Feature of the week: Importance of Human Birth
"durlabam thraya me vaithe
daivaanugrahaithukam manushyathvam
mumukshathvam mahaapurusha samsrayam"
Human birth is fortunate; it is the only form of life that is bestowed with the ability to question the known and yearn for the unknown. This yearning, if sincere, will at one point raise the question of what is the objective of living and what has to be achieved by human life? What would be the achievement of life that is permanent and irreversible? This pursuit will lead one to Sadguru and fortunate are those who realize the significance of Sadguru as that repository of wisdom, the source of all answers.
A strong conviction that the help of a realized soul is indispensable for a holistic pursuit for answers will become clear to a seeker. The yearning can be called sincere only when the things of material nature will become less and less important gradually. Realization that human body can cease to exist any time will in a way help the seeker to make the best use of the medium. While a material man hankers after acquiring material wealth, the fortunate ones will be quick enough to understand the importance of human life and make the best use of it.
With the constant companionship of Sadguru, the virtuous master, fortunate ones begin their pursuit. In a short time, their focus will shift to the human virtues of truth, love, humility, forgiveness, charity, peace, and non-attachment. These fortunate ones will notice the changes in their nature because of their companionship with Sadguru. The vices associated with worldly nature of the human body will slowly vanish and the virtues due to the companionship will begin to accrue. All the fears associated with earthly dealings will be slowly replaced by a sense of fearlessness. A state of being that is always fearless, happy and contended.
(Inspired by the writings of Sri B.V. Hanumantha Rao in "Sri Sai Anusaranamu".)
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Contributed Article:Bhaja Govindam Sloka 19 (Attributed to Anandagiri)
Contributed by Paritala Gopi Krishna, New Delhi, India
Yogarato Vaa Bhogarato Vaabr
Sangarato Vaa Sangaviheenah
Yasya Brahmani Ramate Chittam
Nandati Nandati Nandatyeva
Bhaja Govindam, Bhaja Govindam...
Meaning:
Yogaratah - (let) one who revels in Yoga, Vaa - or, Bhogaratah - (let) one who revels in Bhoga, Vaa - or, Sangaratah - (let) one seek enjoyment in company, Vaa - or, Sangaviheenah - (let) one who revels in solitude away from the crowd, Yasya - for whom, Brahmani - in Brahman, Ramate - revels (sports), Chittam - the mind, Nandati - (he) enjoys, Nandati - (he) enjoys, Nandatyeva - only he enjoys.
Substance:
One may take delight or revel in Yoga or bhoga, may have attachment or detachment or in other words, let one seek enjoyment in company or in solitude, but only he, whose mind revels in the bliss of Brahman, will enjoy and verily he alone enjoys.
Commentary:
As we learnt from earlier slokas, pleasure is a state of mind. The satisfaction springing from sense enjoyment has very limited life and it binds one in karma. But the enjoyment of bliss in the union of God is beyond one's description. It is difficult to describe, as it is beyond the qualities of any qualifications. Yes, it is possible that though one is engaged in worldly concerns and not immersed in meditation, one can still turn one's mind towards God and be fixed on Him. It is immaterial in what form and by what name a devotee worships God. Bhakti is mainly Bhava pradhan, rather than outward show. The heart, which melts at the signing the names of God, will bear fruit, otherwise whatever length of time that one spends in devotional practices, and it will be futile. There is absolutely no confusion with regard to the God or Goddess that one wishes to worship, whether it is Siva or Vishnu. If at all there is one, it is in the mind of the devotee, but not in that power or energy, which is known as God or Goddess.
That power or energy is one and the same, but only the name is different, to facilitate the devotee to concentrate, according to one's choice. That is all. The one who has realized, whether one is in a crowd or alone or in Yoga or bhoga or in whatever condition one may be, it does not matter, as one is always enjoying the bliss of God. But, it is a problem for one, whose mind is still struggling with desires, passions and attachments. For one, who has realized, there is no sin, as there is no attachment and it is expected that one will not and cannot act selfishly. So, such a man alone will enjoy in this world, which grows beyond sorrows and tribulations, pleasures and pains, disease and death.
Contributed Poem: Sai Satcharitha
Contributed by Aparna Sanghvi
Na hai isme koi mahamantra
Na hi hai koi shokla aur kathin abhyas
Hai isme sai ki madhur vani
Saral aur sahaj shabdomein
Ek bar jo ise padh lein
Rum jaye Sai ki sansaar mein
Isme hai mahashakti
Jo aaayee hai sidhe Sai ke dil se
Pavan hota hai yeh jeevan
Pavitra ho jata hai aatman
Padhte Padhte jab aasuu na rokh paye
Samjho Sai ke aashray mein aa gaye
Phir na dekhna dubara mudkbr
Nikal jayo is mayavi sansarse
Gale lagakar rakho ise
Rahoge Sai ke dil mein
Sai satcharitra agar padhoge dhyan se
Dega yeh tumhe brahma gyan
Dheere dheere dekhoge
Jab padhke aacharan mein laoge
Khudke andar jab zakogein
Paoge ek naya parivartan
Apne charitra mein
Bhool jaoge yeh maaya ka khel
Nayi zindagi paoge har mod pe
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Experiences of Devotees
Siva Sai
Dear Sai sata Koti pranamamulu. I am a Sai devotee since from 7 years. I have faced many miracles of him in my life. Sai because of your blessings everything went well. I didn't feel any pain in the Procedure. Sai Please help my husband in getting a suitable job for him. He has to survive and feed his parents. It is not fair for you to not have mercy on him. He believes you. If he did something wrong, please let us know. We will try to correct the mistake and will not repeat it. Please baba shower some mercy on us. We need your help. Please give me darshan in my dream at least. I believe that all of our sins will be washed away if you give your darshan. I dreamt of you (I have fixed a new photo frame for Sai Baba and I dreamt of the same picture and I was asking some questions) saying that our GC process will not take longer. As you said in my dream, we got finger print notice. The next thing I was asking was about my husband's job. You did not give any reply. I have lost the whole dream. Please can somebody tell me what was the meaning of my dream. Please Baba showers your blessings on our family.
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Devotees say...
Apra Sood
Dear Readers, Baba is with all of us and listens to our prayers always. I had submitted a humble request to Baba through this website a few weeks ago and He granted me my wish which seemed so difficult and impossible at that time. So, I ask you all to believe in HIM and submit youself to His feet and He will definitely take care of all your problems.
Rekha Vishnu
Sairam, Here is one Useful Sai web site that contains life history of Shirdi Sai baba (Telugu) in Audio (MP3). As every one of you know very well that listening/reading of Sai Satcharitha daily (at least one paragraph) is a good practice for all Sai devotees. http://www.angelfire.com/musicals/shirdisai/
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Prayer Club
JN Srivastava
I request all Sai-bandhus to pray for early recovery of my father, who is having severe polyarthritis and my son, who is having juvenile dermatomyositis with multiple contractures and calcinosis. I know that one has to suffer because of karmas of previous births. But is there any salvation for not so evolved people like me? Can Almighty Baba grant us miracle like one he granted to Dr Pillay? I believe that certainly he can and does provided we are sincere and have Shradha & Saburi. I also request you all to pray for a job for me. OM SAI, SRI SAI, JAI JAI SAI
A Sai devotee
Please help us to get a job over here (you know). Please keep all of us in one place. Sairam, you know everything how much we suffered lost year. By your grace, finally we survived but till now we are not safe. Baba please help us to my husband get a job here. Please let my in-laws to come here and stay with us. Please Baba give us patience and devotion towards you.
Sheeba Ramachandran
First of all let me thank great Lord Sai for helping me and my family in various ways. Lord Sai, as you know I'm undergoing a great deal of tension with regards to my health which occurred suddenly and with no known reason, I'm very much worried and my family is also effected because of that. Please help me get rid of this problem and bless us with good health and happiness throughout. Please take care of my parents who live alone and also please be there with my brother and sister at all difficult times.
Sai devotee
Baba my sister is not well who is staying far away from us and lot of mental agony she has. Please help her to get back to normal and be happy with her family.
Akila Subramanian
Baba, we are trying our level best. Job chances are coming close as if we will get but it is just getting away from us for some reason or the other. Without your grace, nothing can happen for us. We need your blessing. Please help us. I have my family back in India to support and my husband needs a job to be in this country or green card, which is also being delayed at a very last stage. We need to survive Sai, we are ordinary mortals. Your are our guru. If you don't help us where will we go. Who do we have .Please help us through this tough time Sai.
A Sai devotee
When I asked for your help by typing 'BABA please help my Daddy' in google.com you showed me Sai Vichaar. When I was going through it you advised me to read Sai satcharita in a week and it will solve the problems. This raised so much confidence and faith on you. I immediately started reading it online and finished it in 7 days but started it on Friday as I was not aware that I should start it on Thursday. I again did the parayana for a week . This time I read it at home sitting before you. I also did abhishekam with sandal paste, turmeric, kumkum, curd and milk. With all this, my mind was at rest for a week. But when I called home, my parents and sister are still having same problem and no progress in any direction. But still, I have faith in you Baba. Because, you always say that a devotee need sraddha and patience. I will wait Baba. You have always given me whatever I have asked for. Its either for me or for others but you never let me down. I ignored for few days but you never stopped taking care of me. I promised so many things but could not fulfill all of them. I will definitely will keep all my promises. Just, help in this matter. Solve it in a way that no one is at loss. Everybody should be happy. That is all I wanted. Do whatever you think is good for us.
Harish
I am right now on dependent visa. I am interested in teaching job. Since from past eight months I am trying in all means, nothing is working out on my way. I took some standardized test, I got just 10 marks lesser than the minimum requirement, though I have put lot of time in preparing on it. So this will stopped my career in studies. Please pray me for job at the earliest.
Sai Devotee
Dear Baba, I wonder why I am not getting any response from people I would like to work with for my new project, those who can really help my dreams come true. Also you had told me in my dream not to keep company of a few people I am trying very hard not. But it seems they know a lot about the venture that I would like to get into and they are guiding me. Please help me show me the right path. Help me be a success.
Ranji
I applied for a higher position. Please pray for my success. Sai Sai Sai ohm Sai ohm Sai.
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Quotation of the Week
"Let none hate and let none forget that I, you and all the world are parts of the Lord"-Saibaba of Shirdi
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Question of the Week
Q. How does a Sai devotee define "Truth"?
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Sai Activities
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. For more information call (713) 789 486, or send an email to: saibabahouston@yahoo.com
Shirdi Saibaba Satsang in Columbus, OH
Satsang in Columbus, OH has been taking place for the past few years. We are grateful to our Lord Sainath who has taken us to the 5th consecutive year. We always have felt Him among us in our Satsang sessions making us feel blissful. For more information devotees send email to: sssb_temple@yahoo.com.
Shirdi Sai Utsav 2003 - Orlando, FL, USA
Sai devotees of Orlando, FL are organizing Shirdi Sai Utsav 2003 on 4th and 5th of October 2003. The proposed program includes Akhanda Naam Jap, Bhajans and Satsangh. For further details, please contact: Sai Sharan by phone at (407) 445 2520 or by email at : shirdisaiutsav2003@yahoo.com
Gurupoornima 2003 - Shirdi Saibaba Prayer Center, Minnesota
Shirdi Saibaba Prayer Center will celebrate Gurupoornima 2003, on Saturday July 12, 2003 at Geeta Ashram in Brooklyn Park, Minneapolis, MN. The activities will include, Sai pooja, traditional aarthis, activities for kids, bhajans and kirtans, and mahaprasad (dinner). Please watch "Sai activities' section for for more details.
Gurupoornima celebrations- Auckland New Zealand
Shri Saiababa Sansthan, Auckland NZ, is celebrating Gurupoornima and Sai Pooja on Sunday the 13th July 2003 at Mahatma Gandhi Centre, Eden Terrace, Auckland. For more details please contact Dr Ram Prasad at prasads@quicksilver.net.nz.
Shirdi Sai Baba Chitra Yatra And Weekly Satsang, Canada
Devotees in Toronto, are invited to please join us in Sai bhajans, Sai Namavali, Satcharitra readings Aarti and Prasad every Thursday from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm. Devotees can participate in Shri Shirdi Sai Chitra Yatra currently underway in Toronto and Calgary. To invite Baba to your home and for further details contact Shammi Chopra at (416) 402 8089 or saileela99@yahoo.com.
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.
Visit 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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