PROGRAMAS AZUL TV ARGENTINA

SAI BABA: THE SINFUL GOD

Program on Argentine TV
“Zona de Investigación”
broadcasted in two parts on Aug 5 & 12, 2001

On Sunday August 5, at 10:00 p.m. Televisión Azul, Argentina’s Channel 9 presented in its program called “Zona de Investigación” the first of two reports concerning the present controversy regarding Sathya Sai Baba, the Indian guru who is being accused of sexually molesting some of his young male followers and faking a great deal of miracles.

The TV producers seem to have carried on a detailed investigation and presented both sides of the argument interviewing Leonard Gutter, president of the Sathya Sai Organization in LatinAmerica and Monica Socolovsky, founder of the Sai Baba movement in Argentina.

Conny Larsson, a Swedish movie star, who is responsible for being one of the first to expose the alleged sexual molestations, flew to Buenos Aires to be interviewed on this program. Other dissidents from the Sai Baba movement like Said Korramshahgol from Iran and Sharon Purcell, a resident of California, who also made statements against the alleged god-man, were interviewed in the United States. Enrique Marquez a well known magician from Buenos Aires participated in this program showing how Sai Baba performs some of his supposed miracles manifesting objects and a holy ash with healing powers called vibhuti.

The result was the largest audience that Zona de Investigación has had since its beginning. According to a rating report a million TV viewers saw the program that night and the station was bombarded with telephone calls mainly from insulted devotees who threatened one of the producers saying that this action would become bad karma for him. Leonard Gutter, accompanied by a known TV actress named Silvia Perez, who is also a Sai Baba devotee, visited other programs in defense of Sai Baba during the week following the first part of the TV broadcast.

The second part of the program was aired on Sunday August 12 at 10:00 p.m. More testimonies from Conny Larsson and Afshin Korramshahgol were shown in great details about the experiences that caused their “spiritual devastation”. Sharon Purcell, a former devotee of 32 years who belonged to the founding group of the Sathya Sai Organization in the United States testified: “My son couldn’t rationalize it and stopped believing. But I kept thinking that he was channeling his sexual and spiritual energy. I was so stupid…” Purcell decided to leave the cult when she learned the reason why a friend of hers fled from India in 1972 – “He told me that Sai Baba put his penis in his mouth and ejaculated.

The Argentine illusionist, Enrique Marquez, an expert on paranormal frauds, explained how Sai Baba could do his famous “lingam” trick, where a precious gem in the shape of an egg emerges from his mouth during one of the religious celebrations of the god Shiva. Mr. Marquez showed a video film in which Sai Baba looks as if he were pushing an object in his mouth with the help of a handkerchief. He also explained through a digital animation, how Sai Baba could perform the famous trick in which an interminable amount of holy ashes “vibhuti” flows from a large metal vase.

The president of the Sai Organization in Argentina, Jorge Hadad, said that all these allegations form part of a defamation campaign. “In Jesus’ time,” he said, quoting a recent discourse by Sai Baba, “there was one Judas; nowadays there are many Judases who are capable of betraying the divinity for a few coins”. Other devotees, however, become doubtful or take refuge in the incomprehension of the ways of God. “Something conscious, so that the person has to work it out or maybe it’s the human weakness that one doesn’t know how to handle….? I don´t know…” Reflected Daniel Zalzman, a long time devotee of Baba who is presently the coordinator of the Practical Spiritualty Foundation. In the meantime, Daniel Coifman, a psychologist, who has become distant from the Sathya Sai Organization after twenty years of total dedication, said that when he heard about these statements some years ago, he was very surprised. He then asked himself, he says: “Could it or could it not be? Later I began to understand that there are some things that I just can´t comprehend”

Even though each assertion by the critics was contradicted immediately by the officers of the Sai Organization, towards the end of the program, which lasted about an hour, Leonard Gutter, president of the Sai Organization in Latin America spoke live for period of three minutes from the floor. Among other things, he commented that if the producers had gone to India instead of Sweden and the United States, the program would have never happened. He spoke about the glories of Sai Baba’s teachings and the wonderful job that the Sathya Sai Organization does. He insisted upon the fact that Sai Baba materializes objects from thin air and even suggested that they take their cameras to India so that they could see for themselves. Meanwhile there was a video shown which was provided by the Organization itself in which a small pellet can be clearly seen in Baba’s hand and it also shows how, after the so called materialization, only his index finger and his thumb were smeared with ashes and not rest of the hand.

There were no important questions asked by the interviewer during his intervention, but she did make a comment in regard to the parallels that have been made between Jesus and Sai Baba saying that: “He (Jesus) only materialized bread and wine and not expensive necklaces and watches”.

OPEN LETTER FROM ALEJANDRO AGOSTINELLI

Newspaper reporter who collaborated with “Zona de Investigación” for the making of the program regarding Sathya Sai Baba

August 19, 2001

A message to all:

Some of the Sai Baba devotees I interviewed or I have been in touch with for the last five months, manifested in personal emails to me or telephone conversations or person to person that the production staff of Zona de Investigación “altered the tape” where the pellet of vibhuti is seen in Sai Baba’s hand.

Truly, I personally regret very deeply that they find me capable of having participated in some king of montage. Therefore, I’ve decided to write this letter to emphatically negate this accusation.

Facing this sign of a lack of trust, all I have left is my suggestion that you see the original tape which is in the possession of the Sathya Sai Organization of Argentina (it came to us through the courtesy of Leonardo Gutter) and from there you can start thinking about the subject again.

All in all, I can perfectly understand your resistance to admit that the teacher in whom you believe could be cheating: to pretend that you would believe a simple newspaper team more than you would the incarnation of God on earth would be just too naïve on my part. This, however, does not prevent me from expressing my ideas on the subject.

I would like to add that, so far, only devotees have told me that they “don’t see” what other people who are in no way committed to the Sai Baba belief “do see”. There is such thing as “cognitive dissonance”, which could apply to this case. I invite those who would like to expand on the subject to look over the bibliography that is available (1)

At any rate, the objective of the program was not to convince anyone but to open a debate parting from “real people” who have said they had “real experiences” including among them those who state (with no proof other than their word) having been witnesses to “materializations”, as well as those who feel they have been “sexually abused” (again with no other proof than their word). The difference between both of these allegations is that the first ones are not interested in proving that the “materializations” are real (they do not present any reliable evidence that this phenomenon is in effect extraordinary, only stories in good faith) and that some of the latter are indeed interested in proving that the “sexual abuses” were real (I am referring here to the writ placed in the High Court of India and other organisms by a former devotee named Hari Sampath and others. www.sathyasaivictims.com

In regard to “inner evidence” as to whether the handling of genitals by Sai Baba (however it may be interpreted) really happened or not, it was proven on the program that in the book in Spanish by Graciela Busto “Sai Baba El Señor” (Sai Baba The Lord) (Ed. Errepar, Buenos Aires, Arg. 1993) there were already references to this subject, even though those pages were removed in the 2001 edition. Maybe with the naïve conviction that once the book was censored a controversy, which happened anyway, could have been avoided.

Another evidence – indisputable to my judgment, even though I admit that there can be other opinions- was the presentation of that little white pellet placed in between Sai Baba’s fingers which appears in a video film provided by the SS Org. in Argentina.

From now on, let each one come to his/her own conclusions. And last, I want you to know that I respect your beliefs. I always valued the immense kindness, purity of feelings and honesty in the Sai Baba devotees that I have known. Maybe that was the reason why I accepted collaborating on this program.

With love,
Alejandro Agostinelli

LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN ZONE 2 - LATIN AMERICA FOLLOWING THE TV SHOW IN ARGENTINA IN WHICH HE PARTICIPATED

Dear Brothers in Sai

Please send this communication to all countries that you are in charge of so that it will be read by all Sai devotees in Zone 2

This communication has to do with a program aired in Argentina with severe accusations against Bhagavan.

In Sai's love,

Latin American Promotion Committee
Roberto Pinzon
President

Dear brothers and sisters in Sai:

SAI RAM!
We are living in the Kali Yuga, the Avatar of the Era incarnated to awaken the spiritual conscience of all.

Bhagavan teaches that stones are thrown to trees that have fruits. We also know through history about the attacks that were suffered by the Great Beings that have come to restore spirituality on Earth.

Buddah was poisoned, Jesus was crucified, etc.

Today the sudden attacks of the forces of darkness are directed towards the Avatar that is awakening millions of human beings to more human and elevated ways of life.

This shouldn't surprise us nor scare us.

Krishna stated: "where there is Dharma, there will be victory"

Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba also assured us the there was not the slightest risk of failure for His mission.

Even those who attack him today will receive the benefits of the Light that He brings to all beings on this planet.

Why is this happening now?

All that happens is part of God's Plan, nothing escapes his orbit. Just as the crucifixion of Jesus was part of God's intention. Why and what for, escapes our comprehension, but we must have faith and trust and know that at the last moment all will end well.

What to do facing these attacks?

First of all we must strengthen our Faith!

We must go deeply into our hearts and find the reasons why we are devotees of Bhagavan, what were our personal experiences, what was the guidance and help that we found in Him, how we have changed our lives since we met him.

Does any of you have any doubt that it was all for the best?

All of us who today consider ourselves followers or devotees of Bhagavan, have had without a doubt a positive change in our lives since we met him

Jesus said: "Ye shall know them by their fruits".

Have not the fruits of His message and Work been absolutely positive in our lives?

His message gave us a pure and elevated vision of Reality, it showed us how to make our lives worthy and positive, not only for us but for our fellow men.

We found a sense in life that allows us to live with self respect and a sense of purpose.

Since we have known him, I have no doubt in affirming that we have all felt, lived and experienced the Reality of the existence of God.

God has become not only an abstract concept, but a palpable reality in our lives.

Personally, since I've known him, I can affirm with the greatest emphasis in my heart:
"Yes, God does exist!!!" and just as Bhagavan is God, so are we.

And the teachings of Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba guide us to live with a strict moral and ethical code that without a doubt will help us not only to cleanse our karma, but above all to rise in our evolutional process.

We can also see his fruits not only in the humanitarian work that he does in India, but also in all the service to Humanity that he inspires in all the countries of the world

What Love energy is that which has the strength and potency to inspire and motivate so many millions of human beings to dedicate their energy and time to help their neighbor who is in need?

Each one of those good deeds done in our countries, each one of the groups that do service that come from the Sai Centers, are a concrete proof of the Reality of the highest Goodness that is Sri Sathya Sai Baba. A being who is transforming millions from all over the world and making them better people, beings who are more willing to help and give than to take and ask for.

We face all these accusations and slander and before we think what to answer and what to do, I insist that we must have clear answers in our minds and our hearts.

Each one of us, who belong to the Sai Organization, knows that this organization is a non profitable one, we know that there is no charge for belonging to it, nor for participating in its activities, that no donations of any kind are demanded, that nobody gets any money for belonging to the organization, or for being an officer of it, each one of us gives from our time an energy, motivated by the firm belief that it is a form of service to ourselves and to Humanity.
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We all know that Sai's Healing powers and the materializations are real, not only for those who went to India and were witnesses, but above all, those who experienced it in their own countries, seeing how the Vibhuti spontaneously materialized itself in some of His photos, or how people were cured by eating it, besides knowing people who went to India and came back cured by Bhagavan. But we also know that this is not important, that the materializations and healings are but a "small aspect" of His power. The true power is in the Transformation of the minds and hearts, driven by the forces of Good and the Human Values in the human beings.
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The accusers didn't travel to India, and they didn't experience the reality of Sai, and the few who did travel and were "great devotees" did not receive what they were hoping for and turned against Bhagavan, without caring about lying and slandering.

Was not Judas one of the 12 apostles of Jesus?

I don't want in this communication to make reference to the lives of some of the accusers. Because Sai teaches us that we only must see the Good, and we must not speak ill of anyone, but I can assure you that if we were to analize the life and the experiences of any of those people, we would better understand the disturbed aspects of their minds and personalities, that makes them undertake this campaign of defamation and calumny.

Due to the level of the accusations I see myself in the need of clarifying some points in order to avoid confusion and pain on the part of so many sincere devotees that see their spiritual path affected by such grave accusations against one whom they consider their spiritual teacher.

Does any one of you believe that a person would be allowed to sit on Swami's chair? As affirmed by an accuser from Sweden who says that in an interview he sat in Swami's chair, could you imagine that this could be possible?

That same person who says to have been abused by Bhagavan for a period of 21 years, traveled to Hollywood during those years trying to get a motion picture made of his life as a great devotee of Sai and said that Dustin Hoffman was going to play his role. Can one believe such interest in having this film made showing his devotion and relationship with his teacher, if at the same time he was being sexually abused by him?

That same person after introducing himself as an ascetic spiritual aspirant, declared in the Sai Center in Sweden, to which he belonged, that in reality he was bisexual.

Without having to be psychologists, we can clearly see an enormous mental confusion in this person.

Dear brothers and sisters, I ask you to simply look into your hearts and find the answer there as to who Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba is, I know that each and everyone of you is going to find this answer:

Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba is a most powerful force of Love, Truth, Peace, Righteousness, Non Violence.

He is a being who promotes what is Good and has ALWAYS done what is Good.

He is a being that urges us to be better human beings, better in all aspects of our lives, that asks nothing of us and that only wants our true progress and well being.

Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba is a force of Light in the Planet, and the Light will always conquer over darkness.

Let us not lose the trust in this truth and let us hold on to the purest Principles that took us in this life to the spiritual path and to find a Spiritual Teacher with the name and form of Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba.

Dear brothers and sisters: why did all this happen? Maybe simply because of what Sai teaches us: "that the stones are put on the river to give the water a greater speed"

I send you my love in Sai and I remain at the disposal of each and every one of you.

Chairman Zone 2- Latin America

ANSWER TO THE ABOVE LETTER BY CONNY LARSSON

Sr. Leonardo Gutter

Chairman Zone 2, Latin America

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Dear Sir.

My name is Conny Larsson, from Sweden, and I have received a letter that you sent out to fellow members of the organization of which you are an officer.

Of course you have your faith and your beliefs in Sai Baba. But, in reference to your quoting of Jesus' teaching, "Ye shall know them by their fruits," it is a sad contrast to see that you are showing just the opposite values, not the human values of Truth, Righteousness, Peace, Love and Non-injury that we all learned so eagerly within the Sai organisation and believed in.

Your mistakes are as follows:

1. I, Conny Larsson, never said that I was sitting on Sai Baba's chair. Yet it is a well known fact that I always sat beside his chair directly on his right side. I am hoping that you have misunderstood me. For now, I will assume that you did not lie.

2. I, Conny Larsson, never went to Hollywood; the producer came to visit me in Windham, 3 hours drive outside New York, up on a mountain, where some Sai devotees kindly opened their house for our meeting. I wasn't eager to do this film at all. It was the producer who was interested because he had seen a video of me telling my story at a meeting of Sai followers in the States. He then insisted and convinced me that it was a story that would touch the heart of everyone and that is why I agreed to let him do a film on my life history. As far as I was aware, it was to be in relation to my knowledge concerning Sai Baba.

3. I was not involved in selecting Dustin Hoffman or any other actor. That decision was totally up to the producer. My only involvement was in allowing them to write a film script on the story, and they came to Sweden in order to do that. I never earned any money from the project and I immediately stopped my involvement as soon as it became clear to me that Sai Baba was molesting young boys of both Indian and western origin.

4. Your describing me to your followers as having "enormous mental confusion" speaks more about your own state, since you do not have any information about me.

I speak about Sai Baba from my own true and real experience of molestation. And please note that I was certainly not molested for 21 years, as you have stated. It was for a period of 4 years, between 1979-1983, that Baba had sexual interaction with me, under the pretense that it was divine activity.

Thereafter I received his blessings in other ways. I have never, ever, been upset or angry about Sai's attention towards me during all the interviews I had. But now I feel I was fooled and misled into believing in something that was not true. He has never put me off, as you so describe in different ways. I was always welcomed by him and in that sense I have no complaints. I only complain about his manipulation of me. Yes, it is correct that I was his devotee for 21 years. And after the sexual molestation period ended-- I was tremendously relieved and happy that this phase ended--I continued being his devotee. That is more than a lot of people have done. I wasn't with him because he cured me of any physical ailments, I was with him because I was looking for God and thought that I had found Him.

5. It is very easy to see the sleight of hand he performs on almost every video if you see it in slow motion. I myself found out about his cheating from behind the cushion he has behind his back on his chair. It was all there, watches, rings and so on. This was during my second interview in June 1979. Of course I was shocked, even though I had been close enough earlier to see his cheating as many of the close devotees have. You will soon see broadcast on numerous TV stations worldwide Baba's clear-cut cheating, with vibhuti, lingams, rings, watches and so forth. The evidence is so overwhelming that only a blind person would deny it.

Of course, Mr. Gutter, you have your right to stay in denial, but do not say that you have the truth, or that other people are Judases, especially when it is clear that you are not following the right way of conduct by openly spreading incorrect information.

Do you really believe that you have to protect your God? Do you think a God should molest his children? Do you think a God needs to cheat?

Time will show what is real Truth and Righteousness and who is the real follower of Dharma.

With this I wish you and your readers the very best. In the service of the truth

Conny Larsson

[Former National Spiritual Coordinator for the Sai Organisation in Sweden, between the years of 1993-96, and now a former devotee.]