Sai Vichaar for Thursday, March 23, 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: Stones and

Diamonds To be able to visit the Holy Shrine in Mecca is a matter of great

significance to the followers of Islam. Even if done

once in a lifetime, Muslims revere the occasion as the most blissful moment of

their entire life. Those who successfully complete this pilgrimage to Haj are

respectfully addressed as Haji and they command a high social status. Sidik

Falke from Kalyan, Maharashtra, India, was one such blessed follower of Islam

who visited Mecca and Madina and came to be known as "Haji" Sidik Falke. In his

quest for spiritual fulfillment, Haji came to Shirdi to meet Baba. Shri

Hemadpanth narrates Haji's visit to Shirdi and how he was treated by Baba (Shri

Sai Satcharitha Ch. XI, English version by Shri NV Gunaji). How could a

spiritually inclined person, Haji, a Saadhaka in his own right, be ignored at

Baba's court? Why did the merciful fakir ignore this apparently pious man? Baba

told Shama, "You are too young to understand this. If Allah does not allow, what

can I do?" After giving Haji, the necessary lessons in humility, Baba threw away

His kolamba (mudpot), rushed towards Haji and

said, "Why do you brag and fancy yourself great and pose yourself as an old

Haji? Do you read Koran like this? You are proud of your pilgrimage to Mecca,

but you do not know me". His ego completely annihilated, blessed Haji was

enlisted in Baba's court. Even great men fail due to this "giving in" to the

myth of ego. Guru's grace will be on those that can successfully isolate the

"self" component and shatter the walls. Once Guru's grace is obtained, it is

the spiritual responsibility of the seeker to sustain Guru's grace. Intense

practice is necessary to ward off the creeping ego. Experiences at the end of

any spiritual pursuit should if any, be limited to the satisfaction that the

ego is kept away in the blissful presence of the divine, for even a little slip

here awakens the pride. Diamonds are the ones that glow, being hollow of any

obstructions to the divine light. CONTRIBUTED ARTICLE: Where are

You My Lord? Where are You? I have searched for You In temples and ashrams In

masjids and minars But, I failed to feel You. I have searched for You In

churches and chapels In gurudwaras and gopurams But, I failed to absorb You. I

have searched for You In discourses and bhajans In meditations and murthis But,

I failed to invoke You. I have searched for You In mountains and valleys In

forests and caves But, I failed to see You. I have searched for You in Rivers

and rivulets In brooks and lakes But, I failed to trace You. I have searched

for You In flowers and fragrances In the universe and ether But, I failed to

know You. I have searched for You In swamis and sadhus In gurus and samadhis

But, I failed to get You.' I have searched for You In japa and tapa In fasting

and reciting But, I failed to hold on to You. I have searched for You In

retreats and resolutions In resorts and rationalization But, I failed to meet

You. I have searched for You Everywhere day and night It is now beyond my

imagination Reveal Yourself Oh my Lord! Ah! You are here my Lord, within Me!

Just waiting for me to open up to You Yes, You will not reveal to half-hearted

efforts Unless I submit myself by thought, word and action My Lord! You are

within me But, fool am I that I searched for you outside Without giving up what

I am holding on And living up to your expectations. Due to my ignorance and

arrogance I failed to enjoy Your love for me so far You are just waiting for my

correct moves To take me into Your lap. Thank You My Lord! for the

transformation Now, I can see You clearly In every beam of Sun-rays In every

moon-lit night In every flower In every smile In everything animate and

inanimate In

fact, You Are and nothing else. Thank You My Lord for Your Blessings and Love.

(Contributed by Paritala Gopikrishna) DEVOTEES SAY: AnitaThanks a lot

Saibaba for showering your blessings on me. My contract was getting ended in

March. I sincerely prayed to Saibaba that my contract should be extended

another 1 month so that I look for another job in 1-month period. My Baba's

grace my contracted was extended one more month. Baba, please help me to find a

permanent job as early as possible. I pray to all sai devotees to have faith in

Baba. A devoteeI have been a Sai devotee for the past 7 years after my

marriage. I am very grateful to my mother in law for giving me the Sai

Satcharitha. I was unable to attend the Guru Poornima celebrations in our area.

I was feeling very bad about it and kept thinking that I would

definitely attend the Ramanavami celebrations in April. We had bought tickets to

visit my brother-in-law between April 6 and April 10. But we got our citizenship

interview letter for April 7. So we were very disappointed and we postponed our

trip to next weekend. The next day, I got a mail from the Sai group that the

Ramanavami celebrations are on April 8th. I was very happy that Sai had

postponed our trip so that we could attend the function. I thank you sincerely

and I have no words to describe what you have given me. Please bless my

daughter and please always be with us. PunamI want to first thank Sai Baba and

then this website, which gives us a provision to Pray and to Share our

Experiences. It also gives knowledge and a great feeling with more faith in

Baba's feet. Every human being has to pass with some bad and good times. This

site is useful in both times. In Sai Satcharitha, it is mentioned and then

devotees prayed through Baba's great

bhakta like Shama, Mahalsapati. This magazine is just like a great bhakt of Sai

Baba by which you can pray to Baba, Thanks to Baba .I am a regular reader of

this site and magazine and every time I pray, I read I feel more faith and more

encouragement towards Baba bhakti. Thanks a lot. PRAYER CLUB: SwapnaSai,

Please help Hema with her baby and pregnancy. KamathBaba I pray from the depth

of my heart baba...baba be with my husband during his interview and always with

us and help him in getting this job. I also request all Sai bandus to pray for

us. RamanathanAtul and Swathi are having problem with their speech and hearing.

You know how much troubles they are undergoing, please help them in their speech

and hearing as only Your blessings can help them speak and hear well. Sai

devoteeDear Sai devotees, please pray for our son to concentrate better and

become responsible in his studies. Pray for our family. SampaBaba please take

care of my parents and in laws and please be with my mother-in law during her

surgery. SoundaryaBaba please shower your blessing on my brother help him to be

a brave person and help him in getting married and settled soon. NeelimaPlease

help my husband to extend his job in the same company. RajaniPlease take care

of my niece during her exams and see to that she writes well and get very good

marks and pass with excellence. Please be with her always. NandakumarI am

jobless for the past one year. I request everybody to pray me to get a job in

the SAP as a consultant. SupriyaMy wish is that you must cure my daughter's

eyes, as you are my only God. She is taking medicine and we all wish that you

should bless her with improvement in her eyesight. EXPERIENCE OF DEVOTEES:

ShiriI would like to relate an experience that happened to me last week. My

mother had severe back and neck pain. As I live away from my mother, I prayed

to Baba to help reduce my mother's pain and I applied udi to my neck praying to

Baba to reduce my mother's pain as if I am doing it to my mother. I prayed to

Baba that I would write my experience as soon as my mother's pain reduces. The

next day I called my mom and she told me that she is feeling better, but still

has little pain and this week she is feeling completely better. I am so happy

that her pain reduced and by Baba's grace she is feeling good. Thank you Baba

for protecting my family.

Baba help us and protect us always. Thank you Baba for everything.

AchutaramaiahRecently my wife and me made a trip to Shirdi. Since there was a

rush, I used my Ex-service card to get a quick entry. We got the entry fast but

were pushed aside in a hurry because the arathi time at 12:00 pm was

approaching. My garland was accepted fast and no flowers were given. We just

touched the Samadhi and we were bundled out quickly. My wife was in tears and

appealed to Baba to help us to see Him again. So we went in the afternoon at

4:00 pm and went by the normal route. We saw Him soon from the left side. I

asked the priest to give me a flower at least, he recognized me and gave a full

garland in my hand! I was overjoyed. But my wife again appealed to Baba to let

us visit Him again. And lo! as soon as we came out, we were asked to join a big

party heading to the mandir directly through special pass. This time my wife

went before me, saw Baba and had full

darshan. Tears rolled down her face and she saw Him again and again to her full

satisfaction- even the guards allowed her to stand for full five minutes while

they jostled the other crowd. We had a great day seeing Him three times. We

thanked Him again and again. Soon it was evening arathi time and we sat in the

opposite garden and listened to the arathi songs with awe and sang the arathi

songs along with the multitudes in choked voices. From the garden, one can hear

and see Him on TV and also see Him through the window right across. I am sure

devotees may note this vantage point where one can hear, see Him on TV and also

see BABA with the priest garlanding. So I want to thank Baba again and again and

my wife was very glad to see Him in full divine glow. Yes we feel in our hearts

that the day was an unusual one to us to be invited by Baba three times. Baba

is living and listens to all poor and rich alike. Please pray to Baba with

faith. A Sai

devoteeTo all Sai devotees, I promised Sai Baba I would write my experiences if

I get residency (MD) in Internal Medicine in USA. I got residency in Internal

Medicine this year even though I had multiple attempts and low scores in USMLE

exams. This is just nothing but a miracle. I also would like to share other

experiences, I had a dream in the early hours in 2004 that Saibaba was blessing

me and he was telling me that all my desires will come true and he also

mentioned that I am going to build Sai mandir. Lot of changes took place after

that dream. I came to US, I got residency now, I got green card, I had

persisted elevated liver enzymes, all my other tests were negative, I went to

Shirdi and prayed Saibaba to bring my liver functions to normal, after my

return I checked my liver functions, it was normal. It is just a miracle. One

day I was praying to Sai Baba and asked Him to come to my house in any form,

the same evening, I found Baba's photo in my friend's car. We

don't believe that we have hands and legs, we know it is there so is Saibaba, He

is there with us we believe something which is unknown to us, Saibaba is not

unknown, have faith and patience, He gives everything that is good for us. Read

Sai Satcharitha everyday. These are just few miracles out of so many miracles in

my life. QUOTATION OF THE WEEK: "This fakir has compassion for all and

will look after you very lovingly"-Saibaba QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Q. What

is the best way to worship Saibaba of Shirdi? What should be our routine? A. by

Madhumoorti The best way of worshipping Baba is to sincerely follow his

teachings up to the last word. Rather than having blind faith on Him just

because thousands of people are worshipping Him, it should be

like what Rabindranath Tagore says, "Faith is the song of a bird which feels the

light and sings when the dawn is still dark". The bird knows for sure that the

sun is going to arise and the darkness is going to be dispelled. Out of that

happiness, it sings. So too, we Sai devotees should worship Him with fullest

Shradda and just develop that unconditional Love towards Him. Rest assured the

benevolent Sai will take care of our needs. As for the routine is concerned, we

should start with chanting Sai, Sai and praying to Baba right in the morning

when we get up. Every action, emotion and thought should be oblated to Him and

with His approval should be discharged. Anything we eat, we should offer the

same to Sai Baba, mentally, thank Him for what He has given us and then eat.

Similarly at the end of the day before going to bed, we should again remember

His name and thank Him for all that He gave us during the day. We can surely

feel His presence always with us and peace and

happiness sets in our hearts. Q. What is the best way to worship Saibaba of

Shirdi? What should be our routine? A. by Karthikeyan, Australia In Sai

Satcharitha. Chapter 22, Hemadpant suggests an easy way of devotion and

meditation as follows: "Let us try to see Baba's light. Look at Baba's posture,

how fine it is! He is sitting with His legs folded, the right leg held across

the left knee. The fingers of His left hand are spread on the right-foot. On

the right toe are spread His two fingers-the index and middle ones. By this

posture Baba means to say, as it were-if you want to see My Light, be egoless

and most humble and meditate on My toe through the opening between the two

branches-index and middle fingers-and then you will be able to see My Light.

This is the easiest means of attaining devotion." And in chapter 11 he mentions

about worshipping formless and God with form: "There are two

aspects of God or Brahman: (1) the Unmanifested (Nirgun) and (2) the Manifested

(Sagun). The Nirgun is formless, while the Sagun is with form, though both

denote the same Brahman. Some prefer to worship the former, some the latter. As

stated in the Gita (chapter XII) the worship of the latter is easy and

preferable. As man has got a form (body, senses, etc.), it is natural and easy

for him to worship the God with form. Our love and devotion do not develop

unless we worship Sagun Brahman for a certain period, and as we advance; it

leads us to the worship (meditation) of Nirgun Brahman. So let us start with

Sagun worship. Image, altar, fire, light, sun, water, Brahman are the seven

objects of worship, but Sadguru is better than all these. Let us, on this

occasion, bring to our mind the form of Sai, Baba respected the feelings of His

devotees and allowed them to worship Him as they liked. Some waved Chamara or

fans before him, some played on musical instruments, some

washed His hands and Feet, some others applied scent and chandan, some gave

betel nut with leaves and other things, and some others offered naivaidya. The

devotee may choose any form or method he pleases and Hemadpant suggests

evolving from a form Deity (not Idol) worship to a formless (Brahman). Baba,

Himself used to serve non-vegetarian food and this should not prevent

non-vegetarians worshipping Baba. A person need not feel "guilty" about their

habits, whether food, drinks or moral values to take recourse at the feet of

Lord. Yet, Baba has mentioned in Chapter 22 "God lives in all beings and

creatures, whether they be serpents or scorpions. He is the Great Wirepuller of

the world, and all beings, serpents, scorpions etc., obey His command. Unless He

wills it, nobody can do any harm to others. The world is all dependent on Him,

and no one is independent. So we should take pity and love all creatures, leave

off adventurous fights

and killings and be patient. The Lord (God) is the Protector of all." Perhaps

this is an indication of the need to evolve to a state of being able to view

all living beings as one creation of God. 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 4:30 pm onwards 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 Saibaba

Sansthan invites all to join for satsangs every Thursday 7:00 pm at Sai

Dwarkamai, 147 Winston Castle Dr. Markham, Ontario, L6C 2N4, phone 416-402-8089

or email: saileela99 . To request a pooja for yourselves, your friends

and family for any occasion at your residence, please call. Devotees can

request udi or Holy water (Abhishek Jal) from the Holy bathing of Baba by

sending us an

email or by phone. 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 activities in Vancouver, CanadaShirdi Sai

parivar in Vancouver invites you for satsang, every Thursday (6.30-7.30pm). And

Sai abhishek and satsang on first Sunday of every month (11am-12.30pm), at

8571,118A St, Delta, BC, V4C 6L2.For further details contact (604) 592 4182 or

email sai_ish (AT) hotmail (DOT) com. 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 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 Editor ABOUT

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[Guest guest]

om sai ram,

 

Today is my last day at my current job as I have resigned because we are

relocating. I have left my career in sai baba'a hands

to find a good job in my new place as I know he will only do whats best for me.

However I must relate a story that has happened the past week. My brother who is

mentally retarded was very sick this pass weekend. He had a problem with his

throat and he had not had a drop of water or any food for three days therefore

he was really dehydrated.After various attempts to help him we

decided to put him in hospital the next morning. Before I went to bed I had

prayed and placed vibhuti on his neck. The next morning when we got up and

checked him he was well and he had something to drink. Thank you Sai Baba for

helping us.