Sai Vichaar
Nov 27, 2003
Volume 6, Issue 28
(In its sixth year of publication)
01.Feature of the Week:
02.Contributed Article:
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 and Shirdi Saibaba website organization
wishes devotees a Happy and Peaceful Thanksgiving. May Sai be with you
and bless you all during this holiday season.
The "Question of the week", for this week is,
Q. What is the spiritual significance of a Living Sadguru?
Humbly Yours,
The Editor
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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:
Thanksgiving
What is the method of teaching that Baba followed? Did He
install any institution or a particular way of thought for His followers
to propagate? For that matter, has there been any record of Sadguru
Sainath appointing anyone to continue His mission?
Inscrutable are His ways! During His lifetime and after,
Baba showed a peculiar way of teaching and guiding His followers. He had
asked some to be more disciplined, perform rituals, and undertake
reading of sacred texts, while some were asked to keep quiet or just
wait. Some were commended for their piety while some denounced for their
orthodoxy! Baba seemed to have answers to the innermost of the questions
His followers had. He seemed to have a certain way of giving
"individualized instruction" depending on one's earnestness. However, He
seems to be very particular in emphasizing certain virtues in His
followers. The two pice (two cents) He demanded were faith and patience.
Invaluable! By calling Himself as a servant, Baba has stressed the
importance of humility, because humility is a virtue that reaps rich
harvest in one's pursuits. By insisting on the surrender of the self and
accepting the will of the supreme over the individual, Baba stressed the
existence of a unifying higher order. His views on the purpose of
religions were simple, "There is only one God and the purpose of every
religion is the same". In a unique way, Sai Baba of Shirdi also had
asked His followers to investigate the "self". He also expounded on the
obstacles for such a pursuit, native as well as acquired. Is it possible
to categorize this unique way of spiritual leadership?
For some, Baba's life and teachings might look like a
paradox, but in reality, His ways are as simple and natural as it could
be! He did not give any set of rules to follow for His disciples. On the
other hand, He was present in the minds of earnest devotees who sought
His guidance on matters, big and small. For such people, in His words,
He guarded them from front, back, and sides. To those who would differ
with His advice, Baba said simply, "God will do good". Neither was there
an insistence on a rigorous stewardship. Faith and patience are two
traits common to everyone regardless of their religious, social, and
financial or other status. By invoking the traits common to every human
being, Sai Baba of Shirdi has indeed simplified the pursuit and the
purpose life may have in the mosaic of modern day life. How shall one
thank the God of Shirdi for this? On this Thanksgiving Day, let us be
happy for being so fortunate.
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Contributed Article:Sloka 13
Kaa Te Kaantaa Dhanagatachintaa
Vaatula Kim Tava Naasti Niyantaa
Trijagati Sajjanasangatirekaa
Bhawati Bhavaarnavatarane Naukaa
Bhaja Govindam, Bhaja Govindam...
Meaning:
Kaa - where is, Te - your, Kaantaa - wife, Dhanagat - pertaining to
wealth, Chintaa - worry, Vaatula - O distracted one, Kim - is there,
Tava - to you, Na asti - not, Niyantaa - the ordainer of rules (one who
ordains or commands), Trijagati - in the three worlds, Sajjan - of the
good, Sangati - association, (Sajjanasangati - the association with the
good), Ekaa - alone, Bhavati - becomes (can serve as), Bhaava arnava
tarane - to cross the sea of change (birth and death), Naukaa - the
boat.
Substance:
O Distracted one! why worry about wife,
wealth, etc. Is there no one to guide you? Know that in the three
worlds, only the association with good people alone can save you as a
boat to cross the ocean of life (birth and death).
Commentary:
To worry on anything materialistic means waste of our mental
energies. By allowing the mind besieged by the worries and thoughts of
wife and wealth, one is making it impoverished. If one starts reflecting
and thinking rationally about these attachments and examine carefully
the connection between one soul called wife and another soul called self
or husband in this life and also between oneself and the wealth one
wishes to amass, one can easily understand that all this botheration is
for transitory pleasures.
These are all undoubtedly profitless or useless thoughts, as once
the prana escapes from the bundle of bones and flesh and the body is
disintegrated, all attachments will bind one. The seeker should
constantly strive to grow over sense-gratification and base instincts
and uplift one's thoughts by conscious remembrance of the Lord. The only
possible way out of such mean actions is to associate oneself constantly
and continuously with good people, who are endowed with vision and
mission in their lives. Although the mind initially resists any attempts
of associating oneself with learned and self-controlled people,
ultimately it will learn to forget, over a period, the old habits of
thought. This alone is the known and effective remedy. As one proceeds
on this new path, the devotee shall discover oneself and the rewards or
result of such sadhana depends on the amount of effort one puts in.
Self-control will lead to mental peace, which ultimately
result in inner-joy or peace of mind. Therefore, sajjana sangati, i.e.,
association with devout people is an important prerequisite for one who
wishes to tread on this path. This sajjana sangati will work as a nauka
or boat to cross the ocean of limitation. As the boat keeps floating on
the water, the sadhaka, while living in this materialistic world, will
float on it by not being entangled in the maya.
(Contributed by Contributed by Paritala Gopikrisna, New
Delhi, India)
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Experiences of Devotees
Daphne V. Rose
Om sri sai ram. Dearest guruji sri satpathy, I know not the sweet
leela of our most holy and mighty sainath. But when my daughter in law
was with me helping me to master my sons computer, we were looking at
the beautiful face of sadguru sainath in dwaramayi and I said I would
like to offer prayers and if only sai would bless vancouver canada with
a place soley for the devotions of saima, when the printer came on and
printed a black and white picture of guruji sri satpathy, which i shall
place on my mandir. I do not know how to use this machine. So please
forgive me for no capitals but I take the dust from thy holy and revered
feet guruji. Please may I have intense one pointed mahabhava and
detachment from all things worldly, please let me come to thee soon. Oh
sainatha, help me I am drowning in a sea of maya. Do not leave me here.
I am so tamasic and am in dire need of satsang. May god be praised for
the site devotees we have on our site, otherwise I am in a spiritual
desert. Why did guruji sri satpathy suddenly get printed? Who turned the
switch? What is sainath saying in his most holy name.
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Devotees say...
Sangeetha
Dear sai devotee Paritala Gopi Krishna garu, I recently saw all your
articles on Bhajagovindam from January through August. It is an
excellent work. I really thank devotees like you who work hard for
ignorant devotees like me and spread the knowledge you have. During my
reading, I did notice that in the article for April 10 2003, the 13th
sloka of bhajagovindam in the 47th issue is not accessible. Could you
kindly post that article once again?. Thank you
Jyotsna
I am writing about one of my close friend; She and her husband are
very nice people, they try to help people going out of their way and in
return, they expect nothing. They have been trying for kids for quite a
few years now, my friend went through all kinds of treatments and
finally she was told she cannot conceive naturally and they have to go
for IVF. They even tried IVF two times and had no success. Though they
are going through so much, they never show their pain. I humbly request
all those great people who worship Sairam selflessly with great
devotion, who experience miracles of Sairam, who pray Sainath not for
themselves but for others, to pray for this couple to bless with a
child.
I have done a mistake yesterday and after that, I am going through
great agony and feeling guilty about what I did; I unnecessarily
commented about one of our friends with another friend. I have no right
to comment these friends, they are good people and how they lead their
life is no business of mine. I should not have said those things about
them. I am ashamed of this and feeling very guilty when I see Sairam, I
feel like he is asking me what good have you learned from reading my
Satcharitra. I am very sorry Sairam, Please forgive me this time. I
promise I will not do this again. JAI SAIRAM.
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Prayer Club
Kasim Nageswararao
Jai Sairam, Baba you have helped me in my studies I know with out
you I would not have passed any subject. SAI now I don't know what to do
next, I am searching for a job for the past 11 months I didn't get a
job, friends told me to do a course, what should I do for my living,
guide me SAI. Not a blade of grass will move without your wish.
Vijay
Sai Baba! Please help me through the tough times I am having at this
time. I believe you since my child hood. Thank you for helping me at all
the times. Please give the world the happiness. I appreciate the efforts
of Sai Vichaar.
A Sai devotee
Forgive me for doubting you. You have shown me the truth. I cannot
undo what has been done. It hurts me, what my husband has done to me.
Baba, we are in financial problem because of this woman. My husband has
spent more than Rs100,000 on this woman. He did not even have the money;
he used all our cash money, master cards and overdraft. Baba he says he
wants the marriage. But he still loves her. Baba he is in so much debt.
I am unsure whether I must sue her for the amount that was spent on her.
Please give me some indication if it is ok for me to do that. I do not
want to become sucked into this negative energy with her. All I want for
her is to pay me back the money. Baba I will only be guided by you
because I believe that you are with you and me have always been with me.
Please give the wisdom and strength to deal with this problem. I do not
want her to come back and sue me. I do not have any proof of the affair
except for the phone. Regards, which I cannot get, and the fact that my
husband admitted it. Baba he told me he cannot sleep with me because of
my problems why is this happening yet he can sleep with her.
Baba I do not know what to do. I am trying not to fight
the problem and I trust in you. He wants me to take a loan to help him.
Baba please give me a sign as to what I should do. Give me strength in
my work, mind, home, and marriage. Baba I want to have children please
help me protect my marriage if you think it is worth it. I cannot live
if the problem goes on with the other woman. Baba she is threatening me
and she is so sure that my husband will go back to her. Baba I want
peace and happiness in my life.
Rachna
Dear Sai devotees, can you please pray for me and my family? Nothing
is going right in our lives. He has given us so much of strength but we
have been going through our problems our entire life since I have been 4
yrs old. Will it ever cease? I am losing my confidence. Please pray that
we get a breakthrough in finance as I am the only bread winner in the
family and I have not been keeping well too. Don't know how to run two
households, one here and one in India. Please pray for me.
Jayaram
Please instantly cure all my diseases and all the expressed wishes
as a proof of your heavenly existence. Please take care of us.
A Sai devotee
Baba, I am your child. I have to settle in my life by getting a good
job. oh baba bless me with a good job.
Sarma HLN
Jai Sai Ram. It is nice that our beloved Sai guides many people's
lives. Its evident he is still with us, with many people acknowledging
Sai Baba's grace in solving their problems. My Canadian Visa is expected
in a few months and I'm not aware of the real scenario about the jobs
available to landed immigrants. I would like to know how wise is it to
move to Canada. I understand many devotees residing in Canada post their
views in these columns. I request their help in guiding me. Bless us
Baba. Peace to all.
A Sai devotee
I pray many times to you baba but till now no result. Sai provide a
good husband to my sister so that she can get married and settle down in
her life. Nobody is there for us expect you. Provide a permanent job to
my brother Rajesh Kumar. Some people have taken (5000), saying that he
will provide a permanent gob but till now no result. Sai, you have to
taken care of your devotee. I hope you will understand my situation and
tension and burden and this time, do some thing good to my sister and to
my brother and to my family. Om Sai ram.
A Sai devotee
Om Sairam! Baba, Please bless akka to get a good alliance soon baba.
Please straighten her life baba. She suffered a lot in her first
marriage baba and by your grace has come out of it safely. Please take
care of your child baba. Mommy and Daddy and very worried and tensed.
Kindly settle her life for her baba. Give us the strength to pray you
more to have strong faith in you and love you unlimitedly. Kindly bless
us so that we can continue reading satcharitra and gurucharitra. Always
be with us and guide us baba. Please bless akka.
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Quotation of the Week
"Sitting in this Masjid I shall never, never speak
untruth. Take pity on Me like this. First give bread to the hungry, and
then eat yourself. Note this well" - Saibaba to Mrs. Tarkhad
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Question of the Week
Q. What is the spiritual significance of a Living Sadguru?
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Sai Activities
Saibaba Idol Installation at Hindu Mandir,
Canberra, Australia
People of Canberra take joy in announcing that Shirdi Sai BABA has
finally decided to grace Canberra! Canberra invites you to join in
Celebrating Murthi Prathishtapan Ceremony at Hindu Temple and Cultural
Centre (HTCC), Florey, Canberra; commencing on 6th December 2003 from
6:30 PM till Shej aarthi and continuing from 9:AM on 7th December 2003
and closing with Shej Aarthi. For further details please contact one of
the following: Kumar Advani at kmmv@austarmetro.com.au, Anitha Kandukuri
at a_kandukuri@hotmail.com, or Raju Thobula at Thobula@yahoo.com
Award Presentation by Sri Narayan Baba, Mumbai,
India
Sri Narayan Baba will present on behalf of Hargobind Trust an
"Annual Award" known as "Sri Sai Leelavathy Mata Award" for outstanding
duties of a nurse on Sat 29th Nov. 2003 at the Jivraj Mehta Theatre -
KEM Hospital, Mumbai.
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".
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