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Sai Vichaar 01.Feature of the Week 02.Contributed Article 03.Experiences of Devotees 04.Devotees Say 05.Sai Activities 06.Prayer Club 07.Quote of the Week 08.Question of the Week 09.Subscribe to Sai Vichaar 10.Email Newsletter to a friend 11.Submit Articles to Sai Vichaar 12.Un-Subscribe Sai Vichaar 13.From the Editor's Keyboard 14.Disclaimer From the Editor's Keyboard... Please note that Sai Vichaar is only yet another global platform on the electronic medium for sharing information on the life and message of Sadguru Sainath of Shirdi. Sai Vichaar does not profess to endorse any particular thought, nor will judge or reflect the opinions expressed by individual contributors. The "Question of the week" for this week is Q. Who did Sri Saibaba refer to saying, "This was a true devotee of Mine" and why? Humbly Yours, The Editor
Disclaimer 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 saibaba.org is not responsible for the opinions expressed by individual contributors.
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Feature of the week:
Reading for the spiritual benefit
Reading of scriptures and spiritual work should not be undertaken with a view to criticize the author or attempting to know the logical explanation behind every word said and the incident depicted. This is because the realization of God cannot be explained by logic or analysis but by strong faith and a constant yearning. Shri Sai Satcharitha is a boundless treasury of wisdom and Sai devotees undertake reading of this holy book all over the world. While it is a practice to perform a saptah (complete the reading in one week), it is also said that Shri Sai Satcharitha reaps enormous spiritual benefit if read on a regular basis every day. Shri B. Hanumantha Rao, the author of "Sri Sai Anusaranamu" in Telugu, wrote, "While reading a holy book, it is not appropriate to question the qualifications of the author or the way its contents are presented. It is important to pay attention to what is said regardless of who said it. It is important to realize the truth in the sayings rather than attempting to apply one's rationale to the narration. The message of God is timeless and the way it is delivered and perceived varies from individual to individual. What is needed of a reader is the realization that he is the benefactor of riches that humans cannot fathom". This would automatically make a reader obedient and impart the humility necessary for spiritual growth.
Contributed Article: Fruits of Action
Deeds and the results of one's deeds are fundamental aspects of the karmic cycle. Once this "every action has a reaction" phenomenon is understood, the limitedness of the individual's role in the bigger realm of things should become clear. However, as it may seem due to the ignorance, the craving for the ownership is an irresistible eventuality. It is as involuntary as the heartbeat. How could one yield to the cycle of action and reaction, and yet contemplate on what the Sadguru is capable of giving? Baba said, it's Viveka (wisdom) that leads one to Vairagya (detachment). It is the "stateless state" that could only be perennial. It is possible only by surrendering the "self" to the Sadguru.
The following is an interesting passage from Sri Ganapathi Sachchidananda Swami ji's "Bhakthi Maala". The fruits of action and the experiencing of those fruits in this world are dependent on the effort we put in. If one works hard in the fields, one gets good harvest. But the fruits of action, like the grains that one grows, will be spent after some time. To replenish it, one will have to work hard again. Happiness in the other world also depends upon the amount of merit earned by us in this world. More the effort, more the merit, and more the happiness. With more and more effort, one might become eligible to go to Vaikuntha or Kailasa or Brahma loka. But it must be remembered that even this merit is like a bag of grains. It will be exhausted sooner or later. In this world, there is a possibility to preserve a part of the harvest for producing crops again. In other words, here it is possible to experience happiness as well as to strive hard to earn merit. It is not so in the other world. There, it is not possible to earn Punya while enjoying the fruits of merits earned previously. One will have to experience happiness completely, exhaust his merit, and then return to this world to earn more Punya.
By this, we can realize that the happiness of the other world is not only temporary, but is also troublesome to us because it drains us of our merit and sends us here to strive hard again and again. When this knowledge sets in, you will automatically lose interest in the pleasures of this and the other world. The detachment should be so strong that even if someone offers you heaven, you should turn it down and look upon it with disgust. To reject a cake when the stomach is full does not constitute Vairagya. Real Vairagya is that state in which an individual shows no desire for any sort of pleasure - here or hereafter.
Yes, it is possible only by surrendering the "self" to the Sadguru.
Navind Beehary T Aravind Krishna When we went to the hospital the doctors there told us that my father has had a severe heart attack and needs to be fitted with a temporary pace maker. By this time we were fully confident that Baba is with us and that he will take care of us. So we just left all things to his guidance and just did everything as per the doctor's advice. Just after two days the temporary pace maker was removed as the heart started functioning normally. The normal tests such as echo cardiogram and angiogram was taken and three blocks with small percentages were identified. All other things were normal. The doctor stated that the blocks are only to normal percentages and no serious immediate action is required. Just my father can lead his normal life with reduced pace (due to age factor). So my father was discharged from hospital in six days. Now he is at home taking rest, walking twice a day, eating normal foodleading his normal life. Thank you Baba. You have always been with me and my family. This time you had strongly shown us your presence. Thank you for helping my father recover from his heart attack quickly. Devotee Devotee Devotee of Sai Baba Devotee Anusha Hema Jaishankar Devotee Tejal pandya Monica Khatri
Quotation of the Week:
"The one namaskar offered with love and humility is enough"-Sri Saibaba
Q. Who did Sri Saibaba refer to saying, "This was a true devotee of Mine" and why? Megha came to Sri Saibaba at the behest of Rao Bahadur Sathe, another eminent devotee of Baba. An orthodox Brahmin, Megha was first reluctant to bow in front of someone who he was told was a Muslim. Upon Sathe's insistence Dada Kelkar, Sathe's father-in-law, introduced him to Baba. Baba roared at the sight of the new visitor, "Kick out the rascal". Why would Baba, the absolute love incarnate react in such a belligerent manner? Only, Baba would know. Megha, agitated after the unwelcome, went ahead on pilgrimage for over a year, came back to Shirdi, and stayed there permanently until his death. Satcharitha quotes "Sai Baba's help to Megha was not through any oral instruction. He worked upon Megha internally (mentally) with the result that he was considerably changed and benefited". This devout person, looked at Baba as his Shiva, worshipped Baba, as he would worship Shiva, including the rituals performed on Shiva. Baba confirmed Megha's devotion by installing the image of Shiva in the wada where Megha was put up. Megha had the unique habit of worshipping Baba in person in masjid as well as worshipping His portrait in the wada. What a wonderful experience that should have been! Sri Sai's reaction during Megha's first visit indicates that Sadguru's way of transforming is not always pleasant, like bitter medicine, and sometimes it could be even violent! On the other hand, Megha was only being truthful to his own convictions about orthodoxy and tradition. Yet, once his love and interest in Saibaba was kindled his own will and resolve gave in to the higher power of Sadguru, and Baba became his own personal God. By worshipping Baba as Shiva, Megha continued to stick to his conviction of experiencing Baba as Shiva. Baba allowed Megha to worship him as he chose without "unsettling him in the least", as mentioned in Satcharitha. One can discern from Megha's life the importance of being truthful to one's own convictions, yet be flexible to be worked upon by Sadguru. The true experience of Sadguru for anyone begins from being truthful about his or her own experiences and convictions. When Megha passed away, Baba was visibly sad, tears rolled down his eyes. Baba lamented that Megha was a true devotee of his and ordered at His own expense the traditional food distribution at Megha's funeral.
Shirdi Sai Temple of Chicago and Suburbs, Illinois, USA Sri Saibaba Mandir, Minneapolis, MN Sri Shirdi Sai Baba Temple of Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas Shirdi Sai Temple of New England, Boston Area Shirdi Sai Center in Bay Area, CA Shirdi Saibaba temple, Los Angeles, CA Saibaba Temple, Columbus, Ohio Shirdi Sai bhajans every Thursday at Maitland, Florida Sri Shirdi Sai Temple of Austin, TX Shirdi Sai Mandir, Dulles, VA Shirdi Sai Mandir, Toronto
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