One of the commonest dilemmas in human minds is regarding the correctness of the work the person is doing! In simple words, we question ourselves on lot of occasions about which is right and which is wrong. The difference between the two is clear in some situations. However, sometimes it is very confusing. In Bhagavad Gita, Arjuna felt the same bewildering situation in his mind. He prays to Lord Sri Krishna,

Karpanya- dosopahata-svabhavah
prcchami tvam dharma-sammudha-cetah
yac chreyah syan niscitam bruhi tan me
sisyas te 'ham sadhi mam tvam prapannam.

Arjuna says that his mind is not functioning well, and it is full of suspicions and indecisiveness and he cries plaintively for help from the Lord. He requests Sri Krishna to accept him as the disciple and asks the Lord for the guidance.

This emphasizes the role of teacher in one's life. Starting with elementary studies until the university studies, one needs a teacher to guide them correctly. Then, one can imagine the absolute role of a teacher in this study of Self-realization. In Sai Satcharitha, Sri Sai tells the story of four friends who got lost in the thick jungle while searching answers for their questions on self-realization. This is true with all the humans caught in the confusion of material world. Acknowledgement of confusion is the first step towards the goal of life. This shows that the disciple is ready to learn from the teacher. There is a saying in south India; it is easy to wake up a person who is sleeping, but it is impossible to wake up a person when he is pretending to be sleeping. If one accepts that one is in perplexed situation and asks for guidance, then the competent teacher can help that person. If one is living in hypocritical values, then that person cannot gain much from the teacher. The student should keep his book of life in the hands of the teacher with faith and should ask for the guidance from the teacher.

At the same time, the disciple should be able to follow the teachings of the teacher in the day-to-day living. In everyone's life there comes the time where one experiences difficulty regarding the decision, which is right. Those times make one to lose the mental equilibrium. One falls into the lap of uncertainty. That is the time to remind oneself about the teachings of the teacher. One should pray to the Guru from bottom of the heart for guidance. The teacher would take care of the situation, definitely. Then, even though there is a temporary state of disturbance in the mental stability, one will be able to recover from it without much confusion. Some times, it appears that one cannot gather the strength to face the obstacles. In those times pray to the God or Guru for help. As a finite human being, we can see only part of the big picture of life. As an infinite self, the teacher sees the whole picture of the life and would do the needful. Our duty is to entrust our life with full faith in the hands of the teacher.
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Contributed Article: Sri Sai Gurucharitra - Chapter VII(Conclusion)

I got a divine dream immediately after Sri Sai Baba entered mahasamadhi. I will let you know the details of the dream. In that dream, Sri Sai Baba who was none other than Sri Rama had crossed the borders of this world and went to Vaikunta, the abode of Sri Hari. There the Almighty Sri Mahavishnu had come to the gates of Vaikunta on the pretext of Seemollanghan but actually to welcome Sri Sai Baba along with mahatmas such as Sanaka, Sananda, Suka, Prahlada, Dhruva, Vibhishana, Narada, Tumbura, Maruti, Sabari, Sugreeva, Siriyala, Nandagopa, Yasoda, Bheem, Arjuna, Dharma Raja, Sri Sankara, Madhvacharya, Ramanuja, Matsyendranath, Ghoraknath, Gahaninath, Sopanadev, Changdev, Namdev, Gora kumbhar, Damaji pant, Tulsidas, Rohidas, Eknath, Savata mali, Bodhale bua, Sri Samarth Ramadas, Tukaram Maharaj, Sajan Kasai, Chokha Mahar, Narsi Mehta, Nagar and Kamaldas.

On seeing Sri Sai Baba Kamaldas ran to him and clasped him to his breast. He could not speak for some time but silently enjoyed the bliss of reunion. After a while he said, "My father! Baba! Where did you go for such a long time leaving me alone here? I was burning with anguish for a glimpse of you." Then the other mahatmas consoled him, "Why cry now? Your father Kabir has returned. He was in Shirdi all this while to show the right path to the people of this world. Now he will stay on with us." The rishis all hailed Baba. The celestial beings sang in his honor. Then Sri Sai Baba took his seat alongside Srimannarayana. I was prostrating to their lotus feet clasping them to my heart when I woke up. This was my dream.

The physical body of Sri Sai Baba was taken in a great procession by Kakasaheb Dixit and was put in mahasamadhi in the Buty wada. Gopal Mukund Buty was a very rich man of rare good fortune. He had great devotion for the feet of Sri Sai Baba. Now Baba is in Samadhi in the building constructed by him. Many devotees have experienced that Baba is still there. Nobody ever feels that he has died. If any one feels so, it is just ignorance. It is said that he was not born of the human womb. Where is death for one who has not taken birth? He is beyond both birth and death. He is one without end. He is indivisible. He is the ocean of knowledge.

Dear listeners! Of the devotees of Sri Sai Baba, Sri Narayan Govind Chandorkar was the foremost. As Kalyan swamy was to Samarth Ramadas so was Chandorkar to Sri Sai Baba. Hari pant, Kaka Dixit, Buty, Mahajan, Harda Sadhu bhayya, Govindrao Dhabholkar, Baba Tarkhad, Moreshwar Pradhan, Balasaheb Bhate, Purushottam Avaste, Baba M B Rege, Raghunath Tendulkar, His wife Savitribai, Malegaon fakir, Purandhare, Nanasaheb Nimonkar, Tatya patil, Madhavrao Deshpande, Ramachandra patil and so many others were his devotees. I have told some of the names earlier. Is it possible for me to name everyone?

Oh the able Sai! I kneel before you and seek your protection and make a request to you. Please make me worthy of your generosity. I am as the dust of the feet of the mahatmas. It is only you that can save me. I know that you are the ark which enables me to cross the ocean of worldliness. Oh Sai Maharaj! Do not throw this Dasganu away from the shade of your lotus feet. This is my earnest prayer. My guru Vaman Sastry has passed away. That is why I am an orphan now. I am still too young to look after myself so you have to look after me and nourish me. Baba! You are in the form of all sadhus. You are Vaman Sastry. You alone are my father.

The divine history of Sri Sai Baba is like the limitless ocean of divine nectar. May all the auspiciousness attend to those who read this history as well as those who listen to it. This is the prayer of Dasganu who is serving Sri Sai Baba by the singing of his story and by hearing his leelas.
Weal be to all.
All Hail to Sri Sai Baba who is the Brahman.

This is the end of the 53rd chapter of 'Bhakti Saraamrit' written by Dasganu Maharaj (This part concludes Shri Sai Guru Charithra

(Contributed by Source: "Sri Sai Gurucharithra" originally by Santkavi Sri Dasganu Maharaj. Translated from Telugu version by Sri SVL with an Introductory Preface by Sri Sainathuni Sarathbabuji)
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Experiences of Devotees:

Varma
Thank you Baba for blessing me with a beautiful baby girl after six years. I was almost going to see the doctor for fertility medications. I had told my husband if I do not conceive this month, I would definitely take medications. I was constantly praying to our Lord dear Sai Baba. He showered his blessings on me and blessed me with a beautiful daughter after nine months. Thank you Baba. We surrender ourselves to you with love and devotion. Kindly shower your kripa dristi on everyone.

Lakshmisujatha
Thank you very much for giving me all the things I wanted. I want to share a recent experience with Saibaba's grace. We lost a gold ornament at a portrait studio, which is a gift from a best friend to my baby. We searched all the places and including the floor but could not find it. So we went home and searched all our bags but its not there. We then went back to studio again hoping that Sai would help us find it. In addition, as a miracle, it is on the floor and I felt very happy that Saibaba helped us on this. Thank you very much Baba for all the miracles you showed on me in my life.

Ginnaram Srinivas
Dear Sai devotees, I would like to share an experience with all my Sai devotees. I have been doing parayana for several times until now, at last one day Baba appeared in my dream. I had been to a newly constructed temple, where there were idols of all the deity. For the very first time I have seen Saibaba, picture in my dream. I am very happy that Saibaba is with me always. Dear Baba, please see that I get a nice job, so that all my debts will be cleared. I just want to say all the Sai devotees that please keep faith in Baba, so that he will surely bless you one day.
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Devotees say...

A Sai devotee
My koti koti pranams to Baba. By Baba's grace, I got the approval for my I-130. I prayed to Baba that when I will get the approval I will write my experience on saibaba.org. I came to USA eleven years ago. Since last five years, I was much tensed and did not understand what to do. I prayed to Baba whole-heartedly and left everything on Baba. By Shraddha and Saburi, we can receive Baba's blessing and overcome all the hardships we face. I pray to Baba to shower his blessings upon each one of you including my family.

L Vanka
This is to 'Madhu Vulapala'. We are group of members who have strong idea of starting a Sai temple. You can reach us at van_lavi@yahoo.com or you can call my husband Muthu 832-215-6863 any time.

Shree
Sai Baba, thank you for all the help. You were there always for us in our times of trouble and showed us a way out. Thank you for blessing me with a good percentage in my exams and in getting a residency position. Sai we are forever indebted to you, and our faith is increasing day by day. I know we still have a long way to go before we become your perfect devotees. Please continue to bless us. Please solve a problem of ours, which we got to know about today. Please Sai, you are our only hope.

Kasim N
I have been to Shiridi on holiday and had the darshan of Sai. When I reached home in a hurry to attend my office, I realized that I had a bad neck, so I took rest for two days. After that I felt fine and thought to go for work. That day I had a minor injury to my head and my head started bleeding, somehow I went to the near by clinic and later I went to office . I would like to know why all this happened. Can any one tell me? Jai Sairam. Bow to Sri Sai. Peace be to all.
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Prayer Club:

Anita Khanna
Jai Sai Baba! I only pray for my good and indeed very good mental health. And so do for my children and husband. The disease that has plagued our life about 2 years may we all well get rid of it and all, any kind of mental, physical illness. Bless us with good heath and ability to serve you with happy filled heart and mind.

Sridhar
My brother's friend Dominic Savio has had a massive heart attack 4 days ago, has been brain-dead, and is lying in the critical care of the local hospital here in Bridgewater. The doctors have given up hopes on him. He has a wife and two small kids who very much need him. We have been trying to revive his brain cells by touching him, healing him and praying for him. Please include him in your prayers and let Sairam give him His energy and strength to come back. That is all we are praying for now. Sai Baba, kindly help him to recover.

Anu
Please help me Sai as I am going through many problems in my life. I am so confused that sometimes I take wrong steps in life. Please help me Sai.

L Vanka
Sai, you know what is happening with my sister since three years, why is she facing so many hurdles Baba, if one hurdle is cleared she is falling into other. Did she do any sin for which you are punishing her like this? Baba first it became hard to convince my parents to agree for marriage with guy she liked, now after 1year when both are ready to get married in two more months his mother says that my sister's kundali is not good and it is not matching with boy's. You know Baba she even wrote to prayer club for his H1 job. You have blessed him with H1 and job right after she wrote here. She has done everything a girl can do for man whom she loves. Baba you only do some miracle to get her married or give my sister strength to face this situation.

Chandrasekhar
Sainath, please bless me to have peaceful work environment.

Ram Durai
Babaji, please help my son to get a good job and lead a good life. You are always with me. Be with me even with my son, though he is very ignorant about You.

V J Gokani
Om Sai Nath, many thanks for standing with us in time of anxiety and distress. My mother is still in hospital, still weak, fragile and concerned that she may not return home. Please give her courage, strength and all the help to overcome this and other periods in life.She has gone through lots and has always been the best mother one could ask. She sacrified her life for the upbringing of all of us. Also, in today's kalyug, people are selfish and are after materialistic items. There is no human valuse or feelings. So please keep the relationship tacked and also supportive. Please change the attitude and ideas of my brother who is heavily into drinks and smokes, always arguing etc. O Baba please convert him in right way to follow your path. Lastly please give me the courage to face all difficulties and help me in settling down, purchase my home, better progress in my current or other job and get married with a suitable partner.
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Quotation of the Week:
"I look on all with an equal eye."--Sai Baba
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Question of the Week:

Q. What is the essence of Anandrao's vision regarding Kakasaheb's doubts about Bhakthi?
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Sai Activities:

Sri Ramanavami celebrations in Chicago, USA
Sri Ramanavami and Urs festival celebrations are the first major celebration of the year for Shirdi Sai devotees. The tradition started in 1910 and continues each year. Shirdi Sai temple, Chicago will be celebrating the event for three days starting from Friday evening April 15th to Sunday April 17th. The program comprises of Aartis, Maha Abhishek, Homam, Palki procession, Satcharitra parayan, bhajans and much more. For complete details please visit www.saibaba.us or call 847-931-4058.

Sri Ramanavami - Baba's Urs Celebrations in Minnesota
Shirdi Saibaba Prayer center, Minnesota invites Sai devotees to participate in the Sri Ramanavami-Urs celebrations on Saturday, April 16, 2005 at Geeta Ashram, Brooklyn Park, MN. The event includes, Sai aarthis, Devotees' experiences, Bhajans, Kirtans, Chandan Utsav and Palki Procession. Please write to hamaresai@yahoo.com. Regular Sai activities in the Twin Cities, MN are conducted at Shirdi Saibaba Prayer Center, 725 Lake St NE, Apt #139 Hopkins MN. For details, please visit www.hamaresai.org or write to hamaresai@yahoo.com. Or call Shirdi Saibaba Prayer Center at 952-938-2983.

Shirdi Sai- Ramanavami Celebrations in Bay area, CA
We welcome all of you with family, to join us for Shirdi Sai- Ramanavami celebrations in the Bay Area, CA on April 23rd (Saturday) in Sunnyvale between 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Las Palmas Park Building, 850 Russet Drive, Sunnyvale, CA (located off of Remington Dr. and Spinosa Dr.). For more information please contact: saibandhu@yahoo.com or call 408-564-6704

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
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