Devotees should remember the very essence of Baba's teachings that are so simple and uncomplicated, and not worry about irrelevant aspects. It is more important to remember Baba. How one does so is immaterial. Importance of Sai Jaap 'Sai Jaap' or recitation of Baba's name is an effective form of Bhakti (Devotion). It is said that the holy name of lord and saints (Sadgurus) is charged with mystical power. Chanting of the holy name with single-hearted devotion, love and full faith produces extraordinary power for working in the Lord's (Guru's) service. Legend has it that Rishi (sage) Narada said that repetition of the holy name in the Kali Yuga would enable people to resist evil temptations. Ceaseless repetition of Lord Sai's name is prayer to Him to reveal himself. One should practice repeating his name always, sitting down , walking, and working, when bathing or taking food. Chanting while taking food makes the food become an offering to God. While bathing, the name repetition makes the water holy. While walking, the chanting makes the walking 'Pradakshina'. Constant repetition of 'Sai Naam' acts as an effective remedy for absorbing the shocks and tribulations of life. It provides relief to an ailing body. During distress it will either bring relief or will give strength to endure the trouble. If someone abuses you or injures you, repeating the Name will help you forget the injury and your anger against that person will vanish. Constant repetition of the holy name will help one conquer lust, anger and jealousy. Gradually the practice will become indispensable. The Name grips the mind. You will find yourself repeating the name even during your sleep. If you repeat the name before going to sleep, you will get blissful sleep. Soon, the uninterrupted repetition passes from the lips to the heart. You begin repeating the name mentally (i.e. without moving your tongue and lips.). Gradually the name sinks deep into your being and you enjoy blissful absorption. A good and kind thought of one who repeats the Name always, directed towards an ailing person, or someone in distress soothes and comforts the afflicted person. Gradually, during meditation one feels one's body becoming light. Sometimes one hears celestial music or dots of light or flashes appear. One has to experience it to understand the effect of 'Naam Jaap'. The Lord Sai abides in the heart of one who takes his Name and the devotee abides in Him. The name 'SAI', short and sweet, is more significant than reading of religious books or following ritualistic practices. Chinnakistna Rajasaheb Bahadur , B.A.LLb, was close and with Radhakrishna ayee. Kistna and Ayee thought that doing Japam was a good idea and started doing Japam (recital/meditation). Once Baba sent for Kistna when they were doing japam. Baba asked him what he was doing. He said that they were doing Japam. Baba asked him-JAPAM ABOUT WHOM. He replied, you know. Then Baba said, "do that, it is good". Japa is the best step for mukthi (deliverance). Baba looked at Chinnakistna and said:- 'These devotees seem to believe that Brahma is locked up in these books. You do not do this. Always you do my smaran only.' Chinna did not do any dharmic acts but his problems used to be solved. In 1912, Chinna wanted to visit Baba for Gurupurnima. When he reached Manmad, he saw huge garlands in the hands of numerous devotees . Chinna felt very depressed for his not bringing any garlands to his sadguru, who is the ultimate to him. Baba lifted up all the garlands and said that all of them are his (Chinna's). Chinna felt immersed in joy for the great kindness, and love bestowed on him by Baba Om Sri Sai. Blessed is he who gets goose flesh, trembles with joy, sheds tears of joy or whose voice chokes repeating Thy Name. (Courtesy : 'The Divine Grace of Sri Shirdi Sai' by Dr S. P. Ruhela)

(A contribution by Vrinda Kumar, Sydney, Australia)
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Experiences of Devotees

A Sai devotee
Last Sunday on 31 October, we conducted pooja and bhajans in our house - Lalitha Sahasranaman (chanting of the 1000 names of Devi many times and then followed by Bhajans including Baba's Bhajans). That day we witnessed a miracle. We had placed Shirdi Baba's photo also among the other God pictures. We noticed a streak from Baba's right eye like a dried mark of flow of tears at about 3.45 PM when we were about to begin the puja. After a little longer, the streak became longer. Later at about prasadam/dinner we noticed suddenly exactly a similar thing from the left eye this time. Both were from the center of Baba's eyes. People thought it could have come from flowers we placed over the photos. But no one noticed any water droplets falling or running down Baba's cheeks. And the streaks appeared only from the eyes and from exactly the same positions. There were at least 80 people present that day. We took it as a sign of Baba's presence there. My husband and I normally go to the Sai temple every Sunday. Although we consider all Gods as one, out of habit we were thinking of the program in the Sai temple and missing it. Perhaps the merciful Baba, expressed his happiness with the devotion of the large crowd there, or came to us as we could not go there or perhaps showed us that doing puja to Devi was really the same as doing it to Him. We were too stunned as we hear of these things happening to others and we could not digest experiencing this ourselves. We have now encased the photo in a beautiful frame on Thursday to safely preserve the "tears of love and compassion".

Saikrishnan
My family is devoted to Baba. My father became a Sai devotee in 1943 and since then, the entire family is devoted to Baba. There were many miracles in my father's life out of which I wish to narrate two here: 1. My mother lost her first three children during pregnancy/child birth. When she was pregnant for the fourth time, my father came to know about Shirdi. He reached Madras from interior Tamilnadu, went to the Central Station and asked for a ticket to Shirdi, without knowing that there was no station under that name. The booking clerk happened to be a Sai devotee and he made all the arrangements for my father's journey to Kopergaon. When my father reached Shirdi, it was a Thursday and Das Ganu Maharaj was performing the Aarthi. My father was standing behind the rails and was crying without accepting the Prasad. Das Ganu told him that he knew what his problem was. My father retorted asking him to spell out. Das Ganu told him about my father's longing for a child and he also told him that my mother would give birth to a male baby. He further advised my father to name all the male children after Baba. Please remember that though my father was from South who was meeting Das Ganu for the first time, Das Ganu could make all these predictions. It was only the blessings of Baba. My father named all the three sons after Baba. 2. When my father was worshipping Baba in a small town in Tamilnadu, there was opposition from the Dravidian parties. One of its leaders threatened him even with violence. It so happened that the leader's wife who was in the family way could not deliver the child and her condition became precarious. At the instance of his relatives, the leader sought my father's forgiveness and help. My father gave him udhi and prayed on his behalf. Within half an hour, a male child was born. From that day, the Dravidian party leader became a staunch Sai Devotee and a disciple of my father. There were umpteen such instances in my father's life until his demise in 1986. He did not suffer even for a day and he was of the firm conviction that Baba would not allow him to suffer. May Baba bless all of us.

Rajeshwari
Sri Sai Narayan Baba's miracle happened during the second week of August 1999. I am a software engineer but I did not have any plans of coming to U.S. Unfortunately my company informed about my U.S trip. I landed in U.S on Aug first week. When I landed, I stayed in a hotel. Since, hotel rates are high and at that time I did not had enough money with me, I asked my office people to arrange for my accommodation. They arranged my accommodation. However, the problem for me was travelling for long distance every day nearly 45miles. The people who use to stay in Guesthouse use to take and dropped me for two days. However, unfortunately on the third day they told me that they are going out and I have to arrange to go. Somehow I booked the cab and reach the place where I live. Here, my story goes when I landed I did not have any address, telephone number and the apartment where I actually stay, all apartment are of same shape and same pattern. I was last and the time may be around 800Pm I was very much worried about myself that how to identify my apartment. I even asked the help form the Indian people whom I saw but, unfortunately they did not believe me, she started murmuring with her son telling don't believe that girl. By the time I listen this, I thought I am lost and I have to sleep outside. When I was in office I heard some one telling my apartment no I think all things will happen for good. In this tension, I started recollecting the number. However, I failed and tried to press some apartment calling bell, some tall person fair came down and asked what you want. I told him that I am unable to find my apartment could you please help me. Since, I already faced one lady reply I don't want to get the same reply form this person so, I started showing my Passport and made him understand. By times he understood me and told that dont be tense, we will findout. Since, I was with him I took deep breath and started recalling my apartment. We searched every apartment. After some times I myself don't know I was able to recall the number and he helped me in finding my apartment by mean time when I found my apartment I started crying literally with happiness. I thought I should thank him. I did not have anything with me to give. My friend gave some chocolates/Candies when I landed to U.S. Therefore, I told him that I don't have anything to give you. Can you please accept these chocolates/Candies. He agreed for it. However, before going I thanked him and asked his contact number by mean time I realize that he should be my god Saibaba. Miracles happen to me here when I asked his contact number. I saw him entering in my digital diary. I even saved the contents in my dairy and varified also. After sometime when I felt like calling him up, I search the number in my digital diary. You like to know what happen the number that I was searching. It was earsed and I could not contact him. Therefore, dear friend I strongly beleive that he should be Baba how helped me when I was alone. Thanks for reading my real story. Sri Sai Narayan Baba's
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Sai Activities

Baba Prayer Center, Chennai, India
Baba Prayer Center, 6/1, Papni Apartments, 67th street, Eleventh Avenue Ashok Nagar, Chennai-600083, India, Phone: 91-044-4892259 email contact: Bharathan at kbxy@hotmail.com

We are thankful to SaiVichaar with whose help the Baba Prayer Center was able to achieve quite remarkable progress in the service of Sri Shirdi Saibaba. After our publishing in Sai Vichaar our activities, many devotees have approached the Prayer center and made fervent appeals to Baba prayer center and got their problems solved.
Our thanks are also due to XY Computers, a nascent organization blessed by Sri Baba and yet to start its activities in full swing for attending our email needs at present and in future. With the grace of Shirdi Sai Baba, silver Nagasanam weighing 8.5 Kilograms (approximately 20 lbs) is ready to be installed in the NagaSayee Temple at Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India, on 12-12-99. We thank the devotees of Sai Vichaar who helped us. Baba Prayer Center is shifted to new premises at the address cited above. Universal prayer is conducted at Baba Prayer Center, every Thursday evening from 6.00 PM to 7.00 PM for the welfare of devotees. The word "HE" given by Shri Shirdi Sai Baba to the Center means Health and Education. In Prayer, we give preference to HE (Health and Education). Devotees may contact by telephone or through email the Prayer Center. "HE" (Baba) is waiting for your call around the clock along with Sri Kumar baba. May Baba bless you all.

Sai Darbar, Saibanisa, Hyderabad, AP, India
Sai's punya thithi (Mahasamadhi) on Dussera day was celebrated all over the World chanting his name and recalling his service to humanity. A new feature Sai’s Calendar was introduced in Sai Darbar to commemorate the occasion depicting the important events from the time Sai's Lotus feet touched until his 'SAMADHI'. This page is dedicated in memory of Sai bhakta-Late Shri.M.B.Nimbalkar. The present generation had no chance of seeing Sai however some of his close devotees have taken his photographs and a collection from them is presented in the feature titled 'Sai In Camera'. A devotee Shri Sairam from U.S.A has sent devotee's experiences and the same are included as received under the Sairam's page. It is my humble request to devotees to come forward with similar articles and extend their services for the benefit of all our fellowmen. New and interested membership from your known circles is most welcome and accordingly we may be sent with their addresses to keep them informed of our activities on regular basis. We propose to introduce two more features under the blessings of Sainath featuring Saibanisa's letters to his son on Satcharitra and 'Sai in dreams". The dream contents and their interpretations are felt will help devotee's progress in Spiritualism. Shri Paritala Gopi Krisha from New Delhi and Shri Nori Madhu Sudhan from Hyderabad have come forward to help in bringing out this page. We intend to start them very soon. Readers may go through the Experiences of Saibanisa coming up in the month of November/December 1999 as they are of unforgettable nature to him. Many devotees are approaching Saibanisa to seek advice from Baba and waiting for replies. My advice to them is to follow the two advocates of SAI i.e.' Shraddha and Saburi’. Tele-satsanghs were held with devotees from Canada and U.S.A. We would like to extend this facility to others also from different parts of the Globe after matching the local timings and related feasibility. Tele-satsanghs are conducted on tel.: 91-40-7123926.
Sai Sandesh (Message) for October 1999: You can buy a person with the wealth you have and turn him in to a slave, exhibit your ego on him but remember that you cannot buy his sense of self respect. In the process, you may be a victim to his wrath of anger and aggressiveness. Learn to value the self-respect of the man on the other side. Shiridi Sai 29-10-1999 For any clarifications on spiritual matters, mail to saibanisa@yahoo.com and for seeking information regarding web site and related suggestions mail to webmasters@saidarbar.com Saibanisa For http://www.saidarbar.com
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Prayer Club

Nunez
Dear Sai Devotees, I beg all to pray to Sai Baba for my adopted son to be under Baba’s care. My son is a good boy, but has a bad habit of stealing money from me, and his brother every time he has a chance. He is 14 years old now and has difficulty in learning in school. I pray that he change his ways and be more spiritual.

Vishnu, Canada
Dear Sai devotees, I live in Canada with my wife and two sons. I am a true and strong believer of Sai Baba. I have been working for a company for the past 2 1/2 years in the same position, I would like to move up the ladder to a supervisor position. Please pray for me to move to the supervisor position and my family for health, strength, and everything that will keep us together and always happy, especially Baba’s grace. Please pray for us to make our dreams a reality. I believe with His grace anything is possible.
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Devotees Say

Sumati Patlola
I have few questions. Could you please enlighten me on these issues. What is harmony with oneself? When can it be attained. Some saints say that what is good is bad for others and what is bad for one is good for others. What is the essence of good and bad?

Sangeeta Rao
I have been a Sai devotee for many years and have a had the opportunity with Baba's blessings to experience many miracles. I would like to share some of my experiences with Baba's devotees. Please let me know how I can write my experiences so they would be published in the newsletter. I am now settled in Minneapolis in the US and there is no Sai Temple, hence this newsletter every Thursday is a blessing. I would like to start a Sai Kirtan in Minneapolis and with Baba's grace and I want to be guided.

Sailatha Los Angeles, CA, USA
My life is also like one of the sad devotee that was published a few months ago. I lived with a husband who used to abuse me by hitting and hence I suffered many fractures. I lived for the sake of my children. They are now grown up. How I wish I could have served Baba. I have realized this in the later part of my life. I am on a tourist visa. I live in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India. If any body wants to contribute to Naga Sai Mandir in Coimbatore, you can contact through my son's email ssampath@3dsp.com. The mandir charges Rupees 200 for Abhishekam, Archana etc. Special Poojas are also done. Let Baba allow me to do this service. I will be leaving for India shortly.
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