What is the measure of love of a Sadguru towards his devotees? Often we wonder if God really loves us or listens to us and to our pleas for help. Most of the people are drawn towards God during difficult times as they feel only God or the super power alone provides solution to problems and grants wishes. It is very difficult to understand actions of Sadguru. While Baba was in his physical form in Shirdi there were number of devotees who loved and lived for BABA. It is not correct to assume all the devotees lived in happiness in terms of materialistic and emotional contentment just because they loved Baba and were loved in return by Baba Himself. Kaka Sahib Dixit, Mahalsapathy, Radha Krishna Mai etc. some of the prominent devotees were subjected to hardships in spite of their sincere devotion towards Baba. They took everything as blessing of Baba for them the companionship of Baba's love was enough to tide over their misfortunes.

Sadguru love towards the devotees is without any conditions; all they expect is for the devotees to have implicit faith and love towards their Guru. This can be achieved only through Shradha and Saburi. These qualities equip men to deal with any given situation and be strong in character. When faced with difficulties, one can either run away from it and be a failure or learn from it and come out victorious even if they have failed initially they have learned to deal with the situation. This strength is given by BABA to His followers who constantly think of Him in all walks and acts of life. Let us always be good and act good deeds. The adverse reaction of people towards kindness is all but Baba's play, He wants us to know that there are situations and people with different outlook, but He wants us to be steady and consistent in our behavior.

Spiritually oriented people are fortunate, because their love towards god is reciprocated in multiples by Baba. Problems faced by these are Baba's play to make a person stronger which shows His love towards His children. Relations, friends all move away from people during times of need and pay lip service, but it is Baba alone who makes sure that His children can overcome the problem through their inner strength. For such people Baba walks along with them when the world turns their back on them. People despair not knowing that they have BABA as their well wisher and their confidante and they do not need other humans to share their burden, Baba is carrying them in His heart.

When in depressed one should recall the incident from Satcharita mentioned in Chapter 7, where BABA, the merciful responds to the anxiety of Mrs. Khaparde who went running to Baba to tell that her young son was down with plague. Then Baba lifted His Kafani and showed to all present 4 fully developed bubos and assured them that "see how I have to suffer for My devotees; their difficulties are Mine". Let us remember that these problems are gifts of His love and assurance towards us that He is forever with us when we need Him and call Him. Best friends might not help us in times of need. Even parents are at times helpless when we need them most, but Baba is always there for us 24 hours 7 days a week and works relentlessly just to make us experience His love and makes His presence felt.

God loving should have the qualities of compassion, forgiveness, caring, empathy and most importantly feeling of oneness. Let us hold on to these qualities. We do not live for others but God alone, it does not matter what others think about us or whether they acknowledge our good behavior, god knows our behavior and that is what matters. When subjected to hardships let us remember to thank Him for loving us, He is not ignoring us but always keeps us in His heart hence these worries, anxieties and problems because He is missing us, and wants us to remember Him. Also, let us not think that worries and troubles are the cause of evil eye of enemies. A person who enjoys the agony of another person is ignorant. Acts of all humans are the resultant of the karma, past and present. Remember Baba loves us always; more than we would ever love Him.

(Contributed by Anitha Kandukuri, Canberra, Australia)
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Contributed Article: The perfect love between Soul and Spirit

The love between soul and spirit is the perfect love, the love we are all seeking. When we meditate, love grows. We need to strive to love all and to meditate more deeply. Sainath maharaj tells his devotees to concentrate and mediate on his form to diminish the wall that separates him from his seekers. Lord Krishna has said "I accept pious offering of my devotees even a glass of water, if it is offered to me with love". The same was demonstrated by Jesus Christ, Mary and Martha are two sisters who invite Jesus to their home, Martha worked hard for Master but her mind was on the chores and not on him, Mary thought more of Master than of her self. Because of Mary's greater love, Jesus said of her, "Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her". And on another occasion, when Mary had brought ointment to anoint the feet of Jesus, Judas said, "Why was not this ointment sold for 300 hundred pence and given to the poor?" Christ answered, "You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me." Lord Jesus accepted the Mary's devotion, not for himself personally, but for the spirit within him. The two women were bold followers of Jesus who have inspired others through the centuries to offer hospitality, study the scriptures, and love God and neighbor- even in the face of danger.

A similar incident can be quoted from Satcharitha, Baba in the year 1910 pushes his hand into brightly burning Dhuni to save a child, and the arm was scorched and burnt. Baba refused to accept the treatment by doctor Paramanand of Mumbai but he allowed his leper devotee Bhagoji Shinde to dress the would. Saibaba a perfect Siddha as He was did not really want this treatment, but out of his love for the devotee, He allowed the "Upasana". Shri Paramahansa Yogananda writes, Divine love is the only perfect love. If one mediates deeply, a love will come over you such as no human tongue can describe, you will know His divine love, and you will be able to share that pure love to others.

(Contributed by Sai devotee)
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Experiences of Devotees:

Sai devotee
I work as system administrator. I had lot of problems in my last office. I was unable to continue working there and I can't even resign, that's my bread. I started looking out for a job almost from 30 months. I was unsuccessful. I almost lost hopes in life. I don't know what to do. Suddenly one day I remembered that I bought "SAI SATCHARITA " in 1994 in Shirdi, which I have not read at all. Decided to read SAI SATCHRITA. Thursday 26th February 2004 I started reading, same night around 9pm I got a call from USA for an interview. I finished my interview at 10PM. being it was Thursday I need to rush to SAI Mandir. Where the mandir closes at 10pm. and when I reached it was almost closed people were coming out and nobody were allowed. I was almost in tears; suddenly one security guard of the mandir helped me for darshan of SAI. Wednesday 3rd March 2004 I finished reading SAI SATCHRITA . Same day after lunch around 2.30pm I got a call from Indian office saying I have been selected and I have been asked to collect my offer letter. I almost jumped in air, I could not stop my tears and, everybody in my house was very happy. My family and I will always be thankful to SAI. After this incidence every month, I am finding new things happening in my life. No, I don't worry for anything everything SAI will take care. Thanks very much Sai.

T.K.Madhu Moorthy
It was last August, when I was going to Shirdi. I planned for almost 4 years to go to Shirdi but couldn't plan a trip. But it was in the month of Aug 2003 when I was just crossing the reservation counter in my place, a thought struck me that I should immediately go to Shirdi and zoom I went into the counter and purchased the ticket and before I could realize, completed the trip to my dream place, SHIRDI. The train from Chennai reached Pune at around 11:25 pm and I took an Auto and asked the automan himself to drop me in the bus stand from where I can go to Shirdi and he obliged very devotedly and without charging me much. I did get a bus and there was just one seat like it was reserved for me. Though I told the driver to drop me at a place from where I can catch another bus to Shirdi, he was about to make to get down at a wrong place when he was scolded and stopped by an old man sitting next to me and was looking exactly like Baba. After this the bus went on for about half an hour and then the old man stopped the bus, asked me to get down along with him and gave me directions to catch the auto which was as if waiting for me just across the road and go to the nearest Ahmednagar Bus stand from where there are plenty of buses to Shirdi. It was 1 pm in the mid of the night at an alien place that I got the help of that old man who was none other than Baba himself. I am planning my next trip to Shirdi shortly.
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Devotees say...

Padmaja
I am a single parent with two boys - aged 8 & 10. The grace of Sai Baba has touched my life at every turn in the past 5 years that I started attending Sathsanghs and Bhajans and Aartis of our beloved master Sai Baba. There have been times in my life - between divorce, children's custody issues and their visitation with their father and some financial issues - which I have felt much engulfed. But every time I surrender completely I feel his grace showered on me. Every time I say, "So be it. It's o.k. Baba, You guide me. You have brought me to it, so, You give me the most suitable solution", my difficulties dissolve like they do not exist. I don't know what happens but things looks so much brighter. I am grateful to Sai Baba for gracing me with the opportunity to be aware of Him and be able to experience it.

R Joshi
Baba, I need your guidance. I have been a devotee- but sometimes I go through very confusing phases. I do seek spirituality and enlightenment. Suddenly I am derailed by the most base thoughts and behavior. I have it in the back of my mind that I am going through turmoil, but am not able to stop. When the phase gets over, there is repentance and I feel ashamed to ask for forgiveness. Why do these bad thoughts come at all? I push them off, it goes, and it comes back. Whose handiwork is this? My life was so smooth and full of joy, now it is like Dharmakshetra Kurukshetra- a battle within between being good and not being good. It creates conflict, I get confused. Then the pendulum swings back, I only think of your lotus feet for surrender. Am I the only one going through this .If I have been a good person, or at least tried to be one, how are these "ashleel" thoughts coming to my mind. Please be my saviour. I know even if I fall and are derailed, I will still get up and crawl towards you, for you dear Baba are my only goal.

Vinod Sridharan
Dear Sai devotees, could you please inform us about the contact details for congregations held in and around Denver, Colorado?

Ginnaram Srinivas Reddy, London
My name is Srinivas Reddy .I need Saibaba 's Vibhoodi and prasadam. How can I get it? I am in London, UK. Thanks.
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Prayer Club:

Srinivas
Hai Sainath when my problems will be over, when is my daughter's marriage take place. All these tension giving a big problem to me Sai. Nobody is there for us expect You. Sai do some thing special and favor my daughter to settle in her life at the earliest. We want your blessings Sai.

Sai devotee
SAIBABA I know that your are with me through out my life. You saved me in all the difficult situations. Please save me now and see that everything should go well.

A Sai devotee
Baba please remove all my laziness and please help me finish the parayana...please help me get a job soon Baba...please be with me ..I have full faith in u that u will fulfill my wish. please Baba I know I am not fit to be your devotee I keep making mistakes and am very lazy only with your grace I can overcome this...please bless me Baba...please always be with me and guide me in the right direction.

Usha
Sadguru Sai Maharaj. Baba, please help my sister. She is having many health problems. Bless her success as she is undergoing knee surgery. Help her to recover and walk normal. I know you will not let her down. Koti namaskarams Baba.

Sihi
Dear Baba, This is a prayer for my Uncles and their families, one in Mississauga and one in Mangalore. Both of them are facing tough times. Each one in his own way has been offering his prayers to U to face the problems and come out of it with success. Pls guide them and be with them and their respective families. Protect them from the eyes of the evil and guard them all. Be with them through all day and all night. I pray that they see the face of happiness through your blessings. My prayer for another Uncle, whose faith in you alters now and then. I pray that U give him the conviction to choose the right path for the welfare of not only his family but also that of his brother and his mother. My prayer for three of my aged grandparents. Baba please be with them through this stage of their lives that they need you the most.

Sai devotee
Sai Baba, please listen to my humble prayers. Get my sister married soon and also help her in her work. I pray to you all the time. Please help my sister in getting rid of depression and more interested in her life. My parents are so worried about her and they are loosing their sleep over my sister's marriage. Sai Baba, please help.

Devotee
I would like to ask baba why there is so much tensions/pains in my brothers and sisters life. My father is 66 yrs old and mother is 64, but no grandchildren's so far. Both my brothers got married but with wrong match, both brothers wife made my brothers life hell , not only this it impacted my younger sister life to find a match. She is 32 yrs old now beautiful educated but with not a good luck I guess. Please pray for my family to settle down in their married lives , get a good match for all of them. Baba they are your devotees why they are suffering so much , please help them show some miracle please baba please I beg you. Its been more than 11 yrs they have seen any happiness please help.

Sai devotee
Glory and Praise to Our Lord Sai!! My prayers to Our Sai Baba for my sister-in-law who has been suffering for the past one week from an abcess in her lower back. Initial treatment has not been effective and her pain is unbearable. Now she has been advised to go in for surgery. She will move into the hospital tonight. Her case is all the more complicated as she is diabetic and the doctors say pus from the abcess has entered into the bloodstream. My family is very upset. I pray to Our Lord Sai that the operation should be successful and she should be hale and hearty once again at the earliest. I pray to all our Sai brethren that they too spend a few seconds in praying for my sister-in-law's successful operation and her speedy recovery. It is only Our Baba who is with us at such times and nothing is impossible with Him. Lord, please do this miracle for us.

Mrs J Moodley
Please pray for me because I feel very unhappy because when my brother-in-law and his wife comes from Johannesburg, my husband's family treats me different but when they are not here they very nice to me. Please pray and help me to feel more confident when I am with the family.

Pia Hueting
Baba, Please get me rid of the pain on my tongue.It has been for months.Don't let your daughter suffer! Jai Saibaba

Sai devotee
Dearest Shree Sai Baba, Om sainathaya namha. With your blessings everything is going on fine. Baba, as you are aware doctor said since the weight of the child is more he will do operation in the first week of July 2004. Baba, we pray you to bless us to go everything smoothly without any complications. Give us healthy and normal child. Jai Sai Ram.
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Quotation of the Week:
"If you cannot endure abuse from another, just say a simple word or two, or else leave"-Saibaba of Shirdi
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Question of the Week:

Q. Why do we humans need spiritual attainment? Was not early man lived without spiritual wisdom?
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Sai Activities:

Gurupoornima in Seattle, WA
All Sai devotees, we are happy to inform you that HTCC Temple is celebrating Guru Poornima Celebrations at HTCC Temple on 1 July 2004 - Thursday. The program starts from 6:30 am to 8:30 pm. Please inform the program to all the devotees, participate in the celebrations and get the Blessings of Sri Shirdi Sai Baba. If you need any further information, please visit www.htccwa.org.

Guru Purnima and Bhoomi Pooja July 2nd 2004 at Flushing, NY
On Guru Purnima day this July 2nd , 2004, we will have much to celebrate as we break ground for the new Shirdi Saibaba Temple in Flushing, NY. It has taken us ten long years to reach this milestone. We can finally move out of the current temple setting in the house, into the temporary trailer room during the construction of the larger temple with all the requisite facilities: worship and meditation halls, library, kitchen and a dining area. The house will make way for the new temple on the same site. We welcome you to join us for the groundbreaking ceremony. This is a unique opportunity for you to participate in an auspicious ceremony for a sacred project. For information and schedules, please contact the Temple at 718-321-9243 or visit the web site at www.dwarakamaishirdi.org.

Shirdi Saibaba Prayer center, Minnesota - Gurupoornima Celebrations
Shirdi Saibaba Prayer center, Minnesota celebrates Gurupoornima 2004 on July 3, 2004 at Geeta Ashram, Brooklyn Park, MN. Please watch for more details. 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.

Shree Shirdi Sai Sansthan Sydney, Australia
Shree Shirdi Sai Sansthan Sydney invites you with family and friends to join in a 2 days of Blissful experience of Bhajans and Satsang to commomerate 3rd Anniversary of Shirdi Baba gacing Sydney. The event starts Sunday 13th and Monday 14th of June 2004 at 420 Liverpool Road, Strathfield South, NSW 2136, Australia. For more details contact contact Sansthan's Info-Line 0500 524 724 or email: events@shirdibaba.org.au

Gurupoornima Celebrations in Auckland, New Zealand
The Shirdi Saibaba Sansthan of New Zealand Inc, will have its Guru Purnima celebrations for our Satguru Shri Shirdi Sai Baba on 3rd July (Saturday) at The Mahatma Gandhi Centre, 145, New North Road, Eden Terrace, Auckland. The Programme is from 6:30 am to 8:00 pm. For more info send email to shalinijan2@yahoo.co.nz

Consecration of Shirdi Sai Baba's Murti and Guru Purnima Celebrations
The Shirdi Sai Baba Sansthan of Canada and Hindu Mandir and Cultural Centre invites all devotees to participate and receive Baba's Blessings during the Consecration of Shirdi Sai Baba's Murti and Guru Purnima Celebrations on Saturday, July 3, 2004 from 10:00AM - 2:00PM at Hindu Mandir and Cultural Centre, 6875 Professional Court, Mississauga, ON, L4V 1Y3 (On Derry Rd E. Off Airport Rd). TEL: (905) 678-1166 For more information and to volunteer, please contact: Shammi: (416) 402-8089, Suhas: (416) 939-2934, Nilesh: (416) 526-6100 or visit www.shirdisaicanada.org, email saileela99@yahoo.com

Global Sai Naam Japa
There is a global Sai Naam Japa initiated by www.shirdisaisharan.org in offering 1 billion flowers in the form of NAAM JAP. This can be achieved as a group. Please join hands in offering the flowers at the lotus feet of SaiNaath. One can do japa at their own time 'OM SAI SRI SAI JAYA JAYA SAI'. There are no restrictions for the time to do japa and no restrictions for the number of times. Please update the number of times japa done by emailing to sainamajapa@yahoo.com and visit for more details www.shirdisaisharan.org about Sai Naam Japa.
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