Sai Baba as an Ideal Humanist
OM…OM…OM…
Sai Ram
With Pranams at the Lotus Feet of Bhagavan,
Dear Brothers and Sisters
Welcome back to this morning’s session. It was suggested that I talk on “Sai Baba as an Ideal Humanist.” I will try to share a couple of thoughts on this topic. Of course the topic is quite big. It has so many areas and there are a variety of ideologies associated with the subject. But I shall try to present it here as quickly as possible, supported by certain instances from the life of Bhagavan.
We are living in times when we have forgotten that we are humans. Students of history will agree with me that more wars were fought in this last century than ever before. The century that boasts of cultural values, the century that is proud of civilisation, has also faced the greatest wars. Most of the wars are fought on silly grounds, such as territorial and geographical considerations. Some wars are fought on grounds of religion. Religion is not for fighting by any standard. It is most unfortunate that man has become barbarous, animalistic and inhuman. This is the fact that we have come to know from history.
We think that we have progressed because of our comforts and conveniences. We can reach the moon; we try to reach Mars. But we don’t mind burning houses to ashes. We are so happy with our communication skills and our media, and that we can reach out anywhere, anytime. But we cannot visit our neighbour. Our frontiers of knowledge extend to specialisation, and super-specialisation in every field of quest and knowledge, but none of us seem to have understood our true nature, our true identity.
Man has become unpredictable. A simple question was posed to a scientist. The scientist started by replying that science today has progressed and advanced to a great extent. By switching a button, he can explode a bomb anywhere. He can burn any country to ashes simply by switching this button.
The other man innocently asked this question: “Having switched on your button, when the bomb is about to explode, can you call it back? Can you reverse your reaction?” Impossible! We are not able to reverse our reaction, but we are for action. Civilisation is yet to happen. Culture is yet to get into our life blood and life stream. They have written about the Utopian concept, but we have not actually attained peace.
animals don’t need To Be told how to behave like animals
To quote Bhagavan, “Human life has become much worse than an animal’s.” That is what Bhagavan said. I am sure that nobody will be prepared to fight with me on this point. Baba made it very clear that birds know how to fly together, monkeys know how to move together, elephants move in herds; but man prefers to live in isolation. No animal feels superior to another animal; no animal feels egoistic in front of another animal. So animals need not be told to behave like animals. Not necessary. All lions behave like lions; you need not tell them. Elephants behave like elephants; you need not tell them. So birds and beasts do not require any reminder or any caution about how to behave properly, appropriate to their lifestyle and world.
Also, no tree needs to be told. No! I don’t need to tell a neem tree, “Oh neem tree, behave properly.” Not necessary. I don’t need to tell the banyan tree, “Spread widely.” It will say, “Please watch me! I am spreading.” You do not need to tell it. No tree feels superior to any other tree. Grass will never feel jealous of palm trees. Grass, which is so far down, close to the ground, will never feel inferior in front of a palm tree. Palms and eucalyptus - gigantic trees - will never feel they are superior by virtue of their height. So we don’t have to tell plants, “Behave like plants”, because they are behaving like plants. So animals follow the animal life and plants follow the plant life.
An Avatar reminds a human being of the values in him
It is only the human being who is following the animal life. Therefore, human beings must be told, “Behave like human beings. You are not behaving like human beings.” This is the point that Baba made: “The purpose of the Avatar is to remind human beings of the human values latent within them, so that they may conduct themselves in accordance with the human life that they are gifted with.”
The purpose of the Avatar is to tell a human being to behave with human values. That is why Education in Human Values is going on in a big way all around the world, under the auspices of the Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisation. At another time, Baba made another point in a different style. Baba is a multifaceted diamond. Each time you find something new. You will never feel there is a repetition, unless you don’t get the point yourself. There will be a new dimension, a new light thrown on a point, which has greater and deeper relevance to the situation.
Nothing is repetitive in nature. Please take it from me. If you think life is a repetition then that means the flavour is lost. The beauty is forgotten, and life has become dull and tasteless. It is one’s own fault for making it so. It is one’s own mistake for making life mechanical. Know that life is vital. Life is full of energy. Life is full of bliss. Life is full of dynamism, and life cannot be mechanical. But let’s go deeply into the matter. We think life is so, because the dullness is of our own making.
Human life is a zoo of qualities
Baba made another interesting point: The fox is known for its cunning; the he-buffalo is known for its laziness; the monkey is known for its wavering nature; the cat is known for theft and pilfering; the cheetah is known for its pride; the snake is known for its vengeance. The snake is known to give you poison when you offer milk to it. Each animal has one quality of its own. But human life has become almost like a zoo, including all the creatures! Only a snake can cause snake poisoning. A snake has got only the snake quality. A he-buffalo has got only the he-buffalo quality. But this ‘human-buffalo’ has got a zoo or more of qualities. A thorough analysis will certainly reveal this point. I am not joking; this is what Bhagavan said.
At another time, He said that the crow sits on the wall shouting, ‘Kavu, kavu, kavu.’ What does it mean? ‘Kavu’ means ‘denial’. Your position, your property, your influence are just kavu; they don’t belong to you. None of them will come to your rescue. And kavu also means ‘protect’. Kavhoon means ‘protect me’. So the crow tells us two important messages. First, nothing belongs to us, and the second lesson is to look to the Lord as the only refuge. He should come to our rescue. That is the lesson from a crow.
You also hear a calf and a cow. They go on repeating, ‘Amba, amba.’ Amba means ‘mother’. So the calf and the cow tell us to repeat God’s Name as the Divine Mother, for all safety and security. The parrot, if it is trained, can repeat continuously, ‘Ram, Ram, Ram.’ And the sheep goes on repeating this word, ‘Baba.’ So Baba says that crows know what to say. Sheep know what to shout, and the cow and calf are aware what to declare. But the human being does not know how to speak, what to say and what not to say. Therefore, the time has come to remind man who he is, what he should be, and what his life’s ambition should be.
Birds are free from the shackles of bondage
On another occasion, Baba made another point: No bird thinks of tomorrow. A bird will have enough to eat for the day. It will not think of tomorrow. It has no fixed deposits, no Unit Trust of India, no problem of inflation or devaluation, dollar value or rupee value or exchange rates. No bird is bothered with tomorrow. All birds are happy. They fly freely across the sky. We think of freedom when we watch the birds and their fluttering wings. We watch the white bird flying across the blue sky, enjoying the breeze of freedom, enjoying the life of freedom, the breath of freedom, free from the shackles of bondage. So birds are happy, totally free; they don’t live in bondage.
In this context, Baba tells us that every tree is ready to offer shelter to anyone who comes under its shade. But I say that this river’s water is meant for me, and not for you. This area is reserved. This stand on which I sit is designed for me, because I am going to leave this world with this stand. (Laughter) We have this possessiveness, this kind of identification that ‘this is mine’, ‘this belongs to me’, ‘this water is mine, and this land is mine’. The trees are not noticed doing this. They are ready to give the fruits they bear. They are ready to give shelter to anyone who comes under their shade.
I am somebody but I should become nobody
But man does not give anything. He says, “You don’t know, this is for intellectuals. You don’t belong to us.” The one who thinks he is an intellectual is not an intellectual at all. The definition of intellectual is not uniqueness or separateness. The quality of an intellectual is not isolation. The claim of an intellectual is not being anything special or unique. Intellectuality lies in being common to everybody. Intellectuality is the ability to communicate to anybody, to feel that nobody is the climax of nature. Thinking ‘I am somebody’ is a quality of a stupid person. The one who starts feeling ‘I am nobody’ is truly an intellectual.
A friend, who has been here a lot for the summer course, put a question sometime back. “Mr. Anil Kumar, I travelled from the position of a nobody to the position of a somebody in life. But in spirituality, I am somebody, but I should become nobody.” To travel from nobody to somebody is the way of the world; from somebody to nobody is the way of religion. Then I said, “What is the problem?” He told me that even in the religious field, he wants to be somebody.
I said, “You say ‘somebody’ or ‘nobody’; I tell you ‘anybody’. The common thing is body.” Anybody, nobody, somebody - body identification is ego. So long as the identification with the body is there, there is cause for ego. So this point of being somebody is the ego raising its ugly head.
My friends, that man asked me this question: “Why do we want to be somebody in religion, in spirituality, knowing fully well that we should be nobody?” I told him, “My friend, brother, it is true that it makes us feel like that, and ego is not acquired only now. Ego is the luggage we have been carrying with us as bondage for several past lives. The more we want to get out of ego, the more it sticks to us.” It’s something like a chasing dog. The more you want to run away, the dog chases you faster than before. This is the way ego functions in our life.
No lion or tiger is after publicity. A lion will not say, “I killed so many animals, do you know that? Can you kill as many as I kill?” Animals are not for publicity. Trees are not for publicity. No tree will say, “Right from 1980 till today, I offered shelter to so many people. Right from my birth, I have been helping people like this.” No tree is for publicity. No animal is for publicity. Publicity, pomp, show, selfishness, ego or pride is specially located in the life of a human being. That is the tragedy. So Bhagavan has chosen this fundamental aspect to remind man that he is a human being. Try to live as a human being. Be a human being full of human values. In this context, I would like to share with you a few more ideas on Baba as an ideal humanist.
‘Humanism’ is possession of human values
Who is a humanist? We get these words in our Oxford dictionary. Human, humanist, human-ness, humane - these are words in the Oxford dictionary. Let us take a few of them, which are necessary at this moment. A humanist is one who believes in humanism, meaning if I am inhuman, I cannot be a humanist. If I am animalistic or bestial, I cannot be a humanist. A humanist is one who has total faith in humanism.
What is humanism, by the way? Being a human being, having taken birth, lakhs and lakhs of times - we do not know. Still we are at the crossroads of knowing what it is to be human. That is the worst of this tragedy born to humanity. So what is humanism to begin with? According to Bhagavan, humanism is the possession of human values. People say that there are 64 values. How to collect them? Where are they? How to acquire them, one after one? Is this lifetime enough to have all the 64? Shall I have 30 now, and next life 30? These are all the questions that come to our mind.
the ‘president’ of human values is love
Baba says that the entire heap of human values can be quintessentially brought down to one single value: the value of Love. When the President of India is on a visit, he is followed by the cabinet minister, state minister, central security, state security, black cats, commandos and then medical van, mobile van, etc. Similarly, the ‘president’ of human values happens to be Love.
When Love is there, all the rest of the values will automatically follow. Somebody said, ”Sir, I have all the values, except Love.” It means that he has all the degrees, a beautiful personality, all capacities and abilities, but he has no life.
”I see - only life is missing, all other things are there.” (Laughter) What for? The body is in perfect condition, but the heart is in trouble. What is the use? Similarly, without Love, whatever you may have, it is all useless. And with Love, all the rest of the values will necessarily follow. That is what Baba said.
How is it possible? Baba explains it this way. When one speaks with Love, whatever one says will be full of Truth. That is all. Where there is Love, there will be Truth. It cannot be untruth or a lie. But because I don’t love you, I try to bluff. Because I don’t love you, I try to speak a lie. Because I don’t love you, I try to justify a blatant lie that I tell you. So, it is only a lack of Love that makes a man speak lies. That is all. So Love expressed by word is Truth, as Baba said.
When there is Love, your actions will also be righteous. You will never poison people when there is Love. You will never do anything untoward to a person whom you love. You will never do anything negative. You will never act against the interest of the person whom you love. On the other hand, because you don’t love, you try to act negatively. You try to hurt him. You try to harm him. You try to bypass him. You try to insult him. All these unrighteous deeds spring up due to the lack of Love. So when Love is there, all actions are bound to be righteous. When the righteous action is absent in the present day world, it is only because of the absence of Love.
man has no peace
I heard that we do not find people smiling very often, even in the ashram. If we cannot smile here, where else can we smile? If we are not happy here, where else can we be happy? If we are not able to be brotherly here, where else can we be brotherly? If we cannot behave as one family here, where else can we be one family? If a few of us cannot bring in transformation, what is all the talk about ‘the transformation of mankind’ and all that jargon? All that is a utopian concept; it is only a dream. That’s all. Therefore, in reality we are not able to smile; we are not able to mix with people. The face itself tells you that the person in front of you is highly agitated, totally disturbed. Do not touch him. In front of a house, it will say, “Explosives - be careful!” or “Beware of the dog!” Yes, we are already careful. Similarly, there may not be boards, but from the face, it is clear: ‘Don’t speak to me. Don’t touch me.’ The face will tell you.
Why? Because man has no peace. He has no peace of mind. That is why he is so worried. Why does he not have peace of mind? The reason is that he thinks he cannot solve problems on his own, and he is not prepared to accept whatever God gives him. ‘I am not prepared to accept whatever God gives me, and I am not prepared to solve my problems on my own.’ It means, ‘I have no ability; I have no responsibility; I have neither the capacity to solve problems on my own nor the spirit of surrender.’
That is why we are restless. The agitation, the disturbance, the turbulence of the human mind is because of the lack of surrender on the one hand, and the lack of ability to manage one’s own self, on the other. The presence of the ability to manage one’s own self will not last long. You may be able today, but tomorrow, in front of a person who is more able, you are gone. Therefore, ability and non-ability are relative, that is all. A person who is able today may be unable tomorrow. So the alternative of surrendering to God is most preferential, most beautiful.
Surrender is unconditional acceptance of Divine will
So humanism means the acquisition and cultivation of basic human qualities, the quintessential quality being Love. I have to say that we are not peaceful because of the absence of this Love. When once we love, naturally we compromise, naturally we adjust, we learn acceptance; not denial, not rejection, but we learn acceptance. We learn acceptance to the Divine plan. Acceptance, readily and happily, of the Divine plan is surrender. If I accept it with a grudge, with a complaint, it cannot be surrender. So surrender is unconditional, ungrudging acceptance of the Divine will, of the Divine mission or master plan. Once you have it, you can be peaceful anytime, anywhere.
The last big human value is that of non-violence. People think that violence means you get angry easily. No, no, no. Those who eat vegetables can be much more violent that non-vegetarians! Yes, we can hurt people by our words and by our thoughts. You know that. A human mind which is full of constant manipulation, management, and manoeuvring naturally sends forth some vibrations. By thought, you can hurt a person. When the thought is loving, everybody will feel like coming towards you. Baba does not invite anybody to come here. There is no invitation; there is no publicity. How is it that He is able to attract millions of people? Why? The magnet of Love draws everybody closer and closer to Him. Therefore, the quality of a humanist can be brought down to the single, primordial, fundamental, basic virtue or value of Love.
Concern for people is the quality of a humanist
The second quality of a humanist is concern for people and the welfare of humans. You should have concern for your fellow human beings. You should think of others’ interests also. Concern for the welfare of others is a quality of a humanist.
Let us think of this principle as applied to Bhagavan. Swami talks to a scientist on science, to a hymnist on music. To a physician, He’ll speak on medicine; He doesn’t speak on music. To a doctor, He will speak on medicine, not engineering. He will know your interest and He will treat you accordingly. He shows respect for your feelings. He does not speak on the topics He likes. He does not rub His ideologies on you. He does not impose His notions on you. No. He picks up your interest and aptitude. That is one interesting point.
The other interesting point is that He is interested in your future. You will be interested in gossip; He doesn’t do that. He is interested in your long-term welfare. Your interest is His interest. Baba’s only interest is your welfare. That’s what He said: “Your wish is my food.” He doesn’t have to eat because your interest, your welfare, you happiness is enough food for Bhagavan. That is an ideal humanist. So the ideal humanist will have concern for your long-term interest. He will have concern for your welfare. The very personification, the very embodiment, the very form, the very fine action of this principle of humanism is what we find in Bhagavan Baba.
Respect and regard for all
That brings us to the third quality of a humanist -- respect and humanistic regard for all members of the species. Some people say, “We are engineers, so we live among ourselves.” “We are all doctors, so we live among ourselves.” Colonisation, fragmentation, division -- this is not the quality of a humanist. They have respect and regard for all members.
A simple example: I very well remember in Kodaikanal, when Swami was there, He started distributing costly Japanese-made cameras to students and staff. He was giving one camera to everybody. When everybody had received the camera, Bhagavan suddenly looked at me and said, “Have those security police people received their cameras?”
“No, Swami.”
He said, “You are selfish. Call them and give them the cameras. And the seva dal people who are waiting at the gate, have they received the cameras?”
“No, Swami.”
“Call them.” Bhagavan showed respect, regard, and concern for all. It is not localised; it is not an individual right; it’s not centred. It has no periphery; its centre is everywhere.
I also remember when Bhagavan had made a trip to Bombay. There was a person there who was the son of a governor or a friend of a minister, I think.
At the dining table, Bhagavan looked at that boy and said, “Have you had your breakfast?”
“No, Swami.”
Immediately He said, “Let’s stop. Let him have his breakfast. While you are waiting for lunch, this boy has not had his breakfast. Now, come have it.” That boy, why should He care for him?
I also remember another incident in Brindavan. One lady was doing service, and
coming from a rural area in rags. She was not coming from a civilised, posh
family. She used to clean the whole campus of Brindavan all alone. She would get
up in the early hours of the morning without anybody noticing.
After twenty days, suddenly Swami sends two sarees to that lady through the caretaker of Brindavan. The lady started crying, her voice breaking. “Does God notice what I am doing? Does God care for me? Did He really send this bundle of sarees to me? After all, what am I?” She remembers that gesture till this day, because the quality of a humanist is respect and regard for all.
The way He treats the President of India is the same as He treats you. He has regard and respect for everybody. See how Swami respects old people. Swami wants somebody to help them, somebody to hold their hand, and bring them to their feet. Why? Bhagavan Himself will extend His hand and conduct the old man to his chair. Therefore, Bhagavan commanded chairs to be put out for elderly people to be seated, as they cannot squat on the ground. Not that they are governors or presidents or doctors, eminent or prominent or dominant. Nonsense. Regard and respect for all species is the quality of a humanist. That’s what we find in our Bhagavan.
A humanist gives meaning to our lives
Another aspect of a humanist is this: the right and responsibility to give meaning and shape to our lives. A humanist gives meaning to our lives. Repeating in His Divine discourses time and again, Bhagavan tells us that our goal of life, our purpose of life, our objective of life, our aim of life is only one: to know the Divinity within. To know the Divinity within is the only objective of our lives. All other objectives are merely a corollary, a supplement, that’s all. So, giving us a constant reminder to give meaning to our lives, to give shape to our lives, is the quality of a humanist. That’s why Swami always says, “Body is a water bubble; mind is a mad monkey. Don’t follow the body; don’t follow the mind. Follow the heart.”
He always speaks of the animal qualities we have. What does He want? Please note this point, friends. What is to be given up? What is to be surrendered? What are we to distance ourselves from? What do we have to get rid of? It’s easy to give up a job – give a resignation letter. It is easy to give up money – write checks with your signature. It is easy to give up family -- just run away one fine morning. Easy to give up friends -- shift your family further away. But what is to be given up? Not money, not position, not family. What should be given up is ‘I’-ness. This ‘I’-ness or ego, identity with our mind and body, should be given up, should be relegated.
There was an unfortunate gentleman, who happened to be in front of Swami. Why do I say ‘unfortunate’ individual? Because he said to Baba, “I have dedicated my mind to Swami. I am ready to die for You.”
And Bhagavan smiled and said, “You don’t have to die for Me. I want you to live for Me. I don’t want your life; I don’t want your death. I want you to live for Me. I don’t want your money or position. I only want you to give up your ego.” This is very difficult.
Some people say, “I am That; I am That.” That is ego.
Some say, “I have given up. I have renounced.” You have given up, but the thought of having given up is ego again, because you are the owner of that thought.
“I have ten thousand rupees.” It means, ‘I have this’. When you have ownership, it is Himalayan ego. Therefore, giving up or giving in are the entrance and exit of the same ego. “Yes, I have this property” - entrance ego. “I have donated so much” – exit ego. Both are ego because you are the owner in both contexts.
On the other hand, “Sir, you have given so much money to our organisation.” A devotee, if he is egoless will say, “That money I have given you is not mine. It is Swami who has given it to me. It has gone back to Swami. Who am I to give? I am only the caretaker.” That is the end of the issue. So, the right and the responsibility of the humanist are to remind us of the meaning of our lives, to give shape to our lives. It is not enough only to remember the meaning of life. He has to also give a shape to our lives.
How can Baba give shape to the meaning of our lives? Bhagavan started institutions so that we may be involved in the work of knowledge. He started hospitals so that some of us can be involved in the path of action. He built mandirs, so that we can follow the path of devotion. Thus He has given shape to our lives. It is for us to know our temperament, our pace, our sadhana and stick to one of those three paths -- the path of action, the path of devotion and the path of knowledge. The whole universe can be fit into these three compartments or categories. So Bhagavan Baba has not only given meaning to our lives, He has also given shape to the very being of our lives.
how to be humane?
Another quality of a humanist is building a more humane society, based on ethics and values. What is a society that is ‘more humane’? Human, humane; humanist, humanity. As I said in the beginning, if I behave like a human, I am humane towards you. How to be humane? An instantaneous action, on the spur of the moment, is being humane. You see a man struggling; you go to help him. Thus you are humane. A man is starving to death; you give him food. You are humane. A man is struggling hard to make both ends meet; you go to his rescue. You are humane. A man is depressed, frustrated; you speak to him and lift his spirits. You are humane. A man is sick, feeling desperate and helpless; you talk to him to build up his spirits. You are humane. Giving a spontaneous and instantaneous reaction to a situation, on the spur of the moment, is being humane. You are thirsty today; I’ll give you water tomorrow -- that is not being humane. You are very hungry on Monday, so I’ll serve you food on Saturday, means you can’t be considered to be humane.
Bhagavan said at one time to a boy, “I want you to study medicine.”
That boy said, “Swami, I can’t do it.”
Baba said, “Why?”
“Swami, I don’t have enough marks to secure a seat.”
Please follow this. Baba said, “I’ll get you a seat there.”
And Swami got a seat for that boy in Karnataka. He had to pay the examination fee to get a seat for that boy. But we don’t keep quiet. While we are unhappy for not being the recipient of such grace, we are unhappier when other people get such chances!
So we could not keep quiet. We asked Swami, “How is it possible to be able to secure an extra grade?” Of course, you have to polish it slightly, because you can’t put it directly unless you have packed your luggage and are ready to leave once and for all! So we said, “Well, I don’t understand. How is it that he is so deserving?”
Do you know what Baba said? “He lost his mother, and his mother’s last wish was that he should become a doctor. As she is no more, I have taken upon Myself the role of his mother. So I’ll make him a doctor.” That’s what Baba said. This is being humane, acting on the spur of the moment.
I recall on another occasion, Baba giving earrings to a boy. Earrings to a boy? (Laughter) A boy wearing earrings? Next day He gave him a second pair of earrings! We couldn’t keep quiet. “Swami, You are giving earrings to that boy -- even two pairs!”
Then Baba started giving a speech. “Some people question the actions of God.” (Laughter) I had some doubts. I was wondering why He should present two pairs of earrings to the boy. Why? In the discourse Baba said, “God knows what to give, to whom to give, and when to give. It is foolish to question the ways of God. Now I am answering why I gave two pairs of earrings to this boy. This boy has two sisters, and he has no mother. His father is a drunkard, and his mother’s wish was to present earrings to her daughters. Before seeing the wish come true, she died. Therefore, I am presenting him earrings.” People do not understand.
So my friends, this is acting on the spur of the moment. When Swami goes travelling by His car, when He finds a beggar, He immediately stops the car, opens the wallet, picks up the currency note and simply gives it. That’s all. The car stops wherever He wants. He opens and goes on giving money. He doesn’t look at the currency note or anything like that. And some of the beggars do not know Sathya Sai Baba. He doesn’t expect them to say thanks. He doesn’t expect them to say any word in return for His generous gesture, acting on the spur of the moment.
I also know one occasion when a nomad came, what we call labbadi (they go on shifting from one area to another.) There was a horrible, stinking smell, and Swami gave him an interview. Stinking! We can understand that he might have forgotten anything like the word ‘bath’. They were going into the interview room. But I could not take it. Kanda is the place where all these people live. And they were proceeding. When they were going in, I could not bear that sight. I had on a question-mark face. Swami came to know. Swami came and said, “Why? What do you want? Why are you like that?”
I said, “Swami, these people for the interview…these people You are calling for the interview...”
He said, “Why not?” With a firm voice He said, “Why not? They are also devotees like you.”
Oh I see. And then all those fellows went inside. And they returned with some bags. I wanted to go and see what they had got, but I could not even go anywhere near them because of the smell!
Swami came slowly towards us and said, “I gave to them clothes and some money. I gave them some presents. Some of them requested a water supply to that area in which they live. I said ‘yes’.” Oh I see -- a blank cheque. Then I thought how nice it would have been had I been there among them (Laughter) because He was in a giving mood.
Then Baba suddenly said, “To give in the hour of need is very important. They need water, so I said yes. They need good clothing; therefore I gave them.” That’s what Baba said. Based on human values, the main human value considers everybody equal. To give them what they really need at the time of need is the quality of a humanist.
As a student line was established, we saw a different Swami, distributing pens. What they need, that is His interest. For students, there will be special events. Yes. He has love for everybody. To attend to their needs, what they require at that moment, that is the quality of a humanist.
it is my duty to take care of you
Let us also see how Baba talks; let us observe how He speaks. My voice was mostly disturbing to Swami for a long time. I don’t know whether He recognises my voice. I have changed; He might or might not know. When I begin to talk, it sounds as if I am shouting. There were many times I was severely warned to make my voice soft, because my voice is so loud, though I cannot tell. But I am making every attempt to make it as low and soft as possible, because to talk softly and sweetly is a quality of a humanist. When Swami talks to you, the rest of us cannot follow, cannot hear, cannot understand, and cannot conclude. On the other hand, when the other person speaks, their words are meant for Him, not for someone else.
Swami said at one time, “I do not use extra words. I do not waste my words. All the words, irrespective of the person, are convincing because I speak sweetly and softly.” It is a Divine mannerism, a typical humanist. A man of repentance, a man of disgrace, a man of mistakes approaches Him, but He doesn’t shout at him. He will say, “Past is past.” That pardoning capacity, that pardoning nature is very much represented in His words, which are soft and sweet. That is the quality of a typical humanist. One should be able to talk softly. That’s what we find in Him.
And there is no boasting in His words. No boasting at all. At one time somebody said, “Swami, You supplied water through the drinking water supply project, and the entire village has water now. Thank You.”
You know what Baba said? “Why do you thank Me? I should thank you for giving Me this opportunity to serve you. It is My duty to take care of you. Do you thank your father? Do you thank your mother? I am not a third person. Don’t thank Me.”
On the other hand, if we fellows serve a cup of coffee to anyone, we want the other fellow to be grateful life long. A little small thing that we do, a negligible favour that we do for others, we boast about it. Yet this God says, “No, no, forget it. Manchi, manchi…next.” He doesn’t allow you to thank Him. “Next topic, because it is My duty. I love it, therefore I do this.” Bhagavan’s words reflect humility to the core, egolessness to the very core, sweet and soft throughout its dimension.
Bhagavan is an ideal host
Bhagavan is the ideal humanist. Let us watch Bhagavan’s temperament, how He reacts. Whenever any president or prime minister is on a visit, when they are called for interview, Swami comes forward and sees them, until they sit and go. The behaviour says, “You are here as a guest.” Bhagavan is an ideal host. If He hosts a conference here, MBA boys are asked to look after the doctors who come to attend an international conference. The boys are told how to look after them, how to change the bed sheets, how to put the napkins, how to arrange extra towels, how to see that the toilet is in working condition. He is the ideal host. When He hosts a dinner, He will be watching what item you are eating. And He sees to it that you have seconds of the same item. He doesn’t say, “Whether you like it or not, you must eat this vegetable.” He will be watching to see what you like, and then He sees to it that more of the same is served to you. He is an ideal host.
Baba is an ideal guest
Bhagavan is the ideal guest. We happened to accompany Bhagavan to several of the places where He was invited. Swami goes in and stands there. He goes to the chair specially meant for Him. He’ll stand there and ask permission to be seated. He allots seats to everybody. Then Swami sits. Until all assemble, He will not sit. He will keep waiting for everybody. And then He sits. And then He waits until serving is over for all items.
A banquet dinner with Bhagavan is a sight for the gods. There are only 40 or 50 items, that’s all. Not many! (Laughter) It will take couple of days to do it justice. It is Divine, royal style, with so many items. Until all items are served, He will be sitting and watching. Suppose you forget to serve one item. He will call you, “Come on, you have not served this.” If you don’t serve well, He will say, “What is it? You are serving rice with a spoon? No, no, no, you should serve more.” He’ll be watching all that. Then He will ask, “Say the prayer.” After the prayer, then people start eating. While we are experts in eating, Swami is a very poor eater. By our standards, He is no eater at all. Just one spoon, that’s all. We are yet to make a beginning of the meal, but He comes to the end by that time. Even then He doesn’t get up. He sits there until everyone completes their food. And then He goes around the table, enquiring how we enjoyed the dinner. He doesn’t say, “Just because I completed my food, let Me go on and have My rest.” He waits until everyone completes their meal, and only then He leaves. He is an ideal guest as well as an ideal host.
Bhagavan is an ideal listener
Bhagavan is humility to the core. Whether a teacher speaks, or a scholar speaks, all things are known to Swami. There is nothing that He does not know because He is the ultimate reality. No one knows anything more than Swami. Though He knows everything, the speaker may say anything, but He will listen to him in rapt attention, as if He does not know anything about the subject. He is an ideal listener. How to listen? He doesn’t say, “Stop! I will speak from now on.” He doesn’t break any conversation. He gives you a patient ear. You have to learn how to listen from Him. Sometimes people speak all nonsense. A fellow like me, sometimes I get called for an interview. I’m interested in politics. Sometimes I pick up newspapers. Baba dares to listen to such nuisance fellows. Then I understand that He is an ideal listener.
an ideal speaker
He is also an ideal speaker. Yes. When Bhagavan speaks, it is not meant only for a few; it is meant for everybody. Everyone draws his own conclusions. A literary person has his own understanding of the subject. A scholar will have his own experience of the subject. A student will have his own awareness of the subject. An experienced man will have his own depth, his own profundity, on the points referred to by Bhagavan in His discourse. We cannot find such an ideal speaker anywhere.
You can ask anybody. People start saying, “My doubts were answered.” But you never asked about any doubts, so how could He answer your doubts? This is a matter between you and Bhagavan. All our doubts are answered. All our inquiries, be they intellectual or illiterate, from a doctor, a scientist, students, staff, old or young, employed or unemployed, even children, all are able to get their answers, answers catering to their requirements. To draw the attention of everybody is the quality of a humanist.
Some announce, “I am meant for the chosen few.” All right, but ‘chosen few’ are always in a cage. Chosen tigers are in a cage; chosen lions are in a cage; all right, you can also be another ‘chosen one’ like that. (Laughter) This kind of communication skill, so as to cater to all and to answer everybody to their satisfaction, for all to enjoy the Divine ambrosia, speaks of Baba as an ideal speaker.
Bharat extends beyond geography
Culture is the quality of a humanist. When Swami speaks of Bharat, it is not simply geographical. Please understand this. When Swami speaks of Indian culture, it is not merely geographical. It is transcendental. This is a way of life. This is a way of thoughts. This is a way of conduct. This is a way of introspection, which is ancient, which is immortal, which is ultimate. Bhagavan speaks of the cultural roots every time He says ‘Bharatiya’. The cultural land of Bharat extends beyond geography, beyond nationality, above language, above gender. Bharatiya culture is universal. In a changing society, Baba speaks of eternal values. Values are eternal, but the society is changing. These eternal values are what Swami calls ‘Bharatiya culture’.
harmony in thought, word and deed
Above all, as a humanist, Bhagavan speaks of the harmony of thought, word and deed. Whatever Bhagavan says, He does it immediately. Thought, word and deed, and heart, head and hands are all in perfect unison, in perfect harmony, in total integration. You see, when Swami says anything, He will do it.
I remember a group was called for an interview and Swami was asking, “What work do you do? What do you wish for?” They were from a village.
“Swami, we want to have a bus station there. We don’t have anything now. “
“I see. What do you estimate the cost to be?” They said some 25,000 rupees. Swami said, “I will fund this project.” He went in, and gave them 25,000 rupees there itself. His is the promise, the declaration and the act together, then and there itself.
”What are the other activities you are undertaking?” They went on telling Him the various activities they needed done there. Then those villagers were asking for the drinking water project. Swami immediately called the person in charge of that, the official sitting there on the veranda. “These people want the water project. See that it is extended to them immediately.”
You know, there’s a university, the Vivekananda College. Their vice-chancellor and professors came here. “Swami, we too want a drinking water supply in the university.”
Swami called the people in charge and said, “See that this project is extended to them also.”
He will never say, “Ah-ha…let us see.” He will never say, “Put it on paper; you give Me the estimate. We shall think of it in eight months.” It is done the same day, there and then itself! If anyone says, “Swami, I am sick” He will stand there, call the doctor and give him instructions. “Do it immediately.” No appointment. There are some people who say, “Consultation by prior appointment only.” Oh, oh, very silly! When we see this contrast, we have to feel ashamed of this. Bhagavan Baba, in totality, is a typical humanist. If there are any thoughts left on this subject, we shall continue next week. Thank you for your patient listening. Sai Ram.
Om Asato Maa Sad Gamaya
Tamaso Maa Jyotir Gamaya
Mrtyormaa Amrtam Gamaya
Om Loka Samastha Sukhino Bhavantu
Loka Samastha Sukhino Bhavantu
Loka Samastha Sukhino Bhavantu
Om Shanti Shanti Shanti
Jai Bolo Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba Ji Ki Jai!
Jai Bolo Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba Ji Ki Jai!
Jai Bolo Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba Ji Ki Jai!