Sapatnekar was an elite lawyer who did not quite believe in Baba until he had to face the calamity of losing his only son to disease. Disinterested in life and disturbed, he had to seek in refuge in Baba. Nanasaheb Chandorkar had his own questions about the all-pervasive nature of Baba. Baba revealed Himself to Nana through some of the divine experiences of the latter, and thus Nana was a part of Baba's court. Kakasaheb Dikshit, another ardent devotee of Sainath did not know about Baba for several years and Baba drew him towards Himself via peculiar circumstances. Hemadpant wrote that however scholarly might man's learning be, it just fades away before someone that realized the Brahman. Everyone one of those that approached Baba with a preconceived notion, either with the curiosity to know if He is really what He is being portrayed as or with the arrogance of learnedness had to bow in front of His humility, benevolence, compassion, and the magnificence. In case of all those learned men, it was the surrender either due to the misfortune of a suffering or the providence of His grace that provided them with the means of enlightenment. It is true that however scholarly may man's learning be, it just fades away in front of the one that realized the Brahman. On this peaceful Thursday, let us contemplate on the realization only a Sadguru can give and nothing else in the world would.
Back to Menu

Contributed Article:Bhaja Govindam Sloka 23 (Attributed to Surendra)

Kastvam Ko'ham Kuta Aayaatah
Kaa Me Jananee Ko Me Taatah
Iti Paribhaavaya Sarvamasaaram
Visvam Tyaktvaa Svapnavichaaram
Bhaja Govindam, Bhaja Govindam...

Meaning:
Kah - who, Tvam - (are) you, Kah - who, Aham - am I, Kutah - from where, Aayaatah - did I come, Ka - who (is), Me - my, Jananee - mother, Kah - who (is), Me - my, Taatah - Father, Iti - thus, Paribhaavaya - enquire, Sarvam - all, Asaaram - essenceless, Visvam - the entire world of experience, Tyaktvaa - leaving aside, Svapnavichaaram - a mere dreamland (born of imagination).

Substance:
Who are you? Who am I? From where did I come? Who is my mother? Who is my father? Thus enquire, and you will realize that the entire world of experience -- all the worries and problems -- is but a dream, born out of imagination and delusion.

Commentary:
The distinction of 'You' and 'I' subsist only so long as there is the body. Before one's birth, there is no such relationship as 'father' and 'mother', but once the body came into existence, we have relations. Who were we previously? Who were our parents, brothers, sisters, friends, uncles, aunties, grandparents, cousins, etc., earlier? What are these illusory forms? What is this Maya? One has to wake up from this dream, open one's eyes and try to see the Reality. If one succeeds in seeing that One Reality behind all the creation, then the problem is solved finally. The mirage will disappear and one finds liberation.

One has to understand and aware oneself vis-à-vis one's relationship with the other individual and at the same the Maya that is binding both of them. It does not mean that one should not have such bonds, but one should understand the fragility and its limitations, as most of such relations related to body rather than soul.

Soul mate does not at all refer to wife-and-husband relation, but any soul, which is enriched by the experience, and relation to the other soul in spirituality is a soul mate. It is, therefore, important to know oneself before forging any relationship with the other individual. While making use of the rational intellect by asking such questions as to whence and whither has we come from and who are our parents, etc., we should root out our misconceptions and reach to the roots of Reality. It is definitely a difficult task to overcome this state of mind at the moment, but through consistent sadhana and rational approach, one develops the ability to look within oneself totally to get freedom from these bonds.

Having successfully dismissing all the sense-passions from one's mind, turn the mind inwards for a close and critical observation of oneself to find out answers to the above questions, one would understand the hollowness of the world of names and forms and the enchantments of the objects and their vanities around us.

(Contributed by Paritala Gopi Krishna, New Delhi, India)

Contributed Poem:Sai I will Wait....

I wait and watch on this door

From dawn until dusk I sit here
Singing your glory in my songs
People walk past my way

Hours and days pass
And there are still no signs of your footsteps

I will wait here
From dawn till dusk
Every single day

Who knows, of a sudden?
You will shower love
And take reins of my life
In your own hands

That will be happy moment
Of my life

(Contributed by Suresh Raspayle)
Back to Menu

Experiences of Devotees

Jyothsna
OM SAI RAM! Bow to your lotus feet and please give us the strength to take refuge always in your holy feet. This is my personal experience, which is a miracle that our great GOD SRI SAI showed me. I came to US on H4 visa (dependent) 2 years ago. From then, I am searching for job. Nobody is ready to sponsor my H1.I have lost all hopes and waiting for my husbands GC, which is going to take another 2 years. I had visited Shirdi twice when I was in India, but I was not a staunch devotee of BABA, until my friend Nandita got me Baba's Satcharitra. I started the parayan without any desire in mind on Thursday April 17. Exactly after one week on Thursday 24th when I was reading satcharitra I got an interview call with mediator. It went well and they gave me appointment for next Thursday May 1 for personal interview. Wonder! They did not asked for my status. I was surprised and thought will ask on interview and did not put any hopes. The next day I got call from them and asked me to attend for interview directly with the employer on Monday, as they need to fill the position immediately. I did well in interview and they asked me to join as soon as possible. The next day I met the mediator and told about my status, they said sorry as they are not authorized to sponsor and apologized for not asking about my status. I was disappointed and came back thinking that why sai did that to me. When I came home, I had a voice mail saying that the employer wanted to talk to me. Immediately I met the HR and she told me that she liked me and want to help me. After knowing about my problem, she said that she would hire me if I were willing to pay the cost for H1 process. My husband paid for it and the company lawyer started my H1 process. Now I got my H1 and going to join in my dream job. SAIBABA is great and He is always with us and with in us. Baba in the same way please bless me with a baby as since 8 years we are waiting for an issue. Please BABA please. OM SAI RAM.

Madhavi
I got a good rank in MCA by Baba's grace. My plan was to join in a good college for MCA. So I was waiting for counseling. But BABA had some different plans for me. One fine day my sisters friend gave me a copper ring, which she brought from Shirdi. Just five minutes after wearing that ring, one of my friends called up and told me that there are recruitments in one of the most reputed companies in the world. After that, things happened so fast. I applied for that job, and I got into it. This was almost 7 years back. Now I am in US still working for the same company. I got married to a very nice person who also works in that organization. I am so thankful to BABA for giving me such a comfortable life.

After marrying for 3 years, we were blessed with a baby boy. Everything went on so well till my due date. However, during delivery time, my son had to undergo lot of pressure because of which he was kept under observation for one week. A day after , he had seizures also. We were so scared. We could do nothing except praying BABA. The hospital in which he was kept was 60 miles away from our place. My husband used to go daily once, sit there for couple of hours and come back. On 5th day, I too went to see my son. Felt so bad to see him in ICU. We went thru hell kind of a situation for that one week. After one week, he came home. From then on, he did just normal like any other baby. Doctors were not positive about his regular growth. They said that he might fall behind in his regular growth. But with BABA's grace, he is healthy. When he was 8 months old, after checking my son, doctor said that its a miracle to see him so healthy. But all the time we were cursing doctors thinking that for without any reason they are doing all kinds of medical tests. After reading the experiences of Sai devotees, I realized that its the miracle of BABA but not the mistake of Doctors. Thanks a lot BABA. Thank you very much.
Back to Menu

Devotees say...

Vadlamani Srilakshmi
My Dear Baba, How to express my gratitude to you for the uplift you have given to my life when I was in total despair. You have given me both spiritual and material boost, which I feel I don't deserve. My Dear Lord how to show my gratitude. By your grace, we have built a home. In every step of the construction, you have always helped us to pay the payments in time. Its by our mercy alone that we never faced any difficulty in payments. Thank You Baba. Now the time has come that we are moving into our new home blessed by You on 19th of this month. Baba I feel that you have changed the date from 16th to 19th (Thursday). This is definitely your will Baba. My Dear Baba I am using this medium to invite you to grace the occasion and show us you are present with us. Baba please make this murkh experience your presence on the day of Grihapravesham. My dear Baba please don't disappoint us. Oh! Parama Pavana Baba I beg you to come and bless us and hallow the premises. Baba Please accept our invitation. I have a strong conviction that you will never turn down your devotees' earnest plea. Baba please come Baba. Om Sai Ram

Swathi Reddy
Baba, Please let me come to Shirdi this month..I am very eager to come over there to see you as this will be my first visit to Shirdi. Looking forward for that memorable moment...

DVG Rao
This is to let you know one of my experiences, and how I am blessed by Baba. I was very worried about my status in USA and wanted help from Baba, and prayed and with Baba's blessings, everything is going great now. I was lack of money and Baba is taking care of it. Baba helps us in all the ways, just pray for it and of course they might be material things but eventually will lead all of us to spiritual well being. I want to thank Baba everyday and help people in all possible ways I can.
Back to Menu

Prayer Club

Mohanambal, Malaysia
SAIRAM, BABA when I lost my banking job you gave me another job in a company dealing with education in Ipoh. I returned in April 2003 because I was away from my son and though I was quite happy with the work I was still not happy because I missed my son and then you gave me another job in Nilai which was about 20 minutes drive from my hometown and I could travel daily to and fro my home. However, this did not last long and I had to leave for reasons best known by you. I am now without a job and no money. I pray to you to give me a job that will make me stay for a long time with the company. I sincerely need a job to finance my own expenses and do not wish to depend on anyone for my expenses. BABA PLEASE HELP ME.

Sai devotee
We are going through a period of great tension and uncertainty. Baba, please give me a job that I can do justice to, please help him also in his work. So many of our Sai brothers and sisters are in the same position, please help all of us. Please be with us in this crucial time. Om Sai Ram.

Sai devotee
Dear Sai, the trials in our lives have only strengthened our faith in you. I do not know what you have planned for us, but we will submit to your will whatever it be. You also know what we are praying for. You will do what is best for us.

A devotee
Baba please help me. I am in grave crisis. Please get me married to the person I love most as soon as possible. Time is fast running out, so is my marriageable age. My parent are very worried. I want to give them relief. Please answer to my hard and prolonged prayers. All Baba devotees please pray to Baba for me.

Swathi
Baba thank you so much for all your blessings on us. Forgive us baba if we have committed any sins knowingly and unknowingly. Don't punish our child for the mistakes anyone may have committed in our family. Remove all bad thoughts from us bless our little child to grow up to be a normal healthy baby soon.

A Sai devotee
Om Shri Shirdi Sai: today for myself I do not ask but I pray to you for prolonged life and well being of my sister Kamini, who is your devotee and has made many trips to Shirdi for your darshan. But you know that. She is very ill at the moment with a weak and failing heart, please grant her strength and wisdom to her doctors to find the right treatment and give her the gift of a renewed life so she can continue to devote time in your prayers and service .You are my Mata, pita and gurudevam and I plead before you. Please heed my call for help on behalf of my sister..

Jayanthi
BABA, please pray & bless my family & me. Please bless my son to get a good job soon as this will be his first job. YOU have helped me this far BABA I pray help me to solve all my problems so that we can have a peaceful life. Forgive us for all our sins. Please protect us BABA. Your loving devotee

Sai Devotee
I read some of the miracles that Sai Baba did and is asking Saibaba to pray for my sister Sally to find a job with the Canadaian Government in Canada, where she lives. She is in the medical field and was working as a medical lab technician. She applied for a job with the Canadaian Gov't and they never call her for interivew. Baba, please help her. Thank you for your prayers.

Mata Anuradha
Pujya SaiBaba, Sai Natha, Sai Shakti, with your Blessings ,my son got visa stamped and got the documents in hand. His boss has promised to help him in green card procedure. We thank on our famiy behalf Shri Shri Pujya Sai Baba for helping us beyond our expectations. We touch Sai Baba's feet, offers flowers on our family behalf for His blessings .

A Sai devotee
Dear Lord Sai, You have shown time and again that you are constantly with us and performed many miracles. Thank you for all the wonderful leelas that are occurring in our family. Now I need your blessings on me as I am in love with my man and need him to help me with my visa. I want that we should come together to take your darshana soon at Shirdi. Let me get a job in Australia and let my man love me always and let us be together always by Your Grace. I request all my Sai bandhus to pray for me to our loving Baba.

Sai Devotee
Sai Ram, I would like to say that I am getting married next year March and I pray to swami that everything goes well without any problems, as I have waited so long for this day, and now it is finally official and coming. I am so happy and I pray that myself and my partner with swami's blessings endure a blissful married life. As a friend once told me during satsang, wherever u go whatever u do, take swami's hand and allow him to be with u, ever since that day, I never do anything without holding out to swami's hand. Swami knows I suffered two great losses recently and it is still a difficult time for my families but with Swami's guidance and blessings I am able to carry on with normal everyday life and so can my families. I have never been to Shirdi to see Swami and I long for that day when it finally happens, but when I dream of Swami I know He is so close to me. When I read Swami's books and when devotees tell of their experiences they had with Swami, I picture myself being at Shirdi and getting padnamaskar with Swami.
Back to Menu

Quotation of the Week
"Spirituality should fill our lives with enthusiasm for the quest for truth and the determination to achieve the aim of life. It should fill us with love and happiness to make our life full of vitality. To fill our lives with pessimism and to degrade our lives with lack of purpose is not true spirituality"-Sainathuni Sarathbabu ji
Back to Menu

Question of the Week

Q. How does a Sai devotee define "Perfection"?

A. by Sai devotee

Perfection in today's world is difficult to define, yet when a devotee of sai baba needs to be perfect and want to have a clear concept of what perfection is, it can be described as a state where one is externally performing his duties with the requisite interest and carefulness. Except that, internally he should have surrendered himself completely to baba and should be firmly convinced that whatever is happening or whatever would happen are nothing but a consequence of the will of Sri Sai. He should firmly be indifferent to the consequences of his actions and carry on with his duties in the same earnest interest. The two unshakeable facets of sai devotion i.e. faith and patience should be firmly manifested in all his actions. He should realize fully that whatever he has achieved or whatever his reputation or the affluence he has acquired are entirely due to the grace of Sairam and should never be egoistic. The best form of action that pleases god the most i.e. daan or charity should be practiced at all costs without the feeling of doing favor on others. And finally he should always chant the name of Saibaba in his heart and love him so that he fulfills his duty in all his capacities.
Back to Menu

Sai Activities

Gurupoornima 2003 on July 12, 2003 -, Shirdi Saibaba Prayer Center, Twin Cities
Sai devotees of Twin Cities, Minnesota invites everyone to participate in Gurupoornima celebrations on July 12, 2003, at Geetha Ashram, Brooklyn Park, MN. The program will start at 3.00 PM with Sai Shodasopachara Pooja, Sai Sathya Vratha and will include aarthis, devotees experiences, kids programs, bhajans and palki seva. Please write to hamaresai@yahoo.com or visit www.hamaresai.com for more details.

Shirdi Sai- Gurupoornima celebrations in Bay area, CA
We welcome you all to join us for SHIRDI SAI- GURUPOORNIMA Celebrations in the Bay Area, CA on July 13th (Sunday) in Sunnyvale between 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Venue: Las Palmas Park Building 850 Russet Drive Sunnyvale, CA (Located off of Remington Dr. and Spinosa Dr.) AGENDA: Ganesh Mantram, Significance of GuruPoornima, 108 Shirdi Sai Namavalli, Sai Ke Gyarah Vachan-Recital by Children, Shirdi Sai Bhajans, Naivedya, Dhoop Arathi, distribution of prasad. For details contact by email at saibandhu@yahoo.com

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

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.

Chala Pratishtha of Lord Sri Sainath in Columbus, OH
Sri Saibaba Temple Society of Ohio welcomes you to join the ChalaPratishtha of Lord Sri Sainath (Installation of Sri Shirdi Sainath Picture) in the Sri Shirdi Saibaba Worship Center, New Market Mall, Columbus, Ohio on Saturday, June 21st. Please call us at 614-921-9596 or send email to sssb_temple@yahoo.com for more details.

Sai bhajans in Tampa, FL, USA
Sai bhajans and Satsangs will take place at 311 East Palm Ave, Tampa. FL. 33602. Please contact 407 445 2520 or 407 458 6459 for more details.

Shirdi Sai Satsang, Minneapolis, MN - July 4th weekend Satsang
By the grace and blessings of Sadguru Saibaba and Sadguru Sainathuni Sarath Babuji, Sai devotees of Twin Cities, Minnesota propose to celebrate the love and message of Saibaba during the July 4th long weekend. Sai bandhus are invited to this Satsang that includes Parayan, Devotees Experiences, Kids activities, Bhajans, Aarthis and Sai Palki Procession. Please contact Bhuva Valluri at 651-338-9680 or Ravin Gnanasambandam at 763-862-3910 for more details.

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.

Sai bhajans in Orlando, FL, USA
For information on Shri Sai Bhajans at Orlando, Florida, please call 407 445 2520 for more details.

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 still continuing with great enthusiasm across many states in the country.

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 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 www.saibaba.org and follow link to 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".
Back to Menu

You may subscribe to receive the newsletter by e-mail.

Fill out your e-mail address and hit the subscribe button: