Sai Vichaar for Thursday Mar 04, 2010

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Sai Vichaar

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Thursday, Mar 04, 2010 :: Volume 12, Issue 43

 

 

(In its twelfth 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.

This is a post-it email only, any replies to this email will be ignored. To contact us please see information at the bottom of this newsletter.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

Tip of the Week:

 

 

"As one grows with Shri Sai, one feels His benevolence and omniscience through their lives" --A Devotee.

 

 

 

 

 

 

FEATURE OF THE WEEK: Sri Saibaba's formal worship

 

Sai Baba Himself never initiated anyone as His disciple; but elucidated the importance of Guru. The words uttered by Him became guidance for His devotees. He spoke of the importance of Guru. Baba, when He came to Shirdi, would sit under a Neem tree meditating for hours. Baba would say, "This is my Guru's Sthan and, therefore, very dear to me. If one cleans this place and lights frankincense here every Thursday and Friday, one will experience peace and happiness." Every time, while passing this Sthan Baba would show reverence. In 1909, Baba's devotee Tatyasaheb Nulkar visited Shirdi with his mother and mother-in-law. The day being Guru Poornima, Tatyasaheb offered Pooja to Baba as his Guru. After he left, Baba called for Tatya Patil Kote. On receiving the message, Tatya who was working in the fields, rushed to Baba. Baba said, "Why should he alone do my Pooja ? Why can't you do

it too?"The devotees wanted to worship Baba; but fearing He would flare up, never dared to. But now, seeing Baba's approval, Tatya Kote Patil, Madhavrao Deshpande and other devotees present were overjoyed. Dada Kelkar who happened to be a Brahmin and senior devotee was given the honor of performing Baba's Pooja. He ritualistically performed the Pooja in the Masjid with sandalwood paste, incense, rice, garland, flowers and a pair of Dhotis. This became a milestone and Sai devotees started celebrating Guru Poornima, which continues to date.In the early days Baba would not allow anyone to apply sandalwood paste to His forehead. Only Mhalsapati would be permitted to apply it to His throat. The rest of the devotees would apply it to Baba's Feet. But once, four - year old Bapu, Nanasaheb Chandorkar's son out of ignorance applied sandalwood paste to Baba's forehead for the first time. It is interesting to note that Baba always respected

devotees, who were attached to their Guru. Once, Tatyasaheb Nulkar's friend, Dr. Pandit came to Shirdi. He went for Baba's Darshan. With sandalwood paste he drew a Tripundra on Baba's forehead. Everyone present was shocked and thought Baba will be angry. Dada Bhat who was also present was astonished that Baba did not lose His temper. So, the same evening when he couldn't contain his curiosity any more he asked Baba. Baba said, "Dr. Pandit drew the Tripundra believing that I am his Guru; so, how could I stop him ?" Thus, Baba's teachings, 'Shraddha and Saburi', 'Allah Malik', 'Sabka Malik Ek', if practiced, will easily take a man to material and spiritual heights. These teachings unite all mankind and take them beyond the distinction of caste, creed and colour, fostering oneness.(By Ms. Shamshad Ali Baig, vide Shri Sai Leela , July-August 2006)

 

 

 

 

CONTRIBUTED ARTICLE: How do we see Baba?

 

How do we see Baba? Some people go to the temples and see Him in the form carved-out in a statue. Some feel Him in the Aarti or devotional songs. Some try to find him in the Sai Satcharita, as a character that affected the lives of millions. There are some who always seek for His miracles like un-expected favorable happenings, un-usual connections in mundane life or even in dreams. There are only a few who find Baba in all their actions i.e. Karma. The luckiest are the ones who identify their own actions as the outcome of inner motivations generated by Baba. The best devotees are those who in every motivation and action find the play of His Divine play i.e. leela. Devotion - Love of God - Experiences show that intellectual endeavors, howsoever potent and mighty they may seem, have not catapulted or thrown or raised any human being to spiritual heights. History shows

that the highest spiritual masters are those who were uneducated in formal sense. For example, Ramkrishna Paramhans, Shri Shirdi Sai, Namdev, Tukaram, Paltu Maharaj etc. It obviously means that there is something self-limited in the intellectualism in the path of spiritual progress. All that the spiritual masters learnt in their life and spread among others is 'Bhakti' or devotion. "Bhakti" means love of God. Since God is not sitting in a throne like an individual, therefore, how to love Him. The answer is that God is in everyone and if one has the capacity to love others, he is doing real devotion. Even doing all the worship, yoga, pranaayaam (breath control) etc., for one's own improvement is not 'Bhakti'. It is one activity for fulfilling spiritual/occult ambition like any other ambition. People in the path of devotion develop certain qualities that manifest in their daily life activities. They become

humble, sacrificing, more universal and sensitive to the pain of others. They love Baba and flow in that stream unknowingly carrying along with them all that come in their contact. They don't try to pray to Baba for the fulfillment of any material requirements. Baba has a role to play to lead them ultimately to the correct path and correct goal. They have nothing to prove and, therefore, do not allow 'ego' to assert itself. This is the correct path towards Baba. . (Source: Guruji Shri CB Satpathy ji's writings on Sri Saibaba)

 

 

 

 

DEVOTEES SAY:

 

RahulThank you Baba for helping me find a new job when I needed it most. During those difficult days, I sought your help and you helped me get into a better organization. Pls bless me Baba so that I am able to work hard and perform well here. I need your blessings all throughout Baba. Thank you once again. DevoteeDearest Baba, thanks for blessing me and my husband with the good news of pregnancy. We are much obliged to You. Please fulfill our dream of having a happy healthy and normal baby. Also, please bless my husband with a job soon and please make my baby take birth in the place of my choice. Thanks Baba Sai devoteeThanks for all your blessing every moment of my life, I pray that you continue to shower your bless on me and all the devotees all the time. I have working for years on my site and was not able to

make it online successfully, with your blessing I am planning to make it live soon. Please bless me to make it a success and hope it helps many students with your blessings. Sai devoteeI have no freedom to raise my kid, no freedom for anything, kindly help me. I stopped doing all prayers, as I feel so lonely there but then I realize how much you helped me & then I thank you once again for everything you have given me. I feel so grateful to you & then again I start cribbing about onsite, pls change my attitude. Please turn my thoughts on to you & only you. Thank you so much Baba pranams to you from all of us.

 

 

 

 

PRAYER CLUB:

 

A Sai devoteeOm Sai Ram. BABA, Please shower your blessings on us, and help me in getting the new project soon. As you know I am desperately in need of Job right now. Om Sai Ram. Sai devoteePlease Saibaba, please see that my job should be good and please please Saibaba, please see that she should also get a job. A devoteePlease help us in solving all of my problems and mainly help my elder son to get the seat in right course in university. I am desperate Baba please help him in getting the seat in good course. ShamaBaba please help my husband to settle his business. Take him to your sharan. Make him your devotee. ManjuMy dear father please help me and my family, You know I am planning to change my job please help me get a good job with good pay and please that all

is fine and healthy at home and you know what we need please help us father. SuganyaYou know the ones that I really want. Please shower your grace Baba. DevoteeSaibaba, it is more than a month and he has not contacted. It is very irresponsible of him to run away from home like this. Please give him good sense, make him responsible and mature and sensitive to my feelings. Please make him come back and contact me soon. RaveendraDear Sainath, please bless us in our next exam. You know how desperate we are to clear this and come out with flying colors. Please forgive our sins and render your kind blessings on us.

 

 

 

 

EXPERIENCE OF DEVOTEES:

 

Praveen Being a regular reader of Sai Vichaar I too promised BABA that I would write my story once I am settled with my job. So here it goes? The year 2009 was a disappointing year for me and many as recession had enveloped the globe. My job offer (I being a campus recruit) was put on hold so I had to look for other opportunities. My Job hunt began when I got an expensive three-month visa to Dubai (Grateful to my dad). My prayers back then to BABA every day was ..."BABA please get me job during this three months"; as getting a visa again would turn out being more expensive. I tried classifieds, references, friends, everything to get a job in the IT field, those 3 months just flew by and then came time for me to pack my bags and leave Dubai. It was just four days before my

departure when I received a call from a reputed Bank for a 3-month internship. During internship I worked my best to try and get a permanent job in the bank itself, but I wasn't happy with the work I was doing, as it was mere system support. I did tell BABA in my prayers (as I always do) about all this and concluded saying?."BABA I will do whatever you wish me to do". But I was still willing to continue with it, as I was aware of the job crisis. And then came the news that I couldn't be hired as a permanent employee. I was totally broken, lost all hopes and morally down, cried tears after a long time. But my family had always supported me strongly. Just a few days later I received another call from the company, which recruited me in India. And now here am in Pune city with a job I'm happy with. Recently it was heard that the Dubai economic crises was severe with many more layoffs. Lucky that I wasn't a part of the Bank else, would have cried even

more?All thanks to my Lord Shri Sai and parents for their blessings on me?

 

 

 

 

 

QUOTATION OF THE WEEK:

 

 

""Foes and friends, kings and paupers are the same to me" - Sri Saibaba

 

 

 

 

QUESTION OF THE WEEK:

 

Q: How should Sai devotees react when their wishes are not fulfilled? A. Your answer can go here

 

 

 

 

SAI ACTIVITIES:

 

Sri Ramanavami Celebrations at Shirdi Sai Temple Hampshire, Illinois, USASri Ramnavami will be celebrated for three days from Tuesday March 23rd to Thursday March 25th. The celebration will mark the first major festival of the temple in this year. For full details and sponsorship information, please visit the temple website or call 847-931-4058 or send email to maildrop. Sri Shirdi Sai Temple of Chicago and Suburbs, Illinois, USASri 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, 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, everyday. Satsangs are conducted every Sunday mornings, 9 am to 12:30 pm. Please 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. 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 four days from Thursday to Sunday. For temple hours and activities please visit their website. 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. 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. 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 6599 Dublin Center Drive, Dublin, OH 43017. Please attend daily Aaratis and Thursday bhajans. For more information please call 614-799-8411. 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. Sri Shirdi Sai Temple of Austin, TXSri 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. Shirdi Sai Mandir, Dulles, VAShirdi 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 call (703) 661-4724 for more information on activities, events and other information. Shirdi Sai Mandir, TorontoThe Mandir is located at Unit 7 & 8 2721 Markham Road Toronto ON M1X 1L5 Canada. Daily services offered to Baba include abhishek and all aartis. For Mandir hours and activities, please call 647-444-4724. Shri Shirdi Sai Baba Sansthan, Canada -TorontoDevotees in Toronto, are invited to join in Sai Namavali, Satcharita reading, Bhajans, Aarti and Prasad every Thursday from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm. at GUR MANDIR 207 Queen's Plate Dr. Etobicoke - Hwy27 South of Finch for more info call (416) 294 4804. Sai Mandir, Baldwin New YorkDevotees in New York and surrounding locations are informed about Sri Sai Mandir in Baldwin NY. The temple is located at 1889 Grand Avenue, Baldwin, NY

11510. Please attend daily Aaratis and Thursday Panchamruta Abhishekam and bhajans. For more information please call at 516-867-8008. Shirdi Saibaba Temple, Iselin/Edison New JerseyDevotees in New Jersey and surrounding locations are informed about Sri Shirdi Saibaba temple in Iselin NJ. The temple is located at 465 Lincoln Highway (Route 27) Iselin, NJ 08830. Please attend daily Aaratis and Thursday Panchamruta Abhishekam and bhajans. For more information please call at 732-283-1800. Shirdi Saibaba Temple, Flushing New YorkThis temple is located near the famous Ganesh Temple, Flushing, New york. All the day-to-day rituals at the temple are being conducted in a manner similar to that in Shirdi. The temple is located at 46-16 Robinson Street Flushing,NY,USA 11355. For more information please call 718-321-9243. Sri Sai Amruta Narayana Sarveswaraalaym, Richmond, VAThe temple is

open from 5.15 am to 9.00 pm, everyday (no lunch break etc). We have all 4 aarthis every day and Baba's paalki seva on every Thursday after Dhoop Aarthi. Further information can be obtained by calling the temple at 804-708-0867. Shirdi Sai Jalaram Mandir, Houston TXThis temple was inaugurated on August 28th 2009 with idols of both the saints Shri Sant Jalaram and Shri Shirdi Sai Baba. The temple is open for darshan and arathis all day. It is located in Sugarland and more information can be obtained by calling 281-433-4706. Shirdi Sai Baba Temple Detroit, MISri Shirdi Sai Baba temple, Livonia welcomes everyone to visit the temple and get Baba's blessings. The temple is open for darshan and arathis. For more information please call 248-471-6474.

 

 

 

 

FROM THE EDITORS KEYBOARD:

 

For the past several months we have been trying to work on issues related to distribution of Sai Vichaar. Our goal is to make this spiritual e-magazine rich in contribution and rewarding experience to its readers. Several factors have been responsible for delays and non-deliverability of Sai Vichaar. To receive Sai Vichaar without interruption, readers are requested to please add the from email to their address book. If you move or close your email account, please drop in a line to us so that we can update your records. Mail continued to be sent to dead accounts goes against the sender. By following these basic steps at your end will go a long way in helping us to keep our lists clean and all readers get Sai Vichaar every week. Thank you for your support and making Sai Vichaar a part of your lives. We will continue to strive to bring you material of benefit to all Sai devotees in the

years to come. Sai devotees are requested to write their submissions in English only. Some devotees use other languages in English script. Kindly note that such contributions cannot be published. "Question of the week" for this week is Q. How should Sai devotees react when their wishes are not fulfilled? Humbly Yours,The Editor

 

 

 

 

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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

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