Is running away from the daily world the only solution for a person that is not in a position to detach himself from the worldly affairs? Somdev did such a thing. He reached Shirdi after his pilgrimage to Kedarnath and saw Baba's grandeur, flags and chariot, and devotees flocking around Sainath. With questions about Baba's detachment and feeling proud about his achievement in being away from the family, Somdev approached Baba with a contempt that was not uncommon with the doubting Thomas of those days in Shirdi. Baba struck at him straightaway, without any compassion said, "get that rascal away!" Somdev was puzzled, his pride running watery. Later, Baba, the one who knew past present and future, reprimanded Somdev for running away from his family in search of deliverance, and let out the words of wisdom; there is nothing more sinful than renunciation as a means to escape from inability and weakness. In fact, such an act amounts to selfishness!

Sri Ammula Sambasiva Rao in his "Life History of Shirdi Sai Baba" narrates an incident involving Nana Chandorkar and Sadguru Sainath as follows:

One's closeness to Baba was the result of good deeds over many births, and such a person was Nana Chandorkar. He learnt many things from Baba. He found this samsara (worldly life) to be like a fearful ocean. The samsara appeared to him like an obstacle to his spiritual progress. He learnt this truth by practical experience. In the year 1918, one day when Baba was alone, Nana said to Him, "Baba, I am finding the samsara very fearful. My mind is not interested in worldly affairs. Somehow, give me salvation from this worldly affairs". On hearing this Baba smiled and said, "There is some truth in what you said. But the remaining is untruth and meaningless. You are under the impression that by taking to forests, one can escape from trials and tribulations of the samsara. But this is not correct. It is only an illusion, because wherever you go, your body and mind are with you only. They will never leave you but will be giving you some kind of happiness. Our past actions are the basis for our present troubles and happiness. They should be faced courageously and with tact, and you should lead a family life in the proper way. By getting away from samsara, one can not attain happiness. Everyone who proceeds in the spiritual way will have to face all these problems and to think of renunciation (escape) as a solution is not correct." This is the message of Baba.
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Experiences of Devotees

Dr. K.V. Raghava Rao, Hyderabad, India
[From Golden Voice and Divine Touch of Sri Sai Baba (1994-95) by Dr. K.V. Raghava Rao]

Three episodes described under this section relate to members of an Indian family working abroad (UN). They are ardent devotees of Baba since long. Suddenly the housewife was in critical condition. The doctors diagnosed it as a case of brain tumor and advised immediate operation. They were apprehensive about the possible side effects, such as paralysis of some parts of the body. They contacted me for guidance and blessings from Baba.

Baba indicated that the surgery should be performed on a Thursday, but as everything is scheduled in the U.S, the date happened to be thirteenth August 1991. When the first operation took place the surgeons could not reach the tumor site and the operation was stopped. Surprisingly, the follow-up surgery was performed on the following Thursday. It was successful operation with Swami's grace there was no side effects and she gradually recovered. The family members and self offered intense prayers during this period to Baba, both. Subsequently, she visited India (December 1992/January 1993). During this period Baba started indicating to me in meditation about the change of scenario in the health condition of the family members. I cautioned and also advised them to hasten up the marriage of their daughter as indicated by Baba.

As forewarned by Baba, she had to undergo another surgery of a different nature when she visited India (June/July 1994). Udi was applied to the patient on the forehead before and after the operation. With the grace of Baba everything went well and the patient recovered to normal condition soon. With the blessings of Baba, things moved smoothly in the right direction and the marriage of the daughter took place in December 1994. One has to measure the benevolence of Sri Sai from His nature to forewarn the events befalling the devotee and other family members and protect them in time.
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Devotees say...

Dubagunta Sankaraiah, Hyderabad, A.P, India. sainama@yahoo.com
SAI as Self Awakening Institution

Swami Vivekananda says, "Each soul is potentially divine. The goal is to manifest this divinity within by controlling nature, external and internal". Ramakrishna Paramahamsa says, "Those who search God outside will never find Him". Sai Baba says "You need not go far or any where in search of Me. Barring your name and form, there exists in you as well as in all beings a sense of being or consciousness of existence. That is my self. Knowing this you see Me inside yourself as well as in all beings". (Ch. XLIV of Sai Satcharita).

Human birth is the best of all the 84-lakh creatures. It is said that Devas (Gods) also will have to come down attain salvation through Human body. The only difference between a human being and other creatures is that the former is endowed with knowledge, which helps him in discriminating the real and unreal. It is also amply confirmed in all scriptures that Moksha (Liberation) is not to be sought in heaven or on earth. It is synonymous with self –realization, We believe in the existence of God; but we do not sincerely try to experience Him within us, as we are more conscious of the body than self. Every human being is a moving temple of God. Our body is a temple of our `self`. We do not go to a place of worship to see structure or the architectural beauty of the place. We go to worship or to pray the presiding deity of the temple. Similarly we have to give more importance to the self than the body. Sai Baba had Advised Sri Vijayanand "Wealth and prosperity are transient and the body subject to decay and death". No doubt the soul is immortal.

The author of Sai Satcharita has rightly put that one must be a saint to understand another saint. He further adds that one can measure the depth of seven seas or enclose the sky with cloth trapping but one cannot understand a saint. Such being the case any attempt to define Sai shows our egoism. Hence we surrender it His feet and venture to share the following views (inspiration of Sai) with devotee - readers.

It is indisputable truth that Sai is not three and a half cubits long but an institution, which is invaluable, immeasurable, immortal, and beyond all limitations. Sai brother Krishnakumarji of Hyderabad views Sai as self Analysis Institution. He conducts weekly satsang for Parayana of Sai Satcharita, Sai Bhajan and Meditation under the auspices of Self-Analysis Instituion. I wish to view Sai as Self-Awakening Institution . The latent powers of the self are awakened in this institution, so that the "Real" can be realized within us. Thus `S` for Self, `A` for Awakening and `I` for Institution. It is learnt from Sai Satcharita , "The body, composed of five elements , is perishable and transient but the self within is the Absolute Reality, which is immortal and intransigent . This pure being, consciousness are Brahman, the Ruler and controller of the senses and mind is "Sai".

Now let us analyze what has been taught in this institution and what are the qualifications prescribe for admission into it. First and foremost thing to be done is to erase our "ego". When once Sai annihilates it without any trace of it, as assured, He Himself will enter into us and do every service. We should for get "I" and never take the credit of authorship for anything . We should always remember that the doer is Sai and we are only instruments in His holy hands. We will have to resort to the holy feet of a Realized Soul, who will be acting as a `guide` in our efforts to reach the destination. The perfect guide as stated in Sai Satcharita, takes us safely avoiding wolves, tigers on the way. The possibility of loosing the track in the jungle or falling into ditches can be avoided with the help of a guide.

A Sadguru only can be a perfect guide . He will naturally be well conversant with the route we have to Go. He can shower His grace by mere glance or by touch or by thought. He awakens in us "I am He (Brahman)`consciousness, manifests the joy of Self-Realization".

For seeing Brahman , we have to surrender at His feet five pranas, five senses, mind , intellect and ego . The author of Sai Satcharita states (Chap. XVI) that Chintamani, Kamadhenu and Kalpataru can only give what we desire; but a Sadguru gives us the most precious thing that is inconceivable and inscrutable (The Reality).

Certain qualifications or prescribed for admission into the Self-Awakening Institution as detailed in Chapter XVI of Sai Satcharita. They are intense desire to get free from bondage, disgust with worldly objects, Antarmukhata, purging away of Sins, Right conduct, preferring good things to pleasant things, control of mind, purification of the mind, the necessity of a Guru and above all Lord`s grace. We need not be frightened by all the unalloyed love towards Baba. He takes care of the above requirements. We should make Him the sole object of our thoughts and actions.

Let us recapitulate Baba`s nectar like words, "Meditate on my formless nature which is knowledge, incarnate consciousness and bliss. If you cannot do this, meditate on my form from top to bottom as you see. If you go on doing this your vrittis (thoughts) will concentrate at one point and the distinction between the Dhyata (meditator), Dhyana (act of meditation) and Dhyeya (thing meditated upon) will be lost and the meditator will be one with the Consciousness and be merged in the Brahman"(Chap XVII) we learn from chapter VI of Sai Satcharita, "If any one prostrates before Sai and surrenders heart and soul to Him, then unsolicited all the chief objects of life viz., Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha are easily attained". Sai further assured "If you spread your palms with devotion before Me I am immediately with you day and night". We do not know anything, what we know is nothing unless it is implemented and experienced. Reading cannot believe seeing only is believing. Let us dedicate our body and soul to Sai who can awaken our self by His grace. We know that Sai watches all our actions and movements wherever we may be yet we become slaves to the senses and act against the interest of our Self-Realization. Adi Sankara preached that Satsang ultimately leads to Jivan Mukti. It may not be possible for most of us to be in the company of pious souls. Does not matter. We can take our mind to Sai, Shirdi, Samadi Mandir Dwaraka Mayi, and Chavadi. We can recollect Sai Leelas or any Holy Scripture. This act also forms part of Satsang. Devotion means unwavering love towards God, Peerless faith in Sai coupled with utmost patience is sufficient to attain salvation.

Let us all become students of this Institution, learn what is taught through Sai Satcharita and other sacred Sai literature and seek His invisible grace to see Him within us. Let us give serious thought to Vivekanda`s words. "If there is a God we must see Him, if there is a soul we must perceive it, otherwise it is better not to believe. It is better to be an our-spoken atheist than a hypocrite". Let us see Sai in us and in every creature and prove to ourselves that we are neither out-spoken atheists nor hypocrites. This proof is required for our own conscience only not for the ourside world.
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Sai Activities

Shirdi Sai Mandir, Agra, U.P. India
Pawan Goyal, Agra, U.P., India

Celebrations of Sai Avtar in Agra Temple on 11th September 99. By the blessings of Lord Sai Nath, 4 days long celebration of Pran Pratishtha of Baba Murti concluded on 12 th September in the presence of thousands of Sai bhakta not only from Agra but also from other cities. Learned Brahmins and Pujaris from Shirdi Temple itself performed all the Pujas and rituals. The milling crowd, the tide of Bhakti, the feeling of closeness and oneness with Baba created a divine seen which will not be forgotten easily in the history of Agra. Messages from all over are pouring and I repeat the address on demand of many visitors to this site: Adarsh Nagar, Behind Rakab Ganj Police Station, Near District Hospital, Agra ,India Tel: # ( 91 -562 ) 252492 I , on behalf of Sai Bhaktas of Agra sincerely thank the organizers of this site to circulate the news of Agra Temple.

Shirdi Sai Center, Inverness Florida, USA

Shirdi Sai Center in Inverness Florida was inaugurated in 1996, thanks to the love and dedication of Shri R. Kantamaneni ji and Smt. Vijayalakshmi. The temple premises at present are located in an 11-acre property very well kept by Smt. Vijayalakshmi. Sadguru Sainath, Sridatta incarnate blesses devotees in the form of Naga Sai, one of the rarest manifestations of Shirdi Sai Baba. The main shrine is Sadguru Sainath gracing under the reverend Snake God with a Shiva Linga emerging from Sainath's Vaksha (chest). Every day activities include performing of all the four arthis and other festivals are celebrated in a befitting manner. The temple priest is Shri Narayana Bhattar a vaishnaviite priest dedicating his services to the Supreme God. The temple property also includes a beautiful rose garden and an atmosphere as serene as an Ashram. Inverness, FL is located in the Central Florida region, close to Orlando metropolis. The drive from Orlando Disney area to the temple takes about an hour and a half on a busy day. This is an excellent opportunity for devotees visiting Orlando area for vacation or business purposes. Devotees may seek Sadguru Sainath's blessings by visiting Shirdi Sai Center, Inc. 4301 Pleasant Grove Road, Inverness FL. 34452. For more information, please call 352-860-2181.

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Question of the Week

The Question of the week for this week is What is the best form of Guru Bhakthi (devotion to Guru)? Answers to the question of the week will appear in subsequence issues of Sai Vichaar.
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Prayer Club

Anantha Sonti, Chicago, USA
Today, I want share with you about Dr K. V. Raghava Rao an ardent devotee of Sainath in Hyderabad, India. He is very blessed soul and he could communicate to Baba and He prayed for innumerable people and has relieved the stress in their lives through his prayers. He through his prayers has brought light to many lives.

Today his life is on the verge of collapse. He is seriously sick in Hyderabad. Medically everything is being tried but only prayers to Baba for saving him will bring change in his condition. This is my humble request to every Sai devotee on this planet to pray to our Sainath and seek his blessing in relieving the sufferings of Sri K.V.Raghava Rao. I request you to kindly pray for him.

SAIRAM PLEASE BLESS K.V.RAGAHAVA RAO
SAIRAM PLEASE SAVE K.V.RAGHAVA RAO
SAIRAM PLEASE RELIEVE THEPAIN OF K.V.RAGHAVA RAO

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