A Russian devotee

[Guest guest]

in a Dream

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 book 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 Prasanthi 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: From the March 1998 issue of Sanathani Sarathi.

Published by Sathya Sai Books and Publications Trust

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

_________

Messenger - NEW crystal clear PC to PC calling worldwide with voicemail

http://uk.messenger.