This story describes how a very
special photograph of the Risen Christ was manifested by Sri Sathya
Sai Baba for a visitor to one of his ashrams known as Prasanthi
Nilayam - which means the Abode of Peace - in Puttaparti, India, in
1985. I relay the details to you as they were conveyed to me by
Barbara McAlley, a friend who I met 'quite by chance' amongst a
throng of people at Bombay airport in July 1987. We established an
immediate rapport, both being English, although she had been living
in New Zealand for the past twenty years. When Barbara first showed
me this wondrous photograph of the Risen Christ in our hotel room in
Bombay, I couldn't wait to hear her story of how it had come into
being, knowing it was more than just a coincidence that we had met.
Barbara had been a devotee of Sathya Sai Baba, who many people feel
is the Avatar of this Age, for a number of years. Now she was just
returning from her second visit to see him. She was carrying this
photograph of the Risen Christ with her not only because it had
originated in Puttaparti in the first place but also because she
always took the picture with her when she travelled. In 1985 Barbara
had gone to Puttaparti with a friend from New Zealand. Her friends
who at the time was very much caught up with all the suffering of
Christ, had with her two items which she hoped Sai Baba would bless
for her - a crucifix and a black and white photograph of a computer
printout of the image of Christ taken from the Turin Shroud. Daily
they had attended darshan, a Sanskrit word meaning the devotional
seeing and gazing upon (as a blessing) of the Master, in order that
they might sit at the feet of their Lord.
On one
such occasion Sai Baba stopped in front of them and looked at the
items that Barbara's friend held out to him for a blessing. However
he refused to accept the crucifix. When will we Christians take
Christ off the cross and place him in his proper context? It has
been said of the cross at another time, "Let the longer piece of the
cross represent God's Will and the shorter piece your will. If you
lay the two pieces side by side, parallel to each other, there is no
cross. It is only when your will conflicts with God's will, when you
cannot say Thy Will be done, O Lord, that the cross is created. If
your will acquiesces with God's will, there is no cross. The way to
take down the cross: therefore, is always to accept gladly and
lovingly whatever trial, pain or loss God sends and surrender your
ego". Then, as Sai Baba focussed his attention on her friend's
photograph of Christ, Barbara watched spellbound as with a lift and
a wave of his hand Sai Baba drew from that photograph of the Turin
Shroud the black and white image of Christ until there was nothing
left but a blank sheet of gloss paper. Then, in the same manner, he
created on that blank sheet (just as if it were in a developing tray
in a darkroom) the colour image of the Risen Christ as you see it
today. This image has eyes so full of love and compassion that they
comfort and touch you on a deep inner level when you come into its
range of vision. Then, with a blessing for the two women from New
Zealand, Sai Baba went on his way, knowing full well that life would
never be the same for them again! This seems to be the case for all
those who have visited Sai Baba, including myself.
Barbara
has commented that if she does nothing more with her life than pass
on copies of this photograph, she will be well satisfied! She has
also said that this experience with Sai Baba has proved to be an
encouragement for her to go on and achieve things which she had
previously thought to be quite impossible. Although I did not choose
to create an opportunity to see this photograph of the Risen Christ
or to meet Barbara when we were together at the ashram, it would
seem that it was 'arranged' by Sai Baba that we should meet shortly
afterwards in that crowded airport in Bombay in order that I might
be instrumental in distributing this very special photograph in
Europe and America and in various other countries around the world.
Barbara
said, during our first conversation in the hotel, that it was
apparent to her that Sai Baba wanted me to have the photograph and
to take it hack to England. Apparently I had ignored the invitation
whilst staying at his ashram, and so the photograph had to be placed
before me in such a fashion that I could not ignore it! It was a
case of when Mohammed won't come to the mountain, then the mountain
has to come to Mohammed. Barbara and I continue to keep in touch
with each other's progress and we are both very much aware of how
close we are, not only to each other, but to the Source.
(The
above is a summary of several pages of notes given to us by Carol
Bruce which describe her experiences with Sai Baba. We have
summarised them into this one page so that those who purchase a copy
of the photograph of the Risen Christ may know a little about its
history.)
To order
copies of the photograph and for further information, please contact
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