Sri Sathya Sai On: The Real Substance of Religion

Sri Sathya Sai at the Prasanthi Nilayam Campus Hostel

If we want to attain God, first we must understand that there is only one principle of Divinity. This one Divine nature reflects in all that we see. Each religion is like a vessel in which the sun’s reflection is visible. The vessels may have varied prices and values. But the sun that reflects in them has no variations in its worth. It remains the same. But the narrow-minded people of today think weirdly. A small illustration: there is a vessel filled with oil. The moon’s reflection is seen in the oil. Now what should be done to remove the moon’s image from that? Man tries to heat the vessel hoping that the moon will vanish. What does an intelligent person do? He analyses as to what is the basis of the reflection? It is the oil! So if oil is thrown out, the reflection of the moon will not be seen anymore. There is no use heating the vessel. Similarly, our body is a vessel. To sublimate what is reflected in this, we are putting the body through tortures and punishments. What kind of torture? Fasting! In the name of some vow to God, we stop eating food and weaken our bodies. Weakness of the body further leads to weakness of the mind. Why all this? “Aham Vaishva Naro Bhootwa Praninam Dehamashritah”. (I am within you as the fire principle.) Whatever you may consume, think you are feeding God. You shall be sanctified. Do not consume with the ego that it is you who eats and relishes. God Himself says, ‘I am Vaishvanara in each being’. So, if we maintain that feeling whatever we eat becomes an offering to God. It is God within the body that relishes what is fed. Who created the digestive system within this body? Who is responsible for birth and death? That distinguishes the man of reason. 

Starting from the Ekadashi day or any festival day, some observe fast even for 3 to 4 days and later they eat double the quantity of food! In the Madhva sect, Bhishma Ekadashi is an important occasion. Bhishma Ekadashi is a rigorous vow. Just as Bhishma himself vowed and followed a rigorous lifestyle, people observe a rigorous fast on that occasion. They do not even swallow their saliva. It is that strict. This goes on for 3 days. On the fourth day, they eat sumptuously. Madhva’s sect has a peculiar philosophy: ‘Don’t give up and if you give up, don’t take up again.’ This is their staunch nature. It is fine if such things are followed meticulously. But, all religions have their weak points. They start the Bhishma Ekadashi vow. What do they do over the 3 days of fasting? Batter and prepare flour for Dosas and let it set nicely. After the three days, the Dosas will come out deliciously fluffy. That is why this custom is mocked at as, ‘What is observed is Ekadashi, what is eaten are 40 Dosas!’ If one is prepared to eat 40 Dosas why should one fast at all? Of course, not all are like that. Only some are like that. Similarly, take the case of the Vaishnavites. What is the meaning of Vaishnavism? The one who contemplates on the all-pervading nature of God (Vishnu) is a true Vaishnavite. Vishnu itself means all pervasiveness. He is in this world spreading infinite limbs. He is found everywhere. So, if they really believe in this philosophy, how can they entertain differences among fellowmen? Thus in all religions, some of the principles are believed by the followers, but no efforts are made to practise and experience them using their faculties of discrimination and reasoning.

Students! Do not get into religious differences. There is only one God in all religions. Respect all religions with that feeling. Experience the essence of all religions in your own religion. Do not get into arguments. Do not criticise any religion. Such criticism is dangerous. You may undermine some other religion, but it ultimately amounts to undermining your own religion. Salute all beings for they are verily the forms of the Divine. 

“Sarva Jeeva Namaskaram Keshavam Pratigachhati” 

 The salutations offered to anyone reach God Himself. 

With such an equal attitude, foster love, believe in universality and attain the omnipresent Lord. This is the substance of true religion. 

Source: The Universal Religion, Discourse 16, My Dear Students Volume 2, July 23, 1989; Discourse to the students and staff at Sri Sathya Sai Hostel for Senior Students, Prasanthi Nilayam

Sri Sathya Sai: My Divine Master - By Dr. Sanjay Mahalingam

Sanjay Mahalingam with Swami at Kodaikanal (2005)

Sri Adi Sankara, in his Viveka Chudamani attributes a human birth, the desire for liberation and the protective care of a perfected sage to God’s grace (Daivanugraha Hetukam). But when the Lord, the supreme transcendent principle in a human garb Himself assures protection and care, it is not just shower of grace, but a torrent of Divine compassion. Blessed are those who have been recipients of that Divine love, on contact with which all the flux of the heart is removed, all the wounds healed and all miseries dissolved, just like overnight mist before the rising sun. Not only does Swami love us like none has ever before and none will hereafter, but He also labours incessantly and resolutely to make us understand how much He loves us. The redemption of man lies in knowing the love of God and an Avatar comes to show Man how much God loves him.

One night, due to some reason, I could not get sleep till late at night. After long struggle the Goddess of sleep finally gave me her restful embrace. The next morning Swami called me for an interview. Before I could say anything, Swami said, "You know, yesterday night I could not sleep properly for a long time". I asked "Why Swami?" Swami almost casually remarked, "When you did not get proper sleep, how can you expect Me to sleep soundly". I was too choked with emotions to say anything, but I thought within myself that why should the Almighty Lord, the Cosmic person that Swami is, be bothered about such a trivial, issue as the soundness of my sleep. Swami, as if divining my thoughts, most tenderly said,"Bangaru! You are My property and I, yours. All your pain is My pain and all your joy is My joy." What is sleep, or the lack of it, for the One who is ever awake to the absolute reality of His glorious Self! But the point being driven home is that Swami never misses an opportunity to drench us in the shower of His unfathomable and unconditional love. Only the Divine Mother in the fullness of Her Divine love can make such a statement. It is said that fortunate are those who get to enjoy a mother's love in their earthly sojourn. How is it possible then to express in words the blessedness of those who bask in the love and grace of the Divine parent?

Swami once asked me what I planned to do after my MBA. I promptly replied that I wanted to serve Swami. Swami said, "Serve Me, but I do not need servants. I am everybody's servant. You are all Masters." I vehemently protested saying that Swami was the only Master and all of us are His servants. Swami was in no mood to give in and stuck to His point. I too was not prepared to buckle down before the 'Divine blasphemy'. Points and counterpoints were exchanged. Finally Swami came up with an irrefutably sound piece of logic. He said, "I always keep doing whatever you want. My only concern is to give you joy. But do you all always do what I want? No. Now tell Me, who is whose servant?" I was left speechless, struck by the profundity of Swami's statement. Here is love incarnate willing to do anything to ensure our peace and bliss. All that He asks is that one tiny step towards Him, which when taken, He assures that He will take a thousand towards us.

There is a fundamental question that all of us have to ask ourselves though. Who is Swami? Is He this ochre robe-clad 5 feet 3 inches frame that walks in our midst filling us with joy supreme? Swami's answer is a categorical "NO".

Sage Ashtavakra and King Janaka

Once upon a time the great king Janaka, an earnest spiritual seeker, gathered all the great scholars of his kingdom in his court and asked them to reveal the ultimate truth that will appease his spiritual hunger. As the discussions were going on, a man entered the court. His looks were repulsive and his body was deformed at eight places. The entire court burst into laughter at the sight of this terrible looking man. A smile escaped even the lips of king Janaka. Seeing everyone laugh, the man, a sage named Ashtavakra burst out into laughter himself. On being asked the reason for his behaviour, sage Ashtavakra said that he was laughing at the plight of the king who expected to find the ultimate truth in this assembly of cobblers. This was more than the king could take, for nobody could get away after calling the most esteemed scholars of his kingdom cobbler. He demanded an explanation from the sage. Ashtavakra thundered back, "Oh King! Cobblers cannot see beyond leather and these so called scholars cannot see beyond this body, a leather bag full of bones, fat, blood and filth. They cannot see my reality as the ever resplendent, effulgent, undecaying Atman." This struck a chord somewhere deep in the king's heart and he immediately recognised Ashtavakra as a man of intense realisation and fell at his feet. What followed next was a wonderful exposition of the highest Advaitic principles that we today call the Ashtavakra Gita.

The above story illustrates the folly of identifying oneself or others with the transient ephemeral body. Then, who is Swami? Swami says that He is the one Eternal Divine Principle, the real Self of all, the substratum of the entire universe, the one existence. Swami does not stop at that. He says again and again that the eternal Atman is not only His reality but ours too. In fact there is no 'His' or 'our'. Swami repeatedly demolishes by His nectarine words and, on close observation, by His actions too, any idea of a separate individual existence. All that ever existed, exists now or will ever exist is the one universal consciousness. Swami see Himself everywhere. In fact, He never recognises anything other than Himself. He sees any misery anywhere as a remnant of disharmony in His own self and rushes to alleviate it. Swami does not 'love' others. He is others. Once talking to boy Swami made a remarkable revelation. He said, "Boys! As I see you all, I can only see an ocean of light, the light of universal consciousness".

The story is told of a man, who used to make out his meager living by begging and used to beg standing at the same place, day after day, month after month. The man spent his entire life begging. When he finally passed away, it was thought wise to bury him on the same spot where he spent his life begging. When barely a few feet were dug, the clink of metal was heard, and to everybody's utter surprise a huge treasure was found. The treasure, when excavated was found to be great enough for seven generations to roll in wealth and luxury. How pitiable was the beggar's situation that standing on wealth immeasurable, he spent his life begging and in abject penury! How pitiable is our state that being the inheritors of Bliss Infinite we spend our life in misery begging from the world little sense pleasures! If only the beggar had stopped begging and dug a little, all his problems would have been solved forever. If only we stop running after the world and dig into our 'selves' all our suffering too shall cease and forever. Nobody pointed out to the beggar of our story his folly. We have our Swami, not only showing us the way all the time but also assuring all help and guidance, nay much more. "Take one step towards Me and I will take a thousand towards you, you do your best, I will do the rest", says He. If there ever was an opportune time to stop 'begging' and start' digging', it is now.

- Dr. Sanjay Mahalingam

Alumnus and Doctoral Research Scholar (2002-2008);
Currently, Faculty, Department of Management & Commerce
Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning
Prasanthi Nilayam Campus

Source: Sai Nandana 2005 (80th Birthday Issue)

"Do You Eat Almonds?"

November 30, 1997

After interview, Swami came out and distributed clothes to the group of children from Zambia.

Swami: (To a hospital boy – the former students of Bhagavan working in the Super Speciality Hospital are referred to so) One doctor tells that almonds have cholesterol and another tells that almonds remove cholesterol and that he even eats ten of them daily.

Hosp. Boy: Swami, north Indians are used to it.

Swami: One doctor says that even having one is not good. Ten grams of energy is needed everyday. One almond has only 2 grams of energy and hence two to three of them can be taken per day. You can soak them in water at night and have them in the morning.

Hosp. Boy: Lot of heat, Swami.

Swami moved to the U.G students sitting with the card for the table tennis matches, which were beginning in the evening.

Swami: (Looking at the card) What is this? (Pointing at the table drawn in the card) What is this?

Students: Table, Swami.

Swami: Ping-pong?

Students: Yes, Swami.

Swami: I used to play it before. I played with Krishnan. He was an expert in that game. (Swami indicated to show that Krishnan was fat now.) I defeated him 3-0.

Hosp Boy: Swami, there is a photograph also. (Swami acknowledged the fact that there is a photograph of Him playing table tennis.)

Sri Sathya Sai playing Table Tennis

Student:  Swami, You played.

Swami: Yes, I played and I won too. Now, no touch.

Student: Swami, Padanamaskar.

Swami: Padanamaskar, that I will give. (Then Swami moved and suddenly turned back and removed the buds of roses from the card and threw it to the students.) Chinna buds Edusthai. (Small buds will cry.)

Swami: (To two teachers) Is there cholesterol in Badam (almonds)?

Teacher 1: Yes, Swami it is there.

Teacher 2: No, Swami.

Swami: In olden days doctors used to tell that there was cholesterol in Badam (almonds), but  nowadays doctors tell that there is no cholesterol. One doctor eats 10 Badams daily.

Teacher 1: Swami, if Badam is soaked in water, kept overnight and eaten in the morning, it is good.

Swami: You should also remove its skin.

Teacher: Yes Swami, the skin should be removed. It should be soaked in water, so that there is no oil in it.

Teacher 2: Swami, daily I eat Badam.

Swami: You eat?  How many?

Teacher: Daily 8.

Swami: Very good boy. Live a happy and long life. (To the hospital boy)  He eats 8 per day.

So saying Swami moved to the portico.

Source: Students with Sai: Conversations (1991-2000)

The Need for Cross-Functional Training for New Recruits: Sri Sathya Sai Perspective

One who conducts oneself with self-discipline, irrespective of one’s profession, can be construed as the real business manager. One who is harmonious with others, well-mannered, and skilled in inculcating similar qualities in other people is the real business manager. Business managers are of two types depending on the nature of their work: 

1. Those that discharge certain line management functions like production, marketing, distribution, transportation and maintenance.
2. Those that undertake other staff management functions like finance, human resource management and public relations.

Whatever be the function of management, ‘Man-Management’ is the undercurrent in every functional area and is essential for the success of every manager. In the field of management, one frequently encounters Customer Management. A manager is responsible for enhancing the amount of production and also the income of the organisation. For this, he must be an expert at identifying those items that have high demand among the consumers and take necessary steps to increase the production of such goods.
 

Initially, the freshly recruited executives at the entry level are assigned tasks only in one particular department, which may not be appropriate. It may not be conducive to the advancement of both the individual and the organisation. The probationer can be on job-rotation for some time in various functions of the organisation. The trainee executive should also be exposed to the technical aspects of the job. This makes him familiar with all aspects of business. Financial Management is an important subject which is not imparted to all in sufficient detail. Efforts should be made by all budding managers to get a fair understanding about Financial Management. 

Distribution Management is another important area. The distribution of products in the market and the target consumers to whom they must be distributed are important issues which must be understood by the new recruits. General knowledge is to be applied here. Lack of knowledge about Distribution Management is responsible to some extent for the loss in revenue. Similarly, Marketing Management, production and transportation are also essential. Fresh executives must evince interest in every field of business and acquire the basic knowledge, information and skills pertaining to these essential functional areas of business management. They must also be familiarised with certain engineering aspects of business and marketing. When such (two or three month) rotation-based grounding is given to new recruits, they would become suitable candidates ready to shoulder greater responsibilities. With such an exposure, the freshly-recruited executive gains hands-on experience in each and every function of management. He can then be promoted to the next level in the hierarchy.

Source: In Search of Excellence in Man Management: An Indian Perspective, Chapter 15, Man Management: A Values-Based Management Perspective – Based on the Discourses of Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Sri Sathya Sai's Message to Bangalore during the 60th Birthday Celebrations at Brindavan

Saturday, December 07, 1985 to 
Sunday, December 15, 1985

Darshan at the Sai Ram Shed

The Sri Sathya Sai Organisation of Karnataka State organised at Brindavan, a week-long celebrations observing the 60th Birthday of Bhagavan from the 7th to the 15th of December 1985. Bhagavan reached Brindavan on 7th December where He was accorded a traditional welcome. The members of the Karnataka Trust, members of the Organisation, the staff and the students of the Brindavan Campus of SSSIHL, led Bhagavan in a procession to the Mandir amidst Vedic chants.

The Governor of Karnataka and his wife, Sri A. N. Banerjee and Smt. Banerjee, Sri Jagannatha Setty, Chief Justice of Karnataka and Prof. V. K. Gokak were present at the felicitation function held at Brindavan on the 9th. The veteran violin maestro Prof. V.C. Jog gave a recital. The well-known dance troupe ‘Prabhat Kala Vidari’, presented a dance drama in the college auditorium on 10th.

Darshan to devotees gathered in the Sai Ram Shed

Bhagavan addressed the elite of Bangalore city at the Chowdaiah Memorial Hall in Bangalore, on the 11th. The Chief Justice of Karnataka, Sri Jagannatha Setty, was the Chief Guest on this occasion. He expounded on the meaning if real equality, which the systems of socialism and communism cannot provide. Bhagavan said:

"Real equality among men has to be achieved not by the equal distribution of material things but by the cultivation of love, which promotes a sense of the Divinity that is inherent in all beings. In this land of Bharat, through all the vicissitudes of history, Truth has been regarded as the highest value to be cherished by man. This is the essence of the cultural heritage that has been given down to us as Sanatana Dharma. The ancient sages emphasized the importance of Karma Yoga, the discharge of one's duties in life in a dedicated spirit. Through Karma Yoga man achieves control of the senses and develops the qualities of universal love, forbearance and compassion.

Everyone should realise that the body has been given to us for performing selfless service. It should also be realised that nothing in creation is intended for the exclusive use of any one person. We should therefore discard the feeling: "These things have been given for my exclusive use, they are my own." 

There has been talk of achieving equality in society. The equal distribution of wealth through socialism is declared as the ideal, but is it possible to bring about such equality? Even if material wealth is distributed equally, can you ensure equality in desires and aspirations? Only when you have equality in terms of desires and aspirations can you get true equality. By taking away a part of a rich man's property and giving it to a poor man, you may give satisfaction to the latter, but what about the dissatisfaction caused to the man who has been deprived? You must look beyond material things to the Supreme Being who is the provider of all things. When you recognise the One as present in all beings and respect everyone as a manifestation of the Divine, you will achieve equality in the true sense of the term. All those who claim to be Bharatiyas should strive to bring about this kind of equality through love for all beings. 

A life without love is meaningless. The more you love, the more it grows. True love should be distinguished from attachment either to persons or things. Attachment is based on selfishness. Love is based on selflessness. Love is the fruit which is born from the flower of your good deeds. Only when we engage ourselves in selfless service can we experience the essence of this pure love. 

There is considerable progress today in various fields - scientific, economic, political and so on, but all man's actions are motivated by selfishness. Man has become a plaything in the hands of his own selfishness. There is no unity among men. Unity can come only through Tyaga (sacrifice), not through the pursuit of desires and comforts. You must cultivate charity, which does not mean giving some money to a person in need or to an organization. Charity calls for the removal of all evil thoughts that are within you and development of a largeness of spirit. Charity will confer Purity, and through Purity, Unity will be achieved. Once you have Purity and Unity, you can realise Divinity. 

When you look around today you find that there is little evidence of sacrifice for the sake of society. A person may call himself a great devotee, or Sadhaka or scientist, but without a spirit of sacrifice there is nothing great in him. Seva (service) is the salt which lends savour to life. The spirit of sacrifice imparts fragrance to living. One may live for 60, 70, or 80 years but it will have no meaning unless his life has been devoted to the ennobling of one's character and rendering devoted service to others. What you must aspire for are not buildings, positions, factories or industries. A good character is the greatest wealth you can acquire. More vital than the five Pranas (life breaths), Satya, Dharma, Shanti, Prema and Ahimsa are the vital life-breaths for every one. Of these the greatest is Prema (Love). Fill yourself with love. Love should express itself in service to society. You should look upon society this way. We exist for society and society exists for the good of all. Try to sanctify your life by doing service and spreading joy and comfort all around."

Narayana Seva was organised at Brindavan on the 12th morning. The Bal Vikas students presented a cultural programme that evening. The singers Smt. B.K. Sumitra and Smt. Vani Jayaram performed before Bhagavan.

Karnataka Raj Bhavan - Governor's Residence

Bhagavan was the Guest of Honour in a function held at the Raj Bhawan (Governor's residence) on the 13th December. Ashoknath Banerji the Honourable Governor of Karnataka hosted Bhagavan. 

Later, Bhagavan addressed the concluding session of a two day seminar at the College Auditorium in the Brindavan Campus on the 14th. This seminar was arranged by the Directorate of College Education of Karnataka. Bhagavan said:

"Educational institutions have the responsibility to give to society well educated persons who are competent and who are men of integrity and who can be relied upon to serve society with devotion and competence. The crisis in the educational field is well-known. Many attempts have been made to bring about changes in the educational system but it is forgotten that what gives education its true value and significance is its moral and spiritual content. In a world in which many technical and scientific changes are taking place, a balance has to be maintained between modernity and spiritual traditions and heritage of the country. The link between education and employment which has remained from the days of Macaulay has to be broken. Education should be for life and not merely for earning a living.

Without emphasis on character, educational institutions have become the abodes of indiscipline and disorder. Who is responsible for this condition? Teachers who are unable to understand the workings of the minds of the students are worried about how to deal with the situation. The students have no sense of discipline or respect for teachers. Both students and teachers are confronted with managements who are not primarily concerned with the real purpose of education. The result is we have students who indulge in agitations and teachers who are discontented. The managements for their part complain against the Government, but it is not the teachers alone or the students or the management or the government who are to be held responsible for this state of affairs.

The parents of the students have forgotten their own responsibility for developing in the young the right attitudes and behaviour. In the past, the family was the first institution in which the students imbibed the culture and traditions of the nation through stories about the great sages, saints and heroes of the past. By too much indulgence the parents are also allowing the students to have their own way and ignore what is good, noble and virtuous.

The teachers do not impart to the students the essential values of life to enable them to discriminate between what is right and what is wrong, what is true and what is false. Most of the problems in our country are created not by the uneducated or the illiterate but mainly by the educated persons. The reason is the educated persons have not had the right type of education.

There is too much interference by the Government in the educational system which accounts partly for the prevailing evils. Attempts to tinker with the system by altering the number of years at school and the number of years at college do not effect any fundamental changes. Whether it is 10 + 2 + 3 or 10 + 3 + 2 makes no difference to the end product of the system. The change in fact should begin from primary level when the children are in their most impressionable years. It is at that stage that discipline and moral values should be inculcated. Students who have been moulded on right lines in the early years by being filled with examples from our cultural heritage would develop into ideal citizens.

At the higher levels of education the major problem is caused by politics and the holding of elections in college associations. Elections to student bodies should go. They invoke not only considerable waste of money but result in divisions and conflicts between students. Changes are needed also with regard to examinations. Frequent postponement of examinations has become the bane of the educational system. The educational authorities should see that all examinations in colleges are completed by the first week of April so that the results are announced in the first week of June and all colleges are re-opened for the new academic year by the last week of June. Only then will students be able to plan their further studies. 

Teachers for their part should regard their vocation as a sacred duty. They have the responsibility to mould the future generations of young students both by what they teach and by their example. These teachers should inspire the students by example, by the way they live outside the classroom. If there are such teachers there will be no cause for students to go assay. One of the principal aims of education must be to make students self-reliant. They should not become degree holders going around begging for jobs.

I hope that you will devote yourselves to your duties with greater vigour and enthusiasm and bring about a transformation in the students. It should make them useful and worthy citizens of this great country."

The seven day celebrations concluded with a music performance by Smt. Vani Jayaram on the 15th.

Source: Sri Sathya Sai Digvijayam, Part 1 (1926-1985)