Sai Vichaar for Thursday , April 06, 2006

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Sai Vichaar for Thursday , April 06, 2006Sai Vichaarwww.saibaba.org

Thursday , April 06, 2006 :: Volume 8, Issue 47 (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 WEEKCONTRIBUTED ARTICLEDEVOTEES

SAYPRAYER CLUBEXPERIENCE OF DEVOTEESQUOTATION OF THE WEEKQUESTION OF THE

WEEKSAI ACTIVITIESFROM THE EDITORS KEYBOARDFEATURE OF THE WEEK: Ramnavami

messageThe path towards the Sadguru is the real path, more so in this age of

conflicts, contradictions and acute materialism. As Swami Vivekananda said like

all rivers leading to the sea, all the paths that men take lead to Him, the God

eternal. The paths that are mostly adopted by the seekers are Rajyoga,

Karmayoga, Bhaktiyoga, Hathayoga, Layayoga, Nivaiti Marg, Prakriti Marg etc.

There are even Avadhootas, Kapalikas, Aghoris and many other type of seekers.

Various religions have different approaches. In all this multiplicity of

approach towards God realization, there has to be something common and

universal that must be pervading all. The seeker of this universal path reaches

the goal in the earliest period of time.

Sitting in Shirdi Masjid, Baba had said that there are many paths, but one of

the paths leading to God is through the Dwarkamayee. When one analyses how Baba

led thousands of people towards God realization at Shirdi a certain pattern

evolves. The basic principles of the Sai path are based on :

(a) The existence in physical form of a perfect being known variously as a

perfect Master a Sadguru or a Qutub as called by the Sufis. A Qutub simply

means an axis, a pivot around which others, living and non-living, both

revolve. The perfect Master, having himself experienced different stages of

evolution including that of man has at last reached the stage of God. However,

those among these perfect beings, who, out of infinite compassion, make the

greatest sacrifice of not enjoying the blissful state of God but incarnate in a

human body on earth to serve the imperfect, suffering humanity are called the

perfect Masters. As Mehar Baba has said at any point of time there are five

perfect Masters on earth in embodied form.(b) When in human body they act both

as human beings and Gods. As Gods they have infinite power, infinite knowledge,

infinite happiness and infinite existence. Like God they are Omnipotent,

Ominipresent and Omniscient enjoying the powers of the Almighty. They share

their power, knowledge and pleasure with the millions of human beings by

methods unperceivable by human beings and are known as Leelas or divine

miracles. All miracles are based on the laws of nature, only one has to know,

experience and master it. All the elemental forces of nature like fire, water,

air etc. defined as deities by the Hindus work under their command or wish. As

Gods they see everything in themselves and themselves in everything. So they

serve everyone without any differentiation as if they are serving themselves.

They see God in everyone even though others may not be able to see God in them.

They give infinite love to others and infinite pain from others. Once any human

being or any specie is linked with them in any manner, they ensure that these

creatures are evolved, life after life till they merge with God from where they

came. This ultimate stage of evolution is ordinarily known as Mukti or

Moksha.FEATURE OF THE WEEK: Ramnavami message (continued......)© These

perfect Masters alone are capable of leading human being to God realization.

They follow what is common and universal in all religions i.e. humanism based

on love. Out of love they not only take care of the spiritual evolution of the

devotees but also their temporal requirements. Once one has surrendered to them

they look after all needs of the devotee as a mother would do for a child. They

can go to any extent, even to sacrifice their human body, to protect their

children. That’s what Baba did for many as can be read in Shri Sai Satcharitra

and as experienced by many. To develop closer and closer link with Him, one has

to develop faith in Him even under the most trying circumstance patiently. Also

to develop the qualities of humility, sacrifice, tolerance and steadfastness in

devotion and actions desired by the Sadguru. One will evolve earlier than others

worshipping too many deities if he follows this path of Guru. Baba used to give

visions to many people in the form of their deities like Hanumaan, Ganesh etc.,

which convinced them that there is no difference between Baba and any other

deity or even God. One can therefore, at the first stage try to see all deities

in Baba, worship Him in the method in which other deities are worshipped. In

short one should try to see and seek everything in and from Baba. This path may

be difficult at the initial stage but can certainly be achieved with

steadfastness and faith in Baba. So let us try.

A message from Guruji Shri C.B.SatpathyCONTRIBUTED ARTICLE: Devotion, an end

in-itselfIt is said that while attending to the ordained duties/functions that

involved in our life, every being ought to strive to escape from re-births,

that is, to attain Liberation. This calls for spiritual practice and great

Saints and Scriptural texts speaks of Devotion as an end in itself. In this

pursuit, separate Mutts arose because of differences in the methods of pursuing

the same. However, the Bhakti Marga is inherent in any Mutt. Bhakti is not mere

Prayer. The actual strain of Bhakti is to promote in-depth understanding of a

subject through logical discussions and study. Bhakti may not be possible

without research. Any devotee that is bereft of Bhakti is bound to be

regenerated under the weight of it's own ignorance and it is imperative for

it's intrinsic values.

Of the four ways, namely, Karma, Gnana, Yoga and Bhakti (devotion) in the

spiritual pursuit, the path of Bhakti (devotion) is thorny full of pits and

ditches and difficult to traverse, as explained under Chapter 6 of Sri Sai

Satcharitha. In fact, the three ways, Karma, Gnana and Yoga also ultimately

lead the devotee to attain Bhakti (devotion). It is evident that Bhakti marga

brings together all the institutions on spiritual aspiration. The conception of

God taking any particular form is a way to develop Devotion (Bhakti) as

mentioned by the blessed author under Chapter 11 of Sri Sai Satcharitha. Hence,

the Being concentrated on a particular form, would be the easier Sadhana to

develop Bhakti (devotion). Evidently, the realization of the virtue of Devotion

by Devotion itself, by being worshipping Saguna Brahma form, Sadguru, results in

the realization of God's action, that is, develops Faith in God. Thus cleans the

restlessness of the mind. There on, it keeps the mind peaceful under Bhakti

(devotion) on Saguna Brahma, Sadguru. The devotee shall be successful when

earnest in this pursuit.Lord Shri Shirdi Sai Baba said that His Guru was the

sole object of meditating and He was conscious of none-else. While meditating

on His Sadguru the mind / intellect were stunned and keeps Himself quiet and

Bow in silence, vide, Chapter 32 in Shri Sai Satcharitha. When devotion becomes

all-consuming, the Lord also reciprocates it, as His devotee's welfare is

paramount to Him. It is rather interesting to observe and analyze the oriental

concept of Sadguru and the relationship He bears towards His chosen disciples.

The Truth and Guru are identical. Once ignited Bhakti (devotion), it draws the

whole being irresistibly on-wards until the tiny spark becomes a

flame.(Contributed by LV Subbarao)DEVOTEES SAY: KanakacharyI wrote the

biography of Rajarshi Sri Ramanananda Swamiji who is a staunch devotee and

propagator of Shirdi Saibaba Teachings and Philosophy. I wanted to dedicate

this book to well known Sai devotee Radhakrishna Mai. I have written her name,

put her beautiful photo on the typed manuscript, and slept. On the same night I

suffered with severe fever and all of sudden Baba came to my room and said

seriously" don't dedicate her this book, remove her name and photo". I said

Yes, and immediately my fever disappeared and on the morning immediately I

removed the dedication page. I told this to Swamiji and others. They were

surprised. This is my experience that happened in 2005.A Sai devoteeI am going

through a very tough time regarding my health. I had so much pain in my lower

abdomen and went to a doctor. There I came to know that I have problem in my

ovary. I have prayed to Baba for my report to be normal though the situation

seemed different. My Baba came to my rescue and the report came out normal. I

promised Baba that I would share my experience with every body. Samartha

Sadguru Sainath maharaj ki jai.NeelimaBaba, thank you very much for extending

my husband's project. Please help my brother-in-law to write his MDS exams

well. As promised to Baba earlier I am posting this news to Sai

Vichaar.GeetaThank You Baba for blessing me with positive results in the health

report. As promised, I am posting this on Sai Vichaar. Help me have immense

faith and devotion in You. Koti pranams to you, Baba.VidyaThank you so much

Sai. Please keep blessing us.HarshanaBaba, thanks a lot. I started parayan last

week and I got selected for work placement in a very big laboratory and I got

their positive reply on Thrusday. I know its all because of Sai. Be with us

always and take care of our family. Relieve my husband from all worries and let

my family be always happy. Jai Sai Ram.PRAYER CLUB: KaviBaba help me with my

anxiety problem, help me with my health, and please help me doing your prayers

every day. Baba I need you please help me I am very scared. Baba please help me

to overcome with my all health related problems .RamaI want my son to finish his

degree at the earliest and give him the necessary motivation and guidance for

this.GeetaI sincerely pray to You that the children should do very well in

their exam and get good results. Please bless my husband so that his business

does well by removing all the obstacles in the way.ShipraBaba its a humble

request from one of your devotee to please help me achieve my goal and help in

clearing my exam and help me in maintaining peace in my family and please look

after my papa who is very lonely after my mom's death.MaliniWe have so many

commitments and little money. Please help us Baba. Please watch over my

husband, my son, my parents and my sisters who are getting married. Please

bless us. Please stay with us all the time and help us get rid of our sorrows

and financial crisis.MahuaThis week I have a job interview. Please help me to

feel confident and always shower your blessings.PrasunaAs promised, I have

given notice to quit both jobs. Please take care of my health, kid's education

and health, and help us settle soon so that my husband can have better

future.SivaBaba I once again pray to you, please be with my wife at all times

and make sure that her exam is done and she gets thought this time with your

help and blessings.MansiI pray that please Baba help my husband get a good job

he is interviewing at so many places but no luck yet. Please Sai help us in

this. I am sure this delay is your wish but I pray that he gets a good job

soon.Sai DevoteeDear Baba, I have quit my job because i was not happy there. I

have started a new business now. I want your complete blessing for my new

venture. With great difficulty my husband has set this venture for me, please

help me and guide me to establish myself and reap good profits.

PrakashBaba please help me to come out from this acute phase of depression. You

all know about this. I, along with my family will come to Shirdi after current

phase of mental agony is over.

EXPERIENCE OF DEVOTEES: LataMy son Avinash had a trip to India, Hong Kong and

Japan from Canada last year all by himself for the first time. Mumbai was

experiencing heavy floods and Avi too was in Mumbai during the time of floods.

He was stranded at Mumbai airport for almost 4 days without food, water,

washroom, telephones or computer access. I kept calling up my parents/sister

but none had any contact with him since he had already checked in and was not

allowed any outside contact. I was totally disturbed, could not sleep or eat

and during the night time started talking and crying to Baba asking for his

aid. Later my sister called from India crying out of joy that Avi has taken off

for Hong Kong and will call me up once he reaches Hong Kong. When my son

returned from his trip, he related his experience with Baba. He asked me if I

was crying and was somewhere in the Mandir with Baba. I said yes. Then he

related that when he was sitting at the Mumbai airport all depressed and hungry

and was just praying to Baba to sail him and others through this calamity, out

of the blue there came a lady sitting besides him, started talking to him about

her life. Avi questioned her as to why was she telling him all about her life

story. Then she showed him an album of her son who Avi said was himself, his

picture, which he said: 'Mom I just couldn't believe it, it was me in that

picture'. She apparently had lost her son in USA who was shot dead by some

gangsters and she had come to India to perform his last rites and was returning

home to Hong Kong. Avi went on to say that this lady offered him food and took

care of him all the way, until they reached Hong Kong like his mother. He said

'Mom I was just amazed as she was just like you' and once they reached Hong

Kong airport that lady disappeared into the thin air nowhere to be seen as he

wanted to help her in luggage and also thank her but she was gone as she came

in.VidyadhariI had purchased a house. I wanted Baba to bless it. So I went to

Sai temple in Mylapore. It was all unplanned, so I had not booked for any

specific pooja. But all the way through my journey to the temple, I was just

thinking, I wish I could do Abhishekam to the Lord. I reached the temple at

6:00 am. I could not believe my eyes when I entered it. The Abhishek had just

started. I was so thrilled. I asked my father to rush to near by shop and get

milk. I thought if atleast my packet of milk reaches the Lord for His Abhishek,

I am blessed. There was already a queue of devotees, each of them were given the

chance to do the Abhishekam. I also went and stood in the queue. Baba blessed me

further, by giving me the chance to do Abhishkek, not just me but also to my

parents and my child. I had purchased a Shawl for Him. The priest took it and

asked me to help him wrap it around Baba and put a garland myself. Then I gave

the documents for this final blessing. Baba fulfilled my all my thoughts. I am

ever thankful to You, Shridi Sai Baba, for always showering your blessings on

me. QUOTATION OF THE WEEK: "One must carry out one's vow, or bear the

consequences"-Sai BabaQUESTION OF THE WEEK: Q. I give people what they want

until they will begin to ask me what I want to giveA. by PrakashSai Baba said,

"I give my people what they want until they will begin to ask me what I want to

give them ". Comment?

Few lines from Sai Satcharitha will explain this. "I thought that what a man

might give does not last long and it is always imperfect. But what My Sircar

(God) gives, lasts to the end of time. No other gift from any man can be

compared to His. My Sircar says "Take, take," but everybody comes to me and

says 'Give, give.' Nobody attends carefully to the meaning of what I say. My

Sircar's treasury (spiritual wealth) is full, it is overflowing. I say, "Dig

out and take away this wealth in cartloads, the blessed son of a true mother

should fill himself with this wealth. We want material wealth; Sadguru wants to

give us Spiritual wealth.

Q. What is the best way to worship Sai Baba of Shirdi? What should be our

routine?A. by Ramaa MaddipatlaShirdi Sai Baba, who is the incarnation of

Almighty as Sadguru, never advocated any ritualistic method of worship. He

called Himself a servant of God and always used to invoke uttering "Allah

Malik!" In another mode, He said that He is all pervasive, omniscient and would

protect and facilitate spiritual elevation of His devotees. He clearly said, "If

you make Me the object of your worship and utter My name remembering Me always,

I shall be ever indebted to you. I am servant of my devotees. I am there

everywhere. What ever you do and think will be known to Me. I do not need a

vehicle or open doors to reach you. I am always with you. If you think that Sai

is confined to Shirdi alone and is restricted to this human body, you have not

understood Me. I am everywhere. I can reach you even if you are thousands of

miles away. I shall drag My devotees to Me, like a sparrow with a leg tied to a

string." Let us consider the episode of Radhabai Deshmukh. Baba explicitly told

her, "Mother, My guru did not give me any mantra. I am not the guru who babbles

through ear. Our traditions are different. There is no need for any mantra from

guru. Dedicate yourself to guru taking the path of 'Shraddha' (faith and

devotion) and 'Saburi' (patience with courage)."

According to Baba there is no need to take recourse to ritualistic worship. He

loves devotion / "Bhakthi." Baba exhorted his devotees to adhere to their

"swadharma". Hence in the ambit of ones own "swadharma" a devotee can

comfortably worship Sai Baba. He belonged to the devotees of all religions

without affiliating Himself to any religion.I do not think that we should

insist on a strict daily routine with regard to worship of Sai Baba. The daily

routine of worship should be as per the inclination and religious background of

each devotee. Baba's devotees are from different religions and sects. Therefore,

the daily routine of worship cannot be common or uniform to all of them. The

only feature that can be common to all Sai devotees is "parayana" or the

dedicated study of His "Satcharitha". Every Sai devotee should carry out the

dedicated study of "Sai Satcharitha". The important thing is that one should

adhere to "swadharma" with regard to Baba's worship. With love, dedication and

devotion, if we call Baba, He would respond. Let us not have any doubts in this

regard. Let us surrender to Him and enjoy the everlasting bliss of His divine

love! Regarding food habits, Baba never insisted on any strict code of diet for

a devotee. He, however, has given some guidelines. He said, " Be satisfied with

one or two items. Don't hanker after taste." Baba said that all kinds of food

are sacred, as it is said; "Annam parabrahma swaroopam" According to Him there

is no unholy food. His dictum is not to get attached to or loath any kind of

food. He advocated moderation in food consumption. He respected the food habits

of all His devotees irrespective of the fact whether they are vegetarians or

non-vegetarians. I think all Sai devotees should develop the attitude of not

loathing or / and getting attached to any kind of food. Let us respect the food

habits of others and let us be moderate in our food consumption.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.Shirdi Sai- Ramanavami

Celebrations in Dallas-Fort Worth, TexasWelcome to Sri Shirdi Sai Baba temple

at Dallas-Fort Worth, a place of worship for the devotees of Sri Shirdi Sai

Baba. Ramnavami will be celebrated on April 6th and April 8th 2006. For details

on Sai activities and services please visit http://www.shirdisaidallas.org or

write to shirdisaidallasShirdi 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 408-564-6704Sri Ramanavami

celebrations in New JerseyShirdi Sai Dham, Inc will be celebrating Sri Ram

Navami on 9th April 2006, Sunday, from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm at Durga Mandir,

Kendall Park, NJ. Please participate in the festivities 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

Ram Navami celebrations, Toronto, CanadaShirdi Sai Baba Sansthan of Canada

cordially invites all to Join in Celebrating Ram Navami festival on Saturday,

April 8th 2006 at 3:00 pm followed by Mahaprasad (Preeti Bhoj) The program

highlites are Abhishek - Paduka Puja and Bhajan Sandhaya. Location: Gur Mandir,

207 Queen's Plate Dr. Etobicoke M9W 6Z7 (Highway27 and Rexdale just south of

Humber Valley Blvd). For details please call 416-402-8089 or 416-895-7905 or

email:saileela99 Sri Ramnavami celebrations, Scarborough, CanadaShirdi

Sai Mandir, Scarborough, Canada is celebrating Sri Ramnavami on April 6th 2006

from 6:00 pm and also on April 8th from 4:00 pm at 2721 Markham Road,

Scarborough, Ontario, M1X 1L5 (Intersection of Markham and Nashdene) The event

includes Sri Ganesh Pooja, Havan with 108 pranams to Lord Sri Ram, Abhishekam

of Sri Shirdi Sai Baba with 108 pranams, Dhoop Aarti, Palaki Ceremony and

Prasad. For temple activities and information please call 647-444-4724 or send

an email to info (AT) theshirdisaimandir (DOT) comSri Ramnavami celebrations in Sydney,

AustraliaShree Shirdi Sai Mandir invites you to with family and friends to join

Shree Ram Navami celebrations on 1st, 2nd and 6th April 2006 at 420 Liverpool

Road, Strathfield South, NSW 2136, Australia. For detailed programme or

Sansthan's activities, please contact Sansthan Info-Line at 0500 524 724.Shirdi

Sai Baba's moorthi sthapana in Melborne, AustraliaShri Shirdi Sai Sansthan

Melborne invites you with family and friends to join and celebrate Baba's

moorthi sthapana on April 16th 2006 and also for poojas on 14th and 15th April

2006. Venue - Hartwell Uniting Church, corner of Eddy Street and Toorak Road,

Camberwell, Victoria. Guruji Shri C.B. Satpathy has kindly consented to grace

this auspicious occasion. If you wish to volunteer or for information please

contact Rakesh Auplish at 03-9574-8280 or Dhruv Jaggi at 04-1442-3525.FROM THE

EDITORS KEYBOARD: Devotees are requested to refer to Sai activities for

information on Ramnavami celebrations. Sri Ramanavami is celebrated during the

second week of April 2006. 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 Sai Baba of Shirdi? What should be our routine? If we are

non-vegetarian, is it OK?Humbly Yours,The EditorABOUT THIS EMAIL:This

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