Centre Sri Sathya Sai Baba, Saint-Hubert

In a world so saturated with violence, pain and suffering, it is becoming increasingly harder to see examples love and peace around us. Swami says the five human values are inherent; that these five values, love, peace, truth, right-conduct and non-violence are imprinted on our hearts. With this understanding, it no longer becomes necessary to look elsewhere for these positive examples, but then, what should we do once we’ve understood that the divine qualities are within us.

Swami says that the values within us have to be manifested through self-enquiry. True Sadhana lies in recognising and manifesting the peace, the truth and the sacrifice that are present in our hearts. We must be examples of Sai’s love and examples of truth.

When we look around and see so many people doing bad things, it is easy to question how one person can make a difference in a world so full of negativity. You may even ask; what is the point in manifesting my inner values, and presenting them to a world that won’t listen?

Swami says: A SOCIETY without values will cease to be human. The more human values are cherished; the better will be the growth of society, the nation and the world. The relationship between the individual and society has to be rightly understood. Why should the individual serve others? What claims has society on the individual? When we examine these issues we realise that the individual can find fulfillment only in society. Born in society, growing up in society, living in society, man ends his life in society. In the word Samajam (Society), Sam represents unity, aa means going towards. Samajam (society) means going forward in unity. Society may be viewed as a many-petalled flower. Every individual is like a petal. All the petals together make for the beauty of the flower. Without the petals there will be no flower. Likewise, every individual is a petal making up the flower of society. Each one should manifest the glory of the divine.

So how do we live like sweet flowers and give off the beautiful fragrance of a life immersed in values? Baba says; a society is made up of individuals. No man can be an island to himself. Living amidst fellow human beings, man has to sow the seeds of love, rear the plants of harmony and offer the fruits of peace to society. Thereby his humanness is manifested. Also, we must understand what the human values really are!

Baba Says: Ahimsa does not mean, as is commonly understood, not causing harm to others. It really means that one should not cause harm to anyone in thought, word or deed. This is the most important human quality. Only when this has been developed, will one be qualified to practise and experience Truth. Truth does not mean merely telling the facts as one sees or knows them. Truth is that which does not change with time. It must be spoken with complete purity of mind, speech and body.

Human values cannot be promoted merely by repeating the words Sathya, Dharma, Santhi, Prema and Ahimsa. The Vedas declare- "Sathyam vada Dharmam chara" (Speak the truth; adhere to right conduct). In practising Dharma there should be no desires. Actions performed with such secret motives result in bondage. Truth and right conduct should be adhered to with pure intentions. Both of them are rooted in the eternal. A righteous life leads to peace. Love is to be experienced in the depths of peace. Love should find expression in nonviolence. Where love prevails, there is no room for doing harm or violence to others. All these basic values have to be demonstrated in action and not limited to preaching.

So How do we demonstrate love? How can we be examples of peace? This ideology has filtered through every religion. The golden rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you, is a fine example of manifesting the human values.

In Christianity, the Ten Commandments are literal examples of manifesting inner values; Do not Steal; Do not lie; Honour your mother and your father.

In Buddhism, they have the eightfold path to wisdom which includes; right knowledge, right conduct, and right speech. This goes back to Swami’s harmony in thought, word and deed.

Whatever the faith, the absolute truth is in the values which, as Swami says, are deep-rooted in our hearts already. Baba Says: Human values are in everyone. What we need are persons who will provide the stimulus and the encouragement to bring them out. If the feeling that the divinity that is present in everyone is one and the same is promoted among all, human values will sprout naturally in every person. To have this sense of spiritual oneness is the prelude to experiencing the highest bliss.

Sai Ram