In Sri Sai Satcharitha, the episode of devotee Sapatnekar is very interesting. The person who ridiculed Baba during his earlier days resorted to His feet in pursuit of peace of mind. He lost his only son to a disease and reached Shirdi to take Baba’s darshan. When he went near and prostrated himself and placed a coconut before Baba with devotion, the latter at once cried out "Get away." How could Baba welcome him with such harsh words! Shri Hemadpanth well depicted the plight of Sapatnekar in earning Sainath’s love. Did Sai really admonish Sapatnekar?

Later, Sainath referred to him as His "Yaara", meaning lover? What a blessing for Sapatnekar! Baba knows past, present, and the future. His assurance that He would protect and care for His devotees is the perfect truth. Falling to the vice of myth, the disciple always feels that he chooses his guru. But, it may be noted that devotees who were not to be associated with Sai, could never do so. On the other hand, those who did not want to bow to His magnanimity were convinced to do so. One such example is Shri Upasani Maharaj. It may also be observed in the present day that those who were to find their association with other realized souls are not to be found with Sai, while those who were in His fold in the past could never really run away from Him! It is also to be noted that Baba said that the message is the same and the messengers are different. Those who think otherwise will eventually realize this truth.
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Experiences of Devotees

Srikanth Bhandari
Dear Sai devotees, on September 1, 1999, my car driven by my friend was completely damaged beyond usage on US41 in a bad accident. When I received the news, I just prayed that no one should be injured and just thought Sai would take of everything. I am very thankful to Lord Sai for bestowing his blessings. Everyone is safe. This is the first car of my life and I got it just 2 months ago. However, I feel Sai has avoided the biggest other accidents & losses in life. I have His blessings with me. Om Sai ram!!

Rahul, USA
I have been subscribing your newsletters and receive your emails every Thursday for quite some time. I just thought that I should email you regarding my past experience since I also faced some difficulties regarding my education but thanks to SAIRAM everything ended up fine... I was a student in one of the universities here for one year and had come on full financial aid and just two months back I heard that my funding for my remaining years was uncertain. I was helpless since there was no way I could support myself. So, I decided to apply to other Universities to continue my education. Actually, the deadlines for applications for fall semester was crossed and I was very late but since there was no other option I decided to apply .I kept firm faith in Sadguru and read SaiSatcharita in a week once and then after a gap of few weeks again read it in two days. There were no miracles in my case as soon as I read it but I anxiously waited and hoped and believed strongly that Sai will fulfill my wishes. It so happened that just one week before the start of fall semester, I received admission with full financial aid from not one, but four Universities and that too all in the space of 3 days... In fact, I had the luxury of choosing between these Universities and I also got admitted to a better department. (Different from what I had been presently doing). Now, I have resumed my studies and due to HIS grace everything is fine here and I'm really enjoying this place. I guess what this again emphasizes are the two factors one must have: Faith and Patience...
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Devotees say...

Pinky Garg
This is in response to brother Siddesh's question, Baba says "if someone says God is "NOWHERE", tell them GOD IS NOW HERE". Without God's will even a leaf of a plant cannot move and one cannot even breathe without HIS Grace. God is Air that keeps one alive, God is Heat that gives one energy, and God is LOVE that heals. God is in everyone, everywhere and within us, it is matter of having faith. But don't argue with that person, we can only pray to our Lord Sai to guide these people towards the right direction and give them wisdom to discriminate between permanent and temporary things.

Thank you SAI VICHAAR, I am so addicted to this letter, I start looking for it on each Wednesday from 5:00 p.m. California times as soon as I come back from my office. It gives a great feeling like I got letter from my Beloved Baba. May our Lord Sai increase our devotion each minute and keep all of us in HIS LOTUS FEET.

Indira Pothuri
I am wondering if you know by any chance information about the Sai Baba temple at Mylapore, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. It is one of the oldest Sai Baba temples in south. Is there a way to contact them online or thro' email address. I appreciate your help.

Shankari
Kindly suggest as to what to do with such type of frightening email where one is threatened of dire consequences if one fails make 30 copies of the mail and distribute it to friends? I think this kind of act should be discouraged? I am scared; tell me if I don't do it, will Baba be angry with me?

Subhash Mujumdar, Singapore
Dear Siddesh, SaiRam. If somebody does not believe in GOD please do not try to convince him or her about God. Because for those who believe in God no proof is required and for those who do not believe in God no proof is sufficient. God Himself will take care of such people. Leave them to their fate.

Mekala Srinivasa Rao
Thank you Pooja Walia for sharing your experience with Sai. It really purified my soul to the core for a fraction of second. Thank you very much. Dear Siddesh, if you can convince him/her, you try. That's good. How successful you are in that depends on him (whether he is interested in supporting his argument of nonexistence of god or in knowing the truth from you/ from any one who believes in god). For example, if you know your physiology then I don't have to tell you that you have to feed yourself periodically. How did you know either it is through science or through some one. Both are nothing but the same, an experience/experiment. If you don't trust this, you can try this experiment. Even if you don't, you will experience it (hunger). So everybody is destined to experience the truth in some point of life cycle, where his/her journey towards god starts. That point is again decided by god when is he/ she supposed to know him (GOD)/ realizing the self. That opportunity is provided to him/her through either some of events in their life/ or a person like you. If you can't convince. Don't worry, Lord Sainath is there to take care of, that is his responsibility.

Sheena Bhatia, California, USA
Jai Sai Ram. I have a doubt in my mind so I thought let me ask everyone. Recently I received a copy of a message saying that send Xeroxed copies of the same to 30 other people and SAI BABAJI will bless us and something good will happen .it also cited some examples of a person winning a lottery etc. after he sent these messages. My question is that isn't such a thing unfair. I mean that will SAI BABAJI bless those who send those copies furthur. HE is our friend and our Sadguru and HE doesn't want that His name should be used like this and this is what I feel. But I have received 3 copies of the same message from which I have been keeping Sai’s pictures and throwing the rest of the message. My results have to came out soon and I did not like these messages, which make us superstitious. I have faith in BABA and I know He will help me just like he helps everyone. What is your opinion regarding such messages that are so disturbing? JAI SAI BABAJI KI.

Sandeep, Washington DC, USA
I have newly moved to Washington D.C and am very interested in knowing If there are any Sai activities that go on here and also if there is a Sai temple.

MRK, Phoenix, AZ
This note is in connection with the article you published regarding late Sri B.V.Narasimha Swamiji. I just received a book written by Smt. Nirmala, wife of my brother late Sri Ramagopal. This book is called Shri Sai Bhakthula Anubhavamulu written by her in Telugu, a translation of Sri Swamiji's English book on Experiences of Devotees. It is mentioned that they also publish Swamiji’s English book. This book is priced Rs 60/and the English version is Rs 35/. These books and some other books are mentioned to be available at AKHANDA SAI NAMA SAPTAHA SAMITI (REG) B3/F-15 Kripa COMPLEX Anandbagh, Hyderabad-500047 AP INDIA.
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Prayer Club

Randy Kemp
I am a devotee of Shirdi Sai Baba. I need a pray for finding a new job, as mine ends in two weeks.

Prasad, A.V.S., Abu Dhabi - U.A.E.
Sai Ram. I am working in Abu Dhabi for the past 3 1/2 years as a Secretary in a Japanese Firm. My friend Sundar is staying with me and also working here for nearly 2 years. For the past seven months he is not getting his salary paid from the company. I support him to a certain extent with my salary for his food etc. I request you pray for my friend to get his salary paid and relieve him from the tension.
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Question Of The Week

How does a Sai devotee define orthodoxy?

Havovi Medora, New Jersey, USA
Orthodoxy and Sai Baba do not go together. I state that there was nothing orthodox about him. He talked of the great respect man must have of the fairer sex. In the Satcharita when Nanasaheb was smitten by the beauty of a veiled woman, Baba (who misses nothing) told him not to be embarrassed but to admire her beauty. The Lord gave us beauty to admire. Baba pooh-poohed orthodox doctrines and customs and made people realize that life was simple and not complicated. All of these orthodox ideas contained in various religions are manmade.

Baba never believed in fasting, penance, sacrifice. In fact narrow-minded people changed in his company and became more accepting. Being his ardent devotee, there is nothing orthodox about me. I have learned to tolerate, be more open to ideas and views, and move with the times.

This is what is so beautiful about Baba, the simple way in which we are made to love him, no demands, no foolish or unnecessary ceremonies. Just a clear realization to the path of salvation, a helping hand, with no restrictions or demands. Bow to Sri Sai; peace be to all.

A Sai Devotee, Vancouver, B.C, Canada
Sai Ram! "Orthodoxy" literally means 'marked by conformity to doctrines or practices especially in religion that are held as right or true by some authority or tradition of the old' or 'characterizing the dominant or officially approved form of something'. Let us see how we could interpret the same, as Sai devotees or followers. Shri Hemadpant refers to 'orthodox' and 'orthodoxy' a few times in his Shri Sai Satcharita. In Chapter IV, under 'Mission of the Saints' a reference is made to the mission of Lord, and the Sages and Saints. For instance, when --- the orthodox fail in their religious practices, --- then do Saints appear and try to set matters right by their words and action.

In praising Sai's wonderful incarnation (Chapter VII), and the inexplicability of whether Sai is a Hindu or a Muslim, Shri Hemadpant talks about how the best of Brahmins and Agnihotris, leaving aside their orthodox ways, prostrated at His Feet. In that context, specific experiences are related to an orthodox Agnihotri Brahmin of Nasik, by name Moolay Shastri and Megha, a simple and illiterate Brahmin and a devotee of Shiva. Both of them learning that Sai might be a Muslim hesitated to offer their prayers. Sai removed their ignorance (orthodoxy) and they both became Sai's devotees. Shri Vasudevanand Saraswati, known as Shri Tembye Swami, who called Sai as his brother, maintained an Agnihotra (Sacred fire) day and night, in Orthodox fashion. Sai Baba kept His Agnihotra, i.e., Dhuni ever burning in the Masjid. Like an Agnihotri, Sai kept His sacred fire alive throughout His life.

Sai, when Dada Kelkar, an orthodox Brahmin avoided to taste or see when He was asked by Sai to check if the mutton pulava had enough salt (Chapter XXXVIII). Sai told Dada to "Draw out your arm and taking a ladle, put some quantity in the dish without caring for your orthodoxy and without blustering". With love, Sai Baba pinched Dada. But, no Saint or Guru will ever force his orthodox disciple, to eat forbidden food, and defile (pollute) himself thereby.

The above examples suggest that Sai, Himself was not orthodox in His Beliefs and actions. However, He respected the orthodox practices of His devotees. Similarly, it is left to us whether to follow orthodox practices or not, but it is important that we respect 'orthodoxy' of others. The message can be extended to learn how we should treat and behave with followers of other religions as well. What is important is to pursue our quest for self-realization, maintaining shradha and saburi and pray for the ability to see God in all living creatures and non-living things. That will let us earn to choose the level of 'orthodoxy' that is best suitable for us.
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Sai Activities

Sri Gopalarao Ravada, Hyderabad, India
With an aim to serve SAI and Saibandhus across the Globe, two sites titled - SHIRIDI SAI LEELAMRUT BHANDAGAAR and SAI DARBAR were introduced on the INTERNET. The love and affection showered by visitors to the two sites have given us enough courage and strength to shift one of the sites SAI DARBAR to a newly purchased location with the address. http://www.saidarbar.com
Saibandus may kindly note the change of address and continue to pass on their valuable suggestions and comments for further improvements. A short feature titled - Sai's life History was incorporated in the month of August 1999 with the kind courtesy extended by Shri Aluru Gopala Rao. As usual two experiences of Sai Banisa and 25 messages from his Diary pages find their normal place. Page of SAI'S PHILOSOPHY comes to an end with this month. We intend to start two new pages titled - MESSAGES FOR LIFE from the Diary pages of SAI BANISA and also SAI CALENDAR from the valuable collection of articles by SAI BHAKTHA LATE SHRI.M.B.NIMBALKAR. The calendar will give devotees a list of chronological events from the year 1838 to the yearl9l8 that are directly related with SHIRIDI SAI BABA. It is our earnest desire to bring in his works to the family of Sai Devotees and as a mark of respect and to pay our homage to the great soul. Sai devotees are requested to go through the contents and offer their opinions and views. Devotees from USA and CANADA have actively participated in Tele Satsanghs. Sai banisa wishes to convey his sincere heartfelt thanks to those devotees who have financially helped to purchase the site - http://www.saidarbar com. Propagation of SAI's PHILOSOPHY is a YAGNA by itself and I invite the active part taking from all the devotees.
SAI SANDESH FOR THE MONTH OF AUGUST - 1999.
Life is comparable to planet Earth spinning around itself and rotating round the Sun for ages. Happy periods are symbolic with days and sorrowful days are associated with those of nights. Journey through life is a continuous and never ending process. The nature and degree of feel for the same situation depends upon how thick skinned and sensitive one is to the things and happenings in and around. Happiness and sorrow are two facets of the same coin (life) and are purely a matter of personal experience and concern. Resorting to Sai will offer the desired protection against all odds and enlighten the individual spiritually where every thing appears on the same plane - SHIRDI SAI - 31st August 1999
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