Some remarks from Ella Evers on an article by T. S. Fernando:

Remarks (in bold italic) by Ella Evers done on 08-03-01:

A critique of the article, "Bhagawan Sri Sathay Sai Baba" by Thilak S. Fernando

The full article is on: http://www.infolanka.com/org/diary/110.html

On 28 October 2000, London Daily Telegraph columnist Mick Brown carried a feature article in the Telegraph Magazine portraying Sri Sathya Sai Baba in the most derogatory terms as a sexual pervert. He cited verbatim statements, which he said, were given to him by certain people in the USA and India. Clarence Fernando who has seen, met and experienced Sai Baba over a period of years has written to Mick Brown voicing his thoughts about BrownÆs article and Baba in general. He compares how mankind who crucified Lord Jesus with nails is now trying to crucify a holy messenger of God whose sublime message is “Love All Serve All.” Following is full test of Fernando’s reply to the Telegraph Magazine Columnist.

Clarence H. Fernando B.Sc(Econ) Lon. “Thistley”

149 Ridge Lane

23 November 00 Watford

Herts.

Mr. Mick Brown WD17 4SU

Columnist

Telegraph Magazine

1 Canada Square

Canary Wharf

London E14 5DT

Dear Mr.Brown,

In the Telegraph magazine of 28th October your feature article on Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba portrays him in the most derogatory terms as a sexual pervert and cites the verbatim statements given to you by certain people in the USA and India. These allegations have been leveled at him over a long period but have not been substantiated or established as facts. As you will accept, facts are sacred but comment in terms of speculation is free.

People are at liberty to infer doubtfully and malign great personalities with their own axes to grind. Most of the great religious teachers, messengers of God and philosophers have been vilified, ridiculed, and condemned throughout the ages and the tirade against a modern day Avatar or messenger of God is no exception. Jesus Christ was crucified for his beliefs, books have been written devaluing his teachings, a film was produced sometime ago, ô Last Temptation of Christö which depicted him as a homosexual but today millions revere him and follow his message of peace and harmony and seek his blessings.

Sathya Sai Baba, as you contend does not consider himself as God; it is a belief held by his devotees.

I disagree. In one of my interviews with Sai Baba, he showed his hand and asked:"What is in this hand" No one answered... "This hand," Sai Baba then said, "can make heaven into earth and earth into heaven." He said these things after materializing several golden objects with diamonds before our eyes with a wave of that same hand. Was he not making us believe that he was God, or what?????

According to him there is as divine streak or Godliness in every human being, which needs to be nurtured and drawn out. The analogy here as Sathya Sai Baba has explained, is a cup of water with sugar at the bottom and when you drink it is tasteless but when you stir the water with a spoon, it is syrup. Likewise, the heart is a cup and divinity lies at the bottom. How to stir the sugar and make the syrup is what saints and religious leaders are supposed to know. Dissolving the sugar is the process, which brings out the divinity to the surface. This is possible by destroying one’s ego - the “I” and “mine” states of consciousness.

As you yourself has commented allegations of fakery and sleight of hand conjuring tricks have not turned away millions of devotees who visit him in the Ashram in Puttaparthi and Whitefield. However, you qualify your statement by speculating that such a situation is about to change and Swami will fall from grace. This prognosis of yours having had access to former devotees and based on their version of events relating to Sathya Sai Baba is deeply flawed.

Not so, I disagree here wholeheartedly... One of the victims discussed and interviewed by Mick Brown was the USA victim called Sam, who was severely molested under threats by Sai Baba, when he refused to cooperate engaging in various sexual activities with Sai Baba.

Number of devotees have increased over the years and is increasing.

Not so, we know better... Again Mr.Fernando is engaging in propaganda here...

This development is not as a result of a proselyitisation or dedicated missionary activity. Many devotees who have never visited him or had interviews vouch for his Divine presence when and where GodÆs praises are sung involving Sathya Sai BabaÆs blessings in the acts of devotion. It Sathya Sai Baba wants to travel around the world as some Gurus do he could do so but he prefers to stay in his ashram and his devotees from all over the world visit him. His omnipresence have been felt by devotees and non-devotees who have experienced the smell of vibhuti (holy ash) and have seen holy ash and amrit (form of honey appearing on holy pictures in the shrine rooms of devotees.

These materializations are possible only through the devotion of devotees. These appearances of vibuthi and amrita have also been found on pictures of Mary and Jesus. I have found vibuthi on my Guru's picture as well as amrita... It is deep devotion itself that creates these phenomenon...

Devotees who have left Sathya Sai Baba have been disillusioned since he did not grant their requests of material wants-success in business ventures and career prospects.

I know various people who have left Sai Baba, who were very successful in business or other wealth creating ventures. I personally have been given five interviews by Sai Baba. It was not by my disappointment that I left but by the proof of pedophilia acts of Sai Baba...

Sathya Sai Baba does not encourage acquisition of material wealth, influence, and power. His key message is to help his devotees to destroy their egos and realize their divinity inherent in them. The emphasis and focus is on service to the community, his saying ô the hands that serve are holier than lips that prayö has sent out a vibrant message, which effectively sums up this holy manÆs pristine mission.

By these beautiful sayings he is attracting well meaning people, gullible people... I was one myself for many years...Under this disguise of goodness lies the evil or dark side of Sai Baba.

Some ex-devotees have unfortunately come under the influence of the Christian backlash against Eastern religions.

Most of the ex devotees I know love Hinduism. I still pray to Ganeesh and do puja to him.

The recent Papal encyclical Dominus Jesus has declared that all religions except Catholicism are defective. The categorical denunciation of great religions flows from the fact that most people in the West have been attracted to Eastern religions as a result the influence of Christianity is waning in most countries.

It is relevant here to cite the incident, which took place in Rome. On his deathbed, Pope Jon XXIII û the most liberal of the Popes of the Roman Papal Curia û is said to have had a vision of a man that would usher in a new golden age of peace and harmony humankind has never known. The late Pope had described the man with brown skin who will wear a distinctive red robe.

How many are now wearing this same orange robe..., there are many Babas all over India. My own guru in north India wore the color orange...This is not sufficient proof of anything.

Similarly the great 16th century seer Nostradamus and American Prophet Edgar Cayce had predicted that a holy man from the East would challenge the major religions of the world as a prelude to a Golden Age. Such developments have shaken the foundations of Christianity, which is already under doctrinal threats from within the clergy some of whom do not believe in the Virgin Birth.

The fact that a Catholic priest, as mentioned in your article, was excommunicated since he wrote a book under the title ô A Catholic Priest meets Sai Babaö is evidence to prove that the Roman Catholic Church is deeply concerned and alarmed of the threat from Eastern religions in undermining its authority.

An overstatement. The Catholic power in the world is stronger than ever. Did not even George Bush visit the Pope and NOT Sai Baba?

A key question arising from the contents of your article is why the ex-devotees who furnished you with the damning evidence of Sri Sathya Sai BabaÆs sexual exploits, did not raise those issues as and when such incidents tool place without waiting for years to reveal them.

This is a false assumption. Already in the seventies did one devotee bring the sexual molestation question up to a high ranking officer Dr Hislop(Conny Larsson). It was all put nicely under the carpet. My own friend, whose son has been molested, wrote a lengthy letter to Dr. Goldstein(see Internet)about Baba's impropriety with her son in 1988.

The reason why some ex-devotees in India have left him is Sathya Sai BabaÆs attacks on the rigid caste system in India. His enlightened declaration ô There is only one caste which is the caste of humanity ô has impressed many. Such a robust statement pregnant with meaning has exposed its apologists as bigots who have no place in the Sai family. Gandhi the apostle of peace and harmony called the harijans and dalits who belong to the lowest castes as children of God and Sathya Sai Baba has endorsed and reinforced that message, hence the vendetta against the holy man.

Most ex-devotees like myself have a very high respect for the Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King, the activists who followed their hearts, their calling inspired by God...

Uri Geller the world famous magician and psychic in an article in the London Times of 23 June 1999 (copy enclosed) states that rumours of Sathya Sai BabaÆs fakery have never been proven and many thousands have seen wonders that would defeat the best conjurors.

People like James Redmond, the maker of SB videos were the ones who discovered the tricks on these videos...

He adds that if someone wants to see for himself/herself before they can believe the only sure way may be a flight to his Ashram in Puttaparthi.

I did and saw Sai Baba in an interview unzipping a young man's pants. To find the story see http://www.snowcrest.net/sunrise (also other sites).

The observation coming from an eminent psychic cannot be ignored and given food for thought

It is interesting to note Dr. BhatiaÆs answer, as quoted in your article, where he confirmed that he still believes that Sri Sathya Sai Baba is God despite what he disclosed to you in an unfavorable light about Sri Sathya Sai Baba.

Also, as quoted in your article, Jeff Young, who made damning allegations against Sathya Sai Baba confesses that having followed Sathya Sai BabaÆs teachings over 23 years have made him a humble, honest and a kind human being.

This was the God within Jeff, which at that time he had projected unto Sai Baba, believing him to be his very own self.

In the footnote to your article it is stated that the full names of the critics are not disclosed if such people have the courage of their conviction why shelter behind fictitious names and not be more forthcoming? Information gleaned from such people is not worth of belief.

I personally know this victim and can understand because the the severity of the sexual misuse of this boy, that the parent in order to protect their young son cannot and will not give out their name. In a Court of law the correct names will be revealed... It may not come to any such Courts as the Courts of India are known to have Sai devotees under the high ranking judges.

Since you may wish delve further into the spiritual world of Sri Sathya Sai Baba, I would very kindly refer you to a book with the title Modern Miracles by Erlendur Haroldson PhD. Professor of Psychology at the University of Iceland. It is an investigative report on the psychic phenomenon associated with Sri Sathya Sai Baba.

Please find enclosed a copy of an article which appeared in the British Medical Journal (Volume 321 û 2nd September 2000) which my may find interesting.

Having witnessed and experienced events over a long period of time true devotees of Sri Sathya Sai Baba have no time or the need to listen to the orchestrated campaign of maligning and vilification against a holy man loved by millions of devotees. They very mankind who crucified Lord Jesus with nails is now trying to crucify

If Sai Baba is truly an Avatar as he said he is, then good or bad is equal to him. He is then full of equanimity, undisturbed in the isness of his being. If he is sat chit ananda, why is he calling the ex-devotees Judases in his Christmas discourse? Does he see himself as Jesus, the Rabbi who was crucified because the people did not understand his advanced teachings? Where is the parallel??? Baba's teachings are well liked by many even many of his ex devotees.

a holy messenger of God whose sublime message is “Love All Serve All.”

The message of Love all, serve all is all right, but the messenger is a sexual pervert... I would advise to follow the message, but not the messenger. This is propaganda of the worst sort and very self serving. May we all pray the the truth will be revealed, because the truth will set us free.

Ella Evers

(Yours sincerely, Sgd. Clarence H. Fernando)