Video Transcript of
Welcome address by Dr. Narendranath Reddy
11th World Conference of the Sri Sathya Sai International Organization On the Occasion of the 100th Anniversary of Sri Sathya Sai’s Descent to
Earth, November 20, 2025, Sai Prema Nilayam, Riverside, California
Dr. Narendranath Reddy is an internal medicine specialist and endocrinologist practicing in
Southern California for over 25 years. He is a Fellow of the American College
of Physicians and the American College of Endocrinologists. He is the Chairman
of the Prasanthi Nilayam Council and President of the Sri Sathya Sai World
Organization.
A Century of Divine Grace: The Advent of the Avatar
With love, reverence, and gratitude, I offer my prayerful pranams
at the Divine Lotus Feet of our dearest, loving, and omnipresent Lord, Bhagavan
Sri Sathya Sai Baba. Dear brothers and sisters, loving Sairam to all of you.
We welcome you all to this joyous and sacred celebration marking the
100th year of the advent of Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba — the Kali Yuga Purna
Avatar, the very embodiment of Love, and the Incarnation of Love walking on two
legs. Regarding this celebration, Swami once gave a message for the Rome
Symposium that resonates deeply today: this is a family gathering. It is a
gathering of the lovers of God who hold a sincere desire to serve Him. Let us
all carry this happy and joyous feeling within us. This is a time of "holy
fun," where we shall enjoy good food, sacred Satsang, uplifting
music, and the heartfelt sharing of Swami’s stories.
The Eternal Presence Beyond Form
Let us all carry this wonderful vibration. While we celebrate His advent,
we must remember that Swami has no birth and no death; He has no beginning and
no end, for He is eternal and infinite. He was with us, He is with us, and He
will be with us forever. That is the essence of the logo we have developed.
Our designers have truly captured that beauty. All of you who received
the delegate badges and scarves will notice the logo, which represents God both
with form and beyond form. Swami is not only all names and forms, but He is
beyond all names and forms. He is One in all, All in one, All in all, and
beyond all. In this logo, the first aspect is Swami as Sakara—the One
with the beautiful form and Divine Name—while the infinity symbol shows that He
is beyond everything, surpassing the comprehension of the mind and speech.
The Rarity of the Human Birth and Divine Selection
Here, we must remember that we are the most blessed and fortunate beings
on this earth. There are 8.4 million species of beings in the
universe—including insects, birds, animals, and terrestrial beings—but the
pinnacle of all creation is the human birth.
There are billions of people walking on this planet, yet we are the few
whom God has specifically called. We are most fortunate to have known this
Purna Avatar in our lifetime. We must make the best of this opportunity.
Someone once said, "Swami, we must have done some good karma in our last
life," to which Swami replied that it is the accumulated merit of many
lifetimes and many ancestors. As the Bible says, "Many are called, but few
are chosen." We have been chosen to be the instruments of His Divine Love.
Swami said each one of us here is not here by accident; it is only by His Grace
that He invited and called us. We should be profoundly grateful for this
blessed opportunity, for He has been preparing us over many lifetimes to serve
Him.
Unity in Diversity: The Power of Love
Next, we witnessed the beautiful flag procession—I hope everyone enjoyed
it. What a magnificent sight! It showed the nations of the world coming
together. As Swami says: Nations are many, but Earth is one; Stars are many,
but Sky is one; Beings are many, but Breath is one; Jewels are many, but Gold
is one.
We saw that unity in diversity perfectly exemplified. As the flags moved
to that beautiful music, it touched us all deeply. Most significantly, we saw
representatives of Iran and Israel walking together, and Russia and Ukraine
coming together. At the Feet of the Lord, there is only love and unity. That is
the beauty of Swami’s power of Love, which He says is more powerful than any mantra,
yantra, or tantra.
The Strength of Devotion and the Legacy of Ladies Day
We began these beautiful celebrations yesterday with Ladies Day, which
served as a beacon of love and light. We were moved by their soul-stirring
music and their sharing, which exemplified their practice of His teachings. We
must all rise to the occasion to match that spiritual power. It was a wonderful
30th anniversary of the Ladies Day celebration.
Our theme is “Purity is Enlightenment.” In this connection,
I want to share a story regarding Jenny Manson, the Central Coordinator from
Australia. Her journey teaches us two lessons: the intensity of longing and the
power of prayer. When she heard about this celebration a year ago, she booked
her ticket immediately, driven by an intense longing for God. However, Swami
also tests us. Ten days ago, her husband was admitted to the hospital with a
heart attack. Despite this, her longing to be here remained. Yesterday, Mataji
Vrajaprana, though she did not know Jenny, offered a prayer from a pure heart.
Within a couple of days, Jenny's husband was well and discharged, and Jenny is
here with us today.
The Path of Purity and Global Unity
This illustrates that when you have an intense hunger for God—as if you
are struggling for your last breath—that is true devotion. God always responds
to such longing and to prayers offered from a pure, selfless heart. Today marks
the first day of the 11th World Conference, centered on the theme “Purity
is Enlightenment.”
Swami conducted a similar international conference in Rome on October 31,
1983. He sent a beautiful message for that symposium, which we have published
in this birthday issue of The Eternal Companion. In that message, Swami
emphasized that there is only one goal for human life: God-realization. While
people often say there are many paths to the goal—just as there are many
freeways to the Los Angeles airport—Swami stated emphatically that there is only
one true path: the Path of Purity.
Whatever spiritual practices we perform, they must lead to purity. As
Swami says, “Purity is Enlightenment.” The moment we are pure, we
are enlightened; no further practices are needed. Lord Jesus said,
"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." Swami
Vivekananda also noted that if humanity held onto this one statement, it would
be redeemed. Purity of mind and heart is the most powerful force we can
develop. We have discussed this at length in our study circles—the distinction
between external purity and the essential internal purity.
The Importance of
External Purity and Self-Care
External
purity is something we are all familiar with at the individual level. While it
may seem simple, it is foundational. We must maintain our physical cleanliness
through daily habits. I recall a time when Swami came out of the interview room
after meeting with about forty people and said, “Narendra, I can't breathe.” He
noted that because many had neglected their daily baths, the air was heavy with
the scent of perspiration. Swami urged us to, at the very least, take a daily
shower and brush our teeth. In fact, if you verify His discourses, He once
spoke for fifteen minutes specifically on the importance of brushing one's
teeth in the evening before bed and again upon waking.
He
taught us that taking care of the body is a sacred duty. Furthermore, Swami
addressed how we present ourselves; being spiritual does not mean one should be
sloppy. We should be well-dressed and well-mannered.
Sanctified
Nourishment for the Senses
The
food we consume is of vital importance because the essence of what we eat
shapes our thoughts and our minds, just as the essence of what we drink becomes
our life force, or Prana. Here, we are blessed to have sanctified food,
or Prasad. However, purity extends beyond the mouth; we must also
provide “good food” to our eyes and ears.
At this
gathering, we are serving that divine nourishment to all of you. We have the
beautiful Darshan of Swami through the altar and the videos, providing “food”
for the eyes. We have “food” for the ears as we listen to Divine Discourses and
the “Divine Romance” shared through the stories of various devotees. This is
how one feeds all the senses with purity.
Purity in the Family
and Environment
Purity
must also exist at the family level. This manifests as harmony, mutual respect,
and deep understanding within the home. Beyond the family, environmental purity
is our collective responsibility. We must ensure clean water, air, and
surroundings.
The Sri
Sathya Sai International Organization (SSSIO) has taken several initiatives in
this regard, led by some of the leaders present here today. These are simple
yet profound actions: reducing plastic use, practicing recycling, decreasing
our reliance on fossil fuels in favor of solar and wind energy, and engaging in
massive tree-planting programs. These acts are expressions of our gratitude to
Mother Nature. Swami taught us that Nature is not just a gift from God; it is a
manifestation of God Himself. There is no difference between God and
Nature—everything is One.
The Quest for Inner
Purity: The Mirror of the Mind
While
external cleanliness is achievable through physical effort, the most vital
pursuit for a spiritual seeker is inner purity—the purity of the mind and
heart. As our theme states: "Purity is Enlightenment." The moment we
are completely pure, we are enlightened, and no further spiritual practices are
required.
Why do
we often lack this purity? We sang that beautiful bhajan: “Remind me, my
Lord, remind me who I am.” Swami repeatedly tells us that we are Divine; we
are the embodiment of the Atma, the embodiment of Bliss, we are the Brahman. We
fail to experience this constantly because of the impurities covering our true
nature. Consider the example of a mirror covered in dirt; we cannot see our
reflection. Similarly, our minds are covered by Mala (impurities). These
consist of the six internal enemies: Kama (desire), Krodha
(anger), Lobha (greed), Moha (attachment), Mada (pride),
and Matsarya (jealousy). Along with these, the ego—the “I am great”
attitude—and selfish desires act as the dust that prevents us from experiencing
our own divinity.
The Divine Formula:
Love and Selflessness
How do
we rid ourselves of these impurities? Swami provided the solution in His own
version of “The Lord’s Prayer,” written in His own handwriting. It is a guide
to integral yoga and answers how to develop purity: "Lord, take my love
and let it flow in fullness of devotion to Thee." This means being
immersed in one-pointed love for God—loving for love’s sake.
Swami
emphasized this because God is Love and Love is God. To “Live in Love” is not
complicated. Swami defined Love as selflessness, whereas the “self” is
lovelessness. He gave us a simple formula: “Love is giving and forgiving”,
while the selfish “self” is “getting and forgetting”. In our last
world conference, our theme was "Love is the Source, Love is the Path,
Love is the Goal." For this conference, our theme song reminds us: “In
unity we rise, in purity we shine, in divinity we trust.” By the time you
leave, I hope this song is etched in your hearts.
Purification Through
Karma Yoga
The
second way to cleanse the heart is through Karma Yoga. The prayer
continues: “Lord, take my hands and let them work incessantly for Thee.”
We should always pray for the opportunity to do more of the Lord's work. Swami
teaches that the more we engage in selfless service, the more our hearts are
purified.
Selfless
service is one of the best and easiest ways to achieve this. I am very happy to
see all of you involved in service here—whether in the food area, the
procession, parking, or any other aspect. This is truly the most effective way
to cleanse the heart and prepare it for the Divine.
The True Nature of
Service: Beyond Physical Giving
We
often think of service simply as providing food for the hungry, water for the
thirsty, or clothing, shelter, health care, and education for the needy. While
these are noble and necessary acts, we must not overlook the profound power of
loving thoughts and prayer.
As we
saw with the example of Mataji Vrajaprana, her prayer for Jenny’s husband was a
deep act of service. Swami tells us that when we chant “Samasta Loka Sukhino
Bhavantu” (May all the worlds be happy), we are performing a supreme
service. You are not praying for one person, but for all beings—animals,
plants, humans, and even the galaxies and the entire universe. Service should
not be confined; it encompasses every loving gesture, even a simple pat on the
back.
The Attitude of
Gratitude
When we
perform service, Swami warns us to watch for two obstacles: Ahankara
(ego) and Mamakara (attachment). Instead, we must maintain an
"attitude of gratitude." We should be grateful to the person or being
we are serving.
Swami
Himself set the example. In 1960, during a visit to Horsley Hills, a buffalo
was used to haul water up the hill for Swami and His devotees. Before leaving,
Swami sneaked back to the animal, patted it, called it “Bangaru” (Golden
One), and materialized Vibhuti for its forehead. He was showing us how
to be grateful to everything that serves. This gratitude should extend to the
very objects we use—the microphone, the table, the phone—because, as Swami
says, everything is a manifestation of the Divine.
Service as
Self-Transformation
In the
Sai organization, we use terms like Narayana Seva (serving God in man)
and Sevadal (one who serves). These terms remind us that we are not
serving "someone else"—we are serving the God within them and,
ultimately, ourselves. Service is for our own transformation; it is the tool
that cleanses our negative qualities.
However,
the ego is subtle. We may think we are free of it, but if we feel sad when our
work is ignored or elated when we are praised, we are still trapped in the idea
of being the “doer.” I remember a devotee who directed a play for Swami. When
Swami praised the drama and asked who the director was, the devotee
humble-bragged, “Swami, You are the director and producer.” Swami wittily
replied, “Then what are you?” When the man said, "I am your
assistant," Swami countered, "I don’t need an assistant!" Even thinking
we are "His assistant" can be a form of ego. We must realize that He
is the only Doer.
Surrender of the
Soul: The Path of Jnana and Raja Yoga
The
prayer concludes with the total surrender of our being: "Take my soul
and let it be merged in one with Thee." This is the essence of Jnana
Yoga—the path of wisdom. Swami’s teachings are the essence of all
scriptures, which can be distilled into the five human values, and the heart of
those values is Love. To realize that the same Atma (soul) exists in an
insect as it does in the Creator is the path to true purity.
Then we
pray, “Take my mind and thoughts and let them be in tune with You.” This
is Raja Yoga. We all know the “monkey mind”—always jumping, restless,
and easily distracted. Swami describes it as a monkey that has drunk alcohol,
been stung by a scorpion, and is possessed by a ghost! To tame this mind, we
must fill it with Godward thoughts. I highly recommend Swami's 1976 discourses,
compiled in the book Mind and Its Mystery. It explains how the mind can
be either a bridge to liberation or a bond to the world.
Becoming a Divine
Instrument
Finally,
we pray, “Take my everything and let me be an instrument.” This is the
ultimate integration. In this state, the "I" disappears; we become
zero, and He becomes everything.
Through this
"Lord's Prayer" given by Swami, we find the integration of all paths:
Bhakti Yoga: The path of
Love and devotion.
Karma Yoga: The path of
selfless service.
Jnana Yoga: The path of
wisdom and merging.
Raja Yoga: The path of
mind control.
By
following this integrated path, we achieve the purity that is enlightenment. We
move from being individuals to being pure instruments of His Divine Grace.
Diving Deep into the Divine Teachings
As we have established, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall
see God.” During this momentous 100th anniversary celebration, we will engage
in workshops, panel discussions, and exhibitions. I urge you to use these
opportunities to dive deep into Swami’s teachings.
When you remain on the surface of the ocean, you only see the waves; but
when you dive deep, you discover pearls, diamonds, rubies, and precious gems.
Swami’s teachings are the same. A discourse I read forty years ago carries a
different, more profound meaning today because as we evolve and purify
ourselves, the same words reveal deeper layers of truth. Let us be intense in
our spiritual pursuit (Sadhana).
The Unique Mission of the Avatar
We are exceptionally blessed to have the Sri Sathya Sai International
Organization as our platform—an organization founded, nurtured, and guided by
Swami Himself. Historically, during the lifetimes of Avatars like Rama,
Krishna, Buddha, or Jesus, there was no formal global mission established by
their own hands.
In this advent, the Avatar started the mission, provided the guidelines,
and offered His blessings. Most of us were even guided by Him one-on-one. In
ancient times, seekers had to perform thousands of years of rigorous penance (Tapas)
just for a fleeting vision of the Lord. Today, we have had easy access to His
presence. It is our duty to honor that gift.
Revelations from the First World Conference
As we participate in this 11th World Conference, I want to reflect on the
very first World Conference held on May 17, 1968[1].
That was a significant year—the year Swami visited East Africa and established
the first women's college. In His address during that first conference, Swami
revealed three profound truths that we must carry in our hearts:
1.
The Universal Manifestation: Swami declared that
this human form is one in which all divine entities—every name and form of God
attributed by man—are manifest. Whether you worship Jesus, Buddha, Rama, or
Krishna, you are worshiping Him, for there is only one God.
2.
The Mystery of the Divine: Swami told us,
"Never try to understand Me." He stated that even if all humanity
combined for thousands of years of penance, no one could truly comprehend Him.
Instead of trying to analyze the Divine, we are called to simply enjoy and
experience His Love. That is what truly benefits us.
3.
The Path to the Goal: To reach the Summum Bonum (the
highest good) of life and realize your Divine Atma, there is only one way: to
implicitly, immediately, and completely follow His teachings.
Conclusion: Reaching the Goal
Let us pray to Swami for His love, grace, and guidance during this sacred
time. May we have the strength to follow His path implicitly and reach the
ultimate goal of life.
Jai Sai Ram.
source: 11th World
Conference, Day 1 - Morning Program | SSSIO
Note on this
Transcript
This text was prepared and refined
from a video recorded address by Dr. Narendranath Reddy given on
November 20, 2025. To ensure the preservation of the Divine message while
maintaining professional clarity, the original transcript was organized and
edited for flow and grammar with the assistance of AI technology (Gemini),
acting as a humble instrument in the service of the Lord.
[1]Divine Revelations:
Key Messages from the First World Conference - May
17, 1968
1.
The Embodiment of All Names and Forms
Swami
revealed that His human form is the manifestation of all Divine entities. Every
name and form of God that humanity has ever worshipped—be it Rama, Krishna,
Buddha, or Jesus—is present within Him. We must remember that in worshipping
the Avatar, we are worshipping the one Universal God who transcends all names
and denominations.
2.
Experience Over Explanation
The
Divine is beyond the reach of human intellect. Swami explicitly stated that
even if the whole of humanity spent thousands of years in penance, they could
not fully comprehend His nature. Our task is not to analyze or
"understand" the Avatar, but to simply enjoy and experience His
Love. It is through this experience, rather than intellectual debate, that
we receive the greatest spiritual benefit.
3.
The Mandate for Self-Realization
To
reach the ultimate purpose of human life—Self-realization—there is a clear and
direct path. Swami emphasized that we must follow His teachings with three
specific qualities:
·
Implicitly: With full faith and without doubt.
·
Immediately: Without procrastination or delay.
·
Completely: Applying His message to every aspect of our
lives.
