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Sai Sandesh Volume
5, Issue
1; Jan 2008 |
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In this issue |
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Devotees are requested to e-mail suggestions, articles,
experiences, etc. to
saisandesh@omsaimandir.org
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Message from the
president
Editorial:
The twin qualities of shraddha (faith) and saburi (patience)
Sai
Wisdom
Devotees' Experiences: Baba comes to me on His own
Beacon Lights: The detachment of King Janaka
Mind Boggling
Miracles of Baba:
Baba controls the
elements |
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Message from the president |
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Scriptures had proclaimed 2007 to be
Sarvajith (all-conquering year). During His Ugadi discourse on March 21,
2007, Swami declared that all of humanity's noble aspirations and divine
undertakings could be easily fulfilled during 2007, and all activities
initiated during the year were bound to be successful. How prophetic!
2007 was indeed the year during which Om Sai Mandir was able to
successfully accomplish many divine projects.
Babas' statues have arrived!
After more than four years of intense efforts and numerous visits to
India, two life-size statues of Shirdi Sai Baba and Sathya Sai Baba have
finally been installed at the temple. The prana prathistha/sthapna and
unveiling ceremonies were performed on a grand scale on November 23,
2007, Swami's 82nd birthday. Their beauty and radiance surpasses all
human description and cannot be adequately put into words. All are
welcome to take Sai's darshan and blessings.
Rudra Abhishekam
Yet another divine task was initiated on June 11, 2007. On this holy
Ekadashi day (eleventh day of Hindu calendar), we started performing
Rudra Abhishekam eleven times daily. The prayer was initially scheduled
for a period of 121 days, but after experiencing intense energy, divine
vibrations, miracles, and devotees' enthusiasm and participation, we
have decided to continue performing the abhishekam indefinitely. It is
being performed from 8.30 AM to 11.30 AM every single day.
Sri Viswamji's divine visit
His Holiness, Sri, Sri Viswayogi Viswamji Maharaj, who is considered to
be the ninth incarnation of Lord Dattatreya visited the temple in 2007.
During his visit he blessed the gathering.
Baba performed the balloon miracle again!
Devotees may recall that last year Swami had performed a balloon miracle
at Om Sai Mandir. A similar miracle happened this year as well. On
November 23, Swami's 82nd birthday, we had decorated the temple's hall
with 82 Helium balloons. During the performance of Rudra Abhishekam and
during the prana prathistha puja, the balloons started descending and
circling around the altar. After circling around the altar (as if doing
a reverential pradakshina), of their own accord, the balloons started
moving toward Swami's feet. This happened a number of times. Many
devotees were present on the occasion and were fortunate to witness and
record the miracle. I would like to convey my special thanks to the ITV
team, specifically Rene Lobo and Ashok Vyas, for covering the balloon
miracle and unveiling ceremonies on their ITV programs.
Swami's blessings find ample expression through the tireless service of
our dedicated team of volunteers, a taskforce that has grown remarkably
well during 2007. We are thankful to them. I would like to thank our
beloved devotees for their continued support.
I cannot but convey special thanks to Sharatchandra and Tulasi Pankanti,
Dr. Gabriel Letizia, Ratan Singh, Ravi Vemulapalli, Vijay Komar, and Dr.
Sona Bhatnagar for their kind support.
We are very eager to unwrap all the blessings Swami has in store for all
of us in 2008. Many exciting initiatives are being planned. For regular
updates, be sure to check omsaimandir.org. I would like to take this
opportunity to wish you all a Very Happy New Year. May Sai's blessings
fill your lives, and the lives of your loved ones, with ever lasting
bliss. Jai Sai Ram.
- Gangadhar Rao Chalasani, M.D., President |
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Sri Rudra
Abhishekam - 11 Times Daily |
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For the welfare of humanity,
Sri Rudra Abhishekam is being performed eleven times a day. The prayers start at 8.00 A.M. and continue until 11.30
A.M. All are welcome to participate. |
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Editorial: The twin qualities of shraddha (faith) and saburi (patience) |
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By The Sai
Sandesh Team |
Sai Baba of Shirdi advocated adherence to
what are often considered the twin pillars of spirituality: shraddha and
saburi. These qualities are pillars indeed, for, once cultivated, they
attract God's grace and ensure a strong foundation for both spiritual
and material aspirations.
The power of faith
Sage Narada was once on a quest to test who had the most faith. While on
his journey, he came across a very learned pundit. On seeing the divine
sage, the pundit asked him what God was doing at that moment. Narada
responded by saying that God was passing an elephant through a needle's
eye. The learned pundit burst into laughter and ridiculed Narada for
making such a naive statement. The sage was unruffled but left the place
immediately. During his journeys, he met one great person after another
and each ridiculed the sage when he described God's actions.
Finally, the sage met an illiterate cobbler. The latter received his
divine guest with utmost reverence. On seeing a sage of such a high
order, the host asked him what the Lord was doing at that moment. When
Narada recounted God's act of passing a gigantic elephant through a
needle's eye, the cobbler burst into tears of joy. He was not educated,
but he had intense faith that God could accomplish even the most
impossible of feats. Why an elephant, he knew God could pass the entire
universe through a needle's eye. Faith can--and does--move mountains, as
it happened in the case of Meera.
The devotee-saint Mother Meera was offered a bowl of consecrated
pudding, which had been secretly poisoned. With intense faith in the
power of God, she drank the pudding and, lo, the poison turned into
divine ambrosia. Such was the power of her faith.
The virtue of patience
Mother Sita, Lord Rama's consort, was tested for fourteen long years
during their journey through the forests. During her stay in the forest,
she was tormented by demons and monsters, subjected to unbearable heat
and cold, kidnapped by the demon-king Ravana, and even subjected to the
severe test of passing through fire-live. Yet, she did not lose faith in
her Lord. It was the result of her intense faith that she could quietly
endure unbearable hardships that were thrown her way.
Vivekananda once said that a devotee should be like a mat at
the guru's door. Whether or not the guru pours his blessings, the
devotee must exhibit utmost surrender and wait on the guru patiently.
Baba's own story where he resorted to His guru for a period of twelve
years is an excellent example. During these twelve years, the guru did
not blow any mantra in Baba's ears nor did he give any instruction in
the physical sense, yet, Baba served the guru with all humility and
reverence and, though an avatar, performed even the most menial tasks in
the service of His guru.
Baba desired that his devotees, too, should practice patience even
during trying circumstances.
Harishchandra Pitale came with his wife and ailing son to seek Baba's
blessings. The son would often get fits of a very severe intensity. As
soon as the lad was brought in Baba's presence, he experienced a severe
fit and fell unconscious. The mother of the boy started wailing
inconsolably. Baba addressed the mother with kind words: "Wait, have
patience. Do not weep like this. Go to your lodging; the boy will regain
consciousness soon."
True to Baba's words, the boy regained consciousness within thirty
minutes--he was completely cured. When the family came to express
gratitude, Baba said, "Shri Hari (God) will always protect the one who
has faith and patience."
With faith and patience, one is certain to achieve success in any
undertaking. Though sounding like two independent entities, faith and
patience, in reality, depend on each other-one cannot survive without
the other. A person who has real faith is bound to develop patience and
vice versa. One who practices both these qualities will develop many
more virtues that will elevate him to the highest level. |
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Sai Wisdom |
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Man is basically and essentially
immortal. But yet he is afraid that he will die. He is Ananda
Swaroopa (Embodiment of Bliss), but he weeps and is miserable.
He is Shanti Swaroopa (Embodiment of Peace), yet he is burdened
with anxiety. This absurd self-deception is the root of the
tragedy from which the world is suffering today. The truth has
to be driven in to the consciousness of man. The human being is
a composite of man, beast and God, and in the inevitable
struggle between the three for supremacy, you must ensure that
God wins. -- Baba
Source: Thought for the day, Prashanti Nilayam, January 09, 2008 |
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Sai Leelas:
Baba comes to me on His own |
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By
Mayank Saxena, New York |
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To facilitate my meditation and
prayers, I wanted my puja room to have a big picture of Swami. I
tried to purchase one online but most sites did not have it in
stock. Disappointed by the prospect of not being able to procure
the picture, I contacted Om Sai Mandir. A volunteer reassured me
with the following words: "Maybe Baba wants to surprise you by
coming on His own."
The very next day, a devotee who had recently returned from
Puttaparthi called the temple. He had a few extra pictures of
Swami and called to ask if someone would be interested in having
one. The volunteer who answered the phone had just spoken to me
the previous day and he immediately requested the devotee to
drop off the pictures at the temple.
I couldn't hold my excitement when I realized that Baba had
indeed come to me on His own.
As an aspiring actor, I feel as if I have won an Oscar. But this
miracle of Swami has so much more significance than that--it
will always remain with me. |
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Beacon
Lights: The detachment of King Janaka |
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Detachment is considered to be the
most important virtue for one who is keen on progressing
spiritually, but many have mistaken notions of what constitutes
"real" detachment. Some confuse detachment to mean living in the
forests away from all worldly contact; others construe it to be
an act of running away from duties, difficulties, and sorrows;
while still others consider the donning of ochre robes to
symbolize the spirit of detachment and renunciation.
These are foolishly-defined notions of detachment, for, real
detachment has nothing to do with externals. True detachment is
a very high internal state where the aspirant though acting in
the world is internally like the lotus flower--not tainted in
the least by its surroundings.
Swami often inspires His followers on the path of selfless
service with the following words: "Hands in the society, heads
in the forest." As He explains, it is not true renunciation if
one resorts to the forests but still thinks about worldly
things. Even though such a person may appear to have renounced
everything in the physical sense, his mind is still hankering
after worldly desires and enjoyments. During His lifetime in
Shirdi, Baba demonstrated true detachment. He would often watch
the show of things around Him without getting affected by them.
Women would present dances, men would perform juggling acts,
kings would come in processions, and poor folk would act in a
manner befitting them. Yet, Baba would disinterestedly watch
everything, remaining ever in union with His God-self.
It is very difficult to describe such a high spiritual state in
human terms but a few examples from the householder King
Janaka's life shed ample light on the virtue of detachment, a
quality that is unanimously extolled in every scripture and
religious text known to man.
Sage Suka, the son of the great saint Veda Vyasa wanted to
resort to the forests to live a life of contemplation. His
enlightened father, however, knew that such an act was
unnecessary for one who was sincere about spiritual progress. To
show him the true path, Sri Vyasa asked his illustrious son to
visit Janaka who was the king of Mithila.
This King Janaka was so great that despite ruling a kingdom, he
was internally a true renunciate. He once declared: "Even if
half of my body were to be honored with sandalwood paste and the
other half were to be slashed with a sword, both would be the
same to me and I would still be in a state of constant,
undisturbed bliss." Although appearing to enjoy outward
pleasures, the internal state of King Janaka was not attached to
the royal treatment. He was not in the least disturbed by the
six inner enemies characterized as lust, anger, greed, pride,
jealousy, and attachment.
When Suka entered the kingdom, he saw pleasures of the most
heavenly nature. There were beautiful nymphs, palaces of gold,
treasuries filled with precious stones, armies that would put
even the greatest of military powers to shame, and countless men
and women waiting to serve the king. On witnessing the royal
splendor, Sage Suka was disturbed and wondered how King Janaka
could be a true renunciate.
Suka finally got an opportunity to meet the great king. Janaka
engaged the young sage in a conversation and explained that his
intention of resorting to the forest was not necessary, for, he
would never be alone in the forest. Wouldn't animals be there?
Wouldn't the five elements constituting the universe be present?
And, wouldn't his mind ever accompany him wherever he went? The
explanation had a deep impact on Sage Suka.
To drive the point further, King Janaka utilized his divine
powers to create a fire that started engulfing the entire
kingdom. Even though the fire was spreading, the king continued
discoursing to Suka, who appeared disturbed at the sight of
destruction. All the riches he had seen were being reduced to
ashes, but the king was still smiling. Finally, the fire reached
very close to the room where the two were seated but King Janaka
was still calm. Suka finally understood the significance of the
act that though ruling a great kingdom, Janaka was not in the
least attached to it. The fire, which was a play of the saintly
king, vanished as mysteriously as it appeared.
On another occasion, the king asked a brahmin to move about the
kingdom with a pot of oil on his head. He also instructed the
guards to cut off the brahmin's head if even one drop of oil
were to spill. The brahmin took great care during his journey
and was concentrating on the pot to prevent spillage. When he
returned, the king explained that he, too, ruled the kingdom in
a similar manner. All his thoughts were centered on God and if
even for a fraction of a second he diverted his attention, he
would be destroyed.
The mind must renounce all thoughts and desires. For the one who
is truly detached, the opposite experiences of joy and sorrow,
praise and blame, honor and dishonor, pain and pleasure would
all appear to be the same and such a person would remain in
bliss, undisturbed and unaffected by what happens around him.
That is detachment. |
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Mind Boggling Miracles
of Baba: Baba controls the elements |
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Ordering a storm to stop
There was a huge storm in Shirdi at one time. As the situation
became dangerous, all human beings and animals living in Shirdi
rushed to Baba. The merciful Swami roared at the clouds, saying,
"Stop! Calm your fury!" Lo, within a few moments the clouds
passed away and things returned to normal.
Taming fire
On another occasion a fire was erupting at Baba's residence.
Despite knowing this, Baba was calm and did not bother much
about it, but the devotees who were witnessing this were alarmed
and requested Baba to intervene. At this, Baba took his stick
and started beating it on the ground. With every blow, the
flames were coming down and within a few minutes things became
normal.
Suspending the ceiling mid-way
Baba demonstrated His power whenever it was necessary. It was a
custom in Shirdi that some devotees would sit with Baba during
meals. On one such occasion, Baba suddenly looked at the ceiling
of the building and said, "Wait!" The astonished devotees
noticed the ceiling was collapsing but the moment Sai ordered it
to wait, the fall was arrested mid-air.
Many devotees were afraid to continue eating but Baba asked them
to finish their meals fearlessly. When everyone was done, Baba
asked the followers to step out. He then ordered the ceiling to
continue its unfinished work. Within seconds the suspended
ceiling disintegrated and fell on the floor with a huge impact.
Saving a child
Once, a small girl, who often addressed Baba as her elder
brother, was missing. A frantic search was made throughout the
village. She was finally discovered in the village well.
She had accidentally fallen into the well but was found
suspended mid-air, as if some invisible force was holding her.
It was then that everyone realized that her divine elder brother
had responded to her innocent faith and protected her from the
crisis. |
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