This is a question always lingering behind our minds - How to relate with BABA?
1 Why do we go to BABA?
2 Are we scared of HIM?
3 Do we feel that if we do not worship Him He might make our life miserable?
4 Are our feelings of devotion superficial or real towards Him?
5 Do we have tears of love and intense trust in our eyes when we think of Him?
6 What relationship makes us comfortable with Him?

We go to Baba so that He might lighten our problems and burden. For me I approach Him as I approach my father. I know a father never refuses the whims and fancies of His child. I feel secure going to Him because I know I can play with him Him and twine Him round my little finger and tug the strings of His heart with my voice filled with love and faith in Him. To go to BABA one needs to have the Heart of a Toddler. Do we have one?

When a child approaches father there is a sense of apprehension, uncertainty, but a child is never scared of father. Child trusts father more than his own life. Child knows that father would save it from any calamity. The feeling is that of Awe, apprehension but never scared. It is filled with love, trust and faith. Father never deliberately harms the child. Yes, He might refuse to give certain things because HE knows they are not good for the child. However, Father never condemns the child, condemns only the behavior. Do we have that trust towards Him filled with love and awe?

As a child, one goes through phases in life, gets new friends, is fascinated with the world, and tries to explore it. But when the need arises and until the child is independent financially and physically, it always runs to father. Even in spiritual relationship with BABA, our father, we run to Him though we might feel we are wandering away from Him. Remember we are tied with strings to our feet and HE draws us near Him when HE reckons we are straying. Do not fear, fly but remember our strings are in His hands. Once we elevate spiritually then we merge with Father and we are one with Him. Do we feel comfortable straying away from Him? Do we feel guilty that we did not show physical or formal act of worship towards Him? Don't you know we always come back to Him even if we go away physically?

The last three questions are based on each individual and their perception of their relationship towards Baba. Some show emotions while some don't. Whatever is the case - How steady are we in our faith? Do we show anxiety in spite of placing our burden on Him? Then perhaps our faith is superficial, we lack trust. What we say does not come from the depths of the heart. Have you ever tried throwing a tantrum at BABA? A relationship filled with deep emotion of love is healthy. Ever observed the feeling of warmth in a relationship that exists between a father and a child? A child who is confident that Father always loves it in spite of the tantrums and knows that it has the freedom of expression of its feelings and will still be loved in spite of shortcomings exhibits such feelings and grows to be a healthy individual brimming with self confidence. Let us try to show these feelings towards baba when the whole world has turned its back on us and we feel betrayed. We know we cannot express our feelings on fellow Humans, but why not take advantage of this old man who is waiting for an expression of love, any expression of love from us. I can feel being enveloped in His warmth and feel His breath on my hair as He hugs me towards His heart.

I see this relationship between a child and a father. When I see my children interact play, throw tantrums and refuse to do what their father says. I see a new relationship of love and trust growing where each one tries to accommodate the other and forgive. Then after few minutes they run towards each other, hug, and play around and it is hard to see who is child and who is adult. Perhaps we need to forget that we are adults and behave like a child while interacting with BABA, and express our needs as a child does. We might need to engage in solitary play using our imagination and carry on internal conversations with BABA, and explore a new world of joy peace and happiness, which is always filled with love. Perhaps this would change our behavior, outlook and intensity of relationship we have with Him. Let us look for an unconditional expression of love and explore new avenues for establishing relationship with BABA. Life is too short; let us rejoice in His warmth.

(Contributed by Anitha Kandukuri, Canberra, Australia)
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Contributed Article: Sri Sai Gurucharitra - Chapter IV

My obeisance to Sri Ganesa! Most auspicious amongst the auspicious! Oh thou long bellied one! Oh thou embodiment of knowledge! Thou art foremost among gods! Oh gracious one! Hold my hand in yours and destroying all impediments and obstacles on the way, make me write this book. This 'Sant Kathamrit' is like the mango tree in the first flush of spring. The writings in this book are like the tender shoots of mango. The teachings contained herein are the delicious mango's which adorn the branches. Come eat them to your hearts content. If this book be the sacred lake Manas at the feet of Kailas, the abode of that five headed Siva; the contents are the pure water of that lake. The sacred lotus born in those pure waters is this 'Sant Kathamrit'. Sri Sai Baba's teachings flow from that lotus like the pure and delicious nectar. Come have your fill of the nectar.

In the 31st, 32nd and 33rd chapters of the 'Bhakta Leelamrit' I have told you about Sri Sai Baba. He is the kalpavriksha which grants all that his devotees seek. He is most munificent. He is a vast ocean of mercy. He is ever is vigilant in the care of his devotees and is a mountain of knowledge. He is the ark who conveys his devotees safely across the dangerous sea of worldliness. Once, a few devotees came for the darsan of that most able sadguru. It was the month of Pushya. They came on the day when the star Dhanush was in the transition phase. You may have a doubt as to why they had come on such a day. You know that it is the hoary tradition in the month of Dhanush to offer food to sun at dawn and then to eat it. In the same way, to prevent the cold of sorrow, the devotees have worn a warm inner cloth of devotion and came for the darsan of their sadguru. Shirdi is the abode of that sun of knowledge. The sun who rose there is Sri Sai Baba. That is why the devotees had assembled there. Baba's kind grace is the rosy dawn which promises a glorious day.

They had bathed in the Ganges of faith and diligent devotion to purify themselves before coming to the august presence of that jewel amongst sadgurus. The most able Baba had prepared a meal of right knowledge and had already placed the eating plates for his devotees. That is the month of Dhanush I was talking of. Many devotees had come to Baba at this holy time to partake fully of that meal of wisdom which he had so lovingly prepared for them.

Narayana Chandorkar, the son of Govinda was a pious man. He had taken birth in the family of Chandorkars. He was blessed by the grace of Sri Sai Baba and like Hari pant was meticulous in performing his religious duties. He conducted himself morally, following his dharma. Bere, Lakshman, Maruti and other devotees were also present there. How can I describe that magnificent scene? All were seated in the Masjid looking at Baba to their hearts content, as a child lovingly gazes at his mother when they meet, after she had been gone for a long time. They were deeply immersed in happiness and lost all count of time.

Nanasaheb Chandorkar then joined his hands in supplication and said, "Baba, you are not giving us a reply no matter how many times we ask you. Why are you annoyed with us? You are verily the almighty. If you are angry with us where else can we find shelter in this universe?"

Baba smiled, "I am never angry with any one. You are all my children. On whom should I show my anger? I never feel anger against any one. I am as you are in front of the almighty Venkusa. Why indeed should anyone be annoyed and show anger towards any one else?"

Baba continued, "Keep remembering what I have told you before and pay careful heed to what I am going to reveal to you now. Nana, if you have embedded what I have told you earlier carefully in your heart, you would have understood the greatness of the four-fold sadhana. The person who is diligent in the practice of the four-fold sadhana will realize the Brahman easily. Sadhana is the efforts one makes towards one's salvation and towards achieving the ever pure knowledge of self. Sadhana is of four kinds. The first is the wise discrimination of the permanent and the impermanent nature of things. The second is dispassion. The third is the six practices of 1. Shama- mental restraint. 2. Dama- the control of the body and the senses. 3. Titiksha- forbearance, bearing all with equality. 4. Uparati- withdrawal or abstaining from the sense objects. 5. Shraddha- faith in one's guru and Vedanta. 6. Samadhana - concentration of the mind on scriptural or other elevating truths. The fourth is mumukshu, the quality of the active quest for knowledge. This is a complicated thing to learn, so listen to me carefully."

"Let me tell you first about the discriminate wisdom of permanence and impermanence. The firming up of the belief that Brahman is the permanent truth and the world is an impermanent lie, until it is a rocklike like foundation of all thought is the discriminate wisdom of permanence and impermanence. Many try to talk about this discrimination and the knowledge of permanence and impermanence and make an exhibition of their foolish ignorance. Many go in groups to Pandaripur begging for alms on the way. Not one of these has come to know the Brahman.

Who is Brahman? What does he look like? Where does he stay? Who knows these things?" "Those who go in groups to Pandaripur merely to boast to the others that they too had performed the pilgrimage are not the true devotees. Some read many books on spirituality. They give instruction to the others about morals and the right conduct, but they themselves are not pure. As long as one's heart is impure, what is the use of books or of teaching? They are like the frogs in the lake of knowledge, who instead of drinking deeply of the nectar of knowledge flowing from the lotus which is Brahman; eat instead greedily the mud of barren arguments lying on the bed of the lake."

"Those who speak criticizing others will stay on in the mud. They will not gain wisdom. Those who indulge in barren arguments and those who always criticize others will not gain the knowledge of the Brahman. He who has no desires for either the worldly or the spiritual is the man of true dispassion. Nana! Know this to be the truth." (to be continued)

(Contributed by Source: "Sri Sai Gurucharithra" originally by Santkavi Sri Dasganu Maharaj. Translated from Telugu version by Sri SVL)
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Experiences of Devotees:

Shanta
On a Wednesday of Feb 2003, I was informed by my Company that I was laid off, that day, and my last day was going to be the end of that week. This news was very sudden and shocking to me as I was given several assurances from other groups that they have opportunities for me, and I will not be apart of the downsizing. So, I came back to my desk with my package, and prayed to Baba, and opened this website to take a look at his picture and pray to him. To my surprise, when I opened this site, next to His Holy picture it said, "Why Fear--I am here". That same evening I got a call from a senior manager from other group and was offered a job that very day. I have experienced numerous miracles from Baba in my life. This is one of the many experiences that I wanted to share with other devotees. I humbly pray to Baba to guide me and my family and do what He thinks that is best for us. We are humans, and are unable to understand his Leelas. I surrender completely to Baba. Jai Sai Baba!!

Vidya Bhavsar
Om Sai Ram. This is my experience from 22 years ago. That time we were living in India. I was expecting our second child. We tried three times to get a US visa, but it was refused. One day, Sai Baba came in my dream and told me "visa mil jayega," which means "you will get Visa." We were wondering why this would be possible because it was refused three times. One day we got an offer from Canada, which was refused before. The university where my husband was offered a job wanted him to join as soon as possible. For the Canadian visa, a physical exam was required and it takes some time for processing. So my husband went to the Canadian consulate and explained the situation. And to our surprise and by Baba's grace, she said no problem! She told my husband to go straight to the doctor's office and get it done. She called the doctor's office and told them to give the reports to my husband. (Doctors are not normally allowed to give the reports) The next day, my husband had the physical exam, picked the reports and went to the consulate with the reports. By Sai Baba's blessing it was all right and she gave the visa. Next week my husband came to Canada and I joined him after with our two sons. Today, we are living in Canada happily with Sai Baba's blessings. May Sai Baba's blessings remain with all of us. My koti koti namasakar to his holy feet. OM Sai Shiv Sai Jai Jai Sai.
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Devotees say...

Namrata
When I was doing my B.Com, I had heard a lot about Sai Baba from my friends and soon I too became a staunch devotee of Saibaba. I finished my B.Com and had wanted to go for an MBA. I even managed to clear the entrance exams of Karnataka University, Dharwad, but due to some reasons could not do my admission on time. Later my family and me tried really hard to get my admission in the college, but we were too late. Nobody was to blame. It was just because of my carelessness that I had lost this seat. One night I wept myself to sleep as I was feeling like all my dreams of becoming an MBA were shattered. In my dreams I was still crying. I was standing in the Samadhi Mandir.I looked at Baba's moorthi and then looked elsewhere and then again my eyes fell on the Moorthi. But there was no moorthi now; instead there stood an old woman. I went to her, bowed to her and started weeping. I kept addressing her as Baba and she was addressing me as 'beta'. In that form Baba explained to me what life is and how one should try to be happy with whatever he has. Baba told me so many things that even if I had slept for 2 days, the time would not suffice for so much conversation. But I had not slept for more than 8 hrs. Baba hugged me and blessed me saying I will have a smooth life and promised to get me admission in an MBA college in one weeks time. When I got up I told about Baba's vision in my dream to my mom and to some friends and people including my mom just laughed at me saying 'U are obsessed with Sai Baba'. But exactly after one week when a letter reached my home saying I have got an admission in KLES's Institute of Management Studies in Hubli, everyone was surprised. Today, by Baba's grace I have completed my MBA.I just hope Baba's blessings are always with you and me all Sai devotees. OM SAI RAM

Sai Gayathri
Baba, Humble Pranams At your Lotus feet. Baba, today I am going for the check up of my thyroid problem. Please help me in getting the results to be normal & stable. So,that there would be no increase in the dosage of the medicine. Please Baba, help me. You were always there for me. Baba, help me in this issue also. Please forgive me for all the mistakes I did. Baba, put me on the right track, helps me & guide me in following your teachings.
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Prayer Club:

Jayanthi Raja
Sai Baba.. you have always helped me and been with me throughout. I have immense faith in you, only at times my faith is shaken. You know I am praying hard for a child. Please Sai bless my husband and me soon. Koti Pranam!

Devotee
Om Sai Shri Sai Jaya Jaya Sai. Dear Sai, You know very well what I am going through. Please Baba, this is the only request I have for You. I know You will not let me down. Please make him realize that I cant live without him and that we both need each other to live happily. If he does not make up his mind soon i.e., before December, mom will start looking out for me and force me to marry somebody else. I understand her concern too but I love him a lot Baba. You know he's my life and I cannot survive without him. I cannot think of anybody else. Why did You let all this happen if You did not want us to get married? You know how much I am suffering and so is he. Please make him call me soon and tell me that he wants to marry me. Please make our elders give their consent for our marriage. Baba, only a miracle can save me and I beg You to show me that miracle and grant me my wish. Please make sure this is published before 26th because I hope something good happens on that Day. I will be ever grateful to you all my life. Please do not disappoint me because I cannot withstand another loss, cannot bear the pain anymore. I still have not overcome my Dad's death; do You think I can be happy staying away from him? Please shower your blessings on all of us. I know you are there for me always.

Sai devotee
Baba, please help me to get through the exam that is coming up. I am not well since the last few days. Please help me to feel better and confident for the exam. Shower your holy blessings upon our family.

Vimla
I request all my sai devotees to pray for me to my SAINATH MAHARAJ with his wish what I have got must be fulfilled under his blessings in the accurate time. Tomorrow is your day my Sainath. Please show direction and do miracle.

Jyothi
Sai Baba please make me aggressive and active. Make me self-confident. Om Sai sri Sai, nobody is there for me except You. You have provided me a green card and god gob to my husband. I will not forget the right help in right time Shirdi Sai jaya jaya Sai sathguru Sai sachidananda Sai, you yourself show me a path to get a job. Hey Sai, You helped me in all occasions. . Please help me to get a good job and house. Please keep my husband in a job continuously. Baba, please make us to remember your wonderful leelas always. Make us to chant Your name always. Bless all of us with stable faith and patience.

Madhusoodan
Dear Baba, I have always considered myself an orphan in this wide ocean of people and have always considered you as my Father. I have always turned to you for the smallest of things because I do not know whom else to turn to and you have always stood by me. You have helped me through some of the darkest days of my life. Without your help, support and guidance I would not have lived to date. Baba, now all the pieces of the jigsaw puzzle called life are almost in place except for a few crucial links. These links are in your hands and only you can see to it that I am properly settled in life. Yu who know all, I have always burdened with my problems and you have always bailed me out of trouble. You know my status in life, and you know about the problems that are staring at me in the face. Kindly help me Baba, and relieve me from the stresses of this life and help me do the duties that I am supposed to do without any hindrances. Thanking you for all that you have done for me to date and praying for your support and help for the remainder of my life.

Anand
Hello, I applied for a job and did my interview very good. Can you please pray to Baba that I should get this job. I will be life-time thank full to GOD (Shiridi Sai Baba). Until my blood is red I will serve to God. My sincere request not to forget while praying.

Sai devotee
Om Sai Sri Sai Jaya Jaya Sai. I am thankful to you Baba for all the blessings received. Baba please bless me and my family members to have good health, long life and peace of mind. Baba, please bless my mother-in-law to recover fully from her health problems. I request all devotees to pray for good health of my mother-in-law. I am sure that Baba will always be within us as God(Deva), Guide(Sadguru), Protector(Sarvarakshaka), Doctor (Dhanvantry) and every thing in our life. Also please accept our invitation for marriage of my brother and please bless the couple in person Baba.
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Quotation of the Week:
"Those who go in groups to Pandharpur merely to boast to the others that they too had performed the pilgrimage are not the true devotees. Some read many books on spirituality. They give instruction to the others about morals and the right conduct, but they themselves are not pure. As long as one's heart is impure, what is the use of books or of teaching?-Saibaba of Shirdi
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Question of the Week:

Q. What is "Unconditional love"?

A. by Sai devotee

Unconditional love is the attribute of divinity. It denotes the love coming from the self or spirit within by looking at the same self in each one. It is a spontaneous expression of divine through us. It is the result of the uncountable grace of almighty on us. The ultimate goal of this love is everlasting happiness. It is this love that justifies the aphorism, love is God and God is love. This unconditional love is the purest form of devotion to god. This form of love is very much evident in the affection of god and guru. This love is beyond name and form. In Sai Satcharita Sri Sai urges us to see him as all pervading self rather than three cubic foot human. Sri Sai is the embodiment of such pure love. Whatever love we have for the physical forms around is mostly conditional, in the sense that it is related to particular reason or relation. This kind of love also gives us happiness but it is temporary and the result is only sorrow due to the loss or absence of it.

The ultimate goal of human life is to make the conditional love into unconditional by Karma yoga (selfless acts, detachment from fruits of action), Bhakti yoga (devotion towards god and fellow beings), Jnana yoga (seeing the one self in us and others) and scriptural study. This helps in purification of our mind and allows us to experience the unconditional love of our Sai.

Q. What is "Unconditional love"?

A. by Badri

"Love" is always unconditional. It is a language of heart that speaks. It is purely from heart to heart. It cannot be termed as love, if there is any expectation attached to it. It is said that a devotee should be consistent and persistent in his/her faith on Guru, he/she believes in. He/she should surrender to HIM with full faith. At times, there is always a deviation of mind or distraction, which takes him/her away from Guru. But Guru's grace is always there on his devotees, at all the times. This grace is nothing but unconditional love of Guru towards His devotee.

The moment one surrenders before Guru and does all his actions by first offering it to Guru, then the devotee will not have any doership feelings and there will be no expectation from what he does, because he will always have a feeling that all that is happening is because of HIM. The moment this feeling arises, the doer will do his job with pure love, because he is doing this for HIM. He will not expectation anything in return from what he does, because he has already surrendered to HIM. This is an unconditional love of a devotee towards his Guru.
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Sai Activities:

Shirdi Sai Temple of Chicago and Suburbs, Illinois, USA
Shirdi Sai temple is open daily from 8:00 am to 9:00 pm(Winter hours). Daily program includes Kakad Arathi at 8am followed by Abhisek. Madhayana Arathi at 12 noon, Dhoop arathi at 6pm and Shej Arathi at 9pm. Archana, Homams, Sahasranama and sponsored poojas continue in between the Arathis. To request a pooja for yourselves, your friends and family, please call. Devotees can request water (Abhishek Jal) from the Holy bathing of Baba by sending us an email or by phone. Temple is located 25 minutes drive west of Schaumburg on intersection of IL Route 47 and Plank Road in Hampshire, IL. For more information please call 847-931-4058 or send email to maildrop@saibaba.org.

Shirdi Saibaba Prayer Center, Minnesota
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 contact hamaresai@yahoo.com, or call Shirdi Saibaba Prayer Center at 952-938-2983, and to read the monthly newsletter Sai Sandesh, visit www.hamaresai.org.

Sai Satsang at Marlboro, MA, USA
Om Sairam. We are doing sai sathsangam on every alternate Saturday from 5pm to 7.30pm since last year successfully with baba blessings. In sathsangam we do guru dhyanam, Sai asthotharam, sai the master written by Sri Ekkirala Bhardwaja book parayana, sai sandhya aarthi, bhajans and prasad distribution. We cordially invite all of you to participate in baba sathsangam. Please contact Pallavi or Uttam at 508-786-0380 or send us email to saiuttampallavi@yahoo.com. Our address is 36 Royal Crest Drive #2 Marlboro MA-01752.
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