BABA AND “JUST PLAIN BILL”

By Mr. David Cornsweet

---

The way the Divine works all over the world in every millisecond with the only aim of bestowing peace, love, security and bliss to millions, is simply astounding and is impossible to document. But just like you do not need to drink the whole ocean to know the taste of sea water, a few incredible instances are enough to give us a glimpse of the glory of the Avatar. When you read below the story of “just plain Bill” of Southern California you will see how the Lord is at work all the time. Here is the story narrated by an ardent devotee of Bhagavan, Mr. David Cornsweet:

To understand the incident in its entirety, it is useful, at first, to know what “just plain Bill” is like.

Delight Through Dollar Bills

David Cornsweet and his buddy, "Just Plain Bill"

I had met Bill over twenty years ago. Bill was adept at playing the stock market and had amassed a great deal of wealth while still a relatively young man. Seeing him, you would not have known this as he dressed, acted and lived normally with little show of his financial status except in one way: Bill loved to give money away both to charities and to those in need directly. In fact, Bill gives away an amount equal to or more than he makes each year, which is quite considerable. Further, he would not allow himself to be recognized for his many acts of charity.

For example, a respite house for infants and babies with AIDS was in need of a large amount of money to redo an entire house that they had been given by their local government. It needed to be done up with the necessities for dealing with the afflicted children and this outfitting was very costly. They were starting a fund-raising project and hoped to have the necessary money in the next few years or so, as the service was desperately needed.

Bill had made more money than he had thought he would that year. He was looking for a new charity to give the additional money to. When he heard about the plight of this worthwhile cause, he not only gave the extra money he had made but covered the entire cost of the refit which was two and a half times the already sizable amount he originally had planned to donate. Bill did this deed and many others long before he had heard of Swami or His teachings. To Bill, it was just the right thing to do and he wanted no recognition. In fact, he insisted that everyone call him Bill, just plain Bill.

Searching Beyond the Material

Yet with all his wealth and good deeds, Bill felt a spiritual vacuum. He often felt lonely and unloved. By Swami’s grace, he started to learn a bit about Vedanta and, over the last few years, he started reading about Sai Baba. He loved hearing stories of Swami’s miracles and leelas, especially when it related to how our Lord helps those in need. Bill had several pictures of Swami and meditated frequently. Yet he still felt somewhat empty. He had a sharp mind and that, in a way, had continuously got in the way of his being able to accept God. He had a number of friends who were deeply involved in spiritual pursuits but Bill struggled to find faith.

As Bill’s eightieth birthday approached at the end of July 2007, he started to experience some dizziness and found that he was having a hard time walking. Upon examination by CAT scan, it was determined that he had suffered a mild stroke. Undeterred, Bill attended the two parties held in his honor by his friends who deeply loved this man. While he needed assistance to walk, he made the parties enjoyable and later told me that he realized that while he had little family of direct blood, he did have a large family of direct love.

Shortly after the parties, Bill’s symptoms began to worsen. Another CAT scan showed that he had suffered several more strokes. Due to his weakness, Bill checked himself into a hospital. After several days, he had enough of that and resolved to go home, especially since the doctors told him that, while they could do more tests, not much else could be done at the hospital for him. As my wife and I are quite close to Bill, we arranged the home care the doctors insisted on and Bill headed home.

This was on a Sunday and my wife and I were planning to fly to Puttaparthi the following Thursday. We felt we would have to alter our plans as I had promised Bill that I would be there for him in such situations. On Monday, Bill’s condition worsened and he told me that he was ready to “check out.”

Several years ago, Swami had materialized a bit of Vibhuthi for me and I had a small amount left. That night was our Sai center meeting and one of my friends had just returned from seeing Swami. He had an interview in which Swami gave him some Vibhuthi and he graciously shared some with me for Bill. I left the meeting early to go see my friend and give him the Vibhuthi.

Bill did not look well at all. In fact, another friend of his told me that he felt Bill was indeed ready to go. I felt the same and thought the vibhuthi might help his passing. As Bill was not eating or drinking much at all, I placed a bit of the Vibhuthi in a glass of water and offered it to him after telling him what it was. He drank it down with great relish, talking about how sweet it tasted and how good it felt. As I left that night, I thought that it would be the last time I saw my friend...but Swami had other plans.

Marked by the Divine Insignia – “Aum”

	The amazing 'Aum' - mark of the divine

When I went to Bill’s house the next morning, he greeted me with a strong “how ya doin’ Davey” (he is the only one who calls me that). I was stunned. His speech was clearer, his mind was sharp and his eyes were sparkling. My wife visited him later that day and noticed that he had developed a rather large bruise on his arm.

Upon closer inspection, she noticed that it resembled an “AUM”. By the time I saw it, it was much clearer. Indeed, it looked like the symbol of the Pranava. Swami had signed His work! This was on a Tuesday. My wife and I were still wondering whether or not we should proceed on our trip to see Swami and asked Him for some type of sign as to what to do.

On Wednesday, I received a call from Bill’s young caretaker. He was in a bit of a panic. It seems that when he was helping Bill out of the wheelchair this “stuff like baby powder appeared right between them and flew everywhere.” As this young man had only first heard of Swami the day before, he had no idea what he was seeing and was more than a bit scared. I calmed him down and explained the situation to him. He was a little skeptical, but how could he deny his own direct experience of Swami’s grace?

Needless to say, this young man has quickly developed more than a bit of interest in Swami. When I went to see Bill, he reported he was feeling much better and, in his own gruff style suggested that we go and see Swami. Accordingly, we left the USA on Thursday to begin our journey to Sai, arriving in the Divine Presence the following Monday afternoon.

Bhagavan looking at the photograph

On the following Friday, Swami called me to His Lotus Feet. I gave Him the letters I was carrying for some of the devotees from our area, including a letter thanking Him for His help with Bill. I had a chance to talk to Swami and said, “Swami, you saved this man’s life.” Swami just looked at me and smiled.

I then showed Him the picture of the bruise; Swami smiled and lovingly traced the AUM with His finger on the picture, and as He did so, He said, “AUM” in His very sweet voice. He returned the picture to me and I decided to give it to Bill on my return to the U.S. Swami then mimicked a hug, something that Bill loved to get. “I’ll pass on this too to my friend,” I said to myself.

We returned in early September. I saw Bill the day after our arrival. He was able to walk with a bit of help and greeted me with one of those special smiles that I so treasure and his signature “How ya doin”. Then, I shared with him the interaction with Swami and showed him the pictures that were taken at the time by one of the students, which I had framed for him. I especially shared the hug. He loved seeing the pictures and the hug, especially, but didn’t seem to want to take the pictures home with him. He looked at them several times when we were together but seemed to “forget” to take them when he left.

Bill seemed to be preoccupied with something and talked a lot about what he wanted to have happen both as he was dying and after his death. He told me that he wanted to die at home surrounded by those he loved and was concerned about making sure that the charities he supported were taken care of.

In late September, Bill took a turn for the worse and, while his mind was clear, his body started to deteriorate. One day, I went to see him and thought he looked too dehydrated. I convinced him to allow me to take him to the hospital. Upon examination, it was determined that he had suffered another series of strokes and he was admitted. After several weeks of tests, treatment and care, he was transferred to inpatient rehabilitation. He stayed there for a number of days until it was felt that he could go home (something he really wanted), returning frequently for outpatient rehab.

Throughout this time, Bill and I talked about Swami, His teachings, seva, spirituality and love. A week or so after his release from the hospital, we were told that he was not able to do the three hours a day of therapy required for the outpatient program and an in home rehab program was suggested. Before that could be instituted, I noticed that Bill seemed to be having difficulty breathing. I took him to his doctor and was told that he had a mild case of pneumonia.

Bill was definitely not happy about having to go back to the hospital again. This was on Thursday, October 11, 2007. What I was unaware of was that Bill needed to finish some of the paperwork that ensured that his estate would continue to support the charities that he so loved.

Giving ‘Life’ After Death

On the following Saturday morning, I, along with several of his friends, an advisor and his attorney witnessed Bill sign the last papers necessary to secure the foundation he was establishing for charitable purposes. I asked him if this is really what he wanted and if it made him happy. Again, I witnessed that beautiful smile as he strongly said, “Yes”.

That afternoon, he told one of his dear friends that he wanted to go home, that he was “done”. When she told me, we arranged for a group of his friends to meet with Bill and his doctor. Bill repeated his request with the full knowledge of what it meant. I asked to be left alone with him to make sure that he really understood what he was asking.

He clearly let me know that he was ready to go home, meaning more than just back to his house. As I had promised him long ago that I would do all in my power to make sure his wishes about being at home with his friends were followed, I helped him check out of the hospital and return to his condo. Having completed the work necessary to secure the charitable foundation, Bill was ready to ‘let go’. I now understood the look that He had given me while I was in Parthi - He had not saved Bill’s life but rather had given Bill an extension of life to complete the task set out for him by Him.

Traveling To Love, With Love

As the word went out regarding his condition, Bill’s friends came to see him. They were from all walks of life. Cooks and maids, doctors and lawyers, retired professionals close to Bill’s age, and pre-teens – all came to see him. Each had a story of how this man had affected their life with his love, charity and humor. It was a sad, joyous time as we all laughed and cried together thinking about Bill and the many ways he impacted us all. The love was palpable. Though Bill couldn’t talk and was growing visibly weaker, he loved having his friends around.

Calls came in from as far away as South Africa and he listened to them on his speakerphone. We read to him the numerous e-mails, cards, notes and letters written by friends that had known Bill most or all of their lives. Bill would often smile and squeeze the hand of whoever was closest indicating his awareness of the messages.

On the morning of Wednesday, October 17, I was meditating and praying to Swami. Obviously this whole situation was at the forefront of my mind. Suddenly, I had the very strong feeling that Swami was guiding me to tell Bill that He loved him and He was completely around him, and that He would take him in His arms whenever he ‘let go’. I shared this with Bill when I got to his house later and got one of his sweet smiles. Bill passed peacefully into Swami’s arms later that night at 11:11 p.m.

Thus three of Bill’s four wishes regarding his death had come true: (1) to die at home; (2) surrounded by his friends; and (3) that the passing be peaceful in his sleep. The fourth was that he did not wish to suffer - and this provided another example of divine compassion stepping in. Unfortunately, the pneumonia he had contracted was not responding to medication and this meant that his death would likely be caused by suffocation, as the lungs would fill up with fluid.

This would obviously be traumatic for him (and us) and I felt very upset knowing the fear Bill had over experiencing a painful ending to this life. However, when the nurse came to check on Bill that last morning, amazingly she found that his lungs were completely clear of fluid! The loving Lord had arranged for him to die later that day, peacefully in his sleep, just as he wished.

Thank You Swami, for so directly letting Bill know that You loved him and for being with him, especially at the final moments of his life. Thank you Swami, for making Bill’s life so meaningful, and such an inspiration to all of us who knew him.

Thank You lord, for allowing all of us to come together in celebration and acknowledgement of this wonderful man who lived your teachings in so many ways. May Bill’s story of love and seva be an inspiration for all of us.

And thank You Swami, for letting me have such a great friend as 'just plain Bill'.

 

---

Dear Reader, did this article inspire you in any way? Would you like to share you feelings with us? If so, please write to us at h2h@radiosai.org mentioning your name and country.  Thank you for your time.

---