Howard Murphet

November 4, 1906 (age 97)

Tasmania

During the Second World War he served with the Eighth Army at El Alamein and Tunis, took part in the invasion of Sicily and Italy and, later, with the British Second Army, in the invasion of Normandy. He was also in charge of the British Press Section at the Nuremberg Trials. They heard about Sai Baba from a wandering yogi. Howard Murphet met Sai Baba in 1966. During those days, it was a very difficult journey to the village of Puttaparthi. He had to travel by bus from Madras to Bangalore, followed by journey through roads of broken rocks ending with a ride on bullock-cart, or on foot across slushy fields of paddy. One of the first people he met at the ashram was Narayana Kasturi. During the next few days, he was invited to several group interviews. A dozen people gather in one of the interview rooms at either end of the bhajan hall, or "prayer hall" as it is sometimes called. Sai Baba sits either on the one chair, or else on the floor - and the people sit cross-legged on the floor, fanning out in a rough circle about him. These group interviews usually begin with some talk on spiritual subjects. Baba invites someone to ask a question. Then in the answer he expounds on such matters as the meaning and purpose of life, Manitoba"s true nature, and the way he should strive to live in order to reach the goal. The teachings are always clear, vivid, and intensely practical. Howard Murphet describes the village as lying about a quarter of a mile from the ashram, "a small, sun-bleached place of whitewashed houses and narrow, sandy streets". He gives accounts of many miracles that he said that he witnessed of Sai Baba and also narrates a number of miracles experienced by other devotees of Sai Baba.