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Sai Vichaar 01.Feature of the Week:Why know the nature of "Self"? 02.Contributed Article: BABA's Teachings: Another Perspective 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... GuruPoornima is a festival revered by many Sai devotees. This is a festival Baba has Himself asked his followers to observe. This is one such event in the year where Sadguru is celebrated and His existence in our lives glorified. This is a celebration Sai centers all over the world, might observe. Please share with Sai Vichaar about GuruPoornima activities planned in your area. Refer to Sai Activities section for the message on GuruPoornima 2002 celebrations by Shirdi Sai Satsang in Twin Cities, Minnesota, USA, and Saidarbar, Canberra, Australia. For the "Question of the week" a devotee wrote to Sai Vichaar as follows: "Baba foretold the dangers awaiting His devotees, and saved Balasaheb Mirikar and Bapusaheb Booty from being bitten to death by snakes. In the case of Amir Shakkar, He helped in discovering a snake near Amir's bed, and finally, the snake was killed in His presence (vide Ch: 21, Sri Sai Satcharita). However, later, Baba Himself expresses the view that whether snakes or scorpions, one must desist from simply Killing them, as they can do no harm as long as God did not Will them to do so. Can anyone explain this contradiction?" 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: Why know the nature of "Self"? Sai Baba's famous parables and cryptic remarks are well known. These comments were always impregnated with a message directed towards the individual who is addressed. Once, a devotee wanted to take a photograph of Baba. When Baba was approached regarding this, He said, "No, it is enough if he knocks a wall down". The devotee stood confused. Later, an explanation was given as follows: The photograph is one's likeness of Baba. The wall is "I am the body" idea, which is an obstacle that interferes with identifying the supreme spirit. One straightforward remark of Baba has always been "awaken the self". The nature of self is not easily explained. The pursuit to know the self is as varied as the individuals themselves. However, it is said that one must have an honest yearning and God's grace to know the nature of self. Now, why should one know the "self"? The Geetha says, " With the self unattached to external contact, he finds happiness in the Self; with the self engaged in the meditation of BRAHMAN, he attains endless happiness". Swami Chinmayananda on his commentary on The Geetha explains further,
"Why should I deny myself the brilliant flashes of momentary joys in
exchange for a steady stone-like, impregnable monotony, call it
equilibrium or equanimity, peace or God-hood? Any sensible seeker
entering the halls of spiritual study with his intellect bright and
clear should come to doubt its efficacy and utility. Though the process
of self-development is essentially a process of detachment, this
technique of negation does not take us to an empty and purposeless zero,
but when we have negated all that is false, we come to experience and
live a total positivity. When the dreamer has renounced all his contacts
with the dream world and thrown away his dream personality, he does not
become a non-entity, but he re-discovers himself to be the more vital,
more effective personality, the waker". Sadguru Sainath's remarks on
awakening one's self refers to this state of awakening that is more
vital, blissful and permanent.
Contributed Article: Another Perspective
One always hears other Sai Bandhus say, that their actions are ordained
by Shri Shirdi Sai BABA. I belong to that class of people who always
assigns her actions either good or bad to BABA. I even justify this
saying that is good behaviour of a Shirdi Sai Follower, because this is
what BABA asked us to do "Do not assign doership of your actions to
yourself, be egoless only then your rise to spirituality would be
faster". It flashed to me on a dull Thursday morning, which could only
be by BABA's inspiration that, - "are we not hiding behind the name of
BABA, and escaping our responsibilities and shying away from our work,
by taking out the name of Shirdi Sainath and assigning our sloth,
laziness, irresponsible actions to Him. Is this what BABA meant when he
asked us to assign the actions of this body to him? Is this what Sai
philosophy taught us?" In fact, BABA meant to say - that by surrendering
our actions to Him, we will keep thinking of the Supremacy of our lord
and while taking HIS holy name our actions will be more conducive to the
philosophy of Universal love and happiness. That way we do not harm,
hurt, cheat our fellow beings, and we will not have any expectations of
having done good or helped others, thus we will be ego less. When there
is no expectations then our love towards other beings grows many folds,
as it is unconditional and selfless love, thus bring us closer to BABA.
BABA definitely provides us opportunities; HE has also endowed us with
Knowledge to make best possible use of those opportunities in serving
our dependants and community in a constructive way. But instead we
humans are so malicious and manipulative, we accept God and his
teachings and we interpret them to suit our needs. Hence we come up with
this idea that "I am angry today - because BABA wanted me to be", "I
wasted my time today - because BABA thought it was not correct time for
me to do work", "I killed, cheated, misbehaved, tormented, somebody
because BABA wanted me to do that". This is nothing but a castle of lies
we built around us to satisfy our conscious, hence there are so much of
ill feeling and bad qualities amongst. We are using that knowledge,
which is envied by gods in trying to convince us of our actions, are
result of laziness, irresponsibility and cruelty.
All the actions that are ordained by BABA and which we carry out, people
do not experience personal gains, satisfaction or feeling egoistic.
Hence it is essential for us to introspect and read our actions and
determine whether we derived any pleasure or happiness as a result of
the action, If we question ourselves on the reason for our behaviour,
quality of the output as a result of the action, and did we think of God
while doing the act? Such questions put us back on track of BABA and his
teachings. Let us see what Hemadpant says with regards to our actions
"If there be my Hari (Lord), He will feed me on my cot." This proverb is
only true in respect of food and clothing, but if anyone trusting in
this, sits quiet and does nothing in spiritual matters, he will be
ruined. One has to exert himself to his utmost for attaining
self-realization. The more he endeavours, the better for him". Chapter
18/19.
Great devotees of BABA always advocated reading of Satcharitha - the
beauty of reading Satcharitha is that it is an unending treasure cove,
as we keep digging we get new insight to BABA's teachings. The purpose
of why BABA instructed Anna Saheb to write His leelas dawns upon us. One
has to gain a complete insight into the teachings of this Sadguru to
understand the meaning of its content.
I present to you a few instances of BABA's quotes from Satcharitha and
beg each one of my Saibandus to read and interpret it. I rest my case
here, and BABA is the guide who will enlighten us about our actions in
light of Sai Tatva.
"After performing many deeds of merit, you are born a man, and if you
act like this, will Shirdi help you in any way?" Chapter 18/19. "Though
I have become a Fakir, have no house or wife, and though leaving off all
cares, I have stayed at one place, the inevitable Maya teases Me often.
Though I forgot Myself I cannot forget Her. She always envelops Me.This
Maya (illusive power) of the Lord (Shri Hari) teases God Brahma and
others; then what to speak of a poor Fakir like Me? Those who take
refuge in the Lord will be freed from Her clutches with his grace".
Chapter 13. "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" Chapter 3 Satcharitha "Sai Baba showed by actual
conduct how one should get rid of egoism and do the duties of a disciple
to attain the highest end, viz., Self-realization" Chapter 5. "Let us do
our prescribed duty and surrender our body, mind and five pranas (life)
to the Guru's feet. Guru is God, all pervading. To get this conviction,
strong unbounded faith is necessary." Chapter 32. "That our mind is
fickle by nature, it should not be allowed to get wild." Chapter 49 "It
is on account of Rinanubandh (former relationship) that we have come
together, let us love and serve each other and be happy" Chapter 18/19.
(Contributed by Anitha Kandukuri, Saidarbar, Canberra, Australia)
Contributed Article: "TOLERANCE OF OTHER RELIGIONS - ESSENCE OF SAISM"
Students of Saism are aware that Sainath maharaj did not father any new
religion or identify Him with any existing religion though devotees who
looked to His Feet for spiritual and temporal benefits belong to all
religions. Baba allowed devotees to worship him as they want. Religion
is a way of life showing the path for God realization. His name Sai Baba
is combination of Persian and Hindi words. His oft quoted "Sabka Malik
Ek Hai" is a constant reminder to devotees to think of one God and One
Religion i.e., a universal brotherhood by strict adherence to once own
religion. Baba encouraged conversion of hearts but not Religious
conversions. His living place to bless devotees was a dilapidated masjid
wherein Akhand Duni, Akhand deep and tulasi brindavan are being
maintained. He named the place "Dwaraka mai" to which Entry is free to
all including animals, insects, birds etc. A big bell was hung at the
entrance of masjid as we observe in Churches. Though His dress and
appearance was like that of a Muslim Fakir, no traces of his Muslim
origin were found.
He declared before the Commission of enquiry that he belonged to "Kabir
Religion". It is well known fact that Kabir's mortal remains were
claimed by both his Muslim and Hindu followers for burial and cremation
respectively. At that time Kabir appeared and asked them to see his dead
body. His entire body was transmuted into flowers. Perhaps Baba Sai also
wanted to convey the message that he belong to all religions. It is high
time for Baba's identifying themselves with Shirdi Nath to see that
differences among men on Religious grounds leading to blood shed,
hatred, exploitation etc. are minimized.
"JAI BOLO SARVAMATA SAMMATAYA SAI NADHAYA"
(Contributed by D.Sankariah, Hyderabad, India)
Fatima E Madhu Chaudhry Sai Devotee, USA Sai Devotee Sai Devotee Sai Devotee Sai Devotee Sai Devotee Sai Devotee A Devotee A Devotee Sai Devotee Sai Devotee Bindu Sai Devotee
Quotation of the Week
Q. "In the case of Amir Shakkar, Baba helped in discovering a snake near
Amir's bed, and finally, the snake was killed in His presence (vide Ch:
21, Sri Sai Satcharita). However, later, Baba Himself expresses the view
that whether snakes or scorpions, one must desist from simply Killing
them, as they can do no harm as long as God did not Will them to do so.
Can anyone explain this contradiction?"
Gurupoornima celebrations at Sydney, Australia Shree Shirdi Sai Sansthan, Sydney invites you with family and friends to celebrate Guru Poornima. Venue: 420 Liverpool Road, Strathfield South, NSW 2136 On Wednesday 24th July from 7pm. Temple open from 5pm till late for Darshan Programme: For more information on Guru Poornima celebrations and Sansthan's activities, please call Info-Line 0500 524724 (0500 JAI SAI). Devotees wishing to contribute or volunteer for the Guru Poornima Celebrations, please contact Mrs. Sujata Hemchander Rao on 02 98710163 or Mrs. Uma Parmar on 02 97447757 or Mr. Ramabhadra Rao Abbineni on 02 97588085. Sai Mandir, Baldwin, NY Gurupoornima celebrations in the Bay Area, CA Gurupoornima 2002, Shirdi Sai Satsang, Twin Cities, MN Gurupoornima, Canberra, Australia Gurupoornima at Toronto, Canada Gurupoornima at Shirdi Sai Baba Prayer Center, South Brunswick, NJ Shirdi Sai Baba Prayer Center, VA Shri Shirdi Sai Chitra Yatra 2002 in UK 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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