Feature of the Week: Bhakthi Maala

On this GuruPoornima day, humbly we offer our obeisance at thy Lotus Feet. Bless us with the choicest gifts from Your Treasure Box. Sri Hemadpant came to Shirdi on account of the stored merit of his Punyakarmas. You were standing in the corner of Sathe's wada. He ran, prostrated before you. Joy knew no bounds. He found more than what he had heard from Nana Chandorkar. All his senses were pacified and he forgot thirst and hunger. As he touched Your sacred feet, he began a new lease on life. You held his hand and never let go.

Gaulibuva came for your Divya Darshan every year and testified with great faith that you are Pandharinath Vithal incarnate, the merciful Lord of the poor and the helpless. Sri Dasganu had a desire to visit holy Prayag You showed with mercy, Ganga and Yamuna flowing from Your Toes. Such is the significance of Your holy feet. That is where live all the Thirthas of your Bhaktas.

You came to Shirdi as a young lad. Just like Krishna, children looked at You with awe and old ladies' hearts swelled up with motherly affection. At Your very first Darshan, Mahalspati heart cried out, YA SAI and You became our Sai. Bless us with the same wealth that You blessed your Mahalspati with. Saint Gangagir came to Shirdi & seeing you carrying pitchers of water in both hands for watering the garden was amazed at Your Darshan and said "Blessed is Shirdi that it got this precious Jewel; but He is not an ordinary fellow. As the land was lucky & meritorious, it secured this Jewell". Saint of Anandmath was lucky to find pure diamond like you. Such was the efficacy of Your Darshan that it quieted our Samsar. Mr. Cholkar's desires were fulfilled just by Your Darshan. Mr. Sathe resorted to Your feet and seeing Your form, which was like eternal Brahma, luminous, spotless and pure, his mind became calm and composed.

Such was the efficacy of Your Darshan that Bhakta Pant saw his guru in You and was blessed with fearlessness. Ramdas Bhakta devotee saw her beloved Deity Rama in You.. Lala Lakhmichand was so happy to have Your Darshan that he was enrapt with Your Lotus Feet as a bee with a sweet smelling Rose. Kakaji Vaidya found that there was no benediction, no words, just Your Divya Darshan filled his whole being with peace. Darveshis came with their sick Tiger at Your door for You to cure him. Tiger's head hung down on account of luster on Your face. Such fortune to have death at Your Lotus Feet.

Baba, On this GuruPoornima day, bless us with the Vision like you blessed Anandrao Pakhade. Let us decorate our Hridya simhasan with gold and diamonds of all Satwick vrittis. Reside our Deva, take Your Feet out of Your Kafni and let us change the directions of our lives towards the SatyaPath. Let us direct all our senses towards our eyes wherein live You my Sai., We have placed Your Padukas in our heart. Murmur with Your sweet voice, Your eternal message that "THESE ARE THE FEET OF THE LORD". Baba, instill Your Shashwat Sandesh in our ears, "OH.. WHAT IS THERE IN AKKALKOT, and WHAT IS THERE IN PRAYAG"? THE RANCHOD OF DWARKA IS IN SHIRDI. Come to our house for Bhiksha and let us serve You with our sweet devotion. Be pleased with it and placing Your VardaHasta on our heads, comfort us by saying, "THESE FEET ARE OLD AND HOLY, YOU ARE CAREFREE NOW. PLACE ENTIRE FAITH IN ME AND YOU WILL SOON GET YOUR OBJECT."

(A contribution by SathyaBhama Sharma, Maryland, USA)
(Re-printed from Sai Vichaar 1999, Volume 2, Issue 10)
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Contributed Article - THE PROCESS OF BREATH - CHANT (Part II) by Balkrishna Panday, New Delhi, India Email:Kirti89@ aol.com
THE PROCESS OF BREATH - CHANT (continued)

The mind and intellect now form a pure surface of consciousness upon which we conduct the simple process. The process indeed is as simple as it could be, and it keeps getting refined with more and more practice. By now your mind is dedicated to the mantra OM SAI RAM or your own holy rhyme. Please manage to inter - twine your mantra with your breath, one part slowly at a time; the total is in three free-flowing parts, one merging into the next one to catch the rhythm of the breath. The three parts of mantra & breath are as follows.

(1) BREATHE IN a very convenient longer than usual swish of breath. Enjoy the feel of breathing in; please do not miss the soothing feel of it. As you breathe in, the mildest sound itself says in your mind AU…………M. The life - air fills your chest with a purity not realized hitherto.

(2) HOLD effortlessly just good enough to let your mind pronounce SAI, as inadvertently as in a reflex action; and proceed to :-

(3) BREATHE OUT the larger than usual volume of breath normally side by side initiating your mind to pronounce RAAM; feel the companionship of prayer, power and renunciation.
AU…………………M………..S A I.., R…….A……A…….M;
AU…………………M………..S A I.., R…….A……A…….M;
AU…………………M………..S A I.., R…….A……A…….M;

EXPLANATIONS
(i) The words are not spoken out as such during the process. However you may like to sing them or chant them for the sake of spiritual pleasure at other times. Herein the whole resounding process is just within. It is very quiet and does not disturb anything outside.
(ii) Any posture of body is okay and any time of the day or night is okay for the process. Ideally speaking squatting position in the morning with head neck and body held in a line is good. However this writer suggests that any time and all the time is good when you can consciously deploy the mind for the CHANT ('Naam - japa') to intermingle with the breathe - in, hold, breathe - out practice.
(iii) About the inability to do the practice consistently, there is no cause of worry. As much as you can commence with, is good enough. You are following in the footsteps of the sages when you are attempting to improve the frequency, the consistency of your being a part of the melody of the soul - spirit.
(iv) You would observe that there would be no obstacle in forming a habit of this practice particularly when you are not applying your mind to any work requiring intricate mental application. The practice can be easily observed while doing a host of ordinary jobs such as bathing, getting ready, driving, waiting for anything.
(v) Do not forget to put yourself into Breath - Chant ('Naam - japa') mode particularly when you lie down to sleep and when you get - up in the morning. Now, the aim is to let the sub - conscious take over the driving part so that it is like the heart - beat or a train moving on the rails wherein the passenger can move to any compartment for its worldly activity but the basic rhythm continues unobtrusively.
(vi) Step 2 of the process above viz. HOLD, possibly needs attention because it is integral for the process to habitually control the breath for some moments and still let the breathing process be effortless, easy and smooth like natural. It is at this time that HIS name SAI or as you choose resides in the center of your chest ('Hridaya') or in the center of one's eyebrows if one prefers to meditate that way.

ADAVANTAGES OF THE BREATH - CHANT ('NAAM - JAPA')
(a) Your physiology consistently improves on account of habitual deep breathing and of course there are a host of contingent health advantages.
(b) Your stress - proneness would dissipate till you are stress - free, howsoever the world may buffet you around.
(c) Control on baser aspects of instincts does get exercised. 'Kama'/Lust, 'Krodha'/Anger, 'Moha'/Passion, 'Lobha'/Covetousness, 'Ahankara'/Ego, are like the five horses controlled by one rider, 'Prana' i.e. life itself as represented in the mode of Breath. Now, one may appreciate that as you control the rider, as in the Breath, so are we able to control the horses i.e. the Instincts, all five of them ('Indriya - samooh').
(d) The personality would be balanced in the face of pleasure - pain, good - bad, gain - loss and such other dualities. Maybe the speech itself becomes more likeable and effective.
(e) Generally speaking, the living conditions should show an improvement. The world would be a better place to live in.
(f) How your prayers would be listened to by HIM; you would be in for some real pleasant surprises.

Now tell me what else would one want? Good value for the money, isn’t it? Sai Baba used to ask for two symbolic coins of (' Shradha and 'Saburi' ) DEVOTION AND PATIENCE; offer the two to HIM and experience yourself what all you get.

WHAT IS THE FUTURE ? This process of Breath - Chant ( i.e. 'Praanayama' + "Naam - japa') is the highway to the BLISS station for the soul - spirit. Speed is of one's own making. It is known to the practitioners of spiritual Love that the soul - spirit gets elevated in stages. In case of the blessed ones the attainment may be fast. As one progresses in Meditation, hopefully it becomes like a second nature accompanying you all the time, say, as in 'Sahaj Samadhi'. Deep in the layers of consciousness ('Chetanya') one shall find that SUPREME LIGHT which mortal beings can experience strictly through the medium of their soul - spirit but have no capability to describe. Let us pray for that state of blessedness, Bliss, 'Ananda - amrit'. JAI SAI RAM !
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Devotees Say

Askani Venugopal
Sai Ram, This mail is specially to Ashuthosh Jaiswal from Delhi.. Thought of sending the mail after reading his article in Sai Vichar. The following are strictly my feelings.. We all believe in GOD and thereby pray to HIM. If you have read Bible or Sai Satcharita by any chance, there are two sayings which I quote here 1. 'Knock and the door shalt be open'. 2. 'ask and it shalt be given to you' Believe in HIM and HE is there for you. HE is like your father (friend, brother, guru and guide) who when u ask shall give it to you whatever be the difficulty faced by HIM. Sometimes it so happens that something might be good for you and so HE forces it on you though you don’t like it. Its like a mother feeding her kid with medicine(which tastes sour but has to be given to the kid to reduce his fever). HE is there to look after all the needs and necessities and thereby we can say that HE takes care of us. HE does everything for us. One has to believe that what ever happens, happens for the good and that what HE does is always for good. Like in Geeta, u have got the saying that 'do your work and leave the result to GOD'. If you feel that u have done your work pretty fine then HE is there to give the finishing touches and make it a success

Haresh Wadhwani, Mumbai, India
This is in response to the experience and feelings expressed by Mr. Ashutosh Jaiswals in 6th September 2000 issue of Sai-Vichar. I would like to advice him that it is not correct for him to feel that BABA has abandoned him. BABA never abandons any of his devotees. BABA takes all the burdens and pains of his devotees on himself. I am sure that BABA is testing him. BABA has always advocated principle of "SHRADHA & SABURI" i.e. DEVOTION & PATIENCE. May be as a devotee and believer BABA is testing his devotion and patience. I request Ashutosh not to feel that his prayers are going on deaf ears. He should exercise patience and by the grace of BABA everything will be once again fine. I am saying this because I am also facing lot of problems in business and family since past 6 years, but I have never felt that BABA has abandoned me or my prayers are falling on deaf ears. In fact during past 6 years with each problem and with each failure BABA has given me strength and courage to carry on and with his grace I have been able to survive and will continue to survive the difficult period of my life. Hence my advice is continue to be devoted to BABA and have patience. OM SAI RAM.

Pravin Pathak
Hi Ashutosh, Sometime Sai is preparing us by making us suffer. This suffering is to shape us and not because he has abandoned us. He never ever leaves his devotees alone. You may fail to understand it now. But in a longer run everything will fit together. Then you will realize the God's great plan. So have faith. You must read following to understand your situation:

Foot Prints on the sand...(author unknown)
One night a man had a dream. He dreamed he was walking with the Lord. Across the sky flashed scenes from his life. For each scene, he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand; one belonged to him, and the other to the Lord.

When the last scene of his life flashed before him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand. He noticed that many times along the path of his life there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times in his life.

This really bothers him and he questioned the Lord about it. "Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you, you'll walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life, there is only one set of footprints. I don't understand why when I needed you the most you would leave me."

The Lord replied, "My precious, precious child, I love you and I would never leave you. During your times of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you."

Saumya Rajesh
Hello Ashutosh, Maybe one should really stop asking Baba to do things for us or stop praying with a motive... I am not as experienced as you in SaiBaba's bhakti and following, but I have definitely experienced one thing - If you just completely surrender to Him without asking or demanding anything, He will automatically grant our every small wish. It is rightly said by Baba that Nobody goes empty handed from the Shirdi Sai Temple. Maybe you could reflect and see if you have unknowingly made any unnecessary demands on Baba.... not accusing you but just asking if it was really necessary to demand that Baba wear that shawl immediately - probably SaiBaba meant to wear your shawl only for Kakadarti and hence delayed it till the next day??!!! This is just a humble opinion stated from personal experiences... please don’t feel hurt or angry about this. Bow to Sri Sai - Peace be to All!

Harini
This message is for Mr.Ashutosh who gave out his pent up feelings in the last issue. Well Ashutosh, to start with it was quite sad for your desolation. If things are going so bad why don't you try to maintain solace without any thoughts altogether, and for a while spend yourself in introspection and dig fathom to see genuinely, where and why things are going wrong and the practical reasons and possible solutions for your problems. As I would like to remind you that Baba always wants us to work, toil and persevere towards our life goals. He never entertained any devotee to layback and expect any miracles to happen. Well, its true that you must have done enough of hard work. But, may be you need little more dedication towards your goals and Baba may, would like to see you eventually with fruitful results going through the kind of situations you are in and in the process you are learning more about life and it's importance. But please don't ever think that Baba is not extending help from his side and you, try to be little more patient and see for the brighter side of your life. If some of your desires went in contrast to your willing then there must be sure of some good hidden reasons. Try to look for yourself the ins-and -outs of the situations and come up with some reasonable conclusions. I also had to experience many ups and downs of life. But, when things went wrong at some point, its importance and reasoning was deduced at later point and beleive me, it did happen to prove for my good through his grace. So, don't be in despair follow the golden words... BE GOOD,DO GOOD,THINK GOOD AND I EMPHASIZE,.. CONTINUE WITH YOUR FIRM FAITH IN BABA AND HE'LL BE ALWAYS HOLDING ON TO YOU TILL YOU REMEMBER HIM.... BABA NEVER ABONDONS HIS DEVOTEES...May BABA bless you and everyone with all cheers and success in life! JAI BOLO SAINATH KI!
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Prayer Club

Urmil
dear Sai brothers and sisters I thoroughly enjoy the weekly newsletter and look forward to it every week very impatiently. Please keep up the good work. I have been a Sai devotee for over a year now and with the grace of Baba I am feeling that He is with me through good and bad times. I am going through hard times making everyone around me to ease up a little bit, every small thing in our house turns into a big stressful event, with the help of Baba I am trying to stay calm and make everybody calm down as well . Please pray for some understanding and peace in my house. May Sai be with you all May He bless you all with his Love.

A Sai devotee
I am small fish in the big ocean of disciples of SAIBABA. I love him and I believe in him more than I do in myself. HE always exists in my heart. Before my marriage I was a happy girl, but after marriage, I was having lot of problems, one after the other. Sometimes I feel like ending my life, but I remember Baba’s words that whatever fruit of life we get, we have to bear it till the end. But I feel I am suffocating, I can neither live nor die, with a husband who never understands a wife’s heart. And now to add to my problems, my well experienced mother-in-law is slowly poisoning my husbands mind against my family and me. And my husband responds accordingly. I cannot tolerate anyone abusing my family, and I can neither raise my voice, nor can I remain suppressed. Days and nights are becoming a nightmare for me. I am even scared to go home from work. I feel as if I am going back to hell. I never asked anyone to pray for me before, but this time I am pleading all devotees to pray for me, so that my husband could understand me, and my mother-in-laws tricks have no effect on my husband or me.

SV
Dear friends, My son is suffering with a chronic illness, I beg you all to pray for him so that he becomes completely healthy and hale. Please bless him with your kind hearts. I wonder why Baba chooses children to punish parents.

JR Julius
Dear Sai Devotees, I am also a Sai devotee. I am a Diploma Engineer and my hobby is psychic reader. Please pray to get my Govt. Job and a happy married life.
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Sai Activities

Sai Centers in California and Nevada
Sai Baba Prayer Place, 4092 Meadow Grove, Las Vegas, NV 89120. Phone: 702-456-8060
Sai Baba Prayer Center, 8 Santa Eulalia, Irvine, CA 92606. Phone: 949-552-0070

Baba Prayer Center, Ashok Nagar, Chennai, India - Navarathiri Celebrations
BABA PRAYER CENTRE, ASHOK NAGAR, CHENNAI - 83
DAILY EVENING PROGRAM
28 September 2000 BABA PRAYER, BABA SAHASRANAMAM
29 September 2000 LALITHA SAHASRANAM
30 September 2000 VISHNU SAHASRANAMAM
1 October 2000 to 6 October 2000 108 POTTRIGAL AND EVENING PRAYER, OM SAI SRI SAI JAI JAI SAI CHANTING
7 October 2000 BABA MAHA SAMADHI DAY, ABHISEKAM, VISHNU SAHASRANAMAM, SATH SANGAM, ANNADANAM.
E-MAIL PRAYER: babaprayercentre@usa.net babaprayercentre@hotmail.com babaprayercentre@yahoo.com kumarbabaonline@hotmail.com web site: http//babaprayercentre.faithweb.com

Saidarbar, Hyderabad, India - Eye Camp
On 14 September 2000 , an EYE CAMP was organized by http://www.saidarbar.com at a Primary School situated in Rajeev Gandhi Nagar,L.B. Nagar municipality ,Hyderabad. Residents of Rajeev Gandhi Nagar, total 115 patients (60 School children and 55 parents and Grand parents of the school children) had check-up by the Doctor. Out of 115 persons, Six (6) were referred to Government Hospitals for Cataract operations, Eye Drops and medicines were prescribed to 80 patients, Lenses were prescribed to 19 patients. For all the 19 persons eye-glasses were ordered by Saidarbar and shall be distributed to them on September 17 2000. Finally we thank Shiridi SAINATH and HIS ardent devotee from Kansas -USA for sponsoring this program. Please visit for details and photographs http://www.saidarbar.com/saiinhealth.htm
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Experiences of Devotees

Sangeetha Rao, USA
I am now settled in the US, I have a 6 month old son who was admitted in the hospital when he was 3 weeks old, he suffers from reflux, which means that his milk would not get digested properly in fact he would throw up almost everything. We could not lay him flat on his back and had to burp him for half an hour after every feed. I was very worried and had to find him a babysitter since I had to go back to work in 2 months. My parents and I are staunch believers of Baba and have experienced many miracles, we prayed to Baba to help us find someone who will take care of our baby, We called all the people we knew finally we got a call from an aunt she knew of a lady who had a day care at home, we went to visit this lady and what did we see, a life size picture of Sai Baba as soon as we walked into her house. WHAT A MIRACLE. We had tears rolling down our eyes we could not believe this miracle. I did not ask her any questions just had faith seeing Baba. On the first day when I went to drop my son I saw that his crib was under Baba's picture. If this is not a miracle what is. Firstly we are so far away from home, then we find someone who truly believes in Baba to take care of our baby. She sings bhajans for him everyday. Baba thank you for being there for me and my son. Shri Sachidanand Sai Nath Maharaj Ki Jai.

Vemana Rajendraprasad
I am a devotee of Sairam. I have gone to Saibaba temple at Gannavaram near Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh, India. We went there to offer a donation in the month of may in hot summer. There we saw all of a sudden, a sadhu in scooter arrived in hot sun sweating. He was speaking in Hindi. His scooter registration is from the state of Maharastra, India (Shirdi is in Maharashtra). He said that he is touring entire India. He took bathe and applied vibuthi on his body and went away in hot sun. He did not take any food offered. We felt that it was Saibaba who has come as sadhu and blessed us in the hot sun. Om Sairam
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Question of the Week

How can Sai devotees reflect Baba's humility in their daily lives?
Raghu Vissamraju
First, I want to express my gratitude to the writer of "Feature of the week"- Reading for Spiritual Benefit, in last week's Sai-Vichaar. It has given me an insight as to what a spiritual seeker should bear in mind while reading scriptures. Baba's grace has prompted me to take Sai-devotee Ashutosh Jaiswal as a good example for this week's question. Hence I am unable to resist from writing few suggestions to him. Surprisingly, Baba has given his consoling message to Ashutosh through "quotation of the week" (from Bhagawad gita) in last week Sai-Vichaar. "Those who themselves have seen the Truth, can be thy teachers of wisdom. Ask from them, bow unto them, be thou unto them a servant - Bhagawad Gita". Ashutosh writes that Baba followed him closely during happy days of his life and has given instances to prove it. He stands witness of Baba's grace upon him. He enjoyed those days of grace with immense happiness and pleasure - even to the extent of Shiva-sai's stream of love in his dreams. He has seen the truth himself. Does he need any more words to advice about Baba's love and grace. Whatever he is undergoing now - as a Sai devotee Ashutosh must accept as Baba's grace - whether it is good or bad. As a Sai devotee let us not forget the support and help Sai given us in the past. I know it is hard to assimilate things in the face of difficult times but no one can escape from their own misdeeds or past karma. There is no use in shedding tears, worrying, cursing fate or making suicidal attempts. Remember Baba's message in "Satcharithra". Every human being on this universe has to pass through the Cycle of life according to his own karma (whether good or bad), this process is to purify ourselves. Realize that we are the drops of water from the same source and we will certainly go and join the same ocean despite of separation for a while. It is quite natural to get influenced by Maya and loose our wisdom in difficult times. Please continue reading "Sai-Satcharithra" with same faith and devotion at least one chapter a day - it gives you immense happiness and satisfaction. My dear Ashutosh you will definitely witness his glory and would accept him ultimately. He is there with you and will always be there - doesn’t matter whether you pray him or blame him! He never forsakes his own Children - believe me. Do not increase your ill-karma by blaming Sai for your present state.

Why did Sai Baba prevent Mahalsapathy, His impoverished humble servant, from receiving the sum?
Rita, Nairobi, Kenya
The reason BABA stopped Mahalasapati to take the Money from anybody was that he wanted him to get Moksha in his life. No more entangled in the cycle of birth and death. BABA said that Money and Women were the two things which stopped a man attaining spiritual progress. Mahalasapati also asked BABA that what was he to him. BABA replied what do you call me . He said I call you Bhagwan or Ishwar. BABA replied that I call you Bhagat. That is the relationship which will take you directly to God was BABA reply. What BABA did was correct to stop his Bhagat to take money from somebody. Devotees have faith and Patience in BABA and he will sure to guide you through thick and thin. This is my personal experience.
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Quotation of the Week

"There is no ring of pessimism in it, no tone of defeat or despair. It is a message of hope, strength and exuberant joy. It is a creed to be practised in the din and bustle of society, in the midst of one thousand cares and anxieties with head uplifted and spirit elevated" - Shri Radhakrishna Swami ji, on Bhakthi Maarga. (from Apostle of love Sri Saipadananda)
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