There are a few major differences between other species and the human beings. Human beings or the homo-sapiens race has established itself as the most superior race on this earth because of the superiority of its mental faculties. These capacities grew stage by stage through innumerable number of self experiments conducted by nature on itself. What we call as nature is the limited manifestation of the sovereign divine power called Brahma or Ishwara. Thus, that ultimate power manifested as universe, solar system, earth etc. Thereafter, it created the living organisms, birds, animals and ultimately human beings through different stages of growth in consciousness.

All other species have instinctive intelligence but what human beings exclusively possess is intellect. This intellectual consciousness of a man is a combination of his mental faculties like memory, recall, analytical ability and his heart qualities like love-hatred, selfishness-self sacrifice, anger-calmness, intolerance-patience etc. The highly developed human brain computer takes all these factors into consideration in giving a solution to any problem. It is again this intellect that has created the loftiest and greatest systems in the earth - social, economic, religious, political and spiritual etc.

Man's intellect has penetrated into the micro world of elements and the macro dimensions of space. The last two to three decades has witnessed "intellectual explosion" in the world. Movement in space, cloning of animals, transplantation of human organs, sub-earth discoveries, micro analysis of elements, wire-less communication to mention a few, have revolutionalised human civilization and given human beings immense power to control nature, almost bordering on divinity.

Commensurately, the pressure on human brain has increased tremendously. Newer concepts are entering into our thinking system making the old concepts redundant. It is happening so fast that most of us are finding it difficult to adjust to this rapid transition whereas it is easy for the new generations to adjust at a faster pace due to the nascent state of their mind. The older generations find it to be heavily at odds with their old concepts and style of thinking. This obviously is creating a lot of mal-adjustment in individuals with different levels of sensitivities and also greater mal-adjustment in the social fabric. Such mal-adjustments are reflecting in the assertion of selfish individualism beyond proportions, discords between parents and off-springs, large number of divorce in marital life, material approach to emotional aspects of life and a mad-race to compete in the material world at the cost of finer aspects of life. This has happened in many civilizations earlier and by the law of self-contradiction these civilizations went down. This mal-adjustment between the material and the emotional world brought in the down fall of the mighty Roman, Indus-valley and many other civilizations.

The answer to such confusion does not lie in assertion of egoism or selfish individualism at the cost of greater social good but to accept others ways of living both with its positive and negative traits. Love is not acceptance of only the best in the loved one but is the total acceptance of the entire personality. This is what Baba preached and practiced at Shirdi. Only was He capable of bringing the divergent groups of individuals belonging to different castes, religions, creeds and different socio-economic status under a single banner - i.e. the banner of humanism. The world needs to follow this concept today, to make tomorrow a better place to live.

(A message from Guruji Shri C.B.Satpathy)
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Contributed Article: My experiences with Saibaba

Let me share this experience with you all. With Sai's help, I came to USA for doing my Masters. Me coming to US was completely impossible because I did not have even any money. Due to financial difficulties I dropped my plans to come to US and was looking for job with lot of disappointed. None came forward to give money even as loan. But Baba knew how much I worked hard during my Engineering. So Baba arranged money in his own way. My brother's friend came forward to loan some money. With that amount, I could only fly to US but I did not have money to pay for my fees. My only hope was Baba. I knew Baba would some how make the arrangement. I was expecting financial aid but I did not get any aid while I was in India. My mother was my biggest support after Baba. I got my Visa without any questions from the Visa officer. I came to USA with just 100 dollars with me. I had 15 days time to pay my fees. I was looking for a research assistant position. Days were passing and I did not get financial aid. I almost lost hope. Only five more days were left to pay my fess, I was almost in tears and I cried like anything in front of Baba. Guess what, one of the Professor himself called me next day and said that he will give me assistantship. I was shocked. So my Professor paid my fees and he used to pay me little amount, which was just sufficient for my living. But I had some responsibilities back in India, but I had no money to send them.

Due to this, I was very much worried, I applied for other University and I got admission but no financial aid. Again I just beloved in Baba and joined the new school in summer. There also within one week I got assistantship with pay almost four times more than what I used to get at my previous school. Everyone was so surprised seeing at me because there were students who did not get assistantship even after one year. This is also Baba's miracle.

Even though I had money to send home, I did not enjoy the work I was doing. I was feeling very difficult to concentrate. I became lazy. I was cheating myself all the time. After couple of months, I realized and I started working but there was lot of pending work. I lied to my Professor that I was progressing with my thesis but actually, I was not getting results. I had a conference paper due. I was working day and night on that, since I knew if I do not get results then my Professor will know that I was not working all these days. The deadline was approaching for the paper submission I had no results to shown. I was very much worried. Some evil thought came to mind that I will manipulate the results. I changed the results and submitted the paper. Since my Professor was out of town, he did not check the results. I was thinking that after submitting the paper I can work to get the results. I tried a lot but I did not get the results. I was so upset. Next day my Professor asked for results. I started literally shivering. But Baba in very different way saved me. (To be continued)

(Contributed by Prasanna Ramavarapu)
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Experiences of Devotees:

Venkatrami Reddy
I have been struggling with my project and with my boss from past six months. I am supposed to go back to my country by end of September. I tried all my level best to come out of that project and nothing worked and mentally planned for going back. I prayed to Baba and performed one week Sai Satcharita parayana. Unexpectedly two weeks back I got news from my boss saying, management want to use my skill in another critical project and I am going to get release from my current work. This is really Baba's miracle. I have no way to come out but Baba did some miracle and solved my struggle. Thank you Baba. Please shower on us your blessings forever and guide us always in right path.

Jyothi
I got a job offer by your grace. Please let me do my work well. Fifteen days back I got a dream. In that, somebody interviewed me on September 30th and on Thursday. It really happened. They wanted to interview me on Thursday but they interviewed me on September 30th. But they did not select me. I was so depressed when it happened. But You gave this job offer without any difficulties. But this project is very short term. I have faith on You. You will show some miracle again. There are no words for praising You in my mind except praying You. Please help me to do my work fast and accurate and help me speak in good English. I bow to Sri Sai forever. Please bless my children for good in studies and habits. Let them remember Your name always. Please keep me always at your feet.
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Devotees say...

Manisha Patel
I am very thankful to my Saibaba, he gave me guidance at right moment for selecting a the reight guy for marriage. I am 28 years old and since last 4 years I haven't found the exact match and sometimes guys not selected me .I always pray Saibaba for marriage and this year there are so many proposal but I couldn't take decision for it. One Thursday I read on www.saibaba.org website article that related to "Guru guidance", by one nice prayer. I prayed in same way that I needed guide for life path, I am materialistic and my mind is with full of fear but you can give me guidance for selecting my life partner, to whom You selected guy as my life partner" in Saibaba temple on Thursday. I have two proposal at a moment so my mind was thinking that "How Saibaba can give an answer to me for life partner?" then I came back home by auto and thinking about how can I understand Saibaba's reply or guidance. On the way I found two vehicles and one of them had Saibaba's picture and backside was written "RAVI" so I got the answer of Saibaba in nice way. I have proposal from Ravindra who is exact suitable match for me and he proposed me before 4 months. Me and Ravi got married on 28th May 2005, I sent invitation card of marriage to Shirdi and I was waiting of Saibaba's presence at marriage function but at the end of function Saibaba present in nice way. My mother-in-law gave me jewelry and sarees, inside this bag with Saibaba picture on bag. After marriage function I reached Ravi's home, one little boy came gave "Shirdi Laddu prasad" and Saibaba pictures to my mother-in-law, I took I prasad and prayed "Stay with me and Ravi every moment" means from first day at my in-laws house Saibaba was with me. Thank you very much Saibaba for getting Ravi as a husband. He is really co-operative, loving, has good understanding and also computer technical knowledge so it is helpful to my computer engineering career and both of us are interested to go abroad.

Sai devotee
Lately some books have been written about Baba and of course those who have read the Sai Satcharita identify but there is one important point I wish to bring out. Why are these people so very concerned about the lineage of our beloved Sai. Why is so important to determine the time, date, place and ancestry of Baba? Why can,t you accept the fact that Sai is God and his omnipotence has no lineage. It annoys me to read these assumptions made willy nilly about Brahmin parents or Muslim gurus. Please people if that was the case Sai who has made so much known to us who has made so much nderstood, then can't we just accept that when his devotees did question him his standard answer was "I am Everything".
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Prayer Club:

Priya
Oh! Sri Sai koti pranaams to You. Please Sai bless my sister and her husband with an offspring. You know what pain she has gone through, so please do not disappoint them and shower your blessings upon them. Oh! Sai you who are so kind, listen to everyone's prayers so please listen to our prayers and kindly bless them with a child. Also kind Sai after the birth of my daughter my hair has been falling incessantly. Please Sri Sai make it stop falling and once again I should have a healthy hair growth. Oh kind Sai please make it possible that I can travel to India and come to Shirdi with my family so that you can kindly shower your blessing on us. Please continue to look over us Shri Sai Maharaj.

Sai devotee
Baba, please help my first brother find a good job. also get him married to a nice girl who can make his life really happy. Baba please show him the right path of thought and deed to find peace of mind. I promise to thank You by writing my experience in Sai Vichaar, when you fulfill my wish. Baba please do not delay. Show the solution as soon as possible.

Sheeba
Om Sai Jai Jai Sai Sri Sai! Lord Sai always comes to our rescue at the hour of need when we cry to Him with our whole heart.Today again I need Baba's help for my little son who has allergies and is about 13 months and still not standing by own or walking. He is also physically weak. Please take him out of all the problems. Please all pray for my little son.

A devotee
Please pray for me that I can get a job. I have waited for a long time. I am waiting for Baba to shower his blessings. This wait is just frustrating for me.

Premakumari
Sai Deva, I always want your grace to be showered on my family. Of late I have been having some or the other health problems especially my neck and body pain. Baba kindly cure me, all my negative thoughts and unwantedl comparisions should go out of my mind. Give good health to my husband, my daughter, myself and my mother. It is only You who know everything, please Baba please give all of us good health, good thoughts, patience and concentration. Kindly forgive all my mistakes committed knowingly or unknowingly-

Sai devotee
I am writing this prayer for my beloved partner. I love him so much and we are in foreign country. We have been together one and half years, but now he wants to to go back to his country. Please stop him from going because I know if he goes there he will never return and I will get more hurt. Please reunite us together soon forever and give us peace Sai. Last night I cry too much. Please help me Sai. I just want to get married to him only. Please stop him from going back. I am waiting for Your reply Sai.
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Quotation of the Week:
"If formless meditation is difficult, then think of my form just as you see it here. With such meditation, the difference between subject and object is lost and the mind dissolves in unity".-Sai Baba
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Question of the Week:

Q. What is the significance of Sankalp?

A. by Sakshi Sareen

Sankalp literally means, taking a firm decision to accomplish one particular thing in spite on facing troubles in its achievement. No work can be successfully accomplished without dedication. Like-wise, no aaradhna can be performed satisfactorily without invoking His blessings through sincere devotion and complete surrender. We pray to Lord to bless us to successfully fulfill our resolve to worship Him through performing His Puja with heart, mind, soul and all senses together. Sometime sankalp entails ego, to achieve this object, first one should visualize the purpose or goal and plan carefully what work should be done to achieve that particular goal and then start seeing the other points such as, who is the doer, where it is being held, when it is being performed, what is being done and what is the result of it. Lord, an omnipresent will lead u everywhere and without his consents nothing can be accomplished, he is the one who not only instruct but also encourage you to do a particular thing or sometime didn't allow you for the same. It has been said that any karma being done with a desire should be started with a pure and sacred Sankalpa to get the expected result. The idea behind praying for the Sankalpa is to eradicate the feeling of doership or Ahankar therefore before making a sankalp one should always keep in his or her mind that the sankalp will not result into harming anyone's feelings or intentionally done to hurt anybody.
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Sai Activities:

Sri Shirdi Saibaba Punyathithi (87th) celebrations at Shirdi Sai Temple, Chicago, Illinois, USA
Shri Sai Baba Punyatithi (Mahasamadhi ) will be celebrated for three days from Oct 11th to Oct 13th at Chicago Shirdi Sai Temple. Vijayadashmi day in 1918 was also an auspicious day when Sri Sai Baba took Mahasamadhi in Shirdi and ever since this day has been celebrated in Shirdi in honor and rememberance. For program details please visit www.saibaba.us or call 847-931-4058.

Other Upcoming Events: Monthly (second sunday of every month) Pooja, Sunday October 9th and Navarathri Celebrations, Monday October 3rd through Wednesday October 12th.

Shirdi Saibaba Prayer Center, Minnesota - Mahasamadhi Celebrations 2005
Shirdi Saibaba Prayer Center, Minnesota, invites you to join Saibaba Mahasamadhi Celebrations on October 15, 2005 at Geeta Ashram, Brooklyn Park, MN from 4 PM to 9 PM. The program includes Abhishek, Vishnu Sahasranaama, aarthis, parayan, bhajans and kirthans, and Palki procession followed by Mahaprasad. Please visit www.hamaresai.org for more details.

Navrathri and Sai Punyatithi celebrations at Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas
Sri Shirdi Sai Baba Temple of DFW, Texas invites all devotees to participate in Navrathri and Shri Sai punyatithi from October 3rd to October 12th 2005. The temple is located at 2109 West Parker Road, suite 212, Plano, Texas 75023. The temple is open all 7 days of the week. For program details please visit www.shirdisaidallas.org or contact temple office at 469-467-3388.

Shirdi Sai Mahasamadhi and Dassera celebration in Sydney, Australia
Shree Shirdi Sai Sansthan Sydney invites you with family and friends to join Dusserah and Baba's Punyatithi (Mahasamadhi) day on 7th, 9th and 12th October 2005 at 420 Liverpool Road, Strathfield South, NSW 2136, Australia. For detailed programme or Sansthan's activities, please contact Sansthan Info-Line at 0500 524 724.

Shirdi Sai Baba Sansthan of Canada
Shirdi Sai Baba Sansthan of Canada invites you to Baba's Punyathithi celebrations on October 15th and 16th 2005 at 4:00 pm at 335 Web Drive Suite 803, Mississauga. For direction, full program and other details or to participate in Bhajan please send us an email at saileela99@yahoo.com or call 905-848-8272 or 416-402-8089

Shirdi Sai Mahasamadhi and Dassera commemorations in Bay Area, California
Shirdi Sai parivaar invites all to join us for Shirdi Sai Mahasamadhi and Dassera commemorations on October 16th (Sunday) 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Presidential Ballroom, Sunnyvale community center, 550 E Remington Drive, Sunnyvale, CA 94087. For details please visit www.shirdisaiparivaar.org or send email to saibandhu@yahoo.com.

Sri Shirdi Sai Punyatithi celebrations at Scarborough, Canada
Devotees are invited for the Punyatithi celebrations and inauguration of Shirdi Sai mandir on October 12th 2005 at 10:30 am, located at 2721 Markham Rd, unit 8, Scarborough, ON M1X1L5. For more details please visit www.theshirdisaimandir.com.
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