Chapter Six

There are many similarities between the lives of Jesus and Sathya Sai Baba. One could begin with the manner of conception of both Avatars.

We know from Matthew 1: 18-25, "Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When His mother, Mary, had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, 'Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name Him Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.'All this took place to fulfil what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 'Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name Him Emmanuel,' which means, 'God is with us.'
When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named Him Jesus."

Sathya Sai Baba was asked the circumstances of His birth, and He turned to His mother, Easwaramma, who was present, and suggested the questioner ask her. She told the questioner, a pundit named Rama Sarma, that she dreamed of Sathyanarayana Deva (an angel of God) and he cautioned her that she should not be frightened if something happens to her through the Will of God. "That morning, when I was at the well drawing water, a big ball of blue light came rolling towards me and I fainted and fell, I felt it glide into me." Baba turned to the questioner with a smile. "There, you have the answer! I was not begotten. It was Pravesa, not Prasava." This was the formless Divine Principal taking on its mantle of a physical human body.

Sathya Sai Baba's teachings are identical to those of Jesus Christ. While Jesus's teachings were set down and transcribed over a number of years, Baba's teachings are delivered and immediately published in the official monthly magazine Sanathana Sarathi. Baba's discourses are directed mainly to the students in His colleges, who will be the leaders of the nation of India in the years to come. He said, pointing to the first group of boys being enrolled, "These boys will grow into strong stalwart pillars of Sanathana Dharma; they will be the guides and leaders of this land in the days to come, to save it from vain follies and wild passions. You may say they are only twenty in number now, but a vast country is administered by a Cabinet of twenty Ministers, this band of students will be ample, for the work I have in view."

His standards are high and discipline paramount in His schools and colleges, and it is a privilege for any student to attend them. He treats both the girl students and the boys, as jewels, to be polished and valued, and they return His trust and love by succeeding in the many fields of endeavour they choose to pursue in their worldly careers. Baba has said, "The purpose of education is to learn how to live, not how to make a living." Also, "The end of wisdom is freedom. The end of culture is perfection. The end of education is character. The end of knowledge is Love."

Sai Baba has said, "Sathya (Truth), Dharma (Righteousness), Shanti (Peace) and Prema (Love), are the four most important requirements for a man's progress. The combination of these is Love. It is through this Love that one can ride over any bridge, travelling smoothly in this world. This Love should be Spiritual Love."

At this juncture I feel it is important to introduce The Code of Conduct and the Ten Principles which Sathya Sai Baba stresses as the means of attaining a spiritual and balanced life.

The Code of Conduct

1. Daily meditation and prayer.
2. Devotional singing/prayer with family members once a week.
3. Participation in Sathya Sai Human Values programmes organised by the Centre for
children of Sai devotees.
4. Participation in community work and other programmes of the organisation.
5. Attendance at least once a month at Group devotional singing organised by the Centre.
6. Regular study of Sai literature.
7. Speaking softly and lovingly to everyone.
8. Not talking ill of others especially in their absence.
9. Putting into practice "Ceiling on Desires" and utilising savings generated for service to mankind.

The Ten Principles

1. Love and Serve the motherland; do not hate or hurt the motherland of others.
2. Honour every religion; each is a pathway to the one God.
3. Love all men without distinction; know that mankind is a single community.
4. Keep your home and its environment clean; it will ensure health and happiness for you and for society.
5. Do not throw coins when beggars stretch their hands for alms; help them to
become self reliant. Provide food and shelter, love and care for the sick and the aged.
6. Do not tempt others by offering bribes or demean yourself by accepting bribes.
7. Do not depend on others to serve your personal needs; become your own servant, before proceeding to serve others.
8. Observe the laws of the state and be an exemplary citizen.
9. Adore God. Abhor sin.

Dharma, Right Conduct or Right Living, is the most profound philosophy and teaching of the Hindu and Buddhist religions, and being one of the five principle requisites for man's spiritual progress, is also one of the corner-stones of the Sathya Sai Organisation.

Buddha said that Dharma is the very basis of good life. He insisted that everyone should surrender to its dictates so that the misery that is ever at the heels of life may be avoided.

The German philosopher, Arthur Schopenhauer, has as his fundamental doctrine the proposition that the only essential reality in the universe is Will. He stated that all intelligence serves originally the will to live. "Why should a man take to the path of Dharma? To preach morality is easy; to lay the foundation for morality is not."

Sathya Sai Baba, in His book "Dharma Vahini", has installed Dharma on an unshakable foundation as the reality of all life, indeed, of creation. He said; "Whoever conquers the ego and overcomes the natural tendency to regard the body and its furniture as his true self, is surely on the path of Dharma, for he would soon discover the truth behind all this scintillating multiplicity. He would realise that the objective world is like a gem-studded veil over Brahman, which is the one and only Truth. When a man is aware of this Truth, there will be no 'other'; all will be 'you'."

Dharma is built on the deep understanding of the depths of being. Sai Baba continues, "Build your life on the atmic plinth, the faith that you are a wave upon the ocean of bliss, a spark of the Cosmic Intelligence." He then asks; "When you worship an idol, what is it that you really do? First, a form of God is impressed on your mind. After that you meditate on His Power, Grace and Omnipresence, and project these qualities upon the idol, thus enabling your consciousness to transcend it and become unaware of the lithic substance before you...In the same manner, imprint on to your consciousness that form of God which delights you most and fills you with illumination and project that form on every man, heart, bird and insect, on every tree and plant, on every rock and rill; this Sadhana (prayer) will make you true, good and beautiful."

Further, He stated in February 1995 the following, "The Dharma that is the heritage of India is the staff of life for all men; it is the backbone of morality and well-being. It is the nectar which can confer immortality. Others may, in their ignorance, laugh at Indians for taking a stone to be God, but what they do is to elevate even the stone to God. It is transformed into God, an act, which is a grand victory."

Regarding the Sathya Sai Baba Organisation, Baba has said; "The name of SAI behind this organisation is intended solely to promote and spread faith in God and Godliness among mankind.The only objective is to turn the minds of man to noble thoughts and lofty ideals along religious and spiritual lines."

At the conclusion of the Sixth World Conference of the Organisation in 1995, held at Prasanthi Nilayam, Sathya Sai Baba stated; "In this Conference we have framed Rules and Regulations. Rules and Regulations are essential! We have also passed resolutions. We should conduct the affairs of the Organisation according to the Rules and Regulations. We should also abide by our resolutions. The world has many such Conferences. The moment you pass resolutions you should start observing them. That is spiritual discipline."