SRI SATHYA SAI TEACHINGS AND PHILOSOPHY 1

                                                    

It is 90 years since the advent of Bhagawan Sri Sri Sathya Sai  Baba  on this sacred

 soil of Bharath! Great change has taken place since he came to the world and departed! The whole world  knows  him  and follows at least a few principles  and messages he has taught! There is a steady, silent transformation that has taken place in many lives and society! It is pertinent to understand his teachings and philosophy that have worked miracles in society. Swami  has ,in his spiritual discourses , touched upon every aspect of human existence and shown the right path for us to follow and make our lives happy and worth living. I wish to share my thoughts on the Teachings and Philosophy of Bhagawan Sri Sri Sathya Sai Baba in these blogs for the benefit of the readers.

     In his innumerable spiritual discourses to varied assemblies of people Swami’s main  theme  is  to make Man realize his own identity with the Absolute! Enveloped by illusion or Maya he is unable to understand his own depth and divinity! Like a lion among the goats that has completely lost its identity and true nature, Man has identified himself with gross materialism! Man’s direction has to be diverted from the material to the spiritual level. He should progress from his selfishness to selflessness and think of the wellness of the entire universe! Swami’s main purpose is to turn the direction of the mighty and stupendous current of the human mind into proper channels! What is the purpose and aim of man?  Swami says, “  Man  has to become Divine, the Divine from which he has come. So he has to lessen his attachment to the world not by cutting himself off, but by being in it as an instrument in HIS hands; by subduing all tendencies towards egoism that raise their heads in him;    by  single minded attention to the dictates of God called Dharma.”(Satya  Sai Speaks, vol5 pp88-89)

        One of the greatest philosophical truths is  explained  by  `Swami  in a simple and lucid manner. He says,    “  The  train in which you travel will be stationary. When another train passes on the parallel line, if you look out through the window it appears as if your train is on the move! If you look into the window, into the compartment where you sit you will know that it is at rest! Exactly in the same way when the mind looks out everything appears mobile, active and bubbling. That is the run of Maya or illusion. But the Self does not run. It remains where it is. You are seated in the same train. Divert the Mind that has gone out   into  yourself. You realize that you are in calm unruffled peace!”  Swami has asserted that  Bhakthi or love for God is itself advaita! The antonym for bhakthi is ‘vibhakthi’ meaning difference. Realizing two things is ‘Dwaita’ Two things merging into one is ‘advaita.

          The authority and confidence with which Swami asserts himself and declares his Divinity and of all of us is really amazing!  Swami  says, “ Before one knows anything he should know himself first. It is only after finding out the real “ I” one can understand and know the other things and their true nature. How can one who does not know  himself  understand God or  Sai Baba?   Someone  expressed shock at my declaration that I am God. I told that man that I did not say I am alone God. I say that you are also God. The only difference is that I have realized  this  fact  in my actual experience. The others have not been able to do so.”How to get Moksha or salvation? In the sentence “  I want Mokaha” – Swami says that the first word  “I “ ahankara—ego must go first! Then the word  “ want”—desire  must also disappear from the statement. The remaining word will be ‘ mokaha’. Swami compares the mind of man to a fabric made of threads. The individual threads are the desires that  motivate  humanity.   Therefore  like a fabric that is nonexistent when the threads are removed individually, ‘ manas’ or mind also vanishes if desires are plucked away. Then there will be the space for atma..  (continued)