What is the method of teaching that Baba followed? Did He install any institution or a particular way of thought for His followers to propagate? For that matter, has there been any record of Sadguru Sainath appointing anyone to continue His mission?

Inscrutable are His ways! During His lifetime and after, Baba showed a peculiar way of teaching and guiding His followers. He had asked some to be more disciplined, perform rituals, and undertake reading of sacred texts, while some were asked to keep quiet or just wait. Some were commended for their piety while some denounced for their orthodoxy! Baba seemed to have answers to the innermost of the questions His followers had. He seemed to have a certain way of giving "individualized instruction" depending on one's earnestness. However, He seems to be very particular in emphasizing certain virtues in His followers. The two pice (two cents) He demanded were faith and patience. Invaluable! By calling Himself as a servant, Baba has stressed the importance of humility, because humility is a virtue that reaps rich harvest in one's pursuits. By insisting on the surrender of the self and accepting the will of the supreme over the individual, Baba stressed the existence of a unifying higher order. His views on the purpose of religions were simple, "There is only one God and the purpose of every religion is the same". In a unique way, Sai Baba of Shirdi also had asked His followers to investigate the "self". He also expounded on the obstacles for such a pursuit, native as well as acquired. Is it possible to categorize this unique way of spiritual leadership?

For some, Baba's life and teachings might look like a paradox, but in reality, His ways are as simple and natural as it could be! He did not give any set of rules to follow for His disciples. On the other hand, He was present in the minds of earnest devotees who sought His guidance on matters, big and small. For such people, in His words, He guarded them from front, back, and sides. To those who would differ with His advice, Baba said simply, "God will do good". Neither was there an insistence on a rigorous stewardship. Faith and patience are two traits common to everyone regardless of their religious, social, and financial or other status. By invoking the traits common to every human being, Sai Baba of Shirdi has indeed simplified the pursuit and the purpose life may have in the mosaic of modern day life. How shall one thank the God of Shirdi for this? On this Thanksgiving Day, let us be happy for being so fortunate.
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Contributed Article: Deewali gift

I would like to share my experience with all Sai devotees how Sri Sai came to my home on Deewali day. We experienced His leelas in our family many times and whenever we are facing difficulties, He had helped us in different ways. I am very thankful to Him throughout my life. I am still facing a lot of health problems and personal problems from long time and waiting for His blessings with Shradda and Saboori. I trust Him more than anything in the world. I was not feeling well since three day before Deewali and felt very sad that I would not be able to celebrate Deewali as usual. I did puja with fruits and milk and went to the doctor and then from there went directly to my work place to give the doctor's note for sick leave. After that I went to buy some sweets from a known old lady, who usually sells homemade Deewali sweets. As soon as I entered into her home she took me to the puja room and asked me "Do you need Saibaba calendar?", and without waiting for my answer she grabbed the Sai calendar from a bunch of other Gods, gave it to me as if I had ordered before. It all happened with 2 or 3 minutes. There was no explanation for my happiness. I was very happy. It took me a while to come back to normal status. I thought in my mind, this is the greatest Deewali in my life which I will remember for ever. I came home, took rest for a while and prepared some prasad, did puja in the evening and I hung the Sai calendar in my dining room. This is the way my Sai consoled me when I was unhealthy. It is my message to all Sai devotees, if you have complete faith on Him, He will always be with us to share our good and bad times. Thank you Sai for your blessings.

(Contributed by Padmaraj)
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Experiences of Devotees:

Hanish
Once I was driving in my Maruti Van along with a colleague of mine. Suddenly on a highway a truck that was parked started to move and make a right turn. I was driving at a high speed and suddenly could not control the vehicle, which ultimately dashed in the truck. The front portion was completely crushed and the steering column hit on my chest and broke into pieces. The windshield glass was broken into pieces. But there was a sticker of BABA on the windshield, which was lying on my chest as if the complete impact was taken care by Baba. I escaped this Accident with minor injuries with the blessing of Baba. My colleague came out unscathed.

A Sai devotee
I am writing this to thank Sri Sai Baba. I am a strong believer of Him. I had this experience which I wanted to share and had promised Baba that I would post it on this website. I had applied for admission and was waiting to hear some positive result. All my applications were rejected. It was the last one. I was called for interview and by Babab's grace it went well. The candidate list was supposed to be revealed by a particular date but it was not. I was told that it would be put up only after a committee meeting. I called up the administrator and was informed that the admissions committee has decided the list and was waiting for the final 2 candidates from 15, I was among the 15. I had prayed to Baba. The same week, I got a letter in mail, which had a picture of Baba. I thought it was Baba's indication to me. His assurance. Finally, after a couple of days on a Thursday the final list was provided and the decision was made. I was selected. I was very delighted. It is only by Baba's grace that I was selected. This is one of my many experiences that I had which keeps assuring me that Baba is with us.
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Devotees say...

Padma
My Pranams to the Lotus feet of Baba. I said that if my husband gets a government job, which he was trying for several months, that I would write my article. He prayed to Baba before going to the interview and broke the coconut. When he was driving he left as though Baba was with him all the time as when ever he is closing his eyes and opening he could see only Baba's picture. His interview went very well and just yesterday he got a call from the people saying that he got the job. This all happened because of Baba's grace and I thank Baba for making my husband's dream come true.

Meenakshi
Baba, forgive me for asking You wrong things. You are always with me but still I asked and tell other people about my sufferings. My past with him was very painful. Baba I only want that he should realize what he has done to me and my daughter. You saved me Saibaba, please always be there with my child and me. Without You we will be all alone in this world so Baba never leave us alone.

Panna
Baba, I ask for your forgiveness for something very wrong that I did. I have learnt my lesson and would be grateful if You could please take this disease away now. I promise never to go astray again. Love you always, Baba.

Vasanthi
I have a question. My husband had prayed that he would put his first salary for Baba if he got the job. By Baba's grace, he did get the job. Now our question is should the salary be sent only to a Sai temple or can it be given to few different charities?

Saby
Om Sri Sai. Thank you so much Baba for everything. I touch your feet and pray that everything goes fine and everyone stays happy.

Nainesh
No article regarding asking for Baba's help is too big or small. All articles should be published. Has Baba not said no want is too small, by asking devotee slowly stop asking for worldly thing and begins to ask for spiritual devotion. Also in Satcharitha chapter 24 did Baba not get angry to show that he knows what to permit and what to prevent, (When a devotee tells Mavashibai to be gentle in her service.) So let all ask and he shall fulfill. Jai Sai Ram.

Yogeeswari
Some devotees may feel visa issues as petty ones. But just as one devotee's fear was broken down to pieces with an article in the Saivichar about Shake the Fear, people who really are at the verge of life with the visa issues, find them as the boost. I have heard through my friend who was in a dilemma whether or not to go for a visa stamping, after reading the Sai Vichaar about a visa experience by another devotee, went without fear and got stamped. So my thought would be to publish whatever the matter is without any thoughts as anyone becomes Sai devotee (only if he or she is bound to be Sai devotee) through various experiences in their own lives.
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Prayer Club:

Jyothi
Sai, I got a job (3 months) by your grace. Please keep me in a job continuously. Let me speak in English fluently without grammar mistakes. Let me do my work fast and accurate. Let me chant Your name always. Without Your blessings, I can do nothing. Please keep me at Your feet.

Prabhavathi
Baba, please help. Please let people respond. Without Your wish it cannot happen. Please Baba, help me. I know I was too arrogant to even think about You and ask for your blessings for this event. Now I regret it. Please forgive me and help me. Let people respond positively and let the event take place without me having to cancel it. Please Baba, do help me and forgive me.

Shilpa
Please help me take the right decision with regard to my son. I am not in a position to quit my job, but I am anxious about the security and well being of my 18 month old son and I want him to be in able hands when I am at work. Please guide me Lord. I surrender my son at your feet. Please direct me to the right person with whom I can trust my son.

Sai devotee
Om Sai, no one else can save my family problems except You. Please guide my children to behave in good and decent manner. Please guide them as a mother and guru. Please save my husband from all his bad habits and have a job and to live in a good and decent manner.

Sai Devotee
Baba, please help us to clear the debt we have and please make my project extend for another eight months atleast. Saibaba I need this job badly so that we can clear all the debt we have. It is possible only with Your grace. Please bless our family with Your grace. Please bless also my husband to hear good news from his company. I know Baba, one need not ask all these as You already know what we want. But it makes me feel good to put it out in some way.
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Quotation of the Week:
"By worshipping Sai Baba, we attain both the objects, worldly and spiritual, and are fixed in our true Nature, and get peace and happiness. Therefore, those who want to gain their welfare, should respectfully hear Sai Baba's Leelas or stories and meditate on them. If they do this, they will easily attain the object of their life and get Bliss".-Hemadpant - Sri Sai Satcharitha
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Question of the Week:

Q. What is contentment?

A. by Umabala

The only true and everlasting contentment is found only in God. In all the other situations, the contentment comes and goes like rainfall. Whenever we feel contentment, we should notice that, we have become nondual for that moment. It is a common experience that after getting a good job or good fiancée or if the child gets good grades in the studies, lot of us feel contented. However, try to notice the duration of that contentment. It may range from days to years. After that period, due to some reason or the other, we start to feel discontented. Actually, this observation helps us to know that whatever contentment we get from outside is temporary and short living. This makes everlasting contentment and us to start the quest for real.

Question of the Week:

Q. What is contentment?

A. by Alka Parmar

Contentment is when you are happy with everything you have, all the things Baba has blessed you with and all the happiness and sadness that comes your way. You pray for others and you pray God to love you. Your prayers do not consist of lists of things you want. You are happy with everything, the way God wants your life to be and you accept what Baba wants for you.

Question of the Week:

Q. What is the two-fold importance of Khandoba temple in Baba's life history?

A. by Prasad Nimmagadda

The first important aspect of Khandoba temple is that that is the place where Priest Mahalsapathi addressed the young Saint by saying, "Come on Sai!" as the Saint entered Shirdi with Chand Patil's marriage procession. As we all know, Khandoba is another name for Lord Shiva. Every Khandoba temple is home for two deities: Khandoba [Shiva] and Mahalsa [Parvathi]. Interestingly enough, Mahalsapathi means Mahalsa's (Parvathi's) husband...who is Khandoba (Shiva) himself. So, in a way, Khandoba invited Baba into Shirdi village and gave Him the name "Sai."

The second important aspect of Khandoba temple in Baba's life is that the Priest of that temple spent 60 years in the company of Sai Baba...as if he found Khandoba Himself walking the earth. Even though Mahalsapathi attended to his duties at the temple, every opportunity he got he used to spend time with Baba in Dwarakamayi.
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Sai Activities:

Shirdi Sai Temple of Chicago and Suburbs, Illinois, USA
Shirdi Sai temple is open daily from 8:00 a.m to 9:00 p.m (Winter hours). Daily program includes Kakad Arathi at 8 a.m followed by Abhisek. Madhayana Arathi at 12 noon, Dhoop Arathi at 6 p.m and Shej Arathi at 9 p.m. 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.

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.

Sri Shirdi Sai Baba Temple of Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas
Sri Shirdi Sai Baba Temple of DFW Metroplex is located at 2109 West Parker (Parker Plaza), Suite 212, Plano, TX 75023. For temple hours and activities please call the temple office at 469-467-3388 or visit the website www.shirdisaidallas.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 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.

Sri Shirdi Sai Mandir, Scarborough, Canada
The Shirdi Sai Mandir located at 2721 Markham Road, Scarborough, ON M1X 1L5 (Intersection of Markham and Nashdene) is open Monday to Friday from 6:30 p.m to 8:30 p.m and Saturday to Sunday from 10:30 a.m to 8:30 p.m. Dhoop aarti at 7:30 p.m everyday and Bhajans on Saturday from 5:00 p.m onwards. For other temple activities and information please call 647-444-4724 or send an email to info@theshirdisaimandir.com.
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