Thursday, Feb 28, 2013
Quote:
“Purity and Love is the essence of Shri Shirdi Sai movement”-from the writings of Guruji C.B. Satpathy ji
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:
Maha Shivratri will be celebrated on Pradosham, Trayodasi Tithi on Saturday March 9th.
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:
RK Mishra
Thank you for resuming newsletter.
Vijay Kumar
Thank you Sai Vichaar for bringing back this wonderful newsletter weekly. Myself and my wife use to read this news article regularly but some reason we were not receiving this letter and we felt like something missing in life. Whenever we read this newsletter we felt the existence of Saibaba more in our life. We always experienced that we got answers/solutions for the problem we face in our life from Saibaba through this newsletter. I surrender myself at your feet Saibaba
Sachin
You Baba love you thanks so much, have solved my problem of scholarship
Virendra
Baba, I also prayed for the health of my Parents Baba. They have recovered a lot now Baba. Thank you so very much to give me and all of us the strength to fight with that time. Keep your hand on us and all those who need you Baba.
Devotees Experience:
Sai devotees
Om Sai Ram, During the first half of this year we were under severe panic due to missing of our important documents, as we had lost all the hopes to get back. My subconscious mind was trying to remember the location where these should be. Things happened since we were shifting from ground floor to upper floor and everything was mess as we both are working parents and our only son is in the borders. So, it was really hard to manage things properly at a time. We searched everywhere, even asked to the garbage collector whether we accidentally threw away just like the unwanted items. The degree of tension was mounting and we could not resist any more. We visited several priests with anticipating for the clue to find back the missing documents and all of them said that 'it is within the house premises but you have not searched for it properly'. For the time being we used to be relaxed but time was running away. One day a person, who is contractor for house painting and there was due to be paid, came to us and ask for the bill given to me. I was not sure where actually the bill was and I tried to look for it in drawers, wardrobes etc. I reached to a bed in the storeroom and checked the drawer on side. I picked up a packet, which was inside there. To my surprised, I saw all the documents were there. I called my wife and showed her, for a moment we both stared at the packet. What a great relief it was. We thanked you Sai and we thanked to the person, who was, in fact, not the contractor but it was you who visited to us miraculously. Then, we thanked to everyone whom we remembered for the support. Thank you Sai you are always there.
Suraj
I have a feeling that I can rely upon him at the time of emergency / need of the hour but not to disturb him for trivial. I have an ordinary photo of Saibaba with me in the purse. Whenever I am in some sort of dilemma I just remember Sai Baba and I find that I get an instant answer / boon. Many times in the past I would to various places in Tanzania and instead of carrying money on the person I would carry my ATM card but I would forget the code number. It would be very upsetting / embarrassing to withdraw money. I would remember Sai Baba and find the small scribbled no slip and proceed with my activity with grace and confidence. Once I happen to visit an accidental case in a hospital about 100 km from my place with my official camera. I met couple of injured persons talked to them and resumed my journey back to my place. After Lunch & traveling for about one hour I realized that I have misplaced the camera. So I tried to go all the places I had visited in search of camera feeling very bad for the loss. I submitted to the excellence of SAI BABA and visited the hospital ward and found out that person who had guided me in the hospital was gone smashing all the hopes of recovering the lost camera. But as a last resort I remembered Sai Baba and visited the ward and to my great surprise I found camera kept safely by one of the injured person. My joy knew no bounds.
Amuda Murthy
I want to share my experience and knowing about BABA. In the year 2007 my son appeared for the 12th CBSE exam. On that year I was so upset and also worried about my son’s result. One of my friends told me that you visit Shirdi there will be change in your and your son’s life. After finishing the exams, in the month of May we visited Shirdi first time. My husband gone to book the tickets and rang up and told that there is no tickets available in Tatkal even. I told him to book the ticket for the available date. Again he stands in another Q for booking the tickets, the counter man asked where you want to go and when? My husband told I want to go to Shirdi and I am not getting tickets in Tatkal even for 17th May. He told my husband that I will book you ticket for the 17th itself but you should not by any reason cancel your trip as you are going to Shirdi. At that time I was unable to understand that Baba is doing all this and I got the ticket for the 17th May itself. My friend told me to get down in Manmad and take bus or taxi and go to Shirdi. So we were supposed to go to Manmad only. When we boarded the train, in our compartment itself a couple is also going to Shirdi and told us that they are going to get down in Kopergaon and take sharing auto to Shirdi. They told that they have also purchased Tatkal ticket up to Kopergaon and it was printed in the ticket. But when we saw our tickets Manmad is not written, it was up to Goa so we can also get down at Kopergaon. This is also Baba grace. After having Kakad arti, evening darshan, evening arti and we came back to Delhi. We have not faced any difficulty in accommodation, darshan, etc. We never felt that we have first time visited Shirdi.
After two days my son’s result declared. I was surprised to see that my son got compartment in Economics subject. But I was not disappointed I thought this was also Baba’s wish and it was true because my son appeared the compartment exam and secure 86% and was highest in the school and his percentage is gone high. After seeing the result my eyes was full of tears. If one have faith on Baba and have shraddha and saburi will get every thing in life.
Weekly Question:
Q. How do you see and experience Sri Saibaba in your daily life?
A. Meera
What a great question! BABA is way of my life. I feel as if BABA is present in my every breath! I am amazed to see how BABA grants me my wish! In this month of February, here in Sierra Vista AZ, it started a warm weather though it is wintertime. I thought there should be some snow at least for a couple of time before the winter period is over. And LO! Out of nowhere the weather changed drastically and it snowed, of course the snow melted the very next day! I was little bit disheartened. BABA could not see me sad. It again snowed yesterday all day and there is snow settled on our cars and I can see all the mountain ranges from my apartment windows, they are all covered with a white blanket!
Very impossible things have taken place in my life that makes me feel BABA is caring for my happiness, every moment of my life. The way my bothering issues are resolved, surely proves that some divine intervention is making it happen in my favor. I have a strong belief that even in future I will be granted such contented happiness blessing me as a child of BABA.
Sai Vichaar For Thursday, Feb 28 2013
Feature: Being Original
Sri Saibaba attained Mahasamadhi over 94 years ago. While only a few handful of people visited Baba’s tomb in Shirdi the days following his demise, today Shirdi is one of the most visited places on earth and Sri Sai’s tomb is a shrine to millions of people all over the world. Today, His holy shrine is gold clad, studded with diamonds and a splendor for the eyes of the visitors. Places of pilgrimage usually assume importance due to Temples or place of worship that are built by a few rich patrons as a token of their gratitude towards their chosen deities. Some places become seats of worship due to pontifical hierarchy that is the feature of certain religions. It takes several years, or even centuries before a place assumes importance worth a pilgrimage.
Shirdi and Sri Sai appear to be an exception to the above. The world is witnessing this phenomenal growth of Shirdi Sai movement, all within a century of Baba’s demise. Today, there are Sri Saibaba temples all over the world and the numbers are increasing every year. The spark that manifested by itself over 100 years ago in Shirdi is slowly consuming the world over questioning the conventions of religions. How is Saibaba worshipped? As a god of the religions? Or God the absolute? Or perhaps as a man who spent his entire life caring for others? He didn’t find any religions or institutions or hermitages. He never called anyone a disciple, nor he called himself a guru. There were no successors, nor predecessors. It was left for the experience and imagination of the beholder. Everyone sees Baba from his or her own background of beliefs, culture and convictions, while the truth remains that Saibaba of Shirdi is the most distinctive saint of our age.
A euphemism in praise of the Hindu god Vishnu comes to one’s mind while wondering about Saibaba. “Svayambhuh”, one who manifests Himself by His own free will, Sri Saibaba of Shirdiis the most unique saint, unmistakably original, as someone that never existed before nor there will be one after.
Contributed Article: How to be in closer relationship with Baba?
Devotees of Shri Shirdi Sai often ask a question to me - "How to be in closer relationship with Baba?". I have seen them striving in their own way to be close to Shri Sai, even if they are not aware as to what it would mean to be close to Shri Sai. Basically, it is an emotional rapport they would like to develop. The various methods they adopt, according to their stages of consciousness, strength of will, inborn and acquired qualities and faith in Baba, immensely vary. It is true that the relationship of each disciple with Baba i.e. God will be unique and there cannot be exact second relationship. However, in all such relationships it is seen that the existence of certain common denominators and qualities are a prerequisite. If the devotees understand these qualitative prerequisites, which would entail them to be closely drawn by Baba, then the treading of the path would be simpler.
The first such quality as I feel is faith in Him. Mere intellectual faith acquired over a period of time by reading books, discussions etc., may develop certain amount of conviction in him, but this level of faith is not enough. Even though at the earlier stages it may be necessary. People are often seen saying, even publicly, that "I can sacrifice my life for Baba" or that "In this world I can depend on nobody except Him fully". However, if we closely observe their lifestyle, the way they interact with people, their reaction to adversities of others, their reaction to individuals and groups around them in the society, one would find that their proclaimed convictions are mere exercise in substance less assertiveness.
If the faith in Baba is genuine, they would not be indulging in the manipulations they do in relation to other people being fully aware that Baba many times forbade people/reprimanded devotees for committing such acts to satisfy their smallest of interest. We have to watch whether we are acting truthfully, howsoever difficult, according to the advise of Baba. Faith reflects in everyday reality. It is not a mental luxury or a philosophical dream. Therefore, let us seriously think about this strength of our faith in Baba.
(Source: Compilation of Messages & Question-Answers in Sai Faith by Shri C.B.Satpathy)
Contributed Article: 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 or sign up to volunteer for this cause.
For more information write to Help to EndureSM
support team at maildrop(at)saibaba.org