Sai Vichaar For 30th April 09

Sai Vichaar Thursday , April 30, 2009 :: Volume 11, Issue 51 (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. Please do not reply to this email. All replies will be ignored. To contact us please see information at the bottom of this newsletter. IN THIS ISSUE: •

FEATURE OF THE WEEK

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CONTRIBUTED ARTICLE

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DEVOTEES SAY

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PRAYER CLUB

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EXPERIENCE OF DEVOTEES

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QUOTATION OF THE WEEK

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QUESTION OF THE WEEK

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SAI ACTIVITIES

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FROM THE EDITORS KEYBOARD

FEATURE OF THE WEEK: Humble and Modest Baba said, "He (the devotee) should be modest and humble towards all, and worship Me with heart and soul. If he does this, he will get eternal happiness" in Sri Sai Satcharitra Ch.III. If you derive the least benefit from anyone, or should anyone contribute to your happiness in any way, acknowledge his services sincerely and feel grateful to him. Never for a moment think that the benefit of happiness you derived was due to your own Prarabdha and he was only an instrument and did nothing to earn your gratitude. On the contrary, you should feel that he conferred a great happiness. Gratefully remember the help received from him, do not forget it throughout your life even when circumstances have changed and always try to make him happy and be of service to him. Do not hesitate, when necessary, to acknowledge his services to you openly before a large gathering. This will foster mutual love between you and your benefactor and promote happiness and peace; the spirit of making others happy will grow from more to more among people, mutual sympathy and the spirit of service will receive encouragement. Remember that he who cherishes a feeling of gratitude towards his benefactor renders a great service to the world at large; for such an attitude pleases the heart of the benefactor, he feels encouraged, and the spirit of service and benevolence gets strengthened within him. Be grateful and never forget the obligation of your benefactor. (Courtesy: Wavelets of Bliss - by Sri. Hanumanprasad Poddar)

CONTRIBUTED ARTICLE: Bhakthi is not mere emotionalism It would be a gross mistake if you consider Bhakti as merely a stage of emotionalism, while it is actually a thorough discipline and training of one's will and the mind, a sure means to intuitive realization of God Almighty through intense love and affection for Him. It is a means to thorough apprehension of the true knowledge of Reality, beginning from the ordinary form of idol worship right up to the highest form of cosmic realization of your oneness with Him. You can achieve this by following the eleven fundamental factors, which Sri Ramanuja had prescribed. They are Abhyasa or practice of continuous thinking of God; Viveka or discrimination; Vimoka or freedom from everything else and longing for God; Satyam or truthfulness; Arjavam or straightforwardness; Kriya or doing good to others; Kalyana or wishing well-being to all; Daya or compassion; Ahimsa or non-injury; Dana or charity; and Anavasada or cheerfulness and optimism. People put a question: "How can we love God whom we have not seen?" Live in the company of saints. Hear the Lilas of God. Study the sacred scriptures. Worship Him first in His several forms as manifested in the world. Worship any image or picture of the Lord or the Guru. Recite His Name. Sing His glories. Stay for one year in Ayodhya or Brindavan, Chirakut or Pandhapur, Benares or Ananda Kutir. You will develop love for God. Every act must be done that awakens the emotion of Bhakti. Keep the Puja (worship) room clean. Decorate the room. Burn incense. Light a lamp. Keep a clean seat. Bathe. Wear clean clothes. Apply Vibhuti (sacred ash) or Bhasma, and Kumkum on the forehead. Wear Rudraksha or Tulasi Mala. All these produce a benign influence on the mind and elevate the mind. They generate piety. They help to create the necessary Bhava or feeling to invoke the Deity that you want to worship. The mind will be easily concentrated. Practice of right conduct, Satsanga, Japa, Smarana, Kirtan, prayer, worship, service of saints, residence in places of pilgrimage, service of the poor and the sick with divine Bhava, observance of Varnashrama duties, offering of all actions and their fruits to the Lord, feeling the presence of the Lord in all beings, prostrations before the image and saints, renunciation of earthly enjoyments and wealth, charity, austerities and vows, practice of Ahimsa, Satyam and Brahmacharya - all these will help you to develop Bhakti. (Source: Swami Sivananda Saraswathi) DEVOTEES SAY: Pranita It is eight years since I had got married and were eagerly waiting for a little one to arrive. I trusted Baba and knew that he would not let me down. And it happened after so many years after having lost hope Saibaba blessed us and now we are waiting for our bundle of joy to arrive in June. Shree Saibaba I pray and ask you to bless us and the new one who would arrive soon. Bless us so that everything is well and everyone is happy. Padma

Baba just because of your kind grace my sister is going to have a baby soon. It is you who entered into my older sister's womb and coming in the form of a baby to fill my other sister's life with joy. Your ways you only know. We are just instruments in your hands. Koti Koti Pranams. Samhita Bless my pinni. You have taken care of me very well. Please bless her with a child. Suneeta YN Thank you very much Baba for giving me a healthy baby boy. Baba please take care of him and be with us always. PRAYER CLUB: Farah Om Sai Ram, I have become very short tempered due to certain instances in my life and my three year old daughter seems to be at the receiving end of my outbursts. I love her a lot and the last thing I want to do is to hurt her. Give me the strength Sai natha to contain my temper even when she is throwing her tantrums and being difficult. Shalini Please help us in selling our house at best price since we want to give away all our debts within this month. Please help us out from this financial trouble. Please bless us that our PR process gets finished before six months and without any trouble. Baba please bless us. Anbumozhi Please bless us with children immediately as it is already nine years since marriage. I am without a job for the past six months please help me and bless me. Anjana Please make my parents healthy, happy, and strong. Please take care of my parents. Sundaram I am starting to feel unsecured and today was just unbearable. Baba you have graced me with the responsibilities of family too. Please let me take my salary with respect and not with disgrace. Sai devotee Please see that my brother's marriage should go well. Giri Please forgive me for whatever mistakes I had done & show me the way, which I had experienced, under your refuge. Alka Pl help us in clearing our debts as we are deep into it and the more we try to get rid of it the more we get trapped only your grace can help us in clearing our debts. Sanjeev My wife and I had full faith on you and made a humble prayer in your holy feet to shower your blessing/ashirwad to start our new business with honesty. Raghuram Let my refinance go clean, bless us for the India trip, and take us to Shirdi.

EXPERIENCE OF DEVOTEES: Virendra Its being almost more than a year or two, my father wanted to go for the operation to cut two cysts on the skull. I was so worried as if I thought the cyst is due to cancer or what? Whether the operation is possible or not? Whether it would be successful or not? We were facing some financial problems as well. SaiVichaar was something I had going. Through regularly and I promised Baba one day that I will thank Baba through Sai Vichaar if operation goes successful. And by Baba's grace and love, it all happened miraculously. The cysts were removed safely. I received money from my previous company on time. I am very much financially stable now. I am thankful to Baba for all the miracles I have experienced in my life. I know that it is all because of Baba. There are too many experiences I would like to share in SaiVichaar again. I pray to Baba to help all the needy beings who are suffering and have not yet been blessed by Baba. Jai Sai Nath. Shri Satchidanand Sadguru Sainath Maharaj Ki Jai Yamini I feel really gifted to write this experience. Only with lot of patience and trust in you, we can feel your presence. I was having severe earache, I checked with the leading ENT in Chennai he told no problem and to put drops when I get the pain. Due to hot summer, I got infection in my ear again and was suffering for 2 weeks. I was not willing to go to doctor again as they give antibiotic and it does not suit my stomach , I was praying Baba last Wednesday that if my earache stops I will write in Sai vichaar . The next day Thursday and Friday lot of pus and blood oozed out my ear and the pain subsided. Baba be with my kids , husband , parents ,my sisters family ,my in-laws and every soul on this earth and give them good health and peaceful life . Shower your courtesy on everyone. Make me pray you regularly and do my duties well. Thanks Baba, I will never forget you. Create an urge in me to visit Shirdi and get your blessings. QUOTATION OF THE WEEK: "The disciples should have firm faith, backed up by intelligence and if they and patience to these, their spiritual goal will not be distant. Control of breath -- ingoing and outgoing, or Hath-Yoga or other difficult practices are not at all necessary. When the disciples get the above-mentioned qualities, they become ready for further instructions and the Masters then appear and lead them on, in their spiritual path to perfection". - Sri Sai Satcharita QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Q. Can intellect be an obstacle to devotion? A. by Rathnashikamani Intellect is the capacity for rational thought or inference or discrimination. Intellect is a trait of mind by which humans differentiate the bad and good, though we cannot draw a clear line between these two aspects. One man's food is another man's poison. The bad and the good are subjective and influenced by the conditioning of one's own thoughts. Considering the overlapping aspects of good and bad, we can say that devotion is far

from the intellect. Devotion entails from believing. Devotion just happens irrespective of the intellect. Often, intellect looks at the physical phenomenon where the rules of science are applied. At the surface level, modern science is away from the spirituality. But many intellectuals agree that science is a way leading to spirituality. Devotion blossoms when you are wonderstruck by the unfolding science of nature. Devotion is where you are left without any reasoning that is beyond the realms of human intellect. Devotion to scientific thinking ultimately transforms one to believe in the revealing nature of the Creation. Humans are the victims of their own devices. Intellect is a device humans sometimes use it like a double-edged sword. A sword is useful for the good and also for the bad. It depends on who uses it for what purpose according to a situation. Intellect evolves as one grows from infancy to maturity. Intellect consists of thoughts. Every communication is a thought. Devotion is a thought that communes with the supernatural. Devotion can be practiced. Bhakti yoga is the science of devotion. By intense devotion, the so-called intellect vanishes as the thoughts cease and the 'I' ness unifies with the paramatma. SAI ACTIVITIES: Sri Shirdi Sai Temple of Chicago and Suburbs, Illinois, USA Sri Shirdi Sai temple is open daily from 7:00 a.m to 9:00 p.m.(Summer hours). Daily program includes Kakad Arathi at 7 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 [email protected]. 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 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. 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 their website. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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 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 call 647-444-4724. Shri Shirdi Sai Baba Sansthan, Canada -Toronto Devotees 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 York Devotees 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 Jersey Devotees 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 York This 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.

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