The Way of Jesus
The following is taken from Christmas messages by Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba in Christmas Discourses (1970-1998), Sathya Sai Book Center of America, 1999.
Every person has come into the world as a messenger of God. Jesus announced himself as a messenger. He spent many years in austerity so that he could shower compassion and love on humanity. Later, he asked himself, “Am I just a messenger, or am I more closely related to God, a part of God with the Divine as my essence?” Wandering alone in the desert, Jesus spent twelve long years engaged in this inquiry. At the end of that time, he returned to the society of men and announced, “I am the Son of God.”
The priests of the holy temples of Jerusalem had become corrupt and commercialized. They had deteriorated into proud, selfish men. Jesus condemned them and tried to root out the evil practices. In the eyes of Jesus, all forms were Divine. He could not tolerate any action that belied that. So when people asked him who he was, he replied, “I and my Father are one.” Jesus tried to teach everyone the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man.
Tradition-minded, egotistical men considered Jesus a false prophet. They tried by every means to thwart his mission. But Jesus did not waver. Faced with opposition, he continued to be an example of living truth. Many disciples followed Jesus. But throughout history, it has been the experience of Rama Krishna, of Mohammed, and of Jesus that disciples, however close, are seldom fully dedicated. Most are only part-time devotees.
Jesus had twelve disciples. Most of them had faith in him and lived his teachings. But Judas yielded to greed. He betrayed his master for a mere thirty coins. After such treachery, he could no longer find joy in life. When his mind gave him no peace, he sought refuge in suicide.
Betrayal by people who pretend to adore has occurred throughout the ages. Corrupt, greedy, and selfish people spread falsehoods about their own masters. We know of the Judas of 2000 years ago. In this Kali age, people are obsessed with money and so Judases have multiplied. They seek to amass paltry riches, but the three true treasures are good character, good conduct, and knowledge of God. Land, buildings, silver, gold, dollars, and other currency are temporary and trivial. We can possess them only while life lasts. But the three treasures of good character, good conduct and knowledge of God will sustain and strengthen us until we attain union with the infinite.
Man has mastered astronomy. He knows all about earth science. He is conversant with all that is happening in America, Russia, and England. But he does not know who he is. Therefore, all other knowledge can not make him wise. He is eager to collect information about everything else, but he never asks the question, “Who am I?” – though he uses the expression “I” and “my” quite freely.
You are the farmer, the body is the field. If you sow the seeds of goodness, you will harvest happiness. If you sow the seeds of evil, you will reap the harvest of grief. You are the cause of either of these. Do not blame others or impute partiality to God. Above all, do not rely on the impermanent, objective world. It is full of sorrow and change. Cultivate detachment, equanimity, self-control, and love.
Develop knowledge about the higher levels of consciousness and the higher planes of existence. Through knowledge, one acquires balance. You must recognize that this life is a stage in a long pilgrimage. We are now at a hotel, a temporary-resting place that has a watchman. The mind is the watchman. So do not feel permanently attached to the mind or the body. The “negative” body has the “positive” divinity within it. When you become all-embracing, infinite love and the Divine will manifest in and through you. Try to be like Jesus. Jesus was a person whose only joy came in spreading divine love, in offering divine love, in receiving divine love, and in living divine love.
Today is the birthday of Jesus, celebrated amidst December snowfalls, lights, Christmas trees, and prayers. But it is useless to pray on just one day then forget God for the rest of the year. Such prayer is an empty show; it does not emanate from the heart. We are true Christians only when we live according to the teachings of Christ and practice them in daily life. If we follow but two teachings of his, that will be enough. Christ said, “All life is one, my dear son! Be alike to everyone.”
If we truly follow this teaching, it can allow us to fulfill our destiny. When Jesus hung on the cross, overcome with agony, an unseen voice from heaven, said, “Death is the dress of life.” The body is the dress that the divine spirit puts on. Therefore, we should not weep when the body is worn out, or falls, or is injured. Death is an event that reflects the very nature of the body. People seek the cause of death, but no one seeks the divine source of life. During the brief span of life, be engaged in glorifying God and in doing God’s work.
God has incarnated in human form in order to inspire people to follow higher ideals – not just in India, but in other countries as well. We may have different languages and life styles, but God is one and He is present everywhere. All religions speak of Him as love and as attainable through love. Forms of worshipping God differ, for time and place shape them, but love is the basic content of all the forms. The language of love is understood and spoken by all hearts. Actually, only one race exists, and that is the race of mankind. We now consider petty distinctions of nationality, race, religion, and language as vital. We hold back love – which must flow to everyone from the heart. That was the life and message of Jesus. Nurture it in your hearts. Experience Jesus as your messenger sent from God.
Love alone can reveal the Divinity latent in all. Love is God. Live in love. Love lives by giving and forgiving. Self lives by getting and forgetting. Love is selflessness. Selfishness is loveless. Do not waste your life pursuing the narrow interests of the self. Love! Love! Become what you truly are: the embodiments of love. No matter how others treat you or what they think of you, do not worry. Follow Jesus Christ. Love for your own evolution – not for what others say.
Do not imitate others. Cultivate your own life. You have your own heart, your own opinions, your own ideas, and your own will. Then why imitate? Imitation is human, they say, but creation is divine. Follow your chosen path. Let your own experience of God be your guide and master. Do not go into the grave weakly copying others. You won’t find God if you search in the outside world. Your own heart shining with love is God’s Love. Follow the master. Face the devil. Fight to the end and finish the game. You are God. The true you is God.
You are not one person, but three: the one you think you are, the one others think you are, and the one you really are. You think of yourself as your body with its sense cravings; others think of you as a personality. You are truly infinite spirit divine. You should constantly remind yourself, “I am God, I am God, I am God, I am God.” The day you see yourself as God, you become God.
If you think, “I am only human,” you will be led astray. Do not allow your body and your senses to dictate your moves. Develop the inner vision. The body is the cart; the spirit is the horse. Do not put the cart before the horse. Spiritual practice is the only means of acquiring mental peace. If all the cars in America were placed end to end, they would reach the moon. But no true happiness lies in cars, no peace of mind. Do not cultivate riches, comfort, or luxuries. Cultivate divine virtues. Then you will become fit to receive God’s grace. Why trade permanent peace of mind for impermanent physical luxuries?
Speak sweetly. Shed comfort with every glance. Do not be a slave to your sensual desires. Conquer and vanquish anger. Exile greed, hate, and jealousy from your mind. Dedicate your hands to the service of mankind, to the love and compassion of Jesus. Kill jealousy and selfishness in yourselves and purify your hearts. Earn the true mercy of Jesus. Follow the path shown by him and reach the position he holds.
Source: Christmas Discourses (1970-1998)
December 25, 1979
