In the pursuit of following Baba's teachings in the real world, a devotee gets confused at times. The real world is full of show, hypocrisy, deceit, anger and selfishness. Then how is one to reconcile with his Guru's advice of compassion, selfless service, control of materialistic desires etc. with these opposite experiences in daily life. This is the greatest test of the real devotee and constitutes the biggest roadblock to ones spiritual advancement. It requires an eternal and delicate balance in life to reach ones goal. The beauty is that it is not only possible to evolve such a balance but is quite simple to do it. Let me explain.

Consider yourself as two individuals clubbed into one body. Your exterior and your interior self. Exterior is for the real world, an identity you carry. It is something with which you can be extremely careless, it being the most inexpensive thing for you. Use as little brainpower as you can for manipulation of this exterior, just enough to perform your daily routine and obligations of family, work and society. This is because having total faith in God, you know that anything what comes to you in the material world is going to come only by His will, and therefore you do not need to waste your mental efforts on something which is not in your hands. Therefore, conserve whatever energy you have for your other self.

The interior body is your real self. It is the "You" coming life after life in this world, with different exteriors possibly sometimes in human form sometimes in some other form. It is the atom from that Virat Swarup Lord Krishna exhibited to Arjuna at the battlefield. It is one drop from that ocean of Godhood and therefore has the same properties as the God has. It is this self of yours, which is perpetually in a struggle wanting to merge permanently with his origin, but cannot do it and has to suffer life after life and birth after birth. And all the time you know that He has given you a clear path to reach Him and merge with Him, but we cannot do it simply because we mingle our real self with our external self and thus mess up things all the time in life.

So, what is the secret? It is maintaining the distance between the two selves or the so-called balance. Keep the two accounts different. What does it actually mean? It means your real action has to be by your inner self mostly unknown to the outside world. Your real actions have not only to be a secret but occasionally opposite of what you convey through your exterior self. For example, it may be necessary to scold somebody by your exterior self for maintaining discipline in office or family, but inwardly your real action has to be compassion for him. One can replicate this for all actions in daily life. You may be eating and dancing in a restaurant with your wife outwardly, but inwardly you would be thinking of the glory of your Sai and may be even dancing with him. As a mother you may be milking your baby, but inwardly you would be milking baby Krishna and playing with him. You may outwardly be inaugurating a conference as a very important person but inwardly you would be thinking of the glory of your God as the so-called glamour and respect you get is actually His and not yours. You would always have two selves.

Swami Ramkrishna has given a beautiful simile. Consider yourself like an ill charactered lady who feigns love and respect for her husband and serves him with special care but inwardly she is always in deep thoughts of her lover all the time. And your lover has to be none other than Sai. Spend 90% of your mental energy on your inner self and only 10% on your exterior self. For your spiritual advancement, all scriptures tell you to have a positive posture for the material world, free of emotions, sentiments, anger, lust, and greed and above all fear. How is this possible? Only if you concentrate very little on your external self. Be oblivious of your external self most of the time. If anybody humiliates you, give a smile in return. If you lose your job, think of something greater He has for you. If some misfortune befalls you, think something terrible was to happen but Baba has contained it. Be like a superman who considers the daily activities of life as frivolous and inconsequential. If you have absolute faith in Him, nothing ever will be wanting in your life. Just be calm and detached. In the matter of your exterior. Be more like an animal that performs his or her daily chorus of life mechanically. But for your interior self be always vigilant and communicating with your Master as if receiving instructions every second. Devise your own periods of entertainment for your inner self like singing a song of Sai, massaging His feet with oil, or browsing through Sai Baba's websites and hear some of the melodious bhajans. All this can be done while performing your duties in the external world.
(The narration is in second person only for expressing the thoughts better and does not mean that I am any different from the 'you' used throughout the article)

Contributed by Pran Razdan, San Diego, California
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Contributed Article: Bhaja Govindam Sloka 3

Contributed by Paritala Gopi Krishna, New Delhi, India

Naaree Sthanabhara Naabheedesam
Drishtvaa Maa Gaa Mohaavesam
Etan Maamsavasaadi Vikaaram
Manasi Vichintaya Vaaram Vaaram
... Bhaja Govindam, Bhaja Govindam.

Meaning:
Naaree - the maidens, Sthanabhara - with the weight of their bosom, Naabheedesam - their naval, Drishtvaa - having seen, Maa - do not, (Aa) Gaa - fall a prey, Mohaavesam - maddening delusion, Etat - this is, Maamsam - of flesh, Vasaa - of fat, Aadi - etc., (Etan Maamsavasaadi), Vikaaram - a modifiction, Manasi - in your mind, Vichintaya - think well, Vaaram Vaaram - again and again.

Substance:
Do not fall prey to maddening delusion and get enticed at the sight of the physical glamour of women having full bosom of young maidens and their naval, as these are nothing but a modification of flesh and fat. Do not fail to remember this truth and think repeatedly in your mind.

Commentary:
In this Sloka, Sri Adi Sankaracharya strikes at the evil of lust, which is the most intractable of all. Sri Sankaracharya exhorts both men and women to resist the temptation of getting into the passions for the opposite sex. Our elders always warned us to keep away from two important things if we wish to grow steadily in the path of spirituality. They are Kaantha or Kaminee and Kaanchana, i.e., women and wealth. These are forbidden things, as they are the most attractive things of lust in the world.Having carried away by the external appearance of beauty of the body, some people argue that beauty is to enjoy, at least by looking at them, whether it is a beautiful woman or a handsome man. This argument does not have any weight because it is self-deception.Looking at things will not produce satisfaction, it only breeds more desire. Attraction towards opposite sex is natural, but the ultimate destination of this attraction is sorrow, as this attraction and the enjoyment one gets out of it is temporary and transitory.

The allurement towards woman's physical beauty or the physical fitness or bodybuilding of man will fade away with the passage of time. They become old and they will not be any more attractive. This biologically natural urge for opposite sex is to be controlled, disciplined, purified, sublimated and, slowly eliminated. Unlike animals, intelligent human beings should not act according to instincts and impulses, but by rational analysis, curb and control the flow of passions and divert them for nobler and divine activities.

Of course, it is difficult to practice initially, as it is against the very nature of body-desires. Precisely for this reason, one has to over-grow from the sense-objects and body-related desires. Realizing this truth, if one proceeds in one's Sadhana, divine unfoldment within takes place. Sri Sankarcharya pleads by prescribing an efficient antidote for this evil. He suggests that if one analyses and perceives mentally the reality, the body is composed of only abhorrent flesh and fat, packed in a bag of skin, having nine holes. If one keeps on analyzing on these lines, the spiritual mind shall retreat from the disgusting ugliness of this body immediately. This is the only easy and best way to educate our mind so that we will not run after the perishable and filth-filled body, but dedicate ourselves for the nobler cause to attain the Lotus Feet of Lord.

We might have passed through several lives and lived through two passions of thirst for wealth and instinctive hunger for flesh of women or men. Now, we have attained this manava janma due to some punya karmas in our earlier births. It is time now to achieve required balance of mind and to maintain it all through our lives. We need to practice again and again (vaaram vaaram) to acquire this art and ultimately firmly establish in it, because Mother Maya is always ready to strike at us with Her attractions of world of objects spread around us. We should opt for Shreyas rather than Preyas, by effectively using our discriminatory power.

Contributed Article: Baba's Dwarkamayee in North India !

Contributed by Sai Vichaar Team

It was on Saturday December 7th 2002 morning that we had a chance to visit "Sai ka Angan", Baba's abode on the outskirts of Delhi. Once someone steps inside the door, then the difference between Shirdi and this place dissolves. The layout, the structure, interior and everything up to the nails in walls is so carefully done that one can't say the difference between Baba's abode in Shirdi and here. Not only that, HE himself sits next to the railing in the form of a life sized replica of HIS form as though saying to his visitors; "When this masjid was not built, then also I was present here but no one recognized me; hence I have come with the masjid, so that my devotees can recognize this place also as my abode!"

It is not mere coincidence that at that moment a family arrived here just returning from their trip to Shirdi and the lady's statement bears truth when she exclaimed, "It seems that we did not even leave and we are still in Shirdi!" Such is the magic of this place. Not to be carried away just by emotions and people's reactions we decided to put our faith to test. The first thought that came to the mind was that no one speaks Marathi here, so this place can't be Shirdi! What a cheap thought one may say! But pat came back the reply from the master sitting in his court. All of a sudden the speakers started blazing the glory of Shirdi and the Master in Marathi. Where from and who played the tape is not of importance so much that the tape played in Marathi and it was glorifying the Lord as was done by the villagers each morning in Shirdi. It started looking and feeling like the stories and characters were rising from the pages of Sai Satcharita to enact and replay the scenes that took place almost a century ago!

Not still satisfied, the eyes and the mind wanted more! we stood in the "Sabha Mandap" or courtyard outside the famous three steps of the Masjid and prayed to Baba. "Baba, if this is you then we can't climb the steps with out your permission. So, hey lord, till you give express permission, we can't come up!" Not even a minute passed after this mental prayer was offered then came the result from the master. Some one walked up and said, "Please step into the masjid and do "phanka" (fan the master)". With tears in eyes, hair standing up on its edges and ego crushed, the command was instantly accepted and obeyed.

Then as if to satisfy more, the Master continued to play his game. All of a sudden from no where long lines of children, mothers and fathers, started queuing in front of the masjid. Upon inquiry, it was informed that on this day, there was a comprehensive health camp being organized by "Sukarya", a non governmental organization for the benefit of poor and needy followed by "annadan" or feeding the poor. Baba's Handi and Radha krihsna Mayi's kitchen started playing in the very front of our eyes. Many ladies donning the roles of Laxmi and Radha Krishna Mayi relived the days of Baba's Shirdi, some cutting vegetables, some serving the food, some cooking but all of them very immersed in telling tales of Baba's influence in their lives!

Came the time for Arathis, one could clearly hear the conch of the shell loud and clear for miles, inviting and informing one and all of the time for Arathi. The masjid roared with live singing of "Ghevooni Pancharathi..". And our feeble minds wanted to test Baba's strength merely on the language of Marathi! "Shame on us! O' Lord of Lords, please forgive this sinner! How many times have you told and explained to us and how many times we have not listened we know not, by you know it all! Hey Baba, have mercy. At this moment, we do not even feel worthy of your grace but out of your kindness, please do forgive us for we are not even worthy of that!". The mind presently came back as the arathi was ending. Then came the time for "langar" or partaking of food. Men and women got busy in serving the food that was being prepared since morning. Seeing there were big lines, we thought of waiting on the side. Stepping on the dirt, all of sudden the eyes fell on a long line of ants walking very briskly in a great hurry. Curiosity arisen, we started to follow the long line of ants very busily going and coming from somewhere. The trail led straight to the back of the masjid, where there was a small hole and through which were seen ants carrying on their back, a pinch of food for a human, but as big as a cart load no doubt for the little ant in a line. The same food that was being served on the other side of the wall! Reminds of food served from Baba's daily begging rounds? By this time, the heart was begging the Master to stop proving his point!

The jet lag started to set in, the body was very tired from the long journey and the back was hurting immensely. The body was screaming to rest and lie down but the crowds were still looming. How can one leave without taking Baba's prasad and his permission. After all, He has already shown his presence! The mind started its game once again. "Why not ask Baba to cure this hurt and avoid bearing the pain? He is here isn't it, then why can't he provide relief for it?" Not even a moment passed after the thought arose that the eyes fell on a sign declaring that place to be where Baba stood leaning and distributing Udhi. Having read the sign, we quickly walked there and standing against the wall started rubbing our backs to the wall. In less than few minutes, all the pain in the back vanished and the body felt well rested with out any signs of tiredness at all!

Thus the day continued with sharing and listening to Baba's leelas and stories from many. While taking his leave, a thought arose to pen this day down for whose benefit and for whom we know not! We are sure though that through this he will reach his intended audience. The Dwarkamayee of North India, "Sai Ka Angan", is located in Sushant Lok, Gudgaon, Haryana on the outskirts of Delhi.If one is in Delhi for a visit, one should surely check out this place of Baba that brings Shirdi and its experience away from Shirdi.

Contributed Article: "Experiencing Sai Baba's Shirdi - A guide" - book review

Contributed by Krishna Rupnawar

Alison Williams book "Experiencing Sai Baba's Shirdi - A guide", takes us on a journey through the sacredvillage of Shirdi, acquainting us with the saint of Shirdi and the significance of the places which he sanctified with his presence.It also gives a detailed accounts of events and anectodes that occured there. The Guide also offers practical information such ashow to get there. The reader is invited to walk in the footsteps of Baba, to be guided along the road and thereby experience SaiBaba's Shirdi in a fuller way!.

This book (code number A165) is published by Saipatham, Shirdi and is available in the online catalog at www.saibaba.org. Please visit the online store at saibaba.org to get your own copy.
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Experiences of Devotees

B.Subrahmanyam Guntur
I wish to share with all Sai devotees my experiences of recent visit to Shirdi.I feel that if anyone has total faith and submission to Baba he will look into us.Every time I went for darshan inspite of the crowds,somehow Baba takes me close to him.I cannot explain this but let me assure you I have had darshan of Baba to my heart's content. Even Baba asked me( through a security guard) whether I had darshan to my satisfaction.Can you imagine a security guard enquiring devotees? But I felt that Baba only asked me in the form of a security guard.At one time Baba made me stand in front of Him for full 5 minutes in spite of the crowd.Everything that happens is Baba's leela only.I never worried about people going with passes to have Baba's darshan.In the que one Sai devotee gave me his experiences of visiting Shirdi for the last 40 years.I felt Baba in his form came and made me so happy to hear such experiences.In one of our visits I have lost all my belongings through a trick. but I have never lost hopes.Baba in one form came and helped me to reach my place.I have experienced Baba's leela in many ways.I see in every action Baba only.Baba only helped me to come out of difficult situations. Baba is a part of my family.in every action I find Baba's leela and feel happy.I imagine Baba in every posiible relationship.

A Sai Devotee
My mom was an ardent believer in Saibaba when I was in Engineering college.Even though I used to visit Baba's temple quite frequently I could not call myself a complete devotee at that time. However I used to visit Baba's temple which was right across our college at that time. After few years after I completed my education and landed up a with job and was about to get married, my mom wanted me to accompany her to the temple we used to visit. That day I was driving the scooter and we had a good darshan and were returning back home. On the way back to home the scooter slipped and we both fell down. Surprisingly my mom was absolutely safe and I had a minor scractch on one of my fore arms.

Few years later after marriage, we were having trouble concieving a baby. Doctor said she was going to give some medicines and my wife should be able to concieve that next month, however nothing happened. The doctor said she would increase the dose again but only after a month time. We came back home dejected. That weekend we visited Sai's temple and prayed for getting through this problem. In a week my wife was pregnant and even the doctor who was treating my wife was absolutely surprised and this is when I started believing in him.
Now I am a strong believer in Sai and make it a point to remember Sai at all times. Bow to Shri Sai Baba - Peace be to All.
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Devotees say...

Sheena Bhatia
Sai Ram I am writing a very important lesson I learnt in my life. I was taking my dental exams and in the 3rd part I faced immense problems And wasn't getting things the way they should be for the exam. I was very disappointed and had cried a lot when I came back from the test. By Baba's grace I have a big poster of my baba and I just ran to him and Hugged the poster and cried questioning baba why did that happen to me . But still I had full faith in baba and I did pass and then I cleared the next part as well. I was the happiest person when I learnt all is done and I can finally be called as a dr, throughout my struggle when I look back at every step I feel baba with me holding my hand, comforting me and just telling me to have faith and patience and then all I had to do was to do my best and leave the rest to baba and I actually enjoyed working and preparing for the test and it all fell into place. I thank Baba for giving me such a wonderful, caring and encouraging family.baba please help me to always be humble and never fail to do my duties and always be at ur feet.u r my everything sai and I m totally dependant on u.please never leave me. I love u a lot baba please bless my entire family in Delhi and lots of happiness to all.
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Prayer Club

Sarasa Subramaniam
Om Sai Ram, Om Sai Ram, Om Sai Ram Baba thank you for all the things that you have given me and for being with me all the time. Please forgive me on all my sins and please help me to be a better person today and everyday of my life. Baba today I am in a situation which you are well aware off. I am leaving everything on your lotus feet for your blessing for me to come through this with dignity. I owe this to my family and especially to my mom. Baba as yet i feel trapped in a tunnel with no lights or ending. Nevertheless you are my saviour whom I am looking up to. Baba please be with me at all time in my life in this world. Not to forget please bless my family at all time with your presence. Please make them believe in you.

Sai Devotee
Sainath I am very glad you heard my prayer. My husband got temporary job. Now my belives got more strong. Every difficult situation I know you are with me. Pl Baba help my unmarried sister for her good. She is 34 years old and still not stteled. Pl Baba help her so can get over this tough situation. I am very happy you are with me and my family. Bless my family and me. Om Sai Ram.

Sai Devotee
Saibaba, You know everything about my past and present situation.Why is that everything is going wrong for me these days.The fear and tension inside me is killing me.you know from past few months i am hardly able to get any sleep in the nights.It is more than an year i lost my job.I am completely broke and have nothing to support myself Now the person i love is not with me.This is another pain i have to handle in this situation.Show me some light baba, before it is too late to change things. Bless me with a job and help us get married.I know i am asking most impossible thing to happen but you can even make blind people see.Make this miracle in my life. A humble request to all sai devotees ,Please pray for me for these two problems.

A Sai devotee
Mere baba, please do not ignore me like this. Baba please listen to my prayers and bless me baba. Please baba, who else is there for me other wise. Baba you know what is going on. Only faith in you is keeping me go on. Baba please help me. Baba please solve the problem baba. You have come home and that is the dwarakamayi for me. How can one not get away with calamities in your dwarakamayi baba. Please bless me and my family. And always be with all the children who have come at your sharan. sairam

Sai Devotee
Dear Baba, Please help my family, my daughter is going through a very tough time, please help her to regain her confidence. You know everything, she needs Your support and blessings to get through this difficult period. Please guard and protect her. Sairam.

Sai Devotee
Sai, please protect my eye health. Please restore my sight and remove this disease from my body. I beg you to help me. I am falling at your feet. You and only you can save me. I have placed my trust in you and know that you will not let me down. Please protect me sai. Tell me and prove to me that when someone believes in you, you will protect them. Protect me from my illness. Sainatha, pahimam pahimam!

Sai Devotee
OM SAIBABA, SAIBABA I know that you are with me. I am also doing your charithra parayana daily.Thank you SAIBABA for fulfilling one of my wishes and thank you for getting me assistantship.So SAIBABA,thank you verymuch SAIBABA. I will continue to do your charithra parayana daily.So help me in solving the obstacles.Also send me back to my country and give a chance to serve my parents SAIBABA. OM SAI SRI SAI JAYA JAYA SAY.

Sai Devotee
Our son is really bright and affectionate. He does not work hard, messes up his grades and feels bad. One day he ran away from home but came back. What can we do so this does not happen again? We are all encouraging him, talking to him and helping him. He is in High school and this year their is stress. He still wants to stay in the same school. What should we do? We are very lost please help us.
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Quotation of the Week
"I am ever living to help and guide all who come to me, who surrender to me and who seek refuge in me."-Sai Baba of Shirdi.
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Question of the Week

Q. "In this way, all the Vrittis (thoughts) regarding Desire, Anger, Avarice etc. should first be offered and directed to the Guru and if this practice be followed, the Lord will help you in eradicating all the Vrittis". What did Baba mean by the following statement?
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Sai Activities

Get your free copy of "Shri Sai Baba Diary 2003" from Shirdi.
Saibaba.org brings you "Shri Sai Baba Diary 2003", published by Shri Sai Baba Sansthan, Shirdi for your personal use free of charge. Please visit www.saibaba.org and follow the link to Shri Sai Baba Diary 2003 page to request your copy. Limited copies are available on first come first serve basis, hence please do not delay to request your copy. This service is available only to residents of the contiental United States. Devotees from elsewhere may contact the Sansthan office at Shirdi. For more information contact us by email at "maildrop@saibaba.org".

People having problems with Online Registration may please send an email with their name, mailing address, contact phone number and their email address to "maildrop@saibaba.org" with the subject line Shirdi Sai Diary 2003.

Shirdi Sai Baba Prayer Center, Twin Cities, MN
By the grace and blessings of Sadguru Sainath Maharaj, Shirdi Saibaba Prayer Center has started for the benefit of Sai devotees in the Twin Cities and surrounding areas of Minnesota at 725-139 NE Lake Street, Hopkins, MN. The program will include Sai Bhajans, Kirthans and Sai Naama Jap. For details, please contact hamaresai@yahoo.com. Or call Sangeeta (651-481-6782), Kiran (952-233-1819), Ravi (651-342-0600) Bhuva (651-681-2042) or Sathya (651-739-2105)

Shirdi Sai Baba Chitra Yatra And Weekly Satsang, Canada
Shirdi Saibaba Sansthan of Canada, Toronto, cordially extends to all the best wishes for the New Year hoping with Baba's grace you will leap into 2003 with prosperity health and happiness and invites you all to for Thursday satsang at the following 2 locations: Durga Temple, 2691 Markham Rd. Scarborough, ph: 416 754 2983 and Shri Vithal Hindu Mandir, 5359 Timber Lea Blvd. Mississauga, ph: 905 238 0946. between 6:15pm to 7:15pm.

We invite all devotees in Canada to join us in celebrating "Shri Ramnavami festival 2003 in Toronto. Devotees joining from outside Toronto looking for accommodation please register by 25th of February - devotees interested in volunteering or those interested in offering bhajans to Baba pls call Shammi Chopra 416 402 8089 from 7 to 9am or after 9pm in the evening.

Shirdi Sai Satsang, Houston, TX
Shirdi Sai Jalaram Mandir, Houston, Texas, USA cordially invites you for Thursday satsang at the following location: 5645 Hillcroft, Suite #304, Houston, Texas, 77036 between 6.30pm to 8.30pm.

Shri Shirdi Sai Chitra Yatra 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 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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