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e-Sai Samachaar Sai Prachaar is a quarterly e-newsletter devoted to the philosophy of Shri Shirdi SaiNath. Volume 1I, Issue 1 Summer 2008 |
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OM Shri Ganeshaya Namaha, OM Shri Sadguru Sai Nathaya Namah Salutations to Ishta Devata on the launch of e-newsletter from Shirdi Sai Parivaar. Salutations to Sai Ganesha, the obstacle remover and Sai Saraswati, the abode of knowledge. We seek the blessings of all to make the e-newsletter a significant drop in expounding Baba’s philosophy. |
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Shirdi Sai Parivaar |
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“Trust in ME and your prayer shall be answered.” BABA |
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In this issue: |
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The first chapter enumerates the author witnessing Baba’s leela of grinding wheat in Dwarakamai. Shri Hemadpant explains the philosophical meaning of this act by Baba. Sai being ever so merciful to His devotees, grinds the desires, impulses, sins, the three gunas (Sattva, Rajas, Tamas) and Ahankar (pride) between the two stones of karma (lower wheel) and bhakti (upper wheel) with the peg of Dhyana. Why is it so necessary to do away with the whims and indulgences? To this often asked question about the necessity of doing away with desires, Baba reiterates that knowledge or self-realization will not bear fruit unless one does away with these detrimental qualities. In this day and age when questions abound and scientific explanations are sought, the above appears trite. However, one simply has to broaden the outlook and take stock of His never ending leelas on a daily basis to commence having faith in Him. An ordinary devotee can apply these teachings in his daily sadhana (practice for spiritual progress). If we do this willingly and with devotion, we have already committed the ‘shradha’ or firm faith to Him. Our beloved Baba, who is karunamaya, daya sindhu, is ever ready to guide us regardless of our station in life. The main purpose of Baba’s incarnation is to help devotees to get self realization (moksha-liberation). Baba (through Sai Satcharitra) shows us the path for attaining Self realization. All our scriptures have unequivocally declared that liberation can only be attained with chitta-shuddhi (purification of mind). There is no other way to get there. Great Mahatmas have taken efforts to point us the path for chitta-shuddhi. The Satcharitra is one such conduit to the path of self-realization through the medium of Sai leelas on virtually every aspect of human life. Doing good deeds (satkarma) is another means for achieving a pure mind. |
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Satkarma has two parts. They are Ishta karma & Apurya karma. Ishta karma, as can be derived from the name, encompasses daily duties towards family and ourselves including pooja, reading sacred literature, participating in satsanghs, dhyana (meditation) and so on. Here we focus our attention on the inner being (the Self in us). Apurya karma is the service to others in the community. This is self less service (seva), a noble act for greater good. Be aware of the true self within us always. This is the peg Baba wants us to hold onto in our life journey. Baba is essentially instructing us to go about our Ishta karma during daily life while simultaneously working out our past karma (fruits of earlier karma) by the simple act of Apurya Karma through dedication to HIM (using bhakti). Faith (shradha) & patience (saburi) are the pillars of bhakti. Acting this way leaves no residue (trace of desires) and paves the way for self-realization. Prarabdha karma (ripened fruits of earlier karmas) is the karma we are exhausting in this life. They are fixed & we have no choice in it at present. However, in our present lives we do have a choice (purushartha) in doing karmas arising due to the current desires. We must channelize these choices for good deeds to others. That is only possible if we develop bhakti (faith & patience). If we direct our present karmas towards good deeds, we will have the good fortune of meeting the most compassionate Guru (teacher who is established in the self), who will guide us in attaining moksha (self-realization). |
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Miracle 1: BABA’s Blessings By Krishna Pasumarti On Dec 31, 2007 around 4.00 AM, my mother in-law had a dream. She saw Shri Shirdi Babaji coming to her house (that time she was staying in Ardenwood, Fremont at her son's house). Shri Babaji opened the main door and went into Pooja room which was down stairs and sat there. Shri Shirdi Babaji then came upstairs and opened my mother in-law’s bedroom door. and came near her bed. She was shocked! She was about to get up from bed but Shri Babaji told her to sleep and assured her that “HE IS THERE AND WILL TAKE CARE OF ALL PROBLEMS AND NOT TO WORRY AT ALL”. Shri Babaji then put vibhuti on her forehead and sprinkled akshintaa’s all over her and on her bed and in the room too and started leaving. She got up in her dream and held Shri Babaji's legs and pleaded him not to go. Shri Shirdi Babaji said "I have to go now. Everything will be alright. Do not get up”. She kept pleading with Shri Babaji not to go, but Shri Babaji left sprinkling akshintaa’s on the stairs, downstairs and every corner of the house before re-entering the pooja room and disappearing!! My mother in-law was in a shock. Shaking and shivering with the effect of the dream she woke up!!! She saw akshintaa’s all over her and all over in the room too. She immediately switched on the lights and was shocked to see the vibhuti on her forehead. She called her son and daughter in-law and narrated the incident. They too were in a pleasant shock seeing her glowing face and the vibhuti on her forehead and akshintaa’s all over her and the bed. They went downstairs only to see the akshintaa’s all over the place. All of them went to pooja room and were elated to see not only the akshintaa’s, but also the fingerprints of Shri Shirdi Sai Babaji in the haldi, kumkum and akshnitaa’s bowls. Miracle 2: Second Birth By Krishna Pasumarti We met with a terrible accident while returning from Shirdi on Feb 2nd 2008, Saturday. We were coming back to Hyderabad in a bus from Shirdi after Babaji's Darshan. After crossing Ahmednagar, around 12.40 am midnight, our bus rolled over and fell in to a ditch more than 20 feet deep. It was pitch dark outside. As soon as I realized that we had met with an accident, I shouted, “Baba, Baba Sai Save us”. At this point, the bus turned and came to a standstill. The bus was on its side with all the pressure on that side. Everyone was terrified and kept shouting, “Baba, Baba Save us”! We broke the window from inside and started coming out. Our bus was in thorny trees (forest trees). It was very cold outside. The front windshield shattered and broke into pieces – small children who were sitting in the front seats were thrown out. With Baba's blessings everyone slowly came out on to the road. We were surprised to see an old lathe workshop. It was open and there were also a few other houses nearby. Miracles continued here! One person wearing white Dhothi and full sleeved banian came to us and said “You are all fine. Don’t worry. Everything will be fine”. By this time it was around 1.00 AM. He called someone and started preparing tea for us on the road in pitch darkness and cold. Everyone was served with tea and water (we had water bottles in the bus). Some of us got bruises, fractures and scratches. He called the police and some local help and told police to open R & B guest house which was located nearby. With Baba’s blessings there was no casualty. We are all very fortunate and lucky to have a second birth. Next morning, we inquired about the person with white dhoti who served us hot tea in the middle of the night. Someone mentioned that he was landlord of that house. But no one saw him again. What a Miracle!!!!
"SHRI SACHITAANANDA SADGURU SAINATH MAHARAAJ KI JAI" |
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They called me and I went to see this miracle. I too was pleasantly surprised to see these happenings in person!!!! We collected akshintaa’s from all over and were amazed to see the holy akshintaa’s that is not available here in USA. I took pictures and shared akshintaa’s with all our Shri Babaji's Sai Parivaar devotees at the temple. |
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What is Maya? Maya must be experienced in order to achieve moksha (liberation of the soul from the cycle of death and rebirth) - ahamkar (ego-consciousness) and karma are seen as part of the binding forces of Maya. Maya is seen as the phenomenal universe, a lesser reality-lens superimposed on the one Brahman that leads us to think of the phenomenal cosmos as real. Maya is also visualized as part of the Divine Mother (Devi) concept of Hinduism. In the Hindu scripture 'Devi Mahatmyam,' Mahamaya (Great Maya) is said to cover Vishnu's eyes in Yoganidra (Divine Sleep) during cycles of existence when all is resolved into one. By exhorting Mahamaya to release Her illusory hold on Vishnu, Brahma is able to bring Vishnu to aid him in killing two demons, Madhu and Kaitabh, who have manifested from Vishnu's sleeping form. Shri Ramakrishna often spoke of Mother Maya and combined deep Hindu allegory with the idea that Maya is a lesser reality that must be overcome so that one is able to realize his or her true Self.
In Sai Satcharitra Baba said, "Though I have become a Fakir, have no house or wife, and though leaving off all cares, I have stayed at one place, the inevitable maya teases me often. Though I forgot Myself I cannot forget Her. She always envelops Me”. The Maya (illusive power) of the Lord (Shri Hari) teases God Brahma and others; then what to speak of a poor Fakir like Me? Those who take refuge in the Lord will be freed from Her clutches with His grace". In such terms Baba spoke about the power of Maya. |
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Sai Parivaar Baba, please shower your miracle and blessings on six-year old Ria diagnosed with cancer. Her parents are devastated and resort to Your Lotus Feet for Your Mercy. As our only hope, we pray to You to take care of Your child. |
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Sai Prachaar wishes its readers and devotees a special Gurupoornima. Let the love of Sai be reflected in every written word. Let our love and devotion to Him be reflected on this forum just like it has been elsewhere. This e-newsletter would not have been possible without Sai's Grace. Sai Prachaar is a mere drop in the ocean of electronic medium for sharing information on the life and teachings of Sadguru Shirdi Sainath. Sai’s Blessings to All Dedicated to His Lotus Feet, The Editor Mail to Editor: saiprachaar@gmail.com |
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@ Copyright 2008 shradhasaburi.org, Shirdi Sai Parivaar, Shirdi Sai Center. Sai Prachaar may only be redistributed in its unedited form. |
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Shirdi Sai Parivaar 897 E. Kifer Rd Sunnyvale, CA—94086 http://www.shirdisaiparivaar.org 408-705-7904 |
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Shirdi Sai Parivaar (SSP) is a non-profit organization under section 501(C)(3); Tax ID: 20-1881480. |
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Bow to Shri Sai and Peace Be to All |
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Contents’ explanation: Sai Satcharita: Elaborates on the lessons from Sai Satcharitra. Featured Article: Oriented towards the goal of self-realization. Sai Miracles: Experiences of Sai devotees. Discussion Forum: For the readers to post any questions they have. Being the first issue of Sai Prachaar, the editor chose to start the forum with the discussion on Maya. The best three responses will be posted in the next issue. Prayer: Medium of prayer requests by devotees to Baba Events: Links to past and future events. |
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Disclaimer: Sai Prachaar neither professes to endorse any particular thought nor does it necessarily stand by the opinions expressed by individual contributors. The editor reserves the right to change the articles without altering the content. |