Satya Sai Baba

During 1975-76, I was being drawn towards the discourses and thoughts expressed therein by Satya Sai Baba, even though completely negating the experiences of miracles and magics as described by many of his followers. It was not possible for me to believe on the claims that were described by many. Born in 1926 at Puttaparthi (A,P.) in a poor family, Satyanarayana, renounced his household at the age of 14 because, in his own words, he had a mission to accomplish and that was to spiritually develop the entire humanity and fill up everybody’s life with 4 principles-
1. There is only one religion, the religion of love.
2. There is only one language, the language of heart.
3. There is only one caste, the humanity.
4. There is only one God, and he is all pervasive.
He further said, “ I have not come to spread any particular religion or creed or movement. I have no plan to attract my disciples or devotees towards me or any specific doctrine. I have come to describe only this single belief, the same eternal principle, the path of love and responsibility. We should build a world, where myths should be destroyed, truth should prevail, governance should be based on morality and power should be acquired through character not through knowledge, inventions or money.”
I had seen him once in Hyderabad and now after reading his thoughts I planned a trip, along with my family, to Prashanti Nilayam (the name given to his Ashram at Puttaparthi).Curiosity, rather than devotion, was behind this journey. During our two days stay there we went around the campus, saw Baba and heard his discourses and bhajans. The most important feature observed here was that all the persons present, from volunteers and devotees to officials deployed on various duties had subjected themselves to self-discipline. Whether it was allotment of accommodation, running the canteen or crowd management (which included many foreigners) at the time of darshan and bhajan, everybody was humble, duty-conscious and full of courtesy. And all these qualities were spontaneous, not under any compulsion or inducement! I noticed and appreciated this type of “invisible” governance which I consider as the best form of governance.
We saw Satya Sai Institute of higher learning, super speciality hospital and the heritage museum also. That several such high quality institutions in the domain of education, medicine and basic infrastructure have been established and running successfully as a result of his affection and commitment towards humanity is nothing less than a miracle.
The very name of Satya Sai Baba produces a picture of so many dimensions in one’s mind in different parts of the world. A composer as well as melodious singer of bhajans, a world class teacher of humanity and possessing talents in many diverse fields is amazing. An incarnation of love, who makes you hear your own conscience, a confluence of all the religions in the world, the practicing philosopher of a life, where material and soul positively coordinate with each other. His life is the living testimony of so many incarnations in itself.
How can death remove such a phenomenon from this world? We may not see him physically any more, but will experience his presence everyday. And that is how God is defined.