Inscrutable are His ways! This is a famous phrase from Nagesh Vasudev Gunaji’s English version of Shri Sai Satcharitha. It turns out to be true. During His lifetime and after, Baba showed a peculiar way of teaching and guiding His followers. He had asked some to be more disciplined, perform rituals, and undertake reading of sacred texts, while some were asked to keep quiet or just wait. Some were commended for their piety while some denounced for their orthodoxy!

Baba seemed to have answers to the innermost of the questions His followers had. He seemed to have a certain way of giving "individualized instruction" depending on one’s earnestness. However, He seems to be very particular in emphasizing certain virtues in His followers. The two pice (two cents) He demanded were faith and patience. Invaluable! By calling Himself as a servent, Baba has stressed the importance of humility, because humility is a virtue that reaps rich harvest in one’s pursuits. By insisting on the surrender of the self and accepting the will of the supreme over the individual, Baba stressed the existance of a unifying higher order. His views on the purpose of religions were simple, "There is only one God and the purpose of every religion is the same". In a unique way, Sai Baba of Shirdi also had asked His followers to investigate the "self". He also expounded on the obstacles for such a pursuit, native as well as acquired. Is it possible to categorize this unique way of spiritual leadership?

For some, Baba’s life and teachings might look like a paradox, but in reality, His ways are as simple and natural as it could be! He did not give any set of rules to follow for His disciples. On the other hand, He was present in the minds of earnest devotees who sought His guidance on matters, big and small. For such people, in His words, He guarded them from front, back, and sides. To those who would differ with His advice, Baba said simply, "God will do good". Neither was there an insistence on a rigorous stewardship. Faith and patience are two traits common to everyone regardless of their religious, social, financial or other status. By invoking the traits common to every human being, Sai Baba of Shirdi has indeed simplified the pursuit and the purpose life may have, which could otherwise be quite complicated given the nature of the modern day mosaic mankind has found itself in. How shall one thank Sainath of Shirdi for this? On this Thanksgiving Day, let us be happly for being so fortunate and reflect on these thoughts.
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Sai Activities
Sri Sai Spiritual Center, Bangalore, India

Sri Sai Spiritual Center at Bangalore is a beaconlight radiating the benign grace of the Trinity - Sri Sainath Maharaj of Shirdi, Sai Dootha Sri Narasimhaswamiji and Sadguru Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji who worked incessantly to bring material well being and spiritual solace to thousands of devotees. Sri Radhakrishna Swami ji was the founder patron since the inception of the center in 1953 on Ugadi day (April 4) until leaving his body in 1980.

The center’s daily program consists of Rudrabhisheka, sahasranama archana, and recitation of Sri Vishnusahasranama, chanting of Ashtakshari, Bhajan Arathi (thrice a day) and Gita Parayan. Go (cow) pooja on Fridays, On occasions like Guru poornima, Baba's mahasamadhi day, Sri Narasimha Swamiji's and Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji's aradhana days Sri Swamiji's Jayanthi day, Sri Ramanavami, special poojas, havans and homas are conducted. Sri Satyanarayana pooja on poornima days attracts hundreds of devotees.

Besides, a Veda class is being conducted by Veda Brahma Sri S Srinivasa. The center runs a free medical unit, catering to about 30 poor patients a day. A quarterly magazine in English and Kannada, "Saipadananda" is also being brought out. Even the expanded and renovated building is inadequate now because of the growing number of devotes thronging the center, particularly on Thursdays, poornima days and special occasions.

Sri Sai Spiritual Center is located at Saibaba Mandir Road, 1st Block, Thyagarajanagar, Bangalore, India 560 028. For more information on this center and the mandir, please contact, Sri Seshadri at + 80 603922.

Shirdi Sai Center of New Jersey, USA

On behalf of the Shri Shirdi Sai Center of NJ, I welcome you all to the Center for Shri Sai Baba bhajans. This center was started as a modest attempt to attract the Shirdi Sai Baba Lovers, to assemble and do Bhajans, kirtans and know the life, teachings, and philosophy of Sai Baba, at my residence. Many devotees also share their day to day experiences.

The ultimate wish of all the devotees of Sai Baba and the committee members is to construct a Sai Baba temple. I am sure with the growing number of Shri Sai Baba devotees, one day our dream will come true and with the blessings of Baba, we will be in a position to build a full-fledged temple.

The Sai center, located at 404 McDowell Dr. East Brunswick NJ, holds bhajans and kirtans, namajapa, meditation on the form of sadguru, readings and contemplating on the writings and teachings of Baba from the Sai Satcharitra as well as other books on Baba.

All are humbly requested to be part of the bhajans and devotional proceedings, on the first Saturday of every month between 3-5 p.m. and narrate and share your experiences for the benefits of us all. After the aarti, devotees are served with prasad offered to Baba.
Thank you
Humbly,
Kumad Sachdev

For directions, please call:
Mr. Hashmukh Patel at 908-851-0939
Mr. Mukund Parikh at 732-205-9437
Mr. Kumad Sachdev at 732-257-1438
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Experiences of Devotees
NAVITHA
(Originally posted on Tuesday, Nov 24, 1998)

SAIRAM
Today I would like to share on of my experience with SHIRDI SAI with you. It happened in 1991, it was time when I just started believing in SAIBABA. I was doing my post graduation and I used to be in hostel. I went to a nearby place to a function and had to come back to college within four days. Unfortunately, in the function I contracted conjunctivitis, a contagious infection also called as 'madras eye'. I had to come back to the hostel since I was in the middle of completing my course work. The second morning I noticed that my best friend who is my roommate also got it. My roommate was so skinny, weak, and sensitive. I like her very much and I always used to take care of her like a baby. I felt very guilty that she got that only because of me. Conjunctivitis stays for atleast four days no matter whatever medicine you use. In addition, my friend is so weak I felt she could not bear the pain. As we were about to leave to the college at 10.00 AM, she complained that she is feeling pain and itching in her eyes. I felt very sad and guilty then I just turned to my BABA prayed to him, put udhi on her forehead, and told her just to sleep. Then, when I came back for lunch at 1200 noon I was very surprised to see her eyes were so clear and you know what happened, my friend does not have any belief on SAIBABA but that day in her sleep she saw Baba came to her and just put his hand on her forehead and left. From that day, she also started believing in Baba. I felt very happy because he did this only for me as I was feeling very upset and guilty and in the class, I was just praying Baba. In this way my Baba is always with me and where ever I go I always am noticed as sai devote which make me feel very happy. I LOVE YOU BABA AND I KNOW VERY WELL THAT YOU LOVE ME.
SAIDEVA, BE WITH ME IN EVERY MOMENT OF MY LIFE AND GUIDE ME.
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Devotees say...

John Maynard
Thank you for continuing to send Sai Vichaar. It is a good supplement to my reading, and gets read, unlike much else on the web/e-mail. I have been reading Arthur Osborne's Biography of Sai Baba, ' The Incredible Sai Baba'. Such an easy read but too short. A thought; Sai Baba seems not to have recommended any formal effort towards realization; like Christ he seems to emphasise putting pure trust in him, He in turn put pure trust in his Guru. Other masters such as Ramana Maharshi and Nisargadatta Maharaj have stressed effort through following the "I Am" thought or other techniques. J. Krishnamurti would have no methods at all, and would have been horrified should someone have suggested reliance upon him, yet even there seeming miracles happened.
We could say they are all responding to different types of listener. We could say that all effort in the end proves to be futile, because effort comes from the same part of us that is causing the problem, to make a so called spiritual effort is the same as a desire for a new car or for money. Did Sai Baba ever give any methods to devotees, disciples, or listeners? Would anyone be able to recommend further reading material, on Sai Baba's life.
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