"Ruso mama priyambika,
majavaree pithaahi ruso..
ruso mama priyanganaa priyasuthaathmajaahi ruso.."

The ancient Hindu scriptures proclaim that of all the means to realize God, the path of devotion or Bhakthi Maarga is the most suitable for modern times. Although this can be interpreted in several ways depending on one’s religious views, the abstract of the content seem to transcend the boundaries of religion.

Gaining knowledge by reading scriptures might make one a scholar, or learned. However, it does confer one a sense of "learnedness", a form of ego. On the other hand, Bhakthi Maarga or the path of devotion commences with the acceptance of the superior nature of God and proceeds with the single-minded goal of realizing that God pervades everything. This is accomplished by constant contemplation, known as Saadhana or an intense pursuit.

This simple path to the spiritual awareness is quite common to most of the religions, with their own variations. It is accepted that one need to have the guidance of Guru in their spiritual pursuits. During this intense pursuit, one becomes very aware of the importance of self-surrender. Self-surrender to Guru is believed to benefit the seeker in his pursuit of self-realization, thereby achieving the purpose a life may have. Self-surrender may not be a passive resignation that arises out of inability to deal with one’s duties and responsibilities.

Sadguru Sainath said that pursuit of God and renunciation that arises out of weakness and selfishness is sinful. On the other hand, the surrender of the self is an active pursuit wherein the seeker realizes the importance of Guru God and recognizes Him as his utmost priority. Sadguru Sainath's evening Aarthi glorifies this concept with the phrase, "Oh Sainath, please do not leave me and be with me even if my spouse, parents, children, and siblings forsake me".
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Contributed Article: Universality of Love

Contributed by Anitha Kandukuri, Canberra, Australia

As children, we were taught that God is one. All the roads lead to a common goal "liberation" and different Nationalities and religious practices call Him with different names. We are aware of this fact, and yet when there is a debate about religion and belief we lose our temper, peace of mind and argue till we go hoarse only to prove our method of worship and religion is superior to others point of view. We lack tolerance and are egotistical. This attitude is the main root cause for fights, killings and genocide. Do we really understand God, or is it only an act put up to show people we are part of a herd who fear God and are one among the many who get dispelled by uncertainties hence drag God into our conversation and use HIS name in passing? God does have a caste, religion and nationality, shocking isn't it? God's religion is LOVE, HIS caste is HUMANITY, and His nationality is UNIVERSE.

Shirdi Sai BABA the, Sadguru during his time knew that amongst the people of the various races, who visited him something like hereditary antipathy subsisted particularly between two major races, Hindus and Muslims and this very often burst out in riots, murders arson loot and it seems that if he had elected to adopt some of the both their ways of life and religion. His object was to draw to him people of both these races to provide for them a common ground for meeting and worship so that all misunderstandings would vanish and their attention would be drawn and fixed on the one universal feature of devotion, common to both religions, that differences between them in the forms and formalities of the religions, of both would not be made much of, would be tolerated with a liberal mind on both sides, that strife and feuds would give place to unity and friendly feelings and relations. Hence Rama Navami and Urs was formed to dispel the ill feelings and sink their differences of non-essentials, methods of worship and meet as friends or brothers - sons. The difference in the forms of worship of the same god between Hindus and Muslims coupled with ignorance of his real nature and want of toleration is the root cause of all their dissensions and disputes (Saibaba the Superman - Shri Sai Sharan Anand).

BABA worked relentlessly to narrow the differences prevailing among people of different classes and practices. That is the reason why He let Hindu practices be observed in the Masjid, and allowed Muslims to recite Quaran in Masjid. Let us, as the followers of BABA, practice HIS divine teachings and spread the love to the world. Let us never indulge in talks pertaining to religion, caste or nationality. We are humans and humanitarianism is our religion, let us help, serve one another, and set an example for others to follow. Let us start this lesson at our home and teach our children the value of human life and the purpose of this birth - to serve with love. Our purpose is to help people, and show compassion. A Compassionate person is richer than a billionaire. WE are endowed with richness of this compassion in our Sai family, let us pray for others and help those in need. Riches perish in a wink and as we use it, but the qualities of love, compassion and service - the more we use them, the richer we get.

May BABA guide us in this true path of love, humanitarianism and spread it all over the universe. Love is contagious, Love is addictive, and a compassionate person is never a loner. A compassionate and loving person views the whole universe pervaded by his relations. Service to these relations is service to our lord SAINATH, for HE said "He, who sees Me in all these creatures is My beloved. So abandon the sense of duality and distinction"(Sai Satcharitha).

Contributed Poem: Devotion

Contributed by Nitesh Srivastava

The power of Karma,
The soul, which is Dharma,
And the knowledge of the omniscient,
Is sufficient to dispel your ignorance,
And entice your mind towards wisdom and devotion,

Devotion, which flows like Ganges,
When there is overwhelming emotion.
The Ganges purify your thoughts and soul
And you enter the world of devotion.
A world, which is a test of your temptation and determination,
A world where Maya (illusion) lures you,
To forsake your path of righteousness,
It’s a world where only your faith and belief in Sadguru
Helps you to steer away from course of embracing Maya.
The fruit relished in this world is self-realization,
Which may ultimately lead to HIS realization.
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Experiences of Devotees

A Sai devotee
I would like to share our latest experience with my Sai family and pray to Baba to answer each one of his child's prayers. Baba, I want to thank you for all you have done for me. Was it not for your grace Baba, my husband laid off several months back. Our employer applied for my green card. My I-140 wasn't approved when my husband was laid off. We gave up our hopes about GC. By Sai's grace, my I-140 was approved and my employer applied for my I485. All these things happened because of Sai's grace. Today my husband got a new job with Sai's blessings. Please help us Baba. Baba help him to do his work successfully. Whatever it is, I am extremely grateful to Baba. Baba, thank you very much and please be with me always. Thank you Baba, please take of your children. Om Sai Jai Jai Sai.

Sai devotee
Jai Sai !I have always been an ardent follower of Sri Sai Baba. He has been kind enough to shower his blessings on a sinful person like me. My husband was laid off last year (Software) in California. I prayed to Sai and asked him not to punish my husband for my wrong doings. My husband got another job within three months in another company in Detroit, but we had to stay apart as I am also working(got this Job by Grace of Baba)in California. I cried each day unable to bear this painful separation praying Sai to help me. Three months back (in August), one of my friends mentioned about reading Sai Satcharita and somehow I thought I should read it. I started reading Sai Satcharita and within two weeks I got good news that the previous company of my husband wanted him back. My joy knew no bounds. I continued reading Sai Satcharitha for eight weeks and everything worked out smooth as expected. We will both be together soon. Thank You Sai ! I have no words to explain my happiness. Please continue to protect us and fulfill all our sincere wishes..Sarvae jana Sukino Bhavanthu.

Sai devotee
I had the following experience about Baba.
One morning I told my wife that I felt, the previous night, I saw Baba in my dream. Baba's face and beard were distinctly clear to me in my dream and being the first such experience to see Him in my dream I was hesitant to reveal this to her . Seeing my doubting mood mu wife confirmed that it was Baba only that I saw. The previous night before going to sleep she had prayed ( unknown to me ) to Baba to give us some token of his presence with us and Baba answered that prayer in this decisive and unique way.Our pranams to Baba.

Mythraeyi, Sunnyvale,CA
I would like to share one of my experiences with other devotees of Shri Sai Baba. My niece who is just 14 months old is suffering from fever continuously for one week. Initially doctors suspected meningitis so all of us were very worried. One day (thursday) when I was in office, I was struck by a thought and called my husband who was at home to put a little bit of Baba's 'vibuthi' on a photo of my niece. That evening when I called home, I was told that the doctors had ruled out meningitis completely - although she is still under observation in hospital. This was a big relief for all of us and I thank Sai Baba for this. I continue to pray to him to make my little niece completely alright quickly and continue to shower his blessings on our family.

I would also like to add that this newsletter is doing a great job in spreading Baba's teachings and I look forward to receiving it every Thursday.
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Devotees say...

Vikas and Preeti
My sister-in-law and her husband went to India for a holiday where she showed to a skin specialist for a minor skin infection. The doctor who happens to be quite well known there gave her a medicine, which she took for a month when she came back to US. Couple of days later she started suffering from fever and chills and was admitted to a hospital in US. Doctors there were astonished to see the medicine she was prescribed because that medicine is used to cure severe cases of leprosy and reported that she never needed any medicine in this case as the infection would go away on it's own. She was admitted to ICU as her liver stopped functioning since the medicine had a direct impact on it. Doctors started talking of liver transplant if liver did not respond in the next few days. At this point of time, I had the fortune to act as a host to Baba's Chitra Yatra currently underway in UK and had Baba’s portrait in my home. My wife and I humbly bowed before HIM and asked HIM to forgive us for our sins and shower HIS grace. I was reminded of Sai Vichaar and it's community of devotees who are always there to help. I called up Mukund Raj Ji in US and requested them if Baba’s udi could be sent to her in Toledo. In those most anxious and unforgettable times, Mukund Raj Ji very patiently heard the problem and said 'She will be fine' and 'Baba’s udi is on its way'. From the next day onwards we started hearing good news - her fever abated from 104 to 98, blood reports started showing improvement, liver started responding and it became normal in the next few days. She received Baba’s udi and HIS pictures as well and within a week, she was discharged from the hospital. My wife and myself would like to bow humbly before our BABA who has previously also shown many miracles to us and thank his devotees who acted as HIS messengers during these times. Om Sai Ram.

A Sai Devotee
I want to share my feelings with all the devotees. I want to thank my Guru and Father Baba. We are in terrible situation for the past one and half year without having job. We kept faith on Baba which atlast came true by giving a good job. The only thing we should do is just keep trust on Baba that one or the other day he will give a fruit for out wait. Its all we can give to our Lord is Nishta and Saburi. I once again pray Baba to spread peace and joy all over the world. And don't forget us.
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Prayer Club

A Sai Devotee
Baba, Our Merciful Baba, please continue to shower your grace and blessing on us. Please give us the strength to be able to differentiate between what is right and wrong in life so that we will be better human beings in life and will not end up repeating our past mistakes or do new ones that will cause us to hurt our loved ones and make them very unhappy. May our mind always be focus on giving devotion to God.

Sai Vijayadevan, Hyderabad India
Baba, Lord please shower blessings on us and help me come out of this grave situation. You have been showering your blessings for the past many years. I feel isolated and you are the only one who can help me come out of this difficult situation. I have no one but you. I request the sai devotees the world over to pray for my family and me to come out of this grave situation.

Sai Devotee
Baba, you have always been there with me and helped me in every phase of my life. These days you know I am going through a bad phase both professionally and personally. Please help and guide me, show me the way that will leads me out of this. HELP ME BABA.

Sai Devotee
Dear Baba, please bless my family and thank you for answering one of recent request. Baba I have applied for one job, please help me to get that position. I really need this job dear lord. Dear devotees please say a moment of prayer for me to get this job. I need to support the family and I badly need this job. Please bless us. Om Sai Sri Sai Jaya Jaya Sai!

Kim Marie Simmons
Please pray for me. I need a miracle. A complete and total healing of mind body and soul. I pray to be filled with Gods love and share it with others. I ask God to reveal himself to me, thanks and God bless you.

A Sai devotee
Baba, Thanks for saving us from a major accident today when we are returning from temple. Let my wife get a good score in the competitive exam she is preparing for. Let my roommates get good jobs soon. Let me finish my project as fast as possible.

A Sai Devotee
Baba only you know what I want...please Baba complete my family...please show me some miracle....I have full faith in you, don't let me down Baba.

A Sai Devotee
Please pray on behalf of me as I have got some financial problems. Om Sainath has to give me strength to withhold my feelings. Om Sainath please give me with good results. Om Sainath, Om Sainath, Om Sainath.

A Sai Devotee
I am very sad and depressed in my life. Please all I want is that our papers go right, let them give our work permit.Please atleast that will make us happy. We are too depressed right now and I feel so guilty now, everytime I think about our papers. Please Baba dont let me think of it anymore. Pleaee just give us a work permit quickly my Lord. Help me,I need your help very much. I hope my prayers will be anwers soon.
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Quotation of the Week
It is all very well to talk of one's own true self being the Guru, said Baba but the real self is so deeply overshadowed by the ego which is full of contradictions that it is very difficult to get behind this overbearing selfhood to reach the hidden potentiality of the divine self. The Guru on the contrary accepts the sadhaka's limitations and slowly but surely helps him to transcend these and reach his goal. Even Shri Raman a Maharishi who had advocated the path of self-enquiry which is the pat of gnan, said in his last years: "If you surrender to me, I shall lead you to the portal of eternal liberation" by Mani Sahukar in her book Saibaba: The Saint of Shirdi
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Question of the Week

Q. What is the significance of Kabir religion?

Ravin Gnanasambandam, Minnesota, USA

A. The cryptic God of Shirdi many a times dumbfounded the listeners with remarks that were relevant only to those the replies were aimed at. Those who have taken Baba's words literally did not go any further in unearthing the "truth" whether it was about who Baba's parents were or who was Baba's Guru. Nevertheless, these attempts have shed more light on the mystic God of Shirdi and in the process making the pursuit of Sai more interesting if not puzzling.

Baba's mention about Kabir panth is referred in Sai literature prominently although Baba perhaps mentioned that only once in Dhulia during an interrogation involving a robbery case that Baba had to testify. Kabir, the poet philosopher, was quite expressive in his non-dualistic philosophy of existence and stood out from others from the crop due to his unequivocal denial of religious rooting. Renowned Sai researcher and author V.B. Kher refers to other citations in "Saibaba: His divine glimpse", a recent book on Baba as follows: "Kabir's abstract utterances have their roots in Shankar's non-dualistic philosophy on which he has erected the superstructure of his mysticism, whereas his agony and unconditional love of the unknown has is moorings in Sufism. However, there is a marked difference in the approach of Kabir and tat of Saibaba. Kabir was a rebel poet who protested against the entire thought and action of orthodoxy, and because of his bitter commentary on the hollowness of organized religion he was hounded by Muslims and Hindu leaders alike, whereas Saibaba's approach to both these religions is syncretic. Assimilating the best in both Hinduism and Islam, he blended into his life every acceptable feature of both. Therefore, he has come to be accepted unhesitatingly by a large majority of Hindus. The Muslims too recognize him as a powerful Wali and pay respects to him".

Sainath of Shirdi has not involved himself in a rebellious denial of any structure. On the other hand, his subtle nuances impregnated with profound truth were enough to slowly but surely convince one in his path. This is one reason why the epitome of humility has emerged as the strongest positive force in spiritual upliftment of mankind that is beyond the confines of Religion.
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Sai Activities

Shri Shirdi Sai Thaali for India – A Holiday Gift Service from www.saibaba.org
Shirdi Sai Thaali is a unique gift giving opportunity for devotees residing in far away land to their loved ones in India. This service includes sending a gift package consisting of Sai material including books, magazines, audiotapes, CDs and pictures of Saibaba in a custom made platter consecrated at Shirdi.
Sending a gift is an act of giving. Giving develops detachment. Keeping in line with our mission, the Thaali concept is developed after careful consideration and deliberation and around material relating to Shri Sai Baba. The results of this program can only be measured by the happiness and peace one gets when one receives the thaali. Talking to someone who has actually received a Thaali and knowing their feelings only will make one realize the true value of Shri Shirdi Sai Thaali.
We hope that Sai devotees around the world will use this opportunity to send Shri Shirdi Sai Thaali to the beloved in India this holiday season. To request a Shri Shirdi Sai Thaali, please visit http://www.saibaba.org. For any questions or concerns, please contact us by email at support@saibaba.org. Saibaba.org is a Non-profit organization.

Shirdi Sai Baba Prayer Center, Kendall Park, NJ
Saibaba.org invites you to join for Sai puja, bhajans, Saicharitra readings, aarti and prasad every sunday at Durga Mandir,Kendall Park, NJ from 11am-1pm. For further details or directions contact Kumad Sachdev at (732) 257-1438, Shyam Addanki at (610) 648-0191 or email us at maildrop@saibaba.org.

Saidarbar Activties, Hyderabad
On October 5, at Shri Shirdi Sai Mandir, Sivanagar Colony, Secunderabad; October 7-9 at Shri Shirdi Sai Mandir, Dilsukhnagar, Hyderabad; on October 10 at: Shri Shirdi SaiBaba Mandhir, Gayatrinagar, MoulaAli, Hyderabad, on October 12 at Siddarthanagar, Hyderabad, and on October 15 at Shri Shirdi SaiBaba Mandhir, Maruthinagar, Kapra, Secunderabad.

SAI'S NEWS FROM THE TIME MACHINE:
October 1,1918: Baba asked a devotee by name Vaze to read ' RamaVijay' (by Shridhar Swami) and listened to it for 14 days.
October 8,1918: A tiger met its death at the feet and presence of Sai Baba and was emancipated.
October 15, Tuesday 1918: On Vijaya Dashmi, Saibaba left His mortal coil at about 2:30 p.m. A few minutes before, He gave Rs.9/- as charity to Laxmibai Shinde.
October 16,Wednesday 1918: Early morning Baba appeared to Das Ganu at Pandharpur in dream and said " The Dwarakamai has collapsed and all the oilmen and grocers have troubled Me a lot. So I am leaving the place. Go there quickly and cover My body copiously with flowers".
October 16,Wednesday 1918: Early morning Baba appeared to Laxman Mama in dream and said," Get up quickly, Bapusaheb Jog thinks that I am dead and he won't come, so you do My worship and Kakada Arati".

Shirdi Sai Baba Chitra Yatra And Weekly Satsang, Canada
Devotees in Toronto, are invited to please join us in Sai bhajans, Sai Namavali, Saicharitra readings Aarti and Prasad every Thursday from 6:30pm to 8:00pm. For venue and directions, call 416 402 8089. Devotees can participate in Shri Shirdi Sai Chitra Yatra currently underway in Toronto and Calgary. To invite Baba to your home and for further details contact Shammi Chopra at 416 402 8089 or saileela99@yahoo.com, m_narasimhan@hotmail.com or visit www.saibaba.org

Shri Shirdi Sai Chitra Yatra in UK
Devotees may participate in Shri Shirdi Sai Chitra Yatra currently underway in UK. To invite Baba to your home and for further details please contact Manu Bajaj at bajaj_manu@yahoo.com or call at +44 7905 933 489 in Wembley, UK

Shri Shirdi Sai Chitra Yatra in USA
"Shri Shirdi Sai Chitra Yatra(Pictorial Journey)", started in USA on Jan 01, 2002. With anchor points across USA concurrently participating from day one, this unique event is off to a great start.

The journey which involves the ceremonial travel of Baba in the form of a portrait will stop at all Baba devotees homes who are interested in being a host to his protrait. The Yatra which will run till fall of this year, is open to one and all. There is no fees or charges involved to take part in this event. You may participate either as a host home or serve as an anchor point in your community.

Vist online at yatra page for all the details and to register.

For questions, comments, suggestions or to get details on an Anchor home in your area, send us an email at maildrop@saibaba.org with the subject line of "Shri Sai Chitra Yatra".
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