Nexus - 0705 - New Times Magazine-pages

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HANS DE KRAKER'S TESTIMONY and the thought of accepting that he was not actually materialising travelled to India extensively for a period of four years. these objects was probably very unattractive, tough for my mind. | this period (1992-94), I had many (35) private audi- Thad also received a ring, two bracelets and a necklace, so I guess ences with Sai Baba. I had satisfied that desire! I got to know him in 1988 through a friend in Italy who had Through the years I got more and more attention on a personal passed on a book. After about four years, I made my first trip to level from Sai Baba. This went accompanied with receiving VIP India with my girlfriend, mother and father. The years that fol- seating for doing work in the kitchen. As the crowds grew over lowed were making for some very intense years in my life. the years, it became increasingly difficult to see "Swami" up Sai Baba, fairly much from the first private audience, had sug- close. There was a preferred seating area for people who worked gested to me and my girlfriend that we were to split up from each in the kitchen, since they were not able to "do the lines". They other for our own good. He did this in a very public and embar- often worked until 30 minutes before darshan. Arriving that late, rassing way, purposely humiliating my girlfriend and myself. We they would always find themselves sitting in the back of the large had built a lot of "faith and mystery" around him and had by now crowd, so by getting this "reserved seat" they were able every accepted him has a God incarnate on Earth, the epitome of spiritu- now and then to have a close encounter with "the Master". These ality, the epitome of human divine spiritual expression. groups were organised in lines of two or three and rotated so that There were many books written by people from all parts of the everybody got a fair chance. Although initially I was very much world that spoke about miracle after miracle. People had been against this way of operating, I succumbed to my desire to get a cured from fatal diseases by virtue of touching jewellery "materi- close encounter with "the Master" and accepted a preferred seat alised by Swami". He "appeared" in front of people in all differ- the third time it was offered to me. ent parts of the world. Millions of people travelled to India to see After two years I had become a "steady member" of a group "God on Earth". Millions of people that would travel to India three times a came and cried upon his sight; some year to do volunteer work in the were cured of their illnesses, some ashram. The group would cook food freed of their anxieties of life, and for up to 6,000 people around the fes- some died in peace. Some left laden tivals and various multi-religious cel- with trinkets or real golden rings, "He would then ‘oint' ebrations (Christmas, Shivaraatri, watches, pendants, all "materialised — . etc.). The group would bring thou- by Swami". my umbilical area, testicles sands of kilos of food at its own Sai Baba has been enjoying a lot of and penis with oil which expense as well as a lot of industrial popularity in the West. He has a ' on on kitchen machinery, etc. There were great ability to play with and commu- he materialised . many other groups that brought help nicate to large crowds of people. It is in some form or shape, and it was this particular power that allows him beautiful to be part of this enormous to manipulate people. It takes a Great "collective effort". Man not to abuse this power... Our group had a place of its own. During these four years of travels We did not have to wait in line and to India, Sai Baba would perform a certain ritual each time he always had front-row seating. On some occasions (on festivals would call me in for a private audience or interview. He would and celebrations), we were even allowed to sit on the verandah. ask me to take down my pants. He would then "oint" my umbili- We would always get to see "Swami" from up-close and feel very cal area, testicles and penis with oil which he "materialised". fortunate. The ego was certainly satisfied with this powerful posi- After this ritual, he would ask me to pull up my pants and tidy tion! So many people wanted to be close to him. Millions of peo- them up. I had heard of this ritual and it seemed to be "common _ple travelled to get a glimpse of him, and here we were right up knowledge" that this was done to balance the sexual energy or front! It is incredible how the mind comes up with justifications kundalini. 1 had never thought anything of it. When I was in when it suits our personal purpose. Elementary School in Holland, the school doctor used to check In my last trip to India (November 1996), I arrived early from and touch your testicles to see if you were growing properly. I Australia and my friends from Europe had not arrived yet. The likened this ritual to a visit to the doctor. It was just for a differ- usual kitchen managers were no longer running the kitchen. ent purpose. Very unassumingly I continued to receive this treat- Upon arrival, Sai Baba asked me to reopen the western canteen ment, convinced it was going to do me some good! and start making food for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I collected Each and every trip he would "materialise" trinkets, jewellery, a group of people and started working. (I was ordered/recom- vibhuti and oil. I noticed that he was particularly generous with = mended by ashram management not to allow any Sri Lankans in the people that donated a lot of money or equipment for the vari- the kitchen! All people I appointed were screened by the manage- ous kitchens in the ashram. I did also notice that he would callin ment.) Several days later, my friends from Europe joined me. a lot of young guys out of the crowd, and never girls. We had several interviews together. It was around 10 In one particular interview, I saw him take a ring from under December that they left, except for one of my close friends. We the handkerchief that was on the armrest of his chair. I thought spent some beautiful moments together. It was almost as if we not much of it. I never really attached much value to the material- were like the apostles around Jesus. We were moved even further isations and knew that the receiver was going to be an ecstatically ahead now and we were seated in the ashram management area, happy person... Shortly after, one of my friends in the group said very close to the front. Sai Baba came to us every and each to me: "Gosh, what a test! Swami wanted to show me that he did — darshan and would have a chat with us. These were very special not materialise the ring, but that he took it from under his hand- moments. We felt very privileged. kerchief! Isn't he funny! He is really testing us!" I did not give it The day of my friend's departure, we were called in for an inter- any focus; I never had focused much on these materialisations, view together. Sai Baba materialised another bracelet for my my umbilical area, testicles and penis with oil which he 'materialised’." NEXUS 63 HANS DE KRAKER'S TESTIMONY "He would then ‘oint’ AUGUST — SEPTEMBER 2000