The Guru Who Claimed to be God

 

By marswalker 108 (Dennis J. Hanish) on:

Sathya Sai Baba Discussion Club, message 2367, 2369 and 2371:

http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/sathyasaibabadiscussionclub

Date: 5/23/01 2:05 p.m.

SSB: "I AM GOD" Part 1

I will talk today about another "red flag" that I put on the shelf, so to speak, when I was a SSB devotee. This aspect may be somewhat subtle and I think it involves discrimination. I will begin by stating that a metaphysical friend once said to me "A true Avatar doesn't go around claiming that he is an Avatar." Now up front, I know about the SBB statement wherein he says that he is God, but we are God also. Here are some facts I've wondered about:

I will never forget the lump felt in my throat at a SSB conference when watching a video showing the famous letter SSB wrote to his brother on May 25th, 1947. In the letter Baba says, "No one can comprehend MY GLORY, whoever that person is, whatever the method of inquiry, however long the attempt."

Examples from Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. IX, pp 82-83, a discourse given at Brindavan June 19th, 1974:

"They are unable to gauge the sanctity, the majesty and ETERNAL REALITY that is ME. The POWER of Sai is LIMITLESS; It manifests for ever, ALL forms of 'power' are resident in THIS Sai palm... But those who profess to have understood Me, the scholars, the Yogis, the Pundits, ... are aware only of the least important of the casual external manifestations of an infinite small part of that power, namely, the "miracles"! They have not desired to contact the Source of ALL POWER and WISDOM that is available here at Brindavan. They are satisfied when they secure a chance to exhibit their book-learning and parade their scholarship in Vedic Lore, not realizing that the Person from whom the Vedas emanated is in their midst, for their sake....

... They exaggerate the role of miracles, which are as trivial, when compared to MY GLORY and MAJESTY, as a mosquito is in size and strength to the elephant upon which it squats.... My power is IMMEASURABLE; My truth is inexplicable, unfathomable...

Now, I must tell you that during the Sai Avatar, there is no place for even such 'drama' with scenes of failures and defeats! ... I AM TRUTH."

Now from the book, "Golden Age", Sri Sathya Sai Book and Publications, 1980, p 49, "I AM GOD, but I do not have to know I am God, for I have always been that. I AM AVATAR. I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN AVATAR." "

On the back cover of the Feb, 1999 issue of Sanathana Sarathri, SSB says, "You are the waves; I AM THE OCEAN."

So SSB claims that he is the God of all Gods and the ULTIMATE ABSOLUTE!! There are many many more examples. Now I want to contrast this with the following story about Yogananda. Please note that I am NOT promoting any particular Guru!

Love, MarsWalker108, TO BE CONTINUED

Message 2369

Date: 5/23/01 2:49 p.m.

SSB: "I AM GOD" Part 2

When Yogananda was a boy, he would sometimes flee his home in search of saints. Once his older brother, Ananta, took Mejda(PY) to see a saint in an attempt to finally satisfy the quest. Parts of the story from Sanada LoL Shosh's book, MEJDA, SRF, 1992, pp 101-4:

... "From time to time he opened his heavy eyelids to reproach his disciples for worshipping too boisterously; they were disturbing his inner serenity. Ananta's intrusion was not welcome. The saint's disciples refused to let him near their recalling Godhead. "What do you want? Can't you see he's resting. He gets very angry if he is disturbed."

Ananta hesitated for he had not much experience with saints. Having come this far, however, he determined to carry out his plan. He gripped Medda's hand and forced his way through the cluster of devotees. Those who saw the reverence in Mejda's face gave way readily. Soon Ananta and Mejda were seated near the august presence.

Ananta addressed the sadhu respectfully: "Your Holiness, kindly grace us with your glance. I have brought my brother to receive your blessing." Mejda bowed humbly. The saint opened his eyes and gazed at Mejda's quiet, serene countenance.

The saint's disciples marveled that Mejda had attracted their guru's attention, when all their service and devotion had been seemingly ignored. What had he offered? How had his simple bow commanded this response? But the saint's shrill voice dispelled the moment of awe: "Young man! Are you seeking the Divine? Your search is at an end: "I AM GOD!"

Mejda's face registered shock. "I see you don't recognize me," the saint fumed. "You are still blinded by delusion and attraction to family life."

Mejda was calm as he spoke with deep conviction, "Respected Soul, never say that YOU are God."

Indignation clouded the saint's face; it became dark, as though ink has been poured over his body. He resented the impudence of this young boy. His chest heaved and swelled; his face became distorted with anger. Mejda took a small mirror from his shoulder bag and held it up before the sadhu.

"Look at yourself! Is this the face of God? Can the God of love and beauty Whom I have sought day and night, month after month, year after year, have such a face? No! God is not greedy. He does not deceive His devotees in order to procure a following and gifts they bring..."

"You are leading your disciples into greater ignorance by flattering your ego and theirs. Show them instead the path of liberating truth.... We are only playing make-believe for a time in these garbs of flesh.... Everything and everyone belongs to God; He is all.

Love, MarsWalker108

Message 2371

Date: 5/23/01 4:45 p.m.

SSB: "I AM GOD" Part 3

"The first necessity of life is to avoid causing pain and misery to others and to seek harmony in oneness of mind and soul as we surrender everything wordily to Him. He is Truth....Only He who can impart divine wisdom to others and show them the path to God is a real guru."

Saying this, Mejda stood up and started to leave the room. Ananta followed. The saint was thunderstruck. A violent earthquake could not have shaken him more than Mejda's words shook his egocentric attitude. Slowly his face lighted with amazement.

Before Mejda reached the door, the humbled saint came running after him crying, "Stop! Stop! He stood in front of Mejda, "Young sir," he uttered, "you have freed me today from a great delusion. I did not realize my ignorance until you spoke. Though you are much younger than I, I bow to you in gratitude, for you have given me enlightenment."

"Oh Sadhuji! Mejda replied, "you truly have a great heart, for otherwise you could not have admitted your weakness in front of your disciples. No man can ever say, 'I AM GOD.' The wave on the ocean cannot say, 'I am the ocean.' It can only say, 'The ocean has become the wave.' God is the ocean of light out of which have come the waves of human forms. Can a man contain the Infinite Ocean in the finite wave of his bodily form? With our human limitations, we cannot even comprehend-let alone encompass-His magnitude, which pervades every atom in the universe. It is only when we have attained realization of Truth that we speak with divine authority."

Mejda later recounted that the sadhu indeed awoke from his egoistic delusions and became a truly great saint."

To close, from the book, "Sayings of Yogananda" SRF, 1974, p 56:

" "If a man told you: 'I am God,' you would not feel he was speaking the truth," the Master said to a group of disciples. "But we all may rightly say: 'God has become me.' Of what other substance could we be made? He is the sole fabric of creation. Before He brought into manifestation the phenomenal worlds, nothing existed except Himself as Spirit. From His being He created all: the universe and the souls of men." "

Love, MarsWalker108