Shirdi Saibaba Prayer Center Inc., Twin Cities
Minnesota, USA

Volume 2 Issue 10
October 2004


Contents

Monthly Feature

Stick to your Guru

Baba attending Prayer Club

Know Your Sai Satcharita

Quotation of the month

Sai Sandesh

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@yahoo.com. If you would like 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.

Shirdi Sai Maha Samadhi celebrations
With Baba's blessings and devotees' support on 23rd October there will be 86th Anniversary celebrations of the Mahasamadhi of Shirdi Saibaba at Geeta Ashram [10537, Noble Ave, Brooklyn Park MN 55443]. The event will start at 5pm and will conclude at 9pm. If you need more information, please send a email to hamaresai@yahoo.com
 
 
Breakfast Service at Salvation Army
Sai devotees have taken part in the Poor/Homeless feeding program conducted by Salvation Army twice this month. If you are interested in taking part in this noble effort, please send a email to hamaresai @ yahoo.com with "Poor Feeding" as the subject and we will contact you. 
Following are the volunteers and Prayer Center thanks them for their support and prays for Baba's blessings to them and their families.
 
Oct 6 - Ranjith, Sreehari 
Oct 20 - Anil, Chandana, Ravin, Sham, Sreekanth
 
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 Satsangs 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 "Adopt a Family" programs. Please visit the Prayer Center and participate in its activities. Please write to hamaresai@yahoo.com for more details.

Daily Services
Please note that the Prayer center is open all days of the week. Sunday-Friday prayer center is open from 6:30pm to 9pm and on Saturdays 5:00pm - 9:00pm.

If you would like to volunteer for any weekday service [for a month], please send us a email at hamaresai@yahoo.com with subject 'Daily Service Signup' or you can signup the calender at the prayer center.

Fortnightly Satsangs
Shirdi Saibaba Prayer center conducts fortnightly satsangs from 5pm onwards and the program includes Abhishek to Baba, Dhoop Arti, Bhajan/Kirtans, Naam Jap, Shej Arti and Maha Prasad. The next 2 satsangs are scheduled on September 11, 25.

These Satsangs are sponsored by devotees. If you would like to sign-up for sponsorship, please send a email to hamaresai@yahoo.com with subject as "Satsang Sponsorship".

Monthly Feature

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 and perhaps the only means of realizing Baba completely.

 

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.

 

 

Devotees Experiences

 

Stick to your GURU.

Kiran Buddi, Shakopee, MN

 

Sri Sacchidananda Sadguru Sainath Maharaj Ki Jai

I had a wonderful experience from Satcharitha on a very similar story of Bhakta Pant. Initially I was hesitant to write but later when I went to prayer center on Saturday Sept 11, Srinivas from Olympia WA was mentioning that how important it is to share our experiences however small

they appear. On September 9 with grace of Sayin maharaj, we had the opportunity of performing pada puja for swamiji at our home. Just as man proposes one way and God disposes the other way, it was a miracle that even the thought arose in our mind about performing the pada puja for swami being always in the company of Shirdi Sainath. At about 11AM we were expecting

Swami to arrive at our place for pada puja but swami didn't arrive and so I prayed to Baba and asked a message from Baba by giving Sai Satcharitha to my friend and asking him to open chapter at random and read.

 

Lo! Baba message was clear, the chapter started describing how we should surrender to our Sadguru and offer our soul and body at His divine feet. The story in Sai Satcharitha says that Bhakta Pant was a disciple of another Guru who had the good fortune of visiting Shirdi and there Pant suddenly got a fit and fell senseless, With Baba's grace Pant regains his consciousness.

Omniscient Baba knowing he was a disciple of another Guru utters these words "Come what may, leave not, but stick to your Bolster (support i.e. Guru) and ever remain steady, always in union with him".

 

As guruji Chandrabhanu Satpathi Ji mentions, "Do not try to see human aspect then you shall miss the divine aspect" of a Sadguru, these words are inscribed in my heart. As Sri Hemandpant describes in Sai Satcharitha that all Saints work in unison, Viswamji guruji reconfirmed my Faith in Baba, at 11:30 AM before swamiji started to my house from Eden Prairie, swamiji asked

me to perform Sai Satyavratha. I got up at 4:30 AM on that day but had to quickly perform the puja to Baba, as I didn't read Baba's asthotranamavali and usually I follow the Sai puja vidhi book given to me by Saibanisa uncle. Guruji by asking me to perform Baba's puja reconfirmed my Faith in Baba. I was so happy that Guruji asked me to perform Sai satyavratha, which we didn't

complete in the morning as we were short of time. All my curiosity was put to rest and Baba by His leelas gave us an opportunity to perform pada puja and delivering the right message "Stick to your Bolster (support i.e. Guru)". O Deva always shower your grace and bless us with Faith and

Patience.

 

Bowing with reverence at the Holy feet of Samartha Sadguru Sainath Maharaj and Sri Viswamji Guruji I also bow in reverence to Guruji Sri Sainathuni Sarat Babuji, Guruji C.B Sathpathi ji and Sri Saibanisa uncle. My humble pranams to Gurubandhus for reading this article and giving me an opportunity to share His grace. 

 

 

Baba attending Prayer Club

Ravin, Coon Rapids

 

Om Sai! This was an experience last month. I participated in Sainaama Jap on 9-18-04 as part of Prayer Club at the Payer Center. Before the naam jap started, a devotee was reading Sai Satcharitha Chapter 4, the episode where Baba assured Dasganu that Vitthal will appear at the end of Nama saptah. As I was listening to this, I just wondered if I would get such an experience where I can feel Baba’s presence during that day’s event; may be a stranger might come in as we read in several experiences or some other “miracle”, would happen graphic enough to etch Baba’s presence clearly in my mind. I was also thinking how silly it was to sit and condition Baba’s visit just because “I” wanted to do naam saptah. In reality, I was sitting in front of Baba, wrote my specific desires to be fulfilled on a piece of paper kept at Baba’s feet and here I was thinking myself to be silly to expect Baba’s presence! After the helpless paradox subsided, the naam jap started as devotees joined and the event concluded with Madhyahna Arathi to Baba.

 

Later that evening, we gathered for regular Satsang. During Parayana, the same devotee as earlier that morning started reading a chapter, this time from Sai Satcharitha by Indira Kher and as I heard attentively, this devotee was reading the same chapter as the one earlier that morning! I was curious at the strange coincidence and wondered if I missed anything and my thoughts on that ended there. Later that night, it just struck me that I forgot my wish earlier that morning about Baba’s presence during naam jap and an incident that occurred during the naam jap. Towards the end of the naam jap, a Sai devotee walked in with his 2-yr old child. It was a surprise because I have not seen this child come alone with father ever before and always it would be both parents. It was also a surprise, as I didn’t expect this child to even visit and participate in the event. As I sat in Sai naama, this child walked towards me with a bowl full of prasad and I then realized I was hungry! Both father and child left as they came in and the event continued. I completely forgot about this incident and by listening to the same chapter read out by the same devotee and later thinking about all that happened, it dawned on me that I vaguely wished for Baba’s assurance of His presence and there it was! I just wondered how many times I probably missed Baba’s presence with my feeble faith.

 

 Know your Sai Satcharitha!

 

    1. Baba disapproved fasting and who did he make eat puran polis at Dada Kelkar’s office?
    2. In what context and to whom Baba said, “Now take care, you should not purge anymore”?
    3. Who authored the Sloka, “Sada Nimbavrikshasya Moolaadhivaasaath…”?
    4. “How cunning the people are! They fall at the feet, offer Dakshina, but inwardly give abuses behind the back. Is not this wonderful?” On what occasion, Baba said the above.
    5. “Most devotees spoke and argued with Baba off and on, but these three devotees always kept silent. They were meek, modest, humble and goodnatured”. Who were they?

 

 

Answers to Know your Sai Satcharitha! for Sai Sandesh September 2004

 

    1. In “Grinding of Wheat” episode, what did Shri Hemadpanth refer to the two stones of Grinding mill as?

  1. The two stones of His mill consisted of Karma and Bhakti, the former being the lower and the latter the upper one. The handle with which Baba worked the mill consisted of Jnana. It was the firm conviction of Baba that Knowledge or Self-realization is not possible, unless there is the prior act of grinding of all our impulses, desires, sins; and of the three gunas, viz. Sattva, Raja and Tama; and the Ahamkara, which is so subtle and therefore so difficult to be got rid of.

     

    1. When did Baba say the following? “My treasury is full, and I can give anyone, what he wants, but I have to see whether he is qualified to receive what I give”.

    Baba said thus to the merchant who sought Brahma Gnana from Baba.

     

    1. What unique habit did Megha have during his stay in Shirdi?

    Megha worshipped Baba in two places; in the Masjid he worshipped Baba in person and in the Wada, Baba's big picture, given by Nanasaheb Chandorkar

     

     

    1. In which year was Sathe Wada completed and inhabited?

    Sathe Wada was complete and was inhabited on the Rama-Navami day in 1911.

    A.D

     

    1. After which incident Baba changed his dress and mode of living?

    According to Sai Satcharitha, there was a wrestler in Shirdi, by name Mohdin Tamboli. Baba and he did not agree on some items, and both had a fight. In this Baba was defeated. Thenceforth, Baba changed His dress and mode of living

Prayer Center Activities for October 2004

October 6 – Feeding the Homeless at Salvation Army, St. Paul, MN.

October 9 - Satsang  sponsored by devotees Radhika and Murali

October 20 – Feeding the Homeless at salvation Army, St.Paul, MN

October 23 – Saibaba’s 86th Mahasamadhi Celebrations – Geeta Ashram, Brooklyn Park, MN


October 30 – Prayer Club for the month 3.00 PM to 8.30 PM

Please write to hamaresai@yahoo.com if you would like to know more about the above activities.

 

Quotation of the Month

I am not concerned whether or not God has come in the form of Sai Baba. To me, Sai Baba is God! – Sainathuni Sarath Babuji

 

Permanent Shirdi Saibaba Prayer Center - Fund Raising

Dear Sai Bandhu:
Thanks for your continued support of the Shirdi Saibaba Prayer Center,
TwinCities, MN. Over the last two years we have grown and the current
premises are overflowing with devotees attendance. To facilitate the
growing Sai family, the Prayer Center is getting inspired to look for a
bigger, permanent place. To help realise this project, a humble request to
you, to help raise funds by taking part in one of the schemes.Please see
the attached flyer for detailed information. If you have any questions,
please send a email to hamaresai@yahoo.com or call 763 234 3401 or
651 353 6598.

Bow to Sri SAI, Peace be to ALL!!!!!

Notice - Receipts for contributions
The receipts for devotees' monetary contributions shall be mailed to the devotee address that is printed on the check. Devotees are humbly requested to make sure the correct address appears on the check. If you have moved to a new address please strike the old address and print correct address. Please retain your receipts for tax benefits under section 501(c)(3) of IRS code.

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



__________________________________________________________
Shirdi Saibaba Prayer Center, Inc.,Twin Cities - MN
(A Non-profit, Non-sectarian, Spiritual Learning Center, Tax ID 03-0473843)
Donations to Shirdi Saibaba Prayer Center are Tax-Deductible.
725 Lake ST NE, Apt #139, Hopkins MN * Tel: (952) 938 2983
Web: http://www.hamaresai.org * Email: hamaresai@yahoo.com