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Hi James,
I believe that you have addressed this message to Michael Tandy who
frequently posts in this group. As far as I am aware Mr Tandy has never
met Sai Baba and so may not be the best person to talk to.
There are several Sai devotees who frequently post here on the Net and it
may be better to address those who have met and had some experience ofthe
man rather than someone who will possibly have only secondhand
information. Sincere apologies to Michael if what I have surmised is not
correct!
For myself I have known of Sai for about 12 years and have made 5 trips
to India in that time. I leave on my 6th trip next Sunday. The Sai
movement is not a cult and don't think that there is any validity in any
such claim. In all the times I have visited the ashrams of Sai Baba I
have never been accosted with requests for donations in cash or kind,
however in several interviews which I have had with Sai Baba He has
repeatedly told us not to bring anything in the way of offerings for Him.
Not even the traditional fruit, flower, water etc which Hinduism usually
requires one to offer to a Guru.
On one occasion when a friend asked Him in our interview about money
matters to do with a book she was writing about Him He said that He has
nothing to do with money and so she was not to discuss it with Him. He
told us that there were only two things which we were to offer to Him -
pure love and selfless service to the needy in our own community.
In all the time I have spent with Sai Baba I have never seen him ask
anyone for anything. I have only ever seen him giving. Whether it be
supplying a super specialty hospital or clean drinking water to the
villages around his ashram or just a smile and a kind word to one of his
devotees, I have only ever seen Sai Baba give.
Sai recently said that he wanted people to shift their focus from him to
his teachings and start practising them. His teachings could be summed up
in the words Love all - Serve all. Sai Baba does not ask anyone to
worship Him. He rather tells people to base their lives on His teachings
- Speak the Truth, let your acts proceed from Right Conduct (Do unto
others as you would be done by), promote Peace through your thoughts
words and deeds, have equal Love for all, and have Non Violence in
thought word and deed.
As for your girlfriend basing everyday decisions on how she feels she is
guided by him - there are two answers here. The first is that Sai Baba
always says common sense first - then Divine sense. In my last interview
the only advice He gave me was to follow my conscience and always do what
the conscience says is the right thing. Someone once said to Swami in an
interview "I look at your picture and I receive messages from you as to
what I should do". Swami merely replied "You think of Sai and get some
feeling". Swami also said once that there was much nonsense going around
about Swami controlling everything and people thinking that they need do
nothing. God has given us all talents and abilities and it is our
responsibility to use those abilities correctly. Swami says to observe
his teachings and dedicate all acts to God. This teaching is also found
in the Hindu 'Bible', the Bhagavad Gita.
The other answer is also in the Hindu tradition, as well as the
traditions of most of the major religions of the world. That is to say be
aware that God is acting through you. All on the spiritual path are
struggling to achieve the spiritual level which St Paul described when he
said "It is no longer I that live, but Christ that lives in me". Sai Baba
also teaches that this is a necessary step on the spiritual path. Perhaps
this is what your girlfriend is endeavouring to do.
My honest opinion is that the best way to find out the truth about Sai
Baba or any other spiritual master is to investigate them yourself. If
your girlfriend is attending a Sai Baba centre then go along and talk to
some of the people there. I hope this has been of some help.
All the best!
Shaun
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