Baba's begging continued until His Mahasamadhi. During His final days, when His movements were restricted due to illness, Baba delegated the honor of begging His food to others. Such was His insistence on the honorable act of bowing in front of others for the daily bread. Begging aids in the purgation of pride and brings in humility. Humility is a easy path to God. Baba's insistence on begging is only to highlight this axiomatic truth.

Scriptures say that the duty of feeding a mendicant falls on the society as the renounced do not earn their livelihood by other means. However, mendicancy is not a way for everyone. Only a few can tread that path. Mrs. Shaila Hattiangadi in "Sai's Story" wrote as follows:

Baba never recommended Sanyasa. "Sanyasa", He said, "is not the way for you. In fighting desires which are normal, you will lose all your strengths. The more you fight, the larger the temptations will become. And if you drain your energy and strength in trying to fight and overcome them, you will have no power left in you to reach God. Instead, live a normal, natural life, reserve the energy and use it positively to find God". "Sanyasa", he would say to His devotees, "is a path for select few, to be followed under divine guidance and directive, and not by one's inclination alone. It is very difficult path"

The real significance of Baba's begging is glorification of the virtue of humility and not just as an act of a mendicant. Let us on this Thursday, resolve to emulate our Sadguru and emphasis on the virtue of humility in our own ways.
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Contributed Article: Sufism

Learning about Sufism is of particular importance to Sai devotees because Baba's teachings have distinct roots in Sufism. A careful observation of Sadguru Sainath's life history on earth also reveals a connection with Sufism. Sufism is a part of Islam. Sufism or tasawwuf, is known to be the inner, mystical, or psycho-spiritual dimension of Islam. Sufism is simply the name for the inner or esoteric dimension of Islam. Sufis, those who practice Sufism see themselves to be on a spiritual journey toward God with distinct experiences of consciousness in their journey. This journey is referred to as the path (tariqah). While all Muslims believe that they are on the pathway to God and will become close to God after death, Sufis believe that it is possible to become close to God and to experience this closeness even as one is alive. In the several centuries since its inception, Sufism produced a rich body of literature and procedures. Sufism also produced several learned men including Hasan al-Basri, Bayazid-i Bistami, and Abu 'l Hasan Kharqani (to be continued).
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Experiences of Devotees

Abhay Pathania
I am sai devotee. I would love to share this very unusual experience with all of you which just happened 1 hour ago. before this I would like to tell you something about my recent past - I have been under going a lot of trouble regarding my career and my personal life. Its been more than 2 years now. I was thinking for a reason for this , and thought that i havent been conducting myself properly . I developed ego and had become a little selfish. I started believeing in baba since october 2000 . During these later months I developed a lot of faith in Sai Baba too. For some reason I promised Baba that I will never do wrong to other people and will not have any ego and try to do most of what he has taught( have patience and faith). He has helped me so much in these few months. My state of mind changed radically. Some one from inside me forced me not to associate myelf with "I" ( ego ) and do good to others no matter what. To have "patience" and "faith". I didn't do idol worshiping or listen to kirtans as such, but its just that I have a Sai photo and His life history book. I have been reading about His life history and of course been reading it on the web site too. Just a week ago started to listen to his kirtans available on the web site.(sai darshan)

I spend a lot of time talking to him and trying to ask him a few questions and get answeres through his facial expressions. Its become my habit. I look at him in the photo and sometimes see him smiling. If he is smiling that day something that I want happens to me, and if not, He warns me of something. Well, this might sound absurd but its absolutely true. Slowly my faith in Him increased and I spent a lot of my time talking to His photo and guessing maybe 3-4 hours togeather.

Today something absolutley out of the world happened to me. I was as usual talking to him listining to some of my favourite songs, reading his life history book and then listining to kirtans at random. This continued for 6-7 hours since 9.30 pm yesterday( 23rd march 2001).

It was around 3.45 am in the morning today(24th march 2001) and I was staring at his photo. I will try to do my level best to describe what happened. I experienced his presence.

Suddenly he started to glow and smile in his photo and radiate heat. I mean I could not believe myself. The feeling of ecstacy. So much happiness that I burst into tears. I started to shiver and said I cant believe this... this cant be ture...O my god!!! i must have said this 3 times and closed my eyes!!! Well it lasted for probably 10 sec.. but they are one of the best 10 seconds of my life..

I can tell u I wasn't dreaming and was wide awake . I feel so good and different. Its like all my pain disappeared in one moment... of my life.. I hope this message do good to all. I think having complete faith in Sai is very important. Believe me He is very much there!!!
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Devotees say...

Alphonso, USA
To answer Nagendra Reddy Bandi quest in the Ten Commandments, Quote- ''Thou shall have no other Gods before me." ' Now, what's that supposed to mean. Does it mean that we cannot pray Baba or any other God if we pray Jesus or does it say that we should have faith in only one God? Can any one explain? (Sai Vichaar -15th March)

OM SAI RAM. I believe God is the life around us. He binds us together, whether you believe in God or not. He is there. He is in every living being. He is in us and we are in Him and you are but Him alone. You are His representative to others. All of us should have faith in God (be it Lord Balaji, Sai Baba, and/or Jesus) and we should never doubt Him. Is not that what most religions teach us? Religion is only a mean to the end but not the end goal. Our goal is seeing Him everywhere and in everyone, thus fulfilling our purpose and realization: GOD ALONE IS and there is none other! Thus the saying 'Thou shall have no other gods before me', for in the very beginning was the word (OM/Aum) and the word was with God and the word was God (Bible-John 1: 1). I think it is important to think big by rising above ones limited scene of individuality (only Jesus) and identify with the power above all - the Creator, Sustainer and Destroyer of life itself, for God is one. However I cannot refute that some do think as Jesus to be the only way! To me the soul and God are not separate. The appearance of separateness is an illusion created through the soul's ignorance. As it progresses through spiritual enlightenment, the soul realizes that God and it are one and the same. Faith in and devotion to God helps you achieve this. After death, I believe that the soul merges with God. So for now we should love the Lord your God (Ishta Devata), listen to His voice, and hold fast to Him. For the Lord is your life. OM SHANTI OM.

Usha Raghunathan, Chennai
Dear Radhika - I am devoted servant of Sai Maharaj. He is everything to me. I will sincerly pray for your husband's speedy recovery. I am sume with HIS Grace both of you will lead a happy life. With regard to reading Sai Satcharitha, even if you are not able to complete in a weeks' time, you can read a chapter a day, which I am doing for the last one year. It gives me immense courage and the overall strength to accept anything that comes your way. I wish you all prosperity and happines. Sai Maharaj - Please help Radhika. Regards

M.S.N. Murthy, Texas
Dear Rajesh! don't get disheartened! The very fact that you are feeling ashamed of your vice ( drinking habit), itself indicates that Baba's grace is on you! Please try to cultivate Self discipline. I do not know, where you reside. Try to visit a temple of Baba or Datta, for Sai is only an Avathar of Datta, and also develop contacts with like minded persons. Worship and Satsang will provide peace & strength to your mind. On occasions, you feel tempted to buy liqor, you use the money to give to the poor and less fortunate persons. I am sure, if you divert your mind to other useful and worthy causes,You, by Baba's grace will wean away from that "Dirty" habit and begin to find a new life! Take a book and start writing Sai's name eleven times on the first day and 22 times on the next day and so on till you reach writing 108 times daily. Baba will help, surely! Just move a step towards Him and Heis there to move a dozen or more steps towards you! Love Yourself and all others! Respect Your Mother, Father and Guru. Love all & Serve all! We all pray for your redemption and for your bright & happy future, by Baba's grace!
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Prayer Club

Sai Devotee
Jai Sai Ram! I am an ardent devotee of Baba and see him in all functions of my Life. He is my reference point. Till today I have had so many experiences of Baba assisting me in my life. He has given me whatever I have asked for. Today I am witing to all Sai bandhus to join me in my Prayer for my parents, who are on the verge of Financial collapse. All their lives hard earnings may be swindled with out Baba's grace. I pray to Baba to please avert this situation, if it has to happen, then let me take the brunt, not them. They are also Bhakts of Baba and donot deserve this. I request all of you to please take a minute and join me in my Prayer to Sai Ma ! If HE wishes anything is possible. Om Sai Ram.

Saurabh and Devika , Sri Lanka
We got married 2 years back and have had the good fortune of visiting Shirdi after our marraige. We have gone through good times in these two years and we would like to thank Baba for his love and support .We are unemployed for the past 3 months and many good opportunities have passed us by . We have knocked on all possible doors in order to get good jobs . We are living on goodwill and love of our family and friends and we do not know how long we can sustain like this. We know that by Baba's grace the good times will come our way , but we pray to Baba to give us the strength to endure these tough times . Maybe we are going through these bad times so that we can appreciate the good times when they come . OM SAI RAM
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Quotation of the Week

"Help the poor, feed the hungry and afford shelter to the homeless. God assumes diverse forms and there is no knowing when and in what form He will appear before you and beg; so do not be harsh to a beggar, do not give vent to anger, but remain silent if you are not inclined to give." - Shirdi Sai Baba

Question of the Week

Q."What did Baba say regarding the need of a Guru in one's life"? A. by Priya Srinivasan, Omaha, NE
Baba has always stressed the importance of the GURU. The relationship between the GURU and disciple is uncomparable to any other kind of relation. Baba relates the greatness of GURU in the following story: Once Baba and 3 others were looking for a temple in the forest on their own and could not find it. AT that time a vanjari asked them to sit down and rest for a while and thens earch again. 3 of them would not listen but baba listened to the vanjari and Lo! he found his Guru in front of him. His guru asked Baba to follow him. He then tied Baba to a well for 5 hours in the night and went away. When he came back in the morning,Baba's Guru asked him how he felt, and Baba replied "In eternal Bliss. When I know that my Guru was with me at all times, there was no fear in me". In this way, Baba explains the importance of Guru. Baba has said that there are several ways to attain the right path. One of them is to go through deep and dense forests ie face difficulties before attaining salvation and the other is to attain salvation with the help of a Guru. Baba started the Gururpoornima celebrations in shirdi as a mark of respect for the Guru.
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Sai Activities

Shri Sai Baba Sansthan, Shirdi
Ramnavami festival will be celebrated in Shirdi from Sunday April 1st through Tuesday April 3rd. Monday is the actual festival day. Dwarkamai will remain open all night on Monday and Tuesday for darshan by devotees. The three day program comprises of poojas, traditional arathis, parayana, Satyavratha pooja and special bhajan kirtans by invited artists. For more information please contact the Executive Officer, Shri Sai Baba Sansthan, At Post Shirdi, Tal. Rahata, Dist Ahmednagar 423109.

Sai Baba Temple, Panvel
Om Sai Ram. I would like to request all Sai devotees to visit and join Yahoo Clubs to see pictures of Sri Sai Baba and also pictures of Sadguru Sri Narayan Baba of Panvel. You can also see the daily thought of the day by Sadguru Sri Narayan Baba on this site. Start your day after reading thought of the day at www.surf.to/saibaba. Devotees are requested to contact by TeleFax 91-22-7453331, by email at narayanbaba@hotmail.com or by Telephone7451001 for further details- Bhisham Vachhani, UAE

BABA PRAYER CENTRE, CHENNAI, INDIA

March 27, 01 5th ANNUALDAY celebration and KUMARBABA 54th Birthday 6 to 9pm

April 2, 01 SRI RAMANAVAMI CELEBRATION 6to9pm satsang by SRI. P.NAGARAJA SARMA TOPIC : My exprience with saints

April 23, 01 "DWARKAMAI" fondation stone laying function at CHENNIR KUPPAM near chennai bangalore bypass road 9:30am to 10:30am

May 4, 01 MEENAKSHI THIRU KALYANA POOJA at NAGASAI TEMPLE Coimbatore 27 KUTHUVILLAKKU POOJA and LALITHA SAHASRANAMAM BABA 108 LAKSHMI 108 stotram 9:30am to 12noon

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