Sai Vichaar for Thursday Mar 11, 2010

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Sai Vichaar

www.saibaba.org

 

Thursday, Mar 11, 2010 :: Volume 12, Issue 44

 

 

(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:

 

 

"True children of Sai are ever ready to even bear pain to bring love and happiness to others." --A Devotee.

 

 

 

 

 

 

FEATURE OF THE WEEK: The "Knowledge" of Love

 

Mohabbat ka rastha jisne dikhaaya Shraddha saburi se jeena sikhaaya Sayee ko mere laakhon pranaam Jab gaatha hoon mein Sayee kaa naam "The one that showed the path of loving, to live with faith and patience, Oh Sai unto you I bow countless times as I sing the glory of your name" What did those learned say about the path shown by Saibaba? Is it bhakthi marg, the path of devotion, or jnana marg, the path of knowledge? If it is bhakthi, devotion, what is devotion? Is devotion, mere love of God? How different is this from the "love" of other things? If it is knowledge, then "Knowledge" of "what"? Is it the Knowledge of love? Or perhaps it is the "prem rog", the healthy disease of love that culminates with the death of the self! How does loving anything that doesn't last long be considered as sane practice? A serious contemplation on this is

perhaps the means and purpose of any knowledge. Transience is the proof of falsehood and the real is eternal. Saibaba is the concrete form of one that is eternal. Acquiring any amount of knowledge on the nature of eternity is still halfway unless it transforms into everlasting love towards that which is eternal. Sri Rajaji said jnana is mere tinsel, a flashy glitter, unless it is transformed into bhakthi. In the path of Sadhguru, no matter however learned one may be, the knowledge he acquires is no more than a tool to experience the loving devotion for Sadguru, the love and devotion to the complete exclusion of everything else.

 

 

 

 

CONTRIBUTED ARTICLE: Transcendence of the ego

 

Through various acts, advice and examples, Baba advised his children to follow the path of "dharma" which means transgressing the limitations of our small "ego". Keeping in mind Baba's advice we may all strive to transcend limitations of our mind and body. In the path of spiritualism transcendence is necessary. Transcendence of what? Transcendence of the fetters of body and mind. This can only be achieved by controlling the compulsions of body like hunger, lust and the mental compulsions of mind like greed, jealousy, anger, hatred etc. When one by one the mental fetters fall off, two elements of mind like "desire" and "feeling" pertaining to those compulsions also vanish. The soul slowly but imperceptibly then enters into a state of pure consciousness. At this stage he goes beyond all bodily fetters including birth and death. He also crosses the barriers of time and space. The

progress in the path of spirituality is the march of the divine consciousness from its primordial state to the original divine self. All species controlled by time, in terms of birth and death, including human beings are a part of that creative process. Life after life they evolve ultimately to reach that state of God where from they emanated. Except God, no one and nothing in this world is perfect. All the imperfect beings and things in the world, which includes all species, get birth, because they are imperfect. Life after life they go on perfecting themselves, little by little. The meaning of life, is to endeavor to become perfect. Self-analysis, self-study, self-oriented actions towards that goal and prayer to Sadguru to lead in that path is the only way to progress meaningfully in life. Saints and the people truly following this spiritual path always think, not only of their own evolution but also about the evolution of all human

beings or other species around them. Any action (in thought, speech, activity), which helps in the evolution of the self or others is a good act called virtue (punya) and any action detrimental to such growth is an evil act called sin (paap). It is very difficult to follow such a path in a world as ours and therefore, the process of evolution of human beings is so slow, spread over a number of lives. We must use our imperfections of yesterday and try to evolve towards a little more perfection. Knowing that no ordinary mortal is totally perfect, we try to find a model of perfection which is epitomized in Sadguru or Perfect Master. Shri Shirdi Sai Baba was in such supreme state of perfection. He possessed such powers or siddhis, which no one can imagine, however he maintained a humble life. Humility, simplicity are not weakness, they are the biggest strength one can possess in the path of spiritual development. Let us remember this.

(Source: Guruji Shri CB Satpathy ji's writings on Sri Saibaba)

 

 

 

 

DEVOTEES SAY:

 

RaveendraThanks a lot for blessing us with good results in our exam. Please continue to bless us for the rest of our exams. You know how desperate we are for this SumathiDear Sairam, Thanks for helping us to get our OCI as soon as possible. AnjuThank you Sai ma for granting our wish and my husband is going to start work in two weeks. Though we have to move to different city and sell the house, we are excited because Sai ma has listened to us and fulfilled our wish. Sai ma please see that everything goes right for us once we move to the new place

 

 

 

 

PRAYER CLUB:

 

A Sai devoteeBaba please help me complete my degree and get a very good job at a prestigious university PreetiBaba please bless me with a child. You have always been with me..Please Sai Baba...shower your blessing on me. Sai devoteeSai Baba, Please bless us in this crucial situation. We are very thankful that you have resolved our H1 extension problem. Please continue to shower your blessings on us and help me get the job and be successful. Sai devoteeMy sister's son is 3 days old and going through a critical condition. Now in ICU for the careless ness of his doctor. My sister is very innocent, please cure her son. DevoteeBaba please don't send me back. Please RSSThank you for the Gold Medals! I have no words to describe the miracles you

do. Let me remain humble and let my life be for doing what you want to be done. Let it be an instrument in your hands. DiptiRecently my brother and his wife are having tough time dealing with each other constant fighting and now the terms are almost divorce and I am so worried about the small girl they have and feel sorry for her .hey Baba pls help them to solve the problem and get him a good job Baba pls help our family. ShwetaBaba please bless me and my husband with a baby. Baba please end our sufferings and answer our prayers SweetySai this is the crucial point help me out I need u pls help me jus u helped me before... please Sai help me ....

 

 

 

 

EXPERIENCE OF DEVOTEES:

 

LokanathMy project ended in April, 09. Since then every morning I sat before Baba and prayed for new project. Like that it passed 10 months. My financial situation was getting bad day by day. But I know that HE will help me in surviving. Believe me that he helped me by some way or other and arranged financial help throughout the 10 month period. In the month of Feb, 10. I got an opportunity and on the day of Interview I told HIM that I would leave all BAD ACTIONS AND THOUGHTS and follow the principles laid down by HIM. Also mentioned to him that I will post my experience in the Saivichar. I did get that project and as vowed to HIM , I am posting this now. BABA knows when to give and what to give to his devotees, just keep faith in HIM and be patient.. patient..

patient, he will take care of you. SureshOn the 1st March 2010, I requested Baba to bless my son as his 2nd birthday that day. Before I started my daily parayana that day, I thought in my mind that Baba I am now going to open a page randomly from Satcharithra. When I open the book if I happened to get your either photo (dwarakamai or lendi) then I assume that your blessing are with my son. Amazingly, it was gorgeous Dwarakamai photo when I opened the book. We were really overjoyed with this incident and Baba proved us yet again that if we pray him whole-heartedly, he is there to bless us in any form. Baba shower your blessings on one and all. Thank you Baba.

 

 

 

 

 

QUOTATION OF THE WEEK:

 

 

"Cats, pigs, flies, cows etc are one with Me. He who sees Me in all these creatures is My beloved" - Sri Saibaba

 

 

 

 

QUESTION OF THE WEEK:

 

Q: How should Sai devotees react when their wishes are not fulfilled? A. by Kiranmai BABA "I am the Controller - the Wire-puller of the show of this universe. I am the Mother - origin of all beings - the Harmony of three Gunas, the propeller of all senses, the Creator, Preserver and Destroyer. Nothing will harm him, who turns his attention towards Me, but Maya will lash or whip him, who forgets Me. All insects, ants, the visible, movable and immovable world, is My body or form." So if you go by the above in true sense - Action/Reaction, Cause/Effect is all pre-destined. Each of us have a purpose to play in other's life in a certain way. Sometimes we think it is in our control to play out that purpose when in reality the above paragraph holds the dictum of principle.

 

 

 

 

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

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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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© Copyright 1998-2010 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 Sadhguru 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.