VISITING SAI BABA’S ASHRAM

Posted on by Ettore Grillo

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We took a bus to Bangalore, and from there another bus to Puttaparthi. As soon as we arrived in town we headed for Sai Baba’s ashram. I had never seen such a large and well maintained ashram. Furthermore, it was the cheapest place I had visited so far. We could have a good meal on ten rupees, the equivalent of a few cents.
People say that Sai Baba is an uncommon man. He has the power to make golden rings and necklaces out of thin air. It was said he was able to create a special holy powder in the same way. At the entrance, a lady who said she was from Switzerland directed us to our room. She asked us not to have sex while we were staying in the ashram. Moreover, she asked me to buy a traditional Indian dress for my wife. In fact, it was not possible for ladies to stay in that holy place in casual Western clothes.
The meeting place with Sai Baba was a large hall that could hold 10,000 or more people. The meeting happened in the evening. Men and women were not allowed to stay together in the hall, so my wife took a seat on the right, while I sat down on the left side of the hall. Sai Baba was sitting in a wheelchair. I couldn’t see him because I was far away, but my wife spotted him and got the sensation of seeing a very weak man.
Later, at lunch I exchanged a few words with an Italian guy whose wife was a devotee of Sai Baba.  “I’ve come here for twenty-five years!” he said. “I have seen Sai Baba’s materializations many times. He gave my wife a golden ring, which she keeps at home in Italy.”
Before leaving the ashram, my wife bought a booklet that described Sai Baba’s teachings. Food is God was the title of the small book. The first line said, “You are what you eat.” By reading that booklet, I learned how to purify my body and mind just by eating natural, sound food, which obviously doesn’t include meat.

This is an excerpt from A Hidden Sicilian History by Ettore Grillo
Ettore Grillo, author of these books:
– A Hidden Sicilian History
– The Vibrations of Words
-Travels of the Mind
http://www.amazon.com/author/ettoregrillo

MY REVIEW OF RAMANA MAHARSHI AND THE PATH OF SELF-KNOWLEDGE

Posted on by Ettore Grillo

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I bought this book in Tiruvannamalai (India), at Ramana Maharshi Ashram. As soon as I entered the ashram bookshop, I asked the assistant which book about Ramana Maharshi he recommended me to buy. He headed for one of the many bookshelves and then picked a book, with no hesitation. “This is the best book about Ramana Maharshi,” he said. The title was Ramana Maharshi and the Path of Self Knowledge by Arthur Osborne.
Today I finished reading it and I have to say that the man who advised me to buy it was right. In fact, Arthur Osborne, who knew Ramana Maharshi well, describes the stages of Ramana’s life from childhood to death.
According to Osborne, Ramana didn’t need words to communicate with others. He was a saint whose figure radiated joy and peace. He also appeared in the dreams of those who needed his help. to point them the right way to follow to elevate their spirit.
Ramana Maharshi followed the path of self inquire: Who am I? Also Socrates and Jesus taught the same thing. In fact the kingdom of heaven is inside each of us. If we are able to purify our heart and mind, we will find it definitely. Looking inside ourselves, we will discover our true nature, our higher self which is different from the material body. According to Osborne, a great spirit like Ramana Maharshi cannot die. He is always with us and attracts whoever he wants to his ashram by Arunachala Hill.

Ettore Grillo author of these books:
– A Hidden Sicilian History
– The Vibrations of Words
-Travels of the Mind

http://www.amazon.com/author/ettoregrillo