His devotees swear Baba is God and why not? Baba, although a human being, had all attributes of God. He was omniscient, he was aware of everything that happened anywhere and everywhere including what passed through the minds of human beings and creatures. He would read the past and the future of his devotees. He was omnipresent. He was simultaneously present in a number of places to the utter surprise and delight of his devotees and this has been vouched for by devotees who saw him in Bombay at the puja room of a devotee and in Shirdi (at the same time). He controlled the elements and he shaped events to happen differently from what they would have in the normal course. He read men’s thoughts hundreds and thousands of miles away and no one who came to Dwarakamayi could have thoughts without Baba being aware of them the moment they originate. He proved oneness with all Gods and Saints. And more than anything else his love and compassion for all creations of God were so deep and all embracing that only God could shower them in such abundance. What devotees prayed to the deities they worshipped in home or temples they received by the mere glance of this living God who assured them protection and security, fulfilled all their desires and made them happy. Is it then any wonder that they came to believe that he was God walking on earth? It did not matter to them that he appeared to belong to another religion (and he was supremely indifferent and did not think it necessary to reveal his true self to them) but he was God all the same to them and some called him "Muslim Vishnu".

(From "God who walked on earth" by Shri R. Parthasarathy)
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Experiences of Devotees

Mala, Abu Dhabi
Sai Ram to all!
I am a devotee of Sai Baba. I just would like to relate my experience to you all. I believed Babaji when I saw Manoj Kumar's 'Shirdhi ke Sai Baba'. I kept many fasts as well and to tell you that I had a very nice husband who cares for me. My recent experience is that my husband lost his job and someone asked him to fast on Thursdays, though I had already started fasting without him knowing as he believes that you can't pray to God with an empty stomach. Well, anyhow, he started to fast and I mentioned to him that I was fasting for Sai Baba. As I work for BA, there was a promotion that I could go to India taking my mother along with me. I was excited and asked my hubby to make a move but he was reluctant, as we didn't have the money to pay for everyone's tickets (that three adults and four girls). We left the decision entirely with Babaji by writing small chits of 'YES' and 'NO'. In the morning after his prayers, he checked the chits and the first one was 'YES'. We were all delighted that we would visit 'Puttaparthi and Shirdhi' The visit to Puttaparthi was fine but the volunteers are a bit too harsh on small kids. Our visit to Shirdhi was fine too and I saw a very tall man dressed in orange. My little one had runs and we saw that a lady approached this man and said she had terrible back pain. He just hit her on the back and she started walking straight, so I immediately got caught of his pocket as he was very tall and he looked at us all and gave us vibhuti. I guess he must be Sai. Within no seconds, he disappeared. My prayers were answered, my husband found a new job and I was blessed with a baby son, who is now 3 years old. While expecting, I had a craving of eating vibhuti and when he was delivered, the first thing that went in his mouth was vibhuti and amrit.
Now I ask all the devotees to pray for us as my husband has a 'by-pass' operation. He is fine and looking for a job. Please pray for us that he finds employment. Love to you all. SAI RAM.

Sailatha, Omaha, NE, USA
Sai Baba is guiding me in my life when I was and am facing numerous problems in life including spinal fracture. I want to share an experience that I had when I went to shirdi in 1995 before undergoing a major surgery. Near chavadi, one person came with crutches. He did not talk with my husband or son but when I passed him, he said, "Has Baba not asked you to give money?" So I gave him Rs 2.Then he said he wanted Rs 5 more for eating. I told him angrily that Baba has said whatever is given has to be taken. Then I gave Rs 5. He then asked me "Why are you angry?" I told him to leave at that. I felt that the person must be noble. While I was leaving, I saw him standing near chavadi hitting his head. Within a second, he was gone. I could not find him. Who could that person be other than Baba? I lost my chance due to my anger. Let Baba take me with my defects. I would like to share this experience of mine with all.

Srinivasa Rao Katta, USA
Dear Sai devotees, my name is Srinivasa Rao. I am in the US. I had my road test on 28th apr'99. Same day morning I have to attend a crucial meeting.on 27th all through night I was preparing important points. I went to bed around 3am and again I woke up around 5am. at around 1pm my driving instructor came to give me final lesson before the test. I was not able to concentrate and I did lot of mistakes. He advised me to take test on some other day, as I seem to be very tired. I told him that I would give the test today only for which he replied it is up to me. Before I started driving, I prayed Saimaata and I have successfully given the road test and passed. srkatta@yahoo.com
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Devotees say...

Charon
To Kau - Shirdee Trip - 14.5.1999 Om Sri Sainath, My humble pranams at the holy lotus feet of our lord Sri Sainath. Reading through Baba's beloved devotee's experience on the recent trip to Shirdee has prompted me to write. I was overcome with joy whilst reading the wonderful experience. Tears of joy fell from my eyes as I imagined what it must have been like to experience Baba's wonderful leela. Thank you beloved devotee for sharing your wonderful experience with us. May Baba's grace continue to shower on all of us forever and ever.

Shalini
Reply to Sad Devotee

I am just 19 years old and might be too young to guide you but I can definitely tell you what I think about your whole story. I am really disappointed to hear about your sufferings in life. Believe me, one just needs patience to really achieve anything. I still remember the days when things used to go wrong with me and I used to tell my parents that god is being really bad to me and giving me so many sufferings. only little did I realize later that god had done that for my own good. this is a lesson I really have learnt and have decided to accept things as they happen since we are children of god and he knows what is good for us in life. Therefore, I am sure that your prayers to Sai Baba will be answered soon even though it probably would take some more time. God may have a hidden reason also for causing this. so just hold your faith in him very high and wait for good things to happen. I am sure he will guide you on to the right path and will only allow the good to happen to you and discard the bad and evil.

Lokesh Khosla
I would like to know the contact information of Shri C.P.Satpathy who had written an article in the Sai Vichar two weeks back. I will highly appreciate if anybody could give me this information. Sai Ram
(Please visit http://www.saibabaofshirdi.net for more information on Shri Satpathy ji and his holy mission - Sai Vichaar)

Saiprasad, USA
I am very happy seeing Sai Satcharitra on the net because it is very helpful for us. Thank you very much for this services that you have for the devotees of Baba. Looking forward some more from you

Joanne Loh
I wonder if you could help me please. I wanted to ask you if you or any Sai devotees had a similar experience, I am about to tell you. when I was 12 years of age I was gazing out of my classroom window, I saw in the clouds an old man standing beside a white horse. It was coming towards me and I was petrified. that was 30 years ago. I wonder what this vision could mean. I would like an explanation because I can still remember this vision very clearly as if it was yesterday. Thanks. Sairam

A blessed devotee
I would like to convey my gratitude and million thanks to all the wonderful people, (Subhash Mujumdar, Raj Ponnaluri, Aymee Minaya and A Sai Devotee) how who have expressed their opinions and imparted sincere advice through Sai Vichaar of May 13, 1999 in response to the pain and grief of "A Sad Devotee". I am specially very grateful because the advice received through this newsletter has helped me tremendously in dealing and coping with my present situation and moving on with life reposing full faith and confidence in GOD and our beloved Sai Baba. I am completely overwhelmed by the responses as I was not expecting so many replies to my cry for help with all the blessings and guidance by Sai's faithful devotees. I am eternally grateful to Sai, all his devotees and to the organizers of this web site.

To the lady who herself is going through a similar difficult situation, thank you for expressing your understanding. You are very right that this is a time for acceptance of God's will and learning to live life one day at a time with faith and confidence that whatever God chooses for us it is always for our best. I pray we will both come out of this phase of life more spiritually enlightened.

To Rosa, who wishes to ask me some questions, please send an email at: meher@emirates.net.ae

To the administrators of Sai Vichaar I would like to state that they are providing a great platform for many distressed people to be able to communicate with like-minded souls through their web site. THANK YOU & Keep up the good work. GOD BLESS YOU.
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Sai Activities

Sri Shirdi Sai Sansthan Sydney

Devotees of 'Sri Shirdi Sai Sansthan Sydney', are starting a joint parayan of the Sai Satcharitra to seek Baba's blessings for expediting the building of a Sai temple in Sydney. We are starting from this Thursday, the 22nd April. Some of us will be doing the weekly parayan and others will be doing 'one chapter a day', according to their convenience. We would be grateful if our Sai brethren, from all over the world, can join us in our endeavor. The power .of Satsang and joint parayan will certainly facilitate the construction of our temple in Sydney. Devotees who are interested in joining us are requested to let us know at the following address- rsai@nettrade.com.au
We will be distributing joint parshad on the 13 June, as we meet every Sunday for Bhajans.
May Baba's blessings reach all of us. Om Sai Ram
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Prayer Club

Aymee Minaya
Hello and blessings to every one. I would like to take a few minutes to ask for everyone’s prayers for two people. The first one is for Ms Lee's sister Ms. Geathers who has been in the hospital for three weeks, under very critical conditions. Also for a special person in my life Trevers Jackson who is facing bad sentence and needs all the help and prayer he can get. He is not at all a bad person, and as a matter of fact he believes truly in our lord Sai Baba, I need a miracle and all the prayers in this world so that he can come home as soon as possible, There are many people being affected by him not being around. I ask Sai Baba not to give me any thing in this world but the health of Ms. Geathers and the Freedom of Trevers.
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Question of the Week

What are the best qualities of true disciple?

Mala, Abu Dhabi
A true disciple is one whose mind is always fixed on the feet of the Lord wherever he is placed. A person can never be termed as a devotee if he is wearing a saffron robe or counts beads constantly if his mind is attached to materialistic things. The application of vibhuti on forehead or loud repetition of God's name or keeping this scripture nearly is no sign of a disciple. When one comes in the refuge of the Great Guru of the time, one learns about the ways and means of combating the various obstacles at every step and is thus saved from the onslaught of the mind. The path then becomes very simple and the seeker forges ahead dauntlessly. The Guru then takes his devoted seeker to the journey of the soul after initiating him. Devotee should have some Sentiments within him. Some of the sentiments or what we can term them as best qualities are:
1. ACCEPTENCE
2. FAITH
3. COMPLETE SURRENDER
4. CONSTANT REMEMRANCE
5. UNBROKEN LOVE AND DEVOTION

However, to strengthen these five best qualities or sentiments Gurus out of limitless mercy and grace has prescribed FIVE RULES, which are important for every Devotee. Whosoever follows these five principles definitely evokes his grace in abundance. FIVE RULES are:
1. PRAYERS AND WORSHIP (Arti-Puja)
2. SELFLESS SERVICES (Sewa)
3. TRUE ASSOCIATION (Satsang)
4. MEDITATION (Bhajan Abhyas)
5. DIVINE VISION (Darshan)
Only by devotion to guru can the mind be cleaned and purified and made to Only by devotion to guru can the mind be cleaned and purified and made to behold the radiance of the lord, who is perfectly pure and spotless. Blessed is he who finds a perfect spiritual guru and receiving initiation from him, follows his instructions with unquestioning faith. God appears with full radiance in such a devoted soul, and enlightening his entire life and hereby taking Devotee to his life's destination---SALVATION.

Shruti Gopal, London
If a disciple is able to surrender himself completely to God and realizes that everything happens as a result of God's will and timing, then he has conquered the biggest hurdle of all. He would then be content and unaffected by joy and sorrow; he would have no expectations or desires.

To understand that God is in his own heart and in the hearts of all creatures, and to therefore love all beings, is another great quality of a disciple. He can then grow internally and converse with the heart rather than just through external conversation. He is able to hear this inner voice because his mind is free from desires, which would otherwise have suppressed it.

A true disciple is unattached and has no possessions of his own, so that he has no tensions of competing for worldly riches and instead attains peace of mind. He pays emphasis on the quality rather than the standard of life. He can "distinguish right from wrong" and is "honest, upright and virtuous" as Shirdi Baba told his disciples to be.

Last but not least, while having unshakable faith in a particular form of God, he respects other religions and forms of God and understands that God is above all religions.
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