Sathya Sai Baba has not come to found any new religion or philosophy.
“Let the different faiths exist, let them flourish, and let the glory of God be sung in all the languages and a variety of tunes. That should be the ideal. Respect the differences between the faiths and recognize them as valid as long as they do not extinguish the flame of unity.”
“I have not come to speak on behalf of any particular Dharma (religion), like the Hindu Dharma (Hindu religion). I have not come on any mission of publicity for any sect or creed or cause; nor have I come to collect followers for any doctrine. I have no plan to attract disciples or devotees into My fold or any fold. I have come to tell you of this Universal unitary faith, this Atmic principle (principle of the spirit), this path of love, this Dharma of Prema (nature of love), this duty of love, this obligation to love.” ~ Sathya Sai Baba
Baba has come to show all humanity the foundation love has in every life, indeed all life. In the words of Sathya Sai Baba,
“I have come not to disturb or destroy any Faith, but to confirm each in His own Faith, so that the Christian becomes a better Christian, the Muslim a better Muslim and a Hindu a better Hindu. I have come to reconstruct the ancient highway to God; to instruct all in the essence of the scriptures, to shower on all this precious gift; to protect the Eternal Righteousness and to preserve it. My Mission is to serve happiness and so I am always happy to come among you, not once but twice, thrice, as often as you want me. To set right those who have taken to the wrong path and to protect the good people, Sai will be born again and again.” ~ Sathya Sai Baba
We are not these minds. ..We are not these bodies…. Who Are We
Sathya Sai Baba encourages us to recognize who we are. We are the eternal spirit that temporarily occupies these minds and bodies. We can appreciate and become who we really are by turning inward with faith in God and an intense yearning to know Him.
Sathya Sai Baba teaches that man’s basic nature is divine and that the purpose of life is the realization of this divinity. This will occur, He says, by leading a moral life, by rendering selfless service to those in need, by engaging in devotional practices, and by developing love, respect, and compassion for all life.
Our conscience is a reflection of the eternal spirit. Sathya Sai Baba tells us that our conscience is our master. When we follow our conscience, our thoughts, words, and deeds will be noble and consistent. Spirituality is having the courage and determination to follow our conscience in all things and at all times. In doing so, we recognize that we are all united in God. We are bound together by divine love.
As one strives to transform the worldly life of self-centred desires and attachments into a higher spiritual life of selflessness and devotion, the foundation is built for receiving God’s Grace. It is this Grace that will reveal our true nature to each of us.
Sathya Sai Baba does not recommend that we become ascetics and retreat from the world. Instead, He teaches us that the world is our school, that the five human values (Truth, Right Conduct, Peace, Love, and Non-violence) are our curriculum, and that the realization of the unity of Godliness in the diversity of Creation is our ultimate lesson.
Sathya Sai Baba has urged mankind to:
- Believe in God — for there is only ONE GOD for all mankind, though He may be called by many names.
- Follow sincerely their respective religions and live their daily lives in consonance with the teachings of good behaviour and morality.
- Respect all other religions — for no religion advocates the negative and lower qualities of man.
- Perform selfless service to the poor, the sick, and the needy without thought of reward or fame.
- Cultivate in their lives the values of truth, divine love, right conduct, peace, and nonviolence and promote these values among all.
- Be patriotic and respect the laws of the country in which they live.
Sathya Sai Baba urged all His devotees to comply with the “Nine-Point Code of Conduct” and to practice a “Ceiling on Desires” for their spiritual development.