As New Year begins, some of us make resolutions to put into practice throughout the year, for improving our behaviors, actions, or attitudes in some way, for example, to work on quitting smoking, or not to be angry at children for no reason, and so on. One may also decide to follow just one of Shri Sai Baba's many instructions to His devotees. Among these there are many which are not difficult to follow because He never prescribed any Asan, regulation of breathing or any rites such as fasting nor did He blow any mantra into their ears. Nevertheless, these instructions benefit the follower not only materially but also draw that person closer to Baba spiritually.

He said "I am grateful to the one who takes his food only after offering it to me." The senses, mind, and intellect can never remain without their objects, but if those objects are first offered to the Guru, the attachment for them will naturally vanish. In this way, all the Vrittis (thoughts) regarding Desire, Anger, Avarice etc. should first be offered to the Guru and if this practice were followed, the Lord will help you in eradicating all the Vrittis. When before enjoyment of the objects, you think that Baba is close by, the question whether the object is fit to be enjoyed or not will at once arise. Then the object that is not fit to be enjoyed will be shunned, in this way, our vicious habits or vices will disappear, and our character will improve.

Sai Baba condemned slandering. He said, "Never speak ill of others, nor unnecessarily criticize them." "Unless there is some relationship or connection, nobody goes anywhere. If any men or creatures come to you, do not discourteously drive them away, but receive them well and treat them, with due respect. Shri Hari (God) will be certainly pleased, if you give water to the thirsty, bread to the hungry, clothes to the naked, and your verandah to strangers for sitting and resting. If anybody wants any money from you, and you are not inclined to give, do not give, but do not bark at him, like a dog. Let anybody speak hundreds of things against you, do not resent by giving any bitter reply. If you always tolerate such things, you will certainly be happy.

Baba prepared food and distributed it. He went to the bazaar and bought all the things, corn, flour, spices etc., for cash. He did also the grinding. He took all the pains to make the dishes very palatable. He served food with His own hand to all the poor and helpless people to their hearts' content. With deeds but not with words, He taught that Anna-dana is the greatest of all charities.

Sai Baba encouraged good thoughts. On one Wednesday night before going to bed, Hemadpant thought - "To-morrow is Thursday - an auspicious day and the place, viz. Shirdi, is so holy; so let me pass the whole day in remembering and chanting the Rama-nama, and then he slept. Next morning when he got up he remembered without any effort the name of Rama and was much pleased. Later on, he went to see Baba. When he was passing Booty's Wada, he heard a beautiful song being sung by Aurangabadkar, in the Masjid before Baba. The song was Guru - kripanjan payo mere bhai" in which he says that he got collyrium in the form of Guru's grace which opened his vision and made him see Rama, in and out, in sleep, dream, and waking state and everywhere. There were so many songs; and why was this song particularly chosen by Aurangabadkar, it was a curious coincidence arranged by Baba to feed the determination of Hemadpant to sing unceasingly Rama-nama, during the day.

Baba assured "If a man utters My name with love, I shall fulfill all his wishes, increase his devotion. And if he sings earnestly My life and My deeds, him I shall beset in front and back and on all sides. Those devotees, who are attached to Me, heart and soul, will naturally feel happiness, when they hear these stories. Believe Me that if anybody sings My Leelas, I will give him infinite joy and everlasting contentment. It is My special characteristic to free any person, who surrenders completely to Me, and who does worship Me faithfully, and who remembers Me, and meditates on Me constantly. How can they be conscious of worldly objects and sensations, who utter My name, who worship Me, who think of My stories and My life and who thus always remember Me? I shall draw out My devotees from the jaws of Death. If My stories are listened to, all the diseases will be got rid of. So, hear My stories with respect; and think and meditate on them, assimilate them. This is the way of happiness and contentment. The pride and egoism of My devotees will vanish, the mind of the hearers will be set at rest; and if it has wholehearted and complete faith, it will be one with Supreme Consciousness. The simple remembrance of My name as 'Sai, Sai' will do away with sins of speech and hearing".
(Contributed by Shyamala Hari)
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Contributed Article: WORSHIP OF JEEVANMUKTAS SAMADHI

Dear devotees, though Sai Maharaj is not in flesh and blood now, Shirdi is attracting lakhs of devotees from all over the globe, Why? Baba also assured the devotees "My bones will give you an assurance from my grave. Not me alone, even my tomb will speak to you."

H.H.Swami Ramdasji, Founder of abode of bliss (Anandashram, Kerala, India) in his discourse on 7th may, 1961 informed the importance of Jeevanmuktas Samadhis in the following words."Sai Baba's Samadhi is in Shirdi. Thousands go there to have His darshan. From various parts of India, they go to the place in a stream. What is it that draws them there? There must be some power present where His Samadhi is Yes, each particle of the saint's body either in the form of dust or ashes has great divine power in it. And that power radiates light and joy to a responsive heart and elevates it by filling it with ecstasy and peace Shirdi was an unknown place. Now thousands are going there for the Darshan of Sai Baba's Samadhi. It is the bhaktha's devotion that makes the power manifest in all its glory."(God Experience,vol-1,pp.215-216) (Contributed by D. Sankaraiah, Hyderabad, India)

CONTRIBUTED POEM: I KNOW WHEN YOU ARRIVE
I know when You arrive,
From within my every nerve, I strive
For the ancient silence of Himalayas

I know you are finally here
And the waiting is over
I almost hear Your beloved steps,
And my soul wakes.

Though You sit far down the hall,
The air that just brushed You
Breeze past me like fragrance

Your gentle smile
I look, caught unaware
Seems like blessed my very being

In the rhythm of Your rhythm,
In keeping with Your pace
My pulse beats with Yours

(contributed by Suresh Raspayle)
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Experiences of Devotees

Veena Adlakha, Columbia, MD
Om Sai Ram! I have been reading the Sai Vichaar for sometime and enjoy reading the articles and experiences of Sai devotees. My brother, Ashok Kumar, and bhabhi, Mrs. Veena Gupta are regular contributors of their experiences. I have taken upon myself to share my emotional experiences during my current visit with them. I, along with my family, came to India on 9 December. The purpose of this visit was my daughter's scheduled wedding in Jodhpur on December 28. We reached home in the night. As usual, my bhabhi awoke Baba in her temple in the morning and I went behind her for Baba's darshan. I was just absolutely delighted to see a little Udi in front of Baba's photo even though it was not a Thursday. I knew immediately that Baba is blessing us and everything would go all right with my daughter's wedding. With Baba's blessings, everything went smoothly for the next two weeks for the preparations. My daughter received kind and extensive help from a cousin whom she met for the first time. During the next two Thursdays, I joined in the regular Amritwani recital at my bhabhi's place along with many other devotees. I feel so fortunate to be part of this family. As I have been reading in the Sai Vichaar for the past two years (like other readers), on both Thursdays Baba gave darshan with abundance of Udi with words Om and Ram (in Hindi) written clearly in Baba's hands. I again felt blessed when the bhog that I offered for my daughter was also blessed with Udi. We left Delhi for Jodhpur on the evening of 25th, Tuesday, evening. I felt a little reassured that Baba is blessing my daughter when I saw a little Udi again in the mandir that day.

The most amazing miracle had yet to come. My bhabhi packed a small postcard picture of Baba along with amritwani cassettes to take with us to Jodhpur. We reached Jodhpur Wednesday morning. We were running around the entire day to arrange for the wedding and our guests who were to arrive the next day. My bhabhi looked at her small room and set up Baba's photo in a window. On Thursday, the 27th December, as I was hoping and praying, when we got up in the morning, there was an abundance of Udi in front of Baba's little picture. Thereafter, there was a stream of people coming in to the room for Baba's darshan. We found out that the cooks in our guesthouse were also devotees of Sai Baba and had been to Shirdi. They all started calling my bhabhi "ma" and offered all food to Baba as they cooked meals for the family. Later on at 11:00 a.m., my bhabhi performed Sai amritwani. The guesthouse was being decorated with flowers. I was simply overwhelmed when my bhabhi told me that the atmosphere reminded her very much of Shirdi.

With Baba's blessing, everything went on smoothly with the wedding. Any minor problem we encountered was resolved smoothly and quickly. We came back safely and with much comfort on the 31st. The next day, the start of a new year, again Baba was present in the house to bless the family. A devotee had brought bhog the night before. Baba had accepted that clearly when I peeped into the box and saw Udi on the sweets. Later on Udi appeared on the box and formed 'Om". I rushed my husband to the market to get some bhog. I offered that to Baba with a heavy heart as it was after noon by this time. After two hours, my bhabhi asked me to distribute the prasad. I was a little hesitant to distribute yet as I felt that Baba had not accepted my bhog. To my amazement, after five minutes when I opened the box to distribute, the sweets were sprinkled with Udi. I cried with joy that Baba finally accepted my bhog. Baba is always there in my Bhabhi's little mandir whenever there is Udi present. We thank Baba for the blessings on our daughter's blessing and pray that the all devotees be blessed likewise. Om Sai Shri Sai Jai Jai Sai.

Chitra Yatra Anchor Home, Akron, OH
Baba arrived at this home safely yesterday. My husband had collected the mail and left it on the kitchen counter. After work I came home saw the stack but had to run an errand first so delayed opening the packets till after the bath and the errand was run. When I sat in my room opening the wonderful package I was immediately overcome with a most fantastic sensation of having some one in the room. Skin was cold and fine hairs were on end. The exact feeling one gets in the presence of holiness or when one enters a temple. I knew then He was there in person. I unfurled the poster this mornng and did some morning subprabatham and 108 namavalli.

Chitra Yatra Anchor Home, NJ
On Jan 8th I received the first mail, that night when I went to bed and as I closed my eyes I could see Baba in different forms all the time and all around me. This type of experience I mostly ONLY have when I am in Shirdi. I just can't express how happy I am. I had planned a trip to India, because when I signed up in the registration form it did not have the selection of anchor home or host. It came as a big suprise when I came to know on monday Jan 7th that my home was selected as one of the anchor homes. I feel this is only because of Sai's blessing for me and my husband. I have cancelled my India trip till the time Baba is here at my home.
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KIDS CORNERS
Baba and I are one
We will always be together
Everyday he will look after me
He protects me from danger too
He also makes me get good marks
And most important Baba is my best friend
Who looks after and helps everyone.

(contributed by Shantan Kumar Kandukuri, 8 yrs. Cenberra, Australia)
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Devotees say...

AK Sinha
This for Swati, about the misunderstanding that is troubling her life. Just keep in mind that you have helped some one with good intentions. Therefore, no harm can be done to you. Have faith in Baba and the Saburi. You have been good so Baba will surely take care.

Swati
I am ever indebted to Sai, my Lord. I do not have words enough to thank Baba for all that He has done for me when I have asked anything or unasked. Once again, Baba has saved me. It is a miracle and the fact is I was not even aware of the impending danger. Six months back, my job was in danger and I had prayed to Baba earnestly to help me out. And my joy knew no bounds when I got positive results the very day I posted my prayer to this Sai Newsletter. And now again, my company has reached a point, wherein retrenchment has taken place and fortunately for me, very much by Baba's grace, I am safe with my job in spite of all the odds and not many positive points in my favor since I had never got a chance to prove myself after the last setback. Many people have been laid-off again. I pray to Baba to give them good jobs and help them face this situation boldly, as many of them need their jobs desperately. Baba, You are like my mother who is always thinking only of her child and its welfare all the time. Baba, I thank You for assuring me each time that I am under your umbrella of protection. God, let me remain a good devotee of yours always. I love you Sai. I want You to be with me forever and ever. I want to write more but am not able to express what I am feeling. Om Sri Sai.

Snigdha
Dear Baba, I am very much grateful to you for the courage and strength that you have given to my parents and me during the difficult days we had. My mother is recovering now and please showers your divine blessings on my parents and my brother so that they will pass of this difficult time smoothly. Your Vibhuti is great Baba. It does miracles! Om Sri Satchinanda Samarth Sadguru Sainath Maharaj ki Jai!

Shwetha Waghray, Phoenix, AZ
Om Sairam! I am a devotee of Saibaba and my Baba's grace I am one of the anchor homes in Phoenix, AZ, USA. This is a message to all devotees in and around Phoenix that I received the picture. Thanks to the team at saibaba.org for giving me this wonderful opportunity. If anybody wants to contact me please write an email to :shwethawaghray@hotmail.com

Jyothi Sanka
Om Sairam, Dear Baba! You always help us. One and half year back you showed a good employer and good client to my husband. We send my husband resume on Thursday. They called my husband on next Thursday. Everything went on Thursdays only. We got a H1B papers also Thursday only. Before he joined this company, he is working in small company. Actually, we do not know that company went on bankruptcy. Suddenly we applied for a new job and he joined in a new company on jun17th 2000. After two days we were knew that, our old company was closed. Sai saved us that time. Again, this year my husband's project was over lost month. We are a bit tense what will happen afterwards. I am doing "Sai Guruvaara parayana " monthly once. Yesterday MY husband got a new project by Sai grace only. Baba Please help us in our career. Baba please be always in my heart. Thank you. My love to you and pranams.

A Sai devotee
Hello, this is just to let you know that the page you have created on Sai Baba's virtual Pooja room is out of this world. p.s. You can visit http://www.saibaba.org and follow links to Baba's virtual pooja room to access it.

Sai Devotee
Sairam, I had great darshan in New York Baba temple on new year day. Yesterday me and my wife did pooja in the house with offerings, after some time we saw pongal which looks like it was taken little bit from the cup, It been great pleasure that Baba has visited our house , since I been lost the job last month and With BABA Blessings and sai devotee prayers help us to get job soon. thanks sairam

Yadwinder, NY
I am in New York for the last 6 years. I have a family problem I want to know, who can help me? If you know this person named manoj. He used to live in Flushing, NewYork. He helped us a lot with praying every saturday but now I don't have his number any more. It is changed. Please do something. Sai Ram

Kamal Hingorani
Om Sai Jai Sai Jai Jai Sai. On the 1st of this year, in the early hours, I dreamt that I have found a gold ring. I pick it up and after sometime when I get time I wear it and lo and behold what I see on my finger is Sai Baba's ring(I used to wear this ring in school days but in silver) but the ring is broken.........can someone please explain the meaning of this to me. Thanks. I do read Sai Satcharitra one chapter daily and Sai Amrit Vani daily. Thanks Om Sai Ram Om.
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Prayer Club

Ravi Rajasekharuni
My father is in hospital with a heart problem. Please pray for boosting his morale, physical strength and quick recovery. Sairam please bless my father with health and peace of mind and take care of his health condition.

Gayathri
Baba, can you save me from the pains I am going through. I have lived believing you all these days, please have mercy on me, and do not test me any more. Please bless and give me your darshan in Shirdi. Please Baba if you think I have no choice, take me away from this world.

Ravin Gnanasambandam, Ithaca, NY
SaiRam devotees, this is a request for prayers for the health and welfare of a good soul and God's child in St. Louis, who is undergoing some turbulent times right now. Bow to Sri Sai Peace be to all.

A Devotee
Baba, I don't understand what you wanted to do. I want your response.If you feels thaat I am not qualified to recieve your grace as I want then it will be end of everything. Baba, why don't you accept me? You know I am lacking SHARADH and SABURI but since I am trying to surrender to you, why don't you help me to show positvie result to me, instead I am getting bad experience every day. Everything is going in the reverse direction and situation is going from bad to worse. I am trying to pray you, but I think you are not accepting my prayer. Please accept me. I never saw light in my life. Baba please free me from the bad action and paap, these may be the debts generated through many of my past life. Baba please "make me worthy of your grace" Give me some positive response so I can put my self on the path of sharadha and saburi. Please baba solve this problem of mine. Baba, Please fulfill my desires and give my place as I want, otherwise my progress will be hindered. Please look at me, as your daughter.

Sai Devotee
Sairam to you all. I undergoing very serious illness with my backpain since two months. I met many doctors but of no use. Actually Mrs.Anitha Kunduri has sent a mail regarding parayana two months back for recovery of a child from serious illness. I promised to do that but failed to do last 4 times of Parayana. I'm sorry about that. I do not know if that is the reason for this.I donot not know whether I recover or not but I wish my family ... husband and 1 1/2 year old son should not get affected with my sickness. I only pray for this. Hope Sai is with us and help to overcome the obstacles. Pray for me.

Das
Baba, I know not a prayer to you goes unheard.That is why I will thank you in advance for the job I will get next week. I also want to thank you for having been by our side always. It is because of you that I am here. I could not have imagined myself in this situation
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Quotation of the Week
"People only come here for money, and the more they get the more they want. Their greed is boundless. Sometimes they arrive hungry and with only the clothes on their backs but soon they start demanding luxuries like cars and houses. One would think that with their basic human needs satisfied, they would seek some higher, something spiritual. But they persist. There is little point in allowing this body to continue. Tomorrow I will take Samadhi" - Bhagawan Nityananda, quoted from "Nityananda: In Divine Presence" by M.U. Hatengadi and Swami Chetananada.
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Question of the Week

Q. How does Sai philosophy differ from organized religions? What benefits would one derive from the life and teachings of Sai Baba of Shirdi in this respect?

A.by Syamala Hari
Baba once narrated a story of His meeting His Guru while wandering in the woods along with three others. Among the four, one was a Karmastha (Ritualistic) who only knew how to observe, and abstain from, certain rites, the second was a Jnani, who was puffed up with pride of knowledge and the third was a Bhakta who surrendered himself completely to God, believing that he was the sole Doer. In this story, Baba respected a low Vanjari, by accepting his food and showed how those who rejected Vanjari's hospitable offer suffered, and how it was impossible to get Jnana without a Guru. Baba never advocated rituals but emphasized on attaining Jnana through humble surrender to God or Guru who are the same. He did not prescribe asana, regulation of breathing or any rites to His Bhaktas, nor did He blow any mantra into their ears. To Radhabai Deshmukh, who was determined to fast herself unto death, until Baba gave her some Upadesh or Mantra, He passed this advice from His Guru to Him. Baba's Guru asked Him two pice as Dakshina, 1. Firm Faith and 2. Patience or perseverance, which Baba gave to His Guru and pleased him. He told her "Make Me the sole object of your thoughts and actions; and you will, no doubt, attain Paramartha (the spiritual goal of life). No Sadhanas, nor proficiency in the six Shastras, are needed." Baba first refused access to Megha because Megha was thinking he was a Brahmin and that Baba was a Moslem. But He worked upon Megha internally with the result that Megha was changed and benefited and began to see Shiva in Sai Baba. On an Ekadashi day, Baba asked Dada Kelkar, an orthodox Brahmin, to go in person and get mutton from bazaar, just to test his Guru-bhakti. When Dada was ready to go, Baba called him back and said, "Don't go yourself, but send somebody." Finally, He cancelled that program once He found Dada would do everything for Him. Baba accepted a Mohammedan called Sidik Falke into His company after Sidik agreed to receive a small crumb of goat meat from Baba's kolamba in the Masjid because goat meat is forbidden in his faith. He made Sidik give up the pride of his pilgrimage to Mecca. Moslems and Christians do not believe in worshipping God in all forms. Idol worship is forbidden in both religions. To explain the underlying significance of idol worship practiced by Hindus, Baba demonstrated many times, how He reaches His devotees in the form of His portrait. Christians believe that the only way to attain salvation is to pray to Jesus. Similarly, Moslems believe that they have to pray to only Allah. On the other hand, Baba allowed devotees to worship Him as they pleased. His constant advice to all was "Rama (the God of the Hindus) and Rahim (the God of the Mohammedans) were one and the same. There is not the slightest difference between them. It is not good to dispute and argue. Yoga, sacrifice, penance, and knowledge are the means to attain God." This is also the essence of Gita and Upanishads, and the ancient Hindu philosophy, which is not based on rituals but on the knowledge of the Supreme Self.

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Sai Activities

Shri Shirdi Sai Chitra Yatra 2002 in USA
"Shri Shirdi Sai Chitra Yatra(Pictorial Journey)", started in USA on Jan 01, 2002. With anchor points in 32 states concurrently participating from day one, this unique event is off to a great start.

The journey which involves the ceremonial travel of Baba in the form of a portrait will stop at all Baba devotees homes who are interested in being a host to his protrait. The Yatra which will run till fall of this year, is open to one and all. There is no fees or charges involved to take part in this event. You may participate either as a host home or serve as an anchor point in your community.

Vist online at Sai Chitra Yatra for all the details and to register.

For questions, comments, suggestions or to get details on an Anchor home in your area, send us an email at maildrop@saibaba.org with the subject line of "Shri Sai Chitra Yatra".

Chitra Yatra, Phoenix, AZ
Om Sairam! I am a devotee of Saibaba and my Baba's grace I am one of the anchor homes in Phoenix, AZ, USA. This is a message to all devotees in and around Phoenix that I received the picture. Thanks to the team at saibaba.org for giving me this wonderful opportunity. If anybody wants to contact me please write an email to :shwethawaghray@hotmail.com

SAIDARBAR-HYDERABAD CELEBRATES DATTATREYA JAYANTHI ON Dec 30, 2001
Members of Saidarbar, Hyderabad have participated in Dattatreya Jayanthi celebrations organized by Sri Shirdi SAI Temples, located in Dilsukhnagar and Shivpuri Colony by conducting Satsanghs. Saidarbar devotees rendered devotional songs melodiously. Saibanisa - GopalaRao Ravada lectured in telugu on the topic of Sri Shirdi SAI as Sampoorna Dattatreya Avatar by drawing parallels from Guru Charitra and Sri SAI Satcharitra.

SAI FESTIVAL IN HYDERABAD ORGANIZED ON Jan 05, 2002
Sri D.Sankaraiah and Sri Ammula SambaSivaRao's Groups conducted a twelve-hour non-stop Sainama Japa. Saibanisa GopalaRao Ravada gave a discourse on SAI in Bhagavatham. The highlight of the festival was eleven steps Dwarakamai constructed with plantain leaves symbolic with the eleven assurances of BABA. This event was sponsored by Sri Lakshmikanth.
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