I am you; you are I; that is the Truth.

[Guest guest]

Om Sri Sai Ram

I am neither Guru nor God; I am you; you are I; that is the Truth. There is no

distinction. That which appears so is the delusion. You are waves; I am the

ocean. Know this and be free, be divine.          

Sri Sathya Sai

 

A Russian devotee, Alexander, had been to see Sathya Sai Baba and when he

returned he excitedly told all his friends about the phenomenal occurrences

that were going on in Puttaparthi, India. He told them an Avatar was on the

Earth and discussed many of the details of his visit with them. But all

listened mildly and had no interest in finding out anything further about this.

 

He started to plan a return trip and wanted to take at least one other person

with him. He had previously given several books in Russian to his friend

"Mikhail", but Mikhail would not read them. Although the two had been friends

since they were students and Mikhail knew his friend was credible, still he had

no interest in Sai Baba. Alexander could not understand this as Mikhail was a

well educated man, a professor and well known scientist with many achievements

to his name.

Alexander had resigned himself to going alone back to India, but unexpectedly,

Mikhail had called and told him he had decided to go. He had told his wife that

he might stop drinking if he went and so he got her support. He thought he might

pay for the trip by the savings from refraining from alcohol for six months.

Alexander explained to him that no one was allowed to have meat or alcohol or

tobacco in Prashanthi Nilayam and Mikhail agreed to these conditions. But, even

though he had decided to go, Mikhail still refused to read any of the books

about Sai Baba.

They arrived at the Ashram and were given a room to share with other

international visitors. On the third day Alexander gave his friend three issues

of the quarterly magazine, "Divine Love" and Mikhail started reading only those

articles where Swami himself speaks. He was transfixed by what he read and

continued reading into the night.

The next day, Alexander got up to attend Darshan as usual but did not see his

friend Mikhail so he saved a place for him in the Darshan lines even though the

Seva Dal volunteer told him this was usually not allowed. Finally, a half hour

before Darshan time, Mikhail showed up and joined Alexander and they settled

down to wait for a glimpse of Swami. At last he appeared and slowly, gracefully

floated through the crowds until he approached to where the two Russian visitors

were. As he went by them, Sai Baba looked directly at Alexander and Mikhail and

made a sign with his hands three times. Alexander was thrilled as it is an

unusual occurrence to receive some kind of sign or attention from Swami.

After Darshan, Mikhail excitedly told his friend Alexander that last night he

had had a dream in which Swami came to him and had a long conversation with

him. Mikhail was confused because the dream had seemed completely real to him

and he could see and remember everything just as when he was awake so he didn't

know whether to take it as a dream or a real event that actually happened.

Then Mikhail narrated to his friend from memory, the following conversation from

his "dream". In the dream he found himself in the very same lecture hall in

Russia where he normally delivers lectures to his students. But instead, Swami

was at the rostrum where Mikhail usually lectures and Mikhail was sitting at a

table like one of the students.

Sai: "You wanted an interview - you will have it now. You always liked double

lectures (two 45 minute periods without a break): you will now have such a

period yourself. You may ask me any questions."

Mikhail: "Not everything is clear in religions. They divide"

Sai: "Religions were written for the time when people were primitive and so they

were expounded in the language and concepts of that period. A blind belief and

miracles were required. Look at Moses who was taking Jews from Egypt showing

miracles. Each time requires its form. Temples were constructed but the real

temple must be in one's soul. You did not want to read books about me, but you

studied mathematics: first 2 X 2, then further, then physics. From the simple

to the complex, but all the knowledge is held up by the highest knowledge which

is God. Gradually one goes from intellect to spirituality; one needs intellect

to live in the world. You started reading about me for the sake of your friend.

Your friend is my channel. He brought you here and did it selflessly. Do not

worry about material things - You

have a good intellect. Just imagine that man's life in a cosmic scale lasts only

one hundredth part of a second, so what difference does it make where you live:

in a palace or in a hut?"

Mikhail: Where can I find strength?

Sai: "If you have spiritual strength, then physical strength is not important.

Your program was to go swimming in the sea (this is exactly what Mikhail and

Alexander had agreed upon). Go or you will be sorry. One must do everything

sincerely, nothing should be done out of compulsion. You have a good intellect

and it's not necessary for you to stay here long. You have to decide."

Mikhail: "How shall I live now? Maybe I should become a monk or work out an

algorithm for my future actions?"

Sai: "If you put bread into the mouth of a hungry man then he will never learn

to earn it himself. One can't work out algorithms for the whole of one's

future. That is why you are given a choice in your life. I give you a trial and

watch what choice you will take. on that depends whether you pass your test or

not. If there was no choice, you would be slaves, and I don't need slaves. You

should find a spiritual path by yourself, everything depends on you. You should

not expect any gratitude for whatever you give."

Mikhail: "What concrete steps should I take to come to spirituality?"

Sai: "Let us take an example of water - it is a substance. One may pour it into

a vessel; they may bring it to you in a restaurant in a crystal glass or you

may pour it into a gold goblet. But the best of all is to go to the source, the

spring, and drink it from there. The spring is in your heart. it is forgotten;

you must yourself converse with God. What should you do? You must gradually

change yourself morally for the better. You have bad habits. Start with getting

rid of them. You have already become better; less proud. Pride is making you

blind. Alcohol dries up your brain - that is the worst. It's an obstacle to

God. Smoking dries up your body. It hinders your development."

Mikhail: "What then?"

Sai: "Act according to the criteria of Truth. One can clean the puss out of the

wounds like Mother Teresa or help people, but if you are proud then everything

is in vain. If you want you may bring people the knowledge about me, but do not

be a lecturer. Nothing should be done without sincerity, one should not be lazy.

Your wife is more spiritual than you, she is more compassionate. Both of you

still have an opportunity to come to me - your life span is not finished yet."

Mikhail: "I can't understand: is it a dream or not? I am waiting with my group for an interview."

Sai: "The cleverer a man is, the less faith he has. There are no miracles in the

world, only a level of knowledge. For you to believe, tomorrow morning at

Darshan, I'll make this sign by moving my hand three times like that (and Swami

showed how he would do it). That's the end of your double time."

And after the dream ended, Mikhail attended Darshan where Swami confirmed the

truth of the meeting by making the sign with his hand three times. He has

repeatedly said that no one can see him in a dream without his willing it. He

chose this extraordinary way to help Mikhail in his spiritual growth at just

the right moment in his life. As always he showers his love on all.

Source: Sai Pranam – e-magazine - Year 2 Volume 1 - 23rd Nov 2002

 

 

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