Edwin Reu Ring's testimony, on ExBaba.com and SaiGuru.net, against Sathya Sai Baba, is very brief. Regarding the alleged, sexual abuse incident, Edwin Reu Rings says, on this page, "During an interview Sai Baba touched me in the groin once under the pledge that he would give me a woman. Although at the time I did not regard this as an indecent act, the way he did it I thought peculiar."

In this statement, Edwin Reu Rings specifically stated that SSB touched him once (with his clothes on), assuring him that he would "give him a woman". At the time this incident happened, Edwin Reu Rings did not feel there was anything "indecent" with the way SSB touched him. It was only after reading about other alleged, sexual abuse testimonies, on myfreeoffice.com/saibabaexposed, did Edwin Reu Rings change his mind about what SSB did to him! SSB's quick touch, to his mid-section, under the pledge of giving him a woman, all of a sudden turned into a "sexual advance"! In my email correspondence, Edwin says that his experience was not "sexual abuse", and says it was the Editors, of Anti-SSB sites, that used that description. Edwin does not consider his experience as "sexual abuse".

On January 5th, 2005, I received an email from Edwin Reu Rings. I took this opportunity to question Edwin about his alleged, sexual abuse testimony listed on several Anti-SSB Sites. Click Here to view our email correspondence. I asked Edwin the following, "Can you please clarify your comments? You said that SSB made "sexual advances" on you. But you say that this "sexual advance" was simply one touch, on your groin, under the pledge of giving you a woman. You did not consider the act "indecent", at that time, but later changed your mind. How did SSB "touch" your groin? How long did he touch you? And if you did not think it was "indecent", why are you calling it a "sexual advance"?" Edwin's response was rather unexpected.

Edwin replied by saying, "SSB touched my groin while i assisted him in his private interview room with rising from a chair. His hand reached out to touch my groin in a fast gesture. I felt his hand touching my groin / penis for a brief moment. At that moment, I was so convinced that this man could not be interested in me sexually (by the way, i am not gay), that i was left thinking after the interview that there was a big message / sign for me in that gesture from him. That i had to learn something from it. This shows my good faith in him as a guru / master. However, when i later heard all the other stories about abuse, the simple truth about the intention behind this action from him came down on me. It could be nothing more than a ordinary sexual advance. Can i prove it? No, but isn't it strange that someone touches your private parts without asking? Especially a guru is someone you wouldn't expect it from!"

This response completely baffled me, as it, in no way, resembled Edwin's original, alleged, sexual abuse testimony, listed on ExBaba.com and SaiGuru.net. Edwin told me a different story. In this newer version, Edwin makes no mention of SSB promising to "give him a woman". Edwin implies that SSB's brief touch, to his groin, left him wondering if he had to "learn something from it". Edwin was obviously affected by SSB's brief touch, to his groin, and he searched for the meaning and message behind it. However, if SSB quickly touched Edwin's mid-section, under the promise of giving him a woman (as stated in Edwin's original testimony), then the meaning and message of the "brief" touch would be obvious.

It is also important to point out that SSB did not touch Edwin's penis (as Edwin had his clothes on). SSB touched his midsection/groin for a "brief moment" and in a "fast gesture". In order for SSB to touch Edwin's penis, his pants would have had to been down. So it is important to make this clarification.

I emailed Edwin back and asked, "I am confused about your email. In your testimony, on ExBaba.com, you said that SSB touched your groin once, specifically in reference to "giving you a woman". However, your email seems to be implying that was not the case, as the reference (in your email) was you helping SSB out of a chair. Am I missing something?...If SSB touched your groin once, "for a brief moment", and specifically making reference to "giving you a woman", that would indicate, to me, that SSB was validating your sexual desires for a woman, and that he would help you in that regard. Since SSB did not fondle you, ask you to do anything, or have you touch him in any way, I simply can't see it as a "sexual advance", especially in light of what you call a "brief moment" of him touching you...and that, only once...and that, in the context of SSB saying he would "give you a woman" (having nothing to do with sex with SSB at all). I also have doubts about this being a "sexual encounter" because, initially, you did not see it as a "sexual encounter". It was only later that you saw it as such, after hearing the testimonies of other people."

Edwin replied by saying, "Both happened at the same time. While i was helping him out of a chair, he reached his hand out to touch my penis. And he did...When i heard all the other stuff Baba did to people like, sexuall harressment that goes much further than what Baba did to me, it kind of clicked inside of me. The truth is very simple. This man touched my penis because he liked it. What anybody else thinks from it, that's their business and i do not care about it."

These are the facts regarding Edwin's alleged, sexual abuse testimony:

• SSB touched Edwin once, in the groin section, with his clothes on, under the promise of "giving him a woman".
• The touch was done in a "fast gesture" and the contact lasted a "brief moment".
• Edwin did not think the gesture was "indecent".
• After reading about other alleged, sexual abuse testimonies, Edwin changed his mind, about the brief touch, and considered it as a sexual advance (not sexual abuse).
• SSB did not solicit Edwin in any way. SSB did not ask Edwin to touch him in any way. Edwin feels that SSB touched his midsection because SSB liked it. If SSB really liked it, why was it only a "fast gesture" with contact lasting only a "brief moment", with nothing else happening? Also, SSB touched Edwin with an explanation (to give him a woman).

Consequently, I personally disagree with Edwin's account of being sexual approached by SSB. If it was truly sexual abuse, or a sexual advance, there should have been an unmistakable impression that something was seriously wrong. However, according to Edwin's original testimony, on ExBaba.com and SaiGuru.net, he did not feel there was anything "indecent" about the way SSB touched him. Of course, in Edwin's second account (in his email to me), he felt there was something wrong, as the experience made him think there was a "big lesson or sign" in the way SSB touched him. This is contradictory because Edwin tells us why SSB touched him in the midsection! According to Edwin, SSB touched him "in the groin once under the pledge that he would give me a woman". Such being the case, I leave it upto the reader to form his/her own opinions in this matter.