Some hearsay, some documented evidence, some revelations and some imagination. He was a poor fakir who roamed streets of Shirdi, and for a few, He was the medicine man. As the last century evolved along with it began a newer phase in the spiritual history of mankind. Moving across lands and oceans, as the distances belittled the phenomenon grows. Is this a new philosophy? A cult? A Movement? Or is this the foundation to the spiritual transformation of mankind?

Some thought He was aulia, the messenger of God, a few began seeing in Him God. Gods and Gurus of the vicinity, Akkalkot Maharaj to Vitthal of Pandharpur. He was the venerable Datta to Datta panthis and the sage of Naath Panth. He was Shiva to some and the Allah, Yesu, Buddha. Rama, Krishna, Shiva, Maaruthi and Sai Ganesh. He is Baba to some. Is one outlook superior to the other? Should there be an insistence on one way or the other? Isn't this how new religions are formed? Is there such a need?

"Our traditions are different", He said. Did what He meant refer to the way one chooses to see him, or was that the narrow path near the Barvi well that was shown to the Haji? Several great men evolved in His shadows, preached Sai gospel, guided all, made those who chose to learn, the power to seek the perennial bliss, to see Himself in the self. Any form of God or every God that one chooses to see Sai as, isn't it a mere conduit, the form? The intellectual conformity, the necessary evil?

How long is the circle? The peripheral appeasement to the "touch me not" senses? When does one escape into Him? The core of existence, all the knowledge and the bliss? When does one abandon everything and hatch on to His lap like an infant? When does the child seek the morsels leaving behind the logic of association for none are the children of lesser God in His path!
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Contributed Article: Supremacy of Sadguru

While reading about Sadgurus one is often struck with questions - is Sadguru made by the virtue of His birth? What characteristics are expected of a Sadguru? Is the role of Sadguru restricted to only special class or people? Are there any Sadguru's in present life and context? The line of questioning is unending. The answers to these questions lie in the fact explained in various sacred scriptures. One explanation given by Meher Baba in (GLIMPSES OF THE GOD-MAN, Vol. IV, Bal Natu, pp. 105-111) goes as follows: -
"Consciously or unconsciously, directly or indirectly, each and every creature, each and every human being - in one form or the other - strives to assert individuality. But when eventually man consciously experiences that he is Infinite, Eternal and Indivisible, then he is fully conscious of his individuality as God, and as such experiences Infinite Knowledge, Infinite Power and Infinite Bliss. Thus, man becomes God, and is recognized as a Perfect Master, Sadguru, or Qutub. To worship this Man is to worship God."

Perfect Masters had the burning desire to Know God and See God. They have tuned their ability to know and find God and listen to the song of the divine (as described in Lord Meher by Bhau Kalchuri) within them. Each one of us have the innate ability to lean towards spirituality, but we are so engrossed in our worldly duties that we concentrate only on the mundane tasks and fail to find God in our heart. Only those whose hunger to know God is intense, strive harder to elevate from the clutches of ignorance by experiencing knowledge in accordance with the Divine Law.

The perfect masters namely, Shirdi Sainath, Hazrat Babajan, Tajjuddin Baba, Narayan Maharaj, Upasani Maharaj were all ordinary humans, but they had the innate burning desire of knowing God. God fulfilled their desire to be liberated and rise above the mere humanity, and each one was lead by a Guru to realize Godliness in them. It is the disgust, detachment and righteous conduct in life that has lead them to the path of God realization. The path towards this God realization is obviously not simple, BABA says that he who has discharged the worldly duties alone can control the mind and move towards the light of God. The power of Sadguru is incomprehensible; Meher BABA says that Sadguru has the ability to bring the God to earth to take the form of a human, which is called Avataar. It is the love and desire to elevate the mankind to rise above the mundane matters that prompted God, to bless ordinary men with strong sense of self-discipline to be Sadgurus, who help lead men in finding God in them. The path they have opted is not easy as is said in Satcharita:- "To tread the spiritual path is like walking on the edge of a sword. There the intellect does not count."

Let us not mistake that Sadguru has had a life of ease or is born with power to make life comfortable for himself, in fact as their biographies point out that they had the most painful life, vis - Sai BABA of Shirdi was orphaned, was labeled as a madman, was subjected to hatred originated due to jealousy and rivalry. His state of Godliness was not discovered until much later in his life. Upasani Baba (Kashinath), was an ordinary man of low intellect, but disgusted with life and tried many professions before being sought by Shirdi Sai BABA to be made perfect. Upasani Baba, subjected himself to cruelty, starvation, lived in scorpion and snake infested temples. Tajjuddin BABA was called crazy, worked in the military during British rule and was ridiculed by people was and put in jail as he roamed naked. Narayan Maharaj was an orphan ill-treated, was disgusted with life seeking death unable to bear the pangs of hunger and stumbled across God. Hazrat Babajan, though born a beautiful princess was more drawn towards the Song of god in her heart and treaded all the way from Persia to India, was called, mad, witch, and ridiculed. Yet they have not severed an inch from the aim of finding the song in their heart.

We are fortunate to be born in the land treaded by Sadgurus. Yet we fail to recognize the fact that when the Sadgurus themselves have shown us the way of life, which is filled with anxieties, stresses, disappointments, failures and abuse, all that is needed is the grace of God to come out successfully through all the hurdles. Life has never been a bed of roses, not even for king of Ayodhya - Rama, yet we seek instant miracles to lift us from pain, trouble and failures when we should be accepting all the good and bad as the way of life and blessings of God based on our Karma. As Sadgurus demonstrated we should constantly seek His companionship to give us strength to overcome any challenges we face.

(Contributed by Anitha Kandukuri, Canberra Australia)
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Experiences of Devotees

Ravi Rajasekharuni

We had a critical business problem at work. I was asked to look at it and fix it. The company also is considering getting a solution from an external source and in the process of taking quotations.

I spent a week researching the problem and tested some solutions, which I developed. The results are not satisfactory/feasible and I started re-designing a new solution. It is a tight schedule situation as business users are frustrated and pressing for a solution. I had about 5 days of time to find some solution. I spent two days and could only finish about 10% of work and praying Baba to help and protect me. I am sure a feasible solution in 5 days is not possible. On the 3rd day, one of my colleagues asked me to give a ring to some external vendor for his advice. I called him and he provided some suggestions and requested me to incorporate them in my solution. I reviewed our business process and incorporated the vendor's suggestion and within few hours fixed the critical issue, the business is facing.

I realized immediately, that Baba came to rescue me in the form of an employee from vendor's company (Note the name of employee started with an 'S'). This is a miracle to me, as this problem existed for 3 to 4 years and no one found/suggested a solution. Have faith, surrender everything to Baba, and for sure takes care of all burdens.

Shree
Dear Sai devotees, I wanted to submit my experience long before but I do not know why I had many obstructions on my way. I am a Sai devotee for many years and had experienced the presence of my godfather many times. I live in USA and once I had to take an exam in Atlanta. We went there the night before and the exam starts next morning at 9am.but I have to be there by 8.30am. Hotel people told us that they have a shuttle to the exam center and we should call the front desk when we are ready. So we called them but when we came down to the lobby they said they will have it at 8.15 and it was already 7.45am.so we thought we could take a walk as they said it takes 15 min. we didn't want to wait till the shuttle comes as it may get late and then that we wont have time to rush. The sky was very clear and my husband and my self got out. As we walked for 5 min, it suddenly started raining very heavily and we ran under a patio of an office. We stood there for 10 min but rain didn't stop. We didn't find a single cab or any other car passing by. My husband and I started praying to Baba not knowing what to do as it was already 8.15 AM. Then suddenly we saw an Indian walking towards us with an umbrella .he stopped and asked us if we are going for the test. We said yes. He said that he dropped his wife there and that it takes at least 15 min to walk from there and that as everybody was already there exam may start soon. Therefore, we asked him if he could give us his umbrella and that we could return it as they stayed in the same hotel as we did. He told that he wants to go to hotel and rest...and wants to take that book [text book of his wife] safely. I was very nervous and literally crying. Then an old lady [85 to 90 years] came out from the same building and asked us if we are worried about any thing. We told her and she took both of us in her car to the exam center. Then also it was raining very heavily. She took us to the entrance...then said that I may get wet as I am going.
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Devotees say...

Sai Ratnakar
The other day I got a dream where Baba is asking me to write his story. I wondered what he meant by that, in that dream itself I got the message that I should write a small book on Sai Temples in USA. I started to type in my computer some scribbling of the dream, and then left that. The other day, as my mind was little tensed up and wanted to read something from the parayana of Shri Hemadpant, I opened the book and the chapter I got was " God will assign different duties to different people" some will be assigned to build temples, some to clean the temple steps, some to go to pilgrimages in the same way I have been given the task of writing Baba's Satcharitra. To my astonishment, it just coincided with my dream, and I thought that I should seriously work on this, that this is what Baba has assigned me. I do not know if this is just my imagination, but I believe that this clearly Baba's message to me.
I need help from all devotees to send details about their city Sai temple, location, website, contact numbers,poojas/aarthis performed, significance if any, if possible a photo of Sai Baba in that temple. Where there is no temple, please send me information about any Satsang activities conducted in your area/village/township in USA for me to start writing on what I think is Baba's message. It is not me who is going to write and it is Shri Sai himself who will write once again about himself, I am none here. My email id is: rkarumuri@yahoo.com. I bow my head to the lotus feet of Shri Sai Baba and pray to him to help me in this work.

Alpesh
This is to the devotee regarding dream about Ramakrisna Paramahamsa; Dear Sai Devotee, It's great to know Baba appeared in your dreams. I am also a Sai Devotee. Regarding your question, I would suggest that you read The Gospel of Sri RamaKrishna. I have read quite a few books On RamaKrishna Paramhansha and found this Book " The Gospel Of Sri RamaKrishna " very good. It gives me the same feeling as I read Sri Sai Sat Charitra the invaluable gift from Baba to us. For buying it search on the net and you will find it.

V K Vijayaraghavan
My humble pranams at the lotus feet of Sainath; the omniscient lord of the universe. With his grace I managed to complete the reading of Sai sacharitram. I started the parayanam on a Thursday and planned my reading so that the reading can be finished in 7 days. But I really did not know how my calculations went wrong in counting the days properly. Suddenly after completing the parayanam I found that I have overshot by a day and ultimately completed the parayanam on Thursday next. During the reading there was some kind of inner voice, which wanted me to read once again. I was thinking why this feeling? May be it is sainath's wish that I complete the same on time next occasion. May lord sainath protect the universe and bring peace and joy to all.

Baljinder
This is reply is for brother who is interested in books on Sri Ramakrishna. He can go to vedanta.com which has many books Sri Ramakrishna. The one that I enjoyed reading is "Life of Shri Ramakrishna" forwarded by Mahatma Gandhi.
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Prayer Club

Sai devotee
I was not aware of the grace of Baba even though I was keeping fasts and visiting Baba Temple. I continued doing wrong things but as it is destined that bad never stays for long. I was looking for my job and in that process till date I have learnt various things, which I overlooked and was not caring enough. All my bad deeds were made to be realized to me somehow. That guilt is so much that in time of my trouble I remember them and I am gone in depths of misery. But after all those wrongs done by me I am at whatever stage it is due to Baba only. Still I have got desires to be fulfilled by Baba. How mean I think my self to be. But at times it becomes impossible for me to look at my good points and I am just criticizing myself of all the wrong I have done. I don't know that was it destined. I hope Baba knows better and will lead me out of all these things and give me the opportunity to make my human birth its worth. Baba please give me strength and intelligence to clear tomorrow's test.

A Sai devotee
Baba, I always had your grace on me. I strongly believe in you and now I seek your help. Baba, I am waiting to get a job from almost one and half year. Now i got a job but they are saying that the visa cap has been reached. Baba, you always helped me in my crucial times of life. Please show your grace on me and help me get this job. Show your grace on me and my family Baba.

Sai devotee
Sri Satchidananda Sadguru Sainath Maharaj Ki jai...I am writing this on a Thursday...I have no other way to express what I want to say Baba....You know how much I love my Husband...but circumstances in life have caused us to be away from each other....Please get us back together...so that we along with our little baby..can live happily ever after...Please Baba help us.

R Raju
Dear Baba, I have made so many appeals to you, Baba, we are so desperate,please give my child admission to a good college. We humbly pray at Your Lotus FEet, Baba, Please help us. Please get my child into an excellent college. Sairam.

Sai devote
OM SAI SRI SAI JAYA JAYA SAI. SAIBABA I know that you are with me through out my life. You saved me in all the difficult situations. Please SAIBABA, please see that my professor should not say anything.

V Anand
Baba, your dearest devotee and my close friend is out of job and looking for a job right now. As you know he is a very good devotee and always helpful to others. He needs a job to support his family and kids and go through the normal life.

Mohanambal
OM SAI RAM! I just do not know what to say BABA, because every time I start working, it does not seem to last more than 3 months. The recent job was quite challenging but the boss was just not appreciative of the effort I was putting in. His expectations were too high for me to meet. Moreover, he is such a quick and hot-tempered person that he has no humanity in him. He just blasts out at every staff in the office anytime he wishes. I felt he was going over the limit and since I could not fit in his organization, I left. Now I am without a job and I just do not know what's going to happen now? It has been about 1 1/2 years now since I was unfairly terminated in my last job that I got a decent job, which would last. My financial commitments seem to be increasing and I just have no idea when things are going to change for me for the better. BABA, for the moment I need a job desperately as my husband's earnings is not sufficient to take care of my son and me. Please BABA, please BABA, shine some light in my life, please.
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Quotation of the Week
"True spirituality is not bound by any limitations and transcends all seeming differences between religions. This is the kind of spirituality that has been so powerfully taught by Sri Saibaba".-Sri Sainathuni Sarath Babuji
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Question of the Week

Q. How to differentiate between love and attachment?
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Sai Activities

Sri Ramanavami/Urs Celebrations, Shirdi Saibaba Prayer Center, Minnesota
Shirdi Saibaba Prayer center, Minnesota invites Sai devotees to participate in the Sri Ramanavami/Urs celebrations on Saturday, April 3, 2004 at Geeta Ashram, Brooklyn Park, MN. The event includes, Sai aarthis, Devotees' experiences, Bhajans, Kirtans, Chandan Utsav and Palki Procession. Please write to hamaresai@yahoo.com. Regular Sai activities in the Twin Cities, MN are being conducted at Shirdi Saibaba Prayer Center, 725 Lake St NE, Apt #139 Hopkins MN. For details, please visit www.hamaresai.org or write to hamaresai@yahoo.com. Or call Shirdi Saibaba Prayer Center at 952-938-2983.

Sri Rama Navami Celebations, Toronto, Canada
SHIRDI SAI BABA SANSTHAN OF CANADA, requests your benign presence on the auspicious occasion of Ram Navami Celebrations on April 3 2004 and our weekly Thursday Prayers to receive Baba's blessings. For more Details please send us an email: saileela99@yahoo.com or call us at 905 887 1752

Sri Shirdi Sai Ashram Educational Service Society, Venkatagiri, Nellore, Indiaa
We hear with appeal to Sai devotees to encourage us to achieve, to complete projects of our Ashram. The activities of this ashram include poor feeding, free education to poor children, home for the aged, meditation classes and performing secular marriages. Contact Name, Number and Address in USA is Suresh Boga, 4824 Smallwood road, Apt 184, Columbia, SC- 29223, Phone# (803) 446 4878.
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