Godfather Einstein and Baba the Avatar - by Mark R. Abrams

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GODFATHER EINSTEIN AND BABA THE AVATARMark R. Abrams, Vermont, USA

Dear Reader,Sometime around the 15th of February, someone had forwarded to H2H a

paper called Einstein Revisited by one Mr. Balwant Bhaneja. We were looking

through the references of this paper and found that it contained a reference to

an article in Sanathana Sarathi! We became curious and searched for this article

and found it in the 1992 issue of Sanathana Sarathi. This was a two part article

by Mark R Abrams, whose father was the personal physician of Einstein! We were

wondering why Swami sent this article to us at this point of time and upon

further enquiries found out that the birthday of this great scientist was on

March 14th! Strange are the ways of the Lord!

This is the first of the two part article, the second of which will appear in

the next issue. We hope you enjoy reading it…..

"Together with knowledge of the natural sciences, one has to acquire humility,

discipline and a good character.” — Sathya Sai Baba

If you want your life's work to be useful to mankind, it is not enough that you

understand applied science as such. Concern for man himself must always

constitute the chief objective of all technological effort, to assure that the

results of our scientific thinking may be a blessing to mankind, and not a

curse. — Albert Einstein

Albert Einstein was my Godfather and a family friend. Over the years I have

sought to increase my understanding of this great man, and the spiritual

implications of his work. Einstein was a scientific giant who, perceiving the

unified nature of reality, was able to express some of it mathematically.

Beyond the role of scientist, he can best be thought of as a spiritual giant

whose life, in terms of humility, compassion for humanity, and one pointed

focus on God, stands as an example of how Sathya Sai Baba teaches us to live

most happily.

Albert Einstein stands as a precursor and example of the unique type of

scientist so sorely needed in the world today, the type that Bhagavan is

currently graduating from His Institute of Higher Learning. Under Swami's

loving hand, these are "whole" scientists. Their aim is to benefit society and

not merely accomplish selfish ends without thought to their work's impact upon

humanity and the environment. These are scientists who combine spiritual

awareness with state of the art training. Swami's graduates are at the leading

edge of discovery in various fields. Three recent Ph.D.'s in physics had the

unheard of experience of having their papers published in American physics

journals within a year of receiving their degrees! Grounded in the truth that

God is the source of all phenomena and knowledge, they maintain the perspective

that the best path to understanding creation is to study the Creator.

Einstein also was this type of scientist, and his life was guided by this

principle. His overriding goal was to "Understand how the 'Old One' thinks."

And he devoted his life to the effort to gain "knowledge of the ultimate

immu¬table essence that underlies the mutable, illusory world."

In the first part of this article I will mention some personal stories about my

family, Baba and Einstein. The second part will include some of Einstein's

thoughts on science, spirituality, education and character, as well as what

Swami had to say about him during a recent interview.

Although Einstein was deeply saddened by the ironic fact that some of his work

led to the development of nuclear weapons, we might also consider that the work

also holds within it a scientific illustration of the spiritual truth. This

article will conclude with some musings on how some of Einstein's work may be

useful as one more 'tool' to help free us from Maya and accept the unseen Atma

as the fundamental truth of life.

My father, Dr. Henry Abrams, opened his general medical practice in Princeton,

New Jersey, in 1938. A year later, the physician who had been caring for Prof.

Einstein, his daughter Margot and secretary Miss Helen Dukas, was leaving for

further training. He approached my father and asked if he would care to take

over, and he readily agreed. He cared for Einstein and the others until the

out¬break of World War II.

GODFATHER EINSTEINDuring the war my father was stationed on the cold and

desolate island of Greenland. He and Einstein corres¬ponded. While in Greenland

my father received a letter from Einstein remarking that this should be a

"contemplative period" for him, and urging him to consider getting further

medical training in some speciality. Subsequently, my father did that, and

returned to Princeton as the town's sole ophthalmologist. When I was born in

1949, he asked the profes¬sor, as Einstein preferred to be called, if he would

be my Godfather, and Einstein consented. Thus, following Jewish tradition,

Einstein was the one who held me for the eris Milah, the ritual circumcision

ceremony. He was to have a minor contact, but a

major impact over my life in the years to come. Further, because in the West the

Godfather is considered a child's spiritual teacher, I have come to consider

Professor Einstein to be the first of several spiritual teachers in this life.

They ultimately led me to Bhagavan.

Einstein died when I was six, and my recollections of him are few. I do remember

that he had a very nice laugh, which he used often. For my fourth birthday, my

parents and I were invited for a small celebration. My uncle took the

opportunity to photograph the Professor and me dealing with the gifts that his

secretary had obtained: a toy log cabin and a bag of foil covered chocolates in

the form of "gold coins." It was this latter which occupied most of my

attention. Professor Einstein worked on the log cabin, trying to fit the simple

pieces of wood together. Interestingly, when I grew up and printed all the

negatives, there was a picture of my mother leaning over Professor Einstein and

the logs, showing him how the ends joined.

Of course at that young age I had no idea of what was so special about being

around this nice old man. It wasn't until I was at college that I really began

to appreciate the honour of being his Godson and to consider what his

scientific work meant.

I discovered meditation at the age of twenty. As my spiritual journey proceeded

I became intensely curious as to what my link was with such a luminous soul.

EINSTEIN AND THE GITABaba found me at twenty three. As you can imagine, I

regarded my first trip to the Avatar as a possible opportunity, among other

things, to learn more about my relationship with Einstein. It may come as no

surprise that throughout these and subsequent trips, Leelas have been the order

of the day.

Baba, the consummate "tour guide", treated my wife Marsha and me to a host of

travel experiences over the course of my first visit to India. We had no desire

to be anywhere but where He was, and since He went to Delhi, Madras and

Hyderabad we were overjoyed to be allowed to follow Him.

In Hyderabad a most interesting incident occurred during a discourse Swami was

giving in a large auditorium. It was very hot and I had just eaten lunch. As

time went on, I realized to my horror that I was being overtaken by a powerful

drowsiness. As 1 was sinking into thamas, I projected a thought to the Lord:

"Baba, the only thing that could keep me from falling asleep right now is if

You were to mention Einstein...” I knew He could do it but didn't really expect

it at all and continued my descent. Within sixty seconds, my head thrust

backward as Swami's lilting pronunciation of the name "Einstein” entered my

consciousness from His ongoing flow of Telugu.

I was awake then, and became riveted to the story He recounted of how a young

Indian physicist during an appointment with Einstein eagerly probed for the

ultimate in Western scientific wisdom. What he received from Einstein however,

was, to roughly quote Swami, "Every major conclusion I’ve arrived at is

contained in your Bhagavad Gita. Look there!"

My curiosity about the connection was inflamed anew! I was dying to get some

insight into "why me?" As Swami's translator for the discourse was himself a

nuclear physicist, I approached him afterwards hoping for some kernel of

insight. He had nothing personally to share, and as far as learning more from

Sai he said, "I counsel patience..." I was disappointed but left knowing I had

received sound advice.

AT PRASHANTI NILAYAMApproximately one month later we found ourselves in the

interview room at Prashanti Nilayam. I was sitting on the floor just to Swami's

right as He was talking to various people in the group. Seeing His footstool off

to the side and recalling how frequently He is seen using one, I took the

opportunity to perform the logical but minor Seva of placing it in position. He

accepted and I felt happy. After some time there was a lull in the give and take

of conversation. No one was asking questions and Swami was silent, save for the

quiet phrase "And you sir?" drawing the words out slowly. The thought came that

He seemed to be addressing me. I was at a complete loss for words. I was

embarrassed to be addressed personally in front of the group. I definitely had

something I wanted to ask and whether I was being

addressed or not, it was an absolutely clear, appropriate chance to approach

Baba about it. Perhaps as many as two or even three solid minutes passed. An

ego based lack of confidence prevented me from simply asking, "What is my

connection to Einstein, Baba?" I feel Baba gave me many chances there, but

finally a new dialogue began with someone else. The moment was lost and I

clearly could not cut in. I was to wonder many times after that if the

opportunity might not have been lost forever.

That was in 1978. More blessed interviews occurred in ensuing years and

questions about more important matters were raised than about my Godfather. It

was okay; I had become patient and accepted that He would reveal whatever I

needed to know in its own best time.

After Professor Einstein's death in 1955, Miss Einstein and Miss Dukes remained

patients of my father and friends of the family, remembering birthdays and

attending my Bar Mitzvah at 13. My mother sometimes gave them rides around town

as they did not drive.

For sometime I had had a yearning to visit Einstein's home to see his study. In

1983 my sister planned to get married in Princeton and this looked like a good

opportunity. My father called Miss Einstein to arrange a visit and on a cold

December day he, my stepmother and I spent about two hours chatting with this

completely unassuming artist in the parlour of the house where she had lived

for close to fifty years. She told us of her time spent studying art at a

convent in Italy and showed us a beautiful little wax sculpture of Saint

Francis, for whom she had a special affection.

EINSTEIN’S STUDYSomewhat paralleling that 1978 interview with Swami, I had been

feeling some reserve during this conversation about requesting to see the

Professor's study. This woman was elderly and appeared frail and I didn't want

to trouble her by an extra trip upstairs. Clearly it was getting time to go. I

had to act quickly or the chance would be lost. Thinking of Swami I made my

request and she responded with an enthusiastic "Sure!!" and charged up the

stairs to the room in question. On the way we passed her father's bedroom which

was very plainly furnished, like a monastic cell. Then we were in the study.

Bookshelves lined the walls, and a wide window faced a deep garden in the back

of the house. To the left of this picture-window were two portraits, one of a

bearded Jewish sage, the other of Mahatma Gandhi. One shelf contained all of

the original issues of "Der Annalen der Physik" (Annual of Physics), the journal

in which both Theories of Relativity were first published. Then, just as I

noticed a large easy chair and footstool, Miss Einstein "commanded" me to sit

in it. How could I refuse? I smiled broadly to myself, remembering Swami's

footstool and feeling His subtle presence in what for me was a meaning¬ful

coincidence. We took pictures, looked around a bit more and left. Later, I

remembered Swami had said Einstein had a copy of the Bhagavad Gita and wished

I'd looked for it.

As we left, my father recalled the time, years before, when he'd brought his

brother in law Elliott Montroll over for what Einstein's formidable secretary

had said would only be a three minute appointment. My uncle, who was to be

later named to the Einstein Chair of Physics at the University of Rochester,

would have been overjoyed just to have shaken hands, but Einstein offered them

lunch. They declined. My uncle ended up spending half an hour at Einstein's

dining room table, talking and laughing with him about physics, while my father

beamed with joy, understanding not one word.

SERVICE TO HUMANITYMy father, only on being asked recently, recounted to me how

every three or four months for some years he would receive a call from

Einstein's sec¬retary asking him if he might be able to spare a few minutes, as

the Professor wished to talk. Somehow, especially in the early years of his

practice, he always found time to go over, for discussions involving the non

scientific topics his host was interested in, such as philosophy, and world and

national events.

Always straightforward and humble in human dealings, Einstein came to accept and

use the bewildering fame that was thrust upon him in the only way that made

sense to him—service to humanity. He worked tirelessly throughout his life

promoting peace, freedom, and respect for all people.

Dad recalled how Einstein's efforts during the 1930's and World War II enabled a

certain number of Jews to escape Nazi persecution. The Professor also spent many

years working for the United Jewish Appeal in establishing the state of Israel

and accepted my father's invitation to co chair the local fundraising campaign

with him in Princeton for several years.My father considers himself a rational

scientific and appropriately skeptical man, who, while loving his religion and

believing in God, puts great stock in what can be touched, seen, and measured.

A SIVARATHRI VISITMy wife Marsha returned from her first trip to Swami in 1977.

She had been present at the last public Mahasivarathri, during which our

beloved Swami manifested Vibhuti, showered the audience with Ram Tirth (holy

water) , and produced what Professor Kasturi was later to describe as a "self

illumining crystal Lingam" (emphasis mine).

Soon after her return, Marsha and I were on a visit to my father and stepmother.

When they asked her, "Tell us about your trip in India," she proceeded to do

just that, with all the enthusiasm of one who had just returned from her first

three months with the Avatar.

Producing photographs of Swami holding up the glowing Lingam, Marsha excitedly

explained to this senior medical man how Sai Baba produced this unidentifiable

object in His body, and then brought it forth from His mouth every year to the

delight of His devotees. This was, to say the least, very difficult for my

father to grasp or accept.

We did not know it at the time, but this conversation was a turning point in our

relationship with our folks. Being so unfamiliar with anyone even remotely like

Sai Baba they felt sure that we were being taken in by a master magician, and

"feared for our sanity". As the years passed however, their fears abated when

they perceived we had not given up personal control over our lives, and

continued to develop as human beings.

"SUBTLE IS THE LORD"Three years after this visit we were back again, talking in

that room where the fateful exchange had taken place. I was browsing in the

kitchen cabinets when I spied a set of goblets I had never seen before—of clear

heavy crystal. "Hey Nona!" I called to my stepmother with mild curiosity, "Where

did you get the crystal goblets?Oh, those were a gift to your father from Dr.

Sivalingam.Oh." I replied.

So, the sceptical doctor who so profoundly doubted Lord Siva's ability to

produce a Lingam of crystal, had himself received crystal from a doctor named

Sivalingam! And unknowingly participated in an exquisite first hand experi¬ence

of what Einstein might have meant when he proclaimed, in referring to how

"nature conceals her sublimity": "SUBTLE IS THE LORD..."

At the time I could not even comment, finally bringing it to their attention two

or three years later.To be concluded(from January 1992, Sanathana Sarathi)

Source: Radio Sai E-Magazine March 2005http://www.radiosai.org/Journals/Vol_03/03MAR01/eandb.htm

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