A question about DUAL LOYALTY related to Sai Baba(s) and my response
Last updated on 5th Sept. 2015
Recently a question was posed in a Facebook comment exchange as follows:
I have a humble question to the concerned devotees. The question is about DUAL LOYALTY.
(1) If devotee believes in Bhagawan Shirdi Sai Baba & Bhagawan Shri Sathya Sai Baba, is this a Dual Loyalty?
(2) If a Devotee believes in Shri Shirdi Sai Baba, Shri Sathya Sai Baba & Light body of Shri Sathya Sai Baba, is this too a DUAL LOYALTY?
(3) If a devotee believes in Shri Shirdi Sai Baba, Shri Sathya Sai Baba, Light body of Shri Sathya Sai Baba & Shri Prema Sai Baba ------ this point will come into picture as & when Shri Prema Sai Baba takes Avatar in future & declares so---, will this too be a DUAL LOYALTY.
Finally what is the basis to define DUAL DUALITY? If there is an answer to these questions, may be some of the present conflicts have an answer.
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I responded as follows (slightly edited):
The following is from divine discourse of Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba on 21st Nov. 1970, http://www.sssbpt.info/ssspeaks/volume10/sss10-33.pdf (document on Book Trust of Prashanti Nilayam ashram website):
"It is also laid down strictly that those who are in our Organisation should not have any connection with other Organisations of spiritual or religious character. Of course, so far as service is concerned, members should help and serve all, without distinction. Every one in distress deserves help. But no member of the Samithi should have any connection with other such institutions or societies.
For example, there may be a Sai Samaaj (Sai society) in your locality. "Sai is Sathya Sai; Sathya Sai is Sai." I have declared often and you know it and have realised its truth. Why then, you may ask, is the Sai Samaaj distinct from the Sathya Sai Samaaj? Well, this body with the name Sathya Sai, has full authority over all institutions established under this Name. For the Sai Samaaj, there is no Body with that Name to hold and exercise authority and so, if funds are collected, used or misused, this Body has no control over the Sai Samaajs in a tangible manner. So, it is best to keep the two distinct and allow those Societies to go their own way. There are a number of other institutions also started and run by Swaamis of various types. If we have any who associates with these, I ask the District and State President to remove them immediately. Though people can revere and worship whomsoever they like, we should not have in the Organisation men with dual loyalties. Only those with faith and devotion to this Name and Form can carry out its objectives with zest and enthusiasm."
--- end extract from Swami's discourse ---
Note that the Sai Samaaj reference in Swami's discourse would be to Shirdi Sai Samaaj, and the Sai reference in the above context to Shirdi Sai, distinct from references to Sathya Sai.
I repeat the second last sentence from the last paragraph of the extract above: "Though people can revere and worship whomsoever they like, we should not have in the Organisation men with dual loyalties."
Note that these are Swami's words and not my words.
Hope this answers your question from a perspective of teachings & instructions of Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba of Puttaparthi. The answer to your question may be different when viewed from a perspective of teachings of some other persons who claim to be speaking the words of Sathya Sai Baba. Thanks. Jai Sairam!
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Update on 5th Sept. 2015
A correspondent who is associated with another spiritual organization (not Sai orgn.) wrote over email (slightly edited to fix typo kind of errors):
Dear Ravi - it is remarkable to note that the spiritual organization I am associated with, has exactly identical instructions for those activists/devotees who have official administrative responsibilities assigned to them. They are not supposed to associate with any other organization - be it a social, religious or spiritual. This is to avoid giving mixed messages and confused perceptions to the observers. However, the regular followers/devotees are free to participate in other organizations' activities.
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