Sai Baba's Teachings - The Ten Guiding Principles - the Pathway to Divinity

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Sai Baba's teachings on serving society are summarised in this, "the ten guiding principles":

1. Love and Serve your country. Do not be critical of others' countries.

"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 criticising

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 one's own motherland is important."

2. Honour and respect all religions as pathways to God.

"Never have hatred toward any religion. Honour 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 humanity as part of your family.

"Develop a sense of the brotherhood of man. Look upon each person as your own

brother. 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 home and surroundings clean.

"Keep your own house and its surroundings pure and clean. This hygiene will keep

you healthy and benefit your worldly life."

5. Help the needy with food, clothing, and shelter. Help them become

self-reliant when possible.

"Be discriminating when dispensing charity. In the name of charity or

philanthropy, we tend to do injustice to this 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. Be examples of honesty. Do not participate in any corruption such as bribery.

"Never give or take a bribe. Giving bribes, or accepting bribes, is contrary to

the very name of the Sri Sathya Sai organisations. Bear this in mind

continuously."

7. Curb jealousy, hatred and envy.

"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, not

seeing him as belonging to another creed, religion, or country."

8. Develop self-reliance.

"Members of the Sri Sathya Sai Organisations 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 organisation."

9. Observe your country’s laws and be exemplary citizens.

"Never ever go against the law of the land. Follow the letter of the law. The

members of the Sri Sathya Sai organisations 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. As long as you keep

committing sins, God will never be yours."

Source: http://www.srisathyasai.org.uk/2003/HTML/3_Teachings/Principles.htm

 

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