Sai Vichaar for Thursday, January 18, 2007

Sai Vichaar www.saibaba.org
Thursday , January 18, 2007 :: Volume 9, Issue 36
(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:

How Baba does it?

Faith in Saibaba slowly leads one to believe that Baba
is behind the things done or undone. This realization
works easy when the things happen to one's
satisfaction while it falters if things are not pleasing.
The path to the complete surrender at Sadguru's lotus
feet chops away the difference between the pleasant
and unpleasant.

If one completely understands how Baba's intent or
sankalpa translates to tangible actions to its minutest
details, contentment naturally fills in the heart and as
the consequence equanimity. Rare and great are such
souls. Or, if one would say that somehow Baba will
do it, is indicative of a blind faith in Sadguru's
disposition. This is a feeling that rain or shine, it is
Baba! Any trace of ignorance in this regard will be
washed away in the constant company of the Sadguru.
But judgments of others actions such as "what does he
or she think he or she is doing? Its all Baba's doing", is
blatant arrogance. One can easily understand this
feeling with a little bit of contemplation. These
thoughts should be nipped in the bud, as they are
signs of spiritual falling. Baba didn't materialize
anything out of thin air. Baba's "miracles" happen
through people and situations in our surroundings
in the most inconspicuous ways. This truth is
articulated in the most eloquent way by
Sri Sarathbabuji as follows: "Miracles of Sai do not take
place as something falling from the sky. We experience
it through mercy, compassion, and protection from
those around us in a natural way. We pray to Baba,
"Baba! I need money". I am in difficulties". We offer
naivedya to Baba and go to bed, but we do not see Baba
keeping a lakh rupees under the pillow! Someone will
come to us and suggest a solution to our problem. Baba
Himself said, "Not a single leaf moves without my
order". When the wind blows, the leaves on the tree
move. When even the movement of a leaf from an
inanimate tree requires Baba's order, His intent and
grace, how can we think that everything is in our hands?
When this awareness crops in us, the ego that makes us
think, "We are doing something, we have to do it, we
have to accomplish and we have accomplished because
we have done something", will vanish. The realization
that "He does everything. And we are not capable of
doing anything" is called as "Complete Surrender".
However, this should not become the dry and wry
philosophy of uttering around, "Its all Baba's sankalpa,
what do I have to do? He has done it". The cognizance
of "complete surrender" should remain as just an
inspiration, a background to the pursuit of our desires,
ideals, and trials. Unless we get to completely
experience the intent of Saibaba in every action, we
should not use the term "complete surrender" for
our convenience.

CONTRIBUTED ARTICLE:
A Devotee's Experience
I want to share my recent experience on how Sai will
teach and set straight his devotees. I was a smoker for
the last ten years. I unsuccessfully tried many times to
quit. Also, I was a rash/careless driver. My wife
always requested me to drive carefully and quit
smoking. I really tried couple of times to quit and
couldn't hold myself for more than a week. I even
promised Sai that I would quit smoking and was
never able to keep the promise. I realized it is
impossible to quit because of the work pressure and
related issues. One day as part of my regular routine,
on my way to work, I was taking my child to day-care
center. It was raining and foggy. Before I realized
what was happening my SUV was skidding out of
control and within a fraction of time, I was over the
median and towards the opposite traffic. I hit a vehicle
(head-on collision) coming from the opposite side.
Both the vehicles were in a very bad shape. I
immediately looked back at my child (1 Year old) to
see how she is and she was crying but looked fine.
The only thing I uttered was the word "Sai". I then
picked my daughter from the car seat and got down
the vehicle to ask the other passenger on how she
was doing. She said she had some pain in the foot
and then next the emergency vehicle came and took
her to the hospital and I thought she would be ok.
After few days my insurance lawyer called me to
give me a heads up that I will be getting a court
notice for personal damages, I have incurred to her
due to the accident. After a couple of months, I was
asked to appear for a deposition and other process
of the court and a court date for the case had been set.
All the time and all through these processes, I was
kind of depressed and was counting on Sai that He
will take care of everything. One day it occurred to
me that because of the smoking habit, all these bad
things were happening to me and hence I decided to
quit. Miraculously I was able to stop smoking from
that day onwards. It has been 9 months since I quit.
Last week I got a call from the lawyer saying that the
other party settled the case out of court within the
insurance limit and to my surprise their medical
expenses were the same as my insurance limits. They
weren't asking anything for personal pain. I strongly
believe all this was because of Sai. I now think that
all this happened because He wanted to teach me a
lesson on how important life was and how careful I
have to be and also I have a wife and kids who are
dependant on me. Thank you Baba for everything.
(Contributed by Venkat)

DEVOTEES SAY:
Rajyalakshmi
Baba! Thanks for blessing my parents with visa without
any delay. We all are very much thankful to You. As
promised I am thanking you by writing in this
newsletter. Bless my parents with a smooth and
peaceful and happy journey to Singapore as per their
schedule and also a cheerful trip throughout their stay
in Singapore. My entire family is Your devotee. Please
bless me with a normal delivery and a healthy baby
here without any trouble.

Kiran
I read in Sai Satcharitha, with Sai's grace one of the
devotees got permission to read Pothi (Janeshwari).
I expressed if Sai's grace would be with me also.
On the same day when we went to Indian Stores, I
received a calendar as gift and found "Durga Devi"
portrait with "Arati" of Durga. I felt Sai Baba gave a
message saying that victory is near, I need to keep
patience. Later on Thursday, I expressed my concern
that why things are not moving forward regarding
my interview for the new job. I got reply in Sai Vichaar
that, things will move and I will get my desire
accomplished. Om Sai.

Sravanthi
I started doing Baba's Parayanam and completed it
today. Before doing the parayana my heart was filled
with lot of tension and unknown fear, which I could
not share with anyone except Baba. Then I decided to
do the saptaha parayanam. Luckily my husband
who is not a devotee cooperated with me the whole
week. Also he allowed me to put the vibuthi and
everyday ate the prasadam. In the middle of the
parayana, I started feeling so happy and my tensions
and unwanted fear disappeared. I realized it is only
God who can save us from any kind of trouble and
give peace.

Vivek
I would like to thank Baba for giving me a very good
start in the job of my choice. It took sometime but I
understand that I must follow Your message of faith
and patience. Thanks a lot Baba for being with me.

A devotee
I have been trying for a job from 3 months; by Sai
grace I had an Interview on Thursday. I received
Shirdi prasadam and Tirupathi prasadam from my
Mom in India on the same day. On Tuesday I got
the news that I got the job. All this happened only
because of Sai's blessings and the confidence He
gave me. Please bless me perform well in the job
and bless me have no problems at the work place.
Be with me in my every walk of life and give me
the strength to fulfill my responsibilities.

Vimala
I am married for two years, and was not able to
conceive. On November 23rd 2006 I was in Shirdi.
I have lost my parents and He is everything to me.
Today within two months after visiting Shirdi
with His grace I have conceived. Sai Ma, You are
everything to me, please shower Your blessings
and bless me with a health child. It is very true
that anything you ask in His name will be
answered; only trust matters.

PRAYER CLUB:
Sai
We already had two miscarriages Baba. Please
Baba bless me with a healthy baby. Please
forgive us for all the sins we have done.

Alka
I don't have a place to stay. Where should I go?
Please Baba, give me one place from where
nobody will say go from here.

Kamala
My mother is a strong willed 78 year old lady
who has never done any harm to anyone in her
life. Recently she has suffered brain stroke twice
and has a pacemaker in her heart. To top it all
she has suffered a hip fracture and needs
immediate surgery. With all her illnesses
including diabetes, I am afraid Baba. Baba
please make my mother alright.

Latha
I have some health problems due to which I am
not able to conceive. Dear Sai devotes please
pray for me.

Sangita
Please take care of my father. He is very sick
and suffering and going through a lot of pain.
Please help him Baba and make him healthy
and strong. I want to take his blessings for my
son and I want to visit him with my child. He
has not seen my child and I want him to see
my baby.

Veena
I am having difficult time for long time now.
I really want some solution to my problem
soon as I cannot prolong it anymore. Please
help me find solution and give me some
peace and happiness.

Vaishali
Please shower Your blessings to my friend
who is trying to conceive from a long time.

Rashi
SaiBaba please take care of my daughter. She
got her head injured a little by falling down
yesterday. She has little pain, make her well
soon.

EXPERIENCE OF DEVOTEES:

Nalini
Recently I had a great experience that Baba is
there to help us always. One day we had a
demo on a new project. On the day of the demo
I got a problem in the project for the demo and
without fixing it, the demo cannot be continued.
The demo was scheduled at 2:00 pm. My project
manager called me at 11:00 am to find out the
status of the project. I was not able to think
anything else but just pray to Baba. Just after
5 minutes the manager called again and told
me that the demo was postponed. It was Baba's
miracle. I know that without Baba's help it was
impossible. Baba please be with us always and
shower Your blessings on us.

Alok
I dont have any the words to describe my
feelings whenever I experienced the miracles
of Saibaba. Since last night I was so disturbed
about my wife, she was not well and I am so
much worried about her that I was not able to
control my emotions. When I get up in the
morning I was not able to think anything. As I
am the devotee of Saibaba, but now I was
becoming hostile to Him because I didn't feel
any improvement. I thought that no one is
going to help me now. I will do everything,
but slowly I felt I am thinking very wrong
because Saibaba has helped me every time. I
begged to Him and He will not leave me as
such like a father could not see his son crying,
how can He see me crying and I walked out
of my home and then this miracle happened.
I said in my mind if You are with me Sai, then
give me Your darshan and in the very next
second I saw a man carrying a big poster of
Saibaba. This picture was so real that it seemed
that Saibaba himself had come to bless me and
to give me this trust that He cannot see me
crying. Our Saibaba cannot see His devotee
crying for any reason. He is a father to all His
devotees. I am so small and have no words to
describe His kindness.

Pooja
Thankyou Saibaba for helping us. I had trouble
all through my pregnancy and we were worried
how the delivery would be. But we kept praying
Baba for safe pregnancy and delivery. As prayed,
the delivery was normal and we have been
blessed with a healthy baby. Thank you Sainatha
for being with us and helping us in every stage
of this life changing event. As promised we are
publishing Your blessings on us in Sai Vichaar
newsletter. Sai, please continue showering Your
blessings on us ever. Always under your feet. We
apologize for the delay in writing this note.

QUOTATION OF THE WEEK:
"My treasury is full, and I can give anyone, what
he wants, but I have to see whether he is qualified
to receive what I give".
-Shri Sai Baba

QUESTION OF THE WEEK:
Q. Comment on what Saibaba said to Dasganu
Maharaj.
A. by S.Karthikeyan

Q. Saibaba said to Dasganu Maharaj, "Why do
you want all this paraphernalia-coat, uparani
and pheta etc, do off all that before Me, why
wear them on the body?" - Comment?
A. Simplicity - no paraphernalia. This is Baba's
message. I recall many devotees wanting to
read Sai Satcharita (parayanam) getting worried
over details, often dwelling about the number
of days in which it is to be completed in, about
the offerings to be made, flower arrangements
to be made and so on that reading Satcharita
becomes a gargantuan task often stressing the
devotee and their family members. Baba has
stressed the need for simplicity, suggesting
that no paraphernalia is required to reach Him.

Q. Comment on what Saibaba said to Dasganu
Maharaj.
A. by Vipul Desai
Q. Saibaba said to Dasganu Maharaj, "Why do
you want all this paraphernalia-coat, uparani
and pheta etc, do off all that before Me, why
wear them on the body?" - Comment?
A. All these things create ego in person. Baba
always said that if you want moksha first take
out ego, be simple, don't poke your nose in
others matter. You are wearing all these to
show that you are superior then others.

Q. Comment on what Saibaba said to Dasganu
Maharaj.
A. by Vandana
Q. Saibaba said to Dasganu Maharaj, "Why do
you want all this paraphernalia-coat, uparani
and pheta etc, do off all that before Me, why
wear them on the body?" - Comment?
A. The God of Devotion Naradha Maharishi
himself did not wear any cloth on his top.
He wore a Dhoti. With veena in his hand he
used to sing about the Lord. Same way, the
message about God should be conveyed to
all in a simple way. So Baba did not like all
artificial materialistic forms and He ordered
Das Ganu to convey the message in a simple
manner so that it reaches to all kinds of people
good or bad, rich or poor.

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.

Inauguration of Shri Shirdi Sai Temple in
Montebello, CA
All devotees along with friends and family
are invited to participate in the inauguration
of Shri Shirdi Sai Temple on January 21st, 2007
from 9:35 am. The Temple is located at 144 South
4th Street, Montebello, CA 90640. For more
information please call Krishna Samantula at
949-679-9938 or visit www.shirdisaila.org.


FROM THE EDITORS KEYBOARD:
Devotees who are interested in receiving Sai Vichaar
are requested to visit www.saibaba.org/saivichaar.html
and subscribe for Sai Vichaar, the Newsletter from
Saibaba.org. Due to the volume of email IDs that needs
be handled, the subscription is automated as above.
Devotee's cooperation is sincerely appreciated.

The "Question of the week for this week is,
Q. Saibaba said to Dasganu Maharaj, "Why do you
want all this paraphernalia-coat, uparani and pheta
etc, do off all that before Me, why wear them on
the body?" - Comment?
Humbly Yours,
The Editor