Indian Spirituality Reaches Brazil During the 1960s, the concepts of reincarnation and the karmic cycle of cause and effect began to spread around the country as many looked into Eastern philosophy and discovered hatha yoga and meditation for balancing the body and mind. Due to a serious lung illness in his early youth, writer and Professor Jose Hermogenes took on the practice of yoga and in 1962 created the Hermogenes Academy of Yoga. His wife, Maria, called it ‘the room of the seven windows’, and it was near a big financial center in Rio de Janeiro. There, hundreds of people of all ages –- executives, housewives, retired and young people –- learned Indian Spirituality. About every two months, about 100 people went out to a near highland city to study sacred scriptures, practice yoga, meditation, nature walks, “laughter therapy”, and devotional singing. The joy of the Hermogenes endeared them to all present as they shared their knowledge and experiences about many spiritual subjects. The Glory of Sai Spreads to Brazil After returning from a pilgrimage to India, Hermogenes began to speak of an embodied Avatar in the south of that country and exhibited the video, “The Aura of Divinity.” A Mexican Sai devotee, married to a Brazilian man, narrated her nearly instantaneous cure of a malignant tumor in her mouth after ingesting Vibhuti materialized by Sai Baba during an interview with Him. Her testimony was very convincing, as were the anecdotes of an Italian devotee married to a Brazilian lady who lived in the northeast of Brazil. Nevertheless, it was of the nature of the Brazilian people not to be overly impressed by such cures and miracles, because the country had a large number of mediums and healers and such miraculous occurrences were not uncommon through the practices of spiritualism. However, when Sai Baba’s message arrived, it nevertheless quickly began taking root in the country. Professor Hermogenes spoke of Sai Baba not only in his lectures and workshops and gatherings with friends but also in radio and television interviews. The First Interview – Amazing Experiences In their first visit to Puttaparthy in 1986, the Brazilian group was graced with an interview during which they observed the materialization of vibhuti and sweets to everyone present. This vibhuti made its way back to Brazil and was credited with various cures and help with personal problems, i.e. infertile women became pregnant, those seeking marriage found partners, some persons received properties, while others attained degrees in universities and became professionals. However, the greatest miracle of all was the transformation of people from their contact with Sai Baba, sometimes through dreams, and the bliss they experienced. Dr. Hermogenes confessed that at the beginning his rational mind resisted accepting the Divinity of Sai Baba. He had already witnessed many miraculous phenomena in Brazil, so by themselves they could not convince him. His wife Maria, though, immediately became enchanted with Sathya Sai, declaring her love for Him and without hesitation declaring, “He is God! He is God!” She also composed many beautiful songs to Swami. Later that year, when he came back to Brazil, Hermogenes, immersed in books and pictures, dedicated himself to discovering the history of this embodied God and translated and published Howard Murphet’s book, Sai Baba, Man of Miracles, which portrays the life of Sai Baba with documented testimony and facts in a studied and journalistic style. In a short time, people began recognizing Sathya Sai Baba as an Embodiment of the Divine – a manifestation of Shiva, the transformer aspect of the three divine personifications of cosmic forces Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva, as well as the avatars of Rama and Krishna. Their Second Interview – All Grace And Love In 1987, Dr. Hermogenes lead a second group to Prashanti Nilayam, after which he would found the first Sai Baba Center in Brazil, located in Rio de Janeiro in the quarter of Vila Isabel. On this trip, the group of twenty-eight was dressed in white, with golden-yellow scarves tied around their necks. Swami granted them a lovely interview in which they experienced the grace of the Avatar. He materialized a diamond ring for an African devotee and asked if all were fine. One of the group members asked for a blessing for Brazil, explaining that there was political turmoil and fear among the people that the army might seize power. In a sweet and reassuring way, Swami said: “Be calm. Governments come and go; but just God remains. God is Love, live in God and live in Love. Everything will get better.” Swami inquired if anyone had health problems. He asked one lady, “Do you do japamala (rosary), mother?” and materialized a crystal rosary for her. She was surprised and cried and thanked Him. Next, He asked a young woman about the illness in her eyes, which she confirmed. He said, “You will become fine,” and manifested a yellow lingam, instructing her to bathe her eyes with water from the lingam and to change the water, adding, “Don’t throw away the old water but distribute it to other people who need it.” She wept while Baba sweetly comforted her. “Don’t cry, I want everybody to be happy.” Both men and women broke into tears of bliss. Like a dear Father and loving Mother, Baba caressed Professor Hermogenes´ and Maria’s hands, seated on each side of Him. He transmitted much love and compassion to all and said, “I will receive you again in privacy.” He said with much tenderness, “I am always with you, I know all your problems. I love you profoundly.” He emphasized, “Live the present moment with much love. Don’t worry too much. Always look for the truth.” The group left the interview room touched and intoxicated by the Divine Presence. They discussed how to go about the process of correcting and transforming themselves. They decided to create a library with Baba´s books and to meet in groups to study bhajans, in essence, to establish a Sai Center. It was an auspicious time, a turning point, and they knew in that moment it was the beginning of a great effort, one which that carries on to this day. The women hugged each other, their hearts full of joy and peace, chanting Om Sai Ram. All were happy and feeling confident of their future. The generous and loving support and guidance of Sai brothers and sisters from Argentina, who enchanted them with their miraculous tales, cannot go unmentioned. Over the following years, Sai devotees from both the countries met each other several times in Latin America Congresses and soon the guidelines for the Sai Organization in Brazil were formed. Pic 1. Hermógenes and his wife Maria - Pioneers of the Brazil Sai Organization. Pic 2.Brazilian devotees after the first interview with Swami, on 15 March 87 (Leila, Valéria and Heloisa)
Posted on: Thu, 01 Aug 2013 15:10:17 +0000
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