Feature of the week: Story of the Brick

Baba had a brick in his possession that He cherished as a life-long companion. Abdul used to take care of cleaning of the Masjid. Once while cleaning the floors, the brick that Baba treasured fell down and broke into pieces. Sainath was very sad at this event and lamented at the loss of one of His very few material possessions. King of the Yogis and the great soul that rejected everything material, Saibaba was dejected over what seemed to be a priceless piece of mud. How could that be?

The brick was the one that Sai Baba’s fellow students threw at Him having consumed with jealousy of Sainath’s good standing with their Guru. Baba said that the Brick was dear to Him because it was perhaps the only physical reminiscent of His days with His Guru. While it reminded Baba of the protection Guru will always extend to his faithful disciple, the brick would also stand as a reminder to the jealousy of Sainath’s fellow students at His Guru’s abode. Pity should be the situation of those students who, blinded by jealousy, were unable to identify the True Brahman that was living and breathing amongst them. Jealousy, one of the evils that human mind harbors, is capable of blinding the intellect. Therefore, it should be a natural recourse for a spiritual aspirant to shun away from such an evil.

Incident involving the brick may appear like a trivial happening in Baba’s life. But its significance is truly magnificent. Narration of incidents such as these makes Sri Sai Satcharitha the unique text on Sainath and His message. True Nectar!
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Experiences of Devotees

Veena Gupta, New Delhi, India
So many miracles of Baba happened with me that I am unable to write about them all. I can not express my feelings and emotions towards Baba because I am not a good writer and I describe the happenings in short. In one of my previous write-ups, I have mentioned about the `Gode Bharai` (nine month) ceremony of my daughter-in-law. Miracles continued to happen afterwards and it was 15 Dec. (Wednesday) at about 3 p.m. that I was sitting along with one of my friend Mrs. Anita Khetrapal. Mrs. Anita Khetrapal is involved with the movie `Shirdi Key Satguru Sai Baba` in Hindi. We were sitting in the sun from where our kitchen is also visible, in which we have our small mandir. We saw a lot of smoke in the kitchen and felt the smell of `Loban`. We started interpreting that as Baba`s presence and indication. We started expecting some good new or happening. It was around 4.30 p.m. We rang up the in-laws of my son, where my daughter-in-law was staying these days. There was no response until 6.30 p.m. We got worried. Her father told us that they were talking about going on shopping in the evening, so we thought that they must be in the market. About 8.00 p.m. we got the news that my daughter-in-law felt necessary for a check up and they were waiting for her doctor in the Nursing Home. There they were detained as the doctor diagnosed that she was in labor. But my daughter-in-law was not feeling much pain. We were confident that the baby would be born only on Thursday. We informed the son in Chennai, where he is posted, about the hospitalization and he came to Delhi by the morning flight. She was given the Udi of Baba and at 1.11 a.m. Thursday a baby girl was born with normal delivery. All the time I was chanting `Om Sai, Shri Sai, Jai Jai Sai` when my daughter-in-law was in the operation room.

There was no Udi from any photo or statue of Baba on Thursdays the 16th and 23rd Dec. Udi not coming from the photo or the statue on these days was in itself a miracle for us. A white clay statue of Baba was kept in our mandir on the request of Shri V.K.Bassi of `Shri Ram Bhakt Society` on Thursday the 16 Dec. On 23 Dec. when he was taking back the statue and in the daylight, we all saw Udi was coming out from the toe of right foot of Baba, between his two fingers. Udi was found on the base of the statue. This Udi was not there when the statue was in our mandir.

On 24 Dec., a Sai Sandhya was performed by Mr. Aushim Khetrapal in their Greater Kailash flat in New Delhi in which Mr.Vinay Ratta & Party sung the Sai Bhajans. The event was video recorded also. There also I felt as if Baba was moving from the dais. On 26 Dec, we were to perform the Hawan for the `Shudhi` of the home. When everyone was ready and the whole house was cleaned, we found Udi coming from the photo and the statue of Baba. One can well interpret the meaning of all this, our position and our joy.
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Sai Activities

Sai Pattabhiram, Sharjah, UAE
All India Sai Devotees Convention, ADDRESS SAI DAS MANDAL , 83/84 Rasne Chawl, Juna Topkhana, Shivaji Nagar, Pune 411005 , India

"SAI BABA TEMPLE - PUNE A TEMPLE WITH A HISTORY " A busy small industrial area close to the heart of Pune city & close to the banks of the river Mulla is the location of a BABA temple with a history. The temple was originally a small lime & sand structure housing an oil painted picture of BABA located in the small garden of a building known as Rasne Chawl (single room flats). The daily puja's for this temple were conducted in one of the rooms of this chawl by one Mr. Nikam & a group of devotees. Mr. Nikam wore a copper locket or taith (Talisman) that contained a tooth of Baba, on his arm. This tooth is the source of the temple's history. Now we come to the question of how this tooth of BABA came to be in the possession of Mr. Nikam: One lady by the name of Kashibai was a devotee of BABA & served at the Masjid (Dwarkamai) at Shirdi by sweeping & cleaning. She had a sickly son Madhu whom she would leave at the Masjid when she went to work in the fields. BABA gave her Rs. 2 /- per day. Since BABA used to distribute all the "Dakshina " he got during the day Kashibai raised the question of him raising her share. BABA slightly irritated removed one loose tooth he was having & gave it to her. She deeply relented her act & begged BABA for his forgiveness. She then enclosed this tooth in a copper locket & tied it around the arms of her son Madhu. Madhu was cured of all his illnesses in this manner & started working like any other healthy individual. It was around 1940's that BABA appeared in a dream to Mr. Nikam & directed him to go to Madhu in "Khed " village near Nasik & collect this copper locket (taith) from him as Madhu's end was nearing & to wear the same himself on his arm. This direction was dutifully obeyed by Mr. Nikam & hence the locket with the tooth came to Pune. In 1955, Mr. Nikam had an intuition that his end was also drawing near, hence the locket (taith) worn by him containing the tooth was buried in the small garden temple under a marble paduka. In 1961 Pune was devastated by sever floods caused by the breaking of the Panshet Dam. The floodwaters demolished buildings, bridges & many major structures coming in its way. For fifteen days, the area around the temple was declared unsafe & no one was allowed near it, water & slime was everywhere & covered most small structures. When finally devotees did manage to get reach the garden temple they were wonder struck to see that the temple, paduka & the oil painted picture of BABA were intact & unaffected by the over 15 days exposure to slime & water. Devotees were convinced that this miracle was due to the strength of Baba’s tooth Subsequently the temple has undergone repeated renovations & expansions, but the tooth is still there under the Paduka. This Temple shall be hosting the new millenniums All India Sai devotees Convention at Pune between 20th & 22 January 2000. It is believed that this temple would be one of the few if not the only temple other than Shirdi to house a portion of Baba’s mortal remains. ADDRESS SAI DAS MANDAL , 83/84 Rasne Chawl , Juna Topkhana, Shivaji Nagar, Pune 411005 , India This is an effort to document & record this part of BABA's history as the generation who were present at that time are now old.
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Devotees Say

Kiran Sharma, New Delhi, India
I came across a reference of Mr. V. K. Bassi who runs a Meditation and worship Center "Shri Ram Bhakta Society at Shivalik, New Delhi in your edition of 29 December 1999. I would be grateful if you could provide his address, e-mail address, and telephone number, as I would like to get more information on his Center and join the prayers on Thursdays.

Indira Nair
Pranam to our Sadgurus feet! I would like to contact Sangeeta Rao USA regarding her email in the "Prayer Club". We are eagerly looking forward to our visit to Shirdi in February. This will be our first darshan. Please give us directions as to how to get there from Bombay.

SRJ
Dear Editor, this message is meant for Ms.Veena Gupta ji, I will be glad, if you could get me her mail ID. Because I think I know her personally, if she is the same person who used to come to Shirdi Sai temple at Lodhi Road, New Delhi. I used to see her & talk to her when I lived in Lodhi colony. Thanks for your help.

MRK, Phoenix, AZ, USA
So long as the sankalpas or desires are in man, it is not possible for him to escape being born. On the day when he becomes completely free from his sankalpa or desire, that day will he be free from rebirth. In order that he may take this sacred path, free from desires, he has to surrender himself. There are certain obstacles for one to be able to surrender. Everyone understands that in this world, it is not possible to enter the house of an affluent person or the house of a person who is in a position of importance with ease or without being questioned. At the entrance to the house, you will find a watchman who will ask what business you have with the owner. If in the case of a person, who has limited power and a worldly position, there are such restrictions regulating your entry into house, what is the wonder that in the case of God who has unlimited powers, there are regulations restricting your entry into his mansion. If you want to enter the palace of moksha or liberation, you will find that at the main entrance, there are two guards. This entrance is the place where you offer yourself and may be called the Gate of Surrender. The two guards who are there are Srama and Dama. The meaning of this is that you must make an effort and you must have patience. These are the two guards at the door. However much you offer yourself in surrender, it is not possible for you to enter God's abode without Srama (effort) and Dama (patience). - Baba

Shyam Madhikarmy, Auckland, NZ
With regards to write-ups of Veena Gupta, I am eager to recite Sai Amrit Vani. Can I make a request to you to forward this message to Veena Gupta and would like to request her to send me a copy of Sai Amrit Vani to my address. Or else can your Organization send me Sai Amrit Vani so that I can recite it on regular basis for divine purpose.

Havovi Medhora, New Jersey, USA
Dear Veena Yes, it is indeed lovely to know that a movie will be made on Sai Baba .I had the fortune of being in Shirdi on the 29th and 30th December and got a wonderful darshan. I have been very often to Shirdi and this time around I was pleased to see quite a few foreigners. It was a definite sign that Sai Baba is international and people all over the world is coming to see him in Shirdi. I wanted to go upto to all of them and ask of the wonderful things Sai must have done for them to bring them to Shirdi. I was very moved by the movie Shirdi Ke Sai Baba made years ago be Manoj Kumar. Ever since I have waited for someone to make another movie on Baba. A movie with a super director and a well-known cast for the entire world to see. I wish I could do something but I am just an ordinary person. When I was in LA, so great was the temptation to knock on Steven Spielberg's door and ask him to make a movie on my Sai Baba like the Ten Commandments or King of Kings which are so stuck in our minds for the fabulous insight they gave into the lives of Moses and Jesus. A movie of Sai Baba will have greater impact, as he is unique. As for miracles, you could fill volumes. I am presently residing in the USA as my husband has been transferred here and am amazed to see the tremendous devotion of Sai Baba devotees. As you read the article of Robert Kirk who has written of his tremendous experience with Sai there must be so many. I look forward to an excellent movie, which will bring happiness to all Sai devotees and understanding and peace to the world. Good wishes.
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Question of the Week

"How does Sai Baba define character?"

Raghu Vissamraju
I believe a man's Character is driven by his Samskara. Samskara in turn begotten from family virtues. Family being a union of people believed in similar principles and values of life. On top of above, we experience from Sai Leela's, the effect of past karma's on our Characters largely. A simple example is that all of us sharing the same "Sai-Vichaar" every week but the experience and pleasure derived from it are different from devotee to devotee. Each devotee is getting thrilled with the replies found to his own questions and getting his own personal wishes fulfilled. (Despite of the reason that whether they are stated explicitly in the magazine or have them submerged in the depth of their hearts). I experience a personal message to me for my questions to Baba every week from the editorial of Sai-Vichaar. Baba emphasized to his devotees to respect all religions and show tolerance (However fanatic they may appear to be). It is not for us to judge and decide who is a pure devotee or which is the best religion in the world, but it is left up to the Almighty. He and he alone capable of measuring the devotion and truth of all religions. In reply to devotee's complaint that Rohillah is disturbing their sleep screaming very loudly "Allah-ho-Akbar" in the nights, Baba said "Do not interfere with Rohillah, you people mind your own business, his wife "Jantisi" comes and toubles him while he is alone that is the reason he prays to God." (Baba means Rohillah's evil thoughts). Baba also advised Nana Saheb, who felt being guilty for having a desire for a glance at the beauty of a Muslim lady, who uncovered her "Burkha" before bowing to Baba, saying let your eyes do their job, why should you take the responsibility for their action? God given us eyes to look at the beauty of nature and appreciate it. There is no harm to look at things unless you have an evil thought in your mind. Fear not if your heart is pure. Baba preached him with a practical experience as to how to control our senses, which left ever-lasting impression on Nana's mind.
A true religion and Satsang brings discipline or Samskara in thoughts and thoughts or desires provoke the human actions and actions are the ones, which leave the impressions on our minds and project the character of a person.
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Prayer Club

Homeira, Denmark
My name is Homeira, I am an Iranian and live in the Denmark. I am married and I have two daughters. Now my life is very bad, my husband is ill, he has thrombosis. The doctors think at this is very dangerous and risky for him. Last year he had a business but he was not lucky and unsuccessful, he lost everything. Now he has debts amounting to 250000 kroner to municipal and other people. We don’t have anything to offer them. Dear Saibaba, we need your blessings. I am very worried for my husband, because he has nothing to offer them, I don’t know what will happen to us. Our lives are now just black and I can not see any light. Please pray for us. Thank you very much.

Raja, USA
I am a Devotee of Sai Baba, and I am in USA now, it has been almost 17 months I had been living in USA. I did my undergraduate studies in engineering out in India and came to USA to do my Masters. I did all things when I was in my college....smoking , drinking and wild partying but I was always in my limits but at the same time I did study. I learnt how to live life in my undergraduation, which was away from my home. I came to USA and things were quite easy to me. I became lazy, in fact, too lazy. I forgot how to organize things, plan out things and the worst part is I used to chat for hrs sometime and got involved totally into it for quite a long time. Now, I am feeling very guilty about it. I think I wasted my time and I regret about all things I did after coming to USA. Now I just hope I will do well, forget the past, and live guiltlessly. I need blessings from Sai Baba.
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