From : INDIA
Source : B. Premanand (Head of IRM)
Subject : A REVIEW OF SAI BABA'S EDUCATION
ON MORAL VALUES SYSTEM
Sai Baba's emphasis is said to be on the development of the moral and human values in students, which are lacking in the present system.
The worth of the educational reforms can be seen only in the way in which such reforms can transform the students admitted in random from different stratas of society, and how education is able to transform them.
It is to be noted that the admissions to Sai Baba's institutions are on the basis of stiff entrance tests and the final selections are made by Sai Baba himself. Thus only the best students are selected.
As in the case of White Field college (closed for 18 months in 1985 after agitation by students and Kadugodi villagers), if Sai Baba was not able to control the best of those students thus selected and had to close down the college, then there is something wrong with the educational system of Sai Baba.
From : CYPRUS
Website : http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Cyprus/4972/eng/spec_e3.htm
Subject : OMNIPOTENCE, RESOLUTION OF PROBLEMS & CONTRADICTIONS
There are twenty three pages of critical discussion about the above specific issues. For example, in the section dealing with contradictions.
- In his discourse, when Sai Baba enters into the specific, into the particular, or into something that is not usual to him, there we note the most clear contrasts and incongruities for an 'omniscient and omnipotent' being.
- Two thousand years ago, in a region called Palestine, in the village of Nazareth lived Mary and Joseph. It was winter. (...) It was the night between 24 and 25 December. Mary gave to the light the child between midnight and one. There was not any comfort to make more comfortable that birth.
Christmas 1988 discourse.
But -
- Christmas falls in the month of March, not in December. Since it is very cold in December and people are confined to their homes, they use this time to celebrate Christmas. Actually, Jesus was born in the month of March.
Christmas 1998 discourse
Also - (Ed's note)
- Some say he was born on the 15th September. But, he was born at 3:15am on December 28th, 1980 years ago (the current year was 1979) SSS Vol XI Chap 3
From: ITALY
Subject : SAI BABA ON JESUS
'(...) In the beginning even Romans were Jews, not Christians. It is only after the advent of Jesus that the term Christians came into use. He (Jesus) said that he was "Persona" meaning that he was the spark of Divine. This has been translated by the British as 'Person' which has been termed 'Purusha' by Bharatiyas (Indians). Therefore 'Purusha' or 'Persona' has originated from Roman language.
24th November 1998 discourse.
What could it mean 'In the beginning even Romans were Jews' ?
Surely they were not Jewish as an ethnic group, nor by their religion.
Moreover Sai Baba derives the sanskrit word 'purusha'.
It's necessary to remark that :
- sanskrit is more ancient than latin, therefore 'purusha' cannot derive from 'persona'
- etymology of 'persona' : from the latin persona (= mask, then character), maybe from the greek 'prosopon' (=mask) through the estruscan 'phersu'. The etruscan phersu is perhaps related to Persephone. Among the derivatives : character, personal, personality, personify. An interesting etymology of persona is from 'per' and 'sonare' (= to sound through) referring to the theatrical wooden mask in which the mouth was made to strengthen the sound of the voice.
From : INDIA
Website : http://psg.com/~ted/bcskeptics/sbmir/contents.html
Subject : STUDY OF SB'S CLAIMS ~
OMNISCIENCE
OMNIPOTENCE
RAISING OF THE DEAD
TELEPATHIC KNOWLEDGE
MATERIALISATIONS
SUNDRY MIRACLES
HEALINGS AND RESCUES
FULFILLMENT OF ANCIENT PROPHECIES
This is more than one hundred pages of in depth study of Sai Baba's claims by B. Premanad. It includes accounts by John Hislop, VK Gokak, V Kanu, Howard Murphet, Mrs Radhakrishna, Dr Haraldsson, Dr Sandweiss, Dr Vaz, Harish Khanna, Dr Krishna Rau, Dr Rajagopalan, David Lane.
Sai Baba's statements/versus accurate verbatim reporting and/or historical accounts about Winston Churchill, Ramsay Macdonald, Thomas Edison, Einstein, Alexander the Great, Jesus of Nazareth, the New Testament, the dating of Jesus' birth, dual statements about the star of Bethlehem, the religious practices of Judea, Jesus' crucifixion, dual statements on Judas Iscariot's name, Indian classical music, Physical sciences, Patent law, etc., etc., etc.
Pertinent scholars are quoted, and research accounts arguing claims given.
Premanand comments that the point of the section on theology is not to dispute Sai Baba's divinity, but the evidence he presents for this claim.
He adds that those familiar with the complete passages from which the excerpts are taken, will agree that Sai Baba is referring to the Scriptures to support his claims. The point in including these passages, and the corresponding analysis by scholars is to dispute his accuracy in reading and quoting the Christian Bible; not in his claimed first-hand knowledge of the events reported therein, or his interpretation of biblical passages.
Readers who agree with Sai Baba's renderings, and disagree with the scholars' interpretations will no doubt have an explanation for why passages referred to by Sai Baba cannot be located, or why fifty generations of biblical scholars have a different interpretation than Sai Baba of the passages that are there.
The point in presenting this material is merely to show that there are such disagreements.
Editor note : This study is revealing and illuminating.
From: ATHENS, CYPRUS
Website : http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Cyprus/4972/eng/sto_e.htm
Subject : JOURNEY TO SB AND MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE
This is a large, comprehensive site recounting the unreal expectations nurtured by the Sai Baba propaganda machine, and the subsequent realisation of their unreality, by a 'rational and scientific' Italian called Paul Holbach. Impossible to create a synopsis but well worth reading. It is clearly thought out and profound. Paul's website deals with other specific issues such as Sai Baba's inaccuracies in discourse, by giving strong research presentation.
Editor note : David has had a number of telephone conversations with Paul and considers him a serious and clear thinking researcher who has broken through the facade surrounding Sai Baba.
From: INDIA
Source : Dr Abraham T. Kovoor
Subject : DR BHAGAVANTHAM AND SATHYA SAI BABA circa. 1972
I was invited to give a lecture at the Indian Institute of Technology at Guindy. During a conversation before the lecture one of the professors at the institute told me that the majority of youths who take to the study of science and technology do so not because they have any scientific attitude or aptitude, but just because such a course helps them to get lucrative jobs.
And the reason why some of the eminent scientists of India have given up their science, and become devotees of godmen of that country is because they have found that they can make more money by being in collusive devotion to such hoaxers than by continuing scientific pursuits.
A few months ago the editor of a mass-circulating weekly of India wrote me a letter saying that the Editorial Board of his weekly had decided to publish a symposium on 'Sathya Sai Baba - Is he an incarnation of God, or a Charlatan?' and wanted me to be the first contributor to the series.
My article was serialised in three issues. It was then followed by two articles countering my thesis by Dr S Bhagavantham M.Sc, D.Sc, Ph.D, a former scientific adviser to the Government of India.
Dr Bhagavantham started his article by saying that in his youth he was a rationalist like me, but after witnessing some of the miracles of Sai Baba, he had to give up his rationalism. He then began to describe numerous 'miracles' said to have been performed by Sai Baba in various places. There was no mention in either of the two articles of anyone having conducted investigations to establish that they were all genuine miracles and not conjurer's tricks. The two articles appeared to be clear examples of how unscientific even a good scientist can become if he is a victim of religio-manic neurosis or avarice for lucre.
In all the miracle stories mentioned, there was only one that was amenable to investigation. I quote that story below.
Dr Bhagavantham :
- The wonderful experience, some years ago, of a world famous watch manufacturer of Japan, while he was on tour in India, was awe-inspiring. After completing the Seiko series of watches he made a model of a more superior type, and kept it in his safe for further tests. While touring India he paid a visit to Sai Baba's abode just out of curiousity. On seeing the Japanese gentleman among the devotees Sai Baba materialised a small parcel from the air and gave it to him. On opening the parcel he was astonished to see the same watch that was kept in his safe.
- When he saw along with the watch, the silk ribbon and label with the new name of the watch and the price marked on it, all his doubts about the divine powers of Sai Baba simply melted away. He fell prostrate at Sai Baba's feet and worshipped him, and since then has been an ardent devotee.
- On his return to Japan, he was shocked to see that the watch he had kept in his safe was not there. What his personal secretary told him was even more startling. The secretary said that a divine-looking person with bushy hair walked into the office one day, opened the safe and walked away with the watch.
Does Dr Bhagavantham, who is the holder of coveted qualifications in science, think that a thesis of this nature - to prove the miraculous powers of a man - by any scientist, will be accepted by an academic body of scientists if it is not backed by scientific investigations and fool-proof evidence?
As Dr Bhagavantham was reluctant to test the veracity of his godman's miraculous powers, I decided to do it myself. With this aim in view I wrote the following letter to him :
Colombo-6 11/9/73
Dear Dr Bhagavantham,
I read your story about a Japanese watch manufacturer getting his own watch that was kept in a safe in Japan, materialised in India from air by Sai Baba. My scientific attitude does not permit me to accept this fantastic story as true without verification. My doubt is enhanced by the reported statement by his personal secretary. The first reaction of a responsible secretary when a stranger walks into the office and opens the safe, would be to raise the alarm and to summon the police. As I feel it is unscientific even for a scientist to believe this type of story without verification, I request you to kindly let me know the name and address of this Japanese so that I may verify the truth about it. Your failure to help me to conduct this investigation by withholding this information, will lead me to suspect your sincerity and honesty, and to discard all that you have said about Sathya Sai Baba as utter falsehood, deliberately propagated with ulterior motive and vested interest.
Yours in search of Truth,
Abraham T Kovoor.
When there was no response from Dr Bhagavantham after two months, I decided to pursue the matter myself. The Japanese Embassy in Sri Lanka provided me with the name and address of the proprietor of Seiko, the watch manufacturing firm.
In my letter dated 30/10/73 to Mr Shoji Hattori, president of K Hattori & Co Ltd, the manufacturers of Seiko watches, I reproduced Dr Bhagavantham's story about the miracle and requested him to provide me with the answers to the following questions
- 1. Did you or any partners of yours visit Sathya Sai Baba of India at any time?
- 2. Did Sai Baba materialise a watch from air and present it to you or your partners?
- 3. Did your personal secretary tell you or any of your partners that a stranger opened the safe and walked away with a watch?
- 4. Are you or any of your partners a devotee of Sai Baba?
For the benefit of numerous innocent devotees of godmen of India I reproduce below Mr Hattori's reply. This I do with the sincere hope that they will be sensible enough to realise the truth that these charlatans who go about in the garb of holy men, have numerous agents like Dr Bhagavantham everywhere, working in collusion to propagate the huge hoax and profit materially.
SEIKO - JAPAN (address given) 8/11/73
Dear Dr Kovoor,
Thank you for your letter of October 30th. I can appreciate your interest in conducting scientific research of paranormal claims, but I am in no way able to further your knowledge as regards the man mentioned in your letter, Mr Sai Baba. Neither I nor any members of my staff have ever made the acquaintance of this individual. I am sure that these reports are completely unfounded. I must therefore reply in the negative to all four of your questions concerning this incident.
Sincerely yours,
Sgd. Shoji Hattori,
President. K Hattori & Co Ltd.
On receipt of this letter I wrote to Dr Bhagavantham, enclosing a photostat copy of Mr Shoji Hattori's letter, and said
- If Mr Shoji Hattori is not the person concerned in your story, please let me know about it, and provide me with the correct name and address. Absence of any reply from you for this letter also, will confirm my firm belief that you are an agent for Sathya Sai Baba, doing propaganda for him with ulterior motive and vested interest.
Yours in search of truth,
Abraham T Kovoor.
Since there has been no reply, it confirms my belief that Dr Bhagavantham is in collusion with Sai Baba.
From: CANADA
Source : Dale Beyerstein, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC Canada
Subject: In reply to a letter sent to him from Dr Elwndur Haraldsson,
University of Iceland - October 1985.
(...) I certainly agree with the point you make at the end of your book that in the absence of agreement for controlled testing of claimed paranormal powers, we must make rough and ready judgements analogous (similar in certain respects) with judgements made in court house contexts. Analogous but not identical for obvious reasons.
On these sorts of grounds the evidence seems overwhelming against taking the materialisation claims seriously.
Sai Baba is caught out in self-puffery in so many instances - allowing omniscience claims when his language abilities are only average, and so on. And not only allowing them, but making them himself. And he speaks so loosely in so many ways that his denials that he uses sleight of hand cannot be given any real weight. The overwhelming evidence - given the film analysis, the loose anecdotal nature of the claims etc all point so definitely in this direction.
Moreover the widespread claims of sexual hanky panky and the evidence of association with the gold business - although not conclusive - must be seriously entered into the overall picture.
On the question you asked : 'Sam Dalal' is a name given by James Randi. Randi in a phone conversation said that Sai Baba 'materialised' a Seiko watch for a Seiko watch company executive visiting India. Sam Dalal asked for the serial number from the executive as I understood it, and got it. The number was then sent back to Japan for tracing. Turns out the number was a watch which was to have been stored in a warehouse not far from the site where the 'materialisation' took place.
B. Premanand (IRM) mentions Kasturi deleted the Seiko reference from his book after the investigation.(.....).
r r r
And so this sad document comes to it's conclusion. For each story listed there are dozens of a similar nature, information concerning every aspect of the Sai Baba cult. Hundreds of pages, revealing the fortress of lies supporting this enormous, global house of cards.
You may choose to believe or disbelieve the above. That is your choice. However, it is now a choice being made from a position of awareness of a situation that exists.
You may still be asking yourself - but ... is he divine?
Listen to your own still small voice within, before you decide.
r r r
If you have read thus far, it is possible that you are totally devastated.
The grief any cult's unveiling causes honest spiritual seekers, is monumental. To find that the path, which took one away from family, friends and loved ones is only a mirage.... To find oneself deceived, betrayed; to have one's trust broken.... To find the love promised is conditional and those one thought were 'family', now turn away with cries of 'Judas!'....
It's a devastation of self worth, and seemingly a terrible waste of time. But of course it is not. One thing is self evident. All here on the planet are having experience, and the consequence of experience - especially spiritual experience - is wisdom, and freedom from dependency.
Leaving a cult is like experiencing a death of a loved one. There is a grieving process which will take time. Time to process the feelings of confusion, loss, guilt, disillusionment, anger, and lack of trust engendered.
For a little while I felt very angry, to think my long held love of God the Creator had been exploited in this way - 'detoured' as it were, along a pathway that I hadn't consciously asked for; enticing me into giving my power away to a master of deception.
But this feeling didn't last for long, I was soon able to accept that the whole experience was one I chose, and my grief and anger - also part of the experience.
In time the negative feelings were replaced with a sense of freedom, and the joy of returning to the real world.
The gift in all of the above, was a profound realisation that for me the 'age of the guru' is dead. No longer willing to give my trust to outer teachers, I now at last, follow the message all true spiritual masters have given down the long halls of time - by seeking within, the kingdom of heaven.
In conclusion, I can tell you from our own experience, the pain you suffer will heal. There is life after Sai Baba, and as you claim back your own power, you will be enriched, and find the pathway now illuminated, wonderful.
I wish you a fulfilling and self realising journey.
Faye Bailey
Post Script :
Swami 'manifested' a 'sacred lingam' for me and told me "It's power is without limit through time and space!!"
Also, that water run over it would access and then hold the lingam's great healing power.
For a time, in good faith I shared 'lingam water' with people all over the world.
However, I never experienced for myself, or received feedback from others - any positive result from drinking it.
On the contrary, the major feedback was that in fact it quickly went mouldy.
Personal intent that there would be healing experienced, in those who drank this water-of-illusion, was insufficient to empower it beyond a 'feel good' factor.
After the Findings, I stopped sending lingam water, and returned the lingam to India.
Faye
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