‘World Avatar’ Sathya Sai Baba’s Troubled Trail

In any clear reading of the officially published works of Sathya Sai Baba, there are zig-zagging trails of anomaly.

The Troubled Trail

One sees glaring contradictions, unfulfilled prophecies and broken promises. The multi-colored and pretty ‘balloons’ that he has for so many decades floated – supposedly for the delight of all humanity – keep on popping, their limp remnants scattered far and wide.

The eyes of faith are blind to the absurdities – or, if the oddities are pointed out to his believers, they will justify them in one way or another – for example, by citing his oft-stated saying “Love Me for My mystery”. The procrustean bed works by both length and width.

For example, he has said, way back when the Beatles were but pups:

I must tell you that you are luckier than men of previous generations. The accumulated merit of many previous births must have granted you this luck. You have got Me and it is your duty now to develop this relationship that you have achieved by sheer good fortune. In four or five years’ time, you will see Yogis [those who are united with God] and Maharishis [great seers] and Munis [silent sages] crowding here and you may not have such chances of asking Me questions and getting the answers, of approaching Me and directly speaking to Me. (Sathya Sai Speaks – I, 174-5; Sept. 27, 1960)

Long Time Not Adventing

It is now not “four of five years time” but popping up on five decades later.

The context of his September 1960 prophecy makes it clear that the general public attending Puttaparthi gatherings will be privy to these wondrous manifestations. But of the panoply of saints and sages? One’s eyes strain in vain. Of politicians across the broad spectrum – yes, those aplenty. The topmost brass in the armed services – yes, their medals add to the dazzle of Puttaparthi. Of top cops – they are all over the place. Of the foremost judiciary, the diplomats, the industrialists, and so on – no end of them.

Further Reading

Sathya Sai Baba’s Claims of Divinity and Divine Powers, Brian Steel  November 2004

Sathya Sai Lies – part one. Posted by robertpriddy on August 29, 2008

By Barry Pittard at: https://barrypittard.wordpress.com -:

And despite both old and recent (2007) promises – see Will World Accept Sathya Sai Baba? He Says Yes. Very Soon

Has ‘World Saviour’ Missed His Plane?

For a slight indication that he is going nowhere that would exceed the capacity of his wheelchair and the nervy hands of those continually needing to prop him up – see Sathya Sai Baba’s Tips To Keep Ageing Away

Sathya Sai Baba Says He Dislikes Pomp

Of pomp, Sathya Sai Baba declares a dislike:

“Let Me tell you this now itself: I do not like this pomp and show. I do not derive any joy out of it. Pomp, such as this, has become a fashion now, even among ascetics and monks who ought to know better. They profess poverty and simplicity and yet, they allow or encourage their disciples to waste much energy and money on pomp and pageantry which serve only to develop the egotism of themselves and their followers. The emphasis on show makes a thing hollow of all meaning.” (Sathya Sai Speaks Vol 3., p 228)

See also, Sanathana Sarathi, 136f S3 40-228 S3

Can one’s eye’s be deceiving, after all? Anyway, one can run the check. See the photos in the Kubla Khan-Citizen Kane-Bill Gates reference below. They display a marked difference to the profound humility of those such as:

Shirdi Sai Baba

A true saint whose fame Sathya Sai Baba used to launch his own fame. An outward eccentricity he used as a powerful teaching tool. Many Moslems, Hindus and those of other faiths sought him out

Sri Ramakrishna and Sharada Devi

Sri Ramakrishna inspired, particularly through his greatest disciple Vivekananda the foundation of the Ramakrishna Mission. It has many branches worldwide and services e.g., among the poor and needy and in education. A careful distinction needs to be made in countries in the West between this organization and the almost ubiquitous Hare Krishna movement

Mahatma Gandhi

Father of modern India, but ‘belonging’ to the world

Sri Ramana Maharshi

The saint of Arunachala Hill. An exemplar of the ‘neti neti’ practice: I am not (in essence) this, nor that, and so forth through the clinging attachments the mind makes

Sri Aurobindo

Founder of UNESCO-sponsored Auroville

Meha Baba Tended to many renunciates and others exposed to harsh elements. Many individuals, living in blissful states had left body consciousness, and Meha Baba and his followers took them in and cared for them

Swami Sivananda Founded Divine Life Mission. His successor, Swami Chidananda, is also regarded as having long lived the ancient monastic ideal, including service to humankind

Ananda Mai Ma

The ‘bliss-filled Mother’. Her main, but far from only mission, was to uplift the condition of India’s women. Yogananda in his world famous ‘Autobiography of a Yogi’ writes movingly of her.

and countless other exemplars of saintly simplicity who have have so greatly dignified India’s long history:

Sai Baba, Kubla Khan, Citizen Kane, Bill Gates et alia

For related reading

Sai Baba Says His Cult Is ‘The’ Divine Organization In History

‘Secret Swami’ Cult Recruits At Prime Public Venues

A Strong India Can Bless The World

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Sathya Sai Baba

Sathya Sai Baba says he “dislikes pomp”

Great Editor V.K. Narasimhan Blind In Only One Eye

The late V.K. Narasimhan – or VKN, as he was fondly known throughout India –  had long been known as one of India’s most outstanding newspaper editors and authors. He was famed for his courage, for example, in standing up on behalf of civil liberties to Mrs Indira Gandhi when she declared her state of Emergency (1975-77).

He succeeded Professor P.N. Kasturi as Editor of Sanathana Sarathi, Sathya Sai Baba’s official organ, which is distributed worldwide. It is widely known among key servitors of Sathya Sai Baba that Sri Narasimhan was an extremely rare exception in that he would speak fearlessly and frankly to him.

Both Robert Priddy, former Norwegian head of the International Sathya Sai Organization, and I both – although he for years longer – had a treasured friendship with VKN, who had high regard for Priddy’s writings, which he regularly published in Sanathana Sarathi. It meant much to me that, in 1998 in his last illness, although nearly all were forbidden to visit his bedside, VKN gave instructions to the Sathya Sai Superspecialty Hospital staff to ensure that I was permitted. A little earlier to this, which was effectively his last illness, I had been editing his last book, which was on Teilhard de Chardin, Jesuit priest cum paleontologist, biologist, and philosopher, for whose works VKN had a great love.

There are some acts of distinctive kindness and generosity of his to which I was directly privy that I suppose he would not have wanted anyone else but myself to know about.

He died aged 87, on March 9th, 2000. See a fine appreciation of V.K.N. by English Author Mick Brown (Daily Telegraph, etc) in his A Spiritual Tourist, Bloomsbury Publish, London 1998.

V.K.Narasimhan. Deceased Eminent Indian Editor-author

Robert Priddy has blogged, pointing out that there are many indications that Sathya Sai Baba has not given sight to the blind, including V.K. Narasimhan who was largely blind in one eye. See, Blind persons seek cures from Sathya Sai Baba

Priddy has written extensively on the police killings in Sai Baba’s bedroom, hours after the ashram had returned to relative calm, and Sai Baba was firmly in charge. Sri Narasimhan is shown as sharing with Priddy chilling evidence of a huge cover up of what took place.

For some readings including scans which refer to VKN, see inset box titled ‘Robert Priddy’s notebooks from Sai Baba ashrams 1984-1998′ http://www.saibaba-x.org.uk/16/

Sathya Sai Says: “Why fear when I am here?”. On the Events of June 6, 1993 – Murders in Sai Baba’s Private Quarters

More Concerning The 1993 Murders In Prashanthi Mandir

Excerpts from newspaper reports with information concerning the murders in Sai Baba’s vicinity at Prashanthi Nilayam of 6-6-1993

The Unresolved, Covered-up 1993 Murders in Sathya Sai Baba’s Bedroom Revisited

Sathya Sai Baba Bedroom Murders

A convenient coverage of many of the issues is at Robert Priddy’s blogsite: http://robertpriddy.wordpress.com. See, Sathya Sai Baba Bedroom Murders

Part 1. Part 2. Part 3.

Part 4. Part 5.

Of general interest is:

Recorded talk with V. K.Narasimhan during 70th birthday of Sai Baba

Robert Priddy has recorded Sri Narasimhan’s view on numbers attending (FAR below Sathya Sai Baba’s estimates) and on his having to edit out Sai Baba’s errors from the journal, plus the latter’s private directions to Central Coordinators concerning the organization and the price of rooms for delegates to his conference, who were originally invited for free logding, etc.

Related Barry Pittard articles:

Renowned Indian Editor VKN. Diary and Letter Scans Reveal

Robert Priddy (3) Friendship With V.K. Narasimhan

Robert Priddy says that he found some devastating facts from one of Sai Baba’s very closest confidants in the 1980s and 1990s.

This was V.K. Narasimhan (d. March 2000). This remarkable man, whose history of standing courageously up (many fine citizens were flung into jail!) as a newspaper Editor to Indira Gandhi during the 21-month 1975–1977 […]

V.P.B. Nair. B.Premanand. R.Priddy: Sai Baba Bedroom Killings

Many Indian journalists and editors and others know of the profound extent of the cover up by the then powerful Home Minister S.B. Chavan, and central, Andhra Pradesh State and local governments. It is a pity that very few have had the courage to speak out publicly on the issue, as has former Andhra Pradesh Home Secretary V.P.B. Nair, who was in office at the time of the killings. It is a sad commentary that very few had the courage in speaking out displayed by those such as Nair and B. Premanand. See the BBC Film Clip of V.P.B. Nair making his statement

The Secret Swami. BBC Docu. Review. Condensed

Many have sought out my article, The BBC’s The Secret Swami – A Revision. However, there is a condensed version here. Downloadable video footage is in the clickable references at the foot of the blog.

Small Turnout In Russia for Solzhenitsyn

Vale Alexander Solzhenitsyn!

It may be argued that the genuine models of moral excellence are great and visionary but flawed individuals, rather than those such as Sathya Sai Baba, the failed ‘God’ who would be King of Kings.

One may find it surprising that people’s sectarian views could not be raised above, and a tribute paid to the wonderful qualities of a man like Alexander Solzhenitzen.

I asked a Russian friend of mine: why is it that one who, like so many other Russians, went through such persecution and privation would have such a poor turn-out upon his passing? Some went out in bitter cold so as to honour him. Why not many more, and what of a few hours of frostbite compared to the sufferings in a great cause such as Russians like Solzhenitsyn stood for? I asked.

In his second email, my friend wrote:

I searched the Internet and I was pleased to find the all the main points I mentioned in my first letter had been previously mentioned in a number of publications and reports.

When Solzhenitsyn came back to Russia, he criticized people and policies from different parts of the political spectrum and suggested rather utopian solutions for the country’s problems. Though relevant, his criticism was not new for people in Russia. They had heard all of that years before. It was no revelation. In fact, people were rather tired of so much criticism in their life.  As a result, he found himself isolated from any political groups and movements in Russia but at the same time he still wanted to be a prophet in his Fatherland. Finally, after being number 12 in the list of the most influencial political figures in Russia, he lost his place in the top 100.

In his previous email, my friend said:

No doubt that Solzhenitsyn was a great hero as a writer of The Gulag Archipelago. Nevertheless, he was a rather controversial figure. After coming back from the exile he had a special TV programme which was not very popular. To the end of his life, he was a supporter of the Russian monarchy and wrote a book which was considered rather anti-semitic. (Honestly, I have not read it). Some time ago, he accepted a government award from the hands of Vladimir Putin, but previously refused the awards from the hands of Gorbachev and Eltsyn. He had very bad relationships with another famous dissident Varlam Shalamov, and he never cooperated with Memorial, a Non Government Organization which tries to restore the truth about Stalin’s repressions. So, I think that some people believe that it was a sort of a double standard from his side. In our country the more a public figure has an attention and support from the authority the less trust they have from people. It looked as if the government tamed Solzhenitsyn.

As for me, I think The Gulag Archipelago is a real contribution to the processes of historical justice. At the same time, as a personality Solzhenitsyn was a bit categorical and authoritarian for me compared to academicians Sakharov or Likhachev whom I’d rather accept as moral authority than he.

See,

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7545617.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7544265.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7542484.stm

CNN-IBN Reports Action On Corrupt Indian Gurus

The influential media outlet CNN-IBN has just come out with a series of articles on the increasing exposure of ‘godmen’ in India.

What will not be so obvious is the courage of those in journalism, the judiciary, police forces and so on who are putting themselves in danger when they attempt to confront the forces of corruption.

The links to the CNN-IBN reports are immediately below, and beneath these are links (with quotes) to a number of articles in Call for Media and Government Investigation of Sathya Sai Baba. These span many months, and hold out the hope that the forces of anti-corruption and of those who uphold the justifiable Indian pride in her great and varied culture will be able to triumph.

Even as I write there are reports that India has the best human rights record in Asia. This will not have been achieved without the cost of tremendous courage and sacrifice – much of it never recordable.

With India on her way to becoming a superpower, a great contribution she can make – one that can indeed shame those countries which flaunt their democratic traditions – is to clean up her ‘house’ and set an example of flourishing democratic achievements. For decades, the profoundly failed guru, Sathya Sai Baba, has been saying that he will first clean up his ‘own backyard’. He has made all too little dent but India does not need him. She has, down millennia, furnished the worthy aims that he uncontroversially preaches. She has long abounded in great exemplars. It is goods delivery well in excess of all the preaching by her sometimes shady and failed gurus that is needed.

In her rich and marvelous multiculture, these qualities can be asserted by any irrespective of culture, class or creed .

…………….

CNN-IBN Reports just released

Self-styled godmen under increasing scrutiny

Samkhya Edamaruku / CNN-IBN

Fri, Aug 01, 2008 at 21:34, Updated at Fri, Aug 01, 2008 in Nation India section

Framed or foul play? Asaram followers left wondering

Nilanjana Bose / CNN-IBN

Fri, Aug 01, 2008 at 21:16, Updated at Fri, Aug 01, 2008 in Nation sectio. Tags: Asaram Bapu, Ashram , New Delhi

Journalists protest against media attack in Gujarat.

CNN-IBN, Sat, Jul 19, 2008 at 18:53 in Nation section

Spiritual guru’s followers brutally attack journos

Meghdoot Sharon / CNN-IBN

Fri, Jul 18, 2008 at 23:17 in Nation section

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Further related articles at Call for Media and Government Investigation of Sathya Sai Baba at: https://barrypittard.wordpress.com

These articles tyically refer to the poor, but apparently slowly improving, India media showing with regard to running news inimical to the most powerful Indian gurus, of whom Sathya Sai Baba has long been the most powerful of all, worshipped by millions as God.

Supercool Indian Gurus Under Fire

The following readings indicate two-way pulls occurring in India – towards gurus and the extraordinary power many of them have, down millennia, wielded, and away from them

V.P.B. Nair. B.Premanand. R.Priddy: Sai Baba Bedroom Killings

Many Indian journalists and editors and others know of the profound extent of the cover up by the then powerful Home Minister S.B. Chavan, and central, Andhra Pradesh State and local governments. It is a pity that very few have had the courage to speak out publicly on the issue, as has former Andhra Pradesh Home Secretary V.P.B. Nair, who was in office at the time of the killings. It is a sad commentary that very few had the courage in speaking out displayed by those such as Nair and B. Premanand. See the BBC Film Clip of V.P.B. Nair making his statement

The Guru Trap. Will India Be Forever Trapped?

Tehelka is regarded by many observers as one of few newspapers in India which can show some investigate clout and courage. It has sustained tremendous pressure by Indian governments and other power brokerage forces in India. Below is an excerpt from Tehelka, which points the need for India to come clean and act decisively about her frequent cultivation and protection of nefarious gurus. Sathya Sai Baba gets a reference.

‘Moon Mission of Sathya Sai Baba’. Re Merinews Article

Noting that the Indian news service Merinews.com contained an article by Natteri Adigal which gave me a brief mention, I responded.

This was, Moon mission of Sathya Sai Baba: Only for the faithful! by Natteri Adigal, Thursday, 29 November 2007

Is Sai Baba’s Governmental Influence ‘Miraculous’?

Yesterday’s blog, HERE, noted the Indian magazine Business Standard news current report that the Sathya Sai Central Trust is putting Sai Baba’s Puttaparthi airport up for sale. It was revealing to find an old 1998 Indian Express report that saw corrupt links between Sai Baba’s chief representatives and a then Civil Aviation boss. Most Indian publications have long suffered their publisher’s censorship against reports adverse to Sathya Sai Baba. As the Editor of one of India’s leading newspapers told me: Sai Baba is too powerful, with so many devotees all over India. Likely to have been all too little noticed, then, was a report filed in the Indian Express in February 1998 by reporter Swati Chaturvedi. It points to corrupt origins in the sanctioning of the Sathya Sai airport. What the Swati Chaturvedi article does not mention is that the then Civil Aviation Secretary, M.K. Kaw, is a Sathya Sai Baba devotee.

Sai Baba’s Airport Up For Sale, Reports Business Standard

Sai Baba`s airport up for sale

S Kalyana Ramanathan / Chennai October 31, 2007

“Trust puts floor price at Rs 600 crore

The airport’s owner, the Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust, which manages the religious and philanthropic assets and work of Sri Sathya Sai Baba, has invited bids for it and put the floor price at Rs 600 crore”

Indian Nuclear Scientist Now Sai Baba’s Global Radio Chief

These days Sai Baba’s chief international propagandist (via Sai Global Harmony and WorldSpace International Satellite Radio Service) and deputy head of the immensely wealthy and influential world Sathya Sai Organization, Dr G. Venkataraman, was a top Indian nuclear scientist
Top Vajpayee Minister Thinks BBC Was Plotting

For a glimpse at the clearly morally bankrupt showing of the Vajpayee government on many allegations facing Sathya Sai Baba, see the video clip from the BBC’s The Secret Swami (2004), HERE

Is Indian ‘Godman’ Sai Baba’s Moon Waning Still Further?

The report below, I have excerpted from the DNAINDIA news service. It indicates that Sathya Sai Baba’s chief translator and personal India and international emissary, Professor Anil Kumar, has acknowledged the extraordinary traffic and crowd snarls occasioned by Sai Baba’s trip to his private airport at Puttaparthi.

It is reported that India’s most famous and controversial guru was at the airport in his car on the evening of Thursday October 4, 2007, which got badly detained by unruly crowds. He would be present, it was believed, to preside over a profound mass vision that he, as God, would perform. An Indo Asian News Service (IANS) staff writer reported …

P.N. Bhagwati, India’s Ex-Chief Justice: Wild, Reckless Claims

P.N. Bhagawati, former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of India, a key figure on the Sathya Sai Central Trust (India) has also long been on the Board of Directors of The Times of India

Indian Gurus Stifle India’s Chance To Excel

“Watershed year for Indian law” reports BBC’s Sanjoy Majumder
“For many, 2006 has been a watershed in Indian legal history”, states Sanjoy Majumder, Friday, 5 January 2007, BBC News, Delhi:
For the first time, a serving cabinet minister (Shibu Soren), was given life imprisonment for murder. Under a fortnight later, a cricket star and MP (Navjot Singh Sidhu) was jailed for manslaughter. Majumder reports “A recent study suggests that nearly a quarter of the country’s MPs are facing criminal charges ranging from murder to extortion and even rape”, and that “India’s courts are estimated to have a backlog of some two million cases”. See useful BBC News links about corruption in India here.

Gurubusting Sathya Sai Baba

Breaking decades of virtual Indian media silence on comment critical of Sathya Sai Baba, a number of major Indian news organizations have run (mostly November 22, 2006) the Indo-Asian News Service (IANS) report on Paul Lewis’s article in The Guardian, ‘The Indian living god, the paedophilia claims and the Duke of Edinburgh awards’“…
Sai Baba’s “Back Yard” Still A Mess

India A Mature Democracy? BBC Probes

Would many Indian politicians, notorious for their extreme corruption, dare expose the foreign goose that lays the (cosmic!) golden egg? Driving this question would have reinforced the producer Eamon Hardy’s original query about whether India is a mature democracy.

View The Secret Swami HERE. Available in broadband and modem. Read:

The BBC’s The Secret Swami – A Revision.

The Genesis of the BBC’s The Secret Swami (Sai Baba)

Who In India Will Stand out Against Abuses?

According to reports by Sanjoy Majumdar, BBC New Delhi and Tim Sullivan of Associated Press, there have been some recent populist stirrings in India against corruption and its cover-up.  Not that there have not long been those Indians who have stood up valiantly against these. One may hope that the groundswell will come to include corrupt gurus

Will India’s New Backlash Against Corruption Lash Sathya Sai Baba?

“Watershed year for Indian law” reports BBC’s Sanjoy Majumder
“For many, 2006 has been a watershed in Indian legal history”, states Sanjoy Majumder, Friday, 5 January 2007, BBC News, Delhi:
For the first time, a serving cabinet minister (Shibu Soren), was given life imprisonment for murder. Under a fortnight later, a cricket star and MP (Navjot Singh Sidhu) was jailed for manslaughter. Majumder reports “A recent study suggests that nearly a quarter of the country’s MPs are facing criminal charges ranging from murder to extortion and even rape”, and that “India’s courts are estimated to have a backlog of some two million cases”. See useful BBC News links about corruption in India here.

Exposure of Sathya Sai Baba. Media Source List