Sri Sathya Sai: His Nature and Glory
Like me, many people are eager to fathom the meaning of the Sai mystery. I am announcing the truths that I have experienced in the hope that this account will help them.
The very first time I had His darshan [sight of a holy being], Baba related the story of my life to me, including events that had happened to me in the distant past, incidents from my family life, and the various ups and downs I had encountered over the years. These were told as elaborately and clearly as only a close witness could describe. I realized then that Baba’s knowledge was comprehensive and that He knew the entire past.
Even though I am past 70, Baba approaches me as if I were a little child. He treats me affectionately and appreciatively, and calls me bangaru [my nugget of gold]. He grants me what I wish for and keeps me close to Him. He converses amusingly with me and advises me so endearingly that my life’s burden is lightened. At first, I was amazed at this strange behavior. With the passage of time and experience, however, I learned that Baba treated me thus because He is jagat-pita [the father of the world]. He considers all of us, however old we may be, as little children. His very nature is to love those who are devoted to Him. Sai is the inexhaustible reservoir of unconditional love.
Once I visited Brindavan (in Whitefield) with my friend Sri Sanjeeva Setty to be in Swami’s presence for a few days. We spent about six days of supreme bliss there, imbibing His love and grace. Like Sri Krishna in Brindavan, Baba shone in His divine glory, expressing ananda [bliss] through every word and deed and inspiring the devotees around Him.
At sunrise on the last day we approached Him for permission to leave. He cast His cool merciful glance on us both and spoke to us softly and sweetly. He gave us prasadam [blessed food] and blessed us. Then, pointing to me, He said, “Sanjeeva Setty! Take this fruit with you with great care, lest it gets damaged on the way.” I guessed He had referred to me as a ‘ripe fruit’ since I was old. I looked at my friend’s face and we both struggled to hide our smiles. Then we fell at His feet and took leave of Him.
Our train journey had scarcely started when I developed a fever. It shot up quickly and became so severe that I lost consciousness. When we had to change trains, a porter had to be engaged to lift me and carry me over to the next train. I did not regain consciousness even during that transfer. The entire night was spent like this. By sunrise the next day, however, the fever subsided a little and I was able to sit up and look around. I became aware of my surroundings. We stayed at Tirupati [in southern India] for two days; Sri Setty took me to a doctor and got some medicine for me. When I recovered a little, we resumed our journey and reached Nellore [south of Chennai] without any more trouble.
Setty told me, “Sastri, did you notice this? Although we did not completely understand, Baba told us that ‘this person will suffer from fever on the way; look after him carefully.’ That was the instruction Baba gave me. It is only experience that can reveal the meaning of His words.”
I felt that this explanation was probably true, but a trace of doubt remained—might it not perhaps be mere coincidence? I argued within myself that the doubt was the consequence of ignorance. The more I tried to shake it off, however, the deeper the doubt struck root. People who doubt only discover reasons to confirm their doubt; that is their nature.
The next time I was in Baba’s presence, I related the entire story to Him and said that I had interpreted His reference to me as ‘ripe fruit’to be based on my ripe old age. Baba smiled at me and said, “If you are ripe on account of age, is Setty an unripe fruit? Is he not a year older than you? Then how can your interpretation be correct? I gave you that warning because I knew that you would suffer from fever during the journey. Both of you failed to understand the meaning implicit in My instruction. I hope this experience has made you understand now.”
That statement opened my eyes. I was ashamed that I ever entertained the belief that it was a coincidence, and I cleared my mind of all wavering. I knew then that Baba knew the future as clearly and as fully as He knew the past.
Sai’s love is unconditional, limitless; His nature is prema [love]. His glory can only be known through one’s own experience of His grace.
~Deepala Pichayya Sastri
Source: Sanathana Sarathi, March 1967
