Welfare of All

Aum Sairam

A number of Sri Sai devotees have expressed their views related to this
topic though may not have done so exactly in response to this
particular question. Sri Sai is unique and very different from Gurus or
spiritual leaders. While most if not all identify themselves with one
or other religion, Sri Sai remained Himself neutral to Hindu and Muslim
religions. Thus many followers of Hindu and Muslim religions are
devotees of Sri Sai. Sri Sai believed that sectarianism is the greatest
bar to our spiritual progress. He was unaffected by either praise or
disrespect towards Him. Sri Sai treated the rich and poor, small and
the great, those of any caste or creed, healthy or leper [Bhagoji
Shinde] or any nationality [Captain Hate] equally. Also, Sri Sai
encouraged devotees to maintain their devotion to God of a form of
their choice. So, as we have seen from messages to this forum, many
from various different religions feel at ease to respect Sri Sai Baba.
Among various lessons that we, Sri Sai devotees could learn from Shri
Sai Satcharitra, it appears that we need to recognize the importance of:

Saburi and Shradha in Guru or God

The need to grind or control our impulses, desires, sins and ego

Constantly remembering the Name and the Feet of Guru or God [Sai]

Maintaining humility and being egoless

Love, forgiveness, calmness, disinterestedness, charity, benevolence,
control of mind and body

Seeing Divinity and God in all living and non-living beings

'Da' [Dama, Dana, and Daya] - self-control, charity [particularly,
annadana] and compassion

Having control over weakness for women and wealth

Viveka [discrimination between Real and Unreal] and Vairagya
[non-attachment for Unreal]

Udi that teaches discrimination and dakshina that teaches us non-attachment

As God pervades in everything, whatever happens, it is divinely
ordained and it is hence good for us

Practicing different [9] forms of Bhakti or devotion

Never to speak ill of others

Not to run into debt and never to fast for attaining self-realization

Body and soul are different

Soul, God and the world are one

Barring our name and form, there exists in all beings, a sense of Being
or God [Sai] Consciousness

He that endures suffering pleases Sai most

Remembering and chanting Hari's and Guru's name confers salvation

What [whether good or bad] is ours, is with us, and what is another's
is with them

One has to reap what one sows

Completely surrendering and praising the Sadguru silently is the best
way to meditate on Him

We should not assume the sense of doer ship in doing either good or
bad deeds, but should be entirely pride less and egoless in all things
and dedicate our actions to God [Sai]

From the list of above, which is not complete, we as Sai devotees get a
feel for how we should view religion and spirituality. In a nutshell,
let us have the wisdom of focusing on spirituality not religion.
Devotees see Sri Sai in Jesus or Jesus in Sri Sai. Our family situation
is also similar. How wonderful is Sri Sai!

Allah Malik