The ‘Secret’ Behind the BBC’s Secret Swami
Spiritual Guru Sathya Sai Baba
By Ranbir Singh ( Hindu Human Rights UK )
In 2004 Hindu Human Rights Group contacted the BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation )over its tabloid programme Secret Swami which portrayed India’s venerated Guru Sri Sathya Sai Baba in an ill founded, malicious light. However this elicited no response from BBC and it is interesting to note that the aforementioned documentary by journalist Tanya Datta is still continuing to be used as the basis for allegations regarding inappropriate behaviour by Sathya Sai Baba. These allegations mainly centre around sex abuse. Yet as is usual with such exposés what the BBC included in its documentary is as important and relevant as what was conveniently ignored. Since Sathya Sai Baba’s death and after the emergence of counter evidence in the last seven years that absolve him of any such allegations, this entirely negative and therefore non-objective portrayal has, instead of being discontinued, only been enhanced by the litany of obituaries which almost in unison denounce India ’s most revered guru and humanitarian as a sinister con-man. The BBC by making and promoting such a documentary has thus displayed lack of professionalism and balanced perspective taking that would fairly examine all sides of a debate, as any other objective investigative journalism would provide. Instead we have a rather odd collection of neo-intellectuals who seem to lack even balance in the mental sphere as they seem unable to distinguish between opinion and fact, between rational documentary making and sensational cinema creation.
This Secret Swami documentary was aired by BBC2 on 18 June 2004. The programme, compered and led by reporter Tanya Datta, was not just blatantly superficial but sensationally demeaning in its content. Ms Datta breached all standards of objective journalism by displaying her bias at selecting only those subjective testimonies and presenting only that information which would support and drive home her viewpoint of portraying Sathya Sai Baba as a sex-offender. One would logically question whether Ms Datta was trying to ‘make’ news or report it? She frequently made references to Satya Sai Baba as being deemed to be “God” by gullible Hindus (millions of them) without explaining what is meant by the term “God” in Hinduism or even what a basic word such as “Swami” represents in the Hindu lexicon. In fact by using the word “Swami” in its title the BBC ensured that the ordinary British viewer links the expression to Hinduism thus making explicit a connection between “Swami”, “Hinduism” and sexual misdemeanours, fraud and even murder.
Furthermore the self-proclaimed experts that were employed to substantiate the stand taken by this documentary would be dismissed by any rational jury as lacking any sense of authority, integrity or credibility for the case to be argued. The first to be presented was Mr Khushwant Singh (journalist and author) who was asked about his expert opinion on Sathya Sai Baba’s alleged sexual behaviour. What we were not told however was that Mr Singh, acknowledged in India for the often implicit sexual innuendoes in his writings has been known for basing all his so-called expert reviews of Sathya Sai Baba on his American friend Tal Brooke who is further well-known as a Christian fundamentalist and fanatic author, who believes that ‘enlightenment is an evil path to Satan and that God-Men and Gurus are in a state of perfect demonic possession’. Moreover, Tal Brooke has also been known to claim “out of body experiences”, hearing the voices of “spirit guides”, seeing spiritual entities and having “demonic encounters” on the astral realm and has also personally admitted to experimenting with LSD and being involved with a pro-LSD organization (i.e., Neo-American Church).
The other “expert” presented was the amateur magician and conspiracy theorist Basava Premanand, parading under the title of “rationalist”. Interestingly, Premanand, who was called India’s leading Guru buster, and who had placed himself on the high pedestal of rationalism went on to endorse, promote and publish a book by a well-known charlatan, ‘psychic trance medium’ and ‘psychic pet healer’ Conny Larsson, who in turn had openly claimed that he contacted the spirits of the deceased and even channelled the spirit of Vedic sage Veda Vyasa.
What was then glaringly missing from this assembled cast of highly questionable characters was any practicing and respected Hindu scholar (which Khushwant Singh and Premananda were clearly not) who might have been able to give an informed opinion on the matter. Instead Ms Datta chose to portray this as a government conspiracy in a country of a billion-strong democracy. One would wonder why the BBC felt itself well endorsed to make so-called serious programmes which revolve around the Hindu world and its adherents without a single inside view.
Moreover it is indeed alarming that the BBC would show such a programme based on allegations alone. One would not expect that charges which are so highly serious and disturbing as the ones made would be based on allegations alone and on flawed sources of information, without substantiated evidence or the testimony of the accused. The BBC has had ample experience of going undercover to gain hard corroboration to highlight all kinds of abuse and fraud and yet it had not done so in this instance. Satya Sai Baba had been tried and found guilty on the basis of allegations alone and on the basis of trial by camera. (One would wonder if the BBC would also have gone so far as to apply for a government charter to sentence this man?) More importantly, India with its own vast internal security, intelligence agencies and its judicial system would have enforced its own laws (in the last seventy years when Baba started his social work) of investigating and even convicting Sathya Sai Baba had they found any shred of evidence that implicated him for such alleged crimes. Instead, the then Prime Minister of India released a letter that officially reinstated the innocence and honour of Sathya Sai Baba:
“We are deeply pained and anguished by the wild, reckless and concocted allegations made by certain vested interests and people against Sri Sathya Sai Baba. We would normally expect that responsible media would ascertain the true facts before printing such calumny – especially when the person is revered globally as an embodiment of love and selfless service to humanity. Since this professional ethic has not been observed by a section of the media, we have elected to go public with this signed statement.”
(Excerpt from the letter released by A.B Vajpayee, former Prime Minister of India, 1st December, 2001, signed by former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of India and the National Human Rights Commissioner)
Even today the same level of respect and honour is still meted out to Sathya Sai Baba by other eminent political figures of India. Former President of India, A.P.J Abdul Kalam wrote a tribute to Sathya Sai Baba in the Hindustan Times on April 22nd, called ‘Sathya Sai Baba: The Divine Legend’, honouring Baba for all the philanthropic work he has done. Current Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh, also said during the funeral ceremony of Sai Baba that “Sri Sathya Sai Baba as a preacher of the highest human values was an iconic figure for over five decades”.
Now we find that much of the information provided in the documentary would be considered inadmissible in any court of law for lack of corroborating evidence. The US Department of State- Bureau of Consular Affairs (which was mentioned in the documentary for having taken a concerned stand against Sathya Sai Baba) withdrew its indirect and erroneous reference to Sathya Sai Baba from their official website on July 17th, 2007. UNESCO which withdrew from a conference that it was due to co-organize with the Institute of Sathya Sai Education in 2000 by releasing an official statement (due to being e-bombed and victimized by the same anti-Sai propaganda and misinformation campaigns) later withdrew their statement while expressing regret over their blunder. Even the British Consular (that was approached by anti-Sai activists) refused to issue a travel warning (against Sathya Sai Baba) as there was never any police investigation underway and as they never received any complaint against Sathya Sai Baba or the Sai organization.
Yet today, even after all suspected claims and accusatory information in the documentary has been falsified, even after the main victim Alaya Rahm (presented in documentary) a self-confessed alcoholic and drug abuser, has withdrawn his own allegations, even after no charge or implication for sexual abuse by Sathya Sai Baba has been made in any court of law or the Indian embassy, even after no single case of abuse has been confirmed or proved anywhere, the documentary continues to remain in circulation and the BBC turns a convenient blind eye to the facts and counter-information that now destroys the case and subjective findings of its documentary. By not legally withdrawing their documentary or apologizing for the obvious errors made, the BBC’s rigid stand and intentions could easily be questioned on grounds of harbouring a non-secular and venomous anti-hindu bias which aids the endemic prejudice and propaganda directed towards marring the image of Hinduism’s gurus and traditions.
We also find that by ignoring the refutation of their reported allegations against Sathya Sai Baba and by further adding insult to injury the BBC continues their smear campaign by still weaving the same web of lies and slander with Ms Datta’s recent obituary on Sai Baba that presents Alaya Rahm’s testimony even after he has withdrawn his case (Case No. 05cc01931). Ms Datta even goes as far as to question the integrity of India by accusing the Indian government of being involved in some malicious conspiracy that provides a cover-up for Sathya Sai Baba. “He was a fraudster,” she writes in her obituary, “dogged for years by controversial allegations of sexual abuse yet protected from prosecution by virtue of his powerful political sway… The lack of any legal proceedings against the guru was perhaps not surprising in light of the level of influence that he commanded”. So from all parts of the political spectrum, the Indian politicians according to Ms Datta’s reasoning are tied up together and lack better judgment or worse yet they defend Sathya Sai Baba because they have some deep, dark and sinister secrets to hide. What credibility can one attribute to a journalist and a news network that subliminally disseminates conjured theories and misinformation not very different from the ones spun by the psychologically impaired about the world being taken over by aliens?
Moreover, recently in 2007 the same Alaya Rahm was trying to provide an alibi for a crack cocaine drug dealer friend, however despite his alibi his friend got convicted for thirty years, in return throwing light on Alaya Rahm’s dubious and questionable character which Ms Dutta had conveniently ignored.
One would basically have expected the international media to have much higher standards of objectivity, sophistication and investigation in such sensitive matters but it stands to reason that such irresponsible and partial reporting exposes not only BBC’s keen flair for the dramatic but also its concealed potential for deception. Such irresponsibility and conscious misleading has the power to cause trauma to devotees all over the world as this documentary is still being used and promoted as leverage and ammunition to target devotees and attack them on their religious beliefs rendering them as objects of ridicule. Moreover, not only has this unintelligent initiative by the BBC raked up unfounded controversies and indirectly insulted the Indian Government and millions of people from all walks of life who paid respect to Sathya Sai Baba but it has also indirectly and as a chain result brought under attack a wider institution of humanitarian work established by Sathya Sai Baba that has been over many years aiding and uplifting millions of poor in India. Baba’s devotees all around the world have over the years been known for their zealous dedication to voluntary service towards uplifting humanity. Furthermore, Baba’s charitable organizations and networks have taken up some of the biggest projects in India that have established super-specialty hospitals with state-of-the-art technology providing all services, including open-heart surgeries for free. These hospitals have been a boon and refuge to millions of people from thousands of villages and poverty stricken areas in India and beyond. Baba’s social welfare programmes have also constantly worked at providing free quality medical care to all. Not only hospitals but Baba’s work extended to the education sector where he established schools providing comprehensive education from kindergarten to post-graduate level, with all tuition made available for free. Every year these schools have known to yield the finest graduates of India excelling not only in superior academic intelligence but in strong values of self-discipline, integrity and spiritual wisdom. There are also many Sathya Sai Baba schools operating in other countries and over five hundred schools in the world utilizing Baba’s ‘Education in Human Values’ curriculum. In addition to this Sathya Sai Baba created vast water supply systems and canals for draught-stricken areas in South India that has been providing water to millions of people.
By haughtily attacking Sathya Sai Baba and demeaning him not on rational grounds but on baseless arguments and false allegations of the kind that one could expect of insensitive sociopaths and cowardly critics who excel at sitting on the fence, the BBC has in similar resultant effect debased Baba’s work, his philanthropic organizations and disgraced and demoralized thousands of individuals who inspired by Baba still selflessly carry on his charitable work.
In the final analysis, it is extremely shocking to see that a well-known and well-established international corporation such as the BBC renders its viewers and the British television license payers the dishonour of financing a broadcasting organisation which along with the bulk of the western media uses so-called evidence from disgruntled ex devotees, mentally unstable drug addicts, UFO watchers,conspiracy theorists, shape-shifting believers , New Age pseudo spiritualists, Christian fundamentalists and even white supremacists. As is usual the Hindu element is omitted just as it was with the original documentary when the BBC did not even have the decency to reply to HHR’s concerns and enquiries on the matter. This has inadvertently lead us to believe that the BBC has had no respect for India’s culture and traditions and as usual has used the Hindu community as a soft target which it has felt does not merit respect and so has not applied the same rigorous standards of journalism and broadcasting to issues pertaining to Hinduism and Hindu society.
Over ten years of its experience in this field HHR has found that there still lingers this disrespectful outlook and selective bias of a persisting colonial mentality that seems to shape the perceptions and general attitude of the western media and academia as a whole which unreasonably judges and intellectually tramples upon the faith and cultural ethos of those unlike itself. Instead of understanding the diversity of traditions and transcending socio-cultural barriers to bring people together the media rather uses discriminatory standards of reporting that divides people on the basis of their faith, ethnic background and culture.
Such overt bias cannot but deepen the prejudice with which Hindus are perceived in the west, in manner not meted out to any other community, religion, culture and civilisation where the media is always very careful not to cause any controversy which may be deemed offensive, even if it means compromising objective analysis. On the other hand where Hindus are concerned almost any Hindu perspective even if it is brought in, has always been deemed as insignificant. Terms such as extremist, right-wing and fascist are still the favourite swear words used to deny Hindus even legitimacy in issues which concerns them.
Given the years of injustice and slander seeded by the documentary and in light of the damage caused by BBC’s incorrect portrayal of Sathya Sai Baba, it would only be befitting and fair of the BBC to now issue an official public apology and legally withdraw the program from being broadcasted on various public channels such as YouTube, etc. apart from also withdrawing all direct and indirect references (of the false allegations) made on their official websites. Instead, and as an act of professional compensation for the damage and defamation engendered the BBC should direct its future efforts at making more honest and educative programs that provide accurate information on Sathya Sai Baba, his work and organizations and on Hinduism as a whole to educate the ignorant masses about the authentic Hindu culture and its ethos, thus setting an honest precedent for future standards of international journalism.
( Note : Hindu Human Rights is not directly or indirectly associated with any Sathya Sai Baba organisations)
All those who wanted to know why HE had to do miracles is purely coz we humans do not agree or start believing in anyone and consider them as our GOD.. We needed proof and hence HE gave it… these miracle were just a mere spark of his divinity..
A guy asked GOD…show us your powers so that we can trust in you. Show us something gr8 which can be witnessed by the eyes.
God said: You need to have faith to consider me GOD and not these mere miracles… but anyways if you still want.. Could you please suggest what should I do for you to know that I am GOD…
The guy immediately responded…do something supernatural… like you could paint the whole sky YELLOW…
To which GOD replied “that wont help son”… earlier someone asked me to color it “BLUE.”.
Who are we to say that Allah is God and Jesus is not..
Who are we to say that Shiva is God and Guru Nanak is not..
Who are we to say that Krishna is GOD and Sai Baba is not..??
Who are we… God is beyond human logics and rational thinkings…
All the RATIONALIST & HIGHLY INTELLECTUALS cant see the likes of Dr Abdul Kalam, PM Manmohan Singh, Sachin Tendulkar, MS Subhalaxmi, IAS, IPS, to normal devotees like us devoted to HIM would surely be for a reason…. ARE YOU (BBC) SO DAMN OUTRIGHT DUMB to understand that there is something more beyond the OBVIOUS… and is it SO DIFFICULT TO REALISE with your so called rational thinking… that ppl from around 178 countries would not fly down to watch Sai Baba do some SO CALLED CHEAP MAGIC TRICK… isnt that irrational..!!
I would ask you this:
Have u heard anyone providing free medical facilities irrespective of cast creed and religion or monetary status…from a small operation to heart and neuro surgeries..??
Have u heard about anyone providing free education right from elementary level to PDD and higher education without charging a penny and providing it irrespective of caste, creed , religion and status..
Have u heard about anyone providing safe drinking water free of cost to over 2Million people FREE OF COST to thousands of villages..
Have u ever heard of any institution/trust which never demanded a single penny from any of its devotees…
IF THIS MAN IS NOT GOD….. THEN WHO IS HE…???????
Shameful BBC should close down its business.. it has brought disgrace not only to GOD (Sri Sathya Sai Baba) but also to HIS devotees and HIS intitution. BBC should come out with an official apology and pay for the damages done. Also should remove all such videos with immediate effect. UTTERLY SHAMEFUL …
BBC sell news to make money.. The more viewers you have, the more UK govt will pay you..
Such BBC Journalists must be brought to court laws…
No matter how much we tell !…what we prove,!….the truth will never be fallen onto those deaf’s ears. They destined to be deaf and blind forever.Because they do not deserve yet to be benefited. Their time yet to be come after many many many births. It is baba himself that turning away them and segregating cleanly .When they recognise Sai as such an incarnation walked on earth, it will be millions and millions years passed. /What can we do other than having pity on these pothetic souls. Beloved Baba bless peace to whole world.
The whole purpose of defaming someone especially publicly is to make any retraction meaningless. They have done the damage and it has served their Christian purpose. If you really want to stop such a behavior then I am afraid that VIOLENCE IS THE ONLY ANSWER. White Christians and journalists usually come to their senses when their asses are on fire. Any other response is futile not to mention the fact that it will never be published
Excellent article and a great expose on the BBC and their token reporter Tanya Datta
Devotees of His Holiness Bhagawan Shri Sathya Sai Baba knew Him to be God in human form with a specific and clear mission of propagating the supreme advaithic truth that man and God are One, everything is divine, and that only God exists as consciousness. This is the only lesson we need to continue to nurture and try and live spiritually, however we possibly can in a world we experience as duality.
The first seed with the full meaning of divinity was firmly planted by Bhagawan Shirdi Sai Baba, and was watered and nurtured by Bhagwan Shri Sathya Sai Baba until He departed from His holy body on Easter Sunday morning 2011, when His mission was completed.
We are told that Bhagawan Prema Sai Baba will see to it that mankind reaps the fruits of the mission of the two Babas whose advents preceded Prema Sai Baba’s anticipated coming, and which will happen some time in the future without an exact date provided by Sathya Sai Baba.
In the mission to propagate the message that all is God and that man and God are one is also the message that every thing is good, and that human behaviors are neither right nor wrong as Sathya Sai Baba Himself is reported to have said with several examples of what He meant.
We have also come to understand that each one must bear the consequences of his own karmas, and that we are not in a position to judge anyone, as each behaves in accord with his stage of development and the Will of God, also guided by both divinity and the maya/illusion that surrounds divinity until maya is torn and divinity reveals itself fully.
So the question that remains to be answered by all of us is, “what have we learned from our loving and Holy Bhagawan Shri Sathya Sai Baba about dealing with so called untruths wrapped in maya, which is God’s own device for protecting Himself?
Oh how interesting are Baba’s leelas, some of which easily confuse us into action, as we try to protect God who is fully capable of protecting Himself.
“Oh how interesting are Baba’s leelas, some of which easily confuse us into action, as we try to protect God who is fully capable of protecting Himself..
Then you havent really learnt anything in all these years..Did Krishna tell Arjun to not go and battle because being God he can do everything himself ? Did Baba create all the universities, hospitals ,canals with the snap of his fingers ? No not at all .Divinity takes birth to do action and inspire others.Theres no confusion about that apart in your own mind
If people like yourself think Maya means illusion then why dont you stop eating food to keep your body alive when thats also Maya..
Well,BBC is run by the queen and the vatican,both christian insitutitons exteremely intolerant and jealous of the worlds most ancient sanathana dharma these fools see oujr dharma ans a theat to their wolrd dominance and will go any extent to mar the names of avatars….fools dont understand that the audience is no fool either ironically swamis centres are in more than 180 countires!!!!! and UK is also playing a part in his mission .britishers ar eknown to be accomplished bitchers and hence BBC= BITCHERS BROADCASTING CORPORATION !!!! GET A LIFE BBC!!!!!!!!
this BBC persons must be brought to court of laws,immediately.Not only HINDUS but the whole SAI DEVOTEES must protest against BBC.BBC must give official apology to the world.Nobody believe this.Millions of devotees have SAI EXPERIENCE,and this documentary —-VERY VERY SHAMEFUL,Let it be in the RIVER THEMS.
OM SAI RAMA – Have faith in God
LESSONS FROM GOD – Does god exist ?
One of our Customers KEN Costello owns a Rockwell Aircraft. He is a sprightly 80 year old Pilot with a lovely Golden Aura.
One day he came into my office and said ”Singh, Can you dismantle my aircraft engine it has failed. It Does not Start”.
I said Ken there is no need to dismantle the engine. Lets us pray to God for help. He at first refused saying God is Imagination and God cannot help.
Anyway after some persuasion he agreed. So we prayed to God and asked God to help start his aircraft.
Ken went outside the Hangar jumped into his aircraft & instantly the aircraft engine started and was running very sweetly.
I walked up to his aircraft and shouted to Ken over the sound of the whirring of the propeller ”Praying to God helped”.
Ken shouted back ”Coincidence Singh Coincidence”.
Suddenly Sai Baba appeared, He opened a dimension and I was shown a Big boat in the Sea floundering, Ken was in the boat and crying for help,
Then God spoke and said
”Amarjit, ask Ken when his Boat was floundering in the sea many years ago and he asked God for Help Who helped him?”.
I said to Ken thru the doorway of his aircraft Ken
”God is asking when your boat was floundering in the sea many years ago who helped you?”
He was shocked he switched off the engine came out and said
”How do you know about my yacht, I have told no one about it” .
I replied ”I have been taken to the past , I can see your boat its in the sea and Floundering, your boat is being shown to me like a TV screen I can see it about to sink”.
Ken spoke ”Singh I was Sailing in the Straits of Gibraltar over 20 years ago when our Yacht’s Main Engine failed. then suddenly the backup engine started to fail, we were being pushed to the rocks and it was going to be a disaster. The sea was very rough and very stormy.
I thought we were all going to die.
I could see my life passing by, I was in tears, I opened my heart to God and prayed, ”
God Please help us why have you forsaken us”.
Then the Backup engine suddenly sprung to life and we limped into the harbour.
I thought all this time it was a coincidence. Now I realise that God listened to my prayer, over 20 years ago.!”
Now after many years I have realised it was Gods intervention which saved us!
I now see God’s hand in my life where I have been saved many times”
God is always with us he Hears our Prayers. Do we hear him
To Listen to God,
In the beginning Meditation is the Key, Its in the depth of meditation that we can hear the voice of God
Eventually with much inner work we awaken our Godhead and hear the Voice of God much more.
Do we make time for Him we constantly bombard our brain with Music, Tv and other sensual sights,
Try and talk to God in Meditation You will surprise your self for sure. And Surprise God Too!.
Om Sai Rama Om Sai Rama
Amarjit
Ken Costello with his plane at Biggin Hill Airport
lol, cant believe so many primitive beings pray to such a person that is just a man that looks like a ape with big hair.
im not sure what is worse, praying to blue little statues or an afro man. Silly Hindoos
Muhammed is the only true man of peace PBUH
Yeh Alisha lets worship the only true man of peace who was paedophile.Married to a 6 year old at the age of 56 and thats me being nice lol
silly mullah’s and mulli’s. The Arabian sun must have fried his brains.
Alisha,
is it true that mulli’s wear burkhas cause they have too much hair and look like dudes?
We reap what we sow
what ever we do or say comes back to us ten fold
If we slander or hurt another
The energy always comes back to affect us
So learn not to Judge or speak ill of others
Karma does not forget
every deed we do is recorded in our Book of Life
Good or Bad
Karma does not forgive NOR DOES IT FORGET
LESSONS FROM GOD- RECKLESS WORDS & ANGER
I was sitting in the office one lovely summers day = all the aircraft had gone flying , I had no idea what the universe was going to teach me as a Lesson
I heard footsteps echoing thru the hangar and saw Eric our part time builder dashing around the aircraft in the Hangar to come into our office.
A few seconds later he was standing in front of me.
He looked at me and I looked at him
He then said ”Amarjit Singh I want to end it all I am tired of life. I have had enough I don’t want to live any more!”
I was shocked Eric is one of the nicest man you will ever meet.
He is compassion in itself.
What’s’ wrong I wondered , ‘I spoke ”Eric .what is wrong why are you upset?”
Then suddenly I hovering over Eric, Baba waving his hand in a Mudra, a dimension around Eric opened up and I was shown driven deep into his Shoulder a Huge Sword .
I then understood what had happened to Eric.
I asked Eric” Did you have a quarrel with anyone.”
He looked at me and said ”Yes, strong words were spoken a few days ago”
Eric had been involved in an argument.The other person was arguing very strongly with Eric, became very angry and lashed out at Eric with the way he defended himself in one of his previous life’s when he was a master swordsman.
Such was his anger that he thru his Superconscious mind linked into his previous life and his words turned into a sword and he stuck this deep deep into Eric. this sword was now sending waves of negative energy into his bodies!
I said ” Eric you have a sword stuck in your shoulder.
Eric” what are you waiting for remove it then”
So we both asked and gave forgiveness to all the parties concerned and also the 5 elements where they had the quarrel had taken place as even the elements, the earth air etc record and are traumatised by any negativity!
Then we asked Baba to remove this sword we saw it being pulled out all bloody. We asked this trauma to be healed and Erics bodies to be healed, I saw the angels working on Eric and blessing him with their Lovely Angelic wings waving around him!
A few days later Eric rang me and said all his suicidal thoughts had disappeared when the sword left him.
OM SAI RAMA AMARJIT SINGH
======================================================================
Reckless words pierce like a sword,
but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
SO BE LIKE THE SAINTS ONLY SPEAK GOOD
(FOR WHEN YOU HAVE RAISED YOUR ENERGY WITH INNER WORK WHAT YOU SPEAK HAPPENS quicker)
- Proverbs 12:19
It has been said that the pen is mightier than the sword that you can do more to influence a man and move him with the written word than you can with the sword, which compels him to action only out of fear of affecting his livelihood.
With the right words, you can move people and persuade them that taking the course of action that you are suggesting is, in fact, a better way. With words, you can touch others at a deeper level and affect their emotions, their thoughts, and even their way of life.
But with the power and potential of words also comes much Power & responsibility, especially when you have raised your God head by Meditation or other inner work..
The same words that can be used to gently persuade and help others well-being can also be used to manipulate and tear others down to get our own way. Words can be used to wound people in places that no sword can penetrate. A sword will cut through flesh, but words can cut through the heart. We’ve all felt the cutting of the heart that happens when people who we consider trustworthy say things that should never be said. Though they do not harm us physically, you can feel the pain even from a distance miles away.
With the same mouth, you have the ability to speak either blessings or curses. At first glance, you may think this point is trivial, but how many times have you been reluctant or insecure because of what someone else said about you? How many times have you been discouraged because others did not believe in you? How many of us don’t feel good about ourselves because of the hurtful things that someone said to us?
Words have the power to either bless you or curse you.
The hurtful words continue to haunt us and every time we hear them or remember them, it cuts us again, like a fresh wound, and it never heals properly. And these wounds will continue to hurt us and we will feel victimized until the power of those words are broken.
And I’ll tell you that without the grace of God, it is impossible.
There is still hope. Though we can’t change how others have affected us and though we can’t change how others use and manipulate words, we can resolve to use our words to bring healing and encouragement.
It is human nature to lash back and return the treatment we receive from others. And if we don’t lash back at the person who offended us, we often lash back at those close to us, that we hold dear to our hearts. We don’t mean to hurt them, but we end up hurting them because we ourselves are hurting.
And again, without the grace of God, without specifically asking God to give you this grace to forgive and not letting those words affect you, you will not be able to stop the cycle of receiving and lashing out in pain.
He who seeks good finds goodwill,
but evil comes to him who searches for it.
- Proverbs 11:27
When we resolve to take the high road and use our words to build others up, even though we are unfairly treated, we will be blessed and find favour with both God and men. It may not happen immediately and it may not happen when we want it and when it’s most convenient for us, but God promises that he who seeks good finds goodwill. When we search for evil, or seek to return the favour, God promises that evil will come back to you.
God’s way is hard because it is unnatural and goes against everything that you see in this world. But I can’t imagine trying to live any other way. If we don’t live according to God’s way, then according to whose ways are we living? God is good, kind, loving, merciful, and gentle with us. Who are you listening to and what are they like? What becomes of their ways and their lifestyle? Please consider deeply whose advice you are listening to and what kinds of things will come of that advice.
BBC, do you have any better business to do other than this? Then pls look into those options. We have seen enough of what Sathya Sai Baba is and we know he is GOD in human form. That is enough for us. You are wasting your time in such cheap propaganda. Try to see ways for uplifting yourself and your country.
The transformation that Sai Baba has brought to the hearts and minds of millions of devotees cutting across continents is proof enough of his divine stature which no ordinary mortal can ever hope to achieve. When a old women in distant Mexico, inspired by Sai Baba, packs every day a few meals to be distributed to the poor in her visinity, the message of love and service that Baba propounds finds amble demostration and the heart-to-heart relationships that devotees have and enjoy with him.
Narayanan
Faithfully , I say it . We know that , what we sow , we reap. . .Undeniably true it is.
Time heals . If some believe they are free to act as they wish., they will reap accordingly .
The WISE should forgive , but not judge . The Almighty `s judgement is also FREE !
I do think its time to think GOOD . Jai Sai Ram !
I hope this program will continue to air to keep the skeptics away. I hope there is skeptism about Prema Sai too. No form of Sai Baba needs defense – He is atma.
god is there
No one can estimate What exactly Baba is , But I can only see and say Baba is every where no way we can compare him with any thing , He just not only preaches he Showed every thing by his own life style ! what ever he did was to show a divine and peaceful path to the man kind ! Those who are fortunate they could see and experienced and benefited with his guidance . So please those who don’t even know what is Baba can please be away from him but don’t dare to hurt the millions of his followers .
This is illegal and in proper . Sai Ram is ETERNAL and OMNIPRESENT he did not go any where he is very much with all of us but in a different form he can see and listen ALWAYS that is why we are still here and alive !! JAI SAI RAM . Radha sasthry.
It may be impolite to slight someone especially when he is no more. I have witnessed with interest the BBC bashing unleashed on this page thus digressing from the truth of the matter. No one asks why the BBC spoke to only foreigners and not Indians about the alleged sexual transgressions. Indians will never speak about it … particularly students of Sai Baba. Family tradition forbids many people to even question their guru or his acts. There is enough unwritten testimony of Baba’s alleged sexual misconduct with both college and minor school students (all male). This will never come to light.
Controversies apart, he has done a lot of good work for the sick and the deprived which must be lauded and acknowledged.
With him not in our midst I hope history makes an impartial assessment of his life and not be clouded by the sweeping statements of his over-zealous followers.
“There is enough unwritten testimony of Baba’s alleged sexual misconduct with both college and minor school students (all male). This will never come to light.”
yes right and can you prove that ? Dont use flimsy excuses that its indian family tradition that no one speaks out.What a joke and pathetic excuse for no evidence.Do u work for the BBC by any chance ?
In olden day( prior to 1980′s) BBC news mattered as there was only few such News agency which would do some good research and analysis. There after mushrooming of thousands of News Channels across the Globe;now very few people believe in what BBC says as there are better channels Nationally and Regionally available.
Devotees of Shri Shri Satya Sai are very very intelligent and well read across the Globe will read the BBC news in appropriate way and would not be offended with perverted view for the sake of selling thier news.
We should give a honest burrial for this news the way Americans did it for Osama Bin Laden; nothing more or nothing less and forget it once for all and continue to take benifit of the Power of
Shri Shri Satya Sai Baba for generation to come.
When Jesus was here He was a Heratic, a liar, cheat,devil, blasphemer and had there been things like child abuser etc….. at that time and no doubt these things did happen, they would have accused him of this too – so too with Mohammed, Moses, Abraham, Guru Nanak Buddha etc,,,,, and they were men who attained GODSHIP and yet were abused themselves for the GREATNESS nad GOOD DEEDS. Then what of GOD appearing on earth!!!!!!!!
Because we live in an evil age, mankind believes in evil lies, stories that appear authentic because some media or high person published this. But the truth is money exchanged hands and peoples indentities have been stolen and their names used in regards to these allegations
IDENTITY THEFT is common place now.
Did not CRAIG CHARLES from RED DWARF series in UK was accused of rape, through LAW COURTS and evidence GIVEN, was imprisoned and tHen later the women admitted to lying
The difference here is that people went to see HOLY GHOST or FATHER in biblical terms in human form DID NOT HAVE THEIR DESIRES / WISHES GRANTED BY BABA and turned against HIM.
Where is there evidence other than what ex devotees said. i can make anything up and swear to the end of my life that you robbed in the street and make people believe me can i not???!!!!c
Just think how cut-throat work places can be or Parliament OR FAMILIES who you have strained relationships.
THEN WHAT OF BABA AND HIS KINGDOM
Men are liars in this age and will give their lives for their just cause – Suicide Bombers who blow their lives up in the name of ALLH = GOD = PEACVE AND LOVE =BABA but they believe they will go to Heaven accoding to thier Scriptures – are they right based on thir religious convictions
The christian bible states that if a priest is questioned GOD is questioned and they must be killed??
Did GOD say this or did man lie yest gain for his own evil gain??
What did BABA say and DO!! LOVE AND SERVE ALL
Please expalin.
DO YOU REALLY BELIEVE THIS ACTS HAPPENED.
ALL those students past and Present who have so called things happen to them have been interviewed and said no such thing ever happened!!!! but have had their names used – do your research
with respect
ROCKSY
You did not experince BABA as LORD AND CREATOR
If i tell you that Sugar is wonderful but a 100 diabetics tells youOR you read or see media film it can harm you, you will possible agree with the diabetic.
However when you find that these diabtetics where majority were undergoing tests for diabetes yet not diagnosed, but to claim some benefits they make this statement of lies, then a reasonable intelligent person will realise that the statements made were not altogether true.
So is the case with BABA.
Students who had acts done against them when interviewed denied it happened. This was so true for the USA case when the boy asid things happended went to court over BABA then later he said he was on drugs etc…he was western,,,,,,,, why did he write poems etcc profess his love for BABA and still insist HE BABA was GOD if this was happening.
The few anti sai activists when questioned why so much anti -ness towards SAI cannit anwser , why???
Ok so maybe indians they dont talk about but no HINDU SIKH BIDDHIST will follow a Spirtual leader who does such things. Their love for their religious convictions are so that they wont tolerate such things no more than you will tolerate any malicious lies spoken about you or your family (no offence just an example)
Jesus was crucified for saying he was son of God but was called a devil, liar etc……….
Guru Nanak was imprisoned because he spoke of GOD Truth.
Moahmmed was treated badly for same reason.
WHERE THERE IS OD THERE TOO THE DEVIL REARS ITS HEAD.
Do your research and see the lies that have been spread compared to the to any truth to the lies spread.
with repsect
sorry jack
this was meant for ROCKSY
SAI RAM
Dav, why your referring to me in your post when im defending baba in my one.Read it again thanks
Om sairam please dont hurts any one sentiment about their own religion ,think what swami has preached us .Hindus must be a good hindus,Muslim should be good muslims ,Christian must be a good christian.Swami has not hurt any one sentiments yet he havent spoke anything about the BBC.Let them throw stones.let swami knows how their Students learnt.Dont defend & dont try harm any one
O’ dear. The best use of a mind is prayers for peace and love to heal the world. You are not the mind. Try to use your head and body doing good deeds only. God Bless All in Truth. Baba is One
Sai Ram!
Alright,article or no article.It doesn’t matter.What matters is Swami’s teaching to us that no one needs to defend what he does or does not.NOTHING matters,not these fake articles or those spiteful words from non-believers.Nothing.All that matters is our Swami, His Grace and Blessings.Always have faith in Him and believe that no matter what some people do to contaminate and corrupt His name,He always remains our pillar of strength and energy.
Why waste our energy trying to show the wrong doers the right way? If they have the grace,they will see it eventually.Just have sympathy for them.
Sai Ram!
“Why waste our energy trying to show the wrong doers the right way? ”
Then why did Sathya Sai Baba take birth and waste his energy to lead us the right way.He could have just left us to go the wrong way instead..It seems many people have not understood babas teaching at all where more than words action is important.If people are condemning him and leading others the wrong direction by writing negative articles then it is the duty of devotees to correct that and that is Dharma and not ignoring ones duty which is Adharma
THERE IS ONLY ONE RELIGION – LOVE
THERE IS ONLY ONE CASTE – HUMANITY
THERE IS ONLY ONE GOD – HE IS OMNIPRESENT
Arjun,I can understand what you are saying,and I have done that in the past too.But then it always leads to arguments,and more nasty words for Him,which cant be dealt with if we try to respond in a different level.For that,we have to stoop down to their level and talk the same language,and most of us cannot do that.So,I believe that if some does something maliciously,and if they do not understand the right way,either His Grace will bring them back of if they do not,then its their fate that they do not realize the truth.
Baba has also asked us to refrain from arguments,and I have forgotten where I have read it,but He has said not to defend him to the people who spread negativity in His name.He doesn’t need our defense,when He himself defends and protects the entire universe.
My question was why to waste energy trying to wake up people who pretend to sleep forever? Not why to even try.Try you may,but when you know your efforts are wasted,leave it to Him.
Sai Baba told me
“Judge not lest Ye be judged”
What a profound consciousness to see God in all things at all times. To understand that “in him we live, and move, and have our being” (Act 17:28 Bhagavad Gita ).
If Sai Baba is God.. He knew all along back in the days when he was showering tons of Love and attention on the Rahm family that they would play out the role later of turning their backs on him. So even the BBC drama in that sense is his drama? For that matter i would guess that the drama of discussing the controversy here is also his drama? God loves all alike regardless of their roles they must play according to His will and their karmas .. God being the seat of all Love+Compassion is just as much present in and Loves Tanya+team, and the Rahm family as He is present in and loves anyone else on Earth. Lets not forget that.. And for those who claim to be true followers of God, step back and look at what you’r doing on this forum when you offer criticism against others faiths/religions .. even if u think your religion is superior, is not true then that you must at least have compassion for those who you think are “lost” or “less than” you? I do not say Sai Baba is God and if he is God he does not need my or your validation either. God is in the heart alone and present in every single sleeping and waking moment .. no outward pilgrimage then is necessary other than here and now moving with Him.
@Clyde, Krishna created the whole drama of the mahabharat and still asked Arjun to take off the heads of the enemy including that of the Bheeshma the greatest and noble of all men .So just because god loves everyone doesnt mean you dont face the truth under the guise of love and dont do the dharma that god has set u to do.Hinduism itself is open to criticism even the extent of criticising the gods so that has to be applied to religions especially to religions that have a case history of genocide, ethnic cleansing, rape and force conversion against innocent people around the world for the last 2 thousand years
@Arjun – not sure where we disagree in the first part of your comment as that seems fine to me. The only part I disagree with, in light of Krishna’s teachings in the Srimad Bhagavad Gita, is the part where you suggest applying criticism to others religions. I don’t believe this is what Krishna teaches but you did bring him up nevertheless. From what I know Krishna teaches humankind to have Love for all people regardless of their religion. I believe the same can be said about Sai Baba’s teachings. We need to be able to differentiate religion from those who in the name of religion commit the mad acts you speak off. I think the world is quickly recognizing the difference. All faiths present on Earth have committed violence against humanity in the name of God at one point or the other and others still do. That is man made and it is not a new fact that religion has been significantly affected by human politics for centuries. So it seems appropriate then to criticize the actions of those who perpetrate crimes against humanity in the name of religion – but there’s no need to simultaneously mix religion in it which by itself is good and a vehicle to God.
@Clyde, Lets not lie to ourselves.Not all faiths have caused violence in the scale of 2 particular religions which have gone around world and persecuted people and still continue you to do so.And these people who have gone and done these things have justifications from their religions to do so.U want to challenge me on that then go ahead and will bring all the history and quotations from their holy books..Baba talks about the truth and not blinding yourselves from it.Baba has to keep the peace among religions and people because of the current environment especially in India.But what he teaches is not accepted by the majority of those very 2 religions im talking about and thats a fact..
Krishna is not talking about religion but Dharma and how it should be applied even through violence if need be.When i talk about criticism im talking about Hindu belief generally that one has the right to question and criticise the beliefs
I love Baba. I chant and sing His name. All that negative articles I have read makes me think. What has gone wrong? Has someone lost the plot, purpose and reason for this incarnation? Who has been behind all this negative publicity? Rupee Crores in donation each year. Is it being totally utilised for the upliftment of the underprivlidged? Trust members being paid huge salaries? Sathyajit who served the Lord gets paid a good salary. To serve the Lord – I will gladly do it as a serva without any compensation. To serve the Lord is in itself a rare oppurtinity and a boon. Ex chief judge wants to be chairman at the age of 90 – I am sure he is paid a pension both from investments and the government. If my thoughts are correct he is also paid a huge salary as a trustee.
Ever since Baba disclosed his link with Christ and started being seen as a Comic Christ by a large section of Christian devotees across the globe, the fundamental Christians are feeling greatly threatened by the rising popularity of Sai Baba.Since then some of these people are resorting to lies, deciet and mud slinging in connivance with rationalists whose very existence is being challenged by divinity of Sai Baba.How can rationalists whose agenda is hedonism, no hold bar enjoy at any cost, be selfish and throw human values to wind, can ever like arch rival Sai Baba, goodness and egalitarianism. But divine plans are great.These negative people by spreading negativity are giving free publicity to Baba and his mission. In the ultimate analysis with each such falsified campaign the number of new sai devotees increases manifold.
Robert Priddy has stated: If you were right then, Jack, why did Sathya Sai Baba tell me at interview to “Write, write, write!” And why did V.K. Narasimhan constantly ask for articles for Sanathana Sarathi (http://www.saibaba-x.org.uk/16/RP/sanathana.htm). Sai Baba must be fallible indeed by your reckoning for he said of me in public “He has a very good mind” and “A good man… good, good, very good!” and about the same again later.
Since you can’t show your qualifications (or identity) and can’t state anything but baseless opinions about me, then you remain as a parrot of Sai Baba and nothing more. A caged bird!
@Jack – speaking of Sai Baba .. well he did preach the unity of all religions including islam, christians, and hindus. What is funny is that u’ve misconstrued what I wrote above .. The point remains that slander and criticism of others religions is low and unacceptable and goes against Baba’s teachings too. You mayb entitled to doing so but so u r also entitled to doing and saying virtually anything for that matter .. but doesn’t necessarily make it moral, ethical, legal, or socially acceptable. Religious fundamentalists who commit crimes against humanity are the real perpetrators, not religion itself which by itself is good and serves as vehicle to God.
@Clyde, I know very well what Baba has said and i also know what he means in essence which u dont seem to understand.Its the divine in everyone that is the same which means christians/muslims and hindus ect because everyone is divine.You are just looking at the surface without understanding the deeper understanding of what perspective he is talking from.And Now you’re doing the typical that by claming anyone questioning a religion suddenly becomes slander and is low ? Can you prove to me where that has been said and if their is a law against it ? Like i said before if you want to dispute that the 2 religions im talking about are not responsible for murder and destruction around the world for the last 2 thousand years then provide the proof because i have history and religious quotation to back my stand.
@Jack – actually stretching out this argument further will serve no good purpose. Though I am glad that you know and understand that the divine is in everyone.. that is good and plenty in it self
Allah cannot take a Form. Of what use is such a moth-eaten God? And his paedophile prophet?
Mohammad’s brain was not fried by the hot Arabian sun, but by Yoga performed without the guidance of a Guru. Read Swami Vivekananda’s analysis of Mohammad’s state of consciousness.
From my childhood I heard Satya Sai Baba’s name for all wrong reasons. When I was in 5th standard he visited Delhi; again when I was in 7th and 9th. But I never went for a Darshan. All of a sudden after almost 40 years, a group of friends took me to Puttaparthi. I had a Darshan of Baba. The first thought came to my mind was “I have wasted 40 years. I should have come earlier”.
british are not journalists-they are spies working for england which thinks the whoel worlod is enemyand so bBc acts as and is an enemy spy which msut be killed.
BOYCOTT THE TERRORIST CRIMINAL POLICE STATE UK: BOYCOTT THE LONDON OLYMPICS 2012 !
once they settle in anglosaxon imperialists historically try to clean up land from indigenous i think they call it civilization than they tend to bring they own breed to multiply like cockroaches and live every happy after.
Indicting the Messanger
BBC Joins Smear Campaign Against Assange and Wikileaks
By ISRAEL SHAMIR
The campaign by the establishment press against Julian Assange is intensifying. CBS’s 60 Minutes tried to trash him last Sunday, but Assange left CBS’ interviewer, Steve Kroft, floundering. Last Sunday also saw New York Times editor Bill Keller consume several thousand words in the NYT’s Magazine abusing Assange with disgraceful lack of scruple, Assange being a man who gave the New York Times some actual news scoops, instead of its regular staple of gastroporn from Sam Sifton. Here Israel Shamir reports, with some personal involvement, on the impending slurring of Assange on the BBC, and the attacks on him in The Guardian. AC/JSC
Moscow
I picked up the phone on the third ring, and a melodious British voice informed me that the BBC wanted to include me in its Panorama program. The BBC wanted to hear my views on the world, and was especially interested in Wikileaks. Oh what a glorious moment! I felt myself puff with pride. There is something about “the Beeb” that makes my heart flutter! I have always been partial to their style, and I considered it an honour to have the BBC listed on my CV, even though it was over thirty years ago. When I worked in Bush House on the Strand, the BBC’s Panorama was one of the best investigative programs anywhere – and suddenly here they are, soliciting my comments! Eager to build a relationship of trust, I answered all their preparatory questions with an unvarnished honesty. I thought I had done well; they offered to fly me to London, or if that were inconvenient they would fly out and speak to me in Moscow – civil chaps, aren’t they?
Looking back, the signs of danger were easy to see. They were producing a program about Wikileaks, but they had no plans to interview Julian Assange.
Allowing british journalists is very dangerous-they are the spies working to destabilise al countries not under them.
10/02/2011, 00:08
besides whenever the english journalists infiltrate the news media or forum the news become propaganda for the english interest only. The same happend with CNn and is happening with al jareeza where english journalists infiltrated.
Another example is Russia today where the english journalists have hijacked the agenda of Russian tv.
Just one example out of thousand as to how much the english journalists do the propaganda for england even in Russian tv.
http://www.counterpunch.org/shamir02252011.html
Weekend Edition
February 25 – 26, 2011
The Guardian’s Sleazeball Hacks and Plagiarists
Cable Cooking and the War on Assange
By ISRAEL SHAMIR
The latest chapter in the quest for open government finds our embattled knight holed up within the grey brick Georgian walls of Ellingham Hall while the dark forces outside attempt a disorderly checkmate. The British courts have long debated whether to pack Julian Assange off to the star spangled torture chambers of Guantanamo, but have finally settled on simply extraditing him to the man-eating Nordic Amazons of Sweden, pending appeal. Meanwhile the chessboard has become crowded with ex-employees, ex-lovers, and ex-friends who compete among themselves to cast mud upon his memory. The same newspapers he enriched with headline stories gleefully prepare his epitaph, for no good deed goes unpunished among the masters of discourse. This is a very lonely time for our trusting hero, as yesterday’s oaths are traded for cold cash, and intimate confidences are betrayed.
Daniel Domscheit-Berg has published a sort of book, a breathless “Assange in robe and slippers” tale of the kind usually written by former valets bearing a grudge. The author, a man whose only claim to fame is a short period as an employee of Assange, claims that Assange mistreated his cat and ate up all the candy. Julian took him up after ten years on the dole, and he immediately pocketed Julian’s lifework and ran away with it because… you guessed it, it would be safer in his hands. He delivered all Wikileaks emails and backups into the hands of the enemy and now he sits like a spider in his shiny new shop inviting trustful potential leakers into his parlour.
Another Wikileaks turncoat is young James Ball, a computer journalist in his early twenties who worked for a few months with Julian. The poor lad was offered ten months’ steady pay by The Guardian and he accepted it gratefully. In neo-liberal England, there are so few chances for a young man to find employment that he will betray even his own father and mother to get at it. James carried off the entire personal correspondence of the Wikileaks team and walked it straight over to The Guardian.
John Sweeney (The Demon Barber of the BBC’s Panorama) patched together a miserable and dull episode that the fans on their own forum summed up as “a sloppy hatchet job, complete with the close-ups of a diabolical looking JA [Julian Assange] lit in red, or appearing in bad photos with red eyes above moody underscore”.
Bill Keller of the New York Times has labeled Julian “an eccentric former computer hacker of Australian birth and no fixed residence”, who “was alert but disheveled, like a bag lady walking in off the street, wearing a dingy, light-colored sport coat and cargo pants, dirty white shirt, beat-up sneakers and filthy white socks that collapsed around his ankles. He smelled as if he hadn’t bathed in days.” The squemish Keller must have been expecting the runaway man with a case of secret documents to posess immaculately dressed, rakish elegance of David Niven in The Pink Panther. No doubt Keller was wishing his brush with our hunted hero was instead a posh tête à tête at a fixed abode, preferably just off Park Lane. And if Julian cannot look the part 24 hours a day, then he should probably pass the secret documents on to Mr. Keller who is doubtlessly better equipped to handle them.