Mysticism is not a matter of speculation or theorizing about doctrinaire theses but a living experience, which alone leads to cosmic awareness or God realization. Religious life transforms itself from the ritual and cultural to a scientific and objective method accessible to all mankind without any distinctions. God has no religion or creed or label. Sages, saints, prophets, seers and religious leaders of different levels traverse this universe at periodic intervals and perform the tasks assigned to them by the Lord towards advancement of the society as a whole. These souls are at various stages of spiritual hierarchy and execute the specific roles assigned to them. After performing their roles, these souls return to their original state and continue on their spiritual journey.

Lord sends down the Mystic Masters also termed as Perfect Masters representing Him in an unbroken chain to keep the flame alive. These mystic masters come from the apex of spiritual hierarchy in the cosmic manifestation of the Supreme Lord. All other hierarchies of creation are placed below that of the mystic masters whose status and position accords with that of the Lord Himself.

They do not form religions nor advocate any specific doctrines. They cater to the individual needs of whoever is destined to turn to them. They solve the problems of each individual soul, as they alone are able to fathom their needs and capacities. They show to mankind on how to live in this world by practice. Their very lives serve as examples. The anecdotes and stories that they tell are loaded with gems of knowledge. The mystic masters will guide and help any disciple in spiritual advancement not only as far as the disciple can go but even to the same level as they have gone provided the price is paid.

It is said that there are ten stages in the spiritual hierarchy. The mystic masters work in all the planes of this hierarchy. They effortlessly traverse in the various planes and in doing so help all forms of life, animate or inanimate, in this universe. Though they appear to be physically present in one geographic location, they can move about to any where in the universe at the same instant. They are an extension of the God's arm. There is no difference in the Perfect masters and God. Their will is the God's will.

Though the mystic masters do not possess any material treasures yet the whole of the cosmos is under their control and they can grant anyone any wish provided it has the sanction of the Supreme Lord. The masters quite unobtrusively seem to understand, sympathize with and be totally one with all that exists in the cosmos whether man, animal or vegetation. They are in total harmony with nature. Where such total harmony exists, these perfect masters acquire a power over physical nature, which functions under their control. The laws that govern higher nature give them power over lower nature.

Being of infinite compassion and love, these perfect masters are beyond the opposite pairs of love and hate, life and death, food and hunger, etc. They approach everything in this universe as the same. Their respect for both animate and inanimate things comes from their understanding of this cosmos at a very different level. The perfect masters have only one mission in life and that is to affect a tie up between the individual soul and the Lord, the creator. It looks as if the Supreme Lord - the King of Kings - locks Himself out of His palace and comes down in a human garb of tattered clothes to masquerade as a man among men. Even though they may appear poor and humble, the richest and the most powerful of earthly monarchs would shudder before their compulsive and overwhelming personalities. Such a Mystic master of the highest order is Sai Baba of Shirdi, who even today guides and benefits the lives of millions of devotees who are destined to reach him. Are you one of them?

(Compiled from writings of Sri B.K.Narayan and talks of Guruji Sri C.B.Satpahty)
Back to Menu

Contributed Article: Baba's delight, lighting lamps!

The study of Saibaba becomes incomplete if one misses the portion of His immense love of lighting lamps. Lighting of lamps has a lot of significance in all faiths in general and to Hindus in particular. A lamp apart from spreading light in dark night/space stands as a symbol of enlightenment in Hindu faith. Thus any worship starts with lighting lamps .In the light of a lamp a devotee beholds the idol of the Lord in a temple. In the realm of spirituality, a lamp symbolizes the imperishable Atman.

Baba when started living in the masjid, used to light lamps every night by collecting oil from the village merchants. He could not stop His most loved habit even on the memorable historic night when the merchants denied the oil. Baba with His yogic power turned water to oil and lit the lamps to the wonder of the secretly watching merchants. After that wondrous event, the people of Shirdi, and slowly the rest of the world started looking at Baba with an eye of admiration and devotion.

Later Baba started lighting lamps as Nandadeep in Lendi garden. Until date, Nandadeep continues to shine in Lendi. On one occasion, a devotee named Dengale brought a small wooden plank of few inches width as a gift. Baba tied that plank to the roof of the masjid with feeble rags and to the amusement and astonishment of the onlookers used to sleep on it by keeping four lamps at four corners. In fact, the people watching this unusual feat could not fix the exact moment of Baba's jump.

Also in the early days of Baba's stay in Shirdi, when the villagers dug under the neem tree, they found a cellar in the light of four burning lamps. Baba told that was His Gurusthan and there He served His Guru for twelve years. It is no wonder that Baba is continuing lighting the lamps of wisdom, devotion, faith, and patience in the hearts of millions. Blessed are those who find their path in the light shown by Baba!

(Contributed by Syamasundar Davuluri, Houston, TX)
Back to Menu

Experiences of Devotees:

Dwarakanath
I am diabetic for last 10 years. I don't take medicine. I only have udi and diet. My sister is also diabetic, being too fat she cannot go for walk or exercise regularly. About three months back she had to undergo operation and doctor postponed the same because of high sugar. She was administered insulin for control prior to operation. She was ok after operation, but doctor advised her for regular insulin injection twice a day. This went on for a month. I regularly recite Visnhusaharanama and Sai namasmaran for 1000 times. One day Saibaba appeared in my dream and told me to tell my sister to do Sai namasmaran for 1000 to 3000 times and He will take care of her. I told the same to my sister. She is also Sai devotee and she started the namasmaran from next day. After three days she started feeling too weak so she consulted the docter. He checked her sugar and it was too low so he advised her to stop insulin injection and go for medicine, but her weakness persisted. After week or so she approached the doctor for check-up and he was surprised to see the level of sugar in her blood. He advised her to stop all medicine and go for regular check-up. Now it is more than six months and she is absolutely free from diabeties. Sai Ram.
Back to Menu

Devotees say...

Jothish
Ater reading all the devotees messages I like to share my experience with you all. Whenever any problem occurs to me I pray to my Baba to help me and after few minutes Baba's photo will appear in front of me. One day while I was going to exam I prayed to Baba that I want to do my exam well, suddenly what happen one small boy holding Baba's photo was crossing me. When I saw the photo I felt so happy and I did the well in the exam.

Juhy
I really want to tell this to everybody because I am so happy. I waited for the baby for 9 years and almost planned for adoption. Also my dad was very ill and everybody thought he will die. I cried with Baba's photo in my hands and I wished for my dad's health and life. Trust me the miracle took place and I have been blessed with both the precious gifts, my pregnancy and my father's health.

Sai devotee
Thankyou Baba for taking care of us in Canada for the past four years, and helping us through all the tough times. Please continue showering Your blessings on us so that we can always be on the right path. Koti Koti Pranaams.

Satya
I am writing my experience in Sai Vichaar as I promised Baba. I have got help from Baba several times in my daily life but those times and incidents I have forgotten. Now for the last four-five years I am getting one problem after another in my health. On Thursdays mostly I am at the intensive care. I have been very angry that Baba who is said to be generous and kind gives me problem and especially on Thursdays. My faith started wavering. I went to India and said to Baba that I shall read Sai Satcharitra if I don`t fall sick. Lo! I again was in intensive care, was near death. After a very difficult time, I came back home. I think, one has to go through one`s karma. No one can do anything about it. I am writing now about times when Sai Baba has helped me. I am afraid if I don`t write I may be punished. I have read Satcharitra a few times and even read now one chapter daily. May Sai help all who have problems.
Back to Menu

Prayer Club:

Mini
Baba what have I done that all is breaking on me. Not a day goes when I shudder to think 'now what next'. Baba please show me the light and give me some peace of mind. My problems are so many that I can't count them in the mail. I know You know it all. Please Baba help me. I am failing to cope with them anymore.

Prakash
Baba please help me again as You have helped me last time after my prayer. Please help me to come out of the mental agony. I would like to come to Shirdi after this acute period of depression is over. Only You can help me.

Govindasami
Baba I know You know my plight and plea. I have been in two years of turbulence, hurt and destruction. I ask You swami to please help me and guide me in the right direction. Please help me Baba. I am tired of being alone. Please bring my husband to me and please intervene in my life please swami please.

Sai devotee
Baba, we have always surrendered ourselves to Your feet. Please help us settle soon. Things around us are not taking shape, please show us a ray of hope in life. We leave everything to You.

Seema
Baba, I lost my job in 2005, I am not getting my Green Card due to various delays. My life is still not coming into track on 44th year. I do not have any children. Baba, help me please. You know how much I am devoted to You. You have helped me in life. But Baba, please help me fulfill my desires.

Anamika
Oh kind Sai a thousand namaskars to You. Oh deva why has he not contacted me as yet. You alone know what we both have undergone and now when I need his support he is ignoring me. Oh Sai I am reading the Sai Satcharitra and completing it in one week, please let him come back to me. Kindly bless all Sai devotees, thank you for taking care of us, please guide and protect us against all evil, shower Your blessings on us forever.

Pratibha
Jai Sai Baba, please Baba look after my mother. You know she is in lots of pain. Baba show Your mercy Baba. Give her relief please look after her. We all are worried. I don't need to say anything. You know it all. Please Oh Sai bless her.

Sai devotee
Baba koti koti pranam. Thanks for helping me every time. Baba, please help my husband to settle his business and make him Your devotee. Show him Your miracle so he should come to bhajan. Baba without Your blessings nobody could come to You. Baba my parents should come to Canada this summer and my husband should attend them nicely. Baba make my husband realize that now he should worry about his own family. Baba plese help me getting my job, you know every thing. Shower Your blessings to my family. Jai Sai Ram.

Sai devotee
Baba, my humble pranams to You. Swami, You know the kind of problems and struggle I am going through. If not for You I do not know where I would be. Baba once again I am in lots of problems, husbands job, criticism of others and so on. I don't have to mention them as You know all. Sai, please help me overcome them successfully with Your grace.
Back to Menu

Quotation of the Week:

The question arises, "Who is Sainath? How should we measure Him? Can we really? Let us not try. Let us surrender to Him, for He is the Ultimate".-Shri C.B.Satpathy in Shirdi Sai Baba and other Perfect Masters.
Back to Menu

Question of the Week:

Q. How can one be consistent with their devotion to Sri Saibaba?

A by Geeta

I have come in contact with Baba since the last one and half year and I really feel so nice after coming in contact with Baba. He makes me take things, even if it is very serious, very easy and solve them comfortably. But sometimes, when I want something very desperately and Baba does not give it to me, I feel Baba is not with me, but then I feel probably Baba has something else in mind for me. I then forget about my want and follow Baba's instructions. Afterwards, I think so much I have told Baba that He does not love me, or that I am not His child and hence is not taking care of me, this inconsistency in devotion is probably with everyone. Forgive me Baba for this. Bless me always.
Back to Menu

Sai Activities:

Shirdi Sai Temple of Chicago and Suburbs, Illinois, USA
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 maildrop@saibaba.org.

Shri Saibaba Mandir, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Saibaba activities in Minneapolis were conducted at Shirdi Saibaba Prayer center since the year 2002. Now, with the grace and blessings of Baba and the support of devotees, a new Saibaba Mandir has begun to function at 1835 Polk St NE, Minneapolis from July 11th 2006. Please visit www.hamaresai.org for all details.

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 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 saibandhu@yahoo.com. 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 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, 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.
Back to Menu

You may subscribe to receive the newsletter by e-mail.

Fill out your e-mail address and hit the subscribe button: