as a spontaneous act of love. These may include watches, pendants, rosaries, prayer books, and often Vibhuthi or sacred ash. His powers always seem to give happiness to the recipient. But beyond that is the unconditional love a person experiences while witnessing these acts of grace. The real miracle is Sai Baba's love, which is the message of His mission. He is always inspiring, strengthening, and sustaining the love in devotees by His examples. His life is Truly His message, an offering of love to those afflicted of body, mind and spirit. The love He gives transcends racial and religious barriers, proclaiming to all,

...There is only one religion, the religion of love...

To understand Sai Baba, it is helpful to become familiarized somewhat with Eastern religious and philosophical thoughts. The basis of all religious philosophy is the love of God and the unity of life. These are the threads that bind the religions of the world. In India, Hindu religion preaches tolerance for all religions. In this belief system, God inhabits everything in creation; therefore, Divinity is incarnated in every person.

Sai Baba says,

...The followers of each religion call upon one God Who is omnipresent and listens to their prayers, be they from any race or whatever language they speak. But it is the same God who confers happiness upon those who profess to abide by that faith. The external rites and ceremonies laid down in each religion vary according to climate, geography, time, race, etc. However the basic lesson each religion teaches is to suppress the assertive ego and to surrender to the sovereign Will of God...

...It is the destiny of man to journey from humanness to Divinity, as he has already journeyed from life of an animal. In this pilgrimage, he is bound to encounter various obstacles and trials. In order to smoothen his path and to help him overcome these troubles, sages, seers, realized souls, divine personalities and incarnations of God appear among men and illumine the path. They move among the afflicted, the seekers who have lost their way and lead them into confidence and courage...

...Certain personalities are born and live out their days for this very purpose. Such guides, examples and leaders appear among all people and in all lands. They inspire faith in higher ideals and teach as if their voice is the voice of God...

...All religions teach one basic discipline, the removal of the blemish of egoism from the mind, of running after little joys. Every religion teaches man to fill his being with the Glory of God and evict the pettiness of conceit. It trains him in the methods of detachment and discrimination, so that he may aim high and achieve liberation...

...Believe that all hearts are motivated by one, and only one God, that all faiths glorify one and only one God, that all names in all languages and all forms man can conceive denote the one and only one God...

...God does not exist separately for any particular nation. He exists for all individuals and for all nations. He shows no partiality for any. Sweets are many, but sugar is one; jewels are many, but gold is one; and bullies are many but spirit is one. All are therefore children of God. The brotherhood of man under the Fatherhood of God is the spiritual path to follow...

This is Sai Baba’s Universal Message.

About the concept of God and Divinity, Sai Baba explains,

...The Divine is denoted by various words that are common in a limited human vocabulary. These words describe and propose a meaning to the Divine: miraculous, magical, wondrous, etc. Of course, men cannot contain their minds more than they can hold. They cannot express into words the inexpressible. Only those who have dived deep and contacted the underlying principle of love can picture Divinity with some clarity. The Divine can be grasped only through love. Reason is too feeble an instrument to measure it. Denial of the Divine cannot negate it and logic cannot reveal it...

...God is man and man is God. All of us have something of God, the Divine spark within us. All men are Divine like Myself, but with the spirit embodied in flesh and bone. The only difference is that they are unaware of this Godhood. They have come into this Karmic prison through the mistake of many lives. I have taken this form out of My own free will. They are bound to the body, while I am free of this bondage...

...The main difference is they are shoved hither and thither by desire. I have no desire but the supreme one, to make them desireless. We all belong to the same Divine principle. The Godliness, which is present in everyone in the form of a little spark, exists in Me as the full flame. It is My mission to develop every little spark of God in everyone to the fullness of Divine Flame...

...To the doubting or confused ones, I give this illustration. Those who wish to secure pearls from the sea have to dive deep to secure them. It does not help to dabble among the shallow waves near the shore and say that the sea has no pearls and all stories about them are false. Likewise, if a person wishes to secure the love and grace of this Avathar (the incarnation of God), they must dive deep and get submerged in Sai Baba...

This is His proclamation.

Sai Baba often speaks of six obstacles that prevent man from realizing his Divinity. They are lust, anger, greed, hate, jealousy and pride. The only cure for these maladies that enslave mankind is love and the freeing of oneself from worldly existence based on body-consciousness. Again, Baba says,

...Cultivate not riches, nor comforts and luxuries, but divine virtues. Speak softly and give comfort with every glance of yours. Do not be a slave to your sensual desires. Conquer lust and vanquish anger. Exile from your mind hate and jealousy. Do not take pride in your physical beauty, youth and strength because old age is waiting. In the course of time your vision will become weak, your skin will start wrinkling, and you will look like an old monkey; so, realize this body is not permanent...

...Love alone can reveal to you the Divinity latent in all. Love is God; live is God; live in love. Love is selflessness; selfishness is lovelessness. Do not waste your life pursuing the narrow interest of the self. Become what you truly are, the embodiment of love. God is interested in your heart, not your money. He is interested in your character, not your race or religion...

Love as Thought is Truth
Love as Action is Right Conduct
Love as Feeling is Peace
Love as Understanding is Non-Violence

Unni Varrier 1/28/01