Sri Sathya Sai International Organization

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Editorial

Uniqueness & Universality of Sathya Sai Baba’s Teachings

(Part 2 of 2)

In the first part of this editorial (December 2025 issue), we reflected on Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba as the Supreme Teacher, whose universal message transcends all boundaries of religion, race, and culture. We saw how His life itself is the greatest scripture–how every discourse, gesture, and glance embodies the essence of all Vedas, Upanishads, and world faiths. Swami revealed that Love is the foundation and fulfilment of every spiritual path, and that the simplest expression of the highest truth is ‘Love All and Serve All.’

In this second part, we delve deeper into how Bhagawan, through His divine compassion, conveys the most profound and eternal wisdom in the simplest ways. Using parables, symbols, acronyms, and familiar examples, He translates metaphysical truths into practical spirituality–unveiling new insights and revolutionary interpretations that awaken the seeker to the Self within.

Fourfold Formulas

• Swami says that there are 4Fs important to practice in life:
  Follow the Master
  Face the devil
  Fight to the end
  Finish the game
  Each of these precious advice, when practiced sincerely, leads one to ‘Finish the game,’ which means to attain the goal of Self-realization.
   
• Similarly, Swami speaks about spiritual progress through the stages of chamatkar, samskar, paropakar, and sakshatkar–from experiencing miracles (chamatkar), one should move to transformation (samskar), then to selfless service (paropakar), and finally to Self-realization (sakshatkar).
   
• Another formula Swami gives us for approaching God is the four stages of salokya, sameepya, sarupya, and sayujya. We can meditate on each of these deeply. First, we come into the fold of the Lord (salokya–being in the same realm as the Lord). Then, through spiritual practices and love for God, we come close to Him (sameepya). As we grow closer and are immersed in love for God, we begin to resemble Him (sarupya). Finally, when we reach the highest stage, we become one with God (sayujya).

The greatest example for sarupya is Bharata, the brother of Lord Rama. When Rama was in exile, Bharata spent his time wholly in contemplation on his beloved Lord. When Rama returned from exile, Bharata looked so much like Rama that people were confused about who was Rama and who was Bharata. By constantly thinking and contemplating on God, one becomes verily like God. Yad bhavam, tad bhavati (As you think, so you become). Finally, we achieve sayujya, oneness with God, as Lord Jesus proclaimed, “I and My Father are one.”

Eternal Wisdom Through Simple Words

Bhagawan Baba gives us profound messages through simple words and easy-to-understand logic. For example, to show how world peace can be achieved, He says,

It all starts with righteousness in the heart.

Similarly, Swami speaks of oneness as:

He emphasizes this unity in diversity through beautiful examples:

Regarding the importance of practicing human values, Swami speaks beautifully about the need for integrating them into daily life:

These are spiritual injunctions that, when followed, make human life and society peaceful and happy for all.

There is a famous Sanskrit verse that summarizes the ultimate truth:

Swami beautifully says this in poetic Telugu,

Unity of Faiths and Harmony of Religions

Another key message that Baba emphasizes is the unity of faiths. While earlier teachers like Sri Shirdi Sai and Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa demonstrated the harmony of religions, Swami emphasizes the unity of faiths. The underlying principle of all faiths, He says, is only love.

When He visited East Africa, the only time He travelled physically outside India (to Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania), Swami made a profound declaration in His divine discourse on July 4, 1968:

This declaration beautifully summarizes His emphasis on the unity of faiths and the harmony of religions, based on the universal truth of love.

Because of this universal outlook, Swami promoted the grand celebration of festivals from many religions in a prominent way. Festivals such as Dasara, Deepavali, Christmas, Buddha Poornima, Yom Kippur, Hanukkah, Eid, Moharram, and Nowruz are celebrated in Sai Centers around 110 countries, showing that all paths lead to the same common goal.

Swami also explains the inner significance of various festivals, rituals, and symbols across faiths, revealing their spiritual essence beyond the external form. Swami once playfully created an acronym for GOD to illustrate the universal role of GOD in all religions. He expanded it as G for Generator, O for Operator, and D for Destroyer–the three aspects of the world and creation.

Path of Purity: A New Concept Introduced

Bhagawan refers to the greatest truth revealed in the Rig Veda: Ekam Sat Viprah Bahuda Vadanti–Truth is One, though the wise call it by many names. There are many paths to reach the same goal, but Swami says that there is truly only one goal: to realize that we are the very embodiment of divine love, or the divine Atma. Swami also introduces a new concept that, ultimately, there is only one path–the path of purity. Swami exhorted that the essence of all spiritual paths is purity.

In the discourse He delivered on November 21, 1995, Baba says:

Again, in His discourse of August 25, 1998, Swami affirms, “To the pure heart, Truth reveals itself spontaneously.”

Therefore, the theme of the 11th World Conference of the SSSIO was: “Purity is Enlightenment.” The same message, “Unity is Divinity, Purity is Enlightenment,” was also chosen by Swami as the theme for a special International Sathya Sai Symposium held in Rome in 1983, emphasizing both unity and purity. 

Emblem of the Sri Sathya Sai International Organization (SSSIO)

The emblem of the organization representing Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba originally depicted the major religions of the world–Christianity, Buddhism, Zoroastrianism, Hinduism, and Islam–symbolizing unity of faiths. Then, when Dr. John Hislop, during an interview, petitioned Swami that Judaism was not represented, Swami modified the emblem to include the Star of David. Later, however, the SSSIO emblem was modified in view of the fact that there are thousands of denominations and faiths around the world.

The present emblem of the SSSIO features the five human values–Truth, Right Conduct, Peace, Love, and Nonviolence–radiating from the divine light at the center. On one hand, this symbolizes that all human values, and indeed all religions, emanate from divinity. It also shows that the five fundamental values are universal and emphasized by all religions, without exception. 

This became evident when, during the 11th World Conference of the SSSIO at Sai Prema Nilayam, representatives of five different religions pointed to the logo and stated that it represented the teachings of their respective faiths.

Insights into the Scriptures

All great masters like Jesus Christ came to reveal the inner meaning of scriptures. When Jesus spoke to the Pharisees, the learned scholars of the Jewish tradition, He told them that they were following merely the letter of the law, not its spirit.

Similarly, Lord Krishna gave new insights into the Vedas, explaining aspects of karma, bhakti, jnana, and yoga in a new light. He said one must go beyond the realm of the three gunas (qualities) and transcend even the realm of the Vedas. (BG 2.45)

Swami declares that one of the purposes of this Avatar is to make people realize their innate divinity and that they are embodiments of love. It is also to revive the Vedas, shedding light on the inner secrets and the eternal truth.

In one of His poems, Swami says that He came to reveal new insights and meanings for the traditional interpretations of scriptures–a process He had already begun in His previous incarnation as Shirdi Sai Baba.

For instance, in the book, Shirdi Sai Satcharita, Baba explains a verse from the Bhagavad Gita (BG 4.34) to His devotee, Chandorkar, giving it a completely new meaning. The verse begins as Tadviddhi Pranipatena. Most commentators, including Adi Shankaracharya, interpret the verse as meaning that the Guru teaches the disciple the knowledge of the Atma (Self). But Shirdi Baba says, “The Guru does not give you knowledge of Atma; you are already the embodiment of Atma. The Guru merely removes the dark clouds of ignorance. Once ignorance is dispelled, the effulgence of Truth shines forth spontaneously.”

Swami gives similar revolutionary interpretations to many scriptures–too numerous to list–but a few examples stand out, as noted below. 

1. Swadharma

Traditionally, swadharma means one’s duty according to one’s station in life–as a Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya, or Shudra; as a man or woman; as a student, householder, recluse, or renunciant. Swami elevates this understanding by saying that true swadharma is not related to body, mind, or intellect. It is Atma dharma, the dharma of the Self.

All other duties pertain only to temporary identities, but Atma dharma transcends them all.

2. Ananya Bhakti

Conventionally, ananya bhakti is understood as devotion where one constantly thinks of God, trusting that God will take care of all needs and welfare. But Swami revealed its deeper essence that true ananya bhakti is that state where there is no ‘anya’ (other) than God! There is nothing in creation other than God. Thus, there is also no separateness between the devotee and God. Thus, bhakti (devotion) becomes one that has no vibhakti (division) according to Baba. When one realizes that every cell, atom, and moment is permeated by divinity, that nothing exists apart from God, that is true ananya bhakti.

3. Samadhi

Traditionally, samadhi is described as a state of total withdrawal from the outer world. It is described as a trance-like absorption in Brahman lasting for hours or days. Swami gives a higher interpretation that the word ‘samadhi’ originates from ‘sama’ (equal) + ‘dhi’ (buddhi or intellect)–meaning a state of perfect equanimity. True samadhi is to be equal-minded and balanced in all circumstances. This steadiness itself is Brahman.

4. Neti Neti

In Vedantic texts, “neti neti” (not this, not this) is used to negate everything that is not Brahman. Swami revolutionizes this understanding by saying that the traditional meaning given to this Vedantic formula of ‘not this, not this’ is not the true meaning. 

Traditional Vedanta teaches that the ultimate truth is realized by negating the jeevi (individual), and the world (neti neti) to reach Brahman. Ultimately, one realizes that what was negated in the spiritual journey is also Brahman, as there exists nothing other than Brahman. Thus, the correct and appropriate meaning of neti neti is ‘Not only this, not only this’, which means there is much more to Brahman than what is perceived or conceived by man. This is also referred to in the Purusha Suktam. (Vedic Hymn)

Thus, one should never deny anything as unreal, for everything is, in essence, divinity itself.

5. Karma and Akarma

One of the most enigmatic verses in the Bhagavad Gita (BG 4.18) says, 

Many commentators have given different, contradicting, and confusing interpretations of the terms karma (action) and akarma (inaction). However, Swami clarifies that the inner meaning of karma is the body and mind, which assume doership. Body and mind owe their origin to karma (result of action), and they are also meant for performing action. In contrast, the term akarma signifies the Atma, the Self, because it has nothing to do with action or its results. It is just the eternal witness.

A good analogy for this is a movie theater, where the screen represents akarma or inaction–the Atma, and the pictures stand for karma or action. This illustration teaches us that the screen, the akarma or Atma, does not need the pictures, while the body, or the karma, depends on the screen or the Atma for its support and sustenance. Also, just as the screen is not affected in any way by the pictures, the Atma is not affected by the body and its activities.

He who has realized that all things on the physical or mental plane exist only as long as they are in relation to the Atma, the higher Self, sees the One that is inactive in the midst of all activities and becomes an ideal worker. Such a karma yogi attains perfection through his work. 

Swami’s interpretation is that karma is equivalent to the ego, doership, and the craving for the results of action, whereas akarma is equivalent to the Self, which transcends all activities, and that is unchanging, immovable, and eternally at rest. This is the secret of karma yoga and the path to enlightenment.

Start With Any One Teaching

There is no end to Swami’s teachings. They are like an ocean–even greater than an ocean. An ocean has boundaries, but Swami’s teachings transcend the limits of time and space. They are highly relevant to humanity and for its redemption.

There are thousands of divine discourses containing Swami’s teachings. There are sixteen Vahinis written by Swami, each containing His teachings, and a lifetime is not enough to delve deeply into all of them. But we should not get discouraged. As Swami Himself says in Gita Vahini, when you are thirsty, you just need a glassful of water; you don’t need to drink the whole river.

One who has hunger for God doesn’t have to memorize all His teachings. Practicing even one teaching is enough. Swami gives the example of a box of matches, which has many sticks. If you want to light a lamp, you need to strike only one good, dry matchstick. It will light the lamp. You may have hundreds of matchsticks that are damp or wet, but they will not be able to light the lamp and are useless. The dry matchstick represents the practice of one of the teachings. Even if one practices one teaching effectively, one gets the light of wisdom. On the other hand, one may memorize many teachings but not practice them–it is of no use, and one continues to be ignorant.

As Swami emphasizes, the words of God are meant to be practiced in life and practical living, not just for preaching and memorizing. 

Power of Practicing One Teaching

Swami also tells a beautiful story about how practicing just one teaching can lead one to liberation.

He gives the example of a thief who goes to a guru for initiation into spiritual life. When he was told to give up stealing, he said, “How can I do that? It is my profession.” The guru asked him to give up at least one of his bad habits, and the thief decided to give up uttering falsehood. Then the guru said, “Very good. Make sure you always speak the truth.” The thief gave his word that he would always speak the truth.

That night, when he went to the royal palace to commit a robbery, he found another person on the terrace who said he too was a thief. They broke into the treasury and divided the diamonds they found among themselves. The other person, however, was none other than the king in disguise.

The king pretended to be a thief and said he knew where the treasury keys were. As they were dividing the stolen diamonds, the thief suggested leaving one behind out of pity for the king, who would lose everything. He asked his companion to leave one diamond behind in the safe. It was done.

The next morning, it was discovered that the treasury had been looted. The minister was summoned by the king to assess the loss. The minister found a diamond was left behind and thinking that the thieves might have left it behind in their hurry, he quietly pocketed the diamond and reported that all the diamonds were stolen.

The king then summoned the honest thief, who confessed to his part in the crime but maintained that one diamond was left behind. The missing diamond was found in the minister’s pocket, and the king dismissed him for dishonesty. Impressed by the thief’s commitment to truth, the king appointed him as the new minister. He gave up his old ways entirely and pleased his guru as a virtuous administrator and gained fame.

This story exemplifies how following one of Swami’s teachings can have a profound and positive effect.  

The teachings of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba are comprehensive, uplifting, inspiring, and enlightening, guiding humanity toward purity, unity, and the realization of the divine within. So let us, as part of this dawning of the new year 2026, resolve to take one teaching of Swami, study it deeply every day, contemplate on it, and practice it, so that our lives are redeemed.

Jai Sai Ram.