Theos-Talk Archives (August 1999 Message tt00007)

Nick:

At 08:55 AM 8/3/1999 -0700, you wrote:
>Doss:
>| In the past, I recall some statements being made that one of the
>reasons
>| for some "theosophists" objecting to Sai Baba and his teachings is
>that he
>| claims to be God. During the weekend, I listened to a tape of a
>lecture by
>| Sai Baba and I could not find any mention what so ever of his being
>God.
>| Does anyone have any specific reference to back up the claim that he
>claims
>| to be God?
>|
>| I am wondering if all this is just misunderstanding. While Buddha
>himself
>| claimed he was a human being like all of us, there are followers who
>tread
>| Buddha as a God. It is quite possible that it is the followers's
>| misunderstanding and overstatement of treating Sai Baba as a God.
>
>I do not know why some folks use such a feeble argument against
>Bhagavan.  Those who think he is a charlatan are more honest. He teaches
>that everybody is God, but we are not aware of it and he is.  Krishna
>and all avatars are God too.  He defines God according to the level of
>the person or persons he is talking to.  Sometimes as the Principle
>Brahman or Paramatman; sometimes with a personal form etc.  HPB and her
>gurus taught the same thing.  They rarely used the english word "God" ,
>but the notion that we are Divine in nature is a key teaching of
>theosophy.
>

Personally I never had any problem with accepting that we are all Divine.
On the other hand, the problem that arises is when you *can* have a "blind"
"belief" about theosophically acceptable names on the other hand not
treating even handedly Sai Baba for what good he has done and has been
doing for a large number of people in the world. 

>Of course many of Sathya Sai Baba's followers, to our crass Western
>notions of "proper" religiosity, are far too adoring, devoted  and put
>him on a pedestal to high for our taste.  But differing spiritual
>"tastes" are what give the flavor to spiritual living.
>

I can understand if some one in the West cannot understand; but difficult
to understand when the negative attitude comes from people who should know
East better.


>HPB in the KEY TO THEOSOPHY (67) says man is God, the "universally
>diffused, infinite principle " not *a* god.
>
>Nicholas
>
>

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