Shirdi Sai : Newsletter-Sai Vichaar for Thursday , November 24, 2005

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Sai Vichaar

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Thursday , November 24, 2005 :: Volume 8, Issue 28

(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: Thanksgiving!

What is the method of teaching that Baba followed? Did He install any

institution or a particular way of thought for His followers to propagate? For

that matter, has there been any record of Sadguru Sainath appointing anyone to

continue His mission? Inscrutable are His ways! During His lifetime and after,

Baba showed a peculiar way of teaching and guiding His followers. He had asked

some to be more disciplined, perform rituals, and undertake reading of sacred

texts, while some were asked to keep quiet or just wait. Some were commended

for their piety while some denounced for their orthodoxy! Baba seemed to have

answers to the innermost of the questions His followers had. He seemed to have

a certain way of giving "individualized instruction" depending on one's

earnestness. However, He seems to be very particular in emphasizing certain

virtues in His followers. The two pice (two cents) He demanded were faith and

patience. Invaluable! By calling Himself as a servant, Baba has stressed the

importance of humility, because humility is a virtue that reaps rich harvest in

one's pursuits. By insisting on the surrender of the self and accepting the will

of the supreme over the individual, Baba stressed the existence of a unifying

higher order. His views on the purpose of religions were simple, "There is only

one God and the purpose of every religion is the same". In a unique way, Sai

Baba of Shirdi also had asked His followers to investigate the "self". He also

expounded on the obstacles for such a pursuit, native as well as acquired. Is

it possible to categorize this unique way of spiritual leadership?

For some, Baba's life and teachings might look like a paradox, but in reality,

His ways are as simple and natural as it could be! He did not give any set of

rules to follow for His disciples. On the other hand, He was present in the

minds of earnest devotees who sought His guidance on matters, big and small.

For such people, in His words, He guarded them from front, back, and sides. To

those who would differ with His advice, Baba said simply, "God will do good".

Neither was there an insistence on a rigorous stewardship. Faith and patience

are two traits common to everyone regardless of their religious, social, and

financial or other status. By invoking the traits common to every human being,

Sai Baba of Shirdi has indeed simplified the pursuit and the purpose life may

have in the mosaic of modern day life. How shall one thank the God of Shirdi

for this? On this Thanksgiving Day, let us be happy for being so fortunate.

CONTRIBUTED ARTICLE: Deewali gift

I would like to share my experience with all Sai devotees how Sri Sai came to my

home on Deewali day. We experienced His leelas in our family many times and

whenever we are facing difficulties, He had helped us in different ways. I am

very thankful to Him throughout my life. I am still facing a lot of health

problems and personal problems from long time and waiting for His blessings

with Shradda and Saboori. I trust Him more than anything in the world. I was

not feeling well since three day before Deewali and felt very sad that I would

not be able to celebrate Deewali as usual. I did puja with fruits and milk and

went to the doctor and then from there went directly to my work place to give

the doctor's note for sick leave. After that I went to buy some sweets from a

known old lady, who usually sells homemade Deewali sweets. As soon as I entered

into her home she took me to the puja room and asked me "Do you need Saibaba

calendar?", and without waiting for my answer she grabbed the Sai calendar from

a bunch of other Gods, gave it to me as if I had ordered before. It all happened

with 2 or 3 minutes. There was no explanation for my happiness. I was very

happy. It took me a while to come back to normal status. I thought in my mind,

this is the greatest Deewali in my life which I will remember for ever. I came

home, took rest for a while and prepared some prasad, did puja in the evening

and I hung the Sai calendar in my dining room. This is the way my Sai consoled

me when I was unhealthy. It is my message to all Sai devotees, if you have

complete faith on Him, He will always be with us to share our good and bad

times. Thank you Sai for your blessings.

(Contributed by Padmaraj)

DEVOTEES SAY:

PadmaMy Pranams to the Lotus feet of Baba. I said that if my husband gets a

government job, which he was trying for several months, that I would write my

article. He prayed to Baba before going to the interview and broke the coconut.

When he was driving he left as though Baba was with him all the time as when

ever he is closing his eyes and opening he could see only Baba's picture. His

interview went very well and just yesterday he got a call from the people

saying that he got the job. This all happened because of Baba's grace and I

thank Baba for making my husband's dream come true.

MeenakshiBaba, forgive me for asking You wrong things. You are always with me

but still I asked and tell other people about my sufferings. My past with him

was very painful. Baba I only want that he should realize what he has done to

me and my daughter. You saved me Saibaba, please always be there with my child

and me. Without You we will be all alone in this world so Baba never leave us

alone.

PannaBaba, I ask for your forgiveness for something very wrong that I did. I

have learnt my lesson and would be grateful if You could please take this

disease away now. I promise never to go astray again. Love you always, Baba.

VasanthiI have a question. My husband had prayed that he would put his first

salary for Baba if he got the job. By Baba's grace, he did get the job. Now our

question is should the salary be sent only to a Sai temple or can it be given to

few different charities?

SabyOm Sri Sai. Thank you so much Baba for everything. I touch your feet and

pray that everything goes fine and everyone stays happy.

NaineshNo article regarding asking for Baba's help is too big or small. All

articles should be published. Has Baba not said no want is too small, by asking

devotee slowly stop asking for worldly thing and begins to ask for spiritual

devotion. Also in Satcharitha chapter 24 did Baba not get angry to show that he

knows what to permit and what to prevent, (When a devotee tells Mavashibai to be

gentle in her service.) So let all ask and he shall fulfill. Jai Sai Ram.

YogeeswariSome devotees may feel visa issues as petty ones. But just as one

devotee's fear was broken down to pieces with an article in the Saivichar about

Shake the Fear, people who really are at the verge of life with the visa issues,

find them as the boost. I have heard through my friend who was in a dilemma

whether or not to go for a visa stamping, after reading the Sai Vichaar about a

visa experience by another devotee, went without fear and got stamped. So my

thought would be to publish whatever the matter is without any thoughts as

anyone becomes Sai devotee (only if he or she is bound to be Sai devotee)

through various experiences in their own lives.

PRAYER CLUB:

JyothiSai, I got a job (3 months) by your grace. Please keep me in a job

continuously. Let me speak in English fluently without grammar mistakes. Let me

do my work fast and accurate. Let me chant Your name always. Without Your

blessings, I can do nothing. Please keep me at Your feet.

PrabhavathiBaba, please help. Please let people respond. Without Your wish it

cannot happen. Please Baba, help me. I know I was too arrogant to even think

about You and ask for your blessings for this event. Now I regret it. Please

forgive me and help me. Let people respond positively and let the event take

place without me having to cancel it. Please Baba, do help me and forgive me.

ShilpaPlease help me take the right decision with regard to my son. I am not in

a position to quit my job, but I am anxious about the security and well being

of my 18 month old son and I want him to be in able hands when I am at work.

Please guide me Lord. I surrender my son at your feet. Please direct me to the

right person with whom I can trust my son.

Sai devoteeOm Sai, no one else can save my family problems except You. Please

guide my children to behave in good and decent manner. Please guide them as a

mother and guru. Please save my husband from all his bad habits and have a job

and to live in a good and decent manner.

Sai DevoteeBaba, please help us to clear the debt we have and please make my

project extend for another eight months atleast. Saibaba I need this job badly

so that we can clear all the debt we have. It is possible only with Your grace.

Please bless our family with Your grace. Please bless also my husband to hear

good news from his company. I know Baba, one need not ask all these as You

already know what we want. But it makes me feel good to put it out in some way.

EXPERIENCE OF DEVOTEES:

HanishOnce I was driving in my Maruti Van along with a colleague of mine.

Suddenly on a highway a truck that was parked started to move and make a right

turn. I was driving at a high speed and suddenly could not control the vehicle,

which ultimately dashed in the truck. The front portion was completely crushed

and the steering column hit on my chest and broke into pieces. The windshield

glass was broken into pieces. But there was a sticker of BABA on the

windshield, which was lying on my chest as if the complete impact was taken

care by Baba. I escaped this Accident with minor injuries with the blessing of

Baba. My colleague came out unscathed.

A Sai devoteeI am writing this to thank Sri Sai Baba. I am a strong believer of

Him. I had this experience which I wanted to share and had promised Baba that I

would post it on this website. I had applied for admission and was waiting to

hear some positive result. All my applications were rejected. It was the last

one. I was called for interview and by Babab's grace it went well. The

candidate list was supposed to be revealed by a particular date but it was not.

I was told that it would be put up only after a committee meeting. I called up

the administrator and was informed that the admissions committee has decided

the list and was waiting for the final 2 candidates from 15, I was among the

15. I had prayed to Baba. The same week, I got a letter in mail, which had a

picture of Baba. I thought it was Baba's indication to me. His assurance.

Finally, after a couple of days on a Thursday the final list was provided and

the decision was made. I was selected. I was very delighted. It is only by

Baba's grace that I was selected. This is one of my many experiences that I had

which keeps assuring me that Baba is with us.

QUOTATION OF THE WEEK:

"By worshipping Sai Baba, we attain both the objects, worldly and spiritual, and

are fixed in our true Nature, and get peace and happiness. Therefore, those who

want to gain their welfare, should respectfully hear Sai Baba's Leelas or

stories and meditate on them. If they do this, they will easily attain the

object of their life and get Bliss".-Hemadpant - Sri Sai Satcharitha

QUESTION OF THE WEEK:

Q. What is contentment?

A. by Umabala

The only true and everlasting contentment is found only in God. In all the other

situations, the contentment comes and goes like rainfall. Whenever we feel

contentment, we should notice that, we have become nondual for that moment. It

is a common experience that after getting a good job or good fiancée or if the

child gets good grades in the studies, lot of us feel contented. However, try

to notice the duration of that contentment. It may range from days to years.

After that period, due to some reason or the other, we start to feel

discontented. Actually, this observation helps us to know that whatever

contentment we get from outside is temporary and short living. This makes

everlasting contentment and us to start the quest for real.

Q. What is contentment?

A. by Alka Parmar

Contentment is when you are happy with everything you have, all the things Baba

has blessed you with and all the happiness and sadness that comes your way. You

pray for others and you pray God to love you. Your prayers do not consist of

lists of things you want. You are happy with everything, the way God wants your

life to be and you accept what Baba wants for you.

Q. What is the two-fold importance of Khandoba temple in Baba's life history?

A. by Prasad Nimmagadda

The first important aspect of Khandoba temple is that that is the place where

Priest Mahalsapathi addressed the young Saint by saying, "Come on Sai!" as the

Saint entered Shirdi with Chand Patil's marriage procession. As we all know,

Khandoba is another name for Lord Shiva. Every Khandoba temple is home for two

deities: Khandoba [shiva] and Mahalsa [Parvathi]. Interestingly enough,

Mahalsapathi means Mahalsa's (Parvathi's) husband...who is Khandoba (Shiva)

himself. So, in a way, Khandoba invited Baba into Shirdi village and gave Him

the name "Sai." The second important aspect of Khandoba temple in Baba's life

is that the Priest of that temple spent 60 years in the company of Sai

Baba...as if he found Khandoba Himself walking the earth. Even though

Mahalsapathi attended to his duties at the temple, every opportunity he got he

used to spend time with Baba in Dwarakamayi.

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.

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. Dhoop aarti at 7:30 p.m everyday and Bhajans 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.

FROM THE EDITORS KEYBOARD:

Sai Vichaar wishes all readers in a Happy Thanksgiving day. Sai activities

section is a good opportunity to spread the word about various activities,

celebrations, and festivities of Sai mandirs across the world. Postings on Sai

activities are very useful for new visitors and for those who would like to

know more about Sai activities in theirs and other areas. Sai Vichaar receives

several emails for Payer Club. They will be posted in the order they are

received, please indicate if you do not want to include your name. Sai devotee

Subhadra suggests the "Question of the week" for the week as, Q. What is the

two-fold importance of Khandoba temple in Baba's life history?

Humbly Yours,The Editor

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>From and Editor:

Shirdi Sai Baba Web Site

Shirdi Sai Baba Sanstha

(A not for Profit Organization)

Mail:

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