First All-India Conference of the Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organization, Chennai, 21 April 1967
The Vedas and the Intellect, which man is endowed with as a gift from God to separate good from evil, are the means by which the culture of this land is to be preserved and promoted. When the Vedhic treasure house is explored with intelligence, the Atma-thathwa (essential nature of the Self) becomes clear and when that is recognised, man becomes eternally happy and full of peace. This treasure was slighted and neglected as a result of the fascination for outlandish ways of life, but, since some years, the feeling of reverence and the readiness to repent have appeared among the people.
You are allotted the task of bringing once again to the homes of the people the message of Athmic strength and Athmic unity. Transmuting 'man' into 'God' and experiencing that Anandha (Bliss) is the one and only achievement for which life is to be devoted. The efforts you make in your own places are directed to bring this goal into the awareness of each person.
Of course, there are in existence many organisations and societies engaged in distributing various cures for the 'spiritual' 'ills of their constituents, and therefore, a question may arise about the need for this additional institution. The need has arisen to emphasise the basic and essential discipline, which is practical and universal, as prescribed since ages for the revelation of the Divine in man.
The entire Universe is pictured as but the Body of Vishnu, by the Vedas. And, Bharath ( India ) is as the eye of the Universe, the reason being that she has the most correct vision of the Cosmos in the context of Time.
The mother desires that the son should uphold the honour of the family; the Bharatheeya Culture Has To Be Fostered First; the son should uphold the fair name of the mother and father. So, every Indian has to learn and practise the spiritual science that the sages of this land have explored and discovered. However, due to hostile forces, evil company, ignorant fascination, Indians have neglected this foremost duty. The infection has come; it is well settled in the organism. Now, it has to be cast out. This Conference and the organisations you represent are attempts to cure that illness. The purpose is the same, whatever the name - Prasanthi Vidwanmahasabha, Sathya Sai Seva Samithi,Sathya Sai Seva Dhal, or Sathya Sai Bhaktha Mandali. The first aim is to foster and cultivate Bharatheeya Culture.
Let its validity be examined through actual living, and one's own discovery of its values; and communicated to others by those who have experienced the peace and joy derivable from it. I do not want the extolling of the drug by persons who have not been themselves cured by it. Today, in the very land where this culture grew and flourished, immorality and corruption have destroyed happiness and contentment. Many condemn these things, but those are the very persons who commit the wrongs they deplore. Those who profess to lead the people are themselves led astray by the temptation to fall. So, the very first ideal you must keep in mind, when you start and run these organisations is: Do not crave for status or authority or position; do not allow any pomp, or show; do not compete for publicity or recognition or praise.
Following My instructions without demur, is the best plan. The precious message is now being exported, but very little is used inside the country. That is the tragedy.
Your organisations must endeavour to promote faith in God. If that base is absent, worship, bhajan, puuja, good works - all become meaningless automatic ritual, done under social compulsion. Inner transformation, which is the fruit, can be acquired only when these are done with faith. Faith can grow only from the root of inquiry. Faith is made firmer by inquiry. You must encourage inquiry by the members whom you contact and welcome their efforts to gain first-hand experience.
Man strives to provide himself with food, clothing and housing for the sake of the body; he must also provide himself with some things to keep the mind healthy and happy. It is the mind that conditions even the body. You will see that he is at peace only during sushupti (deep sleep). For, at that time, the senses are inactive, the mind is inert and unattached to the senses or their targets. So, when senses are made ineffective to drag the mind out, man can attain peace. That is the real sadhana, the basic sadhana: the withdrawal of the senses from the objective world (Nivritthimarga).
'I did it,' 'This is mine': these are the two fangs that make the individual poisonous. Pull out the fangs, the snake can be handled and played with as a pet. These organisations must be vigilant to see that egoism and the sense of personal possession, pride or achievement, do not invade them. That is the goal to be kept in view.
Service has become a word of common currency, but its value is very much reduced by the hypocrisy of the users. Really speaking, only those who are afflicted with agony,: equal agony, at the sight of pain and suffering, distress or disease, have the fight to offer service; for, they are not serving others, they are serving themselves, serving to remove as fast and as intelligently as they can, their own agony.
Feel that you are serving yourself, that you are curbing your own ego. Otherwise service heightens your self-esteem and develops a sense of superiority, which are both harmful spiritually. Food is the medicine for the illness of hunger; drink, for the illness of thirst; for the disease of bhavarogha (Birth-Death-Cycle), Bhagawan is the medicine; for the disease of desire, Jnana is the specific. For the disease of doubt, despair and hesitation, which are the occupational diseases of Sadhakas, the most effective remedy is paropakara (doing good to others). For the major infection of ashanthi (anxiety), the course of treatment is bhajan. It is to provide these remedies to the sufferers that the organisation has to dedicate itself.
Who can be members of these organisations, and what are their qualifications? (1) Of course, they must be eager aspirants for spiritual progress. (2) They must have full faith in the Name that the organisation bears and in spreading that Name, in the manner suited to Its Message and Majesty. (3) Besides, the member must have won recognition as a good person. That is all the qualification needed; nothing else counts.
If you have the three qualifications mentioned, I assure you, even if you have no place in any organisation bearing My Name, you will have a place here (Baba indicated His Heart as the place where they will be accepted). The organisations must be such that members find them congenial places to deepen their Sadhana, to cultivate their virtues and to overcome their ego, by contact with workers who are free from the least trace of that deadly poison.
Secondly, what are the duties of members and office-bearers? You know that the State requires you to take a solemn oath, when you take up an office or enter upon an assignment. Similarly, each member and office-bearer must take an oath, from the very depths of the heart, before engaging themselves in the activities. "Swami, Save me from any act of commission of omission which will affect adversely the three qualifications You have laid down. Bless me with the skill, intelligence and enthusiasm necessary for the task I am dedicating myself to carry out for my own uplift. Guide me along the correct path; shower on me Your Grace so that I may earn a fair name in this attempt; guard me from temptation and wrong steps."
You know that Indian culture insists that you should offer reverence to all the names and forms of the One God-head. In your organisations, there may be some who insist that only Sai Bhajan should be sung, only the Name and Form of Sathya Sai be used. This is a great mistake. You are thereby dishonouring Sai. If you attach yourself to Sai and detach yourself from Krishna, you get a plus there and a minus here; the resultant gain is zero. In this matter do not develop fanaticism or sectarianism. Others may have these, but that is no reason why you should meet them with the same failings. Try your best to avoid such infection. When the other organisations require help, go and help them. This will make them realise the loving universal nature of your attitude. Again, do not encourage differences based on region, language, religion, or any such flimsy grounds.
Do not plan beyond your capacity and move about with lists from person to person to get funds. By this, the institution gets a bad name and you too will not be spared. Fund collection in a locked box. Attempts should also be made to spread spiritual knowledge and instill the yearning for spiritual Sadhana among students and youth.
Sathya Sai Seva Samithis have to bear in mind the word, Seva, and take up Seva work enthusiastically. Seva must be directed towards the removal of physical distress, the alleviation of mental agony, and the fulfilment of spiritual yearning.
The Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of Man - have full faith in this and fill every act of yours with that reverence and love. Meet together once a week or once a fortnight or at least once a month; have some one to discourse to you, or engage in bhajan or study or dhyana; experience the thrill of spiritual comradeship. Every member of the association must have some item of work allotted to him and he must be present whenever such meetings are held.
If you offer all activities at the feet of the Lord and free them from any trace of egoistic attachment, the consequence will not bind you: you are free, you are liberated, you have Moksha.
