If the subtle body of Sathya Sai Baba is already inside Madhusudan, then it is this body that must be transformed into the new subtle body of Prema Sai Baba. Repeatedly, Madhusudan states that all three Sai Avatars are within him. This prepares the theoretical basis for him to proclaim himself as Prema Sai Baba. There is unofficial information that such opportunities are being discussed on the sidelines of his ashram.
Recently, Madhusudan stated that his task is to awaken the consciousness of Prema Sai Baba in every person. According to this version, every person is basically Prema Sai, which is absolutely true in its essence. All ancient scriptures, including the Vedas and the Bible, say that every person is basically divine, and even more than that, is made in the image of God.
The doctrine of unity and identity of the soul as God is extremely complex. The doctrine that everyone is God can be interpreted in many ways. Such approaches can give rise to the sly idea that Prema Sai Baba is only symbolic.
A situation may arise when the phenomenon of Prema Sai may begin to be interpreted as only impersonal consciousness, which can manifest itself in anyone and anywhere. Speaking about the three Sai Avatars, it should be remembered these are the three teachers of humanity who are quite physically manifested, and not just a philosophical fantasy.
In the context of my interactions with various gurus (both Eastern and Western), I heard the point of view that Krishna, Buddha, and Jesus Christ are not historical figures, but only symbols of higher enlightenment.
According to such views, no Krishna, Buddha or Jesus Christ ever lived on Earth. Stories about them were invented by someone as symbols and examples of the spiritual path. Naturally, I do not agree with this opinion; for me Krishna, Buddha, and Jesus Christ are real, historical personalities.
The theory that every person is Prema Sai Baba confuses the understanding of the Avatar phenomenon being the full incarnation of God on Earth.
According to the official version of Madhusudan, Prema Sai Baba should come to his ashram (Muddenahalli), after which Madhusudan himself should supposedly recognize him and start preparing him for a world mission.
However, in reality, Madhusudan already has a candidate whom he personally trains in secret from his followers. This candidate was born in Karnataka on November 27, 2011, a few months after Sathya Sai Baba passed away.
What is the prospect of this candidate at the moment is difficult to say. It is obvious to me that this boy has a very strong and bright energy. It is only known that this boy studied at one of the colleges on the outskirts of the city of Mandya. I prefer not to name the college; I will only say that this educational institution is controlled by Madhusudan himself. All college teachers know that this boy is a possible candidate for the position of Prema Sai Baba, but this information is kept strictly secret from others.
There is evidence that Madhusudan is well aware of the true Prema Sai Baba, who was born in the village of Doddamallur. I have repeatedly seen people who came to Doddamallur with the blessing of Madhusudan, but at the moment he refrains from official statements.
The activity of Madhusudan causes a serious discussion, some people idolize him, and some people criticize him. Among my friends, there are several people who regularly visit his ashram, having wonderful spiritual experiences. Again, I want to refrain from commenting, and leave it to everyone to make their own choice.
36. Difficult questions
To be honest, I had many doubts about the appropriateness of discussing crisis situations in the Sai tradition in the pages of this book. I think that an open discussion about difficult situations is important, because then we will be able to more effectively go through difficulties and overcome many crises.
Almost immediately after the passing of Sathya Sai Baba, conflicts and splits began among the leaders of the ashram and the international organization. Administrators of different levels could not agree among themselves.
The first major split came as a result of the activities of Madhusudan, which we discussed in the previous chapter. The leaders of the ashram in Puttaparthi have numerous philosophical and financial claims against Madhusudan. The conflict between the Puttaparthi Ashram and Madhusudan has led to a significant rift in the many millions of Sai devotees around the world.
The official position of the Ashram in Puttaparthi is that Sathya Sai's "subtle body" is not inside Madhusudan; in other words, he is a deceiver. The question arises as to how exactly the administrators of ashram in Puttaparthi can verify this?
Even if the ashram administrators hold a negative opinion about Madhusudan, it would be appropriate to respect the huge number of Sai devotees around the world who believe that the "subtle body" of Sathya Sai is still inside Madhusudan.
Some consider him a deceiver, and others perceive him as a great saint. I think it would be right to show culture and tolerance, recognizing the right of people to a personal point of view on such a complex issue.
It is not my job to discuss what is really going on. Whether Madhusudan is a saint, or a deceiver is an individual choice. It is about the elementary respect for alternative points of view.
One more problem is that the ashram in which Madhusudan lives (Muddenahalli), has gone out of the legal control of the ashram in Puttaparthi. Alas, this conflict has clear financial and legal foundations.
Another significant split was the division of the international organization of Sathya Sai Baba. This happened in 2022. Although the conflict itself began to mature immediately after the passing away of Sathya Sai Baba. As a result, two international organizations emerged. The first one is called Sri Sathya Sai International Organization. The second one is called Sri Sathya Sai Global Council.
The devotees of Sathya Sai Baba live in one hundred and forty countries of the world. According to some reports, at the time of Sathya Sai Baba's death, there were about two thousand centers around the world where followers regularly gathered and educational activities were carried out.
The split of the international organization of Sathya Sai Baba into two structures after his death caused a crisis among the followers. Now, in all countries of the world, two organizations function in parallel, which clearly contradicts the fundamental principles of spiritual unity, which were proclaimed by Sathya Sai Baba. Why did this happen? The reason, alas, is obvious — the ambitions of the leaders led to such an outcome.
Some readers may tell me, as the author, not to mention conflict situations. Wouldn't it be better to focus on the positive foundation of the Sai tradition? It was a difficult decision for me to include references to conflicts and divisions in the materials of this book.
If we openly analyze difficulties, then in the future we will gradually learn to overcome them. In addition, it is important for me to mention the crisis situations in the tradition, because the beginning of the mission of Prema Sai Baba takes place not only against the backdrop of world political crises, but also at a time of difficulties within the Sai tradition itself.
In my opinion, in this difficult situation, Sai devotees should show awareness, mutual respect, love and compassion, wisdom and unity. If administrators at various levels are unable to manifest the principles of spiritual leadership, millions of devotees from all over the world must do so. It is not enough to hang a portrait of Sathya Sai Baba on the wall — it is important to follow his teachings about unity and selfless service.
The tradition of Prema Sai Baba is now beginning to take shape, including his organization as a legal structure. The appearance of a legal structure around Prema Sai Baba is inevitable, because any spiritual tradition must be officially registered in order to develop in society.