A. The Sathya Sai Seva Samithi will hereafter be the key unit of the Organisation. Units like the Sathya Sai Satsang, the Sathya Sai Bala Vikas, the Sathya Sai Study Circle, the Sathya Sai Bhajana Mandali, are supervised by it. The Samithi is the heart, and the units the limbs. The limbs cannot act independently, as if they are a law unto themselves.

A. We have five principal units in the Organisation, and in every village or town where we have these, there should be exemplary unit and co operation between them . they are like the five fingers of a hand. The little finger is the Bhajan Mandali, the group devoted to singing the Glory of God. But they should not be proud that they are the pioneers and primary workers. The ring finger is the Bala Vikas. On the precious gold plate of juvenile hearts, the guru affixes the gems of goodness and godliness. That is the ring which this finger wears. But that should neither make the Bala Vikas proud, not make the guru feel that the work done by it is the most important and so it has to be honoured most. The sense of unity and co-operation must prevail. The middle finger is the Seva Dal, helping the two units on one side and the two on the other. But it should not hold its head high and claim to be superior to all the rest. The index finger is the Mahila Vibhag, the unit which is composed of women, who point to the good, the great, the useful, the Right, etc. They too, should not be filled with overweening conceit. The thumb, naturally, is the Seva Samithi, the over—all executive, the guide and guardian, the promoter and provider. The thumb has to join the other four fingers so that they may hold, grasp, or manipulate anything. With our the thumb the other fingers are helpless. So each finger must feel that strength lies in working with the rest, and that all are but parts of one have which they cannot ignore.

A. A spiritual organisation is really above all rules and regulations, the realm of the Atma is beyond the limits of regulations. In this sense rules are either meaningless or superfluous in Sathya Sai Organisations. But at least, to satisfy the law of the land dealing with associations of this kind, some rules have to be adopted. For example, who can be members of these organisations, and what are their qualifications? Of course, they must be eager aspirants for spiritual progress. They must have full faith in the name, in the manner suited to its message and majesty. Besides the members must have won recognition as good persons. That is all the qualifications needed, nothing else counts.

A. I do not like collection of funds. But since some expenses have to be incurred, I have to allow it under very stringent conditions. Each organisation has as members about 10 or 15 persons. Whatever expenses they decide to incur for the work of the organistation, they have to collect among themselves, without seeking help form those outside the circle. They have of course to contribute according to their capacity and limit the work to the resources they can pool among themselves. Do not plan beyond your capacity and move about with lists form person to person to get funds. By this the institution gets a bad name and you too will not be spared.

A. The objectives, rules and regulations that the Sathya Sai Seva Organisations has laid down have to be scrupulously observed by all, whatever be the difficulties, whatever be the reactions of others. Bear calumny, criticism and neglect with courage; do not allow these to affect your equanimity.

A. The sole objectives of all the Sathya Sai Organisations is to enable man to discover his innate divinity, regain his self confidence, confidence and faith in God. The power and Strength derived from the faith in self from Faith in god, will be enduring and ever sustaining. The objective of Sai Organisations is to make people again become aware of this truth and to live in that awareness. Truth (God) is one. The same paramatman is called by different names like Rama, Krishna, Christ, Allah, etc. This is the cardinal principle of which Sathya Sai Organisations work. The unity of all faiths is the main plank of Sai organisations. All our eighteen puranas dwell on one single theme, that we have no right to and we are not to find fault with others. Never entertain malice (hatred) towards any one, the same God is inherent in all beings.

A. You must have the firm belief that the aim of this Organisation is to remove the obstacles that keep man away form God, that separate manavathwa from madhavathwa. There can be no human; it is all Divine. This Organisation must elevate the human into the Divine.

A. This kind of group politics has no place among Sai devotees and cannot be tolerated in Sai Bhajan groups. I find this evil trait spreading in most Bhajan Mandalis: members divided into rival groups competing for chances to sing, trying to attract attention and appreciation of the people.

A. There are two attitudes of mind, the community Attitude and the Unity Attitude. In the grip of the community idea, you cling to some as friends and keep away from others. This attitude cannot win the Grace of the one. He who sees Unity wins the Grace of the One. Do not worry about temporary trifles and tribulations. Do not exaggerate the inconveniences they cause. Bear them with courage and a smile. Aim at the highest goal.

A. (1) Of course, they must be eager aspirants for spiritual progress.

(2) They must have full faith in the name that the organisation bears and spreading the name, in the manner suited to its message and majesty.

(3) Besides, the member must have won recognition as a good person. That is the only qualification. No other one. I am interested in the work, in the loving heart, in the selfless service. There are Units that exist only in name! There are others that function in ways quite contrary to our purpose and ideals! Instead of allowing these to continue, it is best they are wound up, immediately. Better to have two or three that function well than hundreds that function badly or not all. Two ounces of cow’s milk are preferable to a potfull of ass’s milk.

A. Every action has a reaction and Sai work is no exception to this law. The consequences of the work done by a Sai worker come to him alone and to no one else. The teaching of the sruthis that all the namaskaras or obeisence you do go to Eshwara alone further points to the truth that whatever seva or service you render to any jeeva ultimately goes to Keshava or Eshwara, Who dwells in the hearts of all. Since Eshwara is desireless, everything that we offer unto him, comes back to us alone in that very form.

A. The essence of all religions is the religion of the Sathya Sai Organisation.

A. It is neither. It is not the sine qua non of Bhakthi, nor is it the result. It springs from the actual experience of the Bhaktha - an experience that convinces him that all beings are God’s children, that all bodies are altars where God is installed, that all places are His Residences.

A. You have to serve people with special love and care. Do not go about strutting with pride that you are with Seva Dal; go humbly among the people with love in your hearts and softness in your speech and sweetness in your hearts and acts. It is a badge which a "servant" alone is entitled to wear, not a "master" lording over others. The badge and scarf do not entitle you to go around indulging in low talk and vulgar habits. It does not allow you to exercise authority over anyone or appropriate anything from any one.

It is a call and a challenge for you to provide comfort and consolation to those in need, to seek out means and methods to increase the ways in which you can help others and contribute to their joy. Remember with each act of love and service, you are nearing the Divine Presence, with each act of hate and greed you are moving further and further away. The ideal of service must inspire those in authority, those who possess riches, those who are endowed with skills and intelligence, leisure and health to serve the community and the community will serve you. Exploit it and it will exterminate you. Put an end to laziness, bury your clamorous ego; bury the greed for power and self, then you get the qualifications needed to be a member of the Seva Dal, and maintain the high ideals of the Seva Dal Organisation.

A. What a single individual cannot accomplish, a well-knit group or society can achieve. A man walking alone will feel tired and miserable at the end of five miles, but, walking with ten others as a group he would find the five miles a happy jaunt. He arrives refreshed and strong. We find social living contribution to increased happiness and more efficient effort even among birds and beast.

A. God will not ask you, what Seva did you do? He will ask, with what motive did you do it? What was the intention that prompted it? You may weigh the Seva and boast of its quantity. But, God seeks quality, the quality of the heart, the purity of the mind, the holiness of the motive.

A. Discipline entails the strict observance of rules and regulations and directions. The sense of duty can yield results only when discipline is observed, and devotion to Sai and the Message of Sai is the basis for the sense of duty which keeps you ever bound to discipline. Do not be part-time devotees, leading one kind of life when you wear the scarf and badge and another kind of life when you have removed them. Be ever Sadhakas and sevakas. Do not forget, do not modify. In the path of service that you have chosen there should be no bumps of doubts or jumps of deviation. Move on steadily and bravely, with your eyes fixed on the Goal, and the Grace of the Lord. Be intent on the development of the man-mind, not the monkey-mind. Do not hop about from decision to indecision, from acceptance to denial.

Devotion has to be guided and controlled by discipline and duty. Rules are necessary until the members realise the spiritual Unity of all. When they become incapable of inflicting harm or transgressing the moral code, rules become superfluous.

                                                                                                            FromSpiritual Directives/ Advice on Operation of Sai Centres. Published by Sri Sathya
Sai Central Council of Malaysia