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Compassion Come in Human Form
I proceeded forth and came from
God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. (Jesus in John
8:42.)
I came down from heaven, not
to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. (Jesus in
John 6:38.)
[It was Christmas eve at
Prasanthi when word circulated among Christian devotees that Swami
had invited them to the Mandir to talk to Him about the life and
significance of Jesus. The devotees rushed to the temple to get as
close to Baba as possible. When all was quiet, Swami began.]
Introduction
Sai: Two thousand years ago, when
narrow pride and thick ignorance defiled mankind, Jesus came as
the embodiment of Love and Compassion and lived among men, holding
forth the highest ideals of life. (1) Jesus was to shatter the
darkness that [enveloped] the world. (2)
[He] was great because He showed
the value of Sadhana and the equanimity that can come through
Sadhana. (3) Jesus passed through the entire process and inspired
all mankind by His example and teachings, to be generous and kind,
detached and discriminating, and to bring Light and Love to all.
He attracted people by His miracles and transformed them into
apostles and exemplary servants of man. (4) [He] attempted to
rebuild mankind on the basis of Love [but] was crucified by little
men who feared that their tiny towers of hate and greed [would] be
toppled by his teaching. (5)
Jesus was a karana-janma, a
Master born with a purpose, the mission of restoring Love, Charity
and Compassion in the heart of man. He had no attachment to the
self, nor paid any heed to joy or sorrow, loss or gain. He had a
heart that responded to the call of anguish, and he went about the
land preaching the lesson of Love. His life was a libation for the
upliftment of humanity. (6)
The name Jesus itself is not the
original one. (7) [His] original name was Isa which, when repeated,
is Sai. Isa and Sai both mean Isvara, God, the Eternal Absolute,
the Sath-Chith-Ananda. In the Tibetan manuscript at the monastery
where Isa spent some years, his name is written as Issa, which
means the Lord of all living beings. (8)
Three Stages of
Self-Realization
Jesus spent all his life in the
service of mankind. ... While engaged in service to the diseased
and the down-trodden, he announced himself as the 'Messenger of
God'. (9) Like most seekers, he first searched for the Divine in
the objective world, but he soon realised that the world is a
kaleidoscopic picture created by one's own imagination, and sought
to find God within himself. (10) Jesus wandered purposefully in
lonely places for twelve long years, engaging himself in study,
spiritual exercises and meditation on God. (11) He asked himself,
"Am I just a messenger, or am I more closely related to God, a
part of God with the Divine as my essence?" (12)
For eight [of those] years
following his 16th birthday, he travelled in India, Tibet, Iran,
and Russia. He was variously regarded as a beggar or as a sanyasi.
Jesus had no money. His parents were very poor and practically
abandoned him at an early age. (13) His stay in the Himalayan
monasteries in Kashmir and in other centres of eastern asceticism
and philosophical inquiry, gave him greater awareness. From the
attitude of being a Messenger of God, he could now call himself
the Son of God. The bond of relationship increased: the 'I' was no
more some distant light or entity; the light became a part of the
'I'. (14)
With the body-consciousness
predominant, he was a messenger. With the heart-consciousness in
the ascendant, he felt a greater nearness and dearness, and so the
son-father bond seems natural at this stage. (15) At the end of
this period, he returned to the society of men and announced "I am
the Son of God". (16) Thus he moved closer to God. (17)
In Kashmir [he] met many
exponents and practitioners of the adwaitha system of thought,
which declares that there is only One God. (18) He realised the
One-ness beneath all diversity. (19) As
the Atman-Consciousness was
established, Jesus could declare, "I and My Father are One. (20) [He
saw] that he was Christ in his 25th year. (21)
Click here to read the story of this
photograph
His Mission to Israel
Jesus was compassion (karuna)
come in human form. He spread the spirit of compassion and
conferred solace on the distressed and the suffering. (22) [He]
was honoured by the populace as Christ, for they found in his
thoughts, words and deeds, no trace of ego. He had no envy or
hatred, and was full of love and charity, humility and sympathy.
(23) [He] taught simple practical lessons in spiritual advancement
for the good of mankind; He manifested Divine Powers to instil
faith in the validity of His teachings; He marked out the path
that can confer on men the sweet nectar of Ananda. He exhorted
people by precept and example to cultivate the virtues of charity,
compassion, forbearance, love and faith. These are not separate
and distinct qualities, they are only the many facets of the
Divine Man, which he has to recognise and develop. (24)
Jesus found that scholars and
ritualists had befogged the true religion. ... Jesus found that
people were running after glass beads, imagining them to be
diamonds and attaching great value to them. (25) When [he] entered
the precincts of the Temple of Jerusalem, and found people
sacrificing doves and birds and other living beings to God, he
released the birds and condemned the acts of blood. The priests
and scholars resented his act and argued that the God in whom they
had faith accepted the sacrifice and was propitiated thereby. They
asked him for evidence of his authority to interfere with the
dictates of religion. Christ went on to tell them a parable.
Once there was a farmer who had
two sons. He asked his first son to go out to the field so that he
may watch the crops ready for harvest. The son refused to obey him.
Thereupon he asked the second son, and he readily agreed. But what
really happened was, [when] the second son later calculated the
bother and the sleeplessness which the watching will bring to him,
he did not go. The first son later repented for his refusal to do
as bidden, he went and watched the crop. Now, Christ asked, who
among these two pleases the father more, the son who declared his
assent by word of mouth and disobeyed in action or he who
disobeyed by word of mouth but obeyed in action? You obey in words
but disobey in action. My action reveals that I do acts which God
has commanded. You are your own witness, whether you follow the
dictates of the Divine Father, I have greater authority than you,
for your action shows that you disobey whereas my action proves
that I follow His commands. (26)
The Jews held the rituals and
regulations laid down by the prophets in the scriptural texts as
valid for all time and so they held the teachings of Jesus wrong.
They were not moved by personal hatred towards Jesus. This problem
arises in every age - the conflict between the letter and spirit -
the doctrines that are held to be holy, the various do's and don'ts
that have to be scrupulously followed and the underlying Truth. In
the Vedic Faith also, one can find this conflict between the
upholders of ancient tradition and the promoters of deeper
understanding. (27)
The priests of the holy temples
of Jerusalem had become corrupt and commercialised. They had
deteriorated into proud and selfish men. Jesus condemned them and
tried to root out the evil practices. For all forms were in the
eyes of Jesus, Divine Forms, and he could not tolerate any action
which belied this status, So, when asked by people who he was, he
could reply, "I and my Father are One". (28) [These]
tradition-minded and egoistic men considered Jesus a false prophet
and they tried by every means to thwart his mission. Jesus,
however, did not waver. Faced with opposition, he continued to be
an example of living Truth, and to purify society. (29)
Jesus had 12 disciples, most of
whom had faith in him and lived his teachings. (30) [But] the
disciple who was most loved, Judas by name, decided to work
against the Master, yielding to the low temptation of a few pieces
of silver. (31) He could not find joy in life after this treachery.
His mind gave him no peace: He had to seek refuge in suicide. (32)
[Meanwhile Jesus] was surrounded and bound, and crowned by the
crowd who captured Him, with a crown of thorns. (33) A thorny
fence around a tree is clear proof that the tree has edible fruits
in plenty. (34)
The Crucifixion
The Roman rulers were told that
Jesus was attempting to assert himself as king and so could be
punished for treason. Their insistence made the Governor order his
crucifixion. (35) [Jesus was] nailed to the cross by His captors.
(36) When the nails were being driven into him to fix him on the
cross, Jesus heard the voice of the Father saying, "All life is
one, my dear son; be alike to every one." Then Jesus pleaded that
those who were crucifying him be pardoned, for they knew not what
they did. Jesus sacrificed himself for the sake of mankind. (37)
Click here to read the story about this crucifix
A person bound and beaten by the
police cannot say that he has sacrificed anything, for he is not a
free man. Let us pay attention to the sacrifice that Jesus made
while free, out of His own volition. He sacrificed His happiness,
prosperity, comfort, safety and position; He braved the enmity of
the powerful. He refused to yield or compromise. He renounced the
`ego', which is the toughest thing to get rid of. Honour him for
these. He willingly sacrificed the desires with which the body
torments man; this is sacrifice greater than the sacrifice of the
body under duress. (38)
Lessons from the Life of Jesus
Derision and denunciation follow
the footsteps of the great in all ages. They haunt them like the
shadow which cannot be avoided. His own disciples turned against
Jesus, even those who adored him and hung on his words. They did
evil to him who did them good. But, Jesus wished well for those
who insulted and injured him. This is a lesson badly needed today.
No one should count the harm inflicted on him and plan revenge. He
must on the other hand return love for hatred, fraternity for
enmity. To behave otherwise is a sign of weakness, of want of
courage, of lack of faith in human goodness. Jesus won in this
holy struggle. ... We must cultivate in ourselves that conviction
and that courage. (39)
Spiritual joy, wonder,
appreciation, the Darshan of God must become the life, the natural
breath of life, the very raison d'etre of existence in the body.
This is what Jesus taught by precept and example to mankind, the
Aathmic principle which is the eternal source of Bliss. (40) His
heart melted in sympathy when he saw any one suffering. His entire
life was dedicated to service. In the interest of Truth, he laid
down his own life. Such persons are revered in the world, however
much times may change. Jesus was engaged in Satyanarayana worship
throughout his life; that is to say, he was adhering to Truth.
Among us, people celebrate the Puja once a year, and even on that
day they resort to untruth. (41)
"I am the Messenger of God", he
declared..... Yes! Each individual has to accept that role and
live as [an example] of Divine Love and Charity. (42) When you are
engaged in service, you too must feel as Messengers of God. Invoke
His Grace and His Compassion on those whom you serve. (43) Jesus
was not the only Son of God; you are all His children. Jesus and
His Father are one. You and God are also one and you can be aware
of it. (44)
Messenger and master, the two are
basically separate, and so this stage is one of dualism or dwaitha.The
son and father, though two separate entities, are bound by
affection and kindred feelings and attitudes. They are like the
whole and the part, the body and the limb. This stage is called
visishtadwaitha or qualified non-dualism. (45) When Jesus declares
that He is the Son of God, He becomes entitled to the paternal
Majesty and Power. These He can claim only when He grows in the
qualities that His Father has. As a result he attains mergence,
which leads Him to assert, 'I and my Father are one.' The
scriptures say, Brahmavid Brahmaiva Bhavathi: He who knows Brahman
becomes Brahman. (46) When the Son and the Father are One, the
stage is ... adwaitha, non-dualism. (47)
Try to be like Jesus. (48) Bring
to mind the words Jesus uttered, the advice he offered, the
warnings he gave, and decide to direct your daily lives along the
path Jesus laid down. His words must be imprinted on your hearts
and you must resolve to practise all that he taught. (49)
We are true Christians only when
we live according to the teachings of Christ and practise them in
daily life. (50) Jesus knew that God wills all. So, even on the
Cross, when he suffered agony, he bore no ill-will towards any one
and he exhorted those with him to treat all as instruments of His
will. "All are one; be alike to every one." Practise this attitude
in your daily lives. (51)
Jesus was a person whose only joy
was in spreading Divine Love, offering Divine Love, receiving
Divine Love and living on Divine Love. (52) To resurrect Love and
Compassion, you must kill jealousy and selfishness. Purify your
hearts. Earn the true mercy of Jesus. Follow the path shown by him
and reach the position he holds. (53)
The heart of Jesus was pure and
calm. Hence, it is honoured as sacred. We must make our hearts
sacred so that either we merge in Jesus or Jesus merges in us.
When we merge, it is called Bhakthi; to have Jesus awakened in us
is the path of Jnaana. (54) Have Jesus as your ideal for this. He
exhorted all to observe the basically valid teachings of the
ancient scriptures and derive peace and joy therefrom. (55)
Follow Jesus Christ. Love for
your own evolution.... Follow your chosen path. Let your own
Experience of God be your guide and master. ... Your own heart
shining with Love is God's Love. ... You are God. The true you is
God. (56)
[When Baba finished, a devotee
asked:]
Questioner: Swami, was it You
who sent Jesus into incarnation?
Sai: Yes. (57)
Jesus was Love. Sathya Sai too is
Love. (58) At the moment when Jesus was emerging in the Supreme
Principle of Divinity, He communicated some news to his followers,
which has been interpreted in a variety of ways by commentators
and those who relish the piling of writings upon writings and
meanings upon meanings, until it all swells up into a huge mess.
The statement itself has been
manipulated and tangled into a conundrum.The statement of Christ
is simple. "He who sent me among you will come again!", and He
pointed to a lamb. The lamb is merely a symbol, a sign. It stands
for the Voice -- Ba-Ba; the announcement was of the Advent of
Baba. "His Name will be Truth," Christ declared. Sathya means
Truth. "He will wear a robe of red, a blood-red robe." (Here Baba
pointed to the robe He was wearing!) He will be short with a crown
(of hair). The lamb is the sign and symbol of Love. Christ did not
declare that He will come again, He said, "He who made me will
come again." That Ba-Ba is this Baba, and Sai, the short,
curly-hair-crowned red-robed Baba is come. He is not only in this
Form, but he is in every one of you, as the Dweller in the Heart.
He is there, short, with a robe of the color of the blood that
fills it. (59)
Footnotes
(1) SSS, XI, 65. (2) SSS, XI, 65.
(3) SSS, IV, 306. (4) SSS, X, 108. (5) SSS, VI, 194. (6) SSS, X,
292. 1987 Tustin ed. (7) SSBEL, 66. (8) SSS, X, 292-3. (9) SSS, X,
179. (10) SSS, X, 292. (11) SSS, XI, 67. (12) CSSB, 88. (13) SSS,
X, 11. (14) SSS, X, 292. (15) SSS, X, 292. (16) SSS, XI, 11. (17)
SSS, X, 179. (18) SSS, X, 180. (19) SSS, X, 180. (20) SSS, X, 292.
(21) CSSB, 88. (22) SSS, XI, 224. (23) SSS, X, 231. (24) SSS, VIII,
141. (25) SSS, X, 293. (26) SSS, VII, 408. (27) SSS, XI, 67-8.
(28) SSS, XI, 11-2. (29) SSS, XI, 12. (30) SSS, XI, 12. (31) SSS,
X, 373. (32) SSS, XI, 12. (33) SSS, VIII, 141. (34) SSS, X, 65.
(35) SSS, X, 293-4. (36) SSS, VIII, 141. (37) SSS, X, 294. (38)
SSS, VIII, 141. (39) SSS-N, XV, 334. (40) SSS-N, XV, 336. (41) SSS,
X, 178. (42) SSS, XI, 65. (43) SSS, X, 179. (44) SSS-N, XV, 335.
(45) SSS, X, 108. (46) SSS, X, 107-8. (47) SSS, X, 108. (48) SSS,
XI, 13. (49) SSS, XI, 65. (50) SSS, XI, 14. (51) SSS, XI, 66. (52)
SSS, XI, 13. (53) SSS, XI, 15-6. (54) SSS-N, XV, 335. (55) SSS, XI,
67. (56) SSS, XI, 15. (57) SSBEL, 152. (58) SSS, XI, 225. (59) SSS,
VIII, 144.
Key
CSSB - Conversations with Sathya
Sai Baba; SSBEL - Sathya Sai Baba: Embodiment of Love; SSS -
Sathya Sai Speaks, Old edition; SSS-N Sathysa Sai Speaks, New
edition.
Source:
'sai_devotees_worldnet', May 24, 2004 |