Sathya Sai Organization's word vs. action: no money collection vs. till boxes!

"Our man in Canberra" has sent us, in a plain cover so to speak, a damning little newsletter by the 'Co-co' of Australia's Sathya Sai Org. As background information, let us see some of the words of Sathya Sai Baba against the collection of money:-

"It is deplorable to hear that in some States, even for trivial activities, funds are being collected. Even if some office-bearers are inclined to adopt this method, I want members not to encourage them." (Sathya Sai Speaks - Vol. 14 new ed., p. 362)

Speaking about learned men who discourse on the Gita, SSB said in Geetha Vahini (p. 175): "If they have the experience, none of them would barter the spread of that experience for money."
Comment: SSB is not a learned man, all who are can tell that, (though he discourses on the Gita more than his share) and he is now allowing - nay encouraging - collection of money, even via his Organisation and he greatly encourages those who organise this soliciting of funds for unspecified uses by the hyper-rich Central Trust, like Hira of Japan and Ramanathan of Australia!

SSB also insisted that money collections were not allowed in the Sathya Sai Organisation (Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol 11 old ed., p. 50)

Another quaint, totally self-defeating SSB statement is directed against the Christian churches, as follows:-
At present there is a growing tendency among propagators of the Christian faith to cast aspersions on other religions. Money is being spent lavishly to spread Christianity. None of you should have any part in such activities. This type of propaganda does great harm to the personality of Jesus." (Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. 18 new ed., p. 192)
Comment: Is this not a clear, but dirty, case of "The pot calling the kettle black"? SSB runs down those of the Christian faith for running down other faiths! Meanwhile he supports all manner of efforts to propagandise himself and his own teaching, now even world Sai Radion! As blatant a trick as one could want, but his devotees are constantly 'being tested' like this to see if they remain gullible enough to swallow everything. Moreover, SSB - who has thoroughly demonstrated his infathomable ignorance of much of the nature and history of Jesus, putting him down as lower than himself and other Indian avatars etc., has the sheer audacity to speak of propaganda that harms Jesus! (see, for example,

One last quote of many other possibles on this subject: "At a meeting of the Central Trust yesterday, I told the members including Sri Indulal Shah, that I had no interest in property. Do not involve me in any connection with these properties. I do not wish to have any connection with money or property. My only concern is with my devotees (cheers). Telling them all this, I signed the papers"
One may well ask 'what papers?' It is well know that SSB signs all cheques donated to the Trust in his name. This is a direct con, to say one thing and do the exact opposite.
Why does he even meet up at the Central Trust, then? It deals with property and money above all else?

No, no... there is no limit to how credulous followers can be, none whatever! I was one, when he called me in to interview two days running and asked in private how much money I would donate! The same with Richard Friedrich, then President of the SSO in Austria, who was openly asked in the darshan line, 'How much money are you giving?' (he had previously asked if he could donate some). The Sinclairs, among the most massive donors ever (hundreds of millions of dollors on more than one occasion) had a private interview every day before darshan at Kodaikanal in 1994 when we wer there. They came out of the bungalow at the side each day just before Baba appeared. So it goes on, there seemed to be no limit.... then! But now the collection boxes have at last had to be brought out into the open too! Sai Baba has NOTHING to do with money, no!

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