Sai Vichaar for Thursday , November 15, 2007

November 15, 2007

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Sai Vichaarwww.saibaba.org Thursday , November 15, 2007 :: Volume 10, Issue 27 (In its tenth 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: He never preached!Sai Baba was a great saint who lived in Shirdi, Maharashtra, India from the year 1854 until 1918 when he entered Mahasamadhi. Sai Baba never preached nor did he deliver any sermons. Neither has Sai Baba any philosophical compositions to his credit. Hence he was not theoretically a philosopher as were Kapila and Sankara or Kaul and Hegel or Whithead and Russell. And yet his way of life has influenced far many people than have a thousand books of armchair philosophers. Baba had no needs and no desire for anything material. If he was living, it was for not himself, but wholly in order to do good to others. Only for this purpose he maintained his body, for the physical sheath itself he didn't care a whit. This completely selfless fakir was even in unison with God and that is why his very presence had an elevating influence on those who came for his darshan, and that darshan taken even once was enough to transform even a casual visitor-an atheist to a believer, a pessimist into an optimist, a sinner into a God's man. Philosophers have written dissertations and treatises, but these by themselves have not changed the world. A great philosophy moulds a certain Man of Destiny who by his deeds brings about great reforms and even revolutions. Sai Baba was such a man of action - a living embodiment of many former philosophies. Therefore by "philosophy of Sai Baba", we mean his way of life which exemplified certain principles.Sai Baba identified himself with all creatures in nature - not only human beings, but birds and beasts, reptiles and insects. Not for him was the man-woman distinction. Differences of man made caste and creed had no place in the eyes of Sai Baba. That Sai Baba never revealed his caste and religion has a deep significance. Sai Baba brought to practice the equality of people once they stepped into Dwarakamyi, they are neither rich nor poor, neither a Raja nor Praja (subjects), neither landlord nor a laborer. The common meals which Sai Baba cooked and served with his own hands in Dwarakamyi was an object lesson in equality. It was just for this reason that Baba never consented to be a Guru and never made any disciples by himself, for this institution of Gurus leads to ownership and property rights which Baba strictly opposed. This prophet of the modern world literally lived by example, the principles of the humanity. That is Sai Baba's philosophy, if it can be so called. (An abstract from Children's Sai Baba by Prof. D.D. Parchure)

CONTRIBUTED ARTICLE: Why Fear When I Am Here ?"Why fear when I am here? Have patience and faith in me. You have to get everything from me.

Feed the hungry first, then feed thyself. Entertain always noble thoughts. Avoid falsehood and needless disputation. Resort to the wise for guidance

Why are you anxious? I take all care of you. How can I allow my children to fast or starve? Ego must be killed out. Not a leaf moves except by my grace.

If I do not save my children, who' else will?

All the universe is Me.

My business is to give blessings

Have consideration for the poor and wretched, Efforts must be made to make the mind steady. Remember, I look on all with an equal eye. Even from the tomb, I shall be active and vigorous.(Contributed by Source: "An Anthology of Prayers and Precepts" by BS Narayana Murthy)DEVOTEES SAY: AjayMay be this is not new to all Sai devotees. But I want to share with Sai family. Last Thursday Sai blessed me. When I was sleeping, He stood there and said to me "You are my devotee", I was in a bliss supreme, expect what, it was on Thursday. When I was in problems I prayed many at times to Sai to bless me, two weeks back I posted an article in devotees forum asking to bless my friends mother with good health, as she was suffering from liver problem. After my posting, she got cured gradually, now she is on her own, going for walk, attending classes even going for shopping. It is all because of Sai. Then the next Thursday he accepted me as His devotee after removing all my problems and curing my friend's mother health.ShamikThank you Baba for helping us sell our house in a short time. It would not have been possible without Your Grace and blessing!!DechammaSai Baba saved me many times, here is one instance. I have been suffering with eye disease from many days. One day I registered to receive Sai articles and found about Sai Satcharita. I started reading the book and found improvements. I feel much better than before after reading Sai Satcharita. My eyes are getting better and better. Sai Baba thanks for staying with me all the time, please continue to shower Your blessings all the time.RanjitBaba is very great. He is taking care of me from my 7th class onwards. He will definitely help me in almost every situation. Recently I got the job by His grace only, it is a great miracle.MunikumarThanks Baba for getting Australian visa in time. Since this is my first foreign visit am very much worried. You helped me a lot by giving me giving confidence to face all problems. Please Baba be with me and shower Your blessings on my parents and bless them with good health and peace of mind.SarmisthaI have recently experienced a special attachment with Baba because this year I went to Gangotri and on the way I saw Baba's photo inside a small cave and a sadu gave me Shirdi Saibaba photo and I was overwhelmed and considered to be God's blessing. But still I haven't gone to Shirdi if by Baba's grace I get a govt. job I would surely go there.MithunI would like to thank baba for helping me out in my career. Only baba helped me to get a project whenever my previous project got over. I amaze my self at job by doing things, which I haven't done any time. It's all because of Baba's blessing. Please continue to shower your blessings Baba. Thanks a bunch.PRAYER CLUB: JasmeetBaba all happens as per Your wish but Baba day by day my tensions are piling up. Now this new problem of Deepak's job. Baba I beg of You to please let a miracle take place in our life.Nalini MBaba, please bless my daughter to have a baby without any problems. She has tumor and she has to undergo surgery before even she can have a baby. I am so worried please Baba bless my daughter to have a safe surgery and have a baby soon.SavithriPlease accept my request and bless him with good and profitable job.SurekhaSaibaba kindly take cake of my parents. Sainatha please do not be angry with us but love us and take care of us.MonicaBaba please take care of everything, as I cannot see all this happening to us. Baba please bless me with a job too. This pain is becoming unbearable now.SirishaBaba, please give my brother good life and good attitude. He has some problems with the job he is in so please give him good settlement in his life.EXPERIENCE OF DEVOTEES: SriramI have been a devotee of Baba since last 17 years, and have visited Shirdi number of times that I have lost count of it. I have experienced a number of miracles in these years and can say that I am alive now only due to Baba. I want to narrate an experience, which I had promised to write in this column. My marital life has not been very happy, after marriage my relation with my wife was not smooth and after great turmoil my wife left me with my son of 3 years to Chennai without informing me from Mumbai. She took a transfer from her office; she was not loving, caring and in short was not interested in this marriage. She went in 2003. I was shattered and traumatized by this as I loved my only son so much, he too loved me very much. My wife wanted to separate from me legally due to instigation from her mother and others in her family, still I persisted and avoided legal intervention. I visited Shirdi every 3 months and prayed to Baba to unite us soon for the sake of our child. In March 2006, I went to Shirdi on Shivratri day and had a blissful darshan. I had a book of answers that can be referred by devotees for their questions. With absolute faith I prayed and asked Baba whether my wife will live with me or not, will she come in that year (2006) or when shall she come and live with me happily? I thought a number, when I opened that particular page, Baba's answer was "Your desire will be fulfilled not this year, but next. People my laugh at you but will surrender to Sai after being convinced". I was doubtful and I asked whether He was sure to Baba, he again replied "Don't have thousand doubts for small matters". I waited with crossed fingers. Exactly in April 2007, my wife came to my house after being transferred by her office compulsorily inspite of her many pleadings to the management. At present she is living with me happily and seems to entirely forget the earlier episodes and her disinterest for me. I consider this as the greatest miracle.Sai devoteeI would like to share my recent experiences with all Sai devotees. I am reading every day one chapter of Sai Satcharita. Once I read the whole book I am starting over again and this is going on since March 2007. This is giving me immense peace of mind and lots of inner strength to move ahead in life. During last month it so happened that on Saturday morning my wife's foot got injured accidentally while working at home. She thought that it was a minor injury and should be gone in few hours but eventually her foot started swelling and she was under tremendous pain. She could barely move and couldn't walk without any support. We all were very sacred and thinking that it might be a fracture. I went to our pooja room and sitting in front of Baba, I pray and put my request to Him to relieve her from the pain and let it not be a fracture or something serious. With this request in mind I prayed for sometime and then I gave my wife Baba's Udi with water. She took it and we start applying ice massage to her foot. Within few minutes she slept and then when she wake up in morning, the swelling was gone. She was able to move without any support. We were surprised and amazed with this event in our life because I had read so many devotees experiences about Baba and His Udi's miracle but now we felt it to. I was facing tough time in my project and I wasn't expecting to complete more than 5-6 months but Baba take care of me and now I am still working on the same project and it is extended till end of year. Now with each passing day in my life my devotion is more and more on my Sainath. Dear Baba, if I have done any mistakes unknowingly or knowingly, pardon me and give peace to me and to my family.SaiBaba thanks a lot deva. It just happened today when I opened the Sai newsletter and started reading. I was working with this problem at work for hours and couldn't figure out what was wrong, and then when I was reading I said to myself hope Baba would help me out with this problem. As I was in the middle of the reading, Baba showed me the problem and I fixed it right away. Yes Baba, you are there for all of us and You do take care of everyone. Baba, You know what's going on with him. I can't se him suffer Baba and you know we want to plan but every month something or the other comes up. Please deva, bless us a baby soon. Also Baba thanks a lot for the raise, which would not be possible without You. Please help her to come back to normal health and also please take care of our parents sisters and brothers. Jai Sai Ram!RakshaMy son came down with a viral infection last month. For many days and weeks, this was undiagnosed and he suffered tremendously. Not only was he enduring the physical pain, but also he was undergoing a lot of emotional stress. Being away from college was impacting his graduation next month. I applied Baba's udi from Shirdi on my son's forehead daily and prayed to Baba fervently, begging Him to cure my son's illness and to make sure everything works in his favor. Baba has never let me down and I can only thank Him profusely for all His blessings that he continues bestowing on me and my family members. Shri Satchitanand Sadguru Sainath Maharaj Ki Jai!QUOTATION OF THE WEEK: "I forgot everything but the Guru. My whole life was concentrated in my sight and my sight was on him (Guru). He was the object of my meditation. In silence I bowed down".-Shri Sai BabaQUESTION OF THE WEEK: Q. Question of the week is given below......A. by HavoviQ. We get to hear that whatever sufferings we undergo is due to the deeds of our previous births. To the contrary we also hear that whatever good or bad deeds we do, we have to experience the result in the same birth itself. Could anyone explain which is appropriate?

A. I am going to try and answer your poser in the last Sai Vichaar. I feel that the Sai Satcharitra explains that we have to finish and pay up for our deeds in our present birth. This has been clearly shown in episodes written in the book. Two vivid examples are the one of Dr. Pillai and the other of Dr. Ambadekar. Dr. Pillai suffered from Guinea worms in his leg, the pain was so bad he asked Sai to transfer it into his other births. Baba asked him why he wished to suffer. He said "Why should he suffer for ten more births when in ten days he can work out the sufferings and consequences of his past karma. While I am here to give him temporal and spiritual welfare why should he pray for death? Bring him here on someone's back and let us work and finish his sufferings once and for all" in the case of Dr Ambadekar who tried to commit suicide Baba said" You must enjoy the fruit good or bad of your past actions if the enjoyment be incomplete suicide will not help you. You have to take another birth and suffer again so instead of killing yourself why not suffer for sometime and finfish up your store of the fruit of your past deeds and be done with it once and for all" Finally this man took heed of this did not have to suffer and completed his life in ease and comfort. So this is very much what we have to learn. It is not easy being a Sai Baba devotee.Take me for example. I became one due to some electrifying incidents but I strayed time and again and Sai was kind enough to keep bringing me back. It is today after all these years I can well and truly believe I am one, for you see, self-realization, acceptance of your faults and shortcomings. Can't tell lies can't have a stray thought for anyone cant fight back, believe me you have to give a lot in return. I personally feel if anyone has approached our Sai in the right path it becomes the end of our life and birth cycle. As they say for ones who love and believe no explanation is necessary for those who do not no explanation is possible. I hope I was able to answer your question. In Sai Satcharitra, 25th Chapter, Hemandpant says that not everybody's wishes and prayers are answered. It is like not every flower becomes a fruit. Thinking like this really breaks me. How do I tackle with this? How do I cope up with the fact that Baba will not listen to me?Q. Question of the week is given below......A. by NaineshQ. We get to hear that whatever sufferings we undergo is due to the deeds of our previous births. To the contrary we also hear that whatever good or bad deeds we do, we have to experience the result in the same birth itself. Could anyone explain which is appropriate?

A. If every flower does not become a fruit atleast we became flowers and had joy of spending some time with Baba. Have faith and patience and then if not in this birth it will be in the next birth we will become fruits. Always say Sai Sai.Q. Question of the week is given below......A. by LakshmiQ. We get to hear that whatever sufferings we undergo is due to the deeds of our previous births. To the contrary we also hear that whatever good or bad deeds we do, we have to experience the result in the same birth itself. Could anyone explain which is appropriate?

A. It is difficult for a devotee to think that Baba is not listening to us. But in reality I do think he is listening to us. There are many reasons why he does not grant what we want - the time is not ripe, we are not ripe, sometimes he knows that it is not good for us and the fact that we have to experience burn the past karma. The Satcharita clearly has portions wherein Baba did not yield to the prayers of his devotees for example like the passing away of one of his greatest female devotees "RadhaKrishnamai". Her friend Bhikubai was upset that Sai did not extend her life but He was very confident about what happened. I surely believe that the saint who said that not a leave moves without my grace knows us clearly and is listening to us but at times because we cannot fully fathom him think otherwise.Q. Question of the week is given below......A. by SumanaWe get to hear that whatever sufferings we undergo is due to the deeds of our previous births. To the contrary we also hear that whatever good or bad deeds we do, we have to experience the result in the same birth itself. Could anyone explain which is appropriate?

A. Hard work or good deeds or prayers are always answered, it will never go unanswered, the only thing is that they are answered in different times (right time), so instead of thinking whether my prayers are answered or not? It is better to be always in His remembrance and pray to Him sincerely. So that it always carries to our merit. Further, Baba fulfills our desire only if it is good and suitable for us at that particular time.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.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, except Mondays. 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 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 and use Prayer Club for prayer requests only.

A Sai devotee suggests the Question of the week for this week as follows: Q. Baba left his bodily coil for 72 hours much before his mahasamadhi- did Baba give any indication to his devotees what transpired in those 72 hrs or was any kind of discussion on this?Humbly Yours,The EditorABOUT 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, or 3. 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 receipt of Sai Vichaar, please visit the URL http://www.saibaba.org/newsletter.html and select the option from the menu. If you have problems accessing the web page due to network problems, please send an e-mail to support with the words "Un Sai Vichaar" in the subject line. To make a contribution to any of the sections of Sai Vichaar, please visit the URL http://www.saibaba.org/newsletter.html and select the Submit Articles to Sai Vichaar option from the menu. Back copies of HTML version of Sai Vichaar can be accessed by visting the URL http://www.saibaba.org/whatsnew.html. For any questions or more information regarding this e-mail or our web site, please send an e-mail to maildrop and your inquiries will be attended to promptly.Thank you,The webmasterFrom and Editor:Shirdi Sai Baba Web SiteShirdi Sai Baba Sanstha(A non-profit organization)Mail:12N950 State Route 47 Hampshire, IL 60140, USAEmailmaildropPhone847-931-4058Fax847-931-4066© Copyright 1998-2006 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.