Guest guest Posted January 3, 2008 Report Share Posted January 3, 2008 Note: forwarded message attached. ______________________________\ ____ Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile./;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ Sai Vichaar www.saibaba.org Thursday , January 03, 2008 :: Volume 10, Issue 34 (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: New Year Message The religious and spiritual works of Hinduism have produced an unimaginable body of books, treatise, scriptures and other similar texts. Carried away from the distant past are the most profound religious scriptures like the Vedas, Brahamanas, Puranas, Samhitas, Upanishads, Shrimad Bhagwata Mahapurana (which contains the 'Gita' etc.) and many more too numerous to be listed here. A study of these works, written primarily in Sanskrit or in other vernaculars, leads one to experience a sense of expansion in one's knowledge, imagination and consciousness. From an academic point of view, these valuable texts teach spiritual philosophies, spiritual theories and spiritual sciences. These in their quintessence propound certain vital aspects of the spiritual realms. Understanding philosophy and theory is the first step for a spiritual practitioner. However, it needs to be clearly understood that a mere study of spiritual and philosophical discourses is not enough. Any knowledge, which is not put into practice, shall not be of much use as the path of spiritual progress calls for direct experience and knowledge. So it is necessary for the spiritual practitioners to graduate to practicing the applied aspect of spiritual science. Raja Yoga, Karma Yoga, Gyana Yoga, Laya Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Hatha Yoga and tantras etc. are the applied principles. How does one achieve spirituality? As mentioned before, merely by reading spiritual or religious texts one cannot spiritualise oneself. In its generic sense, the word 'spirit' means an indestructible divine energy form whose continued and unlimited play, sets into motion a series of changes in all forms of existence including human beings, starting before his birth and going beyond his death. Different people understand the word 'spirit' differently. Some term it as 'jiva' (living entity), some term it as 'prana' (life force in the living being), some call it as 'chetna' (divine consciousness) or 'atma' (a part of the ultimate reality called God or Brahama). These four words, jiva, prana, atma and chetna are intrinsically related. However, 'atma' is primordial causative factor, of chetna, jiva or prana. In a way it can be said that, a continued consciousness beyond time and space is the very nature of the 'atman'. 'Atma' and 'paramatma' are the essence of the divine creation, 'ultimate realities' beyond time and space. The cosmos is nothing but the external manifestation of the 'paramatma'. Therefore, each created object contains a subtle and small part of the 'paramatma' termed as the 'atma'. Since 'atma' is a part of 'paramatma' it contains all the attributes of the 'paramatma'. It is omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent in an unfathomable time continnum. FEATURE OF THE WEEK: New Year Message (continued.....) So then what is God realization? The word 'atma sakshatakara' (God realization) means, realisation of one's own 'atma' or consciousness. Even though these particles of 'paramatma' called 'atma' may be functioning in a 'Jiva' it is never separate from its root, that is 'paramatama'. Therefore, the realization of God is not the understanding of the material manifestation of 'atma', which includes all the living and non-living, visible and non visible things and forces of the Universe. Even if one can travel to all the Universes in space and gain knowledge about it he cannot have said to have realized God. Consciousness in its various forms seen on the earth emanates from 'atma' or soul or 'paramatma'. All forms of energy in the Universe emanate from consciousness, and all forms of materials emanate from those energies. Thus, consciousness is superior to energy forms and materials of the Universe. Whereas consciousness can explain and control all energy forms and materials, however, the reverse cannot be true. Therefore, all religious worships of all deities in any form may not necessarily spiritualise a man. Any experiment in the spiritual science, means expansion of his own limited consciousness to the State of Universal Consciousness. That science by which consciousness can thus be evolved is called 'vigyana maya jagata' or spiritual science. To achieve this he has to introspect (dhyana) on his own conduct and thought processes continuously. Idol worship, mantras and rituals are prescribed procedures at the beginning to purify oneself. Once the mind is purified through the control of senses the consciousness slowly starts expanding. There is no short-cut to this. If one studies Sri Sai Satcharitra, one would find that the actions of Sri Shirdi Sai Baba reflected this Universal Consciousness. To evolve spiritually, we should therefore try to follow his precepts and conduct in letter and spirit. Om Sri Sai Message by Shri C B Satpathy. CONTRIBUTED ARTICLE: A higher level of faith and perception Is Sai Baba God or could that be He was just a man with a few unique powers and peculiarities? This was also a question raised about two thousand years ago with Christ, was Jesus Christ a man or a magician? Discussions on - the father, the son and the Holy Spirit' is still a popular topic at churches all over. Where does the answer lie to the question whether Sai Baba was an ordinary man with a few powers or the manifestation of the supreme conscious that eludes common rationale? Let us see a passage from " Glimpses of Sai Baba " by His Holiness Shri Narasimhaswami ji: " As to how Sri Sai Baba is to be regarded, there is wide divergence of views, not merely among religions, sects and people, but also within one's stage of the spiritual growth. Many regard Him as both God and man, just as Tennyson did in case of Jesus Christ. Thou seemest human and divine The highest holiest manhood thou. Our wills are ours, we know not how Our wills are ours, to make them thine There are many who are hovering about this level, in their view of Sai Baba-now, disposed to submit and surrender, and pray to Him as God, again disposed to regard Him as a highly developed personality acting as their guardian angel or at least as a benevolent but more gifted man, with human frailties and other human peculiarities. Some devotees, if they analyze their perception from time to time, might discover that they can not fix themselves to one particular view of Sai Baba always, but are involuntarily moved from one to the other viewpoints mentioned above and even to pass beyond these, even to the extent of doubting whether Sai Baba is or is not good and powerful. Such is human weakness that one need not be ashamed to discover his own position in the last named class. But commonsense, and higher impulses naturally drive us to quit such a useless, nay, pernicious state and strive to reach higher levels of faith and perception. (Contributed by Sai Vichaar team) DEVOTEES SAY: Meena Om Sai Ram, The other day when I had my first scan, I knew that you were present in that room. I know only because of your blessing the baby was fine. Please take care of the baby for the rest of the seven months. Please bless me with a healthy baby. Please give me the strength to go through this pregnancy. I am constantly worried. Baba please take care of me. Ashutosh I had an MRI done for the head, as pain was constant and for quite some time, needless to mention with the blessings of Sri Sai Baba, the MRI was normal. Please bless us forever and may we be devoted to your lotus feet forever. Sangeeta Jai Sai Ram, Baba last year my dad had a bypass surgery and I said that I will write in Sai Vichaar but I forgot. Baba, I am sorry about that please forgive me. With Your grace everything went fine with his surgery and this year my mom also had a surgery and again with Your grace everything went fine. I am now getting down to writing this thank you to You. Baba thank you very much for taking care of my parents through their hard time. It is only with Your grace that they are doing well today. Please always take care of them and keep Your blessings with them. Om Sai Ram. Jaya If I am alive, normal and talking to everybody and doing my work is You in me doing. I was in despair after losing my husband; You were, are and will be my savior always. I am thankful to you for guiding my daughters, completing their studies and getting them a good job in US. I have full faith they will be married in a very good family and will always be under your protection. I could have never dreamt of all this, it is all due to Your grace showered on me, not for me alone but to all my people when they ask me to pray for them, asking teasingly " ask your Sai to do this for us " . Thank you so much I always prayed that I should be able to submit an article to thank you Sai. Sai devotee Baba, thank you very much for giving me a good job. You arranged my sister's marriage and also you cleared my friend's mind. Baba sorry for the delay to publish this in Sai Vichaar .Thank you. Harshana Thankyou Baba for curing my husband. As soon as I started writing the prayer he started feeling better and now he is completely cured. Do look after his and my family's health always. I hope I am taking the right decision regarding my job this time. Let me leave this job without any hurdles. Baba please guide me and be with us . Mukesh We were dealing with a tough home builder/seller for our new home. After initial discussion with the seller, we dropped all hopes of getting that home. I prayed to Baba and started Shri Sai Satcharita parayan (to finish the book within one week). On the third day of parayan, I got a call from the seller and agreed to price value, which we had thought, was appropriate. The seller wanted to complete closing within 3-4 weeks(it takes about 2 to 3 months in normal case). With the blessings of Baba, we completed the purchase of our home in four weeks. This would not have happened without His divine grace towards us and all of His devotees. Sashtang Pranam to our Sai. PRAYER CLUB: Pallavi Baba, You and Your ways are totally beyond my comprehension. I am praying earnestly to You to bless my husband who is jobless for the last 7 to 8 months but You seem to be preoccupied with something else. Baba, You know our financial condition, the loans that are mounting, etc. Please save us Baba. Please bless my husband with a job good soon. You are the wirepuller, please Baba bless us now. Thank You Baba. Jagadish Baba, my brother need a good job very desperately help him out Baba. You know everything what is happening help him out Baba as early as possible. By your blessings I'm doing good in my job. Thank you Baba. Sairamoo Baba, thank you very much for all arrangements, assistance, blessings, guidance, protections. What is my life purpose or destiny? Make me your instrument to spread goodwill, love, tolerance and to do your work. From here, where do I go? It was a wonderful experience in Shirdi in 1972, 1980 and 2003. I very much would love to be in Shirdi once again. Maybe on my return from London. Baba, kindly fulfill my immediate wants/desires/requests. Thank you very much, Baba. Sai devotee Dear Sairam, you know my husband is waiting for his promotion for long time. Please help him to get it. Please bless my family with good health and happiness. Jai Sai Ram. Anup Jai Sai Ram! Baba why are You so angry with me and not listening to my request and blessing me. You listen to my smallest request, help me but in case of appropriate job opportunity You are not helping giving all offers which take me away from my family. Please show your miracle and give me job in Delhi so I do not go away from my family. Mahesh I can't bear this pain, Lord why you are not responding to my prayers. Every day I am sending my prayers to You. I lose my hope now, I lost everything. Please help me. Sai devotee I want all Sai devotees to pray for me that I am badly in need of a job. I have finished my Masters in Australia. Baba answer my prayers. Chandra Dear Sai Baba, thank you so much for all your blessings that You have given us. There is a request I would like to ask, please bless me so that I can build a house in my father?s native place and be happy with all my family members. Manisha Sai Baba, kindly be with my sister and brother-in-law on every moment and shower Your powerful blessing so that my brother-in-law can get the award for which he has been chosen and all the hindrances coming in the way can get set a side so that they can get relief from monetary problem which they are facing now-a-days. Bala I sincerely believe in Baba and my wife and daughter and son also pray to Baba. I am unable to concentrate fully in my prayers to Baba because of the problems we face in our day to day life. Sri Sai Satcharitha was given as a gift by one of my relatives who visited Shirdi. I want to do sapthaha but I am unable to do that. Please guide me and pray for us. Last evening only I visited the Dwarakamai temple here. Jai Sai Ram. Sunil I am going through a financially bad phase due to my own doing. I pray to our Sainath to have mercy on this sishya and give his blessings to clear the dues immediately. I have prayed that I shall read Sai Satcharitra within 5 days. With His blessings I hope to finish the same within 5 days. And I also pray for His blessings for my wife's job and for my son's good education. I know He is there with us all through thick and thin. I thank him for all the things he has provided us till now. Pranams at his lotus feet. EXPERIENCE OF DEVOTEES: Calvin One year back my company merged with two other companies. The merger was disaster right from day 1 as my fellow partners were always driven by greed and ego. In spite of knowing the same I kept on working day and night with utmost sincerity and loyalty to the entity. The day merger took place I got a feeling of Sai telling me you have one year to make most of the merger hence I spent my entire year working hard, learning from my partner companies new systems and procedures and studying all their good points. Exactly after one year the merger fell off and each of the companies separated. There was a legal battle. I kept on praying to Saibaba to take care of my company and more so my team of 8 staff who were from poor families. For the demerger other partners got best of their Lawyers and the Chartered Accountants but I went for the meeting only with picture of Saibaba in my pocket. The De Merger proceedings were very stressful for my other partners and they fought bitterly amongst themselves. But in my case I got my company back my profits and office for my team members for which the other company had to pay rent in future as compensation without even fighting for it. Sai guided me through the entire ordeal and took care of my company, my team and me. If not for Sai Baba I would have lost everything. As they say have blind faith in Sai Baba and he will never let you down. Om Sai Ram. Yogesh I had been reading Sai Satcharita quite regularly. In one of the chapters I read that like you need a guide to go to a jungle or mountain, you need a Guru to cross the difficult journey of life. As I never had any Guru before I accepted Sainath as my Guru in my heart. I was living abroad and had a great desire to go to Shirdi came back to India and my wife and me despite having keen interest in going to Shirdi for one or another reason could not make it. I was getting very frustrated about it. I was not able to finalize any plans to Shirdi at all. There was someone who was supposed to meet me but because that person could not finalize his program to meet me, we were not able to finalize our journey to Shirdi. Suddenly one day the person I was supposed to meet wrote an email that he is not coming for at least one week. My wife and I immediately planned to leave for Shirdi that evening. All the arrangements got done in minutes. When we reached Shirdi I came to know that it was guru poornima and also sainath was sitting on a gold throne given by one of his devotee. It was like he only had made me wait and finally accepted me to be one of his crores shishya and Gave me Darshan on Guru Poornima day. My wife and me were so glad to take his darshan and for me it was a miracle. His words of Saburi came to my mind immediately. We are too small to know Sai Leela but just need Shraddha and Saburi and miracles do happen. My wife and me were very happy also because that day was our wedding Anniversary. Deepak During my visit to Shirdi from 24th, 25th December 2007, I saw a unique photo of Baba, in one of the shop. This photo was unique because it was not available at any other shop. I wanted to take the photo of this. But the shopkeeper was against my taking the picture of this. I had a heated argument with him and finally I was not able to take the photograph. The photo was of Sai Baba standing with his arms open as inviting his devotees to come to him and forget their sorrows. As I was unable to take the picture, I was disappointed and also upset. We had taken the darsan of Sai Baba in the morning, but my wife wanted to visit again in the evening. I told her she may go and take the darshan and I waited outside. She took a packet of parsad and a bunch of rose flowers and went for darshan. She came back after the darshan and on 26th 2007 we drove back to our place. Same evening she handed me the packet of the parsad and asked me to keep at the pooja place in our house. When I saw the parsad I was surprised as the card of Baba kept in the parsad was the same whose picture/photo I wanted to take. This shows that Baba knows what his devotees want. My belief in Baba has increased many fold and I request all devotees also to have faith in him. Bow to Shri Sai. Peace be to all. Jai Sai Ram. QUOTATION OF THE WEEK: " You must find your own way. Unless you find it yourself, it will not be your own way and will take you nowhere. Earnestly live your truth as you have found it, act on the little you have understood. It is earnestness that will take you through, not cleverness - your own or another's. " -Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Q. In Satcharita, what lessons can one derive from the episode of Madrasi Sanyasi? A. by Kavthankar Wealth and Prosperity are transient; the body is subject to decay and death. While knowing this, do your duty, leaving all attachment to the things of this world and next. He, who does this and surrenders himself to the feet of Hari (Lord) , will get free from all troubles and attain bliss. The Lord runs and helps him, who remembers and meditates on him, with love and affection. The last wish or thought, what a man has at the hour of death, determines his future course. All saints, therefore recommend us to remember God and chant his name always, so that we may not be puzzled, when the time for departure comes. 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, 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, 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. FROM THE EDITORS KEYBOARD: Sai Vichaar and Saibaba.org wishes all devotees and readers a Happy, Prosperous, and Peaceful New Year. Question of the week for this week as follows: Q. In Sri Sai Satcharitha, what lessons can one derive from the episode of Madrasi Sannyasi Vijayanand? 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, 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 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.