My Teachers

Over the years, I’ve had many teachers - some really good and some not so good. For example, my third grade teacher was so angry about my penmanship and lack of neatness that she turned my desk upside down in front of the class. However, in college a professor once gave me the desk on which he wrote about romantic poetry.

The finest teacher I’ve ever known; however, has been Satya Sai Baba, a saint from Southern India. Since I was introduced to him through a book over forty years ago, I’ve tried to learn and follow his teachings. Baba teaches that all religions have their own validity and he encourages his readers to become a better Christian, Buddhist, Hindu or Muslim by following his teachings. Baba also teaches about the divinity of Jesus Christ and even of His resurrection. A number of year ago, I devoted an entire book to Satya Sai Baba called Mental Illness and Transformation that includes my journey with him. I’ve given below a number of his teachings to briefly describe a few of them.

1. Do no harm; that itself is meritorious service.

2. Failure to show gratitude and hurting the feelings of others are sins.

3. Bring me the depth of your mind, no matter how grotesque, no matter how ravaged by doubt and disappointment. I will not reject you. I am you mother.

4. The mind is like a cloth. The threads of which are desire. If you give up desire, the cloth falls away, revealing our true nature.

5. Soft sweet speech is the expression of genuine love. Hate screeches, fear squeals, conceit trumpets, but love sings lullabies, it sooths, it applies balm.

6. What Swami seeks in a devotee is transformation.

7. Once you try with all your might, the Lord’s grace will be there to help you forward.

8. Help ever, hurt never.

9. Assume silence when anger comes into your consciousness, or remember the name of God. Do not remind yourself of things that influence the mind and feelings even more.

10. Remember from this day, do not find fault with others. Do not scandalize anyone and be malicious. Be always sweet in temperament and in your talk. Fill your conversation with devotion and humility.

I’d like to finish this newsletter with a poem from my book called “I Know God Had No Need For Me”.

I will put my faith in God and trust no selfish purpose.

I will seek His grace and love, so I may grow in service.

If my thoughts of pride and greed begin to turn to anger,

I pray that God will rescue me and lead me out of danger.

I will see to follow God and go where I am taken.

I will hear the Spirit song and trust in her direction.

If the snares of doubt and reason threaten to control my mind,

I pray God will intervene and help to improve myself.

I will seek to find my God in every situation.

I will learn to guide my heart beyond all thoughts and feelings.

I know God has no need for me to help him move creation.

But in my heart I yearn to seek and learn like all His children.

Thanks for your support. See you next week.

(Please remember these are my own ideas, and I’m not attempting to persuade anyone to change theirs.)

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