Volume:13 Issue:6
Thursday, Jun 17, 2010
Quote:
“The objects of our life such as Dharma, Artha and Kama are attainable with our effort, but the fourth object, Moksha (liberation) can only be had with the help of the Guru”- Shri Sai Satcharita
Announcements:
Saibaba.Org announces the start of redesign project of its website. If you are a technical person and would like to volunteer, please fill out contact form.
Upcoming Events:
Sri Shirdi Saibaba Mandir, Outer ring road, Bangalore invites you to Shri Shirdi Sai Baba punar pranaprathistha mahotsva 18th July 2010 to 21st July 2010. For more details contact +918028396267
Devotees Say:
Devotee
Om Sai Ram. My sister is a citizen but she could not sponsor him because her salary could not meet the sponsorship requirements (she didn't have job continuously for 2 years.). I prayed Baba and told him that I will finish the Sai Satcharitra in one day and he has to show us someone who can sponsor my brother-in-law. I finished reading the Sai satcharitra and on the same day evening my mother called my cousin and requested her to sponsor my brother-in-law. My cousin agreed to sponsor him and everything went well. He got the green card. Thanks Baba for helping my brother-in-law to get the green card. This would not have happened without Baba\'s grace. I promised Baba that I would post this in SaiVichaar if he gets the green card.
Akhil
My Baba saw me through an examination against all odds. Even though He always does, my mind always becomes a doubting Thomas until the results are in hand. Today, I just want to express my deepest and most heartfelt thanks to Him for all He has done. No matter what I say and do, it falls far short of what I truly feel. Baba, we love you. To some this may seem like a trivial event. But it is such experiences that seem outwardly trivial, but in your own heart, You know as fact that Baba has miraculously helped You, and it is these experiences that we treasure the most. Jai Sai Ram
Saipriya
My heartfelt thanks to Baba for getting a new job to my husband after various hurdles in our lifetime. I know Baba you bless me every time, for what ever I have asked. I was my husbands posting in Chennai preferably, where I have my job location there, or at least in Delhi so could continue my working at Delhi. Request you Baba to show us miracle in achieving this. Thanks Baba, I will wait for your answer and accept your answer with pride.
Ashok
Baba, I put forward my sincere gratitude and thankfulness at your lotus feet for the miracle that you did for me, in making the impossible quite possible with so much ease. You have reminded me to pursue faith and patience through this delayed but surprising promotion, which finally comes due to your grace only. It was You who made it possible.
Devotees Experience:
Pandya
I was laid off in 2008 and had been looking for a right opportunity since then. Giving interviews and getting a negative response in spite of doing so well became really frustrating and depressing. Until one day, mid of April 2010, after reading my regular Sai Satcharitra in the afternoon, I decided to take a noon nap. Just then the phone rang. I had got a 3 weeks consulting assignment! I was really happy. I went straight to my mandir and thanked Sai Baba for giving me this opportunity. I knew that it was a short-lived opportunity but getting it was an asset to both my experience as well as my resume. Today again, I am on the same path - looking for right opportunity. Sai you had given me an opportunity to present myself for an interview at this company that I had always longed for. I even felt your presence while giving an in-person interview. I don\'t know why, but I have a feeling that I did good not just because I delivered what was expected from the candidate but also because you were there with me. One part of my mind keeps on telling me to not get my hopes too high. But I have been constantly arguing with it - why not! I have Sai with me. He had helped me and he has been helping me and he would definitely help me. If I don\'t get it, probably Sai thinks something better for me but again, I feel confident that of all the candidates, I am the only one with Sai beside me.
Sai devotee
It is with the grace of Sri Shirdi Sai Baba I got my driver's license. I had no confidence that I would make it but it was all his Krupa, which got me passed. I never parked the car correctly in the parking lot while practicing but when the examiner asked me to park the car in the only parking space available between two parked cars I was able to park it perfectly. Baba was with me during the drive test. I was very nervous and had no hope that I would pass; Baba gave me Darshan while I was in the queue in DMV on the wall by my side. I could see Baba with a smile on his face and while coming out of the door there was a poster with 'CONGRATS' written on it on the next door. At that moment in full tension I did not understand that but after the drive test I understood that Baba already gave me the result before hand. Thank you very much Sai Baba for getting me my driver's license. You are there in every step and every moment of my life. You know what to and when to give for everyone. Shower your blessings on everyone.
Saiasha
Like Many devotees of Baba I too wanted to share one of my recent experiences through this newsletter. First of all a million Thanks to YOURSELF DEVA for blessing us again. I know I cannot thank YOU enough for all that YOU have been doing for my family.
After taking permission from Baba regarding identifying a property, we applied for a loan. The amount was considerate to mature the deal and without the loan amount we couldn't have managed to buy a house. The procedure as assured by the brokers was not to take more than a couple of weeks but somehow the proposal got delayed due to one requirement or the other. In between when the delay was getting prolonged, I got restless and at many a times thought that it was not going to get through. But because of the feeling that our Baba had given permission, I consoled myself. I follow a practice of asking through paper chits and I asked Baba whether HE would get the loan sanctioned in our favor. The answer was YES! Somehow after approx 2 months our application was sanctioned. This brought a sigh of relief. Now we were waiting for the bank to release the amount in our favor, which was expected in few days. On a Wednesday the concerned official told me that the bank has raised some condition, which was to be fulfilled before the amount is released in our favor. Although we tried to convey to the releasing officer that all related documents had already been submitted and supplied all required information, but some how he was stuck on a particular format. We tried out best but could not manage finally and gave up. It was Wednesday night and I sat in front of our puja sthal in my room and cried my heart out. I had already told DEVA that I was weak to carry out dealings of this world and in spite of all my efforts I felt that I had failed miserably. I took out the Pothi and after random opening what I saw was "This is our Dwarakamayi, where you are sitting. She wards off all dangers and anxieties of the children, who sit on her lap. This Masjidmayi (its presiding Deity) is very merciful, she is the mother of the simple devotees, whom she will save in calamities. Once a person sits on her lap, all his troubles are over. He, who rests in her shade, gets Bliss\". Then Baba gave him Udi, and placed His protecting hand on his head." After reading this I started to cry all the more as Baba had again tugged the strings of my heart and assured that HE was aware of every little pain that I felt. Finally I went off to sleep. The next day was Thursday and I waited for the related officer to give me a final verdict regarding my loan. After communicating many a times he told me at 4 pm that the releasing officer had turned down my proposal finally. I told him to try to get all my documents back as it was of no use to them now. He told me that he would try. After disconnecting, I simply tried to get some sleep as I was feeling mentally exhausted. The whole thing chapter seemed to have been closed finally. I was not feeling anything, just blank. At approx. 5 pm the bank official called his opening line and me was "Baba ne aapki sun li. The amount is being released\". I asked him how it happened and he said even he didn't know. He told me he had sent someone to collect back my documents when the department people told him that papers are sufficient and they had decided to release the amount. I don't need to explain how I must have felt at that point of time. It seemed Baba was saying \" You should have had a little more faith. Just one step more". I want to convey to all those brothers and sisters of mine who are connected to Baba that when the going gets tough, We should try to keep a little more faith in our SADGURU and HE is sure to save us from failing in our endeavors. Needless to say, the deal was finally made and Baba wishing, we will be moving soon into our house.
Whole world of Pranam & Thanks to YOU DEVA, Please assure that this new step leads to betterment, happiness and peace. Please save us from taking any wrong steps. Please also keep forgiving us, as we are sinners from innumerable births.
Weekly Question:
Q. Does Shirdi Sai tatva fit into Guru parampara? Explain why? Or Why not?
A. Your Answer can go here.
Sai Vichaar Vol 13, Issue 6
Feature: Chal.. Hat!
The story of Sapatnekar is one for the reminder of Sai devotees on how an educated, pragmatic mind can yield to the wonderful love of Saibaba. Mahadev Waman Sapatnekar, the lawyer from the Akkalkot, visited Sri Sai dejected after losing his son and first wife. As soon as he came near, Baba was rude and roared, Chal hat! (Go.. Get away). Disconsolate, Sapatnekar returned home to share with his father the unfortunate experience with Baba. Meanwhile, Parvatibai Sapatnekar, the devout second wife of Sapatnekar had a vision of Sri Sai in her dream as a fakir chasing her when she went out to fetch water. In the dream, Mrs. Sapatnekar saw a fakir who followed her from the well all the way to her home. Not knowing who the fakir was, Mrs. Sapatnekar was terrified to the extent of doubting the fakir's intentions. Not minding, the fakir followed the lady offering water much to the annoyance of the lady. Mrs. Sapatnekar explained the dream next day, which convinced her father-in-law that the dream signified something good and coaxed his son Mr. Sapatnekar to visit Shirdi again, this time with his wife who already was ready to visit Sri Sai whom she never saw before.
When Saptnekars arrived in Shirdi, the wife saw Baba walking from Lendi and to her astonishment recognized that it is the same fakir that she saw in her dream! Baba gave ample evidence to this couple about His omniscience. Although it is not explicitly reported, it is said that Baba's callous response to Sapatnekar during latter's first visit was due to an earlier incident when the lawyer Sapatnekar derided one of his co-students Mr. Shevade for resorting to Saints and sadhus although being educated.
The true embodiment of compassion, Sri Sai had to give in to the repentant Sapatnekar who sought Baba's love, held His feet drenching it with tears. Baba said, "This gentleman says I have killed his son. Do I kill other people's sons? Alright, now I shall bring a son in his wife's womb".
In less than a year, Sapatnekars had their first son. During their blessed life under the guidance of Sai, in all, they had 8 sons and 1 daughter. The faith in Baba was such that when Sapatnekar lost his second son Bhaskar at ten years of age, he huddled all his other sons in front of Baba's photo and said, "Baba '. Take away all these. I shall not mind. But I shall not give up your bhakti (devotion)".
Reading such stories bring one to tears. Blessed is this devotee who tasted the true nectar of Sai devotion. Blessed devotee Lt Col Nimbalkar had the fortune of visiting Parvatibai Sapatnekar a few days before her demise and his account was published in Sri Sai Leela magazine in July 1986.
Contributed Article: Virtue of Repentance!
Heera, a blind convict, came to Shirdi to seek Sai Baba. He came with his young son. After visiting Baba and spending some time in Shirdi, the blind Heera rested on the fields in the outskirts when he heard a voice, "tired?" It took no time for Heera to figure out that it was Baba speaking to him. "Falling to the way of vices, you sinner did not hesitate to kill even your wife. You killed her for her jewelry, and spent all the money on your bad habits. You also lost your sight due to an accident", Baba told Heera. Heera replied in a repentive tone, " Yes, Baba. I have paid my price by doing my time in the prison and I regret all I have done. I have come to you to seek your blessings for my son". Sensing the true regret and a sense of repentance in Heera, Baba said, "Do not worry about your young one. Leave it on me. It is my duty to protect him". Heera was relieved to hear this. His worries about taking care of his son duly addressed, Heera begged Baba, "Oh my Sainath, please let me touch your feet at least once". Baba enticed him to walk forward as the blind ex-convict surged forward until he hit the trunk of a tree and fell down bleeding on the forehead, unconscious. A while later, Heera's young son came back to see his father lying unconscious. Perturbed, he started to wake him up. Heera slowly woke up and the unbelievable happened. At an instance, Heera realized that Baba had restored his sight. Now he could see his young son with his own eyes! His joy overboard, he shouted, "Sai Baba..! And he began walking briskly towards the hamlet to fall at the feet of the God that realized his true repentance. He heard the voice again, "There is no need to see me, you may go back to your village". There was no need to go anywhere to see Baba. True repentance is God realization.
(Source: Sai Vichaar Team)