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Sai Vichaar 01.Feature of the Week 02.Contributed Article 03.Experiences of Devotees 04.Devotees Say 05.Sai Activities 06.Prayer Club 07.Quote of the Week 08.Question of the Week 09.Subscribe to Sai Vichaar 10.Email Newsletter to a friend 11.Submit Articles to Sai Vichaar 12.Un-Subscribe Sai Vichaar 13.From the Editor's Keyboard 14.Disclaimer From the Editor's Keyboard... Sai Vichaar wishes its readers and devotees a Special Thursday. Today is the beginning of the eleventh year on the web for Sai Vichaar. This is a special day of celebration of His love and glory. It would not be possible without Sri Sai's grace and the support of ever increasing number of readers and devotees across the globe. Today, the feelings of the Sai Vichaar team remain the same as it has been ten years ago. Coconut's weight on a sparrow's head! Everything is possible with love and devotion! Let the love of Sri Sai be reflected in every sentence written, every word said. Let our love and devotion to Him be seen on this forum just like it has been elsewhere. Bow to Sri Sai Peace be to all. Please note that Sai Vichaar is only yet another global platform on the electronic medium for sharing information on the life and message of Sadguru Sainath of Shirdi. Sai Vichaar does not profess to endorse any particular thought, nor will judge or reflect the opinions expressed by individual contributors. A Sai devotee suggested the "Question of the week" for this week as follows: Q. All the faithful devotees mentioned in the Sai Satcharita during Sri Baba's time, are there references to what happened to them, their future generations? Humbly Yours, The Editor
Disclaimer Sai Vichaar is devoted to the philosophy and teachings of Shri Sadguru Sai Baba of Shirdi, and will take every measure to avoid topics or themes contradicting the same. Sai Vichaar team or saibaba.org is not responsible for the opinions expressed by individual contributors.
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Feature of the week:
How to be closer to Baba?
Devotees of Shri Shirdi Sai often ask a question to me - "How to be in closer relationship with Baba?". I have seen them striving in their own way to be close to Shri Sai, even if they are not aware as to what it would mean to be close to Shri Sai. Basically, it is an emotional rapport they would like to develop. The various methods they adopt, according to their stages of consciousness, strength of will, inborn and acquired qualities and faith in Baba, immensely vary. It is true that the relationship of each disciple with Baba i.e. God will be unique and there cannot be exact second relationship. However, in all such relationships it is seen that the existence of certain common denominators and qualities are a prerequisite. If the devotees understand these qualitative prerequisites, which would entail them to be closely drawn by Baba, then the treading of the path would be simpler. The first such quality as I feel is faith in Him. Mere intellectual faith acquired over a period of time by reading books, discussions etc., may develop certain amount of conviction in him, but this level of faith is not enough. Even though at the earlier stages it may be necessary. People are often seen saying, even publicly, that "I can sacrifice my life for Baba" or that "In this world I can depend on nobody except Him fully". However, if we closely observe their lifestyle, the way they interact with people, their reaction to adversities of others, their reaction to individuals and groups around them in the society, one would find that their proclaimed convictions are mere exercise in substance less assertiveness. If the faith in Baba is genuine, they would not be indulging in the manipulations they do in relation to other people being fully aware that Baba many times forbade people/reprimanded devotees for committing such acts to satisfy their smallest of interest. We have to watch whether we are acting truthfully, howsoever difficult, according to the advise of Baba. Faith reflects in everyday reality. It is not a mental luxury or a philosophical dream. Therefore, let us seriously think about this strength of our faith in Baba. (A message from Shri C.B. Satpathy ji)
Contributed Article: Bundle up your notes! When the rich merchant sought Sai Baba for Brahma Jnana (Self realization), Baba made him sit and asked someone else to fetch some money, the money Baba never needed. The merchant sat quite anticipating that he would be rewarded with the ultimate wisdom, the only riches that he has been denied in life. Or so he thought! After the drama was over, the Merciful One asked the merchant to take out the bundle from his pocket, spelling out exactly the amount to its last rupee! Bewildered and humiliated, the merchant knew exactly what Baba meant to teach him through the drama. How could someone who is not willing to part with the most transient of the possessions gain the experience of more than a lifetime! Missed opportunity! Sai Satcharita quotes several incidents where Baba read the minds of those who came to him; the pleader from Pandharpur was referred to as someone cunning, and Sapatnekar was made to endure the abuse and the humiliation until his mind was completely transformed and his faith in Baba grew to the unconditional extent. The realization that Sadguru is Antaryamin, the one that is the most awake and the one that is the most aware is a significant stage in one's spiritual pursuit. He stays in the Conscious observing every thought and every action. Such a realization should naturally lead one to the thoughts and action that are truthful with the acceptance that the self is not the doer. Good or bad, right or wrong, necessary or wasteful, mandatory or optional, any logic and every thought will have His supervision. Whatever such a mind does will always have right consequences. The self charioted by Sadguru does not stop at the transitory bundles, however big that might be!
Ajay Nikhila Roshan Sudhir Umasudhan Krupalini Padmavathy Sai devotee Rekha Indera Sai devotee Sarangapani Sunita Sai devotee Manju "Engage yourself in good thoughts and actions. Do your duties and surrender yourself, heart and soul, to Me".-Shri Sai Baba
Q. All the faithful devotees mentioned in the Sai Satcharita during Sri Baba's time, are there references to what happened to them, their future generations?
Shirdi Sai Temple of Chicago and Suburbs, Illinois, USA Sri Saibaba Mandir, Minneapolis, MN Sri Shirdi Sai Baba Temple of Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas Shirdi Sai Temple of New England, Boston Area Shirdi Sai Center in Bay Area, CA Shirdi Saibaba temple, Los Angeles, CA Saibaba Temple, Columbus, Ohio Shirdi Sai bhajans every Thursday at Maitland, Florida
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