Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan attended the centenary celebrations of Sri Sathya Sai Baba on Wednesday. She gave a strong speech at the celebration speaking about religion and language. She called upon people to rededicate themselves to Baba`s divine message of `love all, serve all`.
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan on caste and religion
“As we celebrate 100 years of Sri Sathya Sai Baba`s blessed advent, may we all rededicate ourselves to his divine message – love all serve all. There is only one caste – the caste of humanity. There is only one religion – the religion of love. There is only one language – the language of the heart, and there is only one God, and he is omnipresent,” she said while addressing the centenary celebrations of Sathya Sai Baba here.
Aishwarya, a former student of the Sathya Sai Baba Bal Vikas programme in Mumbai, said that though a century has passed since Baba`s divine birth, his presence, his principles, his teachings, guidance, and his compassion continue to reverberate in the hearts of millions worldwide
“As I stand here today, with all humility and honesty, I can say that I always kept his divine message close to my heart and put it into practice in life. Once a Bal Vikas student, always a Bal Vikas student,” she said amid loud applause by hundreds of devotees and students of Sathay Sai Baba educational institutions.
Aishwarya on five Ds spoken by Sai Baba
Aishwarya said Sai Baba often spoke about the five Ds, five essential qualities needed for a meaningful, purposeful and spiritually anchored life. “Discipline, a mark of true human being, dedication, whatever you do, do it as an offering to God, devotion, true devotion is flow of love towards God, determination, once you have chosen a right path never turn back and discrimination, as in the ability to choose between right and wrong, truth and untruth which is very heart of spiritual life,” she said.
Aishwarya recalled Sai Baba`s words that education should not be for living, but it is and should be life.
“Sathya Sai Baba educational system is a shining example of this truth, from Bal Vikas programme to value-based schools and colleges and even a multi-disciplinary university serving thousands of students free of cost every year without discrimination and rooted in values.” She said Baba gifted India and the world an unparalleled healthcare model.
Shri Sathya Sai Baba was known for teachings on service, compassion, unity, and establishing global educational and humanitarian institutions.
PM Modi, the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, N. Chandrababu Naidu, and legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar also attended the centenary celebrations of the guru in Andhra Pradesh on Wednesday.
(with inputs from IANS)