Universal Teachings of Sathya Sai Baba

When people begin their quest for God, they are often unsure of their path because of the existence of many religions and their various practices. Sai Baba’s teachings have enormous appeal, and are of universal application. His teachings are simple, yet profound. He puts across His teachings in a matter-of-fact, easily comprehensible manner.

The presentation may be new but the teachings are eternal and ancient. They resonate with the heart of the seeker. He knows that He is hearing truth.

Swami left us with a priceless legacy of His teachings in the form of the many discourses. He had given over the years, the books He wrote and the voluminous Sai literature by devotees who spoke of the invaluable lessons they learnt from their personal experiences with Him. Swami’s teachings cover every aspect of spiritual life and more, and will undoubtedly be the subject of serious study for generations to come by scholars and devotees alike, and above all, by serious searchers in quest of truth and reality

The significance and implications of His teachings are profound and broad, and have impact on every aspect of our lives, both worldly and spiritual. This article deals briefly with His central teachings.

Love Is the Fundamental Basis of All Religions

Swami has always been very direct, and made it simple for us to understand his teaching. He said that there is only one religion— the religion of love. His statement goes to the very core and substance of religion— love. Love for God, and love for our fellowmen. This love is the fundamental basis of all religions.

Swami explained that all religions are different paths leading to the one and same destination. He said:

The basic truth in all religions…is one and the same. The philosophical ideas or practices and methods of approach may vary but the final objective and goal is only one. All religions proclaim the Oneness of Divinity and preach the cultivation of Universal Love without regard to caste, creed, country or colour."

In a discourse given in Nairobi, Kenya on 4th July 1968, Swami stated:

I have come to light the lamp of love in your hearts, to see that it shines day by day with added lustre. I have come to tell you of this universal, unitary faith, this spiritual principle, this path of love, this duty of love, this obligation to love..."

We are One—Cultivate the Attitude of Oneness

Swami declared that there is only one God, and He is omnipresent. God is both formless and with numberless forms. All names and forms are his. We should therefore not discriminate between one form (or name) and another, but see all forms and names as the one and same God who is worshipped everywhere. Swami Said:

"The true dwelling place of God is the heart of man, and the same God dwells in all beings.” All the beings in the universe are the creation of God, and there is nothing in this world that is not divine. All are One. When people observe differences between one and another, these differences arise from our feelings of “mine and yours”. Everything we see in this world is an aspect of divinity. There is nothing else other than this. Only One exists in this world and there is no second."

This sense of separateness, the feeling that we are individuals separate and distinct from every other individual, is not ultimately real. This dream of a mere physical and separate existence is an illusion. Oneness is the underlying reality of all life and everything in the universe because, at its deepest level, creation is indivisible.

We are exhorted to cultivate the attitude of oneness between men of all creeds, all countries and all continents. Swami would remind us, in his inimitable way, that life is a journey from “I” to “We”.

God Is Love, Live in Love

Swami asserted that God is love and that He is moved only through the cultivation and practice of love. Love is the very nature of life, and without it nothing in this world can exist. For man, love is life and love is everything. We are urged to love all beings as manifestations of the same divinity that is the very core of oneself. The best way of doing this is through selfless service.

Swami’s injunction to us is, “Start the day with love. Fill the day with love. End the day with love.” We should make love the dominant force in our lives by actively and continuously opening our hearts to love. This is the way to God.

The prominent 20th century Jewish philosopher Martin Buber said:

"The true meaning of love of one’s neighbour is not that it is a command from God which we are to fulfil, but that through it and in it we meet God. Existence will remain meaningless for you if you yourself do not penetrate into it with active love and if you do not in this way discover its meaning for yourself…"

For the Christian, 1 John 4:8 states:

"Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love…"

According to the book Essential Sufism by James Fadiman and Robert Frager:

"For many, Sufism is the path of love. To love others, to love the beauty of this world, develops the capacity for love. The more we can love, the more we can love God. To love God is to know"

The illustrious 13th century Persian poet and Sufi mystic Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi, popularly known as Rumi, said that to love is to reach God. He wrote:

"Gamble everything for love, if you’re a true human being. If not, leave this gathering. Half-heartedness doesn’t reach into majesty. You set out to find God, but then you keep stopping at mean-spirited, roadhouses…"

Lord Buddha taught loving kindness and compassion. He declared:

"Let none deceive another, or despise any being in any state. Let none through anger or ill-will wish harm upon another. Even as a mother protects with her life her child, her only child, So with a boundless heart should one cherish all living beings; Radiating kindness over the entire world: spreading upwards to the skies, And downwards to the depths; outwards and unbounded, Freed from hatred and ill-will.…"

Swami’s famous sayings “Love All, Serve All” and “Help Ever, Hurt Never” epitomise his teaching on the importance of living in love. These simple and beautiful messages powerfully communicate the language of the heart. Lord Buddha taught loving kindness and compassion. He declared: