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Sai Vichaar 01.Feature of the Week: Material Wealth 02.Contributed Article: Baba's Sacred Words 03.Experiences of Devotees 04.Devotees Say 05.Sai Activities 06.Prayer Club 07.Quote of the Week 08.Question of the Week 09.Subscribe to Sai Vichaar 10.Email Newsletter to a friend 11.Submit Articles to Sai Vichaar 12.Un-Subscribe Sai Vichaar 13.From the Editor's Keyboard 14.Disclaimer From the Editor's Keyboard... Sai Vichaar received a letter from a reader expressing his/her anguish over a contribution by another devotee having the same name. It was later resolved that the contribution was in fact from a different contributor with the same name. While such an occurrence is not unusual, Sai Vichaar would like to avoid this as much as possible. Sai Vichaar is sensitive to contributors' desire that they may remain anonymous. For the same reason, the email addresses or other ID is not given out in Sai Vichaar unless the contributor expressly wishes. At the same time, giving some details could avoid the unnecessary pain and anguish. Even a "Sai Devotee" can have identity such as name of the place or country of origin. Sai Vichaar is thankful to the contributors for their responses for "Question of the week". Please note that Sai Vichaar is only another global platform on the electronic medium for sharing information on the life and message of Sadguru Sainath of Shirdi. Sai Vichaar does not profess to endorse any particular thought, nor will judge or reflect the opinions expressed by individual contributors. Unless specified otherwise, Sai Vichaar team is responsible for "Feature of the week" segment. Sai devotees and readers are urged to contribute to the "Feature of the week". However, in the true spirit of Sai devotion, contributors are requested to remember the global nature of Sai Vichaar readership. Therefore, the content, language, style and presentation, appropriate to a worldwide readership will be more rewarding and fulfilling. It should also be borne in mind that when a section from any material other than their own is quoted or referred to, it is the authors' responsibility to acknowledge the source appropriately. The Question of the week for this week is, "How are Satsangs useful in one's spiritual pursuits?" Humbly Yours, The Editor
Disclaimer Sai Vichaar is devoted to the philosophy and teachings of Shri Sadguru Sai Baba of Shirdi, and will take every measure to avoid topics or themes contradicting the same. Sai Vichaar team or saibaba.org is not
responsible for the opinions expressed by individual contributors.
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 Feature of the week: Material Wealth "Ramathe Raam.. Aaaojee.. Aaaojee.. .
(Oh Playful Rama. Please come, bring with you sacks of Udi, the sacred ash!.) Baba used to sing merrily, whenever He was in a cheerful mood. The power and greatness of Udi, the sacred ash, is well known. It is believed that Udi confers upon the devotees, health, prosperity, freedom from anxiety, and many other worldly gains. One peculiarity of this Saint God is that He encouraged His followers to
seek material wealth. There were several incidents wherein Sainath
Himself brought about a particular longing of the devotees during casual
conversation and benefited them appropriately. One famous parable of Sai
Baba goes as follows: "My coffers are always open. Come and fill your
sacks as much as you want.." Now, material wealth, non-attachment,
self-surrender, salvation...How can they be all together? Don't they
seem contradicting each other? How can one ask for worldly riches yet at
the same time develop non-attachment? Asking and receiving the material
benefit confirms one's faith in Sadguru, the most important aspect of
devotion. How can one know that he/she will get something unless he/she
asks for it and gets it? The experience of countless devotees of Sai
Baba is the same. Receiving benefits through His grace confirms and
increases the faith in Him. Logically, it must make one to pay careful
and close attention to what the Guru says. Material and spiritual
benefits are two separate entities and by separating them so, the need
for each of them is well defined. Usually, it is a practice to justify
one's wants based on the needs. However, a careful observation will
reveal that there is no end for human needs and material wants are akin
to a never-ending chain of temporary events perpetrated by the myth.
Now, if one looks back and contemplates on Sadguru Sainath's coffers, it
will be evident that the reference made was to something beyond
material. Something that is perennial, and something that should result
in everlasting happiness.
Contributed Article: Shirdi Sai Chitra Yatra in North America
Sai Yatra basically is a journey beyond time. The Master's primary
function is to carry on the soul of His devotees beyond the limitations
of life and death to its permanent abode or evolve a soul to the state
of full consciousness of its own divine nature. The evolution of the
soul comes in stages sometimes in one life, sometimes in more than one.
Baba had told Upasani Maharaj that, "I would put you on a nonstop train
that will directly reach the destiny". Only a Sadguru can make the
soul's evolution fastest and easiest.
The Sai Chitra (pictorial) Yatra (journey), which is currently underway
in USA and Canada, is a first step towards the establishment of internal
contact with the Master through His pictorial form. Concentration on His
form in the picture and constant remembrance of Him is a process of
upward movement of the soul. Sai Yatra is an evolving soul's journey and
this is the beginning...
My prayers for all of you at the lotus feet of Sai.
Contributed Article: Sacred Words of Baba
It is just impossible to a person without worries and sorrows on his/her
day-to-day life. This universal phenomenon is common to rich or poor,
literate or illiterate, black or white, atheist or theist, and even for
animals, unfortunately they are not capable to express their agony, but
sufferings are similar to mankind.
Katha Upanishatham says "for those who do not have mental stability
alone seeking external happiness and ultimately falling towards death
web. But those wise people understand there is a permanent truth
prevailing in this world (which can be obtained from Guru) and do not
seek temporary pleasures in this world"
Our Sadguru never allowed any of His disciples to accumulate money, even
a rich person offered a lump sum to Mhalsapathy, Baba never allowed him
to accept the offer. Money is main culprit to spoil one's happiness,
spiritual upliftment and peace of mind. Baba often said " Fakiri
(mendicancy) is real; Lordship (riches) is transient" (Sri Sai
Satcharitha Chapter VIII). Baba further told " .. What a man might give,
does not last long and it is always imperfect" (Chapter XXXII).
We must also understand the sacred words of Baba and limit our desires,
Baba says "Dig out and take away this wealth in carloads, the blessed
son of a true mother should fill himself with this (spiritual) wealth".
If you are really interested to make your life away from worries and
sorrows, please keep yourself out of Maya in the worldly affairs.
Spiritual wealth is the only way out to check sorrows and worries in
everyone's life.
Contributed Poem: Save me Sai
Save me from the perils of countless desires
Yet, I know and I sense that slowly and gently
How I missed simple great gifts that You gave to me -unasked
Blindfolded I'm
How it was unnoticed by me, that You gave me
And still I am thirsty for the things I really do not need,
There are times when days are spent in an idle talk
You are compassionate and forgiving and
Yet I know and I sense that slowly and gently
Sai, please accept my salutation at Your feet and grant me
Babu Suresh Krishnan B - BEING A - AWARENESS B - BLISS A - AATHMA Suresh Sydney, Australia We were returning to Chennai after our trip in the train from Pune. Very early in the morning we were all woken by cries of a small baby of 8 months. The baby would not stop crying and the efforts taken by its grand parents did not stop the agony of the child. My wife found out from them they were taking the baby to Channai to look after and the mother is not accompanying them. We told them several suggestions but none of them worked out to stop the crying. It appeared the baby was suffering from some sort of stomach ache as it weiled when somebody touched the stomach. This went on till about noon. Suddenly a thought occured to me which was based on the experiences of several devotees mentioned in Sai Satcharita. I wanted to give the udi to alleviate the pain or any other problem the baby might have. When I expressed this to my wife she approached them and asked them what religion they were and also expressed my idea. Though they were christians they agreed to us applying the udi as they could not think of any other idea. We applied UDI on the baby's forehead and then my whole family prayed to Sai to help this baby. For about quarter of an hour nothing happened. I thought to myself and prayed to Sai" I beleive in you 100 percent. I normally don't attempt these things myslef as I feel I am not qualified to do these acts. But more or less I was forced to do this seeing the plight of the baby. If you do not help the baby now I would start doubting what I read and heard. Please be take pity on me and the baby and ease its pain" Within five minutes the baby stopped crying and for the remainder of the
journey, was joyfully playing. We were all moved by this miracle and my
faith in Saibaba has grown many folds since then. I thought I must share
this with everyone.
Shalini Agarwal A Sai devotee Sampath, Canada "Om Sri Ananthakoti Brahmanda nayaka RajadhiRaja YogiRaja Parabrahma Sri Sachidanda Sadguru Sainatha Maharajaki Jai" Veena Sailatha Sampath, Coimbatore, India Lakshmi Viswanath K. Thyagarajan Jyothi Hazari Lakshmi Amudha Mrs Rozario
Quotation of the Week
Q.Is violence justified in any religion?
"Ahimsa paramo dharmaha" is a well-known quote from Hindu scriptures. It
means that nonviolence is an important or the most important duty of
ours. So our scriptures do preach non violence. On the other hand, in
Gita, Krishna advised Arjuna to fight Kauravas and not hesitate to kill
even his teachers in the war because it was Arjuna's duty to fight in
those circumstances. Although Pandavas were cheated out of their wealth
and power, they kept their word and lived away from it all for the
period agreed to, but Duryodhana was not willing to keep to his word and
return what was due to them. Being rulers, Pandavas had a duty to
perform to the people of the land to look after their welfare. Even
then, Pandavas tried all diplomatic channels to settle their dispute
with Kauravas and decided to fight only when there was no alternative.
Similarly, in Ramayana, before Rama invaded Lanka he sent Hanuman and
other messengers to Ravana advising him to give Sita up. We have to
understand what we mean by "violence". Puranas have stories of Rakshasas
who killed, injured, and attacked saints and their disciples unprovoked,
when they were engaged in yajnas and prayers meant for the welfare of
the society. That is violence. For Rama to go and kill Rakshasas is not
violence because it is to prevent occurrence of hurting innocent and
gentle people. Killing animals for food is not violence but hunting
animals, as a sport is violence. Yajnas in which animals are killed are
forbidden in Buddhism to prevent hurting animals. However, there is a
limit to our being able to practice non violence. For example, many if
not all vegetarians eat vegetarian food because they do not want to hurt
animals but they are hurting plants. Also, hurting another to protect or
rescue them such as surgery by a doctor is not violence. In all other
circumstances, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" is
what any good religion would preach. A good religion would not preach
"go and kill people without any provocation simply because they do not
call God by the same name as you do".
Shirdi Sai Satsang, Twin Cities, Minnesota, USA Shri Shirdi Sai Chitra Yatra 2002 in USA 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 yatra page 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".
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