Reply to a Sathya Sai Devotee’s Note re: David and Faye Bailey

Recently, because there was the giving of a name and phone number, I replied to a note from one who would part company with the testimony of David and Faye Bailey, of whom I wrote in the recent article. My practice is to reply (usually more briefly than below) – courteously – to those followers who write with apparent sincerity, and not to reply to those who are rude:

David Bailey and Thomas Wiehe. Transcript Of Phone Link: Sathya Sai Abuses

Across many emails from Sathya Sai devotees, as received by our networked group, one sees a regular tendency for the writers to objectify and depersonalize those who are in dissent. The author of the following note is no exception. They fail to acknowledge that those they speak so poorly of were for long among Sathya Sai Baba’s most trusted servitors, and acquitted large responsibilities in the Sathya Sai Organization at large. The automatic assumption of bad faith, disgruntlement and so on is rife among such writers. The phrases “these people” and “not capable of running a chook raffle” used by the woman who wrote the note below and her belittlement of David and Fay Bailey are typical of so many emails we receive. My discussions with dissenters from other authoritarian cults, and comparative readings, indicate the widespread nature of these demeaning types of responses. There is also marked failure to read properly the various evidence that has been very carefully advanced.

The Note:

“I have heard of David and Faye Bailey many years ago
when they took over from Peggy Mason’s Newsletter.
Peggy was a very spiritual soul and as soon as Faye and David took over they started to change things on the Newsletter and were pushing their opinions above what the Newsletter was about in the first place. We could feel the negativity through the Newsletter and stopped subscribing.YOUR CLAIMS ON BABA ARE LUDICROUS! Because your life didn’t go how your wanted, you decided to discredit Baba, especially when David was to play at the Christmas Party there one year. Baba or a doctor arranged for a car to take David to the seaside for his lung condition. He didn’t get to play piano for Baba and has tried to discredit Baba since because Baba didn’t cure his illness. PURELY EGO! The Baileys are not capable of running a chook raffle.
My late husband and I have worked with Baba on the Higher Realms and I can assure you, he is far more powerful than you could imagine!!  DO NOT LISTEN TO THESE PEOPLE”

The Reply

I did not know Peggy and Ron Laing, although I have known those who knew and loved them. In regard to the UK, my understanding is that Ron, Harry Mansbridge and Lucas Ralli, deemed by many to be decent and intelligent men, ended up with quite a deal of disillusionment. Aimee Levy, who was the head of the Sathya Sai Organization in the UK, left, along with his wife, Sandra, deeply concerned at the nature and sheer extent of the allegations. Their reaction, like that of many of us, took a good while to process.

Sathya Sai Baba gave responsibilties to David and Faye Bailey far graver and more extensive than what you refer to as a  “chook raffle”. What is more, a great deal of testimony comes from many around the world, who were for decades deeply respected and loved within the Sai movement, including important leaders who, having investigated (often in their own centres or regions, as our own Terry Gallagher did when head of the Australian Sathya Sai Organization), resigned on a matter of entire principle. Significant numbers have made very probing and careful investigations. I am one of those whom you describe as “those people”. In reality, we have hearts, souls, families, professions and trades. We come from a very wide range of backgrounds. Many Sai devotees have stuck denigrative labels, without carefully looking at issues that relate to proper and democratic requirements of accountability and transparency.

Is not spirituality love in action, especially across divides?

The evidence for the allegations, I am sad to say, is terribly compelling, and keeps on coming after all these decades. The Sathya Sai Organization has long refused to address the concerns of many deeply concerned individuals whom they perfectly well know to have integrity, love and long track records of devotion and service to Sathya Sai Baba. Nor do the facts depend on the word of those whom one may, rightly or wrongly, consider to have acted out of disgruntlement. Many of the testimonies are most harrowing, and some of it has been processed by highly credentialled and experienced abuse professionals.

Whatever the case, may there be –

Love across the great divide,

Barry Pittard

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Further Resources

(Late) Ron and Peggy Laing: Deeply Alienated From Sathya Sai Organization

Peggy Mason and Ron Laing [Mason], Sathya Sai Baba. Embodiment of Love, London, Sawbridge, 1982. [3rd ed., Bath, Gateway Books]. Mrs Mason reports that Sathya Sai Baba told her – see the Chapter ‘The Second Coming has Come’ p. 149-160 – that he is the ‘Cosmic Christ’.

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General

Barry Pittard’s comments in regard to the Public Petition) -:

Petition For Official Investigation Into Sathya Sai Baba Cult. Posted by Barry Pittard on July 10, 2009.

Public Petition For Official Investigations of Sathya Sai Baba and His Worldwide Organization.

There is a Spanish version available:

 

PETICIÓN PÚBLICA PARA  ”INVESTIGACIONES OFICIALES DE SATHYA SAI BABA Y SU ORGANIZACIÓN A NIVEL MUNDIAL)