Sathya Sai Baba claims that ‘the Lord’ (i.e. as he has often proclaimed himself to be – here to save humanity) tests mankind through sufferings and tribulations, which the Burma cyclone and the China earthquake most certainly are.

“Many natural calamities are entirely due to man’s behaviour. Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, wars, floods and famines and other calamities are the result of grave disorders in Nature. These disorders are traceable to man’s conduct.” (p. 290, Sanathana Sarathi, December -1992 & p. 375 – Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. 25)

However, as is his habit, Sai Baba virtually contradicts himself, implying that calamities are acts of the Lord’s Grace (i.e his grace!): “Do not be upset by calamities; take them as acts of Grace.” (p. 27 Sathya Sai Speaks Vol. VI) for he also states: “Be assured that the Lord has come to save the world from calamity.” in Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. 2, p. 117, in which volume he of course time and again states that he is that Lord – the Vishnu avatar returned. Fat lot of good his ‘promise’ was to the countless thousands who were trapped under ruins or starved to death and so on!

In Whitefield (13-4-1964) the self-professed all-knowing Sai Baba said “Calamities must deepen your courage, enlarge your faith, your spiritual practice must be intensified when the weather is inclement..” and more such futile ‘consolation’ to those affected by disasters. (see Sathya Sai Speaks, Vol. 4 p. 86.)

“…man, out of utter selfishness, is robbing the mother Earth of her resources like coal, petroleum, iron, etc. As a result, we find earthquakes, floods and such other devastating natural calamities.” (Sathya Sai Speaks, Volume 33 237)

“The Tsunami is the result of human behaviour. It has nothing to do with God. All this is because of what man has made of man and not because of what God has made of man. Man’s thoughts are responsible for all this. We must not consider it as God’s Prasadam.” (Divine Discourse “Do not exploit Nature without seeking the Grace of God.” Summer Course in Spirituality and Indian Culture – May 1973, Brindavan)

“Suffering and misery are the inescapable acts of the cosmic drama. God does not decree these calamities but man invites them by way of retribution for his own evil deeds. This is corrective punishment which induces mankind to give up the wrong path and return to the right path”(Sathya Sai Baba in 1976, recorded by Samuel Sandweiss in Spirit and the Mind. San Diego: Birth Day Publishing Co., 1985, p. 237)

Thus he absolves himself – or God – from all responsibility for any catastrophes or anything else bad. It is all our own fault! This is truly primitive God propaganda, devoid of all scientific knowledge.