He Is That…
Idle curiosity and vain words are of no use to an aspirant. Try to know yourself. When you realise who you are, you will realise Who Sri Sathya Sai Baba is!” said the Great Jnani Nisargadatta Maharaj to a devotee of Bhagawan revealing that Sri Sathya Sai Baba is Paripoorna Parabhrahmam…an episode from Sathyam Sivam Sundaram – Part 6.
Once there was an interesting dialogue between a well-known jnani of our times and his disciple about Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. One of the disciples of Sri Nisarga Datta Maharaj was a frequent visitor to Prasanthi Nilayam and he became an ardent devotee of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba in course of time. One evening while serving his Guru, who lived at Kethwadi in Mumbai, he submitted his question, “Maharaj, who is Sri Sathya Sai Baba?”
Instead of answering the question of the curious disciple, the Guru asked him, “What does Baba say about Himself?”
The disciple, who did not expect that question from his Guru, said what he could remember at that time, “Maharaj, Baba has revealed that He is the reincarnation of Sai Baba of Shirdi!”
“When did Shirdi Baba shed His mortal coil?”
“In 1918.”
“When did Sri Sathya Sai Baba make His advent?”
“In 1926”
“Baba is what He was between 1918 and 1926!”
The disciple could not comprehend what the Jnani had meant by that; he was also not satisfied since the answer was not what he had expected. He pleaded with his Guru, “Maharaj, I cannot understand what you said about Baba…”
“Sri Sathya Sai Baba is Paripoorna Parabhrahmam!” declared the Jnani. The disciple was very happy with that answer since that was what he wanted to hear from his Guru! But the Guru was not satisfied; he wanted to teach his disciple a higher lesson. He asked the disciple, “What do you understand now about Baba?”
The disciple was baffled by the question; he kept silent. Then the Guru told the bewildered disciple, “Idle curiosity and vain words are of no use to an aspirant. Try to know yourself. When you realise who you are, you will realise Who Sri Sathya Sai Baba is!”
II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II
He Is That – A Sacred Reflection On Divine Truth And Supreme Reality
He Is That is a profound spiritual statement that points toward the highest truth of existence. The Divine is not limited to one name, one form, one place, or one idea. God is the source, support, and final goal of all creation. Everything that appears in this universe has its foundation in that one eternal Reality.
Human beings often try to understand God through the mind. They ask questions, seek explanations, compare traditions, and search through scriptures. These efforts are valuable, but the Divine cannot be fully captured by thought alone. The mind can point toward truth, but the heart must become pure enough to experience it.
He Is That teaches that the Lord is both near and beyond. He is beyond the stars, beyond time, beyond birth and death, yet He is also present within the heart as conscience, love, peace, and inner guidance. This is the beauty of divine mystery: the infinite becomes intimate for the devotee.
Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba often reminded humanity that God is one, though names and forms are many. People may worship Him as Rama, Krishna, Shiva, Devi, Allah, Jesus, Buddha, Sai, or by any sacred name. The outer paths may differ, but the truth behind them is one Supreme Reality.
He Is That becomes meaningful when we stop fighting over outer differences and begin recognizing the same divine light in all. Religion should not create pride or separation. True spirituality expands love, deepens humility, and teaches respect for every sincere path that leads toward goodness and God.
The phrase also reminds us that God is not merely an object of worship outside us. The same divine presence lives within every being. When we hurt others, we hurt the sacred life within them. When we serve others, we serve the Divine hidden in them. This understanding transforms ordinary life into worship.
He Is That also teaches that the world is a passing appearance, but the Divine is eternal. Bodies change, relationships change, success changes, and circumstances change. Joy and sorrow come and go like waves. But the truth of God remains steady like the ocean beneath all movement.
A seeker who understands this begins to live with more balance. Praise does not make him proud, criticism does not break him, success does not blind him, and failure does not destroy him. He learns to see every experience as part of a larger divine plan meant for growth and purification.
He Is That finally teaches that knowing God means becoming more divine in conduct. If we say God is love, then our life must become loving. If we say God is truth, then our speech must become truthful. If we say God is peace, then our mind must become calm and forgiving.
Prayer, namasmarana, bhajan, meditation, and seva help us move closer to this realization. Prayer softens the heart, the divine name purifies the mind, bhajan fills life with devotion, meditation brings silence, and service removes selfishness. Through these practices, the truth becomes not only an idea, but a living experience.
The ego creates distance from this truth. It says, “I am separate, I am superior, I am the doer.” Spiritual wisdom gently removes this ignorance. It teaches that all strength, talent, opportunity, and life itself come from God. Humility arises when we understand that we are instruments in divine hands.
A devotee should not only speak about high philosophy, but live it through simple goodness. Helping someone in need, forgiving a mistake, speaking gently, doing duty honestly, and remembering God in daily life are practical ways of honoring the Supreme Reality. Great truths must become small daily actions.
The sacred statement also brings comfort during difficulty. When life feels uncertain, the devotee remembers that God is present even there. He is in the lesson, in the protection, in the strength to endure, and in the grace that quietly guides the heart. Nothing is outside His awareness.
In the end, He Is That is a sacred reminder that the Divine is the eternal truth behind all names, forms, beings, and experiences. It calls us to move from division to unity, from ego to surrender, and from outer knowledge to inner realization. When the heart lives with love, truth, humility, and service, it begins to feel the presence of that Supreme Reality everywhere.
Don’t Worry; I will give him realisation…