Feature of the Week: Guru-God

Narasimha Swami ji once said: "Poor Saadhakas (aspirants) struggling by themselves in their chambers and trying to steady their rambling thoughts resort to pranayama (a Yogic exercise involving control of breathing)". But in Baba’s school the panacea for all illness is Bhakthi (devotion) and guru bhakthi. The Lord speaks to us through Guru and we should have intense faith in our Guru. One should be able to see Guru-God everywhere and in everyone. Thus one will see Guru-God as omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient. This means one should convert Guru’s finite form into infinite form. The elevated souls who are called "apantaratmas" like Baba and Ramakrishna always live in God. They always think of the welfare of humanity. These great souls are present everywhere and they are all one. There is no difference between one saint and another. They have shown us different routes to reach the same goal. Their mere glance at us is enough. That will uplift us. Apantaratmas come into the world at the command of the Supreme Lord. By following any of them we can reach Supreme Goal.
(From "Apostle of Love: Sai Padananda" by Sri Rangaswami Parthasaarathy)
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Devotees Say

Raju Vadrevu
Dear Editor, The magazine that you sent in Email is good with Devotees opinions and their experiences. Its Shirdi SaiBaba's blessings that made you to bring this magnificent email magazine. I am very much Impressed with the letter of Miss Monica of New York. One can understand her sincere and honest prayers to Baba. It is evident that Shirdi Sainath responds forthwith' if the Prayers are ardent. I pray Almighty Sri Shirdi Sainath to bless all the devotees and especially the sufferers. My special Prayers for Miss Monica, Baba bless her in making all her dreams come true and let Baba bring her all prosperity and success in life. One Mr.Alex, from California, was asking how to send Indian rupees to India. He can do that. Go to www.Vayoo.com. It’s an Indian website. They have a service with a nominal charge to send money (Indian Rupees) by a Bank Demand Draft anywhere India, in a registered mail, you can add a message to it also. The instructions can be found in the site. The payment can be made through either credit card or a Bank check in us dollars. Once again, thank you for the valuable magazine. May Lord Sri Shirdi Sainath bless all of persons concerned with the Sai Vichaar.

Siddeshwar Auckland, New Zealand.
I am very happy to read the Sai Vichaar. Especially when I read the devotees experiences, my tears will be rolling down. I am receiving your email since a long time. Thanks for your support. Bow to Sri Sai, Peace be to all!

Ganesh, Dubai, UAE
The world is made really small by the way of your newsletter. I live in Dubai, United Arab Emirates and I saw your newsletter by chance during July of 99 and had the pleasure of visiting Shiridi during August, especially for my Son. It was a great experience to visit Shiridi and the Darshans of our beloved SAI we got were the best. I would like to thank Mr. GSN Murthy of Chicago USA for praying for my Son's speech and admission to the school. People like Mr. GSN Murthy and all the others who contribute to Sai Vichaar, make this place a better place to live in. SAI is Omni present and he gives us all the strength to us to move forward in this world, solve our problems and make our lives happy. I pray to all of you to keep up the good work.

Gauri, London, UK
This is a reply to the query by Vasudha Deepak on what is the exact procedure for observing a Thursday Fast.
1. On fasting day, do not eat bread, onion & garlic and non-vegetarian items. 2. Fruits, vegetables, coffee, tea, milk, juice can be consumed 3. Eat only one meal in the evening with rice 4. After taking the morning bath, show 'diya' (light) to Saibaba’s photo and keep dry-fruits or sugar and milk. If possible, say one Aarti of Saibaba 5. After showing the 'Prasad' to Saibaba, then you can give the 'Prasad' (especially milk) to the person for whom the fast has been kept. Also give the 'Prasad' to others in the family.6. For lunch - fruits, vegetables, Upma can be taken. 7. To break the fast in the evening, show the 'diya' to Saibaba again and eat the complete meal with rice, dal and vegetable.

Suresh
Apropos Sai Maharaj's parents or lineage, I agree 100% with Mr. Robert Kirk. What need is there for us to know about Sai Baba’s lineage? Is it not sufficient to love and revere him as a Supreme Being rather than to try and put him in a straightjacket of a Hindu or a Muslim? Can we limit Sai Baba by definition in to a Hindu or Muslim mould? Baba himself refused to allow this nonsense while He was in the physical plane. I do not know why so many people are wasting their time and energy speculating over something, which Baba never encouraged. Baba always stood for the oneness of all creation and always said Allah Malik. Far better that all of us try to understand the real message of Baba. My suggestion to Ms Vasudha Deepak is to read Sai Satcharita rather than observe fast on Thursdays or indeed any other day. Sai Baba never asked his bhaktas to observe fast on any day whether it was ekadasi or shivratri or Thursday. Mrs. Gokhale's story in Satcharita gives a very good example of Sai maharaj's feelings about fasting. Again when Bala Bhate tried to observe a fast on a Thursday Baba made sure that he gave up the idea. The experience of Shantaram Balwant Nachne bears out Baba's disapproval of fasting during any religious days or Thurs days. Sai Satcharita by Hemadpant (available at the sansthan), Devotees experiences of Sri Sai Baba by Sri BV Narasimhaswamiji (available from Akhanda Sainama Sapthaha Samithi, B/3/F, 15 Krupa complex, Anandabagh, Hyderabad 500047;Life of Saibaba by Sri BV Narasimhaswamiji available from All India Sai Samaj, Mylapore, Chennai 600004 are all good sources of authentic information about Sai maharaj. Sri BV Narasimha swamiji had spent a lifetime in service of Sai Baba. He had interviewed countless devotees who had seen Baba in the physical plane and by his indefatigable energy, minute attention to detail and limitless love for Sai Baba gave us a rich treasure trove of Sai. No bhaktas home should be without these books.
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Prayer Club

Radha
Dear Sai Ram, Thank you very much for listening to my prayers. I wrote in this column on February 10 expressing the difficulties I underwent. My mother is now a lot better and she has recovered very well. I am doing well at work, much more than what I thought I could. Thank you very much, Sai Ram, for your blessings. Please keep us devoted to you and united in your fold. Dear fellow Brothers & Sisters, Thank you very much for your prayers. We appreciate them.

Janaki
My Professor's wife is suffering from a disease for the last 3 years. They do not have any children to look after them, but have devoted their life to the welfare and upbringing of the society. In the mornings, until about noon, she loses her consciousness and suffers from pain. Though they do not believe in Religion, they believe in God. I feel very sorry to see what they are going through. They have tried all possible Medical Experts who could not cure it. Baba, thou shower their grace to all in Needy. I pray that you heal her. Please help her, Baba. She has no other remedies now. Dear Brothers and Sisters, Please pray that my Professor's wife re-gains her normal health.

Sanjeevi Rao
I am in deep financial problem and I am taking tablets regularly for drowsiness, I want to stop this and my financial problem should be solved. My wife also having lot problems for she also please pray. Some times I am feeling to suicide myself, I do not know what will happen. Please pray for me, My humble request." Baba only can help, please pray for me.

Vijayashree Narayanan, New York, NY, USA
I request all Sai Devotees to kindly pray for the speedy recovery and well-being of my mother-in-law who is presently suffering from carcinoid syndrome. Also please pray for a successful operation and recovery for my Sister's husband Mr. Srinivasan who is going in for a By-pass surgery next week.
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Sai Activities

Shirdi Sai Baba Web Site Org.,
Shirdi Sai Baba Web Site Org is pleased to present the "CYBER TOUR OF SHIRDI" - a pictorial presentation of important places of Shirdi. You will need the Real Player G2 to play this presentation. Please visit the Cyber Tour page at http://www.saibaba.org/cybertour.html.

Sai Darbar, Hyderabad, India
Dear Sai Bandhus, Best wishes for Maha Siva Rathri festival from Sai darbar. Sai darbar has completed first year during the month of January 2000 and gracefully stepped in to the second year from its inception. The popularity gained by the site is not possible but for the hidden blessings from our beloved GURU. SAI while in life preached to constantly think of the almighty and the mode suggested was DHYANA. The First way of doing is by listening to the MANTRA with full concentration and the second way is to recite with devotion. To help devotees in following DHYANA MARGA, the below mentioned mantras are incorporated in the titled pages as mentioned against them. Omkara mantra - in About Shiridi page. Om namah sivaya mantra - in Shiridi Sai page. Narayana mantra - in Sai philosophy page. Gayathri mantra- in Prayer room page. Om Sai, Sri Sai, Jaya Jaya Sai mantra - in Saidarbar main page. Introduction of Gayathri mantra is made possible only due to technical help extended by http://www.mataji.org and we remain greatly indebted to them. Comments about the newly introduced page LIFE AFTER DEATH are invited from our readership. New page titled Gopi Krishna’s page is added and opinions may be addressed to him and Saibanisa. Many Sai devotees have put forward their personal problems before LORD SAINATH in the form of letter writings and replies to letters received up to 15th February 2000 are e-mailed to them by Saibanisa. It is encouraging to note that a large number of devotees are keen to participate in ANNA DHAANA. Saibanisa on orders from his master SAI has opted for voluntary Retirement and pledges to utilize his full time and energies in service of Lord Sainath.
SAI SANDESH FOR THE MONTH:
To carry on the business of life, money is required to be earned and money is the root cause of all the underlying ego in one’s self. Ego totally disturbs the mental balance of an individual. I, as a humble servant of God, assure that I shall help to remove ahankaara from you so that you can reach him. - Shiridi Sai / 29-02-2000.

Sri Akshaya Sai Religious and Charitable Trust, Bangalore, India
Sri Akshaya Sai Religious and Charitable Trust, No. 32/1, East Anjaneya Swamy Temple Street, Basavangudi, Bangalore 560004 INDIA PHONE: 91-080-6611414 Our Organization has grown by magnificent grace and eternal blessings of Sri Sri Sri Sai Baba. The purpose of this trust is to serve the public without any boundaries of religion, caste, creed, country, language, rich, poor, clan or other classifications. Our organization as in the preceding years, has decided to celebrate consecration of "CROWN and PADUKA" scheduled to be held on March or April 2000, This event will include SHANTHA RUDHRABHISHEKA and BILVA ARCHANA according to the rules and frame work laid down by our VEDHAS, SHASTRAS and SCRIPTURES and scores of vedic pundits from our state and nearby states would take part in the rituals. The organization would accept any sort of contribution to this pavithra yagna from you with due gratitude. This organization also requests you to be active members in the committee and render service. Arrangements have been made to give you any additional information in this regard from the office of the organization. Patrons and donors are requested to send contributions in the form of cash or DD or crossed check in the name of P. Sharma, Bangalore, President and Executive Members of the committee SRI AKSHAYA SAI RELIGIOUS AND CHARITABLE TRUST 32/1, East Anjaneya Swamy Temple Street, Basavangudi, Bangalore 560004 INDIA.
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Devotee's Experience

A Sai devotee
I am contributing an essay on the topic "Devotees in Crisis and the Help of Sainath" I would like to begin this essay by saluting Saibaba whose love and care have nurtured me over the years. He has been with me through the good times and bad times. During the bad times, when even my kith and kin had deserted me emotionally, Saibaba always stood by me and gave me calm and reassurance. If I start recounting the number of times he has helped me, I would probably need to write a book rather than writing an essay. But a few of the occasions are vivid in my mind. It was the summer of 1998. Delhi University had just opened up and we had set up a stall to promote our computer education business outside the University along with many other institutes. We were distributing forms to the university students and simultaneously promoting our business through multimedia presentations. The rush at the stalls was overwhelming. During the course of the proceedings, I had an argument with a member of the Delhi University Students Union. He started abusing me and threatening me. Being a Saibhakta, I never tolerate indignity and as a result I told him that He may do what he likes and I am at the stall. Then I remembered SaiBaba. After a little while, this man came back with a number of gundas and a police constable and started leveling accusations at me. The police constable also started getting aggressive. I was in deep crisis but faith had not deserted me. This went on over a minute and lo and behold..... A police gypsy came and stopped over there. A senior police officer stepped out of the Gypsy and asked me what was going on. I told him that I was serving the students and the union member was harassing me. He asked me to file a complaint against the Union member. On this occasion, there was a turnaround and the union member became very compromising. The Police officer then told me to take a letter of authorization from him for the stall. He treated me with immense respect and offered me refreshments. Then he told me to collect the letter from the office. When I went to collect the letter, the Photo of Baba Sai was hanging on a frame giving me reassurance. 'Never fear when I am here' is the assurance Baba has given to all his devotees. "Sainath tere hajaron hath, Jis Jis ne tera nam liya, tu ho liya uske sath" Sainath......

Sheena Bhatia, CA, USA
By Baba’s grace I went to Shirdi for the first time. I had gone earlier when I was very young and did not remember anything and had always wanted to meet my Baba in Shirdi. This time I went to India and the first thing was my visit to Shirdi and I witnessed a miraculous arrangement of tickets on our way back from Manmad to Delhi. Another experience this time was that before the marriage. We had Sai Sandhya in our house and that morning I told my sister that Baba will be there today in the evening for the pooja. In the evening our pujari presented my mother with a picture of Baba’s charan (Paaduka) and in this way my intuition proved to be correct and I was really touched. Baba, I pray for sister's family and our family in India and in LA. Please never get angry at us. Please always hold my hand and make me walk because you are everything to me Baba.
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Question of the Week

Who were Shirdi Sai Baba’s parents?

Satya Chelluri, Hyderabad, India
Dear Sai Devotees, It was really painful to see the followers of Sai Baba are here to point the good and bad of others. I hope the Sai Charitha readers [every Sai devotee is one, right?] know that Sai is himself the eternal God who took form and give guidance to us. Now how proper is it for us to look into this issue of the parents' and the exact date of birth? I think any day is just as proper and any persons irrespective of name / place are still the greatly divined couple who gave this world that lovely and peaceful saint. So let us NOT look beyond our qualifications. I think we need to look at the writing of Shri Hemadpant, that it’s the ego when given to our guru, then all this discussion will End and the ONLY thing to CONCENTRATE on is SHRI SAINATH and this eternal peaceful and supportive compassionate picture.

So dear friends, I a young devotee of Sai, beg you all to concentrate on the chanting of Sai Ram's name that do discussion on these other matters. So much is learnt afresh whenever a repeat reading of Satcharita is done. Maybe a 1000 times we read and still the essence is yet to reach into us. Like that Ramadasi, who has been quieted by Sai Ram Ram, remembering Sai Ram, let us stop this kind of discussions, which beat the purpose of Sai's life.

Thanks for your time and if you feel this letter of any value please make other devotees aware of my feelings and pray in the name of Shri Sadguru Sainath, to stop this discussion. Spread his leelas, not discussions of who's right, who is wrong. Sai Ram Himself, if he wanted would have made Shri Hemadpant, mention the parents' name and his date of birth. One more thing here is "Shri Hemadpant's Satcharita" is "Shri Sainath's Satcharita". We all know that Sairam wrote Satcharita, and Hemadpant just the instrument.

Krishnaveni
I am astonished by the interest of some devotees in the origin of Sri Shiridi Baba. I believe that our lord Sai is sanathana Dattatreya tatvam, which is eternal. As we read in Sai Sathcharitra by Sri Hemadpant ji, Sai is poorna Datta avatar. And as established by many devotees who met Sai when he was living in Shiridi that he is Akkalkota swami. The most imp thing is that the birth details of Sri Akkalkota Swami were also not known to anyone. People use to believe that he was hundreds of years old. The most striking detail is, Sai was first found under a tree in Shiridi by Smt.Baija Bai and she described him to be around 16yrs. Baba himself told many devotees (Sagunameru Nayak and Sri Sai Sharanananda) that he did tapasya in an underground cave (this cave is under the Maseed) for 12 yr. and did not eat anything other than the Neem leaves. Now think about it and then try to establish his age and birth. If he is around 16yrs when he appeared in Shiridi, when he must have entered the cave, at the age of 4yrs? And if Baba served his Guruji and then became a poorna Sadhu then he should be around 60 - 65 yrs by the time he appeared in Shiridi. To some Baba said his Guruji's name is "Venkusa", and to some he said it is "Roshan sha". So, which one is it? Many people who met him in person tried to elicit this info from him but didn't succeed. What does this mean? Baba doesn't want us to cling to it. I think it is not possible for us to find out his origin. We should understand that he is that for which there is neither a start nor an end. I think we should not be so hung up on his birth date, his parents, and his religion when he was born. The whole purpose of Baba’s avatar was to tell how important it is for us to cross these barricades of religion, caste etc., etc., It is very important to start taking steps, however small, towards the path he showed us. Jai Sai Ram,

A Sai devotee, Vancouver, B.C, Canada
Jai Sai Ram! Prayers to all. Sai Baba showed no desire or anxiety to locate, identify or denounce His parents, his caste or religion. Attempts to enquire and questioning Sai Baba resulted in no satisfactory answer or information regarding Sai's past. Knowing that Sai Baba was aware of all the past, present and the future, we can only conclude that it was Sai Baba's preferred choice to leave that part of His life that way. According to Shri Hemadpant, prior to obtaining approval from Sai Baba to write "Shri Sai Satcharita", Sai told that "Let there be no insistence on establishing one's own view, no attempt to refute other's opinions, no discussion of pros and cons of any subject." It is egoism, which breeds discussion. Let us mark those words and also take note of the contributions made last week by learned devotees. Messrs. Anand, Bhagavatula Murthy, and Robert Kirk, all of whom shared their interesting views and presented valuable conclusions.

When a Madrasi Sanyasi named Vijayanand got a letter stating that his mother was very ill, he felt dejected and wanted to leave Shirdi and be by his mother's side (Chapter XXXI, Shri Sai Satcharita). Baba commented, "If he so loved his mother, why did he take Sannyasa? Fondness or attachment makes ill of an ochre garb and that he must do his duty, leaving all attachment to the things of this world and the next." In the quest of Guru and God (Chapter XXXII of Shri Sai Satcharita), Sai says that His Guru took care of Him as tenderly as a mother-bird does of her young ones and that Sai forgot His parents, and all His attachment was snapped and He was liberated easily. His Guru became His home, property, mother and father, everything. Much of our traits are hereditary and we owe ourselves a lot to our parents for what we are. However, if we do wish to go beyond our hereditary traits and attain self-realization, we need to realize (as Shri Hemadpant expounds in the 'Preliminary' section, Chapter XLV, Shri Sai Satcharita) that 'No one, whether father, mother, brother or any other relation, comes to our aid in attaining the goal of life and that we have to chalk out and traverse the path by worshiping the Guru whole-heartedly to attain self-realization ourselves'. If we accept Oneness and the Omnipresence and all Pervasiveness of Sai, then we should also be able to visualize Sai Baba everywhere, all the time and in every form of living creatures (including His and our parents) and non-living things. If we accept and realize such Advaitha or Oneness of the Universe (Consciousness of the Supreme), we should be able to understand Maya and recognize that all apparent differences amongst us due to our origin, race, color, caste, religion and parentage, profession etc. are of no consequence. Then we realize the insignificance of the question: Who were Shirdi Sai Baba's parents?

The message that Sai Baba seems to give through His reaction to such enquiry is that we should learn to accept and respect Him and His creation 'as is' and maintain such Shanti (patience). Our prayers to Him should be to make us do what He wants, the best way we can, with an understanding that He is the Actor, Doer, and also the Achiever. We should always meditate on His name, remember Him and His virtues and emulate them and perform our duties Without attachment for the results. We need to totally surrender to Him with a feeling that we are His instruments and that the results are also His and hence we accept them with Prasada Budhi (thanking reverently). If we maintain such attitude with total faith and patience in Guru (Sai, God), He will surely make us reach the zenith and let us attain that Self-realization. Jai Sai Ram!

Askani Venugopal
Sai Ram, This is in response to your discussion regarding parents of Shri Shirdi Sai Baba. Baba's tells HemandriPant to forgo his ego and says that he himself will be going to write HIS story in Sai Satcharita. Hence we have to strongly believe that what is there in Satcharita is correct. I have read the Holy Book in three languages i.e. English, Hindi, and Telugu. In no book the date of his birth and his parents are revealed. I quote two instances regarding the same. 1. When a devotee asks GOD Shri Sai Baba says that he is the son of ALLAH (meaning GOD). Through this we can conclude that he was an avatar purusha. 2. In another instance GOD Sai was asked to come to Court as a witness. There also during the investigation he reveals that he has no parents and the entire world is his children. And when the judge asks HIM as to who his father is he reveals ALLAH MALIK.
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