Sai Vichaar for Thursday, February 09, 2006

[Guest guest]

newsletter to your interested associates in its original form. IN THIS

ISSUE: FEATURE OF THE WEEK CONTRIBUTED ARTICLE DEVOTEES SAY PRAYER CLUB

EXPERIENCE OF DEVOTEES QUOTATION OF THE WEEK QUESTION OF THE WEEK SAI

ACTIVITIES FROM THE EDITORS KEYBOARD FEATURE OF THE WEEK: Spiritual

Oasis Sapatnekar was an elite lawyer who did not quite believe in Baba until he

had to face the calamity of losing his only son to

disease. Disinterested in life and disturbed, he had to seek in refuge in Baba.

Nanasaheb Chandorkar had his own questions about the all-pervasive nature of

Baba. Baba revealed Himself to Nana through some of the divine experiences of

the latter, and thus Nana was a part of Baba's court. Kakasaheb Dikshit,

another ardent devotee of Sainath did not know about Baba for several years and

Baba drew him towards Himself via peculiar circumstances. Hemadpant wrote that

however scholarly might man's learning be, it just fades away before someone

that realized the Brahman. Everyone one of those that approached Baba with a

preconceived notion, either with the curiosity to know if He is really what He

is being portrayed as or with the arrogance of learnedness had to bow in front

of His humility, benevolence, compassion, and the magnificence. In case of all

those learned men, it was the surrender either due to the misfortune of a

suffering or the providence of His grace that

provided them with the means of enlightenment. It is true that however scholarly

may man's learning be, it just fades away in front of the one that realized the

Brahman. On this peaceful Thursday, let us contemplate on the realization only

a Sadguru can give and nothing else in the world would. CONTRIBUTED

ARTICLE: Saibaba and Kabir For a parallel with Saibaba, I shall focus on the

following characteristics traditionally attributed to Kabir's persona and

teaching: (1) the way he used to define himself, (2) the fundamental importance

he gave to the teacher, (3) the path of devotion leading to surrender, (4) the

essential role played by the remembrance of the divine name, (5) the use of

attributing many different names to God, (6) the prominence of Rama's name and,

finally (7) the refusal of "tantras" and "mantras" as being deceptions of the

power of maya. Kabir like Sai

referred to himself in various ways: God's slave or servant, a devotee of God,

faqir, even God himself. He said: "I am Hari's humble slave, and I would not

let go of His lotus feet for anything the world might offer me". He said, "I am

your humble servant, oh Lord, and you are the light which illuminates all of my

recesses. "I am the fakir who has found his truth. One and the same God created

Hindus and Muslims alike, and these poor fools fight each other in His name". He

also said, I am your devotee, oh Lord, and I come towards You with the hope I my

heart of finding refuge". Kabir particularly insisted on the necessity of

finding a Guru. The Guru is everything in Kabir's vision, and innumerable are

the passages in which he extols his supremacy. He said, "infinite is the Guru's

kindness, and incalculable the help which he lavishes. Only he knows how to open

the disciple's eyes, so that the vision of the Infinite may bless his sight".

"Only the knowledge which Guru

grants makes it possible for one to save himself." Devotion is the foundation on

which Kabir based his religious life. He insisted on the notion of surrender, of

totally submitting oneself to God. Kabir, like Saibaba, insisted upon the

necessity of practicing God's remembrance, not in a mechanical way but by

reminding oneself of God's presence in one's heart, bringing to mind all that

the divine name connotes. The divine name constitutes the only safe path

leading to realization. Says Kabir: "Sing Rama's glory with your heart, tongue,

and actions. Kabir, like Saibaba, used different names taken from both the

Muslim and Hindu traditions to designate God. He said, "To me Rama, Rahim,

Karim, and Kesava are all truth. And the same are Bismil and Visvambhara. With

Rama's name as his support, Kabir declares that both tantras and mantras are

deceptions of maya. This offers another interesting parallel with Saibaba who

always refused to give out tantras and

mantras. G.G. Narke stated, Saibaba never gave me any mantra, tantra or upadesa,

and so far as I know, he gave them to nobody. (Contributed by Source: "The Life

and Teachings of Saibaba of Shirdi" by Antonio Rigopoulos) DEVOTEES SAY:

RobertDear friends: I enjoyed and was inspired very much by both of the answers

to the question in this issue about how we are to know if we have won Sai´s

grace. But, at the same time, it seems that there was a language problem

present. Sadashiv seemed to speaking of grace for something in particular –

sadhana and spiritual growth in and through the attunement with the Guru. Ravin

was talking about grace in a more general context. I think both are valid and

both are very important for all sincere devotees to remember. I always remember

a conversation I had with a great saint just after a somewhat humorous situation

with a

person passing on the street. He said that, not only is it so with the saints,

but with all of us and we should be more conscious of how God works in this

world because no one who has a contact with a person actively attuning himself

to the Divine will ever be the same afterward. Maybe to a small degree, maybe

to a large degree, but his life readjusts spiritually at that moment by that

contact. This is an incredible statement, but I am convinced it is true. And

especially with regard to the contact – external or internal – with a great

saint, such as Shirdi Baba!! DevikaBaba is just great. I was searching for a

job for the past 4 months. Many devotees may know because I used to write

regular prayers. Now I got a job. I was really tensed and told Baba that I will

not eat non-veg on Thursdays. After 2nd Thursday, I got it. I will continue with

my prayer. In between, these days I went to see an astrologer and he told I

won't get job. But I had

faith in Baba and continued to pray. On Monday, I will join. Just chant Baba's

name you will be blessed. ChandraBaba, thank you for getting me the funding, I

am awaiting and praying for the next one. SheebaI always believed Baba always

comes to our rescue when we really think of him truly in our heart and mind. I

was very much worried about my son who was around 15 months and was very weak

and not showing any interest in walking. I even wrote about this in the prayer

group column of the Sai Vichaar newsletter and pray to Baba about the problem

of my son. After few days on one Thursday night my son took his first few steps

and we where all overjoyed and our eyes filled with water to see another miracle

of Baba. Whatever baba does is for our goodness but we should have faith in him

and a lot of patience. PRAYER CLUB: PoonamI am in trying to conceive since

last 5 years. You believe me that I will conceive but now my patience is going

to be end. Doctors advised me to go for IVF. But I am very afraid from all

surgeries. Baba I do not know what to do, where to go, which doctor I should

consult and how I will manage money. Baba please help me and show me the way.

KrishnaSairam, lately my son is going through difficult phase in life since he

has been going to High School, he has always been a bright student in his life,

but things have changed. How much hard I try he is not paying attention in his

studies. Please shower your blessings on him so he works hard and improves his

scores. KoushalyaI have great faith on You. Please help me and my husband Sai

Ram. BalaBaba my friend is in the hospital in intensive care unit. Please make

him get better soon, Sai

devotees please pray for Tom's speedy recovery. SwapnaBaba, I want to see you.

Can you please appear in my dream once? SheelaSai Ram, Sai once again Ashok's

job is gone, we really do not know how to handle this situation. Please Sai,

find him a good job and change his attitude and nature so he can continue his

job in one place. SrinivasIt has been long time, I have no job. Am striving

hard as well to get a job as soon as possible. It is only possible by your

grace. PraveenaPlease support us through and guide us through a new path we are

seeking to success. Sai devoteeMy dear Baba, I wrote a requesting letter to You

few months ago, begging You to take care of my younger daughter. Please Baba,

You know what all we went through and how she is suffering with all problems.

You are

everything for us, please Baba take care of my baby and solve her problems. Sai

DevoteeThanks Baba, You gave me job today. I was so depressed. Please give me

call everyday. You know my husband also does not have a job. Please make him

Your devotee and take him in Your sharan. Thanks for every thing, for my trip

to India. A devoteeBaba please help me. You know all my problems, since my

husband passed away and You know my health and habit problems, please heal me

Baba. I beg of You to look my way if only for one minute. GeetaPlease pray that

Suraj should get another good job. The job at present are posing lots of

hassles. There is no peace of mind in the shipping job that he is doing. Also

the timings are not fixed. He is not getting time for his family and friends.

Some other good job should come his way so that he can change this job and

settle down elsewhere.

Sai devoteeOh Sai! I bow always to Your lotus feet to get me a long term

project as a contractor in clinical industry with no middlemen as I am trying

very hard with no results yet. Oh Sai Ram! please give me strength to stand on

my own feet and also I pray to answers all our Sai devotees prayers too. Please

bless us to read Sai Satcharita daily and I would surely keep writing my

experiences in this newsletter. Always show us a righteous path.

EXPERIENCE OF DEVOTEES: A Sai DevoteeI wish to write my recent experience I

had and I was out of it just due to Sai's grace. I work for a major automobile

company here in North America and I was given a project to handle by our

management, which was beyond my area of expertise. Things turned worse, project

failed to be delivered on the deadline for various reasons, and I was held

accountable

for it. This came right before the time when the company was choosing candidates

for lay-offs within the company After suffering for sometime and not knowing

which way to go, I finally approached my immediate supervisor. Much to my

amazement, my supervisor did not feel I was at fault, but rather found the

fault at the original source from where the request for the project came from.

He not only personally made it a point to get me the correct expertise and help

needed to get the project completed, but also volunteered to talk to the top

management in my favor. Not only did the project get underway, I also got away

from a mistake, which could have cost me my job. During the time of going

through the agony and pain, not once did it occur that I should talk to my

supervisor. It was only when I prayed to Shree Sai to get me out of this and my

promise to write my experience on Sai Vichaar, that I got the thought(buddhi) to

talk to my supervisor. SapnaI am into recruitment section in consultancy. Last

month I had to face difficult situation. I got short listing of candidates for

interview from my client side. That time I called one of my previous short

listed candidates also. Next day when I confirmed with my client, he directly

refused to call old candidates so I called that old candidate again but he told

that he had booked his airfare ticket. I was shocked so I requested him to

cancel his ticket. But that air flight has no provision for cancellation of

tickets. I felt very bad that without confirming his appointment, I called him

up for an interview. Not only did I give him a false hope but also wasted his

money in air tickets, which he will not get back on cancellation. That time I

prayed to Saibaba to save this candidate's money. In lunch hour I was very

depressed, before starting my lunch I took Baba's name and again called up

client officer, the same person who was earlier quite reluctant,

this time said that he would try to manage and arrange that candidate interview.

After 1 to 2 hours, he confirmed me with specific date and time. The next day

that candidate was called for an interview. In the evening that candidate

called me up and told me that among all other candidates he has been selected.

I was so surprised and happy. How Baba managed all things and helped me.

Yesterday that candidate had an offer letter also. Thanks Baba for everything.

Baba, always be with me and bless me and my family members. SumeetI just wanted

to share my experience of how Baba was with me through out my sickness, surgery

and recovery period. A month back I started having severe headaches. Initially

the attacks were once in two days and then they reached three times a day. The

headaches were so severe that I wanted to take apart my head. Fortunately for

us, Baba called us to the Sai mandir in Baldwin, NY and blessed us with

vibhuti. During one of

the attacks, my wife put that vibhuti and in five minutes, my attack got over.

>From that day onwards whenever I used to get the attack, we used to put vibhuti

and both me and my wife used to chant Om Sairam and it reduced my attack period

from two hours to 30 minutes. When we met the doctor, he diagnosed that I had

polyps in my sinuses and hence my infection is not curing. He asked us to go

for surgery. In the Operation Theatre, I went under general anesthesia with the

thoughts of Sai Ram. Luckily, during surgery doctor found out that it was a

fungus ball and he did not had to cut anything. Sai Ram helped me during my

recovery phase too. Due to general anesthesia and morphine, I developed severe

constipation. Baba pulled me out through it too. Sai devotees please never get

depressed, He is always with us and will always come to over rescue. Sanjay,

New DelhiDear Sir, thanks a lot again for sending me the Sai Vichaar. Here I

want to share my

experience. My son is a case of cerebral palsy. He was not able to sit. Only the

day after my wife cried and prayed in front of Baba, he sat on his own. I got an

opportunity to do my MTech at IIT by praying to Baba. Now my son is walking

independently. Of course, he is not able to speak. But we have great faith on

Baba that he will talk with us soon. He is now 4 yrs old. Really, Baba takes

away our sorrows when we pray with faith and patience. Sai bless us.

QUOTATION OF THE WEEK: "Let us be content to remain as He makes us, to submit

our wills to His. (Allah rakega vahisa rahena)".-Sai Baba QUESTION OF THE

WEEK: Q. How are we to know that we have won Sai's grace? A. by Kandappa When

will you know that you have the grace of the Sadguru, when

the particular stage is reached the Sadguru appears from nowhere. A devotee was

tired when walking through a forest and rested under full-grown tree. A bird

let the droppings on him and he got irritated and angrily at the bird. The bird

was burnt to ashes then and there. He was very elated and felt very proud of his

level of spiritual attainment. He went home, his wife was serving him lunch, and

something went wrong he looked very hard at his wife. She retorted and said 'do

you think that I am also a bird on the tree'. He was wondering as to how she

knew what happened in the forest and realized her level of spiritualism even

though she was a housewife. As a housewife for her 'work is worship' and 'duty

is God'. The energy inside you should be activated and kept alive and you will

know when you have the grace of Sadguru. The husband immediately prostrated at

her feet and accepted her as his Guru. SAI ACTIVITIES:

Shirdi Sai Temple of Chicago and Suburbs, Illinois, USAShirdi Sai temple is

open daily from 8:00 a.m to 9:00 p.m (Winter hours). Daily program includes

Kakad Arathi at 8 a.m followed by Abhisek. Madhayana Arathi at 12 noon, Dhoop

Arathi at 6 p.m and Shej Arathi at 9 p.m. Archana, Homams, Sahasranama and

sponsored poojas continue in between the Arathis. To request a pooja for

yourselves, your friends and family, please call. Devotees can request water

(Abhishek Jal) from the Holy bathing of Baba by sending us an email or by

phone. Temple is located 25 minutes drive west of Schaumburg on intersection of

IL Route 47 and Plank Road in Hampshire, IL. For more information please call

847-931-4058 or send email to maildrop (AT) saibaba (DOT) org. Shirdi Saibaba Prayer

Center, MinnesotaRegular Sai activities in Minneapolis, St.Paul area are being

conducted at Shirdi Saibaba Prayer Center, 725 Lake St NE, Apt #139 Hopkins

MN. For details, please contact hamaresai , or call Shirdi Saibaba

Prayer Center at 952-938-2983, and to read the monthly newsletter Sai Sandesh,

visit www.hamaresai.org. Sri Shirdi Sai Baba Temple of Dallas/Fort Worth,

TexasSri Shirdi Sai Baba Temple of DFW Metroplex is located at 2109 West Parker

(Parker Plaza), Suite 212, Plano, TX 75023. For temple hours and activities

please call the temple office at 469-467-3388 or visit the website

www.shirdisaidallas.org. Shirdi Sai Satsang, Bay Area, CaliforniaShirdi Sai

Parivaar invites all to join us for Satsang every Thursday 7:30 pm at Odd

Fellows Temple, 20589 Homestead Road, Cupertino, CA 95014. For details please

call 408-564-6704 or send email to saibandhu or visit

www.ShradhaSaburi.org. Sai Satsang, New Jersey, USAShirdi Sai Dham, Inc

regularly conducts Sai bhajans followed by Aarti and Parsad

on every 1st Saturday of each month at Durga Mandir, Kendall Park, New Jersey

from 3 pm to 5 pm (Winter Hours). All are requested to kindly come and receive

Baba's blessings. For more information, please call us at 609-275-1334 or visit

www.shirdisaidham.org or email us at shirdisaidham (AT) hotmail (DOT) com Shirdi Sai

Satsang, Toronto, CanadaShirdi Sai Baba Sansthan of Canada cordially invites

all to join in every Thursday evening 7:00 pm at the following two locations:

Sai Dwarkamai - 147 Winston Castle Dr, Markham ON, L6C 2N4 or Gur Mandir, 207

Queen's Plate Dr, Etobicoke ON, M9W 6Z7. For more details call: 416 402 8089 or

email saileela99 Shirdi Sai Mandir, Scarborough, CanadaThe Shirdi Sai

Mandir located at 2721 Markham Road, Scarborough, Ontario, M1X 1L5

(Intersection of Markham and Nashdene) is open Monday to Friday from 6:30 p.m

to 8:30 p.m. and Saturday to Sunday from 10:30 a.m to 8:30 p.m.

Dhoop Aarti is at 7:30 p.m. everyday. Bhajans are on Saturday from 5:00 p.m.

onwards. For other temple activities and information please call 647-444-4724

or send an email to info (AT) theshirdisaimandir (DOT) com. Shirdi Sai Satsang in

Vancouver, BC, CanadaShirdi Sai parivar in Vancouver invites you for bhajans,

every Thursday (6:30pm - 7:30 pm) at 8571, 118A Street, Delta, V4C 6L2. For

further details contact Ritu (604)592 4182 or email at sai_ish (AT) hotmail (DOT) com.

Sai Satsang, SingaporeTo all Shirdi Sai Baba devotees in Singapore, Sai

Sansthan, Singapore is organizing Shirdi Sai Baba prayer session every Saturday

between 18:30 hrs to 20:30 hrs at 2nd floor function hall, Sri Vadapathira

Kaliamman temple, (opp. to Sinda), 555, Serangoon Road, Singapore-218174. We

invite you all to participate and seek Baba's blessings. For further details,

please visit www.saisansthan.com. Sai Baba

Satsang in Auckland, New ZealandSai Baba Satsang ( Bhajans , Provochan , Sai

Ashotottram and Shej Arathi ) is held every Thursday from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm at

MT Roskill War Memorial Hall, May Road , Mt Roskill, Auckland, NZ. For more

detials visit our website http://www.shirdisaibaba.org.nz or mail to

info (AT) shirdisaibaba (DOT) org.nz. FROM THE EDITORS KEYBOARD: Sai Vichaar thanks

you for your support for the Question of the Week feature. This feature is

intended to initiate useful discussion on topics related to Sai philosophy, His

message, and Sai devotion. Please send your suggested topics for the same. Sai

devotee Meenakshi Kumar suggested the Question of the week as follows: When

Hemadpant asked Sri Sai, "Baba do all the crowding around you are benefited?"

Sri Sai answered that only a few flowers ripe into fruits, not all are

benefited. My question is why is it so? Q. How are we to know that we have won

Sai's grace? Humbly Yours,The Editor ABOUT THIS EMAIL: This newsletter is

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