Feature of the Week: Compassionate Incarnate

God, the manifestation of the Supreme is seen as the savior from sin and the way to the eternal life. The core of the message delivered by different messengers is the same. As if confirming to an unseen doctrine, each of the messenger appeared to have spoken to those under different conditions of life, over the time.

Jesus came proclaiming the Kingdom of God. But unlike John the Baptist, or the Essenes, or many others of his day, he did not envision the Kingdom of God descending miraculously from Heaven. The arrival of the Kingdom would not mean the end of the world or the destruction of Israel’s enemies. Instead, he said, "The Kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed; nor will they say, ‘Lo, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the Kingdom of God is in the midst of you." (Luke 17:20,21) The Kingdom had already arrived, and it was a spiritual community consisting of Jesus and all those who centered themselves in God. The Kingdom of God was always meant to be a this-worldly movement which would bring a measure of Heaven to earth through the lives and actions of those who lived in God.

Just like Sainath had said "poverty is Kingship", Jesus said, "Blessed are you poor, for yours is the Kingdom of God. Blessed are you that hunger now, for you shall be satisfied. Blessed are you that weep now, for you shall laugh. But woe to you that are rich, for you have received your consolation. Woe to you that are full now, for you shall hunger. Woe to you that laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep." (Luke 6:20, 21, 24-26).

Baba asked His followers to cast their burden for Him to carry. Similarly, Jesus said, "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30)

Baba, like Jesus, said that God is great and kind and taught us to be likewise. "God is kind to the ungrateful and the selfish. Be compassionate, even as your Father is compassionate." (Luke 6:35b,36) The word translated "compassionate" is derived from a word which means "wombish." God’s compassion is nourishing and life giving like the womb to an unborn child.

Jesus taught His followers to abandon the broad way of organized religion, which tells us to believe such and such and do such and such to win the favor of God.. Jesus said to abandon the way of anxiety, for we already have the favor of God. Baba’s advice to the fasting lady is a perfect example of this similarity between Jesus and Baba. But knowing that God already loves us, what are we to do to live good lives? And how do we participate in the Kingdom of God in the here and now? First of all, Jesus said to love. "... you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength." (Mark 12:30) And he also said, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these." (Mark 12:31) Secondly, he said to have a clean heart. "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." (Matthew 5:8) [By seeing God, he means primarily the experience of God's presence in this life.]

The Mango Miracle in Shri Sai Satcharitha is an interesting one. Baba said to Damu Anna that those who would eat the mangos would die! The way of death is a metaphor for a transformation deep inside, in which we turn away from that which separates us from God. Jesus spoke of both the self and the world as the two great spiritual obstacles. He said to "deny self." And he told us that it profits us nothing to gain the whole world, and lose our way spiritually. (Luke 9:25) Therefore, to the self and the world, we must die. For the self-absorbed self is filled with narcissism, and greed and fear, jealousy and cruelty. But the self which is centered in God, loves others as much as it loves its own self. It is kind and compassionate and does not think itself better than any other.

On this Holy Week of Christmas and as we welcome the New Year, let us contemplate on the universal nature of Baba’s message that permeates beyond the divisions of religions and fundamental

(Inspired by and partly in reference to Robert Jenkins from "Observations on God, Life and the Human Journey")
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Devotee's Say

Shabnam Sanyal, New Jersey, USA
Dear Sai family, Sai Shiva!. This is regarding Baba's murti that is in Bridgewater, NJ. When Baba first arrived here on 5th Oct. 1998, Baba's eyes were closed, that is we could not see the pupils at all. Since that time, whichever saints visited from India, were asked the question why Baba's eyes were closed, and they all said that for some reason Baba is unhappy here. We were all eagerly waiting for Baba to move out of this place so that all of us could take darshan. But of course Baba has his own plans. Then on Monday, that is the day after Dattatreya Jayanti, Baba called me and my family and another couple to Bridgewater, NJ, we reached there at about 9.30PM. The moment I entered that area I was stunned, Baba had opened his eyes, you could see the pupils etched in clearly, he was wearing completely green and it was very cold in there, so we put a shawl for him. He was very happy, we lit Diya and then did the aarti, I have seen miracles in my life but this is beyond my imagination. We offered naivedya, and they have a life-size picture there of Baba in Dwarkamayi, we all looked at that picture and we all could see Baba laughing, he was very happy. When we took his leave, I told Baba next time I see you will be in your Mandir and he smiled. Then I had a conversation with one of the committee members who was instrumental in bringing Baba here and he told me that Baba will be out of the Bridgewater place by end of February and we will all be able to take Darshan. I just cannot wait, I know Baba will tell me have Saburi, Baba I am trying, I am so excited. Baba looks so majestic in pure white the idol is slightly bigger than the one in Shirdi. I have seen the plans for this mandir, when the plans are implemented we will have a mini Shirdi in NJ. So lets all rise up in prayer and beg Baba that this happens soon. Thank you and Saibless.
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Experience of the Devotees

S.V. Swamy, Hyderabad, India
Kshetra and Kshetrajna
Lord Sri Krishna explains the Kshetra, Kshetrajna Vibhaga Yoga in His Sri Bhagavat Gita to Sri Arjuna. The following is not based on that though the title is inspired by Him. On 17/12/2000, by His grace, I got the following few perceptions. Kshetra means field. Kshetrajna means the person Who knows the field, i.e. the type of soil, the crops best suited, the nutrients needed, the presence of weeds, pests etc. If our minds, i.e. those of Disciples can be compared to fields, Guru Sai can be thought of as Kshetrajna. He knows best the type of Sadhana best suited for our temperaments, since He knows our past, present and future. So He knows how to condition the soil (our mind), what seed to plant (which Mantra or image to implant), and how to water it (with His Love), how to protect the sapling from pests and overgrowth of weeds (worldly desires, negative thoughts) and when to harvest the crop and how to distribute it to the world. Thus Guru Sai is our shepherd (we are the sheep), cowherd (we are the cows), farmer (we are the field) and Gardener (we are the plants). He is Kshetrajna! Om Sri Gurave Namah! Om Sri Sai Nathaya Namah! Om Sri Krishnarpanamastu!
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Sai Activities

Shirdi Sai Center, Flushing, NY, USA
The Shirdi Sai Center regularly conducts day long naam japas on the first Saturday of every month. In addition, on the 30th of December, a Saturday, there will be an Akhand Naam Japa, (viz.) the chanting of Baba's taraka mantra, "Om Sai Shree Sai Jaya Jaya Sai" starting at 6.30 a.m. on December 30th and going on until 6.30 a.m. on the 31st of December. All devotees are requested to participate in the same. Sign up sheets for the different time slots are available at the mandir. For more information please contact Dr. Gangadhar Rao at 718 321 9243.

Free winter clothing distribution to the needy by Saidarbar, Hyderabad, India.
Saidarbar Colorado Springs USA and Saidarbar Woodlands Hills USA have come forward and sponsored distribution of woolen blankets to the destitute who made pavements as their home in chilly winter around Hyderabad, India. Saidarbar Hyderabad has taken up this responsibility of distribution on 23-12-2000. The function started after offering prayer to BABA in the night. Blankets were distributed to those sleeping and shivering destitute on the pavement. Some of the the destitute suddenly awoke and expressed their gratitude by uttering SAI RAM, SAI RAM. Saidarbar volunteers felt as if SAI has received and blessed them. The route followed for distribution was Moula- Ali, Mettugadda, St. Anthony’s Church, Oliphant bridge, Secunderabad Station, Clock Tower, Habsiguda, Nacharam and Mallapuram. Pray Lord Sainath to shower HIS blessings on all his devotees who expressed anonymity.

All India Sai Samaj, Mylapore, Chennai, India - New Year’s Eve celebration
Sri. K. Ramaswamy, President, AISS, Chennai, India.
On the New Year’s eve at 8.30 PM a Special Shank (Conch) Abhishek will be performed on Baba. The Abhishek and pooja will conclude with Maha Deepaaraadhanai at 12: 01 AM on 1-1-2001, as the New Year dawns. All devotees are urged to participate in this special event.

Sai Satsang, Ithaca, NY, USA
New Year’s Eve - 31 December 2000, at 36 Horvath Dr. Ithaca, NY 14850. Phone 607-257-3629
8.30 - Sai Abhishek,
9.30 - Ashtothara Pooja
10:00 - Sai Kathamrith - Stories from the life and message of Sadguru Sainath
11:45 - Shej Arthi and Prasad
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Question of the Week

Why Baba used to get angry?

Priya Srinivasan, Omaha, NE
Baba descended on this earth to lead the people to the path of salvation. He descended at a time when the human society was in chaos due to religious and caste differences. He performed miracles in order to make people follow the path to salvation. Baba used to get angry sometimes when people failed to understand his message. Once when there was cholera in Shirdi, Baba started to grind wheat. Seeing this 4 women told Baba to rest and they started to grind the wheat. Baba was angry but kept quiet. After they got done, they started to split the flour among themselves. Seeing this Baba got very angry and told them that they had not even contributed the wheat then how could they take the flour. He then took the flour and spread it on the boundary of Shirdi village. The cholera subsided immediately. The materialistic attitude of the women angered Baba.

During the seemollanghan festival 2 years before his samadhi, Baba took all his clothes and became very angry and his body temperature shot up. Nobody knew the meaning and everybody was scared.2 years later after Baba’s samadhi, they realized the meaning that Baba was conveying them about his samadhi that would take place in 2 years. Baba is the teacher who tests his students by various ways. During the Holi festival, Baba used to shout in anger when gulal fell on his eyes. He was doing so to ward off the evil spirits that were lurking around.

One night he started shouting and when asked, he said that thieves had come to rob Nana Chandorkar's house in Amaravati and he had shouted to drive them away. Such was his omnipresence. Baba's actions have led to one goal and that is to help and guide his devotees towards the right path. SaiRam.

MRK, Phoenix, AZ, USA
SHIRDI SAI BABA AND anger. Bhagavan Shri Satya Sai BABA in his speech on 18 th May 2000 deals with anger of Avatars. At times avatars may pretend to be angry. This tactic is used solely to improve and correct the people who are going astray. Such methods become necessary because people always do not respond to nice words of advice. When Swami gently asks people to sit down, they do not listen but when he raises his voice, there is instant obedience. Voice and tone modulation can be useful and effective. This at times can even save the lives of people. Swami here gives the story of Durvasula who saved the lives of Pandavas by showing flaming eyes and roaring the truth that Pandavas are here right beneath me, to Aswatthama who came to kill them. Further Sri SATYA BABA says that all avatars employ such techniques and Swami too does the same when required. We have to understand Shirdi Sai Maharaj show of anger with this understanding as Avatars are very patient and their heart is unruffled and always peaceful.
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Quotation of the Week

A devotee does not work to promote his own self-interest but works for the good of all without any sens eof ego or any feeling of external compulsion and in spirit of service to God. As he is not prompted by ego and as he does not wish for the fruit of his action, his actions are not motivated by any self interest. He does not work for his personal pleasure and profit. He has no enthusiasm for selfish or worldly pursuits. He is not affected by pairs of opposites, success or failure, prosperity or adversity - R. Parthasarathy in "Apostle of love Sri Saipadananda".
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