The concept of Guru is unique. With careful observation, one might appreciate the existence of the concept of Guru in every way of life, in one form or the other. This includes all civilizations and cultures mankind has seen thus far. Could there be a substitute to Guru? If we can say that books can substitute teacher, we could probably say that one needs no Guru. Let us not forget that such a conviction should also precede an assumption that everyone can read!

Could exercises such as meditation or performing a ritual compensate the benefits of having a Guru? Experiences can be felt or realized through several sources. However, pursuit of such an experience without the right objective does not constitute a spiritual experience. On the other hand, it may just be a temporary state of well being, without any permanent gains. Exercises such as meditation have been scientifically proven to exert a positive influence on the human mind and body. Several great men have practiced and preached different ways of such activities. However, temporary spurts of feeling good do not lead to any permanent transformations. This is evident from the rate with which such phenomenon have arrived and vanished. One reason for the failure to accomplish any thing major through these exercises may be the fact that enough importance is not placed on the importance of completely understanding the concept of Guru.

Sri Ganapathi Sachchidananda Swamiji during a discourse challenged, "Is it possible to meditate upon something unseen or unheard?" How many of us can truthfully do this? If this could be possible, then where is the necessity for Guru, for the objective of a meditation is the merger of meditator and the object meditated upon. Human intellect responds to attributes that it can easily relate to. Such an object makes the pursuit of the unknown easier. In fact, it becomes absolutely necessary for some, given the frivolous nature of the mind.

The necessity for a Guru is well explained in scriptures. Guru(s) manifold functions, and the fact that Guru is the closest to God one can experience is also well illustrated. Realization that Guru is none other than God and He is nothing but the all-pervading conscious, is truly a blissful experience. We find several examples for this phenomenon in Sri Sai Satcharitha including the episode of Madrasi Bhajani Mela and Dr. Pandit. Baba said always, "Allah Malik, God is Great!" and yes, He Himself has referred to His Guru many a times.
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Contributed Article:Righteousness in Sai-ism - Part Two

Contributed by Anitha Kandukuri, Canberra, Australia

We often find ourselves trying to be good to the people we come across and go beyond our capacity to please them in helping them do good and bad things, only to earn their affections. In the process, we are frustrated and end up making a number of others miserable. If one were good and true to lord and please God then we would be pleasing the world. Let us focus only on the lord. Satcharitha tells us to read, develop and implement the qualities of sincerity, compassion, honesty, humility, and truthfulness; all these qualities are encompassed in LOVE. If we have love in our heart, these qualities follow automatically. There should be no sense of showmanship, haughtiness, attachment or identification to the act of rendering service to BABA. BABA never encouraged such thoughts and there is no room in Sai Tatv for such feelings. BABA does not need and care for service, the MASTER who is the creator of this Universe; does HE need somebody's help to carry HIS work? Definitely not, service to people is a way of serving BABA, hence BABA allows for such acts and arranges for such opportunities, which act as a channel to serve HIM. One must constantly evaluate their actions and destroy the ego attached to the actions. Statements like - "I am doing this work for BABA", "I never crave for worldly enjoyments" and constantly justifying and convincing our good qualities to others also is a sign of conceit. These feelings develop only when there is ego and attachment. A true follower of Sai-ism has sense of indifference towards the world but is compassionate to the suffering and pain. This is a fine line of balance that is hard to tread by normal humans, but is achieved by the saints.

A true devotee of Sai always listens to the lamenting and greatness of other devotees and keeps quite. True Sai followers and are those, whose actions speak louder than their words. BABA himself creates a situation to focus the attention of the world on such people and their works. They are here only to lead us in the path of Sai-ism. I bow to such souls. Let us start a movement of action, where we do not make relics of such saints but carry them in our heart and pay respects to them by emulating their actions - in blind faith. Let us not wait for HIS blessings and grace; we must first help ourselves before we look for help. When we start following the path of our guru with determination then Guru's grace automatically follows us. This is the greatest guru dakshina that one can give to the guru and also serves the purpose of the incarnations. Discharging our worldly duties with sincerity and earning the grace of the lord by pleasing HIM alone- is the underlying value of Sai philosophy. "Lord Krishna has also said the same in the Gita. Therefore, strive not much for food and clothes. If you want anything, beg of the Lord, leave worldly honors, try to get Lord's grace and blessings, and be honored in His Court" chapter 6 of Sai Satcharitha reiterates this fact.
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Experiences of Devotees

Sriram and Madhumita
Sairam, I read my letter published in the Sai Vichaar today(Nov 14th 2002).Sai has given my wife a job even before the letter got published.She just finished reading the Sai Satcharitra yesterday.Sai has blessed us at the very thought of Him. Just to impress on the readers what an eternal bliss we will get, if we meditate on him during all our deeds.Jai Sai Ram.

Kishore Kumar Rajput
I am a devotee to the great Sai, My Guruji based in Harrow-London Trivedi Dadaji passed away over a year ago. I would always have my experiences of the great Sai, when I go to my Guruji's house. My Guruji always told me 'mention Sai's name and that fears and troubles will be no more. My Gurujis house is filled with Sai's pictures and most of them have udi on them. Once we were in the middle of aarti and I said to my self I am so happy being here and thought to myself I'd love to do the Saibaba's pooja, at that instance Sai came in spirit into devotee Jyoti Phenji and said ' Baba ki pooja karun ja bheta'. I was stunned and I had tears of joy in my eyes, I could not believe it, whilst doing the pooja my eyes filled with tears.

Also once other time I dreamt of massaging Sai's feet, the feeling was so great when I got up the next morning I told my mother of this and we were both so happy. Thank you Baba for all your experiences.

A Sai Devotee
Can any of the Sai devotees say how they take permission or Baba's decision in any of their day-to-day activities? When I am confused and puzzled not able to come to one decision, I put chits and take out one. But unfortunately every time it came very vaguely and seemingly not appropriate answer. So I did not follow that practice. In last weeks article Ms Ragini Palani wrote that she got an order from Sai and her husband resigned from a very good job. If Ragini is reading this mail can she kindly tell me how she got decision from Saibaba. When my husband lost job and was trying for jobs there were 3 opportunities and we didn't know which one to chose, as none of them were proper. I put chits and got "don't join any of these companies" chit. But we were already in trouble with no job for 3 months. So finally we took up one of them, which we felt was OK. Didn't I obey BABA? This question bothers me. Can anyone tell me an answer for this?
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Devotees say...

Raj Ponnaluri
When I get a chance, I read the "Prayer Club" section of Sai Vichaar. A recent reading brought tears to my eyes - whether it is a husband misunderstanding a devoted wife and the latter pleading with Baba, or a dedicated mother expressing concern at her son's poor educational performance, or an individual seeking help from the Lord to find a job, or even to the point where one feels absolute remorse and confides in Baba of a mistake he may have committed. What is the bottom-line in all of these issues? What are the core elements that push men, women, and children to seek refuge in Baba? What makes people plead with Him and ask for His support in crossing a stream that may look like a river at times? The answer may lie in the confidence level that Baba's grace has created during a sustained period of over 100 years. It is His magnificence and philanthropy that strikes cord with the millions of masses across India and the world. It is His unyielding commitment to assurances He provided while He was in human form and continues to do so in His spirit every passing day since He released Himself from the physical body. It is His desire to help those that truly seek assistance. He caters to those who ask for others, more than they do for themselves.

Anytime you feel compassion while reading a note, realize that is when He feels the same --- for he is in you just as He is in me. A request that originates from the depths of the heart accompanied by a backlog of sincere devotion gets rewarded the fastest. Regardless, He knows what is good for each and what is not. He knows what will help and what will hurt. Will a parent ever desert one child at the expense of other children despite the personality imperfections of the latter? No. Baba is not looking to assist you only IF you pray. He will - if He feels the need. He will - if the request is sincere and devoted. Salutations and respects to the Greatness that Baba is. My regards to all and thank you for your readership. Trust Him. This too will pass.
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Prayer Club

A Sai Devotee
Sairam, My husband and I are out of jobs from past one month.You always helped me when I needed. Now also kindly come to my rescue and help me.We are also waiting for the approval of our Green card.Please Baba I beg you and fall at your feet to please grant us these wishes. I Bow to you Sairam. Dear Sai devotees, kindly pray for me to get a job immediately.

Prakash
Om Sai Ram! Sai Baba I have been working in a government organisation since 1983 in Library. I have put in almost 20 years of service in the Library itself. I have completed both my B.Lib and M.Lib by your grace. I have not been promoted as Librarian so far. Please help me, Sai Baba, to get my promotion if you feel I really deserve it.

A Sai Devotee
Sai Ram ! My problem is since many years, as You might know, me and my family are in a mess. I and my wife lost our jobs, my daughter in law has no job and my son is looking for a job very seriously. We all are in a mess, please try to help us. You know that I got weavering mind in having faith, so please give me strenghth and make everything allright.

A Sai Devotee
SAIBABA I know that You are helping me through out my life .You saved me in so many difficult situations. So, please SAIBABA, save me now also. Please remove me from this country and send me back to INDIA.I cant stay here any more. Please, send me back to INDIA .I want to serve my parents. I have committed so many mistakes in the past, please forgive me. Please SAIBABA send me back to INDIA with in this year. And also get me a good job in INDIA, so that I can serve my parents.

A Sai Devotee
Baba, please help me. I need this job desperately. I request all Said devotees to pray that I get a job soon as I need one desperately.

A Devotee
Dear Sairam, you have helped me to come out of a very bad phase of my life and gave me a wonderful life partner. Thanks for everything you have done. You listened to my prayers BABA. Sairam, why are the things happening so badly to my family and me these days? I have been trying for a job and am not getting any. You know my elder sister who is a devotee of YOU since her childhood and I heard the name "BABA" from her for the first time in my life. BABA, why are you not listening to her prayers? She has been an inspiration to everyone in my family. You know how nice she is and how perfect daughter/sister/daughter-in-law/mother she is. What did you give her? You gave her a husband who doesn't love her at all, who is totally a mismatch to her. Why did you do this to her BABA? You know how her life is now. Please bless her BABA. Please make our brother-in-law realize how important married life is .I don't know what and how to ask YOU. You know everything. My younger sister and myself got good life partners with your grace. We want to see our sister to be happy Sairam-please do something. Please show mercy on her. I want to see her happy. Everyday I think of her and feel so guilty of not helping her. I feel the day gone waste again. My parents are so sad and they have only this thing in their mind always. Please BABA, give her a good life. I want to take the responsibility BABA. but I don't have any job now. I have been trying and I am not getting anything yet. Please show some mercy on us BABA. You know what responsibilities I have. Please give me a job BABA. Please forgive me for all the sins I have committed. Please give good health to everyone at my parent's and in-law's home. Please shower your mercy on my elder sister BABA. Om Sairam Gurudatta.

Sai Devotee
I have been a staunch devotee of Sainath and my wife and daughter too. In office, I have been in the current grade for the past five years. Unfortunately the promotions were stopped this year. But there were few changes done in the grade for some people; which was not done for me. Due to this, all my juniors were elevated and am still continuing in the old grade. I put my best effort to serve the organization, but due to this problem, I am loosing my interest in the current job and organization. This also led to mental agony and feeling of anger towards me as why I am being treated like this. Whenever this feeling starts, I chant Sai's name and there is bit of relief. I request all Sai devotees to pray for my well-being in office without loosing interest in job. Sainatha, I touch your feet and beg you to relieve me from this mental pain. In addition, I am being betrayed by my own teammate and I suffer a lot mentally because of his acts. Though I am strict some times on him, he behaves very differently and tries to claim credit for the work done by me directly or jointly. I know very well that these kinds of problems/issues prevail everywhere. But I respect the current organization, which has given me this status at least. I pray to Sai that I get relieved of all these pains and work sincerely and get promotion soon. Dear Sai Devotees, Please spare a few seconds for me to pray to Lord Sai for my peace of mind. Thank you all.

Sai Devotee
Om Sai Ram and all devotees - please pray that I have strength. Please Baba. You are my true father. My husband's parents have come now to stay with us and they want to apply for their green card. I respect them, but cannot manage to stay with them. They only stay with us and from our home is their home base, despite having their other children (son and daughter and their families) in the next towns. Despite what they do at home, I still cannot shake the fact that I can manage on my own as well. I seem to have no space at home for anything - all they will be involved in, whether it is my child, my talks with my husband, anything. Please Bhagwan, give me the strength to bear everything and settle all my previous lives' debts with them with equanimity. Please Baba, give me the strength and politeness to be nice to them even when I feel they are interfering with my life. Please give me the strength not to be selfish. Om Sairam - Jai Sachidanand!

Srinivasulu
SaiBaba, Help me with my health, career and my family's Happiness. Bless me with a good job, so that I can stay with my family. Being in odd jobs, I am unable to spend time with my family. Give me good health.

A Sai Devotee
Dear brothers and sisters of the Sai family, it is very immature of me to ask something from BABA for HE knows WHEN AND WHAT TO GIVE. But the feelings for my brother make me submit this article with a humble request to you all. He has been having many slips in his life for the past two years. He is yet to settle down in a good job. Baba is testing him. But his getting a good job will speed up the recovery of my father, a retired man, who has recently undergone a bypass surgery. Hence may I request you all to pray for my brother to Settle down in a job as early as possible. and MY HEARTFELT THANKS IN ADVANCE,TO ALL OF YOU, FOR YOUR PRAYERS

A Sai Devotee
I have been in love with a divorcee for more than 3 years now. We had to put aside our marriage because I didn't get my parents approval. I prayed to GOD so that everything will turn out fine. Now there is a new problem, there is a new widow who wants to get married to him and trying her best to break us up. I can't face these problems anymore. Please pray that BABA will solve all the obstacles and let me be united with one person whom I really love and spent the rest of my life with.

A Devotee
Baba's Aashirwaad and Saibhakts prayers have always blessed our home. God my best friend's son is not studying hard. Please make him understand and let him study really hard, God.

Sai devotee
Jai Sairam. I am daughter of SAI OUR ALMIGHTY from Chennai for whom SAI has always been there. I am in a look out for a job right now after leaving my previous one as things were not going that good .I am a sales & customer care person with nine plus years experience. I have attended and cleared two rounds of interview in a very big Organization. But they are yet to decide. Kindly pray for me to get a wonderful job where my efforts, with Sai's grace will give me growth, as I 'll be able to help my parents and take care of them well and settle down in a better way .I want to keep them relieved from financial crunches. Please pray for me that this wish of mine should be granted.

Sai Devotee
Please SAI do the best for me, as I am tired of the search for a fulfilling job. I beseech you SAIRAM.

A Sai Devotee
Dearest Sai Baba, Its been a year my husband is looking for a job. Everybody speaks about his experience with you and how their faith gets deeper every time. Baba, our visa will expire in December, why don't You show us some miracle and get us a job. We have nowhere to go, before its too late, please do something.
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Quotation of the Week
My Sircar says "Take, take," but everybody comes to me and says 'Give, give.' Nobody attends carefully to the meaning of what I say. My Sircar's treasury (spiritual wealth) is full, it is overflowing. I say, "Dig out and take away this wealth in cartloads, the blessed son of a true mother should fill himself with this wealth. The skill of my Fakir, the Leela of my Bhagwan, the aptitude of my Sircar is quite unique --Sai Baba of Shirdi
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Question of the Week

Q.What is the significance of rotating around the self while standing (pradakshina) during Baba's aarathi?

A.by Ravin, Minnesota,USA
Pradakshina, also called as Circumambulation appears to have a deeper meaning in its ritual. During performing Sai aarathi, devotees circumambulate (do pradakshina) around themselves chanting, "Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare", "Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare", twice paying respects to Lord Rama and Lord Krishna the Hindu forms of God. It is also a practice to do pradakshina while seeking forgiveness for a wrong doing during a ritual. One source on Hinduism defines pradakshina as the "circumambulation clockwise around a sacred person, sacred image, a sacred object or a temple in a clockwise direction. It is the movement around, not toward a center. It is a movement encompassing an object: a temple, a holy site, a sacred mountain, a lake, a river, a city, and even includes circling around oneself. This also signifies honoring, centering, bonding, setting apart, and reaffirmation of the sacred territorial claim".
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Sai Activities

Shirdi Sai Baba Chitra Yatra And Weekly Satsang, Canada
Shri Shirdi Saibaba Sansthan of Canada, Toronto cordially invites you all to for Thursday satsang at the following 2 locations: Durga temple., 2691 Markham Rd. Scarborough, ph: 416 754 2983 and Shri Vithal Hindu Mandir., 5359 Timber Lea Blvd. Mississauga, ph: 905 238 0946. between 6:15pm to 7:15pm.

We are also pleased to inform that due to the great love of devotees for Baba "chitra yatra" has been extended. Devotees interested in inviting Baba to invoke Baba's blessings for their family can invite Baba to their homes. For more details visit www.saibaba.org or call Shammi Chopra at 416 402 8089 between 7:30am-9:00am or after 9:00 pm

We invite all devotees in Canada to join us in celebrating "Shri Ramnavami festival 2003 in Toronto. Devotees joining from outside Toronto looking for accommodation please register by 25th of February - devotees interested in volunteering or those interested in offering bhajans to Baba pls call Shammi Chopra 416 402 8089 from 7 to 9am or after 9pm in the evening.

Shirdi Sai Baba Prayer Center, Kendall Park, NJ
Saibaba.org invites you to join for Sai puja, bhajans, Saicharitra readings, aarti and prasad every sunday at Durga Mandir,Kendall Park, NJ from 11am-1pm. 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.

Shirdi Sai Baba Prayer Center, Twin Cities, MN
By the grace and blessings of Sadguru Sainath Maharaj, Shirdi Saibaba Prayer Center has started for the benefit of Sai devotees in the Twin Cities and surrounding areas of Minnesota at 725-139 NE Lake Street, Hopkins, MN. The program will include Sai Bhajans, Kirthans and Sai Naama Jap. For details, please contact hamaresai@yahoo.com. Or call Sangeeta (651-481-6782), Kiran (952-233-1819), Ravi (651-342-0600) Bhuva (651-681-2042) or Sathya (651-739-2105)

Shri Shirdi Sai Chitra Yatra 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 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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