Swami and the Scientist in search of Divinity

Dr. Keerthi JAYASEKERA

DEVOTION: In 1959, when Vidyodaya University was established, Ven. Aggamahapanditha Balangoda Anandamaitriya was appointed the first Professor of Mahayana Buddhism in recognition of his vast knowledge of both Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism, in particular, and his spiritual achievements in meditation, which he had developed to the point of being able to have out-of-the-body experience.

In an interview given on his 99th birthday, while observing the lent of rainy season in London, the following questions were asked and the answers given caught my attention in particular:

Q: Today a lot of Buddhists are becoming Sai Baba devotees. In view of the confused state of mind in certain quarters, could you throw some light on the subject?

A: I also visited Sai Baba 20 years or so ago when I was nearly blind with cataract, everyone advised me against an operation and I was very confused.

Suddenly a Dayakaya in our temple, who could not speak English paid my travelling expenses and invited me to accompany him to India, as an interpreter to see Sai Baba.

When I saw Sai Baba at Whitefield, Bangalore, he came to me straight, out of the crowd, and blessed me with his usual gesture of waving his right hand and walked away from me. After taking a few yards, suddenly he turned back and walked towards me again.

Next he put both his hands on my shoulders, smiled and said "Get your eyes operated, it will be successful". I told Sai Baba, that was exactly what I was contemplating in my mind to ask him. He simply smiled and repeated, "Don't you worry, operation will be successful," and went away.

Q: What was your instant reaction?

A: I was stunned because even without having to ask the question Sai Baba knew exactly my thoughts. According to me, he is a very powerful person with some wonderful psychic powers.

He is regarded as incarnation of Lord Vishnu, a world teacher, coming Messiah, advanced Yogi etc, by various people. But to me, he is one who has tremendous powers and highly spiritually elevated personality.

Q: So, then as a Buddhist there is no harm in following Sai Baba?

A: Well supposing if you were to visit a Harley Street specialist for a consultation or to get some treatment, is it harmful to your religion? (smilingly). Likewise, people go to Sai Baba to clear their doubts, seek help for various forms of mental, psychological, disorders, etc.

There is no harm at all in doing so. I will tell you another story. In Anguttara Nikaya, the Buddha referred to six great teachers who were true believers in a created god called Brahma.

These teachers taught people how to follow a morally good path in life to develop their jhanas (spiritual knowledge). Those who practised such disciplines were later born in Brahma world.

So the Buddha said, the pupils were even not Buddhists but followers of Brahma God, yet they listened to their teachers with open minds, respected their masters teaching and followed their good advice and led pure and moral lives which helped them to earn much merit. They were consequently reborn in Deva and Brahma worlds.

Q: What happened to your sight after you met Sai Baba?

A: Two weeks later I returned to Sri Lanka, I went completely blind in both my eyes. Immediately I entered the general hospital and got my right eye operated. It was successful. Later the left eye was operated on. Now I can read big letters even without having to wear spectacles.

Q: Do you think that Sai Baba helped you and encouraged to undergo your eye operation?

A: Yes! Yes! His blessings on me also have helped me a great deal.

According to a book by V. I. K. Sarin, 'Face to Face with God'; Sai Baba has been performing miracles since his childhood. At six he started materialising note books, pencils, rubber and food for schoolmates from an empty bag. Then out of season fruits. At the age of 13, Sai Baba threw away his books and quit school.

He told his brother Sheshama, "I am going. I don't belong to you. Maya (delusion) has gone. My devotees are calling me. I have my work". Sai Baba's miraculous powers soon spread far and wide and large crowds started pouring into the hitherto obscure village of Puttaparthi.

For well over six decades, Baba has been revealing his supernatural powers and rekindling the dormant sparks of divinity in human hearts by producing cascade of Vibhuthi or holy ash, endless exhaustless, crystalisation of 'Lingam' after 'Lingam'... He can be here and there in another place a thousand miles away at the same time... Baba takes on critical attacks of illness by which His devotees are afflicted.

He has restored speech to the dumb, vision to the blind, cripples have gone back walking. Wonder cures to diabetics, cancer, AIDS, alcoholics and drug addicts. Some instances of having resurrected a few considered dead.

Sai Baba has shown a ten-fold path to divinity.

1. Love and serve the motherland; do not hate or hurt the motherland of others.

2. Honour every religion; each is a pathway to the one God.

3. Love all men without distinction; know that mankind is a single community.

4. Keep your home and its environs clean; it will ensure health and happiness for you and for society.

5. Do not throw coins when beggars stretch their hands for alms; help them become self-reliant. Provide food and shelter, love and care, for the sick and the aged.

6. Do not tempt others by offering bribes or demean yourself by accepting bribes.

7. Do not develop jealousy, hatred or envy on any account.

8. Do not depend on others to serve your personal needs; become your own servant, before proceeding to serve others.