Feel His Presence Everywhere

He is touch in air
He is light in fire
He is taste in water
He is smell in earth
He is intelligence in mind
He is power in electricity
He is wisdom in sages
He is devotion in devotees
Feel His presence everywhere

a) Sound(Ears) are produced from the Akasha [space] element in the Throat [Vishuddha] chakra.
b) Touch [Skin] is produced from the Air element in the Heart [Anahata] chakra.
c) Light [Eyes] are produced from the Fire element in the Solar Plexus [Manipura] chakra.
d) Taste [Tongue] is produced from the Water element in the Navel [Swadisthana] chakra.
e) Smell [Nose] is produced from the Earth element in the Root [Muladhara] chakra.

Pleasure and pain depends upon one's attitude

Das Ganu a devotee Shirdi Sai Baba once took to translating the Ishavasya Upanishad but could not get to the essence of the Upanishad. He sought the help of many people to resolve his problem but was still unable to understand the gist of the work. Hence he resorted to seek the help of his Guru Sri Sai Baba. Baba asked him not to worry and that Kaka Mahajan's maid will clarify his doubt. Everyone around were surprised at Baba's solution and some even thought that Baba was joking. But Das Ganu showed no signs of delay in starting for Kaka's house.

During his stay at Kaka's place once he heard a poor girl who was the sister of Namaya the servant of Kaka singing a beautiful song while engaged in some household chores. The song was about a beautiful crimson sari but she was dressed in rags. Das Ganu took pity for the girl's plight as she was robed in rags while singing about a beautiful sari. He arranged Rao Bhadhur M.V Pradhan to buy her a beautiful chirdi.. The girl was overjoyed as she danced about wearing her new chirdi. The next day she was clothed in her old rags but her cheerful disposition remained the same as she sang on joyfully.

Das Ganu was then enlightened with the fact that one has to enjoy whatever is presented to him with the spirit of equanimity. The events in one's life have to be accepted with the right spirit that God bestows them all for one's own benefit. Here in this incident the girl, the torn dress and the new chirdi, the donor, the spirit of acceptance while wearing the old as well as the new clothes are all different aspects of the same all-pervading power. Thus contentment with the belief that whatever happens is the ordinance of God will lead one to free oneself from attachments to worldly issues. This in turn will help towards attaining self-realization. Thus Das Ganu was enlightened with the gist of the Upanishad.

Sainthood to Godhood:

Who we are we become, where we are from we will go.

- By Virushny Vivekanandan, Richmond, British Columbia, CANADA

It is a journey; life is a journey with the climax being that our destination and our origin are the same. Yet as simple as this reality is, through our journey of many lives we have lost this knowledge and so God has created many paths, which all lead to the same place, the reality of our being. What is our destination? Our destination is realizing that God is within us, and that we are ourselves God, but that realization does not come until we realize many other things on the process...

We refer to ourselves as humans and those who are in a higher spiritual level, as saints and above all there is God. The term human is the name of the class of beings we are. As humans we commonly make the assumptions that we are allowed to make mistakes, it is often heard when one makes a mistake that one is only human, but this stereotype does not allow us to grow spiritually. As humans have adapted a definition for being a human, we have also done it for saints.

Saints exist in every religion in the world, they are termed saints because they possess more spiritual knowledge than the common man does, and they lead a life of purity. A Saint is one who is able to teach others the path to God, not only through his words, but also through his deeds. He is always practicing various kinds of service to all beings, no matter how demeaning his acts might seem in the eyes of others. Sainthood to most humans seems like a lifestyle that is quite difficult to lead in a time where there are a lot of materialistic desires in the world, but how can one reach God without practicing Sainthood?

It is because of the mind and the materialistic attachments which humans possess that separate them from Saints. Yet the duties of a Saint and a human must be the same. Sainthood is not a level of life we must reach but one that we must attempt to live.

A Saint is able to perform service to mankind without seeing the difference between him and them, without seeing what class, creed or religion they belong to, and he sees them all as one. He has come to the realization that the best way he can serve God is through his children, which he regards as all in most religions.

The more vigorously one practices the acts of Sainthood the more aware one becomes that everything in this universe is filled with the same light. If you regard that energy as the energy of God, or that energy AS God, then the equation of life is steps away from being solved. Visualize the following: 1) A Saint serves every being, 2) God is in every being, there are two conclusions one can come to: 1) the Saint is serving God and 2) God is all around the Saint.
When the latter of the two conclusions is realized, a Saint is a few steps from leading Godhood. Godhood is the lifestyle lead by one who is omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent. Once a Saint realizes that God is all around him, he will realize that God is in him. This gives him the attribute of being omnipresent. If he is part and God and God is in all the beings, he is omniscient. If he knows that he is God and has all through his sainthood devoted to himself selfless, intelligent service, he is omnipotent.

From Sainthood to Godhood, requires effort, faith and detachment from the materialistic world. From "humanhood" to Sainthood requires an open mind and the letting go of the stereotypes that only humans make mistakes. The journey of life is precious, as it is our gift from God to realize that from him we are and we have come and to him we will go and become.

Origin of Rama Mantra

OM SRI RAM JAYA RAM JAYA JAYA RAM

Samarth Ramdas of Sajjanghad had propagated the above Nama for Rama Sakshatkar. He did 13 crore times and had Rama Darshan.Sri RamDas who is dearly called 'Beloved Papa' of Khananghad, Anandashram by prefixing "OM" assured that one would have Rama Darshan if he repeats 9 crores of times. This Ashram has a target of 15,500 crores for world Peace and Prosperity. They have been doing for over seven decades. The Shirdi Sai Sharan group of Florida, US has fixed a target of 100 crore of "OM SAI SRI SAI JAYA JAYA SAI" Nama japa for World Peace and Prosperity. Some of you may like to know how the 'Rama Mantra' was originated.

Sri Swami Sivananda Maharaj narrated in 1944 October issue of Sai Sudha as follows:

Once upon a time, Sri Rama after His return from Lanka was sitting in His Darbar with Sage Narada, Viswamitra, Vasishta and host of other people. Suddenly Sage Narada posed a question -Whether Naam (Lord's name) or Nami (Lord HImself) is superior?" As they could not arrive at a conclusion, Sage Narada Himself gave the verdict "Certainly Naam is superior to Nami." He wanted to prove his verdict and played a small drama. He told Hanumanji not to salute Viswamitra, a Rajarshi. Sri Hanuman obeyed this and incurred Viswamitraa's displeasure. Narada approached Viswamitraa Great Rishi!!! Hanuman didn’t respect you. Please punish him." Enraged Viswaamitra went to Rama and explained how he was insulted by Hanuman and also suggested to award death sentence.

Hanuman was very much agitated and told Narada he did as per the latter's suggestion only. Sage Narada assured nothing would happen "Repeat Maha Mantra 'SRI RAM JAYA RAM JAYA JAYA RAM', it would protect you." Next day Hanumanji had a bath in Sarayu River, with folded hands repeated the Mantra. Though Lord Rama rained the arrows on Hanuman, even Brahmastra would not touch Hanuman. On seeing Rama's helpless condition Narada approached Viswamitra and told Rama should be given rest as He was tired. He further added -You have understood the Glory of Sri Rama's Name." Then Hanumanji prostrated to Rama and also Viswamitra.

Sri Ram ----- 'Sambhodhana' or the locative addressing Rama

Jay Ram ----- Is His praise

Jay Jay Ram ---- Total Surrender to Him

While repeating this Mantra, have this in mind "O Rama!! I Salute Thee, I Surrender to Thee"

OM SAI SRI SAI JAYA JAYA SAI

FULL FAITH PAYS

"The fulfillment of My creation lies in the great happiness of my spectators (men). Man will be grateful when he will realize my empire and that I am the whole and sole controller or holder of the reins." - Shri Sai Samarth Satcharita, Ch. 8, Ovi 62.

During his visit to Europe in 1910, Sadhu Vaswani went to several places and addressed eager audiences on the message of India's Rishis and Saints. His address at the Welt Congress, the World Congress of Religions, at Berlin, and his subsequent lectures in different parts of Europe aroused interest in Indian thought and religion, and awakened in many hearts love for God and the suffering children of God. When his work in Europe was over and he was ready to return to India, he found he did not have the money to purchase a ticket. He did not worry; he knew that a ticket would be provided at the right time. A day before the steamer was to set sail for India, he was invited by the Maharani of Cooch Bihar to take tea with her. She was in England on a holiday trip. In the course of her talk, the Maharani said to Sadhu Vaswani, "May I make a request?"

Sadhu Vaswani smiled.

The Maharani said, "I understood you have finished your work in Europe and are returning to India. Permit me to get for you a ticket."

Sadhu Vaswani was not surprised. The life of a man who completely trusts in God is filled with many such 'miracles'. They are not miracles; they are normal, natural working of the Divine Mother who anticipates the needs of Her trusting children and provides for them. Wondrous are Her ways! Blessed be Her Name!

The Will Divine

"You may go anywhere on the face of this earth, I am always with you. I reside in your heart and I am within you." - Shri Sai Samarth Satcharita, Ch. 15, Ovi 69.

A number of people attack a disciple of a great Master. Some spit at him, some beat him, some pelt stones at him, some tear his clothes and some abuse him. He continued to smile.

A man says to him, "Where is your Master? Why does he not appear in this hour of your piteous need and show us a miracle?"

Quietly answers the disciple, "What greater miracle than this that even though I am treated thus, I feel I am in heaven?"

Astonished, the man asks, "I find you are being treated as though you were in hell! Where is your heaven?"

The disciple smiles again and says, "My heaven is within my heart: and no man may take it away from me. Even if my body is cut into pieces, yet will I continue to abide in the joy that is deathless."

The man asks, "What is the secret of your joy?" the disciple answers, "I bow to the Will Divine. In His Will is my highest good. For the Lord Loves me, and I love Him!"

Yes, the man who bows to the Will Divine, who loves the Lord and lives in Him, knows that all is well, supremely well! For him heaven is here and now - and forever and ever more!

The way of Deliverance

Really this Jiva [human soul] transcends the three qualities, viz., Sattwa, Rajas and Tamas, but being deluded by Maya, he forgets his nature which is existence-knowledge-bliss, and thinks that, he is the doer and enjoyer; and thus, entangles himself in endless miseries and does not know the way of deliverance. The only way of deliverance is the loving devotion towards the Guru's feet. The great Player, or Actor, Lord Sai, has delighted His Bhaktas and transformed them into Himself [His nature].

We regard Shirdi Sri Sai Baba as an Incarnation Of God for reasons already stated, but He always said that, He was a obedient servant of God. Though, an Incarnation, He showed the people the way, how to behave satisfactorily and carry out the duties of their respective stations [Varnas] in this life. He never emulated others in any way, nor asked others to have something, done for Him, Who saw the Lord in all movable and immovable things of this world, humility was the most proper thing. None, He disregarded or disrespected, for He saw Narayan [Lord] in all beings, He never said "I am God; "but that, He was a humble servant and He always remembered Him, and always uttered, "Allah Malik" [God is the Sole Proprietor or Owner.]
We do not know the various kinds of saints, how they behave, what they do and eat etc. We only know that, by God's grace they manifest themselves in this world, to liberate the ignorant and bound souls. If there be any store of merits on our account, we get a desire or interest, in listening to the stories and Leela's of the saints, otherwise not.

In Quest of Guru and God

The Sansara [visible world] by the allegory of Ashvattha [Banyan] tree, which has, in the phraseology of Shri Bhagwad Gita, roots above and branches below. Its branches are spread downwards and upwards, and are nourished by the Gunas [qualities], and its sprouts are the objects of the senses. Its root, leading to actions are extended downwards to this world of men. Its form cannot be known in this world, nor its end, its beginning, nor its support. After cutting this Ashvattha tree of strong roots with the sharp weapon of non-attachment, one should seek the path beyond treading, which there is no return.

For traversing this path, the help of a good guide [Guru] is absolutely necessary. However, learned a man may be, or however deep his study of Vedas and Vedantas [sacred literature] may be, he cannot go to his destination safely. If the guide be there to help him, and show him the right way he would avoid the pitfalls and the wild beasts on the journey and everything will be smooth-sailing.
Sri Sai Baba's experience in this matter, which He gave out Himself, is really wonderful, which when attended to, will give you faith, devotion and salvation.

REASONS FOR SUFFERING IN LIFE

REASONS FOR SUFFERING IN LIFE

Dear Shirdi Sai Baba ,

please enlighten each person who reads this article and make their life better

Let shirdi sai look for needs and wants of devotees who read this article , give them wisdom , help them take a good decision and change their fate by complete surrender to sai.

Many of us think why we suffer though we have not commited any sin.I am not a philosopher.I want to write this article for giving strength to people who feel that God they trusted has led them down.Which ever religion you belong to, God is one and his presence can be felt only through deep faith, even during the testing times.So lets see what are the possibilities why God is still making us wait for his blessings .

Reasons for suffering :

1. Planetary position :

Whats a kundli or birth chart.Its just the position of planets calculated based on time and place of birth.Why some birth chart remains favourable to live a happy life and others signifies many sufferings in life.Blaming the planets for sufferings in our life is like blaming weatherman for reporting unfavourable weather.

A person who has done lots of sins is born when the planets are in unfavourable position and the one who has done more good deeds than the sins he had done in previous births is born when the planets are positioned in a much better way compared to other one.

Let us remember , even baba had pains in hands, when baba let his hand inside fire to save a child, he surely had pains...he knows all astama siddi , why dint baba cure himself in 2 seconds ?

Rama is a avatar of God itself. why was he sent to forest and suffer for 14 years ?
Reason is even if God comes to this planet taking birth as any life or form , he will be subject to planetary situations.

Who are these planets :
The strange thing happening in modern times is during saturn transit every 2 n half years ( sani peyarchi ), people will run to temple and do special pooja and have some fear on Lord Sani.
But what lord sani and any planets are actually doing and whats the effect of praying god and involving in good activities .it’s like this

Planets are people who work for God :
A man commits a murder.He kills someone and caught by police, he is taken to court by few contables ,the driver drives the vehicle to court, the lawyer speaks on behalf n against the man. So some way the man must be punished.But who takes the decision ? It’s the judge right.

so the planets are doing their work only based on our past karma . They are just staff members for one chief , the judge who decides the fate of man to give punishments or not or reduce punishment. The planets are staff members in Gods court and God is the judge.

Even if we had actually done sins , God has power to stop our punishments if we prove him that we are not selfish and we care for others by involving in a good act. This is the power of dharma..Dharma is not just giving food and cloth to poor, it starts from our thoughts , attitudes and how we treat others.

2. Maya : The Power of illusion

Dimensions of Maya : - Desire , Lust , Relationship proved untrue, Being greedy, Trusting friends and Business associates too much, Any act that gains self pleasure and in the end self destruction or harms others who are innocent.

Maya is the major cause of pains in life for which we ourself will be a reason.Its a intense desire or need in us which will close our knowledge to make us act just for sensory pleasures and achievements.The results will give happiness and satisfaction but gradually it will start to cause harmful effects.

Consider an illusion of a rope being confused as a snake in the darkness. Just as this illusion gets destroyed when true knowledge of the rope is percieved, similarly, Maya gets destroyed for a person when he percieves Brahman with the transendental knowledge.
These days people take life so easily that they dont really analyse and think twice before they take a important decision in life.

some of such common pains caused by Maya are

1. Falling in love with someone by his/her or looks, words and actions . Finally you get pain when he or she leaves you for a silly reason.This creates a wound in your heart but a lesson well learnt .So though Maya cant be called as illusion because the sensory pleasures ( feeling of love also includes sensory pleasures ) you enjoyed are true , it does provide only temporary pleasures .
Same applies for marriage issues in your life.Many women and men suffer a lot due to misunderstanding and miscalculation of ones charecter.

For example, a Girl would have married a handicap guy thinking she is doing good .she would have taken the decision so fast and got married but finally realize that the handicap man is also handicap at heart and torchure her all life...so even if your intention is to do good and serve others please think 1000 times, ask baba for advice, ask your mother or any pure close friend for advice and then decide.

Not all help can do good to you, Sometimes people misuse your kindness :

I have a friend who helped his close friend financially and now suffering to core because the person who got money as help is not returning back. Its my responsibility to say difference between giving something to your friend as a debt and giving something as a charity.Most of us have good heart and give away any valuable goods or money to a friend who is in need and pleads for our help as a debt. Make sure you only give money which you can afford to lose.

I am not against helping friends the moment they need it so much.Its also my responsibility to say, make sure you won’t suffer if that friends mind changes once he got money and never care about returning back to you.

This is also a maya where your judgement about your friend has been wrong.This happens to many these days in various ways.Always pray baba that all friends whom you meet be good ones and if there is anyone who might be bad, baba must give you a hint through small incidents before the big disappointment shows up.

You won’t listen to good advice when your time is bad which means you are easily caught in to Maya :

Maya also helps one realise the difference between false and truth. A mother can only warn a child not to keep finger inside the fire.If the child keeps it, only then it understands his mothers care. So when a person is into maya , their mind will only be desiring sensory pleasures and they won’t listen to others who are righteous and advice them to be careful.Maya is a cloud that hides a bright day light of true happiness.

Whenever u have a desire , please ask baba if its right desire and then decide.

3. Use your common sense :

what i mean by common sense ? Let’s say a girl is in love with a guy, he left her and goes to another girl and this girl is in pain.There are few girls who will blame baba for making her be in contact with such a guy.

she won’t understand by doing this, baba is giving her wisdom , a learning experience that she must not trust all guys easily and who knows the same guy will realize his bad behaviour and come back to her.

Other examples are like,

* Resigning a job and taking up new one which you might not like after few days.

* Taking decision to break up a relationship or divorcing quickly in a emotional outburst and finally realizing you had commited a mistake.

* Doing something as you wish and in the end blaming others when you fail in your work.

Wavering mind - oscillating to the extremes of being faithful to baba and also doing things for sensory pleasures taking Baba /God for granted :

If our mind is not wavering surely baba would have helped us do the right thing.Sometimes even baba will be silent and allow the fate to work.That doesnt mean baba dint care for us.It just means , based on our karma we are supposed to go through sufferings and pay back the past births and present births seeds we sowed.

During these days of sufferings most of us again waste our time blaming baba and any god we love thinking they dint care about us.

Instead of blaming baba ,we must learn to say " Baba u know what is good for me and what is bad , so u give me one thats good for me and take what you prefer to take away "

Intimacy with Baba ( any of your guru or God ) and limits :

Even i get irritated with baba and be angry for few minutes whenever i am depressed.This shows our intimacy with baba but never build a wall between you and your sadguru. Baba will never let you down .He is aware of your sufferings.

There is a limit for you to blame it on God when sufferings haunts your life. I like people who come to temple to scold god rather than people who stop going to temple once they face pains in life.

Dont fall for external appearance :- Analyse deeply, Ask for advice,Close your eyes and ask baba to guide you and then take any decision :

These days people go on with life so easily..If u look at a road from distace it will be a good road to walk...only when u walk, you will find thorns and holes in it. who took the decision to walk, it’s you.
so please,in this cruel world always think 1000 times when you take decisions about relationship , business and any issues.Ask baba sincerely for guidance , ask people whom u can trust , ask your mother sister or any friend whom you think is good a soul ,then do it. Never do anything without analysing properly.

4. Living without love :

Money rules. Fine it rules but not forever. At any point of time you will realize , affection , love and care is more essential than money, physical pleasures and whatever materialistic benefits one needs.
Living for money and such silly pleasures without caring for others feelings also makes a person bad...a man will be really a good hearted person but just his desire on money or physical pleasures can take him to a very dangerous route eventually he will be facing worst pains of life.

Prayers , Spiritual path like meditation and Reading good books :

Thats why in hinduism , we have used ways in our rituals and prayers to focus all senses of humans towards God.When u think about God and go to temple regularly or sincerely do prayers at your home or keep remembering god deep in your heart , then your basic thought and attitudes will be good and gradually your life will be satisfactory.

I know your pains and i tried to heal wounds in your heart with kind words :

I am asking everyone through starsai.com to do good , help others and light lamp and candles.
why i am doing this ? Because i know so many of us are suffering and are wondering why no God and Baba also is not helping them.

so my intention is to spread message that helping others really is one way of neutralising our past sins by proving God we are a good soul so that he can forgive us...He is the judge, the planets just bring the murderer to court. Its the judge who takes decision. sometimes words has the power to heal.

My sincere prayers to baba for giving you a peaceful life :

I dont know what your problems or sufferings are All i know is, i have prayed shirdi saibaba that whoever reads this article must be guided by baba himself towards a better life. Surely baba will give you his hands in the days to come , now its your turn to analyse your past mistakes, clean your habits and be ready to hold babas hands when he comes to lift you up............

"Cheer up . Baba is there for you"

Choose simple ways to make your life and others life better :

Involve yourself in good activities , light lamps , have a good thought and feeling, be brave and remember you dont need money to help others, If you are strong, you can physically help few people, If someone is in worst pain of their life who needs affection ,you can use your words to express your kindness to few in pain.This is also a Dharma.

I pray baba that he guides all of us towards beautiful palace filled with love and affection , where all our sins are burnt to ashes and flowers of blessings floats on water of wisdo

shirdi sai ki jai

Venkat raman

Courtesy: starsai.com