96. BABA

Baba's appearance is unique. He's easily recognisable even to those who do not know him well. This is an old pic, even in his 80's, his hair has never turned grey, never bald, just got thinner. I could recognise him when in my 20's after briefly setting eyes on him for the first time as a young girl of 10 when I looked through a classmate's ring (Post 9)

Baba is most often seen in an orange robe - orange is the colour of the chakra at the solar plexus that controls emotions. Emotions has been the bane of many, those strong and weak, male or female, young and old. Baba has many discourses on control of one's emotions and moods.
Link: Post 9 - Sathya Sai Baba

Baba is gone from the physical plane but I know he's not 'gone'. When Paramahansa Yogananda came into my consciousness in 1998 (Post 4 - The Journey Continues) he had been 'gone' from the physical plane since 1952. When I found my way to Osho's ashram in 2001, he had been 'gone' since 1990 (Post 5: My Masters )  When I was led to the Theosophical Society in Singapore (Post: 94)  the 2 Masters associated with it were 'gone' for more than a century.

Baba's detractors are totally ignorant about him. They criticise because they fear him, his power and his influence. So many millions all over the world can't all been duped by 1 man, many of whom are intelligent thinking folks. 

He did only good, he dosen't need sex or money - he's way beyond that. His legacy is there for all to see. For those of us who have spent time in his ashrams, been to the schools and hospitals he set up, been to the villages where his Trust had put in place a water project to bring running water to villagers in and around Baba's home town, all unsolicited donations were put to good use in the service of others. 

Education up to university level is free. Medical care, including major surgery is free. The schools and hospitals are manned by volunteers from all over the world. 

Absolutely nobody pays tithes here, nor in any Sai centers in Singapore. No donation boxes are placed anywhere throughout any of his ashrams. All unsolicited donations are handled by the State Bank of India, which has a small office inside the ashrams. Donors are required to fill in their full personal particulars, show their passports or driver's license, tick what they want their donations used for - education, medical care, water project, feed the poor, housing.
 
The 4x I've stayed in his ashrams in 3 different locations, I met people from all over the world, some from places I never expected - atheist Russia, Catholic South America, Muslim Iran and Indonesia. When we do talk, the usual question is 'What brings you here?' For many, it's a loooong way to travel and rough it out in uncomfortable conditions.

I once had a chat with a Malaysian Indian man who told me that he's a chain smoker and in the quiet afternoons he would have some puffs in the dorm when nobody's around. On one such afternoon, when he pulled out his matchbox from his pocket, he found the full box empty of all matchsticks.

2 young Aussie males would pop out of the ashram for their evening meals instead of dining inside the ashram where the food is recommended by Baba for being satvic. They could smoke and drink in the eateries outside. During morning darshan, Baba would stroll among his devotees in the huge mandir. He stopped at these 2 young men seated on the mandir floor to ask if they had enjoyed their beer 'last night'.

A man from Sao Paulo, Brazil, related how he got to discover Baba whom he had never seen or heard of before.
In his house one night, he was writing at his desk under a table lamp. The rest of the large room was not lit. In dim lighting, he saw this person in an orange robe smiling at him. In a panic, he called the police to report of an Indian thief in his house. (he meant a Sth American tribal native).
 
When driving in the streets of Sao Paulo, he was diverted into a lane by bad traffic where he came across Baba's picture outside a building, a Sai Center. The face and smile was unmistakable. He went in to check out the place and found out who this 'Indian thief' really is. He made immediate plans to travel to India.

On the mandir floor, devotees sit on designated places leaving a path for Baba to walk among them. Baba veered away from this path and cut through the devotees who made way for him. He stopped at where this Brazilian man sat at the far end of the mandir and said to him, 'You've come - you have a very nice house!'

Baba has leveraged on those who are in a position to serve others through their wealth, influence and power. He's able to see that they have it in them at a deeper Soul level to serve with love. Such devotees went on to establish charitable Foundations in which they work tirelessly to help large groups of people, not just a handful of individuals or small groups.

Although physically in India, Baba has been experienced by many people from all over the world. My very own phenomena with Baba took place in Singapore. (Post 9).  

The phenomena I've read about in spiritual literature pertaining to evolved souls isn't just book knowledge, I know it's for real and such Beings walk among us. I'm at peace with myself, secure in the knowledge that I've had the chance to sit at the feet of a true Master.




Love All Serve All - Baba