Sai Vichaar for Thursday, January 24, 2008

January 24, 2008

Sai Vichaar www.saibaba.org Thursday , January 24, 2008 :: Volume 10, Issue 37 (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 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: Key to Happiness Is there a way to quantify faith? What constitutes a successful dose of patience? Some

endure a hardship for several years, yet call themselves fortunate. Some seem to have a short stint with time and profess to have waited patiently! Wisdom, whether through Bhakthi or Jnana should impart the ability to discriminate. Discrimination between things of transient nature and that are permanent should lead to detachment. Spirituality may not be about quantifiable material gains and losses that one accomplishes with the help of Sadguru. It may also not be about extending the benefits that are only perishable. On the other hand, it may be about a total personal transformation that should take place every minute, while at sleep or awake. The effort has to come from within oneself and the external factors may be the means to accomplish them. On several occasions, Baba said out of love for His devotees - "What (whether good or bad) is ours, is with us, and what is another's is with him." - Ch. XLV, Shri Sai Satcharitra. Some of the simplest expressions

of Baba seem to have the message of greatest importance. A moment of contemplation on such comments might have the most profound effects on what we perceive as pain or pleasure. By the above statement, Sadguru Sainath has endorsed the thought that our actions precede our fruits, the consequences. He also several times advised that one have to endure the consequences of his past Karma. Devotees also have seen how Sainath comes to their rescue if the faith is earnest and the patience is complete. The patience is complete if the faith is earnest. He is the helmsman and His boundless coffers are open. CONTRIBUTED ARTICLE: Sri Saibaba and Speech I shall consider you blessed, when you will renounce all attachments, conquer lust and palate; and getting rid of all impediments, serve God wholeheartedly and resort to the begging bowl (accept sannyas)." (Ch. 44, P. 239) The above is the reply

given by Sai Baba to Bapusaheb Jog, who asked Him as to why even after serving Baba so many years, his mind was not calm and composed and why was he not succeeding in his efforts for self-realization. Sai Baba in His teachings, always laid stress on controlling pleasures of senses, especially those of sexual organ and the tongue. About pleasures of sexual organ, we will discuss the subject in a later article. The tongue, however, has two functions - to taste the food and to speak. About tasting the food we have already discussed it in the previous article and now in this article let us see what Baba's teaching was about speech. In our scriptures great stress is laid on 'Non-violence', which means not to hurt anybody, physically, mentally or by speech. Sai Baba had realized that of all the above, harsh and scornful words hurt a person much more than physical or mental violence. Such cutting words are not easily forgotten and cannot be withdrawn also.

Consequently they cause ever-lasting enmity. Sai Baba, therefore, not only advised His devotees "not to speak cuttingly to anyone so as to hurt him to the quick" (Ch. 19, P. 104), but on the contrary, off and on, said: "Let anybody speak hundreds of things against you, do not resent by giving any bitter reply. If you always tolerate such things, you will certainly be happy" (Ch. 19, P. 101-102) and in addition to make sure that they did follow His advice, used to say: "He who carps and cavils at others, pierces Me in the heart and injures Me, but he that suffers and endures, pleases Me most." (Ch. 44, P. 237) Regarding tongue another advice of Sai Baba was lo avoid arguments or hot discussions on any subject with others. Arguments spring from egoism. Arguments lead to quarrels and spread enmity. We remember, how in Ch. 2, Annasaheb Dabholkar on the very first day of his visit to Shirdi, had hot discussion with Balasaheb Bhate regarding the necessity of a

Guru (a spiritual teacher or preceptor) and how Baba checked Dabholkar's this argumentative habit permanently by addressing him as 'Hemadpant' (corrupted form of Hemadripant, a well-known and learned minister of the Yadav kings Mahadev and Ramdev in 13th century). Sai Baba advised His devotees not to indulge in scandal or slander of others. For this, He had His own methods of correcting the defaulters. He, being omniscient, knew, when and where the devotees had committed the fault, and so, he could correct them effectively by taunting them also. In Ch. 19, Sai Baba pointed out to such a defaulter, a pig that was eating filth near a fence and said to him, "Behold how with what relish it is gorging dung. Your conduct is similar. You go on reviling own brethren to your heart's content." Needless to say that the devotee was ashamed and took the lesson to his heart forever. Similarly, in Ch. 21, having known that a pleader from Pandharpur, had

unnecessarily taken part in a discussion in the bar room regarding the sub-judge Noolkar's coming and staying at Shirdi for cure of his ill-health, Sai Baba, when the pleader himself arrived at Shirdi, started saying, "How cunning people are! They fall at the feet, offer Dakshina, but inwardly give abuses behind the back. Is not this wonderful?" The pleader understood that the remark was aimed at himself and being convinced, later said to Kakasaheb Dixit, "This is not a rebuke to me, but a favor and advice, that I should not indulge in any scandal or slander of others and not to interfere unnecessarily in others' affairs." (to be continued....) (Contributed by Source: Shri Sai Leela Magazine, 1993) DEVOTEES SAY: RituJai Sainath! Every week I read the Sai Vichaar newsletter and today I decided to post something. My husband, I and our family are

going through a difficult time. Losing a baby within 3 months when you are pregnant for the first time is devastating. I was angry and sad but I know Baba if you had let this happen you knew something. I have no answers but all I know my whole family has faith in You and we will keep our faith alive. Please give strength to my parents and my in-laws to overcome. Please be with all of us and all those who need You. There are so many people with much grave situations and problems, please be with them. Jai Sai Baba. PreetiI prayed to Sai for my well settling in this country. I am grateful to Him, as he has made things very easy for me. I am still waiting to get a job but I know that with my Baba's grace it will happen soon. ArchanaI would heartily and humbly like to thank the saibaba.org people for sending me the beautiful 2008 calendar having Saibaba's photos. I live in UK and though I was

sincerely hoping to receive the calendar, was not sure whether they would send it to people living outside US. I am just thrilled. It's a real pleasure and treasure for me. It contains 2-3 some very rare photos of Baba, which I had never seen before. Thank you all, thank you very much. May Baba's blessings be showered on all of us always and may He always guide us through our thick and thin. Koti koti pranam Baba! We love you. RajeevYou answered the prayers from all our friends and relatives and ensured that my mom is back from Hospital/ICU with good health. I cannot forget this event in my whole life and I am so thankful to You for re-instating health back for my mother. RajaniI had four wishes and you have fulfilled them. Even though it took sometime (5 years), but I am very happy now. Please protect my newborn baby all the time. He is the gift given by you to me Baba. NikilaThank you for answering our prayers and giving our daughter an interview call for medical college entry. Please continue looking after her and guiding her. AbhishekI just wanted to say Thank You, Sai Deva and please forgive me for any mistakes I have committed. Thank You. Sai devoteeOm Sairam! I would like to express my gratitude for having listen to my prayers and request and having healed my grand daughter and discharged her from the hospital quickly. As promised I am posting this in Sai Vichaar. Om Shri Satchidanand Satguru Sainath Maharaj Ki Jai. PRAYER CLUB: DeborshiBaba please help, you know very well the conditions I am going through. I know that in my past I have done so many mistakes but I have repented what else will a man do with so little

intelligence like me? Please help Baba. SirishaSai my daughter who is new to USA and 5 years old is facing problems in school. I don't know why, who otherwise is very friendly is not finding any friends in school. Please help her. ShipraPlease help me and make him understand that I value his friendship a lot, why doesn't he understand it. Baba everything is in Your hands, even a leaf can't move with out your permission, why this pain for me, please I want a solution. Sai devoteePranam Baba, please bless my brother to get married soon and please bless him with good health. Kindly be with my brother on every moment and shower Your blessings. LakshmiI sincerely ask Your grace to fix and arrange my marriage. FarahOm Sai Ram, my friend is going through a lot of problems in her

married life. There are some misunderstandings between her and her husband and things are going out of hand. She is a dear friend and my heart aches to know that she is unhappy specially since I have been a witness to their courtship and know that they love each other immensely. Please don't let this misunderstanding break apart a beautiful relationship. Please Sairam, you know everything. I pray to You to solve their problems and restore the love and togetherness in their family. EXPERIENCE OF DEVOTEES: PriyankaI am a great devotee of Sai baba from childhood. Once me and my family went to Shirdi. By the grace of Baba, I got an opportunity to go to Shirdi after a very long time and we were there for about 2 days. On Wednesday, we got to see the evening aarthi and next day being a Thursday; we were supposed to see the morning aarthi, since normally Thursdays are

very crowded, we went to stand in the queue at 2 am in the morning for 5 am aarthi. I very badly wanted to see the morning aarthi. We were waiting in the queue and exactly our line they stopped the queue. Unable to bear the disappointment, I started crying. The whole time, I was crying because I was disappointed that despite coming early, we could not make it to the aarthi. Normally at 7 am in the morning, they allow all for the normal darshan and we went inside and a special aarthi was taken. I was speechless and it really made me very happy. And I thank God, for doing this miracle to me. AlameluI was having chest pain and uneasiness quite often. I went to my doctor who advised me to do scanning and all other tests and advised me to admit in a hospital immediately. I stayed in the hospital to undergo some other tests and was advised to have an angiography test to see any blockage in the blood vessel. I was only praying Baba that I

should not have any serious complaint in my heart. Then I went to Chennai to have my angiogram test. Then I went to Mylapore Saibaba temple and sincerely prayed. Really, Baba has heard my prayers and the result was that I do not have any blockage except a minor one and I will be free of any heart disease for rest of at least ten years. Sachidanandha Sadguru Sai nath Maharaj ki Jai. Thank You Baba. SwaminathanI want to share my experiences through this wonderful forum. I became a Sai devotee only recently. When my daughter lost her watch, I prayed to Baba and we found it after two days on the road near my house in tact. How it came there is unexplainable except for His grace. I left my camera in a taxi when we visited Goa. We got it back within a few hours through the intervention of Baba, as the driver was also a Sai devotee. My wife was having much difficulty while sleeping due to chest congestion. I gave her udi one day and from

the next day she did not have any difficulty. Thanks Baba for being with us always. I pray to You to always guide us and bless us. PadmavathiI am a Sai devotee from my childhood and I have had countless experiences of Lord Sai showering his kind blessings in every day of my life. I would like to share the latest miracle Sai did in my life with all Sai devotees. Currently I am 20 weeks pregnant, my husband has a minor psychological disorder and he was very harsh always using bad words and some times hitting me during my first trimester and I was so terrified that some thing happens to my pregnancy. I used to come from the office and always sitting in a corner in my house because I was so scared of him. I prayed Sai and by Sai's grace he is now a changed person, he is very kind towards me, dropping to the office and helping with the daily chores at home. I also had an ultrasound yesterday; I was so nervous and crying before the

sonogram, but prayed Sai during the ultrasound. The doctor said every thing looks good and the baby is growing healthy and we are having a boy. Thank you so much for Your blessings Sai, please shower Your blessings like this on all people who needs help and please bless me to carry my pregnancy full term and deliver a healthy baby! Please fix my husband's health and change his mind so that my in-laws can come here for the delivery. QUOTATION OF THE WEEK: "Be a seeker of the truth and cultivate "loving devotion". You will attain stability and peace of mind."-Shri Sai Baba QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Q. How should we live our lives so as to achieve the grace of Saibaba? A. by Kiranmai For some questions, I feel, that narration of one's

example seems appropriate. I would like sharing mine here as how I feel I became His. Baba mentioned this numerous times, He is after a pure-heart filled with love and devotion. And at starters I was very conscious that all I was doing came from depths of heart with no self-gain or an act directed by tit-for-tat attitude; and gradually I noticed that there was transformation from within like becoming more aware to body as temple of God and attracted to people who were good for sake of goodness with no expectations[could be of different Faith(s)]. As Baba Himself indicated in Satcharitra, once the stage is set, Lord takes the rein of 'jiva'. In my case, it's an axiomatic truth. The mind was completely surrendered. And my life-style included Him in every breath - I never have to worry anymore about Right verses Wrong. Knowledge or Viveka came from within as I was doing everything as an offering to Him. Kãyena vãchã manasendriyerva Budhyãtma nãva prakruté swabhãvath

Karomi yadyat sakalam parasmai Narãyanãyetu samarpayãmi. 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 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 Vichaar is an open forum for those interested to share their experiences, views and ideas on Sai devotion and their experiences with Saibaba of Shirdi. Readers are requested to note that Sai Vichaar is not responsible for the opinions expressed by individual

contributors. Question of the week for this week as follows: Q. How should we live our lives so as to achieve the grace of Saibaba? 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

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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 1998-2006 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.

January 25, 2008

Om Sri Sai Ram to all

I am so grateful to BABA I really do not know how to even say thank you.

BABA is in my life since I was a little girl. I had so many loving and beautiful experiences with our beloved BABA that I don't know where to start.

The most memorable one is when I was reading one of my favourite books of BABA, a colleague came into my office and asked me if I am a SAI devotee and I said yes. He asked me if I go to SAI service and I said no I pray to BABA EVERY MINUTE OF THE DAY. BABA IS MY LIFE. and he asked me if I went to India to visit BABA in Prashanti and I said no, BUT I would love to go but BABA KNOWS that I do not have the money to go there and we discussed BABA'S LOVE FOR HIS DEVOTEES and by the time I finished work that day I forgot all about our discussion.

That same night I prayed to BABA and asked him to please make a way for me to come to visit him.

It was about 2 0' clock that morning when I heard someone call my name, I got up to see BABA standing there blessing me with flowers and vibuthi and I was so happy that I got up and had a wash and when I went into my lounge I saw two feet I knelt down and kissed his feet and BABA rubbed his hand on my back and said I know you can't come to me, so I came to you. I was so overjoyed I went and got my husband up and told him that BABA came to me.

When I got to work the next day my colleague told me that I had a glow on my face and what did I do to myself and i told him that I got my answer from BABA. and I told him that BABA came to me. He told me that I am very blessed.

BABA I LOVE YOU AND I WISH WITH ALL MY HEART AND SOUL THAT I WILL COME TO INDIA AND I KNOW THAT YOU WILL MAKE A WAY WHEN THE TIME IS RIGHT.

WITH LOTS OF LOVE TO BABA AND ALL MY BROTHERS AND SISTER READING THIS MAIL. BABA LOVES US ALL AND HE KNOWS WHAT OUR NEEDS ARE WITHOUT ASKING HIM.

OM SRI SAI RAM

January 26, 2008

Om Sai Ram, Interesting to read ur article. just a clarification. is this a dream or did u see sairam in person. please clear my doubt. sairam, malini venkateshRenuka Mahabeer <Renuka.Mahabeer wrote: Om Sri Sai Ram to all

I am so grateful to BABA I really do not know how to even say thank you. BABA is in my life since I was a little girl. I had so many loving and beautiful experiences with our beloved BABA that I don't know where to start. The most memorable one is when I was reading one of my favourite books of BABA, a colleague came into my office and asked me if I am a SAI devotee and I said yes. He asked me if I go to SAI service and I said no I pray to BABA EVERY MINUTE OF THE DAY. BABA IS MY LIFE. and he asked me if I went to India to visit BABA in Prashanti and I said no, BUT I would love to go but BABA

KNOWS that I do not have the money to go there and we discussed BABA'S LOVE FOR HIS DEVOTEES and by the time I finished work that day I forgot all about our discussion. That same night I prayed to BABA and asked him to please make a way for me to come to visit him. It was about 2 0' clock that morning when I heard someone call my name, I got up to see BABA standing there blessing me with flowers and vibuthi and I was so happy that I got up and had a wash and when I went into my lounge I saw two feet I knelt down and kissed his feet and BABA rubbed his hand on my back and said I know you can't come to me, so I came to you. I was so overjoyed I went and got my husband up and told him that BABA came to

me. When I got to work the next day my colleague told me that I had a glow on my face and what did I do to myself and i told him that I got my answer from BABA. and I told him that BABA came to me. He told me that I am very blessed. BABA I LOVE YOU AND I WISH WITH ALL MY HEART AND SOUL THAT I WILL COME TO INDIA AND I KNOW THAT YOU WILL MAKE A WAY WHEN THE TIME IS RIGHT. WITH LOTS OF LOVE TO BABA AND ALL MY BROTHERS AND SISTER READING THIS MAIL. BABA LOVES US ALL AND HE KNOWS WHAT OUR

NEEDS ARE WITHOUT ASKING HIM. OM SRI SAI RAM