Sai Baba has died.

[Qutzupalotl]

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Devotees-begin-last-darshan-of-Sai-Baba/articleshow/8073754.cms

PUTTAPARTHI: Thousands lined up at Prashanti Nilayam in this pilgrim town for a last 'darshan' of spiritual leader Sathya Sai Baba, who died on Sunday.

[Ian David]

1. ANOTHER BABA LEAVES THE SCENE

ANOTHER BABA LEAVES THE SCENE
Written by James Randi
Sunday, 24 April 2011 09:33

This morning, the world of woo-woo was buzzing with the news that Sri Satya Sai Baba, India's very favorite claimant to miraculous powers, had died in hospital at age 84. I’ll not shed any tears at his death.

This fumbling sleight-of-hand artist dazzled his believers with an amateur and definitely non-mystical trick in which he claimed to produce an ashy substance he called vibhuti {holy ash} and sometimes scraps of food and cheap bits of jewelry – usually finger-rings bearing tin lithographed likenesses of himself. An occasional wrist-watch was “manifested” as well for especially-generous worshipers, each strangely bearing a factory-imprinted serial number… Think about that... This basic “vibhuti” trick had also been ascribed to former “babas.”

<snip>

His eventual fame and influence made him very powerful, so much so that presidents, prime ministers, assorted politicians, judges and generals sought his company, guaranteeing them substantial votes and public support – and securing insulation for the baba from any legal problems, which were many. The faker was dogged for years by allegations of child sexual abuse yet protected from prosecution by virtue of his powerful political sway. The politicians needed him, he needed them, and the two camps happily fed off one another.

<snip>

Aside from numerous charges of sexual abuse of young male worshipers, Sai Baba was never investigated on the issue, and he was so politically – and financially – well-connected, that all attempts to prosecute him failed. Even in 1993, when his bodyguards shot four male devotees who they alleged entered Sai Baba's bedroom armed with knives, there was never any resolution of the matter. This lack of legal proceedings against the baba is not surprising, considering the level of influence that he commanded. Atal Vajpayee, a former Indian prime minister, once issued a formal official letter calling such attacks on Sai Baba "wild, reckless and concocted.”

More:
http://www.randi.org/site/index.php/swift-blog/1290-another-baba-leaves-the-scene.html

[blondeatlast]

2. Must tell my ex ASAP. Ex still has the marks of what his followers did to him on the back of his

thighs.

I'm not celebrating but I'm sure as hell not gonna mourn--he fucked up my ex's family big time (they were huge contributors, too). Fucking charlatan wouldn't let my mom-n-law get treated for breast cancer; she died a horrible death.

I swear, I'm not celebrating. Well, it is a spring holiday that I celebrate today, though...

[Ian David]

8. Oh, wow. I'm so sorry to hear that. Maybe this news might give some comfort. n/t

[Teaser]

3. so magically making a shitty ash-like substance appear is a sign of divinity?

why?

[blondeatlast]

4. You should read up on the bastard, starting with my post above.

He WAS a truly deviant, nasty individual.

[KittyWampus]

5. Ah, safe passage. I read that he was on a ventilator last week and didn't think he'd want

to linger like that.

[Blue-Jay]

6. I won't mourn the death of a flim-flam man.

[blondeatlast]

7. You don't know the half of it. You can read PART of what he did to my family above.

He wasn't just a con artist, he was downright cruel.

[Blue-Jay]

9. I'm sure there's another charlatan waiting in the wings.

[JVS]

15. As a fellow flim-flam man, I feel obligated to mourn him.

[Recovered Repug]

10. Say buh-bye to Sai Baba. nt.

[somone]

11. Born by immaculate conception, raised two people from the dead

He'll be back.

http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-sathya-sai-baba-20110425,0,7545841.story

[Codeine]

12. Another in an endless line of predatory assholes. nt

[Ian David]

13. Rationalists' take on Baba different

Rationalists' take on Baba different
NEW DELHI, April 25, DHNS:

Saying that India would have been a better place without Sathya Sai Baba, the Indian Rationalist Association and Rationalist International on Monday charged him with causing ''huge setback'' to the country by his ''devastating influence'' on reason and scientific temper.

It also questioned the “miraculous image” of Sathya Sai Baba and pointed out that Sathya Sai Baba had predicted at a public gathering at his headquarters in Puttaparthy in 2000, many times, that he would die at the age of 96 only. But he passed away at the age of 85.

“He proved once again that miracles and predictions fail. Till the last moment, many of his devotees clung to his word and waited for a miracle. May it be an eye opener for the millions of gullible people whom he misguided and deluded,” President of Indian Rationalist Association and Rationalist International Sanal Edamaruku said in a statement.

Tricks of trade
Sathya Sai Baba insisted in all seriousness that he was god, the creator of the universe, and proved his divinity with a couple of "small” miracles. “As the son of a village tantric he was familiar with the hand sleights and tricks of the trade,” he charged.

More:
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/156642/rationalists-take-baba-different.html

[blondeatlast]

14. Teh stupid, how it burns! Little hint to the commentor

wondering about how the rationalists viewed the "miracles" of Mother Teresa and Pope John Paul--they weren't fooled and they explained how it was done, dimwit.

That's what they do.

[Vehl]

16. As a Hindu I shed no tears for this Charlatan

Cross post from a similar thread.


Being an Advaita Hindu, I take offense at the way such "godmen' tarnish the name of Hinduism...by reinforcing the age of myths of the snake charmer and the naked Fakir.

I have been told that he builds schools and hospitals; by the followers of this person..however this misses a major point. The money was not his...his devotee's. Hell...if someone is willing to give me loads of money, I would have no qualms spending a major portion(as saibana did) on schools and stuff. If it was his money..money he himself earned, then such actions would have some merit.

Ive seen Saibaba do sleight of hand tricks(most probably simple magician's tricks..or at most some siddhis) which means absolutly nothing when it comes to judging his character.

I hate to speak ill of a deceased person, but have you seen the Golden Chariots and Thrones and whatnot he uses? What truly enlightened soul would descend to such profane display? While millions of people starve? Such actions are definitely not the one of a soul who has achieved enlightenment...nor would such a person allow the worship of his own self by his devotees...after all isnt everything in this universe Brahman? Instead of imparting knowledge to his devotees...the only visible result I see of his teachings are a deification of himself in the minds of his devotees. As an Advaita Hindu who does not believe in god, I find such people(charlatans) disgusting.

It's about time people learn to discriminate the pretentious miracle-workers from the true Yogis/sages. The former use their powers(be it sleight of hand or siddhi) to further mundane ends...something which Patanjali in his Yoga Sutras expressly warned against!, the latter live a life of quite contemplation...not known to anyone..and even if known..would live a truly simple life with no delusions of grandeur. Saibaba belongs to the former...a famous Charlatan..that is all.




^^ Look at this image..and tell me if this person is worth the devotion he receives...I only see a repulsive display of worldly affections..not a renunciate!

[Ian David]

17. Sai Baba Exposed - Part 1 of 4

Sai Baba Exposed - Part 1 of 4
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x577142

[Qutzupalotl]

18. Well, he made nice incense. n/t