Sai Baba's famous parables and cryptic remarks are well known. These comments were always impregnated with a message directed towards the individual who is addressed. Once, a devotee wanted to take a photograph of Baba. When Baba was approached regarding this, He said, "No, it is enough if he knocks a wall down". The devotee stood confused. Later, an explanation was given as follows: The photograph is one's likeness of Baba. The wall is "I am the body" idea, which is an obstacle that interferes with identifying the supreme spirit.

One straightforward remark of Baba has always been "awaken the self". The nature of self is not easily explained. The pursuit to know the self is as varied as the individuals themselves. However, it is said that one must have an honest yearning and God's grace to know the nature of self. Now, why should one know the "self"? The Geetha says, " With the self unattached to external contact, he finds happiness in the Self; with the self engaged in the meditation of Brahman, he attains endless happiness".

Swami Chinmayananda on his commentary on The Geetha explains further, "Why should I deny myself the brilliant flashes of momentary joys in exchange for a steady stone-like, impregnable monotony, call it equilibrium or equanimity, peace or God-hood? Any sensible seeker entering the halls of spiritual study with his intellect bright and clear should come to doubt its efficacy and utility. Though the process of self-development is essentially a process of detachment, this technique of negation does not take us to an empty and purposeless zero, but when we have negated all that is false, we come to experience and live a total positivity. When the dreamer has renounced all his contacts with the dream world and thrown away his dream personality, he does not become a non-entity, but he re-discovers himself to be the more vital, more effective personality, the waker". Sadguru Sainath's remarks on awakening one's self refers to this state of awakening that is more vital, blissful and permanent.
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Contributed Article: News from Shirdi: Accommodation in Shirdi

During Baba's stay in Shirdi devotees from out of town had very limited places of accommodation. Majority of the people who visited before 1910 stayed either in Sathe Wada built by Hari Vinayak Sathe or at the lodging of Shrimati Radhakrishnamai. In 1910 Dixit Wada of Shri Kakasaheb Dixit became another addition.

Today devotees have much wider choices of accommodation. There are lodges built by Shri Saibaba Sansthan of Shirdi with provides accommodation on first come first serve basis. Then there is one 5-star hotel, "Sun-N-Sand", two 3-star hotels, "Goradia's" and "Saileela" and almost 200 other hotels.

Though majority of the hotel owners are from outside of Shirdi, a few hotels are owned and run by third generation of families that sat, walked and moved around with Saibaba. Prominent are Mhalsapati's "Aao Sai" hotel, Kote's "Saish" hotel, Laxmibai's "Laxmi palace" and Shelke's "Sai Mahal" hotel.

This week a foundation laying ceremony was held in Shirdi where Sri Sai Baba Mandir of Dilsukhnagar, Hyderabad is planning to build a "Bhakta Niwas" of 200 rooms. The ceremony was attended by many prominent people from Andhra Pradesh and the stone was laid by Governer of Andhra Pradesh.

Many people from all walks of life have purchased land, acquired buildings and apartments to make Shirdi their home. Weather you are a one time visitor, periodic visitor or would like to make Shirdi your home, opportunity exists to fit your budget and lifestyle. Baba once told Shama that one-day people will flock to Shirdi like ants and that is what is happening today.

(Contributed by Smita Deshmukh)
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Experiences of Devotees:

Bhanumati Sreenivasan
I joined my new job in Pune and I prayed to Baba that the person in charge of the company guesthouse allowed me to stay until I get my transfer and this happened. Next Thursday, I went to Sai mandir in the morning as well as evening and read Sai Satcharitha. The poojariji said "you do the arathi today. You have come from a long distance to this Pune". I said I have never done arathi and I do not know to sing as well. But he insisted that I take the arathi and I did and the people in the mandir sang. I felt like going to Shirdi and to went to see whether I can get any tickets for Saturday but did not get encouraging news. Then on Saturday morning, I got a call from my sister and she gave me contact details of the person in Shirdi Sansthan who would take care of my accommodation and darshan. Pune is also new for me and I have to travel alone from Pune to Shirdi. I need to go to Shivaji nagar. There was a bus at 6PM and I got the last seat in the bus. I have severe vomiting sense to bus and cannot travel for more than 3 hours. But I got a kind of lower birth in the bus and I reached Shirdi at 1:10AM. but the PRO person in the Sansthan was expecting my arrival and he gave me a single room to stay in the Sansthan itself. Morning 4'o clock, he came and gave a wake-up call (I was hardly sleeping, just waiting to have Baba's darshan). 4:30AM he took me directly to Baba, there was not even a single bar between baba, and I and I had the blessings of Baba thoroughly from 4:30 to 7:30AM. They then gave me Baba's chandan, coconut, Udi, Hot Kesari, Flowers and a cover to put all these prasadams. Then that person was waiting for me and he then took me to have the darshan at Chavadi, Masjid, Hanumanji temple, parayana hall, Satyanarayan vrat hall, Laddu prasad counter, bookstall etc and finally left me in the Sansthan guest house room and just before leaving, he gave me one more Pass saying I can anytime have one more darshan of Baba before 11AM
He then asked me whether I would want to stay back for Noon arathi as well. As I had to catch the bus back to Pune, I took the pass. Then I went to Khandoba mandir and had darshan, had breakfast and then came back to Mandir and had one more (long) darshan of Baba and read Sai Satcharitha there and I read the same in parayana hall also. Baba was showering all of his blessings on me that day and of course, it continues even now. Then I left Shirdi, got a comfortable seat in the bus. On the way, when the bus stopped for tea, one couple that is Baba devotees offered me tea and refused to take money from me. I reached Pune without any problem by 5:30PM itself on Sunday. Then I called up the Sansthan person whom I never met and who helped me through his staff and thanked him. He said he missed seeing me. He also introduced his family to me over phone, I spoke to his wife as well, and then they said they look forward to meeting me next time when I come to Shirdi. I felt so grateful towards him and was highly delighted. It looked as though Baba himself took me from Pune to Shirdi and Shirdi to Pune and showered all his love and affection on me directly and through his devotees. Baba himself came in the form of his devotees. Pray for daughter to get well soon as she has had a fracture in the leg. Thanks for everything Baba! Aum Sai Ram!

Suresh Dodwad
It was in the month of April 2005 when Mr.Chand, my colleague from Himachal Pradesh, had decided to have Sri Sai Baba's darshan at Shirdi. I immediately agreed to join him. We requested our senior colleagues Sri.Vinayak Damle and Rajaram Pai at Mumbai to arrange for the tickets. After making inquiries, we were told that there would be heavy rush there as we had planned to visit Shirdi one day before Ramnavami. They said that thousands of people would gather there and it would be very difficult to have a comfortable darshan, which would take at least 6-7 hours in the queue. Chand and I met in Mumbai and after finishing our official duties; Mr.Damle took us to Vile-Parle where Sri.Anil Dixit, grandson of Sri.Kakasaheb Dixit lives. We felt honored and blessed by the hospitality and concern shown by Sri.Dixit to us. I consider myself lucky to visit that place where the original color portrait of Sri Sai Baba is worshiped. While returning Sri.Damle asked me to pray before the Sri Sai Baba's portrait for a comfortable and a stainless darshan the next day at Shirdi. Same night Chand and I left for Shirdi and reached at 6 am. We could see many people walking in groups to Shirdi all along the road from Nasik to Shirdi. Now the miraculous experience! We hurriedly freshened up and went to the hall to join the queue for Samadhi Mandir. To our surprise, there was no one in the hall and we could get Sri Sai darshan in just 15 minutes and were out of the Sai mandir by 7.45 am. At this juncture I remembered why Sri.Damle asked to pray at Sri.Dixit's place and how Sri Sai granted the request.
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Devotees say...

Shanta
Last weekend my husband experienced some chest pain, and we went to Emergency Room. On Monday, he had Angiogram and Angioplasty was performed. Everything went fine. The cardiologist said that the attack was very minor because the artery block was a minor one, and usually it gets unnoticed initially till something big happens, he was surprised that little artery blockage could create a chest pain, and that would make us go to ER. Even the doctor mentioned that it is God's miracle. I have been a Sai devotee for many years. I feel it is totally Baba's grace that he made us go to the Hospital at the right time and my husband is treated at the right time. This is one of many Baba's miracles that I have experienced. I just wanted to share this latest miraculous experience I had with other Sai devotees.

Yogeeswari Devaraj
Thank you very much Baba. You had made my dad's surgery smoothly and now he is recuperating at a very fast rate. You did hear to my prayers. Thank you so much. In the same way, Please Help my brother for his visa and destroy all his afflictions Baba. Help my husband to have peaceful mind and job satisfaction and diminish his frustrations. This is too much to ask you on the same day. But, I believe you will take care of them and nothing is impossible for you even thou' so many of us pray you for everything. Peace be to all! Bow to Sri Sai!

Lakshmi
Om Sairam, Thank you very much BABA for given job to my husband in the same company before getting his project over.

Naga Lavanya
Thank you very much Sai for being with all of us and making realize your presence every minute and every second that you are behind us, with us. Thank you very much for the love that you are spreading across.

A Sai devotee
Last Saturday me, my husband and my mother took an auto early morning to attend a house warming celebration. I forgot to carry my husband's bag, so my husband went running back and joined us in auto with his bag. We reached the house and joined the crowd. Later my husband noticed that bag is missing. This bag has the lab records (which he needs to submit the same evening in his college), chequebook etc. My husband and me worked a lot on completing the records, which is very important to clear the 6th semester of his engineering. Most importantly, my husband's colleague's record is also in the bag. We three were disappointed and my mom is continuously praying Sai. With a thought that we should re-write the record for our friend and for my husband in few hours was so scary. I requested Sai a lot. Sai did it again! Same night auto driver knocked at my house. He bought the bag. I was amazed, rushed to him and thanked him a ton. Driver the college ID, which has the address and did the needful. I could not control myself, both of us were extremely happy. This happened just because of SAI. My lord is always with me, holding me in his arms. Sai grant me a wish, I should leave my life just seeing you, at your feet, chanting your namam.

Sai devotee
I had a miraculous experience the day before yesterday. It was around 8pm and I was trying to walk back to the metro station (to catch a train back), which was about 2 miles from where I was located. I found out from a passerby the direction and I started walking. It should not have taken me more than 20-30 mins but even after 40-45 mins of walking, I did not see any familiar signs and also, it had grown quite dark and there were no streetlamps or passersby. I was quite worried and I started praying to Sainath to help me find my way back to the metro station. Within a few minutes, a couple with a small child came walking in the opposite direction. I asked them if they knew the way to the metro station and they told me I had been walking in the opposite direction all this time and so the distance to the metro was now 4 odd miles and it would take me more than an hour to reach it. I was already a tired, frustrated, hungry and this piece of information just crushed me. But, the man said "Wait, I'll take you to the metro station" and he walked up to his place (which was just across the road) and brought out his car and drove me to the metro station in a few minutes. I was incredibly amazed. I simply could not believe that I was witnessing something like this. I was stunned that such kindness towards total strangers could still exist in this world and that I would be a witness to it. I can only imagine that it is Baba Sainath who came himself to help me. How can I even put into words what Mother Sai does for me? I, who continually break my vows, keep asking Him to fulfill my worldly desires and keep arguing with him and yet He is so very kind to me. I was in tears when this happened and even now, when I think about it, my breath is taken away and I am filled with so much gratitude and love for Sai that I cannot even begin to express it. Thank you Sainath!

Sai devotee
Dear Sai, it is from reading your Sai Satcharitra that I learned about the very profession of devoting oneself to writing about Saints. I am trying to do this in modern America and need you to kindly help - since you use me to write it. I must look to you as my Father, dear Sai, so please kindly make all arrangements to let me come to India to see you this summer so that I may gain your counsel concerning how to best use the abilities you have given me.
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Prayer Club:

Sukant
My brother's friend Dominic Savio has had a massive heart attack 4 days ago, has been brain-dead, and is lying in the critical care of the local hospital here in Bridgewater. The doctors have given up hopes on him. He has a wife and two small kids who very much need him. We have been trying to revive his brain cells by touching him, healing him and praying for him. Please include him in your prayers and let Sairam give him His energy and strength to come back. That is all we are praying for now. Sai Baba, kindly help him to recover. We all need to pray for him to our very own a Sainath. I do strongly believe that if we all pray for his revival he will definitely be recovered soon. May all the sorrows of his family be completely be eliminated. Om Shri Satguru Sainathaya namoh.

Aruna Adiraju
Dear Saima. Please help me get the position, which I have applied to. I really need it desperately. Please help my mother get her certificates.

Sri
Baba, I believe in you completely. Please shows us right path. Please let both us have good job in same place, with good health and happiness. You are taking away at least of them all the time. Please bless my children and parents. And also please take care of entire universe.

Madhu
Our sincere pranaams to Saibaba kindly keep me with my in-laws, husband and child in the same city. By virtue of profession, we have already been separated for one year in our 3 years of marriage. We do not have the strength or willingness to endure the torture of being apart again. We have requested our superiors to consider our plight especially with a one-year-old child. You have always helped in times of despair. Please accept our humble salutations and bless us with a united stay under one roof. Jai Sai Ram!'

Sapna Jain
I know Baba you are with me and will always be there for me. Whenever I am in trouble, you helped me out in some or the other way. Now Baba I and my family in trouble and you know baba what is the problem. Baba I am in great difficulty and only you can save me and my family from this problem. Please Baba help me.

Rama
Please cure my husband completely with your divine touch. Next month we are having appointment with doctor please see that the reports come normal and doctor should say that my husband is cured completely. Please see that my husband is cured completely with transplantation before my padayatra to Shirdi.

Sai devotee
Thanks to Shree Shirdi Sainatha, because of the blessings of our great "Shree Sai Sadguru Maharaj", my wife is pregnant now. I would request Shree Shirdi Sainatha to care of the health of my wife and protect her for ever. We also request our Sri Shirdi Sainatha to answers all the prayers of near and dear ones at the earliest.

Tanuja
After five years of our marriage we are blessed by Lord Sai. It was end of second month of my pregnancy, all of sudden bleeding started and almost lost the hope but when we went to doctor, the doctor told us nothing to worry but you have to take complete bed rest for some time. It was nothing but only God's leela that everything was fine. Now it is the fifth month and I am fine and very happy. I know my Lord Sai is always with me He only knows what is good for me and what is not. Dear devotees, my sincere request to all that never to lose your faith. Accept that whatever happens is for one's own good. Pleasure and pain are the parts of life. One has to suffer for his past life deed. so that in next life we will be closer to God.

Anupama
Sai Baba, thank you very much for curing my mother. Baba my mother is still suffering from fever and she is not relived fully. Kindly Baba please show mercy on her and relieve har of all her ailments. Thanking you Baba once again for curing her Jaundice.
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Quotation of the Week:
"You should not stay for even one second at a place where people are speaking disrespectfully of a saint".-Saibaba
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Question of the Week:

Q. Why can't Baba change all the bad into good, all the sufferings into joy? Why there should be anything bad or anyone suffering?
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Sai Activities:

Gurupoornima at Shirdi Sai Temple, Chicago and Suburbs, Illinois, USA
Gurupoornima celebrations will be held in Sai Temple, Chicago from Thursday, July 21st through Saturday, July 23rd 2005. Program highlights: Maha Abhishek, Aarthis, Satcharita parayan, Sri Dattarreya Yagya, Vishnu Sahasranama Archana, palaki procession and an evening of bhajans with Manhar Udhas and more. For program details please visit the temple website www.saibaba.us or contact the Temple office at 847-931-4058.

Sai bhajans live in Chicago by Manhar Udhas
As part of Gurupoornima celebrations, Manhar Udhas will be rendering live bhajans at Shirdi Sai temple Chicago on Saturday from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm. Please plan to attend and share this information with your family and friends. For any questions please call temple office at 847-931-4058.

Shirdi Saibaba Prayer Center, Minnesota - Guru Poornima 2005 - Sai Utsav
Shirdi Saibaba Prayer Center invites you to a daylong festival of Sai Utsav on occasion of Gurupoornima on Saturday, July 23, at BAPS Mandir, Brooklyn Park, MN. The events includes havan, Sri Sai sathyavrata, Sai arthis, abhishek, cultural program, palki procession and Sai naama jap. Please write to hamaresai@yahoo.com for more details.

Shirdi Sai Gurupoornima celebrations, Bay Area, California
Shirdi Sai Parivaar invites all to join us for Shirdi Sai Guru Poornima celebrations on July 24th (Sunday) between 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Presidential Ballroom, Sunnyvale Community Center, 550 E Remington Drive, Sunnyvale, CA 94088. For details please visit www.ShirdiSaiParivaar.org or send email to saibandhu@yahoo.com.

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

Sri Shirdi Sai Baba Temple of DFW, Texas
Shirdi Sai Baba Temple of DFW is located at the north west intersection of Custer and Parker road in Plano, Texas. The temple is open daily. For temple hours and other details please visit http://www.shirdisaidallas.org or call 469-467-3388.
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