The Sri
Sathya Sai Seva Organisation was founded in the 1960s by Bhagawan Sri Sathya
Sai Baba to enable its members to undertake service activities as a means to
spiritual advancement. The Sathya Sai Organisation derives inspiration,
guidance and strength from Bhagawan Baba’s mission and message of propagating
the truth of man’s inherent divinity, which is proclaimed and preached by all
religions of the world. In consonance with this truth, the Organisation has as
its main objective selfless love and service without any distinction of
religion, nationality, race, socio-economic status, either for those who work
in the Organisation or for those who are served by them. Thus, it transcends
all barriers, leading humanity towards the ideal of ‘Fatherhood of God and
Brotherhood of Man’. In fact, this spiritual basis enables everyone in the
Organisation to pursue his own religion better by putting its teachings into
practice by way of love and service to the God who dwells in all hearts (Source)
Bhagawan’s Divine Sankalpa (Will) to create this edifice of the Sri
Sathya Sai Organization for the emancipation of humanity, is like a potent seed
sown in the 1960s which has now spread out with innumerable branches across the
globe. To comprehend the power and determination behind this Divine Sankalpa is
mind boggling. However, it is very important for us to understand and recognize
how Bhagawan Baba, notwithstanding all the Divine Powers at His command, in a
very human way, through a very natural process, built this edifice brick by
brick, laying out its blueprint in all its enormity, phase by phase. He
communicated its vision, mission, and modus operandi in every possible detail
to all the stakeholders. Studying the “construction” of this Divine
Organization and appreciating its “architecture”, in the backdrop of its Divine
Creator, is a matter of great thrill and joy, a source of profound wisdom and
message and a matter of immense fulfilment and satisfaction. This will be the
focus of this posting. Needless to say, what will be covered is just a drop in
the ocean, for there is so much that Bhagawan Baba has said and done, and only
part of which is documented and even less is available as audio files in His
Voice. Therefore, what is included here is just a part of what is available to
us, audible in His own Voice.
This posting on Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba and the Sri Sathya Sai
Organization (SSSO) will be covered in the following seven parts:
Part
|
Theme
|
Part-I
|
Genesis and Management Model
|
Part-II
|
Emphasis on “No connection between
SSSO and Money”
|
Part-III
|
Discipline – The undercurrent of
all activities in SSSO
|
Part-IV
|
Love-Service-Sacrifice – The Three
Pillars of the SSSO
|
Part-V
|
Expected Profile of SSSO Members
|
Part-VI
|
Ten Directives for SSSO Members
|
Part-VII
|
Concept of Ceiling on Desires
|
Part-IV elaborates
on the three pillars of the SSSO – Love, Service and Sacrifice. Bhagawan says -
To become deserving of God’s Love you must love others. He encourages us to
aspire to be Sevaks (servants) and in the process attain the position of
leadership, but not run after the aspiration to become leaders directly.
Bhagawan quotes the famous Vedic dictum “Na Karmana Na Prajaya Dhanena Tyage
Naike Amrutatva Maanashuhu”, stressing that through sacrifice alone we can
attain immortality. The seven audio extracts in this posting are taken from the
Discourses delivered by Bhagawan in the years 1975, 1980, 1984, 1985 and 1999.
In Clip-1, Bhagawan says that Seva (service) is the primary Sadhana
(spiritual practice) and to become deserving of God’s Love we must love
others. Seeking for one’s own redemption is the greatest selfishness and one
must sacrifice this selfishness. Clip-2 advises all members of the SSSO to
aspire to be Sevaks (servants) and not crave for leadership positions. Clip-3
highlights the importance of sacrifice. In Clip-4 Bhagawan reminds us that in
matters of service, no differences of any type must be entertained. Clip-5
talks about the need for members of the SSSO to be ready to undertake any Seva,
without any feelings of mine and thine. In Clip-6 Bhagawan urges that every
devotee family must take up the responsibility of feeding and nurturing one
poor person. He says that there can be no greater act of charity than feeding a
hungry person. Finally, in Clip-7 Bhagawan praises the members of the SSSO who
offered yeoman selfless during the festival of Pushkar.
Each audio clip has a name that adopts the following code: Serial
number, Title appropriate to the key content, Duration of the clip,
Year-Month-Date of the Clip. Below the title is the translation in English of
the select excerpt of the Discourse, followed by the audio player. The
post ends with a short quiz that would help you evaluate your assimilation of
Bhagawan's Message from these extracts.
Note:
Those receiving this blog by email may see words bunched
together due to a technical glitch. That is beyond my control. Please click on
link at the top of the email to read the blog directly. Sorry about this. If
anyone has a solution to this please help me out.
01-Love-Service-Sacrifice must be the
primary aim of SSSO-1.32-1985 November 17
 |
Love, Service and Sadhana
The Three Pillars of the SSSO |
Merely
reading the texts and listening to Discourses cannot make an impact on the
heart. To touch the heart and make an impact on it, one must engage in service.
One who does not undertake service has no right to talk or preach. Therefore,
to acquire the right to speak, one must necessarily engage in service. Seva is
the primary Sadhana. To whomsoever we serve, we must regard that we are serving
God. We must consider that we are undertaking all activities to please God.
The main
aim of the Sathya Sai Organization is to develop this type of Love. While
merely closing the nose and doing worship, or trying to get intoxicated in
meditation, or getting lost in ecstasy while singing Bhajans; if there is no
sense of sacrifice in these, then they become mere symbols of selfishness.
Therefore, to aspire for your own redemption is the greatest selfishness. To
desire for your own destination is the greatest selfishness. To seek for your
own happiness is the greatest selfishness. One who sacrifices this selfishness
and loses oneself in the feeling that others’ joy and happiness is one’s own
joy and happiness, is a truly selfless person.
One who
loves others alone will be loved by God. To become deserving of God’s Love you
must love others. If you want God to love you without you loving others, it is
impossible. Therefore, you love others and God will live you. Thus, understand
this principle of Love; forget the past to the extent possible; do not worry
about the future and make an effort to experience the present in the best way.
02-SSSO Members must be always
service oriented-Aspire to be good Sevaks not Leaders-1.41-1975 November 21
 |
| Always aspire to be Service Oriented |
Embodiments
of Divine Atma, the Sathya Sai Seva members, the Sathya Sai Sevadals, the
Sathya Sai Seva Samithi, the Sathya Sai Balvikas – all these are always
associated with the word Seva, Seva, Seva. Therefore, we must always aspire to
be Sevaks (servants) and in the process attain the position of leadership, but
not run after the aspiration to become leaders directly. If we enquire into the
situation correctly, we find that in the Western countries, the one who is a
Sevak today becomes a leader overnight. She/he becomes a leader or a Guru. You
can imagine the harm that such Gurus can bring about. Therefore do not think
about becoming Gurus, always entertain the noble thoughts of being a Sevak
forever.
03-SSSO Members must enter into
Service and practice Sacrifice-0.51-1999 March 18
 |
| Enter Service - Practice Sacrifice |
All
people and specifically all members of the Sathya Sai Organization must enter
into service activities. We must nurture sacrifice, sacrifice, sacrifice. There
are so many wealthy and rich people. They are rich only for name sake but there
is no sacrifice in their action. They do not even perform the meritorious act
of giving somebody a glass of water. No, no. This is not human life. Sacrifice,
sacrifice and sacrifice. Therefore, the Vedas have proclaimed, “Na Karmana
Na Prajaya Dhanena Tyage Naike Amrutatva Maanashuhu” (Not by action, not by
progeny, nor by wealth; it is by sacrifice alone that one can attain
immortality). We must attain this form of immortality.
04-In matters of Service there should
be no difference in SSSO-0.48-1975 November 21
 |
| In Service, there must be no differences |
In the
matter of service and bending your body and working, no differences of any type
must be entertained, either by the members or the seniors of the Organization.
When it comes to service, without having any differences in your mind, in a
collective manner, considering all as the children of God; you must provide
help and support.
05-Advise to Seva Dals-Remove feeling
of Mine and Thine-Overcome all challenges and do Seva-3.17-1984 November 18
 |
| Remove feelings of Mine and Thine |
All the
material objects in the world that give you comfort and joy are not for the use
of one single individual. All have a right to it. Each one should put in an
effort to experience her/his share of it. It rains, the river flows, the crop
grows, the sun and the moon shine; all these activities are not meant for any
one single individual. We must recognize the truth that each one has a right to
experience these joys and comforts. The Sevadals must strive to remove the
narrow minded feelings of “this is mine” (mine) and “this is yours” (thine).
They must give up narrow minded ideas, must be contented with what they get and
must help others with a sense of gratitude. They must understand that this is
the true form of Worship.
They must
recognize that not just living in a united way, but also striving to engage in
community service, is true individuality. The Sevadal members must lead life
with the broad feeling and understanding that whatever joy and peace they
aspire for in their life, the same must be available to their fellow beings
also. In life, we come across a number of challenges. Without yielding to any
of these challenges, overcoming all of them, without allowing them to come in
the way of one’s Seva, without getting vexed with the society in any manner,
without giving any scope for ego or ostentation, with all humility and
obedience; the Sevadal members should be ready for undertaking any Seva
activity. It is this courage and conviction of purpose that you must have, to
overcome the obstacles in the path of your Seva.
06-Bhagawan wishes that every devotee
family must adopt and feed one poor person a day and nurture him or
her-4.40-1980 November 21
.jpg) |
| Adopt and Feed one poor person a day |
In this
conference, we must adopt one new practice. In this country there are so many
poor people, forlorn people, sick people and others who are challenged in
different ways. Each family must be prepared to nurture one poor person. Each
family must offer food and protection to a poor person, thus preventing her/him
from going to the market place to beg for food. Each family must welcome and
offer food to at least one poor person every day. In this country that has
assumed the form of Annapoorneshwari (Goddess of Food), if there is no
one to feed the people who cry out, “Annamo Ramachandraha” (Oh Rama give
me food), how then, can we call this country as Annapoorna Kshetra (land
of the Goddess of food)?
Therefore,
the new sacred practice from tomorrow must be that, every family (not every
individual) must welcome and serve food to one poor person every day.
What is
true Sadhana?
Annadaanamukanna Adhika
Daanam Edi?
(Which
donation is greater than the offering of food?)
Giving
food to a hungry man is the greatest Sadhana.
Talli Tandrulakanna
Daivam Edi?
(Which is
the God other than one’s own parents?)
Some
people cause lot of trouble to their parents at home but they go out and preach
to others. Conquer the home and then conquer the wider world. First nurture and
worship your own parents. Please them first.
Jagatitapamukanna
Satyasheelam Edi?
(What is
the truthful character (adherence to truth) greater than penance in this
world?)
Dayakante Ekuva Dharmam
Edi?
(Which
Dharma is greater than compassion?)
Sujana Sangatikanna
Chooda Laabham Edi?
(Which
profit is greater than the company of good people?)
Krodhambukanna
Shatrutvam Edi?
(Which
enmity is greater than anger?)
Runamukantenanu Rogam
Edi?
(Which
disease is greater than being indebted to someone?)
Dharani
Hathakeertikantenu Maranam Edi?
(Which
death is more worse than losing one’s reputation?)
Sarvadaakeertikantenu
Sampada Edi?
(Which
wealth is greater than good fame?)
Smaranakante Minchina
Abharanam Edi?
(Which is
the ornament greater than thinking of God?)
Of all
these sacred aphorisms, the most sacred one is “Annadaanamukanna Adhika
Daanam Edi?”, i.e. there is no gift greater than giving food to a hungry
man. Annam Brahma. Therefore, when a poor person comes and stands near our
threshold, and cries out “Amma Annamu (Mother, give me food), I am
feeling hungry”, the heart that attempts to welcome her/him is the truly
generous heart.
Here we
have to note one more point. Because Swami said like this (Kotha Vinta
Paatha Rota – when you hear something new, the old practice becomes foul),
some women will immediately go to the Bazaar (market) and start distributing
food over there. Do not undertake such a practice and encourage beggars. This
will result in more harm than good. The person next to us should not know whom
we are nurturing or whom we are giving food to. I wish that without any such
ostentation, we must promote brotherhood and sacred Divinity through practice,
in our organization.
07-SSSO is an example of selfless
service-Service done during the Pushkar festival and for Swami's 55th
Birthday-2.38-1980 November 21
 |
God alone is the witness to the selfless service
of the SSSO Members |
Not just
that, in many parts of the organization (SSSO), right from young children to
old people; all of them are doing so much Seva. Selfless service can be seen
only in the SSSO. In Bharath, a few months back, in West and East Godavari, the
Pushkara festival was celebrated where lakhs of people congregated (Since time
immemorial, river worship, known as “Pushkaram”, is performed to make people
realize the importance of water, the life-sustaining force. Pushkaram is a holy
happening once in every 12 years at each of the 12 major rivers of India, the
Godavari being one among them. Every 12th year Jupiter’s entry into
the constellation Leo marks the Pushkaram for Godavari). Even in Krishna district, thousands
of people assembled for the Krishna Pushkara. The Seva done by the men and
women over there is something that only the eyes which have witnessed it can
understand and not the fools who only speak. God alone is the witness to the
tolerance exhibited by them to all the impurity (dirt) around and to the sacred
seva done by them in cleaning and sweeping the place.
As
Swami’s Birthday is drawing closer, many members of the organization, in places
like Dharmavaram, Guntakal, Kurnool and Bagepalli, who have been waiting with
great desire, considering that service to the devotees of Swami is the real
Seva to Swami, have been offering lot of service to the ongoing travellers (to
Prasanthi Nilayam). Service to man is service to God is merely stated in
political organizations, whereas in the Sathya Sai Organization, this assumes a
true form.
A Short Quiz
01-Why does Bhagawan call service an
important pillar of the SSSO?
02-How according to Bhagawan, must
one perform Seva (service) activities?
03-What is the type of sacrifice
that Bhagawan wishes the members of the SSSO to undertake?
04-How according to Bhagawan, can we
become deserving of God’s Love?
05-What is the meaning of the
dictum, Na Karmana Na Prajaya Dhanena Tyage Naike Amrutatva Maanashuhu”?
06-What
does Bhagawan expect when He asks the members of the SSSO to remove all the
feelings of “mine” and “thine”?
07-With
what qualities and framework of mind, must the Sevadals be ready to undertake
any Seva?
08-There
is no greater charity than feeding a hungry person – In this context, what is
the noble practice that Bhagawan initiated the members of the SSSO into?
09-Who is
the greatest God in this world?
10-What
is the most Truthful character or the best way of adhering to truth?
11-What
is the greatest Dharma in this world?
12-What
is the greatest profit / benefit in this world?
13-What
is our greatest enemy in this world?
14-What
is the greatest disease that inflicts mankind?
15-What
is the worst type of death that can devour man?
16-What
is the greatest wealth that man can accrue?
17-What is the caution Bhagawan asks
us to exercise in taking up the new initiative of one family feeding one poor
person?
18-What is the significance of the
Pushkara festival and what is the history behind its celebration?
Part-IV of this posting would have given
you insights about the three pillars of the SSSO: Love, Service and Sacrifice.
These three need to be the very breath of every member of the SSSO. Even of one
of these were to be absent, she/he would not quality to be an ideal member of
the SSSO. In Part-V of this posting,
Bhagawan Baba explains what His expectation of the profile of a SSSO member is.
He goes on to explain the various qualities and virtues that need to be present
in a SSSO member. Kindly click on this link to read Part-V....
http://hismessagehisvoice.blogspot.in/2012/09/bhagawan-sri-sathya-sai-baba-and-sri_8.html
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