On 1st February 1912, Shri G.S. Khaparde, an intimate devotee of Sai Baba wrote, "Today evening when we assembled at the musjid before Sayin Baba started on his stroll, Sayin Baba told Mr. Dixit to give two hundred rupees to my wife who was then shampooing the legs of Sayin Saheb. This order was unaccountable. Has it come to this that I have to be maintained by charity! I prefer death to this. Sayin Saheb I think wished to curb and finally destroy my pride so he is getting me used to poverty and the charity of others".

To understand the true feeling of Shri Khaparde, a little background is necessary. At that time, he was the chairman of the reception committee of the All India Congress and was working very closely with Shri Lokmanya Tilak. Shri Khaparde was a distinguished attorney, a prominent freedom fighter, an eloquent speaker and an intellectual. He practiced law in Amraoti. The household of Dadasaheb Khaparde was a large one and at one time it consisted of fifty people including his family, his three children and their families, three families who were given shelter, about 12-15 students pursuing their studies, servants, cooks, chauffeurs and three guest families on an average. In short, HE was a royalty! However, Shri Khaparde was one of the humblest devotees of Sainath. It is said, Noolkar, Booty and Khaparde were the only devotees who never spoke a word in Baba’s presence and they were always meek and humble.

Subsequently in 1924, when this was published in the Sai Leela magazine, Shri Kharpade reflects on this entry in his diary and offers the following clarification: " I turned up the diary for 1st February, 1912 and read the passage indicated by you. It correctly represents my feelings. Our Sadguru Sayin Maharaj gave the order. Being omniscient, he knew everything including all my innermost thoughts and never insisted on the order being carried out. Now that my attention has been drawn to the matter, it appears to me that my wife then did not like the life of labor and poverty. Kakasaheb Dixit had accepted the (such a) life and was happy. So Sain Maharaj asked him to give two hundred rupees i.e. poverty and patience to my wife." Mrs. Khaparde was a devout person who had a strong faith in Baba and spent time, serving Baba with love and devotion (Shri Sai Satcharitha, Chapter 27 in the English version by Nagesh Vasudev Gunaji). Yet, as Shri Khaparde noted, Mrs. Khaparde needed the right message on the virtues of humility and patience. This incident shows how Sainath benefits His devotees not only by guiding them but also by showing the right path to the people associated with them.
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Baba appears when we most need Him

There would be only few people who would not believe that Sai, the merciful, the omnipotent, the omniscient and the omnipresent shows his presence when you need him around in someway or the other. Without mentioning any further I would like to share what happened with me few days back. One Wednesday night, I had cried before Baba a lot because of a heartbreak that I suffered months ago. I desired to be with baba at such a time. I wanted him to put his hand on my head and bless me. I wanted to touch his feet. I said all this while standing in front of his poster and cried out my heart and soul to him because for me he's not just a guru but my best friend, guide, father, mother, brother, everything and everyone. Later, I went to bed, still crying. I don't know when I fell asleep. While I was sleeping, a strange thing happened. Though I was asleep I could see things around me as if my soul is only awake or my unconscious was in active state while my conscious was asleep. At that stage when I was free from all attachments of my body and when I could no more hear, speak, or indulge in any physical activity, I saw Sai Baba, standing near the refrigerator lying in my drawing room. The very sight of him gave relief to my soul. My soul flew to him. He put his hand on my head. Some kind of energy flowed therein. I could feel the vibes flowing in my body. I touched his feet. This is the only thing that I had wished for when I had cried before him. I got up and realized it was past mid night and Thursday had begun. I was more than overjoyed next day. I resumed the peaceful state of mind. I'm grateful to him that he came to get me relieved from the sorrows. Baba came to tell me that he is there with me always. No matter what happens.

(Contributed by Sai Devotee)
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Experiences of Devotees

Sai devotee
Do not know what to think and what to say. My husband and I have been married now for 9 years. We have had two miscarriages. My last loss was in 2000. The last two years I have had so many obstacles in my life that I believed I was not worthy of living. Through the grace of swami, my husband did not leave. We are now trying to have a child. I went to a fertility clinic and this is the second attempt. The problem is that it is so expensive and if I fail this attempt I will not have the money to continue. Further, last night I was talking to my husband, and he was drinking. This was the first time since our problems that he started talking to me about having a child. He said he was so lost. Maybe having a child will re focus his life. That he has no direction in his life. That I am not important enough to him to survive. He has problems at work, at home and everyone else. He cannot even feel the grace of god. I pray everyday to swami to give me strength in my marriage. My prayers have been unheard for 9 years. Sometimes when I read the prayer club people praying for exams, visas. If you study is there a reason why you will not pass. Yet, people pray for a miracle from Baba. I do not understand my problems; I cannot understand to explain to a cruel world why I do not have a child or why my children were taken away from me. I do not know why my husband and I cannot sleep together as husband and wife. I do not know why my health is suffering. I do not know why my work is suffering or why my husband cannot get a new job. I understand to fail my exams if I do not study; I understand that you will not get a visa if you do not qualify. Yet Baba gives these people a miracle. Baba take me away I may not be worthy of this life and your love. I do not have the strength anymore. I am tired of pretending everything is well. Please Baba give me this miracle of peace, I have no purpose here. I am tired of been humiliated and I am tired of crying. Please I do not want anyone to respond to my prayer and tell me to be patient Baba is here for me. You try living my shoes of trying to fall pregnant for 2 years, falling pregnant carrying the child for 8 months and loosing it twice. I am tired. All those devotees that have had miracles in their lives for petty and trivial issues god bless you I hope you never have to go through my pain. Baba I pray you listen to my cries now its late to get up.
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Devotees say...

Sasi
Two words but they mean more than that. Each time, I read the Sai Vichaar, my eyes shed drops of love and they flow continuously. I am in pain, was in pain and will be in pain. BUT the biggest realization I got after surrendering myself at the feet of my Sai is that, no pain is permanent and he will take care of everything.

Dearest Sai Premapathruka, your efforts, your commitment, your noble work is helping unaccountable number of souls in a way that can not even be explained by them. I pray before my Sai that may you be given everything that you want, may you find his love and grace covering every split of second. I pray my lord for you and your success in every walk of life. Om Sai. May our eyes rest at his feet.

Pradip Koirala
The Spiritual aspect of Udi
Chapter 33 explains the spiritual and material aspect of udi. Baba used to take Dakshina. Some of Dakshina he got he used to distribute as donation to needy and the balance he used to spent on buying firewood for his dhuni. The remains of duni (Vasma ) is called udi. The udi, he distributed to the Bhakta was useful in getting material achievment. It was just like an anidote in curing in many of the incurable disease. Babas distibution of Udi had also the objective of improving the spiritual awareness of his Bhaktas. Our body is made of Panchamahavut will be destroyed after the death like firewood. To make Bhakta aware that this body will be destroyed after sometime becames like udi , Baba distributed udi. Baba gave also another spiritual preaching to Bhakta that Brahma is the only truth and jagat is all false. we come in this world alone and go alone. The worldly relationship like father, mother and wife are all false.

Pradip Koirala
Babas humility
Chapter 10 of saisatcharitra explains the six special Qualities of Bhagawan as 1) Fame 2)Prosperity 3)Bhairagya 4) Knowledge 5) Wealth 6)Liberalism. Shirdi Baba possess all these qualities. He took saguna avatar only to fulfill Bhaktas desires. His compassion to Bhaktas are unique. Even sarswati could not explain his words of compassion to Bhakta.There is an interesting example.Babas used to say Bhaktas| Dasanudas I am indebted to you. It was really the inexplicable expression of his humility . Baba never renounced the world and worldly senses. He used to eat but his tongue had no taste. He used to see but he was not interested in the vision .He did not had any smell. In the matters of sex he was Brahmacharay like Hanuman. Baba had no attachment. Baba was desireless and egoless ,a chaitanya swarupa. In short , he was selfless and liberated parabrahma. Nanaballi, the devotee of Baba used to take care of Baba. Once when Baba was siting in his Gadi, Nanaballi expressed his desire to sit on Babas gadi. Baba Immediately left his Gadi and Nanaballi sat instead of Baba. Nanaballi sat on the gadi for sometime , left Gadi and requested Baba to sit there. Baba then sat on his gadi. Nanaballi bowed down to Babas feet and ran away. It was very strange that Baba did not showed any displeasure in his expression .
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Prayer Club

Sai devotee
Baba, I believe that you are My Father, Mother, Friend, Philosopher and Guide. You know I do not have anyone to help me other than you. Why am I not getting married? I lose whatever I love the most. Baba, why is this happening to me? Baba I do not have anybody else to help me other than you. Please Baba, help me.
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Quotation of the Week
"I cannot do anything without God's permission"-Saibaba of Shirdi
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Question of the Week

Q. "Quality of Devotion: Why can’t it be the same at all times?"
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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 Maharaj, 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 the Prayer Center at 952-938-2983.

All India Sai Devotees Convention
All India Sai Devotees Convention will be held on May 28 2004 at Shirdi Kalyana Mantapam, Shirdi Sai Nagar, Hubli. Sai Devotees Are requested to participate in the convention and receive the blessings of Shirdi sai Baba.Sri R.Radha Krishna, Convenor/President, 4/2, Bhavani Nagar, Hubli-580023, Karnataka, India
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