We worship God to experience Him. The method of worship is a way to reach Him, not the goal in itself. Our goal is Baba. Many people have realized God without following any conventional method of worship. The best would be to meditate on Baba for sometime in the morning, worship Him in a normal way but with intense devotion, always regard Him as a part of one's life and love Him, whatever you eat offer Him, give Him whatever you wear, offer every activity of yours to Him. If we always remember Him and pray Him it would be a form of uninterrupted worship. Nothing much happens with an hour or 15 minutes worship. All the time bearing Baba in mind is the real worship - this is spontaneous worship. To love Baba is the best form of worship of Baba.

If one wants to do formal worship at home then the morning time is suitable. Worship in the morning with Aarti, offer flowers, naivedya to Baba in a traditional way. Before going to sleep also worship Him, put Udi on forehead or take a pinch in the mouth, remember His name and go off to sleep. This is the traditional worship of Baba. One can adopt himself with the surroundings whilw doing so.

Source: "May I Answer" book by Shri C. B. Satpathy
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Contributed Article: Sanmayee

In Sai Vichaar, 18th August, Shri S.L. Abhyankar has quoted verse 2-69 of Bhagavad-Gita, "Yaa nishaa sarva-bhootaanaam, tasyaam jagarti sanyamee, yasyaam jaagrati bhootaani saa nishaa pashyato muneyh". When the people retire to sleep, sanyamee, one with unperturbing mind yet stays alert, (caring for the world?) and when the world is up and kicking, the Muni is oblivious to it all, even when seeing it all. It is important to understand the correct meaning of this verse as it points to the type of realized person Sai Baba is and the sanyamee we should all strive to become.

To understand this verse, we need to see it in the context of our real Selves, as opposed to our body or mind. We generally think that we are what our eyes see in the mirror or what our mind thinks in its introspective moments. However, my mind is not who I am. My body, too, is not the real Me. My Self is beyond the illusion of Maya, the day-to-day world of reward and punishment, of wealth and poverty and of emotional entanglements. There is a difference in knowing this academically and internalizing this, like the true Muni does.

When awake, we 'normal' people are completely immersed in this maya world perceived through the body or mind, and we think that the world of maya is the only reality. On the other hand, the sanyamee, one whose mind is under control, has internalized that he or she is not the body or mind. The Muni knows his real identity beyond these.

In this context, verse 2-69 says that when people retire to sleep, yaa nishaa sarva-bhootaanaam, the 'normal' people 'shut off' as their reality is suspended when their mind and body rest. tasyaam jagarti sanyamee - The sanyamee, on the other hand, is alert. He knows that he is not the body or mind and their sleep does not affect the state of his real Self, which does not need rest like the fragile body or mind. Thus the sanyamee who constantly identifies with his real Self, always remains alert.

When the world is up and kicking, yasyaam jaagrati bhootaani, the normal people wake up to the demands of their body and minds. However, saa nishaa pashyato muneyH - the Realized One remains unaffected by the maya world, which is seen by 'normal' people as real for he knows that everything perceived by the body/mind is an illusion. He is always alert in the only reality, where the body and mind do not hold sway.

However, while ignoring the maya world, the Muni sees it all. Sometimes, if the cause is deserving, he even interferes in the maya world to set things right.

Such a Realized One is Sai Baba. In this context, it is appropriate to remember some of Baba's sayings: "It would be good if he can break the wall" - the wall being the barrier hiding the true Reality between the Self and the Non-Self.

All who come to me ask me to give them what they want. No one asks for what I want to give them. - What Baba wants to impart is the knowledge of the Self.

(Contributed by Kishore Asthana)
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Experiences of Devotees:

Sugirda Dinakar
I experienced the mahima of Saibaba through this incident. I live in a semi village sort of a place. I traveled a lot of distance to get a passport form. It became very late and it was time for the post office to close. I prayed all the way to Sai that the post office should be open (though it was impossible for Indian post offices to be operating after 6:00 pm). When I reached the post office, Lo, the post office was open. I was very happy and surprised to see the post office open after 7 pm in the evening and promised Sai that I would post the incident in Sai Vichaar. But when I reached the counter, they said that they were closed for the day. I tried to convince them that I had come from a very long distance but they did not listen to me and asked me to come the next day. I was very disappointed. Since my friend's place was near by, I went to her house to visit her. When I told her the incident, she went into her room and brought a passport form which she had bought for herself the previous day and asked me to take it. I was truly surprised. As promised, I am submitting my experience in saibaba.org. This shows that if you submit yourself to Sai, he will take care of each of your aspirations however small it may be.

Shwetha Rao
Dear readers, the first time I heard of Sai Vichaar was last Thursday and it is amazing how Baba has shown his love for me that I am writing my experience for all of you to know. My manager and I are not in very good terms; let alone appreciating my work he is very critical about it. This used to disturb me a lot. When all these was going on and everybody at home kept praying that things should turn out for better. I used to wear a silver pendant of Sainath and it was very dear to me, I lost it last Thursday. I did not find it when I woke up on Thursday and ma had put the bed spread for wash before I got a chance to look for it. I was very disturbed as things were not in good shape and I losing that pendant made feel very bad. My parents realized this and they decided to buy me a gold pendant. And guess what on Friday I had the pendant of Sri Sainath beautifully carved on gold. I was very happy and wore it in my chain. On Monday when I go to office, I had a couple of mails from my manager with instructions to be fulfilled. I started with my work and miracles of miracle my manager liked it and sent out an appreciation mail to me keeping his manager in copy. I could not believe it. Now my manager shows faith in my work and he gave me back my project, which he had earlier assigned to somebody else. I am so grateful to Baba, Thanks Baba.

Pradnya S
Baba, as promised to you I am writing my experience in the newsletter. I want to thank my Baba for fulfilling all my wishes. I pray that he continues to shower his blessings on my family and me. By His grace, I was blessed with healthy baby girl who is now 3 months old after struggling with infertility for 6 years and through a lot of medical treatments. I had completely given up hope in life. Day and night, I would pray to Baba for a child. Once I had gone to Sai temple and saw some people touching Saibaba idol's feet. I thought that only the temple committee people could do that and wished in my mind that I could fall at his feet and beg for my wishes. We came home and at that night, I dreamt of Sai and me touching his feet asking for forgiveness for anything wrong I have done in life. At that moment, my feet were in the air and my head down and went round and round for some time. I ask for forgiveness again and then Sai blessed me with a big laddoo and said I would get pregnant in 5 months. After 2 months, I did not get pregnant with IVF and doubted again whether it was just my mind playing tricks on me as I pray day and night. Again, I lost hope. Then exactly after 5 months from the day I dreamt I went for a FET, which had a very less percentage of getting pregnant. This time it was successful. My pregnancy went on smoothly with some minor problems. But Sai carried this baby for me and is a true gift for me from Him. With his grace, we also got our green cards for which we also went through a lot of hardships of being denied and finally being approved. I pray that He continues to bless us.
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Devotees say...

Savithri
I went for US citizenship interview in April 2005. But they did not give me the citizenship stating they wanted see my file. Last month I was feeling restless, as I wanted to visit India to see my ailing sister. On Thursday, I opened the Sai Vichaar, I saw some one wrote about their difficulty with US citizenship and got it by their prayer to Baba. I thought this is a sign for me and I prayed deeply to Baba and today I got the mail saying I can go for the oath ceremony. I thank Baba and I am going to read the Sai Satcharitha from Thursday. Baba my namaskarams to you. Thank you.

Anita Khanna
My day began with the burden of one major task on my mind and I thought if it is done today then I will express thanks through this column. As we, all believe Sai baba is always listening. I attained success without any hurdles. Not the task but factors dependent on it were more important. Now I again just pray for success for my husband at his work. Baba please calm commotion at his work.

A devotee
Om Sri Baba Sai! I am a Sai devotee for more than ten years and since then I have been experiencing several miracles of Baba in my life. Every time I asked for something in my life, it was Baba who listened to my prayers and granted everything I asked for. I always believe in Baba and my day starts and ends with reciting Baba's name. This is my latest experience and miracle of Baba. I have a beautiful 4 year old child and I was interested in having a second one as soon as possible. I sincerely prayed to Baba saying that if I get pregnant this month I will post my experience in Sai Vichaar. Baba listened to my prayers as usually and to my surprise, I came to know that I am pregnant. I was happy which only increased my faith in Baba. I strongly believe that Baba is still alive even though not in flesh and blood, he listens to his devotees sincere prayers. Bow to Sri Sai Baba and Peace be to all. Thank you Baba for listening to my prayers.

Revathi
Thank you Baba for helping me pass my exam.
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Prayer Club:

Kailas
Baba, you have never sent me back empty handed. I am at your door asking for your help again. Please shower your grace on Amma and help her to get well soon, Baba.

Mithun
Baba please bless my wife, Baba you know that I have applied for her H1B with your blessing only, Baba I am not hearing anything from them and me. Baba I request you to kindly look into this matter and see to that she receive the papers and also see that she gets the visa stamped in the consulate with out any problem.

Chandrasekhar
Baba, make Hemanth not to get any more seizures it is making me very sad to see my little one suffering because of my sins. Please be with Hemanth all the time and increase his attention span to learn things. All devotees please include my family in your prayers.

Sai devotee
I have a sincere request from deep within my heart; I am writing this knowing fully well that you will answer my request. Baba, my wife has been unwell for a long time. I can't see her suffering anymore, please bring her back to her healthy self and I promise to You that henceforth I will take better care of her.

Ushasree
Since 2 years I was very happy, everything looked quite normal and I was waiting for my marriage to happen. Now everything has turned opposite and nothing is going in favor for me. I do not understand what to do. In addition, my Visa has become a big problem to me. Please Baba bless me with Visa and marriage. If marriage is not going to happen with him, please give me enough courage to face everything.

Raj
Baba - many salutations to You. Please help with selling the house. Please help. Need your grace to fulfill this objective.

Arundati
My dad has been in the hospital for he has suffered a partial liver failure. He will be put on a list for a liver donor. The transplant may or may not be necessary - his liver could recover completely on its own. Naturally, an operation is a last resort, but we are all terrified by the possibility. We have no idea how this could have happened - he was perfectly healthy a week ago, does not drink, eats healthy, and bikes marathons. But in situations that we cannot explain, when life suddenly seems to stop making sense. Please pray for us.

Gayathri
I pray to Samartha Sadguru Sainath that the tensions between my parents and husband be resolved forever.

A Sai devotee
You know what health problems I have, I prayed to You and promised to that I will post my message if that problem is cleared. Though it is not completely cleared Baba, I believe in You that you will take care of me. Please see to it that I will not have any complications in having children. Please save me. Please change my husband's mind that he understands me and realizes the good things I do. Please make me realize my mistakes and correct me.

Neelima
Sai, you have kept us together for the more than 4 years now. We understand each other and by your grace, we have decided to stay together forever. Please convince my parents, for this marriage Sai.

Prashanth
Dear Sai, please shower your blessings to help my younger sister get married and lead a happy life.
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Quotation of the Week:
"Choose friends who will stick to you till the end, through thick and thin". - Shirdi Sai Baba
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Question of the Week:

Q. How to read Sai Satcharitha?

A. by SV Swamy, Hyderabad, India

Unless Sai wills it nothing happens. So, your thinking of reading Sai Satcharitha is also due to Sai's inspiration only. You have been inspired to read Sai Satcharitha, most probably because of some difficulties and your own experience or another devotee's experience that reading of Sai Satcharitha is a sure way of overcoming the obstacle read it in one week (Saptah) if possible. If not, read atleast one chapter a day. Give up a favorite item of food if possible. Read with a Sankalpa to Sainath that you are reading the Satcharitha for that particular purpose. Read it in the morning or in the evening, preferably after taking a bath. Start on a Thursday and complete by next Wednesday. Sai will certainly bless you and will sanction that wish of yours if it is in your higher interest.

Q. What is single-minded devotion?

A. by SL Abhyankar

An interesting explanation of single-minded devotion is found in Chapter 26 of Sai Satcharita. Out of courtesy and in response to urgings from his relatives, Pant from Virar accompanied them to Shirdi, that too only after taking permission from his Guru. Somehow, he suffered a loss of consciousness in the melee at Shirdi. On waking him up, Baba told him "Apna Takiyaa chhodnaa mat". What Baba has possibly emphasized by this, is that single-minded devotion is important and one need not change one's cult or religion. Rather single-minded devotion is itself the religion for every aspirant on the spiritual path.

Baba also implied possibly that, "It doesn't matter whether your faith is more focused with someone else. Finally all prayers land at me!" This is what Lord Krishna said in 9-23 in Bhagavadgita, "Ye(-)py-anyadevataa Bhakta yajantey Shraddhayaanvitaah, Te(-)pi Maameva Kounteya Yajantyavidhipourvakam" Those, who offer their prayers to other deities happen to pray me only, (maybe, their methods are different). We also have the famous and popular quotation "sarva-deva-namaskaaram Keshavam prati-gachhati"

Baba lived in the forlorn mosque, and often mentioned himself to be a Muslim, yet he also called the mosque as "Dwarkamai". That is what he told to Mamalatdar Mirikar in Chapter 22, when forewarning him of the danger of a cobra. "This Dwarkamai will protect you", he said. This assurance is carried also in the eleven assurances of Baba. He made Dwarkamai to also become Govardhan when a devastating storm engulfed Shirdi (see Chapter 11).

Did he convert a mosque into a temple with no destruction or dismantling and no arguments between communities? Shouldn't those, vehement about Sri Ram temple in Ayodhya, learn a lesson? Call it a mosque or a temple; what is important is devotion, single-minded devotion. He lived in a mosque and yet kept a holy fire burning all the time. During an epidemic of cholera, he disregarded the edict of the Panchayat, himself went out and fetched the cart and unloaded all the fire-wood in the mosque, (see chapter 23), as if declaring, "Be still and know that I am God!" (Psalm 64 verse 8 by David) or "Yo Saavasou Purushas- Sohamasmi" (Isha-Vasya-Upanishad) Sohamasmi = "I am He!"

Another incident emphasizing single-minded devotion is in Chapter 19, Baba telling the aged lady Radhabai Deshmukh, "You keep looking at me single-mindedly and I shall do likewise!" What all seems to be implied by single-minded devotion is 'focus' and unwavering concentration. It is the mind, which has this habit of wavering. "Mind is a monkey", they say, right? In Bhagavadgeeta in Chapter 6, Arjuna also finds that, 'controlling the mind' is the most difficult part in what all Lord Krishna was telling. "Controlling the mind is as difficult as harnessing the wind", he said. Rightly hence, the right first Sutra of Patanjali proclaims - 'Yoga (first and foremost) is restraint of the mind' The sure way to attaining restraint of the mind is to keep it single-minded!

In Gita, one comes across the word "ananya" or the single-mindedness at a number of places. It has been on my mind since long to compile all the references in Gita, where single-mindedness has been emphasized. Maybe, this question is a good excuse to do that right away.

There are many facets to this concept of single-mindedness. For example, Nir-Dwandwo is one who has transcended duality and hence is again one, who has attained single-mindedness. Similarly, "Naanyadasti" means Nothing else exists; "Nir-Dwandwo" means one who has transcended duality; "Eka-Bhaktih" one with singular devotion or one who has devotion as the single focus in his mind! There exist several such references to single-minded devotion in scriptures.

One can think that people indulging in religious conversions do not really seem to understand the broader objective of spiritualism. Cults seem to also develop around followers of different speakers of spiritualism. If the cult-followers follow them with clear concept that finally all roads lead to one Almighty, it is okay. But if they tend to vie with each other, to intend superiority of one over another, that will be pathetic. But such pathetic state is likely to occur with any immature following. And is not there more immaturity in the world than maturity? If there were to be good maturity, why would there have been so many religions and so many cults? Maybe, that is the reason, why Baba took caution to ensure that his followers would not make a cult of it.
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Sai Activities:

Shirdi Sai Temple of Chicago and Suburbs, Illinois, USA
Shirdi Sai temple is open daily from 7:00 am to 9:00 pm. Daily program includes Kakad Arathi at 7 am followed by Abhisek. Madhayana Arathi at 12 noon, Dhoop arathi at 6 pm and Shej Arathi at 9 pm. 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.

Upcoming Events: Sri Krishna Jayanthi, Thursday August 25th.

Shirdi Saibaba Prayer Center, Minnesota
Regular Sai activities in Minneapolis, St.Paul area 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.

Shirdi Sai Satsang, Bay Area, California
Shirdi Sai Parivaar invites all to join us for Satsang every Thursday 7:30 pm at Odd Fellows Temple, 20589 Homestead Road, Cupertino, CA 95014.For details please call 408-564-6704 or send email to saibandhu@yahoo.com or visit www.ShradhaSaburi.org.

Shirdi Sai Satsang, Ontario, 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 Satsang in Vancouver, BC, Canada
Shirdi Sai parivar in Vancouver invites you for bhajans, every Thursday (6.30pm - 7.30 pm) at 8571,118A Street, Delta,V4C 6L2.For further details contact Ritu (604)592 4182 or email at sai_ish@hotmail.com
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