Guest guest Posted August 3, 2008 Report Share Posted August 3, 2008 Sai Vichaar www.saibaba.org Thursday , July 31, 2008 :: Volume 11, Issue 12 (In its eleventh 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: Flower without fragrance! Like a lyric without tune, a flower without fragrance, this is what I am Sai.. without You! Knowledge without experiencing is no knowledge at all. This is in essence purports the advaitic philosophy of realizing the nature of Sai. While the statement not necessarily derogates the pursuit of knowledge whether it is from scriptures or Sadguru, it does points out to the limitations of the knowledge. Examples are abounding in the scriptures pointing to how great people even with all the knowledge could not accomplish the purpose of their pursuit. Knowledge is the entity gained by the outward pursuit of mind whereas the experience is the inward investigation. It is of utmost importance for a seeker to know the distinction between the two. Knowledge as a function of logic is easily explained while experience remains with the self, only to be experienced! Does the inability to explain the experience mean that it does not exist? Absolutely not. One of the most eloquent and illuminating commentaries on the experience of the self can be found in "Tripura Rahasya", when the woman ascetic spoke to Ashtavakra in King Janaka's court: "Hearing it a thousand times over will be useless unless one verifies the teachings by means of investigation into the Self with a concentrated mind. Just as a prince labors under a misapprehension that the string of pearls still clinging to his neck has been stolen away by another and is not persuaded to the contrary by mere words but only believes when he finds it around his neck by his own effort so also, O youth, however clever a man may be, he will never know his own self by the mere teaching of others unless he realizes it for himself. Otherwise he can never realize the Self if his mind is turned outward. A lamp illumines all around but does not illumine itself or another light. Things shine in sunlight without the necessity for any other kind of illumination. Because lights do not require to be illumined, do we say that they are not known or that they do not exist? Therefore, as it is thus with lights and things made aware by the conscious self, what doubt can you have regarding abstract consciousness, namely the Self? Lights and things being insentient cannot be self-aware. Still, their existence or manifestation is under no doubt. That means they are self-luminous. Can you not similarly investigate with an inward mind in order to find out if the all-comprehending Self is conscious or not conscious? That Consciousness is absolute and transcends the three states (wakefulness, dream and slumber) and comprises all the universe making it manifest. Nothing can be apprehended without its light. Will anything be apparent to you, if there be no consciousness? Even to say that nothing is apparent to you (as in sleep) requires the light of consciousness. Is not your awareness of your unawareness (in sleep) due to consciousness? If you infer its eternal light, then closely investigate whether the light is of itself or not. Everybody falls in this investigation however learned and proficient he may be, because his mind is not bent inward but restlessly moves outward. As long as thoughts crop up, so long has the turning inward of the mind not been accomplished. As long as the mind is not inward, so long the Self cannot be realized. Turning inward means absence of desire. How can the mind be fixed within if desires are not given up? Therefore, become dispassionate and inhere as the Self. Such inherence is spontaneous (no effort is needed to inhere as the Self). It is realized after thoughts are eliminated and investigation ceases. Recapitulate your state after you break off from it, and then will know all and the significance of its being knowable and unknowable at the same time. Thus realizing the unknowable, one abides in immortality for ever. CONTRIBUTED ARTICLE: Vidyananda - The Bliss of Knowledge In this chapter the bliss experienced by a person who has attained the knowledge (realization) of Brahman through one of the three paths described in the preceding three chapters, namely, the practice of yoga, discriminative knowledge of the Self, and constant contemplation of the unreality of duality, is described. The happiness arising from external objects is a modification of the intellect. Similarly, the bliss arising from the realization of Brahman is also a modification of the intellect. This bliss has four aspects. These are, absence of sorrow, the fulfillment of all desires, the satisfaction of having done all that had to be done, and the feeling of having attained the goal of life. The jiva identifies himself with the subtle and gross bodies and thinks of himself as an agent (doer) and an enjoyer. The names and forms in the universe are looked upon as objects of enjoyment. When the jiva realizes that he is the supreme Brahman and gives up identification with the bodies, there is neither enjoyer nor objects of enjoyment. It is the identification with the bodies that is the cause of all desires, since all desires are for the comfort of the body. Sorrow results when a desire is not fulfilled. The knower of Brahman realizes that worldly objects have no reality and so he has no desire for them. Just as water does not stick to the leaves of the lotus, actions performed after realization do not attach to the knower, because actions are performed by the body and the knower of Brahman has no identification with the body. The accumulated actions (sanchita karma) are burnt by the fire in the form of the knowledge of Brahman. The injunctions and prohibitions of the Vedas do not have any application to the enlightened person. These are applicable only as long as one identifies oneself with the body and the mind. Any action performed by a realized soul is not action at all, because he has no sense of doership. Whatever action he performs is only for the welfare of the world and not for any benefit for himself, because he is the pure Self which has no desires. He enjoys supreme bliss. The present body continues till the praarabdha karma which brought it into existence is exhausted. On the fall of this body he will not be born again because there will be no karma left to give him another birth. The bliss of the Self is beyond the grasp of the mind and the senses. It is superior even to the happiness enjoyed by Brahma and other gods. (Contributed by Source: Sri Vidyaranya Swami's PANCHADASI - A Summary by S. N. Sastri) DEVOTEES SAY: RameshLast year, there was a risk that my family and I could be implicated in a court case for something that we didn't do. The case could have crippled us and destroy everything that we had. Baba saved us from loosing everything and also gave us the opportunity to visit Shirdi. Baba please remain with us and guide us and protect us always. Thank you Baba for everything. LakshmiWe were having trouble conceiving but with his grace we've been blessed with a beautiful baby boy. Just before my delivery, an individual who was in close contact with another person having chicken pox was going to come and live with us. But, with his blessings, we could overcome that situation. My baby was accidentally exposed to loud noise and we were very worried about his hearing. I prayed to Baba from the bottom of my heart and Baba has extricated us from this situation too and our son's hearing tests came out normal. As per my promise, I am posting this in Sai Vichaar. Baba is always there to protect and guide us. Bow to the Lotus Feet of Shri Sainath Maharaj. Bless us all. VenkatThank you for helping my sister recover quickly from her surgery. I would also like to thank you for helping my wife recover from all the allergy related sicknesses PraseedhThanks a Lot Sainath you are always there with me. With your blessings I got the US Visa and also blessed me with a chance to visit US PRAYER CLUB: SampaBaba help me and my husband get good jobs, so that we can take care of our mortgage and be financially stable. I am very much tensed these days, as the economy is also not doing well RajI have no money to eat, to live. And I can't even arrange for my marriage and nor can I postpone it. I can't help my father. Now my status is in big trouble. With this huge buffer time my GC process is in trouble. In fact everything in my life is of waste. I just don't have anything left A Sai devoteeEveryone in my family is having some sort of health problems. Please take care of us and guide us to be healthy. Some sort of fear has engulfed me and I am not able to function normal. WishwaI pray to you all the time for helping my son to find a right life partner. In spite of all efforts made, nothing has worked. Baba please, help him. ManjuBaba my dear father please help me to get placed in thought works company which is visiting our campus on this coming Tuesday SaiBaba doctors are thinking about placing TVC or TAC. Baba I want you to help them decide what's best for us in delivering the full term healthy baby. SharmaSAIBABA Please give me this job. KrishnaPlease Baba, I cannot bear this. You know what exactly in my mind. Also you know what exactly in my husband's mind. I want him back. I want to save my marriage, Baba! Please change his mind ChaitanyaBaba I bow my head on your feet and praying for my job. EXPERIENCE OF DEVOTEES: Sai devoteeIn April 2008 my son became depressed because of work tensions and domestic tension as he is a calm and quiet person and his wife is dominating and prone to violent fits of anger and breaking things. We were aware of these things but we could not interfere in their marital matters and privacy. It became so bad that he started getting very frightened of all people and moved in with us with family. We took great care of him and also consulted doctors. God came in the form of a relative who guided us. Saibaba is indeed merciful and although it took time now my son is fine and he has a more harmonious life. His wife still has to change a lot as their children also suffer because of her temper, but things are better. Her parents have advised her and she is trying to change and I am sure things will get better and better. There was black magic also being done but Saibaba has protected us all as a family. My son is in another better job and more at peace. VeenaWe live in California. We went on a vacation to India for 6 weeks in July 2007. As per our schedule, we visited some places around Vizag in South India and started to another place, Araku valley, which is supposed to be a second heaven. We were supposed to travel by our rented van, but after discussing, decided to board the train since we were told the journey was very scenic, as the train goes through a series of tunnels. It was indeed very scenic, and we all enjoyed the whole thing. There was only one more station before we reached our destination and no one noticed my husband when he got down quietly to get us some water. The train started moving, and he panicked and came running to get on to the train. His hands slipped because of the water and fell into the gap between the train and the platform!! Someone from our compartment saw this and jumped out of the moving train. Seeing this, some others pulled the chain. The man pulled my husband with the help of others and laid him on the platform. Until then we didn't realize that he was missing from our group. This all happened in just a matter of a few seconds. We ran to him and were relieved to see him in one piece. He was conscious and told us that he was all right and tried to get up, but couldn't do it, as he was hurting very badly. He had bruises all over his hands and legs and on his back. Sensing something wrong, my brother, who is a surgeon, took care and with others' help lifted him up carefully and put him on the train. Nobody could believe our luck as he came out alive. I thanked the rescuers profusely and even prostrated to the man who pulled him out saying that he is my Sai. My brother gave him some first aid and the train started and we reached Araku where he was taken to the one and only hospital. They took some x-rays and said he had a minor fracture in the pelvic area. QUOTATION OF THE WEEK: "Purification of mind is absolute necessity for the spiritual growth, without this all sadhanas are of no use"-Sri Saibaba QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Q. How to control Ego? A. by Kiranmai In Baba's words from Sat Charitra when talking of Hemandpant - "Let him make a collection of stories and experiences, keep notes and memos; I will help him. He is only an outward instrument. I should write Myself My autobiography and satisfy the wishes of My devotees, He should get rid of his ego, place (or surrender) it at My feet. He who acts like this in life, him I help the most. What of My life-stories? I serve him in his house in all possible ways. When his ego is completely annihilated and there is left no trace of it, I Myself shall enter into him and shall Myself write My own life. Hearing my stories and teachings will create faith in devotees' hearts and they will easily get self - realization and Bliss; let there be no insistence on establishing one's own view, no attempt to refute other's opinions, no discussions of pros and cons of any subject." - It is very difficult for any of us to remain objective of this at all times - but I think what counts and is credited most by Supreme is our sincere attempts in trying. 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. Sri Saibaba Mandir, Minneapolis, MNSri Saibaba Mandir is located in Minneapolis, MN at 1835 Polk St NE, Minneapolis, MN 55418. The mandir is open 7 days a week in the evenings from 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm and during morning hours from 9 am to 12:30 pm, everyday. Satsangs are conducted every Sunday mornings, 9 am to 12:30 pm. Please visit the mandir website www.hamaresai.org or call 612-789-7729 for more information on mandir activities, events and other information. 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 Temple of New England, Boston AreaSri Shirdi Sai Baba Temple of New England is now operational. It is located at 1827 Bridge St # 8, Dracut, MA 01824. The temple is open every Thursday from 7.00 pm to 9.00 pm and Saturday's from 4.00 pm to 7.00 pm. For temple hours and activities please visit the website www.nessp.org or send mail to maildrop. 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: Sai devotees posting prayer request are requested to state their needs briefly and be specific about their prayer needs. This will help with good use of space and allows more requests to be posted every week. The "Question of the week" for this week is Sri Saibaba said, "Purification of mind is absolute necessity for the spiritual growth, without this all sadhanas are of no use" - Comment? 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. 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Thank you,The webmaster From and Editor: Shirdi Sai Baba Web Site Shirdi Sai Baba Sanstha (A non-profit organization) Mail: 12N950 State Route 47 Hampshire, IL 60140, USA Email maildrop Phone 847-931-4058 Fax 847-931-4066 © Copyright 1998-2008 saibaba.org, Shirdi Sai Baba Sanstha - Sai Vichaar Weekly may only be redistributed in its unedited form. Written permission must be obtained to reprint or cite the information contained within this newsletter. Sai Vichaar is devoted to the philosophy and teachings of Shri Sadguru Sai Baba of Shirdi, and will take every measure to avoid topics or themes contradicting the same. Sai Vichaar team or the Shirdi Sai Baba web site is not responsible for the opinions expressed by individual contributors. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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