Sai Vichaar for Thursday, March 16, 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: Precious

Pearls Sri Sai Satcharitha is a beautiful gem studded necklace ever shining and

radiant with Sri Sai's teachings and with every gem

carved and decorated in its own intricate style. Sri Sai gave his teachings in a

very concise and metaphorical way. In Sai Satcharitha Sri Hemad pant wrote about

the futility of idle gossip and how Sai warned us against it. Gossip means to

tell rumors to people or personal facts about other people in a malicious way.

Sri Sai chided the lawyer who partook in the criticism of the local court

judge. The lawyer talked about this to Dikshit, "It was his grace to teach me

that futile debates, and discussions, scornful, critical reviling, and such

wicked thoughts about anyone, should be given up." Further, Sri Hemad pant

wrote that, in every sense and every way this advice is equally instructive for

all. In another story, Sri Sai metaphorically compared a village sow feasting on

the excreta of public to the devotee who busied himself in criticizing and

abusing others. Sri Sai said," He who fritters away this precious human birth

and bent on self destruction, to such a one,

what happiness or peace can this Shirdi give?" Gossip should not become into a

mode of entertainment to group people together. To get rid of the gossiping is

a very demanding process for the people who gossip. Nevertheless, the grace of

Sri Sai and the sincere devotion towards him would always bring the change for

good in one's heart. By avoiding this habit of gossiping, one feels more peace

and integrity in the heart. Let your tongue loose, you are in every trouble.

Control your tongue you are beyond trouble. The best form of worship to Sri Sai

is our sincere attempts to follow his teachings. As told by Sri Sai, "You look

to me .I look to you." CONTRIBUTED ARTICLE: Baba's Miracle! I was stuck

with a job in a Government institution for the past two decades. Not that I did

not make attempts to switch jobs. Somehow, I never succeeded, partially because

I had never made a

serious attempt at an opportune time. I had almost resigned myself to the

monotonous job, which offered no satisfaction, though I had risen to a senior

level. I got into Sri Saibaba worship and belief some time ago (since 1991) and

have completed many rounds of Sri Sai Satcharitha parayana. However, over the

years, as my dissatisfaction with the job grew, my wife and I prayed more

deeply to Baba for a job change. Considering my age and low level of

self-confidence in switching to a private company job, I was wondering as to

how that would be possible. But for Samartha Sadguru Sai Baba, nothing is

impossible. He first offered me an opportunity to work in a US-based company

(incidentally, my years of experience does not suit IT jobs) where the work is

related to my earlier job. It is here that Baba's miracle worked. Not only was

I able to learn the analysis package (totally new to me) easily, but also able

to work directly on an on-going project and prove myself within a short span of

two months. The Managing Director here and the higher- ups in US were satisfied

to offer me a job right away, without even a formal interview! For me, this is

nothing short of a miracle! As promised to Him, I am sharing this experience

with Sai devotees through this newsletter, which I read regularly. Looking

back, I felt Baba's presence with me every moment that I worked these two

months, guiding me all along. Now, in this short period, Baba filled me with

all the confidence which I had lacked all these years, and now I am sure that,

with His constant guidance and grace, I can make up for all the lost years and

make quick progress in the new job, which I find very interesting. Believe me,

I never felt any fear while voluntarily retiring from a secure Government job.

I bow to Sri Sainath's lotus feet in gratitude, and pray that He guide me so

that I sincerely dedicate myself to my new job and make progress. (Contributed

by BLV Murthy) DEVOTEES SAY: RituI read a devotees experience sent by

someone I knew. It came to my mind that what was described was not a big deal

at all. A couple of months later I found myself in the same 'no big deal'

situation. I apologized to Baba and promised that if I escape unharmed I would

post my apologies in Sai Vichaar. Thank you Baba for showing me the right way.

Please take care that Ego (Ahankaar) wil never ever touch me. RajeshRecently, I

prayed to Sai Baba by posting my requests in the Devotees Forum. I started

reading the Sai Satcharitha and received a long-pending payment from my office

the next Thursday. I received another reimbursement on Thursday. Last Thursday,

I was very tense and anxious about my daughter's CBSE Class X exam. Baba guided

me to read Chapter X in the Sai Satcharitha. I felt peaceful. I am grateful

that my daughter felt

relaxed and she feels that she did the paper well. Bow to Shri Sai, Peace be to

all. RajaniThank you very much Baba for helping me to resolve my tuition refund

appeal with which I have been facing problems for nearly three months at the

University. Please help me to solve the remaining problems and clear all my

doubts. VasanthaBaba thanks a lot for blessing me clear all problems with my

H1. Please continue showering blessings on us and help me find a job.

SaraswathiThanks Sai for giving my husband a good job. I know you are with us

always. Sai, make us good human beings. UmaI was praying everyday for the past

1 year or so that my brother should be settled in a good job and I would write

the same in Sai Vichaar. Last week, my brother's job was confirmed. Thank you

Sai for taking care of us. It only confirms our belief that

Baba knows what we need and he gives it at the right time. PRAYER CLUB:

ViswanathDeva, please help me recover fast from my sickness. Please grant me

strength, courage and health to lead a normal life. Bless my wife as this is a

tough time for her also. Sai devoteeI want to pray for my friend. She wants

transfer to Kerala branch of the office where she is working now. She is in

Mumbai. Her parents are seriously ill and the higher-ups in the office are not

passing her transfer orders. Sai please let this transfer take place. A Sai

devoteeSai please take care of my husband, for his blood test has come positive

for TB. He is asked to go for a biopsy test today. He is so scared as to what

will happen. If it is going to effect our son and me. Sai please take care of

him. HariniBaba, help me to bear the pains. I have had enough. Help me, ward

off all the trouble and free me from these at least for a while. A

devoteePlease Sai, help me find a job. I cannot see my husband depressed

because of me. You have always shown your presence in my life. PraveenPlease

get me the project and take care of my wife and baby. SriramWith your grace, I

got this new job and I like it but also bless me that I will continue in the

job until my GC process gets over. Sai devoteeBaba, please bless my son. Please

show mercy on him and bless him to work hard and excel in his tests and exams.

VinothaPlease do bless us with the offer letter for the job that my husband is

waiting for a long time. EXPERIENCE OF DEVOTEES: SumathiI come from a poor

family and when I was studying twelfth grade I was unable to concentrate in my

studies especially math due to various problems in family. I was crying one day

in the classroom for getting lower marks in math in my first midterm test and I

was just praying Sai to help me concentrate more on my studies. One of my

teachers was watching me crying, called and asked me to go for math tuition. I

said I did not have enough money to pay for the fees and how will I pay for the

tuition. He thought for a minute and he said that I need not pay the tuition

fees and asked me to join the tuition class, which he was conducting. I

hesitated first, I did not go for the first two classes but then through

another friend of mine he asked me to join tuition class. My parents also

suggested me to join the tuition class and my father said that somehow he will

get the money for paying the fees. But the

teacher came to my home and told my father that he requires no fees at all. I

started to attend the tuition .The teacher didn't restrict me only to the math

but he also made sure that I was taught physics and chemistry at his home by

the other teachers. Until the examination, I was made to practice well. I

attended all the classes completely free of cost even for the entrance. When

the examination started, I prayed to Sai fervently. These were the words "Baba,

You know that I am not rich enough to pay all the tuition fees. The only way I

can show my gratefulness is by scoring a centum in math. I shall prepare well

for the exams but be with me and bless me to make it". I wrote my exams well.

When the results came, I was surprised to hear that I was the only centum

scorer in math in the whole school. My tuition teacher was very happy about it.

I could not believe my ears. I was awarded a silver cup for scoring the centum.

I met my teacher thanked him for his support and I got an

admission into the Engineering college as well. LakshmiTwo years ago I went to

my Eye doctor for my routine checkup and the nurse kept doing so many tests

that I had some doubts something was wrong. After that, the doctor came and

told me that I was a Glaucoma suspect and that my eyesight could start becoming

poor in another couple of years. The optic nerve was damaged up to 55 percent,

which was very rare in young people and I did not have eye pressure, which was

common in glaucoma patients. We really did not know the reason for the damage.

He then put me on some eye drops and told me to come every 3 months for regular

checkup. I started my treatment but was so worried about my future, my husband

and kids. I kept praying to God that I should not lose my full sight until I

lived. Then I came across this Sai Vichaar website site and started reading all

the miracles in the devotees lives. Then I started praying to Sai Baba that at

least He

should preserve the cells in the optic nerve that was remaining so that my

eyesight will not become very bad. I started visiting the doctor every 3 months

and was taking all the treatment they prescribed. After 18 months, the doctor

said he is going to check how much damage has been done in this time of

treatment. So I prayed to Sai Baba that if the damage has not increased anymore

I will post my experience in this website. Then the doctor did all the tests and

told me that the damage has not increased in optic nerve and I don't need drops

any more and I can come next year for my checkup. I immediately went to Sai

temple from the doctor's clinic and offered my thanks to Him. I just want to

tell that everyone should have faith and patience in God in time of trials.

QUOTATION OF THE WEEK: "To experience the Satsang one should approach those

saints, who are ever conscious of the

Truth, with sincerity of purpose, and experience the bliss of the Truth, which

is easily found in their august presence".-Sri Sarathbabu ji QUESTION OF

THE WEEK: Q. What is the best way to worship Sai aba of Shirdi? What should be

our routine? SAI ACTIVITIES: Sri Ramanavami celebrations in Chicago, USASri

Ramanavami and Urs festival celebrations are the first major celebration of the

year for Shirdi Sai devotees. The tradition started in 1910 and continues each

year. Shirdi Sai temple, Chicago will be celebrating the event for three days

starting from Thursday April 6th to Saturday April 8th. The program comprises

of Aartis, Maha Abhishek, Homam, Palki procession, Satcharitra parayan, bhajans

and much more. For complete details please visit

http://www.saibaba.us/index.html or call 847-931-4058. Sri Ramanavami-Urs

celebrations, MinnesotaShirdi Saibaba Prayer Center invites all to Sri

Ramanavami-Urs celebrations on April 8, 2006 from 3 pm to 9 pm at Geeta Ashram,

Brooklyn Park, MN. The event includes Sai abhishek, Sai aarathis, parayan, naam

jap and bhajans, palki procession and chandan utsav. Please visit

www.hamaresai.org for more details. 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-Ramnavami celebrations in Bay Area,

CaliforniaWe welcome all of you with family, to join us for Shirdi

Sai-Ramnavami celebrations in Bay Area, California on April

8th (Saturday) in Sunnyvale between 4:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Venue: Sanatan Dharma

Kendra, 897 E Kifer Rd, Sunnyvale, CA 94086, (Located in Reliance Technical

Service complex). For RSVP and Info contact: saibandhu or

408-564-6704 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 devotees to join for Shirdi

Sai satsang on Sunday March 19th at 10:30 am followed by preeti bhoj. Location:

The Gur Mandir, 207 Queens Plate Drive, Toronto, Ontario, M9W 6Z7,

Canada Tel: 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. Sai Satsang,

Seattle, WAWe are happy to inform all the devotees that there will be Abhishek

to Sri Sai Baba at HTCC Temple, Bothell (Seattle), WA at 7.00 pm on Thursday

March 16th, 2006 followed by Bhajans, Aarathi and Prasad distribution. Please

join in the above programs and get the Blessings of Sadguru Sri Sai Baba. For

further details please visit HTCC temple website: www.htccwa.org

Website on Saibaba of Shirdi in TamilDevotees are requested to note the

starting of a new website and e-magazine on Saibaba in Tamil. Please visit

www.srisaimarggam.org and write to omsairam (AT) srisaimarggam (DOT) com for more details.

Sai Vichaar hopes that this website will serve Tamil speaking Sai devotees all

over the world. FROM THE EDITORS KEYBOARD: Devotees are requested to refer

to Sai activities for information on a new website on Baba in Tamil. Sri

Ramanavami is celebrated during the second week of April 2006. Please refer to

Sai Activities to know more about the celebrations. Please write to

maildrop (AT) saibaba (DOT) org if you would like to publish about Sai activities in your

area. Sai devotee Poonam Arora suggests the following "Question of the week"

for the week, Q. What is the best way to worship Saibaba of Shirdi? What

should be our routine? If we are non-vegetarian, is it OK? Humbly Yours,The

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