Sai Vichaar For 12th March 2009

Sai Vichaar Thursday , March 12, 2009 :: Volume 11, Issue 44 (In its eleventh year of publication.)

www.saibaba.org

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

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DEVOTEES SAY

•

PRAYER CLUB

•

EXPERIENCE OF DEVOTEES

•

QUOTATION OF THE WEEK

•

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

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SAI ACTIVITIES

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FROM THE EDITORS KEYBOARD

FEATURE OF THE WEEK: He belonged to All! Saibaba wanted to belong to all and be shared by all. He apparently found himself at ease in this paradoxical situation. When pressed on whether he was Hindu or Muslim, he would often get very angry and abuse people. Once he told a devotes:" You have been with me for eighteen years now. Does Sai mean for you only these three and a half cubits of height? Certainly, Saibaba never encouraged his own worship, though in the last years he gave up resistance and accepted the cult which the Hindus tribute to him, often in a quite ostentatious form. Saibaba was able to avoid clashes between two communities and succeeded in unifying them in an atmosphere of general harmony. At this early period, Hindu worship of Baba was purely individual. A devotee would bring flowers, bow to him, and ask for a blessing and leave. Mhalsapati was apparently the only one who honored him with a sandal paste puja. Baba would often talk about Hindu gods, quoting from sacred texts and commenting upon passages of Bhagavadgita, the Isha Upanishad and so forth. The names of Krishna and Rama seem to have been particularly dear to him. With Muslim followers, Baba would always talk of Allah and Koran, often quoting Persian verses. Apparently one of his favorite expressions were Allah rakhega vaisa rahena, that is, Let us be content with what we have and submit our will to Allah. On several occasions, Sai reassured his listeners by saying that he, like them, was but a devotee of Allah, a humble faqir with two arms and two legs. In later years, Parsis and even a few Christians would come to Shirdi. Saibaba respected all creeds, true to his conviction that all religions are but particular paths

leading to one ineffable goal. All had free access to the Masjid: outcasters, lepers, dogs, birds and so on. Baba particularly enjoyed the company of untouchables and the ill. One Bhagoji Shinde, a leper, came to be one of Sai's closest devotees. This was the reason why the Masjid came to be known by the Hindu name of Dvarakamai, the many-gated mother. From the young faqir, most asked for blessings of a material kind, progeny, jobs, cures from illness etc. very few requested spiritual guidance. (Source: "The Life and Teachings of Saibaba of Shirdi" by Antonio Rigopuolos) CONTRIBUTED ARTICLE: Importance of Purification All great men have emphasized that the body, mind, intellect, and ego have to be purified first for the success of all saadhana. This is because we are unclean due to the effects of past karma. Moreover, we are being taught everyday about the lure and desirability of money, fame, power, and enjoyment. This produces lasting impression on the subtle body which is beyond mind and intellect and which survives physical existence. We have to think in different directions and live a different way of life to smudge the impact of these unwholesome effects. This different way of thought, action and life is called Saadhana. The body is purified on account of selfless service and benevolent acts. This helps in obliterating the impressions of past karmas on mind. When the mind is sublimated, the seeds of devotion can be sown and nurtured within it. The barren and soil of selfish thoughts and deeds is not fit for sowing of seeds of intense love of God. This must be properly understood by the aspirants. Selfishness is a road leading in altogether opposite direction than the road to God or liberation. A man approaches God step by step, when he removes the pains of others, assists men in distress and knows the God inherent in others minds. Similarly, it is essential to install the memory and the idol of God in the heart by incessant recitation of name and meditation on the form. This enables the subtle body (that outlives physical death) to wipe off the imprint of selfishness and to replace it by the image of God. (Source: Shri Sai Leela, November 1989). DEVOTEES SAY: Devotee Dear Saibaba, Thank you for always remaining on my side. All my work is done by you.I know you are always with me. Baba I am your daughter now my daughter is your devotee Baba she needs you in your miracle, make her believe in you, bless her and make her faith in you stronger. Jai sairam Devotee Baba please be seated in my heart and purge away all sins, make me child like innocent Deva bless and please give me peace of mind. Sainath you know all, I am very distracted and unhappy Baba. Please make me calm, increase my devotion. Sainath always keep me near your feet and guide me to do the right thing. Baba call us to Shirdi soon. Sai Devotee

Baba please forgive me. You know everything. Baba I know its my mistake but you are my guru, my SaiMa. Please forgive your children if they do something wrong. I do not know how this happened and why. Baba please forgive me and I do not know even what I should do to improve my mistake. Baba you did a lot for me. Baba please show me the way, shower your blessings on me. I am so disturbed. Please help me. Baba take my husband in your fold. Sai Devotee Dear Sai Baba, koti koti pranam. I am really grateful to You for blessing my daughter. She had been suffering from cough with fever and ear problem for many days. I prayed to Sai Baba to cure these diseases, and if He cures these diseases I will share my experience in Sai Vichaar. With Sai Baba's grace above diseases cured and she is now completely good condition. Joy SAI RAM! PRAYER CLUB: Devotee Om sai ram Recently On Shivaratri day I visited Shirdi. Saibaba my son Praman lost his cell phone last week and I pray the cell phone may be recovered by police and may be handed over to me by them without any problem. Sairanga I am posting this request and sure you will hear my prayer and solve the problem.I request you to show your mercy to my son who is trying for a job and he is married and having a kid also.Though it is not correct to ask favour from you ,i donot know any one other than you.I will post again once he gets the job and visit shiridi along with my and his family. You know when to give and what to give.OM SAI RAM Sai devotee Thank you very much for blessing my father with successful operation. Now he is fine and he is in ICU. I thank all Sai devotees for praying for my father's operation. I still request Sai Baba to bless my father for his speedy recovery and normal health. Devotee Baba please forgive my sins which I did, knowingly or unknowingly. Please take care of all. I sincerely bow to your feet. Please show some miracle to all my family members and all our kids and you know my heart. Please accept my prayers. Sai Devotee Please bless me with a healthy child. Baba we have been married for ten years and no kids. Please bless me. Meena Om Sai Ram, Bless my daughter to get nice marks in public exam. She is writing the exams baba be near her and make her to write the exams well. she should get nice marks. Baba I am suffering from leg pain for past ten days. It should cured. I have surrendered to you. Baba please us. EXPERIENCE OF DEVOTEES: Devotee

I am a staunch devotee of Sri Sai and I would like to share some of my experiences during my Shirdi visit. I was on a two week trip to India and I planned for Shirdi visit during those two weeks. I was supposed to take a train to Hyderabad (on my way to Shirdi) from my hometown. The train was at eleven thirty in the night. I reached station about forty five minutes earlier. I was waiting on the platform and without my knowledge I fell into sleep as I was feeling very tired. The train came on to platform and about to leave in few minutes. (Obviously I was unaware of this as I was in sleep). Somebody woke me up in my dream reminding me about the train arrival and I could catch the train. I hired a taxi from Bombay to Shirdi. On reaching Shirdi, I was surprised to know that they are not giving lodges to people who are single. I tried in a few good hotels and they refused to give me accommodation, as I was alone. I was feeling very sad, as I want to have the darshan of my master. Then the taxi driver came to my help. He told me that he also wants to have darshan of Baba, as he is also a devotee. He asked me whether I mind sharing room with him. I gladly accepted the offer and we had a very good darshan of Baba. I am sure in both the occasions its Sri Sai who came to help me and time and again he proved his existence to me. I am grateful to him for what all he has given me and I am offering my Pranams to his lotus feet. QUOTATION OF THE WEEK: "Allah rakhega vaisa rahena", (Let us be content with what we have and submit our will to Allah).-Sri Sai Baba QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Q. What is the attitude of Sai devotees towards raising their children? SAI ACTIVITIES: Sri Ramanavami Celebrations at Shirdi Sai Temple of Chicago and Suburbs, Illinois, USA Sri Ramnavami will be celebrated for three days from April 2nd to April 4th, 2009. For full details and event information please visit temple website at www.saibaba.us and follow the link to events page from the menu. For sponsorship or other questions please call the temple line at 847-931-4058. To sponsor poojas in Sri Ramnavami celebrations visit the homepage and follow the link to Sponsor Ramanvami Celebrations page. 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, everyday. 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 four days from Thursday to Sunday. For temple hours and activities please visit the website www.nessp.org or send mail to [email protected]. 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 [email protected]. 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 6599 Dublin Center Drive, Dublin, OH 43017. Please attend daily Aaratis and Thursday bhajans. For more information please call 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. Sri Shirdi Sai Temple of Austin, TX Sri 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. For more information, please visit www.saiaustin.org. Shirdi Sai Mandir, Dulles, VA Shirdi 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 visit the mandir website www.shirdisaimandir.org or call (703) 661-4724 for more information on activities, events and other information. Shirdi Sai Mandir, Toronto The 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 visit www.theshirdisaimandir.ca or call 647-444-4724.

FROM THE EDITORS KEYBOARD: Saibaba.Org is undertaking relocation, migration and technology upgrade projects during 2009. The relocation phase has been completed. The upgrade and migration project is expected to be completed in phases during the year. The team will try to ensure that no services are interrupted for a long time but at times it will become necessary to bring down the equipment for maintenance and upgrade. Due to which there may be disruption in the distribution of Sai Vichaar. If this happens, you can always retrieve back copies of Sai Vichaar from the website by visiting the whatsnew page. We request your cooperation and regret inconvenience caused to you if any in this regard. In the true spirit of Sai devotion, contributors are requested to remember to suit the content, language, style, and presentation, appropriate to a worldwide readership. It should also be noted that when a section from any material other than their own is quoted or referred to, it is the authors' responsibility to acknowledge the source appropriately. The "Question of the week" for this week is, What is the attitude of Sai devotees towards raising their children? 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 subscribed through our on-line subscribe 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 subscribe 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 unsubscribe option from the menu. If you have problems accessing the web page due to network problems, please send an e-mail to [email protected] with the words "Unsubscribe 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

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