Sai Vichaar for Thursday, March 27, 2008

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Sai Vichaar www.saibaba.org Thursday , March 27, 2008 :: Volume 10, Issue 46 (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: Carrots and Sticks Baba said, "There are several ways. One is from here", meaning that He is the Sadguru capable

of helping one in the pursuit that a life may have. Having dissolved the myth the surrounded the requirements for a spiritual upliftment, Baba further simplified the path saying, "You can reach God from where ever you are". Does the path simplified render the pursuit any simple? Baba also cautions the seekers to be vigilant about the wolves and tigers from the outside and those within. The way Sai guides His children should emphasize one fact of spirituality. There are several ways by which one could pursue the spiritual path. Sai did not set a particular protocol nor did He force upon His believers, a rigid path to traverse upon. Even while some of the Gurus looked at people dissecting straight into their social status, religious standing, and origins, Sai embraced the untouchable, the Moslem, the leper and the likes with equanimity. He had a different way of gauging the merits of those who flocked Him, then and now. Some were outright

reprimanded for their behavior while some were reformed without a word spoken. The learned had to wait while Baba welcomed the vagabond. The Antaryami showed the avaricious Madarasi, the path of truth through a peculiar vision. Dasganu's scholarly question was promptly directed to Kaka's maid. While Sai worked internally on some, His outrage was visible in case of others. While the drunkard was forced to quit the habit, blessings were forced upon His children such as Purandhare. It was the wrath of the stick for some while for the other it was the sweet carrots. Truly unfathomable are Sai's actions. The communication between Baba and His child is unique and the rarest of its kind. Let us on this Thursday contemplate on that individual communication we have with Baba. The goal is as universal as the pursuit individual. Perhaps an important aspect of spirituality may lie in understanding the significance of these carrots and sticks. CONTRIBUTED ARTICLE: O Sai! Thou art the Datta Tatva (continued from last week) O Sai! Armed with full faith in Your words, Das Ganu left Shirdi and came to Vile Parle, and stayed with Kakasaheb Dixit. There the next morning, while Das Ganu was still half-awaken, he heard a girl singing a song in clear and melodious tones. The subject matter of the song was a crimson colored Sari, how nice it was, how fine was its embroidery, how beautiful were its ends and borders etc. He loved the song so much that he came out, and found that it was being sung by the maidservant of Kaka Saheb. The maid was cleaning utensils, and had only a torn rag on her person. On seeing her impoverished condition, and her jovial temperament, Das Ganu felt pity for her. Next day he gifted her a sari. Like a starving person getting luckily good dishes to eat, her joy knew no bounds. Next day she wore the new Sari, and out of great joy

and merriment, whirled, danced round and played `Fugadi' with other girls and excelled them all. The day after she kept the new Sari in her box at home and came with the old and torn rags, but she looked as merry as she did the previous day. On seeing this, Das Ganu's pity was turned into amazement. He thought that the girl being poor had to wear a torn rag, but now she had a new Sari which she kept in reserve and putting on the old rag, strutted herself, showing no trace of sorrow or dejection. Thus he realized that all our feelings of pain and pleasure depend upon the attitude of our mind. On thinking deeply over this incident, he realized that a man ought to enjoy whatever God has bestowed on him in the firm conviction that He besets every thing, from behind and before, and on all sides and that whatever is bestowed on him by God must be for his good. In this particular case, the impoverished condition of the poor girl, her torn rag and the new Sari, the donor, the

dance and the acceptance were all parts of the Lord and pervaded by Him. Hence, Das Ganu got a practical demonstration of the lesson of the Upanishad - the lesson of contentment with one's own lot in the belief that whatever happens is ordained by God, and is ultimately good for us. O Baba! To those who say that it wasn't necessary to send away Das Ganu to Vile Parle and that, You could have Yourself taught him, the simple answer is: O Sai! Thou art the Datta, Who teacheth us to learn from everything. O Sai! Lord Dattatreya had twenty four teachers from Nature. "Many are my preceptors," he told King Yadu, "selected by my keen sense, from whom acquiring wisdom freely, I wander in the world." Aye, Baba! Aye, once he saw an eagle flying with a piece of meat in its beak. Then another eagle snatched the piece of meat, and the eagle that lost the piece of meat was left free. But the other eagles started fighting over that piece

of meat. O my Sadguru! Datta realized from this experience that where there was accumulation, there was insecurity. Where there was no accumulation, nobody cared. There were no robberies in a beggar's house. In twenty-four different situations, Dattatreya gained knowledge from earth, air/breeze, sky, fire, the sun, pigeon, python, sea, moth, elephant, ant, fish, Pingala the courtesan, arrow-maker, infant/playful boy, the moon, honeybee, deer, bird of prey, maiden, serpent, spider, caterpillar and water. They are his twenty-four preceptors. O Baba! You are an incarnation of Lord Dattatreya: (Contributed by Subodh Agarwal) CONTRIBUTED ARTICLE: O Sai! Thou art the Datta Tatva (continued) O Sai! Thou art the Datta , Who teacheth us to learn from everything. Lord Dattatreya appears with a Jhola (a bag) hung on his shoulder, and so do You, O Sai! He has all the powers of God viz. creation,

preservation, and destruction, and so have You, O Baba! He lives as a Fakir (a beggar), and so do You, my Lord! He goes for Bhiksha or alms, and so do You, O Brahmaanda Naayaka! The spiritual meaning of this Bhiksha or alms-begging by You is that You are asking Your devotees, "Give Me all your sins". You ask for the sins of the devotee's past and present lives. You collect, and swallow, and digest these sins: O Sai! Thou art the Datta , Who teacheth us to learn from everything. O Sai! Your required no special place, nor any special time for giving instructions to Your devotees. Whenever any occasion demanded, You taught them freely. Once it so happened that one of Your devotees reviled his brother behind his back in the presence of so many of Your devotees. O Sai! You have your own method of correcting the scandal-mongers. When You met the slanderer, You pointed out to him a pig that was eating filth near the fence and said to him -

"Behold how, with what relish it is gorging dung. Your conduct is similar. You go on reviling your own brethren to your heart's content. After performing many deeds of merit, you are born a man, and if you act like this, will Shirdi help you in any way?" (Shri Sai Satcharita, Chapters: 18-19) O Baba! Needless to say, that the devotee took the lesson to his heart, and went away: (Contributed by Subodh Agarwal) DEVOTEES SAY: FatimaSai Ram to all. As I have been planning for my first trip to Shirdi for quite a few months now, just worried that I might not get the leave from the office (due to busy work schedule), I was praying to Baba from the bottom of my heart. Visiting Shirdi really means a lot to me, and guess what? as always, Baba helped. I finally muster my courage to ask my manager for leave, he said 'Yes' straight away. My joy knew no bounds.

I know it is all about Baba's leelas, without Baba, I would not be able to get my leave. SanjeevMy current project was rolling out on December 2007 and I was looking for a new one. I got a new project and I was supposed to start from 15th December 2007 but client had shelved the project on last moment due to some reason. I felt sad but have Shradda and Saburi on my Baba. Baba arrange it in such a way that my current project got extended till February 2008. During this extended time I got another project and I started working there too. Now the important thing to note is that the 1st project were I wasn't able to start working was far away from my current location and later on Sadguru Saibaba had arranged the new (2nd) project which is very near to my location. So Baba did this miracle to us and made sure that I had a good job all the time and avoid the hassle of relocation. I am still wondering about this blessing of my

Sainath. RavikumarMy life was so miserable three years back, no job, married for 12 years no kids and there was totally no hope and meaning to live. Now, there are no words to express and praise my Lord Sri Saibaba. Thanks to Him, when we are blessed with a baby girl in October 2005, and a baby boy in December 2007.He gave us back the hope and happiness and changed our life. We read the Sai Satcharitra every once in a month and try to follow His teachings. VarshaThank you Sai baba for the calendar. My mom was admitted in hospital and she came back home on Thursday. Sai baba has cured my mom. JyotsnaviOm Sai! I would like to thank Lord Sai for all the gifts He has showered upon us. There have been numerous great experiences that He has bestowed on us. Nine years ago when we were desperately trying for a child and the doctors really could not help us out.

That month we visited Shirdi (one of our many yearly trips). I looked at Sai and something told me not to give up hope. That very month I conceived, we are blessed with a son. Now after nine years I have conceived, we were really happy but due to my age there were some complications and I had to do some tests. We all were so worried but our faith and prayers got us the good news. My tests proved clear and I am given a go ahead for the pregnancy. Thanks to almighty Sai. Please keep Your grace on us and others forever. Hoping and trusting that the rest of my pregnancy and the child will be normal and healthy. I had promised that if all my test results would go ok, I would post my experience. PRAYER CLUB: Sai devoteeOur humble pranaams to You Sai. Please find a job for our son. I know he is sad inside but does not tell us. Dear Sai brothers and sisters. Keep my son

in your prayers. RaghavDear Sainath, my two and half year old daughter, catches infections and diseases very soon. Kindly bless her and make her strong, courageous and bold. Also bless my parents and wife with good health and happiness. Thanks a lot for all Your blessings and kindness. KrishrSai Baba, my wife is suffering from severe left leg pain due to disc prolapse for the past one year. In this regard I pray to Baba to relive her from the pain and save her life and to do normal work. My request may kindly be graced / blessed by Baba. MeenakshiBaba, please give my daughter with good thinking and peaceful mind. She has wavering mind and it distrubs in her life a lot with some bad thoughts and actions. Please bless her with positive thinking and good approach. She should be corrected. I don't know how to correct her. I surrender to You to make her a

good girl. Please Baba help me. My son should come up his life. Bless them. SoniaSaibaba, You are the only one to whom I can turn to in time of need, please help me and my family. We need Your help more than ever today. The language that my son uses and the violence that he brings out at home have made our house a living hell. Please make his tongue and actions normal and pious let his tongue say Your name in respect and make us proud of him. I promise to publish about it in the board and give a thanks giving notice in the newspaper. Sai devoteeMe and my husband need Baba's blessings for the problems we are facing. There are so many hindrances and after many attempts also, Baba is not listening to my prayer. He is the only resort for me. Baba please help me. Sai DevoteeBaba, You only can save my sister who is badly suffering with breast cancer. Please

give her good health and long life. Please show mercy on her and we have good faith in You and You only can save her. Please understand Baba, please do the miracle. EXPERIENCE OF DEVOTEES: AnjaliI would like to share my experience with all of Sai devotees. Since our marriage we were facing loads of difficulties. I always prayed, cried, fought with Baba to help us to be happy. We moved abroad 5 years ago and our difficulties increased. My husband was struggling to get job after his university course, so one day his friend suggested him to go back to India and change his profession and learn completely new course. So my husband went back to India, was there for 6 months and just 1 day before he was about to come back, his father passed away. My husband stopped believing in God when he lost both his parents within 1 year of each other. We both felt very dejected as

we both were looking forward to be with each other, he to start job and then suddenly losing the most beloved person in his life, his dad. Both of us lost all hope in life and got depressed. I kept praying Baba, reading Sai Satcharita. Baba was always guiding us; He helped my husband to finish all legal work with minimal difficulties and always showered His mercy on us every minute. We saw so many miracles happening like his sisters creating problem and then changing mind in next few days, some corrupt official troubling us and then suddenly he got suspended for being corrupt. After all this my husband was able to join me recently and starting looking for job. I started reading Sai Satcharita and decided to finish it from one Thursday to next Thursday. On the Thursday when I was suppose to finish Sai Satcharita, I was working for 13 hours, and still 50 pages of Satcharita were left. I prayed Baba and requested Him to please help me finish my Satcharita. continued.....Suddenly in evening at work, I got free time (which normally is impossible); I was able to finish remaining pages. My husband was waiting to hear results of his interview, I kept on telling Baba that I will be happy with whatever the results are and had firm faith that whatever He does is for our best. When I went home at 10.00 pm, my husband told me that he couldn't succeed in his interview. I cried a bit, but then suddenly got relaxed and told Baba, if You think this is best for us, I accept it as Your prasad. Then next day my husband got a call from the same company that there was a mistake, my husband has got selected for the job and should join soon. Many times when my wish was not fulfilled, I use to go to Baba, cry for sometime and then stop talking to Baba for some days. This time, I had firm faith that He will do the best, I was so happy and felt as if Baba tested me and I passed in His faith test. Looking back, I feel

that every thing happened by His wish and for a purpose. My husband could stay with his father for 6 months before his father passed away. And he was able to sort out everything by Baba's grace. All this would not have been possible if he had a job. Always shower Your mercy on both of us. RanjeethI wish to share with each one of my true experiences with Sai. Please patiently go through this and a true testimonial to how dear Sai saved me. I am 52 years old now and seven years back things started working against me in my life without my knowledge but trapped in the net of ego, arrogance and over confidence. Advice from my elders was of no value to me, since I was traveling through the path of ruins. All vices invaded me; I lost a very decent job and became a liability to my aged parents, wife and children. My addiction to liquor even at this stage made me stoop down to indecent levels just for a drink and one day out of sheer

stupidity and arrogance I consumed maximum liquor with an over dose of sleeping pills to end my life. My stars, I was rushed to hospital and admitted in IMCU, the doctors diagnosed it as substance abuse, but luckily it was not informed to the police due to the influence of my friend and relatives. My bad luck, even after this incident, nothing was working in my favor or rather situation grew from bad to worse, my parents and my family where terribly worried and there was not a single deity my mother prayed for me. At this juncture my elder son was in his 2nd year of Engineering and the second in 5th standard. Lack of income and mounted debts with the credit card and personal loans forced me to keep shifting my residence, but one day the situation became terribly worse, that I was forced to dispose all my belongings except our clothes and finally me and wife stayed at a friend's house. My elder son stayed in a hostel and my younger one with my parents. My parents were very

depressed and one day my father wrote a letter to a religious woman in Kerala requesting her to show me a way .The lady wrote "Ask your son to spend 42 days in Shirdi", but my father was a bit hesitant to tell me and pondering how to convince me about my staying in Shirdi. It was on this day dearest Sai entered my life. continued.....On 15th June 2003, I left for Shirdi with my mother, younger son and a group of devotees from Chennai and I stepped into Shirdi on 17th June 2003. My mother, son and other devotees departed to Chennai after two days leaving me behind. 42 days of stay in Shirdi was a will of Shri Sai and I am extremely delighted, honored, blessed that as stated by our beloved Sai in " Sai Satcharitra", I as a sinner was called to Shirdi. None can visit Shirdi without His will and even if one is called, he cannot overstay without the will our beloved Sai. Dear devotees! my 42 days stay in Shirdi was a divine one,

witnessing miracles around me. During my stay Sai blessed me to daily visit the famous Neem tree, Gurusthan, Dwarakamai, Masjid, Samadhi mandhir, Hanuman temple, Radhakrishna mai's house, Kandoba temple and above all the morning, noon, evening, night arathis and the Thursday phalaki procession. Can anyone be more bleessed or luckier than me? After my return from Shirdi, my life changed and toady Sai is everything to me. Sai is with me and I am one with Sai. Have true faith on our Sai and experience by yourself the experiences you would not have experienced. Today, we are a happy family, my son is a software Engineer with a leading MNC, my younger son is in 11th Standard and my beloved parents are leading a very peaceful life. All this would not have happened, but for the grace showered by my beloved Sai. QUOTATION OF THE WEEK: "Read the Pothi everyday and while

reading it understand with love and devotion"-Shri Sai Baba QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Q. Question of the week is given below....... A. by . Q. How can we, the devotees of Sai Baba, ensure that our merits and demerits both are worked out completely so that we get our deliverance and become free? SAI ACTIVITIES: Sri Ramanavami celebrations in Chicago, USASri Ramanavami and Urs festival celebrations are the first major celebration of the year for Shirdi Sai devotees. The tradition started in 1910 and continues each year. Shirdi Sai temple, Chicago will be celebrating the event for three days starting from Friday, April 11th to Sunday, April 13th. The program comprises of Aartis, Maha Abhishek, Homam, Palki procession,

Satcharitra parayan, bhajans and much more. For complete details please call 847-931-4058. 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 devotees posting prayer request are requested to state their needs briefly and be specific about their prayer needs. This will help

with good use of space and allows more requests to be posted every week. A Sai devotee suggested the "Question of the week" for this week as follows: Chapter VIII of Shri Sai Satcharita says, "Those souls whose merits preponderate, go to heaven and live there till they enjoy the fruits of their actions and when this is done, they are cast down; while those souls, whose demerits preponderate go to hell and suffer the consequences of their misdeeds for as long as they deserve it. When their merits and demerits balance each other, they are born on earth as human beings and are given a chance to work out their salvation. Ultimately, when their merits and demerits both are worked out completely, they get their deliverance and become free." This quote by Hemadpant (as inspired by Baba) means that since we are born as human beings, our merits and demerits balance each other and we should concentrate on working out our salvation. Q. How can we,

the devotees of Sai Baba, ensure that our merits and demerits both are worked out completely so that we get our deliverance and become free? 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 receiving the newsletter and

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