My Journey to Sai
Having taken birth in a Hindu family in Fiji, I was brought up worshiping many Gods and Goddesses. Thinking back, I recall that in the late 1960s someone had given my parents a picture of Swami telling them that He was a God now living in India. For me at that time, India meant somewhere on a different planet, but this also now meant no meat on Thursdays. There was also a new lamp to be lit on our altar but, at the same time, that was all. No special bhajans or any information about Sai Baba or what His teachings and messages were—just the Thursday mandatory penance of no meat.
So this is how things were for many years. I grew up and got married. One day, someone told us that there was a Sai center not far from the Lautoka Sugar Mills, where I worked. This was the early 1980s, and my wife decided to go for bhajans. I had to take her there since she could not drive. I took her on one condition: that I would not go for bhajan but would just drop her off there. I would use this time to enjoy the local drink (kava) with my friends.
On September 19, 1987 we moved to New Zealand. We settled down in New Sail and, but felt there was something missing—we were missing out on the spiritual side of life. Then someone introduced us to the Mt. Eden Sai center. At first, our routine was to go once a month but then slowly it became twice a month. As the years passed, it became weekly. For 6 years we just floated in and out—in for bhajans and out again, no participation in any activity of the organization.
The very first book I read was Sai Baba the Holy Man and the Psychiatrist, and I got inspired My wife decided it was time to make a visit to the Lotus Feet of Bhagavan Baba. Once again, there was no intention on my part to make the trip, especially as there was also a requirement that those going needed to be vegetarians for at least 6 months before going on the trip. Anyway, it was difficult for me to do that. My wife followed the instructions as laid down by our mother Madeleine. In spite of asking her to go and see Baba on her own and share all the stories on her return, my wife booked two seats for the trip and paid the deposit. I said I would decide later.
The idea of sending my wife that far on her own did not seem right. My cousin and his family were also going but I eventually rushed to mother Madeleine and paid for my trip. Our flight was on 25th December 1994. It was Christmas day and my cousin and I took advantage of drinking on the flight. I had turned a deaf ear to the injunction to be vegetarian for six months prior to going, but stopped a few days before actually arriving at the ashram out of respect.
In those days, accommodation at the ashram was limited and a room on the 3rd floor of a round building was given to us. I was missing my drinks and non-vegetarian food and the true colors of our married life began to sprout. It was on the eighteenth day of our stay that I mentally challenged Swami, “I have been touching your feet on the picture for so long, but if you are true God I want to touch your real feet.” The Divine will always answer your call. I had the number one token for darshan and got the front line, facing the northern canteen. The beloved Lord came right in front of me and lifted His robe while collecting the letters. I wasted no time in touching the Divine feet. As He stood so close to me, I had no option but to take padanamaskar [touching the feet of a holy man]!
My real journey to Sai began that day. At last I had some realization of who He was. It was tears of joy all the way back to the room to share the experience with my wife.
It was time to leave for home, and on my final darshan the eye-to-eye look that our beloved Bhagavan gave me is still imprinted in my mind in the form of Lord Krishna. Becoming a vegetarian was a fifty-fifty question but on our flight from Singapore to Auckland, a very strong message came from within saying, “That’s it.” I told my wife that I would no longer eat meat or imbibe alcoholic drinks.
Trip after trip to His lotus feet followed after that, year after year. On our second trip to Bangalore (Whitefield) during an interview I had the opportunity of massaging His feet. During our second interview in Puttaparthi I had a book called Prema Dhara in my hand. While He was talking to us, I quietly pushed the book toward Him. He very lovingly autographed it, “With Love—Baba.” This book is so precious to me now.
I have enjoyed—and am still enjoying—participating in selfless service. Bhagavan has always guided me. I will share with you a recent experience. I had been part of the Fiji medical camps for two years, but this last time the responsibility for organizing the logistic side of the camp was mine. Two days before our departure to Fiji, in a dream, I heard Bhagavan say, “Make sure everything is organized properly.” It was time to go back to the drawing board, listing and checking every item. All local flights had been arranged, all drugs had been sent to Fiji, and from the mainland to another island. I was told it had all been sent. Reminding my counterpart in Fiji via emails and phone calls, we had been able to organize things and made sure all was in place.
Upon arrival to the second island, we found that some of the drugs had not been sent and were still at the mainland. The very first thing that came to my mind was the message Swami had given me in my dream. Sometimes we take things very lightly. Our Beloved has been giving me so many messages from the age of 14, yet I got caught up in just the physical form.
I now know that our greatest challenge is to follow Him, without an iota of doubt in who He is, and to continue to follow His path as laid down in this organization of which we can all be proud. His wonderful teachings are given in the simplest language and they are the beacons of His mission.
If we use the tool of the five human values [truth, righteousness, peace, love, and non-violence] and practice the Nine Point Code of Conduct in our daily lives, we will see our way through this life of samsara. May the thread of our love be never broken and exist forever.
Jai Sairam!
~Krishna Samy
Adapted from: Sathya Sai Baba Newsletter, NZ
