Shirdi Saibaba Prayer Center Inc., Twin Cities
Minnesota, USA
Volume 1 Issue 8
August 2003


Contents
The Narrow Footpath near Barvi Well!

Nava Vidha Bhakti

Devotee Experiences

Sai Sandesh

Quotation of the month

Did You know?

About Shirdi Saibaba Prayer Center

Sai Sandesh

Sai Sandesh is a Monthly Newsletter dedicated to the Life and message of Saibaba of Shirdi. Please send your contributions to hamaresai@y.... If you want to receive this newsletter please click here. Shirdi Saibaba Prayer Center, Twin Cities, MN is not responsible for the opinions expressed by the individual contributors.

About Shirdi Saibaba Prayer Center.

Shirdi Saibaba Prayer Center, Inc., Twin Cities, MN is registered as a Non-profit corporation in the state of Minnesota. The organization is funded by the voluntary contributions of Sai devotees. The Prayer Center is currently located at 725 NE Lake St. Apt. 139, Hopkins, MN, where regular Sai Satsanghs are conducted and occasions of importance to Saibaba of Shirdi are celebrated. In addition to the Prayer Center activities, the organization is also involved with community service including "Meals on Wheels" and "Adapt a Family" programs. Please visit the Prayer Center and participate in its activities. Please write to hamaresai@y... for more details.

Activities

"My bones will speak from my tomb", a Spiritual Discourse in English.

Om Sai!
Shirdi Saibaba Prayer Center under the blessings & guidance of Sadguru Sainath, with the devotees' help will be hosting a Spiritual discourse on Saibaba of Shirdi, by Sri Gopal Rao Ravada (known as Sai Banisa -Servant of Sai) on August 16th at the Prayer Center [725 Lake St NE, #139, Hopkins]. The program will start at 5pm with Abhishek to Baba, followed by Dhoop Arti. Discourse will start at 6pm. The program will conclude with Shej Arti followed by Maha Prasad.

Meals on Wheels
 Shirdi Sai devotees are volunteering for the Meals -On-Wheels, in various locations in the Twin Cities. Volunteers pick up packed meals and deliver them to the needy as per the list given by the organizers. The volunteers have given a very positive feedback about the good feeling one gets for having done something to reach out to the elderly and needy. If you would like to join in this program please send us email


Fortnightly Satsanghs
Shirdi Saibaba Prayer center conducts fortnightly Satsanghs from 5pm onwards and the program includes Abhishek to Baba, Dhoop Arti, Bhajan/Kirtans, Naam Jap, Shej Arti and Maha Prasad. The next 2 Satsanghs are scheduled on August 16, 30.


Monthly Feature
The Narrow Footpath near Barvi Well!


When the merciful father is the wrath incarnate, it will be for a purpose. When Sapatnekar sought Baba after losing his only son to throat disease, Baba tested him for a long time before giving him the best comfort of his life, His Company! Had Sapatnekar known earlier about the omniscience of Baba, perhaps he would not have belittled his friend's faith in Baba during his younger days. When Haji Siddiq Falke, proud of his pilgrimage to Mecca did not recognize the Supreme in Baba, he was made to realize his mistakes soon. Completely grounded by Baba's impossible questions, Haji opened his eyes, realized his misconceptions about his own spiritual experiences and was enlisted in Sai's darbar.

Chakravarthi Rajagopalachari said, "When intelligence matures and lodges securely in the mind, it becomes wisdom. When wisdom is integrated with life and sprouts in action, it becomes bhakthi. Knowledge when it becomes fully mature is bhakthi. If it doesn't get transformed into bhakthi, such knowledge is useless tinsel. To believe that knowledge and bhakthi are different from each other is ignorance". Bhakthi or devotion is the ultimate means of realizing Baba completely as Bhakthi encompasses every emotion that relates to Sadguru.

Thus, when knowledge leads to wisdom, the wisdom must lead to devotion. Mere assimilation of facts is purposeless unless they are used to realize the truth, by Sadguru's grace. The intellects of Sapatnekar and the spiritual superiority of Haji were mere collection of facts and once they realized the wisdom of truth by Baba's grace, their transformation was swift and complete.

Sustaining faith in Sadguru, nurturing the thoughts of surrendering to Sadguru, and fostering devotion as the utmost virtue to realize Sadguru is a challenge amidst pursuit of knowledge and the intellect. The narrow footpath near Barvi well that Baba wanted Haji to tread refers to the same challenge Logic, synthesis and analysis, may help one in securing the knowledge but it is the devotion that helps one truthfully realize Sadguru in all His magnificence.

(Source: Saibaba.org - Saivichaar)

Devotee Contributions
Nava Vidha Bhakthi

Meena Kappagantula, Eden Praire, MN

  • Sravanam : Listening to the stories of the Lord's Lila, or Stotrams.
  • Kirtanam : Singing of Lord's glories.
  • Smaranam : Remembrance of HIS name and presence, in mental attitude and unceasing prayer
  • Padasevanam : Service at the Lord's feet: by serving humanity one is mentally offering worship to the Lord.
  • Archanam: Worship of God through such rituals as Puja.
  • Vandanam : Prostration to the Lord with full awareness of HIS presence in all names and forms.
  • Dasyam : Cultivation of the feeling of being a servant of God.
  • Sakhyam: Cultivation of feeling friendship toward the Lord, and establishing a personal relationship.
  • Atmanivedanam: Complete surrender of self, a state in which there is no duality.
    •

    Devotees Experiences

     -Geeta Ray, Woodbury, MN

    Dear Sai bandhu, Baba is the greatest. My life is changed.
    Our experiences with Sai are many. The biggest was when I, Geeta, was expecting my daughter in 1992. I fell very sick with Gastroenteritis along with my mother. As it grew severe myself and my mom got admitted in the local hospital in Madras. She got better. But I was uncontrolled so much so that I lost fluids and went into renal failure and coma. My husband being a critical care specialist realised my condition. My blood urea was 180mg/dl, when normal is 8-25mg/dl and I was breathing very rapidly. He got me transferred to Apollo hospital for the best kidney specialist's care. I was so sick I couldn't even get up and climb into a chair. So weak. He and my son went and prayed for my recovery at the Shirdi Sai temple there. He could see Baba's eyes glowing and a blue light. By that time all relatives, parents, and friends had gathered and were very concerned because it looked like I was going to die. I had not delivered as yet and was 8 1/2 months pregnant.

    Two sadhus came to my house in the morning and asked to see the son in law of the house. Both were there (my sister's husband too). So they blessed them both, then specifically spoke to my husband. They asked for sugar. It turned to vibhuti. They said "Baba tera pariksha le raha tha. Teri bibi bimaar hai. Ab se Baba uska doctor hai. 5 din me woh hospital se niklegi." [Baba was taking your test. Your Wife is sick. From now Baba is her Doctor. She will be leaving the hospital in 5 days].

    Sure enough I went into spontaneous labor and delivered my daughter. Then was given an AV transfer where impurities are removed from the body. The doctor in Apollo, Dr.Mani, was surprised, because he was prepared for things to get normal in a month. And in just 5 days my blood levels were normal and I walked out of Apollo.

    Om Sai Ram!


    -Debarati Sen, Woodbury, MN
    "I do not know if I am qualified to write about my experiences with Baba as I have often wondered if by asking for help am I not challenging his protection and also questioning what may very well be my fate and what I deserve. But there are many instances when I have felt his presence in my life directly and indirectly -some of them are subtle and some very obvious, some were probably aimed at removing my ignorance and some to bolster my faith at times of trouble.

    I consider myself extremely lucky to have been chosen by Baba as someone who needs guidance and his support and I sincerely believe that I would have been lost without direction and in pain by this time in my life if I had not had the confidence of His protection and support at all times. I still fall into the trap of questioning His wisdom when I go through difficult times and tensions and wonder if finally what happens is for the best. Foolishly I test His love by my constant prayers to show Himself to me through different situations and protect me and my loved ones. Why do I, when He is the one who has called me to Him, provided me his loving guidance and shown me the way time and time again. His gentle way of taking care of my anxiety proves His ever loving and forgiving bounty.

    I will try and describe a miracle through which He took care of my anxiety in December of 2001.  I was living in Bangalore, and was going through an extended period of stress about the possibility of an assignment in the US. Having worked in my company in India and having worked for 2 years in an Asian Team Leader role, I was ready to move to an international assignment. It had been indicated to me that the division that I work in had some possible openings in the US that could come up in future . However our company had never moved anyone from India and my case was pending for over 3 months and I was losing hope.

    I was visiting Calcutta for 5 days in Dec 2nd week with my son for my youngest cousin's wedding. At this time because my brother in law and my nephew were coming down from London too - I was putting up at my brother in law's house on Lake Road. As my sister and brother in law live in London, the house was occupied at that time by a handful of servants and my brother in law's father who was suffering from Parkinsonism. This incident occurred on the 4th morning after the wedding. That very day Rishi (my son) and I were to catch the flight back to Bangalore.

    While my brother in law and my nephew went out golfing early in the morning, Rishi was sleeping and I was at home packing our things. The bell rang at home at 8:00 am and as the servant went to answer the door, there seemed to be some voices and some arguments that I could not hear very well. This is a 3 story house with three calling bells side by side at the ground floor entrance to the stairs. As I went to check with the servant to see what had happened - he came up the steps to tell me there was some Sadhu baba claiming that there is a "Saibaba's Bhakta" in this house and that he would like to see "her". I laughed as this has happened to me earlier and I am always amazed at how in the strangest places where I may be residing for just a few days I am contacted. It's almost as if He would not like to leave any room for doubt and other explanations. How can you explain a miracle except by FAITH?

    I told him not to be afraid and that I knew what this is about and we called the Sadhus in. There was a boy Sadhu Baba of not more than 16-17 and another slightly older young Sadhu who was accompanying the younger Sadhu Baba. The older Sadhu kept calling the younger one as Baba . For some of us who may have had this experience, this may all seem very familiar. They were dressed in red - with a cloth jholi and a sindoor smeared book with many pictures of Baba. They came inside the house and sat down on the floor and the younger Baba asked me if I could give him some tea. Upon bringing it he asked me for some extra sugar and turned it into bibhuti and gave me a picture of Baba with a 2003 calendar behind it. As he sat there he told me that "Tum abhi Videsh janewali ho. Agle mahine ke 23rd tarikh tak tum jis khabar ke liye baithe ho - woh khabar tumko mil jayega . Samajh gaye na ?" (You are going to go abroad and you will receive the news that you have been waiting for by the 23rd of next month) . He also asked me if he asks me to give all the money that I have on me right now to him will I give. I told him "Yes, I will". He asked me "Khushi se doge ki dukhi hokar doge?". As we know while it may be difficulty at that time to spare that money - Baba proves within a few days/ months that he gives us back many times of that amount. I went inside the room and brought back all the money that I had in my wallet. Other than Rs. 200/- that Rishi had received as a gift I had nothing left in my purse. I told Baba in my mind that I will find a way to go to the airport with his help and he knows why he needs this money from me now.

    The Sadhu Baba spent some more time with the maid in the house and told her what she needs to do about her errant younger son (we had no idea she had a problem with her son) and also spoke to my sister's father in law and they were in tears by the time the Sadhu Baba left. As they walked down the steps and walked all the way till the end of the road without stopping at any of the other houses on the street, I was smiling and thinking about how obvious it was that Baba came looking for me so he could tell me to have hope and not grow despondent.

    Needless to say that my US assignment was announced on January 25th. My brother in law came back home and gave me Rs. 600/- that he owed me for some gift I had bought on their behalf and that took care of my trip to the airport. There has never been a visit from a Sadhu Baba to that house in the earlier years and to the best of my knowledge thereafter.

    I am sure I have not been able to do justice to Baba's presence and his miracle through words and I apologize to Him for my shortcomings.

    Quotation of the Month


    Did you know?

    During the last days of Baba in His physical form, He could not go out for Bhiksha which He practiced almost His entire life. Four devotees had the honor of going out for Bhiskha on Baba's behalf. They were Madhavrao Deshpande (Shama), Balak Ram, Vamanrao Patel (Sai Sharananand), and G.G. Narke. Prof. G.G. Narke, son-on-law of Bapusaheb Booty, once went out to Bhiksha dressed in suit.
    Source: Saipatham.


    Om Sai! Please send your comments, suggestions, contributions in the form of features, quotations and experiences to hamaresai@y.... Please forward this to all who will be interested.