My Life is my Message

||Sri Ramakrishna Sharanam||

Satya Sai Baba

Aum Namo Narayanaya

It was indeed a long time since I saw the land inundated with so much of rain. Many river banks in Tongaat were taken by surprise as their banks compromised, turning many areas into lakes. The unrelenting rain, having a huge influence and power over the geography, also extended its control over my mind.

It was around 13:30 on Saturday afternoon when the weather injected a huge dose of tamas over me, bringing forth an overwhelming motion to cancel satsangh and cuddle under my duvet for a pleasant afternoon siesta.

The infinite grace of Master could not be so easily diluted, when He sent a thunder jolt of energy and thoughts my way summoning me to His residence.  All at Ashram were dished out a wonderful feast when Swami Vimokshananda presented another inspirational class on the Gospel of Ramakrishna and garnished the evening with a wonderful surprise when He himself performed the aarti.

At once, I was transported to Belur Math where a packed shrine assembles each evening to witness the aarthi being performed by senior monks of the order. With such grace, devotion and love they wave the brilliant light whilst the harmonious aarti is sung in unison. We were indeed blessed to receive such a treat yesterday.

Swamiji’s discussion centered and expounded on the conversion between Sri Ramakrishna and Vidyasagar (a pundit) of Calcutta. The Master felt a great need to meet Vidyasagar who was very knowledgeable and performed very good work in Bengal. He is accredited to building over 300 schools in rural villages and had a great passion to liberate women through education and removing certain traditions which prevented them from being equally active economically and socially in the community.

The discussion was about the three gunas which influence man. When one is very lazy and does not want partake of any activity, more like a sleepy state, it is said to be tamas (inertia); whilst activity is regarded as rajasic; and the state between the two where one seems to revel in peace is satva.

Master explained to Vidyasagar that although his work would normally be regarded as rajas, because his actions were motivated by compassion and love with no consideration for the rewards it found its basis in satva. Swamiji also explained that in the writings of Swami Vivekananda, we extract clearly that any act must be fuelled by selfless motives expecting no reward and recognition.

Sai baba

Such beings are very rare amongst us in this age of materialism and selfishness. But, on the23rd of  November, the world  will celebrate the birth anniversary of such a divine being who shared the soil with us in this very time. I speak of Sri Satya Sai Baba who left His mortal coil on Easter Sunday 2011. Being born of humble beginnings, He renounced the world in His teens to carry out His mission of transforming the world.

His renaissance was simple yet effective, proved by the millions of people who came from far and wide to the parched, ant hill infested village of Puttaparthi. This dry unheard of village sprang into an oasis of spiritual energy. Many who had bathed in its glory refused to enter back into the world and were quite content spending the rest of their lives there.

What was His renaissance based on? He repeated from a very early age that His life was His message and the foundation of all His teachings is firmly rooted in just 4 words: “help ever hurt never”.

Those prophetic words: “my life is my message” has become an eternal beacon of guidance and navigation. Satya Sai Baba during His lifetime, built many institutions that removed people from abject poverty and gave them dignity and strength to pursue their lives with confidence. He provided clean running water to hundreds of thousands in Chennai, free education, medical treatment and prepared food to hundreds of thousands of people without receiving a single cent or expectation for people to follow or worship Him.

As Sri Ramakrishna explained, this type of activity is purely based in satva. The work is done with pure love and sincerity because each of these institutions is built of the highest quality and care. Even at the time of His ill health, He was admitted to the Satya Sai Super Speciality Hospital.

On the contrary, we find politicians will provide services to the citizens but will fail to send their children to public schools or receive treatment from public hospitals, indicative of the lack of faith they have in the very service they are providing to the masses.

That was Swami’s (as he is affectionately known by many of his devotees) credo – “to help ever and hurt never”. That is why all His projects were done like they were a service or offering to God and all of this reflected one single thread that was the core of his renaissance, that is love. He indeed gave that unceasingly and like a bee searching for the pollen, millions who have not experienced this pure love of such a divine magnitude swarmed to Him.

Dear readers, such love can only radiate from one who is constituted in satva, who is devoid of self interest and prepared to sacrifice his life breath for the upliftment of humanity. The legacy of such satvic beings still strongly influences many in the world, even today.

May the life of Satya Sai Baba continue to inspire us.  At this point, let us also remember the words of Swami Vivekananda: “ They alone live who live for others; the rest are more dead than alive"

With Love and prayers always

Happy Birth Anniversary Sai Baba.

With love and prayers always