Instant Alchemy
The following episode exemplifies how Baba often showers his all-encompassing love on those who go to see Him.
A group of some 60 American women—educators, anthropologists, and other professionals studying with the eminent American scholar of ancient cultures Jean Houston—came on an all-India tour of Bharat [India]. A visit to Prasanthi Nilayam [Baba’s residence in Puttaparthi] to have the darshan [sight of a holy person] of Sri [Sathya Sai] Baba was on the itinerary; and, they arrived on January 13th.
At 3.30 p.m. in the afternoon as I stepped out of Sai Sadan [the guest quarters at Prasanthi Nilayam] on my way to the cafeteria, I was greeted by two members of the group whom I had met in America earlier in the summer. They asked for directions, and I soon became involved with a few other hastily-recruited residents of the ashram in providing for the comforts of the group. We arranged to bring the whole group together for darshan, but Swami, however, was leaving the mandir [temple] grounds in His car. It turned out that Swami was going to the nearby Hill View Stadium.
Deeply disappointed, the group was faced with the choice of either returning to Bangalore [the closest city] immediately, or follow Baba to the stadium to try to see Him briefly. It seems that they had started from Bangalore, packed into two small tourist buses. One of the buses, however, was found to be without the proper inter-state permit, requiring everyone to squeeze into a single bus.
Compounding the challenges of not getting any darshan, it started to rain, first in an intermittent drizzle and then in a steady fall.
“Can’t we follow Sai Baba? We will go to any place for just one distant look at Him,” they asked.
So, we drove to the stadium where a volleyball game between the Brindavan College team and the Prasanthi Nilayam College team was taking place. Swami’s grace allowed us to be in His presence for about 20 minutes.
Moving this large body of people back quickly took a long time. When we returned to Prasanthi Nilayam, we discovered that Swami had arrived 20 minutes earlier. Luckily, the whole group got choice seats directly across the temple in the auditorium. The Divine Director provided for all.
Soon, Swami walked out of the mandir and proceeded directly to where the ladies of the group were seated. He made some vibhuti [sacred ash] for Dr. Houston, the leader of the group, and another person. He also materialized rock candy for a member, and took a few letters from some others in the group. Moving further along the darshan line, He materialized vibhuti and rock candy for three other members of the group.
At this point, I offered Swami a handkerchief to wipe His vibhuti-filled hands. He asked me to come close to Him to bring the kerchief, which He then used to wipe His fingers. Swami uses us as His instruments to serve Him by serving others, and in the process, He fills us with His sweet love and bliss. Swami tossed the handkerchief back to me. I returned to my seat. A member of the group, sitting directly behind me, asked to touch the kerchief. Seeing her reverence, I told her she could keep it. Instantly, tears started streaming down her face. It seems that back in Vancouver, Canada, this woman had a very dear friend who had been struck by polio. The patient had had expressed a desire for something touched by Baba that she could keep on her person. Every tiny detail of Swami’s activity is part of His Divine play.
After bhajans, the professors (as Swami referred to the group) were taken by bus to a nearby lecture hall. People who had received vibhuti shared it with others. Supreme happiness was felt by all, including the male members whom Swami had not approached. When the group settled down, Sri Drucker [a well-known western devotee of Baba] answered questions, and gave a brief talk about the path to God through service, devotion, and wisdom. The joyous group of 60 boarded the bus for their return journey to Bangalore, and on to Delhi the next morning.
In five hours, Swami performed what turned out to be a major transformation in His incomparably loving way.
~Polly Kirby, Prasanthi Nilayam
Source: Sanathana Sarathi, Feb. 1986
