COLLECTION OF SWAMI'S MIRACLES...

[V2K]

   The Cave of Vasishta


Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba

The twenty-sixth of July, 1957, was full of pleasant memories for the devotees and the residents of Sivanandashram, for Baba boarded a bus and proceeded along the bank of the Ganges to a palace of the Rani of Garhwal for a quiet morning.

On the way back Baba stopped the bus at a place where a thin little iron post carried a half-distinct nameplate reading "The Cave of Vasishta" (Guru of Rama). He descended the rather precipitous incline to the river bank as if he had been there often before, and as if he were aware of a prearranged engagement with the occupant of the cave. The Ganges curves widely near the cave, and so the scenery was doubly attractive. The cave bears a hallowed name; it has been sanctified by the austerities performed therein by many great recluses and monks in the past. Swami Purushotamananda, a disciple of Swami Brahamananda of the Ramakrishna order, had been initiated into monastic life by Mahapurushji, another direct disciple of Sri Ramakrishna . The Swami had been in the cave for thirty years. he welcomed Baba as if expecting him. He was more than seventy years old and had spent the major part of his life in asceticism of a most rigorous kind and in the study of the scriptures. His face had the genuine glow of spiritual joy and the slightest mention of the glory of the Godhead sent him into samadhi, the depths of inner bliss. When a young man of twenty-seven, Brahamanandaji had read his palm at Kanyakumari and predicted that he would go into a cave for continuous meditation.

Baba repeated the visit the next evening in spite of a thunderous sky and the grumbling of those who accompanied him, but both ceased by his grace. Baba sang a number of songs while at the cave. Hearing that the Swami had been suffering from chronic stomach-ache for many years, Baba "took" some candy from nowhere and gave it to him with instructions about diet.

More mysterious and significant was the Vision that he gave to Swami Purushotamananda that evening. As early as 1918, the Swami had written to his Master, "All is false and I cannot rest satisfied until and unless I come face to face with Truth!" After sending everyone outside the cave, Baba and the sage went into the inner room. Sri Subbaramiah, President of the Divine Life Society at Venkatagiri, describes what he was able to see from outside the cave: "Even now that picture is imprinted in my memory. I was standing near the entrance to the cave. I could see what was happening through a chink in the door. Baba placed his head on the lap of Swami Purushotamananda and lay himself down. Suddenly his entire body was bathed in divine brilliance. His head and face appeared to me to have increased very much in size. Rays of splendor emanated from his face. I was overwhelmed with a strange inexplicable joy." When later asked to divulge the nature of the vision, Baba informed us that it was a vision of the darshan of Padmanabha as installed, since childhood, in his heart. "It was Jyothirpadmanabha". He said Jyothi meaning Light.

After a minute or two, Baba rose and sitting by the side of the septuagenarian, called him by name and slowly brought him into the consciousness of space and time. Baba sang a song on Rama, composed by Thyagaraja and when he concluded, he waved his hand and materialised from the air a rosary of sparkling sphatika beads for Purushotamananda.

Five years later when the Swami left his body behind and merged in that Truth, Baba announced his departure to me at Puttaparthi (thousands of miles away). It was a few minutes after the emergence of the Lingam from Baba's stomach where it grew for days. It was Mahashivarathri; Baba told me that Swami's body will be buried with the Sphatika Rosary on the chest. (It was!)

The incidents at Vasishtha cave were literally mind-blowing. When we were allowed in, we hung on every word that Baba uttered and gathered every signal of adoration that emanated from the aged monk - the rising eye-brow, the twinkling eye, the smothered gasp, the folded palm, the smile that shone atop the beard. Baba told him of his early trials at the cave, of his struggles to light a fire and of his amazement, one morning, to find a package of match boxes hiding in a corner. Baba confirmed "I placed it there for you". The monk sat up at this surprising revelation. The attendant monks explained that for many years they were using fire-stones to get the spark which they would nourish, feed and foster into flame. They too were aghast at the discovery, that Baba was aware of their Guru, of his travails and his needs. "He knows all: He is all" they exclaimed. Man has no means to identify what cannot be accounted for, explained or measured. He can only sit silent, dumbfounded in deep dismay.

[V2K]

The Belgian Princess meets Sai Baba and gets a gift

The Belgian Princess from childhood has always been a devout Christian. She had always followed her individual duty and duty towards the society i.e. what Baba termed later her Dharma. She used to regularly have Baba’s dream where He used to tell her repeatedly to visit him in Puttaparthi. She was not very inclined to do so since she thought going to Baba would be against the Christian faith, which she had been following for so long. She was of the opinion that her dreams may not have anything serious to think about since she was nothing even remotely connected to India and she had never heard of Sai Baba and hence no question of going to India.

An old friend of hers’ once met her during one of her outings. Meeting after a long time they both talked for a long time. During this conversation, her friend mentioned to her in passing that she had met a spiritual teacher in India whom she had accepted as her Guru (preceptor). Having heard her friend mention India, the princess asked her as to whether she had heard of someone called Sai Baba in a village called Puttaparthi. Looking a little surprised, she said

“Well, He is the one I am talking about. Sai Baba is my master, my Guru.” So saying she showed the princess His photograph. She looked at it and was aghast. The features of the man in the photograph were exactly the same as that of the person, who in her dreams was asking her to visit him. Were the dreams leading her to something? She didn’t know.

A week later the Belgian princess was on her way to India, with her friend accompanying her. All through their journey, the princess and her friend talked about nothing but Sai Baba. The more she heard about him, his miracles (which Baba often says are his visiting cards) and his work, the more she curious she became. The princess alighted in India and as she moved closer to Puttaparthi, her heart beat faster and she asked herself --

“Who is Sai Baba? And How on earth does He know about me?”

As she alighted in Puttaparthi, she checked into an accommodation generally provided to people coming to have accommodation. But being the princess of a nation, she was entitled to government of India’s hospitality. Moreover the princess herself never informed the accommodation authorities of her royalty status. But the foreign affairs ministry received a phone call from the Belgium High commission (who were told of the visit by a royal palace communique) that Her Highness The Princesss of Belgium was in India to visit Sai Baba. The foreign ministry informed the concerned authorities at Puttaparthy and the princess was moved to the VIP guest house, where she stayed until her return back home.

Seated in front, the next morning , along with her friend, the princess waited for Baba. As the music started (generally every darshan at Puttaparthi and Vrindavan begins with Indian Classical music being on the Audio system and continues till the end of darshan), her heart fluttered in anticipation. “Will He recognise her? Will He speak to her? --” All sorts of questions came on to her mind.... Baba walked slowly along the ladies side. As He came near her, He stopped and spoke.... to a lady next to the princess. As He was speaking to the lady, the princess bowed to touch His feet. Baba turned, placed his hands over her head and said  “So, You have come.”

Baba called her into the interview room along with her friend. They went in and took their place. As Baba came in, He asked them to come nearer to Him and materialised two medallions of Jesus and gave it to them. These materialisations are normal for a regular visitor to Puttaparthi but for the princess this was something she never expected, leave alone expecting she never even thought it was possible ... a medallion out of thin air!

The medallions were similar with a slight difference. The one given to the princess’ friend showed the full picture of Jesus on the crucifix. The one the princess had showed him only up to the waist. Both looked at Baba , who smiled and said ---

“Princess, you have been a sincere devotee of Jesus right from childhood. You have followed righteousness through out your life. That is why I called you here.”

He stopped for a while and said again ---

“Princess , Do you remember, at the age of five, you saw a movie called ‘Jesus of Nazreth’ ? That was the movie, which attached you to Jesus so much. The scene where Jesus was crucified made you cry. Especially when His legs were nailed, You burst out and cried for two days. It has since then left an indelible mark on your life.”

As Baba mentioned these words, that phase of her life passed through the princess’ mind. But that was the phase about which only she knew. How did Sai Baba come to know of it?

He stopped for a while and spoke again --

“I never give what people don’t like. You love Jesus, so I gave you a medallion of Jesus Himself. But your medallion doesn’t show the nailed legs of His. That made you cry a lot. I don’t want you to cry now.”

After Baba spoke, there was silence for a while. The princess now spoke-- “All along I thought my dreams were imagination. Never did I think that they would lead me to where I am today. How do you know about all these things concerning me? I still have to understand you but from what I have experience here so far, I can say that whatever you are, You are remarkable.”. Baba spoke again --“Child, You have a pure heart. That’s why you are here. You have never reneged on your duty. I am pleased by your steadfast adherence to duty and dharma. Ask me what you want, anything and I shall give.” The princess remained silent for a while. Her thoughts flew to her sons at Harvard. They were good children but she had one problem, they never believed in God. They never accompanied her on her visits for Sunday mass or regular sermons at church. She wanted to ask Baba about them but something stopped her and she kept quite.

Nothing in any corner of the world is hidden from Baba. Baba, as He does on so many occassions, here too, read her mind. He asked -- “Ok, So you want to ask me about your sons -- at Harvard, isn’t it? So why don’t You just ask?”. Witholding nothing more from Baba and convinced of His omniscience , the princess spoke  with a mother’s concern--

“Baba , My children ..... My children don’t believe in Jesus. I am quite concerned about them. Please change them, Baba.I know You can do it. I’ve faith in You.”. “Alright , speak to them about me tonight and tell me about their reaction.”-- replied Baba. The interview then drew to a close.

The next day, They were called for interview again. As soon as Baba came in, He asked her -- “Did You speak to them?”. The princess ntly replied hesistantly “ Yes, I did. But .... But .... But they were not interested. They said “You keep your Sai Baba with You. Don’t involve us in it.” and hung the receiver”. Baba said  “Never mind , Speak to them again tonight...(Silence for a while) and tell them I will give them an experience.”. She did as was commanded. Her sons, however, refused to take any serious view of Sai Baba, who for their mother was a phenomenon not different from the kind Jesus was. The princess informed Baba about her talk with the two princes. Baba said-- “Good. Now, Wait till tomorrow”.

The next day at Darshan, Baba enquired from the princess about her children again. “Speak to them again today and then tell me what they spoke about.”-- Baba commanded. After darshan, the princess and her friend went towards the telephone centre to call her sons , without the least indication of what had happened in Harvard with her sons after she made the last phone call to them two days before. What happened there stunned not only the princes and their mother but the entire class in which the princes studied.

As the Class of Harvard sat for class that day, an orange light (Baba’s robe is orange in colour!) appeared from nowhere and stuck to the shirt of the eldest of the two princes. As the prince got up to find out what it meant, the light chased him out of the room and followed him vigorously. Seeing something very astonishing the whole class of Harvard ran out.

The scene--The light behind the prince and the rest of the class behind the light. How far could they run? They finally fell exhausted. The light too stopped for a while. It encircled the entire lot of students and disappeared.

The following evening the princess waited for Baba to tell him all that happened. Baba came and as he came towards her asked “Did you speak to the princes? (Silence for a moment) Did they mention anything about an.. (halts for a second).. an orange light?” The princess looked at Baba with eyes wide open.. and.. smiled. Baba smiled back and went into the interview room.

The princess spoke to her children again that night and informed Baba that the entire class of Harvard wanted to come for Baba’s darshan. Baba said “Good .. But not now, later. I will call.” The princess was disappointed but left it to Baba’s will. When the princes will come only Baba knows. But they will come some day .. today or tomorrow. Baba’s will shall prevail.

The princess left India some time around the first week of February. She came a totally confused woman, full of doubts. Baba was nobody for her but with the kind of love and attention that Baba showered on her, she went with Baba firmly embedded in her heart.

The Princess left a highly contended woman. We students, still remember her as a very benign personality, full of love and compassion. Her face radiated an extraordinary brilliance, which to a great extent reflects the strict spiritual discipline and endurance she had developed in her pursuit of the TRUTH, which she did find in form of our Lord  SRI SATYA SAI.

[saisaran]

Sairam, At this point of time after Bagawan's Mahasamadhi, your choice of miracles for this forum is really an elevating experience. Though you have not seen the physical form, yet i could confirm that He is in your Heart guiding you to do this wonderful service to Sai devotees. Though i rarely go through the miracles section, i am overwhelmed in reading both the miracles including that of Belgium Princess. May Sai bless you for EVER! Om Sri Sai Ram.

[Ashok]

Vidyaji,

You will be fined for your absence now onwards; this is because you are such an important element of this forum that in your absence it seems there is no activity in the forum. You have to post whether it is rain or sunshine.  Or otherwise i am going to complain to Baba that you are not helping rest of the people. Please take this as your divine duty. 

Did you discover any new dish meanwhile? Please post the recipe in "prasadam" section. If this section does not exist, it can be created. 

[V2K]

The Archbishop of France meets Sai Baba

The Archbishop of France is a very pious man. His face belies his age (83 years). A man of strong conviction on the teachings of Jesus, He served in the Church loyally right from his inception into the order. Even though he was a strict follower of Jesus, he appreciated the good thoughts of religious teachers all over the world. He had met MATA AMRITANANDAMAYI when on Her satsangh tour of the U.S.A.

We read about the princess of Belgium’s experiences with Baba. It was she who was instrumental in bringing the Archbishop to meet Baba. The Archbishop came along with his cheif disciple and met Baba around the same time the Belgian Princess was here at Puttaparthy.

During his visit here to Puttaparthi, the Archbishop and his chief disciple had several interactions with Sai Baba on religion in general and discussed in detail the deep meaning and significance in the teachings of Jesus. They discussed at length the life of Jesus and the symbolic meaning that each phase of Jesus’ life conveyed. Baba told the Archbishop his interpretation of Jesus’ life which was as follows:-

    *

      Jesus is the true symbol of love and compassion

Jesus’ words adequately prove that, when He says:

“When you clothe the poor, You clothe me.

When you feed the poor, You feed me.”

    *

      Jesus is the true example of sacrifice

Jesus died to atone for the sins of the world.

His body was punctured with nails . Blood flowed out of his body as water flows from the     ravines but even in that extreme pain he maintained calm and composure.

    *

      Jesus is the true embodiment of selflessness

Jesus lived for others.

Once Jesus was walking on the streets, he saw a woman pelted with stones. He immediately jumped in, covered her from those stones in the process taking all the hits on himself. Seeing Jesus intervening the people involved in the incident called on him to leave the woman alone saying she had ‘sinned’. Jesus refused to move and asked the crowd to move apart. He then seated Himself in one corner and said -- “Now, The man who has never sinned in his life shall pelt the first stone.”. Not one man came forward. Slowly the crowd dispersed. The woman wailing touched the feet of Jesus and went away quietly. Jesus took those hits to save somebody’s life. This is proof adequate enough of Jesus’ selflessness.

    *

      Jesus is the true aspect of forgiveness
    *

      Jesus forgave everyone who submitted himself / herself to Him.

Mary Magadline was a woman who had been wronged all her life. She was born poor and needed help to get over her problems. She asked for help but none helped her. She had to sell herself to meet her family needs. Everyone including the parish priests considered her a sinner and she was not allowed at any prayer meetings. When Jesus was invited to the temple, Mary came there to meet him. She fell at His feet, washed it with her tears and brushed His feet with her long soft hair.

Everyone present there chided Jesus for having allowed her to even come near Him. Jesus held the face of Mary and said “Go Woman, All your sins are forgiven, go, but never sin again.”. Mary never sinned again but she became an ardent follower of Jesus. She followed him wherever He went. (Baba once said that Mary was the first person to see Jesus after resurrection. That shows the extent of her faith and devotion on Jesus.)

Total surrender to God releases everyone from the effects of whatever deeds anyone must have done in His life. Mary’s story is a perfect example of total surrender. This Baba says is very important.

The Archbishop and his disciple stayed nearly for a week. Each day, both morning and evening, passed with spiritual discussions with Baba. The Archbishop and his disciple also visited the primary school that is a part of the huge education programme being run by Central trust set up by Baba.

The Bishop left on February 6th 1999. On February 9th 1999, a letter from the Archbishop to Baba, the college authorities and the students was displayed on the institute notice board. A very warm letter it was and that in a way displayed his warm nature.

It was reported once that Baba had addressed the Archbishob ‘Pope’. It might seem as a mistake but who knows, Baba’s ways cannot be judged by us. Baba who is trikaldarshi might be only referring to what might be happening in the future. He could be an effective instrument of Baba in His mission of unifying the world as one humanity with mutual love, respect and compassion being the binding factor, which happen and that day is coming.

We the students of Sathya Sai can sense it when we see the pace at which things are going on in Prashanti Nilayam. We will not say much about it. We’ll let the coming events that will bring the whole world to Puttaparthi do that.

[V2K]

   The Amrit-Oozing Amulets


In an orphanage in South India, there is an ongoing miracle pertaining to two thumb-nail sized slivers of porcelain, one bearing the likeness of Sathya Sai Baba, the second depicting Shirdi Sai Baba.  Given to the manager of the orphanage by Sai Baba over twenty years ago, they have been miraculously oozing amrit (a honey-like jasmine nectar) ever since.  I decided to visit the place, and see the famous miracle for myself.  The manager of the orphanage scooped one of the amulets out of a dish with a spoon, and put it in the palm of my right hand.  It was nothing but a thin piece of porcelain with Baba’s face painted on it - there was no place for any mechanism to hide.  I watched like a hawk as a few drops of amrit trickled from the amulet into my palm - but this meant nothing, it had just been sitting in a dish of amrit.  Yet amrit continued trickling from it until my palm was full, and with the spoon, the manager scooped the amrit from that hand and poured it into my left palm.  As amrit continued to trickle from the amulet over a period of several minutes, he repeated this procedure four times, until finally my left hand was overflowing with amrit - and the amrit was still trickling into my right palm!  Even the most adamant skeptic, witnessing what I saw that day, would have to admit it was a miracle.  (I tasted the nectar: it’s definitely not of this world!)

[V2K]

Taming the Floods

Swami has the power to control Nature but He rarely interferes with natural phenomena. His argument is very simple. He says, "I have ordained the forces of Nature and they have their duties to perform. However, when it becomes absolutely essential for the welfare of mankind, I intervene in a benign manner." As young Krishna, he lifted an entire hill to protect the people of His village from a deluge. As Sai too, He has several times done similar things. One example is provided by the floods of 1973.

That year, thanks to very heavy rain, there was an unprecedented flood in the Chitravathi river. Water submerged all the low-lying parts of Puttaparthi, and came right up to the Ganesha and the Gopuram gates. The Ashram being at a relatively higher elevation, the flood waters had not yet entered its premises, but were threatening to do so. Meanwhile, all the villagers flocked into the Ashram seeking shelter. The compassionate Bhagavan not only allowed the villagers to take shelter but also provided them with food.

The weather continued to be inclement, and it appeared as if the water level might rise even further. At this stage, Baba went to the East Prasanthi block of flats, and climbed up to the terrace. From there He looked down at the overflowing river, and whispered something. People nearby could not make out what Swami was saying but they could clearly hear the word Shanti being repeated three times. While 'advising' the river to calm down, Baba also raised His hands in a gesture of benediction. Miraculously, the flood waters began to recede immediately, and within a few hours, the people huddled in the Ashram could go back to their homes.

There are also occasions when Swami emphatically refuses to intervene. Once during a Discourse, it was raining heavily. Devotees prayed that the rain be stopped but Baba brushed aside the request. He explained that while the rain might be an inconvenience for them, the farmers were eagerly looking forward to precisely this downpour. Devotees must not be selfish, He added.
 

[V2K]

Swami's Leela

This is a true incident, which is a divine miracle in itself, that we at Fort Samiti experienced a few days ago.

During the regular Sunday visit to St. George's hospital, on 11th June 2006, the Fort Samiti sevadals came upon a boy, of about 5 years old, who was admitted in the children's ward, for convulsions and was registered in the hospital as an 'unknown' case. He was found at the Railway platform and was admitted by the local police. The Seva dals provided for the child's medication and after the child was treated, he was to be taken to the 'remand' home, which is a Juvenile prison by itself.

In order to save the child from being taken to the remand home, the seva dals asked the little child for his name and address such that he could be dropped off to his house. However being just 5 years, the child gave answers in bits and parts. By his talk it was evident that he was from interior Maharashtra. He divulged his name as "Ganesh Bamare" and that he hails from "ShriRampur" but obviously could not spell out his correct address. He did inform that his house is in AshokNagar and that there is a printing press near his house.

Based on this limited information, the seva dals checked out with the Police authorities and were informed that there are about 7 Shrirampur villages within Maharashtra but it got easy for them, when Ganesh told them that there is a big Shirdi Baba temple near his village (Shirdi). He could inform this to the seva dals, when he was shown Shirdi Babas's photo.

After which the seva dals contacted the Seniors within their Fort Samiti and also consulted the other volunteers within our Sai Organisation. As advised by Shri Anup Saxsena, the seva dals contacted Shri Mukesh Patel and it so happened that based on the networking of the Sai volunteers spread across various towns and villages within Maharashtra, they could find a lead to the address blurted by little Ganesh. And, his parents were contacted by one of the Sai devotee within ShriRampur !! The volunteers there had made posters of details of the missing boy and stuck them around the village. This is how Ganesh's father could be made aware of his missing son's details.. The father of the child, who had never been to Mumbai before, was given the address in Mumbai and the money to travel by the Sai volunteers in Shrirampur.

Ganesh's father arrived on 17th June at the hospital and the child literally sprang from his bed into his father's arms. The child had been missing from his home since 9th May 2006. His father had arrived with the requisite proof of identity, based on which ,the child was handed over to him.

After getting the requisite treatment at the hospital, and after having made arrangements for the child to be treated every six months, within Shrirampur itself, by the Sevadals, the father and son left from the hospital, happily, back home on 20th June 2006.

It is indeed very sad to note that the child had been running away from his home due to utter poverty and has done so in many instances in the past.

However the seva dals have given them packets of Vibhuti and Baba's photos to insulate them in future from their worries.

It is indeed a great miracle to see Sai at work, the energy that our dear Sai pumped into every volunteer and the network of the Sai volunteers, truly facilitated a lost child to find his home.. It is truly the instance of "if you take one step towards me, I take ten towards you" which has come true. !!

The photos of Ganesh and his father are attached...

[solo]

A Beautiful story. And what a face of an angel the little fellow has. I could even feel the joy coming from the photo of the father, isn't it wonderful when things work out.

Thanks for telling it V2K

Sai Ram

[V2K]

" Sathya Sai Baba – Namaskar Miracle

There has been huge mention across the world of Baba’s “Namaskar” actions in Sai Kulwant Hall a few days before being admitted into hospital. As many of you already know, Baba never ever has done this and it is thought it was His way of bidding farewell to all His beloved devotees and ensured it was caught on camera. Please see images below;




However, one devotee in London, UK has been extremely lucky to experience Baba in His own home. There are photos and statues of different Gods covered in vibhuti of different colours. I personally go to his home every week for bhajans and the house has a feeling of warmth and positive vibrations. The family is very kind in opening up their home every week for devotees to pray and join in bhajans with them.



Yesterday, there was a birthday in the family and Baba was sure not to miss out on giving his blessing. The devotee I mention had printed an image of Baba’s “farewell” namaskar, framed it and placed it in Swami’s chair. Yesterday a wonderful miracle occurred and the photo was bless with vibhuti – confirming to us ALL that Baba may have left us in physical form but will ALWAYS be around us and protect us."

[V2K]

Swami's Healing Hand

Mrs. Dee Lampman, Yachats, Oregon, USA

I have been asked to write an article for your newsletter, which explains how myself and my family came to know Sai Baba. I hope that through His grace, this story may bring hope and inspiration to others.

I am 38 years old, a mother of two sons, ages 12 and 16, and a wife to a treasured husband. Two years ago, in September of 1994, I was involved in an accident while riding my bicycle. A diagnosis was made two months later, that I was suffering from Multiple Sclerosis. The accident brought about many symptoms that had previously been dormant. Up until this time I had been suffering since my teens, with depression. In the past ten years my mental concentration became affected, and also I developed various subtle physical symptoms as well. It is possible that I had this disease since eleven years of age. After this accident, I had developed uncontrollable pain, and quickly began to lose the ability to walk. By December, I was using crutches, and we purchased my first wheelchair. The following spring, in May 1995, I was admitted into the hospital to have my gallbladder removed. It was seemingly a simple procedure. Once again the trauma to my body caused a serious worsening of the Multiple Sclerosis. My pain medicine was switched to morphine. I became weaker, and after spending six weeks in the hospital, I went home to a hospital bed in our living room, with home skilled care.   

I was a candidate for nursing home placement at that point, but my family took the burden for my care. Six months went by with some improvement, although I was still taking morphine for uncontrollable pain. I was starting to use a walker again, but was primarily wheelchair bound most of the time. I had decided to take my younger son and his best friend for a shopping trip at a local mall. We used a public disabled transport bus for this excursion. On our way home, we were involved in an accident. The boys were unhurt, but I was badly jostled. As a result of this accident which occurred in January of 1996, the Multiple Sclerosis began affecting the "autonomic nervous system". This is the part of the body which basically controls all life functions, so my health was in serious trouble. The end of the next month, in February, I found myself truly dying from the disease and complications. I was unable to move, raise my head, barely swallow, had limited vision, heart, blood pressure, and liver problems, and unrelenting pain. I remained at home, as this was my wish.

During the next two days, at the beginning of March, I made a few brief phone calls to friends, saying good-bye. I have kept in contact with many friends over the years, and they knew the seriousness of my illness. Now I needed their support and prayers more than ever. I had become a name on so many different prayer lists: individuals and entire groups of people. (After my recovery, I realized that this number amounted to over 2,000 people praying for me, who were from all different faiths and backgrounds.)

During late February, another close friend, whom I had known since my teen years, was in India, on her first trip to see Swami (Sathya Sai Baba). I knew that she had taken a trip to see her "guru", but at that time, I was totally unfamiliar with Sai Baba. On her first day, she was seated in the front row during darshan. She handed Swami a letter, which included a request for help for me. Two weeks later, she and her group were granted a personal interview. She again remembered me to Swami, asking for his help for my suffering. She was not anticipating a healing or a cure from my disease.

I experienced a "near death" episode during the first week of March. I went through an agonizing recovery period, but it was a very rapid process. Soon, I was no longer on my death bed, and began to have urges to get up and walk for a few feet, from my wheelchair. My body no longer required all the medicines I was taking, and the healing was underway. I did not know exactly what was happening to me, nor did my family or physician. On April 18, 1996, I walked into my doctor's office, and after a complete physical exam, I was declared in full remission from the disease. 

The very next day, a package arrived in the mail from my long time friend who had returned from India. She sent us a package of Vibhuti, a book about Swami, and the "healing" photo of him, holding  the  golden heart lingam. Both my husband and I at once realized that Swami was the receiver of all those prayers going out for me, and that through His divine grace, I had been cured from this terrible disease, for which modern science acknowledges, "no known cure." Our family attended Bhajans for the first time, a month later. 

There is an overwhelming sense of "coming home" for me, since I have known of SathyaSai Baba.  He has filled my emptiness, and spread his love and grace over me, and over my family. Some day we hope to travel to India, to see His physical form, but for now, we have already experienced His touch and Love, in a most powerful way.

[V2K]

   Swami's miraculous cures

Baba has treated many diseases at the ashram.

A woman devotee from Mangalore was suffering from tuberculosis. There was bleeding and X-rays showed a cavity of the right lung. Medical opinion was that the disease was probably curable but that effective treatment would take about two years. Instead of undergoing the prescribed treatment, she came to Prashanti Nilayam.

Sai Baba gave her vibuthi from his hand, and she was put in the hospital. About a week later also she was still convalescing. But all symptoms of the tuberculosis had gone, the doctors assured me. She had been cured in a week instead of two years.

A young man living in Bombay, returned from Switzerland, was suffering from internal trouble which doctors in both Europe and Bombay had diagnosed as cancer. He was not a devotee of Sai Baba, but a friend had urged him to go to Prasanti Nilayam. In desperation he went and stayed, not in the hospital, but in a building near the canteen. There he waited and prayed to Baba for help.

One night he had a dream in which someone visited him, carrying a shining knife. When he awoke that was all he could remember, he told Dr.Sitaramaiah and others; the vague visitor and the clear bright knife. Perhaps it was not really a dream. To the canteen manager who took him breakfast in the morning he showed a large, mysterious blood-stain on his sheet. Had Baba performed an operation while he slept? Such strange things had been known before. Anyway, all signs and symptoms of the cancer had vanished.

He was in sound health and not a day passed, he said, in which he did not think of Sai Baba and offer a heart-felt prayer of gratitude for his miraculous cure.

[V2K]

Swami leaves His body and comes back ten minutes later

(Again a Trayee experience, happened when one of our sirs Devsen was a student)

We, students, have great experiences at Prashanthi and Vrindavan. But the most memorable experiences have been at TRAYEE BRINDAVAN, the official residence of SAI BABA, where we spent the closest moments with HIM...

SAI BABA during the sessions in Trayee is most informal, asking students individually about their personal problems, their families and other things. It was during such a session that the following incident, which shocked the students beyond measure, giving them an indication of the kind of phenomenon SAI BABA is, took place.

The students had assembled in TRAYEE and Baba was on HIS way from HIS room to take HIS seat. Before that session Baba had given a discourse on the purpose of life -- the need for an individual to experience his divine SELF, only after such an experience does a person reach the end of the cycle of birth and death. As a part of the discourse Baba also asked the assembly to keep reminding themselves of they (all of them) being a part of the divine from which everything emerged and everything will one day merge into.

As soon as Baba came into the room, He looked around at everyone and stood silently for sometime. Then HE started asking each one those present there, "who are you... who are you". Surprised at such a question, many replied " Swami, raja ... Swami Shyamkumar" etc, many others said remembering the discourse of Swami, telling all to remind themselves of they being a part of the divine, said "Swami, I am Sai Baba".

"Swami, Any drop taken out of the ocean has the same quality as that of the ocean. Since we all have emerged form you Swami, we are all same as you." so saying they justified their answer. Baba then said, "All right if you really are Sai Baba, then leave your body and show me.". Taken aback at such a command from Baba, the students did not reply back. Obviously none present there could ever think of doing what SAI BABA had asked tem to do. "Come on, Come on", He commanded them back. Finding the silence still pervading in the hall, He said " As you experience your divine self, you will have all powers given to you to perform do acts that are above the laws of nature."...So saying He got up all of a sudden and said " SEE I AM GOING TO LEAVE MY BODY", a moment later He collapse into the chair, leaving everyone in the room shell-shocked.

Commotion, pandemonium, confusion... Hell seems to have broken loose. Almost all the people assembled there stood up in their places and tried to rush towards Baba’s fallen body. As this happened, one of the college teachers pushed ahead, trying to control the mayhem requested everyone to stay back and not harm Baba's body by thrusting themselves on the body. It took sometime for the crowd to be bought under control as people were being convinced to go back and sit in their places. As the crowd settled, Baba's personal doctor was called in and what he found sent shivers within everyone.

Baba's heart had stopped beating; there was absolutely no pulse beat in his arm and the breathing (after noting the air movement under His nostrils) was found to have stopped completely. Hearing this, each and everyone present there started praying to Swami to come back into His body for it was too much to expect for them to live in the world without HIS guidance and presence.

Some suggested that Bhajans be sung and slowly the chants arose which later became full throated. Five minutes later, the bhajans had become louder and the crowd was already into their 2nd song with everyone concentrating on Baba's body looking for signs of movement. If there were any, they hadn't noticed.

The third song got over and as the 4th song was being sung, those in front noticed a small movement in Baba's fingers. As word spread, the bhajan singing went into feverish pitch. Prayers became even  stronger asking Baba to come back into His body soon. As the chants grew louder, the movements became even more significant and by the time the 6th song was over Baba had opened His eyes to the great joy of all those present.

Thrilled at the spectacle that they saw, the people assembled started reaching out to Baba again, only to be asked by Baba to go back and settle down in their seats. Baba asked for the bhajans to be halted as soon as the next song ended. Silence pervaded throughout the hall as none spoke, all eyes rested on Baba.

A few seconds later Baba spoke "Those in divine bliss will not be restricted by ordinary laws of nature. What you saw here was a small example of what is possible for those in the highest state; a state in which I always was, is and will always be. Remember God is not to be found outside for He is within you. Understand that, experience and enjoy for happiness really lies not in comfort, but in contentment, in UNION WITH GOD."

This experience was long talked about, both in Prashanti and Vrindavan. It showed Baba's control over nature and more importantly leave and come back into it at His will, proving beyond doubt that He really is, as He says "MRITUNJAYA", one who has won over death, who lives forever.