Sai Vichaar for Thursday , December 28, 2006

Sai Vichaar www.saibaba.org
Thursday , December 28, 2006 :: Volume 9, Issue 33
(In its nineth year of publication.)
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: Compassionate Incarnate
God, the manifestation of the Supreme is seen as the
savior from sin and the way to the eternal life. The core
of the message delivered by different messengers is
the same. As if confirming to an unseen doctrine, each
of the messenger appeared to have spoken to those
under different conditions of life, over the time. Jesus
came proclaiming the Kingdom of God. But unlike
John the Baptist, or the Essenes, or many others of
his day, he did not envision the Kingdom of God
descending miraculously from Heaven. The arrival
of the Kingdom would not mean the end of the world
or the destruction of Israel's enemies. Instead, he said,
"The Kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be
observed; nor will they say, 'Lo, here it is!' or 'There!' for
behold, the Kingdom of God is in the midst of you."
(Luke 17:20, 21) The Kingdom had already arrived, and
it was a spiritual community consisting of Jesus and
all those who centered themselves in God. The
Kingdom of God was always meant to be a this-worldly
movement which would bring a measure of Heaven to
earth through the lives and actions of those who lived
in God. Just like Sainath had said "poverty is Kingship",
Jesus said, "Blessed are you poor, for yours is the
Kingdom of God. Blessed are you that hunger now,
for you shall be satisfied. Blessed are you that weep
now, for you shall laugh. But woe to you that are rich,
for you have received your consolation.
Woe to you that are full now, for you shall hunger. Woe
to you that laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep."
(Luke 6:20, 21, 24-26). Baba asked His followers to
cast their burden for Him to carry. Similarly, Jesus said,
"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I
will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn
from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you
will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and
my burden is light."

(Matthew 11:28-30)
Baba, like Jesus, said that God is great and kind and
taught us to be likewise. "God is kind to the ungrateful
and the selfish. Be compassionate, even as your
Father is compassionate." (Luke 6:35b, 36) The word
translated "compassionate" is derived from a word
which means "wombish." God's compassion is
nourishing and life giving like the womb to an unborn
child. Jesus taught His followers to abandon the broad
way of organized religion, which tells us to believe such
and such and do such and such to win the favor of God..
Jesus said to abandon the way of anxiety, for we
already have the favor of God. Baba's advice to the
fasting lady is a perfect example of this similarity
between Jesus and Baba. But knowing that God already
loves us, what are we to do to live good lives? And how
do we participate in the Kingdom of God in the here and
now? First of all, Jesus said to love. "... you shall love
the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your
soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength."
(Mark 12:30) And he also said, "You shall love your
neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment
greater than these." (Mark 12:31) Secondly, he said to
have a clean heart. "Blessed are the pure in heart, for
they shall see God."
(Matthew 5:8) [By seeing God, he means primarily the
experience of God's presence in this life.]

FEATURE OF THE WEEK: continued......
The Mango Miracle in Shri Sai Satcharitha is an
interesting one. Baba said to Damu Anna that those
who would eat the mangos would die! The way of
death is a metaphor for a transformation deep inside,
in which we turn away from that which separates us
from God. Jesus spoke of both the self and the world
as the two great spiritual obstacles. He said to "deny
self." And he told us that it profits us nothing to gain
the whole world, and lose our way spiritually.
(Luke 9:25) Therefore, to the self and the world, we
must die. For the self-absorbed self is filled with
narcissism, and greed and fear, jealousy and cruelty.
But the self which is centered in God, loves others as
much as it loves its own self. It is kind and
compassionate and does not think itself better than
any other. On this Holy Week of Christmas and as we
welcome the New Year, let us contemplate on the
universal nature of Baba's message that permeates
beyond the divisions of religions and fundamental
Inspired by and partly in reference to Robert Jenkins
from "Observations on God, Life and the Human
Journey")

CONTRIBUTED ARTICLE: All or None?
The uniqueness of Baba's message of God-realization
outside the realm of religion is by no means considered
as a discounting attitude to any given set of practices.
On the other hand, this may be an all-inclusive approach
that regards and respects everything under the sun with
the disposition that God is all-the dispenser and it is
not for us to judge. A few practices under the name of
religion cannot make the whole religion as superstitious.
Divisive attitude in the name of discrimination has its
limitations. On the other hand, the attitude that
"everything is Sai" prepares a seeker to receive the
more important realization of the self - a natural process
that constant contemplation on Sadguru would lead one
to. As mentioned in several earlier occasions, all or
none is not an approach to Sai devotion but everything
and anything with the faith that unless Baba wills
nothing comes to us -
including the opportunities to serve and seek him. As
devotee Kamala Pallesenna wrote last week, in
spirituality one size does not fit all and not everything
that Sai gives us appear sweet. The best recourse is
to pass the burden on to Sai and learn to wait. It is
easy to give in to the tricks of discrimination and lose
the basic tenets of Sai devotion - humility and
compassion to fellowmen. It is a fortune to have the
blessings and taste the grace of Baba and a challenge
yet to remain meek and humble just the way our Lord
showed us. The attitude that "I am holier than you" is
not a sign of humility. At the same time, one's
enthusiasm in sharing the love and devotion to Sainath
of Shirdi and willingness to help the needy should not
be judged as showmanship but be seen in the best of
lights, as a noble intention at the feet of Lord Sai.
Hemadpanth's reference to subtle ego is probably a
daily reminder to Sai devotees. All Sai bandhus all
over the world who rely on Sai Vichaar for Baba's love
and compassion can benefit from the understanding
that Sai Vichaar is done by a group of volunteers with
diligence, love and devotion to Sadguru Sainath, and
with the only intention of sharing His love and
message.

Happy New Year to all. Bow to Sri Sai
Peace be to all.
(Contributed by Ravin, Minnesota, USA)

DEVOTEES SAY:

Mamtha
Sai, thanks for showering your gracious blessings on
us and taking care of us each and every second. My
mother-in-law's visa to the US got rejected 3 times.
Dejected with this we were going to move back to
India in a year so she can stay with us due to her
old age. We finally gave it a last try for the 4th time
and with Baba's blessings she got a 10 year multiple
entry visa two weeks ago and arrived in the US last
week. Now, we are one happy family with your
blessings. Baba we bow to you with all humbleness.
Please lead us the right way and help us be close to
you all the time.

Subramanyam
would like to share my experience. A week back we
had gone to my cousin's wedding to my native place.
We had taken two bags with us. First day of the
wedding went on well. The next day was the
muhurtham day and to our shock we couldn't find
one of the bags in which my mother's costly sarees
were kept which she had to wear on the wedding day.
We searched everywhere but were in vain. Then
everyone started getting tensed. The following day
was Thursday and me, in my mind, prayed to Baba
that if I get the bag I would offer a garland to Baba
and just after that I called my mother who was in my
cousin's house and she told me she had got the bag.
We are very thankful to Baba.

Rajesh
I thank Baba to make my life very beautiful. A year
back, I was unmarried and I had some problems
related to my job. I was worried about my future.
The problem was that whenever I joined any job I
was not able to stay more than 1 to 3 months.
Because of my instability of my job many of my
marriage proposals were rejected. At that time I
went to Shirdi and after Saibaba's darshan all
problems resolved with Saibaba's blessing. Now I
am married and working with banking sector. Many
thanks to my Baba.

Malini
Due to sadgurus grace our long pending property
was sold which gave us relief from sleepless nights.
Thank you Saibaba. If I have done anything wrong
please forgive me.

Prashaanthi
Baba, thankyou for forgiving me and blessing me
with a baby. Please always be with me and my
family.

Beenu
Baba, I am very scared because I saw You in my
dream two days back and what I saw was not good.
You were angry with us and whatever we were
doing was going wrong because You were not
happy with us. Baba please forgive us in case we
have done something wrong unintentionally. We
are coming to Shirdi next week for Your darshan.
Sai please shower Your love and kindness on us.

Sheila
Thank you very much Baba for giving my son a
wonderful job in a very big company. Better than
what I have been praying for and something I would
have never even imagined. You have proved once
again that "Saburi" brings best results.

Sai devotee
Baba, the all pervading, omniscient God always
listens to our prayers. Whatever is required on our
part is firm faith and patience. I have been through
very turbulent times recently and our Deva, Baba
has helped me come out of it with grace and
maturity. There was a time when I felt that the
going is getting very tough and there seemed to
be no hope and no end to my worries, but Baba
ensured that I got through it and came out as a
more mature individual. I have been reading
Sai Satcharitra regularly and have always found
encouragement and inspiration and answers to
any queries arising in my mind. My humble
request to all Sai devotees is to have firm faith
and conviction in Baba, pray to Him daily, have
patience and He will take care of the rest. As
said in the Sai Satcharitra, we do not need to do
any yogasana or practise any type of hard
penance, but the simple utterance of His name
Sai will destroy our ignorance and is enough to
take us across this ocean of worldy existence.
Baba has been there everytime when I have
called Him and stood by His promises. So all
Sai devotees, please have firm faith in Baba,
utter his name Sai Sai, be humble, try to help
the poor and the needy, give food to the hungry
and Sai will take care of the rest.

Devika
Thank you Sai, for the most wonderful gift of a
daughter. We can't thank You enough. Please
give her Your blessings and guide us to be
good parents to her.

PRAYER CLUB:
Chandan
Thank you so much Sai, I have heard from many
that You help so many to reduce their pains, but
I was in such a mental trauma since day before
yesterday but after writing my problem on Prayer
Club, I immediately felt less stressed out and by
the end of evening I saw a great change in the
thought process of my husband which I did not
expect at all. I am confident it is Sai's grace.

Sridevi
Oh Sainatha, please shower Your blessings on us.
We lost our younger sister six months back and
this has put the entire family in depression. I have
recovered from depression by Your blessings and
request You to bless my elder sister as well to
come out of the depression. She is not keeping
best of her health these days due to depression.
Baba, please shower Your blessings, so that she
can be normal and healthy.

Yogeeswari
My humble prayer to You Baba to help me to have
a smooth delivery and give me a healthy baby.
Please bless us all.

Rashmi
Please give the strength to bear the pressure of
my board exam and please help me in securing
a good rank in my board exam.

Kanchana
My mind is very confused as to whether I should
re-locate abroad, where my husband has taken
up an assignment or continue living here as my
son is in college but lives in the hostel. Please
Sai I pray for Your guidance and strength, as it
is a difficult decision for me personally.

Bhawana
Saibaba help me to get through this exam with
excellent marks. Please all Sai devotees please
pray for me.

Sai devotee
Oh Lord please make it possible for us to visit
India in Janurary. I would very much like to see
my new born nephew who was born with Your
blessings and also come to Shirdi to fulfill my
wows. Oh good Lord please shower Your
blessings on all of Your devotees.

Ananthashayanam
Baba, my elder sister who is suffering from
stroke for the last seven years is not able to
walk properly. Baba, please give her strength
to walk and do her duties. Baba, You are
my guide and Guru and solve my financial
problems. Baba, please solve the problem I
am facing in the office. Baba, give good
health, good education and good nature to
my son. Baba, please give good health to
my wife and me and also to my elder sisters.

Sethumadhavan
Baba, presently we are going through a tough
time. Whatever mistakes we have done in the
past, please forgive and make us to succeed.
Please be with both our children and help
them to lead a good life.

Priya
With all Your blessings and grace only I am now
pregnant with twins, after so much struggle and
pain in the past four years. I am into the 7th
month now with Baba's grace. I have been having
imflammation in my left eye for the last two
months and I have been using eye drops. Please
bless me that my inflammation should go away
soon.The babies are your blessings and please
protect them and help me deliver healthy babies
in an easy way. Without You nothing is possible
in this world. Please help me and protect your
children in my womb. All Sai devotees please
pray for me.

Sudevi
Baba, please bless us to overcome all these
miseries and pains we are going through. Help
us Deva. Please show her the right path and
a better way to come out safe. Please do the
process soon and wash her sins at Your feet.
Please Baba shower Your blessings to us.
Deva please forgive us.

Vijay
I prostrate at The Divine Lotus Feet of my Dearest
Sainath who has rescued me and my family in
difficult circumstances many, many a times. I
am now awaiting for a important sanction of loan
for my company for a long time. Somehow the
bank is not giving a favorable answer. I pray at
the Feet of Sainath to help us get this loan
approved. I am confident this will happen, with
my Sainath with me always.

EXPERIENCE OF DEVOTEES:
Todd
I rarely call upon Baba for help, but last week my
beloved cat of 7 years got locked outside and
was missing for 36 hours. I kept an all night vigil
for him and around 4:30 am I thought I heard him
cry out, but could not find him. I searched all day,
and then by the next evening I started to pray to
Sai Baba for his safe return. There are wild
coyotes out there so it is quite dangerous for a
cat, especially an indoor cat who has never been
outside before and is shy by nature. I told Baba
that I would stay up until 4:30 am again, and if
He could please bring my cat home at that time.
As the hour approached I became excited
because I could feel that Baba was at work
helping me. At exactly 4:30 am the cat walked
up to my front door and we were reunited! This is
the true grace of Baba and I feel so blessed to
have received it.

Kala
I wanted to share my recent two experiences. I
graduated with a slightly different major than I
wanted to have my career in. My husband has
a very steady job in a small town and I was
looking at only 4 positions like mine with at
least 5 or more years experience with in 60 mile
distance. So I had a very difficult time in getting
a job with no experience and slightly different
major. I called all the potential employers and
told them I am willing to volunteer for a year so
that I could get some experience. Even for free
nobody was willing to take me. At first it was
okay, as I had just graduated. After 3-4 months
I was getting depressed and frustrated about
being at home. I took a vow to finish Satcharita
in 1999 and never did it. So on one Thursday I
just sat before baba praying and crying and
read the whole book. I decided to call everybody
in our state. On that immediate Monday I called
a guy around 11.00 am and asked him if I could
come and work with him three days a week for
free. I didn't know that he was the Vice President
of a chain of offices. He said he would give me a
call in a day or two. Just 30 minutes after I called
him, one of the physicist in another center said
he was quitting. The Vice President called me
around 1.30 pm on the same day and asked if I
could attend the interview the next day. I was
shocked and attended the interview the next day
and was offered the job with 3 months probation.
That was a miracle I was praying for. But that job
needed somebody with experience. So I had to
work everyday from 4.30 am to 7-8 pm. I was
totally deprived of sleep.
continued.....
One day on my way to work I fell asleep driving,
went off the country road with 5 feet ditches on
either side. I was cruising at 75 miles and without
hitting the breaks I tried to jerk it back at the
same speed and lost control, and the vehicle
jumped into the median and went to the opposite
side of the ditch. Just before the airbags were
deployed I saw an electricity pole. I thought to
myself that's it. But my engine died just one feet
before the pole and I walked out of the vehicle
totally unhurt. It was a very major accident and
my SUV was totaled. I feel Baba was the who
saved me and guided me in the difficult times
of my job. Now I successfully finished my
probation. Thank you Baba for everything.

QUOTATION OF THE WEEK:
"Let the world go topsy-turvy, but remain where
you are. Staying in your own place, look calmly
at the show of all things passing before you".
-Shri Sai Baba


QUESTION OF THE WEEK:
Q. What is Baba's role in India's struggle for its
independence?

SAI ACTIVITIES:
Shirdi Sai Temple of Chicago and Suburbs,
Illinois, USA
Shirdi Sai temple is open daily from 8:00 a.m
to 9:00 p.m (Winter hours).
Daily program includes Kakad Arathi at 8 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.

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.

Shirdi Saibaba temple, Los Angeles, CA
Devotees in Los Angeles area are informed about
Sri Shirdi Saibaba temple in Los Angeles area.
Please visit www.shirdisaila.org for more details.

FROM THE EDITORS KEYBOARD:
Sai Vichaar wishes readers a Happy, Prosperous
and Peaceful 2007. 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 participate by sending
your contributions as well as suggested topics
for the same.

Sai devotee Sasi wrote, "I would like to know any
information during India's Independency and
Baba's life. I know Baba has left us on
October 15th 1918".

The "Question of the week for this week is,
Q. What is Baba's role in India's struggle for its
independence?
Humbly Yours,
The Editor