The human body is the result of last so many births, should a person prepare for rebirth that would occur but not otherwise. Birth takes place only by attachment to the world and if there is no fondness for it, there is no reason for birth. The Bhagavat Gita says, "The union of the material constituents (Gunas) of nature (Prakrti) with the divine essence, may result in good or bad births." (Verse 13/21). Practically none of Baba's blessed children like G.G. Narke, M.B. Rege, Nana Saheb Chandorkar opted for rebirth, even in the event of any rebirths due to past karmic balance, they requested Baba to be with them until they reach to Eternal Union with Baba. Baba Himself set an example to lead a simplest of simple life that will help us to prevent further rebirths. He demonstrated how to be simple in our food habits through Bhiksha, we should not be the slaves for taste, spend lavishly for varieties of food, never have an attachment on your own food as we must give priority to unknown Athitis, friends and relatives and finally left out food alone our share. Similarly, we should not waste money for clothing, as He did not care for expensive clothing advised others to be very simple in their dresses. One example given in Sri Sai Satcharitha, Baba asked Das Ganu to remove all his rich looking dresses, as that will be a hindrance to our spiritual advancement and a cause for establishing self ego. Finally, Baba's advise on our social life. It was during the time when Baba was getting devotees from all parts of the country, some section of society were acting against Baba and accusing Him, but Baba gets neither angry nor retaliated against them. Baba took devotees anger in positive sense. Once Baba told to Nana Saheb Chandorkar "Nana, I am not angry with you. You, my children, have a right to be angry with me. If Venkusa were here, I could be angry with him" " I get angry with none. Will a mother harm her little ones? Will ocean send back the water of the streams?" Baba never encouraged hatred among people. Hatred spoils the purity of our mind and adds to our karmic balance. Baba said "Purification of mind is absolutely necessary, without it all our spiritual endeavors are nothing, but useless show and pomp" in chapter 16 of Sri Sai Satcharitha. Once Baba told to Das Ganu, (who complained that he had not been invited to a feast where Sira (Semolina pudding) was distributed, on account of the host being his enemy): Who gives what to whom? What is this Sira? Who eats it? Do not say of any one that he is your enemy. Who is whose enemy? Do not entertain any ill feeling towards any one. All are one and the same."

Similarly, there are countless divine truths available in the life of Baba, which should be honestly followed, if any one sincerely interested to get rid of this samsara life and merge with Eternal Union with Baba. Bow to Sri Sai, Peace be to all.
(Contributed by N. Sivanandam, Coimbatore, India)
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Contributed Article: In praise of Sadguru Sai - Part II

Guru is great and so his works. No doubt, it is difficult to comprehend and understand Guru and his works but if we hold His holy and sacred feet firmly, the realization begins flashing upon us without making any effort.

In Satcharitha vide page 57 it is said, "Guru is only God. If we believe in Sadguru's holy feet, He can change our fortune for the better. If we serve Him nicely, we get rid of our Samsar. We need not study any philosophy like the Nyaya (Justice) and Mimansa. If we make him our Helmsman, we can easily cross over the sea of all our pains and sorrows. As we trust the helmsman in crossing rivers and seas, so we have to trust our Sadguru in getting over the ocean of worldly existence. The Sadguru looks to the intense feeling and devotion of his devotees, endows them with knowledge and eternal bliss".

He has also mentioned, "the way to God (self-realization) is through the jungle (forest of ignorance) full of tigers, wolves and ditches (enemies of spiritual progress such as greed, lust and lack of faith which is causing downfall of the spiritual aspirant). So, one need to be very cautious and if he/she takes the help of a guide i.e. GURU there is no difficulty. Since the Guru has already passed through this jungle, He/She will know the path exactly and will remove the difficulties by their grace".

Thus, Sadguru is our all in all. He has given us this human birth with a view to see and appreciate this universe and at the same time, work out our salvation to merge at His feet. He has always stood with us and whenever we call Him in times of need, He comes running verily to help and protect us. His obligations are fathomless and immeasurable and we cannot redeem them in this birth. When Guru has done/doing so much for us, vain is our birth if we fail in our duties towards Him. Baba has taught us to tread on the path righteousness and upright.

Hence, the importance of Guru in our day-to-day life is enormous and profound. In this contemporary age, we have the holy feet of Sai. Sainath of Shirdi is all pervading. He is the crest jewel of the Saints - darshan of his feet alone removes mountains of sins and take us to the path of happiness and bliss. He was the Divine Incarnate - the purpose of Him was to protect the good and to do away the wicked. He is Agasti to destroy the ocean of worldly existence and kindle in us a lamp of devotion to dispel darkness and show the light to travel on the path of righteousness and upright. He was a great Saint of all ages. His company will remove the waves of infatuation greed, lust and ego from us and take us safely from the rough and agitated ocean of this world. His stories and parables are such both readers and listeners are benefited immensely in the life. What is needed on our part is only devotion and not a paraphernalia of worship. He should be the sole object to meditate and none less. We would prefer to be blind if his image were not fixed on our pupils. Vain will be this birth, if we could not take or collect the teachings of Baba and make them a part of life. If we do so, we would not know when His mercy has dawned on us and give a new turn or lease to our life.

Therefore, let us offer our love, faith and gratitude to our Sadguru. We must completely surrender our body, mind and wealth at his feet and do selfless Seva and think that this body exists merely to render service to Him. We should not have any other object except to meditate onto Him. He should be our sole refugee. Our mind and eyes should be His and be fixed on Him and offer two pice of dakshina on this auspicious day i.e. Shraddha (Faith) and Saburi (Patience) which will ferry us across the mundane existence.

Let me also mention before I finish that many personalities came to Sai Darbar, some to test him or some to pay their obeisance but none went empty handed and disappointed. Those who could not recognize Him were miserable but those who were fortunate indeed. Let us with fold hands pray to Almighty to keep blessing us and give us life-giving Elixir to sweeten our life. Whenever I am in the maze of this world, I often, pray sing and remember these lines to show me right path.

Mere Baba, Mere Sai
Mere Ankhon Me Rum Jhao
Mere Saathi Ban Jhao
Mere Baba Mere Sai

Upne Charnon me Hame Bithalo
Pavan Mithi dedo hame
Jise ham nahan aur sabre
Upne Jivan ko safal banai
Mere Baba, Mere Sai

The meaning is that as river long for Saints to come and take a bath in them to remove their dirt and purify them, similarly I pray that Baba you always stay in my eyes and I see through your eyes and you become my friend, my companion, my Hamraz to always guide me and lead to the righteous and upright path of life. My Lord, permit us to sit at your feet and give life rejuvenating soil touch by your holy feet to be successful in this life.

(Contributed by Rajesh Rai Anand)
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Experiences of Devotees

Sunita Madnani
Dear Saibhaktas, I would like to share this experience of our beloved Sai with all of you. Baba has blessed me on this Gurupurnima day. In the afternoon at around 3:30pm there was someone at my door, he rang the doorbell and knocked also, as I opened I saw an elderly man wearing a white dress which resembled Sai's kafni. He wore a white cloth on his head, immediately on seeing me he gave me two frames in my hand which had verses of Holy Quran. On seeing this some thought came to me saying "Arrey your Sai has come." He told me to pay Dhs.55/- and he shall get the Quran read in the mosque in my name, or pay Dhs.110/- for two or whatever your desire. In the meantime, my son also came in to see who had come and what was the conversation about. He told me to pay him Dhs.25/-, when I went to bring the money a thought came to me "if he is Baba, he should ask for something to eat or drink. I gave him Dhs.25/- which he opened and counted. Then he said, "Bus itna", to which I replied that you said whatever you wish so this is it, to which he said at least you pay Dhs.55/- for one Quran. My son told me to give the rest of the balance amount, then he asked "Ek glass paani milega", on hearing these words, there was sheer joy, it was "Sai", when he requested for Dhs.55/- I told him "I'm not a Muslim and don't know about Quran, I'm a Hindu", he replied "So what all are same, even Christians are paying for Quran." I gave him biscuits with water, which he pocketed and gave a loving smile (I still remember it) and drank the water, I asked him if he needed more, and he replied "No." We gave him the 55/- and he left saying "Allah Malik". Sai had come in this roop and blessed us, I have been a member of the Sabkamalikek group on yahoo and after joining this group my faith and love in Baba has grown. Baba blessed our sabkamalikek family and will be with all his bhaktas always as he is in his nirakar roop (Formless). The same morning I had read Chapt.16&17 SS All the time I was trying to figure out the significance of 55, then I realized, "For seeing Brahman one has to give five things, i.e. surrender five things viz. (1) Five Pranas (Vital forces), (2) Five senses (Five of action and five of perception), (3) mind, (4) intellect and (5) ego", it could also mean something else I'm a mere bhakta trying to reason. Sai knows what is best for us and has shown his presence. Sainath Maharaj Ki Jai, Om Sai Sri Sai Jai Jai Sai

Fatima E, UAE
I would like to share this experience of Baba, on July.19th I had gone to Dwarkamai, Sharjah to offer Masala Tea to Baba. Smt.P.Anasuyammaji and her family welcomed us with so much love, and gave us Baba's prasad and when I was leaving her son gave me a key chain of Sai at the time the significance of the key chain was not known to me. On Sunday Jul.28th.02 I went to see a new car and confirmed purchasing it. Something was all the time running in my head saying "Baba have I done the correct thing", I signed all the purchase papers since it was through finance for 2-4 years. I was getting worried Sai, "You have given me enough but still am I looking for more is this greed, Baba please answer me". And on Thursday Aug.1st Baba answered me through Saivichar newsletter, when I was reading and came to the experience of Binduji's experience regarding her purchase of car, I was astonished and happy as well that Baba had answered me, so now I'm not worried that I've done something wrong and Sai had given previous indication to me through the key chain which was given to me at Sharjah, Dwarkamai. Baba is always there with us and guiding us through this worldly ocean. Pranam Baba and bless your children always, Om Sai Sri Sai Jai Jai Sai.

V Ramesh, Sydney, Australia
I am living in Sydney for the last many years. I have been reading English Satcharitha of Vasudev Gunaji, for last 6 years. I suddenly had an urge to write the Satcharitha in a shortened form in English, so that children can read and understand and people who have time constraint can read this abridged version in 7 days easily. With this object in view, I started writing for a short time every day before going for work. For some reason this practice stopped and the work remained unfinished. I had a health condition, which landed me in hospital in the year 2000. When in hospital as I awoke, I felt that I was instructed to complete the work. Therefore, I called my wife to send my notes and Sai Satcharitha to the hospital. With Sai's grace, I completed the shortened version of Sai Satcharitha and sent it through my brother to Shirdi for getting the book blessed by Sai. When my brother gave it for being kept in the Samadhi mandir, the priest kept it for blessing and he suddenly opened the notebook and looked inside and then placed it again with lot of flowers and handed it back to my brother. After receiving it back in Australia, I kept it at home. My wife typed the whole manuscript and sent it to me for editing. I kept postponing editing it. Meanwhile Items in the house one by one went out of order and I spent considerable amount repairing them. I then met with a car accident in which my car was badly damaged and was total a write-off. My mother and I survived without even a small scratch. I then edited the book got it corrected. I then took the book to my guru, who kept it in the prayer and with the permission of Devi Jagadadri, gave it back instructing me to release it in a book form on Thursday following the guru poornima day. As Instructed I called my friends and relatives and after Baba bhajan, distributed the Sai Satcharitha abridged version.

I am happy that I could complete it with the blessings of Shirdi Sai Baba. I am happy that my Guru wrote a foreword for this book as well. I have been hesitating to write my experience for the last two years and now I have done it.
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Devotees say...

Bharath Sanyal
Baba - please accept my humble pranaams at your lotus feet. The past several months were filled with anxiety, but you always found a way to let me know your presence. All throughout the ordeal, you communicated in various ways. I feel very blessed by your kripa and pray that you continue to guide my family and me in times to come.

Sai Devotee
Baba, I really thank you for all you are doing for me. Dear devotees thanks for all your prayers. I have been writing in the Sai Vichaar for prayer requests for me to get through an interview. I successfully got through it. I was very scared every minute until I came to know the result. Before going for my interview, I mixed udi in water and drank it. I spoke very well during the interview. I am sure it was Baba, who was talking on my behalf. Because I am not of that nature who can talk really well. This was a real miracle for me. Before I could hear from the company, I was having all bad omens and it made me doubt my trust in Baba, but then I thought these are all to test my faith and I just started saying it is Baba's wish whatever happens and that evening I heard that I got through the interview and I was offered the job. But even in this step, I have hurdles to go through. I hope he will make me cross those and settle in that job. Please lord bless us. Thank you everyone for your prayers.

Sankar, Hyderabad, India
Hello, This is Sankar from Hyderabad. After reading your prayer to Lord Sainath, I am prompted by Him to write this to you through Sai Vichaar.

I don't know where your parents are residing but there is a Great Doctor in Hyderabad, who gives Traditional Medicine to patients (Herbal Medicine). He is very good in curing all sorts of complicated problems etc. Every Case is a miracle here. He is doing this as a service for the last 30 years FREE of COST. Consultation and distribution of medicine is free. Every week 300 patients visit him on Sunday and with the help of volunteers, he does this marvelous service. He himself a great Yogi and Sai Bhaktha, by profession he is an Officer in a Central Government Organization in Hyderabad. His is Sri K.V.L.N. Yoga and Gaur and he can be contacted by phone number (Residence) 3608637. You can contact him by the phone number and Consultation is strictly only on SUNDAYS. I pray lord Sainath to take care of the problem and soon you get the good results.

(Please verify the accuracy of the information provided and rely on personal research before you commit anything - Web Site Administrator)
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Prayer Club

Sai Kiran
Om Sai ram! Sai you have helped me all in all the ways of my life. Each minute and second I need you. You always stood by me and now on this phase of life. I know nothing is hidden from you. I bow to you and pray heartily that please don't leave me alone this time. Be with me and help me to get solutions to my problems.

Sai Devotee
Dear Baba, please help my husband to get admission into Masters and give him concentration and determination. He is getting very depressed and losing all hope. Please dear lord you are our only savior. Please bless us lord and Dear devotees please spare a moment and pray that he gets admission. Thank you Baba.

A Sai devotee
Dear Sai Baba, you are like a father to all of us, please help me out. Please help my father who is suffering from debilitating and serious lung disease, its very painful to see him suffer and deteriorate every day. I am so stressed out; please help me get a residency by next year, as I want to serve you by going back to healing sick people with your help. Please help my husband be a decent person and to show consideration and respect. God please help me as I am facing so many problems, which seem insurmountable. I humbly request you to help and guide me. I want to visit Shirdi before the end of next year. I also request all the other Sai Baba devotes to please pray for me. Thank you Protector of all of us

A Sai devotee
Dear Sai, we have always prayed to you and my parents are real devout devotees of you - even then why Sai you gave such bad news of my father's health. Why did he have to get cancer when he can't even harm an ant. Please Sai please make my father recover soon and make him well. Please help get through these difficult times and make sure nothing else goes wrong with him. Please be with him during all the treatments. Sai devotees please pray for him. Thank you Jai Sai Ram

Sai devotee
In the past when I used to read the newsletter, I always wondered why do people ask Baba to provide them with jobs. I don't know what made me think that, as I know in my heart of hearts that Baba is the wire-puller of all strings and everything is possible because of Him. Today, I request all fellow Sai devotees to pray for me as I really need divine grace for fulfillment of my life as of late I feel a void in my life and its troubling me very much.

A Sai devotee
Fellow Sai Devotees! Please pray for my nephew who is admitted to a US college with a large scholarship but has been denied Student visa by the US consulate in Chennai. This is a disaster. Please pray for R.C to be successful in his appeal. The kindness of Baba is infinite and he bestows his grace on deserving and undeserving both. Let's pray for this bright young man whose future has been stalled by an unjust and unfair action.

Bala Gopalakrishnan
Om SaiNath. Please take care of my friend's son who is only 3-4 years old and who has been diagnosed with blood cancer causing tremendous distress for every one in their family. Please bless them that this just is a passing phase for them and he is fully cured.

You always make things happen for everyone in your own way in the time u want, which is best for all. Although we don't understand, your feet are Truth, compassion and Justice. Please bless me and my wife in our lives and help us through this time blessing us with a healthy baby and good health happiness and career for both of us. Whatever we have is only by your grace. Whatever is going to happen is also your justice. Please give peace and happiness to her and give her good breaks and health in life. Please teach us to live happily realizing maya, surrender to your feet, gain knowledge, be in good health and faith, and serve others in this world without being completely selfish. Please forgive all our sins, remove the evil inside us, and bring us closer to you.

All Sai devotees we request, please pray for my friend, for us and happiness and peace of every being in this universe
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Quotation of the Week
"He is so terrible, but what can he do to the children of Dwarakamayi: When the Dwarakamayi (its presiding deity) protects, what can the serpent do?" - Saibaba of Shirdi's assurance to Balasaheb Mirikar
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Question of the Week

Q. There are two ways of approaching our Lord Father Sai for the fulfillment of our desires. One is pestering and demanding obstinately like a child asks his mother, and the other is watching silently for Him to fulfill your demand with the conviction that He knows what is best for you. Which way is better?
A. by S.V. Swamy, Hyderabad, India

Sai Ram. There are many ways of submitting a request for our Sai Maharaj and the above two represent the two ends of that spectrum. A polite hint and leaving it, an occasional reminder, reading Sri Guru Charitra or Sai Satcharitra with a firm desire that Sai Maharaj should fulfill our desires, fasting and praying to Sai for fulfilling our desires (like Mrs.Radhabai Deshmukh) etc. He has shown by His leelas that all are valid effective ways and like a true Mother, Sai (Who is our Father, Mother, God and Guru), knows what is good for the individual and at the right time, He gives what the devotee needs.

A small baby doesn't ask but just cries and the Divine Mother that Sai is knows (unlike physical mothers who may or may not always know) what is needed and gives it. A slightly grown up child pesters (I like that word, small children who go on troubling the parents are fondly referred to as 'little rascals' or 'little pests' by the elders!), until he (mostly boys pester, girls used to be a bit more modest, at least in India!) gets what he wants from the mother. The mother may pretend mock anger and may give a small wallop, out of fondness. The mother may even put a little condition, like I will give you what you ask but only if you do this... Sri Sai used that strategy to give back the lost money to a gentleman from Goa and thus pulled him to His darshan in Shirdi!

As they grow up more, children develop more individual egos and then become shy to ask the mother or any other elders. But they tell their friends or siblings (like brothers and sisters, esp. younger who can ask on their behalf!). After completing Sri Guru Charitra Saptah and getting a darshan of Sai, the devotee Mr.Sathe can't get himself to ask Sai Maharaj and asks Sri Kakasaheb Dixit to ask. Why, the author of Sai Satchaitra, Annasaheb Dabholkar alias Hemadpant couldn't ask permission to write the book by himself and requested Shama to intercede on his behalf. Sri Haji Siddiq Falke couldn't ask Sai directly and takes Shama's help! Advanced bhaktas like Sri Kaka Mahajani don't bother to ask anyone or tell Sai, since the conviction that He is their antaryami, the indweller of their heart is fully established and so they think, why ask. Doesn't He know what we need? When the question of pension was being discussed, Sai appears to Savitribai wife of Sri Raghunatha Rao and asks whether Rs.100 will be sufficient. Her reply is significant: "Baba! Why ask me this? We fully trust in you!"

So, if we fully trust in Baba, we won't ask, we needn't ask. Then the second part of the question should be worded, "and the other is watching silently at Him with the conviction that He knows what is best for you." There is no request, no demand, and only full conviction. That is certainly the best. But not every one is at the same stage of spiritual evolution. So, do what your heart says. He is in your heart and is guiding you. Spiritual or material, it is immaterial, what your desire is. Ask Him and you will get. Not what you asked always but what is good for you. Accept what He gives.

Q. In all Baba's original photos, Baba's face is not the same. Why?
A. by Ravin Gnanasambandam, Minnesota
All pictures, Photographs, and Sculptures of God and Sadguru seem to have differences in the way they appear. However, the pictures of Sadguru Sainath Maharaj of Shirdi seem to have very little semblance with one another. While the photographs of Saibaba are rare and only a few remain, even in those they appear quite dissimilar. Times and Technology do not seem to explain why this difference exists.

Jayamani jaisa bhava. Taya taisa anubhava
Davisi dayaghana Aisi tujhi hi mava

(You grant suitable experiences to everyone in accordance with their faith and devotion. O, merciful one, such is your way. Your own way)

The uniqueness of Saibaba is His appearance to devotees of their chosen form. Perhaps, the unique phenomenon of Baba's face not being the same in all photos signifies this. Interesting question. Let us hope to see more responses.
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Sai Activities

Shirdi Sai Baba Chitra Yatra, Toronto, Canada
Devotees in TORONTO, are invited to please join us in Sai bhajans, Sai Namavali, Saicharitra readings Aarti and Prasad at Durga Mandir 2691 Markham Rd. Unit #5; Ph: 416 754 2983 every Thursday from 6:30pm to 8:00pm. Devotees may participate in Shri Shirdi Sai Chitra Yatra currently underway in Toronto. To invite Baba to your home and for further details and directions contact Shammi Chopra at 416 402 8089 or shchopra@trebnet.com or visit www.saibaba.org

Shirdi Sai Baba Prayer Center, South Brunswick, NJ
Saibaba.org invites you to join for Sai puja, bhajans, Saicharitra readings, aarti and prasad every sunday at VFW hall at Henderson Rd, Kendall Park, South Brunswick, NJ from 3pm-6pm. For further details or directions contact Kumad Sachdev at (732) 257-1438, Shyam Addanki at (610) 648-0191 or email us at maildrop@saibaba.org.

GuruPoornima, Houston, USA
With Baba's immeasurable grace, our Gurupoornima celebrations excelled the expectations of one and all. It was a day of immense satisfaction to more than 300 devotees who actively involved, participated in the proceedings. One could sense their feelings from jubilant faces. We were fortunate to have the blessings of H.H. Sri Guru Sai Narayan Baba of Panvel, Bombay. We performed Abhisheka pooja to Baba's idol and the same idol was worshipped by Narayan Baba for about 35 years and gifted to a team of our devotees last December. Our other programs included bhajans, recitation of Saimahima, special bhajans, arathis, and talk on Saitatwa etc. These proceedings gave us renewed strength and confidence in conducting future programs. Our salutations to Sadguru Sainath the source of our strength.

Shri Shirdi Sai Chitra Yatra 2002 in UK
Devotees may participate in Shri Shirdi Sai Chitra Yatra currently underway in UK. To invite Baba to your home and for further details please contact Manu Bajaj at bajaj_manu@yahoo.com or call at +44 7905 933 489 in Wembley, UK

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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