BABA repeatedly advised the spiritual seekers that spiritual path is not easy to tread. There are many pitfalls in the path that draws one as a moth is drawn to a flame. The pride in ones religious practices, arrogance, humiliating other's knowledge and practices, show of one's knowledge in Vedas and sacred scriptures, practicing elaborate rituals without devotion - the list of pitfalls is endless. Satcharita has clearly mentioned about this obstacle in Chapter 35 Stanza 2 (Marathi Version) "Thinking of one's spiritual progress, there is no greater and more difficult obstacle in one's path than excessive pride in one's own religions sect which obstructs it."

The present day unrest amongst various religions is mainly due to religious pride. The whole purpose of the religious learning is lost when "madh" surfaces. This pride is like a "Telli's wall between the sadhak and God". Unless one knocks off this pride and humbly surrenders the thoughts and actions at BABA's feet, the seeker is beyond redemption. One must consciously steer their thoughts and evaluate whether their actions comply with what Satcharita has prescribed. When this is done, guru will bless us and we progress in our path towards spirituality.

BABA did not care much for more outward formalities but if an offering was made in meek and humble spirit, the same was welcome and He accepted it with pleasure and avidity (chapter 16/17 Satcharita). This is confirmed through various incidents in Satcharita where BABA has encouraged their own practices and did not like interference in one's practices. Each person has their own way of communicating with God - some like to go to temples, some meditate, some do naam jaap some practice one or more paths of the Nav vidha bhakti.

The primary qualities of a true seeker are humbleness, sincerity, tolerance towards others practices, compliance with others beliefs when in a social situation, and most importantly should have unprecedented love coupled with faith and devotion towards their Sadguru. On such a person Sadguru showers his grace. For followers of Shirdi Sai BABA, Satcharita is a prescribed medication. Those who are keen to evolve should diligently read it and practice what is written with a single minded devotion and then they are sure to reach their final destination with Sadguru as their companion and guide.

(Contributed by Anitha Kandukuri, Canberra, Australia)
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Contributed Article:Bhaja Govindam Sloka 18 (Attributed to Nityananda)

Contributed by Paritala Gopi Krishna, New Delhi, India

Suramandiratarumoolanivaasah
Sayyaa Bhootalamajinam Vaasah
Sarvaparigraha Bhogatyaagah
Kasya Sukham Na Karoti Viraagah
Bhaja Govinda, Bhaja Govindam....

Meaning:
Sura mandir taru moola nivaasah - dwelling (sheltering) in temples, under some trees, Sayyaa - bed (sleeping), Bhootalam - on the naked ground, Ajinam - (wearing)) sking (deer's) Vaasah - cloth, Sarva parigrahah - of the possession, Bhogah - of thirst to enjoy, Tyaagah - renouncing, Kasya - whose, Sukham - happiness, Na - not, Karoti - brings, Viraagah - dispassion.

Substance:
No one can disturb the peace of mind and vairaagya, if one is willingly taking shelter in some temples, under some trees, sleeping on the naked ground, wearing a deer skin, and thus renouncing all idea of possession and thirst to enjoy.

Commentary:
Real happiness is an internal state of mind, but not comes from an external object. There is no other means to gain and enjoy bliss except through perfect renunciation. There is no one in the world that can be pointed out as the happiest man, even though one is filthy rich in all respects, because one day this person has also to leave this world and the body. By renouncing the entire idea of possession and relinquishing all exercises to acquire materialistic pleasure, one lives happily, ever self-sufficient, as one has discovered an inexhaustible well of joy and a rich mind of true satisfaction in one's own deep within. When renunciation is only external, and when there is still the sense of attachment within, one cannot discover the true joy of living. Therefore, renunciation should be external as well as internal in all aspects of life and at all costs. Then only one can reach the stage of desirelessness, not as a result of deliberate running away from life, but due to a positive experience of intense self-sufficiency felt and lived within.

Contributed Poem: Jeevan Dhaara - Sai ke Disha

Contributed by Aparna Sanghvi

Om Shri Sai, Om Shri Sai,
Karo Akhand yeh nap jap ,
Isi mein basein hai
Om (Shiv Sankaram),
Shri (Vishwa vinayakam )
Aur Sai ( Gurudev dattam )

Ho gaya in sabse ek kavach
Diya isne manushya ko ek nayi pehchaan
Sahi patth nazar aaya
Jeevan ka udesh mil gaya

Nahi ruka kabhi phir
Chalta gaya uus path pe
Poorey lagan aur vishwas ke saath

Karta gaya sabka bhala
Na socha kabhie apne barein me
Ho gaya safal is jeevan ki dhara se

Uske jeevan ki shyam aayee,
Khush ho gaya in vicharosein
Prabhu ki seva karne ki bari aayee

Aaya tha is duniya mein rote rote
Lekin mukta ho gaya is bandhan se haste haste
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Experiences of Devotees

A Sai devotee
I have a child with some medical and speech difficulties. He is four years old, and is under a Neurologist's care. I had been having a very hard time mentally dealing with this issue and had become quite depressed.

On the 23rd of April when I called the doctor's office to set up an appointment for him, I was informed by the doctor's secretary that they were 99% sure my son has a rare and very debilitating condition. She gave me no other explanation other than a nurse would be calling me back to discuss this further with me.

I was devastated, to put it mildly. I waited and waited all that day, but there was no call from the nurse. I sat meditating on Sai Baba, and visualizing his face in my mind, praying for his help. We spent a sleepless night worrying and thinking about this issue. My husband took off work the next day and we waited and waited again. I sent an e-mail to the doctor berating her and asking her to call me as soon as she could, but we still received no call. Again I spent the day with Baba in my mind. Finally, just before offices were due to close, we were able to contact the doctor directly. She gave us the news that there was a miscommunication! Our child had a 99% chance of NOT having this disease, and they wished to make sure of that fact, by testing my husband's and my blood. The secretary had got this fact wrong when conveying the message to me!

Baba sent us this lesson, to help us understand that what we were going through all this time had been bad, but things could be a lot worse. My child's problems can be overcome. I had been depressed and agitated over an issue that could be resolved. He showed us how much worse things could be. We heard the bad news on a Wednesday and he gave us his Leela on Thursday 24 April 2003. He showed us just how much we could trust and put our faith in him. I am grateful to Baba for showing me his love and his path. Om Sai Ram.

Swathi Reddy
I love Saibaba. He has helped me in all my steps in my life. He saved me many times. I'd like to share one of my experiences with you. When I was in my 12th, I did my chemistry exam the worst I had ever done. I thought I would fail in that exam. If that happened, that would have been the end of my studies. Because my father wouldn't have allowed me to study further in that case. I came to know Lord Saibaba through my best friend and I am thankful to her for her influence on me. My belief in Saibaba, made me pass that exam which was a wonder for the first time in my life.....I 'll never forget it. I am an engineer now. Still, he is helping me in all terms. Great God!!!
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Devotees say...

A Sai devotee
Sairam, Baba thanks for everything you have given me, you have made all this possible who so ever trusts You with shradha and saburi you see that his faith remains and grows. This is my personal experience and I request all the Sai devotees to keep their faith in baba and enjoy his leelas, he can do miracles.

Latha Srinivas
Baba! Salutations to you. Thanks a lot for bringing about a change in my sister's attitude and behavior. I am glad that my prayers through the website have been heard. Please help her to concentrate on her studies and get good results. I am sure you will also show your Karuna in getting a job for my husband. Please continue to shower your blessings on us. Jai Sairam

Subramanyam
SaiRam. You know everything of me, please shower your blessings on my family to get their life in to normal and happy life.. Also about my career and my wife's and parents' health. bless loka samastha sukhinobahavantu.

Snigdha
(Originally published in Sai Vichaar Vol. 4, Issue: 1) The following is Sainatha Kasta Nivarana Sthothram. I hope devotees will benefit from chanting this sthothram.
Sri Sainaatha Kasta Nivarana Dasanaama Sthrothram

Prathamam - Sainaathaaya
Dwitheeyam - Dwarakamaayine
Trutheeyam - Teertharajaaya
Chaturtham- Bhaktavatsale
Panchamam - Paramatmaaya
Sashtamcha - Shirdivaasine
Sapthamam - Sadgurunaathaaya
Ashtamam - Anaadhanathane
Navamam - Niraadambaraaya
Dasamam - Dattavatharine
ethani dasa naamani, trisandhyaam japathennaraha
sarva kasta bhayaan mukto, Sainatha guru kripa

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Prayer Club

Sai Devotee
Om Sai Sri Sai Jay Jay Sai. Baba, thanks a lot for all you have done for us till now and also forgive us for all the mistakes we have committed. Please my Lord; help my husband who is actually in Australia to get his visa and work permit. Keep my children, my husband, friends and family in good health. Om Sai Ram!

Devika
My dear Baba, thank you for everything. I am sorry to have been so angry and bitter with you about the bad times that we were going through. I now know that there is a long way for us to go and you will be holding our hand. I know that we will be very successful and your blessing is with us. THANK YOU. We love you.

Ramesh
Om Sai, since ten years now, I along with my family, as you know, am getting nowhere. Oh Sai please show me a day, whereby I wake up and find happiness everywhere. Sai I worship you, please give me your darshan in dreams. Om Sai

Satyashri
Dear BABA, As you are aware my son Ganapathi, while playing yesterday broke the idol of Vinayaka Swamy, BABA help me out and our family, he did this by mistake, he wanted to shake hands with Vinayaka Swamy when I was keeping the pieces together, BABA help us out! Baba please do something, I am really worried. I am sorry for what has happened.

Sai Devotee
Oh Sri Sai Ram, Babagariki Pranamamulu. Baba bless us with good jobs, a good house and a happy living. We believe and experience that you are with us all the time and showering your blessings on us. Baba please bless my in-laws, my parents and all of us with good health and happy life. Namaskarams

Ramila
Aum Sai Ram, Pranaams to our Lord Sai Baba. Baba we would very much like assurance from you as we are to leave our homeland Zimbabwe to go to New Zealand to settle as the situation in Zimbabwe has deteriorated a lot. Please let us know if we are doing the right thing, as we have to sell up everything we have ever worked for to start afresh in a strange country, which is very frightening. We will need all your blessings so that we can make a go of our new life. Please help.

A Sai devotee
Dear Sadguru, My mother is suffering from cancer and the doctor said that she has three months of life. This is too hard for me, please my Lord help her to recover from this serious condition. I promise that I will go to Shirdi to give thanks in front of your Samadhi and help all the people who need help. Sai my Love is with you. Om Sri Sai Ram, Jai Jai Sai Ram, Om Sai Ram.
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Quotation of the Week
"Spiritual discovery demands courage and honesty and the willingness to look afresh at our existence"-Guruji Sainathuni Sarathbabu ji
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Question of the Week

Q. What did Hemadpanth mean when he said about Megha, "Baba worked on Megha internally so that Megha changed considerably"?

A. by Ravin, Minnesota, USA

Megha came to Baba's fold via HV Sathe. As an orthodox Brahmin, his simple mind refused to see God in the Jewel of Shirdi. When Megha approached Baba, Baba yelled at him, "kick out the rascal.. You are a high caste Brahmin and I am a low Muslim". Strange it might sound, the ego of being a sattwic is still a blob of ignorance! Megha had to endure the mental turmoil, traveling from place to place thinking of God's grace. After several months, he was allowed into the masjid and he began to see Baba through different eyes and worship him as he would worship his beloved deity Shiva. Baba, without unsettling the mind of this simple folk, began giving him the experiences that reinforced his faith in God. Not only that, his experiences was such that he was completely convinced of Baba's divinity. A practice of Megha worth mentioning is his method of worshipping Baba; he used worship Baba's picture in the wada and later proceed to Dwarakamayi for Baba's darshan. He used to participate in regular worship and aarthis. When Megha passed away in 1912, Baba said, "This is the true devotee of mine".

It is well known that inscrutable are Baba's ways. Megha's episode is a nice example where Baba spoke very less but did a magnificent job so that Megha's ignorance was completely driven out and he was able to see God in the most tangible way.
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Sai Activities

Shirdi Sai Satsang, Houston, TX
Shirdi Sai Jalaram Mandir, Houston, Texas, USA cordially invites you for Thursday satsang at the following location: 5645 Hillcroft, Suite #304, Houston, Texas, 77036 between 6.30pm to 8.30pm. For more information call (713) 789 486, or send an email to: saibabahouston@yahoo.com

Shirdi Saibaba Satsang in Columbus, OH
Satsang in Columbus, OH has been taking place for the past few years. We are grateful to our Lord Sainath who has taken us to the 5th consecutive year. We always have felt Him among us in our Satsang sessions making us feel blissful. For more information devotees send email to: sssb_temple@yahoo.com.

Shirdi Sai Utsav 2003 - Orlando, FL, USA
Sai devotees of Orlando, FL are organizing Shirdi Sai Utsav 2003 on 4th and 5th of October 2003. The proposed program includes Akhanda Naam Jap, Bhajans and Satsangh. For further details, please contact: Sai Sharan by phone at (407) 445 2520 or by email at : shirdisaiutsav2003@yahoo.com

Gurupoornima 2003 - Shirdi Saibaba Prayer Center, Minnesota
Shirdi Saibaba Prayer Center will celebrate Gurupoornima 2003, on Saturday July 12, 2003 at Geeta Ashram in Brooklyn Park, Minneapolis, MN. The activities will include, Sai pooja, traditional aarthis, activities for kids, bhajans and kirtans, and mahaprasad (dinner). Please watch "Sai activities' section for for more details.

Shirdi Sai Baba Chitra Yatra And Weekly Satsang, Canada
Devotees in Toronto, are invited to please join us in Sai bhajans, Sai Namavali, Satcharitra readings Aarti and Prasad every Thursday from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm. Devotees can participate in Shri Shirdi Sai Chitra Yatra currently underway in Toronto and Calgary. To invite Baba to your home and for further details contact Shammi Chopra at (416) 402 8089 or saileela99@yahoo.com.

Sri Shirdi Sai satsangs in Auckland, New Zealand
Sri Shirdi Sai Sansthan,NZ is celebrating Sri Ramanavami on the Sunday 13th April 2003 at the Mt Eden war memorial hall, Mt Eden, Auckland. The morning will start with reciting Sri Sai Sahasranamavali, followed by Bhajans, Pravachan, Arathi and Maha Prasad. Also all Sai devotees are invited to participate in Sai Bhajans, discourse and arathi every Thursday at 7:30 pm.The venue is located at Balmoral Mandir, Balmoral, Auckland, NZ. For more details please contact Dr Ram Prasad at prasads@quicksilver.net.nz.

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.

Visit 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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