Sai Vichaar is a Weekly newsletter distributed every Thursday and is devoted to the life, philosophy and teachings of Shri Sai Baba of Shirdi. Feel free to forward this newsletter to your interested associates in its original form.

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IN THIS ISSUE:

• FEATURE OF THE WEEK
• CONTRIBUTED ARTICLE
• DEVOTEES SAY
• PRAYER CLUB
• EXPERIENCE OF DEVOTEES
• QUOTATION OF THE WEEK
• QUESTION OF THE WEEK
• SAI ACTIVITIES
• FROM THE EDITORS KEYBOARD

FEATURE OF THE WEEK: Sai Temples

A number of temples of Saibaba are being built around the world. These are not just temples but the branches of ever expanding wonderful tree of Sai devotion. These temples should not be limited to mere places of Sai worship and bhajans; but should develop into anchors that instrument the awakening and spreading of the unique Sai tradition. These temples should develop into the abode of invaluable spiritual principles that Saibaba stood for and not mere places of convenient ritualistic formalities. One should not indulge in wasteful deliberations such as whether the temple built should be a replica of Shirdi Mandir, if one should install Dhuni like in Shirdi or how to perform all aarthis like the way they are performed in Shirdi. Sai temples should imbibe the idealistic path of Saibaba and glorify the significance of sacred Sai tradition that made Shirdi into a place of pilgrimage. To accomplish this awareness requires Sai's grace and our efforts should be to earn the grace by knowing and imbibing the values Saibaba represents. There should be a strong sense of community and everyone should feel that the temple belongs to all. Everyone will have comforts and inconveniences when it comes to managing a Sai temple. However, if we get rid of the feelings of "ours' and "yours", most issues do not sprout into problems. Such a sacred, goodwill seeking, happy and fulfilling transformation is the result of Saibaba's grace and His grace alone. With that awareness, we have to pray to secure Sai grace that fulfills our wishes.

(Source: Translated from "Sai Bhakthi Saadhana Rahasyam" (The Secret of Sai Bhakthi Saadhana) in Telugu -- by Sri Sarathbabu ji)

CONTRIBUTED ARTICLE: Rituals

Ritual, if seen from outside the realm of religion, is nothing but a set of practices conditioned by culture and convenience. Rituals are important means of communicating with Sadguru who is none else than God. For the mind immersed in logic, outwardly, rituals may appear as superficial practices, but they impart a definite structure to the way a devotee conditions himself/herself to communicating with the Sadguru. Rituals slowly but surely transform one giving the rare opportunity of having Sadguru's glimpse in one's own personal way.

Sai devotion may appear to pose a unique challenge to any onlooker drawn into the Shirdi God's fold. What rituals are to be performed? How are they performed? Must one always perform all the aarthis to Baba? Should one participate in Satsangs? Is it just enough to do naam jap? Or is it mandatory to perform shodasopachaara pooja to Saibaba of Shirdi? Is abhishek to Baba is a Hindu ritual and if so, is it OK to structure Baba's prayers within the conforms of a particular religion?

How does one reach the Sadguru God of Shirdi who refuses to fit into a religion? The answer is simple; through any structured practice with love, truth, honesty and an intense yearning to be with Sadguru. If such a practice is known as a Hindu ritual or a Kalma recital, so be it! Nevertheless, a structured practice is always useful as discipline is a mandatory phase in pursuit of Sadguru. Nama jap is as powerful a tool for a saadhaka as is performing any other ritual. No one ritual is superior to the other. They all serve the same purpose if the underlying intention is the same. Rituals should not be considered as intimidating because of the way they are performed, neither are they a measure of scholarship. Rituals are not compulsive bursts of activities to just fit a timeframe. If there is love and devotion to Sadguru, there are no compulsions. If someone feels compelled, the love and devotion is not complete.

There is a tendency to dismiss rituals as hypocritical since sometimes they are performed without completely knowing what they truly mean. What good meanings can do if the true involvement is just a pretense? The perception of "bhaavatheeth", the attributeless, through any "bhava" is not an additive function of even all the means at our disposal. However, great souls have accomplished this very easily. The all-important experience of Sadguru starts where our "bhava" exhausts.

Saibaba's method of instruction is unique and individualized. Most importantly, Baba never allowed anyone to interfere with the way others' did their service to God. A true Sai satsang is one where there is enormous love and devotion for Baba that sees Sai in every ritual. The love and devotion that is natural and unsolicited. A Satsang that perhaps uses every means and tries to provide everyone the opportunity to realize Sadguru in his or her own way beyond the barriers of language, culture or social status. A Sai devotee always nurtures the above with the intention of sharing his/her love and devotion to His Majesty, the king of the kings and the most benevolent, Sadguru Sainath Maharaj of Shirdi. Bow to Sri Sai Peace be to all.

(Contributed by Ravin Gnanasambandam, Coon Rapids, MN)

DEVOTEES SAY:

Ken
I live and work in Denver, Colorado. I teach at a school and often moonlight to supplement my income. Recently I was searching for a part-time accounting job and was getting very frustrated with lack of response from any of the companies that I applied to. I appealed to Baba very earnestly and lo!!!! I got an opportunity of a lifetime from a company that I couldn't even dream of getting into. Baba's grace is upon all of us and with 'shraddha' and 'saburi' we will certainly experience his bliss in many ways. Om Sai Ram!!

Hemang
Before my marriage, one day while passing on the road one of fakirs met me and told that, "You shall be having a darshan of Saibaba in a week's time." After two days one of my friend approached me and told that I have bought tickets to Shirdi and I have to come. This was the first experience, my second experience was that I am the Landlord and one of the tenant was finding fault for not paying the rent, the same was contested in the case, the judge's order was passed for depositing the amount in court, after three years, she again made an application that an issue may be made for standard rent. I contested the same, but before our Lawyer's arguments commenced I prayed that the said order is in our favor I shall have Sai's Darshan, and magically the same was in our favor.

Sai Devotee
I am writing this for Mamata and after reading their requests in Prayer Club. I just wanted you to know, I had the same problem a while back, I really wanted to have a baby, but my period was very irregular and the doctors said that I might have PCOS which makes it hard to conceive. I worried about it a lot initially and then finally decided to just let Sai take care of it. In a few months suddenly my periods were very regular and I conceived miraculously. Just keep your faith in Sai and let him carry your burdens, He will never let you down.

Geeta
This happened on April 14, 2006. I had gone to Guruvayoor Temple, Mulund since it was our New Year. There was no idol of Sai Baba in the Temple. I was feeling that somehow I should be able to get the darshan of Baba at that time. It was to my surprise that there were Agarbatti Packets kept near each Mandap with Sai Baba's picture printed on them. My mind was at ease at that time and I felt that Baba is always there with us, if we pray to him sincerely.

PRAYER CLUB:

Sai devotee
Koti Pranams to you dear Sai Prabhu. You have heard my prayers. Sai Deva as you know my uncle is diagonised with prostrate cancer and he was sufferring from severe pains in his legs and was not able to walk to. We all felt sorry for him to see him suffer and I was feeling very sorry for my mother who was always worried about her brother. On February 7th my husband and I went to Shirdi being our wedding anniversary day and Lord what good darshan you gave us, both the times. Each time I stood before You and during the aarthi too I became very emotional as always. I prayed to you Deva to lesten my uncle's pain and offered to Sainath a Shawl on my uncles behalf. Later I got the shawl back after Sai's blessings and gave to my mother to give to my uncle with the prasads. Next day I got a call from my mother that she gave him the shawl and the prasad and my uncle immediately wore the shawl over his shoulders and he also commenced reading the Sai SatCharita, the book he already had but had not even opened it, it is only due to Sais blessings he got the good thought to do so. Again my mother called to say his pain is better and he is able to walk.The chemotheraphy is also tolerable by him. Thank you Sainath for reducing his pain and it seems he is now able to walk outside too. I bow to your lotus feet my Saideva please be with us always and blessus al. My humble request to you is to please bless my daughter with a child.You know what she is undergoing.Please answer our prayers. Thank you Shirdi Sai Baba. Sai devotees please pray for my daughter.

Sheeba
I am very thankful to You for every little to the biggest help You have done in my life. This time I sincerely pray You Baba to help my son who is 18 months old, who is physically weak and still not talking much to be blessed with good health. He also has allergies which is bothering him a lot. He cannot eat lot of things which he should be eating which makes him all the more weak. We are taking him for a blood test next week. I pray You Baba for the reports to be normal and begging You to make him physically strong.

Sai Devotee
Baba, please help my parents and sisters at this point. We are so helpless. Why my sister became like that you only know. Baba take care of everything. Please shower blessings on us so that we can lead a peaceful life. It is exactly two years we are suffering like hell. Please take pity on us, Baba.

Geetanjali
Dear Baba, please help my parents to search good matches for my all three sisters and myself. Baba my parents are very much worried about this. Please, I promise you whatever You say I will do it. Please help my parents and please solve my friends problems. Please take away my ego and show me a good way.

A devotee
Sainath, You are my life, You are the very purpose of my existence. Baba, You know what I am going through for the last 7 months. My parents and brothers are pained and suffer because of my situation. Please Baba, bless me with your grace and I will post the experience in Sai Vichaar. I had vowed something to You and I am already performing and executing my vow knowing that surely and definitely You will fulfill Your child's desire by tomorrow. Please Baba, it is a matter of survival for me. Nothing is hidden from You, please grant me this wish. Forever in Sai seva!

Sai Devotee
Thank you for all the help You showered on me and my family. Now I have some requests. Please show the path to get a good job for my elder son. Please give him strength, concentration, patience. Also my younger son is appearing for his 12th class this year. I pray to You to help him to score a good mark. I myself is very disturbed on account of my alcoholic habit and smoking, please help me to avoid all these bad habits. I am planning to visit Shirdi with my family in June, request for a smooth Darshan. I pray to You Om Sai Nath!

Sai devotee
Om Sai Ram, on this Thursday my director called me and had expressed his unhappiness about my performace in the project. Since I had put whole week of effort on it. Oh Sai! please shower Your blessings on me and my family.

EXPERIENCE OF DEVOTEES:

LV Subbarao
In 1990/91, one of my colleague was in mourn that his daughter, aged 10 years was suffering from brain tumuor. I advised him to pray Shirdi Sai to cure the ailment and send dakshina Rs.10/- to Shirdi Sansthan. He did so.

The department referred the patient for treatment to the Scientific Institute at Mumbai that would not be so easy to get the referral especially to such highest institution for treatment. However, he did not avail the opportunity having confusions that the child may not survive even if he takes strain to go all the way despite the fact that the dept. bears all expenses. With all such ruses, the child was got operated in a local nursing home costing Rs.15, 000/- of his own. He then submitted representation for re-imbursement of medical expenses. The re-imbursement was also allowed though normally the dept. does not consider non-referral cases for reimbursement. Unfortunately the child did not survive long, even 6 months.

He said that the wife and husband are unable to bear the loss of the child and consuming sedation medicines continuously. I advised him to pray Sri Shirdi Sai to give back the same child and send Dakshina Rs.10/- to Shirdi Sansthan. He said that he has under gone family planning operation and the fact was intimated to department also. I told him to for get all that and go for re-canning immediately. He did as told and his wife conceived. At the ninth month she as usual went to the hospital for check-up and the doctor said that it would take another 3 to 4 weeks for delivery. However on the very next day the woman had to be taken to hospital due to some problem and the doctor said that she should undergo surgery and then and there only. She was thus operated and blessed with female child.

continued....
Much strange is that it was the same day exactly a year back they lost their former female child under the same Star. The child is growing hale and healthy. The couple became staunch devotees of Shirdi Sai Baba. This is evidently a Great Miracle of Shirdi Sai - the God of Gods. Glory be to Shirdi Sai Baba and grace be to all.

Rani
One of my close friends was visiting India after 3 years and needed to go to US Consulate for visa stamping. As he was on ninth year of H1 extension, he was worried if he would get the stamping or not. I prayed to Baba saying that I would do "Saptaham" by reading "Sri Sai Satcharitra" for a week and humbly requested Baba to take care of my friend's case when he visits the consulate. Due to time constraints at work, I could not read the longer version of Sri Sai Satcharitra (the one with 53 Chapters), however, I read the shorter version with the same devotion and commitment daily for one week. My saptaham ended on the same day of my friend's appointment. Baba has accepted my prayers and blessed us. My friend called me from India and informed me that he got the Visa Stamping, the whole process took less than 10 minutes with no questions asked by the officer. It's nothing less than a miracle that my friend could get the visa even though it is ninth year of visa extension. It only goes to prove that if you offer your prayers sincerely and have faith in Baba, he would take care of all your problems. Thank you very much Baba for listening to my prayers and being with me and my family and friends all the time. As promised, I will keep the Satcharitra close to my heart all the time, during both good and bad times.

QUOTATION OF THE WEEK:

"Get on with your worldly activities cheerfully but do not forget God"-Sai Baba

QUESTION OF THE WEEK:

Q. Name any incident during life of Baba which has made a lasting impression on You

A. by Lorraine Walshe-Ryan, Sydney, Australia

There is a quote from The Sai Satcharita, which is literally my Bible and has been for the last 9 years. Page 101, last paragraph titled - Encouraging Good Thoughts to Fruition: It states - "You have to surrender yourself completely to Him with love and devotion, and then you will see how He helps you, off and on, in so many things".

I have surrendered myself to Shirdi Sai completely and absolutely dedicated to Him, and yes, He has helped me in every area of my life. All He asks is Saburi (patience) and Nishta or Shraddha (Faith). My faith is faultless, but I am still impatient, yet He remains so patient with me. My Baba is my Everything.

Q. Name any incident during life of Baba which has made a lasting impression on You

A. by A Sai devotee

There are many incidences (miracles) which my father narrated which occurred during the Life of Shri Sai Baba .The following incident which I saw in a movie, when I was a child got embedded in my mind permanently, also my devotion towards Shri Sai Baba intensified in the following years to come. Turning water into oil - Shri Sai Baba was fond of lights. He used to borrow oil from shopkeepers, and keep lamps burning the whole night in the Masjid and Temple. This went on for sometime. The Banias (shopkeepers), who supplied oil gratis, once met together and decided not to give him oil. When, as usual, Baba went to ask for oil, they all gave him a distinct No. Unperturbed, Baba returned to the Masjid and kept the dry wicks in the lamps. The Banias were watching him with curiosity. Baba took the Tumrel (tin pot) which contained very little (a few drops) of oil, put water into it and drank it then forced it fall in the container. After consecrating the tin-pot in this way, He again took the water from the tin- pot and filled all the lamps with it and lighted them. To the surprise and dismay of the watching Banias, the lamps began to burn and kept burning the whole night. The Banias repented and apologized and Baba forgave them and asked them to be more truthful in future.

Q. Name any incident during life of Baba which has made a lasting impression on You

A. by Usha V

Wonderful is the glory of our Lord who gives each and every devotee wonderful experiences. During Baba's life time His assurance to us, has impressed me, and given me the confidence to live. Extract as follows: Shri Sai Satcharita chapter III - "If a man utters My name with love, I shall fulfill all his wishes, increase his devotion. And if he sings earnestly My life and My deeds, him I shall beset in front and back and on all sides. Those devotees, who are attached to Me in heart and soul, will naturally feel happiness, when they hear these stories. Believe Me that if anybody sings My Leelas, I will give him infinite joy and ever-lasting contentment. It is My special characteristic to free any person, who surrenders completely to Me, and mediates on Me constantly. How can they be conscious of worldly objects and sensations, who utter My name, who worships Me, who think of My stories and My life and who, thus, always remember Me! I shall draw out My devotees from the jaws of death. If My stories are listened to, all the diseases will be got rid of. So, hear My stories with respect; and think and meditate on them, assimilate them. This is the way of happiness and contentment. The pride and egoism of My devotees will vanish, the mind of the hearers will be set at rest; and if it has wholehearted and complete faith, it will be one with Supreme Consciousness. The simple remembrance of My name as "Sai, Sai"will do away with sins of speech and hearing."

SAI ACTIVITIES:

Shirdi Sai Temple of Chicago and Suburbs, Illinois, USA
Shirdi Sai temple is open daily from 7:00 a.m to 9:00 p.m (Summer hours). Daily program includes Kakad Arathi at 7 a.m. followed by Abhisek. Madhayana Arathi at 12 noon, Dhoop Arathi at 6 p.m. and Shej Arathi at 9 p.m. Archana, Homams, Sahasranama and sponsored poojas continue in between the Arathis. To request a pooja for yourselves, your friends and family, please call. Devotees can request water (Abhishek Jal) from the Holy bathing of Baba by sending us an email or by phone. Temple is located 25 minutes drive west of Schaumburg on intersection of IL Route 47 and Plank Road in Hampshire, IL. For more information please call 847-931-4058 or send email to maildrop@saibaba.org.

Shirdi Saibaba Prayer Center, Minnesota
Regular Sai activities in Minneapolis, St.Paul area are being conducted at Shirdi Saibaba Prayer Center, 725 Lake St NE, Apt #139 Hopkins MN. For details, please contact hamaresai@yahoo.com, or call Shirdi Saibaba Prayer Center at 952-938-2983, and to read the monthly newsletter Sai Sandesh, visit www.hamaresai.org.

Sri Shirdi Sai Baba Temple of Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas
Sri Shirdi Sai Baba Temple of DFW Metroplex is located at 2109 West Parker (Parker Plaza), Suite 212, Plano, TX 75023. For temple hours and activities please call the temple office at 469-467-3388 or visit the website www.shirdisaidallas.org.

Shirdi Sai Satsang, Bay Area, California
Shirdi Sai Parivaar invites all to join us for Satsang every Thursday 7:30 pm at Odd Fellows Temple, 20589 Homestead Road, Cupertino, CA 95014. For details please call 408-564-6704 or send email to saibandhu@yahoo.com or visit www.ShradhaSaburi.org.

Sai Satsang, New Jersey, USA
Shirdi Sai Dham, Inc regularly conducts Sai bhajans followed by Aarti and Prasad on every 1st Saturday of each month at Durga Mandir, Kendall Park, New Jersey. The next bhajan is on May 6th 2006 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. All are requested to kindly come and receive Baba's blessings. For more information, please call us at 609-275-1334 or visit www.shirdisaidham.org or email us at shirdisaidham@hotmail.com. You can also subscribe to shirdisaidhamevents@yahoogroups.com to receive regular updates and newsletters.

Shirdi Sai Satsang, Toronto, Canada
Shirdi Saibaba Sansthan invites all to join for satsangs every Thursday 7:00 pm at Sai Dwarkamai, 147 Winston Castle Dr. Markham, Ontario, L6C 2N4, phone 416-402-8089 or email: saileela99@yahoo.com. To request a pooja for yourselves, your friends and family for any occasion at your residence, please call. Devotees can request udi or Holy water (Abhishek Jal) from the Holy bathing of Baba by sending us an email or by phone.

Shirdi Sai Mandir, Scarborough, Canada
The Shirdi Sai Mandir located at 2721 Markham Road, Scarborough, Ontario, M1X 1L5 (Intersection of Markham and Nashdene) is open Monday to Friday from 6:30 p.m to 8:30 p.m. and Saturday to Sunday from 10:30 a.m to 8:30 p.m. Dhoop Aarti is at 7:30 p.m. everyday. Bhajans are on Saturday from 5:00 p.m. onwards. For other temple activities and information please call 647-444-4724 or send an email to info@theshirdisaimandir.com.

FROM THE EDITORS KEYBOARD:

Sai Vichaar is immensely happy to publish details about growing Sai activities all over the world. Please write to maildrop@saibaba.org if you want to know about Sai activities or interested in initiating Sai activities in your area.

The "Question of the week" for the week is,

Q. Name any one incident during The Life of Shri Sai Baba which has made a lasting impression on you?

Humbly Yours,
The Editor

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