How Swami Came To Me - James Sinclair

[Guest guest]

HOW SWAMI CAME TO ME- James Sinclair

James Sinclair

 

 

Mr. James D. Sinclair is a reputed businessman, who has made a very big mark for

himself in the field of mineral prospecting. That apart, he is also a person who

has been coming to Bhagavan for spiritual guidance for several years for now.

After having acquired his degree from the University of Pennsylvania, Wharton

School of Business, Mr. Sinclair, in the year 1975, set up the Sinclair group

of companies for which he became the President and the Chief Executive Officer.

Thereafter, he established, in the year 1981, the James D. Sinclair Financial

Research Institute, for which he became the Chairman and the Chief Executive

Officer. Later on his interest increased in the field of television and

telecommunications, wherein he became the founding partner of the company Cross

Country Cable TV. Presently, he is the Chairman and the Executive Officer of the

Tanzanian American Development Corporation. The manner in which James Sinclair

of America became a devotee of Sai makes a thrilling story. Sinclair had never

heard of Baba but he had a deep yearning for God in his heart; that was enough.

For the rest of the story, we turn to Sinclair himself:"How is it possible", I

used to wonder, "that I was born at this time and age?" As a Christian, it

seemed so unfair that here I was in the 1950's, and Jesus was on this planet

two thousand years ago. I used to pray as I drove to New York City for business

work: "I know you are out there, but I can't find you, Dear Lord. Instead, You

must find me!" Those prayers were not wasted. They were heard and answered in

the positive.

I will tell you of an event that at that time seemed shocking but would take

thirty years to become fully clear. It has to be kept in mind that neither I

nor my wife at that time had any understanding or inclination towards Eastern

tradition or philosophies. In 1964, just a short while after our marriage, my

wife and I accepted an invitation to stay at a friend's woodland cottage. As we

were going to sleep, I saw an old man standing over my bed in the moonlight. My

feeling was not one of fear but rather like one has while a mother is looking

at her son. The old man then turned and walked across the room and through the

wall! Just then, my wife said in a loud voice, "Jim, are you awake?" She

screamed since she was watching the old man as he walked through the wall.

Barbara had never seen anything like that in her life and was shaken by the

experience. Now let us leave this experience and move ahead to 1968.

Our married life had produced our first daughter. Business was not going well.

My health was not so good. The IRS [internal Revenue Service, which is the name

for the Income Tax Department in the U.S.] was looking for me. I had just sold

my car to pay the month's rent for our living quarters. I was frustrated about

the way things were going and my apparent inability to change the

circumstances. One day, it just became too much for me to bear. I went into my

cellar where I had a desk. I sat down and prayed:

I don't know who You are.I don't know where You are.I don't know what You

are.But this I do know: You are!So, You have to take over,Because I have made a

mess of everything.

I resolved not to leave the cellar till the Divine literally took over, whatever

that meant. All of a sudden, I looked to my right and saw what appeared to be a

little royal child dressed in gold and jewels. The child had long hair, so I

thought it must be a girl. Suddenly, all my fear was gone. I was totally at

ease. I got up and went upstairs. The fun was about to begin.

I began to meditate twice a day. The environment slowly began to improve. I had

an interesting experience. My meditation was on the light from a candle. Every

time I started my meditation looking at the candle flame, I saw a little fellow

in the flame wearing an orange robe with a great shock of black hair. Then I

would transcend thought. I also began to have the same dream every single

night. It went on for years. I saw myself walking up a hill, led by three men

in the darkness of night. One was an old man in white. One looked somewhat like

Jesus Christ. The one in the middle had an orange robe. This dream occurred

night after night for years. At that time, I had no knowledge of Shirdi Sai

Baba or Sathya Sai Baba. For that matter I had no idea of any Avatar and did

not know what the word meant.

Now we move ahead another eighteen years to 1984. I have been meditating now for

fifteen years. I am a vegetarian, and I keep a special room in my house for my

meditation. It is a tiny hut, completely private. My meditation has lost form

of any kind. A friend who then was a technical commodity market analyst knew my

interest in meditation. He suggested that I might like the tape he has. He told

me that he it played before and after his meditation. It gave him a great

spiritual feeling. I was most grateful and began the same practice for

relaxation before and after meditation. Wow! It was powerful.

Now comes the spectacular story. Please understand that I don't feel special in

any way. In fact, I believe that someone had been knocking hard on my door for

a lifetime. I was too stupid to know. Therefore, this person had to blow a

bugle in my ear to get my attention. Well, the bugle blew in Connecticut, East

Coast USA, one winter evening.

I was walking from the lavatory in the night. You know how you get a feeling

someone is there. I did. I turned around and there He was. I hadn't the

slightest idea who He was. This handsome figure dressed in a long orange robe,

with a shock of hair you wouldn't believe, was in my hallway, looking at me

silently. I nearly jumped out of my skin. As fast I had seen Him, He was gone.

Well, it happened a second time. Not too much later, I was in my meditation

room, and this same figure was standing when I came out of meditation. I rubbed

my eyes. He was still there. He motioned as if I was to do something with His

Feet. I knelt down and touched His Feet. As I looked up, He was no longer

there. This time I didn't feel scared, I felt out of my mind. I didn't know

which I needed more, spiritual or professional medical help! I was determined

to find out who this fellow was that visited me. I certainly wasn't going to

tell my wife.

Off I went to the fort of spiritual knowledge in New York City, Samuel Weiser's

bookstore. I approached the clerk. He asked if he could help me. I said, 'I

certainly hope so.' I described my visitor, of course without giving details of

the visit. I wanted to know if there was any book about someone who looked like

the description of my visitor. He said, 'One moment. I will be right back.' He

returned and handed a packet of whitish grey powder and a book titled Holy Man

and the Psychiatrist written by a doctor [this book is by Dr. Sandweiss]. The

salesman told me that he himself was a devotee of Sri Sathya Sai Baba. Now I

knew that the name of the form was Sathya Sai Baba. Was I in for a surprise

when I recognised that the recurring dream had been of Shirdi Sai, Sathya Sai,

and Prema Sai walking up the hill night after night for many years? The figure

in the flame was also Him.

On my first visit to Prashanti Nilayam, which is a story in itself, I was

granted an Interview with Baba. As I entered the room, He said, "All I have

given you, and you have never been happy one moment in your life. I CAME TO YOU

TWICE. Would you do something for Swami?" My answer was, of course, yes.

Swami went on, "BE HAPPY". I had told absolutely no one at that time of the

visit. In a 1994 Interview, Swami said to my wife and myself, "I came to you

thirty years ago". He said it right out of the blue. 1964 was the year when we

had the experience in the woodland cabin with the figure of the old man in

white. That was indeed thirty years ago.

Who was the royal little girl in my cellar when I was at my wits ends? I believe

it was Baba in the form of Baby Krishna, welcoming me as a spiritual baby onto

His path. Thank You, Swami!

JAI SAI RAM

Source: Radio Sai E-Magazine, March

2005http://www.radiosai.org/journals/Vol_03/03MAR01/coverstory_hsctm.htm

 

 

 

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[Guest guest]

You know, it has also acted as a reminder for me to thank swami too.

Love bakula xsaibaba list wrote:

HOW SWAMI CAME TO ME- James Sinclair

[Guest guest]

=======

Respected James ,you are really a great soul born

in Sai Era whom Baba has granted darshan ( divine

view) long before appearing in His deifferent forms

Shirdi Sai,Sathya Sai & Prem Sai ( the future form

of Sai yet to come as declared by Baba).

Please accept my heartiest Namaskaram.If you

would like to send any message to me & others

Sai devotees, then must convey the same.

Thank you.Jai Sai Ram.********************

 

With Sai Love,

S.L.Gupta

13-3-2005

=======

[Guest guest]

Thank you for this beautiful and touching experience,

thank you for sharing it. I feel the infinite love of

Swami and an incredible happiness.

Thank you Swami for your LOVE.

Sai Ram

Berit

[Guest guest]

Dear Bro Dr. James Sinclair,

 

We were in the same interview room in WHitefield in the early years

and I took a photograph of you and Swami.

 

At another interview , I gave the photo of yourself and Swami to Bhagavan.

 

I hope you have it and I wanted to contact you but like you waited this long to

ask you. Sai Ram.

 

Hope this message reaches you as I do not have your email.

 

It is still fond memories of yester years but seems like not too long ago.

 

Once again, keep in good spirit.

 

Yours in Sai Love,

 

Bro Will Tan S.K.

Sai Mission Singapore

 

P/s Bros in Saibabanews group, kindly forward my email to Dr. James Sinclair.

 

Many thanks.

 

Sai Ram

 

 

--- saibaba list < wrote:

 

> HOW SWAMI CAME TO ME

> - James Sinclair

> Source: Radio Sai E-Magazine, March 2005

> http://www.radiosai.org/journals/Vol_03/03MAR01/coverstory_hsctm.htm

[Guest guest]

I want to share a sweet, wonderful teaching of Swami tha impacted me

personally during the July, GuruPoornima visit of 1994, when Swami made Mr.

Sinclair talk. Every act of swami teaches a life's lesson for evolution to

reach him within.

I have to give a background scenario to make sense for the scenario of July, 1994.

In December 1993, Swami wanted to bless us, as a couple for the installation of

Utsava Moortis at our Temple in san Antonio, Texas. I asked my husband to take

pictures and seek Swami's blessings. He said he had no time with his meetings

for any other travel.. Swami came in his dream and gave a clear message to seek

his blessings. He planned our trip. Swami fixed the wedding of a famous

industrialist's daughter for the 10th of December in Bangalore. Swami had

arrived there on the 9th of December. We arrived there on the 10th of December.

Swami had taken every measure to acknowledge our steadfastness in devotion,

adherence to Sanaaatana Dharma and introduced us openly to Brindavan students

and staff. We basked in the sunshine of his love and grace that he has for his

devotees to it's full extent.Swami left on Tuesday after we left Brindavan. The

function was memorable and was filled with miracles.

The next scene was my visit with both girls to get Bhagawan's blessings in July

of 1994.. I felt since Swami was so attentive to us in December of 1993, only 7

months ago, I wiould have similar preferential seating and attention. ( Ego is

very evasive and creeps up on anyone, even with one who has the signature stamp

from Swami as his devotee. May be more so!!).

Well, this time myself and the children were pushed back into the 2nd or 3rd

block. I felt that Swami was so distanced and why bother to sit there if I have

to see him in the heart. I got up with the children and took off. I sobbed and

declared to myself, that if Swami acknowledged me as his devotee, and if I am

like Tulasi das, Meera, Sakku Bai and so on, he will come and give me Darshan.

That I do not need to go anywhere. So much was the hurt and possibly secondary

to pride, Ego and disappointment of certain expectations!!!.

Swami cancelled the afternoon Darshan that day. Genuinely, Swami cancelled

Darshan, as there was some remodelling of Sai Ramesh Hall for the GuruPoornima

Celebrations. I felt very guilty of even touching Swami's heart in the wrong

way. That is the Beauty of his incarnation, to interact at human level teaching

his devotees through heart to heart connection at human level. I woke up and I

was told about this. I regretted genuinely on my senseless emotional outburst

and sought forgiveness from Swami.

Just at that moment I heard that Swami came out to see his pets in the Brindavan

front prtion of his abode, into the gardens. I ran to the gate with my children

and relatives. I saw Swami look lovinlgy at the adorable Deer and the Ducks.

It was a scene worth watching at the Creator lovingly looking at his creation

as if to protect the innocent, mouthless, harmless creatures, who beautify the

world. Swami suddenly turned towards the Trayee Brindavan and was about to

leave.

My heart sank. He did not even turn his face towards us (Me). I said tio myself,

" Yes Swami, in your creation, for all the love I have for you as GOd, I am not

even worth to you as much as that deer or the duck"

Swami suddenly stopped, he turned around and looked at me!!! I as very happy!!!!

He took steps towards the gate and turned left towards the back of the Ashram

Gardens. I ran to the next gate and put my hands through teh gate and said "

Thank you very much Swami!! Thank you Very Much Swami" ( Swami had no reason to

walk that way. except for giving solace to a sobbing, pride filled heart).

Swami gave a beautiful, loving smile, took his Abhaya Hastam up in a blessing

pose, and said " BE HAPPY. BE HAPPY!!!".

What a wonderful feeling that the creatore really cared about my feelings.

It was not untill Mr. James Sinclair on GuruPoornima day that he spoke he gave

me the meaning of what "BE HAPPY" meant.

" UNION WITH GOD"

When Mr. Sinclair explained about the meaning of those words, Swami knew where I

was sitting and looked at me and gave me a thought " Do you know what I blessed

you with? where are you looking?"

On January 15th, 2003, Swami said in personal interview, " What is there in you?

Atma. What is there in me ? ATMA. Only one Atma"

This is Union with god and confirmed by God. This is a sweet memory and

teaching of Bhagawan how his love for humanity forgives the arrogance of his

devotee and makes them seek his communion. If all of us are capable of this

divine love and giving, could we not have changed the world by this time?

In Swami's service with love and reverence,

Meena Chintapalli