Om Sai Ram

Om Sri Sai Nathaya Namah. Please Find Links to Sai Material, Mantras, Audio, Pdf & Other Blogs Written & Maintained by me in the Side bars on this Blog. Subscribe Via Email to Receive Articles posted on this blog. Om Sai Ram

Om Sai Ram

Om Sri Sai Nathaya Namah.

This Sai Blog has been recently updated & Direct links are given Below the Blog Logo.

About Us, Donations, Contact Us. Sai Devotees can Now Know More About Us. Our Social Service to the Humanity & Be a part of it by contributing to Us & Also Contact Us through various channels online.

Sai Satcharita & Aarti Sai Devotees can Now Read Sai Satcharita online in English, Download Sai Satcharita PDF in 12 Indian & 3 Foreign Languages & Download Sai Satcharita Audio in 5 Language Free of Cost.

Sai Aarti PDF can be downloaded in 9 Languages & Sai Aarti Audio can be downloaded.

Sai Mantra Sai Devotees can Now Download PDF, Audio & also see the Video's of Various Sai Baba & Dattatreya Mantras in Different Languages.

Sai Baba E Books - Reading Material Sai Devotees can Now Download Various Literature on Sri Sai Baba in different Languages, Nine Guruwar Vrath Katha, Daily Vrath Katha & around 50+ E Books written on Sri Sai Baba by Various Writers are published under the E Books.

Sai Audio Sai Devotees can Now Download Audio, Mantra, Bhajans, Sai Dhun sung by various artict in Hindi & other regional Languages.

Gift Shop Sai Devotees can Purchase Mp.3 Cds, other Gifts related to Sri Sai Baba at a Nominal Cost & the proceeds from the sales will be used for our Charitable Work.

Pilgrimage Series Sai Devotees can Read about the Various temples visited by me personally under the pilgrimage series & know more about Sri Shirdi Sai Baba & get the Grace of Sri Sai Baba.

Shirdi Info Sai Devotees can read about the Complete details on Shirdi & Shirdi Sai Sansthan & the links are provided in the side Bars.

Sai Devotees Interested to share Snaps of Shirdi Sai Baba at Home or Sai Temples can mail us with complete details to saiinc@ymail.com.

Subscribe Via Email to Receive Snaps posted on this blog. After subscribing pls check your email Inbox or Spam box to receive a Confirmation mail form Us.

Pls click on the Activation Link inside the mail to start Receiving Regular Mails from Us.

Thank You.
With Sai's Luv & Best Wishes.
Raghav N

Friday, December 31, 2010

Happy New Year 2011.

Aum Sai Ram

We Wish all Our Sai Photo Blog Viewers & Subscribers a
"Very Happy & Prosperous New Year 2011"
May this New Year Bring with it Lots & Lots of Happiness,
Good Health, Success & Sufficient Wealth.

Thanks a Lot for being a Part of Our Sai Photo Blog Family. We have specially designed a Set of 13 Wallpapers of Shirdi Sai Baba for all the Months of this Year 2011. Please feel free to Download the Wallpapers & Use the Same as your desktop Wallpapers. Also Kindly Share the Same with Family & Friends.

These Wallpapers have been Designed by Preeti Varma & Deepti Varma. They are both Twin Sisters from Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh & are Budding Digital Artist. Our Special Thanks to Both of them.

To View & Download Full Set of 13 Wallpapers Visit:
New Year 2011 Wallpapers

[Click on the Snaps to view Full Screen Wallpapers]

January 2011
February 2011
March 2011
April 2011
May 2011
June 2011
July 2011
August 2011
September 2011
October 2011
November 2011
December 2011
To View & Download Full Set of 13 Wallpapers Visit:
New Year 2011 Wallpapers

Photo Resolution: 1600 * 1200

Courtesy:

Article: Raghav N
Wallpaper Designed by:
Preeti Varma & Deepti Varma

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Lucknow & Kanpur To Shirdi ~ IRCTC Package

LUCKNOW: The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has proposed a Rail Tour package from Lucknow and Kanpur for Shirdi Sai Dham / Shani Temple & Trambkeshwar Jyotirling (Nasik) Darshan.

The package will be launched from 10th February 2011.

The Tour will depart from Lucknow and Kanpur every Thursday by Pushpak Express
and return back to Lucknow and Kanpur on the following Monday by Pushpak Express.

The Facilities to be provided include:
1) Confirmed Train Tickets in AC-3/sleeper class,
2) Pick-up and Drop from Manmad Station to hotel at Shirdi by A/C vehicle,
3) Visit to Shirdi Sai Temple, Shani Shingnapur Temple and Trambkeshwar Jyotirling Temple (Nasik),
4) Accommodation in AC hotel room and all (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner) Meals (Vegetarian).

The Package Cost:
1) Per Adult is Rs 4,900/- (Economy class) and Rs 6,950/- (Comfort class)
2) Per Child (up to 12 years) is Rs 2,750/- (Economy class) and Rs 3,850/- (Comfort class).

Tel: 0522-2305566, 2305522 and 9794863619, 9794863623 (Kanpur)
9794863629 (Varanasi).

Web: www.railtourismindia.com.

Courtesy:
The Times of India.

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Online Booking System for Sai Baba's Darshan Queue at Shirdi

Aum Sai Ram

In the next 3 months, the Shri Sai Baba Sansthan, Shirdi Trust has decided to introduce an Online Booking System for Sai devotees which will give them an option of not standing in a queue for several hours to reach Sai Baba's Samadhi Shrine to pay their respect.

Those who Register Online will Not have to Stand in the Darshan Queue for more than an Hour. They will be told the approximate time when they can pay their respect and will be able to finish their visit within an hour of the time mentioned.
Those who do not book through this Booking System will have to stand in the regular Darshan Queue. Devotees will also be able to make Online bookings for Hostel Accommodation.

Shri.Jayant Sasane, Chairman of Shirdi Sai Sansthan said that, “To reduce the workload and improve crowd management, we are introducing the latest technology for Online Booking.
It will help reduce crowds in Shirdi and also save devotees time. Apart from creating more transparency in the Sansthan’s work, the project will also help us monitor the Devotee numbers,
the free Meals distributed and the Donations,”

He added that, “The facility may start in February 2011. It is a large project and we had floated a tender for the work. We have given the project to a leading software company and will be spending between Rs.20 crore and Rs.25 crore on the project."

The project is being supervised by K.V.Ramani, a Chennai-based entrepreneur and former chief of NASSCOM who has donated Rs.60 crore to the Shirdi Shrine to build a Hostel Complex to accommodate 16,000 devotees.

The Booking & Registration System is part of a larger software project called "SAITECH" that will connect all the Temple departments.

According to Rahul Galande, a senior official of the Trust’s I.T department, "The Project is being implemented by Cognizant, an I.T firm. The Company will look at the work for five years and train the Shirdi Sansthan staff to operate the system. We are creating a system for tracking the progress of Administrative work at the Trust. We are also creating an Online Information Centre."

The Shirdi Trust will set up one outlet each in Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore and Chennai where pilgrims, who do not have an credit card, can book accommodation at the pilgrim hostels.
When the system is in place, the Shrine will be second to Tirumala Tirupati to have an online booking facility.

Friday, November 19, 2010

A Sai Devotee donates Golden Shankhpatra to Saibaba

Om Sai Ram!!!

A Sai Devotee donates Golden Shankhpatra to Saibaba – 4th November 2010
Courtesy: Shirdi Saibaba Sansthan Trust, Shirdi.

Sai devotee Sri. Kailas Agarwal donated a Golden Shankhpatra weighing 692 grams worth rupees 12 lakh 67 thousand to Saibaba. Shirdi Saibaba Sansthan Temple incharge Sri.Ramarao Shelke felicitated Sri.Kailash Agarwal and his wife on this occasion.




Courtesy:
Rohit Behal, Mumbai

Elusive Search for Shirdi Sai Baba's Reflection on the Moon

Bhubaneswar: The devotees of Shirdi’s Sai Baba in Orissa scampered out of their homes on Tuesday 16th Nov night in the hope of seeing their deity Shirdi Sai Baba's image reflected on the Moon.

Hundreds of them rushed out of their homes in Bhubaneswar and adjoining Cuttack to look at the Moon with reverence, as news spread by word of mouth about the celestial spectre. Some of them even offered prayers and started singing Sai bhajans.

However, as they strained their eyes to scan the Moon’s surface from their ethereal location to savour the moment, they could not discern anything novel. It was after all a rumour. The incident had become a major topic of discussion among the common people on Wednesday 17th Nov morning.

Nobody knows from where or how the rumour started floating around. But many residents said they came to know about it from their relatives through the mobile phones. “Around midnight I got a frantic call from one of my relatives who advised me to rush out and see the picture of Shirdi Sai Babu on the surface of the Moon. I went out but could not see anything. The Moon was looking as before and there was nothing unusual”, said Ashok Jena, a retired banker.

However, a few others said they could identify a hazy picture on the Moon’s surface which indeed was looking like the eyes of the Shirdi Sai Baba.

There are others who are of the view that police should take stringent action against the people who were responsible for such rumour mongering. “The police should identify these rumour mongers and take them to task, so that in future people would think twice before floating this type of rumours around”, said Saroj Mishra, a home maker.

The local police maintained that people themselves alone can stop rumour mongering. “The rumour mongers will stop their activities if the common people start ignoring them. “But unfortunately people get influenced by these rumours. This has been proven by Tuesday night’s incident,” said a senior official in the office of the Bhubaneswar police commissioner.

Courtesy:
Article: Rohit Behal, Mumbai
Source: Elusive Search for Shirdi Sai Baba's Reflection on the Moon

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Shirdi Diwali Deepotsav 2010

Aum Sai Ram



Shri Sai Baba always Lit a Diya (Oil Lamp) at Nanda-Deep (Lamp of Bliss, also known as Akhanda Deep - "perpetually burning lamp"). Later, Baba had instructed Abdul Baba to see that the lamp that which was originally lit by Baba, was always kept burning.

So every Diwali at Shirdi, devotees gather and Light Diyas (Oil Lamps) at Nanda-Deep.
And this year too, like every year, on the occasion of Diwali, devotees from various parts gathered and Lit around 700 Diyas around the Nanda-deep area. These Diyas (Oil Lamps) are lit continuously for a period of 5 days.








Courtesy:
Article: Rohit Behal, Mumbai
Source: Star Majha - You Tube

Entire Village Leaves for Shirdi for Baba's Darshan

Aum Sai Ram

The Waghbil Village in Thane district of Maharashtra, now boasts of a first of sorts Trend where ALL THE RESIDENTS OF THE VILLAGE WILL GO TO SHIRDI to seek blessings from Sai Baba unlike with only a handful of villagers who walk for seven to eight days all the way to Shirdi. In total 170 people from the Waghbil Village will go walking all the way to Shirdi covering 240 km in all and 30 km a day.


With Age no Bar for Devotion,the residents of Waghbil Village are making their way to the Holy Pilgrimage of Shirdi.

The First batch left early Tuesday 09th Nov 2010 morning and after a gap of seven days the other batch consisting of 350 people is expected to leave by vehicles to catch up with the former group. They would then return home by bus or other vehicles after the 'Darshan' and their return would be celebrated by a ‘Bhandara’ after four days.

Shri.Kunkesh Patil, a Social worker and a resident of the village said, "This year the young at heart left today and the rest of the village will leave by bus, two and four wheelers to reach Shirdi on 15th Nov 2010 to reach the next day. They would return the same day after which a celebration with a ‘Bhandara’ would be followed on 20th Nov 2010. The youngest this year will be a four-year-old Sujan Shinge."

Sujan Shinge excitedly confirmed, "I am looking forward to my maiden Padhyatra though I have gone about five times by car before. If I get very tired I will sit in the accompanying vehicles but will try hard not to."

The Villagers who go by foot to Shirdi take breaks every afternoon and night covering about 30 km daily and at each halt, food is prepared by fellow devotees who accompany them in a couple of vehicles which carry food, water & sleeping bed sheets.

Throughout the journey, devotional songs are sung, and Sai Baba's stories and other leela's are discussed. Those very tired, fall asleep while the rest continue singing devotional songs and discussions.

Another social worker Ganesh Choudhury of the Village said, "Every year people go walking and others prefer going by vehicles like buses, big 10-seaters and motorcycles to reach Shirdi."

Vikraj Shinge, a devotee said "When we go to Shirdi, the village hardly has any people around.
Only the old, infirm and a few who cannot get leaves from their jobs will be present. The rest will all be in Shirdi !!! They will meet at Khandoba Mandir, the same Temple where Saibaba first halted before going to the Neem tree. The Palki carrying Baba left the temple to go round the Village on roads that were gaily decorated with bright and colourful rangolis.

TOGETHER THE WHOLE VILLAGE WILL ENTER
THE SAI BABA TEMPLE AND TAKE BLESSINGS OF SAI BABA !!!

Courtesy: Mumbai Mirror.

Selling Tobacco In Shirdi Sai Baba's Name

Aum Sai Ram

One has heard products being marketed and sold in the name of Film Stars etc but misusing the name of Saints like Shirdi Sai Baba and that even for selling Tobacco related products,is surely bound to hit out at the sentiments of Devotees.

Shirdi Sai Baba's name is being misused by Madhusudan Beedi Works, Bhongir Andhra Pradesh, who are manufacturing "Beedies" (small hand-rolled cigarettes) by the name of "Sai Baba Beedies" and selling them openly in Ahmednagar Maharashtra. The cover of the Beedi pack has a photo of Sai Baba printed along with the photo of its manufacturer on it.

This has annoyed Baba's devotees at Shirdi as they feel that after the Beedies will get over, its cover having Sai Baba's photo on it, will be discarded either in Garbage or will litter on the ground and thus might come under one's slippers or shoes, which is not acceptable by them, as they worship Sai Baba as their God. They claim that Baba's name which itself heals diseases is being used to sell tobacco and all the more spread diseases.

So, they have made a request to the Shirdi Sansthan Trust to prohibit such harmful tobacco products to be sold in Sai Baba's name and also want the Government to take some action against it.






Video in Gujarati


Courtesy
Article : Rohit Behal, Mumbai
Video: YouTube - gujarattv9's Channel

Sai Baba's Gold Crown Stolen From Sai Temple. Anand, Gujarat

Aum Sai Ram



VADODARA/ANAND: On Wednesday 10th Nov 2010 noon, a Gold Crown was stolen from Shirdi Sai Baba's Idol in one of the most popular Temple premises located on Lambhvel Road on the outskirts of Anand city in Gujarat India. The Gold Crown mounted on the Idol of Shirdi Sai Baba at "Sainath Temple" premises was stolen within Four minutes!

According to the Temple Trustees, the Crown weighing 622 grams was valued at Rs 12.5 lakh and the Temple had received it as a donation during the Installation ceremony of the Temple in February 2009.

Shri Shwetalkumar Patel, Trustee of the Sai Baba Jan Seva Trust, which manages the Temple premises, said "We have two CCTV cameras installed at our Temple premises which has Three Temples -one of Mahadevji, another of Sai Baba and third of Shani Dev.

These cameras cover both the areas surrounding the Idol of Sai Baba and that of Shani Dev. But, the CCTV camera that was overlooking the Sai Baba Idol stopped working between 11.33 am and 11.37 am. It was during this four minute span that some miscreant seems to have stolen the Gold Crown from Baba, as the Crown can be seen in the CCTV footage before the camera stopped recording and the footage also shows a man wearing black T-shirt moving around the Temple premises but his face is not clear."

Patel, who has registered a complaint at Anand town police station, says he was informed about the theft by the Temple's priest and other office-bearers around 12 noon.

Anand town police are investigating the case even as they are not ruling out insider's involvement in the case.

Anand town's police inspector Shri. D.S.Vaghela said that "The Gold Crown has been stolen when the Temple remains open for public. The Crown is brought out of the locker and installed on the idol of Sai Baba only during special days and during festive season. It is the duty of the priest to remain present near the Baba's Idol. So apart from studying the CCTV footage recorded before and after the theft, we are also questioning some office-bearers of the Temple,"














Videos




Courtesy
Article : Rohit Behal, Mumbai
Source: The Times of India
Photos: Saibaba Jan Seva Trust
Video: YouTube - gujarattv9's Channel

Friday, November 12, 2010

Why Intelligent People Fail

-Content from Sternberg, R. (1994). In search of the human mind. New York: Harcourt Brace.-

1. Lack of motivation. A talent is irrelevant if a person is not motivated to use it. Motivation may be external (for example, social approval) or internal (satisfaction from a job well-done, for instance). External sources tend to be transient, while internal sources tend to produce more consistent performance.

2. Lack of impulse control. Habitual impulsiveness gets in the way of optimal performance. Some people do not bring their full intellectual resources to bear on a problem but go with the first solution that pops into their heads.

3. Lack of perseverance. Some people give up too easily, while others are unable to stop even when the quest will clearly be fruitless.

4. Using the wrong abilities. People may not be using the right abilities for the tasks in which they are engaged.

5. Inability to translate thought into action. Some people seem buried in thought. They have good ideas but rarely seem able to do anything about them.

6. Lack of product orientation. Some people seem more concerned about the process than the result of activity.

7. Inability to complete tasks. For some people nothing ever draws to a close. Perhaps it’s fear of what they would do next or fear of becoming hopelessly enmeshed in detail.

8. Failure to initiate. Still others are unwilling or unable to initiate a project. It may be indecision or fear of commitment.

9. Fear of failure. People may not reach peak performance because they avoid the really important challenges in life.

10. Procrastination. Some people are unable to act without pressure. They may also look for little things to do in order to put off the big ones.

11. Wrong attribution of blame. Some people always blame themselves for even the slightest mishap. Some always blame others.

12. Excessive self-pity. Some people spend more time feeling sorry for themselves than expending the effort necessary to overcome the problem.

13. Excessive dependency. Some people expect others to do for them what they ought to be doing themselves.

14. Wallowing in personal difficulties. Some people let their personal difficulties interfere grossly with their work. During the course of life, one can expect some real joys and some real sorrows. Maintaining a proper perspective is often difficult.

15. lack of concentration. Even some very intelligent people have very short attention spans.

16. Spreading oneself too think or too thick. Undertaking too many activities may result in none being completed on time. Undertaking too few can also result in missed opportunities and reduced levels of accomplishment.

17. Inability to delay gratification. people reward themselves and are rewarded by others for finishing small tasks, while avoiding bigger tasks that would earn them larger rewards.

18. Inability to see the forest for the trees. Some people become obsessed with details and are either unwilling or unable to see or deal with the larger picture in the projects they undertake.

19. Lack of balance between critical, analytical thinking and creative, synthetic thinking. It is important for people to learn what kind of thinking is expected of them in each situation.
20. Too little or too much self-confidence. Lack of self-confidence can gnaw away at a person’s ability to get things done and become a self-fulfilling prophecy. Conversely, individuals with too much self-confidence may not know when to admit they are wrong or in need of self-improvement.

Friday, October 29, 2010

Devotee Allowed To Climb And Sit On Sai Baba's Samadhi, Shirdi

23rd October 2010

According to the rules of Shirdi Sai Trust made in 1979, except for the Temple's Pujari's,
NOBODY IS ALLOWED TO CLIMB AND SIT ON SAI BABA'S SAMADHI,
be it any VIP, the Sansthan Trustees or even the President of the country.

But Recently, THE SHIRDI SAI TRUST BROKE ITS AGE OLD RULE, BY ALLOWING A SAI DEVOTEE TO ACTUALLY CLIMB UP SAI BABA'S SAMADHI AND SIT RIGHT NEXT TO BABA'S IDOL !!!

A Sai Devotee from Andhra Pradesh, Shri.Adi Narayana Reddy, was actually allowed to climb up Baba's Samadhi and sit next to Baba's Idol.
Shri.Adi Narayana Reddy is the same devotee who in the past had donated 150 kgs of Gold to the Sai Temple for Sai Baba's Throne / Walls & Pillars.


- CONTEMPORARY DEVOTEES VERSUS SHIRDI SAI TRUST -
This has raised strong objections from the family of Shri.Gopalrao Mukund Butty (who had got the Butty Wada made) and other contemporary devotees like Shri.Mukund Rao Kote and Shivaji Gondkar, who have all got together and set up their own Committee (Samiti), to object certain ways of the Shirdi Sai Trust like:

1) The way the Shirdi Sai Trust has changed the face of Baba's Samadhi Temple, by covering it in Gold. They want the Butty Wada's simplicity & authenticity to be retained for which they have asked the Shirdi Trust to resist such changes.

2) How can any devotee be allowed to climb up and sit on Baba's Samadhi, when its against the rules of the Sai Trust.

3) Why some devotees have an quick and easy VIP Darshan while others have to wait in long queues.

4) Why were the local devotees not given permission to sing Bhajans inside the Shrine, while the Rich are allowed to sit on Baba's Samadhi.

According to Shri.Subhash Rao Butty (Grandson of Shri.Gopalrao Butty), if Sai Baba wanted the Butty Wada to be covered in Gold, his grand father (Shri.Gopalrao Butty) could have done so in 1918 itself, when he had got the Butty Wada made, as even then he had the all the means & sources to do so.

But, Baba always preferred Simplicity and was very much against the display of one's Wealth or power. He never gathered any sort of wealth except for the Love of his devotees.

And today, devotees in love and gratitude for Baba, offer Gold / Silver and other Precious items to Baba. So much so that, everything has now been covered in Gold, be it Baba's Throne, his Chariot or the Walls & Pillars of his Samadhi's sanctum sanctorum. In a way, Baba has now been immersed in all the things for which he stood against.

Shri.Ashok Khambekar, Managing Trustee, Shri Sai Baba Sansthan has said that they would consider their demands and call them for talks also.

To be noted:
In Shri Sai Satcharitra, Chapter XIV it is said that Baba always used to get wild and scolded those who brought costly & rich articles. He had told Mr. Nanasaheb Chandorkar that His property consisted of 1 Koupin (codpiece), 1 stray piece of cloth, 1 Kafni & a Tumbler, and that all the people troubled Him by bringing all these unnecessary, useless and costly articles."

Baba also never allowed Mahalsapati to accept any money or gifts that devotees who came to see Baba showered on him. Baba kept him poor in Kind, but rich in his Spiritual Heart. Baba gifted him the supreme Bliss, much more valuable than any physical and transitory richness.

DEVOTEE SITTING ON SAI BABA'S SAMADHI NEXT TO THE IDOL






VIDEO



Courtesy:
Sources: IBN7 & NDTV
Article: Rohit Behal, Mumbai

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Quick Tips to Improve Self Confidence

Here are some quick tips to improve your Self Confidence. If we are committed to have a healthy self confidence there are many things you can do every day to boost your self confidence, each small steps that will help you to reach your goal. The good news is that self-esteem is not fixed and can be improved, try some of the steps below to boost your confidence and self-esteem.

1) Identify your successes. Everyone is good at something, so discover the things at which you excel, then focus on your talents. Give yourself permission to take pride in them. Give yourself credit for your successes. Inferiority is a state of mind in which you've declared yourself a victim. Do not allow yourself to be victimized.

2) Look in the mirror and smile. Studies surrounding what's called the "facial feedback theory" suggest that the expressions on your face can actually encourage your brain to register certain emotions. So by looking in the mirror and smiling every day, you might feel happier with yourself and more confident in the long run.

3) Exercise and eat healthy. Exercise raises adrenaline and makes one feel happier and healthier. It is certainly an easy and effective way to boost your self-confidence.

4) Turn feelings of envy or jealousy into a desire to achieve. Stop wanting what others have just because they have it; seek things simply because you want them, whether anybody else has them or not.

5) When you're feeling superbly insecure, write down a list of things that are good about you. Then read the list back. You'd be surprised at what you can come up with.

6) Don't be afraid to push yourself a bit - a little bit of pressure can actually show just how good you are!

7) You can try taking a martial arts or fitness class/course (or both). This will help build confidence and strength.

8) Try to make yourself talk positively at all times. When you hear yourself saying you can't do something, stop and say you can. Unless you try, you will never know whether you are able to or not.

9) Don't get wrapped up in your mistakes and dwell on bad points; they can contrast your good points or even give you something to improve. There's no feeling like being good at something you were really bad at.

10) Don't confuse what you have with who you are. People degrade their self worth when comparing possessions.

11) Surround yourself with nurturing friends, not overly critical individuals who make you feel inadequate or insecure. This could do great harm and damage to your self confidence.

Sunday, October 24, 2010

No Reason To Worry

Feeling Under The Weather

At times when we are detoxing our bodies, or going through the ascension process, we experience aches in our bodies and manifest flu like symptoms. We may find ourselves feeling fatigued and even sad, as if we might be coming down with something. This is a natural part of any cleansing process and commonly accompanies deep inner-work. As we are called to examine our emotions and our beliefs, which often prompts deep inner-changes as well as external shifts, our bodies grow tired. Feeling under the weather is the way they let us know that it's time to take a break. It's best to be easy on ourselves at times like these and not to keep pushing forward. Learning to listen to and honor our bodies is part of the process of becoming more conscious.

As soon as you notice you are not feeling well, make an effort to get extra sleep, whether by going to bed earlier than usual or working naps into your routine. You can also support your body by eating as healthy as possible, drinking plenty of water and herbal teas, and taking vitamins. Vitamin C is especially galvanizing to the immune system. Homeopathic remedies can also aid you in assisting your body in its time of rest and recovery. Talking lovingly to yourself, and your body, will also help. Beyond that, simply letting go of thinking and resting in the deep silence of your true self will speed your recovery. In addition, you can always call upon your guides and angels, asking them to ease the symptoms.

It is natural to go through times of feeling under the weather, so there is no reason for you to worry. On the contrary, feel free to let go of worry and rest peacefully in the knowledge that this too shall pass, leaving you stronger, healthier, and further along in your healing process.

Saturday, October 23, 2010

Shifting the Mood : Attitude Follows Perspective

When we feel supported, it is easier to open our heart and minds when needing to look at a situation differently.

We all have days when we are faced with chores, errands, or responsibilities that we don't want to do. At times like these, it's easy to get into a bad mood and stay in one as we tackle these tasks. However, given the fact that our bad mood will not change the fact that we have to do these things, and will most likely make things worse, we could also try to shift our attitude. Many wise people have pointed out that it is not so much what we do as it is how we do it that makes the difference in our lives.

It's important when we're facing something that's really hard for us, whether it's doing taxes, paying bills, or visiting a challenging relative, that we lovingly support ourselves through the process. The more supported we feel, the easier it is to open our minds to the idea that we could change our way of looking at the situation. In truth, most of the chores we don't like doing are intimately intertwined with our blessings. When we remember this, we feel gratitude, which makes it hard to stay in a dark mood.

We can shift our attitude by considering how much we love our home as we clean it and how lucky we are to have a roof over our head. Any task can be transformed from a burden to a necessary aspect of caring for something we love. All we have to do is shift our perspective, and our attitude follows shortly behind.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Gathering Our Straying Thoughts Centering Ourselves

Learning to center yourself can be of the most important aspects of your spiritual growth.

When our thoughts are scattered in several directions at once and we are no longer conscious of what we are doing or why, it is time to center ourselves. When we center ourselves, we begin by acknowledging that we have become spread too thin and we are no longer unified inside. Our thoughts might be out of sync with our feelings, and our actions may be out of sync with both. The main signs that we need to center ourselves are scattered thoughts and a feeling of disconnection or numbness, as if we are no longer able to take anything in. In addition, we may feel unfocused and not present in our bodies. Centering ourselves is a way of coming to terms with all the different energies within us and drawing them back into ourselves.

Centering yourself means that you are working from or being aware of the core of your being in the solar plexus area of your body. At first it may not make sense, but as you progress you will understand what this feels like. We naturally know how to center ourselves when we take a deep breath, for example, before making a big announcement or doing something big. Another way to center ourselves is to sit down and engage in breath meditation. We can start by simply getting into a comfortable upright position and noticing as our breath enters and leaves our bodies. Our breath flows into our center and out from our center, and this process can serve as a template for all of our interactions in the world. In conversations, we can take what our friends are saying into the center of our beings and respond from the center. Our whole lives mirror this ebb and flow of energy that begins and ends at the center of ourselves. If we follow this ebb and flow, we are in harmony with the universe, and when we find we are out of harmony, we can always come back into balance by sitting down and observing our breath.

When we sit down to center ourselves we can imagine that we are gathering our straying thoughts and energies back into ourselves, the way a mother duck gathers her babies around her. We can also visualize ourselves casting a net and pulling all the disparate parts of ourselves back to the center of our being, creating a sense of fluid integration. From this place of centeredness, we can begin again, directing ourselves outward in a more intentional way.

Sunday, September 19, 2010

20 Surprising Benefits of Meditation Everyone Should Know

For decades meditation practice has been viewed with suspicion and often thrown into the same ‘esoteric’ pot as crystals, astrology and palm readings. However, the situation is changing fast as more and more people turn to meditation practice, looking for silence, inner peace and tranquility.
If you have never meditated, below are some convincing reasons, why you might want to reconsider and give it a try.
If you are practicing meditation regularly (or at least trying to), keep reading anyway to discover all the physiological, psychological and spiritual benefits that you get while meditating!
Here is a list of 20 Amazing Benefits of Meditation:

1. Stronger, healthier heart.

Meditation is not just a practice to calm down our mind. It has numerous physical health benefits as well. Recent studies have found that meditation can protect us against heart disease and stroke (both leading causes of death in the world). Your heart can benefit from regular meditation in many different ways: it lowers blood pressure, improves blood circulation, and reduces cholesterol and atherosclerosis (the buildup of plaque in the arteries that can cause heart problems).

2. Slimmer, better looking body.

It sounds too good to be true, but, never-the-less, it is true – you can shed pounds without sweating in the gym!
It is not a secret that we gain a lot of extra calories due to our bad eating habits (like eating in a hurry or munching on something when we feel frustrated, sad or bored). Stress relief and relaxation provided by meditation promote more conscious eating helping us to eat healthier and, consequently, stay thinner.

3. Reversed biological Aging Process.

Biological age measures how old a person is physiologically, taking in consideration the functioning of the major organ systems. As it turns out, long-term meditators, who have been practicing meditation for more than five years are physiologically 12 years younger than their chronological age, while short-term meditators quickly reverse physiological signs of aging by 5 years! Try it for yourself and feel your body getting younger and healthier every day!

4. Reduced stress and anxiety.

Neurological studies of the brain show that meditation boosts the intensity of alpha waves – associated with quiet, receptive states that can not be achieved during sleep or other relaxation techniques. This relaxed state combats worry and stress by efficiently lowering “stress” hormones and shifting brain activity to the calmer left hemisphere.

5. Stronger immune system and improved mood.

It has been shown that meditation can help produce antibodies against illness as well as lift your spirits, when you feel frustrated or sad. But the most remarkable thing is that these positive biological effects can last up to four months after the end of meditation training. Which means that it is enough to meditate for a couple of weeks to stay healthy for months!

6. Decreased muscle tension.

After a long day at work as little as 15 minutes of meditation can increase the circulation of oxygen to the muscles and help you cope with tension and fatigue much better.

7. Better sleep and a cure for insomnia.

Bedtime meditation is a great natural sleeping aid. It not only promotes deep and relaxed sleep, helping you to feel well-rested and energized the next day, but also cures insomnia. A recent study published by The American Journal of Medicine reports that 100% of insomnia patients who have been regularly meditating reported improved sleep and 91% either fully eliminated or reduced sleeping medication use. Not bad for a “relaxation” practice!

8. Reduced tension headaches and migraines.

Do you know that feeling when your head is filled up with so much pressure to the point where you think it might explode? A few times in my life I have felt like this. But since I started to meditate and do yoga my tension headaches have disappeared. This phenomenon has a very simple scientific explanation – the positive relaxing effect that meditation has on your body and your mind, eliminates the main causes of headaches (such as stress, muscle tension and anxiety).

9. Laser-like focus.

Contrary to what many people believe, meditation does not mean ‘zoning out’ and just sitting there with your eyes closed. In fact, regular practice will make your mind much sharper and quicker. A vast body of research shows that meditation hugely enhances our ability to stay focused and to quickly enter a state of “flow”.

10. Improved learning ability and memory.

In one of the studies dedicated to meditation, scientists tested whether meditation could improve our memory. As it turned out, it can! But even the researchers themselves were blown away by the results! People who practiced a 40-day meditation program did four times better in memory tests than a group of people who did not meditate. So if you cannot recall your spouse’s phone number or have a hard time remembering where you last saw your keys, take it as a sign to start meditating!

11. Greater control over your thoughts.

We may have conquered space and developed top of the art nano technologies, but most of us still struggle to conquer our own mind. No matter what we do, negative thoughts and self-doubt keep coming back, stealing our focus and draining our energy. Meditation is by far the most effective technique that helps us to calm our worried mind and keep the flow of negative thoughts under control.

12. Improved creativity.

If your work largely depends on creativity, then your most valuable piece of equipment is not your laptop.It is your mind and its ability to generate new ideas.
However, in a world of constant distractions and worries it is not always easy to get into a state of flow and come up with something original. Meditation not only helps to calm down an overly agitated mind and improve focus, it also promotes the co-operation of our creative (right) side of the brain and rational (left) side of the brain, creating perfect “conditions” for brainstorming million-dollar ideas.

13. Greater intelligence.

How would you like an idea to get smarter, without studying harder? As it turns out – it is possible! To their great surprise scientists have discovered that meditation can improve brain development and boost our intelligence. Just like regular work-outs make our body stronger by building new muscle mass, regular meditation can hike our IQ up by 20 points by increasing the thickness of the cortex (neural tissue of the brain, also known as “grey matter”) in the areas that are involved in attention, awareness and thought!

14. Unshakeable self-confidence.

Meditation can help us to overcome moments of self-doubt and boost our self-esteem, by helping us stop the flow of negative thoughts, get in touch with our inner unique Self and become more detached from other people’s opinions and criticism. It has been shown that people who meditate regularly tend to perceive the world more positively and holistically.

15. Enhanced emotional resilience.

Regular practitioners say they develop a feeling of greater emotional equilibrium. Just by taking a small amount of your daily time to meditate you too can find an escape from your everyday worries, become more relaxed, more patient and more peaceful.

16. Improved decision-making skills.

When we feel overtired, overwhelmed or stressed out our the brain bypasses its “higher,” more evolved, rational thinking stages and starts using more primitive stimuli-response pathways that are responsible for such emotions as fear, anger and anxiety. Consequently, we respond to daily demands without thinking, making impulsive, shortsighted decisions. Meditation practice provides the experience of “restful alertness”, while helping us regain our ability for purposeful thinking and farsighted decision-making.

17. Enhanced Productivity.

This probably does not come as a shock to you – if meditation improves focus, creativity, decision-making skills and intelligence, it obviously increases our performance at work, making us shine and able to fully express our talents and abilities.

18. Better relations at work.

Recently conducted research showed that we can noticeably improve our relationship with our managers and co-workers after only 11 months of meditation. Interestingly enough, people who participated in the study reported that they felt less anxiety about promotion, although their fellow employees saw them as moving ahead quickly.

19. Greater happiness and peace of mind.

Is there anybody who does not, in some way, search for happiness? Meditation is the fastest way to learn that happiness is not dependent on outer circumstances, but on our inner attitude. When we still our mind and just accept every moment of our life (without judgment, without regret), we suddenly discover a source of happiness, tranquility and love within us. And the more we meditate, the better and happier our life becomes, not because people around us change, not because circumstances change – but because we change.

20. Clear life purpose.

Usually we search for meaning in life through external events and other people, instead of looking deep inside our heart for the answers to the questions “Who am I?” and “Why am I here?”
When we meditate and let go of our ego and false expectations that have been forced on us, we gain a greater understanding of life through knowing who we are and by getting in touch with a source of eternal light and love inside of our heart. We start to live a life of purpose and all the doubts slowly disappear.
If you still have doubts whether meditation is for you, consider this – it can be practiced anywhere, at any given moment, by people of all religions, ages and traditions. It is absolutely free, requires no special equipment, is easy to learn and is takes only 15-20 minutes per day!
Therefore, if you are not meditating yet, the one question you should ask yourself is “Why not?

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

"SHIRDI BANDH" in Protest of Sai Sansthan's Airport Donation

Wednesday 25th August 2010

On Friday, Chief Minister Ashok Chavan and Union Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel will be laying the foundation stone of the Airport in Shirdi. The Airport, expected to be operational by end of 2011, will be equipped for International flights as well.

But the Shirdi Sai Baba Temple Trust’s decision to give Rs.100 crore to the State Government for the Airport has angered the Devotees. The Shirdi Villagers protesting Shirdi Sansthan's donation for the Airport, using the Sansthan's Money, had called for a total "Shirdi Bandh" on Wednesday 25th August 2010. So, on "Wednesday" the streets of Shirdi wore a deserted look.
All Shops, Establishments etc were closed and the Public Transport too was absent, causing a lot of inconvenience for the devotees there.

However, Baba's Samadhi Mandir was kept open and so was the canteen, for the benefit of the devotees.

The Shirdi Gram Villagers are also demanding that a Law should be made to prohibit any Article of Sai Baba to be taken out of Shirdi for any purpose.

They have said that be it any amount they will not allow the Sansthan to use even a Rupee for the Airport project, and if their demands are not met, they will go on a Hunger Strike, come out on the roads to protest and will wave Black Flags on 27th August`2010 during the laying of Shirdi Airport's Foundation Stone.

The Rs.380-crore project needs 400 acre of land, of which 300 acre has been acquired with help of the government aid of around Rs.40 crore while the Shirdi Sai Sansthan had earlier agreed to pay Rs.50 crore, together with other expected donations. but, it is now rumored that the Sansthan will be coughing out Rs.100 crore instead of the Rs.50 crore it had originally offered.

But according to the Maharashtra Govt, the original Rs.50 crore was also voluntarily offered by the Shirdi Sansthan themselves.

According to the devotees, the Airport and other infrastructure in Maharashtra is all the duty of the State Government and so the Shirdi Sansthan should not provide funds for any of those projects, including the Shirdi Airport.

Trustee and state Transport Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil, who approves of the Trust’s move, said: “The Trust took a decision Two years ago in the interest of Devotees. The Airport will offer faster connectivity.”

But former MP Shri.Balasaheb Vikhe-Patil said that the Trust should not give the amount
as the Government has paid for the Land that it acquired for the Airport. “Local people and Devotees don’t want this to happen.

We all want the Centre and State Governments to take care of the Airport project,” he said adding that "the Airport would help corporate fliers who frequent the Industrial estates being developed in Ahmednagar & Nashik districts."

Pramod Kadve, a devotee from Mumbai, said Rs 100 crore could be used to extend facilities to the poor & the Farmers.

“An Airport will benefit the Rich. The Trust should not splurge on providing five-star facilities to the Rich.”

Trust chairman Jayant Sasane said that the Trust members will meet to review the situation. “The Radhakrishna Patil will take a Final call.”

The Maharashtra Airport Development Corporation (MADC) is the nodal agency for the Shirdi Airport project.



Courtesy:
Video: http://aajtak.intoday.in
Source: Hindustan Times

Monday, August 23, 2010

Quotes for Sister on Raksha Bandhan

Aum Sairam

Having a sister is like having a best friend you can't get rid of. You know whatever you do, they'll still be there.

A sister is a little bit of childhood that can never be lost.

You can kid the world. But not your sister.

The mildest, drowsiest sister has been known to turn tiger if her sibling is in trouble.

A sister can be seen as someone who is both ourselves and very much not ourselves - a special kind of double.

Sisters are probably the most competitive relationship within the family, but once the sisters are grown, it becomes the strongest relationship.

A sister smiles when one tells one's stories - for she knows where the decoration has been added.

More than Santa Claus, your sister knows when you've been bad and good.

I know some sisters who only see each other on Mother's Day and some who will never speak again. But most are like my sister and me... linked by volatile love, best friends who make other best friends ever so slightly less best.

Sisters annoy, interfere, and criticize. Indulge in monumental sulks, in huffs, in snide remarks. Borrow. Break. Monopolies the bathroom. Are always underfoot. But if catastrophe should strike, sisters are there. Defending you against all comers. :-)

She is your mirror, shining back at you with a world of possibilities. She is your witness, who sees you at your worst and best, and loves you anyway. She is your partner in crime, your midnight companion, someone who knows when you are smiling, even in the dark. She is your teacher, your defense attorney, your personal press agent, even your shrink. Some days, she's the reason you wish you were an only child. : - )

Both within the family and without, our sisters hold up our mirrors: our images of who we are and of who we can dare to be.

She takes my hand and leads me along paths I would not have dared explore alone.

Sisters are different. They heard the sobbing in the darkness.
They lived through all your triumphs, all your favorites, all your loves and losses. They have no delusions.
They lived with you too long.

And so, when you achieve some victory, friends are delighted - but sisters hold your hands in silence and shine with happiness.

For they know the cost.

Allah Malik

Happy Raksha Bandhan

Aum Sairam

Happy Raksha Bandan to all Sai family members. It is a day for pledging our love towards one another and towards Sri Sai Baba. Let us tie band of love to Sri Sai Baba, It is His duty to come running towards us and remove our hurdles. It is easy to love a vulnerable, crazy old man. When we look at old people their vulnerability tugs at our hearts strings and we like to help them. This old man is different He is sweet no doubt, but is strong enough to bear the burdens of the whole universe. One look at His face endears us towards Him.

Let us cast our burdens and sorrows at His holy lotus feet. He is our father, mother, brother and sister, we are His responsibilities. One might shrug their responsibilities being human as we are selfish and self centered, but He never backs out from responsibilities. Here is my band of love for my Father, Master and Guru. Please accept it my Master offered to you with love, humility and humbleness.

I tie the band of love to you all, my Sai Family. We need each other in this journey of spirituality. We need to support each other, pray for one another and keep moving ahead reminding each other that the obstacles and disappointments in this journey are nothing but mere tests by Him to measure our love. It is difficult for a single person to tread this path alone as it is long and full of thorns but with a companion like you, journey is pleasurable and easy and one looses track of time. Thanks for being there.

Please accept my love, humble pranam and namaskar for being there and for praying for everyone. Your company and prayers and contributions mean a lot in my life.

Wish you all a Happy Raksha Bandan.

Allah Malik

Sunday, August 8, 2010

The Life

01. Go placcidly

02. Amid the noise and haste

03. Remember what peace there may be in silence.

04. As far as possible without surrender, be on good terms with all persons.

05. Speak your truth quietly & clearly; listen to others,even the dull & they
to have their story.

06. Avoid loud & aggressive persons, they are vexatious to the spirit.

07. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain & bitter,
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

08. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

09. Keep interested in your own career, however humble it is a real possession
in the changing fortunes of time.

10. Exercise caution in your business affairs because the world is full of
trickery.

11. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is
many persons strive for high ideals;

12. & everywhere life is full of heroism.

13. Be yourself especially, do not feign affection.

14. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity &
disenchantment, it is perennial as the grass.

15. Take kindly the council of the years gracefully surrendering the things
of youth.

16. Nurture strength spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.but do not
distress yourself with dark imaginings, many fears are born of fatigue
and loneliness.

17. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself.

18. You are the child of the universe, no less than the grass & the stars, you
have a right to be here wheather or not, it is clear to you.

19. No doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

20. Therefore be peace with god, whatever you conceive him to be & whatever
your labours & aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace
with your soul.

21. With all its shame, drudgery & broken dreams, it is still a beautiful
world.be careful, strive to be happy.

Courtesy:
Sri B Sravan Kumar
, Hyderabad
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