Satya Sai Baba - symbol of peace
By Pram Deldeniya
On the 23rd of
November 1926 strange things happened in a hamlet in Puttaparti,
India. Musical instruments like the Tambura in the house started
playing automatically. The special reason being the birth of Satya
Narayan Raju.
Immediately
after birth when this baby was placed on a cloth it was shaking and
a cobra was seen leaving the bed. The cobra is considered a symbol
of God Siva. Every year 23rd November is a very special day for all
young and old devotees of Sri Satya Sai Baba, irrespective of race
or creed all over the world.
This spiritual
leader is the source of spiritual revolution which crave for
universal peace. He described this spiritual revolution as a
revolution more powerful and pervasive than any that man has
experienced so far, political, economic, scientific or technological
and that it is deeper and more fundamental.
The devotees
who go to Prashanthi Nilayam (Parmesans supreme or limitless and 'Shanthi'
means 'peace) leave all worldly baggage and belongings outside the
Mardir and enter the premises with empty hands.
Swami does not want anything not even a flower.
He says, "Come
to me with empty hands so that I may fill them. Your own experience
is the best guarantee of truth for you." Some years ago I read that
a group of Indian members of Parliament met Swami and asked him as
to 'who he is'? He said when I am with men, I am a Man, when I am
with women I am a woman and when I am alone I am a god. I wish to
quote some of his sayings so that readers will be able to look at
life in a spiritual way.
When you hear
that a gang of thieves came to the neighbours house, every night
before you go to sleep you check whether all the doors and windows
are closed and your house is secured. But when you hear that your
neighbour is dead, why don't you check whether you are ready to face
death when death comes.
Man is like
paddy. Provided the husk is removed, it will not grow. Man's husk is
the body of desires, if this is liquidated he will not reincarnate.
Man must grasp the god with the right hand and the world with the
left. Gradually the left hand should loosen its hold - the worldly
pleasures must be left behind.
But the right
hand must not loosen its grip.Four firemen are capable of putting
out the world conflagration. They are Satya, Sharma, Shanti and
Prema, Nothing else can do it. A boat is meant to go into water but
the water must not get into the boat. In the same way we are meant
to be in the world but the world must not get into us. Also it would
be a folly to merely paint the boat, decorate it and put it up for
show in accordance with the prevailing modes of fashion.
Swami says, 'Whenever
virtue subsides and wickedness prevails I manifest myself. To
establish virtue, to destroy evil to save the good, I come from age
to age.' The difference between an avatar and a magician is that
Siddhis are never used for personal gain - always to bring blessings
and benefits on others or to glorify god.
I wish to end
this article with a statement by Bhagavan Sri Satya Sai Baba: "Always
I see the past, present and the future of all of you. Therefore, I
rarely pardon some of your lapses. It is not because I am hard
hearted or not sympathetic. If a blind person shouts saying, 'Swami
I am blind. I am anxious to see you with my own eyes. Don't your
heart melt when you see me suffering?
Do you think
that my heart won't melt? As I know the background of his past I act
in a different way. Even you will act differently.
" He suffers because of his past sins committed in the previous
birth, therefore I should allow him to suffer a little. Most I can
do is to reduce his suffering. I cannot grant happiness or grief.
You create both."
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