How do you
relate yourself to Sai Baba of Shirdi?
This body has not seen him.
Indians are increasingly turning to godmen and
godwomen. Is this a sign of growing insecurity within them? Or is it something
else?
This is basically a search for God. The divine
is there within each person . The search is for this divinity. God realisation
cannot be seen as a sign of insecurity. It is a positive aspiration to
be one with God. It is a good sign.
Even as mankind is relentlessly searching for
god, he finds himself engulfed by more and more misery. What is the reason
for this state of affairs?
Attachment to the body is the root cause of all
suffering and misery. Once this attachment ends, then one can experience
divine bliss. There is no doubt about that. Since God does not have any
bodily attachment, he does not attach any importance to the suffering of
His body.
What is the best way to serve God?
Serve the poor, the weak, the downtrodden and
the underprivileged. There is divinity in each of us, hence love and serve
fellow human beings selflessly. Give those around you pure love. Religion
can be best pursued through the axiom "Dil mein Ram, Haath mein Kaam."
There is only one religion -- the religion of love; one caste -- the caste
of humanity; one language -- the language of the heart; one law -- the
law of Karma and there is only one God -- He is omnipresent. All of us
should remember these simple yet profound truths. These truths lead us
to God.
Is there no escape from human misery?
It is all karma. The need is to adopt the path
of righteousness. One should surrender oneself to the Almighty.
Why do you perform miracles like materialising
a ring, a medallion, a necklace, vibhuti and other objects? What are you
trying to prove by performing these miracles?
Chamatkaar or miracle is a cheap word for what
I do. A magician performs his tricks to earn a livelihood and worldly fame.
But, I materialise these talismans as my visiting cards, as evidence that
divinity can transform earth into the sky and vice versa. To doubt this
is to betray an inability to grasp the grandeur of the universe. I get
lot of satisfaction while gifting these talismans to my devotees.
The suffering millions flock to you. They want
to pass on their problems and suffering to you. How much of these suffering
can you take on?
I am only performing a divine mission.
How do you spend your day?
My day begins with granting darshan to my devotees,
interviews to people, bhajans, attending to all projects taken up for human
welfare. Same cycle is repeated from post noon till evening. Although I
know the contents of all letters which I receive, I read all of them for
the trupti or satisfaction of my devotees. Answer: I avoid milk, green
fruits, dry fruits, sweets, ghee, butter, tea, coffee, etc. I take a skimpy
meal of ragi and green grams. For the past 60 years my weight has remained
unchanged at 108 pounds. When the world sleeps, I go to my devotees, give
them my vision, comfort them, console them and solve their problems. I
willingly take on the sufferings of my devotees on myself.
Have you gone abroad any time?
Yes, only once -- to East Africa, that too because
of the pure love of a devotee, who is no more now. I did not go at the
invitation of the government.
Do you have any plans to visit foreign nations
and spread your message?
No. Where there is sugar, the ants come there;
the sugar does not go chasing after the ants. My first task is to clean
up our own country first, then go to other countries.
You wield enormous influence over the top politicians
of the country. Why don't you impress on them the need to inculcate values
in public life? If this is done, India will be a much better place.
Politicians have a choice to pursue good or bad
governance; they do covet power with a frenzy. But I tell them that politics
without principles, science without humanity, education without character
and commerce without morality are not only useless but can prove to be
positively dangerous and harm people at large.
Do you read newspapers?
I never read them. Even though I do not read
any newspaper, I am aware about everything that is happening round the
globe. What is necessary today is that the newspapers should be more careful
and responsible in their reporting. Publishing
of sensational and baseless news must be avoided. No negative and baseless
reporting, specially of those at the helm of affairs of the country, should
be done since it has lot of repercussions abroad. If there are any doubts,
then they should be cleared after free and frank discussions with the persons
concerned. Truth should not be compromised under any circumstance.
You are the chancellor of the Sathya Sai University
and you attach tremendous importance to education. Why do you think that
education in India has now become a mechanical exercise?
This is because that education has been divorced
from values. Education bereft of values is meaningless. The need is to
restore values to education.
What are your views on different political parties
in India?
All parties do good work as well as bad; the
problem lies with ourselves. We should insist on principles.
Who will lead the Sathya Sai movement after you?
My devotees. God will continue to guide them. |