As rivers merge into ocean, so do religions into God...that Supreme Reality, that nameless, formless God. If such is the simple, philospophical view of God, what is the necessity for the various religions, rituals and practices? The answer is simple: Rituals instill the necessary discipline, fear and awareness in all of us; we start with worship in a 'form' or 'principle' and hopefully over the course of this lifetime (or many lifetimes) will come to worshipping the 'formless' God.....from Saguna Chintana to Nirguna Chintana.

God is 'Gunaatmaka Nirgunaaya', implying God is 'with form' yet 'formless'. In other words, God appears in the form that the seeker visualizes. After significant spiritual progress, the seeker begins to 'feel' God in things that exist and things that do not; and the seeker thus begins worshipping the formless 'Sarvaantaryaami'.

Does Guru have a role in this God-realization? The answer resoundingly is YES. Can God-realization occur without the aid of a Guru? In most instances, it appears that Guru is an essential ingredient in God-realization. Consider Vivekaananda/Ramakrishna Paramahansa; consider Yogaananda/Yukteswaraananda; consider Arjuna/Krishna; consider Moses/'the burning bush'; examples are abound...to support this viewpoint.

A Guru is a guide that sets/shows us the 'right' path at the 'right' time in our material and spiritual evolution. Gurus work in wonderous ways..they do not even have to be physically with you...by mere thought they influence you. Gurus transform (or should we say reform?) the disciples; Gurus redeem the sins of the disciples; Gurus bear the burden of the disciples; Gurus sacrifice their lives for the disciples....all in exchange for 'Patience' and 'Faith'.

Sai had a Guru by the name of Venkusha or Venkoosa. Upon completing the spiritual training, Venkusha orders Sai to go and practice what he learned alone. At that time, Sri Sai asks for his Guru's blessings. Venkusha was fully aware that Sai is none other than God-Incarnate. Venkusha therefore hesitates to bless Sai saying, "How can I bless the Supreme God?"

Sai replies, "Guruji, I understand your hesitation. But in every human incarnation, there is a need for Guru and as a Sishya, I have a right to be blessed by my Guru..please do not deny me that right. Recollect the fact that Rama and Kirshna - and other incarnations - had Gurus to lead them in the right direction." Thus satisfied by Sai's explanation, Venkusha blesses Sai with two hands wide open and quickly converts the posture of hands into a 'namaskara' by joining the hands together. In a way, Venkusha blessed Sai as well as prayed to Him.

It is by the accumulation of PUNYA that a Guru enters your life. We are fortunate to be associated with Sri Sai in this life. It is a rare opportunity...it is up to us to either use it or lose it.

Om Sai Ram! Allah Malik! Satnem Wahe Guru! Jai Jinendra! Amen! As the rivers merge into ocean so do religions into God.........that ONE GOD

(Contributed by Prasad V Nimmagadda)
Back to Menu

Contributed Article:Bhaja Govindam Sloka 22 (Attributed to Nityanatha)

Rathyaacharpata Virachitakanthah
Punyaapunyavivarjitapanthah
Yogee Yoganiyojitachitto
Ramate Baalonmattavadeva
Bhaja Govindam, Bhaja Govindam.....

Meaning:
Rathyaa - the road, Charpata - pieces of old cloth, Virachita - made of, Kanthah - godadi (a shawl) (He who wears the godadi - shawl made up of pieces of cloth rejected by others on the road), Punya apunya - merit and demerit, Vivarjita - well left, Panthah - the path (One who walks the path that is beyond merit and demerit), Yogee - the Yogin (sage), Yoga niyojita chittah - whose mind is joined in perfect Yoga, Ramate - sports (lives thereafter), Baalvat eva - as a child (or), Unmattavath eva - as a madman.

Substance:
Clad in stray rags, treading the path beyond good and evil or merit or demerit and whose mind is always in meditation, he revels in God-consciousness, having lost all outward norms and decorum, he behaves like a child or as a madman.

Commentary:
A yogi is like a child, who is, in his innocence does not know the difference between good and evil and, at times, behaves like a mad man, who does not care for the world. The known and recent example for this kind of mental status is Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa and Sri Shirdi Sai Baba. They used to dance in divine joy, not caring about the surroundings. One can attain this kind of bliss and maturity of heart and mind only when one is completely immersed in God-consciousness. The mind waits for a chance to become prey to the deceitful senses. It gets attracted only to impurities. With constant contemplation and pursuing the path of devotion, one has to try to wash out the impurities of the mind. Once the mind is devoid of any kind of impurity, it becomes subservient to the soul. The moment one liquidates one's identification as an individual, the person will become like a child, forgetting the body-consciousness.

Although one may appear like a child or a madman, in fact, one is not so. It is an aberration to call a realized soul in such a fashion, because one is beyond the dwandas like love and hatred, evil and good, sukha and dukha, etc. These are all related only to the body but not to the soul. Soul is always in Satchidaananda, but we do not realize, as we have covered it up with our Ajnana, ignorance born out of our attachment to materialistic objects. As children keep changing their emotions or mental moods, as they have no capacity to be in one mood fully engrossed, they do not think about the past and worry about the future. They live only in the present. They do not plan their lives. They live from moment to moment. Neither the vaasanaas of past janma or the worries of future will trouble the children. So also the realized soul. Since a realized soul totally engrossed inwardly, though outwardly it does not appear so, as he moves amongst us, it is difficult to gauge and understand. Such a soul is beyond the ego and its vanities and joys and sorrows, merits and demerits, good and bad, pleasure and pain. He always revels in the peaceful state and maintains perfect equipoise. He moves lonely and fearlessly anywhere and everywhere. He does not know what fear is. When one reaches the goal of God-realization, one's mind is totally annihilated and with that the passion and the lust. He is no more a slave to the body and its desires, although he allows his body minimum of protection. Such a person has no duty to perform, he takes upon himself all duties out of infinite love for the society, as our Rishis and Munis used to live in forests but serve the mankind.

(Contributed by Paritala Gopi Krishna, New Delhi, India)
Back to Menu

Experiences of Devotees

A Sai devotee
My wife and me are Baba's devotees. He has been helping us always. Let me tell U how Baba helped my wife recently. My wife went to DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles, TX, USA) to apply for driving learners permit. She took the written test, got her vision checked (she did not have any vision problems) and received the permit. She took some classes and went to give the road test. Here a strange thing happened. Usually they will send the person for the road test if they have the permit. But the examiner asked to take vision test again before the road test and found out she has long distance vision problem and asked to get it checked up with an eye specialist. She went to the doctor, got the required glasses, attended the test next day, and got the License. Its only Baba who made the examiner check her vision for the second time (which never happens as far as we know) and indicated she has vision problem. If the examiner has not checked the vision, again she would not have found this out and would have been dangerous driving. Baba will always be with his devotees helping through all their problems. JAI SAI RAM.
Back to Menu

Devotees say...

A Sai devotee
Thank you appa for helping me get my residential permit and helping me also apply for renewal of my visa. Thanks for all the help that you did in the last week. A proposal has come up; please help so that it gets finalized. The boy should like my picture and everything should fall into place. This is so worrying and time seems to be running fast. Help please. My parents are so worried. I also need your help so that my next assignment comes up fast instead of delaying like this - you know what I mean. It should work immediately. Thank you.

Seema Bhal
Baba, Thanks for everything you have given to us & the way you have been taking care Baba, You know everything, which was bothering my family just some time back & the way you have taken care, Baba I have firm faith in you & I know the future proceedings will also be in our favor because due to your guidance knowingly we have never hurt anybody & want to follow the same path in future also. Please keep on guiding us & give solace in your shree Charan.
Back to Menu

Prayer Club

Baba devotee
Dear Baba Please remove my anxiety and fear and show me that things will be fine this time. I have done lot of mistakes and I repent for each one of them Baba. But please don't punish my family members for the mistakes I did. I beg you to make things all right and give us happiness. I have no one else but you to turn to.

Pradeep
Om Sai Sri Sai Jai Jai Sai. Dear Baba, Kindly help me forgive all the mistakes that I might have done so far, Baba you must be aware that it is almost 5 months in to my OPT and I have not found a job yet as you know I have no means of survival and there is so much pressure from home as well as from all the credit issues here, please Baba show some mercy and place me in a job soon. Thank you. Sai Ram.

Siva
Dear Shirdi Sai, I am planning to visit Shirdi. Please let my trip be successful. My life is full of tensions. Please help my husband in his job findings. He is getting interviews. But nothing was a success. Please help him out. I wanted to bow my head once I see you at Shirdi. I am really excited to visit Shirdi. I have been to Shirdi twice with out much experience with Sai. Since from the last 4 years I have been feeling your presence with me. Please Sai, help my husband to get a suitable job for him. He is a devotee of you. But He is loosing his faith. At least help my child to get proper living conditions at home. You know the problems we were facing right now. We are not asking you for the countless money. We are just asking to help us to get a job. It is just an average human beings want. Please forgive us if we did something wrong. Om Sai Ram. jaya jaya Sai Ram. Dwarakamai Sai Ram.

Sai Devotee
Pranamams to Baba, Om Sri Sai Ram, Baba bless my husband with good health and see that he doesn't need any medicine. Bless him to be active and shine in his career and we both lead a happy and healthy life. Bless us Baba. Om Sai Ram

Saradha
Saibaba is the only guide who listens to all our prayers, answers our prayers and protects us all the time. Last week an intruder entered the house but when he reached near Baba's picture somehow Sai awoke me and we were saved from losing many things. So dear devotees keep praying for everyone, your prayers will also be answered. Saivichaar weekly delivered at our inbox gives us great strength, guides us in the right direction. Sai our master, we are grateful to you forever. Jai Sri Sai Ram

Sai Devotees
Aum Sri Sai Nathaya Namaha,BABA Please bring peace and happiness back to our family,as you know we have been through our share of pain and suffering in the past few years,we would like to express our gratitude for the miracle you have showered on us recently and would like to thank you for being with us always during our good and bad times,Please bless us with healthy twins,as this is a testing time for us.Please guide us through the right path and help us in getting a job.BABA we have no one here and you are our only source of strength and support,May your blessings be ever with us and with every person in need .Om Sai
Back to Menu

Quotation of the Week
"Shri Sai Baba's conversation and sayings were not delivered with the purpose of dazzling a handful of intellectuals with technical discussions of philosophy; his aim was to rouse the moral insight of the average seeker"- Mani Sahukar in "The Saint of Shirdi"
Back to Menu

Question of the Week

Q. How does a Sai devotee define "Perfection"?
Back to Menu

Sai Activities

Shirdi Sai- Gurupoornima celebrations in Bay area, CA
We welcome you all to join us for SHIRDI SAI- GURUPOORNIMA Celebrations in the Bay Area, CA on July 13th (Sunday) in Sunnyvale between 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Venue: Las Palmas Park Building 850 Russet Drive Sunnyvale, CA (Located off of Remington Dr. and Spinosa Dr.) AGENDA: Ganesh Mantram, Significance of GuruPoornima, 108 Shirdi Sai Namavalli, Sai Ke Gyarah Vachan-Recital by Children, Shirdi Sai Bhajans, Naivedya, Dhoop Arathi, distribution of prasad. For details contact by email at saibandhu@yahoo.com

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

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 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.

Sai bhajans in Tampa, FL, USA
Sai bhajans and Satsangs will take place at 311 East Palm Ave, Tampa. FL. 33602. Please contact 407 445 2520 or 407 458 6459 for more details.

Gurupoornima celebrations- Auckland New Zealand
Shri Saiababa Sansthan, Auckland NZ, is celebrating Gurupoornima and Sai Pooja on Sunday the 13th July 2003 at Mahatma Gandhi Centre, Eden Terrace, Auckland. For more details please contact Dr Ram Prasad at prasads@quicksilver.net.nz.

Sai bhajans in Orlando, FL, USA
For information on Shri Sai Bhajans at Orlando, Florida, please call 407 445 2520 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.

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 still continuing with great enthusiasm across many states in the country.

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 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 www.saibaba.org and follow link to 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".
Back to Menu

You may subscribe to receive the newsletter by e-mail.

Fill out your e-mail address and hit the subscribe button: