Feature of the week: Sai..Omniscient

Spiritual pursuit does not necessarily have to be confined to one particular way or a particular thought. How is it possible to realize the all pervading conscious by a pursuit that confines one to a particular practice or faith? Such a practice may be fruitful as long as one realizes its limitation and yearn to grow beyond the confines of human convenience. God blesses such souls.

Ramachander Atmaram also known as Baba Saheb Tarkhad was a staunch member of "Prardhana Samaj", a spiritual community that decries worship of any idols or other forms. Mr. Tarkhad’s wife and son were devotes to Sai Baba and were frequent visitors to Shirdi. Mr. Tarkhad, a broad-minded humanist did not object to his family’s worship of Baba. Once Mrs. Tarkhad and her son wanted to go to Shirdi to have Baba’s darshan. It was decided that during their absence away from home, Mr. Tarkhad would perform the daily prayer of Sainath at home including the worship of Baba’s picture and offering Prasad. The ritual went on without any hitch for the first two days. On the third day, Mr. Tarkhad performed the prayers to Baba’s picture and left to his work forgetting to offer Prasad during the morning ritual. About the same time, Mrs.Tarkhad and her son were in Shirdi at Sai’s abode. Baba called Mrs. Tarkhad nearer and said that He visited their home that morning and that He had to return empty handed, as there was nothing for Him to partake. Sensing something unwanted, Mrs. Tarkhad’s son wrote a letter to his father back home explaining the puzzling parable that Baba narrated the morning. Later that day, Mr. Tarkhad returned home from work, realizing his mistake that morning he chided himself for not keeping his word to his wife and son. He, then, wrote a letter to his wife and son in Shirdi, detailing about the happening that day. Both the letters were delivered to the respective recipients at the same time.

Mr.Tarkhad wondered how Baba was able to know about the event that happened several hundreds miles away. This incident brought about a big change in his attitude and he realized the oneness of Sai Baba, whether it is a picture, idol, or without. This incident shattered his personal convictions and broadened his comprehension of God and spirituality. He began to join his wife and son in offering prayers to Baba and eventually became one of the Baba’s well-known devotees.
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Experiences of Devotees

Veena Gupta, New Delhi, India
After a gap of two Thursdays Baba again blessed us with the usual Udi from his photos and the statue. The gap was due to the house being under "chootak" due to the birth of a baby girl on 16th Dec. 1999. As havan was performed on 26 Dec., the house became "sudh" again. Thus this Thursday was a normal Thursday again to us and we did our normal Sai Amrit Vani. Little Udi also appeared on 1 Jan 2000. In one of my write-ups I have narrated how Baba blessed my elder daughter-in-law on her ninth month function who got married in Sept.1998. My younger son got married this Oct.99. We do not believe in giving reception for the wedding after the wedding, rather, we start the function of wedding with the Pooja of Sai Baba, His kirtan followed by wedding dinner. The marriage of my son was fixed for the 18th Oct.1999. It was Ashtmi of Nav Durga period, a day before Dushera. The engagement ceremony was fixed for 16 Oct 1999. So we decided to have Sai Pooja on 15 Oct., which happened to be Friday. Generally we prefer to do pooja during day time as it is convenient for the devotees from far off places but as it was working day we performed Pooja with the `Abhishek' at 6.00 PM in the evening. Baba showed his presence in the morning itself in the shape of Udi coming out from his hand of the glass framed photo in the mandir in our kitchen. We moved this photo also in the Pandal along with other photos. Udi was coming in the Pandal too. From 6.00 to 6.30, it was `Abhishek and Bhajan started at 6.30 by Vinay Ratha and party. The Arti started at 8.30 PM and the Dinner at 9.00. All went very smoothly because of the presence of Baba in the Pandal itself. There was one photo of Ganeshji, Laxmiji and Baba in between them. Anuj, my younger son gave it to me on his arrival from Ahmedabad. This photo was also moved to the pandal. Udi came from this photo too on the Diwali day. All the three Gods, Ganeshji, Laxmiji and Baba blessed us on Diwali through this photo too. After Diwali when Anuj was going to Ahmedabad, we asked him to take back the photo to Ahmedabad. To this he was surprised and said that he has not brought this photo and he was sure about it. There was nobody who would have given this photo to him nor he has purchased it so the question of photo belonging to him does not arise at all. And we were under the impression that photo belongs to him. It is now more than two months and we are unable to solve the mystery from where this photo has came.

On 16th, it was engagement ceremony. During that ceremony many relatives put tilak on the forehead of the groom and gave some money in the process of introduction. Many snaps were taken and the event was covered on video. Now we have observed from the photos & the videotape that the tilak on the forehead has taken the shape of `Ohm'. How it has happened? Only Baba knows. On 18th after the gurchadi the bridegroom went to the Sai temple in Lodhi Colony at about 7.00 PM. The temple was as usual very crowded and there was a long queue. The bridegroom bowed his head and prayed to Baba from a distance. Panditji there garlanded him with a small garland of flowers. We reached the brides place and danced upto the stage for the Jai Mala and there the question arose about this garland. How it is there upto this time in the neck of the groom, Mother of the girl was also confused about this garland as this garland was not very beautiful but so far no body took a notice of this garland being not so good. The garland was removed at this stage and was given to a devotee to be kept. All went very smooth. The reception was very nice. The marriage was performed, and the girl came to our house. The devotee who was given the garland, took the garland to her house and was very happy and reported the next day of the marriage that the registry of her house which was pending for the last few year was done unexpectedly and she was surprised over all these developments. The couple went for the honeymoon and came back. We thought that the girl should start in the kitchen. The first day in the kitchen she prepared the halwa. All present in the house gave her some gift. It was not Thursday and Udi was not coming from any photo of Baba. The girl inquired whether Baba would not come today and give her some blessings. She was advised to offer Halwa to Baba and Pray. As she was praying all present there were surprised to see that besides Udi it was sindoor and some grains of rice came from the hands of photo of Baba. It was a scene to be imagined rather than words describing them. It is how Baba blessed the newly wed on every step.
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Sai Activities

Sai Sandesh, December 1999 - SaiBaNiSa, Hyderabad, India
May the third millenium bring in peace health and prosperity to one and all". Sai darbar completes one year by January 2000. It is indeed an event of pleasure to note that it could win the love and affection of all Sai devotees across Globe. The ever-inspiring letters and constructive suggestions / criticisms have gone long way in making us to a little more every time to make the site as appealing as possible amongst the members of our closely knit SAI FAMILY. We assure that these efforts will be a continuous process. During the month of December 1999, many devotes have written about their personal problems seeking solutions from Sainath. SaiBaNiSa promises for all their problems, prayers will be made and replies will be sent in due course of time. Till then it is my humble request to follow the advocates of Sai, i.e., Shraddha and Saburi. The SaiBaNiSa page comes to an end with the 22nd Experience. The main idea behind presenting these Experiences is to enable every Sai devotee to analyze and feel the presence of SAI in his own way that will in the long run contribute to increase his faith in SAI and make him to traverse along with SAI in all walks of life. It is only on critical examination / analysis of things happening in and around and mind tuned properly, we come to a saturation point that all that happens or happening is only due to the divine grace. I shall fail in my duties if I do not reciprocate with sincere heartfelt thanks to all of those devotees who have responded positively to these Experiences with their valuable comments. Shri Raghu, a SAI devotee from USA has sent us a compilation of experiences of number of Sai devotees and I thank him for this voluntary gesture. These are being presented in SaiRam’s page. Shri. Sankaraiah from Hyderabad, India conceives the presentation of the page of Ardent Devotees of Sai. Essay writings and articles from SAI devotees are welcome for inclusion in this page. It is requested to confine the write-ups only to the late Ardent Sai Devotees. Shri.Madhusudhan Nori has come forward to start a new page titled "Sai in Letters" to begin from January 2000 and we earnestly hope that it will succeed in winning the love of all. We are In the process of starting a new article titled "Sai in Dreams" and is expected to take a shape by next month's end. HAARATHIS in English were presented in the page titled "Prayer Room" and many devotees have given us a positive feed back stating that they could take Print outs and are able to chant regularly. SAI devotes may send their much-treasured Experiences for inclusion in "Share Your Experiences". Suggestions / comments on how to improve the Site and make it more appealing may be sent to us as Viewers Comments for our due attention and appropriate action. Every effort will be made to implement all constructive suggestions.

SAI SANDESH - DECEMBER 1999. Journey by air commences with placement of our trust in Pilot's hands. If you want to reach the Goal, take full support of faith and travel along with me in the path shown. I shall then ensure you a safe and definite passage to the desired destiny. Shiridi Sai / 01-01-2000.

Vishna Shanti Maha Rudra Yagna by Sri Narayan Baba of Panvel, Bhisham Vachhani, Mumbai, India
Sai devotees around the world can visit http://www.surf.to/saibaba for information on Vishna Shanti Maha Rudra Yagna and Rudrabhisheka to 27 feet idol of Sai Baba of Shirdi, at Bandra, Mumbai, India, by Sri Narayan Baba of Panvel

New Millennium Message from Shirdi Baba.
Spiritual Counseling Center, Plot No. 1587, 6th Avenue, Anna Nagar, CHENNAI, 600 040 INDIA, Tel: (91) 44 6261991. We would like to share with all Shirdi Sai devotees the New Millennium message from Shirdi Baba. KARMA IS NOT THE EFFECT OF THE PAST DEEDS. IT IS THE AFFECT OF THE PRESENT THOUGHTS. HENCE, WE BLESS YOU ALWAYS TO HAVE PLEASANT THOUGHTS IN YOUR FUTURE DEEDS. SHIRDI BABA

Shri Shirdi Sai Sansthan, Sydney Australia, Vrinda Kumar
We would like to correct a typographic error in the address given for the Shri Shirdi Sai Sansthan Temple in Sydney (RE: Naam Jaap). The right address is 416-420 Liverpool Road (Australian Languages Center), South Strathfield, Sydney, Australia. The entrance to this location is from Hill Street. The inadvertent error is regretted.
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Devotees Say

Shanker Rao Abburi, Kitwe, Zambia
I recall one anecdote, which happened in the life of Avatar Shiridi Sai Baba. Baba asked for a glass of water to drink, and suddenly three devotees near by rushed in to the kitchen and brought three glasses of water. All the three offered the water to Baba, but he picked up a glass from one of them who happened to be a "Muslim". Then the other two, a Hindu and Christian, got offended and commented why Baba was partial to the Muslim devotee and did not take their offering. Then Baba sent another devotee to bring an empty glass. He asked each of Hindu, Muslim and Christian devotee to pour a little water in the glass that Baba himself was holding. After they had poured the water as instructed, Baba asked, "Tell me in the glass I am holding can you separate the water in to three - Hindu, Muslim and Christian waters"? The devotees were dumbfounded and apologized for the their mistake.

Hence all religions preach the same, and their path may be different and ultimate goal is the same to reach "GOD" who is only "ONE" whether you call him "Ram", "Rahim" or "Jesus".

A.S. Vijayaraghavan, Chennai, India
This is with regard to Ms.Sangeetha Rao, USA’s request. Her husband will certainly get this job by attending the Interview on 10/1/2000. She will also have a safe delivery with a male child born and any name given to the Child let it bear SAI also. For example, Vijay means SAI VIJAY. I am visiting Shirdi on 17/1/2000 and certainly I will pray further. Hope is the essential tool in our day to day life. Sai Maharaj will do miracles. He will first test and then only consider our prayers. We should not be disheartened for the delay.

MRK, Phoenix, AZ, USA
Below are some more from the wonderful book titled, "Purposeful Prayers":

We have really learned how to pray when we realize that prayer is a privilege than a duty. Obligation to God is to try to live a moral life. Always encourage good and condemn evil in whatever ways that you can. Know thyself. You can not know anything beyond yourself until you know yourself.
Faith is nothing more than believing when you have no proof. People say, show me the proof and I will believe. That is not faith. That is a fact. There is a big difference

To me the first principle of the Gospel is faith and faith is misunderstood because it is something that is not seen. For someone who goes by just what they see, faith can be uncomfortable feeling. Some one who wants to pray has to give that feeling of faith a shot-that feeling I don't know for sure and I don't know what the difference is, but I'm just going to kneel and pray. That is essential. Faith is a muscle that you have to exercise. The more you do it, the more the spirit will be able to affect your life. You get stronger and more spiritually minded.
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Question of the Week

How does Sai Baba define character?

A Sai devotee, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Jai Sai Ram! Let us first offer prayers for the welfare of all. Sai Baba believed in showing by doing. In the words of my wife for such behavior, we can say that Sai 'walked the talk' rather than 'talk the walk' or just 'talk the talk'. In short, much before Nike came up with its advertisement 'just do it' Sai actually lived by such value. While we can learn innumerable lessons from Sai, some glaring characteristics that Sai seemed to have considered as virtuous included, humility, egolessness, love and respect for all beings, charity, liberality, calmness, non-attachment, and control of body and mind. Therefore, in trying to answer this week's question, "How does Sai Baba define character?" we need to draw some 'DOs' and 'DON'Ts' based on how Sai lived and by reviewing specific events. For example, we may wish to consider:

Get rid of egoism: To attain the highest end, viz., knowledge or self-realization, it was the firm conviction of Sai that prior grinding of Ahamkara (ego) is essential. He highlighted this in a number of ways and He Himself demonstrated His egolessness by conducting as a true chela (disciple) to one Fakir, Javhar Ali from Ahmednagar who thought that he was the Guru to Sai.

Be humble: The ultimate in humility was expressed by Baba when He very humbly spoke to His devotees as follows: "Slave of slaves I am your debtor, I am satisfied at your darshana. It is a great favor that I saw your feet. I am an insect in your excreta. I consider myself blessed thereby." Wonder if any such accomplished Gurus or even ordinary people like us have such humility! Jai Sai Ram.

Love all beings equally: Sai treated friends and foes, and kings and paupers alike and highlighted the importance of such behavior. Sai saying that He was very hungry to Laxmibai Shinde, when she hurriedly prepared and brought food, first gave it to a dog. When Laxmibai complained that Sai unnecessarily gave her trouble, Sai expressed an axiomatic Truth: "The appeasement of the dog's hunger is the same as Mine. The dog has a soul----Know for certain, that one who feeds the hungry, really serves Me".

Don't be greedy: Greed and Brahma are as poles asunder; they are eternally opposed to each other. This Sai demonstrated to a rich gentleman who went to Shirdi to and begged Sai to show him the Brahma (Sai Satcharita, Chapter XVI &XVII)

Do not revile others: To a Bhakta who reviled another, Sai pointed out to him a pig eating filth and said that the Bhakta's behavior of reviling others is similar to the pig that was relishing the dung and taught him a lesson. A similar lesson was given to a pleader from Pandharpur who indulged in questioning whether illness can be cured without medicine and by merely going after Sai Baba. Sai Baba often said that "Who carps and cavils at others, pierces Me in the heart and injures Me, but one who suffers and endures, pleases Me most."

Remunerate labor: After paying two rupees to a labor who just brought a ladder for Sai to reach Radhakrishna Mai's house to treat her, Sai said that nobody should exploit the labor and the worker should be paid promptly and liberally. It has a lot of bearing to our daily lives.

Practice Charity, particularly Annadana: As and when possible, Sai practiced annadana (charity of food), which is considered to be the highest level of charity, by preparing food Himself without depending on anyone, and distributing food to all. Although, He Himself depended for food by begging, He let the woman who swept the floor of the Masjid take portion of that food to her house and heartily let cats, dogs and birds to freely eat from the food that He gathered.

Remember Him: Although it appeared to be making fun with Shri Hemadpant, He demonstrated the importance of remembering Him before doing anything, including eating (Sai Satcharita, Chapter XXIV)

Be liberal in rewarding workers: Sai demonstrated the importance of rewarding, among others, by paying rupees 2 for a worker who brought a ladder; and by remembering to reward for Laxmibai Shinde's faithful Services by paying Rs. 9/- to her before He passed away. As Laxmibai was a well-to-do woman, by this action, Sai brought prominently to her notice, the nine characteristics of a good disciple and expressed the importance of nine forms of Bhakti. They are - Shravana (hearing), Kirtana (praying), Smarana (remembering), Padasevana (resorting to the feet), Archana (worship), Namaskara (bowing), Dasya (service), Sakhyatwa (friendship), Atmanivedana (surrender of the self).

Appreciate the beauty, but don't entertain evil thoughts: When a Mohammedan lady removed her veil in saluting Baba's Feet and put on her veil again, Nanasaheb, who saw her face, was so much smitten with her rare beauty, that he wished to see her face again. Sai's message is that beauty is the subject of sight and when the heart is pure, there is no need to be afraid of appreciating the beauty. What is important is to curb the senses and to never entertain evil thoughts such that they do not go astray.

Although by no means comprehensive, above are some examples of what Sai might have considered as good attributes for character. Jai Sai Ram!
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Prayer Club

Patricia Torres, Buenos Aires, Argentina
I would like to ask for my father’s heath. His name is Juan Carlos Torres; he suffers from the Barrette problem in the esophagus. I would ask your prayers so he can recover rapidly. Daily he takes the vibhuti.
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