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Sai Vichaar 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 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. A devotee wrote to us as follows:
The "Question of the week" is Q. Quality of Devotion: Why can't it be the same at all times? 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:
Pujya Sri Acharya Ekkirala Bharadwaja Masterji
Master Ekkirala Bharadwaja was born in 1938 to Sri Ekkirala Ananthacharya and Venkata Lakshmi in the small township of Bapatla in Andhra Pradesh. His father was highly learned in the ancient Hindu Scriptures - the Vedas and the Shastras. In 1955, Bharadwaja's initiation ceremony (akin to the Christian baptism) was performed. On that very day, his nephew passed away. "The initial heartbreak had left and, in its wake, several fundamental questions arose in me: "Is there a Supreme Spirit? What is its nature? How can we contact it? What is life? What is death? Is there a soul? Why hasn't man found a way out of death? What is time?" and such others. The search went on unanswered" In 1959, Acharyaji completed his post-graduation in English Literature. He began working as a Lecturer in English and appeared for the rigorous Indian Administrative Services exam in 1961. The following year, he was declared selected and sent an appointment letter. Much in the vein of prince, Siddhartha who gave up a life of power and wealth and later became known as Lord Buddha, Acharyaji turned down the offer. Masterji became 'converted' after a profound spiritual experience at the Samadhi Mandir of Sri Sai Baba of Shirdi (9th February 1963, Shirdi). When Masterji was working as an English Lecturer in Vidyanagar (A.P., India), a student started criticizing Masterjji for adoring a human being like Sai Baba. A discussion ensued which went on for days and drew large numbers of students to participate in it. Out of these, a small group took shape and decided to have weekly Satsang (devotional or spiritual gathering) on Thursdays for Bhajan. Many such groups sprung up at several places and Acharyaji began to travel extensively to spread the message of Baba. All the devotees decided to set up the Sai Baba Mission (now Sri Master Universal Sai Trust) to propagate Baba's teachings and furnish the materials for the same. Masterji entered matrimony with respected Smt. Alivelu MangaThayaru (fondly known to us as Ammagaru) on March 6 1975. After 1981, Acharyaji resigned his job and devoted himself full time to intensive research into the lives and teachings of several saints. He studied in depth seven branches of science and five major religions of the world (Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism, Christianity and Taoism). In 1983 began the fortnightly magazine "SAI BABA". By now, he was father of a daughter and son. His dynamic life of spiritual ministration continued undisturbed despite a host of domestic troubles. He used his personal funds to educate many young students and other social purposes. Great stalwarts such as the Christian missionary Paul Reps (Seattle, USA) have also testified that how the reading the life and teachings of Sri Sai Baba of Shirdi have enabled them to understand the Christ and Christianity better. Masterji's life and work cannot be summed up. What distinguishes him? His work was not for himself, not just for those around him but is for all the coming generations. Masterji was a realized soul. Masterji's life sets an example for us. His life showed that Realization neither elevates nor eliminates us from the world, but establishes one in fullness, which is evident in all that he did. To the everlasting grief of his followers, admirers and devotees, the
magnificent saga of Acharyaji's earthly existence ended in 1989. Though
he has left his mortal frame, even now He responds to the call of the
devotees. It is now nearly fifteen years since our beloved Masterji
attained Mahasamadhi (April 12th, 1989); years in which we have often
felt his absence in flesh and blood and yet have been immensely assured,
of his response whenever called to, of his sure but remote guidance of
our lives. Devotees acquainted with Acharyaji during his lifetime or
through his books would know the story of Acharyaji's spiritual quest
for truth.
Contributed Article: Inwardly the Same
If Sai Baba was a Sufi saint, one may ask, how is it that he has been
so readily interpreted and embraced by the Hindu community? Deccani
Sufism with its poet-saints has similarities with the strong devotional
heritage of the Bhakthi movement of Central India. Echoing the
devotional goal of God-realization of both the Sufis and the bhakthas,
which the former call ma'rifa and the latter brahmavilasa. Sai Baba
said, "reaching God is the aim". Although the eleventh-century Muslim
scholar, Alberuni, visiting India declared, ' The Hindus entirely differ
from us in every respect', at the mystic and devotional bhakthi level
there is a fundamental similarity of thought and practice, and indeed
they share the same goal to have a direct experience of God. Their inner
experiences tally closely, although externally they may appear very
different - in their customs, languages, rituals and appearance. In
climbing to the top of spiritual mountain, it can be said that the Sufis
take a direct structured route with formal way-stations, where as the
bhakthas take a more informal, gentler path, but both eventually
reaching the summit. Once a bhaktha is able to transcend the boundaries
of his formal religion he enters into a state common to all mystics. The
Sufi goes beyond the Muslim law (shar'at) and is preoccupied with the
way to enable him to experience (tariqat) the ultimate reality
(ma'rifa). The poet saints were also intent on proclaiming through their
poetic outpourings how to reach God-realization, placing great stress on
saying the name of God (namasmarana), a practice that the Sufis also
embrace (dhikr). Essentially, they are no different.
(Contributed by From "Shirdi Sai Baba in the Light of Sufism" by
Marianne Warren - Sai Vichaar)
Venkat Pooja Walia Lakshmi Lagaya chaman tho phool khilado, Phool khilaahaitho kushbhu bhi lavo!
Dhaka taalo ya daaman bacha lo, Halna laaga rahanumayi sambhalo!
Tera kazhana me allah ki rahamat, Tum Sadguru Sai ho samarth!
Athma bhadalega chalo hajar, Hum milthe rahinge har bar!
Achha chalo eka baath baathado, Kya nahi tumare paas baathado!
Saab kuch jaan ka anjaan hu ma, Allah ki tu shaan, teeri hu shaan ma!
K. Ramaswamy, Chennai Please mix a pinch of Lord Sainath udhi while taking coffee, tea or other drinks daily in the morning for about 27/45 days. You will get more concentration for reading Sri Sai Satcharita in future. A Sai devotee She was good at mixing with people and a strong believer of Jesus. She started telling us about the social service she's been doing after her retirement in the name of Jesus. We Sai devotees know that Baba is present in all religious paths whether it's Hindu or Muslim or Christianity. All of a sudden, that lady started asking details about us like where we are from. Why we went to Kopargaon? . When I told that we'd been to Shirdi and we try to visit Shirdi as much as possible every year. She started arguing by asking questions like: what this Baba can do? He does some magic and give vibhoodi? By then, I started praying Baba to forgive her. Not knowing how to stop such an elderly person speaking non-stop and comparing Sri Sai Baba with Jesus. I didn't get words how to tell her that she can find Jesus in Baba. All religious gods are in Baba. No one was able to argue with her. Later she stopped talking and soon it became the time to sleep for everyone. But we family members were talking about Sai's darshan. Although that lady's was the lower birth, she slept in the upper birth saying that she's used to sleep there. We slept very late in the night [maybe around 12.00 midnight]. I slept on the other upper birth. When I got up in the morning when the train was near Bangalore, I was surprised to see that that lady was sleeping in lower birth diagonal to me. I asked her why she was down She was not in a position to speak because she'd fell down that night from the upper birth to the floor of the train. Imagine what could've happened! Everyone was saying that only the doctors could tell if any bones were broken. I was very upset. We took her to the hostel and the people in the hostel told they would admit her immediately in their Hospital and we can leave. After a day, I called up to her roommate, and I came to know that she had major factures in her body including her backbone. Later with Baba's grace, she recovered to normal which is unbelievable. From this what I understood was that one should never criticize other's belief, whatever it might be. Is this correct? Dear Sai Devotees can you please help me out what might be the correct understanding from the above incident. Subhadra Sharma Kamal Kiran Chandima A Sai devotee Smitha I trust him completely Baba and more than anything else YOU. There is
no other force, which can work against your Grace BABA. I am still
waiting for him. Please shower your blessings on us and help us reunite.
I surrender myself completely to you. Please forgive the sins I have
committed, knowingly and unknowingly. Sri Satchidananda Sadguru Sainatha
Maharaj ki Jai
Quotation of the Week
Q. "Quality of Devotion: Why can't it be the same at all times?" A. by A Sai devotee Let us begin with the basic truth that we are humans foremost. God made us imperfect and this is why we cannot have a stable or similar response to the same situation we face at different times in our lives. Those of us who rise above the basic fallibility of human nature are called saints, saints learn to conquer emotions. Where do emotions come from, situations - no, they are a result of our mind. The mind being the finest gift of God to mankind (compared to other living beings) is also the worst, because it is this mind, which leads us through a kaleidoscope of emotions. Having said the above on the human weaknesses, in my humble opinion, this is the major cause of our devotion not being the same at all times. Let me tell you my own experiences to explain my point of view. I am extremely blessed to be under the Merciful gaze of Baba since 1999 (my misfortune I did not recognize His Mercy before then) and there is a wealth of experiences that I have the honor of being a part of and sometimes I feel that this is more than what one could hope for, during a lifetime. Baba has given me peace of mind through extremely troubled times because of a personal issue, a fantastic break in my career. Most importantly, He has shown me a Guru who has led me on Baba's path through these years. I chant Baba's glorious name most of the conscious time I spend in a day, offer Him everything I eat, drink and at the end of the day, thank Him for another wonderful day in my life. Amongst all these highs, my unresolved personal problem comes to mind and all kinds of negative thoughts float around - anger, self-pity, depression, envy for others who seem to be better off. Baba once said, "Be happy remembering what you are fortunate to have, don't think of what you don't have" but it is not so. It is the human mind and the basic human nature which makes devotion different at different times. My fault here is that I do not exercise enough control on my mind to take it away from these negative thoughts. I am not saying that we can eliminate the negative thoughts, but we can definitely reduce the frequency of their occurrence or curb them when they do come up. But in the end, I know in my heart that He will give me what I need and that is not always what I want. Everything He gives me is for my good and I may not realize this at the time it happens. Well, however bad my mood swings be, I come back to Him and love Him
as much as I do and even more, for the Kindness He has shown me and the
blessing of Having His Grace in my life. OM SAIRAM AND MAY HIS BLESSINGS
BE WITH ALL.
Shirdi Sai Satsang, Minnesota Sai Baba Center in Toronto, Canada
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