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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... 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
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:
Servant Versus Minister
It is said that when the disciple is ready for the Guru, the Guru reveals himself to the disciple. Examples to this effect are abound in Sai stories. While everyone is entitled to Sadguru's grace, it does not come without efforts on part of the disciple. Baba also used the analogy of the tree in blossom to explain how rare are the blessed ones that remain until the end, their pursuit fructified. On a similar note, His Holiness Shri Ganapathi Sachchidananda Swamiji of Sri Datta Peetham explains the will of Sadguru in imparting the wisdom to the persistent few; Tava shishyohamityukte rnate siddhyati shishyataa Prabhunaa hi pradaatavyaa mantritaa dasataathavaa "Just because you claim that you are a disciple, you do not become one. Whether it is the post of a minister or of a soldier, isn't it the king who makes the decision?" The first part of the above Sookti (the moral) tells in no uncertain terms that you do not become a disciple just because you claim to be one. Agreed, it does not confer disciple-hood. What does one need to do to become a disciple? The second part of the Sookti gives the answer. It says 'studentship is not something that you can earn by your efforts. It is something that a Guru has to confer out of compassion'. What should one do to become eligible to receive Guru's compassion? The Sookti does not answer this question directly. Instead, it does so figuratively. How is it done? A king received several applications for the post of a minister and servants. The king selected one candidate for the post of the minister. He also selected a few persons as servants. Being a king, he did not need the approval of anyone to confirm their appointment. No one is above the king. The person should satisfy the king. There are no other criteria here. Similarly, even in the case of a Sadguru, there is no one above Him. To decide if you are fit to become a disciple is his left to Him. No one can question it. You should satisfy Him. Only then, you will become His disciple. Among the many applicants, not all may possess the qualifications required for the post of the minister. Even if they possess minimum qualifications, the king may give them at least the job of servants. If they do not have even minimum qualification, the will simply remain ordinary. Similarly, if you have the ability to satisfy the Guru, the Guru will bestow studentship to you. Although many aspirants have the qualifications, the king can make only one person his minister, and among the remaining applicants, he will chose a few people as servants. Similarly, the Guru bestows studentship only on a few. If you do not have the required qualifications, you will remain a devotee. However, you will be a devotee who is constantly longing to become a disciple by enhancing your qualification. If you do not have this attitude, you will just remain a wanderer, traveling back and forth. This meaning is figuratively implicit in the second part of the Sookti. There are two words - Mantritaa and Daasataa (Mantri=Minister, Daasa=Servant). Here, the word Mantri does not merely mean minister. It also means 'one who is engaged in spiritual pursuit through Mantra'. What does this meaning imply? It implies that the Guru, who has blessed you, knows as to which path is good for you - the path of spiritual pursuit or that of Bhakthi (devotion) and decides accordingly. It also implies that unless the Guru makes some decision, you will not get the status of studentship. You will become a disciple only after the Guru decides. If the Guru becomes compassionate about you, He will show you the path. For the Guru to show you compassion, you must first become eligible. How to earn that eligibility? From the above discussion, we have come to know that the Sookti does not give a direct answer. Let us see were the answer is hidden in the Sookti. By indirectly saying that the Guru will show you either the path of Upaasana (spiritual practice) or Daasya Bhakti (path of surrender and devotion), it gives you a hint about how one can enhance one's eligibility. The previous step to the path of Upasana is Nama Sankeertana. The step preceding the path of surrender/devotion is listening to discourses on mythological scriptures and serving the devotees. To do this, one does not require a formal initiation. Anyone can do this. You must develop a natural interest in these. Once you become interested and begin to make conscious effort to enhance that interest, you will get the eligibility of becoming a disciple. When you get the qualification, you, (who used to serve the devotees) will automatically become eligible to serve the Guru. If you were hitherto engaged in Nama Sankeertana, you will become eligible to step in to the path of Upasana. Either way, you will rise from the level of a devotee to become a disciple. This is the way of satisfying a Guru and becoming his disciple - is the indirect message hidden in the Sookti. By the grace of the Guru, after having acquired the status of a disciple, one should continue to carry on one's pursuit in accordance with the directions of the Guru. One should not forget that the pursuit would go on only as long as one has the blessings of the Guru. One should strive to become eligible to get more blessings. One should also realize that the blessings of the Sadguru are both the means and the fruit of pursuit. Can a minister ever think, "I have become a minister now? Why do I need the king's benevolence?" Even after becoming a minister, his duty continues to be that of pleasing the king. This is the purpose of comparing the status of a disciple to that of the minister. That is, the disciple should continue to do things that please the Guru. This is the hidden meaning of the Sookti. By the grace of Lord Dattatreya, may this message reach your heart and may you all become good disciples of the Sadguru. Jaya Guru Datta
Contributed Article: Carrots and Sticks
Baba said, "There are several ways. One is from here", meaning that He is the Sadguru capable of helping one in the pursuit that a life may have. Having dissolved the myth the surrounded the requirements for a spiritual upliftment, Baba further simplified the path saying, "You can reach God from where ever you are". Baba also cautions the seekers to be vigilant about the wolves and tigers from the outside and those within.
Does the path simplified render the pursuit any simple?
The way Sai guides His children should emphasize one fact of spirituality. There are several ways by which one could pursue the spiritual path. Sai did not set a particular protocol nor did He force upon His believers, a rigid path to traverse upon. Even while some of the Gurus looked at people dissecting straight into their social status, religious standing, and origins, Sai embraced the untouchable, the Moslem, the leper and the likes with equanimity. He had a different way of gauging the merits of those who flocked Him, then and now. Some were outright reprimanded for their behavior while some were reformed without a word spoken. The learned had to wait while Baba welcomed the vagabond. The Antaryami showed the avaricious Madarasi, the path of truth through a peculiar vision. Dasganu's scholarly question was promptly directed to Kaka's maid. While Sai worked internally on some, His outrage was visible in case of others.. While some were offered carrots, yet others had to face the stick.
The communication between Baba and His child is unique and the rarest one of its kind. Let us on this Thursday contemplate on that individual communication we have with Baba. The goal is as universal as the pursuit individual. Perhaps an important aspect of spirituality may lie in understanding the significance of carrots and sticks.
Jayanthi There is one very important thing Baba taught me way back in 2001. In his book, Sai Satcharitra, he mentions the importance of Vishnu sahasranamam. Initially I tried reading the book and found it very difficult to read. Then I started playing the CD while driving to work. So for 30 mins everyday, I would listen to the CD and be at work after that. That really helped because I got all the pronunciations correct. I know Vishnu sahasranamam by heart now. And all I can say is that the Sahasranmam is extremely beneficial and has helped me in many ways and in every aspect of life. Baba has emphasized the importance of that book and I read it almost everyday now and without Baba's guidance and blessings, nothing would be possible for me.
Varalakshmi Suresh Devotee Sai devotee Devotee Devotee Karthik Devotee Devotee Devotee Devotee Jayanti
Quotation of the Week:
"If I take one rupee as Dakshina from anybody I have to return it tenfold to him. I never take anything gratis. I never ask any one indiscriminately. I only ask and take from him whom the Fakir (My Guru) points out. If any one is indebted formerly to the Fakir money is received from him. The donor gives, i.e. sows his seeds, only to reap a rich harvest in future"-Sri Sai Baba
Q. What is the attitude of Sai devotees towards raising their children? A. by Sai Devotee By constantly thinking, praying, following Sai, Children also definitely get rid of ego, develop love to all, patient, service, sacrifices, give up hatred, bad thoughts. By propagating the miracles that are happening because of SAI, provides a positive vibration to all the kith and kin around. By reading Sai Satcharita daily, one could get out of any obstacle that comes the way, which gives us the feeling that whatever happens is ordained by HIM. The place around oneself who is always thinking of Baba definitely brings peace and are able to take things positively. Positive traits are the key for the children who lead their life only with the shelter and blessings of BABA.
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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