Ten Fold Path to
Divinity
Prescribed by Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba
Sathya Sai Baba has
proclaimed Ten Principles as guidance for spiritual and personal
development. These are as follows:
1. Love and serve the homeland; do not hate or hurt the homeland
of others.
Have a sense of pride in your
motherland. Just as your mother has given birth to you, so too the
land has given birth to you. Whatever country you belong to, you
should have a sense of patriotism. You should not indulge in
criticizing other countries or people belonging to other nations.
Having trust and faith in your own country, you won't try to put down
any other country. Never bring grief or sorrow to your country. To
have pride in your own motherland is important.
2. Honor every religion; each is a pathway to the one God.
Never have hatred toward any
religion. Honor and respect all religions equally. Even as you are a
citizen of your motherland but respect all countries, also respect all
religions equally.
3. Love all without distinction; know that mankind is a single
community.
Develop a sense of the brotherhood
of man. Look upon each person as your own brother or sister. There is
only one caste, the caste of humanity. All of us belong to the human
race, so everyone is equal. Therefore, love each one equally.
4. Keep your home and its environs clean; it will ensure health
and happiness for you and for society.
Keep your own house and its
surroundings pure and clean. This hygiene will keep you healthy and
benefit your worldly life.
5. Do not throw coins when beggars stretch their hands for alms;
help them to become self-reliant. Provide food and shelter, love and
care, for the sick and aged.
Be discriminating when dispensing
charity. In the name of charity or philanthropy, we tend to do
injustice to one's country. Charity does not mean that the land should
be full of beggars. We can provide some support and means for the
beggars, but provide food, clothing and other conveniences in such a
way that you are not encouraging laziness and begging.
6. Do not tempt others by offering bribes or demean yourself by
accepting bribes.
Never give or take a bribe. Giving
bribes, or accepting bribes, is contrary to the very name of the Sri
Sathya Sai Organizations. Bear this in mind continuously.
7. Do not develop jealousy, hatred or envy on any count.
We must seek ways to solve
difficulties such as hatred, envy and jealousy. To curb this sense of
envy and jealousy, we must develop a broader outlook. Do not
differentiate on the basis of race, caste, creed, or country. Follow
your cultural and religious customs in your own home, but do not
attempt to impose them on society. Rather than this, love each person
as your own brother or sister, not seeing him or her as belonging to
another creed, religion, or country.
8. Do not depend on others to serve your personal needs; become
your own servant before proceeding to serve others.
Develop self-reliance. Members of
the Sri Sathya Sai Organizations should do things by themselves; they
should not depend on others. You may be very wealthy and have servants
and assistants to help in a few tasks, but your own work you must do
yourself. If you wish to be of service to society, serve yourself
first. One who will not serve society has no right to belong to a Sri
Sathya Sai Organization.
9. Observe the laws of the state and be an exemplary citizen.
You should never go against the law
of the land. We must follow the letter of the law. The members of the
Sri Sathya Sai Organizations should follow the law in spirit also and
be models for the government.
10. Adore God, abhor sin.
You must love God and avoid sin.
Love God incessantly.
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