When we get a mail addressed to us, we receive it eagerly wondering where it is from. Alas! It turns out to be one of those chain mails. In addition to the existing concerns in our daily lives, now we have to deal with the "harassment" of increasing numbers of this chain mail also known as link letters. These are the anonymous letters written in the name of Saibaba or Lord Venkateswara or Santhoshi maatha and other Gods asking the receiver to forward it out to another 11 or 21 people luring them to receipts of fortunes and warning those who neglect that they would face calamities. It appears that the craze of these letters has increased in recent times. We receive several letters asking us as to how to deal with these letters. This has already been discussed in Saipatham Magazine dated April 1989. However, let us look at this once more.

Saibaba, the God incarnate has not scooped to such a low levels to depend on the chain letters of enticement of fortunes or threats of misfortune in order to spread His message of love. The form of Sri Sai is as Upasani Maharaj sang, "Ahambhaavaheenam.. Prasannaathma bhaavam". Don't we know that Baba himself said, "My mission is to give blessings"? Not just that, Baba said that he would never ever get angry with anyone. Baba's grace and blessings are always showering on us and only the umbrella of our ignorance is hindering us from receiving it. If we seek Sai with single-minded love, that hindrance will be removed. It is mere illusion to think that one can accomplish Baba's kripa by sending out Baba's name in chain mails out of fear and greed.

Threats of dangers if some one does not comply - as if they are (Baba is) some evil demonic forces - amounts to disrespecting the divine nature of Baba. Lack of fundamental understanding of Spirituality and Sai Saadhana encourages the ignorance such as the above. Even an argument that, "What is wrong? Its only Baba's name that we are writing and someone else is asking us to write" also amounts to self deception due to the reasons explained above. Not only that, encouraging these type of letters, some times written by those who withhold their names out of ignorance and cowardice, is harmful misappropriation of the tradition of Sai devotion. The only answer to those receiving these letters and wondering what to do with them is - just tear them and trash them!
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Contributed Article:Basic Ideals of Shirdisai Avatar

When everything around us is religion based activities, Sai created a cult based on Bhagavad Gita and lived for it throughout His life. He saw God in all and in God He saw all. He is perfect Advaiti `par excellence` and in His compassion, which is never failing He expressed Himself as ultimate God. His cult is based on pure and unalloyed love, pervaded the universe as true activity of a Sadguru. In Tamil Literature, the saint poet ~Thiruvalluvar~ emphasised the concept of love and its unchecked ramification on everything it came into contact. His Avatar is unique in that unlike Lord`s avatars where destruction of evil was certain, Sai`s avatar did not only good but also tranformed the evil into good. This is a fact known from the verses of `Sthavanamanjari` of Shri Dasganu Maharaj . With this short narration of Shirdisai`s qualities, let us ask ourselves one question i.e. are we sincere to Shirdisai? Of course, human life is entangled with `Karma` and no one can escape at will and achieve good alone to us. Our Sadguru helps us to overcome our deficiency and at the same time expects to follow accredited tenets of human life retold by Sai in His avatar. Sai trusts all of us His children and He knows children's psychology. He gives sweets to us to attract us before harping upon His sermons. We continue to get sweets; but do we really change our heart to pass on the pure and unalloyed love on others? Love is a commodity, which is not to be sought from others; but to be given unwarranted to others. Let us make beginning in this New Year and get blessed by Sai instantaneously.

(Contributed by A Sai Devotee)
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Experiences of Devotees

Ashok and Sudha

We are celebrating the Upanayanam of our sons on Feb 22, 2004 in Phoenix AZ. When my brother in Chennai emailed and said that the invitations, printed in India, were ready I asked him to take the first invitation to Babas temple in Shenoy Nagar and place it at HIS feet for blessings, and also mail one invitation to Shirdi Sansthan. As my brother was opening this email from me in his office, his boss walked into the room and said my brother was required to tour Maharashrtra the following week, including Rahata near Shirdi. So my brother wrote that he was taking the invitation personally to Shirdi. I prayed to Baba that the invitation should be blessed with a flower, but did not communicate this wish to my brother. When my brother returned from Shirdi he said he had excellent darshan and that a rose was placed on the invitation at Baba's Feet and returned to him with blessings. My brother sent us the rose petals also. The invitations were sent by speed post to me from India. My brother was anxious that it should arrive safely. There was a monthly Shirdi Baba Bhajan scheduled last Thursday, which I was unable to attend due to work constraints. A friend called unexpectedly and said she would take my mother along that evening to the Bhajan. A little while later, my mother called me at work and said that the invitations had arrived! So the first invitation in Phoenix was taken by my mother to the Bhajan and blessed at Babas feet! HIS miracles are great and we are confident that HIS blessings will ensure the function goes off well. We pray that all devotees in this forum bless our children on this auspicious occasion.
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Devotees say...

A Sai Devotee
I received my first copy of the newsletter "SAI VICHAAR", and I cannot express my feelings; it was quite touching. I am firm believer of SAI BABA for over 20 yrs. Each and every thought of Baba nourishes me deep within. His warmth and smile give me enriched feeling. I know every Sai Devotee feels this way, and that what binds us together across the Globe. Therefore I plead to one and all to chant OM SAI RAM every day at least five times with true devotion and you will be blessed. I believe that you don't need to ask anything from BABA, he gives whatever you deserve at the right time, incase he doesn't then he has something better stored for you. So believe in him and do total samarpan (give yourself completely), and he will guide you through toughest of times. With these thoughts, I wish all of you a very healthy, prosperous and rewarding 2004.

A Sai Devotee
First of all I am so sorry that you're facing such a difficult situation; I'll pray for you. However I would like you to know that life is full of surprises and ups and downs; everything has a reason and a meaning. Our mental pain is a mere reflection of our mental state and nothing else; you need to look beyond. Please try to look at a situation from a different angle as I would say getting whip by mother is no big deal to me, from a perspective that I had lost my mother early in life! Have patience, seek him and you will find answers soon...below is what my son taught me.

Life is full of surprises
Life is full of ups and downs,
So to have a cloud with silver lining,
First there must be a cloud.
Everyone has a cloud with silver lining
Even when it rains,
So don't get downhearted,
As things are bound to change.

Have faith and patience in him and you will find it.

A Sai Devotee
I am a very small person to give you such an advice. But felt like sharing something with you. Please give a try on this if you are comfortable with this. If you believe in Sai Ram and hold a firm faith I think definitely you can overcome from this. Swami Vivekananda teachings..

"We are responsible for what we are."
"We are responsible for what ever we suffer."
"Chanting the name of GOD has its own power" -

Take sometime and think whether first two apply to you. Find out the mistakes you did and try to over come from them. But I do understand that for some situations that happens in our lives, is not in our hands and only GOD has created that for us. If such situations occurred leave the puzzle to him because he has created that so definitely he will solve it if you ask him to do.

But we too need to put some human effort for things, which went wrong because of our behavior. So in that sense please believe in the 3rd one. Definitely it will work for you. Please help your kids. I don't know much about your kids. Anyways if you and your kids start believing in the above 3rd and create a divine atmosphere within yourselves then definitely you can find the entire situation getting changed in your home. Your wife will also turn good to you.

Whenever there are fights and quarrels remain clam and immediately close your eyes and get picture of Sai in front of you and start chanting his name. Don't expect the results immediately. Slowly cultivate it. Let your kids also develop this habit and leave the rest to him. I am sure you will see the results. I am really concerned about your kids. Please help them to overcome from such situations that happen at home. For every act you do let sai's name be on your tongue and slowly it becomes a habit and you find the results. Teach the same to your kids.
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Prayer Club

Uma
Baba, I love you a lot and I know you love me too. You know about my dreams, my future and my life. You have always been there for me and have always shown me the way. I need your help baba now. My parents have looked for me a groom. Baba you know I tried liking him but I cannot do it baba. Someway or the other his thinking and mine differ so much. He is in love with me baba. He is pious too. My whole family likes him and is forcing me too. Baba I am so helpless. I believe in love baba. The love I got towards you has molded and changed me to who I am now. You and I know it very well. Nobody forced me to you. I came on my own. I liked and I loved you and you know I willing to give up everything my whole life to you. Life partner is another half. How can I force giving and myself my heart go for him. Even if I do it for sympathy or for my parent's happiness. Will it be fair for me baba?? I tried explaining, he loves me but I can't baba! I am trying, but you know me baba. I can't force myself and am so helpless. I am hurt whenever he addresses me as his wife. I am terrified when my parents call him their son-in-law. Help me baba! Help me! I am so scared everyone will make me marry him. I am so scared that destiny will force me! Today is an auspicious day baba. Since young, I have only remembered how many times I have cried cause there are so much of thorns in my life and I was so alone. Now I don't want my remaining life to be the same way cause that's the reason why I am alive. Please help me baba! Please solve this for me. Please show me the guy whom I will love and cherish in my life baba. I am standing on the last stage of my life. I don't want to give up or destroy it. Please baba please!!!!!

Nilesh Patkar
First I like to thanks the devotees who have developed this site for needy people like me who are getting best guidance by this site.

From last 7yrs, I am suffering about my carrier. I am 29yr old but not able to stand on my feet. Already Family responsibility is on my shoulders. I thank Sai that they provide me power in each obstacle in my life. Sai my request is give me good job to grow my carrier.

A Sai Devotee
I bow to lord Sai who has always been there for me all the time and helped get through many difficult situations. He was always there for my family and me. Bless us baba.

A Sai Devotee
Baba, please help my husband and me as we are going through a very bad time. Baba I don't have to say anything, you know everything, SAI, please help us and guide us. We require your guidance. Bless all the devotees who are in trouble. OM SHREE SAI NATHAY NAMAH.

A Sai Devotee
Jai Sai Ram! Baba last six years I am struggling for my immigration in USA. I am going to ask my employer for sponsorship. Baba, please help me to get settled here. Baba you know I am not alone I have one child. I came to this country so I can raise him by myself and I can take of my self too. Please all Sai devotees pray for me. I know last six years Baba is taking care of me and also in future he will take care both of us. Baba I have faith on you.

A Sai Devotee
Saibaba I know that you are with me through out my life. You saved me in so many situations. Please, Baba forgive me if I have done any mistake. Please see that my health is good.

Krishnaveni
I got married March 2000. First we thought of not having children for 1 year later some how got postponed till the October 2003. since October we are trying for children it has not happened. I went to doctor she says I have small fibroid in my uterus but its common in 20% of the women and asks me to wait for other 4 months before she begins any other tests. I am feeling tensed...terrible..miserable..ridiculous.. Its been difficult to spend every minute. Since two months I am going thru hell. Lot of thoughts are getting into my mind. All I could do now is to pray for Sai to give me healthy normal child. He is been blessing me all thru. Now I am begging him to bless me with healthy normal child. Please pray for me.

A Sai Devotee
Saibaba, I know that you are with me through out my life .You saved me in so many difficult situations. If I have done any mistakes, please forgive me. Please see that my health is good. Please see that everything goes well regarding my health. Please Baba. I am doing your charithra parayana daily. I know you will save your devotees.

Shakruthi
I am a mother of 27-month-old baby girl and to be MOM in April 2004 for my second kid. Here's what I listened that recently. A baby was born here (USA) to one of my colleagues. Just like any other happy couple, they took the baby to INDIA unfortunately to lose him forever .The baby turned sick and he passed away. I have always believed and still believe that MOTHERHOOD is one of the best things that can happen to any woman. And for all the efforts, pain the MOM goes through since I became a MOM till today I have one prayer that BABA, ALL MOTHERS ON THIS EARTH DESERVE TO BE HAPPY. These are my sincere prayers everyday to one and all of the mothers from the bottom of my heart.
SARVEJANA SUKHINOBHAVANTHU
LOKASAMASTHA SUKHINO BHAVANTHUNTHU
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Quotation of the Week
"My business is to give blessings"-Saibaba
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Question of the Week

Q. Does the episode of two lizards in Chap 15 of Satcharitha signify anything?

A. by Ravin Gnanasambandam, Minnesota, USA
The boss or head of an organization is most likely the one that knows every detail of the organization. Otherwise, he or she cannot be called as the head; the function of that position is such. Someone said that spirituality is an elevated state of consciousness where that position renders one the insight into things that are not ordinarily known to an onlooker or even a mere participant. We commonly see people flocking around spiritually elevated souls in order to obtain solutions to one's mundane problems or answer to spiritual questions. We experience positive energy in the company of those souls and the experiences one gets only increases the trust in them.

When trust is placed in the Guru and his words, every word that comes out of the Guru provides answers to someone's problems. For a curious onlooker it may appear as a casual remark by the Guru but it answers the multitude of questions of one or more trusting disciples around him. It is commonly said that the two lizards episode denotes omniscient nature of Baba. Or is it that simple? The event itself is so subtly trivial that a casual devotee goes on with the reading with a fuzzy conviction that Baba knows all and so let us believe this.

A logical mind with some reasoning might even attribute this to a strange coincidence and still move on with the faith that Baba knows all. However, if one carefully reads and contemplates on this incident one can know the precision and the immaculate timing of the whole incident. Soon after Baba made that remark, a merchant indeed comes from Aurangabad, unfolds the bag of grams (pulses) to feed his hungry horse and a lizard comes out rushing to go her sister in everyone's presence. The precision in Baba's words should make one wonder that Baba is not just omniscient that "knows all" or Baba knows the details such as "language and culture of the lizards, but Baba knows "everything to its minutest detail". Baba is not just a Sadguru with an elevated consciousness but the very personification of the universal order that defines time and perception With this observation, a devotee should attest to Baba's knowledge of "everything" in his/her life and he besets the guidance and supervision with a feeling that "I am not different from that lizard"! In reality, we are just another species of creatures like lizards, perhaps bestowed with higher faculties that should help us seek the divinity. One's joys or sorrows, past or future is known to Baba, who also knows precisely what is best for each of those who He is entrusted with.
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Sai Activities

Sai Baba Center in Toronto
Devotees in Toronto invite you all to join in our weekly Satsang every Thursday at the two Locations mentioned below. For more information please call Shammi Chopra 905 887 1752 or Roshan Dastoor Ph: 905 812 8290 or email us at saileela99@yahoo.com

Shirdi Sai Satsang, Minnesota
By the grace of Sadguru Sainath, Shirdi Saibaba Prayer Center is established in Minneapolis-St.Paul, of Minnesota. Regular Sai activities in the Twin Cities, MN are being conducted at Shirdi Saibaba Prayer Center, 725 Lake St NE, Apt #139 Hopkins MN. 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 Spiritual and Charitable Trust, Allahabad, UP, India
The trust has built a monumental temple of Shri Shirdi Sai. Bhoomi Pooza to the mandir complex was done on 13th April, 2002 by Guruji Shri C.B.Satpathji and in exactly nine months time such huge temple could be built with Baba's grace. Pran Prathista celebrations started on 12th January and continued till 15th January, 2004. Baba's Pran Prathista and Mahakumbhabishekam took place on 14th Jan while Dhuni inauguration, Pran Prathista of Lord Dattatreya and Goddess Gayathri Maa took place on 15th Jan. All the activities were performed through the holy hands of Guruji Shri C.B.Satpathyji. Devotees in large number attended the celebrations.
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