Feature of the Week: Seek, Knock and Ask!

"The splendor of the Avatar is like that of a million suns. Yet His grace is as cool and pleasant as that of a million Moons."

He was Saint of Saints who was always in His own mood as if playing with Himself, and was a youth among the brave, child among the children, poorest among the poor and richest among the rich. The born Avadhut BABA is the embodiment of Wisdom, Jnana murti, who feels the oneness and kinship with all the creatures and has overflowing love for all. His mere presence was sanctifying, His silence was a sermon, His glance was a blessing. His touch can bring a spiritual change and transformation. Who can adequately describe His glorious characteristics as allspice is powerless and human faculties fail in such an attempt. He was returning good for evil and was blessing those who vociferously criticized and cursed Him. His heart was the store of love and compassion, which thirsts for the upliftment of the suffering humanity. The welfare of all the people was His sole concern and for that only He was pouring spiritual grace with the purpose of installing faith so that mankind is put on path towards God and is uplifted, adhering to human values in daily lives. We can call him the spiritual washerman who was constantly applying the soap of devotion and water of knowledge for removing the dross in the worldly men. The miracles spontaneously flowed from Him were meant for the only purpose of reformation and was not for display. He plays or sports with His Leelas and still He was out side unaffected by them.

His dedication was for the salvation of all creatures, whose mysterious personality is interpreted by everybody in his own way but no interpretation could give a complete picture of His. He was conferring on people what they desire so that they will eventually begin to desire what he really desires to give them, i.e., motivation, confidence, conviction, and inspiration for spiritual development. This process of benediction and grace is still magnificently and perceptually continuing in its subtle way. As gold has to be put in fire and hammered on the anvil, before it frees itself from the dross to attain purity for shining resplendently, so also through the process of determined sadhana one is to endeavor and be inspired to practice patience, perseverance, faith, morality which are the four pillars on which rests the monument of spiritual experience and illumination. In the process and awareness of what is important and what is not, the required power of discrimination and courage to renounce the temporary, the trivial in favor of the eternal and everlasting, difference between self-gratification and self-sacrifice, selfishness and selflessness, bondage to the pleasure and pain principle, fear, undue desire, ego is subdued, thereby the wrong conception of duality is transcended and man's karma, borne out of ignorance is employed as the means to destroy its own source, resulting in the reformation of individuals at large .

The descent of the Divine in Baba's human form was to create conditions for the mankind to ascend to His Divine essence and everything that happens is but the expression of the Divine will. Hence the descent of the Divine energy and the ascent of the human aspiration are mutually complementary. . This is the Divine law which inspires to revolutionize one's thought and life to be in communion with the Universal-self for which the only panacea is "SEEK KNOCK AND ASK". So it is said that persistent perseverance with conviction and determination to strive shall lead to leave the mundane earth for reaching the celestial stars.
(Contributed by Dwarika Mohan Mishra, Sri Dattatreya Sai Ashram Gajapati Nagar, Bhubaneswar, India)
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Devotees Say

Anupama Padmaraju
I want to share my experience with Sai devotees in Sai Vichaar. Actually on April 5th I requested Sai devotees in Sai Vichaar to pray for me. I was due on march 29th. But till April 5th, I didn't get natural pains for my labor. My doctor told to wait till April 9th morning and if I don't get the pains, she told to come and join in the hospital on 9th evening for inducing labor. But I wanted the labor in a natural way. So I requested Sai devotees to pray for me. So I was admitted in the hospital on April 9th evening. Doctor told that she will induce on April 10th morning. On April 9th evening she has done cervical (the process for dilation). And to my surprise I started getting natural contractions without induction. And I delivered a baby boy on April 10th morning at 6.23 a.m. Mine was natural delivery. My son weighed 8 pounds and 11 ounces, his height was 21 inches with lots of hair. Thank you for Sai and Sai devotees. If we keep trust on god he is going to help us surely. I believe whatever happens in life is for the best.

Rahul Dabholkar, CA, USA
Namaskar Sai-bandhus, I was wondering if any one of you could tell me if there is any Sai Mandir in San Francisco or San Jose area in California? If yes, could you please send me the address of the same?

Kishore Asthana, Muscat, Oman
I would like to inform the Sai Bhakts regarding a web-site from where they can download Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi and Bengali fonts and can use these to write in these languages on their computers using the normal English keyboard. This system makes it very easy to write Bhajans etc. in these languages without any cumbersome stencils or any investment in software or keyboard. The web-site is www.bharatbhasha.org and the fonts are free.

Achut
We pray for you all night ! We pray for you everytime !
We PRAY in the woods! We pray for you in the streets!
At all times be it day or night !
We mortals pray for your power !
Bestowed by the almighty allah..To help the needy and distraught
In all walks of life !Especially the ones who pray
Every instance Not for their welfare But really for others !
Give us strength In not being reminded That you are the DATTA!
The almighty who runs this world
Be in USA or India ! HAIL THEE OH SAI!

Krishnamohan, Australia
Dear Editor, I am a Shridi Sai devotee from Australia. I am a regular reader of your newsletter. By Baba's grace I have got an opportunity to attend a conference in New London, New Hampshire next month. I would like to know if there is any Shirdi Sai Temple around that region? I would be grateful if you could kindly guide me in this regard.

Roopak Rajkamal, Nepal
Dear Sai devotees, it is true that without Baba’s wish nothing happens. You can't even be a Sai devotee without his wish and only those will be called towards him who has been with him in our past births. Today I am proud to say that I am one of the Sai devotee. But about a year back I was not. About four years back we moved out of my parents house due to certain circumstances and if I think of it now I come to a conclusion that maybe Baba wanted it to happen so that we could be near to him. When we moved out we had nothing except our certain things and I was unemployed. For one whole year I sat home without the job and if my wife hadn't had a job too we would have had a serious problem. My wife always said to me that do not worry have faith in god he will help us. (At that time we did not even knew about Baba). After 9 month staying in a rented house we had to move again and as the rent were high and not finding a good place we went to stay in my in-law's home, where we stayed for 6 months. Then when my daughter became 2 years old we moved to another house. And in this house we came to know about Baba as they were the Sai devotees. My wife started to do the prayers and started to do puja to Baba, which I did not like. We always used to have fights about Baba. Then after three years I started to change and accepted Baba with my whole heart. And now I have a small puja house where we live. I also have started to participate in the bhajans. Today Baba is everywhere around me, in my house, in my car and in my office. I sing bhajans and listen to Baba's bhajans songs everyday and night. We now have a small office of our own and living quite happily. Eventhough we still have some problems we know that Baba is looking after us and soon that problem will too go away. I do not know what is right and what is wrong. And I too do not want to give solution to the problem. But since I too have had the same situation I would like to share it with Ritu Verma and other Sai devotees. We have never been in the state that we could help others financially. But as Ritu's parents are having financial problems my in-law's too had such problems time again. Despite we being in the same state we always helped them as and when needed with the amount that we could offer, which helped them overcome the problem. And for this Baba has always looked after us. So I hope that a little help from her really might be a big help to them. And for this Baba will surely bless you as you have helped them in their need. OM SAI RAM !HAVE FAITH IN HIM, HE WILL LOOK AFTER YOU.

Omkar Tadepalli
Last week we had three day review meetings with the users from morning to evening. The meetings were scheduled from Tuesday to Thursday from 8 AM to 5 PM. On every Thursday, first thing I do after coming to the office is I read Sai Vichar. On Wednesday, I was thinking in the lunch break, when can I read Sai Vichar tomorrow. Either I should come to the office very early or read in the lunch break or after 5 PM. At the that time I am checking my mails. It was around around 1 PM. Suddenly a new mail came and when I saw it, it was Sai Vichar News letter and I felt very very happy. I felt as if Baba has listened to me and sent the newsletter. Generally the newsletter comes after 4 PM. Then, after 5 PM,I read the newsletter and felt very happy and bowed to HIS lotus feet. Jai Sai Ram!

Mekala Srinivasa Rao, Singapore
Thank you very much Mr. Surya Prasad for putting in mail an experience of a grandpa ("THE GREAT SAIBABA") serving his granddaughter. I really enjoyed. Let the kid know that he("THE SAI") was the one who took her to the hospital. Be careful with her, she has full support of her thatha (grand father) "SAIBABA"!
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Prayer Club

Julie, Zambia
I request all Sai's Devotee to pray for both my children who are writing their exams. Please Swami bless them and guide them during the examination. I am also experiencing problems at home. My father-in law and mother-in law are telling the family about me that I do not like one of their daughter and children to come and visit them because I do not allow this. I must have told this when I was angry. People do say things out of anger. If they feel I am doing or saying things like this why can't they ask me instead they speak to their children about this issue. Swami if I said or did anything wrong forgive me and make me to be a good and better person. Pray for my in-laws to be good with me.

Revathy Sekhar, Calcutta, India
I humbly request all the Sai devotees prayers. My father is a diabetic. He is suffering for the last 20 years. We have given all the medicines. But last 6 months the sugar level increased (i.e. 450-500). He is taking medicine but there is no relief and the sugar level also the same 450-500. He feels hand pain also (right hand) he is afraid to take insulin. I am a Sai devotee. I got so much experience with Baba. Please all of you pray for my father. Please send Baba’s udi (vibhuthi) to my following address for my father's disease. K.S. Lakshmanan 52, Santigarh Grahams Road, Calcutta, India - 700 040

Umesh Tejpal
Sai Baba please help us and get my elder sister marriage as early as possible. I urge all my Sai devotees to pray. Let Shri Sai Baba bless my family to get out of the trouble.

Dhinoth, Singapore
I am a sincere saibhaktha, and I believe him to the fullest extent. I am a graduate student in Singapore. My Parents and my brothers live in Chennai. Of late I am facing severe problems at home as well as in Singapore, where I'm doing research. It will be too elaborate to discuss them in detail. Due to financial and family problems at home I wanted to shift to an institute from my university. Now I am in a deadlock situation and things are not moving fast. I want all to pray for the good health of our family. Please pray for an improvement in the financial status of our family. More importantly I want my career problem to get solved smoothly. I know that Sai will help me to get out of this problem. It's the prayer from you all which is going to help me in this matter. Pray to Lord Sai Peace be to all.

Urmil
Dear brothers and sisters I am a Sai devotee, I believe in Him and know He is always with me, but some times when life becomes difficult I start having some doubts. I know that my Sai Baba has His reasons, I want to hang in there through rough times, I want Baba to give me strength never to loose any faith in Him. Please Baba take me in your grace and give me courage to live my life with your love and have shardha and saburi. Please Baba help me through the difficulties life have to offer.
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Sai Activities

Sai Banisa , Sri Ravada Rao, Hyderabad, India
Due to very personal reasons and health grounds as I have an inherent heart problem (undergone C A B G - surgery), I regret to inform all saibandhus, that I shall from now onwards will not be in a position to reply the personal letters as was done during in past. Continue to keep faith in Baba and read daily one page of SATCHARITRA with devotion. Baba will certainly bless you all.

You are all requested to forgive me as far as this matter is concerned.

with regards
saibanisa

Sai Utsav(festival) 2000, Shirdi Sai Baba Web Site Organization, USA.
Shirdi Sai Baba Web Site Organization announces Sai Utsav( Sai festival ) for Sai Devotees from all over the world in Chicago, USA for three days during the Thanksgiving weekend in November 2000 Thursday Nov 23rd to Saturday Nov 25th.

Please visit the URL http://www.saibaba.org/saisatsang2000.html for more details. At this time, we are seeking suggestions from all Sai Devotees regarding the proposed program. Your thoughts, suggestions and comments may be sent to admin@saibaba.org with the subject matter of Sai Utsav 2000 and the same will be listed on the website on the Sai Utsav 2000 page http://www.saibaba.org/saisatsang2000.html.

Sai Mandir, NOIDA, New Delhi, India
At Sai Mandir in Noida 'Mangal Snan' and four 'artis' are performed daily. The devotees, 4000 or so on Thursday evenings, have their bounty of Baba's blessings. We invite you to have heavenly 'Darshan' when you visit Delhi. Shri Sai Samiti Noida, a Regd. Society (No.1512 - U.P. - Govt. of India) has built this five-level temple and manages its Charitable activities from this site erected on 1100 sq.meters. Finishing at the construction site is continuing. The activities include Free Medical Aid to the poor, Education to the deprived classes, Service of Food to the hungry, distress relief assistance and Library-cum-reading room facility. Donations are invited for this cause. Please contact for brochure/any details/Life Membership (limited), Balkrishna Panday, Gen.Secy, c/o Mrs. Kirti Chaturvedi, 31A Trap Hagen Road, Brook Lawn Garden, Wayne, N.J. 07470: Phone - 973 - 692 - 9018: 'e' mail: Kirti89@aol.com We pray for Baba's blessings to all devotees, Jai Sai Ram.
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Experiences of Devotees

Veena Gupta, New Delhi, India

Write-up no 15

This Nav rathera I went to Shirdi and spent 7 days with Baba. I wanted to write my recent experiences but due to other activities this has been delayed. On 3rd April it was decided to go to Shirdi on the 5th morning, along with my friend Anita and her family. I hurriedly packed my stuff and left Delhi for Bombay. On my way from my residence to Anita's place I was thinking of taking ladoos for Baba and I was not sure that I will be able to buy it in Bombay. It was about6 in the morning and I found a shop half-open. I immediately asked the driver to stop. The shopkeeper told, that he usually open the shop at 9 AM and he has come to collect some papers from the shop. But he obliged to give ladoos. This is how I stared my journey with Baba's blessings.
In Bombay some pooja of Baba was performed for the opening of the new office of Aushim Khetrapal, husband of Anita and the producer of Sai Baba movie. It was the 1st day of Navrathra, During the pooja, pujareeji asked for some sweets for the pooja. On this I opened my packet of ladoos. This was also for Baba weather it is Shirdi or Bombay. To our surprise we found the ladoos sprinkled with the Udi. This was enough indication of Baba that He is with us and He has blessed us. In late evening we started for Shirdi by car and reached Shirdi early in the morning. We stayed in Shirdi up to Ram Naumi. During this period we saw the unusual scenes at Shirdi. The whole Shirdi was lit with bright lights, much brighter than the lights of Diwali of any city of India. Groups of hundreds of devotees were coming on foot from different places and particularly from Bombay along with a beautifully decorated palki of Baba. They will park the palki whereever they find a place and will sing Sai Bajans day and night. They have traveled the distance on foot and their feet were wounded. Without caring for any thing. they were 'must' in singing 'bhajans' . In the groups there were children also of all ages. I could even see mothers with 3-4 months old babies. All the palkies were well decorated and there were hundreds of them. For the Ram Naumi palki of Baba went around the whole village of Shirdi. The next day a well-decorated Rath of Baba went through the Shirdi. The procession of Palki and Rath were mixed with dances and Bands of Music etc. which was very colorful.

I could not enjoy the procession of Palki and Rath Yatra because I fell ill with high temperature and had to stay at hotel. In the evening I was cursing myself that having come to Shirdi I was unable to enjoy the celebrations, then I felt a strong wind passing through our room. The room was a closed one and the wind was quite strong. Anita and myself felt that Baba is not very far away and He has shown his presence. The next morning on the day of Ram Naumi when Anita woke up and she cried to see the Udi coming out from the photo of Baba kept on the TV in the hotel room. Hearing her cry the attendant rushed into the room and soon many people from the hotel had the darshen of Baba in our room. Later on few people from the management committee of Shirdi Sai Sansthan also visited Baba in our room. Shirdi Sai Sansthan for the first time had given the permission to shoot a movie in their premises. Huge sets were erected there for proper lighting etc. management gave the permission for Dwarka Mai, Guru Sthan, Chawri. Procession of Palki from Samadhi Mandir to Dwarka Mai and then to Chawari on Thursday night. The movie was "Sai Baba" about which I have written earlier. There was excitement all over. Star attraction was Mr. Sudhir Dalvi who appeared to be real Baba and people were touching his feet, which he was avoiding. Press also covered the event saying "Baba is roaming in Shirdi". The movie is now 40% complete and its description, its clippings and stills and other details have been put in the website www.saibabamovie.com. Those interested in knowing more about Baba and His movie in making must visit this site also and give their suggestion to them or in Sai Vichaar or can send the same to me at ashok@dgsd.delhi.nic.in or veena_gupta_2000@yahoo.com. When I was away from my house in Delhi for the 2 Thursdays, there was no Udi from any photo or the Statue of Baba in our mandir, as Baba was with me on Shirdi trip.

Sai Temples of Chennai, India
MRK, Phoenix, AZ, USA
The first temple of Sai Maharaj that has to be mentioned is the one in Mylapore. On one side we have the great temple of Kapaleeswar and on the other is of Sai Maharaj. The temple was started by All India Sai society. I was informed, it had humble beginnings. It had a thatched shed with Shirdi Sai's photo. One Mr. Bhima Rao was one of the pioneers connected with the beginnings. Some devotees started visiting Shirdi and few of them felt a building a temple is needed. Collections were first made in modest scale and then donations poured in. A beautiful marble statue was brought in and installed. Pujaris were permanently employed and permanent pujas were being performed just like in Shirdi and devotees were allowed to pay small amounts for pujas. Then Sri B.V.Nararasimhaswamiji started staying in adjacent hut to temple and then he stayed in a room. He used to make devotees read leelas of Sai and my wife also used to take part. Yagas and rituals were performed; Sri BVN performed namakaranam (Naming ceremony) of my second daughter in the temple. His stay there became permanent and then Radhakrishnaji used to come and conduct Nagar Sankirthan, Harikathas etc. Thus the temple flourished with great glory. Mr. M.P.Rege ex high court judge from Indore visited the temple and stayed few days. He was a close devotee who saw BABA before mahasamadhi and a man of great humility and hundred percent surrender to Baba. I also met one Kasim Baba there. He stayed few days in the hospital area and gave darsan and advice and vibhuti to all. He was a very great Muslim devotee of Baba hailing from Kurnool in Andhra Pradesh .

Next, there is a temple on the way to the airport, and near to the race course area. One Lokanatha Mudaliar was the owner of the site. He built a beautiful Shirdi Sai temple as directed by Shri Sathya Sai Baba. Mr. Lokanatha Mudaliar used to suffer from all sorts of health problems and it is said some low type of sadhaka in his sadhana killed some animals for his kshudra worship in that site and that caused problems to him. Shri Satya Saibaba visited the temple and blessed. There are padukas footprints of Shirdi. Baba there created by Shri Sathya Sai Baba. There is another Shirdi Sai temple in Shenoynagar built by Sri Kesavaiah garu whom I met. He is a personified sevaka of Shirdi Sai. He started his life as a Sub-Registrar and retired as addl. Director of registration. Even when he was a young man of about twenty-five, he became a staunch devotee of Baba and used to perform continuous puja and give vibhuti prasad to persons suffering from diseases and worries and the recipients used to be cured.
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Question of the Week

"How are Satsangs useful in one's spiritual pursuits?" –

Raghu Vissamraju
It is very hard to find a Satsang (Truthful Union). It is only the blessing of our beloved Guru, which enables us to find Satsang. We may even find our Guru himself in the search of Satsang. Blessed are those souls who can control their senses and live like Yogi without the influence of Satsang in this world. Mahasaadvi Sita held hostage by Raavana and stocked in Ashokavana, did not have any Satsang in Lanka, instead surrounded by demons and monsters all the time, she was chanting the sacred Rama-nama and meditating her beloved husband Rama all the time. Finally she could able to reach him at the end. Similarly, Prahalad was born to a Demon and brought up by a Demon and surrounded by Demons all the time. He didn't have any Satsang during his time of Saadhana, he continued chanting Narayana-manthra all the time and was meditating Srihari in his thoughts day & night. Did he not attain para-brahma at the end? A human how much ever intelligent he may be and may have drank the ocean of knowledge of all the scriptures in the entire world, still collapse at the strike of insurmountable miseries of life and ends up struggling for a path or ray of hope in the darkness. Blessed souls in the past are protected by the great master at that point. He will open his door, which shows up a beam of light equivalent to a shine of millions of suns to the deserved people in the darkness. The path to reach the almighty starts at the point where everything as per human conception seems to have been closed. Sita devi while in such dilemma wandering in the forests helplessly being in an advanced pregnancy stage comes across the great sage "Valmiki" and lives in his Ashram as "Loka-Pavani". Therefore, the peace and love one gets from such Satsang is so sweet which cannot be expressed in words and to attain such Satsang like "Valmiki Ashram" is possible only with the blessing of the great master and occurs only when we purify our souls to that level of Sita devi.

How are Satsangs useful in one's spiritual pursuits?

Alphanso D’Souza
Companionship is vital in difficult times and the pilgrim needs to be revived, renewed and inspired to continue his onward journey. Satsangs with the like minded plays the important role in uniting people with one another and God, providing them peace of mind, enabling them to cultivate discipline and develop character. As we experience the phases of Satsangs we experience oneness with God. Satsangs involves the act of freely giving love and appreciation back to the Gods. It should form every activity of any human being. Not only is it important to understand why and how we worship God; it is also helpful to understand what happens when we worship and sing praises to God and as important, the unity in doing so. Performing regular Satsangs together reinforces all vibrations and you realize that you are only a part of something far bigger and greater. During Satsangs we can express our love to our Lord who is our strength and source in time of need. Satsangs can be an expression of awe, submission and respect towards God, for we sing with joy to the Lord and worship before Him with thanksgiving and extol Him with music and song, along with others. As we do this, we many a times pass through the phase of ecstasy, we are headed towards the goal: oneness with God - through intimacy. We can define intimacy as belonging to or revealing one' s deepest nature to another (in this case Sai Guru), and the close association, presence and contact are a mark in itself. DURING SATSANG, WE SOMETIMES EXPERIENCE THESE ELECTRIFYING DYNAMIC VIBRATIONS AND CONNECT WITH BABA. It triggers a fire of confidence and a strong devotion that burns in one's heart continually. As we give thanks regularly we move more into His loving and intimate care. Being in God's presence excites our hearts and minds and we want to praise Him for the deeds He has done, the source of enlightenment and encouragement He provides, and for His many characters and attributes. Often this intimacy causes us to meditate on Him, chant His name, and sing of our relationship with the Lord. We are reminded of His mercies that never cease His provision for all our needs. The friend that He is, faithful and true. Almighty and holy God that He is. He is Sai. All of earth's most lovely words spoken from any lip will never be able to express how I feel. "I love you Sai and I want to thank you. I am completely yours, for there is none like you”.
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