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Sai Vichaar 01.Feature of the Week: 02.Contributed Article: 03.Experiences of Devotees 04.Devotees Say 05.Sai Activities 06.Prayer Club 07.Quote of the Week 08.Question of the Week 09.Subscribe to Sai Vichaar 10.Email Newsletter to a friend 11.Submit Articles to Sai Vichaar 12.Un-Subscribe Sai Vichaar 13.From the Editor's Keyboard 14.Disclaimer From the Editor's Keyboard... Sai Vichaar received a mail from devotee Sangeetha as
follows: The "Question of the week" is "On what basis should our mind be set on one deity and consider that particular deity as our guru? Can any deity be followed as a guru?" Humbly Yours, The Editor
Disclaimer Sai Vichaar is devoted to the philosophy and teachings of Shri Sadguru Sai Baba of Shirdi, and will take every measure to avoid topics or themes contradicting the same. Sai Vichaar team or saibaba.org is not responsible for the opinions expressed by individual contributors.
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Feature of the week:
Walking on the Water!
A Christian quote goes as follows,
Spiritual journey with Sadguru is unique to every soul. There are no external yardsticks and no comparisons can be drawn from one individual to the other. The argument that all are equal is also questionable since each of us are unique; hence, the question that if all are equal or not is also irrelevant. One such revelation in the context of spiritual journey is the feeling of "blessedness" and a perception that one's pursuit, standing and understanding of Sadguru are superior to that of others. The episode of Anna Chinchanikar and Mavsibai in Sai Satchaitamritha spells the fact that none but Sadguru is capable of judging others' devotion. In Sai path, everyone is in the process to perfection,
each a work in progress. While one aspect of Sai devotion is to perfect
his/her own human nature towards divinity, by the grace of Sadguru, the
other aspect is to spread the love, peace, compassion and harmony that
Sai has bestowed upon the self. A spiritually fulfilling journey for a
Sai devotee is the spreading of love, compassion, and forgiveness that
Baba has bestowed on him to others, however small that might be. None is
perfect; all are just forgiven. Saibaba, the merciful fakir, the
compassionate father, and the Perfect One!
Contributed Article:Baba's presence at Canberra
BABA is Sarvantharyami and is the one and only god who
run to HIS devotees when called with love. For Murthy pratistapana held
on 6th and 7th of December, in Canberra; I had this great desire for
BABA to come and bless us, being greedy in some other manner than HIS
holy murthy that was being installed and bless us in Canberra.
Celebrations commenced at 6:30 PM with pooja and Homam. While the
ceremony was going there, were this very frail and elderly couple who
were sitting on the chairs. This lady got up with a big bag in her hands
and handed it to one person there asking her to put it near the pooja.
When opened there was a big picture of BABA with HIS philosophy in dot
points. The lady, Mrs. Mira Raheja, had a dream about couple of months
back where in she was asked to give a picture of BABA or a murthi of
Krishna to a temple. Mrs and Mr. Raheja were the people who built the
temple in Faridabad in India, and ardent sai devotees and now live in
Australia. Mrs. Mira was not able to go to any temple because of
immobility they are old and depend on others for travel and her son is
overseas most of the times. Then she, by chance happened to hear about
the murthy pratishtapana in Canberra, she immediately contacted Sydney
Sai Sansthan, spoke to Mr. Tolani, and asked him if she could send the
picture, which she had it as a calendar with her, and got it framed to
be given at Canberra Pratishtapana. Mr. Tolani offered to take both her
and her husband, Mr. Mahender Raheja to Canberra and that is how she
happened to come from Sydney with BABA's picture. BABA fulfilled her
desire to go to the temple and fulfilling my wish to feel his presence.
I am sure there are many others who had their resolve fulfilled after
seeing this incident.
The priest was invoking the supreme, by chanting "Atman
ney, param atman ney, shirdi Sai natha ney......" and pouring the ghee
into the havan, on 6th night. All of a sudden a little girl aged between
3 - 4 years came running and sat in front of the havan and took the
havan samagri from the plate and started puting it in the havan as if
someone was asking her to do so. She sat there and was doing it along
with the priest and the consorters. It was very cute sight for the
onlookers. The father of the girl apologized for the interruption and
wanted to take the girl away but the priest prevented him from doing so.
Later the priest brought to our attention that "Baba lives in the form
of Atma in all the beings. Baba came to us in the form of the little
girl, while calling to HIS atma. It denotes that Baba is present in all
creatures more so in the untainted hearts of the little children." &n
bsp; Later the priest asked the little girl her name, her father said
her name was "Sai Rashmi". People were stunned at this unusual
coincidence. Priest offered the little girl naivedya which had to be
offered to BABA. I leave the interpretation of the events to the people
to interpret it as they want. BABA clearly said, "God lives in all
beings and creatures," (chapter 22)
On 7 December, there was Abhishek to BABA in the
traditional manner. BABA was given Swarna Abhishek and all the people
who wanted their jewels to be blessed and returned were asked to put on
the jewels in a container which was taken around. There were about
hundreds of people there and each one gave whatever they wanted it
blessed. Mrs Uma Abeneni Rao, our friend, could not attend the ceremony
on 6th evening. After we returned on 6th night, we told her what each
one offered our personal jewelry to be put under BABA after the
sthapana. After listening to our narration of the evening events and
pratishtapana, Mrs. Uma said, 'had I been there, I would have given Baba
my gold bangle'. On 7th morning, Mrs. Uma gave her gold bangle to be
consecrated by the holy bath to BABA. After the bath all the gold
ornaments were returned to the owners. Mrs Uma's bangle was missing.
Announcements were made to the effect that if people found it to please
return it to the owner or if after their return to return it to the
temple. Nobody had the bangle and it was searched everywhere in the
temple and where BABA was placed and could not be found.
Meanwhile Mrs. Uma resolved in her mind to BABA "if I
find the bangle I will give it to you". Unknowing to her Mr. Ramabhadra
Rao, her husband also resolved that he would give the bangle to the
temple and made the announcement as well. It was time for madhyan aarthi
and we all stood up. While standing up Mrs. Uma Rao found something roll
from her saree and fall at her feet and guess what! Yes, it is the
bangle that went missing. How it found its way to her saree folds is a
mystery. She immediately went and placed the bangle at Baba's feet. As
it happens all the eyes of the devotees were misty on the pratishtapana
day. And the love towards Baba has increased many fold. Doesn't reading
the above stories remind you about the Hemadpant's Shimga dinner or
BABA's Gaya trip and Ananth Rao Patankars story about giving BABA no
less than Rs 10. Had he seen BABA? Satcharita is the collection of true
life stories then and we can see them happening now as well. All we have
to do is call out to HIM with love and devotion. (Contributed by A Sai Devotee) Gayatri Poonam
Baba's blessing cannot be seen in mere coins which you found, his blessing is in the knowledge that he preaches to you without charging you anything .You felt Baba blessed you by giving coins, in that case you should see his blessing even when he gives you problems. Later you thought that it would be nice if you got more as it implies NAVAVIDHA BHAKTHI. Bhakti is to be done from your heart and your soul. Bhakti is keeping Him in your mind all the time .You started praying for two more coins. Do you think Baba needs your two coins to fulfill the bhakti. Go deep into the Baba's knowledge. It is a vast ocean. See his grace in a mere fact that you are in California, see his grace in things, people and nature around you. Baba's blessings are not merely in that coin; all the coins, which you have with you, are his blessings. Chetan
A Sai Devotee from Bangalore
K.Ramaswamy, Chennai
I feel that being an elderly person and a person devoted for the last five decades with Lord Saiprachar, Saimovement etc, I sincerely advice this particular devotee to pray to Lord Sainath for her good family life, good future, health, wealth and also for the welfare of her husband's parents. There is nothing wrong with her husband helping his parent. They brought him up to this level in life, thereby she married him. And now she lives with him, hence financially helping his parents for their minimum needs is a must for his own good future and happiness. Please think for a moment, if your ward in later years feels like discarding you from his affections and financial help when you direly needed at that time. Then only you realize your fault in the present prayer. Prayer should always be aimed for the good for us as well as to those who are responsible for your present position in life. Krishnakanth K
Meenakshi
Back to Menu A Sai devotee, New Delhi, India
A Sai Devotee
A Sai Devotee
A Sai Devotee
Sangeeta
A Sai devotee
Kamal Kiran
Vikram
Back to Menu
Quotation of the Week
Q. On what basis our mind be set on one deity as our guru? Can any deity
be a guru?
Sai Baba Center in Toronto
Shri Shirdi Sai Chitra Yatra in USA 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".
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