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important to psychiatry that one day it may be renamed “Sai- chiatry.” It so happened that a group of about a hundred American psychiatrists and spouses are touring India now, and the group leader thought that some might be interested in visiting Baba once they knew something about him. I’ve just met with the group, and some of the people who will be going with me tomorrow to see Baba are here in the audience. I’m happy that they’ve experienced the Delhi bhajans before seeing him, as his love is so evident here. The devotional bhajans convey more of Baba’s meaning to the sensitive observer than could a million speeches.
I would like to say a word about the book I wrote, Sai Baba: The Holy Man and the Psychiatrist. I know that it’s because of this book that I was invited to speak here. I’ve been embarrassed by the recognition, because I know that without Baba’s help I would be totally unable to complete such a work by myself. I’d like to tell you about his part in this project because it’s such a nice story about his mystery and his love.
All through my education, English was my worst subject. In fact one of my English teachers at the University of Michigan told me that I’d never be able to get through medical school, so poor was my ability to express myself. He shook his head as though there were no hope. Needless to say I was devastated—and perhaps that’s why Baba took pity. Also, in his infinite playfulness, he must enjoy taking us at our weakest point, to show that he can bring water from a rock. But most of all he does it out of love—to help us realize more deeply that it is not we, but he, who is the doer. When he gives us such a great gift, when we understand how unlikely it really is, we are less likely to get a big head.
Baba’s grace allowed me to be in the right place at the right time— to meet him just before the Western world would come to know of him. And all the feelings I had about him—the devotion, the understanding of the profound influence he would play in the world—all these were not my impressions, they were prized gifts from him. I had nothing to do with the immense energy and excitement that poured from me. It was unusual behavior, almost as if I had no choice. I was overwhelmed, overjoyed with the clear vision of Baba’s immense importance, thrilled knowing that no one like him had lived for thousands of years—knowing without doubt that the entire