Christmas at Prasanthi Nilayam – December 2003 The birth of Christ brings with it great joy and happiness to the whole world. And all celebrate it with all earnestness. But when it comes to Christmas at Prasanthi Nilayam, Christmas gains an all new flavour. Christmas with Sai is among the best celebrated festivals at Prasanthi Nilayam. Coming a month after the Birthday Celebrations, Christmas is eagerly looked forward to. Heart to Heart brings to you a description of this great festival as it is generally celebrated in Prasanthi Nilayam.The evening of 24th of December is the starting point of the Christmas celebrations. That evening, the overseas devotees conduct a carol programme in the presence of Bhagawan in the Sai Kulwant Hall. The songs in praise of the Lord and His Divine Son bring the warmth of Christmas to each and every heart. hen comes the much anticipated morning of the 25th of December. Much before the cock crows, the devotees  assemble in the Sai Kulwant Hall. Following the regular Suprabhatham the overseas devotees join the special Nagar-Sankeertan singing Carols while holding candles in their hands. As they walk into the Hall humming ‘Joy to the World’ or ‘Silent Night’, it charges the entire atmosphere with a solemnity, which is one of the reasons that make Christmas at Prasanthi Nilayam so special. As all the students slowly light up their candles, the Hall is filled with the soft glow and warmth of the candle lights. It is quite an experience to be present there in the soft glow of the hundreds of candles flickering merrily to the soft humming of carols in the background. Soon the ornate silver doors open on the first floor of the Prasanthi Mandir and the audience revel in silent joy. There is hushed excitement as people try to catch the first glimpse of the Lord dressed in a Divine white robe. Bhagawan walks slowly and stands right at the edge of the balcony blessing every body present with a beautiful smile and often raising His hands in blessing. He then walks around the balcony and stands at different places facing all the devotees in turn and sways gently to the tunes of the carols being hummed. Then the Aarthi is lit and all join in singing the Aarthi in unison. Bhagawan retires after this to His residence. Later in the morning Bhagawan comes for the regular darshan at around 7:00 AM. After He finishes His darshan round, He sits on His chair kept on the stage. After taking His blessings the students of the Sri Sathya Sai Primary School present a violin concert with several small children playing beautiful tunes on their stringed instruments. This is followed by the Institute Brass Band presenting an instrumental orchestra. The lilting tunes played by the band lifts the spirits of those present there. The foot-tapping presentation by the Brass band is followed by the carol programme by the students of the Institute and the Higher Secondary School. The students sing several traditional carols as well as newly composed songs in the praise of their Lord. The carols end with the famous song “Dashing Through The Snow” during which a student dressed as the Santa Claus takes Bhagawan’s blessings, goes around throwing chocolates to all. The morning festivities come to an end with prasadam distribution and Aarthi.The 25th of December also happens to the anniversary of the Kingdom of Mother Sai, an alumni association of the students of the Anantapur Campus of the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning. The afternoon programme starts with the presentation of the service activities carried out by the organisation and talks by members of the organisation. This is followed by talks by some elderly devotees. The icing on the cake is Bhagawan’s discourse, which follows the talks. Over the years Bhagawan has given a lot of insight into the teachings of Christ. He has also spoken about the life of Christ and what Christ stood for. One memorable Christmas evening, during the course of His discourse, Bhagawan materialised a small Bible, which He said was compiled in Britain around 1530 A.D., containing all the information about Jesus gathered during the preceding centuries. The Russians condensed all this material in a small book which they preserved in a place on the Black Sea coast. Swami produced the little book by a circular wave of His hand and held it before the audience, He said: “This is the book.

Connie Shaw’s recent trip to see Baba Dear Friends, Family, Brothers and Sisters, Colleagues, There were several unique features to our most recent trip to Sai Baba’s Puttaparthi, India ashram. Rather than writing a lengthy report, I’ll just hit the highlights to make the following very easy reading for you. Three of us from our center left about Dec. 16th and returned home to Colorado on Jan. 5th. The Indo-Pak struggles hit a new high – or was it a new low – while we were there but we felt utterly safe the entire time. Indiaphiles and Sai devotees willappreciate the details of the following: 1. Crowds: Except for Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, the crowds in Sai Kulwant Hall were so sparse that the hall was about three-quarters full most days. 2. Weather was unseasonably cold for India with lots of wool head-warmers and heavy shawls in sight. 3. War and Expansion of Consciousness for Humanity: An American physician (anesthesiologist from the Midwest) with whom I spoke had two interviews before we were graced with ours on our last day, Jan.3rd. He reported in a group meeting of about sixteen people that Baba had said: a. Bush is frustrated with the war and with his advisors who have special interests as motivations. b. Baba will up the level human consciousness not in one step but by gradual stages. c. In response to the doctor’s question, “Swami, how do You manage it when Muslims pray five times a day, Christians pray to You,and all are bombing each other?” Baba: These prayers are rote/automatic, not from the heart. I don’t respond to such prayers. The way to deal with terrorism is not to kill people. Do you know who the real terrorists are? Hatred and jealousy in every heart. Deal with that in your own hearts, then we will have peace.” 4. Healings: Another Indian-American family, with relatives in Delhi, had an interview the day after Christmas. (Dr. Sunny Ananda’s parents and in-laws) Baba gave a Christmas Discourse as He always does (enjoining us to take the love of Jesus as our example). 5. Resurrection: On Christmas Eve morning after Baba’s darshan and before bhajan singing, one of His attendants expired on the temple veranda. He was about twenty-six and just keeled over. There were still a few doctors and others who had not yet gone to breakfast. They ran for Swami, Who was in the area and said, “Swami! Yourattendant has just expired! Shall we remove the body and call his parents immediately?” Baba replied, “Don’t touch the body! Bring me a glass of water.” When the water arrived, Baba sprinkled a few drops into the mouth of the deceased and brought him back to life. After the resurrection, Baba told him to rest for ten days, not to come todarshan, and not to give his name out to protect his privacy and the health of the subtle bodies. Just as newborns have to rest away from the harsh vibrations of worldly people upon entry into our plane of existence, resurrected people also must take strict rest. When our friend Bharosa Adhikari of Nepal was resurrected by Baba after dyingof a heart attack during devotional singing in Sai Kulwant Hall, Baba later made her stay in the hospital for 16 days. She couldn’t speak for 26 hours after being re-born. 6. Other Resurrections: We now have knowledge of 19 resurrections and have personally met four people who have been brought back to life by Sathya Sai Baba. 7. Unconfirmed Resurrection Report: We were told on Jan. 3, 2002 by a friend of 20 years, who is a permanent resident in the ashram, that Mr. Suri was resurrected twice by Baba last year. Surely there have been countless resurrections, the details of which will be shrouded in mystery. 8. Our Interview: On Dec. 3, 2002, four of us Americans (purple scarves) went into the Interview Room with ten Italians (orange ribbons with gold medallions) and six Russians (blue, white and yellow scarves). Baba manifested a three-diamond ring for an Italian man; a large diamond ring for another Italian; a gold and silver watch for a Russian.

Compassion Come in Human Form I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. (Jesus in John 8:42.) I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. (Jesus in John 6:38.) [It was Christmas eve at Prasanthi when word circulated among Christian devotees that Swami had invited them to the Mandir to talk to Him about the life and significance of Jesus. The devotees rushed to the temple to get as close to Baba as possible. When all was quiet, Swami Three Stages of Self-Realization Jesus spent all his life in the service of mankind. … While engaged in service to the diseased and the down-trodden, he announced himself as the ‘Messenger of God’. (9) Like most seekers, he first searched for the Divine in the objective world, but he soon realised that the world is a kaleidoscopic picture created by one’s own imagination, and sought to find God within himself. (10) Jesus wandered purposefully in lonely places for twelve long years, engaging himself in study, spiritual exercises and meditation on God. (11) He asked himself, “Am I just a messenger, or am I more closely related to God, a part of God with the Divine as my essence?” (12) For eight [of those] years following his 16th birthday, he travelled in India, Tibet, Iran, and Russia. He was variously regarded as a beggar or as a sanyasi. Jesus had no money. His parents were very poor and practically abandoned him at an early age. (13) His stay in the Himalayan monasteries in Kashmir and in other centres of eastern asceticism and philosophical inquiry, gave him greater awareness. From the attitude of being a Messenger of God, he could now call himself the Son of God. The bond of relationship increased: the ‘I’ was no more some distant light or entity; the light became a part of the ‘I’. (14) With the body-consciousness predominant, he was a messenger. With the heart-consciousness in the ascendant, he felt a greater nearness and dearness, and so the son-father bond seems natural at this stage. (15) At the end of this period, he returned to the society of men and announced “I am the Son of God”. (16) Thus he moved closer to God. (17) In Kashmir [he] met many exponents and practitioners of the adwaitha system of thought, which declares that there is only One God. (18) He realised the One-ness beneath all diversity. (19) As the Atman-Consciousness was established, Jesus could declare, “I and My Father are One. (20) [He saw] that he was Christ in his 25th year. (21) His Mission to Israel Jesus was compassion (karuna) come in human form. He spread the spirit of compassion and conferred solace on the distressed and the suffering. (22) [He] was honoured by the populace as Christ, for they found in his thoughts, words and deeds, no trace of ego. He had no envy or hatred, and was full of love and charity, humility and sympathy. (23) [He] taught simple practical lessons in spiritual advancement for the good of mankind; He manifested Divine Powers to instil faith in the validity of His teachings; He marked out the path that can confer on men the sweet nectar of Ananda. He exhorted people by precept and example to cultivate the virtues of charity, compassion, forbearance, love and faith. These are not separate and distinct qualities, they are only the many facets of the Divine Man, which he has to recognise and develop. (24) Jesus found that scholars and ritualists had befogged the true religion. … Jesus found that people were running after glass beads, imagining them to be diamonds and attaching great value to them. (25) When [he] entered the precincts of the Temple of Jerusalem, and found people sacrificing doves and birds and other living beings to God, he released the birds and condemned the acts of blood. The priests and scholars resented his act and argued that the God in whom they had faith accepted the sacrifice and was propitiated thereby. They asked him for evidence of his authority to interfere with the dictates of religion. Christ went on to tell them a parable. Once there was a farmer who had two sons. He asked his first son to go out to the field so that he may watch the crops ready for harvest. The son refused to obey him. Thereupon he asked the second son, and he readily agreed. But what really happened was, [when] the second son later calculated the bother and the sleeplessness which the watching will bring to him, he did not go. The first son later repented for his refusal to do as bidden, he went and watched the crop. Now, Christ asked, who among these two pleases the father more, the son who declared his assent by word of mouth and disobeyed in action or he who disobeyed by word of mouth but obeyed in action? You obey in words but disobey in action. My action reveals that I do acts which God has commanded. You are your own witness, whether you follow the dictates of the Divine Father, I have greater authority than you, for your action shows that you disobey whereas my action proves that I follow His commands. (26) The Jews held the rituals and regulations laid down by the prophets in the scriptural texts as valid for all time and so they held the teachings of Jesus wrong. They were not moved by personal hatred towards Jesus. This problem arises in every age – the conflict between the letter and spirit – the doctrines that are held to be holy, the various do’s and don’ts that have to be scrupulously followed and the underlying Truth. In the Vedic Faith also, one can find this conflict between the upholders of ancient tradition and the promoters of deeper understanding. (27) The priests of the holy temples of

Chalanda Sai Ma and Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba Chalanda Sai Ma is a blessed indian Saint and spiritual Teacher. She was born of Indian parents on the African island of Mauritius, and became a disciple of Sai Baba of Puttaparthi, India in her early teens (from whom she gets the “Sai” part of her name). Now 50, Chalanda Sai Ma, a citizen of France, has homes in Bordeaux, in a remote Indian Himalayan village, and in Puttarpathi, India. Chalanda Sai Ma is involved in numerous humanitarian efforts, including AIDS education in Uganda and the USA, distribution of food and clothing in Bosnia, and medical services and education in two Indian towns. She also keeps illustrious company. She has, during two US tours to 12 cities, presented collaborative services, with Dr. Deepak Chopra, Thich Nhat Hanh, Ram Das, and Marianne Williamson. Sai Ma’s Current Activities, January 2004 Sai Ma has been in Puttaparthi with Her Beloved Guru, Sathya Sai Baba from approximately December 18-January 5th. She just finished a workshop in Kerala, India with Deepak Chopra. In addition, Sai Ma continues to be honored by many of the great Gurus and spiritual leaders of India. Later this month She will be visiting the Ashram of Guru Nathan, and the Kaliash Ashram of Guru Tiruchi Mahaswamiji. These greatly revered Gurus have welcomed Sai Ma into their homes with open hearts. Sai Ma will also be participating in a big event with three of the four Shankaracharyas of India towards the end of January. (A Shankaracharya is Hinduism’s equivalent to Christianity’s Pope, and there are only four Shankaracharyas in all of India). At this point, we expect Sai Ma to be returning to the USA in late March or April 2004.

‘Brain sand.’ Atmic reality by Swami, Vedas Light and Love     Several areas of modern science have reached near to Oneness as Atmic reality what is the main Swami’s Message to humanity.     Today is a topic for modern science to contemplate about the special properties of ‘the third eye.’      The yogis who have opened less or more ‘the third eye’ can observe the events occurring on huge distances and in any time: in the past, present or future.  For the less advanced the pictures was not so clear and have momentary character. The Master step of an openness of the ‘third eye’ is accessible to single Divine persons. Their spiritual sight allows knowing and seeing everything irrespective of time and space.      Probably the same property allows Swami to be aware of all what happens in the micro- and macrocosms, in human society in general and in personal. However, not only. Swami’s Omnipresent form – it is His nature, and ‘the open third eye’ is a micro detail, what belongs to His Omnipresence Being.      In the wild nature, ‘the third eye’ has snakes, lizards, perhaps birds. It was found that their bodies are especially sensitive to millimeter wave band, ultrasonic and infrasound. Therefore, reptiles and other representatives of fauna beforehand feel natural cataclysms. The other opinion is that through the properties of ‘the third eye’ they perceive the information about future from ‘ universal information-energetic fields’ of the Earth.       ‘The third eye’ center is associated with the pituitary gland (hypophysis*). It is a small endocrine gland with reddish-gray body about the size as cherry or less and lies at the base of the brain.     The hypothalamus and the hypophysis are two glands placed behind the base of the nose. Sometimes hypophysis is called the master gland of the body because all the other endocrine glands depend on its secretions for stimulation.          Scientists have verified that hypophysis contained ‘brain sand’ (acervulus cerebralis). The grains have the spherical certain siliceous structures in the size about one – two mm. Though it have at all people from the moment of birth, what for it is necessary, scientists do not know.       The experiences indicated unusual information properties of ‘brain sand’: these microcrystals contain the holographic information on all human body.      We are not a body; we are carriers of holographic information by holistic**, Atma by spiritual science.      That ‘brain sand’ is as carrier holograms also from the main centre of human body, giving a rhythm of it spatial and temporal existence. In view of this scientific hypothesis, humans’ consciousness is not more than a holographic reflection (through dual diverse forms) of Atmic unity, Absolute, God.        As consider Dr of biology A .M. Panichev and Dr of technical sciences A. N. Gulkov, synchronization of this centre is not carried out without participation external radiations of a not electromagnetic nature.       Scientists expected that the basic property of ‘brain sand’ is ability to draw from space (from Atma by spiritual science) at the moment of conception somekind field component and to start its process of manifestation.      Swami explains:      “The intellect or buddhi examines the information materials offered by the mind.     The Buddhi, like the moon, has no light in itself. Like the moon, it reflects light from another source adjacent to it, namely the Atma. Buddhi can operate only by reflecting the Cosmos Intelligence, represented by the Atma.” (Excerpts from: Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. SathyaSai Vahini. Eternal Truths).       It seems that for human’s intellect, code of holographic (alias Atmic) reality is interpreted in a ‘language’ of mayaa reality. Whatsoever relations with other human beings, with outer or inner environment occur in a ‘language’ mayaa reality. The last is as decoded by a brain back on its true atmic ‘language’ code by the ciphered information in a crystal of sand (as an ‘Antenna’ for being directly connected with Atma; giving and receiving information to/from Atma) in hypophysis.      Swami?s famous saying is that all what happens is God’s Will. Therefore even free will is given to humans’ by God, is too His Will. How a human being is using given to him/her this gift ? it is the essence of the lesson during the current lifetime.       As brain’s activity in large is probably holographic, consequently for brain is more easy to interpret holographic images as similar to itself. It seems that the influence of this information on one’s corporal or mental condition can be more direct and stronger. I share my thoughts inspired by Swami’s explanation (a quotation above) and the real positive influence of Sailogram (holographic image as a direct carrier of Omnipresent Swami) to the many devotees and Sai followers. I experienced this during the Summer lectures where Sailograms were collectively observed or imagined the observation many times.       Advances of modern science step- by- step lead a human being too to the concept of Oneness of all beings as Swami’s Teaching and Vedas declare.       “Although science and technology have made rapid strides, man has not aquired the divine qualities. Technology is the child of science. But very much anterior to science is the Veda. Science seeks to know all about creation, but the Veda reveals the knowledge about the Creator. All the natural sciences are concerned with knowledge about created things.       But there is a Creator who is the source of all them. In the quests for understanding the objects in creation, man is forgetting the Creator.”  (Bhagawan Sathya Sai Baba. SSS, Vol.18. Chapter 4).       Maybe, the verified fact of presence in hypophysis a ‘brain sand’  and its purpose will bring human beings closer to the Truth that behind all one can percept or perform is the Creator (Absolute, God, Cosmic Consciousness, as one likes to call)  whose holographic patterns humans are.      Swami advices for humans:     “Karma (Action) and Upasana (Worship) depend upon the Dharma of the particular stage of your life, as well as the Guna (Attribute) that rules you. Even Amritha (Nectar) will be harmful to life, if it is drunk through the

Behind the Gloriuos 80th Birthday “It was a thrilling experience… an experience that is etched in my memory for ever!” a Sai devotee, with an expression of great fulfillment and joy on his face, says. He was a witness to the glorious ‘festival of bliss’ that was the 80th Birthday celebration of Bhagavan Baba on the 23rd of Nov, 2005. “Whenever I recollect those blissful moments….”, another devotee, his face shining with a great sense of elation says, “…Swami in the bright yellow robe seated on the swan-like grand silver throne… so majestic, so magnificent and so full of benevolence with a beatific countenance on the Birthday evening… the lotus-shaped impressive stage on the west from which soul stirring music by the who’s who of Indian music was filling my heart …every artist weaving magic with the instruments and their voice, enlivening every cell of my being… And then, the laser show! I can never forget that. What a grand finale! The laser show just arrested me with its myriad patterns frisking and dancing in perfect synchronization to the scintillating digital music, accompanying this, were the fireworks! Sparkling beams of bright light on that pleasant star-studded night…bursting and brightening that beautiful night…an unforgettable play of light and sound… add to this, the cool breeze… and ultimately, and most importantly, all this excitement in the immediate divine presence of the Eternal Enigmatic Being, my most beloved Baba – the very light of my life. No one present there could remain untouched with the magic of the moment and I was no exception!” concludes a Sai devotee who had come for the occasion from Orissa, a state which is miles away from Puttaparthi. Every devotee who was present in the Hill View Stadium on the Birthday evening can very easily relate to this. Truly, the 80 th Birthday celebration was extraordinary. It was festivity at its best. Every devotee who had gathered for the occasion went home with memories to last a life time. Memories that drench every cell of their being with love and bliss whenever recalled. It was to enjoy this moment with Sai on the 80th year of His earthly sojourn, to make the moment as special as possible, to make the long-awaited day as glorious as it could be that a sea of humanity had gathered. Truly, it was a birthday by the devotees, for the devotees, and in its truest essence, of the devotees. Truly the most precious day for every devotee is the day Swami entered his/her life and for each one of them the Lord’s Birthday is an event head and shoulders above their own birthday. Swami, pure selfless love that He is, if He were concerned about anything during the Birthday celebrations, it was about the devotees comforts and their well-being. Elderly devotees who were in close physical proximity of Bhagawan only know how Swami used to enquire everyday about the arrangements made for the devotees concerning their food and stay – and least about what major functions were being planned for the Birthday celebrations, be it dances, concerts, or fireworks. Whenever the elders who were chalking out elaborate plans and embarking on grand ideas to mark the day presented Swami with their plans, He would be quite uninterested, to say the least.To get His consent to make more shelters for the devotees would be far easier than to organize say, confetti being sprayed from a helicopter on the Birthday morning. If the big concert happened and leading musicians played, it was because they wanted to be part of the celebrations. It was a cannot-afford-to-loose opportunity for everyone. If the fireworks or the laser show glittered and lit up the night sky and provided a grand finale to the celebrations, it was because the organizing devotees had not only worked hard night and day for it but also prayed even harder that they be allowed to have the show. For, as already mentioned, with Swami to organize a mass marriage or mass feeding for the poor is easy, but never a cultural or entertainment extravaganza. As ever, never an invitation was sent to anybody to come to Prashanti Nilayam. Devotees poured in hundreds and thousands from the 18th of November when the Rathotsavam (Chariot procession) was celebrated, as is done every year. The Ladies Day celebrations followed on the 19th Nov.

Be a Good Christian, a True Christian, a Better Christian This is the season in which Christians celebrate Easter – Jesus’ resurrection from the dead after his crucifixion. What is the significance of this celebration, not only for Christians but for all people everywhere? How have the teachings of Sathya Sai Baba illuminated the meaning of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection in the lives of Christians who have come to know him? These two questions have prompted this cover story. To fully appreciate the story of Easter, we must start with the fact that Jesus was born into the culture and religion of the Jewish people over 2,000 years ago. According to the first book in the Jewish Holy Scriptures, humanity was originally created by God in a state of purity and blissful intimacy with God: Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness…” So God created man in his own image… male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number… I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food…” God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. Jesus gave spiritual teachings and performed many miraculous healings for the people of his time, as Sathya Sai Baba relates: Jesus taught simple, practical lessons in spiritual advancement for the good of mankind. He manifested Divine powers to instil faith in the validity of his teachings. He marked out the path that can confer on man the sweet nectar of Divine bliss (ananda). He exhorted people by precept and example to cultivate the virtues of charity, compassion, forbearance, love and faith. These are not separate and distinct qualities; they are only the many facets of the Divine in man, which he has to recognise and develop. (24 December 1972) In the course of his ministry and miracles, even raising people from the dead, certain religious and political leaders felt challenged and threatened by Jesus’ popularity. Sai Baba tells us: Jesus was the epitome of compassion and the refuge of the poor, needy and forlorn. But, many people tried to create troubles for Jesus, since they did not like his sacred teachings and activities. Their hatred for Jesus increased day by day. Even the priests turned against Jesus as they became jealous of his growing popularity. Many people out of jealousy laid obstacles in his path and even tried to kill him. (25 December 2000) Jesus foretold what was to happen to him – that he would be crucified and then rise from the dead on the third day. After three years of ministry, Jesus was going to Jerusalem for an upcoming Jewish holy festival, the Passover Feast, and a great crowd heard that he was coming:  

I’ve noticed that many seekers on the jnana path tend to misunderstand Sai Baba, and look down on Him because of His miracles, believing they mean He is merely an un-Self-Realized ‘showman’ capturing immature hearts with yogic tricks.  I would like to give a brief answer.  If the testimony of Anandamoyi Ma and the other Saints quoted above can be trusted, Sai Baba is a full incarnation of God, the likes of which the world hasn’t seen for thousands of years.  Jesus and Sri Krishna also worked miracles frequently, didn’t they?  Does anyone imagine that means they weren’t Self-Realized?  Simply put, working miracles is one of the fundamental aspects of the Avatar’s job.  When God takes birth on Earth, He always comes with a huge mission to accomplish; Baba’s mission seems to be to lift the Earth from an age of materialism and nuclear madness into one of divine understanding and peace – and to do this, He must establish faith in God in the hearts of millions of non-believers.  Miracles are simply the most efficient way to accomplish this.  (It is surely as true in today’s world as in the days of Jesus: unless we see signs and wonders, we will not believe!)  If someone miraculously materialized a necklace before your eyes, lovingly put it around your neck, and then told you the innermost secret of your heart – would it ever again be possible for you to doubt the existence of a higher Reality?  Wouldn’t those small miracles have gone a long way to proving God’s love for you? In addition to His role as Incarnation of God, the Avatar is also a Self-Realized Master; in fact, this is the Avatar’s primary qualification.  He is the Paramatman, the infinite expanse of pure Awareness in which the whole realm of time and space floats like a tiny bubble – and the Avatar will always be fully aware of His identity as the Paramatman; otherwise He could not be called an Avatar!  I humbly submit that Sathya Sai Baba, miracles and all, is a perfect Jnani, and fully capable of leading a seeker on the jnana path (or any other path, for that matter) all the way to Self-Realization. Baba and Ramana Maharshi And speaking of Jnanis, at the moment of the death of Ramana Maharshi (one of the greatest Self-Realized Masters of the last century), and extraordinary event occurred in Baba’s ashram, giving us a clue both to Baba’s identity and His relationship with Ramana. A Sai devotee named Varadu reported what happened: “…the night when Ramana Maharshi passed away in Tiruvannamalai [14th April, 1950], I was with Swamiji [Sai Baba].  Krishna [another young devotee] and myself were both there.  That evening, around 9:00, we continued whatever it was we were doing (I think we were doing a puja) when suddenly Swamiji looked up at us.  There was a peculiar way of looking He has which means that He wants to go to His room.  The moment Krishna and I went through the door into the room and closed it, Swami fell down.  I was ready for it.  Krishna and I both held hands, and Swami was lying across them.  Then [He] rose up into the air, from our arms.  He was as stiff as a board.  He started murmuring – something about ‘Maharshi has reached my lotus feet.’  And then the sole of His right foot split open, and nearly two kilograms of beautiful, well-scented vibhuti poured out from the sole of His foot.  I collected the vibhuti while [He] was still levitating in the air. Then [He] came down and returned to [His] senses and asked what [He] had said.  I said, “Swamiji, this is what You said: ‘Ramana Maharshi has passed away.’  And this is what came out of Your feet.”  He said: “Put it into packets and give it out as prasadam.”

Baba’s Self-Realized Devotees The first is a man named Gopalakrishna Baba, who lives in a small Sai Baba temple in Bangalore.  His parents were ardent Sai devotees, but from his early childhood Gopalakrishna was intensely drawn to the local Sri Ramakrishna Temple, where he would spend all his time absorbed in devotion and meditation, cherishing the dream of becoming a monk in the Sri Ramakrishna order.  He became so immersed in God that he almost never felt the need to sleep, and would remain awake throughout the night repeating the Divine Name.  In his mid-teens, when Gopalakrishna was alone in the house one day, vibhuti began miraculously manifesting on Sai Baba’s photos in his parents’ puja room, leaving a strong impression on the young man.  Soon afterwards He visited Baba’s ashram, and, as he tells it, “My heart instantly recognized in Sai Baba the same Divine Being who had lived as Sri Ramakrishna.”  His devotion for Baba soon became the overwhelming force in his life, and in the coming years he often visited Baba’s ashrams, and received many blessings from Him.  However, in 1990, when Gopalakrishna went to Baba’s ashram for the Birthday celebrations, due to the massive crowds he was unable to see Baba the way he wished, and therefore told Baba internally, “Next year I will celebrate Your Birthday in my own home, so please come there to receive my worship!”  Clearly the Lord was listening, for the next. And so it is.  Gopalakrishna is now established in changeless Peace, knows the thoughts of all around him, and possesses many miraculous powers.  His foremost Western disciple, a beautiful man from Holland, told me an interesting miracle story.  It seems that on one of his first trips to India, he had come down with dysentery, and when he reported to Gopalakrishna that the medicine prescribed by a doctor could not be found in the local shops, Gopalakrishna simply waved his hand and instantly manifested a strip of the required tablets.  Some people have reported that by drinking the water used in Gopalakrishna’s worship of the Lingam they have been healed of long-standing diseases; others say they have had their personal problems solved, while others say that his grace has enabled them to find the most precious gem of all, peace of mind.  It seems that Gopalakrishna Baba is a genuine wish-fulfilling tree. Devi Amma The second great devotee is a woman named Devi Amma, who lives near Baba’s ashram in Whitefield.  She is radiant with saintly Love, and my intuition is that she is a fully-Realized Saint of the highest order.  Devi Amma speaks fluent English, and tells delightful stories, often bubbling over with laughter.  She humbly says that on the inner plane she often finds herself in a group of Spiritual Masters gathered around Sai Baba, saying it has been given her to keep one foot in that realm, and the other in our realm!  She speaks with great familiarity about the various forms of God, and the ancient Sages and celestial beings, for it seems they visit her on a regular basis.  “There are many levels of angels,” she said to one questioner.  “They look very beautiful, so beautiful!  When they reach the highest level of angel, they become almost as beautiful as Lord Jesus.”  Devi Amma’s life story is amazing.  When she was 15, her uncle died unexpectedly, and the tragedy led her into deep introspection on the meaning of life.  In the spontaneous meditations that followed, she began hearing the sound “OM”, and soon after this, a blazing sun of spiritual light appeared in her room.  From within that effulgence gradually emerged the form of a divine man with a radiant aura, who introduced himself as the ancient Sage Agastya, the first of the great Rishis.  (She says, with all humor and humility, that in a previous incarnation she was Agastya’s daughter.)  Agastya declared that he was her Guru, and began appearing before her on a daily basis, instructing her in meditation and the secrets of spirituality, and by the age of 20 she had attained Enlightenment.  One night, Sathya Sai Baba unexpectedly appeared in her room, His form repeatedly changing into the form of Lord Subramaniam (her family’s chosen Deity) and then back into the form of Sai Baba, thus revealing His oneness with God.  Some years later, when she finally saw Sai Baba in person, she had the same experience: “Sai Baba – Subramaniam!  Sai Baba – Subramaniam!”  She says that while Agastya is her Guru, Sai Baba is the Poornavatar, and is now working through her to bless and uplift humanity.  Little Heart The third great devotee is an Australian woman who calls herself “Little Heart.”  She says she attained union with Baba through the path of Love, and now sees God everywhere, and is always aware of her true Being as all-pervading Consciousness.  She lives near Baba’s Brindavan ashram, writes beautiful books, and gives sage advice, so to speak, to those with questions.   I recently had an interview with her, in which she said, among other things, “A Poornavatar like Baba doesn’t exactly come along at every tick of the clock!”  (We are indeed fortunate to be alive at this time, and be aware of His presence on the Earth!) Having lived a very full life in the world before coming to Baba, including two marriages and two divorces, Little Heart is in an unusually good position to know the struggles Westerners go through in making the transition to a life of spirituality.  I always find it encouraging to meet a Self- Sai Lakshmi Ma Then there is Sai Lakshmi Ma, who says that in 1980 Baba came into Her body and has never left.  In the several hours I spent in her presence, I witnessed a steady stream of delightful miracles.  As soon as she placed a garland on the altar, amrit began trickling from a large photo of Baba.  Then she held her palm towards Baba’s photo, and

Aura of Divinity In 1979, he came to India to make a study of aura of holy men in the country. Inevitably, his travels brought him to Baba, who was then in Bangalore. At the time Baronowski reached Whitefield, a course arranged by Baba for school teachers was in progress. Baronowski heard about this and was naturally keen to speak in the conference, sharing his numerous experiences. Baba knew about this and in His own way made it possible. But first, Baronowski had to see something he had never seen before! The Professor’s first glimpse of Swami was during the early morning Darshan. In those days, Swami used to give Darshan at the conclusion of the Nagarsankeertan, the early morning prayer/Bhajan procession that one can see to this day in Prasanti Nilayam. Baronowski was stunned by what he saw – Baba’s aura was simply out of this world. He saw it again and again – during the morning Darshan and the afternoon Darshan. He saw how this extra-ordinary aura enveloped one and all, believers and non-believers alike, those who were directly looking at Him and those whose attention was wandering. Later, Baronowski was given the opportunity to speak during the conference proceedings, in the immediate presence of Bhagavan Baba. Here is an extract of what he said: I have met over a hundred holy men in India. Too many of these holy men are involved in their own personal egos. Their auras show mostly concern for themselves and their institutions. So, the auras are only about 25 cm. broad or perhaps 50 cm. I am not a devotee of Sai Baba. I have come here as a scientist, to see this man Sai Baba. I saw Him on Sunday, on the balcony giving Darshan to devotees below. The aura that Baba projected was not that of a man. The white was more than twice the size of any man’s, the blue was practically limitless, and there were gold and silver bands beyond even those, far beyond this building, right up to the horizon. There is no scientific explanation for this phenomenon. His aura is so strong that it is affecting me standing by the chair on which He is sitting. I can feel the effect and I have to wipe my arm, off and on, as you must have noticed. It is very difficult for me to admit. I am a scientist. I have given over six thousand lectures in all parts of the world, but this is the first time, believe me, my knees are shaking. The aura that emanates from Baba shows His Love for you. I have met any number of holy men, but none of them have made themselves as available to you as Baba does. That is a sign of greatness. Baba has given you the key to success – the simple four-lettered word: LOVE! If ever I can use the phrase that I have seen Love walking on two feet, it is here. I have been watching Baba, while He was addressing you. The pink aura that was manifesting was so vast and strong that it went even to the hall behind this chair. It filled the big hall, embracing all of you here. There can be no scientific explanation for this phenomenon. I have watched Him for a week now as He walked among you, morning and evening. I have seen this aura, pink in colour, go into the person He is talking to or touching. This is because we draw on His energy. His energy seems to be limitless. It spreads everywhere and can be drawn upon by everyone around. An ordinary man will soon get exhausted going round as He does, among so many. I have watched Him come to a little girl, in a wheel chair and tickle her. I was astounded at the aura of Love that was all around Him then. I have spoken on platforms where President Ford of the United States, Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain and Queen Wilhelmina of Netherlands have been present, but I will never forget this experience! It is really overwhelming in its impact.