Thursday Jan 17, 2013
Quote:
“ Lord will protect him who possesses faith and patience. ” - Shri Sai Baba
Announcements:
Saibaba.Org announces the start of Initiative to help those helplessly suffering all alone. Read more in the article below. If you can help, plese contact us.
Upcoming Events:
This week marks the start of Maha Kumbh in Allahabad. The Kumbh mela, believed to be the largest relgious gathering on earth is held every twelve years on the banks of Sangam - the confluence of holy rivers Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswathi.
If you or someone you know is attending the Kumbh mela, then they can also have darshan of Shri Sai at Shri Sainath camp in Kumbh.
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:
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Sachin Kumar
Baba I have cleared the interview and got selected for the job Thanks Om sai Ram!!!
Devotees Experience:
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A devotee
Dear Baba, This was in 2007 when my brother came to my live with me as he was out of job. I prayed to Sainath to bless him with a job. By Baba\'s grace he got a job and is well settled. Also during the same time I was expecting and I was almost due -full 40 wks and had no signs of delivery. The Doctor told that I might have to be induced and may be a C- section. I prayed to Baba that I want to have a normal delivery. I went to the hospital Sunday night and the doctor told that it would at least be Monday evening for the delivery. It was only a miracle - Baba\'s blessing. I delivered Monday morning a safe and normal delivery. The doctor also was amazed how quick everything went. I tried to submit this article in December 2007 soon after delivery, but somehow at that time it dint go through. Time passed, my son is now 4 years old.
Weekly Question:
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Q. How should Sai devotees react if their wishes are not fulfilled?
Kavitha
I will never leave his feet, if he doesn’t fulfill my desire. I will ask him again and again. He will definitely do it for me. If he doesn’t answer, I will take it in a positive way, “that is good for me”. I am sure Sai never leaves us. -
Q. How should Sai devotees react if their wishes are not fulfilled?
Manav
Jai Sai Ram, There are several experiences where devotee’s prayer has been answered. And sometimes when devotees do not get what he or she is asking for, feeling comes that prayer has not been answered. However, each and every prayer of devotee is answered by Baba provided prayer is done with full faith. And if we do not get what we are wishing then that is a part of bigger play. And that should be best for devotee. A man ought to enjoy whatever God bestows on him in the firm belief, that as He pervades everything, whatever God bestows on him must be good. So the wish what devotee is asking may not be good for him in bigger picture. -
Q. How should Sai devotees react if their wishes are not fulfilled?
A devotee
My humble pranams at the lotus feet of sadguru shree Sai nath. As Sai devotees we should dedicate our lives at the lotus feet of Sai. It is not bad to wish or ask for something from Sai like a child asking from his mother. However we should leave it on our mother Sai to give us whatever she thinks is best for us. One should go on performing their karmas without expecting anything in return. Let Sai decide when to give you and what to give
Sai Vichaar
New Year's Message
We go to the temple, worship Baba, organize jagran of Maa,
visit Ganesh temple, Hanuman temple, Shiv temple, offer dakshina to
priests, employ remedies against the evil-eye like keeping lime and
green chilly, yet, we do not find happiness. Happiness does not come
from these. We get emotionally affected by the laughter, anger and talk
of others. Until the time we can control our mind, none of the above
would be of any use. Visiting temples, music, mantra, worship etc may
help only if we can keep our minds in check. Happiness depends not on
external conditions but on intrinsic, internal factors.
The external situation creates a reflection in the mind. Why look for
weaknesses in others? Why not identify the weaknesses within ourselves?
We will not be able to evolve if we keep pointing out the flaws in
others and keep getting affected by their actions. Instead of reacting
to what someone said and thinking negative thoughts, we should reflect
on our own drawbacks and weaknesses. Control your mind and you will
gradually identify the weaknesses in yourself. Till we do this, no
saint, no God, no deity, nor any elder member of the family can give us
happiness.
A child born in a poor man’s house starves for food. Throughout his
life this child grows by suffering and enduring hardship. We have never
faced the kind of disrespect that a poor man’s child has to face,
because we have food to eat, a car at our doorstep, a bank balance for
our financial security. All these have been given to us by our father
and forefathers. What is our contribution? If despite having received
so much we still remain unhappy, then we are ungrateful to God.
Remember that we have not received so much because of our merits but
due to the merits and hard work of our parents. Each generation
inherits the best of earlier generations. Be grateful to them and
reflect on what you are contributing and how you can be sensitive to
the needs of others.
Why do people worship Baba and all the other saints? Their human form
has gone, but they are still remembered and worshipped. They are not
worshipped because they had earned a lot of money. Not also because
they belonged to the so called intellectual class or because they have
performed miracles. They are worshipped because they were sensitive to
the problems of others and felt compassion for them. Most people are
extremely conscious of their own sentiments, their own sensitivities
but are insensitive to the sensitivities of others. Let us try to be
sensitive to the needs of others and behave accordingly. Let us stop
unnecessary ritualism and use our God given advantages to reach out to
the poor, needy and weaker sections of society and try to relieve their
suffering.
We might have read the Sai Satcharitra ten times, read other books,
heard sermons from priests so many times, but what is the use of just
reading them? Read books, but not superficially. Do not pretend to
imbibe bhakti. Going to the temple, all decked up, does not express
devotion. Baba had advised Dasganu not to do that. Be natural - the
more natural you are, the better. Exhibition of religious fervor is
just physical acrobatics. We don’t need acrobatics. We need finer sense
to prevail on us to understand the problems of others. We should start
from our own home because our home is our ‘peeth’. If we are not
sensitive to the needs of those in our homes, for whatever reasons,
then there will be no savior for us. Every man is humbled with old age
and sees the world in a new way, the way in which he has not seen it
during his youth. If this balance has to come as time will make it
happen, then why not accept it to the extent possible now and live our
lives accordingly?
Guru shakti and Guru sahitya guide us in not taking the difficult path
in our quest to evolve. The Guru teaches us through his own
experiences, so one will not have to suffer in his path. Let us not
condition our mind through whatever we read, see and hear
superficially. Read the Sai Satcharitra regularly and concentrate on
the divine attributes of Baba and meditate on His form. Let us pray the
Master to give us the correct emotional and mental capabilities to
enable us to understand Him and walk on the path shown by Him.
May Shri Sai Bless us all.
Then why does this comparison come to my mind as an unwanted visitor?
Tujhicha upama tula baravi shobhate sajjana
Samartha guru sainatha puravi manovasana
Your excellence cannot have resemblance to any being other than you
May the Samarth (Powerful) Guru Sainath fulfil our desires
Shri Krishna Jogeswar Bhishma composed the above verse that is
sung during Kakad arathi for Sri Sai.
If we compare the Guru with Brahma, or Harihar (MahaVishnu or
Sadashiv), the Guru is mightier. Then why does this comparison come to
my mind as an unwanted visitor? O Guru, your excellence cannot have
resemblance to any being other than you. May the Samarth (Powerful)
Guru Sainath fulfill our desires.
Then why does this comparison come to my mind as an unwanted
visitor? This can be a question to anyone who
considers himself as the child of Sai. Although most people call
themselves as Baba’s children and consider Baba as their sole refuge,
often people fall to the myth of the mental comparisons of Baba with
others deities, saints, and incarnations, fueled by one’s religious
background or other outward customs, conventions and
compulsions. This is akin to the peer pressure to do anything
to get accepted by others. What is needed is the courage to stand alone
and stand by one’s own experience with Baba.
People often go into raptures in praise of Baba and over how
grand Baba is, as compared to other saints and deities. Is this
necessary? If one’s experience of Baba is so unique,
something that never happened before with anyone else, shouldn’t that
heighten the curiosity and open doors to new experiences with Baba and
Baba alone? Unfortunately, one’s first and unique experiences
with Baba close to the heart gets contaminated with the cultural and
religious milieu and what results is a politically correct “Sai
devotee” rather than a fortunate being on a quick path to “realize” the
magnificent glimpse of Sri Sai!
(Contributed by Sai devotee)
Help To EndureSM – Initiative to help those enduring with hard times alone
Dear Readers,
Pain and suffering come uninvited, and nobody is immune to the perils
of bad times. As we all lead our lives under Sri Sai’s benevolent gaze,
we endure the hard times with the faith that help comes to us in
different shapes and forms.
To illustrate a real situation, imagine the challenges of being an
International student away from home. On top of it imagine
the cruel play of fate and being engulfed by a terminal illness with no
major health coverage and under a pile of medical bills! Imagine one in
prime youth, instead of being a ray of hope and joy to support retired
parents, he himself needs support! Enduring all physical, emotional and
financial pain, one continues to fight the disease against all odds.
Such are the real stories of these Children of Sai who are
trying to survive a day at a time, struck by the dreaded disease like
Cancer! Fighting cancer is difficult, prolonged, and expensive. It
drains out all the resources one has!
When we see such a dire situation, it pains us, makes us feel thankful
for what we have and it motivates us to do something. When
even the best medical care can’t provide cure in such a situation, what
it is we can do? We can Help To EndureSM
by sharing our blessings through most generous gift we can give.
Help To EndureSM, raises money to fight cancer,
to raise awareness of cancer in the community and help families endure
in their fight against cancer; one family at a time. It is a
community-developed event run by volunteers. All your
contributions go towards activities supporting those fighting cancer.
We know there are many more men, women, and children who will seek our
– and your – help. The need is greater than ever. Please send
your gift today. Please spread this message.
For more information write to Help to EndureSM
support team at www.saibaba.org
(Contributed by Sai Vichaar Team)