Man’s True Aim

Child, receive My Blessings!

I toured recently some of the northern parts of the country. The tour was a grand triumph. I have now returned to Brindavan, and am now busy preparing for the ensuing one-month Summer Course in Spirituality and Indian Culture commencing in Brindavan from 21.05.1973. This year we expect a very large number of students from different parts of India. We have planned a course of training for teachers as well. Some such training is also necessary for the teachers. Three hundred of them are expected to come. 

A devotee is leaving shortly for Europe and the States and I am sending this letter through him. I believe that our Sai organizations there are working satisfactorily.

We should understand that man is the greatest of God’s creations. Man should not be a victim to low and mean desires and passions. Otherwise, it will be like selling a precious diamond for a few bits of charcoal. Man’s life should be dedicated to the highest purpose. At a time when man is willing to sell his glorious destiny for short-lived sensual pleasures, and the country is standing on the verge of a crisis, we need more than ever the strength and inspiration of our ancient spiritual and moral values.

Man is not born to eat, drink, sleep and enjoy himself. He is the inheritor of immortality, a seeker after Eternal Truth through which alone he can attain his ultimate goal. This realization alone will save man. At the more sensual level, man is not different from birds or animals. If man keeps this low goal prominently before him, and clings to this base passions and desires, what is the use of our education or positions or degrees?

Men should cultivate science, right knowledge, wisdom, the illumined mind and other good qualities, practise the truths contained in them in their lives and prepare themselves to be shining examples to others.

Absolute purity or perfection is not beyond man’s capacity. It is possible for him to be perfect. But to obtain the absoluteness of truth, beauty and goodness, man has to struggle hard. He should put forth ceaseless effort, deep understanding and hard discipline (sadhana). Man should regard himself as being a representative of divinity and not just a “man”. It is his duty to cultivate such qualities as to reflect the divine within him. He should develop these divine qualities and spread them around him in the society. This is the best and the only suitable remedy for many of our contemporary problems. Instead of making our lives artificial, we should make them joyful and natural. It is our duty to share the blessings of our inner freedom and joy with others around us in the society. This is the true brotherhood of man. Our Sai organization should keep this aim constantly before them. All are children of God. All are brothers and sisters. This universality of kinship is possible to be attained only through pure spiritual motives and selfless acts of kindness and love.

Therefore, an aversion towards sin and wrongdoing and deep love for God should grow more and more, and it is only then, My beloved precious ones, that universal love can be built truly and firmly established. Anger, envy, hatred, pride, show and such other demonic qualities should be weeded out of man’s heart, and this cleansing will help to raise in the human heart divine qualities like love, truth, patience, bliss, etc. Only to the men whose heart is pure does God’s creation acquire significance.

Divinity can come only from God and not from devil. “Raso Vai Saha” — these are the words of an ancient scripture: “It is only a Raso (Purity of feeling) that, Rasa (divine sweetness) dwells”. I send you this sacred message. Let this divinity of aspiration reside and grow in all hearts and let all enjoy its blessed sweetness. Sai is the dweller in each heart. He is the giver of love, because He is himself its embodiment. I expect that your wife is there and is helping in all the activities of Sai organizations. Blessings to all workers, both men and women of the Sai institutions there.

With Blessings,

Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Brindavan 

May 4, 1973