Mysticism is not a matter of speculation or theorizing about doctrinaire theses but a living experience, which alone leads to cosmic awareness or God realization. Religious life transforms itself from the ritual and cultural to a scientific and objective method accessible to all mankind without any distinctions. God has no religion or creed or label.

Sages, saints, prophets, seers and religious leaders of different levels traverse this universe at periodic intervals and perform the tasks assigned to them by the Lord towards advancement of the society as a whole. These souls are at various stages of spiritual hierarchy and execute the specific roles assigned to them. After performing their roles, these souls return to their original state and continue on their spiritual journey.

Lord sends down the Mystic Masters also termed as Perfect Masters representing HIM in an unbroken chain to keep the flame alive. These mystic masters come from the apex of spiritual hierarchy in the cosmic manifestation of the Supreme Lord. All other hierarchies of creation are placed below that of the mystic masters whose status and position accords with that of the Lord Himself.

They do not form religions nor advocate any specific doctrines. They cater to the individual needs of whoever is destined to turn to them. They solve the problems of each individual soul, as they alone are able to fathom their needs and capacities. They show to mankind on how to live in this world by practice. Their very lives serve as examples. The anecdotes and stories that they tell are loaded with gems of knowledge. The mystic masters will guide and help any disciple in spiritual advancement not only as far as the disciple can go but even to the same level as they have gone provided the price is paid.

It is said that there are ten stages in the spiritual hierarchy. The mystic masters work in all the planes of this hierarchy. They effortlessly traverse in the various planes and in doing so help all forms of life, animate or inanimate, in this universe. Though they appear to be physically present in one geographic location, they can move about to any where in the universe at the same instant. They are an extension of the God's arm. There is no difference in the Perfect masters and God. Their will is the God's will.

Though the mystic masters do not possess any material treasures yet the whole of the cosmos is under their control and they can grant anyone any wish provided it has the sanction of the Supreme Lord. The masters quite unobtrusively seem to understand, sympathize with and be totally one with all that exists in the cosmos whether man, animal or vegetation. They are in total harmony with nature. Where such total harmony exists, these perfect masters acquire a power over physical nature, which functions under their control. The laws that govern higher nature give them power over lower nature.

Being of infinite compassion and love, these perfect masters are beyond the opposite pairs of love and hate, life and death, food and hunger, etc. They approach everything in this universe as the same. Their respect for both animate and inanimate things comes from their understanding of this cosmos at a very different level. The perfect masters have only one mission in life and that is to affect a tie up between the individual soul and the Lord, the creator. It looks as if the Supreme Lord - the King of Kings - locks Himself out of His palace and comes down in a human garb of tattered clothes to masquerade as a man among men. Even though they may appear poor and humble, the richest and the most powerful of earthly monarchs would shudder before their compulsive and overwhelming personalities.

Such a Mystic master of the highest order is Sai Baba of Shirdi, who even today guides and benefits the lives of millions of devotees who are destined to reach him. Are you one of them?

(Compiled from writings of Sri B.K.Narayan and talks of Guruji C.B.Satpahty)
Back to Menu

Contributed Article: At Sai's feet! A Poem

When you're hurt,
Or you hurt one,
n' guilt burns you,
You hate self,
You got to be at Sai's feet.

When all your doors are locked,
When heart core's crushed,
n' efforts are in vain,
n' you are in pain,
You got to be ,
At Sai's feet.

When you're all alone,
Life's not done,
n' you're no where,
You got to be,
At Sai's feet.

If life's ceasing,
Yet you wanna live,
Its time to move,
out the body,
Yet you wanna be in,
Then you got to be at his feet.

If you work,
n' lose things,
n'full of tears,
n'temporary fears,
n' patience lost,
You got to be,
At his feet.

When you're cheated,
and so defeated.
You are full of fury.
A mental injury.
Then you got to be,
At Sai's feet.

For blessings,
For justice,
For love,
You got to be ,
At Sai's feet.

Om Sai Ram

(Contributed by Ratna Dinesh)
Back to Menu

Experiences of Devotees

Rekha Tyagi
We were very depressed since a month and a half, as my husband's job was not fine. I always remember God to help me, finally He helped me, and now my husband has new project. God is always with u and if u remember Him he always help u when we are in need. Thank you Baba. You helped us and showed your presence. I will never forget u. please forgive me if I do any mistake.
Back to Menu

Devotees say...

Shwetha Waghray
I need the address to the temple in Houston Texas. Also, I would like to know if there is any temple at California.

Syamala Hari
The question "If God is so merciful why is there so much misery in this world" is an age old question. This world is based on opposites, hot and cold, black and white, good and bad, etc. Life in this world is similar to a game. In a game, there is always a winner or winners and a loser or losers. I have not seen a game in which all players win. When my two sons were young, we bought them an Atari video game player. They enjoyed it for some time, not minding who won or who lost. But afterwards, they began to fight because each wanted to win and the one who lost got annoyed. At first, they argued. We, parents told them to take it easy and enjoy playing and hoped that they would calm down. However, because they were young, they did not realize that it was only a game and winning or losing is really a trivial matter. So, their temper grew worse and worse and they began to hurt each other by punching and pulling hair etc. At that time, we had to intervene, put the Atari away and separate them until they calmed down. The point is we bought them the Atari, why, to have fun. How did they end up, getting hurt and crying, why, because they did not know any better? Similarly, because of ignorance, we do not realize that good and bad, happiness and misery, birth and death, win and loss, etc. are all ingredients of this world. Just as there is no game which always ends up in a win but never in a loss, world does not exist without the opposites. Just as the children ended up crying because they did not know any better, we are going through miseries in our lives because of ignorance. We are not able recognize our Self whose true nature is nothing but bliss. We are identifying ourselves with these bodies which were born some time ago and therefore must die some time later. This identification is the cause of all misery. If I know my true Self which is no other than what we call God, then I will be able to see that life in this world is as unreal as a game. Then worldly experiences would not bother me because I know I am unperishable. I would not then blame God, myself in this case. I have no reason to blame anybody or anything because I am happy.

Parents intervene in children's fights when they could not handle themselves the right way because parents love their children. Similarly, God comes into this world as an Avatar, to intervene in our lives, whenever he thinks that the world has gone too bad. This is what Krishna says in Gita. So God is merciful. Actually, it does not have to be an Avatar; God intervenes in our life in many ways whenever we pray to Him in total surrender.

Vedanta says that our worldly experiences are based on the Karma principle. Briefly, the principle says that every action has inevitable results and one must suffer the consequences of one's actions. In other words, life in this world is bound by causality. This seems reasonable. In fact, the so-called sciences, both physical and biological, are all attempts to find causal relationships that exist between certain world events. The Karma principle is a sound one although it may not be possible to precisely explain for every event what Karma caused it. Life is very complex and many many factors beyond our knowledge contribute to any particular event. After all, the same is true about sciences, for example, medical science is not precise. With all the talk about great advancements, it is not possible to diagnose or cure every known disease. However, when it comes to the Karma principle, some consider it a matter of belief rather than factual. Vedanta also has good news for us. A way out of this Karma bondage is to pray to Sai and trust in Him. All miseries are sure to go away with His grace.
Back to Menu

Prayer Club

Swati Pai
I am a software professional who is almost on the verge of losing her job, in spite of being efficient and technically competent. I want Baba's grace in retaining this job, which I have last year after years of struggle and difficulties or in getting a new job at the earliest. Baba, I have done no wrong to anyone at any point in my life and always tried to follow in your path of devotion. Please God I cannot any more bitterness in my life. Why this test again?

Kamal
Shree Sai Ram to all devotees, My friend's 9 month little son diagnosed with leukemia and needs bone marrow transplant Please pray for this little son to save his life. I know Saibaba will look at him and save his life.

Raj Munjal
I am a very small worshiper of Sainath. I pray Baba day and night to remove my sorrows and sufferings but it looks like Baba is quite and not responding me. Please help me to pray him to remove my all sorrows and sufferings since 1980. I am tolerating all these years and now I am tired. I BADLY NEED HIS BLESSINGS. I am looking at him to shower his love on me. Please pray for me for Sainath blessings.

Gayatri
Baba please help me to live together with my Husband and give us peace of mind. Please bless my parents with good Health and peace.
Back to Menu

Quotation of the Week

"For achieving self-realization especially, there is a great need for faith in spiritual preceptor (Sadguru). The path of self-realization is very difficult and painful. Therefore, merciful guidance of an experienced preceptor is very essential. Our own cleverness or logic alone does not serve the purpose. Here reasoning is of no use. Great respect for the preceptor is essential. There is no need to show smartness of intellect. Firm faith and trust in the spiritual preceptor is required" - Lt. Col. M.B. Nimbalkar in "Shri Sai Baba's Teachings & Philosophy"

Question of the Week

Q. What are the most difficult demands of the "Easy God"?
A. by MRK, Phoenix, AZ
In Baba's scale of values, humility stands very high. He has always loved to advance the humble. Such a quality should be ever growing. What does humility really means? It does not mean we should look down on ourselves, but that we should accept ourselves for who we are, including the good and the bad. We think humility to be like an inferiority complex and adopt a properly despondent look. Humility is no hangdog approach to life. Humility is simply seeing ourselves, as we actually are, neither higher nor lower. It means being gut level honest about ourselves. It means knowing who we are and owning that - and owning our emotions. (source: shirdibaba.org)
Back to Menu

Sai Activities

Shirdi Sai Utsav in Middlesex, UK - August 27-28, 2001
Shirdi Sai Utsav will be celebrated at Shree Kutch Leva Patel, Sports & Community Centre West End Road, Northolt, Middlesex UB5 6RE United Kingdom, on 26th and 27th of August 2001. For further details, please contact Pravin Unadkat on +44 7967 443 250 or visit http://www.shiridisaiutsav.org.

SHIRDI SAI MAHOTSAV in Chicago, USA - September 1-2, 2001
SAI SAMSTHAN USA, Chicago
Program details for SHIRDI SAI MAHOTSAV include - Swarna Pushpa Archana, Vishwa Shanthi Homam, Festival of Lights, Pallaki Seva, Inter-faith prayers, Discourses, MUSIC RECITAL BY SHOBHA RAJU, and much more. We request all the devotees to kindly participate in this GREAT event take the divine blessings of SHRI SHIRDI SAIBABA.

The details for the upcoming "SHIRDI SAI MAHOTSAV - September 1-2, 2001" are now available on-line on our website (http://www.saisamsthanusa.org). The Registration forms can now be downloaded from our website. Just follow the blinking icon on our website to find more details about this event.

Registration forms are available at: http://www.saisamsthanusa.org/saimahotsav/mahotsavregform.pdf

WE NEED VOLUNTEERS: We are looking for volunteers to help us for this event from now until the MAHOTSAV. Please download our Volunteer-Registration form from our website or send e-mail to volunteers@saisamsthanusa.org and one of our coordinators will contact you. Volunteer-Hospitality Form: http://www.saisamsthanusa.org/saimahotsav/volhosp.pdf

Sarva Dharam Sabha, Shiva Shakti Shirdi Sai Baba Pawan Dham,
Sector.5,PARWANOO,Dist.Solan, Himachal Pradesh, India
In Himachal Pradesh, Parvanoo is a small town, where many dedicated Sai devotees are living. Pujyasri H.H.Narasimhaswamiji from south India, who was first caught the fire of Sai Bhakti and distributed its sparks to the whole world. The devotees of Parvanoo came to know about H.H.Narasimhaswamiji's untiring effort for spreading Sai movement through the lecture of Sri K.Ramaswamy, President of All India Sai Samaj (Regd), Mylapore, Chennai, who visited this place recently. Sri K.Ramaswamy took elaborate interest in the activities of Shiv Shakti Sai Baba Pawan Dham. Parwanoo. Shri S.K.Berry, Chairman of Sarva Dharam Sabha, under which Shiv Shakti Shirdi Sai Baba temple functions, explained the damages caused to Sai temple due to landslide in August 2000. It is an urgent war footing work to rebuild the retain wall of the temple. Shri Berry also explained the various activities they are doing for the welfare of poor and needy. They run Ashadeep Vidya Niketan, for the benefit of weaker section students, providing them books, uniforms etc., Another institution in the name of Ashadeep Sewing School for the under-privileged women. The sabha is providing monetary help for the poor and old people for urgent medical need. The sabha is successfully performing all the festivals in Shiv Shakti Sai Baba Pawan Dham, such as Ram Navami, Janam Astami, Shiv Ratri and Baba's Samadhi Divas etc. Periodical Narayana Seva is arranged in which more than 3000 people benefited. It is proposed to build up SAI GRAM near Parwanoo having Oldage Home, Orphanage, Technical School, Dispensary, Herbal based cottage industry with the help of Sai devotees, spread through out the universe. In the name of Sai Baba, all the above activities are for the benefit of many people in this part of the country, thereby Sai Bhakti will grow enormously. About Rs.20 lakhs are needed for the building and other procurement for the establishment of the above for the benefit of many old people orphans and for good technical education for needy and poor. Shri K.Ramasamy through his close contact with Shri K.V.Ramani, Managing Trustee, Shirdi Sai Trust, Chennai. arranged Rs. 2,00,000 for immediate work of re-building of retaining wall of Sai temple. An earnest appeal is made to all Sai devotees living in the entire universe to contribute their mite my crossed check of any country currency in the name of SARVA DHARAM SABHA, and mail it to Shri S.K.Berry, Chairman, Sarva Dharam Sabha, Shiva Shakti Shirdi Sai Baba Pawan Dham, Sector.5,PARWANOO,Dist.Solan, Himachal Pradesh, India.
Back to Menu

You may subscribe to receive the newsletter by e-mail.

Fill out your e-mail address and hit the subscribe button: