Sai Vichaar for Thursday , January 15, 2009

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Sai Vichaar

www.saibaba.org

Thursday , January 15, 2009 :: Volume 11, Issue 36

(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: Why do we suffer?

God or His Name is the sole strength in living against all odds and

uncertainties. If one is not at cross purposes with Him, one finds His

manifestation in every happening. But, one has to bear with patience the onrush

of the forces one has let loose. Yoke yourself unto Him and He will bear the

brunt. Take refuge in none but Him. Dependence on Him makes one fearless.

Human beings will enjoy three-fourths of life and one-fourth they will suffer.

But, we lose our patience and do not accept even that one-fourth of sorrows

given by Him. Do not be obsessed with any wish. Shake off sadness. Unhappiness

is part of the ego. Beyond it, no such thing exists. That you have forgotten

Truth (that God is within) is the root cause of your misery. A painful blow

becomes bearable to a great extent by His remembrance. As He inflicts blows on

you, so also He gives you the capacity for bearing the suffering. As one

tolerates unbearable situations with patience, a time comes when He

resolves all problems. Whenever you have tumults in mind, try to remember this

very often. You can do this. The key is with Him. Truth wins. He is your shield.

Destiny still comes but He eases the suffering. When you have the shelter of

Satyanarayan (God within), He will test you in various ways. Your duty is not to

get agitated when these sorts of events hurt you. There is a saying of Baba,

" You look to Me, I look to you. Even then, if they do not leave Me and still

seek Me, I then become their humble servant. " The smiles and frowns of life

are His tokens of love. Bear them with loving patience, you have to forsake

nothing. Neither indulge, nor restrain. If you have devotion, you need fear

nothing. Devotion is never devoid of strength. So many varied problems and

hindrances must come, otherwise people will not understand and realize how and

why He is the best of all friends and companions. He is the Dearest One, who

keeps us protected in all calamities and

adversities, which are unpredictable. People falter in life and suffer by

discarding Him. But, they can't do anything without Him. Have faith in Him,

unflinching faith. Love Him. Hazards take care of themselves. Remembering and

depending on Him make one fearless in life, whatever may happen. He gives us

jolts so that we can be ready to taste real happiness with Him, to make us free

of maya, or mind and attachments. We do not know His Will, so we grieve over all

He does, but He always does everything for the best. Do not worry. Never try to

understand. Only accept as a gift whatever He gives, take it as His blessing.

When one feels, " I am helpless, my strength fails " He comes to hold the rudder.

Being always in the midst of people with their selfishness, jealousy and hatred,

the mind is afflicted with pain. These afflictions are shaken off like dust

through devotion and remembrance of God's Name within. He, the Almighty, by

His wish and touch takes away the worldly

attractions gradually to bring one to a blissful, peaceful state. A person

cannot realize this state on his or her own due to the intensity of illusory

worldly desire. You do everything, see everything, listen to everything, but do

not get so deeply involved as to invite sufferings through them. Of course, He

will ensure this, you don't have to make any effort for it. Just keep Him in

your remembrance.

 

CONTRIBUTED ARTICLE: What is your caste?

This incident happened a few weeks ago. We live in a North American city and

my son is a teenager attending his freshman in High School. As a part of his

world culture class, his teacher wanted to have a class demonstration of

marriage system in India. My son along with another girl student participated in

the class room demo and my son returned from the school that day and narrated

his experience to me. He asked me what caste did he belong to and what his

religion was. The classroom demo apparently went like this:

The student: what is your name? My son answered what his name was.

The student: What is your caste? My son: I don't know.

The student: What is your religion? My son: I am not sure. We go to Baba, I

guess that is my religion! What happened after the above conversation is

beyond the context of this write-up. It was a happy revelation for me that as

the one who " goes " to Baba, I have done something good without my knowledge.

That is, not to teach my children their caste and religion in the name of their

heritage. I observed that in the name of our culture and heritage, there is a

tendency to instill our identity as one belonging to a certain caste or a

religion, belonging to a certain region or speaking a certain language. As Sai

children what is more fulfilling than having Baba has one's own and only

identity. Only with that identity, one would be able to achieve the harmony so

needed for our times and our children's. (Contributed by Sai devotee)

 

DEVOTEES SAY:

Zenobia

As promised I am posting my gratitude in Sai Vichaar. Baba I had requested you

in my earlier mail to solve the marital problems of my daughter which you have

done miraculously and for which my daughter and myself are grateful to you. You

have also blessed my son in law with an excellent offer abroad and having

blessed my daughter and my grand daughter to join him in a month's time. Your

working is beyond one's imagination and understanding.

Puja

Thank you Baba for all your blessings. In our family one of our cousins daughter

eloped with a really bad boy. I prayed to my Saima and vowed to read his book

which got delayed but then finally I started reading it and completed it in

quite some time but to my surprise the twos days after I finished reading the

book she came back home herself . Can you believe your Baba. Baba, now keep her

with her parents and make her lead a sensible life. I love you baba.

B.K.Chhetri

I am from Bhutan. Not very many people know about Sai Baba here. I became

devotee after I met friend Suresh V from Mumbai who was on short stay in

Thimphu. I was really surprised and extremely overjoyed to hear some of his

personal experience. I slowly start loving him and today he is my every thing.

Last year I went for short training in Nicosia, Cyprus. I happened to meet him

in Dream but he was in very difficult situation. Baba was sick and he was in

Bangladesh, the place was under water with no drinking water, no food. I knew

and I was trying to help him from the terrible painful life. I woke up suddenly

and I could not see him again. May be I thought and still thinking, Baba might

be suffering to make us happy. Baba you are great. No one will sacrifice in a

way you do. I still feel he is Bangladesh, although I know he is OMNI.

 

PRAYER CLUB:

Sukanya

Please forgive me for my bad behavior. Please help me to study for exams. Please

be there with me. Guide me guard me and protect me from danger. Please help to

get good marks and enter residency. Please help me to fulfill daughter duties to

my parents. Please help me to find my soul mate.

Devotee

Dear Baba you know every thing about me. You are my whole and sole Baba. Today

we are going to finalize our case. I am praying you Baba, please help me to save

my house form bank.

Devotee

Every week in Sai Vichaar I am reading others experiences. I am reading and I

have full confidence on you. I have hope that you will save me Baba. Not only my

problems but also save my sisters, brother and others who are in problems. Thank

you baba.

Devotee

Please help my sister's problem get resolved and bless her with a happy life

ahead. Kindly show me the right way. I am not able to decide anything since

three years. I can not see my parents unhappy everyday. Please help and guide me

baba. I have faith in you.

Devotee

Please help me from mental tension and tortures and some physical problems. I am

slowly starting to hate this world because every body is cheating and maximum of

persons are wrong. Please save the good hearted people and make others also

good.

Devotee

Dear Sai Ram, My husband is having severe heath problems. I request all Sai

devotees to pray for my husband and bless him with good heatlh.

 

EXPERIENCE OF DEVOTEES:

Anirud

Baba has blessed us with numerous miracles; the birth of our daughter was one

such. We were eagerly looking forward for a child for two years and my brother

suggested to read Sai Satcharita. The pregnancy was confirmed exactly on a

Thursday after completing the satcharita parayan. Baba made all the stages of

pregnancy, delivery and the upbringing easy and he is with us throughout. Two

years later we wished to have another child - a sibling for our daughter and

prayed to Baba. However I wanted to work too and was looking for a job and time

was running. I wanted to get engaged either with a job or with a child. I was

patient and left it with prayer saying " Baba, please bless me with whatever is

good " . It so happened that I got a temporary job and I became pregnant too.

Since it was temporary I took up the job, and later they liked my work and gave

me a permanent offer. Baba satisfied both my desires. Even his birth is a

miracle for me. My doctor during my thirty seventh

week appointment suggested that after thirty nine weeks if I do not go into

labor pain than I can plan for the birth and get admitted and induced. However I

preferred to go into natural labor rather than choosing a date, also I did not

want to wait too long and go into C-section. Finally during my thirty ninth

week, I told her that in the case of induction I would prefer a Thursday. Until

Wednesday I did some serious walking but there were no signs of labor pain

though. It was decided that I would get admitted at 5am the next morning. On

Thursdays my husband I do prayers to Baba, so we planned to wake up around 3am

do the worship and then get admitted.

Continued..

Around 1 am or so I was little uneasy and could not sleep and I noticed that I

was getting contractions. I thought in any case I need to go to Hospital at 5am

so why not wake up from bed, get bathed, worship and be ready. So I continued

with the routine tasks without waking up other members, with the passage of time

my contractions were getting stronger and closer. I never thought that it would

be so quick. Somehow I finished reading a chapter from Satcharita and did the

9 Thursday vrath, as soon as I finished I woke up my husband and told him that I

was in severe labor pain and need to rush to the hospital. Within few hours our

baby boy was born. No doubt it was painful, but kept praying to BABA and when I

look back I am amazed and feel that Baba was with us throughout and made things

easier and manageable and blessed us with our desires. I have no words to

express his miracles. I want to keep on writing. I thank him by sharing his

leelas with his devotees. His two

teachings of " Shradha and Saburi " is the key to our happiness. Our Faith and

Patience is growing by the days.

 

QUOTATION OF THE WEEK:

" Sai Baba is always full of mercy. What is wanted on our part is

whole-hearted devotion to Him. When a devotee has got firm faith and devotion,

his wishes are soon fulfilled. " -Sri Sai Satcharitha

 

QUESTION OF THE WEEK:

Q. Please read this week question below in Editors Column.

 

SAI ACTIVITIES:

Shirdi Sai Temple of Chicago and Suburbs, Illinois, USA

Shirdi 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, MN

Sri 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, Texas

Sri 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 Area

Sri 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, CA

Shirdi 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, CA

Devotees 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, Ohio

Devotees 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, Florida

Devotees 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.

Sri Shirdi Sai Temple of Austin, TX

Sri Shirdi Sai Temple of Austin, Texas opened at 601 E Whitestone Blvd (RM

1431), Cedar Park, TX. Daily 4 aarthis are performed to Sai Baba. As part of

service to needy, a weekly sandwich seva is also conducted. For more

information, please visit www.saiaustin.org.

Shirdi Sai Mandir, Dulles, VA

Shirdi Sai Mandir is located at 43671 Trade Center Place #166 Dulles, VA 20166.

The mandir is open through the week in the evenings from 6pm to 9 pm. Sri

Satyanarayan pooja will be conducted every full moon day. Please visit the

mandir website www.shirdisaimandir.org or call (703) 661-4724 for more

information on activities, events and other information.

Shirdi Sai Mandir, Toronto

Shirdi Sai Mandir Toronto is open from 7am to 9pm for darshan. Extended hours on

thursdays and saturdays. For more information, program schedule or directions

please call 647-444-4724.

 

FROM THE EDITORS KEYBOARD:

In the true spirit of Sai devotion, contributors are requested to remember the

global nature of Sai Vichaar readership. Therefore, the content, language,

style, and presentation, appropriate to a worldwide readership will be more

rewarding and fulfilling. It should also be noted that when a section from any

material other than their own is quoted or referred to, it is the authors'

responsibility to acknowledge the source appropriately. 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. The question for the week

is: Sri Sai said, " Come what may, leave not, but stick to your Bolster

(support, i.e. Guru) and ever remain steady, always at-one-ment (in union) with

him. " How does a Sai devotee live by the above words

from Baba?

Humbly Yours,

The Editor

 

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