“How do you know who is a Devotee and who is not?”

I would like to share an interesting incident that happened over 10 years ago (early 2000s). We have a Sathya Sai Baba Book Centre in Tustin, California. It was started by Mrs. Elsie Cowan. We were remodeling the book center. We had to install a new air conditioning unit. Workers were hired from outside. While they were working, the office manager, who is a Sai devotee, had to go out of town. When she returned, the workers informed her that while she was away, her boss oversaw the work. Naturally, she wondered who her boss was. They pointed to a large photograph of Swami and said, “He came and inspected the work to make sure everything was going right.”

She was amazed. She later told other trustees of the book centre that Bhagawan hadn’t given darshan to devotees and volunteers, but to these workers who were doing His work!”

A few months after that, I happened to come to Prasanthi Nilayam, and I was with Swami in the car. I then mentioned this particular incident and said, “Swami, You gave darshan to non-devotees, but You didn’t give darshan to devotees!”

Swami cut me short and said, “How do you know who is a devotee and who is not?”

That was a great lesson. We are nobody to judge who is a devotee or a non-devotee; only God knows.

- Dr Narendranath Reddy, Chairman, Prasanthi Council

(excerpt from an interview to Radio Sai)