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Sai Vichaar 1.Feature of the Week: Maha Samadhi 2.Experiences of Devotees 3.Devotees Say 4.Sai Activities 5.Question Of the Week 6.Prayer Club 5.From the Editor's Keyboard 6.Subscribe to Sai Vichaar 7.Disclaimer From the Editor's Keyboard... Sai Vichaar wishes the readers and devotees a blissful Thursday, on the week of the Mahasamadhi of Sadguru Sainath. It was this week eighty one years ago that Sadguru Sainath attained Mahasamadhi, leaving His mortal coil. Times may have changed since then, but His love and concern for the material and spiritual welfare of His children remains the same. As promised, His bones still speak from the tomb. His coffers are open for those who seek. His fame is ever growing, beyond the limits of the hamlet known as Shirdi in India, in several ways and media, Sai Vichaar being the latest one. We are truly blessed to be one such small instrument in His hands, spreading His love and glory. We again thank readers for the continued support. Sai Samsthan USA has scheduled MahaSamadhi celebrations on October 14, 1999 at Shirdi Sai Baba mandir, Warrenville, IL, a Chicago suburb. Please refer to Sai Activities section for more details. The Question of the week for this week is "What is the best form of Charity?" 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 the Shirdi Sai Baba web site organization is not responsible for the opinions expressed by individual contributors.
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Feature of the week:
Maha Samadhi
Every incarnation has an end. The supreme power that manifests itself in a physical form has to follow certain temporal rules and Sadguru Sai Baba's mortal form came to an end on Vijayadashami day, a Tuesday, the 15th day of October 1918. The day was also significant for other reasons; Moharram and Buddha Jayanthi, two important occasions for the people of Islamic and Buddhist faith, were observed on the same day. The day resulted in an enormous grief for the followers of Sai Baba who had the divine fortune of living with Him for several years. These included Bhagoji Shinde, Mhalsapathi, Madhavrao Deshpande, Nana Chandorkar, Booty, Laxmi Bhai, and Tatya. Sai Baba's mortal remains were placed in Booty's bhavan, which was initially constructed for as a temple for Murlidhar, and Sai Krishna has Himself become Murlidhar. During His last moments, Sai Baba in His own characteristic way demonstrated the virtues of devotion, sacrifice and faith. His emphasis on devotion came through His charity to Laxmi Bhai, a devout soul who was with the Sadguru when the end came. Sai Baba gave Laxmi Bhai, nine coins symbolizing nine forms of devotion, Shravana (hearing) , Keerthana (praying), Smarana (remembering), Padasevana (resorting to His feet), Archana (worship), Namaskara (bowing), Dasya (service), Sakhyatha (friendship), and Atmanivedana (surrender of the self). Sai Baba always mentioned that if any of the above is faithfully followed, God will be pleased. It is also believed that Sai Baba had sacrificed His life for Ramachandra Dada and Tatya Patil two devotees who fell ill at the same time as Baba's passing away. While Ramachandra Dada got well a few days prior to Vijayadashami, Tatya's condition grew worse. As Vijayadashami dawned, Tatya's pulse became weaker and he was expected to pass away very shortly. Truly inscrutable His ways are, Tatya became all right but Sadguru Sainath's physical form came to an end. By averting the death of His devotees, Sai has proved that it is the duty of the Lord to protect the devout. The virtue of sacrifice is stressed similarly in the life of Jesus Christ, who sacrificed His life for His followers. Shri Hemadpanth wrote in Sai Satcharitra (Ch. 42) ... ...next morning (16th October 1918) Baba appeared to Das Ganu at Pandharpur in his dream and said to him - "The Masjid collapsed, all the oilmen and grocers of Shirdi teased me a lot, so I left the place. I therefore came to inform you here, please go there quickly and cover me with 'Bhakkal' flowers." Das Ganu got the information also from Shirdi letters. So he came to Shirdi with his disciples and started bhajan and kirtan and sang Lord's name, all day before Baba's samadhi. Sagun form is the most convenient form of worship since human being can relate to an existing physical entity. However, Sai Baba always said that God exists everywhere and in every being. To emphasize this fact, Sainath appeared in the dreams of Das Ganu and directed to His devotees to have faith in His words and see Him even after His physical end. The words of Sainath is so true that even today, His presence is felt in Shirdi and seven seas across by anyone who has faith. Thus, Mahasamadhi is the day for the devotees of Sainath to remember His teachings on virtues of devotion, sacrifice, and faith.
MRK, Phoenix, AZ, USA
Shri G.G.Narke is the son-in-law of Sriman Gopalrao Booty, the blessed devotee of Sainath responsible for the construction of present Samadhi Mandir. Shri Narasimha swamy interviewed him on 10,20,25, and 28 May 1936. Before giving the details of interview, Shri Narasimhaswamiji, mentions the following: "Sai Maharaj used to say that devotee who shows patience and respect during difficulties makes him happy, rather than the person who shows peace when one has wealth and happiness. Devotee should not lose peace when another says harsh and abusing words. If my devotee is not successful in worldly affairs, those problems make a path to reach me. Man gets easily upset for minute problems. He does not understand that God sends these difficulties to give him ultimate good. You have to face all problems with peaceful mind. One must bear them with patience. Never allow words that will offend another to gush out of your mouth. By my grace, practice and vairagya, you will be happy even with those problems. If you have faith in Me and pray to Me with patience. I am at all times ready to help you. If you take shelter under me, it is my duty to take you on the right path. This is what Sai Maharaj said and assured us. Shri B.V.N. further states the following:- As Saibaba belongs to Kabir panth, there are similarities, between Sai 's precepts and Kabir's voice. Kabir said that experience of GOD, by each saint is as per their own personal experience and understanding, but definitely they enjoy perfect bliss beyond mind's orbit. As a person who cannot speak enjoys taste of a sweet, though unable to express it to others, similarly, a self realized soul enjoys the grace and bliss of God though he cannot convey the experience in words. "Jinne paya vunne chupaya" , (spoken by Kabir) means the same. As the sacred rivers like Ganga cool the earth and all living beings, gives life by making the earth full of greenery and fruit, in this blessed land of India great saints like SAMARTHA SADGURU SAI BABA were born. These self realized mahatmas bestow peace and happiness to their devotees. In Bhagavatam, the following passage can be found:-GOD says that the hearts of saints is mine, I am the heart of the saints. In the entire world I know the saints and saints know what I am and all about me. So Sadhu is God and God takes avatar in the form of sadhus. Mahakavi Thulasidas compared sadhu purushas with a good mango tree. Even when stones are thrown at this tree, it goes on giving very sweet fruits. Similarly sadhu satpurushas bestow their blessings even to harmful creatures and thus create loka kalyana to the whole world. From then to now, Saibaba is catching human sparrows in a net and making them enter into the right and blissful path of God. The devotees of Baba, by their own experience realized the omniscient nature of Shri Baba and enjoyed the bliss of that grace of Baba. No other person bestowed such bliss and grace. Prof. Narke personally visited Baba, talked to him and had received the gift spiritual bliss as blessed fruit from Baba. With Baba's blessings, he became one of the trustees of samadhi and became thus blessed. Prof. Narke used to worship Sri Sai Baba along with other deities in his house. He felt that Baba is God himself for the various experiences he had though he appeared to be a satpurusha. Narke was son in law of rich and lucky Gopalarao Booty. Narke, his mother and wife used to worship Baba as God. Narke became an MA in 1905 at Calcutta. In 1909 he went to Manchester in England on state scholarship and obtained M.Sc. degree in mining and geology in 1912 and came back to India. Narke's mother and wife along with Booty used to stay in Shirdi. Booty used to write letters to narrate to come to Shirdi and take darshan of Baba. Narke used to say that if Baba writes to him directing to take darshan , he will come. Booty prayed Baba to thus direct and on Baba consenting, he wrote letter to Narke. Narke reached Shirdi for the first time in 1913.Baba used to be very close and friendly with Narke's family. Narke's mother used to have great Bhakthi towards Baba. Baba used to have great karuna towards her. Shim took Narke to Baba and made him have darshan and introduced him. Baba said- Are you introducing him to me? I know him for the last thirty lives.
Narke could not escape the attraction of BABA'S POWERFUL EYES. Baba's picture in chavadi settled itself permanently in Narke's heart. One day Baba at the time of harathi got very angry and shouted with very big voice. There were hundreds of devotees. Narke did not know the cause and thought that may be Baba was mad. In the evening when Narke was massaging Baba's legs, Baba by rubbing his head with love, said-No, I am not mad. Narke realizing that Baba knew the thoughts in his mind and that Baba is really his Hrudaya vasi and that he is really God in his own heart. Having had various experiences and testing him, Narke concluded that Baba is the Vasudeva in his heart and in the heart of all. He realized that Baba makes every thing work according to his sankalpa. HE also realized that Baba knew the past, present and the future.
Hina, Anaheim Hills, CA
Sai Samsthan USA
Shri Shirdi Sai Satsang Group, New Jersey
The Question of the week for this week is
"What is the best form of Charity?"
Asha
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