I'd like to hear what Sai Baba says on the subject.
Okay then.
The last few years (10 or so), Sai Baba delivered a lingam (formed inside His body, coming out through His mouth) during or after the Akhanda (continuous) Bhajan on Shivaratri celelebration in 'His' Ashram
About Shivaratri Sai Baba said "if you concentrate strongly on this holy night, meaning 12 hours ZERO thoughts, then you will be instantly enlightened (not easy though, 12h ZERO thoughts, I tried it many times). So no more reincarnations
And He announced "all who witness this lingam appear are freed from all their accumulated karma". That seemed to be an easy way out, easier than 12 hours ZERO thoughts
In an interview He told an American, i think, woman "now you have seen this lingam, you are freed of all your karma, meaning you're not going to be reborn again, no more reincarnation for you
Then, maybe 2 or 3 years later, this woman got another interview in which Sai Baba casually said to her "see you in your next incarnation"...to which she responded...but Swami, you promised me last time "no more reincarnations, as I saw the lingam", how can you say this now to me?
Sai Baba replied
"that was then, now is now"
Sai Baba can be very concise and with few words, but it was very clear to me when I heard her
story...karma accumulates very fast