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Sathya
Sai Baba is the second of three incarnations of the Sai Avatar. The
first was Shirdi Sai Baba, who left his mortal body in 1918, after
teaching the unity of God and brotherhood of man his whole life. In
particular, He did this among the Hindu- and Muslim-communities in
Central India, who on their side considered Him as one of them.
Sathya Sai Baba was born
on November 23, 1926, in a small remote village called Puttaparthi in
the South of India, approximately 160 km north of Bangalore. There is
now His ashram named Prasanthi Nilayam, which means: Place of
Supreme Peace. In Whitefield, about 25 km of Bangalore, Baba
also has an ashram where He regularly stays. This ashram is called
Brindavan.
The center of
activities there is Sri Sathya Sai Baba himself, who has attracted an
enormous number of people, through His unique, personal presence since
His early youth. He can only be described as the embodiment of pure,
unselfish love, of perfect peace and bliss, the essence of kindness.
Through Him all
noble, human qualities become visible; He carries and unites all
divine qualities which are characteristics of the Avatar.
Sathya Sai Baba is
the Avatar of this era. Avatar means: Embodiment of God on
earth. He has come again as a world teacher to lead mankind on the
right path in this critical time [Kali Yuga].
Sathya Sai Baba says:
"I have the task
to lead mankind in her development and to assure all human beings of
an existence full of happiness and joy. I have promised that I shall
rescue all who roam about uselessly, and bring them back to goodness."
Nature obeys His
will. He has all knowledge. He knows the past, presence and future of
everybody. In His teachings Sai Baba acknowledges all religions. He
emphasizes again and again that divinity means unity. In his personal
style and expression Baba shows a majestical grace and at the same
time a delightful cheerfulness.
Among His many
devotees who surround Him, He leads a simple and humble life,
completely devoted to loving helpfulness. Not restricted to only
physical existence, He works on all levels: the gross matter and the
spiritual nature. He does this in His physical form as well as in
visions, dreams and inner experiences. As a divine teacher, He leads
the spiritual development of His devotees, He inspires inwardly and
arranges outwardly. He illuminates the heart, transforms the mind and
reveals the biggest treasure.... the immortal Atma, the divine sparkle
in every human being.
Sai Baba says that He
will stay in the present quality as Sathya Sai Baba within the 21st
century and will reach the age of 96. After that He will be reborn as
the third and last incarnation as Prema Sai Baba, who will finish the
Avatar-mission started in the middle of the 19th century.
Sai Baba has two Ashrams
in the south of India, one in Puttaparthi and one in Whitefield, where
hundred-thousands of people from all over the world come together to
experience his Love and to receive his blessing. However, He has not
come to this earth to establish a new religion or sect. On the
contrary, he emphasizes the unity of all religions. About this, He
stresses:
"I have come to tell you about this
Universal Unity, this Inner Self-principle, this Path of Love. All
religions teach a basic-discipline: to remove the stains of egoism and
the chasing of material satisfaction out of the soul. Every religion
teaches the human being to fill his mind with the glory of God and to
drive out narrow-minded arrogance. Be convinced that the one and only
God is the indweller of all hearts; One can worship Him the best
through Love. Develop the inner attitude that people of every religion
from all over the world are One. That is the message of Love I bring."
As a teacher He leads
the spiritual development of all who turn to Him - by now, more than
hundred million people, worldwide - and inspires people inwardly as
well as outwardly. He has set up several schools and universities,
where education is given totally for free. Also, He has built
hospitals in several places where everybody receives free care and
medication. One of the most modern hospitals, in the area of heart-
and kidney- transplantations in the world, has been established in
Puttaparthi. Also here, every treatment is completely given free of
charge.
The name Sathya Sai
Baba is significant. Sai means: Godly Mother, Baba: Honored Father,
and Sathya: Truth. His mission: to bring back truth in all hearts, to
regain righteousness all over the world.
"There
is only one religion, the religion of Love. There is only one caste,
the caste of mankind. There is only one language, the language of the
heart. There is only one God and He is omnipresent."
- Sathya Sai Baba
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