He at the Helm
It was exactly one year ago that the sequence of events became even remotely perceivable. Swami Paramahamsa Muktananda of Ganeshpuri was scheduled to arrive in Hawaii on the return portion of his American tour. With the multitude of hotel accommodations available and the innumerable homes that abound the slopes of Honolulu, it was a little surprising when Baba Muktananda accepted the invitation to stay in the `shell’ of our new home, still very much under construction!
The invitation had been extended significantly, seemingly on impulse, partially based on Irene’s steadfast devotion to Baba Muktananda as her Guru (even though she had never met him) and partly on my reluctance to have anyone, including the illustrious personage of a Holy Man, to intrude into my life and the small flat we were then renting.
All doubts and hesitations associated with meeting a `realized being’ for the first time welled up. How should I act? Will he see through me? The expectation of his arrival was fraught with discomfort. But from the instant of his arrival, Swami warmed our hearts. With affectionate smiles and embraces, he melted away the walls of resistance. With his discourses he removed doubts, and with firm mandates he instilled discipline. The darshans [sight of a holy man] he held and the shakti[power] of his presence permeated the atmosphere with prema [love] and shanti [peace].
Physically, it has changed the `outcome’ of the house itself! Aspects of finish—design were obviated and the building took on an air of simplicity and informality quite unintended initially. More importantly, the visit initiated a change in our lives, which at that moment we could little comprehend.
In quick sequence, other Swamis travelling through Hawaii further graced the home with bhajans and discourses. Swami Satchidananda of the Integral Yoga Society accepted an invitation, again seemingly offered on impulse, and added his grace and his lessons to the house. The `net’ was closing in on us; but we had yet to understand its basic implications!
Then Indra Devi, beloved Mataji, on a brief stop‑over from India to Tecate (Mexico), delivered to a small gathering at the “Church of the Cross‑Roads” a testament in words and a film of her love for her Bhagavan, Sri Sathya Sai Baba. We had decided to attend the lecture simply because the name `Sai Baba’ denoted yet another Guru. The culmination of that evening left us with a sense of amazement at what we had seen and heard, but with a knowledge that this Baba was something quite different from all that we had previously encountered or read about. This was an Avatar [incarnation]; of this we were sure!
The following day Mataji arrived at the house quite unexpected, and with more words of reverence for Sai Baba, she related the leelas [Divine plays] of Baba and the supreme love he bore toward his devotees. Books followed Mataji; we were inundated with tapes of bhajans recorded at Prasanthi Nilayam, and more printed material. The waves of Sai Baba rolled over us and washed us until it was all that we could to contain within us the need to travel to India; but this was yet to be.
Numerous attempts were made, all meeting with obstructions. Some seven months later, all conditions jelled—visas, passports, finance—and we journeyed via Australia to India! Though all this took place, it must be said that the impetus of Baba’s calling us and all that had transpired during the past year remained vague in our minds…
We arrived in Madras, and after a three-hour lay‑over boarded a DC‑3 for Bangalore, arriving at 10’00 in the evening. The next morning, a call was placed to our only contact in India, Mr. K. Bhirumal, a devotee of Baba. He recommended that we journey immediately to Whitefield. Another taxi and then the pure delight of watching Baba grace the rows of `royal poincianas’, lined thick with devotees.
Upon reminiscing on our impressions later, we were struck with the feeling of complete familiarity that Baba imparts to even those seeing him for the first time! The figure, replete with silken dress, the gentle smile, and of course, the halo of hair were exactly as we had known it would be. We handed over a letter that Mataji had given us, somewhat awkwardly and in full awe. Baba commented, “Mexico! Indra Devi!” and passed on. Word came soon after, that we were to follow Him! Baba had blessed us with an interview; the total time that had elapsed since our arrival in India was 18 hours!
The little Interview Room was crowded, and Baba launched into a general discourse with specific comments directed toward some, but seemingly applicable to all. Then… the Individual Session, in which he quickly cut into the secret depths of one’s own being, the problems of health, the previous meetings (!) where he had contacted (!) Irene via a dream, and the specifics of that dream and another (!), the difficulties of individual sadhana, the particular desire of each of us and our internal turmoil. Vibhuti, sacred ash, was manifested. All this… quickly, naturally, and spontaneously delivered and conferred with a love and understanding that rendered new meaning to those old words.
Here was a Confidante, Guide, Doctor, Friend, Father, Mother, and GOD all rolled into ONE! Here was the culmination of those past events within this lifetime and all the previous ones, Manifest, All Knowing, before us!
It would be naive to say that either one of us can, even in a small measure, understand the Divine nature of Baba’s Calling, much less understand Baba Himself. It is readily perceptible, however, that the culmination of events leading to our arrival in Puttaparthi is in reality a point of conscious embarkation, (in essence, a New Birth), knowing that Baba is at the helm.
Ours, of course, is hardly a unique story. There were no spectacular occurrences; there were no manifest leelas. Yet, all this is all His leela. Each one called to Prasanthi Nilayam comes on a wave of `seeming circumstance’. Names, times, places, and events vary from person to person; but the story remains ever the same—the directional moment toward Baba is unmistakable and constant. As has been stated to us, the subtleties of man’s ascent toward God pale and wane when compared to the subtleties of God’s descent to man. Bhagavan’s Call is the subtlest of subtleties; but come we must when call beckons! There are no accidents, no circumstantial happenings. But how it is all integrated, how it is all fits together, is best understood by Baba Himself.
Once touched by Baba, once the bond is established, we can only venerate Him, prostrate before His Loving Grace and tireless generosity, and pray that He will continue to bestow His multitudinous Blessings and unerring control over all aspects of our existence and sadhana. By His Grace and His Grace alone we are here. Jai Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. Sai Ram Sai Ram Sai Ram.
~Steve W. G. Au, Honolulu; Hawaii
Source: Sanathana Sarathi, March 1975
The game of life is worth playing and becomes an interesting tonic only when there are bounds for field and rules and restrictions for the players. Imagine a game of football or cricket where there are no rules or boundaries or umpires. The game will be chaotic; it will soon degenerate into a riot, a free fight. Dharma is what makes the game of life interesting, decent, and desirable.
~Baba
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