Letter of resignation by a leading office-bearer in the Sathya Sai Organization plus letter from Duncan Roads, editor 'Nexus magazine'
From: "Lori Kaplowitz"
Date: Wed, 8 Nov 2000 12:54:25 -0500
To: "Glen Meloy"
Subject: The original email
This is the email that
started it all....I wrote this after deep contemplation and a need to get it out
of my system and try to reach some people. Thankfully, due to this email there
are six people currently investigating and asking me questions. Many others that
were vicious and then many others that were quiet. This email was sent out to
total of 230 people, mostly NE sb devotees.
Sent: Monday, October 23, 2000 10:49 PM
Subject: How do you reach someone's heart?
Dear Friends,
I am writing this e-mail after much contemplation. As many of you know as of
this writing I have resigned from the sai organization and no longer consider
sai baba my teacher. I made this decision based on information I found out
regarding improper behaviour that sai baba is engaged in. The reason I have
chosen to write to you at this time is because I can no longer be silent and
participate in the level of suppression that has been going on within the sai
baba org.
You are good caring people, dig down into your hearts and souls and bypass your
ego. It is especially important for those of you who are therapists and teachers.
People that are responsible for recognizing and reporting problems when children
cry out for help. Why have you turned a deaf ear and a blind eye to this
situation? For those of you who do not know what is going on, I beseech you to
find out by either reading the e-mail included below, contacting people that
have left the org and investigating websites. [Attached to the bottom of this
message is an unbiased letter from the editor of the Nexus magazine. Duncan's
email address, phone number and mailing address are included as well. Please
feel free to contact him if you have any questions.]
I would like to ask you to consider the following questions. Doesn't it mean
anything that centers around the world have been closed? That major public sai
baba officials have resigned? I also would like to ask how it is that so many
people, from so many countries are saying the same thing? That so many men, not
women, have committed suicide?? Did you know that the UNESCO conference, that
was supposed to be sponsored in Parthi, was canceled due to these rumors as well
and the sai baba org. is not reporting the facts? Doesn't it mean something that
UNESCO has posted its concern and disassociation with the sai baba org.? Did you
know that the new EHV school slated to open in September in Hartford, CT has
shut down? Isn't it interesting that the FBI and other International orgs. are
investigating sai baba? Most of all isn't it interesting that an organization
that allegedly supports the principle of Help Ever, Hurt Never is basically
being selfish?
The saddest thing of all is that the party line reads "think about your own
experience, don't listen to this garbage because it will weaken your faith".
After much contemplation I realized how hypocritical this is especially if you
are to follow sb' s teachings of "love all, serve all". How can you love and
serve somebody else, especially the children if you are not at least researching
and asking the questions. How can you continue to bury your head in the sand,
give over your personal power, because you are too afraid to rock your world.
What about these children? What if any of this is true, even a little bit?? What
about the children?
With love,
Lori K.
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR OF NEXUS MAGAZINE
Dear List,
Since my email has been forwarded to so many others, maybe I should clarify my
position.
1) I have been involved in promoting 'new age' and 'alternative' viewpoints
since my teens, during the '70s. I have run and organised many conferences,
lecture tours, expos etc all promoting self awareness, natural health and
caring from nature.
2) I was made aware of Sai Baba in the late seventies. I know many people
who have experienced miracles in their personal lives that they attribute to
Sai Baba.
3) I also know many Muslims, Christians and Hindus who have experienced
similar miracles in their lives, which THEY attribute to their respective
figureheads.
4) Whilst a believer in Sai Baba's miracles and teachings, I chose NOT to
become a follower. I perceived that the miracles were as much a creation of
the believer as of the teacher. I chose to explore the path of 'creating our
own reality'.
5) I had heard the many rumours about Sai Baba's sexual impropriety over the
years, and like many, dismissed them as disgruntled devotees. Later on, I
actually took those attacks as 'evidence' that Sai Baba was growing in
influence, and that this was the 'system' attacking him.
6) Unlike Sai Baba believers, I have an open mind, one which allows me to
read and listen to things that Sai Baba believers refuse even to allow into
their consciousness. I read some of the more recent testimonies, and decided
to investigate for once and for all to put an end to the rumours.
7) I ended up speaking to many victims, parents of victims, former Sai Baba
centre 'leaders' and some respected 'figureheads' from the movement. All
confirmed the same pattern of abuse and sexual misconduct.
8) I did not want to believe any of these testimonies, but I also had to be
true to what I was uncovering. Sai Baba is, and has, been involved in sexual
misconduct with boys and young men. The effects of this misconduct has caused
unestimatable damage within many many families, including suicides.
I only investigated the allegations of sexual misconduct. I notice there are
also many who claim the miracles are faked, there are many allegations of
financial fraud, and there are many dead people who were supposedly 'healed'
by Sai Baba or his vibuti.
In retrospect it would be easy to point the finger and say how evil and
deceptive Sai Baba truly is. But in fairness, he would be a nobody if people
did not give him their respect, money, and above all - personal power.
I look forward to an age where people respect and love themselves enough to be
able to truly respect and love others. People who feel GENUINE love, joy and
happiness in their lives do NOT follow the path of others-they ARE their own
path in its making.
Shame on Sai Baba! Shame on the parasites that feed off his empire! Shame on
the 'Centre Leaders' who knowingly turn a blind eye to the reports they have
received of sexual impropriety! Shame on the followers who are so insecure in
themselves that they cannot open their ears to hear the cries their brothers
and sisters! Shame on the sycophants who in their blind belief help
perpetuate the suffering, injustice and deception that surrounds Sai Baba.
Above all, shame on those who dismiss the cries of pain from their brothers
without investigation!
Duncan
Duncan M. Roads
Editor, NEXUS Magazine
PO Box 30, Mapleton Qld 4560 Australia
Tel: +61 (0)7 5442 9280; Fax: +61 (0)7 5442 9381
http://www.nexusmagazine.com ICQ#62399259
"The nature of the universe is such that ends can never justify the means.
On the contrary, the means always determine the end."
(Aldous Huxley)