Can we understand reality by merely relying on our five senses? Can we understand this gigantic and ancient universe with its countless stars, planets and living beings through our puny mind and limited intelligence? Can we reach out and grasp eternal truths through our conditioned and selfish ego? Certainly not.

What is this world? Who am I? How do I know that 'I' exist? 'What' are 'we' ‘observing’? What is being observed, who is the observer and what is this act of observing?

If all matter is energy, is it possible that it is our mind that is transforming this energy into objects of perception? Are we all part of and perceiving nothing but an eternal stream of energy? If all objects of matter arise from and subside into energy, then is not this energy the only real, absolute and eternal object. Everything else then is a mistaken interpretation arising from our limited mind and ego. The observer, observed and act of observing are nothing but this eternal energy-consciousness. If we realize that, we and everything around us is a manifestation of the same divine energy, how can we develop ill will towards any other being? Our lives will be filled with love. If we lose our false self and regain this consciousness our fears, doubts and desires will vanish.

Beloved Father, teach us. O Jagat Guru, forgive our ignorance and mistakes. Give us Your Grace to realize You as our inner Consciousness, through which we perceive You as this external universe. Light the Knowledge and dispel the ignorance in our hearts. May we be always conscious of your presence. May your golden feet lead us from darkness to light.

(Contributed by Subramanian Ravi)
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Contributed Article: Is faith beyond belief?

Most of us use the words FAITH and BELIEF quite often in our conversations in our day-to day life. The intensity of each of these words however differs so much that we hardly make any notice of it.

Before we read on further - Just ask your self: What does FAITH mean to you and What is BELIEF?

You can keep the answers to yourself and see how beautifully Sage Narada and Maha Vishnu have depicted the feelings and meanings of FAITH and BELIEF.

Once, when Sage Narada was on his way to the abode of Lord Maha Vishnu he happened to meet a Brahmin, this brahmin was reputedly spiritually advanced, he requested to find out what Lord Maha Vishnu did for recreation or time pass as we call it. Further, on his way Narada met a poor low class cobbler working under a banyan tree, who also made the same request.

Now, Sage Narada got more anxious. Those two disciples had asked the same question and quickly went to Maha Vishnu and presented the query of the Brahmin and cobblers.

Maha Vishnu told Narada to tell them that as a pass time, He, Maha Vishnu sits on His throne and passes a big fat elephant thru' the eye of a needle. He told Narada to tell the brahmin and the cobbler exactly what he told him.

Narada transcends to BhuLoka and first meets the Brahmin. When this answer was given to the Brahmin, he ridiculed and laughed at Narada saying, how could anyone pass elephants big or small thru' the eye of a needle? However, as instructed by his Lord he conveys the message to the brahmin and does Narayana-Narayana on his path to convey the message to the cobbler.

Narada told the cobbler exactly what he told the Brahmin. The cobbler jumped up and started to dance and sing Lord Narayana's praises saying only Krishna Bhagwan or Maha Vishnu can have such interesting hobbies and pass times.

Narada was wonderstruck and asked the cobbler how could he possibly believe that anyone could pass an elephant through the needle's eye. The cobbler picked up a fruit of the banyan tree and pointing one of its tiny seeds, reasoned if the Lord can put such a huge banyan tree in such a tiny seed, Why can't He pass an elephant thru' the eye of a needle . His firm in his Lord was that - anything was possible by him. Rather, there is nothing impossible that our Guru cannot do.

Well, such was this poor cobblers shraddha in His Lord Maha Vishnu. Though the cobbler was poor and from a lower class then the so called educated and erudite brahmin - his faith in his Sadguru was more then being a doubting Thomas - ridiculing the capacity of the Guru.

Now do you agree that Faith is beyond Belief?

Dear friends, it high time we realize this soon that our faith in either God or devil is reflected in our thinking, our behavior, our activities and our goals. Faith is beyond belief because belief is superficial and can be easily shaken.

My faith in my Sadguru is beyond belief. Belief is superficial and can be easily shaken; faith is firm and takes one steadfast. Lack of faith makes one weak and timid. He always has doubts in his mind and there is no happiness in his life. Our faith in our Sadguru is a source of great strength and hope. Only our true faith in our Sadguru compels Him to personally come running to the aid of His devotees.

"sadguru shivaya na duza upay" - There is no better solution than resorting to the feet of our Sadguru

(Contributed by Bellala Nagadeep)
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Experiences of Devotees

Pradip Prasad Koirala
I want to share the most recent experience that occurred in my pooja place. I have Baba's Dwarkamai styled white marble small image of Baba in my pooja place. We all know Baba's left leg is always on the right leg. In this way, the right leg of Baba is positioned like the lap. Some three or four month before some letters appeared in the right leg. SA AND RA in devnagiri script was visible but other letters were unreadable though many lines forming sentence did appeared. My family and I were waiting for the clear message from Baba. My wife, my son and some of the relation have also seen the letters. In that image one and half month before a white spot appeared on one side of the Baba’s right leg. Being enthusiastic about what message will come, I was constantly looking the letters in the lap. Now to the astonishment of my family, there is nothing written in Baba’s right leg. Can Sai devotees explain me the implication of this happening? Baba, You are both Doer and Undoer, it is beyond my comprehension. Baba, give sradda and saburi and sampurna saranagathi to me, my wife and son. Also, bless all the Sai devotees of the world.
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Devotees say...

A Sai Devotee
I would suggest the lady whose husband restricts her to call home every week but lets her call twice a month, is that she can negotiate with her husband to let her call home every week some months and other months not so often. It is important to keep the family budget in shape. She can get into the habit of writing regularly, I am sure her parents will really find her letters very dear. Mine did. You can save a letter not a phone call and believe me there is nothing like checking the mail for a blue envelope from India.

J S Saxena
In one of the issues of Sai Vichaar, I came across an article by one devotee regarding a doctor in Hyderabad practicing herbal medicines. I would request the devotee to kindly give the address and details of the doctor on my e-mail address, which is jsspmg@yahoo.com or post it in Sai Vichaar I shall be highly grateful. By the grace of Sai, I have two sons who are special.

Harini
Jai SaiRam, to the sai devotee you seemed hopeless for life. My sincere advice is to hold firm on to your faith and with all the experiences of Sai folks, he'll surely answer all your prayers. Whenever you are in desolation, keep meditating on Baba or read Sai Satcharitha a paragraph or a chapter. You’ll feel lot relieved after doing so. Baba is there for all of us. Be positive and he'll comfort you for sure. Sai, shower his grace and happiness to all beings on this earth!

Sridharan Mumbai, India
Dear Sai Devotees! 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. In spite 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 in all our endeavors, 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!

A Sai Devotee
This is in response to the problem posted by a devotee about her husband not allowing calling her parents frequently. I would suggest she follow the advise of her friend and take the phone cards from her to call the parents. It cannot be classified as cheating the husband. If the husband can understand his wife's sentiments, he would have allowed her to communicate frequently with her parents. There is only so much you can do to convince people. But when it comes to the problem of attitude, you should stick to what causes you happiness as long as it is just and reasonable. None in the world can say that talking to one's parents on a regular basis is unreasonable.

MRK, Phoenix, AZ
Om SAI RAM.I congratulate on Sai Vichaar team article. It is very comprehensive in talking of all the saints of that period. Article on Baba's khanda yoga is very good. As a contributor of earlier times, I AM VERY HAPPY TO SEE THE QUALITY of the Sai Vichaar is growing better and better. As anchor at Phoenix, I am happy to note that Mrs. Catherine and Jack Hoban paid respects to Baba's chitra and they played guitar and sang songs before the Chitra. I REQUEST you to inform me and other anchors what you propose to do about chitrayatra at the end of fall. I SUGGEST THAT TIME MAY BE EXTEND3ED further as Geeta Menon in whose house amrut came from the photo informed that there are eight of her friends who would like to have the chitra and many devotees want to keep the chitra for two times and three times May Saimaharaj bless all of you of SAIVICHAR

SV Swamy, Hyderabad, India
Sai Ram. Went through the SV of this week. Your article about SAI and the other Masters is very interesting. In fact, I too keep getting inspiration through Sri Ramana, Sri Sivananda, and very much recently, I got a lot of pleasure reading Autobiography of a Yogi. I too felt that Babaji is One with Sai Baba!

I read that Sri Sai actually took the balance karma of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa (Gadadhar) when He (Sai) temporarily left His body for three days in charge of Mhalsapathi. There is no doubt in my mind that all these Masters are working together to bring about a spiritual revolution in this Kali Yuga.

Regarding the devotee who wrote in last week’s SV, please advise her not to accept the offer of her friend to give her the phone cards, for which she has to pay later. And she can't accept charity from her friend also without her husband's permission. Let her take up some small part time work like baby sitting or may be some other acceptable work and earn a few dollars so that she can call her parents every week.
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Prayer Club

Sai devotee
Baba, it’s been 40 days that my husband lost his job. Still he couldn’t get a good job. Baba, why are u testing me so much. On the top of this tension, we are being blamed by the employer and he is ill-treating us. We are worried, how many problems he will create in future.

Baba, why is all this happening. Baba, I pray to you sincerely. Please take way the hostile feeling my husband's employer has on him. Baba, you are the one and only one who can help us. Please listen to our prayer. Please give him a good job and good relation with his employer. You said Sai deva! Just by calling your name, all our sins will be washed off. However far we are, you said, you will come and help us the moment we call you. Baba, am I not your devotee, or are you not happy with me. How to ask you and what to ask you I don’t know.

Baba, I always believed that you will not leave me in my sorrows, deva! Please help me and make my belief true. Sometimes in angry I fought with you, talked rubbish to you. Baba, please forgive me for all my bad deeds and actions. I promise you that, I will never leave your feet, I will do your nama Japa everyday, I will come to Shirdi when I come to INDIA. Baba, I will work hard to be a person as you say in Satcharitha. Please take away my problems. Please give my husband a good job. Sai devotees please pray for my husbands job.

A Sai devotee
Sainath: either my voice is weak to be heard, or I am lacking in eligibility to receive your grace, you have not responded to my prayers on behalf of someone else. I will continue to pray to you and to serve you, but my heart is sad. The person I prayed for needed a miracle and he didn't get it. It is your lila and only you know why.

A Sai devotee
We fail to put my feelings in words. You have pulled us from nowhere to this place. We shall not say `thank you' Baba. There is no word in any language that can express even an iota of your mercy and kindness towards all of us. May our sensory organs open AND BECOME AWARE of you! Feeding poors and destitute was one of the main activities of yours, when you were in bodily form (sakaar form at Shirdi). You are continuing to carry out this activity even today when you are in niraakar form, you being omnipresent and in hearts of all matters and sub matters.

Can we also be a conduit for you to carry out the above service? We want to start the food service for poor and destitute at one of your temple. Please give your consent on the same. We have spoken to the local managing committee, who have given their consent but with certain reservations to start with. Now we leave it to you. We look forward to your help and support.

Shalini Agarwal
Baba I really want to go to India in November and attend my Nephew's wedding and be with my sisters to relax after my surgery. Somehow, doctor did not say yes openly and do not understand why? My husband also seemed hesitant. Please help Baba and Sai Bhakts and show me a positive way.

Sai devotee
I know that you are helping me through out my life. With out you I cant do anything. So, please help me SAIBABA. Please get me out of this place and send me back to my home country with good job as soon as possible, if you think it is right. Please SAIBABA. I am regularly performing your puja. I know that you are with me in each activity of my life. So SAIBABA, you know what is right and what is wrong.

Subash Gayakwad, Hubli, India
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. I am suffering from severe pain in muscles and nerves and feeling weakness. I cannot tolerate the pain. Please relieve (cure) me from this pain. 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.
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Quotation of the Week
Sitting in this masjid, I speak truth, nothing but truth. Neither sadhanas, nor proficiency in the Six Shastras is necessary. Have faith and confidence in your Guru. Believe fully that Guru is the sole actor or doer. Blessed is he who knows the greatness of his Guru and thinks him to be Hari, Hara and Brahma – Saibaba of Shirdi.
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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?
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Sai Activities

Shri Shirdi Sai Thaali for India – A Holiday Gift Service from www.saibaba.org
Shirdi Sai Thaali is a unique gift giving opportunity for devotees residing in far away land to their loved ones in India. This service includes sending a gift package consisting of Sai material including books, magazines, audiotapes, CDs and pictures of Saibaba in a custom made platter consecrated at Shirdi.
Sending a gift is an act of giving. Giving develops detachment. Keeping in line with our mission, the Thaali concept is developed after careful consideration and deliberation and around material relating to Shri Sai Baba. The results of this program can only be measured by the happiness and peace one gets when one receives the thaali. Talking to someone who has actually received a Thaali and knowing their feelings only will make one realize the true value of Shri Shirdi Sai Thaali.
We hope that Sai devotees around the world will use this opportunity to send Shri Shirdi Sai Thaali to the beloved in India this holiday season. To request a Shri Shirdi Sai Thaali, please visit http://www.saibaba.org. For any questions or concerns, please contact us by email at support@saibaba.org. Shirdi Saibaba Website Organization is a Non-profit organization.

Bus Yatra to from Edison NJ to Shirdi Sai Baba temple in Baldwin, Long Island NY – October 13, 2002
All Sai devotees living in the area are invited to join the Bus Yatra on October 13, 2002 (Sunday). The bus will leave at 8.30-8.45am from Oak Tree Road. Temple activities planned for that day are: 10.30-12.00am Kumkum Puja along with Lalitha Sahasranam. This will be followed by Bhajans, Aarti and Mahaprasad. Following that the bus will leave around 2.15 from Long Island back to New Jersey. There is NO COST to participate in the yatra. Devotees may bring Naivedya to the temple. For details, please contact Bharat Sanyal at 732-940-2226 or email at saiyash@yahoo.com.

Shirdi Saibaba Prayer Center, Twin Cities, MN
By the grace and blessings of the Sadguru Sainath Maharaj, Shirdi Saibaba Prayer Center is pleased to invite all for the inauguration of the Prayer Center for the benefit of Sai devotees in the Twin Cities and surrounding areas of Minnesota at 725-139 NE Lake Street, Hopkins, MN. The inaugural program on September 29 2002 will start at 6.00 AM with Mangalsnan to Baba and conclude with Madhyahna aarthi at 12.00 Noon. The program will include Sai ashtothra naamavali, Vishnu Sahasranama Parayan, Bhajans, Kirthans and Sai Naama Jap. For details, please contact hamaresai@yahoo.com. Shirdi Saibaba Prayer Center will house Sadguru Saibaba’s murthy and will conduct regular services and satsangs. The Prayer Center is grateful to www.saibaba.org for their support and donation of the marble murthy of Saibaba of Shirdi.

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 Durga Mandir, Kendall Park, South Brunswick, NJ from 11am - 1pm. 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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