Serving the Poor is Serving God

All the religions together only teach us good things. 
One should understand this and conduct oneself with intelligence and knowledge. 
If one’s mind is good, how can any religion be bad at all? 
This is the simple, plain truth that I am communicating to you.

This human body is like a trembling water droplet on the surface of a lotus leaf. 
Life itself is a bundle of attachments, and the world is full of sorrow. 
Remember this, and sing the name of Govinda. 
When the end of one’s life approaches, 
mere repetition of the rules of grammar cannot save you. 
Remember this, and sing the name of Govinda.

Embodiments of Divine Atma!

The World Conference of the Officer bearers of the Sri Sathya Sai Organisations, which has been going on very peacefully for the past three days, has concluded today. In the world of today, people are becoming mad after wealth, position and authority. But the office bearers of the Sai Organisations should become mad in trying to fulfil their ideas and ideals. Today, what the world needs is not a new religion, a new mutt or a new society, but a steady heart and pure, unsullied mind. We must recognise that the purity of the mind is the essence of all religions. 

God is omnipresent. He is as an infinitesimal in all small things and infinite in all large things. Thus, He is ruling and controlling the whole world. Such an infinite Paramatma can never be described by anyone. Four blind people with a view to describing an elephant go near the elephant, and each one recognises one limb of the elephant. In describing just one limb of the elephant, they think that they are describing the entire elephant. In the same manner, today, the founders of many religions, having recognised one aspect of this infinite lord, hold the view that the limited aspect that they are aware of is the universal religion. Whoever the founder of whatever religion it may be, it is not possible to describe the universal aspect of religion, as this is just a part of the universal aspect. The universal religion can only be described by the Lord Himself, who is the founder of this universal religion.

Similarly, the world is divided into many countries, and each one knows and describes their own country. This is again an individual aspect or perspective and cannot be ascribed to the totality of people. We see here a globe. On this globe, we see the entire world. Again, it is not the world that revolves; it is the globe that revolves. In the same manner, the entire world revolves around God's sphere. 

The globe is one, but we see it as if the countries are many on the globe. Likewise, God is one. Religion is one. There is only one caste, the caste of humanity. There is only one religion, the religion of love. There is only one God, and He is Omnipresent; and He is Sathya Sai. 

Embodiments of Divine Atma!

You can’t attribute the name Sathya Sai to this form of five feet. That is not right. Sathya Sai is the One who reclines on truth; the One who is resting on Truth. It is in this context that it is said, “Truth is God, live in Truth; all is right”. “Make others live in Truth; all will be well”. The aspirations and ambitions of the Sri Sathya Sai Organisations should be to understand, accept and live in truth. The sacred Vedas declared: ‘Sathyam Nasti Paro Dharmaha’ and ‘Sathyasya Sathyam’ - There is no righteous conduct other than truth. Truth is the only right conduct in this Universe. The essence of truth is the basic Truth.

Such a God, who is the very personification of Truth, has been portrayed differently by various founders of different religions to different countries. There is a group of people called Charvakas who have never had any faith in God and have been preaching that such a God does not exist. The Jains and Buddhists are not making any effort to inquire into the existence of God. But Adi Shankara preached that the form of God is eternally pure, formless and incomprehensible. This infinite power complete form of Brahman has been described by many as Atma, Rama, Krishna, Christ, Allah and so on, and they worshipped these different forms. But we should first recognise the Gunas or attributes in this description. In these attributes, we have to recognise the fact that it is permanent, all-powerful, attributeless and indescribable. When we talk of the permanence of this power, we mean that it does not have a beginning or an end. We cannot describe its attributes using ordinary words. Such power is innumerable and numberless. It is not limited; it is impossible to say that this is the number of aspects that we can recognise. It is formless. We cannot say that it has a particular form or a basis. It is attributeless. No attribute can be pointed out in this divine power. It is unparalleled. One cannot name something else that is equal to or greater than this. This has been referred to as Divinity.

One may doubt as to how we, who are full of Gunas or attributes, reach this particular aspect, which is formless, attributeless and indescribable. Many religious founders have described this as nirgunam, niranjanam, sanatanam, niketanam, nitya, shuddha, buddha, mukta, nirmala swaroopinam (an attributeless, pure, final abode, eternal, unsullied, enlightened, free and embodiment of sacredness). But to teach and propagate such truth, we must have religious founders or religious teachers. To light a candle, one would need another lighted candle. Thus, it is only the knowledgeable and wise leaders of religions who can light up the lives of ignorant people. An unlit candle cannot light up another candle. It is only the wise, self-luminous people who have knowledge of God who can spread this divine knowledge. It is this formless, attributeless God who decides to appear in human form and become the source of wisdom and light, communicating this wisdom to other ignorant people. Such a phenomenon is known as Avatar. He has not come for His own sake. He has come for the sake of enlightening the lives of ignorant people. The milk doesn’t turn to curd for the sake of milk. Milk changes to curd only for the sake of the people who want to consume it. The seed doesn’t grow into a tree for its own sake. The river doesn’t flow for its own sake. It has no thirst. Similarly, God has no desires to be fulfilled. He doesn’t come in human form to fulfil His own desires. He has come as an avatar to save the world, remove the bad and establish righteousness. As natural as it is for milk to turn to curd, so it is for man to become divine.

Eshwara’s actions are called creation. It is also called Prakriti - Nature. Those who are born out of nature should be like nature. We should not think that nature is a conglomeration of the five elements. These are just reflections of God’s will. They are not a mere combination of lifeless basic elements. This is why it is said ‘Raso vai sah’; everything in God’s creation is full of life. What comes out of the divine power is full of life force. This creation, which emerged from Truth itself, must be full of truth. All men who emerge from Brahman should reflect the glory of Brahman. By mere human form, one cannot be called a human being. Only when the human form has divine qualities derived from the fact that he is created by Brahman, will he be entitled to be called a human being. 

We are under the illusion that we are mere human beings. But we have to recognise the truth that we have emanated from divinity and have divine qualities in us. When we want to look at our own form, we place a mirror in front of ourselves. Similarly, since we are unable to visualise our satvic qualities and our divine principle in us, we gather in these kinds of Satsangs and use them as a mirror to see the reflection of the divinity in ourselves. Whatever we see and hear in the world is simply a reflection of our own inner thoughts. When we give some thought to these good ideas and basic principles, then to some extent we will be able to see our real Self. Without removing the impurity that has coated the mind, even if we take a bath 10-15 times, we will continue to remain impure. Hence, it is necessary to participate in such congregations to bathe and clean the mind.

Embodiments of Divine Atma,

That today the whole world has assembled in Prasanthi Nilayam as brothers and sisters is a sight for people to see. This is a sacred sight which you should propagate and let the other brothers and sisters see. This is the proper opportunity for you to see the good in others and propagate these ideals to other people in the world. To set an example to the rest of the world as ideal citizens, you should recognise the necessity for a common accepted discipline amongst all of you. Our ideas, ideals, feelings, countries, religions and languages may be different, but Sai’s ideals cannot be different. They are one and only one. As members of the Sathya Sai Organisation, you should have belief and faith that Sai’s ideal is only one and should teach these ideals to the world as only one and not as many. There is a small example for this. In this land of Bharat, in the sacred precincts of Prasanthi Nilayam, it is a tradition that men and women sit separately, and each group performs the duty assigned to them without mixing with each other. This is the tradition in the Sai Organisation. In the same manner, whether it is in America, South Africa, Germany or Italy, the same discipline should be followed. But such discipline is not being observed in these countries. They are coming haphazardly. Men and women mix; they get up during the conference or the bhajan and walk away. They do all kinds of things that are not permissible in the Sathya Sai Organisation. For those who have taken the name of the Sathya Sai Organisation, it is also necessary for them to adopt the ideals of the Sathya Sai Organisation. Those who feel that for men and women, to do their work without mixing, is not possible in their respective countries need not join the Sathya Sai Organisation. We do not want such people in the Sathya Sai Organisation. If one is not able to control one’s senses even for ten or fifteen minutes, and participate in such an activity which will not excite the senses, then there is no point in participating in such a divine meeting. Particularly, westerners and leaders of western organisations who have assembled here, I am hoping that at least from now onwards, you will put these ideals into practice in your centres.

One should also realise that such organisations have not been established to publicise and propagate the name of Sathya Sai. Unfortunately, in the world today, many organisations have come up that have not been caring for discipline, and due to the indiscipline which they have propagated, they have ruined belief in God and theism, and have propagated atheism. In order that such a thing should not take place, we have established these ideals and have enforced strict discipline in the Sathya Sai Organisations. Let us consider some other organisation that is involved in improper and unrighteous practices. Then the members of the Sathya Sai Organisation cannot go and tell them that they are doing improper or incorrect things. They will turn around and ask, “Who are you? How do you have the right to tell us that we are doing improper things”? Hence, so that the members of the Sathya Sai Organisation acquire the right to correct the improper conduct of other organisations, they must discipline themselves first. That is the reason why we have established a strict code of conduct and discipline for the members of the Sathya Sai Organisation. It is in order that we may have the opportunity to correct the incorrect behaviour of other organisations and set them along the right path that the Sathya Sai Organisation has been established with a code of conduct. It is not for the sake of Sathya Sai. The right for you to correct someone else will come to you only when you observe the discipline, either as an office bearer or a member of the Sathya Sai Organisation. 

The same Sathya Sai Organisation, consisting of devotees of Sathya Sai from some countries like America and Mexico, would like to call themselves Sai Baba centres. As the bodily human form, Sai Baba is different, and in human form, Sathya Sai Baba is different. Hence, if you call the Sathya Sai centre a Sai Baba centre, there is likely to be some confusion. There are centres which call themselves Sai Baba centres. But centres that are adhering to Sathya Sai Baba should call themselves Sathya Sai Baba centres. Many people call themselves a Sai Baba centre and go on doing whatever they please. We will not have the right to go and tell them, “This is what you should do. And this is what you should not do.” But if there is an organisation which calls itself a Sathya Sai centre, then other members of other Sathya Sai centres will have the right to go and tell them, “You have the name of Sathya Sai. You should not do these incorrect things. You should follow the proper code of conduct.” Again, it is not for the sake of the right and power that we are adopting a certain name. It is with a view to bringing them together and having a feeling of all of them belonging to one group. That is why we are insisting that a common name should be adopted. 

For members of one organisation to go and join another organisation or to bring people from some other organisation into our organisation, and mix with people, is also not the right thing to do. If it is a matter of serving human beings, all the members of the Sathya Sai Organisation should be ready without making any distinction to serve as one group of people. While doing service, do not have any differences. Regard all human beings as children of God and give them a helping hand. Today, for every country, discipline is absolutely essential. Having lost discipline, you are now losing faith in what you call good work. We should regard discipline as our primary duty, as the first thing necessary for our life. In that context, we should move forward. Without discipline, you cannot get devotion. Without devotion, you cannot do your duty. These three, duty, devotion and discipline, which start with the same letter ‘D’, have been taught to us by the Upanishads as three important aspects of life. All of you who are office bearers, who are concerned with the Sathya Sai Organisation, should regard this sacred world as one home in which all of us are living, and you should be able to do your duty in that context.

Embodiments of divine Atma!

We want to do many things in this world. We want to take the spiritual path and achieve several things. But in that attempt, man’s illusion (maya) covers him so much, and he thinks of so many different things as branches to his attempts. Death is sweeter than the blindness of ignorance. Ignorance causes illusion. Illusion is maya. When Maya comes over you, even very strong-minded people get into terrible confusion and are made to do various things. People who have recognised the aspects of Sathya Sai are very few in number. Those who have joined the Sathya Sai Organisation are in large numbers. Even amongst those who have joined the Sathya Sai Organisation, those who have understood the aspects of Sathya Sai are very few. Truly, if they have understood and recognised the aspects of Sathya Sai, there will be no room for certain types of doubts and hesitations. 

Here is a small example. For the past three months, the Sathya Sai Health and Education Trust people have been organising a corpus fund. Regarding this, several people have doubts. They have given place to misunderstanding and have started misinterpreting what is being done. Because I regard it as a necessity that all of you should understand this, I am uttering this in this public meeting. There is no kind of connection; there is no relation whatsoever between money and Sathya Sai. Sathya Sai’s aspect is such that He will never have anything to do with money. In many ways, people have been spreading bad rumours that so much money is being collected for celebrating the 50th birthday of Sathya Sai. What is the relation between the 50th birthday of Sathya Sai and money? Between this money, we are talking of, and the 50th birthday of Sathya Sai or the Central trust, there is no relation whatsoever. Thousands of members of Sevadal and volunteers in large numbers, and with Shramdān and Gunadān, with various kinds of effort on their part, which is purely voluntary, have all this decoration and construction been done. All this, which is seen here, could never have been done with any amount of money. It is not possible to use even one naya paisa out of this collection for the 50th birthday celebrations of Sathya Sai. 

The members of the Central Trust felt that young people, the young students in the country today, are in such a deplorable condition, and this needs to be improved. So the members of the Central Trust thought that we should make an effort in line with Sathya Sai’s ideals, exclusively formed the Sathya Sai Health and Education Trust, and see that these young people are put on the right path for the sake of the country. It is also their desire to promote the moral, intellectual and spiritual aspects in the minds of these young people and thereby use those young people to propagate and resuscitate the ancient culture of this land. What Sai wants to have is the wealth of gunas and not this miserable money. Even the Sathya Sai Organisation will not need large sums of money. You are participating in bhajans, nagarsankeertan, and service for the sick and needy in hospitals. Why do you want money for such things? For such activities, you only need good qualities and, to some extent, physical strength. It is not as if there aren't some organisations/associations that say that money is needed for these activities, and they collect money. Such actions on the part of some organisations are only bringing disrepute to the Sathya Sai Organisation. Even if there are ten Sathya Sai Organisations that follow the ideals of Sathya Sai closely, that is enough. Why do we want thousands of organisations that do not accept and put into practice the ideals of Sathya Sai? A spoonful of cow’s milk is more valuable than barrels of donkey’s milk. 

This morning, many of the delegates who wanted to give their opinions and advice, by their enthusiasm, came forward and gave their opinions and advice. It has been said that, for the sake of conducting Narayana Seva, it will be necessary to collect some money and food to distribute to the poor. This is very necessary. Who are the rich people in this world? Who are the poor people in this world? Who is the richest man in the world? He who has much satisfaction is the richest man in the world. Who is the poorest man in the world? He who has many desires is the poorest man in the world. When we talk of Narayana Seva, we use the word ‘poor feeding’. This is not the correct way of describing it. We undertake to feed people; even then, we say ‘poor feeding’. Are we going to feed them in a poor manner? We feed the poor people. It is the feeding of the poor. This is very necessary, but it could be done by the office bearers and the important people in the organisation, about ten of them coming together and collecting the necessary wherewithal. But why should we go and beg a large number of people to do this good and necessary act? Never bring the reputation that the members of the Sathya Sai Organisation are ‘big beggars’. It is a very strong statement that none of the members of the Sathya Sai Organisation should go from house to house collecting or asking for money.

If you are so enthusiastic about this aspect, I wish to give you some advice. It is possible that you may not be able to bring 10 or 20 seers of rice at one instant of time. Or it may be an improper time when you can find so much rice to feed poor people. What you say is that you are feeding poor people or daridra-narayana seva. Who is Narayana? It represents the embodiment of God. Every day in your own pooja room, you make an offering to God. In the place of making an offering in your pooja room to God, while you go into the kitchen for cooking your own food, set aside a handful or two of rice before you start cooking, with the feeling that this is for the sake of Swami. This handful will accumulate, and in a week or so, you will have a certain quantity of rice which can be used to feed poor people. There is no one in this world whom you can regard as a daridra, a poor person. There is only one who is the daridra, and that is Swami. To Him you offer this handful of rice. In this context, one poet had said, when Lakshmi, the consort of Hari, who is riding on a bird (pakshi), is in His heart, why does He need to go begging for food? What is the meaning of this? While He has everything, He hasn’t got anything. Yes, He has everything, but He has no desire whatsoever.

So God is described as ‘Anadi’, one who has no master, no protector. On one occasion, a messenger from the king came to Kabir and said, “The king has sent you various gifts because you have no one to protect you; you are an ‘Anatha’”. To this Kabir replied, “No, I am not an ‘Anatha’. I have a protector. My protector is SriRamachandra. It is Lord Rama who has no further protection. He has no protector. He is Anatha. Go and give these alms to Him”. Do not think that by looking at helpless beggars and poor people, they have no protector. They are the original people; they are the embodiments of God. Regard them as God and every day in your home offer a handful of rice to God, and that can be collected and used to feed God in the poor or Daridra Narayanas. These people who beg are, knowingly or unknowingly, telling the truth. They go from house to house begging, “Mother, I am an Anatha; I have no protector. Please give me some alms”. ‘Anadi’ simply means one without a beginning or an end. Here, calling themselves ‘Anadi’, they are unknowingly uttering the name of the Lord, who is the embodiment of Truth. Recognising such truth and the truth contained in our Vedic utterances, and if we do not know, learning from learned scholars and pundits is essential and necessary. 

The members of Sathya Sai Organisation should not join movements that are intended to collect money. I am hoping that you will join such movements, which will enable you to promote the good qualities in you. To those who have the enthusiasm, the ability, and the wish to contribute to the Health and Education Trust, there is no objection from Sai at all. Even here, there is a method. Do not pay money into the hands of any individual. For such individuals who have the enthusiasm and the ability to contribute and wish to do so voluntarily, we have created a facility where you can walk into the bank, pay the bank and obtain a receipt. Do not undertake to pay this money into the hands of any other individual. If you do so, you will be bringing disrepute to the pure and untarnished name of Sathya Sai. In our lives, we earn and amass money by several improper means. In order that such improperly amassed money may be used for a good purpose, our ancestors have laid down that one has to donate money; one has to give money to deserving persons. This is laid down in our ancient traditions. Your conduct should be such that you bring out the distinctiveness of the Sathya Sai Organisation; the areas in which the Sathya Sai Organisation is very different from other organisations of the world. Today, in the context of people simply wanting to collect money in one name or the other, all spiritual organisations have gone down to the very depths. 

In Western countries, the spiritual background and ideas of this country are being looked down upon because of such actions. In fact, individuals who have some symptoms of spirituality in them, by going to Western countries and spending all their time collecting money, are bringing down the name and reputation of this great spiritual country. Truly, if people do want to promote and propagate spiritual ideas, there is ample scope and plenty of room in this country. Without cleaning up this country, which is one’s home, if one wants to promote spirituality abroad, it is utter foolishness and nothing but deceiving the world. If any citizen of this country wants to promote spirituality, they must first recognise the amount of dirt accumulated in their own home, clean up the dirt in their own country and then think of going to another country to clean up the dirt. Many people wearing an ochre robe today are making a journey to Western countries merely to collect dollars. To give an upadesha, they want dollars. To give a lecture, they want dollars. To give advice, they want dollars. Or to give a mantra, they collect dollars. Who are these people? They are not preachers but big beggars!

The individual who returns love for love, who can give one’s heart for another’s heart alone, deserves to go and give love. He is the true spiritual authority. Others can never be authorities. If people are selling divine love in return for money, are they really preachers? No, they are merely beggars. The spiritual strength and power present in the Bharat culture and tradition are not something that can be sold; it cannot be purchased for money by Westerners. Many westerners who do not understand and recognise the inherent strength in spirituality try to purchase it for money. Neither of these is the right path. Only such people who make an honest attempt to create an inseparable connection between themselves and the divine are true Sadhakas or spiritual seekers. 

Truly, in Western countries, though people undertake sadhanas, the purpose and the manner of the sadhana keep on changing moment to moment. A true Sadhaka should have an unwavering, unchanging mind and a fixed vision and target. But if you are with a guru today, another guru tomorrow, a different guru the third day and go on changing a guru every day, what is it? Is changing a guru like changing a bush coat? One who keeps on changing his guru has missed his target. If one has a single objective and keeps on steadfastly to that objective his whole life, he will not keep on changing his objective day by day. Whatever the sorrow, loss, or difficulty he faces, he will never waver from his objective. Such a person is a true Sadhaka and an ideal devotee. If you have some happiness or pleasure today, or if some desire has been fulfilled, then you have ten photographs of Swami in your room. But on another day, if you get a loss or if you face some difficulty or you feel somewhat unhappy, then you turn all the photos backwards. Are these the characteristics of true devotion? No, they just characterise bad qualities. It is essential to recognise that these can never be characteristics of sacred qualities. Can this be called a true life of real gunas? No, this can only be one where you are after fulfilling your desires. This is not something based on a clean mind. If you have such ideas and strengthen such ideas, you can never attain salvation, even after any length of time. That individual, who has a desire to attain liberation or salvation, must be ready to put up with any kind of difficulties and obstacles. Great people and saints of this country have met with many difficulties and obstacles, and through their forbearance with those difficulties and obstacles, they propagated their ideals, withstanding all those obstacles. For the prosperity and well-being of the world, Jesus was prepared to sacrifice his own life. For all those who want to propagate good and bring about the prosperity of the world, there will be many obstacles; there will be many people who object and give them trouble. It is only a tree laden with fruit that will get stones thrown at it. If there is a tree with no fruit, nobody will throw stones at it.

You have taken some determination. Whatever determination you have made, stick to that determination and do not change until you achieve your desire. What you have desired, you have desired. Whatever objective you have in your mind, you have taken it. Until you reach that objective, do not waver. Whatever thought you have got into your mind, you have got it. You have taken to that thought. Until that thought is fulfilled, do not move from the position where you are. What you have asked for, you have asked for. Until you are given what you have asked for, do not relent at all. Either not being able to stand by my firm conviction and my embarrassment to You, or You should yield or be unable to withstand the rigours that You are putting on me, I, as a devotee, should faint and collapse. Until then, this confrontation shall not change. It is this kind of firm determination that is called Tapas. For one who makes this Tapas, there will be no Tamas. He will certainly achieve what he wants to achieve.

Embodiments of divine Atma!

All our organisations centre around seva or service, be it Sathya Sai Sevadal, Sathya Sai Seva Samithi, Sathya Sai Sevadal. Hence, be servants and thereby attain the position of leadership. But do not try to become leaders without understanding the substance of seva or service. In this context, we find in Western countries, people and devotees who are doing seva or service today becoming leaders or Gurus overnight. You can understand the amount of harm that can come from such people becoming leaders overnight. Do not have the ambition of turning out into a guru, but make the effort and good determination to be a good follower or a good sevak.

Embodiments of divine Atma!

All those who join the various limbs of the Sathya Sai Organisation should regard all of you as children of one mother. There should be no difference between you. There should be no hatred amongst you. There should be no attempt to make any exhibitionism or show off amongst you. In Western countries, it is not possible to call them ‘Sathya Sai Seva Samithi’ because they may not understand the word ‘Seva’, and they may think that it means service. Therefore, it would be an easier and better way to call it ‘Sathya Sai Organisations’. 

Members and Delegates from Western countries!

Certain issues relate to you especially, and some things have to be told to you about those issues. Yes, the conditions and traditions in this country are different from the conditions and traditions that exist in your countries in some respects. Although you may have individual groups, such as a bhajan group or a group conducting a specific service activity, all these groups should have a central organisation, called the Council of Management, to look after the needs of all these groups. Do not give place for individual authority. You should recognise the need for a Council of Management, not an individual but a group of people, each one responsible for taking care of one aspect or the other of the total Sathya Sai Organisation. One organisation should not discuss or comment on the other organisation, which could lead to one of them feeling superior to the other. This kind of discussion, which could lead to one feeling superior or inferior to the other, should always be avoided. If one notices some kind of a difference or lapse in an organisation, then the members of the council of management should regard it as a duty to come together and make all efforts to remove this discrepancy or lapse. All of them must work like fingers of one hand. Bearing these thoughts in mind, you must pave the way for the growth of the organisation. You must swiftly dispel the unrest currently prevailing and experience a state of bliss - Prasanthi. It’s My earnest wish that you realise My ultimate objective: that everyone should pray, chanting, ‘Samasta Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu’, for the well-being of all nations, ensuring that they remain prosperous and that everyone lives in safety and security. Blessing thus, I conclude My discourse.

- Valedictory Divine Discourse delivered on November 21, 1975, during the 2nd World Conference of Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisations, Prasanthi Nilayam.