By: Dr. G. R. Vijayakumar
In governance, the core idea is to ensure the positive alignment of the Pancha tattvas. For this, action has to first spring from within, from the inner core that all of us have, including those of us who are in the business of governance.
Baba’s Mahasamadhi indicates the merging of five elements water, air, sky, earth, and fire into the universe. We have come from those five elements and while leaving the mortal coil, we merge into these elements in the universe by The Law of Governance.
Baba’s Mahasamadhi indicates that his spirit is filled all over the universe and we will be visualizing him between our eyelids. When we see this then we are with Sai Baba.
India’s growth rate is computed based on material resource development. This involves spending these resources. The focus is on production and consumption. However, resource management ought to give sufficient importance to the regeneration and revitalization of these material resources as well as the subtle resource that resides within us.
As individuals, we need to align outer growth with inner growth through inner engineering. We expend our physical, mental, and spiritual energies without making a conscious effort to rejuvenate ourselves through the preservation and enhancement of these energies. Our failure to look at resource rejuvenation and not just resource mobilization and exploitation arises from our weakness for tamasic activity. Conservation, preservation, and rejuvenation are intrinsic to sustainable inner and outer development.
India during Baba’s period was considered Soney ki Chidiya, the golden bird, because people were content. Lifestyles were environment-friendly and there was room for reflection and introspection that enabled people to seek the truth without encroaching on another’s path. There was greater scope for creative pursuits in the fields of art, philosophy, culture, and spirituality. There was greater tolerance and understanding of different perspectives. Baba’s life and his Mahasamadhi indicate that he is close behind our thoughts and true to his word ‘Why fear when I am here.’
What was the secret of a system that allowed for both inner and outer growth as in Baba’s time? How did people find the Golden Mean? Achieving this ought to be easier with our lifestyles that are meant to make life 
easier, our chores simpler, and so leave us with enough time for contemplating on Sai Baba.
However, this does not seem to be happening. Technology and other advancements seem to have made our lives more hectic and stress-ridden. Life has become a race against time. Therefore, inner growth is intrinsic to sustainable development.
Earlier, conditions fostered the flowering and growth of different schools of thought. Diversity was celebrated, even respected. Today, the trend is towards uniformity of thought, word, and deed. There are greater conveniences but less comfort. There are more time-saving devices, but we seem to have less time at our disposal to think about what we are doing.
Let us revive our ancient knowledge systems that are rich in healing techniques besides containing a wealth of wisdom on a variety of subjects. Tradition and culture are as much a part of our heritage as are stone monuments.
Let us visualize life during Sai Baba’s period and the devotees who lived during his time were encouraged to live in harmony with himself, his environment, and his community, by bringing about a balance between his inner and outer realities. It was recognized that growth on the material plane must be balanced with growth on the subtle plane. As individuals and as devotees of this living God, Sai Baba we need to strive towards achieving the right balance inside out which would be apt for Baba’s Mahasamadhi.
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