Thursday, Mar 14, 2013
Quote:
“Whenever, a devotee had complete and whole-hearted devotion to Sai Baba, all his calamities and dangers were warded off and his welfare attended to by Baba”-Shri Sai Satcharita
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:
April 19th, the 9th day of Shukla paksha (waxing moon phase) in the Hindu month of Chaitra, is designated for Sri Ramnavami festival and will be celebrated in Shirdi Sai temples across the world.
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:
Ameet
Jai Sai Ram, Thanks for your love and care my lovely Baba. Thanks for harmony that you providing us. Jai Sai Ram
Vidya Rao
Baba, thank you for giving my son good health and bringing us safely to India - please see that my son settles in the school and to Indian lifestyle soon. Please protect my father and mother always. Jai Sai Ram.
Rani
Sai Bandhus, It is our fondest hope and desire to build a temple with Baba in our small community. To seek the blessings, we have started a Sai Koti Yagnam. This is likitha Japa of Sai namas in a book. Please write to mkrani.at.hotmail.com with a request for the books. We will mail them to you and request that completed books be mailed back. Jai Sairam!
Nirmala
Sairam. Thank you for being with me through my two operations done simultaneously. This happened in the year 2011.
Devotees Experience:
Lorraine Walsh- Ryan
My brother (who does not believe in Shirdi Sai) was on tour in Goa in January this year. My brother had an anaphylactic attack, which rendered him senseless. With divine guidance, he made his way to a clinic across from our hotel, I was woken by the Reception staff and ran to the hospital to be told by someone there, "your brother may not make it". When I saw Jeff my brother, his whole face was very swollen, eyes closed and there was a lady and man in attendance, shaking their heads saying "no hope". I had my Sai Satcharita with me and Udi, which I spread all over Jeff and placed the book on him, urging Baba not to let my young brother die. The doctor stated that there were going to give him an injection and pray that it would work or Jeff would pass. After the shot, Jeff moved his eyes and looked at me, we had to continue to talk to him, not allowing him to sleep. An ambulance then transported Jeff to another hospital, where the conditions were diabolical to say the least. Jeff was responding but his face was still very swollen. When the doctors finally arrived at 8 am, they looked at Jeff's throat, while Jeff was in the room I sat outside praying to my Baba, when I heard the aarti playing over the TV in another room. I felt my Baba was with us. They wanted Jeff to stay in the hospital for 24 hours more, but due to the ghastly conditions (it being so dirty and uncared for, the stench unbearable, the staff inactive and uncaring), we decided to discharge Jeff and we went back to the hotel. On arrival at the hotel, Jeff's body was then covered with a rash. I ran to the Reception and asked them if there was a private hospital nearby, to which they said there was but we would have to take a cab to it. We did. Jeff's face was still swollen but he could utter a few words. On walking into this clean hospital, the first thing I noted at the front desk was a picture of my Baba, my heart leapt in joy. The doctor was kindly and saw Jeff immediately, prescribing a lotion for his body and a pill to take. Every room that we entered in this hospital; there were statues of Baba. Jeff swallowed a pill and we proceeded to go back to the hospital, but not by cab, Jeff wanted to walk it back. We did, it took us 45 minutes and by that same evening, after putting the lotion all over Jeff, he was completely cured. I consider this to be another miracle from my Beloved Shirdi Sai and this was confirmed over facebook to me last week, when the first clinic doctor that we saw, wrote to us stating the miracle of Sai. While Jeff does not believe in Baba, I did request Jeff to say "Thank you Shirdi Saibaba", and Jeff obliged. Baba is ever with me, as a human I falter much, but Baba knows my heart, for that is where He resides. Pranams to my Beloved Shirdi Sai.
Priya
Few days back I was celebrating my fiancé birthday. He asked me where to go, suddenly my mind click on to go for Sai temple to get blessings but I didn't asked him to do so... but its my Sai blessings we ultimately reach over there. With the grace of Sai and his blessings I became very happy and thanked Sai for being with me all the time and listens me every time... thanks and love u Sai. Always be with me.
Pratibha
Way back in November/December 2009, I was facing lots of problems in my personal and professional life, I was very upset and wanted to speak to BABA to understand his plans for me. Though I used to cry a lot could not get any message or rather I was not able to understand his indications as surrounded in my own sorrow and low confidence and faith. But in January 2010, I cried in Baba mandir in NR Colony, Bangalore, India asking him to answer me. I was attending my MCSE classes in Jayanagar, few days later of my visit to Baba Mandir when I was parking my two wheeler next to a house, saw a white envelop with few foot prints and tire prints, thought it should be belonging to the house but by mistake has fallen out side on road. I picked it to drop it inside the compound. Oh Baba, what do I see? a prasad envelop from Shirdi! My joy knew no bounds and very next moment it was more surprising and my tears were just about to cry on road, miracle was there was printed from address - Shirdi and no to address but it had all the way come from Shirdi to Jayanagar, Bangalore. The seal on the envelope was nearer to the day I had been to Baba Mandir. Baba answered me saying do not worry I am with you and as an indication sent prasad all the way from Shirdi without to address and made me pick that envelop in midst of such huge crowd. He is amazing.
Baba, I need to here confess that in between I had lost hope and my faith in you had diminished as a result I know the kind of mental, physical tortures that I had gone through but now my faith upon you is back on track. I am pretty sure that you are waiting for the right time to solve all the problems in my personal and professional life the obstacles and blocks which are purposefully placed by people around will be removed by you and till that time and even after that you will bless me and my family.
Weekly Question:
Q. Out of devotees of Sri Saibaba depicted in Sri Saibaba literature who do you like most and why?
A.) by Kiranmayi
Like or dislike gives rise to concept of judging people. If one rather practices to discuss situations or stories objectively versus subjectively it helps one cultivate a better focused approach and helps in being better citizens of this planet. Coming from that angle, in my opinion each story that was captured in Sai Satcharitra is to serve a certain situation in someone else's life and guide them as it is told in Mahabharat that each character depicted is to symbolize different characters that is going to be encountered in Kali Yuga.
Sai Vichaar For Thursday, Feb 28 2013
Feature: Why is it difficult to keep the trust in one place?
When prayers to Sri SaiBaba are answered, one gets overwhelmed with emotion, singing praises of gratitude to Baba. However, if the prayers are unanswered, the trust in Baba is watered down and there goes the roller coaster of living between fleeting happiness and a doubtful despair. Why does not one rest easy, assured that Baba will provide what is necessary and guide throughout life?
The first question to contemplate on is, whether one's trust is in Baba and Baba alone? More often people do several other things and practices in addition to praying to Baba and when the prayers are answered they are not quite sure if the source of solace is Saibaba or something else. They settle for an easy explanation that "all is well that ends well". Baba said emphatically and unequivocally that God has entrusted him with a few lives and his job is to take care of their welfare. He also said that unless he wills nobody can go to him. Hence, first of all, one should be hundred percent convinced about the fact that he or she is attracted to Baba because it is Baba's calling, and it is his business to take care of them.
Secondly, during distress, after praying to Baba for relief, one should pay attention to the response received. Whether the prayers are answered or not, one needs to carefully observe its impact in the bigger context of one's life, not just short-term gains or losses. This is when Baba's meticulous way of planning our lives will reveal itself. One begins to ease, and rest happily and begin to lead the life with the conviction that Baba is providing everything and he is taking care of us every step of the way. The question whether the prayers are answered or not answered takes a backseat and one begins to joyously wonder about the peace that Baba is capable of brining into one's life.
Thirdly and most importantly, one should work on keeping the chattering of the mind at bay. Mind can be man's biggest enemy in the matters of trust. It is good at distorting one's experiences with its narrow judgment. It is very easy to give in to mind's vagaries when things go wrong and the logic based on limited knowledge points towards illusory conclusions as a result of negative thinking and doubting nature. When a prayer is not answered, one devoted to Sai should remember that he or she belongs to Baba and it is his business to care for the welfare, and recollect the previous instances of Baba's guidance and guardianship, and the rich experiences that Baba had provided. Constant remembrance of Baba and involving in activities related to Baba is one easy way of keeping mind somewhat under control.
If one would reflect on the above, it can be understood that trust is not a remote feeling of "blind chance" that things will "somehow" work out. On the other hand, trust is a concrete experience of Baba's role in our lives that can be intellectually understood and relished to one's complete conviction!
Contributed Article: Children take complete liberty with parents at times. Can a disciple also take that kind of liberty with his Guru?
There are various stages of relationship between the sadguru and disciples. Such relationship grows slowly but surely as one travels along the path taking the Guru as guide or father. One need not try always to know about this level of relationship as it may create happiness or unhappiness, and may make a man egoistic because of his special relationship with his Guru. The internal guidance and support that the master gives cannot be known easily by the disciple. Love is a spontaneous feeling of heart and the liberty that a devotee takes with his master has to be spontaneous. Before taking the liberties with the sadguru as His child, one has to work like His child - that is to take the responsibilities of his father and imbibe the qualities of the father. Is he prepared? It is not the "childish" but child-like quality that is appreciated by the Master. Baba had once asked a pertinent question to His devotees at Shirdi " How many devotees can be as good devotees to Baba as Baba was to His Guru?" The child or the ankita Santana of the Master has to have the divine qualities of the Master.
Shri Sai Satcharitha is full of examples of some of the children of Baba taking liberties with Him. Tatya Patil used to show his anger towards Baba and Shama used to use language, which even friends would not ordinarily dare to utter before other friends. Baba also used to joke with them and tolerated all their impertinence because of their mutual bondage of pure and strong love. Shri Sai Satcharitha is full of jokes that Baba used to cut with His devotees.
(Source: Baba -May I Answer" - 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