(transcribed
from Nexus Magazine, Volume 7, Number 5, August-September 2000)
Sai
Baba Exposed
Fraud,
Fakery, & Molestation
A SHORT
HISTORY OF SATHYA SAI BABA
Sri Sathya Sai
Baba was born in South India, in the tiny village of Puttaparti, on 23 November
1926. His given name was Satyanarayana and his family name was Raju. On 20
October 1940, at the age of fourteen, he declared to his family and to the
people of his village that he was the reincarnation of an Indian saint who had
died in 1918, named Shirdi Sai Baba, and that he would henceforth be known as
Sai Baba.
Sai Baba's
ashram, built by his devotees close to the village where he was born, was
inaugurated on 23 November 1950. It is called Prasanthi Nilayam (Abode of Divine
Peace). It has been the gathering place of millions of spiritual pilgrims of
various faiths from all over the world.
During the
period 14-23 November 1995, the celebrations for the 70th birthday of Sathya Sai
Baba took place in Prasanthi Nilayam. More than one million people, including
the President and Prime Minister of India, assembled in Prasanthi Nilayam to pay
homage to Sathya Sai Baba during these celebrations.
Today, the Sai
Organization claims over 1,200 Sathya Sai Baba centres, spread through 137
countries around the world.
It is fair to
say that Sai Baba is a highly revered spiritual leader, whose life and message
has inspired millions of people throughout the world to turn Godward and lead
more purposeful and moral lives. The stories of his "miracles" are
many and legendary in their telling and retelling. Scores of famous Westerners
have added their own exciting synchronistic accounts of how Sai Baba saved them
from certain death by "appearing" before them at crucial moments.
Accounts of Sai baba-related manifestations and materialisations are also
widespread, adding to the air that Sai Baba is literally the reappearance of God
on Earth.
Unfortunately,
this is where the fairytale ends.
A growing number
of boys and men are coming forward with allegations of sexual harassment, sexual
abuse and rape. And now that attention has been focused on the Swami, one finds
many more accounts of faked miracles, suspicious deaths, massive financial
fraud, weapons and explosives being found in the ashram, an assassination
attempt, and yet more cases of paedophilia and homosexual abuse.
With news of
these events and other incidents, the seeds of doubt have been sown in many
minds. How is it that Sai Baba's own brother-in-law died of rabies? Why did Baba
need to be hospitalised for a ruptured appendix and a broken leg? Why does he
travel in Mercedes cars and require heavy protection? Why does Sai Baba have to
wave his hand in circles before producing anything? Does his occasional
transvestitism and derision for women really illustrate the male-female
principle of the universe?
It is possible
we will never find the real truth to many of the above rumours and allegations,
with the exception of the sexual abuse cases. We have extracted the following
accounts from just three of the many testimonies now emerging. We have also
spoken to many former long-term devotees who have now left the organisation.
For those wishing to pursue this matter further, we suggest as a starting point that you get onto the Internet and visit http://www.myfreeoffice.com/saibabaexposed/
Note: that site has been closed - other current websites in English are: www.sathyasaivictims.com/ & www.snowcrest.net/sunrise
I hope this
article can rectify that situation somewhat.
- Duncan M.
Roads (Editor)
Dear
List,
Since my email has been forwarded to so many others, maybe I should clarify my
position.
1) I have been involved in promoting 'new age' and 'alternative'
viewpoints since my teens, during the '70s. I have run and organised many
conferences, lecture tours, expos etc all promoting self awareness, natural
health and caring from nature.
2) I was made aware of Sai Baba in the late seventies. I know many
people who have experienced miracles in their personal lives that they attribute
to Sai Baba.
3) I also know many Muslims, Christians and Hindus who have experienced
similar miracles in their lives, which THEY attribute to their respective
figureheads.
4) Whilst a believer in Sai Baba's miracles and teachings, I chose NOT to
become a follower. I perceived that the miracles were as much a creation
of the believer as of the teacher. I chose to explore the path of
'creating our own reality'.
5) I had heard the many rumours about Sai Baba's sexual impropriety over
the years, and like many, dismissed them as disgruntled devotees. Later
on, I actually took those attacks as 'evidence' that Sai Baba was growing in
influence, and that this was the 'system' attacking him.
6) Unlike Sai Baba believers, I have an open mind, one which allows me to
read and listen to things that Sai Baba believers refuse even to allow into
their consciousness. I read some of the more recent testimonies, and
decided to investigate for once and for all to put an end to the rumours.
7) I ended up speaking to many victims, parents of victims, former Sai
Baba centre 'leaders' and some respected 'figureheads' from the movement. All
confirmed the same pattern of abuse and sexual misconduct.
8) I did not want to believe any of these testimonies, but I also had to
be true to what I was uncovering. Sai Baba is, and has, been involved in
sexual misconduct with boys and young men. The effects of this misconduct
has caused unestimatable damage within many many families, including suicides.
I only investigated the allegations of sexual misconduct. I notice there
are also many who claim the miracles are faked, there are many allegations of
financial fraud, and there are many dead people who were supposedly 'healed' by
Sai Baba or his vibuti.
In retrospect it would be easy to point the finger and say how evil and
deceptive Sai Baba truly is. But in fairness, he would be a nobody if
people did not give him their respect, money, and above all - personal power.
I look forward to an age where people respect and love themselves enough to be
able to truly respect and love others. People who feel GENUINE love, joy
and happiness in their lives do NOT follow the path of others-they ARE their own
path in its making.
Shame on Sai Baba! Shame on the parasites that feed off his empire! Shame
on the 'Centre Leaders' who knowingly turn a blind eye to the reports they have
received of sexual impropriety! Shame on the followers who are so insecure
in themselves that they cannot open their ears to hear the cries their brothers
and sisters! Shame on the sycophants who in their blind belief help
perpetuate the suffering, injustice and deception that surrounds Sai Baba.
Above all, shame on those who dismiss the cries of pain from their brothers
without investigation!
Duncan
Duncan M. Roads
Editor, NEXUS Magazine
PO Box 30, Mapleton Qld 4560 Australia
Tel: +61 (0)7 5442 9280; Fax: +61 (0)7 5442 9381
http://www.nexusmagazine.com ICQ#62399259
"The nature of the universe is such that ends can never justify the means.
On the contrary, the means always determine the end."
(Aldous Huxley)