Sai - The "Light House"

To mark the 84th birthday of Sathya Sai Baba on November 23:

by Dr. Nimal SEDERA

The name and fame of Sathya Sai Baba is spread all over the world. He is the only single living being alive in the world to gain such fame. Involved in a social reform mission through a religious vision. Sathya Sai Baba obviously bases his mission on Hinduism as per the main religion in India.

He turns 84 on November 23, 2009.

The purpose of this article is to discuss a few steps and features in his mission. Being born in Puttarparthy, a remote poor village in Andra-Pradesh he displayed divine talent from his small days. He showed unusual leadership amongst his classmates and all the teachers believed that Satya Narayana was working with some divine power.

It is amazing to note Sathya Narayana who declared himself as the reincarnation of Shandi Sai Baba and embarking on a grand mission of social reforms and religious boom.

His fame gradually spread beyond Andra Pradesh and soon people began to come to Pattaparthy from all over India. The famous letter he wrote to his own elder brother is a document world famous today. He spelt out his entire mission in that long letter. He declared that "Puttarparthy the small village will be known all over the world. My devotees will come here from all over the world. All the world leaders will visit here to discuss much needed world peace. The crowd will grow to such large numbers that a day will come where they have to use binoculars to get a glimpse of my self. This village were turn to an international city. It will be a shade tree for all ...."

His statements have come true to the very letter. In addition to his the Sai mission in Education reforms through human value education has caught-up in the entire India and in many parts of the world.

His free medical services in India has been hailed by the nation. All the doctors and staff of these large medical institutes work without salary and perform open heart surgery and kidney transplants. The largest drainage water project of Andra Pradesh was undertaken and completed by Sathya Sai Baba.

He lives by example and declared his discipline as "my life is my message". Satya Sai lives on simple meals and does not own anything. All the funds are managed by the Sai trust. He actively works several hours, firstly meeting the devotees through Darshan twice a day. He meets world and local leaders, heads daily meetings of the organisation and accepts invitations to address important meetings. He visits the universities and schools and his hospitals, grant personal interviews to groups and individuals and makes a public discourse at least once a week at the time of Darshan on Bajans.

He is supposed to be receiving the highest number of letters from devotees. Sai Baba has declared that he personally reads every letter even though he is aware of the contents even without opening the letters. Yet with all the services to the world and mankind he comes under criticism after. Sathya Sai has the policy of not replying to any of such attacks. He has also requested the devotees and the organisation not to reply such mud slinging. "I havent even harmed an ant in my life. I will even protect those who attack me. My mission is based on love and kindness. I cultivate Sathya, Dharma Shanti, Prema, .... It is my reply..., states Sathya Sai Baba. He and his mission have been a light house to the world.

He respects every religion and his key quote is "I have come to confirm you in your own religious belief and not to disturb your religions". Hence it is clean that Sai does not preach a religion but he is a lighthouse to reach the teachings of your own religions. His basic request to his devotees is " refrain from eating flesh, avoid tobacco and alcohol." These are basic teachings common to all religions.