"Those who see Me in everyone and knows Me thus is blessed", said Sai Baba. How does this translate to practical terms? May be this is a yardstick one might use to see how realized they are spiritually. Myth does not allow one to drop everything that he/she acquired at an instance and embark on a spiritual journey or realize Sai in everything that is heard, seen, and felt. While part of the myth is due to the natural orientation the souls with the human body have to endure, significant effects do come from the slips of ignorance even for those who are vigilant. Saadhana should be such that the growth is progressive and the results permanent. It may not come with an ego-driven pursuit of an entity that is hard to explain, much less realized. On the other hand, the goal may lie next waiting to be realized. Shri Sai Satcharitha narrates several incidents supporting the thought that Sai is ubiquitous and some were made to realize this, the episode of Laxmibhai and the dog to cite an example. The principle of non-dual nature of the supreme has never been demonstrated in such simple terms. Blessed are the followers who realize this aspect of Sai tatva. Blessed are those who strive to see His dispensation at every encounter of life, animate and inanimate. Blessed are those who see Sai in every being and treat everyone as they would treat Him. Here lies the practical terms of egolessness and humility, very virtues Sainath stands for.
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Contributed Article: Sai Answers Anguished Calls

Man is constantly battling with uncertainties, be it in spiritual world or materialistic world. Sometimes we are so overwhelmed with the negative effects of the uncertainties that we start questioning our direction in life and in spirituality. When subjected to stress and duress mind and faith wavers. To quote Hemadpant in Sai Satcharita "A doubting mind has no firmness of resolve, for his mind always wavers, it never decides one way or other. His state was like that of a Trishanku - the king who did not gain access to heaven but remain suspended between the heaven and the earth." Recently, I had gone through seesaw of emotions, and had the audacity of questioning BABA and his credibility. My questions were:

1. Why do good people who always helped others suffer more than those who are selfish? Why is good subjected to so much of testing? What incentive does a man have to be good if tested to such maximum extent?
2. BABA said just saying my name "Sai" "Sai" does away with the sins of the past birth, but is it really true? Where is He when we need Him?
3. Why does one have to take so many births to suffer the same mental and emotional pain? When Shama and Mrs Kharpade the close devotees of BABA, were not spared of rebirths for 70 generations what about commoners like me who have known BABA only through books? How will I be saved from the pain of rebirths?
4. What is the extent one is subjected to pain for their Prarabdha Karma either this birth or previous birth? It seems endless suffering for some.
5. Will BABA ever give me answers?

I decided to be fair and gave Baba two months time to answer my questions and prove Himself and His ability as a Sadguru. Believe me, I derived immense pleasure and satisfaction by snubbing at BABA. This was said on Tuesday 6th of August. The following Thursday, I read Sai Vichaar, Volume5 - Issue 12 dated August 8 2002. And guess what, I have answers for my queries, surprise!

Feature of the Week "Eternal Union with Baba" By Sivanandam ji has answered by questions. The pain that I am going through is due to my emotional attachment of this soul with the other souls who are suffering. I take upon the pain on myself rather than offer the doership to BABA as He asked us to do in Satcharita, thus developing a sense of detachment leading to Moksha (answer to my 3rd question). What is the great fun of writing about BABA and his teachings when I do not fully accept and comprehend Him and His teachings in my life? When a man is in high state of emotionality, reasoning ability is lost, and is so over whelmed with Maya that He looses his mind and sense of direction as well, like Chandbhai Patel lost his Mare. Here Mare denotes the sense of direction and faith. When BABA guided Chandbhai to look near Nalla, BABA meant to say that Nalla is the knowledge, one has to direct the senses and their attention, seek knowledge, and fix mind in a given place. We are moved by many circumstances in this life, but the only person who is firm in HIS belief towards the feet of Sadguru will be directed to the goal or destination. In chapter 21 BABA told HV Thakur "The path of this place is not so easy as the teaching of the Kanarese Saint Appa or even as the buffalo-ride in the Nhane Ghat. In this spiritual path, you have to put in your best exertion as it is very difficult." BABA never said that the path of spirituality was easy; in fact, in many instances, He explained that Path towards God is full of thorns and pits; only a true guide can make us reach our destination. My premise that just taking out Baba's name without any conscious effort would remove my problems is wrong. One also has to practice what is taught in the book.

BABA always entertains any challenge with a sweet smile; I challenged Him, have I not? And He set about a series of motions into action. When I bawled out my woes and said the bad things about BABA to friends, I was given advises and was looked down as stupid senseless fool and of course, I did feel like a fool. But BABA on the other hand accepted my behaviour like a mother and the message He gave through the article is this "Once Baba told to Nana Saheb Chandorkar "Nana, I am not angry with you. You, my children, have a right to be angry with me. If Venkusa were here, I could be angry with him". I heaved a sigh of relief; I am not a fool after all. I guess for any Sai follower in the special bond that we enjoy with our Sadguru, the love hate relationship is common. This brings us much closer to BABA. It is possible only for Saints and realized souls to remain unruffled in life and look at passing events unperturbed. And I would be kidding myself, if I said nothing in my life effects me, as Sai takes care of everything. After all, I am a mere mortal and not a saint. I can still throw tantrums and HE is going to be there at every stage holding on to me and guiding me through all crests and falls in life, and humor me. What a relief!

This also taught me that one should not take God for granted, but make a conscious effort of understanding WHY, GOD made things in such a manner. This is the main purpose why God put man in this marvelous creation and endowed us with the faculty of intellect, so that we could appreciate His work. How can a person learn the essence of the teachings what the Master is trying to teach us without questioning it? BABA, Himself told Nanasaheb Chandorkar in Chapter 39 about interpretation of a sloka from Bhagvad Geeta. BABA was knocking off Nana's pride, no doubt, but at the same time BABA was saying that a person intent in gaining the knowledge of spirituality one must question their guru and get the appropriate answers which would further their spirituality. BABA said, "Mere questioning is not enough. The question must not be made with any improper motive or attitude or to trap the Guru and catch at mistakes in the answer, or out of idle curiosity. It must be serious and with a view to achieve Moksha or spiritual progress." So had I not questioned BABA on his motives I would not have got this answers which had caught my attention and every time I read that article it gives me new sense of direction and a firm conviction that HE has answered my question.

One who is familiar with the work of BABA would understand my excitement I am sure. None of us has seen BABA in His SAGUN (physical) form except for those who were present during His time. Blessed are those who behold His true form in their eyes. We do feel NIRGUN (formless) form of BABA in the form of the messages that we get through unexpected sources, such as that I got through this material. My another answer was through Sai Newsletter from " shirdi_sai_baba_divine_grace " The quote for Thursday was:

1. will not allow my devotee to be lost. (Answers my 2nd question)
2. I will account to God for all those that have been given to me. (This answers my 1st question)

Hemadpant in his original Marathi version Sai Satcharita as translated by Indira Kher says "Such cryptic style was characteristic of BABA what could one make of it? But carefully stored in our ears, when one pondered over it, many interpretations could be found in it. Words of saints are never without meaning and when carefully examined reveal deep significance" (Chapter 12). Here I have interpreted the messages according to what my mind or rather how BABA directed me to interpret it. I am sure many of you have found different meanings to what you were seeking from various sources too. But the truth prevails "He comes running to us, when we cry in earnest". With regards to Prarabdha Karma (answer to 4th question), it is laid out in the Shastras that one undergoes suffering until their bad and good behaviour balances. "Hatred spoils the purity of our mind and adds to our karmic balance - Eternal Union with BABA by Sivanandamji. When the end towards working out their sins has reached, it is the sign when Guru pulls the devotee to his feet like a sparrow tied to a string. Then the rest of the journey passes off beautiful with the boon bestowing hand of our BABA over our head. The light at the end of the tunnel is always visible, only we need to walk with strong determination, in that process our steps do falter, it is but natural, we are human after all, but the victory lies in accepting our faults, being humble and egoless. To understand BABA one needs to have heart of a child and intellect of a learned man. Let us pray and ask Him to bless us to be worthy of His love.

(Contributed by Anitha Kandukuri, Saidarbar, Canberra, Australia)
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Experiences of Devotees

Naga M Chendica
OM SAI RAM. Dear Sai Devotees, I would like to share one of my recent experience with all of you about Sainath Charitra Parayana. I am working for a start company in California. My company is downsizing the resources and in last month, around 20 resources were laid-off. Again, my company planned for another lay-off. Then I prayed to Baba, started Sainath Charitra parayana on Thursday, 15 Aug., and completed my parayana on 21 Aug. On 22nd, I read "Sai miracles after Samadhi" and I prayed to Baba to show me a miracle. I went to work on Thursday, 22 Aug. In the afternoon, my company declared the lay-off list. In that, my department was completely laid-off (Including manager and director) except me. Baba shows the immediate result of Sainath Charitra Parayana to me. If you have faith on Baba, Baba will be always with you. Jai Sai Ram.

A Sai devotee
I was worshipping a wooden Shivlinga kept in our hall. Within a wink of an eye, it disappeared and in its place was two small marbled Shivlangas in fallen down position (not straight) were found. I was horrified; as the room was slightly dim, I switched on the light and searched all over the hall for the Shivlanga, but could not find it. I got terrified and ran to the room where my mother was sleeping. I woke her up and told about the inauspicious thing that had just happened. She asked me to show the place. I immediately went to the hall and she followed me. Lo! There was a large (about 1 foot) Shivlinga (shape of a mountain) with a broad silver lining at the base. We both were wonder struck, as we did not have it at home earlier. I could find two fresh watery footmarks besides the Shivlinga (as if somebody has just placed his foot after dipping in water). I closely observed and found one foot mark completely wet and other half dried. A thought came in my mind that this is Lord Shiva's footmarks and I rushed to the other room where my father (a Shiva devotee) was sleeping. I woke him up abruptly telling look Shiva has come to our home, come fast get up. I was overwhelmed with joy and my parents were extremely delighted to see that. Within a fraction of a second, that Shivlinga too disappeared and in the central portion of the hall stood about two feet long golden jyothirlinga (similar to that of Mahakaleshwar Jyothirlinga, Ujjain, M.P, India). Wow! It was a great feast for the eyes and soul. It was shining as if it was newly made of solid gold and had some marked features such as eyes and mouth. My parents and I had a nice darshana of that Shivlinga. Shortly I found that my father had moved the jyothirlinga to the other room where I could find the walls of the entire room with garlanded framed photographs of many Hindu gods and goddesses and Shivlinga too decorated with flowers. There was a divine fragrance as I stepped into the room. I sat down singing in praise and mentally thanking Lord Shiva for His darshana and was praying to Him to reveal His real form (Human Form) as I longed to see.

Suddenly my eyes opened and I discovered that it was dream. It was so realistic that even now I could not believe that it was a dream. I bowed to Sai's photo which was in the room I had this marvelous dream. The time was 1:30 pm 31 August 2002 (Krishna Jayanti / Janmashtmi) and I was very curious to tell this dream to my mother. She was sleeping in other room and I did not want to wake her up this time and sat waiting for her to get up. She got up within a minute and I told her the entire episode that I had in the dream (as mentioned above) and showed her the portions of the hall where Shivlinga was found in dream. She was very happy and said that Lord Shiva has given darshana to me.

I got this dream after I slept while reading Sai Satcharitha in the noon. The wonder is just 2 days back I mentally wished Sai to give me darshana of Lord Shiva as He had given darshana of Lord Rama and their Guru's to His devotees (as per Sai Satcharita). Now I consider myself blessed and bow to my Sai millions of times to have provided me darshana of my beloved deity Lord Shiva.

Maha Narasimhan
I had a great experience of feeling the presence of Baba in my house last week when Baba came to my house on Aug 19. My parents-in-law were fighting a legal battle on a property matter for over 7 years in Chennai undergoing great stress and turmoil from the builder of the property. They had given up all hopes of seeing any resolution to the problem and this had caused even health problems for them. I constantly prayed to Baba for their welfare and peace.

About 3 weeks ago, my father-in-law told us that both parties have agreed for out of court settlement and he needs to move out of the house on Aug 21, after finishing all the formalities. This itself was an amazing turn of event. On Aug 20, I was having a visitor from Dubai here in Canada. This was a lady that needed a place to stay to write some exams in Calgary and we decided to help her. This person landed on Aug 20 at about 9 PM local time. By the time we all finished arati for Baba and dinner it was around 11pm in the night. This person had brought a gift for me that she said I would not refuse. I opened the gift and was amazed, because it was a beautiful statue of goddess Lakshmi in gold in the standing position. The most amazing thing was that my parents-in-law finished their legal formalities in Chennai around the same time I kept Lakshmi in my pooja room; got their money back and everything went smoothly for them.

I strongly felt Lord Sai's presence as Lakshmi, entering my house around the same time when my parents-in-law got their Lakshmi back after 7 years of struggle. This is the way Lord Sai shows his presence and guidance to all his devotees.
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Devotees say...

Prasath
Is there any Saibaba mandir in Bahrain?

A Sai devotee
Om Sai Sree Sai Jaya Jaya Sai
I have received Sree Shirdi Saibaba's picture on 11 th Jan ‘2002. I am very fortunate to get this opportunity to server sree Sai maharaj. We (roughly 20 Indian families) usually perform Sai bhajana every alternate Thursday and we do SreeLalitha Sahasra namarchan on every other Friday. We have either Sai bhajana/Lalitha sahasra namarchana. I have started taking Baba's picture to Shiridi Sai bhajana. We have organized Sai bhajana on one Saturday from 7pm to 8:30pm. We had taken Sai Baba's picture to several Thursday bhajans held at my friend's place. I don’t know why Baba is testing me. I had faced all the possible difficulties in my life. Now I have started my life again, readers may not understand what I was writing about. But Baba knows exactly what I was talking about. Now my husband is craving for a job. Please do the best for us. You only create all the hopes and you make us disappointed. Please Baba, if I am doing something wrong please let me know. I bow my head on your lotus feet. I am in a confused state of my life. Please help us out.

Manish Arora
I would like to thank Sai Baba for the support provided to me for the successful completion of my project.

Shalini Agarwal
My very religious sisters introduce me to Lord Sai. But they are still having big problems, please help them. Lord, I also feel your eyes looking at me when I am stuck or doing something wrong. I do not know much, but he is helpful supportive God. Just like parents.
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Prayer Club

A Sai devotee
Dear Lord Sai, I am terribly depressed and unhappy that my marriage that has almost got fixed and was subsequently announced to one and all has been cancelled due to various demands made by the Brides parents. I am unable to concentrate at any thing at hand and know that I am acting very weird and unreasonably. Please take care of me and give me strength to face this problem.

Bindu
Baba, you know what is happening lately, help me out of it Baba, I need your help a lot, I have been hurt by people all around, everybody tries to make my life lonely. You know what exactly I mean, as you are the all knowing. Baba help me, need your help a lot now. Baba I feel that nobody bothers about me. My only hope is you Baba.

A Sai devotee
Dear Baba exactly after a month of my praying to you saying I want children I was blessed. I know fully well that when the doctor told me that there was a 90% chance that I would miscarry in my 2nd month, I just believed in you and you took care of the baby. Baba there are only two more months to go before I deliver the baby. However, the baby is not growing no matter what I eat or do. My doctor is going to scan gain, to see if there is anything wrong. I worry about my baby incessantly please help me to have more faith in you and save my baby. Bless me with a happy and healthy baby. My parayanas are not going smoothly neither am I able to sleep well at night. I have promised to name the baby after you right at the start of my pregnancy because I know without your blessing I would not have conceived this baby. Forgive me for my sins and protect the baby and me. Help me to have a smooth relation with my family because I need their help at time of delivery, right now I am very weak and I am scared when the baby comes I will not be able to take care of the baby.

A Sai devotee
Om Sai Ram. Baba I always want be at your feet. I thank you always for the wonderful gift which you have blessed me. Today I pray you for a job for my husband. My husband should get the job, which he has applied which is very important in our life. Without you, nothing is possible on the earth. You only should get this job for my husband. Please pardon us if we have done sin in the past. Help my husband in getting this job. I have faith in you. I believe that by Baba's grace and with all your prayers we will succeed.

Sai devotee
Sainath...I have been your devotee since very young age. You have always answered to my questions. It has been 12 years since my wife died. I have done my best for my children. Now that they are grown up. Your grace. I hope they do well in their lives. I am feeling very low and down. I am sincerely looking for a companion.. Age caste religion has never been a concern..just a good person. With your grace, you will bring this person in my life.
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Quotation of the Week
"When you seek my protection, I will cross seven seas to help you." - Saibaba of Shirdi
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Question of the Week

Q. In all Baba’s original photos, Baba’s face is not the same. Why?
A. Jaya Tammiraju

Om Sri Sai Ram! When I was doing the nithya parayanam of Sri Sai Charitha, I had some thoughts, which I wanted to share with Sai bandhus. In Sai Charithra by Sri Hemadpant, in chapter 11,Sri Hemadpant says, God or the Brahma could exist in two forms.1.Nirgunaroopam 2.Sagunaroopam.Both belong to ParaBrahma. Some people pray the first form, some others worship the second form and since a man is in the mortal form, worshipping God in the sagunaswaroopam is natural. If we deeply think about Sri Sai's mortal form, in chap 43/44 of Sri Sai Charithra, regarding the 72hr. Samadhi of Baba, and after Baba attains consciousness, Sri Hemadpant poses us a question, "Is Baba in his mortal form or the Inner Soul"?
I think, if Baba is the Inner soul, the soul has nothing to do with the external appearance. The soul is associated with the inner divinity. On the contrary, as we are human beings and we treat Baba as the divine force who has taken the mortal form just to elevate us socially and spiritually, My heart feels about Baba's appearance as "Yat Bhaavam tat Bhavathi". As when I look to Baba when I'm very happy, I come across such pictures - where I see Baba smiling at me as if Sri Sai is sharing my feelings and He too is happy just as a mother enjoying her child's state of excitement.
And when I am grief stricken, I come across the pictures where I feel that Baba is looking deep into my eyes not with a smile that makes me think, "Did I do something wrong that might have annoyed Baba and that I am facing these consequences?" And so pondering, I try to rectify my self and pray Sai thus: O Lord Sai! Please let me behave in a way you like and fill my thoughts with your existence so my mind does not hover around bad deeds. Make me realize as SARVAM SRI SAI MAYAM!

KARA CHARANA KRUTAM VAAKKAYAJAM KARMA JAM VAA SRAVANA NAYANAJAMVA MAANASAM VAAPARAADHAM VIHITAM AVIHITAM VA SARVA METAT KSHAMASVA JAY JAY KARUNAABDE SRI PRABHO SAI NATHAA

SREE SATCHITH ANANDA SADGURU SAI NATH MAHARAJ KI JAI!
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Sai Activities

From Veena Gupta
We are doing/Reciting Sai Amrit Vani, every Thursday from 11 AM to 12 noon, in Baltimore, until 13 Sept and there after we will be doing the same at Atlanta. Any body interested in joining the same may write for details to either veena_gupta_2000@yahoo.com or ashok-kumar@nic.in.

Shirdi Sai Baba Chitra Yatra, Toronto, Canada
Devotees in TORONTO, are invited to please join us in Sai bhajans, Sai Namavali, Saicharitra readings Aarti and Prasad at Durga Mandir 2691 Markham Rd. Unit #5; Ph: 416 754 2983 every Thursday from 6:30pm to 8:00pm. Devotees may participate in Shri Shirdi Sai Chitra Yatra currently underway in Toronto. To invite Baba to your home and for further details and directions contact Shammi Chopra at 416 402 8089 or shchopra@trebnet.com or visit www.saibaba.org

Shirdi Sai Baba Prayer Center, South Brunswick, NJ
Saibaba.org invites you to join for Sai puja, bhajans, Saicharitra readings, aarti and prasad every sunday at VFW hall at Henderson Rd, Kendall Park, South Brunswick, NJ from 3pm-6pm. For further details or directions contact Kumad Sachdev at (732) 257-1438, Shyam Addanki at (610) 648-0191 or email us at maildrop@saibaba.org.

Shri Shirdi Sai Chitra Yatra 2002 in UK
Devotees may participate in Shri Shirdi Sai Chitra Yatra currently underway in UK. To invite Baba to your home and for further details please contact Manu Bajaj at bajaj_manu@yahoo.com or call at +44 7905 933 489 in Wembley, UK

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".
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