ProfAnil Kumar's Satsung Q & A -193

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FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> I think this question should not arise because spiritual

leaders may be many, but what they say is one and the same. This is my personal

opinion - wherever I go, whenever I happen to hear others' discourses, or I go

through the books of any great spiritual leader, believe me, I find only

similarities and parallels between Swami’s teachings and those others'

teachings. I never find them contradictory; I find them totally complementary.

The philosophies may differ but

spiritual content is one For example, when I read the Holy Bible, I find Swami’s

teachings being in perfect agreement. The biblical teachings are very much the

same as Sai teachings. They never oppose each other. When I read the teachings

of Ramana Maharishi, the Gospel of Ramana Maharishi is in perfect agreement

with Sai teachings. When I go through the voluminous work of Master M. on the

message of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, I find it quite similar to the message

given by Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. Therefore, the problem does not arise at

all. We can listen to anybody’s discourses, but the spiritual content will be

found to be one and the same. The religions and the philosophies may differ, so

far as the rituals and procedures and routines are concerned. But basically, the

spiritual content will be one and the

same. So far as my observation goes, this I can say with all conviction. Sai

devotees as office bearers of OTHER SPIRITUAL organisations At the same time,

the second point that I should also draw your attention to is this: We cannot

be office bearers of other spiritual organisations because as members of other

spiritual organisation/as office bearers of any other spiritual organisation,

we will

not be able to do justice to the work. As in the Sri Sathya Sai Service

organisation, we are not able to manage the time in relationship to all the

work there is to be done. We have the service wing - service activity,

spiritual wing - the devotional aspect, and the education wing with all the

spiritual content. So when we have three wings as an organisation, each wing

again divided into a number of branches and sub-branches, and each having its'

own activities, I don’t think that anybody will be able to do justice if he/she

accepts to serve as an office bearer in another spiritual organisation. It is

not that we are ideologically different; not that we are ideologically

separate. Not that we are opposed to any other spiritual organisation.

Definitely not. Do not misunderstand me in that way. We simply cannot do

justice to other

organisations. Therefore, we can listen, we can attend, nothing wrong about

that; but to be an active member of other spiritual organisations or more so as

an office bearer, it is certainly not desirable in the interest of the other

organisation, because you can’t do full justice to the work. That is

guaranteed. Establishing unity of faiths Point three: I believe, subject to

correction as it is my absolute

personal view, all those spiritual teachings which agree with Swami’s message

are valid. This will be so in the majority of cases. All my reading should

strengthen my existing faith. If I am losing my existing faith, if my faith is

going to be diluted or confused, if I choose a path which necessitates leaving

the existing path, better I hold to the existing path. This is only because

things will become confusing at one stage or other. When we can overcome that

confusion, when we have that firm conviction that nothing can confuse us, that

whatever we read will strengthen our existing faith in Swami, yes, then that

reading is most welcome because unity of religions is one of the important Sai

missions. The Sai mission is to establish the unity of faiths. In that case,

there cannot be any contradictions. We must be careful on this point so that we

don’t get confused, and just be diverted,

sometimes even perverted. HAVE One responsibility I will give you one

example: The first vice chancellor of this university happened to be Prof. V.K

Gokak. He was offered the opportunity to serve as the Chairman of Shirdi

Sansthan, Shirdi Baba’s Sansthan. He came to Swami for permission. Bhagavan

said, “No doubt you can certainly accept; you can certainly go. God is one,

after all; nothing wrong about it. But as you are here as the vice chancellor,

with so much work and responsibility, how do you expect to discharge the

expected duties of yours there in Shirdi as a convenor of Shirdi Sansthan?

Impossible! Being here with one responsibility, how can you rise to the

occasion there? It is not possible.” That’s what Swami said. So in that

respect, we have got to be extra cautious not to lose the existing

responsibility, leave alone gaining anything from the other, avoiding others'

disappointment and most importantly, avoiding confusion at any stage, at any

time. Jai Sai Ram. (Sharing With Sai Love) Ram.Chugani Ram ChuganiKobe,

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