Swami on Sai Organization, Members, and Officers

Every man is living a life of self-interest, a selfish life. He does not think of the welfare of the society and doesn’t have God as his life’s goal and objective. Man is a part of the society and shouldn’t have narrow mindedness. Every individual has to recognize the purpose of starting an organization. An organization [like this] is not formed to earn name and fame and make man selfish It is not meant to claim one’s own self as greater than others Individual greatness is ex pressed in two ways. One is to live for undertaking sacred tasks and to help others, and this kind of life has to be adored. The other is to publicize one’s self by doing wrong deeds In the world the bad man is remembered as also is the good man However the good man lives for an ideal adarsh, but the bad one acts and lives for akarsha, that is drawing attention and attraction. The ideal is more important than attraction.

In Hindu mythology, the names of Sri Rama and Ravana are well-known. When Rama’s name is mentioned, he receives respect and acclaim, but the name of Ravana is treated with contempt. Likewise, in the Christian religion, the names of Jesus and Judas are equally known. When one thinks of Lord Jesus, his greatness commands all respect, but Judas stands as a symbol of wickedness and is remembered as a traitor.

Our organization was started to enable man to lead an ideal life and to bring about a transformation in society. There are two factors that can ruin an individual. The first thing is ego and the other is jealousy. Jealousy is a pest and ego an insect that is harmful. Both can kill a plant. In the tree of human life, jealousy works from inside and spoils the human quality. Ego expresses itself outside and the human quality is hidden. Therefore, in our organization we should be far away from ego and jealousy and cultivate a broad mind. A man with these two qualities has no right to live in society. An individual with such bad qualities ruins himself and puts the society to shame. To the extent possible, we should make every effort to reduce ego and jealousy.

We must try to understand the source of peace, prosperity and happiness. Everything comes out of a broad mind and a big heart. We should inquire into why we don’t have peace and happiness. There is a small example for this. Three individuals are living in a house: the father, the mother and the son. When all the three members live in perfect harmony in the house, there cannot be a higher heaven on earth. But if there is a slight difference of opinion among them, there cannot be a worse hell than that house. Similarly, the body is a house where the three individuals are the mind, the word and the deed.  When they all live together in harmony in the body, there is bliss. On the other hand, when there is diversity in thought, word and deed, there cannot be another hell worse than that. Therefore, the most essential thing in life is the unity. Unity of all these three is the real Divinity. Out of this unity, you will reach purity. This purity will take us to Divinity. Harmony of thought, word and deed is unity. In spiritual parlance this is known as triputi or trinity. It is not only in our spiritual, worldly and social life that this assumes importance, but in our entire life this unity in word, deed and thought must be cultivated, as only then can we experience genuine peace.

Unity, Humility, and Ignorance

For man today, peace is very essential. To confer peace, [this] organization is formed. It is not established for Sai’s name and fame. The objective is to make everyone happy. There are many organizations in the world, but the Sai Organization should not be like the others. We should work unitedly. All are brothers and sisters. Remember the dictum of the brotherhood of man and fatherhood of God. This is not properly done in society.

The feeling that “I am the Coordinator, I know more, do not talk” should be given up. You are just a Coordinator for name’s sake only. A Coordinator should first lead and work with humility. Then he will earn the right to tell others. Without doing anything yourself, you have no right to tell others. When you have no right, others will not respect you. To earn real respect, you should do what you say. First “Be”, second “Do”, and third “Tell”. Without the first “Be” and the second “Do”, you cannot merely “Tell”.

In our organization, all are working hard. But in the spiritual path, they are not able to know the procedure-what is to be done, how it is to be done. These should be clear. All are very active. All are good, but they have no opportunity to know the spiritual path. All have enthusiasm, but to be happy you have to have the feeling that you are working with God and for God. Happiness is union with God. There is no place without God. Whatever you do, you should feel that it is God’s work. God is doing through this body. He is doing through this mind. He is working through this hand. If with this feeling you work, there is no chance for any ego to rise. The body is only the negative connection. It is lifeless. Just matter. The mind is a bundle of desires. It is just an imagination. You are not just an imagination. You are not the body. You are the Atma [individualized Godhead]. Think like this: “I am the Atma, I am the Atma.” Then you can work to any extent. You should feel that “Whatever I do, I am doing for myself, myself, myself”.

We should never exercise authority or power. We should demonstrate love and teach it. When you start exercising authority, differences will arise. Sometimes you may change the tone of your words and raise your voice, but do not change the heart. There is a connection between love and love, and from heart to heart. That is what Swami does sometimes. When students do not behave, Swami tells them softly, “Bangaru” [a term of endearment meaning like gold, a precious quality], you don’t do that. You don’t do that.” If they still do not behave, Swami raises His voice. His voice changes, but Swami’s heart does not change. That you should demonstrate. You should never give room for hatred. If the voice changes sometimes, there is a purpose behind it. So, keeping the purpose in mind, you should go forward.

Unity and Duty Lead to Strength, Security, and Prosperity

One individual cannot correct the world. Many should join together to ensure security. For example, look at these five fingers. Can any one finger do any activity? No, no. Impossible. When all the five fingers join together, they can work. Look at the handkerchief. You can pick it up when all the fingers join together. A single finger cannot even lift a handkerchief. When all the fingers join there is value. Therefore, the Sai Organization, Sai Seva Dal, Sai Seva Samithi, Sai Study Circle, Sai Bal Vikas, all Sai organizations should join together. That is oneness. Each one has to do his duty. When everyone does one’s own duty, without giving thought to big and small, there will be prosperity.

There is a small example for this. Today you have rockets using atomic power. There are so many instruments in the rocket. We think that a rocket is a j gigantic machine. But in this rocket, there are bolts, nuts, screws, wires, pins, etc., fixed at the appropriate positions. In this big machine, if a screw or a pin goes out of action, you cannot say what will happen to the rocket. Even a single pin is important. Without it, the rocket may crash and burn to ashes. Similarly, in the organization, all are mighty and powerful. We should not have differences like big and small. One may be a screw, another a bolt or a nut, but all are needed for this machine. This is unity in diversity. When there is this unity, we can achieve and accomplish anything.

This is a cloth. It is very difficult to tear it apart. What is the reason? The reason is that its threads are inter-woven. It is strong because it is well-knit. If you remove the threads, one by one, you can break the threads easily. When they are all joined together, they are strong, very strong. When the individuals are separated, there is no strength in the organization. When all stand united, it will be powerful. Strength lies in unity. Unity ensures welfare. Unity fosters theistic spirit. Unity is the prosperity of a nation. Prosperity of a nation does not come from the heavens. It comes from the unity of the individuals. All should work in unity.

You have a lot of love for Swami. But you do not follow Him. What is the use? When you love Swami, you should follow what He says. We should not discriminate between God’s commands as good or bad, right or wrong, because God’s commands are selfless, but you do not understand it. When you do good work, that is your profit. When you do bad work, that is your loss. For Swami, your good or bad work does not give profit or loss. Both profit and loss go to you alone. For Swami there is no profit or loss. I am always happy. If you want to be happy like this, follow Swami, meaning you should follow the rules and regulations of the organization. Then, mentally, physically and socially there will be peace and security.

There are many spiritual organizations in the world, but there is a lot of difference between them and the Sai Organization. Here all should be one, like the children of the same mother. That is the greatness of the Sai Organization. A German may not like a Chinese. A Chinese may not like an American. But in Prasanthi Nilayam, Germans, Chinese, Russians, all live in one shed. That is the uniqueness of the Sai Organization. That is Sai’s love. You should develop that love. Where else will you see this unity in diversity? Only in Prasanthi Nilayam. [Pointing to two women in the audience, He said the following] She comes from Iran and she comes from Iraq.

Iran and Iraq are rivals. But here both live together. That is love. When we develop this love, the whole world will be one. Everything should be done through love, through love, through love. Start the day with love, fill the day with love, spend the day with love, end the day with love. That is the way to God. The best way to love God is to love all and serve all. This is the first message and also the last message. Healthy life, happy life, peaceful life, Divine life. I will bless you. I love you.

[Excerpted from the Divine Message of Swami delivered to overseas office-bearers at Prasanthi Nilayam on November 20, 1992]