Sai Vichaar for Thursday , February 09, 2006.......!!! Sai Ram

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Sai Vichaar for Thursday , February 09, 2006Sai Vichaarwww.saibaba.org

Thursday , February 09, 2006 :: Volume 8, Issue 39 (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: Spiritual

OasisSapatnekar was an elite lawyer who did not quite believe in Baba until he

had to face the calamity of losing his only son to disease. Disinterested in

life and disturbed, he had to seek in refuge in Baba. Nanasaheb Chandorkar had

his own questions about the all-pervasive nature of Baba. Baba revealed Himself

to Nana through some of the divine experiences of the latter, and thus Nana was

a part of Baba's court. Kakasaheb Dikshit, another ardent devotee of Sainath

did not know about Baba for several years and Baba drew him towards Himself via

peculiar circumstances. Hemadpant wrote that however scholarly might man's

learning be, it just fades away before someone that realized the Brahman.

Everyone one of those that approached Baba with a preconceived notion, either

with the curiosity to know if He is really what He is being portrayed as or

with the arrogance of learnedness had to bow in front of His humility,

benevolence, compassion, and the magnificence. In case of all those learned

men, it was the surrender either due to the misfortune of a suffering or the

providence of His grace that provided them with the means of enlightenment. It

is true that however scholarly may man's learning be, it just fades away in

front of the one that realized the Brahman. On this peaceful Thursday, let us

contemplate on the realization only a Sadguru can give and nothing else in the

world would.CONTRIBUTED ARTICLE: Saibaba and KabirFor a parallel with Saibaba,

I shall focus on the following characteristics traditionally attributed to

Kabir's persona and teaching: (1) the way he used to define himself, (2) the

fundamental importance he gave to the teacher, (3) the path of devotion leading

to surrender, (4) the essential role played by the remembrance of the divine

name, (5) the use of attributing many different names to God, (6) the

prominence of Rama's name and, finally (7) the refusal of "tantras" and

"mantras" as being deceptions of the power of maya.

Kabir like Sai referred to himself in various ways: God's slave or servant, a

devotee of God, faqir, even God himself. He said: "I am Hari's humble slave,

and I would not let go of His lotus feet for anything the world might offer

me". He said, "I am your humble servant, oh Lord, and you are the light which

illuminates all of my recesses. "I am the fakir who has found his truth. One

and the same God created Hindus and Muslims alike, and these poor fools fight

each other in His name". He also said, I am your devotee, oh Lord, and I come

towards You with the hope I my heart of finding refuge". Kabir particularly

insisted on the necessity of finding a Guru. The Guru is everything in Kabir's

vision, and innumerable are the passages in which he extols his supremacy. He

said, "infinite is the Guru's kindness, and incalculable the help which he

lavishes. Only he knows how to open the disciple's eyes, so that the vision of

the Infinite may bless his sight". "Only the knowledge which Guru grants makes

it possible for one to save himself."Devotion is the foundation on which Kabir

based his religious life. He insisted on the notion of surrender, of totally

submitting oneself to God. Kabir, like Saibaba, insisted upon the necessity of

practicing God's remembrance, not in a mechanical way but by reminding oneself

of God's presence in one's heart, bringing to mind all that the divine name

connotes. The divine name constitutes the only safe path leading to

realization. Says Kabir: "Sing Rama's glory with your heart, tongue, and

actions. Kabir, like Saibaba, used different names taken from both the Muslim

and Hindu traditions to designate God. He said, "To me Rama, Rahim, Karim, and

Kesava are all truth. And the same are Bismil and Visvambhara. With Rama's name

as his support, Kabir declares that both tantras and mantras are deceptions of

maya. This offers another interesting parallel with Saibaba who always refused

to give out tantras and mantras. G.G. Narke stated, Saibaba never gave me any

mantra, tantra or upadesa, and so far as I know, he gave them to

nobody.(Contributed by Source: "The Life and Teachings of Saibaba of Shirdi" by

Antonio Rigopoulos)DEVOTEES SAY: RobertDear friends: I enjoyed and was inspired

very much by both of the answers to the question in this issue about how we are

to know if we have won Sai´s grace. But, at the same time, it seems that there

was a language problem present. Sadashiv seemed to speaking of grace for

something in particular – sadhana and spiritual growth in and through the

attunement with the Guru. Ravin was talking about grace in a more general

context. I think both are valid and both are very important for all sincere

devotees to remember. I always remember a conversation I had with a great saint

just after a somewhat humorous situation with a person passing on the street. He

said that, not only is it so with the saints, but with all of us and we should

be more conscious of how God works in this world because no one who has a

contact with a person actively attuning himself to the Divine will ever be the

same afterward. Maybe to a small degree, maybe to a large degree, but his life

readjusts spiritually at that moment by that contact. This is an incredible

statement, but I am convinced it is true. And especially with regard to the

contact – external or internal – with a great saint, such as Shirdi

Baba!!DevikaBaba is just great. I was searching for a job for the past 4

months. Many devotees may know because I used to write regular prayers. Now I

got a job. I was really tensed and told Baba that I will not eat non-veg on

Thursdays. After 2nd Thursday, I got it. I will continue with my prayer. In

between, these days I went to see an astrologer and he told I won't get job.

But I had faith in Baba and continued to pray. On Monday, I will join. Just

chant Baba's name you will be blessed.ChandraBaba, thank you for getting me the

funding, I am awaiting and praying for the next one.SheebaI always believed Baba

always comes to our rescue when we really think of him truly in our heart and

mind. I was very much worried about my son who was around 15 months and was

very weak and not showing any interest in walking. I even wrote about this in

the prayer group column of the Sai Vichaar newsletter and pray to Baba about

the problem of my son. After few days on one Thursday night my son took his

first few steps and we where all overjoyed and our eyes filled with water to

see another miracle of Baba. Whatever baba does is for our goodness but we

should have faith in him and a lot of patience.PRAYER CLUB: PoonamI am in

trying to conceive since last 5 years. You believe me that I will conceive but

now my patience is going to be end. Doctors advised me to go for IVF. But I am

very afraid from all surgeries. Baba I do not know what to do, where to go,

which doctor I should consult and how I will manage money. Baba please help me

and show me the way.KrishnaSairam, lately my son is going through difficult

phase in life since he has been going to High School, he has always been a

bright student in his life, but things have changed. How much hard I try he is

not paying attention in his studies. Please shower your blessings on him so he

works hard and improves his scores.KoushalyaI have great faith on You. Please

help me and my husband Sai Ram.BalaBaba my friend is in the hospital in

intensive care unit. Please make him get better soon, Sai devotees please pray

for Tom's speedy recovery.SwapnaBaba, I want to see you. Can you please appear

in my dream once?SheelaSai Ram, Sai once again Ashok's job is gone, we really

do not know how to handle this situation. Please Sai, find him a good job and

change his attitude and nature so he can continue his job in one place.

SrinivasIt has been long time, I have no job. Am striving hard as well to get a

job as soon as possible. It is only possible by your grace.PraveenaPlease

support us through and guide us through a new path we are seeking to

success.Sai devoteeMy dear Baba, I wrote a requesting letter to You few months

ago, begging You to take care of my younger daughter. Please Baba, You know

what all we went through and how she is suffering with all problems. You are

everything for us, please Baba take care of my baby and solve her problems.Sai

DevoteeThanks Baba, You gave me job today. I was so depressed. Please give me

call everyday. You know my husband also does not have a job. Please make him

Your devotee and take him in Your sharan. Thanks for every thing, for my trip

to India.

A devoteeBaba please help me. You know all my problems, since my husband passed

away and You know my health and habit problems, please heal me Baba. I beg of

You to look my way if only for one minute.GeetaPlease pray that Suraj should

get another good job. The job at present are posing lots of hassles. There is

no peace of mind in the shipping job that he is doing. Also the timings are not

fixed. He is not getting time for his family and friends. Some other good job

should come his way so that he can change this job and settle down elsewhere.

Sai devoteeOh Sai! I bow always to Your lotus feet to get me a long term project

as a contractor in clinical industry with no middlemen as I am trying very hard

with no results yet. Oh Sai Ram! please give me strength to stand on my own

feet and also I pray to answers all our Sai devotees prayers too. Please bless

us to read Sai Satcharita daily and I would surely keep writing my experiences

in this newsletter. Always show us a righteous path.

EXPERIENCE OF DEVOTEES: A Sai DevoteeI wish to write my recent experience I had

and I was out of it just due to Sai's grace. I work for a major automobile

company here in North America and I was given a project to handle by our

management, which was beyond my area of expertise. Things turned worse, project

failed to be delivered on the deadline for various reasons, and I was held

accountable for it. This came right before the time when the company was

choosing candidates for lay-offs within the company After suffering for

sometime and not knowing which way to go, I finally approached my immediate

supervisor. Much to my amazement, my supervisor did not feel I was at fault,

but rather found the fault at the original source from where the request for

the project came from. He not only personally made it a point to get me the

correct expertise and help needed to get the project completed, but also

volunteered to talk to the top management in my favor. Not only did the project

get underway, I also got away from a mistake, which could have cost me my job.

During the time of going through the agony and pain, not once did it occur that

I should talk to my supervisor. It was only when I prayed to Shree Sai to get me

out of this and my promise to write my experience on Sai Vichaar, that I got the

thought(buddhi) to talk to my supervisor.SapnaI am into recruitment section in

consultancy. Last month I had to face difficult situation. I got short listing

of candidates for interview from my client side. That time I called one of my

previous short listed candidates also. Next day when I confirmed with my

client, he directly refused to call old candidates so I called that old

candidate again but he told that he had booked his airfare ticket. I was

shocked so I requested him to cancel his ticket. But that air flight has no

provision for cancellation of tickets. I felt very bad that without confirming

his appointment, I called him up for an interview. Not only did I give him a

false hope but also wasted his money in air tickets, which he will not get back

on cancellation. That time I prayed to Saibaba to save this candidate's money.

In lunch hour I was very depressed, before starting my lunch I took Baba's name

and again called up client officer, the same person who was earlier quite

reluctant, this time said that he would try to manage and arrange that

candidate interview. After 1 to 2 hours, he confirmed me with specific date and

time. The next day that candidate was called for an interview. In the evening

that candidate called me up and told me that among all other candidates he has

been selected. I was so surprised and happy. How Baba managed all things and

helped me. Yesterday that candidate had an offer letter also. Thanks Baba for

everything. Baba, always be with me and bless me and my family members.SumeetI

just wanted to share my experience of how Baba was with me through out my

sickness, surgery and recovery period. A month back I started having severe

headaches. Initially the attacks were once in two days and then they reached

three times a day. The headaches were so severe that I wanted to take apart my

head. Fortunately for us, Baba called us to the Sai mandir in Baldwin, NY and

blessed us with vibhuti. During one of the attacks, my wife put that vibhuti

and in five minutes, my attack got over. From that day onwards whenever I used

to get the attack, we used to put vibhuti and both me and my wife used to chant

Om Sairam and it reduced my attack period from two hours to 30 minutes. When we

met the doctor, he diagnosed that I had polyps in my sinuses and hence my

infection is not curing. He asked us to go for surgery. In the Operation

Theatre, I went under general anesthesia with the thoughts of Sai Ram. Luckily,

during surgery doctor found out that it was a fungus ball and he did not had to

cut anything. Sai Ram helped me during my recovery phase too. Due to general

anesthesia and morphine, I developed severe constipation. Baba pulled me out

through it too. Sai devotees please never get depressed, He is always with us

and will always come to over rescue.Sanjay, New DelhiDear Sir, thanks a lot

again for sending me the Sai Vichaar. Here I want to share my experience. My

son is a case of cerebral palsy. He was not able to sit. Only the day after my

wife cried and prayed in front of Baba, he sat on his own. I got an opportunity

to do my MTech at IIT by praying to Baba. Now my son is walking independently.

Of course, he is not able to speak. But we have great faith on Baba that he

will talk with us soon. He is now 4 yrs old. Really, Baba takes away our

sorrows when we pray with faith and patience. Sai bless us.QUOTATION OF THE

WEEK: "Let us be content to remain as He makes us, to submit our wills to His.

(Allah rakega vahisa rahena)".-Sai BabaQUESTION OF THE WEEK: Q. How are we to

know that we have won Sai's grace?A. by KandappaWhen will you know that you

have the grace of the Sadguru, when the particular stage is reached the Sadguru

appears from nowhere. A devotee was tired when walking through a forest and

rested under full-grown tree. A bird let the droppings on him and he got

irritated and angrily at the bird. The bird was burnt to ashes then and there.

He was very elated and felt very proud of his level of spiritual attainment. He

went home, his wife was serving him lunch, and something went wrong he looked

very hard at his wife. She retorted and said 'do you think that I am also a

bird on the tree'. He was wondering as to how she knew what happened in the

forest and realized her level of spiritualism even though she was a housewife.

As a housewife for her 'work is worship' and 'duty is God'. The energy inside

you should be activated and kept alive and you will know when you have the

grace of Sadguru. The husband immediately prostrated at her feet and accepted

her as his Guru.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 (AT) saibaba (DOT) org.Shirdi Saibaba Prayer Center, MinnesotaRegular Sai

activities in Minneapolis, St.Paul area are being conducted at Shirdi Saibaba

Prayer Center, 725 Lake St NE, Apt #139 Hopkins MN. For details, please contact

hamaresai , or call Shirdi Saibaba Prayer Center at 952-938-2983, and

to read the monthly newsletter Sai Sandesh, visit www.hamaresai.org. 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 Satsang,

Bay Area, CaliforniaShirdi Sai Parivaar invites all to join us for Satsang

every Thursday 7:30 pm at Odd Fellows Temple, 20589 Homestead Road, Cupertino,

CA 95014. For details please call 408-564-6704 or send email to

saibandhu or visit www.ShradhaSaburi.org.Sai Satsang, New Jersey,

USAShirdi Sai Dham, Inc regularly conducts Sai bhajans followed by Aarti and

Parsad on every 1st Saturday of each month at Durga Mandir, Kendall Park, New

Jersey from 3 pm to 5 pm (Winter Hours). All are requested to kindly come 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) comShirdi

Sai Satsang, Toronto, CanadaShirdi Sai Baba Sansthan of Canada cordially

invites all to join in every Thursday evening 7:00 pm at the following two

locations: Sai Dwarkamai - 147 Winston Castle Dr, Markham ON, L6C 2N4 or Gur

Mandir, 207 Queen's Plate Dr, Etobicoke ON, M9W 6Z7. For more details call: 416

402 8089 or email saileela99 Shirdi Sai Mandir, Scarborough, CanadaThe

Shirdi Sai Mandir located at 2721 Markham Road, Scarborough, Ontario, M1X 1L5

(Intersection of Markham and Nashdene) is open Monday to Friday from 6:30 p.m

to 8:30 p.m. and Saturday to Sunday from 10:30 a.m to 8:30 p.m. Dhoop Aarti is

at 7:30 p.m. everyday. Bhajans are on Saturday from 5:00 p.m. onwards. For

other temple activities and information please call 647-444-4724 or send an

email to info (AT) theshirdisaimandir (DOT) com.Shirdi Sai Satsang in Vancouver, BC,

CanadaShirdi Sai parivar in Vancouver invites you for bhajans, every Thursday

(6:30pm - 7:30 pm) at 8571, 118A Street, Delta, V4C 6L2. For further details

contact Ritu (604)592 4182 or email at sai_ish (AT) hotmail (DOT) com. Sai Satsang,

SingaporeTo all Shirdi Sai Baba devotees in Singapore, Sai Sansthan, Singapore

is organizing Shirdi Sai Baba prayer session every Saturday between 18:30 hrs

to 20:30 hrs at 2nd floor function hall, Sri Vadapathira Kaliamman temple,

(opp. to Sinda), 555, Serangoon Road, Singapore-218174. We invite you all to

participate and seek Baba's blessings. For further details, please visit

www.saisansthan.com.

Sai Baba Satsang in Auckland, New ZealandSai Baba Satsang ( Bhajans , Provochan

, Sai Ashotottram and Shej Arathi ) is held every Thursday from 7:00 pm to 9:00

pm at MT Roskill War Memorial Hall, May Road , Mt Roskill, Auckland, NZ. For

more detials visit our website http://www.shirdisaibaba.org.nz or mail to

info (AT) shirdisaibaba (DOT) org.nz.FROM THE EDITORS KEYBOARD: Sai Vichaar thanks you for

your support for the Question of the Week feature. This feature is intended to

initiate useful discussion on topics related to Sai philosophy, His message,

and Sai devotion. Please send your suggested topics for the same. Sai devotee

Meenakshi Kumar suggested the Question of the week as follows: When Hemadpant

asked Sri Sai, "Baba do all the crowding around you are benefited?" Sri Sai

answered that only a few flowers ripe into fruits, not all are benefited. My

question is why is it so? Q. How are we to know that we have won Sai's grace?

Humbly Yours,The EditorABOUT THIS EMAIL:This newsletter is not sent unsolicited.

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you,The webmasterFrom and Editor:Shirdi Sai Baba Web SiteShirdi Sai Baba

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