Story of a Jewish SAI devotee South Africa - compelling Read
Spring of 1985 streets of downtown Johannesburg were quite clean and racist.
Bree Street Johannesburg:
Home of John Craig, Riggs and Dexsters were cool stores to shop American gear.
Eloff Street Johannesburg:
Haven to Look and Listen for heavy metal music and O.K. Bazaar for marie biscuits and pilchards.
Minority citizens of this country were privileged of their basic human rights. Few white folks determined the future of the black populace by the ballot. Apartheid South Africa and its liquidation, we embrace fellow humans as equals.
In the early 1980s, Hillbrow a unique neighbourhood in Johannesburg, South Africa. Tucked away amidst the bustling streets was a hidden gem - Aquarian Bookstore for Esoteric Literature
It was on a Monday morning in 1984 when fate intervened and my scheduled meeting in Harrison Street JHB got cancelled. I embarked on a visit to Aquarian, greeted Michelle employed at the store. I walked to shelf where Sai Literature was displayed.
Michelle suddenly shouted, "Max, have you heard of Rebecca Marsh?" I turned around and asked, "Who's Rebecca?" She said, "She's a Sai devotee, phenomenal miracles happening at her home. She's a clairvoyant does mystical paintings."
I was intrigue by what she mentions approached her workstation. Enquired where Rebecca lived, somewhere in Johannesburg. Michelle promises she would find out, months later no news.
Time passed by meticulously, as weeks turned into months, each day flickering hope within my heart that any moment news would arrive concerning Rebecca's location. Unfortunately, Michelle's attempt was unsuccessful. However, whenever I look for something sacred it constantly reveals itself to me.
September 1985 Wednesday had an appointment with Mrs.Breslowsky from Berea, former owners of Bress design furniture. I had to postpone my meeting, something urgent came up and I called her to cancel.
Reschedule for Thursday morning, Baba's Day 10 a.m. I walked into Mrs.Breslowky's flat.
I'm charmed by the elderly white gentleman seated across me. His long white beard resemblance of an Indian sadhu, a holy man. Meeting commences in five minutes; throughout my conversation, spellbound by his saintly appearance.
Mrs.Breslowsky with her commanding presence, introduce me to the Gentleman, happens to be her caretaker. She demands in her gruff voice, drive Him to claim street Hillbrow. Reluctantly agreed, was on route to Pretoria that morning. Stepped out of the flat rear balcony the elderly man walks behind me. He asks loudly what's your name. I turn around; look into His protruding eyes and crowded eyebrow's, voice in a whisper max. We enter the lift, he stands behind me, ask once more loudly, what's your name, I mumble max. Scarcely did I contemplate the connection that bind us, and the mysteries that lie in the heart of the city.
We get out of the old elevator and walk to my car. I open the door for him, and he gets in. He looks at me and asks me what's my real name is. I don't answer. He suddenly says he is a Satsangi for 35 years. I'm intrigued by that. He tells me he wants me to meet Rebecca Marsh.
Immediately stopped my car in Able Road Berea, on route to Hillbrow in disbelief what I heard. Did you say Rebecca Marsh I am searching for her for 16 months. Gentleman says you must meet her I will show you where she resides. For the moment I forget work drive to Jeppe Street corner Rissik the saintly man pointed the building Rebecca's residence.
Finally found the building been looking for two years. I felt a surge of joy as I gazed at it. We talked briefly in my car, then drove him to his destination. We chatted along the way, but we never met again. We had a few phone calls after that. I hurried to the building where Rebecca lived downtown Johannesburg City of gold. "perhaps I should rephrase where the Avatar rented omnipresently".
I enter the foyer of the building look for the caretaker's information on the display. The ninth floor knocked on the door middle-aged white gentleman opens, asked him politely where Rebecca lives. Escorts me to her flat, mentions she just returned from India, probably very tired. Standing in front of Rebecca's doorway, hesitant to knock, instead wrote her telephone number on paper and left the premises.
I remember the night I called her. She answered the phone and said "Sai Ram Sai Ram". Those words struck a chord in my soul, I can still hear them now. I greeted her, told her; I've been looking for her for two years. I asked her, if I can meet with her, but she declined politely in her tired voice, saturated with pristine energy.
My psychic mind instructs me to be persuasive in my telephonic conversation. She eventually agrees, grants me an audience the following day. It was overwhelming peace when stepping in Rebecca's rent control flat. Famous psychic painting of Christ in her home was a work art on par with Vincent van Gogh.
My meeting with Rebecca in Bree Street this is what she had to say.Sequence of events:
I began by asking her how she came to know about Baba.
Rebecca Marsh had a remarkable life story, grew up in a Jewish family followed Christianity. She dedicated her life serving others as a nursing sister in a government hospital. She never married but felt an immortal love for Christ. When diagnosed with terminal cancer, she did not lose hope. She prayed fervently to her Lord and Saviour, asking for His mercy and grace. One day, she received a mysterious sign of His presence. A pamphlet was slipped under her door, with black and white print.
Pamphlet read Aquarian Store, book for sale, Man of Miracle's. Photograph of Sathya SAI Baba on the leaflet that was unassuming according to Rebecca. His appearance was of a Black or Indian man that was awful to stare. Rebecca dumps advert in the magazine rack. Day two she finds same pamphlet underneath her door, dumps it in the magazine rack. Day three the same encounter, visit's caretaker protesting for junk mail.
Caretaker stares at the pamphlet, promptly replies He did not receive one, will check with tenants. No other tenant received this advert. Rebecca call Aquarian concerning the advert, they had no knowledge of the flyer.
However, she decided to purchase the book Man of Miracles, advertised on the flyer. The lady checked found one copy in stock. She told the employee of Aquarian; keep the book until the following day. Rebecca was terminally ill with cancer at the time and in acute pain, she made and effort to get to Aquarian that morning. Departing from her building, pleasantly surprise a bus waiting for her on route to Hillbrow.
She disembarked in Hillbrow walked towards the bookstore, purchase Man of Miracles. Strolls out another bus waiting returns to the flat. Exhausted of this ordeal, took a nap, at about 7.30 p.m. began reading the book.
Reading Man of Miracle's there is no pause once you start, for a moment wondered, could it be possible a man performs such miracles. Decided to have a close view at the Man with the afro on the cover. Baba begins to wave his hand. Rebecca is awe-struck by this experience. She continues to read fifteen minutes later glances at the picture again.
Sai continues to wave his hand mind boggling. 11.30 p.m. feeling tired lying on her back. Stares at the picture tells Baba need to turn on my side and sleep I am very tired, turning around noticed Baba standing at the end of bed, waving and smiling at her. Rebecca tells Baba don't know you but don't go away look after me.
She falls off to sleep gets up at 6.15 a.m. Sai was standing at the bedside for ten minutes thereafter. Later that morning and Indian friend a nurse by profession normally visits to bathe and change her clothes. Rebecca reveals the story to her. The lady immediately recognises the book introduce Rebecca to Sai devotees.
She begins to have clarity who Baba is from her new-found Indian friends. Her daily routine when cleaning her flat, she found money in the most unusual places, the teapot. She accumulates the money towards the end of the year saved enough cash to visit Prasanthi. She shared personal encounters with me of her life, unable to disclose this information my promise to her.
Got up to leave wishing her goodbye prayed she gave me something. She voices sit-down gifted me a locket of Baba. Weeks later gave me the miraculous Christ photograph with the white light protruding from the Lord's mouth.
She had the vision of Lord Ganesha walking in her house. The sound of the melodious flute heard in her apartment presence of Shri Krishna. She began healing from her cancerous condition, slowly when on two live seven years after I met her. Passed on in her eighties at the hospice in Houghton.
My last visit at the Hospice, stood at her bed side, thought she had died, suddenly she moved her finger pointing at the water. I recollect placing three drops in her mouth she closed her eyes. I prayed to Baba for her well-being, bid her farewell, my last darshan of Rebecca.
Rebecca contemplated publishing a book on her miraculous memoirs. She asked Baba in an interview, HE declined the lucrative opportunity, instead told Miss R.Marsh to discard the literature. Baba knows why, He often says in His discourses I can see what you can't.
In retrospect, it is often these unplanned encounters with exceptional individuals that shape our lives in unimaginable ways. While it is still unknown what lies ahead on this auspicious journey towards meeting Rebecca Marsh spiritually, one thing remains certain: it held the key to and enlightening experience.
I attended service for two years at her home; met Andy and Jay Khoosal of Lenz South and few white devotees often wonder where you are.
May Baba be your guiding light?
