Prof. John Grimes is a world renowned author and researcher of Indian Philosophy. He received his B.A. in Religious Studies from the University of California at Santa Barbara and his M.A. and Ph.D. in Indian Philosophy from the University of Madras. He has taught at Universities in the United States, Canada, Singapore and India. His book publications include: A Song Sung in the Key of Sai; Ramana Maharshi: The Crown Jewel of Advaita; The Vivekacudamani: Sankara's Crown Jewel of Discrimination; A Concise Dictionary of Indian Philosophy; Ganapati: Song of the Self; Problems and Perspectives in Religious Discourse: Advaita Vedanta Implications; Sapta Vidha Anupapatti: The Seven Great Untenables; Quest for Certainty; Sankara and Heidegger: Being, Truth, Freedom; Paramamrita of Mukundaraj; and The Naiskarmyasiddhi of Suresvara. He currently spends his time writing and traveling between California and Chennai.

Our problem is to justify

Sai Ram Sreejith,

I just completed rereading your book. What to say? It is so well researched and quoted. Swami’s own words, Nadi sayings, other devotees experiences. All the evidence points in one direction.

Our problem, as devotees of Swami, is to justify, explain, digest all those sayings of Swami’s that never came to pass. He said, “My words will never fail.” We take Him at His word. How to make sense of this? 

Some of the difficulties, like His age/passing, are very difficult as he said them publicly many times. As you show in your book, the lunar calendar just does not pass mustard. About His age, I have recently read that he took on the Japan nuclear disaster to Himself to prevent millions/billions more from perishing in what would have been an explosion if he had not. The dates tally, but we know that Swami healed Himself (or had another do it) in Goa and, as Swami, what is there he could not do? To say that His body was old and worn out just doesn't make sense to me. There is another factor here. It is said by His students that one evening (a few years ago?) He told the students that “I may leave early.” How does that factor into the equation? Even if His body left early, surely the things He said that would come to pass, must come to pass.

Swami said, “Every step in the career of the avatar is predetermined". If so, then wasn’t He aware that He would leave early? This is extremely difficult to digest with our mind. Leaving early. We think He left early. Whatever Swami did was only for the good of individuals and for the world’s good. Somehow, this too, must be the same. But we can’t see it yet. I remember His telling us that one day He would give darshan from the sky. We imagined it one way. Then, He gave darshan from a helicopter and we thought, “Oh, it’s like that and not how we imagined.” Then, after the helicopter ride, He said, “One day I will forsake the helicopter.” Again, we imagine how it will be. Who knows? He is inscrutable.

What to make of Swami’s statement, “This body will live to age 96 and will remain young?” It is obvious to anyone that His body as we saw it did not remain young. In 1972 He told a young boy who complained about a few grey hairs appearing on Swami’s head, my hair will remain totally black until I leave the body.” The next day the grey hairs were gone. But in old age, Swami had grey hairs again! I was in Brindavan when this event took place. Only if He returns with a young body will this make sense.

Swami has now been out of His body for 3 years – not two (See your one possible explanation in chapter 3). We still have about 12 months as possibilities. Doesn't it seem to you that 2014 is the year the miracle will take place? In my mind, all evidence points that way.

In 1975 after Second World Conference, Swami said, “One day I will have to forsake the helicopter and give darshan from the sky.” He said this the day after giving darshan from a helicopter. I was there. 

And lastly, Jairo Borjas’ dream is incredible.

John Grimes
June 2, 2014