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FROM SHRI C.B. SATPATHY'S MESSAGE
……“Devotees speak volumes
about their masters. They speak on the Master’s glory,
personality, activities, miracles, their personal experiences,
and of other devotees and group activities etc. Particularly,
when it comes to Shri Sainath Maharaj devotees speak more
about dreams with relation to Him, their own experience, which
they call miracles and on their emotive interaction with Baba.
In short, they experience Him as a Personal God, who can be
a Sadguru or a deity. Some of them worship a number of Personal
Gods at the same time and therefore, find it difficult to
focus on one. In any case the One Ultimate has to be beyond
all the Personal Gods. A Personal God, by whatever name, is
called Saguna (with certain qualities and powers) Sakara (a
form which a human mind can ordinarily comprehend). A finer
understanding of God is Nirguna (beyond such limited qualities
and powers), Nirakara (beyond specific forms). Nirguna Nirakara
- this means seeing or experiencing the essence of God or
that Ultimate reality or Brahma in all its creations, i.e.,
in the devotee himself and in the entire manifested and non-manifested
creation around him.
By this logic all statues
or paintings, structures (like Samadhis), names, Aartis, Mantras,
Charan Padukas, etc. are symbols of God and certainly not
God, the Ultimate. Such symbols are generally worshipped and
contemplated on, as it is easy for the limited human mind
to comprehend them. The question is whether the human mind
should necessarily be limited, or a path should be chosen
to keep it limited. If any path or any religion prescribes
such an approach, it itself is limited. Hinduism prescribes
certain methods by which a devotee can graduate from Sakara
(limited form of) worship to Nirakara (form-less) worship.
Religion means both ritualism and spiritualism. Unless one
transcends ritualism, it is difficult to enter into the arena
of spiritualism in the true sense of the term. Spiritualism
means to follow the true diktats of the spirit within. Generally
speaking, ‘the spirit within’ means the soul,
which is a part of that God, the Ultimate who encompasses
both the seen and unseen, the living and non-living aspects
of nature and from the smallest particles to biggest stars.
Spiritualism, therefore, has necessarily to expand the spirit
of the soul from its limited body-bounden awareness to a vast
cosmic awareness. If sheer ritualism like Puja, Archana, Yagyans
does not uplift the spirit of the individual or expand his
mental horizon, it certainly is not spiritualism.
Generally, it is due to
the lack of understanding of what real spiritualism means
that most of the devotees spend their whole life doing certain
rituals without progressing. From multiple forms of God to
a single form God to a formless state of God is the real prescription
for spiritualism. Multiple form worships (i.e. of deities
etc.) do not give focus on a particular form. Since these
various symbolic representations of different aspects of nature
go with various functions and powers, a person worshipping
these forms gets scared to stop such worship even when he
understands that he has to graduate to a formless state of
worship. For example, Shri Ganapati is for the removal of
obstructions, Shri Durga is for protection against enemies
or Shri Laxmi is for prosperity or Shri Hanumana for courage,
etc. No doubt that all the four deities are manifestations
of the Ultimate One but then on whom does the devotee concentrate?
Where then is the question of what is called “Ekagra
Chitta” as a sine-qua-non for subtle experience of God.
In such a situation one has to choose one of the two ways.
Either to worship the Ultimate One (Nirguna Nirakara) going
beyond the worship of these deities or to evolve through these
limited forms to the Ultimate reality through Gyana Marga
(Path of Knowledge). All spiritual practitioners in all ages,
of whichever religion, have gone through this process of leaving
the forms and contemplating on the formless state of God or
in experiencing the formless state of God through the forms.
The Perfect Masters or Sadgurus always taught the same method
to their disciples at a certain stage of evolution. Those
who followed them and tried to experience the impersonal aspects
of God evolved faster than those that stuck on to the Personal
aspect of God only. Thus Baba has clearly stated in Shri Sai
Satcharitra that the best way of worship is to experience
Him as a Formless, Universal existence. If not, to worship
Him with a form. Therefore, the devotee of Baba while worshipping
Him with a form, should always try to experience Him as the
formless. But then, the big question is how to be focused
and be in a state of “Ekagra Chitta” when too
many forms are contemplated on at the same time. Is not the
form of the Sadguru enough!”…….
FROM "LIFE OF SAI BABA" BY NARASIMHA SWAMI
……“Occasionally some turned
up wanting Brahma Jnana from Baba to be handed over to them
like a packet of sweets across the counter. One such person
was a rich man who went to Baba, and expressly put the question
to Baba, ‘What is God like?’ Baba did not address
the visitor, but asked some devotee near him to go to Bagchand
Marwadi and tell him that Baba wanted Rs.100, and then bring
the money. That man returned in a minute and said, ‘The
Marwadi (Money lender) says that he has no money, and sends
his namaskar’. Baba again sent this man to another money
lender to ask him for the loan of Rs. 100. This time also
the devotee returned saying that the money lender said that
he had no money. Baba next said, ‘Fetch Nana Saheb Chandorkar’.
Nana came. Then Baba told Nana that he wanted Rs.100. Nana
at once wrote a chit to the same Bagchand Marwadi for a loan
of Rs.I00, and in a minute the money came from that Marwadi,
and Nana placed that sum in Baba’s hands. Baba then
said, ‘It is all like this in this world.’ The
impatient visitor could make out nothing at all and could
not understand why, when he asked about God, Baba did not
answer the question but went on sending people for loans,
and asked Das Ganu why Baba did so. Das Ganu said that Baba
had answered his question. The visitor wanted to know how.
Das Ganu said, ‘When others asked for money, it was
not forthcoming, but when Nana Saheb asked for it, the money
was at once forthcoming. So, the man who merely asks, “What
is God like” does not get to know it. But the man who
is qualified to know that and only the man who deserves to
know that, gets that knowledge. Baba’s answer therefore
is “Deserve before you desire Brahman”.
On another occasion, a very rich man came to Baba with a large
amount of money in his pocket, and with great anxiety to avoid
extra expenditure, as far as possible, he had engaged a cab
for the journey from Kopergaon to Shirdi and back, promising
to return in half an hour. So, the man came in a hurry to
Baba and said, ‘Baba, show me God, Brahman. It is for
this I have come all this long way. People say that Shirdi
Baba reveals Brahman very quickly.’ Baba said, ‘Do
not fear. Immediately and clearly I will show you. This is
not a matter that could be put off. It is hard to get questioners
seeking illumination like you. (Here Baba’s irony was
hardly understood by the man). Most people seek wealth, cure
of disease or trouble, honour, position, or perpetual pleasure
and other earthly objects. None wants God. Oh, I long to see
those who long to see God. Now, Brahman is the root cause
of the Universe that which accounts for Solar and Planetary
motions, variations of seasons and division of all functions.
One must know, i.e., realise Brahman before death. Else there
will be an ever recurring cycle of births and deaths. ReaIisation
gives 'Kevala Advaita Sukham '. A Guru gives it and only a
Guru can'.
Baba then turned to some
others and sent a boy out with these words: “Go, tell
Nandalal Marwadi, Baba urgently wants a hand loan of Rs.5/-
and bring the money”. The boy went and found the marwadi
absent. Baba sent more messages to absent men. The rich man
was getting impatient at Baba’s failure to give him
atmajnan or sight of God, more especially because delay would
mean extra payment to the tonga walla whom he had engaged
for the return journey also. He saw, of course, that Baba
wanted Rs.5 and he could stop the repeated requests of Baba
for Rs.5 by paying it out of the Rs.250/¬- he had in his
pocket. But he was oppressed with the fear that if he advanced
the loan, it might prove irrecoverable. He asked Baba, ‘Will
you help me to grasp Brahman?’ Baba replied, ‘You
see what I have been doing all this while is to enable you
to see God even as you are now seated. Have you understood
nothing? I want five. One must surrender the five to get at
Brahman. One must surrender the five senses (Indriyas), the
five pranas and manas, Buddhi, Ahankar (Mind, Intellect and
Ego) (all of which involve Vairagya i.e., detachment). The
road to Brahma Jnana is hard to tread. All cannot tread it.
When it dawns, there will be light. One who feels unattached
to things terrestrial and celestial is alone competent to
have Brahmajnan'.
The man found that Baba
had read his strong attachment to the Rs.5/- which he considered
more important than getting Brahmajnana Upadesa.
Baba taught the absolute importance of complete surrender
of Tan Man Dan, that is, body, mind and possessions, as an
essential preliminary to fitness to understand and be absorbed
in God. This surrender is set out in Srimad Bhagavata and
other works.”……
DEVOTEE'S EXPERIENCE
I am Sai devotee since
my childhood. My day starts with Sai prayers. In every distress
and trouble Sai helps us always. On Sunday 3rd Sept, 2006,
my Daddy suddenly started getting hiccups. He took some home
medicine. The whole day he was getting hiccups continuously
for 2 - 2 ½ hours. They would stop for some time and
then start again for 2 - 2 ½ hours. As it was Sunday,
we telephoned the doctor. He told us to give him one tablet.
He took the medicine but that did not help. On Monday morning
we took him to the doctor. He took the prescribed medicine,
had his lunch and went to sleep. Usually he takes rest only
for 2 hours, 1.30 pm to 3.30 pm. That day till 4 o’clock
he was fast asleep, it became 4.15 pm but there no sign of
his waking up. My sister and I called Daddy, he responded
but turn his side and again slept. We waited for another 15
minutes and again called him but again he changed the side
and slept. We found something strange. Immediately we prepared
sugar water solution as Daddy is a diabetic patient, but he
refused to take it. Somehow we managed to make him to sit
and tried giving water but he threw it out of his mouth. I
went to call a nearby Doctor who usually comes by 5.30 pm
but luckily that day he was there at 4.45 pm. The Doctor checked
his diabetes on a glucometer and said it had fallen to 20
and we should rush him to the hospital. Daddy had become semi
unconscious. We called up our cousin brother, who was luckily
in a nearby area and reached the hospital before us. Our neighbors
helped us to take Daddy to the hospital. Through the traffic
jam we managed to reach the hospital. My brother had already
met the doctor and kept things ready. Hospital doctors immediately
put him on glucose. Within ½ hour after admission he
became fully conscious and was surprised that he was in the
hospital. His condition was diagnosed as pneumonia patch on
his lungs, starting of jaundice, chest congestion. The pneumonia
patch had touched the diaphragm, the reason for the continuous
hiccups. Because of all these internal complications his sugar
levels had become so low.
He was in the hospital
for 8 days. Now, he is completely all right. Doctors said
diabetes count of 20 is too dangerous and at a count below
30, a person cannot survive. That can even lead to some dangerous
side effects. Also, his pneumonia was detected on time. Our
saver Sai helped us.
When my daddy was in the hospital, one evening my younger
sister was returning home from the hospital. Her leg got stuck
in one pothole and she had a fall. Her ankle got twisted and
she was unable to get up. She was crossing the lane. Suddenly
one rickshaw stood next to her and she somehow managed to
get up and get into the rickshaw. The rickshaw driver started
the rickshaw without asking her anything. After some time
she told him where to take her. She had fractured her leg.
After putting plaster on her leg for 1 ½ month, she
is okay now. From where did the rickshaw arrive right on time?
Who else other than Sai can send help.
By the grace of Baba,
both my sister and daddy are fine now.
Vishakha J. Paralkar, Mumbai
Share your
experience, articles poems etc.
POEM
Pain
Living in this world is
pain,
birth and death is pain,
painful is gaining experiences
and learning lessons of life.
Most valuable are the
hours of pain,
as they make us halt in the travel of life
and think and concentrate
on important points.
Pain makes us strong
capable to face all hurdles,
pain makes us feel,
the value of pleasure.
When in pain, we try and
look for happiness inside.
Spiritual quest starts
from hours of pain.
Many have risen to heights,
In trial times of life.
All saints on this earth
Are tested by God in hours of pain.
S. Modi, Delhi
Share your
experience, articles poems etc.
TOPIC OF DISCUSSION
Sai’s Message
to the children
The word “Children”
immediately brings to our mind, tiny tots and children below
adolescent age. We selectively forget that we, the adults,
are also Children of God. What is true for us has then to
be true for the small kids too.
Sai’s message is
Universal. To attain the goal of “Vasudeva Kudambakam”,
meaning the world must be a place for peace lovers belonging
to one and the same family. It is said that the birth of a
human being is the most prized award; each soul gets in response
to its deeds and misdeeds in earlier lives. If that be so,
it can not be wasted away in peripheral anxieties and so called
worldly pleasures, which are invariably short-lived. We must
always be looking for salvation, to avoid re-birth and to
be one with Sai forever.
Sai’s guiding principles
towards this end are:-
(a) To serve humanity,
and to serve with unconditional love.
(b) Partake in sufferings of less privileged and up-lift them
in their life.
(c) Always work with dedication and commitment.
(d) Develop patience and “vairagya” to complete
any task undertaken.
(e) Never publicize your good deeds.
(f) Never desist from sharing your bounties.
(g) Have unstinted faith in Him – why fear when He is
there?
(h) Aspire for everlasting peace and a place next to Him.
(i) Follow His eleven prized Do’s and Don’ts publicized
in all Sai Mandirs.
Sai’s message to
us, the Children, in nutshell is to serve, serve, serve and
serve the humanity ever.
Lt Col (Retd)
RVS Mani, Muscat
Share
your views on Topic of Discussion- DAKSHINA AND SAI
DEVOTEES'
FORUM
God's grace is the greatest
wealth. To consider the amassing of money, gold or other material
objects, as the ultimate goal is not right. The goal of life,
instead, should be the acquisition of the divine wealth of
God's grace. Try to win His grace by reforming your habits,
reducing your desires and refining your nature. One step makes
the next one easier; that is the unique quality of the spiritual
path. With each step, your strength and confidence increases
and you feel the Lord's grace all the more.
Arun N Reddy,
London
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
Share your
feelings about Shirdi Sai in Devotees’ Forum
READER'S
REFLECTION
This is very inspiring
& interesting site. As an ardent devotee of Shri Shiridi
Sai, I wish to be a part of this worldwide network.
Lakshmi Vivekanand,
Chennai
It is difficult to pen
one's overwhelming thoughts, experiences and feelings about
Baba. This magazine brings, personally to me a sudden awakening
to make me alert and live in the present by concentrating
on Baba. In the workplace when I get the copy on my computer,
it changes me. Every time is a new time with Baba. It makes
me wonder how much HE suffers for all of us, small and mean
mortals. I am practicing total submission every moment and
would continue to learn that throughout my life. That is what
I am living for. Can there be a bigger/higher Yoga than this?
I am what I am because of Him. This magazine, time and again,
reinforces the thought in me. I am a reader who is trying
to be a meditative reader and I think the magazine helps me
a lot.
Charudutta Panigrahi,
Delhi
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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,
say.sai.sai@gmail.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 mailto: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
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.
For more details Contact us Amar Alluri(President) Mobile:
(+64) 27 230 5360 Email: President@shirdisaibaba.org.nz
or Sai Krishna Tridandapani (Secretary) Mobile: (+64) 21 239
7907 Email: Secretary@shirdisaibaba.org.nz
Address: Shri Shirdi Sai Baba Sansthan of NZ, P.O. Box: 16142,
Sandringham, Auckland, New Zealand. Visit our website http://heritageofshirdisai.org/newsletter/Desktop/www.shirdisaibaba.org.nz
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