Chapter Ten

"Swami," asked the young man at an interview, "Why do You only manifest inanimate objects?" With the customary circular movement of His hand, Sai Baba then drew both hands together in a cup-like position, as if holding a precious treasure between His palms. As He slowly drew His hands apart, the room-full of witnesses could detect a furry object, growing larger as the hands parted. Suddenly, a brown monkey leaped from His hands and to the howls and screeches from those present, it went around the room. Baba noticed one of the visitors had some bananas with him, and suggested one be given to the monkey. Having eaten, the monkey leaped back on to the hands of Baba, and bringing them together again, the monkey disappeared!

Sai Baba demonstrated to those present His amazing power over creation, by not only producing a live animal but, as if to prove the point, had the monkey eat as will.

Other examples of His magnificence, were displayed as on the occasion of another interview, when a young Australian was asked if he had a watch. Feigning surprise, that he had none, Baba produced a fine wristwatch for the stunned young visitor. However, the young man explained, with embarrassment to Baba, that the Australian customs officials might request a receipt of purchase. Whereupon Sai Baba went behind a curtained-off small annex in the interview room, and returned moments later with the requested receipt. Noting that the receipt had the name and address of a jeweller in his home town, the young devotee decided upon a visit when he returned home. "Yes, I sold that watch," responded the jeweller to the enquiry, " To an Indian gentleman. In fact, I recall, he returned moments later to ask for a receipt"!

His ability to transmute an object from one property into another, was dramatically demonstrated to an Indian geologist, Dr. Rao; not the first man of science to be confounded by Sai Baba's power over the elements. Baba picked up a piece of granite to ask Dr. Rao what it contained. The geologist listed a number of minerals, but Baba pushed His enquiry further, "I don`t mean those, but something deeper!" Rao answered: "Well, molecules, atoms, electrons, protons..." Baba still wasn't satisfied: "No, no, no, go deeper still!" Dr. Rao had to profess ignorance, then Baba took the piece of granite from the geologist, blew on it, and handed it back. Rao was astounded to see that the rock had been transformed into a statue of Krishna playing the flute. Baba admonished him, saying: "You see, beyond your atoms and all, God was in the rock. And God is sweetness and joy. Break off Krishna's foot and taste it." Rao found no difficulty in breaking the granite foot from the statue only to find, upon tasting it, that it was now sweet candy!

No wonder Dr. Rao stated later to others: "Science gives but the first word; the last word is known only to the great spiritual scientists like Sai Baba."

The circular movement of the right hand, palm down, has become a familiar gesture, by Baba, to those at Darshan, or to those who have viewed it on videos. One devotee, seated on the floor, at an interview, close to Baba's seat, could see under His hand, and was able to observe the circular movement associated with His creativity. He clearly saw a circular vaporous impression appear, which quickly developed into a jelly-like substance, swirling beneath His hand and solidify, within seconds, into yet another precious gift for a fortunate devotee! All done so quickly, but none-the-less quite visable to the observer seated beside Him.

We also have the recorded account of Baba's Omnipresence from "Ruth" who had a teaching job in Mexico. She was active in her local Sai centre, in Santa Barbara, which she used to drive back and forth, every Thursday, to attend bhajans. Despite this weekly commitment she was sceptical. Health problems had been tormenting her for a long time, with bouts of extreme pain for several days at a stretch. One evening, in her little room, she suffered a severe attack of pain and in desperation cried out, "Oh, is there someone to help me? Anyone? Why am I suffering this? What shall I do? Oh, help!" Suddenly she felt a gentle touch on her arm, she stopped shouting and as she turned, she saw Baba standing beside her bed. "Don`t shout so," He said, "I`m always here!" Then He disappeared, and along with Him went her pain!

The comforting words of Sathya Sai Baba to all those in pain, are, "There is only one God and He is Omnipresent. He has no favourite dwelling place or chosen followers or special groups of devotees. Call...He answers, He manifests, He blesses."