Feature of the Week: To Pray or not to Pray - Part II

A friend who has been discussing these aspects and who happened to read the first part agreed that since we cannot keep quiet thinking that whatever happens is preordained, we must pray. That is exactly what I said, which I reproduce below. " But to really feel one with God, one has to totally dissolve one's ego, and if one is successful in that, there is nothing to pray for. Since we can't totally get rid of our ego, we need to pray since we feel that we must do something and prayer is also doing something." Since we are now in a Dwaita Bhava with respect to the Universal Consciousness, which we also refer to as God, Para Brahman, Parameshwara, Para Shakti etc., we do need to pray since prayer is one means of dissolving one's ego, just like meditation is another means. If we can remove the veil which separates the consciousness from the subconscious or superconscious state, we become one with that universal consciousness. Evolved souls do have this ability of lifting the veil of Maya when needed. It is like we wear outer garments to protect our privacy. It is like having walls, windows, doors, curtains etc. in a house. Some of them are easy to remove or push aside, while some of them are apparently fixed. But even those which appear to be fixed can be penetrated by X-rays, or they can be demolished, by force if needed. It is the 'I' which separates the inner and outer worlds, the microcosm and the macrocosm.

Prayers help in reducing anxiety, stress etc., which prevent us from relaxing and unless we relax deeply we cannot reduce the thickness of the partition between the conscious and sub-conscious parts of our mind. Yoga Samadhi refers to this deeply relaxed state when the yogi is able to expand the consciousness infinitely, in which case, it can envelop all other consciousness. Another way of looking at it is: by dissolving or partially moving the veil or partition between the conscious and sub-conscious parts of the mind, the yogi is able to connect to all other subconscious minds. Another way of looking at it or another analogy: Our conscious minds are like islands in a sea. Through the subconscious, all of us are connected, like all the islands are connected through the sea-floor. Maya is like the water which is keeping the islands separate. We can reach from one island to another by many ways - by ship, by air, by crawling on the sea floor in a submarine or when the sea dries up all the islands become part of the land, etc. Similarly prayer is only one of several methods to expand our consciousness. When the consciousness is expanded it is called super-consciousness. When we can submerge into it, we refer to it as subconscious. My friend said that as our ego dissolves, our Satvik Prakriti will get strengthened. The three Gunas, Satva, Rajas and Tamas are because of Maya. It is like the pure white light splitting into the three primary colors, red, green and blue. Probably blue represents the Satva (Vishnu is portrayed as Blue and is also portrayed as Satvik), which is said to emanate from pure Tamas. Tamas means darkness. It also represents the closest to Nirguna state, when no gunas are perceptible. From Pure Tamas, the highest frequency is Blue (violet) in visible light. Green is the symbol of fertility, Prakriti. Red is the symbol of Rajas, the creativity in physical sense. If our ego dissolves, we end up with no gunas. If we expand our consciousness to include other's problems, we are increasing our karmic burdens. If we are strong enough, if our ego state is closer to union with the universal consciousness, it is OK. Otherwise, we end up harming ourselves and the persons whom we were trying to help. If we are sick, we go to a doctor. If the doctor is properly trained and qualified, he is licensed to treat us. If in spite of his/her best efforts, we suffer some irreparable damage or die, our near and dear will not normally find any fault with the doctor. In fact, they may even thank the doctor(s), nurses etc., for all that they have done to us. However, if the doctor is found to be wanting , either in his professional attention or qualification, or if he is a downright quack, our relatives will be fully justified in suing them and reporting them to police for civil and criminal action.

We start praying for others, we must be prepared to face all the karmic consequences. If at all we pray for others, we normally pray only for those, with whom we are linked at the aura level in an intimate way. For example, we are linked with our mother, father, uncles, aunts, brothers, sisters, nieces etc., and also very close friends. We rejoice when some good thing happens to them, we are depressed when they get into difficulties. That means, we are simply reacting to the events happening to them only because of our aura level connection. We don't for example, react to the same extent to the same event which happens to a neighbor, a distant relative, a casual acquaintance and we almost don't react if it happens to a stranger. If we want to pray for a stranger, we should be able to feel the same intensity of pain, grief, anxiety etc., as we feel if the problem affects us. In fact, we find it difficult to feel even for our relatives and fiends to the same extent that we feel for ourselves. And unless we feel with intensity, our prayers will not be heard. As I said, when we pray to God, we adopt a Child ego state and visualize God as a Parent. Thus only physical or spiritual parents, or parental figures would normally accept responsibility for the children in their charge. Physical parents and Guru have therefore been equated with God. Till 14 years of the child's age, physical parents (biological or foster parents, uncles, guardians etc.) are held responsible for all the sins of the child, since the child is considered to be ignorant. Similarly the child is sent to a Guru and so the Guru was held responsible for the omissions of the spiritual child. When Gajendra (the elephant king) prayed for liberation from the jaws of the crocodile, Indra, Brahma and other Gods did not respond because they lacked Viswamayata (universal spread?) according to Sri Bhagavatham in Telugu by Sri Bammera Potana. So if Brahma cannot intervene, who are we to intervene? If one says we are not intervening but are only trying to intercede (like making a recommendation to a higher authority), we should be fully aware of all the merits and demerits of the case which we are trying to recommend if our recommendation is to have any value. That is why, when Sri Gopanna ( the famous Sri Ramadas of Bhadrachalam wanted some body to intercede, he requested none other than Sri Sita, the consort of Sri Rama, whom he addresses as mother. (Nanu brovamani cheppave Sitamma talli...). That only goes to show what is the necessary qualification of the recommender. Prayer is a very strong recommendation.

Prayers for universal welfare are given by highly evolved souls because their thoughts generate very powerful positive vibrations which help in counteracting the negative vibrations. In fact both positive and negative things are creations of God. From zero, if you want to create a positive number, you have to necessarily create an equal negative number. School students are taught number line, which has zero at its center. To the right side are all positive numbers and to the left side, are all negative numbers. That is why we talk of the Right hand and the Left hand paths. The Latin for right is Dexter and for left it is sinister, which as most of you know has acquired a meaning of dangerous, evil etc. over the ages. If a person is having some problems and some positive benefit is to be given to him, the corresponding negativity which is inevitably created has to be controlled somewhere, somehow. In fact, astronomers and cosmologists (those scientists who are trying to gain knowledge of cosmos, universe) have a theory that there is an anti-universe, which will be a mirror image of our universe. That is probably what our Rishis meant when they talked of higher and lowers lokas (the earth is the first of the 7 higher lokas, and Atala is the first of the 7 lower lokas). At the elementary particle level, we have electron and its opposite, positron; proton and its opposite, anti-proton. When an electron and a positron meet, they annihilate each other and the result is energy. The equation is famous E=mc2 (m c square). E is the energy, m stands for mass and c is the velocity of light in vacuum. Thus if our prayers are to be answered, the negative forces which are causing us the problems have to be annihilated by positive forces. We all talk of Karma, positive and negative balances which we call as Prarabhdha Karma, Poorvajanma Punyam etc. If we pray for materialistic benefits (health is also a materialistic trait) for ourselves or for someone, our positive balance gets depleted. Unless we are continuously replenishing our Poorva Janma Punyam with punya karmas (good deeds) in this birth, we will be over drawing our account. A Guru who is highly evolved will have so much spiritual, positive energy that he can afford to intervene in our karma and still manage all the consequences. Till we grow spiritually, if at all we must pray, it is better that we pray for our own spiritual growth and enlightenment and do not interfere with other's lives. If we don't have a personal physical Guru who is ready to accept this great responsibility for our actions, it is better to pray to SAT GURU (Guru and God are not different) to guide us on our path. If some body approaches us with their problem, we should listen with patience and advise them to pray for themselves and to seek the guidance and blessings of Sat Guru Sai Nath etc. I am convinced that it is hazardous spiritually to pray for someone without being fully qualified. May Sainath guide us and give us the wisdom.
(A Contribution by Sai devotee S.V. Swamy, Hyderabad, India)
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Devotees Say

Pallavi Vadrevu
Vijaya garu, I happen to read your mail in Sai Vichaar. I was wondering if I could be of any help to you. Not that I am a great devotee of Sai Baba but would love to share whatever I know about him to anyone. Regarding the prasadam Baba loves pedas but there is nothing that he prefers/likes as prasadam. Whatever you offer as prasadam with devotion and faith in him he will just love that About the locket wearing during menses this is what I strongly believe that Baba always asks devotees three things mainly bhakthi, faith and patience. This is what you'll find in every book written on him. These come from your heart which should never change. Menses is just a physical change in our body like the change that happens when you are ill with fever or let's say when you are pregnant. You don't stop praying at those times, right! I went to Baba’s temple and Shirdi too during this time and all that I felt all along was that if I have bhakthi and trust him I am just fine and I won't get paap by seeing god but by doing bad things. So, I see no reason why you can't wear that pendant.

Sriram Rachakonda, Singapore
I am residing in Singapore, came recently from India. can anyone of you can say whether any Saibaba temple is in Singapore? if it is there please give me the address and full details. I will be ever thankful to you if you could let me know this.

K. Bhachech
Please accept my deep sense of gratitude and thanks for your website through which I could darshan SaiBaba .

Raghu Vissamraju, New Zealand
Sairam! Saibandhu's Sri Alhad G.Sathe and Sri Ramakrishna were kind enough to clarify my doubts on the above topic. Sri Ramakrishna rightly mentioned the love and affection parents have for their Child can be partly related to this issue. Similarly Sri Alhad's expression that simply doing Hari bhajan to abuse other souls later is of no use. To summarize, I understand that it is immeasurable love and passion for God's bliss that is to be filled in our hearts while praying our Lord rather than mere well framed words of praise to him, of course brushing our ego to a side. I have mistaken to discriminate between words glory and praise. We are actually singing glory of God during prayer but not praising him. We are trying to describe his true nature of existence during prayers but not actually praising him. The ecstatic love does not have any words of expression and hence silence is the only way of expression. God has invisible telephone line from our hearts, which can be heard only by him. May be that is the reason Sai advised his devotees that "I do not look forward for complex and precarious methods of worship and sacrifices, for offer of extra-ordinary banquet of delicious foods, but only for a true love in your hearts while you utter Sai, Sai all the time". If any other Sai-bandhu's want to add some more to this summary are welcome to do so.
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Prayer Club

Jamuna
Dear Sai Sisters Brothers of this precious Dwarkamayi, Due to my bad Karmas either in this life or previous life I got divorced after 8 months of married life. I was 8 months pregnant when my husband left me. This happened 4 years back. My son is now 4 years old. I was very depressed and going through a lot of trauma, I was always scared thinking of my future and my child's future during my pregnancy. Now I am back on my feet with a decent job which keeps my son and myself in comfort.

But my son has become a victim of all the horrible emotions that I was going through during my pregnancy. He has so much fear in his mind. He is scared of anything new. Even if I give him a new dress to wear or a new doll to play with he gets scared. He has very good memory but is very poor in writing. He can't hold the pencil tightly and when he writes his hand shakes due to fear that his teacher or I would scold him making the letters unreadable. I am just back from his school his teacher invited me to observe him in class. I was moved to tears to see him struggling with his writing and coloring which comes so easily to other kids of his age.

No matter how patiently I coach him at home he seems to be OK for a couple of days then he is back to square one. I would like to talk to any mothers in this Dwarkamayi who are having/have had similar problems. I request all my brothers and sisters to please include my son Vignesh in your prayers. May BABA bless you all with his love.

Hema
To all Sai Baba devotees, I want all of you to pray for my sisters that they should get married. I need this prayer from all of you. I know Baba is there for me to look after me and I want all of you to pray for them.
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Sai Activities

Sai Samsthan USA - GURUPURNIMA SATURDAY,JULY 15, 2000
The program for Gurupurnima celebrations of Sai Samsthan USA, Chicago is as follows:
4:08 PM Guru Prarthana, Anugnya & Aavahana
4:30 PM Sri Datta Homam
6:00 PM Dhoop Aarti
6:30 PM Ekadasa Phala Rasa, Abhishek,
8:00 PM Sri Sai Ashtothara Puja, Bhajans & Kirthans
9:30PM Shej Aarti
10:00PM Mahaprasad
Venue: 11313 Katherine's Crossing, Lemont, IL 60441. For more information, please visit www.saisamsthanusa.org.

Shirdi Sai Center, New York, NY, USA
Dear Sai Devotees, the Shirdi Sai Centre, New York is having an Akhand Sai Naam Jap (24hrs) beginning at 6.30 a.m. on Saturday July 1st, 2000 and ending at 6.30 a.m. on Sunday July 2nd, 2000. Please join us in chanting baba's name continuously for 24 hours. Sign up sheets are available at the Mandir. For more information please contact the temple at 718 321 9243.

Shirdi Sai Center, New Jersey, USA
Shri Shirdi Sai bhajans will be held on the auspicious occasion of " Guru Purnima" and there will also be a Sai Palki Yatra. Place and Time: Knights of Columbus, 116, Grand Street, Iselin, NJ 08830 Sunday July 16, 2000 at 11:00 am to 3:00 PM

Saidarbar- SAI IN ANNADANAM -14
On 19/05/00 at SAIBABA TEMPLE, KONERU STREET, SECUNDERABAD - A.P. INDIA. This Annadanam was organised as desired by Smt. Saroja Patanala U.S.A . Pooja(Ritual Worship) was conducted in the morning in Shiridi SaiBaba Temple, in the name of her parents and their family members. Saidarbar team exepressed their gratitude to the temple management , Smt. Suryakantamma, and Sri Nageswara Rao. May Sri Sai bless Smt . Saroja Patnala of U.S.A and her family , for financially sponsoring the Annadanam Programme. For more details, please visit www.saidarbar.com

A Sai website by Vishnu Vardhan
I am very happy to say all of you that With the blessings of "SRI SAI" I have started developing a web site on Sai Sai and the site is http://communities.msn.com/shirdiksaibaba This site especially is a collection of almost all pictures(original and paintings) of Sri Sai and articles used by him. It also contains places of importance in Shirdi with small description. I request all of you to take the dharshan of SRI SAI(SHIRDI) through this site and send me some constructive suggestions to make it a good site, please make this message available to all of your friends.
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Experiences of Devotees

Praveen Dandu
Baba’s grace I came into this fold. Baba right from the day I visited Shirdhi I had gone for Visa, my job everything has been his blessings and miracles. Baba Sai Baba I just don’t have words to express his wonders. I had two dreams so far. One was last year in the dream I was transported to Baba’s time in some place which was vivid. There I saw Baba ,people were throwing stones at me, but I kept repeating his name. This year a few days ago I had another dream in which I saw Baba’s temple and Priests I went to Baba and bowed and gave dakshina to the priest Then the priest was telling me that whatever happened, happened for your good and due to Baba's wishes. That dream gave so much peace to my mind ,with the guilt I had for so many days and I had so much peace. I also had some food poisoning the other day. My sister who is a doctor told me that it will take 2-3 days to recover. I mixed Baba’s Udhi in water and drank it and in no time ,I became alright. Baba's grace is immeasurable. Baba I bow to you and please always be with me in life and death. Baba your dreams/vision gives me immense peace and Happiness. Om Sai Sri Sai Jai Jai Sai.
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