A Journey of Faith,
Miracles, and Divine Love
Dr. Leonardo Gutter
11th World Conference of the Sri Sathya Sai International Organization On the Occasion of the 100th Anniversary of Sri Sathya Sai’s Descent to
Earth, November 20, 2025, Sai Prema Nilayam, Riverside, California
In this profound and
moving address, Leonardo Pablo Gutter, a long-standing member of the
SSSIO, shares a lifetime of personal experiences with Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai
Baba. From his initial skepticism in Argentina to witnessing miraculous
healings in Cuba and divine interventions in the jungles of Guatemala, Leonardo
illustrates one eternal truth: Swami is omnipresent and never disappoints
His devotees.
The talk covers:
The Power of the Name: How spiritual
seeds are sown through public outreach.
Divine Protection: Stories of the
"Midnight Friend" and life-saving miracles.
Spiritual Lessons: Insights into
life throughout the universe and the path to inner purity.
The Ultimate Surrender: An invitation
to offer one's life as a "contract of love" to the Master.
Introduction of
Leonardo Pablo Gutter
Our next speaker, Mr.
Leonardo Pablo Gutter, is a psychologist by profession and has served the Sri
Sathya Sai International Organization (SSSIO) for over four decades. He has
been blessed with many personal interactions with Swami and has traveled extensively
across Latin America, lovingly building the movement there from its very
foundations.
Previously, he served
as the Chairman of Zone 2 (Latin America) and is a founding member of the Sri
Sathya Sai Trust of Argentina. Currently, he serves as the Chairman of the Sri
Sathya Sai World Foundation, a member of the Prashanti Council, and Co-chair of
the Intellectual Properties Committee. It is truly amazing how he finds the
time for all these responsibilities; he is a genuine inspiration to us all.
Professionally,
Leonardo has worked in the entertainment industry for over 40 years,
representing some of the largest American, European, and Japanese film and
television studios in Latin America. Above all, he is living proof of the
message: "Love All, Serve All."
A Skeptic’s Journey
to Divinity
Leonardo Pablo Gutter
begins:
I offer my humble pranams at the Divine Lotus Feet of our beloved Master
and Lord, Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai. I send all my love to you. Swami is inside
our hearts, so I offer my salutations to the Swami within you.
I hope Swami performs
a miracle today because I have so many experiences to share and the time is
short. I was always a skeptic; I had to see something three or four times
before I would believe it. Perhaps that is why Swami gave me so many proofs of
His Divinity. Before I came to Swami, I was part of another spiritual
organization, but after hearing about Swami and having an incredible dream, I
decided to go to India to see Him.
The Heart Recognizes
the Master
The first time I went
to India, Swami was touring the South. No one knew exactly when or where He
would arrive. I was waiting for Him when suddenly my heart began to beat
intensely. At that exact moment, Swami’s car appeared.
From that day
forward, I always knew when He was coming out for Darshan because my heart
would react before He even appeared. I always say that my heart recognized Him
much earlier than my mind did. During my first Darshan, I was sitting in the
front row. As Swami raised the flag, the petals fell over me. I looked at Him
and said, "Swami, I want to see you." In my mind, I heard Him reply: "But
you are seeing me now." I answered vocally, "But I want an
interview!" He just laughed and moved on.
Spreading the Message
in Argentina
When I returned to
Argentina, my only desire was to share the news of His existence. I went to
every corner of the country. At that time, very few people knew about
Swami—perhaps only 20 or 30 people in Buenos Aires. Yet, when we organized
public meetings, we never chose small venues. We booked theaters with 300 to
1,000 seats, and they were always full.
The Miracle in
Cordoba
During a meeting in
Cordoba, a man stood up to share a story. He had traveled from a city 400
kilometers away after a major fight with his wife. He was suffering from a
painful ulcer and had forgotten his medication. In the middle of the night, he
was in such agony in his hotel room that he couldn't even stand up to call for
help.
Suddenly, a person
appeared in his room, told him to relax, and placed a hand over his stomach
without touching him. The pain vanished instantly, and the mysterious visitor
disappeared. The next morning, the man saw an advertisement for our meeting.
When he came to the theater and saw the film we were screening, he recognized
the man who had visited his room: it was Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba.
Sharing
"Mate" with the Avatar
Another story
involves a devotee who went to visit an old friend to tell him that the Avatar
was on Earth. When he showed his friend a picture of Swami, the man became
angry, thinking it was a trick.
Once he calmed down,
he explained why: the very day before, that same person—Sathya Sai Baba—had
visited his house. They had sat together sharing mate (a traditional
Argentinian infusion). He thought it was just a regular visitor, only to
realize the next day that he had been hosting the Lord Himself. This is how
Swami made Himself known, not just in Latin America, but across the whole
world.
Miracles in Cuba
One day, a flight
attendant traveling to Cuba asked me for a photograph of Swami to give to a
Hatha Yoga teacher she had met. A few days after the teacher received the
picture, Vibhuti (sacred ash) began to materialize on it.
One of his students,
a teenager, was scheduled for heart surgery. The teacher gave the boy some of
this materialized Vibhuti. The next day, when the doctors performed a
final check before the operation, the heart defect had completely vanished. He
was cured, and no surgery was needed. As word of this miracle spread, Sai
groups began to form all over the island. I even shared with Swami that the
secret police sent to monitor the meetings ended up becoming Sai devotees
themselves!
Life Throughout the Universe
Before I found the
Sai path, I was very interested in UFOs and the possibility of life on other
planets. Once, during a retreat in Argentina, a group of about 50 of us were
lying in a garden looking at the night sky. Suddenly, we saw a light move in a
strange "tick-tick-tick" pattern across the sky. We were all amazed,
and my interest in extraterrestrial life grew even stronger. I thought to
myself: Who can tell me the truth about this?
The problem is that
during an interview with Swami, I often forget my questions. He might ask how I
am, and I simply say, "All fine, Swami," even if I have a hundred
questions in my mind!
However, during one
interview, as Swami stood up to distribute Vibhuti, I knew it was my
last chance. I knelt and called out, "Swami!" He came close to me and
grabbed my shoulder—very tightly. He looked directly into my eyes. I managed to
say, "Swami, there is a film where it is claimed there is no life anywhere
in the universe except on Earth."
"Not a Single Atom Without Life"
Swami was patient
enough to listen. Then, looking straight into my eyes, He said: "No, it
is not like that." As He continued to speak, I almost lost myself.
Looking into His eyes was like entering another dimension; I would drift away
and then come back to His words. But I clearly remember Him telling me:
"There is life
throughout the entire universe. There is not a single atom in the universe
without life. Even in the sun, there are forms of life that you cannot
understand."
At one point, I
thought to myself how lucky I was that He was gripping my shoulder so firmly.
At that exact moment, He briefly glanced down at His hand on my shoulder and
then back into my eyes, letting me know He knew exactly what I was thinking.
This is a fantastic
story about how Swami manages our daily lives, even in the middle of a busy
business trip to New York. It’s a classic example of His
"omnipresence" and how He uses specific signs to guide us.
I have refined the
text, keeping the excitement of the "double-meeting" and the profound
moment in the subway.
The New York Miracle:
The Number 23
I once traveled to
New York for the Toy Fair, an important event where film companies present
their new releases. I had two overlapping meetings. The first was a crucial
group meeting with Hasbro and Warner Brothers downtown on 34th Street and Fifth
Avenue, from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The second was uptown at 57th and Madison
with Marvel Comics, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
I didn't have the
"Siddhi" (spiritual power) of bilocation, but I had to be in both
places! Around 9:40 a.m., I stood up, left my briefcase in an empty room
nearby, and took the subway uptown to Marvel.
A Sign from the
Master
When I reached the
Marvel office, they were just about to show a new animation. In the film
industry, a countdown usually starts from ten. But this time, the screen
started with the number 23. For me, 23 has always been a sign of Swami’s
presence. I said to myself, "Swami, You are here!"
To make sure the
Marvel executives noticed I was there, I asked five or six questions during the
presentation. Once I was sure they had registered my attendance, I slipped out
again to head back to the first meeting.
A Spiritual Review in
the Subway
In the New York
subway in February, finding a seat is usually impossible. But as I walked in, I
saw one empty seat and took it. The moment I sat down, I stopped seeing the
physical reality around me. My eyes were open, but it was like a film of my
life was playing before me—not my whole life, but specifically the things I was
not doing right from a spiritual perspective. One image after another, it
showed me where I needed to improve.
Suddenly, it was as
if someone snapped their fingers. I returned to reality just as the subway
reached my stop. I stood on the platform, shaken, thinking about the things I
had been shown. Some of them were not easy to change.
The Bargain
As I walked back to
the Hasbro building, I began to "bargain" with Swami. I said,
"Swami, if it was really You who showed me those images, and You want me
to change, give me a sign. Show me the number 23 again in a special way."
I told Him, "If You do, I will try to change."
I reached the
building and went to the room where I had left my briefcase. When I picked it
up, I was stunned. Someone had used Scotch tape to attach a piece of paper to
the side of my briefcase. On that paper was written the number 23.
Swami is Always
Listening
I want to share
another story to remind you to be careful—Swami is always watching and
listening! Once, during an interview in Kodaikanal, Swami asked me and another
lady from Argentina about the organization in Latin America. After we spoke, He
asked her to sing a bhajan. Then He looked at me, looked back at her,
and said, "Sing another one." He knew perfectly well that I am
perhaps the worst singer on this planet!
Despite this, Swami
later appointed me to be in charge of cultural events in Prashanti Nilayam. One
time, we were organizing a choir performance. I was joking with Dr. Michael
Goldstein about the platform for the singers. I said, "If the platform fails
while they are performing, Michael, you will have to dance and I will have to
sing." We laughed, thinking how entertaining it would be for Swami to
watch a heavy man dancing and the world's worst singer performing.
From that day on,
every time Michael and I communicated, we joked: "Be ready to
sing!" or "Be ready to dance!" When the day of the
performance arrived at Poornachandra Hall, Swami walked in, looked directly at
us, and asked: "Are you going to sing? Are you going to dance?"
So, be careful with your emails and WhatsApp messages—He knows everything!
"Swami Will
Never Disappoint His Devotees"
On my very first trip
to India, I wanted one thing above all else: an interview. At that time, I was
still the Vice President of another spiritual organization in Argentina.
However, after receiving so much love and grace from Swami during those first
few days, I realized I had found God. I sat in my room and wrote a formal
resignation from my position in the other organization, stating that I wished
to surrender fully to Swami.
The next morning at
Darshan, Swami did something unusual. Instead of His regular path, He came
directly to me, stood in front of me, and said: "Yes, I will see you.
In the afternoon, I will see you." I was overwhelmed—my first
interview with God! However, when I tried to wait by the interview room, a Seva
Dal told me I had to leave and come back later to sit in the regular lines. I
became despondent, like Arjuna in the Bhagavad Gita. I thought, "Swami
won't remember me. He won't be able to find me in the crowd."
That afternoon, I
ended up in the third row. When Swami came out, He didn't even have to look for
me. He simply raised His head and shouted: "YOU!" I ran to
Him, and He said that most beautiful word: "Go." Inside the
interview room, Swami approached me and repeated every doubt I had felt that
morning—my fears that He would forget or not find me. Then He leaned in close
and said:
"Swami will
never disappoint His devotees."
Brothers and sisters,
we must always remember this. He will never disappoint us. It is up to us not
to disappoint Him by putting His teachings into practice.
Miracles of Grace:
The $20 Bill
Swami’s help often
arrives in the most unexpected ways. Once, the Deputy Secretary-General of the
United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, who is a devoted follower of
Swami, was on a tour through several countries. Due to his position, he was usually
met at every airport and driven to his hotel. However, at one particular stop,
no one was there to meet him.
He found himself
standing at the airport with no local currency and no way to call for help. In
that moment of helplessness, he prayed: "Swami, please help me."
As he said those words, a twenty-dollar bill literally floated through the air
and landed right on his suitcase! This is how Swami responds to a sincere call
for help.
Spreading Spiritual
Seeds in Paraguay
In the early days of
the organization in Asunción, Paraguay, a lady offered us a shopping mall
auditorium for a public meeting. I believe that intense advertisement is
essential for public meetings; we placed posters with Swami’s image on almost
every block and I visited every TV and radio station.
People often ask why
we do this if only a few people show up. My answer is that it doesn't matter
how many attend. What matters is that thousands, perhaps millions, see Swami’s
form and hear His name. These are spiritual seeds planted in their minds and souls.
One day, when Swami decides, those seeds will sprout. That is the highest
service. Whether it is a full theater or just two people, one of those
individuals could become a future leader of the movement.
The Miracle of the
Rain and the Bread
On the day of that
meeting in Paraguay, it began to rain—not just a light shower, but a tropical
deluge like the Indian monsoon. We thought the meeting was ruined because no
one goes out in such weather. However, exactly one hour before the start, the
rain stopped and the sky cleared.
The hall was packed
with over 600 people. The local organizers had prepared a piece of bread and a
flower for each guest as a token of appreciation. In a beautiful display of
Divine timing, the very moment we ran out of bread and flowers was the exact moment
the last person entered. Swami had prepared everything perfectly.
The Broken Vow and
the Resurrected Man
During one Mahashivaratri
in India, I decided to observe a vow of silence (Mauna). It is difficult
to stay silent with a group of friends, so I carried a notepad to write my
answers. I was sitting on the sand, focused on my silence, when suddenly a man
sat down next to me.
Without thinking, I
turned to him and asked, "Why are you here?" Immediately, I realized
what I had done—I had broken my vow! I felt so foolish. But the man turned to
me and replied with such sweetness and humility: "I am here because, a
few months ago, I died." He explained that he had suffered an
anaphylactic crisis in a hospital in North India and had passed away.
The Midnight Friend
in the Jungle
Miracles are
happening everywhere, not just in India. A young doctor from Guatemala, having
just finished his medical training, was traveling to a remote village to start
his residency. To get there, he had to cross a dense jungle. Suddenly, his jeep
broke down. As darkness fell, he became terrified, alone in the middle of the
wild.
Suddenly, he heard
the violent shouts of a group of men nearby. Fearing for his life, he prayed
fervently to God. At that moment, another jeep appeared out of nowhere. The
driver told him to get in and drove him directly to the specific house in the
town where he was supposed to stay. When the doctor offered to pay him, the
driver refused. The doctor asked, "What is your name?" The man
replied, "I am your midnight friend," and drove away. Years
later, that doctor saw a book in a store with a picture of his "midnight
friend" — it was Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba.
From a Ring to a
Bracelet: A 30-Year Sacrifice
In another interview
with a doctor from Guatemala, Swami materialized a ring. Usually, Swami’s rings
fit perfectly, but this one didn't. Swami looked at him and said, "You
know why it doesn't fit? Because you want something else."
Swami blew on the
ring, and it instantly transformed into a thick gold bracelet. The doctor began
to cry uncontrollably. He later explained that 30 years ago, when he graduated,
he desperately wanted that exact bracelet. However, he only had enough money
for one thing: either the bracelet or something his daughter needed. He chose
his daughter and sacrificed his own wish. Thirty years later, Swami returned
that sacrifice to him.
Reaching Millions:
The Power of Vibhuti
In Argentina, we
engaged in a great deal of public outreach. I was once invited to the most
popular prime-time TV program in the country. The "Devil’s Advocates"
on the panel were supposed to challenge us, but we spoke about Swami for so
long that the hour finished before they could say a word! They invited us back
for a second hour the following week. Millions of people watched.
After the show, I
gave the host a small package of Vibhuti and explained its healing
properties. The next morning, he called me. He told me his aunt was in
intensive care and was expected to die. He had gone to the hospital and given
her the Vibhuti, and she had made a miraculous recovery. Because he
witnessed this power personally, he interviewed me for another half-hour on his
high-rating radio program, allowing Swami's message to reach even more souls.
The Miracle of the
Buried Gold
In our Sai Center in
Argentina, we started a program for homeless children. We provided them with
food, showers, and lessons on Human Values. However, it was difficult because
the children would return to the streets, use drugs, and even steal from the Center.
We realized we needed to get them off the streets entirely, but we didn't have
the money to buy a proper house.
We managed to rent a
dilapidated building that needed total repair. One day, while three of the boys
were clearing the garden to plant flowers, they dug up a bag. At first, they
thought about running away with it, but then they remembered the Human Values
lessons. They brought the bag to the lady in charge. Inside were 12
kilograms of pure gold.
With that gold, the
judge ruled that the find belonged to the organization. we bought two beautiful
houses: one for the community and one for abandoned young girls. One of the
boys who found the gold was missing a leg; we used part of the funds to buy him
a prosthetic leg. When that boy eventually went to India and sat in an
interview, Swami looked at the group and said: "You know, I was the one
who put the gold there."
The Instant Answer
Once, I had to make a
life-changing decision. It was a matter of great importance, and I sat in
Darshan, desperately seeking guidance. Swami came by with a large stack of
letters already in His hand. I offered mine, and He took it, burying it right
in the middle of the pile.
He went into the
interview room and came back out almost immediately—it couldn't have been more
than three seconds. He had only enough time to set the letters down. Yet, He
walked straight to me, leaned in, and said: "I gave you the
answer." I hadn't even spoken a word to Him, but He knew my question
and had already provided the clarity I needed. He truly knows absolutely
everything.
A Legal Contract with
God
A dear brother of
mine once told me he had made a "formal legal contract" with Swami,
offering his entire life to Him. I thought this was a wonderful idea. I went to
my room, prepared my own contract, and brought it to Darshan on Swami’s birthday.
The crowd was
massive; the President and Prime Minister of India were there, and security
lines were everywhere. Usually, it would have been impossible to approach the
veranda. But as I walked forward with my "contract," no one stopped
me. I reached the golf cart just as Swami came out of the interview room. He
looked at me, stretched out His hand, and accepted my letter.
I invite all of you
to sign your own "contract" with Swami. Offer your life to Him, place
it on your altar at home, and be certain that He will accept it.
The Path to Purity
My personal journey
has taught me that purity is not just a word; it is a work we must do within
ourselves. We must "Follow the Master, Face the Devil, Fight to the End,
and Finish the Game." Our enemies are our own bad qualities: pride, ego, lust,
and attachment. If you cannot fight them all at once, choose one. Tell
yourself, "I will fight this specific quality until it is gone."
Let us march together toward the Lotus Feet. Swami is with us all the time. Let
us feel His presence, His love, and His infinite compassion.
All
my love to you. Jai Sai Ram.
Source:
Birthday Celebrations - 24th
Morning BONUS session
Note on this Transcript
This text was prepared and refined from a
video-recorded address by Dr. Leonardo Gutter given on November 20,
2025. To ensure the preservation of the Divine message while maintaining
professional clarity, the original transcript was organized and edited for flow
and grammar with the assistance of AI technology (Gemini), acting as a
humble instrument in the service of the Lord.
