<p>According to Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, "It is wrong to believe that Jesus belongs only to the Christians and that Christmas is a Holy festival for the West only. To accept one of them as one's own and discard the rest as belonging to others, is a sign of pettiness. Christ, Rama, Krishna-they are for all men everywhere."</p>.<p>Though Christmas lights sparkle on all continents and gifts are exchanged , how many hearts are full of joy at this time of the year? How many of us really emulate the actions of Lord Jesus?<br /><br />"Jesus was a master born for a purpose, the mission of restoring love, charity and compassion in the heart of man," says Sai Baba. Our hearts forget though. So Christmas can be a time to remember the purpose of existence, our own mission as children of God.<br /><br />Puttaparthi Sai explains, "Jesus had no attachment to the self; he never paid heed to sorrow or to pain, joy or gain; he had a heart that responded to the call of anguish, the cry of peace and brotherhood. He went about the land preaching the lesson of love, and poured out his life as a libation in the sacrifice to humanity.”<br /><br />And, in the words of the Poorna Avatar, Christmas is a time to remember that we are a world family, "All faiths are inter-related and mutually indebted to each other for the principles they teach, and the disciplines they recommend. The Vedic Religion was the first in time; Buddhism which appeared about 2,500 years ago was its son; Christianity, which was influenced by the Orient, was its grandson. And Islam, which has the Prophets of Christianity as its base was like the great-grandson. All have Love as the fundamental discipline of the mind, in order to chasten it and merge man with the Divine."<br />During the holy season commemorating Christ's birth, it is good to reflect on how the Master, born in such a humble setting as an animal stable, came to be known throughout the world. <br /><br />Sai Baba reminds us of how this came to pass "Jesus wandered purposefully in lonely places for twelve long years, engaging himself in study, spiritual exercises and meditation on God.<br /><br />"Have Jesus as your ideal as he exhorted all to observe the basically valid teachings of the ancient scriptures and derive peace and joy there from."<br /><br /></p>
<p>According to Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, "It is wrong to believe that Jesus belongs only to the Christians and that Christmas is a Holy festival for the West only. To accept one of them as one's own and discard the rest as belonging to others, is a sign of pettiness. Christ, Rama, Krishna-they are for all men everywhere."</p>.<p>Though Christmas lights sparkle on all continents and gifts are exchanged , how many hearts are full of joy at this time of the year? How many of us really emulate the actions of Lord Jesus?<br /><br />"Jesus was a master born for a purpose, the mission of restoring love, charity and compassion in the heart of man," says Sai Baba. Our hearts forget though. So Christmas can be a time to remember the purpose of existence, our own mission as children of God.<br /><br />Puttaparthi Sai explains, "Jesus had no attachment to the self; he never paid heed to sorrow or to pain, joy or gain; he had a heart that responded to the call of anguish, the cry of peace and brotherhood. He went about the land preaching the lesson of love, and poured out his life as a libation in the sacrifice to humanity.”<br /><br />And, in the words of the Poorna Avatar, Christmas is a time to remember that we are a world family, "All faiths are inter-related and mutually indebted to each other for the principles they teach, and the disciplines they recommend. The Vedic Religion was the first in time; Buddhism which appeared about 2,500 years ago was its son; Christianity, which was influenced by the Orient, was its grandson. And Islam, which has the Prophets of Christianity as its base was like the great-grandson. All have Love as the fundamental discipline of the mind, in order to chasten it and merge man with the Divine."<br />During the holy season commemorating Christ's birth, it is good to reflect on how the Master, born in such a humble setting as an animal stable, came to be known throughout the world. <br /><br />Sai Baba reminds us of how this came to pass "Jesus wandered purposefully in lonely places for twelve long years, engaging himself in study, spiritual exercises and meditation on God.<br /><br />"Have Jesus as your ideal as he exhorted all to observe the basically valid teachings of the ancient scriptures and derive peace and joy there from."<br /><br /></p>
