A Souljourns Video Transcript
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accessibility, this video has been transcribed with the help of AI. This work
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the original creators.
This video posted on
September 14, 2015
Introduction: The
Long Lost Interview
Souljourns presents a
very special program: the long-lost but finally located video interview with R.
Padmanaban, the author of one of the most important and historically accurate
books on the early life of Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba.
Swami came to Ooty in
'84. Swami came out and called me. He had never spoken to me before. I had been
coming from '79 to '84 and he never spoke to me. That was the first time. The
first thing he told me was only a few words: "Come to Puttaparthi, I'll
give you a job." Nothing else.
This 620-page
indescribable book was envisioned by Padmanaban to be the first of several
books detailing Sai Baba's life. This book contains hundreds of photographs and
personal accounts from Sai Baba's earliest followers from 1926 to 1950.
Padmanaban began with
nothing, only later coming to build the Sai Towers Hotel, publishing company,
and bookstore. But in between, he met Sai Baba. As you'll hear him say,
Padmanaban went on to have close to 100 interviews with Sathya Sai Baba.
I didn't expect He
would talk to me, and I didn't expect He would give me a job. I was searching
for a job, and I couldn't tell Him anything—whether to say yes or no, I didn't
know. But after 6 or 7 days, I decided to come. I packed my things and I came here.
The Divine
Assignment: "I Will Teach You"
For 11 months, He
didn't talk to me. Then, two days later, He spoke. Yes, He gave me a camera. Ted
Henry: He gave you a camera? A camera, yes. And He said, "You are my
photographer." I told Him, "Give me some other work, I don't know how
to take photos." I had never touched a camera before in my life. I had
seen cameras, but never touched one. Amazing. I said, "I can't take
photos, I don't know how to do it." He put His hand on my head for a few
seconds and He said, "Don't worry, I will teach you."
(Music: "Love is
My Form, Truth is My Breath...")
The Interview:
Memories of the 1940s
And now to the
interview. Scratchy, faded, and years old, but finally found and presented
here: the story of a man whose faith has been tested severely, and yet whose
love for Sai Baba is never deterred. Welcome to Souljourns. This interview was
recorded in the vicinity of the early 2000s in Puttaparthi, India.
Ted Henry: 624 pages. Where did
you find the information?
From old devotees. We made a directory of old
devotees who lived in the 1940s. I tried to approach them, but some were dead
or had moved to other villages. If they were dead, I tried to find their
children. It took a lot of time to find them.
The Call in Ooty
Ted Henry: How did you become
Baba's photographer?
I used to come here since '79 to see Baba. I was a member
of the organization and came during festivals from my hometown in Tamil Nadu.
In '84, I left my job. The man I worked for told me, "You will never come
up in life." He didn't like me leaving. I was trying for a job for 3
months and didn't get one. Then Swami came to Ooty in '84.
All the devotees in
my hometown went there to invite Him. I also went along. Swami came out and
called me. He never spoke to me before, from '79 to '84. In that crowd of high
officials, He only called me. I didn't get up at first; I didn't know whom He was
calling. The third time He called, I slightly got up.
The first thing He
told me was: "Come to Puttaparthi, I'll give you a job." Nothing
else. He didn't ask who I was. I was totally shocked by the experience. I was
just standing and looking at His face. He waited, then pointed out His foot, so
I took Padanamaskar.
11 Months of Silence
I spoke to elders who
said, "It’s very difficult to live next to Swami, He is like fire."
My family discouraged me because nobody else was a devotee. But after 7 days, I
decided to come.
For 11 months, He
didn't talk to me. Not a word.
Ted Henry: Did you have doubts?
No, it
was very clear. It wasn't a dream. But after several months, I decided to leave
because I had no money. I used to eat only once a day—only lunch in the
canteen. No breakfast. I couldn't ask my family for help.
I decided I was
leaving. I bought the ticket. That day, He came and spoke to me. He said,
"I will talk to you tomorrow." He didn't want me to leave.
Learning with the
Nikon
Two days later He
called me for an interview. He gave me a Nikon camera—a Nikon F. He said,
"You are my photographer." I told Him again, "I don't know how
to take photos." He put His hand on my head and said, "Don't worry, I
will teach you."
I started taking
photos. A week later, I printed them. Most were out of focus, or heads were cut
off. But I wanted to show them to Swami. He allowed me to follow Him anywhere
with the camera. No restrictions.
One day He asked to
see the photos. He went through each photograph in an album. He said,
"This should be like this... don't be scared of me." He even gave me
technical advice: "I am too short; you should not take the photo from too
low. You should be at this level." A month later, I was taking very good
photos.
Grace and Hard Work
Ted Henry: What about having
unlimited access to Baba?
It is His Grace, nothing else. I have done nothing to
deserve it.
Ted Henry: Did you go inside His house? Yes, many times in
Brindavan and Whitefield. My family members are all devotees now, too.
Ted
Henry: Why do you think Swami chose you to be so close?
I have no idea. It
must be something from a past birth or something good my mother did. I am a
very hard worker. I start at 4:00 AM and work until 10:00 PM. I love to work
hard.
Message to the
Skeptics
Ted Henry: What do you say to
skeptics?
I feel I can't change a person just by talking. They should
experience Him. That is the only way. You never know when it will happen. I had
to wait 11 months for Him to speak, even after I moved here.
The Purpose of
Challenges
Ted Henry: What about the
criticism of Swami on the internet?
I just ignore it. I feel He creates the
problems. He knows what’s going on and could stop it at any time. If He allows
it, He wants it there.
If He asks me to
close this business tomorrow, I will close it. If He asks me to leave, I will
leave. That is the difference.
The Joy of the Work
Ted Henry: What is the most
rewarding part?
Working on this book gave me so much joy. I was very happy as a
photographer. In the late 80s, I made photos available the very next morning
after a festival. I would take a taxi to Bangalore in the middle of the night so
the photos would be ready for the devotees immediately. I used to print the
photos and, while coming back, I would put everything in a plastic cover to
give it to Baba at 5:30 in the morning. He was very happy with that service. I
have done a lot of things.
Ted Henry: Do you still have
much direct contact with Him?
No.
Ted Henry: And why do you suppose that
is? Does it bother you, or is it okay?
It was bothering me in the beginning,
but not now. Now I feel He is with me all the time. Earlier, I suffered a lot
when He didn't talk to me, especially because I had many interviews—maybe 100
interviews.
Ted Henry: I see people even
today who have been here for a long, long time. When Baba doesn't see them or
talk to them, they get very hurt. I'm surprised they allow themselves to think
that Baba doesn't care for them anymore.
Oh no, it's not correct. He cares for
everyone. I know He cares for everybody. Maybe He is preparing you for a
different level. But I don't know—I'm not too philosophical and I don't
understand much. I have simple devotion to Him, and I know He is with me. I
have seen that while working on this book.
Divine Tokens
Ted Henry: That looks like it
might be a Baba ring.
No, no.
Ted Henry: Did He ever materialize
anything? No, only vibhuti. But my wife has a golden necklace and a Mangala
Sutra for our marriage that He materialized.
