Teachings of Sathya Sai Baba
Sathya Sai Baba's Primary teachings are:
- Love - for all creatures.
- Service - to others.
- Put a ceiling on one's desires.
- The world is maya (illusion), only God is real.
- Every person is God in form, though most do not experience this as their reality.
- Meditation - Baba teaches two techniques, so ham (Upanishadic mantra for repetition and focus) and jyoti (Light meditation).
- Inclusive acceptance of all religions as paths to realizing the One (God).
- Ahimsa (non-violence), shanthi (peace), dharma (right conduct, living in accord with natural law), and sathya (truth).
Center members are expected to do their best to practice the Nine-Point Code of Conduct in order to be examples of Sathya Sai Baba's teachings:
1) Daily meditation and prayer (Jap). 2)Group devotional singing (bhajan) or prayer with family members once a week.
3) Participation in Sai Spiritual Education (Bal Vikas Programme) by children of the family.
4) Participation in community service work and other programs of the organization.
5) Regular attendance at the Center's devotional meetings (Bhajan or Nagar Sankirtan).
6) Regular study of Sathya Sai Baba literature.
7) The use of soft, loving speech with everyone.
8) Not speaking ill of others, especially in their absence.
9) Narayana Seva. Practice placing a ceiling on desires - consciously and continuously strive to eliminate the tendency to waste time, money, food and energy - and utilize the savings for service to mankind.
Satya Sai Baba teaches a rather traditional but syncretic form of Hinduism that has come from many sects and movements including advaita, occasionally drawing from other religions like Buddhism, Sikhism, and Christianity. He claims to be a reincarnation of Shirdi Sai Baba, a spiritual leader who blended Islam and Hinduism in his teachings, and has a nominal Muslim following. The only real Christian influence can be felt in the institution of regular Sunday School sessions for devotees and the symbol of the cross on the Sarva Dharma Symbol of his organization. He says that he has come to restore faith in, and encourage the practice of the teachings in the Vedas, which stress unity among diversity. Across the globe local Sathya Sai Baba groups assemble to sing bhajans (devotional songs that praise Jesus, Buddha, Krsna, Shiva, etc.), study Sathya Sai Baba's teachings, do collective community service (called seva), and teach Education in Human Values (Sai Sunday School). His followers generally do not proselytize. Bhajans are sung at nearly every meeting.
Sathya Sai Baba interacts with all people on a heart-to-heart basis. There are no intermediaries between himself and those who yearn for knowledge and experience of God. Every day for more than 50 years, Sathya Sai Baba has walked among and talked with the spiritual pilgrims who gather around him in increasing numbers. He offers solace and inspiration to all sincere seekers of truth.
Sathya Sai Baba places great importance on proper education for young people. Parents and community leaders are urged to concern themselves with the informal as well as the formal experiences to which their children and young adults are exposed.
He has established a model education system, which includes primary schools, secondary schools, and an accredited university with three campuses, offering undergraduate, Masters, and Ph.D. degrees. No fees are charged (except for food charges) to students, and admission is open to all, regardless of race, religion, or economic condition.
In addition to emphasizing the pursuit of academic excellence, Sathya Sai Baba's system of "integral education" is designed to foster self-discipline and pro-social conduct. Students are required to take courses on morality and spirituality and to devote several hours each week to some form of community service. Sathya Sai Baba says that "the end of education is character". Sathya Sai Baba has built an ultra-modern 300-bed hospital close to the university and ashram. Highly specialized operations, including open-heart operations and kidney transplants, are performed routinely. There is absolutely no charge to the patient for professional or hospital expenses (only charges incurred are for out-of-hospital medications). Motivated by the desire to serve humanity, doctors, nurses, and workers in the hospital render extraordinary, compassionate, and loving care to all patients.
Service to those in need. Recently, Sathya Sai Baba initiated a project to provide an adequate supply of pure water to 1.5 million inhabitants of the State of Andhra Pradesh (India) who were living in drought conditions. The Prime Minister of India traveled to Prasanthi Nilayam (Sathya Sai Baba's main ashram) in order to inaugurate the project. Sathya Sai Baba demonstrates that it is the duty of society to ensure that all people have access to the basic requirements for the sustenance of human life.