Howard Murphet
Encyclopedia
Howard Murphet was an author and devotee of Sathya Sai Baba
.
Howard Murphet was born in Tasmania
and educated at the University of Hobart. 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
. After a period as a Public Relations Officer in the chemical industry, Murphet and his wife travelled to India
to visit the international headquarters of the Theosophical Society
in Adyar, Madras and also wanted to discover if there was any deeper spiritual dimension in the life of modern India
.
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, Man'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.
During his visits to Prashanthi Nilayam
(Sathya Sai Baba
's Ashram) he also visited the village of Sathya Sai Baba's birth (Puttaparthi
) and talked to members of his family living there. 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 miracle
s that he said that he witnessed of Sai Baba and also narrates a number of miracles experienced by other devotees of Sai Baba.
Editions: Paperback (Theosophical Pub House, April 1, 1990)
Editions: Hardcover (Birth Day Pub Co, October 1, 1977)
Editions: Paperback (Red Wheel/Weiser, June 1, 1977)
Online Edition
Editions: Paperback (Leela Pr, January 1, 1996)
Editions: Paperback (Red Wheel/Weiser, October 1, 1993)
Editions: Paperback (Theosophical Pub House, June 1, 1975)
Editions: Paperback (Leela Pr, July 1, 1994)
Editions: Paperback (Theosophical Pub House, September 1, 1988)
Sathya Sai Baba
Śri Sathya Sai Baba , born as Sathyanarayana Raju was an Indian guru, spiritual figure, mystic, philanthropist, and educator. He claimed to be the reincarnation of Sai Baba of Shirdi, a spiritual saint and miracle worker who died in 1918 and whose teachings were an eclectic blend of Hindu and...
.
Howard Murphet was born in Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
and educated at the University of Hobart. During the Second World War he served with the Eighth Army at El Alamein and Tunis, took part in the invasion of Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
and Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and, later, with the British Second Army
British Second Army
The British Second Army was active during both the First and Second World Wars. During the First World War the army was active on the Western Front and in Italy...
, in the invasion of Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
. He was also in charge of the British Press Section at the Nuremberg Trials
Nuremberg Trials
The Nuremberg Trials were a series of military tribunals, held by the victorious Allied forces of World War II, most notable for the prosecution of prominent members of the political, military, and economic leadership of the defeated Nazi Germany....
. After a period as a Public Relations Officer in the chemical industry, Murphet and his wife travelled to India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
to visit the international headquarters of the Theosophical Society
Theosophical Society
The Theosophical Society is an organization formed in 1875 to advance the spiritual principles and search for Truth known as Theosophy. The original organization, after splits and realignments has several successors...
in Adyar, Madras and also wanted to discover if there was any deeper spiritual dimension in the life of modern India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
They heard about Sai Baba from a wandering yogi
Yogi
A Yogi is a practitioner of Yoga. The word is also used to refer to ascetic practitioners of meditation in a number of South Asian Religions including Jainism, Buddhism, and Hinduism.-Etymology:...
. Howard Murphet met Sai Baba in 1966. During those days, it was a very difficult journey to the village of Puttaparthi
Puttaparthi
Puttaparthi is a town situated in the Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh, India. It was also the residence of the notable spiritual teacher Sathya Sai Baba....
; he had to travel by bus from Madras to Bangalore
Bangalore
Bengaluru , formerly called Bengaluru is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. Bangalore is nicknamed the Garden City and was once called a pensioner's paradise. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the south-eastern part of Karnataka, Bangalore is India's third most populous city and...
, 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
Narayana Kasturi
Narayana Kasturi was born Kasturi Ranganatha Sharma in North Travancore, which now forms part of the modern day Indian state of Kerala...
. 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, Man'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.
During his visits to Prashanthi Nilayam
Prashanthi Nilayam
Prasanthi Nilayam above sea level) is the main ashram of Sathya Sai Baba. The "township of Prasanthi Nilayam is located in the village of Puttaparthi, the hamlet where Sathya Sai Baba was born. This area is part of the Anantapur district in the state of Andhra Pradesh, in South India."."Prasanthi...
(Sathya Sai Baba
Sathya Sai Baba
Śri Sathya Sai Baba , born as Sathyanarayana Raju was an Indian guru, spiritual figure, mystic, philanthropist, and educator. He claimed to be the reincarnation of Sai Baba of Shirdi, a spiritual saint and miracle worker who died in 1918 and whose teachings were an eclectic blend of Hindu and...
's Ashram) he also visited the village of Sathya Sai Baba's birth (Puttaparthi
Puttaparthi
Puttaparthi is a town situated in the Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh, India. It was also the residence of the notable spiritual teacher Sathya Sai Baba....
) and talked to members of his family living there. Howard Murphet describes the village as lying about a quarter of a mile from the ashram
Ashram
Traditionally, an ashram is a spiritual hermitage. Additionally, today the term ashram often denotes a locus of Indian cultural activity such as yoga, music study or religious instruction, the moral equivalent of a studio or dojo....
, "a small, sun-bleached place of whitewashed houses and narrow, sandy streets".
He gives accounts of many miracle
Miracle
A miracle often denotes an event attributed to divine intervention. Alternatively, it may be an event attributed to a miracle worker, saint, or religious leader. A miracle is sometimes thought of as a perceptible interruption of the laws of nature. Others suggest that a god may work with the laws...
s that he said that he witnessed of Sai Baba and also narrates a number of miracles experienced by other devotees of Sai Baba.
Books
- Beyond Death: The Undiscovered Country
Editions: Paperback (Theosophical Pub House, April 1, 1990)
- Sai Baba Avatar: A New Journey into Power and Glory
Editions: Hardcover (Birth Day Pub Co, October 1, 1977)
- Sai Baba, Man of Miracles
Editions: Paperback (Red Wheel/Weiser, June 1, 1977)
Online Edition
- Sai Inner Views and Insights: Inner Views and Insights : 30 Years With the Avatar
Editions: Paperback (Leela Pr, January 1, 1996)
- Walking the Path With Sai Baba
Editions: Paperback (Red Wheel/Weiser, October 1, 1993)
- When Daylight Comes: A Biography of Helena Petrovna Blavatsky
Editions: Paperback (Theosophical Pub House, June 1, 1975)
- Where the Road Ends: From Self Through Sai to Self
Editions: Paperback (Leela Pr, July 1, 1994)
- Yankee Beacon of Buddhist Light
Editions: Paperback (Theosophical Pub House, September 1, 1988)