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Sathya Sai Baba - An introduction
My life is my message
Sai Baba is a world teacher who brings a
universal message of love to help us in our troubled and trying times.
Millions of people have been attracted to Sai Baba after hearing about
his great love, which has brought comfort and peace to people of all
faiths, and of his miraculous powers, which support and protect people
worldwide. His example as selfless educator, healer, spiritual leader
and social reformer has inspired thousands of people around the world
to develop service programs in their communities.
Sai Baba says that
his acts of compassion and love and his miracles are a reflection of
our own divine nature. He tells us that although we are unaware of it,
our real nature is boundless love and immense inner strength, and that
the purpose of our life is to realize our identity as pure, limitless
love. We come to this realization through our relationship with God,
which is deepened through loving service to each other.
Sai Baba does not
ask for money or a following. He encourages people to live up to the
highest ideals of their own familiar traditions and religions. He
teaches that a relationship with God is best established by seeing God
in everything and everyone, and offering our best to him by loving all
and serving all. If one becomes devoted to Sai Baba, in ever-present,
deeply personal and loving relationship develops, through which we can
experience his presence in all we do. The power of Sai Baba's love
leads us to see the underlying unity (God) in all of creation. He
helps us to discover that all people are one, all religions are one,
and ever), human being is one with God. 'All are one, be alike
to everyone.'
His Life
Born in 1926 in a
remote village in Southern India, Sai Baba administered to the poor
and hungry even as a young child and was known by his peers as their
"guru." At the early age of 14 he put down his school books and
declared that his mission had begun. Although he lives in the
spiritual community Prasanthi Nilayam (Abode of the Highest Peace)
next to the village of his birth, he has gained millions of followers
on every continent in the world. His work and teachings have attracted
the attention and admiration of scientists, educators, and world
leaders, as well as people from all walks of life including the poor
and distressed. Every day he receives thousands of visitors and
devotees from around the world.
His Mission
Sai Baba's mission
is to bring love to the world and to lead us to a deeper awareness of
the unity of all people and faiths. He awakens devotion to God and
inspires us, through the example of his own life, to lead a good and
virtuous life. 'I have come to light the lamp of love in your
hearts, to see that it shines day by day with added luster.'
His Values
Sai Baba supports
all the major world religions, for they all teach the importance of
loving God, fearing sin, and establishing morality in society. They
all teach the importance of unity and love. Love is developed by
practicing the essential human values of truth, right action, peace,
love, and nonviolence.
If there is righteousness in the heart,
there will be beauty in the character.
If there is beauty in the character, there will be harmony in the
home.
If there is harmony in the home, there will be order in the nation.
If there is order in the nation, there will be peace in the world.
Sathya Sai Baba
His Programs
In India, Sai
Service groups regularly conduct poor-feedings and sponsor free
medical camps. Recently, 6000 of the poorest rural villages were
adopted and provided comprehensive education, health and social
service support. Sai Baba says, 'Hands that serve are holier
than lips that pray.'
Millions of
visitors are accommodated yearly at Sai Baba's ashram, being provided
lodging, food, and free medical care. Thousand of volunteers serve
selflessly. Sai Baba resides and centers his activities here,
overseeing meetings, conferences, and service programs. Visitors may
see Sai Baba as lie makes daily appearances and delivers his
discourses. Many visitors are granted personal interviews.
Free Education
and Health Care
Adjacent to his
ashram, is the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, a
highly acclaimed university of which Sai Baba is chancellor. Seventeen
hundred students attend free of charge, pursuing undergraduate and
graduate degrees in many fields, including the Sciences, Humanities,
and Commerce.
In November 1992,
Sai Baba inaugurated the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical
Sciences, a state-of-the-art 300 bed hospital. It is providing
sophisticated medical treatment, including cardiac surgery and kidney
transplants to the poor people of the region, and the needy anywhere,
free of charge.
World Wide Programs
There are over a
thousand Sathya Sai Baba Centers in a hundred countries,
sponsoring spiritual, educational, and service programs. People of
different backgrounds, walks of life, and personalities are stimulated
to find unity in their apparent diversity and to operate as a loving
family. It is not enough just to hear about the underlying oneness of
all; people must ,act in order to understand this truth. Center
activities include devotional singing, study groups, children's
educational programs, service projects (e.g. feeding the poor,
visiting the sick), and retreats and conferences. All people are
welcome to participate in this adventure of unity and love, free of
charge.
Learning More
The relationship
with Sai Baba is direct and without any intermediaries. It is heart to
heart. You can learn about his life and teachings at one of his
centers More than 200 books in 20 languages have been written by and
about him. His message and practical programs are compatible with all
major world religions. You can even approach Sai Baba directly.
Millions have visited him at his ashram in Southern India. But even if
you do not visit him in person, you may experience, as millions have,
extraordinary signs of his love and support and his unmistakable
presence in your daily activities. To everyone searching for answers
he says, 'Take one step tpward me. I will take ten toward you.
Shed one tear for me and I will wipe a hundred from your eyes.'
The symbol of the
Sathya Sai Baba organization represents unity the oneness of all
people and all faiths.
There is only one family,
the family of man.
There is only one language;
the language of the heart.
There is only one religion;
the religion of love.
There is only one God;
and He is omnipresent.
Sathya Sai Baba
From a
booklet distributed by:
Sathya Sai Book
Center of America
305 West Ist Street
Tustin, CA 92680
714-669-0522
714-669-9138 (fax)
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