Experiencing Divinity

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Experiencing divinity

The life and message of Sathya Sai Baba

"Where is God? You are God. You are all God. You are trying to realize your true

self and you realize you are only God, a spark of the same flame." This was the

message of Sathya Sai Baba, delivered by The Hon. P.N. Bhagavati, Deputy

Chairman, International Human Rights Committee of the United Nations, and

former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of India. He had traveled from India

to Washington and New York to fulfill UN obligations and extended his stay to

come to Chicago on April 17, where he appeared before hundreds of Sathya Sai

Baba devotees who gathered at the Chicago Sheraton Hotel & Towers.

Many believe Sathya Sai Baba is the avatar (divine being) of this age. Born on

November 23, 1926, in Puttaparthi, a small, remote village in South India, he

demonstrated exceptional qualities of wisdom, compassion and generosity at an

early age. He would take his meals outside to share with beggars on the street.

At the age of seven he began to compose spiritual songs that were performed at

religious festivals. He exhibited psychic powers by converting energy to

matter, materializing objects such as candy and pencils for his playmates, or

he would pick a variety of fruits from the same nonfruit-bearing tree. At the

age of 14 he renounced his education to fulfill his dharma of serving humanity

and spreading truth.

Now, every day, hundreds of seekers from all over the world come to Sathya Sai

Baba's ashram in southern India to find solace and inspiration. His teachings

are based on truth (that God pervades and permeates all creation),

righteousness (right action based on truth in all circumstances), peace (found

within one's inner core), love (which is God, who encompasses, pervades,

permeates and who is everything) and non-violence (wishing well for all

humanity and practicing non-injury in thoughts, words and deeds). Since all is

God, we too can experience divinity.

Sathya Sai Baba does not direct followers to any particular religion. Rather, he

urges people to continue to follow the religion of their choice and/or

upbringing, saying "Let the glories of God be sung in all languages and in a

variety of tunes."

Sathya Sai Baba continues to materialize objects-often sacred ash which has

healing and spiritual powers-but not to show off or to prove his spirituality.

"My miracles are my calling cards," he says. "I give the people what they want

so that they will give me what I want, their love of God."

No money is charged nor are donations solicited. Through the generosity of his

followers, however, he has built an ultra-modern 300-bed hospital, which

performs highly specialized operations such as open-heart surgery and kidney

transplants. There is no charge for care.

In 1994 Sathya Sai Baba initiated a project to provide an adequate supply of

pure water to 1.5 million inhabitants of his state who were living in drought

conditions. The Prime Minister of India came to inaugurate the project.

Sathya Sai Baba has established a model educational system for primary grades up

through PhD degrees. Again, no fees are charged, and admission is open to all,

regardless of race, religion or economic condition. Sathya Sai Baba's system of

"integral education" is designed to foster self-

discipline and pro-social conduct. Students are required to take courses on

morality and spirituality and to devote several hours each week to community

service.

"Love all, serve all," is one of Sathya Sai Baba's directives. When we have

unconditional love, serve humanity and surrender to God's will, then we realize

our true identity, which is divinity. Jesus said, "I am the messenger of God. I

am the son of God. I and my father are one." Zoroaster has said, "I am in the

light. The light is in me. Ultimately I am the light." All religions point to

the same truth, and the basic truth is God.

Sathya Sai Baba says, "We do not seek communion with God. We seek reunion with

him from whom we have emanated. God, which is in the core of your being, is

within your grasp, provided that you extend your hand to him. Be sincere and be

aware of your true self within yourself."

His message continues, "From now on, lead a life without a trace of anger and

jealousy. "Let your heart be soft like butter. Let your mind be cool like

moonlight, and let your words be sweet like sugar.... Identify yourself with

the same trials and tribulations and suffering as other human beings,

irrespective of race or color.... Recognize every human being like yourself

with the same hopes and aspirations, with the same emotions and the same

indwelling divinity."

http://www.yogachicago.com/may99/saibaba.shtml

COLLECTION: PREETHAM SAI P.V.

MANGALORE,INDIA