Sri Sathya Sai Baba
HIS LIFE AND HIS TEACHINGS
Sri Sathya Sai Baba. Swami. Bhagawan. Baba.
Known by all of these names, Sri Sathya Sai Baba was a teacher, a Guru, a leader, an Avatar who made and continues to make a profound impact on humankind.
Sri Sathya Sai Baba was born as Sathyanarayana Raju on November 23, 1926 in the village of Puttaparthi, in the state of Andhra Pradesh in South India. Even as a child, His spiritual inclination, contemplative nature and miracles set Him apart from other children of His age, and He was known as ‘Guru’ and “Brahmajnani’ (knower of Brahman or Godhead) among His peers and others in the village. However, it was not until October 20, 1940, at the age of 14, when He made the historic declaration of His Avatarhood, (Avatar - Divinity Incarnate) that the world at large learnt of this divine phenomenon. He proclaimed His message – to bring about the spiritual regeneration of humanity by demonstrating and teaching the highest principles of Truth, Right Conduct, Peace, Love, and Nonviolence. With that announcement, He left his childhood home and began His mission.
– Kavita Ladnier
graphic by Devaki
His Life is His Message
Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba is an incarnation of Love and His Love transcends all barriers of race, religion, nationality, faith, and culture. His life is His message, and His message is Love. From His early childhood, He has shown by example that God is love and the best way to love God is to Love All and Serve All.
The life and teachings of Sri Sathya Sai Baba are the inspiration for all humanitarian projects of the Sri Sathya Sai International Organization. He exemplifies love that seeks nothing in return, and His unlimited love continues to comfort, nourish, protect, heal, and fill the emptiness experienced by millions around the world.
Love is God, God is Love. Where there is love, there, God is certainly evident. Love more and more people; love them more and more intensely; transform the love into service; transform the service into worship… that is the highest sadhana (spiritual practice). There is no living being without that spark of love; even a mad man loves something or somebody intensely. You must recognise this love as but a reflection of the Premaswaroopa that is your reality, of the God who is residing in your heart. Without that spring of love that bubbles in your heart, you will not be prompted to love at all.
His Mission
Serve ALL
Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba taught that the Divine resides in every being. That Divinity pervades the cosmos and that we are all part of the One therefore, service rendered to any human, animal, or nature is service to that One. This means that when we offer aid to another, we are really offering aid to our Self. Moreover, the One, that Supreme Divinity, is the doer who accomplishes the task through us. In effect, the results of whatever we do belong to that One.
Baba taught that when we serve without ego, we gain compassion and love and humility which allows us to experience the true unity in our diversity as humans, and to understand that we are all part of the One. We are transformed by acts of service and through this transformation we learn who we truly are.
His Works
The following ongoing projects are some examples of service activities of the Sri Sathya Sai International Organization, conducted according to the teachings of Sri Sathya Sai Baba.
Community Adoption
The SSSIO has adopted 160 communities in 40 countries as of March 2021. SSSIO members are making a difference in the lives of needy people by providing education, healthcare, food, shelter, drinking water, and other services in a sustainable manner. The goal of this project is transformation of the heart – for both SSSIO volunteers and the recipients of the service.
Healthcare
The Sri Sathya Sai Global Healthcare Mission is another important service activity of the organization. For many years, the SSSIO has provided free healthcare of the highest quality, in a timely manner, to those in need of medical assistance – often in remote, rural areas where such services are needed most but are not available or affordable. Highly skilled doctors render loving, selfless services throughout the world, without regard for personal benefit, recognition, or reward.
Every year, hundreds of thousands of needy patients receive medical and surgical services at hundreds of medical camps and over 40 permanent medical clinics and mobile clinics worldwide. In addition, dental, vision, blood and bone marrow donor registration drives, and health education programs are also conducted. For example, during the reporting period from 1 April 2019 to 31 March 2020, approximately 108,967 people were served in 47 countries through 215 medical camps, 44 permanent medical clinics, and 2 mobile clinics. In addition, medical services are rendered during natural disasters and other calamities.
Education
The SSSIO’s educational activities include the teaching and practice of the five universal Human Values: Truth, Right Conduct, Peace, Love, and Nonviolence through classes for children and parents, and training seminars for teachers. The practice of human values is the basis of character development and transforms one into a compassionate, honest, just, serene, and happy person. Sathya Sai Education in Human Values is administered by over 30 Institutes of Sathya Sai Education, in more than 30 countries, not only for schools and educational institutions but also for governments, businesses, industries and communities.
There are more than 40 Sathya Sai Schools around the world providing integral education, which has both academic and spiritual components. These educational institutions have been recognized for their excellence and outstanding contribution to society.
Humanitarian Relief
Since its inception, the Sri Sathya Sai International Organization (SSSIO) has been providing selfless and loving service to mankind through various humanitarian projects. The SSSIO is committed to providing immediate and long-term relief to those affected by natural disasters from the acute phase to rehabilitation. Sri Sathya Sai volunteers provide medical services, food, water, shelter, education, and rehabilitation facilities, where needed.
The SSSIO has, in the recent past, engaged in humanitarian relief services in Africa, Venezuela, Nepal, Philippines, Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia/Herzegovina, Indonesia, Italy, Sri Lanka, and Haiti – to name a few.
Sri Sathya Sai Baba teaches that man’s basic nature is divine and that the purpose of life is the realization of this divinity. This will occur, He says, by leading a moral life, by rendering selfless service to those in need, by engaging in devotional practices and by developing love, respect and compassion for all life. As one strives to transform his/her worldly life of self-centered desires and attachments into a higher spiritual life of selflessness and devotion, the foundation is built for receiving God’s Grace. It is this Grace which will reveal our true nature to each of us.
Sri Sathya Sai Baba does not recommend that we become ascetics and retreat from the world. Instead, he teaches us that the world is our school, The Five Human Values as taught in his Education for Human Values (Truth, Right Conduct, Peace, Love, and Nonviolence) are our curriculum, and the realization of the unity of Godliness in the diversity of Creation is our ultimate lesson.
