The greatness of Udi

[Guest guest]

Sai Ram, dear Jayashree, I am very moved by your experience with the Divine in

the Form of beloved Sri Sai Baba of Shirdi. Thank you for making my day

brighter and happier.

 

My experiences with Shirdi Sai Baba are intertwined with those of his present

form, Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. When Swami came into my life, I knew

nothing of spirituality, had no idea of the existence of either Sri Sai Baba of

Shirdi or Sri Sathya Sai Baba (that was 16 years ago). Nor was I a spiritual

seeker, at least not consciously.

 

But my inner world exploded after seeing a picture of Sathya Sai Baba. It was

shown to me by a gentleman I was visiting who had just come back from a trip to

India where he had seen Sathya Sai Baba. He showed me his photograph, but didn't

even mention his name. I didn't even ask. I was not interested!

 

This gentleman had told me, in a very superficial way, that this young fellow

(Baba looked very young in the photograph) was the most important guru in the

world at the moment and that he materialized objects, some through his mouth

(!), and that he also "materializes this", and showed me a little flask filled

with...grey ash! I thought: "If someone has the power to materialize things,

why on earth would he materialize ash?" Of course, since I was a guest in his

house, I refrained from any such comments out of politeness.

 

Little did I know then that I had just had my definite encounter with the Divine

Mystery in human form, that finally my Divine Teacher had appeared and called

me. Yet, very soon after that visit, I discovered that something had happened

to me, something drastic and, at the time, terrifying; and since I could not

initially connect my inner spiritual explosion with that visit and that

photograph, I was in fear thinking I was perhaps being possessed by some evil

spirit.

 

After just seeing his picture, I began to have dreams, locutions, visions,

constant experiences. I was terrified. I'm a westerner, Roman Catholic by birth

and tradition, though I became an agnostic when I was 14 years old and remained

such until my 27th or 28th birthday, when an experience with the One in the

Form of Divine Teacher Jesus of Nazareth rekindled the flame of faith within

me. But nothing compares to what happened to me after seeing Sai's picture.

 

The worst part is that I didn't know what was happening to me. I could not

connect the viewing of his form to my inner spiritual awakening in an explosion

of knowledge I didn't even know I had, knowledge that could not be part of my

present conscious mind, attached to this present body and ego, knowledge I had

never acquired in this lifetime.

 

And there were also visitations by yogis and yoginis, visions, locutions, etc. I

came to the conclusion that I was possessed by some evil spirit or demon and

began to go to church every day, pray constantly, clean my house with holy

water, etc., seeking the Lord's mercy to heal me or free me of what was

happening to me.

 

Then, however, some miracles happened, including some miraculous healings, and

the love of God was kindled in my heart. He gave me unequivocal proof that he

was the one who had made all of it happen, that He was with me. Later I learned

from Swami that he had been with me from my birth and throughout my childhood,

always there, watching over me, protecting and guiding me. But now was the time

when I was to walk the path with him consciously, with full knowledge of his

existence and present divine incarnation as Sathya Sai Baba and follow him.

 

And that is what has been happening for the last 16 years. In time, through

meditation and prayer and service, I was able to rejoin the normal world, since

I was forced to resign my position as assistant editor of a local newspaper

because I could not be with people for about nine months to a year. I was open

to all and other people's feelings and thoughts would invade me, like a flood.

It was maddening. But in time, I regained control. I've been working ever since

in my total surrender and given everything to Swami, so that he decides which

experiences I am to have, which knowledge I am to receive. I have left

everything in his hands.

 

It was after I came in contact with Him as Sathya Sai Baba that I began to have

dreams with Him as Shirdi Sai Baba. At first, I didn't even knwo who he was,

since I was not aware yet of Sathya Sai Baba's previous incarnation as Shirdi

Sai Baba when I began to have those dreams. I also dreamt with a well known

devotee of Sri Sai Baba of Shirdi without knowing who he was or that he had

ever existed: Tatya Kote Patil.

 

Tears came to my eyes when I read about the miraculous resurrection of your

little brother. I know this is true, since I have had ample proof myself of Sri

Sai Baba of Shirdi's Divinity. In fact, I've learned through time and some

revelations that my connection to Sathya Sai Baba dates back to his Shirdi Sai

Baba's incarnation, though I don't know exactly how. I am a westerner, born in

Cuba, raised mostly in the USA, where I live now, and had never heard of Sathya

Sai Baba or Shirdi Sai Baba until the happenings I tell about here, which

started 16 years ago.

 

Through Swami I've also had experiences with some saints, mostly in dreams and

visions. I am an ordinary person with no special merits or abilities. This is

all His doing. Though after He came into my life I have suffered much, I am

grateful for what He has given me, namely, Himself and the privilege of being

in the company of his devotees.

 

May He continue to bless you and your dear family always with his sweetest and choicest blessings.

 

With Sai love,

Gina

saiyeled284 (AT) comcast (DOT) net

Sai Ram

Loka Samastha Sukhino Bhavantu