When all the words put together of all the languages of the world are not enough to describe God (super consciousness), one that has been termed as indescribable, then on what basis do we attempt to talk about it? Is it merely enough to read or listen about metaphysical topics and grasp an understanding through mere words? Is presenting about these topics worth anything without direct first hand experience? And would one who has already acquired such knowledge dare to describe the indescribable?

In Shri Sai Satcharita, Shri Sai Baba gave a lengthy dissertation of the requirements for acquiring knowledge that is beyond, also known as God realization or as The Knower and All-entity by scientists. In some way or the other all these terms are used to describe the same thing. As Shri Sai has expressed, knowledge of God is not a child's play and it is not easily available to every one. There are some key elements that need to be present in a seeker of such knowledge. As one who seeks needs to have some reassurance or prior knowledge of what it is they are trying to seek, a low level understanding of God will suffice. But presenting that level of low knowledge or indirect knowledge, acquired through books or listening, as an expert is born out of ignorance.

Shri Sai has pointed out that knowledge of God realization (Super consciousness) could easily be given by one who has already had direct first hand experience of such knowledge and that too only upon Lord's grace. And to acquire that Shri Sai suggests approaching and following such a teacher, continuous practice of teachings, having faith in the teacher and aim for teacher's grace. In fact if one had to state the essence of Shri Sai Satcharita in one sentence then it could well be, "Continuously evolve yourself towards perfection while doing your duties, having faith and patience in Me. I will do the rest".
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Contributed Article: Loving All

It is the inevitable destiny of everything ultimately to go back to the source from which it came. The body, arising from matter, goes back to matter. The Atma (Spirit) issuing the Divine goes back to the Divine. The Spirit is pure Consciousness. It ever remains as Consciousness. It is embodiment of Love and Light. One must seek to experience Ekatvam i.e., Advaita (Unity in diversity). Advaita is expressed in three forms:
Bhava-Advaita - Oneness in mental attitude. The unity of the basic substance constituting the cosmos is perceived as the underlying Reality;
Kriya-Advaita - Oneness expressed in action. Every action is regarded as an offering to the divine and is thereby divinised;
Padaartha-Advaita - Oneness seen in all objects. Implies recognizing that every being or every object in the universe is composed of the same five elements (ether, air, fire, water and earth that are divine in their origin;

Everyone should realize that the divine is equally present in all. Divinity (God) can be understood only when oneness is experienced in all these forms. Worldly love is momentary but God is the embodiment of love and his love is unbounded, unchanging and eternal. His infinite love is offered to all in equal measure. The Lord's love remains the same always. Bliss is the true nature of man, which can be, realized only when the love of God is experienced. One has to totally eradicate the sense of "my-ness", strive for the welfare of all and banish all thoughts of hatred and envy to experience the love of God.

One has to plough the land, feed it with water, sow the seed, pluck out the weeds, and guard the crop by a fence from cattle and wait patiently for harvest time. So also, the heart has to be ploughed by means of virtues, fed with the water of divine love, seeds of divine name are sown, weeds of evil thoughts are to be destroyed, guard against the cattle of unsteadiness and doubt by putting the fence of discipline.

The Sai name is proclaimed by trees when they wave their heads. The birds in their chirping call upon men to remember Sai's name. The flowers in spreading their fragrance declare the glory of Sai. The bees when they hum announce the bliss in Sai's name. "Sai!" is the sound that reverberates from the sky and earth. Sai can be experienced everywhere. "Sai" is not one's name. "Sai" is the Indweller reclining in the heart of everyone.

Our ancients glorified the Divinity that is equally present in all human beings and propagated this truth to the world. They summed up their message in one line: "Paropakaarah punyaaya; paapaaya parapeedanam (Helping others is meritorious; harming others is sinful)". "Help ever; Hurt never". Use your life to spread joy not grief. Let no one suffer the slightest pain as a result of your thought, word or deed. Let this be your saadhana.

Realize that you are doing harm to God when you harm anyone by actions, words and thoughts. The cool rays of shaanthi (peace), sathya (truth), ahimsa (non-violence) and prema (love) do not emanate when hot flames of kaama (intense desire) and krodha (anger) are rising from the heart. Your love to others will raise you to the highest level of spirituality. Extend your love by realizing that the Atma in everyone is the same. Developing this kind of universal love will be the basis for Unity. The best way to love God is to Love all and Serve all.

(Contributed by Sathyanarayana)
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Experiences of Devotees:

Swapna S
I thought of studying MS in USA and applied for visa. But unfortunately my visa was rejected two times. I was depressed very much and lost hopes on going abroad. I used to go to temple regularly and pray for visa and used to cry in front of God. I applied for my visa third time. Before I went for my visa, Saibaba came into my dreams and said that He is there and he will look after every thing and asked me not to try and said that I will get visa third time. So I went for visa and got my visa. I think this is all Sai Baba's miracle. Now I am in USA and doing my MS. Saibaba is really great.

Anu
Dear Baba devotees, I wanted to share with u all a recent incident by which baba fulfilled my wish. I wanted to gift my sister a DVD player for her birthday...I did a lot of research online, but, nothing was in my budget. Two days back, when I felt that in no way I could send her what I want, I just send her a card, cake and a watch. I felt very miserable and thought that if I had a job, I could send her whatever I want. Anyways, today when I called home and spoke to my mom, she said that there was a lottery competition in my dad's office and that he has won a DVD player. My joy knew no bounds, I felt so happy that Baba has fulfilled my wish in another way. I was reminded of Baba's assurance: " There shall be no want in the house of my devotees" I just pray to baba that I get my work permit soon, so that I can start earning myself May god bless us all.

Bhavani Yarlakula
I would like to share my experience with everyone who visits this site. I visited Shirdi in summer break. I traveled to Shirdi in a bus. I started throwing up(vomiting) on my way to Shirdi. I was praying to Baba to help me out but even in the temple I was vomiting. I did'nt even get a chance to touch Baba's Samadhi. When I returned from Shirdi, I was thinking about the incident. I was crying, "I traveled all the way from USA to touch Baba's Samadhi". But Baba is always there whoever wants to see him. As soon as I closed my eyes, I saw Sai Baba in person. I even touched his feet. So dear devotees keep faith on him. He will for sure help you in everything aspect of your life. Thank you so much Baba.

Minal Shah
I am very thankful to my mother who inspired me to believe in Baba. I strongly started believing in Saibaba after the blessings that He gave to my brother and his wife. My brother's wife was unable to conceive and we had almost lost our hopes. IVF was the only option with 40 percent positive result expectancy and medical expense involved. Everybody was tense and having doubts in their mind, whether we would be successful even after incurring this much expense. But to our great surprise, everything went smooth. She did not have any problems during the pregnancy and delivery was OK. Today my nephew is about nine months and he is very healthy and cute. This was the milestone of my belief that yes Saibaba is there to help if you really believe in Him and have faith and patience. Another experience that I would also like to share is regarding my daughter. She is about four years and she had urinary tract infection two times before when she was small. This time when I came home on Friday from work, she complained about pain while urinating. All the symptoms were same as that of UTI. She was very afraid of going to Doctor for UTI because of the previous test that they did where they inserted dye in the urinary bladder to check that the kidney is not affected by reflux. I was also tensed because of that test which doctor might again recommend. So, I prayed to Saibaba literally crying and urging Him not to make my daughter suffer. She went to sleep at night and did not wake up any time in the night. In the morning, I took her to the Doctor and she said that we will do urine culture test and will wait to see if she has UTI. She was going to call me back on Sunday morning. On Sunday morning she called and said although all the symptoms looked like she had UTI, but the test is normal. So she should be fine. We just gave her one dose of antibiotic and she was all normal. I think this is all due to my serious prayer and strong faith in Baba.
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Devotees say...

Anjali Gadiraju
I had applied for an exam to be held in 1st week of September. I had sent my check and application 3 months ago. I was just studying waiting for my admission ticket to come through as it comes only 1-2 weeks before exam. Suddenly yesterday, Sai Baba made me to ring exam office to ask about when the admission ticket would come. And to my surprise the lady in examinations department said they did not recieve my application. That lady told if I could find the acknowledgement letter then she could post me a duplicate. I searched my whole house, I recently moved house so I thought I have lost it in shifting. I was praying desperately to Saibaba, but could not find it. I told Saibaba if he does not come for my rescue, I would never ever love Him anymore. I told Him it was his test to show if he loves me or not. I was crying and went on praying to Saibaba. Then I rang up another lady who receives applications in exam dept. and requested her to check in her office and she said she would ring me in 10 minutes. Then again, I rang after 10 min and that lady told me that she found my application and she would send me admission ticket tommorow. It was a miracle by Sai Baba, to find an application after 3 months and he proved that he is always there for people who call him truly. I am happy to get my admission ticket but unimaginably happy that Sai Baba answered me that he loves me. Now whatever comes in my life I know my Sai baba is there with me.

Rajani Raja
Very many thanks to Saibaba for giving me this gift. it was a good news to all out family members too. we have been longing to have a baby since I got married for three years. Now came the moment when my pregnancy results came positive yesterday. Baba, I sincerely pray to you to look after my baby's health and me until my delivery and for the rest of the life.

Srinivas G
Dear Sai, thank you very much for blessing my sister with a job after a long time. She is very happy and with your grace, her wish is fulfilled now. Also please shower your blessings on me so that my finance is approved from the agency. With your grace, I improved a lot in my life. Please be with me always.

Kanthy
Saibaba, as per my promise to You, I am posting my experience here. Thank you Saibaba for helping me passing the Real Estate exam and thank you so much Saibaba for showing the way and to be there with us always.

Mamata M
Dear Sai, Thank you so much for everything. When my husband's project finished this time I never got upset nor tensed like I usually get, because I so much believed in you that I knew you would definitely get him job in the same place as I am, but as time passed and he used to only get calls from different places and slowly it got me worried, yet I had firm belief that you would do something even in the last minute, three weeks had already passed and my husband was ready to go to a job that he got in some other place that he agreed to go, but on one Thursday you made him meet one of the recruiter from my place and he was so quick that he arranged for the interview on the very next day on Friday and he was selected and my husband also started going to job on Monday,(he still has to cancel the offer that he has got in hand from different place) such is your unbelievable leela.

Nainesh Patel
May Sai bless Hemanth. My sugggestion would be to take Hemanth to Shirdi and place him at Sai's feet. Sai will take care of him. Apply Udi to his head everyday and read Sai Satcharita. I know Sai will hear you.

Akhil Gupta
Some weeks ago, I had contributed an article describing how Shri Sai is my Saarthi. Recently, this proved true once again, and I had said in my prayers that if my wish was fulfilled, I would write in to this wonderful newsletter and describe it.
I am a student in University and have just completed my 4th year exams. The exams were a time of incredible stress, and I tend to worry more than most. However, this time I decided that I would go in with full faith in Baba and that I knew Baba would protect me and see me through, as He did for Babu Tendulkar in Shri Sai Satcharitha. The first paper was OK. The second one was OK at first, but as I had a few spare moments at the end, I went back and changed some answers. In the discussions with colleagues that followed the paper, I realized how silly I was to do so, as I was right the first time. Suddenly, I harbored no hopes of passing and begged my Lord to see me through. I must admit, I was so upset that I did not think straight and was unsure whether Sai would help me. As it turns out, He did! On results day, my result for this exam showed that I just narrowly got through! It was as if I tried to jump off the chariot, but my saarthi grabbed a hold of my hand and pulled me back on. This incident has reinforced my faith in my Sai, and now I feel ashamed for ever doubting Him! Please, Baba, bless all your devotees and guide them to Your feet. We love You always.
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Prayer Club:

A Sai devotee
Please help me Sai. Sadguru Sainath Maharaj ki jai. Please bless us with healthy child soon and take care of our health.

Sumana
Please Baba give me courage to face interviews and get a nice job where I am living now. And give me patience to achieve things.

Sharad Kumar
Sai Baba, having had love failures in my life and a very hectic job, I feel broken in life. Please help me out. I want to stay in Delhi only with my parents and take your name everyday.

Sirisha
Hey Baba, please cure my baby of all the diseases and bring him home at the earliest.

Neelu
Om Sai, my Lord give me peace of mind to accept the girl my son has chosen, if she is right for us. If not bring the right girl in his life that will bring peace and joy in our home. Sai, except your holy feet I have no place to go, please lord Sai help us.

Swapna
I want to have a child since two years. But my husband do not want child so early. Somehow, I convinced my husband. Baba bless us with a child.

Soumya R
I pray wholeheartedly for the recovery of my aunt - my mother's sister who is in critical condition at the hospital. May Sai give her the strength and courage to come out of this perilous state of health. I also request Sai devotees to join me in prayer for my aunt.

Lakshmi B
Sai please bless us with a healthy child soon. You know all the difficulties that we are facing and the health problems both my husband and me are undergoing. Please forgive all the sins that we have made and keep your blessings on us forever.

Sai devotee
Pranamams to the Lotus Feet of Sadguru Sai Baba. We have been blessed with a baby and a job to my husband. You are also supporting us financially. After my maternal leave, You are also showing a job which is going to be a permanent one. You are taking care of our health. We pray You that we get a chance at this stage to show our baby to our elders, siblings, etc. Kindly bless us to have your darshan at Shirdi. In several incidents, You have shown your presence by always blessing us whenever we are in need.
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Quotation of the Week:
"What do we lose by another's good fortune? Let us celebrate with them, or strive to emulate them. That should be our desire and determination"-Saibaba
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Question of the Week:

Q. How to read Sai Satcharitha?

A. by Sakshi Sareen

Sai Ram, I've been in Baba's fold from last one and half year and I feel sanctified to have a copy of Sai Satcharitha with me but I have a doubt how to read it, one of the devotees in temple advised to read it thoroughly and learn the significance of message behind each and every chapter of it. Every lesson shows the path of very true and blessed life, munificent baba, omnipresent and omniscient whose leelas are beyond explanation¸ through Sai Satcharitha has given a chance to transform ourself to a better human being, you will see Baba's miracles, have Shraddha and faith in Baba's words.
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Sai Activities:

Shirdi Sai Temple of Chicago and Suburbs, Illinois, USA
Shirdi Sai temple is open daily from 7:00 am to 9:00 pm. Daily program includes Kakad Arathi at 7 am followed by Abhisek. Madhayana Arathi at 12 noon, Dhoop arathi at 6 pm and Shej Arathi at 9 pm. 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: Sri Vinayaka Chaturthi, Wednesday September 7th, Monthly (second sunday of every month) Pooja, Sunday Sepetember 11th and Samuhika Satyanarayan Pooja on Pournima, Saturday September 17th.

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, Bay Area, California
Shirdi Sai Parivaar invites all to join us for Satsang every Thursday 7:30 pm at Odd Fellows Temple, 20589 Homestead Road, Cupertino, CA 95014.For details please call 408-564-6704 or send email to saibandhu@yahoo.com or visit www.ShradhaSaburi.org.

Shirdi Saibaba Satsang, Seattle, WA
We are happy to inform and invite you for Sri Shirdi Sai Baba Satsang at HTCC Temple, Seattle, WA. On Sunday, September 04th 2005 from 4.00 pm. The following will be the schedule of program: 4.00 - 4.15 pm- chanting Sri Sai Ashtothara Sathanamavali (108 names); 4.15 - 5.00 pm- reading Sri Sai Satcharitha (Life History and Teachings of Sri Shirdi Sai Baba) and sharing Devotees' experiences; 5.00 - 5.30 pm- bhajans; 5.30 - 6.00 pm- evening Aarathi to Sri Shirdi Sai Baba and Prasadam distribution. For directions and more information about HTCC Temple, please visit www.htccwa.org.

Shirdi Sai Satsang, Ontario, 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.

Shirdi Sai Satsang in Vancouver, BC, Canada
Shirdi Sai parivar in Vancouver invites you for bhajans, every Thursday (6.30pm - 7.30 pm) at 8571,118A Street, Delta,V4C 6L2.For further details contact Ritu (604)592 4182 or email at sai_ish@hotmail.com
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