Posted on 04/24/2011 9:51:33 AM PDT by billorites
Oh, man!.....and I was gonna pick Sathya Sai Baba in my Dead Pool this year!
Now he’s roasting in hell, being tortured by the Yamadutas. Finally the earth is rid of the sodomite trickster fake-guru POS.
There are indeed authentic holy people who teach traditional Hindu dharma.
The ones you listed are not, as you noted. The most famous names are usually exploiters, frauds, tricksters and basically fiends.
It’s the same in every religion, generally speaking. There are plenty of sincere, humble and pious Hindu teachers. They just don’t make the headlines.
Um... dont, know I dont worship them...
Good thing there aren’t any Christian religious leaders that are total frauds...
RIP.
Sathya Sai Baba died yesterday at 84 years old, known as a Hindu guru and coupled to the more elder Hindu groups of the Sai Baba of Shirdi who died in 1940. The Prime Minister of India Manmohan Singh made official statements to the nation of India in relation to the passing of the notable religious leader, and there will likely be a State Funeral. Many other Indian high officials have been making public statements since yesterday. Indian television has run non-stop coverage since the passing. Sathya Sai Baba has not been without controversy, having over 150 centers world-wide and was noted for claims to miracles such as healing, and was under criticism for activities such as wearing Rolex watches and such signs of wealth.
There is no doubt that upon this event that some Christians in the US will be critical, perhaps insults and mockery will be second nature in responding to this news event, however keep in mind though many of the activities of this religious personality were under world-wide public view, and specifically the use of expensive attire and claims of fakery in religious “miracles”, it is not uncommon for Hindu leaders to both practice austere yoga and go about wear clothing of monks while also wearing expensive watches, travel in “luxury cars” and activities which some in the West may consider showman-ship but is very much part of the socio-cultural genre of both village and upper-middle class in the Sub-Continent as would be typical of a Bishop in Italy, or a Pope or other such leaders though for point of clarification he is not, nor does Hinduism, have a specific person as a “Pope” or head of “the Church” – leadership within Hinduism is sporadic, and spread out among thousands from village to village, state to state, nation to nation. Some may be affronted with those who admired this religious leader and shocked if some used terms such as referring to him as “God”, but such terminology is not particularly uncommon within the culture and over-emphasis on such terminology can misrepresent and misunderstand the true role of trying to keep Hinduism alive in a nation which for several hundred years has been under assault by Islam and under the invasion of Muslim aggressors. Many temples, and for that matter not just Hindu but Buddhist, Jain, and yes Jewish and Christian temples and churches have been torn down by such aggressors, and the people of India have repeatedly attempted to protect their literatures and temples. While Satya Sai Baba was typical of the type of religious leaders found in India and not without controversy, nevertheless, he was an important Hindu figure, and keep in mind while he never preached any anti-Muslim biases, overall Hinduism has been under assault in India by the Islamic and Muslim population within India and under terrorist attack. In the end, Hinduism will also be a stalwart ally in the face of Islamic radicalism and the relentless attack of such politicized and radical Islamic movements not only in India but all over the world. I would suggest that maintaining good relationships with India, it’s Democracy, with Buddhists, Sikhs, Hindus, Jains, Jews, and Parses of India is a very good and recommended rapport for not only America, but inclusive of Christians all over the world.
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