Sai Vichaar for Thursday , May 29, 2008

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Sai Vichaarwww.saibaba.org Thursday , May 29, 2008 :: Volume 11, Issue 3 (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 WEEKCONTRIBUTED ARTICLEDEVOTEES SAYPRAYER CLUBEXPERIENCE OF DEVOTEESQUOTATION OF THE WEEKQUESTION OF THE WEEKSAI ACTIVITIESFROM THE EDITORS KEYBOARDFEATURE OF THE WEEK: Sai devotion means..Sai devotion means tolerance towards all, faith in God and in Sai as Guru, and the acceptance of the basic principles found in all religions. These factors were stressed by Sai Baba from time to time and many a time. Sai allowed the Hindus to adopt their puranic method of worship and treat him either as an Avatar or Ishtadeva or a Gurudeva, as they liked, while he allowed the Muslims approaching him to read their Koran and the shariat at the Mosque and to join his flock as his devotees, treating him merely as an Avalia or a saint with remarkable powers. All alike noticed that Sai was the soul of love and purity, and a storehouse of superhuman power and superhuman enlightenment. It is such a person that has succeeded in drawing the otherwise jarring and warring sects into a peaceful flock of Sai devotees. When his puja is gone through during the daytime with all the din, bustle, and formalities of mantras and rituals of Hindu worship in the Mosque or Dwarkamayee, the Muslims do not interfere. When the Muslims on Idga Day have their rituals or prayers at Baba's Mosque, the Hindus do not interfere. During the day, Hindu puranas, Tukaram gathas, Ramayan, Vedas, were being read or recited and at night the Koran or shariat was read or repeated either by Abdul or by a person known as the Rohilla or by some other person, offerings brought to Baba were distributed by him to all after fatia was pronounced in true Muslim fashion. Though Baba did not himself perform the five Namazes every day, he encouraged the orthodox Muslims to do so at his place. Baba was displeased and showed his anger when any religious intolerance was exhibited.On one occasion a devotee came up and deplored the fact that the newly appointed Foujdar, that is, Police Sub-Inspector at Rahatha was neither a Hindu nor a Muslim but a Christian, Baba's immediate reply was, 'What of that? He is my brother'. Again, H.S. Dixit, though generally observing all propriety, once fell into the unfortunate mood of. decrying Christianity and Christ when talking at his quarters with some others. After that, he went up to Baba to pay his respects. But Baba severely said, "Don't come near me". At once Dixit felt that, by decrying Christ and Christianity he had offended Baba, and immediately he repented. It was only thereafter that Baba allowed him to approach him. Baba expressly declared67 that when devotees were quarrelling amongst themselves, he was feeling great pain, whereas if they all put up with each other and pulled on amicably, he felt happy.

In other places when a Muslim festival came on the same day as the Hindu festival, battles were fought, and heads were broken. But at Shirdi there was not a single occasion of a Hindu-Muslim class fight. When Baba's picture was carried in procession through all the streets including the neighborhood of the Muslims, no one felt the least repulsion or objection. On the other hand, in front of, and behind the palanquin carrying his picture, Hindus and Muslims vied with each other for the honor of carrying various insignia of devotion, namely, whisks, and umbrella and Maces etcetera. Baba distributed prasad brought by members of any community to all, and they were accepted by members of all communities.FEATURE OF THE WEEK: Sai devotion means?(continued...)Shirdi Sai Noon Arati Song says,

Jayaa Manim Jaisaa Bhaava

Tayaa Taisaa Anubhava

Davisi Dayaghana, aisii tujhi hi maava

Which means, According to the feeling or attitude of mind of each person, you give him experience of you. Such is your sport, merciful One. Thus, he really was God, that is, he had not merely God essence, Supreme Power and Love but also every form of God that the devotee wanted to see. As he was completely self-realized he could with perfect truth say Main Allahum, that is, I am Allah or God. Baba had the complete realization of the fullness of God-not merely of God forms, but God essence. He was Sal Chit Ananda. He had absolute freedom from attachment to all earthly objects and freedom from all those emotions, which take persons away from God. Therefore Baba was best fitted to bring into a common fold all persons who had desires or objects that religion could grant through service at his feet and acceptance of him as the Gurudeva or guide. It is common knowledge that any one who pins his faith to Baba, regardless of castes or creeds and appeals to him, gets remarkable relief, and therefore, feels convinced that this Sai whatever he might have been by birth, parentage, or training, in his corporeal life, is now nothing but God, that is, the dispenser of desired things to those who want them and make the proper approach.CONTRIBUTED ARTICLE: The Wavering MindMany people are seen with wavering mind. They change their opinion and priorities quickly listening to others, without using their intellect. What use is of a man who does not use his intellect and is always in wavering mind? Come what may we should not loose faith in God and remain calm and steady.

A wavering mind is like a fallen dry leaf, which will move always with the wind. The mind of a man, loosing faith in Baba, listening to others is like a fallen dry leaf.

Reading Baba's Satcharitra and not able to concentrate is also result of wavering mind. Baba appeared in Sathe's dream and blessed him even after a single reading of 'Gurucharitra'. This is because he read it with steady and faithful mind. Hemadpanth could not succeed even after so many years of reading. So, we should keep our faith in Baba steady like a rock. As is the faith, so is the result.(Contributed by Varaprasad)DEVOTEES SAY: NagadeepI was totally depressed last Saturday as our van was totally dead. I prayed Baba if it is fixed without any major expenditure I will immediately post on this weekly newsletter. No sooner than I sought his help, the van was fixed by the triple AAA member, for which I need not spend even a penny. Thank you Baba.PadmaMy husband called me from Washington DC where he has just reached for a 3 to 6 month business stay. He was shocked to find that he lost his wallet, which means everything including driver's license was gone. And he needed the license and debit or credit card as a minimum thing to survive in that new place and find some accommodation. I called all airports, airlines etc and they said that they did not find the wallet. Desperate, I turned to our beloved Sai and pleaded with Him not to test us like this and please just give us back the wallet. And within few minutes, my husband called me to say that he found the wallet in the laptop bag. That laptop bag he had searched at least 3 times before calling me and telling me about the lost wallet. My Pranaams to our beloved Lord who indeed stands by us day and night and means it when he says 'Why Fear When I am Here". Thank you Baba.ThanujaThanks for selecting me in the H1 lottery system, after that lot of things are there to be processed. Please take care of all the things. Please get me the H1 as soon as possible Baba.Thank you once again.VandanaI wanted to share my experience of in Shirdi when I went there this April. I attended Shej arati the first day but the next day I could not go inside so I sat outside in an open space where I could see Baba's face and arati on TV. After the arati, I went to my room and slept. I was planning to attend the Kakad arati so I slept early. In my dream, I saw Baba come to me and stand in a place where I was watching Him last night. He was in white clothes as I saw in the Shej arati. I just ran to Him saying Baba and then I woke up. It was so nice experience that I cannot explain, it happened to me first time. I was very happy. I thought Baba is calling me for Kakad aarti. I got up, took a bath and stood in a queue for Kakad arati. It was a nice experience that I wanted to share. He is always with my family and me. He has fulfilled all my wishes. So keep faith in Sai and say Jai Sai Ram.SeemaMy doctor had doubts pertaining to some tests I had undergone on May 9th 2008 that left me so restless and depressed. I prayed reverently till the final outcome of reports and discussions with my doctor on the May 17th 2008. This whole week I was so tense and truly realized that nothing is great than the solace in Baba's lotus feet and a healthy body. You answered my prayers and everything is normal and nothing to worry. Baba always has mercy on us and let us remain in Your lotus feet.SaradaMany many thanks to You for giving my mother visa to be able to visit us, which was her last wish. For last 10 years we have been trying for this. I am so happy. Also thank you for everything.SoniaOm Sai Ram, on 2nd of this month my husband complained of mild pain in his chest and breathlessness and was admitted to the local hospital. All through this troubled time, there was only person on my mind and that was Saibaba. I continued to do his Sai vrat(fast) and yesterday I got the good news that there was no problem with his health, he is fine and is coming back home healthy and happy. All praise for Sai baba, He is the reason for this miracle.

PRAYER CLUB: SushilBaba, this time I really studied very hard for my CPA exam but nothing is possible without Your blessing, please shower your blessing and help me to pass my examination.KanchanPlease Sai, you have always been with us for a long time, my parents are a great beliver of you and not a work is done without thinking of You or keeping your photo on any occasion. I pray to You to please help my mother get well soon as she is having a very bad pain in her leg for a long time due to which it is difficult for her to do any work or even sit down. Please Sai make her well soon as we all have faith in You. Om Sai Ram.

VasinthieOm Sai Ram, I am a widow and I am extremely unhappy, nothing seems to go right for me. I am also very lonely. I am in a relationship with someone for the past 8 years but he does not seem to want to make a commitment. I request an humble prayer to please help my life to be sorted out so that I can also have a family. I also pray for all those who have problems and I pray that Swami blesses them.

PujaJai Sai Ram, Sai please fulfil my hearts desire. I have suffered a lot physically and mentally. You are the saviour and I have full faith in you Sai. I have committed a lot of mistakes in the past and You have forgiven me. Please give me my hearts desire this time Sai.

SantoshBaba, we are very grateful for fulfilling our good wishes, protecting and taking care of us. Please give us the strength to fulfill all our vows and continue to fulfill our good wishes and continue to shower Your kind blessings on us.

RajMy friend's daughter is having late development of mental as well as in physical. She can't speak, walk and even cannot stand properly. She is about 4 or 5 years old. For this, on behalf of his family I request all to pray for the child for early and speedy recovery. Sai bless all.

ShankerPlease Sai devotees pray to Sai Baba that my brother be back to normal health. He's getting worst day by day and I am so agonized and worried about my brother day and night. I have been chanting everyday to Baba, I leave everything at your lotus feet Baba. Baba, I wish from the bottom of my heart. Please take care my brother and shower Your mercy on him so that he will recover soon. He has five kids and my mother and sister-in-law have been suffering and worried a lot about him.

EXPERIENCE OF DEVOTEES: BalajiBaba came into my life through a person who gave a loan to my father. Once he came to our house to collect the loan and given the bad financial state we were in, he felt pity and gave a picture of Sai to my mother and asked to pray to him to solve all the troubles. From then on my mother started praying and I did not have much belief but still I used to go to Baba temple in Mylapore.

Years passed by and there were numerous miracles happening all along the way, all this happened while we are totally in a helpless state. Our financial position never improved but it never was a stumbling block in our life, be it the marriage of both my sisters or my education; Baba made sure that everything happened on time and with all grandeur.

While my belief started taking form the situations were little tough and I resorted to Baba's feet with more determination. One major instance is when I was preparing for entrance examination for MBA. Though I did not have the luxury for coaching classes, Baba introduced me to a friend with whose help the preparation became a lot easier. Baba made me attend a lot of examinations and in all I did really well much to the disbelief of my parents. Finally in one examination I got a rank with a scholarship too. There was another shocking incident, my mother who was in my village had some neurological problem and went into coma. Everybody lost hope and no one was ready to help us in any way, at this moment Baba in the form of our brother-in-law gave us all the help we needed. Because of the attack my mom lost her memory and was not able to recall most of the things. Again this was a cause of worry, in a few more days Baba helped mom to get back her memory.continued.....Baba got me a placement where I was the only one to get selected out of 70. Again this helped me to go back home and take care of my mother. Once I was back home we have to take a rented place and was looking for a house. After frantic search we are able to find a good house within our budget, once again its a miracle the house which we got was kept vacant by Baba for us for 18 months in the heart of Chennai city. In July 2006 I came to Shirdi along with my parents and it was the first visit for my Mom. With Baba's grace I was able to take my parents on their first flight and the journey was absolutely comfortable all along the way till we reached home. It was pure bliss for everyone and I really cherish it all my life.

I met my life partner who is a devotee of Baba as well. Our marriage went on very well and after our marriage me and my wife went to Shirdi for taking Blessings of Baba. We were standing in the queue to take darshan and while we were nearing Baba we want to give the garland and sweets to the priest there, initially he did not take it and suddenly he smiled and asked us, so you are newly married couple from Hyderabad? It was really a surprise as there is nothing evident either in the dress or appearance to say that we are newly weds. All I want is to be at the feet of Baba with unwavering faith and devotion.QUOTATION OF THE WEEK: "I require no door to enter, I have no form nor any shape; I always live everywhere"-Shri Sai BabaQUESTION OF THE WEEK: Q. Question of the week is given below......A. by NehaQ. For a Sai devotee, is it appropriate to base decisions on practices such as Kundali or seek the advice of other Gurus?

A. A firm faith in Baba means that whatever is happening in your life is only with the grace of Baba, which also includes everything you come across, including the people like Gurus or astrologers. We all know that Baba gives blessings and darshan through someone, which can also mean that he wants to solve your problem through them. Maybe the astrologers or gurus are just messengers sent by our Sainath for our help. I was watching Baba's serial on Star Plus, wherein he sends an astrologer to Shama to remind him that he has to go to Vani to complete his mother's wish. Everything happening in our lives is by the grace of Baba. He is omnipresent, he is all around. His ways of blessing us is very different. So whatever comes our way, we should take it as Baba's indication. Om Sai RamSAI 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: Please note that Sai Vichaar is only yet another global platform on the electronic medium for sharing information on the life and message of Sadguru Sainath of Shirdi. Sai Vichaar does not profess to endorse any particular thought, nor will judge or reflect the opinions expressed by individual contributors.

A Sai devotee suggested the "Question of the week" for this week as follows: Q. All the faithful devotees mentioned in the Sai Satcharita during Sri Baba's time, are there references to what happened to them, their future generations?

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 1998-2008 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.