How can I get involved in Sri Sathya Sai International Organisation?
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 on any mission of publicity for any sect or creed or cause; nor have I come to collect followers for any doctrine. I have come to tell you of this Universal unitary faith, this path of Love, this duty of Love, this obligation to Love. -Sri Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. 8 Ch. 22
Sri Sathya Sai Baba teaches that a human being’s basic nature is divine and that the purpose of life is the realization of this divinity. He reminds us that human birth is unique among all of God’s Creations; human beings can recognise that they emanate from God and have the capacity to commune with God by turning inward. Ultimately, it is our destiny to merge with God. He says all religions are the expressions of these same universal principles.
In the pursuit of our purpose in life, the world is our school, the Five Human Values (Truth, Right Conduct, Peace, Love, and Nonviolence) are our curriculum, and the realisation of the unity of Divinity throughout the diversity of Creation is our ultimate lesson. “Love All, Serve All” and “Help Ever, Hurt Never” says Sri Sathya Sai Baba.
Sri Sathya Sai Baba strongly emphasizes selfless service to those in need as the highest means for enhancing one’s own spiritual growth and development.
The Sri Sathya Sai International Organization (SSSIO) was founded by Sri Sathya Sai Baba to enable those attracted to his teachings to have a base to practise them in the company of like-minded spiritual aspirants. Essentially it is a place providing an opportunity to develop our devotion to, and intimate connection with God through study, devotional practices and most importantly, engaging in group service activities that benefit our immediate communities.
Sri Sathya Sai Baba remains a living presence, an inspiration, a guide, and most of all a cherished, endearing and intimately felt divinity in the hearts of millions who know him.
There are Centres of SSSIO in various locations across Australia. Members of the Centres meet regularly to study and discuss the teachings and to engage in group devotional singing, meditation, and prayer. Centre members also plan and implement a variety of community service projects that are within their means and resources. Regular classes are conducted for children on spiritual and human values. There is never any solicitation or fee charged for any function that a Centre conducts. All are welcome, regardless of race, creed, economic status, or religious orientation. All can participate in any of these activities without having any prior experience.
There is only one Caste, the Caste of Humanity There is only one Religion, the Religion of Love There is only one Language, the Language of the Heart There is only One God, and He is Omnipresent -Sri Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. 18 Ch.30
To locate a Sai Centre near you, please checkout – Locations
Some Frequently Asked Questions
Devotees of Sri Sathya Sai Baba frequently say “Sai Ram” when greeting each other. The beautiful inner meaning of this tradition originating with Sri Sathya Sai Baba decades ago follows:
When you meet each other, do not shout hello or bye-bye, or some silly chatter. Let the moment of meeting be sanctified by the remembrance of God. Say, Ram Ram, or Om, or Hari Om, or Sai Ram.
Sri Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. 10 Ch. 14
Saying “Sai Ram” to greet recognises the divinity in the other person as well as ourselves.
Modest clothing should be worn for attending Sai Centre events. As the Sai organisation is spiritual in nature, members should wear clothes which will not be distracting to others.
There are no fees to join the Organisation. Money is never solicited, and all activities of a Sai Centre are offered for free. In keeping with Sri Sathya Sai Baba’s injunction, Sri Sathya Sai Centres should have as little to do with money as possible, since it draws attention away from the members’ spiritual focus.
Sri Sathya Sai Baba required that men and women should sit separately at all Centre activities.
At devotional singing and other meetings, men devotees should sit apart from women devotees. The rule is applicable to all members — whether Indians or non-Indians, in India or elsewhere. It is a part of the spiritual discipline that is necessary for devotees.
Sri Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. 14 Ch. 56
Activities conducted by Sai Organisation fall under three wings: Devotion, Service and Education. All these wings work in coordination with and support each other.
Devotion Wing: This particularly focuses on group devotional singing, study circles, prayers, meditation, and spiritual practices. It also is involved in organising camps and retreats, inter-faith activities, newcomers’ programs and other activities designed to strengthen one’s faith and devotion to God and building one’s understanding and practice of universal spiritual knowledge.
For more information or if you have any queries, please send you request to: devotion@sssio.org.au
Service Wing: “Service to Man is Service to God”, says Sri Sathya Sai Baba. Service is the very essence of devotion to God, and the goal of devotion is realising one’s innate divinity. Sri Sathya Sai Baba emphasises that every act of selfless service, performed with unconditional love and the attitude of serving God residing in those being served, confers immense spiritual benefit. It is a spiritual discipline that allows compassion, love, and peace to blossom within and helps to get rid of the ego. Members engage in service activities depending on local needs.
For more information or if you have any queries, please send you request to: service@sssio.org.au
Education Wing: Sai Spiritual Education (SSE) classes are provided at Centres for children from ages 6 to 17 years. The aims are to foster character development and spiritual transformation by helping the children to bring out and practice the values that are inherent in them. The children will: (1) learn about the life and teachings of Sri Sathya Sai Baba, (2) render selfless service to others, (3) embrace the unity of the different faiths, (4) practice the five universal Human Values of Truth, Right Action, Peace, Love and Non-violence, and (5) practice placing a ceiling on their desires.
For more information or if you have any queries, please send you request to: education@sssio.org.au
A Young Adult (YA) Program is offered to 18-40 years old members. The YAs are encouraged to lead purposeful and fulfilling lives by learning and practicing spiritual values. They meet with like-minded peers and discuss contemporary issues in leading spiritual lives in today’s world.
Young Adults come together to read, reflect, discuss, and practice the teachings of Sri Sathya Sai Baba to develop a clearer understanding of themselves, their roles in life, and to assist their own personal self-transformation.
For more information or if you have any queries, please send you request to: ya@sssio.org.au
When any object that has a name and form is completely burnt, it is reduced to ashes. The name and form are gone. All things are one and the same in the final state as ashes. When Vibhuti is given, Sri Sathya Sai Baba wants the recipient to understand the basic oneness. The devotee should get rid of ego arising from the feeling of separateness and sense of “mine” and “thine”. These two are based on name and form and when they are destroyed, the underlying unity of the Divine can be realized. Sri Sathya Sai Speaks Vol. 20 Ch. 15
Several Sri Sathya Sai Centres have a library of books available to members.
Books may be ordered from the Sri Sathya Sai Sadhana Trust - Publications Division, in India: https://srisathyasaipublications.com/
Some well-known writings are listed below:
1. The Vahini Series (written by Sri Sathya Sai Baba) available online at: https://www.sssbpt.info/english/vahinis.html
2. ‘Sri Sathya Sai Speaks’, Vol. 1 – 42 (Six decades of discourses by Sri Sathya Sai Baba) https://www.sssbpt.info/english/sss.htm
3. ‘Summer Showers’ Series (Spiritual discourses by Sri Sathya Sai Baba given to college students during summer courses, 1972–2000) https://www.sssbpt.info/english/showers.html
4. ‘Sathyam Sivam Sundaram’, Parts 1-7 (Series on the Life of Sai Baba)
5. ‘My Baba and I’, by J. Hislop
6. ‘Conversations with Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba’, by J. Hislop
7. ‘Loving God’, by Professor N. Kasturi
8. ‘Pathways to God’, Volumes 1 to 3, by Jonathon Roof
9. ‘Finding God’, by Charles Penn
10. ‘Sai Baba, The Holy Man and the Psychiatrist’, by Samuel Sandweiss
11. ‘Sai Baba, Man of Miracles’, by Howard Murphet
12. ‘Sai Baba, the Ultimate Experience’, by Phyllis Krystal
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