Baba said, "There are several ways. One is from here", meaning that He is the Sadguru capable of helping one in the pursuit that a life may have. Having dissolved the myth the surrounded the requirements for a spiritual upliftment, Baba further simplified the path saying, "You can reach God from where ever you are". Baba also cautions the seekers to be vigilant about the wolves and tigers from the outside and those within.

Does the path simplified render the pursuit any simple?

The way Sai guides His children should emphasize one fact of spirituality. There are several ways by which one could pursue the spiritual path. Sai did not set a particular protocol nor did He force upon His believers, a rigid path to traverse upon. Even while some of the Gurus looked at people dissecting straight into their social status, religious standing, and origins , Sai embraced the untouchable, the Moslem, the leper and the likes with equanimity. He had a different way of gauging the merits of those who flocked Him, then and now. Some were outright reprimanded for their behavior while some were reformed without a word spoken. The learned had to wait while Baba welcomed the vagabond. The Antaryami showed the avaricious Madarasi, the path of truth through a peculiar vision. Dasganu's scholarly question was promptly directed to Kaka's maid. While Sai worked internally on some, His outrage was visible in case of others.. While some were offered carrots, yet others had to face the stick.

The communication between Baba and His child is unique and the rarest one of its kind. Let us on this Thursday contemplate on that individual communication we have with Baba. The goal is as universal as the pursuit individual. Perhaps an important aspect of spirituality may lie in understanding the significance of carrots and sticks.
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Experiences of Devotees

S. Nagarajan, Chennai, India
On 11th Feb. 2001 at Kancheepuram we performed Maha Kumbabhishekam to our presiding deity Lord Shiva located in the serene and idyllic village of Singadivakkam which is situated at a distance of 14 Km away from Kancheepuram towards Chennai. About a thousand of devotees were blessed to attend the celestial ceremony in all its splendor and glory. The function was graced by high dignitaries from all walks of life. This function lasted for two days. Having performed the Maha Kumbabhishekam in all its fullest and utmost satisfaction we proceeded to the bus terminus to board the bus to Chennai. Whilst waiting in the queue to collect the reservation tickets, due to the high commotion and unmanageable crowd at the reservation counter my mother by oversight left the bag on one of the chair in the waiting hall. The bag contained Jewels worth 30 sovereigns and cash amount of Rs.1500/= in all. After lapse of ten minutes having collected the reservation coupon we boarded the bus which started after a delay of ten minutes. Fifteen minutes after the bus left Kancheepuram, all of a sudden we realized the bag was missing and we could recollect that the bag was left behind at the bus terminus. My mother and my wife were in a confused state of mind about the missing bag. On coming to know about the loss of the bag, the co-passengers discouraged us from going back to Kancheepuram to retrieve the bag. But my wife Mrs. Rani Nagarajan was firm and confident that the bag would certainly be there. So we alighted from the bus and proceeded back to Kancheepuram by an autorickshaw to reach the bus terminus after a period of 15 minutes. By the grace of our ANTHYARYAMI AND SABKASAMI the bag was lying there safe and untouched in the very same crowded place having not attracted the eyes of passers-by. And now shall I tell you my dear SAI bandhus the bag contained Babas Udhi, Aarthi Song books and locket of Shirdi Sai apart from the things mentioned earlier. This exhilarating experience reveals the unending and continuous miracles of Sai Udhi
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Devotees say...

Niranjana Kumaran
If we call ourselves Sai devotees, we must have faith in His assurance that He will provide us with the basic necessities of life. And no, for all the young people waiting to come to America now, that does NOT include H-1's, green cards, green Camrys, green dollars, et. al... I applaud the Sai devotee who wrote urging us to consider intelligently the consequences of an alien culture on not just ourselves, but our children and grandchildren. If Sai Vichaar is truly a voice for our sweet Baba and His "devotees", then it must stop publishing such requests, and encourage and inspire its readers to truly live our Baba's teachings. He lived the most simple life possible - WHY??? Stop and think about it. Everything He did was to instruct us - how can we call ourselves His devotees and still continue to run blindly and madly after everything He taught us to develop Vairagya about?

Sirisha
I just wanted to know if anybody in bay area (San Fransisco, CA) is interested in forming a group to do Baba aarthi every Thursday evening. Else is there a place in bay area where people get together to do Baba arthi every Thursday? It would be great if someone can contact me at my mail id or phone no. Thank You

S. V. Swamy, Hyderabad, India
Sai Ram. In Sai Vichaar dated 5th April, the main feature is about Baba getting angry and pulling off Tatya's Pheta from his head and setting it on fire, and throwing it in a ditch. Baba of course gets a new Pheta and ties it with His own hands on Tatya's head. While reading Sai Satcharitra, by His grace, a perception which came up from the ocean called Satcharitra, is presented for the appreciation of Sai Bandhus.

The incident described in Satcharitra Chapter 6 includes the uprooting of the iron posts fixed with a lot of labor by the devotees in the night, by Baba, single handedly during the day. Night or darkness represents spiritual darkness. Day represents Knowledge. Baba was uprooting the internal enemies which come as friends and then take deep roots in our minds. Out of illusion that they are our friends, we are unwilling or are unable to uproot them ourselves. So Baba, the kind Sadguru that He is does it for us. And the next part of the lesson was catching hold of Tatya by his neck and then pulling off his Pheta and setting it on fire and throwing it with an offering of a rupee as Dakshina. And by that, He was burning Tattoo's (and our) attachments, because attachments good or bad are obstacles in spiritual path for further progress. Tatya used to call Baba as 'Mama' (uncle). 'Mama' also means 'mine'(in Sanskrit). So Baba was burning Tatya's feeling that Baba was his. After burning off Tatya's attachments, Baba gave him a new embroidered Pheta, of Bhakti. The word 'embroidered' is significant, since Baba, when describing about His 'early childhood' in Beed-Gaum, Chapter 32, says He got embroidery work. It signifies that Sai is the Master Weaver into whose hands and loom, a number of souls (threads) were given to be woven into beautiful patterns. Similarly Sai also worked hard and grew a flower garden (Chapter 5, Page 25), signifying that He is able to uproot all the stones, weeds etc., in the soil of our minds and then plant the seeds of Bhakti and Gnana, water them with Love and otherwise take care of the tender plants. When the plant flowers, it is useful to Society and to God. Pl. see the small contribution 'Kshetra and Kshetrajna' published earlier. Most of the time, Baba's anger, shouting and abuses were directed at the internal enemies of the devotees of which they were themselves not aware. Thus when Shama was bitten by a snake, and went to Masjid, Baba started abusing, not Shama but the snake and its poison. And the effect was wonderful. And Baba's scolding of Megha, Somadev Swamy and Sapatnekar etc., also, was not at them, but at their ignorance and conceit etc. Baba's scolding were taken as blessings by those devotees who knew Him well. Let us also surrender our ego at His feet and accept as Prasad all His giving. Sai Ram.
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Prayer Club

Arun
Merciful Sai, Please help towards a successful operation for baby Aditya. May the operation for the baby go through successfully. Sri Sadguru SaiNath Maharaj Ki Jai!

A Sai devotee
All of my family members and myself are blessed by Baba's grace. Recently there seems to be lot of misunderstandings in my family and is causing lot of mental stress for my parents and everyone else in the family. I think this 'partly' lead to my father's recent illness. It is not serious but I would like to see my parents and all my siblings happy both mentally and physically. I request all Sai Devotees to please pray for my parents to be strong, happy and healthy on behalf of all my family members. Hey Sai, if we have done anything wrong please forgive us and guide us to do whatever we can to please you.

A Sai devotee
OM SAI RAM This is prayer is for my friend's son who is having lot of rashes. He got a rash and its giving him lot of trouble for sleeping because it itches. He is only 3 years old and I did Sai Satcharitha saptaham for him and I believe in Baba so much that he will cure his rashes. I want all Sai devotees also pray for that little boy. OM SAI RAM

Vasundara and Bala, Canada
Om Sai Ram! I kindly request you all to pray for us. We have been without a job for a year now, my husband has visual imparity but that does not affect his work in anyway as he is a software Engg. But many people denied him a job just because of his disability. We are broken physically, mentally, financially cannot go on for long. I once again request you all to kindly pray for us.
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Quotation of the Week

"The world is as you see it. Due to my own mind, I can see others as my own Self or I can see them as my enemies. In fact, an ordinary person always sees his own state everywhere. Awake, asleep, you don't see anything as it truly is, you see only your own state. Only when you wake up from that ordinary state, you experience reality, you experience love, and you experience Rama. That is the natural state of samadhi. It is filled with love, filled with divinity. This is the state in which you see your own Self everywhere." Swami Muktananda Paramhamsa (SYDA Foundation: Weekly contemplation series)

Question of the Week

Q.What are the similarities between Sai Baba and Jesus of Nazareth?

A. by Priya Srinivasan, Omaha, USA
In order to establish peace and harmony in this world, both Baba and Jesus descended to earth. The presence of Jesus led to the birth of Christianity whereas Baba did not create a religion. Both of them worked hard during their lifetime to lead people towards the right path. Even though both were mocked at, ultimately they succeeded because today, Baba in Shirdi is still drawing devotees to him like a magnet and Jesus is worshipped in every church in this world. Both performed various miracles. Even after attaining samadhi, Baba assured that even his bones would work hard for the welfare of his devotees. Similarly Jesus' blood cured many after his crucifixion. Both of them were never after worldly pleasures and led a very simple life. Even though both of them lived in different parts of the world, their fame spread far and wide. Both of them are descendants of the same god. SaiRam.

A. by A Sai devotee
SAI Baba of Shirdi and Jesus of Nazareth both are equal & the same gods. Both have different religions. Jesus preached Christianity and Sai Baba had the following of Hindus though they say that he was a Muslim by birth. He always preached that all the religions are the same and all human beings are same. He has many temples in India. HIS FOLLOWERS FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT WHATEVER YOU DEMAND FROM HIM BY PRAYER IS GIVEN BY HIM. I AM HIS STAUNCH FOLLOWER.

Q."Why did not Baba leave any successor?"?

A. by S.V. Swamy, Hyderabad, India
Sai Ram. Baba did not leave any successor to His Sansthan because He did not care for the materialistic paraphernalia brought by His rich devotees. And Baba said that His body, bones and His tomb will continue to speak, and to respond to His devotees' prayers. Baba did not preach any specific religion or life style. He asked us to always remember Him and assured us that He will respond. Even when He was in His body, Baba always asked His devotees not to identify Him with His body. He advocated meditation on His Nirgun (Formless) Aspect (as Para Brahma, the Absolute Spirit), but allowed His disciples to worship Him in Sagun aspect as Sai. He advocated Tolerance to other's faith but advised us to hold on to our bolster (Guru). And He always asked us to remember Him and God (as Allah, Hari, Ram etc.). Thus He did not find any need for appointing or anointing any successor. Sai Ram.
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Sai Activities

Shirdi Sai Baba temple at Theagarajanagar, Saibaba Mandir road, Bangalore, India- 560028
Reported by Air Commodore T.M.M. Raghavan Vice President, Sai Spiritual Center (on visit to USA) This Sai mandir is the foremost of the Sai mandirs of Bangalore functioning under the name of 'Sri Sai Spiritual Center', Bangalore. The Center was founded by Sri Saipadananda Radhakrishna Swamiji, disciple of Sri Narasimha Swamiji, who had started the All India Sai Samaj at Chennai. Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji who attained samadhi in 1980 was a unique saint who spread Baba's name all over India. He advocated chanting of Vishnu Sahasranamam for health, spiritual and material welfare. The Center has a life size marble idol of Baba and the activities include Poojas, Narayana Seva, medical aid, educational assistance etc. The Center is publishing a quarterly magazine titled "SAIPADANANDA" devoted to spreading Baba's and Swamiji's teachings and experiences of devotees. THE SUBSCRIPTION FOR THE MAGAZINE IS AS FOLLOWS: ANNUAL - $16, LIFE - $51. Checks in favor of "SRI SAI SPIRITUAL CENTRE TRUST" may please be sent to the address mentioned below. The Center is also constructing another temple complex in the outskirts of Bangalore at Vasanthapura to serve the poor in the villages around. The project costs Rs. 50 Lakhs. Devotees interested to donate may send checks in favor of "SRI SAI SPIRITUAL CENTRE TRUST" to: SRI SAI SPIRITUAL CENTER, SAI BABA MANDIR ROAD, THEAGARAJANAGAR, BANGALORE - 560028 INDIA The trust will gratefully acknowledge with proper receipts.

Sri Sai Dwaraka Trust, Coimbatore, India
A new temple of Shirdi Sai Baba has been constructed in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. The temple is an exact Replica of Dwaraka Mai (Masjid) of Shirdi. This is the only kind of temple (replica of the Masjid) in Tamil Nadu for Shirdi Sai. This temple was opened on Oct 8th, 2000. Devotees who are interested in performing archanas, abhishekams or for more information about the temple, Please contact: Mr Aravindan Managing Trustee Sri Sai Dwaraka Trust 2-B3, Shrinagar Near Bharathi Colony Peelamedu, Coimbatore - 641004 Fax: (422)565-630 Phone: (422)567-229

Shirdi Sai Temple, Kumaraswamy Layout, Bangalore, India
Devotees are requested to help an old age home and Swayambu Shirdi Sai Temple at Kumaraswamy Layout in Bangalore. More details about this project can be obtained by writing to Smt. Geethamma. Please note the correct email address of Smt. Geethamma as geethasrinivasan2000@yahoo.com

Saidarbar, Danbury, CT, USA Contact: Anil and Rita Zutshi
Dear Sai Bhakhtas, Saidarbar has opened a new chapter in Danbury, Connecticut, USA. The center commenced on April 2,2001, the Rama Navami day as the auspicious day for this. The address is, 93 - Park Avenue, Village Sq. Apt # 902, Danbury - CT 06810 Tel. # 203 778 8192. Kindly pass on this message to other Sai devotees in your area and also any of your friends living in the Danbury area. Saidarbar has planned monthly Satsangs at the above mentioned location. Please contact at the above phone number or zutshi@msn.com for more details.
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