THE FAMILY OF HUMANITY <By Dr Sara Pavan>

[Guest guest]

materialised Vibhuti and poured it into my hands at Darshan when we visited

Prasanthi Nilayam in December, 1984. Nonplussed, I couldn’t respond to Swami’s

enquiry and the Lord continued gliding onwards, leaving His footprints on the

golden sand. I couldn’t solve the riddle until I read a letter from Rev. Ted

Noffs that was awaiting our return from India. Only then I realised what Swami

had meant when He asked me that question and I inferred that Swami wanted me to

meet up with Rev. Ted Noffs. In that letter Rev. Noffs invited me to

participate in the 21st anniversary celebration of the founding of the Wayside

Chapel. Swami says, “It is good to be born in a church, but it would be sad if

you die in the same church!” He also stresses the need for expansion. In His

60th Birthday Message Bhagavan asked: “What is this ‘Sai Family’ you are

claiming about?” He

declared, “The whole world is One Family.” He emphasised the importance of the

‘Integration of the World Community.’ In an interview in December 1982 Swami

had blessed me to start publishing a quarterly Sai Newsletter for Australia. By

1984 we had several hundreds of rs from all around the country. In

October 1984 I received a letter from Elvie B., a r from a remote

farming countryside in Queensland. I did not pay much attention to what she had

written in her letter because I receive letters from many devotees about their

experiences of Baba. In her letter Elvie claimed that Swami ‘stood in front of

her’ during meditation and commanded her to write to me, that I should meet

Rev. Ted Noffs, the pastor of the Wayside Chapel in Kings Cross, Sydney, in

whom I would find a true spiritual friend, who cares and serves humanity beyond

human barriers. Until then I

hadn’t heard of the Wayside Chapel of Kings Cross or Rev. Ted Noffs. All I knew

about the Cross was that it was a dangerous area in the city and the hub of all

kinds of vice and crime. I had no interest whatsoever to go to Kings Cross and

even felt why I, a Hindu by birth, should be associated with a Church! Around

this time I happened to receive a parcel of books - Embodiment of Love and

Eastern View of Jesus Christ and Christianity - from Peggy Mason, then the

editor and publisher of the Sai Newsletter of U.K. and wife of Ron Laing, who

was the first president of the Sathya Sai Council of U.K. In my enthusiasm to

share Bhagavan’s Love with broadminded people like Rev. Ted Noffs, I posted a

copy of these two books to him before leaving for India to spend Christmas with

Swami. Having enshrined Swami in my heart, since 1980 I had spent most of my

spare time doing my best to serve in His Divine Mission. Now, five years later,

Bhagavan opens

another window in my life for spiritual expansion – to understudy Rev. Ted Noffs

and experience spirituality in action! Did Bhagavan have a plan thus, in

exposing me to the concept of the “Family of Humanity” and expand my spiritual

horizon through personal experience? At this point let me outline the

background of Rev. Ted Noffs and the Wayside Chapel. The Story of the

Wayside Chapel and Its 'Family of Humanity' Ted Noffs was a Methodist

minister, part of the Uniting Church in Australia, and had served the

aboriginals with love and understanding in the outback of

Australia. In 1964 the Uniting Church ventured into an experiment at Kings Cross

and asked Ted Noffs to take charge of this unique ministry for the forlorn in

the crime ridden suburb, among the ‘Godless’ people indulging in vice and

crime. Ted Noffs was free to set aside some of the ‘religious’ traditions and

constraints to carry out his unique ministry. He renovated a dilapidated old

building in Kings Cross and called it the ‘Wayside Chapel’ and flung open its

doors to all and sundry. Seeing the Chapel not even remotely having any

semblance of a Church with its pews empty and located where no one would ever

build a church or a temple, a fledgling journalist then and media personality

now, sceptically remarked, “Mr. Noffs! You may find for your congregation some

of the beatniks who live down the road.” (Beatniks were young persons in the

1960s who did not accept society’s customs and principles but who valued

personal experience

instead, and who had long hair and wore untidy clothes). It is interesting to

note that our Swami too had several such youths from America around Him in the

sixties. Ted Noffs set off to meet these youngsters the next day to see if he

might lure them to the Chapel. He told me that it was like walking into a

lion’s den, for these beatniks hated any kind of establishment, especially the

church. Ted discussed philosophy, politics and current events with the beatniks

and found them well informed and highly intelligent. As Ted was amiable they

offered him a cup of coffee, which he gladly accepted in spite of their unkempt

place and a sink full of unwashed utensils. There was no milk in the fridge and

one of them dashed out to buy some milk and Ted accompanied him to the nearby

shop. When the beatnik asked for a pint of milk Ted pulled out his wallet and

asked for six. The young man turned to Ted and

said: “Mr. Noffs! We live by a bottle of milk a day.” Ted was taken aback by the

resolve of this young man, who literally summed up the words of Jesus Christ,

“Take therefore no thought, for the morrow shall take thought for the things of

itself. Sufficient unto the day are the evils thereof.” Ted reflected upon the

happenings of the day and realised how restricted the church was. They wouldn’t

even undertake an activity without having the resources upfront. His faith in

God deepened as he reflected upon the kind of ministry Jesus had with ordinary

people and how Jesus, with faith and conviction, always looked to his Heavenly

Father to provide. Bhagavan Baba also reminds us that God will always

provide the means when we undertake noble tasks. The Chapel doors were open for

all people irrespective of creed or race, and migrant communities – Hindus,

Muslims, and Sikhs – who had no place for worship of their own those days

started using the ‘Wayside Chapel’ for their prayers which Ted Noffs would

participate in. Soon he realised the urgent need for religious amity, which

inspired him to have his own creed at the Wayside Chapel: “I am a child of

the stars. My religion, like the clothes I wear, belongs to the dust of the

centuries. My spirit is immortal. Our children are sons and daughters from an

eternal kingdom and are here to inherit the riches and resources of this planet

for a span until they journey through time and

space. I AM a Catholic, I AM a Protestant, I AM a Jew, I AM a Hindu, I AM a

Moslem, I AM a Sikh, I AM a Buddhist, Because I AM a Human and I belong to the

Universe, nothing in the world can be alien to me.” Ted Noffs later added: “The

world today is torn apart on the basis of caste, creed, colour, nationality, as

well as the socio-economic divide, and is in dire straights towards

self-destruction, needing the Einsteins and

Galileos of the spirit to show the human race a scientific basis for a spiritual

life. Religions are man-made, here today and gone tomorrow. Blessed are those

who can distinguish between religion and spirituality and abide by the

Universal Spirit of Love to build a better world for our children and their

children.” The “Family of Humanity” became functional and realistic, based not

on religious dogmas but spiritual unity as the bedrock for a caring and sharing

society through Love and Service. An outreach programme to help the lonely and

helpless, Life-education for children and the ‘Naming’ Ceremonies and Marriages

in the name of the “Family of Humanity” were pioneered by Ted in the seventies.

Bhagavan Baba has always emphasised the importance of “Brotherhood of man and

Fatherhood of God.” The weekly open forum at the Chapel became the voice of

conscience of the people on many a controversial issue in society. His

acceptance of other religions and ‘Inter-faith’ practises at the Chapel landed

Rev. Noffs on heresy charges during his ministry. Regardless, Ted continued

courageously with his work, which not only became well known throughout

Australia, but also attracted attention from other countries as well. Ted Noffs

was awarded the highest award of the country twice – ‘The Australian of the

Year’. His Life-education programme spread to several countries. The Readers

Digest of March 1986 had a feature article about the Wayside Chapel titled,

‘The Biggest Little Church in the World'. I attended the 21st anniversary of

the Wayside Chapel in February 1985. Some leading politicians and some media

celebrities were amongst the vast gathering. Ted Noffs came up to me before the

service commenced and I had to introduce myself. He was so delighted to see me

there and said, “I want you to speak

on behalf of Sai Baba on this special occasion.” What a request? I was

terrified and wished I could disappear underground! I prayed to our Lord

saying, “Swami! You have put me in this situation and you alone can save me

now,” tightly clinging to the wooden pew. Throughout the service my heart

pounded away as I continued praying to Swami. The merciful and omnipresent Lord

gave me some confidence by giving me the imagery of Swami Vivekananda at the

parliament of religions in Chicago, a century earlier. Rev. Noffs invited me to

speak thus: “I have great pleasure inviting Dr. Pavan from the Homebush Sai Baba

Centre to speak on behalf of Sai Baba.” These words were enough to put me into a

tail-spin, but I felt

assured of Swami’s help. I spoke with confidence, as if Swami had whispered into

my ears to start off thus: “Brothers and Sisters of the Family of Humanity! I

have come with a Message of Love from my Master, Sri Sathya Sai Baba, who is

God Incarnate for those who have had the experience of His Love. …” That was

enough to get started and the words were flowing as I filled my speech with

Swami’s gems. Before concluding my speech I thanked Ted Noffs for giving me

this rare opportunity to share the Love of my beloved Bhagavan with such an

august gathering. At the end of the service many of them came up to me and

embraced me and wanted to know from which book I had found such beautiful words

of wisdom. I replied they were my Master’s simple but universal teachings.

The Multi -Faith Logo specially designed by the HomebushSai Centre for the

Inaugural Service Wayside Chapel altar - Neville Fredericks who is presently

theAustralian Central Co-ordinator speaking That was the beginning of our

spiritual alliance, a true experience of Inter-faith. In July, the same year,

Ted Noffs and many senior members of the Wayside Chapel participated in our Sai

Baba Centre meeting at Homebush, Australia. They

were very much at home at our Sai centre and Ted Noffs reminded us of our common

objectives and invited us to join forces in serving the wider community. The

Homebush Sai Centre held the first Sai Baba service at the Wayside Chapel in

August 1986 with all the senior office bearers of the Sai organisation taking

part. A special Sarvadharma logo was unveiled as a mark of Unity of Faiths and

this logo has become a permanent fixture in the Chapel. The Homebush Sai Centre

has continued with this special Sai Baba service at the chapel once a year ever

since. The Sathya Sai Organisation in Sydney invited Ted Noffs to deliver the

keynote speech on Swami’s 61st Birthday celebration in Nov 1986. Rev. Noffs had

never been to Swami and yet, intuitively, was fully aware of Swami’s Divinity.

The following are just a few of the highlights of his speech: “We are

honouring a great spiritual giant who may be described only in Messianic terms.

Even if nothing else has been achieved in the world, the fact that Sai Baba has

brought a sense of spiritual unity and awareness among men of their family-hood

in itself is a great achievement. How can I speak about someone who has

influenced the world a great deal already? So often the Messiahs of the past

were recognised long after their death, but this great Master in His own

lifetime is already recognised world over, and that in itself is something! We

have in Him someone constantly

manifesting new and great things in a world full of destruction, which is a mark

of a person who has come from God. How can we celebrate His birthday? You have

to be co-workers with the Divine Power and reach the level of spirituality to

be Christ-like. Jesus was a man who became the Christ. In our outreach

programme we looked after a lonely person. He died at Concord Hospital and his

hospital records showed the next of kin as the Wayside Chapel - not a brother,

sister or any relative. If this little Chapel is the next of kin to this lonely

man, can you imagine the countless millions around the world, whose next of kin

is Sai Baba? At the end of this function you go home and feel good about your

wonderful singing (Bhajan), your children’s drama and the

variety of delicious food, and if you do nothing to help the needy in your

neighbourhood, I am sure, your Master would be very disappointed with you. You

have to reach out the needy and serve them, be a friend and helper of the

helpless people in your community.” When we reflect on the above extracts from

Ted’s speech made almost two decades ago, who had not even visited Swami, but

aware of the Avatar and His Mission of UNITY, LOVE and SERVICE, it is a

reminder that we need to put in more effort to get the most from the Avatar in

this lifetime itself. Bhagavan Baba is the Cosmic Father, come in human form to

show humanity the way to peace and prosperity through the realisation of:

ONE CASTE, THE CASTE

OF HUMANITY ONE RELIGION, THE RELIGION OF LOVE ONE LANGUAGE, THE LANGUAGE OF

THE HEART ONE GOD, HE IS OMNIPRESENT None of the Masters, Messiahs,

Prophets and Saints came to earth to start a new religion. They came to

validate the ONE ETERNAL TRUTH, ONE GOD, ONE LOVE, ONE CREATION, although

periods in history, places on earth, cultures and traditions prevalent in their

times may differ. In recorded history, Bhagawan Baba alone has so emphatically

declared that all religions are different facets of the same Truth and that the

redemption of humanity

will be by Love and Love alone. Bhagavan Baba says, “Ego will not allow two good

men to stay together and work together.” It is obvious that divisions among men

are man-made. It is human weakness and ego that has brought about such

religious multiplicity and conflicts in the entire creation, which essentially

is ONE. The dawn of this wisdom is God-realisation or Liberation from the

bondage of darkness and ignorance. Let us remind ourselves that Jesus was a Jew

and not a Christian at birth. Buddha was a Hindu and not a Buddhist at birth.

They did not start a new religion in their names. The multiplicity and

divergence that has taken place with passage of time, centuries later is

man-made. This is division, fission or break-away, which is a product of

ego. All religions are different instruments playing the ONE melody, of Love and

Unity. When the conductor brings them together, he will create a beautiful

symphony, although the instruments may appear different. The Messengers,

Messiahs, Prophets and Saints are the different instruments sent by God for man

to realise his inherent divinity. Now God Himself has come as Bhagavan Sri

Sathya Sai Baba, as the Conductor for the Divine Symphony. Millions of Sai

devotees from different religions already practise Unity of Faiths around the

globe and also are convinced beyond doubt that GOD IS ONLY ONE. The reverse of

fission or disintegration is fusion or integration. The ego of man has caused

the fission and created multiplicity - fragments that are essentially one and

the same. Love alone can bring about the fusion or integration of these

fragments. Bhagavan Baba

is Love in action. Love is His sole property and He alone has the power to bring

about this fusion and synthesis through Love. Lokha Samastha Sukhino Bhavantu -

May Everybody Everywhere Be Happy . Dr. Sara Pavan is an Anaesthesiologist

from Australia, serving at the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical

Sciences, Prashanthi Nilayam since 1993. (Sharing with Sai Love) Ram.Chugani

Ram ChuganiKobe, Japanrgcjp

for Good - Make a difference this year.