As it happens to so many individuals who are drawn to Sri Sathya Sai Baba after the initial period of doubts and uncertainty, the author of this book narrates how from a sceptic and half-hearted admirer of Sri Sai Baba, he became an ardent devotee. The book reveals Mr. Balu's meetings and talks with some well-known personalities of the 70s and 80s of the last century, like Mr. Arthur Osborne, Dr. Gokak, Prof. Baranowski, Prof. Bhatnagar and Swami Karunyananda who stayed with Baba for last over 30 years. They have benefited immensely from Sri Sathya Sai Baba personally and strongly advised him to go and meet Baba to understand about God and how to attain Him for eternal bliss. Mr. Balu writes about his visits to Baba, participation in His educational programmes for the youths and the role of religion and spirituality. The book provides in detail about the workings of Baba's educational institutions through the author's talks with teachers as well as the students and listening to Baba's discourses. He shares not only about his own experiences of Baba's divinity but also writes at length about his discovery of Baba's many splendoured personality that draws seekers to Him from all around the world. Sri Sathya Sai Baba says that human beings should not only help one another but also feel happy doing so. Anyone devoted to God must also be devoted to God's creations. Even a small amount of selfless service rendered is better than days of mere meditation. By serving others, one eliminates the ego from oneself and is no longer self-centered. As man identifies the same spark of divinity in others as in himself, universal brotherhood of man and fatherhood of God is attained. The book will benefit many, especially the educated and non-believers of God to know about His omnipresence and Sri Sai Baba's divine message of spiritual socialism or the equality of all people of all countries based on the same divinity residing in everyone.

http://www.saibooks.org/newsletters/2004/March2004/March2004.pdf
 

Contents

Preface
1. The Quest
2. Sri Baba on Youth
3. Puttaparthi and Prasanti Nilayam
4. Youth on Sri Baba
5. Was He there?
6. What is Devotion?
7. Sri Baba on Teachers and Education
8. A group Interview
9. Sri Baba on the Ramayana
10. Service to mankind the Sai way
11. Why Spirituality?
12. The role and goal of Religion
13. Art and Spirituality
14. Science and Spirituality
15. Sri Sathya Sai Baba's Humour
16. Sri Sathya Sai Baba — the Ideal Man
17. Sai Baba — the Divine Man
18. Sri Sathya Sai Baba's Mission
19. How Dr. V.K. Gokak came to Sai Baba
20. Experiences of some Devotees
(i) Shirdi Sai and Sathya Sai are the same
(ii) Why Fear when I am Here?
(iii) "Swami knows everything"
(iv) "Swami will catch you"
(v) Beyond Reason
(vi) The Cosmic Christ
(vii) "Ram!" and "Hare Ram!"
(viii) "Don’t think… Just be aware!"
(ix) Who was that old Man?
(x) "The day is not far off when everyone will worship him"
21. Epilogue: Oh Puttaparthi!
Appendix: Dr. V.K. Gokak's poem 'Darshan'
 

Preface

The glory of Puttaparthi is the glory of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba—the phenomenon of the twentieth century, the ideal man, the super scientist of the consciousness, the miraculous man, the avatar (divine in human form) of the modern age, who though unfathomable, gives immense joy to millions round the globe. Puttaparthi, a remote village in the Anantapur District of Andhra Pradesh in S. India, is not only the sacred place of birth of Sai Baba but also the centre of his spiritual work. It is the Vatican of India, the Mecca of Sai devotees and the meeting point of the East and the West. Thus the Puttaparthi connection is not only the connection between Sri Baba and his devotees but also the only real link between man and man.

Although I have lived in Bangalore since 1964 (and in Mysore since 1961) it was only in 1976 that I first got the Whitefield connection leading to Puttaparthi; this, in spite of the fact that subconsciously, for several years I had been on the quest for Sri Sathya Sai Baba.

In this book, I have endeavoured to share with readers my discovery of several facets of Indian spirituality and religion, as expounded by Sri Baba; the myriad facets of Sri Baba's personality; Sri Baba's concern for youth; Sri Baba's views on several subjects and, most important, Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba as the ideal man and the divine man, engaged in the mission of uplifting humanity.

At a time the world is in sore need of a great moral transformation, it is of supreme significance that millions of people in India and several parts of the world are already experiencing a spiritual renaissance, inspired by the life and message of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba.

V. Balu
 

The book is available at:

Motilal Banarsidass Publishers, Delhi - The Editor
http://www.mlbd.com/

Sri Sathya Sai Book and Information Centre, Toronto, Canada
http://www.saibooks.org/

Sai House, Auckland, NZ
http://www.sathyasai.org.nz/booksforsale.htm

Nataraj Books, Springfield, VA
http://www.sathyasai.org.nz/booksforsale.htm