|
The World Teacher
At Puttaparthi, a remote village in
Southern India, is a spiritual centre known as Prashanthi Nilayam,
the abode of “Perfect Peace”. It is to this place that throngs pf
God-thirsty people come annually, to absorb the vital energies and
to receive the blessing of a Great Soul who is unique in our
times.
His name is Sri Sathya Sai Baba (born 23rd November, 1926) and his
followers number in the millions. They consider Him to be more
than a saint or sage. To them he is the Avatar; a divine being who
has come to earth to fulfil a cosmic mission. Sathya means truth,
Sai is a Persian word for Saint and Baba is a Hindu term of
endearment and respect meaning, roughly, revered father.
Amazing Person
This amazing person receives His devotees with love, performs
miracles for them, sustains their faith, gives helpful advice and
encourages them to uphold the Dharma, the creative law of life
upon which civilization is supported. He stands just over five
feet tall, has brilliant brown eyes and a voice which is sweet and
gentle while it conveys the authority of inward knowledge.
At the age of seven, He began to compose religious songs which
were performed at festivals. A year or two later, He began to
materialise things out of the air for his playmates, usually
producing candy or fruits. When He was fourteen, His full power
and glory began to emerge and he announced His mission. To His
sister-in-law, He said, “My devotees await me!”
Highest Regard
Since then His fame has increased greatly. A large and attractive
ashram has been built in Puttaparthi, more than 3000 Sathya Sai
Organisations have been built and wherever Baba speaks, the
audience number in the hundreds of thousands. He is held in the
highest regard by government leaders and the nation’s educators
because of their efforts to raise the moral and spiritual
standards of the masses.
Groups have also been formed in United Kingdom, Europe, America,
Asia and the Pacific for the purpose of spreading Baba’s work and
to offer regular scheduled meditation, chanting sessions and
opportunities to serve Humanity. Books, recording and films are
being received by seekers all over the world as the spiritual
impulse from Prashanthi Nilayam steadily infiltrates the
consciousness of men and women who are spiritually ready for
Baba’s message.
Spiritual Moral Law
And what is this message? “I have come,” Baba declares, “to
establish the spiritual and moral law once again.” “This is the
avowed purpose of every Avatar in age past – to be a manifestation
of the Divine Will and to contribute to the evolutionary thrust.
Sathya Sai Baba is known to have performed genuine miracles. To
Him, miracles are but the effects of His understanding of natural
laws. It is true that He materialises objects to build the faith
of seekers; rings, prayer beads, sacred ash (Vibhuti),
photographs, copies of the Gita, statues of gods and even food. He
does it “by an act of will”. His greatest miracles are the
transformed lives of people who come often with doubts, and leave
with love in their hearts and resolve to live a higher, better
life.
(Courtesy: FACETS, U.K.)
|