Sri Sai teachings are the beautiful, ever fresh flowers filled with the divine nectar. The divine fragrance of his teachings quietly draws the people towards them. The teachings are mystical in the sense that they are with a divine meaning beyond human understanding. The truth is one and it is expressed in different ways. (Ekam sat vipra bahudha vadanti). It is a fact that with one's limited mind and intellect it is difficult to understand the Guru in totality. No concepts can be built that will truly understand the Guru. We need the blessings of the Sadguru who gives us the necessary intelligence to understand his teachings. This could be seen with Sri Hemadpant seeking the grace of Baba to write the Satcharita. Guru is that infinite energy source that brings the realization in us to our higher, true nature. The actions of Sri Sai go by the name Saileela. Leela means the divine play of the Lord.

Sri Sai is the perfect teacher who knows the needs and talents of the students. He gave advice to every one based on their inner spiritual growth. This can be seen in Sri Sai satcharita in various occasions. Baba's mode of teaching is simple and yet profound. In Saisatcharita, one can clearly see the way Baba interacted with the people on day-to-day basis. He did not teach too intellectually to those who just want to learn how to get through the day. At the same time, he did not forsake basic teachings of love, kindness, charity, etc. However, for those capable of hearing the profound truths of the scriptures, he did not hold back. He perceived the inner essence of every one as the same. If we read Sri Sai's life regularly, we will find the teachings come to our mind at appropriate times. Baba's teachings start to come into our life in our every day experience. Slowly, we will learn how to apply the teachings on the spot in the situations we face in our lives. When times are tough, doing parayana or listening to the teachings of the Guru can help one to stay sane. They connect us with the universal goodness and energize us with the universal energy. By understanding the teachings of the teacher, one can always stay in touch with the essential and true healthy mind present in each one of us.
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Contributed Article: Can you help, Sir?

Is it necessary to go searching everyone for help when keeping faith that "Baba will provide" is all that is required? Belittling unsolicited help or suspecting situations favorable during the hour of need is perhaps limiting Baba' omniscience because Baba manifests himself in several ways and in several situations to help the distressed. At the same time, raising unnecessary outcry over every hurdle big and small is not a hallmark of a faithful Sai devotee. Let us examine the following incident in the life of eminent Sai devotee Kakasaheb Dixit, as narrated by Pujya Sri B.V. Narasimhaswami ji.

As for Dixit's own financial position, there was, for a long time, a period of depression, but there was no positive distress. Contentment was ingrained in Dixit', and he was always saying to himself, "Tevile Anante, Tase Rahave", which is the same as "Alla Rakhega Vysa Rahena", "Maula Rakhega Vysa Rahena". This means, 'We must be content with the lot assigned to us by God.' So, he was generally contented and retained his mental peace in the midst of lack of funds and income. However, special occasions arose and his faith in Baba was tested and confirmed.

Some time after Baba passed away, Kaka had to meet a heavy obligation of Rs. 30,000 to be paid to a Marwadi. The day for payment was drawing near, and Kaka could not see how to get funds for meeting this large demand. One night, as he was sleeping, he had a dream, and in his dream, his creditor was pressing him for payment. In the dream, he assured the creditor, "Oh, don't you fear. I have my friend Sir Chunnilal, Sir Chimanlal etc., all of them knights, and they will provide the money". Suddenly, he woke up and remembering the dream, he bitterly repented his stupid folly in relying upon 'Sir' this and 'Sir' that who are just persons who will fail to help at the crucial moment.

He felt that the only person on whom he could rely for getting help was Baba, and cursed his folly in relying upon such useless human help. He resolved not to think of these 'Sirs' at all, and to rely confidently and boldly upon Sai Baba alone to furnish him with funds and that too in time. He sat up in his office room on a chair and was waiting and waiting until the actual date of payment came. Until the last moment, no money was forthcoming. However, at the last moment, a young man, the son of a rich friend of his, came asking for his advice. He said that after his father's death, he was managing his property, and had to find an investment for his money. He said, just then he had brought with him Rs. 30,000/- and wanted to know from Dixit what would be best investment. Kaka, after explaining the pros and cons of other investments, finally told him that he was in urgent need of Rs. 30,000/- and he would be glad to have it on any reasonable terms, but that it was his duty to explain to the lender that his practice had gone down, that his income was very low, though his properties in the shape of bungalows were there, and that it was his duty to point out the danger and disadvantage of lending to such person. The young man, however, made up his mind to lend the money to him on account of his being his father's friend, and thus the creditor of Dixit was paid in time.

(Contributed by Saibaba.org Team)
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Experiences of Devotees:

Rohit
The 15th September, happened to be my birthday, morning 5.30 am, the telephone rings and when I pick up, a voice tells me "Rohitbhai, your factory has caught fire". The earth under my feet is shaken. The first words that come out of my mouth, "Baba please save me, what wrong have I done? Please don't punish me like this. I shall be ruined. When we reach there, black smoke was coming out from all ventilators and window gaps of my factory on the first floor; which I could see from under the building. I just collapse, still chanting Baba, Baba and started crying profusely, as it was apparent that my garment manufacturing factory, which I had made with lot of hard work and with blessings of Baba in fifteen years, was gutted. I opened one shutter of the main entrance and went up. It was too Smokey and I couldn't stay there for long. The fire brigade van came. They went up my main entrance but could not understand the source of fire. So they broke open the other shutter and there a fierce fire was burning in the middle of the unit on the ground floor. In minutes, the fire brigade took control of the fire. It most obviously looked to be a fire in my factory on first floor from all angles; whereas at the end of it all, not even a spark had reached my premises. It so happened that the fire took in the ground unit and the smoke found its way through the other entrance of my factory. That day my entire career or fifteen years in garment manufacturing industry would have finished, as my entire premises of 4000 sq.ft. Area was fully packed with festive season's finished and unfinished goods worth much more (4 times more) than my insurance. I realized the existence of Baba with me!!! It was Him and only Him, who stood in front of the fire and my factory that morning.

A Sai devotee
I thank you from the core of heart for spreading Sai's teachings throughout the world by this Newsletter and by Heritage of Shirdi Sai Magazine. Om Shri Sai Ram. I don't know how to write but still I want to share my experiences with everyone. I have been a Sai devotee since 2003. I have myself experienced Sai's grace in a number of ways. My older son does not work and younger son has some skin problem. I always pray to Baba and asks, why this happened and please shower grace on both of them. In the early morning of Thursday I saw Baba standing by side of pool. I touched Baba's feet and He blessed me. Exactly next Thursday my younger son went for an interview and he got the Job. Thank you Baba so much. I don't have words to say thanks. These are the ways of Sai. Have faith in Baba I am sure He will fulfill desires of everyone. Please Baba show my older son the right direction, so that he will finish his degree and get a job and set in his life. Please shower grace on everyone who believes in You.
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Devotees say...

Kaajal
I was visiting the site and just read the question that do we have to ask Sai my answer would be no, when we totally surrender then he knows what we want and what we should get at what time and in which way. We like good kids have to do what he is making us do. We just have to be like that small child who gives his hands in his parents hands and is not bothered where he is taken or how he will he reach.

Suma
Sai thanks for healing my niece's allergies. She should grow into a healthy kid. Please bless her with good health.

Rajesh
Dear devotees, I used to have swelling near my eyes since last two years and every time it has to be operated. I again had a swelling near my left eyes about 4-5 months back and I prayed to our Sai mother to make it all right without operation. Earlier I was not hopeful that it will go by itself but now I am seeing that it has subsided a lot by itself and there is no need for any operation. It all due to the mercy of our SAI that protect us at each step. May Sai be with us all every time.

Sheela
Baba, thank you very much for all the blessings you gave us. I prayed you for my husband's job and you gave it to us, I am very happy for this. Please stay with us and guide us in our daily lives. I take your name every minute and I also call my son as Baba all the time.

A devotee
Sai Baba, I am seen so many miracle of you in my life, here is the latest one as I promised to post. I am working for a big company and they have two offices, the office I work is 15 minutes drive from my house, the other one is a 1 hour drive. Recently the management dismantled the group I was working on. I was moved to the group in the other building which is 1 hour drive that also I don't have any experience on the field the new group working on. I prayed to Baba saying that I will post my experience if they let me stay here. To my surprise, my boss was trying to keep me here and sent the other person in my place. Finally it happened and our move date was set to Wednesday, but the Secretary forgot to put the request for moving the computers, so they have to move us on Thursday, as I was hoping.

Visaalakshi
Baba, thank you for helping me pass my third exam in flying colors. Though I thought, I had failed in the exam, You showed Your Infinite Daya and Kripa on me. Please bless and help me to do my final and fourth exam well and pass that too in first shot.

Srinivas
Thank you very much Baba. Today with your kind blessings, we were blessed with a beautiful and healthy baby boy. We are very happy Baba. We named our son Saideep. As promised to Baba earlier we are posting this news in Sai Vichaar.
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Prayer Club:

Balaji
Oh Sai Maharaj, there is no peace in the house; there are differences between my wife and mother. Please help us and take care of our family. I only pray that let the peace prevail always in our house. Also in the job I am joining please help me that I join with out any problem and also in the existing company I get relieved smoothly.

Ramanathan
I pray to you sincerely, please be with my brother always and get him back to us. I know how much pain my mother and my family members will be going through, Please bring him back to us.

Sujeebavan
Saibaba, please cure my mom who is diagnosed with myeloid leukemia and the treatments she's been showing no results. So please cure and bless my mom.

Swapna
Please help baby Ashish with his Bone Marrow. Please help him and his parents.

Maya
Please save my husband from the harassment he is facing at office and bestow him with what you think is good for him. Please make him also your bhaktha. Please also shower your blessings on my daughter who is studying for her board exams.

Mini
Dear Saibaba, my elder son is 6 years old but his mental state is just as that of a 6 month old. He is unaware of his surroundings and is unable to talk. Bestow your grace upon him Saibaba and make him see and feel this world and be like a normal child of his age. I know nothing is beyond your powers.

Sai Devotee
Dear Sai, You know what type of problems I am facing. Please look into this and save me from all my problems. Thanks for getting the pass results and first class, please guide him to study well for getting marks above the distinction.

Sanjay
Sai Baba, make my sonu alright, make my wife smile, bless my family.

Amit
Dear Baba, I hope that this message reaches You as You have always been by my side. Despite my misgivings You have never left me. I have one desire that You keep my family well and for my loved one a hope that You will bless us as one.

Adil
Dear Baba, please help us to get a home loan sanctioned for us. I have been trying for past three years now. Whenever things trying to come to an end there is always something or the other crops up and loan does not get sanctioned. Dear Baba, You can do anything in this world and everything. Please help us. We need to vacate the house by next month and have no idea where to go and what to do, please help me.

Aruna
Dear Baba, You know my faith in You then why all this restlessness in my mind. You are always here for me or else how could I have survived. Now I am so worried about my brother. Please guide him and give him sucess and happiness. Bring them both back together soon. Please let him get married to his fiance soon. I trust You.
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Quotation of the Week:
"Let all the senses and mind be ever devoted to the worship of the Lord, Let there be no attraction for any other thing; fix the mind in remembering Me always so that it will not wonder else where, towards body, wealth and home and then it will be calm peaceful and care free."-Sai Baba
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Question of the Week:

Q. Baba said, "I give my people what they want until they will begin to ask me what I want to give them ". Comment?

A. by Pratyusha

It is natural for people to ask favors from Baba in the times of difficulties, as you cannot concentrate on anything spiritual until the hard times have passed by. Baba once told regarding fasting that we can practice devotion and other sadhanas to attain God only when the soul has been appeased. In the same way people have the tendency to ask Baba for favors in the beginning and as Baba fulfills their wishes they are contended and then start to think about spirituality and what Baba actually wants to give them to attain salvation from materialistic things.

Q. Baba said, "I give my people what they want until they will begin to ask me what I want to give them ". Comment?

A. by Badri

It was beautifully commented by Saibandhu Maddipatla Ramaa Prasad and Saibandhu Sadashiv Kavthankar, in previous issue of this Sai Vichaar Newsletter. What He wants to give us, is a permanent bliss. His mere grace and glance takes care of all our needs and us. A devotee must be able to discriminate the temporal and permanent needs. All temporal needs will only satisfy our living in this world, until this body exists. But what needs to be done in this beautiful lifetime is to recognize and obtain Guru's grace, attain Self Knowledge and reach the ultimate reality. Getting a Human body is because of some past good karmas and attaining the Self Knowledge and Realization is only possible through this body. Realize that after so many births, the soul attained Human Body and if this opportunity is missed, then who knows, when would be the next such opportunity will come.
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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 Thursday April 6th to Saturday April 8th. 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-Urs celebrations, Minnesota
Shirdi Saibaba Prayer Center invites all to Sri Ramanavami-Urs celebrations on April 8, 2006 from 3 pm to 9 pm at Geeta Ashram, Brooklyn Park, MN. The event includes Sai abhishek, Sai aarathis, parayan, naam jap and bhajans, palki procession and chandan utsav. Please visit www.hamaresai.org for more details.

Sri Shirdi Sai Baba Temple of Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas
Sri Shirdi Sai Baba Temple of DFW Metroplex is located at 2109 West Parker (Parker Plaza), Suite 212, Plano, TX 75023. For temple hours and activities please call the temple office at 469-467-3388 or visit the website www.shirdisaidallas.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.

Sai Satsang, New Jersey, USA
Shirdi Sai Dham, Inc regularly conducts Sai bhajans followed by Aarti and Parsad on every 1st Saturday of each month at Durga Mandir, Kendall Park, New Jersey from 3 pm to 5 pm (Winter Hours). All are requested to kindly come and receive Baba's blessings. For more information, please call us at 609-275-1334 or visit www.shirdisaidham.org or email us at shirdisaidham@hotmail.com

Shirdi Sai Satsang, Toronto, Canada
Shirdi Saibaba Sansthan invites all to join for satsangs every Thursday 7:00 pm at Sai Dwarkamai, 147 Winston Castle Dr. Markham, Ontario, L6C 2N4, phone 416-402-8089 or email: saileela99@yahoo.com. To request a pooja for yourselves, your friends and family for any occasion at your residence, please call. Devotees can request udi or Holy water (Abhishek Jal) from the Holy bathing of Baba by sending us an email or by phone.

Shirdi Sai Mandir, Scarborough, Canada
The Shirdi Sai Mandir located at 2721 Markham Road, Scarborough, Ontario, M1X 1L5 (Intersection of Markham and Nashdene) is open Monday to Friday from 6:30 p.m to 8:30 p.m. and Saturday to Sunday from 10:30 a.m to 8:30 p.m. Dhoop Aarti is at 7:30 p.m. everyday. Bhajans are on Saturday from 5:00 p.m. onwards. For other temple activities and information please call 647-444-4724 or send an email to info@theshirdisaimandir.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.

Sai Satsang, Singapore
To all Shirdi Sai Baba devotees in Singapore, Sai Sansthan, Singapore is organizing Shirdi Sai Baba prayer session every Saturday between 18:30 hrs to 20:30 hrs at 2nd floor function hall, Sri Vadapathira Kaliamman temple, (opp. to Sinda), 555, Serangoon Road, Singapore-218174. We invite you all to participate and seek Baba's blessings. For further details, please visit www.saisansthan.com.

Sai Baba Satsang in Auckland, New Zealand
Sai Baba Satsang ( Bhajans, Provochan, Sai Ashotottram and Shej Arathi ) is held every Thursday from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm at MT Roskill War Memorial Hall, May Road , Mt Roskill, Auckland, NZ. For more detials visit our website http://www.shirdisaibaba.org.nz or mail to info@shirdisaibaba.org.nz.
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