Sayee bhakth kare jo kucch bhee...accha ho parinaam...
Jo bhee inke dar pe aaya...banthe bigade kaam...

If silence is the language of the spirit, how does one communicate it? If it is thought to happen at His will and His alone, how does one receive it? Only because someone wasn't silent and set out to share the peace and happiness received by Sadguru's grace! One may wonder if that amounts to being egotistic to go around telling people about God's miracles in their lives and the message shared through them. If that is being egotistic, equally egotistic would be choosing not to share nor participate in spreading His message within one's means. However, one has to be careful about the double-edged sword known as the sense of individual identity. The identity that makes one raise above the obstructions and render service may also come back and impart the doer with the sense of doership.

Service, in any form, is a way of spreading God's message and sharing His love with fellowmen. Such service needs to be done, diligently, meticulously, with whole heart and spirit, and most importantly with humility. Such service, whether for a social purpose or to promote spiritual awakening, will be successful. Shri Dabholkar wrote Sai Satcharitra only after duly humbled by Sainath. The humility of Dasganu Maharaj reflected in his costumes. The most humble Booty was abundantly blessed for his construction was consecrated due to Baba's samadhi mandir.

If one word describes the nature of a Sai devotee, it has to be "Humility". God of Gods, Shri Sai Baba called Himself, simply a servant of God. Portrayed as the humblest of the humble and the most merciful, Baba has several times stressed the importance of humility. Humility is the most required attribute of a Sai servant and only those who believe this and practice are honored at Baba's court. The services of such, whether towards a spiritual cause or other, will accomplish its objectives.
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Contributed Article: Spiritual Value of Food

Light and Love the night has a thousand eyes,
And the day but One; yet the light of the bright world dies
With the dying sun. The mind has a thousand eyes,
And the heart but one;
Yet the fight of a whole life dies
When love is done.

The old saint looked kindly at the old businessman but declined to attend the dinner proposed by him. All persuasions yielded no result. Finally the businessman slowly moved out of the ashram. After a distance, a disciple of the saint came from behind and said that he should not feel disappointed and that he would come and attend the dinner on behalf of the saint and bless him. The businessman agreed and next day the dinner was held.

On that night after dinner the disciple could not meditate at all and could hear a low moaning of a girl. This went on for three days. Ultimately, the disciple approached his Guru and complained. The Guru asked him to mention all that he had done in the last few days. The disciple made a clean breast of the only unusual event of the dinner he had in the businessman's house.

The all-knowing Guru told him that the businessman was merciless money-lender. A poor agriculturist could not repay the debt and the interest on it. He threatened the helpless man and finally married his teen-aged daughter in lieu of his debt as he had no male issue till then. This girl was most unhappy at the turn of events and wept silently in her lone moments. In that frame of mind, she prepared the dinner which the disciple ate. The Guru explained that while cooking, the personality of the cook would enter the food through subtle vibrations. These unseen vibrations will later enter into the personality of the eater and influence his mind. That is the reason why his meditations were disturbed.

The Guru explained that what goes into the mouth would greatly influence what comes out of it and shape our lives. The food prepared in a spiritual frame of mind, thinking only of God or Sadguru, will always give peace of mind, with powers to divinely discriminate between good and evil. Food especially taken in hotels prepared and served with ungodly tendencies, unruly behavior and foul in mouth do great harm to the spiritual make-up of a person.

Once in October 1916, Bhikubhai came to Shirdi with barfi, watermelon and a garland to offer to Sai Baba. She was a childhood friend of Mother Radhakrishna Ayi and as she crossed Godavari River in Kopergaon she saw the cremation site of Radhakrishna Ayi, Overcome with emotion, she collapsed at the site and wept bitterly. She felt Sai Baba was ungrateful to Radhakrishna Ayi after all services to Baba. She vehemently accused Baba. In such a frame of mind, she came to Shirdi and offered barfi and watermelon to Sai Baba. The all-knowing Baba refused to accept them. When she wanted to garland Baba, mysteriously the garland snapped itself into three parts.

Bhikubai had to return disappointed, Kaka Sahib asked Baba as to why he refused the gifts of Bhikubai. Baba explained to him that he cannot accept the eatables nor wear the garland brought with such a troubled heart and mental uneasiness.

Sai Baba exhorted his devotees to think of Him before they partook their food which would then become sanctified from any spiritual impurities. Every action of Baba had a meaning behind it. If we go deeper into the matter we will thus begin to understand why he acted so even while looking harsh externally.

(Contributed by Article by K. Navin Chander, Courtesy: Sai Padananda, April 1998)
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Experiences of Devotees:

Sai devotee
I was not a staunch devotee of Baba, until my cousin got me the book "Sree Sai Leelamrutham through mail from www.saibaba.org website in January 2005. At that time we were in terrible situation, for the past three years without having a good job.. I started reading the book on Thursday January 13th, without any desire in mind, to complete within three weeks. Then things started to change in my life. I have been experiencing His presence since then. Before completing the parayana, my husband got another job. Then after completion of three weeks parayana, I kept on reading Saileelamrutham in 3 days parayana, like this I completed 21 times parayana and 5 times Sai Satcharitra parayana by May 2005. During this time I felt so many good experiences for me and for my children also without praying for them. By end of June, my husband got a very good project in a big IT company. Only with Sai's grace, we came out of such a terrible situation. By the end of the year I looked back in my life and realised that all of my problems had been solved. I don't have enough words to thank Baba for making my life from such a miserable and terrible status to wonderful and comfortable status. I thought I will post my experiences in Sai Vichaar if my husband gets the project without any delay. In September 2006 my husband's project was over and without any delay, he got another project with Sai's grace. Now I am also one of the strong believers of Sai. What my strong feeling is," When Sai is there with you, nothing in this world is impossible to you. If you take two steps towards Sai, He will take ten steps towards you". I ask everyone to believe in Sai Baba and read Satcharitra repeatedly, you can definitely get His grace and Sai will give you more than what you ask him. I love You, Sai Deva!!!

Deepti
My brother was trying to get admission for his Master's degree in USA. Almost all the Universities declined. Finally he was waiting for response from two Universities, they were also taking a long time. I prayed to Baba that if he thinks it is good for my brother to come here and study, He will surely get him the admission. And by Baba's grace on Thursday, he got the news from both the Universities that he got the admission. He applied for his Visa, but it got rejected. Then again all of us in the family were worried. My brother re-applied for a visa. We prayed to Sai Baba for the sanction. He had his interview on a Thursday, and finally got the visa the same day. It is all Baba's grace and blessings. My brother is now studing in the United States.
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Devotees say...

A Sai devotee
Ever since I started receiving this newsletter, I've been feeling lighter. I'm also inexplicably experiencing the strong feeling that Baba is near me. I have the habit of reading at least one chapter of the Sai Satcharitra every day; sometimes I feel so tired that I just read a few pages and leave it off. But recently, I've observed that despite the tiredness I find I can easily finish off one chapter without any effort! I feel Baba is finally showing me His mercy and grace. It seems like a miracle.

Shipra
I had subscribed to Sai Vichaar some months back, I used to get mails regularly but suddenly it stopped, I wondered why. Yesterday I decided to sing Sai Arathi for my Baba, basically I'm not a good singer but I practiced. I wrote the lyrics listening to the Aarthi cassette and sang wholeheartedly to my Sai. Today I opened my mail and was astounded to find Sai Vichaar newsletter and I was so happy that He exists, He listens to devotees, so my friends believe in Him, He will never let you down and He will come to you. It is my true experience. Now I realized why in between the newsletter didn't reach me, I was in some problems and I had lost faith in my Baba but when I put my faith and trust wholeheartedly again to my Baba, He came to me forgiving me. Thanks Baba to be with me and sorry for doubting Your powers and grace. Om Satguru Shri Sainath Maharaj ke Jai.

Prathyusha
Thank you is a very simple word Baba. There is nothing enough to thank You for what all You did to me. You got me a job so soon without much struggle, that too at Microsoft. Baba, I couldn't believe this and now I am really getting scared that You might take away this from me. This is not because I don't trust You, but I'm scared that this is a huge responsibility and You know what I am really is. Baba, here starts the new game. Be with me Baba, it's only Your name that I can chant during tough times.

Karpagam
My father has been ailing for sometime. My brother and sister in law have been taking care of him all these days. To relieve my sister in-law for sometime, I prayed to Sai that if Sai would make it possible for my sister to be able to take him to her place in spite of unfavorable conditions at her end, I would complete the Sai Parayan and post this letter in Sai Vichaar. What a wonder!! Just a couple of days after I started the Parayan, my sister was able to take him to her place as she too wanted to take him desperately but was not able to earlier, the situation became conducive to her. Thanks to Sai for this.

Nirmala
Koti Koti pranam and thanks to Sacinand Sadguru Sainath Maharaj for saving my son's life. My son came into my life only due to Baba's blessings. Thank you Sainath for his normal health reports.

Toral
My son had a stomach flu couple of days back; nothing was working as he was vomiting continuously with a loose motion. We got him medicine and again within one day it started again. Then I prayed to Baba and I had a small udi packet so from that I just put a small pinch of udi in his mouth and did tika with the udi on his forehead when he went off to sleep at night and see the miracle of Baba from that moment vomiting stopped and loose motion also stopped and he slept whole night.
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Prayer Club:

Sunitha
Baba please help my mother get on her feet and perform her daily activities on her own. She has been a very good person; she is suffering a lot now. Baba she believes in You and has full faith in You. You are the only protector of her, please help her. Let her suffering vanish and lead a happy life from now on.

Venkatesh
Dear Baba devotees, I got a grandson after praying to Baba. He was the cutest, but now he is 5 years old and have been diagnonised as having autism. I am totally broken and don't know what to do other than praying to Baba. He has been kind enough always to me and blessed me with all my wishes. I request all Sai devotees to pray for the cute boy to come out of this problem and be a normal kid.

Sai devotee
Baba, I am really worried about my husband,s health and You know it. Please Baba help me through this phase of my life. Bless my husband with life and great health. I am under lots of stress, please Baba, You know how much I love him, You also know that I cannot live without him. By your grace and blessings I got married to him, now You have to take care of my married life. You have to take care of your child. Please Baba help me.

Your devotee
Baba, I am totally confused and depressed. You know the current state of affairs at home; don't know what to do. Please make my husband more understanding and responsible. If I am going wrong somewhere, please show me the right way to deal with the situation. I turn to You, Om Sai to bless me and my family with a peaceful existence. Also I am thoroughly disappointed with my mother in law's behaviour towards her siblings. Kindly show her the right path too.

Rachna
Baba, please bless me with child. Baba shower Your blessings and bless me with a child. It has been time and I am sure that this new year You will bless me. Please Sai don't disappoint me. You know everything, You are the creater of the world so please accept the small request from this child also.

Sai devotee
Baba, You know how much of mental tension I am going through every minute. You have already helped us one year back on this issue. Baba, kindly help us to overcome this whole problem. We will leave everything to You and carry on with our routine work Baba.

Kamal
Baba, please bless my mother who is having eye problem. Her doctor has said she has aged macular degeneration(AMD) and needs to be injected in the eye. Baba please bless her. She is so found of reading and doing her pooja but because of her eye problem she cannot see well and hence cannot read. I feel very bad for her. Baba please give her strength and bless her to get her eye-sight back. Baba, I am leaving it upto You to look after her. Baba, please bless your children. Next month we are going to India and want to go to Shirdi. Hopefully by Your grace and blessings, we will make it to Shirdi. Baba, bless and guide us always.

Sai devotee
Baba, please help me. You know very well Baba, that problem I was faced. My mother is not feeling well, she is suffereing with mouth cancer. She is unable to bear the pain. She has been suffering for the past five years, give her relief in pain and also she could not eat properly anything like other people. Baba please put Your grace on my mother.

Lalima
Om Sai Ram! Baba, as promised I am writing to thank you for my father's successful operation. But we are wondering why one of the wounds is not healing. We have faith in You and know it will heal soon but in the meantime let our Shraddha and Saburi soar to greater heights. Help my mother to get better too and please keep blessing my family as You always do.
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Quotation of the Week:

"A miser who is attached to wealth thinks always of wealth. So also when the devotee's heart is awakened and he has intense longing for God, he remembers God constantly. Many people say that when they repeat God's name they cannot concentrate upon God. This is because they have no longing for Him. This longing for God and holding God as our dearest object of love is Bhakti".-Sri Radhakrishna Swamiji
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Question of the Week:

Q. Saibaba said to Dasganu Maharaj, "Why do you want all this paraphernalia-coat, uparani and pheta etc, do off all that before Me, why wear them on the body?" - Comment?
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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.

Shri Saibaba Mandir, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Saibaba activities in Minneapolis were conducted at Shirdi Saibaba Prayer center since the year 2002. Now, with the grace and blessings of Baba and the support of devotees, a new Saibaba Mandir has begun to function at 1835 Polk St NE, Minneapolis from July 11th 2006. Please visit www.hamaresai.org for all details.

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 Center in Bay Area, CA
By Baba's grace, Shirdi Sai Parivaar is pleased to announce the grand opening of Shirdi Sai Center in Bay Area. The center is located at 897-B East Kifer Road, Sunnyvale, CA 94086. For more information please call 408-564-6704 or 408-705-7904.

Shirdi Saibaba temple, Los Angeles, CA
Devotees in Los Angeles area are informed about Sri Shirdi Saibaba temple in Los Angeles area. The temple is located at - 144 South 4th Street, Montebello, CA 90640. For more information please call Krishna Samantula at 949-679-9938 or visit www.shirdisaila.org.
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