Sai Vichaar for Thursday, April 05, 2007

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Sai Vichaar www.saibaba.org Thursday , April 05, 2007 :: Volume 9, Issue 48 (In its nineth 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: Be Humble! God sees things by the whole. Man sees things by parts. God sees happenings over the three periods of

time. Man sees events only in the present, isolated from the past and the future. That is why man sees discord here God sees harmony. Man sees lack of logic where God finds perfect logic. Put yourself in the place of God. Feel you are God. Feel that the entire universe is your creation and operates by your will. At once you will feel tremendous peace and strength surging within you. You say others insult you without reason, injure you without cause. Even if that is true, do not get agitated. Face the situation calmly. You will find that calmness can be a powerful weapon to overcome difficult situations. Shut your eyes to insults. Let others think what they like, say what they like. This is a world of ignorant people. You be wise. Be humble before everybody. Be humble in every situation. This will be possible if you give up the idea of inferiority and superiority and learn to see God in everybody and everything "God wills it so. So be It.": Say that to

yourself and keep quiet in the face of insults. Be unruffled. If you put up with insults, you will grow in humility and purity. You will grow spiritually rich. (A message from Guruji Shri C B Satpathy) CONTRIBUTED ARTICLE: 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 take 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 satisfaction, 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 by Sai Vichaar team) DEVOTEES SAY: RajelekshmiIt happened yesterday. I was looking for my certificates and somehow could not locate it. Being tensed I consoled myself saying it might be at my house in India. Though unwilling to accept this I prayed to Saibaba to show me whether my certificates were here or in India. I put two chits, one saying here and other saying in India. When I took a chit, it said here, here twice. I started my search but in vain. Suddenly I came across a bag which we had got free

with some purchase and opened it. To my utter surprise I found my certificates. Baba I really don't know from where it came there and I really thank you for being with me. Thank you Baba for all the blessings that You have showered on us. Guide me in the right path. AnjaliMany thanks for making me pass this exam. Even though I hadn't prepared well, you made me clear this exam. NitinBy the grace of our beloved god Sai my nephew recently got the job in one of the IT company. Sai please shower your blessings on all of us and show us a right path. BalajiI have had many experiences with Sai Baba and always believe that He is there looking out for me. I was not a bright student and during and after school had to endure a few disappointments. Then Baba came to my life (introduced by my brother) and since then I have been fortunate to overcome one adversity after

another the latest one being my pre-mature daughter surviving many-a-hardship within her first year. While I was always asking things for myself, this time I prayed to Him for my college mate who for six years has been trying to have a child. She was at a point where she was ready to give up everything - job, husband and life! I felt bad that I did not introduce Baba to her when I visited India (like Baba introduced Vishnusahasranaam to Shama) but since then I had signed her up to receive Sai Vichaar and have been praying for her. Last week it was truly pleasing to see an email that she is expecting a baby in October! Truly Sai's ways are amazing. I pray now that everything should be fine throughout the delivery. SoundaryaSai Ram. Thank you Sai for being by my side when I had the root Canal done. Yesterday you reminded me to post this incident, when I was with the dentist again. You always hold hands of your devotees, when they need

you the most and help them cross the hurdle like a wave of gentle breeze. PRAYER CLUB: SirishaMy cousin has been suffering from RMS since a long time. Baba please help her to come out of her pain and recover soon. I request all Sai devotees to please pray for my cousin. ShreepriyaPlease give me patience and please make my mom to be with me in Canada. I want to treat her with loving care and want to serve her. RaviMy father in law has been diagnosed with cancer in the liver. I invoke the blessings of Guruji Shirdi Saibaba to cure him from this disease and remove the pain and sufferings, which he is undergoing. LalithaPlease give permission for us to construct in the site, which is in my husband's name. My son's eye problem should be cured with

Your divine blessing and he should study well. RenukaBaba please bless us and be with us in this difficult times. I pray to you to guide us so that that we make the right decision. VimlaSainath remove all misunderstandings between us and reunite us again with Your kind mercy and kripa. BhawanaBaba please help me to get excellent score in my given exam and those exams, which I am going to give. AnitaGive me the opportunity to make my dreams come true. I feel like You have deserted me. This sinner is waiting for your blessings Baba in this birth only. GiriI sincerely pray Baba to be my Guru and guide me through out my life. I need Guruji to guide me in all aspects of my life. NehaI am struggling to get my P5 problem sums. Help me to

improve my Hindi and math. I am very worried as my exams are coming nearer. ThirupurasundariBaba, please help my husband change his attitude. He should give up anger and be nice to people around him. Please help him become calm and focus on his job. Please bless him to be energetic and helpful to his partner in business. With your blessings anything is possible. EXPERIENCE OF DEVOTEES: NaveenaI recently went to have physical check up. Doctor said after analyzing my reports I have Hypo Thyroid and wanted to take blood test again for confirmation and further diagnosis. She also said "You may have to go for ultra sound". I was really worried when I browsed the Internet on Hypothyroid. I was seriously praying Sai Baba and wished that the report should come normal and I said to Baba in my thoughts that I will put my experience in

Sai Vichaar if everything comes normal. Its all Baba's grace my report came normal. I am so happy. He takes care of His devotees. I don't have the right words to praise Him. This is not the first time He helped. All through my life, whenever I am in trouble I used to pray Him and He used to solve all my problems. He was with me in every aspect of my life. And I am very much sure He will be with me. Baba I love you. You are my father, mother, sister and brother. You are the supreme. You are everywhere. I sincerely thank my Bava (Baba devotee) who introduced this site to me. Sai devoteeIt was one of the coldest days in Minnesota. The temperatures were minus 20 degrees F, which is about - 30 C and with very cold winds. I was heading to the lab to get some work done. On my way I wished to pick up some quick lunch so I got a burger through a drive through. I already had breakfast and was saving the burger for later and to avoid the bitter

cold. As I was waiting for the burger, I saw an old man with beard walking on the street. I was pained at seeing someone walking aimlessly on such a cold day. I thought may be he deserves the burger so I drove past and came back but he had walked into a parking lot. I stopped and offered him the burger. He said I will take it but only if you give me 1 dollar and 50 cents. I searched through my coin compartment in the car and gave him the money and the burger. He thanked me and was trying to say something, pretended to think as if trying to translate something and said, "Praise the Lord". Which I did not realize then but later thought about it and it means "Allah Malik" if you translate it to Hindustani Urdu/Hindi. The moment I realized this, I felt some wave pass through my body. It was Baba and I did not recognize Him. We never know what form He can come. I wish to see Him again and again and again. Om Sri Sai Ram! QUOTATION OF THE WEEK: "Imagine Brahman as a sea without shores. Through the cooling love of the bhakta some of the water becomes frozen into blocks of ice. Now and then, God assumes a form and reveals Himself to his lovers as a Person. But when the sun of Knowledge rises, the blocks of ice melt away and God is without form, no more a Person. He is beyond description. Who could describe Him? Anyone who tries disappears, unable to find his "I" any more".-Shri Ramakrishna QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Q. Does Baba get angry if we keep praying to Him to fulfill our desires? A. by Pratyusha M Attaining vairagya (detachment & dispassion) is a very difficult task. It is possible for only a very few people through their complete surrendering to the Sadguru's feet. The majority of the people have

boundless desires, which may be a good one or a bad one. We seek the God's grace to fulfill our wishes. Does Baba get angry to this? If we have good intentions, have shraddha and saburi, Baba will definitely fulfill our desire. On the contrary, Baba will never get angry if your desire is not a good one. If the person is a Baba's bhaktha, Baba will have his own way to make the person realize his mistake. Baba's love for his devotees is immeasurable. Q. Does Baba get angry if we keep praying to Him to fulfill our desires? A. by Pran Razdan No, it doesn't make him angry. In fact Baba knows what our needs are, better than we know about ourselves. When we repeatedly knock at his door for petty demands and He goes on satisfying us, at some stage we realize how small we have acted before our Lord. Therefore we must leave all our worries, wants, desires to Him and be satisfied with what and how He gives us. Instead we must

spend our time constantly in His company and forget the materialistic desires of this world, and reach a mental stage where we aspire for what He wants us to ask of Him. SAI ACTIVITIES: Shirdi Sai Temple of Chicago and Suburbs, Illinois, USAShirdi Sai temple is open daily from 7:00 a.m to 9:00 p.m (Summer hours). Daily program includes Kakad Arathi at 7 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. Shri Saibaba Mandir, Minneapolis, MinnesotaSaibaba activities in Minneapolis were conducted at Shirdi Saibaba Prayer center since the year 2002. Now, with the grace and blessings of Baba and the support of devotees, a new Saibaba Mandir has begun to function at 1835 Polk St NE, Minneapolis from July 11th 2006. Please visit www.hamaresai.org for all 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 Center in Bay Area, CAShirdi Sai Center is located 897-B East Kifer Rd, Sunnyvale, CA 94086. For more information please call 408-705-7904 or

408-564-6704 or send email to saibandhu. You can also visit our website is www.Shirdisaiparivaar.org. Shirdi Saibaba temple, Los Angeles, CADevotees in Los Angeles area are informed about Sri Shirdi Saibaba temple in Los Angeles area. The temple is located at - 144 South 4th Street, Montebello, CA 90640. For more information please call Krishna Samantula at 949-679-9938 or visit www.shirdisaila.org. Saibaba Temple, Columbus, OhioDevotees in Columbus and surrounding Ohio locations area are informed about Sri Shirdi Saibaba temple in Metro Columbus area. The temple is located in a leasing space at 7674 Sawmill Rd, Dublin, OH 43016. Please attend daily Aaratis and Thursday bhajans. For more information please call Panditjee at 614-799-8411 or visit www.saibaba.cc. Shirdi Sai bhajans every Thursday at Maitland, FloridaDevotees are invited to

participate in Sai study and bhajans on Thursdays between 7-8 pm at Meditation Gallery, 219 E Horatio Ave, Maitland, FL 32715. For more details please contact Bonnie at 407-830-1276. FROM THE EDITORS KEYBOARD: In recent days many devotees are using submission forms for their writings incorrectly. Please help Sai Vichaar by sending your contribution under appropriate topics. For example use Devotee Experiences page for sending your experiences only and use Prayer Club for prayer requests only. Also, Sai Vichaar requests the contributors of article to give their name or initials so that the source or author of the article is duly identified and acknowledged. This is fundamental precept for a publication in any manner. The Question of the week for this week is suggested by a Sai devotee as follows: Q. Is it right that we are always praying Baba to

fulfill our desires? Does this make Him angry? Humbly Yours,The Editor ABOUT THIS EMAIL: This newsletter is not sent unsolicited. This newsletter is e-mailed to you because of at least one of the following reasons:1. You have d through our on-line page,2. You have visited our web site and shown interest in the Sai topics and asked for information, or3. You have been gifted a subscription by a friend or a relative. To Subscribe Sai Vichaar for receipt by Email please visit the URL http://www.saibaba.org/newsletter.html and select the option from the menu. If you are subscribing the newsletter for your friend or a relative, we request that the person concerned may be notified about receiving the newsletter and the willingness to receive the newsletter be confirmed. To Un-Subscribe

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