THE FAMILY OF HUMANITY

[Guest guest]

THE FAMILY OF HUMANITY

By Dr. Sara Pavan

 

 

This is a true story of the experience and practice of Baba's

Message – " There is only one caste – the caste of Humanity " through

love and service at the Wayside chapel in Sydney, Australia.

 

" Haven't you gone yet? " asked Swami, as He materialised Vibhuti and

poured it into my hands at Darshan when we visited Prasanthi Nilayam

in December, 1984. Nonplussed, I couldn't respond to Swami's enquiry

and the Lord continued gliding onwards, leaving His footprints on the

golden sand. I couldn't solve the riddle until I read a letter from

Rev. Ted Noffs that was awaiting our return from India. Only then I

realised what Swami had meant when He asked me that question and I

inferred that Swami wanted me to meet up with Rev. Ted Noffs.

 

In that letter Rev. Noffs invited me to participate in the 21st

anniversary celebration of the founding of the Wayside Chapel. Swami

says, " It is good to be born in a church, but it would be sad if you

die in the same church! " He also stresses the need for expansion. In

His 60th Birthday Message Bhagavan asked: " What is this `Sai Family'

you are claiming about? " He declared, " The whole world is One

Family. " He emphasised the importance of the `Integration of the

World Community.'

 

In an interview in December 1982 Swami had blessed me to start

publishing a quarterly Sai Newsletter for Australia. By 1984 we had

several hundreds of rs from all around the country. In

October 1984 I received a letter from Elvie B., a r from a

remote farming countryside in Queensland. I did not pay much

attention to what she had written in her letter because I receive

letters from many devotees about their experiences of Baba. In her

letter Elvie claimed that Swami `stood in front of her' during

meditation and commanded her to write to me, that I should meet Rev.

Ted Noffs, the pastor of the Wayside Chapel in Kings Cross, Sydney,

in whom I would find a true spiritual friend, who cares and serves

humanity beyond human barriers.

 

Until then I hadn't heard of the Wayside Chapel of Kings Cross or

Rev. Ted Noffs. All I knew about the Cross was that it was a

dangerous area in the city and the hub of all kinds of vice and

crime. I had no interest whatsoever to go to Kings Cross and even

felt why I, a Hindu by birth, should be associated with a Church!

Around this time I happened to receive a parcel of books - Embodiment

of Love and Eastern View of Jesus Christ and Christianity - from

Peggy Mason, then the editor and publisher of the Sai Newsletter of

U.K. and wife of Ron Laing, who was the first president of the Sathya

Sai Council of U.K. In my enthusiasm to share Bhagavan's Love with

broadminded people like Rev. Ted Noffs, I posted a copy of these two

books to him before leaving for India to spend Christmas with Swami.

 

Having enshrined Swami in my heart, since 1980 I had spent most of

my spare time doing my best to serve in His Divine Mission. Now, five

years later, Bhagavan opens another window in my life for spiritual

expansion – to understudy Rev. Ted Noffs and experience spirituality

in action! Did Bhagavan have a plan thus, in exposing me to the

concept of the " Family of Humanity " and expand my spiritual horizon

through personal experience? At this point let me outline the

background of Rev. Ted Noffs and the Wayside Chapel.

 

The Story of the Wayside Chapel and Its 'Family of Humanity'

 

Ted Noffs was a Methodist minister, part of the Uniting Church in

Australia, and had served the aboriginals with love and understanding

in the outback of Australia. In 1964 the Uniting Church ventured into

an experiment at Kings Cross and asked Ted Noffs to take charge of

this unique ministry for the forlorn in the crime ridden suburb,

among the `Godless' people indulging in vice and crime. Ted Noffs was

free to set aside some of the `religious' traditions and constraints

to carry out his unique ministry. He renovated a dilapidated old

building in Kings Cross and called it the `Wayside Chapel' and flung

open its doors to all and sundry.

 

 

Seeing the Chapel not even remotely having any semblance of a

Church with its pews empty and located where no one would ever build

a church or a temple, a fledgling journalist then and media

personality now, sceptically remarked, " Mr. Noffs! You may find for

your congregation some of the beatniks who live down the road. "

(Beatniks were young persons in the 1960s who did not accept

society's customs and principles but who valued personal experience

instead, and who had long hair and wore untidy clothes).

 

It is interesting to note that our Swami too had several such

youths from America around Him in the sixties. Ted Noffs set off to

meet these youngsters the next day to see if he might lure them to

the Chapel. He told me that it was like walking into a lion's den,

for these beatniks hated any kind of establishment, especially the

church.

 

Ted discussed philosophy, politics and current events with the

beatniks and found them well informed and highly intelligent. As Ted

was amiable they offered him a cup of coffee, which he gladly

accepted in spite of their unkempt place and a sink full of unwashed

utensils. There was no milk in the fridge and one of them dashed out

to buy some milk and Ted accompanied him to the nearby shop. When the

beatnik asked for a pint of milk Ted pulled out his wallet and asked

for six. The young man turned to Ted and said: " Mr. Noffs! We live by

a bottle of milk a day. "

 

Ted was taken aback by the resolve of this young man, who literally

summed up the words of Jesus Christ, " Take therefore no thought, for

the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient

unto the day are the evils thereof. "

 

Ted reflected upon the happenings of the day and realised how

restricted the church was. They wouldn't even undertake an activity

without having the resources upfront. His faith in God deepened as he

reflected upon the kind of ministry Jesus had with ordinary people

and how Jesus, with faith and conviction, always looked to his

Heavenly Father to provide. Bhagavan Baba also reminds us that God

will always provide the means when we undertake noble tasks. The

Chapel doors were open for all people irrespective of creed or race,

and migrant communities – Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs – who had no

place for worship of their own those days started using the `Wayside

Chapel' for their prayers which Ted Noffs would participate in.

 

Soon he realised the urgent need for religious amity, which inspired

him to have his own creed at the Wayside Chapel:

" I am a child of the stars. My religion, like the clothes I

wear, belongs to the dust of the centuries. My spirit is immortal.

Our children are sons and daughters from an eternal kingdom and are

here to inherit the riches and resources of this planet for a span

until they journey through time and space.

I AM a Catholic,

I AM a Protestant,

I AM a Jew,

I AM a Hindu,

I AM a Moslem,

I AM a Sikh,

I AM a Buddhist, Because I AM a Human and I belong to the Universe,

nothing in the world can be alien to me. "

 

Ted Noffs later added: " The world today is torn apart on the basis

of caste, creed, colour, nationality, as well as the socio-economic

divide, and is in dire straights towards self-destruction, needing

the Einsteins and Galileos of the spirit to show the human race a

scientific basis for a spiritual life. Religions are man-made, here

today and gone tomorrow. Blessed are those who can distinguish

between religion and spirituality and abide by the Universal Spirit

of Love to build a better world for our children and their children. "

 

The " Family of Humanity " became functional and realistic, based not

on religious dogmas but spiritual unity as the bedrock for a caring

and sharing society through Love and Service. An outreach programme

to help the lonely and helpless, Life-education for children and

the `Naming' Ceremonies and Marriages in the name of the " Family of

Humanity " were pioneered by Ted in the seventies. Bhagavan Baba has

always emphasised the importance of " Brotherhood of man and

Fatherhood of God. " The weekly open forum at the Chapel became the

voice of conscience of the people on many a controversial issue in

society.

 

His acceptance of other religions and `Inter-faith' practises at

the Chapel landed Rev. Noffs on heresy charges during his ministry.

Regardless, Ted continued courageously with his work, which not only

became well known throughout Australia, but also attracted attention

from other countries as well. Ted Noffs was awarded the highest award

of the country twice – `The Australian of the Year'. His Life-

education programme spread to several countries. The Readers Digest

of March 1986 had a feature article about the Wayside Chapel

titled, `The Biggest Little Church in the World'.

 

I attended the 21st anniversary of the Wayside Chapel in February

1985. Some leading politicians and some media celebrities were

amongst the vast gathering. Ted Noffs came up to me before the

service commenced and I had to introduce myself. He was so delighted

to see me there and said, " I want you to speak on behalf of Sai Baba

on this special occasion. "

 

What a request? I was terrified and wished I could disappear

underground! I prayed to our Lord saying, " Swami! You have put me in

this situation and you alone can save me now, " tightly clinging to

the wooden pew. Throughout the service my heart pounded away as I

continued praying to Swami. The merciful and omnipresent Lord gave me

some confidence by giving me the imagery of Swami Vivekananda at the

parliament of religions in Chicago, a century earlier.

 

Rev. Noffs invited me to speak thus: " I have great pleasure

inviting Dr. Pavan from the Homebush Sai Baba Centre to speak on

behalf of Sai Baba. " These words were enough to put me into a tail-

spin, but I felt assured of Swami's help. I spoke with confidence, as

if Swami had whispered into my ears to start off thus: " Brothers and

Sisters of the Family of Humanity! I have come with a Message of Love

from my Master, Sri Sathya Sai Baba, who is God Incarnate for those

who have had the experience of His Love. … "

 

That was enough to get started and the words were flowing as I

filled my speech with Swami's gems. Before concluding my speech I

thanked Ted Noffs for giving me this rare opportunity to share the

Love of my beloved Bhagavan with such an august gathering. At the end

of the service many of them came up to me and embraced me and wanted

to know from which book I had found such beautiful words of wisdom. I

replied they were my Master's simple but universal teachings.

 

 

The Multi -Faith Logo specially designed by the Homebush

Sai Centre for the Inaugural Service

 

 

Wayside Chapel altar - Neville Fredericks who is presently the

Australian Central Co-ordinator speaking

 

That was the beginning of our spiritual alliance, a true experience

of Inter-faith. In July, the same year, Ted Noffs and many senior

members of the Wayside Chapel participated in our Sai Baba Centre

meeting at Homebush, Australia. They were very much at home at our

Sai centre and Ted Noffs reminded us of our common objectives and

invited us to join forces in serving the wider community. The

Homebush Sai Centre held the first Sai Baba service at the Wayside

Chapel in August 1986 with all the senior office bearers of the Sai

organisation taking part.

A special Sarvadharma logo was unveiled as a mark of Unity of

Faiths and this logo has become a permanent fixture in the Chapel.

The Homebush Sai Centre has continued with this special Sai Baba

service at the chapel once a year ever since. The Sathya Sai

Organisation in Sydney invited Ted Noffs to deliver the keynote

speech on Swami's 61st Birthday celebration in Nov 1986.

 

Rev. Noffs had never been to Swami and yet, intuitively, was fully

aware of Swami's Divinity. The following are just a few of the

highlights of his speech:

 

 

" We are honouring a great spiritual giant who may be described only

in Messianic terms. Even if nothing else has been achieved in the

world, the fact that Sai Baba has brought a sense of spiritual unity

and awareness among men of their family-hood in itself is a great

achievement. How can I speak about someone who has influenced the

world a great deal already? So often the Messiahs of the past were

recognised long after their death, but this great Master in His own

lifetime is already recognised world over, and that in itself is

something!

We have in Him someone constantly manifesting new and great things

in a world full of destruction, which is a mark of a person who has

come from God. How can we celebrate His birthday? You have to be co-

workers with the Divine Power and reach the level of spirituality to

be Christ-like. Jesus was a man who became the Christ.

 

In our outreach programme we looked after a lonely person. He died at

Concord Hospital and his hospital records showed the next of kin as

the Wayside Chapel - not a brother, sister or any relative. If this

little Chapel is the next of kin to this lonely man, can you imagine

the countless millions around the world, whose next of kin is Sai

Baba?

At the end of this function you go home and feel good about your

wonderful singing (Bhajan), your children's drama and the variety of

delicious food, and if you do nothing to help the needy in your

neighbourhood, I am sure, your Master would be very disappointed with

you. You have to reach out the needy and serve them, be a friend and

helper of the helpless people in your community. "

 

 

When we reflect on the above extracts from Ted's speech made almost

two decades ago, who had not even visited Swami, but aware of the

Avatar and His Mission of UNITY, LOVE and SERVICE, it is a reminder

that we need to put in more effort to get the most from the Avatar in

this lifetime itself. Bhagavan Baba is the Cosmic Father, come in

human form to show humanity the way to peace and prosperity through

the realisation of:

 

ONE CASTE, THE CASTE OF HUMANITY

ONE RELIGION, THE RELIGION OF LOVE

ONE LANGUAGE, THE LANGUAGE OF THE HEART

ONE GOD, HE IS OMNIPRESENT

 

None of the Masters, Messiahs, Prophets and Saints came to earth to

start a new religion. They came to validate the ONE ETERNAL TRUTH,

ONE GOD, ONE LOVE, ONE CREATION, although periods in history, places

on earth, cultures and traditions prevalent in their times may

differ. In recorded history, Bhagawan Baba alone has so emphatically

declared that all religions are different facets of the same Truth

and that the redemption of humanity will be by Love and Love alone.

Bhagavan Baba says, " Ego will not allow two good men to stay together

and work together. " It is obvious that divisions among men are man-

made. It is human weakness and ego that has brought about such

religious multiplicity and conflicts in the entire creation, which

essentially is ONE. The dawn of this wisdom is God-realisation or

Liberation from the bondage of darkness and ignorance.

 

Let us remind ourselves that Jesus was a Jew and not a Christian at

birth. Buddha was a Hindu and not a Buddhist at birth. They did not

start a new religion in their names. The multiplicity and divergence

that has taken place with passage of time, centuries later is man-

made. This is division, fission or break-away, which is a product of

ego. All religions are different instruments playing the ONE melody,

of Love and Unity. When the conductor brings them together, he will

create a beautiful symphony, although the instruments may appear

different.

 

The Messengers, Messiahs, Prophets and Saints are the different

instruments sent by God for man to realise his inherent divinity. Now

God Himself has come as Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, as the

Conductor for the Divine Symphony. Millions of Sai devotees from

different religions already practise Unity of Faiths around the globe

and also are convinced beyond doubt that GOD IS ONLY ONE.

 

The reverse of fission or disintegration is fusion or integration.

The ego of man has caused the fission and created multiplicity -

fragments that are essentially one and the same. Love alone can bring

about the fusion or integration of these fragments. Bhagavan Baba is

Love in action. Love is His sole property and He alone has the power

to bring about this fusion and synthesis through Love.

 

Lokha Samastha Sukhino Bhavantu - May Everybody Everywhere Be

Happy .

 

Dr. Sara Pavan is an Anaesthesiologist from Australia, serving at the

Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences, Prashanthi

Nilayam since 1993 I met him during May 2008.