The Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba's mission - 'Serve the Mankind'

BHAGAWAN Sri Sathya Sai Baba, one of the most revered spiritual masters of our time, was born on 23 November 1926. Having dedicated His entire life to graciously serving humanity, He attained Samadhi on 24 April 2011. His mission was to foster spiritual regeneration through selfless service, with a core message of love, peace, and compassion. He vowed to guide those who had strayed back to goodness, to relieve the suffering of the poor, and to help humanity recognise its own inherent divinity. He sought to achieve this by inculcating the spirit and practice of the principle that “Serving man is serving God.

- By Dhammika Kalapuge

To reiterate Baba's mission, His centenary celebration was recently held at Puttaparthi, India, with a series of events attended by devotees and dignitaries from around the world.

The lasting essence of Baba's teachings, absorbed by his followers over the decades, was encapsulated in the timeless message: "Love All, Serve All; Help Ever, Hurt Never." This is a deeply pragmatic philosophy that each of us can live by in our day-to-day lives.

To reiterate Baba's mission, His centenary celebration was recently held at Puttaparthi, India, with a series of events attended by devotees and dignitaries from around the world, including the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi. Speaking at the ceremony, Prime Minister Modi emphasised that the central value of Indian civilisation is Seva or Service. He observed that all of India's diverse spiritual and philosophical traditions ultimately lead to this one idea. The Sanskrit phrase 'Seva Paramo Dharma', meaning 'selfless service is the highest duty,' has been the ethos that has sustained India through centuries of changes and challenges. Sri Sathya Sai Baba, Prime Minister said, placed Seva at the very heart of human life. He often proclaimed, "Love All, Serve All," and for Him, Seva was 'love in action'. The many institutions established by Baba in the fields of education, healthcare, rural development and numerous other areas stand as living proof of his philosophy. Thus, spirituality and service are not separate but are different expressions of the same truth. It is not uncommon for a person to inspire others during their lifetime, but it is truly remarkable that the Seva activities initiated by Baba continue to expand even in his physical absence.