Remember that it is not harmful to own things, but it is harmful to be owned by them. It is difficult to have the right balance. Struggling too hard for money, you may neglect your health. You will find that everything will betray you if you betray your loyalty to God. So, let not one drop of oil fall from the lamp of your attention in the sanctuary of inner silence as you meditate on our Sad-guru Sainath each day, and as you carefully perform your duties in the world. That is the personality you want to develop-dutiful in carrying out your obligations in life, but aware that your real Home lies within. What is the use of developing a personality based on worldly values, which are ever changeful and fleeting? Rather strive for a personality that I derived from your living in the continuous consciousness of God. Bhagavan Krishna said: "When a man completely relinquishes all desires of the mind, and when his Ego (Self) is entirely contented in the true Self, he is then considered to be one who is settled in wisdom." (Bhagavad-Gita II: 55). Awaken that meek yet thunderous divine personality-strong as the lion, gentle as the dove. When you make up your mind that you will meditate and follow this path, nothing will be able to take you away from it. Perform your worldly tasks faithfully, without forgetting for a moment your highest duty, to Shri Sai Baba (almighty-incarnate).

A story oft related in Hindu mythology tells of the spiritual test given by the great saint King Janaka, to his would-be disciple, Sukadeva. To test the young devotee before accepting him for spiritual training, Janaka required Sukadeva to tour the royal palace while carrying in the palm of his hand an oil lamp filled to the brim. The condition of passing the test was that Sukadeva was to observe minutely (and subsequently report to the King) every item and detail in each palatial room, without spilling one drop of oil from the brimful lamp. The meaning of the test is that the spiritual aspirant must learn to keep his attention centered in God, not allowing his thoughts to wander from Him for a moment, lest the oil of divine communion be spilled, while at the same time he performs accurately to the last detail his duties in the world.
(Contributed by Shivprakash Iyer)
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Contributed Article: Birth

On April 12, to honor the birth of Gurudeva Sivanesan Swami of Shirdi, I began this composition for Sai Vichaar. I pray that it can be completed by Ramnavami, Swamiji's lunar birthday. May his love of Shirdi Sai Baba live in the hearts of all devotees. Sri Sainatha, please bless and guide my words.

I wish to take the time to thank Shivprakash Iyer for the eloquent essay he wrote which appeared in the April 18th issue of Sai Vichaar. As a result, I am able to omit the first five paragraphs and elaborate on the second theme. Mr. Iyer, your words honor the tradition to which we belong. Thank you again.

Many years ago, I listened to one of my beloved teachers tell the following story. I will tell it in my own way, because my body is too old to house a perfect memory.

Once there was a great Master flute player who retired from public performing. He had the desire to pass his knowledge on and began teaching others to play the flute. His small ashram became known far and wide as a 'Mecca' for musical training. Many came to the ashram gates and were surprised to see its humble beauty. Few were allowed admittance. The Master preferred a small school and he did not wish his students to be disturbed. He believed that the thousands who were denied the experience of his music paled by comparison to the many thousands more who could experience him through the mastery of his students.

One day, the Master told one of his students that his course of study was complete and it was time for him to go into the world and to begin performing. His disciple was very sad to leave his Guru's physical presence. Guru and disciple walked together to the ashram gates and embraced. The Master silently shed tears as he watched his pupil's form fade in the distance. He then turned to the gatekeeper. He lovingly told him that there was a vacant bed, and he asked to see two who wished to enter his school. The gatekeeper was a wise man and knew the Master well. After some weeks, he chose two candidates who desired to learn, and he allowed them to enter the ashram. One was a fine flute player who desired to be trained by the Master. The other was an earnest fellow who was completely untrained.

Both were brought to the Master. He asked them to introduce themselves. One told him of his previous training and his desire to learn. The other confessed that he was untrained. He told both of them to spend the day in the ashram. During the afternoon, the young flute player sat with the other students and he performed very beautifully. The other boy sat quietly and listened.

Evening approached and the Master called both of them to him. He explained that he only had room for one additional student. The dejected untrained boy lowered his head. The Master smiled and called him to him. "Let me look at your hands." The boy showed the Master two strong well formed hands. "Take your bag and ask the gatekeeper to show you where you will sleep." The Master turned to the trained flute player. "My child, I am sorry. I only have one vacant bed." The boy was aghast. "Master, I have studied with fine teachers. I have practiced for countless hours. Why did you not choose me? Please explain!"

The Master replied. "My child, I give you my blessings. Return home and continue your course of study or begin your journey performing for others."

Once again the boy asked. "Why did you not choose me? Please explain!"

The Master replied. "My child, you have already absorbed a great deal. If I were to choose you, I would have to drain you of all you have learned previously before I can begin training you. This process would be very difficult for both of us. The other child is an empty vessel just waiting to be filled." The Master walked over to the boy and embraced him very lovingly. "You have my blessings, my child." The boy sadly left the ashram. The Master silently shed tears of love, while he stood at the ashram gates, watching the young flutist depart.
(Contributed by Robert Kirk, New York)
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Experiences of Devotees

Sobha Jagajeevan
I am a housewife and my husband is an officer in an airport. Some years ago, a friend in the airport gave him a metal finger ring; maybe it is an iodized silver ring, of Shirdi. So he brought it home. At that time, I just kept it with other small bits of things like nail cutter, clips, blades and what not. I was staying with my in-laws and I did not put it anywhere outside in the room or altar, as I feared it will get lost. I moved into my own flat about 1 and half years ago. A few months ago, my husband was getting very devotional with Shirdi, and through a good friend, he is now a devotee. He ardently worships Baba.Suddenly he asked for this ring, which I still had it with all the other bits and pieces of ornaments and clips. He thought the ring might have been discarded, and my son remembered where it was. He gave it to his father and my husband asked me to shine the ring and put it in the altar. So, the ring was always at the altar near Shirdi's small statue. He used to put flowers at the statue and sometime the ring is covered with the flowers. Once the ring went with the flowers when I cleaned the altar for the day. But luckily, the flower that was thrown was still in the plastic bag for disposal and it was still at home. I retrieved the ring and placed it back on the altar.
Just two weeks ago, it was a Thursday, early in the morning about 4 am; my husband asked me where the ring was. He was in the morning shift and had to leave home at 4.30 am. That day was 4th April 2002. I immediately knew it must have gone again with the flowers. I cursed myself for putting back the ring at the altar in the same place. This time I had thrown the rubbish into the chute the day before. My husband was very upset but he just controlled his sadness and left for work. I could not sleep after that. Early morning, after doing my morning exercises, I was walking back and passed the rubbish dump area. This is the common collection of all rubbish for the whole block and my block consists of more than 70 flats. I asked one worker who maintains the cleanliness of my block, as to how to retrieve the bag I have thrown the previous night. He told me it is very difficult, as the whole rubbish will be all thrown about. I still wanted to retrieve the bag and I asked him at what time the truck would come to collect the rubbish. He said about 9.30 am. I was determined to wait for the truck. I was praying to Baba, that I must get the ring and it has to come back home. I was chanting Sai Ram all the time. The truck came, and I immediately ran to the driver and told him I need to get back my bag of rubbish. He then asked his assistant to help me. This assistant was a gem of a person; he immediately started spilling the bags slowly into the truck. Halfway through, he asked me to describe the bag. So, I told him, it is a brown bag. He sorted out the rubbish and fished out a brown bag. It was the bag I wanted. But unfortunately, the bag was half open and some of the rubbish had spilled. Nevertheless, the contents of the bag were spilled onto another empty bin. I thought the ring might have gone into the rubbish. I sorted out the things slowly, and the flowers were sighted, and to my surprise, the ring was there facing up to me. I was in tears. Never will I dream it will come back to me. I quickly took it, showed the ring to the worker and the driver. I thanked them for their effort. I brought the ring back, cleaned it and kept it. Later when my husband came back from work, he placed the ring in a container with turmeric water. Having the ring lost two times was enough, so I put the ring thru a sandalwood mala and hung it round Baba's photo. AS advised by our good friend, my husband now wears the ring as from today that is 18 April 2002. Hope Baba will always protect my husband and all of us. OM SAI RAM
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Devotees say...

Neelu
Dear Vidya Urs, I was reading your prayer last week, and in that you said, "Dear friends, please pray to BABA for me for getting a baby. I have been praying to BABA from so many years. I don't know why he has heard my prayers". Now I believe strongly that BABA has HEARD your prayers and he will definitely bless you with a kid soon and that's the reason he made you write the words "I don't know why he has heard my prayers" without your knowledge. Though you think it is a mistake, I believe that mistake holds some truth about BABA. HAVE FAITH IN HIM. YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED. OM SAI SRI SAI JAYA JAYA SAI.
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Prayer Club

Suryaprakasarao
I have been working in US for over a year and now I came to know that my job would not continue any longer. I have a son still studying and I am still without a home and not yet settled. It would be difficult for me to get another job now. I have been a Baba devotee for several years and I had several sweet experiences of the Baba. Fortunately, a couple of days back, a friend of mine gave me the Baba's Chitra for one week and now I have the privilege of hosting the Baba at my home. I request the Baba to kindly help me in continuing my project as is done to others. I also request the Sai devotees to kindly pray for me. Om Satchidananda Sadguru Sai Natha Maharaj Ki JAI!

A Sai devotee
Dear Baba, Help my friend lead a peaceful life. Sabka malik thum hee hoh aur thoo hee vuski raksha karo Baba. Yehi mera ek vinathi hai. OM SAI RAM

R Ram
Please help me with my studies, I am having a hard time figuring out how to approach this new field and I am very tense about the upcoming projects. Please guide me and help me do well in my courses. I leave it all to you. Om Sairam.

Sarasa Subramaniam
Om Sai Ram, Thank you for all that you have bestowed on me. Today I am facing a situation whereby I am helpless & there is nothing I can do. You are the only one whom can help me out. Please help me to overcome this situation successfully as I believe the whole process started due to your blessing. I have faced similar situation earlier but this time round I have you. Please be with me & bless me to have a happy conclusion. Baba without u nothing is possible. Sai Ram, Sai Ram.

KVS Babu
SAI SIVA HARI OM. As you know that our entire family member are your sincere devotees by heart & soul. I got married in 1995 with your blessings, but until date, I am not having kids. So many times, I have observed 'Sai sapthah' (Sai Satcharitha) for kids. Please shower me with your blessings and give me healthy kid. I request all Sai devotees to pray Baba for me.
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Quotation of the Week
Jeevan se hasna kyon? Aur mrityu se rona kyon? (Why rejoice over life? and why grieve over death?) - Sai Baba of Shirdi
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Question of the Week

Q.Baba says "no escape" for past karma and in second statement Baba says, "I will finish his sufferings" of his past karma. Do you see controversy in the above statements?

A. Ravin, Minnesota
There is no contradiction. Karma is as true as Sadguru, the potent solution to Karma. The very reason why he is revered as Karmadwamsi - the destroyer of Karma. It appears that we all operate with the currency of action and consequence from the moment we are born until we cease to be alive. A smoker may suffer from asthma or cancer; overindulgence in food may lead to diabetes. A 7- yr. old child dies of gunshot wound. Some consequences of action are straightforward. Some not understood. Several incidents that happen around us do not make sense. The impressions of our mind do not allow us to decipher the consequences of actions unknown.

Pillay suffered Guinea worms; Sapatnekars suffered the loss of their only child. At the material plane, Baba destroyed the karma of several that came to Him such as bawling Pillay who was relieved of the worm infestation. Baba also worked on Sapatnekar internally. Although Sapatnekar had another child by Baba's grace, he was more blessed during the phase when Baba rejected him. Blessed was Sapatnekar who came to the total realization that karma was what he had to go through. What he accomplished during those solitary longing for Baba's grace was the indescribable revelation that did not stop with the birth of another child, as Baba assured Mrs. Sapatnekar.

Sadguru, the Perfect Master doe not always interfere with Karma and His eagerness is to make one realize the state beyond Karma. The realization of utmost significance that Sadguru can impart to his pupil has to do with the understanding that karma affects the gross physical state, body and mind, while the soul is free of the cycle. Sadguru's destroying the suffering is only the beginning and the seeker's prerogative is to go for that wisdom Sadguru is waiting to reveal.

Kamakshi Natarajan
This is in regard to answer the question posted for this week on SaiVichaar. One can never escape karma. However, one can choose to see it as suffering for the karma incurred or see it as endure it until it lasts. As for Baba saying that why should you suffer for 10 births, I think what Sai means is that you can rather choose to endure the pain caused by previous deeds within 10 days itself. He never does say you do not have to pay the dues you have incurred whereas he does mean that with Him being around with you having asked for His help, He will gladly carry your burden make it easier for you. It is only when one comes nearer to paying off one's dues is one made aware of God, in some form or the other. Nothing is ever a Coincidence, it is ALWAYS PREDETERMINED. The blueprint for every action, reaction result already exists, it manifests only at the time it has to.
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Sai Activities

Shirdi Sai Utsav 2002 in Africa
Sai Devotees of Africa and saibaba.org invite you to "Shirdi Sai Utsav 2002" at Gandhi Hall in Lanesia, Johannesburg, South Africa on the weekend of April 28, 2002 and at Sanatana Dharma Sanstha(SSD) Hall in Nairobi, Kenya on the weekend of May 4th, 2002.

The full day event will include four tradional arathis and Pooja by priest visiting from Shirdi, discourse by Guruji Shri Chandra Bhanu Satpathy, video presentations on Shirdi, Bhajans, etc.

Please contact Neelam Kapur in Johannesburg at neelam_kapur@hotmail.com, Jitubhai in Nairobi at 0733548632 or send an email to maildrop@saibaba.org for hour wise events, directions or more details.

Shirdi Sai Chitra Yatra, Toronto, Canada
Devotees in TORONTO, are invited to please join us in Satsang and bhajans as part of Shirdi Sai Chitra Yatra at Durga Mandir 2691 Markham Rd. Unit #5 every Thursday from 6:30pm to 8:00pm. For any details and directions contact Shammi Chopra at 905 887 1752 or shchopra@trebnet.com or visit www.saibaba.org

Shirdi Sai Baba Mandir, CSC-5, Pkt.D-10, Sector -7, Rohini, Delhi-110 085,India:
Very nice Lord Sainath Murti is installed here. All main functions of Lord Sainath are celebrated in grand manner. Rohini is a new developed colony with many Sai devotees. They are doing wonderful service for Sai Prachar in this part of the country. The temple houses several deities. Large number of devotees attend the mandir daily and on Thursdays and special Sai function days, the crowds are unmanageable. Devotees visiting Delhi are welcome to visit this Mandir and obtain the blessings of Lord Sainath.

Saidarbar, Hyderabad, India
Saidarbar Hyderabad under the stewardship of Saibanisa Gopalarao performed Saidarbar on 4th April to 6th April 2002 at Shiridi Sai Mandhir, Koneru street, Secunderabad, on 05/06-04-2002,Venue: Sri.Shiridi Sai Mandhir, G.K.Colony, Secunderabad. Smt and Shri.Phanindra Prasad rendered devotional songs on the occasion.

Sivanagar colony, Secunderabad and Kamala nagar, Hyderabad
On April 13, 2002 Ugadi was celebrated at Sri.Shiridi Sai Mandhir, Sivanagar colony, Secunderabad and on 14 April 2002, at Kamala nagar, Hyderabad. Please visit www.saidarbar.com for more details on the activities of Saidarbar, Hyderabad.

Bhajans and Satsang at New Jersey, NJ
Sai Devotees of New Jersey and saibaba.org invite you to join us for Satsang and bhajans of Baba. For further details or directions contact Mr. Kumad Sachdev at (732) 257-1438 or Mr. Shyam Addanki at (804) 967-0833 or email us at maildrop@saibaba.org.

Shirdi Sai Chitra Yatra, Pleasonton, CA
Please contact a_wusirika@hotmail.com to participate in Saichitra yatra 2002 in CA - Pleasanton

Shirdi Sai Chitra Yatra, London, UK
Devotees in UK, especially in and around London, are invited to please join us in Satsang and bhajans as part of Shirdi Sai Chitra Yatra at Wembley, Middlesex. Please contact Manu Bajaj at manu_bajaj@yahoo.com for full program details and directions.

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 across USA 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 yatra page 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".
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