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Sai Vichaar 01.Feature of the Week: Prayers! 02.Contributed Article: Bhaja Govindam - Sloka 12 03.Experiences of Devotees 04.Devotees Say 05.Sai Activities 06.Prayer Club 07.Quote of the Week 08.Question of the Week 09.Subscribe to Sai Vichaar 10.Email Newsletter to a friend 11.Submit Articles to Sai Vichaar 12.Un-Subscribe Sai Vichaar 13.From the Editor's Keyboard 14.Disclaimer From the Editor's Keyboard... Sai Vichaar thanks you for your support for the Question of the Week feature. This feature is intended to initiate useful discussion on topics related to Sai philosophy, His message, and Sai devotion. Please send your suggested topics for the same. We also hope to see more use for the Sai activities section. This is a good opportunity to spread the word about various activities, celebrations, and festivities of Sai centers across the world. Postings on Sai activities are very useful for new visitors and for those who would like to know more about Sai activities in their area. Please refer to Sai activities section to know more about Rama Navami celebrations in your area. The "Question of the week" for the week is, In one of the stories of Shri Sai Satcharita, Baba gave a story of his boyhood as follows:- "When I was a youngster, I was in search of bread and went to Beedgaum. There I got embroidery work. I worked hard, sparing no pains. The employer was very much pleased with Me. Three other boys worked before Me. The first got Rs. 50/- the second Rs. 100/- and the third Rs. 150/-. And I was given twice the whole of this amount, viz. Rs. 600". Q. What is the significance of the above story? Humbly Yours, The Editor
Disclaimer Sai Vichaar is devoted to the philosophy and teachings of Shri Sadguru Sai Baba of Shirdi, and will take every measure to avoid topics or themes contradicting the same. Sai Vichaar team or saibaba.org is not
responsible for the opinions expressed by individual contributors.
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![]() Feature of the week: Prayers! "The hand that gives is of God and the hand that receives is of Human. Hence have God's hand instead of human hand."
We, humans lack the ability to gauge our potential. We are either over confident and fail or under estimate our capability and perform below our level of potential. This has been happening since ages and will continue to do so in future too. One must introspect and understand the player behind our acts. All the scriptures point out that every individual is a form of god. When we understand the doctrine of "aham brahmasmi" (I am god) then failure has no room in our lives. God never fails. God is not poor. Every incidence in our life is a lesson; we gain from it and become richer. We are the ultimate winners. Therefore, the state of our happiness is the perception of mind. If we think we are poor then we are miserable. If we think we are rich even when we can hardly make the both ends meet, then we are as rich as a king is. The purpose of reading sacred and Holy Scriptures is for us to change our thoughts and actions regarding our behavior and the state of mind. Only then, we shall benefit from reading them. Readings of Bhagavad Gita, Sat Charita, Ram Vijay, Dasbodh, Guru Granth Sahib, Quran, Bible etc; as a source of amusement or to kill the time is in vain. In chapter, 18/19 of Satcharita Sri Hemadpant wrote about Baba's Advice Regarding our Behavior: - The following words of Baba are general and invaluable. If they are kept in mind and acted upon, they will always do you good. "Unless there is some relationship or connection, nobody goes anywhere. If any men or creatures come to you; do not discourteously drive them away. But receive them well and treat them, with due respect. Shri Hari (God) will be certainly pleased, if you give water to the thirsty, bread to the hungry, clothes to the naked, and your verandah to strangers for sitting and resting. If anybody wants any money from you, and you are not inclined to give, do not give, but do not bark at him, like a dog. This statement alone speaks out loudly about our behavior. If we remember this advice then our lives would be richer and happier like the colors of rangoli. Let us remember that every human whom we come across in our life and interact is at the will of god. BABA asked us never to turn away anybody who comes to our doorstep away even if we are not inclined to give them any thing materialistic we all can give something which does not cost us. WE CAN PRAY. This prayer does not need one to spend money. Even a beggar is capable of giving such a precious gift. We all have "god's hand" but don't realize it. Giving does not mean only materialistic things. We can give prayers, blessings, and words of encouragement that fill one with joy and happiness and builds hope. BABA, when approached by others for granting of wishes always said "Allah Malik", prayed for them, and wished them well. He Himself set about an example for us to lead our lives and is a guide for us to act on. Prayers are a powerful medium to communicate with god. Prayers give us hope and strength to bear the unbearable. Prayer is a strong medicine that heals any ailment. While praying, we wipe away the web of illusion covering our intellect and perceive the path towards God clearly. A general prayer for the health and welfare of the mankind encompassing the total humanity would reach one and all. Prayers help us to build Shradda (faith) and Saburi (patience); the two essential qualities of a devotee. The world may leave us and we may have nobody to talk to us, but let us remember HE is always there, ever vigilant and constantly coming to our rescue and listening to our prayers. We can communicate with HIM through prayers. Prayers shorten the waiting time. Each one is rich and endowed with this quality of praying. This small selfless act paves way for much bigger things in the spiritual world. Prayers don't discriminate and has no gender, caste, religion or national boundaries. Let us generously make use of this precious wealth that we can share with the whole world. The more we dig into this wealth the richer we get. Let us make use of this god's hand and pray for the World PEACE, for happiness and contentment in our lives. (Contributed by Anitha Kandukuri, Canberra, Australia)
Contributed Article:Bhaja Govindam Sloka 12 Contributed by Paritala Gopi Krishna, New Delhi, India
Dinayaminyau Saayam Praatah Meaning: Substance: Commentary: Nachiketa's exchange of words with Yamaraja (Lord Death), rejecting all gifts that He offers to him for learning the same true knowledge, which Sri Adi Sankaracharya is preaching, will bear the true testimony.
Time cuts off the days of life and the death snatches away the life. The jiva will ultimately depart with painful bundles of vasanaas acquired in one's desire-ridden selfish life. The mind makes one to believe that all objects of glitter with an illusory beauty will give happiness, but time proves it otherwise. Life steadily ebbs away, but the desires are only grow due to sense gratifications. Although with the age, human being becomes infirm from disease-ridden body, desires and sense-enjoyments, worries and anxieties still haunt one.
It is not too late to realize the truth and follow the path shown by Sri Adi Sankaracharya to reap the benefits in this birth and in the forthcoming ones.
Munish Kaistha After seven months of my accident, I was walking like a normal person. At the end of 8th month, I was in US. It was big surprise for me. During my worst period I never cursed God for all that happened to me but Kept on praying Baba and have faith on Him. As of today whatever I am, its only Baba's grace. He is always with me, with my family and everyone. I want to convey to all SAI devotees that they must read "Shri Sai Satcharitra" at least once in their life or as frequently as they can, which will end up their worries and show them true path. Ton Of thanks to Baba. Sudha Then I saw a rock in the front side and there I saw an old man with full white clothes and looked like SAI BABA. I was surprised and was thinking in my mind "How come this old man is looking like exact SAI BABA. I was looking at HIM for so long time and slowly started realizing that it was BABA only." It was so surprising that when all the walls are full with smoke, why is BABA so fresh, with white dress and a smile. I went forward three steps, and BABA came towards me three steps. I was looking at HIM with a smile and surprise. BABA said something which I could not recollect. BABA talked to me for few minutes and I was very happy, sat with the other devotees for some more time and went back home thinking "Oh... It is BABA who is staying in there. How could not I go and see him all these days because I go to that street 4-5 times everyday". With these thoughts, I got up suddenly and it took few minutes for me to come out of dream (BABA'S DARSHAN). This was the first time I saw BABA so clearly, Baba spoke to me. I cannot express how happy I am to share this wonderful SAI Darshan with all the devotees across the world. After 2 years of waiting, 3 weeks back, I got a job and it was really a miracle. I know Baba is still testing my patience in this and I will never loose it. I am sure Baba will help and take care of the other things and will give me this job because I have to help in bringing good future to few people with this job. BABA blessings us ALL.
Venugopal Vadlamani Srilakshmi Bindu Smita Prasad I humbly request each of you to please join me in prayer for two children of God. The wife of Govinda Rajan was hit by a car in California, US and has post traumatic amnesia, fractures in the neck, right hand shoulder, elbow, wrist, pelvic, right leg and the right eye is closed. When she opened her eyes after coma, she could not tell most things due to amnesia. But she said "Baba Guruji" when she was shown a picture of Shirdi baba by her husband, which was given to him at the hospital by Hari and Bharathi of the San Jose Baba Sangam. Yet another child is Vidyanarayana Nanduri, an international graduate student from Hyderabad, India who had come to pursue his Master's program in Mathematics at the Kansas State University for the semester of Spring semester in the year 2000. On 17 January of the year 2003, he was diagnosed with Acute Mylogenous Leukemia, cancer of the bone marrow, and is currently undergoing treatment at Via Christi Regional Medical Center, St.Francis Campus, Wichita, Kansas. On 22 January, he was put on chemotherapy for a week and on Feb. 6, the doctors decided that he has to undergo intensive chemotherapy. Please visit http://www.math.ksu.edu/%7Enanduri/ for more information. Usha Surya A Sai devotee Anand Sai devotee Sai Devotee Ram Kumar
Quotation of the Week
Q. What is the significance of the story given below? In one of the stories of Shri Sai Satcharitha, Baba gave a story of his boyhood as follows:- "When I was a youngster, I was in search of bread and went to Beedgaum. There I got embroidery work. I worked hard, sparing no pains. The employer was very much pleased with Me. Three other boys worked before Me. The first got Rs. 50/- the second Rs. 100/- and the third Rs. 150/-. And I was given twice the whole of this amount, viz. Rs. 600". A. by Subhadhra With regard to Sri Saisatcharitra episode 32 Baba signifies as follows Baba says that what a man might give does not last long and it is always imperfect. But what my SIRCAR (GOD) gives lasts to the end of time. The same way he who does anything spiritual endeavors will reap its fruits and he who remembers this work of BABA will get invaluable happiness. Hope I am correct and correct me if I am wrong. A. by Krishna Alluri Jai Sai Ram! In the Chapter XXXII of Shri Sai Satcharita, Hemadpant through this story and 'The Quest' for God, that describes how Sai Baba met His Guru and through him God, conveys another important message. In the Preliminary of the chapter, Hemadpant describes the samsara (visible world) by the allegory of Ashvattha (Banyan) tree. In the phraseology of the Geeta, roots of Ashvattha tree represent actions, branches the gunas (qualities), and the sprouts, the objects of the senses. Just like it is difficult to clearly delineate the beginning or end of Ashvattha tree or its the form or how it is supported, human senses, gunas and actions also get completely entangled and become inseparable. For us to realize Moksha (liberation), we need to cut this Ashvattha tree with the sharp weapon of non-attachment. For traversing this path of attaining self-realization, however learned a man may be, or however well he might study sacred literature, he cannot reach his destination safely, without the help of Guru. The story of Sai Baba's boyhood in Beedgaum is about how He got embroidery work and the employer remunerated Sai with double the amount of money (Rs. 600) paid to the amount to previous three boys put together (Rs. 300) and sumptuous gifts. The message is that any amount of money and gifts that a man might give does not last long and it is always imperfect. Material wealth can never satisfy all the objects of the senses, gunas and actions, as they keep multiplying (more we have, the more we want), similar to the roots, branches and sprouts of a huge Ashwartha tree. Sai says that such wealth (the hard Maya) troubles even Sai Himself whose needs are so meager and basic. The solution to salvation is to completely cut this Ashvattha tree (objects of senses, gunas and actions) and pursue the spiritual wealth that lasts to the end of time through the help of Guru.
Sai Activities
Celebrate Sri Ramanavami on the Net On this occasion, there will be a broadcast of pre-recorded programs from 6pm to 10pm CDT (central daylight time zone) on Thursday. Thursday's program includes holy bathing of Baba with Vishnu Sahasranama, Namavali, Shirdi Darshan, Bhajans, Palaki, discourse by Guruji Shri C.B.Satpathyji ending with Shej arathi.
Friday's all day broadcast will be from 10 am to 11pm CDT. Sri Ramanavami program will include Baba's abhishek, archana, paada pooja, documentary on Shirdi Sai, discourse by Guruji Shri C.B.Satpathy ji, Shri Rama Janama Katha (Story of the birth of Shri Rama), all arathis, chariot procession of Baba, Shirdi darshan, followed by bhajans of Anup Jalota and Manhar Udhas ending with evening discourse of Guruji Shri C.B.Satpathy ji.
The broadcast requires users to have the latest Windows Media Player 9 (WM9) series. Users of Windows 98 SE, ME, 2000 and XP may please download the latest codecs and upgrade their players to WM9 by visiting www.microsoft.com. Users of Windows Media Player 8 or earlier, please read instructions on the day of broadcast to see if you can view the program. For any questions, please contact us by email at maildrop@saibaba.org
Ramnavami Celebrations at Shirdi Sai Jalaram temple, Houston, Texas, USA Ramanavami - Urs Celebrations - Shirdi Saibaba Prayer Center, Minnesota, USA Shri Shirdi Sai- Ramnavami celebrations in Bay Area,California Shree Rama Navami Celebrations in Sydney, Australia Ramnavami Celebrations, Toronto, Canada Shirdi Saibaba Satsang in Columbus, OH Sri Shirdi Sai satsangs in Auckland,New Zealand Shri Shirdi Sai Chitra Yatra in USA 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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