Response Series, Part Six
Posted: Barry
Pittard.
Date:
Friday, August 8, 2003
Email:
bpittard@beachaccess.com.au
Note: A long letter from an SSB devotee named Seema is the basis for
this series, in which the one devotee's letter is readily
seen to reflect many points scattered throughout many devotee letters
received by SSB
Exposé
activists.
Seema's
comments appear in red.
All over the book one can tell how easily
his mind could deceive him.
Did you know that the then Sanathana Sarathi Editor the late
V.K. Narasimhan reviewed the Priddy book very well? VKN was widely
esteemed in India and around the world as a highly literate,
intelligent, erudite man. With superb courage, he defied Mrs Indira
Gandhi during her draconian Emergency in 1975. Though often a very
private man, he was also my warm and loving friend who entrusted me
with some of the editing of his last book and, on his deathbed
when practically no visitor was permitted, he instructed the hospital
staff to allow me to visit. Very well do I know how carefully he
evaluated books and ideas. Many devotees found the 'Source of the
Dream: My Way to Sathya Sai Baba' much better written than most
Sai devotee books. Perhaps they all saw something in the book that you
missed. When I worked (gratis I might add, in case, like your master
does re regard to his dissenters, you attempt to tarnish me as one who
has his hand out for money) as a publisher's editor at Sai Towers, I
implored the owner-manager R. Padmanaban, to put far more focus on
finding competent editors for the books he publishes, and to look for
writers who exercise a disciplined, self-critical faculty in their
writing. Interestingly, among my strong recommendations were Brian
Steel and Robert Priddy. These and many other former devotees have
distinguished intellectual careers, and here you are trying to
demolish him with irresponsible words.
Do you really think that the little
monkey mind could try to figure out God?
You may be
delighted to know that Robert Priddy has written a short article
called ‘Monkey Minds.’
http://home.no.net/anir/Sai/enigma/MonkeyMind.htm
God? Sathya Sai Baba?! No wonder you seemed
so affected by my slight piece of fun about the Buggy One. Whatever
may be his graces, there remain his shocking and perfidious disgraces.
Maybe it's possible for a being of seldom encountered, exceptional
gifts - an avatar of gold-and-trash, of light-and-dark, of
genuineness-and-hypocrisy - to most terribly and deceptively manifest
at some time in history. Certainly, the Christian Bible has a prophecy
that surely fits your guru here:
"For there shall arise false Christ’s, and false prophets, and shall
show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they
shall deceive the very elect." Matthew 24:24
All too often, with all his fleet of luxury
cars and immense pomp and ceremony, SSB is a flashy potentate enamored
of the golden throne who better befits his recent declension in being
carted around on a golf buggy.
SSB says virtually that everyone has a
monkey mind, so why do you single out Robert Priddy? If you can put
your blinkers down awhile, you will find that he has done some very
careful researches and analyses. Robert was the co-founder and leader
of the Sathya Sai Organisation in Norway. See his website:
http://home.no.net/anir/Sai/enigma.
Even if you were right, have you paused even for an instant to note
that our case does not rest on what Robert Priddy or any other one
individual thinks? Only the facts will do.