Heera, a blind convict, came to Shirdi to seek Sai Baba. He came with his young son. After visiting Baba and spending some time in Shirdi, the blind Heera rested on the fields in the outskirts when he heard a voice, "tired?" It took no time for Heera to figure out that it was Baba speaking to him. "Falling to the way of vices, you sinner, did not hesitate to kill even your wife. You killed her for her jewelry, and spent all the money on your bad habits. You also lost your sight due to an accident", Baba told Heera. Heera replied in a repentive tone, " Yes, Baba. I have paid my price by doing my time in the prison and I regret all I have done. I have come to you to seek your blessings for my son". Sensing the true regret and a sense of repentance in Heera, Baba said, "Do not worry about your young one. Leave it on me. It is my duty to protect him". Heera was relieved to hear this. His worries about taking care of his son duly addressed, Heera begged Baba, "Oh my Sainath, please let me touch your feet at least once". Baba enticed him to walk forward as the blind ex-convict surged forward until he hit the trunk of a tree and fell down bleeding on the forehead, unconscious. A while later, Heera's young son came back to see his father lying unconscious. Perturbed, he started to wake him up. Heera slowly woke up and the unbelievable happened. At an instance, Heera realized that Baba had restored his sight. Now he could see his young son with his own eyes! His joy overboard, he shouted, "Sai Baba..! And he began walking briskly towards the hamlet to fall at the feet of the God that realized his true repentance. He heard the voice again, "There is no need to see me, you may go back to your village". There was no need to go anywhere to see Baba. True repentance is God realization.
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Contributed Article: Spiritual revolution started in 19th Century!

What was really happening on the spiritual front in India and this world during the 19th century, when the Avatar of the Age, our humble and simple Shri Sai Baba had manifested as a human being, can only be speculated. But tying together the lives of well known saints and sages not only in Maharashtra but from other parts of India as well, it presents a very different picture.

If one starts reading the lifes and stories of well known spiritual leaders be it a Perfect Master at the zenith of the spiritual heirarchy and one with the unending or of other spiritual teachers who obscurely performed their assigned roles, one thing that stands out very blatantly is that all these events happened in different parts of India but during the manifested life time of Shri Sainath from his birth anywhere between 1820s and 1830s to his leaving the mortal coil in 1918.

Let us start with some well known perfect masters. References to Shri Akkalkot Maharaj who attained Mahasamadhi in 1878 can be found in Shri Sai Satcharita. A study of the life stories of the great master of Akkalkot reflects similar experiences in the life of Shri Sai. Many followers of Akkalkot experienced presence of the Maharaj in presence of Shri Sai in Shirdi.

Same thing can be said about other perfect masters Hazrat Babajan(1820-1921), Shri Gajanan Maharaj who attained mahasamadhi in 1910 and Hazrat Baba Tazuddin of Nagpur(1861-1925). Upasani Maharaj(1870-1941) and Meher Baba(1894-1969) who both went to Baba, find reference in literature on Shri Sai at some point or the other.

Almost all of the great spiritual leaders mentioned till now lived or were connected with Maharashtra. When one tries to widen the search to other parts of India, then one starts seeing a pattern that most of the spiritual influencers lived at some time or the other along with Shri Sai securely anchored in Shirdi.

One of the most prominent Spiritual worker of India who carried the message to the world from Calcutta is Swami Vivekananda. Swami Vivekananda's address to the religions of parliament was in September 1893. Swami Vivekananda(1863-1902) was initiated by his Guru Sri Ramakrishna Parahmansa who incidentally lived from (1836-1886). Swami Vivekananda upon returning from his Chicago address met Shri BalaGangadhar Tilak many times, if one reads in the available literature. The same Tilak who went to seek Baba's blessings with Kharparde and later sent Geeta to be blessed by Baba!

Another great yogi who influenced many lives and did lot of spiritual work in the west was Parmahansa Yogananda(1893-1952). Is it coincidental or what that in the same year when the west gets a taste of Indian sprituality, another great worker is born to continue the legacy by bringing the Indian Yoga system to the West in a very effective way. Yogananda was initiated into spirituality by his Guru Shri Yukteshwar Giri who was a disciple of Shri Lahiri Mahasya. The deathless Mahavtar(Babaji) gave Kriya Yoga initiation to Lahiri Mahasya in 1861. Wonder who the deathless Babaji could be? One finds very similar powers of travelling without a body, materializing somewhere else while seated in the front of others elsewhere, etc. attributed to the great teachers of Yogananda who did their work in silence.

Speaking of successful yogis who worked outside India, another great spritual seeker and philosopher who returned after studying in the west and took upon his spiritual practice in Pondicherry is Sri Aurobindo Ghosh(1871-1950).

Going further south of India, another Saint who created a strong spiritual presence and self-realized was the Saint of Arunachal, Sri Ramana Maharishi(1879-1950). Some of Sri Ramana Maharishi's followers have experienced Shri Sai. One of the well known is Arthur Osborne, who went on to author the book "The Incredible Sai Baba" and another one, Yogi Spencer, who sought Sri Ramana Maharishi's help for attaining samadhi state during his medidations but to whom eventually Shri Sai helped through his unmanifested form. It is said that in the early life of this great saint, when as a kid he quietly left his family to make Arunachal his home, he was met by a Maulvi on the train who helped him on his journey with some information that made his journey possible. Wonder who that Maulvi could be?

Now there are many more great spiritual souls who acted their roles during the manifested period of Shri Sai's life, some being Swami Rama Tirtha (1873-1906), Papa Ramdas (1884-1963), Swami Omkar (1895-1982), Sri Ananda Mayee Ma (1896-1982), Swami Sivananda (1887-1963) and probably scores of others who lived during that time and can't be named due to space limitations.

We can only look at these Saint's lives and events from their historical significance and by the value their lives, examples, sayings and preachings help us to make ourselves a better person. But seeing what is going today in Saiism, the growth of Sai Philosophy is at an exponential rate both in and outside India. It may be true that there is not a single state of India where Baba's temple does not exist. Baba has truly lived up to his sayings and anyone can dare and test Baba to experience and find out if he answers their prayers or not.

Why is Saiism spreading so fast after over 80 years of his Mahasamadhi and not before? Yogananda's and Vivekananda's centers to propagate their philosophies were put in place while they were still alive and continued to flourish. Many such centers were started with direct disciples or with the involvement of the family of the Saint. Not with Baba, he did not leave any legacy, no directions, no system, nothing. But still his work goes on as it did from the day he set his foot on this blessed earth. There is no centralized centre or such thing that can dictate Baba's word or work! So, Baba continues his own work even in his unmanifested form true to his promise.

Why is it then that amongst the so many saints who lived with Baba, Baba is called the Avatar of the Age? And if he is to be believed as an Avatar then it is naive to believe that he did not know or did not have anything to do with the spiritual activities done by all the great souls mentioned above and many others present during his manifested life. When Baba knew the past, present and future of everyone in his manifested life as explained in Shri Sai Satcharita, how could he not be aware of all these happenings and some how not have a say in the things going on around him, when he is the master? This analysis and continued questions that arise in one's mind raies doubts that what we know of Shri Sai and his work during his manifested life probably can never be understood or gauged but research into his life will continue to amaze a serious seeker. That in itself satisfies the true test of Vedas in explaining the nature of God when it stops itself without going further saying 'Neti, Neti'. We may take comfort from that ultimate test that what can't be totally explained and understood is God and so it is true of our God, Shri Sai.

(contributed by Sai Vichaar Team)
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Experiences of Devotees

Pradeep Gouni, Minneapolis, USA.
What can I say about my experience. I was a devotee of Baba for more than 15 years now. I thank my Mom for introducing me to Baba. I had been suffering from a very severe pain near my anus for about a week. I didn't want to ask for Sai's help this time, because, I thought he had helped me immensely already. By his grace I have a very good life. An angel of a Son and a great wife. I wanted to beat this pain by going to the doctors and other means. I suffered all weekend with pain and went on Monday to the doctor. She examined me and prescribed me some pain medications. Those medications worked a little, but, I still had an excrutiating pain. I couldn't sleep at night (which could be evidenced by the time I am writing this e-mail). I suffered this pain even after taking a lot of pain killers for almoste a week. I have never taken as many medications all my life as I took for this pain. I woke up at 1:00AM tonight with pain again. I applied the pain balm that the doctor prescribed, but, the pain was un-bearable. I finally went back to Baba for help. I put some Udi in a glass and mixed it with water and drank it. As soon as I drank it, the pain was gone. It was gone instantly. I knew Udi would work for pain, but, I never experienced this reaction before. God does it feel good to be free of pain. I just wanted to share my story to give hope for all the desporate souls out there to never give up hope.

Mrs. A.Ramaswami
I had been to Dubai to help my daughter with her first delivery. With Baba's grace the delivery of her first Baby girl went very well. Unfortunately, I fell sick and had to be hospitalised for chest pain. I was told to undergo a angio test as they detected some blockage.

However, my ticket was booked as planned. The previous day of my departure to India I dreamt that I was sitting in the plane and an old man with mustache he was wearing an orange robe, he came to me and asked me if he could sit next to me. Then he asked me where I was going, I told him that I am going to Bangalore. Then he said to me "Don't worry I will also come with you to Bangalore".

The next day while I was waiting to board my plane and was waiting in the lounge a lady came and sat next to me. She enquired about me and she told me that she is a nurse in one of Dubai's hospital. I too started talking and was telling her about my ill-health to my amazement she immediately said the same words as in my dream. She said " Don't worry I will also come with you to Bangalore" then I realised that Baba wanted me to know that he is taking care of me in my every step.

It was due to Baba's grace that I regained my confidence and my mental peace. Hail to Baba !!
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Devotees say...

A Sai devotee
Many devotees read Sai Vichaar every Thursday of different age groups. By reading their experiences and sharing ours, we get to know more about Saibaba and different ways of reaching him. I am placing a small problem of mine, solution of which I am scared to follow, as I am not sure whether it is Baba's answer or not. My husband is a good person in many aspects, but has a different kind of attitude. He restricts me from calling my parents home every week, as it is expensive. Therefore, he reduced it to twice a month. Its almost 2 years that I went to India, and I feel like talking to my parents at least weekly once. I was working but now staying at home to look after my little kid. I prayed Saibaba to change my husband's attitude as I have tried my best to change him. I completed my parayanam this Wednesday and on Thursday one of my childhood friend called me. She is a consultant in a big firm and is Sai devotee too. She keeps fasting on Thursdays. I just mentioned her that I am missing my parents very much and at least weekly talking to them is required to survive. She is known to my family very much. She offered me that she would give me two phone cards (4 dollar/card)) every month and need not worry about money; she will collect when she visits me. If my husband comes to know he won't agree, if I hide from him it's going to be cheating. Please tell me should I consider this friend's offer as Baba's offer or to just pray to Baba for a change in my husbands thinking. Who ever stays far away from parents can understand what I am going through.

Neelu
Dear Sai, I am getting an opportunity to thank you for all your blessings. I pray for Peace and Harmony in the country and in the World.

Sridharan, Mumbai
Whenever I go back to the days, of course through my imagination, I feel that many of those who lived along with Baba could not understand HIM and only the fortunate ones had the closeness of Sai's presence. Inspite of the fact that Baba is not in HIS bodily form now, HE is living in all the sincere prayers done by HIS followers. SAI taught only the LOVE and HE is full of love. Let us all, in this Universe, try to join hands for a mass movement of PEACE spreading and may the SAI be with all of us to guide us, protect us and give us HIS blessings in full measure so that HIS love is felt by one and all. Oh SAI, please be with us ! is my sincere prayers. In all our endeavours, in all our actions, in all our deeds and above all in all our words, SAI may reside and everything may turn into SAI Yuga and not the Kali Yuga!
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Prayer Club

Jaya Tammiraju
Please help us. We are passing through a very tough time. Sai, you have been helping us so far and we are like this today is your grace. We love you Sai! I humbly request you Sai to shower your grace on us. Please get us out of this difficult situation. You always say that a mother doesn't get mad at her children. You are our mother. Please show mercy on us Baba. Kindly bless us. Make us feel the touch of your divine hand on our head. Our humble pranams at your lotus feet Sai!

Krishnaveni
Baba I want to start your activities in Singapore...Please give me the strength & make me serve you Baba. Please bless my family & friends...thanks for whatever you have given us until now.

Sai devotee
Dear Baba, I am so totally confused. Nothing is happening according to the way I want. Please Baba, remove any desire from within me. I am not able to bear the disappointments one after the other. Please remove my mind from any desire and wish. At least then, I will be happy. I really don't know what to tell you Baba. I do not ask what I ask. I usually don't ask for anything extraordinary. But, you keep on testing me. You do not believe me at all. How long are you going to keep testing us? Please do what you want to do with my life. I am just giving up everything to you. Now, all I ask is at least give me the strength to face life as it comes. Please direct me to respond to these hardships in the way you think is right. Please Baba, give me a slight hint at least of what I need to do next. I am devastated. I need your guidance. Please Baba, show mercy on me. Please look at me at least for a fraction of a second. Don't discard me dear Lord. I feel as if I am one of those flowers in the mango tree, which falls off even without becoming a fruit. Please don't cast me away dear Baba. You know what I am going through and how uncertain I feel about my life, so what is my next step in life. If there is nothing, then please take my life. I don't want to live anymore.

A Sai devotee
Sai Maha Prabho, Shirdi Sai Maharaj, You know everything about me. I am in the path of vairagya. I am working to support the family. I do not want rich life. I just want to discharge my duties to you and to the family. Please take care of my health. I am having problems with my bones. If I am not healthy, how can I surrender to you and do my duties to the family. Please help me and take care of my family and me. Om Sai Sri Sai Jaya Jaya Sai

A Sai devotee
Ohm Sai Sri Sai Jaya Jaya Sai, You have given me everything that I asked for in the past. I will never forget the miracles you did for me in the past. You know everything Baba, what I am going through now. But I am so depressed and needs some peace of mind. Please help me Baba. Please pray for me to get some peace of mind and to resolve my problems. You are the only all-pervasive that can help me. Please forgive any sins that I did in the past. Please help this poor child.

Sai devotee
My lord Baba, my family and me are grateful to you for all that you have given us. Give me strength to help those in need and shower your blessings on all of us. Let the whole world be happy! Om Sai Sri Sai Jai Jai Sai
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Quotation of the Week
He (Saibaba of Shirdi) never prescribed any asan, regulation of breathing or any rites to His bhakthas, nor did He blow any mantra into their ears. He told them to leave off all cleverness and always remember "Sai" "Sai". If you did that He said, all your shackles will be removed ad you would be free " - Shri Sai Satcharitha Ch. XI
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Question of the Week

Q. Why did Baba discourage the practice of Yoga at the same time was seen performing Yogic practices such as Khanda Yoga and Dhauti?
A. by Ravin Gnanasambandam, Minnesota, USA
Baba did not crave for any siddhis. All came naturally to Him. God personified, Saibaba of Shirdi, the Great incarnate existed in more than one dimension, not easily comprehensible to average men. As if to follow the laws of nature, he walked, ate, slept, talked, shouted, and appeared as any ordinary man. Even as a human being, he extolled all virtues. For those who saw Him in that plane, he smoked chillum, ate meat, and occasionally followed yogic practices. He revealed several planes of His existence to those who sought him sincerely and relentlessly. This happens even today to those that choose to seek Him beyond His physical form - a sensuous treat in itself very difficult to resist for a sensuous being.

Baba did not prescribe any asanas nor did he condition anyone to a single path. He did not discount any religion nor did he discount anyone's chosen form of God. He advocated the inquiry of the self with the intent of truthful quest and not mere formality. Any path or a practice is a waste of time if the pursuit is not sincere. This was Baba's contention. The simple God of Shirdi also discouraged those who follow him not to indulge in practices that are beyond one's physical or intellectual limitations, knowing fully well that body and intellect by their nature are limited! God is not elusive to physically comprised or intellectually limited. At the same time, Baba did not discourage any practice as long as it is sincere, truthful, and is done with the right purpose in mind. For those who sincerely sought His guidance, He gave it at once in a way suitable to the individual. For those who chose to ignore, He said, "God is Great. God will do good".

Hemadpanth narrates the following incident in Sri Sai Satcharitha: "Once it so happened, that a sadhak of Yoga came to Shirdi with Nanasaheb Chandorkar. He had studied all the works on Yoga, including the Yoga-sutras of Patanjali, but had no practical experience. He could not concentrate his mind and attain samadhi even for a short time. He thought that if Sai Baba be pleased with him, He will show him the way to attain samadhi for a long time. With this object in view he came to Shirdi, and when he went to the Masjid he saw Sai Baba eating bread with onion. On seeing this, a thought arose in his mind - `How can this man, eating stale bread with raw onion, solve my difficulties and help me?' Sai Baba read his mind and said to Nanasaheb - "Oh Nana, he who has the power to digest onion, should eat it and none else". Hearing this remark, the yogi was wonder-struck and then he fell at Baba's Feet with complete surrender. With pure and open mind, he asked his difficulties and got their solution from Baba. Thus being satisfied and happy, he left Shirdi with Baba's Udi and blessings".
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Sai Activities

Shri Shirdi Sai Center of Flushing NY
Shri Shirdi Sai Center of Flushing NY was started by a group of Sai Devotees in a very modest way in 1992. Now this temple has grown into a big Sai community with hundreds of devotees. Presently this temple is being looked after by an able board of trustees who are engaged in all the day-to-day matters of the temple.

The primary objective of the temple is to promote Sai awareness and spread the message of Baba. Annadan is considered as the primary activity of the temple and food (prasad) is served to all the devotees three times a day. Pooja activities include Harathi (four times a day) and Abhisheka for Baba everyday, melodious bhajans and continuous Sai Nam Jap and reading Sai Satcharita are some of the other regular activities. Interested people can sponsor all the activities above.

There is a major plan in progress to build a big temple in the present premises as the present space can accommodate only a limited number of people. Therefore, we ardently request all the Sai devotees to contribute to this cause by making generous donations and have the blessings of Baba. As this temple is a tax-exempt organization in USA, a receipt for the donation shall be issued. Please make checks payable to Shirdi Sai Center and mail to Shirdi Sai Center, 46-16, Robinson St., Flushing, NY-11355.

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.

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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