Shirdi Sai Newsletter- Sai Vichaar for Thursday , October 27, 2005

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Sai Vichaar

www.saibaba.org

Thursday , October 27, 2005 :: Volume 8, Issue 24

(In its eighth year of publication.)

Sai Vichaar is a Weekly newsletter distributed every Thursday and is devoted to

the life, philosophy and teachings of Shri Sai Baba of Shirdi. Feel free to

forward this 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: Kaivalyam

To a spiritual aspirant, certain physical experiences are inexplicable. Certain

people and places are capable of bringing out unseen joy and indescribable

peace to a seeker. While this is a blessed experience for a seeker, skepticism

may describe this as a fantastic imagination of the week-minded. Sure, science

has several definitions for such a state of mind. As an example, let us examine

what a Hypnotist could do his subject. In this exercise, the Hypnotist proceeds

to hypnotize his subject whose only requirement is to be a subject to the order

of the hypnotist without offering any resistance. Thus, the hypnotized subject

can be happy or sad, ecstatic or gloomy, only until such time the hypnotist has

the spell. One sign of the Perfect Master is to be able to possess all Maha

Siddhis or Great Powers. One such power is known as "Kaivalyam", the ability to

impart the state of bliss to the chosen. Shri B V Narasimha Swami ji wrote in

"Life of Sai Baba, Part IV": When they reach Atman or Brahman, Yogis are said

to have the power of imparting such a state of bliss to persons fit to receive

it. G.S. Khaparde was a highly cultured Sanskrit scholar and had evidently read

Yoga Sastra. He has referred to certain instances and experiences of his diary

in the year 1911-12, while he stayed at Shirdi. Therein he repeatedly mentions

that Baba cast yogic glances at certain persons who were immediately filled

with a wave of bliss, which overpowered all their other mental activities and

kept them immersed in bliss for hours without break.

Baba had the power to completely blackout some lines of thought, e.g., that of

returning home from Upasani's mind for eight days after his first visit to

Baba. This yogic power, which blacks out completely unwanted thoughts would

evidently imply the power to give positive bliss to persons fit to receive it.

If a person is comparatively free from sin and vice and could keep his mind

sufficiently blank or sufficiently pure even for a while, any ordinary or

sufficiently experienced hypnotist with a command could fill his mind with

blissful thoughts over a considerable period. Baba's yoga sampoorna state

enabled Him to keep several people in such happy state as they themselves have

recorded in their experiences.

CONTRIBUTED ARTICLE: Sanmarga Sthapanaaya..Sainaathaaya

The importance and special value of human birth is, Man is being endowed with a

special faculty, i.e., Knowledge, with the help of which he can attain

God-vision, which is impossible in any other birth. It is for this reason that

Gods envy man's fortune and aspires to be born as men on earth, to get their

final deliverance. Thus, human body should neither be neglected nor fondled,

but should ever be engaged to attain God-Vision or Self Realization which is

the supreme end of life. Realizing how precious the human life is and knowing

that death is certain and may snatch us at any time, we should be ever alert

and strive to attain the object of our life i.e., Self-Realization. The most

effective and speedy way to gain our object is to approach a worthy Saint or

Sadguru, who has himself attained God Vision. The virtues of forgiveness,

calmness, charity, benevolence, control of mind and body, egolessness etc., are

observed by the disciples as they are being practiced in such pure and holy

company. This enlightens their minds and lifts them up spiritually. Lord

Sainath was such a Sadguru. Though He acted as a fakir, He was always engrossed

in the Self. He always loved all beings in whom He saw God or Divinity. Baba

said that He was Omnipresent, occupying land, air, country, world, light and

heaven. If any devotee meditated on Him day and night with complete

self-surrender, he experienced complete union with Him. One who wants to get

rid of the cycle of births and deaths, should lead a righteous life, with his

mind calm and composed. He should always engage himself in good actions, should

do his duties and surrender himself completely to Him with Love and devotion and

then see how, He helps him, off and on, in so many things.

Sai Baba always encouraged good thoughts. The following words of Baba regarding

our behavior are very invaluable and if they are kept in mind and acted upon,

they will always do us good. "Unless there is some relationship or connection,

nobody goes anywhere. If any men or creatures come to you, do not

discourteously drive them away, but receive and treat them, with due respect.

Shri Hari will be certainly pleased, if you give water to the thirsty, bread to

the hungry, clothes to the naked, and your verandah to strangers for sitting and

resting. Let anybody speak hundreds of things against you, do not resent by

giving any bitter reply. If you always tolerate such things, you will certainly

be happy. Let the world go topsy-turvy, you remain where you are. Standing in

your own place, look on calmly at the show of all things passing before you.

"Allah Malik" i.e., God is the sole Proprietor and nobody else is our

Protector. His method of work is extra-ordinary, invaluable, and inscrutable.

He will show us the way, and satisfy our heart's desires. It is on account of

Rinanubandha (former relationship) that we have come together, let us love and

serve each other and be happy. He, who attains the Supreme goal of life, is

immortal and happy, all others merely exist, i.e., live so long as they

breathe".(Sai Satcharitha, chapter 18 and 19)

(Contributed by Sai Eshwari)

CONTRIBUTED ARTICLE: continued...

Baba required no special place, nor any special time for giving instructions or

Upadesh. Whenever any occasion demanded, He gave them freely. Generally, we see

that people have a tendency to scandalize others unnecessarily and this brings

on hatred and ill-will. Saints see scandal, in another light. They say that

there are various ways of cleansing or removing dirt, viz., by means of earth,

water etc. But a scandalmonger removes the dirt of others by his tongue, so in

a way, obliges the person, whom he reviles and for this he is to be thanked.

Once when a devotee of Baba abused another behind his back and as speaking so

sarcastically that the hearers were disgusted, Baba in his own method of

correcting the scandalmonger has pointed out to him a pig that was eating filth

near the fence and said to him "Behold how, with what relish it is gorging dung.

Your conduct is similar. You go on reviling your own brethren to your heart's

content. After performing many deeds of merit, you are born a man and if you

act like this, will Shirdi help you in any way?" (Sai Satcharita chapter 18 and

19). In this way Baba went on giving instructions whenever necessary. There was

no limit, nor restriction to His instructions. It is impossible to describe all

His ways and methods. If these are borne in our minds and acted upon, the

Spiritual goal (Realization) is not far off. One has to exert himself to his

utmost for attaining Self Realization. The more he endeavors, the better for

him. He who trusts Him entirely, hears and expounds His Leelas and does not

think of anything else, is sure to attain Self Realization. Therefore have

faith only in the Supreme Divinity, surrendering your life to Him in the true

knowledge.

(Contributed by Sai Eshwari)

DEVOTEES SAY:

RaveendraWe thank You very sincerely for showing us the right house in such

quick time since praying to You through this website two weeks ago. Baba, I am

happy to inform you that we all liked it very much particularly my wife. Baba

we all invite You like You said to Shama "Hearing Shama, Baba gave His consent

saying, "after the temple is complete I will come there to stay" and staring at

the Wada(house) He added - "after the Wada is complete, we shall use it

ourselves, we shall live, move and play there, embrace each other, and be very

happy.". Once again thank You very much!

SwathiMy husband was playing with my daughter and accidentally her hand was

sprained. She cried a lot. I was really tensed and thought of calling the

emergency office of my doctor. Then I just calmed down and prayed to Baba. We

applied udhi on her hand and within minutes, the pain was gone. I am thankful

to you, Baba. You are always there for me in every walk of my life.

PrashanthDear Sai, with your unlimited grace, my sister's wedding proposal has

come through. We were in a lot of difficulty for the last 18 months trying to

find her a match. Finally, with your grace, we have found a suitable groom for

her. Please be with her always and bless her with a happy married life.

RajaniI submitted a prayer to Baba in Sai Vichaar last year for my son who was

struggling with his studies. He was not performing well at school which was

frustrating him and us as parents. I prayed to Baba to help him and I promised

to post my experience in Sai Vichaar if I see an improvement in my son. Surely

and without fail, Baba came to our rescue. My son got into advanced placement

class in his middle school and he is performing much better. All this is due to

Baba's blessings. Thank you Baba!

LakshmiOm Sai Ram. Thank you so much Baba for helping me to rejoin my masters

program. As I have promised You, I am writing this. Please always be with all

of us and protect us Baba.

MeenakshiThanks a lot for making our trip to Shirdi possible on 12th October. My

husband and me felt so good. Your Shirdi was so well decorated and we felt so

nice after having Your darshan. Your little Mehar also enjoyed there a lot. I

brought Sai Satcharitha from there. Please do call us every year to Your place.

Be in my heart always.

PRAYER CLUB:

ShankarSai, today I am in lots of problems. As You know that I work for a Stock

Broking Firm, I have been trying to help people, now I am in trouble, which You

know. Please get me out of this trouble and I promise You that in future I shall

refrain from all these activities. Please help.

AnuMy marriage and financial life both are in mess. I have tried applying

everywhere but I am rejected everywhere. You know everything about my married

life too. Please give us lots of love and respect for each other, so much that

I do not regret being married to him. Please make my husband love and care for

me very much and fill our life with lot of spiritual activities.

RohiniI want to change my job. Please help me find a good one from which I can build up my career.

SumaSai, please take care of my sister. You know what she has gone through. She

is lonely, depressed at times. Please give her the strength and courage to face

life and be successful. She needs your blessings Sai. Be there for her and guide

her through her life.

SaradaBaba! please help get through this situation and take care of my husband, daughter and son.

AkhilPlease Baba, I am begging You to help me before it becomes too late. I

really have no source of solace. I thought I could find that at Your lotus

feet, my only resort. So far, I have not found it yet. Baba, there is one wish

that I beg from You. That will go to some extent in granting me some peace and

less worry. So please, my sweet lord Sai, grant me that wish. It is something

only You can give.

SheebaMy baby suffers from allergies and is physicaly weak .He is 14 months old

and still not shows interest in stading by own or walking. I am really worried

about him as you know Baba. But I know with my past experiences You are with us

always during calamities to lighten our sorrows. Please give him good health and

shower your blessings on all of us. I bow down at Your lotus feet.

BomanSai Baba, I am still suffering for my past actions. Please do help me, for I really need it.

Sai devoteeOh! kind Sai thank you for listening to my previous prayers and

making my wish come true. Please Sai make it possible so I can meet my new

friend in person. Please continue to shower Your blessings upon us. Sri Sainath

Maharaj ki Jai.

Sai devoteeOh! our beloved Sri Sadguru Sainatha, my wife here is urgently in

need of a small correction in her experience letter from her old employer, we

were trying since past two days but nothing was happening on our side. Please I

request all Sri Shirdi Sai devotees to pray for us and get the things done

without any problems.

PujaOm Sai Ram! Baba, please help us with our visa problem. You know we have

struggled a lot for it. Also help us make the right decesion about our careers.

Please don't make us take any wrong step. Bless our family Sai.

EXPERIENCE OF DEVOTEES:

SuneetaMy husband was sent to USA for the project in Texas for 8 months, when I

was 3 months pregnant. As I was interested in finding a career in India, I did

not want to go but my husband forced me to accompany him. We landed in USA,

didn't have any medical insurance, but everything was going on wonderfully. Our

financial burden was gone and the project was getting extended. I prayed

everyday to Sai to get me a health insurance, which was arranged by Saibaba. I

did not have any risk factors all through my pregnancy and decided to deliver

in USA without anyone being called from India. I had C-Section as I predicted

and delivered a healthy cute little baby girl, but after 4 hours, I landed in a

serious complication called DIC with severe bleeding from my incision site whose

prognosis, as a gynaecologist, I am aware of. I was transfused many units of

fresh blood and blood products, my lab results were going down and down for no

reason. I was drowsy with the anesthesia. I was imagining this situation if had

occurred in India, without my husband around. Then it struck to me, this whole

trip to USA was a miracle arranged by Saibaba just because I was expected of

this complication and gathered my hopes in my death bed, together with Baba,

who was there for me in my every aspect of my life. Within 24 hours, I started

recovering and my life was saved by Baba even without me asking. I was given a

second life by Baba and I feel very much blessed by Him every second. I

remember Saibaba on every moment of life. Thank you Baba, bless each and

everyone in this world and save them from unexpected and untoward events.

ChayaIt was during the hurricane Rita time we were moving from Houston to

Dallas. In between on the way the gas(petrol) in the car was almost empty. We

thought that we would be stranded in the middle of the road in the midnight

with two small kids because all the gas stations we went were empty. We had

lost all the hopes. I was praying Baba to find some gas for us. When we were

enquiring in one of many gas stations for gas, suddenly one person came to us

and told our driver that nearby there is a gas station with gas and we moved

there and filled our tank. All this is due to the blessings of Saibaba. If that

unknown person would not guide us, I think we would be stranded in the middle of

the road. I feel it was Sai Baba that sends that person to guide us. Thanks a

lot Sai for helping us.

QUOTATION OF THE WEEK:

"Do not be obsessed by egotism, imagining that you are the cause of action:

everything is due to God".-Sai Baba

QUESTION OF THE WEEK:

Q. What is contentment?

SAI ACTIVITIES:

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

daily from 7:00 am to 9:00 pm. Daily program includes Kakad Arathi at 7 am

followed by Abhisek. Madhayana Arathi at 12 noon, Dhoop arathi at 6 pm and Shej

Arathi at 9 pm. 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.

Shirdi Sai Satsang, Ontario, CanadaShirdi Sai Baba Sansthan of Canada invites

all to join us for Satsang every Thursday 6:30PM at 147 Winston Castle Dr.

Markham, Ont. L6C 2N4. For details on other activities and services please call

Shammi Chopra at 416-402-8089 or email us saileela99 .

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.

Sri Shirdi Sai Mandir, Scarborough, CanadaThe Shirdi Sai Mandir located at 2721

Markham Road, Scarborough, ON 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. For temple activities and infornmation please call

647-444-4724 or send an email to info (AT) theshirdisaimandir (DOT) com

FROM THE EDITORS KEYBOARD:

Sai Vichaar is an open forum for those interested to share their experiences,

views and ideas on Sai devotion and their experiences with Saibaba of Shirdi.

Readers are requested to note that Sai Vichaar is not responsible for the

opinions expressed by individual contributors. The "Question of the week" for

the week is, Q. What is contentment?

Humbly Yours,The Editor

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>From and Editor:

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