Many of us go to Baba as a bhaktha and approach him as an elder, father, mother, brother, friend, family member, or one of the many descriptions that any earthly language permits us. The relationship between Baba and every one of his bhaktas (devotees) is unique and different. Every one is treated differently based on their stage of life. Once someone starts getting closer to Baba, His great and unique personality starts showing its true color a little bit at a time. We joke with Baba, we test him, and we pray to him. For what? For his grace, his love and his companionship. What does one expect to get from the love and companionship of a mad fakir? Materialists tend to ask for wealth, progeny, prosperity, name, fame, and riches. On the spiritual note, one asks to serve at his feet and become his sevak (servant).

What does it mean to serve at the Lord's feet? The Lord who lives in a rural hamlet, has only a kafni robe to cover his body, has no money, wealth, home or family. What is his service and to what extent is one willing to serve his master? The real treasures open up based on contemplating this. Faith and Patience are not words to be merely spoken or preached. They should be put to practice too! Because, how much faith does one have in his master is tested on a continual basis.

There are living examples of his sevaks (or Apostles) some very well known and some not too well known that have embarked on a journey with their master. How fulfilling and rewarding that life is cannot even be imagined by us. Before his Mahasamadhi, Baba himself entrusted different work to different people like Nana, Mahalsapahty, Ganu, Booty, Sathe, Hemadpant, Upasani Maharaj, Meher Baba, Narayan Guru, Abdul, Bade Baba, Laxmi Bai, Radhakrishna Ayi, Tatya, Shama, Shinde, Megha, Bayja to name a few. Some of the very famous Sai sevaks who were entrusted his work after Baba attained Mahasamadhi are B.V.NarasimhaSwamy, Sai Sharananand, to current day sai sevaks Sai Narayan Baba of Panvel, Chandra Bhanu Satpathy of Chattarpur and many more that are carrying on his work silently. It is very hard to visualize how Baba carries on his work through his darbar. The king is resourceful beyond imagination! During his stay in Shirdi, he would get his work done sitting in the masjid by his influence on literally everything that one could imagine. There are stories in Sai Satcharita, which depict his influence on nature, the five elements, and even the mind of his Devotees! The same thing continues today. Baba as per his promise speaks and moves from his tomb! He continues to influence his sevaks and bhaktas according to their needs.

Can everyone become the Master's torchbearer (Sevak)? It is striking to note that since the time of BABA, he chose the one to whom he would entrust his work to be carried out and to be his sevak. It is a known fact that nobody can go to BABA unless he wills it. Similarly, only they on whom HE rests his grace, that makes capable of carrying out his work, can carry out Baba's work.

What is Baba's work (seva)? Can it be so easily done treating it as any other job? Far from being easy, Baba's work is very difficult to accomplish. One goes through an internal change of mindset, personality, and character before being able to embark on working for Baba's mission. Baba's grace starts making one realize and experience something that can only be felt and not expressed through any other medium.

Baba's work should not and can not be taken lightly. Baba says "Never take up any work if one is not inclined to complete it. Do not do anything half heartedly." When something goes wrong, it is very easy to say "Baba does not want it to happen" instead of saying "We are not capable of accomplishing that task hence Baba is not giving the permission". It is very hard to accept that Baba works on all levels and at all times. It is often said that "Baba works on a spiritual level but still we have to do the mundane things". The very differentiation that we are different from BABA or that BABA is not directing all the actions is what makes the task to get accomplished difficult. We tend to forget that all our actions stem from our mind. How could Baba initiate an action and contradict the same? It is only our convenience, the mind set!

For even a simple task as moving our hand, first there is a mental thought, which translates into action. The thoughts are nothing more than a form of energy waves and the mind as a radar or an antenna receives the impulses and churns out as a response, the thoughts. Depending on the frequency of the antenna, certain types of thoughts are received by the mind and the rest ignored just like the antenna of the TV selectively receives waves of the frequency it is programmed for! That does not mean that other waves do not exist in its environment. Similarly as the mind is tuned under the grace of BABA, the personality changes and by following Baba's principles, one can work their way from being a bhaktha to a sevak. Yes, in a way, Seva IS Saadhana.
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Experiences of Devotees

Nagesh
My name is Nagesh I love God Saibaba since my childhood, now I am 24 and I am doing MCA course in Bangalore, I use to think that I shall go to Shiridi when I was small but I never got a chance to visit there which I use to regret a lot I thought that I will never be able to go to Shiridi. When I came to Bangalore in 1999, I started to go to Sai mandir near to my hostel. Then I started to learn a lot about Saibaba I use to read Sai Satcharitha, one day one of my hostel mate whom I hardly talk asked me to accompany to Shiridi with him, I have no words to describe my happiness Sai Baba has fulfilled my wish which I thought is not possible. I think unless until he calls you no one can go to him. Om Sairam
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Devotees say...

Nikhil Anand
This is in response to a devotee's discomfort in others asking Sai for "green camrys", and "H-1 Visas". I am in astute agreement with the individual's observation about the (assumed) existence, to a certain degree, of this element we know as 'Greed' when we keep on pestering our sweet Lord for more. I concede to the fact that Sai is not any materialistic 'kalapataru' (I meant a "wish-fulfilling tree"...forgive my ignorance if I am wrong), and that too a perpetual one. It was especially 'refreshing' to see such a fantastically enthusiastic response! (With all due respect).

HOWEVER, although this remains only a personal et amateur thought I share with you, I should also tend to think about Lord Sai's stance on this issue. From what I CAN remember (I have not read Hemadpant in a long time), I thought Sai wanted a healthy mix of spiritualism and materialism, for as long as we tread this worldly domain! The Lord himself did not rapidly synthesize saints, with "bare necessities" out of his devotees! I am talking about people who had ambitions of their own, places to go, and things to do. He gave them his world to enjoy, and his grace gave them the (should I say) amenities to enjoy it with! He is Sai, for crying out loud! An ocean of mercy!

It is hard to get on with "bare necessities", sir. We are mere mortals, not saints. Dispassion is hard to develop, and we require our sweet Lord for it. We do nothing here. His grace achieves everything FOR US.

And speaking about "Green Cards", we just cannot throw away everything! We have taken this human birth and with it comes RESPONSIBILITY, which encompasses many things. If an individual seeks a better standard of life, and he deems a particular location to be an optimum place for the happiness of his family and his "children and grandchildren", he is just fulfilling a responsibility, and nothing else. I HOPE you don't mean that he should, in the divine name of Lord Sai, throw everything away, be as simple as possible, and not seek to attain the highest good possible for his family and others, which is religiously justified.

An alien land DOES NOT rob you of your religion and your morality. If it does, do not blame the land, but blame the rickety and top-heavy nature of YOUR beliefs and principles and pray Him for mercy. He is the Lord of the world and lives and showers his grace EVERYWHERE. The many wonderful Sai activities in the US (for example) amply justify this point. And we have a wide world to enjoy.... opportunities to avail of, and I do not think that an "If-there-be-my-Hari-he-will-feed-me on-my-cot" attitude works all the time, spiritually or materialistically. Unless you ask your mother, and you pretend successfully that you are not hungry, she cannot feed you. (And Sai is a 'different' mother altogether!) THAT is not the true message of Sai. (I think). He should be pretty displeased (amused?) with his child if he acted thus.

Concluding this rather long specimen of ignorance, I should like to point out that we get what we deserve, according to Sai. Sai alone. Pleas, promises, and prayers may be sent heavenward, but to ALWAYS expect Sai to answer them and fulfill them, would be repugnant disrespect. We are belittling our spiritual giant to the degree of a puny Genie-in-a-bottle and nothing more. Lord, I apologize for my ignorance and ego and pray your holy feet for a pinch of what your "Fakir"s "overflowing" coffers have to offer. Om Sairam!

Pinky Garg
Few weeks ago, one of Baba's devotees questioned what should she do to stop fellow workers who take advantage of her knowledge or niceness and benefit from it. Dear sister, we all experience these challenges each day one way or the other, however, if our heart is pure and we are honest, no one can harm us and no one can take advantage of us. Truth always wins, it might take time, but in the end, you will be the winner. You must have a strong faith in Baba, as He protects His devotees from each side. Secondly, who are we to do anything? Everything happens with His will. Anything that happens there is always a reason. Just see good in everyone even in your enemies, see Baba in them, then you will not fear anyone.

For those who ask others to pray for them, please remember when your heart calls on to Baba, you do not need anyone else's prayers; Baba will come to you. Baba is all Merciful, he does not need any one between Him and His devotee. Just see Him in you, talk to Him, Do not think Baba's picture a mere picture, and see Him in Real. You will definitely see Him. Baba will never let His devotees down. We must not say that we are Baba's ardent devotees instead, we must pray to Him to accept us as His devotee. I pray to My All Merciful Baba to bestow His Love in Abundance on all of us and bless us with what He came to give us.
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Prayer Club

Kanduri Krishnamohan
I am writing in response to a request by a Sai devotee that appeared in the newsletter on 19 April 2001. Our son also suffered rashes (but not itchiness) for almost a week that did not subside for almost a week. We took him to hospital where they suggested applying Calamine lotion for the itching. The doctors were at a loss to ascertain the cause. Finally, we stopped going to the doctor and just applied Baba's udhi that we had with us and prayed to Baba for the rashes to subside. By Baba's blessings the rashes subsided. Therefore, I would request your friend to try Baba's udhi, which in my opinion is the best medicine. We will also pray to Baba to ease the discomfort of the child.

Rekha Ram
I am going through a very confused phase of my life and I am unable to make a decision for fear of going wrong. On one hand, I have the problem of not being able to get married and on the other, I am struggling to get a good job. I am confused whether I should remain in the U.S. or go home. Please pray to Baba for me to show me the right path.

Usha Sastry
Dear Shiridi Sai. You are in my heart day & night. Please show us some path to lead simple life. Reveal thyself. My sister children are getting married soon. Bless them and shower your blessings on them. Bless my son in his studies.
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Quotation of the Week

It could be argued that there are more Christians and Muslims in the world today than there were during the lifetimes of Christ and Mohammed and that, therefore, a mere numerical increase in followers is no yardstick for judging the merit or otherwise of a teacher or prophet. What must needs to be pointed out in this context is that what Sai Baba of Shirdi began was not a new religious movement, nor did he ever seek to wean a devotee away from the faith into which he was born (or belonged). On the contrary, he expressly disapproved of proselytization or "getting yourself a new father" as he once called it. He constantly exhorted his devotees not to deprecate the religious practices and precepts of those whose beliefs differed from their own - Perin S. Bharucha in "Sai Baba of Shirdi"

Question of the Week

Q."Why did not Baba leave any successor?"
A. by Priya Srinivasan, Omaha NE
In the first place, Baba never talked about leaving a successor. After all, he did not bring forth a new religion to this world. The purpose of his avatar was to bring people to the path of salvation and remove the religious differences that existed in those days. When lord Vishnu took avatars, there was always a purpose and once when the purpose of the avatar was over, there was no aspect of a successor to the avatar. This was the same with Sai Baba also.

Baba's main aim was to instill in the minds of devotees that all religions lead to one goal of GOD. He never talked about anybody succeeding him. Even though he is not in flesh today. He still exists all around and within us. There can never be a successor for the almighty!

Q."Why did not Baba leave any successor?"
A. by Robert Kirk, New York
Aum Sai Ram! I believe that the approach I would like to take in answering this particular question will be in undermining its validity. Some readers may remember my short piece where I honored my Gurus, Swami Muktananda, and Swami Sivanesan. I am forever grateful to them (as well as other holy men not yet mentioned) for directing my love to Sai Baba. My Babajis were devotees of Sai Baba of Shirdi and Nityananda Baba of Ganeshpuri. Swami Muktananda personally told me that he spent ten years walking to Shirdi every other day to perform arati before Sai Baba's samadhi shrine; and in Shirdi, to this day his work there still remains a tribute to his love for Sai Baba. He settled in Ganeshpuri to complete his sadhana with his Gurudeva, Bhagavan Nityananda. My beloved Swami Sivanesan spent years serving Nityananda Baba. One day he approached Nityananda with a coconut and asked Bade Baba to make him just like him. Swami Nityananda returned the coconut and told him to resume his journey. Swami Sivanesan was directed to Shirdi and settled there to complete his sadhana with Gurudeva, Sai Baba. It is said that several illuminated beings frequented Bhagawan Nityananda. Devotees of this beloved communion between Bhagawan Nityananda and Shirdi Sai Baba are numbered in countless thousands; yet, this is just one of several sacred lineage that tributaries into the ocean of Sai Baba's tradition of Datta Marg. The thought of successorship is hotly argued to this day among young devotees; however, my love for my teachers makes the word successor completely invalid and born of ignorance. Swami Muktananda's devotees consider him the successor of Bhagavan Nityananda; and publicly, Baba admitted to this. Privately he told me that successorship just does not work like that. If a Guru has properties and possessions, he will choose the spiritually advanced necessary to continue his duties; otherwise, the Guru may not name any one person. If someone truly lives in fullness of his or her Sadguru's teachings, what cannot be achieved?

Someone like Sai Baba of Shirdi could have penetrated dozens with God realization. Does this mean that they will become public figures? There were many great beings that Baba acknowledged as being one with him during his lifetime. They were not necessarily his devotees. Some were dearest friends who were accomplished Siddha Gurus. Where does the word successor come into reality?

If you become devoted to one of Sai Baba's disciples, then you may call him successor. Gurudeva passed away with a handful of rupees for others to disperse and promises he has never left unfulfilled? If anyone prays earnestly to Baba for a living Guru in order to become closer to Him, he will send one to find you. You need not search. He will be of a pure unbroken lineage. Even so, make sure you check his credentials carefully. Ask some old timers about Sai Baba's circus. They will smile and tell you to beware.

Most of all, remember that Baba remains exactly the same as he did when he walked the streets of Shirdi. It is not necessary to go further. Remember his words always, " If you demand a certain thing from me, and I find that your demand is true, I promise you that it will be immediately fulfilled. You will hear my bones answering your call. My dust will give you replies. My Name will call you."
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Sai Activities

Sri Saidas Babaji's visits NJ
Reported by Shabnam Sanyal, New Jersey You are cordially invited with family & friends to receive Sai blessings and attend bhajans in the presence of His Holiness Sri Saidas Babaji (International Chairman, Sai Foundation Organizations) and hear his divine words of wisdom per details below.

Date: May 6 2001, Sunday.
Time: 5pm.
Venue: Bombay Cuisine Banquet Hall
Address:Howard Johnson, 2389 Rt.70 West, Cherry Hill, New Jersey 08002.
Tel: 856-773-1200

Saidarbar, Hyderabad, India
The continued progress of saidarbar.com is not possible but for the divine blessings of Sainath and the encouragement shown by our well wishers. Seven Annadhaanam programs were conducted during the month of March, 2001.Tele- Satsanghs were also held with devotees from Colorado Springs and Chicago, USA.Those desirous to participate in Tele-satsanghs may contact saibanisa@hotmail.com. It is also heartening to inform you that Saidarbar chapters from Danbury, USA, and Kitwe, Zambia commenced on Sri Ramanavami (02-04-2001). In this endeavor, we humbly seek the support from everyone.
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