SAI BABA AND THE COSMIC CHRIST     By Ron Laing

  THE FAMILY OF HUMANITY     By Dr. Sara Pavan
 

Also read : Christmas in Prasanthi Nilayam
 

This is the month of December, the holy month of Christmas, when thousands gather at Prashanthi Nilayam to pay their homage to their "Father". Here is an interesting article celebrating this sacred month.
SAI BABA AND THE COSMIC CHRIST  -

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Jesus & Sai Baba

Sai Baba and Jesus - Extraordinary Identity I had studied the life and teachings of Sathya Sai Baba for two years before going to India, and I had come to the certain conviction that once again the Word had been made flesh, that the Divine Principle had incarnated to save the world from destruction. Everything Swami said and did struck a note in the core of my being. He crystallised virtually everything I had come to believe in 65 years of search. I had come home. What also impacted me increasingly was the extraordinary similarity in the life, teachings, miracles, and personality of Sai Baba and Jesus of Nazareth. They even seemed to express themselves in the same phraseology. Of course it is true that all world teachers basically assert the same truths, but there is an extraordinary identity between Sai Baba and Jesus which is quite unique. In 1968 Albert Eckhart wrote, 'The difference between Sai Baba and Jesus Christ is that the first is living and his miracles are confirmed by men, whereas the miracles of Jesus are reported in the Bible only. Nevertheless, the behaviour and the deeds of both are nearly and often the same.' The teachings of Jesus spread across half the globe. Sai Baba, in a little over 40 years, is said to have 50 million devotees and there are Centres in 64 countries of the world. (This article was written in 1984. Now there are Sai Centres in about 180 countries and correspondingly a much larger number of followers - H2H Team). Puttaparthi is rapidly becoming the Vatican of the East. At the Birthday celebration in 1980 there were 350,000 people accommodated on a campus of 100 acres.

On Swami's 50th birthday Dr Diwaker, an Indian scholar and statesman, said this:

'Once Swami was a village urchin, uncared for, untutored, unloved. Now on his 50th birthday we assemble from the four quarters of the globe and what do we find? Philosophers and politicians, educators and legislators, scientists and technologists, the learned as well as the ignorant, the rich as well as the poor, and from all nations and from all religions, if this is not a marvel and a living miracle I would like to know what is!

Sai and Jesus...Same Love

Jesus went about loving people and healing the sick. Sai Baba, too, does just that — loving people and healing the sick, serving mankind 24 hours a day. Both interpret the purpose of human life in exactly the same way. The symbolic meaning of the Cross is the eradication of the ego — the vertical stroke represents the T with which we are born, and the horizontal stroke the erasure of the ego. Baba's interpretation is identical. 'The sole purpose of your incarnation is the crucifixion of the ego on the altar of compassion.'

Both have made stupendous statements. Jesus said, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life. I and my father are one.'

Baba has made even more incredible statements, 'My power is immeasurable. My truth is inexplicable, unfathomable. I am beyond the reach of the most intensive enquiry and the most meticulous measurement. There is nothing I do not see, nowhere I do not know the way, no problem I cannot solve. My sufficiency is unconditional. I am the totality — all of it'

Both proclaim the brotherhood of man and the universality of the message. 'Go ye therefore, and teach all nations,' said the Christ.

'My mission is for all mankind,' says Baba, 'I have not come to collect disciples for any particular sect, creed or religion, such as the Hindu religion. I have come to light the lamp of love in the hearts of all humanity.'

Christ preached joy and the life abundant. 'I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.' Joy is the very essence of Baba's personality and teaching. Listen to those who know Him intimately — Howard Murphet, author of three books on Baba: 'We who struggle on through sorrow and passing joy, see in Baba the embodiment of perfect joy.' Or to Dr Sandweiss, author of The Holy Man and the Psychiatrist, 'He appears to be in a state of constant bliss. His face and body are lit with an aura of energy which I have never observed in a human being.'

Of course the cornerstone of the teaching of these two god-men can be summed up in the one word - love. No newcomer to the Gospels, unconditioned by theology, could possibly read them without gaining the over-whelming impression that the paramount message contained therein is one of love. "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God . . .' and 'Thou shall love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.' Sai Baba, too, is the embodiment of love. It is the essence of all His teaching, the golden thread which runs through everything He says and does, the criterion by which He judges everything.

There is the same similarity in the detailed teaching. 'Avoid killing, theft, adultery, greed, sensuality, anger, impatience, hatred, egotism, pride.' Are not these exhortations an appeal to the Christian values? In the ten volumes of Baba's Discourses can be found every precept of the Sermon on the Mount. I give here a few of the sayings of both.

Baba often rails at the scholars and pedants, with their 'desire for disputation and the laurels of victory over those preening themselves as learned'. 'Be simple and sincere,' Baba tells His devotees. Both show their dislike of the Pharisee type. Christ called them 'whited sepulchres'. Swami calls them 'dry as dust scholars exulting in their casuistry and argumentative skills.'

Both have clearly shown their love of children. Jesus rebuked the disciples who wanted to keep the children away. 'Suffer little children to come unto me' . Baba shares this love. When a large group of children from the Wellingborough Centre (UK) went to the ashram they were too excited to sleep on the first night. Baba came to their quarters and asked them if they would go to sleep if He, too, went to sleep? Whereupon He lay down on the floor and pretended to sleep. Soon the only sound was blissful breathing — and Baba crept out on tiptoe.

Both demonstrate a capacity for vehement 'righteous indignation' when necessary for a purpose, as, for example, when Jesus drove out the money-changers from the temple with a leather lash because he opposed the buying of animals for sacrifice. A friend of mine who is a close devotee told me how one day a man with a very wealthy father, who was dying, actually came to Swami to seek financial advice about his coming inheritance! Swami thundered at him, with an emotion which astonished my friend, for thinking of money when his sick father needed his care, and dismissed him — only to revert to His normal loving self in a second. The 'anger' was just a necessary 'act'. As He says, 'Sometimes I have to make a noise!'

Jesus and Sai - The Same Personality, the Same Miracles

Both also show a combination of deep humility and commanding authority. Jesus is often referred to as 'one who spoke with authority' - one envisages a tall, commanding figure. Yet he knelt down and washed the feet of his disciples. Swami might often play and joke, but should anyone take undue advantage of it, in the twinkling of an eye He resumes His authority. Once, when a devotee enquired if he might ask a favour, Baba replied, 'Of course. I am yours. I have no rights.' At one time a servant of mankind, at another the Lord.

Both, of course, have been maligned and persecuted. 'Calumny is the lot of all great souls everywhere, at any time. It would be unnatural if it were not so,' says Baba. He is oblivious to praise or blame. Christ was accused of being a wine-bibber, of mixing with publicans and sinners. Baba has been criticised for allowing 'sinners' to use the ashram. Their replies were similar: 'I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.'

Baba has said, 'Sinners have more need of me than you have.' Christ was accused of healing by the powers of Satan (Beelzebub). Baba has been called a black magician.

There is also a remarkable similarity in the miracles. Christ healed the sick. Baba heals the sick daily. Christ raised Lazarus from the dead when his body is said to have been in a state of decomposition. Baba has raised the dead on at least two occasions. The body of Mr V. Radhakrishna was also in a state of decomposition. (In fact, there are many occasions, when Swami has given the Gift of Life to chosen devotees, please go here to read our cover story on Resurrections - H2H Team).

Both multiplied food — Christ at the feeding of the five thousand, and Baba on many occasions when the food has run out. Christ changed water into wine. Baba has changed water into petrol and fuel oil. Christ could control the elements and calm the seas; likewise Baba has made a rainbow appear, and made floods recede. Christ could levitate and walk on the waters. Baba was levitating as a child to the top of the rocky hill at Puttaparthi.

It is impossible to convey in words the tone, the quiet assurance in which He affirmed these two questions. Gently, lovingly, with total conviction, with a sort of ineffable simplicity, and perhaps most of all, with a total lack of self-consciousness impossible in a human being. He looked straight into my eyes, which were no more than twelve inches from His, and just said, 'Yes'. I only know that it was impossible not to believe Him.

- From Sathya Sai Baba Magazine - Spring 1984.

THE FAMILY OF HUMANITY By Dr. Sara Pavan   This is a true story of the experience and practice of Baba’s Message – “There is only one caste – the caste of Humanity”  through love and service at the Wayside chapel in Sydney, Australia. "Haven’t you gone yet?” asked Swami, as He materialised Vibhuti and poured it into my hands at Darshan when we visited Prasanthi Nilayam in December, 1984. Nonplussed, I couldn’t respond to Swami’s enquiry and the Lord continued gliding onwards, leaving His footprints on the golden sand. I couldn’t solve the riddle until I read a letter from Rev. Ted Noffs that was awaiting our return from India. Only then I realised what Swami had meant when He asked me that question and I inferred that Swami wanted me to meet up with Rev. Ted Noffs. In that letter Rev. Noffs invited me to participate in the 21st anniversary celebration of the founding of the Wayside Chapel. Swami says, “It is good to be born in a church, but it would be sad if you die in the same church!” He also stresses the need for expansion. In His 60th Birthday Message Bhagavan asked: “What is this ‘Sai Family’ you are claiming about?” He declared, “The whole world is One Family.” He emphasised the importance of the ‘Integration of the World Community.’ In an interview in December 1982 Swami had blessed me to start publishing a quarterly Sai Newsletter for Australia. By 1984 we had several hundreds of subscribers from all around the country. In October 1984 I received a letter from Elvie B., a subscriber from a remote farming countryside in Queensland. I did not pay much attention to what she had written in her letter because I receive letters from many devotees about their experiences of Baba. In her letter Elvie claimed that Swami ‘stood in front of her’ during meditation and commanded her to write to me, that I should meet Rev. Ted Noffs, the pastor of the Wayside Chapel in Kings Cross, Sydney, in whom I would find a true spiritual friend, who cares and serves humanity beyond human barriers. Until then I hadn’t heard of the Wayside Chapel of Kings Cross or Rev. Ted Noffs. All I knew about the Cross was that it was a dangerous area in the city and the hub of all kinds of vice and crime. I had no interest whatsoever to go to Kings Cross and even felt why I, a Hindu by birth, should be associated with a Church! Around this time I happened to receive a parcel of books - Embodiment of Love and Eastern View of Jesus Christ and Christianity - from Peggy Mason, then the editor and publisher of the Sai Newsletter of U.K. and wife of Ron Laing, who was the first president of the Sathya Sai Council of U.K. In my enthusiasm to share Bhagavan’s Love with broadminded people like Rev. Ted Noffs, I posted a copy of these two books to him before leaving for India to spend Christmas with Swami. Having enshrined Swami in my heart, since 1980 I had spent most of my spare time doing my best to serve in His Divine Mission. Now, five years later, Bhagavan opens another window in my life for spiritual expansion – to understudy Rev. Ted Noffs and experience spirituality in action! Did Bhagavan have a plan thus, in exposing me to the concept of the “Family of Humanity” and expand my spiritual horizon through personal experience? At this point let me outline the background of Rev. Ted Noffs and the Wayside Chapel. The Story of the Wayside Chapel and Its 'Family of Humanity' Ted Noffs was a Methodist minister, part of the Uniting Church in Australia, and had served the aboriginals with love and understanding in the outback of Australia. In 1964 the Uniting Church ventured into an experiment at Kings Cross and asked Ted Noffs to take charge of this unique ministry for the forlorn in the crime ridden suburb, among the ‘Godless’ people indulging in vice and crime. Ted Noffs was free to set aside some of the ‘religious’ traditions and constraints to carry out his unique ministry. He renovated a dilapidated old building in Kings Cross and called it the ‘Wayside Chapel’ and flung open its doors to all and sundry. Seeing the Chapel not even remotely having any semblance of a Church with its pews empty and located where no one would ever build a church or a temple, a fledgling journalist then and media personality now, sceptically remarked, “Mr. Noffs! You may find for your congregation some of the beatniks who live down the road.” (Beatniks were young persons in the 1960s who did not accept society’s customs and principles but who valued personal experience instead, and who had long hair and wore untidy clothes). It is interesting to note that our Swami too had several such youths from America around Him in the sixties. Ted Noffs set off to meet these youngsters the next day to see if he might lure them to the Chapel. He told me that it was like walking into a lion’s den, for these beatniks hated any kind of establishment, especially the church. Ted discussed philosophy, politics and current events with the beatniks and found them well informed and highly intelligent. As Ted was amiable they offered him a cup of coffee, which he gladly accepted in spite of their unkempt place and a sink full of unwashed utensils. There was no milk in the fridge and one of them dashed out to buy some milk and Ted accompanied him to the nearby shop. When the beatnik asked for a pint of milk Ted pulled out his wallet and asked for six. The young man turned to Ted and said: “Mr. Noffs! We live by a bottle of milk a day.” Ted was taken aback by the resolve of this young man, who literally summed up the words of Jesus Christ, “Take therefore no thought, for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day are the evils thereof.” Ted reflected upon the happenings of the day and realised how restricted the church was. They wouldn’t even undertake an activity without having the resources upfront. His faith in God deepened as he reflected upon the kind of ministry Jesus had with ordinary people and how Jesus, with faith and conviction, always looked to his Heavenly Father to provide. Bhagavan Baba also reminds us that God will always provide the means when we undertake noble tasks. The Chapel doors were open for all people irrespective of creed or race, and migrant communities – Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs – who had no place for worship of their own those days started using the ‘Wayside Chapel’ for their prayers which Ted Noffs would participate in. Soon he realised the urgent need for religious amity, which inspired him to have his own creed at the Wayside Chapel: “I am a child of the stars. My religion, like the clothes I wear, belongs to the dust of the centuries. My spirit is immortal. Our children are sons and daughters from an eternal kingdom and are here to inherit the riches and resources of this planet for a span until they journey through time and space. I AM a Catholic, I AM a Protestant, I AM a Jew, I AM a Hindu, I AM a Moslem, I AM a Sikh, I AM a Buddhist, Because I AM a Human and I belong to the Universe, nothing in the world can be alien to me.” Ted Noffs later added: “The world today is torn apart on the basis of caste, creed, colour, nationality, as well as the socio-economic divide, and is in dire straights towards self-destruction, needing the Einsteins and Galileos of the spirit to show the human race a scientific basis for a spiritual life. Religions are man-made, here today and gone tomorrow. Blessed are those who can distinguish between religion and spirituality and abide by the Universal Spirit of Love to build a better world for our children and their children.” The “Family of Humanity” became functional and realistic, based not on religious dogmas but spiritual unity as the bedrock for a caring and sharing society through Love and Service. An outreach programme to help the lonely and helpless, Life-education for children and the ‘Naming’ Ceremonies and Marriages in the name of the “Family of Humanity” were pioneered by Ted in the seventies. Bhagavan Baba has always emphasised the importance of “Brotherhood of man and Fatherhood of God.” The weekly open forum at the Chapel became the voice of conscience of the people on many a controversial issue in society. His acceptance of other religions and ‘Inter-faith’ practises at the Chapel landed Rev. Noffs on heresy charges during his ministry. Regardless, Ted continued courageously with his work, which not only became well known throughout Australia, but also attracted attention from other countries as well. Ted Noffs was awarded the highest award of the country twice – ‘The Australian of the Year’. His Life-education programme spread to several countries. The Readers Digest of March 1986 had a feature article about the Wayside Chapel titled, ‘The Biggest Little Church in the World'. I attended the 21st anniversary of the Wayside Chapel in February 1985. Some leading politicians and some media celebrities were amongst the vast gathering. Ted Noffs came up to me before the service commenced and I had to introduce myself. He was so delighted to see me there and said, “I want you to speak on behalf of Sai Baba on this special occasion.” What a request? I was terrified and wished I could disappear underground! I prayed to our Lord saying, “Swami! You have put me in this situation and you alone can save me now,” tightly clinging to the wooden pew. Throughout the service my heart pounded away as I continued praying to Swami. The merciful and omnipresent Lord gave me some confidence by giving me the imagery of Swami Vivekananda at the parliament of religions in Chicago, a century earlier. Rev. Noffs invited me to speak thus: “I have great pleasure inviting Dr. Pavan from the Homebush Sai Baba Centre to speak on behalf of Sai Baba.” These words were enough to put me into a tail-spin, but I felt assured of Swami’s help. I spoke with confidence, as if Swami had whispered into my ears to start off thus: “Brothers and Sisters of the Family of Humanity! I have come with a Message of Love from my Master, Sri Sathya Sai Baba, who is God Incarnate for those who have had the experience of His Love. …” That was enough to get started and the words were flowing as I filled my speech with Swami’s gems. Before concluding my speech I thanked Ted Noffs for giving me this rare opportunity to share the Love of my beloved Bhagavan with such an august gathering. At the end of the service many of them came up to me and embraced me and wanted to know from which book I had found such beautiful words of wisdom. I replied they were my Master’s simple but universal teachings. The Multi -Faith Logo specially designed by the Homebush Sai Centre for the Inaugural Service Wayside Chapel altar - Neville Fredericks who is presently the Australian Central Co-ordinator speaking That was the beginning of our spiritual alliance, a true experience of Inter-faith. In July, the same year, Ted Noffs and many senior members of the Wayside Chapel participated in our Sai Baba Centre meeting at Homebush, Australia. They were very much at home at our Sai centre and Ted Noffs reminded us of our common objectives and invited us to join forces in serving the wider community. The Homebush Sai Centre held the first Sai Baba service at the Wayside Chapel in August 1986 with all the senior office bearers of the Sai organisation taking part. A special Sarvadharma logo was unveiled as a mark of Unity of Faiths and this logo has become a permanent fixture in the Chapel. The Homebush Sai Centre has continued with this special Sai Baba service at the chapel once a year ever since. The Sathya Sai Organisation in Sydney invited Ted Noffs to deliver the keynote speech on Swami’s 61st Birthday celebration in Nov 1986. Rev. Noffs had never been to Swami and yet, intuitively, was fully aware of Swami’s Divinity. The following are just a few of the highlights of his speech: “We are honouring a great spiritual giant who may be described only in Messianic terms. Even if nothing else has been achieved in the world, the fact that Sai Baba has brought a sense of spiritual unity and awareness among men of their family-hood in itself is a great achievement. How can I speak about someone who has influenced the world a great deal already? So often the Messiahs of the past were recognised long after their death, but this great Master in His own lifetime is already recognised world over, and that in itself is something! We have in Him someone constantly manifesting new and great things in a world full of destruction, which is a mark of a person who has come from God. How can we celebrate His birthday? You have to be co-workers with the Divine Power and reach the level of spirituality to be Christ-like. Jesus was a man who became the Christ. In our outreach programme we looked after a lonely person. He died at Concord Hospital and his hospital records showed the next of kin as the Wayside Chapel - not a brother, sister or any relative. If this little Chapel is the next of kin to this lonely man, can you imagine the countless millions around the world, whose next of kin is Sai Baba? At the end of this function you go home and feel good about your wonderful singing (Bhajan), your children’s drama and the variety of delicious food, and if you do nothing to help the needy in your neighbourhood, I am sure, your Master would be very disappointed with you. You have to reach out the needy and serve them, be a friend and helper of the helpless people in your community.” When we reflect on the above extracts from Ted’s speech made almost two decades ago, who had not even visited Swami, but aware of the Avatar and His Mission of UNITY, LOVE and SERVICE, it is a reminder that we need to put in more effort to get the most from the Avatar in this lifetime itself. Bhagavan Baba is the Cosmic Father, come in human form to show humanity the way to peace and prosperity through the realisation of: ONE CASTE, THE CASTE OF HUMANITY ONE RELIGION, THE RELIGION OF LOVE ONE LANGUAGE, THE LANGUAGE OF THE HEART ONE GOD, HE IS OMNIPRESENT   None of the Masters, Messiahs, Prophets and Saints came to earth to start a new religion. They came to validate the ONE ETERNAL TRUTH, ONE GOD, ONE LOVE, ONE CREATION, although periods in history, places on earth, cultures and traditions prevalent in their times may differ. In recorded history, Bhagawan Baba alone has so emphatically declared that all religions are different facets of the same Truth and that the redemption of humanity will be by Love and Love alone. Bhagavan Baba says, “Ego will not allow two good men to stay together and work together.” It is obvious that divisions among men are man-made. It is human weakness and ego that has brought about such religious multiplicity and conflicts in the entire creation, which essentially is ONE. The dawn of this wisdom is God-realisation or Liberation from the bondage of darkness and ignorance. Let us remind ourselves that Jesus was a Jew and not a Christian at birth. Buddha was a Hindu and not a Buddhist at birth. They did not start a new religion in their names. The multiplicity and divergence that has taken place with passage of time, centuries later is man-made. This is division, fission or break-away, which is a product of ego. All religions are different instruments playing the ONE melody, of Love and Unity. When the conductor brings them together, he will create a beautiful symphony, although the instruments may appear different. The Messengers, Messiahs, Prophets and Saints are the different instruments sent by God for man to realise his inherent divinity. Now God Himself has come as Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, as the Conductor for the Divine Symphony. Millions of Sai devotees from different religions already practise Unity of Faiths around the globe and also are convinced beyond doubt that GOD IS ONLY ONE. The reverse of fission or disintegration is fusion or integration. The ego of man has caused the fission and created multiplicity - fragments that are essentially one and the same. Love alone can bring about the fusion or integration of these fragments. Bhagavan Baba is Love in action. Love is His sole property and He alone has the power to bring about this fusion and synthesis through Love. Lokha Samastha Sukhino Bhavantu - May Everybody Everywhere Be Happy . Dr. Sara Pavan is an Anaesthesiologist from Australia, serving at the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences, Prashanthi Nilayam since 1993.

online source: radio sai - heart to heart