Satsang The Glory of Shirdi Sai - Issue 22--2006 from Saidarbar.

THE GLORY OF SHIRDI SAI
Fourth Year of Publication
Published as Bi-Weekly
Issue 22 / 2006
26- 10 -2006
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You can also read this magazine on line

The first & only magazine in 3d Page turning format.

http://www.ettitude media.com
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GURUR-BRAHMA, GURUR-VISHNUH;
GURU-DEVO MAHESWARAHA;

GURUR-SAKSHATH PARAM BRAHMA;
THASMAI SREE GURAVE NAMAHA:

http://www.saidarba r.org/dattatreya /saidatta.htm
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THIS ISSUE CONTAINS

1. FROM THE SATSANGHS OF SAIBANISA JI
2. SAI'S NEWS FROM TIME MACHINE
3. SAI IN DREAMS
4. QUINTESSENCE OF SRI SAIBABA'S PHILOSOPHY
5. SANATANA DHARMA& SRI SHIRDI SAIBABA
6. SAIBANISA OFFERS PRANAMS TO …..
7. DEVOTEES EXPERIENCES
8. SPIRITUAL GEMS FROM SAI SATCHARITRA
9. SAI WITH CHILDREN
10. ARTICLES FROM SAI DEVOTEES
11. LETTERS FROM SAI DEVOTEES
12. TELUGU SECTION
13. SAI'S BOOK WORLD
14. EDITORIAL.
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1. FROM THE SATSANGHS OF SAIBANISA JI
http://www.angelfire.com/celeb2/ saidarbar/
pages/S3500055. htm

Compiled by:
Sai Sevak Smt. Rajeswari Kasturi, Saidarbar – Hyderabad.

MEDITATION MAKES MIND CLEAN & STEADY

Leading a virtuous life may not by itself, sufficient for
God-realization. Concentration of the mind is absolutely
necessary. A good life prepares the mind as a fit
instrument for meditation, which ventually leads to self-
realization, without whose aid, one, cannot row into the
divine state or liberate oneself from its trammels and
attain immortality.

Meditation is the keeping up of an unceasing flow of God-
consciousness, when all worldly thoughts are shut out
and the mind is saturated with divine thoughts. Just as oil,
when poured from one vessel to another, flows ceaselessly,
just as the harmonious sound produced from the ringing of
bells falls upon the ear in a continuous stream, so too, the
mind should `flow' towards God in an unbroken way.

The man, who has not purified his mind, will not be able to
start the fire of meditation. It is equally important that no
violent or sudden attempt should be made to control the
mind. It should be granted a little freedom for a while, make
it run and exhaust it efforts. It will initially jump like an
untrained monkey. But it is bound to calm down gradually.
Divine thoughts should be allowed to get in slowly, when
vicious tendencies will vanish. It is like sweeping a room
that was kept closed for many months and where dirt
remains accumulated.

Om Shantih Shantih Shantihi
Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu
To be continued…
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2. SAI'S NEWS FROM THE TIME MACHINE:

October 16, Wednesday1918: Baba's Body was taken in
procession through the Shirdi village and then interred in
Butty Wada with due formalities.

October 27, 1918: Baba's devotees from all over gathered
and funeral rites were performed by Balasaheb Bhate with
Annadhanam to poor in Shirdi.

October 27, 1918: A committee was formed to manage the
worship of SaiBaba's Samadhi, comprising of 15 members
with Bapusahed Butty as the Chairman.

October 27, 1918: Nanavalli a great but quaint and queer
devotee of Baba breathed his last.

October 7, 1954: A big and beautiful marble statue of
Saibaba was installed behind Baba's Samadhi at the hands
of Swami Sai Sharnandji.

October 19, 1956: H.H.Narasimha Swamiji passed away
(Aged 82 years).

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3. SAI IN DREAMS:
http://www.ettitude media.com
These are the dream sequences and messages as received
by SaiBaNiSa Ji From our beloved GURU LORD SAINATH OF
SHIRIDI. In Anticipation that this feature will 1help in one's
spiritual growth are hereby compiled from his personal Diary
and presented to SAIBANDHUS.

Translated and presented by RAGHU RAMAN SATULURY.

06-10-1994

How to live courageously with peace? I could not find an answer
and I looked towards SAI for guidance. I was shown with the
visuals--

I was insulted in a meeting of seniors by my boss. I felt very
much let down and upset. Next day without loosing patience,
I presented him with facts and pointed the mistake he has
committed. From there on, I observed a marked change in
conducting myself before others is only due to Sainath.

I set out on a pilgrimage accompanied by my wife. On the way,
I met a Saint resembling Sai. He said "wife can at the most
accompany you on a pilgrimage, whereas on the spiritual
journey, one has to travel by himself. It is relatively a difficult
one and lots of efforts are needed to be put in". I woke up
from my sleep.

An angry mind looses direction and purpose.

09-10-1994

My thoughts were reeling between courage and cowardice. As
usual I looked towards my master. Baba said- both are mind
dependent with their origin traced to within.
For example: Take lesson from a mother serving a plague
effected child resting in her lap, lesson from a couple living
happily even though they are not blessed with children and
lastly the refugees from Tibet with small kids living against
all odds without proper shelters.

I thus concluded once we are able to overcome the weak
mind, the power of courage automatically surfaces.

Life never comes to standstill even with all the obstacles.

10-10-1994

Discharging of moral and social obligations should not the
only aim in life. Try knowing the creator and the purpose
for which we are here. Never give away presentations to
anybody after incurring debts. Winning over their hearts is
of less importance compared to the troubles likely to be
invited later unknowingly.

Know thyself.

To be continued…..
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4. QUINTESSENCE OF SRI SAIBABA'S PHILOSOPHY:
(By Late Sri Bharam UmamaheswaraRao)
"Shashi": shashi_31@yahoo. com

25. Importance of Swadharma:

If Swadharma is not performed properly, the mind will be
dragged into and tied down in Samsara. Those who perform
Swadharma properly, the wavering nature of their mind will
be reduced and it becomes peaceful; their attractions
towards worldly activities get reduced and they lead a
straight forward right path of life. There is nothing superior
to Swadharma.

We should not try to imitate to the Dharmas of others.
Compared with Dharmas of others doing our own
Swadharma much superior. This will uplift us soon. If we
undertake others activities on our head, it will cause
many difficulties, filling our mind with worldly affairs.
Try to acquire the mercy of God. Get your mind out of the
whirlpool of worldly affairs. Your mind will become pure.
If your acts of Swadharma are done at all times, you will
never get any harm.

Baba said to one of His Sadhakas, -"Everyone has to perform
Swadharma daily as Yagna. If you leave your Swadharma and
show interest in other Dharmas, you will be caught in the circle
of births and deaths. If you are doing Swadharma well, you will
not be entangled in worldly ties. As the world is entangled in
Maya, one is becoming weak by not doing Swadharma. If you
are associated Swadharma well, all your desires will be fulfilled,
even without performing rituals, pilgrimages, Bhajans etc. Do
not keep any selfish idea in your mind.

If you perform Swadharma with faith and devotion that itself will
fulfill all your desires like Kamadhenu. Swadharma will never
let you down. If you do not perform Swadharma, you will be
surrounded by difficulties. You will not be able to enjoy your
pleasures. However much you weep, you can not get out of
your difficulties. So do not leave Swadharma. Do not allow your
Indriyas to go about as they please. If anyone does so, he will
get destroyed like fish out of water. If any one spends money
with self-less motto, his sins will be washed out and will get
God – realization. So every one must do their own Swadharma
and spend his money freely in his Swadharma.

To be continued…..
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5. SANATANA DHARMA & SRI SHIRDI SAIBABA
NEWS FROM ABORD:
www.hinducounciluk. org
LONDON, ENGLAND, October 17, 2006: The Hindu Culture and
Heritage Society (HCHS), in association with Hindu Council UK
and the London Fire Brigade, celebrated the Ganesha Chaturthi
Festival for the second successive year outside India with
stunning success on Sunday, October 8, 2006, in Southall West
London. On October 5, 6 and 7 Lord Ganesha was worshipped
followed by kirtan, arti and prasadam.

paras_ramoutar@ yahoo.com
CHAGUANAS, TRINIDAD, October 15, 2006: A Trinidadian pundit
recently visited South Africa for the purpose of reawakening the
spirit of Hinduism among South Africa's 1.7 million Hindus. Pundit
Munelal Maharaj, of Lange Park, Chaguanas, spent three-weeks
in South Africa with his wife, Naveeta and five-year old daughter,
Vaishnavi, aimed at "recreating the Hindu Renaissance in South
Africa." He hosted nightly programs in cities such as Durban,
Pietermaritzburg, Dundee and Johannesburg. "The tour was
indeed an awakening to the thousands of people who eagerly
flocked to the programs to enjoy the melodious voices of both
wife and husband.

www.london.gov. uk
LONDON, ENGLAND, October 19, 2006: Divali was celebrated
October 15 in Trafalgar Square, London, by 20,000 people.
Organized by the Mayor of London and the Divali in London
Committee, chaired by Nitin Palan, the number of celebrants
has increased 5,000 each year. Raghav, Hunterz and Kalakaar
provided musical entertainment. Groups from the Saraswati
Dance Academy, Brahma Kumaris, BAPS Swaminarayan
School, Bombay Dance Club, Metropolitan Police Hindu
Association, Sai School of Harrow, Kutch Leva Patel
Community and the Brent Hindu Council gave dance
performances. A Ram Leila play was presented by the Hindu
Council of UK.

www.hinducouncil. com.au
CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA, October 20, 2006: Diwali was
celebrated at the Federal Parliament House in Canberra on
October 16, 2006. The function was jointly hosted by the
Hon. Senator Amanda Vanstone, Minister for Immigration
and Multicultural Affairs and the Hindu Council of Australia,
a national body representing all Australian Hindus, and was
attended by a number of Senators and Members of
Parliament. After the ceremonial lighting of the traditional
lamp, the Minister of Immigration emphasized the
importance of celebrating Diwali at the Parliament House
and the positive contributions being made by the Australian
Indian community in the economic development and well
being of the Australian Multicultural society. A number of
dances were performed by the young artists from Canberra,
Sydney and Darwin. Sweets and light refreshments were
served. The program ended with spectacular fireworks at the
Federation Mall outside the Parliament House. Visit the
Hindu Council of Australia's website to see other news of
Hindus in Australia and sign up for their newsletter.

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6. SAIBANISA OFFERS PRANAMS TO "Maa Tulasi
"BABA used to maintain
Tulasi Brindavan in Dwarakamai
TULASI KALYAN IS ON 02-11-2006
Tulasi in legends

A number of passages in the Puranas and other scriptures
(Vedas), point to the importance of tulasi within religious
worship. Tulasi is regarded as a goddess and a consort of
Lord Vishnu. A garland of tulasi leaves is the first offering to
the Lord as part of the daily ritual. Tulasi is accorded the sixth
place among the eight objects of worship in the ritual of the
consecration of the kalasha, the container of holy water.

One story has it that when Krishna was weighed in gold, not
even all the ornaments of His consort Satyabhama could
outweigh Him. But a single tulasi leaf placed by His another
consort Rukmini on the pan tilted the scale.

Tulasi is ceremonially married to Vishnu annually on the
eleventh bright day of the month of Kaartika in the lunisolar
calendar. This festival continues for five days and concludes
on the full moon day, which falls in mid-October. This ritual,
called the "Tulasi Vivaha", inaugurates the annual marriage
season in India.
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7. DEVOTEES EXPERIENCES:

Geetha

In 1996 I went with a few colleagues to Singapore, Bangkok
and Hong Kong on a work related exposure trip. By the time
we reached Hong Kong. I was tired and kept feeling I have
not seen Baba's picture in days. In Hong Kong we could not
find any accommodation due to the celebrations for the
independence from British Rule. A local Indian Businessman
known to a colleague got us place as paying guest with a
Korean family.

I was in the elevator and it was Thursday. Suddenly a lady
entered carrying agarbatti and I could not stop myself from
asking her where she was going. And she said to the Sai
mandir which is on the 10th floor of the building.

My hair stood on ends and I could not believe that this was
possible. We got a place to stay in the very building that
Baba's temple was there. To date when ever I remember
that incident I cannot but bow my head with love to this
great old man.
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8. SPIRITUAL GEMS FROM SAI SATCHARITRA

Swamy" swamymain@yahoo. com
Fri, 20 Oct 2006 21:29:39 -0700 (PDT)

Sai Ram.

Let us continue with the Spiritual Gems from Chapter 21
of Sai Satcharita.

"There have been institutions of Saints in this world, from time
immemorial. Various Saints appear (incarnate) themselves in
various places to carry out the missions allotted to them, but
though they work in different places, they are, as it were, one."

All saints are one with each other. They work in unison under
the common authority of the Almighty Lord and supplement
work wherever necessary. An instance illustrating this is given
below."

"Mr. V.H.Thakur, B.A., was a clerk in the Revenue Department
and he once came to a town named Vadgaum near Belgaum
(S.M. Country) along with a Survey party. There he saw a
Kanarese Saint (Appa) and bowed before him." Sai Ram. To
meet a Saint we must have some poorva janma punyam and
the time has to come. "The Saint was explaining a portion
from the book "Vichar-Sagar" of Nischaldas (a standard work
on Vedanta) to the audience." Sai Ram. Vichar Sagar means
a sea of Miseries. The Saint was explaining these abstruse
concepts to people in a simple language. Sai Ram.

"When Thakur was taking his leave to go, he said to him, "you
should study this book, and if you do so, your desires will be
fulfilled, and when you go to the North in the discharge of your
duties in future, you will come across a great Saint by your
good luck, and then he will show you the future path, and give
rest to your mind and make you happy".

Sai Ram. Is it not rather strange that the Saint should tell
Thakur to read a book on Vedanta and assure him that if he
reads that book, his desires will get fulfilled? At first sight, it
does appear rather strange, but it is not strange if we
understand what the desire(s) of that gentleman are.
Suppose his desire is for liberation from the worldly desires,
will not the study of Vedanta help? Yes, it will certainly help.
Sai Ram.

And the Saint Appa knew the future of Sri Thakur and hence
this assurance. It is very clear that Sri Thakur was a ripening
fruit ready for plucking by the Master. Sai Ram.

"Then, he was transferred to Junnar, where he had to go by
crossing Nhane Ghat. This Ghat was very steep and impassable,
and no other conveyance, than a buffalo was of use in crossing it."

Sai Ram. Buffalo is the Vahana of Sri Yama, the Lord of Death
and also Lord of Dharma and Karma. So, the little self of Thakur
had to go through a lot of difficulty and finish its Karma before
he could receive the grace of Sadguru Sai. Hence this buffalo
ride!

"So he had to take a buffalo-ride through the Ghat, which
inconvenienced and pained him much. Thereafter, he was
transferred to Kalyan on higher post, and there he became
acquainted with Nanasaheb Chandorkar. He heard much
about Sai Baba from him and wished to see Him."

Sai Ram. This is called Subhechha, a good desire. Though
all desires are to be finally given up, in the spiritual path,
good desires help us move forward unlike the 'bad'
(materialistic, sensual, pleasure seeking which make a
person selfish and make him forget that he is not the little
self but is one with the Universal Self) desires. In a way,
good desires and the consequent good actions help us
to nullify the negative karma. Thus Thakur got the desire
to see the Saint, whom he was ordained to meet years
ago, but is not aware yet.

"Next day, Nanasaheb had to go to Shirdi, and he asked
Thakur to accompany him. He could not do so as he had
to attend the Thana Civil Court for a civil case. So
Nanasaheb went alone. Thakur went to Thane, but there
the case was postponed. Then, he repented for not
accompanying Nanasaheb."

Sai Ram. This is an example of most of us. We repent for
lost opportunities (material or spiritual) without realizing
that we cannot go back in time. But see the difference
between a good Sadhaka and a not so good one. Thakur
did not give up his plan of going to Shirdi just because he
could not go with Nanasaheb. Sai Ram.

"Still he left for Shirdi and when he went there, he found
that Nanasaheb had left the place the previous day. Some
of his other friends, whom he met there, took him to Baba.
He saw Baba, fell at His Feet and was overjoyed. His eyes
were full of tears of joy and his hair stood on end."

Sai Ram. Guru's grace was passing like an electric current
through him causing those sensations.

"After a while the omniscient Baba said to him - "The path
of this place is not so easy as the teaching of the Kanarese
Saint Appa or even as the buffalo-ride in the Nhane Ghat. In
this spiritual path, you have to put in your best exertion as
it is very difficult". When Thakur heard these significant
signs and words, which none else than he knew, he was
overwhelmed with joy."

Sai Ram. At other places also, Sai indicated the difficulty of
the spiritual path, which is compared to a knife edge, a thin
rope tied between two poles and suspended over a raging river
below etc. "He came to know, that the word of the Kanarese
Saint had turned true. Then joining both hands and placing his
head on Baba's Feet, he prayed that he should be accepted
and blessed."

Sai Ram. The surrender of the ego is an important part in
learning. And Thakur knew that the great Saint referred to by
Saint Appa is none other than Sadguru Sai. The placing of
his head on Baba's feet is to receive the grace, which is like
the flow of Ganges that will wash out the dirt within and
illumine the inner space. Sai Ram.

"Then Baba said - "What Appa told you was all right, but
these things have to be practiced and lived. Mere reading
won't do. You have to think and carry out what you read;
otherwise, it is of no use. Mere book-learning, without the
grace of the Guru, and self-realization, is of no avail"".
Sai Ram. The word Acharya, which is used to mean Guru,
actually means One who treads the path. For example,
seeing the road map of the route from Hyderabad to Delhi
is needed but not sufficient to reach Delhi. We need to take
a guide (Guru), who is familiar with the route. Or we need to
ask at important stages in the journey. In the case of Thakur,
the Saint Appa indicated years ago that in future when he
goes to north, he will meet a great Saint who will show him
the further path. And Sai is showing bim now. Sai Ram.

"The theoretical portion was read from the work `Vichar Sagar'
by Thakur, but the practical way was shown to him at Shirdi.
Another story given below will bring out this truth more forcibly."
Sai Ram.
What a wonderful story! What great insights! We are truly
blessed. Sai Ram.

Swamy
http://groups. yahoo.com/ group/Sri- Datta-Saranam

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9. SAI WITH CHILDREN:
http://www.saidarba r.org/HTML/ portraits/ 7.jpg
Smt. Madhu Gopal Ravada, Saidarbar, Hyderabad.

Hello Children! I am Madhu aunty. Do you know Baba use
to play with children and used to tell stories to them? I felt
children visiting Saidarbar should be entertained with good
stories. For the last two years I have told you about Lord
Krishna's Leelas and Lord Rama Story. Now I want to tell
the stories what heard in my child hood.

The story of the elephant and the sparrow

Once upon a time there lived a sparrow with her husband
on a tree. She had built a nice nest and laid her eggs in the
nest. One morning, a wild elephant with spring fever feeling
restive came to the tree in search of shade and in a rage
broke the branch of the tree on which the nest was residing.
Unluckily all the sparrow eggs were lost though both parents
were saved. The she-sparrow was deep in lament.

Seeing her lament, the woodpecker bird, a friend of hers
offered her consolation that she would think of a way of
killing the elephant.
Then she went to her friend the gnat, who in turn went to the
counselor frog for advice. The frog then devised a scheme for
killing the elephant. He asked the gnat to buzz in the ears of
the elephant, so that the elephant would be thrilled to listen
to the music of the gnat and close its eyes. Then she asked
the woodpecker to pluck his eyes. She herself would be on
the edge of a pit and would croak misleading the elephant to
think that it is a pond.

The next day at noon the three carried out the plan and the
elephant was killed when he fell flat into a pit after being
blinded by the woodpecker when he closed his eyes in
response to the gnat. So the revenge was taken with
collective wit of all three animals.

MORAL: Wit is superior to brute force.
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10. ARTICLES FROM SAI DEVOTEES:
Sai ka laadla saikalaadla@ yahoo.com
9/7/2006 05:03:21 -0700

Belief comes spontaneously. Belief comes by effort. In
the spiritual life, a sincere, advanced and surrendered
seeker can and will have spontaneous belief. Belief by
personal effort, without the divine grace and Sri Sai Baba's
unconditional protection, cannot be as effective as
spontaneous belief. We have two principal organs: the
eye and the ear. Our eyes quite often, if not always,
believe themselves. Our ears very often believe others.
These are our human eyes and our human ears. But the
divine eye, the third eye, will believe only in the vision of
Divinity, and the divine ears will believe only in the truth
of reality. When we listen to the inner command, when we
have the capacity to grow into constant obedience to our
Inner Pilot, we feel within and without the presence of
spontaneous belief. Belief is the reality of our inner
obedience. This is divine belief, spontaneous belief. Belief
by effort is a restricted, disciplined human understanding.

Belief is power. A real seeker of the infinite Truth knows
this. An insincere and unaspiring seeker is aware of the
truth that belief is power, but he cannot go beyond
understanding or awareness; whereas a sincere, genuine,
devoted and surrendered seeker knows that belief is
dynamic power, and he has this power as his very own.

We see a tree. The tree bears flowers, and soon after
wards we see fruits. The flower is the harbinger of the
fruit. In the spiritual life, belief is the flower. Belief is a
divine angel which enters into us as the harbinger of
Sri Sai Baba.

If we do not have belief, we can develop belief. How?
We can do it by mixing with sincere spiritual people
who care more for Sri Sai Baba than for pleasure.
There are also people who care only for Sri Sai Baba
in human beings, and if we mix with those people we
can cultivate belief. When we have belief, we can
walk with Sri Sai Baba in His Garden of Light and
Delight.

Sai Ka Laadla

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11. LETTERS FROM SAIDEVOTEES:
Nagendra kumar: vnk_nagu@yahoo. com
On 8/10/06

Sai Ram
I V.Nagendra Kumar, residing in Hyderabad conveying
my regards and congratulations to you and all the
persons involved in running this E- magazine
"The Glory of Shirdi Sai" since three years.
I pray Lord Sai Baba on behalf of us.
V.Nagendra Kumar
------------ --
Sai aerospace saiaeropace@ yahoo.com
On 10/12/06
SaiRam!
What a pleasure it was to get the Glory of Shirdi Sai
once again! I wish you and all the readers a very
happy Diwali and May Sai bring all happiness, love
and prosperity to one and all.
Sarve Jana Sukhinobhavanthu
G.Sugunakar.
-------
"Krishna Puranam": puranamk@yahoo. com
Wed, 11 Oct 2006 19:01:05 -0700 (PDT)

SaiRam!

I would appreciate if you can include the below
Information regarding a opening of Shirdi Sai Mandir
in Dulles, VA on Sep 27th so that people who are
interested can attend the aarti's conducted by the temple.
Please visit:
http://www.shirdisa imandir.org/ undercon. htm

Thanks
Krishna
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"SP.Kannan" kannanusha1@ hotmail.com
10/14/2006 11:14:34 +0800
Sai Ram,
We are Sai devotees from Malaysia. Ours is a registered
society, Persatuan
Shirdi Sai Baba Selangor, Malaysia. We conduct prayers
on every Thursday morning 9.00 1m and bhajans at 7.30 pm
in our Centre. Any devotees from Malaysia or Singapore
like to visit our centre, please note the address:

Persatuan Shirdi Sai Baba
No.73, Jalan Selasih
Taman Gembira
41100 Klang, Selangor, Malaysia.
Thank you and Sai Ram
Ushalakshmi
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