Sri Sathya Sai Avatar on Himself Om Sri Sai Ram ““I have come to light the lamp of love in your hearts, to see that it shines day by day with added lustre. I have not come to speak on behalf of any particular Dharma (religion), like Hinduism. I have not come on any mission of publicity for any sect or creed or cause; nor have I come to collect followers for any doctrine. I have no plan to attract disciples or devotees into My fold or any fold. I have come to tell you of this Universal unitary faith, this Atmic principle (principle of the Spirit), this path of love.” This Sai has come in order to achieve the supreme task of uniting the entire mankind as one family through the bond of brotherhood, of affirming and illumining the Atmic Reality (Reality of the Spirit) of each being in order to reveal the Divine which is the basis on which the entire Cosmos rests, and of instructing all to recognise the common Divine Heritage that binds man to man, so that man can rid himself of the animal in him, and rise into the Divine, which is his goal.” “All religions teach one basic discipline – the removal of the blemish of egoism from the mind, restraining it from running after trivial joys. Every religion teaches man to fill his being with the Glory of God, and evict the pettiness of conceit. It trains him in methods of detachment and discrimination so that he may aim high and attain liberation. Believe that all hearts are motivated by the one God; that all faiths glorify Him alone; that all names in all languages, and all the forms man can conceive denote the same divine principle; His adoration is best done by means of love. Cultivate that Eka-bhava (attitude of Oneness) among men of all creeds, all countries and all continents. That is the message of love, I bring. That is the message I wish you to take to heart.” I have come to help all to acquire this Sathwic (serene) nature. You might have heard people talk about My miracles, of My creating this and giving that, of my fulfilling all your wants, of My curing your illnesses. But they are not as important as the Sathwa Guna (state of serenity and calmness) I appreciate, promote and instill. Of course, I confer on you these boons of health and prosperity, but only so that you might, with greater enthusiasm and with less interruption, proceed with spiritual sadhana (pursuit).” “I do not have the slightest intention to utilise the Seva Samithis (Service Organisations) for propagating My Name. No! I am content only when spiritual endeavours and disciplines to elevate and purify man progress everywhere. It is only through these practices that My universal reality will be revealed. So, do not limit Me to the boundaries of any one name and form.Your aim should be to see the same God in all the Forms that are worshipped, to adore Him in all the Names, nay, to be conscious of His presence as the inner motivator of every living being, in every particle of matter. Do not fall into the error of considering some to be men worthy of reverence and some unworthy. Sai is in everyone; so, all deserve your reverence and service. Propagate this truth; that is the function I assign to the Seva Samithis (Service Organisations).” Rama, Krishna and other Avatars had to kill one or more individuals who could be identified as enemies of the dharmic (righteous) way of life, and thus restore the practice of virtue. But, now, there is no one entirely good, and so who deserves the protection of God? All are tainted by wickedness, and so who will survive if the Avatar decides to destroy the wicked? Therefore, I have to correct the buddhi (intellect), by various means; I have to counsel, help, command, condemn and stand by as a friend and well-wisher to all, so that they may give up evil propensities, and recognising the straight path, tread it and reach the goal. I have to reveal to the people the worth of the Vedas, the Shastras (India’s ancient scriptures) and the other scriptural texts, which lay down the norms of sacred living.” “Let me tell you, it is only those who know the scriptures, that can understand Me. I am determined to correct you only after informing you of my credentials. That is why I announce My Nature by means of miracles – that is, acts which are beyond human capacity and human understanding. Not that I am anxious to show off My powers. The object is to draw you closer to Me, to cement your hearts to Me. Getting to know Me is also a part of your destiny.” If you accept Me and say yes, I too respond and say “yes, yes, yes!” If you deny Me and say “no”, I also echo “no”. Come, examine, experience and have faith; that is the method of utilizing Me.” When people forget the One and run after the world, there can be no love, no sacrifice and no spirit of detachment and hence there is a decline in Dharma. It is then that the Lord takes human form and comes among men to restore their sense of values. You may ask, why should the Lord Himself incarnate? Why can He not set about the task of restoring Dharma through the many minor gods He has at His command? This question was placed before the courtiers by Akbar himself for, he laughed at the Hindu idea of the Formless adopting Form, and descending into the world as an Avatar to save Dharma. Tansen asked for a week’s time to furnish the answer and got it granted by His Imperial Majesty. A few days later, when he was in the pleasure boat of the Emperor sailing across the lake with the royal family, Tansen