YOUR FAITH
SHUBHA RAMESH KUMAR
JULY 21, 2020
Aum Sri Sai Ram
Dear Readers,
It’s an accepted fact from time immemorial that the emergence of a spiritual guru brings forth the guru’s teachings, his/her philosophy, and eventually a system that encapsulates all of these things that the disciples, devotees revere and adhere to.
However once such spiritual masters discard the physical body and pass into infinity, there has been known confusion to a certain extent, division, conflicts and other issues that have eventually shaped the “existing system” established by any said spiritual masters.. The process of evolution in these cases have been such that we have even seen the emergence of entirely new sects branching out, based on differences of opinions.
In our case, Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, our beloved Swami, the Purnavatar of this age, gave us the gift of His physical presence and His teachings to adhere to and live our lives by.
And even after 2011, when our beloved Swami took Mahasamadhi, we’re fortunate to have with us, both for us and for our future generations, recorded and immortalized words and teachings of our beloved Swami in all possible forms.
But nonetheless today we are in a situation where the veracity of everything put out in the name of Sai, even His genuine teachings, is looked at questionably by many. Like it is mentioned above, as has been seen before in history, this is indeed a fluid evolving time for our organization.
We’re at the stage after Mahasamadhi where many unfortunately have fallen victim to fraudulent claims of impostors like Madhusudhan Naidu, who was sadly enabled by some who enjoyed the good graces of our beloved Swami for many years.
We’re at that stage where they have manipulated the words of our Master to suit their own convenience and strategies, and there is a serious threat that those falsified teachings may be accepted by many as the real teachings of Swami, polluting the purity of Swami's legacy.
We’re at the stage after Mahasamadhi where many unfortunately have fallen victim to fraudulent claims of impostors like Madhusudhan Naidu, who was sadly enabled by some who enjoyed the good graces of our beloved Swami for many years.
We’re at that stage where they have manipulated the words of our Master to suit their own convenience and strategies, and there is a serious threat that those falsified teachings may be accepted by many as the real teachings of Swami, polluting the purity of Swami's legacy.
Image of the Archives Building at Prasanthi Nilayam
Keeping these possible dangerous ramifications in mind, and keeping in mind the great effect the real teachings can have on the future generations of devotees, we can firmly say that nurturing, protecting and furthering our beloved Swami’s teachings is very crucial. As always there are many layers to this process, but we can naturally began with the direct words of the Master Himself. Luckily today we have many books published, videos and audio recorded with Swami’s words which assist us enormously.
It is with the aid of such numerous publications of Bhagawan’s discourses, talks, teachings etc that devotees like brother Shaun Brown and others have been at the forefront of fighting back misinterpreted and falsified information by presenting direct quotes of Swami as responses in social media networks and other places.
Needless to say, this exercise of presenting Swami’s direct words in response to falsifications has been an immensely eye opening exercise.
It is with the aid of such numerous publications of Bhagawan’s discourses, talks, teachings etc that devotees like brother Shaun Brown and others have been at the forefront of fighting back misinterpreted and falsified information by presenting direct quotes of Swami as responses in social media networks and other places.
Needless to say, this exercise of presenting Swami’s direct words in response to falsifications has been an immensely eye opening exercise.
The next immediate layer to deal with, one can say, is the words of the Master that were not handed to us directly in His talks or discourses, but rather His words that are brought to the public’s notice via the devotees whom the Master physically spoke to, and gave instructions to, correcting them where needed, and who published or shared these teachings and words spoken by Him in their personal memoirs.
One may ask, what is there to question those works if they are widely accepted during the lifetime of the Master Himself as credible works?
Let it be known that today as part of the chaos and confusion that has sadly become part of the evolution of our beloved Swami’s divine legacy, along with the prevalence and growth of impostors and frauds crusading as Swami, even these works are also being questioned by some. Therefore, it has become imperative to present the fact that there was indeed a procedure in place before the work of such authors could become published books.
Today many of the authors are not here physically to present their personal accounts; however we certainly have the words of eye witnesses, like family members, who support the veracity of these words attributed to Swami which were made public in an author’s memoirs.
Here is one example of this as explained by sister Chaita, who hails from the Venkatagiri royal family, long-standing devotees of Bhagawan for generations now.
“Devotee, please allow me to add a bit to what devotee X, Y and Z are saying. I belong to a family who came to Swami in 1949. My elders have seen and experienced miracles that are more precious to us than our own lives. We are honored and eternally grateful that Swami chose our family to experience His Divinity.
I have personally witnessed Dr. Jack Hislop and Mr. Howard Murphet come to my grandfather when they were writing their books. They would take all the collected information to Swami to be verified. Swami would read through and then give his permission for the material to be published. To say because Swami did not write these books, or that the experiences are not to be believed is heartbreaking to me and my family.”
“Devotee, please allow me to add a bit to what devotee X, Y and Z are saying. I belong to a family who came to Swami in 1949. My elders have seen and experienced miracles that are more precious to us than our own lives. We are honored and eternally grateful that Swami chose our family to experience His Divinity.
I have personally witnessed Dr. Jack Hislop and Mr. Howard Murphet come to my grandfather when they were writing their books. They would take all the collected information to Swami to be verified. Swami would read through and then give his permission for the material to be published. To say because Swami did not write these books, or that the experiences are not to be believed is heartbreaking to me and my family.”
Brother Shaun Brown adds to this from his own experience:
“Swami gave His blessings for me to write about Him in an interview in 1996. After this I sought advice from Howard Murphet on how to write about Him, so that I would be able to give Swami my best effort. Howard told me about how he would collect very specific information about each story and each person and then, after writing it down, he would take it to Swami to verify whether the information was true and correct."
Further explained by Chaita in response to brother Shaun’s comment:
“Sairam dear Shaun. I remember this very well even though I was pretty young then. My grandfather had referred to some people, using their nicknames, who had witnessed a miracle in Venkatgiri. When these notes were taken to Swami to verify, Swami corrected them with the actual names, as well as adding in the names of the people who were standing outside the room! Mr Murphet came back to Tata [Grandfather] to ask if the names were correct. This verifying process would take days.”
“Swami gave His blessings for me to write about Him in an interview in 1996. After this I sought advice from Howard Murphet on how to write about Him, so that I would be able to give Swami my best effort. Howard told me about how he would collect very specific information about each story and each person and then, after writing it down, he would take it to Swami to verify whether the information was true and correct."
Further explained by Chaita in response to brother Shaun’s comment:
“Sairam dear Shaun. I remember this very well even though I was pretty young then. My grandfather had referred to some people, using their nicknames, who had witnessed a miracle in Venkatgiri. When these notes were taken to Swami to verify, Swami corrected them with the actual names, as well as adding in the names of the people who were standing outside the room! Mr Murphet came back to Tata [Grandfather] to ask if the names were correct. This verifying process would take days.”
WHEN IN DOUBT, REVISIT SWAMI’S WORDS
Having said this, below is one small example of how the words of Baba, which were published by a renowned devotee in her book, are called into question.
This is the actual quote questioned by devotee E:
"Man is seven steps below God. Evil spirits are six steps below God. God's aura falls on all these steps. Evil spirits have slightly greater strength than man. With this extra strength, they have the power to masquerade themselves as Gods." - (Sri Sathya Sai Anandadayi, p.292. Author Karunamba Rammurthy)
The following is the exchange as it took place on a Facebook post:
Devotee E says these are not Baba’s words from His books or discourses.
In response brother Shaun Brown wrote with the help of Swami’s quotes, a commentary which could help us all distinguish and understand what to accept as true, even in such cases of words attributed to Swami in those books that were ratified by Swami Himself and accepted when He was here physically, as opposed to misinterpreted or falsified ones:
“Sai Ram dear E, I totally understand that you don't want to believe those who claim Swami talks to them via mediums etc. I think everyone here would agree with you on that point. Kindly remember that Madhusudan also falls into that dubious category of intermediaries. ..So all of us here are very much aware that those kind of devotees exist and that they seek to deceive other devotees for their own gain. That is exactly why we do everything we can to expose them and provide Swami’s actual teachings so that devotees can consider the evidence for themselves."
This is the actual quote questioned by devotee E:
"Man is seven steps below God. Evil spirits are six steps below God. God's aura falls on all these steps. Evil spirits have slightly greater strength than man. With this extra strength, they have the power to masquerade themselves as Gods." - (Sri Sathya Sai Anandadayi, p.292. Author Karunamba Rammurthy)
The following is the exchange as it took place on a Facebook post:
Devotee E says these are not Baba’s words from His books or discourses.
In response brother Shaun Brown wrote with the help of Swami’s quotes, a commentary which could help us all distinguish and understand what to accept as true, even in such cases of words attributed to Swami in those books that were ratified by Swami Himself and accepted when He was here physically, as opposed to misinterpreted or falsified ones:
“Sai Ram dear E, I totally understand that you don't want to believe those who claim Swami talks to them via mediums etc. I think everyone here would agree with you on that point. Kindly remember that Madhusudan also falls into that dubious category of intermediaries. ..So all of us here are very much aware that those kind of devotees exist and that they seek to deceive other devotees for their own gain. That is exactly why we do everything we can to expose them and provide Swami’s actual teachings so that devotees can consider the evidence for themselves."
The fact of the matter is that the documented records of conversations with Swami by Karunamba Ramamurthy are nothing to do with the dubious methods of 'communication’ you refer to. The only thing the author mentions is her face-to-face conversations with Swami in countless interviews and interactions. The fact that you bring up people who claim to talk to Swami through mediums is therefore not actually relevant to this situation.
And your opinion appears to be that if something is said which was not from Swami, you will know it. I am sure that you are familiar with Swami’s teachings dear E, as are the rest of the devotees here. As the author of the 11th World Conference Study Guide and a number of other publications over the past 24 years, I know the feeling you are speaking about. We become familiar with Swami’s teachings and then we come across something that doesn’t quite sound right. It is almost like a discordant note. Since I recognise what you are speaking about, I would like to share with you what I have learned, if that is alright.
First, when that feeling happens, please don’t dismiss the quote out of hand. Go to Swami’s teachings and investigate it. Because you are absolutely right - before we believe anything that anyone else says, we should first put our faith in Him and His words.
I frequently receive questions from Sai young adults, devotees and office bearers in His organisation about whether something is part of Swami’s teachings, or where it is located. Sometimes I have exactly the same reaction you have described – an almost certainty that this is not something Swami said. But each time I have reserved my judgement and gone to Swami’s teachings in Sathya Sai Speaks, Summer Showers and the Vahinis to find out what He said. And on more than a few occasions I have found that I had been wrong – that the teaching I had doubted was indeed something that Swami had taught. We are all aware that none of us knows all there is to know about Swami and His teachings, and also that none of us is the arbiter of what He said and didn’t say. And so, all of us should always keep consulting His teachings and placing our faith in what He said.
Since you seek something from Swami’s teachings on the seven levels which Swami mentioned to Kanamma, you may be aware that Swami often spoke in His discourses about the fourteen worlds. These are part of Hindu cosmology and are divided into seven upper worlds and seven lower worlds. These fourteen worlds are a part of the teachings of the Vedas, which Swami said He had come to protect. They are mentioned in the Atharva Veda to be specific and also in the Puranas, including the Bhagavatha Purana, which Swami often told stories from in His discourses. In Prasnottara Vahini, Swami speaks about these seven upper worlds or planes of existence, which are also mentioned at the start of the Sampoorna Gayatri Mantra – Bhur, Bhuvar, Svar, Mahar, Janah, Tapah, and Sathya lokas.
Sathya Loka is also known as Brahma Loka. Swami said that those who go to Brahma Loka are liberated souls who have merged in Him. As Swami said in SSS 34.14 “When one contemplates on the Lord, one will certainly attain Brahmaloka.” Again, in Sathya Sai Vahini chapter 8, Swami spoke about how liberated souls go to Brahma Loka and again in Upanishad Vahini chapter 9. Thus, as Swami has described to Kanamma, God (in Sathya Loka or Brahma Loka, the level of liberation) is seven levels above man (who dwells in Bhu Loka or Earth). Disembodied spirits dwell in the second level, Bhuvah Loka, also referred to by Swami as the astral plane in SSIB 1991.8 (This is also mentioned in the Bhagavatham, 11:24:12). This plane is 6 levels below Brahma Loka, again, just as Swami mentioned to Kanamma.
Whether Madhusudan is possessed by one of these spirits or by simple greed, time will inevitably tell. However Swami definitely did say that such spirits exist. And just as He warned Kanamma, He also warned us in His discourses on multiple occasions, that those who claim to be mediums for Him are sometimes acting under the influence of such spirits who are trying to masquerade as Him. A note to that effect was published in the November 1967 edition of Sanathana Sarathi : "Some persons, misuse the name of Baba and announce that Baba is in communion with them, giving messages for Bhakthas (devotees), answering the questions of Bhakthas and granting interviews with Bhakthas, their object being to earn money or fame. The agents and advertisers of such persons use children and trade and proclaim their authenticity. Such trickery is now very prevalent in Tamilnadu and Mysore State."
Baba has no need to use human media for communicating with Bhakthas. He has declared often that He does not ‘possess’ anyone and that all such incidents have to be explained either as hysteria, or as the manifestation of spirits or as sheer fakes by cranks or crooks. No real devotee of Baba will be taken in by such devices. It is the duty of devotees to stop all such trickery by wise counsel and firm denial.
But, while Swami said that such spirits do speak through people while pretending to be Him, it is also possible that all Madhusudan is possessed by is the greed to earn money, just as Swami warned in SSS 10.35:
And your opinion appears to be that if something is said which was not from Swami, you will know it. I am sure that you are familiar with Swami’s teachings dear E, as are the rest of the devotees here. As the author of the 11th World Conference Study Guide and a number of other publications over the past 24 years, I know the feeling you are speaking about. We become familiar with Swami’s teachings and then we come across something that doesn’t quite sound right. It is almost like a discordant note. Since I recognise what you are speaking about, I would like to share with you what I have learned, if that is alright.
First, when that feeling happens, please don’t dismiss the quote out of hand. Go to Swami’s teachings and investigate it. Because you are absolutely right - before we believe anything that anyone else says, we should first put our faith in Him and His words.
I frequently receive questions from Sai young adults, devotees and office bearers in His organisation about whether something is part of Swami’s teachings, or where it is located. Sometimes I have exactly the same reaction you have described – an almost certainty that this is not something Swami said. But each time I have reserved my judgement and gone to Swami’s teachings in Sathya Sai Speaks, Summer Showers and the Vahinis to find out what He said. And on more than a few occasions I have found that I had been wrong – that the teaching I had doubted was indeed something that Swami had taught. We are all aware that none of us knows all there is to know about Swami and His teachings, and also that none of us is the arbiter of what He said and didn’t say. And so, all of us should always keep consulting His teachings and placing our faith in what He said.
Since you seek something from Swami’s teachings on the seven levels which Swami mentioned to Kanamma, you may be aware that Swami often spoke in His discourses about the fourteen worlds. These are part of Hindu cosmology and are divided into seven upper worlds and seven lower worlds. These fourteen worlds are a part of the teachings of the Vedas, which Swami said He had come to protect. They are mentioned in the Atharva Veda to be specific and also in the Puranas, including the Bhagavatha Purana, which Swami often told stories from in His discourses. In Prasnottara Vahini, Swami speaks about these seven upper worlds or planes of existence, which are also mentioned at the start of the Sampoorna Gayatri Mantra – Bhur, Bhuvar, Svar, Mahar, Janah, Tapah, and Sathya lokas.
Sathya Loka is also known as Brahma Loka. Swami said that those who go to Brahma Loka are liberated souls who have merged in Him. As Swami said in SSS 34.14 “When one contemplates on the Lord, one will certainly attain Brahmaloka.” Again, in Sathya Sai Vahini chapter 8, Swami spoke about how liberated souls go to Brahma Loka and again in Upanishad Vahini chapter 9. Thus, as Swami has described to Kanamma, God (in Sathya Loka or Brahma Loka, the level of liberation) is seven levels above man (who dwells in Bhu Loka or Earth). Disembodied spirits dwell in the second level, Bhuvah Loka, also referred to by Swami as the astral plane in SSIB 1991.8 (This is also mentioned in the Bhagavatham, 11:24:12). This plane is 6 levels below Brahma Loka, again, just as Swami mentioned to Kanamma.
Whether Madhusudan is possessed by one of these spirits or by simple greed, time will inevitably tell. However Swami definitely did say that such spirits exist. And just as He warned Kanamma, He also warned us in His discourses on multiple occasions, that those who claim to be mediums for Him are sometimes acting under the influence of such spirits who are trying to masquerade as Him. A note to that effect was published in the November 1967 edition of Sanathana Sarathi : "Some persons, misuse the name of Baba and announce that Baba is in communion with them, giving messages for Bhakthas (devotees), answering the questions of Bhakthas and granting interviews with Bhakthas, their object being to earn money or fame. The agents and advertisers of such persons use children and trade and proclaim their authenticity. Such trickery is now very prevalent in Tamilnadu and Mysore State."
Baba has no need to use human media for communicating with Bhakthas. He has declared often that He does not ‘possess’ anyone and that all such incidents have to be explained either as hysteria, or as the manifestation of spirits or as sheer fakes by cranks or crooks. No real devotee of Baba will be taken in by such devices. It is the duty of devotees to stop all such trickery by wise counsel and firm denial.
But, while Swami said that such spirits do speak through people while pretending to be Him, it is also possible that all Madhusudan is possessed by is the greed to earn money, just as Swami warned in SSS 10.35:
There are others who claim that I am speaking through them, and answering questions put to them.
These people must be either insane or hysteria-affected or they are possessed by some ghost or by the greed to earn money thereby. I can only tell you that it is not I that speaks through them.
I do not need media; nor do I need substitutes or subsidiaries or representatives.
SSS 10.35: 22 November 1970, http://www.sssbpt.info/ssspeaks/volume10/sss10-35.pdf
These people must be either insane or hysteria-affected or they are possessed by some ghost or by the greed to earn money thereby. I can only tell you that it is not I that speaks through them.
I do not need media; nor do I need substitutes or subsidiaries or representatives.
SSS 10.35: 22 November 1970, http://www.sssbpt.info/ssspeaks/volume10/sss10-35.pdf
An interesting point though: In SSS 10:35, Swami also described a tactic of these evil forces, which reads almost like a description of Madhusudan’s behaviour and the effect it is having on devotees. Swami outlined specific traits that these inferior evil forces would indulge in:
-They will try to distract devotees and draw them away from the spiritual path into avarice (greed for wealth) and malice, which are two side effects of Muddenahalli that many of us have observed.
-They will indulge in exhibitionistic tricks calculated to collect customers and exploit the ignorant.
-These inferior evil forces will also imitate His dress and gestures
Swami then gave a very specific warning, which describes the tactics used by Muddenahalli:
"Beware of being cheated by dress or speech or by tricks."
“Evil forces which design to damage or diminish the faith and devotion of the simple and the sincere
do emerge into action and try to attract attention by devious means.
They try to draw away aspirants from the spiritual path into worldly paths of avarice and malice.
There is a big chasm of difference between the Sai Shakthi (Sai Power) and these inferior shakthis.
Since the opportunity has now offered itself, this has to be said.
There can be no limit for Sai Shakthi, no hindrance, no opposition or obstacle.
You may believe it or you may not, but Sai Shakthi can transform earth into sky, the sky into earth.
Only, there is no call for that transformation.
This Divine Behaviour is far distinct from the mean exhibitionistic tricks of the inferior shakthis.
This is spontaneous manifestation; those are calculated to collect customers and exploit the ignorant.
The inferior shakthis may imitate the dress or the gestures, for imitation cannot be prevented.
But you have to ask yourselves the question: "Can all green feathered birds be parrots?
Or, can all worms on petals turn into butterflies?
Or, can a donkey wearing a tiger-skin become a tiger or can an overgrown boar be honoured as an elephant?"
Beware of being cheated by dress or speech or by tricks.
Nor need you feel angry or upset by these.
For Truth is ever Truth. Falsehood can never become Truth, whatever its tactics.
This is the very embodiment of Truth. It has no unreality or falsehood in its composition.”
SSS 10.35: 22 November 1970, http://www.sssbpt.info/ssspeaks/volume10/sss10-35.pdf
do emerge into action and try to attract attention by devious means.
They try to draw away aspirants from the spiritual path into worldly paths of avarice and malice.
There is a big chasm of difference between the Sai Shakthi (Sai Power) and these inferior shakthis.
Since the opportunity has now offered itself, this has to be said.
There can be no limit for Sai Shakthi, no hindrance, no opposition or obstacle.
You may believe it or you may not, but Sai Shakthi can transform earth into sky, the sky into earth.
Only, there is no call for that transformation.
This Divine Behaviour is far distinct from the mean exhibitionistic tricks of the inferior shakthis.
This is spontaneous manifestation; those are calculated to collect customers and exploit the ignorant.
The inferior shakthis may imitate the dress or the gestures, for imitation cannot be prevented.
But you have to ask yourselves the question: "Can all green feathered birds be parrots?
Or, can all worms on petals turn into butterflies?
Or, can a donkey wearing a tiger-skin become a tiger or can an overgrown boar be honoured as an elephant?"
Beware of being cheated by dress or speech or by tricks.
Nor need you feel angry or upset by these.
For Truth is ever Truth. Falsehood can never become Truth, whatever its tactics.
This is the very embodiment of Truth. It has no unreality or falsehood in its composition.”
SSS 10.35: 22 November 1970, http://www.sssbpt.info/ssspeaks/volume10/sss10-35.pdf
Another gem from Sri Sathya Sai Anandadayi is something Swami said to Vijayamma and her family in 1961. More and more people were coming to Swami and He explained that He would have less and less time to come and speak to them and grant interviews. Then He said:
My discourses will be conversations then.
For the aspirant who cannot come here, he can read the discourses in print.
Do not get upset. … conversations in print are as valuable as those received in the Interview Room.
Have no doubts about it.
(Sri Sathya Sai Anandadayi, p.270)
Thus, according to Baba, even studying His discourses is as valuable as receiving advice directly from Him in an interview! Since He said this, why would anyone not want to read His words!
Again, you are free to believe whatever you choose. That is of course between you and Baba. Please understand though, that everyone else here also has that same choice. May we all continue to dive deep into Him and His life, as He said to. May we all continue to learn in all humility that the more we learn, the more there is to know about Him.
Again, you are free to believe whatever you choose. That is of course between you and Baba. Please understand though, that everyone else here also has that same choice. May we all continue to dive deep into Him and His life, as He said to. May we all continue to learn in all humility that the more we learn, the more there is to know about Him.
Jai Sai Ram