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 FROM
SHRI C.B. SATPATHY'S MESSAGE
……“During our time, in
the form of Shri Shirdi Sai Baba, had taken place the biggest
confluence of all spiritual paths, all religious groups, all
cultures and devotees, notwithstanding their wide-ranging
variations. The Hindus, Parsees, Muslims and followers of
other religions used to come to Him for both temporal and
spiritual benefit and got it. The high and low, the young
and old, men and women, beggars and rulers all took shelter
in Him. He was the kind father to all - the great equalizer
of His time. He was a spiritual revolutionary and the greatest
social reformer. At Shirdi, He ushered in an epoch of universality
and mutual tolerance by meting out equal treatment to all
who came - no matter to what religion, social or economic
status they belonged. There was no differentiation between
males and females before Shri Sai. Thus, Bayaji Maa, Radhakrishna
Bai and Laxmi Bai - all became important characters during
the time of Sai. The richest man of Nagpur named Buti was
there side-by-side with a devotee like Mhalsapati, who could
hardly eke out his livelihood. Dasganu, the police constable
was treated at par with Nana Saheb Chandorkar, who was the
Magistrate. Megha, the cook of Raybahadur Sathe was as important
as the master. Kaka Saheb Dixit, one of the greatest solicitors
of Maharastra used to beg for Baba at Shirdi, when Baba was
sick. Abdul, the Muslim used to look after Baba’s personal
needs, as much as Shyama, the high caste Brahmin. Saints and
Faquirs used to meet Him for spiritual guidance as also the
lesser mortals. Even the birds and animals sought refuge in
Him. In Shirdi one can see the tomb of a horse and a tiger
as also the tombs of Saints like Nanavali, Kumbhar, Bhaw,
etc. Ramnavami and Shri Krishna Janma were celebrated by Baba
as also Id-ul¬fitr. Baba introduced group dinner, group
celebration and even group smoking from Chillum. Under the
divine umbrella of Shri Sai all devotees forgot their pettiness
of caste, religion and creed and mirthfully lived together.
Important people like Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Kaka Saheb Dixit,
Buti and many high level officials used to visit Him. Magistrates,
Judges, Businessmen, Merchants, Teachers, Police personnel
as also beggars, destitute and the poorest of the poor used
to visit Him for solace and support.
This was certainly no
easy task to perform in a society ridden by religious, social
and caste differentiation in the late 19th and early 20th
Century. Shri Sai, the son of God not only achieved this with
ease but set a futuristic standard for the emancipation of
human souls out of these bondages. Where human souls meet
purely in a divine plane that place becomes the heaven on
earth. For the devotees of Baba, Shirdi was the heaven on
earth whereto they ran whenever the call came from the Master
as they do today. In this month of Makara Sankranti, when
the Kumbha Mela is taking place at Sangam we pray Shri Sainath
to bring about a creative and loving confluence among his
devotees and all the living beings on earth.”…….
FROM
"LIFE OF SAI BABA" BY NARASIMHA SWAMI
……“We shall
now point out, after careful study and obser¬vation the
first prominent flower or fruit that the Sai tree Kalpataru
produced, ignoring for the present the earlier petty pioneers
like Gopal Rao Gundu, Revenue Inspector. That first flower
of fruit is Narayan Govind Chandorkar. He may be termed appropriately
the first apostle or Saint Peter of Baba. We shall see how
Baba sent for him. Sri N.G. Chandorkar was Personal Assistant
to the Collector of Ahmedanagar, and was camping at Kopergaon
for jamabandi that is Land Revenue Settlement work. All karnams
of the taluk had to attend at the Jamabandi, and the Shirdi
karnam also had to attend. No one left Shirdi without permission
of Baba, as the experience of everyone was that by leaving
with Baba's permission he was safe, and leaving without permission
he ran into many dangers. So the Shirdi karnam, Appa Kulkarni,
went to Baba and asked him leave to go to Kopergaon for jamabandi
work, as the Personal Assistant to the Collector, Narayan
Govind Chandorkar was there.
Baba gave him leave, and
added, 'Tell your Nana to come here'. Nana is the contracted
form of Narayan which can be used only by equals moving on
intimate terms. Appa Kulkarni was astounded at the message.
He considered that he was too insignificant a person, and
that Baba also though a Weird Being of the village was too
insignificant to invite the Deputy Collector, a high Gazetted
Officer of the Government. But Baba insisted and told him
that he might inform the Deputy Collector that it was Baba
who invited him. With great diffi¬dence the karnam at
the close of the day approached the Deputy Collector and told
him that Sai Baba, a fakir of Shirdi, invited him to come
to Shirdi. Chandorkar was astounded. He thought that it could
not possibly be, and told the karnam that he was a stranger
to the fakir and the fakir was a stranger to him, and that
he, the karnam, must have some purpose of his own to invite
him to his village. Inspite of the karnam's protests, Chandorkar
would not believe him and sent him away. When the karnam reported
his failure to Baba, Baba repeated the invitation, and again
the karnam with considerable diffidence approached the Deputy
Collector the second day and repeated the invitation. The
second invitation had the same fate and for the same reasons
as the first. That again was reported to Baba, and like the
Prophetess Sibyl of Rome, Baba tried a third time and with
success. Baba pressed the hesitating karnam to repeat the
invitation for the third time. This time the invitation had
effect. Nana Chandorkar thought that there must be something
in it, and so he told the karnam that he would visit Shirdi
but not immediately. Chandorkar did keep his promise. Sometime
after going to Ahmednagar, he did go and pay a visit to Shirdi.
After making a present of sugar candy and almond with some
reverence to Baba, Chandorkar asked Baba whether it was true
that he sent for him, and when that was admitted, why had
he sent for him. Baba said, ‘'There are thousands of persons
in this world, and do I send for them all? Should there not
be some special reason why you alone should be sent for?’
Chandorkar said that he was unable to see any special reason.
Then Baba made the solemn statement, ‘You and I have been
connected with each other in four former births. I now invite
you to come and again have your contact. When leisure serves,
you may come’. Chandorkar was surprised by this statement,
and in any case was not fully impressed. He left the place
with the impression that he need not return to Shirdi. But
he did come, details of which are found elsewhere and began
his grand work of carrying on propaganda for Baba. With that,
Baba's mission and life, and personality enter a new stage.”……
TOPIC OF DISCUSSION
Relevance of Sai
in Today’s Society
Sai is omnipresent and transcends
all barriers of time, space and action. He is God incarnate.
(a) Sai is our Guide, who shows
the correct path and makes us good human beings.
(b) As the erosion of human values and ethics takes place
in the current materialistic world, there is definitely a
need for a Master, who can prevent such degradation from occurring.
Sai is that Master.
(c) Service beyond self is a virtue losing its credence these
days. A Sai Bhakta, by virtue of being a devotee, shall have
no inhibition in rendering boundless service to the needy.
(d) Human life is never smooth sailing. Tensions, problems,
needs are in plenty. It would be rare to find a life without
any predicaments. In those hard times, we need support to
tide us over those problems. That support is Sai.
(e) Success in life is an abstract phenomenon. No one desires
to be a failure. But all successes are not the outcome of
human endeavor only and divine intervention plays a role in
our success. That intervention is Sai.
(f) It is very easy to preach to others to respect all castes,
creeds and religions. But the social realities show that people
do not act in this way. Our Sai is beyond such divisions.
Knowing him and following him shall take us closer to this
aim of “Vasudeva Kudumbakam”.
How can you then say that Sai isn’t
relevant in today’s society?
RVS Mani, Lt Col
(Retd)
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your views on Topic of Discussion- Sai's Message to the
Children
ARTICLE
Human Life
I don’t entirely agree
with the way some people predict human life, as nothing but
a miserable, painful, hopeless existence driven by Maya; where
wants and desires are never ending and a man crave for more
and more without any satisfaction.
I would like to ask all such people
who think along similar lines, just one question: Why would
Baba send his children to suffer pain and misery if human
life was that bad?
Hasn’t anyone thought that all
humans may come on earth with a purpose and their presence
on this lovely, lively, wonderful planet is not just mere
coincidence or chance but they are here to fulfill certain
tasks assigned to them by the Almighty. And, also to enjoy
and appreciate His creation, and work their way forward by
becoming better human beings by their every action and thereby
getting closer to self realization day by day.
Those who think only about negative
aspects of human life show their lack of trust and faith in
the creator. Since we are the smartest species on the planet
why not utilize human knowledge and skills to improve the
living condition of fellow human beings and other less fortunate
species? Spiritual development and day to day work should
be two faces of same coin and not two separate coins. If all
acts are done with a thought of dedicating them to Baba, there
will not be any sense of doership associated with the task,
hence no ego either and then even a family man can progress
towards the path of self realization while successfully performing
his daily duties as ordained and expected by the human society.
Just as one cannot appreciate the
warmth of sun if one has not experienced cold, similarly happiness
and joy has no meaning if one doesn’t know sadness or pain.
To a man away from home, happiness comes when he is with family
and friends. To a spiritual person, spiritual discourse and
songs of praise of the creator give happiness, whereas talk
of atheists causes pain. So to say that sadness or pain doesn’t
serve any purpose will not be a correct statement, as it may
help a person appreciate the blessings he has received or
will get in time to come. What is needed is Shradhha and Saburi.
One can go through all phases of life successfully by believing
that Baba is always watching His children and there is nothing
to fear.
That is to say that one should
try to do his very best in the situation he is in, invoke
Baba in all thoughts and acts, enjoy the beautiful creation,
give his small contribution to human development and try to
live a contented life.
Nitesh Shrivastava,USA
Share your experience,
articles poems etc.
POEM
Where are You My Lord? Where are You?
I have
searched for You
In temples and ashrams
In masjids and minars
But, I failed to feel You.
I have searched for You
In churches and chapels
In gurudwaras and gopurams
But, I failed to absorb You.
I have searched for You
In discources and bhajans
In meditations and murthis
But, I failed to invoke You.
I have searched for You
In mountains and valleys
In forests and caves
But, I failed to see You.
I have searched for You
In rivers and rivulets
In brooks and lakes
But, I failed to trace You.
I have searched for You
In flowers and fragrances
In the universe and ether
But, I failed to know You.
I have searched for You
In swamis and sadhus
In gurus and samadhis
But, I failed to get You.
I have searched for You
In japa and tapa
In fasting and reciting
But, I failed to hold on to You.
I have searched for You
In retreats and resolutions
In resorts and rationalisation
But, I failed to meet You.
I have searched for You
Everywhere day and night
It is now beyond my imagination
Reveal Yourself Oh my Lord!
Ah! You are here my Lord,
within Me!
Just waiting for me to open up to You
Yes, You will not reveal to half-hearted efforts Unless I
submit myself by thought, word and action
My Lord! You are within
me
But, fool am I that
I searched for you outside
Without giving up what I am holding on
And living upto your expectations.
Due to my ignorance and
arrogance
I failed to enjoy Your love for me so far You are just waiting
for my correct moves To take me into Your lap.
Thank You My Lord!
For the transformation
Now, I can see You clearly
In every beam of Sun-rays
In every moon-lit night
In every flower
In every smile
In everything animate and inanimate
In fact, YOU ARE and nothing else.
Thank You My Lord for
Your Blessings and Love
Paritala Gopi
Krishna
Share your experience,
articles poems etc.
DEVOTEES' FORUM
While I was meditating I observed the Paradox of Human nature.
People throng in multitudes before the Guru or Spiritual master.
The highly intellectual society, celebrities and famous musicians
are part of it. I do not understand why the simple thing is
incomprehensible to the many people. That is you can become
a Paramahamsa by your own self. The people verily see the
Guru to be very simple, egoless, loving and kind, smiling,
disciplined and honest, morally high and mentally strong.
The people attend Satsang, which always imparts the aforesaid
things. Yet the people go to meet the Guru in expensive costumes,
scents, imported perfumes, display pompousness and opportunistic
behaviour and are greedy to get the attraction of the Guru
and his blessings. Crowds gather on different occasions such
as political meetings, shows involving film stars, sports
and games meet, etc. What is unique about a spiritual gathering
is that it is not meant for any benefit other than the Guru
wishing for the welfare of his disciples. The former gathering
is meant for personal or collective benefit and involves opportunism
but the later one is meant for welfare of others and involves
the sacrifice of the Guru.
Gurus sacrifice their life for the welfare of the society.
Loving our own brethren is difficult for us. Guru loves each
and every one. Guru's mind is fixed in divinity. His actions
are fixed in human welfare.
We, the common people, presume the Guru to possesses incomprehensible
powers, working wonders with mantras and austerities. It is
not so. They have love and kindness flowing all over the body,
which makes them most sought after. If you always meditate
upon the welfare of the others and show kindness to all, then
you acquire spiritual powers. A mind that is without ego,
jealousy, lust, anger and greed is stronger than a mind that
has these weaknesses.
VSP Haran, Patna
Baba Sai is Universal.
Barring our body and names, He resides in all beings. Sai
Baba is Brahman and His sayings, Brahman is my father and
Maya is my brother. Dwarka Mai is home of mercy, God Sai Baba
is Salvation and will relieve us from the vortex of birth
and re birth. God Sai Baba is now here, within the body and
mind of humans and all beings, be they humans who have ability
to think, talk and behave, animals, fruit, leaves, the soil,
ants and all. Baba Sai is All. Baba Bless all. He is ever
in all of us humans and all beings.
Haresh G Jagiani,
Tanzania
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your feelings about Shirdi Sai in Devotees’ Forum
READER'S REFLECTION
Thank you very much for your newsletter by e-mail. It is
Sai's grace. I have been looking at it and fearing that it
could be one of those letters asking me to send them to a
fixed number of people or I would suffer disaster. I did not
open it. But today, seated at my computer, anxious and full
of fear of deception regarding a tenancy problem, I ventured
to open it and find a little solace.
I respect
Baba. But I am not one of those who go every week, fast, become
vegetarian, but do not work for the salary they take. I do
not indulge in hate politics. I do not deceive anyone, or
take what is not rightfully mine. I help as much as I can
and seek God's help to give me the wherewithal to help others.
Now I seek His blessings
once again and beg him to bring stability in my life and in
the life of my children. I have been deceived - so many times
- husband, his brothers, my brother, strangers, and now I
fear deception from my tenant. How can I pray to Sai Baba
to help me? Is there a formal procedure? Please guide me.
I am in great distress. I have faced court cases, lost them,
I have been beaten up by my husband's sister in law and he
stood watching, I have been forced to leave home with my children
and seek refuge in the university quarters and he stood watching.
I feel it is my last birth's karma otherwise it could not
be so bad. Please guide me if you can. I feel so depressed
with the injustice meted to me!!!
Geetha Reddy
Anant, Chennai
Thank you for sending
the Shri Sai Baba's Newsletter. Since I do not get the hard
copy of the issue (as I'm in the US) it is good that at least
I get to read the online version.
You and the team are doing
excellent work in promoting interest and awareness of Shri
Sai Baba. I am a devotee of Baba and have supreme faith in
Him. He has never failed to help me in times of my need!
Samir Vyas, Durham,
NC
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Reader's Reflection
NEWS
OF SHIRDI SAI ACTIVITIES
SHIRDI SAI BABA
SANSTHAN, CANADA
Shirdi Sai Baba Sansthan,
Canada holds Satsang on Thursdays and third Sunday of every
month at Gur Mandir, 207 Queen’s Plate, Toronto (Etobicoke).
For other Details call 416-294-4804 or visit http://www.shirdisainath.org/
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 Monday to Friday between
10:00 am - 5:00 pm. 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 and holidays
and in the morning and evenings on all weekdays. Baba's Kakad
Aarti, Abhishek Puja, Madhyan Aarti, Dhoop Aarti, Satcharita
Reading and Shej Aarti are performed every day. Bhajans and
Sai Naam Sankirtan in the evening on Thursday and Saturday.
For information regarding the daily schedule, temple activities
and events please visit Mandir's website: http://www.theshirdisaimandir.com/
or send an email to info@theshirdisaimandir.com
or call 647-444-4724.
SHIRDI SAI PARIVAR
VANCOUVER
Shirdi Sai parivar in
Vancouver holds Satsang on Thursday (6.30-7.30pm)and Sai abhishek
and aarti first Sunday of every month at 8571, 118A St, Delta,
V4C 6L2. For further details contact (604) 592 4182 or email,sai_ish@hotmail.com.
SHRI SHIRDI SAI
SANSTHAN LOS ANGELES
By the grace of our Shirdi
Sai we are happy to announce the inauguration of Shri Shirdi
Sai Temple in LA region in the city of Montebello. We need
the support of all Sai Devotees. For more information please
email krishna@shirdisaila.org
SHIRDI SAI CENTER,
BAY AREA, CALIFORNIA
Location: 897-B E. Kifer
Rd, Sunnyvale, CA - 94086
Daily timings and activities:
Weekdays:
6:15 am – 7:40 am: Abhishekam and Kakad Arathi at 6:30 am
11.45 am – 12:30 pm: Madhyan Arathi at 12:00 pm
6:00 pm – 9:30 pm: Dhoop Arathi at 6:30 pm and Shej Arathi
at 8:30 pm
Weekends:
6:15 am – 7:40 am: Kakad Arathi at 6:30 am
11:00 am – 9:30 pm: Madhyan Arathi at 12:00 pm, Dhoop Arathi
at 6:30 pm and Shej Arathi at 8:30 pm
Every Thursday:
7:30 pm – 8:30 pm: Shirdi Sai Bhajans
For more information please
call 408-705-7904 / 408-564-6704 or send email to saibandhu@yahoo.com
or visit our website at http://www.Shirdisaiparivaar.org
SHRI SHIRDI SAI
SAMAJ MALAYSIA
No.744-1, Tingkat 1,
Jln. Sentul Selatan, Sentul, 51000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
This is a new Shirdi Baba center in malaysia. We conduct weekly
prayers/arathi at the following times:
Friday - 7pm - 10.30pm
Sunday - Noon - 2.30pm
Our official centre website
is http://saisamaj.blogspot.com
For more information, please email hyperkinetix@gmail.com
PERSATUAN SHIRDI SAI BABA SELANGOR, MALAYSIA
This is to inform all of you that we have a Shirdi Sai Baba
Temple in Malaysia. Here we have daily prayers and special
prayers on thursday mornings 9.00am and bhajans and satsang
from 8 pm onwards. Also breakfast, lunch and dinner, cooked
by our seva-group is provided to all devotees. other than
that first thursday of the month we have talk on spirituality,
second thursday on health, third thursday satsang on Sai Satcharitra,
fourth thursday talk on general topics, by experts in the
respective fields. Lot of charitable activities are conducted
by our Centre,like sponsoring immediate services to childrens\'
homes, old-folks homes, sick and needy, etc. etc.
If
any devotee, from Malaysia or Singapore likes to join our
Centre, please contact Mr.SP Kannan at Mobile -012-2739486;
usha - 006122392911; Res: 03-33717540. Our Centre address
is : Persatuan Shirdi Sai Baba Selangor, No.2574, Jalan Seruling
59, Taman Klang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia.Thank you and Sai
Ram.
SHIRDI SAI TEMPLE
SINGAPORE
The dream of having a
full fledged exclusive Shirdi Sai Temple in Singapore, will
soon come true. Thanks to the efforts of a Sai devotee in
making this happen. The Shirdi Sai Baba Centre in Singapore
is now live with the 3rd floor function hall, Sri Vadapathira
Kaliamman temple, being secured and converted to a full fledged
exclusive Shirdi Sai worship centre. The Centre will be devoted
to celebrating the life & teachings of Shirdi Sai Baba
only. For more information visit our website http://www.saisansthan.com
SHIRDI SAI BABA
SANSTHAN, AUCKLAND NEW ZEALAND
The bhajan and puja are
currently being held at Mt Roskill War Memorial Hall, 13 May
Road, Mt Roskill, Auckland.
Bhajans Every Thursday
Venue Mt Roskill War Memorial Hall, 13 May Road, Mt Roskill,
Auckland
7.00 pm - 7.50 pm Sai
Bhajans,
7.50 pm - 8.10 pm Pravachan and Sai Ashtotharam
8.10 pm - 8.30 pm Shej Aarthi
8.30 pm - 9.00 pm Prasad distribution.
Meditation and Parayana Center: Every Saturday
Venue 16 Mt Roskill Rd, Mt Roskill, Auckland.
From 6 pm to 8 pm
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