Feature of the Week: Seek, Knock and Ask!

"The splendor of the Avatar is like that of a million suns. Yet His grace is as cool and pleasant as that of a million Moons."

Man usually thanks God for the good things that come, but do not thank Him for the things that seem bad. That is where people generally are wrong because man always feel that life is a problem to be solved, but does not understand that it is a reality to be experienced. People do not realize that human birth is the most precious and it is only human being that is given the sacred specific opportunity for spiritual evolution and self-realization.

Only strong faith on Divinity, Saints, God or Godmen if solidly reposed and developed, becomes the armor and protection that sustains him to bear through. Let us see question put to Yudhishtira by Yakshya in MahaBharata, "KA-DIK ?" meaning "which is the right direction or guidance to follow. The reply which Yudhishthira was said to have given was "SANTO-DIK" meaning " The direction marked-out by the lives of saints". This implies that Saints indeed are beacon lights to guide man in their life's journey. Just as a light house guides the mariner on the high seas on his voyage to the port of destination, the lives and messages of Saints, similarly light the path of men and guide them to reach the life's goal, that is 'Realization of God'. adhering-to the process and path of self-retrospection, self-purification, self-observation, self-restraint, self-sacrifice, self-reliance and self-reform.

As sea does not invite the rivers to come to it, but the rivers get irresistibly drawn to the sea, and the flowers though never invite the bee, but the Bee, is helplessly drawn to it, people of all strata, caste, color, creed and religion, millions in number are automatically attracted and drawn to the feet of Sri Sai Baba. When one look to Sri Sai Satcharitra it reminds him the 'Divine assurance' : - "When-ever a devotee has complete and whole hearted devotion to Sai Baba, all his calamities and dangers are warded of and his welfare, attended to by Baba". Baba also often use to tell, "My treasury is full, I can give anyone what he wants, but I have to see whether he is qualified to receive my gift". Undoubtedly material benefits were conferred openly in the miracles Baba performed, but concealed behind such incomprehensible and incredible miracles; What was the spectacular peculiarity and specialty in the Saint of Shirdi that continue the perennial impact on the masses ?

Usually people have heard and might have come across many Saints who would forget their body and surroundings and then return to them. But Sri Sai Baba was constantly both in and outside the material world and was always in the all knowing state. Baba The Great Saint, Born Avadhoot, The incarnation of LORD SRI DATTATREYA , reconciles action and actionlessness and reaches actionlessness through action. He was every moment exercising a dual consciousness one actively utilizing the ego called SAI BABA and dealing with other egos in temporal or spiritual affairs, transcending all egos, abiding in the state of universal soul. He was constantly exercising and manifesting the powers and features proper to both states of consciousness and was the discrimination and dispassion incarnate (...to be continued).

(Contributed by Dwarika Mohan Mishra, Sri Dattatreya Sai Ashram Gajapati Nagar, Bhubaneswar, India)
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Devotees Say

Usha, Wisconsin, USA
I am a believer in Sai, but I am unable to find meaning in happenings around me. For instance a thin film of ashes appeared on a small Sai photo. I wiped it away without thinking. Last week during Sai bhajan session I noticed that my sari seemed dusty. I brushed it away , just then a Sai bhandhavi sitting next to me said," is that Vibhuti, why are you dusting it away". Of course I was much saddened by my own thoughtless actions. The thing is: I don't consider myself yet worthy enough to receive Sai's favors. What is happening to me? Often I smell an exotic fragrance of chandan and roses wafting around me. I have long dreams in which Sai appears and often blesses me with putting his hand on my head. What is Shri Sai trying to tell me? What should I do? Would it not be egotism if I say that Sai is favoring me? How should I handle this grace? I just pray to him for his love and ask for nothing.

Ashish Bokil, UK
Could anyone please let me know the address of Sai Centers in London or other cities in UK?

Bindiya, USA
Last Thursday I slept with Baba's name on my lips, as I normally do. Suddenly, I saw myself lying on bed. It did not seem like a dream, I think I was aware of my surroundings. I was floating on the top of my body, I was in a meditative state. All I could hear was my voice saying "Om Sai Ram, Om Sai Ram". As soon as I realized that actually I was out of my body, I got scared. I started doing Naamsmaran with more fervor than I was doing before. Immediately I zipped back into my body again. The chanting of his name continued. I saw myself floating on top again. Again I got scared and zipped into my body. This kept happening again and again. Finally I truly got up. It was then I realized what had happened. My fear brought me back into my body. I guess I was not ready to go further. If I was, my beloved Baba would have taken me. This is when I felt the power of his name. Someday....maybe someday.

Nishal Anuth
I wish to thanks brother Raghu Vissamraju for the clarifications he gave me in the Sai vichaar of 18/05/2000 as it has been of great support to me to finish my doubts concerning the student life. Thanks again. Aum Sai Ram
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Prayer Club

Malini Bhatia, Dubai, UAE.
My dad suffered a heart attack one and a half months ago. I had fought with him,1 or 2 days before that ago very badly, it was just that next day after eating dinner, he lied down uncomfortable and called us for help. We took him to the emergency, and for that particular moment I stood culprit for the whole thing. I also thought that because me all this happened because my father is a healthy man at 60 years of age. Sai bless him. He was given all kind of treatment and hospitalized for 1 week. Everything turned out fine ,thanks to Sainath again. He went for a check-up also after a month, and the doctor told that he is alright and he was back to his job. However, he is not taking proper care of himself now. He is supposed to have lots of salads, juices & fruits, less of oil, ghee etc. But he is not even a bit following the advice. He constantly remembers the heart attack incident although we have been asking him to forget that as a nightmare. His behavior has totally changed towards everything, he gets wild for trivial things and constantly thinking about his office work other such issues, although we tell him to leave everything to God.
We do understand all this happens but there are some people who forget it by keeping faith in the above person. We are very anxious about his behavior and in a desperate need of prayers. Sainath, please make my family as happy as we were before. Sai, I leave it in your feet my problems-please make my parents happy.

Vishnu
I humbly request all your prayers. I am/was acting a Team Leader position in my company for the past 6 to 7 months and now I was finally told that I cannot get the job. Please all I know prayers can move mountains, could you all please pray for me so that the decision will change in my favor to get the job.

Shaila, Chicago, USA
Please, this is a request for all the Sai devotees to pray for my aunt who happens to be a great Sai devotee. She came to San Francisco to visit her son and his family. She underwent severe backache and had seizures. It all happened all of a sudden which is a shock to all the family members. I humbly request all of u to pray for her and she should recover from serious ailment as soon as possible and to get back on her feet. If her health returns to normalcy it will be because of all your prayers and also I can say it would be one of Sao's miracles which I have come across in my life.

Srikanth Cherla
Please pray for me in surviving in my job. Baba has helped me so many times in my life, but I don't know what has happened to me, but everytime I take up a job, I have some hurdles in my job. Baba helped me in surviving in my job, otherwise my company people would have fired me from the job. Please help me Baba, I want to survive in my life. I request to Baba to give me a good career without any hurdles. Also I request to Baba to give all my friends a good careers.
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Sai Activities

Sai Satsang 2000, Shirdi Sai Baba Web Site Organization, USA.
Shirdi Sai Baba web site organization proposes to hold a Sai Satsang for Sai Devotees from various parts of the world in Chicago, USA for two or three days in November 2000. The proposed program includes: Bhajans, Concerts, Lectures, Sharing Devotee's experiences, Reading of Sai Satcharita, Plays depicting Sai experiences, Sai Nama japa, among other activities The event is being planned for the whole family. There will be child care facilities for the convenience of parents with young children. Lodging facilities, travel arrangements, and sight-seeing tours will be arranged for visiting families on request. Children' s activities include: Painting , drawing, essay writing competition on topics related to Sai Baba. At this time, we are seeking suggestions from Sai Devotees around the world regarding the proposed Sai Satsang. Your thoughts, suggestions and comments may be sent to admin@saibaba.org with the subject matter of Sai Satsang 2000.

Sai Mandir, Kathmandu, Nepal
About a week ago we were able to go to Dang, a place in the western part of Nepal to meet a person known to many as Sai Bainee (Sai's sister). Her actual name is Brihaspati Shrestha. She is an illiterate, knows only two languages, Newari (her mother tongue) and Nepali. Sixteen years ago she happened to attend one of the Baba's bhajans. After attending it she felt like keeping Baba's photo to do puja, so she asked the organizer to give her one photo of Baba but he did not have one at that time so he said that he will send it to her. After four - five days she could not wait for the photo to come so she with her husband went to Nepalgunj to get the photo. After getting the photo both of them returned home. On the second day they found Bhibhuti (Udi, sacred ash) coming out of the photo of Baba. One day when she was strolling near by a pound she saw a man standing in the middle of the lake and she thought that she saw a ghost. When she moved the figure too moved and then she started to shout for help. When help came no one saw any thing except for her. two months went by and the figure kept on following her. Then they decided to go to Nepalgunj to talk to the Sai devotee who had given them the photo. The figure kept on following her. When they reached the place she told him that from the past 2 months she has been seeing the figure that it keeps on following her and it is right there at this very moment too. No one saw anything . Then the Sai devotee told her that Baba has given her a darshan which only few people will get. Today it has been sixteen years and from that day and in this sixteen years Baba has helped lots of person through her. She is just the mediator all the things are done by Baba himself. She gives bibhuti to those to whom Baba tells her to give. Baba has also given her a stick and with this lots of people have been cured of their illness. A Sai Mandir is being built there with the help of all the Sai devotees. It was blessed by Baba few days back by giving bhibhuti and his foot print. But still it needs more funds to be completed. So I would like to put forward a kind request with all the Sai devotees to contribute in this project, so that it will be completed soon. And I also would like to request all the Sai devotees to visit Dang when you are in Nepal. No one is obliged, but a little help certainly will help. OM SAI RAM!! Please send all the checks or draft in the name of BRIHASPATI SHRESTHA (SAI BAINEE) in the following address: Brihaspati Shrestha c/o Roopak S Rajkamal POBox 624 KamalPokhari Kathmandu Nepal Phone: 977-1-420152 Fax: 977-1-428081 email: roopak@gesbo.wlink.com.np

Sai in Annadanam-12, Sai Darbar, Hyderabad, India
Venue: Home for the Aged, Little Sister's of the poor, Mushirabad, Secunderabad, INDIA. Shri Kandhaswamy Raja from Canada has come forward to extend the required financial assistance for this project. Sharp at 8:30, the team members of http://www.saidarbar.com reached Shri.Shiridi Saibaba temple located in Sainikpuri. colony, Secunderabad. Special pooja was performed on behalf of Shri.Kandaswamy Raja and his other family members. As advised by the "Home for the Aged", Saidarbar volunteers reached the venue by 18:00 Hrs in the evening. The Ashram was started during the year 1903 on a spacious piece of land donated by His Excellency Nawab of Nizam. Today the Ashram is a huge building standing amidst beautiful garden with flowers. The marble statue of Sister Jeannie Jugan (1792-1879) at the entrance gave us a sense of welcome sign to all of us. The Ashram has its genesis traced to an Institution established during the year 1839 in France and later in India during the year 1903. Since then they are engaged in the noble task of extending similar services. Saidarbar team feels happy to have been associated with this Ashram. The inmates got assembled at the dining room, offered mass prayers and were served food at 18:30 Hrs with the active help rendered by the resident sisters. Saibanisa has recalled his stay in Hostels as a student and spent an hour happily in their company. Later the inmates were seen to have dispersed in different directions, some for a stroll and some for viewing the Television. Saidarbar team expressed their sincere thanks to the management of the "Home for the Aged" for having given the opportunity to serve the needy. May lord SAINATH bless Shri. Kandaswamy Raja of Canada and other members of his family for the financial help extended for the worthy cause. Reported by Smt.Madhu Gopal Ravada for http://www.saidarbar.com
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Experiences of Devotees

Surya Prasad, Bahrain, UAE
Baba helped me so many times in my life. I came to Bahrain on job and I got help from Baba in each and every aspect regarding my work and our family issues. In our house Baba is neither sadguru nor god for us but he is a part of our family. I left my father, mother and brothers in India and not maintaining good relations with any of them because of family problems. Baba is everything to me. My three year old daughter thinks Baba is her grand father she don't remember her actual grandpa since she was very young when she saw them. She talks to Baba photo and treats Baba like her grandpa. Whenever myself or my wife shouts her she will go and complain to Baba. Every night she will say good night to Baba before going to bed. We treat Baba as elder of our family.

Few days back we went to Indian Embassy to take new passports for my two daughters. My younger daughter was having fever and she vomited in the night. But in the morning she seemed to be alright and we took her to Indian Embassy. Myself and my wife were busy filling up the forms and my daughters were playing there. I completed my formalities and I saw my younger daughter fainted on the floor. I took her up on the shoulder and ran for the phone to call for emergency ward. Unfortunately it is very difficult to get the taxis near the Embassy. My wife and elder daughter were crying. All the people standing there were many suggestions like to take to the hospital, give her some water. In the meantime one local taxiwala came from somewhere and offered help to take us to the hospital. We rushed in his car to the hospital. On the way my daughter vomited so many times and I way busy cleaning her mouth. My wife was continuously crying. Taxiwala was keeping on consoling us telling that there is no problem for my daughter and she will be alright. He dropped us at the emergency ward and asked to go rush inside. I asked him to wait till I come back. He said not to think about anything and go inside. We rushed inside and admitted her and I came back after finishing necessary paper work to look for the taxiwala. To my surprise I didn't find him anywhere. While taking the treatment and when my daughter was sleeping on the bed quietly taking saline, my wife told me that when I am busy cleaning my daughter's vomiting she observed that taxiwala was murmuring something and touched my daughter's body and said KALLAS In Arabic it means "finish". After listening to this I came to a conclusion that the Baba came to help us as taxiwala in my difficult times. I recollected the story of Nana Chandorkar's daughter in Baba's life history book where he will send one of his followers to Nana giving Udi and aarathi in right time and save her life during delivery. When they came out to see the tangawala and find him nowhere. Nana says "SAI You will follow your devotees like a shadow and help them everywhere and in all times whenever they need you". I couldn't explain my feelings after experiencing this and said many thanks to BABA. What I can do to Baba other than developing more trust on him. He will always test his devotees trust and at the same time he helps them.

Rajaram Venkatakrishnan
Thirteen years ago I had to rush to see my grandfather (who is As maharaj's staunch devotee) who was admitted in the hospital for obstruction of gall bladder. I was a first year medical student and the doctors explained to me about the details of the problem and the need for the surgery. Together we tried to convince him for surgery. Surgery was scheduled the next morning and I stayed with in his room that night. In the middle of the night my grandfather woke me up and asked me whether I touched his head? I told him that I did not wake up until he woke me up. Next day morning , everybody's surprise said he felt better and said that in his dream Baba put his hand in stomach and pulled out something and placed his hand on his forehead. That is when he woke up. Repeat investigation showed no evidence of the gall stone and he is pain free till now. This is one of many incidents that happened in his life.
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Question of the Week

"How are Satsangs useful in one's spiritual pursuits?"

Vijayasree Kumar, San Jose, CA.
Please believe me, Satsang is like intoxication. Once you have tasted the true flavor of Satsang it will pull you towards it no matter where you are. In this matter I would like to share one of my personal Satsang experience. We experienced Satsang for three years due to Baba's grace through one of his great devotee and beloved daughter Dr. Jayanthi garu in Largo, Florida. We used meet in her house every Wednesday or Thursday evening. We deeply owe to Baba, Dr. Jayanthi garu and her family for giving us the taste of true Satsang for the past three years. Dr. Jayanthi garu proposed it, organized it and made it such a wonderful experience. We used to look forward to meet in her place and if we miss one week we used to feel very empty and listless. Dr. Jayanthi garu starts our satsang by prayers to Baba and to all the forms of Baba. Then we read Isavyasopanishat, Geeta makarandam, Upanishad ratnakaram, Bhagavatam ( for which I was not there as I moved away from Florida), Ramakrishna paramahansa's teachings and so many English and Telugu articles and books on spirituality. Almost all of them were given to us by our beloved Dr. Jayanthi garu. We used to discuss about all the articles we read and share our experiences. We celebrated all the festivals including Christmas, mother's day in our Satsang. Dr. Jayanthi garu ends our Satsang by Shanthi mantras, arathi to Baba and prasadam distribution. After attending Satsang we came to know life is more than what we feel and see in our day to day routine. Even though we haven't fully changed yet, we came to know that there is a way to fight the enemies of ego, jealousy, greed, anger, selfishness and so on with in ourselves. It helped us to experience the love of God and showed us the true purpose of life. Now we never feel alone because Baba is there with us all the time. Now our lives have become constant battle with in ourselves to conquer enemies with in us. Sometimes we get carried away and surrender to Maya even now. But our Satsang experience pulls us out of Maya with in short time. Before attending Satsang it used to take days and weeks to come out of Maya. It made us realize the true meaning of saying "your nature can be judged by the company you keep". Through Dr. Jayanthi garu Baba showed us the real beauty and meaning of stotrams/prayers and scriptures of various religions which are nothing but different paths and ways to reach the one and only Parabrahman. This reminds me of the articles written by Swami Jyotirmayananda and Swami Chinmayananda on Glory of Satsangh, which were given to us by Dr. Jayanthi garu in our Satsang. Many of you might have read them. Swami Jyotirmayananda wrote "In order to keep the body fit; you need to exercise, and have proper rest and nutrition. Similarly, in order to keep the mind fit you need to practice listening, reflection, meditation, and inquiry. All of these are possible in Satsang. Literally, Sat means Brahman, the absolute beyond time, space, and causation. Sanga means to contact or move towards. (Bhgavat geeta, chapter 17, Verse 26). When you move toward Brahman, you touch that cosmic stream of life, you become one with it. That is the highest meaning of satsangh. In practice, however satsang implies a method by which you create positive impressions in your unconscious. It implies building up good associations that elevate your mind and render your intellect pure. As you attend Satsang your mind begins to imbibe spiritual impressions and your intellect becomes gradually purified, you become a source of Satsang for yourself at all times." And it goes on explaining the beauty of Satsang and how to practice it. Swami Chinmayananda wrote a beautiful story about a bird which elevated it self to become prince of Kasi kingdom due to Satsang with great sage Narada. Recently Dr. Jayanthi garu left her physical body to become one with Baba. Though we miss her physical presence we feel her spirit everyday of our life. Every conversation with her and every minute we spend with her was a true Satsang. To me she is a saint sent by Baba, a guru, a friend, a physician and a mother. Thanks a million Baba, for all the wonderful experiences with her and with our fellow Satsang friends.

A Sai devotee, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Jai Sai Ram! By the grace of Sai Baba, while wondering for a lack of response to above question for the past two weeks and noting that there is not much mention of Satsangs in Shri Hemadpant's Shri Sai Satcharita, a couple of unexpected incidents almost signaled that I should send a response. Firstly, from a casual acquaintance that we least expected, we received an invitation to attend a dinner and he said that was to be followed by 'Satsang". Secondly, as I reached home and was browsing, the first book that caught my attention was from Srinivas Gita Satsangh Trust. Thus encouraged by those coincidences, thought of making a minor contribution.

Essentially, Satsangs are ways and means of remembering the Great one, often through a group approach. Satsangs are more likely to result in increased devotion and focus due to the positive effect of those companions praying together. Recalling the name of God (Sai Baba), telling and singing of Sai's stories and songs are among the most easy and convenient ways of controlling our mind and attraction to our selfish desires. Devotional remembrance of God - Sai leads to love, devotion, faith, forgiveness, calmness, and eventual self-realization. The advantage of Satsangs and Bhajans are that everyone can easily follow a leader reading or singing devotional songs and stories even if we do not know them. Jai Sai Ram!

Ravin Gnanasambandam, Ithaca, NY
His Holiness Shri Sathya Sai Baba said that Satsangs are very important integral part of one's spiritual life. A cup of water when mixed with ten cups of milk will be called as milk. On the other hand, even a cup of pure milk when mixed with ten cups of water, becomes useless. Satsangs have the unique function of enhancing one's spiritual quest, especially so if one is new to this mode of life. Fortunate are those who have access to Sai Satsangs in their community. Blessed are those who believe and participate in Satsangs.
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