Peace Through Seva
B. Dato’ Lew Sip, Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Malaysia, in his speech at the Sadhana Camp in Port Dickson, Malaysia, spoke about the Sai Baba followers serving the community selflessly and how it is beneficial in the present world.
Let me tell you how I came to know of Sai Baba. I was informed that a certain group of public‑spirited people were operating a weekly free medical clinic in a squatter area in my constituency. This is a transit long‑house area built to resettle illegal squatters. There was no publicity when this medical service was launched. I came to know about it quite by chance.
This episode brought several facts to my attention: (1) Devotees of Sai Baba included Malaysians of diverse racial groups and they belonged to different religions. The organizer is a Hindu, the Doctor is a staunch Catholic, the people they serve are Malays, Indians, and Muslims. (2) This selfless service was being done without any desire for publicity. (3) The devotees of Sai Baba are those who have firm belief in God; they continue to pursue the religion of their choice or origin, they dedicate themselves to the service of mankind, regardless of race, religion, or creed.
In a multi‑racial country like Malaysia, where we have Malaysians of Malay, Chinese, and Indian origins, and where we have virtually all the major religions of the world, this attitude of service to mankind regardless of race or religion is most laudable. If all the devotees of Sai Baba in Malaysia dedicate themselves to such services in villages, hospitals, old folk homes, orphanages, etc., they will, I am sure, create a tremendous impact on the nation. I cannot see a better way to instill Muhibbah or Goodwill that has been the call of this government than by the type of service that I believe all of you are prepared to dedicate yourselves to.
I am amazed to find that increasing numbers of Malaysian Chinese are becoming devotees of Sai Baba. I understand that hundreds of Malaysian Chinese who, in the past would have no thought of visiting India have, in fact, gone to India to visit Sai Baba. Malaysian Chinese are also here in this Camp. They have come from Kuantan, Penang, Kuala Lumpur, and other parts of Malaysia. I am informed that in the temple of Kuan‑ti in Kuantan, classes are held for about 150 children by the devotees of Sai Baba, where they are taught religion and morality and spiritual and devotional songs. As you are aware, in Malaysia the government has declared Belief in God as one of the tenets of the Rukun Negara or as one of the pillars of national life. If the youngsters of this country are able to turn to God and become aware of religion, spirituality, and morality, there can be no better bulwark against Communism and Communalism and against the growing tide of Drug Culture and other aspects of Western influence.
If the Sai Baba movement in this country can bring people close to the religion of their own choice, if the movement can make people more conscious of God and their obligations, duties and responsibilities to their parents, their family, their schools, their state and their nation, then this movement will have done a great service to this country. I have been told that Sai Baba is a phenomenal force in the world today and that there are devotees of Sai Baba in virtually every country in the free world. I have also heard about various miracles happening in His personal presence and in the homes of devotees thousands of miles away from where He is located.
Religion has always been a source of inspiration to man to bring him along the path of righteousness and goodness. However, in modern society religion is losing its hold, especially on the youngsters. Fast living is becoming a new religion. This has brought untold suffering to families. Parents who have dedicated their lives to the children find that they become liabilities, rather than assets. Religion is most important today not only for youngsters, but also for elders caught up in the rat‑race for living.
Modern man can accumulate knowledge, power, and prestige, but the one thing he cannot buy or acquire from others is internal peace. Internal peace is becoming a rare commodity today. The fact that wealth itself is not the answer to this problem is evident from the increasing number of suicides taking place all over the world. The fact that power and prestige are transient phenomena is evident from events taking place all around us. For man to acquire internal peace, the path of spirituality, morality, and God is vital.
Many of us make the mistake of not bothering to give time to prayers, for religion, for God and for selfless service. However, if this is the message of Sai Baba and if all Sai Baba devotees dedicate themselves to tread the path of spirituality, along the religion of their choice, and if they perform selfless service to their fellowmen, I am sure they will find the internal peace that they desire, while giving comfort and joy to others at the same time.
Source: Sanathana Sarathi, Oct/Nov 1980
