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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... Saibaba Mahasamadhi celebrations for 2004 are celebrated during October 21 through 23. Please write to Sai Vichaar about Mahasamadhi celebrations at your local Sai communities and share with other Sai devotees. The "Question of the week" for the week is, Q. What is "rinanubandha"? 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:
Dussehra Message
An in-depth analysis of the Path shown by Baba leads to certain obvious pointers essentially required for spiritual evolution of human beings. Baba, during his interaction with a very large number of devotees of different religions and paths had repeatedly brought out certain common emotional, psychological and physical parameters to be followed by the devotees. Although specific instructions were given directly or indirectly to most of the devotees to solve their immediate or mundane problems, yet the general Parameters for an ethical living and spiritual evolution were more profound and long termed. After Baba left his human form, those who followed these parameters and advices for the rest of their lives benefited immensely. Others who deviated, in the absence of interaction with a Sadguru with a human body did not evolve much. This is the conclusion one is bound to draw when lives of the prominent devotees of Baba are examined as a whole. These general parameters for a contented and evolved life have been brought to fore extensively in Shri Sai Satcharitra when it narrates of real-life happenings at Shirdi, anecdotes and interpretations. Most of the other books written on Baba have also tried to bring out these parameters in different ways. Thus, for a good disciple the examples from the life of Baba and his precepts, as codified in Shri Sai Satcharitra and other published materials should work as the best reference points of guidance for their ethical conduct and spiritual progress. This is why I always prescribe reading of Shri Sai Satcharitra in particular and other related materials to the devotees and others following any path or religion. Whenever in doubt about his thoughts and actions - a devotee should try to relate with the information on similar situations provided in Shri Sai Satcharitra. He should always judge to find out as to how far he is able to progress with reference to these parameters as the permanent principles of an ethical spoken about these greatest principles in the simplest way, when exemplifying these principles through his own conduct as well. For example let us take the case of a man who spoke ill of another devotee to Baba. Baba told him that pigs would only eat dirt even when given the best of food. The meaning of this sentence is too obvious to be explained. Or when, while giving two rupees to a person who had helped Baba with a step ladder in going up and coming down the home of Radhakrishna Ayi, announced that one must pay for the labor of another. In fact the entire gamut of all his advices reiterates the principles of ethical conduct reflected in Shrimad Bhagavata Gita. The problem with some of the devotees is that they read Shri Sai Satcharitra more intensely for it's miracle stories rather than for understanding the applied principles of an ethical living. Further while carrying on their mundane deeds or misdeeds they often forget Baba's advice at that moment. Therefore, they are prone to ask the same questions on various issues repeatedly again and again over the years when ever in trouble. What Baba wanted the followers to do is to practice these principles than to read. As Baba's intentions reveals the question is not as to how many times one has failed while trying but as to whether he is determined and remembers these principles while doing any act, good or bad. Each devotee needs to ask this question to himself and find the answer. Shri Sai Satcharitra can only guide them. (Guruji Shri C. B. Satpathy ji)
Contributed Article: Sri Sai Gurucharitra - Chapter II(continued from last week..)
"It is ignorance to give importance to happiness or sorrow. If the mind is an ocean, the waves of sorrow and happiness are always rising and falling in that ocean. What you feel as sorrow and happiness are not real. They are mere delusion caused by your infatuation with the body. You may have a doubt here. Waves are present if only water in present. Light is present if only a lamp is present. So there must be a causative factor for the birth of these notions such as happiness and sorrow. What is it? It is the six enemies such as lust, anger, covetousness, delusion, pride and envy which is the basis for the experience of happiness and sorrow in this world. The form of the waves is delusion. It makes the truth seem a lie; and a lie seems as the truth. When a poor man sees gold in the hand of a rich man, he feels envious. Then the wave of envy starts in his mind. He gets the feeling, "That gold should be in my hand." The moment he gets this feeling, another wave of greed starts in his mind. Nana, how many more examples can I give you of this? First, we have to conquer our six enemies. Once they are conquered, they cannot do anything to start these waves our mind. To tell the truth we cannot fully conquer these six enemies but we can make them our slaves. We should place our knowledge as the superior officer over these six enemies. Over knowledge, we should place discrimination as the supervising officer. If we successfully achieve this, there will be no further pain of happiness and sorrow for us."
"Alright, now I will tell you what the true happiness and sorrow are. Mukti (Emancipation, salvation) is true happiness. To take birth and die is true sorrow. Any other happiness or sorrow but for these, is a result of mere delusion. Now I will tell you how to live in this world. Listen to me with diligent care. We should happily experience what ever has been our lot as the result of the prarabdha karma.
We should not be envious of others who are in a better state (due to their prarabdha karma) and hanker after their riches etc. Oh Nana, as the tree heavily laden with fruit is bent as if in humility so should one, who is heavily laden with wealth, be humble. But humility does not work with the wicked. Because there is the danger that the wicked will misuse the humility of the rich. One should behave ruthlessly with the wicked. The rich should be humble and be respectful towards the sadhus and good people. The rich are like the cool shade trees in the burning mid-noon sun. The rich, intoxicated by their prosperity, should not cause any harm to any one. They should give alms and give to charity in accordance with their station in life. They should not take loans and make unnecessary expenditures. Even though this world is delusion, prarabdha is true. Money is essential to journey through this life. As the gall bladder is essential to life so is wealth essential in this world. One should not totally involve himself in making money. One should not be miserly but give to charity generously. Too much generosity is also dangerous. If our hard earned money is spent and exhausted no one will come to our rescue. It is a portent of disaster if a man is generous and a spend thrift too. One should see the qualities and qualification of the person before giving in charity. One should give handsomely to the physically handicapped, those in ill health, to the orphans and where it is useful to the public. One may spend money to take care of the scholars and for the childbirth expenses of women who have none to look after their welfare. Annadanam (the feeding of people) is of three kinds-Visesha karanam (for special reason), Nitya karanam (daily) and Karya karanam (occasional causes). When circumstances go one's way and one gets a windfall profit, he may do such Visesha Annadanam. One may feed even a thousand people.
One should not stop to see the high, low, good, or bad when one is doing annadanam. All are qualified to receive annadanam. One should do annadanam in the choultries too. However, one should never take money on loan to do annadanam. I will now tell you who are qualified to receive nitya annadanam. The wayfarer, the person engaged in penance, the sanyasi and the hungry are all qualified to receive nitya annadanam. One should do nitya annadanam even to those who do not accept cooked rice or those who study; eating at different houses every day of the week. The karya annadan is done on occasions such as marriage, the thread ceremony and other such ceremonial occasions. On such occasion, one should liberally feed friends, well wishers, relatives, and those of ones gotra. I have now explained to you the various annadanams and who are qualified to revive it. The regulations regarding vastra dan (the gift of apparel) are the same. Do not forget these regulations. One should try to ameliorate the sorrow of others. One should not misuse one's power or the wealth one has. One should not accept graft when one is in the seat of justice and do wrong. One should complete any given task in an excellent manner. One should not dress ostentatiously but only as much as demanded by modesty. One should not wear excess make up or go for excessive decoration of one's person. Do not insult any one. Recognise the wicked, keep them in mind and be wary of them. The wife, children, the servants have all come to us by prarabdha. Be courteous and loving towards them. Never assume for a moment that they are your people. That will had to further entanglement, further prarabdha karma and more births and deaths. We should try to experience and finish the prarabdha in this life only. We should try not to have any thing left over to take with us when we die. Whatever we get is a result of prarabdha.
The friends, relatives, wife and children all are limited only to this particular life. Each person and his relationship to you are limited only to this life. Who knows who will be entangled with you in your forthcoming birth? It is our vasanas (proclivities) which keep us entangled forever without letting go of us." (To be continued..)
(Contributed by Source: "Sri Sai Gurucharithra" originally by Santkavi Sri Dasganu Maharaj. Translated from Telugu version by Sri SVL)
Rama Latha Mazumder Sai devotee Tulsi Jayachandra Ranjana
Quotation of the Week:
Q. What is "rinanubandha"?
Mahasamadhi celebrations in Chicago, USA Shirdi Sai temple is open daily from 7:00 am to 9:00 pm. Daily program includes Kakad Arathi at 7am followed by Abhisek. Madhayana Arathi at 12 noon, Dhoop arathi at 6pm and Shej Arathi at 9pm. Archana, Homams, Sahasranama and sponsored poojas continue in between the Arathis. To request a pooja for yourselves, your friends and family, please call. Devotees can request water (Abhishek Jal) from the Holy bathing of Baba by sending us an email or by phone. Temple is located 25 minutes drive west of Schaumburg on intersection of IL Route 47 and Plank Road in Hampshire, IL. For more information please call 847-931-4058 or send email to maildrop@saibaba.org. Shirdi Saibaba Prayer Center, Minnesota - Mahasamadhi Celebrations 2004 Sri Sai Baba Maha Samadhi Celebrations in Seattle Shirdi Sai Baba Sansthan of Canada Shirdi Sai Mahasamadhi and Dassera Celebrations in Bay Area, CA Shirdi Sai Mahasamadhi and Dassera celebration in Sydney, Australia
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