Satsang MEETING WITH SRI M.B. REGE

Mother Radhakrishna hated publicity. A gentleman from Mumbai
took some snap shots of her without her knowledge; but some one
spoke of it as the gentleman was leaving Shirdi in a tonga. She ran
after the tonga for about a mile, wrested the camera and smashed
it. Tatya Koti Patil, an intimate devotee of Baba, told me of this in
her presence.

In December 1914, the late Sri P.R. Avasthi went with me to Shirdi.
He had taken 'Guru Mantra' from a woman saint in his young days
and did not know whether she was living or dead. Sri H.S. Dixit was
his friend and wanted him to go for darshan of Baba; but Sri Avasthi
thought that it would be 'Guru droha' (faithlessness towards his Guru).
When he came to know of my association with the Master, he spoke
of his state of mind. He was then the District Judge, Indore, and I was
Civil Judge under him. I told him that Baba was a Superb Guru - one
with God - and he agreed to accompany me provided I took on the
responsibility. We went and Baba asked me who was this 'Pissat'
(crazy man) with me. Sri Avasthi was excited. Next day the mother
tied four mogra flowers together and handing them to me said, 'Take
this to the Master and ask Him to unravel it.' Baba smelt the flowers
and returned them with a message for mother Radhakrishna that she
should do it. In the mean while Sri Avasthi had a brain wave. He made
a small ball (pindam) of rice out of the Naivedya offering unknown to us
and decided that if Baba accepted the Pindam, he would conclude that
his Guru was no more and taking Baba as Guru would not be Guru
droha. I was with him when he went to the Masjid with Naivedyam and
the Pinda in his hand under the plate. Baba said 'Give it to me'. He
took the pindam, smelt it and said 'It has reached its place'. We
returned to mother's house and from the door, Sri Avasthi rushed to
her and fell at her feet singing spontaneous verses for about half an
hour unconscious of things around him. The mother was also in a
trance. Later Sri Avasthi told me that in place of mother Radhakrishna
he had seen his first Guru.

In 1914, I was doubtful about my ability to attend the Guru Poornima.
The food was used to be cooked in mother's house, but she said that
if I was not there, it had better be cooked elsewhere. On the Guru
Poornma day, she got an extra quota from Baba's 'Bhiksha'. She then
announced that I was coming and the cooking started. I reached at
about 9 a.m. They wanted a stone to pound the spices (masala). The
step leading to the house was considered good and mother and I moved
it with some difficulty. Just as it was in the door frame, a devotee Sri
Purandare came up and wanted to help. The stone turned and it might
have crushed my hand but the mother pulled it towards herself and the
index finger of her right hand was crushed into two. You can imagine
her agony; but as if nothing had happened, she soaked a rag in oil and
wrapping the bleeding finger, went on to help in cooking. Only after all
was over, she called me and said she was feeling the pain and would
like to go to the jungle and cry. We went and for half an hour she did
cry. Then we came back for our normal work. What control over the
body and indifference to pleasure and pain in the service of the Master!

(to be contd...)
BHARANIDHARAN
(SRIDHAR)
Chennai-600 017.
(Courtesy: Sai Sudha, Golden Jubilee Issue - June 1990, All India
Sai Samaj (Regd), Chennai-600004, India)

Satsang MEETING WITH SRI M.B. REGE

Sri Dasganu was a great devotee; and we find in his 'Kirtanas',
references to the love of Gopies; but he probably thought that what
was proper for Lord Sri Krishna was not so for a fakir. Being confined
to the residence and company of the mother, I was a persona
non-grata and was far from Dasganu Maharaj until after the Master's
Mahasamadhi. He then came to Indore and stayed with me. Then
with tears in his eyes he said,'Baba saheb, you were very fortunate
in living with a devotee of the highest order in Madhura Bhakti. I do
kirtans of Mirabai, Janabai, Kanhopatra, and gopis, and tears flow
from my eyes but I could not appreciate the Madhura Bhakti of
Radhakrishna Ayee in real life', and referring to mother's sad end,
he said there were instance in the Puranas of birth without sexual
relations.

In 1911, I thought of practicing Yoga. I invoked my Master and wanted
no other Guru. Relying on the story of Ekalavya who got Shastra and
Astra Vidya from a mud image of Dronacharya, I began Asana and
Pranayama, sitting before the picture of my Master. I could control my
breath and stop five or six beats of my heart in about a year's time.
Once in 1912, talking of Yoga and control and functions of the body,
the mother told me that she had succeeded by Rajayoga in stopping
her monthly periods!

Mother Radhakrishna was of ordinary build, about 5 feet high, but had
an iron will and the strength of a giant. She used to fetch water from a
well about a furlong away in large pots, which she picked alone with
her hands, when a strong man would need the help of another for the
purpose. She once gave me a blow on my chest and said, "You are a
'samsari'. Is this hollow", she then asserted that she was much
stronger than me. I replied that I was only a child. She then suggested
a trial of strength, and insisted on it in spite of me. The road leading to
Rahata used to be deserted in the afternoon and she said we should
run with the other on the back. I told her to get on my back and I
would run first. I ran about two furlongs and the mother said she was
satisfied and I may stop. She then made me get on her back and ran
much more than two furlongs, and asked whether she was not stronger,
and when I said it was doubtless so, she asked me to get off her back.
I said I was happy on the back of my mother and would not leave it. She
threatened to throw me off and I replied that the world would stare if a
fond mother did so. Eventually I got a promise from her that she would
carry me on Her back on the spiritual path. It appears to me that this
was pre-ordained by the Master, as, when we return to mother's
residence, I was called by Baba and asked what we were doing. When
I told him about our race and mother's promise, the Master said 'She
will take you on her back and so will I'. But then he directed me to give
up the practice of Yoga. 'Do Bhakti', He said, 'nothing is more
necessary. Only let your Heart, Head, and hand be in tune'. (He
pointed to the head, heart, and hand, said, 'let these be one')

(to be contd...)
BHARANIDHARAN
(SRIDHAR)
Chennai-600 017.
(Courtesy: Sai Sudha, Golden Jubilee Issue - June 1990, All India
Sai Samaj (Regd), Chennai-600004, India)

Satsang MEETING WITH SRI M.B. REGE

To my knowledge she did not go in front of Baba nor sing bhajan in
front of him. Whenever I visited Shirdi she and I with occasionally
one or two others used to wash the floor of the Masjid when Baba
went to the Lendi and just, two months before she passed away in
1917, she came out after washing the Masjid, put her head on the
open verandah where Baba used to wash himself in mornings and
apparently went into a trance. Baba returned from the Lendi and
patting her on the back said, "Ramkrishni, why are you worry when
I am there". She started and ran away to her house. That was the
only occasion when I saw Baba saying anything to her personally
but on a number of occasions I found Baba having a sort of telepathic
communication with her.

Radhakrishna Ayee gave birth to a child and I was informed that the
child died immediately after and so did she.

Before Maha Samadhi, people gathered on Ramnavami day and the
Guru Poornima, when there was mass worship and offerings to Baba
of clothes and sweets etc., The sweets were distributed and the
clothes normally returned to the devotees. Baba did not worship any
idol and his worship that I saw was that done by a siddha.

The Ratha was presented by me and Shri Avasthi but people did not
know this. It was brought over in the night and put up there. Shri
Dasganu came for Darshan in the morning and Baba in his usual way
said to him, "See what people do, look that turbat (Tazia), is this
devotion?" Dasganu blamed Baba for allowing these things to be done
and started violently swearing at such devotees. after 10 minutes Baba
started smiling and said, "Ganu, are you blind and have you lost your
head? It is not a turbat. It is my Ratha, and I shall move in it the world
over." Physically He never used it.

I saw Baba in a violent temper sometimes. I was told that in the past
he used even strike people with his satka. When He was in a temper,
few people dared to go near him but he cooled down and was his own
loving self in no time.

I cannot say that I saw him engaged in dhyana or prayers but the
shastras says and I believe a Siddha is in eternal dhyana and that
every moment of his life is spent in the service of God.

I trust I have made myself clear. If there is any further explanation
wanted, I shall be very happy as I am in duty bound to furnish it to you.

I have been invited for the Maha Samadhi celebrations to Madras,
Coimbatore and other places. It is difficult for me to say in my present
condition of health whether I would be able to undertake the journey. If
I get well enough during the month that intervenes I shall come to Madras
and have the pleasure of meeting you there.

With love and kind regards.

Ever yours,
At the feet of the Master
(Sd.) M. B. REGE
(to be contd....)
BHARANIDHARAN
(SRIDHAR)
Chennai-600 017.
(Courtesy: Sai Sudha, Golden Jubilee Issue - June 1990, All India Sai Samaj
(Regd), Chennai-600004, India)

SHRI M.B. REGE'S RARE LETTER ON RADHAKRISHNA AYEE

Sri Gurudev

28, South Tukoganj,
Indore,
3rd September 1968

Dear Brother Sridhar,

Your letter of the 30th th reached me yesterday afternoon. I have
wired you this morning, as this letter will not reach you on 4th inst.,
as desired by you.

Now regarding my Divine mother Radhakrishna Ayee. I shall relate
some incidents which will show her worth and what the master
thought of her.

You are aware that I went to Shirdi for the first time in December
1910 consequent on a vision in which I saw my Kula Devi Shanta
Durga of Kareta (Goa) with Shri Maha Vishnu and my Master, and
Shri Maha Vishnu said that the three were in fact one, and that
Shri Sai Baba would be my saviour. You may find some more
details in Sri Narasimha Swamiji's "Life of Sai Baba, Vol.III"
(Ankita Devotees).

In my first visit, the master asked me to go to mother Radhakrishna
whom He described as His mother and mine. My association with
her and I owe my spiritual life to her - left no doubt in my mind that
she was the Yoga Maya like the Yogini, who gave Sri Ramakrishna
Paramahamsa his training in 'Tantra' Mother Ramakrishna, whom
the master always referred to as Ramakrishni, was to me an ideal
of the Madhura Bhakti of the Gopis. All her belongings in the world
were a durrie (cotton mat) a blanket, a pair of dhotis, Eknath
Maharaja's Bhagwat, abhangas of Sri Thukaram and a lota. She
had an idol of Lord Krishna - she called it 'Chahabi' and occasional
singing of Bhajans in which she would get unconscious in a deep
trance.

The devotee I met at Shirdi had views of their own regarding Bhakti
and each one or a group thought that His or its own way was the
right one; and very often there was intolerance of other views. Mother
Radhakrishna's view was that the master should, like the idols at
Thirupati, Mathura or Dwaraka and Pandarpur, have good clothes,
ornaments, Palki Rath, etc. Other devotees of note like Sri Dasganu
Maharaj, Sri Dabolkar thought that Baba was a Fakir and ostentation
was against His creed. Indeed when once velvet chhava (overcoat)
was being put on Baba, one of such devotees, when Baba in his own
way refused to have it put on, said 'Fix some nails to fix it'. The last
scandal completely alienated such persons and since the sketches
of Baba were mostly written by them, a reference to the mother in
them, cannot be expected.

BHARANIDHARAN
(SRIDHAR)
Chennai-600 017.
(Courtesy: Sai Sudha, Golden Jubilee Issue - June 1990, All India
Sai Samaj (Regd), Chennai-600004, India)

Satsang Chapter 30 :Sri_Sai_Sat_Charitra_Concise(Version)

Om Shree Ganeshaya Namah
Om Sai Ram

Kakaji Vaidya
We do not know what is devotion but we know for sure that
Sai Baba will not forsake us to any cost. Vaidya: Kakaji Vaidya,
who was the priest in the Sapta Shringi temple in Vani in Nasik
Taluka, was tormented by miseries. He prayed to Devi who came
in dream and asked him to 'to go Baba.' He went to
Tryambakeshwar and stayed for a fortnight worshipping Shiva with
Vedic rituals. But there was no abatement of troubles. Again Devi
came in his dream and said that 'she meant Shirdi Sai Baba and
not Trymabakeshwar Baba'. Now Vaidya's worry was how to go to
Shirdi.
Meantime, at Shirdi, Baba told Shama that He couldn't accept the
many unfulfilled vows of his mother to Sapta Shringi and hence Shama
should go personally to Vani and complete those vows. Shama came
to Vaidya of Vani. Should one explain the joy of Vaidya? After fulfilling
vows for which Shama came, both reached Shirdi. Vaidya had blissful
days at Shirdi and his troubles came to an end.

Kushal Chand: One day Baba directed kaka Dhikxit to go in a horse
drawn carriage to Rahatha and bring Kushal to Shirdi. There at Rahata
Kushal had a dream in which Baba was calling him to Shirdi. What a
wonder!

Ram Lal: In Bombay, one Ram Lal had a dream in which a saint
beckoned him for His darshan. He was not knowing who that saint
was. That evening when he was strolling on the road, on the way he
saw the portrait of Sai in a shop and came to know that the Saint who
beckoned him in his dream was Sai Baba of Shirdi. He came to
Shirdi and had the bliss of darshan of Baba.

Thus Baba pulled a lot of devotees to Shirdi..
By A. Govindakrishnan

39 Original Rare photos of Baba

39 Original Rare photos of Baba

Request : PLEASE PASS ON THIS LETTER TO
YOUR FRIENDS AND OTHER SAI DEVOTEES,

Jai Sai Ram
I have received many requests from the devotees
who have not been able to access the "39 Original Rare
photos" of Baba hoasted by me, and to send the photos
by separate email. I find that sending the 39 photos
to individuals, will be a heavy task. Let us make
another try and I try to give below the steps to be
taken to view these 39 Rare Original Photos as well
many - many other photos of Baba.
1. Key-in at the address bar or click
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mysaibaba20 ,
2. Home page of the yahoogroup 'mysaibaba20' will be
displayed. Here you can go to messages only and not to
any section like photo, file or link sections,
displayed on your left side. Only members can go to
these sections. On the top right side there is a
button saying 'join this group'. I would request the
devotees to click it, to join the group.
3. Your Yahoo id would be asked and then some options
will be asked from you, along with verification of
word and at the end there will be 'join' button. Clik
it to join the group.
4. Your membership will be confirmed and on the left
you can go to photos etc or go to home page and then
go to photo.
5. There are 8 Albums in the photo section. 3rd one is
the 'Original Rare photos'.
6. You can also enjoy the photos in the other Albums
which are as under at present.
6.1. Articles used by Baba 22 photos
6.2. Miscellaneous Photos 189 photos
6.3. Original Rare Photos 39 photos
6.4. Sai Devotees of Baba's time 58 photos
6.5. Shirdi and aroud 17 photos
6.6 Shirdi and around - Chawadi 5 photos
6.7. Shirdi and around - Dwarkamai 21 photos
6.8. Shirdi and around - Gurusthan 8 photos
Enjoy the picture.

Members of the yahoogroup 'mysaibaba20' can go
directly to the yahoogroup home page. Just key in into
your yahoo mail with the id, which is the member of
yahoogroup. You have already done it, when you are
reading this email. Now simply key in
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mysaibaba20 and you
will be in the home page and then go to photo section
on the left.
Jai Sai Ram
Ashok Gupta
akg_vg@bol.net.in

THANKS FOR FORWARDING THIS EMAIL
Ashok Gupta

Satsang MEETING WITH SRI M.B. REGE

4) I never saw him taking non-vegetarian food. Until 1911 to 1912
when people prepared several dishes of food and sent the same
as Naivedhya (kanniku), He used to take only the things he got
as Bhiksha. Even when he got the Naivedhya he did not abandon
his Bhiksha. I cannot vouch for the correctness of the statement
in the Sat-charitra. He did not take anything by way of breakfast
or dinner at night so far as I am aware. His meal was only the
afternoon lunch, after Arati, which was conducted in the same
manner as is done now at Shirdi.

I never saw Him suggesting medicine for his devotees. I have only
heard that he cured a blind person by putting a little chilli powder
in the eyes and once or twice prescribed the powder of some roots.
he usually gave udhi which almost always put on the forehead of
the devotees.

It is difficult to give the correct age of Baba, but it is said that He
was about 18 years when he came to Shirdi in about 1872 and on
that estimate He would be a little over 60 at his Maha Samadhi but
he looked older - about 80.

My information about the criminal case in which Baba gave evidence
is that a person from Shirdi committed theft of gold ornaments. He
was put up for trial and his defense was that Baba had given him
the ornaments. A summon was issued to Baba and later a warrant
was also ordered. On a petition by some devotees and others, the
magistrate agreed to His examination on commission. Baba said
people called him Sai, His father was Allah, and his residence
everywhere and asked about the ornaments, it is said that He
replied, "who else gives things". The magistrate accepted his
statement as of a person who was one with God but held that the
accused was guilty and sentenced him to imprisonment. When the
people told Baba about the sentence, He said, "Who gave the
sentence, He who gave the ornaments also gave the sentence".

Shri Radhakrishna Ayee once told me that she was three years
senior to me. I met her in 1910, when I was 22. She came from
Ahmednagar to Shirdi according to her statement in 1907. She
did not cook food for Baba until about 1911 when devotees
celebrated some occasion like Guru Poornima when her room was
used for her and the devotees cooking food. Otherwise as far as
I know she did not cook even for herself because she used to get
her food out of Baba's Bhiksha. After 1912 a part of the Bhiksha
was sent to her and for me when I was there since I was also
asked not to take food elsewhere.

(to be contd....)
BHARANIDHARAN
(SRIDHAR)
Chennai-600 017.
(Courtesy: Sai Sudha, Golden Jubilee Issue - June 1990, All India Sai Samaj
(Regd), Chennai-600004, India)

LETTERS OF SRI M.B. REGE

SRI GURUDEV

M.B. Rege, B.A., LL.,B.,
Advocate
28, South Tukoganj,
Indore, M.P.,
Tel: 7235

24th August 1968

Dear Brother Sridhar,
I received your letter of the 9th instant on the 15th; that was
probably delayed because of dislocation in the traffic. Your letter
of 22nd came into hand this morning. I regret the delay in replying
to your first letter. You
had asked me to reply early, time and health permitting. I had enough
time and more to spare but incessant rain and chilly weather gave me
an attack of influenza and I had to be in bed for over a week; even after
that I ran a slight temp. I am better now, but cannot sit for a long time.
therefore I am dictating this letter from my bed.

Let me first say that if you got the impression that I personally witnessed
the miracle of Baba going up a plank to sleep, it is incorrect. As far as I
recollect, I told you that my Revered brother Shri Dasganu Maharaj had
told me about it. There was no question of peeping through because Baba
slept in the open Masjid and Shri Dasganu told me that he had stood in
the open space in front of the Masjid to find how Baba went up; and that
he saw Baba either on the floor or on the plank. I told you that Shri
Dasganu would not invent a story and that I believed him as though I had
been with him myself.

When my Revered brother Narasimha Swami showed me his collection
of 'Devotees Experiences' I told him that a large percentage of what
people had said was reflection of their own minds and his reaction was
characteristic of a missionary. he said "I know; but unless some miracles
or things out of the ordinary were mentioned, the mere man would not be
attracted to Baba. Swamiji's love and faith and the Master's grace made
it possible for so many persons being attracted to get the blessings of
the Master.

I shall now give brief replies to your questions.

1) The colour of Baba I would put as wheat colour but there were some
brilliance which cannot be described. At times there would be bright
aura round his face.
2) His height was approximately 5'10"

3) His daily routine was that in the morning just after sunrise he would
wash his face and hands sitting in what I may call the Verandah. Then
he would be in his seat smoking a tobacco chilam, and people would
come for his Darshan. About an hour later, He would go to the Lendi.
The route was through the village and Radhakrishna Ayee would sweep
the road backwards so as not to step on the swept portion. The Lendi
was then a sort of deep canal. some people accompanied and awaited
his return from the canal. He would be there for about an hour. On his
return he would wash his feet and then go out for Bhiksha. During my
visit I would accompany him. As far as I know, He went to Lendi only
once in a day.

(to be contd....)
BHARANIDHARAN
(SRIDHAR)
Chennai-600 017.
(Courtesy: Sai Sudha, Golden Jubilee Issue - June 1990,
All India Sai Samaj (Regd), Chennai-600004, India)

Satsang MEETING WITH SRI M.B. REGE

What all I read about Sri Baba, what all I saw and heard
at Shirdi, were enriched by my personal conversations with
this staunch and uncompromising Sai devotee. But certain
doubts still lingered and certain gaps remained unfilled in
my mind and I took the liberty of writing to Sri M.B. Rege
after I returned to Madras, filling them with numerous queries.
Inspite of his age, failing health, family mishaps, and domestic
preoccupations he was kind and patient enough to reply to me
in great detail, because he must have been convinced that I
am very anxious to be authentic and factual as far as possible,
in my writings.

In his letters Sri Rege opened the windows of his mind and
heart, sometimes also anticipating my unexpressed doubts.
In a later meeting between us in Madras, he mentioned that
some unseen power was compelling him to confide everything
to me --even incidents and feelings that were locked up in his
mind all these years. He was convinced that it was the Will of
his Master that they must see the light of day and get
recorded in black and white through me.

Such a conviction of his was very much in evidence while he
revealed to me certain incidents hitherto unknown in the life
of Radhakrishna Ayee who, according to Sri Rege, was the
very embodiment of 'Madhura Bakthi' of the Gopis and whom
Baba referred to as His Mother.

I am happy I have been given this opportunity by the Sai Samaj
organisers to acknowledge with gratitude the great help
rendered by Sri Rege in my humble contribution to Sai literature.
It is my great pleasure and privilege to publish two valuable
letters out of four or five written to me by Sri Rege for the benefit
and enlightenment of Sai devotees and also for serving as
authentic record for future Sai biographers and research
scholars.

BHARANIDHARAN
(SRIDHAR)
Chennai-600 017.

Satsang Sri Sai Amrit Vani

Sri Sai Amrit Vani
22nd June 2006

Jai Sai Ram
Week after week, Baba is blessing us
on Thursdays with HIS leelas with slight changes only,
but in abundance. The miracle effect of the water
oozing from HIS charans is curing many devotees. To
cite one instance only ,
A lady was having fibroids in her uterus and was
advised to have surgery. She was given this holy water
and now the fibroids are so small that Dr. is of the
opinion that surgery is not necessary at the moment.
The Holy water is in limited quantity as compared to
the demand and is being given to the devotees who
actually needs it and it will be given to the devotees
as long as BABA is giving it.
This Thursday the 22nd June, the word
RAM also appeared along with OM on the photo on which
Swastic, Onkar, and other figures appeared earlier ,
but the honey was missing again. About 80 devotees
participated in the Sri Sai Amrit Vani in person this
Thursday. Even Pandit ji of our colony offered Bhog
to Baba this Thursday, which was accepted by HIM.
As I remain busy on Thursdays with the
devotees visiting Baba and Mrs. Gupta, I am unable to
work on the internet and consequently no emails on
Thursdays.

We were able to see the following
Leelas of Baba on Thursday the 22nd June 2006.

1. This Week Udi started appearing and oozing from the
photos on the walls from Tuesday morning and in the
mandir from Wednesday morning after Mrs Gupta
performed her pooja. As usual the words formed with
Udi were again 'RAM' and 'SHAM' 'OM' and Trishool.
2. OMs was formed along with the word RAM with Udi
this week on the photo were swastic and onkar and OM
used to form .
3. Bhiksha Patra in one photo contained one OM formed
with Udi.
4. There was lot of Water from the Charans this week
also. This water was collected in the plate. The
taste of water was similar to gulab jal and kewara.
After Sai Amrit Vani, this water was given to the
needy devotees and again the plate was filled with
water. This water was taken out of plate 3-4 time
throughout the day.
5. On Thursday as soon as Bhog was offered, it was
duly accepted by Baba and after the Sri Sai Amrit
Vani we noticed that the box, which was placed
before HIM. was half empty with partly eaten and
partly remained pieces of items in the box, Only
small pieces of items were left in the box. Part of
Bhog was on the lips of many photos and statue of
Baba. These parts of the remains in the box were
given to the devotees who offered that item of bhog to
Baba.
6. Only Bread Pakora in the Box of bhog which was
placed before Baba was intact and was not eaten by
Baba. Mrs Gupta and the devotee felt very unhappy over
it. There may be some cause about it.
7. All the boxes of Bhog which were kept on the table
were blessed with Udi,
8. Besides Mrs. Gupta many devotees also had Udi in
their Laps and books of Sri Sai Amrit Vani.
9. Many devotees felt the presence of Baba during the
recitation of Sai Amrit Vani in different ways.
10. The Charnamrit of Baba was also sweet as if some
honey has been mixed into it.
11. Two Sai Satcharitra were placed by Mrs. Gupta
before Baba, which were blessed with Udi and after the
Sai Amrit Vani, were gifted to two devotees.
12. Documents, Photo of Baba and the locket/pandet of
devotees were placed by Mrs Gupta before Baba were
blessed with lots of Udi, as soon as they were placed.

Jai Sai Ram

Sri Sai Amrit Vani started exactly at 11:04
AM and Noon Aarti exactly at 12:00 Hrs. followed by
brief Meditation and the prayer, Prayan from Sai
Satcharitra and finally distribution of Prasad.
Prayers and thanks were offered by Mrs. Gupta to Baba.

Next Sri Sai Amrit Vani on 29TH June again
will be held in Sidhartha Extension, New Delhi.
Devotees interested in attending it in person may
contact on phone nos 26346942, 9810714688 or
9312494767 only after 11 AM (IST) on all days except
Thursdays and no calls on Thursdays PLEASE.. They
should NOT bring any bhog with them and be in time.
Kids are also not allowed in the hall. No disturbance
is tolerated as soon as the Sri Sai Amrit Vani starts
till it ends.

Besides the devotees who had made the direct
request to Mrs Gupta on phone and On their request and
the assurance of reciting/reading/listening Sai Amrit
Vani on Thursday, received till Wednesday night,
following Sai devotees were included and they
participated ( in Absencia) in the recitation of Sri
Sai Amrit Vani. The names had been sorted out,
according to their email ids, to avoid any
duplication. Devotees are requested to P L E A S E,
give the names along with place, for inclusion in the
Sri Sai Amrit Vani in absencia only of those devotees,
---------------- WHO WILL RECITE/READ OR AT LEAST
LISTEN TO SRI SAI AMRIT VANI AT THEIR PLACES ON
THURSDAY AT ANY TIME-----------. However all Sai
devotees are prayed for by Mrs Gupta during Sai Amrit
Vani, when the feeling of presence of Baba is very
strong.

Devotees participating in Sri Sai Amrit Vani
on Thursdays, in absencia are requested to pray for
themselves also and recite/read or listen Sri Sai
Amrit Vani at their place, Links of Audio MP3 files
are given in the link section of the home page of '
mysaibaba20' yahoogroup. Hindi and English Script of
Sri Sai Amrit Vani are also there in the file section
of the home page. To go to home page of yahoogroup key
in or click http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mysaibaba20
. This activity of Sri Sai Amrit Vani will be in
addition to any other pooja or sewa or prayer that
you are doing.

Meaning of Sri Sai Amrit Vani in
English along with Tamil and Romanised English Script
of Hindi is also available for those who do not
understand Hindi.

Jai Sai Ram.

Ashok Gupta
akg_vg@bol.net.in

Sai Vichaar for Thursday , June 15, 2006

Sai Vichaar www.saibaba.org
Thursday , June 15, 2006 :: Volume 9, Issue 5
(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: To overcome negative experiences...
In his later role as a Sufi Master Sai Baba encouraged his visitors
to practice repentance, to turn away from the life they had been
living, and to practice devotion to God in whatever form they chose.
He admonished his devotees to give up bad habits such as addiction
to liquor, and exhorted that negative qualities such as caste rivalry,
pride of learning, greed, etc. should not be harbored. In answer to
a devotee's question concerning samsara (worldly activities), Sai
Baba observed:
The Shadripus (the six enemies - lust, anger, covetousness,
delusion, pride & jealousy) are all delusive. They make the unreal
appear as real. If a rich man wears a gold ornament, the poor
man gets jealous, and thinks he must have one. This is lobha
(greed). All are like this. So one must conquer the six enemies.
If they are conquered, waves of passion will not arise. Else they
will enslave you. If they are subordinated and reason made the
commandant, then the delusive pleasures and pains will no
longer hold sway over you.
Commenting to Nana Chandorkar, he said that of this jealousy
is the easiest to conquer:
Jealousy (matsara) is the inability to endure another's profit and
prosperity. If another gets fortune or power, we cannot put up
with it, we scandalize him. When he meets with loss, we rejoice.
But is this good? When that man attains prosperity, what loss
have we really suffered? But people do not consider this point
of view. If he attains good let us rejoice; let us attain or strive to
attain equal good. That should be our desire and determination.
One technique, which Sai Baba enjoined for overcoming such
negative experiences, was to repeat the name of God. He said:
"if others hate us, let us simply take to namajapa (recitation of
the names of God) and avoid them."
(Source: ."Shirdi Sai Baba in the Light of Sufism" by Marianne Warren)


CONTRIBUTED ARTICLE: Conversations between Baba and Nana
Chandorkar (continued from last week) Nana folded his hands and
said, "I understand that but what puzzles me is this: why should
there be pain and pleasure, joy and sorrow? There cannot be these
if one gets rid of worldly affairs."

To this Baba said, "Pain and pleasure, joy and sorrow are illusions.
They are not real, although people think them to be real. Thanks to
his previous karma, one man feeds on delicacies; another feeds on
dry bread; a third gets only stale food or worthless left-overs. Those
who feed on stale food or worthless leftovers consider themselves
unhappy, while those eating good food say that they have
everything they need. The purpose of eating is to quench the fire
in the stomach, no matter what one eats delicacies or leftover.
Similarly, the purpose of covering one's body, whether with
delicate fabrics woven with gold thread or with rough garments
made from the inner bark of trees, is to protect the body; nothing
more. Thus, joy and sorrow, pain and pleasure are simply ways
of looking at things. They are, as I said, illusions and you should
not be deceived by them. Illusory as they are, these feelings
cannot exist without a cause just as waves cannot exist without
water or light without a lamp.
The six enemies like desire, avarice etc. are the underlying
causes. These make one believe that the unreal is the real.
When a poor man sees a gold bracelet on the wrist of a rich
man, he feels angry. The anger in turn gives rise to envy, the
desire to own something belonging to another. One must
therefore defeat the six enemies. Once they are subdued they
cannot disturb you with joy or sorrow. You need not destroy
these enemies completely; you need only to learn to employ
them as your slaves, keeping them in check through
knowledge or rational thinking.

"There is, however, one real joy and one real sorrow. Being
caught up in the cycle of births and deaths is the real sorrow;
getting liberated from the cycle is the real joy. All the rest
is illusion.
"How then, should one conduct oneself in the world? Listen
to what I say carefully. One must be contented with one's
lot in life; one must not keep worrying over it. If riches come
to you, accept them but be humble, like the trees which
bend on being loaded with fruit. It is good to be humble, to
be kind and polite but not to everyone. You should learn to
tell rogues, who take advantage of the kindness of the rich,
and be stern with them. Do not forget, however, that wealth
is but the noonday shadow. Do not get puffed up with the
power of wealth and harass others. Instead give in charity
according to your capacity. One should never borrow and
be extravagant. The world may be an illusion but your
destiny is not: it is real. You need wealth to conduct your
worldly affairs.
Wealth is essential but one should not get entangled in it.
Do not be a miser. Be generous but not over-generous.
Remember no one will care for you once your wealth is
spent. Generosity combined with extravagance is
dangerous; avoid it by all means. While giving in charity,
consider how suitable is the recipient. Ask yourself: "Is
he worthy of your help? Is he in real need? and only if the
answer is yes, must you give. The sick and the disabled
are worthy of your charity; so are orphans. All public
welfare projects are deserving of financial help: so are
scholars of merit. Try and help, if you can, poor and
deserving women in labor.
"There are three types of feedings: mass feeding, regular
feeding and occasional feeding. Mass feeding is feeding
people in thousands. You may do this if you are very
wealthy and your intentions good. When you mass-feed,
you need not differentiate between caste or between good
and bad people; all are worthy. Feeding in the name of
the Lord also falls in this category. However, you should
not undertake some feeding if you have to borrow and get
into debt.
(Contributed by Continued......)

CONTRIBUTED ARTICLE: Conversations between Baba
and Nana Chandorkar (contd.)
Regular feeding, on the other hand, calls for discrimination.
Only way farers, mendicants, the worthy poor among
students who live by begging their bread, and the hungry
deserve to be fed regularly. "Then there is occasional
feeding - feeding on occasions like weddings, festivals
and the completion of the observance of religious vows.
On such occasions you may invite your good friends and
relations and feed them. These are the three types of
feeding and the reasons behind them. The same holds
good for the offering of clothing as well.
"Try to help those in distress whenever your purse permits.
When in power, do not misuse it. Do not take a bribe while
sitting in judgment on a case. Whatever responsibility is
given to you, carry it out well and with due care. Do not
dress overly and show off. Do not, without proper reason,
insult anyone. Know the bad and the wicked and deal
carefully with them. If you are blessed with sons, daughters,
servants and maids, treat them all affectionately but do not
take pride in these blessings, for such pride is the cause of
the cycle of births and deaths. We must finish up with our
past store of karma so that nothing is left for us to carry
forward. Blessings like sons, daughters etc. are meant for
this life only. Where, for instance, are the friends and
relatives we had in our past lives? They ceased to be when
the lives for which they were meant ceased to be. Desires,
on the other hand, bind us from birth to birth and bring
about the next birth. Do not therefore take false pride in
your progeny, relations or friends. Only then will you get
everlasting bliss. We go to a hotel to take shelter there for
a short while. We do not get attached to such a temporary
dwelling. The world too is but a temporary abode for us.
"Everybody should perform his duties and at the same time
remember the Lord, who is full of bliss.
The one God created all children on earth but your own child
is your responsibility. You must bring him up properly,
educate him, give him some money and leave some wealth
for him. Do not, however, take pride in his upbringing or
education or the wealth you have left him. Do your duty and
give the Lord the credit for doing it. Give the Lord the fruits of
your duty too. This will help you to remain aloof and detached
from worldly activities. Use your intelligence and knowledge
to differentiate the good from the bad, accept the good and
discard the bad. Take up good projects and make all possible
efforts to complete them. You must by no means be
apathetic towards the affairs of this world. Do your duties
proudly but cast off this pride as soon as they bear fruit. "As
long as life exists, one must take good care of one's body
but one should not weep over death. After death nothing
exists for you to cry over. Wise men are unmoved by death;
it is only the foolish who give vent to their feelings in times
of death. The body until its death is a loan from the five
elements, which the life force repays. On full and final
repayment of the loan, air mixes with air, fire with fire.
Thus, the five elements go back to their respective places.
The body belongs to the earth and as such its loss is not
a matter for mourning. Similarly the birth of a child need
not be a cause for rejoicing, birth being as natural a
phenomenon as death. One must simply stay calm,
unmoved by birth and death, O Narayan! The earth bears
the seed, the cloud waters it and the sun helps the seed
to germinate. When the seed germinates, do the earth,
the cloud and the sun rejoice and start dancing? Whether
the sprout turns into a big tree or it dries up and withers is
something that should cause neither rejoicing nor sorrow.
If we act in this manner, how can there be any misery or
cause for lamentation? The state of absolution is the
absence of misery and lamentation.
(Contributed by Source: Sri Sai Gurucharithra: Collected
works on Saibaba by DasGanu Maharaj)

CONTRIBUTED ARTICLE: Conversations between Baba
and Nana Chandorkar (contd.)
Baba then told Nanasaheb that we would receive from him
more 'upadesh" later. Nanasaheb was very pleased to hear
this. His eyes moist with tears of joy and his body full of
goose pimples, he caught hold of Baba's feet and said in a
voice overwhelmed with emotion."O generous Sai: you have
redeemed me. Your "upadesh" has washed away the dust
of nescience that had gathered over me. I am deeply
grateful to you." Nimonkar was equally overwhelmed. They
both fell at Baba's foot and left for their respective homes.
(Contributed by Source: Sri Sai Gurucharithra: Collected
works on Saibaba by DasGanu Maharaj)

DEVOTEES SAY:
Savitha
I want to thank you Sainatha for Your grace on my family and
me for all these years. As per my vow to You I am writing in
this newsletter to spread the bhakthi that indeed you are with
everyone who believes in you. Please continue to bestow
Your grace on everyone. Om Shri Sai Ram.
Vijay
Thank you Sai because of you my brother got good job.
Thanks for every thing, please shower your blessings on all
your devotees and my family.
Suresh
I have prayed with Sai Nath that if I receive last months salary
from my company I will publish this in Sai Vichar as the
company was not in a position to pay salary and I received
salary only with Baba's blessings. I thank you Baba.
Jyothi
A many thanks to dear Sai, You have gifted me a with a baby
boy. After I lost a baby last year I thought I would never have
any child but by Your grace and love for Your children You
bestowed upon me this great gift. You also got my husband
a job in India and now a new home. I just can't believe that
everything is happening so soon. Once again I would like to
thank you and request You to keep me ever chanting Your
name. Sai, O Lord, this time my mother has some health
problems, kindly help her recover without any trouble.
Thank you O Lord, thanks a lot.

PRAYER CLUB:
Prakash
Due to poorvarjita karma, I am trapped in a serious debt
problem. Though You have blessed me and my family with
a good salary, all my earnings are getting drained out in
repayment of debt. You are the only solace and help me in
getting out of this problem as soon as I can. Though You
are aware about my problems, I am making a request to
you specially like a baby requests his mother for food.
Karnad
Sai Baba, please help my son overcome all his doubts
and wavering mind and to concentrate on his studies.
Punam
Om Sai Ram. By Baba's grace my IUI was done. I prayed
and requested to Baba that please bless me with a baby.
Already my 4 IUI were failed, but I know Baba can do
miracles any time. Everything is in Baba's hands. So please
Baba, take care of me this time. I request all Sai devotees
to pray for me.
Neetu
Baba, You what I am going through. Please Baba tell my
husband to come back soon. Please Baba tell him that
we are missing him very much. Baba please have mercy
on us.
Swaminathan
Baba please solve our problems and give us some peace
and happiness. Please forgive my mistakes and bless us.
We are trying our best bit still the results are not in our
favor. We are keeping all our faith in you. Only your help
can save us.
Srinivas
Please, see that I don't lose my Job. I will perform well
Baba. With your grace, I will perform definitely well. Please
provide your blessings to me. I always recite your name
wherever I am.
Hemisha
Forgive for all mistakes committed in my life and please
Saibaba shower your grace on me and my family and
assured to me to get a good job.
Shai
I don't know whether I should go ahead with my idea of
changing my career path should I just be patient and see
what Baba has stored for me. I feel so confused. Please
guide me my Mentor.
Nikhil
Please pray for my mother, she has got airthritis from
past five years. Baba please help her, give Your heeling
touch Baba. Take her problems away. Baba give Your
love to my family.
Zinda
Please bless my brother with a child. Please help my
sister's son to get admission for Engineering. You are
taking good care of me and my family. Help my husband
in his job and take care of our health.
Reshma
Baba, please help my husband to get a job. We have
relocated interstate and it is increasingly difficult for him
to get back in the lecturing or teaching profession. Also
Baba my son who is very bright but tend to get careless
with his studies. Please guide him to concentrate in his
school work for this is such an important year for him. I
beg you Baba please show my sixteen year old the right
way. He must not get sidetracked. Thank you very much
Baba for everything. Om Sai Ram

EXPERIENCE OF DEVOTEES:
Ambika
I am 22 years old and Baba came into my life in the year
2002. For me it was complete belief and love from the
beginning, no doubts, no questions. Since then Baba has
given me loads of beautiful experiences, not once has He
let me down at every step He has held my hand and helped
me walk through life without which I have no idea whether I
could even take a step forward but the experience I am about
to relate is absolutely unbelievable. It's a miracle. I still feel
that I experienced something so beautiful and perfect very
early in life, I've got much more than I deserve. I mean after
loads of prayers and good deeds not many people witness
something like this. I still don't understand the reason behind
Baba choosing me. I always try to be his perfect daughter but
I don't think I've really always managed it. But as they say He
has His reasons or probably Faith does move mountains. But I
am so thankful to Baba for choosing me. I study in Pune and I
have been offering Baba a glass of water and prasad as Naivadya
everyday since September 2005.This is generally how we all
express our love to Baba. Just that I did it a little differently, every
time while offering water I always took a drop of water from the
glass on my finger and put it on the lips of the Baba's murti I have
with me. It was just my way of making Baba drink water and as
expected the drop would either trickle down to the chin or just
stay on the lips and dry up in some time. So on the 27th
February 2006 night at around 11 pm (which was rather late than
usual) when I did my regular offering I as usual put the drop of
water on Baba's lips. And to my utter surprise the drop
disappeared immediately in front of my eyes. I was shocked,
actually too shocked to believe my eyes. So I took another drop
and put it on the lips of my Baba's murti. And that within
seconds disappeared too.
continued...
I decided I will do the same once more and if it happens for the
3rd time I'll go and call my masi (who was the only elder person
at home at that time). I did it for the third time and Baba seemed
to have drank that drop too. I immediately went and called my
masi and I showed her the miracle. And she was shocked to no
bounds. She immediately took a drop from the glass and put it
on Baba's lips. And that disappeared too, we were so happy with
the miracle that we alternately made Baba drink water from the
glass for an hour till the water in the glass was over. By the time
we finished the glass and brought more water my brother sister
and their friends were home. And Baba accepted water from them
too. In fact their friends who are not really Baba devotees were
too shocked to believe what was happening. But that was Baba's
way of drawing them closer to Him. As a result all of them took
the first bus to Shirdi two days later in order to take Baba's
darshan. After around one and a half hour (that is at 12:30 am
approx Baba stopped drinking water). This miracle was something
none of us had ever dreamt of. I was so shocked that there was a
point of time when I thought probably the clay of the murti was
absorbing the water so I put a drop of water on the murti's head.
And that just stayed there, it was only when we put it on the lips
did Baba drink it. It was not the clay it was Baba for sure. After
that day till today whenever I offer water to Baba I put the drop on
His lips and as usual the drop remains on his lips. Guess that
was the day Baba wanted to literally drink water from my and the
other's hands accepting our love and devotion for him. I really don't
know how to express my love and gratitude to Baba for everything.
All I can think of telling Him right now is 'I Love You Baba'.
Charul
I would like to share my experience with all Sai devotees. My 4
year old son was hospitalized on 3rd April, 2006 as he was
suffering from severe gastroenteritis. He developed severe fever
that reached 104 degrees Fahrenheit. He had not eaten since the
morning so he couldn't take in the medicine for reducing his fever.
The medicines that were being injected into his bloodstream were
having little effect. The cold strips treatment to lower his temperature
was leading to nowhere. My poor child was also having convulsions
from time to time. The doctors suspected meningitis but weren't sure.
I was crying bitterly to Sai and praying to Him to take care of his child.
All of a sudden we heard the sounds of Jai Mata Di from the
neighboring temple, as these were the Navratras days going on. We
all prayed to our Sai Mata to bless our little baby and all of a sudden
his temperature reduced to 100 degrees Fahrenheit, much to the
surprise of everyone including the doctors around. He started talking
normally as if nothing had happened! Thank you Sai for having saved
the life of our son.
Arun
Thanks a lot Sai, I promised Sai that I will publish this once my
brother gets a job. I started reading Sai Satcharita and committed
to complete it in 7 days with request to Sai to give my brother a job
who is being idle after our set back in business. I completed reading
Sai Satcharita in 7 days, there was no news of my brother getting
any job, I was disappointed and thought that Sai did not bless me.
I was depressed, but within a week my brother got an offer for job
and they asked him to join from Thursday itself. My belief in Sai is
reconfirmed and felt Saibaba's presence in my life is always there. He
does not leave His devotees in middle. Thanks a lot Sai, have Your
grace on my family and me always.


QUOTATION OF THE WEEK:
"Wholesome food will bring good health. A man of restraint is better
than a man of indulgence".-Shri Sai Baba


QUESTION OF THE WEEK:
Q. What does Sai Baba say about the wealthy/rich?
A. by Prakash
God descends from the heaven in the form of Yuga Purusha to protect
the Dharma from evil spirits. We read about Shri Rama and Shri Krishna
in our great epics. Even though they were taken the human form, they
stood above the human traits. This shows how one can raise to the level
from Manava to Madhava.
The riches are the accumulated fruits of the past good deeds. By virtue
of being rich due to one's own good deeds in the past, one should be
humble and do good deeds even during the present life also. Sainath
always teaches the humility and the path of renunciation. He always
recommends and believes in the Karma theory. Sainath never teaches
running out of the responsibilities of Grihastashrama. There is a Sanskrit
saying that "Vidya dadati Vinayam, Vinaya dadati patratam, patratvat
dhanamapnoti tad dana dharma tatah sukham". Which means, education
brings the humility and humility brings the capability and the capability
brings the money. Out of the money you earn through these means, first
you do some good deeds by donating some portion of your earnings to
the poor and needy (Daridra Narayana Seva- which pleases our beloved
Sai Sadguru) and then utilize the balance for your personal well being.
This should be the ultimate aim of all. This is exactly what Sainath
preaches to all the riches to bring down the parity between the haves
and have-nots. During the divine presence of Sainath in the human form,
he never gave importance to money. All that he used to get in the form
of Dakshina used to be distributed among the needy devotees. Taking
dakshina from the devotee is an indication of the movement towards the
path of renunciation. This is the real lesson, which Baba used to say it
to all the wealthy/rich. "Sainathaya Namaha".

Satsang Thought for the day

Easy is to get a place in someone's address
book.Difficult is to get a place in someone's Heart.

Easy is to judge the mistakes of others
Difficult is to recognize our own mistakes

Easy is to talk without thinking
Difficult is to refrain the tongue

Easy is to hurt someone who loves us.
Difficult is to heal the wound...

Easy is to forgive others
Difficult is to ask for forgiveness

Easy is to set rules.
Difficult is to follow them...

Easy is to dream every night.
Difficult is to fight for a dream...

Easy is to show victory.
Difficult is to assume defeat with dignity...

Easy is to admire a full moon.
Difficult to see the other side...


Easy is to stumble with a stone.
Difficult is to get up...

Easy is to enjoy life every day.
Difficult to give its real value...

Easy is to pray every night.
Difficult is to find God in small things...

Easy is to promise something to someone.
Difficult is to fulfill that promise...

Easy is to say we love.
Difficult is to show it every day...

Easy is to criticize others.
Difficult is to improve oneself...

Easy is to make mistakes.
Difficult is to learn from them...

Easy is to weep for a lost love.
Difficult is to take care of it so not to lose it.

Easy is to think about improving.
Difficult is to stop thinking it and put it into action...

Easy is to think bad of others
Difficult is to give them the benefit of the doubt...

Easy is to receive
Difficult is to give

Easy to read this
Difficult to follow