Page 168 - Microsoft Word - SPIRIT AND THE MIND.doc

148 SPIRIT AND THE MIND
He began to move slowly in the distance, like a soft breeze, to the ebb and flow of outstretching arms and waves of praying hands which swelled and receded at his approach and passing. Humanity en masse crying for liberation, praying to be lifted from the animal to the divine. Here he was amongst us in all his glory: compassion incarnate, beauty and love beyond description—here to give us peace.
I began to choke up. “Oh Baba, I am so far away. So many needy have come from afar—how can I push them aside, to get closer myself? Never again will I draw your personal smile, feel the joy of your close company, sit at your feet, part of a small family. Your family is all of humanity now. I can never be close to you again.” My eyes dropped and I sat enveloped in a dark cloud of separation and sadness, and wept.
The rustling in the crowd came closer. Looking up, I saw that the people in front of me were parting. “Is this a dream—this only happens in a dream. He can’t be coming to me.” But he was!
Motioning for me to rise and come forward, he said, “Sandweiss, how are you?” Through tears of joy I replied, “Very happy, Swami.” Personal, familiar—absolute intimacy in a crowd of thousands —
he said with innocent eyes atwinkle, “Where are the psychiatrists?” “They’ll be coming in about one week, Swami, I will go to Delhi
to meet them and bring them here.”
“How many will be coming?”
My mind was a jumble. I didn’t know how many. Over a hundred American psychiatrists led by Dr. Masserman were scheduled to tour India, sight-seeing and meeting Indian colleagues. I had made arrangements to meet the group in Delhi to talk about Sai Baba and bring those interested to him for a meeting. But I didn’t know how many would want to break their preplanned schedule to join me. How embarrassing to tell Baba just a few were expected if all 100 were to come, or to declare many when only a few would show up. I couldn’t admit that I was so ill-prepared I didn’t know, and this certainly wasn’t the time or place to discuss the matter in detail. Opting to seem important, I replied, “Maybe as many as 100, Swami.”
Turning to move, Baba gently needled with a knowing smile,
“No, not so many.”
For days thereafter, Baba continued to ask about the psychiatrists.