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Sai Vichaar 1.Feature of the Week: : Reading for the spiritual benefit 2.Mahasamadhi festivities at Sai Samsthan, USA 3.Experiences of Devotees 4.Devotees Say 5.Sai Activities 6.From the Editor's Keyboard 7.Subscribe to Sai Vichaar 8.Disclaimer From the Editor's Keyboard... The deadline for essay writing activity is round the corner. We request readers to visit the essay pages on this web site, read the essays and give their opinions by participating in the voting on or before 20 September 1998. We are thankful to Shailaja Divakarla for informing us about Sai activities in Sydney, Australia. We would like to direct any of your inquiries on Sai activities of Sydney, Australia to Shailaja Divakarla at rsai@ozemail.com.au. We would like to request Shirdi Sai Centers across the world to forward to us the particulars of Mahasamadhi celebrations and other Sai activities. The feature of the week for this week presents an elaborate section on Mahasamadhi Celebrations on October 1 1998 by Sai Samsthan USA. This is a wonderful opportunity for devotees in the Chicago area to participate in this important event and be blessed. Sai Samsthan USA informs us that there are a limited number of sponsorships available for the Mahasamadhi pooja. Details about sponsoring for the Mahasamadhi pooja and other pooja events of the day are posted elsewhere in this issue. Humbly yours,
The Editor
Disclaimer Sai Vichaar is devoted to the philosophy and teachings of Shri Sadguru Sai Baba of Shirdi, and will take every measure to avoid topics or themes contradicting the same. Sai Vichaar team or the Shirdi Sai Baba web site organization 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.
Mahasamadhi festivities at Sai Samsthan, USA Sai Samsthan USA is the result of Sadguru Sainath’s grace and the diligent efforts of His devotees. From a very humble beginning in a rental place in suburban Chicago, the Sai Samsthan has recently acquired a spacious lot in Warrenville, Illinois and Sai Mandir is currently housed here. Sai Mandir is open everyday and the daily activities including four arthis are duly performed. In addition, monthly pooja is scheduled every month that includes Sai abhishek, ashtothara name pooja, Bhajans and kirtans and mahaprasad. Sai Samsthan, USA also schedules prayers and celebrations in connection with festivals such as Sri Rama Navami and Shri Ganesh Chaturthi. Sadguru Sainath attained samadhi at the age of 80 years on a Vijaya Dasami day in 1918. Sai Samsthan, USA has planned Mahasamadhi event in a way befitting the occasion. These celebrations are scheduled on Vijaya Dasami day, October 1, 1998. Another significance of this day is that it falls on a Thursday, a day dear to the Sadguru. The celebrations are planned at Shri Shirdi Sai Baba mandir during morning hours and at Ramble Tree Clubhouse in the evening. The schedule of events in the morning include Kakada Arti, Mahasamadhi Ashtothara maha kalasa abhishek, Shri Shakthi Havan, Shri Sai Ashtothara pooja, Shri Lalitha ashtothara pooja, Madhyahna arti, and Mahaprasad. The evening session includes Dhoop Arti, Mahasamadhi pooja Ekadasa phala rasaabhishekam, shej arti, and mahaprasad. The details of both morning and evening sessions are posted here. Sai Samsthan, USA has created a unique opportunity for devotees to participate in these celebrations. Devotees can take part in the pooja by attending and sponsoring the events. A limited number of sponsorships are available for Mahasamadhi pooja. Each of the sponsor would be presented with sanctified pooja kalasa which can be later kept in their respective pooja mandirs/ shrine. Sai Samsthan requests devotees to take part in this occasion and be blessed. Sai Samsthan USA is a non-profit organization and the US tax ID for this organization is 31-152595.
I had a wonderful experience yesterday of how Baba draws people to Himself. I had offered a friend of mine to take her and her mother to the Sai worship on Sunday (yesterday). On the previous day, I informed her about it. However, later my daughter became sick and her fever began to rise. I thought at night I would cancel the program the following day and thought of ringing my friend the next morning to tell her about the same. But in my heart I was not decided because my friend has polio and she could not drive to the mandir and in 5 days she was leaving for a holiday in India. I wanted to wish her well before she left and I felt seeing Baba in the mandir would do her good. The next morning, my daughter's fever subsided fully and she was running around ! So I decided to go. I picked them up and went. In the worship, the last segment is the reading of one experience of any devotees. Yesterday the story was about how a lady gave her friend who had polio, a locket of Baba to wear and how the former lady miraculously had got her leg cured, could jump and run, and had got married !! It was so apt. It was like Baba saying that to my friend. My friend and her mother were stunned. Later in the car, I felt the whole story fitted exactly except the locket given to that lady. So I immediately took the Baba's locket that my daughter wears and gave it to my friend wishing her well in her trip. They were so pleased. Shailaja Divakarla, Sydney, Australia
Shailaja Divakarla
Mr. Kishore Asthana's reply to Manish's letter was very appropriate. Viewing us as the soul, and having a body and mind as opposed to ourselves as body and mind having a soul was very enlightening. I thank him for that. The comments he made were so right and apply to all of us because we also come into such situations, although not in such extremes as Manish's case. Just a little about news here. Sai devotees have got together and started a common worship here in Sydney, Australia. There is, to our knowledge, no common worship area or temple for Shirdi Sai in Australia. The Grace of Baba, and the dedicated efforts of some Sai Devotees started this center. We used to have bhajans and get-togethers in some homes previously. Now we have a beautiful hall where we get together every Sunday for 2 hours. We also have plans to build a temple for Baba here. Perhaps at that stage we may need the help of Sai temples elsewhere. We sing bhajans, share experiences and distribute prasad each Sunday. I have passed on this web site to several of my friends here and they are very happy about it. I hope to share a few personal and family experiences soon, so others can get more Faith in Baba as I have got through those of others. Ravinder Thota
I am in great distress since I landed with my family as an immigrant in Canada. Baba has been very graceful at least by providing me with odd jobs on part-time basis to support my family. I am sustaining all the hardships in His faith. This month I am supposed to complete my stipulated number of working hours for the Employment Insurance. I wish to go in for EI to pursue my computer course and be in the job market at least by next year. I do not have enough funds to pursue my studies. Hence, I want to apply to the HRDC to approve my request for EI and sufficient funds for the Computer course. Pray Sai Baba earnestly to shower His blessing to overcome this hardship. Kindly let us know how we can install Saibaba on the desktop/screen saver.
Shirdi Sai Statue at Anand Ashram, Jakarta Utara, Indonesia Anand Ashram is located in Jakarta Utara, Indonesia. This Ashram is a center for meditation and holistic healing. Shri Anand Krishna of the Ashram informs us of the need for a marble statue of Sri Sai - for placement and worship in the Ashram. The marble statue is to be imported from India and the cost of this project is about Rs.104, 000 (2600 USD, approximately). Devotees interested in making donations should direct their inquiries to: Shri Anand Krishna
Sai Center in Sydney Australia Shirdi Sai Center in Sydney, Australia is held every Sunday between 4.15 PM to 6 PM at 412-416 Liverpool Road (formerly the Australian Centre for Languages premises), Strathfield, (enter from Hill street).
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