Asleep or while awake
In silence and conversations
In crowds and in solitude
Sai, you are the goal, the object, and the purpose

What you really are is what you are while not asleep or awake. The metaphysical aspect of Brahman is probably understood through such logic and analysis. Or through the simple way of remembering Sai's name before every thought or deed. This is precisely what Baba said to the simple folks of Shirdi who flocked him during the Golden days. Insisting on one's views and refuting the other will not help one, remember discussion as one function of ego. Baba said, "Let there be no insistence on establishing one's own view, no attempt to refute other's opinion, no discussions of pros and cons of any subject. Hearing my stories and teachings will create faith in devotees' hearts and they will easily get self-realization and Bliss".

Baba's fold is a fortune. It is considered as the result of the merits of several births. Once such a fortune is in sight, who would let it go but the imprudent? Simple saadhana is to remember him while awake and during every action. This will surely cross anyone through the perils of everyday life of action and consequence. Remembering Sai during every difficulty and every celebration will surely lead one to remembering Him everywhere and ever. Blessed is such life for them the bridge is not far.
Back to Menu

Contributed Article: Sai, beloved: A poem

Beloved Guru, Father, Friend, Great Saint,
Drench my mind with blissful peace;
As I entreat you with my pleas,
To my tortured ego, bring soft restraint.

Where my life will lead me I cannot know;
But, let its course bring no one pain;
Through You, great strength, let me attain,
To only go where You would have me go.

Whether I have lived as was meant or not
I know not, but there are regrets;
Prove to me that, love, love begets;
Negate the losses that my deeds have wrought.

Faith and patience, adoration and prayer
With fortitude help me maintain
So Your boundless blessings we gain
And when we go we're all with You up there.
(Contribute by Tridib Sengupta)
Back to Menu

Experiences of Devotees

Rajesh Venkateswaran
I firmly believe that one can go to Shirdi only when Baba calls you there. I visited India in December 2001 and Baba asked me to come to Shirdi. My sister donated a computer to the Sansthan and it was her desire that I go and hand it over in Shirdi personally. I reached Mumbai on Sunday, 16th December and was supposed to go to Shirdi the next day. However Baba was not ready to receive me that day. On Tuesday afternoon, I came to Dadar circle to take a bus to Shirdi only to find that there were no direct buses to Shirdi at that time. The bus operators told me to take a bus to Nasik from where I could easily get a bus going to Shirdi. Here Baba's play begins.

I reached Nasik at about 8:30 PM and found that there were no more buses bound for Shirdi that day. As I was walking around thinking of what to do, I found a mini-van (Tempo Taxi) bound for Shirdi. This person said that he would get me to Shirdi by midnight.

When I reached Shirdi, the mini-van driver asked me where I was going to stay. I told him that accommodation had been arranged for me at the Sansthan guesthouse. At this, he laughed and told me that those people close at 9 PM and they would not accommodate me that night. I was in a dilemma since I had visited Shirdi only once before. The streets were dark and deserted and the air was chilly. The driver told me that for a fee, he could arrange for me to get into a good hotel. I suddenly decided that I should just go to the office at the mandir and see if I could get into the Sansthan guesthouse. I asked the mini-van driver if the mandir office would be open. He looked at me as though I was mad. Nevertheless, I found the mandir office and knocked on the door. The watchman opened the door and I told him that I have come from Mumbai and was supposed to stay at the Sansthan guesthouse. At this, the watchman said that they had been waiting for me for so long. My friend from Mumbai had called them in the morning itself and told them that I would be in Shirdi by 8 PM and they were wondering if I had cancelled my trip. The watchman directed me to the guesthouse where I found that only the storeroom was available.

I decided that was the place Baba wanted me to stay just like when Amir Shakkar was asked to stay at the Chavadi. The watchman asked me if I wanted to go for the Kakad arthi and when I said yes, he told me he would wake me up at the right time. I went to sleep immediately since I was so tired from the journey. Suddenly I woke up with a jolt and realized that I had been sleeping for an hour. The watchman did not wake me up but I felt that someone asked me to get up. Then I realized that it was time for me to join the queue for the Kakad arthi. I bathed and left for the mandir immediately. I saw the Kakad arthi from close quarters and had an excellent darshan of Baba. That day, I also completed my sister's donation and ensured that the computer reached the proper people at the Sansthan.

I still cannot fathom the various happenings during that trip but I have started believing more firmly that Baba knows our every desire and want. He is our protector and the Omnipresent.

Loka Samastha Sukino Bhavanthu....

Kamala Pallasenna
I am a regular visitor to Sai web page and a subscriber to Sai Vichaar. In fact I came to know a lot about Sai through these resources. My host in our town was gracious enough to lend the portrait of Sai to us. We intended to keep him for two weeks, and then return it, but by his blessings he stayed in our house for a much longer time. We could really feel his presence in our home from the time he arrived. I am not a very religious person, and not much into prayers and poojas. God had given me everything, but there was a spark or something missing in my life. The next day after coming to my house, he gave me something, which I longed for but got delayed. It may be a small thing for others, but to me it is very important. I decided to read Sai Satcharitha during his presence in our home. I read it and the very next day, I got a call from my brother who was without a job for few months, that he got a good offer. I just want to say to devotees here that Sai blesses you with abundance that is for sure. My first introduction to Sai was when a friend of mine gave me his photo and from that day there is no looking back. What he asks you is nothing but very simple things in life, honesty, integrity, hard work, and purity of mind. He is always with us.
Back to Menu

Devotees say...

Shiv
Through the limited medium of words, Sri Paramhansa Yogananda (Author of the Autobiography of a Yogi) describes the ineffable state of Cosmic Consciousness. The words are not only descriptive, they also possess a special vibrational power to influence the consciousness of one who repeats them. Yogananda made this request of his disciples:

"Memorize my poem Samadhi," he once told,"Repeat it daily. Visualize yourselves in that infinite state; identify yourselves with it. For that alone is what you really are!" It is my humble request to all to delve deep into the essence of this poem and work out your own ways of assimilating its nectar! Thanks for your time and patient reading. Love and light to all.

Anonymous Devotee
Om Sai. To the devotee who lost laptop computer, I am very sorry that you lost your laptop and what I might say here might not console you and I am probably not capable to do that. But I would like to say that: The all-knowing Sai does everything for our own good. In my humble opinion, maybe Baba is trying to show you a way to something. Maybe this is a blessing in disguise and as long as you believe in Sai, he will never leave you. As long as he is in your heart, he will always be in your thoughts and actions and will guide you. Please don't be disheartened. Om Sai Ram
Back to Menu

Prayer Club

Vidya Urs
Dear friends, please pray to BABA for me for getting a baby. I have been praying to BABA from so many years. I don't know why he has heard my prayers. I go the Baba's temple every Thursday. I hope BABA blesses me with a kid soon. I am terribly upset about this.

Pankaj Mohan
Jai Sai ram Baba, Baba, I am really very tensed at the moment & worried about the future of my family. Baba, you that except you I can't ask for anything from anybody, so please take me out from this tension at this moment. Baba, you know that I am totally confused at the moment & don't understand what to do? I pray to you to put me on the right path. Baba, please come in my dreams once & give me your kind darshan & tell me what to do? As you know all of us have full faith in you, so please help us...thanks very much.

Amudha
Sai devotees always say, never to ask materialistic things from Baba, but I don't think peace of mind is a material but an essence of life. Due to some misunderstanding during my wedding my husband does not have any contact with my parents, due to this I don't have any peace in my life. So I kindly request all the Sai devotees to spare a few minutes and include me in your prayers so that Baba will correct the misunderstanding and I can have peace in my life

Sai Devotee
Dear Baba, you know everything about my family. We are very much worried about my sister who at the age of 30 is unmarried and suffering from a severe mental health problem. She used to be brilliant by your grace and today she is nowhere. I pray you please to forgive any bad karma of hers and help her get the strength to think positive and recover with her mental health. I pray that she gets married to a good family and settle well in life. I love you always and surrender to you as everything is given only by you. Sai Ram.
Back to Menu

Quotation of the Week
It may safely be said that Shri Saibaba by practical teaching showed the ordinary house-holder how to perform his domestic duties, grind corn, eat is food, entertain visitors at e time of taking meals, and worship the Lord according to his own tenets, in his own home in the most simple and unostentatious manner - Rao Bahadur M.W. Pradhan in "Shri Sai Baba Of Shirdi: A Glimpse of Indian Spirituality.
Back to Menu

Question of the Week

Q. "How are Satsangs useful in one's spiritual pursuits"?
A. by Dipak Anchan

This is in reference with the question of the week - "How are Satsangs useful in one's spiritual pursuits?"

What do you mean by Satsanga?

1. To get oneself established in Brahman is real Satsanga. Company of the wise people is also Satsanga. Study of religious books written by the realized souls/persons is also Satsanga. Satsanga or association with the wise souls removes the darkness of the heart, leads you to the right path and causes the sun of wisdom to shine in your head.

2. Satsanga is association with the wise. Live in the company of sages/saints/ Sadhus/Yogis and Sannyasins; hear their valuable Upadesa or instructions and follow them implicitly. This is Satsanga.

What is the Power of Satsanga?

The glow and power of Satsanga, association with the wise, saints, Yogis, Sannyasins and Mahatmas is indescribable. Even a moment's company is quite sufficient to overhaul the old vicious Samskaras of the worldly people. The magnetic aura, the spiritual vibration, and the powerful currents of developed adepts produce a tremendous influence on the minds of world lings. Service of Mahatmas purifies the minds of passionate men very rapidly. Satsanga elevates the mind to magnanimous heights. Just as a single matchstick burns huge bundles of cotton in a few seconds, so also, the company of saints burns all thoughts and Samskaras of passion within a short time. The only potent specific for inducing burning Vairagya and burning desire for liberation is Satsanga and Satsanga alone.

The association with the holy sages is quite enough to instill in a soul wisdom and love. Vidya originates in those whose faults have been washed away by the mighty force of Satsanga, which has independent power of destroying all faults and originating Vidya.

Those who hear the life-giving words of good men have their heads that are tainted with evil, purified. They ultimately reach the lotus feet of the Lord. This shows that the words of good men have the power of purifying the soul and carrying it to the feet of the Master.

The Benefits of Satsanga

1. Satsanga with Mahatmas, Sadhus and the Guru plays a tremendous part in the attainment of quick spiritual progress.

2. Satsanga is the easiest and quickest means to change the minds of worldly persons towards the spiritual path and to thoroughly overhaul the vicious, wrong Samskaras.

3. Satsanga elevates the mind and fills it with Sattva or purity. It eradicates the vicious thoughts in the mind and leads to the attainment of wisdom or Brahma-jnana.

4. Without Satsanga, this mind, which is filled with worldly impurities, cannot be turned towards God.

5. Satsanga with sages is the surest Viveka-inspiring agent. Vairagya or dispassion cannot be attained without Satsanga.

6. Satsanga removes the darkness of ignorance and fills your mind with Vairagya or non-attachment or dispassion for worldly enjoyments. Satsanga is the sun that dispels the cloud of ignorance. It forces you to lead the life divine and have strong conviction in the existence of God.

7. The company of a saint remarkably hastens the growth of Sattvic virtues in the aspirant, and gives him strength to awaken the dormant powers, and to eradicate undesirable negative qualities and various defects.

8. Satsanga helps a great deal in the attainment of Moksha. There is no other way. It removes and destroys the threefold affliction. It is an unfailing means to conquer Maya and this dire mind.

9. Satsanga is a formidable and impregnable fortress to protect the young aspirants from the temptations and the attacks of Maya.

10. Just as a boat is the greatest shelter to a drowning man, so also, a saint or a sage is the only shelter to the persons who are being drowned in the ocean of worldliness.

11. Satsanga is a sentinel at the door of Moksha. If you make friendship with him, he will introduce you to his other friends, viz., Vichara (enquiry), Santi (peace) and Santosha (contentment) and you will attain Self-realization quickly and easily.

12. Satsanga is unfailing in its results.

13. Satsanga or association with the wise is the one panacea for all the ills of life.

14. There is nothing so inspiring, elevating, solacing and delightful as Satsanga.

15. Satsanga is the greatest of all purifiers and illuminators of man.

16. Satsanga with a sage even for a minute is much better than rulership of a kingdom.

17. Have the company of saints, who will heal your sores, infuse new life into you, rejuvenate you, and show you the way to peace and happiness.

18. Follow the teachings of saints and sages, the perfected beings, the seers of Truth. Attune yourself with their Spirit.

19. Life, fame, happiness, power and knowledge will increase in that man who respects elders and saints, and with faith and devotion prostrates before them.

Meaning of Satsanga in our great scriptures The Yoga-vasishtha

Sage Vasishtha says to Sri Rama:
"Satsanga serves as a boat to cross this terrible ocean of Samsara. The company of sages even for a moment is highly beneficial. Even the Darshan of Mahatmas destroys sins and elevates the mind. The company of virtuous people produces the fresh blossom of discrimination. The company of sages wards off all disasters and destroys the tree of ignorance. Sages prescribe the best rules of conduct for aspirants and teach them the correct mode of life. The company of the virtuous sheds light on the right path and destroys the internal darkness of man. The company of sages is the unfailing means to conquer Maya and this dire mind.

"Contentment, Satsanga, enquiry and Santi are the fourfold means of attaining Self-realization. Those who are in possession of these fourfold means have crossed the ocean of Samsara. 'Contentment' is regarded as the best gain, 'good company' as the right cause, 'enquiry' as the true knowledge, and 'Santi' as the highest bliss of man. All prosperity and success attend on him who is possessed of these fourfold means. As soon as one of these virtues is developed, it will serve to weaken the force of the faults of your uncontrollable mind. The cultivation of virtues leads to the suppression and eradication of vices; but the fostering of vice will, on the contrary, conduce to the increase of vices and suppression of virtuous qualities. The mind is a wilderness of errors in which the stream of our desires is running with a tremendous force amidst its two banks of good and evil.

"Therefore, O Rama, control your mind bravely and develop diligently the above fourfold means for your conduct in life.

"He who practises regularly Atmic enquiry will never be afflicted by the pains and miseries of Samsara. He will have always equanimity of mind and equal vision. He will be ever peaceful and joyful. Maya will never approach him. He will ever engage himself in meditation on the Imperishable and Self-luminous Atman.

"One should study books on Atma-jnana, keep company with the sages, develop the fourfold means and right conduct, control the senses, and ever engage himself in the practice of Atmic enquiry till Knowledge of the Self dawns in him."

Q. "How are Satsangs useful in one's spiritual pursuits?"

A. by Kumar Bhairav

The very presence of a Seer charges all those who are there. There is peace and harmony around such a person and this pervades through everyone. Even monkeys calmed down in Ramana Maharshi's presence. At another level, the Satsang of a few bhakts, together, even without a Seer, focuses the mind on spiritual matters and keeps the mundane world away for some time. It builds up positive energy. Till one has reached a stage where the Self has merged with the Infinite, satsangs serve to ease the way there.
Back to Menu

Sai Activities

Ugadi Celebration and Shirdi Sai Satsang, Twin Cities, Minnesota, USA
Please contact Ravin or Sunitha at 763-862-3910 for Shirdi Sai Baba Chithra Yatra and Sai Satsang in Minneapolis, St. Paul area of Minnesota, USA. on Ugadi day April 13, 2002.

Ramnavami Festival at Shirdi
Members of the Board of Management, Shri Sai Baba Sansthan, Shirdi, cordially invite you all to join them in celebrating the 'Shri Ram Navami Festival' from Saturday, 20th April, 2002 to Monday, 22nd April, 2002 at Shirdi. For more details contact the Executive Officer, Shri Sai Baba Sansthan, Shirdi 423109, Maharashtra, India.

Ramnavami Celebrations at New Jersey
Saibaba.org and Sai devotees of New Jersey invite you to join us for 'Shri Ram Navami' celebrations at VFW Hall, Kendall Park, NJ on Sunday April 21, 2002 from 3pm to 6pm. For further details or directions contact Mr. Kumad Sachdev at (732) 257-1438 or Mr. Shyam Addanki at (804) 967-0833 or email us at maildrop@saibaba.org.

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 across USA 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 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".
Back to Menu

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

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