Spiritual path though utter reliance on the Guru has been well summarized by Prof. Narke in The Incredible Sai Baba by Arthur Osborne.

According to the tradition of Sai Baba, the disciple or devotee who comes to the feet of a Guru in complete surrender has, no doubt, to be pure. chaste and upright, but he does not need to continue any active practice of japa or meditation. On the contrary, any such practice or any intellectual process which involves the postulate "I am doing this" is a handicap. All sense of ahankara or ego in the devotee has to be wiped out, swept out of the memory and mind, as it is an obstruction to the Guru's task. The Guru does not teach, he radiates influence. This influence is poured in and is absorbed with full benefit by the soul which has completely surrendered itself, blotting out the self, but it is obstructed by mental activity, by reliance on one's own exertions and by every kind of self?consciousness and self?assertion.

This great truth must have been grasped by all observant visitors to Sai Baba. He himself sometimes said to devotees: "Stay with me and keep quiet. I will do the rest." ? that is secretly and inwardly...

So the duty of a devotee or aspirant is firstly to keep himself chaste, pure, simple and upright, so as to be fit to receive the Guru's Grace, and secondly to have full faith in the beloved Master to raise him to various higher and higher experiences till at last he is taken to the distant goal, whatever that may he. `One step enough for me' is the right attitude for him now. He need not trouble to decide upon complicated metaphysical and philosophical problems about ultimate destiny. He is as yet ill prepared to solve them. The Guru will lift him up, endow him with higher powers, vaster knowledge and increasing realization of Truth. And the end is safe in the Guru's hands.

Says Narke, All this was not uttered by Sai Baba at one breath either to me or within my hearing, but the various hints I got from his dealings with people and his occasional words about it add up to this. And common sense points the same way.
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Contributed Article: News from Shirdi: Traditions

There are a few traditions that started during Baba's stay in Shirdi and are still followed in service of Baba by Shri Sai Baba Sansthan, Shirdi. Prominent among the traditions are "daily offerings by Abdul Baba's and Boraoke families", "palaki procession every Thursday", "jholi parampara in mahasamadhi", "ramanavami and urs tradition" and others. In this week, we will cover the daily offerings traditons.

Abdul Baba was one of the few lucky persons to be in close proximity of Shri Sainath. It was Abdul Baba's duty so to speak to take care of all personal needs of Shri Sainath and do daily cleaning of the masjid and other articles used by Baba in addition to Radhakrishna mai, Bhagoji Shinde and others. Abdul Baba was also one of Baba's errand boys.

After Baba's mahasamadhi, Abdul Baba used to take full care of the samadhi and the surroundings daily for a period of eight years before formation of Shri Sai Baba Sansthan. Abdul Baba continued his service to Baba till his own passing away.

One of the things he used to do was offer flowers every day on the samadhi. Similarly Borakoke saheb from Kopergaon also used to offer flowers daily to Sainath. That traditon continues even today where in the grand children of both the families offer flowers grown in their own gardens every day morning at the Samadhi between 9 am and 10 am. At the time of offering the darshan queues are stopped and the area around the samadahi is cleaned and then they are allowed to finish their offerings in the traditional way as offered by their grand parents.

(Contributed by Smita Deshmukh)
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Experiences of Devotees:

Saritha
I graduated in January and was looking for jobs, I was depressed as I did not get a job for nearly 4 months, I used to sit at home all alone and was so depressed, so one day I decided to go out to a nearby library for doing some reading as I thought that would freshen up my mind. And that was Thursday; I called for a cab, as I did not have a car. The cab driver seemed to be a very nice person he said he was busy but enquired about me. I told him that I was looking for a job, he gave me a lady's name and phone number who works for some firm and asked me to contact her. I immediately called her and spoke to her, she asked me to send my resume and I did that immediately. I used to call her regularly without loosing my hope and one fine Thursday I got a call from her saying that I have an interview with a supervisor working in a very big firm and the job I was being interviewed was related to my thesis. I had a phone interview on Friday and I got through it and had an onsite interview on the following Monday and by Baba's grace I was selected. I am thankful to you Baba for your help.

Veena
Sai Ram, I do not know how and where to start, as it is my first time writing my experience. I did not know much about Saibaba until December 2004, but I started praying Saibaba since December after my brother-like-friend strongly advised me to do so. I went to Saibaba temple in Pittsburgh. Things started changing immediately, I got interview for my MD seat, which was almost impossible, and I knew that that is not going to happen but I was wrong. Soon I realized that Baba can do anything and I got interview and I was selected. But there was one more thing, the place I got that seat was very far from my husband's work place, I was really worried about it but Saibaba was with me always at the right moment that's the day I moved to the place where I got my MD seat my husband got job in the place which is very near to my place now, I just couldn't believe myself that it happened. I had prayed to Baba that I would be writing to Baba's newsletter if that happens, so I am writing it now. I wanted to add one more thing here that is I have some problem getting my drivers license and other problems which Baba knows very well, I just pray to Saibaba to be with me in all the circumstances and to give me courage to face them. Please get me out of this darkness Baba.

Madhavi Alaparthy
I visited India 3 years ago. I went there in summer which when all the final exams were done and school holidays began. I wanted to visit Shirdi without fail. I asked my family if we could go there. I was told that since it is holiday time, we might not be able to get tickets to travel and since I had only 2 weeks, it might not be possible and asked me to visit the local temple instead. But my desire to go to Shirdi did not get satisfied. I prayed to Baba to make my trip to Shirdi happen. After standing for a long time, my brother was able to get reservations to Shirdi. He has been told that he got lucky since those were the last tickets for the next 2 weeks. I left for Shirdi with my sister and my niece. We reached Shirdi safely and were able get a room in the next 30 minutes. We quickly got fresh and left for temple. We wanted to make it to the afternoon aarti. Lines were long. Once the gates opened, everyone tried to rush into the temple and we were scared we would not be able to make it. With Baba's grace, we were able to enter the Sai darbar and were positioned in such a way, that we could have a full view of Baba and participate in the aarti. After the aarti, we kept going in and out of the temple and finally had darshan 6 times in 2 hours. We were told getting in once it would be difficult but Baba let us stay in his mandir for a long time. The priest let us sit down in the temple for a long time. When our souls were really at peace, we came out of the temple. We went to the railway station in the evening. After few hours, the ticket collector came and noticed that one of us do not have a reservation. This was because the start and departure date and time were the same on the ticket. We did not check that. He asked us to get down and find another means of transport. We prayed to Baba and started talking to him. After a long discussion, we said, he is OK with us continuing the journey and made the reservation for us. We all reached safely and were very happy.
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Devotees say...

Visaalaakshi
Dear Baba..Thanks a lot for showing Your Karunyam and Daya on a hopeless devotee like me. With Your blessings, I have passed the other paper too. As per my vow am posting my experience here. Please make me a channel of Your peace and help me to serve You and Your devotees. Please always shower Your blessings on my family and help us to think about You all time. Thanks..Sai!

Rohini
I would like to thank the wonderful people involved in sending this letter out every Thursday. And I am grateful to Saibaba for all the blessings he showered on us. I was very tensed all thru my pregnancy and I made it so far into the ninth month and I am hoping with Sai's blessings I things will go smooth. Please baba shower your blessings and let everything be all right.

Lal Lachmandas
Baba! Thanks a lot! It is due to your blessings that my father got his labor card renewed. I also got admission in the college I wanted. Do shower your blessings on my family.

A Khanna
I had been looking for some documents for quite some time but no success. Just day before joining my job I told myself that I would find it today and write about it here. I started to look and in no time, I found it. Now I am just waiting for Baba's grace in other matter still hoping my prayer will be accepted. Though for a very long time, I have not met success in this prayer but my faith in Baba tells very soon it will be fulfilled too. Baba please reinforce my faith and grant my wish. Above all, bless my kids.

Keerthi
Dear Baba, its so wonderful to read so many mails from so many of your beloved and awestruck devotees writing in about your miraculous cures and blessings. Baba even I am one such devotee and what You have done for me is truly symbolic of the love and affection and the intrest You take in each and every one of your devotees.You gave me a career when I was at the crossroads of my life, wherein I could work from the comfort of my home and also take care of my baby, truly magnanimous of you Baba. My baby is almost three years now and my career is still going strong all because of Your grace. It brings tears to my eyes when I think of your love for me and how protective You have been of my family. Many consider me lucky because I have an oppurtunity to work from home and make a good sum of money, but I am truly lucky because I have You in my life.
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Prayer Club:

Padmaja
Saibaba Please help me get rid of the diseases I have been battling since 4.5 years with Arthritis, colitis and gynec disorders. I have been trying different systems of medicines, different doctors but conditions are not improving much. Please make me completely healthy and let me live happily with my husband and bestow a grandchild upon my parents.

Sharmila
Dear Baba, I have been your devotee for many years since childhood and my family have solely believed in you. With your blessings, I have a very comfortable life, but right now, I am going through a tough face Baba and I know one day with your help you will help me overcome what I am going through. Due to health related issues I am unable to conceive so far and I feel most of it is related to stress. Baba you are my only guidance and power that can help me. You are the one who helped my father when he was ill and my mother has always preached to me with your name. I have a very supportive husband and due to my problems I am feeling very hurt that I have to put him through this as well. Please help me Baba to work towards leading a less stressful life. I hope you bless me with a childhood Sri Sairam.

Lakshmi
You are always there in our lives. I personally experienced many situations where I felt your presence. Baba, my sister is married for 4 years now, they want to have a child, please bless them with a beautiful healthy baby.

A Sai devotee
Dear Baba, please help us to solve my sister's problem. Her in-laws have filed a wrong case against her and my parents. After four years of separation and torture, now they are asking for the ownership of her son too. You are aware of all the facts Baba, we came to know that her in-laws have bribed the Judge and our lawyer. Please Babab guide us and help the truth to win.

Sheefali
Dear Baba, my deep regards to you. Baba you know very well the problem that I face. My mom is still suffering from Dystonia. Thank you for helping her out. She is doing much better than before. Her walking is not yet fully recovered, please help my mom to regain her walk and I have some problem with my husband too. Please help us to understand each other. I am very thankful to you Baba for always being there for me and your blessing and kindness. Please keep my mind focused on the positive good things in life. Thank you so much for every thing.

Nutan
Jai Sairam, I am writing this message to thank Baba a million times as he has helped me with a lot of things such as my very bad health for last 12 years, at last got medications because my parents had a lot of faith in Sai. Now I have become a great believer too, without Him I would have been nowhere. As I was ill, I could not work as well, but with Baba's blessing got a job in a bank. I need Baba to bless me with a life partner because my marriage has been broken once before due to my ill health. I don't want to get married but want a caring person. I have lost lots of friends in life as well. Dear devotees have lots of "Shradha and Saburi" because Sai is always with us.Thankyou all. Jai Sairam.

Kannan Purayamkumarath
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my beloved Sai Baba for his blessing to me and my family always. I start my day with praying my great Sai and end my day with the same. I request my beloved Baba to forgive me for any jealous and proudness that I have which might have upset others without my knowledge. I am a devotee of Sai Baba for more that 12 years now and he never let me down whenever I am in a cricis. Pray to Baba and get rid of all your feelings. Jai Sai.
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Quotation of the Week:
"The head which cannot bow before the feet of the Possessor of eight infinite powers is like the senses lacking the power to perceive. The boundless ocean of births can be crossed, but not without intimate union with Infinity's Holy Feet". -Tirukkural
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Question of the Week:

Q. Why can't Baba change all the bad into good, all the sufferings into joy? Why there should be anything bad or anyone suffering?

A. by Priya Suresh

May I be able to write these thoughts clearly with the blessing of the kind Sai Baba.
When considering the question of "Why can't Baba change all the bad into good and all the suffering into joy," we must look more closely. It is not that Baba cannot change the "bad into good and eliminate suffering," for Baba is omniscient and kind and can do this easily for mankind and the world. The more important question is: "Why doesn't Baba change all the suffering into joy and eliminate it altogether?" The answer to this query may be found in the sincere practice of Faith as expressed with both humility and appreciation, as exemplified by the many true and inspiring stories detailed in the Sai Satcharitha.

Throughout our lives, Man is plagued by Maya (Illusion) and Ego, which clouds the purity of our inner light. This cloud causes us to see things as good or bad, and as suffering or joy. The truth is, there is nothing truly negative or truly positive in this world. All of these elements come in equal and opposite pairs which foster humility and appreciation, which are the parts that the whole which we call Faith.

A man who has not experienced extreme cold will not truly appreciate heat, just as a man who has not experienced aspects of death cannot truly appreciate life. Though the extreme cold may be seen as "bad", it is not; for we learn to deeply appreciate the gift Baba has given us of the heat, cold's opposite, when we compare heat to the extreme cold. Similarly, though death may be a cause of "suffering," we are able to truly appreciate life, death's opposite, which gives us joy when we compare it to death. All of these opposites create a balance and allow each of us to be humbled by the powers of Nature and be appreciative of the great gifts Baba gives us in each moment of our lives.

Thus, when we remember humility and practice appreciation, which are the components of intense Faith, we may overcome Ego and at that time Baba dissolves Maya providing each of us with a path that is ultimately free from suffering. So, the next time a moment of suffering arises in your life, remember its opposite, and thank Baba for being ever so generous in allowing us to truly appreciate everything that he has given us and continues to give us so that we may continue to follow Him with unending Faith and Devotion. Sai Baba, thank you for all the blessings you have given me and continue to give. You are truly great. Please bless me yet again, by allowing these thoughts to be published in your Sai Vichaar.
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Sai Activities:

Gurupoornima at Shirdi Sai Temple, Chicago and Suburbs, Illinois, USA
Gurupoornima celebrations will be held in Sai Temple, Chicago from Thursday, July 21st through Saturday, July 23rd 2005. Program highlights: Maha Abhishek, Aarthis, Satcharita parayan, Sri Dattarreya Yagya, Vishnu Sahasranama Archana, palaki procession and an evening of bhajans with Manhar Udhas and more. For program details please visit the temple website www.saibaba.us or contact the Temple office at 847-931-4058.

Shirdi Saibaba Prayer Center, Minnesota - Guru Poornima 2005 - Sai Utsav
Shirdi Saibaba Prayer Center invites you to a daylong festival of Sai Utsav on occasion of Gurupoornima on Saturday, July 23, at BAPS Mandir, Brooklyn Park, MN. The events includes havan, Sri Sai sathyavrata, Sai arthis, abhishek, cultural program, palki procession and Sai naama jap. Please write to hamaresai@yahoo.com for more details.

Sai bhajans live in Chicago by Manhar Udhas
As part of Gurupoornima celebrations, Manhar Udhas will be rendering live bhajans at Shirdi Sai temple Chicago on Saturday from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm. Please plan to attend and share this information with your family and friends. For any questions please call temple office at 847-931-4058.

Gurupoornima celebrations at Sri Shirdi Sai Baba Temple of Dallas, TX
Gurupoornima celebrations will be held at Sri Shirdi Sai Baba Temple of Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas from Thursday, July 21st through Saturday, July 23rd 2005. Program highlights: On Thur, July 21- Ganesha Puja, Baba Pada Puja, Maha Abhishekam, Sai Gayathri Homam, Asthothram, Vishnusahasranamam, Satcharitra Parayanam, Saibaba Vratha Puja, Sathyanarayana Vratha Puja and Sai Bhajans. On Fri, July 22 - Evening with Manhar Udhas - Sai Bhajans (Venue to be announced) and on Sat, July 23 - Ganesha Puja, Baba Abhishekam, Special Baba Laksharchana and Vishnusahasranamam. For further information please contact: Jayanth at 469-585-4275 or Vinay 214-621-9630 or Srivatsa 972-747-0021 or Sangamesh 469-939-0365. You can also visit the temple website: www.shirdisaidallas.org for more details.

Shirdi Sai Gurupoornima celebrations, Bay Area, California
Shirdi Sai Parivaar invites all to join us for Shirdi Sai Guru Poornima celebrations on July 24th (Sunday) between 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Presidential Ballroom, Sunnyvale Community Center, 550 E Remington Drive, Sunnyvale, CA 94088. For details please visit www.ShirdiSaiParivaar.org or send email to saibandhu@yahoo.com.

Guru Poornima Celebrations, Vancouver, Canada
Shirdi Sai Family in Vancouver invites you all for Guru Poornima celebrations on July 21,2005,at 8571,118A Street, Delta,V4C 6L2.For details contact Ritu at (604)592 4182 or send email to dritu@hotmail.com

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