A transcendental personality

GOD IN OUR MIDST (Poornavathar Sri Sathya Sai Baba): Dr. Hiramalini Seshadri; Amra Publishers, 153, Kalki Krishnamoorthy Salai, Chennai-600041. Rs. 175.

THE PERSONALITY of Sri Sathya Sai Baba has all the aspects of a transcendental figure, which would make a sincere devotee to look upon him as a god walking in our midst. He often behaves in inscrutable ways as God is said to be. Religious men in this land have often emphasised that God's will shall rule high, whatever may be an individual's wish and wishful thinking. It is exactly the message of Sri Sathya Sai Baba also.

A question arises and a good explanation is available too: one's life-course is determined by one's acts, good and bad; one has, therefore, to reap the fruit of his actions. This is the Hindu Karma theory. Where does the role of God come in? What does one achieve by resorting to God?

Let us here understand that the decisions on the basis of Karma are like the jurisdiction of the High Court. The Lord is like the Supreme Court, which can quash, reverse or commute the lower court's order. But, then, the Supreme Court does not come to you on its own; you have to go to it and appeal. Likewise you have to surrender to God and call out to him in prayer. Surely He will then respond.

This is succinctly offered by the author while on Baba's mission. In an interesting by-play, she records her habit of invoking Baba's help, as a practising physician and rheumatologist, for treating serious and complicated cases. The Swami did oblige - so it appeared to her. She always did remember in her heart the Swami's usual message: ``First I give you what you want, so that gradually you will want what I have really come to give you - liberation itself.'' And once there was a departure: her cure had become so impressive that all the staff were all admiration for her. Then one day she felt the Swami was saying to her: ``What do you think? Do I have no other work than to save your patients? You do your duty. That is enough. All may not survive or dramatically get better. But that is all right.'' It is then the realisation dawned on the author that we should develop the right philosophical spirit, during all our actions, ``Thine will be done.'' Indeed if this spirit prevails, we will have no grievance because we align to God's will.

Many miracles wrought by the Swami are described throughout the book. Some of the large-scale feats, more convincing and more permanent (from the point of view of the non-believer) such as the sea-change effected on the whole region, the development of Prasanthi Nilayam, the educational centres, the hospitals of superspeciality rank, other such programmes that are implemented everyday, are described in great detail. They are admittedly the result of Baba's grace. He lives in a simple, austere home without any great amenity or comfort, because he needs none.

The author, a person of science, a practising physician and a devout disciple of the Swami, has recorded many events with a personal touch and vividness; these are strikingly convincing; but they are not on the Swami's programme chart!

His one mission is to make people realise that everything happens by God's will and that everything happens for the best. Numerous events go to establish the Swami's omnipotence, omnipresence, omniscience and his gracious intervention on behalf of the needy. Nevertheless he is no miracle-monger.

Here is the case of a simple-hearted lady from abroad, who had implicitly abjured everything - including her passport. On joining the ashram, the Swami tenders an advice, that is unique in the context of his great powers - that is, report to the police! He himself drafted the letter.

To a co-worker, who humbly suggested, in obvious protest, that she had not even been engaged in meditation so much as to forget the procedural requirement for a foreigner, Baba gave a mild rebuke and said, ``She was serving food to all; it was a great Sadhana, more important than meditation... This is my dharma, my duty. She deserves my protection. I will sacrifice anything to protect my devotees.'' Even when he said this, in the tone of Lord Krishna, he did not hasten to work out a miracle. That surely summarises the action of God, the God in our midst included.

The author writes with a personal touch. She admits she could not have started on it without the approval and sanction of the Swami. She also plainly admits that she was only a pen in his divine hands. All in all, it is an inspired book, an inspiring book and a must for Sai devotees.

V. N. VEDANTA DESIKAN

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