Volume:13 Issue:8
Thursday, Jul 01, 2010
Quote:
“Believe Me, though I pass away, My bones in My tomb will give you hope and confidence. Not only Myself but My tomb would be speaking, moving and communicating with those who would surrender themselves whole-heartedly to Me.”- Shri Sai Baba
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:
The full moon day(Pournima) of Ashada month (July) is desingated to serve the Guru, hence it is also referred to as Guru Pournima. Sai devotees accross the world will be celebrating Gurupournima celebrations either at home or temple. Mark your calendars for a day of prayer and service to Shri Sai. Share your story and picture with other devotees by clicking here.
Devotees Say:
Sai Devotee
Thank you Baba for helping me. Please ever shower your blessings on my family and me.
Rakesh
Om Sai Ram, Baba as always I would like to say Thank you for listen to all my prayers. With your blessings my project get extended which was not possible without your help. Everyday I feel your presence more and more and with the help of your miracles all of my problems get solved. Please shower your blessings on all of us
Devotees Experience:
Anu
I would like to share my experience with all Sai Devotees. I got married in 2000 and few days after my marriage I came to know that my husbands job is not stable and he is working on a very very low profile as compared to his Education and Expereince. He told me that he was working with this company for 5 years and have tried his best to get a job commensurate with his experience and eductaion, but every time despite of all his efforts other colleagues with less education / exp used to get the promotion.
During 9 years of my marriage I had always prayed to God for my husbands Promotion and better job only. In fact, I did never prayed for my family or anything else. I did lot of pooja, kirtan, visited many holy places, but somehow it was not working.
Finally after 10 years of our hardships and efforts we had given up and thought nothing would work for us now. In fact, I started loosing faith on \"God\" and had stopped praying/ going to temples. Then, one of my friends told us to not to loose hope and rather have faith in \"Baba\" and leave everything on him as whatever Baba does is for the good.
Though I was trying to visit Shri Shirdi Sai Mandir, for almost 4 years, but was unable to go for one or the other reason. Finally in October 2009 our travel plans got confirmed to visit Shirdi during October. Incidentally (How Lucky we were) our dates matched with Baba's Punya Thithi Divas and it was an amazing experience seeing all the celebrations - Spl Kakad Aarti, Palki, Bhiksa and other pooja ceremonies. I feel myself luck to be there on that day, and trust that Baba wanted me to come Shirdi at this time only, that's why all my previous plans were getting cancelled. Remember- "Baba jo bhi Karte hai, hamare acche ke liye hi karte hai"
Just two days before our departure to Shirdi, my husband got a call from their office to appear for a personal interaction with the Selection Committee for a permanent Pay roll jobs in his company, that too with the profile and role which he\'s been wanting for so many years. With full faith on Baba, we left for Shirdi and reached there. Trust me, the moment I stepped in Shirdi, it gave me all different feeling which is difficult to explain in words.
We went inside the Mandir and reached in front of Baba's Samadhi. I felt as if I was in heaven and have got all the happiness and satisfaction of my life. Somehow I couldn't control myself and broke down into tears in front of Baba, just requesting him to give all the happiness, health and prosperity to my Husband. I prayed whole-heartedly and truly to Baba to shower his blessings on us and please give my husband a better job, if he DESERVES SO. On 5th October we came back from Shirdi, and on 6th October my husband had his final round of interactions / interview for a permanent and better job role in his company.
Guess what, on 8th October we got a confirmation that he has been selected for this job.
Friends, I cant express in words as to what I felt the moment I heard this news and was on top of the world and what it means for our lives.... I really thank Baba for this.... and I will always be very grateful to him for this...
Baba would always give us what we deserve but at the right time.... Baba can never see his devotees in pain and is always there to protect and help us... Baba please always shower your blessing on us like this....
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 8
Feature: DAS GANU'S FIRST STEP ON SPIRITUAL PATH
Some time after Das Ganu came into Saibaba's fold, Baba had indicated that Das Ganu should quit his job and dedicate himself to Lord's service. However, Das Ganu was in denial of this command. He refused to quit his job as a Police Constable on more than one occasion.
Once, when Das Ganu was the second in command at the station, the station officer left him in-charge. And Das Ganu in a lordly way wanted to enjoy his time, and went home leaving a constable in charge of the station. Just at that time, a village munsif had sent up a thoti with a fine collected from some persons against whom a warrant had been sent for collection. That money, Rs. 32/- was left by the thoti with the constable there in charge, without any person to witness. The constable told the thoti that the Station Officer was on leave, and asked him to leave and that the receipt would be sent to the village in due course. So, the poor thoti went away, and the constable swallowed up the money.
Ganpat Rao (Das Ganu) knew nothing of it. However, the authorities finding that Rs. 32/- had not been collected concluded that it was Ganpat Rao's mischief. Ganpat Rao was asked for an explanation. He said he know nothing. But there was no escape the fact that money had been sent that day, and was paid at the station as the thoti testified. Then Ganpat Rao, finding that there was not only no chance of his getting the Sub Inspector's job but a good chance of getting into the jail, solemnly swore to Baba that this time he would positively quit service. He went further and mentioned his willingness to resign to the enquiry officer who, thereupon, made him pay up Rs. 32/- and then discharged him. Thus Baba succeeded in making Ganpat Rao quit his service, a service, which would prevent Ganpat Rao from becoming the high spiritual personage that he was subsequently to develop into.
Baba used to call him 'Ganu'. When Ganpat Rao came and said, 'I have now left my service; I and my wife have to stand in the streets, as we have no property or income.' Baba said, ' Ganu, I shall provide for you and your family'. (Compare Sri Krishna's promise "Yoga Kshemam Vahamai sham" BG (9) (22). Baba then asked him to go on with his Brahminical duties, puranic studies, and kirtans at which he was excellent. Ganpat Rao was never in want of food or clothing, and has even become a landlord that yielded him sufficient support. In 1919 his wife died issueless, leaving him without any encumbrances.
Das Ganu had a fine metallic voice and he was a very able performer of kirtans. He would hold an audience of 2000 people spell bound in rapt attention listening to him for six or eight hours, and as he never asked for even one pie and made no collections, his kirtans were popular, and in all his kirtans, he would place Baba's picture next to him and even though his katha was about Tukaram or Namdev or Jnanadev, yet he would always refer to Sai Baba as the living Saint or Sat purusha i.e., as the present Great Saint, whom it would be a great blessing for people to have darsan of, as the very darsan would purify and benefit the visitor.
As soon as his kirtans ended, people started in numbers to go to Shirdi and see Sai Baba. These numbers included high officials of good and great positions, as also the poor. Thus he has been the means of sending some tens of thousands of people to Baba. Baba developed his nature and purified it by making him spend his time whenever he went to Shirdi in reading Vishnu Sahasranama. Das Ganu Maharaj's purification and development are marked in various ways and Baba's favor to him on the spiritual side is so vast and varied that it is impossible to sketch them out in detail.
Contributed Article: Emphasis on "Silence" and "Who am I?" In the Teachings of Shirdi Sai Baba and Ramana Maharshi..Contd
On some rare Occasions Ramana Maharshi used to answer questions of seekers and some times narrated short stories to make the point clear to them.
While telling stories Ramana Maharshi used to get very much involved. On one occasion while describing Gautama's joy at Goddess Parvati's coming to his Ashram, Ramana could not go on, for tears filled his eyes and emotion choked his voice. Trying to hide his plight from others, he remarked, "I don't know how people who perform Harikatha explain such passages to audiences and manage to do it without breaking down. I suppose they must make their hearts hard like stone before starting their work."
[Before proceeding ahead, it would really be quite fascinating to tell the story of Goddess Parvati's coming to Rishi Gautama's Ashram in brief for the delight of the readers: Brahmadev worshipped God Trivikram when he came to Satya Loka (on earth) with the same holy water of the Ganga, to get the river Ganga, held up by God Shiva on his head, to flow. River Ganga in the form of a woman was enjoying with Lord Shiva, which was noticed by Lord Shiva's wife Parvati. She planned to drive Ganga away from her husband. Parvati and her son Ganesh came to live in Gautama's Ashram with Parvati's friend Jaya. There was a famine of 24 years, and people were affected by the pangs of hunger. However, Lord Varun - the God of Rains, pleased with Sage Gautama arranged rains every day in Gautama's Ashram (dwelling place), which was in Trimbakeshwar. Gautama used to sow rice in the surrounding fields of his Ashram in the morning, reap the crop in the afternoon and with it fed a large group of rishis, who took shelter in his Ashram on account of the famine. The blessings of the group of rishis increased the merit (Punya) of Gautama. Lord Indra's position became shaky because of his increased merit. So Lord Indra ordered clouds to rain all over Trimbakeshwar, so that the famine will be over and Rishis will go back and the increasing merits of Gautama will be weakened. Although the famine was over, Gautama urged the Rishis to stay back and kept on feeding them and gaining merit. Once he saw a cow grazing in the paddy field and he drove her away by throwing Darbha (sharp, pointed grass). The slender cow died by this. It was Jaya - Parvati's friend, who had taken the form of a cow. This news upset the Rishis and they refused to luncheon at his Ashram. Gautama requested Rishis to show a way out of this sin. He was advised to approach Lord Shiva and request him to release Ganga and a bath in the Ganga would set him free of his sins. Gautama then practiced penance by going to the peak of Brahmagiri. Lord Shiva was pleased by his worships and gave him the Ganga. However, the Ganga was not prepared to part with Lord Shiva, which irritated him. He made TandavNrutya (dance) on the peak of Brahmagiri and dashed his jata there. Frightened by this action, the Ganga appeared on Brahmagiri. Later on the Ganga appeared in the Trimbak Tirtha. Gautama praised her but she off and on appeared on the mountain at various places and disappeared in anger. Gautama could not bathe in her waters. The Ganga then appeared in Gangadwar, Varaha-tirtha, Rama-Laxman tirtha, Ganga Sagar tirtha. Still Gautama could not bathe in her waters. Gautama surrounded the river with enchanted grass and put a vow to her. The flow stopped there and the tirtha thus came to be called Kushavarta. It is from this Kushavarta that the river Godavari flows up to the sea. The sin of killing a cow by Gautama was wiped off here.]
Ramana practiced Tapas or deep meditation in shrines, cave and hills in and around Tiruvannamalai, where he was known as Brahmana Swami. From 1909 to 1916 he lived in the Virupakshi Cave. During his days of Tapas, mischievous boys pelted him with stones, but Ramana was ever peaceful and calm through the strength of meditation and penance. His life was one continued meditation, 'Ananda Anubhavam'. He established peace within, and encouraged others to do the same. He gave to the world the grand but simple message of his great life, "'Know Thyself'. Enquire, 'Who am I?' Make the mind calm. Free yourself from all thoughts other than the simple thought of the Self or Atma. Dive deep into the chambers of your heart. Find out the real, infinite 'I'. Rest there peacefully for ever and become identical with the Supreme Self." His teachings imparted through all-absorbing 'Silence' embodied the highest ideals and the ultimate reaches in divine realization.
Ramana said, "The world is so unhappy because it is ignorant of the true Self. Man's real nature is happiness. Happiness is inborn in the true Self. Man's search for happiness is an unconscious search for his true Self. The true Self is imperishable; therefore, when a man finds it, he finds a happiness, which does not come to an end. Ramana Maharishi held that happiness came from within as a 'subjective realization of the mind', though many had misunderstood that it depended on external conditions. By wisely adapting to changing conditions and environment one might preserve a balanced mind. Ramana's answer to any problem was invariably to direct the person concerned, to trace the source of the problem and ask-'Who is affected? Who am I?'
For all thoughts the source is the 'I' thought. The mind will merge only by Self-enquiry 'Who am I?' The thought 'Who am l?' will destroy all other thoughts and finally kill itself also. If other thoughts arise, without trying to complete them, one must enquire to whom this thought arose. What does it matter how many thoughts arise? As each thought arises one must be watchful and ask to whom this is thought occurring. The answer will be 'to me'. If you enquire 'Who am I?' the mind will return to its source (or where it issued from). The thought, which arose, will also submerge. As one practices like this more and more, the power of the mind to remain as its source is increased.
Once B. V. Narasimha Swami paid his obeisance to Ramana Maharishi and submitted to him the directions given by Jagadguru Shankaracharya of Sringeri and requested him for spiritual guidance. Ramana Maharishi showed him a cave, which was behind him and directed B. V. Narasimha Swami to meditate in that cave on Self-enquiry- "WHO AM I?"
In Ramana's heart there was place for all creatures- great and small. His demeanor towards the quadruped, the winged and the reptiles was worth pondering over. He never referred to an animal as `it' but always as "he" or "she". When he said, "Give Lakshmi her rice at once," it was the cow that he meant. In fact the rules of the Ashram dictated that at mealtime, the dogs be fed first, then the beggars and only then the devotees. Squirrels used to hop through the window on to his couch and he always kept a little tin of peanuts besides him for them. The animals felt his Grace, and once a devotee asked him what it felt to have a snake pass over him, and he replied "cool and soft."
Ramana Maharshi once said that contact with the Sadguru continues even after his physical death. The Samadhi of Sai Baba in Shirdi today is speaking to and leading his devotees towards spiritual perfection. (Concluded)
(Contributed by Subodh Agarwal)