Twenty-five years old, I decided to seek spiritual phenomenon. The good thing about Swami is that when you look to Him, He comes and shows you the path. When analysed, all religious books speak of the same path and the same truth-be a good person and do good. I read many books and found this.
At 17, when I first visited India, somebody gave me a book on Sai Baba as the spiritual teacher. After a while I forgot about Him until I met Leonardo, the coordinator of Sai Centres in Spanish speaking countries. Three days later, he called and asked me if I would like to go to Prasanthi and said that I was allowed to film in Prasanthi. So we went to India. Everyday was a miracle. I needed to test Him and He provided me with many more opportunities than I had even requested of Him in my mind. I can only be grateful to Him. The moment you step into His city it is different - the air, the atmosphere, the smell, the singing of the birds. The people in the city look into your eyes. I thought, this is definitely a City of Love.
The simplicity of the temple contrasts with the overpowering wealth of the Vatican. I love the simplicity. At my first darshan, just seeing Him float majestically through the people, and the love the people had in their eyes, was magical. I thought that if a human being could bring about such feelings in thousands, millions, of people present here and around the world, then He must be a holy person. The moment I set my eyes on Him, I started to cry. I could not understand my feelings because I did not love Him so much. I thought that it must be the aura and the energy. I closed my eyes and thought, if it is true that you read people's minds, please come to me and say something nice to me so that I can believe in you. I opened my eyes and said to myself I was being stupid out of so many people who love Him, who believe in Him, why should He come to me. When He came very near, I closed my eyes and said, now or never, say something to me. I opened my eyes and saw Him come directly towards me but without looking at me. He talked to the Argentinean sitting next to me and totally ignored me. Then he spoke with the person on my other side and I thought, Good. Now He will talk to me for it is my turn. But He just turned and started to walk away. I thought to myself, this is a lesson for me in humility, and I said, God bless you for you are certainly something for these people. Just as I finished thinking this, He turned abruptly and looking at me said, "Those are nice thoughts." I looked at Him and He came towards me and laughed and said, "Of course you are going to learn things here. Open your heart, open your heart." I was dazed and wondered if I had imagined it all. To make a long story short, every day I had a test for Him and He gave me how I could do this. Could I not believe in the energy of a holy being just by being there? But I had to do it; it is my nature.
My sister-in-law had given me a letter for Baba, but my ego did not permit me to be in the darshan line with a letter. I was thinking, if He knows everything, why does He need a letter? Nevertheless, I decided to bring the letter so as not to deprive her of the opportunity of being blessed. And just in case it was good to write to Him, I quickly added to the letter. Well, when Baba came close to where I was, I quickly hid the letter behind my back, ashamed to have it with me. But Baba stood quietly and then said, "Give it to me," and I had no choice but to hand it to Him.
Of the three weeks that I spent there, the first week was heavenly for He granted me whatever I wished for. The second week was hell because I fell very sick and thought I was dying. But the last day, when we were to take our leave of Him, was paradise. When I fell sick, I started discovering things about myself, who I was and why I was here. I was alone in the room and delirious with fever when I saw Swami coming into the room. He looked at me very deeply and calmly, and went away. That night I dreamt of Him. He was outside the temple and He was beckoning me to come to Him. I ran to Him and asked Him if I could hold and hug and kiss Him. He said, "Yes." Then I asked Him a very personal question, and He gave a precise answer. When I woke up it took me a while to realise that it was a dream, for it was so real.
The only thing missing for the moment was an interview with Baba. When I was sitting in the darshan line, I closed my eyes and said, please, please, can't you understand I really need an interview. When I opened my eyes, He was there and very seriously He said, "You will have to be patient." He gives a lesson at every step. I thought to myself, what difference will it make, having an interview? Will I become a better person or will I just become more egoistic? After a while, Dr. Goldstein came and said, "Come on, the interview with Baba is now!" I was deeply moved.
We went inside (the interview room) with a group of Greeks. This, to me, was a sign of Swami's humour, because it was Greek mythology that had first given me the opportunity of being given an interview with the Greeks! He first spoke to them and then asked us Argentineans to come forward. Throughout the interview He held my hand and asked me questions and gave me precise answers. He materialised a ring and gave it to me. He took us into the inner room and sang to us and mentioned some personal things which have come true in the past year or so.
He told me to be prudent about what I show (on TV) for there are two kinds of people in the world: some will love what I show and will open their hearts to it but others will not find it easy to understand the idea of universal love. He said that I should go ahead and that He would be with me throughout. I asked if it would be too difficult for me, as I was a little scared. But He said "No, no. It will be easy, and I will be by your side." I asked Him for permission to write the book. I also asked Him if I could return soon. And He said I would be returning very soon for His birthday. I had wanted to ask Him if the dream was true but felt a little shy, so He asked me to ask Him about the dream. He assured me that the dream was true and described it. Then He pointed to the space around-the world-and said, "This is a dream."
In my country, 80 percent of the people now know who Sai Baba is. Many of them really like and even love Him. We have a show called ‘A Better World’ in which we share Swami's message. I have also showed footage comparing the exact words of Jesus and Swami, to show how they are alike and how their message is the same. The reactions have been wonderful-exactly the way He had predicted them. For every negative reaction, I have had a thousand positive ones.
