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Sai Vichaar
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Thursday , May 04, 2006 :: Volume 8, Issue 51
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(In its eighth year of publication.)
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Sai Vichaar is a Weekly newsletter distributed every Thursday and is devoted to the life, philosophy and teachings of Shri Sai Baba of Shirdi. Feel free to forward this newsletter to your interested associates in its original form. |
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FEATURE OF THE WEEK: Sai Temples A number of temples of Saibaba are being built around the world. These are not just temples but the branches of ever expanding wonderful tree of Sai devotion. These temples should not be limited to mere places of Sai worship and bhajans; but should develop into anchors that instrument the awakening and spreading of the unique Sai tradition. These temples should develop into the abode of invaluable spiritual principles that Saibaba stood for and not mere places of convenient ritualistic formalities. One should not indulge in wasteful deliberations such as whether the temple built should be a replica of Shirdi Mandir, if one should install Dhuni like in Shirdi or how to perform all aarthis like the way they are performed in Shirdi. Sai temples should imbibe the idealistic path of Saibaba and glorify the significance of sacred Sai tradition that made Shirdi into a place of pilgrimage. To accomplish this awareness requires Sai's grace and our efforts should be to earn the grace by knowing and imbibing the values Saibaba represents. There should be a strong sense of community and everyone should feel that the temple belongs to all. Everyone will have comforts and inconveniences when it comes to managing a Sai temple. However, if we get rid of the feelings of "ours' and "yours", most issues do not sprout into problems. Such a sacred, goodwill seeking, happy and fulfilling transformation is the result of Saibaba's grace and His grace alone. With that awareness, we have to pray to secure Sai grace that fulfills our wishes. (Source: Translated from "Sai Bhakthi Saadhana Rahasyam" (The Secret of Sai Bhakthi Saadhana) in Telugu -- by Sri Sarathbabu ji) |
CONTRIBUTED ARTICLE: Rituals Ritual, if seen from outside the realm of religion, is nothing but a set of practices conditioned by culture and convenience. Rituals are important means of communicating with Sadguru who is none else than God. For the mind immersed in logic, outwardly, rituals may appear as superficial practices, but they impart a definite structure to the way a devotee conditions himself/herself to communicating with the Sadguru. Rituals slowly but surely transform one giving the rare opportunity of having Sadguru's glimpse in one's own personal way. Sai devotion may appear to pose a unique challenge to any onlooker drawn into the Shirdi God's fold. What rituals are to be performed? How are they performed? Must one always perform all the aarthis to Baba? Should one participate in Satsangs? Is it just enough to do naam jap? Or is it mandatory to perform shodasopachaara pooja to Saibaba of Shirdi? Is abhishek to Baba is a Hindu ritual and if so, is it OK to structure Baba's prayers within the conforms of a particular religion? How does one reach the Sadguru God of Shirdi who refuses to fit into a religion? The answer is simple; through any structured practice with love, truth, honesty and an intense yearning to be with Sadguru. If such a practice is known as a Hindu ritual or a Kalma recital, so be it! Nevertheless, a structured practice is always useful as discipline is a mandatory phase in pursuit of Sadguru. Nama jap is as powerful a tool for a saadhaka as is performing any other ritual. No one ritual is superior to the other. They all serve the same purpose if the underlying intention is the same. Rituals should not be considered as intimidating because of the way they are performed, neither are they a measure of scholarship. Rituals are not compulsive bursts of activities to just fit a timeframe. If there is love and devotion to Sadguru, there are no compulsions. If someone feels compelled, the love and devotion is not complete. There is a tendency to dismiss rituals as hypocritical since sometimes they are performed without completely knowing what they truly mean. What good meanings can do if the true involvement is just a pretense? The perception of "bhaavatheeth", the attributeless, through any "bhava" is not an additive function of even all the means at our disposal. However, great souls have accomplished this very easily. The all-important experience of Sadguru starts where our "bhava" exhausts. Saibaba's method of instruction is unique and individualized. Most importantly, Baba never allowed anyone to interfere with the way others' did their service to God. A true Sai satsang is one where there is enormous love and devotion for Baba that sees Sai in every ritual. The love and devotion that is natural and unsolicited. A Satsang that perhaps uses every means and tries to provide everyone the opportunity to realize Sadguru in his or her own way beyond the barriers of language, culture or social status. A Sai devotee always nurtures the above with the intention of sharing his/her love and devotion to His Majesty, the king of the kings and the most benevolent, Sadguru Sainath Maharaj of Shirdi. Bow to Sri Sai Peace be to all. (Contributed by Ravin Gnanasambandam, Coon Rapids, MN) |
DEVOTEES SAY: Ken Hemang Sai Devotee Geeta |
PRAYER CLUB: Sai devotee Sheeba Sai Devotee Geetanjali A devotee Sai Devotee Sai devotee |
EXPERIENCE OF DEVOTEES: LV Subbarao The department referred the patient for treatment to the Scientific Institute at Mumbai that would not be so easy to get the referral especially to such highest institution for treatment. However, he did not avail the opportunity having confusions that the child may not survive even if he takes strain to go all the way despite the fact that the dept. bears all expenses. With all such ruses, the child was got operated in a local nursing home costing Rs.15, 000/- of his own. He then submitted representation for re-imbursement of medical expenses. The re-imbursement was also allowed though normally the dept. does not consider non-referral cases for reimbursement. Unfortunately the child did not survive long, even 6 months. He said that the wife and husband are unable to bear the loss of the child and consuming sedation medicines continuously. I advised him to pray Sri Shirdi Sai to give back the same child and send Dakshina Rs.10/- to Shirdi Sansthan. He said that he has under gone family planning operation and the fact was intimated to department also. I told him to for get all that and go for re-canning immediately. He did as told and his wife conceived. At the ninth month she as usual went to the hospital for check-up and the doctor said that it would take another 3 to 4 weeks for delivery. However on the very next day the woman had to be taken to hospital due to some problem and the doctor said that she should undergo surgery and then and there only. She was thus operated and blessed with female child. continued.... Rani |
QUOTATION OF THE WEEK:
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QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Q. Name any incident during life of Baba which has made a lasting impression on You A. by Lorraine Walshe-Ryan, Sydney, Australia There is a quote from The Sai Satcharita, which is literally my Bible and has been for the last 9 years. Page 101, last paragraph titled - Encouraging Good Thoughts to Fruition: It states - "You have to surrender yourself completely to Him with love and devotion, and then you will see how He helps you, off and on, in so many things". I have surrendered myself to Shirdi Sai completely and absolutely dedicated to Him, and yes, He has helped me in every area of my life. All He asks is Saburi (patience) and Nishta or Shraddha (Faith). My faith is faultless, but I am still impatient, yet He remains so patient with me. My Baba is my Everything. Q. Name any incident during life of Baba which has made a lasting impression on You A. by A Sai devotee There are many incidences (miracles) which my father narrated which occurred during the Life of Shri Sai Baba .The following incident which I saw in a movie, when I was a child got embedded in my mind permanently, also my devotion towards Shri Sai Baba intensified in the following years to come. Turning water into oil - Shri Sai Baba was fond of lights. He used to borrow oil from shopkeepers, and keep lamps burning the whole night in the Masjid and Temple. This went on for sometime. The Banias (shopkeepers), who supplied oil gratis, once met together and decided not to give him oil. When, as usual, Baba went to ask for oil, they all gave him a distinct No. Unperturbed, Baba returned to the Masjid and kept the dry wicks in the lamps. The Banias were watching him with curiosity. Baba took the Tumrel (tin pot) which contained very little (a few drops) of oil, put water into it and drank it then forced it fall in the container. After consecrating the tin-pot in this way, He again took the water from the tin- pot and filled all the lamps with it and lighted them. To the surprise and dismay of the watching Banias, the lamps began to burn and kept burning the whole night. The Banias repented and apologized and Baba forgave them and asked them to be more truthful in future. Q. Name any incident during life of Baba which has made a lasting impression on You A. by Usha V Wonderful is the glory of our Lord who gives each and every devotee wonderful experiences. During Baba's life time His assurance to us, has impressed me, and given me the confidence to live. Extract as follows: Shri Sai Satcharita chapter III - "If a man utters My name with love, I shall fulfill all his wishes, increase his devotion. And if he sings earnestly My life and My deeds, him I shall beset in front and back and on all sides. Those devotees, who are attached to Me in heart and soul, will naturally feel happiness, when they hear these stories. Believe Me that if anybody sings My Leelas, I will give him infinite joy and ever-lasting contentment. It is My special characteristic to free any person, who surrenders completely to Me, and mediates on Me constantly. How can they be conscious of worldly objects and sensations, who utter My name, who worships Me, who think of My stories and My life and who, thus, always remember Me! I shall draw out My devotees from the jaws of death. If My stories are listened to, all the diseases will be got rid of. So, hear My stories with respect; and think and meditate on them, assimilate them. This is the way of happiness and contentment. The pride and egoism of My devotees will vanish, the mind of the hearers will be set at rest; and if it has wholehearted and complete faith, it will be one with Supreme Consciousness. The simple remembrance of My name as "Sai, Sai"will do away with sins of speech and hearing." |
SAI ACTIVITIES: Shirdi Sai Temple of Chicago and Suburbs,
Illinois, USA Shirdi Saibaba Prayer Center, Minnesota Sri Shirdi Sai Baba Temple of Dallas/Fort Worth,
Texas Shirdi Sai Satsang, Bay Area, California Sai Satsang, New Jersey, USA Shirdi Sai Satsang, Toronto, Canada Shirdi Sai Mandir, Scarborough, Canada |
FROM THE EDITORS KEYBOARD: Sai Vichaar is immensely happy to publish details about growing Sai activities all over the world. Please write to maildrop@saibaba.org if you want to know about Sai activities or interested in initiating Sai activities in your area. The "Question of the week" for the week is, Q. Name any one incident during The Life of Shri Sai Baba which has made a lasting impression on you? Humbly Yours, |
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From and Editor: | Shirdi Sai Baba Web Site |
Shirdi Sai Baba Sanstha | |
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