Sri Sathya Sai: A Zoroastrian View - By Dr. Keki Mistry

Zarathushtra

“I have come not to spread any cult or religion but to awaken the divinity inherent in man. If you are a Christian, be a good Christian; if you are a Muslim, be a good Muslim; if you are a Zoroastrian, be a good Zoroastrian; if you are a Hindu, be a good Hindu, a good Jain, a good Buddhist, a good Sikh and so on”. Thus spoke Sri Sathya Sai Baba.

A beautiful story on the Universality of Divinity goes like this: When Lord Zarathushtra’s earthly life was drawing to a close he confided this prospect to a band of his devotees. They pleaded with Him and said, ‘Master, do not leave us. We will be orphaned.’ Zoroaster smiled and said. ‘Where am I leaving? I am always with you. Know Me in my good souls who come after Me, in this climate and in other climates, in this region and in other regions; all good thoughts, all good words, all good deeds are mine for they all belong to Me.’

This universality of humanity, this oneness of all creation, this expression of Love for all is a theme that runs through all world religions; and Satya, Dharma, Shanti, Prema, Ahimsa – the central core of Sanatana Dharma, is the very essence of Sri Sathya Sai’s teachings - ‘Love all, Serve all. Recognise that you are all divine, realise this truth. Knowing that all are one, be alike to everyone.’ When Zoroastrians meet or leave they say “Sahibji”. They greet the “Sahib”, the divine spark, the “Farohar” within each and every one. Every Sai devotee recognises the Sai within each and everyone and greets each other with “Sai Ram”.

A Zoroastrian is enjoined to be a soldier in God’s army, treading fearless the path of Asha (Truth). Bhagavan Baba often enjoins us, “Follow the master, face the Devil (all untruth), fight to the end, finish the game.”

Dr. Keki Mistry (behind) with Sri Sathya Sai at Mumbai in 1992; Also seen (right) is fellow Parsi and eminent jurist - Nani Palkhivala

One of my most vivid memories is Bhagavan Baba’s conversation with our Zoroastrian High Priest at the thread ceremony of my son which Baba graciously attended. The Zoroastrian Parsis wear the sacred thread (the janoee) around the waist. Baba mentioned that previously all janoee were of sheep’s wool like the Parsi thread (Kusti). Subsequently, economics dictated that janoee be of cotton thread. After my son’s thread ceremony when the High Priest had tied the sacred thread around the waist of my son, Bhagavan Baba sweetly asked the High Priest if He could also gift a Janoee to my son Rushitum. He then materialized a janoee and said that respecting the Zoroastrian custom, He is tying the janoee around the waist of my son only as a symbol of the moment. This event is captured in a photograph which is reproduced in the book “Vision of the Divine”. “Know me in my Good Souls,” said Zarathushtra. Bhagavan Baba represents the universal soul of all of us. Today my trying to be a good Zoroastrian is reinforced a million times by Baba’s teachings. Baba represents the living symbol of Divinity around which all mankind irrespective of religion could rally to recognise the Divinity inherent in them. A Divinity all religions speak of is represented on Earth today in living form by Sri Sathya Sai Baba.

We are grateful to Baba for reinforcing in us the gift of Vahu Manu - the good mind so that we think good thoughts, speak good words and do good deeds, walk the path of Asha or Truth without fear or favour with the Divine Name on our lips, love in our hearts and good actions flowing through our hands.

About the Author:

Dr. Keki M Mistry is a Consultant Orthodontist, known both nationally and internationally, and has received many awards; a Sai devotee for last 40 years; Member of the Sri Sathya Sai Trust of Maharashtra.

Source: Sai Sparshan 2005 (80th Birthday Offering)