Guidelines To Active Workers

Guidelines To Active Workers

Of Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisations

By

Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Sri Sathya Sai Sadhana Trust, Publications Division

Prasanthi Nilayam - 515 134

Anantapur District, Andhra Pradesh, INDIA

STD: 08555 ISD: 91-8555 Phone: 287375 Fax: 287236

E-mail: orders@sssbpt.org

Website: www.srisathyasaipublications.org, www.sanathanasarathi.org, www.saireflections.org

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First Edition: 29th October, 2013 (29/10/2013)

ISBN: 978-93-5069-151-9

Paperback ISBN: 978-81-7208-784-5

Published By

The Convener,

Sri Sathya Sai Sadhana Trust, Publications Division

Prasanthi Nilayam, India, Pin Code – 515134

STD : 08555 ISD: 91-8555 Phone: 287375 Fax: 287236

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Publisher’s Note

This booklet was originally published as ‘Questions and Answers’ by Sri Sathya Sai Central Council of Malaysia in 1984. It was later revised and reprinted by the Sri Sathya Sai Baba Centre, Bangsar, Malaysia so as to benefit Sai devotees in general and Active Workers in particular everywhere. Since the answers to the ‘framed’ questions are drawn from Bhagawan’s directives in His own words clarifying possible doubts in the minds of the workers, the Book Trust was prompted to publish the same as ‘Guidelines to Active Workers’. The Contents of this booklet will speak for its usefulness and it is bound to be a Handbook for every Active Worker of Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisations.

Convener

Prasanthi Nilayam

Dated: 15th July, 2002

Publications Division

Introduction

With the advent of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba and His call for the re-establishment of Sanathana Dharma (the Eternal and Universal Religion of Righteousness), people in increasing numbers from all parts of the world, irrespective of their nationality, religion, caste, colour and creed, started becoming Sai devotees. As these streams of devotees began to broaden, it was felt necessary to form groups of active workers who at their respective Sai Centre, could do the spiritual Sadhana laid down by Bhagawan Baba for their own evolution towards the Divine and also organise service activities contributing to the health, wealth and happiness of society. This move on the part of the devotees was highly appreciated and also blessed by Bhagawan Baba, saying: All drops of rain do not reach the sea which is their source as well as their goal. In the same way, the devotees of God are drops of rain from the Ocean of Ananda or Bliss. The Sathya Sai Seva Organisation is the stream which brings together devotees from the various parts of the world ... taking every Sai Sevak back to Divinity which is the source as well as destination of all life.

Herein lies the beginning of Sai Centres in the sixties, which has developed during the last four decades into a well-knit network of Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisation spread over no less than 170 countries of the world.

The Sathya Sai Organisation aims at establishing the essential ‘unity’ of all faiths and to propagate, through example and precept, the principles of Sathya (Truth), Dharma (Righteousness), Shanti (Peace) and Prema (Love). The Sathya Sai Organisation thus seeks to awaken in man the awareness of Divinity inherent in him and, thereby, enable him to help build a new order of love and peace, unity and harmony among mankind.

With the expansion of the Organisation and progress or its service activities, the following Charter was granted to it by Bhagawan Baba on 14th January 1981, to inspire and guide its Office-bearers and members in steering the Organisation towards the right goal.

Charter

It is hereby declared:

A. That this shall be the Charter governing the Sathya Sai Organisations all over the world.

B. That all the office-bearers and members of this Organisation at present and all those who will join this Organisation shall be one in Deed and in Name, by the name of Sri Sathya Sai Organisation and as such, they shall be entitled to carry on the activities in the name of the Organisation.

C. That in order to achieve the objectives as laid down herein above, the members shall follow a Code of Conduct of Sadhana (Spiritual Exercises) so that they become worthy instruments of our Divine Master in the efforts to fulfil the objectives of this Organisation.

D. That no person shall be qualified to associate himself or herself as office-bearer or worker with this Organisation, who wilfully deviates from the Code of Conduct laid down hereinafter:

Code Of Conduct

That in order to remember continuously Bhagawan’s teachings and in order to put the same into practice and to be worthy instruments of our Divine Master, every member must undergo Sadhana - spiritual discipline - which should be merged with day to day life so as to make such Spiritual Exercise, a part of his or her worldly life, and every member shall make his or her Family as a Unit for such Sadhana (Spiritual Exercise). Thus with a view to qualify to be a true member of the Organisation, the following guidelines shall be followed:

1. Every day meditation (Japa).

2. Bhajan with all members of the family once a week.

3. Participation in Bal Vikas Programme by children of the family.

4. Participation in community work and other programmes of the Organisation.

5. Attendance at least once a month at Bhajan or Nagar Sankirtan organised by the Organisation.

6. Regular study of Sai literature.

7. To speak softly with everyone.

8. Not to indulge in talking ill of others, especially in their absence.

9. Narayana Seva - some cereals to be kept separate everyday to feed the needy and to form a habit not to waste food.

It is noteworthy that the Charter expects every Sai devotee associated with the Organisation to fully adhere to the Code of Conduct laid down therein. However, with the increasing number of new devotees and the growing number of activities and responsibilities of the Organisation, more and more instances are noticed where devotees have not understood fully or correctly the guidelines and sadhana laid down for every Sai devotee to qualify himself or herself for membership of the Organisation. There is, therefore, an imperative need for bringing about a wide awakening among all members of the Organisation on the true purpose of the Sai Centres, the right conduct expected of the Sai Sevaks, the right spirit in which the service activities are to be conducted, the personal sadhana to be regularly done by them and so on.

To bring about this awakening, Bhagawan Himself let off from time to time bright sparks of instruction and guidelines explaining to us the Code of Conduct and spiritual sadhana for members of Sri Sathya Sai Organisations, through His discourses, messages, and interviews to devotees on special occasions. A compilation of these instructions and guidelines would be a valuable companion to all Sai Sevaks, alerting them at every step about the basic principles which Bhagawan Baba wants them to bear in mind, follow and practise in their daily life as well as when engaged in Sai Seva activities. It will also ensure that no Sai Sevak, for want of guidance, lack of enthusiasm or due to over-zealousness,