Sathya Sai Baba in His Own Words, Volume 1 - the Ancient Wisdom From a Contemporary Avatar

Introduction

For those of us fortunate enough to have experienced Sathya Sai Baba's embodied presence, few can say they were not changed or deeply affected. And despite the physical absence of the source of that divine effulgence, the tsunami of spiritual grace which emanated from the remote hamlet of Puttaparthy and transformed it into an international pilgrimage site is still flooding the planet with love and light.

When Sri Sathya Sai Baba left his mortal coil on Easter Sunday in April of 2011, many were surprised as he had said he would live to be 96 in his current incarnation. However, it was soon discovered that when his lifespan was calculated using the ancient Hindu calendar which is lunar based with shorter months then the one devised in the West, he did live to be 96.

That for all those decades no one had considered this possibility was seen by those who witnessed countless mind-boggling miraculous occurrences for what it was: a final leela (divine play) from Sai. Only then could his namaskar salute to all present his last time in public - a gesture he had never used before - be properly understood: he was saying goodbye.

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Over the ages, great spiritual masters, prophets, and avatars have descended from lofty realms to teach and guide us (they are walking the Earth as you read this), but Sathya Sai Baba was unique as he came with the full powers and consciousness of the Divine, an incarnation known in the East as a Poorna [Full] Avatar*.

Like a spoonful of ocean water, this booklet contains an infinitesimal fraction of Sri Sai's words during his earthly sojourn but perhaps within these pages something may resonate with you and lift your spirits, deepen your understanding, and lighten your burden.

May it be so.

Puttaparthy, India, April 20, 2012