Once Garuda (the celestial bird of Lord Vishnu and sworn enemy of snakes) went to Kailasa i.e., Abode of Lord Shiva. He saw the snakes that Shiva wore round his neck, his arms, his waist and feet. The snakes were safe now and they hissed with their puffed hoods at the celestial bird, which could not do any harm since they were in divine company. Finally, Garuda said, "Well! Glide down from that Body and I shall kill every one of you!" This is the value of being in Good company. Holy company is valuable for those who had reached success also because it is like keeping a pot of water inside a tank of water. There will be not be any loss through evaporation. The chances of yoga (union with God) evaporating into bhoga (enjoyment) are very great for those who live among worldly men.

Man is tossed about on the waves of joy and grief, he is buffeted by fortune, good or bad; he is the target of brickbats or bouquets; the evil around him affects his peace; anxiety robs him of sleep and quiet. It is as if one attempted to sleep on a bug-infested cot. Therefore, Man tries to escape from all this into somewhere but he is not sure, Where! Only the spiritual master (Guru) can guide you where to go and which place to seek. The Guru asks you to search between the leaves of the book of your heart for the treasure, which is already there to render you rich beyond compare. This is called Praaptha Praapthi i.e., you become aware of a thing that you had with you but imagined that you did not have.

Do not be one of the cattle that run towards a mirage to slake their thirst. You ought to be wiser and detach yourselves consciously from pursuits, which you discover as deleterious. Sit quietly and ponder over the fate of those who run towards the mirage -

- Are they happy?
- Do they have strength to bear distress and distinction with equanimity?
- Do they experience glimpse of the Beauty of the God?
- Do they have vision of themselves as the center of the universe?
The See-er should not attach himself to the Seen. This is only way to get free. The contact of the senses with the object arouses desire and attachment. This leads to either elation or despair; fear of loss or grief at failure. All the windows are to be closed (senses) so that lamp in the mind burns steadily unaffected by the dual demands of the world outside. Sharanagathi i.e., complete surrender to God is only way of closing the windows and doors. Complete surrender makes you draw upon the Grace of the Lord for meeting all the crises and prepare you better for the battle by making you heroic and more stalwart.

The aspiring disciple cannot master the secret of success in spiritual path unless he has a sincere yearning for the Truth. Do not blame the sun (God) that he does not illumine your room (heart). Open the doors (heart) to allow the sun (God) to flood your room with light (grace). You must use your intelligence to deserve the Grace of God. That is the purpose of human effort.

One has to develop the primary skill to overcome the temptations of the senses so that the inward journey into the region of the impulses is done to give them a higher purpose. There is no use in cleansing and polishing the exterior of a drinking cup. Instead, cleanse the interior. Remembrance of the Lord's name is the best detergent for cleansing the inner self. The name is the raft that will take you across the sea of samsara. The name will remove the veil of illusion that hides the Universal from the Individual. When veil fades out, Man finds himself before himself.

The fruit will not drop if you mumble manthras (sacred formulae) under the mango tree. One has to take a heavy stick and throw it at the bunch. Similarly, use the stick of intelligence and throw it at the problem of "You and the World" to get the fruit.

(Contributed by Sai devotee Sathyanarayana)
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Contributed Article: Sri Sai Gurucharitra - Chapter VII(continued from last week)

Let us now come back to our story. All the friends of Ratanji were sitting with him at his house for the tea party. At that time a mahatma came there. He was Maula saheb, who used to roam along the banks of the Godavari River at Nanded. His face was shining with the super natural glory of godhood. Ratanji and his friends courteously welcomed Maula saheb and made him sit in the seat of honor. They provided him with courteous hospitality. The party was over. Ratanji garlanded Maula saheb to honor him with faith and devotion and presented him a coconut.

Maula saheb said, "Ratanji, do not wait any longer. Start immediately for Shirdi. As you see Baba, convey my salaams to him. You will not find a fakir equal to that excellent yogi, Sai Baba anywhere. You will realize his divine power over time your self. Not only that. The time is now ripe for your desires to be fulfilled." Maula saheb blessed Ratanji and left. Ratanji was very happy with the Maula saheb's darsan as he felt it a good augury. He started immediately for Shirdi.

Ratanji reached Shirdi and saluted Baba reverently. Baba looked at him in a kindly manner and said, "Oh you have come? Very good. I was thinking about you. Your troubles are over. You do not have to worry any more. That is all alright, but have you brought me any dakshina?" Ratanji replied with devotion, "Baba, you just have to command me and I will give any amount within my means as dakshina." Baba said, "Do not worry; I do not want a big amount. Just give me five rupees. That will be enough. By the way, as you have already given me three rupees and twelve annas out of the five; you owe me just a rupee and four annas3. That will be fine". Ratanji was perplexed. He thought, "I have never come to Shirdi or met Baba before this meeting. When did I ever give the three rupees and twelve annas to him as dakshina?"

He made no demur but gave what Baba asked. But the thought was still haunting his mind. He was raking his brains trying to understand Baba's meaning but to no avail. On the second day Baba said, "Ratan, what are you thinking? I came to your house on the day you were starting for Shirdi. You gave me a light repast and looked after me well." Ratanji did not still understand what Baba meant. He took leave of Baba and returned to Nanded. But he continued to think of Baba's words. One day, he was going over his accounts and saw the account for the day of the tea party, when he had honored Maula saheb. The expenditure that day came to just the amount Baba said was received by him. Ratanji was ecstatic with happiness. Later by the grace of that mountain of compassion, he got children too. What can one lack when one has found a kalpa vruksha called Sai Baba?

Listeners! Baba has taught us a moral in this incident. He has taught us that no matter where his devotees are, he will protect them and give them all that is auspicious. He also taught us that the expenditure incurred in satsang and in the looking after the saints reaches him. When we do the worship of saints and mahatmas it is as if we have worshipped Sri Sai Baba. That worship reaches him too.

Ratanji's friends had all sat together without any feelings of ill will or hatred even though they were of different castes and creeds. Baba was pleased with that. The hospitality extended to Maula saheb was received by Baba too. So my dear listeners, open your eyes quickly! The differences and hatreds based on creeds and castes are not at all helpful to our progress.

The great yogis and mahatmas of the past such as Sri Jnaneswar, Narsi Mehta, Eknath, Tukaram, Savata Mali, Kabir, Gora kumbhar, Bodhale, Samarth Ramadas and other were great devotees of god. Sri Sai Baba is also a saint of the same order. There is no difference between them. I pay my obeisance to that one who is in the form of all the sadhus- Sri Sai Baba.

Once I sat in front of him and stubbornly insisted that he show me some miracle. Then Sri Sai Baba made the holy Ganga flow from his toes and immersed me in bliss.

In this manner, Sri Sai Baba did many divine leelas and left his body while in sitting position, in the month of Asvayuja, on the tenth day of the lunar fortnight in the Abhijeet mahurta. In the Muslim calendar it was the 9th day of the Mohurrum month. That was in the English year 1918 and the year 1840 in the Hindu calendar. It was the day of the festival of Seemollanghan, when everybody ceremonially crosses the borders of his village to celebrate the victory of the mother Durga over the demonic forces (Vijaya Dasami). The divine Baba chose that day to cross the border of this world. His body has been kept in such a manner that both the Muslim as well as the Hindu devotees can visit and have his darsan. (To be continued)

(Contributed by Source: "Sri Sai Gurucharithra" originally by Santkavi Sri Dasganu Maharaj. Translated from Telugu version by Sri SVL with an Introductory Preface by Sri Sainathuni Sarathbabuji)
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Experiences of Devotees:

Srinivas Reddy
I would like to share my experiences with dear Sai friends of the great Shri Sainath. Before I start, I would like to mukkotti thanks to Sri Shirdi Sai Baba. What ever I think or expect that can be done and indeed happened. I would like to tell you one of my recent dreams. On Thursday after dhup arathi, I was in line for the prasadam. The devotee's are taking prasadam one by one, when I came near to get prasadam, I was wonderstruck. The person giving prasadam said, hello Reddy how are you? I asked him how he knew my name, because I came here for the first time (more over from abroad). My name can be known to Sri Sai Baba only, so I asked, are you Sai Baba. Then that person had a beautiful laugh and left. Once again bow to Shri Sai and peace to be all.

Latha
I have been reading Sai Satcharitha, about udi experience of the devotees. Once my little daughter was crying all day and was not sleeping, whatever we tried. I applied udi to my daughter and put little in her mouth and she slept well (having faith in Sai), and realized how true was the experience of Baba's udi. I just wanted to share this experience with others.

Mithun Boda
I would like to share my most beautiful experience. With Baba's blessing, I came to US to pursue my masters, after coming here; I got to know that I have to complete two tough programming subjects. I was very apprehensive and thought that I would not be able to clear those subject, I wept before Baba, and asked his guidance wanted to change my major also, but Baba did not allow me to do so, he asked me to pursue my Masters in Computer science and he said he would guide me through. On the first attempt I failed to clear (I should confess that I did not work hard at all), then again I asked Baba whether to discontinue my major, be he was against it and asked me to pursue it. He said that he would be with me and guide me, I should tell you that Baba was always with me all through the period and guided me, I thank Baba for his support, I passed these subject very comfortably, thanks Baba for guiding me, I really need your guidance in every matter, thanks Baba, I love you a lot.
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Devotees say...

Shruti Rao
I would like to thank Lord Saibaba for being with my family in every moment of their distress. My elder sister was six and half months pregnant and her due date was in June 2005. But unfortunately her water broke and she started getting contractions. The baby's life was at risk if she(baby) came out because her lungs were not developed yet and she cannot breathe by herself. Doctors tried their best to stop contractions. By Baba's grace the contractions stopped and she delivered the baby two weeks later. Both baby and mother are fine now. I promised Baba that I would write about this in Sai Vichaar if the baby were fine. Thank you Baba for delaying the delivery for two more weeks and saving the child. Please continue blessing my family and this world.

Madhu Vulpala
I saw one of the devotees post an article about Sai Baba temple construction in Fremont or Milpitas. I am also interested in this project. Please post more details and contact information.

Sangeetha
Baba, I have been your devotee for as long as I can remember and you have always helped me. Thank you for always being there for me. Thank you for everything You did for me and my family. Only because of your presence in my life have I been able to make some right choices. Baba this time after reading the Satcharitha in seven days I felt really good. I have not felt like this in all the years that I have read the book. I take it as a sign from You that you are taking me one step ahead. Please help me continue the Thursday pooja without any problems, other than that nothing is hidden from You. Please do whatever you feel is right for me, be with my kids and husband always. Take care of my family, give peace and happiness to everyone in this world. Thanks for giving me this opportunity to thank You.

Sheela
Dear Baba, first of all let us thank you for everything you have done for us you have planned a trip for us to Shirdi, at the end of march 2005 which is just unbelievable, I feel this is a real big miracle for me coming to Shirdi, I am really very happy about this Sai I would like to request you for one thing, please let us have your proper darshan, this has been my main wish, as I have never got darshan like before in 1970. This is my humble request. Rest you know what is best for us. By your grace even our daughter is flying to London to check out the universities, please be with her and help her reach her goal. Koti koti pranam to you dear Sai.

Geetha
I and my family members are all Sai devotees. He has been guiding us and leading us in the right path and has always shown his blessings in every way. We are thankful that Baba has answered our prayers. We are migrating to Canada and we are happy that Baba has arranged a job for my husband in Canada through the company he is working presently. We pray that we always get Baba's blessings in the days to come. From the day we started we started believing in Baba, there is no dearth for anything and Baba has always given us whatever we needed. We are thankful to Baba in every way.
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Prayer Club:

Kanthy
Sai Ram, I am requesting all devotees to pray for me to get a good job. Thank you very much. May Sai Baba bless you all.

Komal
Baba, I am in very bad situation right now. Because my mom does not have a good job, she is very worried about it. I told her not to worry, Sai baba will do everything good. But she still keeps worrying. So please Sai baba help us in this situation. You know everything where I need your help why I need. So please Baba do something to help us out.

Deepti Sharma
I would like to pray that my husband joins me soon as it is difficult to live alone in this foreign land, where I cannot really call anyone else my own. Please pray for me and my family.

Praveen
I request you to please pray to God for me so that I get a good job, and earn a reasonable salary, and put an end to harassments in career and life and get divorce granted very soon.

Ajay Guda
You have given everything to me one after other like good wife (who also ardent devotee) a kid, a job in software with good salary, and a flat as desired by us. Now all of a sudden I lost my job. My employers have asked me to quit without any proper reason. Please tell me what to do. How can I live hereafter? How can I pay to the bank, which sponsored buying the flat? Please help me in getting a good job.

Anjali
Dear Saibaba, it has been long time now that my husband and me are really suffering. Please show way to him, help him settle, let us have kids, bless us forever. Help us to go to USA.

Sai devotee
Poojya Sai Baba, I have prayed to you several times during crisis and you have answered my prayers. Now, when I am not able to accept myself as I am and am ardently looking for a Guru to give me that Knowledge knowing which I would have known all that is to be known in this world and have shed all my ignorance. I am frantically in search of a Guru who can give me AtmaGyan in this Janma itself. I am not able to carry on the worldly activities because of this thirst in me and am not also fully courageous enough to drop everything overnight and take to Sanyas. Mere pyare Sai Nath Maharaj please show me a way.

Lekshmi
Dear Baba, thank you for all the blessings you have showered on me. I have felt your guiding presence several times in my life. You saved my mother from life threatening illness. Now I am going through some health problems and I believe that Baba will heal me of my illness and heal my body, mind and spirit. Please grace me to be free from all ill health and save me. I know that no medicine is equal to your blessing. So please get rid of the worries from my mind and make my body healthy. Please be with me as my guiding force. Also pray your grace to get an opportunity to visit Shirdi.
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Quotation of the Week:
"God has created this beautiful world, and it is our duty to appreciate its beauty. The mind will get steady and calm slowly and gradually. When the front door was open, why go by the back one? When the heart is pure, there is no difficulty what so ever. Why should one be afraid of anyone, if there be no evil thought in us".-Sai Baba
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Question of the Week:

Q. What is the essence of Anandrao's vision regarding Kakasaheb's doubts about Bhakthi?
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Sai Activities:

Sri Ramanavami celebrations in Chicago, USA
Sri Ramanavami and Urs festival celebrations are the first major celebration of the year for Shirdi Sai devotees. The tradition started in 1910 and continues each year. Shirdi Sai temple, Chicago will be celebrating the event for three days starting from Friday evening April 15th to Sunday April 17th. The program comprises of Aartis, Maha Abhishek, Homam, Palki procession, Satcharitra parayan, bhajans and much more. For complete details please visit http://www.saibaba.us/index.html or call 847-931-4058.

Sri Ramanavami - Baba's Urs Celebrations in Minnesota
Shirdi Saibaba Prayer center, Minnesota invites Sai devotees to participate in the Sri Ramanavami-Urs celebrations on Saturday, April 16, 2005 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 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.

Florida Sai Mandir, Inverness, FL
Sai devotees are invited for the inauguration of Shirdi Sai temple in Inverness, Florida, USA. The program starts from March 25th till March 27th, 2005. For more information please call 352-860-2181 or send an email to shirdi@gowebco.com

Shirdi Sai Satsang, Canada
Shirdi Sai Baba Sansthan of Canada invites all to join us for Satsang every Thursday 6:30PM at 147 Winston Castle Dr. Markham Ont. L6C 2N4. For details on other Activities and Services please call Shammi Chopra at 416-402-8089 or email us saileela99@yahoo.com

Shirdi Sai- Ramanavami Celebrations in Bay area, CA
We welcome all of you with family, to join us for Shirdi Sai- Ramanavami celebrations in the Bay Area, CA on April 23rd (Saturday) in Sunnyvale between 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Las Palmas Park Building, 850 Russet Drive, Sunnyvale, CA (located off of Remington Dr. and Spinosa Dr.). For more information please contact: saibandhu@yahoo.com or call 408-564-6704
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