Many of us feel a sense of inner peace when we're out in nature. We feel a sense of timelesness. We become aware of our own almost insignificance in relation to it. We can't change it; we can't control it. But the thought is somehow reassuring. We feel content to be a part of something so awe-inspiring and unarguably "there".

There's a sense of balance and harmony in nature. Seasons come and go with regularity. There are cycles of life, giving and receiving in a beautiful harmonious whole. Even cataclysmic events-storms, earthquakes, floods-are part of a larger harmony, a natural cycle of growth and change. Nature is always becoming. The beauty of nature constantly unfolds in accordance with its laws.

Nature teaches us more about inner peace. It reminds us that there are laws and that they are in control. With that reminder is a sense of comfort that there is order in the universe. We might as well attempt to reorder the seasons or annul the effects of gravity as to change the consequences of violating natural law in the human dimension. We simply cannot be a law unto ourselves without consequence. Inner peace and quality of life come only as we discover and align with the fundamental Laws of Life.

The inner peace we are talking about is obviously more than the absence of war. It is not a retreat into the wilderness to avoid the complexities and conundrums of daily living. The inner peace we are talking about is a function of our deep inner life. It's joyful living. It's found in the midst of life, not in retreat from it.

To the many devotees who sought real treasures, the ocean of love and mercy, Lord Sainath warned his devotees of roadblocks viz. ego, pride, anger, greed, jealousy, etc. in attaining this inner peace and gave his words of wisdom and the two fundamental principles in attaining inner peace viz. Faith and Patience.

To Abdul, Baba said, "Vices (actions that produce bad habits) can overpower a man. Do not be under their control, triumph over them. If one truly discriminates, good qualities will arise in one and keep company until the end of one's life and will serve one well bringing inner peace".

Take a moment and think about your own life. What does "inner peace" mean to you? Where does it come from? Are you satisfied with the amount and quality of inner peace in your life?

(Source: Inspired by the book "First Things First" from Covey Leadership)
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Contributed Article: Meditation, the food for the Soul!

Strength, energy, and enthusiasm are required for all our activities. God designed humans with three layers, the body, the mind, and the spirit. The spirit is in its exalted form in the human beings as compared to all other living creation. For our survival, we have to feed our body with food and feed the mind with our activities, studies, and some entertainment. Then what about feeding our soul, the true core of our being? Here comes the need of meditation. Meditation is the energy capsule to our soul. Meditation keeps us healthy at the spiritual level. Through meditation we charge our spirit, we link our little being with the Divine. Meditation followed by moral character and good habits boosts our inner strength.

As a consequence to above, let us see the questions such as what is meditation, how to meditate, on what to meditate and when to meditate. Paramahansa Yogananda says " By meditation we connect the little joy of the soul with the vast joy of the Spirit. Meditation should not be considered as an ordinary concentration. Meditation is that special form of concentration in which the attention has been liberated from restlessness and focused on God. Meditation is therefore the concentration used to know God ". Paramahansaji also says, "First things must come first. When you wake up in the morning, meditate. If you do not, the whole world will crowd into claim you and you will forget God. At nights, meditate before sleep claims you. The more you meditate the more helpful you can be to others as unselfish people expand their consciousness. Make even a short meditation so intense that it will seem that you have spent hours with Him. The joy that awaits in the silence behind the portals of your mind no human tongue can tell ".

Then follows the next important question on what to meditate. Different people meditate on different objects, on different mantras or forms of different deities depending upon their temperaments and aptitudes. In this Kaliyuga, the God's namajapa is prescribed as the best thing to meditate. One can chant the divine names, "Hare Ram, Hare Krishna", " OmSairam", "Om Sai Shree Sai Jaya Jaya Sai", Gayatri mahamantra, or Saigayatri mahamantra to name a few important. Though Saibaba did not instruct any mantra, He encouraged taking the Hare Ram mantra to a woman devotee. Baba encouraged His favorite devotee Megha to do Gayatri mahamantra japa. Among all mantras, Gayatri mantra is acknowledged by saints and seers as one of the most powerful mantras. Gayarti generates the most powerful spiritual energies while chanting. It charges the individual's spirit and the environment with high-energy positive vibrations. Gayatri nullifies the vibrations of the negative energy. May be that all these mantras are spiritual secrets, let us discuss in the interest of the serious seekers.

The small rhyme of Gayarti mahamantra is capable of imparting all the four purposes of human life, Dharma Artha, Kama and Moksha. Through meditation of Gayatri, we are praying God to enlighten our intellect so that in the bright light of that intellect we can see the real nature of our true spirit and see our Father/God. Gayatri is universal in its message.

Similar to the above Gayatri mahamantra we have Saigayatri for Sai devotees. Swami Prajnananda perceived Saigayatri in a state of trance in Shiridi:

Om Shiridinathaya Vidhmahe
Satchidanandaya Dheemahi
Tannoo Sayi Prachodayat

Let us meditate on Shiridi Sainath, the embodiment of Truth, Knowledge and Bliss, may He enlighten our intellect. Swamy Prajnananda strongly suggested meditating on the above two mantras. If we can not meditate 3 times a day, we can do two times morning and evening. The above meditation takes only 5 minutes at a time. He strongly asked us to meditate/experiment sincerely for a few days and experience the positive results ourselves. Our sincere thanks to Swamiji for his serious spiritual advice.

(Contributed by Syamasundar, Saibaba Temple, Houston, TX, Contribution based on the discourse by Swami Prajnananda, Saiketan Baba Temple, New Delhi)
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Experiences of Devotees

Ashok Kumar Gupta, New Delhi, India
Today is 4th of August, the festival of Raksha Bandhan. Today Baba blessed us and showed His presence with the Udi coming from the photo and the Statue. Halwa was served to Baba in the morning. After some time when we started our breakfast, we saw Baba's lips with some oily stuff, as if Baba has just finished His breakfast. Thus, Baba accepted the Rakhi. On 2 August, it was Birthday of Mrs. Veena Gupta and Thursday. This day also Baba blessed us, and the Udi was coming from 10 different photos hanging from the walls, besides the Udi coming from photos and Statue in mandir. This time Udi must have been not less than 6-7-tea spoonful. For the Birthday, I presented Mrs. Veena Gupta a big size (30 by 42 inches) photo of Baba. Udi also appeared on this photo at four places. Both the hands and both the feet. It is very difficult to express the feelings in words and one has to imagine it. As usual, the Sai Amrit Vani was performed from 11 AM to 12 noon. At this time, also Baba blessed Mrs. Veena Gupta and her head was full of Udi and with Udi the impression of hand was visible clearly showing the fingers and palm. Again as usual, the prasad was sprinkled with Udi. Through out the day there were visitors. At about nine in the evening/night we noticed honey coming from the hand of Baba in the new photo. The honey was not thick and such could not be noticed earlier. The cushion of the chair, which was just below the photo, was having many spots of the honey. Honey was collected on the finger also and in the night, it was collected with the help of water. In the mandir, there were tiny drops on the photos of some liquid, which we could not identify. They were reappearing as soon as we clean them. The symbols on the photo formed by Udi were of OM. Cross, Moon, and Star besides some other figures. But this time there was figure of word RAM in the Udi, which fell on the paper from the photo. There were strange things happening on Thursdays but not so many as happened on this day. For many Thursdays, a symbol of 'Trisool' was also appearing on the photo along with other symbols. . Baba blesses His devotees not only on Thursdays but on all the days. Some time it has so happened that we have placed some book or photo before Baba and Baba has blessed us by putting Udi on it. We wish Baba to bless all His devotees. Jai Sai Ram
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Devotees say...

Pochimcherla Padmasastry
There is the story of a young man who was riding a cycle on a dark night along a crowded road; the police officer on duty asked him to stop and alight, for, he had no lamp on his cycle. The fellow however, shouted, " policeman! Keep away. Of course, I have no lamp; but beware. I have no brake, either!" That is the pathetic condition of every one now. No one has the lamp of wisdom, or the brake of sense-control. How then can they go along the road to Ananda, without causing injury to themselves or others? The cyclist must have both; man too has need of wisdom and self-control. Or else, he is certain to ruin this chance he has got, to save himself.

Shree Priya
Dear Sai devotees, Please let me know if there is any Sai temple in Miami, Florida (USA.

Geetika Pawan Sethi
Jai Sai Ram. I have just signed for Sai Vichar after reading it for the first time and finding it very informative. It is all because of the blessings SaiBaba showers on us all day long that we succeed in all that we do. I have strongly believed in him and have some faith and devout attachment towards him. He always shows me the way. It was today just in the middle of the night at 2am that I woke up with a thought of him and all that is in my mind is that I should fast on Thursday. But as I have never fasted in my life before, I would like someone to please guide me on how to keep the fast for Baba. Baba again please show me the way.

Meenakshi Verma
Om Sai Ram! I have recently shifted to Moscow and I would be really happy and grateful to know if there is any Sai Baba Mandir in Moscow, Russia. Thank You.

Syamasundar, Houston, TX.
In last week's Saivichar Sai devotee Shree mentioned her sister's state of unhappiness in spite of her family comforts and status. Let her take to Gayatri or Saigayatri mahamantra and charge her being with this divine energy. The same holds good for all of us. Since the last few days, I have been contemplating on the idea of sharing my little knowledge of meditation with the blessed readers of Saivichar. Usually on Sunday morning I won't wake up until 7-8 hrs, but today I woke up at about 5 am and Baba prompted to open and read Saivichar. (This week I could not open Saivichar so far). Shree's letter prompted me to act soon and is this not the leela of Baba, the Divine Stage Director!
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Prayer Club

Ravin Gnanasambandam, Ithaca, NY, USA
I request all Sai brothers and sisters to pray for a speedy and complete recovery of a beautiful person and a staunch Sai devotee Opendra Sharma of Maryland. May Lord Sai keep this family happy and healthy always.

Shree
To Sai Devotees Naveen Goswami, Harini and to those who posted the article about Sai Utsav at Huston, TX. Thank you for the information regarding Sai temples at California and Texas. May SAINATH be with everyone. OM SAIRAM.

R Ram
A few months ago, I had posted a prayer stating that I am going through a confused phase in my life. I had experienced many problems getting a suitable match for marriage and with getting myself a good job. By Baba's grace, my marriage matter has been finalized. Thank you Baba. Om Sai Ram.

Padma
Saibaba, please help my family and me. I am coming to you today since I am unable to bear any more of my problems. Everything seems to be going wrong. Every little thing I do takes me a long time and I follow a difficult and arduous route for the simplest of tasks. My whole energy is spent doing that, leaving me extremely frustrated. Baba, please help me do things more intelligently. Baba, please help my son not get disillusioned with life. People I thought who were my friends have backstabbed me all the time, so much so that I do have any friends whom I can talk to. My son who is 10 years old is experiencing the same thing now. Baba, please take care of him and let him not face my experiences. Baba, I am living for my two children, nothing more Baba. All I want is happiness for children.

Baba, I am not asking for money, but just that I keep my job and do well sufficiently to retain it. Some very senior people are not happy with my work and are trying to force me to leave my job. They blame me for any mistake that happens in my project, even if someone else had made the mistake. You know how this world is, if one makes too may mistakes, he loses the job. Baba, I need this job to take care of my kids financially. Baba, please give me the patience, intelligence and strength to do my job with concentration and sincerely. Baba, I have no one to help me but you. Please, please help me. I do not know where to go without you.

Saibaba, you know what all is going on in my life and my mind. All I ask is that you protect our family and give us some peace in our lives. You know that not more than 1 hour goes by without me remembering you. What more do you want from me, please ask and I will give it to you. If you think my prayers are not sincere, please show me a way to be sincere. I am doing my best, but I do get angry with you sometimes for not helping me. I know you will help in your own time but Baba, I need it now. I am not sure how long I can go on like this. Please forgive me and help me Baba. I am using Sai Vichaar as a means of voicing my problems. I have no one to discuss or ask help from. Om Sai Ram.

Saurabh S Lakhia
Dear Baba, Please help me and save my life and career. I am without job since March 2001. I am suffering from so much mental pressure and depression, I am loosing all my hopes but I have full faith in you and I am waiting for your blessings. Please shower your blessings on your child and forgive me for my all mistakes. This is my seventh month without job and I do not see any hopes. Everything is going against me, hey Baba help me and take me in your footsteps.
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Quotation of the Week

Baba said once "God has agents everywhere and they have vast powers and I also have vast powers. But abhimana, the idea that I am doing, has to be completely suppressed in order that one may really have spiritual elevation, peace and happiness" - Sathyapal Ruhela in "Shirdi Sai The Supreme".

Question of the Week

Q. Why did Baba sleep at Chawdi and Dwarakamayi, and why is that women are forbidden to enter the sacred room in Chawdi?
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Sai Activities

Sai with Children, Saidarbar, Hyderabad, India
Master Avinash Reddy, Son of Sri.C.T.Reddy, Dubai, U.A.E's Happy Birthday was celebrated in Navjeevan Bala Sadhan (Home for the orphan and street children), Secunderabad on 22-08-2001. A sumptuous meal was served to about ninety orphan children during the occasion. The day being Ganesha Chaturthi was very auspicious and Sai's grace was felt during the festivity. An incident noteworthy during this day was when a four-year-old child named Siva was still holding the half laddoo in his left hand after finishing dinner. When questioned about it, he replied that he liked it very much and would like to eat the remaining half the next day.
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