The guiding spirit

[Guest guest]

The guiding spirit

 

By N. Chandrababu Naidu,

(former chief minister of Andhra Pradesh)

 

 

Adi Sankara, Vidyaranya, Ramanuja, Ramakrishna

Paramahamsa, Vivekananda, Aurobindo, the Buddha, Jesus

Christ and Prophet Mohammed are some of the holy

manifestations who shaped the cultural and spiritual

destiny of India and the rest of the world. Our

generation is blessed to live in the presence of

Sathya Sai Baba. He did not propound a new faith, but

propounded a faith which underlines all faiths. He is

a man of infinite faith and infinite compassion.

 

'Spiritually rewarding': Naidu (right) and A.B.

Vajpayee with Baba

 

One cannot understand the significance of the life of

a mahatma from outside. His thoughts, feelings and

deeds do not belong to him—they embrace the universe.

So, the life of Baba transforms the world from within,

so that it may move to perfection. It is a life of

service, purity and wisdom, which sanctifies mankind

and confers on it blessings that last.

 

Today, devotees all over the world sing bhajans that

Baba used to sing even as a young boy. He performed

miracles and the world took many years to understand

this phenomenon of Bhagvan. As years passed he

constructed Prasanthi Nilayam (abode of tranquillity)

in Puttaparthi. It became a centre of pilgrimage for

his devotees the world over.

 

Bhagvan often says that there is only one religion,

the religion of love, and that there is only one

language, the language of the heart. To him service to

human beings is worship of God.

 

Bhagvan has provided drinking water to a number of

villages in just 12 months. Members of the Sri Sathya

Sai Sevadals provide medical aid to the suffering and

engage in other service-oriented activities.

 

Whenever I have had the privilege of a holy audience,

Baba showered his blessings on me, infused confidence

in me, inquired about the progress and development of

the state, offered his advice on many issues and

listened with deep interest and concern. Meeting him

was always a mentally elevating and spiritually

rewarding experience.

 

Let us remember Bhagvan's philosophy of oneness of all

faiths, purity, patience, perseverance and selfless

service, sacrifice, self-realisation and, above all,

love. Let us be guided by his sublime ideas.

 

The writer is Telugu Desam Party leader and former

Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh