Satya Sai Baba 3
My First Meeting With Baba
In 1988 I was invited to sit in a closed circle which took place at the medium’s home. In my first visit at this home circle I was taken aback by a large oil painting that greeted me as I entered. The painting was of a man in an orange gown with a large afro hair style. At first glance I thought this to be a painting of an islander only because at the time I never heard of Sai Baba and he surely didn’t look Indian. As soon as I entered I noticed immediately how drawn I was to this painting, and how his eye’s seemed to follow me no matter where I roamed.
The eye’s in the painting seemed to take on a life of their own, because at times I would even see the eye’s blink and also see him smile which caused quite a stir in me, and with excitement I would abruptly blurt out this fact which made me very embarrassed because I would startle all present. Finally the medium who had a big smile in seeing my reactions began telling me who this was in the painting. I guess I could now write a large book on all that has taken place since my very first meeting with Sai Baba, and this first meeting was only through a painting. There is no way I could ever describe in full detail of the magnitude and effect that capture me on that first night, it was absolutely incredible and amazing. After that first meeting many more followed and still they do to this day.
Yes I am definitely a devotee of Sai Baba, he has not only made me a better person but has opened many doors where I am able to serve others with love and compassion and in so doing, feel and experience Baba in all that I do. It still leaves me breathless to know that God Himself walked with us in physical form on earth today, how greatly fortunate and blessed we are to not only know Him but to experience Him. My brother and I have been to India five times where we both have been granted interviews along with wonderful experiences. And yes I have even witnessed miracles by Baba in close proximity.
I, and many millions the world over know exactly who Sai Baba is, not by what we were told or what we read but by actual experiences given by Him. Baba says if you want to know the truth of who I am then investigate me. Come closer, because as you come closer to investigate, I then come closer to you by providing you the proof of what you need.
Every time I think of Him, contemplate on Him and meditate on Him, I constantly wipe the tears of joy and love that roll down my face, this is what Swami is to me – Love, Pure Love. Some might sneer at what I write but be assured, one day you too will see and experience things of a much higher nature whether it be in this life, or some other.
Author: Rev. Wayne E Farquhar, www.illawarraceremonies.com
Sathya Sai Baba – A Message for Mankind
In 1940, Sathya Sai Baba was barely fourteen years old. Yet, such was the faith of the masses in His Divinity that people flocked, young and old, rich and poor. Included in this crowd of devotees were Maharajahs and members of the landed gentry. Besides, the Press also began take notice. Elder brother Seshama Raju, not yet fully aware of Baba’s Divinity, began to worry about the impact of the attention that his younger brother was receiving. Would this adoration go to the head of young Sathya? Would He fall a victim to various temptations?
Seshama Raju conveyed his anxiety to Baba, who sent a reply on 25th May, 1947. Though the letter was intended for Seshama Raju, it was in fact addressed to ‘all who are devoted to Me’.
That letter is a powerful declaration of the purpose of the Sai Avatar. In that letter, Baba wrote:
My dear One!
I received all the communication that you sent. I found in it the surging floods of your devotion and affection, with the undercurrents of doubts and anxiety. Let Me tell you that it is impossible to plumb the hearts and discover the nature of Jnanis [Wise men], Yogis, ascetics, saints, sages, and the like. People are endowed with a variety of characteristics and mental attitudes; so, each one judges according his own angle, talks and argues in the light of his own nature. But we have to stick to our own path, our own wisdom, and our own resolution, without getting affected by popular appraisal. As the proverb says, it is only the fruit-laden tree that receives the shower of stone from the passersby. The good always provoke the bad into calumny; the bad always provoke the good into doing more good; this is the nature of the world. One must be surprised if such things do not happen.
People too have to be pitied rather than condemned. They do not know. They have no patience to judge right. They are too full of lust, anger, and conceit to see clearly and know fully. So, they write all sorts of things. If only they know, they would refrain from writing or talking like that. We too should not attach any value to such comments and take them to heart, as you seem to do. Truth will certainly triumph some day. Untruth can never win. Untruth might appear to over-power Truth, but its victory would fade away and Truth would establish itself.
It is not the way of the great to swell when people offer worship and shrink when people cool off. As a matter of fact, no sacred text lays down rules to regulate the lives of the great, prescribing habits and attitudes they must adopt. They themselves know the path they must take. Their wisdom regulates and makes their acts holy. Self-reliance and beneficial activity – these two are their special marks. They may also be engaged in the promotion of the welfare of devotees and in giving them the fruits of their actions. Why should you be affected by doubt and worry, so long as I am adhering to these two? After all, praise and blame do not touch the Atma; they can touch only the outer frame.
I have a Task: To foster all mankind, and ensure for all people lives full of Ananda.
I have a Vow: To lead all who stray away from the straight path, again into goodness and save them.
I am attached to a ‘Work’ that I love: To remove the suffering of the poor and grant them what they lack.
I have a ‘reason to be proud’: for, I rescue all who worship and adore me.
I have a definition of ‘devotion’: I expect that those devoted to Me treat joy and grief, gain and loss, with equal fortitude.
I will never give up those who attach themselves to Me. When I am thus engaged in My beneficial task, how can My Name be ever tarnished, as you apprehend? I would advise you not to heed to such absurd talk. Mahatmas do not acquire greatness through someone calling them so; they do not become small just because some calls them small. Only those low ones who revel in opium but claim to be unexcelled Yogis, only those who quote scriptural texts to justify their gourmandry and pride, only those who are dry-as-dust scholars exulting in their argumentative skill, are moved by praise and blame.
You must have read the life-stories of Saints and Divine personages. In those books, you must have read also of horrible falsehood and heinous imputations cast against them. This is the lot of mahatmas, everywhere, and at all times. Why then do you take these things so much to heart? Have you not heard of dogs that howl at the stars? How long can they go on? Authenticity will soon win.
I will not give up My Mission nor My determination. I SHALL carry them out. I treat with equanimity, the honour or dishonour that may result. Internally, I am totally unconcerned. I act, but solely in the outer world. If I talk and move about, it is entirely for the sake of the outer world, and for making the people realise the advent of Divinity. Other than this, I have no concern with anything.
I do not belong to any place. I am not attached to any name. I have no ‘Mine’ or ‘Thine’. I respond to whatever name you might use. I go wherever I am needed or called.
For Me, the world is something afar and apart. I act and move only for the sake of Mankind.
No one can comprehend My Glory, whosoever it may be, whatever be the method of enquiry, and no matter how long the attempt.
You will yourself see the full Glory unfolding in the coming years. Devotees must have patience and forbearance.
I am not concerned, nor am I anxious that these facts should be made known. I have no need to write these words. I wrote them because I felt that you will be pained if I do not reply.
Thus, yours, Baba.
Source: Radio Sai E-Magazine, http://www.radiosai.org/Journals/06NOV15/Message/message.htm
www.saibaba.ws
An interview with Sai Baba: “I see only Light and Love”
It was on my second visit to see Sai Baba that I was granted a private conversation with Him. These are called interviews. Almost everyday Baba would choose a group of people to talk to in a small room. Baba chose all kinds of people from all walks of life and all different countries. You couldn’t make an appointment to speak with Him. Presidents and movie stars. He did the choosing! Everyone wanted this interview, but I was very frightened by the thought of it.
Baba usually asked people, “What do you want?” and I really didn’t know. I knew I didn’t want to be forced into a situation where I would talk like a parrot out of fear and say “I want Enlightenment! Enlightenment over good health or wealth.” I didn’t know what I wanted.
That night he came to me in a dream and said “I know you’re frightened, don’t be. I will show you right now everything that will take place in the interview. And I won’t ask you any questions!” He told me two people were flying in from Los Angeles, Dave and Barbra Lambert. After they had been there for a few days, he would ask our group in for a talk!
True to the dream – that’s what took place.
I held the door open to His little room and let everyone in the group go in first. It numbered around forty or so. I sat in the back of the small room, hiding myself. He sat on a chair and sang a song to us, ‘Love is my Form, Truth is my name, Bliss is my food’. He called me to come sit in front of Him. Then He asked me if I would please massage His feet for Him. I began to gently massage His feet while He told stories and asked questions of certain people. I watched as He waved His hand and a gold pen appeared. He showed it to me and asked if I liked it. I said it looked like good workmanship. He agreed. He gave it to an Indian student that sat at His left, and smacked him on the face. He ‘created’ a packet of blue pills that he threw to one of the ladies in our group. He told me she didn’t know it, but she was going to have terrible stomach pains later in the day, and we should give her these pills along with fresh mango. “After 3 days she will be alright”, He told me. About ten minutes after the interview, Jenny collapsed.
He invited a small group of 6 people, not including myself, to go into another adjoining room. While the larger group waited, Baba pulled open a curtain and we sat down in a smaller room. He sat on an old chair, and this was where He usually asked people what they wanted. The group, 3 women and 3 men, sat quietly. I suddenly remembered this part in my dream that I had had with Baba. He was staring at me like an impatient schoolteacher waiting for me to say something!
I asked Baba, “May I ask you a question?” He said, “Yes, what is it?” It looked like relief flashed across the expression on His face. Like he was saying to me, “It’s about time, Phil!”
“What do You see when You see me?”, I asked.
Baba looked at all the people sitting there in a state of semi-frozenness and said, “I see only Light and Love”. His reply seemed to warm everyone up and I went into another state of mind, and didn’t hear anything else till we rejoined the larger group.
Baba gave me 18 packets of Vibuthi, and everyone else received handfuls of it. Everyone walked out the door but me. I stood there alone with Baba. I was just looking into His eyes and He into mine. When suddenly he said, “Yes, what is it?”
I didn’t want any material thing from Baba at that moment, I realized. I just wanted to know He was for real!
“Yes,” He said to me. I smiled and showed him this small silver ring of Shirdi Sai Baba that had recently broken.
Not knowing how to ask him directly if He would fix it for me, I said instead, “Baba, look at this ring, what shall I do with it?”
He looked at it and delivered a punch line I never expected. “If I were you I’d keep it”, He said.
I nearly exploded in laughter, but contained myself as He walked me out the door, and I felt the warm sunlight disappear into a greater sunlight within me.
Author: PF Sloan
Source: saibaba.ws
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