A Christian quote goes as follows, "Next time when you think you are perfect, try walking on the Water". This is in reference to the incident when Jesus walked on water to reach his disciples sailing in a ship. This incident is often quoted to extol the virtues of Jesus and hold his magnificence high. At the same time, it takes a dig at the shortcoming or limitation of men who think they are perfect.

Spiritual journey with Sadguru is unique to every soul. There are no external yardsticks and no comparisons can be drawn from one individual to the other. The argument that all are equal is also questionable since each of us are unique; hence, the question that if all are equal or not is also irrelevant. One such revelation in the context of spiritual journey is the feeling of "blessedness" and a perception that one's pursuit, standing and understanding of Sadguru are superior to that of others. The episode of Anna Chinchanikar and Mavsibai in Sai Satchaitamritha spells the fact that none but Sadguru is capable of judging others' devotion.

In Sai path, everyone is in the process to perfection, each a work in progress. While one aspect of Sai devotion is to perfect his/her own human nature towards divinity, by the grace of Sadguru, the other aspect is to spread the love, peace, compassion and harmony that Sai has bestowed upon the self. A spiritually fulfilling journey for a Sai devotee is the spreading of love, compassion, and forgiveness that Baba has bestowed on him to others, however small that might be. None is perfect; all are just forgiven. Saibaba, the merciful fakir, the compassionate father, and the Perfect One!
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Contributed Article: O Sai! Thou art the Datta Tatva(continued from last week)

They transformed themselves into mendicants, approached the hermitage of sage Atri and begged for alms. At that time sage Atri was away at the river offering his daily oblations. Anusuya came out and offered food to them. They made a strange request; the food be prepared and served to them by Anusuya, in the nude. In the Indian tradition any 'athithi' (guest) cannot be turned away, as he is considered to be an aspect of God. Hence she was placed in a dilemma. She smiled to herself and reflected thus: 'I am totally purified by the long association with the holy sage Atri. What harm can the god of lust ever do to me? So I do fear nothing. As they have sought food from my hands, I look upon them as my own children and not as strangers and grown up men!' Her thoughts - the thoughts of a pious and chaste person - instantly became reality; the elderly guests became babies!

Sage Atri on his return to the hermitage saw his wife Anusuya fondling three babies. Anusuya said "These children are the gift of God to us who have been childless so far". Sage Atri was overjoyed and named them Datta, which means 'given'. At this the three Gods reverted to their real forms and disclosed the truth. They extolled the power of chastity and purity of Anusuya, which vanquished the combined and colossal powers of all three of them. Sage Atri and Anusuya prayed that they should remain as their sons. They consented and the three Gods merged into one body. This is how Lord Dattatreya incarnated.

O my Lord Sainath! I bow to Lord Dattatreya, whose avatar art Thou:
My salutations to Dattatreya,
Who in the beginning is Brahma the Creator,
Who in the middle is Vishnu the Preserver,
Who in the end is Shiva the Destroyer,
And the lord who represents the Trinity.

O Baba! I now hearken unto Your words, which You uttered one day, while the devotees were returning from Your Dwarkamai Masjid to their lodgings after the Arti at noon:

"Be wherever you live, do whatever you choose, remember this well that all what you do is known to Me. I am the Inner Ruler of all and seated in their hearts. I envelope all the creatures, the movable and immovable world. I am the Controller - the wire-puller of the show of this Universe. I am the mother - origin of all beings - the Harmony of three Gunas, the propeller of all senses, the Creator, Preserver and Destroyer. Nothing will harm him, who turns his attention towards Me?" (Shri Sai Satcharita, Chapter: 3)

O Sai! My humble prostrations unto Thee.
O Baba! You have indicated, through many an event narrated in the various Chapters of Shri Sai Satcharita, that You are the incarnation of Lord Dattatreya. Here, it shall be delightful to recall the story of the gentleman from Goa, who was a Datta Devotee, and made a pilgrimage to Shirdi to have Your darshan. You demanded a dakshina of Rs.15/- from him, which he owed to Lord Dattatreya. In fact, this gentleman had once gone to Goa in search of a job for himself, and had taken a vow to Lord Dattatreya that if He blessed him with an employment, he would offer Him his first month's salary. Although by the grace of His Lord he got an appointment with a salary of Rs.15/- per month, yet he did forget to keep his word. O Baba! You just reminded him of his vow, and recovered Rs. 15/- from him. It was, in fact, not dakshina as one may think it to be, but a realization of an old debt and fulfillment of long forgotten vow. O Sai! You, being the incarnation of Dattatreya, were the rightful claimant of that amount of money. (Shri Sai Satcharita, Chapter: 36) O Baba! Thou art, in reality, the Datta Tattwa, who reminds the forgetful of his vow: O Sai! Thou art the Datta, Who teacheth us to learn from everything.

O Sai! Nor less fascinating is the story of one of Your ardent devotees Nanasaheb Chandorkar, who had an equal devotion for Lord Dattatreya. Whenever he was on his way to Shirdi, it was his usual practice to first make, even in his eagerness to reach You as early as possible, a visit to the Datta temple at Kopargaon .O Baba! It so happened once that he arrived at Shirdi along with his co- son in law, skipping his salutations to Lord Dattatreya at Kopargaon, despite the fact that his co-son in law too was an ardent Datta devotee. O Sai! On his reaching Shirdi, You cautioned Nana against repeating the mistake in future- certainly, to make him realize that the Datta temple was actually the turning point where Your devotee could have Your preliminary darshan. (Shri Sai Satcharita, Chapter: 38) O Baba! Thou art, in reality, the Datta Tattwa, who reminds a forgetful devotee of his routine:

O Sai! Thou art the Datta, Who teacheth us to learn from everything.
O Sai! It is said that when Dattatreya put his hand on someone's head, even that of an idiot, then that person instantly acquired the knowledge of the Vedas and the Shastras. One day his hand inadvertently touched the head of a milkmaid who used to come to his residence. On her way home, she was taunted by some pundits, 'O milkmaid! What do you learn there?' She replied, 'I learn brahma-gnyan.' They asked, 'What is brahma-gnyan'. She replied, 'It is the same as separating pieces of stone from rice with the help of a winnowing basket. You throw away the stones and keep the rice to use.' The pundits were taken aback by the milkmaid's reply. She answered all their questions with understanding.

O Baba! Isn't this story analogous to the one related with Kaka Saheb Dixit's maidservant. (Shri Sai Satcharita, Chapter: 20) Das Ganu once started to write a Marathi commentary on the Ishavasya Upanishad.It was really a difficult task to translate it in a vernacular language, and brief out its exact meaning. Das Ganu translated it in Marathi 'Ovi' metre, verse by verse, but as he did not comprehend the gist or essence of the Upanishad, he was not satisfied with his performance. He, therefore, consulted some scholars. But they failed to satisfy Das Ganu. O Sai! When nobody could satisfy Das Ganu, he resolved to consult You. Then, O Baba! You blessed him and said, "You need not be anxious, there is no difficulty about the matter; the maidservant of Kaka Saheb Dixit will solve your doubts at Vile Parle (a suburb of Mumbai). The devotees, who were present there and heard that, thought that You were just joking. They whispered, "How could an illiterate maidservant solve the difficulties of this nature", but Das Ganu thought otherwise. He was sure, that whatever You spoke must come true. Your words were the decree of the Brahma (Almighty) as O Sai! Thou art the Datta, Who teacheth us to learn from everything. (to be continued)
(Contributed by Subodh Agarwal)
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Experiences of Devotees:

Shveta
My husband and myself are new migrants to Australia. Before coming here we were really doubtful of the place like when we will get the job and proper accommodation. But we had full trust on Sai Baba. After coming here my husband got the job in the very second week but I was still looking for some job. Last Thursday I read this Sai newsletter for the first time. Actually my husband has taken the subscription of this Sai Vichaar newsletter and I read the letter in his mail box only. I was very much tensed about the job but after reading the experiences of Sai devotees I thought if today I get any interview call I will surely submit my experience in this newsletter and with Sai Kirpa I received an interview call after few hours. That just looked to me as a miracle. Now, I have given the interview and I am just waiting for my interview results. I have full faith in Sai Baba that my Baba will help me again with the results and I will be able to start my job soon. Please Sai Baba I need your help once again and throughout my life. Please give Your blessings to my husband, all my family members and me. Everyone has got great trust on You.

Raghuram
Last Thursday I have posted in Prayer Club about my problem of money. I was really upset and did not had any idea of how I can manage the situation. It is just like miracle You have made me and my family to get more than required amount of money. Thank you very much Baba for helping us to pay for my children's school fee, purchase of books etc. Please make us to be Your great devotees, make us to remember always, be with us and bless us always.

Rajeswari
I would really like to share one of my experience with all other devotees for what Baba says when we face problem in our life. My husband resigned his full time job and went for a contractor position, the job was good, the money was also good, but we were not saving anything, and there was a fear as soon as the contract is done he has to move for another job and he could not stay there. He had applied for lot of full time jobs, but nothing was working out. He was so tensed regretting for everything, but Baba says that if you surrender everything to me then it's my problem and not yours, don't even think of that, He is the one who has to take care of the problem, and the same thing happen. my husband got a full time job in Microsoft. He not only gave him a full time job, but also a job for which he does not have to worry for years. My humble pranams to Baba and I pray to almighty to bless us and be with us every time and guide us to do all the activities. Sairam

Chandana
This morning when I opened the Sai newsletter the first line which said "Don't worry" truly gave me goose bumps. Whenever I am nervous, or scared or worried about anything something from inside me says, "Don't worry". I always ignored that voice thinking my heart was trying to soothe me but never realized that Baba was trying to comfort me and re-assure me that everything is going to be alright. Whenever I was praying to Baba I always wondered if He was listening to me. My doubts were cleared because till today whatever I have prayed for Baba have come true. Baba, I owe my life to You and forever indebted to You. My daughter was born because of You. My husband got a wonderful job because of You. For all you Sai devotees out there any prayer sent out with sincerity and devotion is always listened by Baba.
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Devotees say...

Shiban
By grace of Saibaba, my daughter gave birth to baby girl in the month of November 2007. Two times she had miscrriage and after Your darshan in her dream and Your advice not to worry everything will be all right, now she is very happy with the child and by Your ashirward her husband was also transferred to his native place in Delhi. We are all happy that Lord Sai showered His blessings on my daughter and all of us, but my daughter is passing through a critical phase. Please bless her in all circumstance of her life. Secondly please help me in arranging the marriage of my son. Please help us and my son and duaghter. I am under great tension due these problems.

Sandeep
Dear Sainath, koti-koti pranam. Thanks a lot for all Your blessings. My father has started recovering and my brother got a good job as I had requested You earlier. Kindly arrange a good and stable job for my brother -in-law

Sai devotee
Sai Ram, Deva, thanks for giving us jobs. Please help us to retain the jobs also. Please help me to save this job. Please Deva, settle the payment for my husband from the previous company. You know Deva that whatever we have undergone. Help us deva, I am surrendering at Your lotus feet.

Sai devotee
Dear Sai, thank you so much for fulfilling my prayers, though I had full faith on You I was little bit tensed about my visa processing and people around me was confusing a lot, but when I came to know that my result is on Thursday, I was pretty sure that I will get the visa and I got it without any issues. Also I did not have any problem with immigration or travelling and I have reached safely and living happily here with Your grace. Thank you so much Baba, without You nothing is possible and I need Your blessings all through my life and Baba today is an auspicious day for us so please bless us and be with us always. Baba, you know what are the problems going on in our family in India, so please be with us and solve the problems without hurting anyone. Please be with my parents, we all trust You. Be with us and protect all of us.

Ashvin
In December 2007, my wife visited a gynecologist for routine visit. Doctor found some tumor so he asked for more tests. The tests came positive. Doctor advised to perform hysterectomy; she said if the tumor is non-cancerous she is going to be OK after the surgery. We were terrified. We prayed to Saibaba, she took Saibaba's vibhuti with water. When surgery was performed the tumor turns out to be benign. Due to Saibaba's grace even though the test results were not favorable, the tumor turned out to be non-cancerous. Now she is OK. Sadguru Sainath Maharaj ki Jai.

Lalitha
Last week I had requested in prayer club to You that my husband's financier should not trouble him much for money till his boss comes back from office. Before writing to prayer club, financier used to always trouble him even if my husband is at home in the night time also. But I had written in prayer club, he doesn't call during night and the calls during day time also have reduced considerably. Secondly, I had prayed to You for my husband to have peace of mind. That also, my husband says my financier is not calling me like earlier. This would not have been possible without Your grace. We bow to You and Baba please be always with us.

Muthukumaran
I have been Sai's devotee for the past three years or so, since the time I got directed to Sainath maharaj, my life changed. My career got its correct path as I have asked Sainath maharaj, I can feel the presence of Sai always with me and whenever I have some problem or dilemma, Sai used to come in some form like picture pasted in the vehicle or Om Sai Ram mantra written some where. He is like mother taking care of her new born. I have no words to express Sai's love towards me as He does for others. Sainath maharaj please help me and my family, be with me as You always have been, bless one and all of us.

Suneetha
Last year in 2007, I was supposed to give my exam, this kept on getting postponed for some reason, finally when my exams neared somebody copied and broke the code so the whole exam got indefinitely postponed all over USA. I was praying hard to Baba, finally I gave the exam and you will not believe I completed Sai Satcharita in 7 days, on the 7th day I got my results and I cleared my exam with a nice score. If I could pass this exam, anybody could because I have a 3 year old son, and I do part time job. Only because of Baba I cleared this exam. My humble prayers to Baba to make me his staunch devotee and to serve him.

Anil
Thanks Sai Baba for staying with us during my wife's pregnancy and also to the India trip. Thanks Sai Baba for showing me the good doctor for my treatment and also please help me in curing the disease.
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Prayer Club:

Ritu
My 30 week old nephew had a brain scan indicating some problems. Sai devotees please pray to Baba that the next scan on this Thursday, March 20th clears him of any problems and that he comes home like a normal and healthy baby and lead a healthy normal and blessed life.

Kavitha
Baba please bless us with a child. My thoughts are often disturbed. Please help to me have positive thoughts.

Chandrika
Jai Sai Ram, please bless my sister's daughter Baba, she is suffering from skin rashes and other problems, the motherless child and You are the mother to the baby and also mother to Chirag my sister's son.

Sharada
Baba, how long my parents have to suffer. They believe in You so much yet their problem of getting my sister married is getting worse.

Vimla
I feel very lonely and have been hurt. It is only Sainath who can reunite me and my love who is everything to me. Without whom my life is nothing.

Meenakshi
Please Baba help my son to get success in his exams. My children should study well and they should have healthy life. Give them more concentration. Baba bless us to solve the financial problesm. Show the way to start a new business.

Sumathi
O kind and merciful Sainath, please bless my son in his forthcoming examination as his entire career depends on it. Let his exams go smoothly and without any obstacles. Our sincere pranams and humble prayer to You. Please bless us for smooth transition from here to India for settling down there. Jai Sai Ram.

Sai devotee
Baba! please protect me from the people in authority, who are bent upon creating problems for me. I do not have the power, infulence, tact and backing to deal with them myself. Please sower Your blessings on me.

Sai devotee
Oh Sai, a thousand namaskars to You. Oh deva please let me get a suitable job which is convenient and which I like as well. Please let my son study well, let my children and my nephew have good health. Kindly bless and protect my parents who are alone in India. Please bless all Sai devotees and solve all their problems. Jai Sai Ram.
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Quotation of the Week:

"For a greedy man there is neither peace nor contentment"-Shri Sai Baba
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Question of the Week:

Q. How can we, the devotees of Sai Baba, ensure that our merits and demerits both are worked out completely so that we get our deliverance and become free?
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Sai Activities:

Sri Ramanavami celebrations in Chicago, USA
Sri Ramanavami and Urs festival celebrations are the first major celebration of the year for Shirdi Sai devotees. The tradition started in 1910 and continues each year. Shirdi Sai temple, Chicago will be celebrating the event for three days starting from Friday, April 11th to Sunday, April 13th. The program comprises of Aartis, Maha Abhishek, Homam, Palki procession, Satcharitra parayan, bhajans and much more. For complete details please call 847-931-4058.

Sri Saibaba Mandir, Minneapolis, MN
Sri Saibaba Mandir is located in Minneapolis, MN at 1835 Polk St NE, Minneapolis, MN 55418. The mandir is open 7 days a week in the evenings from 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm and during morning hours from 9 am to 12:30 pm, except Mondays. Satsangs are conducted every Sunday mornings, 9 am to 12:30 pm. Please visit the mandir website www.hamaresai.org or call 612-789-7729 for more information on mandir activities, events and other information.

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 Temple of New England, Boston Area
Sri Shirdi Sai Baba Temple of New England is now operational. It is located at 1827 Bridge St # 8, Dracut, MA 01824. The temple is open every Thursday from 7.00 pm to 9.00 pm and Saturday's from 4.00 pm to 7.00 pm. For temple hours and activities please visit the website www.nessp.org or send mail to maildrop@nessp.org.

Shirdi Sai Center in Bay Area, CA
Shirdi Sai Center is located 897-B East Kifer Rd, Sunnyvale, CA 94086. For more information please call 408-705-7904 or 408-564-6704 or send email to saibandhu@yahoo.com. You can also visit our website is www.Shirdisaiparivaar.org.

Shirdi Saibaba temple, Los Angeles, CA
Devotees in Los Angeles area are informed about Sri Shirdi Saibaba temple in Los Angeles area. 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.

Saibaba Temple, Columbus, Ohio
Devotees in Columbus and surrounding Ohio locations area are informed about Sri Shirdi Saibaba temple in Metro Columbus area. The temple is located in a leasing space at 7674 Sawmill Rd, Dublin, OH 43016. Please attend daily Aaratis and Thursday bhajans. For more information please call Panditjee at 614-799-8411 or visit www.saibaba.cc.

Shirdi Sai bhajans every Thursday at Maitland, Florida
Devotees are invited to participate in Sai study and bhajans on Thursdays between 7-8 pm at Meditation Gallery, 219 E Horatio Ave, Maitland, FL 32715. For more details please contact Bonnie at 407-830-1276.
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