“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 to speak on behalf of any particular dharma (righteousness), like the Hindu Dharma. 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 no plan to attract disciples or devotees into My fold or any fold. I have come to tell you of this Universal unitary faith, this Athmic principle, this path of love, this dharma of prema, this duty of love, this obligation to love.”
Swami’s Divine Message During His Visit to Nairobi(Kenya, East Africa) in 1968 (Click on the link above to download the entire discourse)
Sri Sathya Sai Baba in East Africa in 1968
Many devotees outside India invited Swami during His physical presence to visit their respective countries; often pleading with Him repeatedly at every given opportunity. Despite their numerous requests, Swami never accepted those invitations. “I have no need to see places. I am everywhere, always!” was His stock answer to all such requests. When Swami suddenly announced that he is going to visit East Africa in 1968, Mother Easwaramma was the most concerned of all as she was extremely fearful of Swami leaving Puttaparthi even for a short trip, let alone travelling to an unknown continent full of wild animals, savages and cannibals as it was rumoured in those days. She sought out a senior devotee and conveyed her worst fears to him. This devotee said, “Mother, it is true that there are many dangers in Africa. But how can they affect Swami? He is God, is he not?” Hearing this Mother Easwaramma became furious and shouted back, “You fool! I know Swami is God and you know he is God. But do those savages and wild animals in Africa know he is God?”
On the 7th July 1968, Baba addressed the first public meeting at Kampala. He told the multi-racial, multi-credal gathering, “Just as the same bloodstream circulates in all the limbs of the one body, the One Divine Principle activates the entire Universe. Do not get too involved in the turmoil of living and ignore the kinship in God that you have with all beings around you. Do not over-emphasise individual variations, but fix your attention on the universal kinship. Ignore the beads, contemplate upon the unifying eternal ever-present thread.” This was a heartening message, and it was received with enthusiastic approval by Muslims, Christians, Baha’is, Hindus and Parsis alike.
“God is the source of all love. Love God, Love the world as the vesture of God, no more no less. Through Love, you can merge in the ocean of Love. Love cures pettiness, hate and grief. Love loosens bonds; it saves man from the torment of birth and death. Love binds all hearts in the soft silken symphony. Seen through the eyes of Love, all beings are beautiful. If you pay attention to the individual, differences thrust themselves on you. Fix your attention on the Samashti (the collective), All differences vanish. Some among you relish one sweet dish more than another, others may not agree that your favorite dish is the tastiest. But whatever the dish, they are all sweetened by the same substance, Sugar; similarly, all things and all beings are sweetened by the same principle, God. – Divine Discourse at Kampala, East Africa
Seen through the eyes of Love…
During the group meetings, a variety of questions were asked. “If there is a God, why cannot we see Him?” Baba replied, “Why should you seek to see God? You are God. There is nothing that is not He. Experience Him that way.” “How can we be happy always?” Baba said, “Derive joy from within. You are the Atma, the eternal spring of Ananda. Love all; no one will then hate you or envy you.” He said to the doctors: “Jealousy is the professional disease of doctors and lawyers! Be glad when another doctor earns a good reputation or remuneration; honour the affirmations you made at the Convocation where you took your degree.”
As is the Feeling, so is the Result
“When I went there, the devotees of East Africa arranged small aeroplanes. I went round the forest in one such plane. There were thousands of wild elephants in the Kampala forest. It looked as though the entire forest was full of elephants. I had taken bananas with Me and gave one each to some of them. All of them enjoyed eating it. Bisons were also seen in thousands. We saw lions lying on the road here and there. Even when we drove our jeep over their tails, they did not react. Even fierce animals will not harm us if our mind is good. They will attack us only when we try to harm them. When we look at them with love, they also will look at us with love.
Yad Bhavam Tad Bhavati (as is the feeling, so is the result). Our thoughts are the cause of their enmity or trust. As we went forward looking at the animals, we saw fifteen lions lying near the road. Some were suckling their young ones, some others were eating the meat of an animal brought by them. I said to Dr. Patel and others who accompanied Me, “When we do not harm them, they also do not harm us.” Taking a camera from one of those who accompanied Me, I went near the lions and took their photographs. All of them were happy to see Me. You can see, none of the lions did any harm to us. When you approach them with the evil intention of harming or killing them, they will also try to kill you. We should never go to them with such wicked thoughts. In fact, we should not look at any being with evil intentions.” – Excerpt from Swami’s 2007 Easwaramma Day Discourse
Read more about Swami Visit to East Africa in 1968 by clicking here
Love my Uncertainty
During his physical presence, Bhagavan has been invited umpteen number of times by overseas devotees to visit and bless their countries. Usually, Swami would just smile in reply and leave it at that. At other times, he would say, “I will come.” When devotees pressed and asked, “When Swami? We want to charter planes and start making preparations,” Baba would say enigmatically, “Wait!”
When people grumbled, “Swami, you have told so and so you will visit his country. When exactly would you do so?” He smiled and said, “Do I have to go only by plane?”
Let’s all develop the purity of heart to experience His divine presence within us and around us all the time. Let’s continue to watch the divine drama unfold by our beloved Swami and not get rattled by questions like what, when, where, why etc. May Swami bless us all.
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Sai Uvacha 
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