Who am I? This question perturbs every human being at some time of their life. Most of them answer this question as I am so and so or in terms of their physical relationships. These answers pertain to the body in which the soul resides. How can it be? It is so, since the body decays and perishes upon death. Death is an imminent principle of nature that can neither be denied nor disputed. It is said that the soul never dies. The soul is believed to be on an eternal journey to reunite with its creator. More serious thinkers and philosophers realize this and thus embark on their quest for Knowledge that is out of this world. This search leads to the fundamental question of "Who am I?"

If the deduction is, I am not who I am in this body but some thing else, then where did I come from? What is the purpose of all this? Who can guide me? Such questions are the first steps in the spiritual journey of a human being. Books on Spirituality refer to "Scriptures" or other such synonymous texts that explain the creation of Universe and relation of the Soul to the body and also to its creator. The whole thing is so confusing and complex that there is no one simple answer for the average seeker. Intellects tend to embark on this journey by seeking answers in books. All knowledge such gained is still second hand as it lacks any personal experience and most of the time this leads to further confusion and the wrong concept of the Truth.

It is said that no one can embark on this spiritual journey without Divine Grace. Further, Divine Grace is produced and nurtured by keeping company with the Wise, who themselves are fully Knowledgeable or are advancing in their own spiritual pursuits. Such Wise ones are referred to as "Guru". The Guru, having himself or herself gained such Knowledge by personal experience, is better qualified to impart this Knowledge to seekers. Guru's Knowledge varies and they are said to be on different steps of Spiritual hierarchy. The one who has ascended to the apex of the spiritual hierarchy and is one with the creator is referred to as Sadguru or perfect spiritual master.

It is further said that a Spiritual master who has attained the knowledge of Ultimate Truth also called Self-Realization through practice while in mortal form can only help another one self realize as long as they remain in their mortal body. After leaving the mortal body, they are said to be able to impart only material benefits. This is not limiting to those Souls who are not born but manifest themselves out of love and compassion for the suffering humanity. They can guide the seeker and impart the Knowledge at any time without any limitations as they can manifest themselves in physical form at any time they want and for the express purpose of satisfying a deserving devotee's wish to impart Knowledge.

A perfect spiritual master of such a caliber is Samarth Sadguru, Shri Sai Baba of Shirdi, whose love and compassion for his devotees continues even today. Invoking grace of Shri Sai Baba will not only uplift the seeker materially but also spiritually to unimaginable heights. It is never too late to turn to Shri Sai Baba. Among the first steps to invoke Baba's grace is to read HIS Life and teachings compiled by Shri Hemadpant in "Sai Satcharita".
Aum Sai Ram.
Back to Menu

Contributed Article: SAI BABA LEFT NO HEIR OR DISCIPLE

Baba declared "I shall be active even from the tomb".H.H.Narasimha Swamiji,Founder President All India Sai Samaj has dedicated his life for Sai Seva through his speeches , publications ,distribution of Baba's udhi and photos etc. He concluded "Persons claiming to be SaiBaba does not show even a very small fraction of Baba's nature. Mere production of articles from empty hands or box,mere power to read thoughts,mere devotion to Sai or god will not constitute one into Avatar of Sai. Sai left no Successor to His Seat,there was no Seat to succeed to(as God's seat never be vacant).There is no person leaving who can be recognised having the entire Sai Spirit or Soul in his body,that is who can be regarded an avatar of Sai."
Life of Sai Baba Volume 2 -By H.H.Narasimha Swami
(contributed by D. Shankariah, Hyderabad, India)
Back to Menu

Experiences of Devotees

Nita Patel, New Jersery
Dear Sai bhaktas, We have been strong believer of baba since last three years. I am basically from Nairobi, Kenya. As the matter of curiosity, me and my husband thought of applying for visas to USA. In July one fine day we called up the embassy to fix and appointment for interview, we got the appointment fixed on August 18, 2000. As 18 = 1+8 = 9 being a significant number I had confidence we will go thru it. We had to prepare paper work for an interview, we were suppose to give strong proof of our ties in Kenya, good finanacial background. Since me and my husband were working, and had responsibilities of two girls , my daughters, The savings were not that much to make them confident. But we had strong background of place where we both were working. We prepared the necessary paperwork, I started reading Sai Satcharitra the week before so that I can finish and go for an interview. I finished reading on Tuesday and Wednesday morning, we had to go for an interview. We had left everything on baba saying "YOU KNOW WHAT IS GOOD FOR US". As we reached the embassy, there was a long queue.., and in that queue I saw a person who seems to be of Arab origin, but the clothes he had put on were white kurtan with white turban and had long white beard, when I was chanting sai sai he just turned around and I could see baba in him. As our number came ,One of officer who was checking all the paperwork, as per attached to the form, and there was one section mentioned ,if children are below certain age no photographs are required , so we didn’t take any pictures of girls. She told us to go and get them done at he near mall and be back before 10.00. As it was early morning 8.00 and the malls open at 9.30 . We had to go and wait till the mall opens we tried other places also they were closed. After taking the pictures of girls we returned to embassy , just thinking why is this happening ? When we reached it was nearly 9.50 somewhere. And there were few people ahead of us in that line, for interview. We were called . Me and my girls were chanting baba’s name, having a baba’s key chain in my hand. As the officer was going through papers, he just asked what were we working as and spoke to girls nicely and there he said go to other window pay your fees and get the passport next day. SAI RAM was the words came out of me and my husbands mouth. and I couldn’t believe it. The Officer didn’t even go through the bank statements. We paid the fees and we were silent all the way to our home and went straight to my mandir and bowed before him, and due to him we safely reached USA without any trouble. Since then I know with firm faith if baba is called he will always be there. MAY SAI BLESS YOU ALL. OM SAI SHREE SAI JAYA JAYA SAI.

Chitra Yatra Anchor Home, NH
Baba arrived safely at this home. We got all the pictures framed and put it up in the home. Since we have put up the frames, the whole house has a different outlook and we can feel his grace. It feels like some one else is living with us. Our guests who have no prior knowledge of Shri Sai Baba get instantly attracted to the picture. One lady broke down into tears when she saw Baba's portrait for the first time in her life. We are so happy to be part of this nation wide event.

Chitra Yatra Anchor Home, VA
Baba visited a family here in VA on the first Thursday after arrival from Chicago. That family was struggling very much and had decided to move back to India. We performed Baba's pooja and prayers over that weekend. On Monday, the family got notified that their business will get a new project which will last for a good few years. The family is so happy and grateful to Baba. Bow to Shri Sai. Peace be to all.
Back to Menu

Devotees say...

Sai Chitra Yatra Anchor Home, Oregon
Sairam, My Daughter and I were doing baba's pooja on Jan 14th Makarsankranthi Day.. My Daughter insisted me to sing a bhajan which she likes very much.. The bhajan is like this

I got very emotional and started crying and bursted out. Could not sing the bhajan as I was choking. After a minute or 2, I somehow completed the bhajan. After completing the bhajan, did baba's Aarathi. The only thought I had in my mind was Baba to come to our house. To my surprise Baba did come when my husband brought a mail that day evening.. I was overwhelmed with Joy seeing my baba arrival on Jan 14 Makarsankranthi day. Baba bless us all..

Sai Chitra Yatra Anchor Home, Kansas

We will have a program at the Hindu temple of Kansas in March as well as the ongoing host home signup. Several people have called me already regarding the possibility of being a host home which is very encouraging.

It seems the blessings of sai are with us; something of course of which there should have been no doubt! I wish to say how grateful I and my family are to be able to participate in this yatra bringing the shakti of Sai Baba to this area and accross America.

Asha Yenduri
OM SAI RAM I just visited the Virtual Sai Pooja Page. I cannot express how happy I am to do a complete pooja with joy. I thank the sai vichar team for this. I also pray to Baba to give peace to us and show the right way in life. Please Bless us. Om Sai,Sri Sai, Jai Jai Sai. (p.s. You can access the Sai Virtual Pooja room by visting http://www.saibaba.org and following the link to the Pooja room.)

A Sai Devotee
Ohm Sai Jaya Jaya Sai.Thank you very much Sai Baba for blessing me with a job.I don't know how I can repay you for giving me this job.I cannot get this job without your grace.You are always there for me in my hard times.Please bless me baba to achieve success in my job and in my life.Please bless all the people who needs you.Jai Sai Ram.
Back to Menu

Prayer Club

Vishal Valsadia
I have always wanted to ask other Sai devotees to pray for me. I just wanted the other sai devotees to know that I understand the feelings that they go through when they have family problems or being unemployed. I feel kind of selfish knowing that the problems that people face are more severe than the one that I have. But I am still requesting sai devotees to pray for me so I can get the job that I want. I can not say that I have always tried to follow that path showed by Sai as I tend to get mad and frustrated for not being successful after trying so hard but I am still hoping that Saibaba will also shower me with his blessings very soon. I Thank all sai devotees for praying for me.

Devki Das
Thank you for the job,Baba. I am joining tomorrow. With your love I will excel in it. I know you listen to my every thought, help me keep my thoughts positive...thoughts that are a true reflection of you. Thank you for being with us.

Sai Devotee,
Aum Sri Sai Ram, Baba, I am seeking your blessing to see that my career and my life is put back online. Please bless me that I get married to a girl of my choice. You know what problems I face. I seek your blessings and equest you to kindly help me out. I want to come to Shirdi. Please see that I am able to have your darshan.

Usha Sastry
Oh Baba Please be with me. I am in a difficult situation. Attending interviews but not able to get a job. Please be with me and bless me. You know my situation and you know everything. You are testing me too long. Om sai sri sai jaya jaya sai.

SK
Sai, I am confused. I need your help. By your grace I got a Job two years ago. In recent times my ego has made me think that I got it because of hard work some years ago. I know that is wrong. I am not working properly ever since. I am not finishing any project on time. I am wasting my time, sitting at work and thinking of other materialistic things. Sai, help me to work sincerly. I should justify my getting paid by doing my Job properly. I want you to help me my god. Baba, You know I am going through some bad time. But, do not let me fall for the vices. Help me to be good person. Sai, push me out of my lazy shell and show me your light. Sai, Please help me.

A Sai Devotee
Sai Ram. I am an Indian and working in a foreign country. My wife was with me and she had gone back to India for delivery and she has deliverd a girl baby. When she was with me here, she was so loving and she respected my parents and siblings who are in India. But, after the child birth, she has gone to her mother's house and she is behaving differently now. We found that her mother is misguiding her and her father also supports this and as a result, she doesn't want to come back to my house. Her parents told that they will keep her in their house and she also agreed with their parents about it. We all very sure that basically she is very loving and but due to her parents, especially due to her mother misguidance ( 'Thurpodhanaa' ), she is very indiffernt to our family. She use to talk very rudely to my parents and their parents also doing the very same. She is not even ready to make call and talk to my parents and enquire about their health. Really it is very painful. Sairam! Please we all in our family are praying for the Good thing. We don't know how to handle this problem. But we are sure, you will give us right solution. Sai Ram! Do Bless us with your immense grace.

Ritu
Om Sai Ram Baba ji you know very well that i am going through a tough phase of my life. please help me you have given me everything every time. please help me this time as well

Shree
Om Sri Sai Ram.. Humble pranam's to our "SADGURU SAINATH". Baba this is my prayer to you on behalf of my dear brother, who's wife was expired in an accident after three years of marriage . It happened two years back. Now he is alone with his five year old daughter. Parents wants to settle his life. We are looking for a girl. So BABA please help him find a good girl. He is very much devotee of you. Dear sai devotees if any body is there to help me in this please contact us at blvmuthy@yahoo.co.in LOT'S OF PRANAM'S TO MY GURU.
Back to Menu

Quotation of the Week
"On entering the house, when Baba's picture stood before the eyes, this quite unexpected experience caused them great wonder. The throat choked with love; a flood of joyous tears poured from the eyes, and the hair stood upon end as beads of perspiration sprang up all over the body. Such was Madhavrao's condition upon seeing Baba's portrait at Gayaval's residence during their visit to Kashi-Prayag" - Shri Sai Satcharita
Back to Menu

Question of the Week

Q. What do we learn about Baba's Guru?
Back to Menu

Sai Activities

SRI SHIRDI SAI SAMSTHAN
1889 Grand Avenue, Baldwin, New York 11510
Recently a life sized Baba's murthi created at Talim Studio (Bombay) has been placed at Baldwin Long Island New York. Darshan starts in February 2002. For further information contact: romeshnyc@hotmail.com or sunildevalla@yahoo.com

HAPPY NEWS TO THE SAI DEVOTEES OF TWIN CITIES IN AP, INDIA
Guruji Shri Chandra Bhanu Satpathy, an ardent Sai devotee who is spearheading the Sai movement across the globe is visiting Hyderabad on 25th and 26th February to participate in the Prana Prathista celebrations of Shri Sai in the newly constructed temple at Shri Lakshmi Nagar colony, Saidabad, Hyderabad. Besides He will be visiting Sai Brindavan(Deshmukh village,after Ramoji film city) on 25th afternoon. On 26th morning He will address the devotees at the oldest temple in the twin cities i.e., Sai Temple, Koneru, Secunderabad. He will pay a visit to Dilsukh Nagar Sai Temple and attend Madhyahna Aarati there. In the evening He will particiate in a special program where the new bilingual website(Telugu and Hindi) which is brought out by SaiBaba.Org(USA) and Shri Shirdi Sai Kalyanam Trust(Tirupati, India)will be inaugurated.

Shri Shirdi Sai Chitra Yatra, Houston, TX
Baba arrived at Houston. Yes to the wish of His devotees Baba arrived in Houston as a part of His USA Chitrayatra tour on 10th Jan,Thursday. Even though He started from Chicago on 5th January and expected to reach the destination in a time of 3 to 4 days He took His own time and only made His lotus feet here on the auspicious Thursday at exact time of 0400 pm just barely 2 hours before the start of our regular Thursday satsangh. Already He became the most honoured guest to six of our local devotees and a long que of devotees are waiting to take Him to their homes.

The contents of the Shridi Sai Chitra Yatra special CD are attractive and useful to devotees especially who are new to Baba's worship.Thanks very much to the relentless services of the volunteers of Saibaba.org in bringing up this wonderful and unique event to arouse Sai's conciousness in USA.Those who wish to invite Baba to their homes in Houston and near by area may join us on Thursday satsang for further details (0630-0830pm,Saibaba temple 5645 Hillcroft,Indian market area Houston - 77036). You can also contact sai_syam@hotmail.com or rajesh_yadlapati@hotmail.com for further details in joining this program. Om Sai Sri Sai Jai Jai Sai!

Shri Shirdi Sai Chitra Yatra, Canton, MI
OM SAI SRI SAI JAI JAI SAI.. Hari Om Sairam! I am a devotee of Saibaba and by Baba's grace I am one of the anchor homes in CANTON, MI, USA. This is a message to all devotees in and around Canton, MI that I received the picture. Thanks to the team at saibaba.org for giving me this wonderful opportunity. If anybody wants to participate in this Yatra around this area, contact me. Please write an email to pnimmaga@hotmail.com / pnimmaga@yahoo.com
May Peace be with us all. Hari Om Sairam....

Shri Shirdi Sai Chitra Yatra, Lenexa, KS
People around Kansas City, Lenexa and neighbouring cities wanting to participate in the nation wide Sai Chitra Yatra may please contact this Anchor home for more details by email at ehedrick@swbell.net

Shri Shirdi Sai Chitra Yatra, Hillsboro, OR
By Baba's grace his home at Hillsboro-Oregon will be an anchor home for Baba's Chitra Yatra for Year 2002. This is a message to all devotees in and around Hillsboro-Oregon to contact us at dimple_gheewala@yahoo.com , to be a host for Baba's Chitra Yatra..

Shri Shirdi Sai Chitra Yatra, San Jose, CA
By the grace of BABA I have this oppurtunity of being one of the Anchor Home's at Fresno (California). Thank you all, for giving me this great pleasure. I did receive the Picture, I would be more than happy if any body in and around Fresno wants to contact me to take part in this great event. My contact details bborra@fresno.ca.gov or 559 779 2275 M

Shri Shirdi Sai Chitra Yatra, Indianapolis, IN
I am a divotee of Saibaba and by my baba's grace I am one of the anchor homes in Indiana. This is a message to all devotees in and around Indiana that I recieved the picture. Thanks to the team at saibaba.org for giving me this wonderful oppurtunity. If anybody wants to contact me please write an e mail to anithajay@hotmail.com

Shri Shirdi Sai Chitra Yatra 2002 in USA
"Shri Shirdi Sai Chitra Yatra(Pictorial Journey)", started in USA on Jan 01, 2002. With anchor points in 32 states concurrently participating from day one, this unique event is off to a great start.

The journey which involves the ceremonial travel of Baba in the form of a portrait will stop at all Baba devotees homes who are interested in being a host to his protrait. The Yatra which will run till fall of this year, is open to one and all. There is no fees or charges involved to take part in this event. You may participate either as a host home or serve as an anchor point in your community.

Vist online at http://www.saibaba.org/yatra/saiyatra.html for all the details and to register.

For questions, comments, suggestions or to get details on an Anchor home in your area, send us an email at maildrop@saibaba.org with the subject line of "Shri Sai Chitra Yatra".
Back to Menu

You may subscribe to receive the newsletter by e-mail.

Fill out your e-mail address and hit the subscribe button: