Shraddha and Saburi are the two most important words in Sri Sai Satcharitha. Some times, the life's rough edges make us to reconsider the value of these words. Even we may feel guilty of ourselves thinking about our forgetfulness to implement these words. The word Shraddha means faith in the words of the scriptures and the Guru. Sri Sai's Guru asked Shraddha from Sai as Guru dakshina. Shraddha makes us to continue the life's journey, (irrespective of the troubles and problems we encounter on the way) without losing our peace of mind.

Scriptures always say with authenticity that, "God Is." They teach us the ways to experience the presence of God in our lives. They promise that all of us have come from the single eternal source, God. The scriptures assure us that the, "Ever compassionate God," is always there listening to our prayers. They further go a step ahead and reassure us that the, "Ever loving God," is inside every one of us. The final declaration of the scriptures is, "You are that! (Tattvamasi)." It is easy to acknowledge this intellectually; to experience this, is very difficult. To experience this, Shraddha is necessary. It helps us to believe in the ultimate Self. At the same time, Shraddha gives us the strength and stamina to face the problems of the world. The faith in the words of Guru is the other essential component of Shraddha . Our teacher words reflect the truths of the scriptures practiced and accomplished by our Master .It is good for us to pray to our Guru to give us the pure heart to understand the teachings. The Guru's words contain the essence of all the scriptures. One should be able to correlate their daily living standards to the teachings of the Guru.

Sometimes, when the situations and troubles are overwhelming, it may become so difficult to retain the faith in God and in the teachings of the Guru. Especially, moral and ethical values of life always come in conflict with the depraved. We should know that there is no end to the problems in Samsara. The problems and pleasures are part of journey of life. Change is painful, but ever needful. In this Iron Age, human life span is very short. In this short time, one must manage to attain God. There is no time for severe austerities as in olden days. All of us can become seekers of God even while doing worldly duties. The best and shortest way is to seek refuge in God. Without divine grace, it is not possible to take refuge in God. To have divine grace one must associate with holy people. Read sacred books, serve others without expecting returns, lead a noble life, and to pray God earnestly.

The spiritual aspirant must pin his faith in the words of the Guru. Initially, develop a discipline, like chanting God's name every day. Then, develop determination to practice the discipline regularly. This kindles the devotion in our heart. The devotion helps to develop detachment with worldly things in life. Rama and Kama can never be together. The farther the Kama moves away, the nearer the Rama becomes. The human mind always needs some attachment. So, instead of attaching it to Kama, it is good for us to be attached to Rama. We have to pray to Sri Sai to give the strength to remember Sai's name always in our life. Devotion and faith are the two companions that take us safely to the shelter of God.

Some people are born with this inborn tendency of Shraddha. Saints like Meerabai, Tukaram, Tyagaiah, (to mention a few) and lot of other saints belong to this group. They persisted with the devotion of God, despite the hardships they faced in their lives. Their lives serve as flashing beacons of light for people whose life ships are caught in the storms of the ocean of samsara. For the people who are treading on the spiritual path, are advised to read the biographies of the saints. It will help one to develop courage in spiritual life.

Sri Sai Satcharitha is a classic example for this. One can see the undoubting courage in Mhalsapati's devotion towards Sai, in spite of the hard ships he faced in personal life. In another incident, Sai's unique way of revealing the meaning of Sri Isavasyopanishad to Sri Dasganu makes one spell bound. There are so many distinctive personalities in Sai Satcharitha that can inspire us and guide us along our journey towards our goal of life.
Back to Menu

Contributed Article: Sri Sai Gurucharitra - Chapter VI(continued from last week)

But his family is of a surpassingly strange nature. It is an entirely different variety of family. None of the members of that family is ever visible to us. But if we carefully think, it will not be appropriate to say that Baba is alone too. Courage is his father; forgiveness his mother. Peace is his wife. Kindness is his sister. The right thought is his brother. He was ever immersed in the bliss of communion with his self with the earth as his bed. As Gautama Buddha, he was always in meditation of the almighty. The wind swept four directions was his golden shawl. The stars twinkling in the sky were the embroidery done on his shawl by the adroit hands of god. He was ever drinking the nectar of the knowledge of Brahman. Wisdom and dispassion were to steps to his house. He had girded the sword of virtuous conduct to his waist and wore a shawl of love of moderation. Only those who felt that Baba's house is verily the gateway to everlasting weal and moksha were his ministers. Any one; no matter how great he is temporally had to stand in patient waiting in front of him with his hands folded in supplication. Sri Sai was such emperor. He was the greatest Yogi amongst all yogis. Fear and ostentation ran far away at the mere mention of the name of this emperor amongst mahatmas. As darkness runs in fear on seeing the Sun, so did sinful conduct run southwards to Hades on seeing him. The thorn skinned crooked hypocrisy is the wife of ostentation. The couple ran away in fear when they saw that incomparable Sant Maharaj. As the dog runs in fear on seeing the lion, cupid ran away along with his friends such as bad conduct etc. Even before the people heard of this news, the six enemies- lust, anger, covetousness, delusion, pride and envy ran away as the hay cannot stand in front of fire. Miserliness knows neither modesty nor shame. It is the most dangerous vice. If we want to sit and do meditation in Khandoba temple, ostentation will also get ready to sit there before we do.

But Khandoba is a most awesome figure as is Shiva. He would give a kick and drive away all these vicious people. On seeing that incomparable emperor amongst saints, mind gave up the ghost and shaving her head, sat silent as a widow. Unrestrained hedonism is her son. He saw his recently windowed mother and anguished was walking around purposelessly far from Baba and his Neem tree. Finally, he too saw that it was no use and along with his sister, desire, ran far away. Bad proclivities were his other sister. She came ringing the bell of anger and because there was no one of her people there ran away too. The six enemies to salvation, gathered their leader, immoral conduct and maya and taking care to see that even their shadow was not visible to that Yogi Maharaj, and fearing that if he saw them, he will destroy them and remove their pernicious influence from this world once and for all - ran for their lives to Hades - Southwards. The pig living in Hades hates the spot where purity prevails, it takes its feed of excreta to a place which is polluted and feeling at home in that pollution; eats the excreta there. All the wicked, sinful, devilish plagues of humanity thus left the august presence of that incomparable saint, the emperor amongst Saints- Sri Sai Baba and good conduct, piety and wisdom prevailed.

In the book 'Siva Leelamrit' it is told how the sin of the king Dasarna leaves him and flies away in the form of a crow. In the same way, the bad qualities of the people listening to the holy, pious story of Sri Sai Baba left them and ran away south to the Hades. In the south are the abodes of the god of death - Yama and the worlds where the ancestors stay. That is why miserliness, ostentation and bad conduct stay in that direction. I am a poor man of inadequate learning. I cannot find suitable words to describe the indifference of Sri Sai Baba to the worldly attachments. Outwardly he looks like an ordinary person. But he is the pure embodiment of wisdom.

If I decide to describe him as poor, it does not suit because Lakshmi, she goddess of wealth sits waiting on his doorsill. If I decide to describe him as rich, it does not suit too as he begs alms to fill his stomach every day.

While so, one day, Sai Maharaj was bringing water from the well to water the plants. Gangagir bua was passing by and happened to see him. Gangagir is a great sadhu. He was a monk who was a true saint. Though he was of the warkari tradition, he was wearing the rudrakshas of the Shaiva tradition. The warkari tradition does not venerate rudrakshas which are dear to Siva. 'Dasabodha' is not included in their books of reading. Gangagir had no place for religious intolerance or bigotry based on creed. He was a personification of wisdom. Such a great person as Gangagir told the people of Shirdi, about Sri Sai Baba, "Why don't you understand? Why are you leaving this jewel and running after other sadhus? Is there any one as foolish as to keep many sweet meats at home and still run from house to house for alms? Is there any one who is so foolish that they go to the banks of the holy Ganges and do not bathe there? You have an incomparable, priceless diamond such as Sai Baba here and you are still running to other places in search of saints. In the sky of spirituality, this Sai Baba is as the Sun. He is the Himalaya amongst hills. He is the shining diamond fit only for the head of the mahatmas. You villagers are doing yourself great harm by not knowing this and subjecting this great soul to inhospitable conduct. Where the Sai Maharaj is, can sorrow stay for a second? Serve him well and obtain all weal in this world and the next. If you do not serve him, that incomparable one, well and to his satisfaction; there will be no end to your miseries." Gangagir gave this wise counsel to the people of Shirdi and went to the Masjid. He had the darsan of Sri Sai Baba and was filled with happiness.

Their meeting was as if Ganges and Godavari had met, as if Vishnu, the consort of Rama had met Shiva, the consort of Uma; as if the sages Gautama and Vasistha had met; as if Indra the head of gods and Kubera the god of wealth had met. They both were very happy in the company of each other.

(Contributed by Source: "Sri Sai Gurucharithra" originally by Santkavi Sri Dasganu Maharaj. Translated from Telugu version by Sri SVL)
Back to Menu

Experiences of Devotees:

Venugopal
A rare incident where Sai helped us on US highway. This happened in August 2000. We were relatively new in the US. I bought a new car and driving from Virginia to NJ with my family. It was just getting dark; we were on Delaware Bridge, driving at 65 miles per hour on the highway. Suddenly the rear tire of my car burst with a huge noise and smoke, but fortunately, I managed to control and pull it along to the shoulder. As I stopped, just behind another car pulled in front. And a middle-aged person draped in Saffron clothes, wearing many layers of Rudraksha maala, (and strangely in slippers) got out of the car. We were all still in a shock with what happened, and were watching the tire and the damage. But this person approached us and moved quickly, opened the trunk, and replaced it with the spare tire in Two minutes (as if he was a car mechanic doing such jobs all his life) without even my asking for help. Since it was a new car, even I did not know where to find what. My wife was first to wake up, and reminded that I did not even thank him for his help, and not even bothered to assist him while he was fixing the car (how could I, when I was in His Maya). By the time I realized all this, he got up and said " Ab teekh hogaya, ghar jayo beta, ab raastha mein koyi problem nahi aayega" He lifted his hands in assurance (blessing). I did Namasthe with folded hands. We (my wife and two daughters) feel amused whenever we recollect this incidence. Later I remembered saying "Sai Sharanam" before getting into the car - a habit I had for years before. Have complete faith in him, conduct yourself as KarmaYogi, HE is there with you all the time.

Harini
I have an experience of baba last Thursday (20 Jan 05). It was a regular day and my son who is 19 months old seems to like baba as he calls his name every now and then. He enjoys worshipping baba along with us. On Thursday morning, I was getting ready to do Baba's pooja for afternoon arthi. After I was back from my shower, to my greatest shock I saw my thyroid medication bottle opened in my son's hands. Few are on the floor and few left in the bottle. Almost half of the quantity (13 pills) was missing despite my search in that area. My husband was stuck in half-day meetings and none of his colleagues knew where his meeting is scheduled. Fortunately, one friend took us to emergency, upon consultation, the doctor said its not so dangerous situation, and he might fall sick after couple of days and then get back to normalcy. After coming back home, my husband was present and was extremely furious on me. We went for a thorough search again and in a different location, to where I found my son with the medicine bottle. We did find some tablets lying on the floor and upon counting; I got the total quantity that was supposed to be there. Usually, our son is very curious by nature and I was sure that he might have tried to gulp at least few pills. With no doubt in mind I'm sure, at that juncture baba saved him by distracting him for trying to swallow the pills and at the same time teaching me a lesson to be extra organized and cautious about kids. I offer my deepest prayers to baba to ever, protect and shower his grace upon all beings in thick and thin. Sri Sacchithananda Sadguru Sainath Maharaj Ki Jai!
Back to Menu

Devotees say...

Adarsh Dalal
I had acute asthma. I used to keep three inhalers. One at home, one at work and one in my car. I tried Accu-puncture. None gave me permanent cure. Then I tried eating raw red onion a day and since than I have not used any medicine or inhalers. As you know, our body is consists of five elements, water, earth, fire etc, and when fire elements goes down and water elements goes up, our body resistance power greatly reduced. Experiment of red onions worked with my body chemistry and it may work with others. It is worth trying. I think it was Saibaba's grace & blessing to get this type of idea in my mind to try it. Let Saibaba continuously shower blessing on all mankind.

Vanita Kishan
Om Sai Ram I have read just three Sai Vichar but am a devotee of Baba from long time and would like to say that when we ask from Baba something we thank him for it but when our prayers are not answered that time also we should thank him and believe that since we trust Baba He knows the best for us may be He has planned something for us If I pray to Baba that I should Pass in a exam but I fail as a human being my first thought would be why Baba did this to me but dear Sai devotees I think if we believe in Baba we should do it with full Shraddha and have Saburi believe everything is His design he knows the best for me and His 11 vachan how can we forget them? So all Sai Bhagatas let's sing His praises and always be drowned his Bhakti. Think good, work hard and do good to others without any expectations.

Achuta Ramaiah - Sai's grace: A poem

Oh Sai
We face untold miseries
Yet we all look to you
For grace and help
And you do help
Like Hanuman of yore
Whom Rama left
Behind for solving problems
Of his bhaktas

This time
We did as told
Did our prayers
Went through the
Rituals as dictated
And we pray to rudra
To solve our curses

Still you are our
Last and best friend
We pray with our heart
To solve our problems addressed to
And bless us oh
Sai Sai Sai Sai Sai !!

Vandana
Baba I am very much depressed with my life it seems that my life stands nowhere. I am not having a good relationship with my family members and my in-laws you know it very well. Baba it has been three years of my marriage and we don't have a child the reason You know it very well. Baba please bless us with a child. We want to come to Shirdi with a baby blessed by You. Baba if (I expect) this in the next two month I will come to Shirdi bare foot. Baba please bless us with a child so that we can also have a reason to live. I am very helpless Baba.

Sai devotee
Om Sai Ram, Thankyou Baba for raising my salary today. I just finished reading Sai Satcharitha last Thursday and this Thursday you raised my salary. Thank you Baba for always helping my family and me. Please take care of my husband's job as there are many lay offs in his office. Please take care of our health and help our children in their education. Please make our partner give at least 75 percent of our money back and please help me pass the exam next month.
Back to Menu

Prayer Club:

Malini
I had prayed to you, about a friend of mine to get her transfer to Jaipur to join her husband. I got my prayers answered by you in few days. But Baba, my friend is having lot of problems with her husband and he does not want my friend to take up the transfer. I am feeling very guilty now. I wanted to help her but whatever I thought was good to her is bouncing back on me. She is not happy and I am feeling miserable. Baba was I wrong in asking something like this for my friend. Please help her baba she is a very nice and sensitive person. I want my friend to be happy with her husband let her life be settled as soon as possible.

Dolly Chowdary
Baba, Koti Koti Pranam. Baba, please help us. We are going through so much of depression. You have given us good jobs, good house and an excellent life. Please bless us with kids Baba. Please rectify my medical condition and help us sail through this. I leave all my ego at your lotus feet Baba. Please help us. Jai Sai Ram.

Vasanthi
Baba, my husband does not have a job, kindly bless him to find one close to home soon. A job in which he can survive as he has a problem holding jobs. I have full faith in you, I cannot live without your mercy, please shower your mercy on us.

Padmavathi Venkatesappa
Om Sri Sai Ram, Jaya Jaya Sai, as I prayed you blessed my husband with a good job. I am very thankful for this in my lifetime. Baba it is my humble request with you, give him a good health, you know what his problem and give him courage to handle this good opportunity, give him lot off confident to prove his ability. Bless my children with good health and education. Give me courage and self-confident, to go through the coming interview, bless me for success. You know that, how important this job for me. And bless all devotees for peaceful life.

Vimla
I have personally come across that who ever prayed in Sai Vichaar their prayers have been heard by Sri Sai Maharaj. With this hope that my Sai Maa will hear my prayers too, I have been writing to Sai Vichaar but it has not been published and even my prayers have not been heard. I confidence one day Sai Maharaj will hear my prayers and I hope my prayer will be published in Sai Vichaar this time definitely. I pray to Sai Maharaj that I want him back in my life. I want to meet him again. Please bless me with him back in my life. Please send him soon. I believe we have been departed with some beautiful purpose of yours. Please bless everyone who have been departed with the wind of life. One who cares and love each others truly please bless their love. I hope I will meet with my soul soon. Please Sai, bless my family and everyone in this world with your karuna. Bolo Sachidanand Sai Nath Maharaj Ki Jai.

Prasad
Baba you know me and you know what and all event's happening in my life. I got married to a female who is in par with a demon and my in-laws are encouraging her act and rallying behind her and giving me and my family lot of trouble right from police to goondas. Please devotees pray for me so that I will come out of this problem and save my family. You're my savior reham karo Baba. I beg you please save my family from that evil family pleas baba. With tears I am submitting this to you. Anantha koti Brahmanda naayaka Rajadhiraja yogiraja parabraman Sainath maharaj ki Jai.
Back to Menu

Quotation of the Week:
"The most effective and speedy way to gain our object is to approach a worthy Saint or Sadguru, who has himself attained God vision"-from Sri Sai Satcharitha book
Back to Menu

Question of the Week:

Q. Sai Satcharitha says, "Debt and enmity has to be atoned for". Please comment?

A. by Sai devotee

The sanatana dharma believes in theory of karma and re incarnation. The theory of karma can be explained to some extent by saying, "As you sow, so you reap." But, there is a broader meaning to it. It is a simple knowledge that for a seed to grow, it needs lot of other things too. Similarly, there are many other factors involved in the reaping of our Karmic actions. The three types of karma commonly quoted are, Sanchita, Prarabhda, Agami. As given in Sai Satcharitha: Sanchit is the stock acquired through the good and evil works of the present and all births, Prarabhda is that part of the stock which is to be worked out in the present life and is therefore referred to as "Destiny". Kriyaman or Agami means the actions of the present life with reference to merit and demerit, and the consequent pleasure and pain to be experienced in births yet to be. This shows the karma principle is also accompanied by reincarnation theory.

This explains why the ways of destiny are different for different people, even though born to the same parents. The prarabdha karma can be in the form of positive credit or negative debt. Usually, we do not think of karma principle much, as long as we are on the positive credit side. The negative debt when it starts working; begins to bother us. We start looking for the ways to soften its effects on us. The commonest ways for the negative, debt (that troubles us) may be in the forms of enmity, murder, deception, financial losses etc. Many stories in Sai Satcharitha exemplify this fact. Some times, without our knowing the karmic repercussions start showing their effects. It is like losing the ground and we have nothing to hold. This makes us to think for the ways of atonement.

The usual ways we follow for the atonement or prayaschit include various austerities. They can be in the form of external worship of God, reading different scriptures, chanting the God's name silently. The basic principle underlying all this is, we are asking Forgiveness from God for the mistakes committed by us in Ignorance. By atonement, our hearts should become pure and wholesome. Our suffering because of our Prarabdha karma should make us compassionate with life. At the same time, one should become more understanding in one's dealings with others, as others may be still in the novice period in the school of karma. The main reason behind the karmic workings on us is, to make us more mature in our thinking and wiser with our lives. That's is the beginning of growing up.

Whatever that happens to us is because of a reason. Some times, our finite intellect cannot comprehend it. So, whenever the axe of karma falls heavily on us, it is good for us to pray to the Almighty, as he knows the reason. Prayers to God may be selfish in the beginning, yet they not only cleanse one's desires but also help in the purification of mind. This in turn leads to increase in God's devotion. The grace of God descends on us in the form of Guru. Guru leads us to the knowledge of the real and unreal.

One has to let go of the need to know so much about the inexplicable effects of Karma. What we can know is small; the holiness around us is so huge. It is best for us to trust in the lotus feet of God and Guru and surrender to them completely with our heart and mind. And there is always the Grace of our Guru to guide us in the times of peril. "WHY FEAR; WHEN I AM HERE."
Back to Menu

Sai Activities:

Shirdi Sai Temple of Chicago and Suburbs, Illinois, USA
Shirdi Sai temple is open daily from 8:00 am to 9:00 pm(Winter hours). Daily program includes Kakad Arathi at 8am 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.

Upcoming Events: Monthly Pooja ( 2nd Sunday of every month) on Sunday February 13th.

Shirdi Saibaba Prayer Center, Minnesota
Regular Sai activities in Minneapolis, St.Paul area 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 Shirdi Saibaba Prayer Center at 952-938-2983, and to read the monthly newsletter Sai Sandesh, visit www.hamaresai.org.

Shirdi Sai Satsang, Canada
Shirdi Sai Baba Sansthan of Canada invites all to join us for Satsang every Thursday 6:30PM at 147 Winston Castle Dr. Markham Ont. L6C 2N4. For details on other Activities and Services please call Shammi Chopra at 416-402-8089 or email us saileela99@yahoo.com

Shivanesan Swamiji Aradhan, Hyderabad, India
The ninth Aradhana of Pujyasri Sivanesan Swamiji of Shirdi is going to be observed with an ecstatic Sai Nama Sapthaham, conducted by Dattaguru Bhandara Trust and Akhanda Sainama Sapthaha Samithi, Hyderabad. The program will be from Feb. 2nd to Feb. 9th 2005 followed by Anna Santharpana. For more details please contact the Samithi at (040) 27225895. E-mail : dattaguru_bhandara_trust@yahoo.co.uk
Back to Menu

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

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