FROM SHRI C.B. SATPATHY'S MESSAGE 

……“Saints and the people truly following this spiritual path always think not only of their own evolution but also about the evolution of all human beings or other species around them. Any action (in thought, speech, activity), which helps in the evolution of the self or others, is a good act called ‘Punya’ and any action detrimental to such growth is an evil act called ‘Paapa’. It is very difficult to follow such a path in a world as our’s and therefore, the process of evolution of human beings is so slow, that is spread over a number of lives. No man on earth has evolved beyond a certain point without help. For that support/assistance ¬from a guide and complete faith in him is essential. Only one who has treaded the path and crossed the obstacles can correctly guide others. And who is that guide who has treaded the path and knows the secrets of nature? It is the Perfect Master or the Sadguru. Sri Sai had once said that there are many paths of spiritual evolution, one path is through Shirdi. He also said that one can cross the jungle path with a proper guide. The path obviously means the path of evolution, which winds through the thick forest of maya. When the path ends one merges with God, and to such a person there is no meaning of time as he has gone beyond it. To conquer time, therefore, we have to hold on steadfastly to our Param Sadguru, Sri Sainath Maharaj, who has gone beyond the concept of time. ”…….

FROM "LIFE OF SAI BABA" BY NARASIMHA SWAMI   

……“Nana Chandorkar was a very respectable, married gentleman, having children and having family traditions and a position to maintain. Further, his training had given him excellent qualities of self-restraint and propriety of behaviour. So, he was not ordinarily what one would call a lustful, lewd, or lecherous person. He was on the other hand a very properly behaved, and excellent head of a family. Yet, the saying goes ‘Even an elephant may slip’. Baba, who was watching Nana wherever he was, and at every moment, noticed that he needed to be taught and trained in the matter of lust also. On one occasion when Nana was sitting next to Baba at the Dwarakamayee, two Muslim ladies were standing for a time at a distance, evidently waiting to see when this Hindu (Nana) would go away. They had to remove their veils at the time of taking darsan, which meant, putting their bare foreheads on Baba’s feet; and being gosha ladies, they did not wish a Hindu to see their faces. When Nana tried to get up on this account and go away, Baba pulled him down and said, ‘Let these people come if they care’. So, the ladies had to approach Baba and take darsan with Nana by his side. Nothing happened when the elderly lady removed her veil and took her darsan. But when the younger did the same, her face struck Nana as remarkably beautiful. The sheen of the eyes, the brilliance of the countenance, the perfect proportion of the features, and the indescribable charm of the whole person, were such that Nana was at once smitten with her beauty. When his mind was thus occupied, the lady finished her darsan and resumed her veil. Then the thought struck Nana, ‘shall I have another opportunity of seeing this angelic face?’ Baba at once slapped him on the thigh. Then the ladies departed. Baba asked him, ‘Do you know why I slapped you?’ Nana admitted that his thoughts were low and unfit for one in Baba’s company. He asked, ‘How is it that even when I am next to you, such low thoughts sway my mind?’ Baba replied, ‘You are a man after all, and the body being full of desires, these spring up as sense objects approach.’ Then Baba asked, ‘Are there not lovely temples with well coloured exterior? When we go there, do we admire the exterior beauty or the God within? When you are seeing God within, do you ever care for the outside beauty of the building? Similarly, remember God is not only in temples. He is found in every creature.

“Therefore when you see a beautiful face, remember that it is a temple and the image of the God within is the Jiva, a pre¬eminent part of the Universal Soul. So, think at once of God – or the Universal Soul in every object, whether beauteous or ugly. These forms reveal the God within. There is nothing wrong in admiring beauty, but the thought must follow at once, “If this object is so beautiful, how much more beautiful and powerful must be the God who made this object and inhabits it? Thinking thus, you will not get smitten by a Muslin beauteous face hereafter”. This was the upadesa given to Nana. Baba had not to go further and stop him from any sinful acts due to lust, as he had to do in another's case.”……

POEM

HELLO GOD

Hello God, I called tonight,
To talk a little while.
I need a friend who'll listen
To my anxiety and trial.

You see, I can't quite make it
Through a day just on my own,
I need your love to guide me,
So I'll never feel alone.

I want to ask you please to keep,
My family safe and sound
Come and fill their lives with confidence,
For whatever fate they're bound.

Give me faith, dear God, to face,
Each hour throughout the day
And not to worry over things,
I can't change in any way.

I thank you God, for being home,
And listening to my call
For giving me such good advice
When I stumble and fall.

Your number, God, is the only one
That answers every time
I never get a busy signal,
And never had to pay a dime.

So thank you, God, for listening
To my troubles and my sorrow
Good night, God. I love You, too,
And I'll call again tomorrow!

Anonymous

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DEVOTEE'S EXPERIENCE

I am a single working mother looking after two children settled in Dubai. Like everyone else I was waiting for the New Year to begin, thinking it will have a new and nice beginning for me but it was the opposite. Nothing seemed to go right, be it something small like sending documents to any bigger issue. In other words everything that I did went wrong and due to that my expenses also increased and I was very tense and worried and kept on screaming and shouting at my kids. I had no control over my temper and did not do what to do.

One night before sleeping I called out to Sai Baba and asked him why was this happening? Why was everything going wrong? Why can’t I control my temper? Please tell me what is it that I am doing wrong and what I should do to correct it. With this I fell asleep. That night Sai Baba came in my dream in his usual white dress and said: "READ THE WHOLE BOOK."

When I woke up the next morning, I remembered my dream clearly but was totally confused as to what book I had to read. I asked Sai Baba again and again what book I have to read and this increased my uneasiness. A few days later in the evening my best friend who is now settled in Canada stood at my door. I was shocked to see her for she never said she was coming to Dubai. From Canada she had gone to India to meet her family in Delhi. Then she went to Shirdi and she gave me a gift that she got me from Shirdi. The gift was 'Sai Satcharitra' along with Udi and a photo of Sai. My joy knew no bounds as then that very moment I realised that Sai Baba had sent me the book that He wanted me to read. On the very first Thursday that came I started reading the Sai Satcharitra and finished it in one week and by that time all my problems got over and my mind was peaceful. My temper is now under control. I am not losing my senses like I used to. Since then (mid Jan) I have left all my decision making to my Sai and I don’t plan or think anything. I leave it to Sai and if it cant be left and I need an answer then I take out chits with Yes and No in front of Baba's photo and do exactly as is advised in the chit. This and one more experience left me totally besotted with Sai and therefore I thought I should share my experience with all Baba’s devotees.

Barkha, UAE

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Who are now the five great masters (Qutb) living in this world? I would appreciate if any reader can tell me.

Abdelfattah Badawi, Cairo, Egypt

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SHIRDI SAI BABA SANSTHAN, CANADA

THE RESOURCE CENTRE
Shirdi Sai Baba Sansthan, Canada is pleased to announce the establishment of it's first Resource Centre in Woodbridge, Toronto. All visits are by appointment only. Shri Sai Satcharita is available in all languages. The Resource Centre is open Mon to Friday between 10:00 - 5:00PM. Location: Maple Crest Private School - 28 Roytech Rd. Woodbridge, On L4L 8E4 Ph: 905 - 652-6666 For other Details call 416-294-4804 or visit http://www.shirdisainath.org/

SHIRDI SAI MANDIR, TORONTO, CANADA

The Shirdi Sai Mandir located at 2721 Markham Road, Toronto, Ontario, M1X 1L5 (Intersection of Markham and Nashdene) is open through out the day on Saturday, Sunday & holidays and in the morning and evenings on all weekdays. Baba's Kakad Aarti, Abhishek Puja, Madhyan Aarti, Dhoop Aarti, Satcharita Reading & Shej Aarti are performed everyday. Bhajans & Sai Naam Sankirtan in evening on Thursday & Saturday. For daily schedule, temple activities & events information please visit Mandir's website : http://www.theshirdisaimandir.com/ or send an email to info@theshirdisaimandir.com or call 647-444-4724.

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