Any attempt to understand and value of the spiritual world on the basis of the purely materialistic knowledge of the material world is an exercise in futility. On the other hand, one who has treaded along the spiritual path and has gained direct knowledge can handle the material world in a much better manner. Even if both spiritual and materialistic paths emanate from the same God, the spiritual path is finer and purer. It is not possible for any worldly man, to leave the material world and enter the spiritual path suddenly seerly by his will. Such path is for the true spiritual practitioners, known as Yogis, Munis or Sanyasis. However, the spiritual depth and value of these true spiritual practitioners cannot be assessed by contact with the fraudulent ones who can be found everywhere these days. Yet most of the gullible people get attracted to them because of their attractive attirement and speech.

Since most of the people live amidst the world of impurities with a limited and distorted mind-set, they easily get attracted to these impure actors. The human beings who are purer and simpler in nature instinctively do not get attracted towards them. However, such people generally get attracted and attached when coming in contact with some purer souls like the genuine saints and Sadgurus. The impurer one's generally accept the impure human beings, projecting themselves as spiritual characters, as their gurus. The purer ones accept only the true Saints as their Gurus. This obviously leads to the conclusion that one's Guru is what one wants and selects him to be. Or it may be said that the Guru is what one thinks him to be.

There are two types of people. Some of them are capable of seeing the positive side (Shubha) of every thing and there are others who are capable of seeing the negative side (Ashubha) of every thing. A man with an impure mental sight causes much harm to himself as his mind gets contaminated with the negative traits of his own thoughts progressively. He ultimately becomes a prisoner of his own thought and sees the worst in everyone and everything around even when in a temple or in association with the purer souls. As the worldly people going through the experience of negatives and positives in life try to evolve themselves out of their negativities so also the spiritually evolved souls (even with lots of positive qualities) continuously strive to eradicate their remaining negative qualities. Thus, all human beings at different stages of consciousnesses are in the continuous process of evolution - the evil and good alike.

The theories of different religions as also the different theories of Psychology agree on the point that ultimately a man's nature gets conditioned by what he thinks continuously. One who continuously thinks about the bad qualities of others ultimately develops those qualities in him. The same is true of continuous good thoughts. One finds an interesting story in "Shri Sai Sat Charitra" about this. A person used to speak ill of another person at Shirdi when Shirdi Sai Baba was there. Later when he met Baba, the later asked him to look at the pig devouring dirt with relish and commented - "look, how happily is he eating the dirt. You have been speaking ill of your brother to your utter satisfaction and so your nature has become as evil."

Thus in this world of material illusions even educated people, coming in contact with people harbouring evil thoughts against others, get easily contaminated. Far to speak of spiritual evolution, such an approach towards others ultimate leads them morally downwards. The best way to save one from such a situation is to pray Baba when a negative thought comes to mind or to recite his name silently or read Shri Sai Satcharitra.

(A message from Guruji Shri C.B.Satpathy)
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Contributed Article: Rituals

Ritual, if seen from outside the realm of religion, is nothing but a set of practices conditioned by culture and convenience. Rituals are important means of communicating with Sadguru who is none else than God. For the mind immersed in logic, outwardly, rituals may appear as superficial practices, but they impart a definite structure to the way a saadhaka conditions himself/herself to communicating with the Sadguru. Rituals slowly but surely transform one giving the rare opportunity of having Sadguru's glimpse in one's own personal way.

Sai devotion may appear to pose a unique challenge to any onlooker drawn into the Shirdi God's fold. What rituals are to be performed? How are they performed? Must one always perform all the aarthis to Baba? Should one participate in Satsangs? Is it just enough to do naam jap? Or is it mandatory to perform shodasopachaara pooja to Saibaba of Shirdi? Is abhishek to Baba is a Hindu ritual and if so, is it OK to structure Baba's prayers within the conforms of a particular religion?

How does one reach the Sadguru God of Shirdi who refuses to fit into a religion? The answer is simple; through any structured practice with love, truth, honesty and an intense yearning to understand the nature of Sadguru. Such a practice can be a Hindu ritual as much as Kalma recital. Nevertheless, a structured practice is always useful as discipline is a mandatory phase in pursuit of Sadguru. Nama jap is as powerful a tool for a saadhaka as is performing any other ritual. No one ritual is superior to the other. They all serve the same purpose. Rituals should not be considered as intimidating because of the way they are performed, neither are they a measure of scholarship. Rituals are not compulsive bursts of activities to just fit a timeframe. If there is love and devotion to Sadguru, there are no compulsions. If someone feels compelled, the love and devotion is not complete.

There is a tendency to dismiss rituals as hypocritical since sometimes they are performed without completely knowing what they truly mean. Can this be a reason to stay away from a structured practice? What good meanings can do if the true involvement is just a pretense? Is it possible to know all the meanings behind everything one encounters? Is that not the very reason one seeks the Sadguru? The perception of "bhaavatheeth", the attributeless, through any "bhava" can never be additive function of all the means at our disposal. It is achieved only through Sadguru's grace. Great souls have accomplished this very easily. The all-important experience of Sadguru starts where our "bhava" exhausts.

Saibaba's method of instruction is unique and individualized. Baba never allowed anyone to interfere with the way others' did their service to God. A true Sai satsang is one where there is enormous love and devotion for Baba that sees Sai in every ritual. The love and devotion that is natural and unsolicited. A Satsang that perhaps uses every means and tries to provide everyone the opportunity to realize Sadguru in his or her own way beyond the barriers of language, culture or social status. A Sai devotee always nurtures the above with the intention of sharing his/her love and devotion to His Majesty, the king of the kings and the most benevolent, Sadguru Sainath Maharaj of Shirdi. Bow to Sri Sai Peace be to all.

(Contributed by Ravin Gnanasambandam)
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Experiences of Devotees:

Kawadkar
Baba's leelas are great. I always believed in Baba and his power but whenever I used to hear people say that they could write big books on Baba only with His blessings and by He giving them Darshan in their dreams, I always felt that they were only exaggerating thing. But only after my own experience I have stopped thinking like that and believe that Baba is very powerful. One day we went to Sai temple and during the Pooja I prayed to Sai asking him to enable us to buy our own flat as we were staying in a rented flat for long. I also wished that where ever we bought a flat let there be Sai temple nearby and thought that I will keep a new photo of Sai Baba in our new flat. While I was standing in the queue to take prasad and it was my turn one person came quickly and said please take this prasad, which I just got from Shirdi, my heart just missed a beat and I was overjoyed. To our surprise, we selected a new flat, in a week's time even the registration was completed, and the best part is a Sai temple is just a lane away. We can never ever thank Baba enough to be able to live in our own flat now. Then followed another miracle to let my next wish be fulfilled, which was to have a new photo of Sai Baba in our new house. When we moved in our new flat I was carrying my second child and most of the time I was on bed rest hence I could not go out for shopping to buy Baba's photo. So I requested my close friend to do a glass painting of Baba for me but even she was unable to do it, as she was busy herself. Then after we had our second child we all went to Shirdi and took Baba's blessing. Even in Shirdi I did not get any photo of Baba of my choice hence I decided that I would buy one when we get back to Hyderabad where we stay. But some thing or the other happened and we could not get a new photo of Baba. Then for a series of 4-5 days I was constantly getting only one same dream in which I could see one hand painting Sai Baba's face.

The dream was so clear that I could remember each stroke painting Baba's face. I told my husband about the dream and he suggested that I do the painting myself. I had a great laugh, as I never did any painting in my life. The next day I went to my father's house and all the painting material just happened to get collected in front of me and only by the grace of Sai Baba I could complete a huge glass painting of Sai Baba. It is very beautiful. And it was completed in only two hours and all the while my little baby was fast asleep. It is a miracle as I had never ever done any painting and glass painting was something I could never think of doing. The surprising part was once this painting was completed by my hands by Baba's grace I never got that same dream again. Our love for overflows whenever we look as this satisfying painting of Baba in our home and it has proved to be a wish fulfilling one for us. I am surprised that Baba even blesses a person like me who loves Him but also gets angry with Him when some things go wrong in our life. I am an unlikable person by all but for Sai Baba, He always seems to take care and love my family and me a lot. Jai Sai Baba!

Krishnamani
I had witnessed numerous miracles happened in my life, in a span of 8 years. The recent one is shocking. I was thinking to visit Shirdi to have Baba's darshan second time. I know it was not possible as I have no time at all to plan for the visit, having heavy load work at office and thinking even my Boss will not sanction leave for the trip. Every time I use to think about my first visit to Shirdi the Main mandir, Neem tree and surroundings of Shirdi. One day suddenly my Boss called me and handed over an air ticket which is to and fro - Delhi - Mumbai - Delhi and said to visit Mumbai as the air ticket has only 4 or 5 days to expire. I fully utilized that opportunity and no wasted time in visiting Shirdi and had Baba's Divya darshan on Thursday morning with Kakad Arti. After having Baba's darshan I came out and sat in the park near small waterfall, which was built within the Mandir. Suddenly I saw a Man who is tall fair, having turban like Baba use to wear, in white cloths sitting on a stone in a same posture like Baba's. I thought within me that 'this man is imitating Baba'. Suddenly He laughed at sitting some 15 miters away from me and again laughing at me and within a blinking moment he disappeared from there. I was so amazed and could not control my happiness of having Baba's darshan physically. I cried a lot in a joy and realized my mistake not to underestimate anyone in life. Baba is everywhere.
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Devotees say...

Ganesh Babu, Guntur, India
I am extremely happy to say my master sai hears every devotee's prayers. He is rather a great master and world master looking after about the welfare of his children. I had a nice experience recently. Regarding marriage of my daughter, I prayed baba to make a nice arrangement to this marriage. He blessed my girl with a nice match. Before the marriage our family paid a visit to Shirdi praying the master for his kind help. Later marriage was performed nicely and I felt Baba's masterly blessing in every angle. I submit humbly that Baba is with us always.

A devotee
I am one of the readers of Sai VichAar for over 5 years. Every Thursday my day at work starts with the reading of this Newsletter. Many thanks for the people who are managing and contributing articles for the success of this Divine magazine. We planned to go back to India for good after we spent close to 8 years in US. While reading today's newsletter, I also thought of contributing some article. Incidentally, just now I received the flight tickets from the courier before I could complete reading the newsletter! I consider this as an Approval and Miracle. We Pray at the Lotus Feet of His Holiness for a Happy, Healthy and Peaceful move both from career as well as from family perspective. Best Wishes for all the fellow devotees.

Kalyan Shankar Bhattacharya
For the last few months, I had been suffering from backache and stomach pain. I visited many doctors. And no medicine could give me any relief. I was worried. I avoided taking medicine and prayed to Baba for His Kind Grace. As it happened, there was a sudden need to visit India. I went for a thorough check-up and the doctors found no major problem and I was declared fit and healthy. Like all other occasion, my prayer to Baba has been answered. My entire family continues to pray for Baba's Kind Grace in our quest for a happy and healthy life.

Manjula Kote
Few months back I was having a very strong desire to visit my hometown, Shirdi and Tirupati. I used to pray to Baba for giving me this opportunity, by Baba's grace I could arrange my trip and finish my visit to all the places successfully. Thank you Baba I know that you are there for me all the time.

Padmaja
I had a prayer request regarding my serious health problems in the July 6th Sai Vichaar and got a response from a Sai devotee named 'Rebecca' in the July 14th Sai Vichaar article that she got cured of similar problems from a Chiropractor. I want to communicate with her regarding the doctor she went and how she was cured. Is it possible for me to get her email address in order to communicate further in this regards or can she send me a mail to pneelati@hotmail.com. Thanks in advance for your cooperation.

TK, Dubai
Tears are rolling out from my eyes when I read Phani Kumar's relationship with Sayin Maharaj. Same thing happened in my life in a different way. I am sure I am senior to you. What I wonder is Sayin Maharaj always watch us and take us to very close to him. Sayin Maharaj will take millions of like us to right path. We cannot return any thing to him. We wash his lotus feet with our tears. Humble pranams to Saying Maharaj.
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Prayer Club:

Surekha R
Saibaba if possible bless me that I should get a job in the lab where my husband works and also should not have any visa problem.

Pallavi
Om Sai, You know why I am writing this. Sai willing, I will be starting my first cycle on Gurupoornima-please Sai, anything positive. Please sort out the trip-mess so that things go-on as planned.

Bharani B
Baba, I have always turned to you in my troubles, and you have many times given me assurance in the form of dreams, baba I once again pray you for my husband's day shift job. We are married for 3 years and for the past 2.5 years my husband is in night shift job. We tried something, 4 months back, which did not work out. We are again trying for it. Please shower your blessing Baba.

Kiran Mehta
Sai Baba, please help. The situation is desperate. I do not know how to go on. Since I lost my job four years ago, in spite of all efforts, I have not been able to find a job. I am up to my neck in debts. This month it was difficult to find money for the rent. I am completely alone with a child. I am so very scared. I do not know how to go on. Please Baba, help me to get a job and money so that I can look after my child and pay off the debts. Baba guide and bless us. The situation is unbearable.

Dinesh Kapur
We are trying to buy a house thru a bank, where the bank has to pass our loan. Please help us to get the house.

A Sai devotee
Baba I pray you that my brother has to change his behavior, has to be good to my parents at the least. I request you also that my father should find a good offer in his business. Please bless my sister with good health and nice relationship to her husband. You know that my mother is not feeling well, please let her decide the correct option for getting revealed form her health problems.

Gayathri
I pray to Sri Sainath to make my delivery as normal as possible and help me deliver a healthy baby.

Vimla
Sai Ram Guru Poornima is nearby and on this occasion, I offer all my prayers at your lotus feet. You are my Sadguru Sainath and I have full trust in your that you will save my life from the storms of wind and will always be there when and where I call you. Please tie me into knot by the end of this year definitely. Bless my family with peace, health and prosperity. Let my brother's business grow day by day and we always are under your mercy down to earth helping others.

Shefali
Baba since the past 5 years you are testing me. It has been almost 5 years my mother had a stroke she is not yet recovering then my dad had Parkinson My brother going astray It is like my family is torn apart. We had a good and happy family and this has changed my mind about life. It has affected me tremendously. Now I have been asking for a job for several days yet no sign. I really do not know when this will end. Please save us Baba.

Prabhavati
I am having trouble with my manager and coworkers. Should I change my current job or should I stick it out here in spite of possibly getting a bad performance report. Baba, please advise me. I am not able to make a decision. Please help me Baba, Please change the mind of my manager and the others involved so that I do not get a bad performance report. Please Baba; help me decide what I should do.
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Quotation of the Week:
"If My leelas are written, the Avidya (nescience) will vanish and if they are attentively and devoutly listened to, the consciousness of the worldly existence will abate, and strong waves of devotion, and love will rise up".-Sai Baba
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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?

A. by Sriram Kalaga

Saibaba always said that the 'good' and 'bad' we see in our life and around us are results of our 'prarabdha karma'. They have to be endured; there is no other short cut, except for Sai Himself erasing it on His will. Instead of complaining about the 'bad' we must look at it as a means of getting closer to Sai since only bad times in life make us remember God. That is why Kuntidevi asked Lord Srikrishna to always bless her with troubles so that she will never forget Him!

Sai will not convert all bad times into good times since that will upset the balance between dharmas. Like two sides of the same coin, good and bad always co-exist. More so in this Kaliyuga when righteousness limps painfully. However, Sai will always help you lessen the impact of the bad times and give you solace and comfort. I speak from my own experience.

Personally, I have another perspective. I consider our entire mortal existence as a "kurukshetra" war. We fight with evil, bad times every day with our meager resources. We struggle with a hundred temptations and troubles armed with just a few good qualities. So, who can help us win this war? The Lord Himself! Just like he did for Arjuna. We are too warriors like Arjuna and must seek Sai's guidance to help us fight off the bad. After all, as Lord Krishna Himself said, this entire existence of ours is a drama that he authored and we are just players in a grand play that he enacts! So why worry about good and bad and their conversions? Just consider it all as Sai's play!

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?

A. by Sundaresh Venugopal

The real or true nature of every individual (soul) is divine and good. This is the basic faith, belief and teaching of Sai Baba. But we do not always act according to our own inner promptings, listen to the voice of our own conscience and pay heed to it. If we deny our own divinity, and act in a manner contrary to and unbecoming of our own divine and exalted nature we will become evil and base in our own eyes. It is this evil that baba is trying to eradicate by urging people to be good, because good overcomes evil, and evil does not overcome evil, because light dispels darkness, darkness does not generate light. Merely worshiping an external GOD, but indulging in immoral acts is not condoned by baba, but the opposite is done, namely performing noble deeds, with not too much regard to ceremony or rites and rituals. Principles are meant to be practiced, and not just preached. The messages contained in our scriptures and chants are meant to be applied. They are laws, and can lead to an individual's progress or his degradation or denigration. The Judge is not above justice, nor the lawyer above law, and god is certainly not above godliness. My humble advice, and request to you, agitated youngster, is be good; and set a good example for others, and you will have followers who would like to tread on the path of good and succeed like you have, just as hero's are bound to have hero worshippers. Do not wait nor expect Baba to do everything, please make you willing and ready to give Baba a hand, for he could certainly use a good hand.

By your deeds you work your own salvation, and by your deeds you work your own ruin. So the only way Baba can destroy evil is by being good himself, and I believe Baba has done that admirably and demonstrated it amply in his pious life. It is up to you now to follow on his footsteps. Be better than Baba, and nothing would please him more. Evil does not stand a chance against good, so as long as you are good there is no need to fear evil because no evil can befall you, since you are under the protection of good.

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?

A. by Umabala D

With the grace of Sri sai and with his kind permission, the writing begins. Most of us know that there is only one absolute truth -GOD. The ultimate goal of life is realization of this absolute .It can be compared to the mountain path. The goal of every mountain trekker is to reach the top. But, everyone's route of approach to the top varies according to his or her choices. Basing on the path taken by the person the experiences while climbing becomes different. Like wise, in our lives our experiences differ widely according to our choices and circumstances. Given a same situation, each of us responds differently according to the proclivities of the mind (manas) and Intellect (buddhi). The activities that make everyone to stay harmoniously can be termed good as they help in reaching the goal of life. The goal of life is to see the ultimate oneness in each and every one. The opposite actions can be termed bad as they drag us away from our goal. But, there is no absolute good or absolute bad in the ego (mind) driven world. In this journey of life Sri SAI is the guide for all of us .He is there to advise us and show us the right path. But, regarding the journey, everyone has to make his or her own. It is like one has to drink water to quench one's own thirst. Sri SAI is the ultimate self in each of us. This journey itself is relative. If we completely surrender to Sai accepting whatever happens to us as the prasada from him, there is no journey to make. But, if we identify ourselves as separate individuals, then make the journey, sai being our guide helps us to stay on the right path and to reach the goal. As we progress on the path we will come to know the truth behind the good and bad.
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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.

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.

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.

Gurupoornima celebrations at Sri Shirdi Sai Baba Temple of Dallas, TX
Gurupoornima celebrations will be held at Sri Shirdi Sai Baba Temple of Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas from Thursday, July 21st through Saturday, July 23rd 2005. Program highlights: On Thur, July 21- Ganesha Puja, Baba Pada Puja, Maha Abhishekam, Sai Gayathri Homam, Asthothram, Vishnusahasranamam, Satcharitra Parayanam, Saibaba Vratha Puja, Sathyanarayana Vratha Puja and Sai Bhajans. On Fri, July 22 - Evening with Manhar Udhas - Sai Bhajans (Venue to be announced) and on Sat, July 23 - Ganesha Puja, Baba Abhishekam, Special Baba Laksharchana and Vishnusahasranamam. For further information please contact: Jayanth at 469-585-4275 or Vinay 214-621-9630 or Srivatsa 972-747-0021 or Sangamesh 469-939-0365. You can also visit the temple website: www.shirdisaidallas.org for more details.

Guru Poornima Celebrations, Toronto, Canada
Shirdi Sai Baba Sansthan of Canada cordially invites you all to join in celebrating Guru Poornima on Sunday, July24, 2005 - 3:30PM at Vishnu Mandir 8640 Yonge St. Richmond Hill L4C 6Z4 Ph: 905-886-1724. For more information and to volunteer, please contact us at 905-887-1752 or 905-472-5899 email:saileela99@yahoo.com.

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.

Gurupoornima Celebrations in Sydney, Australia
Shree Shirdi Sai Sansthan Sydney invites you with family and friends to join and celebrate Gurupoornima on 21st July 2005 at Sai Mandir, 420 Liverpool Road, Strathfield South, NSW 2136 (Off Street parking in Hill Str, Hillcrest Ave and Bennett Ave). For more details on above programmes or Sansthan's activities, please contact Sansthan's Info-Line 0500 524 724. Please feel free to forward this Invitation to your near-n-dear.

Gurupoornima, Houston, TX
Shirdi Sai Jalararam Mandir, Houston invites you to participate in Gurupoornima Celebrations at the temple on 21 July 2005 from 6.00pm to 10.00pm. Please visit temple website www.babamandir.org for more details.

Guru Poornima Celebrations, Vancouver, Canada
Shirdi Sai Family in Vancouver invites you all for Guru Poornima celebrations on July 21,2005,at 8571,118A Street, Delta,V4C 6L2.For details contact Ritu at (604)592 4182 or send email to dritu@hotmail.com
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