Feature of the Week: Patience!...Patience!

Prayers to all. "Faith and Patience" are considered to be the most appropriate attributes for Sai Baba's devotees. Simple as it sounds, having Firm Faith and Unreserved Patience are extremely difficult to cultivate. Our mother used to always offer prayers to Sai Baba. But, for reasons best known to Sai Baba, it took good 20 years for me to become a true Sai devotee. When one of our relatives offered me a copy of Shri Sai Satcharita, it changed my life for good. Only then did I realize that all the virtuous qualities promoted by Sai Baba - humility, love, forgiveness, benevolence, calmness, charity, desirelessness, egolessness, and control of mind and body- were routinely practiced by my mother. Her life was filled with sacrifices - she wholeheartedly served my father, and a joint family of 14 members plus a number of friends and relatives who visited us on a daily basis. As though that was not enough, she made sure that she also fed, with a smile, our helpers and dog. Also, many beggars knew very well that if nobody offered food, as long as they could avoid being driven away by one of us, our mother will surely offer them food to their content. After such daily arduous routine, her little spare time was spent by mother in offering prayers and in taking short rest to recoup to be able to serve again. She depended on nobody and in fact did not allow any of us to assist her. We conveniently took her for granted until one day she quietly, without any suffering, left her mortal coil. Ever since that saintly angel died, there has been nothing, but words of kindness, appreciation, and praise. She must have known that her faith and patience will be adequately rewarded - though, she appeared to have suffered all her life. That delayed realization of the importance of faith and patience only happened through repeated reading of Shri Sai Satcharita after about 20 years after my mother left us. That opened our eyes and enabled us to practice her qualities. Only then did I accept my past Karma as the cause for my sufferings. My son spent most of his time with friends who have no interest in education. Repeated suggestions, warnings and even threats had little effect on my son, although he is very good at heart and is gifted in intelligence. We know that with little effort he is capable of attaining high standards in any field. Learning that the best solution is to recognize that we are just tools and that Sai is the real Doer and Result bearer, and to completely depend on prayers to Sai Baba with total faith and patience, was the best thing that ever happened to us. Many times we have been encountering extreme trying circumstances and tests of Sai Baba but, fortunately we have been holding on to our Faith in Him with Patience, which are proving slowly, but surely as the most dependable means to attain peace. We wish and pray that other devotees too will develop such faith and patience to solve their problems. Jai Sai Ram! (Contribution from a Sai devotee, Vancouver, BC, Canada)
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Devotees Say

Sree, California, CA, USA
Dear Sai devotee After reading what you wrote in April 5th Sai Vichaar Baba made me reply to you like this. By sending Baba’s calendar and Vibuthi, Baba is telling that he is there with you. Your husband's work though it Appeared very important for you right then to get money, may not be that significant for your future. Have Shradda and Saburi Baba will help you to get the money you need when he thinks it's appropriate. Whatever he does he does for our own well being. You might find the answer yourself in near future. Baba's leelas are great. Leave everything to him. Om Sai Ram.

Prasanna, Auckland, NZ
I am a devotee of SHRIDI SAI BABA. I am from madras. Due to the divine grace of BABA. I am now in AUCKLAND(NEW ZEALAND).I wish to know if there is any SHRIDI SAI MANDIR in AUCKLAND. If you could please mail me the address of the temple. I would also like to know about any SAI DEVOTEES ASSOCIATION in AUCKLAND where bhajans are sung regularly. I would be very grateful if you could provide me the above mentioned information as early as possible.

Krishnaveni
Jai Sai Ram, This is in response to Sri. Manthana Reddy garu, Respected Reddy garu, my name is Mrs. Krishnaveni. After reading that you have vibhuti that came directly from Baba’s photo, I felt that it would be great if I can also have some. Can I request you to kindly send some to me if you don't mind. my address is Mrs. Krishnaveni Penumaka 1164, Glenmeade Dr, Apt # F Maryland Hts, MO, 63043.

Tania, Brazil
I am from Brazil and I am a Sai Baba devotee. I have a picture of Sai Baba and I would like to do pooja, but I don't know how to do it. Could you explain to me how to do? Thanks. SAI RAM.
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Prayer Club

A.S. Vijayaraghavan, Chennai, India
I am a staunch devotee of Lord Sai Maharaj. My wife Lalitha Vijayaraghavan aged 44 years has got Cancer in her Left Breast and she has to undergo all the treatment like Chemotherapy, Radium Therapy and Surgery at CANCER INSTITUTE (W.I.A) at Adayar, Chennai-600 020. India. I would humbly request all Sai devotees to pray for me to cure my wife and I am quite confidant that Sai Maharaj will do the needful. If he does any miracle it will be great.

I also request Sai to give my family and me enough courage to face this problem and solve it successfully with the blessings of the Lord along with the prayers of the devotees.

Ramakrishna
My friend’s dad has been diagnosed with liver cancer. Doctors gave up hope, only a miracle can save him now, all devotees please pray for a miracle.

Malini, Dubai, UAE
I keep reading few letters, which are always the best. I have always seen that that Sai Baba has solved the problem automatically through his "chamatkar". I am writing to you and trying to find a solution to my problem, which I hope would be solved. I have noticed a very hard luck since last 1 year or so. I have bad luck in finding a job, not at all getting the job which is best suited to me. I want to earn and make my own identity, which is very important for me. I am not getting an appropriate job and have become discouraged. I just can't see any hope ahead. I have lost my interest in few matters since the things are not going the way I hoped them to go. I need some help. I have lost my courage. I don't know how long will the punishment go on-"God, please, forgive me".
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Sai Activities

Aum Sai Shakti Kendra(regd).
2-2-1105/9/b1,Tilaknagar,Hyderabad-500044,India Tel:+91-40-7565670.
e-mail:omsairam@electronmail.com
"Aum Sai Shakti Kendra"{regd.} founded a year ago, is wedded to the propagation of Sai philosophy through Annadan (Poor feeding) programs, Satsangas and bhajans (devotional music program), conducting medical camps, distribution of books and clothes to school children and also payment of school fees to deserving students. Above all, the voice for the above activities is the "Aum Sai Ram", a Telugu monthly magazine for character building and spiritual enlightenment. Sai devotees in India and abroad are writing to us to take out spiritual magazine in English also, but we are waiting for the support of the like minded people to start with. Be it a Birthday, Wedding day or a day for a special occasion, please have trust in us for arranging poor feeding program to as many as you like by a donation of Rs10/-.per person. Since we have infrastructure for cooking and serving, we are able to provide this service, by Sai’s grace, at such low prices. So far, we have done 32 Annadans, we have performed 101 Satsangs in various temples and houses of Sai devotees.

Shri ‘Aum Sai Ram’ SHARMAJEE, who is managing trustee of the Aum Sai Shakti Kendra and the Editor of the Aum Sai Ram magazine has dedicated his life towards Sai Tatwa Prachar and Seva to the needy people by following Sai messages and Sai Path. Late Sivanesan Swamy and Late Ekkirala Bharadwaj are the direct inspirers to him. Living Avadhutas viz., Sri Pramukh Swamy (Swamynarayan cult,Gujarat), Sri Gulab Baba of Nagpur, Nandbaba (Adilabad), Nampally Baba (Hyderabad) have appreciated him and given their blessings. Donations if any may be sent through crossed check drawn in favor of "Aum Sai Shakti Kendra" Bank a/c. Annual subscription for "Aum Sairam" journal is $50 for foreign subscribers which may be sent through check and drawn in favor of "Editor,Aum Sairam". Give us a chance to serve Sainath on your behalf. Always in service of Sai in Humanity. Aum Sairam Sharmajee Aum Sai Shakti Kendra(regd). 2-2-1105/9/b1,Tilaknagar,Hyderabad-500044,India Tel:+91-40-7565670. For more information, please contact e-mail:omsairam@electronmail.com

Baba Prayer Center, Chennai, India
Baba Prayer Center, 6/1 PAPNI APARTMENTS PHONE:91-044-4892259, 67th street, eleventh avenue, ASHOK NAGAR, CHENNAI 600083 INDIA EMAIL: kbxy@hotmail.com
Baba Prayer center is going to celebrate Meenakshi kalyanam(Wedding of Goddess Meenakshi) at Naga Sayee Mandir at Coimbatore on April 16, 2000. The function starts with Sri Lalitha Saharanamam, followed by Baba Ashtothram and ending with Vilakku Puja. Sri Baba will sit that day in the Nagasanam which Baba Prayer center has installed in Dec 99 there. A few membership vacancies are available for LIFE -TIME ANNADANAM and devotees desirous of contributing can contact the Prayer center. Those in USA can contact Sri Hari Krishna at Boston via email: harikrishna_b@hotmail.com The list of LifeTime Annadanam donors will be published in Saivichar soon. Baba Prayer Center invites prayer calls from sick and suffering people. We pray intensely and our SAI cures immediately.
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Devotee's Experience

A Sai devotee
I would like to describe one my experience I had 2 weeks back. I was returning home at night from shopping and it was raining heavily. I was waiting in my car to yield and take a left turn. Suddenly, I started taking a left turn without seeing oncoming traffic, which was very near to my car, all lanes from opposite direction had cars coming very fast towards me. I don't know what happened, I started saying 'SAI' 'SAI' 'SAI'. Next thing, I realized that my car has crossed the traffic. It was like SAI holding my hand and driving the car for me. It is SAI that saved me from a big accident that day.

After that, I took a vow that I will send this experience to Devotees experiences, but I totally forgot about it later. SAI helped me this week again, saving me from another accident, and this reminded me of the vow I had taken and I need to complete. Bow to Shri Sai!
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Question of the Week

How does a Sai devotee define patience?

A Sai devotee from Vancouver, BC, Canada
Saburi (Patience) and Shradha (Faith) are considered by Shri Sai Baba as the two most important means to attain Self-realization. On a lighter side, I recall hearing from those successful in international development that the three most important traits required for a success under trying circumstances are "Patience, patience and Patience" and is also true for Sai devotees wishing to gain the supreme knowledge. Monumental patience is considered to be the mine of all virtues. It is that human aspect that will ferry us across the sea of this mundane existence. It removes all sins and afflictions, gets rid of calamities in various ways, and casts aside all fear and ultimately gives us success in life. It is through patience that one could practice two most important virtues that we are encouraged to seek from Sai Baba - desirelessness, and controlling fear of this mundane life. Desirelessness is perhaps, the most difficult trait to attain, for which the principles or forces - love, devotion, humility and egolessness, charity, benevolence, forgiveness, calmness, control of mind and body - depicted in an exemplary manner by Sai Baba, are very helpful. To practice and master such principles is not possible without monumental 'patience'. This mundane life or this samsar is compared to a fierce ocean, with its waves trying to submerge us with infatuation for wealth, wine and women; strong breeze blowing us with ego; eddies making us succumb to thoughts of 'I and Mine'; crocodiles causing fear, anger, anxiety and hatred and fish that nimble resulting in jealousy, back-biting and fault-finding nature. For us to overcome the fear of samsar or face this fierce ocean of mundane life threatening our lives, 'patience' is an ideal virtue.

What could a Sai devotee do to reflect Sainath’s teachings on religious harmony?"

Havovi Medora, New Jersey, USA
As I have mentioned before in other contexts, Baba is unique from all the other Grand Masters who walked the earth. Baba never taught a religion but respected and tolerated all. His devotees came from all religions and all walks of life. Tension among Hindus and Muslims have existed over centuries and decades. Baba’s most fervent words were "there is one one God. The Hindus call him Ram and the Muslims call him Rahim, then what are you both fighting for?" During his mortal life he was served by Hindus and Muslims together; they prayed together, stayed together in equal harmony. This is what puts Baba apart from other saints. When we are all in Shirdi, we are of all different religions standing side by side, praying side by side. We have Baba who unites us all under that one true principle 'THERE IS ONLY ONE GOD'. As I also said before, religion is an identity into which we are born.

Ravin Gnanasambandam, Ithaca, NY, USA
God is simple. He is seen, heard, felt, sensed, loved, and despised. However, the most difficult thing for us is to explain how simple God is. It is the intellectual limitation of our species. Why do we have so many Gurus, Gods and Religions? For the reason that God may be made simple to understand. Do we have enough Gurus, Gods and Religions to accomplish the task? Yes and No. How nice would it be if everyone is assigned a path tailor-made for the individual likes and dislikes?

If religion is an organized path, a resultant of human categorization, aren’t we blessed to have someone to tell us what we should be doing? Just for a minute, let us imagine a world without religions. Perhaps it is absolute freedom for a very few who need no means to communicate with the conscious that permeates self and outside. For the most, wouldn’t that be chaos? We can definitely derive lessons from such a cacophony as happened in the name of socio-political ideology in some cultures this century. Pardon me, last century. Let the history be not repeated.

How blessed are those with religions? Perhaps not so blessed as long as they do not realize the very function of religion. As long as they do not realize that the rituals they perform is really a means to realize the conscious where religions do not exist. As long as they do not realize that religion is a path and not destination. As long as they do not realize the trivial nature of our physical being, much more than what we eat or when and who to pray. How does one realize "Gunaatheetha Gunaathma", the attributeless absolute, being full of attributes, Christian or Buddhist?, One who believes that God has parents and one that doesn’t?, Saattwic or Tamasic? Do we have religions that tell us just facts with such a profundity? Perhaps every religion does, only we choose to ignore. Yes, we do have sufficient number of paths if we want to choose. No, we need more paths, each of them to suit the individual size, shape, color and appearance.

Blessed is the mankind, stars dawn on our horizon once in a while. The Supreme Conscious that walks the earth with the message that God is too big to fit into any single religion. The entity that represents timeless conscious; just like the begging Fakir of Shirdi who cautions that human life is a frozen picture of a few years and the actual idea should be to zoom ourselves out to eternity. The Super Star who simplifies our pursuits that any single religion has failed to accomplish.

During His tenure at Shirdi, inscrutable were His ways. Someone was sent to every temple in Shirdi before entering His abode. The other was kicked out after entering from other temple. One was sent to high mountains, the other was made to read scriptures. One was simply made to, wait. Let us be those fortunate children of His that doesn’t confirm to one form. He is Dattatreya and the Crucifix. He is Allah Maalik. He is the burning fire, and the Banyan tree. Let us love one and all and oh yes, their religions too. Let us truthfully attempt to see His message of unification. Let us denounce pride, violence, hatred, and war in the name of religion. By the way, if anyone of our friends, relatives, kith and kin would want to share their lives with one from a different religion, let us rejoice. Let us support, by God’s grace, for that is the beginning. Bow to Sri Sai Peace be to all
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