Book Notes
Sai Sathya Sakha
Divine Interaction, Experiences and Transformations in my life
Professor Korbu was Principal of several colleges in Maharashtra, India, and was appointed Visiting Lecturer in Mercantile Law at the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, when the Institute was first opened.
This narrative has been translated from Hindi to English and it somewhat reads so. However, this only adds to the dramatis persona of the writer who tells his story with a rare ingenuousness, as only self-confessing Bharathiyas can.
From his beginnings as an urchin with a brilliant intellect and memory, Professor Korbu traces his ups and downs as a student in various schools, colleges and Universities, along with his various academic tenures. Not afraid to tell a story against himself, he shares his errors, failings and his habits and their contributions to his transformation.
Professor Korbu knew little about Swami, except that he was devoted to Swami utterly and totally. He grew up knowing nothing about his own religion, Islam, yet, Swami revealed himself to Allah to this devotee. Questioned by his confreres and companions, he frequently told them he had never seen Swami materialise objects up close, and so he would not comment on this aspect of Swami. People had to find out for themselves. This is the sort of neutrality and direction Swami expects of his devotees, "If people ask you where is God, tell them to go to Puttaparthi".
Swami was to reward this simple faith by doing a most unusual materialisation where the palm of his hand broke open and an object emerged from that hand. I will leave it to you to read of this, it is a fascinating narrative.
Professor Korbu went through good times and bad times in his life, and his family was not exempt. Being a muslim, he had two wives, and Swami instructed him to bring his second wife to Prashanti Nilayam. The story of the second wife's interview with Swami lingers in the mind, for Prof. Korbu most tellingly reveals Swami as Sai Maa. Later, the family maid also accompanied the family to Prashanti, and to the interview room. There are many lessons of humility and integrity in this small book.
What is striking about this book is Prof. Korbu's recollections of his 'big' interview where Swami answered his every question in an interview lasting more than 90 minutes. More striking still, is Prof. Korbu's delineation of sincerity as a devotee, his accounting of the different classes of devotees, and how he sees Swami working with those devotees, including himself.
The author's native tongue is Hindi, and not English. Despite the difficulties in translation, this small book has a very penetrating account and analysis of what being a devotee and sincerity entails. For that alone it is worth reading and keeping on your shelf to read again and again.
For International readers, this book is available from the Sri Sathya Sai
Books and Publications website
For Australian residents, $3 (includes postage and packaging), from Sai Books, 24 Kenilworth Ave, Wonga Park, 3115,
(Margaret and Randall McDonald), phone (03) 9722 1740
email books [at] saiaustralia.org.au