Sai Vichaar for Thursday , October 26, 2006

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.

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 Baba and the Astrologer
Shri Rao Bahadur M.W. Pradhan in his work "Shri Sai Baba
of Shirdi: A Glimpse of Indian Spirituality" depicts the
following interesting incident involving Sadguru Sainath's
all-pervadingness:

Once, an astrologer who had heard about Sai Baba as a
saint of a very high order, came to Shirdi with the avowed
objective of placing a book on astrology into the hands of
Sai Baba and receiving the same as prasad from Him.
The astrologer sincerely believed that such a prasad from
Sai Baba (consecration by Sai Baba) would make him very
proficient astrologer and thus enable him to make a fortune.
But Sai Baba, when implored to give the book to the
astrologer, gave it instead to Bapusaheb Butti (the well-known
multi-millionaire who is credited with the construction of Butti
wada in Shirdi) who was sitting close by. Bapusaheb Butti,
who was a wealthy man and did not have worldly wish took
the book thrusted onto his hands by Sai Baba. The astrologer
was disappointed. Bapusaheb, who never cared to read
anything, skipped over the book now and then for a short time
only because Sai Baba gave the book to him. Gradually he
began to take interest in the book and the subject of
astrology. After a few years, Bapusaheb Butti became
proficient in astrology and he began to help Sai devotees in
their needs and was able to predict things with precision! He
did all of this without any remuneration!

The above incident, Sai Baba wanted to show that, He knew
that it was not the destiny of the Astrologer to be proficient in
Astrology as he had aimed at; that He wanted to show what
any person who was the recipient of such a Prasad would be
capable of (in this case Shri Bapusaheb Butti); and that Sai
Baba wanted to teach His devotees that a person's proficiency
in any art or science is used best when given gratis to
humanity than for any love of lucre.

CONTRIBUTED ARTICLE: Disguise
Once upon a time there was a king. He was a very noble
hearted and generous person. He wished well for every one in
his kingdom. One-day, he decided to go undercover to meet
the people and to know their problems. He did this because
he knew that if he went like a king, everyone would not be able
to be free with him. So, he went out in a disguise and mixed
with the people enquiring about their problems. Being a smart
person, he figured out the needs and necessities of different
people. It helped him make the necessary changes required
for the growth of each and every one in the kingdom. Even
though the king appeared as an ordinary man to outside world,
the king alone knew his real identity.
Sri Sai, being a siddha and samarth sadguru, came in a
disguise of Maya as a common fakir. (Maya means ignorance
of one's real nature of satchitananda and identifying one self
with the body). The Intention behind the disguise is to heal
and comfort the simple folks who are tormented by the
scorching flames of the samsaara. He remained as one
among them and conversed with them in their own style.
Very rarely, he just gave glimpses of the universal self. It is
not a surprise if one's heart melts with gratitude by looking
at Sri Sai's life style. Sri Sai scrupulously followed the
conventional code of conduct and advised every one to
adhere to the rules of humility, charity, and compassion for
living beings etc. Sai treated himself as an ordinary person
and emphasized the power of Maya in our daily living. The
Maya is the Adimaya of Sri Hari. It is beginningless and
endless. He stressed that Maya is a powerful actress who
can pull down both the renunciates and worldly people
equally with her seductive powers.
He mentioned the remedy by chanting God's name as
much as possible to transcend the Maya. If one establishes
oneself firmly at the lotus feet of God or Guru, Maya
becomes powerless before the sincere devotee. Sai
conducted Nama saptah and asked his devotees to read
Gita and Gurucharita etc. Sai emphasized that devotion is
a constant emotion of love towards God present in every
living being. The reality of Maya and the absolute reality
appear very unclear and unattainable to the normal everyday
person. It would be like teaching algebra to a very young kid
who just started learning numbers. This can make the child
to refuse learning math altogether. That is why Sai gave
every one what he/she needed basing on his/her inner growth.
He showed us the simplest way [by practicing (Shraddha-faith
in God), (Saburi-forbearance to the situations in life without
losing faith in God)] to reach God.
(Contributed by Sai devotee)

DEVOTEES SAY:

Sai devotee
I would like to share my recent experience. I wanted to
appear for an exam conducted by a professional body for
my career enhancement. I had ordered for the study
material which cost me about $ 500 USD. As the invoice
amount is more than $ 500 USD, as per the local law, the
parcel got stuck at US Customs. Moreover I gave my
office address which caused more trouble at customs.
Customs thought that the parcel belongs to the company
and not an individual and asked me to pay more customs
duty. I requested the parcel company to help me in getting
cleared the parcel. The parcel company agreed but asked
me to pay about $ 270 USD as the process fee. Despite
of hiring the services of the company, the parcel did not
get cleared and was there at customs for about a month.
Last Wednesday morning I prayed my Lord Saibaba to
help me in getting cleared this parcel. It was a surprise to
me that by Wednesday evening I got a call that the parcel
got cleared from customs and will be delivered next day
(Thursday). To my surprise, the parcel company charged
me less amount towards process than what they said earlier.
It is reconfirmed that Baba is there for me. Thank you Baba
for your grace. Shower Your blessing always on us.

Sri
I read Sai Baba Jeevita Cheritha book, as I started it on
Thursday I am having so much tension about job, but by
Monday I got an interview call and by Baba's blessings I
got news that they selected me by Wednesday itself
before completing the book. After I read the book and
when this happen now I feel Baba is with me all the time.
Really I am very happy now and I am happy that I am a
devotee of Saibaba.

Nikhila
Thank you for blessing me with a safe delivery. By Your
grace I had a smooth pregnancy and normal delivery.
Although I am posting this a little late I remember You
always.

Geeta
Om Sainath, Om Sai. I was going through a very rough
patch in life. My husband was out of job and my son
who is just four years old, got spectacles with high
number. I prayed to Sainath that if my husband gets a
steady job and my son's eye number reduces than I
will post it in the Sai Vichaar. I did the Saptah for both
my husband and son. I gave a copy of Satcharita and
put him in the path of devotion. There was no hope for
my husband as all his licenses had expired. But he
got a well-paid job and also my son's number has come
down. Only Saibaba could do this miracle.

Nithya
I prayed to Baba that if I get good marks in my exam I
would submit an article. I stood first in my class and I
am so delighted. This week ahead is getting very tough
and strenuous. I pray to Baba that he be with me and help
me. Thank you Baba.

PRAYER CLUB:

Prabhavati
I have not been doing well at work and I am very worried
that I may lose my job. I have been working hard but just
not getting any results. Baba, please help me and let me
get good results within this week so that I am able to keep
my job. This is the last chance given to me. I need my job
Baba, please help me.

Sasi
Baba please cure my fear regarding my health. I should be
getting it normal as before. I am sure you are there to take
care of my family and me, still I am scared.

Sita
Kindly help me to conceive and have a healthy baby by next
year. Several times, I experienced your blessings in the past.
Please guide me in the right path as you always do and
shower blessings on my family.

Prashanti
Baba, I am sorry for what I did today. I really did not mean to
hurt my guest's feelings, it happened in a second. I want You
to forgive me for this, as I really did not intend to say what I
said. Please Baba see that they don't take this seriously and
get hurt and see that they also forgive me.

A Sai devotee
Baba I don't want to go back. Please do something so that we
may stay here forever.

Sai devotee
Om Sri Sai. Dear Baba, my husband and me are keeping
utmost faith in You. Baba, please bless us with a baby boy.

Dev
Dear Sai baba, I thank You for all I have and is all Yours. I need
Your bhakti and a heart full of humility and devotion to your feet.
Please solve my problem that my son is facing and the people
have made allegations against me out of jealously. You are the
only protector and I have no where to go. Please accept me I
surrender thee.

Sanu
Sai Maa, I have immense faith in You. Whatever I have got is
because of Your blessing. This is most important part of my
career life Sai. Please help me get interviews, help me get a
good residency program in IM in this year's prematch/match.
Baba, You are my saviour. Help me.

Sai devotee
Baba, please cure my daughter's wrist who is suffering for last
six months. You have always helped me. Please take care of
her, she is in lot of pain. Baba I have full faith in You.

EXPERIENCE OF DEVOTEES:

Mithun
I say to Baba that I have faith in you but I am not sure what
faith exactly is? Recently, I realized a part of faith. I am in a
foreign land with a newly married wife to support. I have just
joined my part-time job as I am studying here. I brought
sufficient money from India but had to give it away as deposit
money for our accommodation. I had sufficient money for my
living before paying my university fees. I paid the amount by
borrowing from a friend. I had little money left with me for my
living. At this point I was worried and prayed to Baba to solve
this crisis. I have two bank accounts, and one of them is kept
to receive my scholarship money from the university, which I
usually receive once a semester, and that too at the end of
the semester. I had already received scholarship money from
the previous semester and there was no money left in it as I
withdrew the entire amount. When I was facing this financial
crisis, I had a feeling to check this empty bank account once
again through the Internet. When I opened it I was shocked
to see that I had around 280 dollars in balance. Later, I came
to know that I received this amount from the scholarship office
due to some increment, which was drafted at a later date. But
it is a miracle for me and I believe that faith in Baba means to
leave the burden unto Him and be carefree. He will take care
of everything.

Bharat
Today is Dhanteras day in USA. I had planned to get a silver
murthi of Baba. Searching online, I found some choices but was
not satisfied. They were either too small or the posture was not
what I had in mind. When I arrived in Edison, I visited couple of
stores, but they did not have any Shirdi Saibaba murthi. When I
went to the next store, the owner greeted me and asked me
what I would like to see. I told him that I was looking for Baba's
silver murthi. He asked me what size. I told him the size and he
was very surprised. He told me that he had received a similar
size murthi two days ago from India. He had placed an order for
a silver murthi of Mahalaxmi goddess, but when he opened the
package, he found Baba's murthi instead. I was elated because
that was the style of murthi I wanted. This murthi was the only
one available in that size. All other Baba murthis were
approximately one-fifth the size of this one. Turns out the owner
and his family are all Baba devotees. His family narrated their
experiences of Baba. As I left the store after purchasing the
murthi, his wife called me back to give me a udi packet from
Shirdi. Thanks Baba.

Ashutosh
Me, my wife and our little daughter were to board Mangla
express from Manmad on 27th September 2006. We started
from Shirdi at 4 pm while the train was scheduled at 6:20 pm.
We had enough time in hand but we had no clue that the
Shirdi -Manmad highway is no longer a road. It has become
a long pitch and there was very severe traffic jam. We got
stuck and desperately kept on calling the Manmad station
for train status.., praying to Baba to make the train come
late. However, the train came only ten minutes late and at
that time we were 15 Km from Manmad. We missed the
train. I started calculating what to do now and decided to
draw money from an ATM in Manmad and buy tickets for
the next train to Delhi. We finally reached Manmad at 7:45 pm
and discovered to our shock that there is not a single ATM in
Manmad or even facility to buy tickets by credit card. We were
not carrying enough money, as we never expected this to
happen. We silently prayed to Baba all the time and went on
to buy general tickets to Mumbai. In less than five minutes,
we got the "train not boarded" refund certificate from the
stationmaster and as soon as we reached the platform, within
a minute we got a train to Mumbai. We boarded the AC
compartment as we had sufficient money to buy 3 AC tickets
of Manmad to Mumbai. The train was going to Kalyan, which is
one end of Mumbai and we had to go to Mira Road, another
end in opposite direction. Baba was so kind at that hour of the
night that everything fell into place after that. When we got
down at Kalyan, we were to go to another platform to take train
to Dadar. But, to our shock, the Dadar local came at the same
platform where we got down and that too within five minutes of
our getting down.

continued....
After that, we took a chance and called up my wife's uncle, who
is in Railways in Mumbai to find out connecting train from Dadar
to Mira Road. To our great surprise, he was himself on duty on
the last train. We requested him to do whatever but take us
home in his train. At Dadar, the Kalyan train stops at one end
of the station and the Mira road train at another end. The Mira
road train had already arrived at Dadar. We crossed the bridge
with bags and baby in arms and rushing to catch the train, as
it was the last train. My wife's uncle took the risk of halting the
local train at Dadar for more than two minutes, which can be a
major thing as no local in Mumbai stops for more than 30 seconds.
But he took that risk for us and with Baba's blessings, we
reached my wife's house in Mira road at 2:00 am. Next evening
we took the Rajdhani to Delhi. Baba did not delay the train for
us at Manmad but just see how he then helped us. We did not
face any problems at all. He guided our instincts one by one and
helped us reach home safe and sound. Dadar train coming on a
different platform than usual and my wife's uncle being on duty
on the last local train to Mira road cannot be mere coincidences.

QUOTATION OF THE WEEK:

"I look on all with an equal eye".-Shri Sai Baba


QUESTION OF THE WEEK:
Q. Why did Baba call Masjid as Dwarakamai? What is the
significance of Dwarakamai?

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 12:00 noon,
Dhoop Arathi at 6:00 p.m. and Shej Arathi at 9:00 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.

Shri Saibaba Mandir, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Saibaba activities in Minneapolis were conducted at Shirdi
Saibaba Prayer center since the year 2002. Now, with the
grace and blessings of Baba and the support of devotees,
a new Saibaba Mandir has begun to function at 1835
Polk St NE, Minneapolis from July 11th 2006.
Please visit www.hamaresai.org for all details.

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 Center in Bay Area, CA
By Baba's grace, Shirdi Sai Parivaar is pleased to
announce the grand opening of Shirdi Sai Center in
Bay Area. The center is located at 897-B East Kifer Road,
Sunnyvale, CA 94086. For more information please call
408-564-6704 or 408-705-7904.

FROM THE EDITORS KEYBOARD:

Sai Vichaar thanks you for your support for the Question
of the Week feature. This feature is intended to initiate
useful discussion on topics related to Sai philosophy,
His message, and Sai devotion. Please send your
suggested topics for the same.
The "Question of the week" for this week is,
Q. Why did Baba call Masjid as Dwarakamai? What is the
significance of Dwarakamai?

Humbly Yours,
The Editor