Eternal Companion - November 2025
The very first time I heard of Sai Baba was from a friend of mine. In those days, I was still working in the aerospace industry in Los Angeles. Out of the blue, I received a postcard from him–just an ordinary penny postcard, written in pencil, all the way from India.
He started with, “Dear Jack, I’m sitting on the porch of Sai Baba, who is God. I’m spending as much time with Him as I can at His ashram. You should get a book about Him that was written by Dr. Samuel Sandweiss.”
That was my introduction.
I wasted no time. He gave me the address of the Hollywood Sathya Sai Baba Center, where I could find the book. My wife, Louise, and I were living down at the beach at that time. I jumped into my car, drove straight to Hollywood, and knocked on the door. A kind lady answered, and sure enough, she had the book, “Sai Baba–The Holy Man and the Psychiatrist” by Samuel Sandweiss, M.D. I bought it, got back into the car, and drove home.
About 45 minutes to an hour later, I entered my home, holding the book in my hand. Louise looked at it and gasped, “Oh my God!”
I asked, “What is it?”
She said, “That’s the man I had a dream about two weeks ago. It was such a powerful dream, but I didn’t know who He was, so I never mentioned it to you.”
That was the beginning of our journey.
Our Journey Begins
We started attending Sai meetings, mostly in Orange County. If we were driving down to San Diego, we would make sure to stop by the Sai Center, spend a few hours singing bhajans, and listen to others speak about Him. Incidentally, San Diego is the hometown of Dr. Sandweiss, the author of the book. The Orange County devotees also held monthly meetings where people shared their experiences with Swami. For us, those meetings were a lifeline and very inspirational.
We did this for three or four years. Our children were still in school, so traveling to India wasn’t possible for us yet. Then, around 1978, the desire to see Swami grew too strong. Louise encouraged me to go, although she herself couldn’t go at that time, as she was busy with the children at home. By then, my consulting business had picked up, and I could afford the trip.
Still, I was skeptical. Coming from Los Angeles, where every fifth person seems to be a guru of some kind, skepticism was only natural. I thought, ‘If Sai Baba turns out to be a phony, at least I can combine the trip with business and not be disappointed.’ So I planned an extended trip–Los Angeles to Hawaii, then to Japan, Hong Kong, Thailand, Nepal, India, Iran, Israel, Italy, and finally England, where Louise and I would meet and vacation together.
But my true goal was India–seeing Sai Baba in person.
Power of Darshan
By the time I reached Bangalore, I had been on the road for three weeks. I was worn down, suffering from traveler’s illness, and staying in a small hotel. I heard Swami was in Whitefield, but I had no idea where or what Whitefield was. Despite feeling miserable, I decided to take a taxi there the very next morning.
Twice on the way, I almost tapped the driver’s shoulder to tell him to turn back–I felt that ill. But I pressed on. When I finally stepped through the small gate into the ashram, something magical happened. The sickness left me; I felt fine, strong, and clear.
I sat quietly and observed everything. Swami came out for darshan, although I didn’t know what darshan meant at that time. I watched the monkeys running along the walls and the people sitting in expectant silence. Watching people was part of my professional skill as a consultant, so I found it fascinating. I didn’t know yet what to make of it all, but I felt something unusual, something magnetic.
That evening, as I left the gate and headed back to the hotel, my sickness returned in full force! I had a miserable night. Yet the next morning, I tried the same routine again, and the same thing happened: as soon as I stepped through the little gate, my illness vanished. I began to think, ‘Wait a minute… something extraordinary is happening here.’
Within two days, my illness vanished completely. Swami took care of it.
I stayed in Whitefield for about two weeks, soaking in the atmosphere, still the ‘skeptic Jack,’ but no longer untouched by what I was experiencing. The rest of my round-the-world trip went smoothly, but I knew the real purpose of my journey had already been fulfilled.
When Louise and I reunited in England, we spent time along the English Channel, and I shared my experiences with her. She could see profound changes in me.
Mother’s Love & Father’s Discipline
That first trip set the course of our lives. For the next 36 years, we returned to India every year, spending extended periods at the ashram, basking in Swami’s glory.
At the end of the first trip, something amusing happened that carried a profound message. Swami had given us a brief interview as part of a group, and as we were leaving, He asked us, “You’re not going to stay for my birthday?”
We felt uneasy hearing that. Was He asking us to stay? Was it a direction? We weren’t sure. I was also a bit upset during that trip for not getting the coveted personal interview. I often argued with Him in my mind, calling Him “Mr. Raju” instead of “Swami” or “Bhagawan,” especially because I felt He wasn’t paying attention to me. Our plans were already set to do some sightseeing before returning home, so we continued with the trip, as planned.
We travelled north to Gulmarg, a hill station in North India. There was no snow at the time, but the scenery was beautiful, and Louise, being a horsewoman, was delighted at the chance to ride. We rented horses. Louise had a strong horse, while mine was a skinny little thing. She laughed at my poor mount, but I thought I could manage.
The horse, however, had a mind of its own. Every so often, it would stretch its front legs out farther and farther until there was nothing left for me to hold on to, and I would topple right off! Three times I fell, each time feeling embarrassed, and each time, I climbed back on the horse. By the time we got back to the stable, I was frustrated. I asked the stableman, “What’s this horse’s name?”
He replied, “Oh, that horse? That’s Mr. Raju.”
At that moment, I laughed. Swami had found a way to address my unspoken anger. And here, hundreds of miles away from the ashram, I was given a horse by that very name–a horse that humbled me three times. It was Swami’s way of saying, “I know your thoughts. I’m still with you. And perhaps, you should have stayed for My birthday.”
That experience sank into me deeply. It was a playful yet hard lesson.
During my second trip, I had my first interview with Swami, and it left a permanent mark on me. It answered my question about Mr. Raju’s anger and deeply engraved Swami’s love into my heart. We were in the small interview room with perhaps eight or ten others, sitting around Swami’s feet. In my first interview, without warning, He suddenly slapped me across the face–hard! Everyone gasped. Louise was startled. The others looked frightened.
And then Swami said gently, “I love you.”
The others were bewildered, but I started giggling. Somehow, I wasn’t offended or hurt. It felt like an expression of His deep affection, a way of jolting me to awaken me. Even now, whenever I recall that moment, I smile. For me, that slap was not punishment but love–love that bypassed logic and touched something very deep inside.
Living with Swami
Over the years, Swami guided me in countless ways. He gradually drew Louise and me closer, until our lives were entirely focused on Him. We spent 26 years going back and forth to India, living with and for Swami. Over time, all my skepticism faded away.
Through His blessings, something remarkable happened to me: fear disappeared. Completely. People often asked me, “Jack, what is so important about being with Sai Baba?” For a long time, I didn’t know how to put it into words. Then one day, I found the words.
I told them, “There is no fear left in me.”
Not fear of dying. Not fear of losing a loved one. Not fear of losing everything I had. Not even fear of nuclear war, which in those days weighed heavily on the minds of many. Truly, there was no fear left in me.
And when people heard this, they would look at me with disbelief. Some thought I must have stumbled upon some strange, magical potion! But it wasn’t that. It was Swami. By His grace, fear simply vanished.
That is how Swami transformed us. Louise and I, two ordinary people from Los Angeles, found our lives turned upside down–or rather, right side up–the moment we encountered Him due to our great, good fortune.
During those years, Louise and I were still very much like students at Swami’s feet. However, I was teaching MBA students at the university and conducting meetings, but I still saw myself primarily as a learner, not a lecturer. Once, Dr. Adivi Reddy, Dr. Narendranath Reddy’s late father, who gave spiritual talks to foreigners at the ashram based on Swami’s teachings, asked me if I would give talks to foreigners. I told him, “No, I’m still a student here. I would rather remain a student and learn than presume to teach.” I added that when I was ready to give talks, I’d let him know.
Our neighbor at that time was Veronica, a woman from Ojai, California. Once, we were traveling to Kodaikanal following Swami in a taxi and got stuck in heavy traffic. Veronica was seated in the passenger seat on the left side when, suddenly, the side mirror was knocked off by a vehicle coming from the opposite direction. Louise and I were shocked, but Veronica turned to us calmly and said, “Never look back.” She explained that this was life’s way of teaching her not to dwell on the past—just to discard it. I never forgot that lesson.
Wherever Swami Puts Us
On another occasion, when we told her we had no idea where we were headed, she responded in her Hungarian-American accent, “Oh, wherever Swami puts!” And indeed, that phrase became a guiding principle for us. Wherever Swami puts us, that is where we belong!
By then, our children had grown up and left the nest, and Louise was free to accompany me everywhere. I adjusted my business to remain president of the company, but only do as much consulting as necessary to maintain it. The rest of the time, for nearly 20 years, we traveled around the world–giving workshops, seminars, and doing service for Swami.
We never knew where we’d end up, but it was always “Swami puts.” We never worried and just went with His flow. For example, once we flew into Rio de Janeiro after a long journey. It was 5 am, the airport was dimly lit, and no food outlets were open. Hungry and tired, we wandered past a closed restaurant. Its red rope blocked the entrance, but the night crew had forgotten to clear the tables. I unhooked the rope, bowed theatrically to Louise, and said, “Please enter, madam.” We sat down at one of the tables and ate leftover bread in that fancy restaurant. That, too, was “Swami puts.”
Dharmic Management and Bhagavad Gita
During this period, my business took a spiritual turn. I also began writing. My first book, Dharmic Management, grew directly out of Swami’s inspiration. When I told Him the title, He was delighted, “Dharmic management, yes, yes.” Once, when introducing me to a group of German visitors, He said, “This man is writing a management book. What is the name of the book?” I answered, “Dharmic Management, Swami.” He repeated it with joy.
He told me, “I am within you. Whatever you hear or write will be Me speaking.” Those words gave me courage.
Dharmic Management was published in the early 1990s and quickly became a bestseller–an unusual achievement for a book blending spirituality and business.
Then came my second major project, the Bhagavad Gita: A Walkthrough for Westerners. For a long time, I resisted writing it. Swami’s inner voice would urge me, “Do the Gita.” I argued, “No, Swami, I’m not an Indian. I am a Westerner. I don’t know the subject well enough.” However, the urging persisted until finally I surrendered.
Later, Swami called Louise and me for an interview. He said, “It is not your inner voice–it is Me. You have everything within you to write this book. And if you lack anything, I will provide it.” Those words removed my final doubts.
And so, with Swami guiding each step, the Gita Walkthrough was born.
A Turning Point in My Life
Another time, something very important happened–something that changed everything for us. I was sitting on the veranda, about halfway back, about 21 feet from Swami’s door, for 21 years. From that spot, I watched, listened, absorbed, and learned.
One morning, Swami came out and looked into my eyes. That look lasted a full eight seconds, and eight seconds of Swami’s gaze feels like eternity. It was powerful, overwhelming, and deeply transformative.
When Swami’s eyes met mine, there was no fear, no confusion–only a deep sense of wonder and belonging. It was a turning point in our lives. Everything changed from that moment.
Around that time, my book “The Bhagavad Gita: A Walkthrough for Westerners” was completed. I presented it to Swami for His blessings. He looked at it with great joy and said, “Yes, yes…for Westerners.”
Living in the ‘Prasad Zone’
Then in 1998, something else shifted. Louise, my dear wife, fell seriously ill. She had a stroke.
When Louise collapsed, I rushed her to the Super Specialty Hospital. In those early days, she drifted in and out of consciousness. I sat by her bed, worried and uncertain. At one point, when she regained some clarity, I said to her, “Louise, we must see this as a blessing. There’s a gift hidden in this for us.” Immediately, she replied, “Yes.” That moment was transformative.
Something shifted in my mind. A calm confidence washed over me. I knew that whatever happened–whether Louise recovered fully, partially, or not at all–it would be as it was meant to be. That realization lifted my fear. I began calling it the “Prasad Zone.”
Prasad, after all, means a divine gift, a blessing from God. Later, I learned it also means quietness, clarity, peace, and joy. That’s exactly what I felt. And to my amazement, Louise was in the very same frame of mind–calm, accepting, and filled with a quiet understanding. We both entered the ‘Prasad Zone’ together, and it has stayed with us ever since.
During those years, I wrote other books, “The Essential Wisdom of the Gita” and “Roadmaps to Self-Realization.” The latter is a very practical book, based on the ancient practice of Atma Vichara, Self-inquiry. It’s filled with 65 self-assessment worksheets, one for each section of the Gita, helping seekers evaluate where they are on their spiritual path, where they’re strong, and where they need focus. That book is now available online for free.
When Swami left His body in 2011, people asked me, “Jack, how do you feel? Are you devastated?” I told them honestly, “I am filled with gratitude. Nothing but gratitude.” For all He had given us, for all He had guided us through, there could be no other feeling.
By then, I had started to see Swami as the “Orange Door.” His divine form was the gateway–warm, welcoming, radiant. But He wanted us to go beyond the door, into the boundless reality of God without form. That was His final teaching to us.
So even though we stopped traveling to India and Prasanthi Nilayam, we never stopped being with Swami. He is with us every minute, in every breath. We are living in the ‘Prasad Zone’–calm, clear, grateful, and always with Him.
Dr. Jack Hawley
USA
Dr. Jack Hawley lives in Palm Springs, California, USA. He was a consultant and writer as well as a lecturer on various spiritual and management topics. In the early 1970s, he founded Team Climate Associates, a consortium of consultants who specialized in the re-spiriting of organizational leadership and team effectiveness. Since the 1970s, Dr. Hawley and his late wife, Louise, spent six months every year at Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba’s ashram for 32 years. He had several interactions with Swami and worked tirelessly to bring Bhagawan’s message to business organizations around the world. He is the author of several well-known books on management and human values, which were blessed by Swami Himself.